Madonna - Out In The City

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ISSUE SIXTY-FIVE 05/12
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A trip for two
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Stay safe
The HIV facts you
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Lovebox
A decade
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Madonna
THE QUEEN OF POP SPEAKS!
INSIDE ZONE AT KU BAR... STONEWALL EQUALITY WALK...
JC CALCIANO... CLAYTON LITTLEWOOD... RICHARD TONKS

OUT IN THE CITY MAY 2012
THE TEAM
Editor
DAVID HUDSON
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Letter
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I recently attended a meeting with NAT (National
AIDS Trust). Among those present was a nurse from
56 Dean Street, the sexual health clinic in Soho.
Besides offering health checks at their premises,
many clinic staff undertake outreach work in gay
venues, offering HIV testing and advice on sexual
health, among other services. Whilst doing such
work at a bar in Soho, the nurse said that a young
man approached him and said, “So what is this HIV
thing that you’re testing for?”
Shocking, huh? Then again, it can be so easy to take
it for granted that everyone knows everything there
is to know about HIV and AIDS. If you’ve been
frequenting the gay scene for a few years, and
reading the gay press, then you will, hopefully, be
clued up about HIV and how the virus is passed on.
It can be easy to forget that sexual health education
in schools rarely discusses gay sex, and that many
young men stumble on to the gay scene with little
awareness about gay sex or HIV.
Anyway, for that young man, and for anyone else
like him, we’re running a feature this month on the
most basic information that all gay men should
know about HIV and AIDS. Whether you think you
know the essentials or not, you can check out the
facts on pages 62-64.
Elsewhere in the magazine this month, we have a
great interview with the one and only Madonna, who
also graces our front cover. Larry Flick sat down
with the queen of pop to find out all about the
recording of her latest album, MDNA – which has
remained resolutely stuck on the Out In The City
stereo since its release last month.
Last, but by no means least, we’ve got a great
competition prize for you this month. Courtesy of
Iceland Express, we’re offering one lucky reader the
chance to win two tickets to this year’s Bears On Ice
festival in Iceland in September – which will include
return flights, accommodation and admission to all
the festival’s associated events. Check out the
details on page 56 – you’ve got until Friday 1 June to
email us with an answer to the competition
question.
Enjoy the issue and keep sending us your feedback.
hudson@outmag.co.uk
@OutInTheCityMag
10
CONTENTS
04 LETTERS
Send your
correspondence to
editorial@outmag.
co.uk
06 MY LONDON
Diarist Clayton
Littlewood gives us
his capital highlights
10 MADONNA
The queen of pop
talks to Larry Flick
about the recording
of new album,
MDNA, and its
inspiration…
14 COLUMNIST
Gary Nunn is
turning 30... but he
already feels old
compared to some of
the young men he
meets!
17 DIARY
May’s cultural
highlights and arts
listings, including
the return of
Scissors Sisters and
Gossip
41
PHOTO © CHRIS JEPSON
30
18 LOVEBOX
Details about this
year’s Lovebox
festival line-up in
Victoria Park
20 MUSIC
New albums from
Paloma Faith, St
Etienne and The
Cult reviewed
22 FILM
The Raid and Angel
and Tony reviewed,
plus an interview
with director JC
Calciano about his
new film eCupid
26 FOOD
Dstrkt in Piccadilly
reviewed
28 OUT THERE
Scene highlights for
May, plus coverage
of Zone at Ku Bar
and Mouthing Off at
the Royal Vauxhall
Tavern
38 STONEWALL
EQUALITY WALK
Final details about
this year’s upcoming
Stonewall Brighton
Equality Walk
40 OUTNEWS
Gay news from
home and abroad -
and the London
Mayoral Hustings
40 CAREERS
Man on Top – PR
supremo Nick Ede
44 PARENTING
British Surrogacy
Centre and London
Sperm Bank
50 PROPERTY
Up’n’coming areas of
London, plus items
for the home
56 TRAVEL
Win a trip to the
Bears On Ice festival
in Iceland
61 BODY AND
SOUL
Agony uncle, HIV for
beginners, and Body
Talk
WWW.OUTMAG.CO.UK 3

READERS’ LETTERS: MAY 2012
FEEDBACK
SEND YOUR PRAISE, RANTS OR COMMENTS TO
EDITORIAL@OUTMAG.CO.UK - ALL LETTERS PRINTED WIN A PRIZE…
Perfume Genius
FAN MALE
I just wanted to say how much I enjoy reading Out In The City
each month, particularly your recent issue. I like the fact that
despite being a free magazine, it’s not just about the commercial
gay scene, and you also alert your readers to lots of other stuff
that’s going on. Love your film reviews, and thank you for
introducing me to Perfume Genius [pictured above] in your April
issue. I checked out his music and loved it – and have already
booked tickets to see him when he plays London in May. I also
didn’t know anything about the Fringe! Film Festival, despite
living in the East End, so was grateful to find out about that. My
other favourite bits are the Agony Uncle page and ‘My London’.
Anyway, just keep up the good work!
Mark, Bow
‘Like’ our new
Facebook page:
Out In The City
Follow us on Twitter:
@OutInTheCityMag
ONE-MAN MAN
I totally identify with the guy
who wrote to your Agony
Uncle complaining about his
boyfriend wanting an open
relationship [OITC – April
2012]. What is it with these
guys? I understand that, after
many years together, a couple
might open out a relationship,
but if you’ve just met someone
and they want to have sex with
other men… I just think that’s
wrong. I was glad to read that
your Agony Uncle felt that
there’s nothing undesirable
about monogamy. Too often I
hear advice that people should
just do what makes them happy
– but being in a relationship
always involves sacrifice and
compromise – it’s not about
having your cake and eating it!
Gary, Brighton
FILM FAN
Dear Out, being a great film
fan, I was delighted to see you
were sponsoring a film festival
(Fringe! Film Festival). I hope
it was a success. Since the LLG
Film Festival lost some of its
funding and no longer tours, I
hope someone else manages
to tour gay cinema It was
great to see the film Weekend
get a general (limited) cinema
release, it was shown in
Brighton at both the
multiplex (Odeon) and
Picturehouse cinema. I note
that Fringe! was screening
Young Soul Rebels, which I
saw years ago. I note it is out
on DVD and hope to catch it
again soon.
Ron, Brighton
OLDER, FITTER
I was interested to read your
‘My Body’ contributor, Gary
[OITC – April 12]. Unlike many
of the guys on that page, I think
he really gave the best advice
– embracing his workouts as
playtime, and using his own
body weight to help build
muscle tone. He looked great,
and it was nice to see a slightly
older guy on the page too.
Edward, Tufnell Park
Anyone who had a
letter printed this
month won a
copy of Eating
Out: The Open
Weekend on DVD
WRITE TO
US AND WIN
A PRIZE...
Anyone who has a letter published in the June issue of Out In The City will win a copy of Shame on DVD. Director
Steve McQueen’s brilliant second feature stars Michael Fassbender as a Manhattan-dwelling businessman who
nurses an all-consuming sex addiction. It’s out on DVD on 14 May.
The writer of June’s Star Letter will win a copy of Shame and Boys On Film: Cruel Britannia, the latest in the Boys on
Film compilation series from Peccadillo Pictures. Once again, the collection features a range of shorts, this time ten,
edgy and award-winning short films from the up-and-coming cream of UK-based filmmakers. It’s released 28 May.
Send letters to editorial@outmag.co.uk, and please include your name and address if you want to be in with a
chance of winning a prize.
4 WWW.OUTMAG.CO.UK

LISTED LONDONER
MY LONDON
WRITER AND DIARIST CLAYTON
LITTLEWOOD GIVE US HIS CAPITAL
HIGHLIGHTS...
Where do you come from
originally?
Weston-Super-Mare. I was an
obsessive Soft Cell fan as a
child and, living in a provincial
seaside resort. I remember
thinking, if I could just get to
the ‘Non Stop Erotic Cabaret’
world of Soho, I’d meet other
freaks like myself. So, at 19, I
packed my case and I’ve been
here ever since.
Where do you currently live
and when did you move there?
I lived on Old Compton Street,
below our shop, in a damp,
rat-infested basement. But two
years ago, after being made
bankrupt, we moved to Holland
Park. When I say that people
think I’m loaded. The street
where we live was probably
where the servants used to live.
When I told a friend I was
moving to Holland Park he
remarked that even suicide
seemed a brighter prospect.
What’s the best thing about
living in London?
The theatre and museums. The
streets aren’t paved with gold.
They’re paved with creativity.
…and the worst?
The current mayor; the cost of
living; the tube.
What are your favourite
restaurants?
The Stockpot and The
Mermaid (aka The Lorelei on
Bateman Street). But if I’m
feeling particularly flush, then
it’s The Wolseley.
Where do you go drinking?
I don’t tend to go drinking.
Now it’s all about coffee and
people-watching. I can often be
found in the little coffee shop
on the corner of Old Compton
Street and Frith Street. I’m
there most afternoons, writing.
Favourite tourist haunt?
The National Portrait Gallery. I
have a fascination with dead
queens.
Favourite green space?
I escaped from green space. I
prefer concrete.
Where do you go to escape the
city?
Years ago, every holiday was
spent partying in Spain or
Miami. I never saw the sun...
Portrait by
CHRIS JEPSON
too busy sampling the… er, local
delicacies. Now, if I do leave
the city, it’s to visit a castle or a
stately home. I’ve entered my
National Trust years.
If you were mayor for a day,
what would you do to improve
London?
Bulldoze Soho’s High Street
chains and rebuild the Peter
Street brothels.
Name a place or location of
sentimental value to you...
Outside the late Sebastian
Horsley’s flat in Soho. When I
visited, he used to open the
shutters on the first floor, peer
down, clasping his feather
negligee at the neck, his eyes
caked in last night’s mascara
and he’d purr, ‘Hello Romeo,
Juliet here. Welcome to
Horsley Towers.’ I adored him.
Favourite London song?
Marc Almond’s ‘Soho So Long’.
What’s London’s most beautiful
building?
I like any that are ancient,
decaying and crumbling.
Are you single, partnered or
dating?
I met my Jorge in Miami in
2004. We got married in
Provincetown, atop the PTown
monument (commemorating
where Pilgrims first landed).
Jorge was able to move to the
UK as my partner. We were one
of the first gay couples the
British Embassy in New York
had dealt with, so we too were
pioneers in our own small way.
Invite us to a party...
I was hosting a dinner party
last week and it was all going
swimmingly. Then I ate a hash
cookie. I don’t remember what
happened next.
In 2008, Clayton Littlewood’s book
Dirty White Boy: Tales of Soho was
published. In 2009 Clayton turned
the book into a play. It premiered at
the Trafalgar Studios, returning a year
later. The sequel, Goodbye to Soho,
will be published in May. There will
be a free-entry book launch event at
Madame Jo Jo’s on 10 May, plus
readings at the Society Club, Soho,
on 2 May and Gay’s The Word
bookshop, Bloomsbury, on 3 May.
www.claytonlittlewood.com
6 WWW.OUTMAG.CO.UK

BAROMETER: MAY 2012
THE WORD
UNHAPPY BIRTHDAYS, APP-TASTIC GAMES, SWISHY
COCKTAILS AND SILVER SOIRÉES...
ON FIRE
BIRTHDAY BELLE
Amy Lamé premiered her latest performance piece, Unhappy
Birthday, last year in Manchester. Now she’s bringing it to London
for an extended run at the Camden People’s Theatre. The piece is
based around Ms Lamé hosting her birthday party, to which you
are all invited. Her hero, Morrissey, is invited too, and a seat is
reserved for him. But will he turn up? Cake, quiffs and craziness
collide in a flurry of balloons and beer, against a soundtrack of
nostalgic teenage obsession in a show that explores fan-dom,
faith, celebrity and sexual identity. You can catch it running 1-5
and 8-12 May, before it embarks on a national tour. The
performances in Camden will be accompanied by an exhibition of
rare Smiths & Morrissey photos by Tom Sheehan.
www.unhappybirthday.net
NAT’S SILVER
SOIRÉE
If you’d like to do your bit
in the fight against HIV
and AIDS, or if you just
enjoy swishy cocktail
parties, then we’ve got a
date for your diary. NAT
(National AIDS Trust) has
announced details of its
annual spring fundraising
party. ‘Spring Awakening
– The Silver Soirée’ will
take place on 17 May at
11 Cavendish Square, W1.
The event, which takes place each May, will not only help NAT
raise funds to continue its much-needed work, but will also act as
a birthday celebration to commemorate NAT’s 25th birthday.
“There will be a range of special birthday touches at the event,”
said a spokesperson, “including an exclusive birthday cocktail
created by Eric Lorincz, mixologist at The Savoy, and there will be
an exhibition of Red Ribbon artwork created by a range of
high-profile supporters – including Gok Wan, Annie Lennox and
Pam Ann – as birthday gifts for NAT.
Tickets to ‘Spring Awakening - the Silver Soirée’ are £75 each plus
an optional £25 birthday donation for NAT’s ‘25 for 25’ fund.
For more details and to book a ticket, visit:
www.spring-awakening.org.uk
APP
OF THE
MONTH
DRAW SOMETHING
One of those apps that makes you
think, “Why didn’t I think of that?”
It’s a deceptively simple, ridiculously
addictive game where friends and
fellow players have to guess what
you’re drawing on your phone – and
vice versa. Draw Something is £1.49
from the iTunes store.
QUOTE
OF THE
MONTH
“I wanted a male dance
partner on tour without
sensationalising the issue.
Sometimes you can make a
big noise very quietly...”
Ian ‘H’ Watkins does his bit for gay
visibility on the Steps reunion tour
AMERICAN RETRO
The long-running Soho
institution becomes the
latest victim of the
economic downturn –
forced to close after many
years of business.
TITANIC CENTENARY
Titanic cookery courses
and quiz books? Yes, we
know it was 100 years ago,
but please, enough with all
the Titanic-related
merchandise now!
EX-GAY BUS ADVERTS
A Christian group – that
claims gay people can
overcome their sexuality –
has had its bus adverts
rejected by TfL. Thank God!
THIS
MONTH’S
RISE AND
FALL
ON ICE
PALOMA FAITH
We’re loving new single
‘Picking Up The Pieces’,
and we’re loving new
album, Fall To Grace. We’re
just loving Paloma. Period.
GOODBYE TO SOHO
Anyone who’s ever skipped
down Old Compton Street
will find something to
enjoy in Clayton
Littlewood’s second
collection of memoirs.
CHRIS EVANS
The hunky Avengers star
has spoken in favour of
gay marriage, saying, “In
ten years we’ll be
ashamed that this was an
issue.” Bless him.
8 WWW.OUTMAG.CO.UK

