EILE Magazine – September 2014 (Vol.2, Issue 4)

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EILE

Magazine V2 Issue 4 – September 2014

Parralox

John Von Ahlen

Art

Jin Yong

Tiger

Dublin Fringe

Panti Bliss:

Queen of Ireland Inside:

Fashion | Film | Music | LGBT Parenting | History

EILE Magazine | Who’s Who

Contributors Nick Bassett Originally from England but now based in Auckland, New Zealand, Nick is the creator of Chart Shaker, his daily music blog.

Jenny Butler Jenny is a broadcast journalist, writer and radio producer based in Dublin.

M. Butler M. Butler lives in Dublin, and has studied Psychology & Philosophy.

Lucia Chappelle Lucia is Associate Producer of the LGBT radio show, This Way Out, as well as being a freelance journalist, activist and musician. She lives in Los Angeles.

Scott De Buitléir Scott is the creator of EILE Magazine and is a writer and broadcaster from Dublin.

He also hosts The Cosmo, RTÉ’s LGBT radio show, every Wednesday at 10pm.

Mark Graham Mark is from Port Laoise and is a graduate of English from University College Dublin. He has produced several fashion shows for charity.

Deirdre O’Byrne Deirdre is a radio broadcaster and trans rights activist, based in County Longford.

Lisa Reynolds Originally from County Meath, Lisa is a fashion industry student living in Bray, County Wicklow.

Gareth Russell Gareth is an author, historian and playwright based in Belfast. He is author of the ‘Popular’ fiction series, and has also published a book on the First World War. Frances Winston Frances Winston is EILE’s resident film buff, and has contributed to many publications such as The Irish Independent and Irish Tatler.

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EILE Magazine | Welcome

Highlights September 2014 Music – Pgs.6,10&48 We chat with Parralox in Australia and Molly Roth in California, and get our music reviews from New Zealand with Nick

Tiger Dublin Fringe – P.16 We find out about this year’s queer highlights at the 20th Tiger Dublin Fringe festival

Jin Yong – P.24 Scott De Buitléir chats to the Dublin-based Chinese artist ahead of his exhibition in the Front Lounge

Queen of Ireland – P.38 A look at the documentary project on Panti Bliss, directed by Conor Horgan

LGBT Parenting – P.60

Volume 2, Issue 04 Editor-in-Chief: Scott De Buitléir Features Editor: MKB Contributors: Nick Bassett, Jenny Butler, M. Butler, Lucia Chappelle, Mark Graham, Deirdre O’Byrne, Lisa Reynolds, Gareth Russell, Frances Winston NB: All images in this publication are either under Creative Commons licence, or used with permission. Any queries can be made via eile.ie/contact Special Thanks to MKB for all her hard work, dedication and support.

Web: http://eile.ie Contact: eilemagazine@outlook.com Twitter: @EileMagazine Facebook: http://fb.com/eilemagazine Note: All opinions expressed in this issue are the writers’ own.

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In the second of our parenting series, M. Butler looks at assisted reproduction for LGBT couples (BZ &VSPQFBO 5PVSJTN "TTPDJBUJPO

…and much more!

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EILE Magazine | Editor’s Letter

Contents 6-

Welcome to EILE Magazine

Molly Roth

10 - Parralox 14 -

LGBT News Round-Up

16 -

Tiger Dublin Fringe

20 -

Menswear

24 -

Jin Yong

28 - California Dispatch 34 -

Reality TV

38 -

Queen of Ireland

40 - History 46 -

Film Reviews

48 -

Music Reviews

52 -

The Outing

58 -

Opinion: Trans Issues

60 -

LGBT Parenting

62 -

Travel

68 -

Drama

70 -

Religion

84 -

Health

86 -

Homophobia in Sport

This month’s issue is absolutely buzzing with creativity, from Dublin, Los Angeles, Melbourne and further afield. In our biggest issue yet, and as the Summer sun sets, we’ve put together a great mix of arts, news, reviews and more to get you through September.

The Tiger Dublin Fringe festival celebrates its 20th year of presenting some incredible contemporary arts productions across the Irish capital, and as usual, there are some wonderful highlights that focus on ‘queer arts’. The Fringe isn’t the only host of the arts, though, as we chat to an incredibly talented artist, originally from China, whose work is on display at the moment in the Front Lounge in Dublin. We also find out about The Baltimore Waltz, a play running in Portobello, Dublin, until September 6. We have music interviews from California and Australia, with Nick Bassett’s not-to-bemissed music reviews from New Zealand. Style-wise, Mark Graham takes inspiration from the freedom of women’s fashion, and applies it to menswear with great results.

We don’t lose sight of the pressing LGBT issues and news stories, though. Deirdre O’Byrne has a thoughtful piece on the social challenges which transgender people face, while I chat with Stephen Spillane about progression within the Church of Ireland on LGBT issues. We also continue our LGBT Parenting series with a look at assisted reproduction, as well as a look at mental health and substance use problems, which can affect adherence to HIV medication.

There is so, so much more packed into this month’s issue, and I hope you’ll take the time to enjoy what we have put together for you here.

Scott De Buitléir Founder / Editor-in-Chief

EILE Magazine

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LGBT | Singapore

Singapore: LGBT Run Cancelled As Application Rejected By Police

A Pink Run in aid of LGBT rights, due to be held on August 16th in Marina Promenade Park, Singapore, was cancelled by the organisers yesterday when their permit application was rejected by police.

The police statement said the application was rejected “in the interest of public order”, and that LGBT advocacy remains a “socially divisive issue”.

According to the Bangkok Post, the police suggested an alternative venue at Speakers’ Corner, a small park where protests can be held without permit.

The organiser, Nicholas Deroose stated: “It is disappointing but what I am more concerned about was

the response that was given and how the police has framed advocacy as socially divisive.

We just wanted to go out for a run; we were not planning to upset public order.”

According to Singapore’s Today newspaper: Mr Deroose posted a note on Facebook saying “people are still free to show up and run in their own personal capacity.

There are no laws against running. You just won’t be a participant of the Pink Run”.

The Pink Run was organised

by Mr Deroose, as part of Pride season for IndigNation, advocates for “LGBT pride season in Singapore”.

The only other time a race like this was arranged, seven years ago, it was also stopped by police. On IndigNation SG facebook, is an account of this attempt:

7 years ago, the first and only Pink run was organized as one of the many events of Indignation.

The run, a causal affair along the Singapore river, never officially happened.

As we were about to flag off some 40 runners, plain clothed policemen came up to the organizers and told them that we were contravening the Miscellaneous Offences Act. The police did not cite which part of the act we were contravening but only that a gathering of four or more people is consider illegal. Fast forward to the present, we would like to try again and stage the second Pink run in Indignation’s ten year history. What would happen? We don’t really know but we would certainly like to find out.

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Interview | Molly Roth

Molly Roth The California-based singer/songwriter chats to Scott De BuitlĂŠir about music on both sides of the Atlantic 6 EILE Magazine

Interview | Molly Roth North Carolina born soul-pop singer, Molly Roth, has studied music in both Hollywood and London, as well as working in many parts of the music industry. She was offered jobs in the industry long before she graduated, but respectfully declined as she hoped to move forward as an artist herself.

SDB: You’ve studied music both in the U.S. and in London; do you think there’s a difference in attitudes to the music industry, depending on which side of the Atlantic you’re on?

Yes, definitely. I feel that Europe is more interested (over-all) in more eclectic and unique sounds, and appreciates songwriters and artists more than the mainsteam media in America. It’s funny, when I studied at MI (located in Los Angeles) I was barely 18, and my songwriting teachers told me was that the UK/Europe would appreciate my sound more than the U.S. I used to write piano pop ballads and at the time, the focus of my songs was to do something harmonically that has never been done before.

(Think Kate Bush, Tori Amos, Fiona Apple). I liked to write difficult vocal melodies; ones that purposefully were not for the listener to be able to follow and mimic, but ones that would challenge ME, as a vocalist.

I performed at many pubs and open-mics while living in Kilburn. I was always well-

received. The people in the pub were not loud like most bar-gigs in the States, but the attention was 100% focused on me, as a performer. They would come up to me and ask me questions about my songs; what the meaning was and how they interpreted the song.

Honestly, I was blown away.

I felt like an artist. I felt RESPECTED for being an artist. That isn’t unheard of in California, but it just isn’t as common. At the time, I was ready to stay in Europe, I just needed a sign or job opportunity to allow me to stay!

songwriter. I touch on some darker themes too, such as addiction. I want this EP to be my musical resumé, and a great way for people to get to know me as an artist and a person.

SDB: You’ve worked in many different aspects of the music industry, not just as a performer.

Does this give you a better insight into how a professional music artist needs to work?

Absolutely. I spent years believing that all it took to succeed is to follow my dreams and everything would fall into SDB: “Pin Me Up” is place. And that used to work, already a fun introduction and it still does, if you’re very, to your musical style and very lucky. But the business abilities, but it’s a single has changed. Labels are not from your upcoming EP; interested in developing artists what else can we expect? anymore, so you have to Is there a story/theme develop and package yourself to the EP, or is it more and build your own fanbase. organic?

I think the biggest thing I learned was that I have to be The EP is going to encompass the one to make it happen, me as an artist. There will be because nobody else will. a dance song, a club banger, and some more intimate and SDB: You’ve been hailed simple pieces as well, drawing as an LGBT advocate; from my roots as a pianist and what do you think of how EILE Magazine 7

Interview | Molly Roth

bonds of marriage as being the ultimate recognition of love, and I want everyone to be able to have that option in their lives.

SDB: Where next for Molly Roth? Can we expect to see you on this side of the pond again?

At the moment, I am working on getting my EP completed.

It would be the ultimate dream for a tour to be in the midst of my next visit to your side of the pond, and I am working constantly to do my best to make that a reality!

Keep an eye out on my website and Facebook page to hear any updates!

Molly’s single, Pin Me Up, is available now from iTunes.

fast (or slowly!) marriage equality is sweeping across the US? I am thrilled that we’re moving in a positive direction. I believe it is absolutely inevitable that marriage equality will be recognized on a national level, and I cannot wait for that day 8 EILE Magazine

to happen. But we need to move faster. There are couples who have been waiting their whole lives for this to happen, and every day we fail to pass marriage equality nationally is a day that they lose to be recognized and treated as equal. I am an old-fashioned romantic; I believe in the

Sport | Bingham Cup

Sydney Convicts Win Bingham Cup While Emerald Valkyries Lose Out To New Zealand In Bingham Bowl Grand Final In front of the largest crowd to ever attend a grand final for the Bingham Cup, The Sydney Convicts beat the Brisbane Hustlers 31-0 to win the world cup of gay rugby.

The results of the state of origin style match surprised many in the crowd, given the Brisbane Hustlers beat the Sydney Convicts earlier this year at the Australian cup of gay rugby.

An estimated 6000 people came to watch the grand finals, including numerous sport and elected officials. This included the CEO of Australian Rugby Union Bill Pulver who at the start of the tournament announced new policies to address homophobia. Also watching the games was Federal Communications minister Malcolm Turnbull, American ambassador to Australia John Berry, and sporting stars such as Australian rugby league legend Steve Mortimer and openly gay Olympic gold medallist swimmer Daniel Kowalski.

Other VIP’s who came to watch the games over the three day tournament included Australia’s head of state, Governor General Sir Peter

Cosgrove, as well as two rugby world cup winning captains John Eales and Nick FarrJones.

and representing not only your country but the queer community there,” Brankin said.

Bingham Cup President and founder of the Sydney Convicts, Andrew Purchas, said:

Bru Amerlynck, captain for Dublin based Emerald Valkyries, was extremely congratulatory of the Falcon’s results and really impressed with his team’s performance to continue to deliver a strong performance right to the end.

“We saw a spectacular game of rugby in the final and we had a very successful three days at the tournament, and ultimately that’s what is important. In some respects the Southern Hemisphere dominated, winning the top three trophies: the Sydney Convicts A team won the Bingham Cup, the Melbourne Chargers won the runner up prize which is called the Bingham Plate, and the New Zealand Falcons won the lower-tier competition, called the Bingham Bowl. The Sydney Convicts C team also won the runner-up in the lower-tier, called the Bingham Shield”.

New Zealand Falcon captain Jeremy Brankin said that while the win is a bonus, the real rush is playing for his country.

“I couldn’t ask more from the boys, we just gave it absolutely everything out on the field.

It has been an amazing tournament. Playing for New Zealand is what puts a tingle down my spine. It’s awesome playing for your country

“I couldn’t be prouder of the boys. We came here together – won five of the five games and got to the finals which really exceeded our expectations.

“I’m really gutted that we didn’t win because it was a tight one. But we are really happy where we came. We did ourselves proud and our country proud. I couldn’t ask for more from the boys,” said Amerlynck.

Amerlynck also said that the whole Bingham Cup tournament has been “absolutely terrific”.

Alex Greenwich, NSW Member for Sydney & Chair of Australian Marriage Equality, presented the winning team the Bingham Bowl ,to a packed crowd of players and supporters of Bingham Cup 2014.

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Trans News Interview | Parralox | Laverne Cox

Parralox John Von Ahlen in conversation with Scott De BuitlĂŠir 32 EILE Magazine 10

Interview | Parralox

Parralox came to critical acclaim with their 2008 debut album “Electricity”, which took the Internet by storm and received high praise from many critics.

These modern day electronic pop veterans have performed all over the world including Germany, Spain, the UK, the US, and their native Australia. Parralox continue to bring their unique brand of electronic pop and EDM to the world.

I spoke to John Von Ahlen about the project and their latest single, Crying On The Dancefloor: Where did the idea for Parralox stem from?

But at about that time I realised that I missed making full-on synth pop music. The Tenth Stage was all about dark, twisted songs and a deep, dark historical vibe.

So I wrote a song called “I Fell In Love With A Drum Machine” as a kind of therapy, and got my friend Roxy to sing it. I created the whole manifesto for Parralox - both style, sound and image, and leaked the song onto the internet, where it was very well-received by the global electro community.

Within 6 months we recorded an album, and had our debut performance in London. It’s been full steam ahead with Parralox since then!

Your most recent single, the brilliantly catchy Crying On The Dancefloor features the London-based vocalist, Francine. How did this work out, when you guys are normally based in Melbourne?

I got on a plane and came to London! But seriously, I travel overseas a fair bit, so distance isn’t really an issue.

And as for studio recording, we have a new technology that lets you record (via internet) with anyone on the planet – kind of like a Skype for musicians. So when we record, we have a video and audio feed, it’s like the singer is in another room. Well…she kind of IS in another room - on the other side of the planet!

Our manager (Raj) had the idea to feature Francine on the track, and I can’t say how thrilled I was to find out she agreed! Then we also

got Johanna on board for vocals as well. Johanna sang backing vocals on Crying on the Dancefloor, and will be featured on some new songs in her own right.

Your mix of 80s dance pop and modern EDM styles seems to make for a perfect musical blend.

Did you expect to see an 80s revival in music, or did you just set out to make what you like yourself?

Johanna Girvin

I was in a Steampunk band at the time (The Tenth Stage) and started writing songs of my own, one of them being “Factory Friends”. I presented the song to the band, but it was rejected as it didn’t fit with the style, whic h was fair enough really.

Amazing stuff, but the exact opposite of synth-pop!

Francine

Parralox is a pop-EDM project produced and fronted by John von Ahlen, based out of Melbourne, Australia.

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Interview | Parralox The latter! I basically created the band so I could make well-written synth-pop music.

