ScotsGay Issue 86 - ScotsGay Magazine

IT’S OFFICIAL
We’re proud to say that the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index 2009 ranks:
SPECTRUM
The
“This is a tremendous achievement, not only for the network
representatives who have worked so hard to make this possible, but
the Department.”
Introducing our Scotland representative:-
Stephanie Aitken represents SPECTRUM in Scotland, and Scotland in
SPECTRUM. She’s also our representative for lesbian issues.
everything they can be, and she wants her department to be the top employer for LGBT
staff in the country.
Stephanie is currently working hard on a series of presentations and displays for LGBT History Month
in February, as one of many initiatives she has planned to raise awareness of issues that affect LGBT
staff at work. Stephanie hopes to represent SPECTRUM at pride events across Scotland in 2009, and
she looks forward to seeing you there.
Stephanie says
LGBT friendly, but people like me are working hard to make sure that isn’t the case. We know that
there are local and national lobby groups and organisations that may have views on our policies and
how they are implemented, and we want their voices to be heard as well. We are keen to work with
our policy owners and with stakeholders to have that happen.”
Stephanie can be contacted at
or phone us on 020 7035 4480
dùn eideann
EDINBURGH
Rumours have abounded for years that
popular venue Club eGo/Luna was
going to close. And finally it has
happened! It’s been a hectic time for club
promoters, who were given virtually no
warning before the club was pulled out from
under their feet. But in true professional
style, this has not daunted the promoters of
clubs such as Vibe, Fever and Taste who
have already secured themselves new
premises!
Vibe will now settle into GHQ every
Tuesday night, and Mr Longworth assures
that the move promises better things all
round for regulars. Better drinks promos,
better cabaret, more freebies, more dancers
and more surprises! And with a topless
barman being the first of these surprises
and treats to come over the following weeks,
James promises further expansion plans to
come. I wonder if that will include a topless
barmaid! In keeping with the change, Vibe
has re-branded and is now called Vibe ng
(new generation).
Gordon of Taste and Fever fame has
also promptly whipped into action, and
established new homes for both club nights.
The Final Fever @ Luna party was due to go
ahead on Saturday 7th February, but due to
the premature closure this night will now go
ahead as a free party at The Street instead.
Quick thinking! Join DJs Kaupuss and Price
there! And from then on, Fever will be held
on the 3rd Saturday of every month at Faith
in The Cowgate. What a fantastic venue! The
first Fever kicks off at Faith on Saturday
21st March.
Taste will now relocate to The GRV in
Guthrie Street, on the 1st Sunday of every
month. First date is to be Sunday 1st March.
Quick thinking from all our club promoters –
ensuring we don’t have to suffer withdrawal
effects from our favourite nights!
For all of you who have put off cleaning
out the back of your wardrobe, here’s the
very thing – the first ever official LGBT
Swap Shop! Being held at Deep Blue, the
Blue Moon’s basement bar, this event is an
ideal opportunity to bring along unwanted
xmas presents, wrong-gendered gifts and all
those old clothes you’ve been
procrastinating about getting rid of. Take
them along to Deep Blue on Saturday 31st
Jan from 1-4pm, and you can walk away
with someone else’s unwanted items –
which may just be what you’ve always been
looking for! With free buffet and
entertainment, this is an ideal opportunity to
renew your closet without the expense and
hassle of trudging round the shops!! And
you can do it with a drink in your hand…. It
doesn’t get much better now!
Jodie
Fleming
jodie@scotsgay.co.uk
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E-mail: news
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Starting the month off in style is
Poptastic, that UK-wide phenomenon of
queer alternative clubbing which is brought
to GHQ on the first Friday of every month.
That’s Friday 6th February and Friday 6th
March, for the forthcoming months.
Featuring Phil Bakstad in Room 1 with Indie
and electro, and Paul McAvoy in Room 2
with Retropop and Trash, doors open at
9pm.
Starting Valentine’s weekend off in
style is Love Furburger, being held on
spooky-for-some Friday 13th February. This
lesbian-only love fest will commence at
11pm at GHQ, with the pre-club at Planet
where free guest passes are available.
The lovin’ continues on Saturday 14th
February, with the bi-annual LGL
Switchboard Ball – this time aptly themed
‘Cupid’s Ball’. Tickets are available in
advance at www.lgls.co.uk (0131-473
2000), although a limited supply will be
available at the door. This is the ultimate
dress-up occasion, where fancy dress, kilts,
formal and smart casual are most
appreciated – so get lookin’ impressive and
head to the Assembly Rooms, where DJ
Michelle and the Lismore Ceilidh Band will
entertain you.
Café Habana are hosting another of
their fabulous fundraisers combining
Valentine’s Day celebrations with LGBT
History Month, on Sunday 15th February.
