Table of contents for April 2016 in Attitude Magazine

There’s almost a music theme to this issue. Pet Shop Boys’ Neil Tennant came out in Attitude in 1994 in one of our first major exclusives, and we’ve had a great relationship with him and musical partner Chris Lowe ever since. To mark the duo’s 30th anniversary and the release of their ‘uppest’ album in a long time, Super, we welcome them back to the cover and I interview them on page 128. Also in this issue, we have a great expansive feature to mark the 40th anniversary of the Punk movement in the UK. Iconic music journo Jon Savage writes about the relationship between punk and queer culture. Mark Moore, who had a massive hit with S’Express in the 80s, gives us his personal take, and Paul Flynn explains…

FASHION RUFSKIN Trailblazing label Rufskin have extended their brand well beyond their staple product, jeans. Not only have they added a wealth of new clothing to their range, including everything from underwear to knitwear, they also produce their own online magazine, RUFHOUSE. The brand’s latest venture, RUFSKINSTUDIO, sells fine prints and signed photographs from their nude series. Available at rufskin.com MUSIC MIMI’S IN TOWN Fresh off her Las Vegas residency, the mother of all divas, Mariah Carey, brings her Sweet Sweet Fantasy tour to the UK this month. Catch her through March in Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff and London. mariahcarey.com/tour ART THROUGH A QUEER LENS: PORTRAITS OF LGBTQ JEWS This exhibition presents portraits of British Jews, taken by fine art photographer Ajamu. Including leading artists, activists and entrepreneurs, it…

We delve into the records that matter to the Australian singer behind mega hit ‘You Don’t Own Me’. What’s the first song you ever bought? The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. I think it came out when I was really little but I got my first copy when I was around 8 or 9. Lauryn has been one of my biggest influences ever. Do you have a song that reminds you of falling in love? I don’t know if I’ve ever really been in love. But ‘You Send Me’ by Aretha Franklin makes me want to experience that feeling. Do you have a song that makes you cry? ‘Love Is a Losing Game’ by Amy Winehouse, especially the live version. I can’t help but tear up when I hear this song…

5. ELIZABETH MONTGOMERY IN BEWITCHED (1964 – 1972) A charming Middle America housewife who just wants to be a family gal and hide her witchiness. We’ve all been there. 4. IDINA MENZEL IN WICKED (2003 MUSICAL, STILL PLAYING) Elphaba was misunderstood. Sure. That’s what they all say. Best bit: when she sings ‘Defying Gravity’ and is lifted up by a forklift truck like a crazy bitch. It’s magic, ain’t it! 3. MERYL STREEP IN INTO THE WOODS (2014) As a witch Meryl is perfect as she fingers the twisted cucumbers in her veg patch and plots in the movie adaptation of Sondheim’s classic musical. We’d be happy with a sequel called Witch Kills Everyone And Has Her Own Show. 2. BETTE MIDLER IN HOCUS POCUS (1993) Sisteeeers! Bette plays Winifred…

WHAT BELONGS TO YOU GARTH GREENWELL/FARRAR, STRAUS AND GIROUX What Belongs to You is a debut novel which has arrived with considerable excitement and critical praise. Garth Greenwell – described as one of America’s most exciting young writers – expresses himself beautifully, as he details the experience of an American teacher and a Bulgarian hustler living in Sofia. The novel moves beyond an initial transaction between the pair to explore a more complicated relationship between the older teacher, and the younger Mitko. There is a desperation in both of them – which gay readers will recognise – and as the balance of reliance and vulnerability shifts between them, it’s reminiscent of Robin Campillo’s 2014 film Eastern Boys; with equal amounts of dangerous eroticism. Amidst the arc of their relationship, the…

