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QUESTION TIME

CAMERON,

CLEGG,

MILIBAND,

& FARAGE

ANSWER

TO YOU!

GAY

MARRIAGE!

Your guide to

getting hitched

GAY

DIVORCE!

When the party’s

over...

GAY

SWITCHBOARD

Dan Gillespie

Sells talks charity

Foxes

/

PJ Brennan

/

Christina Perri

/

Jerry Mitchell

/

DWV

/

Michelle Visage

THE ORIGINAL GA Y MAGAZINE APRIL 2014 UK £4.30

EXCLUSIVE

Miss Piggy

on marriage,

money and

making bacon

25 years of

Madonna’s

_{Like A}

Prayer

30

YEARS OF GAYTIMES

Happy

Tails

How dogs

turned

one gay

man’s life

around

Final

Tales

Armistead

Maupin’s

goodbye

to Anna

Madrigal

TOWIE’s

newest hunk

loses his

pants inside

JAMES

LOCK

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Editor DARREN SCOTT Assistant Editor LEE DALLOWAY Staff Writer RYAN BUTCHER

Editorial Assistant BENJAMIN BUTTERWORTH Design & Art Direction MARK KING Style and Grooming LLOYD-SCOTT TYLER Music BOB HENDERSON

Editor-at-large JOHN MARRS

Columnists PJ BRENNAN, BENJAMIN COHEN, THE

GUYLINER, EDD KIMBER, ALAN ROSENTHAL, PAUL THORN, MICHELLE VISAGE, MIKEY WALSH

Contributors JOE MCCORMICK, MATT PEAKE, LUKE

SMITH, TIM MITCHELL, MIKE HIRD, MILO WAKELIN, JUSTIN MYERS, TOM JONES, PERRY JUBY, LEE BINDING, ROBERT GERSHINSON, MARK SINGLETON, CHRIS HITCHINGS, FRAZER LOUGH, ZARRION WALKER, AARON GOLIGHTLY, MAMA MAKEUP

Pug-at-large TOBY

Thanks to SARAH PEACOCK (Big Talent Group),

ANDREI HARMSWORTH (Metro), GEMMA COX (Disney), BEN HOPKINS (Warner Bros), TESSA HENDERSON (Transworld), GEORGIE ROBINSON (Emma Holland PR), JANE CHAMBERLAIN (Cicada Communications), OLLIE CHARLES (Peccadillo Pictures), LUKE MORRISON (BSkyB), ANNEKA WAHLHAUS (Roche Communications), ALANA IRWIN (Clarion Communications), HARRY SEYMOUR (Marks and Spencer), MICHELLE SMITH (Lemonaide PR), ROBYN DAVIS (Palm PR), JOE SATARI (FanClub PR), DENNIS SCHULZ (Bruno Gmünder), CHARLES DEAN (Islington Council), CHLOE MELICK (Inside/Out), DAVID CHARPENTIER and JAKE LEMMENES (Producer (QWHUWDLQPHQW.(9,1*,%621+LOOV%DOÁRXU.$5$ CARMICHAEL (Choose Chicago), BOBBY BROWN (For Fucking On Stage)

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]

&ODVVLÀHG$GYHUWLVLQJ6DOHV ASH ALLIBHAI

Escort Advertising Sales RAJ VALENTINO

Editorial 020 7424 7400 Fax 020 7424 7401 Sales/Distribution 020 7424 7400 Fax 020 7424 7401 Editorial e-mail [email protected]

Advertising e-mail [email protected] Website gaytimes.co.uk

Postal address GT, Spectrum House, Unit M,

32-34 Gordon House Road, London, NW5 1LP

Newstrade distribution: Conde Nast and National

Magazine Distributors Limited, Unit 3, Tavistock Road, West Drayton, Middlesex UB7 7QE Tel: 01895 433 600

Newstrade enquiries: [email protected] Subscriptions UK 0844 856 0637

Subscriptions e-mail [email protected] Subscriptions Overseas 01795 414 896 Printed in the UK by: Wyndeham Group

Disclaimer: All copyrights and trademarks are recognised

PUBLISHED BY MILLIVRES PROWLER LTD

Non-executive Chairman CHRIS GRAHAM-BELL Managing Director SIMON TOPHAM Media & Marketing Director KIM WATSON Operations Director ROBERT HANWELL Financial Director ANTHONY MARTIN

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, social or political orientation of such persons or organisations. “Oh Bride of the <HDU7KDWLVVRPHERG\·VPRVWLPSRUWDQWGD\2KLW,6ZRUWKLW,W,6ZRUWKLWµ1R 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.

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with this ring...

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GT431

APR 2014

Equal rights are something that have been at the heart of Gay Times for the 30 years we’ve been in print. More, in fact, considering we actually existed as HIM magazine for ten years before that. So it’s overwhelming to be at the helm of such a historic title for such a historic change in equal rights in the UK. And that’s equal marriage (yes, we called it gay marriage on the cover – it’s a better headline) for everyone. Well, almost everyone, as we address in this very issue. Yes, that’s the one you’re holding in your very hands. We wouldn’t dream of charging you separately to read about something that’s at the heart of modern day gay life in 2014. And who thought we’d ever get to say that – that it’s legally a part of gay life in 2014. How far we’ve come in recent years has been quite staggering. And you’ll see it reflected in the pages of GT, as we will, of course, be bringing these changes to the heart of the world’s longest-running gay magazine. And what better way to start by asking Britain’s leaders – what’s next? Let me tell you, it was easier to get Miss Piggy to answer questions. A lot of people might be saying ‘look at what’s happening abroad!’, and we do, we have, we will. Always. Our columnist Ben Cohen addresses that in his usual eloquent way this month – and I happen to agree with him too. The fight doesn’t end because of an excuse to buy a hat... Speaking of hats, I doff mine to those of you that have been in touch to congratulate us on our anniversary and new look, it’s genuinely appreciated. Here’s to the next 30 years being as groundbreaking for equal rights.

Q Darren Scott @darren_scott

Cover image by Joe McCormick Grooming by Evan Huang

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

ﬁ rst

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news

28 3DUW\3ROLWFDO/HDGHUV 34 1HZVGHEDWH 36 7KLQJV*D\TXRWHV 39 Ben Cohen 40 +HURHV7LP6LJVZRUWK 41 Nigel Farage

features

44 -DPHV/RFN 56 (TXDO0DUULDJH 62 (TXDO'LYRUFH

style

68*URRP·V*XLGH 74+RPHVW\OH

entertainment

82 Madonna 88$UPLVWHDG0DXSLQ 94-HUU\0LWFKHOO 100'DUUHQ6WHLQ 103 Geek 104 Tech

real life

1075HDGHU·VOLYHV 1087KH*X\OLQHU 1113-%UHQQDQ 114 The Dog Walker 120(GG.LPEHU 121$ODQ5RVHQWKDO 122)LWQHVV 125 HIV

travel

127 Letter from... 128 Chicago 132%RUGHDX[

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Cupid, shoot that arrow

If there’s one thing we love more

than a superhero in his skin-tight lycra, it’s a superhero out

of his skin-tight lycra. Let’s not pretend that Sky 1’s Arrow

isn’t beloved by many a gay for the shirtless wonderment

of Stephen Amell, Colton Haynes, David Ramsey and Manu

Bennett. And, seemingly, anyone else that appears in it. We’ve

not ruled out John Barrowman and Alex Kingston yet. Did we

mention Colton Haynes? Give him a Google. You’re welcome.

