TALES OF THE CIT Y

Behind the scenes of the

HIGHER revival of the year
R A INBOWS
Meet the queer
spiritualists WHAT NEX T FOR
PARKFIELD
SCHOOL?
£5.25
attitude.co.uk

Queen Zee
Greg Scarnici
Maxim Baldry
BenDeLaCreme

K E
R
T
OM
NA N !

TA TO N
RO C

E G E R Bringing
Elton John to
the big screen
MABEL SIGALA MYA KATE NASH
LADY LESHURR M.O ALICE CHATER
- SATURDAY DAYTIME -
THE BLACK MADONNA PRESENTS - WE STILL BELIEVE
HORSE MEAT DISCO OCTO OCTA MOXIE HOOKER CLUB ADONIS
- SATURDAY NIGHTTIME -
SAM DIVINE

THE VIVIENNE GALS ALOUD MISS PENNY THE VIXENS BAGA CHIPZ
SANDRA LOLA LASAGNE DRAG WITH NO NAME DIVINA DE CAMPO
TWIGGY MISS THUNDERPUSSY TANYA HYDE MARTHA D’ARTHUR
KY KELLY POPPY COCK HEARTS & SOULS

LEIKELI47 KAIIT QUAY DASH PAIGEY CAKEY MOHO

OJERIME LACEY LOU’S FEMME PALACE
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 THE HUMAN LEAGUE
FAITHLESS DJ SET MARC ALMOND NAO
AJA ROGUE SYMPHONY
THE BIG GAY TIME PARTY FT.
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HANNAH WANTS
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VICKY JACKSON AS PINK THE VIVIENNE MISS MARTY MARSHA MELLOW

SANDRA KELLY WILDE AMY LA QUEEFA DAVE LYNN KARA VAN-PARK
SHANIA PAIN TOPSIE REDFERN SUM TING WONG GLITTER LIPS

RICO NASTY ASHNIKKO NAKHANE CALL ME LOOP

EMILY BURNS ABISHA ANDREA DI GIOVANNI
THE CLAUSE LUCY WHITTAKER UNPRONOUNCEABLE
SOPHIELOU DRAG PUNK
 YOUR
MONEY,
OR
YOUR
LIFE?

Attitude Financial Services Limited is an appointed representative of Intrinsic Financial Planning Limited and Intrinsic Mortgage Planning Limited, who are authorised and regulated by the
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 Back in the day ‘your money or your The world’s biggest LGBTQ media
life’ was a choice offered to you at the brand is proud to put its name to a
roadside. Or, as a member of the LGBTQ new partnership that brings together
community, across a desk when faced some of the UK’s leading financial
with a financial adviser. service providers to deliver a range
of market-leading products.
Because, however unpalatable it may have
seemed at the time, doing the best by your And it does so via a team of highly-
money too often meant denying your life. qualified advisers who are happy in their
And that default assumptions about your own skin – either LGBTQ themselves, or
gender, sexuality, partner, marital status or allies of the community with diversity and
ability to have and raise a family resulted inclusivity experience and an LGBTQ
in two things. client base.
First, coming out to a complete stranger What does that mean?
who knew nothing of you, nor you of
We understand that LGBTQ rights are
them. Second, facing exclusion,
human rights. Know that same sex
discrimination or even an entirely
marriage is marriage. Recognise that
different set of rules, as there simply
gay parents are parents.
wasn’t a box to tick for L, G, B, T or Q.
And we understand that a person’s choice
Your money was worth the same as anyone
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v s cru org vours
 This issue
June 2019

p66

Travel
74 JUST THE TICKET
The latest travel tips and news
p32 76 NASHVILLE
Music, food, sexy cowboys... the
p62 Tennessee capital has a lot to offer
Agenda 84 HOT HOTEL
Sofitel Legend The Grand,
11 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF’S LETTER Amsterdam
12 ATTITUDE LOVES
What we’re thirsty for this month. Active
18 THE BIG ISSUE
Is politics broken? 88 ACTIVATE
20 THE RULES The latest fitness news and tech
For becoming a national treasure 90 JACK AND CHILL
21 RISING STAR Personal trainer to the stars Jack
Category Is... podcasters Hanrahan works up a sweat
22 COLUMNIST — MOBEEN AZHAR 96 MATT LISTER
Building bridges not walls Fitness in focus
23 BIG IN A WIG 98 A PROBLEM SHARED
BenDeLaCreme p108
24 COLUMNIST — GARETH JOYNER Social
“Gold-star” gays
25 CULTURE CLUB 102 REAL LIFE
Christina Aguilera’s Beautiful Super geek Chris Jones on being
26 CARS rescued by comic-book heroes
28 HOMES 106 LIFE LESSONS
Drag queen Greg Scarnici
Features 108 REAL BODIES
Pianist Emmanuel Vass hits all
32 TARON EGERTON the right notes
Firing on all cylinders as Elton John 110 WORD ON THE STREET
in biopic Rocketman 112 TABLE FOR TWO
44 TALES OF THE CITY 113 BUDDY BRILLIANT
Exclusive look at the revival of the 114 REVIEWS
landmark queer TV series Books by Uli Lenart, films by Guy
48 PARKFIELD SCHOOL Lodge, music by James Barr
What’s next after the anti-LGBTQ 119 HOMO FOMO
protests in Birmingham Pride diary special
52 SPIRITUAL QUEERS
Meet the people dancing to the Style
beat of their own drums
60 QUEEN ZEE 124 CRUSH
Bow down to the queer punk band Top of the pops
62 MAXIM BALDRY 125 FASHIONLISTA
Star of Russell T Davies’ dystopian Trainers
drama Years and Years 126 SHEER PERFECTION
66 NETTA BARZILAI Dare to bare
Eurovision’s reigning champ takes 136 WATCH
us on a tour of Tel Avi 138 JUMP!
70 BUSINESS PROFILE Sportswear
myGwork’s Adrien and Pierre p106 146 FAVOURITE THINGS
Gaubert Christophe Sanchez-Vahle

JUNE 2019 9
 Meet
Gary Simons, art director
When I need to feel ALL POWERFUL, BUTTIGIEG 2020
I turn to my tried-and-trusted We’re rooting for the

the
“hype song”. Turned up LOUD in my out Indiana mayor to
headphones, Kanye West’s Black trample Trump (still

team
Skinhead makes me feel invincible! can’t pronounce that
Relentless driving tribal beats, deep surname, tho’)
bass, distorted vocals and energy.
It’s 3.08 minutes of pure adrenaline UNTUCKED
and power. Now I’m ready to face Putting the cyst in the
absolutely anything... or anyone Season 11 sisterhood

WHAT IS YOUR SONG? GO JOE!

Hugh Sohn, chief sub editor England rugby
Cue flashback to 1977 and a closeted teen’s first visit star Marler spams
(with parents) to San Fran. I knew I’d found my spiritual homophobe Falou’s
home: Harvey Milk was campaigning and men were Twitter with gay kisses!
holding hands in the street. When it came time to leave, Fighting fiend with fierce
I promised myself I’d be back. It took a while but I did
return — seven times — because I Left My Heart in San HOT UNDER
Francisco (P.S. The hair? As I said, it was the Seventies) THE COLLAR
Having unholy thoughts
for Andrew Scott’s hot
Fleabag priest? Kneel?
You don’t have to tell
us twice...
Martijn Tulp, writer
Mine is the title track of Janet Jackson’s

UP &
album The Velvet Rope. That song will
always be connected to a time in my life
where I came out, moved out, started DOWN
travelling — and was lucky enough to meet
my idol. It never fails to make me move

WHAT WE’RE ROCKING

AND BLOCKING
P R I N T / O N LINE / TAB LET / M OBILE

Editor in chief Cliff Joannou Head of partnerships Mike Buckley TV FOMO

cliff.joannou@attitude.co.uk mike.buckley@attitude.co.uk
Assistant editor Tim Heap
Subscriptions Enquiries We haven’t seen half the
tim.heap@attitude.co.uk Commercial manager Andy Goddard attitude@warnersgroup.co.uk series the world is raving
Features editor Tom Stichbury andy.goddard@attitude.co.uk 01778 392005 about and now we feel as
thomas.stichbury@attitude.co.uk 020 3598 6741
Chief sub editor Hugh Sohn Account manager Joanna Hill if we’re losing at life
hugh.sohn@attitude.co.uk joanna.hill@attitude.co.uk Warners Subscription Department
01342 872041 Freepost, PE211, Bourne,
Travel editor/staff photographer Account manager Sean Lineker Lincolnshire PE10 9BR X-STREAM FATIGUE
Markus Bidaux sean.lineker@attitude.co.uk Disney and Apple join the
markus.bidaux@attitude.co.uk 020 3598 6743
Sports editor Mark McAdam
Attitude is now available through the streaming revolution and
RNIB Newsagent service, which delivers
mark.mcadam@attitude.co.uk Managing director Darren Styles. OBE the latest news, magazines and stories in a range we can’t even [see above]
Editor at large Matthew Todd Commercial director Craig Lewis of formats to people with sight loss. To subscribe
matthew.todd@attitude.co.uk Operations director Nigel Russell to RNIB Newsagent, call the helpline on 0303 123
Events manager Lesley Harris 9999, or email them at helpline@rnib.org.uk. HAY FEVER
Art director Gary Simons Production executive Tom Doyle rnib.org.uk
Itchy eyeballs, scratchy
gary.simons@attitude.co.uk
Designer Laurène Pineau throat, streaming nose,
laurene.pineau@attitude.co.uk Copyright © Stream Publishing Ltd 2019 all rights reserved. No sneezing fits (also
part of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part
Fashion and grooming director without the written permission of the publishers. Unsolicited our reaction to the
Joseph Kocharian contributions must be accompanied by a stamped addressed Brexit snooze fest)
envelope if they are to be returned. We cannot accept
joseph.kocharian@attitude.co.uk
responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts and photographs or
Junior fashion editor Nick Byam for material lost or damaged in the post. Letters submitted to
nick.byam@attitude.co.uk Attitude or its editors are assumed to be intended for publication SCRUM SCUM
Attitude, The Cowshed, Ladycross Farm, in whole or in part. The mention or appearance or likeness of Homophobic Aussie
Web editor Will Stroude Hollow Lane, Dormansland, any person or organisation in articles or advertising in this
will.stroude@attitude.co.uk Surrey RH7 6PB publication is not to be taken as any indication of sexual, social or rugby player Israel
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Interns Harry Archer // Josefina Martin Printed by Wyndeham Bicester

attitude.co.uk @attitude.co.uk @attitudemag @attitudemag

10 JUNE 2019
 Editor
in
Chief ’s
Letter
I
t’s not been a great month for religious tolerance. [I’ll give you a second to clutch your pearls.]
First, the Sultan of Brunei passed an horrific law sanctioning death by stoning for gay sex. The
law applies only to Muslims, further oppressing Brunei’s gay community; while the country’s
businesses, hotels, etc are happy to continue accepting the money of non-Muslim gay visitors.
No, thank you, mister sultan. That’s not how the LGBTQ community works. An attack on one of us
is an attack on all of us. It was encouraging to see the counter-reaction, from the Dorchester Hotel
protest to all the many organisations and individuals taking a stand. On
Closer to home, at Parkfield School, in Birmingham, parents protested against the school’s No the
Outsiders classes. Designed to celebrate diversity and encourage inclusivity of different races, cover
ethnicities, religions and sexualities, they said including LGBTQ went against their religious beliefs.
Thankfully, these protests didn’t affect a government bill to introduce statutory age-appropriate
relationship education in schools when MPs overwhelmingly voted in favour of the changes
on 27 March. Before you crack open the champagne, it should be noted that the finer print is
disappointingly vague. Primary schools do not have to include discussion of LGBTQ families. In
faith-led schools, LGBTQ lives can be taught from a faith-perspective with debate allowed.
Excuse me — debate?
This implies that a conservative head of a faith school — be it Christian, Muslim or other — can
promote the message that “gay relationships exist, but we believe they are
wrong.” This is not progress, it’s fuelling prejudice. Where Section 28 silenced
all LGBTQ discussion, this new policy tacitly enables homophobia.
Yet again, people who are born gay, bi or trans are having to debate and
“Yet again,
justify their existence against people who choose to follow a particular faith. gay, bi and Photography Damon Baker

It wasn’t long ago that our community in the Republic of Ireland was trans people at ADB Agency
Fashion Joseph Kocharian
fighting for marriage equality against religious stalwarts in a referendum, or are having to and Gareth Scourfield
Taron wears top, by 120%
the Church of England was campaigning against the same laws in the UK. justify their Lino at Matches Fashion,
jeans, by Wrangler, scorpion
Let’s be clear about one thing: religion has no place in the education
system. Faith schools are an outdated concept; religious studies should be
existence” ring, by Alan Crocetti at
Matches Fashion
extra-curricular lessons not the foundation of schools.
Religion is a choice. Its endless, contradictory interpretation should
not be allowed to harm the mental health and well-being of young people, especially LGBTQ
children who look to adults for acceptance and guidance.
Of course, there are many faiths that practise welcoming outlooks towards LGBTQ identity. There
is no reason why they cannot offer their support outside the education system, or in addition to
it. Similarly, there are many religious queer people who find comfort in their faith, through which
they have found balance alongside their gender and sexual identity.
I am sure they would not want their belief foisted upon others.
But for many queer people, when society and religion have too often been judgmental and
condemning, they have had to create their own families, and make their own journey to happiness. 
In this issue of Attitude, it was fascinating to meet eight people from the LGBTQ community who
identify as spiritual. (We’ll share a further four stories online during May.)  Photography Damon Baker
Each of them have found a way to communicate with their own higher power away from at ADB Agency
Fashion Joseph Kocharian
organised religion, moulded by their individual life experiences — with some being more and Gareth Scourfield
enigmatic than others. No two stories or outlooks are the same, but they are all connected by a Taron wears leather jacket
and top, both by Belstaff.
common theme: humanity grounded in nature and founded in love! Rings (left to right): black
oval ring by Thomas Sabo,
scorpion sovereign ring and
square amethyst ring, both
by Alan Crocetti at Matches
Fashion, circle sovereign
ring and crown ring, both
by Thomas Sabo, thorn ring,
by Pearls before Swine at
@CliffJoannou Matches Fashion

JUNE 2019 11
 L VES

AFTERGLOW
The UK welcomes off-Broadway “sleeper
hit about sleeping around” Afterglow
for a seven-week run this summer, and
it’s ticking all our boxes. After grossing
more than $1m (£764k) in a 69-seat
(wink, wink, nudge, nudge) theatre during
its extended New York run, it lands at
the Southwark Playhouse, London, on
5 June. Written by S Asher Gelman, the
play focuses on married couple Josh
and Alex as they invite Darius into their
open relationship one night. But as the
trio’s connection transcends the carnal,
they have to reckon with ideas of love,
intimacy and commitment. The play
features strong language and nudity, but
we don’t suppose that will put you off!
DARREN BELL

southwarkplayhouse.co.uk

12 JUNE 2019
L VES

FARAH LOST WEEKEND

COLLECTION
Farah are gearing up for the warm weather
with their Lost Weekend high summer
collection. Along with a colour palette of
pink, green and blue — inspired by Ibiza
beach life — there are pops of neon which
give a nod to the super clubs on the island.
After all, it’s the place where Ku, Pascha and
Amnesia found fame, as well as where Paris
Hilton gave herself the title of “one of the top
five DJs in the world.” Paradise-like prints
of flora and fauna, made with an airbrush
effect, find their way on to jackets, shirts and
swimwear. But Ibiza isn’t just about partying,
Farah have also incorporated terrazzo
stone, a commonly used material in local
architecture. It’s a dreamy collection that will
be perfect at a fantastic sunrise or sunset on
the Balearic island.

farah.co.uk

JUNE 2019 13
 L VES

BEATS
Following the launch of Apple’s
revamped EarPods, Beats by Dr Dre
is readying its own set of wireless
earbuds, perfect for audiophiles
with style. Available from May, the
sleek and sexy Powerbeats Pro
is an upgrade to its predecessor,
shrinking by around 20 per cent
in size and weight, but upping the
battery life and audio output so you
can listen to your favourite jams
on the go (get those Pride playlists
ready, ladies), with volume and track
controls on each earbud. Hooking
over each ear, they’ll even stay put
as you work up a sweat.
Price: £219.95

apple.com

14 JUNE 2019
 L VES

STAPLES EDITION
BY LOUIS VUITTON
“Wardrobe staples” is a familiar term but
just because you need certain items,
doesn’t mean they can’t be elevated. As
Donna Meagle and Tom Haverford famously
said in Parks and Recreation: “Treat yo
self.” The artistic director of menswear at
Louis Vuitton, Virgil Abloh, has created a
capsule collection of essential garments
and accessories in a neutral palette of
off-whites, taupes, greys, blues and blacks.
The concept of the other “staple” (the
metal thing you find in office drawers)
has also been looked at, with a metal LV
being pinned into the material. The brand
has given thought to your whole outfit
with everything from overcoats, blazers,
puffa and field jackets, to t-shirts, polos,
hoodies, shirts and crewneck jumpers,
plus cotton chinos, cargo pants and
denim. There’s even a range of sleek
accessories, boots, sneakers and
jewellery.

louisvuitton.com

JUNE 2019 15
 L VES

EUROSTAR
Pride season is upon us and Eurostar will put you
on the right track if you are heading across the
channel to celebrate at some of Europe’s biggest
LGBTQ events — especially with its airline-shaming
luggage allowance. Amsterdam, Brussels and Paris
are three obvious choices, but you can also visit
Disneyland Paris’ Magical Pride or take Eurostar’s
summer route direct to Marseille. And check out
Eurostar’s viral video campaign, which benefits
the Attitude Magazine Foundation and boasts an
all-LGBTQ cast, including YouTuber and author Olly
Pike and writer/presenter Calum McSwiggan (both
pictured). Pride. Every day.

eurostar.com

16 JUNE 2019
W W W. F A R A H . C O . U K / L O N D O N / B R I G H T O N / L E E D S
 BIG I S S U E

Polling it has enabled a bit more cross-

figures
generational understanding. In the
end, if we want to protect individual
rights, and indeed enhance them,
everyone has a part to play.
We’re not all street-filling agitators,
and we don’t all have the individual
Far from being turned drive of people such as Peter Tatchell,
off by the mess that but the democratisation of the media
higher listenership in the 15-24 age gives us all a voice — even if all we
is Brexit, young voters demographic than most popular do is sign an online petition or like
are turning out in ever music stations, you’ll understand why something on Facebook.
increasing numbers, I believe young people are engaged in
politics in a way that they weren’t even
Twenty years ago, the only media
outlet that we had to register a
argues Iain Dale 10 years ago. voice in was to write a letter to the
I get 15 year olds phoning in. Our local newspaper. Today, all sorts of
videos on Facebook have reached avenues are open to us. We can contact
out to a new generation, and it politicians directly and engage with

W
e keep being told that our means, unlike 5 Live or Radio 4, we’re them — well, some of them – on
body politic is broken and attracting new, younger listeners. Twitter and the like.
that young people especially Older people have complained We have a voice, but the challenge
have been turned off by the way our for decades that young people don’t remains to ensure that these voices are
political system works. There’s a word turn out to vote in local or national listened to. So, while I believe that the
for that view: bollocks. elections. In the Brexit Westminster system needs
Young people may not be enthused referendum, 64 per cent of “Young people are modernising and mending,
by Westminster party politics, but have
they ever been? No.
18 to 24 year olds who were
registered did vote, and that
certainly engaged. This is I don’t believe politics as a
whole is broken. Younger
Having said that, Jeremy Corbyn figure rose to 65 per cent a new kind of activism” generations may be very
has attracted a new generation of among those aged between suspicious of the older
young people into the Labour Party, 25 and 39. In the 2017 general election generations’ ability to govern and
and, through Momentum, they have the turnout among the youngest improve the quality of life for the
effectively become his storm troopers. age group was also 64 per cent, the whole nation, but there’s nothing
Margaret Thatcher achieved the same highest since 1992 — up from 43 per new in that. It was ever thus.
for the Tories in the 1980s. cent in 2015. The figure was just seven The big change is that nowadays
Young people may not like the per cent 10 years before that. there are so many opportunities for
shenanigans that take place in the I have little doubt that if there was younger generations to get involved
House of Commons, and they may another general election this year, or a and affect change, both on a local and
not join the old political parties, but second Brexit referendum, that figure a national level — opportunities that
they’re certainly engaged in single would rise to more than 70 per cent. weren’t there even as recently as 20
issues such as LGBTQ rights, and look Brexit may have divided the years ago. So take up the challenge.
at the support for the climate change generations but it has also led to some Choose your issue and you too can be
strikes in schools in recent weeks. This fascinating conversations between the change.
is a new kind of political activism. twinks and crinklies.
I present a current affairs show on In some cases, these dialogues Iain Dale presents the evening show
LBC Radio. If I tell you that we have a have been divisive but in others on LBC Radio 7-10pm. @iaindale

18 JUNE 2019
#KUBAR
Proudly Independent.
www.ku-bar.co.uk
w.ku bar.c
 SERVE THAT T. We’re talking T for talent.
You gotta have a lil’ suminsumin, a sparkle in

for becoming a national treasure your eye and a whole lot of spunk. Just like
the Cock Destroyers who are hot-tit-tipped
to receive an MBE for services to dickdom

NETWORK! Becoming besties with monarchy will help

secure one’s status. Oh hey, Megs, how’s about we watch
reruns of Suits, discuss Hazza’s crown jewels and make
voodoo dolls of Piers Morgan? Your palace or ours?

DRESS THE PART. You’re the shiniest jewel

in the land, so wear all of the shiniest jewels
in the land! Opulence is everything. Look at
Elton. He loves to slide a finger into a big ring…

EMBRACE WILDLIFE. They say you should never

work with animals, but it worked a treat for Sir
David Attenborough. You’ll have to bin the fur
coat and mink stole gran left you in the will,
though. Red paint was never your colour, anyway

GET A CATCHPHRASE. Become a meme. Give

the gays a slogan to slap on to a tiny tee. But
remember, some are more successful than
others. Think more “Get outta my pub” rather
than “Strong and stable leadership”

RE-INVENTION. It’s not just for Madonna. Look at

Posh. She made it! When all else fails, try and try again.
When that fails, try something new for fun. Like fashion.
You’re not out of your mind, you’re ambitious

KEEP YOUR LEGACY IN MIND.

Be remembered for your charisma,
uniqueness, nerve and talent. Not shoving
a wine bottle up your chacha on national
telly. Leave the party tricks at home
A RISE COMES BEFORE A FALL. You’ve shared
your deepest, carefully scripted secrets with
the world on reality TV. You’ve made the front
page of OK! and the Daily Mail loves ya. The
only way is up. But watch your step…

DON’T BE A TOSSER. That’s all

20 JUNE 2019
 R IS ING STA R

Ex factor
Former flames Justin Bettis and
Maurice Smith, from Philadelphia,
reveal why they put their split behind
them to host a new podcast that makes outed robbed me of the empowerment
sure black queer voices are heard to tell my story on my own terms. Many
people I considered to be friends had a
Words SPEAKING OUT: lot of negativity to spew, but I grew in
What makes your podcast Category Is… stand Thomas Justin, left, immeasurable ways as a result. I felt like
Stichbury and Maurice
out from the crowd? Scarlett O’Hara in the “God as my witness”
Maurice: We’re black. We’re gay. We’re scene in Gone with the Wind.
intelligent without being pretentious. We can black voices still aren’t being heard enough, Racism within the LGBTQ is a huge talking
talk about everything, from dating woes to particularly within the LGBTQ community? point, with apps such as Grindr taking
Donald Trump, from careers goals to Cardi J: We’re from two communities that have a stand against discrimination on their
B. Our podcast is different because we speak historically been marginalised. There is an platforms. Have you ever encountered racism
with unique voices. At the core, we also have a added layer of marginalisation when those on the scene?
great friendship that has lasted more than 10 two communities intersect. To be black is one M: I’m in a relationship so I haven’t been on
years. That chemistry can’t be feigned — and, thing, but to be black and gay takes things to the apps in a while, but they’re problematic.
yes, we happen to be exes. a completely different level. People of colour The anonymity empowers people to state
How did you meet? are often silenced in the LGBTQ community, “preferences”, whereas in real life, they
M: We were at a bar called Bump, in the Philly and some don’t feel empowered enough wouldn’t necessarily say, “No Fats. No Femmes.
“gaybourhood”. My roommate at the time to share their voices. We couldn’t find a No Asians,” to someone’s face.
was skittish about meeting some guy for a podcast with content that represented us, J: I was never shocked at the prevalence of
blind date so he asked me to go along to play so we created one. racism on gay dating/hook-up apps. Gay
“wingman”. Justin was there for happy hour A lot has been written about how challenging folk are not immune from white supremacy
with friends, saw me across a crowded room it can be for black men to come out. Do you and patriarchy. However, I was shocked
and approached. We went out the next day share that view? by how open people
and dated for three years, which is for ever in M: Definitely. In black “I was shocked by are in practising their
the gay world. culture, so much — racism. I almost think
Take it the break-up wasn’t bitter? probably too much — how open people gay people feel it’s not
M: Erm… emphasis is put on what are in practising detrimental because they
Justin: Oh no, it was beyond bitter. a black man is, and is their racism” have already experienced
Acrimonious is a better adjective. Maurice and not. On the podcast, we discrimination.
I didn’t speak for almost a year — and when talk about the harmful messaging of toxic What topic has sparked the most heated
we finally met, some words were had! masculinity and how it’s imprinted on us discussion between the two of you?
Why did you decide to work together? A lot of from a very young age. We’re taught that to M: We disagree a lot about Kanye West and/or
people would find it very awkward working be a man you have to be “tough”, disconnect the Kardashians. Social and political topics
with an ex. from your emotions, fuck as many bitches as can also be contentious because I’m more
J: When we reformed a friendship, it was possible and play sports. That makes being conservative, while Justin is more liberal. We
based on respect. It took a few years of setting your authentic, gay self extremely difficult. just agree to disagree.
boundaries and learning about each other How were your coming out experiences? Who would your dream guest be?
in a new way. Working with a good friend J: I had a very welcoming family. I made my J: RuPaul.
is amazing because we know each other’s coming out a bigger deal than it actually was. M: We named The Duchess of Sussex as our
personalities, how to confront each other M: I came out to my mum and she was 2018 person of the year. She needs to [come
respectfully and how to play up our strengths. tremendously supportive. Before I could along and] pick up her trophy!
There aren’t many podcasts hosted by black tell my brothers and friends, I was outed by
men, let alone black gay men. Do you think a guy I was involved with in college. Being linktr.ee/categoryispod

JUNE 2019 21
 In my view

#INSTAMAN AMROU AL-KADHI

THIS
ISSUE
MOBEEN AZHAR OWEN JONES DEAN ATTA
@madarolyat

AMERICAN ADAM FERNANDES

SURE KNOWS HOW TO SPIN Building bridges — not walls —
helps the fight against bigotry
A GOOD YARN — HE DESIGNS
KNITWEAR FOR A LIVING.
APOLOGIES, THAT REALLY
WAS A THREADBARE PUN
What do the Sultan of Brunei and the parents New Zealand are overwhelmingly non-white,
who pulled their children out of school in so of course Muslim-bashing has a racial
Birmingham have in common? Bigotry. element. In the Trumpian, Britain First/
Hundreds of students missed classes at Tommy Robinson dystopia we see online,
Parkfield Community School after their everything is divided into camps of “good”
parents said lessons about and “bad” and “our values”
LGBTQ inclusion were “Intolerance must and “their values”, “black”
“confusing” for children. and “white.” But life doesn’t
Meanwhile, Sultan Hassanal not be tolerated. Gay work that way. Humans
Bolkiah introduced an sex is not criminal ” are complicated and that
ultra-conservative penal includes people who
code in his Southeast Asian nation, which profess to follow a faith.
could see people found guilty of engaging in The American Values Atlas, published by
Just when you thought crocheting anal sex being stoned to death. the Public Religion Research Institute in April
couldn’t possibly get any sexier
As a Muslim who happens to be gay, I am 2018, shows more American Muslims now back
pissed off by what is going on in Birmingham. same-sex marriage than their white, evangelical
The “we are not homophobic, we just don’t Christian counterparts. Fifty-one per cent of
want our children to be confused” argument American Muslims support same-sex couples
is bullshit. And we should all speak out getting married, while 58 per cent of white
against archaic laws. Gay sex is not criminal. evangelical Christians oppose that.
Intolerance must not be tolerated. The New York Times collated data identifying
In Birmingham and Brunei, conservative nearly 350 white extremist terrorism attacks
values attributed to religi merica and Australia
Islam specifically, are the d 2017. Just last month, 50
And in both instances, th murdered in Christchurch,
Defence League, Britain F he killer championed
more broadly, the Far Rig uslims were taking over
We’re not normally a fan of jumped on the chance to He said he was inspired
pussies, but for you, Ads, we’ll agenda: that these examp vik, the Norwegian who
make an exception further proof that Muslim e in 2011 as part of a
compatible with the mod o defend Europe against
The Right seems to hav of Muslim domination.”
developed an ability to h point is: no one
on any story that feature mmunity has a monopoly
Muslims being intoleran righteousness or fucked-
while tuning out stories p ideas. The more we talk
that exemplify bigotry o each other and have
inspired by those who conversations about
profess to be Christian, commonalities, the more
Jewish, Hindu or of no we will grow together.
faith at all. They ask: Focus on building
“How can we be racist bridges and don’t allow
Sorry, what was that? You need when Islam isn’t a race?” those with a nasty
someone to wash your back? Muslims in Europe, agenda to build walls
America, Australia and between us.

