FUSE58 : This is not fake lesbian news by FUSE Magazine

MADE IN AUSTRALIA FUSEMAGAZINE.COM.AU SEP / OCT 2018

LIFE LOVE EQUALITY

FLUIDITY AND

QUEERNESS ON THE CELESTIAL LEVEL

digital detox ARE YOU A SLAVE TO YOUR PHONE?

HANNAH GADSBY

A LITTLE BIT LESBIAN

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For some

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Written and directed by David Atfield From the award-winning creator of ‘Scandalous Boy’ comes an explosive new play set in the corridors of power. THE STREET THEATRE | 9 – 17 NOVEMBER 2018 BOOKINGS 02 6247 1223 | THESTREET.ORG.AU 15 CHILDERS STREET CANBERRA CITY

WARNING: CONTAINS NUDITY, SEXUAL & ADULT THEMES, DRUG USE, COARSE LANGUAGE

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MADE IN AUSTRALIA FUSEMAGAZINE.COM.AU SEP / OCT 2018

LIFE LOVE EQUALITY

digital detox

QUEERNESS ON THE CELESTIAL LEVEL

HANNAH GADSBY

A LITTLE BIT LESBIAN

THE CAPITAL OF EQUALITY

FUSEMAGAZINE.COM.AU

TRANS ACTIVIST TO PLAY FIRST TRANS SUPERHERO

digital detox ARE YOU A SLAVE TO YOUR PHONE?

ARE YOU A SLAVE TO YOUR PHONE?

LIFE LOVE EQUALITY

FLUIDITY AND

QUEERNESS ON THE CELESTIAL LEVEL

TRANS ACTIVIST TO PLAY FIRST TRANS SUPER HERO

+ THE CAPITAL OF EQUALITY THAT STARTUP SHOW

THAT STARTUP SHOW

QWIRE SILVER ANNIVERSARY MASQUERADE BALL

> CONNECTING WITH OUR COMMUNITY FOR 10 YEARS!

FREE

> CONNECTING WITH OUR COMMUNITY FOR 10 YEARS!

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FUSE MAGAZINE MADE IN AUSTRALIA SEP / OCT 2018

02 Editor’s Rant 04 What’s On : Movies 07 What’s On : Events & Shows

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Alexander Thatcher CREATIVE DIRECTOR & ASSOCIATE EDITOR Christopher Powell

ASSISTANT EDITOR Maxwell Elliff CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Danny Corvini CONTRIBUTORS Dwayne Lennox Scott Malcolm Rose Pappalardo

FUSE FEATURES 19

With her distinctive nerdish glasses, boyishly short brown hair and signature attire, funny lady, Hannah Gadsby is ‘a little bit lesbian’.

11 Round Up : News & Politics 22 Fab Things : Stuff We Love

CONTACT FUSE 0412 309 992 hello@fusemagazine.com.au fusemagazine.com.au PO Box 844 Belconnen ACT 2616 PUBLISHER Published + designed by Lithium Innovation Pty Ltd lithium.net.au ISSN 1836-8387

All rights reserved. No part of the magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher. The appearance, mention or likeness of any person or organisation in editorial or advertising in no way suggests sexual or political orientation. Photographs used to illustrate editorial do not depict the real lives, behaviour or sexuality of the models. Opinions expressed in the magazine are not necessarily those of the FUSE publisher, editor or staff. Any health, fitness or dietary advice contained in this magazine is for informational purposes only. Consult your physician and a fitness/health professional before changing your diet, doing any exercise program, or taking any supplements or remedies of any kind. Some articles in this publication may have first appeared on theconversation.com. Submissions of text, photographs or any other material will be taken as consent to publish said material.

27 29 29 John Cameron Mitchell, living a creative life filled with fluidity and queerness on the celestial level.

27 32 34 37 39 41

Money Shot : That Start Up Show Couch Potato : Film & TV Out & About : SpringOut Xmas inJuly Out & About : Long Yang Winter Celebration Round Up : It’s All in the Numbers Health & Wellbeing : Latest Developments

43 43

Are you addicted to your phone? We are more globally connected than ever before, but life in the digital age is far from ideal.

34 47 Stargazer : Your Horoscope 48 Dear Rose FUSECONTENTS

❤ TRUMP TOOK OVER MY IPAD THIS IS NOT FAKE NEWS! One of my favourite things to do first thing in the morning is to make myself a coffee, grab our iPad and catch up on all the news before starting my day. I usually start with Apple news, drop into a few major news sites and then finish off with a quick look-in at Twitter and Facebook. I’m pretty much the modern version of the guy with a cup of tea and the morning newspaper. Not so long ago news reports were numerous and diverse in their subject matter — but something started happening back in 2016 and, unbeknown to me, was about to overrun my iPad like an unwanted and insidious virus... and it was called ‘Trump’.

FUSE ONLINE Check out the FUSE Magazine website and our social media sites for daily news, videos, special online features, what’s on listings, the latest community updates on our popular message board, the LGBTIQ business & community directory and more!

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SCAN ME!

It seems no matter where you look online there is a story about Trump and what horrifying thing he did or said today. What was once alarming has become the new normal and, to make it worse, an emboldened conservative Christian right seems determined to use the current ruptured political climate and fear to obtain more power in America and the world. It’s become abundantly clear that their ‘ideal world’ is not one where LGBTIQ people are welcome or safe.

Read FUSE Magazine on your smartphone, tablet or computer.

The news and social media cycle has become an unsettling place, and if we contrast that with how many people on social media are obsessed with making life — and themselves — look perfect, when in reality that’s far from true. It’s led me to believe that our traditionally printed magazine and others like it are actually more important than we think in this fast-pasted digitally consuming age. According to new research, reading traditional print is relaxing and even six minutes can be enough to reduce stress levels by more than two thirds, while being online actually causes stress. Unfortunately, unless you become a hermit (no, Christopher), there is probably no escape from technology, but we do have the power and hopefully the insight to know when we need to step away and go on a digital detox, whether it’s for an hour, weekend or maybe even longer if you’re off on a holiday. So with this in mind, on p43 you’ll find our article on how you can take a rest from the crazy rants of Donald Trump, find a little peace of mind and hopefully stop being a slave to that smartphone. Warmly, Alexander

STOP PRESS : CANBERRA LGBTIQ 2018 STREET PARTY If you missed — or remember — last year’s fabulous Marriage Equality Results Night Party at Hopscotch (and along Lonsdale Street), FUSE has some fabulous news! The organisers are planning another awesome LGBTIQ street party in the same location in November 2018 to celebrate the first anniversary of marriage equality in Australia! It’s all still a bit secretive at the moment, but one of the organisers hinted to FUSE that the event will feature a plethora of drag shows, DJs playing queer dance classics until the wee hours, and that they hope to put Canberra well and truly on the national LGBTIQ map with this event. Check our next issue for more details! 2

EDITOR’SRANT

2018/19 LGBTIQ BUSINESS & COMMUNITY DIRECTORY GRAB YOUR COPY TODAY! The FUSE LGBTIQ Business & Community Directory is an easy way to find businesses and organisations who choose to support our community. The directory also includes an extensive range of essential community services and LGBTIQ social and sporting groups. directory.fusemagazine.com.au

Scan this QR code to jump straight to the directory online FUSEMAGAZINE.COM.AU

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LGBTIQ Business & Community Directory CONNECTING OUR COMMUNITY WITH BUSINESSES, SOCIAL GROUPS AND SUPPORT SERVICES

directory.fusemagazine.com.au

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AVAILABLE IN BOTH PRINT & DIGITALLY

MOVIES

DID YOU KNOW? This year is the 3oth anniversary of Ian McKellen coming out. Sir Ian, 78, tweeted: “I’ve never met a gay person who regretted coming out — including myself.

BOOK CLUB OPENS 23 AUGUST While the Fifty Shades phenomenon may have cum, sorry, come and gone, this comedy wrings more than a few laughs from that book’s erotic reputation. When a group of lifelong friends choose the erotic fiction as their next book club assignment, the women see an uptick in their sexual desires and adventurousness. The kind of cheeky comedy the Brits do effortlessly, this US film may not be bawdy but it’s good to see such wonderful actresses as Keaton, Fonda, Steenburgen and Bergen (soon to return to our TV’s as the iconic Murphy Brown) not only on screen together but depicting female characters enjoying sex after 60. One to take your mum to... or, maybe not!

SEARCHING OPENS 13 SEPTEMBER Probably not the best viewing choice for parents already paranoid about the evils of social media, first-time filmmaker Aneesh Chaganty’s thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat; an impressive feat given the film’s high concept which sees all of the action depicted via the screens of devices such as laptops and smartphones. When single dad David Kim (Star Trek’s John Cho) realises his teenage daughter is missing, he delves into her online life to find clues to her possible whereabouts, only to discover he may not know as much about his daughter as he thought. Searching is a clever and inventive thriller well worth logging in to.

MCKELLEN: PLAYING THE PART OPENS 27 SEPTEMBER FUSE MOVIE PICK OF THE MONTH!

Long before he found fame on the big screen as Magneto in the X-Men and Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Ian McKellen was a respected actor with a distinguished stage career. That he was gay wasn’t really an issue until Hollywood came calling following his first Oscar nomination for 1998’s Gods and Monsters. In this highly engaging documentary, McKellen discusses his life — from childhood in an English mining town to the London stage to the big screen — in a warm, conversational style; discussing his career and his late-in-life LGBTIQ activism, but sadly, with no gossip about his many co-stars or any in-depth exploration of his private life.