Q

Arrow is on Sky 1 HD, Thursdays, and on the move with Sky Go

LEFT TO RIGHT DAVID, MANU, COLTON AND STEPHEN

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396,114,697 viewers can’t be wrong...

“Your maths will be better than mine, I’m a musician, I don’t do math…” Christina Perri tells us as we try and do the sums. With 400 million YouTube views in sight, we’ve concluded that the emotional singer songwriter and US balladeer du jour must have racked up LIFETIMES worth of pop video watching.

“Woah! That’s so trippy. I’d feel really bad for the person who spent their whole life watching my videos. Oy oy oy. I’ve never thought about it that way, that’s really crazy.” Though Perri’s whole career can be marked with figures and dates. We share an anecdote with Christina we’d heard in the pub the night before; that it takes five years to become an overnight success.

“I think it’s really true about the five year thing,” she says, “I definitely hit it overnight in America, I felt like I was

Cinderella. At 8pm, June 30th 2010, my whole life changed. That afternoon I was waitressing, that evening I quit my job, I flew to New York City the next day, I signed a record deal 21 days later.” And the rest is pop history. From the moment her song Jar of Hearts was used on So You Think You Can Dance?, all the hard work and songwriting from the age of 15 paid off. There came countless TV appearances, a deal with Atlantic Records, 70 tattoos, a Christmas album, four penguin pillows, the Twilight Soundtrack, and 27 months of nine tours. And now, finally, album number two.

It’s called Head or Heart, and it’s nowhere near as bleak as her debut.

“Album one was pretty much a breakup album,” she says, “pretty much about the same guy. Album two, I’ve captured more dynamics in my real life. It covers way more ground than the first one, it’s a little

less melancholy for sure. But don’t worry, I have the really tragic stuff too. Always.”

And if a cheery duet with Ed Sheeran wasn’t enough, there are some bona fide gay remixes on the way after divine inspiration struck her during a SoulCycle work out (basically a spin class to EDM). Oh, of course she loves the gays, she grew up in Philadelphia with two hairdressing parents. “I had male gay best friends from when I was a tiny girl – so I loved the gay community without even knowing it, my whole life. I grew up understanding there was no difference, so that’s a nod to my parents and how I was raised.”

It gets better. “Sometimes I feel like a gay man inside for how much I love Cher. So I just appreciate and love that whole culture…” Amen. Q

Head or Heart is out 31 March on Atlantic Records, christinaperri.com @christinaperri

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WORDS BOB HENDERSON gaytimes.co.uk

Christina Perri

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www.wellman.co.uk

From Boots, Superdrug, supermarkets, Holland & Barrett, GNC, Lloydspharmacy, pharmacies & health stores.

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GT’s Easter Joy

OR we could

just run with the

news that RuPaul

is releasing a

chocolate bar, go

one step further

and make our very

own RuPaul’s Drag

Race Easter egg!

Why? Why not.

Easter’s camp too

you know…

10

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It was on Suede’s Pantomime

Horse when Brett Anderson asked us – had we ever tried it “that” way? For an entire generation who liked things on the alternative side, Suede were a rock and roll band fuelled by sexual adrenaline and nihilist rebellion. But blurring the lines of sexuality aside, Suede have also spent the last 22 years cementing themselves as one of the best singles bands Britain has ever

produced. And from 14 April, 2,000 lucky fans will get their hands on one mammoth collection of each of their 24 singles, dating from 1992 to 2013. There are 1,000 copies each of both CD and 7” single box sets, including classics like androgynous anthem The Beautiful Ones and the suburban decadence of Animal Nitrate. Visit myplaydirect.com/ suede and pre-order to get your hands on a copy now. Q

WHERE IS THE

LOVE?

New York photographer Braden Summers has

travelled the world taking “dreamy illustrations

of what open expressions of love could look

like in a future, more accepting time”. His goal

is to showcase images of progress and equality

around the world, and push large corporations

to create more positive images of same-sex

relationships in advertising campaigns. He’s

already raised $23,000 through Kickstarter

and is gaining attention from media outlets

worldwide.

Qbradensummers.com/menu/all-love-is-equal/

SINGL

E

MINDED

sights and sounds

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SPEED

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So who wants to get married? I DO!

First off, because I’m a big old sap of a romantic. And secondly, because I’m fucking lucky enough to be allowed to!

Well… after I get divorced anyway. That’s right, I’m a gay divorcee and it’s a royal pain in the ass!

It was 2009 when my ‘husband’ and I were civil partnered. We chose to marry at a town hall, which had just kicked up a massive fuss in the news because some bigoted bitch registrar publicly refused to perform any gay civil partnerships in her establishment. And get this – her main wedding room was where Culture Club’s Do You Really Want To Hurt Me video was shot… What a WASTE of gay history space.

After several days of very long waits on phone lines, we were informed that – regardless of the current issue – we were only allowed to marry in a borough we both lived in, and would have to move to another part of London if we wanted to get married at the time we had wanted. All because of one bigoted old trout.

Holding out was going to be very

tough. Not only did we have family booked to fly over for that time, but my husband’s work visa (he was an Aussie) had also ran out, meaning he was unable to legally work at all until he got his citizenship. So I, being a good husband-to-be, was working enough hours for both of us at the local pub, as well as trying to finish my first book with a hideous deadline the publishers had given.

Eventually the evil registrar was replaced. But not before she swore that same sex marriage was an abomination and would bring and end to the civilised world. I know, right? The SHADE of it all! Sorry, I’ve been watching LOADS of RuPaul’s Drag Race, so you must excuse my new drag words. Anyway, after some hideous suit fittings, a party venue that got shut down and my future mother-in-law going all Maleficent on our asses, wishing us nothing but DOOM, we finally got civil partnered.

And the day turned out wonderful. We weren’t allowed to walk down the isle to Like A Prayer (by law, any mention of God or Jesus was not permitted at a gay wedding),

but at the last minute we replaced it with Time After Time. All in all, with so many wonderful friends and family, it turned out to be a dream wedding. And I, a usual rock-faced Romany, cried for most of the day. Partly through exhaustion, slightly from disbelief that I’d finally landed a keeper and, secretly, through relief that I’d never have to date another dastardly dickhead ever again.

