01_2014

THE MONSTER

AND ME

A MALE RAPE

VICTIM

SPEAKS OUT

NEWS

ROUNDUP

WHY 2013

WAS A

HISTORIC

GAY YEAR

SAM

CALLAHAN

JANUARY 2014 THE ORIGINAL GAY MAGAZINE

What should

Tom Daley

do next?*

*A Gay Times cover, obviously

HE’S GOT THE

SEX

FACTOR!

The

men you

shouldn’t

_date!

30

YEARS OF GAYTIMES

HE’S BEHIND

YOU!

Panto fun with

Gok Wan

ROCK

ROYALTY

Rufus

Wainwright

THE GAY

BEATLE

Brian

Epstein

SOBER!

The gay men

who party

without booze

Editor DARREN SCOTT Assistant Editor LEE DALLOWAY Editorial Assistant RYAN BUTCHER Design & Art Direction MARK KING

Style and Grooming Editor LLOYD-SCOTT TYLER Columnists BENJAMIN COHEN, THE GUYLINER,

EDD KIMBER, PARIS LEES, ALAN ROSENTHAL, PAUL THORN, MICHELLE VISAGE, MIKEY WALSH

Contributors JOHN MARRS, MATT PEAKE, LUKE

SMITH, TIM MITCHELL, MIKE HIRD, MILO WAKELIN, BENJAMIN BUTTERWORTH, BOB HENDERSON, TOM JONES, JOE MCCORMICK, LIAM LESLIE, DARCY RIVE, EDWARD DYSON, PAUL TIERNEY, ROBERT GERSHINSON, GREG BAILEY, DARCY RIVE, NICHOLAS CHARLES, CALUM COCHRANE, JACK REAR, NATHAN GENESE, TOMMY HIBBITTS

GT Dog TOBY THE PUG

Thanks to SARA LEE and BEN DUNCAN (Hackford

Jones), NIGEL STONEMAN (Simon and Schuster), FRED MELLOR (MBC), DAN DEACON (Deacon Communications), CHRISTINE BATEMAN (Purple Carrot Communications), GREG BAILEY (Greg Bailey Photography), BEN WOOLDRIDGE (Birmingham Hippodrome), RUTH MOLONEY (Amanda Malpass PR), DANIEL PURSEY, EMMA BERGE and SHARON MCHENDRY (Mobius Industries), PETER LEONE (Arthur Leone PR), MATT HORWOOD (Visit Manchester)

Production & Distribution Manager

ALEXANDER SMITH

Marketing & Advertising Designer LUKE BENJAMIN IT & Digital Management FERNANDO SAFONT Magazine Marketing Executive LLOYD PHILLIPS Management Accountant ARNAUD SEGUIN GT Advertising Sales KEITH MCDONNELL

020 7424 7406 [email protected]

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Postal address GT, Spectrum House, Unit M,

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© 2014 GAY TIMES All rights reserved ISSN: 0950-6101

The mention or appearance or likeness of any person or organisation in articles or advertising in GAY TIMES is not to be taken as any indication of the sexual, VRFLDO RU SROLWLFDO RULHQWDWLRQ RI VXFK SHUVRQV RU RUJDQLVDWLRQV ´$QG WKDW·V RXU politics.” No responsibility can be assumed for any unsolicited materials, and submission is construed as permission to publish without further correspondence and the fee payable (if any) at our usual rates. Advertisers are advised that all copy is their sole responsibility under the Trades Protections Act and must comply with the British Code of Advertising Practice. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior written permission of the publishers.

happy new year

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GT428

JAN 2014

Happy New Year! Well, at least that’s what most people will be proclaiming. And look! Look to the left! Even we’re at it, in our new format for our 30th anniversary. But it’s not really a happy New Year, is it? Well, not for the people of India and Australia perhaps. As we went to press we heard that equal rights laws in both countries had been revoked. Horrible, horrible news. The black cloud that is the Winter Olympics in Russia rumbles ever closer, with a ray of sunshine trying to break through from the UK – yes, the long-awaited same-sex marriages come into effect (well, for England and Wales at least) from 29 March 2014. So while it’s not all doom and gloom, there’s still more that needs to be done, more that people need to know. With that in mind, and with 2014 being our anniversary year, we’ve upped our news agenda somewhat. Not just a homage to the publication we were before the internet changed everything (and indeed the magazine we originally began as, HIM, in 1974 – technically making us 40 and the longest-running gay magazine in print), but because the time is obviously right. I hope you enjoy the slight changes we’ve made. New year, new GT. Thin ankles, sweetie. But don’t worry about the eye candy that you love so much – it’s not going anywhere, as our special print subscriber covers show. Oh and next issue! Next issue... Q Darren Scott @darren_scott

Cover photograph by Joe McCormick Grooming by Evan Huang

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

fi rst

06 Fitty at the Front 10 Denise Van Outen 14 Mikey Walsh 16 TV preview 18+H·VEHKLQG\RX 22 Jinkx Monsoon 23 Michelle Visage 266ZHHWLHGDUOLQJ"

news

28 2013 News Review 33 Benjamin Cohen 34 30 Things 36 Heroes 40 News Analysis 42 News Debate 44 Paris Lees

features

46 Sam Callahan 58 Rufus Wainwright 64 Ballet Boys

style

70 Grooming

72 Orange – The new black 74 Get formal 76 Home style

entertainment

80 Music 82 Bleona 90 Screen 94 Tech

real life

975HDGHUV/LYHV 987KH0RQVWHUDQG0H 102 Relationships 106 Sober 110 Alan Rosenthal 111(GG.LPEHU 112 Fitness 115 HIV

travel

119 Letter from... 120,FHODQG 124 Manchester

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6



Lofty ambitions If there’s one thing we like

more than tasteful nudity, it’s limited edition

tasteful nudity – which means we have to own

one of only 100 specially produced books by

Dylan Rosser. Loft is so exclusive that it will

never be reprinted and only a mere handful

of the incredible images housed within will be

shown elsewhere. Like this one here, especially

for you faithful reader.

QLoft is £250, dylanrosser.com

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7

Sam Smith

is never off the stereo here

at GT Towers. And now he’s scooped the

prestigious Critic’s Choice Brit Award,

previously won by the likes of Adele and

Jessie J. Big shoes to fill, but Mr Smith

can more than vocally hold his own next

to those two power-voiced divas. After

topping the chart with Naughty Boy on the

infectious La La La, we don’t reckon there’s

any danger of him hitting a bum note.

Q

quiche

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SHE’S BACK!

…and she’s totally quiche. Our favourite Chris Lilley character EVER gets her own series on BBC Three this year, Ja’mie: Private School Girl.

