GNI MAG ISSUE 18

GNI mag Jake GRAF WRITER DIRECTOR +

PUTTING THE ‘T’ IN LGBT & PROUDLY MADE IN BELFAST

THE TRANS ISSUE Issue 18 | September/October 2015 | £3.95 / €4.95

AND!

IS MASC FOR MASC THE NEW HOMOPHOBIA?

FILMMAKER “WE NEED MORE TRANSMALE ACTORS PUTTING THEMSELVES OUT THERE”

PETER TATCHELL

THINGS ARE CHANGING IN NORTHERN IRELAND

JO BRAND

TAKING THE BISCUIT WITH BAKE OFF EXTRA JUDGE

BRIGHT LIGHT x2

GAY. WELSH. FIT. OH AND HE SINGS TOO.

PLUS...

/ THE A-Z OF TRANSITIONING / ARE YOU A FEMINIST? / ANTI GAY LOBBYING / HIV: PEP VS PrEP CELEBS / FASHION / MUSIC / NEWS / REVIEWS / MOVIES / FITNESS / HOME / FOOD & DRINK

TRADITIONAL SESSIONS TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHTS, PLUS SATURDAY AFTERNOONS LIVE BANDS FRIDAY, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHTS

BANK STREET . BELFAST IN THE HEART OF THE CITY

luxury is now affordable

Quality, Service, and Trust

GNI mag EDITOR | Kieran Clarke kieran@lambpromotions.com MANAGING DIRECTOR | Tony Day tony@lambpromotions.com DIRECTOR | Fred Scott fred@lambpromotions.com FASHION EDITOR | Tony Webster PHOTOGRAPHY | Tony Webster, Brad McClenaghan & Paul Grace

20

CONTRIBUTORS SJ Wilson / Tom Vonier / Elaine O’Shea / Harry Clayton-Wright / Harry M / Gareth C / Bliain Fitzpatrick / Jamie Baird / Dean Victor / Brian O’Flynn / Orlaith Hendron / Eamon McAuley Thomas Bates / Matthew Percy / Trudy Scumptious SPECIAL THANKS TO Union Street Bar / Kremlin / Maverick / Boombox / Therapie Clinic / Coldwood Interactive / O’Leary PR / Karma Cola / The Grand Opera House Belfast / Andrew Hayden-Smith / Rod Thomas / Jo Brand / Pearl Liaison / Aaron Eakin / The Warwick Rowers / Peter Tatchell and The Peter Tatchell Foundation / Mike Jackson and LGSM / Black Box Belfast / Jake Graf / Noel Teague / weareclosed.com / Hybrid Gym / The Meringue Girls / Hendogs Belfast / Colin McCrory-Martin and Dave McCrory-Martin / Hugh Glass / The MAC Belfast / SAIL / Anchor / Buoys / Genderjam / Su Pollard / Jasper Gallagher / Ellen Murray / Ciaran French / Oliver Crawford / C Tidmas / Alex White

BRIGHT LIGHT BRIGHT LIGHT

CONTRIBUTORS

GNI MAG is published by: Lamb Promotions Ltd 145 Holywood Road Belfast, BT4 3BE Telephone | 028 90654314 Website | www.gnimag.com All submissions to GNI are made on the basis of permission to publish the submission in GNI and its licensed editions worldwide. In the case of a picture selection, the editor’s decision is final. Any material sent is at the owner’s risk and although every care is taken neither Lamb Promotions or its agents shall be liable for loss or damage. We take great care to make sure all elements of GNI are accurate. However we accept no liabilty for any misprints that appear in this magazine. You should seek professional advice prior to following any advice offered in this publication.

Lamb Promotions Ltd 2015 @gnimag

@

gni@lambpromotions.com @GNImag #TeamGNI /gnimag

TOM BATES

DEAN EASTMOND

ORLAITH HENDRON

Tom is 18 years old and

Dean is the Deputy Editor

Orlaith is an LGBTQ and

runs a blog (tomhasatrans-

homocultural magazine. He

involved with the Belfast

currently resides in Kent. He blog.tumblr.com) which he

regularly updates and which he describes as a “transi-

tion diary, with some selfies thrown in.” His recently

ticked “getting a tattoo” off his bucket list, and enjoys spending time in Brighton and

London. This is the first his work has been published.

at Flazéda, a new millennial has previously written for Gay Times, Huffington Post and

The National Student. Twitter @deanvictorr

feminist activist. She is

Feminist Network and has

volunteered with IGLYO: an

international NGO for young people and student activists.

She was previously Com-

munity Development Officer with Here NI, and a lobbyist with the Women’s Resource and Development Agency.

CONTENts INTRO // 6 - 11

Kicking us off

TNT // 13 - 16

We road test the best of the best

FEATURES // 18 – 55

IMAGE | Paul Grace

Talking Byker and Doctor Who with Andrew Hayden-Smith | Catching up with Elton’s fave Bright Light Bright Light | On Mary Berry and Baked Alaskas with Jo Brand | Marriage Equality Around the World with SJ Wilson | RuPaul finalist Pearl! | Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners with Mike Jackson | Getting our kit off with the Warwick Rowing boys! | Our A-Z Guide to Transitioning | Grindr vs Homophobia… one for the ages? | Getting to grips with human rights with Peter Tatchell | We uncover shocking anti-gay legislation in our latest GNI MAG Investigates... | Humanism vs Feminism with Orlaith Hendron | An exclusive chat with filmmaker and all-round gorgeous human Jake Graf on page 54

STYLE // 57 – 66

Get the latest looks with fashion and grooming.

LIFESTYLE // 66 – 77

Dating advice with Eamon and our agony aunt Kitsch Bitch | We pound the streets of dirty old London town with Tom Vonier | T-shirt muscles in 6 weeks in Fitness | Sweet treats with the fabulous Meringue Girls | We review Belfast’s latest fast food joint Hendogs | Find the hottest digs on our property page | Meet our latest couple in Our Big Day

ENDS // 86 – 98

Gay history with Tom Bates | My trans child on our GNI MAG Family page | Getting camp as Christmas with Su Pollard | What’s On in Belfast and Dublin

54

JAKE GRAF

EDITOR’S LETTER 2015 is a golden age of LGBT equality.

In the US and Ireland—and many other nations around the world—the fight for marriage equality is over. Even traditionally conservative countries like Jamaica and Uganda are taking baby steps towards LGBT acceptance. As a community we have come a long way since decriminalisation.

Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for our Trans brother and sisters.

You could be forgiven for thinking that Trans people didn’t exist until 2015. And while having Caitlyn Jenner on the cover of Vanity Fair and Laverne Cox on the cover of Time Magazine is an incredible win for positive representation, the sad fact is that Trans people are still terribly marginalised even in LGB circles.

We at GNI MAG want to do something about that, which is why the mag you are holding now (or reading online) is our very first Trans Issue. No other UK gay mag has done it before. That’s right, we’re the first. #Chuffed. We have Trans dating advice, Trans history, an exclusive interview with cover star and Trans filmmaker Jake Graf, and our A-Z Guide to Transitioning, written by Trans people for Trans people.

Elsewhere we have a cheeky chat with comediennes Su Pollard and Jo Brand, talk getting our kit off with the Warwick Rowers, get all serious with human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, fall just a tiny bit in love with pop supremo Bright Light Bright Light, and find out how to take the perfect #foodselfie with those fabulous Meringue Girls...

Kieran Clarke Editor

NEXT ISSUE On sale November 2

@ gni mag Guardian Culture @guardianculture

MatthewLewis @Mattdavelewis

Doctor Who’ d.gu.com/BvCqzp

over for me for another year.

Hayley Atwell: ‘I’d like to play

Lorraine Bowen @Bowen707

VeryBritishProblems @SoVeryBritish

#Cardiff at @PrideCymru! I love

My brain is vibrating with pure rage

I had a FANTASTIC time in

Wales! Lovely to meet you on the

Culture Night Belfast

BBC Newsbeat @BBCNewsbeat

Just signing off on our Culture

@NICKIMINAJ waxwork in rude ways and Madame Tussauds isn’t happy…

Russell Tovey @russelltovey

I want to be in the #villagepeople biopic x

Pearl Liaison

“Honestly… It’s fine” – Translation:

day.

Visitors are messing with the

30

Back to London and work. Fringe

Westendproducer @westendproducer

‘Mummy can we see Elf the musical this Xmas?’ – ‘Ok darling, just let

daddy remortgage the house’. #dear

@CultureNightBel

Night Billboards here. The phrase

“traffic stopping” springs to mind! #CNB15

BPAS @bpas1968

Compulsory PSHE would help

young people have happy, healthy relationships - let’s get behind @ CarolineLucas’ bill

Punk Out @punkoutlgbt

Today is #TransLiberationTuesday

@Elfmusical

INSTRAGRAM LOVAGE

@dlanceblack

@russelltovey

GNIMAG.COM | 8

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Meet Yarny. He melted our hearts at E3.

He may be tiny and made of yarn, but this little guy is about to be as big as Lara Croft, Master Chief and Sackboy combined. Yarny is the little red protagonist of Unravel, easily the most sumptuously designed platformer we’ve seen since LittleBigPlanet. Developers Coldwood Interactive are tightlipped about a release date but we have our fingers crossed for Christmas. unravelgame.com

Oh how we love us some cheeky Warwick Rowing lads.

Their 2015 calendar has just launched (swoon!!) and all proceeds go toward their anti-homophobia charity Sport Allies. #treatyoself now with a calendar all of your own! warwickrowers.org/crowdfunder

Here at GNI MAG towers there’s nothing we love more than a carbonated beverage, especially when they are Fairtrade, 100% natural, and every bit as delicious as these three lovelies. Imagine our joy when a six pack of Karma Cola, Gingerella and Lemony Lemonade landed on our desk.

With their great taste and slick designs, every bottle you buy helps the farmers in Sri Lanka and Sierra Leone who grow the ingredients so you can feel good while you refresh the hot mess you truly are. karmacola.co.uk

GNIMAG.COM | 14

It’s been five years since the fourth and final season of Heroes ended. With Green Arrow, The Flash, Daredevil et al tearing up the TV superhero landscape it was only a matter of time before Heroes found its way back on to our screens.

This new promotional pic is courtesy of NBC. Expect cameos and plot-twists aplenty when Heroes Reborn premieres on September 24.

Watch the extended trailer at ow.ly/QIhtb

SEPTEMBER 11 Gogglebox Those late night reruns on E4 barely took the edge off while we sat on the edge of our sofa chewing our fingernails bloody and waiting for the return of everybody’s favourite Goggleboxers. channel4.com

SEPTEMBER 22 Scream Queens Horror meets high camp in this new Fox show Scream Queens from Glee helmer Ryan Murphy.

With Emma Roberts and Jamie Lee Curtis we promise it’s all you’ll be talking about come September. fox.com

GNIMAG.COM | 15

SEPTEMBER 18 Culture Night The highlight of Belfast’s cultural calendar sees more than 50,000 revellers take to Belfast’s own cathedral quarter.

Organisers are promising an even bigger line up for this year’s family friendly shindig.

SEPTEMBER 23 - 27 Radio Times Festival Trans is the theme of this year’s inagural Radio Times Festival. The 3 day fest at Hampton Court Palace will see the likes of Rebecca Root and David Walliams talk all things telly. radiotimesfetival. com

OCTOBER 31 Halloween Nobody does Halloween better than Derry/L’Derry.

Join 30,000 revellers and 600 performers who make this the biggest celebration of its kind in Europe. derrycity.gov.uk

TRIED & Tested TECH / Movies / music / what’s on

Forget wearables. The future of tech is the rideable. That’s right, now that everyone owns a Segway it’s time to move onto the next big thing we absolutely cannot live without. If you have a few grand going spare and like to imagine yourself in a post-apocalyptic Mad Max-inspired wasteland then boy do we have a treat for you. Kneepads at the ready…

1.

HOVERTRAX Range: 9 miles Max speed: 10mph Cost: £950

Smaller and lighter than the Phunkeeduck, the Hovertrax is the original rideable. It only takes half an hour to fully charge and weighs in at just 15 pounds.

2.

SOLOWHEEL EXTREME Range: 10 miles Max speed: 15mph Cost: £1,500

From the team behind the Hovertrax, the Solowheel Extreme is basically a self-balancing unicycle built for a tougher terrain. It charges in just an hour and weighs 26 pounds. (We aren’t liable for broken bones if you fall off and look like a massive dick.)

3.

PHUNKEEDUCK Range: 10 miles Max speed: 12mph Cost: £950

The celeb rideable of choice. Imagine a Segway without the handles and that’s about as close as you will get to describing the PhunkeeDuck. Lean back or forward to accelerate and brake, and you twist your feet to rotate and turn. Sound simple? Think again.

GNIMAG.COM | 13

TRIED AND TESTED | MUSIC

DISCLOSURE - Caracal

THE SOUND OF ARROWS Amazing. Properly amazing. Four years after the release of their incredible debut album, Swedish electro-pop outfit The Sound of Arrows are back. Oskar Gullstrand and Stefan Storm—who have remixed tracks for Gaga and Alphabeat— announced via Facebook that they will be performing ‘Voyage’ in its entirety at east London’s Brewhouse on October 15. Best of all they are “working on new material.” That roaring sound you hear is music bloggers combusting with delight.

For the uninitiated, The Sound of Arrows are purveyors of dreamy melancholic synth, twinned with some seriously homoerotic visuals, and we’re pretty sure there’s a mid-80s sci-fi movie vibe going on too. For fans of pure electropop it doesn’t get much better than ‘Ruins of Rome’ and ‘Conquest.’

Their first EP won them legions of fans in 2009. With promises of more wonders to come we really want it to be 2016 already. Tickets are long since gone but you could always blag it past the bouncers, right?

New Janet album October 2!! *SCREAMING*

It’s always a treat when a new Disclosure album lands.

With ‘Caracal’ Surrey lads Guy and Howard Lawrence have crafted a fine follow-up to 2013’s already superb ‘Settle.’ Due out September 25, ‘Caracal’ is a star-studded LP that swops previous collabs for the edgier vocals of The Weeknd, Lorde, and Gregory Porter.

‘Omen’ ft. Sam Smith is the catchiest track by far, racking up an impressive 10million hits in just a month. ‘Willing & Able’ with British soul artist Kwabs has a more sedate sound that won’t leave fans of house wanting more.

ROBYN & LA BAGATELLE MAGIQUE Love is free

Beloved by the gays (and who can blame us with a title like ‘Love Is Free’?), Swedish pop pixie Robyn returns once more, this time joined by veteran DJ Christian Falk and regular collaborator Markus Jägerstedt. Falk passed away last year, but the result of their collaboration has finally surfaced with this five-track mini album of house infused, floor-filling anthems. Makes us miss her collaborations with Norwegian maestros Röyksopp even more.

Life After One Direction 50% Inevitable Reunion :\ 20% RUPAUL’S BEST FRIEND RACE 15% Celeb Big Brother 10% Coming Out 5% Gay Porn (PLEASE!)

GNIMAG.COM | 14

TRIED AND TESTED | MOVIES

MACBETH // New Release October 2

52 TUESDAYS // New Release Filmed every Tuesday over the space of a year (hence the title), 52 Tuesdays is a affecting tale of 16-year-old Billie (Tilda Cobham-Hervey) who lives with her mother Jane (Del Herbert-Jane), a lesbian divorcee. Shot in docudrama style, this Australian indie flick chronicles Billie’s journey to self discovery, a change triggered by her mother’s unexpected announcement that she plans on transitioning into a man.

To give them both time and space to adjust, Jane (now James) sends Billie away to the home of her father. Struggling with the transition of a parent she now finds hard to love, Billie chops her long locks into an androgynous pixie cut and begins an exploration of her own sexual identity. Complicating matters is James’ surprise rejection of testosterone, leading to a slowing down of his transition and eventual depression. Del Herbert-Jane (who identifies as gender non-conforming) plays the role with quiet gravitas. 52 Tuesdays is not one to be missed, even if first-time director Sophie Hyde was sadly overlooked at Sundance by the similarly timehopping ‘Boyhood’.

52 Tuesdays is showing exclusively at QFT Belfast as part of the POUTFest Film Festival from September 30 For more information see: poutfest.co.uk queensfilmtheatre.com

GNIMAG.COM | 15

“I am in blood. Stepped in so far that, should I wade no more”, so says Macbeth (Michael Fassbender) as he spirals further into the madness and murder.

The story is well trotted out, but worth repeating: young soldier Macbeth, drunk on the spoils of war, encounters three witches who prophecise that he will become king. Macbeth brushes them off, only to be convinced by his cruel and cunning wife (Marion Cotillard) that the quickest way to achieve this is by killing King Duncan (David Thewlis). An enigma in the play, Kurzel goes to great lengths to humanise Lady Macbeth as more than a one-note villain, tracing her villainy to the grief of losing her infant child.

The claret runs red here, with Kurzel’s directing hand favouring plenty of slowmo action. The battle scenes look a little more Game of Thrones than RSC, but with performances as strong as these you would be hard pressed to find fault.

AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON //DVD September 14 In 2012 Marvel achieved something no studio had done before. Audiences went wild for the sight of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes going toe-to-toe with Loki of Asgard. It remains the third highest grossing film of all time. Four movies later and they’re at it again, with a new villain to shake things up.

This time the chewer of scenery is Ultron, a murderous AI built by Stark industries. Ultron (voiced and motioncaptured by the sublime James Spader) fascinates as much as frustrates, while newcomer Paul Bettany offers by far the most interesting turn as the android Vision.

Both designs are marvels of CGI, offering just the breath of fresh air this franchise sorely needs. Sadly, both are criminally underused, sacrificed to shoehorn in endless subplots to tease future sequels. ‘The Avengers’ was always going to be a tough act to follow, but however hard it tries ‘Age of Ultron’ can’t help but underwhelm.

TRIED AND TESTED | BOOKS & THEATRE

Lord of the Flies Grand Opera House September 22-26

Everything Sweet The Meringue Girls Meringue Girls Alex Hoffler and Stacey O’Gorman have done more for the humble meringue than six seasons of Bake Off combined. So if you fancy yourself the next Mary Berry ‘Everything Sweet’ has just become your new baking essential.

This new production, adapted for the stage

by Nigel Williams and staged by Timothy Sheader, is a wonderfully contemporised retelling of William Golding’s 20th century classic.

The curtain rises on a scene you aren’t likely to forget: upstage, the twisted wreckage of a plane’s fuselage roars with flames from where it has crash-landed on a desert island. Still belching smoke, across the sandy beech that is the stage, suitcases

spill their contents. The schoolboy survivors gather, bloodied and hurt, their uniforms reduced to little more than loincloths and bandages.

It is a bold opening gambit, but Lord of the Flies pays off in spectacular style. From this opening scene the audience is treated to a dramatic (and at times deeply traumatic) examination of good versus evil, order versus chaos, and the inevitable collapse of pubescent utopia into a nightmare of superstition, tribal savagery, and murder.

4/5

Humans of New York Brandon Stanton

Based on the the blog that has inspired a thousand imitators, this coffee book table features the usual coterie of Manhattan eccentrics, full blown crazies, genuinely astounding people.

GNIMAG.COM | 16

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time Grand Opera House October 13 - 17 Based on the bestselling novel by Mark Haddon, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time tells the story of Christopher, a 15-year-old autistic boy who sets out to uncover the mystery of who killed the neighbour’s dog.

The central conceit is pulled off with impressive oomph, whereby the book Christopher writes about his attempts to solve the mystery is read by his kindly teacher Siobhan who decides to stage it.

That this play-within-aplay works dramatically is a credit to writer Simon Stephens and director Marianne Elliott.

The entirety of the play is staged within the confines of a black cube; locations and images are projected cleverly onto the walls. Joshua Jenkins astonishes as Christopher.

His performance fluctuates emotionally as well as physically; from huddling on the ground when he is distressed, to capturing Christopher’s courage and misunderstanding of the world around him, is startling.

5/5

COLUMN | BLIAIN FITZPATRICK

Should we show our emotional scars?

GRIMMY ON X-FACTOR LOVE him.

AMERICAN HORROR STORY Where can we get us a Gaga style metal glove? Asking for a friend...

Bliain Fitzpatrick These days the next best thing is never

panting loudly from all angles of the bar

quite good enough, and when it comes to

in hopes he would make eye contact with

dating it feels like we are expecting more

them. Alas, his interest would not be taken.

and more from others but offering less and

SPORTSMEN COMING OUT Even better when they’re as fit as Keegan Hirst.

MORE PLZ.

LOVE HATE STAR WARS Is it Christmas yet?? Is all this waiting really necessary??? *Cantina band on repeat* STARBUCKS Mess with our Pumpkin Spice Latte at your peril...

EXTINCTION SYMBOL So we have finally fucked the planet. We had ONE job, folks.

Let this symbol be a enduring reminder of our hubris or something.

less in return.

When the post break-up fog begin to pass

This friend has resigned himself to a way of thinking that tells him because he has not yet found that someone special at the

following the ending of a relationship, it

age of thirty-five then the game is over,

can become a lot easier to assess a situation

that he is destined to wander solo forever.

more objectively, especially when the pain

If that’s how it works then I suggest we all

begins to subside. The rose tinted goggles

give up now. Let’s pack up our love-quest

lose their haze and that piercing arrow that

walking boots and head for the hills of

belongs to Cupid that was once filled with

Doom and Gloom to be eternal neighbors

ecstasy becomes more of a dull ache in the

with Ms Havisham and Molly Malone.

space around our hearts.

When we’re finished dissecting what

However, my dear readers, I do not believe that this is the way to look at

went wrong, why things fell apart, and

things. Our confidence levels may shift as

why it was never meant to be, eventually

we get older, often not always working to

we find ourselves ready to start over and

our advantage, but although this may be

begin again on the quest for our Ideal

the case it’s important to remain hopeful

Partner, Significant-Other or (as my Granny

and remember that for every Yin there is a

likes to say) “that Special Someone.”