Trans is hot right now. Sadly, so is transphobia. In fact, the trans community seems to be fighting the same old battles gay people have already been fighting for years. The reaction to the government’s Transgender Equality report – a wide-ranging look at the state of life for trans people in modern Britain, published earlier this year – has been a prime example. Maria Miller, who delivered the report, told the Independent: “The only negative reaction that I’ve seen has been by individuals purporting to be feminists.” She has been accused of exposing women to “violent men hiding behind the mask of transgender”. As the Independent notes, she’s been told that trans women are “not real women” and are often “violent offenders or sex offenders” and that she was failing…

Menswear is going all kinds of delicate for Spring/Summer. Designers such as Astrid Andersen have always flirted with lace, but the likes of Gucci’s new revolutionised androgynous collection and Burberry’s latest offering, saw lace and embroidery as well as dusty pinks and off pastels make their way onto the runway. There were plenty of embroideries and detailing found at Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Marc Jacobs, all going for chinoiserie themed prints – which meant a wealth of birds, dragons and florals as well as silk fabrics and billowing wide leg trousers on display, all reinforcing the softer side of proceedings. The 50s got a look-in with plenty of bomber jackets on show, as well as oversized polos and shirts tucked into trousers all in a 50s pastel palette and print.…

“I think we need new myths and new worlds of wonder... ...It’s time to look at places other than Europe” “A lot of these countries like to think that they are being biblical with their homophobia, but they’re not: they’re being Victorian” “Trump doesn’t need to win to cause damage” If you ever need an example of perseverance paying off, just look to Marlon James. His debut novel John Crow’s Devil was rejected 78 times before finally being published in 2005. Ten years later, in 2015, his third novel, A Brief History of Seven Killings, won the Man Booker Prize – one of the most distinguished honours in literature. A Brief History of Seven Killings is a sprawling epic which explores the social fabric of Jamaica in the 1970s and…

In early 1976 the original punk rockers sought haven in gay clubs knowing they wouldn’t be harassed for their extreme looks. You would see future icons like Johnny Rotten, Siouxsie Sioux, Vivienne Westwood, Billy Idol, Boy George, Sid Vicious and others at Louise’s in Wardour Street, a lesbian night. Legend has it that it became their haunt due to Sioux, who knew the gay discos, and future club runner Philip Sallon, who knew all the best gay bars. When Punk exploded many went to Louise’s whilst the punk elite moved on to El Sombrero in Kensington High Street. (Sombrero was previously visited by David Bowie in the early 70s when it was called Yours Or Mine and Bowie was prepping for his bisexual Ziggy Stardust persona.) The first punk club,…

“I was making albums and putting them on Bandcamp and giving them to friends who, to me, were brilliant musicians” On 8th June 2013, at 8.39pm, Sonic Youth bassist and art-punk royalty Kim Gordon Tweeted three simple words to her followers: ‘Sleaford Mods rule.’ The seal of outsider approval was Retweeted 39 times and liked 18. Ever the early adopter, Gordon was a good two years ahead of the pack in anointing the pleasingly unpleasant Nottingham duo her patronage. Last year, Sleaford Mods became an unlikely mainstream concern. Sleaford Mods are frequently dubbed ‘the angriest band in Britain’. On account of the song ‘Rupert Trousers’ on their last album Key Markets, a sneering invective on the Bullingdon political classes, they earned the title “the ‘Kill Boris’ band” in the Daily…

One of the things we love most about Flare is the interactive aspect of the festival, from club events to post-screening discussions. Even if you aren’t seeing a film or going to an event, just head down to the BFI and soak up the atmosphere. It’s the official start of summer for us, when Southbank becomes a mini-Pride festival and every aspect of our LGBT+ community comes together in the name of art and culture. CLUB KALI If sitting in a dark room in silence isn’t your thing, or you’ve just seen three intense films back-to-back and need a dance, Club Kali will sort you out. Home of the fabulous, sari-clad Chutney queens, they’ve been spinning Bollywood and Bhangra for 21 years. UNSKINNY BOP 25% good pop and R&B, 25%…

