GNI Mag Issue 17

GNI mag

GAY AS YOU LIKE & PROUDLY MADE IN BELFAST

THE PRIDE ISSUE Issue 17 | june/july 2015 | £3.95 / €4.95

NIP & TUCK GNI MAG’S HAD A FACELIFT!

ERASURE OH LAMOUR, MR ANDY BELL

SEX ED NOT JUST THE BIRDS AND BEES

PRIDE TIME GAY AROUND THE WORLD

MICHELLE VISAGE FROM RuPAUL TO CELEB BIG BROTHER

“Am I really a gay icon?”

SHAYNE WARD CELEBS / FASHION / MUSIC / NEWS / REVIEWS / MOVIES / FITNESS / HOME / FOOD & DRINK

WISHING YOU ALL A HAPPY PRIDE

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Quality, Service, and Trust

luxury is now affordable

GNI mag EDITOR’S LETTER We hope you love it as much as we do.

There’s one saying I’ve always loved.

Frequently misquoted as “The most dangerous phrase in the

With a complete redesign from the ground up courtesy of

English language…” to quote it in full, “Humans are allergic to

much TLC and no small amount of sobbing, we bid farewell to

That was pioneering computer scientist Dr Grace Hopper

sware) and usher in a bevvy of new and wonderful people. I can

change. They love to say, ‘We’ve always done it this way.’”

speaking in 1987. I can only imagine the changes this truly

brilliant woman witnessed in her lifetime. From the Million Man March in her native America, to the rise of feminist activism,

a number of previous contributors (we haven’t killed them, we think of no better issue to start another chapter of our history

than this, our Pride issue, and our seventeenth issue to date. Over the three years since it was first published we have had a number of facelifts, and no doubt as we near our milestone 20th issue

and the horrors the AIDs epidemic before treatments became

we will preen and prune closer to perfection still. Change is our

available, Grace Hopper lived through the most astonishing

friend. Change is to be desired. We positively adore it.

period of change in recent history.

If you were to believe then Prime Minister Harold Macmillan,

The reason why that quote has stuck with me this long is

because there has never been a significant change in human

“Most of our people have never had it so good.” That was 1957,

(be it grassroots or otherwise). It is understandable, really, the fear

ruled by the Tories and public sector strikes were rife. Thankfully

fortunes that was not preceded by a long and hard-fought battle

of the unknown, that if-it-ain’t-broke school of thought that says why risk a Brave New World when the one we have is ticking

an unimaginably bleak period of British history when the UK was we have moved on from those dark times. Of course, we would

never ask you to believe anything the Conservatives say, but the

fact abides that for the majority of the gay community around the

along tolerably well? Well, to hell with that.

world things have only changed for the better.

Sometimes changes can be small, a single step among many,

After a long battle the people of Ireland finally have marriage

like a judicial ruling to remind us us that discrimination

against any group is morally repugnant and punishable by law.

equality. Writer and broadcaster Scott De Buitléir was there. (You

the lives of literally thousands of people, like affording couples

civil rights movement, we still have a long way to go. The battle

Sometimes the changes we see are on a national scale, affecting the right to love and honour their partners in the same way that those who deny them their rights love their partners.

Of course, change is happening all of the time. The magazine

you hold in your hands is not the magazine it was before. Regular readers will notice a number of changes to the look and feel of

can read his report on this enormous win on page 55.) Like any

for marriage equality in Northern Ireland, the last remaining part of the UK where it is currently illegal, is about to begin. This is

a battle we will win. If history has taught us anything, change is inevitable.

the first to welcome you to my own first issue as editor to the new, improved, and spiffily retitled GNI MAG.

@GNImag #TeamGNI /gnimag

Kieran Clarke

Editor

previous issues. If this is your first time picking us up, let me be

@gnimag

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@ gni mag Last month the Asher’s Cakegate row divided opinion. Most of you were for the ruling, a few were against.

Here are some of the best responses we had on the GNI MAG Facebook profile

Why was this was in question? Using religion as a shield is a rolling trend in this country.

Niall, Belfast

42

Shayne Ward THE CONTENTS COULDN’T WAIT. SKIP TO 42 NOW!

Religious beliefs and business should never mix. You’re in business for profit and to provide a service. I’ll not be buying anything from Asher’s again unless its a big, massive penis shaped Victoria sponge.

Brian, Belfast I find their personal beliefs have no relevance to what a customer orders. A good business puts the needs of their customers first and in private can judge the hell out of them. Cash comes from all pockets but respect is priceless.

Seamus, Belfast

The order for the cake was accepted by the owner. Payment was made at the time of ordering. Two days later the customer was informed their order couldn’t be accepted.

Strange way to run a business!

Ann, Belfast

Cakes being ordered for Gay Pride then????

Gavyn, Belfast It was just a cake! It’s understandable that people would want Asher’s quality and honesty. In a democracy everyone is entitled to practice what they believe in.

Kay, Belfast Can I have a Battenburg cake, extra pink, with silver sprinkles please… Muhahaha!

Graeme, Belfast Their decision to refuse to print a slogan on a cake has nothing to do with the sexual orientation of the customer. This trial was about free speech and not homophobic discrimination. Somehow everyone seems to be oblivious to that fact.

Iain, Belfast Join the conversation at facebook.com/gnimag #TeamGNI

INSTRAGRAM LOVAGE @jimmyburrrrger WOOF! Fit furry Aussie Jimmy Burger has us hot under the collar. Go follow him!

@johnwaitebakes Bake Off hottie John Waite gets us salivating over his buns on a daily basis. #Lovehim

GNIMAG.COM | 8

@bettymwhite Everybody’s favourite Golden Girl still has us hooked. 93 years young and looking FIERCE.

INTRO | CONTRIBUTORS

CONTRIBUTORS

GNI mag

CONLETH KANE Originally from Lurgan, Conleth now lives and works in London. No stranger to the limelight, he has appeared in hit shows like Casualty and RTE’s Fame: The Musical. He has campaigned diligently for LGBT rights. He is currently starring in ‘Rent Boy’ in London’s Above the Stag Theatre.

He tweets at @conlethkane

SCOTT De BUITLÉIR Scott De Buitléir is the founder of EILE Magazine, a writer, and a radio broadcaster. He is based in both Dublin and Nottingham. In this issue he takes a first-person look at Ireland’s hugely successful Marriage Equality Referendum.

He tweets at @scottdebuitleir

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

CONTRIBUTORS SJ Wilson / Tom Vonier / Elaine O’Shea / Conleth Kane / Harry

Clayton-Wright / Harry Matthews / Jake Fraser / Gareth Carson /

Marty Ames / Bliain Fitzpatrick / Scott De Buitléir / Lewis Cameron / Stephen Fennell / Hybrid Fitness / Jamie Baird SPECIAL THANKS TO Aidie McClay / Andy Bell / Michelle Visage / Bucks Fizz / Whigfield

/ Shayne Ward / David Lim / Munroe Bergdorf / James McCrudden / JAMIE BAIRD Jamie Baird is an illustration and design graduate fresh from the Belfast School of Art. His work is driven by a fascination with the world around him, and with the people in it. He is open to enquiries and job opportunities.

His website jamiebeard.co.uk features a range of his work. hellojamiebeard@gmail.com

George Clarke and Kenny Martin / Aaron Eakin / Neil Davis / Georgie

TOM VONIER Tom has been a regular writer for GNI MAG since October 2014. Before moving to Belfast, he lived for four years in London, where he studied journalism and attempted to get Prosecco recognised as part of the living standard. On weekends you can usually find him in the Union bar cheering on drag queens and attempting karaoke.

GNI MAG is published by:

Aldous / Piaras Smyth / The Coffee Den / Union Street Bar / Maverick

/ Jasper Gallagher / The John Hewitt / White’s Tavern / Kelly’s Cellars / Ulster Ink Magazine / LUSH Belfast / Studio Souk / The Belfast Beard Company / Therapie / AVAJ / Pipeworks Belfast / Gavin Boyd & Staff

at The Rainbow Project / Gordon Crawford / Eamon McAuley / Gender Jam NI / Positive Life / Transgender Equality Network Ireland / Matt Horwood / Ruth Hunt / Simon Stewart / Ellen Murray / Amnesty LGBT NI / Whigfield

Lamb Promotions Ltd 145 Holywood Road Belfast

BT4 3BE Telephone | 028 90654314

Email | gni@lambpromtions.com Website | www.gnimag.com

THE AWARD WINNING LOCAL GAY MAG AVAILABLE IN PRINT IN NI & ROI AND ONLINE Around THE WORLD

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RHODA’S

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Partridge Eastenders. Music. Stage

BACK ISSUES In this issue we were loving Eastenders hottie John Partridge, talking the perils of online dating, living with tourettes, and fanboying all over Bobsleigh Simon. Swoon! gni.mag.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.COM | 9

You can help her, whatever she’s going through.

And we’ll help you.

When you take a foster child into your family, we’ll take you into ours.

Change a life at barnardos.org.uk/ fostering or call our team on: 02890 652288 Barnardo’s Registered Charity Nos 216250 and SC037605.

CONTENts 38

World Pride WE INVESTIGATE PRIDE AROUND THE WORLD

16

22

Harry Clayton-Wright OUR NEW GLAM ASSISTANT ON PERFORMING DOWN UNDER & A GNI MAG GIRL’S NIGHT IN

57

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START

MUSIC > TECH > MOVIES > CELEBS > BEST OF THE REST

MOVIES > STAR WARS: EPISODE VII

Is it December yet? Our geeky little hearts can scarcely contain the excitement and antici... pation for The Force Awakens. Another internet breaking trailer should be due any day now. Until then we will have to make do with these glorious shots. Thanks Vanity Fair! (Harrison Ford is still hot, we don’t care what anyone says.)

MOVIES > BATMAN VS SUPERMAN

When the first trailer for this long awaited team up landed in April, our newsfeeds like our pants - lit up. Set in the immediate aftermath of Kal-El’s and General Zod’s final battle which left most of Metropolis in pixelly ruins, in steps a certain Bruce Wayne to kick some perfectly CGI’d Kryptonian arse. Featuring an all new cast from Chris Nolan’s previous three efforts, new director Zach Snyder will pit Ben Afleck (Bats) versus Henry Cavill (Supes). Along for the ride is Fast & Furious glamourpus Gal Gadot as everybody’s favourite Amazonian, Wonder Woman.

TV > THE WICKED + THE DIVINE

This Eisner award winning series, about twelve gods who incarnate as humans every ninety years, is getting adapted for the small-screen. We cannae wait, pet!

GNIMAG.COM | 14

VIP LIST MOVIES TO THEATRE, FASHION & HOT TRENDS, GNI MAG PICKS THE BEST OF THE BEST.

TV > LONDON SPY

GNI MAG’s imaginary boyfriend Ben Whishaw is set to star in new spook drama London Spy, a fivepart series from Auntie Beeb. When his boyfriend Alex disappears, Danny (SWOON!) must take on the complex and codified world of the British Secret Services to uncover the truth. Due for release this autumn, London Spy looks set to be a cross between Spooks and Cucumber. (And please, honestly, try to contain yourself better than we are doing.)

FASHION > ADIDAS

To celebrate Pride Month Adidas has redesigned its signature sneakers - dubbing the collection the “Pride Pack” - in a lovingly crafted range of rainbow colours.

According to Instagram, “The Superstar was also released the year [of the Stonewall Riots, and] is now redesigned to remember all those who fought for equality.”

Aww. Isn’t that nice?

We’ll take a pair of size 9s. #Please #Shamelessplug #Poorhacks

TV > ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK, SEASON 3

Last year, OITNB concluded its second season in a triumphant blaze of glory. Season 3 changes the show’s format in one extremely drastic way (we shant spoil how).

All 14 new eps will be landing on Netflix on June 12. For marathon watchers, it might be a good idea to get the kettle boiling now. A pint of coffee for us, thanks.

GNIMAG.COM | 15

TRIED & Tested TECH / MUSIC / MOVIES HOW TO TAKE THE PERFECT SELFIE

BY BIG BAD LLAMA ANGLE The importance of angle is so you can look your best. Generally just above your eyeline at 45 degrees pointing down removes double chins and give spectacular looking eyes.

Sony Cybershot DSC-RX100 £278 This camera has a large 1.0 inch CMOS sensor that captures more light from your scene and reproduces every stunning detail with great fidelity. You’ll find

everything smooth and clear, even in low-light. Perfect for those early evening barbeques.

LIGHTING Lighting is crucial but it can be fixed in apps like Instagram.

Flattering soft lighting is generally better than flash!

Cheerz > App

FRAMING Don’t frame the picture too close or else you see those imperfections, but not so far that it looks like a full length photo.

Cheerz is the best photography app we’ve seen in ages. If you’re mad for uploading to Instagram and Facebook, Cheerz is the best way to capture your selfless and cat pictures forever. Simply download the App, sync it to your accounts, and

let Cheerz do the rest. From 30 prints in a cute Polabox display, to Photobooks and individual snaps, GNI MAG readers get an exclusive 15% off with promo code GNI15.

POSE If you’re a smiler, flash those pearly whites. If you’re a pouter, get that duck face on.

A raised eyebrow and crooked smile normally do it for me.

o Prom Code 5 GNI1

READY? Two or three tries should be enough. It isn’t rocket science.

If you’re aren’t happy the next step is...

RETOUCHING 36% of people admitted to retouching their selfies in a recent survey. The only thing I do is colouring! I love Vsco Cam because their filters are more up my street. I also use Squaready which allows me to make portrait photos into squares for instagram so you don’t lose half your photo.

Apple Pay announced for UK iPhones * “Spotify killer” Apple Music to launch June 30 * Pizza Hut launch Hong Kong exclusive pizza box that doubles as smartphone movie projector * Large Hadron Collider back in business * Chinese manufacturer BOE launch world’s first 10K television * Glasgow company Deliveroo launches Nando’s home delivery service GNIMAG.COM | 16

TRIED AND TESTED | MUSIC

Jamie XX / In Colour / Released June 1 In Colour is the debut full-length solo album from record producer, DJ and The xx member Jamie Smith, aka Jamie xx. Composed over a five-year period, In Colour shows none of the creative difficulties that prompted the delay. Featuring guest appearances from Popcaan, Young Thug, as well as xx bandmates Romy Croft and Oliver Sim, the admittedly modest forty-two minute play-time leaves us feeling distinctly assured that Smith & Co are firmly in charge of what’s currently hot in the world of electronic and house music.

From the old school drum and bass rhythms of Gosh (check out the video on this one, it blew us away) to the more traditionally xx sounds of Loud Places, In Colour has already cemented itself as one of the best albums of 2015 (and one of the best dance albums in recent memory), a glorious celebration of one of the most exciting new musicians London has to offer. Thankfully, dear readers, the critical consensus agrees: from almost thirty reviews Metacritic scored In Colour as 87/100. You can’t go much better than that.

Says Jamie, “Before the first xx record, I pretty much exclusively listened to electronica. Now, I listen to anything. I think the most inspiring thing is just learning more about more and more different kinds of music and becoming a fan of so many different types and so many different genres.”

Fun fact: In Colour was streamed pre-release on iTunes featuring album-spanning visuals that ‘reacted’ to each sound.

In Colour is now available for download from the iTunes store

Florence + The Machine How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful

Will Young 85% Proof

Lucie Silvas Lucie Silvas EP

This highly anticipated third album from Florence & Co will be met with the undeniable expectation that rousing tracks from previous albums have set. The good news is that it doesn’t disappoint. With characteristic vocals from Welch, these eleven tracks easily rival those gems fron previous albums.

Opening on Ship To Wreck we are thrown straight in with warming guitar-work alongside Welch’s narrative vocals, offering an upbeat and fast-paced intro. In a brave but characteristic move, we are then presented with What Kind Of Man whose solemn opening jars into focus with polarising contrast. Pleasingly, moments later our attention is rewarded with an explosion of hard hitting bass and a well paced build into an engaging change of melody.

What Kind Of Man sets the tone for what follows: an album which offers the soul-tingling mix of ethereal murmurs and rich, mood-lifting rhythms that we have come to expect from Welch and Co. The winning formula of flair and exuberance has won over many fans since 2009’s Lungs. How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful shows no sign of Difficult Third Album bloat.

For those fans who have followed Will Young’s transition from his success as the original TV singing contest winner to beared impressario, 85% Proof is another dose of the earnest vocals and pleasingly catchy melodies to which they are accustomed.

Young is clearly well aware of the expectations of fans who have impatiently waited his return since previous effort Echoes in 2011.

In something of a departure, perhaps an indicator of the creative freedom bestowed by a new record label, the album has an anthemic quality we’ve not yet heard from the 36 year-old Berkshire boy. The brash beat of Love Revolution (sampling Tomcraft’s 2002 hit Loneliness) loans his voice an energy that makes listening a real pleasure. Sombre offerings like Like A River have an edge unrecognisable from earlier classics if it weren’t for those distinctive vocal harmonies.

The weight of nearly a decade of success and popularity, with a four-year absence from the UK music scene, must weigh heavily on Young’s shoulders. Luckily for the Pop Idol winner, 85% Proof should make loyal fans of the new and uninitiated alike.

Review by Jake Fraser (@jakekfraser)

With her latest self-titled EP, the Nashville influence on London born singer-songwriter Silvas is audible in every track.

From the first note of Letters to Ghosts to the very last on Roots, the sound is refreshing and yet edgy.

Her vocal ability is undeniable, while her self-penned tracks leave us with a gritty, authentic sound that lead us to the conclusion: It was worth the wait.

There are goosebump moments and glimpses of Jagged Little Pill inspiration. How to Lose it All takes an even more pop/country direction, with definite shades of Taylor Swift. One for driving in the sun with the rooftop down, then.

Personal favorite Unbreakable Us offers more of the sound that made us all fall in love her in the first place.

From the Bohemian Rhapsody inspired accapella chorals of Roots, to the atmospheric ballad of a lover unready to lose their other half, this extended play album leaves us craving more of the same.

Review by Conleth Kane (@ConlethKane)

Review by Jake Fraser (@jakekfraser)

Will Young announces “The Love Revolution” Tour * GNI MAG favourites The War On Drugs and The Black Keys to be featured in Guitar Hero Live * Season 7 Drag Race runner up Pearl to release her first album * Iggy Azalea cancels her “Great Escape” tour * Foo Fighters, Florence + The Machine, Kanye West, George Ezra, Mark Ronson, The Vaccines, Clean Bandit & FKA TWIGS to headline Glastonbury 2015 GNIMAG.COM | 18

TRIED AND TESTED | MOVIES

Jurassic World Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Ty Simpkins / Released June 11

Twenty years have been and gone since Hollywood behemoth Stephen Spielberg gave us Jurassic Park. This time around (with next-big-thing director Colin Trevorrow at the helm) a heartless conglomerate who clearly have no idea how these movies usually work have realised John Hammond’s dream to resurrect extinct monsters and charge punters a fortune to gawp at them. In a bid to boost flagging visitor numbers, park boffins cook up a whole new attraction to traumatise yet another generation of schoolchildren.