COVER STAR: MADONNA
IN HER GENES…
MDNA, MADONNA’S 12TH STUDIO ALBUM, HAS GONE TO NUMBER ONE IN 18
COUNTRIES – INCLUDING THE US AND UK – AND HIT THE TOP TEN ACROSS
THE WORLD. THE QUEEN OF POP TALKS TO LARRY FLICK ABOUT THE
CREATION OF THE ALBUM, THE INSPIRATION BEHIND SOME OF THE SONGS,
AND WHY SHE STILL HAS PLENTY TO SAY…
After nearly 30 years of making music, no
one has come close to matching the
impact of Madonna. Other artists may have
come and gone, but none have sold
anywhere near the 200 million albums she
has sold. Already, her 12th number one
album in the UK, MDNA, has sold 359,000
copies on its first week of release in the US,
beating a previous record set by Elvis and
giving her the biggest opening week sales
since Music in 2000. Produced chiefly in
collaboration with Italy’s Benny Bennasi,
France’s Martin Solveig and Britain’s
William Orbit, alongside others, the album’s
range of material has garnered Madonna
some of the best reviews of her career.
Unsurprisingly, she’s in the process of
creating and rehearsing a mammoth world
tour to promote the record, including a date
in London’s Hyde Park.
Long-time fan Larry Flick talked to the star
about her record and its creation…
LF: First of all, congratulations on this
record! I have been following you from day
one and this album may wind up being one
of my favourites.
M: Ooh, that’s good to hear!
That’s really exciting, because I am a jaded
old queen!
[Laughs] OK. If you say so!
Trust me, listening to these songs, I went
from slouching in my chair to sitting up, very
erect, going, “Oh my god!” The first thing I
am wondering is: what did you want to say
with this record? Where you were coming
from?
Well, I had just finished making a film [2011’s
W.E], which used a very different creative
capacity. It was a very fulfilling experience,
but at the same time, it was extremely
draining. You live mostly in your head as a
director, and you have all kinds of ideas,
which one does when writing songs or
putting a show together, but you don’t get to
physically act them out in any way. Writing
or singing a song, or performing a song, is so
visceral in comparison.
Where I was coming from with this album
mostly was: I felt like a caged animal. While
I enjoyed the expression of filmmaking –
and I am really proud of my film – I felt like
I really wanted to get back to the basics of
chugging my guitar and to the simplicity of
raw emotions. Even when I was writing a
song and playing on the guitar – or singing
‘I’m a Sinner’, for instance – it just felt so
good. It felt so good to play a guitar and sing.
I feel like I hadn’t done it years. Obviously, I
had to get some things off my chest. So for
me, where I was coming from was mostly
like an animal getting let out of their cage,
and wanting to express all kinds of emotions,
not just one. All the stuff that life is made of.
It must have really good to go back to – not
so much a comfort zone, but a place of
complete control – because I think there is
this misconception about directing a film
where film is a director’s medium.
You’re utterly right, it’s a total collaboration.
“Everyone
says ‘Oh you’re
a control freak and
you like to be in
control.’ The thing is,
everything I do – even
my song writing – I’m
collaborating at
all times.”
It’s a producer’s medium, if anything.
You know, if an actor comes to the set and
they’re not in a good mood, you spend all
your time holding their hand, and try to coax
a good performance out of them. Or your
production designer goes down with a
migraine... you have to decorate the set
yourself. You’re actually out of control all
day long, everyday, as long as the shoot goes.
And so making music puts you right back in
the zone where a person who likes to be in
charge of her destiny feels good?
You know, I hate to use the word “control”
so much, because people bandy that word
about with me when it comes to my creative
life. Everyone says, “Oh you’re a control
freak and you like to be in control.”
Everything I do – even my songwriting – I’m
collaborating at all times. I value input from
people, and I want it. I can’t work on my
own. I am not Prince or like artists who can
go in and play every instrument, record a
track and not hear from people. I need to
hear what people think all the time. I like to
have my road dog, my sidekick. I like the
simplicity of songwriting, because, in the
end it’s simple. You have a melody. You have
some words. And you sing. That, hopefully,
is coming from your heart or a million
different emotions. Let’s say it’s more direct.
How did you decide on the folks you worked
with on this record? They are very different.
You have Benny [Benassi], the crazy Italian...
...who barely speaks a word of English!
I would love to know how you communicated
with him.
Through his cousin!
That’s a little crazy and a little frustrating,
isn’t it?
Yeah, it was at first. The first day, I wanted to
rip my hair out. But when you are working
with new people, you always have to find the
common ground with them and then figure
it out. I’ve worked with William Orbit before
and something very magical happens when I
work with William. I go to deep places. He is
a tortured soul and he brings out the
tortured soul in me. He is also extremely
disorganised in his thinking. He is gonna
hate me for saying this, but he is like a mad
scientist. We will start working on the one
song, and he will go “Oh my god! Oh my god!
I’ve got the most amazing idea.” You’re
thinking it’s the same song you’re working
on, and so you say, “OK, I’m just gonna go to
the bathroom, I’ll be right back.” You come
back, and he’s working on a completely new
song, which is also amazing. But you are like,
“But dude, let’s go back to the other song.”
It’s very easy to get carried away with him
because he is passionate about what he does.
He is very articulate, but he is a mad
scientist. He comes with his challenges, but
I work with him in a very specific way. What
comes out of our collaborations is very
unique.
Then with Martin Solveig, he is very much
like me in that he is extremely organised,
extremely methodical. We share the same
love of foreign films – mostly French and
Italian, and mostly from the ‘50s and ‘60s.
All the songs we did together we used films
for metaphors, as kind of springboards. We
10 WWW.OUTMAG.CO.UK

COVER STAR: MADONNA
are both mutually obsessed with Alain
Delon, which is how the song ‘Beautiful
Killer’ came about. A lot of people think of
Martin Solveig as a DJ, but actually, he is a
very talented musician. It was really easy to
work with him. He accessed the ironic side
of me: the love of language and the love of
the rhythm of language; whereas William
taps into, as I said before, the tortured soul.
What comes out of both of those
collaborations is quite different, but I think
equally interesting.
I want to talk about my favourite songs from
the record. ‘Gang Bang’... I don’t know who
pissed you off, but to me, it’s like the
ultimate...
It’s the ultimate revenge song.
It really is. There are so many layers.
Listening, I thought, this person is a step
away from ultimate, unbelievable sorrow.
I love the whole imagery of dying for
someone. I dated someone once who
believed the ultimate profession of love...
…would be death.
Would be to die!
It’s very nihilistic and romantic. The song is
full of layers because on the one hand it
sounds like I’m telling someone to go fuck
themselves. On the other hand, it’s like I
took on this character and the whole idea of
telling somebody to drive, just to keep
driving. And taking charge and calling a man
a bitch. For a woman to call a man a bitch is,
for me, the ultimate diss. But then there’s
sorrow in it and there’s a broken heart in it
and there’s humour.
To me, the flipside of that is the song
‘Superstar’…
It is totally the flipside!
Is it fair to interpret that song as the next
level from ‘Little Star’ from Ray of Light?
Hmm... I wouldn’t have gone for that
comparison, but I would say that it’s the
antithesis of ‘Gang Bang’. It’s about finding a
man you can look up
to, and comparing
them to archetypes
that I obviously adore,
like John Travolta in
Saturday Night Fever,
Bruce Lee, Abraham
Lincoln. I name people who I
look up to and admire, and they
are superstars in my mind. And I
compare the object of my affection to all of
these people.
I think I reached for ‘Little Star’ because of
your daughter’s voice on the song.
Ahh, I get it.
She sounds so lovely. Is it true that she’s
going to tour with you?
She has an incredible voice but she’ll never
admit it. She’s like, “Mom, just take my name
off the record.” I said, “Too late!” [Laughs]
She’s definitely going on tour with me. I
have to keep my eye on her. She’s 15. But she
hasn’t decided what she wants to do. This is
how we roll. [Laughs] This is how a Libra
rolls. They can never make up their minds.
She plays the piano beautifully. She’s an
incredible singer. But she’s going through
that ‘I don’t anyone to look at me’ phase, so
she might be doing hair and make-up or
dressing people in the wardrobe department.
Let’s talk about the song “I Don’t Give A...”
[Laughs] You’re focusing on my angry
songs...
They touch a chord in me...
I’m sure you can relate to them. I hope
everyone can relate to these songs.
This heartbreaking passage... “I tried to be a
good girl, I tried to be a wife, diminished
myself, and I swallowed my light.” I lived
that. I was in a relationship with a man I
adored so that I found myself saying: “I don’t
know who I am anymore. All I want to be is
with you”… or... “all I want to be is who I
think you want me to be”. That’s an
“The nature
of falling in
love is that you
have to
compromise”
interesting lyric for you to write.
[Pause] Well, yeah, I wrote it! [Laughs]
We out here in the world want you to be
control. We want you to have the kind of the
control that we’re not capable of. How does
that kind of responsibility make you feel?
I think I have great leadership qualities, but
I don’t think I’ll ever be as in-control as
people believe I am or want me to be. After
all, I’m a human being. The nature of falling
in love is that you have to compromise. I
talked about this a lot when I was promoting
my film. A part of you has to go. A part of you
has to die. I was reading a book called She.
They were comparing the whole idea of
being married, and the whole mythology of
being married. The idea of walking down the
aisle as a bride in some ancient times... it was
considered a funeral march. In a
primal way, you are giving
yourself up to your other
half.
And then you are giving
up your life in a way,
and your married life
takes over. It’s an
incredible amount of
power to give
someone. It’s a valid
sacrifice to make. You
just have to make sure
you’re making it with
the right person.
There’s still a lot of
romance in your spirit about
music, isn’t there?
Of course! How could there not be?
How could you be a songwriter and not be
romantic?
As we’re talking, I’m now thinking of another
song that I love from the new album, ‘Falling
Free.’ It’s the perfect coda to everything we
hear on this album. After moments of yelling
“Die, bitch!”...
…and all of the blaming and all of the “it’s
your fault!”...
...and all of the purging. You still believe in
love?
Absolutely!
Isn’t that neat?
[Laughs] It’s amazing!
That’s a neat feeling... a feeling where the
emotion is so palpable. When you take the
image that people have of you as an artist
versus what they’ll hear if they really listen,
it’s sometimes quite different, isn’t it?
Yeah. Absolutely!
Do you think you’re still fighting to be heard
properly after all these years?
I think I still have a lot to say, yes. I still get
pissed off about
things. And I
still believe in
love.
MDNA is out now.
Madonna plays
Hyde Park in
London on
Tuesday 17 July.
12 WWW.OUTMAG.CO.UK

COLUMNIST: GARY NUNN
THAT WAS THEN…
ON THE EVE OF REACHING A NEW DECADE IN AGE, GARY
NUNN ASKS “IS 30 THE NEW 70 FOR GAY MEN?”
This year, I turn 30.
It’s one of those
milestone ages where
you take stock, but
something unexpected
has happened...
You’d think I was
celebrating my 70th, the way
I’ve been going on of late. I’ve
caught myself trotting out
phrases I never imagined I’d be
using whilst still ( just) in my
20s. Cringe-worthy things like:
“Back in my day…” or “When I
was your age…” to any gays
aged 22 or under who’ll listen.
Am I being unbearably
patronising and prematurely
sanctimonious? Or – do I have
a point? Are we late 20s/early
30s gay men a new breed:
precocious, oddly nostalgic
survivors of an altogether
different time?
The changes on the gay
scene and in the wider social,
cultural and political
environment have been so
rapid, the chasm between my
gay coming of age and someone
just a decade or 15 years
younger is enormous.
Indulge my reflections for a
minute. Let’s start with a
snapshot of the provincial Kent
gay social scene at the turn of
the millennium: it reveals a
very different place to what it
is now. There was one gay club
and one gay pub called The
Ship. Infamous around the
local area, it was the place,
mum later told me, that my
gran warned her never to go to
because it was “full of sailors,
prostitutes, tramps and
queers.” It was a segregated
bar; straights used the front
door on the well-lit main street
and gays used the back door
down a dark back alley. A bar in
the middle separated us – gays
to the left, straights to the right
– and never the twain did meet.
Once, a drunken man burst
through the back door and
screamed “All poofs should be
shot a birth!” and quickly ran
out, knocking a couple of apple
Hooches over on the way.
Our local gay nightclub was
called Secrets: a private
members club – to keep the
gay-bashers out – and you had
to ring a buzzer to get in. The
door would be opened two
inches by a bull-dyke or
eight-foot drag queen who
checked you out through a
grimace – each equally
formidable to a gay teenager
like me.
This is a time before
Grindr or Gaydar. I remember
being told, “If you want sex
you go to the toilets at
Chatham bus station and
cough three times in a cubicle.”
I protested that I didn’t want
to resort to that to get laid and
was told to stop being so
precious; everybody does it.
I got myself a boyfriend
instead. He was notorious
around our village for being
“the straight-looking lad who
drives the white Vauxhall Nova
– and is actually bent.”
I used to hide in the front seat
of that Nova under the glove
box when we pulled into the
hill that led up to my village.
The police once caught us
kissing in it – and cautioned us
for public indecency. I was 17.
“Once, a drunken man burst
through the door and screamed:
“All poofs should be shot at
birth!”
Police officers weren’t
the only publicly-funded
workers I contended with.
At school, homophobia
stretched beyond the common
anti-gay playground bullying: I
distinctly remember one
teacher saying there was
something “seriously wrong
with you” if you were a boy
who kissed other boys.
My parents bought the
Daily Mail which appeared to
me to be even more gay-phobic
than it can be now.
In politics, I remember
three ironic figureheads at the
forefront of the anti-gay
movement: ironic because they
were all women and didn’t
empathise with the effects of
discrimination on the basis of
rejecting macho ideals and all
they entailed. They were
Baroness Young, Baroness
Blatch – and Baroness
Thatcher.
Everywhere I turned,
politicians, police, parents,
hacks, teachers – even some
gay people – were repeating
the same subliminal mantra:
keep this to yourself. Don’t let
people find out. It’s shameful.
Fast-forward 12 years.
Secrets changed its name to
the more celebratory
Rainbows. The Ship is
completely gay – on both sides
of the bar. Gay men can drive
white Vauxhall Novas while
our straight mates drive fussy
yellow Mini Coopers – and the
only assumptions made are
about how much you earn, not
whom you take to bed.
Teachers are becoming fiercely
defensive of their gay pupils
– as I discovered when I visited
my old school with Sir Ian
McKellen to promote
Stonewall’s anti-bullying
campaign.
Lefties like Suzanne Moore
and even a token gay – Andrew
Pierce – now write for the
Daily Mail. And there are more
openly-gay Tories than there
are gay Labour MPs.
I may sound like my nan
when I say ‘You don’t know
how good you’ve got it’, but
then again, why should they
know? Basic equality and
respect is something nobody
should have to be grateful for –
it should be a given. It’s
become my yawn-inducing
‘During the war...’ story. But –
aged just 30 – I believe we have
fought a war. And what’s more,
we’re winning it.
14 WWW.OUTMAG.CO.UK

WWW.OUTMAG.CO.UK 15

CULTURE CALENDER: MAY 2012
DIARY DATES
MAY’S CULTURAL HIGHLIGHTS IN AND AROUND LONDON
TUE 15 MAY:
Gossip return to London for an intimate date at XOYO in EC2.
Beth Ditto and bandmates will be promoting tracks from their
latest album, A Joyful Noise (out on 14 May).
www.gossipyouth.com
03 MAY-12 AUG:
The Barbican hosts
Bauhaus: Art As Life
– a major summer
exhibition examining
the work of the
students of the
renowned German arts
school, Bauhaus, (not
to be confused with the
80s goth rockers of the
same name!). The
biggest Bauhaus
exhibition to be staged
04 MAY:
in the UK in over 40
years, it will traces the
school’s influence from
its Expressionist
beginnings to its
pioneering model of
education and
innovation, uniting art
and technology. Online
tickets £10.
www.barbican.org.uk
04 APR-12 MAY:
Catch the exhibition In
Selfridge’s flies the flag for the Olympic
and Jubilee summer with the launch of
The Big British Bang – a celebration of
all things British featuring exclusive
products from a range of leading
designers, plus the The Big British Tea
Party on the store’s rooftop.
www.selfridges.com
Forward-Reverse,
curated by Patrick
Michalopoulos, at
Hackney Wick’s
Schwartz Gallery. It
features Joshua Bilton,
Jack Brindley, Elena
Damiani and Ismail
Erbil, among others.
The group show seeks
to “destabilise the idea
of the gallery space.”
www.schwartzgallery.
co.uk
02-03 MAY:
New Order bring their
inimitable brand of
atmospheric synth rock
to the O2 Academy
Brixton – part of their
first UK tour in six
years.
www.ticketmaster.co.uk
05-13 MAY:
Always a great place to
get ideas for decorating
and design, the annual
Grand Designs Live
returns to London this
month, taking over
ExCel at Royal Victoria
Dock (E16) for nine
days. The show will
feature over 500
exhibitors across seven
different sections
covering interiors,
gardens, home
improvement,
self-build, renovations,
technology and
shopping… there really
is something for
everyone.
www.granddesignslive.
com
SUN 06 MAY:
The annual Stonewall
Equality Walk returns
to Brighton, with
celebrity walkers Jane
Hazlegrove and Harry
Derbridge. You can still
take part by registering
at
www.equalitywalk.org.
uk
WED 09 MAY:
Garbage are back, with
new album Not Your
Kind Of People out 14
May, and a one-off date
on this evening at the
Troxy in Limehouse,
east London. www.
garbage.com
SUN 20 MAY:
The annual Walk For
Life fundraiser for
Terrence Higgins Trust
takes place today. For
full details, including
how to take part, go to
www.tht.org.uk
22 MAY-09 JUN:
Following a run last
MON 21 MAY:
Wotever World has a special evening of
performances at the Hackney Attic (270 Mare
Street, E8 1HE). ‘The Beards & Tongues @ Hackney
Attic’ will feature the amazing Dorian Wood
(pictured), SEF, Nathaniel Robin Mann and Tabitha
Benjamin. Expect avant-garde rock, bluesy soul and
folksy singer-songwriting. L.A’s Dorian Wood is a
Wotever favourite, and an all-too-rare visitor to thre
UK. Doors open 7pm. Check Facebook for more
details of this exclusive show (‘The Beards and
Tongues @ Hackney Attic’). www.woteverworld.com
year, Sadie Frost is
back starring in Zoe
Lewis’ one-woman
musical show,
Touched… Like A
Virgin. The comic show
explores one woman’s
adoration and love for
her musical hero,
Madonna. Catch it
running for three weeks
at the Soho Theatre.
www.sohotheatre.com
30 MAY-12 AUG:
Making a return to
London for a
limited-period is the
classic gay-themed
play Torch Song Trilogy
(made famous by a film
adaptation in the late
80s starring Matthew
Broderick and Harvey
Fierstein), which
explores a gay New
Yorker’s search for love
and acceptance. This
new production has
been directed by actor
Douglas Hodge. Catch
it at the Menier
Chocolate Factory from
30 May until 12 August.
www.menierchocolate
factory.com
16-17 MAY:
The Scissors
Sisters are back in
town! Ahead of the
release of their
fourth album,
Magic Hour (out 28
May), the band take
over the Shepherd’s
Bush Empire for
two intimate gigs.
www.scissorsisters.
com
PHOTO © EDUARDO ALVAREZ
WWW.OUTMAG.CO.UK 17