Testicular Cancer TESTICULAR CANCER IS THE MOST COMMON CANCER TO AFFECT YOUNG MEN FROM THE AGES OF ABOUT 15 TO 45. THE MOST COMMON SYMPTOM OF TESTICULAR CANCER IS FINDING SMALL LUMPS OR SWELLINGS ON YOUR TESTICLES. THAT IS WHY IT IS IMPORTANT FOR ALL MEN TO CHECK THEIR TESTICLES REGULARLY, TO HELP TACKLE ANY ISSUES AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE. THERE ARE VARIOUS DIFFERENT TYPES OF TESTICULAR CANCER, SOME MORE SERIOUS THAN OTHERS. THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT TESTICULAR CANCER IS ENTIRELY CURABLE IF CAUGHT EARLY ENOUGH. TREATMENT USUALLY INVOLVES SURGERY AND CHEMOTHERAPY. OVER 95% OF MEN WITH TESTICULAR CANCER WHO ARE DIAGNOSED EARLY ARE COMPLETELY CURED, AND EVEN CASES WHERE CANCER HAS SPREAD HAVE GOOD CHANCES OF SURVIVAL. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS TO CHECK YOUR TESTICLES REGULARLY. TO…

Travis and I had been seeing each other for a month and I’d never been happier. He was smart, funny and handsome, and, most importantly, he was mine. Finally, I was like everyone else; I had a boyfriend. Well, kinda. We hadn’t yet had the conversation about calling each other that as I was waiting for the right moment. He lived in a flat round the corner from the theatre I worked in, so I pretty much saw him every night. He’d have dinner ready for me when I finished, and together we’d drink whiskey, chat about our day – which mainly consisted of me bitching about the front-of-house team, and him telling me about his day – before we’d go to bed, half a bottle of whiskey later. Our…

Dear Attitude, I think my dad is gay. I’m gay myself and have been out to my family for a few years already. I moved out of home at 17, not because of my homosexuality – although it was a big part of it – but more because my parents are just so religious (Church of England) and we were always arguing. As such I didn’t have much of a relationship with my parents for a long time. We kept in touch, but we were never particularly close. I landed on my feet, got a good job and even bought my own flat. Mum passed away three years ago, and I made an effort to get closer to my dad, mostly because I don’t want to lose touch with my…

“GENTRIFICATION IS TOO KIND A WORD FOR THIS NEW, TWO-TIER SYSTEM OF LIVING. LONDON BECOMES A CITY STATE, A VACUUM-PACKED CARAPACE TO CONSUMERISM” Last year, three local gay venues shut-up shop. I loved them all. The first could be seen as misfortune. By the third, it was beginning to look like carelessness. A wider endemic spread first across the capitol, then the country. 50% of UK nightclubs have closed in the last two years, pubs following similarly escalated finales. This is no longer a gay thing. Suddenly, a new and very 21st century, post-digital fear sets in. What will Britain look like without its local pubs? As a starting point for this brave new world, I suppose we have to take into account that the primary shared space for socialising…

THROUGH LIFE COACH TRAINING I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS, AND HOW WE’RE NOT TAUGHT HOW TO BE IN THEM, AND HOW THEY CAN ACTUALLY BE SAVED. I’VE DONE WORK IN THE U.S. AND IN THE UK, AND COUPLES OVER HERE ARE MUCH LESS OPEN TO SEEING SOMEBODY. THERE’S AN ASSUMPTION THAT SOMETHING’S WRONG, BUT THAT’S NOT ALWAYS THE CASE. There’s not much out there for straight couples, let alone gay couples, so I wanted to set up something proactive that supported same-sex relationships. Counselling tends to look in the past, and dig around to resolve issues there, whereas coaching looks at where the client is now, and where they want to get to. As human beings we make massive assumptions all the time, in trying to fill in the…

