Table of contents for December 2015 in Attitude Magazine

The vast majority of gay and bisexual men do not use illicit drugs. But over the last decade growing numbers of us have been getting into serious trouble with three relatively new substances: crystal meth, mephedrone and GHB, which is the subject of a documentary film out next month called Chemsex. A few years ago when David Stuart, then working at the only LGBT drugs and alcohol service Antidote (run by London Friend), told me they were seeing growing numbers of men getting into serious trouble, many of them injecting, I thought he was exaggerating. It is understandably hard to accept. Even today lots of people don’t believe it. There is aggressive denial from online gay bloggers who have zero experience whatsoever of what is happening (lucky them) but do…

LITTLE MIX GET WEIRD/SYCO Get Weird is the third studio album from Britain’s premiere girl band, with a thoroughly American production effort shining through from the stand out first single Black Magic. The follow up single Love Me Like You is another hit, with throw back Motown vibes reminiscent of Stooshe’s Black Heart. Their four voices are all equally as strong and soulful – as evidenced recently on a brilliant Live Lounge mash up of Jason Derulo’s Want To Want Me and Whitney Houston’s I Wanna Dance With Somebody. Derulo himself turns up as a guest vocalist on Secret Love Song, the album’s strongest ballad. Most tracks though, are bangers, with thumping retro beats, like the 1980s feel of Weird People, and tight harmonies are on offer from all the…

‘Sax’ has been a long time coming. You must be fit to burst with excitement? I am so excited about this song coming out. I have had to sit on it for so long and only played it to my family and friends a week before it came out. I am so excited. It’s really old skool with a modern twist. When my mum heard it she said to me that it kind of sounded like the music she grew up listening to. The whole album has that vibe. Of course, it was your cover of ‘Uptown Funk’ that saw people take notice. I know a lot of people in this country heard my version before the single came out, so they really associate it with me. And I’m proud…

SPECTACLES SUE PERKINS/MICHAEL JOSEPH They say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover (metaphorically), but the lovely design on the front of Sue Perkins’ autobiography Spectacles makes a beautiful starting point for this typically dry, witty run through her life. You might wonder what Sue is without comedy partner Mel Giedroyc, or indeed if she really warrants almost 400 pages of memoir, and yes, perhaps it is a tad long, but as with any book from a comedian, it is an entertaining read regardless of how much the reader really cares for the subject. She details how she met Mel, the madcap misadventures of their early years doing the Edinburgh Fringe, through to their daytime TV show, and on to The Great British Bake Off. We also learn a…

There seem to be many people who discount how important it is to identify with a character on-screen. Diversity has always been a problem in TV and film, but I never fully realised how big a problem until I finally saw someone on screen that happened to look, dress, act and sound like me – a young black, gay character in the fun MTV series I Just Want My Pants Back. This was only in 2012. Those who feel there isn’t a problem tend to try and prove their point by rattling off a number of shows in an effort to prove that things are a lot more advanced than they are. Certain shows that I’ve seen and love like Looking and Empire and ones that I haven’t seen but…

LIAM REZENDE AGE: 26 OCCUPATION: MARKETING MANAGER MILES ALEXANDER AGE: 22 OCCUPATION: PR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE FIRST IMPRESSIONS: L: Although I was 25 minutes late he was really understanding. It felt like we’d known each other for ages. He was dressed well, made me feel instantly comfortable, and I knew from the beginning that we’d have a good night. M: Despite being late, he had a really charming smile and was extremely polite. He’s very cute and made me feel very comfortable. AWKWARD MOMENTS: L: We might have had a mutual shag – but that’s London for you. HOW WAS THE FOOD? L: Quail starter was great. I had the lobster for main, which I probably fought with more than I ate, and I was also quite envious of his steak.…

Like most authors, Hanya Yanagihara is fairly unassuming. Looking at her, you’d never guess that she was the mind behind the titanic novel A Little Life – one of the year’s great literary triumphs. Yet this 41-year-old Hawaiian native turned it around in just eighteen months. It’s particularly impressive as she managed it around her full-time day job as Editor at Large for Conde Nast Traveller. “Having a day job is terrible for me in a lot of ways, but it does help because it really helps you compartmentalise your life, and use your time effectively,” she claims. Many critics and readers have labelled A Little Life a gay novel, and although it does profile a same-sex relationship and features a few other minor gay characters, to classify it as…