Little did I know…

The curse of old mother-in-law came to pass, and my husband left me to move back to Australia within a year. And just as I actually started to get along with his mum too! Oh, what a world, what a world.

One thing I did learn, though, was that a certificate actually means sweet FA when it comes to marriage. An old man once said to me, ‘If they don’t make you feel dirty, it ain’t never gonna work’. I’d agree to some extent. But I’d also add that laughter is a must. And the knowledge that you can ALWAYS rely on and trust each other.

You won’t be ripping each other’s clothes off forever, like Carrie Bradshaw and Big would have you believe. A relationship expands and changes as time goes on, and you become family. And this is the most incredible part of it.

There are far too many who’d sooner run for their lives than truly risk their heart for someone. Love is about give and take. Many people forget that – and take for granted those who make the effort.

My husband had his reasons to leave. And, in hindsight, to free me was the best thing he could’ve done for us. A piece of legal paper won’t keep you in love if it’s not right.

Who knows, maybe one day I will again… But better! I may even go for Liz Taylor’s record. Thirty-one husbands, wasn’t it? Q

There

are far

too many

who’d

sooner

run for

their lives

than truly

risk their

heart for

someone.

Love is

about give

and take.

Many

people

forget that

THE CONTINUING

ADVENTURES

OF GYPSY BOY

@thatbloodymikey

column

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mikey walsh

]

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Box of delights

If you like to –

ahem – receive, you’ll love these

personalised packs to keep your

beauty (and gayness) preserved.

Just answer a few simple questions

and a ‘gay stylist team’ will match

you up with stuff that’ll be right up

your street, once a month. Goodies

for your hair, skin and even

underwear…

Qnextgaything.com

Hello, sailor!

Written by

Liam Rudden

and inspired

by the life

and works of

Jean Genet,

Thief is a dark,

explosive

new play, not

for the easily

offended, we’re

told. We’re in!

Q

Thief premieres at the Brighton Fringe from 13-18 May, brightonfringe.org, and will also run at Edinburgh Fringe, playthief.com, @playthief

Gays, grab your silk shorts

and robes, because Paris-based dance company Campagnie Käfig are hitting the UK with their new show Boxe Boxe, and it looks like they’ll be packing a punch or two. With eight exceptional dancers showcasing martial arts, street and contemporary-inspired routines, this show is more than just a little rough and tumble; highlighting the duality of boxing as a sport, with its equal-parts elegance and brutal-ity. With music from the Debussy String Quarter playing the likes of Schubert and Philip Glass (that’s classical, for you cultured types), and, y’know, hot men, Campagnie Käfig really do create a unique ex-perience for all the senses. In your corners please. Ding ding. Q

Boxe Boxe will be playing at the May-ÁRZHU7KHDWUH6RXWKDPSWRQIURP April. Tickets and more information are DYDLODEOHDWPD\ÁRZHURUJXN

it’s a

knockout

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We’re in a delightfully cut price

Downton Abbey-esque bed and breakfast in London’s leafy Hampstead, waiting for three jet-lagged drags to slip into something less comfortable. Despite a long flight and a breakneck schedule of gigs and promotion, DWV are in frighteningly good spirits.

Naturally, RuPaul’s Drag Race fans will recognise former contestants Willam and Detox. Willam was famously disqualified from the show’s fourth season for breaking the rules of the queen quarantine the contestants live in – by inviting his boyfriend over for “conjugal

visits”. Soon after, Willam met fifth season contestant Detox, “drag daughter” Vicky and DWV, a delicious take on 90s RnB girl groups, was born.

The ladies collectively made a name for themselves with protest song Chow Down (at Chick-fil-A), a loving homage to Wilson Phillips’ Hold On, with a bit of TLC’s Waterfalls thrown in courtesy of Detox’s rap (“I’m a black girl at heart,” he coos). It’s a pop at bible-thumping US fast food chain Chick-fil-A, who donated millions to political organisations that oppose LGBT rights, and a

catchy-If you haven’t experienced

tasty trio Detox iCunt,

Willam Belli and Vicky

Vox, you must have been

hiding under a rock with

glitter in your ears. Better

known as DWV, we caught

up with the gurls on their

recent whirlwind visit to

London, and we haven’t

stopped giggling since

DWV

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as-hell song in its own right. The follow-up, Boy Is A Bottom – a rude twist on Alicia Keys’ Girl on Fire – catapulted the girls to international interweb stardom. As Willam says, “Chick-fil-A is very American, but bottoms are international!”

Willam doesn’t hold back when revealing the inspiration for Boy Is A Bottom. “I pretty much wrote it after a really bad threeway,” he confesses. “My boyfriend and I were hooking up with a guy, and the first two times he kept saying he was versatile and nothing happened… at least with me. The third time, I left the room to answer my phone while him and my boyfriend were fucking. I come back and they’re still going at it. Rude! So, I go downstairs and do the international sign for ‘get the fuck out’, which is vacuuming. By the time I’d done the first floor of my house, the song was written in my head. To this day, the guy doesn’t know it’s about him.”

After what was probably the world’s first love letter to the sexually passive, more gems followed, such as the Amanda Bynes/Robin Thicke spoof Blurred Bynes. The ladies with a lil’ extra continue to watch their fame grow around the world, but what do they love about the UK? “The boys here are completely my type,” says Detox. “Everyone’s tall and gorgeous; twinky, very English with pale skin. Gingers everywhere! Foreskin! We’re whores…” Willam also reveals his delightfully geeky obsession with the London Underground, where Vicky fell into the tourist trap of using the never-ending spiral staircase instead of the lifts and escalators. “I just kept going ‘round and around!” she shrieks. “I’m like, am I on camera?”. “The sign said 375 steps!” exclaims Willam. “I thought it was a joke!” shoots back Vicky with a laugh.

There’s a clear mutual respect between the trio and everyone

has a role to play. Willam is the business brain, Detox is the sass and Vicky is the heart. Willam has the most star-studded back catalogue of work, with parts in Glee, CSI and a five-episode stint in Nip/Tuck, where he worked with TV savant Ryan Murphy. “That was fantastic, I learned a lot”. He also trod the boards in Rock of Ages, appeared in Rihanna’s S&M video and was once in the same band as American Idol’s Adam Lambert. Willam also promises his fab online series Willam’s Beatdown, which stopped due to funding issues, will return. “They said it cost five grand per episode to make. A YouTube green screen show with three people and me writing the jokes myself!” scoffs Willam. “It’s back as Billam’s Weatdown in March.”

Detox has been a fixture of the queen/cabaret scene since he was just 16. “I was pretty much brought up by trannies and club kids, it’s a huge part of my drag influences.” Those Detox met at this time became a source of support when his parents weren’t so enamoured by his career choice.