Bigger than a T Rex, clever as you like, with the the amazingly well thought out ability to fucking camouflage itself, Indominus Rex is a genetically modified nightmare of pants-shitting proportions. And what better time, really, for Park exec Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard) to have her two young nephews visit the island. Needless to say Indominus Rex escapes, runs amok, literally eats people like a cheeky Nandos buffet. (And yes we know Nandos don’t have a buffet. Please don’t write in to complain. We are upset too.) It’s the job of velociraptor wrangler Chris Pratt to step in and save the day. Moments of genuine geeky wonder abound here. Far from the nostalgic cash grab we feared it might be, Jurassic World leaves a T Rex shaped footprint on this summer’s lesser blockbuster fare.

Amy > New Release Released July 3 The history of music is, as we know, littered with many’s a tragic life and far too untimely deaths. But there are few losses so keenly felt (and not only to the gay community) as Amy Winehouse.

From a troubled adolescence in Southgate, north London, through her bright but all-too-brief career, to her untimely death in 2011 aged just 27, Amy charts an intimate look at the life and times of the iconic singer. Fresh from the critical plaudits of his recently released Kurt Cobain documentary Montage of Heck, director Asif Kapadia (Senna) shows us the troubled star as she was rarely seen. Assembled from a host of home videos and mobile phone footage, as well as interviews both past and present, “Amy” is a candid and heartbreaking reflection on what might have been. We miss you Amy.

Chappie > Blu Ray Sharlto Copley, Hugh Jackman Released July 13 Created on a whim, Chappie (voiced and mocapped beautifully by Sharlto Copley) is the world’s first true artificial intelligence. Kidnapped from his creator (Dev Patel) and hunted by a bemulleted one-note villain in Hugh Jackman’s least endearing role to date, Chappie is taken in by a dysfunctional street gang played

by Afrikaans rap outfit Die Antwoord.

Pixelly hijinks ensue.

Chappie is the latest attempt by writer/ director Neill Blomkamp to capture the magic of his first big movie, District 9.

Often called the next big thing in syfy, the one thing keeping Blomkamp from true greatness is the fact he continues to make shit films. Not quite so unwatchable as Elysium, not even the final, glorious shot can make up for the 115 minutes of convoluted nonsense that precede it.

Shooting on Ryan Reynolds Deadpool movie has wrapped * Award-winning graphic novel The Wicked and the Divine to be adapted for TV * Charlize Theron rumored for lead in Captain Marvel * James Gunn finalises screenplay for Guardian’s of the Galaxy 2 * Paramount propose Star Trek spin off series * Eddie Redmayne to play Newt Scamander in Harry Potter prequel “Fantastic Beasts” GNIMAG.COM | 19

When Love Hurts…

Dealing with Domestic Abuse in Your Relationship Despite what many people think, abuse from a partner is not limited to physical harm – a whole range of controlling and abusive behaviour can constitute domestic violence including threatening behaviour and psychological, sexual, financial and emotional control.

Whilst research shows that domestic violence is most commonly experienced by women and perpetrated by men, it is by no means selective – anyone can be affected by domestic abuse in a relationship, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race or ethnicity.

Indeed, within the LGBT community, domestic abuse is a serious issue and can often go unreported due to fears the victim may have of exposing the abuse or revealing the nature of their relationship with the perpetrator.

Claire Edgar Family Law Partner

“Thanks to Francis Hanna Solicitors I took control back of my life.

Their sincere approach and consistent support helped me to turn my life around.”

Alicia Perry

If you are suffering domestic abuse in your relationship, you are not alone.

The good news is that there is protection available from the Courts which can go some way to help you break free from your abusive relationship.

The Courts have the power to grant a ‘Non-Molestation Order’ against your partner prohibiting your partner from molesting, harassing, pestering or threatening you in any way. It is a criminal offence to breach these Orders.

The police treat domestic violence very seriously and have dedicated domestic abuse teams to deal with these matters.

The Orders can be made by the Court on an emergency basis to provide you with instant protection. Your partner will be given the opportunity to attend at Court on a later date to defend themselves if they wish to do so. It is therefore important to have a skilled and specialised lawyer working with you to ensure that you get protection as quickly as possible and also to represent you if the proceedings become contested.

At Francis Hanna & Co we have a dedicated team who are widely experienced in providing advice and making emergency applications to the Court for such Orders. Legal Aid is available in all cases, when applying for these Orders For further information or for a free, no obligation discussion on any aspect of relationship breakdown, please contact Claire on cedgar@�anna.co.uk or call 90243901.

Francis Hanna & Co would like to wish all their LGBT clients a happy and safe Pride 2015.

Francis Hanna & Co

Francis Solicitors Hanna & Co Solicitors 32 -36 May Street 32-36 May Street Belfast BT1 4NZ Belfast BT1 4NZ T 028 9024 3901 T: 028 9024 3901 www.fhanna.co.uk www.fhanna.co.uk info@fhanna.co.uk info@fhanna.co.uk

COMMENT | HARRY M.

“Am I beach body ready?”

HOTTY

!

Harry M. “Are you beach body ready?”

That was the question by Protein World that garnered 80,000 signatures on Change. org and outraged an angry public tired by yet more mainstream body shaming.

Every year, as soon as the temperature starts to rise, we see the same old marketing techniques rolled out. Whether it’s for Protein world or Special K, the focus is on getting your body ready for summer.

Campaigns like this one hit home the fear of not being attractive enough to brave the beach this summer, making anyone with a few more inches of fat than they would like feeling unprepared for the coming months.

And here I am, standing in front of the mirror on a Sunday afternoon, with a holiday to Ayia Napa almost here, examining my own body and feeling distinctively un-beach body ready. Why? Simply because I’m a Trans guy.

Everyone has the right to enjoy the sun without being made to feel ashamed about their bodies. What’s clear is that the public aren’t afraid to make a stand and tell women of all shapes and sizes to love themselves for who they are. But what about Trans guys?

For guys like me the list of body hang-ups goes way beyond the female fear of being too fat to wear a bathing suit at the beach. It spans a whole range of mental and physical issues that we as a community need to overcome. Self-loathing and body dysphoria can affect us more than we know. It’s the same shame that keeps us locked indoors on sunny days praying for the comfort of layering that winter brings.

Long summer days and school holidays can bring out their fair share of commentators. In an attempt to stay cool it means making yourself vulnerable. Before going on testosterone, if anyone had said something about my appearance I would have focussed on it until it destroyed me. The thing about those people is that you never have to see them again. And even if you do, they’re the ones with the problem. So if you overhear some stupid remark - fuck it. Hold your head high and walk on.

So as I stand rubbing Bio-Oil into my scars for the thousandth time, grabbing the excess fat I don’t like, and trying to stand as tall as possible, what I’d like is for this article to be a reminder to all of the Trans guys reading it to love yourselves and don’t be ashamed. That is something I try to tell myself on a daily basis. Yes, I have scars on my chest. And yes, my hips are a bit curvier than the standard man of my build. What we have to realise is that guys come in all shapes and sizes, and since Trans guys fall within that category we shouldn’t be surprised if every one of us is different too.

Not every guy you pass in the street is going to be the stereotypical Adonis from the cover of Men’s Health. If you look closely you’ll see most guys have a belly, or are on the short side, or have a receding hairline.

Everyone has their hang ups. Differences ought to be celebrated, not rejected.

On holiday last year, four months after my top surgery, only one stranger asked me about my scars. Amazingly he didn’t even recognise them for what they were. Sadly, the majority of people you’ll come across will have no idea how a trans guy’s chest looks, and the ones that do will recognise it for what it is and respectfully keep their thoughts to themselves. So for those guys who worry about not having hairy enough legs, about how flat their chest looks, or worrying if people will notice anything lacking down there, trust me when I say: People don’t pay attention. It’s human nature to obsess about your own appearance and worry what others will think. They are far too self obsessed to waste any time judging others.

Love yourself and don’t be ashamed because really, and I mean this, you have nothing to be ashamed about. Society’s views are only changing for the better. The only thing I intend on worrying about this summer is where to find my passport. Other people’s issues are none of my concern; don’t let them be yours. Any questions? Send me a mail.

@

harrym-gni@hotmail.com

GNIMAG.COM | 21

Oh, swoon! Not content with breaking our hearts in last year’s AIDs drama The Normal Heart, cuddly man bear Mark Ruffalo has used his Tumblr page to dish a Hulk-sized slice of shade to anti-feminists. The Avengers star shared blogger Libby Anne Bruce’s post about the “I don’t need feminism because…” bullshit meme that clogged our newsfeeds last year. “You’re insulting every woman who was forcibly restrained in a jail cell with a feeding tube down her throat for the right to vote,” she wrote. “You’re spitting on the legacy of every woman who fought for women to be allowed to own property. For the abolition of slavery and the rise of the labor union. For the right to divorce. For women to be allowed to have access to birth control.” SLAY KWEEN! etc. Although the post wasn’t written by Ruffalo, the most beautiful man in existence is also vocally pro-choice and advocates for access to clean water through his charity Water Defense. Go Mark!

COMMENT | HCW

On emojis, self-actualisation, and getting his bum out

Harry Clayton-Wright It is with great honour that I write my very

February so that was rather wonderful.

most valuable thing I could have done and

come! Take my hand. Maintain eye contact.

duce and perform in my own work. Plus I

uniquely brilliant experiences. Fabulous isn’t

first column for GNI MAG. Hi, hello, welAre you lubricated enough? Don’t worry, I’ll ease myself in gently.

I suppose I’d better tell you a bit about

myself and then we can get this awkward introduction out of the way. My name is

Harry Clayton-Wright, I’m twenty six years

old and it’s an absolute pleasure to meet you.

Imagine me curtsying as I shake your hand right now.

I have been performing professionally

for nearly eight years. Comedy, cabaret,

live art; you name it, I’ll defy a genre. From being dressed as a half-dead woman and

running around in the dark on a ghost train, to jumping into the splits while wearing

very little in gay clubs across London. I have performed in France, Edinburgh, Austria, Blackpool, at Glastonbury and even in

Australia. My regular current performing

role is as Harriet, a glamorous assistant in a tremendously exciting show called Miss

Behave’s Gameshow. This is an anarchic and ridiculous world, created by Olivier Award

Alongside working on the Gameshow, I proget my butt out a lot, too. Does that explain enough? Well, I know you’ll learn more as

we go along. And there’s always Google and YouTube and Tumblr if you’d like to see

what I do for yourself. Just make sure you’re not at work. You have been warned.

For this, my maiden voyage, I thought

I’d smash a bottle of champagne against

the good ship GNI and talk about Pride.

What have you done today to make you

feel proud? Good question, Heather Small, thanks for asking. As I sit here typing this column, tapping away at my laptop with

baby pink coloured nails having just com-

pleted a hilarious shoot in London wearing

nothing but lingerie and a blonde wig, I realise what makes me feel an enormous sense of pride is that I’ve followed my instincts,

the victor. There are no rules and nothing

means anything. It’s a whole lot fun and we

just had a blast with performing Gameshow down under. Also, I got to wear shorts in

You call that an ending?

Three seaons and THAT is how you end it? 0/10.

mind, owning your flaws, turning them into strengths, being a beacon of good for those

around you, doing what’s right and being the best you that you can possibly be. These are just my own personal struggles and it isn’t

all sunshine, lollipops and rainbows - I work hard to maintain happiness - but what also

makes me feel especially proud is the collective strength of our community. We all go

through so much and when it comes down

to it, as a united force, we have this amazing power embedded within us to make real

change. And that makes me feel exceptionally proud.

I’m looking forward to sharing my

We can stay up late and talk about boys and

humanly possibly.

In high school, like so many of us, I

a long time I felt totally confused as to my

arbitrary points for your team and becoming

- but it’s about an acutely aware state of

alisation that I can become as fabulous as

Others - in games that involve you using

anything necessary in the quest of winning

the best emoji next to the eggplant, of course

stories and photos with you while taking you

focused positive energy on the self-actu-

felt rather different and completely out of

your phone, your brain, or doing absolutely

all about pink nail varnish - although that is

been true to myself, and have continually

winner Miss Behave, where two teams

compete against each other - iPhones versus

now I get to travel with work and enjoy such

place. A bit of a weirdo, in all honesty. For

place in the world and I stumbled into my formative years dodging jibes from people

with me on some of my ridiculous travels.

practice french kissing and plait each others

hair. I’ll admit, I was nervous about popping the cherry on my first column. But we got through it without any bleeding, so that’s

the main thing. Until next time, be fabulous and proud.

who misunderstood my character or felt

threatened by someone so different to them.

Luckily, after a troubled start to my late

teens/early twenties, I found that channeling these feelings into creativity has been the

Not cool, guys.

That’s right, football in a gay mag!

WHAT’S NEXT?!

No album in four years?

STRAIGHT TO NUMBER ONE. We love you Flo!

GNIMAG.COM | 22

@Harry Clayton-Wright

@HClaytonWright

We have no words.

Caitlyn Jenner, we salaute you.

KWEEN!

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COMMENT | BLIAIN FITZPATRICK

A gay’s guide to surviving in the city.

Bliain Fitzpatrick When you are single and living in Belfast there are

Romance is a good thing.

Roll with the punches

Some guys may think of these as an art form, but I have

bold romantic gesture out there in the big

I’m assuming we are smart enough to have

certain life skills you must master pretty quickly. come to know them as essential rules for survival in a

never changing world of a Hot Bod’s, mixed signals, and Paco Raban One Million. Here my eight top steps to survive being A Gay in the City.

Never bottom on a first date

No, really. In the straight world having sex on a first

date is frowned upon, but in gay universe you will be forever branded as “the bottom” in your relationship and that is one label that is NOT easy to shake off.

It’s okay to be keen

One thing I’ve realised whilst dating is that there are too many signals that make very little sense. If a guy

smiles at you we are taught to pout, roll our eyes and

look the other way. First of all, what happened to manners? Secondly, when did it become a gay man’s rite

of passage to be a complete bitch any time someone

shows the slightest bit of interest? In an age where the majority of guys dream of nothing more than working within visually appealing industries (personal train-

ers, make up artists, photographers, models) we have

gone from being semi-shallow to drowning in a sea of narcissism.

I recently had a conversation with an exceptionally

good-looking guy who happened to be single but was clearly unhappy about his situation. I questioned him

about the reason why. I was surprised that someone so

attractive could be single for any other reason than his

When your average straight guy attempts a bad non-gay world it’s usually embraced and encouraged. In the gay universe not only

are the lines often blurred as to who should be the instigator of said romance, but too

much too soon can make anyone - no matter how hot - look psychotic and downright

of Simon Cowell. Some specimen, I hear you say?

Perhaps, but nowhere did personality become a factor in the discussion, which is why when we focus our

bicep/bulge tracking goggles we can often overlook

the most important thing. Dare I say it: personality.

back up and keep on walking. (He could be right round the corner!)

are single are glued to your side because

much as we love free stickers in our fancy

gay mags. So let go of the stigma and enjoy the romance.

“Go out for dinner.

Watch a movie. Have a cheeky Nandos.

Just don’t pigeonhole your nights out. You might be pleasantly surprised” Personal hygiene is everything

And I mean EVERYTHING! Let’s just

leave it at that, shall we? (Cough Poundland babywipes cough)

of camp greatness but there are also gay

Beckham’s face, Olly Murs’ cock, and the bank balance

results. So when you fall down, get right

deep down we all love romance about as

came apparent: his requirements for a partner are 95% exist, would be a Frankenstein’s monster with David

are all fuelled by hope. And consistency gets

Don’t forget your friends

intolerant? For some of guys, maybe so. But

Step outside the scene

physical and 5% financial. His perfect guy, should he

figured that out by now. That being said, we

desperate. Have we become romantically

choice to be single.

Throughout our drunken discussion the answer be-

Real life is much harder than the movies.

Gay bars are great and provide many nights

We all have that one friend who when they you are the best craic ever, obviously. Either

that or you attract the best people when you are out together. So why is that when our

friends romantically couple off do they cease to exist? Just remember, some relationships

work, some don’t. It’s your friends and fam-

ily who catch you when you fall. Treat them well.

Be grateful

Finally, being single is hard, especially in a

society that paints relationships as a one-way ticket to the Promised Land. Remember, if you are lucky enough to find someone that

makes your heart beat that little bit faster, be grateful and say thank you but don’t forget

that you made it along just fine on your own before you coupled off. If it goes wrong you

can do it all again! As Mama Ru likes to say, “If you don’t love yourself, how in the hell you gonna love somebody else?”

individuals among us (myself included) that prefer more mainstream establishments. A

bar doesn’t have to be gay to be welcoming.

Go out for dinner. Watch a movie. Have a cheeky Nandos. Just don’t pigeonhole

your nights out. You might be pleasantly surprised.

GNIMAG.COM | 24

/bliain

@bliainers

COMMENT | GARETH CARSON

“Why does there continue to be so much fear & shame around HIV?”

Gareth Carson Hi! My name is Gareth, and I’m HIV+.

As I’m sure you know, HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a virus that attacks the bodies’ immune system. I wish I could tell you that I contracted HIV following a single error of judgement - which is all it takes to put yourself at risk - but the truth is that until I was diagnosed, I’d played Russian roulette with my sexual health. As a member of the HIV community I thought I’d start by challenging a few misconceptions…

“HIV doesn’t exist in Northern Ireland” The unfortunate fact is that it very much does exist in NI. According to the most recent report by the Public Health Agency, “Northern Ireland had the largest proportional increase in new HIV diagnoses between 2000 and 2013” compared to the rest of the UK. Whilst the negotiation of safe (or safer) sex practices can be difficult, if you don’t protect yourself how can you expect someone else to protect you? If you can’t be 100% certain of your status how can you be sure your partner isn’t in the same position?

“HIV is a gay man’s disease” There’s a widespread belief that those most likely to be HIV+ are gay men. But according to the same report; “Of the new diagnoses of HIV in NI in 2013, 58% occurred in men who have sex with men.” The MSM group includes men who identify as gay, bisexual, and men who don’t identify as either category. What’s more, since 2003 transmission of HIV between heterosexual couples has accounted for 42% of

new diagnoses.

Whilst more than 35,000,000 are HIV+ worldwide, transmission rates are on the decline.

“HIV can be caught via non-sexual contact” HIV cannot be contracted by non-sexual contact like hugs, shaking hands, using the same toilet as an HIV+ person, or via kissing.

HIV is transmitted by the exchange of bodily fluids such as blood, sperm and seminal fluid, vaginal fluids, and rectal secretions, most commonly during unprotected sex. If you come into contact with any of those fluids it’s important you seek immediate medical attention. If there is a chance you have been exposed to HIV your doctor can put you on a course of treatments called PEP to stop the virus from taking hold.

The risk of HIV transmission can be mitigated by using safer sexual practices such as condoms and dental dams, getting tested regularly, being aware of your sexual health status and, if you are HIV+, your viral load level (which is the term used to describe the amount of the virus in your bloodstream). If you are already HIV+ contraceptives are essential to avoid becoming infected with further strains of HIV and other STIs. “HIV is a death sentence” My first thought after learning my HIV diagnosis was that I was going to get sick and die. I did not believe I could go on to live as long and healthy a life as anyone else.

Anyone old enough to remember will recall the infamous ‘tombstone ads’ of the early 1980’s.

That was thirty years ago and yet the media

continue to focus on AIDS-torn third world countries in Africa like Botswana and Nigeria.