We’ve barely cooled down from the Rafael Nadal X Tommy Hilfiger ambassador launch that saw him strip down to his (Hilfiger) pants this summer. Tommy have also released their new strong and sporty fragrance TH Bold for men. Mr Nadal has taken his top off and flexed his muscles to front the campaign, and we certainly ain’t complaining. The TH Bold Fragrance EDT 100ml, £51, 50ml, £35, and 30ml, £28, are exlusively available at The Fragrance Shop until January 2016, when it goes worldwide. The science bit: Opening notes include crisp citrusy pomelo, tangerine and bergamot that follows through to herbal and spicy lavenders and cardamom. As the scent develops extracts of jasmine and mandarin blossom balanced with a woody boronia accord are introduced. It then winds down with orange…

RON DORFF We’ve got a major crush on Paris/Swedish brand Ron Dorff. The remium lifestyle sportswear brand have produced everything from clothing and fragrances to body care and candles, and no single detail has gone unnoticed; even their brand ambassadors (like this lovely gentleman pictured) have been thought out. On the apparel side they do plenty of premiu loungewear, sportswear, knitwear, swimming short , trunks and underwear. The clothes present an effortle s symbiotic relationship between Scandinavian and Parisian style. It’s super soft, super chic and super simple. We’re in love. RONDORFF.COM JIMMY CHOO PREVIEW SPRING/SUMMER ‘16 Jimmy Choo are catering for both the introvert and the extrovert with their spring/summer 2016 collection. The brand have given us a sneak peak at what’s in store for shoppers, and we’re already…

I believe it is becoming more common and people are becoming desensitised to the sight of it. I have all too frequently seen bodies checked to see if they’re cold and dead. I’ve seen a friend enter a coma. I’ve had a friend need resuscitation. It’s a real problem, but provided we remain calm and tackle it mindfully, there needn’t be a panic. This isn’t a new problem, but its face has changed. Talking about it openly is the only way to overcome or handle it.…

The media has only scratched the surface. In fact the problem is much worse in reality. Of all the gay men in the UK, it’s probably a small percentage, but I think it’s very common in London. I’m a club promoter and I meet a lot of gay men. There’s been a huge increase over the recent years. With all the gay bars and clubs shutting down, the gay scene we used to have in London no longer exists. It’s a direct cause of drugs, chemsex and of course the rise of hook up apps. I have seen young guys – 18/19-years-old – at a chillout or sex parties, like they have been doing it for years. Most of the time they will wake up, join the party and have…

Chemsexis, a harrowing, bold documentary that turns an anthropological lens on a niche-within-a-niche gay subculture. It reflects the bluntest end of a 25 year shift in British drug culture, from hands-in-the-air ecstasy to something suggestively more macabre. It concentrates exclusively on gay group sex sessions, where day and night has no boundary, driven mostly by GHB, intravenous crystal meth and mephedrone. The film unlocks the door at the most psychologically troubling end of proceedings. By any other name, it is a horror movie. The feral clips of real-time behaviour, sourced from within, tell a nightmarish story of everyday annihilation. In this respect the film probably shares more in common with 2015’s other startling addiction piece, Amy. The only real snatches of redemption appear in a Florence Nightingale-ish figure, 56 Dean…

Ten years ago fewer than 5% of gay men had ever used the trio of drugs that are now equated with chemsex (GHB, crystal meth and mephedrone). Nowadays, in most urban settings, you can’t go on a dating app for more than a couple of minutes without someone asking you to join them for a ‘high and horny’ session. Gay men mixing sex and drugs are nothing new, of course. I’m from the Trade generation. A core group would go out every weekend and get completely trashed and ecstatic. At the time many people said that ecstasy was destroying the gay scene, just as they now say about chemsex drugs. The same pattern seems to get repeated with each generation, although each wave of drugs seems more perilous than the…

Why did 12 steps groups like NA work for you? For me, the therapeutic value of one addict talking to another is far greater than me going to see a doctor, or someone who’s just done a degree in counselling. They haven’t lived it. Everyone in that room [12 steps groups] has got exactly the same problems as you. It’s not about judging. There’s no one there that doesn’t qualify to be there, and that’s the beauty of it. You tell your story and everyone in the room identifies in some way or another. What about people who believe you should try controlled use? Controlled using just doesn’t work for somebody like me. I can only talk from experience but there is no controlled using for someone like me. Do…