“At first my parents were hesitant about it, but I was emancipated at 15 and lived with my sister, who was a huge inspiration. She taught me to blossom, flourish and to be an individual, so I really never cared what my parents thought. Mum hated it, but now I’m successful and have a career, she’s my biggest fan.”

Detox has cemented his fame by appearing in videos for Rihanna and Ke$ha, on top of being one of Drag Race’s most original and outspoken characters. Although he also faced accusations of bullying another contestant. “People thought I was in a clique, but it never was”, says Detox. “I was friends with Alaska and Roxxxy for years. We were the smokers. It was just kind of stupid and silly.” Detox also reiterates that “reality

television” often doesn’t live up to its name. “We were definitely at the mercy of the editors, but, whatever, you sign up for that.” In the real world, Detox is fun, friendly, with a naughty sense of humour and a real flair for creativity. Did you see him arrive at a RuPaul’s Drag Race reunion as a walking black and white photograph? Amazing! Detox admits, however, he’s looking forward to some down time. “I’ve been touring for, like, three years now, I just wanna take a nap. Willam’s like, ‘lets do some more shit’ and I’m all, ‘why don’t we just sit down for a minute!’” he laughs. Meanwhile, Vicky, the only non-Drag Race contestant of the group, is relatively new to the queen game, rocking the cock in a frock shtick for just a couple of years.

“I was a performer my whole life,” says the warm and down-to-earth Vicky. “I had a band, and I was a session singer while I was in school. Then came this gig where the promoter changed, the venue changed and everything fell to pieces. They called were like, ‘OK, if you don’t want to lose the money you have to, one, lose the band and, two, can you host it in drag?’ I’d never thought about that before but I wasn’t losing that money, so I agreed. And then I never stopped working!”

Vicky’s thankful. Not just for a supportive family, but also that he gets to provide entertainment and encouragement for a large number of people. “I’m so lucky, because when I first started drag my mum would take me shopping and be like ‘does Vicky need anything?’ he laughs. “Although, I hate drag.” …say what? “No, I hate it. I don’t enjoy wearing heels, I don’t enjoy wearing wigs, I can’t stand putting makeup on. But I have fun. I have fans that say, ‘you inspired me’ or ‘you’ve saved my life’. And, you know what, if it wasn’t for them, I probably wouldn’t still be around.

WORDS

LEE DALLOWAY

PHOTOS

GREG BAILEY

STYLING

LUKE ALEX TAYLOR

HAIR

SHIORI TAKAHASHI

:,//$0·60$.(83

JOSEPH HARWOOD

:,//$0:($56

FUR COAT BY CHRISTIAN COWAN-SANLUIS, '(72;:($56 EARRINGS BY FINCHITTIDA FINCH, 9,&.<:($56 COAT BY CHRISTIAN COWAN-SANLUIS ':9:($5 JEWELLERY BY MAWI

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19 gaytimes.co.uk

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Question

How do current gay rights issues in Russia compare to WKLQJV\RX·YHVHHQ in the 80s/90s in the US? From @MrBrianLloyd Answer ,W·VYHU\UHPLQLVFHQW DFWXDOO\,QWKHV ²PLQG\RX,ZDVLQ VFKRROXQWLO²JD\ \RXWKZHUHQHYHU RXWRIWKHFORVHWOHW DORQHKDYLQJDQ\ HTXDOULJKWV:KHUH ,JUHZXSEHLQJ JD\PHDQWEHLQJ FRPSOHWHO\RVWUDFLVHG DQGSLFNHGRQ HVSHFLDOO\LQVFKRRO 7KHPDMRUGLIIHUHQFH LVWKHYLROHQFHDQG OHJDOUDPLÀFDWLRQV ,I\RXZHUHJD\RU VXSSRUWHGJD\V \RXGLGQ·WJRWRMDLO JHWÀQHGRUJHWEHDW XSE\DXWKRULWLHV 7KRVHSRRU5XVVLDQ /*%7VKDYHWKHZRUVW VLWXDWLRQHYHU7KH ZRUOGLVFKDQJLQJ EXWVDGO\5XVVLDLV UHJUHVVLQJQ

Everyday that makes me go ‘OK, get it together, get out there.’ It boggles my mind but that’s why I keep doing it.”

2013 was certainly DWV’s year – a divalicious tornado that included the ladies becoming the face of Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics, performing at the Vienna Ball in front of 45,000 people, including Bill Clinton, an epic turn modelling for the Marco Marco fashion show and rounding out the year with an original festive composition, That Christmas Song.

We’ll leave the last words to Willam on what he thinks makes DWV successful: “We love each other. I get to travel the world with my girls, form a little supergroup and have some fun. It doesn’t get much better than that.” Q

9LVLWIDFHERRNFRP':92IÀFLDO3DJHIRU PRUHRUIROORZRQ7ZLWWHU#7KH2QO\'HWR[ #ZLOODPEHOOL#7KH9LFN\9R[

life’s a drag

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So, here we are bitches, three weeks into season six of RuPaul’s Drag Race. Didn’t I tell you how amazing this new batch of queens would be? Talk to me, who are you falling in love with and who really grinds your gears? Am I living up to my reputation as the bitchiest judge of all? There’s nothing quite like the sound of a gaggle of drag queens – a draggle – making their way to the back of the runway. Drag Race Fun Fact: the elimination days are usually the longest days to shoot, lasting up to 12 hours sometimes, including hair and makeup dragging time! Now, some of you may know how it feels to spend an hour or three out for some drinks and a pub quiz in a high heel, but after you get to hours six, seven and beyond, those heels feel like nails digging into your feet and they better not even THINK of kicking them off! The faces I pull when they try that are like

daggers into their unsuspecting drag souls. I can say this though, those queens are some bad ass bitches standing in those heels for as long as they do. Also, if you think my comments are harsh at times, you should hear the ones that are edited out. Someone has to tell those queens the real T.

I’m counting down the days until I get over to see you in fair old Blighty. The confirmed dates to come play with me thus far are: Glasgow on 17 May, Manchester on 24 May and London on 29 May. There are more being planned out as we speak. So, how do my UK Glitterazzi feel about cabaret and comedy? I’ve got it for you and I’m going to give it to you hard. As any self-respecting top should. Do you have any favourite tunes you’d like to hear me do? If so, let me know on Twitter, as I’m on there waaaay too often. It’s @michellevisage, and you can also

come and visit me at michellevisage.com! Q

Michelle

_Visage

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gaytimes.co.uk

22

He might look like the docile pop prince next

door, but Dan Gillespie Sells is angry. Really DQJU\$QGKH·VUHDG\WRGRVRPHWKLQJDERXWLW

The handsomely boyish frontman of The Feeling is ready to stand shoulder to shoulder with the gays of Russia after their FRPPXQLW\·VQHDULQWROHUDEOHDQGVXSSUHVVHG existence was highlighted by the Sochi Winter 2O\PSLFVÁLQJLQJDVSRWOLJKWRQWKH(DVWHUQ (XURSHDQQDWLRQ·VJURWHVTXHDQGVXSSUHVVLYH anti-gay laws and rhetoric.