In these places HIV is endemic. Parents and their children born with HIV routinely die because of a lack support and access to the vital medication they need to prevent them from going on to develop the more serious AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). But HIV is not AIDS, and when properly treated with anti-retroviral medication, HIV has become a manageable (albeit chronic) condition.

Yet even so there continues to be a great deal of fear, shame and guilt surrounding a HIV diagnosis. Finding self-acceptance can be a difficult task. Rejection and stigmatisation from others remains an unfortunate yet all-too common occurrence. However, peer mentoring and support are now widespread, information is readily available, and the drugs used to fight the infection are now much less toxic compared to the treatments that went before. With the adoption of safer sex practices and the willingness of HIV consultants to prescribe anti-retroviral medication earlier, it has never been easier to manage a HIV diagnosis.

For help and support contact: www.rainbow-project.org www.positivelifeni.com To arrange a free and full sexual health screening, contact James Copeland at: james@rainbow-project.org (028) 9031 9030

1/3

98%

35m

3

men with HIV don’t know they are infected

effectiveness rate of condoms when used properly

total number of HIV cases worldwide

time in minutes the virus can live outside the body

GNIMAG.COM | 25

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IN CONVERSATION WITH... | MICHELLE VISAGE

MICHELLE VISAGE FROM THE MEAN STREETS OF nyc, to the judge’s seat of rupaul’s drag race, gni mag catches up with EVERYBODY’S FAVOURITE FEMALE IMPERSONATOR, michelle visage. gentlemen, start your engines!

IN CONVERSATION WITH... | MICHELLE VISAGE

Michelle Visage, welcome to Belfast!

Charming! So what’s your favourite rule in the book?

the UK - and I love the UK - but they always focus on England and

is basically the moral. “Don’t do what I did. You do not have to feel this

I love Belfast! This is my home away from home! People always talk about London, and I have such a soft spot for Belfast. I’m from New York, and

New York City is made up of boroughs. There’s Manhattan, there’s Queens, there’s the Bronx... And then there’s Staten Island. New Yorkers always joke that Staten Island is the forgotten borough. I feel like that’s what Northern Ireland is to the UK, it’s the forgotten borough.

We couldn’t agree more. So you’re a mother, Drag Race Supreme, an LGBT activist, and now an author. How do you do it?

God’s honest truth. You know, for

all the kids out there that think they

can’t achieve things, I am here to tell them it’s just down to focus.

I didn’t come from a family that was in the business or that had a lot of

money. Really what it comes down

to is your work ethic. Focus, dedication and hard work. That’s why

pain!” And that’s why it’s important for me that the kids read it. Boys, girls, it doesn’t matter, it’s all about refining your strength. And it’s not as easy as me telling you. You have to go and start your journey and do the work.

One of chapters is “Be a chameleon”. You have to be a chameleon. You

have to stay strong to who you are. When the kids on Drag Race come

in they are indignant, they refuse to change, they don’t want to move and

they’re digging their heels in. If you do that then in the end it’s going to do you a disservice. You have to be open to everything that comes your way.

Trying something different does

Cocaine. No, just kidding, I’ve never touched a drug in my life. That’s the

There are so many rules! At the end of each chapter there’s the Tee, which

“Homophobia makes about as much sense as racism. But they’re both still very real and very sad. Black lives matter, but so do black c*cks. I have an equal opportunities vagina.”

your eyes, but in a year or two you’ll never hear from them again. And that comes down to work ethic. And talent, of course.

Your book “The Diva Rules” is released in November. Can we tempt you into giving us a little preview?

I didn’t want to write an autobiography with this book. I didn’t want to be

a TOWIE girl and be like “OMG! My life’s been soooo hard, but I did it!”

But I think, at this point of my career, an autobiography would be quite

presumptuous. People like Joan Rivers or Joan Collins deserve autobiographies, not me. I mean, I’ve had an amazing career. Yet somehow I have always missed the opportunity of super stardom.

In writing it I revisited those times and the things that tried to take me

down. And every time I’ve picked myself up and carried on. And that’s re-

ally what life is about. I get these kids who say to me “Please tell me it gets better, please tell me it’s not going to be like this forever.”

That’s what this book is about, I wrote it for them. You know we get out of

often does Madonna change? We’ve watched her entire career. Before

we had the internet, we’d wait to see her on TV, we’d wait to see a Vanity Fair exclusive, we’d wait to see a

Rolling Stone cover, to see the next look she was going to unveil. She

would go from complete opposites and never lost herself. And that’s what I’m talking about.

you’ll see a lot of those people who

do come from the right families get a break, and they may be famous in

not mean giving up your soul. How

You’re not afraid to speak your mind. Is that why you and Katie Hopkins clashed in the Celeb Big Brother house?

Katie was smart enough to know that if she fought with me she wouldn’t win. So she got on my good side. But I didn’t really care. In the house

it’s all about survival of the fittest. If Katie were to win she would have changed her attitude totally. But because she lost she went completely

overboard the other way. She’s crossed the line. You can’t sit in that house and say to someone like me “I want to be a gay icon” and then defend

Dolce and Gabbana for what they said about gay parents and then claim it’s free speech. Abso-fucking-lutely not. You can’t make homophobic

comments and then say you want to be a gay icon. The gays don’t love you, baby, you have to work your way into the gays hearts. You can’t do one

fucking appearance at G-A-Y and think the gays love you. I work with

queens who are the most offensive, disgusting people on the planet, but they do it from a place of love. What Katie Hopkins is doing is evil.

school and we have stars in our eyes of what we want to achieve. But then

Besides being a professional super woman, you have always been an amazing

through life feeling miserable. We forget that sparkle. And then we die,

I met my first gay in high-school. He was being bullied. The word “bully”

life gets in the way. We don’t nurture our Inner Diva anymore. We coast miserable.

LGBT ally. What drives that urge?

is almost kind of of abused these days. It’s a very powerful, very real word.

GNIMAG.COM | 28

IN CONVERSATION WITH... | MICHELLE VISAGE

And now everybody wants to use for every little shady go-about. But

clauses? Honey, please. You can’t have these people with the right to refuse

picking on this kid because he had a little gay lisp. He was very quiet, he

hard enough whether you’re gay or straight. We are all human beings.

this kid was getting bullied in class. So I stood up to the jocks who were

didn’t really talk to anybody. He didn’t even talk to me. We weren’t friends, but I felt the need to do something because of this brother-sister affec-

tion because I was a misfit as well, except I had the balls to say: “Fuck you.

Who the fuck do you think you are sitting there in a flannel shirt and

serving gay people. They’re trying to reinstate segregation. This world is

Why are we discriminating against people for who they love? Love is love is love. Just because a man loves another man or a woman loves another

woman doesn’t make them a bad person. It’s the same love. It’s just as pure.

work-boots and jeans… Who gives you the power? You are nobody. So you

Are LGBT rights under attack?

you.” And at that moment I knew there was a connection between us.

“equality”, until the day we stop saying “gay marriage”, we are under attack.

better shut the fuck up or it’s done for you.” Afterwards he just said “Thank

What was it like growing up in New Jersey in 1986?

In central New Jersey in 1986 there were no gays. Gay wasn’t even gay in 1986. When I moved to New York City at the age of seventeen I had no family, no friends, nobody. I went there to go to school. My mother said

“You need to go out there and make friends, and the only way you’re going to do it is by going to the nightclubs”. Because we didn’t have Scruff. We

didn’t have Grindr. My mother got me my first fake ID. She said “Go” so I

went. The first boy that came up to me was this beautiful Peurto Rican boy, and the first thing he said to me was “Oh my Gawd, what’s your name?” I

was like [little girl voice] “Michelle?” He brought me over to this group of the weirdest, freakiest looking people and I knew, immediately, that this was my new family. I was home. And I never left!

It was a nightclub in New York called the Underground. That’s where I

Of course they’re under attack. Until the day when we don’t have to say

We need to be out on the streets and standing up for ourselves and being

vocal. There are kids living on the street because their parents threw them

out because they’re gay. There are so many kids who can’t get jobs because they’re gay so they trick for a living, or who have to take drugs make it

bearable to trick for a living. They’re having unprotected sex without realising that HIV is on the rise. They think because of drugs like PreP that

they don’t need to wear condoms anymore. These are the things we need to teach our young people about. To not be vocal about it is a huge disservice to them. As far as the search for HIV cures have come, we’re now going

backwards because kids aren’t getting tested and protecting themselves. For me homophobia makes about as much sense as racism. But they’re both

still very real and very sad. I’ve had a black fiancé. Black lives matter, but so do black cocks. I have an equal opportunities vagina.

first met RuPaul. The first time I laid eyes on him I thought to myself.

Let’s talk politics: Queens aren’t elected, they are born. Our election is over

Six four in flats, but with hair, heels and attitude he’s through the roof. You

getting started. Is Michelle from New Jersey team Hillary?

“What IS that?” It was seeing someone over seven foot tall and so radiant.

could not take your eyes of off him. And when I met him he said the same thing about me. We were destined to be!

and now the Tories are back in power. But you guys in the US are just now I am completely team Hilary. I get so much fucking flak for it. Team

Hilary 2016 all the way! She’s going to be our president. It’s time we had a woman. Oh my gosh she’s going to be our Evita!

Speaking of Mama Ru, is Drag Race UK finally happening?

I don’t know when, I don’t know how, but it’s going to happen. Seasons one

Michelle Visage for president…

launch. Will I be coming too? Sure. I can happily fly myself over to Belfast

a fabulous country though! Glitter, rainbows, pink. It would be like Anna

through six were picked up by truTV so Ru is coming over to promote the and look at myself in the middle of Primark and go “Okay, now what?”

Get out! Oh my God. I could not handle that pressure, never! It would be Nicole Smith takes the Whitehouse!

These days we see more and more conflict between religious people and the gay community. What do you make of that?

“The Diva Rules: Ditch

my world, God is an all loving god. Some people are born gay and you are

Strength, and Sparkle

take any rights away from you. What rights are we taking from you by our

is released November

I think spirituality is really important, whatever that means for you. In

the Drama, Find Your

born gay for a reason. If you disagree then gay marriage is not going to

Your Way to the Top”

right to get married? If anything we are adding to a more loving world.

10, 2015.

Religion is only as important as you want to make it. And conscience

GNIMAG.COM | 29

Bonzo / Demotix/Demotix/Press Association Images

PRIDE

201 5

FEATURE | PRIDE

Belfast Pride is Ireland’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and

transgender festival and ranks in

the top ten largest pride parades in the UK! Belfast’s celebration

of diversity includes a week

long celebration at the end of July, featuring a programme

BELFAST August 1

of events which we are sure

appeals to even the most diverse range of tastes. From July 25 to August 2 Belfast Pride will be

putting the struggle for equality at the centre of Pride, with

Pride celebrations at the heart

of the city.

Jim Orr / Demotix/Demotix/Press Association Images

GNIMAG.COM | 33

FEATURE | PRIDE

2015 is a momentous year in Irish history. The

and Mark Kelly, Director of the Irish Council

by a week of fun-filled events for all ages,

took an enormous leap forward for civil rights

their outstanding contribution to the 2015

inset bix above for details).

success of the Marriage Equality Referendum

throughout the island. Dublin Pride organisers have moved to celebrate this historic year

by announcing the 2015 festival theme as

#TheFutureisEqual. In keeping with this one of a kind year, organiserse have announced that the big day is set to have not one but three Grand Marshals to lead festivities:

Grainne Healy, Chairperson of Marriage

Equality; Brian Sheehan, Director of GLEN;

for Civil Liberties. All three were chosen for #YesEquality campaign.

Healy, Sheehan and Kelly will officially launch the Dublin Pride Festival Programme, which kicks off on Friday June 19. They will also

lead #TheFutureisEqual Dublin Pride Parade, taking place from June 27. This year the

festival is set to be the biggest celebration yet.

Festivities kicks off on June 19 with a launch party at The George. This will be followed

GNIMAG.COM | 34

culminating in cult-favourite Dyke Night. (See The festival then culminates with

#TheFutureisEqual themed Pride Parade,

taking place from 12 noon on Saturday 27.

As well as the visual feast of the parade, there will be tons of celebrity acts and plenty of goodiebags to giveaways.

For full listings visit dublinpride.ie

FEATURE | PRIDE

DUBLIN June 27

Dublin Pride Week Highlights •

Tuesday 23: The Ruby Session - 9pm, Doyle’s of College

•

Friday 26: Dyke Night, 9pm in The Academy. A visual spec-

Street

tacular of live music, entertainment and cabaret. Featuring

International Pride stars Harmonee, Dj Glamo and a host of others. All 3 Stages of the Academy will be positively brim• •

ming with pride.

Fri 26: Kylie Tribute with DJ AGGIE - 9pm, Oscars Christchurch.

Saturday 27: The parade begins at 1pm at the Garden of

Remembrance, marches down O’Connell Street, and culminates at Merrion Square at the Pride Village. Events on the

main stage (featuring a host of performers) kicks off at 2pm.

Street Party at Nealons at 4pm. Lady GaGa tribute at Oscars Christchurch at 9pm.

Shawn Pogatchnik/AP/Press Association Images

GNIMAG.COM | 35

FEATURE | PRIDE

LONDON JUNE 27

Pride in London is the biggest Pride celebration in the UK (and one of the biggest in

the world!) This year’s theme is #PrideHeroes, celebrating those who have contributed

to LGBT rights over the years, heroes like Alan Turing, Chelsea Manning, and Stephen

Fry. Closing off the entirety of London’s iconic Oxford Street, the parade will leave Baker

Street and snake through the Capital, passing Oxford Street, Selfridges, Bond Street,

Oxford Circus, Piccadilly Circus, and Pall Mall. Confirmed acts this year include singer/

song-writer Rebecca Ferguson, Britain’s Got Talent winners Collabro, and boyband Blue.

Over 30 acts will entertain the 10,000 strong audience in Trafalgar Square throughout. prideinlondon.org

DUNDALK PRIDE

NEWRY PRIDE

CORK PRIDE

AUGUST 29

JULY 18

AUGUST 22

AUGUST 2

Foyle Pride is a spectacular and

Dundalk Pride started in 2009

This year’s “Bigger and Better”

This will be the 10th annual parade

the Dundalk Outcomers decided

powerful, colourful, energetic and

aims to promote and engage in edu-

FOYLE PRIDE

colourful event. Its carnival

atmosphere ensures a fantastic

day out for all of the family on the

August bank holiday weekend. The

Parade will leave Waterside Station for the Guildhall at 2pm.

when a group of volunteers from that it was time for Dundalk to have its very own LGBT Pride event.

Pride in Newry again promises a

vibrant spectacle to showcase the diversity of people, communi-

ties and cultures in Newry and Mourne.

GNIMAG.COM | 36

for Cork LGBT pride. Cork Pride cational, civic and cultural activi-

ties in order to enrich the lives of

LGBT people and the community as a whole.

FEATURE | PRIDE

Ruth Whitworth / Demotix/Demotix/Press Association Images

PRIDE CYMRU - AUGUST 15

BRIGHTON PRIDE - AUGUST 1-2

The largest annual celebration of its kind in Wales, Pride Cymru is

2015 sees Brighton Pride celebrate its 25th birthday. Loved locally and

than ever before, this year’s festivities are bringing together 30 years of

is great about the city and its vibrant LGBT community. To mark this

returning to Coopers Field, Cardiff, for Pride 2015. Louder and prouder Welsh activism. At a cost of over £250,000 to organise, organisers are

expecting 12,000 partygoers to attend. With plans to close off Kingsway,

within Cooper’s field will be a collection of zones each offering something different for everyone including a wide collection of local and national

artists to entertain throughout the day. Organisers are keeping tight lipped

about this year’s lineup, but 2014 highlights included X Factor fave Misha B, and Collabro. (Busy boys, them!) pridecymru.co.uk

acclaimed nationally, Brighton & Hove Pride is a celebration of all that huge milestone, the theme for this year’s Pride is “Carnival of Diversity”.

The parade is the spectacle of the year and a chance to join others in the

liveliest, most colourful, and empowering visual showcase in the city. The

parade will culminate at Preston Park where the main party is taking place.

No word as yet on who is performing but organisers have promised an

array of world renowned performers, musicians, and artists, as well as a funfair complete with that trademark Brighton charm. brighton-pride.org

GNIMAG.COM | 37

FEATURE | PRIDE

Andy Katz / Demotix/Demotix/Press Association Images

PRIDE AROUND THEwords WORLD

by MARTIN

fledgling American gay rights movement to the national

stage. On the morning of June 28th, the Stonewall Inn was raided by police, a then regular occurrence at the Green-

wich Village bar that had become the centre of New York City’s gay community. But this time its members, tired of

the ongoing raids, fought back. The weeks of civil disobedience that followed became known as The Stonewall Riots. (“Know your History,” page 92).

A year after the riots the first Gay Pride march was held

SPAIN In the 1960s underground gay scenes flourished in Barcelona, Ibiza and Sitges, despite the fact that

homosexuality was criminalised under the dictator-

ship of Francisco Franco. Under Franco, anti-gay laws were vigorously enforced. Gay men were routinely

imprisoned, and Franco’s civil guard used the law as an excuse to imprision political dissenters.

Today Spain is one of Europe’s most socially tolerant societies. Same-sex marriage is legal and an over-

whelming 88% of the population view homosexuality in a positive light. Madrid hosts the largest Gay

UNITED STATES The Stonewall riots in the summer of 1969 catapulted the

MULHOLLAND

Pride parade in Europe. Held at the end of June, and

20 COUNTRIES WHERE GAY MARRIAGE IS NOW LEGAL

by the Christopher Street Liberation Day Committee to

attended by more than two million people, Madrid

Pride is known to the locals as the Fiesta del Orgullo.

In 2007 Europride, the European Pride Parade, took place in Madrid. Two-and-a-half million people at-

tended more than 300 events over a week to celebrate Spain’s victory as the leading country with most de-

veloped LGBT rights in the world. Madrid’s bustling gay district Chueca is the biggest gay district of its kind in Europe and was the centre of the celebra-

tions. Barcelona, Valencia and Seville hold hold Pride parades of their own.

commemorate their victory. Pride committees were formed in other major cities throughout the US to commemorate Stonewall and continue to fight for Gay Lib. One of the first major successes of this movement came when the

American Psychiatric Association removed homosexual-

ity from The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. In 1979, following the ten-year anniversary of Stonewall and the assassination of Harvey Milk, thou-

sands took to the streets for the first National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights. For ten years

the struggle had been a collection of local ones, but here

for the first time it garnered major national attention. By 1993, more than two decades after Stonewall, and with a

full decade of AIDs awareness behind it, the Christopher Street Festival was renamed NYC Pride.

In 2011 lawmakers voted to make New York the sixth state

to legally recognise same-sex marriages. Today that number stands at thirty-seven. What started as a small celebratory party at the Stonewall Inn is now attended by over one million people.

Charlie Pérez / Demotix/Demotix/Press Association Images

GNIMAG.COM | 38

FEATURE | PRIDE

UGANDA Homosexuality remains illegal in Uganda, punishable by a

jail sentence. In a country where American-style evangelical

Christianity is increasingly popular, homophobia is endemic,

where gay men and women face frequent harassment violence.

However, it is no longer illegal to promote homosexuality

and Ugandans are no longer obliged to denounce people they suspect of being gay to authorities.

