OUT AFRICA MAGAZINE ISSUE 48

Issue 48, SPRING 2021

AFRICA

MAGAZ I N E

FIGHTING AGAINST HOMOPHOBIA “BEING THE BEST VERSION OF MYSELF HAS MADE ME ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING ENTERTAINERS” - MEET

FREE

BUJY BIKWA

SELF-LOVE IS THE BEST LOVE Show yourself some love by getting tested for HIV. Testing for HIV is the only way to know for sure if you have it. Getting tested for HIV is quick, easy, painless, confidential and free. Because HIV can take up to 3 months to show up on a test, it’s recommended to get tested every 3 to 6 months if you’ve had risky sex or possible exposure to HIV. You’ll receive counselling from a healthcare practitioner, who is trained to counsel men who have sex with men in a non-judgmental and sympathetic way, before and after the test.

Book your appointment online today at:

ivantomsbooking.com/2003 or WhatsApp our team on Call4Care:

060 633 2512

Monday - Friday | 09h00 - 16h00 | Cape Town

Please note that all COVID-19 safety precautions are in place at the clinic. We look forward to seeing you.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE FEATURES

2 Editor’s Comment 3 Congratulations to Roberto Quintas 4 Joe Bell’s march against bullying 6 FEATURE: Lehlogonolo makes history 8 The language of homophobia 10 Best of Drag Race All Stars 14 Bisexual men - Are they for real?

16 Nkoli House Project Merchandise 17 Guy Candy - Body Art 24 TRAVEL: The World is opening up 28 FEATURE: Meet Bujy Bikwa 32 Homophobia - still raising its ugly head 36 Tokyo 2020 -The gayest Olympics 41 Important Numbers 42 FITNESS: Boxing fitness 46 The Buzz: Snippets of news 52 WORDPERFECT: Tale of Two Omars 53 MUSIC MOVES: Diana is back!!

54 OUT TAKES

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4

28 6

10 FASHION

20 - 23 Summer Trends

SCENE OUT

17 - 19 Body Art

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REVIEWS

48 OUT ON FILM: Straight actors who have played gay roles perfectly

Cover: Bujy Bikwa Cover Photographer: Lawrence Manyapelo Insert Photographer: Phindo The Soil Make up: Maifa Matutoane Styling: Bujy Bikwa Him Self

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FROM THE EDITOR Welcome all Covid is still rampant with current daily infections in South Africa still topping the 20000 a day. Vaccinations are going slower than anticipated even though the country has enough to reach population immunity ... or so we’re led to believe. But there’s a new world ahead of us and the new world, certainly in the foreseeable future will require proof that you’ve been vaccinated in order to attend events, travel, go to restaurants and gatherings ... so if you haven’t had the jab yet, I guess you’d best make an appointment. I’ve had both of mine and experienced no side effects.

Plans are underway for Pride in Cape Town in 2022 and hopefully the Covid situation will be under control to allow it.

Bur even so the event will be restricted to those people in the community who’ve been vaccinated.

Likewise with travel... go to page 24 and discover the best post-Covid travel spots for gay people.

History was made by Nolo Machaba, the KZN, trangender woman who made it through to the final 30 of the Miss South Africa pageant. Go to page 6 for find out more ...

Homophobia and bullying are problems that our community face everyday, especially those who attend school. We take a look at a superb film that has just been released which follows the story of a father whose gay son committed suicide because of the bullying he faced daily. See page 4 for more information.

Our cover features the DJ, radio celebrity, podcaster and singer, Bujy Bikwa, who became a household name on Metro FM. Go to page 28 to find out more of what makes this talented person tick.

For those readers who follow Ru Paul’s Drag Race, we have an article looking at the best of the All Stars ... and if the winter has seen you packing on a few pounds, turn to page 42 for the health and fitness section which will see you fighting fit in time for summer.

The Music page features the return, after 15 years, of gay icon, Diana Ross. Her new album features that awesome sound that made her a superstar in the 1960’s, with hit albums and songs in almost every decade since.

Our regular features, Guy Candy, The Buzz, OUT on Film and more bring you interesting information and snippets on what’s happening in the LGBTQI+ world.

Stay safe, remember to social distance and mask up... and here’s to hoping that the country can get a handle on this devastating pandemic.

Cover Photo: BUJY BIKWA Mag 2

MANAGING EDITOR: Tommy Patterson 082 562 3358 ISSN 2304-859X Published by: PATTERSON PUBLICATIONS P.O. Box 397, Sea Point 8060 Cell: 082 562 3358 E-mail: outmagafrica@telkomsa.net outmagazine@mweb.co.za outlet@telkomsa.net

CONTRIBUTORS: Rob Hamilton PHOTOGRAPHY:

Lawrence Manyapelo Phindo The Soil

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ADVERTISING SALES: Tommy Patterson 082 562 3358 Copyright: All articles, stories, interviews and other materials in OUT Africa Magazine are the copyright of the publication or are reproduced with permission from other copyright owners. All rights are reserved. No materials may be copied, modified, published or otherwise distributed without the prior written permission of OUT Africa Magazine.

The views, opinions, positions or strategies expressed by those providing comments in this publication are theirs alone, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of OUT Africa Magazine or any employee thereof. OUT Africa Magazine and Patterson Publications cc., will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in any information contained in the publication.

LGBTQI+ COUNCILLOR ROBERTO QUINTAS OUT Africa Magazine congratulates Rob Quintas on his new appointment

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UT Africa,Magazine would like to congratulate DA Metro LGBTQIA+ Chairperson Roberto Miguel Quintas on his appointment as Mayoral Committee Member for Transport in the City of Cape Town!

His appointment is an endorsement of the DA’s values and commitment to Diversity and Inclusivity in its top political structures, and we are very proud and wish him well in his new role.

We would also like to commend the City of Cape Town in bringing Diversity and Inclusion into its ranks. This is a victory for the LGBTIQA+ community of Cape Town.

Councillor Roberto Quintas also serves as Ward Councillor for Hout Bay and Llandudno.

Since 2016, he has served on the City’s Safety and Social Services, Environment and Spatial Planning and Homelessness Agency committees.

Councillor Quintas has a background in marketing, communications and public relations with 12 years of experience, prior to joining Council. He holds a National Diploma in Advertising Management, as well as a Higher Diploma in Integrated Marketing Communications.

Recipient of the Cape Town Pride Hometown Hero Award for his work for the LGBTQI+ community In 2017, he received a medal of honour from United Family and the United Nations Western Cape Secretary for Refugees, for his work in the refugee, asylum seeker and migrant space. He was also awarded the Cape Town Pride “Hometown Hero” award in 2020, for work in the LGBTQIA space.

Councillor Quintas serves on the Red Cross Hospital Facility Board, the Hout Bay Partnership Board, the Hout Bay Museum Board and on several City Improvement and Special Rating Area boards.

It is encouraging to see appointments of openly LGBTQI+ people to prominent positions where they are in a position to not only influence decisions that affect our community but can protect, promote LGBTQI+ rights.

On the 8th September the DA LGBTIQA+ Forum is hosting a workshop to educate parents of their children’s rights at school. Don’t miss out on this opportunity as many of us are unaware or at least unsure of our rights and those of younger people in out community.

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Released in cinemas this summer in America and available for streaming online is the heart-wrenching true story of Joe Bell, a man from Oregon, USA who after the suicide of his son Jadin, decided to walk across America to bring awareness to the scourge of bullying and intolerance towards young gay people in schools. A problem that is rife in South African schools where LGBTQI teenagers are subject to terrible bullying both in the school and online.

The real Jadin Bell

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he film which has had a mixed reception from critics who generally pan the script writers and whilst acknowledging the importance of the films message many feel it was lost opportunity. Despite this the film is important, for

it is through main-steam media exposing the lives and issues many gay teenagers have to deal with on a daily basis that change can be made. The film makes us look not only at ourselves but at colleagues, fellow students and society’s attitude towards the torment and injustice of bullying.

“It’s a horrible thing to be surrounded by people who hate you when they don’t even know you, for a reason you can’t change. One they can’t comprehend or understand. This is the life I live. Some nights, I look for the pieces I’ve dropped along the way. On these nights, I cry myself to sleep and hope tomorrow is a better day. But it never is. Every year, I look forward to school starting again, but it never turns out the way I expect it to.

I pretend not to notice the looks I’m given. Avoiding eye contact with every guy bigger than me. I’m surrounded by people who hate me. Who want me dead. I can’t keep talking myself out of it. I don’t know what I’m gonna to do if I don’t. It’s only getting worse. I just want it to be over. It will be soon enough.” - excerpt from an essay by Jadin Bell discovered after his death

The film tells the true story of Jadin Bell, who was bullied mercilessly at school for being gay. He doesn’t face the warmest of treatment at home from his father Joe, either, who is unable to voice his acceptance of his son. When Jadin commits suicide, Joe sets out on a cross-country walk as part of an anti-bullying campaign.

Joe’s story made headlines back in 2013. He quit his job and helped launch Faces for Change, speaking in schools all across America. Unfortunately, even that part of the story ends in tragedy.

Directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green (Monsters and Men), and starring Mark Wahlberg, Reid Miller, John Murray, Connie Britton, Maxwell Jenkins, and Gary Sinise with Brokeback Mountain script writers Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana Joe Bell sends a powerful message through an emotion heart-breaking somewhat awkwardly written story.

This is possibly a vehicle for Wahlberg to make amends for certain indiscretions in his past back when he was young and the film is a good way for him to do it. Reid Miller is brilliant as the bullied son and Connie Britton is good in her role as his mother,

but it is not the acting or Mark Wahlberg’s awkwardness and limited abilities as a public speaker that the film has its power.

The films message is not diminished.

Some critics have criticised the film as being clichéd. If a message about the tragic suicide of a teenager is clichéd, or if Jadin Bell’s campness is clichéd or the drag queen in the bar is clichéd or the straight, sport-loving dad of Jadin is clichéd then so be it ... people are stereotypies - I’ve met enough drag queens to know that her portrayal was spot on. I’ve been a camp teenager who was bullied like Jadin, and I had a sport-loving father who didn’t get it, but I knew loved me.

This emotional film is about bullying, it is about the fact that some young people live a life of hell with no one to turn to.

The lack of support, victimisation and the intolerance, lack of empathy and ignorance from fellow learners, teachers, parents and friends who for their own reasons won’t or don’t stand up against bullying until it is too late and another gay teenager has tragically been driven to take their life. Don’t let critics who think they could’ve done it better put you off - this is a good movie with a great message and it’s socially relevant.

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MAKING HISTORY LEHLOGONOLO MACHABA On July 6, the organisers of the Miss South Africa pageant announced the 30 women who will be competing for the coveted title. For the first time in the pageants history a transgender woman made it through to this exclusive group...

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ehlogonolo Machaba who is a fashion designer and entrepreneur comes from Letlhabile in the North West Province unfortunately didn’t make it through to the final 10 who will compete for the coveted crown at a glittering extravaganza, due to take place in October.

Her bio, submitted to the pageant organisers shows just how motivated and driven the 24 year old Lehlogonolo is.

She is currently employed as a model booker at Invade Models and is the founder and owner of the DeMollies fashion brand.

With a diploma in fashion design technology from the Tshwane University of Technology, where she won best creative student of the year, she is both beautiful and intelligent.

When questioned why she decided to enter Miss South Africa 2021 and why she thought she deserve to win the Miss South Africa title, Lehlogonolo replied, “Transgender women are almost always ostracised from such opportunities which is why I never thought I’d see anyone like myself on such a platform.”