CULTURE CALENDER: MAY 2012
LOVEBOX:
A DECADE OF LOVE
LOVEBOX IS GEARING UP TO CELEBRATE ITS TENTH ANNIVERSARY, WITH
ANOTHER ‘OUT AND OUT FIERCE’ FESTIVAL PLANNED FOR VICTORIA PARK...
AND PLENTY TO KEEP ALL DANCE FANS HAPPY!
London’s most gay-friendly
music festival, the fabulous
Lovebox is all set to return
to Victoria Park in Hackney
this summer with a dancefriendly
spectacular. This
year, the festival will be
pulling out all the stops to
celebrate its 10th anniversary
across the weekend 15-17
June.
As in previous years, the final
day (17 June), has been
designated as the ‘Out & Out
Fierce’ day, when organisers
recruit some of gay London’s
hippest club promoters and
DJs to sprinkle some of their
magic over the proceedings.
There will also be plenty of
gay-friendly acts and cuttingedge
artists on stage.
The line-up this year is
another eclectic, irresistible
selection. Headlining the
main stage on the Sunday will
be the legendary Grace
Jones, who made such an
impression when she last
appeared at the event in 2010
– bringing that year’s festival
to a close in front of 20,000
awe-struck attendees. Also
hitting the main stage will be
Holly Johnson, making a rare
UK live appearance to
perform past hits from his
solo catalogue and perhaps
one or two Frankie Goes To
Hollywood classics. New
talent will come in the form
of Lana Del Rey – possibly
the biggest discovery of 2011,
who has hit the top ten
around the world with her
Born To Die album and single
‘Video Games’.
Patrick Wolf
Lana Del Rey
Further headliners include
Mika, who has scored massive
hits with tracks such as ‘Grace
Kelly’ and ‘Relax (Take It
Easy)’. He will appear on the
Lovebox Sunday ‘This Is
Circus’ stage hosted by Jodie
Harsh, and themed
around her
Circus club
night. “I’ve
spent many
amazing,
lost nights
at Circus and I
couldn’t think of a
better way of taking part
in Jodie’s night than doing
this performance,” says Mika
of his upcoming show.
Also joining the Sunday
spectacular is legendary
American DJ/Producer Felix
Da Housecat. Other performers
include our recent cover stars,
Azari & III, the legendary Chic
featuring Nile Rodgers, Niki &
Grace Jones
The Dove, Patrick Wolf, The
Rapture, Tyson and Jonny
Woo. Horse Meat Disco’s NYC
Downlow will also be back, with
a special guest DJ appearance
from Andrew Weatherall,
alongside Jim Stanton and
James Hillard. Making
their highly
anticipated
return to these
shores, LCD
Soundsystem’s
James
Murphy & Pat
Mahoney (DFA) hit
Lovebox on Sunday under
their Special Disco Version
moniker.
Also having a presence in the
park will be the teams from
Gutterslut, Dalston
Superstore and Trailer Trash.
If you just wish to attend on the
Sunday (17 June), tickets cost
£49.50. Buy now via
Ticketmaster, HMV Tickets
hotline, or in person from
branches of HMV in London. A
joint tickets for Saturday and
Sunday costs £87.50, while a
ticket for all three days cost £99.
Acts appearing on the other days
include Hot Chip, Crystal
Castles and Magnetic Man
(Friday 15 June) and Friendly
Fires, Emeli Sandé, Kelis and
Bobby Womack (Saturday 16
June). The Lovebox team are
particularly pleased to be
offering such a diverse range of
attractions for dance fans on
this, the festival’s tenth
anniversary weekend. Besides
those mentioned, other acts
appearing across the weekend
include Norman Jay, Booka
Shade, Sub Focus, Rusko,
Maceo Plex, Madeon, Damian
Lazarus, Skream, Tiga and DJ
Hell, Netsky and the 2 Bears.
For full details, keep
checking www.lovebox.net
18 WWW.OUTMAG.CO.UK

WWW.OUTMAG.CO.UK 19

-
MUSIC: REVIEWS
ALBUMS
ALBUMS OUT IN MAY
PALOMA FAITH
FALL TO GRACE (RCA)
Paloma Faith is a former
burlesque dancer and
magician’s assistant who’s also
worked as a shopgirl-cummodel
at the Soho branch of
Agent Provocateur. As an
actress, she played ‘Andrea, the
Emo’ in the first St Trinian’s
reboot. And of course, she’s a
recording artist whose debut
album Do You Want The Truth
Or Something Beautiful? went
platinum back in 2010.
Fall To Grace sounds like
Faith’s game-changing album.
It’s got epic ballads like lead
single ‘Picking Up The Pieces’,
and she isn’t fibbing when she
calls it “cinematic”, but there’s
some variety here too.
‘30-Minute Love Affair’ is
Annie Lennox-style synth-pop.
‘Blood, Sweat and Tears’ takes
Faith to the disco. ‘Agony’
sounds a bit like Tori Amos
covering The Killers’ ‘Mr
Brightside’.
Of course, partial credit goes to
experienced producer Nellee
Hooper (Madonna, Björk, No
Doubt), whom Faith calls the
“interpreter” of her musical
ideas. He keeps things
sounding cool, creative and
cashmere-classy, but Faith
matches him with some terrific
vocal performances and songs
which combat relationships of
the “It’s complicated…” ilk.
“There’s no one else in this
world that I’d rather be
unhappy with,” isn’t a line one
hears on a Saturdays track.
Admittedly, there’s a slip in
quality at the finish. ‘Let Your
Love In’ flirts with Leona-style
blandness, while closing
number ‘Streets of Glory’
smacks of emotional bluster
where the previous eleven
songs just felt honest. But it’s
not enough to stop Fall To
Grace from being a rare and
beautiful beast - the
completely non-boring adult
pop album. Now, does that
sound very “wacky” to you? NL
Out: May 28
SAINT ETIENNE
WORDS AND MUSIC BY
SAINT ETIENNE
(HEAVENLY)
Saint Etienne’s first new album
in seven years, the aptly titled
Words and Music by Saint
Etienne is, as band member Bob
Stanley describes, an album
about “how music affects your
life. How it defines the way you
see the world as a child, how it
can get you through bad times in
unexpected way…”. This ethos is
summed up on the opening
track, ‘Over The Border’ – a
gorgeous, shimmering pop
confection that finds singer
Sarah Cracknell nostalgically
talking about her childhood love
of music. It’s full of longing,
pathos and beauty –the band’s
own ‘Being Boring’. It anchors a
strong first half, with other
nuggets including ‘I’ve Got Your
Music’ and the laid back soul
groove of ‘Last Days Of Disco’. ‘I
Threw It All Away’ provides a
late highlight – a unusually
pessimistic ballad of regret, with
a 60s cinematic feel that harks
back to past glory: ‘Nothing Can
Stop Us’. DH
Out: 21 May
GARBAGE
NOT YOUR KIND OF
PEOPLE (STUN
VOLUME)
The other day, I tweeted that I was
listening to the new Garbage album
while cooking a fry-up: hey, sometimes
muesli just won’t do. A few hours later,
I got a response from the band’s
flame-haired frontwoman, Shirley
Manson herself. “Hmm, not bad,” she
mused, “But I prefer my new Garbage
album in a fast car, on an open road,
with a man’s hand on my thigh. Try it
like that.” Naturally, I wouldn’t argue
back even if I wanted to. But Manson’s
recommendation makes sense. Not
Your Kind of People, the band’s first new
material since 2005, opens with a
fist-pumper called ‘Automatic
Systematic Habit’ and never looks back.
All the familiar Garbage motifs are here:
rock guitars spooning dance beats,
quiet/loud dynamic shifts, swirling
ballads, nifty bits of studio trickery, and
enough bad romance to make Lady
Gaga feel like an imposter. Hell, there’s
even a song called ‘I Hate Love’.
Both grungy and glossy, there’s little
here that these 90s survivors haven’t
tried before. The only question is what
to pick up first: the rental car, or that
thigh-squeezing companion? NL
Out: May 14
THE CULT
CHOICE OF WEAPON
(COOKING VINYL)
They say that if you work for long
enough at your dream you’ll eventually
achieve it, and Ian Astbury seems to
be living proof of that. Having spent the
bulk of his career wishing he was Jim
Morrison, he was asked in 2002 by
former Doors members Robby Krieger
and Ray Manzarek to front their
reformed incarnation of the band!
Now he’s back with old bandmate Billy
Duffy and a new Cult album – their
ninth outing together (give or take the
odd hissy fit and reunion), and their
first in five years. If Astbury has finally
exorcised his Morrison obsession,
Choice of Weapon still find the band
doing what they do best – recruiting
producer Bob Rock (Metallica, Bush)
to help them craft a classic rock album
that wears its influences proudly on its
black leather sleeve: The Stooges, Led
Zeppelin, Aerosmith and, yes, The
Doors again. The brooding, anthemic
‘Elemental Light’ finds Duffy doing that
sitar-sounding guitar effect that the
band have made their own, while ‘Life
> Death’ finds Astbury ditching
Morrison in favour of an uncanny,
Scary Monsters-era Bowie. Given
they’ve been knocking around for 30
years now, Choice of Weapon is far
more energetic and unbridled than you
might expect, even if it slips into Spinal
Tap territory towards its closing. This
Cult might recruit a few new followers
yet… DH
Out: 21 May
REVIEWS: NICK LEVINE AND DAVID HUDSON
20 WWW.OUTMAG.CO.UK

WWW.OUTMAG.CO.UK 21

FILM: REVIEWS
THE RAID
THIS INDONESIAN-SET THRILLER IS ONE OF THE
SUMMER’S MUST-SEE MOVIES...
This
Month’s
DVDs...
SHAME
Director Steve McQueen’s acclaimed
follow-up to his 2008 debut, Hunger,
Shame is an exploration of sex
addiction. Brandon (Michael
Fassbender) plays a successful man
unable to commit to a relationship,
instead choosing endless sexual
encounters. His sister (Carey
Mulligan), decides to crash at his
apartment and his sexual freedom is
curtailed. Great adult drama.
Out: 14 May
THE DESCENDANTS
THE RAID
Sometimes a film comes along that’s so uniquely affecting, unapologetically brutal, and
fearlessly executed that it can’t help but take the world by storm, no matter how humble
its beginnings. The Raid is one such film. An Indonesian action movie written and directed
by Welshman Gareth Evans, it’s already blazed through the festival circuit (it premiered in
Toronto in September 2011, where it won the Midnight Madness Award), and is so
bruising an experience it’ll leave you in need of a good lie down.
The titular raid takes up the bulk of the running time as an elite police team break into a
derelict Jakarta apartment block. This warren of grungy corridors is home to a dangerous
drug lord and his crew of pushers/protectors, all of whom are prepared for anything the
police might throw at them. Among the cops is rookie SWAT Rama (Iko Uwais). He’s got
his own ulterior motive for taking part in the raid – somebody he knows is living in the
high rise, and he’s determined to rescue them – or die trying.
Our underdog hero Uwais is both likable and easy on the eye. He’s also more than up to
Evans’s rigorous demands. The director dreamt up The Raid as a gnarly showcase for the
martial art form Pencak Silat, and his film succeeds as an exhausting sequence of
innovative fights that will have you variously twisting yourself into knots, screaming with
delight and laughing your head off. That’s in no small part thanks to Uwais, who smashes
his way enigmatically through more fights than Mohammad Ali. The Raid is raw,
dangerous and exhilarating. This won’t be the last you’ll hear of it, either. An Indonesian
sequel and a Hollywood remake are already on the way. Don’t miss out on the madness! JW
Out: 18 May
ANGEL AND TONY
A slow-burner of a hit in its native France, Angel and Tony is a small-scale
drama about an oddball romance. Angel (Clotilde Hesme) is a young woman
attempting to rebuild her life. She has been in prison but is now on parole,
living near her estranged young son (who is being raised by his grandparents)
on the Normandy Coast. It’s here, through a personal ad, that she meets Tony
(Gregory Gadebois), an older fisherman who lives with his mother. At first, the two appear to have nothing in common
– Angel is troubled and struggling to get her life together. He is settled and a creature of routine. However, at some
deeper level they clearly see something in one another. Perhaps Tony is the anchor that Angel needs in her life?
This debut feature from writer/director Alix Delaporte is a slight little movie. Not a huge amount happens, and some
may find the pace a little on the languid side. However, there’s something authentic and real in its tale of
everyday romance and the meeting of two lonely souls. You can’t help but find yourself rooting for the
couple, despite Angel’s sometimes misguided behaviour. The ending may come across as a little too
convenient and contrived, but nonetheless, this remains a bittersweet Gallic drama. DH
Out: 4 May
The Descendants had good reviews
and a clutch of award nominations,
but we’ve lost count of the number of
people who don’t think they’ll like it.
Listen up, people! This movie is one
of the year’s most heartwarming
dramas. George Clooney plays an
Hawaii-based lawyer who only
discovers his wife has been having an
affair when she’s in a coma and near
death, leaving him to take on full
responsibility of his two daughters.
Out: 21 May
AMERICAN
TRANSLATION
Pierre Perrier and Lizzie Brocherè
star as Chris and Aurore in this
challenging, provocative and French
drama. Like a Bonnie and Clyde, the
two fall passionately in love (plenty of
sex), before the tone turns decidedly
dark. The fly in the ointment is Chris’s
murderous obsession with gay men,
which leads him to recruiting Aurore’s
assistance in the murder of young
male escorts. Odd, disturbing film.
Out: 14 May
BOYS ON FILM:
CRUEL BRITANNIA
The latest in Peccadillo’s Boys On
Film series packages gay short films
making waves at international LGBG
film festivals. The latest release
showcases work by up’n’coming Brit
talent. Favourites: Man and Boy
(starring Eddie Marsan) and What You
Looking At? where Michael Twaits,
playing a drag queen, is stuck in a lift
with a burka-clad Muslim neighbour.
Out: 28 May
REVIEWS: JOSH WINNING AND DAVID HUDSON
22 WWW.OUTMAG.CO.UK

