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EILE
Magazine V4 Issue 10 - April 2017
UK Band
Royal Chechnya Blood IDGTF 2017 Paramore
Scott De BuitlĂŠir on
Inside:
Travel | Film | Fashion |Health | News
EILE Magazine | Who’s Who
Contributors
Mark Anthony Mark is a UCD English graduate, who writes his own menswear fashion blog. Mark has also produced several fashion shows in the past, all in aid of worthwhile causes M. Butler M. Butler is a writer and editor, with a keen interest in human rights, and has studied philosophy and psychology Scott De Buitléir Scott is founder and Editor-at-Large of EILE Magazine. He is also a writer and broadcaster, originally from Dublin but presently based in Nottingham Lisa Reynolds Originally from Co. Meath, Lisa is a fashion industry student, now living in Bray, Co Wicklow, with a great interest in media and celebrity Brian Rochford Brian has studied health, exercise, and nutrition, with a special interest in controlling pain in rheumatism and arthritis Frances Winston Frances Winston is EILE’s resident film buff, and has contributed to many other publications such as The Irish Independent and Irish Tatler
EILE Magazine
EILE Magazine | Welcome
Highlights April 2017 Chechnya - P.26 Scott De Buitléir writes about how Chechen LGBT people must not be forgotten
IDGTF 2017 - P. 18 The International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival 2017 starts on May 1st - check out the wealth of drama, and humour in this year’s festival
Health - Detox or Not? - P. 34 Brian Rochford considers the question of whether you should detox or not
Music - Pps.6 and 10 In our music section this month, we feature UK band, Royal Blood from Brighton, and US band Paramore, from Nashville
Fashion P.14 and REVIEW P.28 Mark Anthony writes about how to declutter your wardrobe to make space for some newer items for the good weather, while Lisa Reynolds reviews a book about Freddie Mercury
Volume 4, Issue 10 Editor-at-Large: Scott De Buitléir Editor: MKB Contributors: Mark Anthony, M. Butler, Scott De Buitléir, MKB, Lisa Reynolds, Brian Rochford, Frances Winston Photograpers: Lindsey Byrnes, Michael Fitzgerald, Perou, RB courtesy Ciaran Savage, I/G NB: All images in this publication are either under Creative Commons licence, or used with permission. Image credits, where necessary, are printed on the corresponding page(s) or photo(s). Any queries can be made to hello@eile.ie Special Thanks to MKB for all her hard work, dedication and support. Web: http://eile.ie Contact: hello@eile.ie Twitter: @EILEMagazine Facebook: http://fb.com/eilemagazine Note: All opinions expressed in this issue are the writers’ own.
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…plus film reviews, news, travel, and much more! EILE Magazine
EILE Magazine | Editor’s Letter
Contents 6-
Royal Blood
10 -
Paramore
14 -
Men’s Fashion
18 -
IDGTF 2017-
26 -
Opinion Chechnya
28 -
Freddie Mercury
30 -
Travel Sth Africa
32 -
Travel US
34 -
To Detox or Not?
36 -
Christian Gay Singers
38 -
Frances on Film
48 -
Chechen News
plus World LGBT News, Views, Arts, Entertainment etc
EILE April 2017 Edition! Welcome to the April issue of EILE Magazine In our music section for April, we feature UK band Royal Blood and Nashville band Paramore, and for drama, we have news of the International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival 2017. Brian Rochford writes on whether or not to detox , and Mark Anthony tells us how to declutter our wardrobes. Our travel section features South Africa and US destinations, Lisa Reynolds reviews a book on Freddie Mercury, and Frances Winston reviews the latest films. We must take time this month to seriously think about what is happening to the LGBT community in Chechnya, and how best to draw people’s attention to it, as it seems the world has been here before. We also have LGBT world news and entertainment, so we hope you enjoy this April 2017 issue of EILE Magazine!
Scott De Buitléir Founder / Editor-at-Large
EILE Magazine EILE Magazine
See our film reviews by Frances Winston
EILE Magazine
Royal Blood is made up of Mike Kerr (left) and Ben Thatcher (right)
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Royal Blood In EILE’s music section for April 2017, we feature UK band, Royal Blood, who have just released the fantastic, energetic track, Lights Out, the lead single from the new album, How Did We Get So Dark? Royal Blood, a duo from Brighton, is made up of Mike Kerr (bass, keyboards, vocals) and Ben Thatcher (drums, percussion, piano).
After becoming the biggest breaking British rock band with their self-titled 2014 debut album, Royal Blood’s eagerly anticipated second album, How Did We Get So Dark?, will be released on June 16th on Warner Bros. Records. The album’s lead single Lights Out is now available. Royal Blood’s breakthrough was huge. Their debut album was the fastest-selling British rock debut in three years, hitting #1 in Ireland & the UK, going Top 20 in twelve countries, and selling over a million copies. Before they knew it, they were performing for Howard Stern, touring with Foo Fighters, holding dressing room audiences with Jimmy Page in New York, and being presented with a BRIT for Best British Band in 2015 by the very same guitar god. Their ascendency was further underlined with major awards courtesy of Kerrang!, NME and Q.
The ten tracks that feature on How Did We Get So Dark? were written in instrumental form during sessions in Brighton, Hollywood, Los Angeles and Nashville. Always trying to explore ways of stripping their enormous sound back to give it more space and impact, inspiration for the lyrics came from events in vocalist/bassist, Mike Kerr’s life since the band first found huge success. In November 2016, Kerr and drummer Ben Thatcher, along with producer Jolyon Thomas, spent six weeks in a studio in Brussels that was decked out like a New York diner, and featured a warehouse of antique gear. How Did We Get So Dark? was subsequently completed after a final session in London with their debut album’s coproducer Tom Dalgety. The album’s first single, Lights Out, ups the ante from their debut with a wrecking ball of a groove, cemented by Thatcher’s thunderous rhythms, while Kerr wrangles the twisted invention of his bass riffs to a whole new level. EILE Magazine
Their patented twoman artillery of carefully constructed melodic aggression is prevalent throughout, especially in I Only Lie When I Love You, which is a compelling cowbell-assisted reminder of the power of a stop-start riff, and a strident chorus.
dimensions to their live sets.
There are times where Royal Blood are more visceral than ever – notably the gargantuan introduction to Hook, Line & Sinker, and also the intense denouement that brings Looks Like You Know to a close.
The Royal Blood palette is also expanded with the complementary addition of piano or keyboards on four tracks, including the foreboding album closer ‘Sleep’.
While the album finds Royal Blood refining their melodic might, there are other moments that fulfil their aim to create songs that will add new
‘How Did We Get So Dark?’ will be released on digital, CD and vinyl formats.
EILE Magazine
Adorned with Kerr’s falsetto, ‘Don’t Tell’ drops the intensity to mesmerising effect, while ‘Where Are You Now?’pulsates with a bounding energy that’s quite a step apart from anything else in their catalogue.
Amazon will retail a signed
version of the standard vinyl, while a coloured vinyl will also be available from specialist independent retailers. Also available are a super deluxe vinyl set and a cassette. Pre-orders are now open, and all fans who pre-order the album will receive an instant download of ‘Lights Out’. Royal Blood’s summer festival touring commences at Slane Castle, where they are the main opening act for Guns n Roses, performing in front of 80,000 people! Their touring will continue when they’ll perform at The Governors Ball in New York City in June, and concludes with both legs of Japan’s
Summer Sonic Festival in August.
and mixed by Tom Dalgety.
In the UK, they’re confirmed to play Glastonbury, and will headline the Eden Sessions on June 22nd.
You can pre-order How Did We Get So Dark? at:
The tracklisting for ‘How Did We Get So Dark?’ is:
amd visit the band at:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
How Did We Get So Dark? Lights Out I Only Lie When I Love You She’s Creeping Looks Like You Know Where Are You Now? Don’t Tell Hook, Line & Sinker Hole In Your Heart Sleep
Lights Out was produced by Jolyon Thomas & Royal Blood, sound engineered by Drew Bang,
https://r-oy.al/blood/_website
Spotify: https://wbr.ec/rb_spotify Facebook: https://wbr.ec/rb_facebook Twitter: https://wbr.ec/rb-twitter Soundcloud: https://wbr.ec/rb_ soundcloud Instagram: https://wbr.ec/rb_ instagram Website: https://wbr.ec/rb_website https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=ZSznpyG9CHY (Images courtesy Ciaran Savage and I/G)
EILE Magazine
Paramore
Grammy award winning band, Paramore, from eagerly-awaited release of their fi After Laughter will be on sale everywhere on Fr begins this June, an
Formed in 2003 in Nashville (yes you read that right!) Paramore are long regarded as an e and they have spent much of the past decade-plus on the road, with highlights inclu
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m Nashville, Tennessee, have just announced the fifth studio album, After Laughter. riday, May 12th. Their European Headline Tour nd opens in Dublin.
exhilarating live act. The band members are Hayley Williams, Taylor York and Zac Farro, uding sold out headline arena tours, and show-stealing festival sets around the globe.