ANTIDOTE The LGBT drug use service from London Friend: londonfriend.org.uk/get-support/drugsandalcohol  Helpline (offers advice wherever you are in the UK) 020 7833 1674 (10am – 6pm Monday to Friday) 56 DEAN ST 56 Dean Street is in Soho, London, W1D 6AE. For ChemSex support call 020 3315 6699 chemsexsupport.com  deanstreetwellbeingprogramme.com CRYSTAL METH ADDICTS ANONYMOUS  crystalmeth.org/cma-meeting/cma-meeting-search.html LET’S TALK ABOUT GAY SEX AND DRUGS  facebook.com/LetsTalkAboutGaySexAndDrugs WWW.LGBT.FOUNDATION , MANCHESTER For advice 0345 3303030 ARMISTEAD CENTRE, LIVERPOOL  liverpoolcommunityhealth.nhs.uk/health-services/sexual-health/armistead.htm PACE LGBT MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT  pacehealth.org.uk 020 7700 1323 (Mon – Fri 10am – 5pm) ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk  0800 9177 650 help@alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk SEX AND LOVE ADDICTS ANONYMOUS slaauk.org SEX ADDICTS ANONYMOUS saa-recovery.org.uk A CHANGE OF SCENE Monthly discussion group of related issues outside of bars and clubs…

• In the UK, gay/bi men have a disproportionate risk of contracting HIV. 9 gay/bi men test HIV positive every day. • If you are HIV positive, on medication you can live a healthy life. It’s vital to know what your HIV status is so you can start medication. • Get tested at your local sexual health clinic. Find details at tht.org.uk or call 0808 802 1221. • HIVpositive people deserve love & respect like everyone else. • It is easy to avoid catching HIV. There’s no rule that says you have to have anal sex but if you do, always use a condom and a water based lubricant (never oil based). • Oral sex is low risk of catching HIV but increases if he cums in your mouth. •…

Q&A Our health expert Dr Christian Jessen answers your medical queries Getting tested for HIV can be scary, but honestly it shouldn’t be. The condition is entirely manageable. Although people sometimes struggle with the mental impact of the diagnosis, physically, if you test positive, early detection, monitoring and effective treatment means that your life largely carries on as before. Incredible medical progress has been made in the last 20 years and HIV treatment is now very effective. If you are diagnosed with HIV before it has damaged your body and you are put on effective treatment, you can expect to live as long as anyone else. HIV treatment lowers the amount of HIV in the body to undetectable levels. Global research, known as the PARTNER study, has found that it…

PET SHOP BOYS – IT’S A SIN ‘It’s a, it’s a, it’s a, it’s a sin.’ It’s one of the Pet Shop Boys’ biggest hits and we can all sing along to the chorus. But how many of us have asked ourselves which sin Neil Tennant’s singing about? I’m not sure I did when I fell in love with the song at the age of ten. Released in 1987, It’s a Sin was the lead single from the duo’s second album, Actually, and a number one hit in the UK. It has a dramatic production, a ferociously catchy hook, and was promoted by a glossy video directed by gay filmmaker Derek Jarman. In it, Neil Tennant plays an outlaw, chained to his jailer Chris Lowe, and subjected to some kind…

R. Kelly once wrote a song called Age Ain’t Nothing but a Number. It’s all about a young girl desperate to date an older man. The message in the song is that a difference in age doesn’t matter if the mutual feelings are strong enough. I wonder if that really holds true. In an interview a few weeks ago Graham Norton said: “gay men my age don’t want to date someone of their own age”. A rather broad brush statement, to say the very least. What he may have meant was that he personally prefers a younger model. Nothing wrong with that. Each to his own, but it’s so dangerous to perpetuate the myth that all older gay men are obsessed with recapturing their long lost youth by wanting to…

UNDER £50 1. F + F GREY FAIR ISLE CARDIGAN, £20 2. M&S COLLECTION LARGE ROBIN JUMPER, £29.50 3. TOPMAN SOCKS, £3 4. SUPERDRY BEANIE HAT, £16.99 5. RED ANCHOR PEPPERMINT SHAVING OIL, £14.50 & SANDALWOOD MOUSTACHE WAX, 20ML, £10.00 REDANCHOR-SUPPLYCOMPANY.COM 6. BOOHOOMAN SLIM FIT BORG FRONT BOMBER JACKET, £35, BOOHOO.COM 7. TOPMAN JUMPER, £30 8. BOOHOOMAN BROGUE BOOTS, £25, BOOHOO.COM 9. RIVER ISLAND BAG, £45 10. RIVER ISLAND GLOVES, £25 11. WAHL TRIMMER, £29.99, TESCO.COM £50-200 1. DIESEL JUMPER, £115 2. JO MALONE LONDON LIMITED EDITION POMEGRANATE NOIR COLOGNE, 100ML, £89, EXCLUSIVE TO SELFRIDGES 3. BAILEY NELSON HAMILTON COSMIC SUNGLASSES, £98, BAILEYNELSON.CO.UK 4. CLINIQUE FOR MEN CLEAN SKIN, GREAT SKIN FOR HIM SET WITH SONIC SYSTEM DEEP CLEANSING BRUSH, ALOE SHAVE GEL, 41ML, FACE WASH, 30ML, ANTI-AGE MOISTURISER, 30ML,…