FIRST MAN OPENS 11 OCTOBER First Man recounts the decade-long lead-up to humankind first walking on the moon in 1969, as seen through the eyes of that mission’s leader: Neil Armstrong (Ryan Gosling). Claire Foy (from Netflix’s The Crown) plays Armstrong’s wife, Janet, in what is an otherwise male-heavy cast, including Jason Clarke, Kyle Chandler, Ciaran Hinds, and Corey Stoll as fellow astronaut Buzz Aldrin. Based on the book by James R. Hansen, fans of The Right Stuff (1983) and Apollo 13 (1995), not to mention history buffs with a penchant for the Space Race, should find much to admire in the opening night film from this year’s Venice Film Festival.

By Dwayne Lennox

FREE DENDY MOVIE TICKETS : Email us and tell us what you think of FUSE, comment on an article or sign up to the FUSE eNews and you could win free tickets to these fantastic movies. hello@fusemagazine.com.au

FREE MOVIE PASSES KINDLY SUPPLIED BY DENDY CINEMAS CANBERRA LEVEL 2, NORTH QUARTER CANBERRA CENTRE, BUNDA STREET, CANBERRA CITY 261-263 KING STREET, NEWTOWN • SHOP 9, 2 EAST CIRCULAR QUAY, SYDNEY PORTSIDE WHARF, REMORA ROAD, HAMILTON DENDY.COM.AU

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FUSEMAGAZINE.COM.AU

FUSE MAGAZINE IS PROUD TO PRESENT TWO SPECIAL MOVIE SCREENINGS OF ‘MCKELLEN: PLAYING THE PART’ TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THE AIDS ACTION COUNCIL IN CANBERRA AND ACON IN SYDNEY

Theatre Actor. Film Star. Political Activist. Inspirational Teacher. Discover the life story of Sir Ian McKellen, as told by the man himself in this feature-length documentary. The legend shares his personal stories and thoughts — from his childhood to present day — as well as a wealth of never-before-seen material. Private photo albums, diaries written when he was 12, and behind-the-scenes footage from theatre productions and movies complete this intimate and intriguing journey.

GRAB YOUR TICKETS @

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DENDY CANBERRA & NEWTOWN MONDAY 24 SEPTEMBER @ 6.30PM

JURASSICA by Dan Giovannoni

OPENS 19 SEP

BOOK NOW

6285 6290

THEQ.NET.AU

Dan Giovannoni’s magical new play, Jurassica, weaves the past and present together, exploring what it is to migrate, to be displaced and to spend the rest of your life searching for home.

“

Jurassica has been patiently crafted, like Nonna’s perfect slow cooked pork! Anne-Marie Peard SMH

I am not fully Italian or fully Australian and despite ignoring my family heritage for a long time, I don’t think I can really understand my family unless I understand what they went through, how they were raised. Dan Giovannoni

WEDNESDAY 19 SEPTEMBER 8.00PM • THURSDAY 20 SEPTEMBER 8.00PM FRIDAY 21 SEPTEMBER 8.00PM • SATURDAY 22 SEPTEMBER 2.00PM & 8.00PM

ADULT $54 CONC. GROUPS 8+ $49 U25 $25

OPENS 25 SEP

PRIZE FIGHTER

BOOK NOW

BY FUTURE D FIDEL

6285 6290

THEQ.NET.AU ADRENALINE-PUMPING, FULL-CONTACT THEATRE AT ITS BEST!

“

The most perfectly structured, brilliantly produced and best acted new play… Stunning blow from one-time boy soldier. The Australian

Get ringside for a rare theatrical combo: engrossing storytelling paired with the visceral thrill of live boxing. Fleeing the Congo as a child, playwright Future D. Fidel lived in a Tanzanian refugee camp for eight years before being granted refugee status in Australia. Prize Fighter is inspired by his own story and those of the people he has known.

TUESDAY 25 SEPTEMBER 8.00PM • WEDNESDAY 26 SEPTEMBER 8.00PM THURSDAY 27 SEPTEMBER 10.30AM & 8.00PM • FRIDAY 28 SEPTEMBER 8.00PM

ADULT $52 CONC. GROUPS 8+ $47 U25 $25

BOOKINGS 02 6285 6290 • THEQ.NET.AU 6

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WHAT’S ON

LGBTIQ Business & Community Directory Head to the FUSE LGBTIQ directory where you’ll find LGBTIQ friendly and owned businesses, community groups, sporting, social and support services. directory.fusemagazine.com.au

15 SEP

7-10 NOV WE WILL ROCK YOU THE ARENA SPECTACULAR BY QUEEN & BEN ELTON 7 – 10 NOVEMBER AIS ARENA CANBERRA

MORE DETAILS P31

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We Will Rock You is based on the legendary music of Queen with a book by Ben Elton. Featuring 21 of Queen’s greatest hits, the show tells the story of a group of Bohemians who struggle to restore the free exchange of thought, fashion and have been forbidden from listening to rock music.

SATURDAY 15 SEPTEMBER @ 7.00PM HELLENIC CLUB WODEN Qwire celebrates 25 wonderful years. Featuring the fabulous Paul Capsis, this will be a night to remember. So come and dine on a sumptuous three-course buffet and dance to the fantastic sounds of ‘In Full Swing’. It’s going to be an unforgettable night. More details & tickets at: canberraqwire.org.au

“The show is live, dangerous and more than anything else... it rocks!”

23-27 OCT

Brian May, Queen

Galileo, a misfit who keeps hearing strange voices and songs in his head won’t dress like a GaGa kid, and has been caught trying to make music. Scaramouche, another misfit, gets herself into trouble with the secret police, and after meeting Galileo they run away together in search of the hidden musical instruments, rumoured to still exist.

“The audience get to become part of what eventually becomes a rock concert…” Ben Elton

Globalsoft control everything, lead by the Killer Queen who brings down anyone who crosses her with “Another One Bytes the Dust”, and her sidekick Khashoggi who leads the secret police and sends all those who break the rules to the “Seven Seas of Rhye”.

We Will Rock You is the 10th longest running musical in West End history. Don’t miss the Canberra Premier of Queen’s greatest hits in this spectacular arena production brought to life at AIS Arena. Tickets at: premier.ticketek.com.au

MENOPAUSE THE MUSICAL : WOMEN ON FIRE! 23 – 27 OCTOBER THE Q QUEANBEYAN PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE Menopause The Musical follows the story of four women who discover they have plenty in common including mood swings, night sweats, hot flushes, lacklustre sex drive and much more! A sisterhood is created between these diverse women as they realise that menopause is no longer “the silent passage”, but a stage in every woman’s life, which is perfectly normal! This hilarious musical parody is staged to classic tunes from the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s. The clever changes in words will leave you smiling and even dancing in the aisles! Men love it too!

It’s the hilarious celebration of women and ‘the change’. More details & tickets at: theq.net.au WHAT’SON

WHAT’S ON

9-17 NOV

3 NOV CBR FAIR DAY 2018 SATURDAY 3 NOVEMBER 11.00AM – 4.00PM GORMAN ARTS CENTRE

MORE DETAILS P10

CBR Fair Day is the largest celebration of Canberra’s wonderful and diverse LGBTIQ communities. Enjoy a fabulous day of music and performances. You can also participate in activities and workshops, have a chat at the friendly community stalls, shop at the market and indulge your taste buds with delicious food. The Rainbow Pet Parade will also return with fabulous outfits and prizes for pooches of all sizes! Fair Day has launched SpringOut every year since the first SpringOUT Pride Festival in 1999. Bring your friends, partners, family and puppies — there’ll be something for everyone to enjoy. More details visit: aidsaction.org.au

24 SEP

EXCLUSION 9 – 17 NOVEMBER THE STREET THEATRE From David Atfield, the award-winning creator of Scandalous Boy, comes an explosive new play that looks at the post-marriage equality political world and questions just how welcome LGBTIQ people really are in the corridors of power. Canberra 2018. As a debate rages over a proposed education program to teach children about sexuality, two male federal ministers are contending to become Prime Minister. But they both have secret lives that threaten to destroy their careers. When a handsome young staffer enters the scene, their worlds descend into a whirlpool of hypocrisy, blackmail, deception and sexual intrigue.

Exclusion is a sexy, funny, moving and wildly sensual play combining the complexities of human sexuality with ambitions for power. We see politicians stripped naked, literally and spiritually, as the characters betray, expose and manipulate each other, identities tumble, marriages fall, and alliances break. The play is about the complex intersection of the personal and the political, woven into a universal story about the personal compromises we all make in the pursuit of our careers. Exclusion will be the talk of the town this November and a theatrical event not to miss! More details visit: thestreet.org.au

MORE DETAILS P5

MCKELLEN : PLAYING THE PART 24 SEPTEMBER 6.30PM – 9.30PM DENDY CANBERRA & DENDY NEWTOWN FUSE Magazine is proud to present two special movie screenings of McKellen: Playing the Part to raise funds for the AIDS Action Council in Canberra and ACON in Sydney. More details at: fusemagazine.com.au 8

WHAT’SON

10 NOV

FRUIT TINGLES WOMEN’S DANCE

SATURDAY 10 NOVEMBER 6.30PM – MIDNIGHT Held at the Majura MORE Community Centre in DETAILS Dickson, Fruit Tingles P14 brings women together from all ages and all walks of life. It provides a safe space to celebrate our pride. Tickets $25. Details at: springout.com.au FUSEMAGAZINE.COM.AU

Wake Up Wonderful

THE AIDS ACTION COUNCIL IS PROUD TO HOST

FAIRday

2018

C E LE B R ATI N G TH E D IVE RSIT Y OF CANBERRA’S LGBTIQ COMMUNITIES MARKETS & FOOD

MUSICIANS & PERFORMERS

RAINBOW PET PARADE

SAT 3 NOV

GORMAN ARTS CENTRE

11AM – 4PM

aidsaction.org.au #CBRFAIRDAY

COOLSTUFF

FUSEMAGAZINE.COM.AU

ROUND UP

By Maxwell Elliff DID YOU KNOW? The Smallpox vaccine was the first ever successful vaccine to be developed. It was introduced by English physician and scientist, Edward Jenner, in 1796.