If you’ve travelled the world a fair bit, it can be easy to forget what’s on your own doorstep. And if you’re looking for love, or just a bit of fun, you don’t have to travel far; The Outing in Lisdoonvarna is a delightful and different experience. First up though, a trip to the Emerald Isle wouldn’t be complete without visiting its charming capital city. Dublin has a constant, joyous buzz about it – perhaps due to the fact booze seems to pour out of the taps. You’re never short of a beverage or a new friend in one of the city’s varied bars, with some of the friendliest people you’ll ever meet. And if you prefer to stay away from the devil’s juice (It’s actually possible, even in Ireland!)…

MARK MOORE Mark Moore is a producer, DJ, remixer, songwriter and writer. Also known for corrupting the youth during the Acid House wars with his hit band S'Express. He's often on TV talking about music and culture and was recently dragged out of bed by the BBC to talk about David Bowie on the news. JON SAVAGE Jon Savage is the author of 1966: The Year the Decade Exploded, Teenage: The Creation of Youth 1875-1945, and England’s Dreaming: The Sex Pistols and Punk Rock – reissued in February 2016 as a Faber Modern Classic. He is also the compiler of Queer Noises 1961-1978: From The Closet to the Charts (Trikont). JENNY BROUGH Photographer Jenny takes inspiration from almost everything; colour and emotion being key factors. Adding her unique style to…

“THE PLAY FOR ME IS ABOUT COPING; HOW DO WE COPE WITH LIFE? I CAN RELATE TO THE DESIRE TO WANT TO SWITCH OFF. EVERYBODY CAN” You portray a very emotionally intense character. Is it painful to go through that every night? I play a lot of really emotional women, and playing them eight times a week you get used to it, somehow. But this role is a really intense one for me every night in the theatre. I have to be like an athlete and not do very much else so I can recover every day from it. I’m getting ready by doing pilates and building up my core. It’s about getting my body really strong. It’s an amazing experience; you feel high as a kite afterwards. How does…

HAIL, CAESAR! 3/5 JOSH BROLIN, GEORGE CLOONEY, RALPH FIENNES The Coen Brothers are back with their star-studded, post-war Hollywood comedy, Hail, Caesar! We follow studio boss Eddie Mannix, as he is left to deal with many a studio-crisis, including the kidnapping of movie star Baird Whitlock (Clooney). Compared to some of the award-winning masterpieces the Coens have put out, this does feel like Coen Brothers-Lite. However, the film is still dripping with authentic character and all the interesting quirks and humour of the 50s. Its supporting cast shines; with Tilda Swinton’s scene-stealing gossip columnist twins, Scarlett Johansson as the cheeky leading lady, and Channing Tatum's homoerotic song and dance. 4TH MARCH THE WITCH 4/5 ANYA TAYLOR-JOY, RALPH INESON, KATE DICKIE It’s rare these days that we get a horror film…

MIRIAM MARGOLYES Batty as Dracula’s sock drawer. Love her. ADELE Taking her son to Disneyland dressed as a Frozen princess. WE. LOVE. YOU. FORMATION There should be a gay version called ‘Synchronised Swimming’. DON’T KNOW WHY. THERE JUST SHOULD. JOHNNY CARTER 2.0 Him off EastEnders. Wish we could live in soap land and fuck off for a year and then come back with a brand new face. THE NEW JAMES BOND We think it should be a homosexual from a reality show. A really fucking irritating one. (Take your pick). Just for shits. And they could have gays from clubs dancing in hot pants for the opening credits with a theme song by Hazell friggin Dean THE POP KIDS Dancing our lives away, quoting the best bits. Going to clubs,…

ROMEO AND JUDE MARTY ROSS/AN AUDIBLE ORIGINAL DRAMA Romeo and Jude is a new audio book from Amazon’s Audible brand, which follows a gay love story based on the original Shakespearean tale. It concerns two men taking part in a production of the famous romance, who themselves become embroiled in a love affair, so it’s a clever reimagining, not reliant on the original text or plot, but rather using it as a starting point, and a backdrop to the new love story at the fore. With all the audio tricks of the trade you’re used to hearing in shows like The Archers, this features actors including Owen Teale (Game of Thrones) and Matthew Tennyson (Pride). READING FROM BEHIND: A CULTURAL ANALYSIS OF THE ANUS JONATHAN A. ALLAN/ZED BOOKS You may…