Photo: Lindsey Byrnes
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Paramore Photo: Lindsey Byrnes
The GRAMMY Award-winning band’s first new album in more than four years, AFTER LAUGHTER, is available for pre-order, and accompanied by an instant grat download of the just unveiled new single, Hard Times. The video for Hard Times, directed by Andrew Joffe, premiered exclusively on Fueled By Ramen’s official YouTube channel.
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Paramore has consistently drawn both critical acclaim as well as a wide ranging list of international honours and accolades, now including a GRAMMY Award, two People’s Choice Awards, three NME Awards, three MTV Video Music Award nominations, and much much more. Their previous self-titled album PARAMORE made a chart topping debut atop the SoundScan/ Billboard 200 upon its April 2013 release, marking Paramore’s first #1 album to date – and also scoring an array of #1 debuts around the globe. AFTER LAUGHTER was recorded at Nashville’s historic RCA Studio B – Paramore’s first time recording in their own beloved hometown, where they still reside. The album is produced by Justin Meldal-Johnsen and Paramore’s own Taylor York. AFTER LAUGHTER also marks the return of original member Zac Farro to the band. TRACK LISTING 1. Hard Times 2. Rose-Colored Boy 3. Told You So 4. Forgiveness 5. Fake Happy 6. 26 7. Pool 8. Grudges 9. Caught In The Middle 10. Idle Worship 11. No Friend 12. Tell Me How
PARAMORE showcased a string of blockbuster singles including two 2x RIAA platinumcertified hits, the top 10 “Still Into You” and the #1 smash, “Ain’t It Fun.” The latter track proved Paramore’s biggest single to date, ascending to #1 at Hot AC and Rock radio outlets nationwide, #2 at Top 40, as well as to the top 10 on Billboard’s “Hot 100” – the band’s first ever top 10 hit on the overall chart and their highest peaking song thus far. Paramore will kick off a European headline tour this June. 15 JUNE Dublin, Ireland @ Olympia 16 JUN Belfast, United Kingdom @ Waterfront 18 JUN Manchester, United Kingdom @ O2 Apollo 19 JUN London, United Kingdom @ Royal Albert Hall 21 JUN Bristol, United Kingdom @ Colston Hall 22 JUN Edinburgh, United Kingdom @ Usher Hall Tickets go on sale April 28th, and for more news, ticket links and prices please visit
www.paramore.net
The album can be pre-ordered, with instant grat of first single HARD TIMES! https://twitter.com/paramore, https://www.facebook.com/paramore EILE Magazine 13
Carolina Herrera
NEXT
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Marks & Spencer
Cut The Clutter! Mark Anthony tells us how to negotiate a Springcleaning of our wardrobes, with no regrets Ah, congratulations, you have officially beaten Winter. Also, if you hadn’t already noticed, your monthly dose of menswear has been missing from EILE of late. I may have taken a little Spring break. Sometimes you just need to rest yourself up before you go back at it. One thing that is even better than a little break though, is a Spring-clean. We all have a little soft spot for those I bet. Having said that, I am sure we have all forgotten what it is like not to be layered up to within an inch of our lives. Mercury is rising though - the thaw has already begun. There isn’t a better time to prepare your wardrobe for the warmer months ahead. This is the sartorial Spring-clean that we all want and need. There will be no prisoners, and there certainly will be no ‘that might come in handy’ or ‘those were the days’ being muttered after we are done. There is no room for sentimentality when you are low on storage after all. When it comes down to it, the biggest thing about revamping your wardrobe is storage. Those huge parkas and mountain boots, that served you so well throughout the Winter months, may have to take a back seat. Maybe don’t throw them out though. Store them in the attic. What goes around, comes around, after all. However, as good an idea as your attic might seem, a charity shop is even better. Making good on those new year resolutions is one thing that feels a lot better than a Spring-clean, so why not kill two birds with one stone? It is very easy to think ‘Well, I think I might need this green camo tee for something’, when in reality, you haven’t worn it in a year, so it will probably never see the light of day again. EILE Magazine 15
It is not just your wardrobe that needs some TLC though. Going back to basics can be something to live by at this time of year. Your wrist-wear, boxers, socks and everything else in-between need looking after. You need that fresh feeling to look forward to every time you get changed. Nobody wants to put on socks that have no heels in them now, do they? There is only so much clearing out you can do though. We know that not every trend is going to work for everyone, and there are even some things that we have bought that we just can’t bring ourselves to throw out because of embarrassment (that leopard print racer-back vest, the neon yellow shorts... oh the horror of it all...).
ABOVE: River Island
That is even more of a reason to start re-working what you have though. We aren’t all made of money, so it makes sense to start re-using. Always experiment. Make combinations that you never thought that would work. You never know what might actually work out. Whatever you do though, start that Spring-clean, you will only feel better because of it. Until next time...
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RIGHT: CAROLINA HERRERA
LEFT: All Saints
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In Gypsy Queen ‘Gorgeous’ George, a feared and admired Traveller boxer, develops a relationship with his coach’s gay son… Prepare for conflict inside and outside the ring! 8 May, 9 May, 10 May, 11 May, 12 May, 13 May at PLAYERS THEATRE @ TRINITY COLLEGE
The world’s largest Gay Theatre Festival opens this May Bank Holiday Weekend, as five venues across the city become home to the best gay theatre the world has to offer. The festival commences with “Love In the Trenches,” a free academic seminar, exploring homosexuality through poetry during World War I, and featuring Lance Ringel, acclaimed author of “Flower of Iowa”. Through a programme carefully curated from over 100 submissions from every corner of the globe, contemporary 18 EILE Magazine
stories of LGBT life in Ireland and abroad will be celebrated on Dublin City centre stages, for two weeks, presented by theatre companies from Ireland, the UK, Scotland, the USA, Canada, Germany, & Mexico. Reaching its 4000th performance this year, plays covering a range of topical issues, from being a gay Traveller boxing champion, to lesbian gangsters in East End London, and Mormon missionaries, packed into a most innovative programme of theatre that makes Dublin the leading international centre in the world. Joni Mitchell, leaving certificate students, inter-
racial love, a diverse group of queers, high school students from NYC, Calamity Jane, contemporary HIV and transgender stories, gay escorts, older community members, a Mexican confessional, lesbian artist models in the 1920s, a macabre reunion between an estranged father and his son, a man with a wife and a boyfriend, a modern exploration of masculinity separating the emotional from the physical self, and a closing night of a long established gay venue, are all topics of new and emerging playwrights, who find a voice and a stage in Dublin each May, and make up this year’s accessible programme of diverse theatre for the 14th International Dublin Gay
Theatre Festival. IDGTF is proud to showcase great shows by women and about women, with a particularly diverse and fascinating programme in 2017. The women in these pieces are discovering who they are and challenging narrow gender roles – female criminal gangs, pioneering artists and lovers, a trail-blazers, teenage comingof-age, proud trans women and more. Lesbian, bi, trans, straight, questioning and from around the world … funny, inspiring, passionate, courageous – these women have powerful stories to tell.
Week 1 – Mon 1 to Sat 6 May Montparnasse – A tale of love and lust in the bohemian circles of 1920’s Paris. Two Canadian women inspire artists as live art models through their naked beauty and spirit of adventure. Both Sides Now / Wasting Paper – a double-bill about young women exploring who they are through art. In Both Sides Now Lydia tries to figure out her life and sexuality through music. In Wasting Paper student Casey’s poetry goes viral online but that’s only the start of the year that changed her life!