RAINBOW CROSSING TO RETURN TO SYDNEY’S OXFORD STREET The City of Sydney Council has announced plans for a new rainbow pedestrian crossing, five years after the NSW Government controversially removed the popular attraction. The original crossing, created to mark the 35th anniversary of the first Sydney Mardi Gras, lasted just one month before it was deemed a public safety risk — despite it not being the cause of any reported incidents. The popular attraction was then tarred over during the night under the direction of NSW Roads Minister Duncan Gay, prompting severe community backlash and a flaring of tension between Sydney Council and the State Government. Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore, who has publicly championed for the crossing’s return, called its proposed reinstatement “a powerful acknowledgement of the importance of our LGBTIQ community and history.” Construction is expected to run three months from October at an estimated cost of $24,000.

SHAMEFUL TRUTH OF PRIDE CLOTHING An investigation by BBC Newsnight has found that the pride clothing collections of several large retailers are being manufactured in countries where homosexuality is cause for discrimination or even punishment under the law. Items from H&M’s pride range — including t-shirts, caps and bags — are produced in Bangladesh, where homosexuals can receive life in prison. Other garments are partly produced in China and Turkey — countries where homosexuality is legal but heavily stigmatised (last year Turkish capital Ankara banned all gay festivals, forums and events for public security reasons). Similarly, Levi’s pride collection partly hails from India, where homosexuality is illegal; the company has however stated that they donate to an Indian organisation dedicated to legalise homosexuality. Director of EuroPride, Steve Taylor criticised the retailers for operating in countries against equality, declaring it “a smack in the face” for somebody who produces these garments yet would face persecution for wearing them in public.

1950’S GAY HOLLYWOOD ICON DIES AT 86 Hollywood actor, musician and heartthrob of the 1950s, Tab Hunter has passed away at the age of 86. The star’s long term partner, producer Allan Glaser, said that Hunter died at his Santa Barbara home from a blood clot in his left leg that caused a cardiac arrest. Born Arthur Andrew Kelm, Hunter appeared in numerous popular films during the Golden Age of Hollywood including Battle Cry (1955) and The Girl He Left Behind (1956) while also topping the Billboard charts in 1957 with ‘Young Love’. Despite being romantically linked by the press to young starlets Natalie Wood and Debbie Reynolds, Hunter secretly dated fellow closeted Psycho actor Anthony Perkins for several years, as revealed in his 2005 memoir, Tab Hunter Confidential: The Making of a Movie Star — which later became a critically acclaimed documentary in 2015.

HUMAN TRIALS OF HIV VACCINE AS EARLY AS 2019 Human trials for an HIV vaccine could be underway as early as next year after promising tests neutralised strains of the virus in animals. Published on June 4th in Nature Medicine, the findings were led by scientists from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, a subdivision of the National Institutes of Health. The vaccine was elicited via a process whereby scientists identified powerful antibodies that might have a chance at neutralising HIV, then testing the virus’ response to the antibodies. In order to create the vaccine, investigators engineered various immunogens, which are proteins designed to activate an immune response, and then tested these on mice. It was found to be effective against 31 percent of HIV strains, some 208 from all over the world. Successful testing on guinea pigs and monkeys later showed that the vaccine could be effective across different species — with the hope now to develop a more potent and refined vaccine fit for human testing in 2019. NEWS&POLITICS

ROUND UP

NEWS SLIDERS ACL MOVE TO STOP GAY CONVERSION BAN

HOMOPHOBIA — A MASK FOR HOMOSEXUALITY? A recent study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology has proposed a link between outwardly homophobic attitudes and internal same-sex desire. The paper looked at six studies of university students in the USA and Germany, designed to implicitly measure sexual orientation. Participants were asked to rank their sexual orientation on a scale, before taking a computer test which involved sorting various words and images on screen into ‘gay’ or ‘straight’ categories as quickly as possible. However, the words ‘me’ or ‘other’ were flashed before each word or image — long enough to be subliminally implanted on the subject’s subconscious — the idea being that items aligning with their sexuality would be processed faster than those that went against their sexuality. This method, developed from similar tests designed to demonstrate racial bias, allowed the researchers to reliably distinguish between self-identified gay and straight participants. Most interestingly, it revealed the existence of a subgroup of participants who had identified as highly straight but displayed some degree of same-sex attraction.

Ahead of the 2018 Labor National Conference, the Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) has set up an online petition calling for the right of parents to use gay conversion therapy to “save” their children if they come out as LGBTIQ. Calling the ban “radical, extreme and shocking stuff”, they claim the ban will criminalise parents for wanting to affirm their child’s biological sex and sexuality.

TOO MANY GAYS! Turkish radio and television head Ibrahim Eren said his country was unlikely to take part in the 2019 Eurovision contest because the spectacle features too many gay singers and is not suitable for children. In an attempt to erase the queer community, Turkey has banned gay pride, liberal film festivals and now Eurovision. Although it’s not illegal to be gay in Turkey, queer people have no legal recognition.

ISTANBUL GAY PRIDE MARCH HIT WITH TEAR GAS Members of Istanbul’s queer community gathered for a July pride rally, despite the city placing a ban on the annual pride march for the third consecutive year. The event had formerly seen a colourful display of thousands of marchers, but was instead attended by only a few hundred ralliers waving rainbow flags and shouting slogans. Organisers stated that “Like every year, we are here… Our laughter, our exclamations, our slogans still echo in these streets.” Local police dispersed the crowd — using tear gas — but marchers in smaller groups were seen continuing the rally throughout the day. While homosexuality is legal in Turkey, homophobia remains widespread, in part due to the crackdown on civil liberties following the attempted military coup of July 2016. 12

NEWS&POLITICS

NSW POLICE OFFER OFFICIAL APOLOGY New South Wales Police Commissioner Mick Fuller has delivered an official apology on behalf of the state’s police force, saying “To the LGBTIQ community, I’m sorry for our mistakes in the past. We acknowledge the pain and hurt caused by the actions of government agencies driven by the indifference of society.” FUSEMAGAZINE.COM.AU

NEWS&POLITICS

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ROUND UP

By Maxwell Elliff DID YOU KNOW? In 1973, the American Psychiatric Association asked members to vote on whether they believed homosexuality to be a mental disorder. 5,854 voted no and to 3,810 voted yes.

LESBIAN COUPLE DENIED WEDDING CAKE BY KIWI BAKER A lesbian couple based in Brisbane has had their wedding cake denied by a New Zealand baker, citing that it was against her beliefs. Sasha Patrick and her partner Moe Barr had been planning to marry in January in Waipu on New Zealand’s North Island when the bakery Kath’s Devine Cakes refused their request for a wedding cake. The couple said they were shocked to receive an email from the baker, which explained that, “Our government has legalised same-sex marriages, but it is not my belief that it is correct; therefore I will not support it and cannot make a wedding cake for you.” Patrick and Barr stated that all the other vendors that they had approached were more than happy to provide their services for the couple’s wedding.

LONDON PARKING SPOTS CELEBRATE DIVERSE FAMILIES Shoppers at London’s Westfield have been treated to redesigned parking spaces celebrating the diversity of the modern family. Designed by automotive juggernaut Volvo, the parking spaces feature family icons that differ from the traditional ‘child with mum and dad’ archetype. Instead, icons featuring a child with two mums or two dads have been added, as well as ones showing single-parent families and children with grandparents, to more accurately represent the diversity of today’s families. Volvo coincided the reveal with the launch of its new V60 model, a car designed to suit the needs of the modern family. The company’s UK Marketing Strategy Director Mike Johnstone stated that “the V60 perfectly reflects our human-centric approach to car design”, with the marketing campaign being tailored to acknowledge that 65% of UK families are now non-traditional.

WHO FINALLY REMOVES TRANSGENDER FROM LIST OF MENTAL ILLNESSES The World Health Organisation (WHO) announced in June that gender incongruence will now be classified as a sexual condition rather than a mental illness. Doctor Lale Say of the organisation’s Department of Reproductive Health and Research, stated that “it was taken out of mental health disorders because we had a better understanding that this wasn’t actually a mental health condition and leaving it there was causing stigma.” The move has been praised by transgender activists, who see it as a positive step in affirming transgender identities. Julia Ehrt, the executive director of the group Transgender Europe, said that she was “elated that the WHO agrees that gender identity is not a mental illness.”

TRANS TEEN NICOLE MAINES PLAYS FIRST TRANS SUPERHERO After a worldwide search, transgender activist Nicole Maines — whose battle to use the bathroom of her choice changed state law in Maine and was featured in the HBO doc The Trans List — has landed the key role of Nia Nal, aka Dreamer, in the CW series’ upcoming season of Supergirl. The producers worked with DC Comics, GLAAD and the trans community in adapting the character from the original comics. “We want to tell on our show the whole spectrum of humanity, and that everyone can be a hero,” said the writer and producer Jessica Queller. “This is a perfect time and a beautiful opportunity to represent this population.”

32%

The number of LGBTIQ people that are out at work according to a new report ‘Out at Work: From Prejudice to Pride’ produced by the Diversity Council Australia (DCA) in partnership with the Star Observer, RMIT University, Deloitte and QBE. NEWS&POLITICS

ROUND UP

DID YOU KNOW? When Scott Morrison took over as Prime Minister on 24 August 2018 he became Australia’s fifth PM in just over 5 years. To put this in perspective, prior to our penchant for ‘single-use’ leaders, we had five Prime Ministers over the 35 year period from 1975 to 2010.

COSTA RICA STRUGGLES WITH SAME-SEX MARRIAGE The Supreme Court in Costa Rica has found the government’s same-sex marriage ban to be unconstitutional and discriminatory. Costa Rican president, Carlos Alvarado Quesada has welcomed the ruling, saying he wants to guarantee “no person will face discrimination for their sexual orientation”.