FILM: INTERVIEW
MR CUPID
OUT IN THE CITY CAUGHT UP WITH JC CALCIANO, WRITER AND
DIRECTOR OF NEW GAY FLICK eCUPID…
eCupid is the tale of a man who, on the
brink of turning 30, questions the
direction his life is heading, and
wonders whether his long-term partner
is really ‘the one’. A mysterious phone
App seems to offer the answer to his
problems, delivering a steady stream of
new sexual conquests to his door… but is
his new lifestyle the answer to his
searching?
The film is the latest feature from gay
director JC Calciano, who picked up fans
with his last film, the gay-flavoured Is It
Just Me? JC was born in Brooklyn and
raised in Long Island, but moved to LA in
his late 20s. He currently lives in West
Hollywood with his partner of 13 years.
Where did the idea for eCupid come from?
The inspiration for eCupid came from a few
places. I was inspired by the monologue
Ernie shares with his roommate Xander in
my first film, Is It Just Me? I thought about
a perfect relationship that falls apart
because one of them is unsure if he is with
right guy. I think everyone in a relationship
wonders at some point, “Is this person I
should be with for the rest of my life?” The
other inspiration was the film It’s A
Wonderful Life. I always wanted to make a
film about an angel or some divine being
helping teach someone a lesson about life.
There’s a line in the film about “30 being the
new 40” for gay men, suggesting that they
experience a mid-life crisis earlier in life
– do you think that’s true?
I do think it’s true; maybe because I work
with actors and know a lot of people
younger than myself; but it seems that the
pressures of society give them the need to
establish themselves at a younger age.
When I was younger, I recall believing that
achieving a level of comfort and success at
40 was the goal. Now I see a lot of younger
people pressuring themselves in their
twenties to be successful by the age of 30.
Do you think it’s now extra difficult for gay
men to stay monogamous to one another
with so many technological ways to hook up
with others?
Yes. Today’s technology puts men and sex
at the fingertips of anyone with a smartphone
or computer. It’s the classic “kid in a
candy store” scenario. Years ago, we had
only a few choices. Now with technology,
the chance for temptation is greater.
Have you ever hooked up with someone
through an App or dating site? How did it
turn out?
No, I actually haven’t ever met anyone
through an App or a dating site. When I
was younger, I was like the character
JC Calciano and (right) scenes from his new film eCupid
Blaine in Is It Just Me? I tried the chatrooms
to meet someone. That’s what
inspired the story for the movie. It was my
idea of how I could find love in a chatroom.
It didn’t happen that way, but it was
my romantic notion of what could happen.
Currently, I’ve been with my partner for
almost 14 years now. When we met, we
didn’t have smart-phones and A-pps and
dating sites weren’t popular yet.
How long did it take you to shoot the movie?
Was it a smooth shoot or were there any
setbacks?
eCupid took 12 days to shoot. Six days in a
row with one day off in-between. It was a
smooth shoot with no major setbacks other
than one scene. There is a party scene in
the film where Gabe walks in and catches
his partner Marshall kissing a co-worker. It
was supposed to be a big party with lots of
hot guys in it. The morning we showed up
to shoot, I learned that we had no guys
showing up. Only one friend of mine came
to help. I told everyone not to disturb me
for 15 minutes and went in the back room
to re-write it. I re-wrote the scene to
happen pre-party instead of mid-party.
There were a bunch of adjustments that
had to be made in order to make it work,
but I think it ultimately ended up not only
working, but also being better than what I
had originally written.
How did you get Morgan Fairchild to come
on board?
I was looking for an iconic Hollywood
actress who could play the Goddess of
Love: someone who, when she showed up
on screen, would make everyone smile.
When my casting director, Mark Sikes,
suggested Morgan Fairchild, I said
“Absolutely!” We contacted her
management and sent over a script. We
were delighted when they called back
saying that she loved the material and
wanted to get involved.
Are you working on any other projects that
you can tell us about?
Yes, I’m always working on something. I
currently do an ongoing web series called,
SteamRoomStories.com – it’s a sexy, silly
sketch show about misadventures of several
incredibly hot guys in a steam room.
I’m also prepping a short film I’ve recently
written tentatively titled
The Choice, as well as a
new feature film, Killer
Looks. I’m excited about
Killer Looks because it’s a
black comedy. It shows a
different side of me.
eCupid is out on DVD on 14
May through TLA Releasing.
www.tlareleasing.co.uk
24 WWW.OUTMAG.CO.UK

FOOD: REVIEW
PICCADILLY PALARE
DAVID HUDSON REVIEWS DSTRKT
9 - 21 RUPERT STREET, W1D 6DG
020 7317 9120. WWW.DSTRKT.CO.UK
Shaftesbury Avenue has traditionally
acted as a border pass between the more
hip square mile of Soho and the tackier,
tourist-filled Chinatown and Leicester
Square. It’s a line that some gay boys rarely
cross (unless it’s to enjoy the Ku Bar or
occasional extravaganza at Café De Paris).
Situated just south of this border, at the
Leicester Square end of Rupert Street, is
Dstrkt, which opened with much fanfare in
mid-December.
This £25m development has taken over
the former Planet Hollywood and Rex
Cinema site, and comprises of a restaurant,
lounge bar and
nightclub, open
five days a week
(lunch and
evening for the
restaurant, and
from 10pm-3am
for the club). It
comes with some
pedigree, too,
with its creators
including the
partners of
Brompton Brands
(Whisky Mist,
Mahiki) and the
founders of
Buddha Bar in
Vienna.
As the
renovation cost
suggests, no
expense has
been spared in
creating what
its backers hope
will quickly become one of London’s
hippest and most exclusive haunts. Its
website already boasts a gallery of
celebrities snapped within the club, while
the VIP area apparently includes ‘the
world’s first bar made from precious stone’.
The club appears to be the sort of place that
you might run into a Heat-reading T.O.W.I.E
starlet or member of JLS – more likely to
appeal to the Shadow Lounge set than those
who favour Vogue Fabrics.
And what of the restaurant? Well, the
designers have done their very best with
what’s basically a subterranean black box.
You descend the grey stairwell and are
ushered into a large room that is split into
three distinct levels made up of balconies,
glass screens and a large, eye-catching
centre-piece light with hundreds of
pulsating plastic discs. Along with the
background music (easy listening covers of
pop hits when we arrived at 7.30pm on a
Thursday evening), the overall result hums
with a gentle kinetic energy. A glass wall of
temperature-controlled wine bottles asserts
the seriousness with which the venue takes
its drinks list. It boasts of serving “the
world’s most expense rosé from Chateau
d’Esclans”. The cocktail list is extensive, but
not outrageously priced.
To experience the full gamut of tastes
on offer, we opted for the taster menu (£55
per head). The food has been overseen by
George Yaneff, formerly of Bazaar
Restaurant in Beverly Hills. It’s described as
European cuisine, with a dash of Heston
Blumenthal-inspired molecular creativity
thrown in to the mix.
Our feast began with a spoonful of farmraised
Sevruga caviar from Bulgaria, served
on crème fraiche and a warm blini. This was
followed by a rich and earthy venison tartar
served on brown rice crackers, and grilled
flat bread salad with Macadamia nut pesto,
goats cheese, sweet peppers and tomatoes.
The dishes came out rapidly – but the
service slowed down when they noted that
we weren’t fast eaters. Yellow fin tuna cubes
came with avocado mousse and ‘soy air’.
I’ve never seen ‘air’ on a menu before, but it
turned out to be a variation on foam.
Pretentious name aside, it was a good
combination of flavours, with the tuna
served at just the right temperature.
We counted about 11 dishes in total, and
although it was great to try almost
everything on the menu, it bordered on a
sensory overload. Our favourites were the
aforementioned tuna, seared scallops with
saffron-pumpkin sauce and Scottish rib-eye
steak with deep fried zucchini and Talisker
sauce. They also do some great vegetable
dishes, such as an amazing cauliflower with
Razalhanout – a Middle Eastern mix of
spices that gave the dish the taste of
autumnal bonfire smoke – and came to the
table trailing its own vapour! A pan-fried
truffle gnocchi with cheddar espuma (more
foam-ey sauce)
was a low point,
along with ‘Paté
bon-bon’ – a
foie-gras lollipop
sprinkled in
tongue-popping
carbonated candy.
The amount and
quality of food
served proved
good value for
£55.
If you opt to
eat from the
menu, Distrkt
recommend 3-4
of the tapas
style dishes each
for around £37 a
head – although
the sky’s the
limit if you
peruse the
caviar list.
Leave room for dessert though. We
enjoyed an amazing vanilla ice cream with
rhubarb foam and an apple tart with Egg
Nog ice cream. My companion thought his
Espresso Martini to be the best he’d tasted
outside Italy.
The place was fairly empty when we
arrived, save for what sounded like a group
of Russian businessmen a few tables from
us. Things began to get busier around 9pm.
It would seem that it hasn’t yet become the
‘must-go’ haunt, but that’s has nothing to do
with the food, which is really very good. If
you want to sample a taste of the high life
for yourself, visit early in the evening –
they’re currently offering a pre-theatre ‘four
small dishes and glass of Champagne for
£25’ offer, which is as good a way as any to
decide whether you belong in this
particular Dstrkt or not.
26 WWW.OUTMAG.CO.UK

OUT IN THE CITY: ACCESS ALL AREAS
MAY 2012
A
A
SCENE HIGHLIGHTS
OUR PICK OF THE BEST EVENTS IN TOWN...
MAY 2012
ACCESS
ALL
AREAS
OUR GUIDE
TO EVENTS
IN AND
AROUND
TOWN
SIMPLY SUPREME!
Trannyshack at Madame Jo Jo’s reigns supreme as the busiest Wednesday nighter in Soho. As its name
suggests, it’s aimed at anyone who like to cross-dress or drag up, but is open to all, and attracts a wide
cross-section of late-night revelers. Hostess Dusty O and her ‘gals’ have another packed month planned for
May, kicking off with a ‘Mad Hatters’ competition on Wednesday 2 May. There’s money to be won by the
contestant with the most impressive headwear, and it’s also the birthday party for resident Trannyshacker
Dame Vesta Bules, so expect something “bizarre but fun” with Dusty O, Miss Vanilla Lush and Miss Mitzi
Mackintosh providing entertainment. Wednesday 9 May holds a tribute to Bette Davis and Joan Crawford,
while Wednesday 16 May is a launch party for the Supreme Fabulettes (pictured), while on 23 May
Trannyshack will pay homage to Eurovision. You’ll find Madame Jo Jo’s at 8-10 Brewer St, Soho, London, W1F
OSE. Doors open 10pm-3am. Entry £5 or free before midnight if you dress up.
TOTALLY DEELOODED
Fat Tony’s back with his new Deelooded night – for
a May Day weekend bash at a brand new venue;
Convert (formerly Factory – 65 Albert Embankment)
on Saturday 5 May (10pm and 6am). The aim of the
night is to take an irreverent look at the London gay
scene and some of the egos within it… hence the
moniker, Deelooded! Convert is a new space offering
four bars and two dance arenas with state-of-the-art
lighting and sound systems. Join host Fat Tony and
the legendary Boy George (pictured), Tom Stephan
and Smokin Jo in the main room, plus an exclusive
guest appearance from “the world’s number one
supermodel”! Admission is £12 with a flyer or
advert. For more details, check out the Facebook
page at www.facebook.com/deelooded
POPSTARZ RISING
Popstarz is celebrating the impending release of the
latest Batman movie with a big, Dark Knight-themed
party on Friday 18 May. The team are so excited
about the release of the Dark Knight Rising movie
that they are transforming the club into a
Gotham-inspired fantasy space: the ‘Indie Bat
Cave’, the Riddlers R’n’B Room’ and the ‘Penguins
Pop Palace’. You can also visit Cat Woman’s Lair in
the Sky Bar, where the feline mistress herself will be
giving away goodies.
All are encouraged to dress up for the night, with
free entrance to anyone in costume before midnight.
Otherwise it’s £3 before 11pm with a download from
www.popstarz.org, then £5 with a download or flyer
before midnight, and £8 afterwards.
IMAGE © CHRIS JEPSON
AT YOUR SERVICE
Jodie Harsh’s Room Service was voted Best UK
Club Night 2011 by Attitude magazine! The bespoke
clubbing event takes place each Thursday from
10pm till 3am at Miabella (12-13 Greek Street, W1).
The night features Jodie alongside rotating DJ
residents Kris Di Angelis, Fat Tony, Severino, Steve
Pitron and Matt Bogard, but there’s always some
super hot go-go’s and special guests. Catch Jodie
going head-to-head against Kris Di Angelis in the DJ
booth on 3 May, with hosts Elektra, Kane Luke and
Kingsley. On 10 May it’s the turn of Severino and
Steve Pitron, followed by Kris Di Angelis and Fat
Tony (17 May), Smokin Jo and Matt Bogard (24 May)
and then New York’s Nita Aviance and Kris Di
Angelis (31 May). Info: clubroomservice.com
WWW.OUTMAG.CO.UK 29

A
OUT IN THE CITY: ACCESS ALL AREAS
MAY 2012
KU BAR
FRIDAY NIGHTS AT THE KU BAR ON LISLE
STREET MEAN A POP OVERDOSE COURTESY
OF THE BOYS AT THE ZONE…
They do love their pop tunes down at the Ku Bar,
and no-where is that more in evidence than at
Friday night party The Zone. The event takes
over the basement club space of the venue,
with DJs DMS, DouGium and Alvaro (working on
rotation), spinning current hits from the UK
charts and past classics – everything from
Rihanna and Jessie J to Madonna and Kylie…
with plenty of boy band chart-toppers and the
odd dance superstar thrown in for good
measure. The party continues every Friday
between the hours of 10pm and 3am. Get along
to check out why it’s one of the West End’s
busiest Friday nighters.
As you would expect, the coming May Bank
Holiday means plenty more partying at all the
Ku Bar venues (Lisle Street, Frith Street and
Candy Bar on Carlisle Street). All three venues
will be open until 3am on the Friday, Saturday
and Sunday, while the flagship Lisle Street
premises will once again be hosting the hugely
popular May Day Pole Dancing on the Sunday
evening (6 May). Trust us… it’s nothing like the
May Pole Dancing you remember from your
school days…
www.ku-bar.co.uk
PHOTOS © CHRIS JEPSON, WWW.CHRISJEPSON.COM
30 WWW.OUTMAG.CO.UK