To be honest, I wasn’t that surprised about the 80s revival, as historically you will see previous decades’ music come into vogue as the previous generation gets older and starts to reminisce. Guilty!

But as they say – good music is good music and the 80s has plenty of that. I really love the 80s because it was so creative, and the more different the sound was, the better. Difference was encouraged. I like that.

The music video to Crying On The Dancefloor struck me as a playful parody of the X Factor. Do you think such formats are a good platform for musicians, or has the trend now run its course?

To be perfectly honest, I don’t like TV, and certainly never watch any of those musical reality shows. They are the musical equivalent of McDonalds IMHO! I steer clear of them all, as they are so far removed from the musical process I grew up with.

There are no short cuts to fame (well…I guess

there are now LOL) and I could never see myself going on one of those shows. How many of our current musical legends would have been booed off stage for not being on point on that one special moment?

I can see how society and music is evolving, and shows like that do serve a purpose for a certain sector of the public. I don’t think my opinion matters that much to be honest – the public get what they deserve ;) Where next for Parralox? Can we expect to see you near Europe soon?

You can expect to see me in Paris & London in September, shooting the video for our next single Aeronaut! I’ll be hanging around Le Marais and a few iconic locations, for what will hopefully be a very moody / emotional video.

As for touring, we have some plans in motion for the UK which could be very exciting. Stay tuned!

Crying on the Dancefloor is available from iTunes now, simply click on the cover art for more.

For more about Parralox, visit the Facebook page: facebook.com/parralox

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News | Round-Up

LGBT Monthly News Roun New Poll Shows 86% Support for SameSex Couples A new poll conducted last week for the Sunday Times shows a huge majority of people (86%) approve of lesbian and gay relationships.

The poll also found that two thirds of Irish people approved of lesbian and gay couples adopting.

“This is another welcome demonstration of the transformation in attitudes to lesbian and gay people and of the generosity of Irish voters in their willingness to extend equal status and dignity to lesbian and gay people and lesbian and gay headed families” said Kieran Rose, GLEN Chair.

lesbian and gay people and families headed by lesbian and gay couples should be afforded the same respect, legal status and protections that are available to the rest of society,” continued Rose.

“The widespread public support for more than almost 1,500 Civil Partnerships that have already been celebrated all across Ireland and the growing political and public support shows that Ireland is ready for the next step in the 20 year journey to civil marriage and full Constitutional equality for lesbian and gay people and families” concluded Rose.

mill: “It was really personal to me, and it benefitted my peace of mind greatly”.

“The Government has decided to hold a referendum on marriage in early 2015. The Taoiseach confirmed his support for marriage and stated that the Coalition Government would campaign for a yes vote in the Referendum” continued Rose.

Arizona State Lineman ‘Chip’ Sarafin Comes Out As Gay

Sarafin, 6’6″, who weighs over 300 lbs and has a bachelors degree in biomedical engineering, came out publicly to the gay sports magazine, Compete, making him the first openly gay footballer in Division 1 Football Bowl Subdivision, the highest level of intercollegiate football in the US.

Edward “Chip” Sarafin, Offensive Lineman with the Sun Devils, Arizona State, followed the example of Michael Sam, and began telling his teammates, months before going public, that he was gay.

He also said that he knew that a lot of people who were bullied for being different were bullied by athletes, and that made him angry, as he feels athletes should be role models for the young.

“It is clear from this poll and other recent polls public opinion firmly accepts that

He says he told his teammates first so that they would hear about it directly from him, and not from the college rumour-

Sarafin, who plays as No. 79, got many tweets of support, including Michael Sam, who

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eile.ie / august 18

News | Round-Up

nd-Up Michael Sam Joins Dallas Cowboys Practice Squad

It appears that Michael Sam’s professional sporting career may be on the rise after all.

The Dallas Cowboyshave taken on the defensive end, who was let go from the St. Louis Rams recently. According to several sports media reports, the Texas-based team brought Michael Sam in for a physical test on Wednesday, and soon afterwards invited him to join their practice squad.

Last weekend, the St. Louis Rams let Michael Sam go from their draft squad, cutting the team down to 53 men.

Jeff Fisher, the Rams’ coach, made it clear to the media that the cut was purely based on

Sam’s football skills, despite some criticism from Sam’s supporters wondering if his sexuality came into play.

“It was a football decision and it was no different than any other decision that we make,” said St. Louis Rams’ Coach, Jeff Fisher. It was a football decision back in May to draft Mike. And once again, it’s been about football.”

Thousands Out at March for Marriage in Dublin Ahead of the equal marriage referendum promised for Spring 2015, the annual March for Marriage took place on Sunday 24th August.

Set to begin at 3 pm, the streets were already flooding with thousands of LGBT people and their supporters, family and friends, to march in what many hope will not be necessary by this time next year, if the recent polls are anything to go by, with over 75% saying that they support gay marriage.

organisers of the march, was delighted with the turnout, but says that people should not become complacent, and that the only way to ensure that the referendum will be successful for the LGBTI community is to get out and vote.

Making the point that children raised in same-sex households do just as well as those in opposite-sex households, Max dismissed arguments against equal marriage on the basis of man/woman marriage supposedly being “uniquely pro-child”.

He also said that if the state is to treat all its citizens equally, it must be “blind and agnostic” as to whether couples wishing to get married are same-sex or opposite-sex.

Among the speakers were Tara Flynn, Gráinne Healy from MarriagEquality, and journalist Fintan O’Toole.

Max Krzyzanowski, one of the

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Feature | Tiger Dublin Fringe

Tiger

Dublin Fringe

Scott De BuitlĂŠir chats to Fringe Director, Kris Nelson, about queer arts highlights at the festival

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Feature | Tiger Dublin Fringe

Now in its twentieth year, the Dublin Fringe Festival – renamed the Tiger Dublin Fringe – is one of the most anticipated cultural events of the year in Ireland.

Artists, production companies and theatre groups travel from far and wide to the Irish capital, to take part in the worldfamous festival.

It’s no wonder, as Kris Nelson, Director of this year’s Tiger Dublin Fringe, explains about the public’s reaction to the festival.

“I’ve moved here from Canada a year ago,” he explains, “and I’ve had people … get this lightbulb [when talking about the festival]. They kind of get all excited, because they’re thinking about … all the different kinds of moments and performances they’ve encountered over the years; be it the Spiegeltent or some of the great works that were done on the River Liffey.”

Dubliners’ fondness of the festival is clear to Nelson, and there don’t seem to be many chances for disappointment this year. This year’s festival

theme explores “Unidentified Horizons” (We Make Art) and promises some of the best new Irish and international artists, who are making bold, new exciting work, inviting audiences to experience new visionaries, laugh riotously, reflect deeply and immerse themselves in unusual happenings.

The ideas and backgrounds of the productions featured, however, are not completely abstract. In fact, far from it, as many productions have taken inspiration from recent news stories or social and cultural issues of the day.

Other events, however, don’t need to be too connected with news headlines, as some events are firm fringe favourites.

RADE / Cathy Coughlan

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Feature | Tiger Dublin Fringe

Camille O’Sullivan celebrates twenty years of performing at the Dublin Fringe Festival with her aptly-named show, Camille O’Sullivan 20 Intimate and Live.

With the Liffey being a regular feature of the festival, other highlights will include ‘Harp | A River Cantata’ taking place on the Samuel Beckett Bridge, featuring brass players from the Dublin Concert Band, singers from Tonnta Music and friends, accompanied by drummers from the MaSamba Samba School.

Running city-wide throughout Dublin this September, the festival will be showcasing performances from up to 85 artists with companies presenting hundreds of events spanning theatre, dance, music, live, and visual arts in over 40 venues across Dublin.

The Company / The Rest Is Action

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Kris explains that the Dublin Fringe, unlike many Fringe Festivals internationally, is a wholly-curated festival. For artists, the Fringe facilitates an opportunity to innovate, to cross disciplines and boundaries, and to find new ways to create work. It’s not just the artists that cross boundaries, as “people hop from one thing to the next”, Kris explains, which makes the Dublin festival so special.

“The festival, in a lot of ways, is artist-led”, Kris explains, “so… 70-80% of the projects are [from] proposals that the artists come to us with, saying ‘I wanna do this show in the Fringe’.

Of course, Dublin Fringe is one of Ireland’s festivals that would well win the title for being the most engaging with so-called ‘queer’ arts, and this year is no exception: In How To Keep An

Alien, Sonya Kelly presents a hilarious yet tender memoir about securing an Irish visa for her Australian partner, while Brian Fleming’s A Sacrilegious Lesbian and Homosexual Parade takes a look at the controversy of LGBT people being banned from partaking in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York. The quality of queer arts in this year’s Tiger Dublin Fringe is second to none, but regardless of your taste, there’s bound to be something to catch your attention.

TIGER DUBLIN FRINGE 2014 runs city-wide from September 5 – 20; for more information, visit fringefest.com Click here to listen to Kris Nelson speaking with EILE’s Scott De Buitléir

Feature | Tiger Dublin Fringe

Top Left: Camille O’Sullivan 20 Imtimate and Live Top Right: Talking Shop Ensemble & Shaun Dunne: Advocacy Centre: Ruairí Donovan - Zombies; Why death is dying or are you working hard enough?

Lower Right: Rough Magic: How To Keep An Alien (All Images with thanks to Tiger Dublin Fringe)

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Style | Menswear

Men can learn so m

Mark Graham looks to w to break the current re I must admit, sometimes I get unbelievably frustrated at men’s style and fashion. I’ve been writing about it for over two years now, and, just like anything that involves being creative; it’s hard to find the same passion that you once had when you first started out.

20 EILE Magazine

However, recently I’ve begun to feel reinvigorated with this menswear game that I know and love, and this change in attitude has stemmed from the strangest of sources: women’s fashion. Now before you all start to give me a good verbal thrashing, allow me to explain…

I don’t mean that I’ve exclusively started wearing women’s clothes! I don’t even mean that I’ve started incorporating a few subtle women’s pieces here and there (although there is an argument to be made for this). What I mean is that I’ve injected some life into my personal style, by stealing ideas from the way that women approach fashion in general. Remember, they’ve been doing it a lot longer than

us, guys! And arguably a lot better too. When it comes to colour combinations, pattern mixing and textures, women are the masters. And who’s to say we can’t steal from them?

Fashion is still a women’s game anyway, so why not learn from the best?

Bershka / ASOS

Style | Menswear

much from Women

women’s fashion as a way estrictions in menswear There’s more of a crossover between our two worlds than you would originally think, so why not try implementing some of the tips I’ve learnt from the fairer sex the next time you’re struggling with your menswear passion…

Menswear tends to impose far too many rules on the way guys dress. “Men don’t need lots of options, just the right options” is a phrase that springs to mind. And whilst that is still true, it can get taken to the extreme. Women have no problem mixing and matching formal and casual pieces to create expertly balanced, ‘straight down the middle’ looks – and it’s all thanks to putting a lot less restrictions on what they can and cannot pair together. For men, it could be something as simple as reconsidering wearing trainers/ boat shoes/loafers with a suit or as complex as blending a tuxedo jacket with jeans. Either way, experiment with your clothing choices a bit more and you might be pleasantly surprised with the results.

Continued…

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Style | Menswear

Seasonal materials work best together, and no-one understands this more than women. As men, there’s almost an instinct to stick to cotton exclusively all year round, without ever venturing away from this too much. Not only will understanding textures keep you warm in winter, and cool during summer, but it adds another visual layer to the outfits you put together, making them appear infinitely more appealing to those who view them.

Massimo Dutti; He By Mango

A constant theme running throughout women’s fashion is that the colours used to create looks always seem to be impeccably chosen. The next time you see a girl who you think has really nailed her colour scheme, take a moment to consider why you like it, and how it works. Most guys only have two colour modes: monochromatic or bright, bold and loud. Instead, take inspiration from the female of our species and explore that middle ground of muted, contrasting and complementing colour combinations.

Tommy Hilfiger; AMI 22 EILE Magazine

Style | Menswear Now I’m the first to admit that I have a uniform I stick to most of the time: grey acid wash jeans, white shirt, some sort of block or graphic socks and white vans are pretty much my jam – year in, year out. Guys tend to like to play it safe with looks that they know suit them, and fit in with their lifestyle.

Girls, on the other hand, have all the fun. One day they can be dressed as a preppy business woman, and the next they can be drawing inspiration from a Rick Owens ninja pirate, or a Raf Simmons biker chick. They often treat each day as a chance to play dress up, and experiment with different sides of their personality.

Obviously, I’m not advocating going to work as a pirate or a Hell’s Angel, but why not take courage from the bold choices girls make on a daily basis, and experiment with your own style? If you’re in more of a playful mood, then why not break out a floral print, a pair of camo chinos or brightly coloured footwear? It may not be what you would usually wear, but those times when you push yourself tend to be when you reap the most rewards (or, at the very least, learn something about yourself).

So, next time you’re struggling for inspiration, or feel that everything you look at isn’t exciting you like it used to, don’t forget that there’s a whole other market out there, which has been doing it bigger and better than us for years.

Why not tap into it and steal some ideas?

Next time you see a woman whose style you admire, try and break it down into what made it appealing, and how you could incorporate it into your own look.

The results may surprise you. Anyway, I’m off to see if I can realistically incorporate a tweed skirt into my every day work attire.

EILE Magazine 22

Interview | Jin Yong Music | GANGS

24 EILE Magazine

Jin Yong

Interview | Jin Yong

Jin Yong is a Chinese visual and performance artist, based in Dublin since 2002.

He became interested in art from the age of five, and eventually studied Art and Design in Changchun City, which has a population of seven million. After moving to Shanghai, Yong got his first work experience as a graphic designer and design editor.

Tell me a bit about your latest exhibition, ‘Be Fabulous~’. What is the idea behind it?

The reason my exhibition is called ‘Be Fabulous~’ is not because I had few pints and that’s how I feel at the moment, it’s because that’s how I want to feel as an artist, as an gay man, and as an Christian, I want to be free, be myself, and be honest with my feelings […] not just dealing with my personal

problems everyday, I want to Be Fabulous so I have energy and drive, and confidence to do more things for people around me.

I have been supporting cancer charities for the last 6 years.

From my exhibition, over 2000 euro was raised and donated from sales and from clients.

But from this exhibition, I will donate 10% of sales from oil paintings, and 50% of sales from water color paintings, to human rights charities and organizations. That’s where I feel pain the most.

I believe we all have an equal right to live, to love, to marry as long as we are not hurting anyone.

Your work seems to be inspired by both traditional and modern themes - is your art part of a cultural movement,

or is it something that expresses who you are?

I have studied art since I was 5 years old, when other kids were going on summer holidays, I had to go to private art classes, also a weekend off was a treat for me, and I always had mentors to teach me skills and guide me how to be an artist.

But the problem with study at such a young age is that you are learning good skills and building a good foundation for art and design, but you also have so many rules about what you should or shouldn’t do from mentors.

Lately I am trying very hard to break my rule, and trying to be more creative and free.

Also art is my way to express my feelings. Most of my life I have been struggling to cope as a gay christian, gay is

EILE Magazine 25

Interview | Jin Yong

[perceived as] sin and crime, but I realized God loves me the way I am, and I am born this way, and proud of who I am.

Most of my paintings I put [a] secret message into, for example : I am a gay man, born this way, equal rights.

The only rule I have for my art is I want people to look at my art to get positive energy, so I am trying to paint the bright side of me more.

You once described your art as your ‘children’ - can art take on its own life, after the artist has created it?

26 EILE Magazine

My paintings are my children.