22 JUNE 2019
 b
BenDeLaCreme
What is your biggest vice?
Sharp as cheddar, Candy corn. Thank God it’s not
BenDeLaCreme won hearts in season. 
during season six of Drag You’ve been given 24 hours to
Race, then delivered the live. How do you spend your
face crack of the century final day?
when she pulled the Running in circles screaming.
rug from under Ru You’re dead (sorry). What does it
by eliminating herself say on your gravestone?
from All Stars 3 She died as she lived, with
strangers laughing at her.
Which drag sister would you
haunt after death?
What were your rejected drag Shangela. I’m pretty sure I
names? haunt her now.  
RuPaula Abdul-Jabbar, Anne What does heaven look like?
Frankie Grande, Peppermint Zac Efron holding a plate of
Patty Hearst. nachos and a mirror. After
Describe yourself in three feeding you nachos, he holds
emojis. up the mirror and you see that
you look like him, but you make
Describe your drag style in five better movies. 
words. And hell?
What would Hanna-Barbera do? Donald Trump holding a plate
Worst pick-up line someone of nachos and a mirror. After
has said to you? feeding you nachos, he holds up
“Anyone ever told you that you the mirror and you see that you
look like Michelle Visage?”  look like him. 
What’s the worst thing someone What would your own fragrance
could say to you in bed? be called, and what ingredients
“Good morning.” would it contain?
How would (or does) your Laundry Day – equal parts
Grindr profile read? Fabreze and vodka, with notes
Sorry, I’m lost — can anyone of hip-pad sweat.
point me to Scruff?   You can travel back in time.
Biggest turn-on? Where would you go, and what
Opposable thumbs. would you get up to?
And turn-off? Ride a dinosaur. Meet a Mayan.
Drag Race quotes. Sterilise a Trump. 
If you could be any inanimate “I’d go back in time to ride a You describe yourself as
object in the world, what would terminally delightful. What was
you be? dinosaur, meet a Mayan and your most recent good deed?
Manny Jacinto’s chapstick. I’d sterilise a Trump” Letting Trixie win All Stars.
just alternate between his lips When did you last use a stick of
and hip pocket.  whiteout?
What would a film of your life When I brought reality television
be called, and who would star What’s your life motto? accessorised and so sweet you’ll crumbling to its knees, where it
as you? Look pretty, act stupid.  never know what hit you.  wept at my feet.
Hot Glue and Desperation, What’s your spirit animal? What makes you happy?
starring a heavily padded, Faux fox.  Children! Chocolate! Puppies! BenDeLaCreme stars in Drag
MAGNUS HASTINGS

reanimated [Forties actress] Which cocktail best suits your What makes you angry? Becomes Her at London’s Soho
Ann Miller. Or Miss Piggy in a personality? Children giving chocolate to Theatre, 13-25 May.
black wig.  A mai tai — colourful, well- puppies! @bendelacreme

JUNE 2019 23
 In my opinion

THIS
ISSUE

ANTHONY GILET GARETH JOYNER MAX WALLIS JONNY WOO

Sleeping with women doesn’t

GUILLOTINA MUNTER,
Glasgow’s first lady of
drag, spills the tea on the
queens’ latest exploits suddenly make you impure
Season 11 front-runner The “questions” feature on Instagram if that were the extent of it. The Gays™ have
YVIE ODDLY recently Stories is a laugh, isn’t it? Aside from being always delighted in swapping stories of who’s
received what she an engaging way to pass a train journey, if shagged who, and let’s be honest, the six
felt to be sub-par we look beneath the surface it can be an degrees of Kevin Bacon has NOTHING on the six
feedback in RAJA enlightening insight into the mechanics of degrees of sodomy.
and AQUARIA’S social interactions, especially between that of However, I can’t shake off the suspicion that
Fashion Photo RuView gay men. I’m phrasing it too grandly, but I still the implication is The Gays™ would really
and — in true Oddly stand by this claim. prefer it if the answer is “no.” As if there is
style — didn’t take it lying down. Watching how people interact through some sort of homosexual purity that’s valuable
Despite it being one of the week’s Instagram Story Questions and worth cherishing.
strongest looks, the RuView hosts fascinates me! Fascinates “Sex is an expression This suspicion is more
felt that Yvie’s fringe runway look and exasperates, because or less cemented with a
wasn’t particularly original. Yvie there’s nothing as dreary of intimacy between particular phrase that’s
clapped back by asking them to as rubbish online flirting. consenting adults — also often repeated:
give references of others who did Let’s be honest, social and good fun!” “No, I’m a ‘gold-star’ gay.
it better, and suggesting that they media is a Petri dish for Proudly declared as a tittle,
muster up more energy on their crap flirting among The Gays.™ I dare say I’m as if avoiding vaginal contact is an achievement,
YouTube series! guilty of it to some extent, but if I’ve seen “Y u worn boastfully like the badge of a McDonald’s
Fellow season 11 so cute tho lol” once, I’ve seen it 50 times. employee who’s best at mopping the toilets.
sisters MISS VANJIE As I’ve idly swiped through these inane At best, the term is somewhat pathetic; at
and SILKY found mating rituals, I’ve noticed a theme. One worst it’s outright misogyny.
themselves in a nail question rears its head repeatedly. It takes a Then there is the gold-star’s cousin, the
salon drama in WeHo few guises but the implication is consistent: “platinum-star” gay: a gay man who was born
recently when the owner “Have you ever slept with via caesarean, completely avoiding vaginal
asked Silky for cash up front, a women?” It always contact even at birth.
questioning whether they could strikes me as I wonder if this is a reaction to a cis-het
afford to get dem nailz did! However, being inherently mainstream that told gay men they were
a fan clocked them at the salon and juvenile, and abhorrent to nature, and that gay men now
posted that they were both acting not dissimilar feel that having sacrificed so much to resist
like a pair of entitled divas after to two giggling this and be true to themselves, there is a
being given the wrong nail colour. schoolboys in sanctity to their perceived status as A Gay™.
Drag queens acting like absolute a French and As we enter a world in which gender identity
cows? Never! Saunders sketch. is releasing itself from a strict binary code, I can’t
And drag legend JACKIE BEAT (It doesn’t help that help notice how entwined our sexual and gender
wasn’t too impressed at season perpetrators are identities are. Yet the online world gleefully
three’s MIMI IMFURST invariably thirsty shares articles about straight men having more
stealing her jokes bears on the cusp gay sex. As our attitudes towards gender become
recently either, of their thirties more fluid, doesn’t this work both ways?
calling her out who have yet Sex is an expression of intimacy between
and dubbing her: to grow out of two consenting adults — and good fun!
“YouYou You’reLast”. a Pokémon I’m not insisting that every gay man march
Savage! fixation.) This out and find a women to sleep with, but
wouldn’t let’s drop the outdated idea that women are
@ladymunter really be foreign curiosities and encourage a more
objectional open approach to human attraction.

24 JUNE 2019
 CU LT U R E C LU B

Culture
Club
Everyt
about
by Juno Dawson Beauti

I t was a Saturday night and the

central heating was stifling.
I must have been home for
Christmas vacation from university.
I have no idea why the video for
Christina Aguilera’s Beautiful was on
the television at my grandmother’s
Over
house, perhaps it was an advert for to you...
the album during Blind Date.
But on it was. Your thoughts
And of course they showed that on Beautiful
bit. The section where two men lock
lips. “Disgusting,” my grandfather She literally saved
commented. I knew, in that moment, lives with this song.
there was still work to do. None of her peers
Sung by a cis (presumably dared do anything
straight) woman, but, vitally, written like it at the time.
by 4 Non Blondes’ Linda Perry — a @cagutierrez_
lesbian — the lyrics aren’t outwardly
specific to the LGBTQ experience, Beautiful portrayed
but it doesn’t exactly take a massive LGBTQ people
leap of imagination. It’s a reminder in a postive way,
of one’s inner value in the face empowering us
of persecution or ridicule: “I am to go beyond our
beautiful, no matter what they say, insecurities.
words can’t bring me down.” @AlejVillalobos
Idealistic perhaps, but a new and
unexpected rawness and crackle in video for Beautiful to dissect body or in a t.A.T.u video actually made She made me, as
Aguilera’s usually bombastic vocals image and bullying, alongside the headlines. Croft and Shannon’s snog a straight person,
sold it. From the opening whisper aforementioned gay couple (Jordan is a full-blooded, tongue-filled pash, realise the struggles
of “Don’t look at me...” the song Shannon and Justin Croft) as well as but their hand-holding is intimate, and injustices LGBTQ
builds and builds into a command a transgender woman — portrayed tender and loving. people go through
to whoever her by Constance The fact that they continue their every day.
tormentor is: “So Cooper, who is embrace in the face of disgusted @GottaLoveXtina
don’t you bring
“The whole video thought to be the passers-by was revelatory to my little
me down today.” feels like activism. inspiration for group of queer chums. My dad shouted at
If the song was One suspects that Denis O’Hare’s The whole video felt like activism, me for watching it.
universal, the
video (directed
was the intention” character in
queer-friendly
not bad for a former Mouseketeer.
One suspects that was the intention.
I didn’t know there
would be hot men
by frequent Gaga American Horror A slew of empowerment pop songs frenching in it.
collaborator Jonas Åkerlund) made Story. Aguilera directly addresses followed, from Firework to Born This @adgvett
sure to spell out the specifics. the audience in the second chorus: Way but none felt as authentic.
P!nk (another Perry protégé) “You are beautiful, in every single Such songs are easy to mock
had set the tone with the previous way.” Perry’s message to the (exhibit A: Daniel Franzese’s Get involved
year’s M!ssundaztood, creating a listener is outward facing. character, Damian, being pelted Next month, we look
new sub genre of gritty, honest It was an interesting time with a sneaker while performing it at X-Men . Tweet
female pop. for queer inclusion. This was, in Mean Girls), but listen to Beautiful your thoughts
Aguilera, in a move to make depressingly, still a time when a gay again. Almost 20 years later, it still @junodawson
her image more mature, uses the kiss on Dawson’s Creek, Will & Grace gives me goosebumps.

JUNE 2019 25
 CA R S
Words Darren Styles

McLaren 720S Spider is supposed to be the epitome of no gain

without pain. But attached to the Formula
One-style carbon-fibre tub that’s the heart
You can argue all day about what form the best car in the world of any McLaren is, in this instance, hydraulic
might take — luxury saloon, SUV or, as here, mid-engined supercar… suspension with adaptive damping. They call
it Proactive Chassis Control II — in layman’s

A
terms it’s a system that is continually
bsolutes are difficult things, ask any a thing, glorious to look at or listen to, but a adjusting beneath you to optimise grip,
politician pressed for a one-word, yes brute to hustle down the road. Not this one. traction and ride quality.
or no answer. And heaven only knows For of course this car is quick beyond belief It’s some way cleverer than I am but what
how one might decide upon a good deal or a — 212mph all out (with the roof down!), able I can recognise is the fluidity with which
bad deal, without knowing for sure if it’s the to hit 62mph from standstill in a shocking 2.9 the car moves down the road, even a broken
best deal. Because best is dangerous territory. seconds — and blessed with a 710bhp twin- road. It’s supple, maintains poise and changes
Best hotel in the world? I’d say Belmond’s turbocharged, V8 engine that’s both sonorous direction with alacrity — nothing steers
Villa San Michele in Florence, you’ll almost and mellifluous. And it is, just look at it, better, anywhere.
certainly choose somewhere else. Best as striking as it is beautiful, formed by the Add a high-class cabin gratifyingly free
restaurant? Could be anything from pizza on wind itself so clever is the aero package that of clutter, the electric folding roof that adds
the street to three Michelin stars, depending defines the silhouette. intoxicating al fresco at the flick of a
on company and circumstance. And best car? But you’d expect some, if not all, switch and excellent all-round
Well, good luck with that. of that in a car of this genre. visibility (when in place the
On the right day it’s a Rolls-Royce Phantom, Looking good and going fast roof is a glassy canopy a
no doubt. Size, status and soporific luxury. On is what they do. What sets McLaren 720S Spider fighter pilot would call
the wrong day — on roads awash or unkempt this McLaren apart, more // 4.0-litre, twin-turbocharged home) and the McLaren
— it’s a Range Rover. Goes anywhere, wants for so than any other, is its V8 // 710bhp (720PS) // 568lb/ft 720S Spider underscores
nothing in terms of style. ability to deliver that in a torque // 0-60mph in 2.9 seconds one unique and
But there’s a third way. Pictured above is the form that’s so accessible, // top speed 212mph // seven- unexpected facet. You
McLaren 720S Spider, the new, topless variant so usable and — dare I say speed automatic, combined could use it every day.
of the fixed-head coupé that so impressed a it — comfortable. 23.2mpg // 276g/km CO2 // And why wouldn’t
couple of years back. A mid-engine supercar I know, it sounds like a £237,000 // you? It could very well
of this type — a decade or more ago — would taint when attached to such cars.mclaren.com be, after all, the best car
have been an unruly, truculent monster of a car. This mid-engined format in the world.

26 JUNE 2019
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 Taron wears leather
jacket, by Dsquared2,
top by Belstaff

32 JUNE 2019
 Ro ll in g
Taron Eger to n

li ke
th un d er
Taron Egerton reveals what it was
like to play superstar Elton John in
the upcoming biopic — and hopes
the censors leave in the
sex and drugs scenes
Words Cliff Joannou
Photography Damon Baker
at ADB Agency
Fashion Joseph Kocharian and
Gareth Scourfield
Location Ham Yard Hotel

>

JUNE 2019 33
 Taron wears top, by 120%
Lino at Matches Fashion,
jeans, by Wrangler

34 JUNE 2019
 Ta ro n Ege r to n

t’s December when I first meet Taron Egerton and, fittingly, we’re at a
fund-raiser for the Elton John Aids Foundation, at the opening night
gala of the Take That musical, The Band. Although the Haymarket
Theatre in London is brimming with celebrities on the red carpet who
usually command the paps’ attention, tonight all the spotlights have
swung Taron’s way. He’s in the middle of filming Rocketman, the biopic
based on Elton’s life that’s been seven years in the making since the
idea was first announced. (I guess, you could also say more than 70
years in the making of the musician’s extraordinary life.)
There are swarms of eager fans outside the theatre, desperate to get
a photo with the pseudo-Elton. Taron obliges a few with a selfie before
we’re ushered inside for the evening’s fund-raising auction.
“I love Attitude magazine. We absolutely have to do it,” he says as
we wander into the theatre after I invite him to be featured in the
magazine. Why thank you, Mr Egerton. We’re thrilled to have you.

T
rue to Taron’s word, we meet again two months later for his
Attitude cover shoot — his first interview with gay media as the
studio prepares to go full throttle on Rocketman’s publicity.
The success of Bohemian Rhapsody — the highest-grossing music
biopic ever — has added to the pressure for the film to be a hit. Similar
to casting the lead role of the Freddie Mercury film, it took time before
the mantle of portraying Elton came to rest on Taron’s shoulders.
As with Rami Malek’s performance carrying Rhapsody, Rocketman
will to an extent rely on the strength of a lead who doesn’t bring the
obvious box office pull of bigger Hollywood names such as Sacha
Baron Cohen, Tom Hardy and Justin Timberlake — all of whom had
previously been touted for the roles.
The parallels don’t end there. Queen and Elton were managed by
John Reid, whose character is featured in both films. Both tell the story
of a closeted musical genius who brings a flamboyance to his artistry
and proceeds to set the charts alight. It’s sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll as
only the 1970s could deliver, before both films fall head first into the
choking fear of the arrival of the Aids virus in the following decade.
There’s even a crossover production-wise, with Rocketman director
Dexter Fletcher serving as executive producer before taking over the
reins of Bohemian Rhapsody from controversy-hit director Bryan Singer.
Factor into the mix Rhapsody’s awards haul (despite the film leaving
critics underwhelmed, Metacritic rates the film with an average score
of 49 out of 100), and the expectation for Rocketman to satisfy couldn’t
be greater.
“I felt quite intimated by it because Rami has been so lauded,”
admits Taron when I ask if he’d seen Malek’s Oscar-winning role. “I just
didn’t need that in my head when I was making Rocketman.”
These surface comparisons are where Bo-Rhap and Rocketman
diverge. The Queen film adopts a (somewhat loose and condensed)
chronological approach to its narrative, with the songs either
performed in recording studios or on stage.
Rocketman takes a different approach.
“The movie starts with Elton going into rehab,” Taron explains of his
film’s non-linear narrative structure. >

JUNE 2019 35
 “He is feeling emotional to confront his life, to find out why he One of the biggest surprises for Taron was
is in this place and what brought him to that point. He must have how isolating Elton’s life with drugs became.
been 42, or something. So what he does is he recounts his life from “When you think about cocaine, you think about
there and we use his songs to tell particular parts of his story. partying and other people,” he explains. “But the
“Some of the songs are actually performed on stage as if they were thing that struck me as frightening is that Elton’s
concerts or gigs, but some of them are just done really intimately and life became really dark, it was about isolation and
privately and they are just little performance pieces like in a musical,” interacting with the drug alone.”
adds 29-year-old Taron, who appeared in Testament of Youth in 2014 — Taron is hesitant to divulge specific details,
playing gay again — before shooting to stardom in the Kingsman films. partly because that is for cinema-goers to
While Rhapsody sought to recreate Freddie’s iconic performances experience but also because it’s Elton’s story to
as realistically as possible, Elton’s music takes on a more fantastical tell when he releases his autobiography later this
format. We’d expect nothing less flamboyant of his story, really. year. “He had such a relationship with cocaine
In one scene of preview footage screened to media in March, the where he had a total disregard for his well-being
crowd at Elton’s famous Troubadour gig in LA is seen literally rising off when he was in the throes of it.
the floor as Taron/Elton plays the piano while also floating above the “He would do real damage to himself, then
stage, still striking the keys to Crocodile Rock (which became Elton’s first carry on. It became all-consuming.”
US chart-topper, in 1973). It’s not as if the issues around the hedonistic
“There are a few quite trippy bits in it, it’s non-naturalistic,” says combination of sex and drugs, muddled with
Taron. “And there is an element of him not wanting to convey it a fractured identity, is foreign to gay men.
completely accurately. There is only so much I can reveal but I wouldn’t The issues at the heart of chemsex have been
say he is always the most reliable narrator!” discussed endlessly, its triggers often rooted in
It makes sense that a man in treatment and in the process of detox how we, as LGBTQ people, spend a large part of our
after years of substance abuse, while also living with the weight lives hiding our identity from friends and family.
of a closeted public profile, would be portrayed with a somewhat All the equality legislation in the world doesn’t
“distorted” view of his past. Tangled into that already complex mean anything when society still believes it’s
mix of emotions is a tempestuous OK to debate on national television whether it’s
relationship with his manager John “right” for young people to be “exposed to LGBTQ
Reid. “We shot scenes where I am lifestyles” in school. (Thank you Parkfield School
hoofing up glucose, used for coke. protestors, Andrea Leadsom and the like).
We shot a very grown-up film,” Taron “In the throes of “I know he is someone who hasn’t always
attests. With shooting wrapped, he’s
accepted that the film’s fate is now in
coke, Elton had a felt entirely comfortable in his skin,whether
that’s about his sexuality or that he didn’t feel
the hands of studio execs with more total disregard for particularly sexy in some ways,” says Taron.
commercial tastes who might step
in to clean up a film that delves deep his well-being” “I think drink and drugs can make you feel
good in a way that is slightly false but in the
into its subject’s darkness. “You don’t immediacy can make it feel better.”
know what is going to happen in the Elton, who turned 72 earlier this year, grew
edit but the movie we shot is one that up in a drastically different era where being
I felt really good about, and proud of, and I hope the cut reflects that.” outed could end a person’s career whether they
If one thing is clear for Taron, it’s that this film is an interpretation were a world-famous pop star or a primary
of Elton’s experience, a retelling by other people of the musician’s school teacher, and he found himself at the
version of events. Taron stayed with Elton last summer, ahead of centre of a damaging spiral of substance
filming, during which time he delved into the singer’s personal life abuse, the main cause of which was rooted in
in the best way possible — by asking everything he needed to know to how disjointed he was in his identity.
do the role justice. He had all sorts of questions, from the obvious to The conflict in Elton’s sexuality is exemplified
the intimate: discovering what music inspired Elton in his early days, by one of the film’s most poignant moments,
details about the wild partying, and even about his sex life. featuring Someone Saved My Life Tonight, the song
Taron said he began to paint a picture of a young man who seemed released in 1975 and which revolves around
unready for the degree of fame that was about to hit him. Linda Woodrow, the first female love of his life.
“I think he was quite naive in a lot of ways, between the ages of 18 “That song is about him having this crisis of
and 23, and quite innocent and shy in some ways, too. I reckon his who he was and this cry for help,” says Taron. “He
confidence grew with his success.” stuck his head in the oven. I am pretty sure that
As well as Elton’s unrestricted insight, Taron also had access to the his sexuality and the figuring out of who he was,
singer’s diaries. “He is not gushy in them,” he says of the memoirs. was tied into that.
“What is more striking is that when you sit and talk to him, certainly “And he knew that he couldn’t marry this
my experience of him, is that he is very open. woman and that it wasn’t right for him because
“Maybe that is a recovery thing, an Alcoholics Anonymous thing, he wasn’t [sexually] attracted to her.”
that emotional availability and that willingness to discuss stuff that Renate Blauel was Elton’s second major “love
is quite dark and private. He really let me in.” affair” with a woman. What surprised Taron most
In the short time they have known each other, they have become about the situation was how committed they
close friends. After all, it must take a lot of faith to entrust a virtual were to each other.
stranger to tell your story to the world. “He loved her, he just didn’t want to have
“I think he knows that comes with quite a lot of pressure so he has sex with her. I think they were two people
taken it upon himself to look after me a little bit. He calls a lot and has who connected. He just didn’t have the right
become a big part of my life, and I am very grateful for that.” equipment. It’s not how he is wired. >

36 JUNE 2019
 Taron Ege r ton

Taron wears denim

jacket, by Louis Vuitton,
top, by Belstaff

JUNE 2019 37
 “People aren’t born
prejudicial, you learn it.
I wasn’t exposed to that”

Taron wears leather jacket and top, both by Belstaff.