The Possible / Strange Fruit / The Morning After is a ‘ménage à trois’ of short plays. In The Possible one women takes drastic action to win over another… But has her scheming gone a bit too far? Week 2 – Mon 7 to Sat 13 May The Elephant Girls is the extraordinary true story of an all-female gang in Victorian London. Gangmember Maggie sits down in a London pub to tell the whole story – desire, violence and an amazing slice of hidden history. Don’t miss this criticallyacclaimed gem. Love Trumps Everything / EILE Magazine 19
How We Glow gives you four pieces that explore the experiences of LGBTQ+ women and young people in America. Calamity Jane, equal marriage, dating, the stories of real LGBTQ young people… this varied programme has something for everyone. … and don’t miss Queers – one unforgettable night in London for a range of LGBTQ characters, including Carol – a teacher during the anti-gay ‘Section 28’ era and Sapphire Having recently attended the US tour of a festival production, New York City Councillor, Daniel Dromm, endorsed the festival for the positive impact it has had on LGBT people of Irish descent. “Given the political and media landscape we have endured over the last 12 months, it is important to provide a platform for minority communities to present new voices and quality theatre, now more than ever” said Conor Molloy, Public Relations Director. “The theatre has historically been used to speak out about injustice, to challenge convention and to push boundaries. Theatre, like all art, has the power to change the world. But to do that, we must be able to speak out about our shared ideas, dreams, hopes, fears, and experiences. Our festival provides a safe space to those who might not otherwise have the opportunity to do so and we appreciate the fact that Dublin has opened its heart to such artistic expression.” Speaking at the launch of this year’s programme, Senator and life-long LGBT activist, David Norris, said: “Heartiest congratulations to Brian Merriman in once again bringing a vital and important theatre festival to Ireland. The Dublin Gay Theatre Festival reaches out beyond the gay community to the general public. I wish it every success.” Founded in 2004, with the aim to create new opportunities for visibility & affirmation of emerging LGBT artists celebrating positive LGBT identity through theatre, the festival has grown to become the largest event of its kind. Join the IDGTF 2017 as they celebrate LGBT history, and unite to face the future together, in the 14th International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival. Visit www.gaytheatre.ie Festival Box Office Now Open 12-5pm The main Festival Box Office is now open across from the Spire in Dublin: Mon-Sat (until May 13) 12noon – 5pm Festival Box Office SpireVision Studio 5 Upper O’Connell Street Dublin 1 Can’t make it into the box office?
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IDGTF 2017 In Lines in the Sand, a middle-aged man ‘rescues’ a vulnerable young high-school student. But can he be trusted? Find out in this tense and gripping drama. EILE Magazine 21
Both Sides Now / Wasting Paper – a double-bill about young women exploring who they are through art
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Phone during opening hours: 085 194 9930 Buy tickets online … 24/7 Email boxoffice@gaytheatre.ie
But if you want a great night of theatre check out our ‘Venue Ticket’. You can see 2 evening shows in a venue for just €25 instead of €30! One night – two shows – just €25.
Buy tickets at the venues (15 – 40 minutes before the show).
Download the IDGTF 2017 PDF Brochure
Introducing the Venue Ticket Our plays are already great value at just €15/€13 and €10 matinees.
View the programme online and book
Visit www.gaytheatre.ie
Keep watching www.gaytheatre.ie and Facebook for more details.
Spool is an extraordinary dance / physical theatre piece involving the body ‘dancing’ with the mind of a confused young man
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THE ELEPHANT GIRLS PARRY RIPOSTE PRODUCTIONS, CANADA Drama - 8 May, 9 May, 10 May, 11 May, 12 May, 13 May at OUTHOUSE THEATRE@105 CAPEL STREET “I’ll tell you something special I ain’t never told no one before; I’ll tell you the truth.” Maggie Hale - the gang’s suit-wearing, bloody-knuckled, girl-chasing “enforcer”—will tell you all: Who they were. What they did. How they got away with it. And how it all came crashing down. But just how much are you sure you want to hear? (Based on the true story of South-East London’s notorious all-female criminal gang.) ***** CBC **** Broadway Baby **** Fringe Guru Written & Performed by Margo MacDonald Directed by Mary Ellis 2:30PM / 9PM (70 Mins) 24 EILE Magazine
The Tearing Up of Fergal & Tim Blue Heart Theatre presents “The Tearing up of Fergal and Tim”, two men’s attempts to have a ‘civilised breakup’ after their long-term relationship ends, goes disastrously awry, when a dispute over the ownership of a book of poems, opens old wounds and escalates into a fullon battle of wills. Written by Sean Denyer 1 May, 2 May, 3 May, 4 May, 5 May, 6 May at THE PEARSE CENTRE THEATRE (15 Mins) 2:30PM / 9PM EILE Magazine 25
Opinion: We Cannot Be Silent Over Chechen LGBT Killings EILE’s Founder & Editor-at-Large, Scott De Buitléir, comments on the latest crisis to hit the LGBT community, about which everyone should be vocally protesting. By now, the single report that featured in Novaya Gazeta has spread around into the world’s media, including the New York Times, the Independent, and the Guardian. As I write this from a small British airport en route to Dublin, protests are taking place outside the Russian Embassy in London. Amnesty International, both at home in Ireland, and elsewhere, has set up pages where citizens can sign petitions to national authorities, demanding that the world makes a vocal condemnation of these Chechen concentration camps. For all this effort, however, we must ask what will be enough to put serious pressure on the Chechen authorities to bring this to an end. The Chechen leader, Ramzan Kadyrov, is known as a key ally of Vladimir Putin, and therefore can boast an arguable level of Kremlin support and protection: Putin’s alleged denial of any knowledge merely adds credibility to this, and Foreign Minister Sergey Lazrov is far from a friend to LGBT Russians. Unlike the social golden era of Obama, we – as LGBT people – no longer have an ally in the White House. Neither Angela Merkel nor Theresa May have spoken out (at the time of writing, at least) about the Russian newspaper’s reports, despite BBC News having reported on the situation recently. Neither the UK, nor the US, will use their military to liberate any victims of extremist violence in Chechnya, because the region is under the shield of the Russian Federation. The ‘Chechen 100’, as LGBT advocacy group Allout have coined the reported detainees, are arguably on their own. That is the truly horrific part of this story. Just as people walked around the streets of London, New York, or anywhere else in the world in the early 1940s, there were people then who thought little of the atrocities against Jews, LGBT people, Roma, and many others in Nazi Germany – a comparison that should only be used when appropriate, as it is now. Today, in the early 21st Century, there are people walking around those same cities, who care very little
26 EILE Magazine
Image: bbc.com
for the number of Chechen men who have been killed in Grozny because they were gay or bisexual. As an openly gay man, living in Western Europe, I truly never thought I would see the days where the words “concentration camp” were in a newspaper report. I never thought I would read about the views of a region’s government, claiming that LGBT people “don’t exist”, or that such people would be effectively ‘dealt with’ by their own families, hinting at honour killings. This is all happening, though, and although there are fewer ways to influence what is happening from outside of Chechnya, the world cannot stay silent. We have learned in history class in school, that many people remained silent for too long, leaving far too many to die. We cannot allow for future schoolbooks to reveal how the Chechen 100 were only the first of a new wave of terror against another vulnerable minority. Are we that willing to let history repeat itself? Are we really so naïve in thinking that someone else will complain on our behalf? Or do we find a way of calling upon everyone we can think of to stop Grozny from becoming a 21st Century Auschwitz? Write to whomever you think could help. Keep an eye out for protests in your local area. Share the information on social media. Some figures within the Chechen regional government have claimed that LGBT people simply don’t exist in Chechnya. They do, just like anywhere else in the world. The only difference is that they are not safe, and not free. We cannot let these people be forgotten, when they need us most.
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Review
Freddie Mercury, ‘An Intimate Memoir By The Man Who Knew Him Best’ By Peter Freestone
Lisa Reynolds reviews this intimate book about Freddie Mercury Freddie Mercury, ‘An Intimate Memoir By The Man Who Knew Him Best’ (1999) by Peter Freestone, with David Evans, is an insightful, intimate look into the world of rock superstar, Freddie Mercury. Freestone was a friend of Mercury’s, as well as being his Personal Assistant for the last twelve years of his life, living with him in London, Munich and New York, and it shows, when compared to countless other biographies about
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Mercury which are written from a completely ‘outsider’ perspective. It is a stunning biography, written with a very absorbing, conversational tone. Once you pick this book up, be prepared to get addicted to reading it, because it is hard to put down. Included in the book are topics such as Mercury’s love life, his homes, his kindness to his cats, his music, and his adoration of the woman with whom he would duet, opera star, Montserrat Caballe. The star’s death is also spoken about (Freestone was with Mercury at the end in 1991) and it is written without the dramatic overtones that so many writers resort to in order
to sensationalise a star’s death. It is this authentic, true way in which it is written that will have you close to tears reading it. For anyone who has lost someone, it will definitely bring back a lot of hard memories too. When I read about the teddy-bear that his partner, Jim Hutton, had placed in the bag with him, it was really moving, and also really sad. You can only imagine what that man was going through, losing the love of his life. Although Freestone knew Mercury personally, he gives an honest account, complete with both the good and not-sogood qualities of the man.