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OUT IN THE CITY: ACCESS ALL AREAS
MAY 2012
CLUB NEWS
XXL
Following his storming
session at XXL on the
night that it relocacted to
Pulse, Gaydar DJ Phil
Marriot has confirmed
that he will be taking up a
monthly residency at the
club. You can catch Phil
(pictured left with XXL
promoter Mark Ames)
when he hits the decks on Saturday 19 May. He will be on the team
every third Saturday of the month, joining the weekly residents
Christian M and Alex Logan (on the main floor) and Joe Egg (spinning
the retro sounds in the second room). XXL relocated from Arcadia to
the considerably larger Pulse nightclub in March, making it London’s
biggest weekly gay club (the venue can hold up to 5,000!). You’ll find it
open every Saturday from 10pm till 6am, and on Wednesdays for a
smaller midweek outing from 10pm till 3am. Check out Pulse at 1
Invicta Plaza, London SE1. www.xxl-london.com
HORSE MEAT
SCREEN
MAY MADNESS
The early May Bank Holiday provides the folk at the Royal Vauxhall
Tavern with another perfect excuse to throw an extra session of their
mega-popular S.L.A.G.S/Chill-Out session. As well as enjoying the
uplifting dancefloor anthems and D.E. Experience cabaret every Sunday
afternoon/evening in May, you’ll find an extra helping between 2pm and
midnight on Monday 7 May (with cabaret at 5.30pm). Simon Le Vans,
Andy Almight and Sean Sirrs spin the tunes on both Sunday and Monday
(with Rob C joining them for a special guest slot on Sunday 6 May).
Bank Holiday aside, May’s other big news at the RVT is the return of
David Hoyle (pictured above). The avant garde cabaret superstar will be
returning with another run of shows. ‘David Hoyle’s Pandregina’ will kick
off on Thursday 24 May and continue each week through till 21 June.
Expect more observational monologues and wit from Mr Hoyle, plus
special guests, including The Frantastics and Natalie Geographic (24
May), Ryan Styles and Eve Ferrett (31 May). The show starts at 8.30pm,
with tickets £10 (www.ticketweb.co.uk)
Other highlights in May include a special live show from dance diva
Lonnie Gordon on Friday 4 May. ‘Lonnie Gordon’s One Woman – Two Set
Show’ will take you on a nostalgic trip through some classic dance
tracks of the 70s and 80s, with an exclusive DJ appearance from Motiv8
(a.k.a Steve Rodway) and Marc Andrews. Doors open at 9pm, with
limited advance tickets £10, then £12.
There are more highlights such as the Love and Lust Cabaret on
Wednesday 23 May (starring soprano diva Sara Cluderay and Donovan
Chapman), and the return of Myra Dubois and her ‘Sing Out Louise!’
celebration of show tunes on Wednesday 30 May.
The ‘British and World Male Burlesque Crown 2012’ contest hits the
stage on Thursday 10 May (7-11pm - www.ticketweb.co.uk), while
fabulous drag troupe Lipsinkers bring their inimitable East End pop
cultural cabaret to the venue on Thursday 17 May.
Regular events include Gay Bingo on Mondays and Bar Wotever on
Tuesdays, with Duckie on Saturdays and a rotating line-up of club nights
each Friday evening. These include the aforementioned Lonnie Gordon
on 4 May, Wotever World on 11 May, another Anthem – Old Skool
Reunion with Andy Almighty on 18 May and Voyage Voyage on 25 May.
Royal Vauxhall Tavern at 372 Kennington Lane, Vauxhall, SE11 5HY.
www.rvt.org.uk and advance tickets at www.ticketweb.co.uk
Horse Meat Disco at Eagle London
have announced a new
development. “Although it appears
as if it was driven purely by music,
films have played a distinct part in
the story of Horse Meat Disco,” says
a spokesperson for the night.
“Without the likes and influences of
Paris Is Burning, the late, great
Divine and the movies of John Waters, Horse Meat Disco wouldn’t exist.”
To celebrate the bond between the club and world of cinema, the team
are presenting Horse Meat Screen, a season of films that enjoy the
same kind of influences, feeling and vibe as the club itself. Entry is free
before 8pm and upcoming screenings (films start at 8pm prompt!) are
as follows: 13 May - Mommie Dearest (Faye Dunaway classic), 20 May
– Weekend (Most successful gay-themed flick of 2011), and 27 May – A
John Waters Evening. Each screening will be followed by the regular
Horse Meat Disco club session.
Eagle London: 349 Kennington Lane, Vauxhall, London, SE11.
SONGS OF PRAISE
You’ll get another chance to worship at
the altar of pop again when the recently
launched Songs Of Praise returns to
East Bloc in Old Street on Saturday 5
May. From some of the same team
behind the much-loved Kimono Krush,
Songs Of Praise showcases classic pop
and rock hits from yesteryear. This month’s outing will feature
opening earlier at10.30pm, with a pre-midnight DJ set dedicated to
new pop and the names of tomorrow. In The Altar Room, the DJs The
Sugalow Boys (pictured), David Oh and Neil Prince will be tearing up
the dance floor with their pure pop mix of yesterday’s classics and
tomorrow’s hits, and a special dose of Europop in a nod towards
Eurovision. The Chapel will host Mr Pinks, curator of the legendary
Disco Discharge series of retro dance compilations. Doors stay open
until 5am. Admission is £7 or £5 before midnight
East Bloc, 214-217 City Road, Shoreditch, EC1V 1JN.
32 WWW.OUTMAG.CO.UK

OUT IN THE CITY: ACCESS ALL AREAS
MAY 2012
A
SOS
EAST BLOC ROCKED
OUT WITH THE SOS
CREW IN MID-APRIL…
The SOS crew returned to East Bloc in Old
Street on 21 April, throwing a particularly
patriotic bash. The reason? The event
coincided with the Queen’s birthday and St
George’s Day! The night featured a cast of…
well, if not thousands then certainly
hundreds. They came not only to dance until
the early hours, but also because the event
acted as a fundraiser for Shed Radio –
launched by the same team behind the Shed
after-parties in the East End. Guesting in the
main room was Joe Robots and Dietrich In
France, who spun the house, tech and acid
alongside residents Warboy and Andy Blake.
For some lighter relief, ruling over the smaller
room with pop, electro and ‘tranny-mash’
were Scottee, Holestar and Jonathan Bestley.
For added entertainment, fundraising
performances came from Jonny Woo and
Chrissy Darling, with turns from Bruno Basso,
Squeaky, John Sizzle, Miss Odd Kidd, Jon
Delano and Lucious Flajore. In typical SOS
fashion, the night attracted a complete
mixture of East End club kids, music loves,
fashion freaks and messy drag!
For full details about SOS, including videos
and Soundcloud music mixes and details of
the next party on 19 May, go to www.sosnow.
co.uk – while you can check out Shed Radio
at www.shedradio.com
Scottee
PHOTOS © CHRIS JEPSON, WWW.CHRISJEPSON.COM
WWW.OUTMAG.CO.UK 33

A
OUT IN THE CITY: ACCESS ALL AREAS
MAY 2012
MAKE THAT
A SKINNY…
TO GO...
RICHARD TONKS
CHEWS THE FAT...
Hanging around with exclusively gay people
often depresses me. I turn into this mawkish
character who seems intent on analysing every
detail of my life in relation to the gayness around
me – and comparing where I’ve gone wrong.
Perhaps it’s the angst of the thirty-something
man-about-town with no mortgage, no
possessions to speak of and a consistently
inconsistent employment status. What peeves
me is the constant negativity of it all. He’s bitchin’
about her because ‘she said that thing’ and he’s
looking old and haggard... and then there’s that
certain someone who’s “stacking it on a bit”.
Yep. That’ll be me.
My youthful Peter Pan existence flew firmly out
of the window whilst living with a gay friend last
year, where it was solemnly brought to my
attention that ‘one’ needed to watch ‘one’s’ weight
in ‘one’s’ thirties as managing ‘one’s’ fat cells
becomes somewhat more difficult. It doesn’t
take a mathematician to realise that one plus
one plus one plus one equals… me, old lardy
Tonks.
What is it about hanging out with gay guys? It’s
like going on television. You suddenly gain a
stone and realise that you’ve piled on pounds in
places that hadn’t even existed before the age of
31. My roots are against me. I come from good,
hearty Black Country stock where a diabetesinducing
BMI is considered perfectly normal.
... And I’ve always found the gym such a
detestable place. Even the hot boys can’t spur
me. I loathe to invest any money in anything that
makes me look remotely attractive when I
exercise anyway. A faded Kylie T-shirt and a pair
of ancient Adidas shorts aren’t going to cut it
among the ‘get-the-fuck-outta-my-mirror’ mafia
that attend my gay gym.
Still, ploughing on through the pain and misery
that is my life, I focus on the things I can control.
That is, what I put in my mouth. Nutritionally
speaking, naturally. I’m not attempting to
avoiding that bottle of wine (per night) and
stag-leap past the buy-one-get-one-free sweet
temptations at my local 24-hour Asda. Those
places should carry a health warning. It should
be illegal to buy jumbo packs of Maltesers for £1
at 3am in the morning.
I’ve set about discovering a repertoire of basic
exercises one can do in the comfort of one’s
home. Who needs a Brazilian personal trainer
when Charles Bronson’s Solitary Work-Out
“WHAT IS IT ABOUT HANGING OUT WITH
GAY GUYS? IT’S LIKE GOING ON TELEVISION.
YOU SUDDENLY GAIN A STONE.”
(purchased from the local thrift store) will do just
as good a job for 30p and you can soundtrack the
entire thing with Mama Cass on vinyl.
It’s bloody worked too! I’ve finally shifted that
Christmas podge (from Christmas 2010) and
found sanctity in green soups, grapes and
breakfast. I actually eat breakfast! I swear I have
the beginnings of my first ab! And my Grindr
messages are on the up. Ones with pictures.
Good ones. My gay friends are so so proud.
I, in no way, assert that there is an ‘ideal’ body
type. While the bitch-tit seems to dominate the
gay online dating universe, the gay press have
thankfully embraced a more eclectic approach to
the representation of the human body, this
magazine included, I’m pleased to say. Embrace
the rainbow of diversity that is queer London and
all that.
It’s a Tonks maxim that I don’t have a ‘type’ but
it is requisite that my chosen partner really
doesn’t physically resemble me in any way. But
given some comments I’ve received, I find myself
in a quandary: am I fit or am I a rake? Or, God
forbid, am I a hoe?
Does it matter? Perhaps our scene is as diverse
and accepting as it ever was, and there are
spaces where love literally knows no boundaries:
chubs fall for twinks; twinks marry bears;
muscle boys bed nerds – and even ‘adult babies’
make a bit of loveable mess…
GETTING
ON THE
GUEST LIST
GOING DOWN!
The Sink The Pink
crew’s next date will be
Saturday 28 May, when
they’ll be back at the
Bethnal Green Working
Men’s Club. Resident
DJs James Phillips and
Prince Nelly will be
joined by special guests
at the decks, spinning
the pop, disco and
house, at an event
described recently by
the Evening Standard as
“Studio 54 does Blue
Peter!”
Full details at about this
and future nights at
www.sinkthepinklondon.
com/
SHOW MUST GO ON
The Café De Paris will
host a commemorative
night in honour of the
much-missed Steve
Elliot – the Salvation
promoter who tragically
passed away in late
March (see our news
pages on pages 40-41).
‘The Show Must Go On’
takes place Sunday 6
May, with a memorial
from 6-7pm, followed by
clubbing in true
Salvation fashion from
7pm till 1am. DJs Pier
Morrocco, Paul Coals,
Oliver M, Luke Hope,
Elliot J Brown, Mattias
and Stewart Who? spin
the sounds, with live
performance from
Shena. Advance tickets
cost £12 from the usual
outlets.
R.I.P Steve – and thanks
for so many amazing
nights and memories.
36 WWW.OUTMAG.CO.UK

OUT IN THE CITY: ACCESS ALL AREAS
MAY 2012
A
David Mills and Myra Dubois
Clayton Littlewood
Frances Barber is quizzed on stage
MOUTHING OFF
THE ROYAL VAUXHALL TAVERN’S NEW NIGHT
WITH DAVID MILLS AND MYRA DUBOIS…
Mouthing Off was the name of a new
promotion launched at the Royal Vauxhall
Tavern in April. The theatrical love child of
David Mills and Myra Dubois, it was billed as
“a brand new panel show for the Twitter and
Facebook generation”, although what that
basically meant was a light-hearted,
anarchic, anything-goes evening of cabaret,
with guests for stage conversations and
anecdotes, a little bit of song and dance, and
plenty of barbed quips and pursed lips
(particularly from Ms Dubois, who could
seems to have turned the art of comically
pursing one’s lips into an Olympic sport….!).
The guests for the launch event were Clayton
Littlewood (see ‘My London’ on page 6), who
bounded on stage to talk about his new book,
Goodbye To Soho, and recount a few choice
tales about his life. After an interval, he was
followed by actor Frances Barber, who
treated the audience to some gems from her
time in the theatre and on screen (appearing
in almost every long-running drama series
you care to mention – from Casualty to Poirot
to Doctor Who – and plenty of award-winning
theatre shows).
It was the sort of evening that the Royal
Vauxhall Tavern excels at producing, being
quite unlike anything else available on gay
London’s cabaret scene.
For details of upcoming shows, keep checking
the venue’s official website at
http://www.rvt.org.uk
PHOTOS © CHRIS JEPSON, WWW.CHRISJEPSON.COM
WWW.OUTMAG.CO.UK 37

COMMUNITY
BRIGHTON UP YOUR
BANK HOLIDAY!
Stonewall’s Brighton Equality Walk is once again upon us –
but it’s not too late to register and take part…
Stonewall’s ever-popular Brighton
Equality Walk returns on Bank Holiday
Sunday 6 May. The Walk, now in its ninth
year, attracted over 500 people last year, all
walking to support the charity’s work to
secure equality for lesbian, gay and bisexual
people. Supported by American Express
and with media partner Square Peg Media
– publishers of g3, Out in the City and Out
News – the Walk this year supports
Stonewall’s Education for All programme –
making schools safe and supportive for all
children.
Out in the City caught up with Pascal
Guinard, Vice President & General
Manager – Business Development, GNS
EMEA at American Express to find out
why supporting the Equality Walk is so
important to them:
“Our involvement in the Brighton
Equality Walk is important to American
Express, not only as one of the largest
employers in the region, but also as an
employer that is wholly committed to
developing and supporting a diverse
workforce. We are delighted to be able to
lend our support to this great event once
again.”
“I have been on the walk a number of
times, and I never fail to be surprised by
the way that the community of Brighton
comes together; it’s a fantastic occasion.
Even the weather has not spoilt the party in
the past; it seems like everyone is
determined to have a good time for what is
clearly a good cause.”
“American Express has a long-standing
commitment to equality for all staff and has
developed a number of internal ‘networks’
that provide help, support and advice for
staff that wish to take part. One such
network is the Pride Network, which looks
out for the wellbeing and development of
our GLBT staff members. Through Pride,
American Express has developed a number
of successful initiatives to help support
employees, such as its global mentoring
programme, leadership seminars and other
more social activities.”
The TV celebrities hosting this year’s
event are Casualty’s Jane Hazlegrove, and
TOWIE’s Harry Derbidge. Joining them
on the starting line is the Mayor of
Brighton and Hove, Councillor Anne
Meadows, and representatives from Sussex
Police. For Jane, the Walk isn’t just about
raising money for the gay equality charity:
“There may be lesbian, gay or bisexual
people struggling with coming out, and
seeing so many
different gay
people walking
together is
really positive
and reassuring.
It might even
encourage them
to take part next
year.”
Jane
Pascal Guinard
decided to host
the Equality
Walk “Because of Stonewall’s work in
schools. Children should feel safe and
supported in school. Stonewall’s work to
achieve this is vital – anti-gay language and
bullying affects all young people, and it
needs to be tackled.”
Registration for the Equality Walk
costs just £10 and under-12s walk free.
The Top Fundraiser this year will win a
luxury weekend for two in Paris, with
Eurostar travel, accommodation in a
four-star hotel and €500 spending money.
And there’s also a prize for the Top
Fundraising Team for network groups and
teams of friends walking together. The Top
Team prize is hotly contested every year,
with EYGLES – the network group from
Ernst & Young (Stonewall’s 2012 Employer
of the Year) – claiming the title in 2011.
The 10K walk takes in the highlights of
the area, including the West Pier and Kemp
Town on a route designed by BLAGSS;
Brighton’s lesbian and gay sporting society.
“There’s something for everyone in this
year’s Brighton Walk – whether you come
down on your own or walk in a group.
There’s pre-Walk entertainment including
face-painting and live music, a 10k route
that takes in the best of Brighton, and an
after-party where you can relax with
hundreds of other walkers,” says Catherine
Bosworth, Stonewall Director of
Fundraising. “Over 500 people walked for
equality in 2011, the most ever, and this
year we’re hoping that even more
supporters will join us at the starting line.”
To register for the Brighton Equality Walk visit www.
equalitywalk.org.uk or call 020 7593 1875.
38 WWW.OUTMAG.CO.UK