Rings (left to right): black oval ring by Thomas Sabo,
scorpion sovereign ring and square amethyst ring, both
by Alan Crocetti at Matches Fashion, circle sovereign
ring and crown ring, both by Thomas Sabo, thorn ring, by
Pearls before Swine at Matches Fashion

38 JUNE 2019
 Taron Ege r ton

“There are different types of love, aren’t there? guns out for the gays. We skip through his cover shoot effortlessly
I think he really, really fucking cared about her, as photographer Damon Baker fires off the shots and Taron nails
but he is just fundamentally not attracted to every look. He throws himself into picking the clothes that he
women.” knows he’ll be comfortable wearing.
It’s fair to say Elton surprised the world We keep it simple, after all he’s just spent the best part of the past
when he married Renate in February 1984. year submerged in Elton John’s wardrobe. “Oh, and no pianos, we’ve
“I don’t need to tell the editor of Attitude done that,” he says when we suggest some shots next to the baby grand
the world in the late Eighties was a hellish that’s sitting in the corner, waiting eagerly for its close-up.
place to be for the gay community,” Taron says, Fair enough, we guess he’s seen his fair share of them as well.
acknowledging the shadow of the Aids crisis On the subject of Elton’s instrument, Taron took piano lessons so
that affected almost every gay man’s view of that he didn’t come across looking as if he had no idea what he was
intimacy at the time, and even the younger doing during those key scenes. “It’s fucking hard. Mainly it was about
generations that followed. me trying to get comfortable enough with it, so it looks like I’m doing
“The fear of becoming ill, the loss of it,” he explains. The songs, however, whether recorded in the studio
[friends], the vilification and blaming of the or performed live on set, are sung by Taron. He might have needed a
community for it. “stunt” double for the close-up hand shots, but the voice is all his own.
“Elton came out then married a woman, As we shoot, he’s humming away, and at one stage seemingly can’t
which is a such a mad thing to get your hold himself back any longer and bellows out a verse of I’m Still
head around. I can only imagine that was Standing as he wanders into the dressing room.
because he felt there was safety from these We all turn around, impressed with Mr Egerton’s more than capable
perceived dangers in what was a more socially pipes. “I do all the singing, that is something I can claim,” Taron says,
acceptable relationship.” beaming. Anyone would be proud if they carried it off as effortlessly.
“I would love to lie about

B
orn in Birkenhead, on Merseyside, Taron’s the piano,” he adds, “but at
early years were unsettled because his some point someone will put
family moved to the Wirral peninsula, a piano in front of me and
then Llanfairpwllgwyngyll on the Welsh island of I will look like an idiot. But
Anglesey, before settling in Aberystwyth. the singing, I do everything.”
Like Elton, Taron (a variation of taran, a Welsh Understandably, that little
word meaning thunder) came from a working- doubt about the singing
class background in which his theatricality was in a film centred around
at odds with his surroundings one of the greatest music
His interest in drama school and performing artists in the world — if not
musicals in youth theatre were not quite what the greatest — presented
other lads his age were doing. Taron with one of his biggest
His talent and dedication would deliver an fears: that people wouldn’t
early pay-off. It was a steep rise to fame for Taron accept his voice on those
LOVE AFFAIR: Taron
from his humble roots, stepping out of the Royal as Elton with Richard timeless songs. “It’s not an
Academy of Dramatic Art in 2012 and straight Madden as John Reid impersonation, it’s my take
into a run of major film roles. on him, and in some respects
Within two years Taron was cast as Gary “Eggsy” I have some anxieties that
Unwin, a car-stealing chav who is taken under people might not accept the performance because I do all the singing,
the wing of secret spies in the well-received they haven’t used Elton’s vocal. Of course, I have tried in some ways to
Kingsman: The Secret Service, a Bondesque action- emulate him but a lot of it sounds like me.
comedy for millennials, loaded with extreme “I hope that is exciting and interesting for people, and they aren’t
fight scenes and snappy dialogue. left wishing they could just hear Elton!”
His next lead role was in Eddie the Eagle, When it came to the music, Elton had one piece of advice for him.
playing the British ski-jumper who won the “He said: ‘stop trying to sound like me’. He wanted me to create my own
world’s heart at the 1988 Winter Olympics for his take on it, which is nice because it’s sort of freeing.
face-palm-inducing antics, which saw Taron work “I don’t think he was interested in hearing someone do an
with Dexter Fletcher. impression of him, he wanted to hear things recreated.”
Ironically, in his next film, Sing, voicing gorilla Taron cites his favourite songs from the film as Saturday Night’s
Johnny, Taron belted out Elton’s 1983 classic I’m Alright for Fighting and Your Song. From our first-hand glimpse of
Still Standing, almost prophetically sealing the Taron’s vocal prowess to the advance footage we’ve seen of Rocketman,
deal for him to play the man himself before he it’s clear he can carry a tune, and even clearer now why Elton trusted
was to even meet Elton on the set of action sequel him in the role: not because he can meticulously emulate the
Kingsman: The Golden Circle. The director of that musician, but because he can stand his own ground against the legend.
film, Matthew Vaughn, is even a producer on After all, reinvention is something Elton values, understanding it’s
Rocketman. The synergy was almost too perfect. the key to longevity, by embracing change and allowing his songs to be
It’s fair to say that Taron is feeling energised sampled or covered by younger artists.
as the Elton biopic’s opening night edges closer. “He released those albums last year, which were compilations of
It’s a game-changing role, much in the same way his work, done by Miley Cyrus, Florence Welch and Lady Gaga,” Taron
Bodyguard recently propelled his co-star Richard reminds me. “One was a country album, Restoration, and another was
Madden into the Hollywood A-list. more pop-y rock, called Revamp. And if you think about those names,
Taron’s in great shape and happy to get his [you realise ] he likes things to be rejuvenated and done differently.” >

JUNE 2019 39
 Taron says the songs that appear in Rocketman are not a “I felt Richard’s penis,” Taron answers, drawing
chronological guide to Elton’s incredibly expansive catalogue for a wide grin from me. Oh, Taron, you know how to
the simple reason that the right music was selected to best fit the make a boy smile. That’s practically gay catnip.
narrative. “That’s part of the fun of it,” the star adds. Where?
“You don’t know what’s coming next.” “I mean I don’t want... the studio will get
frightened about me saying,” he laughs, and

A
way from the glitz, when the music ends and the camera stops, gestures to his side. “On my leg... we shot a scene
whether Rocketman succeeds in carrying us away relies on the where we are both naked on a bed and we are
strength of the story’s emotional pull. Taron confirms that the rolling around. I don’t really know how much
film doesn’t shy away from representing Elton’s story. “This film is a gay further we could have gone.”
film, it is produced by Elton John and David Furnish,” he says. “There is I’m sure our readers can offer him some
no world in which this is not going to deal with that.” helpful suggestions.
Although largely set in the 1970s and 1980s, Taron didn’t have to “In the script, this is the scene of Elton losing
look far to find examples of people close to him who had struggled to his virginity and we wanted to try to do that
accept their identity. “My best friend from drama school, who I lived justice, and also at that point their relationship
with, came out to me. I lived with someone as they came to terms with hasn’t broken down yet.
their sexuality,” he reveals. “They were falling in love and it’s beautiful
“I’ve had someone cry in my arms about the fact that they were because it should be,” he says, the mention of
so terrified and at a loss at what to do.” which sounds as if it will have Attitude readers
Taron channelled everything he could into capturing the thrill buying extra tickets for further screenings.
and trepidation that comes with exploring your sexuality for “We didn’t want to play like they were a couple
the first time. “The rawness of that experience, the fear of that who were eventually going to fall apart, we
experience, but also the joy of the experience of Elton’s first kiss wanted to play it like two guys in their early
is in our film, I play it as if it’s the most wonderful thing. I don’t twenties who are falling in love and who are
treat it any differently than if it was the first time I really fancied incredibly sexually attracted to each other, so
someone in my life and the first we both stripped down to nothing and rolled
time I kissed them: it’s electric, it’s around in a bed together for half a day.”
exciting, your stomach is doing I clutch my pearls and ask, hesitantly, if Elton
somersaults. I treat it with the same offered any advice. “No, no, he didn’t,” Taron
love, care and affection I would as if “ He was a vi rgin smiles. “He kept asking if it was done yet.”
it was my first experience of falling
for somebody.”
till qu ite l ate But, for all the titillation that Taron Egerton
and Richard Madden can bless us with, it’s
As a straight actor playing a gay o n. He wasn’t certainly no spoiler alert to say Elton and Reid’s
man, he just hopes he has done Elton
justice. “There is a limit to being able overly s exual ” relationship ends badly.
“It does get ugly,” Taron says of the much-
to imagine how terrifying and how documented nature of a situation scarred by
alienating that may feel in some ways.” substance abuse. “There is domestic violence
To this extent, Taron highlights how between the characters [on screen].”
Elton himself didn’t quite understand the feelings he had towards If Taron is sure of one thing, it’s that the
other men. “Early on, Elton didn’t realise he was gay, he just felt very film works at shining a light on Elton’s darkest
drawn to other men. He was a virgin until quite late, he wasn’t a moments as well as celebrating his momentous
particularly sexual person until [then]. I think he felt quite drawn to highs. “That’s the thing it says about him: he is a
other men and just thought they were cool characters.” survivor.”
One of Elton’s earliest relationships with a man was with Dick James,

W
a musician and producer at his record company, although Taron says hen it comes to sexuality, Taron
the film doesn’t touch on this affair. In fairness, Elton’s life story — like himself has been the subject of
Freddie Mercury’s — is one deserving of a The Crown-like Netflix series, speculation since October when he
rather than a two-hour edit of 70 years of living. posted a picture of another guy on Instagram
Instead, the film focuses on Elton’s first serious relationship with a with the simple caption: “Cutie. My boy .”
man, his manager John Reid, played by Richard Madden. What followed was a flurry of support for
Which, of course, means getting naked with him. Not a bad pairing Taron for declaring his sexuality and celebrating
for an actor’s first sex scene. “I think it’s very beautiful and something his love. The only thing is: he isn’t gay, as he
we are quite proud of, the version of the film we shot,” he says, aware clarified in a Radio Times interview.
that the film still has to be edited. “One of the lads was at my London flat and I
“I would not have played this character if: one, I wasn’t allowed to instagrammed a picture of him, and a million
show Elton being a nightmare, because he has been; two, if we weren’t outlets reported I was coming out as gay... I’m not
able to explore his drink-and-drug addiction because I don’t think gay but two of my mates came out when I was
you can tell a story without it; and three, if I didn’t think we could 15 and it was a joy to support them because, as
make a film that the gay community would watch and feel a sense a group, we are all secure in who we are,” he told
of ownership over. What right do I have to play Elton John if I am not the TV magazine.
going to go the same lengths to portray a gay relationship as a gay “I’m certainly not going to stop calling my
actor would?” mates cuties and gorgeous, because they are
So, how intimate are the scenes? cuties and they are gorgeous.”
“Really?” He only felt compelled to clarify the remark
Yes, we want to know. because the journalist asked him directly, but at >

40 JUNE 2019
 Ta ro n Ege rto n

Taron wears top, by 120%

Lino at Matches Fashion,
jeans, by Wrangler, scorpion
ring, by Alan Crocetti at
Matches Fashion

JUNE 2019 41
 Taron wears shirt, by
Visvim at MR PORTER

GROOMING Joe Mills for Mills x Primark

using Redken Brews
FASHION ASSISTANTS Nick Byam and
Indigo Taylor

42 JUNE 2019
 Ta ro n Ege r to n

the same time it opened him up to accusations helped open his eyes to what his gay friends might have been going
of queer baiting, which he says was far from his through when they were coming out, and the kind of fears they had.
intention. All I can judge Taron by is the handful “It was a very real feeling to me and I was very panicked and upset
of times we meet, and at every occasion he’s about how I would be perceived. That is not the same as going through
friendly and tactile, bounding with energy. it for real but there is some understanding of what it might be like,
By his own admission, he’s partial to over- and I remember that feeling acutely. It was terrifying.
sharing but says he doesn’t feel the need to “I am not comparing that to living it for real but I am saying that I
explain or apologise for it. When we meet for our guess there is a small kernel of that which I have experienced.”
interview after the shoot, he recalls the awful He also credits his stepfather, who heads a homeless charity, as
experience of watching the Take That musical being a bedrock of liberal, forward-thinking ideas that filtered through
where we first met. He’s not being bitchy, he’s to him. “I have never had people in my life who exposed me to any
being factual: it is truly dreadful. On Rocketman, prejudices. People aren’t born prejudicial, you learn it and I never had
he wants to tell me more and has to grit his teeth that. So, it never factored in my thinking.”
every time he has to hold details back. It’s impossible to discuss Rocketman and not address the issue
There’s so much in the film that he’s proud that comes up with the casting of a straight male in the role of
of when it comes to its queer representation a complex gay man. Taron’s aware that it’s a tough call, between
that he can barely contain the spoilers. I get the accepting a dream role and responding to a topic for which there is
impression that Taron is the kind of person who no simple answer.
will say what he feels but not with any nasty “It’s easy for me to sit here as a white heterosexual man and say
intention. He’s just honest about feeling things. I should be able to play a part I want, but I completely understand
This empathy is one of the reasons he found it why a gay actor would feel that this is an opportunity for which
easy to throw himself into playing Elton John. they would be better suited,” he admits. “The way I feel about it is
It’s perhaps also why he chooses to share with that Elton asked me to play him in a movie about his life.
me a story about his teen years, and how he “I am proud and privileged to be playing this person who happens
went through a period in which he questioned to be gay. And I want to live in a world where people are excited about
his sexuality after other people in his school playing people who are different
came out. “When I was 14 or 15, I had a period from themselves, and I believe
of thinking I might be gay and I spoke to my that there is something inclusive
mother about it. It was [a time] in my life where and progressive about that.”
I was having anxieties about all sorts of things, “The late 1980s It’s a contentious debate. The
panic and fears. I had some therapy and I was
latching on to things to be anxious about.”
was a hellish fact is that currently there isn’t a
level playing field and gay actors
He continues: “It was part of a period of my place for the gay in Hollywood aren’t getting
life where my mind was figuring things out. You
question everything, there are hormones...” community” access to the big roles that
straight actors do, which drives
His mother, a single parent, did all the things gay men to continue closeting
you would want an understanding mother to do themselves. And things are
to help. “I think she knew in some ways because unlikely to change until the major
I was going through all sorts of other anxieties studios start breaking down their prejudices against a gay man’s
that I was just in a chaotic ‘looking for things to ability to be cast in the role of a sexually desirable straight man. We
worry about’ period of my teens.” are still a long way off seeing a gay actor being cast as James Bond.
These anxieties occupied his mind for about As Rocketman nears release — even though he has yet to see a
a year before therapy helped him get his head final edit — Taron is confident that the film will deliver.
around his angst. “It was about a year where I was But even in his own short yet illustrious career there has been
worried about everything. I went through a phase the occasional misstep [cough, cough… Robin Hood].
of obsessively washing my hands. I just went So, what happens when you are half way through a project and
through a neurotic time.” you suddenly realise…
Does that still exist in him? “It’s not going to be very good?” he finishes my sentence.
“Somewhere, I think, but that was bordering “What you end up doing is convincing yourself that it could still be
on OCD, and that isn’t in me any more. I still have good, because how the fuck do you get through it otherwise. But you
a capacity to worry and be anxious about things, always know,” he says, shrugging off the past.
but it was crippling then. There were times I This time, however, he’s more reassured when it comes to his
didn’t want to leave the house. One of those retelling of Elton’s story. “It wasn’t like that with Rocketman, the
anxieties was about my sexuality.” opposite thing happened. It felt so good and I had such a good time
It’s a brave admission for a straight Hollywood making it, and I am so optimistic about it that I am paranoid now that
leading name, to acknowledge that he has I am wrong. But all of my instincts say it’s going to be good.”
questioned his sexuality. And it’s not all that From director down it is, he says, one of the finest projects he’s
different to how young people today think worked on. “Everyone involved worked so fucking hard.
about sexual identity as fluid compared with “The story we are telling is such an exciting one, as well as the music
traditional, fixed ideas. we’ve got to tell it with. The movie we shot is R rated, about a very
He puts part of that confusion down to a R-rated man. I am at peace with the movie I shot, and that was what
creative side that was at conflict with growing I signed up for. I truly hope that that’s what we end up with because
up in a small town in Wales, and being more that’s what it deserves.”
comfortable in drama class than the traditionally
masc activities such as football. The experience Rocketman opens in the UK on 24 May

JUNE 2019 43
A
TRIP
DOWN
MEMORY
LANE
The ground-breaking LGBTQ television series, based on the equally
ground-breaking queer books, is back — and Attitude is the only magazine
outside America invited to the set of Armistead Maupin’s Tales of the City

A
Words Darren Scott

lot of familiar characters will be returning to our screens

STEP BACK IN
TIME: The set of soon for the new Tales of the City series, but there’s one thing
28 Barbary Lane without which the show just wouldn’t be the same:
28 Barbary Lane. The fictional San Francisco apartment
building owned by the mysterious Anna Madrigal has appeared in
nine novels, a musical by Jake Shears and three previous television
adaptations based on Armistead Maupin’s books.
This time around, for Netflix’s 10-part, modern-day sequel, the “well-
weathered, three-storey structure” is currently housed in Studio N1 at
Silvercup Studios in the New York borough The Bronx.
With the property only ever existing in the real world for short
periods of time, it’s something of a dream come true to be walking
towards one of the most famous buildings in queer history.
Throw in the actual Mary Ann Singleton as our tour guide, and the
excitement is difficult to contain.
Laura Linney, who has played Mary Ann in all of the television
versions, breaks into a huge smile as she beckons us to follow her on
set. “Welcome to Barbary Lane. Isn’t that something? Isn’t that great?”
Great is an understatement. The house and garden are a huge
construction, spreading outwards and upwards across the sound stage.
Something, we inform Laura, that we never thought we’d see again.
“I know,” she grins. “Me neither.”
It’s hard to emphasise just how important the original TV series
was. Airing on — and produced by — Channel 4 in 1993, it was “out”
programming that pre-dated Queer as Folk by six years. Put simply, even
as recently as the early 1990s, this sort of television was extremely rare.
Causing a stir in America on its original transmission, PBS pulled
the plug, meaning Channel 4 joined forces with Showtime – who
would later make their own version of Queer as Folk – for sequels
More Tales of the City [1998] and Further Tales of the City [2001]. “We knew
nothing like that had been done before but we didn’t quite understand
how nothing like that had ever been done before,” Laura reveals.
“Thank God I didn’t know when I was filming it.

44 JUNE 2019
 TALES OF THE CITY

A SHOULDER TO LEAN
ON: Laura Linney with
Murray Bartlett who
plays Michael

Thank God I didn’t fully understand how much those books meant
to so many people.”
She guides us to the entrance, explaining that to connect to
the outside world, they film the famous wooden steps on real-
life Macondray Lane, in the Russian Hill neighbourhood of San
Francisco. “Then there’s this walkway, and this is the famous door that GREAT SHAKES:
Above: May Hong as Margot
everyone first enters. Very Alice in Wonderland,” Laura, 55, adds. with boyfriend Jake, played
by Josiah Garcia
Just beyond the rickety wooden door, we can see actors being given Left: Ellen Page as Shawna
directions for a scene which involves people being held against their with Claire, played by Zosia
Mamet, right.
will on the balcony walkways. “This is my fourth Barbary Lane,” Laura Below: Laura Linney, left,
laughs. “It feels slightly different, but there’s a spirit to the building as Mary Ann, with Olympia
Dukakis as Anna
and what it represents. I always loved it because it feels like a true set,
theatrical like a set from a Tennessee Williams play.
“This is the most sophisticated of all the Barbary Lanes because of
all the interiors here. And as you can see it’s totally functional, we’re up
and down the stairs all the time.”
She takes in the set with a look of love. “Because this has been such a
part of my life for so long, there’s something that does feel very much
like coming home.”
We cross the garden — with authentic-looking fake grass — and go
in the main door. Laura casually gestures around. “So, this is Anna’s
apartment…” She smiles at our obvious excitement.
“She’s boisterous and big and passionate,” Laura says of returning
veteran co-star Olympia Dukakis, who plays Anna. “It’s felt good to all
of us. But it’s always emotional whenever anyone comes here for the
first time. And particularly those of us who have returned to it over
and over again. It’s always heart-breaking when they take it down. I
remember when the first one went down, I was devastated.”
The apartment is littered with reminders of decades past. “Old Anna
Madrigal knick-knacks, fun things she’s picked up over time,” Laura
explains as she recalls that one original prop has made its way home.
“I don’t remember which one now, but I think it was one of the
ornaments on the mantlepiece.” >

JUNE 2019 45
TALES OF THE CITY

SITTING PRETTY: Darren Scott is

in dream land, right.
Below: Murray Bartlett as Michael
with boyfriend Ben,
played by Charlie Barnett, left.
Inset: A model of the set

We walk into another room. “This is Michael’s apartment and

Shawna’s apartment,” she gestures. “But in the 1970s, in the original
series, this was Brian’s apartment, which his daughter Shawna (now
played by Ellen Page), has moved into. This is her clean, efficient world.”
It’s certainly clean and definitely efficient. On the wall, the calendar
tells us it’s September. A plate on the side is home to a scattering of
coins. There are more staged photos on the fridge, this time of Shawna.
In the bedroom, there’s another photo of Shawna, this time
with her dad, next to a copy of The Madonnas of Echo Park, Brando
Skyhorse’s novel about the quest for the American Dream. “A little
artistic licence has probably
been taken [with regards
to how the apartments
look] but primarily it feels
close enough, at least to my
memory,” Laura says as we
poke around. We go upstairs
to Mouse’s apartment, which
On the fridge in the kitchen, there are photos from the original is “so him” Laura reckons.
series. “It’s always funny,” Laura says, looking at them again. There’s a poster for the
“Whenever I watch the first Tales I just look like a baby Muppet.” Sondheim musical Sunday
We venture into Anna’s bedroom, which has several chairs in the Park with George in the
facing the bed, a closet bursting with clothes, lamps with lace living room, a San Francisco
fraying and a vase filled with rolled up joints. ashtray on the side, more
“She keeps the tradition alive!” Laura chuckles. photoshopped images on the fridge. The production assistant posed
Outside the window, the director calls action. “Now we’re trapped,” with Laura for one of the photos – Laura shows us the original version
Laura gasps theatrically. “Trapped in Anna Madrigal’s apartment.” She on her phone. Taking a peek into Mouse’s bathroom, beside a half
offers us a seat — on Anna’s couch – and suggests we take a photo. bottle of baby oil we spot a bottle of Nioxin on the shelf. Does Mouse
We gladly accept, sitting down beside an ashtray filled with the have a problem with thinning hair?
remnants of joints. “Not that I’m aware of but now you’ve uncovered a secret,” Laura
With cut called, we venture back out into the garden, where Laura smiles. “I don’t know how Murray [Bartlett] will feel about that.”
briefly introduces us to co-star Murray Bartlett, who plays the latest We won’t ask how he feels about the big tub of petroleum jelly and
incarnation of Michael (Mouse) Tolliver. We barely have time to swoon the broken futon in the bedroom either... Instead, we take a moment
before we walk through another on the balcony, looking over the garden and television magic beyond
door and find ourselves in... a to reflect on yet another piece of TV history. And while we’re excited to
police station. Laura explains get our once-in-a-lifetime chance to walk around Barbary Lane, how
that it’s a free-standing set for “WHEN THEY does Laura feel about returning to her second home?
a specific storyline. But it just TOOK DOWN “The thing that stays with me a lot is that Stanley DeSantis, who
looks so real… “I love production THE FIRST SET, played Norman Neal Williams, is no longer alive and we became very,
design, it can really make or I RECALL BEING very close during the first Tales,” she reflects.
break a show,” Laura continues.
We venture up some creaking
DEVASTATED” “So, there’s a real memory of the people who are no longer alive who
were with us during the first Tales that reverberates through me —
wooden stairs to another part of particularly when I walk up the stairs of Barbary Lane, or look down
Barbary Lane, housed in Studio from one of the balconies.
N2. Despite the smell of fresh wood that comes with a newly built set, Hearing the noise going up the stairs, and opening the doors, those
Laura explains that: “They took down one set already, we’re starting to are the tactile things that bring back memories,” she adds.
wrap things up.” So, has she said her goodbyes? As we leave the set, we move past the main entrance once more,
“You do!” she says. “It’s always sad when a set is struck. That’s where scene 19, take three, is now taking place.
part of the encapsulation of filming something or doing a play. It’s On the wall there’s a worrying sign. It says: Notice of Demolition For
created then it just goes away. Alan Poul [the producer on all the TV Barbary Lane... say it isn’t so! But Laura isn’t giving up any secrets –
adaptations] was saying that he has some of the original tiles from the those are tales for another time.
roof of the first Tales.” Laura hasn’t taken a keepsake yet but admits
that there will be something. Tales of the City is on Netflix later this year

46 JUNE 2019
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 THE PROBLEMS
OF PARKFIELD
The primary school hit the headlines after parents pulled their
children out of classes and protested against a programme
designed to teach the youngsters about life’s diversities. Although
the government then passed new guidelines, there seems to be
some troublesome “wriggle room”. So, where do we go from here?

P
arkfield School hit the news when parents Parents at the Muslim-majority school argued that
of children began protesting against the No the lessons went against their religious beliefs. The
Outsiders programme — a scheme aimed at protests continued, and debates about whether LGBTQ
educating young people about living in a community identities should be discussed in primary schools
full of difference and diversity, whether that is made national television.
through ethnicity, gender, ability, sexual orientation, The No Outsiders programme was suspended, and the
gender identity, age or religion. BBC came under fire for their coverage of the subject,
while religious community figures (incorrectly) accused
the school of promoting gay sex to children, and nobody
seemed to be listening to anybody. Again.
Then, in early April, the Houses of Parliament
approved the government’s new PSHE programme,
which comes into practice in September 2020, by a huge
majority. However, the guidance in relation to how
schools have to teach about LGBTQ relationships is
vague, and still maintains they are up for discussion in
the context of religious beliefs in faith-led schools.
Once again, queer lives are up for debate, and nobody
is thinking about the damage this does to young kids
who identify as LGBTQ.
We asked people from the community, the scene and
those who work in education for their views on how we
can move forward progressively, together.

DR ELLY BARNES AND DR ANNA CARLILE

FROM EDUCATE & CELEBRATE, A TEACHERS AND YOUTH WORKERS CHARITY
It’s unhelpful to talk about “debate” because this implies that people’s identities are
up for discussion and challenge. And anyway, a “debate” between two falsely opposed
sides is unnecessary. In our research at Goldsmiths, University of London, we’ve found
that schools which take on LGBTQ-inclusive work in a way which is respectful to their
whole communities find one thing that everyone can agree on: no religion condones
bullying. The latest government guidance is confusing because the Equality Act 2010
has always mandated this work — in fact, the guidance falls short of what the law
requires. Successfully inclusive schools explain to parents that this legislation requires
teachers to help children learn about people of all kinds, including LGBTQ people,
people of faith and people with disabilities. Rather than having a few one-off special
lessons, the best way to do this is to weave representation of all these kinds of people
through the entire curriculum, with, for instance, images on the walls, and the books
available in the library. This builds a future of inclusion and social justice.

educateandcelebrate.org

48 JUNE 2019
 PARKFIELD SCHOOL

A DEPARTMENT FOR
EDUCATION SPOKESMAN
There is no reason why teaching children about the diverse society that we
live in, and the different types of loving, healthy relationships that exist,
cannot be done in a way that respects everyone’s views. Faith schools can
build on the core content of the RSE curriculum, reflecting their beliefs
in their teaching, but we expect all content to be covered and have given
schools flexibility over how they do this to meet the needs of their pupils.
We are actively engaging with teachers, school leaders, representative
bodies and teaching unions to look at how we can best support schools in
bringing in the new subjects. All schools should promote the fundamental
British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and respect
and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. From 2020, primary
schools will also have to teach about the importance of family, including
different family models, as part of our proposals to make age-appropriate
relationships education compulsory. We’ve also made sure there will be time
before these subjects are introducedfor schools to consult parents on how STEVE BOYCE
the new subjects will be taught. SCHOOLS OUT
All children, in my experience, grow up with an innate
sense of fairness and justice, and as teachers (I am a
former primary school head teacher), we constantly
hear “that’s not fair.” No Outsiders explores all forms
of discrimination and prejudice in an age-appropriate
way through the use of storybooks. This was summed
up for me by one of my grandsons (we have 12) a little
while ago, when he asked me: “Granddad when are you
going to marry grandma?” (That’s my partner’s ex.)
To which I replied, “I can’t, I’m already married.”
“Who to?” was his instant recourse.
“To granddad John!”
“But you’re both boys!”
To which I replied: “Nowadays, boys can marry
boys, and girls can marry girls, as well as boys
marrying girls.”
I got the most unjudgmental but considered
response of “OK.”
Children are not born prejudiced; they
are bombarded by societal stereotypes and
commercialism.