As ever, Lilley’s gone completely over the top and we can’t get enough. We, like, totally want to be a member of The Prefects at Hilford. We’re totally quiche too. Q

-D·PLH3ULYDWH6FKRRO*LUOLVRQ%%& 7KUHHWKLVVSULQJ

gaytimes.co.uk 8



We LOVE Denise Van

Outen! So when we

heard that she’s about

to embark on a UK tour

with her new one-woman

show, Some Girl I Used

To Know, we had to

pin her down (oo-er)

for a chinwag

WORDS LEE DALLOWAY IMAGE DAVID VENI

Where did the idea for Some Girl come from? Well, I remember watching Shirley Valentine as a kid ²WKHUHKDGQ·WEHHQDQ\WKLQJOLNHLW DSDUWIURP$OÀHZKHUHDFWRUVVSHDN to the camera and the audience becomes a friend. I liked the style of it. I liked how it reached out to a female audience and the message behind it. At that time there were a lot of women in marriages they ZHUHQ·WKDSS\LQWKHGRZQWURGGHQ ZRPHQ,UHPHPEHUP\PXP·V IULHQGVEHLQJOLNH´,·PJRQQDJR to Greece and have an affair with

some waiter.” Then I did Tell Me on a 6XQGD\ZKLFKZDVDZRPDQÀQGLQJ herself in her mid-twenties, going through heartbreak and coming out the other side. The feedback was similar and there were women at the time who were, like I was, really moved by that. I liked that and WULHGWRÀQGDQRWKHUUROHWKDWZRXOG replicate that feeling and power. I kinda just felt someone needed to voice the women of this generation. Is it a show us gayers will be able to relate to as well? I always said LW·OOEHIRUJD\VDQGJLUOV²WKDW·VWKH audience. I like the same things as gay men... we all like a big cock [laughs]. I love a game of hide the sausage!

What can we expect from the show? Lots of funny moments of what it was like growing up in the 80s and 90s. My character talks about JRLQJWR,EL]DDQGWKDWHFVWDV\HUD WKDW·VNLQGRIP\JURZLQJXSDQGWKH area I feel I know most about. Do you still love a good party?

,·PVWLOOVWXSLGDQG\RXQJ,W·VUHDOO\ weird that my best friend, who I use to go out partying with, sort of stays in now and I go out with her daughter >ODXJKV@,GRQ·WJRRXWWKDWRIWHQ DQ\PRUH²,FDQ·W,·PDPXP%XW, WRRNP\PDWH·VGDXJKWHUWR,EL]DWKLV year and I stayed up with the kids. 7KHSOD\FRYHUVWKHVDQGWKDW·V when you entered the spotlight. You were quite young, was it a lot of pressure? ,·PUHDOO\JODG,VWDUWHG in television in the 90s because there was less pressure. I would hate to be young now and going out LQWKHSXEOLFH\H<RXGLGQ·WKDYH all these magazines, these camera phones, you could go out. If you had camera phones when I was RQ%LJ%UHDNIDVW,SUREDEO\ZRXOG have lost my job, the things we were getting up to [laughs]. I was talking ZLWK-XOLDQ&ODU\DERXWWKLV¶FRVZH did a show called Prickly Heat in Majorca together, and we were going out and getting drunk, being stupid. <RXZRXOGQ·WEHDEOHWRGRWKDWQRZ someone would be taking pictures of you in a bar.

<RX·YHGRQHSUHVHQWLQJWKHDWUH television, charity work – what would you like to do next? Do you NQRZZKDW,·YHWLFNHGDOOWKHER[HV QRZEHFDXVH,·YHDOZD\VGRQH PXVLFDOVEXW,·YHQHYHUGRQHDSOD\ ,·GORYHWRGRDVLWFRP,GLG%DEHVLQ the Wood, which bombed. The critics just panned it. Unfortunately, because ,·GEHHQRQWKH%LJ%UHDNIDVWWKH\ MXVWGLGQ·WZDQWWRJLYHLWDFKDQFH ´%HFDXVHVKH·VDSUHVHQWHUVRZH·OO MXVWVD\VKH·VVKLWDQGFDQ·WDFWDQG OHWVMXVWVD\LW·VVKLWDQGQRWIXQQ\µ And, actually, some of it was funny. %XW,ZRXOGUHDOO\OLNHWRGRDVRUWRI %LUGVRID)HDWKHUW\SHWKLQJ Babes in the Wood could be one of those cult things in a few years... ,GRQ·WNQRZKRZ\RX·GJHW your hands on it. I think its been EXUQWKDVQ·WLW">/DXJKV@Q

Some Girl I Used To Know tours the UK from 29 January until 19 March, somegirlIusedtoknow.com, @denise_vanouten

inside Outen

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One for all and all for one Oh, diet be blowed, why settle for one when you

could have four? Yes, that’s four hot, hairy men in leather, with swords. That’s

your Sunday nights in January sorted. Luke Pasqualino (Skins) leads the cast

as D’Artagnan in this new BBC version of Alexandre Dumas’ classic. Oh, and

some guy called Peter Capaldi plays the villain.

QThe Musketeers is on BBC One.

hot tv

SPEED

DATE

Until 3 March Isabella Blow is known for discovering the talents of Alexander McQueen and Philip Treacy, and now Somerset House are showcasing the fabulous clothes of one of the worlds ÀHUFHVWHGLWRUV VRPHUVHWKRXVHRUJ uk/blow Q Until 4 January Jumpers for Goalposts is an adorable, heart-warming comedy about football, IULHQGVKLSÀQGLQJ your way and JURZLQJXSJD\ 7KHUH·VVWLOOWLPHWR catch it at the Bush Theatre in London XQWLO-DQXDU\ EXVKWKHDWUHFRXNQ 25 January /RYHÀOPV"/RYH VRXQGWUDFNV"/RYH gay choirs singing the soundtracks RIÀOPV"7KHQ this is your lucky day! Get down to Cadogan Hall in London the for an evening of A Night at the Movies with 7KH3LQN6LQJHUV FDGRJDQKDOOFRPQ 26 January :LWKWKHÀUVWJD\ marriages taking place on 29 March LW·VWLPH to start planning your big day! To help you out, The Big Gay Wedding Show comes WR0DQFKHVWHU HYHQWVVKRSFRXN the-big-gay-wedding-show Q 6-15 February As part of LGBT History Month, Queer Contact presents a festival of events featuring the best performance, music, spoken word, and theatre from emerging artists all over the ZRUOGFRQWDFWPFU com Q

Here’s to you Mr Robertson

Who said being JD\GRHVQ·WKDYH LWVEHQHÀWV" For GT readers, 0U5REHUWVRQ·V tailor-made suits DUHJLYLQJDQ H[FOXVLYH discount, simply E\HQWHULQJ*7 at the online checkout. You can customise HYHU\WKLQJIURP WKHIDEULFVW\OHÀW and buttons, right down to the lining DQGHYHQDGGD monogram text to your garment. <RX·YHJRWXQWLO 31 January to bring out your inner dapper, gentlemen. Get going! Mr-Robertson.co.uk

We get a Kick out of François Former porn star turned t-shirt designer and all-round tattoed-headed hotness, François Sagat, strips off again for his 2014 Kick Sagat calendar. Expect bulging muscles, come-to-bed eyes and some stunning shots that just ooze masculinity. QNLFNVDJDWELJFDUWHOFRP

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13 JD\WLPHVFRXN

And so it happened that a right-wing newspaper started to make people believe Gypsies really do steal your children. Of course, it all turned out to be a load of rubbish, but that’s not really the point. Mud sticks regardless, as we all know. And now the Gypsy culture has yet another negative stereotype to add to the bag.

I’m said time and time again how very proud I am to be a Gypsy man. But the truth is, I learned long ago not to get too involved publicly when defending my culture. Especially on social media. No matter what I said, I would always end up getting bitten in some way; not just by those who believe such rubbish, but also by the very culture I try to stick up for.

This is because sadly, the toughest Gypsy voices are still way behind when it comes to the reality of LGBT people within their own race.

To put it very bluntly, to be a gay Gypsy is akin to being a witch that needs burning immediately. Many of those voices believe my presence makes them look bad.