Left: Mercury and Freestone (Phoebe)
Right: Freddie Mercury and Peter Freestone, by freddie.bresky
A brilliant and interesting book, showing the various facets of Mercury’s character, from the showman to the party trooper, and someone who took his music seriously, but not over-seriously. Freestone shows how conflict was a must to pump Mercury’s creative juices, and how he valued trust.
There are pages of not-so-common photos in the centre of the book, and we also get a guided tour of Mercury’s home, Garden Lodge. Absorbing. Insightful. Stunning.
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Travel
Make your travel dreams come true! Taking the ideal holiday doesn’t have to break the bank, especially with these fantastic deals to some of the world’s most magical destinations. Take a thrilling safari in South Africa, something that ranks high on most people’s bucket lists, cruise through the crystal waters of the Caribbean, be in awe of the skyscrapers in Dubai or tour the superbly scenic sites of Thailand. Whichever hotspot you desire, Travelmood can give you your dream package at an affordable rate! Cruise South Africa & take an all inclusive safari from only €2799pp. 3 nights 3* Aha Waterfront Hotel & Spa, Durban 5 night cruise on board MSC Sinfonia 4 night safari at Pumba Msenge Bush Lodge on an all-inclusive basis in a chalet with a plunge pool Price includes: Return flights ex. Dublin, 12 nights’ accommodation as stated, taxes and
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charges. Based on 2 adults sharing. Travel: November 2017 Ref No: 1497462 Eastern Caribbean Fly/Cruise Spend 1 night at the Quality Inn & Suites Airport/Cruise Port South followed by an 8 night cruise on board Freedom of The Seas from only €1099pp. Price includes: Return flights ex. Dublin, 9 nights’ accommodation as stated, $50 on board spend per stateroom, taxes and charges. Based on 2 adults sharing. Travel: December 2017 Ref No: 1502302 Dubai with KLM Spend 5 nights at the 5* JA Ocean View on a B&B basis from only €1099pp. Price includes: Return flights with KLM ex. Dublin, airport transfers on arrival, 5 nights’ accommodation as stated, taxes and charges. Based on 2 adults sharing. Travel: September 2017 - other dates and durations applicable
Ref No: 1495499 Bangkok, Elephant Hills & Khao Lak from only ₏1749pp. 3 nights at the 4* Majestic Grande, Bangkok 2 nights at the Elephant Hills Jungle Safari on a full board basis 7 nights at the 4* Apsara Beachfront Resort & Villas on a B&B basis Price includes: Return flights ex. Dublin, airport transfers on arrival, 12 nights’ accommodation as stated, taxes and charges. Based on 2 adults sharing. Travel: June 2017 - other dates and durations applicable Ref No: 1487259 For more information on these offers or to book, visit www.travelmood.ie or call their team on 01 4331063 or visit the Travelmood store on Duke Street, Dublin 2, just off Grafton Street.
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Travel
USA winter
Not able to take a summer holiday? Then think ahead and give yourself something to look forward to with USA winter getaways! While summer is the typical time for most to take their annual holiday, for some the timing just doesn’t work out. Luckily, it’s the perfect time to get the best deals on getaways for later in the year! Get some winter sunshine in Orlando or on a cruise through the Caribbean, chance your luck on a fun-filled trip to Las Vegas or hit the shops of NYC for some seasonal sales! Or take the time to truly have a trip of a lifetime with a tour through some of the east coast’s finest spots including Boston, Philadelphia and Washington! Whichever city or state you want to check off your bucketlist American Holidays have a wealth of amazing deals on offer! 32 EILE Magazine
Christmas in New York City Spend 5 nights at the 3* Edison Hotel, New York, from only €999pp. Price includes: Return flights ex. Dublin, 5 nights’ accommodation as stated, taxes and charges. Based on two people sharing. Flight connections also available ex. Belfast, Shannon and Cork. Travel: December 2017 - other dates and durations available Ref No: 1498278 New Year’s in Vegas Spend 5 nights at the 3* Excalibur Hotel, Las Vegas, from only €1169pp. Price includes: Return flights ex. Dublin, 5 nights’ accommodation as stated, taxes and charges. Based on two people sharing. Flight connections also available ex. Belfast, Shannon and Cork. Travel: December 2017 - other dates and
r getaways
durations available Ref No: 1498276 Caribbean Fly/Cruise Spend 1 night at the 3* Fort Lauderdale Hotel followed by an 8 night Caribbean cruise on board Freedom of the Seas from only €1099pp. Price includes: Return flights ex. Dublin, 9 nights’ accommodation as stated, $50 on board spend per stateroom taxes and charges. Based on two people sharing. Flight connections also available ex. Belfast, Shannon and Cork. Travel: December 2017 - other dates and durations available Ref No: 1502302 American Heritage Tour Take the American Heritage 9 day tour including Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Washington from only €2639pp.
from Boston to New York to Philadelphia to Washington, City Passes, tours and meals as per the itinerary, taxes and charges. Based on two people sharing. Flight connections also available ex. Belfast, Shannon and Cork. For a full itinerary visit: https://www.americanholidays.com/en-ie/ holiday-deal/american-heritage-best-eastcoast-cities-rail/ Travel: January/February 2018 - other dates and durations available Ref No: 1495592 Call American Holidays to book on 01 673 3804 or call into their office just off Grafton Street - 18- 19 Duke Street, Dublin 2, staff will help you plan your holiday of a lifetime. For more information visit www. americanholidays.com.
Price includes: Return flights ex. Dublin, 9 nights’ accommodation, Amtrak train EILE Magazine 33
Health
To Detox or Not? Brian Rochford thinks we should be careful going the detox route When you detox your body, you stop consuming harmful and unhealthy drink, food, and even drugs. This process has become popular with people looking to lose weight, while others may want to detox as a method of removing toxic chemicals from their bodies. However, the definition of detox is changing, as it once belonged to alcohol and drug treatment centres. For some, it may be a way of breaking a bad habit, like overuse of drugs or alcohol. Many hundreds of tests and trials have been carried out on patients detoxing for alcohol and drugs, while only a relatively small amount of research has been carried out on detoxing for food, all in an effort to establish the value of detoxing as a method of ridding the body of toxins. These have, unfortunately, not been sufficient to draw any definitive conclusions regarding its effectiveness, according to authorities. Regardless, you may see this as a reason or a motivation to get serious about your health,
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and as a way of kick-starting the process. Books on the subject of Diet Detox are now widely available. The detox diet works on the belief that, over time, the body overloads with toxins that are found in the foods we consume, and also preservatives and other additives that are believed to harm the body. However, it is important to stress that not all the experts agree with these beliefs. Although it has to be said that most professionals would agree that cleansing can be improved by consuming plenty of water, and changing your diet to good foods that are high in fibre, like whole grains, fruit, and also vegetables. It is important to note that, because there is not enough scientific evidence available to support the claims made by practitioners, it is wise to be cautious, and be aware that there are certain risks involved in taking up any detox program. Starting an exercise routine, and introducing a relaxation session into your daily life, seems like a good way to go, and if you’re careful and interested in taking care of your health on a day-to-day basis, you may have less of a need to detox.
When you make severe changes to your diet, and force your body to undergo treatments that you normally would not subject yourself to, it usually happens that very quickly you revert back to your original pattern of behaviour.
It is popular with some to think that you can avoid looking after your health, and when the time comes to do something about the situation, all you have to do is read a book on how to detox, of which there are many, or go on some expensive course.
The best and most effective way to ensure that your body stays healthy and fit, is to apply a health routine strategy for every day of your life, and avoid extremes. Many participants who can’t stick with these programs give up, and in the end only feel disappointed.