ASIFA LAHORE
PERFORMER
The government has implemented this legislation into all state schools;
Parkfield is a state school regardless of the majority of its pupils
being Muslim. If a child is in a state school, they should be educated
along the government’s guidelines.

“THE LEGISLATION Furthermore, if an actual faith

school chooses to discuss LGBTQ
IS FOR ALL STATE relationships, I believe that there

SCHOOLS. PARKFIELD
should be appointed members from
each respective religion, who are

IS A STATE SCHOOL” from the LGBTQ community, to

provide a curriculum that touches
upon religious codes and morals.
I grew up with Section 28 and the last thing I want is for LGBTQ
children, of faith communities or not, to experience the hardships I
endured because of the blackout regarding being LGBTQ. Let us
not forget our history and allow for anything less than equality.
>

JUNE 2019 49
 BAE SHARAM
ACTIVIST / PERFORMANCE ARTIST
I firmly believe that allowing any kind of debate on the “validity” of LGBTQ
relationships is wholly wrong, damaging and even dangerous — regardless of
whether it’s part of a faith school, a state school, or any school.
It continues to perpetuate [the myth] that there are two sides to this
conversation, which simply isn’t the case. I believe that there are core fundamental
rights, values and attitudes that are (and should always be) universal in our
communities about how we treat other people — and that these values go beyond
and override our individual faith system or values. Continuing to call it a debate,
to call it a conversation, to call it an argument, only feeds into the narrative that
we are one of two options. But that’s a false equivalency: there aren’t two options,
there are no sides, there is only the universal truth that being LGBTQ is one of the
multiple ways that people live their lives. I’m deeply disappointed in the government
for making allowances for bigotry that hides homophobic and transmisogynistic
extreme fundamentalism. But the main thing here is that it’s imperative for
people of faith to continue to stand up visibly
and vocally for LGBTQ people, and especially
“THERE IS NO for other queer people of faith who will be most

PLACE FOR A marginalised by this “debate.”

It’s important for allies of faith and queer
‘DEBATE’ LIKE people of faith to take control of this narrative and

THIS ANY MORE”

reaffirm that there is no place for a “debate” like
this in our society any more.

SHAHMIR SANNI
WHISTLEBLOWER TURNED DATA PRIVACY AND LGBTQ ACTIVIST
In Britain, religious freedom should not impose on the rights of
minority groups. The normalisation of homophobia is a direct
result of the British media and politicians seriously putting
transgender identity up for debate when it should be treated as
just as unquestionable as someone saying they are gay, bisexual
or intersex. However, it must be acknowledged that pink-washing
and white-washing are a serious problem when it comes to
addressing issues like this. A lack of nuance in our criticism of
communities such as Parkfield School will endanger LGBTQ
Muslims in particular. If you want to address the community-
related problems of Birmingham and Manchester, then let LGBTQ
Muslims, Jews and Christians (particularly people of colour) do
it. Popular LGBTQ voices should lend support to queer members
of these communities to engage in this debate rather than give
themselves a platform to slander those communities without
actually presenting concrete, nuanced solutions. Critiquing
the Parkfield community with white supremacist rhetoric such
as “send them home if they

“SAYING ‘SEND
don’t like it” is regressive and
endangers LGBTQ Muslims —
and I’ve seen too much of this
from within our community.
THEM HOME IF THEY
First and foremost, we should DON’T LIKE IT’, IS
be ensuring that LGBTQ
Muslims are protected. REGRESSIVE AND
CAN ENDANGER
LGBTQ MUSLIMS”
50 JUNE 2019
 PARKFIELD SCHOOL

MAX TAYLOR SUE SANDERS

CO-CHAIRMAN NATIONAL STUDENT PRIDE PROFESSOR EMERITUS, HARVEY MILK
INSTITUTE, AND FOUNDER OF LGBT HISTORY
Science proved long ago that nobody chooses their sexuality. So the
MONTH UK AND THE CLASSROOM
idea that talking about LGBTQ people at school will “turn” children is —
factually — wrong. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but nobody is If schools had taken seriously the public duty
entitled to their own facts. Primary school is already about making sense which has been in force for more than six
of happy, healthy relationships. With their natural inquisitive nature, years, we would not be facing this problem.
children are bound to ask about their uncle’s boyfriend, or mummy’s Schools OUT UK offered a very effective and
friend who is married to her wife. What is not “age-appropriate” about simple model for teachers to “usualise” LGBTQ
these questions? So, it boils down to an issue of continuing religious experience and issues and the model can
intolerance towards LGBTQ people, and we have to take the first step be easily used for all the protected strands.
towards healing that. We started At the-classroom.org.uk we have provided
National Student Pride 14 years more than 80 free lesson plans that cover
ago to help close those divides, the whole curriculum and are suitable for all
in response to a homophobic and ages. The concept is a simple one: when we
religious hate preacher’s speech “usualise” something, we acclimatise people
on campus at Oxford Brookes to its presence and take away the threat of
University. And the way we need difference which creates fear and discrimination.
to do that is by reaching out and “Usualising” in schools has more to do with
having conversations. familiarising learners with a subject’s every-day
There is no debate to be had occurrence or existence rather than an in-depth
on our identity, but I start every understanding of the subject. To educate out
day ready to have a conversation prejudice we need to enable learners to see
that will help cure ignorance and the reality of other people’s existence, thus
prejudice about our lives. countering stereotypes they may be presented
with later [in life]. We urge teachers to be
facilitated to use this method for all religions,
ethnicities, gender, ages and
abilities. In this way, no one group
“WEHAVE 80 would feel that other people are

FREELESSON getting special treatment and

would recognise that the school is
PLANS FOR following the law and enabling its

ALLAGES”
learners to recognise the diversity
of the country they live in.

ANGELA RAYNER
SHADOW EDUCATION SECRETARY
We have a moral imperative to ensure children receive LGBTQ-
inclusive education in a society that is underpinned by equality,
tolerance and respect. Now that parliament has passed this new
guidance with an overwhelming majority, the government must
fully support teachers in delivering it. There can be no going
back to the shameful days of Section 28, and it is now up to the
government to provide schools and teachers with the resources
they need, as well as showing political and moral leadership, so
that this guidance is properly implemented and not undermined
by budget cuts. Throughout this process, Labour has been
absolutely clear that there can be no compromise when it
comes to our duties under the Equalities Act 2010. I will hold
the government to account,
to ensure that they stick to
their word and we see LGBTQ- “CHILDREN
inclusive lessons successfully
delivered in our schools. MUST RECEIVE
LGBTQ-INCLUSIVE
EDUCATION”
JUNE 2019 51
 FREE
SPIRITS
Some queer people have swapped mainstream life for
spirituality, foregoing standardised religion and rejecting
accepted beliefs about life and living. Photographer
Mike Kear shares his experience and introduces us to
others on similar consciousness-raising journeys

Photography Mike Kear

M
y spiritual journey, beyond a Carpenter Community. In my early twenties, None of them told me their way was
deep connection to nature, has I helped organise gay men’s weeks with ECC the only way, but that there is a plurality
been through various valleys before “settling down” with a boyfriend, which allows us to celebrate one another’s
and mountain tops, including buying a house and pretty much living a spiritual paths and learn from each other,
many searches within Christianity. regular gay life and eventually declaring using anything that resonates.
Church of England Christianity in myself a born-again atheist. I think I will always be a sceptic, but
my school years was followed by I’d been to Glastonbury many times no longer a cynic. I often giggle at myself,
Christian spirituality in my late teens, and really enjoyed the hippier side of thinking how my younger self would look
and at university I found evangelical it, and wanted to explore the smaller at me now: having an interest in paganism
Christianity. festivals but felt inhibited as they seemed and astrology, hugging trees, going on
This journey culminated in a year- very family-oriented and not at all queer. shamanistic journeys… it’s a long list.
long 12-step programme to “cure” my In 2016, I received an email telling me Queer Spirit Festival opened up a whole
homosexuality which had the opposite about Queer Spirit Festival and was very new world for me. It excites me that so
of the intended effect: rather than excited: was this the event that would many diverse queer people are engaged
turning me straight, it helped me clarify nourish my spirituality in all its glory? in such authentic consciousness-raising
that my sexuality was not something When I arrived that August, I found I was journeys, as you’ll see from their stories
that society or religion could dictate to one of the first few people to book. I met on the following pages.
me — despite the American leader at so many beautiful, authentic people of all I now see embracing the plurality
the final retreat telling me that I was persuasions and genders. It wasn’t Utopia of spirituality as a part of my political
playing with fire and would go to hell for but there was a real sense of love in the activism against aspects of society that
reaching this conclusion. air that I hadn’t experienced on this scale try to separate — and dangerously elevate
From then on, I wanted nothing more elsewhere. I was inspired to come out of — the human from nature.
to do with organised religion and explored my spiritual desert and consider the huge
Quakerism briefly before I became involved range of ways to relate to the universe. It was Queer Spirit Festival returns
with [gay men’s network] The Edward refreshing to meet such genuine people. 14-18 August. queerspirit.net

52 JUNE 2019
 QUEER SPIRITUALITY

Nick Kientsch
What does it mean to be spiritual?
Being spiritual is not about blindly following
a belief or performing meaningless rituals.
What it does mean is to become whole
through practices that offer a way to
integrate and heal ourselves, by embracing
the shadow parts we are cut off from. It’s
the response to the quiet question in our
heart: “Why am I here, what is my purpose?”
and living a life that supports this enquiry
opening into a deeper realisation of how to
be happy and at ease.
Can people be materialistic as well as spiritual?
It’s often thought you need to be poor to be
spiritual. Greed and attachment to things
is a hindrance but, equally, to attach to the
idea that you have to be poor to be spiritual
is just another self-identity which might give
rise to pride and spiritual arrogance. Instead,
we can live comfortably without making the
accruing of possessions or money our sole
motive, noticing if attachment to possessions
causes pain through a greedy holding on
rather than just welcoming things into our
life before letting them go.
How does your spirituality inform your
sexuality?
I set up the Gay Men’s Mindfulness Group as
a response to seeing how growing up gay has
led to real struggles for me and others: there
are many wounds around shame, addictive
behaviour, not feeling good enough, being
excluded due to looks, age or body type. Every
Monday, about 45 gay men come and meditate
together, finding community and healing,
and I share from my experience as a gay man
addressing these issues.

evolvingminds.org.uk

>

JUNE 2019 53
 Al Head
Is it difficult to maintain your spirituality energy with many beings, some of them Do you believe in karma?
in a noisy world? human. My primary connection is to the The concept of karma comes from a specific
It’s not the noise that’s the problem, it’s the earth so I could never agree to share sexual Eastern tradition and as such does not
disconnection of the majority of people in energy with only one human. align with my Western pagan belief system.
the West from their roots in the land and What is the meaning of life? However, some of the ideas do cross over.
from any spiritual beliefs. And the way I think it varies. Right now, many of us I don’t believe in the simplistic version of
that “the real world” is defined as anything have come back to help save the planet at one life being punishment or reward for
that has no element of magic or belief. this time of crisis. Each of our lifetimes the previous, but our lifetimes build on
How does your spirituality align with has its own purpose and intent. In each other and our learning continues
your sexuality? general, life is about honouring the cycles throughout them. We may choose to come
There’s always been a strong connection of birth/death/transformation, respecting back to learn a certain thing or to achieve
between the two. My sexuality is deeply all life and creating the future while a certain goal, for ourselves or, more likely,
rooted in the earth and I share sexual honouring the past. for the planet as a whole.

54 JUNE 2019
 QUEER SPIRITUALITY

Rhodri, aka Queerwulf

Tell us about Queerwulf.
Queerwulf is one manifestation of the non-
human side of my identity. They are a stanky,
growly, cuddly feral being, who inhabits the
leaf mould and soggy moss-filled crevices.
I feel a deep affinity with the beastly and
the grotesque aspects of my body and soul
that Queerwulf represents. I feel compelled
to highlight the presence of the wild and
monstrous in all human behaviour, which are
the bits I feel greatest love for. This may well
stem from having a hairy, curvy body which
led to a lot of reactions of disgust from people
as I was growing up — being a werewolf was
the only way I could make sense of my moon-
addled moodiness and thick covering of fur.
I’ve always experienced my body as more
creature than human.
What power does spirituality have in the
modern world?
Conversation, connection and community
are the antidotes to oppression — so extend
this to the non-human world. This is the deep
relevance of magical practice to the queer and
feminist movements; it allows us to short-
circuit the patriarchal systems of knowledge
and relationship that surround us, and
instead forge new and direct contact with our
individual, social and ecological potential.
It’s also why it is so important that we start
experimenting with and developing our own
magic rather than rehashing old white men’s
hunger for power or appropriating other
cultures’ rich heritage. Developing our own
magic is the beginning of culture, knowledge
and society. >

JUNE 2019 55
 Shokti
How did spirituality help you through your
HIV/Aids diagnosis?
I was a 25-year-old atheist when I was
diagnosed with HIV in 1990. It was the
journey I undertook to prepare myself for
an early death that opened up my inner
vision and brought me to spirituality.
I lived with full-blown Aids for three
years — the internal connection I opened
up to the spirit world helped keep my mind
positive during this time, and I believe it
helped keep me alive.
What does it mean to be a radical faerie?
Radical Faeries are celebrating 40 years since
first gathering in Arizona in 1979. The first
Eurofaerie gathering was in 1995 and we have
been holding gatherings in the UK since 2006.
There is no single definition of faerie, but to
my mind it is a movement of queer people
exploring our talents, gifts and a connection
to our core nature — a space for us to grow as
healers, artists, priestesses of the spirit worlds,
and where we can explore a heart-centred
queer community that’s rooted in nature.
What is the meaning of life?
There are various answers I could offer
here, but what I want to say is that the
encouragement to look within oneself for
meaning is seriously lacking in modern
culture, and it is a thing that gay culture could
embrace. Once I dropped my closed, atheistic
mind set and started seeking, the universe
flooded me with answers and incredible
experiences. Historically, gay men, trans people
and lesbians have had associations with
mystery schools, pagan temples and witchcraft
but this is often missed and misunderstood
when recounting our story.

56 MARCH
JUNE 2019
2019
 QUEER SPIRITUALITY

Miqx
How has spirituality enriched your life?
I was born in South Africa but have lived
in East London for more of my life. Now
72 and retired, I have been a queer activist
since the days of the Gay Liberation Front
in the 1970s and I have a passion for social
justice and try to integrate this into a fully life. Realising that we have a queer identity, Is it difficult to maintain your spirituality
holistic view of compassionate spirituality. beyond the LGBTQ mainstream, brings a in a noisy world?
Additionally, my spirituality keeps me in a richer understanding both of our spiritual I love the noisy world. I celebrate it. A busy,
life-long commitment to the co-operative and social position. My awareness could not engaged and involved life is part of my
movement and community building. As help but be informed by my birth in apartheid activism and that activism is an expression
social beings, we find greater fulfillment in South Africa, into a family that had been of my spirituality. Quieter times in nature
collective empowerment rather than narrow mixed race for several generations. This gave are, nevertheless, still easy to access. But
individualism, and the spiritual evolution access to many spiritual traditions as well as the essence of peace arises from within,
of our species depends on putting this into a profound political awareness. The two have as does love. And expressing our love and
genuine, living, heart-centred practice. gone together for me since childhood. You can peace leads to demanding fair justice
How has spirituality contributed to see how a similar base has influenced people and engaging with issues such as climate
your activism? such as Archbishop Tutu and the Truth and justice, Extinction Rebellion and support
Virtually everyone asks deeper questions about Reconciliation Commission’s work. for groups such as migrants in distress. >

JUNE 2019 57
 Nik Parmer
Do you believe in a god? whether it be noisy or silent, the mind can Do you think recreational drugs can help
To believe in God is not to know God. I remain in spiritual consciousness. The you connect with your spiritual side, or are
don’t believe in the sun, moon, trees, rivers test is to keep the focus and look inwards they an obstacle?
— because I know the sun is there, the trees rather than outwards. Drugs can be used to experience higher
are there. So, there is no question of belief; A perfect environment will always levels of consciousness than what
I know God is there. enhance a spiritual practice but the real every-day life seems to offer. However,
Is it difficult to maintain your spirituality challenge is to remain in the same state spirituality can give more lasting and
in a noisy world? regardless of where you are. The noise uplifting results. Although the power of
Over time I am learning that spirituality which needs to be silenced is internal, drugs is significant, once you activate your
exists everywhere and in any state, rather than external. higher nature, drugs pale in comparison.

58 JUNE 2019
 QUEER SPIRITUALITY

Sami Hillyer
What do people most misunderstand
about spirituality?
That there’s something to misunderstand. If
you don’t want to use the word “spirituality” in
your life because it conjures images of incense
burning and “doing your oms,” that’s OK. If
you’re hoping to find more spirituality in your
life, that’s also OK. Just relax into it, it’s likely
that you’re right where you need to be.
How did you formulate your spiritual beliefs?
They came from trying to kill myself, then
discovering nothing really existed other than
the now. The past I wanted to escape from
was no more, and the future I didn’t want to
be alive for did not exist. I only have now. And
now can be OK. Everything else we call spiritual
is just an embellishment on top of that.
What transcendental experiences have you had?
It was my first time at Queer Spirit Festival
where I realised I was trans, that what
felt right for my identity wasn’t that with
which I’d been living. The freedom in the
space of the festival and the welcoming
and celebratory acceptance of the people
around me allowed me to step into a more
comfortable version of myself. When the
festival was over and I felt I had to return to
being a boy, I realised that I was transgender
— and not long after that my journey of
transition began.

JUNE 2019 59
Jewel in
the crown
Prepare for the coronation of British
punk band Queen Zee, as trans singer
Zena Davine reveals why these game
changers deserve to reign supreme
Words Thomas Stichbury
Photograhy Alex Hurst

D irty underwear, sex toys, plastic cups

filled with warm pee… these are
traditionally among the items-turned-
missiles launched (with love or loathing)
at music stars while they’re performing.
Remember when Harry Styles was brought
to his knees at a One Direction concert after being
struck in his crown jewels by a flying shoe?
He probably hasn’t been the same since.
But we’re going to go out on a literal limb here and
argue that few artists have been confronted with a
flailing prosthetic body part mid-gig.
This unique honour, Attitude learns, was bestowed
upon Queen Zee, a pulse-racing punk band — fronted by
trans singer Zena Davine — bursting with sass, humour
and songs designed to be blared at piss-off-your-
neighbours high volume. Tip: if you can still hear the
booming thuds of a broom being pounded against the
ceiling or wall, crank it up another notch.
“The most interesting thing I’ve ever seen is someone
take off their fake leg and start waving it around in the
circle pit. That was amazing,” Zena says.
Receiving the stamp of approval from the likes of Liam
Gallagher and rock legend Iggy Pop, the group — completed
by guitarist Jason Taylor-Brown, bassist Frankie Wortho,

60 JUNE 2019
 queen zee

and actively dwelling on the bad times, Zena has had to deal with
their share of shit. Just after Christmas, they posted a statement
on their Facebook page, outlining details of how they were the
victim of an unprovoked transphobic attack in a gay bar.
“I got jumped and beaten up,” they recall. “I decided to
fight back and came off worse for it. I knew I wasn’t going
Ash Summers on keyboard, to win. I should have stepped away.”
and drummer Dave Bloom — As for what happened to their attackers, Zena says:
have established a reputation “Nothing. Apparently, everyone is too busy to deal with it.
for putting on a wild show. So It’s happened to me twice recently, and once when I was a
much so that they were once teenager when I was quite badly beaten up.
banned from entering a string “It’s where I live. It’s part of who I am. It sounds
of locations across their native bad but if you’re going to walk around the rougher
Merseyside. “Without wanting sides of Merseyside in a dress, someone isn’t going
to dob anyone in it, we’ve been to like it. That’s the world we live in.”
officially uninvited from particular Zena adds that, as a kid who would “always
venues in Liverpool. However, since wear girls’ clothes, make-up and stuff,” they were
we’ve gained more attention, that taught to defend themselves early on.
invitation is now open again, which I “I got sent to boxing by my step-dad and I can
find quite amusing,” Zena adds. almost see the sense in
Releasing their eponymous debut it now that I’m older, as a camp, skinny, weird,
album back in February, Queen Zee
are the sonic equivalent of Pepto
if he knew I was going
to get beaten up. But
I got jumped and feminine kid being sent
to this rough boxing gym.
Bismol. Stay with me: they are flushing
out the indie genre, which has become
on the other side of
the spectrum, I was
decided to fight back The coach used to call me
‘sissy fists’ and it stuck as
increasingly clogged with the indigestible I came off the worse a nickname.” Refusing to
“random, moody musings from soft boys.” buckle, Zena turned that
Zena continues: “I’ve always wanted Queen self-esteem-sucking insult into an empowering
Zee to be the opposite of that. I want to be anthem, also, fittingly, called Sissy Fists. “The
colourful, energetic and have something to say.” first part of the song is negative, a slur against
Alter-ego Zee is like the Sasha Fierce to Zena’s someone. But by the end I’m saying, ‘Fuck it.
Beyoncé and was born out of their struggle with Embrace. Let’s do this. Let’s be the sissies’.”
gender dysphoria as a teenager. “I’d never really Determined to educate the masses, the band
had a word for how I felt. I never really had a way scored an unlikely goal when their song Boy
to express it. The only thing I could latch on to was was played over a World Cup highlights clip
drag. That’s all I assumed it was. on Sky Sports football show Soccer AM. The
“I knew I was fluid in my sexuality — it didn’t lyrics include: “Raised on homo trans hate
matter to me if you were a boy or a girl — but in rhetoric, waiting for me to come out of the
terms of gender, I’d never confronted it. Then club, a clenched weapon between his fists.”
something just clicked one day.” Zena adds: “That is one of my favourite
Naturally, a number of tracks on the rallying, memories. This song about gender violence
raucous, rip-roaring EP are inspired by the trans playing in the background of the goal
experience. “I’m trans, so everything I write comes montage. This is why we exist!”
out of a trans brain,” admits Zena. Queen Zee’s plans for world domination
But they make a pointed effort to avoid the includes holding court in other mainstream
trappings of the “victim point of view” and inject IN THE PINK: spaces. “I [remember] watching queer bands
their lyrics with a biting wit. “Humour doesn’t have Zena and the rest talking about equality and identity, stuff that
of the band
to be the enemy of a serious point being made. meant a lot to me, but they were playing to
“You can do both at the same time. A lot of queer 30 or 40 people who agreed [with those views]
people get defined by their suffering. People almost want you to — were preaching to the converted.
be like, ‘It’s so hard, it’s so upsetting’,” they add. “The people who need to hear it are at the main
“We do have those hard times but I also want to be a positive stage at Glastonbury, or the big arena shows where
representation of a trans person, for younger people especially to artists don’t talk about these things, where people are
look at Queen Zee and think: ‘I can still be funny, happy and have unaware of what it’s like to be a trans person, or to
a good time. My trans, queer, non-binary life won’t be defined by all have an LGBTQ life. We’ve always been about invading
the negative shit that happens to me’.” Without missing this point those spaces.
“We’re getting there. We’ve got our foot in the door and
we’re about to push our way in.”
All bow down — long live Queen Zee.