After I wrote my first book, I choked on my tea as a Gypsy guy on telly said there was no such thing as gay people in our culture, and that I couldn’t have been a real person. I’d never felt so hurt, as though I’d been punched in the gut just hearing those words come out from his righteous mouth. Sadder still, this person knew me as a little boy, and even with full knowledge of who I was, like so many others, he didn’t want society to believe my culture could consist of such things as gay people. Just as he’d hate outsiders to believe there were thieves or murderers.

(My family have been ALL of the above… but that’s another story… A very ‘peasant dynasty’ type story.)

We all know that a culture, race or religion cannot protect from the fate of who you are. But try telling that to an old-school Gypsy man.

After days of licking my wounds, I thought of all I’d had to do to be who I am today.

I love what I am. I adore being part of a race that survived and prospered, despite horrible years of Holocaust and hatred. But

prejudice has excluded us even more from society, and many of our peoples’ views have become warped and of ‘another time’.

The world is changing, but a huge majority of the Gypsy culture still has the same views as people during the war (the OLDEST ONE). And they’re not about to change, unless dragged kicking and screaming.

There was only one option for me. When I was 15-years-old, I ran away. Not because I wanted to, but because I had to.

And now, after years of being back in contact with my family, it has been made clear that I can never go home again. Not because my parents aren’t proud of me, but because they don’t want me to face prejudice from others who still fear the word ‘gay’ like it’s some kind of poltergeist.

I learned the hard way that I can’t fight for my culture. Not in this time anyway. But I can be a Gypsy man that has survived the journey and who is proud of what he is.

I’m humbled, but saddened, when I hear from people who’re going through what I did and are feeling so alone. I hate that bigotry is still so rife. But after years of being well shot of such ideals, and living in a city, I take for granted how easy I have it these days.

I get messages from so many gay people, who’ve found themselves falling into self-hatred, all because their tradition, culture, race or religion tells them that they’re evil.

I may still get shit from bigots with small minds, but I know my place. And I know that trying to make an arsehole respect me is as pointless as trying to bring back the shell suit.

Things ARE changing, and these old ideals and the people that stand by them WILL die out. But in the meantime, there’ll always be people that are living proof that you’re not alone. Q

Gypsy

voices are

still way

behind

when it

comes to

the reality

of LGBT

people

within

their own

race. To

put it very

bluntly, to

be a gay

Gypsy is

akin to

being a

witch that

needs

burning

THE CONTINUING

ADVENTURES

OF GYPSY BOY

@thatbloodymikey

column

[

mikey walsh

]

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gogglebox

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LOOKING SKY ATLANTIC

GAY MEN IN SAN FRANCISCO - GUEST STARS RUSSELL TOVEY BENIDORMCAMP ALERT – JOAN COLLINS AND THE KRANKIES ITV1

SPLASH ITV1

OBVIOUSLY.

DANCING ON ICE ITV1

LYCRA, BULGES AND BONNIE LANGFORD.

BIRDS OF A FEATHER ITV1

THE BIRDS ARE BACK IN A BRAND NEW SERIES!

SHERLOCK BBC ONE

TWO WORDS: SHERLOCK LIVES.

THE VOICE BBC ONE

CAN KYLIE SAVE THE VOICE?

BLUESTONE 42 BBC THREE

MATTHEW LEWIS JOINS THE CAST FOR SERIES TWO. OOF.

FLEMING SKY ATLANTIC

DOMINIC COOPER STARS AS BOND CREATOR IAN FLEMING

GTV

PRE

VIEW

S

OMG it’s Men’s Fashion Week! Ugh, you’re not excited about that, are you? What’s not to be excited about? Multiple outfi t changes, sexy men in suits, parties, after parties, after after parties, fashion victims galore... You really shouldn’t be excited about a capitalist industry that endorses unattainable standards of physical and superfi cial beauty. …but there’re men in pants. Yes, but the fashion industry judges people by who they wear and not who they are, while encouraging overspending and debt on sartorial ‘must haves’ that last no longer than a couple of months. ... but there’re models in their underwear. And champagne. Don’t forget the champagne. Fashion is an industry built on the sweaty brows of earnest workers who receive no payment for their relentless slavery. Yes, but did I mention the male models with six pack abs who wear nothing but teeny tiny briefs while wiggling up and down the catwalk. Also, vogue, vogue, poppers, vogue! …yes. *narrows eyes, walks off* Q

[trendsetter ]

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IMAGES C R AIG G R EE N S S1 4 B AC KS TAG E / D AN S IM S / B FC gaytimes.co.uk



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SHE’S

BEHIND

YOU!

IS THIS THE GAYEST PANTO?

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19

“Listen, panto is a very serious game, make no bones about it,” says John Partridge, who we’ve just seen perform an energetic and thoroughly modern street dance as Prince Charming. As you do. Yes, we’re talking panto.

Witnessing the rehearsals of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was the most ridiculously camp thing we’ve done in donkeys. And that’s saying something. Gaily we minced down to the Jerwood Space studios in Sarf London to watch Gok Wan, John Partridge and the legend that is Stephanie Beacham *bows down* get into character for their upcoming pantomime. The Birmingham Hippodrome production of Snow White is camper than sitting on Christopher Biggins while chatting to Joan Collins, carrying a rat dog in a clutch purse and drinking cocktails from a martini glass. The moment seven gorgeous men all came shuffling towards us on their knees (calm down, they play the dwarfs) we knew the direction this article was going in.

Cast aside your preconceptions of cheap and tacky entertainment in a drafty village hall – 21st century panto is serious, money-spinning business, featuring classically trained actors and contemporary twists on the traditional “man in a garish dress, woman as a young lad” formula. Yes, ever since Sir Ian McKellen strapped on Widow Twankey’s retina-searing frock, luvvies have been flocking to appear in slick, high-concept, big-budget productions all over the UK.

“We might look like we’re all codding about and taking the piss, but we’re not,” John tells us. “It’s 12 shows a week. If you didn’t have seasoned professionals who know how to look after themselves and handle that, you wouldn’t make it through a six week run. There’s no understudies, so if you’re off sick, then you’re in shit, basically.”

No pressure, then, for Gok Wan,

who’s making his panto debut with this production. He’s even being followed around by a camera crew to document every last drop of nervous perspiration. But he seems to be taking it all in his somewhat tired stride.

“I’m exhausted. I’ve never been this shattered in my life, but it’s incredible the amount of stuff I’m learning every day. I’ve got a solo song and a dance to do, and at the moment that’s preoccupying all of my fear. It’s all the stuff you might be slightly embarrassed about doing in three minutes on stage in front of thousands, so it’s quite a big deal.”

Thankfully, Gok is pleased with the fashion choices for the panto, which must be a big relief for the production’s costume department.

“The costume designer Ron Briggs is a genius! I’ve worked in fashion for years and years and all of a sudden I’ve realised that, outside of my world, there is this absolute raw talent of people brimming in their artistry, in their detailing. When you look at the mechanical costumes, like the dwarves, it’s mind-blowing.”

Both John and Gok are literally foaming at the queer teat working with classically trained and camp-as-yer-nan actress Stephanie Beacham – who absolutely sizzles as the Wicked Queen, relishing every withering glance and sassy put down. Fellow star Paul Zerdin is also a master of puppetry and his near-the-knuckle humour, via his cheeky puppet Sam, is probably the funniest part of the show.