The most popular home-detox choices are usually a short fruit-juice or fruit fast, lasting only a couple of days, and this is where juicers or smoothie-makers come into their own. You can also do the right thing for your body by incorporating a smoothie or juice of fruit or vegetables into your breakfast or lunch routine.
Health, strength, and vitality are things that you build up over time, using tried and tested methods that work, and that provide you with long-lasting results. Good food, clean air, plenty of exercise, and a dash of relaxation, often beat the extremes of what can often be expensive detox regimes.
You can, however, go the detox route as long as you research it well, but remember, the longest way round is often the fastest way home, and this is especially true when it comes to your health and general well-being.
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CHRISTIAN SINGERS WHO IDENTIFY AS LGBTQ Upon first thought, the notion of being Christian and an out LGBTQ singer or entertainer is a contradiction in terms. However, there are several high profile Christian singers who have recently publicly revealed their same-sex attractions, such as Australia’s Jennifer Knapp or American Trey Pearson. This remains a challenge and struggle for this genre of inspirational music. The reaction to these public statements has been mixed within the community. Many of the early singers who came out were immediately sidelined within their religious community, and this effectively diminished or terminated their professional careers. Notable among these was Marsha Stevens and Ray Boltz. Other past LGBTQ Christian singers have remained in the closet during their lifetime, but subsequent events and biographies have revealed their sexual orientation. Notable among these is the legendary gospel singer James Cleveland, recipient of four Grammy Awards and nicknamed the ‘King of Gospel’. Cleveland died of AIDS in 1991. The Gospel church and homosexuality has reportedly had a long inter-twining relationship. LGBTQ individuals have apparently found refuge in gospel churches, and the subject matter of the music appeals to those suffering from marginalization, discrimination and abuse - all reflective of the experience of many queer individuals. Other music genres with LGBTQ Christian singers include folk, pop, country and western, and rock. We have identified LGBTQ Christian singers who identify as LGBTQ from Australia, Great Britain and the United States. Read more and see the complete list of notable LGBTQ individuals at Queerbio. com.
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Jennifer Knapp
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Frances Winston on Movies Directed by: Ritesh Batra
he is forced to question the rose-tinted hue with which he remembered things, and the reality of events, and face up to his part in certain events.
Starring: Jim Broadbent, Charlotte Rampling, Harriet Based on the Booker prizewinning novel, Batra takes Walter, Emily Mortimer, Billy Howle the time-hopping approach It is refreshing to see actors of Jim Broadbent’s and Charlotte Rampling’s generation fronting a movie in what has become a very youth-centric business, and seeing their names on the posters guarantees a certain calibre of performance. With actors this good, it is a safe assumption that the focus here is on the storytelling, and that is indeed the case. At the very beginning, we are introduced to Broadbent’s Tony Webster, who starts explaining his life to us. He seems to live a pretty ordinary existence. He’s on good terms with his ex-wife, Margaret (Walter), his thirtysomething daughter, Susie, is expecting her first child, and he potters his way through his retirement, running a shop that sells and repairs classic cameras. However, when he receives a letter informing him that someone he once knew has died, and remembered him in their will, it fuels many memories of his youth. As he reconnects with his past,
to tell this tale, and we are transported back to the 1960s, where we see younger Tony (Howle) making the decisions that will have far-reaching repercussions. Meanwhile, in the present day, Tony is trying to explain the events to his ex-wife, while tracking down a former flame for some answers. While this is a tried and tested storytelling method, the younger actors in the flashback scenes simply do not have the acting chops of their older selves, and it shows. If we weren’t seeing them side by side, they would be perfectly fine actors, but Broadbent, Rampling, et al literally act them off the screen. I could cheerfully just have watched Jim Broadbent tell the story for the entire duration of the movie. This aside, the story is not as sweet and gentle as you’d expect when you first meet the curmudgeonly Tony. By the end of the tale, you realise that he is only human, and there are one or two twists along the way that show him at his best,
and his absolute worst. Indeed, he runs pretty much the entire gamut of humanity. This is down to some lovely and wellpaced writing from Nick Payne. You do find yourself wanting to know more about what happened to him in his youth, that had such a far-reaching effect. This is a nice movie, and does manage to engage. I absolutely enjoyed every scene with Broadbent in it. The Sense of an Ending is somewhat too long at around two hours, and there is a lot of repetition of the flashback scenes. It’s as if Batra doesn’t trust the audience to have remembered them on their own. It is refreshing, however, to see a film that relies purely on the story, and the performances, and no gimmicks, and it is a nice distraction to the slew of computer game adaptations, and action flicks, we usually get at this time of year. The Sense of an Ending is also an absolute acting tour-deforce, and worth a look for that alone.
In Cinemas Now!
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Miss SLOANE 40 EILE Magazine
Frances Winston on Movies continued...
Directed by: John Madden Starring: Jessica Chastain, Mark Strong, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Michael Stuhlbarg, Alison Pill, Jake Lacy, John Lithgow, Sam Waterston As much as I love movies, the words political-thriller usually leave me drooling at the mouth with boredom. I mean come on – don’t we have enough of a political thriller going on day-to-day worldwide at the moment? There’s nothing a screenwriter can come up with that could possibly compare to real life. And – let’s be honest here - it’s just so tedious. He said, she said, and he said again. Unless you’re into that sort of thing of course. But it’s definitely not my favourite genre. So, as much as I love Jessica Chastain, I groaned at the thoughts of this. She plays the Miss Sloane of the title – Elizabeth to be precise. She is a political lobbyist. If you don’t know what that is, trust me, you’ll only be half as enlightened by the end of the movie. But apparently, in simple terms, they attempt to influence legislators, and government,
and such. Elizabeth is a total hot-shot, so, unsurprisingly, when a controversial gun bill is in the offing, she is headhunted by the side that fears they will lose (I won’t bore you with the details – just think of it as the water-charges in terms of the controversy). This of course means leaving her current employer, who is not happy about her departure, and the campaigning quickly becomes personal, with both sides utilising the information they have on each other. As the deadline for results approaches, the lobbying gets nastier and nastier, with Elizabeth even willing to utilise her own team member’s tragic past to ensure victory. Like I said, political-thrillers usually leave me drooling at the mouth, but thanks to fantastic performances – not least from Chastain and Strong, this is hugely elevated. You don’t need to understand the political jargon to follow what’s going on. However, you won’t always understand Elizabeth’s motivation, so it does leave you somewhat frustrated. Also, the fact that she always looks like a perfectly groomed high-class dominatrix (great shoes and lipstick though) does seem somewhat implausible, given her long hours and punishing schedule.
Thankfully, she is balanced out by the other more grounded characters (or as grounded as anyone in that field can be) with Strong’s Rodolfo acting as somewhat of a moral compass for the high flyer. Extremely stylish, this does also manage to have substance, but at times, the story does become somewhat overcomplicated. You half expect the words ‘based on a true story’ to appear at the end, as it sometimes does veer into outlandish territory. Despite this, on the whole, this is well-paced. It is entertaining, and it does engage, but it is lacking something - maybe physical action. It is extremely wordy, and political jargon can become grating after a while. But it will still keep you engrossed for its just over two-hour running time. Solid but overcomplicated in parts, this is probably a onetime watch for most, but does boast an acting masterclass from some fine talents.
In Cinemas May 12th!
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Frances Winston on Movies continued...
Directed by: Lasse Hallström Starring: Dennis Quaid, Britt Robertson, Josh Gad, KJ Apa, Juliet Rylance, John Ortiz, Kirby HowellBaptiste, Peggy Lipton For anyone who owns, or has owned, a pooch, this will certainly strike a chord. It tells the tale of a dog named Bailey - and Ellie, Tino, and Buddy (and briefly Waffles). If you’re wondering why he has so many names, it’s not that he has numerous homes as such (although he does) it’s that he has numerous lives. Each time he dies, he is reincarnated into another. The first time is within ten minutes of the movie’s opening, which isn’t confusing in the least (that may be sarcasm!) We are taken though his lives (well, in one life he’s a she) as he tries to figure out his reason for existing. However, one of his owners never leaves his mind or heart – a young boy named Ethan, with whom he lives a joyous life as Bailey. After that existence, he has other adventures – even working as a police dog in one incarnation. However, he eventually finds his way back to a now grown-
up Ethan (Quaid) who is extremely embittered about how his life has turned out. Bailey (although he’s technically called Buddy in this incarnation) realises that he can help him, if he can just figure out how to let him know who he really is. It’s impossible to write a review of this without mentioning that it hits cinemas swathed in controversy, after a video of a dog seemingly being dragged, and dipped into water on set, was leaked. However, you should know that the American Humane Association reported in February that an independent, thirdparty, animal-cruelty expert had concluded that safety measures on the set of the film were in place, and the video had been deliberately edited to mislead the public. Setting that aside, this is shamelessly designed to tug on the heart-strings. No matter what breed of dog he is in any incarnation, the voice of Buddy (Gad) always remains childlike and inquisitive, as if they are trying to keep the image of a puppy in your mind, as opposed to a great big grown-up dog. It is incredibly sentimental from the off (like I said his first life ‘ends’ within ten minutes of the movie beginning) and it uses every tried and tested trick to move the audience.