She added that, “The daily murder of queer and trans-identifying people in our country is devastating.” And through the Miss South Africa platform, she would “be able to advocate for the LGBTQIA community and more specifically queer-identifying women.” It would be an “opportunity to empower every marginalised person and become a beacon of hope for young girls out there regardless of whatever it is they think hinders them from attaining whatever goal they have.”

“The daily murder of queer and trans-identifying people in our country is devastating.”

Growing up her greatest supporter was her mother and she says she learned from her that one must “never settle for anything below your worth.” Her mothers mantra is that one must “put God first before all your plans. Amazing results come to those who know when to fight and when to wait patiently.”

Quite clearly Lehlogonolo is aware of the struggles within the community and more specifically the LGBTQI+ community where she volunteers at a local community centre, Access Chapter With many people in the world seeing beauty pageants as demeaning and objectifying. Lehlogonolo believes they are “more relevant than ever”, saying that they give young women an opportunity “to dream big and chase their dreams,” and “inspiring young women to be exceptional and believe in changing the world for the better.”

Describing herself as “Blessed, brave, and empowered.” She believes that through education and determination over-coming “the stigma against queer and trans-identifying individuals” is possible and it’s the one thing she would like to change about South Africa. Adding that, “through unity we can conquer anything be it a virus or hate crime. Nothing can stand against us.”

But Lehlogonolo has made history, she has been brave enough to compete as the country’s first trans-woman applicant to make it through to the 30 Miss SA finalists which receives thousands of applications from women across the country.

As an LGBTQI+ activist, Nolo, as she is known, says her goal is to fight for the respect that trans-women deserve. “In the future I want to be a well-established fashion designer and have my own clothing line. I’d like to empower young women, as well people in the LGBTQI+ community. I want to become a philanthropist and inspire people to dream big.”

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Photo c/o Bisexual Resource Center.

HOMOPHOBIC LANGUAGE - WHAT’S OK & WHAT’S NOT Sadly, even in the second decade of the twenty-first century homophobic language remains as prevalent as ever. As many as 99% of lesbian, gay, trans and bisexual young people report hearing the derogatory use of phrases in school such as “moffie”, “faggot”, “stabane” or “that’s so gay” .

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nfortunately, many people continue to cling to the old adage: ‘Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me’. The truth, however, is that unchallenged use of slurs or the word ‘gay’ to mean bad or rubbish has a profoundly negative effect on gay young people’s self-esteem.

it is acceptable or even cool to use homophobic language and terminology.

Homophobic language comes in many different forms. Most of the time it is used unconsciously and without hurtful intent, such as phrases like “that’s so gay” or “you’re so gay”. While some language is clearly homophobic, in other cases it can be difficult for some people to know what counts as homophobic language.

Homophobic insults are common-place and often used by straight blokes insulting each other. Words like “poof”, “moffie” or “faggot” are deliberately used to be hurtful and when used to a gay person amount to hate speech and there is no place for them, in fact they should, as in the “K”-word be illegal to use.

They should be outlawed, however, activists feel that “reclaiming” them is the answer. They cannot be and shouldn’t be “reclaimed”. Their usage is only acceptable when used by gay people to other gay people (friends) in a light-hearted, humerous way as the “N”-word is sometimes used by black Americans

Homophobic language is also commonly heard outside the school or work environment - in the home and often from celebrities and in the media. This can make young people think that Mag 8

An example is: “Little gay-looking boy / So gay I can barely say it with a straight face looking boy...” – part of the lyrics to a 2013 song by rapper Eminem, and there are many more.

to each other, and even then it is a fine line. And we do not want these words.

Some words have supposedly been reclaimed. Take “queer” for example. Originally (and still) meaning strange, it was apparently first used as an insult at the trial of Oscar Wilde in the 1920’s, when Wilde was referred to as “snob queer”. It was reported in the press and from then on became a derogatory word to refer to a gay man. In the 1990’s during the AIDS crisis, activists decided to claim the word as an act of protest using it in placards and chanting “We’re here, we’re queer”. It then moved in to mainstream television as in “Queer As Folk” and more recently in “Queer Eye”. The use of Queer is split, mainly on generational lines. Many older gay men, in particular, still find the word offensive. Younger gay people see the word queer as defining the fluidity of gender and sexual orientation and, challenging people to talk about identity. Very woke … millennials, it seems feel that even people with identities outside “gay, straight, or bi” feel represented by “queer.” Mmmm … dunno about that. The main question is should such an historically hurtful word be “reclaimed” or rather should it be discarded?

To reclaim something, you’ve had to have owned it before, and we never did. It was, and to some still is, it’s an insult, a slur, it’s demeaning and it’s ugly …

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Another word which is used to demean and is considered a slur to many gay men, is “homo”. But just as “queer” became a power term, “homo” has seen a recent surge in popularity.

There’s “homosexual” a clinical term, which is fine when it used as that, like say in a research document, or laboratory manual.

It is not OK when religious groups use it as a method of discriminating and justifying that discrimination with their twisted beliefs. Advocate Magazine reported that “the word became cemented in anti-gay lingo with the infamous CBS Reports episode “The Homosexuals,” which aired in 1967. The episode claimed homosexuality was an illness gay men could treat if they wanted to, and 54 years later there are still people who believe that this programme hit the nail on the head, just ask your pastor, Imam, or Rabbi – with a little bit of luck you’ll be surprised.

“Fairy” or “fruit” are other words that straight men in particular like to use. These words, we don’t want to reclaim. Unless you’re dressing as one at Pride, then it’s your choice, your decision and power to you. If it’s the fruit you’re going as, make sure it’s a cucumber, you don’t want to get laughed at now – or do you?

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“Queen”, however is ours. It’s always been ours. This word does not have to be re-anythinged. Big queen, super queen, drama queen, bitch-queen-from-hell: They’re all ours so haters, go and shove that up your fudge pack.

Other phrases that are unkind and meant to be hurtful include being called “limp-wristed” – it implies that straight misconception that all gay men are effeminate. Another with a similar connotation is “light on his feet”, come on guys, some straight men can also dance it’s 2021 FFS. If we are going to get serious about claiming those slurs, then “Nancy” or “Nancy boy” is done deal. Get yourself a skin-tight T that shows off that chest and splash it across, preferably in sequins. Another word we’ll claim as ours is “pansy” – put that on a T and hey, it’s a great way to let your homophobic uncle know just which side you’re batting for.

The list goes on. Dyke, muff-diver, fudge-packer, turd burglar, tranny, sodomite … but we will decide what we want to claim as ours, and when we do, you’ll see it everywhere.

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CONTACT: Tommy on whatsapp 0825623358 or email: outlet@telkomsa.net Mag 9

ICONS Jujubee

THE BEST DRAG RACE ALL STAR GLOW UPS When it comes to ‘Drag Race’ there is a lot - and we mean A LOT - of content to watch. RuPaul went and made one in every other country on the map, has seasons stacking up in the US, and even gives queens a chance at Rudemption by way of ‘All Stars.’

Andrew Christian - written by Kendra Beltran

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ver since the first season that had the queens paired off (choices), it’s been a well, unexpected wild ride.

Especially with the whole choosing a lipstick schtick. It can break your heart when your returning favorite goes home, but it’s never not rewarding to see them go above and beyond what they did their first (or second) time around.

So today we salute the queens who masterfully came back to the main stage better than ever - for a myriad of reasons. Whether it was they stepped their runway game up or improved in the Werkroom, these are the queens who had the best glow ups upon returning to ‘Drag Race.’

JUJUBEE It’s hard to say Jujubee glowed up because this queen came out of the gate pretty much perfect, but for staying consistently a top...3, we’re giving her the first spot on the list.

TATIANA When Tatiana first appeared on the show back in season 2, the show was still pretty much in its infancy. It wouldn’t go on to become a pop culture phenomenon until a couple of years later.

With that, those earlier seasons are known for being a little less than when comparing fashion and whatnot to what ‘Drag Race’ has become. Tatiana was drop-dead gorgeous the first time around but we can’t deny the fashion and performances amazing!

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Tatiana

SHEA COULEÉ Like Jujubee, Shea Couleé’s original run wasn’t bad. Hell, Shea almost took home the crown. The glow up here? Shea’s determination. From the moment that queen stepped into the Werkroom on ‘All Stars 5’ fans around the world KNEW Shea was not leaving without the crown and didn’t!

Shea Couleé ROXXXY ANDREWS There is no denying that Roxxxy Andrews was confident during season 5, but that was dialed up to about a 17 when that lip-sync assassin strutted back in to play the game.

BenDeLaCreme

BENDELACREME Watching BenDeLaCreme on season 6 and then later on ‘All Stars 3’ was like night and day. The campy queen stumbled a lot originally but then turned around and effing dominated.

So much so, BenDeLaCreme became more than infamous for writing her name on the lipstick and sending herself home.

BenDeLaCreme would have 100% won if that white-out wasn’t backstage.

Blair St. Clair

Roxxxy Andrews

JIGGLY CALIENTE When you’re known for having one of the absolute worst runways in ‘Drag Race’ herstory, you can only go up and you know what? Jiggly Caliente soared. Since her time on the show, she came out as trans and started to live her life the way she wanted and that happiness shined so brightly on her short-lived time on ‘All Stars 6.’ Damn those sewing challenges!

Jiggly Caliente

BLAIR ST. CLAIR People afraid to age don’t know the struggle that comes with looking 12 forever. Blair St. Clair knows. There was such an innocence to this queen during season 10 that was hard to shake, but mama shooketh it within seconds entering the Werkroom for ‘All Stars 5.’ Blair St. Clair came with a more adult look and something to prove.

Kylie Sonique Love

KYLIE SONIQUE LOVE This queen went from a beautiful drag queen to a stunning-ass drag queen. Like Jiggly Caliente, Kylie has been open about being a trans woman, and when the time came for her to finally make her return to ‘Drag Race’ after having competed way back when on season 2, she didn’t hold back. She dialed that sex appeal up and blew it off the charts. Plus, hands down one of the best entrance lines - ever. Right?

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MONÉT X CHANGE Monét X Change will be the first to admit that the season 10 looks weren’t it. Once the fashion was in place, the crown wasn’t too far out of reach.

Monét X Change

TRINITY K. BONET Watching season 6, it’s easy to see how guarded Trinity K. Bonet was. Bianca Del Rio had Trinity’s back from time to time, but for the most part, something was holding this pageant beauty from reaching the top. Come ‘All Stars 6,’ Trinity K. Bonet’s mind made a turnaround and it was pleasing to see.

Trinity K. Bonet SHANGELA Shangela got the pork chop during season 2 only to be brought back the following season. Then again for ‘All Stars 3.’ Yes, this continuously returning queen has never won the crown but off the show, Shangela has done more than enough to make up for it like I don’t know appearing in Lady Gaga’s ‘A Star is Born’ and attending the freaking Oscars. The thing about Shangela is that the glow up was all about those major career moves!

Shangela

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Ru Paul

WE NEED YOUR HELP NKOLI HOUSE* CAPE TOWN PRIDE COMMUNITY CARE CENTRE

Photo by Kampus Production from Pexels

ABOUT US

Cape Town Pride in conjunction with OUTREACH AFRICA is a registered NPO (157-896 NPO) serving the needs of the LGBTI+ community in Cape Town, South Africa

AIM

We are currently in negotiations with the City of Cape Town, and Provincial and National Government and other stake-holders, to secure the premises which have been ear-marked and exist, However, it is in dire need of renovation in order for it to be fit for purpose.