WWW.OUTMAG.CO.UK 39

NEWS
IN THE NEWS...
Gay stories from the UK and farther afield...
STEVE ELLIOT
1966-2012
Many on the
London gay scene
were left shocked
at the end of
March by the
news of the death
of club promoter
Steve Elliot.
Elliot, aged 46,
and widely respected as one of the
most professional and well-liked
promoters in clubland, was closely
associated for many years with the
night Salvation. Originally from
Nottinghamshire, he started his scene
career working at The Yard in
Mansfield, before making his mark on
the London gay scene when he joined
up with Alex Erfan, who had launched
Salvation in 1999. The club was later
sold to new owner, and Steve and Alex
parted ways, but Steve continued to
work for Salvation as director and
promoter. Under his guidance, the
name became an internationally
known gay club brand, with Steve
taking the night to over 60
destinations around the world. He
died following a suspected heart
attack in the early hours of 30 March,
during a Salvation party in Austria.
MARATHON MAN
G-A-Y’s Jeremy Joseph successfully
completed his third London Marathon
on Sunday 22 April, continuing to
raise money for his chosen charity –
the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
Having raised just under £140,000
over the last couple of years,
following this year’s marathon,
Joseph announced that he was going
to continue with his fundraising –
raising his target from £150,000 up to
£250,000. To donate, go to
www.justgiving.com/G-A-Y
SUPERDRUG OFFERS
RAPID HIV TEST
A limited number of Superdrug
pharmacies are now offering walk-in
HIV testing – bringing rapid HIV
testing to the high street. The service
is offered in 13 stores: London’s
Elephant & Castle, Clapham, Kilburn
and Barking branches. The aim of the
service is to provide an efficient,
easily accessible, rapid, HIV
screening service in a community
setting. Each test costs £79.
SOCIETE
GENERALE
HOSTS
FATHER-SON
DISCUSSION
The LGB and Family Networks
groups of leading banking firm
Societe Generale hosted a
special event at the end of April
at the company’s Tower Hill
office in London. Introduced by
Vincent Francois, chair of the
Societe Generale LGB Network,
the event – titled “Dad, I need
to talk to you…” – was
presented as a personal
reflection on parenting and
being an LGB child. Taking part
in the presentation was Colonel
David Hopley OBE RM (Rtd),
and his son, Alan, who together
talked inspiringly about their
experiences, as a father and son,
in coming to terms with Alan’s
sexuality. Afterwards, they
answered questions from the
gathered audience – over 60
Societe Generale members of
staff and representatives of the
Bank’s members of the LGBT
GAY MEN’S HEALTH
CONCERNS IGNORED
Stonewall has published the results of what it
believes to be the biggest survey into Gay and
Bisexual Men’s Health – and its findings raise
serious concerns around issues of mental health and
domestic abuse.
The survey shows that although attention has been
paid to matters of sexual health, very little attention
has been paid to other health concerns that affect
gay and bisexual mean. For example, it’s already
been discovered that gay and bisexual men are more
likely to attempt suicide or self-harm, have
depression, smoke, drink and take illegal drugs.
Stonewall’s survey – which questioned nearly 6,900
men and is available online at www.stonewall.org.
uk/gaymenshealth – also found that gay and
bisexual men are more likely than men in general
to have experienced domestic abuse from a family
member or partner. Four in five of those who
have faced abuse have never reported it to the
police, and more than half of those who did
report were not happy with how the police dealt
with the situation.
Network members and supporters at Societe Generale’s offices
Interbank Forum. Also present
was a representative from
FFLAG (Familes and Friends of
Lesbians and Gays), who
explained to those present about
the work of the charity and how
they could help support the
parents of LGBT children.
Alan and David Hopley
IMAGE S © CHRIS JEPSON
40 WWW.OUTMAG.CO.UK

“We must tell our children about a crime unique in human history… Six million
innocent people... sent to their deaths just for being different, just for being Jewish.
We tell them, our children, about the millions of Poles and Catholics and Roma and
gay people and so many others who also must never be forgotten.”
President Barak Obama acknowledges those – including gay people – who died during the Holocaust, at a speech at the US Holocaust Museum
WORLD
NEWS
IMAGE S © CHRIS JEPSON
The four leading candidates: BFI Southbank - 14 April 2012
Boris Johnson
Ken Livingstone
WILL YOUNG BOOKED
Singer Will Young has announced that he is set to
release a memoir of his life later this year. The
autobiography of the openly gay singer and actor – who
shot to fame as the winner of Pop Idol in 2002 – has
been snapped up by the Little, Brown Book Group,
which is planning to publish it through its Sphere Books
imprint in October 2012.
A spokesperson for Little, Brown said, “Written in Will’s
witty, frank and self-deprecating style, the book will be
a full autobiography covering all the highlights and
dramas of one of Britain’s best-loved stars.”
STONEWALL HOSTS
MAYORAL HUSTINGS
LGB rights charity Stonewall hosted a
London Gay Mayoral Hustings event for
the LGBT community on Saturday 14 April.
The event, which took place at the BFI
Southbank, was chaired by Stonewall chief
Ben Summerskill, and featured the four
leading candidates – Boris Johnson
(current mayor and Conservative
candidate), Ken Livingstone (Labour),
Brian Paddick (Liberal Democrats) and
Jenny Jones (Green Party). The four were
allowed five minutes each to explain to the
audience why they believed they were the
best candidates for the position of Mayor
(to be voted for by Londoners on 3 May),
before members of the audience were
invited to ask them questions. Summerskill
also quizzed them with questions that had
been previously sent in or to which
Stonewall itself wanted answers.
“It’s really impressive that all of the main
mayoral candidates wanted to engage
lesbian, gay and bisexual Londoners –
something that would have been
unthinkable 15 or 20 years ago,” said
Summerskill afterwards. “What was
particularly interesting was that many of
the people in the audience were completely
undecided about how they were going to
vote, so clearly no-one should take
London’s 350,000 gay voters for granted.”
CHILE
The Chilean Congress has
approved most of the provisions of
a Bill that would protect citizens of
the country against discrimination.
The bill was narrowly passed by a
vote of 58-56, and it discussion in
Congress came just a couple of
weeks after the death of 24-yearold
gay man Daniel Zamudio.
Zamudio was viciously beaten in a
park by four people who allegedly
belonged to a Neo-Nazi group. He
was badly beaten, and had
cigarette burns and swastikas
carved into his skin. His death
prompted wide coverage and outrage
in the country. The Chamber of
Deputies held a minute’s silence Mr
Zamudio before approving most of
the proposed bill.
RUSSIA
A judge in the Russian city of St
Petersburg has cleared the first
man to be charged under the newlycreated
offence of promoting
homosexuality around minors.
However, Sergey Kondrashov, who is
heterosexual, was instead convicted
of disobeying a police order. In her
ruling, the judge cited a lack of
evidence and protocols for omitting
the ‘gay propaganda’ charge from
her ruling. Kondrashov was arrested
for protesting against the
introduction of the city’s notorious
anti-gay legislation after holding up
a banner reading, “A dear family
friend is lesbian. My wife and I love
and respect her … and her family is
just as equal as ours.” He now says
that he plans to appeal against the
court’s decision.
ADRELLA 1956-2012
The London cabaret scene was in
mourning following the news of the
passing of Peter Searle, known to
generations of gay men under his
drag name, Adrella. He died on 11
April, aged 56, following a long battle
against cancer.
Adrella first appeared on stage in the
1975, going on to perform solo and
alongside such fellow drag legends as
Lily Savage, Regina Fong and David
Dale. Besides his scathing
impersonations of stars such as Liza
Minnelli, Adrella was also a Eurovision
devotee, and his hosting of the
coverage of the ceremony at North
London bar Central Station became
the stuff of legend. Vocal about his
own HIV status, he also helped raised
funds for charity and awareness of
the disease. He started regular
collections at the Royal Vauxhall
Tavern in 1986 (he enjoyed a ten-year
Sunday residency at the bar from
1982-92), and in 1987 he was
presented with an award by the
Terrence Higgins Trust, in recognition
of the thousands of pounds that he
and the Sunday School regulars at
RVT had raised. In 2008, for World
AIDS Day, Peter wrote movingly in Out
In The City about being a long-term
HIV survivor. He took a step back
from performing during the 1990s
when he suffered from ill health.
However, he continued with his
charity work and made occasional
appearances on the scene, including
hosting the 6th Annual Winter Palace
Gala at the Black Cap pub in Camden
in 2009, in memory of his old friend
Regina Fong.
PICTURE: CHRIS JESPON
WWW.OUTMAG.CO.UK 41

CAREER
MAN ON TOP
PR supremo Nick Ede talks to us about his career…
TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOUR WORK AND
Q WHAT IT INVOLVES.
I am creative director of the PR agency
Edencancan. We have a roster of well-known
brands and develop strategic campaigns to
maximise exposure and brand recognition. We
look after Spanx, Comedy Central, the Roof
Gardens in Kensington, Mamas and Papas, BBC
Children In Need, Jeans for Genes, Aigua
Media, Jinksy and Supertrash, to name but a
few. I work across all the brands and am also a
spokesperson for fashion on TV and radio.
HOW DID YOU COME TO ENTER THIS
Q PROFESSION?
By chance. I was not too sure what to do when I
was 30, but I knew I wanted to have a business,
and then I met my business partner, Nick
Fulford, who ran a successful agency. He
offered me a desk... and the rest is history! I
helped out with celebrity placement and press
ideas and now, seven years later, we have 20
people working for us and we are an awardwinning
agency.
ARE YOU COMPLETELY ‘OUT’ AT WORK?
Q Yes I am – it’s never been a problem. It’s a
creative industry. When I first started working I
remember being very careful about my
sexuality, but that was mainly because of my
own insecurities rather than anything else.
WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT
Q YOUR WORK?
I love the fact that we make headline news, the
work we do will be seen the next day by
millions and that excites me. It’s instant
gratification, and the quick turn around of
things makes it really exciting, varied and
dynamic, and never boring. Of course, we also
concentrate on long-term strategies for our
clients too which allows us to really get
messages across.
WHAT DO YOU DISLIKE, OR FIND MOST
Q CHALLENGING, ABOUT IT?
I think as I get older that I am getting less
tolerant with people’s demands! I find the
challenges of constantly thinking of new ideas
and creative ways of developing our clients as
something that can be relentless.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO
Q ANYONE WHO WAS INTERESTED IN
ENTERING YOUR PROFESSION?
I did it in a strange way, but my advice is to go
ahead and try and do what you want to do.
Don’t say “what if?” because it’ll only make you
regret things if you never try. People constantly
complain or say they can’t do something – you
really can do it if you want it enough and have
the desire to make a difference. So basically, do
some research, learn, and never be afraid to get
your hands dirty.
For more details about Edencancan, go to
www.edencancan.com
42 WWW.OUTMAG.CO.UK

PARENTING
REPRODUCTIVE TOURISM:
A WORD OF CAUTION
Are you thinking of embarking on a surrogacy arrangement abroad?
Dawson Cornwell’s Colin Rogerson and Richard Kwan highlight some of
the legal complications…
India, Ukraine, California…
an odd grouping, we concede,
but there’s one thing they
have in common: they have
all become surrogacy
hotspots for global
reproductive tourism. With
the recent added celebrity
cachet of names like Nicole
Kidman, Robert De Niro and
Elton John, surrogacy is
officially the international
adoption preference of the
21st century.
Unsurprisingly,
increasing numbers of gay
couples choose to start their
families through surrogacy –
but where to begin?
International approaches
vary enormously. France and
Germany have outlawed
surrogacy. In some US states,
surrogacy laws and practices
are so liberal that
commercial surrogacy
thrives: a one-stop shop to
clearing student debt or
supplementing the war wife’s
income. Other hotspots
include Ukraine (but only for
straight, married couples)
and India, which has,
helpfully, made no specific
laws at all on the issue.
The UK sits somewhere
in the middle: it is legal to
enter into surrogacy
arrangements but those
arrangements are not
enforceable. Further, it is a
criminal offence for anyone
other than the intended
parents or the surrogate to
be involved in any way in
making a commercially-based
surrogacy arrangement. It
can also be difficult to find a
surrogate, because
advertising either for or as a
surrogate mother is illegal.
In short, unless British
intending parents just
happen to know someone
who’ll carry their child, free
of charge, they will make
their surrogacy arrangements
abroad.
The issues that arise
from international
surrogacy arrangements are
numerous and complicated.
There are immigration
issues to consider, in
particular, how to bring the
child back home to the UK.
HERE’S WHERE IT CAN
ALL GO WRONG
A child can only have
two legal parents. English
law will always recognise the
surrogate mother as a legal
parent of the child. If the
surrogate is married (and the
husband consented to the
surrogacy), the surrogate’s
husband will be treated as
the legal father. This is the
case regardless of whether
there is a genetic link
between the surrogate and
the child and regardless of
where the child was born.
In some US states it is
possible to obtain “pre-birth”
orders months before the
child is born naming the
intended parents as the legal
parents on the birth
certificate. But British law
does not recognise the orders
made by the US Court, so this
is of little comfort if you are
intending to raise your child
here.
But there is light at the
end of the tunnel, and that
light is the “parental order”.
It is a bespoke order made by
a UK court and specifically
designed for surrogacy
arrangements. The effect of a
parental order is to vest all
legal parental rights with the
intended parents – to the
exclusion of the parental
rights of the surrogate (and
her husband/civil partner).
International surrogacy
cases are currently all heard
in the High Court in
London.
In order to be eligible
for a parental order, the
intending parents must
satisfy a long list of criteria
that it is advisable to
investigate prior to making
the surrogacy arrangement.
For further information or advice,
please contact Anne-Marie
Hutchinson OBE, Partner and
Head of International Children
Department at Dawson Cornwell,
or Colin Rogerson, Solicitor, who
are specialists in surrogacy and
advises on complex domestic and
international surrogacy
arrangements.
Dawson Cornwell is a niche family
law firm in London, acting for
clients across the country and
abroad. The firm provides advice
to LGBT clients on prenuptial
agreements, dissolution of civil
partnerships and financial
settlements. It has a worldrenowned
children department
specialising in international
children disputes including child
abduction, forced marriage,
international surrogacy
arrangements and preconception
contracts.
The firm has a Diversity Aware
Charter Mark and, in 2012,
Anne-Marie Hutchinson OBE
received an “Albert” from The
Albert Kennedy Trust, on behalf of
the firm, in recognition of its work
in defending the human rights of
young LGBT people on an
international level.
www.dawsoncornwell.com
44 WWW.OUTMAG.CO.UK

PARENTING
SURROGACY SORTED!
Barrie Drewitt-Barlow of the British Surrogacy Centre explains how current
bans on certain kinds of fertility treatment in the UK are forcing couples to seek
treatment abroad…
At their Los Angeles
facility, The British
Surrogacy Centre is seeing
a huge increase of couples
for treatments that are
currently illegal in the UK
and other European
countries.
Unfortunately, not every
available IVF option is
available to you in Europe.
For example, sex-selection is
outlawed in the UK, but it is
available in other countries.
Would you travel abroad to
make use of such a service?
Well, hundreds of other
people are now doing that.
International fertility law
is not as liberal as U.S. law
regarding fertility treatment,
especially in relation to
reproduction through donor
and surrogacy options.
In response to the bans
currently in place in the
UK, the British Surrogacy
Centre has seen a surge of
interest in services
currently available in the
U.S. The centre uses two
U.S-based clinics to guide
patients through the process
of sex selection and other
easily available fertility
treatments that are not
available in the UK.
California Fertility Parenters
are now seen as the ultimate
celebrity-spotting clinical
practice in LA. This is also
one of the first clinics to
work with the gay
community and, in fact, has
many gay members of staff.
The West Coast’s clinic has
one of the highest success
rates anywhere in the USA
and has years of experience
in IVF. Then, on the East
Coast, there is New England
Fertility. Another state-ofthe-art
facility, it doesn’t
only cater for the
heterosexual community, but
actively welcomes same-sex
couples and singles wanting
to go through the surrogacy
and egg donor process. The
benefit in using this agency
is the wonderful staff
running the facility and our
advice is: anyone going
through surrogacy should
really look no further.
Laws regarding fertility
treatment vary. Some
countries ban aspects of
treatment such as surrogacy,
egg donation, sperm
donation, artificial
insemination, and a variety
of treatment options for
some couples needing this
type of care particularly
single parents or gay
couples. Germany and
Norway have bans on egg
donation, while Austria and
Italy have bans on egg and
sperm donation for in vitro
fertilization (IVF). There
are also bans on artificial
insemination and IVF for
single women and lesbian
couples in France and Italy,
and bans on surrogacy are in
place throughout much of
Europe.
As well as such bans,
many of them have also
reported unsuccessful
experiences with adoption
panels and foster care teams
in the UK, some saying that
they found attitudes to still
be quite homophobic. People
are no longer prepared to
put up with discrimination,
especially as there are now
options for our community
to become parents to our
own biological children,
thanks largely to teams like
those available in the U.S.
This interest in
alternative parenting is
demonstrated clearly by
the establishment of two
leading European shows on
same-sex parenting – the
annual Alternative Parenting
Show which runs in
September at the Connaught
Rooms in London, and the
Building Families Show
which runs in April each
year at the London Hilton
Metropole. Both shows are
becoming essential events for
those considering surrogacy
and egg donation. Each play
host to the world’s leading
fertility specialists, who are
able to discuss one-to-one
with you about the surrogacy
process and your fertility
needs. Also present are the
best legal minds from the UK
and USA, who are able to talk
to you about the legal issues.
Pursuing an
international surrogacy
agreement can be time
consuming. Using a
management company will
help minimise the visits you
have to make abroad and the
final costs. The British
Surrogacy Centre can help
keep costs down because of
relationships we already have
with certain clinics. Also, we
will work with clients until a
baby is born, then up to three
months after the birth – and
we’re on hand afterwards
should help be needed.
A team of 11 nationally
and internationallyrecognised
surrogacy
specialists, who work with
hundreds of clients each
year, the BSC has earned a
reputation for overcoming
hard-to-solve parenting
issues. Our clinics specialise
in a comprehensive range of
fertility treatment options,
including intra-uterine
insemination, in vitro
fertilization, donor egg,
gestational carrier, and
pre-implantation genetic
diagnosis, as well as
extensive resources to
address financial and
emotional needs. In fact,
everything you will need to
make your family complete
and bring your baby home.
For more information,
Barriedrewitt@
britishsurrogacycentre.
com
www.britishsurrogacycentre.com
46 WWW.OUTMAG.CO.UK