What it hasn’t allowed for is the fact that with so many lives, the stories need time to breathe, and other than his relationship with Ethan, it feels like we are fastforwarded through his other lives. This makes it feel a bit disjointed at times. Bailey runs the gamut of canine existence, having both loving and cruel owners, being a working dog and a pampered pooch, and they really are trying to cover all their bases in terms of striking a chord, but sometimes it feels like they are trying too hard. The main focus is on his relationship with Ethan, and these scenes are given far more attention than the others, and feel like the most authentic. You could almost skip his other lives, and just watch those scenes. Extremely saccharine, this seems to try too hard to please, but it is never offensive, and its heart is in the right place. If you like sweet movies that have an abundance of four-legged stars, this will warm your cockles. If you don’t like dogs, this won’t change your mind. And if you don’t have a dog, and bring a pre-teen to this, you will probably find yourself nightmared to buy one. You have been warned.
In Cinemas May 5th!
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Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
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Frances Winston on Movies continued...
Directed by: James Gunn - Starring: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Elizabeth Debicki, Chris Sullivan, Sean Gunn, Sylvester Stallone, Kurt Russell In this line of work you are supposed to be objective when viewing a movie, so that you can write a balanced critique. However, after having my heart melted by a dancing baby Groot within minutes of this movie’s opening, that is a tricky task. Baby Groot is quite possibly the most adorable creature ever committed to screen. If you have no clue who or what a baby Groot is, then chances are you are not this movie’s core audience. However, given that the first instalment was such a monster hit, it is a fair assumption that most of you know what I’m talking about. I won’t remind you of the plot of the first movie, but this picks up after the events of that with the group of misfits - Peter Quill (Pratt), Gamora (Saldana), Drax (Bautista), Rocket (Cooper), and baby Groot (Diesel) - now officially a team. After Rocket double-crosses a client, they are forced to crashland on a nearby planet, where they encounter Ego (Russell) who claims to be Peter’s longlost father.
Although Peter is suspicious, he agrees to accompany him to his planet, and learns the truth about his origins. But the client they double-crossed still wants revenge, and hires Yondu (Rooker) the Ravenger, who raised Peter, to track them down. But Yondu knows that Ego’s intentions towards Peter aren’t honourable, and with time running out, he, Rocket and baby Groot must try and convince Peter of the truth about his father, before the whole universe as they know it is destroyed. While that may sound like a pretty straightforward sci-fi plot, there is nothing straightforward about the execution. Gunn has, well, all guns blazing in his attempts to entertain, and it works. This is beautifully constructed, with a fantastic mix of humour, heart and high-octane action. Less than five minutes into the film, we are treated to one of the most hilarious fight scenes you will probably ever witness, and laughs prevail throughout. Gunn has done a fantastic job on the script, and even the character development doesn’t feel contrived or forced. All the actors do an amazing job, and have a fabulous chemistry, and there are some astonishing cameos from David Hasselhoff and, erm, Howard the Duck!
that they’ve compiled for it is, well, awesome. These are songs that everyone knows, but may not have heard in years, and they really add to the energy of the film. Of course, as you would expect from such a big budget Disney/ Marvel production, the effects are fantastic. But unlike many sci-fi offerings, this isn’t just a visual spectacle, and you really do care about what is going on. Underneath all the aliens and explosions is a story about the meaning of family, and the need for connection with others. Believe the hype – this is fantastic. It completely backs up its razzle-dazzle with some great characters and writing. The world it inhabits may be populated by aliens, but at its heart, this is a real human story. Also, which is unusual for a sequel, it is as good as the original. (Actually better in parts although it is not as ‘fresh’). If you haven’t seen the first one yet, I would recommend watching it, to bring yourself up to speed, although it is not a pre-requisite for enjoying this. And do sit through the credits, as there are no less than five additional sequences tagged on for your viewing pleasure.
In Cinemas April 28th!
The music is also a huge part of this film, and the ‘Awesome Mix’ EILE Magazine 45
Design: Anthony Zagariko, exclusively for EILE Magazine
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Quality LGBT News and Features – Produced from Los Angeles Available via podcast on our website (thiswayout.org) or on iTunes, and on 200+ Radio Stations Worldwide!
thiswayout.org | Twitter: @TWORadio Overnight Productions (Inc.)/”This Way Out” Post Office Box 1065 Los Angeles, CA 90078 U.S.A. EILE Magazine 47
Photo: Michael Fitzgerald, Clontarf Media
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Garda Confirm Largest Ever Protest at Russian Embassy The National LGBT Federation (NXF), Ireland’s leading and oldest LGBT rights group, staged the largest-ever protest yesterday (Thursday 20th April) outside the Russian Embassy in Dublin, to protest the reported detention, torture and murder of gay men in Chechnya. Garda confirmed that over 200 people had attended the demonstration. Photo: Michael Fitzgerald, Clontarf Media Protest organiser Dearbhla Mealy said: “The religious and socially conservative region of Chechnya is attempting to purge its society of gay men and Russia is so far turning a blind eye and allowing it to happen. “We are protesting at the Russian Embassy because Chechnya is a federal republic of Russia. It has no independent presence on the international stage and it has no diplomatic presence in other countries. In terms of international relations, Russia speaks for Chechnya. “We want to send a message that Ireland stands in solidarity with our community in Chechnya and we will not sit still as these human rights violations take place.”