TEEN COPS FINE UNDER ANTI-PROPAGANDA LAWS IN RUSSIA Sixteen-year-old Maxim Neverov has been prosecuted for breaking Russia’s anti-propaganda laws, which prohibit the spread of information regarding ‘nontraditional sexual relations’ to minors. Neverov, a student, living in the south-central town of Biysk, was fined 50,000 rubles — roughly AUD$1,000 — after allegedly posting photos of shirtless men on his Facebook page. The teen was represented in court by the Russian LGBT Network — a queer and trans advocacy group — who allege that the trial was a simple pretence to punish Neverov for his participation in a May protest against the Kremlin’s persecution of LGBTIQ individuals. Since the introduction of the propaganda laws in 2013, hate crimes against queer Russians have doubled.

Enrique Sanchez — an openly gay spokesperson for the Citizen Action Party — commented that, despite the ruling and the president’s approval, because of the high number of evangelical Christians in the legislative chamber the chance of passing same-sex marriage in Costa Rica is unlikely at this time. Supreme Court judge, Fernando Castillo told the media that the ban will automatically cease to exist in 18 months, regardless of whether any action is taken by the legislature.

BANNING GAY CONVERSION THERAPY A KEY AUSTRALIAN CONCERN A recent survey of LGBTIQ Australians has found that our top political priority is for conversion therapy to be made illegal. The survey was a joint initiative of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) and just.equal and garnered some 2,500 respondents. Additionally, it found that funding to make schools safer for queer students, a national suicide prevention and mental health strategy, and improved protection measures for LGBTIQ refugees were other key areas of concern. The survey indicated that the main issue for trans respondents was access to Medicare funding for transition and gender confirmation procedures. Spokesperson for just.equal, Rodney Croome, announced, “We will be taking the priorities from this survey to all candidates and parties at the next election seeking their commitment to real change for LGBTIQ+ Australians”. One particular concern that it likely to remain contentious through to election day is removing current exemptions in national discrimination law that allow discrimination against LGBTIQ+ people by publicly funded faith-based organisations, such as schools, hospitals and community groups. A massive 87% of survey respondents marked this as high or very high priority.

BACKLASH AGAINST JACK WHITEHALL CASTING IN GAY DISNEY ROLE Straight British actor and comedian Jack Whitehall has faced considerable backlash after being cast in the role of Disney’s first major gay character in the upcoming 2019 film Jungle Cruise. Set to star alongside Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and Emily Blunt, Whitehall’s character has been described by an inside source as ‘hugely effete, very camp and very funny’, and while the inclusion of a major gay character is a landmark occasion for queer representation in mainstream film, the actor’s heterosexuality has raised questions over whether a straight actor can authentically portray a queer character. The announcement comes a month after actress Scarlett Johannson stepped down from playing a transgender man in the film Rub and Tug following severe public condemnation.

NEWS&POLITICS

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T U DO

L O S

It’s a fun night of dancing with people of all flavours. There is a bar, BBQ and a live band to lead you through those dances that you might remember from primary school – like Strip the Willow, The Waves of Bondi, crazy polkas and some more genteel promenades. By the end of the night you’ll have danced with everyone, caught up with old friends, made some new ones and helped raise cash for the GLBTI community. Have fun with your Bushdance outfit. It’s a night of singlets, jeans, twirling dresses, chaps, check shirts, rhinestones, akubras, hats and boots.

Yarralumla Woolshed, Cotter Road Saturday 24 November 2018. 7:30pm – 1:00am

TICKETS MUST BE PRE-PURCHASED Anyone turning up at the Woolshed without a ticket will be refused entry!

Tickets are $40 and can be purchased at pinktennis.org.au/events/bushdance2018 Please note: Tickets are limited and the use of pre-purchased tickets and enforcement of a maximum number of attendees is required to ensure compliance with the conditions of hire of the Woolshed, and with the conditions of the liquor permit.

GET TICKETS <<<

Canberra Bushdance is an R18+ event so please make sure you bring photo ID. Canberra Bushdance is a community fundraiser co-ordinated by The Canberra Gay & Lesbian Tennis Club. Media supporter FUSE Magazine. 18

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By Maxwell Elliff

NANETTE:

HANNAH GADSBY’S TRIUMPHANT CURTAIN CALL?

Hannah muses how in small towns when clocked at a distance she is often mistaken for a ‘good bloke’.

THE NAME ‘HANNAH GADSBY’ MIGHT NOT IMMEDIATELY RING A BELL FOR EVERYONE, BUT I WOULD WAGER THAT UPON SEEING A PHOTO OF THE AUSTRALIAN COMEDIAN, YOU WOULD LIKELY RESPOND WITH SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES OF, ‘AH… THAT FUNNY LESBIAN’. With her distinctive nerdish glasses, boyishly short brown hair and signature attire (reminiscent perhaps of a young, albeit fuller-framed, Stephen Hawking), the lady is hard to miss. For anyone who has caught a glimpse of her comedic chops, she anything but fades into the background. Having made a reputable name for herself over the past decade on the Australian comedy scene (including regular appearances on Good News Week, Spicks and Specks and Josh Thomas’ semi-biographical dramedy Please Like Me), not to mention doing the rounds on the international festival circuit, Gadsby’s off-kilter, aloof and oftentimes self-deprecating brand of humour rarely fails to provoke and delight. Yet there has always been a sense, for me anyway, that there must be more to Hannah Gadsby than meets the eye. Through her one-hour Netflix special Nanette, Gadsby confirmed my suspicions… and what ensued was nothing short of storytelling brilliance. In Nanette, which debuted as a live stand-up show in 2017 but reached a global audience this year via the juggernaut streaming service, Gadsby yanks back the curtain on her own identity and humanity while simultaneously deconstructing the nature of comedy and the role of the comedian. FUSEFEATURE

> 19

Catch Hannah Gadsby’s show ‘Nanette’ on Netflix.

NANETTE:

HANNAH GADSBY’S TRIUMPHANT CURTAIN CALL?

HANNAH GADSBY ‘A LITTLE BIT LESBIAN’ For the first several minutes Gadsby plods along, firing away jokes that touch on themes well familiar to her audience. She muses how in small towns when clocked at a distance she is often mistaken for a ‘good bloke’; how she had to vacate her hometown in Tasmania upon the realisation that she was in fact ‘a little bit lesbian’; and whilst loving what it stands for, describes the six-coloured Pride flag as ‘a bit busy’. The audience’s laughter comes easy to Gadsby, as each joke comfortably sticks the landing. But the turning point comes around the seventeen-minute mark when, while reflecting on having built a career around self-deprecation, Gadsby casually announces ‘I do think I have to quit comedy’. And from that moment Nanette becomes so much more than a comedy show. Something else entirely. The layers of Hannah’s personal story begin to unfold. She explains her reason for needing to quit — because the art of comedy, requiring only two parts, a beginning and a middle (or a setup and a punch-line) is inadequate in telling her story. In order to tell her story a third part is needed — an endpoint beyond the punch-line. Gadsby reveals that by telling her ‘coming out’ story through comedy, ‘I froze an incredibly formative experience at its trauma point and I sealed it off into jokes’. In doing so, she sacrifices humility for humiliation, and that is a path she can no longer take. There is a serious, more dignified tone to the show from here on out as Gadsby dives into a range of subjects including gender, sexuality, mental illness, and high art and its inextricable link to power — but humour is sprinkled throughout to ease the tension of the room and keep the audience firmly on her side (while also a little rattled). On the topic of women being depicted in classical art as either ‘virgins’ or ‘whores’ the unabashedly-lesbian Gadsby supposes, ‘on a technicality, I’d get virgin’; and after urging the straight white men (as the traditional holders of power) of the audience to ‘pull your f**king socks up’, she quips ‘how humiliating: fashion advice from a lesbian’. Gadsby straddles the line between solemn and funny with a fierceness that is impossible to divert your attention from. In the explosive closing minutes, Gadsby touches on some deeply personal traumatic events from her past but clarifies that she is not a victim, but simply a woman with a story that holds value — a story worthy of being told. It leads to a powerful crescendo, with Gadsby reconciling that ‘laughter is not our medicine, stories hold our cure’. Holding back tears, the typically stoic comedian politely waves and exits the stage to a loud standing ovation. You just might find yourself a little teary-eyed too. If this is indeed her retirement from comedy, what a way to go out! (Although recent statements suggest that the overwhelmingly positive response to Nanette may compel her to reconsider.) Either way, I have a feeling that we will be hearing plenty more of the name Hannah Gadsby; however, she chooses to tell her story. 20

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You can change a child’s life! ACT Together is looking for people who can care for and provide a safe and stable home for a child. Call us today to find out how you can change the life of a child in our ACT community.

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ACT Together is a consortium of: • Barnardos Australia • Australian Childhood Foundation • Oz Child • Premier Youthworks • Relationships Australia ABN 18 068 557 906 I A Company Limited by Guarantee I Registered Charity | Models used to protect privacy | ACTT_17_01603

A Step Up for Our Kids Out of Home Care Strategy 2015-2020 is an ACT Government funded initiative

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DID YOU KNOW? The first photo was taken in 1816 by Nicéphore Niépce, using a small camera of his own making and a piece of paper coated with silver chloride, which darkened where it was exposed to light.