I started exhibitions in 2007. I had 9 solo exhibitions, 7 group exhibitions and number of workshops, and sold over 200 paintings so far, so I have sold a lot of my children.

(real children :-) ) but at the moment my paintings are my children, and I love them and carry them wherever I go.

The reason I describe my paintings as my children is because most of paintings are from a deep part of me, part of my life and part of my story, it’s a piece of me on the canvas.

If I paint flowers I know it’s going to sell well, but I prefer to paint something with stories, and hide some message in the paintings.

I was very honored to be part of the ‘Chinese New Year Festival 2014’ organized by Dublin City Council. I had an exhibition at the Gallery of Photography, Temple Bar back in February. I also had a live painting performance and children’s art workshop.

I would love to be part of ‘Chinese New Year Festival 2015’ so fingers crossed .

I would love to have children

I am one of the artists to be

What’s next for you and your art?

part of ‘Artzeimer’s’ Exhibition, curated and organized by Eimear O’ Hare Farrell (CEO & Founder at The Five Senses for Alzheimer’s). Eimear had a very successful exhibition in Dublin back in July, and her exhibition will travel around Ireland, then Dubai and New York. I am very excited and honoured to be part of it.

Interview | Jin Yong

My first exhibition in Poland is coming soon, 20 paintings from the ‘I See You’ collection, curated by Kasia Nita Zalewska.

I also have an exhibition coming up soon with amazing Irish Artist Cathriona Cleary, she has been a great friend and mentor for the last 12 years, so I am very excited to have an exhibition together.

I also have an exhibition coming up next June with super talented Irish Artist John Kavanagh.

I would love to have exhibitions around the world, London, New York, Shanghai and many other cities, and I know it will happen.

But for now, I am living the dream, having an exhibition at the fabulous venue, The Front Lounge, from 21st August till 30th September. My opening will be at 7pm, on 4th September.

You can follow Jin Yong on Facebook or Twitter to find out more about upcoming exhibitions.

EILE Magazine 27

California Dispatch

Californi

Queering th

Lucia Chappelle asks: Who’s your gender-non-specific parental unit?

How valid is the suspicion that the progress of the marriage equality movement has a soft underbelly of assimilation?

Some don’t think that’s a bad thing – just becoming like “everybody else.” The problem is that “everybody else” isn’t really “everybody else” at all.

Our greeting card vision of family honestly has nothing to do with reality – and likely it never did.

28 EILE Magazine

If our efforts to win the rights/ rites of heterosexual couples have done nothing else to dismantle the traditional family, it’s served to crack the illusion. Many of the appeals court arguments against marriage equality revolve around that imaginary perfect mother-father nuclear family.

But have we really awakened ourselves from the dream of guaranteed marital bliss and 2.2 children, dog and picket fence?

In truth, that dream was all too often a nightmare. Something like a third of US households are scenes of domestic violence. A high percentage of

lesbians are incest survivors.

Heterosexual marriages are down, single-parent and various blended families are up – and that’s a trend that began long before the marriage equality momentum took off.

Could it be, as one lesbian mom I spoke with suggested, that the pressure of trying to maintain an impossible model is what really has destroyed the traditional family? Has marriage equality just pulled the curtain to reveal the phoney wizard behind the myth?

Yet are we still willing to following the lemmings over the cliff of the failed model,

California Dispatch

ia Dispatch:

he Village as so many queer theorists fear? There seems to be an epidemic of parenting in my immediate circle of friends, so I thought I’d ask some of them about how they were going about it. This is certainly not a sample size worthy of a study, but I learned some things that give me new hope about the transformation of family structures.

Of course LGBT people didn’t just start having kids, or devising new ways to be effective parents – mostly lesbians with children from previous heterosexual relationships. Some of our kids were raised in homes with one sustained monogamous couple; some had lesbian mothers, whose series of partners continued stepmother roles as part of a family of choice, even after the domestic relationships ended.

Most really had a network of male and female friends who were all part of their extended families.

Back in the day, we assumed that the grand convergence of movements – LGBT, feminist, People of Color, workers, allies – really were changing all of the structures that enforced our various oppressions, including the family. In our desire to win the validation,

more importantly the dignity, of marriage equality, have we missed our own boat?

“ In our desire to win the validation, more importantly the dignity, of marriage equality, have we missed our own boat?

” One 30-something lesbian couple I know who just gave birth sees no difference between themselves and the

families they came from: a two-parent/ten child family, and a blended family of divorce. Their parents, especially their mothers, were not bound by “traditional mom” expectations. Like their parents they fall well within the “normal range”, as far as the contemporary view of the traditional family goes. They may not seem revolutionary, but their simple act of visibility put another couple of cracks in a hospital system that was supposed to be ready for samegender marrieds, when the birth mother had to inquire whether heterosexual couples had to produce a marriage license for a birth certificate (turned out it wasn’t necessary after all), and her wife noted ironically that she was registered as the baby’s father.

One gay male couple, with a newborn baby girl, is also rocking the boat by presenting a visible alternative in their community. A Latino and a Brit have moved into the predominantly Latino East Los Angeles. Heads turn when the Brit carries his infant down the street, the men annoyed at both the macho affront and looking bad in front of their wives, the women wondering where they can find a man like that.

EILE Magazine 29

g

California Dispatch The shock of our presence is queering the model, even if all we do is live in the world.

A divorced lesbian mother chuckled about the unusual situation when she and her six-year-old daughter attended “back to school night”, with her ex-wife’s new partner and her son, in the same class (whom my friend’s daughter considers her step-brother) and the boy’s sperm donor father. The school, the other parents … have to deal with it.

And speaking of donors, today’s reproductive technology presents new challenges for many families, LGBT and not. The sweet storybooks of the past about loving moms and dads “laying close together” and making babies are of little help to children of alternative conception. How do you tell a kid they came from a petri dish? One friend of mine has been open about the profiles of her children’s anonymous donors from the beginning. A few books have been written for these more straightforward (so to speak) situations.

Others have more complex relationships to explain.

The six-year-old girl above has two siblings that she’s starting to ask why she doesn’t live with “like brothers and sisters are supposed to.” They are the product of the IVF of another lesbian couple close to her mom; she’s the “leftover” embryo her mom’s friends gave her because her own attempts had failed. Who will write that children’s book about love and hope and commitment 30 EILE Magazine

– and intention – and what impact will it have on society’s understanding of parenting?

All the queer parents I spoke with agreed that they expect their children to create their own relationships with each parent. Their roles are defined by personality, and to some extent availability, and old “butch/femme” patterns don’t apply. The more seemingly “butch” member of one lesbian pair is the birth mother; her “femme” wife is the soccer coach. The light-sleeping gay dad is the first up in the middle of the night; his hubby is often the day-nurturer. There usually seems to be a “lap” parent, and a “fun” parent. They all intend to be sure their kids avoid the stereotypical gender trappings, although one lesbian mom found that it only took one day at pre-school for her daughter to come home a princess.

Fortunately, even princesses aren’t what they used to be. It remains to be seen whether the gay dads can as successfully avoid the princess defender stereotype.

LGBT people still have families of choice, although our choices are perhaps less politically motivated than they once were, when we took great care to include gender and ethnic diversity in our children’s role models. Only one set of the parents I spoke with ranked such concerns high on their list. Dependability, spirituality, and a genuine love for the child were the common criteria.

We’ve got lots of studies telling us that the children of LGBT

parents turn out just fine, but is there a better than fine?

Every generation advances past the last, and sure it’s clear that the young are more open than older folks, but might our kids bring anything special to the social change table?

My 34-year-old “godson” (I’m only one of several “godmothers”) was killed in an accident recently. Raised by a usually single, lesbian, adoptive mom (his birth mother is also lesbian) with an expansive formal and chosen “family shrub,” he was a pillar to his numerous adopted and foster siblings. I first heard the word “lesbro” from him – it’s how some of his friends referred to him, not always in a complimentary fashion, but often (especially with potential girlfriends) with amused exasperation. When a wellintentioned but inappropriate remark about race was made at a political event, and we caught each other in a simultaneous flinch, he laughed and said, “I can’t believe we’re the only ones who heard that!”

His memorial service nearly filled a fairly large church, with an amazing number of interconnected networks of friends that he had woven together. He was praised for his ability to bring people in, and love them for themelves, for being an inspiring model of what “masculine” could really mean. After hearing the stories about his upbringing, many people told me they understood why he was the way he was.

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.

California Dispatch If you think the development of our families, and the presence of our children, hasn’t helped put a dent in traditional parenting, let me tell you another story – this one is about a heterosexual family.

This unmarried, long-term couple also has a six-year-old daughter. When the woman decided she wanted a second child, her partner just didn’t want to deal with the infancytoddler stage again. So she got artificially inseminated (which they would have had to do for medical reasons, even if he’d been a willing father this time), and they separated households – not their relationship – so that she could have a baby,

while he would not. Her relatives help with childcare support. The six-year-old, who spends most of her time at her father’s house at present, thinks having two homes is great, and feels no sense that her family is “breaking up.”

She’s been delighted about her baby brother since she first got the news because, as she explained to an unsuspecting adult acquaintance, “Mommy’s having a baby, and it’s just hers and mine … not Daddy’s!”

Lucia is Associate Producer of the LGBT radio show, This Way Out, as well as being a freelance journalist, activist and musician. She lives in Los Angeles.

Listen to This Way Out on thiswayout.org

32 EILE Magazine

Information and support for women who need someone to talk to

DLL – Phone: (01) 872 9911 (Callback facility available)

Entertainment | Reality TV

That Xtra Factor Lisa Reynolds gives us a list of twelve of her all-time favourite reality TV stars who are winners in her eyes 34 EILE Magazine

Entertainment | Reality TV

Say what you like about reality TV, but one thing is for sure, reality TV is an escape, and a perfect modern day gossip session tool.

Over the years we have had many entertaining shows, from sitting in a house à la Big Brother, to some girl trying to belt out Celine or Whitney on The X-Factor, or one of The Voice competitions, or celebrities munching on all manner of disgusting delicacies (yes, in Australia people really do eat those things!) on I’m A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here!

The amazing thing about these shows is the wealth of opinions people have on, for instance, which performers they like, and which they don’t. Below, I have compiled twelve of what I think have been the best reality TV contestants over the years, since the reality TV vehicle really took off on our screens!

Leona Lewis Leona Lewis appeared on the third series of The X-Factor (2006) over the water in the UK. The shy diva showed how very wrong the perception can be that shy people can’t achieve as much as extroverts. She belted out powerhouse ballads such as All By Myself, I Will Always Love You, I’ll Be There, and Over The Rainbow, during

her time on the hit ITV show, and consequently won the entire thing my darlings! That indeed is how it’s done!

Not obviously content with just winning, the former secretary from London went on to be majorly successful, with hits such as her debut A Moment Like This, then Bleeding Love, a cover of Snow Patrol’s Run, Footprints In The Sand, and Better in Time. She also had equally successful albums like Spirit, Echo, and Glassheart.

Dougie Poynter McBusted and former McFly star, Dougie Poynter, has always been kind of beautiful, hasn’t he? But in I’m A Celebrity’s eleventh season in 2011, the star proved that he had the whole package, including a kind and witty personality, throughout his time on the show.

Although not favourite to win, at the end Poynter overtook former Towie star and fellow Essex man, Mark Wright, in the final to become the winner, and looked cute even while wearing that hideous crown.

Then again, he’d look good wearing a bin bag, to be fair.

Jedward Dublin twin duo, Jedward, auditioned for the sixth season of The X-Factor in Glasgow, and had a very memorable audition with their fabulous Dublin wit. Finishing sixth overall, Jeward, aka John and Edward Grimes, treated us all to fun performances throughout their time on the show, with such songs as Oops ... I Did It Again and Ghostbusters.

They went on to score success with singles such as Under Pressure (Ice Ice Baby) featuring Vanilla Ice, which was a mash-up of his hit and Queen’s Under Pressure, and also with a cover of Blink 182’s All The Small Things.

They brought out albums such as Planet Jedward, and Victory, had many panto appearances, and even two stints representing Ireland at Eurovision, including coming 8th their first year with the very catchy Lipstick, and their shiny red suits!

Continued…

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Entertainment | Reality TV

Craig Coates and Anthony Hutton

Yes I know they went in as separate contestants, but to be fair, who mentions one of their names without mentioning the other? (Although they don’t get on now apparently, but anyway...). The pair were the major talking point of Big Brother in the sixth series of the hit Channel 4 show, with their unrequited love story, and the fact that they were the only ones up at night. Jeez the night shows would have been a trial otherwise!

Rodrigo Lopes Rodrigo Lopes, who appeared on Big Brother in 2010, before reassignment surgery, enthralled us all with an upand-down love story with fellow contestant Charlie Drummond, and an obsession with The Queen of England.

Since reassignment surgery, the Brazilian is now Rebekah Shelton, and got the second name for a new chapter in her life from the people in England that she sees as family.

Rebekah recently had a stay in hospital, which was reported as being due to a brain tumour, but now appears to be back on her feet again.

36 EILE Magazine

Diva Fever

Adam Lambert

Craig Saggers from Peterborough, and Josef AlSmadi from Leicester, took to the stage as the duo, Diva Fever, for the Manchester auditions of The X-Factor in 2010. They entertained us all with Let It Be by The Beatles (Well, for five seconds until Simon Cowell stopped them) Proud Mary by John Fogerty, Sunny by Bobby Hebb, and Barbara Streisand by Duck Sauce, amongst other songs.

The duo reached the live shows as Simon’s wild card.

Former American Idol contestant, Adam Lambert, has some vocal range! Belting out Mad World, Ring of Fire, The Tracks of My Tears, Bohemian Rhapsody, and Born to Be Wild, the star made it all the way to the final, where he was runner-up to fellow contestant Kris Allen.

Sarah Sylvia

Pudsey & Ashleigh

Ireland’s Sarah Sylvia entertained us all with her hauntingly dark and beautiful performances, as part of that talented and sexy specimen Bressie’s (Niall Breslin) team on The Voice of Ireland’s most recent series. Singing tunes such as Bjork’s Joga, and Street Spirit (Fade Out) by Radiohead, the singer wowed us with her amazing and unique voice.

Lambert has since gone on to success with albums such as For Your Entertainment, and Trespassing, as well as four successful concert tours.

Who couldn’t love Pudsey?!

Someone would have to have a heart of stone not to. He is so adorable and cute! But not content with being just a pretty face, the little pet, which is a cross between a border collie, bichon frise and Chinese crested powderpuff, took to the stage with his owner, Ashleigh Butler, for the sixth series of Britain’s Got Talent (2012) to storm it to the Flintstones theme tune, and put all humans to shame!

He went on to win, performing to The Artist theme tune, and the Mission Impossible theme

Entertainment | Reality TV

Adam Lambert

tune, and has since gone on to perform at The Royal Variety Show, as well as having his own book and film!

Christopher Maloney Liverpool’s Christopher Maloney was also someone I admired during his time on The X-Factor 2012, not just because of his powerhouse vocals, which he undoubtedly had, but also because that man put up with a lot while simply competing on a TV singing competition.

just over two years ago.

The band, which consists of Luton’s Jaymi Hensley, Newmarket’s JJ Hamblett, Clevedon’s George Shelley and Ascot’s Josh Cuthbert, are all rather easy on the eye too, which probably helps. They have gone on to have singles such as Carry You, Beautiful Life, and Loving You Is Easy, since the contest, as well bringing out their debut self-titled album, and doing a tour of Ireland and the UK.