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Anti-LGBT Persecution in Chechnya – Two Ways to Show Solidarity The LGBT+ community in Chechnya are facing horrifying persecution by government forces. BeLonG To has been in contact with their colleagues at the Russian LGBT Network, and they have advised them about the terrifying reality on the ground. There are direct steps you can take to help support the LGBT community in Chechnya. BeLonG To is collecting letters of support from young people, staff, and board members in BeLonG To, to send to colleagues over there. If you would like to write a note expressing your solidarity and support, please email it to info@belongto.org They will print out and send those messages of solidarity to the Russian LGBT Network. In addition, the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Intersex Association (ILGA) Europe is collecting donations for very practical aid to those under attack, including food, clothes, and money for travel out of Chechnya. Please give what you can at: https://my.ilga-europe.org/civicrm/contribute/transact?reset=1&id=11 Any help during this dark time is extremely appreciated. (eile.ie 28 April 2017)
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UK - Protests At Russian Embassy In London Over LGBT Killings In Chechnya Hundreds of people gathered outside the Russian embassy in London [last] Wednesday to protest, after reports from human rights groups that up to 100 gay men are being held and tortured in “camps” in Russia’s southern region of Chechnya. Russian independent newspaper, Novaya Gazeta, reported at least three of the men detained had been killed in secret prisons that were branded “concentration camps”. The Chechen authorities could not be reached for comment but a spokesman for the region’s president, Ramzan Kadyrov, denied the allegations to other media, adding that gay men did not exist in Chechnya. Protesters in London chanted “close the camps” and “queer rights are human rights” before laying pink flowers outside the embassy. “When there are people elsewhere who are not afforded the same rights as we are, it’s important that we stand up for them,” Steve Taylor, the protest’s organiser and a campaigner for LGBT rights, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. Svetlana Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian LGBT network, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation by phone that “such campaigning against homosexual men is unprecedented in Russia”. The Russian LGBT network set up a hotline for victims of the abuses committed in Chechnya last month and has so far received around 40 testimonies. Zakharova said the organisation was arranging the evacuation of potential targets from the region to “save as many people as possible”. The crackdown comes a month after several cities in the North Caucasus, where the Chechen republic is located, asked for permits to stage a string of gay pride parades, Novaya Gazeta 52 EILE Magazine
reported. “It is increasingly difficult for LGBT people to be safe in Russia,” Anna Kirey, Amnesty International’s deputy director of campaigns in Russia, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. The situation in Chechnya is made worse by a conservative majority-Muslim society where any expression of sexuality that is seen as outside traditional gender roles is considered sinful, Kirey said. The targeting of LGBT people by their own families, and honour killings, are common in the region, she added. A spokesman for Chechen leader Kadyrov, who is a vocal supporter of Russian President Vladimir Putin, denied that any such activities have taken place. “Nobody can detain or harass anyone who is simply not present in the republic,” Alvi Karimov was quoted as telling the Interfax news agency. “If such people existed in Chechnya, law enforcement would not have to worry about them since their own relatives would have sent them to where they could never return,” he added. Reporting by Anna Pujol-Mazzini, Thomson Reuters Foundation (eile.ie 16 April 2017)
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Canada - Activists Urge Emergency Visas For Chechen LGBT (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Canada should open its doors to LGBT people from Chechnya where dozens of men have been reported to be imprisoned and tortured because they are believed to be gay, a Canadian advocacy group says. The call for emergency visas came from Rainbow Railroad, which said it was working with a Russian non-profit group to help people flee Chechnya through a global network of safe routes. “We’re expanding our on-the-ground contacts as well as increasing our capacity to identify and assess new or alternative safe routes out of Chechnya,” said Kimahli Powell, executive director of Rainbow Railroad, which helps LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) people facing violence or death escape their countries. Independent Russian newspaper, Novaya Gazeta, has reported that up to 100 men have been
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Protests in Toronto Image twitter.com
(Left) Protesters brought flowers to lay at the former Russian embassy in Toronto (CBC News)
thrown in secret prisons in Russia’s southern region of Chechnya, and that some men have disappeared altogether. A Kremlin spokesman told journalists on Thursday that the claims were groundless. “These reports are distortion of reality, slander,” said Dmitry Peskov in a conference call. “There are no such people.” But the United Nations has urged the abuses to end, and the 57-nation Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has called for Russia to investigate the reports. Toronto-based Rainbow Railroad said it was formally requesting humanitarian or refugee visas from the Canadian government for those in danger. A spokeswoman for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada told the Thomson Reuters Foundation: “We cannot speculate on any future policy.” Canada chooses whom it accepts as refugees by relying on the U.N. and others for referrals, she said. The crackdown in Chechnya came after several cities in the North Caucasus, where the Chechen republic is located, sought permits to stage gay pride parades, Novaya Gazeta reported. Same-sex sexual activity is a crime in some 70 countries, but not in Russia, said Maria Sjödin, a spokeswoman for OutRight Action International, a New York City-based group that advocates for LGBT rights. But a law limiting the dissemination of information on LGBT issues to young people has emboldened people to grow violent toward LGBT people, she said. “On top of that, there are reports that police are not investigating,” said Sjödin. – Sebastien Malo – news.trust.org (eile.ie 23 April 2017)
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Transgender Irish youths launch campaign at 10th anniversary of oldest trans youth group in Europe Yesterday (19th) transgender, and nonbinary young people from IndividualiTy launched their TransVisibility Public Awareness Campaign. The campaign was launched at a celebration of the 10-year anniversary of IndividualiTy, the first Transgender Youth group in Ireland and Europe, founded by BeLonG To, the national organisation for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT+) young people.
the barriers faced by young transgender people.
This young peopleled campaign engaged transgender and non-binary young people throughout the entire process of development and production of five videos, that tell the stories of ordinary transgender and non-binary young people to the rest of Ireland. The campaign will increase the public’s understanding of what it means to be transgender, and
Only 41% of people agree trans young people should be able to use the rest room/ changing facilities of their preferred gender in school.
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Recent Irish polling shows that although attitudes are changing and public support for transgender people is increasing, there is still much work to be done to eliminate stigma, myths, and misconceptions. IndividualiTy and BeLonG To hope that this campaign will address many of these. 53% of people agree that trans young people should be able to wear the uniform of their preferred gender in school. 62% of people agree that transgender young people should be able to use their preferred name and pronoun in school.
The opening of IndividualiTy, a peer support group for transgender young people 10 years ago by BeLonG To was a European milestone. As well as providing trans and non-binary young people
with a space to come and be themselves and make friends, the group are supported to run workshops on a wide range of topics from health care, minding your mental health, coming out and gender recognition. The group has also been active on a wide range of social issues over the years including the Marriage Equality referendum and the Gender Recognition Act, 2015 review. The campaign launched yesterday is part of their work to improve the lives of transgender and non-binary young people in Ireland and throughout the world. Danielle Lavigne, co-founder of IndividualiTy commented: ‘To see how this group has evolved in the ten years since, it fills me with a kind of joy and relief that I can’t begin to explain. When I first came to BeLonG To, [..] there weren’t any openly trans kids there. When IndividualiTy started, it was usually less than a handful of people each fortnight. Now it’s over 40 trans and non-binary folks. That’s forty people who have each other’s backs, which isn’t even to mention the other BeLonG To
Youtube video: What Is Transgender?
members. I couldn’t imagine an army of that size when I was old enough to attend BeLonG To.’ Moninne Griffith, Executive Director of BeLonG To added: ‘We are delighted to be celebrating the 10th anniversary of IndividualiTy, Europe’s longest running youth group for transgender young people. [The] launch of their TransVisibility campaign is significant as young trans people themselves lead the entire process from development. These young people are agents for positive change in Irish society and the wider world.’ The videos explore the topics of What is Transgender? Name and Pronouns Coming Out Bathrooms Being a ‘Trans Ally’ Griffith continued: ‘By sharing the lived experiences of real people, these short films can improve public awareness, increase visibility of transgender and non-binary young people, and help to reduce transphobia in our schools, communities and homes.’ BeLonG To is the National Organisation for LGBT+ Youth w ww.belongto.org (eile.ie 20 April 2017)
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Maspalomas Gay Pride 2017 – Official 2017 ProGay Parties Maspalomas 2017, 10th and 11th May, T-Dance and Wet & White Parties! T-Dance: Wednesday 10th of May, 2017 Since 2009, the most popular party at Maspalomas Gay Pride is the T-Dance. Last year was the first time in Maspalomas Gay Pride history, that an event was sold out during pre-sale, for both T-Dance and Wet & White! Located just 5 minutes away from the ‘Yumbo Center’, you can find the fantastic Aqua Ocean Club, next to the Meloneras Beach, an open air venue with amazing sound system, large dance floor, VIP Tables and sea-view from the party. Superstar DJ Steven Redant, who plays all over the world, and Sharon O’Love, one of the most beloved DJs within the LGBT community, will be spinning the discs. Also featuring is ProGay resident DJ PK80, who has been part of T-Dance since the beginning, and is a true local star on Gran Canaria! Tickets to the T-Dance at: http://www.gaypridemaspalomas.com/product/t-dance-2/ And the next day’s party is The Wet & White Party, with DJ Micky Friedmann, Sharon O’Love and PK80, on Thursday 11th May, 2017, voted on social media as the best 2016 Maspalomas Pride party! Tickets to the Wet & White at: http://www.gaypridemaspalomas.com/product/wet-white-2/
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US - Case Against Rights Of Minnesota Trans Teen Dropped An organization that filed a federal lawsuit last year, to bar transgender students from using locker rooms consistent with their gender identity, today announced that they have voluntarily dismissed their lawsuit. The American Civil Liberties Union, and the ACLU of Minnesota, had intervened in the case on behalf of a transgender girl, identified as Jane Doe, to protect her privacy. A small group of parents, acting through an organization they have named ‘Privacy Matters’, and represented by the anti-LGBT legal organization, Alliance Defending Freedom, filed a complaint against Doe’s school district, and the U.S. Department of Education, for protecting Doe from discrimination when using the locker room. The lawsuit singled Doe out from the rest of her volleyball team, and used misleading innuendo and salacious phrasing to depict the ordinary behavior of a teenage girl dancing with the rest of her friends in the locker room, as threatening or scandalous, just because she is transgender. “This lawsuit followed a familiar pattern of organizations and individuals mischaracterizing what happens in restrooms and locker rooms in order to target innocent transgender youth,” said Joshua Block, staff attorney with the ACLU’s LGBT Project. “It’s disappointing that Jane was ever subjected to this ordeal in the first place, but we’re glad to see anti-trans advocates recognize that spreading misinformation and innuendo won’t hold up in court.” The ACLU argued in the case that Doe has a right to be free from discrimination on the basis of her sex under Title IX, a federal law which prohibits sex discrimination in educational institutions that receive federal funding, and under the Constitution. The ACLU also noted how using the girls’ locker room and restroom is a critical part of Jane’s medical treatment, and has had a substantial positive effect on Jane’s health and well-being. “We are proud of Jane and her family for standing up for her rights and those of other transgender students,” said Teresa Nelson, interim executive director of the ACLU of Minnesota.