To achieve this goal in getting the Nkoli House* Project up and running we NEED to raise R1 million To this end we appeal to the international LGBTI+ funders for their help.

VISION

#youmatter

The Nkoli House* Project, so named in honour of the late Simon Nkoli, a gay activist and anti-apartheid campaigner, who fought tirelessly for freedom, equality and social justice.

It does not matter how small your donation is – every amount matters.

We hare hoping to have this funding in place by 1 June 2021

TO MAKE YOUR DONATION ...

Please pay using your credit or debit card to We have identified the need for a community our paypal account at: centre aimed at providing a home and safe paypalpayments@capetownpride.org space for our diverse LGBTI+ community to gather, meet and mix with like-minded people – with special emphasis on the or pay on line by EFT to: often-over-looked needs of the silver First National Bank (FNB) South Africa seniors in the community.

Branch Code: 201809, Account Number: 62578991278 Account Name: Outreach Africa, Swift Code: FIRNZAJJ Our Ref: Nkoli House Fund (+ your Name) Your gift is tax Cape Town Pride & OUTREACH AFRICA, P O Box 397, Sea Point, South Africa 8060. deductible!!

86 Pienaar Road, Milnerton, Cape Town, South Africa 7441 * Name registration in process - Note OUTREACH AFRICA & Cape Town Pride are registered NPO

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FEATURE

ARE BISEXUAL MEN FOR REAL

Article written by Maya Vukovska for Andrew Christian

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t the dawn of the last century, the father of psychoanalysis Sigmund Freud was the first to make the claim that bisexuality is a common inclination. According to him, homo- and heterosexuality develop from this original disposition. Although his daring theory has challenged conventional thinking, many people even today refuse to recognise the existence of bisexuality. To them, bisexuality is just a funny phase some bored people are going through. As for those men, who have sex with men all the time, but still insist they are bi… well does anyone really believe them. Straight women are don’t get it. Straight men have a grudge with them, too, well I guess because they are strong competition, after all they fish in both ponds. Even homosexuals throw them under the bus because, in their eyes, bi-men are just full-blown gays who use their bisexuality as an excuse for not coming out of the closet.

But let’s not jump to conclusions just yet. The enigma still stays unsolved: Are bisexual men frauds, or are they for real?

MYTHS VS. REALITY One of the most widespread myths is that bi-men are traitors to the gay rights movement, and do their best to pass as straight to avoid trouble and take advantage of heterosexual privileges. Yes, there certainly are Judas’s among them, and this is not OK. But politicising sexuality is also wrong. As a matter of fact, bisexuals, both male and female are equally committed to various gay/ lesbian/bi causes. Otherwise, why would they care to put a B in the LGBTQI+?

Another popular myth is that bisexual men are nobody’s favourite neighbours, friends, and colleagues because they are Mag 14

perceived as concurrent lovers by both sexes. However, the truth is that bisexuals may have indeed lovers from both sexes, but it does not mean that they need to be with them all the time to feel sexually fulfilled. In fact, some bi men are monogamous and ONLY dream of making love to someone of the opposite sex than the one of their current partner.

My personal favourite myth about bisexuals is that they are promiscuous swingers who are attracted to every human being they lay eyes on. What, really!? Promiscuity is no more frequent in the bisexual population than it is in other groups of people.

THE KINSEY THEORY Between 2000 and 2019, eight studies on male bisexuality were carried out. The most recent study conducted at the Northwestern University of Evanston came to the conclusion that sexuality exists on a continuum. The participants in the Northwestern University study were arranged in four categories depending on how they described themselves: as “exclusively heterosexual,” “mostly straight,” “mostly gay,” and “bisexual.” Researchers measured the extent of their sexual arousal in response to male and female erotic stimuli. Porn, in other words. The research team’s findings supported Alfred Kinsey’s theory of 1948 according to which sexual orientation is distributed on a 7-point scale, where 0 is being 100% straight and 6 - as gay as a pink tent.

They found out that guys who rated themselves as Kinsey 2’s, i.e. very much straight, had a celebratory response to gay porn. This, of course, doesn’t make them gay, but more like socially hesitant to publicly announce their bisexual disposition.

Well, it seems that Kinsey might have been right after all.

There is such thing as a sexuality spectrum, and people’s sexual orientation resists easy classification.

THE B-WORD IN TV AND CINEMA You may have never had a bisexual male friend, but of course, you’ve watched a bunch of movies where mainstream monosexuality has been questioned. And here are just a few examples.

Remember Alfred Kinsey, the American sexologist who, in 1947, founded the Institute for Sex Research at Indiana University? So famous for his sexual expression scale, that in 2004, they made a movie about him with Liam Neeson starring as the adult Kinsey.

In 1972 Bob Fosse’s musical Cabaret, Michael York plays a bisexual teacher and writer who’s trying to navigate two complicated relationships. But I‘m lnot sure if he succeeded, or not.

In the French musical Love Songs (2007), basically, everyone is bisexual. The focus is on three young people, Ismael, Julie, and Alice, who are in a polyamorous relationship. But what can you say - it’s the French way…

In Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (2015-2019), Pete Gardner’s character, Darryl, is an openly bi-sexual lawyer. One of his notable quotes is: “I’m going for drinks with this gay man, whom I have a crush on.”

The list goes on, and on.

And just remember: “bisexual,” “gay,” “lesbian,” etc. are just labels. Our sexuality, however, is not a number we get from the ticket dispenser at the bank. It’s a fluidity thing on a large spectrum

Photo by Tverdohlib.com from Depositphotos Mag 15

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GUY CANDY BODY ART

TATTOOS - SOME LOVE THEM, SOME OF US HATE IT. SOME DO IT FOR CULTURAL, RELIGIOUS REASONS - SOME DO IT TO LOOK SEXY, OTHERS ARE OBSESSED BY THEM ...

WHATEVER YOUR TAKE ... TATS ARE TRENDING ...

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GUY CANDY

Photo by Arianna Jadé from Pexels.jpg Photo by Taco Fleur from Pexels

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PUT A S IN YOUR

Pexels ei from W y d n

by We Photo

We’ve looked at the latest t looks that you should upgr preparation for Spring

The utility trend is still very much in vogue and the SAFARI JACKET is leading the charge on international catwalks. Light weight, practical, comfortable and stylish it is a no-brainer that the look is maintaining popularity. These styles vary from the military-man to in-town field jackets - cut from canvas or leather they are available from almost all the designer labels from Gucci, Dior, Louis Vitton to off-the-peg at major fashion retailers ...

SAFARI JACKETS Photo by Artem Podrez from Pexels

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SPRING R STEP

Photo

by Mo nstera from Pexels

trends and selected the key rade your wardrobe with in ng & Summer this year.

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BEAN

Photo by Jean-Baptiste Burbaud from Pexels

Photo by Michael Burrows from Pexels

Message T’s are all the rage ... with global awareness of LGBT+ issues, climate change and other social issues, millenials are aware and conscious of social issues and are proud to disploay it ... join the trend and show your support.

Photo by Hendrik Cornelissen from Pexels Mag 21

Spring and summer are always associated with beaches, holidays and fun times, so it is not surprising that micro trends featuring nautical notes appeared at a number of fashion shows. And what looks better that shades of blue, stripes or designs teamed with white for that casual chic ...

Photo b y Micha el Burro ws from

Photo by Derick Anies on Unsplash Photo by cotto nbro

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Mag 22

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from Pexels

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Hats and caps are trending hugely - for the coolest summer look invest in some awesome head wear and step out...

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Stylish, sailor looks are trending ... and they look so good

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SYNCT

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MEDIA

from Pe xels

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Mag 23

TRAVEL

Mag 24

Exploring Malta

Photo Gay Malta Guide 2021

Pride on the Copacabana, Rio

IS THE WORLD OPENING UP ...

Photo by Taryn Elliott from Pexels

The future of the travel industry is uncertain. As Covid-19 continues to sweep across the globe with new more virulent variants of the virus appearing it seems that international travel will take years to recover to pre-pandemic levels. There is talk of countries opening up subject to rules and regulations, testing, tracing, vaccination passports etc. The only way ultimately that we will ever get to a point when we can travel freely is when the entire global population has been vaccinated or at least we can get to a point when enough people have been vaccinated and the world reaches population or as some term it, herd immunity. Until then the virus is champion and travel will be restricted and difficult.

Already one needs vaccinations such as yellow fever in order to travel to certain countries so similarly a Covid vaccination will become a travel requirement that we will quite simply have to live with. For those who object to vaccinations ... well sorry but they will just have to stay at home

W

ith governments slowly getting to grips with vaccinations and the rollout of vaccinations picking up the likelihood of travelling to far flung global destinations is slowly becoming a possibility. Here is South Africa the government is hoping to reach population immunity by December. In Europe and the USA they hope to reach their vaccination targets earlier. All this bodes well for the crippled hospitality industry and of course those off us who are keen to start travelling again.

Gay destinations are hardest hit in that they cater to a niche market unlike those which attract families and travellers from the broader society. It is therefore imperative that we as a marginalised community support those people and destinations who support our community.

Cape Town is one of those global LGBTI+ destinations, but

the pandemic has decimated the local “gay” scene. The city no longer has the “gay village” that was once so vibrant. De Waterkant had a number of venues: Crew - closed; Amsterdam Bar - closed; Beefcakes - closed; The Hothouse - closed; Social Bar - closed; Lulu’s Bar - closed; Versatile - closed; Beaulah’s - closed ... Venues such as Berta’s is closed and Zer021 barely surviving. So there is little to attract LGBTI+ travellers to the city that cater specifically for them.

This is true of other “gay” destinations but there is hope and as the industry slowly rebuilds so too will those places catering to our community. So when planning your dream holiday or your annual getaway keep in mind that our brothers and sisters around the world need our support. Plan on visiting those who supported us in the past and lets rebuild our LGBTQI+ friendly holiday spots together....

Mag 25

Dongtan Beach, Pattaya, Thailand

Miami Florida

THAILAND Thailand has for years been one of the world’s most tolerant and LGBTQI+ friendly places to visit. Bangkok, the country’s capital is a large, vibrant city with a welcoming people, fabulously glamorous hotels and a night life that is unsurpassed. If overcrowded clubs and bars are not your scene, or if you feel they could be super-spreader places, Thailand has wonderful beach resorts - Pattaya and Phuket immediately come to mind, where you can have a relaxing, sun-drenched beach holiday, eat delicious local cuisine, sip cocktails and be pampered without leaving your beach lounger. If shopping is your kind of holiday, then where better that the huge shopping centres selling every designer name you can think of, even on products that the designer never intended their name to be on...

A recent survey from misterBnB gives insight into how LGBTQI+ travellers are thinking regarding travelling postCovid. Results showed that American LGBTQI+ travellers plan to take vacations again, with many people choosing affordable, mostly domestic or close-by international options. According to misterBnB, Palm Springs is the number one post-pandemic destination for LGBTQI+ travellers, followed by anywhere in Florida, New York City, Fort Lauderdale, and Provincetown rounding out the top five, respectively. Puerto Vallarta, San Francisco, New Orleans, other cities in Mexico, and Las Vegas rounded out the top ten.