In the summer of 2014, Uganda held their first gay pride rally after a draconian (and worryingly popular among Ugandans)

anti-homosexuality law was overturned. The law, condemned as “abominable” by Human Rights groups, could have seen those

convicted as homosexuals jailed for life. The constitutional court

Sergey Ponomarev/AP/Press Association Images

rejected the law on a technicality six months after it took effect.

RUSSIA

The government swiftly filed an appeal. Unfortunately, MPs have recently signed a petition for a new vote on the bill.

Ugandan LGBT activists openly celebrated the decision in

rally held in Entebbe, 35km from the capital Kampala, at an invitation-only “Uganda Pride” event. More than a hundred people turned up to celebrate this first Gay Pride. One pair

of activists waved a rainbow flag with a slogan appealing for

people to “join hands” to end the “genocide” of homosexuals.

President Yoweri Museveni signed the law to win domestic

support ahead of the 2016 presidential election. The decision

was met by a hostile international community,with millions of

$150 THE FINE FOR DISTRIBUTING PROPOGANDA IN RUSSIA

Homosexuality was decriminalised in Russia

in 1993 after the fall of the Soviet Union, and

yet to this day Russia remains one of the most socially conservative countries in the world.

Recent polls suggest that the majority of Rus-

sians actively support legislation that discriminates against gay and trans people. In 2014, the Human Rights Watch released a report

documenting the rise in homophobic rhetoric

and violence in Russia. It blamed a law passed in 2013 banning the promotion of “non-

dollars of governmental aid diverted for the flagrant violation

traditional lifestyles” among minors which was

of human rights.

signed by then President Vladimir Putin. Since this law was enacted, LGBT groups through-

out Russia have reported a surge of homopho-

bic violence. The “anti-propaganda law” is most often used as justification for the attacks.

Although larger cities such as Moscow and

Saint Petersburg have thriving underground LGBT communities, traditionally there has been an historic resistance to Gay Pride

throughout the Russian Federation. The first Rebecca Vassie/AP/Press Association Images

Gay Pride demonstration was held in 2006.

This parade, and those that followed in 2007 and 2008, were marred by scenes of extreme

homophobic attacks. In June 2012 the Moscow City Government enacted a hundred-year ban on Gay Pride celebrations citing a risk of vio-

lence against participants as the reason. Despite being fined by the European Court of Human Rights discrimination, the city of Moscow has

refused permission to hold Moscow Pride until the year 2112.

GNIMAG.COM | 39

H

M

Y

D I G R Y B

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

hybridfitnessni.co.uk

COMMENT | SJ WILSON

Let’s say “straight pride” was a thing.

How would that work?

SJ Wilson A very special issue this is, isn’t it? Pride

This is something I’ve noticed over the

to defend the rights. It’s not about religious

seemingly exclusive Show-Your-Gay-Card

people just like you and me to love whoever

season is upon us AGAIN. It’s hard to

years of celebrating Pride. What was once a

dancing to Amelia Lily at the street party.

event has evolved into something much

believe. It feels like only yesterday I was

Gay Pride, Trans Pride, Lesbian Pride,

Bear Pride, Disability Pride, no matter what you are celebrating Pride remains a positive experience and a inclusive celebration of

diversity. And yet not a year goes by when I don’t hear some muppet say something along the lines off “But why isn’t there a straight pride?”

Alright, I’ll bite. For arguments sake let’s

say “Straight Pride” was a real thing. How would it work? How would you celebrate

straight pride and, more importantly, why

would you want to? Can you imagine how the floats would look? I’m trying not to, I

really am. An open top bus full of strippers and a load of hairy lairy blokes rubbing

themselves against them? No thank you.

It’s important to remember that the

Pride we know and love wasn’t always the

weeklong festival it is today. What started off as a hundred-strong march through

the city centre to rally for equal rights has

grander. An event that once had more pro-

testers than supporters has become a united movement, a celebration of diversity and a

challenge to prejudice. But more than that,

what was once little more than an excuse to

“What started as a hundred people strong march through the city to rally for equal rights has evolved into one of the biggest events in the social calendar, attended by thousands” get absolutely rat arsed is now more family friendly than ever.

Every year I notice more and more

evolved into one of the biggest events on

people – parents and grandparents, mums

people every year. And rightly so.

why shouldn’t they? Contrary to popular

the social calendar attended by thousands of So why is “Straight Pride” a ridicu-

lous concept? Just because you are straight doesn’t mean you are entitled to a day to celebrate it, not when heterosexuality is

the dominant voice culturally, socially and

politically, when you don’t have to consider yourself in terms of your sexuality because,

as a straight person, you don’t have to. Like

most straight guys I’ve never had any issues talking about my love life. I didn’t struggle

to come to terms with preferring fanny over

and dads - bringing little kids to Pride. And

afraid to be his true self for most of his life, to the mother of three who was in a hetro

relationship her whole life but was forced to pretend she wasn’t a gay woman.

Of course, with it being the biggest

gayest day out ever naturally it’s going to in-

clude the most flamboyant parade you’ll ever witness. Bright, bold and brilliant; not the

celebration that those on the fringes would

have you believe. It’s the one parade that the entirety of Belfast can get behind and come together to support.

It goes without saying that Pride is a

celebration of pride. So be proud of who you are. Be proud to love who you love. Don’t

retreat into a corner and be shamed by those whose narrow definition of what constitutes

love does not meet your definition. Whether

you are a mother, or a father, a son or daughter, an aunt, an uncle, a grandparent, there is

no greater love than the love of family. That’s why Pride is for everyone, straight people included.

see anyone walking around in S&M gear

with dog leashes attached to their partners.

Nobody is giving out free whippings and there are definitely no public displays of

sexual acts. This isn’t the Folsom Street Fair.

The only people to give that idea any serious consideration are those who either have a vendetta against the community or who have never been to Pride in their lives.

In the unlikely event that person is

you, let me tell you Pride is about love, not

a straight man. I can’t imagine the fear and

heterosexuality. It’s about the LGBT com-

courage it takes to do something like that.

they want, be it the gay man who was too

belief Pride is not a seedy event. You won’t

cock. I didn’t have to worry about what my

friends and family would think about me as

or political identities. It’s about the right of

hate. It’s certainly not about attacking your munity and their straight allies standing up GNIMAG.COM | 41

@sjwilsonofficial

@SJWilson25

IN CONVERSATION WITH... | SHAYNE WARD

SHAYNE WARD

IN CONVERSATION WITH... | SHAYNE WARD

He’s the hottest thing to come out of Manchester since Harrington jackets and Canal Street.

Ten years since his X Factor win and Shayne Ward is busier than ever. With a third album under his belt, the ‘No Promises’ singer is about to swop the recording studio for the cobbles of Weatherfield

As a Manchester lad, how do you think

eos I’ve done over the years, there has

challenge but I loved it. It definitely

Rovers Return?

Wanting to act has always been there.

Coronation Street. I love the adrenalin

it will feel to be having a pint in the

When I heard I’d been offered the part I was in total disbelief. It still hasn’t

sunk it. “Shayne Ward, the lad from Manchester, given a role on such an iconic show.” It’s an absolute dream

come true. I’m excited to walk down

those famous cobbles. My family and

friends know how much this means to me and I cannot wait to do them all

proud. 2015 has been a great year for

me so far and I look forward to joining

been elements of acting involved too.

I’ve done the West End, so now that I’ve got Coronation Street too I can

While we’re on the subject, how would

The music is still there, it will always

we first met you?

It’s not so difficult balancing the two. will be there. We are actually planning a couple of live shows at the minute.

I’m keeping them side by side, the

acting and the singing. I’m still young, there’s life in me yet!

What would you say has been your

far. It’s like going next door!

The parts I’ve played in The War of the

Your character, Aidan Connor, is a distant cousin of Michelle Connor played

by the lovely Kym Marsh. What else can you tell us about him?

He’s a little bit of a goodie, a little

bit of a baddie. The thing about the

Connor’s is that they’re a really lovely

family. But then I’ll be coming in with a little bit of charm, a little bit cheeky, to shake things up a bit. At the same time, one thing you don’t do is cross

the Connor family. They stick together.

With the Connors it’s go big, or go

home. You’ll find out more about him as the series goes on, that’s all I’m al-

lowed to say. The character is Mancu-

toughest role so far?

Worlds and Rock of Ages are so dif-

ferent. In Rock of Ages, playing Stacee Jaxx, I was an 80’s American rockstar that everybody loved. All the girls

wanted him, all the guys wanted to be him. I was singing songs from White

Snake. My own big number was “Dead Or Alive” by Bon Jovi. You can’t get better than that.

“Now that I’m doing Coronation Street I can consider myself a proper actor”

nian-Irish, which is exactly what I am, so we’re pretty similar in a lot of ways.

Whereas when I played the Artil-

You’ve acted before but you’re best

the Worlds I was playing this soldier

laryman in Jeff Wayne’s The War of

yourself as more of a singer or more of an actor?

Don’t get me wrong, I’m 100% a singer.

But at the same time, with all the vid-

your say your music has evolved since

I have a lot more freedom now. When you’re with a record label you want

to try things but obviously the record label have plans for you too. The first album was more or less ballads. The

second album I recorded in Sweden,

and the guys I recorded it with wanted it to be a bit more pop music-y, a

bit more R’n’B, you know? The third

album was a lot more indie based, so

a lot more guitar, anthem-driven stuff.

But with my new album, Closer, which came out in April, we’ve gone back to

basics. I think, gone are the days when someone can ask me, “What style are

you now?” It’s got to the point where, if you sound great on a dance track,

you release a dance track. If you sound great on a pop track, you release that.

You go where the music takes you. I play to my strengths.

You aren’t gay but you’re widely considered to be a gay icon. What’s that like?

That’s absolutely fine! [Laughs] Am I a gay icon? I love it! I’ve had great

support from the gay community for

It’s a cool part to play.

known for your music. Do you see

of different crowds every night.

consider myself a proper actor.

the Coronation Street family. The great thing is that I don’t have to travel too

helped me when I was auditioning for

who was very complex with all of his

emotions, trying to convince the main character that they can create a whole new world after the last one has been

destroyed by aliens. It was an amazing

GNIMAG.COM | 43

years. Even going back to the days

when I was on the X Factor, you went from performing on the show to

performing live at G-A-Y that night.

Even when I won the show I per-

formed at G-A-Y the same night. I’ve

done a lot of Prides festivals. This year I’m doing Blackpool Pride, and the

Kremlin Street Party at Belfast Pride,

IN CONVERSATION WITH... | SHAYNE WARD

so that’s really exciting. To be honest, there’s not much difference in the reception I get

from my gay fans. I love people being who

and no doubt my new track which is “The

Way You Were”. It’s going to be pretty cool.

they want to be. Some of my best friends

Is it tough balancing all of your commitments

what counts. The only thing I worry about

It’s really good to give up as much time as

are gay. They’re real to themselves and that’s performing at Pride is the weather. It always helps when a bit of sunshine comes through.

When you’re performing at Pride will we be hearing any new music?

Oh God yeah! You’ll be hearing a mix of the last three albums, as well as my new album,

with your charity work?

you can to help these things. I do do a lot

for charity. I do a lot with charity football.

I’m a patron for Hearts and Minds, which a charity set up to help people with Autism.

The money they raise funds a family support service to offer legal aid and other informa-

tion to people touched by autism. I’m doing a charity horse ride

SHAYNE WARD (2006)

for them, 150 miles

across Spain, which is amazing. I’ve got five

days off filming Cor-

rie to do it, so when I get back I’ll be walking like John Wayne.

I always loved the

idea of being Clint Eastwood.

You’ve signed a year long contract with

BREATHLESS (2007)

Corrie. When the

time comes for you to

leave how do you like to bow out?

I would never get

myself killed! It’s too early to say. Let me

get started first! Tell

you what, let’s do this interview again in a

year and I’ll tell you how I’d like to go.

We’ll see what the fans have to say!

Shayne Ward’s new album, Obsession is available in stores and for download on iTunes.

GNIMAG.COM | 44

CLOSER (2015)

INTERVIEW| ANDY BELL

He was 21 years old and working in a shop when he answered Vince Clarke’s ad for a vocalist.

Erasure’s debut album, Wonderland, catapulted Andy Bell to worldwide audience.

Here he talks the perils of fame, plastic surgery, and coming out...

What was your childhood like?

We didn’t have many luxuries, but we were a close family, and very loving.

I’m the eldest of four girls and one boy. My brother was still a baby when I left home! I remember having lots of laughs, but definitely a few fights too.

They could stick up for themselves.

I was very close to my mum. I was able to talk to her about anything I only told her I was gay after I’d left home. I think it was tough on her because I’m the oldest boy and she’s from quite a traditional family.

Were you ever bullied for being gay?

As I was going to and from school groups of boys would usually call me names or pick on me. At first I didn’t really understand why they were doing it. Later on people told me it was because I walked like a girl. I only ever fought back twice. I would have turned the other cheek but they pushed me too far. It made me realise that groups of people are like sheep. They follow the leader.

In 2004 you told the world you had been HIV positive for six years. What prompted that decision?

I don’t like secrets hanging over my head. I wanted to get it off of my chest.

You raised some eyebrows when you said you wanted to become delibertately infected. Obviously you didn’t mean that.

Have you learned to become comfortable with your status?

I know it’s a bit of a cliché but it takes a while to love yourself. It’s an ongoing process. Acceptance of my status is a huge part of that but at the time I was very angry and scared and I lashed out.

What do you make of rising infection rates amongst young men? Do you think apps like Grindr and the availability of saunas have a lot to answer for?

I think it’s something that still remains very private. I know I only discuss it with very close friends and colleagues.

Men are men and will always be horny but they need to be reminded of the safe sex message constantly because it does get through. As they say, “A standing prick has no conscience.”

How does being HIV affect your life?

HIV doesn’t make you a monster or unclean. Don’t kid yourself that having unsafe sex with a ‘negative’ person is safe, because you never really know. I constantly remind myself of how far we’ve come as a community and what we’ve been through. To judge someone for their HIV status is ignorant beyond belief.

You’ve been open about your plastic surgery. Personally we think you look great! Is it a struggle being an older gay man in a culture that puts a very high price on youth and beauty?

Eventually you become comfortable in your own skin. I think a few wrinkles are sexy. It’s tougher on women but a few freshen ups certainly make you feel and look better.

It’s been thirty years since Erasure. Does your success still feel a little surreal?

It’s hard to imagine my life any other way. I know I’m in quite a privileged position and that comes with responsibilities. The suffering in the world is sometimes unbearable to think of.

GNIMAG.COM | 45

You were one of the first pop stars to be open about their sexuality. What was it like being so open at the height of your career?

It was fine, really. Jimmy (Somerville) and I got a bit pissed off at the time that guys like George Michael and Boy George were in the closet when everyone else knew, but on reflection it’s their own personal choice.

Do you think modern popstars stay in the closet out of fear of rejection? What do you make of someone so recognisable as Tom Daley coming out at such a young age?

I think Tom is an absolute legend for coming out so young, especially for being a sportsman. Of course it helps when you are young and dishy and wearing skimpy swimwear! Record companies are still very old fashioned.

Even now all they think about is putting profit before people.

You’ve also been open about your drug use in the past. What was your lowest moment and how did you turn things around?

Like everything drugs become boring.

Your body isn’t going to be filled by it.

You have to find spiritual nourishment.

What’s the future for Erasure? Are you excited to be returning to Torsten the Bareback Saint? Can you tell us a little more about that project?

I’m sure Erasure will be recording and touring soon. Torsten the Libertine is almost complete and will be performed and released in October. I am very proud of it.

IN CONVERSATION WITH... | WHIGFIELD

Dee dee, na na na! Can you feel the air getting hot? It’s Whigfield!

Where did the name Whigfield originate?

When I was a kid in Denmark I had a lot of different music classes. Most of my family are musicians. I wanted to play the drums actually but my mum said I had to play the piano. My dad said there was no one in the family who sings so that’s what I did. My music teacher’s name was Emma Whigfield, that’s where it came from.

Tell us a bit more about you?

I’m really boring! When I’m not making music I like to go to the gym. I live a very normal life, I never go out. I’m like one of the guys, I’m pretty boyish. I’ve always got along more with the guys than the girls because I didn’t really enjoy sitting talking about makeup. And I think that’s part of why I enjoy music; it’s always men that I’m working with. I’ve got two huge dogs so I play with them.

Were you ready for the phenomenon that was Saturday Night?

You get used to it pretty fast because you have to have to do so many things. I was basically living on Top of the Pops. I introduced Oasis with their first number one, and acts like Skunk Anansie and Björk. You only

have like ten seconds and you have to remember what to say. I got so drunk on my first night!

You’re still a huge hit with the gay community? How come?

The more true you can be to yourself the happier you will be. Be honest with yourself and do what makes you happy. Even if people think you’re nuts or whatever, this is the only way you can be happy in life. The day I stopped doing what people wanted me to do I became a happy person.

Wake up every morning and give yourself time to appreciate happy thoughts, straight away. Positive thinking, or antidepressants. I’m very ironic – I think that’s part of the Danish humor.

Your home country was the first country in the world to recognize same sex unions and have since legalized same sex marriage…

Why shouldn’t they? Everybody should be free to do whatever they want.

In Denmark we have female priests, they can have families. I really respect people that go to church and do what makes them happy, but people should have the freedom to marry whoever they want. They aren’t hurting anyone else!

GNIMAG.COM | 46

IN CONVERSATION WITH... | BUCKS FIZZ

Thirty years after their Eurovision triumph, Buck’s Fizz are back touring the UK with new member Bobby McVay. GNI MAG catches up with the 80’s legends

Back together after three decade, and now a UK tour. How does it feel?

Jay: It’s great! This has been our best year in many, many years.

Mike: It is great, actually.

Cheryl: We got back together as a three-piece in 2004, and we brought Bobby in about a year ago. It just feels right. It feels better than it ever did, even going right back to the original line-up.

Bobby: When Song for Europe started it was really the grandaddy for shows like X-Factor and Pop Idol. It was the only chance that unknown people like ourselves could get a break. If you won it was overnight success. You were straight out of the BBC and into a recording studio the next day.

Did watching Eurovision last week bring back any memories?

C: We were working at G-A-Y. They had a huge TV screen just for us so we sat watching it. I thought it was fantastic. Eurovision gets better every year.

J: The quality of the songs this year was fantastic. Europe get the best artists and the best songwriters, I wish we could do the same!

C: I love how the fans can go and support it, and they’re all there waving their flags. But I think when you’re eliminated in the preliminaries you should also be eliminated from voting, because it goes on so ridiculously long.

M: It’s very political now. And it’s a shame because it used to be a song contest.

Obviously Bucks Fizz were winners, but the UK doesn’t have a great history of winning. Why do you think that is?

M: I’ll tell you why. It’s because no-one picks the songs. These days the public has no say, but when we did it they had juries all around the country to pick the song.

J: They did that for a while. But when people voted they ended up voting for acts that were just as bad as the others.

C: The only way we’re going to win is by putting in a decent song with a decent singer and we haven’t done that.

This year I expected us to do a lot better. Because it was different. But when you compared it to the winning song, the winning song was just fantastic.

J: And the visuals were brilliant.