PATRICK CASH Patrick Cash is a writer and performer of spoken word poetry. He runs the night Spoken Word London and the gay men’s wellbeing forum Let’s Talk About Gay Sex & Drugs, in partnership with 56 Dean Street. He’s thrilled to become a contributing editor to Attitude in this issue, as well as writing the lead feature on gay men’s chemsex. He also writes for the theatre, and his new show Queers is currently showing at the King’s Head Theatre, Angel, London. LEONARDO CORREDOR Leonardo is an ex-model, based in New York, who is now a professional photographer (though he once modelled for Attitude magazine way back in the day). He has shot for magazines such as Vogue, Schön! and Flaunt magazine. He photographed our stories in Los Angeles…

Dangerous Games Alright, so Mr Flatley himself may not be dusting off his heavy shoes for this new Irish dancing spectacle, but this fleet of fancy fellas who make up the cast of Dangerous Games – the latest Lord of the Dance instalment – should be more than enough to still keep you entertained. Just take a look at dreamy cast member Cathal Keaney (pictured). Talk about Irish charm! Lord of the Dance: Dangerous Games plays at the Playhouse Theatre London through January 2016. Lordofthedance.com…

Pete Waterman is a celebrated British music producer and songwriter. He’s responsible for some of the biggest UK hits scoring twenty-two number one singles with acts like Steps and Kylie Minogue. The first record you ever bought. Deadwood by Doris Day – any song that has the lyrics “arrows thicker than porcupine quills” you just have to love. I was a massive fan of Doris Day when I was young. What’s the song that makes you proud? Never Gonna Give You Up, by Rick Astley. We wrote that in the car with Rick and it became our biggest hit. I hear it’s been covered by a rock band in the mid west poking fun at the people who are anti-same-sex marriage. Is there any song that makes you cringe? I…

ZACHARY QUINTO Nice ears! GUS KENWORTHY The athlete who came out as A HOMOSEXUAL (screams, faints, can you believe it, an actual gay). Please marry us. OBVIOUSLY. CHRISTINE IN EASTENDERS It’s literally ALL ABOUT CHRISTINE. We love you and we’d like to be your friend, Christine. (Let me see her, let me see her, be my guest siiiiiir) STAR WARS We’re hoping they are opening a special Queer Ewoks bar where everyone eats sweets and rubs their furry bellies together while squeaking to Cher CHER THE MUSICAL We can’t. We just. Just, yes. COLTON HAYNES Dressed as the Witch from Little Mermaid for Halloween. AS YOU DO. CRAIG REVEL HORWOOD Divine/disaster darling! GERMAINE GREER Like, do you have to be so RUDE? DONALD TRUMP Like, do you have to be…

1 IF YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE SEX, YOU SHOULD WEAR A CONDOM. 2 OH, YOU’RE TOO BIG? THEY HAVE BIGGER ONES, YOU POOR, AFFLICTED PERSON. 3 OH, YOU’RE ALLERGIC TO LATEX? THEY HAVE NON-LATEX ONES! 4 OH, YOU LIKE THEM BANANA FLAVOURED? YEAH THEY HAVE THOSE TOO... 5 OH, YOU DON’T HAVE ANY MONEY? YOU CAN GET THEM FOR FREE! 6 OH, YOU DON’T LIKE THE WAY THEY FEEL? TRY GONORRHOEA. DOESN’T FEEL GREAT. 7 OH, AND HOLD THE TIP WHEN YOU’RE PUTTING THEM ON. 8 ONLY USE A WATER-BASED LUBRICANT. 9 YOU GET THE PICTURE: WRAP IT UP! DOWNLOAD THE TABLET EDITION OF ATTITUDE. WITH A MOVING COVER, EXTRA PHOTO GALLERIES, INTERACTIVE MUSIC, FILM AND TV REVIEWS, AND MUCH, MUCH MORE…