If you’re thinking panto isn’t for you, maybe these wise words of Stephanie’s will help change your mind. When asked what she would say to people who are sniffy about panto, she quipped: “Well, darling… tell them to come sniff out ours!” Q

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs runs at the Birmingham Hippodrome until 2 Feb. birminghamhippodrome.com, @ therealgokwan, @mustbejp, @paulzerdin, @brumhippodrome

SOCKS

APPEAL

This should seriously brighten any winter blues! Swedish label Happy Socks gave world-renowned photographer David LaChapelle creative carte blanche to do whatever he wanted for their latest campaign. We can safely say that socks haven’t been this exciting since the Lamb Chop puppet entertained us during our childhood! Q

happysocks.com

Just cruising Gay, African-American photographer

Alvin Baltrop was a former US Navy sailor and

self-taught snapper. He dedicated his life to documenting

the pre-AIDS gay-cruising culture on Manhattan’s

abandoned shipping piers during the mid-70s and

80s. His work will receive its UK premiere at Open

Eye Gallery in Liverpool, alongside fellow pierside

photographer, Gordon Matta-Clark. The images

provide a remarkable document of a turning point

in the sexual revolution of that period, and the

decaying architecture and landscape of a Manhattan

that no longer exists.

QUntil 9 February, openeye.org.uk

photography

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Treatment can

stop HIV being

passed on.

But

thousands have HIV

and don’t know it.

Together testing, treatment and condoms can help stop HIV.

Order your free postal HIV test or fi nd where to test:

gaytimes.co.uk 22



What was your experience like RQ5X3DXO·V'UDJ5DFH"It was a surreal and profound one. It changed me by not only exposing me to a worldwide audience, but DOVRE\OLJKWLQJDÀUHXQGHUPHWR take my drag to the next level! How were the early days of your FDUHHU"They were spent in gay dance clubs learning about drag and the Club Kid scene. Then, right before 5X3DXO·V'UDJ5DFH,ZDVPDQDJLQJ my time working as an actor, a cabaret performer and show host... and a MDQLWRU%XW,·YHDOZD\VGUHDPHGRI supporting myself fully as an artist. <RX·YHPHQWLRQHGLQLQWHUYLHZV WKDWWKHKDUGHVWSDUWRIDSSHDULQJ RQ'UDJ5DFHZDVQRWVHHLQJ\RXU IULHQGVDQGIDPLO\+RZGR\RXÀQG WKDWZRUNOLIHEDODQFH"I prioritise my downtime to make sure I get to VHHWKRVHZKR·UHPRVWLPSRUWDQWWR me as much as possible. Some of my best friends are my collaborators and fellow artists, so I try to generate as much work with them so that my work time can feel like my downtime. And ,·POXFN\WRKDYHP\EHVWIULHQGDVP\ tour manager and assistant.

7KHUHZDVSOHQW\RIGUDPDRQ 'UDJ5DFHGXULQJ\RXUVHDVRQ HVSHFLDOO\EHWZHHQ\RXDQG&RFR +RZGLG\RXGHDOZLWKWKDW"I handled it by staying focused on the challenges, because our work is all the judges get to see. They GRQ·WFDUHDERXWWKHGUDPDJRLQJ on between the girls, just the work \RX·UHSURGXFLQJ,WULHGWRVWD\ focused to make sure my work was always top notch. I stay in contact with almost all of the girls in one form or another, and have really strong friendships with Ivy, Roxxxy, $ODVND'HWR[+RQH\SUHWW\PXFK everyone... including Coco!

:KR·UHWKHVW\OHDQGOLIHLFRQVWKDW FDPHWRLQIXVH-LQN["It always starts with my mom. Then I layer in my favorite female actresses, like /XFLOOH%DOO0DUOHQH'LHWULFKDQG %HWWH'DYLV0\IDYRULWHFRPHGLHQQHV like Sarah Silverman and Maria Bamford. Not forgetting style icons

JINKX MONSOON

The sassy winner of

RuPaul’s Drag Race

season 5 is a hard lady

to pin down. With a

career that’s exploded

since the show’s finale,

we managed to grab

some time with the

fabulous and feisty diva

:25'6/(('$//2:$< ,0$*(6*5(*%$,/(<&20

life’s a drag



23 gaytimes.co.uk

Question

Why the gays?

From @justadamw

Answer

WHY NOT? I TXLFNO\LGHQWLÀHG the gays as family when I moved to NYC when I was 17-years-old. This was the community that opened their arms and welcomed me completely. As IUHDN\DQGPLVÀWW\ as I was, they had NOTHING but love and supportive words for me. When I was down, there was ALWAYS a gay standing by to pick me up. When I thought I GLGQ·WKDYHZKDW it took to “make it”? My gay family told me there was QRRQHÀHUFHURU more talented. Throughout my career, beginning with Seduction, there has be NO ONE more loyal to me than my gays. End of. Q

like Little Edie and Bette Midler. If you had to lip sync for your life, which song would you choose and why? One song I know front, back and every which way – and almost every version – is All That Jazz from Chicago. So if any queen ever has to face me in that lip sync, they better bring their A game!

You suffer from narcolepsy. How does it affect you professionally and personally? It affects me more personally than professionally, because once I get into show PRGHWKHUH·VVRPXFKDGUHQDOLQH pumping that my symptoms are decreased considerably. But in my GRZQWLPH,ÀQGWKDWWKHH[KDXVWLRQ and narcolepsy catches up with PHVR,WDNHDORWRIWLPHWRUHOD[ ZKHQHYHU,·PQRWZRUNLQJLQRUGHUWR control the symptoms.

:KDW·VQH[WIRU\RXFDUHHUZLVH and what would be a dream acting role? ,·PWRXULQJZLWKP\RULJLQDO show The Vaudevillians throughout $XVWUDOLDHDUO\QH[W\HDUDQGWKHQ taking it to Provincetown for a full VHDVRQQH[WVXPPHU,·PDOVR ZRUNLQJRQDQGSURGXFLQJP\ÀUVW album, The Inevitable Album, in collaboration with my music partner Major Scales. A dream role for me would be Mrs Lovett from Sweeney 7RGG,W·VP\DOOWLPHIDYRULWHPXVLFDO by Stephen Sondheim.

Who should we be keeping an eye on in the world of drag that we may not know about? I had a wonderful time starting out my career in Seattle with a drag queen named Sylvia 2·6WD\IRUPRUHDQG,DOVRKDYHWZR wonderful friends and drag sisters, Robbie Turner and Ben DeLaCreme. Seattle is full of wonderful queens, and not just us campy comedy queens, but also some gorgeous female impersonators, like my sisters DW/H)DX[$FRXSOHRIP\SHUVRQDO favorites in the shock queen realm are -DFNLH+HOODQG$PRDQLD,·GORYHWR VHHHLWKHURIWKHPRQ5X3DXO·V'UDJ Race someday. Q

-LQN[PRQVRRQFRP#-LQN[0RQVRRQ

[

first

]

Well, hello there my beautiful ones! My, how I have missed you all. Even a month away from you is too long! Mama is finally back in LA after having the most AMAZING time in San Antonio playing Magenta in Rocky Horror. Being back on stage has reallllly rekindled my love of all things musical theatre. I would be LIVING for a role on Broadway, or better yet? West End. Ya hear that Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber? I will sell the SHIT out of your torch songs! A belter I am; hit me up!

Speaking of the most amazing experiences, I’m also back on dry land after the second annual Drag Stars at Sea cruise. OMG I have no words to describe the debauchery that occurred on the high seas. I cannot encourage/beg you all enough to come and join the queens and I on the European 2014 cruise. You will have a ball. Two balls if you’re crafty like me *wink wink*.