Now, as he supports the 40 year milestone of the London Lesbian and Gay Switchboard here on our shores and turns his attention to PDUULDJH'DQZDUQVZK\VXSSUHVVLYH5XVVLD LVYHU\PXFKRXUSUREOHPWRR :LWKHTXDOPDUULDJHNLFNLQJLQLV¶FRPLQJ RXW·VWLOODELJGHDOWKHVHGD\V²ZK\GRZH VWLOOKDYHWRPDNHDVRQJDQGGDQFHDERXW it? ,WKLQNLW·VVRPHWKLQJZRUWKVWDQGLQJXSIRU (VSHFLDOO\ZKHQWKHUHDUHNLGVJHWWLQJEXOOLHG at school and our language is so fucking EDG:HVWLOOKDYHUHDOO\KLJKVXLFLGHUDWHV LQWKH/*%7FRPPXQLW\,IZHORRNDWZKDW·V happening in Russia and other places and you WKLQN´2KP\JRRGQHVVµWKHUH·VDORWRIZRUN WREHGRQH,·PGRLQJDORWRIZRUNRQWKDWDW the moment. 7KHSXEOLFLW\DURXQGWKH6RFKL2O\PSLFV H[SRVHGZKDWJD\DQGOHVELDQVLQ 5XVVLDJRWKURXJKRQDGDLO\EDVLV 7KHSUREOHPVHHPVPLOHVDZD\EXW ZK\LVLWLPSRUWDQWWKDWZHFDUH",W·V LPSRUWDQWIRUJD\SHRSOHDQGLW·VLPSRUWDQW IRUVWUDLJKWSHRSOHEHFDXVHLW·VDERXWZKR WKH\DWWDFNÀUVWZKHWKHULWEHWKH-HZVRU WKHJD\V,W·VMXVWDVWDUWLQJSRLQWIRUWKHVH bigots, because they start with someone like that who they can use as a scapegoat, EXWZKDWWKH\·UHUHDOO\DWWDFNLQJLVQRWWKH IDFWWKDWPHQZDQWWRORYHPHQRUZRPHQ ZDQWWRORYHZRPHQRUSHRSOHZKRDUH transgender want to dress differently. What WKH\·UHUHDOO\DWWDFNLQJLVSHRSOH·VDELOLW\WR H[SUHVVWKHPVHOYHVRUKDYHIUHHWKRXJKWV DQGEHFDXVHLWLVDQH[WUHPHYHUVLRQRI IUHHWKRXJKWDOLIHVW\OHFKRLFHWKDW·VZKHUH WKH\FODPSGRZQÀUVW 6R\RX·UHVD\LQJWKHSUREOHPVLQ5XVVLD DUHHYHU\RQH·V²VWUDLJKWRUJD\",·P VD\LQJHYHQLI\RX·UHQRWJD\RU\RXGRQ·W KDYHDQ\JD\IULHQGV\RXQHHGWRNHHSDQ H\HRQWKLVDVZHOO,W·VQRWMXVWDQ/*%7 thing. This is a thing about freedom of speech. Anyone who has any kind of liberal WKRXJKWVRUZDQWVWRH[SUHVVWKHPVHOYHV freely, you need to keep an eye on us PLQRULWLHVEHFDXVHWKDW·VZKHUHWKH\VWDUW 7KDW·VZKHUHWKHIDVFLVWJURXSVVWDUWEHFDXVH minorities are easy targets and then they PRYHRQDQGEHIRUH\RXNQRZLW«

:KDWZRXOG\RXVD\WRVRPHRQH struggling to come out? <RXGRQ·WKDYHWR KLGHLWLQDQ\ZD\,W·VDOOMXVWELRORJ\,W·VZKR ZHORYH,W·VZKRZHDUHDVKXPDQEHLQJV <RXNQRZDOOWRRZHOODERXWEHLQJWKHRGG RQHRXWDVRIFRXUVH\RXZHUHUDLVHG E\\RXUPXP.DWKDQGKHUSDUWQHULQD JD\KRXVHKROG'R\RXZDQWDIDPLO\RI \RXURZQ",·GGHÀQLWHO\OLNHLW\HV,¶GOLNHWR KDYHDIDPLO\DWVRPHSRLQWDQGKDYHNLGV (VSHFLDOO\EHFDXVH,·YHVHHQLWKDSSHQ, grew up with gay parents and I know it can EHGRQHZHOODQGLWFDQEHDMR\IXOH[LVWHQFH IRUDFKLOG,·GOLNHWREHDEOHWRRIIHUWKDW WRDFKLOGEXW,·GKDYHWREHLQWKHULJKW relationship for stability.

:RXOG\RXJHWPDUULHG²QRZ\RXFDQ²WR do it?7KHIDFWWKDWZHKDYHJD\PDUULDJH LVEULOOLDQWDQG,ZDVGHÀQLWHO\RQHRIWKRVH ÀJKWLQJIRULW%HLQJQRQUHOLJLRXVWKRXJKDQG QRWUHDOO\EHLQJDELJIDQRIUHOLJLRQ,·PNLQG RIDPELYDOHQWDERXWWKHIDFWWKDW,FDQJHW PDUULHGRUFLYLOSDUWQHUHGRUZKDWHYHULWLV :KDWDERXWLI\RXPHW0U5LJKWDQGKDG kids?,WKLQNDVDJD\PDQLQ/RQGRQ,·P TXLWHOXFN\,GRQ·WKDYHWRUXVKLQWRLWDQG, FDQZDLWXQWLO,·YHJRWLWUHDOO\ULJKW7KHJUHDW WKLQJDERXWDOWHUQDWLYHIDPLOLHVHVSHFLDOO\LI \RX·UHDGRSWLQJRUVRPHWKLQJZHUHDOO\KDYH to work hard and be sure. It has to be planned DQGLW·VQRWVRPHWKLQJWKDWKDSSHQVE\ accident with us. We put a lot of thought into it. Marriage would be a nice part of that. Q

Dan Gillespie Sells is supporting 40 years of the London Lesbian and Gay Switchboard. To help the FKDULW\FRQWLQXHWRSURYLGHFDOPZRUGVZKHQFDOOHUV need them most, go to LLGS.org.uk or follow them on Twitter, @gayswitchboard

DAN

GILLESPIE SELLS

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Mum’s the word We all love our mums, right? The

strong, powerful women that raised us, support us –

and still lend the odd tenner when we’re a bit strapped

before payday. Now you can tell your mum exactly why

you love her, and through some wonderfully kitsch 60s

typography. Just come up with 15 phrases about your

Supermum, and online art wizards More Than Words

will do the rest. Perfect for Mother’s Day. What do you

mean you don’t know when it is? 30 March. Put it in

your diary – now!