James Byron Janis Joplin fan, Leicester’s James Byron is probably my favourite reality TV contestant of all-time. You know that checklist you have in your head of all the things you are looking for in a reality TV contestant?

(Ok, just me then!). Well James ticked all of those boxes.

He has an incredible voice, and his whole androgynous style is pretty perfect, while he just seemed so genuine on his journey to reaching the knockouts’ stage of the hit BBC show, The Voice, as part of Team Will.i.am, belting out hits like Cry Baby, Love Hurts, and Because The Night, with fellow contestant Kiki DeVille in the battle rounds.

James has also shown his songwriting skills, with highlights such as Rage Through Me, Good Enough, 2 Days, and Keep Me Keen.

Many of these contestants did not go on to win the competitions they performed in, but nevertheless they were highlights of the shows mentioned, often being talented, good-humoured and showing courage and kindness in the face of adversity, in a culture where winning is often achieved at the expense of fellow contestants’ feelings.

Union J

It must have been a really hard time for Chris, his boyfriend and his nan, but Chris’ determination and strength of character shone through, and he finished the competition in third place.

Union J I’m a major Union J fan, mainly because lead singer Jaymi Hensley’s vocals get me every time, and the four-piece finished fourth in The X-Factor EILE Magazine 37

Film | The Queen of Ireland

Documentary maker and director, Conor Horgan, was one of those people who happened to be in the right place at the right time.

Having spoken to his friend, Rory O’Neill, Horgan decided to visit the Abbey Theatre in Dublin to film Rory’s speech, which was scheduled to take place after the play, The Risen People, on February lst, 2014.

Little did either Horgan, or O’Neill, realise that the video recording of the so-called ‘Noble Call’ speech at the Abbey would go viral.

62 EILE Magazine

Rory O’Neill was astounded at the reactions to the video of his speech, which has, by now, been viewed over 648,000 times. Of course, the fact that he made a powerful speech about homophobia and oppression, in his betterknown persona as Panti Bliss, made the moment that bit more memorable.

It was not only a moment that Conor Horgan was glad to have witnessed, but it also provided the catalyst to finally produce a documentary about his friend’s life.

The Noble Call speech was “the hook”, as he calls it, but Horgan’s filming of Panti’s career has been going on for almost four years. Horgan was more than prepared for this moment.

“I knew Panti for years,” Horgan explains, “having been a photographer and having worked on the posters for the Alternative Miss Ireland. In fact, I think the first time I ever pointed a camera at Panti was 1996, so I kind of had an ongoing relationship with Panti.”

Horgan has come to know Panti, and Rory, quite well since 1995. While Panti is a “larger than life” character – “especially when you stand beside her in the heels and the hair, grazing 7.5 feet or so!” – the more reserved Rory had been approached by other television producers in the past, whom he declined. With Horgan, however, things were going to be different from the start.

Film | The Queen of Ireland “I think the idea of letting anybody into the private part … behind the public persona, was quite challenging for him”, Horgan explains. The film director thinks, however, that the fact that both he and his producer, Katie Holly, “went to him, very straightforwardly, and said ‘this is what we’re going to do’”, coupled with the fact that Rory knew the two personally, allowed him to place his trust in them.

“That’s something that we would hold very dear”, Conor adds.

Indeed, that trust has grown over the years, as Conor has filmed some great moments involving Panti; from her speech at Dublin Pride in 2010, to dancing at a céilí last year during The Outing, Ireland’s

first LGBT matchmaking festival at Lisdoonvarna. Few moments were as powerful and iconic, however, as Panti’s Noble Call speech, which represented something of a tipping point in the journey towards LGBT equality in Ireland. Few expected that speech, on that night, to have had such a global effect – least of all the speechmaker.

“I know that [Rory] wasn’t expecting that,” Conor confirms, “because I interviewed him shortly after that.” Conor remembers Rory’s own reaction to the video going viral also, asking who watches a ten-minute speech about homophobia on YouTube.

“People watch 30-second clips about kittens! Nobody has that attention span!”

But watch it they did, and watch it they continue to, as Conor proudly states.

It isn’t just Ireland that has taken notice of Panti, and now Conor and his team intend to make the most of that by producing The Queen of Ireland, a documentary based on the life of Rory/Panti.

If all goes well, the team want to premiere the documentary at the Sundance Film Festival, but for now they are hoping to raise €50,000 via their crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo, to help with the production costs.

To donate, and to take a look at the documentary trailer, click here.

EILE Magazine 7

History | Count Chevalier AxelD’Éon Von Varnbüler

The Yellow Boots of Count Axel von Varnbüler: Homosexuality, a Media Circus and suicide at the court of Wilhelm II The following was based on research carried out for “The Emperors: How Europe’s Rulers were Destroyed by the First World War” by Gareth Russell, which was published in the UK and Ireland by Amberley on 28 August 2014.

40 EILE Magazine

In 1908, Count Axel von Varnbüler, an elegant German aristocrat with a talent for empathy, met Kaiser Wilhelm II, his country’s forty-nine year-old emperor, for the first time in months.

A few years earlier, they had regularly been in each

other’s company, drinking, singing, hunting, and horsing around over long weekends at Schloss Leibenberg, a pretty castle where the guest list was arranged by their mutual friend, Prince Philipp zu Eulenburg, Imperial Germany’s ambassador to

History | Count Axel Von Varnbüler Vienna, and the Kaiser’s most powerful favourite.

But when Count von Varnbüler met the Emperor in 1908, zu Eulenburg’s name hovered above the conversation in a thunderously loud silence.

As zu Eulenburg’s life imploded around him in a horrifying catalogue of public humiliations, the Kaiser prattled on and on about pleasant inconsequentialities.

He heaped effusive and lengthy compliments on von Varnbüler’s new knee-high yellow riding boots, before finally exhausting every other topic, and asking in a strained, half-nervous way about zu Eulenburg’s health.

Axel replied with understated politesse, simply confirming what the Kaiser already knew: zu Eulenburg was miserable.

Two years beforehand, Philipp zu Eulenburg had seemed untouchable - the consummate courtier-cumpolitician at the heart of Wilhelm II’s circle of advisers, the maker and breaker of careers, part of the vanguard of the German Right-wing, a tenacious defender of the monarchy’s prerogatives, who sought to promote men who shared his views into positions of influence in the army, the civil service and the diplomatic corps.

Then, over the course of 1906 and 1907, six highranking members of the German army committed suicide, when they were blackmailed with exposure of their homosexuality. Zu

Eulenburg began to sweat, for he knew why they had taken that terrible final step. That some of them may have been romantically involved with him, or that he at least knew why they had killed themselves, cannot be discounted; either way the net was tightening around him, as thinly-veiled speculation about the darling of the German Right ran rampant.

“

He had nearly caused a diplomatic incident when he flirtatiously smacked an outraged Tsar Ferdinand I of Bulgaria on the bottom in public…

”

In April, a journalist called Maximilian Harden, writing for the liberal newspaper Die Zukunft, published an article hinting at an affair between Philipp zu Eulenburg, whom he called the ‘leader of a sinister and effeminate camarilla’, and Count Kuno

von Moltke, a member of a prominent military family, who was also the military commander of the Berlin garrison.

The liberal journalist’s intentions were primarily political – he hoped to discredit a man who was known to support semiabsolutist monarchy. But he kick-started a great and cruel media circus, that destroyed dozens of innocent and unsuspecting lives, as well as provoking a great political crisis, for many believed that despite zu Eulenburg’s alleged flings with several of the sailors who worked on the Kaiser’s titanic private yacht, the Hohenzollern, and his whispered love affair with Count von Moltke, that his most regular and long-term lover had been the Kaiser himself.

One of Wilhelm II’s sons, Prince Augustus-Wilhelm, was almost certainly what we would now recognise as gay, falling in love with a fellow soldier Hans-Georg von Mackensen, but his father’s sexuality is not so easily categorised. It has been the result of endless speculation ever since the zu Eulenburg scandal broke, with Marcel Proust, of À la recherche du temps perdu fame, believing that the pair were clearly in love, and sparking debates that continue to split the Emperor’s modern-day biographers.

In my book about Wilhelm’s war-time career, I came across much evidence that seemed to EILE Magazine 41

History | Count Axel Von Varnbüler contradict itself, and perhaps that is to be expected, given the kaleidoscope of a person’s life and sexuality. As a young man, the Kaiser had been involved with a high-class call girl; he had been violently in love with his cousin, Princess Elisabeth of Hesse-Darmstadt, said to be the most beautiful princess of her generation, although she found him an insufferable egotist and married the Tsar’s brother instead.

After her rejection, Wilhelm married the devoutly religious and cloyingly devoted Princess Augusta-Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein, with whom he fathered seven children, but the guest list for weekend cruises in the North Sea on the Hohenzollern were almost always male-only. He had nearly caused a diplomatic incident when he flirtatiously smacked an outraged Tsar Ferdinand I of Bulgaria on the bottom in public (the Tsar seems to have been homosexual). Another receiver of a kaiserly grope was Grand Duke AdolfFriedrich V of MecklenburgStrelitz, who wasn’t, and was similarly unimpressed) and the Kaiser’s first chancellor, Prince Otto von Bismarck, who loathed Philipp zu Eulenburg, stated that the nature of his monarch’s relationship with his best friend should ‘not be confided to paper’.

Whether they were or were not lovers in the physical sense became irrelevant as the fallout of the Die 42 EILE Magazine

Zukunft article tripped the wire of aristocratic paranoia in Imperial Germany’s aggressively masculine upperclasses, where homosexuality was both paradoxically widespread and despised, and the scandal struck right to the heart of Wilhelm II’s fragile yet bombastic sense of his own manhood.

Something had to be done; to remain silent about the newspaper’s allegations would be to implicitly accept that they were telling the

truth, which, on the basis of what evidence I came across, seemed to be the case, however repugnant their way of airing it was. Frightened, Philipp zu Eulenburg and Kuno von Moltke waded into the fight to save their reputations. Their love letters to one another read as increasingly desperate and anguished in tone, as their revulsion at the journalist’s portrayal of them, the product of a lifetime of shame about their sexuality, collided with heart-wounding and confusing force with their clear adoration for one another.

Homosexuality had been criminalised in Germany by legislation enacted in 1871, and the recent wave of suicides in the upperechelons of the army showed how much damage it could have done to a reputation. In an atmosphere of panic and repression, zu Eulenburg and von Moltke made a terrible mistake when von Moltke decided to sue for libel, and zu Eulenburg took the stand to testify in his defence. The legal question of whether or not they had been libelled turned on the question of their alleged homosexuality, and on the stand they lied through their teeth that they were heterosexual.

Prince Philipp zu Eulenburg (Delacourt Gallery)

The ensuing court cases were Germany’s equivalents of the Oscar Wilde trial, with politically damaging evidence being submitted about how some of the men in the Kaiser’s entourage addressed him as Liebchen (‘sweetheart’ or ‘honey bunch’). Members of

History | Count Axel Von Varnbüler the extended Imperial Family were named by eyewitnesses as having attended intimate all-male parties, hosted by zu Eulenburg and Kuno von Moltke, and surrounded by endless glasses of champagne.

The police apparently had a list of hundreds of names of German homosexuals with successful careers – the list had vanished, although the defence were still frantically hunting for it, the possibility of its discovery a sword of Damocles hanging over the head of ‘many of the most brilliant names of Court circles’. Kuno’s wife, Countess Lili von Moltke, preparing for a divorce, testified that her husband had only slept with her twice during their marriage, and that he found it physically abhorrent to do so.

(She later seemed filled with remorse for the cruelty of her testimony and the humiliation to her family, and declined to give evidence at a subsequent hearing).

Men who had done nothing more sinister than advise the Kaiser on wine, champagnes, brandies and tobacco had their reputations torn asunder in the courtrooms, when they were named by witnesses who were asked questions about von Moltke’s and zu Eulenburg’s social circle. There were more suicides on the wave of smutty innuendo crashing outwards from the trial and some young men, like Johann von Lynar, son of one of Prussia’s most ancient aristocratic families, were sentenced to years of hard labour which nearly killed

“

…it was quite clear that Kuno von Moltke was a homosexual, prefixing his testimony with the assertion that homosexuality was a natural, healthy and inescapable manifestation of human sexuality.

” him, for violating Paragraph 175 of the Criminal Code which prohibited homosexuality in the German empire.

For those critical of Wilhelm II’s government, the scandal was a goldmine, for although the Emperor’s name was barely

mentioned in the courtroom during the later stages of the trial, his name was louder in its intermittent absence. Cartoons appeared showing the seminaked figures of zu Eulenburg and von Moltke, replacing the two figures that traditionally stood on either side of the Imperial Family’s coat of arms, caressing one another in deliberately effeminate styles.

The implication was clear: two homosexuals on either side of the Kaiser.

Nor was the nationalist press, broadly supportive of Philipp zu Eulenburg’s political agenda, quiet. When Dr Magnus Hirschfeld, the world’s leading expert on human sexual behaviour, a man later nicknamed “the Einstein of Sex,” was called upon to give evidence by the newspaper’s defence team, he caused a sensation by stating that, in his professional opinion, even if he had never actually followed those desires to actually have sex with another man, it was quite clear that Kuno von Moltke was a homosexual, prefixing his testimony with the assertion that homosexuality was a natural, healthy and inescapable manifestation of human sexuality.

The idea of someone being gay without having gay sex was revolutionary and deeply disturbing, for it shook those, perhaps even the Kaiser, who may have taken refuge in the fact that their chaste homoeroticism allowed them to remain technically heterosexual. Even today, EILE Magazine 43

History | Count Axel Von Varnbüler what Dr Hirschfeld said in that courtroom would likely strike a cruelly taunting note to millions of the miserably closeted across the globe. It was heartbreaking for them, but the doctor stated it all with ruthlessly calm scientific certainty.

That Dr Hirschfeld was Jewish prompted the Right-wing press to scream that Philipp zu Eulenburg was being destroyed by a Jewish conspiracy, which was using the doctor to promote homosexuality in a strategy that would corrupt the morals of the empire’s youth.

Again, such pernicious hysteria has survived in the century since.

The main result of the court case, apart from a huge surge in newspaper sales, was that Philipp zu Eulenburg could not prove that Harden had been

libellous in suggesting that he and von Moltke were not heterosexual, and as a result zu Eulenburg himself only narrowly missed being tried for perjury.

His health collapsed, his influence at court evaporated, and his reputation never fully recovered. From necessity, Wilhelm II kept him at arm’s length for the rest of his life, becoming more dependent on his anti-British wife, and isolated from those whom he felt cared for him.

Perhaps of all the terrifying and unsettling images to emerge from the HardenEulenburg Affair, it is the sheer depth of punishing selfloathing, which castigated and brutalised so many of the key figures, that remains the most haunting.

The yellow-booted heterosexual Count Axel von Varnbüler had once written to Kuno von Moltke how beautiful he found his love for Philipp zu Eulenburg, but it had ended in a cruelly ugly way, and as the Kaiser twittered on about his friend’s new boots, he banished the thoughts of someone he had loved, in whatever way, because of the terror of his own reality.

History, to quote Rudyard Kipling, often seems so exclusively dark, with just a few flashes of light.

Gareth Russell is an author, playwright and historian, based in Belfast. His latest book, “The Emperors: How Europe’s Rulers were Destroyed by the First World War” is published in the UK and Ireland by Amberley.

For the latest LGBT news, updates and more, visit:

eile.ie 44 EILE Magazine

New Rose of Tralee Comes Out as Gay

The newly-crowned Rose of Tralee, Maria Walsh, has opened up about her sexuality since her win earlier this week, revealing that she is gay.