MIAMI, America’s most sun-soaked city is also one of its gayest, with no shortage of LGBTQI +cultural highlights, party opportunities and places to stay. It is one of the most liberal cities in America, with a vibrant gay community and again the beaches heaving with toned, beautiful people will keep your voyeuristic inclinations satisfied. The city, especially South Beach has loads of sophisticated restaurants and bars and a “gay” area a stones throw away.

New York Pride 2021

The Thai economy which relied so heavily on tourism is in tatters, but the people are resilient and will rebuild. Their wonderful “get-on-with-it” kind of attitude has seen them rebuild in the past, the devastating 2004 tsunami is a example of their determination . So as an LGBTIQ+ destination Thailand is tops.

Sitges - Spain

SPAIN Europe, which at the start of the pandemic, was hardest hit.

Little was known about the virus and Italy and Spain, as huge tourist destinations, suffered the brunt, with total lockdowns and soaring death rates. With vaccinations reaching population immunity levels these countries are opening up again. Spain, a major LGBTI+ destination with world-renowned holiday places catering to “gay” travellers such as Barcelona and the nearby resort town of Sitges. Gay men flock to these places as well as the islands of Grand Canaria and Ibiza. Once again the rainbow flag is flying at bars and beaches welcoming gay travellers, with strict Covid protoco;s in place ... of course Mag 26

NEW YORK CITY - The pandemic hit New York hard, but LGBTQI+ locals and travellers are gaily returning to its iconic enclaves with gusto; virtually all coronavirus restrictions were lifted on June 15. The West Village remains the city’s dynamic queer hub, with Stonewall Inn, Henrietta Hudson, Julius’, Cubby Hole, and other favourites all open with indoor and outdoor seating. NYC Pride was back under the theme “The Fight Continues,” along with the June 26 in-person Dyke March and June 27 Heritage of Pride broadcast special (and virtual experiences), plus an in-person PrideFest street fair in the Village. There was a distinct Queer Liberation March on June 27 as a peaceful protest to channel the early 1970’s Stonewall protests - so if big cities are your vibe - look no further. New York City is the world’s most vibrant.

Provincetown, a gay mecca in the United States had an influx of over 60ooo visitors over the July 4th weekend and became a petri dish for Covid infections, with nearly 1,000 positive COVID-19 cases resulting from “large bar and dance crowds of shirtless partying masses of men crammed next to each other.” According to John Casey of Advocate Magazine. With an aggressive track and trace programme and mandated mask wearing indoors together with high vaccination rates, infections have dropped to manageable levels and the town is once again welcoming visitors. The Mayor reported that: “We encourage people to come, and we want them to come vaccinated.” Adding that “If there’s one lesson about P-town’s recent experience, it is that the vaccine works,” out of the 930 infections there were 7 hospitalisations.

Provincetown, USA

PV or PUERTO VALLARTA has been described as a “gay Mexican oasis,” and according to the drop-dead gorgeous Nomadic Boys “is not only a stunning beach resort city located right on the Pacific Coast, but it’s also a wild destination for the gay boys to have a little fun in the sun. We had a blast exploring the city and always felt relaxed and safe walking hand in hand through the colourful cobblestone streets. We especially savoured our time in both Zona Romantica and Playa de los Muertos, which are the primary gay hotspots of PV.”

time. Whilst the island has a few bars and clubs specifically for LGBTQI+ tourists, the country’s increasingly inclusive ethos, means that “the need for specifically queer spaces has thinned out as the entire island opens up for us.”

Remaining on the Mediterranean holiday idea one of the world’s gayest cities is bustling TEL AVIV with its pristine beaches and a city atmosphere that lends itself well to the climate. Promenades and beaches are alongside cafes and markets making the city the hub of Israel’s gay culture. Israel is steeped in history - a small country, easy to get around with seemingly endless attractions and historical sites to visit. In Jerusalem, a city where multiple religions collide, you’ll find biblical places intertwined with Islamic and Jewish heritage.

Furthermore Israel has the world’s highest and most successful vaccination programme.

BRAZIL with its vibrant, cosmopolitan cities and world famous beaches, relaxed LGBTQI+ laws, (despite the incumbent President’s homophobic utterances and beliefs), remains for many gay travellers the ultimate destination. Visit Rio de Janeiro which boasts the world famous Copacabana and Ipanama beaches or take in the distinctive and creative architecture of Sao Paulo, a huge city with a huge gay night life ranging from massive dance clubs to intimate bars, nightly street parties to clean, cruisy saunas - there is everything to satisfy any gay traveller.

USA Today reported recently that “The travel industry has rebooted before, and it will bounce back again soon. And if history is any guide, LGBTQ travellers will be leading the way.”

Photo Nomadic Boys

If you’re looking for the exotic and unusual why not give MALTA a try ... recommended by Pink News UK. Malta is ranked number 1 on the Rainbow Index of LGBT-friendly countries and one of five countries in the world that has LGBT+ rights at a constitutional level, “the Mediterranean archipelago is known for its beautiful, clean beaches; historically important architecture and world-class diving sites.”

Right now, Malta has some of Europe’s lowest COVID-19 rates and highest vaccination rates, with fully-vaccinated tourists able to arrive and head straight for the beach without any quarantine

“Gays lead, and the rest follow,” said Roger Dow, president and CEO of U.S. Travel Association, which represents all segments of travel in America. He told the National LGBT Media Association. “They’re adventurous and like new experiences.

They have a penchant for travel far greater than their heterosexual counterparts. They travel more and spend more when they travel. They’re the darlings of the travel industry when it comes to spending and dollars.”

So as the world opens up again, albeit with Covid protocols and restrictions, vaccination passports and other requirements the future of world travel is a positive one. As with the AIDS crisis of 80’s we will adapt and life will go on, so plan your trip!

You can see the full results of the LGBTQI+ travel survey on the misterBnB website.

Mag 27

Photographer: Phindo The Soil

FEATURE

BUJY BIKWA “I AM HAVING THE TIME OF MY LIFE!!!!”

DJ, radio presenter, singer, television producer, actor, and reality TV star chatted to OUT Africa Magazine about his past, his present and what in store in the future ...

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Good morning Bujy To begin with I am going to introduce you to our readers with a little background You were born and raised in Zimbabwe … I was born in Zimbabwe came to South Africa at the age of 5 so I was not really OUT - LOL!!!

What was it like to be born in a country where the government has outlawed homosexuality and the former President referred to gay people as worse than dogs?

I started going to school in South Africa and I remember reading about that statement and thinking to myself “Imagine being a homosexual in Zimbabwe and having to go through all this.” A part of me couldn’t help but want to bring everyone to SA but now that I know better. Its time to fight the system. We can’t keep skipping countries because of presidents who dictate who should sleep with whom.

We have other equally pressing issues in Africa such as poverty which also needs to be addressed.

What motivated the move to South Africa?

My mom was quite influential in that decision as she is South African and Zulu she felt that Zimbabwe was really going to the dogs and in as much as she came to build her life there it was starting to be completely uncomfortable. My older siblings

news. That is not having a full show that expresses entertainment. To get main stream jobs you must be straight acting, and if you’re not straight acting you will be a supporting act. The public loves your work but also turn out to be extremely homophobic - they love you but not enough to respect you. I find my self constantly teaching people how to treat me. Some colleagues use phrases like that Stabane, others say that whilst I don’t sound as gay in person, on radio I’m very gay… So it shows a lot of education is needed to change people’s perceptions.

I have had colleagues who have constantly tried to shut me down by crushing my confidence telling me that my opinions are too gay and the world has no space for them, especially in South Africa. I have been excluded in campaigns, such as men talking against GBV (Gender Based Violence) because I am not seen by them as not man enough - I am too gay.

Homophobia is rife the world over and here in South Africa despite South Africa’s constitution being liberal. Do you encounter homophobia in your daily life and what form does it take?

Its shocking that some of the homophobia I experience is from the very same LGBTQIA+ Community… this has left a bitter taste in my mouth.

In as much as much we are a part of the same broader community, we are all different and we all have preferences we should not take away from each

“Being the best version of myself has made me one of the most amazing entertainers.” were really affected by the move having to change countries in their teen years and start a whole new life and learning new language was tough. But for me being 5 years old I adapted fast.

What inspired you to become a radio presenter and where was your first job?

All my life I wanted to be a musician and I must say that radio found me. I started doing radio at LoveLife Y centre orange farm at a narrow casting station as a volunteer when I was in grade 10. I became so good at broadcasting - it was second nature. Everything I learned, to me felt like I had done it before. I then became a radio ground breaker (Radio Learnership at LoveLife) and worked as a facilitator as well. My 1st job as an entertainer was when I joined YFM at the age of 21 as an intern only to become afternoon drive time co-host 4 months into the programme and BUJY was born.

As an Out gay person did you encounter any opposition or discrimination from colleagues or the public?

A LOT!!!! Some of these encounters go as far as being extremely career limiting. The only time a gay person can be an anchor on tv is when reading the

other so we can be more superior. I refer soecifically to being called fem and fat... still happens all the time.

Worst part of homophobia is when every heterosexual guy assumes you want to sleep with them it’s like you have no choice no morals you just want sex.

And also being denied opportunities because you are gay.

In the world of entertainment, what do you consider your big break in what is a very competitive environment? What was your edge?

Being the best version of myself has made me one of the most amazing entertainers. I strongly believe there is no big break but taking every opportunity and giving it your ALL. Some opportunities given to me were very small but I was able to elevate them to the next level. I always meet the moment in everything I do FOREVER consistent with my work in public or in private. I constantly work on improving myself and I do not wait for the applause.

Most people don’t know the work that goes into being a fully-fledged entertainer, they think it’s the Instagram life, its posting and being an influencer.

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Furthermore, the biggest TV show I ever did was dance your butt off on SABC 1. That show changed my life, I never thought it was going to reach over 7 million viewers.

Bujy is your nickname, how did you get the name?

When YFM decided to give me a chance on air I wanted to go by the name of Big J or Big Showman.

The team then felt like it didn’t suit me. So, I asked “should I find something BOUGEE?” they said yes.

I responded that Bujy it is… They laughed and I changed the whole spelling to BUJY to give it my personal touch.

You have been very visual in several advertising campaigns for some of South Africa’s largest companies. Tell us about the brief spat that you had with Nando’s when they referred to the “Bougee Bowl” – was this matter resolved?

I was just annoyed by the fact that they can have a whole campaign and not think of me?

Hahahahahahahahahaha I mean I am a whole MOOD! I wanted to go to their offices, but I ended up just taking them on Twitter. I was expecting a responce by not the one I got!… I ended up going to

“Being Plus-Size has always been something people see in negative light but for me it illustrates that we are all different and we are all beautiful. ” their offices and doing a Nandos “bougee bowl” tour with Bujy in Johannesburg. Then I won my second Feather Award for wait for it… Drama Queen of the year. And yes, I made money - LOL You are described in some articles as a DJ, a presenter, singer, television producer, actor, and reality TV star … that is quite a line-up. Tell us a little about each one, like what shows you’ve successfully appeared on and if there are any in the pipeline that readers should know about.

I am a Soul and RnB DJ I play in different pubs and various events TV presenter on Cula Sibone on Mzansi Magic where I was nominated for 2 Golden Horn awards for Best Presenter. Also did the lockdown show on SABC 1 called The Get Together Experience I have two singles out on all digital platforms - Wena (Sthandwa Sam) and Buyisa ft Rudoluv I have written and produced 3 local movies for Mzansi Magic entilted Jealous Makhelwane, Pastor Bae and Taxi Queens.