PARENTING
BORN IN 1972?
IT’S NOW OR NEVER!
Ms Toyin Jegede, Donor Recruitment and Campaign Officer for the London Sperm
Bank, reports on important changes to the legal age limits of sperm donors…
The London Sperm Bank was founded
to address the acute donor sperm
shortage in the UK. Incorporating Dr.
Louis Hughes Sperm Bank (established
1976) and The London Women’s Clinic,
we are now the country’s largest
provider of donor sperm, successfully
helping couples and single women fulfil
their dream of having a child.
This month, the HFEA (Human
Fertilisation and Embryology
Authority) reduced from 45 to 41 the
legal age limit a man can donate his
sperm; which means the time to take
action is now. If you have considered
sperm donation, but haven’t got round
to making in enquiry, the decision could
be taken out of your hands if you were
born before 1972.
Why is there an age limit on donating
sperm?
According to Dr. Silber of St Luke’s
Infertility Hospital in the US, “Men
experience an age-related decrease in
testicular size and in sperm production.
In some men, there is a decline in
testosterone production and a decreased
ability of the body to produce and
mature the sperm cells, which becomes
noticeable after the age of 40.”
It is also known that as men
age, sperm cells can
accumulate mutations
that are passed to
offspring. Regardless
of age, sperm
continues to
reproduce through
division. If a sperm
becomes altered or
mutates, any other
sperm that is
produced by the
natural division will
also be altered or
mutated. Each successive
division introduces a slight
risk of error in the genetic
material of the new sperm, which is
passed on to the children.
How to join our donor program
The first step involves filling out an
enquiry form on our website: www.
londonspermbank.com or calling one
of our consultants on 020 7563 4305 to
book an initial screening appointment.
“This
month, the
HFEA reduced
the legal age a
man can donate
his sperm from
45 to 41”
This appointment
is an opportunity
for you to find out
more about the
donor programme
as well as for us to
find out a bit more
about you. We ask
you to complete a
medical questionnaire as
well as to produce a sperm
sample for us to test its suitability
to freeze. You will get the results of this
appointment within 48 hours and if you
are suitable we ask for you to visit us
again for infectious screening tests
(STD and hepatitis). If you are found to
be non-infectious, we then invite you to
join our donor programme.
The programme last approximately 3-6
months and over the course of donation
you will be screened for hereditary
disease and asked to see one of our
onsite doctors for a complete medical
check up.
Even if, for any reason, you are not
accepted on to our programme, our
meticulous screening process means
that at the very least you will find out
more about yourself.
To reflect the changes the HFEA
made to the payment policy, we are
now re-imbursing all of our donors a
flat fee of £35 per visit to the clinic.
Previously the HFEA had placed a £250
cap on expenses, but this cap has now
been removed.
www.londonspermbank.com
48 WWW.OUTMAG.CO.UK

PROPERTY
ON THE UP
Property buying agent Nicholas Ayre, director of Home Fusion, looks at those
parts of the capital that are becoming more desirable for property investors…
When people find out what I
do, they always ask me one of
three questions: How much is
your house worth? Will I get my
money back if I invest in the
London property market? And
where should I buy? The last
question is akin to the Holy Grail
for anyone who wants to play
the property market. As a buying
agent, it’s my job to know where
the safest and most profitable
investments are to be made.
Most of us will have
witnessed dinner party talk and
heard half-baked theories about
how Rotherhithe is the new
Clapham. Keep in mind that all
rumours are based on
guesswork, but educated
guessing can pay dividends
when you are playing the
property market.
First of all, do your
homework. If you want
up-and-coming, you shouldn’t
expect a pristine neighbourhood.
Instead, look for areas that are
under regeneration and think
long-term. Nine Elms in the
London Borough of Wandsworth
– that isolated and unloved area
around Battersea Power
Station – is the most centrally
located regeneration site in
London. It’s on the river, a mile
upstream from Parliament and
next door to Vauxhall, an area
that will be familiar to many of
those reading Out In The City.
The US Government has plans
for a new American Embassy
there and the Northern Line is to
be extended from Kennington,
putting Battersea and Nine Elms
on the Tube map. As many as
16,000 new homes will be up for
grabs if proposals are pushed
through, so this is one area to
keep a beady eye on.
London is so over-populated
and the property market is so
mature that there are few hidden
gems left. Focus your search on
areas like Battersea, Elephant
and Castle and King’s Cross, all
of which are on the way up. In
east London, the Olympic legacy
means Stratford has been
swiftly regenerated and facilities
significantly improved.
Nine Elms’ Elm Quay Court (above)
and Viridian Apartments (below) –
contact www.gartonjones.co.uk
for more details
If you are still stuck for
inspiration, look at the
Crossrail route, which is due
to be completed in 2018. It
links Maidenhead and Heathrow
in the west to Shenfield and
Abbey Wood in the east and will
bring 1.5million people within a
45-minute commute of central
London. This means that
property close to the route, and
particularly homes within
walking distance, are all likely to
increase in value.
The London market is a
fairly safe bet. Foreign investors
continue to flock here to invest
in the super-prime market (think
four-storey Mayfair mansions
with swimming pools and
heated driveways). Despite our
economic woes, foreigners see
the UK – which is not
experiencing quite the same
problems as some Eurozone
countries – as a safe territory for
their megabucks. While house
prices have fallen across Britain,
the London market has been
fairly unscathed by the
recession, which is why you
often hear experts talk about the
London property ‘bubble’. So if
you can afford to invest in
property here, do so.
Think about your
requirements carefully before
you buy. Chances are you will
either want to live in the
Nicholas Ayre
property you buy or you will be
planning to rent it out with a
view to selling when the
property increases in value, or
moving in yourself when the
area improves. If you are buying
to let, you will need to make sure
the demand is there. The good
news is that demand for rental
property in London is at an
all-time high, fuelled by a lack of
stock and the reluctance of
banks to lend to first-time
buyers. But it is crucial that you
check rental websites and local
lettings agencies to gauge how
much you can charge tenants
before you invest.
If you plan to live there
yourself, you might be waiting
a while before an up-andcoming
area has all the
amenities you want, but a
higher priority is ensuring
that an area is safe and you’re
not going to get mugged for
your iPad on the way home.
Websites such as Police.uk, give
information about crimes and
policing by postcode. Another
priority is transport links. How
long will your daily commute
take, as well as how long it will
take to travel to all your favourite
hangouts in the capital.
I work with both gay and
straight clients; there is really
little that sets them apart. The
only difference is that my gay
clients tend to be less
preoccupied by the proximity of
their homes to good schools. But
if you’re investing in property
long term and you think starting
a family will be on your radar in
the future, this is something else
to consider.
http://home-fusion.co.uk
50 WWW.OUTMAG.CO.UK

HOMES
01 02
ake
s
03
We Want
THIS MONTH’S HOT
PRODUCTS FOR THE HOME
01. KINGS ROAD CROWN
PLATES
With both the Olympics and
Queen’s Jubilee, there’s
certainly a lot of patriotic tat
flooding the market this
summer. Fortunately, our eye
has been caught these King’s
Road Crown Plates. Each
porcelain plate bares a
different decoration of the
Royal Crown in 24-carat gold.
Topical, yet timeless enough
to use again and again.
RRP £37.99
www.forages.co.uk
02. FOXY ARMCHAIR
We like an armchair we can
sink into, like this ‘Foxy
Armchair’ from One Deko. Sit
back and relax within its
sturdy design, available in a
range of colours, including
plain black if you’re not keen
on this bold pattern, as well
as leather and wood. At the
time of going to press, this
model was on sale from £411
but price varies according to
the choice of fabric.
RRP From £411
http://onedeko.co.uk
03. BT TOWER PRINT
There’s something so iconic
and reassuringly ‘London’
about the BT Tower. It serves
as an instant reminder of
lofty futurism and the
aspirations of architecture.
We like this print of the Tower
by Stefi Orazi, but we loved it
more when we discovered
that it glows in the dark –
just like the real thing! Each
print is A2-size and comes
signed by the artist.
RRP £60
www.theo-theo.com
52 WWW.OUTMAG.CO.UK

HOMES
04
05
07
08
06
04. QUEEN’S HEAD
CHALKBOARD.
From the same site that
offers the Crown Plates,
comes this Magnetic Queen’s
Head chalkboard. The mattfinished
magnet measures
29.5cm x 20.5cm and can be
stuck to any metallic surface.
What you choose to message
is entirely up to you… maybe:
“One would like to see the
dishes washed by the time
one gets home!”
RRP £13.99
www.forages.co.uk
05. DAR GENEVA PENDANT
LIGHT
Statement lighting? A new
discovery for us is Kes
Lighting. The company has a
showroom in the Midlands
but does most business
online. It offers an exhaustive
selection, from the smallest
table lamp to the most
extravagant chandeliers.
More affordable is this
restrained but glamorous
crystal glass pendant.
RRP £314.99
www.keslighting.co.uk
06. VIPP SOAP PUMP
Design company Vipp
unveiled a range of products
in ‘Copenhagen Green’ (the
Danish capital happens to be
the brand’s hometown).
Prices are wince-inducing, at
nearly £100 for a soap
dispenser, but you won’t find
one more beautiful as this
one. Also available are a
laundry basket, bread box,
toothbrush holder, toilet
brush and bins.
RRP £82.80
www.madeindesign.co.uk
07. HATTIE CHAIR
Nothing lends more of a
period feel to a room than
the use of original fabrics
and patterns. This simple
1970s-style wooden chair
– designed by Mel Made This
– is covered in an original
heavyweight, 70s brown and
orange floral fabric treated
with Scotchgard to add
lasting protection. It brings a
touch of retro style to any
interior.
RRP £200
www.culturelabel.com
08. CLEAR GLASS
CRUMPLED CUT
No doubt you’re familiar with
the white china version of the
crumpled cup, which
transformed the ordinary,
disposable plastic cup into
something altogether more
permanent. Now, designer
Rob Brandt has come up with
a clear glass version. Buy
them individually, or in
batches of eight, from funky
online store Theo-Theo.
RRP £5.95
www.theo-theo.com
WWW.OUTMAG.CO.UK 53

PETS
CANINE LIFELINES
Do you love dogs? Whether you wish to look after a dog or just help a
good cause, the Dogs Trust can always do with your support…
At any one time, the team of dedicated
canine carers at Dogs Trust re-homing
centres will be caring for over 1,500
unwanted dogs: feeding, walking,
training, playing, grooming and
cleaning all day, every day.
However, the team cannot
care for the dogs without
the help of kind people
who give up their time
to volunteer, donate,
foster or fundraise for
the charity. If you want
to do your bit to help the
UK’s largest dog welfare
charity, here’s how…
TEMPORARY FOSTERING
FOR DOGS TRUST
Dogs Trust’s policy is to not
just rescue dogs, but to give
them the best possible
quality of life as well as all
the specialist care and
training they need to give
them the
greatest
BED AND BOARD
Want to go away but unsure what to do
about your dog or cat? Gay Dog Boarding
will take care of them... you can even check
up on them via webcam while you’re away!
chance of finding a new home of their own. A
squeaky toy, a treat or a cosy bed can be all it
takes to raise spirits, and most of our dogs
find homes within weeks. But other dogs
need a bit more and this is why we
often look for temporary foster
carers. Temporary fostering
offers dogs a chance to live in a
real home until a new owner
can be found.
DONATION! DONATION!
DONATION!
You can keep the doggy tails
wagging at Dogs Trust by
donating toys to help amuse
the dogs while they wait for
their new homes. The
dogs are particularly
partial to squeaky toys
and tennis balls! April
showers can take hold
of the charity’s
blankets, duvets and
towels as canine
carers need to use
more to put in
the dogs’ beds to keep them warm and dry after
wet walks. So if you’re having a linen cupboard
clear out, think of Dogs Trust.
To ensure the dogs’ training sessions are
positive experiences, canine carers use tasty
treats to reward their learning. Next time you
do your weekly shop, why not pick some dog
treats and drop them off at the Dogs Trust
re-homing centre?
WHY NOT SPONSOR A DOG AS A GIFT FOR
A LOVED ONE?!
Most of our dogs find loving new homes but
those who need a little extra care are always
safe with us because we will never destroy a
healthy dog. You can sponsor one of these
longer-term residents for just £1 a week.
Dogs Trust is reliant on the generosity of the
public to help dogs in need, so by sponsoring
a dog you won’t just be helping your sponsor
dog but all their friends too!
To find out more about Dogs Trust, where your
local re-homing centre is or how you can do your
bit to help visit www.dogstrust.org.uk
Situated in Hampshire, Gay
Dog Boarding kennels has
been run by the same family
since it opened in 1962. It
retains a homely, friendly feel
for both customers and
clientele. Run by Paul and
Melanie Bliss, it sticks to the
principle that the dogs and cats
should be treated as they would
in their home. Employees at the
kennels are handpicked for
their interactive skills with, and
dedication to, small animals.
Paul took over the kennels
from his aunt, and has kept the
establishment refurbished and
up to date and introduced new
aspects, such as Shear Bliss
Grooming Parlour. The
kennel’s relaxed, professional
atmosphere is somewhere that
your pet will feel at home. The
compartments are generouslysized
and licensed for two or
more dogs, so families do not
have to be split up. Kennels have
outside, south-facing runs, and
it goes without saying that
hygiene is of the utmost
importance: all kennels are
thoroughly scrubbed between
occupants. and meticulously
cleaned, daily.
As well as dogs, the team
has been looking after cats for
same number of years, so you
can rest assured that your cat
is in the best of hands. Don’t
be worried if you have a nervous
cat, the cattery is an island of
tranquility compared with the
noise of the kennels. All cattery
compartments are heated and
feature their own run and are
disinfected between
occupations. As with the
kennels, hygiene at the cattery
is of utmost importance.
Accommodation is suitable for
single cats or families of cats.
One innovative aspect of the
kennels is the webcams, where
you can see your loved ones
whilst you are away on holiday.
The kennels were the first to
pioneer this in the UK and it’s
proved hugely popular with
clients.
For more details, view the
website at http://www.gaydog.co.uk
- email enquiries@gaydog.co.uk or
call 01256-389233. There is also a
Facebook page at www.facebook.
com/GayDogKennels
54 WWW.OUTMAG.CO.UK