Maria, 27, revealed in an interview with the Irish Sun that she came out to her parents some time ago, who were as supportive as she knew they would be.

“I’m confident in who I am as a person,” the Boston native said. “The Rose of Tralee is about celebrating women’s intelligence, careers, their volunteer work. The question of sexuality never came up. To me, being gay is normal; it’s natural”.

It is the first time that an openly-lesbian woman has won the Rose of Tralee, a competition that aims to celebrate Irish women and women of Irish decent around the world. The festival’s executive chairman, Anthony O’Gara, said that Ms. Walsh’s sexuality may “create some interest, hopefully all positive”.

Maria is originally from Boston, but moved with her family to County Mayo as a child.

She studied Journalism and Visual Media at Griffith College, before moving to New York, and later, to Philadelphia. eile.ie / august 24

EILE Magazine 45

Reviews | Frances Winston

Directed by: Matthew Warchus Starring: Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton, Dominic West, Andrew Scott, Paddy Considine A group called the LGSM (Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners) rally round to raise funds and awareness for striking miners. It might sound like a far-fetched premise, but this tale is actually based on real events that occurred back in 1984, when a few members of the LGBTQ community felt they could relate to the plight of the disenfranchised and victimised miners, and vowed to help them.

However, the 80s were still somewhat dark days for the community, with prejudice rife and AIDS taking a stranglehold.

Hence they struggle to get the mining unions to accept their contribution, as unions worry about being associated with a gay group.

Undeterred, they decide to approach the miners directly, and contact a small Welsh mining village that has been badly affected. Although a couple of people in the village are grateful for the support, it takes longer to win around others who struggle 46 EILE Magazine

Pride

with their prejudice and beliefs, before learning that really we are all just the same underneath. This leads to a fruitful and rewarding relationship between the two communities.

Given that this film deals with a difficult period for both sides, it is amazing how much humour there is in this movie. The script is witty without ever being patronising or condescending. While many different characters within the community are represented (and everyone will recognise someone they know) they are never portrayed as caricatures, and all the cast do an amazing job in their portrayals, giving deep and often moving performances.

Special mention should go to Ireland’s own Andrew Scott, who plays a gay character for the first time in his career, after coming out himself earlier this year.

Dominic West is also amazing, and completely embraces his role as a somewhat queeny actor, performing one of the funniest and best dance routines ever committed to screen (and yes he really can move!)

Of course underlying all this humour is pathos. Both communities are struggling.

The LGBT community are abused by the public, and live under constant threat of attack.

Meanwhile, the miners are being victimised by the government and authority figures, and are struggling with the indignity of losing their livelihood. However, the one thing that both sides have in spades is Pride - hence the title.

This is uplifting, heart-warming, inspiring and really good fun despite the serious subject matter. It really shows what can be achieved when opposing communities work together, and it will inspire you to adopt a cause of your own.

Never sensationalist, this is character-driven, and just lets the human interaction tell the tale. With shades of Billy Elliot, there is no reason why this couldn’t become a classic within the community, and rightly so.

Sensitively handled without being schmaltzy, and funny without being mocking, this is how LGBTQ stories should be handled on screen. And as a bonus, the 80s soundtrack contains some classic anthems that will have you tapping your feet and singing along.

In Cinemas September 12

Reviews | Frances Winston

Frances Winston on Movies Directed by: Lasse Hallström Starring: Helen Mirren, Om Puri, Manish Dayal, Charlotte Le Bon Burned out of their home and forced to flee their native land following a political uprising, a family of Indian restaurateurs find themselves in a tiny French Village.

Impressed by the ingredients available locally, and finding premises vacant, they set about opening another eatery specialising in fine Indian food. However, just a hundredfeet across the road, there is a Michelin-starred restaurant run by widow Madame Mallory (Mirren) and she is not happy in the least at the thought of this new enterprise.

After she attempts to sabotage their opening night, the two restaurants go to war. However, Hassan (Dayal) the middle son of he family and main cook in the restaurant desires to learn

the secrets of cooking fine French cuisine. When some of Madame Mallory’s staff graffiti the restaurant and attempt to burn it down, Hassan is injured, and Madame Mallory finds herself thawing towards the family.

She realises Hassan’s potential, and offers him a job in order to secure a second Michelin star.

The exposure leads to amazing career opportunities for the aspiring culinary superstar, but to pursue them will mean leaving a blossoming romance, and his family’s bosom.

Do not go into this film hungry.

It is food porn of the highest order, and from the beginning we are exposed to sumptuous dish after sumptuous dish. The title may be a literal reference to the distance between the two restaurants, but it is also a reference to the cultural divide between the warring factions.

While this premise has been

done before, here it has a warmth and depth that is sometimes lacking in other films. All the actors give wonderful performances, and it ticks along at a good pace ensuring it never gets boring.

There is perhaps too much talk of Michelin stars and it loses its way near the end, when Hassan is presented with amazing job offers and ups-sticks to Paris for a period, but thankfully it finds its way back, and ultimately leaves the audience satisfied at the conclusion.

Although there is nothing new here, this gentle tale is humorous and heart-warming.

It is the movie equivalent of comfort food, and leaves you feeling sated if starving. The food looks amazing throughout, and if you don’t find yourself craving a curry afterwards, then you weren’t paying proper attention.

In Cinemas September 5

The Hundred Foot Journey

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Music | Nick’s Picks

Nick’s Picks Music Reviews by Nick Bassett Shipped directly from New Zealand, EILE’s music reviewer Nick Bassett (also of ChartShaker) has got the latest high-quality music from artists you should be listening to – right now. Click on any of the art work to take you straight to the sound!

Sheppard – Geronimo

Jacob Banks – Move With You

If you’re not already familiar with Brisbanebased six piece Sheppard, then the upcoming UK release of their second single Geronimo marks as good a time as any to jump on board with their blend of feel good charm. In April, Geronimo ended Pharrell’s seemingly endless twelve week reign at the summit of Australia’s ARIA chart and, in doing so, Sheppard became the first independent band to reach number one in Australia for over a decade; a chart feat that inevitably resulted in major label interest, and resulted in a subsequent signing to DECCA Records. With an international promotional campaign now fully underway, this burst of catchy-as-you-like indie pop more than deserves to find a wider audience, who are equally as receptive to its earworming cocktail of lyrical hooks and pounding drum beats.

Look for them on iTunes from 22 September.

British soul singer Jacob Banks shot to fame last year, after becoming the first unsigned artist to perform in Radio 1’s Live Lounge, supporting Emeli Sandé on her 2013 tour, and scoring a Top 40 hit thanks to a co-credit on Chase & Status’ soaring dancefloor anthem Alive.

48 EILE Magazine

The Birmingham-born 22 year-old is now back with his first official solo single, and Move With You is as fresh and uplifting a brass-packed soul track as you’re likely to see this Summer, packing in the same carefree, feel good vibes and singalong swing that has helped Pharrell’s Happy to hang around the charts for so long.

Music | Nick’s Picks Ella Eyre – Comeback Ella Eyre is back with fire in her belly and an absolute corker of a second solo single. The Londoner will release Comeback on 28 September, as the follow up to her previous Top 20 debut If I Go. A scorching anthem for the betrayed, Comeback is aimed squarely at women dealing with cheating boyfriends, and sees the unfaithful receiving zero sympathy from Eyre, who kicks off her latest delivering one of the smartest opening lines of the year (“Caught out, sleeping round / He says “it’s nothing” with her lipstick on his mouth“), with a knowing snarl, before really letting rip on the searing, flame-thrower of a chorus.

Usher feat. Nicki Minaj – She Came To Give It To You Fresh from scoring his latest UK Top 10 hit with Good Kisser, and its post-release Disclosure remix treatment, Usher is back with the official music video for the second single from his upcoming eighth studio album.

With Pharrell Williams on production duties, She Came To Give It To You certainly isn’t lacking in the retro-soul vibe department. Usher’s impressive R&B falsetto glides over swirling disco beats and funk-laden horns and guitar riffs, as he smoothly croons about love in the club on the dancefloor-ready track.

VÉRITÉ – Weekend VÉRITÉ’s debut release Strange Enough earned her an instant slew of positive reviews earlier this year, and the New York singer’s superb latest offering continues to lay the foundations for what looks set to be a promising career. Like its predecessor, the surging electropop ballad Weekend was written by VÉRITÉ with producer and drummer Elliot Jacobson (Ingrid Michaelson, Lenka, Greg Laswell) and it serves up another dazzling array of kaleidoscopic electronics and crashing percussion, brought together by the West Coast singer’s exhilaratingly, full vocals. What’s more, Weekend is being given away as a free download over at VÉRITÉ’s Facebook page, so what on earth are you still doing here?

EILE Magazine 49

Events | The Outing

EILE Special: It’s All About Love For LGBT Matchmaking Festival At Lisdoonvarna ‘It’s All About Love’ at the world’s 1st LGBT Matchmaking Festival is part of the historic Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival.

After the success of last year’s event, visitors from around the world are on their way back to Lisdoonvarna village in Co. Clare in the West of Ireland.

The World Famous 157 year old Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival is going Gay for the second year in a row.

Drag High-Queen of Ireland, and national treasure, Panti Bliss, said:

52 EILE Magazine

“The first LGBT weekend in Lisdoonvarna was SO much fun last year so I am really looking forward to doing it all again this year. Who’d have thought bringing a bunch of gays down to a small country village in the West of Ireland would have been such great craic?! Oh that’s

Events | The Outing

right… everybody”.

In 2014, The Outing Lisdoonvarna LGBT Matchmaking and Music Festival will come to life with more entertainment, more clubs, more DJ’s, some comedy and more craic to be had by all. This is the LGBT music festival to be at, as we take over the historic village of Lisdoonvarna, its hotels, its bars, and its venues for the whole weekend, from the 3rd – 6th October.

Panti, who will host the weekend as Mistress of Ceremonies and “Queen of Hearts” shared her excitement:

“Last year I even got to try my hand at a bit of matchmaking and my success rate wasn’t too shabby. And this year Brian Kennedy will be on hand to sing at any shotgun weddings so potentially I could pull off something big! Lisdoonvarna’s own legendary matchmaker Willie Daly has some overlymade up competition. No, not Brendan Courtney! I mean me.

Though Brendan will be there to set up some blind dates so if anything goes wrong I’ll just blame him”.

As part of the festival this year there will be ‘An Evening with Brian Kennedy’ live in The Hydro Ballroom. This will be Brian’s 1st LGBT concert after

doing a PA at Dublin Pride a few years back.

Last year, Lisdoonvarna residents and local business owners voiced their enthusiasm for what they see as a welcome new twist on the generations-old festival, which looks set to bring a new sector of tourists to the area. Fourth generation matchmaker, Willie Daly, will be present during The Outing’s weekend and feels ready to bring some new couples together again this year! “Matchmaking has always been about love”, he said. This year’s festival theme is ‘It’s All About Love’.

The Outing comprises a

EILE Magazine 53

Events | The Outing “Traditional Irish events like céilí dances have had it right for hundreds of years”, says Eddie.

“They’re a perfect way to meet new people in a lively, comfortable and fun atmosphere. We’re taking the best of old Ireland – music, dancing and matchmaking – and putting it together with the variety of entertainment on offer in the LGBT community. It was a very effective combination last year!”

weekend package of hotel accommodation and full entertainment, fusing old Ireland with gay club life, as céilithe sit next to drag shows, and tea dances lead into late night DJ sets. Event Director Eddie McGuinness has worked with club events for several years, and says that the unique and novel fusion on offer here was what enticed him to put together The Outing.

The Outing is working together with Marriage Equality this year, as well as Gay Switchboard Ireland and BelongTo, raising much needed funds for these hard working and worthwhile community groups.

EILE Magazine is delighted to be Media Partner for The Outing 2014, and will be regularly updating our readers with the latest details and giveaways for The Outing! Stay tuned to EILE, but for now, all information can be found at theouting.ie!

Grand Final October Bank Holiday Sunday In The Gibson Hotel If you wish to enter please contact your local LGBT bar or community group

In Association With:

History| |Mr News Chevalier Gay World D’Éon

Stuart Hatton Jr., Mr Gay World 2014

Stuart Hatton Jr. Wins Mr Gay World 2014, With Ireland’s Robbie Lawlor A Very Respectable Third Mr Gay UK won the coveted Mr Gay World title 2014 in Rome last weekend, while Ireland’s Robbie Lawlor came overall third in the Grand Final.

56 EILE Magazine

News | Mr Gay World

Stuart Hatton Jr., representing the United Kingdom in this year’s Mr Gay World competition, is bringing the title back to his hometown of South Shields in north-east England, after winning the international title in Rome last weekend.

Stuart competed alongside representatives from over fifty countries, including Ireland’s Robbie Lawlor and Northern Ireland’s Nick Flanagan.

Stuart, Robbie and Nick became good friends when the three met at the Mr Gay Europe competition in Austria earlier this year, and the two Irishmen were the first to congratulate Stuart on stage in Rome when he was announced as Mr Gay World.

Robbie Lawlor, Mr Gay Ireland 2014

Robbie Lawlor, as Mr Gay Ireland, was 2nd Runner-Up in the overall final.

Nick Flanagan, Mr Gay Northern Ireland 2014

Taking to social media after the win, Stuart claimed his win as a “joint win” alongside his fellow delegates: “I am still in a complete daze about it and overwhelmed. But this is just the BEGINNING. Now it’s time to show the world what we as a global gay community are made of. This is a joint win that i share with all my fellow delegates from around the world. Together, as a family we will fight to bring equal rights to the entire world.”

EILE Magazine 41

Opinion | Trans Issues

Born This Way Deirdre O’Byrne shines a light on the problems of social expectations and the transgender community Let me introduce you to a gay man. A beautiful man, with a lovely, friendly, generous attitude. Not camp, not “as gay as Christmas”, but definitely homosexual.

straight, and are still trying to figure out how, and why, he became gay. In their grief, they still see him as straight, and they are hoping he will revert.

And to that end, they treat him as a straight man.

Except he was born straight.

At some point, he became gay. How do I know this? His marriage certificate, in effect, says so. He married a woman and had kids – even his own reproductive biology, and reproductive instincts, say he’s straight.

And the wishes of his family, and the wishes of all the others that are struggling with his change in sexuality, need to be respected by all during this period of grief. They have the hard-earned right to treat him as a straight male.

He then became gay, divorced her, and is now happier than he’s ever been. He says he was born gay, and he sees his marriage as a huge mistake that he was pushed into by social expectations.

But his family take comfort in the fact that he was born 58 EILE Magazine

Right – let’s get something straight (pardon the pun). I know damn well that he was not born straight, and I don’t actually stand over what I wrote above. But I wrote it to make a point.

And the point is this – he believes transgender women were born male. At some

point, we became women.

How does he know we were born male? Because our birth certificates say so. Of course, we had less input into our birth certificates than he had into his marriage certificate, but what our birth certificates say is backed by our birth biology.

But we rejected all that, and we became women, and we are now happier than we’ve ever been.

We say we were born women, albeit transgender women, and we see the historical expression of our birth gender as a huge mistake that we were pushed into by social expectations. But our families still see us as males – they take comfort in what our birth certificates and birth biology say – and they are trying to figure out how and why we became transgender women.

Opinion | Trans Issues

Our families are hoping that we will revert and, to that end, they treat us and address us as males. And the wishes of our families, and the wishes of all the others that are struggling with our change in gender, need to be respected by all during this period of grief.