TITAN UNDERWATER DRONE The latest photography and filmmaking tool, the Titan is capable of remotely diving up to 150 metres. It uses six powerful thrusters combined with the latest firmware to let you get super smooth footage and beautiful images even in strong currents. A 4K sensor sits behind a 160º wide-angle lens — which can be augmented with colour-correcting filters — capturing 8 megapixel stills while sending a 1080p live stream back to the surface. Simple to use and with super bright 3,000 lumen LED lights you can illuminate even the darkest depths of the ocean. The Titan comes with a hardshell carrying case and a kick-ass four hours of battery life. Pre-orders from $2000 @ indiegogo.com

THE ULTIMATE ‘HANDSOME’ MAN, TIM ROBARDS, BECOMES THE NEW FACE OF HANDSOME SKINCARE When the new men’s skincare range ‘HANDSOME’ looked for someone to launch their new product line, the rugged good looks and chiselled physique of Tim Robards was an obvious choice. “We believe when you take care of yourself, it reflects not only in your physical appearance but also in your health and wellbeing,” says Mark Tucker, co-founder of Handsome. “With his healthy lifestyle and inspiring training program, The Robards Method, Tim is the epitome of the ‘Handsome’ man, so we’re delighted to announce this new partnership with him.” For Tim, teaming up with Handsome was a no-brainer. “I take a lot of care of what goes into my body, and the same rules apply to what I put on my skin,” says Tim. “I love the fact that the Handsome range is made with men in mind, using natural and organic ingredients, and no harsh chemicals.”

FAB RETRO-TV SPEAKER & CLOCK Add a touch of retro flair to your life with this gorgeous QTV Wireless Bluetooth Speaker and Alarm Clock. The powerful 5 watt speaker will provide the party soundtrack, plus the built-in custom alarm clock and timer will ensure you’re always up and at ‘em on time. The working screen actually lights up and does stuff, like show the time or, if you’re listening to music, a record player. It even displays a quick blast of static when you switch modes! It has five hours of playtime, and it’s available in four funky retro colour options: peppermint green, scarlet red, vernal white or aestival blue.

Handsome was created after realising that skincare products perfectly suited for men are difficult to find, with the aim to create a range of quality products that are effective for male skin, enjoyable to use and look stylish in their presentation. While it might take months of hard work and dedication to get a rig like Tim’s, you can take a leaf out of his book when it comes to grooming. For an instant hit of handsome, shop the range of Handsome Men’s Skincare products online and in Priceline stores nationally.

$85 @ amazon or ebay

COOLSTUFF

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Photo: Andrew Southam/Weiss Artists Inc. • For The Cloutier Agency—Hair: Charles Dujic • Makeup: Tracy Sondern • Styling: Heidi Meek • Props: Darren Ransdell

Millions of companion animals are condemned to a sad life of loneliness—isolated in a crate or pen or kept on a chain with no exercise or attention. Your animal companions need and deserve lots of playtime, love, and care—they are part of your family. Be your animals’ guardian angel—they depend on you.

THE CAPITAL of EQUALITY CANBERRA IS AUSTRALIA’S MOST LGBTIQ WELCOMING & INCLUSIVE CITY & WE’RE PROUD OF IT. THE ACT GOVERNMENT CELEBRATES OUR LGBTIQ COMMUNITY BY SUPPORTING EVENTS THAT INCREASE VISIBILITY & INCLUSION & INVESTING IN TARGETED PROGRAMS THAT MEET THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF LGBTIQ CANBERRANS.

$2.6 million to support

2018-19 ACT BUDGET

the LGBTIQ community over 4 years

The ACT Government is investing in initiatives to boost the health and wellbeing of LGBTIQ Canberrans, in collaboration with local community organisations. This includes providing $110,000 to expand a trial of Pre-exposure Prophylaxis treatment to protect against HIV, and delivering more support for intersex, gender diverse, and transgender people and their families through A Gender Agenda. We’re the principal partner of the 2018 CBR Fair Day and Canberra SpringOUT Pride Festival, which increase visibility and celebrate the contributions of LGBTIQ Canberrans.

Events like CBR Fair Day & SpringOUT are really important – an air of positivity & celebration counts. - participant

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WHAT’S HAPPENING THIS YEAR › We’ll deliver our first ACT LGBTIQ Strategic Plan, setting out the action we’ll take to become an even more inclusive community. › Keep an eye out for our new community grants scheme, supporting fresh approaches to boosting LGBTIQ visibility and inclusion in the ACT. › A research project on the last 50 years of LGBTIQ activism in the ACT is underway. Share your story with historian Graham Willett.

› We’ll collaborate with intersex organisations to plan for the implementation of the Darlington Consensus Statement in the ACT. › Social research will ensure future decisions and services for LGBTIQ youth in Canberra are substantiated by data. › We’ll support trans, gender diverse and intersex-led peer support, education and resources.

CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF LGBTIQ ACTIVISM What’s in your photo albums?

What’s in those boxes in your garage?

What’s in your head?

Help historian Graham Willett document Canberra’s LGBTIQ past. Email gwillett@unimelb.edu.au

FUSEMAGAZINE.COM.AU

By Scott Malcolm Director of Money Mechanics

THATSTARTUPSHOW.TV MONEY CAN BE THE FUEL TO HELP US ACHIEVE IN LIFE! FOR MANY PEOPLE, THE IDEA OF STARTING THEIR OWN BUSINESS IS EXCITING AND POTENTIALLY FULFILLING, BUT IF YOU DON’T HAVE THE STARTUP CASH, GETTING THINGS HAPPENING CAN BE DIFFICULT. The major obstacle of not having enough money is often what prevents people from starting their own enterprise. Last month while in Melbourne I attended the filming of That Startup Show. As a finance geek its focus on money and startup funding was right up my alley! The show is a mix between Jimmy Fallon and Gruen Transfer with a startup emphasis! Hosted by Gizmodo Tech Editor Rae Johnston and Benjamin Law (if you haven’t, you need to read his Quarterly Essay on Safe Schools from 2017).

That Startup Show is an online and live TV show which allows entrepreneurs in the startup space to pitch their idea. The hosts and panel of experts decide on the best pitch from each week to go through to the grand final. During this episode, Rae asks the question about the future of money and how we will measure value in the future. Jo Ann Corkran from Golden Seed Investments had some great insights. “There is lots of money out there trying to find its ways into startups and opportunities”. “Until we see a global recession or major liquidity event there is a flood of money out there trying to find a place”. Jamie Skella from Horizon State was the other expert on the panel. Jamie completed an Initial Coin Offering (ICO) (yes think cryptocurrency and blockchain) raising $1.9 million for his democracy tech startup. Jamie’s view on the future of money as we know it includes crypto (check my recent article in FUSE56). Jamie also commented on an ability for money to flow in a peer to peer setting without regulation burden.

When working with our clients, we often remind them that the money stuff is energy. Our past behaviour and view of it, the good, bad or indifferent, can impact how we interact with the stuff on a day to day basis — and how it flows in our world! We can change our understanding and interaction with it through education and insight. As mentioned above, there is plenty of it in the world. If you want to embark on the startup journey, set your money framework and plan and take action to have a go. I can’t promise it will be easy, but it will be a learning experience and with the right support and approach, it can have a financial and personal reward. In the money episode, “Not All Money is Equal” we had some fantastic pitches that you can check out from: •

Martin Karafilis, co-founder and COO of Tiliter Technology, which hopes to use artificial intelligence to help save you time at those pesky self-serve checkouts. (If you are like me, getting annoyed trying to find the right fruit and veg on the self-serve system — this is life changing!);

• Stuart Stoyan, the founder and CEO of award-winning peer to peer lender MoneyPlace. (Personalised interest rate for personal lending); •

Jessica Ellerm, co-founder and CEO of Zuper, a company helping reunite you with your long-lost superannuation and have control over how you invest it. (As someone who is passionate about getting people engaged with their superannuation this is great).

Every Wednesday, you can tune in to watch an episode of That Startup Show at thatstartupshow.tv The current season has ten episodes in the series. So even if you’re not as into money as me, there’s sure to be an episode that grabs you — health, fintech, finding a co-founder and more!

Seek out further advice and start your journey to being free around your money and creating wealth with understanding.

Scott Malcolm has been awarded the internationally recognised Certified Financial Planner designation from the Financial Planning Association of Australia and is Director of Money Mechanics. Money Mechanics is a fee for service financial advice firm who partner with clients in Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney to achieve their life and wealth outcomes. We are authorised to provide financial advice through PATRON Financial Advice AFSL 307379. For more information email scott@money-mechanics.com.au or call 1300 772 643. The information provided in this article is of a general nature only. It has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on this information, you should consider its appropriateness having regard to your own financial goals, objectives and personal circumstances.

MONEYSHOT 27

u o y e Ar r e b m e am yet? VISIT SPRINGOUT.COM.AU

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PROVIDES SUPPORT WOMEN, MEN AND CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN SUBJECTED TO INTIMATE PARTNER AND FAMILY VIOLENCE WITHIN THE ACT • Crisis intervention • Legal Advocacy • Support to young people and their families • Support to men to address their use of family or domestic violence • Support groups for women and children • Security upgrades • Emergency accommodation • Safety Planning • Awareness, education and training • DVCS is an inclusive service working with children, young people and adults

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Email: crisis@dvcs.org.au (8am to 11pm daily) dvcs.org.au • FB, Twitter, Instagram @DVCSACT

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Fluidity and queerness on the celestial level

“ALL MY FILMS ARE ABOUT OUTSIDERS TRYING TO FIND HOME AND COMMUNITY.” JOHN CAMERON MITCHELL

JOHN CAMERON MITCHELL, WHO CHANNELS THE INTERNATIONALLY IGNORED SONG STYLIST ‘HEDWIG’ HIT AUSTRALIAN SHORES IN JULY, THRILLING FANS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. HE PERSONALLY INTRODUCED US TO ALL OF THE WONDERFUL DELIGHTS OF HIS OWN BRAND OF QUEER PUNK ROCK. When we talked to John, he was in the car on his way to see koalas with two-time Grammy Award winner Patti LuPone. Not many people get to say they did that. Koalas aside, if you’ve not heard of John Cameron Mitchell, he’s an American actor, writer and director. John is best known for originating the title role in the musical and film Hedwig and the Angry Inch, his cult film Shortbus (2006), Rabbit Hole (2010) and most recently How to Talk to Girls at Parties (2018), which blends Neil Gaiman, punk, and teen aliens.