Yang, and with that, for each of us, there is

When we reenter the world of dating

a match. Yes the perks of getting older are

there is a personal battle most of us endure

sometimes not quite as obvious and we

regarding how visible we allow our battle

activate caution a lot faster than impulse.

scars to be. Should we pretend that we are

We look before we leap because, after all,

unchanged as a result of our relationship

we could get hurt, we could break a bone,

history? Do we project the truth and

or worse a heart, and the bounce back time

wear our scars visibly, and hope that the

is not quite as fast as that of our younger

potential one won’t be frightened off?

days. So my advice to those that are back

When we all want the new and improved

on the saddle but not quite reaching the

version of everything, can we really risk

stirrup is that whatever your past may

being ourselves and losing out to the next

be, be proud of it and let it shine through.

generation of romance that comes with a

There is a match out there for all of us. It

shiny, untarnished exterior?

may just be a case of looking at things a

I recently had a chat with a friend from

different way, turning a new kind of stone

the Belfast social scene, a beautiful guy by

and remembering the old phrase ‘one mans

all accounts. Successful, attractive, kind.

trash is another mans treasure’. The trashier

So why is he still single, you may ask?

the better I say.

The answer is that he simply cannot find anyone compatible. I don’t mind telling you this guy was in no shortage of admirers that particular night, with men and women

GNIMAG.COM | 17

Now go forth and enjoy the ride.

/bliain

@bliainers

INTERVIEW | ANDREW HAYDEN-SMITH

He was the hottest lad on Cucumber bar none (sorrynotsorry Dino Fetscher).

He’s got a steamy calendar on the way but we still can’t get enough of former Byker bad boy Andrew Hayden-Smith.

We catch up with our favorite Geordie to talk Smash Hits and kicking K-9’s arse on The Weakest Link

“It’s incredibly flattering to have so many people decide you’re a heartthrob, especially when I’m in [Attitude’s Top 100] with so many fit men. I was thrilled to be in there. I’ve been bumped up from last year’s position; I think I was 70 last year so I’ve gone up a bit. I’m worried about the year when I don’t make it!

“Do I think I should I be in the Top 100?

No! I think I’m an alright looking bloke. I’m comfortable in my own skin and with my appearance now, I think. I work out at the gym a fair bit because that’s kind of what I need to be comfortable in myself. When I do go to the gym I’ve noticed I get one or two more job offers, which is incredibly fickle but that’s the entertainment business.

“Growing up gay in the limelight was tough. When I was a kid on Byker I was doing the teen magazines from about the age of 14. Seeing myself in Smash Hits was crazy. I got kind of used to it, which sounds kind of weird and bigheaded and I don’t mean it to, but it’s what I’ve grown up with!

“I knew I was gay from when I was very, very young. I got my part on Byker when I was about 12. I was doing lots of teen magazines, and in interviews the same old questions were, “Which celebrity girl do you fancy?” or “Do you have a girlfriend?”

And you have to answer those same old questions over and over. And you know you’re being fake, and you know you’re lying, but I suppose at the time it felt like survival. You’re doing what you think is the right thing to do. It’s bad enough coming to terms with it at that age, let alone being in the limelight and feeling a sense of responsibility on my shoulders.

“When I was about 17 I started coming to terms with it, and coming round to the idea that being gay was okay. It was when I started going to London that really did it for me. I thought to myself “You know, this is really alright, actually!” And after that I was a very proud gay man!

“It’s a shame I was almost outed in the press.I was going out to gay clubs at the same time as I was presenting CBBC. I met my first boyfriend when I started going out, I met some really good friends. I became a bit of regular on the gay scene in London. Loads of people knew I was gay, but it wasn’t really spoken about publically because I don’t think there were any out gay kid’s TV presenters back then. What followed was some lovely letters from parents of kids who used to watch me.

“The hightlight of my career? [Laughs] Meeting K-9 when I did The Weakest Link!

GNIMAG.COM | 18

He was the first to go, bless him. It’s got to be Doctor Who. I had such a great time filming it. That was nearly 10 years ago and I still get to do things because of it. I get to go to conventions and meet fans from all over the world. Doctor Who is huge, and to be part of that family is absolutely brilliant. Before that Russell (T Davis) said he saw me on Byker and it all snowballed from there.

“There aren’t enough gay characters on TV. There needs to be more. When Cucumber was on there was only that and Looking—which I’m a big fan of—that were gay shows focusing on gay lifestyles.

It’s a good job we have soaps because that’s mainly where we have gay characters.

“I’ve had a boyfriend for three years now. He runs a house music radio station called This Is Electric. We met when he was presenting on Gaydar Radio. I went in there for an interview and that’s how we met.

“What are our plans for the future? We’ve talked about buying a house, and we know exactly what type of dog we’re going to get.

We’re going to get a Boston terrier. He wants to call it ‘Squirrel’ which I’m not too keen on, but maybe I’ll come round to it. [Laughs]

WORDS | Kieran Clarke

COLUMN | HCW

SWOO

N

Shangri-La-de-dah

Harry Clayton-Wright

Meet Rebecca Root, a 40something-year-old actress and stand-up comedian. She is about to star in the first British transgender sitcom to ever grace our screens. Boy Meets Girl tells the story of Judy, a trans woman who finds herself in relationship a much younger man.

The trailer is chock full of the kind of warm, fuzzy moments you’d expect from Auntie Beeb.

“I never had a son,” says her mum at one point. “I had a daughter who came out wrong.”

Root is also a talented speech therapist who helps trans clients find the right voice. It took her a year to start speaking in a more feminised voice. These days she switches between that and more male speech pattern as she likes, not wanting to sound too much “like Fiona Bruce.”

“In 20 years’ time,” she says, “hopefully less, if I have anything to do with it—the audience won’t so much as bat an eyelid at a trans person on their television. So our future as trans actors is promising.”

You go, Becs!

Hi there, hello, hiya. Me again. Absolute pleasure to be back with you. Hope you’ve had a jolly good month. Let’s catch up…

So I went to Glastonbury to perform and it was, as you can imagine, completely incredible.

The premise? That I would live in a box as a teenage girl for 107 hours. That day or night, you could come and witness an ongoing performance.

Me dressed as a teenage girl called Rebecca who wouldn’t leave her bedroom. It would be chaos.

There was the slight fear that it might ruin me, but I was ready. Myself and Kaye Dunnings - the incredible artistic director of Shangri-La - came up with the idea at the previous festival and it took a year for the show to be fully developed and born into physical existence. I arrived on site two weeks before everything was due to kick off to help build the space. With my own two delicate hands. I’m not afraid to get them dirty and actually, the build is actually the best part of the festival for many people. Shangri-La, where I perform at Glastonbury, was once described as Disneyland on crack for adults, so of course my work fits in there beautifully. Once everything was ready and the room looked uncannily like teenager’s bedroom, the performance began.

Each year, Shangri-La has a theme for the field and this year’s was politics. I was tasked with creating a fictional political party and knew I wanted to front it with someone really ignorant… thus The Slumber Party was born. It involved me playing a political party leader called Rebecca Xanthe Pollard - no relation to Su - and featured Cola Phalquero and James Barnett portraying her teenage friends, Princess Dolcé and Melody. Rebecca is an 18-year-old girl from Hereford who would be staying in her bedroom as a protest against protests.

Some of the memories clearer than others.

Ahem. I’ll say no more. We had visitors to the space. Ruby Wax and Jaime Winstone came along to see us. We had parties. Oh, we had parties. We had so much fun. I made out with boys, I got to wear lots of skimpy outfits, we played spin the bottle and doing something so aggressively gay at mainstream festival - three GNIMAG.COM | 19

transvestites dressed as teenage girls in a pretty pink bedroom - felt pretty subversive and punk.

But mostly, it was an endurance test. Performing over such a long duration took its toll. By the end I was knackered. The scene on the last night was like a hippy version of Dawn of the Dead.

Reactions varied from complete surprise to complete disgust. The window was smashed in on the last night and it felt like a very poetic way end it all. Though I wasn’t upset because it was all caught on camera. The sleep deprivation had rolled over and it was hard to process anything.

Leaving the box - our once beloved performance space - was cathartic and since coming back to normality, well as normal as my life allows, I’ve been working with a super talented young filmmaker called James Barnett. As well as performing, James is an incredibly brilliant filmmaker who captured the entire thing for a documentary we’re going to release later this year. (View the trailer at bit. ly/107hoursteasertrailer). I’m very excited that we were able to capture something so magical. It’s weird to watch the footage back now. By the final hours, I am a complete mess. I started painting the walls with offensive graffiti. “Your mum’s a cunt” or “Fuck the Open University!” as Rebecca didn’t pass her travel and tourism course. It felt very much like being Britney circa 2007.

I’m writing my second column on the train to the Edinburgh Fringe where I’ll be for a month glamorously assisting Miss Behave in her Gameshow before we head back to London.

Scotland is very cold. Even though this will be my fourth year at the festival, I feel I’ve had more time to pack in the past and therefore will probably need to go and buy warm clothes.

The prospect of being rooted somewhere for a prolonged period is exciting, that’s for sure, but it will be hard work and that’s exciting too. It has been a busy summer. I’ll probably sleep for a week in September. You’re welcome to join me.

Bring your pyjamas...

Photos | Michael Chapman (@mjc_ photography)

INTERVIEW | BRIGHT LIGHT BRIGHT LIGHT

Meet Rod Thomas, aka Bright Light Bright Light. Purveyor of sparkly synth-pop & beloved by Elton John, this talented singer-songwriter is making impressive gains in the music biz.

Here he talks Queer as Folk, growing up in the valleys, and why you won’t catch him watching The Voice…

WORDS | KIERAN CLARKE

Congrats on performing at Hyde Park British Summertime Festival. What was that like?

Oh it was amazing. It was such a good line up, all the artists I grew up buying records off and listening to were there, and hoping one day I’d do what they’ve done. It was incredible to have them all in the same place. It’s not something I ever thought I would be part of. It was pretty special.

advice, and offer camaraderie, which not a lot of people in his position do.

There’s a lot of musicians that could support young emerging artists and don’t chose to do that. It’s not their responsibility to do that, of course, but it’s definitely within their power to help. And very few people chose to do that, so I’m a very big champion of his. He tries to give as much back to music as he gains from it.

It was an incredible line up. Years & Years, Nile Rodgers, Kylie, Grace Jones… Did you stick around to watch?

Of course. It’s hard to say who my highlight was because they’re all very amazing in really different ways. They all delivered something really different and they were all really incredible.

He’s a big champion of yours. That can’t happen often.

No, it doesn’t. I still can’t believe that happened. It’s very surreal for me, but it’s a testament to the fact he’s not doing things to cash in and keep his own career afloat. He would have gained much less from performing on my single than I gain from him doing that. It’s not a practical move, it was from the heart and that’s appreciated.

I’m sorry, the correct answer was “Grace Jones.”

[Laughs] I’ve seen them all multiple times, so for me there wasn’t really like one highlight. Grace Jones though, there’s nothing like her on the planet.

She is amazing. You’ve performed alongside some massive names. Do you still get star struck?

Yes I do, it doesn’t ever really lose its shine. I’m foremost a music fan, really, so doing these shows is like a dream.

It doesn’t ever get more normal. Things you do get more and more high profile as time goes on, I suppose. But it never gets any less mind blowing to be mentioned alongside someone who is super established or super famous, or somebody that you’ve bought records off, or somebody that, you know, still inspires you.

Speaking of inspirational people, you’ve toured with Elton John. You even had a duet with him on your last album. If you find yourself getting complacent about performing with Elton you’re probably in the wrong industry, right?

You’re probably dead.

Probably! What’s he like to work with?

He incredible. He’s very inspiring because despite what people read in the tabloids he’s very down to earth, and he’s very human. He’s someone who still very much appreciates where he is, and he knows how hard you have to work to get there. So anytime he sees someone work as hard as he does, he is very keen to help and offer

Performing with Elton is one thing, how does it feel to finish a mammoth UK tour?

I’m on tour all of the time so it never feels like a tour stop-starts. It’s something that I’ve been doing for the last year, so it’s an ongoing thing. It’s really great to play in the UK. But it’s quite a hard place to tour because if you aren’t at a certain level it can be quite tough because a lot of the cities are very close to each other, so getting good shows across the UK can be a tough thing to do.

I’m really lucky that I got the chance to tour the UK and see some places I really love, and to go to so many new places and have so many different audiences. It’s a really great place and there are so many great people in the UK. It must be a pretty big change from growing up gay in rural Wales. What was that like?

Probably what it’s like growing up gay rural anywhere, I imagine. There are a lot of cultural differences when it comes to growing up gay. I think most remote places have a similar kind of attitude where it’s just not the norm. It’s not particularly the biggest taboo but it definitely is something that’s not really understood, you know? I grew up in a coal-mining village, which is the same as like a steel-mining village, or a farming village, or any other kind of suburb where you don’t have many gay people…

There’s just not that much spectrum in society in these kinds of places. Anything that breaches the norm is met with like, not quite resilience, but there’s

GNIMAG.COM | 20

INTERVIEW | BRIGHT LIGHT BRIGHT LIGHT

GNIMAG.COM | 21

INTERVIEW | BRIGHT LIGHT BRIGHT LIGHT

no comprehension of it. They just don’t understand that you’re exactly like everyone else; you just don’t wear the same kind of clothes as them. You know?

Was your coming out a positive experience?

Erm… it was an experience. I didn’t have the toughest time of anyone that I know, but it definitely wasn’t a breeze. I was very lucky that I had lots of other gay friends in south Wales. Swansea was close by and that had a gay scene, and there was a support network there, and I have a supportive family but it wasn’t easy. However openminded anyone says they are, when things happen to them in their own world it’s a completely different story. It doesn’t mean they’re not being supportive but people react in a different way when things are right in front of them. Even if it’s as simple as someone’s parents wanting them to be a doctor, and they want to go out and work for a charity instead, some people can’t cope with that. People are very reluctant to admit they all have dreams and trajectories that they impress on people, and when they aren’t quite met it’s a point of contention.

Has being gay has influenced your music?

Maybe in terms of the references, like I guess the reason why people like Erasure, and Pet Shop Boys, and Elton and a lot of disco stuff spoke to me is because the gay clubs were playing it. So maybe. I don’t tend to write about particularly gay experiences.

Some of my songs are about female-tofemale relationships. Some are about maleto-male relationships. Some are written from a female point of view. It’s not all about me. It must have influenced me in some way, I suppose, there’s a lot of fun in gay culture, and a lot of expression and honesty in it, and a lot of really brutal honesty as well.

But as an artist you don’t have to share everything about your personal life. It’s not your responsibility to do that but I think it’s important to be honest to yourself. So if you’re presenting the image of being something you’re not you’ve got to be prepared to deal with the consequences of being questioned.

People who are open about their sexuality and to themselves speak to me a lot more than people who aren’t. I’m much more interested in people like Tori Amos or Depeche Mode than I am in the next winner of The Voice. But then those sorts of people are for a very different audience.

And that’s not writing off people in those categories. There are some incredible people that have come from those shows like Will Young, Leona Lewis, Alexandra Burke, and they’re all very talented, but I think I bring a bit more to the table.

Has being gay held you back as an artist?

When I started doing pop music I was nervous about how the gay press would receive me. I grew up reading the gay press, and always dreaming of being in like Attitude or GayTimes and hoping they would like what I did. I was scared they wouldn’t support me. I think the initial hurdle was internal, but I don’t think being gay has hindered me in terms of my career.

It took a little while but the reception was really positive.

When I was growing up shows like Queer as Folk really blew open a lot of conversations you couldn’t have until

Your song “Good Luck” – which is probably the best breakup song we’ve ever heard, by the way – is kind of gender neutral too. Do you think it’s important for artists to be open about their sexuality in the way you are in order to be open about their experiences?

Thank you! I think it depends if they are the writer of their songs. So many people think it’s someone’s duty to be open about their sexuality.

GNIMAG.COM | 22

that point. That definitely affected future generations, not so much my generation but for kids now the taboos aren’t there anymore. Like it’s not taboo to talk about sexuality in schools, you can do that now.

Shows like that paved the way for that taboo to be chipped away bit by bit for every generation.

Now we have shows like Cucumber, even Hollyoaks and Eastenders and Coronation Street have gay characters, and that’s even more effective because those aren’t solely gay shows that homophobic people will not watch. You have mainstream television shows which actively promote their gay characters, and that does a lot more to bring down walls than having a queer reality show. If it’s part of a mainstream show it can’t really be ignored.

So what’s next for you besides a moving to Albert Square?

Oh Christ, what isn’t next?! [Laughs] I’ve been dying to go to Ireland and Northern Ireland a lot more. We did our first show in Dublin last year and it was nice to finally get over that tiny bit of water.

I’m still touring at the moment; there will be more touring next year. I’ll be back in the studio working on the next album. The remix album just came out and I’m flying here, there and everywhere. So you know, the usual.

Life Is Hard – The Remixes is available now from Self Raising Records.

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INTERVIEW | JO BRAND

Jo Brand is a busy woman.

Between guest roles on the likes of QI, Have I Got News for You, and The Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice, the long established comedienne is coming dangerously close to the status of a national treasure.

WORDS | Kieran Clarke

Far from her controversial early stand-up

“Most of the story-lines, attitudes, atmosphere,

routines where she routinely threatened to

some of the characters and the general approach

castrate offending punters, the grand dame

to Getting On came from my time as a nurse, as

of British comedy has come a long way since

I worked with the elderly for a substantial part

her formative years dealing with drug addicts,

of my training. But no, it won’t be coming back,

alcoholics, and the clinically depressed as a

I’m afraid.”

psychiatric nurse. It is a much repeated cliche

And what of her long fought campaign to

that comedians are tortured souls, and while Jo

save the NHS? Earlier this year she recorded a

has by no means had it easy, these days you are

party election broadcast for the Labour party

more likely to find her knitting than pondering

to promote mental health services. “Now that

her own personal demons.

the conservatives are in power I have no hope

“My mum taught me to knit when I was a

for the NHS whatsoever,” she explains. “David

child and I turn to it, for some weird reason,

Cameron saying it’s important to improve

when I’m feeling depressed.” A literal comfort

mental health services while scything his way

blanket, then. How is she feeling lately, we

through what remains of those services is going

wonder? “I’m fine thanks, and even if I wasn’t I

to be the status quo now…”

wouldn’t tell a magazine.” Bloody charming!

She is tight-lipped about that other much

She may have settled into a comfortable

loved role of hers, presenting The Great British

middle age, but the Jo Brand who first took to

Bake Off’s companion show The Extra Slice. If

the stage in the mid-Eighties as The Sea Monster

you haven’t seen it think Hollyoaks: After Dark

(“I think it rather suits me, really. I was the child

or Big Brother’s Bit on the Side but with more

that always got picked to play Bethlehem in the

Gingham check and marble cake. This year Jo

school nativity”) has hardly changed. Back then

is back for another bite, but that doesn’t stop us

her act was delivered in a dead-pan monotone.

quizzing her on televisual icon Mary Queen of

With her Doc Martens, spiky hair, and

Cakes Berry (“She’s lovely, although her views

alternative feminist comedy, she was frequently

on feminism are very different from mine”), and

accused of being a man-hating lesbian, once

poor Ian and his baked Alaska (“I’ve never had a

joking that “men are fantastic - as a concept.” We

baked Alaska moment on telly. Plenty on stage

really couldn’t agree more, Jo.

and plenty in life which thankfully weren’t

“Well, for a start off that is a joke,” she explains. “It amazed me how many thin-

being recorded for the delectation of viewers”).

These days you’re more likely to find her

skinned heterosexual men there are, considering

trying her hardest to stay in shape rather than

they’ve been taking the piss out of women for

indulge in sugary treats. Her time in the judge’s

centuries. I can’t see why calling someone a

seat for ITV’s defunct Tom Daley diving show

lesbian is an insult, anyway. I had already had

Splash! is long gone, but she remains a fan of

abuse in my job as a nurse and on the street so

cycling and swimming.

par for the course.” For the record, she neither hates men nor is a lesbian.

“I try to grin and bear it. There are aways going to be arseholes abusing anyone in public

She has put her experiences of working for

who is not perfect. And they’re not normally an

the NHS to good use, co-writing and starring in

oil painting themselves. Learn a few put-downs

Getting On, a darkly comic BBC4 drama series

and go for it. Please feel free to try, ‘And where is

about life on a geriatric ward, directed by Doctor

your girlfriend? Outside grazing, I presume.’”

Who star Peter Capaldi. Getting On won her a BAFTA for Best TV Comedy Actress. That was in

The Great British Bake Off: The Extra Slice, BBC

2011 and we still miss Getting On.

Two, Fridays at 9pm

GNIMAG.COM | 24

INTERVIEW | JO BRAND

GNIMAG.COM | 25

FEATURE | MARRIAGE EQUALITY

#LoveWon WORDS | SJ Wilson

GNIMAG.COM | 26

FEATURE | MARRIAGE EQUALITY On June 26 2015 history was made.

On June 26 2015 the right of every man and

In May 2015 a referendum was held in the Republic of Ireland. This snowballed into an event so

woman in the United States to marry their partner

enormous that Irish migrants travelled home from

regardless of their gender or orientation was

every corner of the planet so they could vote in this

enshrined in law. June 26 2015 marks a watershed

game-changing referendum. Social networks were

in the gay rights movement, a high-water mark that

dominated for days by images of packed departure

will likely never be surpassed.

lounges. #HomeToVote became the hashtag of choice

On that day - in the final ruling of a case known as Obergefell v Hodges - five out of the nine

in the lead up to the vote.

The movement has since snowballed. More than

Supreme Courts justices ruled same-sex marriage

thirty countries worldwide now recognise same-sex

a constitutionally protected right under the equal

marriage as law. Even the tiny nation of Pitcairn

protection clause of the 14th amendment. The ruling

Island, home to less than fifty people and no same-

also declared that prior attempts by conservative

sex couples unanimously voted to recognise same-

states to ban gay marriages were unconstitutional.

sex marriages.

Justice Anthony Kennedy, who cast the deciding

In Northern Ireland we have politicians arguing

vote, wrote in his opinion for the majority, “The

over issues that have little to no bearing on how

history of marriage as a union between two persons

their constituents live their lives. Protests fall on deaf

of the opposite sex marks the beginning of these

ears time and time again. Our leaders are failing the

cases. To the respondents, it would demean a timeless

people they are supposed to represent every time

institution if marriage were extended to same-sex

an opportunity for NI to embrace equal marriage is

couples. But the petitioners, far from seeking to

raised. The ugly face of bigotry, hatred and fear show

devalue marriage, seek it for themselves because

their face time and time again. It is impossible to

of their respect—and need—for its privileges and

know how equal marriage would impact Northern

responsibilities.