They have the hard-earned right to treat us as males.

Is it just me, or is there a double standard about?

Did you hear about the young 26-year-old gay man from Dublin, who committed suicide in July last year?

A year before he died, he suffered a horrendous assault.

His homosexuality has been rejected by his family. He was discovered by a friend, hanging by a rope. At the coroner’s court hearing, the family requested that the court address him as straight, and the court complied.

Even the newspapers were calling him straight, even as they were reporting that he was, in fact, gay. The coroner said that his death certificate would say that he was gay, but that they would put ‘straight’ in brackets on the certificate.

Of course, that didn’t happen to a gay male. If it did, the Coroner’s Court, and the offending newspapers offices, would rightly be occupied by every LGBT organisation on the island, until those injustices were addressed. It happened to a transgender woman. Her death certificate will contain her birth name

in brackets, and even the newspapers referred to her as “him”.

Am I unsympathetic to the plight of her family? No – they are victims of the same social expectations, and social norms, that were such a big part of her decision to take her own life.

I am here to try to shine a light on those social expectations and norms, in the vain hope that this never happens again.

How difficult is it to understand that what being homosexual is to sexuality, being transgender is to gender?

What is written about my gender on my birth certificate is a mistake, and it is a much bigger mistake than the mistake of a gay man signing his own marriage certificate.

The mistake I made of expressing that gender, for almost 40 years, was born out of the same kinds of social pressures that led my gay friend to marry. And it is wrong that everyone, from the Government, to the Coroner’s Court, to newspapers, are actively supporting that mistake.

Don’t get me wrong – I understand that it takes time for someone who spent decades calling me “him” to switch to “her”. In my case, it took weeks! And that’s all it needs to take. It’s really not that difficult. And there is absolutely no excuse whatsoever for someone who never knew “him” to not refer to her as “her”, even when referring to when she was making the mistake of presenting as “him”.

It is as wrong as it would be for me to call my gay friend a straight man when referring to when he got married and had kids. He was never straight, and his marriage is precisely no reflection whatsoever on his sexuality.

And so it is with my birth cert, and with my historical presentation as a male.

I was always female. I was born this way.

Note: This was an opinion piece written in reaction to an Irish Independent report.

Deirdre O’Byrne

Not only does their support for that mistake have a massively negative impact on my life, it also has an effect on many people around me, just as a gay man getting married has a negative impact on many others.

EILE Magazine 59

LGBT Parenting

Assisted Reproduction: More Options for LGBT Couples

An overview of advances in assisted reproduction as part of EILE Magazine’s series on LGBT Parenting – by M. Butler LGBTI individuals who are trying to start a family may find that they have difficulty conceiving, due to reduced fertility or other medical issues, and in this way are no different to those in the heterosexual and cisgender communities.

In the above review, which takes the form of an interview, A. Evan Eyler, MD, MPH, interviews reproductive specialists Samuel C. Pang, MD, and Anderson Clark, PhD, on the present and possible medical options available to the LGBTI community trying to conceive.

However, there may be other more complilcated issues, such as legal or physiological, which have to be dealt with by the LGBTI community when trying to conceive, which do not affect the heterosexual or cisgender individual. Whatever the orientation, most individuals who wish to conceive will turn to some form of assisted reproduction on finding that they have been diagnosed with reduced fertility.

The interview covers such topics as donor egg banks, in vitro fertilisation, gestational surrogacy, and preserving future reproductive capability of transgender people, where transition may compromise their fertility. Discussed are the added economic and legal implications of assisted reproduction, in the context of the LGBTI community.

A review of the most recent developments in the area of assisted reproduction can be found in the clinical review “LGBT Assisted Reproduction: Current Practice and Future Possibilities” (2014) published in the quarterly journal, LGBT Health. This article covers current practice, on-going research, and options likely to be available in the future in the field of assisted reproduction.

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“In the past, many people in the LGBT communities did not regard reproduction as a realistic option; however, social and scientific progress have changed that” says William Byne, MD, PhD, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, and editor-inchief of LGBT Health.

“Clinicians who work with LGBT-identified people, particularly transgender youths and their families, should familiarize themselves

with the material covered in this interview. Future options may become available even for transgender youths who undergo pubertal suppression prior to the production of viable gametes”.

Some of the points raised in the interview deal specifically with transgender youth, and some relate to gay and lesbian couples who now want to ensure that both individuals in the couple are related to the infant, or, in the case of gay men, that if surrogacy is used, legally the surrogate has no claim to the child.

According to Samuel Dr. Pang, Medical Director of the Reproductive Science Centre (RSC) New England : “The majority of my patients are heterosexual couples who have difficulty conceiving on their own. The treatments that I use to help heterosexual couples can also be applied to the LGBT community. I have been treating lesbian couples since 1993, and I have been treating gay male couples since 1998. And in the past couple of years, I have treated transgender people as well”.

Dr Pang says different issues

LGBT Parenting affect different sections of the LGBTI community: “For lesbian couples, the easiest process is donor sperm insemination. Many begin with self-insemination at home, and if that is unsuccessful, then they consult with me.

I do a medical evaluation to determine whether the woman who is trying to conceive has any infertility factors. Lesbians and bisexual women can experience the same reasons for infertility as heterosexual women, and if any are present, I can offer them the appropriate treatment options. [...] More recently, I have been sought out by lesbian couples who are young, have no infertility, and have never attempted to conceive with donor sperm insemination, but they specifically want to use eggs from one partner, create embryos through IVF, and have the other partner carry the pregnancy. This is because they both want to have a biological connection to the child”.

choice they can make.”

The Reproductive Science Centre website also gives information about Dr Pang’s Reciprocal IVF treatment: “Typically lesbian couples, without infertility issues, conceive using donor sperm and intrauterine insemination (IUI). More recently, however, Dr. Pang has pioneered a Reciprocal IVF treatment in which one female partner provides the eggs (fertilized using donor sperm) and the other female partner goes through embryo transfer, carries the pregnancy and gives birth. While a more costly process, many lesbian couples choose this treatment model because it enables both partners to play a physical role in the conception of their babies”.

This also leads to more choice for the lesbian couple to change roles for subsequent births:

And what of male gay couples who want to conceive using donor eggs and a surrogate?

This is termed gestational surrogacy, that is, the child will have no genetic relationship to the surrogate, who acts as a carrier for an implanted embryo, which is not the result of her own eggs being fertilised.

“Some of these couples have returned after the first baby is born, so that they can exchange roles for the next pregnancy.

I call this “reciprocal” IVF. Some couples use the same technique, but one partner provides the eggs and the other carries the pregnancies, and they do not change roles.

Either of those options is a

Dr Pang highlights the new trend towards gestational surrogacy, stating that he was first approached to facilitate this in 1990 by a gay couple, and although he could not help at the time, he advised how it could be done. Some years later he discovered that the couple had been successful in having a child through

this method with another physician.

Dr Pang has gone on to help many male couples in this way, using IVF, donor eggs and a surrogate. He states: “This is the best option that male couples have for having genetically related children without a female co-parent”.

Dr Pang and Dr Clark also discuss the options and difficulties facing the transgender individual or couple at length, and how assisted reproduction may help.

The article gives a run-down on the current situation with transgender couples who wish to conceive, and the options available to them through assisted reproduction.

However, the situation with transgender individuals is even more complicated than with gay or lesbian couples, as often the procedures, like egg-freezing, would have to be done before transitioning occurred, or following an interruption in testosterone or estrogen treatment.

Otherwise, various forms of surrogacy would have to be the method considered by the transgender couple. The options for transgender youth involve many considerations, depending on whether the youth is pre-pubertal or postpubertal, and many possible assisted reproduction options for the transgender individual are still in the experimental stages.

EILE Magazine 61

Travel Health || Switzerland HIV/AIDS

Sensational Switzerland Jenny Butler takes a break in the beautiful Alpine country 62 EILE Magazine

Travel | Switzerland

Recently, I travelled to Switzerland with one of my friends, Linda. We arrived in Basel Euro Airport at 11pm on a Saturday night. The airport is small, but it is a hive of activity nevertheless, with people heading home, holidaying or on business to France, Germany or Switzerland, since it serves nearby Mulhouse in France and Freiburg in Germany, as well as Switzerland.

We exited through Swiss passport control, and walked a few meters out of the terminal building to the shuttle bus that would take us to the centre of Basel, which was to be our home for the week. The bus (number 50) was free to the main train station, Basel SBB, which was a short 1minute walk from our hotel.

When you stay in any hotel in Switzerland, you get a free mobility card, which entitles you to free use of all local public transport, including buses, trains, trams and some boats.

Our hotel, Hotel Euler in Basel, was fantastic! It had everything we needed, our room was spacious and modern, and the staff members were all brilliantly helpful. The bar manager, Florentin, was exceptionally knowledgeable about places we should visit, and always asked how our day had been when arrived back at the hotel each night.

The tea and coffee-making facilities were located outside

our bedroom door, and were shared with all of the guests on our floor, which was a bit unusual, but it meant we met other hotel guests frequently, and everyone was friendly, so it really wasn’t a big deal.

So, what did we do in Switzerland?

Since we arrived very late on Saturday night, we went for a short walk around the main square near our hotel.

The only places that were open for food were Burger King and McDonald’s, so we settled for McD’s, but the cost of it was unbelievable!! Linda ordered 6 chicken nuggets and they cost her 9CHF, which is about €8.00 or thereabouts.

That’s not a meal, that’s just the 6 nuggets! Now, I’m a total foodie, which is also the reason why I’m festively plump 365-days of the year, so let me break this to you gently: A croque monsieur (that’s a toasted ham and cheese sambo, to you and me) will set you back about 7CHF, and a cappuccino will add 5-6CHF to the bill.

You do win out on the exchange rate when converting your Euro to Swiss Francs though, so all is not lost! Oh, except the weight you’ll lose thanks to smaller portion sizes, the need to drink your weight in water during 30 degree heat (August) lots of hiking and being too poor for McDonald’s.

In some places, a 500ml bottle of still mineral water cost 5CHF, which is about €4.00.

We quickly learned that we could save a lot of money by shopping at the nearby supermarket chains called ‘Migros’ and ‘Co-op’. There was one of these supermarkets pretty much wherever we went, with the exception of the trips we made to the countryside.

Everybody likes to spend more when they’re on holiday, but spending wisely in Switzerland will ensure you have money when you really need it.

Anyway, back to our itinerary: Sunday was spent strolling around the locality of our hotel. Most shops were closed as it was Sunday, so that is something to keep in mind if you are on holiday.

On Monday, we set out to see the sights in Basel. The Old Town is beautiful, with clean, cobbled streets and wonderfully well-preserved architecture. We visited a magnificent cathedral called the Basler Münster, which is a fantastic example of Romanesque and Gothic styles of architecture. Its red sandstone walls hold a wealth of history and you can roam through the main church freeof-charge.

You should take time to look up at the wonderful stained glass windows before you venture down to the crypt, where you can see the remains of an earlier 9th century church. You can pay a modest fee, about €3.00, to ascend to a balcony via one of the towers but be warned: the steps are quite steep at times and there are a good few of EILE Magazine 63

Travel | Switzerland them! Also, if you’re in any way claustrophobic, this might not be an activity for you!

The view once you get out onto the balcony of the cathedral is fantastic, but the space is rather narrow so passing people by is pretty much impossible. Linda had to talk me through how to climb down the very steep steps to get back to ground level! Yes, I said climb, since I’m all of 4ft 11” and some of the steps were more like a ladder to me, so I more than earned my reward of a pretzel for my bravery once I got my feet back on solid ground! That being said, it’s not a very demanding climb, you just have to be careful.

Before you leave the cathedral, be sure to visit the gardens at the back of it, where you can take some lovely photographs overlooking the river Rhine.

If you wish, you can take the steps down to the bank of the river and for a small fee, about €2.00, you can cross the river in a water taxi boat, which uses an overhead wire to guide it across the river through the strong current.

On Tuesday, after purchasing our Swiss Pass (which was invaluable; we got free trains, buses, boats, trams and some free activities for 4 days anywhere in Switzerland for €200.00 each. I know it sounds expensive, but it’s so worth it!) we set off for the Rhine Falls in Neuhausen, about 1 hour from Basel.

We took three boat trips around the waterfalls, before we disembarked to get a panoramic elevator to the 64 EILE Magazine

top of the waterfalls. From there, we walked along a path bordered by corn fields, and walked back to the boat along the banks of the river. We did visit Zurich, but it was late by the time we got there and we didn’t see very much of it.

On Wednesday, we took the train to Interlaken. If you want to see the Jungfraujoch, which is in Interlaken, you need to budget for it and you should definitely book in advance, as group numbers and trips per day to the summit are limited. For an alternative to the Jungfraujoch, you could go to Mt. Titlis, which is a cheaper option that still provides amazing views. As for us, our stay in Interlaken was

short, and limited to a walk around the souvenir shops, before taking a train to nearby Brienz, where we would connect onward by bus to Ballenberg Open-Air Museum.

The Open-Air Museum was a real treat; stepping back in time to see old traditions, brought to life in hundreds of acres of alpine land, that has been preserved and cultivated according to the Swiss traditions of old. There are several houses that are working museums and everything is interactive; you can learn how to weave a basket, how to bake bread, and if you’re as lucky as we were, you can even try some delicious home-made soup in an old farmhouse kitchen.

Travel | Switzerland

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Travel | Switzerland Any food made in the houses is made using only ingredients that are sourced from the Ballenberg Museum farmland.

The houses are nestled snugly among rolling alpine meadows, some of which are often shadowed by magnificent mountain faces, with waterfalls cascading down into rivers and streams. Ballenberg has two entrance gates ,and there is a bus that you can get adjacent to the train station in Brienz, that stops at both Ballenberg gates frequently, with a short journey time of approximately fifteen minutes each-way. Your Swiss Pass covers the cost of all public buses, and covers your admission to the Open-Air Museum!

When we arrived back in Brienz, we rented a motorboat and ventured out onto Lake Brienz to soak up the afternoon sun and trust me, you can’t help but feel like a secret agent on some kind of mission! Our boat was called Ruedi, and to add to my James Bondesque delusions of grandeur, Ruedi’s key number was ‘007’ – perfect! We passed picturesque waterfalls, that tumbled down gracefully into the jade-coloured lake, and we almost felt bad for disturbing its glass-like surface with the boat. Before long, our time with Ruedi was up and we were back on-shore, ready to board the train for the short twenty-minute journey back to Interlaken, where we transferred to another train and headed back to Basel.

Thursday was spent in Lucerne, which is stunningly 66 EILE Magazine

beautiful, so you can imagine our delight when we asked in the tourist office if anything was free or discounted with our Swiss Pass, and we were told we could go on an hour-anda-half long panoramic yacht trip, across lake Lucerne, to the cog-wheel railway at the Rigi Mountain!

The yacht journey to Vitznau took an hour and a half, and the cog-wheel railway up to the top of Mt. Rigi took approximately 45 minutes, with stunning scenery at every stage of the journey. The journey back also provided another unexpected perk – the boat returning us to shore in Lucerne was a fully restored steam paddle boat!

Also on Thursday, we visited Entlebuch, Escholzmatt and Marbach, all of which are far out in the Swiss countryside. I have Bernese Mountain Dogs, and a related breed is the Entlebucher Mountain Dog, hence the trip to Entlebuch, which really is pretty much in the middle of nowhere; even the ticket inspector on the train double checked that we were on the correct train, and couldn’t fathom why we would want to go to Entlebuch!