Queen Zee’s eponymous album is out now

JUNE 2019 61
Maxim wears knitwear,
by AMI, trousers, by
Acne Studios at
Matches Fashion

SNATCHING
VIKTORY
FROM DEFEAT
Maxim Baldry tells us about his role in the new
Russell T Davies dystopian family drama, life in
Russia and having sex with Russell Tovey
Words Tim Heap Photography Markus Bidaux Styling Nick Byam
 MAXIM BALDRY

rom the out-and-proud Queer as Folk 20 years

go to 2018’s A Very English Scandal, with Doctor
ho, Cucumber and others in between, Russell
Davies has asserted himself as one of the UK’s
est modern-day queer creative voices.
Next month, his latest project, Years and Years,
ves on the BBC, presenting Russell’s vision of
could unfold over the next 15 years, shown
gh the eyes of a family from Manchester.
ning the show’s cast, which includes Emma
son, as a firebrand, wannabe politician,
innear and Russell Tovey, is 23-year-old
aldry, as gay Ukrainian refugee Viktor, who
Manchester seeking asylum.
nown in recent years for playing Liam
in Hollyoaks (but you may remember an
Maxim in Mr Bean’s Holiday), he admits he felt
rdog appearing alongside such a stellar cast.
a very rough cut of the first episode — more
nd the rest of the cast have done when I speak Chechnyan concentration camps, so that’s
re him he more than holds his own. why it’s such an important story to tell
rst questions is about how much of the sex and that’s why it’s so great that Russell
m and Russell Tovey made the cut. Queer as Folk T Davies is writing something that can
h found a home on the more liberal Channel 4, resonate with these kind of world issues.
e were worries over how the Beeb would receive Viktor’s storyline is closely tied with Russell
nts in Years and Years — but he’s happy when I Tovey’s character, Daniel, isn’t it?
cit, trailer-park tryst has a fair showing. He comes to this estate, then he meets
ldn’t be much of a Russell T Davies series Daniel who’s his housing officer. They
osexual thrusting, would it? strike up a relationship, they keep seeing
each other and eventually it blossoms
into love. At the heart of all these
crazy world issues, Years and Years is a
delicate love story between two people,
and that’s what makes it profound on
a lot of levels.
Tell us a bit about Viktor. It’s a fictional look at Russia’s influence over
He’s an asylum seeker whom we first Ukraine in the next five years, isn’t it?
meet arriving at an estate in the north Exactly, but there’s also a grain of truth
of England, which is basically home to with everything that Russell has created.
a large group of immigrants who are all It’s just awful how this is still an issue in
seeking asylum in the UK. In Viktor’s case, Eastern European countries — I’m half
he’s there because he was kicked out of his Russian, so I know. There’s still this kind of
home by his parents for being gay, and he traditional view of what a man and what
ended up being tortured by the Ukrainian a woman should be, and because Viktor
police and authorities. That just struck a isn’t that and doesn’t fit the mould, his
chord... imagine being in that situation, parents take it as a personal fuck up, so
you’re not wanted at home, you’re kicked they kick him out. How can a family not
out, you’re tortured for your sexuality, and want to look after their child? He has to
you basically have no choice but to leave. leave Ukraine because he’s not wanted in
It’s happening today in some of these his own country. >

JUNE 2019 63
 “VIKTOR GOES
Maxim wears shirt and trousers, by Acne
THROUGH SO MUCH
SHIT BUT HE’S FUELLED
Studios at Matches Fashion, t-shirt, by
Sunspel, socks and boots, Maxim’s own

WITH POSITIVITY AND

IS A WARRIOR”

The show taps into a lot of big discussions

that we’re having in the world right now. How
much do you agree with the state of the world
that the show presents?
Russell has written a show that’s made
for the 21st century, made for our way
of thinking. But looking at the world in
a pessimistic way is kind of futile. This
programme showcases how love and
family can conquer those things. There are
such epic themes and such epic emotions,
that it’s easy to think we’re all doomed, but
at the same time, by coming together, by
being a solid family, by loving each other,
by being compassionate, by fighting for
what is right, we can overcome massive
political entertainers and tricksters like
those you see in Years and Years. It’s written
so well and it all comes down to this family
and how they can change the course of
Britain. It’s epic but it’s also delicate, heart-
warming and touching.
Did you understand where the show was going
from reading the first script?
When we were reading it for the first time,
we were like, “What is happening? This
is incredible.” It’s not predictable in any
way. With regards to Viktor and Daniel’s
storyline, it is all about human contact
and captures the zeitgeist of our time
because the world is in complete chaos,
politically. In this story, there are these
two people who are fighting to be together,
that’s what attracted me as well. First,
Russell T Davies and the team behind it,
but also just how touching it was and how
with everything going on, it’s just a story
of two people desperately in love.
Was it easy to get into the role of Viktor? Did
you approach it the same way you would if it
had been a straight love story? GROOMING Sandra Hadi
FASHION ASSISTANT
Absolutely, it’s just a story about two Indigo Taylor

64 JUNE 2019
 MAXIM BALDRY

people wanting to be together and loving my life, and my first language was Russian to call myself half Russian, and I know for
each other — and who wouldn’t want to as well. But I had to play Ukrainian, so I a fact that Russian people are so loving
kiss Russell Tovey? I haven’t seen any of had a dialect coach because I’ve got a few and family is the most important thing.
the show yet but there’s a sex scene in the scenes in Ukrainian. You don’t see that when you’re a British
first episode that I hope they managed to Was it difficult to nail the accent? person watching Russia in the media,
get in. I remember they were trying to see Growing up in Moscow, there’d always you’re kind of like, “Oh my God, what is
if the BBC were OK with that. be Eastern European people on TV with this scary farmland that doesn’t allow
You steal Daniel away from his husband, do heightened stereotypical accents. And people to live as they want?” Don’t get me
we feel sorry for him? that really isn’t the case. So, in this role, I wrong, there are fundamental things that
I don’t think you ever feel sorry for him. really wanted to make my accent a little are wrong with Russia, they live in a time
Their relationship gets kind of pointless bit more accessible, and I had this idea that’s standing still, but there are a lot of
and stale. You know, you can just see the of Viktor growing up watching American people who are compassionate, loving,
cracks. It’s one of those things you don’t TV. So, I mixed a Ukrainian accent with a warm and kind. I know for a fact that
like to say, but you observe it and you think transatlantic one. I hope it breaks those my Russian family wouldn’t have treated
it. And then when Daniel meets Viktor, it’s me as Viktor is, so that’s something that
one of those things; it’s like, “I’m gonna restored my faith in my Russian heritage.
spend the rest of my life with you.” What Does it frustrate you that we don’t really see
would you do in that situation, would you that side of it?
just stand by people who you don’t really Well, there are bad parts in every country.
love, or would you find love? You can go to a really dodgy part of
Aside from your romance with Daniel, there England and you can see the same kind
are other storylines, aren’t there? of thing. Obviously, it’s different but if
Oh my God, yeah. And that’s the thing: you focus on the bad, you find the bad.
there are so many different storylines and That’s what brings it back to Years and
they work well together so symbiotically. Years; it’s an optimistic show, and Viktor’s
PASSION: Maxim
It’s just one family at the end of the day, with on-screen an optimistic person. He goes through
but fuck me, there’s a lot of shit going on. lover Russell Tovey so much shit but he is constantly fuelled
How did you get the attention of Russell with positivity and he’s a warrior. That
T Davies to be cast? stereotypes that I’ve seen and heard, that kind of attitude from someone whose
I got sent the script and thought, “OK, I’m I always thought weren’t that truthful. freedom and liberties have been taken
half Russian, this is good.” So, I had a really Eastern European people are very funny away from him is testament to his mental
early meeting with casting directors but I and heart-warming and I wanted to strength. That’s what’s great about Years
didn’t hear anything back and reckoned channel all of that through Viktor. and Years: it takes a positive view on a
they didn’t like me. Then two months later How does the way that Russia is portrayed in world that’s going to hell.
I got a call out of the blue saying, “They Western media sit with you, as someone who Is that how you feel, or are you more optimistic
love you, you’ve got the part.” That’s never is half Russian? about the world’s chances in general?
happened before. Usually you go through The media presents Russia as this kind of It’s about how you perceive things. You
rounds and rounds of auditions but in devil, and there are a lot of fundamental can see things through rose-tinted glasses,
this case, I was very fortunate. things that are wrong with it. But on a you can adjust your thinking. But also,
You’re half Russian — is the other half British? human level, there are a lot of families there are so many things that are wrong.
Yeah. [Although I was born in Surrey], I that are incredibly compassionate and
grew up in Moscow for the first six years of incredibly understanding. I’m really proud Years and Years will air on BBC One in May

JUNE 2019 65
 ta Barzilai still has a while before
al s

having to relinquish her title. But praise for the singer’s

unique sound and call for self-acceptance has been
offset by criticism of Israel. However, she agreed to
give Martijn Tulp a tour of Tel Aviv, the city she calls
home — and the new venue for this year’s contest
Photography Eran Levi Styling Itay Bezaleli

t’s a Wednesday morning and Netta, They all want a picture or to say hello to
her team and I are in a van driving the woman who brought a renewed sense of
around Tel Aviv. I hand her a bag of pride to the country, when she won last year’s
cookies I brought from home, which Eurovision Song Contest with Toy — the 529
she seems to enjoy. “I used to live in points garnered put her way out in front.
Hod HaSharon, which is about a Netta’s stylist films the whole thing on his
90-minute bus ride from Tel Aviv,” phone, while her manager apologises. “It’s
she says. “But I just had to move here because hard to go outside in Tel Aviv with her,” he
I don’t want to constantly drive a car back and explains, and we decide to head back to the
forth. A lot of people here drive like crazy, it’s van early and drive to the next location in
just not for me. this city whose name roughly translates as
“I actually never got my licence,” she adds. ancient hill of spring.
First stop: Jaffa’s flea market, aka Shuk Netta looks happy with the recognition but
Hapishpishim. “I visited this market a lot also seems sad. “It’s still one of my favourite
when I was a teenager, looking for vintage places to visit, when I get some free time in Tel
stuff. I went through piles and piles of Aviv. But I guess for the time being I shouldn’t
clothes to find treasures. go here by myself,” she admits.
“The market also has a lot of homeless Time for a lunch break. We sit down at
people selling stuff, sometimes without Farouk Bashuk, a trendy yet casual place that
knowing how valuable it is. If you look serves vegan, vegetarian and meat dishes.
hard enough, you can find some cool “You have to try the bourekas!” Netta suggests.
things. Two of my favourite dresses are It’s a delicious puff-pastry snack filled with
from Shuk Hapishpishim, and they cost me goat’s cheese and topped with a poached egg
about two shekels [42p] each.” and tomato salsa.
As soon as we get out of the van, people It not only tastes great, but also looks very
at the market recognise her. We try to walk Instagrammable. “Social media is so powerful!
casually on to the flea market to take some When I visited the States, James Charles got in
pictures but none of us make it past the touch with me. He’s the first male ambassador
first stall. for [cosmetics brand] CoverGirl and he has
Netta, 26, is bombarded with enthusiastic almost 15 million followers on Instagram.
people shouting to her. Some mothers try to That’s insane!
get their toddlers to scream out her name in “He just purchased a looper and asked me
the hope of getting her attention. for tips on how to use it. I offered to come to >

66 JUNE 2019
 Netta

JUNE 2019 67
his place and show him, next time I was in
LA. We did a session, he tagged me in an Insta He asked me to dance. I could see the shock
story, and within 24 hours I’d gained 30,000 on his friends’ faces when we were dancing
followers. It’s crazy.” together.”
She takes a bite of her boureka. “This is She shows me a picture of her getting
where I took my boyfriend for breakfast after

th a t gays kissed on the cheek by a handsome, bearded

we met. I’d just got back from LA and went to

t’s ab sur d e
guy with a sparkle in his eye.
a club called Radio EPGB. I told my girlfriends:
“I ’ t h av e th “We had great chemistry, so at the end of

here droingh
‘I want to meet a guy tonight, so don’t cock- the night I invited him to come to my place.
block me’. Of course, a few people came up
ts a s me” As soon as he saw my rack of dresses he

same
to me asking for a picture, including this insisted upon trying them all on. He did a
guy who had just moved to Tel Aviv from LA. fashion show for me until 6am. And in the
morning I took him to Farouk.”
Netta’s face glows when she talks about
her boyfriend. “We’ve been together for six
Netta wears all clothing, months. He’s my first serious boyfriend.
by Stella and Lori
“He wears my clothes a lot, he’s very secure
in his sexuality. And it actually looks super-
sexy on him.
“He’s an American Jew, and he made Aliyah.”
Netta is referring to the process of moving
to Israel to get citizenship, a right given to any
Jew and their descendants.
“He’s really interested in photography but
he’s not very good at it yet. I don’t have the
heart to tell him!”
While walking back to the van, one of the
neighbouring shop owners sees Netta and
enthusiastically pitches a roll of trash bags
on the street, as if he’s rolling out a red carpet
for her. Netta sashays on it as if she’s about
to attend a fancy movie premiere. The shop
owner doesn’t ask for a picture, he’s just
excited to see her.
Our next stop is to look at a piece of
street art. It’s a portrait of Netta in her full
Eurovision get-up, but made entirely of bottle
caps. “This was put up two days after I won
Eurovision,” she explains.
“There was a lot of hope that I would win,
and my victory really inspired the people
here. Generally, Israelis don’t have a lot of
reasons to be happy — we get a lot of bad PR.
But the people here are good. There’s a great
vibe. We just live in a bad neighbourhood.
“If I had a solution for our problems, if I
could help solve them by singing somewhere,
just tell me where to go.
“Me winning Eurovision was a rare happy
moment for my country.
“But not everything is political. I’m very
unapologetic and happy, and I hopefully
inspire others to be the same.
“There’s a school nearby, and the idea that
HAIR & MAKE-UP kids see this piece of street art and perhaps
Eran Israeli see me as the hero, as the idol, instead of some
super skinny model selling clothes on the

68 JUNE 2019
 Netta

A LOT OF BOTTLE:
Netta with the
street art made of
bottle caps, and,
above, on her way to
winning Eurovision

cover of a magazine, makes me happy. I’m city in the world, in 2012. “I performed there when you tell them they’re not worth as
proud to be a different type of hero. last year, right after I came back from Lisbon,” much as someone else, it takes time for
“When I was growing up, I would have loved Netta says. them to bounce back and start believing in
to have had a role model who is admired “We were so excited to perform for the themselves again.
for what she does, not for the way she looks. gay community. I’m looking forward to “I’ve been there too: for years and years I
So when I see this piece of street art, I don’t performing at Tel Aviv Pride again this year. believed I wasn’t equal to others because of
see myself, I see what my Eurovision victory “The gay community and I go hand in hand. the way I look and who I am. To this day, when
[Israel’s fourth] represents for the country.” I’ve surrounded myself with gay men since my I walk into a clothing store, there is nothing
Our next destination is the Suzanne Dellal early teens — even before they came out. They in my size. According to the industry it’s not
Center for Dance and Theater, located in Neve lift me up. You’ve met my team: all of them are commercially viable. Why? Because bigger
Tzedek, one of Tel Aviv’s oldest districts. It’s gay. They’re my family and my best friends.” women are made to believe they’re not hot
home to the Batsheva Dance Company. Netta’s connection to the community goes enough to pull off a fashionable look.
“I used to perform here with the dancers a beyond friendship and styling, though. “It’s “I think a lot of gay men are scared to come
lot. I would improvise music with my looper, very important for me to use my platform out because they feel that they are inferior.
and the dancers would improvise their to raise awareness about gay rights,” she We should use our power on social media to
movements. explains. “It’s absurd that gays here don’t constantly bring this discussion out in the
“The performances were different every have the same rights as I do. It’s crazy that I open, and make Pride parades even bigger.
time. It was a great period in my life. A lot of can start a family with whomever I want, and “Yes, you see some families visiting Tel Aviv
the dancers are still my friends.” they can’t. We’re obligated to pay taxes, we all Pride but it’s not enough. Gay pride should be
The beach-front Charles Clore Park is our have to serve in the army, but the government a national holiday, not just a party. We should
last stop on Netta’s tour. Situated along the doesn’t treat us equally. It’s good to see we’re always strive to get more people involved.”
city’s Mediterranean coast, the park holds making progress, that we’re moving forward, So what’s next for Netta?
significance for the singer. “When I was a kid but it’s not fast enough.” “It has been a wonderful year for me. I’m
my dad used to fish here. I’d sit next to him Netta muses about how not having actually kind of excited that it will be over.
and just stare out at the ocean. equal rights potentially makes gay men Winning Eurovision has brought me a lot of
“I still come here when I want to relax, to feel inferior. “When you weaken someone, great things, of course. It has opened a lot of
clear my mind. I can just sit here for hours.” doors for me.
She’s interrupted by a girl who looks as “I’m proud of what I did for Israel and
if she was doing just that, until she noticed happy about what it did for me. Of course I’ll
the singer standing next to her. She tells
eople they perform at Eurovision in May — I’m hoping to
Netta how much she means to her and how
you t p
ell uch, sing a new song.
surprised she is to see her in the flesh. I f
“ t worth m “If all goes well, I’ll release an EP in the next

aren’ s them time

The park will be the site of the Eurovision few months. I’m ready to keep showing the
village in May, and it’s where the annual world that I’m not a one-hit-wonder.”
Tel Aviv Pride parade concludes and turns
it takence back”
to bou
into a massive beach party. There’s a reason This year’s Eurovision Song Contest airs on
American Airlines named Tel Aviv the best gay BBC1 on 18 May

JUNE 2019 69
 BUSINESS PROFILE

Adrien & Pierre Gaubert Founders of myGwork

Words & Photography Markus Bidaux

wins Adrien and Pierre Gaubert tell him where to go to for the next game. What were the biggest challenges when

T
run myGwork, the “pink Both his manager and the HR director were building your user base?
LinkedIn”, which connects the unsupportive and he left the company. P: We needed job ads to get users and we
LGBTQ community with inclusive A: Another person told us about how they needed users to convince companies to
and supportive companies seeking to create made it through all the rounds for an advertise with us, so it was a bit of a chicken-
a diverse workplace. engineering job application, but when they and-egg problem. We’re lucky that our first
finally met people from the company face partners were very supportive. Having
What prompted you to create myGWork? to face, they did not hire them because they companies such as Reed Smith attracted a lot
Pierre: We both had negative experiences in discovered the person was trans. of users in the early days.
the workplace. I was not able to be out at work Which countries have you found to have the What has the growth been like?
because the culture was very homophobic best LGBTQ employment practices and which A: We launched the website in 2016, then
and sexist. So we decided it would be good to has the worst? we created a new one in 2018. We had 30
create a safe space for LGBTQ people to find P: The UK and the US are the best, and the companies at that point and that grew
jobs on our digital platform. Scandinavian countries are hard for us to to more than 120 in six months. Those
So you’ve had issues at other workplaces? target because their workplace policies are so companies are spread across 90 countries —
Adrien: Yes. It was when I was working for the good. The worst in Europe are France, Poland some where it’s illegal to be gay.
French consulate in China. A colleague knew or Italy — all [primarily] Catholic countries. What are the advantages and disadvantages
I was gay but still asked if I had a girlfriend, How would you suggest employers improve of working with your twin?
just to try to make me lie and then say, “Oh my their support for LGBTQ employees? A: From the beginning, we decided that Pierre
God, he’s lying about his sexuality.” A: They need to provide training to their staff would be the chief executive and I’m the chief
Other gay French business owners have told on diversity issues, then create and support marketing officer, so he gets the final decision
me that France can be a difficult place to find which helps avoid arguments.
investment for LGBTQ businesses. What has P: We argue as brothers do, but that can also
your experience been? “You don’t need to bring us closer together. And, unlike friends
P: As for investment on LGBTQ businesses, work from 8am until going into business together, we will never
they wouldn’t give it to you. Even when I 5pm every day” split because we are family.
A: In terms of visibility in the media, it’s easier
was giving a talk at the French chamber of
commerce in London, two weeks ago, half of for people to remember us.
the people didn’t know what LGBTQ meant. LGBTQ employees with a good diversity and What changes would you like in the workplace?
What persuaded you to leave France? inclusion manager — not just an HR person. A: We’d like people to be able to bring their
A: We found it difficult to be ourselves in the Also, their website needs to have a dedicated whole self to work and so feel happier and
business culture of France. We both ended up section on LGBTQ policies. perform better. In France, they work a 35-hour
in China and even there it is less homophobic What other services do you offer? week but they are one of the most productive
than France. They just don’t have this negative P: We hold networking breakfasts every countries in the world. You don’t need to work
sexualised view of gay people. quarter, and anybody can offer mentoring from 8am until 5pm every day to be more
How do people interact on your site? online. Basically, you put yourself forward productive: work less and work better. That
A: They can find jobs and see who works for and say that you will accept people who way, employees are less likely to be stressed or
which company, then you can talk to these reach out for career advice. It’s an informal feel anxiety, so tend to take fewer sick days.
people and ask what it is like at the company. set up, we don’t want people to be locked into What do you foresee will be myGwork’s
People can also search for a mentor. a programme. biggest challenges over the coming years?
Do you ever get criticised for creating a How do you earn revenue from the website? P: First, the goal is to go to the US to raise
platform for LGBTQ people? P: Advertising, such as job postings for more money, more quickly, because they
P: Many managers say they don’t want to potential employees. We also create content have the biggest market on Earth. In terms of
discriminate between straight and LGBTQ. for employers, including articles and they technology, we have the challenge of always
We then have to explain that it’s not about come to us to create events. keeping the platform up to date, attractive
discrimination, it is just about making sure What are the main industries represented on and user-friendly.
that LGBTQ people are represented in their your platform? A: Then the real challenge is to provide a safe
workplace. For example, there was one guy P: Consulting, media, pharmaceutical, workplace for all LGBTQ people around the
who was part of a recruitment company who banking and the legal sector. However, our world. We have to reach out to them and find
asked to join the firm’s football team, but partners are from very diverse industries. We them a job in a safe company.
the other players thought he couldn’t like have, for example, interesting job offers in
football because he was gay, so they didn’t fashion and hospitality. mygwork.com

70 JUNE 2019
 BUSINESS

Adrien CV
2011
International relations
co-ordinator for the minister
of culture in the state of
Guerrero, in Mexico

2012
In charge of event planning and
communications for the chancery
of the general consulate of France
in Guangzhou, China

2013
Research analyst for Kaiser
Associates

2014
Creator and chief marketing

CV Pierre operator of myGwork

2011
Market research intern for Fives, a
Mexican engineering company

2012
Smart city summer associate,
working on research of
technology communication

2013
Internal account manager at
BMC Software

2014
Creator and chief executive
of myGwork
Nashville
p76

THE WORLD IN FOCUS

74 Just the Ticket 76 Nashville 84 Hot Hotel

JUNE 2019 73
T avel

CABIN FEVER
Virgin Atlantic have revealed the redesigned
cabin for their new Airbus A350s, which will
take to the skies this summer, initially from
Heathrow to New York and Atlanta. Seats
in economy have been made with bespoke
fabrics, six-way adjustable headrests and
11.6in-wide seat-back screens. Premium
seats are tailored with claret leather, the
meal tables are made of pressed black wood
and the screens
are 13.3in. Upper
Class passengers
will benefit from REVAMPED: Upper
flat beds, new privacy Class seats, and,
inset, Oscar
screens, and a
whooping 18.5in
entertainment brand is also replacing its “Flying being the first to offer the gender options
screen while the bar Lady” artwork, which adorns its undisclosed (U) and unspecified (X) for
has been re-imagined into aircrafts, with a diverse range of customers booking with gender-neutral
The Loft, a large social characters to reflect modern Britain passports.
space allowing eight people to including our mate “Oscar” in rainbow- They have also added “Mx” to its list of
sip cocktails or dine together. The coloured lycra. titles for those not wanting to be identified
Meanwhile, Norwegian have launched four as male or female.
weekly direct flights from London Gatwick to
Rio de Janeiro, with prices from £159.90 one virginatlantic.com
way. There are also new routes to Miami, San norwegian.com
Francisco and a summer service to Seattle.

Just the
If that wasn’t enough to celebrate, the
airline has added American gay civil rights

TICKET
activist Harvey Milk to their prestigious list
of “tail-fin heroes” on their Boeing 787-9
Dreamliners, joining other high-flying queens
Oscar Wilde and Freddie Mercury.
Words But United Airlines are also keen to prove
Markus Bidaux they are leading the industry in LGBTQ HERO: Harvey Milk
adorns the tail
inclusivity, at least in some US states, by

YOUR SHIP’S COME IN

The Mediterranean Sea will be welcoming the biggest gay
cruise this summer. Atlantis will sail the Oasis of the Seas
cruise ship from Barcelona to Palma de Mallorca, Provence
and three Italian ports, giving seafarers the chance to visit
Capri, Florence, Naples, Pisa and Rome before returning
to Catalonia. The 5,400 guests will have loads to do during
the week-long trip, with four pools on the world’s largest
and highest open-air deck, five theatres, three indoor and
three outdoor party spaces. In addition, there is an ice
rink, two rock walls, zip lines, sports courts and two surf
simulators. That should work up an appetite so it’s lucky
the ship has 13 restaurants. The cruise leaves port on
25 August, with prices from £920.

atlantisevents.com

more Boston now choose from three daily fabulous flights

more often available from London Heathrow and Edinburgh

74 JUNE 2019
 20 YEARS OF PRIDE IN REYKJAVIK

REYKJAVIK PRIDE
8-17 AUGUST 2019
Did you know that every year up to 1/3 of
the Icelandic nation attends Reykjavik Pride
to celebrate diversity and human rights? You
should join us this year!

Multiple events every day, starting with

an opening ceremony on Thursday 8
August and ending with the Reykjavik Pride
Parade, outdoor concert and party on
Saturday 17 August.

Let’s meet in the world's northernmost

capital where the summer nights never end.