Ireland without seeing it enshrined in law. From

“Changed understandings of marriage are

other countries that have implemented marriage

characteristic of a Nation where new dimensions of

equality we can see that it does not lead to the end of

freedom become apparent to new generations.”

civilisation as we know it.

The SCOTUS ruling acknowledged that LGBT

One day soon Northern Ireland will join the rest of

people have been fighting for equal rights for

the UK and Ireland in celebrating the love between

decades, in particular the right to equal marriage. In

two people who want to get married regardless of

what may come to be the most important document

their gender. But it will only happen if we keep up

on civil rights in a generation, Kennedy went on to

the fight. The protests and rallies have to continue.

say, “No union is more profound than marriage, for it

The politicians who have been fighting for equal

embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion,

marriage will have to keep fighting. Heterosexual

sacrifice and family. In forming a marital union, two

couples must keep up their support to maintain

people become something greater than once they

that couples very much like themselves be afforded

were.” What the SCOTUS ruling reaffirmed was the

the same right to marry that they themselves have

strongest declaration yet that #LoveWins.

always had. Only then will the zealots who currently

In the aftermath of the ruling President Obama

control what is or isn’t officially sanctioned as love

declared “Love is love. This ruling is a victory for Jim

will have no option but to concede defeat. And if that

Obergefell and the other plaintiffs in the case. It’s a

never happens the choice will be taken from their

victory for gay and lesbian couples who have fought

hands. It is only a matter of time before the European

so long for their basic civil rights. It’s a victory for

Court of Human Rights overrules our bigoted and

their children, whose families will now be recognized

narrow-minded politicians in Stormont Castle.

as equal to any other. It’s a victory for the allies

Northern Ireland is not the cultural and religious

and friends and supporters who spent years, even

backwater it is often portrayed as in the media. We

decades, working and praying for change to come.”

have come so far since the dark days of our recent

What was it that sparked the Equal Marriage

history that the country as we knew it then is

revolution? Was it the ongoing struggle from LGBT

unrecognisable now. Our future is very bright indeed.

people and their supporters? Was it politicians with

I think we can all look forward to the day when we

sympathetic hearts? Perhaps it was a small country

can say “Love Won in Northern Ireland.”

off the coast of the United Kingdom that has had its fair share of equality issues.

GNIMAG.COM | 27

INTERVIEW | MIKE JACKSON

Mike Jackson is one of founding members of LGSM. Their campaign to raise money to help families affected by the miner strikes in 1984 was immortalised in 2014’s hit movie Pride. 30 years later and and LGSM are still going strong.

WORDS | Kieran Clarke

Did you have any idea of what LGSM

arrived at 1 o’clock in the morning, so

and to take a badge. And they started

could have achieve when it started?

all 27 of us had to stay at Dai Donovan’s

wearing gay badges on their lapels on

No way. Absolutely not. No! We were

house. So there was Dai, his wife

picket lines. I remember taking “gays

joining millions of others in Britain

Margaret, two border collies, two kids,

against fascism badges” with a pink

supporting the miners because we felt

and 27 screaming lesbians and gay men.

triangle on it...

the cause was just. People would have

I suppose initially we were surprised in

come at that from all sorts of political

1985. Now, it doesn’t surprise me at all.

angles, but we had people in LGSM who

That was incredibly important to us because that meant we were on picket lines where miners from South

just did it for social justice because the

What can people do to support LGSM?

Wales would bump into miners from

way the miners were being treated—and

One of things about the lesbian and gay

Lancashire, Scotland, Kent, wherever,

because what would have happened to

community that is almost unique is

and that would provoke a discussion and

them if these mining communities closed

that throughout human history, at any

that then opened a dialogue. That was the

down—was so unjust.

moment in time, anywhere around the

best thing the miners could do for us, to

world, the LGBT community will always

identify with us as gay people sharing a

But to then find, a year later, that they were supporting lesbian and gay

be a minority. So we always

rights at the TUC and Labour Party

need allies. And so we need our

Conferences in 1985 was just… we

heterosexual allies to speak up

couldn’t believe it. I think I probably

for us. They need to be seen to be

cried when I heard that. It was just

standing up and identifying—as

fantastic. And so counterintuitive as

the miners did—with lesbian

well. One of the horrible things that the

and gay rights.

Thatcher government did was that they

One of the astonishing

would constantly demonise the miners

things about the miners

as “the enemy within,” “the mob” and

strike is, the miners needed

“hooligans.” That was just a pack of lies.

money, they needed support and political support, and

Were you surprised as well by the level of

LGSM needed an identity.

support you received from the miners?

One of the early things

That first visit to Wales wasn’t at all like

that they did intuitively is

the movie portrays it. 27 of us went down

that they worked that out

to South Wales in two minibuses and

for themselves. There’s a

my friend Tim’s clapped out Volkswagen

great thing in the mining

camper van. The windscreen wipers

community about badge

didn’t work, the breaks weren’t too

exchanging. It was a great

good… We got lost in the valleys and

honor to be given a badge,

GNIMAG.COM | 28

common cause.

COLUMN | ELAINE O’SHEA

The G Spot; Hot Girls and Where to Find Them.

Elaine O’Shea We might all feel like proper feminists deep down, the kind of strong, independent,

carefree women we all want to be, but you can’t deny that sense of longing to hold

someone close at night, someone to look you deep in the eyes and innocently ask you who that girl you just added on Facebook is???

For all you single ladies hoping to bag

another single lady, here is the definitive

guide to the best spots for meeting the woman of your dreams (and a little idea of what she might be like when you find her)…

Starbucks Ah, Starbucks, the budding writers home away from home! For coffee lovers—and women on the prowl—Starbucks has a lot of tasty delights to offer. Here you will find a varied selection of hot women to peek at through your foam filled white mocha with chocolate sprinkles.

Look at that the budding writer over by the window! She could be the next JK Rowling if it wasn’t for that creepy girl in the corner who keeps watching her and making her lose focus.

Or how about the gaggle of college girls dolled out in H&M’s finest? It’s all but a cert that one of them is a blossoming bisexual.

Before you admit defeat consider again the mousy girl with her moleskine notebooks and pile of books as tall as herself. I mean, sure she has melodrama practically tattooed on her forehead, but she has potential! Just think of all those nights you could spend together debating the downward spiral of lesbian literature, or the lack of realistic female protagonists in young adult fiction these days.

Clubs There is no big difference between gay or straight clubs, not really, not when you think about (especially since Ruby Rose and her multitude of lookalikes became the new way to confuse and confound heterosexuals).

In a gay club you are likely to meet the “Oh, I have a boyfriend, I’m just here with my gay best friend” type. After three drinks the

chances of “I’ll kiss you in the toilets” increase dramatically. In a straight club you’ll find the lesser spotted “I’m so drunk and I hate men so I’ll try kissing women for the night” lot. Besides these two distinct groups, you could always try your luck with the sultry DJ and her fashionably alternative haircut.

Some say she’s a player, other’s say she’s misunderstood... roll the dice.

Pubs “There’s no difference between a pub and club for meeting women!” Ladies, I hear your cry, but I’m afraid it’s not all the same brand of alcohol-induced gibberish.

The differences are subtle, but many.

Walk into your average corner pub any night of the week and you are guaranteed a wider variety of tastes than you will find in any old nightclub on a standard Friday evening/Saturday morning.

A pub, first and foremost, generally won’t leave you with permanent tinnitus; this invites conversation, which is the perfect way for you to whip out your tales of the lesbian high seas when you used to rub shoulders with the Dina Shore regulars. Even though none of it actually happened, who really cares after that third vodka and Coke?

But wait, who’s that girl who just walked in looking tall, tanned and gorgeous and fresh off a plane? This could be your chance to show her around town and charm her with stories of your debauched past! After that, she’ll be so smitten she can never return to her motherland. Sadly, after ten seconds of lusty eye blazing, she opens her mouth with an accent stronger than your mother’s after she loses her last hand in bingo. She’s a regular, who had one to many trial periods of Katie Price’s fake tan for a natural glow.

Before you bin your copy of “Swedish for Beginners” you can have one more

GNIMAG.COM | 29

crack at that girl we all know and love, commonly known as “the rebound chick”.

You’ve heard the phrase “men are pigs” (you’re probably guilty of belting it at the top of your lungs from time to time) just wait for Miss Suave here to swoop in and show her why women do it better.

Those are your choices ladies. You may find it all a bit daunting at first, but remember there is always online dating, that one chronically single friend who loves setting up other chronically single ladies, or even the lesbian phone tree. The woman of your dreams could be putting on her Converse All Stars right now ready for a night in town. And where are you? Reading this?

Go, quick!

@celticbard86

INTERVIEW | PEARL LIAISON

GNIMAG.COM | 30

INTERVIEW | PEARL LIAISON

Fresh from RuPaul’s Drag Race iconic seventh season, Pearl Liaison steps off the stage at Boombox looking flazéda in a next level custom BCALLA jumpsuit, and every inch the Stepford Wife robot bitch from Brooklyn we know and love. Channeling old-school Hollywood with her impeccable style and devil-may-care attitude, Pearl emerged as one of the most enigmatic queens to date. GNI MAG catches up with her for a rare chat…

WORDS | Matthew Percy IMAGES | Mathu Anderson

Welcome to the UK. How has it been for you so far?

Well I just arrived yesterday, and all we’ve done so far was have dinner. But last time I was here it was great. Everyone was super awesome. Every once in a while I’ll get to stay in one city for two or three nights, but it’s mostly in and out.

It kinda sucks, but I always try to get out as much as I can and see what I possibly can at least in a mile radius! I don’t know which place I love the most. Dublin was great. Paris was great. I loved Australia.

Ireland lives up to the reputation that everyone loves to drink!

Your new album ‘Pleasure’ is pretty different from most drag music. How would you describe it?

Thank you! I wanted to create something a little different from what every other girl from drag race has been doing. I’ve always loved house music so I decided to go in that direction. I lived in Chicago for four years and that’s where I started to listen to and love house music and I really wanted to go back to my roots and use my experiences to make something a little different.

What do you think sets you apart from other queens?

There are such a variety of drag queens and drag styles. A lot of people think we all are quite similar but really everyone is doing their own thing.

From this season of Drag Race I think we all had our own thing going on. I was the weirdo. Violet had a kind of burlesque thing going on. Ginger was more of a stand up girl,

and Katya was a total fucking idiot. I would say no two drag queens are the same. We all have our differences.

Let’s talk politics. Your home state of NYC was one of the first to legalise same-sex marriage. Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK where that is still illegal. What do you make of that?

It’s really fucked up that Northern Ireland still hasn’t legalised gay marriage. Your politicians should take a few tips from Ireland. It isn’t right.

We’ve been having Pride celebrations in America for 50 years, and because of the legalistion of same-sex marriage in the States I don’t think there would be much reason for political parties to attend Pride because its not going to affect whether or not you can get married here. It’s more about celebration of those victories.

This is our trans issue, so what do you as a drag star make of Glasgow Free Pride attempting to ban cisgender queens from their celebrations?

For me, it’s so blasphemous. I don’t even know how anyone would even begin to make an issue out of drag queens coming to pride. Why would anyone consider doing that? It’s so confusing!

I understand why some trans people might object to drag, but I think that those same trans people forget that they are still a huge part of the LGBT community.

There’s a T there for a reason. But I guess that’s the same everywhere—especially in America—if we take ten steps forward there will always be one small one step back for

GNIMAG.COM | 31

someone on some level.

Everyone has an issue with something!

If drag queens were banned in American prides there would be a frickin’ rally.

Let’s talk about your fragrance. You’ve made herstory as the first Drag Race contestant to release a signature fragrance. What can you tell us about Flazéda? (“It’s the new hashtag.”)

It was never really my intention to release a fragrance of my own. I was approached by this guy who wanted to bring out a fragrance and he wanted me to be his muse.

So we discussed what we wanted it to smell like, he then sent me samples, I narrowed it down to which one I liked, designed the bottle and shot a fashion commercial for it.

It was pretty awesome!

Let’s talk about your involvement with HIV Equal campaign. There are so many phobic attitudes to people with HIV around the world. Why do you think that’s the case?

It all comes down to a lack of knowledge and education. So what I try to do is try to educate. I feel like I’m constantly having to educate somebody on something. I’m always surrounded by ignorance. I meet a lot of people who are really close-minded.

I’ve always had this attitude of trying to expand people’s minds which is why I got involved with the HIV Equal campaign.

I date positive guys all the time, like everyone should. It’s not how it used to be.

To have HIV is not the end of the world. It’s not a death sentence, you know?

Pearl appeared at Boombox, Belfast.

INTERVIEW | THE WARWICK ROWERS

You know (and love) them for getting their kit off, but there’s more to those Warwick Rowing lads than meets the eye. In 2012 they joined the fight against homophobia through their charity Sport Allies, a program designed to help to young people challenged by bullying and low self-esteem. Their 2016 calendar has just launched and we can’t get enough!

WORDS | Kieran Clarke IMAGE | Angus Malcolm

Whose idea was it to start the calendar, and

What was it like shooting the calendar?

When the calendar started out, the boys at

what prompted the idea?

I knew from the last shoot that any initial

the time could never have imagined that

The calendar started six years ago and it was

awkwardness would quickly be avoided

it would grow into what it has become, so

the idea of Angus, our photographer, and

by the unbelievable amount of fun we had

to be honest there was no intention for the

Chris, who was President of the Rowing

on set. Without wanting to give away too

calendar to do anything other than perhaps

club at the time.

many of our 2016 surprises, there was one

raise a couple of hundred quid towards the

shot where I got to sit in the sun and drink

clubs running costs.

The pair are friends, and Chris had been talking about how the club was struggling

Champagne, it’s a hard life but someone has

to support itself financially and things were

to do it!

starting to like dire for the future of rowing at Warwick.

However the project started to grow and after three years, sales started to become more than just a few hundred to family

Was it always your intention to fight

and friends. It was at this point the boys

homophobia using the proceeds of the

- with the help of Angus - became aware

born to shoot a calendar to raise funds for

calendar or did that happen after it became

this support was coming from the gay

the club. We’ve never looked back!

popular with your gay followers?

community. The gay community, by buying

With this situation in mind, the idea was

GNIMAG.COM | 32

INTERVIEW | THE WARWICK ROWERS

calendars, was enabling us to take part in

I think there must be a myriad of reasons

things a step further, and create even more

sport. From that the Sport Allies movement

- nothing in nature is binary or has one

innovative and I interesting shots of the

was born. We wanted to return the support

ultimate solution.

boys. That’s all I can reveal for now but we

and help gay people, in fact everyone, take

From stories of bullying I’ve heard that

will tease information through our Twitter

part in sport. For us sport was such a big part

go on in dressing rooms and sports fields

and Instagram and Facebook as we build

of our lives we felt everyone should have

around the world, one of the reasons has to

up towards launch in the autumn. If that

the chance to take part and not be excluded.

be fear. That’s one of the key areas where

seems too far away you can purchase plenty

sport allies is trying to make a dent, by

of digital images and previous calendars to

Obviously there are loads of gay sportsmen

combatting the fear and exclusion that goes

get a feel for our work at our website!

and sportswomen out there. Apart from the

on at the grass roots levels of sports.

well-known examples, why aren’t more of them out and proud about their identities?

What can we expect from the 2016

That’s a really interesting question! I don’t

calendar?

To support Sport Allies visit

think I’m qualified to answer it, though.

This year, as ever, we’ve tried to take

warwickrowers.org/crowdfunder

GNIMAG.COM | 33

COLUMN | GARETH C

So you think you’ve come in contact with HIV. What next?

Gareth C. So you went out at the weekend, caned it,

majority have no long-term ill effects. If

greater flexibility around commencing

bored, lonely, and in need of validation? Like

HIV (the feelings of dread in the pit of

sero-discordant couples (one HIV+, one

and slept with a stranger? Were you were

countless lads before you, you were all for

safe sex but the in the heat of the moment you forgot all about it. We’ve all been there.

I have no right to preach when it comes to

this particular arena - nor does anyone else for that matter - but if this sounds like a familiar story please don’t bury your head in the sand.

you think you’ve come into contact with my stomach when I thought I had, I’m likely to forget) you can obtain what’s

called post-exposure prophylaxis or PEP from your local A&E department. PEP

health screening. The majority of screenings

are painless, non-invasive tests which for the most commonly spread infections including

gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, herpes and, of course, HIV.

Tests are carried out at your local hospital’s

Genitourinary Medicine (GUM) Clinic. You can bring a friend if you need to and be as

anonymous as you like. A much easier route is

to contact a charity like Positive Life NI or The Rainbow Project. Both charities run regular

clinics that they advertise well in advance on social media. Both can arrange a rapid HIV

test if you need one. Don’t be tempted by home testing kits. They are seriously pricey and if you

have unfortunately caught something then that

extremely high, although mild side effects common. PEP will only work if you start taking it within the initial 72 hours of

exposure, so the sooner you start taking it the better. Rates of HIV transmission are

The waiting is the worst part, but it’s better

to be sure than to live with that uncertainty

and risk harming potential partners. If you find yourself with an STI the good news is that

treatment is usually straightforward and the

perspective. You don’t have to go through it alone. If you find you have to start a

course of treatment make sure you follow the guidance exactly as you’re supposed to. If you’re still unsure, ask an expert.

Whatever the outcome remember that

deep breath. You’ll be fine.

To make matters worse, one quarter of

are infected, making it distinctly possible that if you have unprotected sex with a partner who’s status is unknown then

you run the risk of contracting it. While HIV is tested for during a sexual health

thing is how you deal with them. Take a

Sexual Health Checklist Sexual Health checklist Attain PEP within 72 hours Rally the support of a friends

screening, if you decide not to use PEP

Get a full sexual health screen

test later on because the amount of HIV

Take your medications as directed

you will be required to have a further present in a newly infected person’s

bloods isn’t high enough to be detectable until three months after transmission.

I won’t lie and tell you that

psychological scars I inflicted on

take a little longer.

and counselors will help keep things in

people living with HIV aren’t aware they

your treatment. Results can be attained fairly ten minutes. The results of a full blood work

trained staff of sexual health advisers

mistakes do happen. The most important

everything is going to be okay following

quickly. With a rapid test you’ll know within

you have to attend a hospital or charity

ever increasing.

news should be broken to you by a professional who can advise you on how best to start

The support of close friends will be

for testing the informative and specially

The success rate of PEP in preventing

like tiredness, weakness and nausea are

health status you are going to need a sexual

and a family are still well within reach.

onset of a HIV infection.

of STI and HIV transmission are still on the aren’t 100% certain of your partner’s sexual

a positive diagnosis having a relationship

invaluable during this difficult time. If

retroviral medication used to combat the

HIV from taking hold in the body is

rise. If you’ve had unprotected sex and you

negative) are on the decline. So even after

is a 30 day course of once-daily anti-

Get checked out, if only for your own peace of mind. I don’t mean to scaremonger but rates

treatment, transmission rates between

a HIV diagnosis (the emotional and

myself in the years since still cut deep).

What I can tell you is that if you look after your health and adhere to your medication - one tablet a day in my

case - you will remain perfectly well.

Thanks to huge improvements in

anti-retroviral medication, a deeper

understanding of the infection itself, and

GNIMAG.COM | 35

Read any information given Attend follow-up appointments

FEATURE | THE A-Z GUIDE TO TRANSITIONING

THE

A-Z

GUIDE TO TRANSITIONING Hello and welcome to the A-Z of Transitioning. Written by Trans people for Trans people, this comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about completing the journey of discovering who you are and becoming the person you were meant to be all along! Whether you are Trans, have a Trans friend or family member, or whether you are simply interested to learn some valuable information, this is the guide for you. We’ve tried to cover as many topics as we could. It’s not a straightforward process and everyone’s journey is different.

As a team we wanted to cover as many of the key points to transitioning as possible. So whether you are transitioning female-to-male (FTM) or male-to-female (MTF), gender questioning, non-binary, young or old, we are here to help, answer any questions you may have, and offer a helping hand along the way.

Good luck!

GNIMAG.COM | 36

FEATURE | THE A-Z GUIDE TO TRANSITIONING

AGENDER

COMING OUT

The “A” in Agender is an old Greek prefix meaning “without.” Agender literally translates as “without a gender.” This includes people who do not have a gender identity, who are neutrally gendered, or who have no words to describe or label their gender.Agender people can use any pronouns, while some try to avoid the use of gendered langage as much as possible. They can present themselves with feminine, masculine, both or neither appearance: it is important to remember that physical appearance and presentation have nothing to do with gender identity.

Skylar, 17, punk—prxnce.tumblr.com

Most people “come out” as lesbian, gay or bisexual after puberty. Although lots of Trans people also come out at this stage, many know their gender well before this, and more and more Trans people are coming out when still in primary school.

Coming out means something individual to every person, and there’s really no wrong way to do so, as long as you’re ready. Some Trans people are only known as Trans for a while, choosing to go “stealth” after they transition, and others are publicly Trans for their whole life.

Today, Trans people are having better and better experiences of coming out, and now lots of people get extremely positive reactions from friends & family. After coming out you can change your name legally and for free via deed poll. Put simply, this is a document that states that you’re going to stop using the name you were given when you were born and start using a new one. You can find the right wording online and print it off at home. You can use your deed poll to change your name at school or college, at your GP surgery, on your driving licence, and on your passport.

Tom, 18, tomhasaTransblog.tumblr.com

BINDING Binding is an amazing yet horrible thing for any Trans-guy to endure. Once you get over the dreaded uni-boob and the awkwardness of putting on and removing the damn thing you have aflat chest!

You absolutely have to purchase a proper binder. ACE bandages are a no go. I cannot stress this enough. You’ve probably heard horror stories of young Trans-guys ending up in A&E due to broken ribs and even passing out because they tried binding with ACE bandages.

When purchasing a binder it’s important consider factors like price, size, shape, colour and comfort. Most binders are priced between £15/£50 depending on where you source them. If your budget can stretch to two it’s handy to keep one spare when the other one is in the wash. Tip: Underworks do an excellent waterproof binder for those going on holiday or enjoy swimming!