I have acted on so many tv shows and I’m on call for SABC 1 Generations The Legacy as their designer.

I did Dance Your Butt Off and did eTVs Rolling With The Stars.

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I am currently working on my album and a reality tv show that has soooo much life and people get to see the true results of my hard work and my passion in full view.

You became a household name through your involvement with Metro FM but left them earlier this year. I read that you said it was “like leaving a boyfriend you loved very much.” How did leaving Metro FM affect your plans?

Leaving Metro FM has made me grow bigger than what I had imagined. A part of me felt like I was not growing as I should, like I was in a comfortable space, but I really needed to grow… my vision was to have my own show or move to being an anchor rather than contuning as just an on air contributor. I had thought of resigning from the job before but had felt the time wasn’t right so I bowed out with grace with the thoughts of returning one day when all is aligned with my vision.

You have joined Viva Nation Radio as the lunchtime host. How is The Midday Saga with Bujy being received?

I AM HAVING THE TIME OF MY LIFE!!!! The level of liberation and the growth I wanted is coming to life. Since it’s an internet radio station I have been able to see the numbers rise slowly but surely and my on-air skills are far better… I am doing things I never knew I could. The audience is extremely happy with me and with my music I am killing it!

You’ve been referred to as the World’s Best Supersized entertainer – How did this sit with you?

Being Plus-Size has always been something people see in negative light but for me it illustrates that we are all different and we are all beautiful. Embrace yourself and fetch your life, I say. Supersized entertainer means you are larger than life - larger than anything that defines you… YOU stand out and YOU are ready to be seen and to entertain - I truly love it.

Has your size been seen as a negative in forging your career and do you experience any discrimination because of it?

When I started it was OK and entertaining cause they thought I was not going to last so they can cope with me for that season little did they know hahahahahahaha LOL! the higher I went the colder it became, trolls came for me hard! I have been called fat and ugly on social media. That’s when I realised that people are mean and I’m constantly being body-shamed by other gay guys, so I’ve had to retaliate, by showing them I’m better, more talented, more driven and more successful than they could ever be.

This year you launched Queer Way of Life, a visual podcast … How is it being received?

I never thought I would ever say this, but I will. I am a fucking game changer. I have always wanted to do something that will give queer people a voice and this is exactly it! I saw an opportunity to go to a platform that was already cancelled because of transphobic remarks and changed it to educate and elevate and push visibility in our way and on our terms. I am proud to say it’s one of the leading Queer podacts in Africa. I want it to grow to a live audience. With one Bujy step at the time, all shall come to life.

What are you plans for the future, is there anything we should know about?

I am part of a new duo called Takasi Funk we’re realising an album later this year. Been singing my heart away…

Walking on the 1st ever African Queer cruise for 2023 soooo a lot is being done

“your sexuality does not define your destiny. ” I recently read that “Pursuing your dreams and goals should be in your priority in life without allowing negative people to pull you backwards,” is one of your mottos. Do you still stand by this?

All day, Everyday!!! YOU are the only one who should make such decisions.

I am sure some of our readers are interested to know whether you are currently in a relationship or are in the dating market?

Ahhhhh my dating life really sucks man. I think because I am SOOOO ready for commitment and I am extremely monogamous it’s hard to find people who share the same sentiments. I just joined online dating, but everyone is not in Joburg and I don’t do well with long distance relationship. YES, I am looking to share my love after a terrible heart break and being single over a year I am ready I am available.

Do you have any advice for young gay people who might be struggling with coming out or coming to terms with their sexuality?

Dear child your sexuality does not define your destiny. You are worth all the love and the beauty that life has to offer. I know you scared, trust me when I say fear will hold you back from the best version of yourself. The world is yours trust and believe and yes learn to love yourself over and over again and be kind to yourself so you will be kind to others.

Thank you for participating in the interview… we wish you every success in the future …

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HOMOPHOBIA STILL RAISING ITS UGLY HEAD People around the world face violence and inequality— and sometimes torture, even execution—because of who they love, how they look, or who they are.

I

n this day and age, particularly in the liberated western world where a person’s sexual identity should no longer an issue, more and more often we are hearing reports of homophobia and homophobic attacks on the LGBTQI+ community. Here in South Africa, homophobic attacks are commonplace with transgender violence and violence against lesbians, particularly black lesbians, continues unabated. This year alone there have been a number of murders of transgender members of our community and despite repeated calls and petitions for the government to declare homophobia a hate crime, they continue to drag their heels. Human rights and LGBTI+ organisations are calling for the government to enact the Prevention and Combating of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Bill B9 of 2019 — that would help protect marginalised groups from hate, bias, prejudice, or intolerance. In his Freedom Day address President Cyril Ramaphosa called on South Africans to condemn homophobia, after a spate of homophobic murders rocked the country and sparked nationwide protests.

“This is something we should be deeply ashamed of. I want to send a very strong message that hate crime will not be tolerated in our society,” Ramaphosa said.

“Those behind these crimes will be found and brought to book,” Mag 32

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he continued. “Nobody has the right to take life and abuse someone else because of their sexuality. No one has that right at all.”

According to a statement signed by more than 20 organisations, published on April 22 this year, a number of people have been killed in “brutal hate crimes” this year.

They include Bonang Gaelae, who was killed on Feb. 12; Nonhlanhla Kunene, whose body was found on March 5 in Pietermaritzburg; Sphamandla Khoza, from Durban, who was killed on March 29; Nathaniel ‘Spokgoane’ Mbele, who died on April 2 in Vanderbijlpark; Andile “Lulu’’ Nthuthela, whose body was found on April 10 in Kariega; Lonwabo Jack, whose body was found the day after his 22nd birthday on April 17.

Phelokazi Mqathana, 24, who was stabbed to death on the weekend of May 1 in Khayelitsha, Cape Town.

Lindokuhle Mapu, 23, who was stabbed to death in Mfuleni, outside of Cape Town, on May 9.

Anele Bhengu, 22, was found dumped in KZN after she was allegedly raped, stabbed and had her throat slit and stomach cut open.

Recently LGBTQI+ students at an Afrikaans high school in the Western Cape were harassed, threatened and blocked from marking Pride Month because it could be “disruptive”. They nevertheless went ahead with a low-key gathering at break time to mark the occasion and were verbally harassed, intimidated and threatened with queerphobic slurs.

In a number of African countries, most recently Ghana, where 16 women and five men were arrested during a paralegal training session for the protection of the human rights of sexual minorities. They have since been released, but “most of them have lost homes, employment, friends and families as a result of this case,” said the organisation Rightify Ghana. The Promotion Of Proper Human Sexual Rights And Ghanaian Family Values Bill, 2021 was officially tabled in parliament last month and has had its first reading in the house. The bill that aims to criminalise all LGBTQI+ people and their allies in Ghana has taken its first step towards becoming law in the West African country.

In Cameroon, Patricia and Shakiro, the two trans women arrested earlier on in the year, were finally released from the male prison where they were being held, but unfortunately, on August 8, Shakiro and Patricia were attacked by a mob in Doula and are being treated in hospital. Earlier this year, Human Rights Watch reported “an overall uptake in police action against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in Cameroon.”

Uganda and Kenya have also made headlines with their increasingly anti-gay legislation, and in all these instances the South African government remains silent, a totally unacceptable stance especially when these laws and actions fly in the face of this country’s constitution and what we stand for. Pressure needs to be put on these countries through SADC and the AU and South Africa needs to vocalise their opposition to these abuses against our community on the continent.

Graeme Reid, the Director, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Rights Program for HRW recently wrote that in North Africa, Tunisia has intensified its crackdown on LGBT organizing and increased persecution of LGBT people during the pandemic, arresting LGBT activists and assaulting them at protests. Algeria justified its abusive conviction of 44 LGBT people at a private party because they had broken Covid-19 related quarantine measures. Meanwhile, gay and bisexual Mag 34

men “outed” on same-sex dating apps in Morocco had nowhere to go after being kicked out of their homes during a countrywide lockdown. The Government of Egypt has even refused to recognise the terms “sexual orientation” and “gender identity,” notwithstanding the routine arrest, imprisonment, and torture of LGBTQI+ people there. Adding that “to attack LGBT rights has political currency, but it is individual LGBT people who bear the brunt.”

However, Africa is not alone ... recently Hungary, a member of the European Union and signatory to Europe’s human rights charters and laws, passed anti-LGBTI legislation. Poland, another EU member has allowed the establishment of LGBTI free zones! And this from a country that witnessed and participated in the holocaust which saw the systematic killing of millions of Jews, Poles, gypsys, Russians and over 100 thousand gay men.

Yet the EU and the world remains silent...

When racing drivers Sebastian Vettel, Valtteri Bottas, Carlos Sainz, and Vettel’s teammate Lance Stroll wore rainbow-coloured T-shirts that read “Same Love” in support of LGBTQI+ rights before the Hungarian Grand Prix in Budapest they were reprimanded and fined for not removing them.

The UK which boasts some of the most liberal and tolerant attitudes towards our community saw two gay men attacked in Edinburgh’s city centre in August. Eye witnesses said the attackers called them homophobic slurs as they assaulted the men, who the witness said identified themselves as a married couple. No one tried to stop the attack, according to the witness, and some even laughed as it happened.

In the United States trans Woman Shai Vanderpump, renowned “as a fierce LGBTQ advocate” was shot to death recently. She is the 32nd trans, non-binary, or gender-nonconforming person known to have died by violence in the U.S. this year.

“Too many transgender and gender-nonconforming lives have already been lost. We need everyone, in every state, city and community, to help bring an end to this senseless violence and stigma that so often impacts Black trans women”, said a Tori Cooper, director of community engagement for the Human Rights Campaign’s Transgender Justice Initiative.

In May some gay men were attacked at the beach in Barcelona, Spain. The Observatory Against Homophobia (OCH) president Eugeni Rodríguez called the incident “barbaric” and said the number of homophobic attacks was rising. “It is a spiral to

which we are not accustomed - it is of extreme violence,” Mr Rodríguez said. Adding that the OCH has registered 76 such attacks in Catalonia so far this year.

In Russia, Alexei Zhuravlyov, a Russian parliament member, appeared on TV verbally abusing Team New Zealand’s trans weight lifter Laurel Hubbard, and disparaging out Olympians as “perverts” and “abominations.” Saying “We stand opposed to all this smut and perversion, strongly opposed,” and shouting “We stand against this abomination!” On another TV channel, host Anatoly Kuzichev pathetically donned a wig on the July 26 show to mock Hubbard, calling transgender folks “psychopaths”. The tragedy is that his comical, insulting parody reached millions of viewers and if you were a gay, trans or lesbian person it wasn’t funny - it was insulting and dangerous. President Vladimir Putin’s government recently enacted a series of measures designed to marginalise and oppress the LGBTQ+ community by banning marriage equality and transgender adoptions. The measures were passed with the overwhelming support of 77 percent of voters last year. Russian police and security personnel have been televised beating LGBTI+ activists on the streets of Moscow including the arrest of the British gay activist Peter Tatchell.

It has been reported that hundreds of LGBTQI people are fleeing the Taliban regime in Afghanistan where their sexual orientation is not tolerated and punishable by public execution.

Indonesian officials have used an anti-pornography law to arrest gay men in private settings, while a Malaysian government task force in June proposed amendments to sharia law to curb “promoting the LGBT lifestyle” on social media.

The above few incidents, a drop in the ocean, as every country on the globe from the most open like Canada, to the most intolerant, LGBTQI+ people are subject to killings, violence, discrimination and social ostracism with homophobic attacks on the increase worldwide. Showing that the need for safe spaces for our people everywhere.