See more at reykjavikpride.is

HINSEGIN DAGAR
REYKJAVIK PRIDE
DON’T CRY ME A RIVER:
Nashville has lots to offer
 Travel

Southern
comfort Will Stroude goes all
country to get a taste of what
Nashville has to offer — and
even finds a friendly cowboy
N ashville is a city which needs little annual Pride festival, now the dinner party intimacy
introduction. For decades, Tennessee’s entering its fourth decade, and “South Asian American”
state capital has stood as the world- attracts tens of thousands offerings of Tailor Nashville,
famous home of country music, spawning to the city’s broad streets or The 404 Kitchen in the up-
some of the globe’s greatest musicians and and is the largest LGBTQ and-coming neighbourhood
songwriters and creating a legacy most event in Tennessee. Perhaps of The Gulch, where chef Matt
Southern cities can only dream about. And, finding the Ennis to my Jack Bolus serves up fine European
no, we’re not talking about the high-camp here among the cowboys cuisine and more than 600
musical TV show starring Hayden Panettiere won’t be so difficult after whiskeys are on offer — one of
and Chris Carmack. all. The door to Nashville the most extensive collections
Taylor Swift, Dolly Parton, Miley Cyrus and was well and truly kicked GOOD OLE SOUTHERN BOY: in the state. Despite the
Will just needs the cowboy
Justin Timberlake all call Nashville home, and open a year ago when British hat to complete his Clint explosions of new hotspots,
as country music has continued to cross over Airways opened a new direct Eastwood impersonation the attitude of each chef I
globally in the past few years (hell, even Kylie’s route from London. Gone speak to is one that has a
cracked out her rhinestone boots), tourism are the days of fiddly layovers on the east sense of community, not competition: each
— the city’s second biggest industry — has coast; instead, the neon lights are now just a is full of enthusiastic recommendations for
continued to boom, as music lovers pile into nine-hour hop from the UK. It’s indicative of other restaurants and even particular dishes
the bars to see the country and rock stars of the monumental change taking place that’s for visitors to try.
tomorrow kick-start their own legacies. established Nashville as an international It’s indicative of the city’s character at large,
Music City more than lives up to its destination almost overnight, with cutting- the co-founder of Strategic Hospitality, Max
moniker but you’d be wrong to think its edge arts and food scenes previously seen Goldberg, tells me. The group has been at the
appeal lies solely in big hair and guitars: that’s as the preserve of the east and west coasts, forefront of Nashville’s transformation in
just one of the many misconceptions I shed transforming the city’s cultural vibe. the past decade, and as we share breakfast
during a five-day visit. Music has always brought crowds to this tacos and buttermilk biscuits at Pinewood
For one thing, this is not “Make America part of Tennessee, but as the state’s biggest Social, a trendy all-day hangout complete with
Great Again” country — or no more so than conurbation grows at one of the fastest rates outdoor dipping pools and reclaimed Sixties-
can be said of any other major US city in in the US, and housing prices boom, the style bowling alleys, he explains that there
2019. A dependably Blue (Democrat) island cultural influencers who may have once seen is an expectation that those seeking to get a
in a deeply Red state, Nashville is a relatively Nashville as only a stepping stone on their slice of the Nashville action engage with the
liberal enclave in the conservative South, career ladder are now staying put, won over local community.
with thriving and highly by the friendly vibe that, as Chains and brands parachuted in by big
engaged LGBTQ and
immigrant communities.
“Nashville is a one local business owner
puts it, “doesn’t beat you
outside businesses don’t tend to be welcomed
quite so warmly, he explains with a grin.
Yes, Tennessee was one relatively liberal down” in the way a more Not that Nashville isn’t welcoming of
of a dying breed of states enclave in the South” showy coastal metropolis outsiders. Rather the opposite. Trump
which had a constitutional might. The culinary scene might be trying to build his border wall, but
amendment banning same-sex marriage in particular has benefited, as trendy new Tennessee has one of the quickest-growing
prior to the Supreme Court’s historic 2015 chef-driven restaurants put their own spins immigrant and refugee communities in all
ruling, but well before that, Nashville’s city on Southern staples, and independent craft of America, with the climate and relative
council had already introduced domestic breweries such as Tennessee Brew Works and affordability proving big draws. One in 10
partnership benefits for same-sex couples Diskin Cider breathe new life into previously Nashvillians, on average, are now foreign-
and anti-discrimination ordinances for neglected parts of the city. born, with strong Latin American and East
public employees. That said, Taylor Swift still Nashville’s foodie pedigree is already long- African contingents and the largest Kurdish
found it necessary recently to donate $113,000 established — it’s the home of hot chicken — population outside of Kurdistan.
(more than £86,000) to the Tennessee Equality but the influx of fine dining spots, industrial Of course, all this feeds into the cultural
Project, an organisation that lobbies for the chic brunch venues and even independent melting pot, and whether it’s mouth-watering
rights of local queer people and opposes anti- chocolatiers, in the form of hip East sambusas (a stuffed pastry) at the Somali-
LGBTQ legislation. Nasvhille’s Olive & Sinclair, are combining owned The Horn Coffee, or hearty Salvadorian
Faith and flag are still part-and-parcel of the home-grown Southern favourites of the pupusa (a sort of flatbread) at Reina La
life here, make no mistake, but Nashville is past with an increasingly cosmopolitan and Bendición, there’s plenty of tantalising world
a place that firmly embraces modernity: my forward-thinking outlook. food to get acquainted with.
stay even coincides with the mayor signing But that doesn’t mean the city has One way of doing just that is on the
an executive order recognising LGBTQ-owned become self-consciously modish. There’s InterNASHional Food Crawl, held each Labor
business contributions to the city, making a refreshingly independent spirit among Day weekend (early in September), by the
this the first city in the South to do so. The the latest additions to the food scene, be it Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights >

78 JUNE 2019
Travel
ALIVE COVERAGE

STAGE PRESENCE: Anyone

who is anyone - or about to
be - in country music has
appeared in Nashville

Coalition (TIRRC), who lead more than a

thousand participants to sample the city’s
“Dolly is a regular. If that’s 1945. Legend has it that founder Thornton
Prince discovered the recipe after a scorned
most diverse food outlets, bring communities not a review to sell it to the lover spiked his fried chicken with cayenne
together and support immigrant enterprise. gays, I don’t know what is” pepper as revenge (side note: she sounds fab),
While the new is welcomed, it’s certainly and almost 75 years later the city still has a
not a case of out with the old. Music City is love affair with the fiery grub.
teeming with culinary institutions serving a-calling, you can’t say I didn’t try. Arnold’s is Thornton’s great-niece, André Prince
traditional Southern faves you’d be daft to certainly no frills, but the food transcends Jeffries, has run the business for the past 40 of
miss. The canteen-style Arnold’s Country all that: even during my brief lunch visit, two them and is the big-haired, leopard-print-clad,
Kitchen is the most famous “meat-and-three” Tennessee Titans players — that’s their idea bubbling Southern matriarch of gay men’s
in the city, where everyone from blue-collar of football — slide in to grab a takeout, while dreams. “Be respectful of the hot chicken,” she
workers to rock stars share home-cooked Dolly Parton is a regular. If that’s not a review warns as my competitive spirit gets the best of
meats, such as fried chicken, alongside three that can sell it to the gays, I don’t know what is. me and I ask to sample the XXX Hot.
sides of vegetables, including succotash In fact, owner Khalil, whose father founded It takes a lot less time to realise she wasn’t
creamed corn or mac and cheese — yes, it’s a the diner almost 40 years ago, regales me with kidding than it takes for the feeling to return
vegetable here. This is still America. the tale of the time he accidentally burned the to my tongue.
I’ve been diligently adding a side of surely Queen of Country’s blouse on the hob while After getting a glimpse of the culinary
healthy “colour greens” to each indulgent showing her around the kitchen. She took it culture that’s brought Nashville this far and
meal during my stay, only to be told three all in good spirits, of course. which is now propelling it into the future, it’s
days in that the secret to their moreish-ness is Another famous establishment is Prince’s time for me and my added kilos to sample
the fact they’re cooked in bacon fat and beer! Hot Chicken Shack, which has been serving the city’s bread and butter in the form of
At least when the coronary thrombosis comes up heaps of the city’s spicy staple food since some good ole country music. Venturing

80 JUNE 2019
 v

Eat to the beat

Breakfast/brunch institution, which has served Broadway
Nashvillians for close to 40 Take your pick of the bands
Henrietta Red years. Don’t trust us? Trust and beer on offer at the
A fresh and contemporary Dolly. The country goddess multitude of open-door
addition to Nashville’s food counts herself as a regular. honky tonk bars that line the
scene, this airy restaurant city’s main thoroughfare.
and bar is the perfect spot Edley’s Bar-B-Que Line dancing optional.
to blow away the cobwebs Melt-in-the mouth, slow- Touristy as hell but so what?
with a bloody mary and cooked smoked meats are
delectable raw bites from carved before your eyes at Wedgewood-Houston
the oyster bar. three locations across the neighbourhood
city, but you’ll have to get Head to this former
Marché Artisan Foods in quick — the tantalising industrial neighbourhood to
Owned by renowned local brisket is such a big draw it sample the best Tennessee
chef Margot McCormack often sells out by the middle home brews. In the middle
and her partner Heather, of the afternoon. of a huge rejuvenation, the
this casual cafe in Five old warehouses lining the
Points in East Nashville was Evening meal streets south of Downtown
voted the city’s best for are now home to earthy new
brunch 12 years running — Tailor Nashville breweries such as Diskin
that’s every year it’s been A potential romantic treat, Cider, Jackalope Brewing
CHICKEN OUT : Be in business. culinary creator Vivek Surti’s Company, and Nashville
careful with the
XXX Hot ones
forward-thinking “South Craft Distillery, where you
Butcher & Bee Asian-American” food is can buy the produce and
Emblematic of the city’s served in an intimate dinner drink it right there.
modern foodie overhaul, this party setting, with eight
industrial chic restaurant’s to 10 courses, personally Where to stay
brunch offering of dips, explained by the chefs.
mezzes and sourdoughs Kimpton Aertson
are perfect for the gluten- Suzy Wong’s Part of the InterContinental
free and vegan crowd, House of Yum Group, this boutique hotel in
while the whipped feta This Asian restaurant is a Midtown boasts a roof-top
with fermented honey will stone’s throw from all the pool overlooking Vanderbilt
change your life! LGBTQ action on Church University and a yoga mat
Street and offers drag and 50in TV in each of the
Lunch ‘n’ dinner performances 180 rooms. And you can
on Friday and Saturday watch your food being
Prince’s Hot evenings, and drag ‘n’ cooked in the Henley, a
from the plush confines of my room at the Chicken Shack brunch on Saturdays modern American brasserie
Kimpton Aertson Hotel in Midtown, just off Do as Southerners do at and Sundays. with a French twist. Or dine
the renowned Music Row, my first stop is the this beloved city landmark, in more privacy with a few
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. which was established more Rolf and Daughters friends at the chef’s table
Considered the Smithsonian of country than 70 years ago and is This Germantown hotspot in the kitchen.
music, the imposing exhibition centre in considered the birthplace of offers exquisite small plates, aertsonhotel.com
the middle of Downtown isn’t just one of the Nashille’s fiery staple food. sharing plates and mains
biggest museums for the genre, it’s one of the Served plain or mild, that from a modern and ever- AC Hotel by Marriott
biggest museums in the US, period. you don’t need taste buds changing menu that often Nashville Downtown
Boasting more than 2.5 million artefacts, of steel to enjoy, right up to takes its taste cues from Located in the heart of
charting the history of country music from XXX Hot — which might just Italian and Asian cuisine. Downtown, the hotel is a
the earliest strumming ranchers to 20th- leave some of you without few steps from the Country
century greats such as Willie Nelson and any taste buds! Where to drink Music Hall of Fame and
Johnny Cash, as well as platinum-selling Museum and the Ryman
crossover artists, including Carrie Underwood Arnold’s Country Church Street Auditorium. It has 209
and Shania Twain, the sheer volume of Kitchen Have yourself a gay old time rooms and an outdoor pool
historic items preserved means that only Serving traditional “meat in the small cluster of bars and bar. AC Kitchen is the
around 15 per cent are on display at any one and threes”, everyone from and clubs just a five-minute place for Spanish-inspired
time. Luckily for me, during my visit that lunching local tradesmen drive or 20-minute walk breakfasts while the AC
includes iconic pop culture artefacts such as to NFL stars can be from Downtown Nashville, Lounge offers cocktails
Elvis Presley’s “Solid Gold” Cadillac limousine seen swinging through including Tribe, Play Dance and tapas.
and Shania’s leopard-print ensemble from > this canteen-style local Bar and Canvas Lounge. marriott.com

JUNE 2019 81
the That Don’t Impress Me Much video. Well, rare insight into the fierce competition that nearby watering holes, and earlier if you
I’m impressed, and as I round the corner to hums below the glittery surface of the city’s want to enjoy the best of the local drag talent
find another huge room full of instantly music industry — as any fan of the TV show (dollar bills at the ready, folks: this is lip sync
recognisable costumes worn by the likes Nashville will be only too aware. and pageant country).
of Dolly and Taylor, it’s not long before I’m There’s also the chance to experience some Not used to rocking up to a club solo, and
giddily pressed up against the display cases, of the world’s best songwriters in an intimate with anxiety-inducing visions of being “that”
breathing heavy bursts of condensation on to setting, at The Listening Room Cafe, where weird guy alone at the bar, it’s with some
the glass like that crazed, hungry velociraptor “heroes behind hits” perform the music made trepidation that I arrive at the door with my
in Jurassic Park. famous by the stars. The volume of creativity $15 (£11.50) cover charge in hand.
The building is also home to the Taylor on display goes some way to explaining the But there’s no need to worry. Save for the
Swift Education Center, which, I’m sad to vibrant cultural revolution that’s taken hold odd cowboy hat, the Nashville gay nightlife is
discover, has nothing to do with re-educating among the city’s cowboy culture. a reliably familiar experience: home to Drag
the haters but in fact holds the (marginally, As for the places to pull a cowboy, though, Race season 10 finalist Kameron Michaels,
I suppose) more worthy aim of providing well... while Nashville’s loud and vibrant gay Play Dance Bar hosts some of the biggest
workshops for children. scene isn’t on the scale of LA or New York, names from the series, and the adjacent
Still, you wouldn’t put it past Tay. you’ll find a surprising number of bars. Spots club room offers reliable gay club fare:
Nashville’s culture of music and contemporary pop with enough left-field
entertainment can roughly be divided into Noughties classics to keep you guessing.
the showy, neon-lit temptations of Broadway, My fears of skulking around the dancefloor
and the hipper, earthier events which solo are quickly allayed when a handsome
permeate the rest of the city. stranger makes contact as I grab my first
Playing host to rock and country bands of drink. “Where’s y’all husband tonight?” comes
all persuasions through the day and night, a confident, melodious Southern drawl from
the honky tonk bars that line Broadway will next to me.
eat up the hours as you walk (and eventually “Oh, I’m not married, I’m visiting,” I splutter
stumble) from venue to venue taking in the inanely, suddenly painfully aware that my
beer, BBQ and beats. English Home Counties accent, already
The stars themselves are even getting in bordering on uppity back home, here sounds
on the action, with bars owned by the likes of more dangerously repressed than Mary
Jason Aldean and Kid Rock. The natives might Poppins in the Bake Off tent.
consider most of these to be tourist traps, but IN GOOD TASTE: “Oh, y’all are from London,” he says with a
there are still some local favourites where you Henrietta Red is a good chuckle. “A husband’s just what we call having
spot for breakfast
can avoid most of the hen parties. a boyfriend in Mississippi. You on your own?
Robert’s Western World is the go-to Come and join me and my friends...”
recommendation I’m given by all the city folk such as The Lipstick Lounge in East Nashville And so it is that I’m adopted for the night.
I speak to: a bustling bar where you can buy show that gayness has indeed spread across Maybe it’s one too many years single on the
a pair of leather cowboys boots and enjoy a the city as the Republicans always warned! But sometimes stand-offish London scene, where
famous “Recession Special”, consisting of a most of the action is centred around Church friendly connections with strangers usually
beer and fried baloney sandwich for $5 (£3.80). Street, west of Downtown, where you’ll find end at the perimeter of the smoking area, but
If the bright kitsch of Broadway isn’t your dance bars Tribe, Rebar and Canvas Lounge. it’s an invitation that could only be extended
thing, you can still see world-class music on The crowd is generally a mix of students somewhere as welcoming as Nashville.
any given night of the year at top landmarks and professionals, and although Fridays and Music City might have long been one of the
such as the Ryman Auditorium, The Bluebird Saturday far and away remain the “big night South’s most proudly independent cities, but
Cafe or the Grand Ole Opry, the country music out”, the antics of the whipper-snappers during the course of my stay I learn that it’s
stage concert that stands as the home of the at nearby Vanderbilt University mean that dancing to a different beat altogether.
longest-running radio broadcast in US history on most days you can expect a small crowd The buzz is whether Nashville can stay
and has hosted every star of the genre of note instead of the dreaded midweek ghost town. true to itself as the trend-led enterprises keep
over the years, as well as the up-and-comers. For my own big night out, I head from moving in. But, from what I’ve seen, there’s no
During my visit to one of the thrice-weekly Broadway — where I narrowly avoid being need to worry — and while this has been my
performances, I’m granted the honour of pulled into a line dance that has broken out first time at this particular rodeo, it certainly
going backstage to see the dressing rooms — in Robert’s — to Church Street’s Play Dance won’t be my last.
including the one reserved for Dolly each and Bar, which despite its name also serves as
every time she performs. Nashville’s biggest gay club. BA flies direct to Tennessee from Heathrow
Edging through the throng of TV cameras, Open until 3am on Wednesdays to Sundays, five times a week. ba.com
musicians, agents and stage mums, offers a it’s the place to go after stumbling out of visitmusiccity.com

82 JUNE 2019
 v

CLAIM TO FAME: The

Country Music Hall of
Fame and Museum

“You can enjoy world-class music on any given night of the year at famous landmarks”

REPUTATION
ENHANCED: Tay’s centre
offers workshops
for children

HISTORY: Bell Meade CROWD PLEASER:

plantation is now a Nissan stadium is home
museum offering wine to the Tennessee Titans
and whiskey tasting football team

JUNE 2019 83
T avel

H O T H O T E L
Sofitel Legend The Grand Amsterdam
T HE N ET HER LA ND S

S ome things in life take a while white butterflies. The hotel has 177 Museum and Rijksmuseum. A quick
Words
Markus Bidaux
to understand. Others, as the guest rooms and 52 suites, and mine tram ride and I’m back at The Grand
saying goes, do what it says on is spacious with a kitchen and lounge, for a dip in the So Spa’s pool before
the tin. The Sofitel Legend The Grand and views overlooking a quiet canal. sweating it out in the sauna and
Amsterdam falls squarely into the In addition, there’s a massive Sofitel steam room.
second bracket: “grand” sums it up. MyBed with a soft, feather-filled Later, I walk down to the hotel’s
Walking into the hotel’s brick-laid mattress topper and pillows. Michelin-starred fish restaurant
courtyard, I notice nautically themed The hotel’s location — just a Bridges where I enjoy a four-course
sculptures dating back to the 17th 10-minute walk from the city’s meal in a dining room decorated with
century — hinting at its former glory Centraal train station — makes it gold screens, dark timber floors and
as the headquarters of the Dutch easy for me to take advantage of my I marble-topped tables.
admiralty — when the country was a amsterdam City Card, which provides In the morning, I manage to
European superpower. free public transport and entrance to make it back there for breakfast and
Passing next through the oak many attractions. the waitress insists I have the eggs
revolving doors, I enter a lobby which I venture out to neighbourhoods benedict and Dutch pancakes.
is surprisingly modern looking with such as De Pijp, to visit the market for It’s fine — holiday calories don’t
flashes of silver and purples, works pickled herring and fresh caramel count, right?
by Cubist artists on the wall and stroopwaffles. Then it’s on to Oud-
chandeliers strung with dozens of Zuid, to wander around the Van Gogh sofitel-legend-thegrand.com

84 JUNE 2019
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ACTIVE

SON OF A (THERA)GUN
It may look like a weapon from Avengers:
Endgame, but the new Theragun G3 has been
designed to cause healing rather than harm.
Theragun is a market leader in percussive
therapy, which involves massaging deep-
tissue muscles at speed with a sort of rubber
mallet to alleviate tension and pain.
Developed over the past decade by
founder Dr Jason Wersland, Theragun boasts
a top speed of 2,400RPM and a treatment
depth of 16mm. The G3 (£375) sits alongside
the flagship G3Pro (£549) and a lightweight,
simplified model (£275) for easy daily use.
The G3 offers an ergonomic multi-grip Main picture: Theragun
design, two speeds — one for standard G3. Below: the G3Pro
treatment and the other for more sensitive
or sore areas — and comes with a protective
case and four attachments to maximise
treatment options.
It may not quite be as nice to look at as
your usual hunky male masseur, but even his
most energetic pummelling can’t compete!

theragun.com

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88 JUNE 2019
Y
ou’re known for training
a lot of celebrities but who
was your first?
My problem here is that
I’ve signed a lot of non-disclosure
agreements [laughs]. All I will say
is that I’ve worked in Hollywood. I
worked on X-Men: Apocalypse so you
can guess the names I might [or
might not] have worked with. The
most recent film I worked on was
Bohemian Rhapsody and I now have a
new-found respect for actors because
those guys work damn hard. Fitting in
their workouts, I didn’t want to batter
them down. A regime for them needs
to complement what they’re doing
during the day. It should make you
look better, feel better, move better
— all those things — which is why
we take a more rounded approach.
Exercise should improve the quality of
our life, not just be about destroying
ourselves for the sake of aesthetics.
Absolutely. At what point during a film
do you work with the actors?
I’m more engaged in the pre-
production period. When they’re
actually filming, these guys have such
limited time because their hours are

JACK
crazy. I’m also a soft-tissue therapist
— a glorified way of saying masseur
— and I end up doing more of that
during production.
How many actors would you be

AND
working with at any one time leading
up to them shooting?
Very few. I’m not extended out to the
crew or anything like that. So, it’s
much more limited. I’ve been hired by

CHILL
individuals, then by the film to do bits
and pieces of consulting work.
With all the superhero films out or
due out at the moment, there’s a focus
on amazing body transformations —
think of people such as Chris Pratt or
Chris Hemsworth. What would their
process be? Personal trainer to the stars Jack Hanrahan
They’re really amazing offers a more relaxed, holistic approach to
transformations. Those guys would
have been prepping for months before
help people look good and feel healthy
pre-production, where I normally Words Chris Jones (@chrisjonesgeek)
get involved, which is quite late Photography Joseph Sinclair
in the process. I’d love to have an
opportunity to work with an actor

90 JUNE 2019
 ACTIVE

to really transform them. They’re

probably starting out six months
before; their transformation is not
happening overnight.
That’s why people are quick to say:
“They must be on steroids”
Well, I know from
never taking drugs, “Exercise should
that you can get in
really good shape improve the quality
without them. I’ve of our life”
met Hugh Jackman
several times, and I definitely don’t
believe that man’s on anything. I’ve
been around this stuff a lot, I grew
up in hard-core body-building gyms.
When you’re taking drugs, you have a
synthetic look to your skin, and there’s
something off with the physique. But
the people I’ve worked with have very
natural-looking aesthetics.
Do you get lots of people coming to
you wanting a superhero-like body
because of your experience with those
types of films?
Yeah, certainly. Aesthetics is still
number one on everyone’s list, which
I’m fine with. But, again, I always try
to encourage people to go about it in a

smarter way. I think it’s very dangerous

to have a single-minded approach to
fitness. If you do too much machine
work or too much bodybuilder-style
training, then you neglect all the
important stuff that looks after the
joints, the mobility, the cardio. You
become unhealthy in the pursuit of
aesthetics. And in the long run, you’re
not going to actually look any better.
It’s a short-lived, short-sighted goal. It
should be the other way round. If you
optimise the way your joints work, you
build a really efficient engine so that
you recover faster. If you do that, you’re
going to get way better results.
What super power would you like to
have?
My favourite superhero is Wolverine so >

JUNE 2019 91
 happy with where I’m at. I have a nice
blend of looking good, and, more
importantly, feeling good.
Do you think that an obsession with
hang ups leads to body dysmorphia?
Definitely, that and social media. It’s
increasing in men, for sure.
But having more than 100,000
followers on Instagram, surely you
feel there’s a pressure to look a certain
way too?
I’ve built my following by not doing
that, by being true to my values. And
that’s where I’ve stood out among your
typical trainers online. They just seem
to all be cloning each other and each
other’s content. I just think: “This is
a platform, I could educate people.”
I’ll show my physique now and again,
sure, but I’m just doing that to prove
that my approach still leads you to
looking good. My message is very clear,
and it’s about this holistic approach.
I firmly believe that training should
improve the quality of your life and
not make it worse.
So, what was Jennifer Lawrence like
to train?
[Laughs] NDA! No comment!

Jack’s new three-month online

programme, Rebuild Yourself,
will be launching soon via
jackhanrahanfitness.com
@jackhanrahanfitness

that power to heal, the regeneration. People are getting sick and tired of the
Less so the “stabby” claws. “go hard or go home”, balls-to-the-wall
Do you feel you’ve got a real-life super training, which fucks you up. People
power? Are you the person who can are looking more for a sustainable
squat heavier weights than your approach.
mates, for example? Do you have any hang ups about your
I’d say I’m the best hybrid athlete. own body?
Like a Prius! Calves, calves, calves! It’s one of those
[Laughs]. Maybe more like a Tesla! areas where you are genetically
That’s always been my thing, too, blessed, or you’re not. When I
funnily enough. Even in school, I was younger and more into that
was one of those kids who wasn’t bodybuilder-style training, I was more
exceptional at one sport, self-conscious. I’ve never
but a very good all-rounder, “I’d love to have the competed, but the people
and I’m the same in the who everyone wants to
gym. I can squat double — super power of being look like, the physique
and dead-lift almost three able to regenerate” competitors, must be the
times — my body weight, most body-conscious
but I’m also very cardiovascular. people on the planet. And they’re
Two seemingly opposite ends of the never happy with the way they look
spectrum. because they’re judging that — the
An actual jack of all trades. Do you feel physique. It’s all that some of them
that your straight and gay clients want think about. When I dabbled in
to achieve much the same results? that, and considered competing, I
My client base is probably 50 per cent was really hitting the weights. I was
straight and 50 per cent gay. Aesthetics 10kg heavier than I am now, but I
is still up there as a goal for everyone, didn’t feel healthy. I was the most
but people are starting to want that self-conscious I’ve ever been about
more holistic feel from the training. my appearance. Now, however, I’m

92 JUNE 2019
ACTIVE
I’M STOPPING HIV.
I use condoms.

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Photography by THOMAS KNIGHTS
 FOCUS

SORTING
THE WHEAT
FROM THE
CHAFF
With so many life hacks out there,
Matt Lister comes up with three that
actually have a scientific basis
Photography Markus Bidaux

I
’ve been travelling a lot recently, and each airport
and plane journey offers ample time to cram in
some essential (yeah, right) internet scrolling
and trawling of endless clickbait columns. There
are plenty of ridiculous, troll-worthy “hacks” to be found in
every corner of the web, but there are also a few with at least
some research to back them up.

MIND YOUR TONGUE

This might sound ridiculous but Nathan Bryan, an assistant
professor at Baylor College of Medicine, in Texas, says
that brushing your tongue for 10 seconds per day allows
new “good bacteria” to grow. This in turn facilitates the
production of nitric oxide, a molecule that helps to slow
ageing, regenerate old cells and keep you looking younger.

WAKE UP — YOU NEED SLEEP

We Brits need to get more kip. According to the Royal Society
for Public Health, on average, we’re losing an hour of sleep
per night (of the seven to nine recommended) possibly from
binge-watching our favourite series or playing video games
late into the night. It may not sound like a lot, but it adds up
to an entire night’s sleep each week — more than two weeks
a year. A study of 13,000 people in 2017 indicated that poor
sleep is associated with forms of heart disease and stroke.

ZERO TO HERO?
Cheat day may not be all that bad for you after all! According
to research performed on 200 people at Tottori University
in Japan, monosodium glutamate (MSG), the ingredient
found in some Chinese food, could play a role in fighting
dementia. The additive, also known as E621 and sometimes
lso found in hot dogs and crisps, has fallen out of favour
n the past few decades because of health concerns but
now test subjects consuming MSG daily — in dishes such as
weet and sour prawns and chicken chow mein — showed
oticeable improvements in memory versus those on an
SG-free diet. It’s thought that about 850,000 people in the
K are living with dementia.

96
 ACTIVE

HARD CORE
Strengthening your core and improving balance can help with physical activity,
improve posture and guard against injury

CANDLESTICKS
> From standing, slowly squat down as low as
you can, so that you’re almost sitting on your
Achilles, then roll on to your back.
> As you roll, push your feet towards the sky
by squeezing through your abs. Put your hands
behind your back to aid balance.
> Then slowly — and with control — roll back
down on to your feet and stand up. Doing
these on to a raised mat will help at first.

SINGLE-ARM DUMBBELL
SUITCASE LUNGES THRUSTERS
> Holding a dumbbell in > Stand with a
one hand, step backwards dumbbell in each
into a lunge so you have hand, resting on your
a right angle through shoulders, then brace
your front knee. through your core and
> Stand back up again, squat so your hips are
being careful to watch just below your knees.
our balance throughout > Squeeze your bum
with this one-sided and stand up again.
weight distribution. As you stand, use the
> To make the move momentum to press
tougher, try lunging the dumbbells up and
forward, or walking over your head.
lunges across the > Bring the dumbbells
gym floor. back to your shoulders
and repeat the
movement.