Harry, 23, Belfast, harrym-gni@hotmail.com

CISGENDER Cis a super old Latin preposition meaning “on this side of”. Meanwhile, Trans is another Latin preposition meaning “on the other side of”. So, while being Transgender means to be uncomfortable with the gender you were designated with at birth, being cisgender means that you are comfortable with your designated gender and don’t have any desire to transition from one gender to another.

Kate, 25, Montreal, boringkate.tumblr.com

DYSPHORIA Dysphoria is the feeling of mental and physical unease that comes with the feeling of being born in the wrong body.

Gender dysphoria refers to the unease a Trans person feels with the gender they have been assigned at birth. Some professionals continue to be dismissive of gender dysphoria due to the lack of scientific consensus on what causes it, which isn’t currently known. If not properly treated dysphoria can lead to breakdowns, confusion, depression and anxiety.

Body dysphoria refers to the unease felt towards how your body looks or how others perceive it. Not all Trans people experience this form of dysphoria, but surgery can often correct the exterior causes.

Ciarán Oisín, 18, Belfast

EXPECTATIONS Expectations about transitions can often be a cause of dysphoria for Trans and

GNIMAG.COM | 37

non-binary individuals. Whether the expectations are about the responses of those around us to our transition, our bodies’ responses to hormones, or the results of surgery, reality is never going to quite match up. Of course, things can go much better than we’d hoped. Your facial hair could come through earlier than expected, or your surgical scars could fade sooner.

We all have ideals for our authentic selves - a bushy beard or a firm, square jaw - but there is no way of knowing what form our transitions will take. Expecting a certain result and ending up with another can be difficult. Try to enjoy the progress that you make without a time limit and you will be much happier with the results.

Tid, 20, Kent, @the_tid

FAMILY Biological families can be amazing, but they can suck too. Chosen families are amazing though. You can make your own family with people that you’re close to and trust and love and feel safe with. It’s okay to drop one family for another if you have to.

Kate, 25, Montreal, boringkate.tumblr.com

GENDER Gender is how you identify, not what’s between your legs. Almost everyone in our society gets assigned a gender at birth and in most people this is never questioned because it matches their own perception of their gender. Transgender is used an umbrella term for anyone whose gender identity is different from what they were assigned and can include people of all genders. A Trans man is a man who was assigned female at birth. A Trans woman is a woman who was assigned male at birth.

Plenty of people have non-binary genders, which are neither entirely male nor female.

Some are genderqueer, some people have more than one gender, and some people have no gender identity whatsoever.

Ellen, Belfast, genderjam.org.uk

HRT Plenty of Trans people decide to medically transition at some point. For most this will include HRT. This involves taking

FEATURE | THE A-Z GUIDE TO TRANSITIONING

cross-sex hormones. For people assigned male at birth, this means oestrogen, and for those assigned female, testosterone. If Trans people have already gone through a natural puberty, starting HRT triggers a “second puberty”, and they experience most of the things that cisgender men and women experience in adolescence. (See ‘Zits’ for more info.) Most people who start HRT remain on it for the rest of their lives, but some decide to take it only for a short time.

Ellen, Belfast, genderjam.org.uk

INTERSEX Intersex people are people whose physical sex doesn’t fit into the typical categories of male or female. When you were born, you were assigned a sex; in the UK & Ireland, the two options for this are male or female.

The decision was made on the basis of the appearance of your genitals. If there is any doubt over what sex to assign you, due to genitalia that don’t fit into either category easily, doctors will usually make a decision to assign you as one of two sexes.

Many intersex people are operated upon as infants without their consent to assign them as male or female. Intersex people may also have “typical” genitalia but vary hormonally, or have less common sex chromosomes.

Ellen, Belfast, genderjam.org.uk

JUDGEMENT It’s usually those who know the least about Transgender people who are the most judgemental of our decision to transition.

I’ve found that most of the time when people don’t understand it’s because they’ve mixed up gender and sexuality, or that they are passing judgement because of how little they knows about what being Transgender means. There are days when I find that I’m being very judgemental of myself too, but in a different way.

I can be very critical of my appearance, especially when I’m not having a good day. I’ll compare my progress to other guys who have been transitioning for longer, or compare my body to a cis man’s, and that can get me down. Or sometimes I’ll try to second-guess how strangers will perceive me, and work out whether I’ll

pass or not. More and more though this isn’t something I have to worry about. I’ve been on testosterone for long enough that I’m perceived as male by everyone I meet, which is an amazing feeling.

Tom, 18, tomhasaTransblog.tumblr.com

KIDS When people say that children should mature into adulthood before transitioning is considered, it’s incredibly frustrating. I am one of those children who never grew out of it. I recall having an awareness of being male when I was just 4 years old, and I would’ve given anything to be spared the torment of puberty.

People who say things like “How can they know who they are Trans at such a young age?” are those who have most likely never even had to think about their gender identity in relation to their body, and therefore never felt the painful disconnect between the two.

I sometimes imagine how different my teen years could’ve been had I been given hormone blockers before my body began changing. To think I could have had a flat chest without top surgery is phenomenal.

Alexander, 26, crazyparrotfish.tumblr.com (If you are the parent of a Trans child skip to page 91 for more information)

LGB Many Trans people are just as likely to identify as LGB as their cis peers. Being Transgender does not in any way dictate or determine your sexuality. When you’re queer and Transgender the coming out process can be difficult, especially given the fact we have to come out twice! But if you have previous experience with the feelings and emotions involved with coming out you’ll know how to better deal with them.

It’s easy for gay Trans people to feel cast out by the gay community due to casual transphobia in the form of genital essentialism i.e. when they state they would only date “real men/women”, basing that judgment purely on your genitals), and the inability to live up to societal expectations for the gender they’re transitioning to.

Ollie, 17, County Down, @queenchachki

GNIMAG.COM | 38

MENTAL HEALTH I cannot stress the importance of taking care of your mental health as a Trans person.

Many of us suffer from depression, anxiety, eating disorders, or even have to cope with the pain of rejection from family and friends when we come out. It is not an easy ride for many, and so, having support and someone to speak to is extremely important.

Although it can be hard to be patient during transition, as we want hormones now and surgery months ago, neglecting the health of our minds will only cause more damage in the long run. I think that some people see transition as a panacea, when the reality is that being transgender is only one fraction of who we are.

Transition does not necessarily solve our career or money problems, it doesn’t cure financial struggles or solve relationship problems, which is why it’s important to get all the emotional support you can in order to keep your emotional strength up.

Alexander, 26, crazyparrotfish.tumblr.com

NAMES My name is hugely important to me.

Wearing my name badge at work is like wearing armour. I used to get misgendered by customers all the time. Mothers telling their kids to “pay the lady at the till” used to upset me for days, once I got my name badge I could point to it and they’d correct themselves immediately. It’s like magic.

I can’t exactly remember how I decided upon “Tom”, but I know people who looked through baby name books, picked a name close to their birth name, or a family name, or just one they’ve always liked. Lots of people try out different names until they find one that suits them. “Tom” just always felt right, and I’ve never looked back.

Once you’ve chosen your name, getting everyone in your life to call you by it can be difficult. Everyone will make mistakes at first, because it takes time to get used to. It took my friends and colleagues a couple of weeks to adjust, but my parents took a lot longer. With my parents it wasn’t just habit, it’s because they were understandably upset that I wanted to transition. So I let them call me my birth name for several months, but after that I’d had enough. I was ready to move on in my transition and change my name legally, but I didn’t

FEATURE | THE A-Z GUIDE TO TRANSITIONING

To get your Stonewall shirt visit stonewall. org.uk/shop GNIMAG.COM | 39

FEATURE | THE A-Z GUIDE TO TRANSITIONING

want to without their support. I got into the habit of correcting them, and eventually confronted them about it. This put a strain on our relationship for a while, but they came round. And now they call me “Tom” like everyone else.

It’s important that you never ask a Trans person what their birth name is. It’s something that most people don’t want to share, and it’s none of your business.

Tom, 18, tomhasaTransblog.tumblr.com

might have. Your body is your own personal business and no one has the right to ask you a question they have no right to know.

Ciarán Oisín, 18 from Belfast

PACKING

NON-BINARY When people talk about the ‘gender binary’ they talk about the (incorrect) idea that you can only ever be ‘male’ or ‘female’. But there are people who identify as non-binary who feel that they don’t fully conform to this idea. Their gender falls somewhere in between these two categories, not always perfectly in the middle, and sometimes not even on the spectrum at all.

For the most part the term ‘non binary’ functions as an umbrella term for many different individual identities like genderfluid (where your gender actively fluctuates) and demigirl/demiboy (where you only partially identify as female/male regardless of what you were assigned at birth). Like binary Transfolk, NB people can suffer from dysphoria, and so this can play a huge part in whether or not they transition.

Ollie, 17, @queenchachki

THE “OP” “When are you going to get the op’?” is a common transphobic question that Trans people are constantly asked by ignorant people. Not only is it asking questions about a person’s body and genitalia, it’s pushing a question on a person who may or may not want to change their body.

Another thing this question implies is that a Trans person’s surgical transition happens all in one go. This is not the case. Implying that it is can cause gender questioning and pre-T Trans people to believe that transitioning is an easy process will only lead them to heartbreak and upset when they discover it is a long process with possible risks depending on the surgery.

Never feel inclined to answer any question to do with possible surgeries you

Most Transguys picking their new packer will automatically jump to “I WANT TO BE HUNG LIKE A HORSE!” This is not the best approach!

Packing is something most Trans-guys will have to do for quite some time considering bottom surgery is the final surgery, and is something that most people put off until they have everything they need sorted.

The most important thing to consider when thinking about packing is what result you want from it. Do you only want a realistic bulge?

Do you want to use it for penetration? Do you want to use it for peeing? Most Trans-guys picking their new packer will automatically jump to “I WANT TO BE HUNG LIKE A HORSE!” This is not the best approach! Start small then work up to what suits you best. A 5”4 guy with an 8 inch packer is just unrealistic and is going to be a hassle to get used to.

The most recommended STP (Stand to Pee) device, and my personal favourite, is the 3-in-1 Peecock which can be used for packing, peeing and playing.

However, if all you want is a bulge then the biggest seller is the Mr Limpy. When using an STP practice makes perfect; peeing down your leg in public is never fun!

Harry, 23, Belfast, harrym-gni@hotmail.com

PRIVILEGE It is difficult to navigate the world of male privilege, particularly if you are

GNIMAG.COM | 40

unused to it. As a Transman you will suddenly become hilarious. You will be listened to; your opinions when angry will be taken seriously rather than attributed to your bodily functions.

Walking home at night, you are suddenly in a bubble of safety that you have never been in before.

Privilege comes even in the smallest things: your clothes are practical and you are less likely to be judged for them, people do not expect you to hold your tongue, you are allowed to have outlandish opinions. There is a high chance that you will be paid more than your female colleagues.

These privileges will certainly be enjoyable, but navigating them will be difficult. As a Transman, having a prior knowledge of living without these privileges can offer experiences to keep you grounded, but it is important to check your privilege where you can. It keeps yourself and your friends safe and happy.

Tid, 20, Kent, @the_tid

QUESTIONING Do you think you might be Trans? There’s no way to test for it, so even if you’re sure that you are, you still can’t confirm it and it’s easy to spend years being indecisive and putting off transitioning because of that ambiguity.

Let me tell you now that you are definitely Trans.

You are probably the most obviously Trans person alive. If you weren’t really Trans then you wouldn’t be questioning it, the idea of

FEATURE | THE A-Z GUIDE TO TRANSITIONING

going through a difficult transition like that wouldn’t appeal to you, and you definitely wouldn’t be convinced or encouraged by a feature in a magazine.

You are so Trans!

Kate, 25, Montreal, boringkate.tumblr.com

RECOGNITION Many Trans people who transition wish to update their birth certificate to make employment, education, paying taxes and generally living their life easier without outing themselves or causing a scene at every point their birth certificate is needed.

In the UK, Trans people can do this via the Gender Recognition Panel, which was established in 2004. In Northern Ireland, single adult Trans men and women, who have a diagnosis of gender dysphoria, and who have been socially transitioned for at least two years, can apply to the GRP for a Gender Recognition Certificate.

This costs £140 and can be rejected for plenty of reasons outside of your control.

In light of other European countries having much better gender recognition law, including Ireland’s new legislation, the UK’s law is recognised as out-of-date, as it fails non-binary people, people without a medical diagnosis, and people under 18.

Ellen, Belfast, genderjam.org.uk

RELATIONSHIPS Transition can be a time when you need to focus a lot of energy on adjusting to your new identity.

Some people transition while in a relationship, and so long as both people are honest and open with their feelings about the situation, transition doesn’t have to be a barrier.

Some relationships do come to an end as peoples identities change, just like many other relationships.

Transition can also be a time of exploration as you become more comfortable with your body and gender identity and while the two are not intrinsically linked, you may find that this has an impact on your sexual identity.

This is a natural part of the process, so give yourself time to figure it all out.

Jasper, 28, Belfast, hello@anchortransni.org

SOCIAL TRANSITION Social transition is the process of telling those in your social circle, your family and friends, your school, or your employer and colleagues that you are Transgender. This includes letting them know your new name and your preferred pronouns.

Presentation can be an important part of social transition and many people (if they aren’t already doing so) start wear clothes that reflect their true gender at this time.

Don’t feel pressured into conforming to gender stereotypes with the clothes you wear. The important thing is that you dress in a way that helps you feel comfortable, and will best help with your dysphoria.

It can take time for people to adjust to the changes that come with social transition.

Don’t get too disheartened if you don’t see results you want straight away. Remember that you are living your life in the way that best reflects who you are inside.

Jasper, 28, Belfast, hello@anchortransni.org

TOILETS Navigating public toilets can be a struggle when you’re Transgender. Early in my transition I was too scared to go into the gents, but knew I’d be harassed if I went into the ladies. I’d gotten comments ranging from “Are you lost young man?” to those who called me a pervert and escorted me out. But when I did pluck up the courage to use the men’s it went smoothly. Confidence is key. If you just walk in like you’ve every right to be there (which you do), you’re not likely to get any trouble.

The lack of sanitary bins in men’s toilets is unsurprising, so we’re often restricted to using disabled or gender-neutral toilets. To a Trans person, a gender-neutral toilet is a safe haven. For once, no one is going to expect you to look a certain way, and you can do your business without fear of being stared at or harassed.

Tom, 18, tomhasaTransblog.tumblr.com (For more information, or to find gender neutral toilets visit refugerestrooms.org)

UNDERWEAR In order to pack correctly you need the right type of underwear. Loose fitting boxers just aren’t going to work when you’ve

GNIMAG.COM | 41

got a packer tucked in there! Tight fitting briefs are the best at holding everything in place. If you find briefs a bit too much then “hipster boxers” are a perfect alternative.

Make sure the boxers you buy have a fly or button front so that you can easily access your packer for urination purposes. Despite good underwear, having a loose packer in your pants can still make you very wary and for this I would recommend purchasing a harness to wear underneath your boxers/ briefs. Using a harness means that nothing is going to fall out, and helps with making a Trans guys life just a bit more comfortable.

Harry, 23, Belfast, harrym-gni@hotmail.com

VOICE Testosterone causes the larynx to grow and the vocal cords to thicken, and this causes the pitch of the voice to drop. Unfortunately the same can’t be said for oestrogen; voice therapy and optional surgery may be used to achieve a more female sounding voice.

My voice dropping is by far the best change that has happened to my body since I started testosterone. My voice was such a burden before. No amount of vocal exercises could force my voice into the normal male range. Anyone I spoke to would think I was a girl, and I hated it.

So when it first broke, when I was eleven days on testosterone on the 24th April, I was so happy I could have cried. My throat had felt uncomfortable for a few days, like I was coming down with a cold, then BAM! It cracked. It’s been getting slowly lower ever since. I recorded my voice before I started testosterone, and I take a new recording every month so I can hear how it’s changed.

And it’s changed a lot. When I compare my pre-T voice to my voice a few weeks ago the difference is impressive. Being able to hear how far I’ve come helps my confidence and cheers me up no end.

Tom, 18, tomhasaTransblog.tumblr.com

WAITING LISTS The NHS provides fairly comprehensive healthcare for Trans people, including access to hormones and surgery for those that need or want it. In Northern Ireland, there are two services, one for adults and one for children and adolescents. Since

FEATURE | THE A-Z GUIDE TO TRANSITIONING

more and more Trans people are coming out and transitioning, the numbers attending these services are increasing at huge rates. In other parts of the UK, waiting lists for Gender Identity Clinics can be many months or even years, but in NI waiting lists for first appointments are currently under 10 weeks for most.

Once people are at a GIC, they can usually get treatment fairly promptly, but this depends on your individual situation and mental health, among other reasons. To get on a waiting list for one of the clinics in Northern Ireland, you should talk to your GP; they should refer you straight away.

Ellen, Belfast, genderjam.org.uk

transition by giving us YouTubers we can relate to. Popular Transgender/ non-binary vloggers like Ashton Colby, GiGi Gorgeous, Skylar Kergil, UppercaseChase, Jake Edwards and Alex Bertie (Alex & Jake) and Jazz Jennings create Trans specific content that wouldn’t otherwise be explored in the mainstream media.

Covering popular subjects like HRT, pronouns, social transition, how to bind safely, etc can be a lifeline for those in our community who may feel like they aren’t able to reach out to anyone in the real world to help with these subjects and their personal transition.

Ollie, 17, County Down, @queenchachki

XX/XY

ZITS (PUBERTY 2.0)

Binary and unchanging biological sex is as much a social construct as the gender system that it tethers itself to.

There is no indicator that can even be reliably used to sort people as biologically male or female. Intersex people exist that can’t be classified by XX or XY chromosomes (and few people are tested to even be able to say what their sex would be based on such a system).

Hormone levels vary wildly from person to person (a cis woman can easily have higher levels of testosterone than a cis man without it invalidating either persons sex and, ironically, Trans people on HRT likely have more cisnormative hormone levels than cis people). My sex is not male. I’m not a woman trapped in a man’s body. I’m a Trans woman and my body is a woman’s body.

Kate, Montreal, boringkate.tumblr.com

While Trans boys going on T might end up with worsening acne, find that their body smell changes, or that they start speaking and walking differently, the first thing that Trans girls usually notice on is that they suddenly have skin that’s clearer and less oily than ever.

Some other perks to look forward to if you’re a Trans girl going through second puberty include breast growth, loss of muscle mass, and fat redistribution. It’s slow and subtle stuff, but at some point you’ll suddenly realize that you’re way cuter than you used to be and it’s been months since youve been misgendered.

Hormones really are magic.

Having less testosterone messing with your body also tends to lead to a lower sex drive, but it gets somewhat cancelled out by the fact that you’re suddenly more comfortable with your body. As for your penis (or whatever you like to call it) it does tend to shrink slightly and you might not get as hard as you used to, but that varies a lot from person to person.

You will also definitely stop producing sperm and ejaculating so if having biological kids is important to you then you might want to get some stuff frozen before you start HRT. Kate, Montreal, boringkate.tumblr.com

YOUTUBE YouTube has become a really valuable tool for young Trans and questioning people. Many young trans people look to the internet to help guide us through discovering who we are, coming out, finding advice on transitioning, and allowing us to connect with others who have been on (or are still on) the same journey that we’re on.

YouTube has the potential to make us feel less isolated and alone in our

GNIMAG.COM | 42

Anchor is a Belfast-based social support group for transmen, transmasculine, gender variant, non-binary & questioning people, who were assigned female at birth, and aged 25 and over. They run fortnightly meetings in Belfast, and provide peer support in a positive and relaxed environment. If you are under 25, check out their little brother group Buoys NI. For more information or to make a donation visit anchortransni.org or email hello@ anchortransni.org

Genderjam is a social support & advocacy group for the young trans community in Northern Ireland. They are trying to make the region better for trans, gender variant, questioning and intersex people. They also work with local and regional government to try to improve the situation in NI for young trans people. They also work with schools and other supporting groups to make sure trans young people have access to every benefit of society.

For more information or to make a donation visit genderjam.org.uk or email info@ genderjam.org.uk

FEATURE: MASC4MASC

If haven’t been on Grindr, Scruff or Gaydar lately, guys looking Masc4Masc are everywhere. Dean Eastmond wants to ditch the label, and asks “Is Masc4Masc the new homophobia?”

Welcome to the digital age, where online dating has blossomed into a world of edgy named dating apps. From your typically vanilla Tinder, to more specific apps like Bristlr that allows those with a love of facial hair to find the Hagrid of their dreams, and Jswipe, matchmaking users to their Jewish sweetheart, the twentyfirst century has proved to be a can of worms for finding everything from a soulmate to a hookup. And of course, queen bee of the dating app world - let alone the gay world - is Grindr, joined by the likes of similar apps Hornet, Scruff, and Jack’d.

Love it or hate it, Grindr has been nothing less than a revolutionary and cultural phenomenon. It has opened up a new dimension of finding and practising homosexual identity, allowing gay men from all backgrounds to express who they are, where they are, and, typically of Grindr, what they want: now.

So when the app is opened to hear that familiar screech of a notification sound and see users displaying “No fats.

No femmes. No Asians. No Blacks. My age or younger,” it’s a little disheartening to say the least. We get it, everyone has preferences and types, but by rejecting diversity those Grindr users are using filtering to disguise the racist beefcake they truly are. Dating apps seem to

be replacing a thriving culture of sexual identity and freedom with rooted social issues and segregation. It’s amazing how we’ve spring-boarded into a new world of finding love, only to be dragged right back into the 1950s.

Alternatively, those same EDL-resembling and probably UKIP-voting users stating that they want Asian/Black men only are just as bad. Reducing a race or group of people for a short term sexual partner is fetishism; nothing less. There’s a fine line between taste and festishisation.

And with that eye-roll worthy tagline “Masc for masc”, “No

Find hot racists and misogynists near you now! femmes” and “Str8 acting” in creeps the misogyny. I know what you’re thinking, “Oh God he’s talking about sexism when there’s only men involved”, but by perpetuating and grounding what masculinity actually is and rejecting the ideologies of traditional femininity, it is sexist.

Oh patriarchy, how you always manage to find a way, don’t you?

Not only is it sexist, but it devalues gay men who may not fit into the typical and traditional form of masculinity.