John’s first film Hedwig and the Angry Inch is an original ‘queer punk rock musical’ about a German immigrant living in a trailer in Kansas. Hedwig, who was a victim of a botched sex-change operation, is on a mission to find stardom... and love. His story, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, is loosely based on John’s personal life story. His father was a military commander in Berlin, and after that his family settled in Kansas where John’s babysitter, Helga (who also moonlighted as a sex worker) was the inspiration for Hedwig. Hedwig’s lover, Tommy Gnosis was originally based on John himself. When I saw Hedwig and the Angry Inch it was the first time a movie really changed the way I thought about gender and what it meant to be queer — it’s something that John has heard many times, and he spoke about how gratifying it is to hear. “Hedwig helps people look at the world through a different lens. If you think about queerness, it’s less about sexuality and more about looking at the world through the prism of gender, realising that it’s quite fluid and that it’s connected to power, beauty and creativity.” FUSEFEATURE

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Shortbus James and Jamie decide to open the doors of their relationship by inviting in a third partner.

How to Talk to Girls at Parties A gender bending cult story with punks and alien sex fiends.

‘Hedwig’ first hit the stage over two decades ago, so we asked John how he thought the show resonated with today’s millennials, considering the current political environment in the US where John lives. Hedwig and the Angry Inch certainly has some universal themes, and John explained that there is currently a panic about government and justice in the US. “It’s causing a hapless rage where people everywhere are lashing out at each other.” It seems that just like Hedwig, people are feeling betrayed and angry. “People can get drunk on victim-hood, and that’s Hedwig — she’s a victim, she’s bitter and she’s lashing out!’ It’s cathartic.” With the way, things now are in the US, and after talking to John, it struck me that if anything Hedwig and the Angry Inch and it’s many metaphors may be even more relevant now than it was twenty years ago. Amidst all this bravado, it’s important to remember that Hedwig and the Angry Inch is also about the search for love and the healing of wounds — it’s just one of the concepts that make the story and the music so powerful.

“ALL OF MY STORIES ARE A KIND OF QUEER PUNK FAIRYTALES, AND I’LL PROBABLY KEEP DOING THAT.” JOHN CAMERON MITCHELL Based on Plato’s symposium, which tells the story of how the gods cut us in half and now we are all forced to seek our ‘other halves’, “The Origin of Love” — which is not only Hedwig’s first song but the one closest to John’s heart — is the central metaphor on which the whole story hangs. I think we can all connect and identify in some way with Hedwig and her super-charged search for love and answers. Sometimes we have no choice in what happens around us or to us, and we unconsciously seek out others to help us understand why things are the way they are. After all, no matter how broken we are, it seems that love can heal many deep wounds. There is a lot to love about John and his ability to tell stories about human connection and struggle. 30

“IF HEDWIG TOLD THE STORY OF A TRANSGENDER EAST GERMAN PUNK ROCKER IN TORN FISHNETS AND SAUSAGE CURLS, AND SHORTBUS DEPICTED SEXUALITY IN DOZENS OF POLYAMOROUS ITERATIONS, THEN HOW TO TALK TO GIRLS AT PARTIES TACKLES FLUIDITY AND QUEERNESS ON THE CELESTIAL LEVEL.” TRACY E. GILCHRIST — THE ADVOCATE In his latest film How to Talk to Girls at Parties, written by American Gods creator Neil Gaiman, John again explores sexuality, gender and what it’s like to live outside of what’s considered normal. Starring Nicole Kidman, How to Talk to Girls at Parties is an electrifying and singular punk rock extravaganza film, set in the 1970s, with plenty of queer moments and concepts that make this film strangely familiar and relatable. The story follows teenager Enn (Alex Sharp), a shy London teen, sneaking out with his best mates to after-hours punk parties. One night they stumble upon a bizarre gathering of sexy teenagers who seem like they are from another planet. And... they are — visiting Earth to complete a mysterious rite of passage. That doesn’t stop Enn from falling madly in love with rebellious alien teenager Zan (Elle Fanning) — who can change gender at will. Despite her allegiance to her strange colony, she is fascinated by Enn. Together they embark on a delirious adventure through the kinetic punk rock world of 1970s London, inadvertently setting off a series of events that will lead to the ultimate showdown of punks vs aliens, and test the limits of how far each of them will go for true love.

John’s films ‘Hedwig and the Angry Inch’, ‘Shortbus’ and ‘How to Talk to Girls at Parties’ are all available on DVD. FUSEMAGAZINE.COM.AU

SILVER ANNIVERSARY MASQUERADE BALL QWIRE CELEBRATES 25 WONDERFUL YEARS

FEATURING THE FABULOUS PAUL CAPSIS

Dine on a sumptuous three course buffet and dance to the fantastic sounds of

‘In Full Swing’

25 QWIRE

TH S ANNIVILVER ERSAR Y BALL

SATURDAY 15 SEPTEMBER

Tickets at canberraqwire.org.au

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DID YOU KNOW? The first notable form of homosexuality depicted in film was in 1895 between two men dancing together in the William Kennedy Dickson motion picture called ‘The Dickson Experimental Sound Film’.

BPM (BEATS PER MINUTE)

THE PARTY

A contender for the Palme d’Or at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival, writer-director Robin Campillo’s BPM (also known as 120 Beats Per Minute) may not have won that prize but it’s still one of the best films of recent years. Set in the early 1990s among a group of Parisian AIDS activists known as ACT UP (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power), the film blends the political and the personal as the group’s members battle — with big pharma and themselves — to tackle the disease that is decimating their community. A history lesson for some, recent history for others, BPM is powerful and, dare I say it, life-affirming.

Dinner parties only ever seem to exist in the movies to provide the characters in attendance with an abundance of either drama or awkwardness. And Sally Potter’s film is no exception. The impressive guest list — Patricia Clarkson, Timothy Spall, Cherry Jones, Emily Mortimer, Cillian Murphy, Bruno Ganz — have gathered at the home of hostess Janet (Kristin Scott Thomas) to toast her recent promotion to Health Minister in the British government, but since the film opens with a flash forward to Janet holding a gun, you can safely assume the dinner party does not proceed as planned. At just 71 minutes, Potter serves up a savagely funny light supper.

THE GUERNSEY LITERARY & POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY

IDEAL HOME

MADMAN ENTERTAINMENT

USPHE

Before singing and dancing up a storm in the Greek Isles in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, Lily James ventured to the island of Guernsey — and post-World War II Britain — for this romantic drama. After receiving a letter from a member of a literary club formed during the Nazi occupation of the island, Juliet (James), a fledgeling writer, ventures there in search of a story; meeting the eccentric members of the eponymous group, including the ruggedly handsome Dawsey (Michiel Huisman). This is the kind of period drama the Brits make as effortlessly and satisfyingly as, well, potato pie.

By Dwayne Lennox

FILM&TV

MADMAN ENTERTAINMENT

ICON HOME ENTERTAINMENT Ant-Man and Alan Partridge may not seem like the perfect match on paper, but Paul Rudd and Steve Coogan make for a believable, and believably bitchy, couple in this dramedy by Alan Fleming. The seemingly idyllic Santa Fe ranch life of celebrity cooking show host Erasmus (Coogan) and his life partner Paul (Rudd) is suddenly thrown for a loop when Erasmus’s 10-yearold grandson Angel (Jack Gore) arrives on their doorstep. Not aware that he was a grandfather, the vain Erasmus doesn’t take easily to his new parental role; Paul and Angel, however, seem to have more of a rapport but will this makeshift family arrangement be enough to save the couple’s relationship?

You’ll find all these titles at JB HiFi, online or at all good DVD outlets. Check out fusemagazine.com.au for DVD giveaway details. Reviewed for FUSE by Dwayne Lennox — thelennoxfiles.blogspot.com.au FUSEMAGAZINE.COM.AU

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A Little Laser

Cosmetic Laser Clinic Jennifer Dromgold is the owner of a boutique laser clinic A Little Laser in Manuka. She provides safe, fast, high end medical grade treatments at affordable prices. Hair removal and skin rejuvenation treatments for people of all skin types. Jennifer’s experience spans over 10 years. Jennifer has clients ranging from gay boys and girls who want to be ultra smooth to people in the trans community who need a professional clinic that understands their needs. “As somebody that supports and understands the needs of GLBTI people I’m very keen to offer my services and help individuals look and feel better. I am excited and proud to be able to offer my clients individual treatment plans and give them the time they deserve in a boutique style clinic. I enjoy building an honest relationship with my clients and love having the opportunity to help people achieve results with their individual concerns.”

We believe it’s about more than just beauty... it’s about you!

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SHFPACT.ORG.AU

OUT&ABOUT

CANBERRA SEXUAL HEALTH CENTRE We are a free, friendly, non-judgemental and confidential specialist sexual health centre. Knowing your status for STI, hepatitis and HIV allows you to reduce risk to your partners, get treatment early and stay well. Both walk-in clinic and booked appointments are available. Please call for an appointment to discuss options for PrEP.

PEP IN AN EMERGENCY If you think you have been exposed to HIV, PEP should be started as soon as possible, but may be taken up to 72 hours after the exposure. PEP is available at Canberra Sexual Health Centre, Canberra Hospital and Calvary Hospital Emergency Departments.

e entr lth C a e H xual W? ra Se O r e N b IV n UK at Ca ing H O p s n p Y o o f st ipti DO ays o rescr p w P e v E i et Pr ffect ost e can g m e You up! re th oing rEP a g P TI e r d a es ost S s an s m o m t n o s g gain Cond s dia on a s phili i t y c S e onth nd rot a m p a 6 t e s o e be ry 3 orrh s eve Gon till th s k c d e I ch ol an er ST re co d a i s s n om ld co Cond shou n e em activ y l l a Sexu

MClinic

FREE AFTER HOURS HIV/STI CHECKS

No time to get an STI check? It’s easy with MClinic for men who have sex with men. It’s on the first business Monday of every month.