PISTOLS DUMBBELL
> Standing on one foot, squat down as OVERHEAD SQUATS
low as you can, then stand back > Stand with a dumbbell in one
your arms in front to help your hand, raised over your head,
> If you can’t stand up, just mov then squat down until your
through the descending phase hips are below your knees.
called working the negative and > Squeeze your bum and SHOT ON LOCATION AT PURE FITNESS SHOREDITCH (PUREFITNESSSHOREDITCH.COM)
you build strength through the stand up, returning to
> Using a plate under your he the starting p siti n
dramatically increase your ra > These test you
movement with these. and highlight r
improvement. S
light weight and

JUNE 2019 97
ACTIVE

A PROBLEM
SHARED
Got a problem? Dr Ranj Singh
is here to offer his advice

HEALTH
I’ve been getting patches of dry, itchy skin NEWS
on my face and scalp. I went to my GP who Gay man contracts
HIV while on PrEP
told me it might be psoriasis. I’m single The recent case of
and it has really knocked my confidence, an Australian who

to the point where I don’t even want to talk contracted HIV while
taking PrEP “on demand”
to other guys. What can I do to get rid of it? highlights that, while the
drug is a game-changer
Harry, Leicester in HIV prevention, it
is not infallible. Much
I totally understand why your preparations (particularly for research — largely from
confidence has been knocked. use on the scalp), dithranol- trials involving every-
Psoriasis can really affect based remedies, and calcineurin day dosing — supports
a person’s self-esteem but, inhibitors, which “switch off” the effectiveness of
fortunately, there are lots of inflammation in the skin. Most of the drug, and although
treatments available. They could these require a prescription from there is growing evidence
take some time to work, though, your doctor, or have a chat with behind intermittent
so don’t expect immediate results. your local pharmacist. dosing around sexual
Psoriasis is a condition where Many individuals have to try encounters, this could be
the normal turnover of the skin is a few options before finding the less effective.
accelerated. This means that skin one that works for them, so please
cells accumulate in “plaques” (dry, don’t be disheartened if it doesn’t The real T on
red, flaky, itchy patches), which work right away. hot tea
can occur anywhere on the body. If your GP is unable to manage An Iranian study involving
It has nothing to do with hygiene the symptoms, you may benefit 50,000 people has shown
and it definitely isn’t contagious. an increased risk of
We don’t know exactly why “Psoriasis has nothing oesophageal cancer in
it happens but it is related to to do with hygiene and those who drank more
the immune system becoming
is not contagious” than three cups of hot
triggered and over-active. For (more than 60C/140F)
some, this can be linked to stress from referral to a dermatologist tea per day. This seems
and anxiety — it might be a good for more specialist treatment, worrying on face value,
idea to think of ways in which you such as UV light therapy. but in actuality the
can reduce your stress levels — or Remember: you are not on your risk is only small. The
hormonal changes, and certain own. It is estimated that psoriasis participants drank mostly
infections and medications. affects about 1.8m people in the green and black tea —
The mainstay of psoriasis UK, and there are many support without cold milk – so
treatment is “topical” medication groups and forums online that may not sync with the
(creams, gels and lotions that are you should check out. habits of most of the UK
applied to the skin). Most people are able to gain population. What the
These include moisturisers and some control over the condition research didn’t look at
emollients to ease the dryness but the key is to be patient and was the effect of things
and itching, vitamin D-based persistent with treatment. that we know increase
products that encourage normal If you need further information risk, such as smoking,
skin growth, steroid creams to and to find support, visit drinking and eating habits.
reduce inflammation, coal tar psoriasis-association.org.uk

IF YOU’D LIKE TO SUBMIT A PROBLEM FOR DR RANJ TO ANSWER, TWEET @DRRANJ OR EMAIL THOMAS.STICHBURY@ATTITUDE.CO.UK

98 JUNE 2019
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 Real Bodies
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PEOPLE, PLACES, PERSPECTIVES

102 Real Life 106 Life Lessons 108 Real Bodies 110 Word on the Street 112 Table For Two
113 Buddy Brilliant 114 Books 115 Films 116 Music 119 Homo Fomo — Pride guide
LUXXXER

JUNE 2019 101

A SIGHT FOR
THOR EYES
Self-professed super geek Chris Jones
explains why superheroes mean so
much to him and how he realised that
their powers mirrored his sexuality
Photography Joe McCormick

W
earing a superhero cosplay The Animated Series. Oh my God, I was
outfit made from black obsessed — and I still am to be quite
neoprene when it was 30C honest, to the point where I found the
outside may not have been a great full DVD boxset on Amazon and sent
idea, but a child’s smile made it all the link directly to my folks so they
worthwhile and melted my heart. could “surprise” me with it for my
At last year’s Pride in London, I 30th birthday!
marched with LGBT HERO, the Health Of course, the opening theme music
Equality and Rights Organisation, is hands down one of the best in
and decided to dress as Thor for the television history, but that aside, the
occasion. But, I wasn’t just Thor. I was characters blew my mind. Here were a
a cute queer Thor, with a rainbow group of super humans with various
cape and rainbow ribbons attached kick-arse powers but,
to my mjolnir. unlike Superman, they
Suddenly, I heard someone shout: were hated for being,
“Thor!” I turned and saw a young well, super.
couple and their small son, laughing. In case anyone’s not
“He loves Thor,” his mum said as I familiar (judging you),
went over to them. I smiled at him X-Men are known as
and didn’t really know what to do, so I mutants in the world of
gave him a little fist bump before I was Stan Lee’s Marvel Comics, school seemed to love
swept back up into the parade. and their mutations only football, judged
Behind me, I could hear him happily grant them unique people based on their
shouting to his folks about how he met super powers. But no trainers, and stood
Thor. For me, that moment cemented alien technology, nuclear around glowering.
the impact of superheroes — and why testing, or spider bite It wasn’t cool to be
they mean so much to me. caused their differences. anything else. So, I
I was about six when I first watched They were born that way. pretended to like the
the Christopher Reeve Superman with As a young child MARVEL-LOUS: Thor, popular-by-general-
Captain America and
my dad. I remember thinking, “Wow! watching this, I needed other MCU characters
consensus football
Superman can fly, lift a car with ease more than just my changed Chris’ life team, my mum
and shoot lasers from his eyes.” Saturday-morning fix, bought me knock-
Here was this person, being strong but to my shock and horror no one at off two-stripe adidas trainers, and I
and dependable for others around school seemed to be watching it — or became really good at glowering.
him. I was in awe. at least didn’t admit they were. I allowed myself to be assimilated
A year or so later, I was watching This was the beginning of a familiar and I didn’t want to expose myself
Saturday morning’s Live & Kicking theme for me (cue the violins), of as being a fan of anything that
with my sister and they aired X-Men: feeling like an outsider. All the boys at might seem “lame”, such as adoring

102 JUNE 2019

 Real life social

superheroes. On a subconscious blown and I begged my parents to let books were delivered with my parents’
level, I empathised with the X-Men me get them. The helpful newsagent newspaper.
— their born-this-way struggle isn’t informed my annoyed parents that Then came a day that we’re all too
exactly a subtle metaphor for a queer they were published monthly, and that familiar with, I was forced to come
existence. Later in life, pre-coming I could get a subscription. out — as a nerd. “Here Chris,” said this
out, I definitely felt I had a With all the happy tears in spotty lad called Trevor, while we were
lot in common with Rogue. “X-Men’s struggle my big puppy eyes activated, my all hanging out menacingly in the
I wanted to be sassy and parents begrudgingly agreed. toilets. “What are those warrior books
strong, but I didn’t let anyone
isn’t exactly a Finally, I had more stories, a I deliver to your house?”
get too close. subtle metaphor” new character to enjoy in the It was like a quantum singularity
I know, real deep. form of Spider-Man, and the had appeared and my stomach and
Not long after the X-Men cartoon comics’ cross-over potential. entire being was sucked into it. Trevor
entered my life, I was in my village Needless to say, my interest in had become our new paper-boy. He’d
newsagent, where I spotted the same superheroes exploded even more. I seen my mags. He knew.
characters but on comic-book covers. was drawing my own comics, I was I prepared myself as best as I could
There, on the shelf not far from Smash inventing new superheroes, playing for a mocking, but he followed with,
Hits magazine were Essential X-Men and with action figures, and, each month, “Yeah, I read them while I do my round.
Astonishing Spider-Man. My mind was I had new stories as these comic Pretty good, aren’t they?” >

JUNE 2019 103

social Real life

Acceptance! And an explanation

as to why my folks often got their
newspaper so late.
I just loved being a nerd. A real
stereotypical one, to the point where I
had a ton of Pokémon toys and model
starships from Star Trek: Deep Space
Nine (yeah, not even the more socially
acceptable Next Generation).
People knowing I read comic books
was one thing, but I couldn’t let anyone
know about my Pokémon and Star Trek
obsessions, so I hid all trace of them
in my closet when friends came over.
They must have thought I was weird,
with no belongings in my room — or a
Dexter in the making.
I was 11 when I watched Batman &
Robin, and realised that I found some
superheroes more interesting than
others: specifically Chris O’Donnell
as the Boy Wonder in that suit with
the ridiculous nipples. And more
than that, I realised that, jeez, some
storylines in comics were hot! Big
muscular guys in skin-tight outfits,
sometimes captured/tied up or
mind-controlled to be bad… It was
certainly a formative
moment entering my
teen years. Y’know in
Doctor Who, when the
Doctor regenerates with “I hope Stan Lee knew how much his
that shiny glowing
yellow effect? Well, that
characters and stories meant to me”
was essentially the
homosexual within me Chris Club too! I declined “No more mutants.” That changed
awakening over the Robin nipple suit. the super soldier serum the fabric of Marvel comics for years,
If life was like the Marvel Cinematic but my motivation comes because mutants vanished. That panel
Universe, I had just entered phase two. from these heroes and its resonated with me. I needed to say
There was also a bit of a negative partly why I have cosplayed three little words to change my world
to loving superheroes: they were the as them. too. I needed to say: “I am gay.”
benchmark I held myself and other I realise, back when I It’s a long story for another day,
men to. I thought they needed to look was younger, I wasn’t just but in the end my sister accidentally
like Superman, and I thought I needed hiding my “nerdy” interest; outed me to my parents, so I never got
to look like Superman to get a man. I I was hiding the fact that I the chance. But that comic and that
started working out and in my early was gay. moment helped me realise that words
twenties even considered I hid in these stories, have so much power and sometimes,
using steroids to become X-TRAORDINARY: often about strong powerful beings once said, there is no going back.
Top, Animated X
like Hulk. Men, above Chris helping others, but I felt I had no Many years later, I got the late, great
O’Donnell as Robin,
And later, Hollywood and Scarlet Witch
one to help me come out. Stan Lee to sign my copy of House of
started to transform When I was reading another M. I hope he knew how much those
actors such as Chris Pratt, comic-book story called House of M, characters and stories meant to me.
Chris Evans and Chris a character called the Scarlet Witch
Hemsworth into super — while using her reality-altering @chrisjonesgeek
hunks. I wanted to join the powers — uttered three words: chrisjonesgeek.com

104 JUNE 2019

 ND
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 life lessons

GREG
I like my tea iced. Like the FIVE TOP TIPS TO SURVIVE
Ziploc bags filled with ice FIRE ISLAND: 1) DO NOT
I put on my bunions after REPLY TO PNPBB-ONLY’S
getting out of drag, and
the frozen margaritas I
sip to dull the pain
SCARNICI 9,000 GRINDR MESSAGES
2) DRINK LOTS OF
WATER 3) GARGLE WITH
W r i t e r, p r o d u c e r, a c t o r, LISTERINE AFTER EACH
MY FRIEND TAUGHT D J /m u s i c i a n a n d (p h ew) OF YOUR FIVE HOOK-
ME HOW TO TUCK AND drag queen UPS 4) BRING FLATS AND
I REMEMBER WISHING NOT HIGH HEELS WHEN YOU
Words Thomas Stichbury
I HAD BABY BALLS. I WILL Photography Tyler Andrew &
SPONTANEOUSLY DECIDE TO
NEVER FORGET THE HORROR OF Magnus Hastings GET INTO DRAG 5) REPEAT #1
TRYING TO STUFF MY NUGGETS AD NAUSEAM
INSIDE MYSELF AS HE TRIED
HIS BEST NOT TO BE MORTIFIED Sometimes the best things in I once fucked a guy on top of
COACHING ME THROUGH IT life happen by accident. Like an a garbage can on a boardwalk
unplanned pregnancy. In 2009, Greg
If I learnt one thing about myself Scarnici unexpectedly went I inadvertently found out I was
while writing my book, it’s that I into labour with alter- funny when, aged six, I told my
make a hideous cover model ego Levonia Jenkins, parents I wanted to be Wonder
a bearded gender- Woman for Halloween
The best thing about doing bender who has been
drag is making people crowned Fire Island’s Many of us focus on
think about gender norms worst drag queen four negativity when dark
while they’re screaming times. American Greg, 46, clouds come into our lives,
“YAAAASSS QUEEN.” The has racked up more than but getting your mind
worst? Everything else! 10 million YouTube views for off your problems
his music video parodies, and through laughter
My most treasured memory from scored acting roles in the likes changes that
Fire Island is the time I found of 30 Rock and A Star Is Born. focus, allowing
a bag of coke on my way to the The all-round multi-hyphenate your natural
underwear party. On a more currently mines comedy gold as healing capabilities
serious note, it was the time the an associate producer on long- to surface. I’ve
community held a candlelight running US TV series Saturday practised yoga
vigil after the shooting at Pulse. Night Live, and his second collection and meditation
Seeing the entire town come of essays, Dungeons and Drag Queens, for 20 years – I’m
together for a moment of silence has recently been published. more than just an
will stay with me for the rest of @GregScarnici average-looking
my life face, you know

106 JUNE 2019

 social

Happiness looks like 10 inches.

Hey, I’ll even take eight... or seven.
But six is just whatevs. And five
is like: OH, LORD, THIS IS A JOKE.
Four? I mean, come on. Yes, I am
talking about snowstorms, which
instil me with child-like wonder
and joy

Six months ago, I found myself

crying during a dog food
commercial and realised I had
to get off [PrEP drug] Truvada
because it was making me
depressed. True story

My most prized possessions

are my common-law husband
of 25 years, Paul, and our cat,
Venus. They’re possessions,
right? Or maybe just
possessed

SKYDIVING, TRAVELLING
TO MACHU PICCHU, THE
GALAPAGOS ISLANDS, GREECE
AND SPAIN, AND BECOMING
AN EGOT [WINNER OF AN EMMY,
GRAMMY, OSCAR AND A TONY]
ARE ALL ON MY BUCKET LIST —
WHY NOT DREAM BIG? OH,
AND TAKING TWO DICKS AT
THE SAME TIME

Love is never having to block

someone on Scruff  

Dungeons and Drag Queens: Fire Island Through

the Eyes of its Worst Drag Queen is out now

JUNE 2019 107

PIANO
FORTE W
hen people think of classical
musicians, they probably don’t
imagine a tall, gay, mixed-raced,
underwear-modelling triathlete with a
Yorkshire accent and Northern attitude.
I grew up in East Yorkshire, a rural,
predominantly white and traditional region.
My home town recently acquired a KFC, which
basically means we’ve made it. I’ve yet to see a
John Lewis van though; the day I do will be the
Classical pianist Emmanuel Vass day that East Yorks dies in my heart.
Many people ask if I had to deal with much
hits all the right notes as he tells prejudice growing up there as a mixed-race,
Attitude why he is stripping back his piano-playing, flamboyant child, but my local
craft, before turning up the tempo community welcomed me and my Filipina
mother (my father is fish’n’chips, proper-brew
against racism on the gay scene British) with open arms.
As told to Thomas Stichbury I started playing the piano when I was
Photography LUXXXER six and fell in love with performing. At the

108 JUNE 2019

 Real bodies social

is often dressed up in penguin suits, tailcoats,

and long, flowing ball gowns.
Would I ever perform in the buff? I’d be
very happy performing in a pair of Y-fronts...
just tell me where and when. I’ve also posted
music videos wearing a tight tank top and
tiny shorts on my YouTube channel, so I’ll see
how that goes down and take it from there!
I was definitely a nudist in a past life. I
love being naked, if and when appropriate, of
course. Although I exercise regularly — I lift
weights and triathlon train (swim, cycle, run)
— and am content with my body, I’ve had my
hang-ups over the years.
Unfortunately, Asian men have a terrible
time in the gay world and it’s taken a lot of
soothing and personal growth to get over
the fact that many guys will look straight
through me purely because I am a fabulous
shade of brown. It still frustrates and upsets
me, especially when I receive a lot of positive
attention from straight men and women,
and lesbians. When it comes to attraction,

“In a parallel universe,

hetrosexual Emmanuel
didn’t fulfil his dreams”
the heterosexual world seems to be far more
accepting of other skin colours, while the gay
world is still very much “white only.”
Coming to terms with being both gay and
an ethnic minority left me more scarred
than I realised. If I could send a letter to
my younger self, I would simply write:
“Dear Emmanuel (age 20), it is completely
unacceptable to read ‘No Asians’ on dating
age of 12, I won a school talent show with a profiles. Challenge it, instead of internalising
rendition of Celine Dion’s My Heart Will Go it. Lots of love, Emmanuel (age 30).”
On — I was obsessed with Leonardo DiCaprio. Can you imagine ever reading: “No blue
My dad had taken me to see Titanic and I eyes, sorry it’s just my preference,” on an
remember I couldn’t stop staring at Leo. I app? It’s moronic.
definitely should have realised there and then I’m single at the moment, and, if you
that I was gay, especially when the sight of In a parallel universe, heterosexual haven’t already gathered from this, I’m a
Kate Winslet stripping naked made me cringe Emmanuel spent his time chasing girls, and swirling mass of contrasts: intense but don’t
with horror. didn’t fulfil his ambitions and dreams. take myself seriously, athletic but geeky,
I came out to my family when I was 18. We live in a fantastic age of fluidity breezy but love a meaningful chat.
My mum and dad were shocked at first but and plurality, and classical music 100 per If you think you can handle the whiplash
quickly came around and have never been cent needs to start going with the flow. It’s of those contrasts, slide into my DMs.
bothered since, while my sister had figured it something that I am trying to inject into the And, naturally, I have a catalogue of songs I
out years before. genre by naturally embracing and exuding could play to woo a potential partner. If they
To this day, I still walk better in heels than everything that makes me unique. were pop-leaning, I’d go for George Michael’s
she does. The title of my upcoming album, The Naked Careless Whisper, or Your Song, by Elton John.
Being gay was a huge positive in my Pianist (out later this year), came about after However, if they are already a classical
younger years because it meant I had very I was asked to model some underwear. I music fan, you’d be Bach-ing mad not to add
few distractions. I achieved good grades, thought to myself, “While I have this body, I Brahms to your Liszt.
performed concerts and managed to practise may as well use it for my artistry.” It also ties See what I did there?
the piano as much as needed to secure a into this idea of wanting to strip classical
scholarship at the Royal Northern College of music bare, to demystify and simplify it. @the_naked_pianist
Music, in Manchester. People shouldn’t be put off by the fact that it YouTube: The Naked Pianist

JUNE 2019 109

 Caleb I’d be played by
Johnny Depp because he’s
my spirit animal, and the
film would be Becoming
Calo — that’s my nickname

LIAM This is Not the

End of the World,
and I’d be played
by the oh-so-hot
Timothée Chalamet

DAVID
The title would be La Mexicana, and I’d be played by
Meryl Streep because she can play any fucking role

Myrto (left)
Wave People, and I’d
pick Eva Green to play
me. She has the dark
element I have

Vasilis
The title would be
Curious Cases, and if
he was still alive, I’d be
played by Kafka because
we look similar and he
had mysterious moments DIOR My film would
of disappearance and
reappearance
be Passion Fruit, with
the beautiful Jussie
Smollett as me

110 JUNE 2019

 social

NICOLA
I’m not sure what my film
would be called, something
to do with bees. I’d be played
by Amandla Stenberg because
she’s a really cool person and a
good representative for queer
people of colour

ALEXANDER
He Never Said No — I’d be
played by Stanley Tucci, Margot
Robbie or Jake Gyllenhaal

BFI Flare
closing night
party:

THE
Unskinny
Bop

WORD
ON THE
STREET MATTHEW The
title would be Don’t
Elton John has Hug Me, I’m Scared,
Rocketman but what and I’d like Takeshi
would a film of your Kaneshiro to play me.
life be called? He’s gorgeous and
As told to/photography
I’d be honoured
Erica von Stein

MOE Grace
Jones would
play me in
Bitch Please

Blain
I’d pick Idris Elba because he’d really bring
out the layers of my craziness. The film
would be called Behind the Crooked Smile

JUNE 2019 111

social

Table
For
Two
OMAR AND SAMUEL
DINED AT M STREET
VICTORIA

What were you hoping to get out of

the date?
Omar: I just wanted to do something OMAR, 27, FREELANCE
different, and get to know a person. JOURNALIST/BARTENDER
Samuel: After living in Tenerife for
SAMUEL, 30, FOOD AND
three years, I’ve got rusty when it comes BEVERAGE SUPERVISOR
to dating. This was a good way to throw
myself back in at the deep end.
What were your first impressions?
O: I was so nervous, but he made me
feel comfortable straightaway. He was What was his best quality? having no idea about what half the
really handsome as well. O: His beautiful smile. He’s also really stuff on the menu was. Considering
S: When he walked in, all my nerves funny. my job, I should probably know.
eased. I was genuinely impressed. S: His eyes are dreamy, and his smile is Any awkward moments?
How different was he to your usual type? contagious. O: Every time they brought the food
O: I normally go for “hipster” guys. What did you make of his dress sense? over, we stopped talking which was
He was a bit different to that, but in a O: He really knows how to dress up. I kind of awkward.
good way. loved his fashion sense. S: When I walked in, he kept asking the
S: I’m usually attracted to guys who S: He’s also a stylist so, of course, it was manager if she was sure I was his date.
are slightly older than me. Omar is going to be amazing. At first it was awkwardly funny, but
younger — does that make me a daddy? Were there any deal-breakers? then it turned into being just funny. RATE
Would you have swiped left or right? O: Not at all. How did the night end? THE
O: Now, right. Just from photos, I don’t S: I don’t think so… but we have only O: We went for another drink in Soho DATE
know, I wouldn’t think I was his type just met so it’s a bit too soon to tell. then I took him to the train station. It
of guy. What do you think he thought of you? ended really well.

10/10
S: I never swipe. I’m more into O: Funny, silly, but also a good guy. I S: I ended up getting a tour of Soho
old-fashioned dating. However, think he liked me. and going to a couple of bars. He
hypothetically, he would have received S: Hopefully, he liked me. I was really took me to the station to catch my
a right swipe for sure. nervous. last train because I’d got lost on the
How was the conversation and what What were you most worried he would Underground on my way to the date
did you talk about? notice about you? — did I mention I’m blond?

10/10
O: Really natural. We talked about O: That I was so nervous. But then we What would you have changed about
everything: travelling, current affairs, ended up talking about it and it was OK. the night?
guilty pleasures and family. S: My fear of people taking pictures of O: Nothing.
S: We didn’t stop talking. At one point, me. Selfies are fine but if anyone else is S: I wouldn’t have changed anything.
I think I compared him to Ugly Betty, taking the photos I want the ground to Snog, marry, avoid?
but I meant the cute gay sidekick. As open and swallow me whole. I used to O: Marry, for sure.
usual, I put my foot in my mouth! weigh 16st, I lost the weight but I still S: It’s too early to talk about marriage, IF YOU’D LIKE
What was the most interesting thing feel like the “fat guy.” so I guess it’s snog. TO BE CONSIDERED
FOR TABLE FOR
about him? How was the food? Will you meet again? TWO, EMAIL:
THOMAS.STICHBURY
O: His tattoos. O: Amazing. I loved the lamb, and the O: Yes, at least I hope so. @ATTITUDE.CO.UK
S: He moved here around the same chocolate-and-peanut dessert. The S: Hopefully! We have been messaging
time I moved to Tenerife, so it was French rosé was also incredible. since the date, and are planning to go
interesting to compare experiences. S: Really nice. We laughed a lot about to see Wicked.

112 JUNE 2019

 social

BUDDY BRILLIANT
In a celebration of queer friendship, we ask best
mates some telling questions and find out just
how well they really know each other
Baxter met Charlie when he was drunkenly swinging around a lamppost
on Old Compton Street at Pride in London some seven years ago. Their BAXTER, 27, CHARLIE, 25,
friendship almost ended when they fell out over a guy (“It was worse than MANAGING PRODUCT
PARTNER MANAGER
any break-up!” claims Baxter), but they now own a house together and spend
Christmases with each other’s families

BAXTER ON CHARLIE CHARLIE ON BAXTER

1

Seven months. At what age did he 17.

WRONG! “15.” Almost, Baxter… come out? CORRECT!
2

Eight months. How old was he when 14.

WRONG! “13.” We’re spotting a trend here he had his first kiss? CORRECT!
3
Kaide. What was the name Jordan.
CORRECT! of his first boyfriend? WRONG! “Bill Cosby.” Wow, we have follow-up questions…
4

He got kicked out of a Pride parade for being drunk. What’s his most One time he spewed so hard at uni that it made his
I left him with his boyfriend as someone shouted: embarrassing friend vomit — on him. Fortunately, it wasn’t me.
“shame.” He resurfaced at the club 10 hours later. moment? WRONG! “I was once mistaken as a waiter at our
CORRECT! company Christmas party, and the manager ordered
me to start cleaning the tables”
5

Anthony Joshua. Who’s his biggest Who’s that handsome, petit, dark-haired Italian actor?
CORRECT! celebrity crush? Yeah, him.
WRONG! “Dave Franco”
6

Regurgitating something he listened to in a shitty What’s his most Looking at his phone while you’re talking to him.
self-help audio book as irrefutable truth. annoying habit? Happens every time. Without fail.
WRONG! “Probably talking about food” WRONG! “Speling.” Yes, as we can see!
7

Bad communication. What’s his biggest Sober people.