THIS MONTH: JAMES FILMED A TV MINISERIES, MADE CAMEOS IN FOUR HOLLYWOOD BLOCKBUSTERS, PERFORMED A ONE MAN VERSION OF THE COMPLETE WORKS OF SAMUEL BECKETT, WROTE A BIOGRAPHY OF THE GUY WHO LIVED NEXT DOOR TO HIM AT COLLEGE, COMPLETED HIS MASTERS IN TURFGRASS SCIENCE, ATTEMPTED TO TRADE PLACES WITH JULIAN ASSANGE AND MADE THE PERFECT DIRTY MARTINI WHICH HE RAISED IN A TOAST TO EXISTENTIALISM. GO JAMES! BIEBER’S LATEST RELEASE FANS HAVE BEEN GOING WILD THIS WEEK FOR JUSTIN BIEBER’S VERY REVEALING, LATEST RELEASE. GRAINY FROM AFAR BUT STUNNING IN HD, IT’S LONGER THAN MOST PEOPLE HAD EXPECTED, AND LUCKILY FOR HIM, IT HASN’T LEAKED. YES, THAT’S RIGHT, HIS NEW ALBUM PURPOSE IS OUT ON NOVEMBER 13TH!…

Paul Gambaccini is known as the Professor of Pop. It’s a title he’s earned well. At 19, the New York born rock and roll fan was having his hit picks published in Billboard. In 1973 he interviewed future lifelong friend Elton John for his first cover of Rolling Stone. While studying at Oxford he took up a job with the BBC, one of the few dependable hands at the corporation fit for presenting across Radio 1, 2, 3 and 4 throughout a loyal 40 year service. He delivered reviews on GMTV, performed annual hosting duties at the Ivor Novello Awards and worked prolifically on countless volumes of The Guinness Book of British Hit Singles. Even the most distinguished pop academics bow to the wisdom of Professor Paul. It is for…

A SIMPLE BURST OF RED WITH MONOCHROME IS A GOOD WAY TO KEEP THINGS SOPHISTICATED FULL HEAD TO TOE RED CAN BE GREAT–GO FOR DARKER AND SUBTLER SHADES PRINTS AND PATTERNS MEAN YOU CAN INTRODUCE BOLD PANELS OR FLECKS OF RED TO YOUR OUTFIT Red can be a strong colour to contend with, but there are plenty of ways to introduce it so it doesn’t overpower you…

I was late to the party and very anti drugs for many of my clubbing years. But as time went on and new drugs came about, it was more readily available to me through friends and iPhone apps. For me they went hand-in-hand with sex very quickly. Especially after I was diagnosed with HIV. That’s when it really increased. Let’s be honest, it’s really hot for a time. I had some great experiences and that’s why you go chasing it again. For that great shag. Over the last year I have battled paranoid psychosis as a result of excessive drug use. There’s no feeling quite like it. The real fear that your life is in danger. I once ran from a guy’s house (barefoot) in Vauxhall back to Clapham on…

I don't see hysteria in the media. I believe the discussion needs to be brought much more to the fore of the LGBT community’s mind. Especially in London. One of my closest friends had to leave London because he couldn't control his partying; he started attending more and more sex parties and graduated from meph and GHB to slamming and crystal. Luckily, he was able to see that he was going too far and so he removed himself from the life he had made. However I see no cause for ‘moral panic’. From what I see, most guys who take drugs, party, or have sex on drugs, do so without it affecting their day-to-day lives. On the other hand, there is a growing population of guys who are succumbing to…

The connection between drugs and sex didn’t really start until after my first relationship ended. He’d introduced me to mephedrone, Vauxhall, saunas and chillouts, and once I was on my own I was like a kid in a candy store. It’s all shame. Growing up in a heterosexual world – regardless of new legislation – is a psychologically difficult process. We are shown the gold standard of how to live your lives every day in the media, the perfect couples, together forever, with beautiful children and lives and jobs, etc. It’s all unhealthy and somehow the gay community has tried to conform to that. I don’t believe striving for such ‘perfection’ is healthy for heterosexuals, let alone homosexuals. We end up splitting ourselves into two factions: the good gays who…

For me I found drugs useful; they had practical applications. They helped me feel confident, forget the negative connotations I had with sex and be able to experience a heightened, if not completely true, sense of intimacy with my partner or partners. It took me some time to realise that using drugs to masquerade as dealing with deep-seated emotional issues was not the smartest idea, and it can lead to more problems. Recovery from drug addiction is a long process, but it’s one that I am proud to say I’m on. I don’t demonise people that enjoy chems. I still drink like a fish and smoke the occasional joint, but for me right now that’s enough. I have seen too much damage done by the ‘unholy trinity’, M, G, or…