Kick off is 5pm, when they promise fun and
frolics together with a bumper raffle with
prizes galore, karaoke, DJ requests, guest
cabaret and drinks promos – not to mention
the usual Habana party spirit which we’ve all
come to expect and love. Funds raised will
go to LGBT Youth Scotland.
If you’re feeling intellectual toward the
end of the month, get yourself to the all new
World Famous Regent Bar Quiz. Being held
on Tuesday 24th February (and every last
Tuesday of the month thereafter), there are
top prizes for the winning team and free
nibbles for every quiz contestant. Come
down and support the launch of the first
ever regular quiz night at The Regent, and
relax on the sofas with a drink as you put
your general knowledge to the test!!
A brand spanking new night hit the
scene last month, called Electrosexual. It’s
being held at CC Blooms on the last Sunday
of the month – forthcoming dates being
Sunday 22nd February and Sunday 29th
March. CC Blooms is usually famous for its
pure cheese policy, but things are about to
get down right filthy with DJ Lucky Luciano!
He will be spinning out the best electro this
side of London, drawing inspiration from the
underground scene with a mix of
unashamedly dirty bootlegs and cheeky
electro beats. Each month will feature a
specific theme, like the ‘Glo Sticks’ party in
February – how very old skool! And of
course CC’s alternative club, Deviation,
continues to be held on the 3rd Thursday of
the month – growing in popularity as they
feature the best of rock, metal and
alternative. Future dates for Deviation are
Thursday 19th February and Thursday 19th
March. Pre-club at Planet Out.
Now for all the ladies who took
advantage of Pink Links’ Speed Dating for
Women extraordinaire last year, the fantastic
news is that it’s back with a vengeance!!
Why waste time chatting to incompatible
prospective partners? Ditch the pleasantries
and bag the babe of your dreams with this
fab new monthly speed dating night! It’s
being held at Deep Blue, which offers the
perfect subterranean secluded space and
kicks off on Friday 6th March. It will be held
monthly thereafter, on the first Friday of the
month. The event will be hosted by dating
hostess Ms Liz. If you want to meet women
in a safe space, this is the perfect way to do
so. The bar will also be open all night for
those who stay on afterwards. Entrance is
£5, which includes free guest passes and
bubbly at GHQ, plus a few surprises!.
Everything’s changing at Planet of late,
and for the better we must add! They’re now
open every day from 1pm-1am, which
makes it the perfect place to go if you fancy
a liquid lunch over a game of pool. Prices
have crashed as Planet launched their
credit-crunch anti-dote, a massive price
crash that features off-peak drinks from £1
and on-peak drinks from £1.50! It’s been
confirmed that they will be showing all Six
Nations Rugby fixtures on their huge screen
throughout February, and they are also
planning a monthly killer-pool competition.
Every Thursday, they will feature Freddie’s
Karaoke and Carry on Camping prize draw,
from 9pm onwards.
Just a reminder that Playgirl Mansions
is going strong at Lulu on George Street,
every Sunday from 10pm. With free entry
before 11pm and fantastic drinks promos,
this is a night of sophisticated elegance that
doesn’t come at a price! Featuring DJ Trendy
Wendy and guests, this is the ultimate in
laidback lounging and guilty pleasures as
they entertain with their cutting edge,
electric discos and classic house.
The LGBT Centre for Health and
Wellbeing are offering a plethora of exciting
new activities to get involved in. On Friday
13th February (6.30-9pm) the Centre is
hosting an LGBT History Film Night. They
shall feature two short films, one about gay
men in the Highlands and a second about
older gay men. Following discussion, they
will then show ‘Celluloid Closet’ - a
documentary about Hollywood’s portrayal of
the LGBT community. With buckets of
popcorn available, this is an evening not to
be missed! Alongside the Film Evening,
they are also putting together a ‘Tales of the
City’ map. They are aiming to collate as
much information from the local LGBT
community as possible. Where did you go
to your first gay event? Where have you
lived in Edinburgh? Where did you have
your first kiss? You can visit the Centre to
add your thoughts, or E-mail them to
james@lgbthealth.org.uk.
Also available at the Centre on Sunday
22nd February (1-5pm) is the Sunday
Session. During this very relaxed Sunday
afternoon, you can try your hand at painting.
This will also be the preview for the fantastic
Arts Festival arriving at the Centre in March.
The Centre are also offering a variety of
courses, such as Poetry Writing, Badminton
and Rock Climbing. E-mail
admin@lgbthealth.org.uk for more info.
And if after all that, you feel like doing
something good for your soul, why not join
the team of volunteers at LGBT Youth
Scotland? They are currently recruiting for
Events, Youth and Outreach workers in the
Edinburgh, Glasgow and Tayside areas. For
more info, please contact 0131-622 2266 or
E-mail info@lgbtyouth.org.uk.