WRONG! “People checking their phones while pet hate? HALF A POINT! “The dull.” What’s the difference?
having a conversation”
8
He listens to Soviet Union fitness workout What is his secret The Sims soundtrack.
records. No, really. guilty pleasure? CORRECT!
WRONG! “Love Island.” So not really then
9

Insane knowledge of the London Underground. What’s his He can guess whether something is tea or coffee just by
WRONG! “I can find a GIF for anything” secret talent? looking at it.
HALF A POINT! “I can tell if tea has sugar in it just by
looking at it”
10

The Freemasons’ remix of Beyoncé’s Green Light. What song does he Countdown, by Beyoncé.
WRONG! “Holiday, by Madonna” over-play before a WRONG! “My favourite song from The Sims soundtrack
night out? is Mall Rat, if that’s what you’re asking”

IF YOU’D LIKE
BAXTER’S THEY MAY LIVE TOGETHER LIKE A CHARLIE’S TO BE CONSIDERED
SCORE: MARRIED COUPLE, BUT THESE SCORES SCORE: FOR BUDDY
BRILLIANT, EMAIL:

3/10 SUGGEST A DIVORCE IS LOOMING… 4/10 TIM.HEAP

@ATTITUDE.CO.UK

JUNE 2019 113

social Books

BOOK
OF THE
MONTH

Words
Uli Lenart

A cross
to bear
New tale about
the cost of fleeing
from your past
is haunting and
MY BROTHER’S NAME IS JESSICA  
beautiful John Boyne/Puffin

The new trans-themed young adult novel

by the best-selling author of The Boy In the
Striped Pyjamas and The Heart’s Invisible Furies.
Thirteen-year-old Sam Waver is a bit of a
loner, he’s never kissed a girl and struggles
to make friends. His mother is a minister in
CROSSING  the British Cabinet, with an eye on the top job
Pajtim Statovci/Pushkin Press — an ambition that keeps both his parents
pretty preoccupied. Luckily for Sam, his older
The mesmerising new novel from the Finnish-Kosovan author of My Cat Yugoslavia. Bujar’s brother Jason has always been there for him.
world is collapsing. His father is dying and his home land, Albania, is plagued by hunger Jason is kind, popular, amazing at football,
and unrest. When his friend Agim is discovered wearing his mother’s red dress and beaten successful with girls: everything a young
with his father’s belt, he persuades Bujar that there is no place for them in their country. guy would want to be. But then one evening
Desperate for a chance to shape their own lives, they flee. This is the beginning of a journey Jason calls his family together to tell them
across cities, borders and identities, from the bazaars of Tirana to the monuments of Rome that he’s been struggling with a secret for a
and the drag bars of New York. Pursued by memories of home and echoes of folk tales, they long time: he isn’t a he at all. Despite its lapses
risk losing themselves in the struggle to leave their pasts behind. Beautiful, haunting and in subtlety and believability, this poignant
brilliant. Translated by David Hackston. Out 2 May and disarming story is full of heart and it’s
crescendo will give you tingles. Out now

ALSO
THIS
MONTH

THE CLOTHESLINE SWING YOU WILL BE SAFE HERE

Ahmad Danny Ramadan/The Indigo Press Damian Barr/Bloomsbury
An absorbing story about love and This is a brilliant and compassionate
courage that weaves through the novel from the award-winning author
mountains of Syria, the valleys of of Maggie & Me. South Africa, 1901, the
Lebanon, the seas of Turkey, the heart of height of the second Boer War. Sarah
Egypt and to the hope of a new home in van der Watt and her son are taken from
Canada. Inspired by One Thousand and their farm by force to a concentration
One Nights, Ahmad Danny Ramadan’s camp in Bloemfontein where, the English
innovative and poetic debut novel tells promise, they will be safe. Johannesburg,
the story of two lovers anchored to the 2010. Sixteen-year-old outsider Willem
memory of a dying Syria. One is Hakawati, just wants to be left alone with his books
the storyteller, who keeps life moving and his dog. Worried he’s not turning out
forward by relaying remembered fables and incidents from their right, his ma and her boyfriend send him to a training camp where
youth to his dying partner. Each night he spins stories of a Damascus they “make men out of boys.” Inspired by real events, You Will Be Safe
childhood, of leaving home, of persecution and hardship, and of a Here uncovers a hidden colonial history and present-day darkness
fated meeting with his lover. Out 2 May while exploring our capacity for cruelty and kindness. Out now

114 JUNE 2019

 Films social

FILM
Words: OF THE
Guy Lodge MONTH

5/5
AMAZING GRACE
Aretha Franklin

It’s taken 46 years for this electric

Aretha Franklin concert documentary
to reach cinema screens. Shot in 1973,
when the Queen of Soul was recording

A star is torn
her landmark gospel album Amazing
Grace, it was kept on the shelf by a series
of technical and legal complications.
It’s worth the wait, however: simple and Natalie Portman goes so far out there you almost
candid as the studio footage is, it’s a
jaw-dropping snapshot of supernatural
can’t see her in a pitch dark — but exciting — drama
talent in full flight, and a heart-piercing
tribute in the wake of the singer’s death 5/5
last year. 10 May VOX LUX
Natalie Portman, Jude Law, Jennifer Ehle, Raffey Cassidy, Daniel London
ALSO
THIS Whatever has made the film industry so fascinated by the inner workings of women in
MONTH the music business, we don’t know — but we approve. Brady Corbet’s (remember him from
4/5 Mysterious Skin?) fascinating new film plays like the dark(er) flip side of A Star is Born:
EIGHTH GRADE an unnerving psychological study of a young woman, riven with trauma after surviving
Elsie Fisher, Josh Hamilton a school shooting, who gets trapped in the pop machine. It’s somehow nightmarish and
Take note of the name Elsie Fisher; euphoric at the same time. And it’s certainly a bold step for Natalie Portman, going out even
we’ll be hearing a lot more of her. further on a limb here, as a deranged performance addict, than in Black Swan. If you never
The 16 year old gives a star-sealing thought you’d see her swaggering across a stage in a glittery bodysuit, belting out some
performance in this close-to- original electropop bangers by Sia, here’s the film to change all that. But it’s a film with
the-bone classroom comedy, something to say as well as to sing. 3 May
which marks an equally auspicious
directorial debut for comedian
Bo Burnham. It’s hilarious and 3/5
compassionate, with an uncanny LONG SHOT
understanding of the anxieties Charlize Theron, Seth Rogen, Alexander Skarsgård, Andy Serkis, O’Shea Jackson Jr
children on the brink of adolescence
face. You’ll wince and laugh. 26 April A romantic comedy detailing the awkward attraction between Seth Rogen’s rough-edged
liberal speech-writer and Charlize Theron’s image-conscious, fence-sitting presidential
4/5 candidate — it certainly sounds like a film for the present moment, in which polarised
HIGH LIFE politics seeps into all aspects of every-day life. But this feathery, amiable romp from former
Robert Pattinson, Juliette Binoche indie director Jonathan Levine feels more
Ingenious French auteur Claire Denis like a comforting Nineties throwback,
has never played by anyone’s rules from its relatively tame, pre-Trump
but her own, so it stands to reason portrayal of Washington dynamics to
that her first sci-fi film would be its pretty stale, less-than-progressive
a genre unto itself. With the eerie schlubby-guy-gets-the-knockout-girl
rhythm of a particularly sensual premise. Still, it works: in part because
dream, it centres on a group of the quip-laden script is genuinely funny,
criminal astronauts on a rehabilitative and in part because Rogen and Theron
research mission that turns out to be have bright, breezy chemistry that sells
a far stranger sexual conspiracy. Not the opposites-attract cliché with ease. If
everyone will find its rhythm, but its only real-life White House drama was this
violent beauty is transfixing. 10 May cheerful and familiar. 3 May

JUNE 2019 115

social Music

Words:
James Barr

Ariana has
a Monopoly
on being
label-free
James Barr may be
somewhat conflicted but he Ariana & Victoria in

knows a hit when he hears it the Monopoly video

Another month, another Ariana Grande

song, this time teaming up with writing
which is cool, but I feel strongly about
the importance of labels.
“Ari tweeted that
partner and bezzie Victoria Monét. As soon Choosing to ignore an LGBTQ she doesn’t feel
as Monopoly dropped, gay Twitter went into identity and love without “labels” the need to
meltdown over the lyric: “I like women and comes from a place of privilege label herself”
men,” with some accusing the duo of gay not afforded to those who live
baiting for attention. But Ari tweeted that she in countries where, for example,
doesn’t feel the need to label herself. homosexuality can lead to death.
Being a major Ari fan, I feel pretty It’s our labels that ultimately set us free: by
conflicted. First, no one should ever have to standing up for our brothers, sisters and non
prove their sexuality anyway, and the song binary family around the world and wearing
was co-written by openly bisexual Victoria, our labels loud, we can lead the change.
who replied to a fan’s query with a simple: Allies such as Ariana are so powerful too, and
“She said what she said.” Truth. Secondly, Ari is regardless of her own identity, I’m happy she
a huge supporter of LGBTQ rights. normalising bisexual relationships in her
Maybe she’s just exploring her sexuality, music. Monopoly is, regardless, a major tune.

... and the best of the rest

The Spice Girls take to Eighties’ riffs and artistic made Heaven celebrates production so sublimely that it
Wembley this June and with electro energy. Enjoy Your power within loneliness, and spans a vast five-minute sound
rumours of new music (Emma Life gives a unique insight True feels like finding yourself. scape without my millennial
Bunton says they could head into our 2019 problems, This is a mood album and I burnout kicking in.
into the studio during their and if you’re experiencing love it. Ciara is also back in our
reunion tour), let’s celebrate an extended low, you’ll take Tulisa is back with the most ears with a new album that
spring with some major respite in Marina’s journey: relatable bop of the year. “I celebrates her obstacles. The
girl power. “Never think we’ll get out wanna call you daddy, call 1, 2 Step singer is promoting
The British Lana Del of this black hole, but you daddy, call you daddy” body positivity and says that
Rey Marina is back you’re not living in — the song-writing is truly the scars we bare are actually
with her first this world alone… Ivor Novello worthy. Daddy our beauty marks. The first
studio album sit back and features low-fi beats, sublime single Thinkin Bout You is a
without The enjoy your synth and doubles up as my perfect fresh disco sound.
Diamonds. I feel problems, you new Grindr bio. Finally, it’s been more three
Marina
it girl, Brexit’s don’t always Attitude’s queer faves years since Anti, but Rihanna
INSTAGRAM / YOU TUBE

affecting us have to solve Nimmo return this month, is about to drop an album
all. Love + Fear them.” Tell that too. Everything I Wanted is packed with reggae inspo.
offers sublime to Theresa May. the girls’ deepest cut yet Rumours are that it will feature
vocals, bouncy Meanwhile, Hand- and changes up vocals and Cardi B and H.E.R.

116 JUNE 2019

escollection.es
 PRESTON PARK
BRIGHTON

SATURDAY 3RD AUGUST 2019

12 NOON - 10.30PM

FINAL RELEASE
NOW AVAILABLE
FULL 90 MINUTE SHOW

CLEAN BANDIT
FLEUR EAST · BJÖRN AGAIN
ZAK ABEL · RINA SAWAYAMA · ALICE CHATER
HE SHE THEY DANCE BIG TOP · LEGENDS CABARET TENT · BRÜT MEN’S TENT
DIVA GIRL’S WORLD · QUEERTOWN STAGE · BAME STAGE WITH THE COCOA BUTTER CLUB
FUN FAIR · STREET FOOD VILLAGE · COMMUNITY VILLAGE · FAMILY TENT & MUCH MORE

SUNDAY 4TH AUGUST 2019

1.30PM - 9.30PM

JESSIE J · GRACE JONES

RAK SU · NINA NESBITT · HOUSE GOSPEL CHOIR
GRACE CARTER · GUILTY PLEASURES
THE GLORY · JONNY WOO · JOHN SIZZLE · THE STARS OF
LIPSYNC1000 & MAN UP · THE BIG GAY SONGBOOK
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PRIDE
SOCIAL IMPACT
FUND BRIGHTON-PRIDE.ORG

GENERATIONS OF LOVE
 social

BIRMINGHAM

HOMO
FOMO
diary
Pride
UNFURL YOUR RAINBOW FLAGS,
STOCK UP ON (ENVIRONMENTALLY
FRIENDLY) GLITTER AND DIG OUT
YOUR SHORT SHORTS AS WE
PRESENT OUR GO-TO GUIDE FOR
PRIDE CELEBRATIONS IN THE UK —
AND THE REST OF THE WORLD

BIRMINGHAM PRIDE PRIDE IN LONDON BRIGHTON AND HOVE PRIDE

(25-26 May) (9 June-6 July) (3-4 August)
Sometimes bigger is indeed better as the Pay tribute to queer history while swigging Britney (and her scrunchie) were always
UK’s largest two-day LGBTQ festival returns warm Prosecco from a paper cup. This year’s going to be a tough act to follow, but
to the beating heart of the city’s gay village. “Jubilee” theme marks the 50 years that have Brighton must have been thanking their
Revellers can look forward to bopping along passed since the Stonewall riots, and the lucky (lucky, lucky, lucky) stars when they
to the likes of Years & Years, Human League activism that has shaped the movement into landed Kylie. The eternal pop princess will hit
and even 5ive. If you start flagging, just what it is today. A string of LGBTQ events will the stage for her first-ever headline UK Pride
remember to Keep On Movin’. Taking place on be held in the lead-up to the parade through gig — y’all better be there Spinning Around in
the second May bank holiday weekend, you’ll the capital on Saturday 6 July. gold hotpants.
also have the Monday to nurse your sore
head and pick those pesky glitter particles prideinlondon.org brighton-pride.org
from your skin.
NORTHERN PRIDE MANCHESTER PRIDE
birminghampride.com (19-21 July) (23-29 August)
Head North for a weekend — formally known Two words: Ariana Grande. Honorary
as Newcastle Pride — jam-packed with fun, Mancunian Ari, who understandably
frolics and even the family-friendly sight of holds a torch for the city, heads up the
a bunch of drag queens reading children’s music festival’s two-day event. As always,
bedtime stories. Really, it’s a thing. There Manchester Pride will close with a candlelit
is also going to be a fairground — after all, vigil in memory of those who lost their lives
everyone loves a good ride now and then. to HIV/Aids.

northern-pride.com manchesterpride.com

And...
OXFORD PRIDE 17 May BELFAST PRIDE 26 July-4 August
BLACKPOOL PRIDE 8 June NOTTINGHAM PRIDE 27 July
DUBLIN PRIDE 20 June LEEDS PRIDE 4 August
EDINBURGH PRIDE 22 June MARGATE PRIDE 10 August
CHRIS JEPSON

BRISTOL PRIDE 1 July CYMRU PRIDE 23 August

BRIGHTON ISLE OF WIGHT 20 July CORNWALL PRIDE 24 August
AND HOVE
>

JUNE 2019 119

social

DISNEYLAND
PARIS

ernational
Int
MAGICAL PRIDE
(1 June)

©DISNEY
Fairy Godmother, we need a bit of your
bibbidi-bobbidi-boo — Magical Pride, at
Disneyland® Paris, is almost upon us. The
happiest place on Earth promises a fairytale
weekend to remember as it rolls out the
rainbow carpet for the LGBTQ community MADRID PRIDE SÃO PAULO PRIDE
and their friends and family. Highlights (28 June-7 July) (23 June)
include a private party at the Walt Disney Sun, sangria and Mr Gay Pride Spain… there Spreading a message of acceptance and
Studios Park, featuring performances from is a lot to like about the annual gathering in love has never been more pressing in Brazil,
headline act Years & Years, plus the vibrant the Spanish capital. The parade on Saturday given the rise of president Jair Bolsonaro.
new parade where you may run into a few 6 July begins at the Atocha railway station, São Paulo’s gay fiesta is considered to be
familiar faces. “Oh hey, Prince Charming, crosses the entire Paseo del Prado before the best Pride on the planet and has even
don’t suppose you’ve seen my glass slipper...” climaxing in the Colón — that’s the city snatched the title “largest” according to the
centre, to you and me. Proceedings coincide Guinness Book of World Records. The fun
disneylandparis.com with crowning of the region’s hottest LGBTQ begins the week before in “gaybourhoods”
totty. Muchos gracias. Caneca and Largo do Arouche, followed by
WORLD PRIDE NYC the parade, kicking off at the Museum of Art,
(1-30 June) madridorgullo.com on Sunday 23 June.
The Big Apple will shine bright with an entire
month dedicated to Pride. Marking the 50th paradasp.org.br
NEW YORK
anniversary of the Stonewall riots, there is
no shortage of things to do. Make you sure PRIDE AMSTERDAM
catch legendary qween Grace Jones at Pride (27 July-4 August)
Island, and, obvs, the famous parade on You’d be potty to miss out on a trip to
Sunday 30 June. Pose’s Dominique Jackson, the Dam. Guaranteed to leave you on a
Indya Moore and MJ Rodriguez will help lead high (if you’re into that kind of thing), this
the march as grand marshal — a decision that summer’s celebrations embrace the theme
deserves 10s across the board. of “remember the past, create the future.”
WALTER WLODARCZYK/NYC & COMPAN

Visitors can sample a stream of street

2019-worldpride-stonewall50.nycpride.org parties and events, notably Milkshake festival
(28-29 July), bringing all the boys to the
EUROPRIDE yard, before the renowned canal parade on
(1-16 June) Saturday 3 August.
Wear your political heart on your sleeve (and
t-shirts) in the Austrian capital of Vienna. pride.amsterdam
Organisers have pulled out all the stops for
a good ol’ knees-up — with the opening of

And...
EuroPride Village at the Rathausplatz — but
are encouraging participants to make sure BELGIAN PRIDE, 18 May TORONTO PRIDE, 21 June
their voices and concerns are heard during TEL AVIV PRIDE, 6 June LISBON PRIDE, 22 June
the parade on Saturday 15 June SHANGHAI PRIDE, 8 June BERLIN PRIDE, 27 July
ATHENS PRIDE, 8 June MALTA PRIDE, 6 September
europride2019.at

120 JUNE 2019

Photography Taylor Miller
Leaon wears top, by Fendi
at Matches Fashion,
briefs, by Hom

“SHE HAS TWO FENDI PURSES

AND A SILVER LEXUS”

124 Crush 125 Fashionlista 126 Sheer Perfection 136 Watch 138 Jump! 146 Favourite Things

JUNE 2019 123

STYLE

c.r.u.s.h Words Joseph Kocharian

TO A FINE ART
Lacoste are showing a lot of love in their
collaboration with 20th-century pop art icon
Keith Haring, whose work often depicted
homosexuality, Having worked with the likes
of Grace Jones and Madonna, the artist —
who died in 1990 — set up the Keith Haring
Foundation to provide funding and imagery
for Aids organisations. Now, the Keith Haring
X Lacoste collection keeps all the bold
eccentricities of his designs alive, with an
all-over print of his famous illustrated figures.
They’ve been splashed over polos, t-shirts,
sweatshirts and even the lining of bomber
jackets. The French brand have tapped into
the 1980’s spirit of Haring’s work, using their
classic pieces of Lacoste clothing as a canvas
for his work. There’s even an appearance from
the famous “barking dog” and the “heart” on
the collars of their polo shirt and the back of
their much-loved tennis shoe.

lacoste.com

124 JUNE 2019

 STYLE

2
3

4
5

Fa s h i o n l i s t a
Trainers are a day-to-day item for most of us, so make sure
you hit the ground running with these new styles for SS19
1 Nite Jogger, £109.95, by adidas Originals // 2 Pink Radial Runner, £380, by Dunhill //
3 Monochrome Thunder, £195, by The Kooples x Puma // 4 Neptune, £85, by Umbro // 5 Eclypse,
£445, by Stella McCartney // 6 Orange and black Air Max 720, £155, by Nike at Offspring //
7 Gel-Sokat Infinity, £250, by Asics x Kiko Kostadinov // 8 Hybrid Squash, £153, by Rassvet 5 Hi-Tec
// 9 Combat trainer, £230, by EA7 // 10 No_Code_02, £450, by Tod’s

Edit & words Nick Byam

8
6

10

JUNE 2019 125

Transparency, lace and mesh
have all found their way on
to the menswear catwalk for
Spring-Summer ’19. It’s time
to show off a little flesh
Photography Taylor Miller
Fashion Joseph Kocharian

Leaon wears top,

by Louis Vuitton,
briefs, by Hanro
 Leaon wears
transparent shirt,
by ASOS Design

JUNE 2019 127

Leaon wears rollneck top
and denim shorts, both by
Prada at Matches Fashion

128 JUNE 2019

Leaon wears shorts,
by ASOS Design,
briefs, by Jockey
Leaon wears jacket, trousers
and sunglasses, all by ASOS
Design, briefs, by ASOS
 Leaon wears top, by
Versace at Matches
Fashion, leather
trousers, by Belstaff,
briefs, by Moschino

JUNE 2019 131

 Leaon wears briefs,
by Moschino

132 JUNE 2019

 Leaon wears top,
by Aeance, jogging
bottoms, by adidas
at MR PORTER,
socks, by Puma
Leaon wears briefs, by
Jockey, socks, by Puma

134 JUNE 2019

 Leaon wears
sleeveless jacket
and shorts, both
by EA7, briefs, by
Emporio Armani

MODEL Leaon
at BMG Models
STYLE

.
W A . . . H
Words Joseph Kocharian

DIVE IN
The C65 Trident Diver Automatic is
joining Christopher Ward’s Trident
family. The self-winding timepiece
keeps the 1960s-inspired design of
the wider collection (it has the oh-so-
cute trident counter-balance detail,
synonymous with the collection)
but has a modified bezel and a bold
new dial. The matt dial finish in blue
is particularly swish, matched with
the camel-colour leather strap. It’s
mouth-wateringly pretty.
Price: from £695.

christopherward.co.uk
 Tracking two
time zones*

1965 and 2019

*

The C65 Trident GMT, with its bold orange GMT hand, not only enables you to
calculate the time in different global locations but its design flies back to an era
when Pan Am ruled the skies (before the world’s favourite airline, of course).
Truly a traveller’s watch, evoking the carefree glamour of the early globetrotters
with a full-brushed stainless steel bracelet or leather, rubber and canvas strap
options, it’s a nostalgic invitation to make the going great.
Do your research.

christopherward.co.uk
 Louis wears coat and
jacket, both by Marni

Go big and bold with this

season’s sportswear
Photography James Anastasi
Fashion Nick Byam

138 JUNE 2019

Blaise wears track top and
shorts, both by Sergio
Tacchini, cap, by Feng
Chen Wang

JUNE 2019 139

 Blaise wears shirt and cap,
both by Dior, trousers, by
Martine Rose, boots, from
a selection at Dainese,
bag, by Junya Watanabe
Man at Harvey Nichols

140 JUNE 2019

 Blaise wears
ring, by Dior

JUNE 2019 141

 Louis wears top,
by Palm Angels,
shorts, by GCDS
at Selfridges

142 JUNE 2019

 Blaise wears jacket, by Cottweiler at
Matches Fashion, t-shirt, by Berluti,
rollneck (worn underneath), by Prada at
Matches Fashion, shorts, by Napa Martine
Rose, gloves, from a selection at Dainese

JUNE 2019 143

 Louis wears coat, by
Heron Preston at Harvey
Nichols, shirt, by
Stella McCartney

HAIR AND GROOMING Sven

Bayerbach at Carol Hayes Management,
using Kiehl’s
CASTING Paul Isaac
MODELS Blaise and Louis Hartley at
Select Model Management
PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANTS
Stefan Ebelewicz and Laura Heckford
FASHION ASSISTANTS Indigo Taylor
and Josefina Martin

144 JUNE 2019

 Blaise wears shorts and
jumper (around the waist),
both by Urban Outfitters

STOC K I STS
120% Lino at Matches Fashion Dsquared2 dsquared2.com P Pearls before Swine at Matches Fashion
matchesfashion.com Dunhill dunhill.com matchesfashion.com
Prada at Matches Fashion matchesfashion.com
A Acne Studios at Matches Fashion E EA7 armani.com Puma eu.puma.com
matchesfashion.com
adidas at MR PORTER mrporter.com F Farah farah.co.uk R Rassvet 5 Hi-tec hi-tec.co.uk
adidas Originals adidas.co.uk Feng Chen Wang fengchenwang.com
Aeance aeance.com S Sergio Tacchini sergiotacchini.com
Alan Crocetti at Matches Fashion G GCDS at Selfridges selfridges.com Stella McCartney stellamccartney.com
matchesfashion.com Sunspel sunspel.com
Ami Paris amiparis.com H Hanro hanro.co.uk
Asics x Kiko Kostadinov endclothing.com Heron Preston at Harvey Nichols T The Kooples X Puma thekooples.co.uk
ASOS Design asos.com harveynichols.com Thomas Sabo thomassabo.com
Tod’s tods.com
B Belstaff belstaff.co.uk J Jockey jockey.co.uk
Junya Watanabe Man at Harvey Nichols U Umbro umbro.co.uk
C Christopher Ward christopherward.co.uk harveynichols.com Urban Outfitters urbanoutfitters.com
ClarinsMen clarins.co.uk
Cottweiler at Matches Fashion L Louis Vuitton louisvuitton.com V Versace at Matches Fashion
matchesfashion.com matchesfashion.com
M Marni marni.com Visvim at MR PORTER mrporter.com
D Dainese dainese.com Martine Rose martine-rose.com
Dior dior.com Moschino moschino.com W Wrangler wrangler.co.uk

JUNE 2019 145

STYLE

Top place
to escape? 
Towards the sun.
The Hamptons in
the summer or
anywhere along the
Mediterranean coast
All-time in Italy or France
greatest when I can get more
supermodel? than a few days off
Naomi Campbell is still
going strong! She’s
a goddess!

What part of
WHO’S YOUR New York do you
DREAM CLIENT FOR
A MODEL TO BOOK? love most?
So clichéd, but a Tom The West Village near
Ford beauty or fashion the Hudson River with
campaign. I admire the its small tree-lined,
designer, the man and cobblestoned streets.
all his accomplishments It reminds me
as well as his very of London
chic aesthetic

WHAT’S THE
Do you have a favourite Drag BEST THING
Race contestant? ABOUT BEING A
Miss Fame, who takes drag to MODEL AGENT?
I love meeting
serious high-fashion levels different people
from all walks of life,
backgrounds and
Favourite T hings different countries,
and hearing their

Christophe stories

Sanchez-Vahle
Model agent
Words Joseph Kocharian

Who is your
favourite male Born in Paris and raised in San Francisco and
Europe, Christophe Sanchez-Vahle moved to
model? London in his early twenties and started his career
Jon Kortajarena can as a model agent at Premier Models. After 10 years Who is your
make anything look
expensive, effortlessly
and having appeared on the reality TV show
The Agency, he moved to New York, where
pop diva?
chic and so sexy with he now works for Wilhelmina NY. Kylie. With her music,
that stubble and her look, her personality,
boyish grin @christopheagent what’s not to love?

146 JUNE 2019

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