Whilst some newspapers report crimes against our fellow LGBTQI+ family, others either don’t report them at all or relegate these crimes to small news items. Some social media sites and digital platforms refuse to take down hate speech aimed at our community - Facebook for one has been found wanting in this regard. Last month LGBTQI+ groups complained to Facebook that their site was being “used as a tool to share hatred, bullying, discrimination and violence, particularly by those with homophobia launching intense campaigns of intimidation, threat and blackmailing”. Complaints over incitement in posts were being “declined because the content ‘did not contradict the Facebook community standards’” Here in South Africa, The Prevention and Combating of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Bill would be the cornerstone for protecting the rights and lives of members of the LGBTQI+ community. Gathering dust while violence and murders continue unabated, the bill would create a legal definition of hate crimes, at present there is only a working definition, we need a legal definition in order for prosecutions to be successful and for the police to be made more aware and more pro-active in preventing the hate against our community.

suring governments into being more pro-active against those individuals, organisations and other countries that promote, encourage or condone discrimination against our community.

Gay, lesbian, trans, bi, gender non-conforming, intersex, butch, camp, fem or simply queer, we are all in this fight together

IT IS TIME TO TAKE A STAND AGAINST HOMOPHOBIA

FACTS

Violence, particularly sexual violence, against LGBT South Africans is common.

More than onein ten (11%) LGBT 16 to 24 year-olds who completed the recent OUT LGBT Well-being survey reported having experienced rape or other sexual abuse at school within the prior 24 months.

Nearly a third (31%) of lesbian and bisexual women from southern Africa who participated in a HIV risk study reported lifetime experiences of sexual violence.

In contrast, 3.7% of all South African adults surveyed in 2002-2004 reported lifetime experiences of sexual violence.

Gender nonconforming adults, including those who are heterosexually-identified and those who are LGBidentified, were more likely to feel personally unsafe most days compared to gender conforming adults (25.4% vs. 20.7% and 35.5% vs. 17.5%, respectively), particularly when “walking alone in the dark” (51.9% vs. 41.9% and 45.5% vs. 20.2%, respectively).

Estimates of suicidality among LGBT people vary; however, most studies report rates that far exceed the lifetime suicide attempt rate (2.9%) observed in the general population in 2002-2004.

In 2004, 17% of LGBT individuals in KwaZulu-Natal and 21% in Gauteng14 surveyed for the OUT Study reported lifetime suicide attempts.

Nearly half (48%) of health sector workers who completed the 2015/2016 SASAS endorsed statements that they “think it is disgusting when men dress like women and women dress like men,” and 42% indicated that they “think gay men [and lesbians] are disgusting.”

Taken from THE ECONOMIC COST OF LGBT STIGMA AND DISCRIMINATION IN SOUTH AFRICA - December 2019 UCLA School of Law Williams Institute

In some countries “LGBTQI+ rights are seen as so threatening, and why they become such a potent symbol in a rhetorical clash between ‘traditional values’ and ‘human rights,” said Graeme Reid Whilst the incidents mentioned in this article are isolated and a drop in the ocean, they serve to demonstrate that worldwide there is the need for all of us to stand up against discrimination, violence and bigotry. We need to become more vocal in pres-

Photo by Kat Jayne from Pexels Mag 35

LGBTI+ OLYMPIANS TOKYO 2020

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Tom Daley - For Team GB - took home the gold medal for the men’s synchronized 10m platform diving event.

Yulimar Rojas - Team Venezuela Yulimar Rojas of Team Venezuela won the gold in the women’s triple jump.

Carl Hester - Team Great Britain Carl Hester and Team Great Britain took the bronze medal for team dressage.

Larissa Franklin - Team Canada Larissa Franklin and Team Canada took home bronze for softball

TOKYO 2020 HAS SEEN MORE OPENLY LGBTI+ OLYMPIANS STEPPING UP TO THE MEDALS PODIUMS IT IS WITH HUGE PRIDE THAT WE HONOUR AND CELEBRATE THEIR AMAZING ACHIEVEMENTS ... NOT ONLY TO THEY HAVE THE COURAGE AND HONESTY TO COMPETE AS OPENLY LGBTI, BUT THEY ARE INCREDIBLE ROLE MODELS FOR YOUNG LGBTI PEOPLE THE WORLD OVER ... ...

Amanda Chidester - Team USA Amanda Chidester and Team USA won the silver medal in softball.

Hayley McCleney - Team USA Hayley McCleney and Team USA won the silver medal in softball.

Erica Sullivan - Team USA Erica Sullivan won the silver medal in the first-ever Women’s 1500m event

Amandine Buchard - Team France Amandine Buchard took home the silver medal in 52kg judo and a gold for mixed team judo for Team France.

Joey Lye - Team Canada Joey Lye and Team Canada beat out Mexico to take home the bronze for softball.

Katarzyna Zillmann - Team Poland Rower Katarzyna Zillmann won silver for Team Poland in the Women’s team quadruple scull rowing event.

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Stefanie Dolson - Team USA Stefanie Dolson brought home the gold medal for Team USA in the Women’s 3-on-3 basketball event.

Emma Twigg - Team New Zealand Emma Twigg won her first gold medal for Team New Zealand in the women’s single sculls rowing event.

Hannah Roberts - Team USA Hannah Roberts took home silver for Team USA in the BMX freestyle event.

Raven Saunders - Team USA Raven Saunders took home the silver for Team USA in the women’s shot put.

Astrid Guyart - Team France Astrid Guyart won silver in the women’s team foil fencing.

Lucilla Boari - Team Italy Lucilla Boari won bronze medal in the women’s individual archery event

Ally Carda - Team USA Ally Carda and Team USA took home the silver medal in softball.

Gayle Broughton - Team New Zealand - Women’s Rugby gold medal

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Raz Hershko - Team USA Team Israel’s Raz Hershko won the bronze medal for women’s mixed team judo.

Ruby Tui - Team New Zealand Women’s Rugby gold medal

Kelly Brazier - Team New Zealand The All Blacks took home gold for women’s rugby.

Portia Woodman - Team New Zealand - Women’s Rugby gold medal

Jasmin Grabowski - Team Germany Jasmin Grabowski and Team Germany took home the bronze medal for women’s mixed team judo.

Sanne van Dijke - Team Netherlands Sanne van Dijke of Team Netherlands took home the bronze medal for judo.

Nesthy Petecio - Team Phillipines Nesthy Petecio won her silver medal in Olympic Women’s Featherweight Boxing

After winning his gold medal, Tom Daley announced, “I hope that any young LGBT person out there can see that no matter how alone you feel right now, you are not alone and that you can achieve anything and there is a whole lot of your chosen family out here ready to support you. I feel incredibly proud to say that I am a gay man and also an Olympic champion.” A great message for younger LGBTQI+ people who, when coming out can feel isolated, alone, vulnerable and hopeless - the world is yours!

Jolanta Ogar - Team Poland Jolanta Ogar won the silver in the women’s 470 sailing (2-person dinghy) with teammate Agnieszka Skrzypulec

Ana Marcela Cunha - Team Brazil Ana Marcela Cunha Won the gold medal in 10km marathon swimming event

Kellie Harrington – Team Ireland Kellie Harrington of Team Ireland took home the gold for women’s lightweight boxing.

Kadeisha Buchanan – Team Canada Team Canada took home the gold in women’s soccer

Stephanie Labbe - Team Canada Team Canada took home the gold in women’s soccer

Keilen Sheridan - Team Canada Team Canada took home the gold in women’s soccer Mag 39

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Quinn – Team Canada Team Canada took home the gold in women’s soccer

Erin McLeod - Team Canada.

Team Canada took home the gold in women’s soccer

Caroline Seger – Team Sweden Team Sweden won the silver medal in women’s soccer.

Magdalena Eriksson – Team Sweden Team Sweden won the silver medal in women’s soccer.

Lina Hurtig – Team Sweden Team Sweden won the silver medal in women’s soccer.

Hedvig Lindahl – Team Sweden Team Sweden won the silver medal in women’s soccer.

Tierna Davidson - Team USA Team USA took home the bronze in women’s soccer.

Adrianna Franch - Team USA Team USA took home the bronze in women’s soccer.

Kelley O’Hara- Team USA Team USA took home the bronze in women’s soccer.

Megan Rapinoe – Team USA Team USA took home the bronze in women’s soccer.

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Sarah Jones - Team Great Britain Team Great Britain took home the bronze medal in women’s field hockey.

• • • •

Susannah Townsend – Team GB Team Great Britain took home the bronze medal in women’s field hockey.

Leah Wilkinson – Team Great Britain Team Great Britain took home the bronze medal in women’s field hockey.

There were at least 181 LGBTQ+ and out athletes competing in Tokyo 2020 this year.

Women’s soccer had a clean sweep with the gold, silver and bronze medals going to teams who embrace and honour their out LGBTI team mates.

Quinn representing Team Canada in women’s soccer was the first ever trans athlete to win a gold medal.

Tokyo has three times as many out LGBTQ+ athletes as Rio had, but activists say there is ‘still a way to go’

Roll on Paris 2024

IMPORTANT NUMBERS

IM NO POR PR TE TH TANT I CR DE SH E NEW ISI S N ELT NIC UMB ER 072 OLE ER 287 631 0 Mag 35

BOXING FITNESS

Boxing workouts exercise every part of the body. The workouts combine cardio and strength training to give you the ultimate workout.

Boxers tend to have a lean, athletic look based on being incredibly strong and wellconditioned, because when you train like a fighter, you’ll build the strength, endurance, and core power that keeps the whole body trim and athletic.

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HERE ARE A FEW BOXING ROUTINES TO GET YOU STARTED ON DEVELOPING A LEAN, ATHLETIC ALL OVER FIT PHYSIQUE Training like a boxer is all about intensity—you go hard. You’re trying to mimic what it’s going to be like in the ring. That means lots of fast and varied movement, with active rest - even during your rest times you must keep moving.

WHERE TO START...

The boxing stance is crucial to your success—it sets you up to both throw and dodge punches, and puts you in the best position to take a punch should your opponent land one. If you’re right-handed, your left leg will be in front, so your more powerful arm is further back to maximize the force it can generate. “Southpaw” or lefty stance is the opposite.

To find your stance, start with your feet shoulder-width apart, with your feet standing on the same imaginary line. To get a good stagger, right handed boxers should move the left foot forward so your heel is now touching that imaginary line, and shift the left foot back so the toe is on the line. (Left handers do the opposite.) Bring your weight onto the balls of your feet and soften your knees.

Bring your dominant fist up so you’re just touching the side of your chin with your index finger, and bring the non-dominant fist up to about cheek height. Keep your elbows in close, touching your ribs. “If you let your elbows flare out, it leaves your body exposed,” says Jason Strout, head coach at New York City’s renowned Church St. Boxing Gym.. “Keeping your elbows tucked also increases the power of your punches.”

PUNCHES...

There are three basic punches: The jab, the cross, and the hook.

Jab: This is the lead hand punch thrown straight ahead with your non-dominant hand. It’s not a power punch but instead is used to set up other punches. “When in your boxing stance, it’s the closest hand to your opponent so you will use it the most,” says Strout.

Cross: The cross is thrown with the rear, dominant hand, which is farthest away from your target. It’s also thrown straight but much more powerfully, using your legs and torso to generate force.