‘Tis the season to be jolly and we’re all feeling extremely festive over here in the Haus of Visage. It really

is the most wonderful time of the year for a ho-ho-ho like me. And I’m not just talking about my excitement for the Downton Abbey Christmas Special and, more importantly, the TOWIE Christmas Special. But can you believe we’re almost into 2014? That means a brand new season of RuPaul’s Drag Race in January! I know, with every new season I promise you a bigger and better experience than ever before, but, honestly, have I let you down yet? Of course not. I would never do that to you. Sharpen your acrylics and prepare yourselves for some major drama. If it gets too much you can come rest upon my heaving bosom. I’m good like that.

Until next time my loves, from me and everyone at Haus of Visage, I want to wish you all a fabulous Christmas and a fierce 2014. I hope you get everything your little hearts and loins desire. Come talk to me on Twitter @michellevisage and remember to visit my website

michellevisage.com. XOXO MV Q

some

legendary

balls

[

01/14

]

[

first

]

Balls is a word with multiple meanings, yet Gerard H Gaskin has captured the word at its most

stylish. For this photographer, balls are synonymous with glitz and glamour of the highest

order. His new book, Legendary, collects photographs that document the North American ball

scene – a place where gays, gals and everyone inbetween get together and dress to see and be

seen. Gaskin captures his diverse subjects in motion; dresses twirl, fans wave, booties shake

and crowds cheer. There’s an innate vibrancy and excitement to the pictures that will leave you

desperately searching your wardrobe for what to wear to the ball. A must-have.

Q

gaytimes.co.uk 24



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MAKE THE

Please be upstanding

for a living legend

and national

treasure. She’s best

known as God-fearin’,

gossip-lovin’ Dot

Cotton, but in real life,

June Brown is a lithe,

fashionable figure

of youthful energy,

despite being 86. Yes,

86! She was more

than willing to put

down the wine glass

and ciggie to dip a

slender hand into

GT’s sweetie jar…

but first she insisted

on having a crafty fag

with Rizzle Kicks

who were waiting

for her outside. Yeah,

this was kind of a

weird day…

WORDS LEE DALLOWAY IMAGES LIAM LESLIE

Sweetie,

D

_arling?

Of all the people you’ve worked with on EastEnders, who’s your all time favourite? Oh, Ethel.

Gretchen Franklin. She was very down to earth. I’ll tell you a story: she said to Anna Wing, who played Lou Beale, “I hear we have a rival.” Now, that rival was me. I never think of other actors as rivals, but she made it her business not to act with me to begin with. She would always look elsewhere in scenes. Wendy Richard said to her, “when you and June are on screen, you’re like two bulls.” And Gretchen suddenly realised that I wasn’t, well, useless is a horrid word… but I was of use. After that, she always looked at me.

What other performers do you admire? Meryl Streep. I find her a

fascinating actress. She is always different and her accents are brilliant. I wish I’d got an ear for accents, but I haven’t. I find most of them very difficult to do, dear.

Theatre or television? Theatre.

Because on screen, you can act your socks off but you’re at the mercy of the camera, and the director of course, and perhaps the editor. On the stage, people can choose who they look at and if they find you charismatic or they like what you’re doing, they’ll watch you.

What was the best time in your life? My first thirty years. I loved

the 50s. When you were in your 20s, there was a lot of freedom back in that time. We walked barefoot through London; we weren’t frightened of anything. We didn’t drink, but we talked and we talked, because we didn’t have any of these little boxes [June points to my mobile phone]. You see, you’re ruined! I think in the end people won’t talk to each other. You see girls sitting together in silence on their machines. Are they talking to each other?

Why did it take you so long to come out with an autobiography? It took so long

to write! My editor Carly said, “don’t edit it, just get on with it.” But I can’t do that because I’m a perfectionist. I read in a book the other day, somebody said, “you’re a perfectionist”, and the other man said “what else is there to be?” I’m a perfectionist who’s also a procrastinator. What a combination!

Do you think you’ll ever be a Dame? Oh, no, no, no. There’s a

few Dames who I think are worth it. Eileen Atkins, Maggie Smith, Judi Dench, Helen Mirren, because, you see, they’ve done a lot of wonderful work.

Well, you’re the only actor who’s done a single-hander episode of EastEnders… Oh, that was

absolutely wonderful! I daren’t say it at the time because they’d think I’m conceited, but it was the easiest thing I ever had to do, because there was no bugger mucking me up [laughs].

Is there an actor you’d still like to work with? John Hurt.

There’s another one I love and can’t remember his name... I’m so dreadful at names… Tom Conti! I got a laugh trying to remember names when I got a Soap Award, but I just can’t be bothered thanking everybody, it’s very boring.

What would you most like to see Dot do? I’d like a companion but

I’m a bit tied up with poor old Jim, because he’s still there in the home. I haven’t had a good storyline since they hung that one hander on the fact that he had a stroke. It was his misfortune that was my good fortune, and if I had won a BAFTA, that’s what I would have said.

You really wanted that BAFTA, didn’t you? Yes, I nearly got up

when I didn’t win because the one who won, Anna Macsue-whaddya-call-it, wasn’t there because she’d had a baby. I was, like, “What?” I used to work two days after I had a baby! I probably shouldn’t have done but I did. Anyway, I thought

I’d get up and say “you must all be terribly disappointed that Miss Anna Macwotsit isn’t here, and you won’t get to hear a speech, so I’ll give you mine.” I longed to do it and create a disturbance, as it were.

You’re a troublemaker, you are! [Laughs] When you get

older, it’s lovely. It’s the only good thing about getting old. Absolutely the only thing. [Points to her head] As long as I keep this computer here going…

What’s the thing that makes you most happy? I don’t know

if I ever feel really happy. I try hard but I think I personally am somebody who needs a companion, I need someone to be happy with; I need to share.

Have you ever been clubbing?

Well, it was wonderful when we started EastEnders – we used to rehearse together as a group and afterwards we’d go out with the young people. We’d get into all the nightclubs for nothing because the show was so popular. I met Boy George one night; he’s very intelligent, I like Boy George.

We have to ask - what did you think of Lady Gaga? Oh, I

thought she was an enchanting girl. Very intelligent and very ordinary under that incredibly clever persona. And such courage to be like that. I wish I’d had that sort of confidence when I was in my late 20s.

We want to be as sharp and fit as you at 86! Any tips? [Maybe it’s chain smoking, as she’s just put out her fourth fag and lit her fifth in a half hour interview]. You have to have

turmeric and cinnamon. A glass of water every morning when you wake up. And rock salt. It’s what you eat – my heart should be riddled with holes right now. I just go Asian – tumeric, cinnamon, eggs, chillis, black pepper and you’ll live. Q

BefoUHWKH<HDU'RW-XQH%URZQ·V DXWRELRJUDSK\LVRXWQRZ



27

JD\WLPHVFRXN

gaytimes.co.uk 28



QSame-sex marriage passed into UK law. The plans received Royal Ascent on 17 July, after two thirds of MPs and peers supported the legal change. The first marriages will take place in England and Wales from 29 March 2014. France and New Zealand also passed marriage equality into law, both with popular support.

---QStephen Fry wrote to the PM over Russia’s extreme homophobia. The country introduced laws banning so-called gay propaganda and ignored waves of attacks on gay men. Thousands attended protests outside Downing Street in solidarity and David Cameron spoke out about the injustice.