C: The Russian song was great. There were so many good songs. But then you think, “You know what, we probably got the votes that we deserved because we weren’t good enough.

You’ve got to appeal to Europe, and Europe always go for a big song with a big singer. Whether it’s a ballad or not it’s got to be spectacular, Electro Velvet were probably too twee for them.

J: The contest has moved so far ahead of what the British public think a Eurovision winner should be.

GNIMAG.COM | 47

C: Gay people should choose the entry!

M: Of course they should. It’s the biggest gay music festival in the world.

Speaking of the gays, it was looking a little scary when Russia took an early lead. Do you think Eurovision could ever be staged in Russia?

J: I think it’s a shame Russia didn’t win.

The singer did a fantastic performance.

If I had have put money on I would have backed Sweden to win. But even though it was such a good song, because Russia is so unpopular, Europe wouldn’t have voted them to win.

C: It was so sad to see her booed.

Graham Norton had the right idea when he said, “Leave the politics out of music.”

B: I couldn’t picture Eurovision taking place in Russia. It very nearly did though!

L: It should become the world song contest.

M: Yeah and have it on for six hours…

[Laughs] What one thing could a potential UK entry do to win next year?

M: Ripping skirts off.

C: Bribery?

GNI INVESTIGATES... | SEX ED: THE STATE OF UK SCHOOLS

“ Young people should be taught the importance of respect and healthy relationships and to understand the role of the family – in all its forms.”

Shadow Education Secretary Tristram Hunt

GNI INVESTIGATES... | SEX ED: THE STATE OF UK SCHOOLS

From a daily barrage of sexual imagery to schools that promote abstinence only policies, in the first of our featured investigations GNI MAG examines the state of sex education in our schools Words by Kieran Clarke & Tom Vonier

F

or generations of schoolchildren there are

participants cited the media (both mainstream or

ucation than putting condoms on cucum-

tion. First sexual partners and friends were the

few things more synonymous with sex ed-

bers and adolescent tittering at the back of the

classroom. But what about those gay, lesbian,

pornographic) as their main source of informasecond and third most common sources.

Age-appropriate education on same-sex rela-

and trans young people for whom an education

tionships, contraception, and sexually transmitted

Cailean is 17 and attends a grammar school

Curriculum. As we know, the reality is far differ-

in the basics of heterosexual sex isn’t enough?

in North Belfast. “Sex education for me was very

limited,” he said. “As a class we were taught about safe sex and how to reduce the spread of STIs but

only within straight relationships. The only other

insights we had was a pretty disturbing video on pregnancy and childbirth.”

If this sounds familiar, you are not alone. In

2007 the UK Youth Parliament undertook a survey of more than 20,000 young people under the

age of 18; 40% of participants, equivalent to 8000 respondents, rated their sex and relationship education as either “poor” or “very poor.”

Because the majority of sex education lessons

address the needs of heterosexual students alone,

infections should form a core part of the National ent. If you have followed the Daily Mail’s latest

moral crusade (“Children as young as TEN caught ‘sexting’”, “Sexting and online bullying fuelling teenage depression”) the results of a recent YouGov poll

which found that one in three school-age children in the UK has turned to friends and the internet

for sexual enlightenment should come as no sur-

prise. In an era dominated by tech savvy kids, with almost 40% of young people having sent a naked

picture of themselves via smartphone, should we be really be surprised if increasing numbers of school children are looking beyond the classroom for their sexual educations?

Tid is 19 and attended a high-school in the

LGBT young people are leaving school un-

south-east of England. “There wasn’t really any

themselves safe.

video of someone giving birth and got told that

equipped with the information they need to keep

Under current guidelines, it is compulsory for

schools to teach the biological aspects of puberty, reproduction and the spread of viruses. These top-

ics are compulsory as part of National Curriculum

in Science which is taught to all pupils of primary and secondary age. However, according to a sur-

vey by the charity Youth Chances, approximately three quarters of LGBT young people surveyed

reported learning nothing about same-sex relationships. 89% reported learning nothing about bisexuality, while 94% reported learning nothing

sex ed in my school,” he said. “We watched a it is probably best to avoid sex if you can. Oh,

and there was the usual, “Girls, don’t get raped,” not, “Boys, don’t rape,” thing. The only time in

my schooling that sex and gender was properly explored was in Psychology A-Levels, and even

then we had a devout Christian teacher who

‘knew’ that ‘the gays’ chose their sexualities. I actually ended up teaching the sex and gender module to my friends because I was the only person who knew enough about it.”

Government guidance on Sex and Relationship

about transgender issues.

Education clearly states that “teachers should be

the mechanics of sex, but that we neglect teach-

orientation, answer appropriate questions and

We often hear that young people are taught

ing them almost anything of the emotional side

of things. According to a recent paper published in the British medical journal BMJ Open which

compared how the sources used by young people

to find information on sex has changed, half of all

GNIMAG.COM | 49

able to deal honestly and sensitively with sexual offer support.” And yet in a hard-hitting report

published in February, the Commons Education Select Committee sided with campaigners who

have fought hard for SRE to be made mandatory across all schools. Currently, academies and free

GNI INVESTIGATES... | SEX ED: THE STATE OF UK SCHOOLS

schools (which account for about half of all schools) are not bound by the

and gender identity to be fully mainstreamed throughout the statutory cur-

Graham Stuart, the chair of the committee who produced the report,

people at all stages of learning. We have been very clear that the first time a

national curriculum, and therefore chose how to teach SRE.

said there was an overwhelming demand from teachers, parents, and young

people for SRE to become compulsory. However, the committee went on to

riculum, so that all young people have opportunities to learn about LGBT child learns about LGBT people should not be in a sex education classes.”

While the Department for Education does not explicitly framework

conclude as part of its recommendations that parents be allowed the right

LGBT issues, the independent education inspectorate Ofsted provides clear

formation about reproduction, safer sex, LGBT issues, contraception and

they find them. Inspectors analyse and report “whether the school’s bullying

to withdraw their children from classes if they object to them receiving inabortion. “Parents have rights, too.” said Mr Stuart. “They must be consulted by schools on the provision of SRE and must keep the right

to withdraw their children if they are unhappy with what the school provides.”

Gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell attacked that de-

cision, saying this parental veto “side steps” the most important issue. “Why should parents be able to deny their

children the right to information to debunk ignorance and prejudice and to ensure they have happy, healthy sexual and emotional lives? I thought school was about preparing young people for adult life. Love, sex and relationships

are some of the most important aspects of most people’s lives. Yet millions of young people grow up sexually and

emotionally illiterate. This is the shocking price we pay for half-baked SRE and the right of parents to pull their kids out of SRE classes.”

In February of this year Shadow Education Secretary

Tristram Hunt announced Labour’s plans to make SRE compulsory in all state schools. “Children and young people should be taught the importance of respect and healthy relationships,” he said, “and to understand the role of the

instructions to school inspectors on recognising systematic failures where

and safeguarding policies and equality objectives address gender identity

“Millions of young people grow up sexually and emotionally illiterate.

This is the shocking price we pay for halfbaked Sex Education”

family – in all its forms. That is why Labour will make age-

appropriate sex and relationship education compulsory in all state schools.”

and sexuality. [And furthermore] whether the school has

taken any action to ensure that provision meets the needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender pupils, for exam-

ple in sex and relationships education and other aspects

of PSHE, including providing age-appropriate advice and guidance.”

What is clear is that the most pressing issues facing

young people today are the moral bias of their teachers, the appropriateness of the sex education provider, and the absence of recognition of different sexualities. In order to

address these problems, a number of reform are clearly needed. Firstly, PSHE should form part of the statutory curriculum and not be strictly limited to schools run by

Local Education Authorities. Secondly, sex education programmes ought to be delivered in a non-judgemental way by the appropriate people, preferably by independent bodies with vested interests in ensuring that sex education

be delivered in an age appropriate manner within existing equality guidelines. And thirdly, when it comes to infor-

mation, that heterosexuality should not be given disproportionate emphasis.

The Coalition government repeatedly ruled out making PSHE compul-

Joe Hayman, chief executive of the PSHE Association welcomed the

sory for primary schools, with Elizabeth Truss, then Parliamentary Under-

would be a huge step forward and is a move supported by 87% of parents,

“non-statutory subject”. With a majority Conservative government now in

Commons Education Committee’s report. “Statutory status for [SRE] 88% of teachers, 85% of business leaders, five Royal Medical Colleges, two

royal societies and over one hundred expert organisations. We were particularly pleased that the Committee listened to young people when taking evidence: hundreds of thousands of young people have voted to make ‘a

Curriculum which prepares us for Life’ a UK Youth Parliament campaign priority for two years in a row.”

Secretary of State for Education, saying in March 2013 it should remain a

power, Prime Minister David Cameron has said, “I strongly agree with the

importance of high-quality PSHE education in schools. I believe that all schools should teach PSHE, drawing on good practice, and we have outlined this expectation the introduction to framework to the new National Curriculum.”

Gavin Boyd, Policy Manager for The Rainbow Project, has welcomed this

broader trend of more diverse educational policies. “The Rainbow Project have had some positive engagements with the Education Minister and the

All Party Group on Sexual Health. We have advocated for sexual orientation

GNIMAG.COM | 50

GNI INVESTIGATES... | SEX ED: THE STATE OF UK SCHOOLS

STONEWALL CEO RUTH HUNT Stonewall has been a vocal supporters of teaching young children about gay

up, the down or something in between. And not all of this discrimination

Stonewall’s Education for All programme aims to enable teachers and

Stonewall will not stop until this discrimination has stopped, whether it’s

relationships. Can you tell us a bit more about that commitment?

local authorities to teach young people about difference, and prevent and tackle bullying. No one should be discriminated against for their sexual

is even visible or vocal.

on the street, in a school, within a workplace or on the terraces.

orientation or gender identity. In order to help prevent that, it’s essential

How supportive were the coalition government in supporting Stonewall’s

As well producing research on attitudes in schools and amongst teachers,

We’ve seen huge advances in legal equality over the last 25 years for

that people begin to learn about difference at the earliest stage possible.

Stonewall produces resources. As well as posters, stickers and postcards

this includes ‘FREE’ and ‘FIT’, two films about difference that Stonewall produced for primary and secondary schools.

As well as teacher training, Stonewall’s School Champions and Education Champions help schools and local authorities celebrate difference and empower their young people to challenge prejudice.

What has Stonewall done to combat the pejorative “gay” in schools?

Homophobic, biphobic and transphobic language is endemic in schools.

aims? What hope do you have of the Prime Minister continuing that fight? lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people in Britain. In fact, lesbian, gay and bisexual people in Britain are now equal in law.

Looking ahead, Stonewall is concerned with reforming laws that affect

trans people, and their right to be themselves without compromise. And whilst it was great to see more openly lesbian, gay and bisexual MPs

elected to Westminster than ever before – however the absence of any

openly trans MPs concerns us. We’ll be working with the new government to ensure that these laws are addressed.

Stonewall research shows that 99% of gay young people hear phrases

What battles do you still see yourself as having yet to win? What battles

teachers have received no training on how to tackle it.

Complacency is a huge issue that can affect any civil rights move-

such as “that’s so gay” at school, whilst 90% of primary and secondary To address this, Stonewall launched an anti-homophobic language campaign, made up of posters emblazoned with hard-hitting slogans such as

“Gay. Let’s Get The Meaning Straight”.

These posters are displayed in schools,

colleges and local authorities across the country. Alongside that, Stonewall has

produced a short guide for teachers on how to deal with this language, which can be downloaded for free online.

Do you think same-sex families are increasingly under attack? Or are

its adherents simply becoming more vocal?

Discrimination against same-sex families, and the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans community in general can come from

any direction, be it the right, the left, the

haven’t yet been fought?

ment. Often it’s hard to see how much work there is left to do

if that work doesn’t directly and completely affect you as

an individual. Stonewall’s one and only concern is

complete equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people.

That battle did not end with equal marriage.

And it won’t end with trans law reform. And

in fact, that battle doesn’t end in Britain. Until all lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people

are accepted without exception, Stonewall’s

work will continue. And at this point in time,

that’s a lot of work we’ve got left to do.

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COMMENT | ELAINE O’SHEA

It’s a girl thing: The long road to victory.

Elaine O’Shea After the positive verdict from the Ashers

years old and I have never once casually,

how crucial it can be. But in these dif-

tive sigh of relief. And who can blame them

lover in public. I don’t know how many of

the people we love is under attack, when

bakery case the community let out a collecfor celebrating a huge milestone for LGBT equality when such victories are few and

far between? (It’s a sore loser who accuses

their opponent of “gloating”.) I hate to say

it but - when it comes to equality - doesn’t

it sometimes feel that whenever we take one

comfortably, carelessly held hands with a

you can even imagine what that might be like because, of course, it’s a small thing

holding hands with a lover in public. And

it’s not that nobody wanted to, it’s just that we didn’t feel comfortable to do that.”

Which is of course why we don’t celebrate

step forward we have to take two steps back?

Straight Pride: because heterosexual people

debate was at times difficult to watch, not

Good on you not needing a day of your own.

In the South, the #YESEQUALITY

because of the hugely inspirational efforts of people from every walk of life up and

down the country to make it a possibility,

but because of the depths its opponents were willing to sink to attack our very existence.

The worst were those who tried to use

children as a pawn to discredit our so-called agenda. Those most vocal opponents of gay rights would have you believe that the only

are the dominant voice in any public sphere.

Enjoy holding your partner’s hand in public

The sad truth is that there are few straight

people who have any idea how it feels to be gay, or to be lesbian, or bisexual, or trans.

They might support what we do. They might fight for the same things we fight for. But they can never truly know. As Panti Bliss

herself (Ireland’s foremost “gender discom-

bobulist”) said in her touching and insightful TEDxDublin speech: “I am forty-five

discrimination on the basis of perceived

sexual identity, when American Presidential

candidate Ted Cruz can say “ISIS is execut-

ing homosexuals and you want to talk about

gay rights?” and mean every word, thats why we need Pride.

The sad fact is that there will always be

who you love then it becomes a different

can appreciate the significance of having such a small gesture as holding hands in

public with someone you love taken away from you, you can never truly know.

No straight person starts a new job and

been ashamed for hesitating. What exactly

It all comes down to a lack of education.

MLAs are doing their best to legislate for

same rights you take for granted. Until you

villainous homosexual cabal. They are also, nonsense about “straight pride”.

workplace discrimination, when our elected

someone who disagrees with your point of

Don’t mind us while we fight to enjoy the

has to worry about out outing themselves.

coincidentally, the ones most likely to spout

our trans brothers and sisters face horrific

while enjoying your heterosexual privilege.

reason we celebrate Pride is to flaunt our

lifestyle and recruit new members into our

ficult times when our basic right to marry

The worst part is that hot guilty feeling of

are we ashamed for? It’s society that puts us

in this bubble, not ourselves. It’s society that creates this “them and us” dichotomy that

view. But when it comes to disagreeing over matter entirely, it comes a matter of human rights. (How two gay men or gay women

who want to get married would denigrate

your marriage is anyone’s guess.) So for this Pride season be proud and comfortable in

your own skin. The day is coming when kids having two mummies or two daddies will

be every bit as common as one mummy and one daddy. It will be a long road to victory, but we will get there in the end.

pits us against people who differ from us

only very slightly. Being ashamed won’t help us win that fight, but when a person faces ridicule and even violence for expressing

who they really are, no one can blame you for feeling ashamed.

I admit that in my younger years I saw

Pride as little more than an excuse to dress up, drink, and go wild. I never considered

@celticbard86

“It all comes down to a lack of education. The sad truth is that there are few straight people who have any idea how it feels to be gay, or to be lesbian, or bisexual, or trans. They might support what we do. They might fight for the same things we fight for. But they can never truly know” GNIMAG.COM | 53

FEATURE | IRISH MARRIAGE REFERENDUM

GNIMAG.COM | 54

FEATURE | MARRIAGE REFERENDUM

I was in Dublin for the Gay Marriage Referendum

Scott De Buitléir The weeks of constant debate, commentary and

relaxed, laughed, chatted and returned – briefly –

boring at best and irritating at worst. Seeing the

our part in the “Yes” campaign.

arguments online and in the media had become

“Vote No” posters for the first time, however, was

to being a normal family after months of playing

The following day was spent in a constant air of

an unforgettable moment, because it was the first

disbelief. I awoke late on the Saturday morning as

a strange feeling, leaving me stripped of confi-

a landslide victory for the “Yes” side. The sun shone

time in years I was aware of homophobia. That was dence, just like my school years before I came out.

It was an intentional tactic from the “No” side,

however; put gays and lesbians back in their place as tolerated, but not equal. Certainly not equal to ideal, good, Catholic couples. (Where these

the news began to break that early tallies predicted brightly across Dublin, and the smile across my

face stayed with me all that day. As each polling

box was opened across the Republic the result was

even more celebratory, incredulous, and wonderful.

60% Yes.

couples exist, I’ll never know).

85% Yes.

Thankfully, the “No” campaigners’ head start for

posters around the country was short lived. The

The support I felt the previous day was no longer

“Yes” side quickly made their presence seen and

just palpable. It was now proven.

wave of comfort, knowing that a good team of

have chosen to be anywhere else other than Dub-

the naysayers retain their visible monopoly.

atmosphere and the city itself glowed with pride,

heard everywhere. That came as a much-needed volunteers had our backs, and weren’t going to let Eventually, though, the big day finally arrived. As

I recently moved out of the constituency in which

I’m registered, my plan was to go to work and then travel across Dublin to vote. That evening I walked from Stephens Green to O’Connell Street, and I genuinely can’t remember the last time I’ve held

The entire country celebrated, but I would not

lin city centre that Saturday night. The crowds, the and the world was welcome to the party. I cel-

ebrated with my partner, my best friend and some of my best mates not too far from Dublin Castle,

where the national result had been announced to a massive crowd only hours before.

Earlier this year, I wrote about how I’d never

my head so high. The air of hope and positivity

forget the day we would vote on marriage equal-

who were wearing the “Yes Equality” badges and

because it was a night that everyone on this island

in the city was palpable. I passed so many people stickers. Even I had my “Tá” sticker on me, and it made me feel immune to hatred, especially as the sole “No” campaigner I passed on Grafton Street

noticed the sticker and knew better than to try and Brian Lawless/PA Wire/Press Association Images

70% Yes.

ity in Ireland. I proved myself completely right,

will know where they were, how they felt and what they did. Thankfully, most of them were happy.

And I cannot stop smiling because of that.

hand me a leaflet. I knew the majority of people

supported me, accepted me and wished me well, without even knowing me. I couldn’t have been happier, and I hadn’t even cast my vote yet.

@scottdebuitleir

Back in my home constituency, I cast my vote

with a mixture of pride, anxiety and relief. The

die had been cast, and now all I had to do – along with the rest of the world – was wait.