We travelled a short distance by train from Entlebuch to Marbach, where the only thing to do was to visit a cheese factory! The workers opened the door, laughed and ran away, then sent a guy on a special cheese-making apprenticeship to see what we wanted. He showed us around the cheese factory, and told us about how his parents own

a dairy in America, and he is going to be a cheese maker.

He went on to inform us that cheese bacteria can be cremated if the vat gets too hot.

We pretty much got back on the bus straight after that!

Next, we headed for the city of Bern, and both Linda and I agreed that this was our favourite of the bigger cities we visited. I saw lots of samesex couples in Bern, with their families or just in pairs, and nobody seemed to pay any attention to them. We went to see the bears, which live in an area by the river, and after that we did most of our shopping, and strolled through the marketplace, before heading back to Basel, which is an hour from Bern.

We spent our last few days in Basel and the surrounding areas, and it was very enjoyable. L39 bar and lounge seems to be the only LGBT bar in Basel, but it wasn’t very busy when we went. Staff are friendly and the bar is small but quaint. There wouldn’t be very much room to dance if the bar was full, but it is more of a pub-type atmosphere.

Everyone seems to just take the train to Zurich or Bern to go out, so perhaps that’s why it was so quiet. Basel is perhaps best known for conventions but overlooked as a tourist destination, which is a shame considering all it has to offer and its close proximity to the French and German borders, not to mention the fact that its main train station provides excellent connections to anywhere you could want to visit in Switzerland. The Swiss

Travel | Switzerland

Jenny’s top-tips for an epic Swiss holiday:

– Buy the Swiss pass – it is so worth every cent!

– Buy bread and whatever else you want from a local supermarket and make a picnic to bring with you on your alpine adventures; it’ll save you quite a bit of money to spend on more important things!

– Don’t overlook less touristy places. Basel isn’t wildly popular with tourists, but this means the hotel prices are reasonable and your Swiss pass will ensure you are only a fast train ride away from wherever you want to visit.

– Book mountain trips in advance to avoid disappointment. You can reserve your place online for most of the major attractions, such as the Jungfraujoch, Mt.Titlis and the Matterhorn in Zermatt.

rail service is exceptional.

Trains are punctual, fast and spacious. Some have panoramic windows, so that you can see all of the beautiful Swiss countryside en route to your destination. If you want a relaxing holiday, Switzerland is the place to go!

It really is a beautiful country with stunning scenery, you just can’t truly capture it all through the lens of your camera, so don’t forget to

take time to really enjoy being there!

Finally, take the train to the real Swiss countryside!

We visited Entlebuch and Marbach, which are both well away from the tourist trails, and got to experience the ambience of sleepy Swiss villages that are untouched by tourism. There might be feck all to do in these places, but at least you can say you saw the real Switzerland!

Jenn y&L

inda

EILE Magazine 67

Events | Drama

The Baltimore Waltz EILE chats to the producer & cast of the Acting Out / Blue Heart Theatre co-production.

In a new co-production between the Acting Out LGBT drama group, and newly-established Blue Heart Theatre, The Baltimore Waltz is an award-winning play by American playwright, Paula Vogel, which will be performed September 3-6 at the Harbour Playhouse in Portobello.

This “serious comedy”, as described by the show’s producer, Sean Denyer, was Vogel’s response to the death of her brother, who died from complications due to AIDS. Whilst the play has established itself as a modern American classic, it has not been performed in Ireland up until now.

“I guess the play is less about HIV/AIDS, than it is about grief”, explained Denyer. “On the face of it is a comedy, but […] as the piece evolves, you gradually begin to realise that [the play] is actually not about what it appears to be”.

In the play, Anna and her beloved gay brother Carl, 56 EILE Magazine 68

finally make a long planned trip to Europe. Their excitement is cut short, however, as Anna is diagnosed with a terminal illness, and the two search for a cure. When they arrive in Europe, however, nothing is as it seems. Why is Carl always in his pyjamas?

Who is the mysterious Third Man? And why do none of their holiday snaps look anything like the places they visit?

“It’s brilliant to see Acting Out give birth to an exciting young company”, said Denyer about Blue Heart Theatre, which although technically separate from the LGBT acting group, has its root firmly within it.

“Part of our mission as a community theatre, is to develop people and give them the opportunity to present new work, and they have been working really hard to bring this play to a new audience” If the excitement of the cast is anything to go by, then the audience should be in for a treat when the play opens in Portobello. Ayrton O’Brien, the production’s director,

said: “This is a great play to do, as whilst it has many comic moments there is an underlying sadness to the piece, and getting that balance is a real challenge for us”.

The cast includes Mike Kunze, who recently moved to Ireland from San Francisco; Niamh Denyer, who recently graduated from the Drama department at Trinity College, and Brian Higgins, who has the daunting task of playing over ten parts!

“I have to play everything from a French waiter, to a Dutch boy, to the mysterious Third Man, and a Doctor”, described Higgins. “It’s one of the most challenging roles I have had so far”.

The play is being presented in an exciting new performance space, The Harbour Playhouse in trendy Portobello.

Tickets are available at www. actingout.ticketleap.com/waltz Twitter @actingoutgroup FB www.facebook.com/ bluehearttheatre

Ireland | Politics

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USA | Wisconsin Religion | Church of Ireland

The Church of Ireland & LGBT Issues:

A New Direction?

Scott De Buitléir chats to Stephen Spillane about the Church of Ireland’s step forward in their attitude towards LGBT Christians and their issues Like the Catholic Church, representatives of the Church of Ireland have made firm statements against the prospects of marriage equality being introduced across Ireland, north and south of the border.

However, the Church of Ireland is currently looking at the topic of LGBT Christians within the Church, and how to effectively deal with issues relating to the community, not least of which is the controversial subject of performing same-sex marriage ceremonies in churches.

Stephen Spillane, writer with SpiritualityIreland.org, will be keeping a close eye on developments on this topic at the next diocesan synod 58 EILE Magazine 70

for Cork, Cloyne and Ross, which is set to take place this month. Spillane, as an active member of the Church of Ireland in Cork, will also have the privilege of speaking at the synod, as the dioceses’ first openly-gay member.

Spillane explains that a Standing Committee was set up last year, with the task of assessing LGBT issues within the Church. Ironically, however, because there were no openly-LGBT members of the synod, the special Standing Committee had no LGBT members.

“It took them a year to realise that they needed the input of LGBT Church of Ireland folk,” Spillane recalls, slightly bewildered. “So, they put together an Advisory Group, rather than making them full Committee members. That started this year. Around the same time, they decided to start a series of diocesan synods, which are like local councils of the Church, grouping each of the twelve dioceses into groups of four.

…Each would have a listening process. So, we’re currently [in] that.”

For the group representing Cork, Cloyne and Ross, Stephen will be attending the local synod in early September.

This is an important occasion, as he is the Church’s first openly-gay member of a diocesan synod, and so any comments he decides to make will be influential in the overall process. “It’ll be a big day,” Stephen explains, “not just for myself, but other LGBT Christians. I won’t be alone in [speaking], but as a member of the synod, there’s a bit more importance to it”.

That said, while the Church of Ireland is making a certain level of progress by looking at LGBT issues, Stephen still feels that major steps, such as same-sex marriage within the Church, are still a long way away. Only last year, the Church made an official statement to the Stormont Assembly, reiterating its position against same-sex

USA | Utah Religion | Church of Ireland

“What it is doing is actually bringing the conversation out slightly into the open. That means it’s actually happening, and people have to engage, and not just talk among themselves…”

marriage, a day before the Assembly was due to debate the topic for Northern Ireland.

The Church, alongside their Catholic counterparts, have made similar statements to the Republic’s government as well, which is why Stephen doesn’t expect the Church of Ireland’s stance on marriage equality to change overnight.

“I can’t see marriage… being adopted too quickly, due to where the power is in the Church is at the moment,” Stephen says, comparing the Church of Ireland with similar organisations in Sweden and the US. “What it is doing is actually bringing the conversation out slightly into the open. That means it’s actually happening,

and people have to engage, and not just talk among themselves, which I think is quite important, especially for a debate of this nature.”

“The two outcomes of this process,” Stephen summarises, “are one: That we’ll get a Church that’s inclusive, that’s working toward encompassing all its members, no matter who they may be, …[the] colour of their skin, or their sexuality, because to me, in God’s eyes, none of that matters”.

“On the other end of the scale, this could hasten the split in the Church of Ireland, between the conservatives and the liberals within the Church. I suppose that is why they’re framing it as a listening process; they’re not saying that

there will be a definite decision coming out of this”.

Stephen also hints that the Church hopes to tread carefully on the issue to find, if needed, some sort of compromise that will keep the majority of Protestants happy enough on LGBT issues.

While there doesn’t seem to be any major step forward planned, the Church of Ireland’s decision to officially look into LGBT issues for their members is, in itself, a realisation that they can no longer ignore them. In fact, if any optimism is to be gleaned from this, it may be that it signals the beginning of the end for LGBT intolerance within the Church of Ireland.

EILE Magazine 59 71

Rights | GLSEN

Julia Roberts To Re Humanitarian GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network, has announced honorees for its upcoming GLSEN Respect Awards event to be held Friday, October 17, at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Los Angeles.

Among the list of recipients is the Hollywood actress, Julia Roberts, for her recent work in the HBO film, The Normal Heart.

“We are thrilled to announce the honorees for the 2014 GLSEN Respect Awards – Los Angeles, which has become one of the city’s premier events thanks to a deep commitment from our partners in the entertainment industry to help GLSEN realize our vision of a world where every child learns to respect and accept all people,” said GLSEN Executive Director Eliza Byard.

“We are proud to recognize Danny Moder & Julia Roberts, whose inspiring work on HBO’s The Normal Heart has brought renewed attention to an important moment – and an on-going crisis – in LGBT and American history.”

Danny Moder & Julia Roberts will receive the Humanitarian Award for their commitment to, and support of, numerous philanthropic endeavors and humanitarian causes, including GLSEN, UNICEF, Heal the Bay, Stand Up To Cancer, the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, and many others.

Both Danny and Julia are current Emmy Award nominees for their work (he as Director of Photography, she as Supporting Actress) on the powerful HBO movie, The Normal Heart, which depicts the early days of the AIDS epidemic in New York City.

Emmy Award-winning and New York Times

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GLSEN Denmark |Rights Equal|Love 25

eceive LGBT Award Best-Selling author Derek Hough, choreographer and the only-five time dancing champion on the hit ABC series Dancing with the Stars, will receive this year’s Inspiration Award.

Not afraid to use his craft to give voice to those less fortunate, Derek’s new book, Taking the Lead: Lessons From a Life in Motion, epitomizes GLSEN’s commitment to storytelling and serves as a testament to the power of a strong work ethic, dedication to one’s craft, and a spirit of perseverance.

His bravery in speaking out against bullying through the lens of personal experience has positioned him as an invaluable advocate and ally for youth.

GLSEN will also be presenting the Student Advocate of the Year Award. The nomination process is currently underway and an honoree will be announced soon.

introduced in 2004 and held annually in Los Angeles and New York, showcase the work of corporations, individuals, students and educators who have made a significant difference in the areas of diversity, inclusion and the Safe Schools movement, and who serve as exemplary role models.

For more information about the GLSEN Respect Awards – Los Angeles, visit the event website. (eile.ie / august 25)

“ We are proud to recognize Danny Moder & Julia Roberts, whose inspiring work on HBO’s The Normal Heart has brought renewed attention to an important moment – and an ongoing crisis – in LGBT and American history. ”

The GLSEN Respect Awards, EILE Magazine 73 29

News | Media

GLEN: BAI Decision On Marriage Discussion Raises Worrying Concerns About Open Public Debate “Can lesbian and gay people not now talk about their lives and their aspirations as Irish citizens on the airwaves, or about their experiences of love and commitment without somebody opposing them?”

So said GLEN Chair Kieran Rose, responding to today’s ruling by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland upholding a complaint on a discussion on civil partnership and civil marriage on RTÉ’s Derek Mooney show last January.

“Today’s ruling by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland raises worrying concerns about the nature of debate and discussion on issues of current affairs across the airwaves in Ireland” continued Rose.

“The ruling has implications for all issues that are topics under public discussion, not just lesbian and gay issues” said Rose.

“Does it now mean contributors to a broadcast programme may not now talk about possible future constitutional change on any issue, unless the programme segment has opposing views?” said Rose.

“We would have serious concerns that this ruling would restrict open debate on issues that directly impact lesbian and gay people in Ireland” concluded Rose. eile.ie / august 14

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Germany | LGBT

Berlin’s Openly Gay Mayor, Klaus Wowereit, To Step Down The openly-gay mayor of Berlin, Klaus Wowereit, is to quit later this year, after thirteen years as mayor of the German capital.

Wowereit, 60, a member of the Social Democrats, has been Mayor of Berlin since 2001. He made headlines in the German media when he came out as gay, with the iconic line: “Ich bin schwul und das ist gut so” – ‘I’m gay, and that’s a good thing’.

A popular politician both amongst the public and his own peers, Wowereit had

been seen by photographers drinking champagne from the shoe of an ambassador’s wife.

He had also been tipped at one point to be a rival to the country’s Chancellor, Angela Merkel.

Despite the politician’s popularity, Mr Wowereit’s reputation has been badly tarnished by the delay of the opening of the BerlinBrandenburg Airport, which was due to open in 2011. The new airport was expected to replace the Tegel and Schoenefeld airports, but has not yet opened.

resigning over the airport’s controversy, instead explaining that while it was his “biggest mistake”, it was not the only issue: “Some still think it was only a question of [the airport]. But no, we’ve had to get through several difficult times here.”

According to BBC News, Mr Wowereit had hoped to resign earlier, but delayed his announcement due to Germany’s victory in this year’s World Cup in Brazil. eile.ie / August 27

However, Wowereit has rebuffed rumours that he is EILE Magazine 75

News | Kellie Maloney

Former Boxing Promoter Kellie Maloney Comes Out as Transgender

The former manager and promoter of boxing legend, Lennox Lewis, has revealed that she has recently undergone gender reassignment surgery, and is now living as a woman.

Kellie Maloney, formerly known as Frank Maloney, surprised many boxing fans by revealing that she had “always known [she] was a woman” but that she couldn’t “keep living in the shadows”.

She recently revealed in an interview with the Sunday Mirror that she has undergone hormone treatment, specialist counselling and voice coaching to help her transition.

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Numerous figures and celebrities from the sporting world in the UK have been visibly supportive of Kellie’s announcement to the media, by taking the messages of support to social media. Sports commentator, Stan Collymore, was amongst those who were supportive of the former boxing manager:

Frank Maloney, in her new life.

Great achievements happen in boxing, as elsewhere, irrespective of gender.

Although Kellie is now retired from the world of boxing, Maloney noted that she would not have been able to make the transition while working:

Author Irvine Welsh also added his voice to the public support of Maloney:

“I have never been able to tell anyone in boxing [until now].

Can you imagine me walking into a boxing hall dressed as a woman and putting an event on? I can imagine what they would scream at me. But if I had been in the theatre or arts world nobody would blink an eye about this transition.”

All the best to Kellie, formerly

eile.ie/ August 12

I wish Frank Maloney, now Kellie all the very best. Being who he wants to be after 61 years. Nobody deserves to begrudge him happiness.

News | USA

USA: Target Comes Out for Marriage Equality The American retail chain, Target, has made its support for marriage equality official recently in a press statement, released earlier this week.