---HOLD THE

PAGE

FRONT

GT rounds up the best, worst and funniest gay

news stories that made 2013 momentous

WORDS BENJAMIN BUTTERWORTH IMAGES AP PHOTO / REX GEOFF PUGH / ISTOCKPHOTO / RYAN HARDING Protests in Russia

review of the year

QStonewall founder and member of the European parliament

Michael Cashman was honored with a CBE. The award was given for his lifelong campaign work for LGBT rights. Cashman famously had Britain’s first on-screen gay kiss in 1987.

---QFeminist writers got embroiled in a transphobia row. Guardian columnist Suzanne Moore was criticised for saying women want to look like “Brazilian transsexuals”. Trans activists reacted angrily to the attack.

---QFootballer Robbie Rogers

came out. The Leeds United player opened up about being gay on his blog, saying he had used football as

an escape to admitting his sexuality. He subsequently moved to America to play for LA Galaxy.

---QBritain’s top Catholic, Cardinal Keith O’Brien, resigned amid accusations of “inappropriate” behavior with other priests. The Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh had previously been voted Bigot of the Year for his homophobic views.

---QCher released her first studio album in 12 years. The 67-year-old diva gave an exclusive interview to GT where she opened up about having a trans son. She turned down performing at Russia’s Winter Olympics because of the country’s gay rights record.

---QHillary Clinton endorsed equal marriage. The former US Secretary of State appeared in a video for the Human Rights Campaign, urging Americans to support marriage equality and arguing gay rights are human rights.

---QThe UK’s biggest ever LGBT exhibition opened. The Museum of Liverpool opened Homotopia, charting LGBT history through hundreds of years. The exhibition also charts the life of trans model and socialite April Ashley through photographs.

---QPrince Harry was praised for defending a gay soldier. Lance Corporal James Wharton told of

[

news

]

gaytimes.co.uk



29

gaytimes.co.uk 30



how the Prince defended him from six other soldiers threatening to “batter” him in his book, Out In The Army.

---QArchbishop Desmond Tutu

said he would serve a “gay god”. The 81-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate claimed he’d rather worship a gay god than a homophobic one, explaining: “I would refuse to go to a homophobic heaven.”

---QNew Pope elected. Jorge Mario Bergoglio became the 266th Pope, and has been widely considered more progressive on gay issues. “Who am I to judge gay people?”, the 76-year-old said. Quite.

---QRobert Mugabe wants to “chop off” gay people’s heads. He made the remarks in a speech to a conference of his supporters, saying “homosexuality seeks to destroy our lineage”.

---QThings seemed good in Australia, with PM Kevin Rudd

coming out in favour of marriage equality, and a bill passing allowing same-sex couples to marry in capital city Canberra. But less than a week after the bill became law, it was overturned by the Australian High Court, with some 27 couples who married left with their unions declared invalid.

---QOut4Mariage, the campaign

group set up by Benjamin Cohen, Mike Buonaiuto and James-J Walsh, was highlighted by The Independent newspaper for getting the likes of Hugh Grant and Richard Branson to speak out for gay equality.

---QTesco recalled “gay best friend” doll. Britain’s biggest supermarket apologised after selling the inflatable aimed at three-year-old children. The blow-up was supposedly the ultimate accessory to be seen with.

---QLady Gaga confirmed she’s bisexual. Gaga also did a surprise gig in the UK’s biggest gay venue, Heaven, where she stripped

review of the year

201

3

completely naked.

---QTeen Olympic diver Jack Laugher told GT that sport homophobes should receive an “instant ban” and be taken as seriously as racism.

---QGT columnist Paris Lees became the first ever trans person to appear on Question Time. It seemed no one was more humbled than Paris herself, tweeting: “I’m just a slag from a council estate who doesn’t know too much about anything. Yikes!” Paris also topped the Independent’s list of the most influential LGBT people in Britain.

---QBritney praised anti-gay preacher. The Work Bitch singer

claimed extreme anti-gay writer

Max Lucado was her favorite author in a Q&A on Twitter. She also courted controversy for saying she likes gay people because we are “cute and hilarious.”

---QA group of pastors created a Kenyan gay rights lobby. The

Kenyan Christians got together to create a safe space for LGBT people in the country – where it remains illegal to have gay sex.

---QIndia’s Supreme Court outlawed gay sex. It was the reversal of a landmark 2009 Delhi High Court Order, which had decriminalised homosexual acts. Zafaryab Jilani, the Muslim leader and petitioner of the case, said “we are living in

India, this is not America”, before hailing the court for “protecting what is right”.

---QGT released its biggest ever Naked Issue. OK, we put ourselves in the news here. But with more hot celebs than ever it was well worth waiting through 2013 for. So big, in fact, it’s had to be split over two issues and will return again in next month’s mag. Q

---QTom Daley revealed he’s dating a guy. The London 2012 medal winner put to bed years of speculation, announcing on YouTube that he’s been in a relationship with a man since spring. Q Coming out in 2013 ROBBIE ROGERS FOOTBALLER JASON COLLINS BASKETBALL PLAYER WENTWORTH MILLER ACTOR CLIVE DAVIS RECORD PRODUCER TROYE SIVAN X-MEN ACTOR BARONESS LIZ BARKER POLITICIAN BEN WHISHAW ACTOR KEVIN GRAYSON AMERICAN FOOTBALLER DARREN YOUNG WRESTLER JODIE FOSTER ACTRESS TOM DALEY DIVER

[

news

]

gaytimes.co.uk



31

Paris Lees Jack Laugher

column

If I was alive 75-years-ago and living in Berlin and not London, my outlook wouldn’t have been looking good. That’s because I’m Jewish, I have a disability, I’m a member of a trade union and like almost everyone reading this article, I’m gay.

2014 marks the 75th anniversary of the start of World War II and with it the Holocaust, the single worst example of the misery that humanity has ever inflicted on itself. It’s also 80 years since Hitler ordered the Gestapo to compile a list of gay people in Germany, who would later be persecuted. On 27 January, Britain commemorates Holocaust Memorial Day, an opportunity to galvanise us never to allow the same persecution of minority groups to happen again. It’s also an opportunity for us to consider, given how many countries around the world criminalise or discriminate gay people, how unchallenged prejudice can quickly and dramatically escalate into unimaginable brutality.

However, the memory of this

tragic incidence for our own community is still quite hazy. I’d hazard a guess that most people in the UK have no idea that, just like Jews, gay people were also victims of the Holocaust. For the most part, I wouldn’t blame them. The majority of the time since Auschwitz-Birkenau was liberated, gay people were not considered true victims of the Holocaust, despite the Nazis arresting 100,000 people for homosexuality, imprisoning half of them, including up to 15,000 in concentration camps. Many died, some after sickening experiments by scientists trying to find the ‘cure’ for homosexuality.

When the allies, including the British, ‘liberated’ the inmates of concentration camps, they in reality liberated everyone other than the gay people. Gay men found themselves moved from concentration camps to prisons, because for the allies, being gay was still a crime. Unlike other victims, they were not offered reparations and it took until 2002 for the German government to officially apologise for the Nazis’ crimes

against gay people.

What happened during the Holocaust stands as a warning to all of us that societies can go backward as well as forward. In the 1920s, Berlin was one of the gay capitals of the world, with Germany’s prohibition on homosexuality widely ignored by the police and a large, open, flourishing gay community was in existence. Just before the Nazis took power, the German legislature was poised to repeal the legal ban of male homosexuality. It took a political climate that had nothing to do with gay people to radically alter the treatment of this minority group. The Nazis drew on deep rooted, latent homophobia within the population to stigmatise gay people to justify to ordinarily rational people the single largest act of persecution on the basis of sexuality that the world has ever seen.