I celebrated the day we had all been waiting for

with my parents, who were relieved as I was that

we no longer had to campaign for our rights. We

GNIMAG.COM | 55

62.1% VOTED YES 37.9% VOTED NO

!"#$ %&$

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ception, Anne-Marie will design a To ensure your cake will be a focal point at your reception, Anne-Marie will design a ensure your wow you andTo your guests and cake make will be a focal point at your reception, bespoke wedding cake for you, something to really wow you and your guests and make Anne-Marie will design make your wedding day memorable in a bespoke wedding cake for you, that statement that reflects life together and make something to really wow you your and your guests and makeyour thatwedding day memorable in every way. statement that reflects your life together and make your wed-

ding day more memorable in every way.

designed cake to wow your eyes and your taste buds So if you’re looking for a beautifully designed cake to wow your eyes and your taste buds Cakes to arrange a consultation onfor 087a77477095 Socall if you’re looking beautifully deAnne-Marie at Cherub Couture Cakes to arrange a consultation on 087 77477095

signed cake to wow your eyes and your taste buds call Anne-Marie at Cherub Couture Cakes to arrange a consultation on 087-7747095

FASHION | MUNROE BERGDORF

MEET MUNROE Model, dj, trans icon GNIMAG.COM | 57

Shoot by Tony Webster (Big Bad Llama) Hair by Danny Defreitas (dannydefreitas. com), using Bumble & Bumble Haircare and CloudNine.

All clothing by Digby Jackson.

Street style inspiration from the streets

2

1

4 FIRST LOOK Understated Sophisticatation Detailed Maroon knit pullover with basic grey tee underneath, paired with industrial black skinny jeans.

3

5

6

SECOND LOOK Fashionable Geek

THIRD LOOK The Hollister

FOURTH LOOK TopShop Queen

FIFTH LOOK Sport Fashion

SIXTH LOOK Classic Blonde

Ribbed white jumper with unbuttoned blue washed denim jacket.

Paired with black skinny jeans, a classic look.

Mixed navy knit pullover paired with medium to dark washed denim skinny jeans. So hot!

Simple black detailed lace dress with camo jacket and backpack.

Modern contemporary.

Sport styled purple and printed bomber jacket paired with a basic pair of dark ripped jeans.

Bright washed highwaisted skinny jeans paired with a printed crop top and fur line parka, and awesome chunky white high heel scandals!

GNIMAG.COM | 63

get the look HIS / HERS / fashion / GROOMING

IN THE KNOW...

New Look is setting the standards for men’s fashion, offering unique twists on classic styles and Showcasing all of the latest trends, including staples like t-shirts, vests, jeans, boots, and tailored essentials like suits and trousers newlook.com

This casual summer look is made up of a black floral print t-shirt (we know, florals for spring, right?) complimented with a pair of dark blue navy skinny turn up shorts. Keeping the very summery feel, the soft leather look plimsolls will keep you looking casual in the summer sun. Complete the look with a handy holdall for your suncream and shades.

HIS

ON this PAGE Black tropical floral print roll sleeve t-shirt £16.99 Dark blue denim skinny turn up shorts £24.99 Navy canvas holdall £24.99 Navy soft leather look slip-on plimsolls £17.99

IN THE KNOW...

The FIRST New Look STORE OPENED IN THE UK in 1969, AND WAS ONE OF THE FIRST TO BECOME A HIGHSTREET STAPLE. NOW A MAJOR LEADING brand, NEW LOOK BOATS AN IMPRESSIVE NUMBER OF stores NATIONWIDE (ALMOST 600 TO DATE), WITH MORE THAN 200 across THE CONTINENT, North Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

The largest New Look store in the world opened in Dublin in 2010.

This casual summer look is made up of a Blue denim V neck tunic complimented with a pair of tan block heel mules. With summer finally here no look is complete without a handy holdall to carry your suncream and shades.

ON THE PAGE Blue denim V neck patch pocket tunic £19.99 Orange embroidered wide tote bag £19.99 Sunglasses / £3.99 Ring / £4.99 Tan block heel mules £49.99

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Avaj Grooming Gear

So I took home a box packed with Avaj goodies and although I loved them all, my absolute favourite was the Sumptious Sandalwood Body Butter. I’d never used a body butter before. Being a hairy lad I figured it would just leave a clumpy mess on my fuzz. It didn’t. Not only did it leave me smelling amazing, it also left me felling refreshed and clean.

Check out the whole range at www.avaj.co.uk

Laser Hair Removal @ Therapie, Belfast

bodyhair doesn’t just affect nt eExcessive v e e t women (see my hairy back if any proof is u e n i m tm ad ti Thankfully, the staff at the Therapie a2014las aven’t hneeded). in Belfast city centre are more than h Clinic with dealing with us menfolk too. n! fi you our taexperienced Their unique hair removal system is one of the y ly safest, fastest and most effective 2014 to permanently 9to app st ways Augu 1 3 l ti removing unwanted hair. n

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Here at GNI MAG we are a Laserallhair sucker for hirsuit men with othe removal is something I’ve always wanted to try, despite my reserva, 2014 st July tions that it would hurt like all hell.9If that sounds familiar, don’t worry. When immaculate beards. With 9 1 nds 3 32 09 we mean it. If anything it feels like a 95painless ffer e we say the process isl: totally 8 over ten years of experi2 0 Te 7aEPmassage massage,BTbut that leaves you feeling totally smooth. ence, what these lads don’t 9 t s Belfagood news is that the system, which uses a soft, spongy pad covered in gel know about beardcare isn’t UR n Road, The r LisbuB O Sto keep your skin cool, can be applied to almost anywere on the body. (For ob- worth knowing. Everything and U vious reasons, they avoid your Sam Johnson, so you might need to keep using they make is tested to meet NB Up your Bic for that one.)

So whether you prefer a smoother chest or fuzz-free olo the highest standards and E D gy 7KpUDSLH &OLQLF LV ,UHODQG¡V ODUJHVW /DVHU +DLU shoulders, the system will produce an equally smooth result.

Therapie Clinic they are 100% natural. th has treated over 400,000 clients to date using this safe and affective treatment.

Their range of oils are designed to keep your beard in top condition and Removal and Skin Specialists. flow They offer extremely competitive prices for a recommended six treatments. help the skin underneath stay flake and irritant free. The set also comes www.therapieclinic.com with a handy beard comb to trim that unruly mane. :H RIIHU DQ H[FOXVLYH UDQJH RI WKH PRVW www.belfastbeardcompany.co.uk alid u

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Belfast - L/Derry - Enniskillen - Newry

Same-day Same-day Same-day Same-day Dental Implants Dental Implants Replace a full row of teeth quickly, Dental Implants Dental Implants with a firm newrow smile Replace a of Replace a full full row of teeth teeth quickly, quickly, Replace a full row of teeth quickly,

with firm new smile Replace ateeth full of teeth For somea people, canrow be gradually lost over quickly, years until a tipping with a firm new smile point is reached whennew they cansmile no longer eat or smile normally. with afirm firm with a new smile For teeth can be over a Others maypeople, suffer from which lost erodes theyears boneuntil that supports For some some people, teethgum caninfection be gradually gradually lost over years until a tipping tipping

point is when they or smile normally.

For some people, teeth cancan be no gradually lost over years until the teeth, making them loose, drift andlonger splay. eat The teeth may still bea tipping point is reached reached when they can no longer eat or smile normally.

For some people, teeth can be gradually lost over years until tipping point is reached when they can no longer eat or smile normally. presentmay in the mouth but the infection looseness making eating difficult and athe Others suffer from which the bone that Others may sufferwhen from gum gum infection which erodes erodes the bone that supports supports point is reached they can no longer eat or smile normally. appearance issuffer unsightly due gaps and very erodes long teeth.

These typical the teeth, making them drift The still be Others fromloose, gumtoinfection which themay bone that the teeth,may making them loose, drift and and splay. splay.

The teeth teeth may still besupports problems can leave people feeling hopeless and unconfident. present in the mouth but the looseness making eating difficult and the Others may suffer from gum infection which erodes the bone that the teeth, making them loose, drift and splay.

The teeth may still be present in the mouth but the looseness making eating difficult andsupports the appearance is unsightly due to gaps and very long teeth.

These typical the teeth, making them loose, drift and splay.

The teeth may still be present in the mouth but thetoneed looseness making eating and the Often people that they bit of treatment to difficult getThese them smiling, appearance isrealise unsightly due gapsaand very long teeth. typical problems leave people feeling hopeless and unconfident. present incan the mouth but the looseness making difficult and the appearance is unsightly due to gaps and very long teeth.

These typical talking and eating normally again.

For some theeating idea of having removable problems can leave people feeling hopeless and unconfident. appearance is unsightly due to gaps hopeless and very and long unconfident. teeth. These typical problems leaveteeth people feeling dentures to can replace is unacceptable.

Often realise that need a to Often people people that they they needhopeless a bit bit of of treatment treatment to get get them them smiling, smiling, problems canrealise leave people feeling and unconfident. talking eating normally again.

For the removable Often and people realise that they need a some bit of treatment tohaving get them smiling, Gentle Dental Care is now offering a treatment any of remove remaining talking and eating normally again.

For some thetoidea idea of having removable dentures to replace teeth is unacceptable.

Often people realise that they need a bit of treatment to get them smiling, talking and eating normally again.

For some the idea of having removable poor teethtoand put back teeth in just one day. The treatment is called dentures replace teethfixed is unacceptable. talking andto eating normally again. some theatidea having removable Dr Lucy Jaffa BDS dentures replace teeth is unacceptable.

‘All-on-Four’ and avoids the need For for dentures anyofstage.

Gentle Dental Care is now offering a Gentle Dental Care is nowisoffering a treatment treatment to to any any remove remove remaining remaining dentures to replace teeth unacceptable.

Principal Dentist poor and back fixed teeth day.

The treatment is Gentle Dental Care is now offering ajust treatment toremoved any If the teeth remaining teeth are poor they in can beone gently and remaining 4 dental poor teeth and put put back fixed teeth in just one day.

Theremove treatment is called called Dr ‘All-on-Four’ and avoids need for dentures at any stage.

Gentle Dental Care is nowthe offering a in treatment any remove remaining Dr Lucy Lucy Jaffa Jaffa BDS BDS poor teeth put back fixed teeth just oneto day. treatment is called implants areand placed.

Dental implants are metal roots that support ‘All-on-Four’ and avoids the need for dentures at anyThe stage.

Principal Dentist Dr Lucy Jaffa BDS poor teeth and put back fixed teeth in just one day.

The treatment is called Principal Dentist ‘All-on-Four’ and avoids the need for dentures any stage. replacement teeth on top. poor A bridge with 10 teeth at isremoved then made anddental fitted If teeth are they can be and DrPrincipal Lucy Jaffa BDS If the the remaining remaining teeth are the poorneed theyfor can be gently gently removed and 4 4 dental Dentist ‘All-on-Four’ and avoids dentures at any stage. toIfthe onteeth theDental same day, so the patient walks out withand fixed teeth that look better and eating implants are implants are metal roots that Principal Dentist and theimplants remaining are poor they can gently removed implants are placed. placed.

Dental implants are be metal roots that support support4 dental comfort are regained.

This is a stream-lined way to replace a jaw full of damaged teeth and is faster than replacement teeth on top.

A bridge with 10 teeth is then made and fitted If the remaining teeth poor they can be gently andand 4 dental implants areteeth placed.

Dental implants that support replacement on are top.

A bridge withare 10metal teeth roots isremoved then made fitted traditional implant dentistry.

Some patients have a full mouth newthat teeth fitted in one go. to the on same day, so walks out fixed teeth implants are placed.

Dental implants arepatient metal roots that support teeth on top. A bridge with 10even teeth is then made andof fitted toreplacement the implants implants on the the same day, so the the patient walks out with with fixed teeth that look look better better and and eating eating and and comfort are regained.

This is a stream-lined way to replace a jaw full of damaged teeth and is faster than replacement teeth on top.

A bridge with 10 teeth is then made and fitted to the implants on the same day, so the patient walks out with fixed teeth that look better and eating and This treatment is also excellent people with noto teeth.

If the gumfull and bone has teeth shrunk making dentures comfort are regained.

This is a for stream-lined way replace a jaw of damaged and is faster than traditional implant dentistry.

Some patients even have a full mouth of new teeth fitted in one go. to the implants on the same day, so the patient walks out with fixed teeth that look better and eating and comfort are regained. isoption. a stream-lined wayhave to replace a jaw of fullnew of damaged teeth andgo. is faster than loose, All-on-4 candentistry. be a This greatSome traditional implant patients even a full mouth teeth fitted in one comfort are implant regained.

This is aSome stream-lined way tohave replace a mouth jaw fullofofnew damaged teethin and is go. faster than traditional dentistry. patients even a full teeth fitted one This treatment is excellent for people no teeth.

If gum and bone has shrunk making dentures This technique is also often cheaper than other with fixed implant can be used for go. patients who treatment is also excellent for people with no teeth.asolutions.

If the the gumSedation and bone has shrunk making dentures traditional implant dentistry.

Some patients even have full mouth of new teeth fitted in one loose, All-on-4 can be a great option.

Thisbetreatment isFor also for with no teeth.

If the gumofand bone has shrunk dentures may nervous. arepeople embarrassed at the condition their mouths, please making be reassured loose, All-on-4 can be people aexcellent greatwho option.

This treatment is alsobe excellent forispeople with no teeth.

Ifonthe gum and bone has shrunk making dentures loose, All-on-4 can a great option. that the Gentle Dental Care team here to put you back track and help you enjoy the everyday This technique is cheaper than This technique is often often than other other fixed fixed implant implant solutions. solutions. Sedation Sedation can can be be used used for for patients patients who who loose, All-on-4 can beagain. acheaper great option. pleasures in life once may be nervous.

For people who are embarrassed at the condition of their mouths, please be reassured This technique is often cheaper than other fixed implant solutions.

Sedation can be used for patients who may be nervous. For people who are embarrassed at the condition of their mouths, please be reassured that the Gentle Dental Care team is here to put you back on track and help you enjoy the everyday This technique is often cheaper than other fixed implant solutions.

Sedation can be used for patients who may beGentle nervous.

ForCare people who are at the condition their mouths, please be reassured We begin with aDental consultation and examination assess ifon you’re A treatment plan and nothat the team is hereembarrassed to puttoyou back track suitable. andofhelp you enjoy the everyday pleasures in life once again. may be nervous.

For people who are embarrassed at the condition of their mouths, please be reassured that the Gentle Dental Care team is here to put you back on track and help you enjoy the everyday obligation pleasures quotation in life onceincluding again. payment options is provided so you can make an informed decision. We that the Gentle Dental Care team is heretotosuit put you back on track and help you enjoy the everyday pleasures inrange life once again. have a wide of treatment options budgets.

We begin with a consultation and examination all to assess if you’re suitable. A treatment plan and noWe begin with consultation pleasures in lifea once again. and examination to assess if you’re suitable. A treatment plan and noobligation including options you make informed decision.

We We beginquotation with a consultation and examination assess ifso suitable.

A treatment and noobligation quotation including payment payment options is istoprovided provided soyou’re you can can make an an informed plan decision.

We For more information please contact Adam on 028 9032 6795 or adam@gdconline.co.uk have a wide range of treatment options to suit all budgets.

We begin with a consultation and examination to assess if you’re suitable.

A treatment plan and noobligation quotation including payment options is provided so you can make an informed decision.

We have a wide range of treatment options to suit all budgets. obligation quotation including payment options is provided so you can make an informed decision.

We have a wide range of treatment options to suit all budgets.

For information please Adam on 028 have a wide range of treatment options to suit all For more more information please contact contact Adam onbudgets.

028 9032 9032 6795 6795 or or adam@gdconline.co.uk adam@gdconline.co.uk For more information please contact Adam on 028 9032 6795 or adam@gdconline.co.uk For moreRoad information please on 028 9032 6795 or adam@gdconline.co.uk 58 Lisburn . Belfast . BT9contact 6AF Adam 028 9032 6795 info@gdconline.co.uk gdconline.co.uk

TRAVEL FEATURE | NEW YORK CITY

NEW YORK CITY From Staten Island to the Bronx, Chelsea to Grand Central Station, Stephen Fennell goes in search of the Empire State of Mind.

The best known attractions in NYC are conveniently located in central

Manhattan. When you find yourself needing to venture further afield

be sure to make use of the city’s extensive subway system. A seven day

unlimited pass costs a little over $30, and covers the entire subway network and all local bus journeys. To avoid wasting valuable time commuting try to stick to one of the city’s five boroughs at a time. They are Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island. On my first day in the city, by remaining in midtown and walking north along Fifth Avenue, I

was able to take in some breathtaking panoramas from the Empire State Building, browse the shelves of the New York Public Library, eat lunch

al fresco at One Rockefeller Plaza, and spend far too short an afternoon

in the world famous Museum of Modern Art. Top Tip: Invest in a good

travel guide. There are far too many things to see and to do without having

to rely on your own detective work.

Like many travellers to New York, a Broadway show featured high on

my list of priorities. Tickets for the biggest shows in town like Wicked,

The Lion King and Chicago sell out fast. If you are hoping to take in one

of the better known shows without having booked ahead then be prepared to pay over the odds for the pleasure. A single ticket on the day of a show can fetch as much as $100, sometimes much more. Resist the temptation

of buying from touts - you can never be sure if what you are buying is legit.

The old rule of thumb about things looking too good to be true applies as

much here as anywhere else. Fortunately Broadway offers a huge selection

of shows that cater to all tastes, so for those travellers on a tighter budgets a smaller or even off Broadway show can be just as much of a delight. If you find yourself in need of a suggestion, Something Rotten is a Tony

Award winning comedy set in the 1600s. It tells the story of Nick Bottom, a struggling playwright who is increasingly frustrated living under the

shadow of William Shakespeare. In order to beat his rival once and for all, Bottom seeks out the advice of fortune-teller Thomas Nostradamus (the

lesser known of the Nostradamus brothers), who advices Nick that the key

to beating Shakespeare is to write a musical. We couldn’t stop laughing the whole way through.

GNIMAG.COM | 69

TRAVEL FEATURE | NEW YORK CITY

Nobody comes to New York City expecting it to be free. The good news

Ferry station don’t be tempted to join the queue of irate tourists waiting to

charge a fee but the majority of the city’s eighty-three are free to the public

the Staten Island ferry. The ferry is free of charge and passes directly under

is that it doesn’t have to break the bank. The more popular attractions will

(albeit with a heavily suggested donation). Whilst it’s always a good idea to support the arts, paying $22 for entry into The Natural History Museum can sting. Fortunately it can be enjoyed entirely for free if your dollars

are running low. If you chose to dine in the the more expensive areas like

Times Square or the Financial district of Lower Manhattan expect to pay nose-bleed princes. Little Italy in Soho has (unsurprisingly) the largest

concentrations of Italian restaurants anywhere in the city, where you can enjoy traditional calzones and pasta dishes without fear of breaking the

bank. Alternatively, you can take a picnic to Central Park. While the park appears entirely natural, the 843 acre site slap bang in the middle of the busiest metropolis in the world is entirely landscaped. The park features

extensive walking tracks, bridle paths, two ice-skating rinks (one of which converts to a swimming pool in the summer months), the Central Park

Zoo, an outdoor amphitheater which hosts the Shakespeare in the Park

festival, and the historic Central Park Carousel. Another suggestion is to take a walk along the High Line in the Chelsea District. The High Line

is an old industrial train line now used as a public park where tourists and locals alike are treated to some of the loveliest views in the city.