Some people say that all this talk of chemsex is media hysteria? What would you say? Try telling the guys coming for support that it’s all media hype; their stories speak for themselves. We see hundreds of guys each year seeking support through Antidote and their experiences follow very clear trends. I think there’s a bit of a backlash either because this isn’t on everyone’s radar, or they’re fearful that the entire community is going to be assumed to be engaging in chemsex. That’s clearly not the case. It is still a minority of men, but what concerns me is the amount of harm that’s happening within that group. It’s hugely disproportionate. People say ‘straight people take drugs too’. What would you say is the difference with what is going…

HOW DID YOU FIRST GET INTO FITNESS? I WAS OUT OF SHAPE WHEN I WAS YOUNG, AND WHEN I WAS ABOUT 13 I STARTED GOING TO KARATE. I DEDICATED MYSELF TO THAT AND GOT TO BLACK BELT. THEN I WANTED TO DEVELOP MY PHYSIQUE FURTHER SO I GOT INTO THE GYM AND STARTED LIFTING WEIGHTS. I JUST LET IT BUILD INTO MY LIFESTYLE FROM THERE. IT’S SECOND NATURE NOW. I GOT MORE SERIOUS ABOUT IT AT UNIVERSITY, WHEN YOU’VE GOT TIME TO GO WORK OUT. I JUST KEPT IT GOING AND THEN STARTED GETTING MORE INVOLVED WITH THE FITNESS INDUSTRY AND COMPETING IN FITNESS COMPETITIONS AS WELL. DID YOU HAVE A COACH WHEN YOU WERE FIRST STARTING OUT? NO, I JUST TALKED TO PEOPLE WHO KNEW WHAT THEY WERE DOING…

I was 18 when I went to my first gay club. I was promised fun and fabulousness – and a boyfriend too, with a bit of luck. By now I was nearly 18 stone, and, having left school, my best friend Tommy and I hung out most days in HMV, trawling for imported Madonna vinyl and limited edition Take That CDs. Every other Friday night we went to our local gay youth group to meet other teens like us. There wasn’t really much else to do, but Tommy met his first boyfriend there. James was a sweet guy, but I often felt jealous. Tommy had someone. I didn’t. In my mind, that meant he was better than me. Tommy wasn’t a whale of unlovable blubber like I was. Tommy said…

BEING IN A RELATIONSHIP DOESN'T EPITOMISE HAPPINESS A friend once asked me if I could imagine the man he’d end up with. It stumped me a little, not least because he was then cavorting from one disastrously inappropriate fellow to the next. I don’t suppose he’d have asked if he wasn’t. My initial thought was ‘the opposite of the last five and the exact opposite of the five before that’. They’d really started to stack up. I bit my tongue, eventually saying ‘someone who you love and who loves you back.’ It is the only reasonable answer to this kind of insane life conjecture. I was thinking about this conversation when reading Graham Norton’s recent musings on being perennially single. In his early 50s, Mr Norton has started to wear…

WHAT David Hoyle presents Future Perfect WHERE The Vauxhall Tavern, London WHEN 15th October RYAN R2-D2, because he’s quietly confident. ELENA Jar Jar Binks because I love his ears and how he speaks. CHARLIE Queen Amidala. She has amazing outfits in every scene. DANIEL I’ve only seen the first Star Wars movie and I can’t remember it. Sorry! MATT Jabba the Hutt. He has a big palace, servants and a luxurious life. He just does what he wants! NIALL Princess Leia because she’s hot! ELEANOR Han Solo when he’s cryogenically frozen. My reason? I don’t need one! OYSTEIN R2-D2. He’s the perfect friend, always there, but my personality is probably more C-3PO. JOHN I’d be Obi-Wan Kenobi because he’s just a likeable character, the cool guy everyone wants to be…