This rejection of widely acknowledged and embraced

Grindr is the largest and most popular GPS service for gay and bi men. It has two million daily active users in almost 200 countries. expect to shell out at least $50m if you wanted to buy it

“Connecting those with beards to those who want to stroke beards”, Bristlr is the newest kid on the block. It promises to be more than a hook up platform but a way of introducing users to the hirsute gentlemen of their dreams

Worth at least $500m, Tinder launched in 2012. It uses Facebook to create a user profile with photos that have already been uploaded. More popular with straight users, Tinder is credited with popularising the concept of “Swipe Left”

GNIMAG.COM | 43

homosexual identity could strongly be suggested as internalised homophobia.

By rejecting the way that certain gay men behave is to refer to a heteronormative way of being and living and seeing that as the dominant mode of representation. Not pretty.

Described as “the self-hatred that occurs as a result of being a socially stigmatised person” by academic John Locke, internalised homophobia is yet another means of perpetuating negative stereotypes for gay men.

Really, really not pretty.

As a “white twink” (if we’re really labelling) who isn’t particularly camp and who can’t really experience this cyber-fascism first hand, it’s important to highlight these rooted issues that are being actively voiced through dating apps. Persecuting each other for our differences isn’t working. It doesn’t allow us to address many of the greater issues facing the queer community.

So please, oh please, make sure you don’t hook up with these people. I’m sorry, they’re just not our type.

FEATURE | PETER TATCHELL

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FEATURE | PETER TATCHELL

He is the voice of Human Rights activism in the UK . No stranger to headline news for his courageous attempts to further his mission, Australian-born campaigner Peter Tatchell is synonymous with the struggle for LGBT equality. He is a founding member of gay rights group OutRage! and is a former Green Party spokesperson on Human Rights WORDS | Kieran Clarke

When he was seventeen-years-old Peter Tatchell slept with another man for the first time. Initially, he kept the truth of his sexuality from his religiously conservative parents, only later revealing he was a gay when they asked outright.

“I knew they wouldn’t be able to cope mentally and emotionally if I simply blurted out ‘I’m gay,’” he explains. “So the strategy I adopted was to drop hints. If there was a newspaper story about a gay person being beaten up, I always made a point of saying how shocking it was, that we should live and let live.”

The violent attacks he himself has suffered have been no less shocking. Forty something years on and the look of that young man has hardly changed; greyer, more tired, with a thinness bordering on gaunt (he subsists on an almost exclusive diet of raw fruit and vegetables) but is recognisably the same antipodean youth who would carve out a name in the world of human rights campaigning. He has had live bullets posted through his letterbox, his home has been attacked well over a hundred times, and he has twice survived acts of extreme brutality from minders of Zimbabwean despot Robert Mugabe, upon whom Tatchell has twice attempted to perform a citizen’s arrest in 1999 and 2001.

“We actually had him under arrest,” Tatchell recalls, “but the police refused to take action. They arrested us instead, and Mugabe was given a police escort to go Christmas shopping in Harrods. The second [attempt] was in Brussels in 2001, when I ambushed Mugabe in the lobby of the Hilton hotel, and ended up being beaten unconscious.

“Both those attempts did get a lot of international media coverage which was good in terms of raising public

awareness about his human rights abuses but ultimately neither led to his arrest, prosecution and conviction under international Human Rights law which was our ultimate goal.”

Undeterred by the attempt, Tatchell’s relentless quest to promote LGBT equality around the world found him accepting the offer to present a keynote speech at a Moscow Gay Pride conference in 2007.

After speaking, Tatchell and his supporters were set upon by a group of Neo-Nazi thugs. He was punched in the face, thrown to the ground, and kicked by youths shouting “sodomite”. He was left bloodied, bruised and semi-conscious, only to be arrested by the Russian riot police who had refused his calls for help. Later he said, “I’m not deterred one iota from coming back to protest in Moscow.”

The attacks made headlines around the world. Tatchell continues to suffer chronic and debilitating injuries as a result. Last month he had surgery to reattach the retina in his right eye where he has lost half his vision, the direct result of a single devastating blow by a Russian extremist.

“The eye damage has slowed me and is very frustrating. My campaigning has been hampered. Not being able to see properly has made reading and typing harder, diminished my balance and resulted in me knocking into things on my right side, causing a few nasty injuries. But I carry on as best I can.

“These injuries are pretty awful but they are nothing by comparison to the torture and worse of heroic human rights activists in countries like Russia, Iran and Syria. By comparison my injuries are very minor. They are victims of far worse assaults and tortures that often leave them permanently disabled. I count myself

GNIMAG.COM | 45

lucky. I’ve got off lightly.”

Given this position we can’t help but ask where he draws the line between his campaign work and putting his life on the line. His response is unequivocal. “I never consciously go out of my way to take a major risk to my life, unlike many other much braver activists in many countries around the world. But I do believe that sometimes if there is a gross human rights abuse, and if you believe strongly that it’s wrong, then it’s important to take a stand.

I didn’t want to get brain and eye damage from my attempt to arrest Mugabe and to support the Russian activists in Moscow but that’s what happened.”

In spite of his injuries Tatchell remains remarkably selfless. He is a powerful orator, possessed of a fierce intellect clearly honed over decades of verbal sparring with his denouncers. More surprising than the revelation that this 63-yearold Human Rights campaigner enjoys the music of Whitney Houston is his decidedly playful sensibility. His eloquent pronouncements are occasionally punctuated by a laughter that appears to comes easily to him. Forever ready with a slew of anecdotes that are as insightful as they are fascinating, he receives praise for his work with a gracious smile, but insists, “For me, the purpose of my Human Rights work is to promote the ideas and values of the campaigns, not to promote myself.

That’s not my raison d’être. I’m just a grass roots activist who does what he believes to be right. I may be right, or I might be wrong, but I follow my conscience and that’s all that anyone can do.”

Such work must clearly take its toll.

When asked how he likes to relax Tatchell admits, “Very rarely, and with great difficulty. The Peter Tatchell Foundation

FEATURE | PETER TATCHELL

is very badly underfunded.

There are only three of us, and we really need about ten staff to deal with the volume of requests, and to efficiently run the campaigns I tend to work 16 to 18 hours a day, nearly every day of the week. That’s not by choice, I’d love to have evenings and weekends off, but the volume of requests and demands is so great that I have to work very, very long hours.

“My relaxation is grabbing 20 minutes, half an hour, to watch a bit of TV. I haven’t had a holiday since 2008, so I have my virtual holiday by watching holiday programs.

I imagine myself there, and what I would do.

“The other thing I like doing is listening to music. Late at night, for five or ten minutes before I go to bed.” His Desert Island Discs include every everything from trance to American Gospel.

In 1972 Tatchell was one of around 30 people who organised the UK’s first Gay Pride parade. “We had no idea how many people would turn out. In the end we were very pleased to get between 700 to a thousand people. It was very heavily policed.

There was probably a police officer for every marcher. We were hemmed in, treated quite badly, and subjected to homophobic and transphobic insults from some officers. They treated us like criminals, which in many respects we still were, because despite the law reform of 1967, most aspects of gay male life remained criminal.

“When we got to Hyde Park we held an impromptu ‘gay day’, a sort of queer picnic

in the park. I remember the police standing in a phalanx with their arms folded, staring aggressively at us, but because there were so many of us they didn’t dare do anything. We played queer versions of party games. Everybody brought food, booze and dope. There were no celebrities, or pop stars, or stage, or PA system. It was all very DIY, which we thought was rather fabulous. It was a grassroots Gay Pride.” He has marched in every London Pride parade since.

In June of this year—43 years since the first Pride he helped organise—Tatchell took to the stage of London Pride’s Trafalgar Square celebrations to address a crowd of more than 25,000 spectators, an achievement he can’t help but admit is a huge win for positive social change.

“Of course,” he said then, “the big problem is still Northern Ireland…”

Tatchell has consistently framed Northern Ireland as “badly neglected,” and moreover a part of a global struggle for LGBT equality for which he campaigns tirelessly.

“Discrimination is enshrined in Northern Irish law. It is one of the unfinished struggles for LGBT rights here in Britain.”

In the past he has claimed that Northern Ireland is the single most homophobic place to live in Western Europe. These days he tempers this claim with the caveat that it “used to be” the most homophobic place in Western Europe.

“I think attitudes have begun to change quite rapidly.

Proof of that is the recent poll that found that 68% of people

Discrimination is enshrined in Northern Irish law. It is one of the unfinished struggles for LGBT rights here in Britain.

GNIMAG.COM | 46

in Northern Ireland support marriage equality. That is a huge turnaround, a very positive development, and I salute the people who have made that change.

“It’s unconscionable that a part of the UK enshrines in law the legal discrimination against LGBT people. The ban on same-sex civil marriage cannot be justified on any grounds.

“In a democracy we are all supposed to be equal before the law. Some religious people may object to same-sex marriage, I’m disappointed they take that point of view, but in a free and democratic society that’s their entitlement. What they’re not entitled to do is demand, because they object to same-sex marriage, that no samesex couple should be allowed to marry in a civil ceremony.

“We are talking about civil ceremonies, in register offices, not places of worship.

There’s no compulsion for religious organisations to conduct same-sex marriages, so it’s none of their business to interfere with civil ceremonies.”

While NI continues to lack same-sex civil weddings, it is far from the only draconian practice under which LGBT people here are forced to live. We continue to be the only region of the UK where gay men are banned from donating blood.

When we raise this issue, Tatchell’s voice assumes a steelier tone.

“The lifetime ban on gay and bisexual blood donors in Northern Ireland is not based upon medical and scientific evidence. It is premised on a presumption about all gay and bisexual men regardless of their personal behavior. That is not a fair and legitimate way to base a policy.

“So many other countries around the world—including England—have scrapped the lifetime ban and replaced it with a 12-month referral period. But even that is unnecessary and unjustified. With certain qualifications it should be possible to reduce the restrictions on gay and bisexual blood donors to between three and six months. But a blanket ban— whether it be for life or for 12 months—is not justified.”

FIZZ IN CONVERSATION WITH... | BUCKS FEATURE| PETER TATCHELL

For the veteran Human Rights campaigner the onus of blame falls squarely on the devolved Northern Irish Assembly and its Unionist majority. Tatchell has locked horns with the DUP before, having called it a party that “enshrines homophobic prejudice and discrimination in its policies.” His claim that “on LGBT issues the DUP echoes the homophobia of the BNP and far-right parties across Europe,” generated a consider amount of press.

“They call themselves the Democratic Unionist Party, but they are far from democratic. The DUP does not believe in the democratic principle of equality before the law. It is completely out of step with mainstream democratic parties in the UK. Elected DUP politicians have repeatedly expressed vile bigoted opinions against the LGBT community. They couldn’t get away with such inflammatory, hateful statements against any other section of the Northern Irish population.

“But like every bully the DUP think they can get away with it because LGBT people are a small minority. They can get away with their bullyboy tactics for now, but in the end, they will have their fall like every tyranny.

“For over four decades that I’ve been active in LGBT campaigns, the DUP has always stood against the human rights

of LGBT people. They’ve opposed every law reform to give LGBT people equality.

From decriminalisation, through to laws to protect us against discrimination, civil partnerships, the repeal of section 28, the equalisation of the age of consent, the right of same-sex couples to foster and adopt children, the list of their opposition to LGBT equality is vast.

“Not every DUP supporter is a homophobic bigot. There are some members who do support equality and I salute them, but the vast majority of the party, especially the leadership, is wedded to homophobic discrimination.

“Right now there’s no prospect that the party will change its stance. There are two ways we can respond to this intransigence.

The first is to mount legal challenges in the courts against the lifetime ban on gay and bisexual men donating blood, and the ban on same-sex marriage. Those challenges will take time but they stand a good chance of success in the end.”

The Northern Ireland Assembly has debated the issue of same sex civil marriages on four occasions, and each time MLAs have rejected the proposal. The DUP effectively vetoed each attempt with a petition of concern, meaning that any vote would require cross party support from both unionists and nationalists to succeed.

GNIMAG.COM | 47

A total of 96 MLAs took part in the most recent vote in April. 49 MLAs voted against the Sinn Féin motion with 47 in favour.

Sinn Féin, SDLP and five Alliance MLAs supported the motion. The DUP opposed it and the Ulster Unionists were given a free vote on the issue. Of 53 unionists, only four voted yes.

Grainne Teggart, a spokesperson for Amnesty International, said of the vote, “Northern Ireland’s politicians have made the region a discriminatory backwater for the gay and lesbian community by repeatedly failing to legislate for marriage equality. The 2013 Life and Times Survey showed 59% of people in Northern Ireland support same-sex marriage being recognised in law. Northern Ireland’s politicians lag behind the people.”

“The other possible way forward,” says Tatchell, “is a campaign of nonviolent action and civil disobedience against the DUP to expose and shame them as they bigoted party they are. That is, of course, up to Northern Irish activists to decide.

“But I would be up for disrupting DUP events, or a march on DUP headquarters.

The current lobbying methods are fine, but to build a public momentum for change and really put the DUP under pressure something much more confrontational and challenging is required. It doesn’t have to be aggressive or belligerent—think Martin Luther King or the Northern Irish Civil Rights Association in the 1960’s—those tactics have worked in the past, and I think they could work again now in our current battle for LGBT equality in Northern Ireland.

“It will get the DUP angry, but you want to get them angry, because that exposes what they’re really like.”

For more information about the Peter Tatchell Foundation’s human rights work, to receive its email bulletins or to make a donation visit petertatchellfoundation.org

GNI MAG INVESTIGATES | ANTI-GAY LEGISLATION

In August, seven Senegalese men were for jailed for the “crime” of being gay. With homophobic hate crimes on the rise, and ever more legislation to discrimate against LGBT people being enshrined in law, in this edition GNI MAG Investigates what it is like to beAfrican and gay in 2015 Words | Brian O Flynn

As the LGBT people of Ireland and the

in the nude to “show him the difference

were given a platform, we should have

United States continue to bask in a rosy

between a man and a woman”. The action

been rejoicing. Every time an anti-gay

glow of post-Referendum/post-SCOTUS

was eventually called off, but the message

representative opened their mouths on

equality, we can be forgiven for feeling

it sent was clear.

national television it was another nail in

that the irresistible tide of public opinion

At a press conference Obama spoke

their coffin. What we should have feared

has finally deposited us on golden shores.

movingly to compare the plight of the gay

all along was silence. Sadly, silence is

Sadly, the sudden nearness of equality

community to the battle against slavery

precisely what the US anti-gay lobby

over these past few months has blindsided

and segregation. He said he was “painfully

have cultured in Africa. The ideological

us. With our our sudden success in the US

aware of the history when people are

colonisation of Africa was the greatest

and Europe, we began to feel ourselves

treated differently under the law.

coup in the history of the US anti-gay

invincible. This is a comfort we must soon

In response, Kenyan president Uhuru

lobby. By twisting facts they succeeded

relinquish, because we are about to find

Kenyatta declared, “I repeatedly say that

in reinforcing anti-gay prejudice that has

ourselves at the centre of a global storm.

for Kenyans today the issue of gay rights is

lingered since the end of Africa’s recent

really a non-issue.”

colonial past, whilst simultaneously

In August the world’s media turned toward Kenya, where President Obama,

Here in Ireland, as in the UK and the

himself a Kenyan-American, prepared to

US, the notion of LGBT equality has been

visit. With the issue of gay rights firmly on

dismissed as abominable. Conversely,

inherently homophobic place. Before it

his agenda, and well publicised ahead of

it has been hailed as the most crucial

was colonised by the West, homosexuality

time, he was not warmly received.

issue of our time. But never has it been

was considered a matter of course. It was

The current situation in Kenya

portray themselves as saviours of Africa.

Contrary to assumption, Africa is not an

accused of being a non-issue. Here in

only with the introduction of Christianity

encapsulates the growing problem of

the Republic it was painful to have our

centuries ago that being gay became taboo.

what is to be done about the state of gay

actions and lives politicised and discussed

As the liberalised West gradually moved

rights throughout Africa. The shadow of

on national television. But this dissection

on from this thought, we failed to extract

neo-colonialist tendencies (of enforcing

was necessary to win the referendum.

the poison that we originally planted. But

Western standards on a proud nation

Dialogue was the key to educating

why did the African people also fail to

with its own traditions) has led to no

people and bringing them on side with

purge it from their own culture? Simple.

amount of hesitancy and diplomatic

equality. If Kenya sees the issues facing

They see LGBT acceptance as un-African.

tip-toeing. As Obama prepared for the trip

our community as a non-issue, how are

he was bombarded by threats of protest

LGBT Kenyans supposed to have those

Scott Lively travelled to Uganda in 2009,

from civilians and public servants alike.

conversations of their own?

he orchestrated a series of talks with

The Kenyan Republican Liberty Party

When American anti-gay spokesperson

While we feared the conservative

Ugandan officials. He amplified all of their

promised that they would summon

right and the misunderstanding they

most deep-rooted concerns. He knew that

thousands of protestors to greet Obama

might succeed in spreading if they

as a post-colonial country, they would

GNIMAG.COM | 48

GNI MAG INVESTIGATES | ANTI-GAY LEGISLATION

GNIMAG.COM | 49

GNI MAG INVESTIGATES... | ANTI-GAY LEGISLATION

be inherently defensive toward Western

It may take decades. The same situation

ideas. He knew that they would be eager

is mirrored across the continent where

to show themselves as an independent

young Christian people who have

the African people on their colonial

nation. He also knew that the Ugandan

grown up with homophobic ideals and

manipulation, including that homophobic

people saw Christianity as a fundamental

believing them to be African thanks to

principles are a Western import. Only

part of their identity, that if he presented

the rewriting of history by US evangelists.

when Western pro-LGBT movements

himself as a Christian ally he would have

In Uganda and Sierra Leone people

are no longer demonised can we throw

considerable sway with the people.

convicted of homosexual offences can

our weight against the vilifcation of the

receive life imprisonment. In addition to

African LGBT community.

Lively portrayed himself as a concerned

movement from within.

A concerted effort is needed to educate

Christian who wanted to give Ugandans

criminalising homosexuality, in Nigeria

an insight into the Western “gay agenda”.

straight friends and family can face a

parades have been held in Uganda for the

He convinced Ugandan officials that

jail sentence for supporting their LGBT

first time. The African LGBT community is

proponents of the gay agenda had colonial

peers. In Mauritania, Sudan and northern

strong, brave and determined. They will

aspirations toward their people, and that

Nigeria it is a crime punishable by death.

stand up for their identity against all odds.

they would begin to force their ideals on them just as they had on the Americans and the Europeans.

The implications are huge. Now that

Nevertheless, there remains hope. Pride

We have to work with those African LGBT people who are brave enough to

For more information about the African

stand up and be counted. Success will

situation, visit:

lay in the ability to summon a pro LGBT

sexualminoritiesuganda.com

LGBT activists are automatically seen as trying to muscle in on African culture, they are shut down before they can even begin. Africans who have been conditioned to switch off when they encounter Western ideas have learned to fear our “brainwashing”. Without the ability to talk about these issues and to educate the people with dialogue, campaigners have lost a precious foothold.

With no hope of outside help, the African LGBT community is left to fend for itself. How can they succeed with such harsh laws in place? In certain countries identifying yourself as gay can lead to a death sentence. The anti-gay force of US lobbyists have constructed political walls to keep international LGBT activists out, and manipulated legislation to enforce a suffocating vacuum of silence.

The population of Uganda is overwhelmingly young. 77% of the population is under 30 years of age. This means that the hatred now buried deep in the core of their national identity will not be gone with the next generation.

GNIMAG.COM | 50

COLUMN | HARRY M

The perks of dating a trans-guy.

Harry M. “Harry. 23 years old. University Student with

Naomi and Emily in Skins, Piper and

My aim is simply to get you to consider

female rights on a daily basis. I know

about yourself before.

a part-time PR job. 5 foot 6inches (7 inches

Alex in OITNB and embrace equal

Build. Covered in tattoos and a few piercings.

you can’t make yourself attracted to

on a good day!). Blue eyes. Brown Hair. Slim Currently living in a shared student house

and have my driver’s licence (hoping to get a car again in the future!) I enjoy watching movies, eating junk food and general

fun activities. Hobbies include writing,

swimming, cycling and napping. Message me if you wanna chat!”

If you saw this bio on a dating profile, you’d

probably think to yourself that nothing there seems overly offensive (unless, of course, you

don’t like tattoos). But one thing lacking in my description is my gender identity. And what

I’m here to ask is: would you consider dating a guy who isn’t cisgender? Let’s break this down into individual groups...

is getting you thinking. With more

see the feminine qualities within a trans-

Trans, this is creating a new movement,

time don’t lock yourself in a box. If you

guy you could end up being attracted to them and shouldn’t see this as an issue.

Love is love!

Gay/Bi-sexual males/trans-men

You might see me as what is described as a ‘twink’ and think I’m kinda cute,

perhaps send me a nice message or the

very popular “dick pic?” request, but the minute I explain I’m a trans-guy and I

you are attracted to males.

I’m sure in 2007 you may have wore blue

eye shadow and used foundation three shades

too dark for your skin tone but things change.

Everyone has a past and I’m no different.

You can’t judge someone on it. I have a flat

Straight men who act like that

in the gay community this seems socially again stereotypes happen for a reason.

Perhaps you are a nice, non-sleazy guy

but when posed with the question “Could you date a trans-man?” you question –

could you? What was said towards the

straight identifying females applies to you too. Trans-men are men, so why shouldn’t you find them attractive?

Straight males/trans-men

trousers? As long as I’m a good guy that’s all

probably is the one group that would

that should matter.

Lesbians females/trans-women

I get it – you’re not attracted to men. But here’s the thing, I’m not just a man. I was once part

of your community too. I understand women, and I have a lot of feminine qualities despite

being a trans-guy. I too envy the bond between

encouraged partners accepting their

identity also, just look at Caitlyn Jenner’s

recent rejection from ex-wife Kris. Transwomen have a large voice in media, but people rarely consider the concept of

trans-men. As part of the community we are often forgotten.