Q $YDLODEOHQRZIRUPRUHWKDQZRUGVXNFRP

New kid on

the block

Sam Smith

is taking the

world – and

the charts

– by storm.

Here are

our top five

reasons why

the singer

is the one

to watch

in 2014

[

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]

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bursting with pride

Call us ol’ softies, but

we love Pride season. The sense of pageantry and community… OK, and it might have something to do with being let off our leash and wearing something completely outrageous. A leather

studded mask, though, isn’t just something for cavorting around the bedroom, if you’re into that kinda thing. It’s symbolic of the many diverse sub-groups within our community. And they’ve all been captured perfectly in photographer Robert Gershinson’s new exhibition – Pride.

Made up of portraits taken on the morning of last year’s London Community Pride, the exhibition shows the diversity of the LGBTQI

community, and proves that it’s only the hats, glitter and makeup that separate us from the Eltons and the Gagas. “The leather puppies were literally queuing up,” says Robert, “they loved all the attention, all bouncy and barking as they waited.

“When I completed this project, the images were so strong and the feedback so great it made sense to turn the series into my first solo exhibition.”

And thankfully, he did; beautifully demonstrating that there are many, many colours that make up our rainbow. Check it out. Q

Pride: A Photography Exhibition runs from 14 April until 30 May at Reading Room gallery in Soho, London, readingroom.com, @RobbyPhotoVideo

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She’s performed

with (and outshone)

more stars than

you’d pass on the

Hollywood Walk of

Fame. The leading

lady in Muppets

Most Wanted, she’s

not only an actress,

she’s also a singer,

a magazine editor, a

designer, and lover

of amphibians – well,

one in particular.

Ladies, gentlemen

and flamboyant

gentlemen, we give

you the legendary

Miss Piggy!

WORDS DARREN SCOTT

Sweetie,

D

_arling?

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If you could be any human, what human would you be and why? When I can be moi, why would I possibly want to be a mere human? But I’d certainly take a shelf full of Meryl Streep’s Oscars if you’re offering. What song do you like to get freaky to? Muskrat Love. I have no idea why, but this one always gets Kermie and moi out on the dance floor letting our freak flag fly. If someone wrote an autobiography about you, what should the title be? “Call Me Moi!: The Kiss and Kiss and Kiss and Tell and Kiss Some More Story of the World’s Most Powerful Diva: Volume I”

Have you ever stolen anything? Just moi’s frog’s heart. The rest of the stuff, I charge.

What would you choose as your last meal? A never-ending all-you-can-eat buffet. You’re not getting rid of me that easy, buster.

Which celebrities would you most like to be your parents and why? Angelina Jolie and Bill Gates. Her, for the looks, him for everything else. Isn’t interspecies dating wrong and against Mother Nature? Look, if Mother Nature doesn’t want to date outside her species, that’s fine with me. But I believe that love between a pig and frog is beautiful, natural… and hot. Should you really be chasing after a frog like that, though? …At your age. Moi’s age? Do you have a death wish? I’m 23-ish, and don’t you forget it. And you should never ever think that moi has to go “chasing” after Kermit. He merely plays hard-to-get; in truth, we’re inseparable – except when I’m seeing other people. If you could be a superhero, what superpower would you have and why? I’m already a diva, with the power to throw tantrums, hurl insults, and make outrageous demands. Additional superpowers would be redundant, don’t vous think? When you go on holiday, what do you pack in your case? Case? Surely you jest! I travel with an entourage, each of whom is responsible for one aspect of my essentials – wardrobe,

hair, shoes, accessories, makeup, more shoes, jewellery, more shoes, more jewellery… etcetera. If I can’t take it with me, I don’t go.

What do you think of people on Twitter always asking for people to bring them bacon? If you keep asking me inappropriate questions like this, I will find you and then you’ll see what getting “freaky” is all about.

If you could go back to any time period in history, which one would you visit and why? I’d go back to see Marie Antoinette and find out if the cake really was that good. If you could have dinner with anyone alive or dead, who would it be and why? I’d have dinner with someone alive. Dinner with someone dead is dreadfully boring, as I’ve discovered at assorted dull Hollywood parties. Who? Kermie, of course. And if he’s not available, I’ve got George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Russell Crowe on speed dial. Why? Sweetie, if you gotta ask, I can’t help you.

What’s your favourite cocktail? Moi doesn’t imbibe… but if you’re buying, I’ll take a case of Cristal.

Garden gnomes? Tacky or joyous? It depends on who they’re wearing. Couture is everything!

If aliens landed and offered you any position you wanted on their planet, what position would you want? I’d want to be royalty, of course… but only if I don’t have to wear that weird make-up like Queen Amidala.

You worked at Vogue – what’s your advice for magazine editors? If you want to sell magazines, put moi on the cover. Works everytime.

Madonna, Kylie, RuPaul, Eartha – who did the best version of Santa Baby? You forgot to mention moi’s version of Santa Baby, which was recently chosen “best ever” by some of my closest friends. However, after that, I have to go with the original, the lovely Miss Eartha Kitt. Grrr.

It goes without saying, you’re a gay icon. What do you think of your gay fan base? I am? That’s fabulous! Well, if I’m your icon, then I love you all. You

have fantastique taste! So I say to my fans: Be yourself. Celebrate life and stay the way you are. Oh, and, of course, as I say to all my many fan bases – go see my new movie Muppets Most Wanted. What do you think about gay marriage? I’m still working on interspecies marriage right now. One issue at a time, okay?

Snog, marry, avoid; Gonzo, Fozzie Bear, Sam the Eagle? To moi, that’s a triple avoid. But I’m sure there’s someone out there for all of them. I just don’t want to know about it when it happens.

What do you think of Lady Gaga? Is it safe to say she’s ripped off your style a bit over the years…? It’s true that Lady Gaga was inspired by moi and moi’s style, but then again, who hasn’t been influenced by me? After all, that’s what being an icon is all about. (I know. I looked it up online.) When we first met, things were a bit tense, but once I realised she and I shared so much in terms of talent and appeal – and that we could swap wardrobes – we quickly became BFF. Who would you like to see star as yourself in a movie based on your life? Asides from yourself, of course. Either Nicole Kidman, Angelina Jolie, Cameron Diaz, Meryl Streep or Clint Eastwood. There’s a little bit of moi in all of them. How can you tell if you’re in love? When you start dancing all freaky to Muskrat Love.