AGE: 27 OCCUPATION: LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT CO-ORDINATOR AT HERBERT SMITH FREEHILLS LLP FROM: CANTERBURY WHAT’S YOUR MORNING ROUTINE? I have breakfast and a big mug of coffee whilst watching the news. Then I shower, moisturise and rush out the door to catch the train to work. WHAT’S A DAY AT WORK LIKE? No two days are the same, but I’m currently working on an LGBT graduate recruitment initiative called DiversCity in Law, which is an annual event and mentoring scheme that helps LGBT university students pursue a legal career in London. HOW DID YOU LAND YOUR JOB? My current boss was a trustee of the Peter Tatchell Foundation, which is where I used to work. As he liked how I work I was given the opportunity to interview for my…

After winning ITV’s Superstar in 2012, actor Ben Forster toured the world in an arena production of Jesus Christ Superstar, with Mel C and Tim Minchin. Now, he enjoys a healthy West End career, and has just taken on one of musical theatre’s most coveted roles in The Phantom of The Opera, which recently celebrated 30 years at Her Majesty's Theatre in London. How was it that you first got into musical theatre? I grew up in Sunderland and I’d always liked performing as a hobby. It was something I did in after school classes and stuff, but to be honest there wasn’t anybody else doing it where I was from; there were no boys. I was in one of the biggest schools in the north-east, and trying to break…

Paris is at the epicentre of fashion. It’s home to the couture houses, sublime architecture and houses some of the world’s most iconic works of art (here’s looking at you Mona, babes). The French capital doesn’t compromise on style when it comes to accommodation either, with loads to offer in the way of beautiful little boutique hotels that give you a much more unique stay in Paris – the aptly named Hotel Original Paris displays this latter perfectly. This boutique hotel set inside a traditional Parisian townhouse has individually decorated rooms, so each one has plenty of character. You can stay in cosy attic rooms with brushed bronzed metallic touches and sloped roofs, or spacious doubles, twins and triples with everything from pastels, neutrals and vibrant colours to black and…

CHRISTOPHER WARD 1. Christopher Ward C60 Trident Chronography Pro 600, £1,395 available exclusively at christopherward.co.uk 2. Jimmy Choo Alaric shoe, £495 3. Diesel keyring, £35 4. HJ Charleston stripe superfine Egyptian cotton socks, £8.75 5. Drake’s polka-dot silk pocket square, £50 at MR PORTER 6. Tateossian gears cufflinks, £150 at Selfridges 7. Tumi Sinclair zip-around continental wallet, £195 8. Cutler and Gross aviator-style sunglasses, £310 at MR PORTER PAUL SMITH 1. Paul Smith ‘Block’ three-hand steel bracelet with white dial, £299 2. Fendi Bag Bugs cover in black, £275 3. Fendi backpack bag charm keyring in white, £940 4. Christian Louboutin David the Great Patent shoe, £795 5. Louis Leeman tote bag, £1,489 6. Louis Leeman wallet, £215 7. Tumi wallet, £145 8. Tom Ford printed silk pocket square, £120…

For all its rejection of society’s norms, punk could still be close-minded when it came to its gay comrades. Thus the emergence of Queercore: hardcore music with a gay bent. The movement got its start in the mid-80s in J.D.s, a Toronto-based zine started by G.B Jones and Bruce LaBruce. Their objective was to piss off just about everyone, and from the get-go they antagonised both punk and gay subcultures. But from this rejection, a queer punk culture emerged, ignoring the rules of both to create something altogether new. One of the movement’s seminal moments was the release of the first queercore compilation on cassette, J.D.s Top Ten Homocore Hit Parade Tape, shortly after which they ceased to exist. The zine, however, had given rise to a number of bands,…