2018 DATES MON 6 AUG

MON 3 SEP MON 8 OCT

MON 5 NOV MON 3 DEC

2019 DATES MON 7 JAN

MON 4 FEB MON 4 MAR

We are located at Building 5, Canberra Hospital Call 6244 2184 or check our website for opening hours at health.act.gov.au/canberrasexualhealthcentre health.act.gov.au | act.gov.au Enquiries: Canberra 13ACT1 or 132281 36

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LONG YANG WINTER CELEBRATION {THE CANBERRA WINE HOUSE}

OUT&ABOUT

At Relationships Australia we strive to support the mental health and wellbeing of people of diverse bodies, genders and sexualities, as well as those questioning their gender identity or sexual orientation. Our services can help you with: • Relationship difficulties • Communication issues • Parenting • Family violence • Trust issues • Sexual difficulties • Grief and loss • Managing conflict • Gambling issues

We can also support anyone experiencing emotional distress around the debate surrounding marriage equality.

To find our more about our services call 1300 364 277 or visit www.racr.relationships.org.au

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IT'S ALL IN THE NUMBERS

“All the statistics in the world can’t measure the warmth of a smile..” Chris Hart

86%

90%

Anti-LGBT homicides in the US have increased to unprecedented levels, and President Trump’s policies are reportedly partly to blame. There were 52 hate-related homicides of LGBT people last year in the US, according to the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programmes. This represented a huge 86% increase from 2016.

A recent survey showed that nearly 90% of Indonesians who understand the term LGBT feel “threatened” by the community and believe their religion forbids same-sex relations.

1.8 trillion

8% $66,000 The value of butt plugs, dildos and other adult items stolen, in what has been hailed as the biggest sex toy heist in history. Fun Toys London were showcasing their products at an erotic trade fair when all their products were stolen on the last day of the show.

A survey found that only 8% of Australian adults read the Bible frequently, with 29% reading it at least once a year.

In whats called ‘The Great Pacific Garbage Patch’ an estimated seventy nine thousand tonnes of plastic debris, in the form of 1.8 trillion pieces, now occupies an area three times the size of France in the Pacific Ocean between California and Hawaii. The amount of plastic is increasing exponentially, say the surveyors, who used two planes and 18 boats to assess the ocean pollution.

10 120M Every 24 hours worldwide, over 120 million people will have sexual intercourse.

Did you know that vending machines on average are more deadly than sharks? Around ten people a year are killed by falling vending machines — usually due to blatant stupidity (which is the reason ‘warning stickers’ appear on many machines) — while in 2017 only one person died from a shark attack. FUSEINTERVIEW FUSENUMBERS

THE AIDS ACTION COUNCIL PROUDLY SERVING THE CANBERRA COMMUNITY

CARE & SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV INCLUDING

COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND PREVENTION SERVICES

AIDS ACTION COMMUNITY EVENTS

New diagnoses groups Peer support network Peer based programs Women’s groups Dietitian clinic Counselling Case management A safe community space

HIV awareness training Professional education Counselling services LGBTIQ awareness training Needle and Syringe Program Peer based outreach service to sex workers and brothels Health promotion activities and campaigns

World AIDS Day Candlelight Memorial Fundraising activities Youth engagement Yoga and meditation LGBTIQ workshops, events and activities Fair Day

We love social media at the Council — we invite you to follow, like, look and tweet! Facebook : fb/aidsactionact and fb/gaymenshealthcanberra Twitter : @aidsactionact Instagram : @aidsactionact Issuu : issuu.com/aidsaction The AIDS Action Council has been serving the Canberra community for over 30 years For more information about our programs and services please call 02 6257 2855 or email us at contact@aidsaction.org.au Office hours: 9.00am - 5.00pm Monday to Friday

aidsaction.org.au 40

02 6257 2855 contact@aidsaction.org.au Havelock House 85 Northbourne Avenue (Gould Street entrance) Turner ACT 2612 FUSEMAGAZINE.COM.AU

HEALTH & WELLBEING

HEPATITIS C CURE NOW AVAILABLE

RESEARCHERS FIND CAMPING IS REALLY GOOD FOR QUEER YOUTH!

Over 600 people currently die from hepatitis C every year, but now hep C sufferers will be able to pop a pill once a day for eight weeks to cure their hepatitis C condition.

Researchers in the US evaluated a camp for queer youth aged 12-20 and found that the young campers on average had an increase in identity affirmation and hope by the end of their outdoor adventure, while also showing lower symptoms of depression. The researchers note that experiences such as this may help to combat the lower health outcomes and higher rates of depression that LGBTIQ youth tend to face.

The drug Maviret has now been added to the Australian PBS and gives an estimated 200,000 Aussies living with the condition access to the medication. Maviret contains two direct-acting antiviral agents which block the life cycle of the virus — doctors saying a patient is “virologically cured” if there are undetectable levels of the virus 12 weeks after completing the treatment.

GENETICALLY MODIFIED RICE AND HIV A study haas suggested that genetically modified rice could be the key to HIV prevention. The team of scientists stumbled upon a new way to neutralise HIV cells. The modified rice apparently contains three functional HIV-neutralising proteins, the antibody 2G12 and the lectins griffithsin and cyanovirin-N. The two sugar-binding proteins and antibody bond to HIV cells, preventing them from interacting with human cells.

SKIN-LIKE CONDOMS WIN MEDTECH GRANTS New age, skin like condoms are among the trailblazing medtech inventions that have won a share of $9.85 million in NSW state government grants. After thousands of years of linen sheaths, goat’s bladders, intestines, rubber and latex, now a skin-like hydrogel could finally be the condom that feels like wearing nothing at all. Eudeamon Technologies secured a $1 million grant to fund the new condoms — which are non-allergenic and block viral molecules and bacteria that cause STIs, as well as sperm. The texture enhances feeling and it’s hoped that the new condom may make safe sex more appealing than ever before.

COMING OUT IS GOOD FOR GAY HEALTH A new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that gay and bi men who had disclosed their sexual orientation and sexual behavior to their doctor are more likely to receive the health care they need. To avoid missing these opportunities, it’s recommended that health care providers create a setting where people can be comfortable talking about there sexuality and lifestyle. HEATH&WELLBEING

CANBERRA MENOPAUSE CENTRE

SEXUAL HEALTH AND FAMILY PLANNING ACT

shfpact.org.au

Based at Sexual Health & Family Planning ACT the Canberra Menopause Centre is a specialist service for women seeking information, support and/or medical management of menopause symptoms.

Appointments call 02 6247 3077

CERVICAL SCREENING

A SIMPLE TEST THAT COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE The Cervical Screening Test looks for HPV, the virus which can cause cervical cancer. If you have a cervix, are between 25 and 74 and have ever been sexually active you should get tested. Even if you have not been sexually active recently, or have been in a long term monogamous relationship, HPV can be dormant and become active again so testing is still important. This includes women who are same sex attracted and people who identify as transgender.

MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH ONE OF OUR EXPERIENCED NURSES TODAY 6247 3077 SHFPACT.ORG.AU

SEXUAL HEALTH AND FAMILY PLANNING ACT

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ARE YOU A SLAVE TO YOUR SMARTPHONE? A period of time during which a person refrains from using electronic devices such as smartphones or computers, regarded as an opportunity to reduce stress or focus on social interaction in the physical world.

By Alexander Thatcher

digital detox THE INTERNET HAS MADE US MORE GLOBALLY CONNECTED THAN EVER BEFORE, BUT LIFE IN THIS FAST-PACED DIGITAL AGE IS FAR FROM IDEAL. The average person now spends more than half of their waking life staring at a screen, and although there are many positive things the digital age has brought us, it’s also causing some serious backwash, and the negative psychological, social and cultural impact is real.

log off shut down get outside

A vast majority of society are feeling disconnected, depressed and alone, and studies have shown that the longer you spend on social networks, the lonelier you’re likely to be. We are inherently social creatures, but modern digital life tends to compartmentalise us instead of bringing us together. People everywhere are now starting to realise that sometimes it’s essential to digitally disconnect in order to reconnect with ourselves and everything else around us. It can start to feel like it’s just all too much and, as hard as it may sound, it might be time for many of us to reassess our relationship with technology and take a break. With that in mind here are some tips on how you can go about switching off and rediscovering the world... and maybe yourself.

FUSEFEATURE

ARE YOU A SLAVE TO YOUR SMARTPHONE?

digital detox 2 1 take a detox holiday Holidays are so precious. Are you wasting them by spending most of your days on your smartphone?

Taking a break from work or study should be synonymous with unplugging from the digital world. Studies show that it’s likely to reduce your stress levels, help with mental health and allow you to return home recharged and refreshed. Although you get most benefits from hitting that off button for two weeks, understandably this can be incredibly hard — if not impossible — for some people. The good news is you don’t have to go cold turkey, as even a small cut back will be beneficial. You could simply avoid social media for some of the time — two hours a day can be a good start, increasing it every day if you can. By taking time away from tech and not constantly posting on social media, scouring the news or watching cat videos — yes we know about that — you’ll find yourself engaging more honestly with the destination and enjoying the moment as it happens. Without our phones we’re also forced to spend time with ourselves and make REAL connections with other people. If you’re really keen just to break the digital cycle there are now many destinations offering ‘detox holidays’.