So what I ask you to consider is,

dating a trans-guy? If you started talking

masculine chest, stubble and a lot of other male qualities. Does it really matter what’s in my

gender identity. However this hasn’t

you’re interested in?!

interest is gone. Are my genitals really all

acceptable? Yes that’s a stereotype but

Why? As a trans-man I identify as male and

encouraging more people to accept their

whether they’ve had top surgery, bottom

dropping me a message, but the minute you

interest may decrease or disappear completely.

celebrities recently coming out as

physically cannot send a ‘dick pic’ the

towards women are classed as sleazy, but

discover I am a trans-man suddenly your

My aim for this issue’s column

something you’re not, but at the same

Straight/Bi-sexual females/trans-women

From reading the bio above you may consider

something you may not have questioned

Now this one’s a bit trickier – this

properly view me as male. Trans-men

have no intent to be a straight guy’s test subject in the gay world, one foot in

the water, one foot out. But trans-guys dating trans-guys is not an unheard of thing. Again, like lesbians, you simply

cannot be attracted to something you are not but that is not what I’m suggesting.

GNIMAG.COM | 51

surgery or none at all, would you consider to a guy and thought maybe something could come of it, would you rule him

out if he revealed he was born female

but now identifies and presents as male?

Perhaps this is a situation you’ve never

even considered before and now I’ve got you thinking? Then good, my job here

is done. We need to start considering all

humans and how we interact with them.

If you find yourself in this situation then

remember it doesn’t matter, love is love, it holds no boundaries be that gender, age or race. Being with a trans-guy isn’t an

odd thing, it means you are an accepting, loving human being, just like the lucky guy you’re with!

FEATURE | FEMINISM VS HUMANISM

GNIMAG.COM | 52

FEATURE | FEMINISM VS HUMANISM

Humanist Schumanist…

You’re Either Feminist or Fire Fodder!

WORDS | Orlaith Hendron

F

eminism. There, I said it. I know some people reading this may just have winced. I wouldn’t be surprised if some people stopped reading at “Fem” given the amount of chatter I have heard lately about how we don’t need feminism anymore. Take the “I don’t need feminism because…” phenomenon that flares up on social media from time to time.

Here you have pictures of women holding signs saying things like: “I don’t need feminism because I don’t dress like a slut and don’t sleep around”. In the same way, why aren’t men called sluts for enjoying the same thing? That’s equality for you. Feminism asks that women shouldn’t have to consider what they wear for any other reason than their personal pleasure, like men don’t. That’s also equality. Feminism asks that woman who sleep around aren’t judged for doing so because men aren’t. That’s equality.

Sure, we could start treating men that way, but given the fact that would never happen wouldn’t it just be easier to raise women to the same standard instead of trying to bring men down?

What the “I don’t need feminism…” statement implies is that women can avoid needing the right to equality if they would only abide by the man-made rules of society. It implies that all negativity can be avoided by not doing things that are viewed negatively. We know that is not true. Even when they are as chaste as it is possible to be women continue to be raped, murdered and enslaved. The fact is that there has never been a time in modern history where women were not oppressed by rules, violence, and shame.

The latest thing to come out against feminism is big name celebrity. I won’t mention names because they don’t deserve publicity. These people claim they aren’t feminists, but rather humanists, and they are here to tell you, “Wouldn’t we all be in a much better position if everyone else considered themselves humanists too?”

The answer is a resounding “Yes!” As a species we would indeed be in a much better position if that were the case.

The biggest problem with that idealistic notion is that movement’s are not borne out of ideological philosophies. I’m sorry to be the one to tell you that by calling yourself a humanist and hoping for all of humanity to be treated the same does not magically eradicate centuries of torture.

The fact is that movements are borne out of necessity. They are forged out of the courage of those so downtrodden that their only choice is to revolt or die. Feminism is one such movement, the LGBT movement another. The point is that it is impossible to consider yourself a humanist unless you have miraculously lived as every type of human there is.

It’s not enough to value all humans as the same because we aren’t all the same and we can never be. The notion of humanism as a movement of social justice is obsolete. I don’t want to create a hierarchy of oppression, but as a lesbian woman I am doubly oppressed. And yet, even so, I can’t begin to imagine the oppression experienced by women of colour, let alone lesbian women of colour.

Suffice to say, the notion of humanism as a replacement for feminism, or any other movement, reeks of blind privilege.

People need their identities, and people need their identities to be recognised and integrated with other identities, and then they need those identities to be celebrated.

Feminism is as necessary today as it was a hundred years ago. What we need within our respective movements is an approach that considers all identities and all oppressed minorities, not a blind hope that all humankind can be united.

For instance: homophobia is a product of sexism, the very thing feminism fights against. If sexism didn’t exist and if men and women were equal then gay men would not be seen as a threat to the masculinity of heterosexual men. If

GNIMAG.COM | 53

gender didn’t matter when it comes to rights and freedoms then neither would sexual orientation. It only matters that a person is attracted to someone of the same sex because society tells us that men and women have certain roles. Feminism and the LGBTQ movement are natural allies.

Those who support equality on the basis of gender are feminists, whether you like that word or not. If you support equal rights for all genders you are a feminist.

If you don’t support equality and equal rights for all genders then I’m sorry to be the one to tell you that you are getting in the way of a very big, very angry fireball.

Despite how many of us repress it, it goes without saying that women are angry as hell that this stuff still needs to be said in 2015. After centuries of being oppressed in the most vile, violent and insidious of ways we pass the same fear on generation after generation. Anger is absolutely the correct emotional response. You could even be forgiven for utter hysteria.

The reality is that what we are working towards is a form of humanism. We want utopia and I believe it will happen, perhaps not in my lifetime but it will happen. But to call yourself a humanist— when last year there were over 27,000 incidents of domestic violence reported in Northern Ireland alone, when worldwide 60 million girls are assaulted on their way to school, when every year 14 million girls are given away as child brides—is nothing less than a huge miss-step for your cause.

We can’t be humanists until all people are equal. And we can’t all be equal without movements like feminism. To call yourself a humanist is to ignore the multitudes of oppression that exist across the globe in favour of a notion of freedom and respect that you are not willing to work for.

My name is Orlaith Hendron and I need feminism because alone I am a mere match in the wind, but together we are a screaming fireball of revolution.

INTERVIEW | JAKE GRAF

GNIMAG.COM | 54

INTERVIEW | JAKE GRAF

He is one of the rising stars of British cinema.

His latest short film takes a hardhitting look at the lives of two young men finding love in the dive bars of Soho.

It is wowing critics around the world, and making a name for actor, writer, and director Jake Graf. He gives us the low-down on trans representation, working with Eddie Redmayne, and that Vanity Fair cover...

WORDS | Kieran Clarke IMAGE | Paul Grace

Transfemale representation has never been better. But as a transguy do you feel underrepresented by the media?

Yes, hugely so, which obviously everyone at the moment is talking about. The only well known transguys out there – and not many people outside of the community really know about him – is Aydian Dowling, the guy who’s going for the cover of Men’s Health magazine. But there are no transmale actors who are well known, and there aren’t many transfemale actors either. There certainly needs to be more transguys putting themselves out there.

At times Brace was quite difficult to watch.

Was it based on personal experience?

The film is pretty much what I was going

through at the time. I had a girlfriend who saw me through my transition who I was with for three years, and she was a lovely girl and very, very supportive. After about six months on testosterone I found myself quite attracted to guys. That was something I’d not experienced before, so that was very confusing and I had to break up with a girl who I loved very much because it just didn’t feel right anymore Although my attractions have broadened, and I now date both men and women, doing so as a transguy can be quite tough.

We won’t spoil what happens, but how did the scene in the hospital come about?

That was inspired by a friend of mine.

He was out at a bar one night and had his drink spiked. He later woke up in the women’s ward of a hospital. Very different circumstances to how the character in the film ends up there, but my friend was lying there, beard and everything, and because he was pre-op he ended up in the women’s ward. I asked some friends who are nurses and police officers and they agreed that things like that do happen to people who are found with no ID if are were pre-op.

A lot is made of gay and trans equality but films like Brace show that this isn’t always the case, even in places like London.

Absolutely. When I transitioned I had a lot of aggression from lesbian women who felt I was sort of deserting them and the lesbian community. The response from some of those women was really, really bad. I know transguys who are dating cis guys, who have had death threats from members of the gay community. There’s definitely very little unity under our queer umbrella, which is strange because we’re all being discriminated by and being beaten up by the same people. Other than that there’s not much holding us together.

You dedicated Brace to people who have suffered violence because of their

GNIMAG.COM | 55

orientation and gender. How come?

Someone said to me recently, “Don’t be that guy who makes issue-driven films, otherwise you find yourself very pigeonholed.” But I like to make films that have a message. It’s important to have something to say to make your audience feel something. If you can deliver a message or help change people’s minds then you can have a really positive impact on someone’s life and their perceptions of things. All of these things are about normalising the trans experience.

Caitlyn Jenner on the cover of Vanity Fair with her boobs out is great, but it’s a sexualisation and sensationalism of a Trans person instead of showing us as normal people. Wouldn’t it be great if we were all just considered people instead of a gay or Trans person.

What’s next for Jake Graf?

I’m writing a trans TV and web show, so I’m trying to be as proactive as possible.

I’ve just finished recording a bit part in The Danish Girl, which is an upcoming film by Tom Hooper starring Eddie Redmayne as Lili Elbe, who was one of the first people to ever have sexual reassignment surgery.

They wanted to cast trans people as much as possible, but if they cast a trans person in the lead role they wouldn’t get a budget of £40m and Tom Hooper wouldn’t be directing it. Eddie looks amazing as this trans woman, but they did cast trans actors in supporting roles.

I’m so glad I put myself out there as a trans guy; I’ve never had so many opportunities to do these amazing things.

If you’re young and trans and want to get into filmmaking it’s never been a better time. Just get out there and do it.

Brace, written, produced and starring Jake Graf, directed by Sophy Holland and Alicya Eyo, is available now in full at vimeo.com/131741261

THU 12TH NOV

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GNIMAG.COM | 57

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GNIMAG.COM | 66

candle is inserted carefully into the outer ear and the flame is allowed to burn down to within a short distance of a marked red line, when the candle is removed gently and extinguished in some water. The practitioner then massages gently around the ear, using draining movements down the neck.

REFLE

Reflexolog therapist w feet, hands The theory BRejeuvaal a sue t yreflex point B e a u t y glands in th points with in those org TIME TO UNWIND WITH GREAT OFFERS ON HOLISTIC TREATMENTS energetic p

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The procedure is repeated with the other ear, and then the patientoflies on his/her back Leading providers for gentle drainage massage on the face.

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advanced skin solutions, It is then important for the patient to haveTO UNWIND WITH GREAT OFFERS TIME HOLISTIC TREATM SPECIALON OFFERS! specialising in: 25% off Reflexology and When done a drink of water and lie still for about 15 Rejuvalise Holistic Theparist Deirdre McCabe tells us all about Hopi Ear Candling and Reflexology If you’re looking for the ultimate in relaxation, why not try one of the holistic therapies on offer at Rejuvalase Beauty & Laser Clinic in Belfast? Our holistic therapists are experienced in delivering a range of treatments which will have you feeling wonderful in no time at all. And this month tw of our popular treatments have 25% off. Tempted? You should be!

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headaches and migraines. As their action is so gentle, they are particularly suitable for children.

What are Hopi Candles?

What are the effects?

Hopi Ear Candles are hollow tubes made of cotton, soaked in beeswax, honey and herbs. When lit, the candle acts like a chimney, causing the warm air inside it to rise and creating a vacuum at the bottom.

This vacuum gently stimulates the ear, facilitating removal of excess wax and impurities.

In most cases the treatment is extremely soothing and relaxing, leaving the patient with a sense of well-being and reduced pressure in the ears or head. A little warmth is felt, and hissing and crackling noises are heard, with a little popping. Most people say that it is a very pleasant experience!

The initial effect can be an improvement in hearing or freer nasal breathing and an improved sense of smell. However, improvements can continue occurring for a day or two.

How are the candles used?

should feel

tinnitus, rhinitis, glue ear, colds, flu, HOPI EAR CANDLING What are Hopi Candles?

The patient should lie in a comfortable position on his/her side with the head supported on a pillow. A small cotton towel or flannel should cover the hair. The lit candle is inserted carefully into the outer ear and the flame is allowed to burn down to within a short distance of a marked red line, when the candle is removed gently and extinguished in some water. The practitioner then massages gently around the ear, using draining movements down the neck.

Hopi Ear Candles are hollow tubes made of cotton, soaked in beeswax, honey and herbs. When lit, the candle acts like a is repeated with the other The procedure and then the patient lies on his/her back chimney, causing the warm airear, inside it to for gentle drainage massage on the face. rise and creating a vacuum at the bottom.

It is then important for the patient to have This vacuum gently stimulatesa drink theofear, water and lie still for about 15 before he/she stands up. facilitating removal of excess minutes wax and What are the benefits? impurities.

so gentle, they are particularly children.

REFLEXOLOGY

What are the effects?

Reflexology is a treatment where the therapist works on “reflex points” on your feet, hands, and head (especially ears).

The theory behind reflexology is that these reflex points relate to specific organs and glands in the body, and stimulating those points with finger pressure promotes health in those organs and glands via the body’s energetic pathways.

In most cases the treatment is soothing and relaxing, leaving with a sense of well-being and pressure in the ears or head. A is felt, and hissing and cracklin When done by a skilled practitioner, heard, withlike a little popping. Mo those in out salon, reflexology is a deeply relaxing treatmentthat with benefits can be pleasant experi it is that a very

Rejuvalase Beauty & Laser Clinic, 448 Newtownards Road, Belfas Tel: 028 9046 9447 or 084 3886 9497 Email: rejuvalase@ Hopi candles can be used for many conditions including deafness caused by excess wax, congested sinuses, irritation in the ears, ringing or noises in the ears, tinnitus, rhinitis, glue ear, colds, flu,

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felt throughout the body.

The initial effect can be an imp in hearing or freer nasal breath The patient should lie in a comfortable an improved sense of smell. Ho position on his/her side with the head improvements can continue oc supported on a pillow. A small cotton towel day orBT4 two.

Rejuvalase Beauty & Laser Clinic, 448 Newtownards Road, Belfast, Antrim, 1HJ or flannel should cover the hair. The litTel: 028 9046 9447 or 084 3886 9497 Email: rejuvalase@outlook.com candle is inserted carefully into the outer ear and the flame is allowed to burn down to within a short distance of a marked red line, when the candle is removed gently and Reflexology is a treatment whe extinguished in some water. The practitioner therapist works on “reflex point then massages gently around the ear, using feet, hands, and head (especia draining movements down the neck.

The theory behind reflexology i reflex points relate to specific o The procedure is repeated with the other glands in the body, and stimula ear, and then the patient lies on his/her back points with finger pressure prom for gentle drainage massage on the face. in those organs and glands via energetic pathways.

It is then important for the patient to have a drink of water and lie still for about 15 When done by a skilled practiti minutes before he/she stands up. those in out salon, reflexology relaxing treatment with benefits felt throughout the body.

What are the benefits?

Hopi candles can be used for many The therapist will use various te conditions including deafness caused by that include holds, finger press excess wax, congested sinuses, irritation kneading, rotation and rubbing in the ears, ringing or noises in the ears, should feel an effect through th tinnitus, rhinitis, glue ear, colds, flu,

How are the candles used?

The therapist will use various techniques that include holds, finger pressure, kneading, rotation and rubbing and you should feel an effect through the entire body.

REFLEXOLOGY

To book your free consultation, please call us or pop in to the clinic.

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DATING | EAMON McAULEY / KITSCH BITCH

Kitsch Bitch

Hi KB! Been watching way too much Drag Race lately.

Who’s gayer, Michelle Visage, Mama Ru, or you?

Its not a competition but it’s me! I win! Yaaay! I’m the WINNER!! Now where’s my Kylie albums and Jean Paul Gaultier perfume?!?!

Heyyy gurllll. I wanna drag it up but how do I tuck?!

It’s a bit like playing twister with your genitals! Your balls go up inside like when it’s cold and your dick goes back towards the butt, then you keep it all in place with gaffer tape or underwear!

That’s showbusiness kid!

Hey Kitsch Bitch. Some shady ho is spreading shit about me. How do I get away with murder?

Well I’d do a Jessica fletcher and let on you’re writing a book but secretly your actually figuring out who else to blame for you being a murderous minx!

If you want to risk the humiliation and have the wonderfully sharp tongued Kitsch Bitch answer your problems send it to kb@lambpromotions.com

Dating expert Eamon is here to help.

Eamon McAuley I’ve been dating my boyfriend for three years.

Things were great at the start but lately he just doesn’t seem all that interested. When he stays over he spends most of his time on his phone. What should I say? Gavin, Bangor If your relationship isn’t what it used to be then you need to sit down with your partner and have an open and honest conversation about it. You need to discuss your concerns that things aren’t the way they used to be. If you are worried he is cheating on you then other factors may be at play. Could he be under pressure with work/family issues? If so this could be affecting him in ways you can’t see. Don’t jump to any conclusions until you know for sure. The important thing is to get to the root of the problem and, if possible, fix what’s gone wrong. If you want to make your relationship work the two of you will have to work together. If his phone use is really worrying you, you should make a rule about using your phones when you are around one another. He doesn’t have to agree but at least he will know it’s a problem for you.

My husband keeps trying to talk me into going to sex parties but for me a relationship is about two people, not a room full of strangers! How do I tell him I’m not interested? Matthew, Belfast If you and your partner have a great sex life then there shouldn’t really be a need to involve others. This could be your partner’s way of telling you he isn’t as satisfied with his sex life as you are. Inviting others people into your relationship in this way— particularly if they are strangers—can easily lead to complications in any relationships, particularly if one half of you aren’t all that keen on the idea. I’m a great believer in the old fashioned idea that sex is best enjoyed between two people who love each other.

There are plenty of ways to excite your sex life without having to involve others. You need to speak to your partner about this matter and put it to bed once and for all. If he doesn’t back down it might be time to reconsider your future together.

I recently found out my girlfriend is cheating on me. I’m gay and she’s always told me she’s gay too, but the person she was sleeping with is a male friend of hers from uni. Is it stupid to feel doubly rejected because she cheated on me with a guy? Aoife, Magherafelt

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This is a very unfortunate situation. If your girlfriend is sleeping with men as well as women, and if it has happened more than once, she is probably best described as bisexual rather than lesbian.

Either way you are right to feel rejected.

Regardless of who your girlfriend cheated on you with, the fact is that there is now another person in your relationship where there wasn’t one before, and it is perfectly understandable to feel hurt and confused by this revelation. Only you can decide if your relationship is worth saving. For peace of mind your girlfriend will have to give you her word that she won’t cheat again.

It’s up to you whether to trust her or not.

Trust in a relationship is the most important thing you can have, and no doubt this will take time to rebuild. You should arrange to have a full sexual health screening just as a precaution; infidelity in otherwise monogamous relationships is one of the leading means of spreading STIs.

I’m 34 and my partner is 29. We live together and have no major problems but recently I found a receipt for a very expensive ring. He knows I’m not religious and have no intention of marrying him. If he proposes and I say no it will break his heart. Any advice? Charlie, Dublin If your boyfriend knows you have no intentions of getting married why would he buy you a ring? Is it possible it could be a gift for a family member, or maybe even for himself? If neither of those seems likely you should address the situation as sensitively as you can. The worst thing to do would be to go in all guns blazing; if you are wrong you will not come of the best and he may resent you trying to second guess his motives. If he is planning on proposing knowing your reservations then he hasn’t gone to a huge amount of trouble to keep it hidden. More than likely it’s not for you.

You should try mentioning in passing that you found the receipt. His reaction will tell you everything you need to know.

If you need advice on a family, dating or relationship problem, email Eamon on dating@lambpromotions.com. uniquedatingagency.com

TRAVEL | LONDON

From Oxford Street to Charing Cross, the West End to the East end, Camden Lock to darkest Soho, for the discerning traveller there is no destination quite like the our own capital. GNI MAG spends 48 hours in London...

WORDS | Tom Vonier

Summer is almost over, so if you haven’t yet splurged all of your cash on the nearest Gay Pride festival why not consider a weekend break? For the discerning traveller with only two days to spare, there is no better destination than London.

Once the beating heart of a global empire—the writer Virginia Woolf once described it as a place where “no two people are ever alike”—London remains a must see for even the most seasoned of globetrotters. Boasting a rich cultural heritage, and no small amount of filth and glamour, you will never encounter a more diverse cast of characters than over an early morning coffee in one of London’s busier thoroughfares.

With regular flights to and from its five international airports (Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, London City and Luton), London has never been easier to reach. Flybe offer arguably the best priced routes, although budget airlines like EasyJet are always worth a look. Last minute flights can be pricey, so it’s best to book early if you can.

From there, the easiest way to reach the city is by train. If you are on a budget a dearth of coach companies offer the same service for less without the added fuss of

having to book ahead. A WiFi enabled National Express coach (nationalexpress. com) will deposit you in central London for as little as £10.

If you are that rare breed of traveller who thinks that flying to our nation’s capital without first finding suitable lodgings, let me be the first to assure you that this is quite possibly the worst idea you have ever had. Like the countless thousands who have gone before you only to discover the horrors of finding suitable lodgings at short notice, it is a truth universally acknowledged that London after dark—when the streets are thronged with tourists and drunk businessmen spilling out of clubs—is a free for all. And every last one of them will be hunting for a same cheap bed as you. Smartphone of choice in hand, fingers frantically tapping away at Google Maps, you’ll wander through a city where the distance between two Tube stations takes forty minutes, and where hostels calculate their nightly rates like low-cost airlines (cheap when empty, expensive as hell when not). So do pre-book, it is an essential. Thankfully there are hostels, hotels and apartments aplenty to suit all tastes. Comparison

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sites like Booking (booking.com) have a great variety of places to say. If you prefer feeling like a local and staying somewhere a bit more personal, you can’t go far wrong with Airbnb (airbnb.com).

Few cities offer so many cultural delights as London. If you fancy yourself as something of an art snob then no trip is complete without a visit to the National Gallery (nationalgallery.org.uk). Located on Trafalgar Square on the periphery of the West End, the National Gallery is a mustsee. (The far less stuffy Tate Modern is just a few Tube stops away if your taste in art is more Damian Hurst than Titian.)

It’s hungry work absorbing all that culture, so why not round off your morning with a picnic at Soho Square (weather permitting), with shopping on Oxford Street and Piccadilly Circus?