“I came out to my mum when I was about 20, and the only reason I waited until then was because I wanted to be in a relationship” “I knew he was gay from when he was very little, and I wished it on him, to be honest” ADRIAN (33) AND GILL (69), LONDON ADRIAN I’ve never been that close to my dad, but it didn’t really make a difference because Mum was like my mum, dad, auntie and uncle, all rolled into one, so I never felt I missed out on anything. I was at every after school club: drama, gymnastics, swimming. I had a bit of a hippie upbringing. Mum never had us christened, because she said, ‘You might want to marry a Muslim, or a Buddhist,’ which…

HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN SPORTS THERAPY? I USED TO BE A TRACK ATHLETE, BACK IN THE DAY. THAT WAS WHEN I WAS AROUND 17 OR 18. I USED TO HAVE SPORTS MASSAGES FROM THE PHYSIO THERAPISTS AND SPORTS MASSEURS, SO I ALWAYS HAD EXPERIENCE OF IT. IT WAS QUITE A NATURAL TRANSITION FOR ME TO GET INVOLVED IN IT PROFESSIONALLY. WHERE DO YOU STUDY? I’M STUDYING WITH A SCHOOL CALLED PREMIER. I SPECIALISE IN SPORTS MASSAGE, SO I WORK WITH BOTH ATHLETES AND NON-ATHLETES LOOKING FOR HELP. IT’S REALLY COOL. MODELLING OPENED UP A LOT OF DOORS FOR ME AND I BRANCHED INTO IT. IT’S BEEN REALLY GOOD FOR ME. WHAT DOES YOUR WORKOUT REGIME LOOK LIKE? I’VE GOTTEN REALLY INTO SUSPENSION TRAINING. YOU CAN LITERALLY JUST PULL…

1 DON’T BE AFRAID TO BE YOURSELF – you deserve to be happy no matter who you are, and the key to happiness is being true to yourself. 2 DO IT YOUR WAY – coming out is a personal process and different for everyone. While some prefer to do it in person, or some even through YouTube, if writing is the easiest form of communication for you than writing a letter is a perfectly fine way to come out to people. 3 DON’T EVER FEEL PRESSURED TO COME OUT – remember, it’s YOUR choice to come out how and when you choose to do so. 4 SPEAK TO SOMEONE YOU CAN TRUST FIRST – their support may help you talk to others. If you feel you don’t have anyone to…

By Text Only appropriate if you've been on a few dates or you're under the age of 21. Otherwise, allow us to be Lady Macbeth for a second and tell you to grow a pair and do it in person. Face-to-Face Look, it ain't gonna be the most comfortable experience of your life but it's the decent thing to do. And unless you relish the sight of someone hysterically sobbing into their spaghetti carbonara at Bella Italia, let them down gently in the privacy of their own home. By Ghosting A cruel tactic that involves basically ignoring the other person's texts and calls until they get the picture. We recommend only using this if you're the glam Charlize Theron shaking off an engagement to Sean Penn. Over Social Media Anyone…

“If a ‘New’ New Testament was written today, does anyone think there would be any condemnation of homosexuality?” Even when I was a campanologist, ringing the bells at our village church, I didn’t believe in God. OK, I was only a teenager, and I was only ringing the bells each Sunday as the lesser of two evils. It was that or being a choirboy. You’ll understand why I chose Plain Bob Minor. I had a typical rural upbringing. I lived in a quiet north Essex village near Saffron Walden, went to the local Church of England primary school, my mother did the church flowers once a month to keep up with the Jones’s, and every so often we’d be dragged along to the Sunday morning service to take Holy Communion.…

WHERE: Room Service, 49 Greek Street, Soho WHEN: Thursday 28th January ROB, 21, OSLO I usually shop at Nike because I’m into gym and fitness, so I like to wear comfortable clothes. CHRIS, 28, GREECE I like athletic brands like Adidas and Urban Outfitters because I like their clothes, especially Adidas Originals. JUSTIN, 26, LONDON I get my clothes at a fancy dress shop because I love the attention. MAXIMUS, 26, NIGERIA I tend to shop all over. I do a bit of Topman, Primark, Selfridges and then I go to Spitalfields market because I like to get a wide selection and different looks. JAKE, 24, READING I get my clothes from the high street. I never shop online because I can’t find anything that fits me really. JOHANNA, 20-SOMETHING,…