What’s the best piece of advice someone ever gave you? If you don’t carry money, someone else will pay. So, tell us – what is it that makes Kermit so special? How did you know he was the one? Kermit is moi’s soul mate. He completes moi. He had me at “hi ho”. Those skinny arms and legs, that adorable collar thingy, those big goggly eyeballs, put them all together and he’s the closest thing to perfection this side of moi. Q

Muppets Most Wanted is in cinemas 28 March, @RealMissPiggy, @TheMuppets, @Disney_UK

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Prime Minister David Cameron on the monumental introduction of same-sex marriages

…

“While the fight for equality goes

on, it’s important to celebrate

when progress has been made.

As we see the first same-sex

marriages we can look back and

marvel at what has changed. Fifty

years ago homosexuality was

a criminal offence, so we have

come a long way quickly.”

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WO R D S BE NJ AMIN BUT T E R W O R T H

Four years ago, David

Cameron became the

British Prime Minister.

A great deal of his

time since has been

spent changing the

law to allow

same-sex couples to marry,

something he felt

personally committed

to. But his party was

hesitant, and most

Conservative MPs

ended up being against

the change.

FROM THE OUTSET, CAMERON

has put himself forward as a modernising, moderate choice – a ‘compassionate conservative’.

The blue torch-wielding images of Margaret Thatcher have been resigned to the past, in appearance at least. David Cameron is a leader who wants to be seen as at ease with modern Britain – and that includes gay and lesbian voters. But he didn’t get into power on his own. It took the Liberal Democrats – traditionally more supportive of gay rights – to put him there.

But if he is to serve a second term, this time with just the agenda of Tory MPs, can he be trusted to keep our equality as a high priority?

On the historic advent of same-sex marriage coming to pass, GT wanted to reach out to the leaders of the main political parties, and task them with answering questions suggested by you lot.

As always, the best laid plans of mice and gays often go awry, and with the breaking international crisis in Ukraine, the Prime Minister had to pull out at the 11th hour. We suppose that’s another one we can blame on Putin.

He did, however, find the time to write some words for you, the GT readers, on his own opinions of the state of LGBT equality in Britain. And hey, there aren’t many magazines – gay or straight – who get exclusive access to a serving Prime Minister.

This is what he had to say…

---For me it was summed up by a mum in my constituency who said “I’ve got a straight son and a gay daughter. Now I know I’m going to be able to go to both of their weddings, and that makes me really happy”. It isn’t every day someone tells me something like that – and it reinforces that what we’ve done on same-sex marriage says something positive about the country we are, the respect we have for each other and the values that are important to us. Of course there are details still being worked on – such as when civil partnerships can be converted into a marriage – but it’s important that from 29 March the love people have for each other will not be divided by law.

The heart of this issue is this: equality matters. People should be valued for who they are and what they contribute. It’s a person’s character that matters. Their sexual orientation should be neither here nor there. We want people to achieve their maximum potential, whether as a world-leading scientist, an entrepreneur or even Prime Minister, because it is a person’s ability to do the job that counts. I’m proud to be PM of the country judged to be the best place to live in Europe if you are lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans – and the government I lead is doing everything possible to fight prejudice where it remains.

In schools, we are doing all we can to help children and young people who might be being bullied on account of their sexuality. Maybe they are uncertain about their sexuality; maybe they have come out as gay and are being treated differently or appallingly by their peers – either way, we’re holding schools to account through Ofsted for how well they tackle this bullying, including a school’s effectiveness in dealing with derogatory and discriminatory language. We’re also working closely

with anti-bullying organisations to make sure this sort of behaviour is tackled on the ground.

We’re working to break down barriers in sport, too. People should be able to excel in sport regardless of their sexuality – but we know how hard it’s been. That’s why the government introduced a charter against homophobia and transphobia in sport. This was an important step as it forced those signing up – the sports’ governing bodies and clubs – to consider the culture in their sport and the action that needed to be taken. And the world of sport is making slow progress. We have seen the enormously positive reaction to people like Thomas Hitzlsperger and Gareth Thomas being open about their sexuality, and hopefully that will encourage others to be more open too. But we need more role models, straight and gay, to encourage the best behaviour and clubs must tackle problems on the terraces.

Abroad, we’re seeing terrible persecution and discrimination taking place and, again, we must speak out. I’m determined that the British government challenges other countries where outright persecution of gay people takes place, and in recent weeks we’ve done just that – making clear the strength of feeling in the UK to governments in Russia and Uganda. Where there is cruelty and prejudice we should always make a stand.

We are a country where the values of marriage – commitment, responsibility, stability – are available to all; a place where people are able to choose the person they wish to spend their life with and have that bond recognised. Of course, none of us can be complacent and collectively we need to work together day-in, day-out to challenge homophobic behaviour and attitudes in order to make the future even better for our children and grandchildren. Q

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Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg on whether or not the public would be accepting of a gay person as PM

…

“Yes and why not? Being gay

doesn’t affect how you work, how

you interact with people or how

you make decisions. I’m confident

that the British people would

judge him or her on their ability

to lead and be a good Prime

Minister and not on who they

choose to share their life with.”

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WO R D S BE NJ AMIN BUT T E R W O R T H

The last time a liberal

party had their own

government in the UK

was May 1915, almost a

century ago. Except for

a brief pact in the late

70s, no liberal politician

has held serious power

since. That was until

Nick Clegg became

Deputy Prime Minister

in 2010. Neither Labour

nor the Tories secured

enough MPs to form

their own government.

ON TO THE SCENE CAME NICK

Clegg, and the highly contentious business of coalition government. Nick Clegg has had to compromise on a host of policies that were in his party’s manifesto while in the coalition. If Clegg were to play a role in another government, can we trust him to keep our rights secure?

TheyWorkForYou.com rates Nick Clegg’s voting record on gay equality as ‘moderately for’. He voted for same-sex marriage, for reforming human fertilisation laws to forgo the need for a father, and he supported the Equality Act. He has been absent from some of the votes on these measures, which would explain why his ranking isn’t higher. That’s probably what comes with being Deputy PM, though.

There’s only one way to know exactly where he stands though, and that’s to ask the man himself. In a gay press exclusive, Nick Clegg answers your questions.

---The numbers of young gay men contracting HIV has rocketed in recent years. What should the government do to tackle this problem? Most people with HIV can

expect to live a long and healthy life if they are diagnosed early. But what’s very worrying is that new HIV infections continue to increase in gay men of all ages. The simple message is to use a condom and get tested regularly for HIV and other STIs.

There needs to be a concerted effort from everyone to get to grips with this, particularly local councils, who now have both the power and budget to tackle the health problems that affect their communities in England. The government continues to fund the important work the Terrence Higgins Trust is doing to help tackle two of the most at-risk groups of HIV; gay men and African communities.