Running alongside Oxford Street is the iconic Carnaby Street. Many of the city’s top labels have their flagship stores here. If you tire yourself out then nearby Covent Garden abounds with cozy little bars, cafes and hip foodie joints. For dinner, Chinese eatery Ping Pong (pingpongdimsum. com) offers a fine selection of cocktails and edibles that will not break the bank. If you

TRAVEL | LONDON

wander into China Town it is easy to go off the culinary beaten track, but if your tastebuds are diverse as you tell everyone they are you won’t have to go hungry.

If London’s gay scene is top of your itinerary, you are in for a treat. No matter how far back you travel, for decades past no trip to London has been complete without time spent in Soho. The dying brand of gentlemen’s clubs, peep shows and sex shops (including a brisk and open drug trade) are fighting the growing wave of gentrification in this area, which has seen the biggest loss of gay businesses in the past few years than it ever has before.

So get in quick before it’s all Starbucks and Nandos. Even so, Soho remains the gayest hub of the most gay-friendly city on Earth.

The time between dinner and dancing you might want to spend steaming— literally—at the ever popular Sweatbox (sweatboxsoho.com) gym and sauna on Ramillies Street. Whether you relax in the whirlpool, head to the Finnish sauna, or explore the darker areas of the venue, apres-hydration is of utmost importance.

In Soho you will find a wide selection bars, pubs and cafes to quench your thirst.

Places like G-A-Y Bar, Ku Bar, The Rupert

Street Bar and Comptons of Soho are all well known spots and well worth a visit.

When the bars close the party moves on to Heaven (heavennightclub-london. com) near Charing Cross Station. If you fancy something a less safe visit The Royal Vauxhall Tavern (rvt.org.uk) instead where our resident glamorous assistant Harry Clayton-Wright (recently described by The Daily Mirror as “a deranged manic gay bloke”) is often found performing and outraging punters as is his wont.

After an eventful evening you’ll need bags of energy to get through the following day. Hangover cures mean brunch at Cafe Bohemè (cafeboheme. co.uk), whose Bloody Mary will cure just about every ailment you might conceivably have. If it’s fair trade teas and coffees you are after you can’t do much better than Yumchaa (yumchaa.com) at Camden Lock. The charmingly titled Fuckoffee in Bermondsey Street has also made something of a name for itself in recent months.

Your next stop should definitely be one of London’s many parks. From Regent’s Park to leafy St James’, London is awash with green spaces. Despite being slap-

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bang in the middle of one of the busiest metropolises on Earth, London offers a surprising range of relaxed parks in which to chill out and admire the greenery.

Kensington Gardens offers a wealth to do and see, including a charming statue of Peter Pan, and Royal residence Kensington Palace. If your tastes are more outré why not go for a bracing dip in the men’s pond at Hampstead Heath to wash away that hangover?

If you haven’t quite expended your love of culture you can check out the distinctly NSFW literary salon Naked Boys Reading (nakedboysreading.com). This extraordinary club, hosted by the fabulous Dr Sharon Husbands, is a bi-monthly event that presents carefully curated literature entirely in the buff.

If you can’t get enough of Dr Husband head north to Dalston, where the creative classes haven’t yet been usurped by the wave of gentrification. Your final night in London is completed by a trip to Dalston Superstore (dalsonsuperstore.com): a cafe, bar and nightclub all in one, Superstore boasts a fantastic selection of DJs, cabaret acts and cocktails.

It doesn’t come more London than that.

H

M

Y

D I G R Y B

Strength has a greater purpose Lyndon Court Belfast BT1 6EF 07724 705216

hybridfitnessni.co.uk

LIFESTYLE | THE PERFECT DEADLIFT

FITNESS If you are working on building your strength then there is only one lift that matters: the deadlift. This is not an exercise to be taken lightly. If you have back issues consider avoiding it entirely.

The deadlift is one of three main powerlifting exercises, along with the squat and bench press. The deadlift part refers to the lifting of a dead (i.e. without momentum) weight, not for the feeling you get after. Deadlifts can be performed using dumbbells, barbells, or kettlebells. In this example we are going to be working a barbell.

The deadlift focuses on the posterior chain, which is essentially all of the muscles you can’t see: the latissimi dorsi (lats), trapezius, rhomboids, erector spinae, glutes and hamstrings (not to mention your grip). All of these muscle groups will feel the benefit of the deadlift, making it one of the most important lifts to master.

Generally speaking, if people can’t see a muscle they tend not to focus on it when training, when realistically they are the muscles that should get more attention. Not paying attention to the muscles of the posterior chain will inevitably lead to injury. If I had

a quid for every time a client came to me with mobility issues through not working the posterior chain, I’d be a rich man.

Now that I have you convinced, proper and safe execution of the deadlift is critical. The key to a strong, safe deadlift is to get as tight to the bar as possible during the bottom portion of the lift (the concentric phase). You must contract every muscle you got. The tighter you get, the stronger you will be.

A lot of people get hurt during the deadlift because they use too much lower back and not enough glutes and hamstrings. You must learn to use these muscles properly before attempting any kind of weight. Don’t shrug your shoulders, don’t hyper extend your lower back, and don’t bend your arms at any time!

For a step by step guide refer to the list to the right.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Michael from Hybrid Fitness, Belfast, takes us through the Deadlift GNIMAG.COM | 73

Position yourself in front of a loaded barbell. Your feet should be hip width apart if the stance is conventional. Your shins should touch the bar and remain vertical throughout the lift.

While keeping the back as straight as possible, bend your knees, bend forward and grasp the bar using a shoulder width overhand grip. This is the starting position.

Get as tight as possible. Imagine trying to bend the bar around your legs to keep it close.

Breathe tightly into your belly. Filling your lungs won't be enough.

While holding the bar, start the lift by pushing with your legs while simultaneously getting your torso to the upright position as you breathe out.

At the same time push the ground away with your feet and extend your hips.

At the top of the lift, squeeze your glutes and brace your abs.

Return to the starting position by bending at the knees while simultaneously leaning the torso forward at the waist while keeping your back straight. When the weights on the bar touch the floor, you are ready to

FOOD & DRINK MOJITO BAKED ALSAKA Baked Alaska is an absolute classic meringue recipe. We have given it a Meringue Girls twist by combining a zesty lime and coconut sponge with mojito sorbet and blowtorched brown sugar Italian meringue. A proper summer holiday on a plate. Don’t forget your cocktail umbrella!

For the mojito sorbet 125ml fresh limejuice | 4 tbsp Jamaican white rum | 150g icing sugar | 120ml water | Zest of 1 lime | A handful of mint (roughly 20 leaves), finely sliced

a spatula then bake for about 20 minutes. The cake should be golden and springs back when pressed.

Once completely cool, cut 8cm diameter circles from your sponge.

For the sponge 170g softened unsalted butter | 170g caster sugar | 3 eggs | 100g self-raising flour | 70g desiccated coconut | Juice and zest of 2 limes

To make the brown sugar Italian meringue Put the egg whites and 1 tablespoon of the caster sugar into the bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with the whisk attachment, or a clean glass bowl with a hand-held whisk. Put in the remaining caster sugar, light brown sugar and water into a heavy saucepan and place over a medium/high heat. (Don’t stir, as this causes the sugar to crystallize and you’ll get crunchy bits in your meringue!). Once the sugar has dissolved and the mixture is boiling, attach a sugar thermometer and continue to boil without stirring until the syrup is 120°C. Take the pan off the heat.

Turn the mixer to high speed and whisk the egg whites until stiff peaks form. Reduce the speed to low and carefully pour in the hot sugar syrup in a slow, steady stream. Be careful to add the syrup directly to the egg whites, without it touching the side of the bowl or the whisk on the way down, otherwise it will cool before it hits the eggs. Once all the syrup has been added, turn the mixer to high speed and mix until the bowl feels cool.

For the meringue 60g egg whites (from 2 medium eggs) | 50g caster sugar | 75g light brown sugar | 30ml water Equipment A sugar thermometer | A blowtorch To make the mojito sorbet Put the lime, rum and icing sugar into a bowl and whisk until the sugar has dissolved. Stir in the water, lime zest and mint. Pour into an airtight container and freeze overnight. The alcohol content this sorbet sets softly, so use it quickly.

To make the sponge Preheat the oven to 170°C/gas 5. Butter a large baking tin (approximately 24cm x 18cm) and line it with non-stick baking paper. In a large bowl (or a stand mixer) beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time – the mixture may start to look split, but don’t worry. Add the flour, coconut, lime juice and zest and fold gently until you have a smooth batter. Pour the mixture into your baking tray and smooth the surface with

To assemble, place four sponge circles in your desired serving dish. Using an ice cream scoop, place a perfect scoop of mojito sorbet on each sponge circle.

Working quickly, cover the sorbet and sponge with Italian meringue. Blowtorch to a golden caramel colour and serve immediately.

Perfect!

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They are the dessert darlings of Selfridges and Fortnum & Mason, the bestselling bakers of Topman, Alexander McQueen, and Christian Louboutin, and the patisserie princesses of Instagram. Now the uhmazin duo of Meringue Girls Alex Hoffler and Stacey O’Gorman are tearing up the best-sellers list with their new cookbook Everything Sweet.

We catch up with them for a chat and a cheeky recipe for mojito baked Alaskas...

You’ve singlehandedly ushered in the age of the meringue. How does it feel to see your creations go viral?

It feels incredible and we feel so lucky when we think how far we’ve come in just a few

LIFESTYLE | FOOD AND DRINK short years! You just can’t beat the buzz of getting creative with sweet treats for a wedding, birthday party, PR event and then seeing the lovely reactions when the meringues arrive and people get insta-happy before diving in!

What drives your urge to bake?

We’ve both always loved cooking and baking is such a great way to let our Willy Wonka creative flair run wild. There are SO many different things to bake out there and it’s so fun coming up with new flavour combinations and designs.

When did you get your big break?

We were lucky enough to work with David Loftus the award winning food photographer who shared some of our early photos.

The orders flooded in! We can’t thank him enough.

What’s been your proudest moment so far?

It’s pretty hard to choose but we pinch ourselves every time we see our two cookbooks alongside each other. Opening our own bakery was another milestone.

What’s your favourite dessert?

Oh, this changes all the time but we’ve been baking coconut flour and peanut butter brownies recently and they are divine! A proper Italian gelato on a hot day never gets old either.

Restaurant Review

The leader of the pack @Hendogs Say what you like about the current state of fine dining in Belfast, one thing we are not short on (besides a dearth of flourishing bistros just aching to be hip) is truly notable eateries. We have no shortage of upmarket restaurants that popularise (and cater to) a city on the rise like this one.

But London, Paris or New York we are not.

Local diners will not thank you for a portion of scallops the size of a postage stamp served upon a parsley foam. The rise of street food and artisanal burger joints have forever changed the way we think about good, affordable food. So while its contemporaries are fixated with exposed brickwork, zinc bars, and nose-bleed priced meals served on whatever is to hand, Hendogs serves up a much needed breath of fresh air.

Located in St Anne’s Square in the bustling Cathedral Quarter, Hendogs is cheek by jowl with some of the finest establishments for eating, drinking and making merry in the city. And yet you could be forgiven for missing it entirely; tucked above that other Belfast staple, The Potted Hen, there is minimal signage to guide the way.

The unfussy frontage is deceptively plain, because within intrepid diners will stumble upon a culinary gem offering—dare we say it—the finest fast food this city has to offer.

The menu is amply filled, promising tastes as diverse as they are delicious. Little is offered by way of a starter, but with courses as wholesome and portions as big as these, there is zero chance of diners leaving empty stomached. As the name suggests, gourmet hotdogs are the staple here.

From the “Bull Dog”—ribeye beef sausage with pickled onion, watercress and braised beef—to the

What is the ultimate lifehack for crafting perfectly instagrammable treats?

Texture, colour and natural lighting are so important in making your sweet treats look delectable and delicious!

Everything Sweet by the Meringue Girls is out now priced £18.00, published by Square Peg.

GNIMAG.COM | 75

titular “Hen Dog”—chicken and chorizo sausage with tomato and red pepper salsa, aioli and rocket—there is variety enough to suit all tastes. If hotdogs don’t appeal, a range of mains including Hennessy sticky pork ribs, grilled chicken salad, Catalan spiced white bait, chicken wings, and even burritos are equally as tempting. A rolling roster of daily specials offer a wider variety again; if you have any doubts the extremely helpful staff are happy to explain and offer recommendations.

I opted for their “Dog of the Day”—a beef sausage topped with brisket, blue cheese and chipotle mayo. The combination of flavours—the sweetness of the American-style sausage and the rich, woody brisket—made this dog not one to be missed. My dining partner opted for a range of pulled-pork sliders; one smoky cheese and pickle; another garnished with hot and sour coleslaw with creme fraiche; while the third was drizzled with hotsauce and melted mozzarella. Meals like these are made for sharing, and between us we demolished our mains and the side of sweet potato wedges and messy fries topped with diced onion and bacon in no time at all.

A range of shakes (both alcoholic and virgin) are available, while the cocktail menu (£3.50 on all cocktails on Wednesdays) offers cunning twists on classic tipples. A well stocked wine list is bested only by their impressive selection of bottled beers and ciders, pints, and spirits.

Who said you can’t eat well in Belfast without breaking the bank?

13 Edward St, Belfast, BT1 2LR (028 90 234 554).

Meal for two, including drinks and service: £30

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LIFESTYLE | PROPERTY

TO W N H O US E L I V I NG ÂŁ185,000

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2 Reception

Centre is only a short bus or taxi ride away.

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Local shopping centres, green spaces and the ring road are all within easy reach. And the buzz of Belfast City

AGENT DETAILS

The spacious first floor living/dining room offers excellent views across Belfast towards Black Mountain. The

Milk Estates 145 Holywood Road Belfast, BT4 3BE

beech effect fitted kitchen offers built in electric oven, gas hob and fridge freezer. Three bedrooms (master with ensuite shower room), and family bathroom are located on the top floor of this home. On the ground floor this home benefits from a separate utility room, integral garage, and Living Room / fourth Bedroom.

T: 028 9065 4314

GNIMAG.COM | 77

A Touch of Class Hummer

Make an entrance at your Civil Partnership in an amazing, eyecatching Hummer.

Pefect for getting your whole wedding party to the venue in one go, and in impecible style!

078 1697 2074

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FEATURE | THE BIG DAY: Colin & Dave

The Big Day

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We have wide range of cake flavours of and they are available in any combination.

A colour brochure is available on request, or come and see us for a free consultation, we are perfectly happy to ice your own cakes and if you have a design in mind we will be delighted to follow your ideas.

Delivery charges available on request.

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In this edition of ‘The Big Day’ GNI MAG catches up with Belfast couple Colin and Dave. From an unsuspecting start, through to a Las Vegas proposal, we let these two lovely lads tell us about “the most perfect” wedding day ever (including a cameo from Barbara Bryceland!).

Colin I was single for a few years before I met Dave. I’d been on a few dates here and there but nothing worth writing home about. Dave was actually on a date when we met! Safe to say I made a lasting impression.

Dave When I saw Colin trying to get my attention I paid him no attention.

I was on a date! But when my date went to the toilet Colin made his move. He wouldn’t take no for an answer. So me, being polite, took his number. Obviously I had to keep my options open in case the

date didn’t go well! Let’s say it came in very handy indeed.

Colin We moved in about six months after dating. It was more practical and it made no sense paying two rents when we were always together. We started going steady (do people still say that?) in September 2009 and were engaged in August 2011. I had been pestering Dave for months about getting engaged, but he was always telling me not yet. In the end he gave in. We went and chose our rings and they sat in the house for months! We both love Celine Dion so we flew to Las Vegas to see her perform in Caesars Palace. It was then that he got down on one knee and asked. It was an immediate yes, however I did make him get up off the floor straight away.

Dave I didn’t want to get married but Colin, being Colin, simply had

to have his way. He spoke to a few mutual friends to get them to hurry me up and make up my mind. We went to Vegas to see our idol, Celine Dion, so I knew when to pop the question but I couldn’t for the life of me decide where to do it. We walked up and down the strip and the wedding band was burning a hole in my pocket.

Walking back to our hotel, in front of a huge poster of Celine, I knew the time was right. I got down on one knee and proposed. Sometimes I wonder if he said yes just to get me to stand up again!

Colin Without being biased, it was the most perfect day ever. It was the first “gay wedding” we had been to, and we were the first out of our group of friend to get wed so we knew it had to be perfect. We booked the Galgorm Manor in Ballymena after being blown away by how beautiful it was. No other venue got so much as a second

GNIMAG.COM | 81

thought. We had 120 guests so it was quite a big party.

We had heard that civil partnerships were a little boring and impersonal so we both made a conscience decision that this wouldn’t be the case for us. We had met with our registrar who laid down the law with the certain things you are and are not allowed to say which we didn’t really like. We knew that anything religious wouldn’t be allowed but were shocked that we couldn’t mention the words “gay, marriage or husband” throughout the ceremony. Our friend Gordon wrote a beautiful poem to read at the ceremony and this had to be vetted and then changed before it was allowed. We both chose and decided on everything with the help from our Matron of Honor and Dave’s best friend Karen.

The ceremony itself was held in the Phantom House, a little old fashioned barn. It was lit with hundreds of candles as well as

FEATURE | THE BIG DAY: Colin & Dave

strings of lanterns going up the aisle. We had a string quartet playing Canon in D major (I think everyone who has ever watched ‘Father of the Bride’ has dreamt of walking down the aisle to this song). I was a complete wreck.

I’d been so calm and collected up until the morning of the wedding.

When I woke up I went down for breakfast and cried into my poached eggs. Thankfully Dave knew nothing of this as we stayed in separate rooms. The ceremony was at 2pm and, being me, I had a tad too much Prosecco with my grooms men/maids. My mother arrived to proudly walk me down the aisle and I was so proud, scared and happy.

Dave then walked down the aisle with Karen and I started crying my eyes out. I think what made my day so special was

seeing the sheer amount of love and smiles from our family and friends looking up at us. We said our vows, had beautiful readings from our friends, and then we signed the register as Somewhere Over The Rainbow played in the background).

Immediately after the ceremony we left to have the group photo, but before that our three kids (Lola, Alfie and Hugo) were brought up to have their picture taken with their daddies. Our guests loved it.

One of the reasons we love the Galgorm so much are its grounds, thanks to this stunning setting we now have the most beautiful wedding pictures I could have asked for. One of my favorite ideas for the wedding was that myself and Dave and our best men and groomsmen would wear rainbow

socks. We wanted a wedding that was as traditional and classy as possible but with a little bit of our “pink personality” here and there.

The rainbow socks was one of those expressions and made for a fantastic picture.

“My mother arrived to proudly walk me down the aisle, and I was so proud, scared and happy“ Our reception was held in the brand new Renaissance Suite.

The magnitude and style of this beautiful room is out of this world.

The marble and gold made me feel like a princess on my special day.

Our good friend John McClean from Sugarroom had made our wedding cake. It had to be huge for

me, the bigger the better! He did a fantastic job.

We both wore navy Ted Baker suits with pink stitching and pink ties, Dave wore a regular tie while I wore a bowtie. Our shoes and underwear were also by Ted Baker.

We we were literally dressed from Ted to Toe. Our matching wedding bands came from Gardiner Brothers.

Colin The food at the galgorm is incredible. We had canapés for our guests arriving, Prosecco and cocktails. Guests had a choice of chicken or turkey for their main, with two starters. A Champagne sorbet followed. Desert was a delicious rhubarb crumble.

For our evening entertainment Barbara Brycland, a much-loved fan of the LGBT community and personal friend mine and Dave, performed. After Barbara, Dave and I had our first dance. It started off with our favorite Celine song, nice and slow. It ended up with us both wearing high heels. We also had a photo booth that made some of the most hilarious pictures I have ever seen. Everyone had an absolute ball. It was like the best night out you’ve ever had but with everyone you love and care for there with you.

Our first snack of the evening was of fish and chips served in little cones, as well as mounds of sweets from our Candy Cart.

Since we were married in November we decided to hold off about six months before going off on our honeymoon. We went on a fantastic cruise around the Caribbean (with eleven of our closest friends) starting off with four nights in Miami and then cruising around the Virgin Islands, Tortola and the Bahamas. It was amazing and like everything we do, sharing it with our friends made the entire thing better. I had to give

FEATURE | THE BIG DAY : Colin & Dave

myself a few weeks off the drink though. I took real advantage of the unlimited drinks package.

Dave I think Colin summed our day up perfectly. Apart from the fact he failed to mention that I planned, arranged and organised EVERYTHING! I had lists for lists. I was the most organised, calm, and collected groom to be ever. The day was perfect from start

to finish. We loved the venue and we loved having our closest friends take part.

Colin’s speech had a “joke” at the end. We both watch Dallas, and there’s a line where John Ross says “I cant promise you smooth sailings, but I can promise you the ride of your life”. Colin thought this was hilarious and was so proud of it, only when it got to the day he said “smooth ceilings” instead...

The honeymoon was great. The

only thing I would change is the unlimited Prosecco. Colin drank the entire ships’ weight of the stuff.

Colin Married life is fantastic, it feels the same as before but there is a sense of security we didn’t have.

Legally it is a civil partnership, but we’ve called it marriage from day one and we are as married as any heterosexual couple. Equal marriage is not too far away, and it

GNIMAG.COM | 83

will strengthen the bond we already have.

Dave Married life is great. Not that much has changed. We are quite an old fashioned couple, really. We love our nights in more than our nights out. When we do go out we paint the town every shade of red!

We love coming home after a long day, lighting the candles and cuddling up with our 3 dogs…

FEATURE | THE BIG DAY - Colin & Dave

Colin We love going out with friends for dinner but we prefer our nights in a little more these days. I guess we’re getting boring. We like our home comforts. After a hard day we get straight home and watch some telly with our dogs. Most nights we are in bed by 10. How dull!

I love my rom-coms and American series. Dave hates them, so he leaves me in peace to watch.

We do go out separately from time to time but generally we do most things together. Now that we are married our next step is to start a family. We hope to do it someday soon. For now our dogs have to suffice.

Dave After being together so long you become in-sync with your partner and you find yourself liking the same things. We do do things together and we do things apart too, but sometimes we need our own space.