ON GUN CONTROL IT’S SOMETHING WE HAVE TO MAKE FUN OF BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE DYING! I MEAN AMY SCHUMER ESPECIALLY; PEOPLE WERE SHOT AT HER SHOWS! THERE’S NO WAY TO GO TOO FAR. WE REALLY HAVE TO USE THE COMEDY THAT WE KNOW WE CAN DO, TO TRY TO FIX THINGS, TO TRY TO HELP. WHY NOT ATTACK EACH OTHER WITH ART AND HUMOUR INSTEAD OF VIOLENCE AND KILLING? ON OFFICIATING GAY WEDDINGS I STARTED DOING THEM IN SAN FRANCISCO WHEN GAVIN NEWSOM, THE MAYOR OF SAN FRANCISCO BROKE THE LAW AND STARTED MARRYING GAY COUPLES AT CITY HALL, AND I WAS DEPUTISED DURING THAT PERIOD. I CAN DO THIS ALL OVER THE WORLD. I HAVE AN ONLINE MINISTRY WHICH MEANS I CAN DO IT IN ANY CIVIC BUILDING. I’M…

THE QUEEN OF IRELAND RORY O’NEILL Director Conor Horgan has spent a couple of years following the day to day life of Ireland’s premier drag queen Panti Bliss, as well as delving into the life of Rory O’Neill, the man who plays her. Alongside wacky stage antics, there are touching interviews with O’Neill’s mother and father, and discussions about homophobia and HIV. It’s set against a backdrop of Ireland’s history of intolerance where homosexuality is concerned, but culminates gloriously in the equal marriage referendum which signalled a new country. All the while, Panti is hilarious and inspirational; a perfect snapshot of a very modern national treasure. BK NOV 16TH 5/5 THE DRESSMAKER KATE WINSLET, JUDY DAVIS, CHRIS HEMSWORTH Talented luxury dressmaker Tilly Dunnage (Winslet) returns home to her barely capable…

Do I sound gay? The obvious answer is, yes, very. So gay in fact that well-meaning callers frequently mistake me for a woman, earning me the nickname ‘Mrs Stone’ at one magazine where I worked. So gay that I basically haven’t had to bother coming out at any point in the last decade, which is time-saving if nothing else. As a teenager, I sounded effeminate enough that if I answered the house phone to my sister’s boyfriend we could go a good five minutes before he realised I wasn’t her, something which I exploited to maximum blackmailing effect (obviously). So the answer is yes, I definitely do sound gay. The question is the title of a recent documentary, in which journalist David Thorpe attempts to get to the bottom of…

TERRESTRIAL: FARGO This black comedy TV version of the Coen brothers’ movie returns for a second series to Channel 4 in November, complete with an all star cast including Kirsten Dunst and Ted Danson. Also look out for a guest appearance from Ronald Reagan (not playing himself). TERRESTRIAL: THE BRIDGE The Swedish-Danish crime drama is on to its third series, which will hit BBC Four in November. While the first series centered on a murder mystery involving the two Nordic countries, the second made some eco-terrorists the bad guys. Who knows what’s in store this time. ONLINE: HOW GAY IS PAKISTAN? Hotly debated following its screening on BBC Three last month, Mawaan Rizwan’s documentary about what it’s like to be gay in the country of his birth is a must…

Oh God. We fucked. He came. He didn’t use a condom. He’s an idiot. I’m an idiot. We’re both idiots. What if I have HIV? Look, we’ve all been there, laid up on the sofa wondering if this time we’ve gone too far. I’ve been there a few times. I’m pretty obsessive about using condoms these days – anal, you might say – but I can’t deny I’ve had unprotected sex. You’re in an alleyway… the romance is high… he says he loves you. These things happen! Despite this, indeed, against all odds, thank God, I have never had a sexually transmitted disease. I know, right? I got lucky, in every sense, but a girl can’t live on luck forever. Apparently. If you test in time HIV is no longer…

House of Holland has been injecting fun and provocation into womenswear for years, and we’ve been eagerly awaiting the inevitable menswear collection from designer Henry Holland. He presented his inaugural collection with Selfridges at London Collections: Men back in June; a collection that took notes from various youth subcultures like Teds, casuals, buffalo kids and ravers. It fused together sportswear with tailoring, adding fun slogans and some tongue-in-cheek prints to proceedings. Selfridges stock the entire collection along with a wealth of other HoH accessories, such as stationary and a ‘LAD’ calendar from his collaboration with Martin Parr. Available in store and online at selfridges.com…