“HAVING A WANK ON SKYPE IS SUPER AWKWARD. EVEN IF YOU’VE ALREADY SLEPT WITH THAT PERSON TWENTY GAZILLION TIMES” IF GHOSTING REFERS to the method of dumping someone by ignoring all their texts and calls, what’s the word for when the person you are in a relationship with moves countries? I ask because – faced with years of my myriad neurosis, unparalleled ability to relate every subject back to the Spice Girls and flat-out refusal to ever leave the house for more than three hours at a time – my boyfriend has finally done the sensible thing, and emigrated. I know. Awkward. Full disclosure: he’s only moved to Paris, which isn’t exactly Australia (or god forbid, Dubai), but still. Sympathy please. Obviously, the best thing about this new arrangement is…

THIS MONTH: JAMES GREW A BEARD, PUBLISHED A BOOK IN WHICH STRAIGHT JAMES FRANCO INTERVIEWS GAY JAMES FRANCO, SCRIBED A YEAR OF HIS MEMOIRS ON THE APPLE WATCH FOR AN AMAZON PRIME SERIES, PASSED ON A PIECE OF CHEROKEE ORAL HISTORY, SENT HIS NAN A BIRTHDAY CARD AND MADE A QUICHE FOR HIS NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOUR. GO JAMES! Daniel Bedingfield APPARENTLY MOST OF US THOUGHT HE HAD FALLEN OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH, BUT WHEN DANIEL BEDINGFIELD REAPPEARED ON LORRAINE’S SOFA RECENTLY, HE GAVE US A JOLT OF LIFE. TRIM AND BEARDED, HE QUICKLY WENT VIRAL ON TWITTER – GAY TWITTER, TO BE EXACT. OH DANNY, YOU ARE THE ONE.…

ROBB AGE: 24, OCCUPATION: THEATRE TECHNICIAN JAMES, AGE: 23 OCCUPATION: ACTOR WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO GO ON A BLIND DATE? ROBB: I got bored of the usual apps. I saw the Tweet and thought I’d like to try it. I’ve never experienced a blind date before. JAMES: I spent a lot of time getting tired of Grindr and Tinder, because it never really amounts to anything, and I suppose I’m as much a culprit, as I can be quite shallow. I thought this was a good way of going into something without any preconceptions. FIRST IMPRESSIONS? ROBB: He seemed like a really nice guy. Very handsome. He’s the kind of guy I’d usually go for. JAMES: He was lovely and genuinely nice. I don’t really have a type, but…

“I REALISED MY MUM ACTUALLY THOUGHT I WAS STRAIGHT, AND THAT WAS DEVASTATING FOR ME TO THINK THAT I HAD KEPT THAT FROM HER” DATE OF BIRTH: 24 APRIL, 1981 PLACE OF BIRTH: SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND BEST KNOWN FOR: LEAD ROLES IN JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, EVITA, ELF AND THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA LEAST KNOWN FOR: BEN ALSO RELEASES HIS OWN ACOUSTIC ALBUMS OF COVERS, TACKLING SONGS BY MICHAEL JACKSON AND MAROON 5. BGF STATUS: OPENLY GAY, BEN IS ONE OF THE BEST MUSICAL THEATRE ACTORS WORKING IN THE WEST END TODAY, AND HE’S ONE HANDSOME CHAP, TOO…