TRAVEL
WIN A TRIP TO ICELAND!
The annual Bears On Ice festival – the world’s northernmost bearfest –
returns to Iceland in September… and you could be attending if you win our
exclusive competition!
HOW TO ENTER
Iceland Express, Bears On Ice and
Alfred’s Apartments have teamed up to
offer one lucky prize winner a four-day
trip of a lifetime for two to the colourful
capital.
THE PRIZE INCLUDES:
• Return flights with Iceland Express
from London Gatwick – Reykjavík
• Four-day event pass for Bears on Ice
• Three night’s accommodation at
Alfred’s Apartments, Reykjavík
From 6 – 9 September 2012, bears and
friends are invited to visit Reykjavík,
Iceland, for the eighth annual Bears On
Ice 2012. The four-day event kicks off with
a Bears On Ice welcome party, where
everyone gets to mingle and make friends
at the Friday night ‘bear hugs’ party. The
festival’s flagship party on the Saturday
night will be co-hosted with
Scandinavianbearsevents.com, which is
well known for its fantastic BearAware
parties in Copenhagen.
However, as always with Bears On Ice,
it’s not all about partying. Activity-wise,
the long weekend includes Golden Circle
sightseeing tour which takes in
Thingvellir national park, the golden falls
of Gullfoss and the spouting geysers
Geysir and Strokkur. A visit to the
popular geothermal Blue Lagoon is a
must-see attraction – located just outside
of Reykjavík, the lagoon is dug into the
middle of black lava blocks and houses
water of 38 degrees Celsius.
Iceland Express operates six weekly
flights between London Gatwick and
Reykjavík, a summer twice-weekly service
to Reykjavík from London Stansted and
flights from Edinburgh to Reykjavík on
Mondays and Thursdays.
Alfred’s Apartments
The Blue Lagoon, Iceland
Iceland Express offers a healthy
onboard menu, has no length-of-stay
restrictions, no Sunday rule and easy
online booking. Iceland Express also offers
a 25% discount for children under-12 years
of age.
Flights cost from £89 one-way
including all taxes, surcharges, check-in,
seat allocation, a 20kg bag in the hold and
10kg hand luggage. Iceland Express do not
charge extra for flights booked on a debit
card.
Alfred’s Apartments are gay owned
and operated, and offer eight apartments
in the center of Reykjavík. They are fully
furnished with free Wi-Fi Internet,
televisions and safety-deposit-boxes among
other things.
To enter, email us the answer to the
following question:
What is the capital city
of Iceland?
A. Helsinki
B. Reykjavik
C. Tromsø
Email editorial@outmag.co.uk
The deadline is noon Friday 1 June 2012. One
winner will be drawn at random. Please
include a daytime contact number and email.
Good luck!
Terms & Conditions:
Two return flights from London Gatwick to
Reykjavík with Iceland Express may be
booked by the appointed prize winner. All
bookings must take place for the period of
6–9 September 2012. This prize does not
cover airport transfers or food and
beverages. The prize is completely nonrefundable
and non-transferable.
The apartments are located in a quiet
area of the very center of Reykjavík city.
For more information on Iceland Express visit:
www.icelandexpress.com
For more information on
BEARS ON ICE 2012 visit:
www.bearsonice.org
For more information on
Alfred’s Apartments visit:
http://alfreds-apartments.
com
56 WWW.OUTMAG.CO.UK

WWW.OUTMAG.CO.UK 57

58 WWW.OUTMAG.CO.UK

TELEVISION
TRAVEL
LEGAL
WWW.OUTMAG.CO.UK 59

HEALTH / WELLBEING / ADVICE / FITNESS / NUTRITION / GYM
yourself but a time to look after
yourself. Many people find that being
diagnosed can be an opportunity to
re-tune their exercise routines and
their diets. Maybe you need to have
some time out for yourself and
address your life-work balance.
PHOTO © WWW.THEIRISHWOLF.COM
HIV: THE FACTS
PAGE 62
BODY TALK
PAGE 66
Help me Out!
Soren Stauffer-Kruse offers words
of advice and guidance…
DIAGNOSIS DILEMMA
Dear Out,
I have recently been diagnosed HIV
positive. I am not handling the news very
well. I know how I got it, and I feel so
angry with myself for screwing up and
letting my guard down with someone.
Until recently, I have always been very
careful about safer sex, but I’ve been in a
pretty volatile, on-off relationship with
someone, and he kept pushing for us to
have unsafe sex. Now, we’ve both tested
positive – and I’m very sure I got it from
him. I don’t blame him, as he didn’t know
himself, but I blame myself for not being
more careful. Anyway, I found out a
month ago and I’ve just been so
depressed since finding out. I don’t really
feel like telling any of my friends, and my
family would be devastated. And I just
feel that most guys won’t want to have
sex or date me now. Please tell me that I
won’t always feel this way.
Name withheld
You will not always feel this way. It is
perfectly normal to feel depressed
when you have just emerged from a
difficult relationship with an HIV
diagnosis. You will get through this
crisis and emerge a stronger person if
you follow some simple steps: It is
normal to struggle with a new
diagnosis. Even if you know how you
got HIV, it is a shock to find out. You
may find it helpful to talk about it to a
health adviser or a counsellor, or look
at internet forums such as My HIV
(www.myhiv.org.uk). Talking to others
really helps.
I understand that telling friends and
family may seem like a scary
prospect, so maybe it’s a good idea to
talk to a professional first about the
pros and cons of disclosure. Your HIV
clinic should also be able to guide you
in the right direction. Many people
also find it useful to attend a group
for newly diagnosed gay men where
you can learn practical things about
living with HIV as well as having the
opportunity to talk to others.
This is not the time to be angry with
You are being really hard on yourself
when you say that you blame
yourself. It sounds like that
relationship had a difficult dynamic.
Your partner had a part to play as
well. I tend to think that there are
always two ways of looking at a
situation like this: you either beat
yourself up for what you feel was a
mistake, or you recognise that you
would like something else in your life
and use this situation to learn how to
achieve that. If the two of you are still
together, maybe this is an opportunity
for you to tell him what you need from
the relationship. It doesn’t sound as
though you are happy with it being as
volatile as it has been.
There is someone out there for you
who will love you just the way you
are. When it comes to having sex and
dating other men you need to think
about the right time to tell them
about HIV. There is a healthy middle
ground between ‘let me tell him right
away because he will reject me
anyway’ and ‘I am scared to tell him
about it and then we have sex and fall
in love and I still haven’t told him and
now I am so afraid that he will find
out’ on the other.
I understand that this is a tough time
in your life. I hope that the advice is
useful but wanted to tell you that
reading your letter, I also felt that
maybe what you need most right now
is a good hug. Do seek out other
people who are going through – or
have been through – the same thing
that you are currently trying to deal
with on your own.
GET IN TOUCH
Soren Stauffer-Kruse is a
Chartered Counselling Psychologist
and an expert in gay relationship and
sexual issues. If you have a problem
and are seeking advice, email
editorial@outmag.co.uk
We regret that Soren cannot enter
into personal correspondence.
WWW.OUTMAG.CO.UK 61

HEALTH
HIV FOR BEGINNERS
Over 30 years after the epidemic began, a frightening level of ignorance still remains
among some gay men. Out In The City arms you with the basic facts on HIV...
Everyone knows about HIV
and AIDS, right? Actually,
no, they don’t. If you’ve been
out on the gay scene for a few
years, you may well have been
exposed to a wealth of safer
sex information, but for many
gay men new to the scene, or
exploring their sexuality for
the first time, there is still a
worrying level of ignorance.
Whether you’ve never received
any information, or think you
know it all, here’s an
opportunity to remind yourself
of the basics…
What is HIV?
HIV stands for ‘Human
Immunodeficiency Virus’. It
is a virus which attacks the
immune system. A person
infected with HIV may not
show any signs of being ill for
as long as ten years, but during
this time the virus can wreak
havoc on the immune system.
HIV treatment halts this
process and helps a person
with HIV stay healthy; but
without treatment, a
person may
develop illnesses –
eventually leading
to an AIDS diagnosis
(Acquired Immune
Deficiency
Syndrome).
A person can
still be treated
for AIDS and
become healthy
again with the right
medical help, but
for some it may be
fatal.
AIDS was first identified
in the early 1980s. No effective
treatment for HIV was
introduced until the mid-
1990s. Up until that time, the
prognosis for anyone
diagnosed with HIV was bleak,
but since the mid-90s, and the
introduction of anti-retroviral
therapy, the prognosis for
anyone with HIV is better. A
person diagnosed early is
expected to live a and a
near-normal lifespan but the
longer undiagnosed, the more
damage HIV can
do.
Are there any
signs of being
infected with
HIV?
When a person is
infected with HIV, a
process called
‘seroconversion’ takes place
around 1-2 weeks after
infection (which is the virus
taking hold of the body and the
body reacting). During this
time, 70-90% of people
experience severe flu-like
symptoms that usually include
a sore throat, fever and rash on
the chest. They may also
experience nausea, fatigue,
headache and diarrhoea. If you
experience these symptoms,
and have recently had
unprotected sex, you should
have an HIV test as soon as
possible. These symptoms will
then go away after a week or
so, and a person may then have
no visible signs of having HIV
until they become seriously ill.
How is HIV passed on?
HIV is transmitted through the
exchange of body fluids with
someone who is already
infected. The virus is fragile
and cannot survive outside the
body for long. The most
common route of transmission
is sexual. For gay men, anal sex
without a condom poses the
greatest risk. HIV can be
passed from the active to
passive partner (the guy
getting fucked) or from the
passive to active partner (the
guy doing the fucking), which
is why it’s always important to
wear a condom. HIV can also
be transmitted through vaginal
sex, or through any activity
where blood may be
exchanged, such as the sharing
of hypodermic needles by drug
users.
Can you get HIV through
giving or receiving oral sex?
HIV can be transmitted
through oral sex but the risk is
far less than transmission
through anal sex. To minimise
this risk further, it’s sensible
not to give oral sex if you or
your partner has any cuts or
sores in your mouth, or
bleeding gums. It’s also
considered safer if someone
doesn’t cum in your mouth.
How risky is it to have sex
with an HIV-positive person?
If a person is diagnosed with
HIV and is receiving
treatment, the level of virus in
their body will be greatly
reduced (clinically referred to
as an ‘undetectable viral load’);
this means the risk of passing
on HIV to another person is
low. However, HIV treatment
should not necessarily be
viewed as a replacement for
condoms and there are a range
of factors to consider. A person
with HIV can discuss these
with their doctor to gain more
information.
If a person has HIV but doesn’t
know their status, the level of
HIV in their body is likely to
be very high, particularly if
they are recently infected, as
the level of HIV virus in the
body peaks and there is a high
risk of passing HIV on to a
sexual partner if a condom is
not used.
What if I only have sex with
guys who say they’re HIV
negative?
This is a nice idea in theory
but in practice it doesn’t work
62 WWW.OUTMAG.CO.UK

HEALTH
as 25% of people with HIV
in the UK don’t know they
have it. A person may think
they’re HIV negative, but this
doesn’t mean it’s actually the
case. It’s always best to use a
condom during sex.
Can you get HIV by kissing?
HIV cannot be passed on from
holding hands, hugging,
drinking from someone else’s
cup or bottle, or from someone
sneezing, coughing, spitting or
scratching you. Kissing, mutual
masturbation and other
non-penetrative sexual
practices are regarded as safe
– just be careful not to allow
ejaculate near open wounds or
bleeding sores. Being
infected with one
sexually-transmitted
disease (gonorrhoea,
syphilis, etc) can
make infection
easier, which is why
it’s recommended all
gay men have a regular
sexual health check-up,
whether they have
symptoms or not.
Now that there is
treatment, does it matter if
you become infected with
HIV?
It’s far better for your health to
remain HIV-negative (i.e. not
infected with the virus). Being
HIV-positive means that you
will, at some stage, need to
begin treatment that you will
be on for the rest of your life.
Treatment often has side
effects, some long-term, and
taking daily medication and
going for regular check-ups
can also be demoralising. It’s
been found that some taking
treatment for many years may
be more prone to developing
age-onset illnesses such as
heart disease earlier than
expected. There also, sadly,
remains a stigma around
HIV-positive people who can
experience discrimination or
rejection because of their
status, leading to depression.
Why can’t I just wait until I
fall ill to get tested for HIV?
Putting off an HIV test until
you fall ill with an HIV-related
illness is one of the worst
things you can do! Despite
treatment, people with HIV
can still die, and the majority
who do in the UK are the ones
who don’t know that they are
HIV-positive. By the time they
find out, it’s too late for
effective treatment. Those
who find out that they are
HIV-positive within a
few months of
infection, and have
regular checkups,
have the
best chance of
leading a long,
illness-free life.
Someone diagnosed
with HIV today at 35,
and treated early, has a life
expectancy of over 72. It is
important to know your HIV
status to prevent passing the
infection on. Most new
infections are passed on by
people who don’t know they
have HIV. Modern HIV tests
are quick and easy, returning
results within minutes.
How often should I be testing
for HIV?
It is advisable for gay men to
have an HIV test at least once a
year, and more often if you’ve
put yourself at risk.
How common is HIV?
More than 90,000 people in
the UK have HIV – three
times as many as ten years ago.
The number is expected to top
100,000 this year.
Isn’t it a myth that mostly
gay men are affected by HIV?
No – sadly not. In the general
population HIV affects roughly
one in 900 people, but in the
gay community it’s 1 in 20. In
London around one in 10 gay
men are HIV-positive, and one
in eight in Brighton. Around a
quarter of gay men with HIV
do not know they have it.
How can I find out more?
Book an appointment at a
sexual health clinic and speak
to a nurse, doctor or advisor.
Alternatively, you can call the
Terrence Higgins Trust
Helpline on 0808 802 1221
(free to callers from UK
landlines and most mobile
networks and won’t appear on
phone bills).
You can also find out more
information at the following
websites:
www.hivaware.org.uk/
www.gmfa.org.uk
www.tht.org.uk
WITH THANKS TO NAT FOR ASSISTANCE WITH THIS FEATURE - WWW.NAT.ORG.UK/
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FITNESS
My body
Morné Coetzer
Sales Executive
WHEN DID YOU START
Q WORKING OUT?
I came to London from South
Africa as a very scrawny, almost
skeletal 18-year-old (I’m now 29).
I always admired people with
great physiques so I decided to
start working out when I was
about 20. At the time, I had no
idea what I was doing, so typically,
I trained just my top half for ages,
mainly chest and abs. It was only a
few years later that I decided to
start training the other parts, like
legs, to catch up with the rest of
me. My tip would be: don’t make
the same mistake, as legs are
typically really hard to develop,
but the rest of your body will
benefit massively when you train
them so don’t be lazy!
WHAT’S YOUR TYPICAL GYM
Q ROUTINE?
As I’ve aged I’ve become more
serious about training, so at the
moment I train six days out of
seven. Due to having a very
demanding job that doesn’t have
anything to do with fitness,
scheduling my training can be
tricky. I normally go to the gym
straight after work. A typical week
would be as follows:
Monday – Chest, five exercises,
followed by 30 minutes of interval
training
Tuesday – Legs, five exercises,
followed by abs
Wednesday – Back, five exercises,
followed by 30 minutes of interval
training
Thursday – Arms, three bicep and
three tricep exercises, followed by
30 minutes of interval training
Friday – Shoulders, five exercises,
calves, three exercises
Saturday - Legs, five exercises,
followed by abs
Sunday - Rest
WHAT SORT OF WEIGHTS DO
Q YOU LIFT NOW?
It changes, depending on what I’d
like to achieve. For example, in
January, I started to increase the
weights I used so that I fail
around 6-8 reps – about 320kg on
leg press. This is for bulking, and I
did this for two months until I
gained my target wait of 90kg.
Now I’m doing less weight and
about 10-12 reps per exercise. This
will tone the muscles and reduce
body fat if combined with regular
cardiovascular exercise.
DO YOU TAKE ANY
Q NUTRITIONAL
SUPPLEMENTS?
I take 2-3 protein shakes a day. I
take one with carb content in the
morning, and later in the day I
would take pure protein without
carbohydrate directly after
working out, and sometimes just
before bedtime.
I have also recently started taking
amino acids and a pre-workout
energy drink called N.O. Explode
from BSN. I absolutely love it! You
take it 30 to 45 minutes before
your workout and it gives you a
real boost!
DO YOU HAVE ANY
Q PERSONAL WORKOUT
ADVICE OR TIPS?
Results achieved are 50% from
training, and 50% from your diet
and supplements. You can train
hard but achieve very little if
you’re not putting the right fuel in
your body. Although supplements
are beneficial, it’s good oldfashioned
food sources that are
crucial to getting the most from
your training. Try and eat complex
carbohydrates where possible
(sweet potato, wholegrain rice,
green vegetables), lots of protein
(lean meat, eggs, Tofu), lots of
fruit and vegetables and lots of
water to keep hydrated.
Be strict with yourself, but also
allow for a cheat day in the week
where you can eat whatever you
feel like – a personal favourite is a
huge beef burger with blue
cheese, chips with ketchup and an
Oreo cookie milk shake. Yum!
PHOTO © WWW.THEIRISHWOLF.COM
GET A BODY
LIKE MORNÉ
1. Interval training is
a type of physical
training that typically
involves bursts of
high-intensity work
interspersed with
periods of lowintensity
work. The
high-intensity
periods are typically
at or close to
anaerobic exercise,
while the recovery
periods may involve
either complete rest
or activity of lower
intensity.
2. Do research into
nutrition. If you want
to seriously start
training, you may
well have to change
your diet quite
radically to maximize
results. Cut down on
carbohydrates
(particularly late in
the day) and increase
your protein.
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