Hook: These can be done with either hand, but you should focus more on the hook done with the lead (non-dominant) hand (hooks done with the other hand

can leave you more vulnerable). Unlike the others, this isn’t a straight punch: Its aim is to come at your target from the side, using your hips and legs for power. “The hook travels out from your shoulder and turns in toward your target halfway through the punch,” Strout explains. “Don’t let your elbow travel out wider than your shoulder, nice and compact, and return it the same way you throw it.”

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Once you’ve got the individual punches, you need to put them together. Common combinations include: • • • • • • • •

Jab-cross Jab-cross-hook Jab-jab-cross Jab-hook-cross Cross-hook-cross Hook-cross-hook Jab-cross-hook-cross Jab-cross-jab-cross-hook-hook

Now you have the basics, begin with your workout - there are three workouts to get you started on developing a lean, super-fit boxers body...

WORKOUT 1 Warmup: 10 minutes jump rope 20 squats 20 pushups 40 crunches

wards, push off front foot. - Rest 30 seconds 2 minutes box steps: In boxing stance, move 6 steps forward, 6 steps right, 6 steps back, 6 steps left. Switch direction after four squares. Focus on pushing off the correct leg. - Rest 30 seconds 2 minutes circle drill A: Put something on the floor to use as your centre point. In boxing stance, step using your technique to make a complete circle around the object, then reverse the circle. “Always make sure you stay in your stance and your lead leg is pointing in the direction of the centre,” says Strout. “This is to train you on moving away from an opponent.”- Rest 30 seconds 2 minutes circle drill B: Using the same centre point, face away from it, keeping your back to it the whole time. Start in your stance and complete full circles in each direction. “This trains you on stalking a moving opponent,” says Strout.

Finisher: 10 minutes jump rope as cooldown

Shadow boxing: 3-minute round: Basic jab, cross, and hook punches Rest 30 seconds Repeat: x5 Heavy bag workout: Basic combinations 3-minute round Rest 30 seconds Repeat: x5 If you’re new to this kind of intensity, do three rounds, not five, and give yourself a minute rest between them. “Pace yourself,” Strout says. “Don’t go all out in the first 20 seconds, then stop: Keep punching the bag even if you’re just touching it.”

Finisher: 100 pushups 100 squats 200 sit-ups Rest as little as possible WORKOUT 2 Warmup: 50 jumping jacks 50 jump lunges 1 minute run in place 10 pushups 10 squats 10 lunges 5 minutes shadow boxing Rest as little as possible Rest 30 seconds Footwork drills: 2 minutes side steps: Start In your boxing stance, take 10 quick steps to the left, then 10 steps right, side to side. When moving to the right, push off the left foot, and when moving left, push off the right foot. -Rest 30 seconds 2 minutes forward and back steps: In boxing stance, take 10 quick steps forward and 10 steps back, back and forth. When moving forward, push off back foot, and when moving backMag 44

WORKOUT 3 Warmup: Jog 20 minutes Shadow boxing: 3-minute round Rest 30 seconds Repeat: x5 Bag workout: 3-minute round on heavy bag x3 3-minute round on speed bag x3 Conditioning: For 3 minutes, do: 10 pushups 10 jump squats Rest 1 minute Repeat: x3 Finisher: 200 situps For more workouts and further information go to: https://www.mensjournal.com/health-fitness/workouts-for-boxers-5-routines-fighting-shape/

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THE BUZZ LOVING GAYS!

YOU KNOW, I LOVE MY GAYS. I JUST DON’T WANT TO MARRY ONE.

W life!

hen it comes to EmmyAward winning, Kristin Chenoweth’s latest role it looks like art is imitating

The actress is a huge LGBTQI+ ally in real life, but on the set of AppleTV+’s newest musical comedy series, Schmigadoon!, in which she plays Mildred Layton, the homophobic wife of closeted preacher Reverend Howard Layton, hilariously played by Fred Armisen, she revealed in a recent interview that she has dated a gay man.

The 53-year-old actress opened up about her love life, and a whole lot of other topics pertaining to her long-running career.

“In Schmigadoon!, your character, Mildred Layton, is married to Fred Armisen’s closeted Reverend Layton. Did you ever find yourself accidentally dating a gay man?” Kristin was asked by LA Mag’s Andrew Goldman.

“Only once,” she replied. But how did she end up finding out he was gay, you ask?

The answer was simple: designer shoes.

“He recognised my Louboutins,” she replied, revealing that the unidentified man’s eye for expensive red bottoms gave her the “insight” she needed about his sexuality. “When you’re dating a man and he knows the brand of your shoes, immediately break up with him and become best friends. You know, I love my gays. I just don’t want to marry one.

That’s all.”

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ROBIN COMES OUT

I

t’s finally happened ... DC comics has outed Robin. In the latest instalment of Batman: Urban Legends, comic book character Tim Drake accepts an invitation to go on a date with a man.

After a street-side brawl in which Robin rescues Bernard Dowd, Robin visits his apartment ...

“I’m really glad you got home okay,” stammers Drake, “I was relieved. And I’ve been doing a lot of thinking, about that night. And I - I don;t know what it mean’t to me. But I’d like to figure it out.”

Bernard responds, “I was hoping you would. Tim Drake ... do yiu want to go on a date with me?”

Yeah, I think I want that,” Robin replies ... ending the episode.

Fans will have to wait till December to find out how the date goes, but kudos to DC for making his long speculated coming out a reality.

SOCIAL MEDIA - A VEHICLE FOR HATE

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hilst Twitter and Facebook have been hauled over the coals numerous times for allowing their platforms to be used to promote anti-LGBTQI sentiment, TikTok it seems is the latest to be added to the list.

According to a recently released report by the U.K.-based think tank Institute for Strategic Dialogue, it’s a place where some users promote anti-LGBTQ+ hatred by praising oppressive regimes, celebrating the suicides of transgender people, and conflating LGBTQ+ identity with paedophilia, said the Advocate Magazine.

The Institute for Strategic Dialogue, examined 1,030 TikTok videos for various kinds of hatred, including white supremacy, Holocaust denial, terrorism, misogyny, and more, in addition to anti-LGBTQ+ activity. Whilst TikTok does monitor and take down such content, it does it inconsistently, the institute reported.

The researchers’ sample, found 90 with antiLGBTQ+ content where some users “routinely celebrated the persecution of gay people in authoritarian or undemocratic regimes,” the report notes.

“Transgender people were routinely singled out in particular for abuse, harassment and hate,” the document continued. There were claims that LGBTQ+ people make up 40 percent of convicted paedophiles — its “evidence” is a Facebook comment, featured in a screen shot.

The institute recommends that TikTok broaden its definition of extremist and hateful ideologies; better enforce its existing policies against hate speech, including slurs; educate users on potential risks; and prioritise data access for users.

If you see any make a point of reporting it!

We need to get these platforms to stop the hate.

PRIDE IN CAPE TOWN

JODIE DOESN’T GIVE A ...

I

t seems that in line with a more inclusive and diverse world there is a growing movement to reinvent the rainbow flag. The rainbow flag is the most identifiable symbol internationally of LGBTQI+ community has been redesigned to be more inclusive of the transgender community and people of colour.

After all it was transgender activists who first made a stand against discrimination in a little known protest 3 years before the famous Stonewall Riots in 1969.

It happened in San Francisco, when a group of trangender women stood up to the police raid on a venue, arresting people who “dressed in clothing of the opposite sex” which was a crime at the time. Known as the Compton Cafeteria riot, it began when the police tried to arrest one of the drag queens who threw coffee in his face. A few hundred people stood uo the police - most were arrested but today it is hailed in the USA as “one of the earliest significant trans/queer resistance movements.”

A growing number of Pride organisations in the United States are adopting the new design and other countries will quickly follow their lead.

The new flag design is “to express solidarity, expand inclusivity, and communicate acceptance”, said a spokesman for New York Pride.

Displaying the new flag is “just one of the ways we can visibly acknowledge and celebrate the colourful plurality of our community,” he added.

W

ith the country’s vaccination programme ramping up, and if the President and political leaders in the Western Cape are to be believed, we are on track to reach herd immunity by the end of the year. This bodes well for the country and particularly Cape Town as the city is reliant on the summer tourist trade which has been devastated over the past 18 months with the lockdowns, restrictions on restaurants, hotels, closure of beaches etc. With the country reaching population immunity, hopefully things will change and restrictions will be lifted.

In light of this positivity the committee are working to get the necessary licences in place to hold an in-person, as opposed to online, Pride in 2022.

Of course at the moment, everything is still up-in-the-air but should the government give the go-ahead it wont be a last minute scramble.

The date will be the 26 February and the Pride Festival & Mardi Gras will, as in the past, be the final event of the Pridemonth calender. Leading up to this date will be a number of community events.

These include the ever-popular Mr & Miss Cape Town Pride Pageant, book nights with authors, art nights, the Hero Awards gala dinner and auction which was very successful last year. This year Cape Town Pride will have a new event on the calender which will hopefully become an annual highlight. The Cape Town Pride Proms is scheduled for the 17th February and is planned as a glittering night of music with the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra and well-known singers doing

well-known numbers such as Nessum Dorma and Barcelona. The night will not be limited to classical music.

A night of popular classics and pop tunes are featured on the programme.

Currently the show, which will be modelled on the world-famous BBC Night at the Proms, is in the planning stages so it is important to keep your eye on the press and social media as to how it is moving forward.

Pride is planned to adhere to any Covid restrictions and in an alliance with the City of Cape Town will be limited to those people who have been vaccinated. To this end an App has been developed where people will be required to upload the proof of vaccination and this will be required on entering any Pride 2022 event. The App, HealthPass ZA, has been developed by Siyamed and can be downloaded on the Apple App store or Play Store on Google.

So don’t miss out on any event. It is important that you get vaccinated, download the App and be ready for an long anticipated opening of events and be a part of Cape Town Pride 2022!

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OUT ON FILM STRAIGHT ACTORS WHO HAVE PLAYED GAY ON THE BIG SCREEN - BRILLIANTLY! Whilst some people feel that all LGBTI+ roles on screen should be played by LGBTI+ people, some of us don’t have issues with straight actors portraying LGBTI+ roles...I guess that’s why it’s called acting... some of the films are award-winning classics, whilst others have been panned ... check out just a small sampling of some of the best...

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any screen legends, as well as a huge array of modern day actors, have taken on gay roles to huge critical acclaim. From Tom Hank’s powerful Oscar-winning performance in Philadelphia, Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal’s superb performances in the ground-breaking Brokeback Mountain to Philip Seymour Hoffman’s brilliant portrayal of American novelist Truman Capote, in Capote as well as numerous other towering works. In this issue we celebrate - and acknowledge - some of these memorable performances and find out what the actors had to say about playing gay.

Tom Hanks & Antonio Banderas - Philadelphia

In no specific order of who was best, these are the films that OUT Africa Magazine ranks as worthy of the accolades...

TOM HANKS & ANTONIO BANDERAS - PHILADELPHIA (1993) Starring Tom Hanks as a brilliant lawyer who is fired because of AIDS, who then employs Denzel Washington to defend him, and Antonio Banderas who plays his lover. The film remains a ground-breaking look at the AIDS crisis and the stigma experienced by gay men in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s. Philadelphia is a powerful, engrossing film that is still relevant today.