FUSEFEATURE

digital-free day

Weekends are perfect for creating digital-free days for yourself. Turn everything — especially your phone — off and spend time indulging in simple pleasures like hanging out with friends, reading a book, going for a picnic or even, heaven forbid... doing nothing at all! If you don’t think you can survive a whole day, try just allocating a few hours where you go without technology and build from there. Switching devices off at 6.00pm and not turning them back on until the morning can also be a great way to take a break each day.

dinner game

Next time you go for dinner with friends or family, encourage everyone to put their phones in the centre of the table — if someone picks up their phone, then they also pick up the bill :-) FUSEMAGAZINE.COM.AU

You might think that social media allows us to be connected to our family and “friends” 24/7, but studies have discovered that it’s actually making us feel lonelier. Reports suggest that if you spend over two hours a day on social networks, your chances of feeling socially isolated are twice as high. A study carried out by the University of Pittsburgh found that people who visit social networks over 58 times a week are three times more likely to feel lonely than those who use the sites under nine times.

things can wait

Not everything has to happen instantly! As difficult as it can be not to reply to social media messages or emails as they happen, most of the time they are not urgent and can wait if you’re on your own time. Work emails can nearly always wait until Monday morning. Not replying to emails that are sent over the weekend sends a message that says you respect your time (and their time) and that you expect them to respect it too.

‘It’s possible that young adults who initially felt socially isolated turned to social media. Or it could be that their increased use of social media somehow led to feeling isolated from the real world.’

60%

Professor Elizabeth Miller University of Pittsburgh

As many as 60% of us say that a traditional holiday doesn’t relieve our work-related stress, as we keep in contact with our work colleagues. In fact, 38% of us can’t last one day on holiday without checking our emails, either work or personal. Fifteen years ago this would never have been expected, but today many of us feel an immense pressure to remain contactable even when lying on the beach.

social media

Consider deleting your smartphone social media apps — it’s ok you can reinstall them later, but social media is one of the most common offenders when it comes to screentime, so removing the problem altogether is a great way to switch off. FUSEFEATURE

BIG GAY CHAMPAGNE BREAKFAST A lesbian, gay, trans, bi, intersex and everyone inbetween event! Eat, drink and be merry on a beautiful autumn morning with all your fabulous friends. You’ll find us on the undercover terrace. Complimentary Champagne, buy your own breakfast.

SUNDAY 18 NOVEMBER @ 9AM TIL 12 NOON SERVING YOU BREAKFAST, LUNCH & DINNER 7 DAYS Monday to Saturday 7.30am – 10.30pm • Sundays & Public Holidays 8.00am – 5.00pm

CORNER WATTLE AND BRIGALOW STREETS, LYNEHAM 46

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YOUR HOROSCOPE SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER 2018 Prepare yourself, because things are going to get pretty crazy. The next couple of months will be packed with a frantic energy and the universe will be wanting you to go, go go! For some signs, it will be an exciting time, but for others, it may feel too much and exhausting. Self-control and awareness at this time will be important. Give yourself permission to take a break whenever you need it.

Aquarius

January 21 – February 18 If you’ve been feeling a bit flat recently, you’re probably just too stressed or things just are not the way they should be dear Aquarius. Now is the time to consider how your life is going and decide if it’s time to make a course correction. Tip: It’s time to start planning your getaway!

Taurus

April 21 – May 21 Try to overcome any shyness and confide with your friends or family about how you have been feeling — they want to know how you are doing, and the right people can really offer some meaningful emotional support. Tip: Be as helpful, kind, and humble as you can.

Leo

July 23 – August 23 When it comes to understanding any problems the deeper you go, the better you’ll understand them. This could involve some uncomfortable feelings, but in the end, everything will make sense. Tip: You need to kick back, relax and let your mind wander.

Scorpio

October 24 – November 22 Take notice of how much fabulous energy there is between you and the people around you, especially during September — take the appropriate action and things will be awesome! Tip: Your health routine may need a shake-up to get your body charged up!

Pisces

February 19 – March 20 If you play your cards right the next few months could be pretty amazing when it comes to romantic interludes. If you’re already in a relationship, the coming months are conducive to revitalise your love life if it’s a bit sluggish. Tip: Take someone special for a romantic dinner.

Gemini

May 22 – June 21 Breathe deeply as your horoscope forecast for the next couple of months is going to go gangbusters! You may well be capable of anything if you really put your mind to it, so make the most of it Gemini. Tip: Take another look at your budget as it may need some changes.

Virgo

August 24 – September 23

Aries

March 21 – April 20 A significant event may absorb your attention during September. Try to stay chilled and give yourself plenty of time to fulfil any duties and meet any responsibilities you may have. Tip: It’s an excellent time for you to initiate some kind of new fitness activity.

Cancer

June 22 – July 22 If you are single love may be in the air, and for those in a relationship changes may be on the horizon. Some emotions and experiences over the next month or two may be a little disconcerting but they can also be amazingly invigorating! Tip: Meditation or yoga can really help.

Libra

September 24 – October 23

The stars say socialise, socialise and then socialise some more! Make plans and do all the things you love with friends and family. Get out into the world and have fun! You may meet someone that will change your life! Tip: Expect some exciting news to come your way.

What are your biggest hopes and dreams? It’s time to really take stock of things and shift your course to make sure life is filled with everything that brings you joy and contentment. Tip: Give your imagination free reign and you’ll be amazed at what you come up with.

Sagittarius

Capricorn

November 23 – December 22 If you allow your spirit and heart to be free, then life will be full of friendship, laughter, sunshine and love. You’re in a time full of positive energy, all you need to do is know how to use it to your advantage. Tip: There could be romance in the mix so keep your eyes open.

December 23 – January 20 If you open your heart and allow the universe to lead your way you’ll find yourself in a pretty fabulous space when it comes to work and play and love. Tip: Don’t be afraid to spice things up a little — especially when it comes to relationships and love.

STARGAZER

EMAIL DEAR ROSE WITH YOUR PROBLEM

By Rose Pappalardo

Dear Rose, I think my girlfriend may be having an affair, but I have no hard evidence. If I say something and I’m wrong, it could destroy our relationship. What should I do? SJ

Dear SJ, Sometimes relationships start to slip and this may be a good time to reevaluate feelings, as they might be sending you down the wrong path. If we are unhappy at home, one of the things that can manifest is suspicion and the sense that something may be going on. Making an accusation of infidelity to your girlfriend without being totally sure something is actually happening may not destroy your relationship, but will certainly become a wedge of distrust and disunity between you both. So, until you are sure, I would take the opportunity firstly to examine the status of the relationship, try a short or long get-away together or find something that interests you both and gives you both a different perspective of your worlds.

Dear Rose, I’ve recently started dating a new guy and it seems to be going great. The problem I have is his long-term best mate really does not like me and is causing issues. I really like my new man, but I’m afraid this will eventually kill what we have. Luke

Dear Rose, My partner is going through menopause and it has left her with zero interest in sex. I don’t want to break up, but a healthy sex life is really important to me. What can we do? Jill

Dear Jill, Loss of libido is an unfortunate side effect for some women going through “the change”. I’m not a doctor or an expert on menopause, but the cause is probably the depletion of estrogen and testosterone which affects sexual drive. Firstly I suggest you encourage your GF to see her GP or a sexual health clinic that have doctors experienced with menopause and it’s symptoms. Your GF may be unaware of the impact and may be willing to discuss solutions. Another thing to consider is that she may be feeling un-attractive or dealing with new feelings that come with menopause. Women are often compromising on the things that we value in our relationships and if you value a healthy sex life, then you need to be honest about it. Important to remember, love, communication and understanding is a damn pretty sexy thing.

Dear Luke, Having your new beau’s best friend’s approval is important but remember it’s not a deal breaker, after all, we can’t expect to be everyone’s cup of tea, and at the end of the day, it’s you that your boyfriend is dating not his best friend. I would, however, be concerned that your BFs bestie is causing issues for you. I encourage you to bring this to your new man’s immediate attention so he knows whats happening and is able to judge and deal with this issue himself. I say this because this is not your problem to deal with, just as you would expect if the roles were reversed and it was your bestie causing a problem, you would be the one to handle the situation. All you can be is honest and upfront with your new man and hope that he can see that the best friend is possibly a little jealous and may be pushing the boundaries. If he is a truly a friend his mate’s happiness should be most important, not his own personal feelings about you.

“Gender preference does not define you. Your spirit defines you.” Kristin F. Cast is the coauthor of the ‘House of Night’ series with her mother, P.C. Cast.

Need help or someone to talk to? Support is available for anyone in distress by phoning (24 Hours) QLife 1800 184 527, Lifeline on 13 11 14 or AAC counselling services on 02 6257 2855. If you require relationship support or services call Relationships Australia on 1300 364 277

ASK DEAR ROSE 48

DEARROSE

If you need help or have a question email : dearrose@fusemagazine.com.au

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DON’T TURN YOUR BACK ON YOUR SEXUAL HEALTH

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LESBIAN BISEXUAL TRANS QUEER STRAIGHT OR EVEN SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN?

SEXUAL HEALTH AND FAMILY PLANNING ACT

Visit our website at shfpact.org.au where you’ll find heaps of information — or make an appointment at the SHFPACT clinic by calling 02 6247 3077. • • • • • •

Cervical Screening and HPV Vaccine STI and HIV screening, checks and advice Reproductive and sexual health services Sexual difficulties and contraception services Canberra Menopause Centre Services for people with disabilities

FEMALE DOCTORS AND NURSES ARE AVAILABLE

The SHFPACT clinic is located at Level 1, 28 University Ave, Canberra City. We offer a holistic, confidential and respectful service. Call 02 6247 3077 or email shfpact@shfpact.org.au to make an appointment. More at shfpact.org.au

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Hannah Gadsby is a little bit lesbian