Do you believe that gender re-assignment surgery should be available on the NHS, equally, wherever you are in the country?

Yes I do. And since last year we have been working with the transgendered community to produce a single and consistent policy, which will be finalised by later this year.

Given the high rates of mental health problems among LGBT youth, what more do you think the government should be doing to help? This is a very important issue

for me. Research suggests people who are lesbian, gay and bisexual have a higher risk of mental health problems and I’m concerned that some people report that their experience of services designed to help them is not always as good as it should be. Last month I launched our Mental Health Action Plan, identifying 25 aspects of mental health care and support where government – along with help from health and social care leaders, academics and representative organisations – expect to see real changes in the help available for LBGT youth over the next couple of years. Help for young people is a priority area, with schools being supported to identify those who need support sooner.

What plans do you have to make the same-sex marriage bill more trans friendly, such as making it easier to transition within existing marriages? It’s hugely unfair that a

married couple, who are committed to one another and don’t want to separate, have to divorce if one of

them changes their legal gender. If a couple want to remain married then they should be allowed to. When the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act comes into force it will put an end to the era of stolen marriages, allowing trans people for the first time to change their legal gender without having to end their marriage. This is an important development and one which will hopefully make the transition process a little easier.

Which Liberal Democrat MPs have inspired your belief in gay rights? When she was in the Home

Office, Lynne Featherstone set the equal marriage bill on its way through the Westminster machine. I was very impressed with the way she worked tirelessly in the face of a lot of opposition, both inside government and out. I was very proud of Lynne for what she started, and same-sex couples simply wouldn’t be getting married from 29 March without her efforts. It will mark a significant day for many, many couples, but also it’s a significant day for Lynne, and I hope people will raise a glass in her name.

Who was the first gay person you befriended, and how did they influence your views? I have

quite a few friends who are gay but I tend not to think them as ‘gay’ or ‘straight’ even. If I’m friends with someone, it is because I trust them, I get on well with them and we share the same interests. I’m a Liberal Democrat. Even if I didn’t have any LGBT friends, that would not affect how I would want them to be treated. Everyone deserves to be treated equally.

How do you think you would react if one of your children were to come out? I would have no issues at

all if one of my boys told me that he liked another boy. It’s not a choice, it’s who you are and I would love my boys regardless of their sexuality. I just hope that someday coming out to your parents is not going to be something you dread but something you will remember fondly. Q

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Labour leader Ed Miliband on how he would feel if one of his children were to come out

…

“I would love them equally as

much. The most important thing

to me is that my kids are happy

and I don’t care whether they’re

gay or straight. That’s what

matters to me.”

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In 14 months Ed

Miliband could be the

British Prime Minister.

Currently the polls

predict – by a small

margin – that Labour

will form the next

government. But what

do we really know about

Ed Miliband? And,

more importantly, what

can he do to stand up

for the many gay and

lesbian voters across

our country?

BORN ON CHRISTMAS EVE,1969,

Ed is the son of two left-wing academics. His father, Ralph Miliband, fled to Britain on the last boat to England from Belgium as a Jewish refugee. Ed’s mother, Marion Kozak, was originally one of Ralph’s students after he became a sociology lecturer at the LSE. But with a similar background – a Polish-born Holocaust survivor – the pair soon found love. And their two sons, Ed and David, would become the most powerful political fraternity of a generation.

Now he’s on the cusp of becoming one of the most important men in the world. And if Ed does become PM, what can we expect for our rights?

Since his election to parliament in 2005 as MP for Doncaster North, in Yorkshire, the vote monitoring website TheyWorkForYou.com rates his record on gay rights as being ‘very strongly for’. He voted to change the law on human fertilisation so that a child could have same-sex parents, voted in favour of the Equality Act, and voted in favour of marriage equality.

Now, in this exclusive interview, GT put the questions you wanted answering to the Labour leader to find out what he can do for us, and why it is he cares for our rights.

---Which Labour MPs have inspired your belief in gay rights? The

Labour Party is hugely proud of the

role our members played in the fight for equality. I’ve been a passionate advocate for equality and human rights all of my life. It’s one of the reasons why I am in politics and in the Labour Party.

As the first openly gay MP and minister, Chris Smith did a huge amount for sexual equality. Later in his career, his decision to make public the fact that he is HIV-positive was incredibly brave and has had a significant impact on public awareness of HIV.

When I was a student in the 1980s, I also remember all of those MPs, mostly Labour, who spoke out against Section 28 at a time when LGBT rights were not as widely accepted. I also hugely respect Angela Eagle – who was the first openly lesbian MP. I know, from talking to her, the pressures she faced before coming out soon after she was elected.

What more can be done to put pressure on the likes of Qatar and Russia that anti-gay discrimination won’t be tolerated?

We have made significant progress on equality in Britain over the last 20 years, but we must not forget that in many countries across the world being gay is illegal and discrimination is not only allowed, but encouraged by governments. The Russian and Qatari governments should be in no doubt that their rejection of LGBT rights is in violation of basic human rights. The response of some African leaders stirring up hatred and legislating against LGBT people is equally horrendous. We live in a global community and equality should not stop at the border. Labour has repeatedly called on the British government to do more to challenge these countries on their politics towards the LGBT community.

Does the derogatory use of words like ‘gay’ and other slurs in the classroom matter? There should

be a zero tolerance approach to homophobic bullying in all schools. Schools should be safe

environments, conducive to learning, enquiry and discovery. They should be spaces for young people to develop as individuals. This is really important. I will continue to raise awareness on this issue and hope that together we can make homophobic bullying a thing of the past.

I recently visited Blatchington Mill School in Hove – the school has an excellent record on combating homophobic bullying and has been recognised by Stonewall for its work.

Given the high rates of mental health problems among gay youth, what more would you do to help? Mental health is the

biggest unaddressed health challenge of our age.

As there are higher rates of mental illness in the LGBT community, we urgently need to take action to support gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people who suffer from mental health problems.

We know people will use services which are LGBT-friendly and where professionals understand their health needs – for example some trusts have a dedicated LGBT mental health nurse. We need to look at how these services can be expanded.

Who was the first gay person you befriended? The first time I met

openly gay people was at university. There were lots of arguments going on at the time about equality issues, including about Section 28. These debates certainly opened my eyes and heavily influenced what I think about equality issues today.

Can you foresee there being a gay Prime Minister? Yes. I think the

world has changed a lot. If you think about the way it has changed in the last 20 years since I was at college, we’ve seen the repeal of Section 28, we’ve seen civil partnerships, the lowering of the age of consent, equal marriage and that has been driven by change in social attitudes and that is why I think absolutely it’s foreseeable to have a gay Prime Minister. Q WO R D S BE NJ AMIN BUT T E R W O R T H