Jake Gyllenhaal & Heath Ledger Brokeback Mountain

TREVANTE RHODES - MOONLIGHT (2016) Growing up in a rough Miami neighbourhood, Chiron, played by Trevante Rhodes and Aston Sanders experiences his fair share of abuse and neglect. The film follows his life in three self-reflexive stages – from childhood to adolescence and finally adulthood. Throughout, Chiron battles bullying, poverty, and the effects of drug addiction, whilst attempting to come to terms with his sexual identity. Every facet was realised in this Oscar-winng film, with flawless delivery, from the astonishing acting by every performer, to lush or exquisitely brutal cinematography, to tight editing.... And, of course, the script — original, profound, empathetic, and nuanced.

Trevante Rhodes - Moonlight

JAKE GYLLENHAAL & HEATH LEDGER - BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN (2005) The American Neo-Western romantic drama film directed by Ang Lee is considered as one of the breakthrough films of queer cinema. This film is about the complex emotional and sexual relationship between two men who developed a bond over one summer in the ‘60s. Brokeback Mountain is one of the most critically acclaimed films and heads many lists as one of the best. It’s a romantic masterpiece with a destructive ending both literally and emotionally. Most of all, the exquisite acting from the two leads, who never make a wrong move.

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WILLIAM HURT - KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN (1985) This unexpectedly beautiful film set in such an abjectly depressing situation in a South American jail in the middle of a revolution The two characters--a macho journalist protestor hungry for justice and a gay story-teller hungry for love--are polar opposites on many levels. Sexual. Social. Political. Even their versions of freedom are miles apart, although each are willing to do just about anything to have it.

Slowly, however, they evolve in their relationship to one another.

Although they never lose their core differences, they do find their meeting points. And it is beautiful. William Hurts performance was a Tour De Force.

William Hurt - Kiss Of The Spider Woman

MICHAEL DOUGLAS & MATT DAMON - BEHIND THE CANDELABRA (2013) This film about the legendary performer Liberace is a masterpiece, thank’s to the electrifying Michael Douglas as Liberace and Matt Damon as his lover, Scott Thorson. Dramatising the last ten years in the life of the famed pianist based on Thorson’s memoir. The film perfectly portrays the over-the-top glamour and manipulative behaviour of the iconic performer.

EDDIE REDMAYNE - THE DANISH GIRL (2015) “God made me a woman, but the doctor corrected the mistake that nature made”, surely the most memorable line from Tom Hooper’s beautiful film. Set in the late 1920s, details the life of artist Einar Wegener, (subsequently Lili Elbe), who, with the aid of his longsuffering wife and fellow artist, Gerda, comes to terms with his desire to become a woman in an age of intolerance, and gambles all in agreeing to undergo one of the first ever sex-change operations. Eddie Redmayne triumphs as Einar/Lili, bringing to life the smallest nuances, dilemmas, insecurities, confusions throughout the movie.

Eddie Redmayne - The Danish Girl

ROBIN WILLIAMS - THE BIRDCAGE (1996) This movie is hilarious. An uplifting movie with lot of heart and so entertaining it can be watched over and over. The film is an American remake of the French classic La Cage aux Folles and many armchair critics think it better than the original- updated and delightfully acted, with the brilliance of Robin Williams and Nathan Lane in the lead roles.

HARRY HAMLIN & MICHAEL ONTKEAN - MAKING LOVE (1982) This was a griund-breaking film when it was first released, dealing with gay men who have been hiding their true selves. The film was way before it’s time. Relevant and sensitive to anyone struggling with being honest with not only yourself, but your future partner as well. An excellent movie, well acted produced and directed. Hamlin did say it ruined his career.

Michael Ontkean & Harry Hamlin - Making Love

EWAN MCGREGOR & CHRISTIAN BALE - VELVET GOLDMINE (1998) Velvet Goldmine, itself the title of a David Bowie song, follows the lives of Brian Slade (Jonathan Rhys Meyers), a queer glam rock idol based on Bowie and Marc Bolan, and his eventual lover, Curt Wild (Ewan McGregor). Slade fakes his own death and is exposed as a fraud. A decade later in 1984, a reporter and former fan, Arthur Stuart (Christian Bale), tracks down the former rocker to do an article on his life and downfall.

Described by some critics as “one of the most underrated films”, so perhaps it needs to come out of the closet again for another viewing.

Hugh Grant & Rupert Graves - Mauricea

JIM CAREY & EWAN MCGREGOR - I LOVE YOU PHILIP MORRIS (2009) A really lovely tale of two men whose relationship is a little more complicated than it seems. Charming, odd, and unlikely love story. Carey is at his offbeat best and McGregor is sweet and adorable as his love interest. The shenanigans are implausible but it is based on true events.

HUGH GRANT & RUPERT GRAVES - MAURICE (1987) Maurice is a heart-touching, meticulously detailed period piece that is a must-watch. Brilliantly capturing E.M. Forester’s novel of the same name will sensitive, deep performances from all the lead actors in this tale of forbidden love.

Phillip Seymour Hoffman - Capote

Ewan Mcgregor & Jim Carey - I Love You Philip Morris COLIN FIRTH - A SINGLE MAN (2009) Directed by Tom Ford, the film is brilliant, powerful, meaningful. Its a painful, and perfectly portrayed look at how grief can suffocate us, making it hard to get through each day, but also make each day resonate more deeply because of the pain. Colin Firth is superb but Fords cinematography nailed it.

Colin Firth - A Single Man PHILLIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN - CAPOTE (1987) - This is a startling adaptation of Capote’s In Cold Blood. Philip Seymour Hoffman’s riveting central performance guides a well-constructed retelling of the most sensational and significant period in author Truman Capote’s life, he is simply a tour de force.

Excellent from start to finish, under the stunning direction from Bennet Miller.

SEAN PENN - MILK (2008) The plot revolves around Harvey Milk who became the first openly gay man elected to the first notable public office seat on the Board of Supervisors in San Francisco who was shot dead by a colleague. Sean Penn is absolutely brilliant, compelling, and utterly convincing.

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Sean Penn - Milk

WORD PERFECT

A TALE OF TWO OMARS: A Memoir of Family, Revolution, and Coming Out During the Arab Spring Omar Sharif Jnr

O

mar Sharif Jnr is the grandson of the legendary Egyptian actor by the same name. In A Tale of Two Omars, he bares all in this stirring debut. It is an account of his extraordinary and turbulent life.

The grandson of Hollywood royalty on his father’s side and Holocaust survivors on his mother’s, Omar Sharif Jr. learned early on how to move between worlds, from the Montreal suburbs to the glamorous orbit of his grandparents’ Cairo. In the book he looks back on a childhood spent moving between his Jewish mother and Arab father’s families and the years leading up to his current exile from Egypt after publicly coming out as gay in 2012. Sharif weaves-in the ever-present spirit of his late paternal grandfather, a celebrity and fervent optimist.

Even after he died in 2015, following a decade with Alzheimer’s disease, his grandfather’s philosophy of “leaving it all on the table” served as a beacon of hope for Sharif throughout his toughest moments, and buoys the narrative.

Despite the rampant homophobia he suffered early in life; a tumultuous coming-out experience in college with his mother (who screamed at him to “be normal”); and multiple sexual assaults by powerful men, Sharif remains sanguine and measured in his reflections. And while his convictions may be tinged by his aristocratic upbringing (“Because of my grandfather, I could get into any private club I wanted”), he maintains his hope in humanity, making several calls for increased dialogue, tolerance, and patience in Mideast politics.

The writing is direct, exquisitely personal, and most striking when the author addresses the intense internalised conflict between wanting to return to his homeland and the reality that exile is the only way to survive the repressive, anti-gay “new Egyptian paradigm.” This moving story is an inspirational chronicle of courageous LGBTQ+ advocacy in the face of official repression.

HOLA PAPI Omar Sharif Jnr

¡Hola Papi! began as an advice column that started out at Grindr’s LGBTQ online magazine INTO in 2017. It was originally pitched as “Queer Latinx Dear Abby Huffing Poppers,” the column went on to tackle questions from readers around the world and has now been adapted into a memoir ...

In ¡Hola Papi!, John Paul Brammer shares his story of growing up biracial and in the closet in America’s heartland, while attempting to answer some of life’s toughest questions: How do I let go of the past? How do I become the person I want to be?

Is there such a thing as being too gay? Should I hook up with my grade school bully now that he’s out of the closet? Questions we’ve all asked ourselves, surely.

With wit and wisdom in equal measure, ¡Hola Papi! is for anyone—gay, straight, and everything in between—who has ever taken stock of their unique place in the world, offering considered advice, intelligent discourse, and fits of laughter along the way.

“Readers are likely to become addicted to these stories; they’re that good…Brammer comes to know himself very well, and readers will be delighted to make his acquaintance, too,” said a Booklist review.

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MUSIC MOVES THE DIVA IS BACK

S

oul icon Diana Ross has released her first album in 15 years, Thank You - and she sounds fantastic on her comeback album.

It’s the diva’s 25th solo studio album - and her 43rd overall.

A press release said the album “offers a powerful, inclusive musical message of love and togetherness” and that “with its songs of happiness, appreciation, and joy, it wholeheartedly acknowledges that we are in this all together”.

Recorded entirely in her home studio during the Covid pandemic, Thank You is the follow-up to her 2006 album I Love You. “This collection of songs is my gift to you with appreciation and love,” said Ms Ross in a statement. “I am eternally grateful that I had the opportunity to record this glorious music at this time”.

Ross co-wrote all of the 13 tracks, working with a variety of contemporary pop producers - including Jack Antonoff, who has become a key collaborator for female artists like Taylor Swift, Lana Del Rey, St Vincent and Lorde.

The title track is a feel good celebration of the classic Diana Ross sound, with echoes of vintage Motown song writing - with a noticeable hat tip to Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell’s You’re All I Need To Get By. Now aged 77, Ross started her career at Motown in the 1960s, achieving stardom with The Supremes, on hits like Baby Love, Stop! In The Name Of Love and You Keep Me Hanging On. She split from the group in 1970 and went on to score more than 50 UK chart hits, including Upside Down, Endless Love and Chain Reaction. And a darling to the

The Supremes

LGBTI+ fans with her enduring hit anthem, I’m Coming Out. Her last hit single in the UK was the Westlife duet When You Tell Me That You Love Me, which reached number two in 2005.

her incredible talent to a new young audience and adds to her enormous musical legacy which saw her dubbed the female entertainer of the 20th century by US magazine Billboard as long ago as 1976.

She returned to the US charts last year, when a remix of her 1976 classic Love Hangover topped the dance charts.

“I dedicate this songbook of love to all of you, the listeners,” concludes Ms. Ross.

“As you hear my voice you hear my heart.

Let Love Lead the Way.”

Ms Ross, a consummate performer, actress and recording artist needs no introduction having entertained us for 6 decades. This is the true measure of her iconic status. Her latest album opens

Thank You is this year’s most welcome comeback - congratulations to this enduring, amazing musical and “gay” icon - the album is a winner!

Diana Ross the actress in Lady Sings The Diana Ross the performer Blues

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OUT TAKES “Why is it that, as a culture, we are more comfortable seeing two men holding guns than holding hands?”-Author Ernest J. Gaines

“I’ve been embraced by a new community. That’s what happens when you’re finally honest about who you are; you find others like you.”-Chaz Bono “It takes no compromise to give people their rights ... it takes no money to respect the individual. It takes no political deal to give people freedom. It takes no survey to remove repression.” - Harvey Milk “This world would be a whole lot better if we just made an effort to be less horrible to one another.” – Elliot Page, Actor Mag 56