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“We are glad that the plaintiffs have abandoned their attempts to force the school to violate her rights. We would also like to thank the Virginia School District for standing with Jane and treating her with dignity and respect.� The lawsuit was filed in federal court in September of 2016. This case is similar to lawsuits filed by the Alliance Defending Freedom, and other anti-trans organizations around the country, that are trying to prevent transgender students from using the locker rooms and restrooms that match their gender identity. The dismissal can be found here: https://www.aclu.org/legal-document/dismissal-privacymatters-case (eile.ie 18 April 2017)
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Urgent: LGBTI+ Strategy Consultations Information The Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA) in Ireland wants to hear from young people in relation to how we can all make Ireland a better place for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Intersex young people. With this in mind, they’re holding consultation sessions around the country: Saturday May 6th Gibson Hotel, Dublin (all young people) Saturday May 13th Croke Park, Dublin Thursday May 11th in Sligo Tuesday May 16th in Galway
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Wednesday May 17th in Waterford Thursday May 18th in Dundalk Saturday May 20th in Cork
Please feel free to share this with the young people and youth workers in your area. Youth Organisations should nominate young people to attend, by filling out this nomination form. All young people attending will need to fill out an assent form, and their parents to fill out a consent form. Nomination Form Parental Consent Form Young Person Assent Form Please send these completed forms to nationallgbtyouthstrategy@dcya.gov.ie by 5pm May 4th. This is your opportunity to shape an equal, safe and healthy future for all LGBTI+ young people. It would be great for young LGBTI+ people to come along and have their say. Please email welfare@itssu.ie for any questions or to confirm attendance (eile.ie 29 April 2017)
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The LGBTQ Presence In The Equestrian World There is quite a strong LGBT presence in the equestrian world. Equestrian refers to horseback riding, and includes jumping (known as show jumping), eventing (being a race around and over various obstacles) and dressage (a form of riding with skilled synchronized movement between horse and rider). The sport has evolved to include competition in paralympic games. The particular challenges in the sport include not only the ability to ride, but also the ability to bond with the horse and create a team effort. It requires maintenance, training, maneuvering, and over-powering of a large animal, which has an unpredictable mind of its own. There are tremendous risks in the sport, as represented by the profile of riders who have sustained injuries. Equestrian events were first included in the Olympic games in 1900. LGBTQ individuals have long had a successful presence in the equestrian world, despite the fact it is considered a conservative sport. Most have reported being accepted within their community. Almost every one of the LGBTQ equestrians we have identified, has been an Olympic games contender, and most have been successful in winning an Olympic medal. Many have also won world championships, which are organized by the International Federation of Equestrian Sports (FEI). Many of the riders turn to training and coaching after their successful personal careers, and have made a global reputation for their success, such as Britain’s Carl Hester, or American, Robert Dover. Unfortunately, there are no out lesbian or transgender individuals with a notable presence in the equestrian world to date. This is odd considering the fact that the amateur equestrian world has far more female participants than male. The notion of riding horses as a symbol of masculinity is
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Britain’s Carl Hester Image Horse Magazine
highly embedded in our contemporary culture, and this may impart a bias in the competitive world. Queerbio has identified notable LGBTQ equestrians from Great Britain, The Netherlands, Canada, Spain, the United States, New Zealand and Germany. Read more and see the complete list of notable LGBTQ individuals in this sport at Queerbio.com (eile.ie 12 April 2017)
LGBTQ individuals have long had a successful presence in the equestrian world, despite the fact it is considered a conservative sport
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House of Cards S5 Featuring Irish Actress Dominque McElligott The countdown is on…. May 30th is the premiere of House of Cards season 5, featuring Irish actress, Dominique McElligott. The fifth season of the critically acclaimed Emmy® nominated drama House of Cards premieres Tuesday, May 30, 2017. The series’ Golden Globe winning stars, Kevin Spacey (as Francis Underwood) and Robin Wright (as Claire Underwood), whose characters have always been each other’s strongest allies, show cracks in their relationship. House of Cards also stars Michael Kelly, Irish Actress Dominique McElligott, Jayne
Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright
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Irish actress Dominique McElligott
Atkinson, Neve Campbell, Derek Cecil, Paul Sparks and Joel Kinnaman. Melissa James Gibson and Frank Pugliese are showrunners for season five, and they serve as executive producers along with David Fincher, John Mankiewicz, Daniel Minahan, Kevin Spacey, Joshua Donen, Dana Brunetti, Eric Roth, Robin Wright, Michael Dobbs and Andrew Davies. Twitter: https://twitter.com/HouseofCards FB: https://www.facebook.com/HouseofCards/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/houseofcards
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IGLFA Celebrates 25 Years! The International Gay & Lesbian Football Association (IGLFA) was founded in 1992 in order to help promote and foster the growth of LGTBQ football world wide. Since IGLFA’s creation, more than 100 teams/clubs representing over 30 countries have joined and participated at IGLFA competitions. Each of these teams/clubs have played a vital role in helping IGLFA accomplish its goals and uphold its mission. In recent years, the IGLFA has shifted its focus from organizing an annual IGLFA World Championship, to one which provides assistance to organizing boards of national and international tournaments and events.
The next IGLFA tournaments are the IGLFA Unity Cup at the 2017 World Outgames Miami, followed by the 2018 IGLFA World Championship XXIII at Paris 2018 Gay Games 10.
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GLEN - Jillian Van Turnhout To Carry Out Review Jillian Van Turnhout has been appointed by GLEN to carry out a review of the organisation. GLEN has had to answer queries from the Charities Regulator, after Chairperson and long-time activist, Kieran Rose, who resigned yesterday (20 April) had received funding of ₏11,500 for his senatorial campaign.. Mr Rose had repaid the money in full, but apparently the transaction was carried out without the knowledge of the full board. The review is set to begin on Monday, 24 April, reporting back to the board after a six week period. GLEN has today released the following statement on the appointment: Statement from the board of GLEN The board of the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network (GLEN) has engaged Jillian van Turnhout to carry out a comprehensive review of the organisation. Jillian has a wide range of experience of governance of not-for-profit organisations. She is widely respected for her independence and integrity. She will commence her work on Monday next, April 24th and will report to the board within a period of six weeks. Jillian’s initial work will focus on advising the board on corporate governance and compliance issues. She will also advise the Board on strategic decisions regarding the future of GLEN and will engage with staff, stakeholders and board members before making recommendations on the future direction of the organisation. The board has asked Jillian to review compliance with Charities Regulations and advise on how to ensure compliance. Separately the board has engaged an independent financial consultant to review the financial administration of the organisation. The Board stated: 72 EILE Magazine
Jillian Van Turnhout
“We are delighted that Jillian has agreed to act as a consultant and to work with the board at this time. We look forward to building on work which we had commenced in reforming corporate governance structures. GLEN has a proud history spanning three decades. In celebrating that legacy, we also need to develop a strategy for the future. We can think of no better person that Jillian to assist us in identifying the needs of the LGBTI community and signposting the role of GLEN in meeting those needs.” Commenting on her appointment Jillian said: “I am looking forward to working with GLEN and will do everything I can to assist the board. Throughout my career I have had a strong commitment to equality and the achievement of progressive social change. I hope my work will help ensure that GLEN is not only fully compliant with statutory obligations and corporate governance but also has a strategic vision. My experience with similar organisations will be of assistance in this regard. I will not be making any public statements until my work is completed within the time frame agreed with the board.” (eile.ie 21 April 2017)
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Protest at Russian Embassy in Dublin, Photo:Michael Fitzgerald, Clontarf Media 74 EILE Magazine
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Information and support for women who need someone to talk to
DLL – Phone: (01) 872 9911 (Callback facility available) EILE Magazine 77
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Royal Blood
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