WE MEET LUSH’S GLOBAL BRAND TEAM LEADER ALESSANDRO COMMISSO WHO GIVES US EXPERT ADVICE ON HIS TOP 3 LUSH PRODUCTS. ALESSANDRO IS A DEVOTED SPOKESPERSON FOR LGBT RIGHTS, CAMPAIGNING ON THE NEED FOR ACCEPTANCE AND RESPECT FOR GLOBAL LGBT COMMUNITIES. HE PLAYED AN INTEGRAL PART IN SOME OF LUSH’S MOST SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGNS NOTABLY THE 2014 AWARD-WINNING ‘#SIGNOFLOVE’ COLLABORATION WITH ALLOUT.ORG , WHICH WAS THE BRAND’S FIRST GLOBAL LGBT CAMPAIGN. THE 3 PRODUCTS CHOSEN ARE ALL CHRISTMAS INSPIRED AND IN STORES NOW. ORAL PLEASURE – TANTRIC TOOTHY TABS £5.95 Who knew toothpaste could be sexy? These little fellas will blow you away – literally. Mingle among naughty passion fruit and tongue-tingling electric daisies. Nibble one between the teeth and start brushing. Since these launched, they’ve gone down rather…

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Some think when they are used at all. Others, when people lose control or when they cause serious harm. Some people passionately believe that drugs are rarely a problem, that they are just fun and any discussion of them causing harm is right wing nonsense. On 4th December Peccadillo Pictures release a documentary by Vice called Chemsexwhich examines the growing numbers of gay and bisexual men who are getting into serious trouble using three specific drugs – mephedrone, crystal meth and GHB/GBL. Most gay men do not use illicit drugs and a smaller minority use these three but there is no doubt that there is a serious problem for a significant amount of men. Every agency I have spoken to tells me they have seen a dramatic increase in the…

Gay guys have been getting high and having sex since the dawn of time, but with the development of social media and apps like Grindr these things can now be quantified. I know of people whose lives have been completely ruined because of their addiction to drugs and sex. I’ve heard so many stories about people who have overdosed and died because they’ve either been too reckless or haven’t been properly educated on the risks surrounding the substances they are taking and what they are taking. Everybody has things that they enjoy. Some people enjoy knitting, some enjoy car boot sales, and some people like to party and get high. What’s important is moderation. Too much of anything is never a good thing. I’m 26-years-old, I know that someday the…

At 26 I started getting very ill. The late nights and comedowns were catching up on me. I would get myself well again just in time for the next party, then I’d get sick again. Every week was a repeat of the last. I was sad and miserable and knew it was time to change things. I began by quitting all the after parties. The habit of always carrying on the party after the clubs shut is a dangerous trap to fall into. I started by always making sure I went home before the clubs closed, before everyone would start talking about where they were going next. I did slip a few times, but when I started to see the benefits of sleeping more the fear of missing out passed…

Chris Owens, 35, London, Entertainer One of my friends said, ‘you’re always in your underwear all over Facebook, so it’s about time you did it in a magazine’, and I thought yeah, they’re probably right. I used to be quite a big guy – I was about 18 stone at one point – and through dance and everything I lost weight. I’m more comfortable in my body than I’ve ever been before, so I have no trouble taking my clothes off now. DIET MOST DAYS I MAKE A HOMEMADE SOUP OR I HAVE SALMON AND SPINACH, EGGS, HEALTHY THINGS LIKE THAT WITH LOTS OF PROTEIN. I AM USUALLY VERY CAREFUL, BUT ONCE A WEEK I WILL HAVE A CHEAT DAY WHERE I EAT ANYTHING I WANT. I THINK YOU’VE GOT…

1 His favourite part of the sports match he’s dragged you to is the national anthem. 2 His phone's wallpaper is of a bodybuilder - because you know, motivation. 3 He’s a member of a chain of gyms with hundreds of locations but frequents the Soho facilities. 4 He opens the door for you while simultaneously calling you ‘mate’. 5 You receive semi naked 'progress pictures' or post gym selfies because he’s gonna be "shredded by swimsuit season”. 6 He calls his friends “The Boys”. 7 He takes you to a pub and orders a house white. 8 He drinks protein shakes to bulk up but won’t touch fast food. 9 He’ll initiate ‘bro hugs’ while watching a movie. 10 His Netflix recently watched tab shows a selection of horror…

1 An HIV diagnosis can often be shocking and frightening. It’s important to know that these feelings will pass. The shock will go and you can start getting to grips with what it means and looking after yourself. 2 Emotional support is so important in the early stages. Speaking to a friend or family member that you can trust can be really helpful. You can also contact a helpline or ask if your sexual health clinic has a HIV counsellor. 3 Although the rules around disclosure have changed, HIV may have an impact on things like employment. The National AIDS Trust has lots of useful information around these issues (nat.org.uk). 4 It’s never too early to start looking after yourself! Get a healthy lifestyle and ensure you get the proper…