Every couple is the same, right?

GNIMAG.COM | 84

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FEATURE | COMING OUT: Hugh’s Story

Hugh first realised he was gay when he was in primary school. This small town boy found coming out a big deal but now he’s doing well for himself...

When did you first realise you were gay?

being more intimate with her I just couldn’t. It

was in primary seven. I knew I had a vey strong

just to cover my tracks so that no one would

I would say I first realised I was gay when I

attraction to the other boys in my class but not so much the girls. When I was about to start

secondly school it was so surreal because I knew I was gay and I knew what gay was but I just wasn’t ready to come out.

would have felt like I was taking advantage her know I was a gay man.

In the past I did meet some beautiful looking

woman but it didn’t do anything for me, if you know what I mean.

How did your family react when they learned you

Tell us about your coming out experience?

It wasn’t a great experience if I’m being quite honest. I come from a small town called Magherafelt. It’s the sort of place where

were gay?

My father hated me for years after I came out.

Our relationship was done by that stage anyway.

To be honest we didn’t have all that strong of a

everyone knows everyone and they all like

to talk. I came out when I sixteen right after finishing fifth year at school. It was scary

because I didn’t know anyone else who was like me. I felt very alone at the time.

Who did you tell first, and how did they react?

The first person I told was my best friend Karen.

I didn’t know how she would react but in the end she was so happy and positive about the

whole thing. She had never had a gay best friend before so in her words “Love It!” I love her to

absolute pieces. Even after all this time she’s still

father-son bond because of issues other than me being gay. We are still working on those issues

and trying to find a compromise, but we do get on a bit better now.

Has anyone’s opinion changed of you since you came out?

Of course it has. Unfortunately there was a lot

of people in my life who turned their backs on

me because of who I am, but at the same time a lot of people have since replaced them who are so much more supportive and loving.

very protective and supportive of me.

Did you ever feel the need to seek professional

Was coming out a big deal for you, or did it feel

When I started to become very depressed,

natural?

For me coming out as gay was a massive deal. It didn’t feel natural, I suppose it felt more like a

relief than anything else that from then on I was able to come out and be myself. I knew there was going to be dark days ahead of me and I wasn’t ready for that to happen at sixteen.

Did you find it difficult to accept your sexuality?

I did find it difficult. I tried to push it off. I had a girlfriend for a while but when it came to

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when I started self-harming more and more,

and having more and more suicidal thoughts, I

decided to go and get some help. So I opened up to a councillor to get my issues out there and get them resolved.

I would advise anyone who is struggling to

do the same. It really does help. Thanks to my counsellor and with the support of my family

and friends it turned out to be a really amazing experience.

It really got me back onto my feet.

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FEATURE | COMING OUT: Hughâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Story

COMING OUT

Hugh tells his story.

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FEATURE | COMING OUT: Hugh’s Story

Where do you live? How accepting are people

What do you do for a living? What’s your

I’ve just recently moved to Belfast from

I work in a health and leisure centre at

there of LGBT people?

Derry. Belfast is pretty good at accepting the LGBT community. There are still the odd

few who aren’t okay with it but I think you

find that no matter where you go. It’s not a

problem that’s exclusive to Northern Ireland!

Do you have a life motto?

dream job?

the moment. But a dream job would be

working on stage as a performer. If that

never happens I would love to open my own drama school for children with learning

difficulties. As someone who suffers in a very similar way I know how tough and isolating that can be.

I do! This is going to sound really cheesy

but my motto is “Be happy, stay strong, you

What are your plans for the future?

I couldn’t be the person I wanted to be, I

life motto I have. I have a list of things I

are irreplaceable.” During the bad times

wasn’t free to be myself, but now I’m out

I don’t know! (Laughs) That’s another

want to achieve and experience more of,

and proud and I don’t let anything stop

maybe travelling, I’m not sure where just

me. I go with the flow and I’m not afraid

yet. For the time being I am happy just

of doing the things that make me happy.

spending time with friends, working away

And if something makes me happy I do

it regardless of what anyone else thinks or

what opinion they might have. Just so long

as my actions don’t hurt the ones I love, that would be the only thing to make me stop and think twice.

What are the most important things in your life?

or performing in the odd show with one of the drags queens because they are amazing fun to do. I would be lying if I said I had

anything set in stone. I take things as they come. Really just being with friends and

family and making memories are all I have

planned at the moment. I’m only 20 so don’t need to worry about the future just yet.

The most important thing in my life is my

foundation, which is my family. My mother, my father, my brother and my sister, but my mother most of all because of everything she’s done for me. And I would be lost

without my friends Karen, Lauren, Edel,

Andrew, Caolan, Darren, Steven and Paul.

I owe a huge amount too to The Rainbow Project Derry. The Rainbow Project have been there for me for the last four years

when I needed them most, through the good times and the not so good times, and they have never left my side.

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LGBT FAMILIES

I’m the parent of a transgender child.

Alan’s story The first question anyone asks on the birth of

time went on that contentedness started to fade,

we learned the best way to get medical support

The moment you reply your child is assigned

they were steered more and more towards gender

Identity), the gender clinic in Belfast that works

your child is, “Did you have a boy or a girl?”

a secure place in the world, a social role whose

codes and conventions are interwoven into the

fabric of our society. You have, in effect, signed a

social contract on behalf of your child. Everyone,

and as our child grew through primary school specific roles and behaviours to which they

simply did not identify and anxiety started to

dominate the contentedness of their early years.

We watched and waited, unsure what the

for our child was through KOI (Knowing Our

directly with children. As a result I’m pleased to

say that my son is now firmly on the path to the medical support he needs.

Our journey to date has been anything but

from friends and family, to work colleagues

exact problem could be, until at the age of eight

plain sailing, but having been equipped with the

or female, boy or girl, and the congratulations

us that they felt they should have been born a

so many other supportive parents) we know we

and acquaintances know that your child is male cards are colour coded accordingly. Everyone

understands and that should be that. However, things are not always that simple.

The average age at which a child comes

they emerged timidly from their room to tell

boy. Some parents talk of shock at this point,

however for us it was more like the pieces of a puzzle falling into place.

We started to make sense of what had been

forward to say that their gender identity does

troubling our youngest child. As we talked and

seven years old. Before that, a child is often not

the tool through which we sought explanations.

not match their sex designation is around

equipped with the language to make sense of

their situation, but for many parents they can

have an inkling from early years based on the

child’s strong choices in relation to toys, clothes or chosen character in role-play. And so it was for our youngest child.

From around three years old we watched as

our ‘girl’ expressed strong preferences for more stereotypical male orientated toys and colour

preferences. The first major sign for me came

around three years of age when a pink fairy-tale castle bought for Christmas had to be quickly

transformed to a grey fort in the New Year. The princess characters found themselves left in the toy box as the knights, trolls and dragons took

centre stage in play. Other signs included hand-

listened we learned more, but the internet was

We set about researching transgender issues in children by spending long hours reading blogs

and books, as well as medical and legal papers.

star by which you can plot your parental journey.

As parents we allowed our child to be happy and content in themselves, perhaps thinking it was

a phase, or that they were simply a ‘tomboy’. As

equality of opportunity that many trans children still do not have access to.

Alan is a volunteer with SAIL and is the father

of a 14 year old trans boy. All names have been

changed to protect identities.

more common than we had thought. We saw

that support and acceptance of children through their families led to far more positive outcomes, and we committed to what we already knew we should do: to be as positive, loving, supportive

If you or a member of your family are travelling

strongest advocates we could be in order to give

SAIL can offer you support, acceptance and

and accepting as possible. We had to become the our child the same opportunities as every other child.

As we continued to research we were

Information, Learning), a support and advocacy

Your child’s happiness and contentment is the

for us to never give up in advocating for the

We found that transgender children were far

on and we noticed that ‘she’ gravitated towards assuming a male role in games.

to grow in confidence and acts as an inspiration

empowered and supportive of their children.

surprised to learn that there was direct support

the boys when playing in the street, always

have done the right thing. Our child continues

We found parents across the world who were

me-down feminine clothing from our older

children causing distress when asked to try them

correct information (and being linked in with

for us through SAIL (Support, Acceptance,

group for families dealing with gender variance in Northern Ireland. We met parents, families

and young people all striving to empower their loved ones, striving to create social change so

that their children could grow up in a world that accepts and recognises them for the inspiring

people they are. Through other SAIL members

GNIMAG.COM | 91

the path of gender variance you may feel alone. information.

Web: www.transgenderni.com Twitter: @SAIL_NI

Facebook: www.facebook.com/SAIL.NI.1

LGBT HISTORY | LILI ELBE

Lili Elbe, who was born Einar Wegener in 1882, was one of the earliest recorded recipients of Sexual Reassignment Surgery in the world.

WORDS | Tom Bates

Growing up in a small Danish town as the son of a

priest and a midwife, Lili once described how she felt like a boy when playing with her brothers, and that her greatest joy was pushing a pram full of her sister’s dolls.

Elbe was a successful artist in her time; she attended the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen, where she specialised in painting landscapes. It was at the Academy that she met her future wife, Gerda Gottlieb, who Elbe married in 1904 when she was 22 and Gottlieb was 19. To avoid the confrontation caused by their controversial marriage, the couple moved through Italy and France, before finally settling in Paris in 1912.

It was through Gottlieb’s illustrative work that Elbe came to discover her gender identity. Gottlieb specialised in illustrating models for women’s fashion magazines; one day a model was unable to attend and Elbe, with her petit and feminine form, stepped in to replace her. Despite her initial reluctance, she became fond of wearing women’s clothing. Eventually Elbe then began to pose for Gottlieb of her own accord. While dressed in female clothing she was given the nickname “Lili.” Gottlieb’s paintings of a female model with “haunting almond shaped eyes” wearing women’s clothing became famous. Around 1913 the revelation that the model was Elbe became public.

Lili presented as female in public throughout the 1920s, and was introduced as Gottlieb’s “sister”. Only her closest friends knew that she had transitioned. She became well known through her status as a socialite, attending balls and parties, and entertaining guests at her home. Around this time Lili received a marriage proposal from a man who thought her to be a woman.

Towards the end of the 1920s Lili began to search for a way to escape her “double existence.” In the spring of 1930 she travelled to Germany in search of what was then an extremely primitive form of sexual reassignment surgery, undergoing five operations over the course of two years.

The first was carried out under the supervision of Magnus Hirschfeld, who was an advocate for homosexual and transgender rights in Germany. In the first procedure her testicles were removed, and after a short period of recovery she travelled to the Dresden Municipal Woman’s Clinic where she saw surgeon Kurt Warnekros.

Elbe reportedly suffered from abdominal pain, and

GNIMAG.COM | 92

LGBT HISTORY | LILI ELBE was told after an examination by Warnekros that she already a woman to “a prominent degree.” Warnekros described Elbe’s condition as an “error in nature.” He said that any expert could see that with Lili “nature had wanted to create a woman” but through some “unfortunate circumstance” hadn’t. He reportedly wanted to “free her from her suffering” by making her a “normal woman”. Warnekros’ diagnoses indicate she was most likely intersex.

A number of factors indicate this, the most conclusive of which are the discoveries made

by Warnekros during tests carried out before her surgeries with him, and the discoveries he made during subsequent procedures.

Preoperative blood tests indicated that Elbe had more female than male hormones in her blood, and Warnekros is said to have discovered undeveloped ovaries in her abdomen, a possible cause of her abdominal pain.

Elbe was said to have been very petite, looking and acting in a pronounced feminine way. Even when dressed in male attire in public she was often thought to be a woman masquerading as a man. Given that doctors in her early adulthood had declared her to be male despite her notable female characteristics, it’s likely Elbe suffered from Kleinfelter’s syndrome, a condition which was not medically recognised until 1942. Having Kleinfelter’s syndrome meant

that, while Lili had some subtle female features she otherwise appeared to be physically male.

Warnekros claimed that he could give Elbe “new and strong ovaries.” During her first operation when her penis was surgically removed, a transplant was attempted using the ovaries from a 26 year old woman. These had to be removed in two subsequent surgeries following rejection and other complications.

At the time of her surgery, Elbe was already subject to rumours and sensational newspaper headlines. Upon her return to Denmark in 1930, King Christian X of Denmark declared her marriage to Gottlieb null. (Even today, marriages in the UK are voided when one party changes their gender). Lili did however receive a passport with her chosen name and gender marker. As a sign of her officially changing her name she also stopped painting, as she thought of it as part of Einar’s identity and separate from her own.

Following the annulment of her marriage to Gottlieb, Elbe received a proposal from an unknown man. Before she would consider accepting, she wanted to undergo one last procedure that would allow her to become a mother, as her greatest wish was to bear children.

She then travelled back to Germany where Warnekros is suspected to have attempted a uterus transplant. As very little was known of the immune system at the time, the transplant was

GNIMAG.COM | 93

rejected and Lili died tragically in September 1931. She was 48.

Today she is remembered as a pioneering transgender person who defied public opinion to live as the person she longed to be. A film of her life called The Danish Girl directed by Tom Hooper and starring Eddie Redmayne as Lili will be released this November.

Images of The Danish Girl courtesy of Focus Features and Working Title Films.

THE WHAT’S ON GUIDE | BELFAST

Monday Union Street – The Trudy Show

Maverick – Motor Mouth Mondays, Comedy Night with Gemma Hutton. Free entry

party with DJ Ricky C. All drinks £2

8.30pm

5.30pm, Sunflower Folk Club 8pm

Boombox – Sunday Service, drag spectacular

Sunflower – Manouche Gypsy Swing The Pipeworks Gay Men’s Leisure Complex

Sunflower – Open Mic Nights, 7pm, Free

– Now open until 4am

The Pipeworks Gay Men’s Leisure Complex

Friday

– KJB Massage 2pm – 5pm

Kremlin – Karnival Weekly Themed Nights,

Tuesday

Union Street – The Friday Set Acoustic

bottle of beer for every performer

Kremlin – Klub 180, All drinks £1.80 all night, 10pm – 2.30am

Union Street – Grannie’s Fun Factory 9pm, All drinks £2

Maverick – Lipsync for your Drink, with Rusty Hinges and Roxy Tumbledryer

Sunflower – The Dandy Horses Unplugged, 7.30pm

The Pipeworks Gay Men’s Leisure Complex – Now open until 4am Wednesday

Open until 3am

Hawkes from 9pm

Bubu @ The Shoe Factory - First Friday of

Boombox – Downtown with DJ Jordan,

HOtel MOtel last Friday every month. All drinks £2.50

Sunflower – Boxing Hare Wood Fired Pizza Traditional Session 8pm

The Pipeworks Gay Men’s Leisure Complex – KJB Massage 2pm – 5pm

Cherrie On Top. Free entry

Grannie’s Time Tunnel 9pm – Late

Union Street – Okie Dokie Karaoke hosted

by Trudy Scrumptious and Robert Brown

Maverick – HIJINKS with Lady Portia Di’Monte from 6pm

Boombox – BOOMBOX Saturdays DJ

Ciaran Boylan, Sassie Longshaft and Paulette Stiletta 10pm – 3am

Sunflower – Boxing Hare Wood Fired Pizza 5pm – 11pm in the Sunflower Garden, Appalachian Session 8pm

Maverick – Contdown with Contessa Von

Sunday

Boombox – Now You’re Talkin’! Weekly pop

Union Street – The Sunday Bingo Show

Tramp. Free entry

sions & under 26 years old

month

Union Street – Tina’s T’Okie 5pm – 8pm,

Kremlin – Deuce, £2 entry, £2 drinks

– Hard Up Sundays, free buffet & conces-

Rewind @ Kremlin – First Friday of every

Kremlin – Revolution, 9pm – 3am

Thursday

The Pipeworks Gay Men’s Leisure Complex

Maverick – VAGABOND with DJ Marion

Maverick – Open Mic Wednesdays with

– Now open until 4am

Gramophone Club from 8pm

evening with Glitzy Glamour from 9pm

Shoe Factory - Flux Wednesdays

The Pipeworks Gay Men’s Leisure Complex

Sunflower – Traditional Session 7pm, Sunday

Regular Nights

Saturday

Roxy Tumbledryer, & DJ Kenny. 10pm – 3am

with Gemma Hutton & DJ Lady Luck

Sessions with Ash Smith 5pm – 7pm, An

Union Street – Tina’s Stop the Clock

Boombox – Bitch Please! with Rusty Hinges,

Maverick – R&R with Rusty and Roxy 5pm

Kremlin – Industry 10pm, Admission free

every month (men only)

MOTN @ Queens Cafe Bar – Last Friday of every month (men only)

The White Mansions @ The Sunflower First Friday of every month

Pub Quiz @ The Sunflower – First Tuesday of every month

Duke Special’s Gramophone Club @ Sunflower – Last Friday of every month

Passion @ Bellinis (Newry) - First Saturday of every month

Hotel Motel Residency @ Boombox – Last Friday of every month

Room Service @ Boombox – Bi-monthly The Pipeworks Gay Men’s Leisure Com-

plex – First Friday of every month – Bubu Afterparty

THE WHAT’S ON GUIDE | BELFAST

Belfast

1 - Union Street/Shoe Factory

6 - Queens Cafe Bar

A - Grand Opera House

E - Ulster Hall

3 - Maverick

8 - Boombox

C - City Hall

G - Albert Clock

2 - Kremlin

4 - Sunflower Bar 5 - Kelly’s Cellars

7 - El Divino

9 - The Pipeworks

10 - Whites Tavern

B - The MAC D - The Fish

F - The Waterfront

(c) Jamie Baird 2015

out in...

THE WHAT’S ON GUIDE | DUBLIN

Monday

Pantibar – Joystick, DJ Dr Beat plays quality

Copper Alley – Mother, the home of synth

The George – Win, Lose or Drag with Phil T.

80s music

pop and electro

Gorgeous and Bunny from 8.30pm.

Break for the Border – Meat Street with

Admission free all night with drinks!

Friday

international guest hosts, DJs and live acts,

Pantibar – Pints and chats

The George – Glitterbomb with DJs Ger and

from 11pm

Mo, hosted by David D-Pole and his GlitTuesday

terati Dancers, Drinks promos, Free shots,

Sunday

The George – The Dolly Grip Experience

Admission free before 10pm, €5 from 10 til

The George – Bingo with Shirley Templebar,

The Front Lounge – Davina Devine’s Cast-

midnight, €8 after

from 9.30pm. Admission free before 10pm,

ing Couch, Karaoke from 10pm

The Front Lounge – DJ Conor Behan play-

€5 entry after

Pantibar – Pints and chats

ing dance floor fillers from 10pm

The Front Lounge – The big Gay Brunch

Pantibar – DJ Steobar and Our Perfectly

Club from 12pm

Wednesday

Preposterous Drinks Specials

Pantibar – Panti’s Tea Dance

The George – Space N Veda with Veda

The Hub – SweatBox, Classic House Regular Nights

Beaux. Cabaret, Drag and Live Music Pantibar – Pints and chats

Saturday

Pop Rox Indie Night @ The Dive Bar (Turk’s

The George – SaturGays with DJ Sean John,

Head) – Fortnightly Saturdays, €5

Thursday

Davina, Veda & guests with Beauty Spot

Crush Girlclub @ Lafayette Club – Check

The George – Davina Devine hosts Thursty

Karaoke from 10pm. €10 after 11pm

listings for events

Thursdays until 2.30am

The Front Lounge – Brunch with DJ Terry

The Front Lounge – 2 for 1 cocktails

from 10pm Pantibar – The Panti Show from 10pm.

Cruisin’, Music, Dancin’, Chattin’

Map Key 1 - Panti Bar

7 - The Hub

A - Parliament Square

E - Gaiety Theatre

3 - The Front Lounge

9 - The Dive Bar (Turk’s Head)

C - Dublin Castle

G - Olympia Theatre

2 - Nealons

4 - Copper Alley 5 - The George

6 - Lafayette Club

8 - The Boilerhouse

10 - Break for the Border 11 - 4 Dame Lane

B - Temple Bar

D - The Needle

F - Grafton Street

THE WHAT’S ON GUIDE | DUBLIN

Dublin

(c) Jamie Baird 2015

what’s on in...

FIVE MINUTES WITH | SU POLLARD

She’s a showbiz legend with almost 50 years experience starring in the cream of British comedy.

Eccentric as you like, our five minutes with

Su Pollard starts… now!

Obviously you’re best known for Hi-De-Hi, do you ever tire of talking about it?

Never, never! I’ve always said I never would. I was so delighted to get such a lovely part and have it be a great success. It went all over the world. It’s a lovely thing to be able to think you’ve given people pleasure so I never wanted to negate that part of my life. I’ve always said, you’re only as good as your last appearance on celluloid. You want it to be as good as you can because hopefully It will last.

know, I’m not judgemental, I like to have fun, I’m as camp as anyone else! I like to think I would be the girlfriend they would like if they were straight.

You got to number two in the charts in 1986, do you have any plans to record again?

Funny you should say, I’ve just started rehearsing for a show I’m in in the next few weeks. Now is the right time for me to start singing more again, a Christmas single is on the cards! Maybe not year, but definitely 2016.

You’re a national bloody treasure, why are you so popular with your gay audience?

What about a return to TVs? You’ve done Strictly, would you ever do I’m a Celebrity?

Quite possibly because I’m as gay as they are! I was very young when I had my first gay encounter. I had my first gay friend when I was 15. I’ve always felt I’ve had an empathy with gay people. You

Oh no, darling! I would be absolutely skeletal! I’m such a wimp!

The first time I see an ant crawling up my arm I’d be screaming!

You can forget that, darling!

GNIMAG.COM | 99

What one thing could you not live without?

My voice. Not just to be able to sing, or to work. That would be heartbreaking! Especially since I’m about to start work on Side by Side by Sondheim. Stephen Sondheim has had a coterie of devoted fans for years and years. He’s an icon in the musical world. It’s an homage to someone who is really the master of their craft. It’s a great vocal challenge.

What’s next for Su Pollard?

I shall be descending on Blackpool, great wondrous Blackpool, the Heaven for stag and hen nights, for panto as the Wicked Queen. And I know a few of those!

You can see Su’s Wicked Queen in Snow White and the Seven Dwarves at the Blackpool Grand Theatre this Christmas blackpoolgrand.co.uk

milk

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