Got to Be Real It’s official, for 2016 beards are over – a fresh, clean-shaven face is the way forward. Having said that, it’s like we’ve forgotten how to shave after a year of newfangled electrical beard trimming. Enter The Real Shaving Co., who’ve launched their Sensitive and Moisturising shave gels in a new aerosol format. The Sensitive Shave Gel creates a protective barrier over your skin, so the blade glides extra smoothly – it’s all thanks to the aloe leaf juice it contains, which keeps skin soothed. Their Moisturising Shave Gel contains another natural miracle in the form of seaweed extract as well as aloe, nourishing even the driest skin. Moisturising Shave Gel, £3.49 for 150ml. Sensitive Shave Gel, £3.49 for 150ml.realshaving.com Jo Malone’s Green Fingers Jo Malone London…

JAYNE COUNTY PREVIOUSLY WAYNE, TRANSGENDER ROCK ICON JAYNE STARTED OUT AS ONE OF THE WARHOL SUPERSTARS, BEFORE PLAYING ICONIC NEW YORK PUNK CLUBS CBGB AND MAX’S KANSAS CITY. SHE ALSO APPEARED IN THE 1976 FILM THE BLANK GENERATION, WHICH DEFINED THE BEGINNING OF THE AMERICAN PUNK MOVEMENT. DARBY CRASH OF THE GERMS CRASH CO-FOUNDED SEMINAL L.A. PUNK BAND THE GERMS – PERHAPS A BETTER NAME THAN THEIR ORIGINAL ONE, SOPHISTIFUCK AND THE REVLON SPAM QUEENS. JOAN JETT PRODUCED THEIR ALBUM, BEFORE CRASH DIED OF AN INTENTIONAL HEROIN OVERDOSE AT THE AGE OF 22. PETER SHELLEY OF BUZZCOCKS BUZZCOCKS MARRIED PUNK TO A MORE POP SENSIBILITY, WITH THEIR FIRST HIT ‘EVER FALLEN IN LOVE WITH SOMEONE (YOU SHOULDN’T’VE FALLEN IN LOVE WITH)’. SONGS SUCH AS ‘ORGASM ADDICT’ FURTHER EXPLORED SHELLEY’S BISEXUALITY…

Q&A Our health expert Dr Christian Jessen answers your medical queries Q Many of my partners say my penis is too large and it’s painful having sex, but I only want to top. What do I do? Duncan, Salford A Well, first of all, lucky you. Men often have a problem with having penises that are too small, but it is often forgotten that being too large can be just as much of a problem. The important thing here is position when it comes to having sex. There are many different positions to try out which will either increase or decrease the extent of the penetration and, therefore, the level of discomfort. People with this problem usually find it easier if your partners are on top as they have better…

Will Cooper, 24, Lewisham, Political Assistant I’ve always subscribed to the magazine and when Attitude started doing this feature I really liked it. My ex-boyfriend, who used to write for the mag, pushed me to do it. But I also wanted to do things to make me more body confident, and this was one of the ways to do that. HEIGHT/WEIGHT 5’11 13 STONE Diet I FIND IT REALLY DIFFICULT TO FIND TIME TO COOK FOR MYSELF. WHEN I FINISH WORK I EITHER WANT TO GO TO THE PUB OR I WANT TO LIE FACE DOWN ON MY BED. I EAT A LOT OF TAKEAWAYS, BUT I HAVE TRIED TO BE A BIT HEALTHIER THIS YEAR. Guilty Pleasures LAGER; A LOT OF LAGER! I DON’T HAVE A SWEET TOOTH OR…

TEAM ROCKET Given that many teenage LGBT people are still in the process of figuring out their identity while their straight and cisgender counterparts are out drinking vodka and fingering each other at nappy nights, it’s no great shock that so many get good at computer games. Vanishing off into virtual worlds – be they literary, celluloid or digital – provides much needed escape routes for young LGBT people. Such is the rise of the gayming community (that’s gay gamers, obvs), there is now a dedicated convention for LGBT game fans (GaymerX) and the last 10 years have seen a boom in openly LGBT characters in computer games – even World of Warcraft has its own gay guild, nicknamed ‘Oz’. For 90s teens and modern day cutesters, a lifelong love…