What worries me, almost eight decades on, is that some societies are now going down a similar backward path. Russia is perhaps the clearest example. Never a flagship for LGBT equality, being gay was made legal in 1993. However, 20 years later, the country came under the spotlight for a national ban on the ‘promotion’ of homosexuality to young people, a law that could severely restrict all LGBT activities including parenting. This legislative change mirrors a change in the way the Russian people think about homosexuality.

While Russia is going backwards, in 41 out of the 54 countries that make up the Commonwealth, including 11 where our Queen is head of state, being gay is still a crime – based on our own, old, British laws that we imposed on the countries in the time of the Empire. Imprisoning gay men, in exactly the same way that the British did to the gay victims of the

Holocaust at the end of the war. Q

What

happened

during the

Holocaust

stands as

a warning

to all of

us that

societies

can go

backward

as well as

forward

@benjamincohen

PUBLISHER

OF

PINKNEWS

[

benjamin cohen

]

[news]

gaytimes.co.uk 34



[01]

Get married! Well, it might be a bit too soon. But we can do that from March. In England and Wales at least. Either way, Team GT are already shopping for hats.

[02]

Long distance Skype calls. Dustin lives in the States, and Tom’s going to be training for Rio. But there’s nothing like a video call when you’re coping with distance.

[03]

Speaking of Rio, imagine Tom dedicating his upcoming Olympic gold to Dustin. Yes, he IS going to win the gold next time.

[04]

Teach Dustin how to dive. We honestly can’t come up with any real argument against more hot men in Speedos.

[05]

Speaking of Speedos, don’t forget to raid each other’s wardrobes. It’s one of the perks of dating another guy.

[06]

Go all out and over the top on Valentine’s Day. It’s not too far away, and you just know that Tom is one of those mushy, romantic types.

[07]

Make-out on the night bus and not have a care in the world for all the miserable, single people watching on. No? Is this just us?

[08]

Change your Facebook status

Monday, 2 December

2013, will go down in

history as Tom Daley

Day. The day the diving

boy wonder melted the

internet by revealing

he’s dating a guy –

allegedly the

Oscar-winning screenwriter

Dustin Lance Black.

It’s never easy walking

down that yellow

brick road of your first

same-sex relationship.

So, to help celebrate

30 years of Gay Times,

we’ve come up with a

list of 30 things Tom

can do with his

first-ever boyfriend

WORDS RYAN BUTCHER / BENJAMIN BUTTERWORTH

30

_THINGS

to “in a relationship”. Is there anything more satisfying than proving to your school friends that you’re not actually undatable?

[09]

Go to provincial gay bars and dance with provincial drag queens. You haven’t seen a proper cross-section of LGBT life until you’ve been to a local bar in rural Lincolnshire.

[10]

Buy each other romantic presents from your international jet-setting travels. And make everyone else jealous, of course.

[11]

Take inspiration from the Warwick Rowers and do a naked calendar shoot for charity. We can’t think of a single reason why not.

[12]

Make a social statement just by holding hands. You know that’s going to wind the right-wing press up some how.

[13]

Adopt children? OK, again, might be a bit too early. But if he’s not quite ready for that, maybe get a real micro-pig in the mean time?

[14]

Make a pot vase like that bit from Ghost everyone bangs on about. For reasons of cuteness.

[15]

Avoid the house of horrors that is Grindr… Trust us, Tom. You’re not missing a thing.

[16]

Finally silence all those irritating “will you marry me Tom?” tweets. He’s off the market now, guys and girls. Move on.

[17]

Ask each other about your days. Sometimes it’s the little things…

[18]

Tom could spread his arms around Dustin’s on the front of ships, and talk about how their love will go on and on. And on.

[19]

Lie in bed on a Sunday morning with the Hollyoaks omnibus on the telly and be completely satisfied with life.

[20]

Get a pug and snuggle up to it in bed. Our editor swears by it.

[21]

Throw Maltesers at Dustin’s face until he eventually catches

one in his mouth and eats it. This is actually a surprisingly fun game.

[22]

Go for romantic walks on Plymouth beach. Or Brighton beach. Or any beach, for that matter. It’s a bit chilly at the moment though, so we’d recommend Tom leave his top on, on this occasion.

[23]

Send soppy texts that end in “xxxxx”. They warm even the coldest of hearts.

[24]

Spoon! Is there anything better than waking up mid-spoon? Big, little or versatile – the choice is yours.

[25]

Have a cup of tea brought to you in bed in the morning. This is the single greatest thing about having a boyfriend, without question.

[26]

Recreate the spaghetti and meatballs scene from Lady and the Tramp… except, without the Lady. And, hopefully, the tramp.

[27]

Be a force for change in the way that sexuality is treated in the sporting world. Look, a sporting hero coming out as gay, bisexual or whatever will be less of a big deal when homophobia is actually kicked out of sport.

[28]

Change people’s opinions on what non-heterosexual people can be and do. Nothing has changed in Tom’s professional life now he’s dating a man!

[29]

Inspire LGBT teens to be honest about their own sexuality. No doubt, since Tom’s video, thousands of teens will have followed Tom’s lead and bravely stepped out of the closet.

[30]

Be on the cover of the longest running gay magazine in the known universe, continuing to act as that beacon of hope and acceptance. Oh, that’s us by the way, Tom… Q

30

YEARS O F GAYTIM ES

[

news

]



35 gaytimes.co.uk

GT VAULT

26 YEARS AGO Issue 112, 1988

Boy George sits down with GT to have a good ol’ bitch about the stars new and old, including George Michael, Judy Garland and Marc Almond. In an unusual twist, we explore lesbian pornography, and follow on with a look

back to Soho in the 50s.

20 YEARS AGO

HIM Issue 79, 1994

Contrasting the two, heavy metal and homosexuality were explored, delving into the hard rock world that finally allowed a tad of pink among all that black leather and fist pumping. On the other side of the genre spectrum, techno

fashion was featured along with a definitive A to Z of Sex.

8 YEARS AGO

Issue 328, 2006

We started the New Year with a brand new look, and in the first of this revamped design we looked at gay cowboy

movies following the release of Brokeback Mountain. Heading east, we checked out gay life in 21st-centruy China

and the issue of football and homophobia is raised again.

IM AG E F R O M M Y S TO RY B Y TO M D AL EY , PU BL IS H ED B Y M IC H AE L J O SEPH , £1 6.9 9



BRIAN

EPSTEIN



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gaytimes.co.uk

WORDS JOHN MARRS IMAGES AP PHOTO

“THEY WERE RATHER SCRUFFILY dressed, in the nicest possible way. Or I should say in the most attractive way? Black leather jackets, jeans and long hair.”

Brian Epstein would never forget first meeting backstage with The Beatles back in 1961. With his creative eye, ambitious plans and gut instinct, his management of the Fab Four changed the course of music history, until his shock death from a lethal cocktail of sedatives and booze aged just 32.

Born in 1934 to a Jewish family in Liverpool, Brian’s potential as a music mogul was hard to predict based on his schooldays. After being expelled for laziness and poor performance, he was sent to a boarding school where he decided to become a dress designer. But his parents had other ideas. And at 16, he was forced to join the family’s furniture retailing business before National Service drafted him into the army as a data clerk in London.