When you think of New York City chances are the first thing to

spring to mind is the iconic Statue of Liberty. When you leave the South

board a ferry for a paid tour of the island. Instead, take the short walk to the statue itself for those all important snaps of Lady Liberty. The ferry ride there and back takes less than hour, leaving you free to explore the

sights of Lower Manhattan, like Wall Street (sadly sans Michael Douglas), One World Trade Centre, and the National September 11th Museum.

One local custom you might not expect is the ability to to walk

down the broad avenues of NYC without without being touted for trade at every available opportunity. Don’t feel the need to be too polite. If you

accept a flyer it is seen as an open invitation to be subjected to the hard sell from every hawker this side of the East River. You will also be asked for donations throughout your trip, be it in the street, in the park, or on the

subway. Resist the temptation to help every person who asks or else you

will soon find yourself very short on cash. Following advice from my New

York friends I learned very quickly to say “no.” You’ll have a few expletives thrown your way but you’ll thank yourself later.

As the travel destination of a lifetime there are few cities quite

like New York. The east-coast birthplace of gay lib, it offers everything

you would expect from a city that never sleeps. Rightly labelled as one of the most gay friendly cities in the world, from its great food and nightlife, from the sleazy to the sublime, New York has it all.

Marie’s Crisis

Flaming Saddles

The Stonewall Inn

59 Grove Street

793 9th Avenue

53 Christopher Street

musical theatre. If that doesn’t appeal, the bar

who are fans of country music. Even if that isn’t

started the the gay rights movement, the Stone-

Marie’s crisis is perfect for New York’s fans of is worth a visit for the atmosphere and sense of

community alone. Punters are treated to some of their favourite show tunes, culminating in one

big group sing along around the piano. After a

few drinks you’ll find it hard to resist doing your best jazz hands or Liza Minnelli impressions.

This Hell’s Kitchen haunt is for those socialites you, Flaming Saddles is not one to be missed.

The theme is Wild West, albeit a Disney-fied

variety. If standing at the bar be sure to hold on

to your drinks as the friendly staff are prone to a little bit of traditional dancing on the bar.

Famed as the site of the 1969 riots that kick-

wall Inn is located at 53 Christopher Street in the Chelsea district. At the time of writing a weekly drag show is hosted by Logan Hard-

core. Logan’s Thursday Night Throw-down is a

hilarious one woman show where hostess Logan effortlessly commands the room with her wit, audience participation and killer routines.

GNIMAG.COM | 70

DATING | EAMON McAULEY / KITSCH BITCH

Kitsch Bitch

Hey KB! My ex keeps catfishing me on Grindr! Help!

Well hello, my little Grindr slut! One of my favourite sayings is “You’ll find ‘er on Grindr!” (along with crazies and psycho killers). A good rule is to only share pictures that can only be sent there and then i.e. “Send me a pic of you with 3 fingers up!” That will sort out those cacatfishing exes.

This hot guy keeps asking to spot me on the weigh machines at the gym. Is he just after the D? Oh the gym you say? How lovely! I love a man with more guns than a paramilitary! I’d say he’s not just looking the D he probably wants the whole alphabet so get lifting bitch.

And remember if he thinks he’s stronger than you ya get extra points or at least a blowie.

Dear KB. My sugar daddy wants to marry me. If I say yes will he cut me off!?

A sugar daddy is looking a mommy? We all know that’s one of the toughest jobs there is! But if you love him who am I to stand in the path of love!

PS Of course he’ll cut you off.

But in the words of Ivanna trump, “Don’t get angry, get everything!”

If you want Kitsch Bitch to tackle your dating mishaps, email gni@lambpromotions.com

Dating expert Eamon is here to help.

Eamon McAuley I’m married to a woman but we’re unhappy in our marriage. I’m gay and I’m having an affair with a hot guy but I don’t have the courage to end my marriage. What should I do?

This problem won’t go away overnight. You say you and your wife are unhappy. If your affair has been going on for a while then in all likelihood your wife probably feels there is something wrong in your relationship too.

She may even have an inkling that you are gay.

Find the courage to sit down and talk to your wife. The most important thing is that you tell what is going on. She is probably blaming herself for this unhappiness and that isn’t fair.

Be honest and upfront. If you still love each other there is a chance your marriage can be saved. Have you tried couples therapy? If you can’t resolve things then it will be better for you both if it comes to an end. You both deserve a happy and loving relationship without having to live a lie.

My fiancé and I have been together for three years. We love each other but I can’t bear his nasty, interfering mother and sister. My fiancé won’t stand up to them. What should I do?

No one has the right to be nasty to you or your fiancé or to interfere in your relationship. If your fiancé won’t stand up to his mother and sister after three years he very likely never will stand up to them. So to stop them causing anymore more problems in your relationship I suggest you speak up for the two of you. Give them an ultimatum and stick to it. You shouldn’t have to put up with their nonsense. Good luck.

I have fallen for a guy who has HIV. Is it safe to have a sexual relationship with him?

When two people with a mixed HIV status get together this is referred to as a serodiscordant relationship. The good news is that it’s perfectly safe to have a sexual relationship with someone who has HIV so long as you’re use protection like condoms and dental dams properly. If your new beau is taking his medication he can expect to live a normal, happy life. There’s no reason why you can’t have that with him and remain HIV negative. I would suggest that the pair of you go along to a HIV support group to have a chat with an expert to discuss your options surrounding safe sex and how to minimise risks.

I’m in love with two different men. Help!

This is perfectly natural and happens to many people, straight or gay. But if you’ve been hav-

GNIMAG.COM | 71

ing an affair you need to be open and honest about it with both men. Choose the one who you see yourself having a future with and stop playing the two of them. If you’ve been having unprotected sex with one or both of them then all three of you will need to get tested.

I’ve been single for three years – how do I get back into the dating game?

After being single for three years you have probably lost some of your confidence and edge. If you feel this way then a mini makeover is for you. You’ll feel more attractive and people will see that. Replace your wardrobe, change your hair, whatever is comfortable for you. You’ll feel better and look amazing.

I would also suggest that you think about joining a professional dating site, such as Unique Dating Agency. You could also ask some friends to set you up on a few dates.

Even if they are rubbish you’ll be out doing new things around the city and that can only be a good thing. Don’t feel the need to rush into things all at once. Take your time getting back into the dating game and in no time at all you’ll find yourself naturally becoming more outgoing, confident and happy.

I’ve been dating someone for over a year but they won’t say I’m their boyfriend. Is it so bad for him to acknowledge me as his partner?

If you’ve have been dating someone for a year and they don’t want to say they’re your boyfriend then there is a reason behind this. Possibly he already has a partner and he’s using you for sex. It could also be that he is playing the field and doesn’t want to settle with one person. It may be that he has commitment issues and can’t or won’t commit to you. This might explain why he won’t acknowledge your relationship. Has he said he loves you? After a year you should really know where the relationship is going and you have every right to know if he does or doesn’t love you. Confront this issue ASAP and decide if there is a viable future for the both of you. Life is too short to waste on someone who won’t commit. If he won’t take the plunge then it’s time to move on and find somebody who will.

If you want to be featured on this page, email dating@lambpromotions.com www.uniquedatingagency.com

LIFESTYLE | FITNESS

Michael from Hybrid Fitness, Belfast, takes us through the Pistol Squat.

PISTOL SQUAT The pistol squat is the king of all squatting movements.

In fact, the pistol squat is the lower body exercise par excellence. It increases athleticism, strengthens the spine, quads and abs, and greatly improves mobility in the hips, knees and ankle joints.

FIRST POSITION With your foot flat on the ground, your shin vertical, your heel planted, and your free leg nearly straight in front, descend under complete control until your hamstring touches your calf. Sounds easy, right? Wait until you try it.

SECOND POSITION Start in a narrow stance squat with your feet together.

Use a weight as a counter balance to stop you from falling back, and squat as normal. Once this becomes easy you can try to hold the bottom of the squat and extend one leg out at a time. Don’t try to descend on one leg just yet.

First you will need to practice the box pistol. Descend onto a chair or box and gradually lower the height of the position as you improve your strength.

Once you are confident that you’ve built up enough strength only then should you try to descend on a single leg.

Again, use a weight to stop you from falling back.

Before attempting any pistol variation, speak to a qualified personal trainer who can advise you on what to do.

GNIMAG.COM | 72

g a g m a I m N I G N G g a m ag I N G g a m g I a N m G I N G g a m g I a N m G I GN g a m N I G N G g a g m a I m N I G N G g a g m I ma N G a g m I a N m G I N G g a g m I a N m G GNI g a m I N G g a g m a I m N I G N G g a g m a I m N I G N g m I a N m G I N G g a g m I a N m G I N G g a g m I N G g a g m a I m N I G N G g a g m a I m N I G N G g I a N m G I N G g a m g I a N m G I N G g a m I ag N G g a g m a I m N I G N G g a g m a I m N I G GN g a N m G I N G g a g m I a N m G I N G g a g m I N ma G a g m a I m N I G N G g a g m a I N G GNI m g a m G I N G g a m g I a N m G I N G g a m g I a N G Im g m a I m N I G N G g a g m a I m N I G N G g a g m I N Secure a sparkling smile G g a g m I a N m G I N G g a m I N G NI mag mag NI CRUMLIN ROAD 838-840 Crumlin Road Tel: 028 90714477

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FOOD & DRINK

summer essentials

Food, glorious food! Who doesn’t love crowding around a friends’ barbecue and watch them become increasingly more annoyed as you comment endlessly on their technique.

Besides being deliberately burned by irate hosts, cases of food poisoning double during the summer months. Food poisoning is usually mild but unpleasant, and most people get better within a week. But sometimes it can be more severe, even deadly, so it’s important to take the risks seriously. (Only very poor hosts end up killing their guests.) These are our top tips for keeping safe this summer.

ONE Marks & Spencer Bucket Barbecue £19.50

If you are cooking on a barbecue the two main risk factors are undercooked meat, and spreading germs from raw meat onto food that’s already been prepared. Raw or undercooked meat contain germs that cause

food poisoning like salmonella and E Coli.

Cooking meat until it’s piping hot throughout kills these germs.

TWO

When you’re cooking any kind of meat on a barbecue, like pork, steak, burgers or sausages, make sure that the coals are glowing red before you start cooking. Frozen meat needs properly thawed out before you start to cook.

THREE

Turn the meat regularly and move it around the barbecue to cook it evenly. Remember that meat is safe to eat only when it’s piping hot in the centre, with no pink meat visible, and that any juices run clear.

Oh, and go easy on the sauce. Nobody wants to leave a trendy barbecue to cart you to A&E.

Marks & Spencer Rainbow Wine Glass £3.50

Carribean Crush Ingredients: 1.50 oz. Courvoisier VSOP 0.75 Cruzan Guava 1.50 oz. Fresh Lemon Sour 1.0 oz. Pineapple juice 0.50 oz. DeKuyper Strawberry Marks & Spencer Rainbow Jug £12.50

GNIMAG.COM | 74

Preparation: Pour all ingredients into a shaker with ice. Shake all ingredients vigorously. Pour shaker contents into tall glass over ice. Garnish with a lime wedge.

g a g m a I m N I G N G g a m ag I N G g a m g I a N m G I N G g a m g I a N m G I GN g a m N I G N G g a g m a I m N I G N G g a g m I ma N G a g m I a N m G I N G g a g m I a N m G GNI g a m I N G g a g m a I m N I G N G g a g m a I m N I G N g m I a N m G I N G g a g m I a N m G I N G g a g m I N G g a g m a I m N I G N G g a g m a I m N I G N G g I a N m G I N G g a m g I a N m G I N G g a m I ag N G g a g m a I m N I G N G g a g m a I m N I G GN g a N m G I N G g a g m I a N m G I N G g a g m I N ma G a g m a I m N I G N G g a g m a I N G GNI m g a m G I N G g a m g I a N m G I N G g a m g I a N G Im g m a I m N I G N G g a g m a I m N I G N G g a g m I N G g a g m I a N m G I N G g a m I N G NI mag mag NI Leading providers of advanced skin solutions, specialising in: | Anti-wrinkle injections | Laser hair removal | Acne treatment | Scar reduction | Vein removal | Skin peels

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LIFESTYLE | PROPERTY

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GNIMAG.COM | 77

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FEATURE | THE BIG DAY: George & Kenny

The Big Day

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FEATURE | THE BIG DAY: George & Kenny

It’s a classic case of love at first sight.

But when George and Kenny met, sparks flew. Here they share their big day story...

George Before Kenny and I met I’d been single for almost a year. Because I was hoping to find someone who wasn’t after one thing I thought I would give a dating website a try.

As a dad of two, getting back into the dating game meant a new set of challenges. After about four weeks of chatting and auditioning people I decided internet dating just wasn’t for me. One evening when I logged into the site to delete my account a notification popped up at the very last minute. I’d found a match! He was very handsome. Considering that I’m a father of two and ten years his senior I was quite surprised when he agreed to a date…

I was early to the restaurant so I picked a table that would give me full view of the entrance. When he walked in to view I swear the smile on both of our faces must have been visible from space! It was hard

to not fall in love with him there and then. He looked incredible! In those few seconds I thought, “He is way out of my league!” When he stretched out his hand to shake mine I jumped up and pulled him into a big hug. Within seconds we were laughing and joking as if we’d been best friends our whole lives.

Kenny The conversation didn’t stop all evening. I’d never been on a date before which left me in pain from laughing so much. To be honest I’d never really met anyone like him before. I knew instantly that he was the one.

I know it sounds silly, but it’s true.

George For a first date it went amazingly well. In fact it probably went a little too well because we could barely eat for laughing. We had so much in common, we even ended up ordering the same meal (which we still do quite a lot, actually). Even though we had such a great time together part of me worried that if the date ended there then there

might not be a second, so when we left the restaurant a few hours later I asked him to go for a walk. Before I knew it we were back at his car.

Too cruel! Until that point I’d never been big into public displays of affection, but just then I didn’t care.

It felt right. So when the moment came I thought, “Feck it…” So I pulled him into a kiss.

My kids met him the very next day, any my family and friends not much later. Everyone fell in love with him. After that first date we spent almost every day together.

Not much later I overheard him mention that a friend of his was a silversmith. As crazy as it sounds, less than a month after we met I found myself making plans for that friend to design our wedding bands.

I wanted them ready for the holiday to Orlando that we booked in week one. When we finally met she let slip that Kenny had approached her only a few days before about the very same thing. So I knew (or at least hoped!) there was a chance he would say “Yes” if I proposed.

I had the rings a few weeks later,

GNIMAG.COM | 81

but with Orlando feeling a million miles away the two of them were starting to burn a hole in my pocket.

The wait was killing me. One night when he was staying over I hid the rings beneath my pillow. The lights were out and we were both half asleep when I decided the time had come. I reached for his hand and slipped the wedding band onto his ring finger. “That’s better,” I said.

The moment I did it he jumped out of bed and said “What’s this?” so I asked him there and then to marry me. The mix of silence and panic that followed was hilarious. He almost cracked a tooth when he bit the ring to check it was real!

Kenny My family weren’t that interested at the time, partially because gay marriage still doesn’t exist in Northern Ireland, but also because George and I hadn’t known each other all that long. I didn’t let it bother me too much because I knew as time went by they would come to realise we were making the right decision.

Although we were engaged very

FEATURE | THE BIG DAY: George & Kenny

quickly, nearly a full year passed before we actually got around to organising a date for the wedding. We settled on August 9th, two years to the day after our first date. By this time my mum and dad had come round to the idea, which was a great help. We really wanted to get married but with Northern Ireland being what it is our first thought was to get married abroad.

George Initially we planned to tie the knot in Norway. In our first year as a couple we went there three or four times and completely fell in love with it. What stopped us was finding out that when we returned home our status as an officially married couple would be downgraded to a civil partnership. We were gutted.

So we made alternate plans to have a civil partnership in a little place called Derrylin, in Fermanagh, in

a beautiful boutique hotel called Knockninny House. With its huge lawn that stretched down to the lakeside it was as close to Norway as we could want.

Kenny We kept the wedding small, just forty-five guests. The most difficult part was to try and decide how best to accommodate everyone we loved who wanted to be there.

George A number of our friends wanted to get involved by making things like our table centres. The most beautiful of the lot were the beautiful jars made by our friend Trisha McQueen who spent months putting them together. These became flower holders and candle burners on the big day. Kenny and I designed the table menus and the service cards which we jokingly titled “Wedding

Day Survival Guides.”

Our favours to the guests were miniature glass bottles that had a piece of driftwood tied to them with twine. The jars had our guest’s names written on them so they doubled as place cards. Inside, on long strips of paper, we wrote each of our guests a personal message.

“The service was a 3pm.

By 2.55 we hadn’t even changed out of our jeans.“ We made seating plans in the form of movie posters and placed them on the entrance table for all our guests to see. On each poster the cast were replaced with one of our guests according to their seat. The joke was that we used as many gay movies as we could. The Rocky Horror Picture Show, The Producers, Tootsie, Priscilla

Queen Of The Desert… It’s a silly idea, I know, but they went down a treat.

On a second table we placed big oldfashioned trunk which we filled with four large glass bottles full of pens and paper for our guests to write us a message. Each of these bottles represented an important date to us and would only be opened at those times. The first was the honeymoon bottle. The second was for our first anniversary. The third bottle for our tenth anniversary, and the fourth we will save for our twentieth year together. Our cake was being made by a family friend which meant we had as much input into the design as we liked.

Kenny George and I both wore white trousers from H&M, blue blazers with rainbow trim and matching buttons on the cuff. A pair of Converse All Stars completed the look.

We were able to match George’s son Leo (then aged 10) with a shirt and bow-tie that matched with our colours and style. We wanted Tobyn (then aged 8) to wear a white flower-girl dress. It was too difficult to find anything that wasn’t really old fashioned, so we took a chance and ordered one custom-made in China. I needn’t have worried, it looked beautiful on her.

George As our guests began to arrive we rushed up to our hotel room to make the final preparations. It was all about the four of us now: my family and I. As Kenny did Tobyn’s hair, I fixed Leo up. The service was a 3pm, and 2.55 we hadn’t even changed out of our jeans. Eventually we made it down to the ceremony room on time. With Tobyn as our flower girl and Leo behind carrying the rings we walked up the aisle between our teary eyed friends and family. We hired an amazing harpist who had only learned our song two nights before, and as we walked up the aisle she played our song. It was a really beautiful moment.

FEATURE | THE BIG DAY : George & Kenny

Kenny Walking up the isle I felt incredibly nervous and emotional. We had written our own vows on little scrolls which Tobyn carried in her flower petal basket. However when I saw George unravel his scroll it shocked me. It was like Santa’s naughty list. It almost touched the floor while my vows fitted comfortably on an A5 page!

George After the ceremony we headed out-

side with our guests for a celebratory drink. Curiously, right above our heads there was a double rainbow, a symbol of good luck. We took it as a good sign. There was a quick mingle with the guests before my husband, myself and my two kids were whisked away for a photo-shoot on the lake shore. Between the location, the weather and the smiles, we couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day. After that it was time for food and speeches.

There were kind words to be had

from everyone, including Kenny and myself, and thankfully without too much embarrassment. One of my good friends swapped her speech for a beautiful rendition of I can’t Help Falling in Love with You. Says it all really, doesn’t it? With so few guests to cater for the entire menu was almost entirely planned to suit our guest’s tastes. We had an amazing three course meal that consisted of a chicken Caesar salad, sirloin steak with all trimmings, and a chocolate tart with summer ber-

GNIMAG.COM | 83

ries for dessert. We saved the cake for a late night snack.