In his 1964 autobiography A Cellarful Of Noise, Epstein glossed over an evening where he was caught impersonating an officer. It was later revealed he’d asked a tailor to make him an officer’s uniform that he wore to cruise bars for men, at a time when homosexuality was illegal. He was arrested by the military police for impersonating an officer, but avoided a court martial by agreeing to see an army psychiatrist, who learned of Epstein’s sexuality. After ten months, Epstein was discharged on medical grounds for being “emotionally and mentally unfit.” And it was on his return to Liverpool that he later told friends he’d had his first gay experience. But his sexuality was something he wrestled with. He once wrote: “I believe that my own will power is the best thing to overcome my homosexuality.”

With Epstein harbouring ambitions to act, his parents let him study at London’s RADA. But

he dropped out after the third term claiming he’d become “too much of a businessman to enjoy being a student.” However, his leaving came soon after his arrest for “persistent importuning” outside a men’s toilet in Swiss Cottage.

“Brian wanted to present the image of a normal person but it didn’t really work,” recalls Geoffrey Ellis, friend and employee. “He always knew, and I think his family knew, from a very early age that he was homosexual. When he later visited America he became fascinated by its homosexual scene of the 1960s and he behaved sometimes in a way which was dangerous. Deep down, he didn’t want to be homosexual but he also enjoyed his experiences very much indeed.”

It was Epstein’s return home to manage his father’s new record shop that changed his life. He first came across John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Pete Best (later to be fired by Epstein and replaced by Ringo Starr) in local music magazine Mersey Beat, which he also wrote for. “Brian knew perfectly well who The Beatles were,” McCartney later recalled. “They were on the front page of the second issue of Mersey Beat.”

He first saw them live, one lunchtime at the Cavern Club. “I was immediately struck by their music, their beat, and their sense of humour on stage – and, even afterwards, when I met them, I was struck again by their personal charm,” recalled Epstein.

They were equally impressed by Epstein and his smart, expensive suits, large car and professional image. And in 1962, they signed a five-year contract giving Epstein 25% of their gross income, more than the usual 10% most managers received. It was all the more remarkable considering Epstein had never managed a musical act before. His first job was to transform their image. Gone were scruffy

Nicknamed “the

fifth Beatle” by

Paul McCartney,

Brian Epstein was

the manager of

the biggest band

in history until his

untimely death of

an accidental drugs

overdose. Now, 46

years later, there

are two biopics in

the making and a

campaign to get

him inducted into

the Rock and Roll

Hall of Fame. GT

takes a look at the

fascinating and

flawed life of the

gay genius

gaytimes.co.uk 38



clothes and in were suits and ties. He insisted they stop swearing, smoking, drinking and eating on stage. Then Epstein began courting the press to generate publicity and booked bigger and better venues for the band to play. Despite being rejected by many record labels, he was put in touch with the head of EMI’s record publishing division and, after convincing them The Beatles could become internationally famous, they were offered a recording contract.

“He gave them style, he gave them taste, he gave them their charm and their impeccability in dress,” recalled Beatles producer George

Martin. “He was quite strict with them in dressing them up. He made them bow after each performance. He was a dear man and he had a great deal of talent.”

Just months after signing the band, The Beatles took off internationally like no other act since Elvis Presley. And Epstein branched out into managing other acts, including Gerry and the Pacemakers, Billy J Kramer and Cilla Black. “We had complete faith in him when he was running us,” said Lennon. “He was the expert.”

By 1965, Epstein was settled in London and bought the lease of the Saville Theatre, where he promoted new works by writers that ruffled

prudish feathers for including “obscene content or nudity.” He kept his sexuality away from the public eye, but it was an open secret among his friends. McCartney said they knew he was gay straight away, but didn’t care because he worked hard for them and introduced them to previously off-limits social circles. “We didn’t have a problem with it,” he recalls. “It was just something we made fun of. The word was out that Brian was gay but the great thing for us was that it didn’t really affect us in any way. We suspected he might hit on one of us, so in the early days we were wondering if that was his interest in us.”

“Him being gay was an open secret among his friends,” Billy J Kramer tells GT. “I knew about it early on but it didn’t bother me or the people around him because he was a wonderful human being. That was his business.”

Although Lennon made sarcastic comments about his manager’s homosexuality to friends and to Epstein personally, no one outside the groups’ inner circle was allowed to. When one of Lennon’s art school friends once asked ‘Which one of you Beatles does he fancy?’ he was sent a letter by Epstein’s office within two days demanding an apology. And McCartney reportedly wrote to him

asking him to have no contact with any of them in the future.

There were also rumours Lennon and Epstein had an affair during a four-day holiday in Barcelona. Lennon always denied the story, telling Playboy in 1980: “Well, it was almost a love affair, but not quite. It was never consummated... but we did have a pretty intense relationship.” McCartney adds: “I don’t actually know the truth of the John rumour. But to the best of my knowledge John was never gay.”

The Beatles retired from touring in 1966 and Epstein found his influence on the group waning. Years earlier, he’d begun using prescription-free stimulants to help him stay awake for long nights on tour, but he gradually became dependent on them. In 1964, Bob Dylan had introduced him to cannabis, and Epstein soon became heavily involved in the drug scene. He also suffered from depression and was a keen gambler, often losing thousands of pounds in casinos in a night.

And with a manager of his own, Epstein had plans to launch a new career himself as a TV presenter, starting in Canada. But his plans were unexpectedly cut short in August 1967. He’d invited friends to his East Sussex country home one night but after they arrived, he decided to drive back to London alone because an expected group of rent boys he’d invited hadn’t turned up.

However, friends who were worried he wasn’t answering his door later that weekend broke into his bedroom and discovered Epstein, dead. He was dressed in his pyjamas on a single bed surrounded by paperwork, chocolate digestives, a joint and eight half-empty bottles of prescription tablets. A coroner ruled his death an accident, caused by a gradual buildup of the sedative Carbitral in his system, combined with alcohol.

The Beatles didn’t go to their

[ ]

DEEP DOWN HE

DIDN’T WANT TO

BE HOMOSEXUAL,

BUT HE ENJOYED

HIS EXPERIENCES

VERY MUCH

INDEED

gaytimes.co.uk



39

manager’s funeral in Liverpool so as to allow his family privacy and avoid attracting fans and the media. But several weeks later, all four Beatles attended a memorial service for Epstein at a synagogue near Abbey Road Studios.

Despite transforming four ordinary musicians into worldwide sensations, when Lennon,

McCartney, Harrison and Starr were awarded MBEs in 1965, Epstein was overlooked. And even though The Beatles were among the earliest entrants into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Epstein has been snubbed in the Non-Performer’s category. But if campaigners have their way, that will be rectified as soon as possible.

“Brian brought the biggest band the world had ever known onto the global stage, so it’s terrible that he’s become this forgotten man,” says Kramer. “There are people in the Hall of Fame who, in my

opinion, are far less deserving than Brian. His sexuality or the way he died shouldn’t have anything to do with why he hasn’t been included. It’s been 50 years now and by bringing The Beatles to America and making them so big, he opened the doors for a lot of British artists over there. The rock scene wouldn’t be what it is today without what he did in the early stages. It’s a sin he’s been left in the background and people seem to have forgotten.”

Forty-six years after Epstein’s death, his profile is set to rise thanks to two film biographies in the works. One is based on a graphic novel, The Fifth Beatle, and the other is being produced by Tom Hanks and rumoured to be starring actor Benedict Cumberbatch. And if he is inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2014, it will be public recognition of his impact on the band and the music industry.

“If anyone was the fifth Beatle,” adds McCartney, “it was Brian.” Q LEFT BRIAN WITH THE

BEATLES AS THEY RETURN FROM TOURING THE US ON 21 SEPT 1964