Kenny A few days after our wedding we flew to Spain to enjoy eight relaxing days in the sun. We were so busy on the big day that it didn’t really sink in that we were married until about the fourth day of our honeymoon.

We wanted to find a gay-friendly spot for our honeymoon so that we didn’t have to worry about anything other than relaxing. We ended up

FEATURE | THE BIG DAY - George & Kenny

spending eight nights in an incredibly beautiful five star B&B in the Andalusian mountains of Malaga, Spain, called Dos Iberos. It was amazing.

Being married doesn’t feel much different, but there is a definite sense of unity that I think only those who have experienced being married can understand. We are very happy and enjoying our first year as a married couple. We can look back on our wedding with fond memories and great pride. I personally always felt growing up that I would never have a wedding day, or a family of my own, and that I would just be the cool uncle who maybe has a boyfriend. But now I’ve had my perfect wedding. And with George’s two wonderful children I get to be a step dad. For that I feel truly blessed. Now that LGBT couples can adopt children in Northern Ireland I would love if same-sex marriage was similarly allowed. Only then can all children regardless of sexual orientation dream of one day having a perfect wedding of their own when they grow up.

George Married life has been great. There are a few things we do separately.

He loves Disney movies, rom-coms and Eurovision. I love kung fu movies and zombies. We might have a few different interests but really we function quite well together. As dads we have to. Kenny took a lot on when he came in to my children’s lives. He makes as great a dad as he goes a great husband. I wouldn’t change it for the world.

GNIMAG.COM | 84

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FEATURE | COMING OUT: Neil’s Story

COMING OUT

NEIL tells his story.

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FEATURE | COMING OUT: Neil’s Story

Neil Davis is a Senior Operations Manager for a Belfast-based accountancy firm. In his coming out story, he takes on bullies, coming out to his mum, and the future of gay rights...

When did you first realise you were gay?

leave myself open to more abuse, so I used this

Lineker and Philip Schofield were handsome.

through a phase. I then got to the stage where I

I was about five or six when I realised that Gary But I was confused because, as a guy, I didn’t

think I should be able to see that. As I got older I wondered about it more and more. I was 18 when I knew for sure.

to try and convince myself that I was just going just knew and couldn’t lie to myself anymore.

How did your family react?

A lot of my friends are surprised to learn that some of my family were shocked when I told

Tell us about your coming out experience?

them! While I didn’t know what to expect,

At first I wasn’t sure if I was gay. Secretly I

hoped my feelings were just a phase. Because I wasn’t sure, I went to the school counsellor and she found me some support to help me work

things out. I didn’t want to say anything at home

until I was certain so I told my best friend. Once I was sure, I decided to forget about it and wait

I knew I wouldn’t get hit or thrown out. My

parents are amazing and have always been loving and supportive to me and my five siblings. At first, my parents were concerned for me and

what difficulties I might but for the most part

they just wanted me to be happy. They still do.

until my A-levels were finished before telling

Has anyone’s opinion changed of you since you

I told my mum and dad before I told anyone

Not that I’m aware of – I think most people

my parents. It was four or five months after

else. After telling my siblings and a few friends I stopped “coming out”. I didn’t hide anything

came out?

knew before I did!

and openly discussed if I’d been to gay bars or

Have you experienced any negativity since com-

discussed these things.

I was aware of a few comments made behind my

who I fancied in the same way that everyone else

ing out?

back but it’s been nineteen years since I came out. I don’t need to think about those times

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

The school counsellor, Mrs Smyth. She was

great and she’ll never know the difference her

support still makes to me today. She listened to

me, supported me, and got me the help I needed.

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

While it was scary at times, I never considered

anymore.

Where do you live? How accepting are people there of LGBT people?

I live in Belfast. I can’t believe how different the

attitudes are compared to when I came out. The progress in the last five years has been huge!

staying in the closet.

How do you see LGBT rights changing in North-

Did you find it difficult to accept your sexuality?

Changes in the rest of the UK and Ireland are

A bit. I was bullied from age 7 to about 15, getting called ‘fruit’, ‘faggot’, ‘poofter’ and every-

thing else. I didn’t want to prove them right or

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ern Ireland any time soon?

making it increasingly difficult for Northern

Ireland’s archaic laws to remain in force. It will be a battle but positive change is coming!

Textphone 18001 0808 808 8000

www.lifelinehelpline.info

FEATURE | COMING OUT: Neil’s Story

Do you have a life motto?

I really want to say something funny, or pro-

found, or deeply spiritual here, but the truth is I don’t have a motto!

What are the most important things in your life?

My friends and family. I am very lucky to have the best bunch of people in my life. I don’t see some of them as often as I’d like but I know

where to find them if I need them. And they know where to find me.

What do you do for a living? What is your dream job?

I’m a Senior Operations

Manager for an accountancy firm. I am very fortunate to say I’m one of those people

who loves their job!

If I was to retrain,

I think I’d be either

a special needs or psy-

chiatric nurse. But I’ve no

plans on jumping ship. I’m in a very good place these days.

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COMMENT | TONY DAY

The gay dad at the school gates

Tony Day So, I’m a 37 year old gay guy with a past.

up as normal, but when I’m getting dressed

of. All of his friends know that his dad has

from a very early age that I was attracted to

I look straight enough to go to the school?

snigger and don’t fully get it, there’s never

No big surprise there, eh? I was very aware

blokes, but I never thought that living a life with a guy would ever be an option for me.

It was the 90s and I was from Lisburn, and although I had a great close-knit family I

just didn’t have the confidence to tell anyone I was gay. To make a long story short, I married when I was twenty I had two

amazing kids with my ex-wife. Parker, my

son is 7, and my daughter India is 14. I don’t

exaggerate when I say they are they centre of my world.

You could maybe say I’m one of the

luckier gays guys because I have kids even though some might consider us to be an unconventional family (my two kids, my

partner, my ex-wife and me). Schools and

school related activities with the kids are the thorniest issues for us, and I’ll explain why.

Picture the scene: A letter arrives home

from the school to say there is a parents

meeting/sports day/school play/choir recital/

I take longer staring at my wardrobe. Will Neither of my kids are shy about talking

about their family situation so you can be sure that the teachers know that Daddy

Day is gay. So immediately I feel I’m being judged. Are they expecting something

from Pricilla Queen of the Dessert to walk through the classroom door? So digging to the back of the wardrobe I usually pull out a pair of bootcut jeans and an Alfie Moon

style shirt, finished off with a pair of pointytoed shit shoes. That’s what straight dads wear, right?

“Some might consider us to be an unconventional family; my two kids, my partner, my ex-wife and me”

delete as appropriate. Either way it is a

reason to go to the school. I’m very much involved in my children’s lives so I make

Playgrounds and school gates are two

places I hate. Back in the day when I was

the letter and if we are both able to go then

was leaving the kids at the gates or picking

the date is set. But here’s the first problem: what about my partner, Darren? If it’s a

sports day or a school play should he not

be there? The quick answer is yes. Darren is an integral part of my children’s day to

day lives. He does the school runs. He helps

of school functions.

Then we get to the day of the event. I wake

loves our family as it is. When she started

big school I was nervous she would end up having bother on my behalf, so I asked her

if there were any problems. As blasé as you

like she retorted that a mate of hers had an aunt who was a lesbian. It was almost as if

she couldn’t understand why I thought there would be a problem.

It’s the same old story, really. Today’s

generation are far more accepting and tolerant (I hate that word, “tolerant”, it makes it sound like we are an

inconvenience). It’s the parents who make us uncomfortable. We know they are watching

us, waiting for us to give them something to talk about or judge us on. Their kids aren’t

the issues, to them we are simply Parker and gives me hope.

Knowing they’re nudging their friends,

passing on that “that’s him, you know, the gay guy.”

And then what about my kids in school?

Parker has never known life without Darren

starts. So, unfortunately, Darren gets left out

the house, but she’s very laid back and she

know I’m getting side eyed by other parents.

family situation it’s going to be obvious who when the heads turn and the whispering

so she remembers life with mum and dad in

them up. But now, although I still love it, I

Do they get any grief for having a dad

Darren is if the three of us turn up. That’s

India was about 9 when Darren came along

married one of my biggest pleasures in life

with homeworks. We all go on holiday

together. But because most people know my

been a problem with bullying. My daughter

India’s mum, dad and step-dad. And that

sure I attend as many school related events

as I can. My ex-wife and I discuss what’s on

a boyfriend, and although I’m sure they

who is different from the other kid’s dads? and is completely adjusted to having two

dads and a mum. There was an issue in his

nursery a few years back where he was told boys don’t kiss boys but since then there’s

been no issues that we’ve been made aware GNIMAG.COM | 90

@tnydy

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GAY HISTORY | THE STONEWALL RIOTS

STAND FOR NOTHING FALL FOR EVERYTHING You can be forgiven for thinking the gay

there and we were told to all get in lines

police forcefully pushed or kicked some

rights movement started at the Stonewall

and to have our identification ready to be

patrons out of the bar, some customers

Inn. While the roots of the movement

led out of the bar.”

released by the police performed for the

stretch far deeper than Stonewall, the riots

The raid did not go as planned. Standard

crowd by posing and saluting the police

there in the summer of 1969 catapulted the

procedure was to line up the patrons, check

in an exaggerated fashion. The crowd’s

movement onto national headlines.

their IDs, and have female police officers

applause encouraged them further. “Wrists

In 1969, there weren’t many places to be

take customers dressed as women to the

were limp, hair was primped, and reactions

openly gay in New York City. There were

bathroom to verify their sex, upon which

to the applause were classic.”

laws prohibiting overt displays of homo-

any men dressed as women would be ar-

sexuality in public places, and gay friendly

rested. Those dressed as women that night

who had grown angry by constant police

establishments - especially bars - were

refused to go with the officers. Men in line

harassment took a stand against the unfair

regularly raided. In the 1950’s and 1960’s,

began to refuse to produce their identifica-

treatment. The police, having lost control of

few establishments openly welcomed their

tion. The police decided to take everyone

the situation, attracted a crowd of onlookers

gay patrons. At the time of the riots the

to the police station, after separating those

who were incited to riot. As news of the riot

Stonewall Inn was operated by the Mafia,

cross-dressing in a room behind the bar.

spread, the patrons of the Stonewall Inn

and was known to be haunt of drag queens, prostitutes, and young homeless men.

Those who were not arrested were

It was then that a group of gay customers

were joined by other gay men and women

released from the front door, but they did

who started throwing objects at the police-

not leave quickly as usual. Instead, they

men. “It was at that moment that the scene

clothes detectives and a uniformed officer

stopped outside and a crowd began to grow

became explosive.”

entered the Stonewall Inn on Christopher

and watch. Within minutes, between 100

street, in Greenwich Village, Manhattan.

and 150 people had congregated outside,

ing the crowd under control, but the very

One eyewitness remembered, “Things

some after they were released from inside

next night the crowd returned, even larger

happened so fast you kind of got caught not

the Stonewall, and some after noticing the

than before, with more than a thousand

knowing. All of a sudden there were police

police cars and the crowd. Although the

people taking to the barricades. For hours,

Early on of June 28, 1969, seven plain-

Police reinforcements succeeded in bring-

GAY HISTORY | THE STONEWALL RIOTS

THE STONEWALL RIOTS protesters rioted outside the Stonewall Inn

freedom. We weren’t going to be walking

in U.S. history took place in Los Angeles,

until the police sent a riot-control squad to

meekly in the night and letting them shove

Chicago, San Francisco, and New York City

disperse the crowd. For days demonstra-

us around - it’s like standing your ground

The riots inspired LGBT people throughout

tions took place throughout the city.

for the first time and in a really strong

the country to organise in support of gay

Another eyewitness recalled, “We all had

way, and that’s what caught the police by

rights, and within two years after the riots,

a collective feeling like we’d had enough of

surprise. There was something in the air,

gay rights groups had been started in nearly

this kind of shit. It wasn’t anything tangible

freedom a long time overdue, and we’re

every major city in the United States.

anybody said to anyone else, it was just

going to fight for it. It took different forms,

kind of like everything over the years had

but the bottom line was, we

come to a head on that one particular night

weren’t going to go away.

in the one particular place, and it was not

And we didn’t.”

an organised demonstration… Everyone

In the wake of the riots,

in the crowd felt that we were never going

intense discussions about

to go back. It was like the last straw. It was

civil rights were held

time to reclaim something that had always

among New York’s LGBT

been taken from us… All kinds of people,

people. This led to the for-

all different reasons, but mostly it was

mation of various advocacy

total outrage, anger, sorrow, everything

groups such as the short-

combined, and everything just kind of

lived Gay Liberation Front,

ran its course. It was the police who were

which was the first group

doing most of the destruction. We were

to use the word “gay” in its

really trying to get back in and break free.

name. On the first anniver-

And we felt that we had freedom at last, or

sary of the Stonewall Riots,

freedom to at least show that we demanded

the first gay pride parades

GAY ICON: MARLON BRANDO In 1953 The Wild One starred a young Marlon Brando as the leader of the Black Rebels Motorcycle Club. In his Perfecto jacket, Rebel cap, white tee and biker boots, Brando’s portrayal of gang leader Johnny Strebler was iconic.

In the fifties and sixties, Brando was the quintessential American sex symbol.

He bedded Marilyn Monroe, Marlene Dietrich, Grace Kelly and Jackie Kennedy.

Although he never fully open about his sexuality, in 1976 he confessed, “Homosexuality is so much in fashion it no longer makes news. Like a large number of men, I too have had homosexual experiences and I am not ashamed.” His list of alleged lovers included Hollywood legends like Cary Grant, James Dean, and Laurence Olivier.

The Wild One was largely marketed towards female audiences. But with a poster that featured a close-up of Brando’s face with the tagline “That ’Streetcar’ Man has a new Desire!” Brando’s performance resonated far more deeply with gay men who coopted his ultra-masculine character as a prototypical leatherman icon Touko Laaksonen, best known by his pseudonym Tom of Finland, adopted Brando’s The Wild One look for his Kake comic series. Kake – the confident, ever horny hero of Laaksonen’s stories – featured such archetypes such as lumberjacks, policemen, sailors, and bikers. After seeing The Wild One black leather dominated Laaksonen’s art.

Brando earned a bad boy reputation for his public antics. But it was his work in films such as A Streetcar named Desire and The Wild One that cemented him as a queer icon.

GNIMAG.COM | 93

FIVE MINUTES WITH | GEORGIE ALDOUS

In May, YouTube star Georgie Aldous posted a video to tell the world he’s gay. But Georgie is no regular YouTuber. His five minutes start... now!

Tell us about your coming out video?

I came out in school two years ago but I didn’t get a very good reaction. So when I talked to my best friend about doing something for my channelversary she said, “Why don’t you make a video to tell people about what happened to you at school?” So I did. I was too nervous to record it by myself so I made my friend come round and she sat here with me while I made it.

Are you glad you came out?

I am glad I did because there’s not as much pressure on me now. The reason I say that is because news of me coming out was spread around my school so I had to come out in the end. I wish I could have done it on my own terms.

Do you have a boyfriend?

Not right now, no! It’s so hard because I’m such a self-conscious person even though I do love myself and I’m always telling others to love themselves. I made a video about how to gain confidence, and I said “This is what I do. I wake up. I look at myself in the mirror.

I tell myself I look nice, because you know I take a lot of care of myself, I

get my eyebrows done. I can’t go a day without washing my face, I don’t know how some people can! [Laughs.] So I take care of myself but I’m still really self-conscious. I have boys who do talk to me but then I just kind of shoo them away.

If you could pick one fellow YouTube to date who would you pick?

Oh my God! That’s really difficult! If I think about it there are some really hot YouTubers. If I had to chose between someone who is a YouTuber versus someone who isn’t a YouTuber I think it would be better if they were. Because then we could both make a channel together.

What advice do you have for anyone in school who is too scared to come out?

If I was standing right in front of them, I’d say “If you want to come out in school make sure you are 100% comfortable with yourself.” Because once you’ve done it there’s going back.

Before you do come out you have to make sure you’re strong enough to deal with getting hated on.

I’d also say, “Don’t fret if you only have

GNIMAG.COM | 94

two friends.” It’s better to have two loyal friends than sixty fake friends.

Make sure you’re 100% comfortable, make sure you have friends and teachers who can support you, and when people hate on you don’t hate back because fighting fire with fire doesn’t resolve anything. I tried it and it just doesn’t work.

Is being a YouTube celebrity something you’d like to do for a career? Is there something you want to do that’s not related to YouTube?

Well I have a job now. I work for a big beauty store. It’s really nice there.

It really helps my confidence as well because I get to meet new people day.

But my channel grows every single day too. I’m hoping something does come of it. I’’d love to do it full time but I wouldn’t ever rely on it.

I’m thinking about going back to school. I’m just not sure what I’d do. I want to explore, I want to see things and find things that people haven’t seen before. I want to travel, to live and to one day tell an amazing story.

ohitsgeorgie

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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

out in...

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

THE WHAT’S ON GUIDE | DUBLIN

Monday

The Front Lounge – 2 for 1 cocktails

Pantibar – The Panti Show from 10pm.

The George – Win, Lose or Drag with Phil T.

Pantibar – Joystick, DJ Dr Beat plays quality

Cruisin’, Music, Dancin’, Chattin’

Gorgeous and Bunny from 8.30pm.

80s music

Copper Alley – Mother, the home of synth

Admission free all night with drinks!

4 Dame Lane – PrHomo (Second Coming)

pop and electro

Pantibar – Pints and chats

Break for the Border – Meat Street with Friday

international guest hosts, DJs and live acts,

Tuesday

The George – Glitterbomb with DJs Ger and

from 11pm

The George – Bassline with DJ Karen, Ad-

Mo, hosted by David D-Pole and his Glit-

mission free

terati Dancers, Drinks promos, Free shots,

Sunday

The Front Lounge – Davina Devine’s Cast-

Admission free before 10pm, €5 from 10 til

The George – Bingo with Shirley Templebar,

ing Couch, Karaoke from 10pm

midnight, €8 after

from 9.30pm. Admission free before 10pm,

The Front Lounge – DJ Conor Behan play-

€5 entry after

ing dance floor fillers from 10pm

The Front Lounge – The big Gay Brunch

Wednesday

Pantibar – DJ Steobar and Our Perfectly

Club from 12pm

The George – Space N Veda with Veda

Preposterous Drinks Specials

Pantibar – Panti’s Tea Dance

Beaux. Cabaret, Drag and Live Music

The Hub – SweatBox, Classic House

Pantibar – Pints and chats

Regular Nights

Pantibar – Pints and chats Saturday

Pop Rox Indie Night @ The Dive Bar (Turk’s

Thursday

The George – SaturGays with DJ Sean John,

Head) – Fortnightly Saturdays, €5

The George – Davina Devine hosts Thursty

Davina, Veda & guests with Beauty Spot

Crush Girlclub @ Lafayette Club – Check

Thursdays until 2.30am

Karaoke from 10pm. €10 after 11pm

listings for events

The Front Lounge – Brunch with DJ Terry from 10pm

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

what’s on in...