Target has added its name to an amicus brief, submitted to the Seventh U.S. Circuit Court, in support of marriage equality.

Their Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, Jodee Kozlak, blogged last Tuesday, August 5, that it is the company’s belief “that everyone should be treated equally under the law, and

that includes rights we believe individuals should have related to marriage”.

“Without getting into the specifics of a court case”, Kozlak explains, “this [amicus] brief evaluates the issues created by states that both prohibit same-sex marriage and also refuse to recognize marriages that were conducted legally in other states. This position is particularly challenging for a large organization that operates nationally”, Kozlak continues, “such as Target”.

“At Target, we have long offered comprehensive, competitive benefits to our LGBT team members and their families, often above what is legally required. We continue to do so today because we believe doing so is right for our

team and for our business. But current laws — in places like Wisconsin and Indiana that are addressed in this brief – make it difficult to attract and retain talent. These disparate laws also create confusing and complicated benefits challenges across multiple states.”

“We believe that everyone – all of our team members and our guests – deserve to be treated equally,” concludes Kozlak. “And at Target we are proud to support the LGBT community”.

Microsoft, CBS, Time Warner, Starbucks, Google and Nike have all signed the same amicus brief, adding their support for marriage equality across the United States. eile.ie / August 8 EILE Magazine 77

Politics | Denmark

Denmark Conservatives’ New Leader Søren Pape Poulsen Comes Out As Gay The new leader of Denmark’s Conservative Party, Søren Pape Poulsen, has come out as gay, joking that his homosexuality is “apparently still exotic in 2014″.

Since becoming the new leader of De Konservative, Denmark’s media has been speculative of Søren Pape Poulsen’s personal life, especially his sexuality.

It is for that reason that the Danish politician gave an exclusive interview to DR Nyheder (News) yesterday evening, making it finally clear that Poulsen is indeed gay.

“I have found that there is great interest in my person”,

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Pape Poulsen said to DR Nyheder, “and I can not give an interview without being asked a lot of my relationships”

I have to sit and talk about it”, Poulsen explained, “because I think that it is irrelevant for the Conservative Party.”

“It’s no secret that I’m gay”, he continued, “but it amazes me that it must be so interesting in 2014, and it [also] amazes me that people believe they have a right to know”.

“I genuinely think that it is not interesting, and I do not understand that some people think that it is interesting in 2014. I find it strange that some people … almost want to evaluate people based on their sexuality”, said Søren Pape Poulsen.

Søren Pape Poulsen stressed, however, that while it is “very much” against his principles as a Conservative politician to speak out in such a manner, he chose to come out publicly because he believes it would have come up in other ways, and because he has received many inquiries.

“I think it is unfortunate that

eile.ie / August 13

Language | Sweden

Sweden Introduces Gender-Neutral Pronoun ‘Hen’ Into Dictionary In a testament – albeit controversially so – to Sweden’s liberal society, the Swedish language is set to introduce a gender-neutral pronoun into its official national dictionary from April 2015.

While the Swedish language – or svenska – has traditionally used either han (he) or hon (she) when referring to people, the controversial gender-neutral term, hen, will be added to the Svenska Akademiens Ordlista (Swedish Academy’s Dictionary) from next year.

The pronoun has already been used in literature, however, when the children’s book Kivi och Monsterhund (Kivi and Monster Dog) was published in 2012.

As with any official additions or changes to language, there has been some criticism of the introduction of the pronoun. Lena Lind Palicki, who has developed the section focusing on the new word in the dictionary, told Sveriges Radio that: “There are older people and people in rural areas who do not like the word. There are lots of language users that still would not use the word even if it is included a dictionary. I do not think there’s another word that has been so controversial in history.”

Either way, the word will be used in two cases; when the gender of the subject is either unknown, or if considered irrelevant to the context. eile.ie / August 17

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China | Business

China Shows Signs of Embracing LGBT Market There are positive signs that Chinese businesses are beginning to pay attention to a lucrative LGBT market, as a Shanghai-based travel agency has launched an advertising campaign aimed at same-sex couples.

The online advert features two same-sex couples – one gay, one lesbian – with an offer to travel to Hong Kong with a discount of roughly €60.

The headline reads “Take your gay best friend to Hong Kong”, and the advert is run by Shanghaibased tourism company, Spring Tours.

Advertising magazine, Advertising Age, reports that: “amid signs some [Chinese] marketers are ready to target the community, Shanghai LGBT Professionals organized China’s apparent first conference on the ‘pink market’ this month, with about 120 people attending the free event”.

Steven Paul Bielinski, founder of Shanghai LGBT Professionals, explained to the advertising publication that while few major brands have reached out to the LGBT 80 EILE Magazine

community in China yet, those who choose to “are going to gain a lot of, not just kudos, but also loyalty from this community”.

One such brand that has attempted to reach out to LGBT customers is the Chinese search engine, Baidu, although it recently found itself involved in a lawsuit regarding the advertising of ‘gay conversion therapy’ on its site.

There is still a long way to go, it seems, before an LGBT market is properly developed, because of cultural restraints on Chinese LGBT people coming out. Darren Burns, president of Weber Shandwick China, explained at a recent LGBT business conference “that if you’re not out, it’s hard to quantify you as a market or a voice”.

However, some positive qualities to a Chinese LGBT advertising environment were noted, including the lack of conservative groups in China which would protest LGBT-directed advertising campaigns.

To read the full article from Ad Age, click here. eile.ie / August 23

LGBT Parenting USA||Fostering Equality

US: New Study Has Found That LGBT Activism In The Workplace Works “Diversity has become best practice” according to Professor Mary Bernstein, University of Connecticut, who has led an investigation into the impact of social movements in organisations which lead to a change in corporate policy, long before Government brings in laws to force that change.

The study, entitled:”Benchmarking Diversity: Social Movement Outcomes In The Workplace”has reviewed data from hundreds of organisations, on such topics as employee recruitment, health insurance, and domestic partner benefits.

Professor Bernstein stated: “What we find is that the most important determinant … is whether a business has an LGBT resource group that operates officially within an organization. We also find that benchmarking is important, that companies look at what other companies are doing.

“Diversity has become a best practice. Once major companies become more friendly to LGBT people, others follow suit.

They have decided they have an investment in best practice.”

The team presented their findings at the American Sociological Association’s annual meeting this week.

MKB/Eile - august 21

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LGBT | Gay Switchboard

Portrait of Polish Gay Couple Wins 2nd Place At ‘Thank You Ireland’ Photo Competition The portrait of a gay male couple from Poland has won second place in the ‘Thank You Ireland’ photo competition, which was created to celebrate ten years of the Polish community’s integration into Irish life.

Photographer Anna Gajdemska won second place in the competition, with her entry depicting a Polish gay couple with a description: “Thank you Ireland for recognising our love. In Poland we are two strangers, here we can be who we really are. Future is really bright now! Well… with minor Irish clouds”.

By organising the ‘Thank you 82 EILE Magazine

Ireland’ photo competition, Forum Polonia wanted to give an opportunity to Polish people living in Ireland to show their personal stories, to picture their achievements, successes, and happiness which they have found here. The competition organisers also invited Irish photographers to show how Poles have influenced Ireland for the better and to capture Polish-Irish friendship and connections.

The exhibition in Dublin was opened on Thursday by the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Christy Burke, who remarked: “There are more than 120,000 Poles living in Ireland, and at least 50,000 in Dublin. Their coming to Ireland has helped reshape the landscape of our

society in a very positive sense.

I see them every day; living, working, attending cultural events, truly integrating in our city. I know we can still learn from each other. It’s always good to hear again that they felt, and still feel, welcomed in Ireland”.

The exhibition can be viewed in the In-Spire Galerie, 56 Lower Gardiner Street, Dublin 1 until Wednesday, 3rd of September.

The exhibition will be also on view in Limerick from 11th September until 5th October, as part of Polish Art Festival. It will be also presented in Cork, in Together-Razem Office, 17 Georges Quay Cork from 13th until 19th October.

HIV | ART Medication

Causes of Non-Adherence To ART A Look At Psychosocial Problems As Factors In Non-Adherence To ART Medication By HIV-Positive MSM

by M. Butler Problems which some patients have in adhering to ART (antiretroviral therapy) medication may have a basis in psychosocial factors, such as mental health issues and/or substance use, a recent clinical review has revealed, and so interventions which address these co-morbid factors could improve ART adherence in the HIVpositive individual.

“Mental health and substance abuse problems are highly prevalent among HIV-infected men who have sex with men (MSM) and frequently interfere with antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence”.

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*-White, J.M., Gordon, J.R., and Mimiaga, M.J. (2014)

Feelings of worthlessness or hopelessness in an individual make it less likely that self-care behaviour patterns will prevail.

According to the above-quoted clinical review by Jaclyn White et al., which summarises findings of intervention trials, the belief that you can manage your own condition (sefl-efficacy) is an important factor in whether or not you come up to the 80% plus ART adherence rate necessary to thrive living with HIV. White et al. report that HIVpositive gay men are twice as likely to suffer from depression as their HIV-negative counterparts. Many have also

suffered childhood abuse or other past trauma, and so gay men are also twice as likely to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder as heterosexual men. General anxiety disorder also affects gay men and can interfere with their adherence to ART medication.

“Novel interventions that address underlying psychosocial health problems are necessary for improving ART adherence to enhance HIV-related health outcomes and suppress HIV viral load in an effort to prevent transmission to uninfected partners” (ref. as above).

Another co-morbid factor which can affect ART adherence among gay and

HIV | ART Medication

MSM HIV-positive men is substance use. This can include heavy alcohol use, or use of drugs, such as crystal methamphetamine, cocaine or heroin. Crystal meth use in LA among gay men was found by the LA County Department of Health to be twenty times the rate in the general population.

However, withdrawal from both drug and alcohol use can lead to depression and apathy, which would again lead back to non-adherence to medications like ART. Another mental health issue which could lead to nonadherence is Body Image Dysmorphia (BID) which is often linked with fat redistribution (lipodystrophy) a side effect of ART. 31% said they were concerned with this aspect, and the depression accompanying negative perception of body image could again be a link to non-adherence to ART medication. Although newer medications are said to be less likely to lead to lipodystrophy, the concern still remains among HIV-positive gay and MSM men.

White et al. report that there has been some preliminary success with pairing treatment for these other issues, such as mental health and substance use, with the Life Steps programme, which is aimed specifically at correcting nonadherence to ART.

It is interesting to note that an earlier paper by **Berg et al. (2007) into nonadherence and the possible link to mental health and social problems, also suggests that interventions, which address the psycho-social issues affecting patients, should be offered in tandem with advice on adherence to ART medication.The following is the abstract of the Berg et al. review: A variety of psychosocial stressors are involved in living with HIV, maintaining a regimen of highly active antiretroviral therapy, and negotiating necessary self-care behaviors. Because health care providers are in regular contact with HIV-infected individuals in care, these contacts allow for the opportunity to assess and intervene on important variables related to quality of life and HIV outcomess [...]treatment adherence, depression, high-risk sex, and substance abuse. Efforts by health care providers to address these factors may result in better treatment outcomes, enhanced quality of life among HIV patients, and decreased HIV transmission.

Refs: *The Role of Substance Use and Mental Health Problems in Medication Adherence among HIV-infected MSM - White Jaclyn M., Gordon Janna R., and Mimiaga Matthew J.. LGBT Health. doi:10.1089/lgbt.2014.0020. **Behavioral Aspects of HIV Care: Adherence, Depression, Substance Use, and HIV-Transmission Behaviors, Berg, Carla J., Michelson, Susan E., and Safren, Steven A. Infectious Disease Clinics of North America, Vol. 1, Issue 21, pps 181200, March 2007

** - Berg, Carla J., Michelson, Susan E., Safren, Steven A. (2007)

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EILE Magazine 85

Sport | Homophobia

EILE Exclusive: Michael Sam Urges More to Take Part in Study on Homophobia in Sport Michael Sam, one of the world’s highest profile LGBT athletes, is urging people to take part in the first international study on homophobia in sports.

The study is the first to collect national data about discrimination in Ireland as well as other major English speaking countries, so they can be compared. This will help researchers determine both the extent of the problem internationally as well as identify which countries are

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doing the best job at creating sports cultures that are welcoming and safe to gay, lesbian and bisexual people.

Michael Sam appears in a video alongside sports stars from the UK, US and Australia.

This includes British born Rugby players Sam and Tom Burgess, World Cup US/Australian soccer player Sarah Walsh, international rugby player and LGBT rights advocate David Pocock and ‘Aussie Rules’ player and LGBT rights advocate Brock McLean.

Researchers conducting the “Out on the Fields” study need 200 more people in Ireland to take part in the study, to reach their target of 500 people. They

also need more people from other countries. The study is open to everyone, regardless of sexuality or whether they have played sports. It takes around 10 minutes to complete online through www.outonthefields. com “We are supporting this historic study because it has the potential to help provide a much clearer understanding of the extent and nature of homophobia in sports. Since Gay Games I in 1982, the Gay Games have been a tool against homophobia in sport. Recent high-profile coming outs should not hide how endemic the problem remains on the whole,” said Les Johnson, Vice-President of Membership

Feature Sport| |Civil Homophobia Marriage

of the Federation of Gay Games.

“Everyone has had a unique experience, which is why it is essential that we encourage a large number of LGBT people to share their stories, whether or not they themselves have played sports or experienced discrimination”, said Johnson.

The study was commissioned by organisers of The Bingham Cup, the world cup of gay rugby, being held in Sydney later this month. It is being conducted pro bono by sports research firm Repucom in consultation with researchers from 6 universities, including

Brunel University (UK), Victoria University (AUS) and Pennsylvania State University (USA). Partners include The Federation of Gay Games, American antihomophobia organisation You Can Play Project, the Australian Sports Commission and the International Gay Rugby Association and Board (IGRAB). Results will be released later this year.

Dr. Sue Rankin, a retired professor from Pennsylvania State University, is a world respected pioneer of research into homophobia in sports. She is one of the experts reviewing the study and its results.

“We’ve been really pleased with the number of people who have already taken part in the study and shared their stories, particularly men in Australia and the United States. We are on track for ‘Out on the Fields’ to be the largest study ever done on this issue. Having said this, as a former woman athlete and coach, I strongly encourage more women, in particular, to take part so we gain a broad picture of the entire LGBT community.” (eile.ie/ August 12)

EILE Magazine 87

News | Northern Ireland

Censorship Sparks Row Over McGuinness/Robinson ‘Kiss’ in Omagh Gallery An artist in Northern Ireland has accused a gallery in Omagh, Co. Tyrone, of discrimination, after its management erected a sign outside his exhibition regarding artwork of a kiss between two men.

Stuart Cannell, an artist based in Belfast, had his artwork featured in the Images of Ulster exhibition at the Strule Arts Centre in Omagh. Among his pieces of work was a pop-art style portrait of both Martin McGuinness and Peter Robinson in a kiss. However, the Strule Arts Centre erected a notice outside the exhibition, stating:

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Please note this exhibition contains some artwork depicting violent or sexual images.

Furthermore, the Centre also erected a more specific sign regarding the politicallythemed portrait: Some of the images in this section contain scenes of an adult nature and are not recommended for viewers under 18 years.

Speaking to TheJournal.ie, Cannell said that “[i]f this was a man and woman kissing, there wouldn’t have been an issue”. The Belfast-based artist

also explained that there was “nothing sexual” about the political artwork, but said that “what the kiss represents” is important.

Omagh District Council also commented on the controversy, explaining that they have posted similar notices for art exhibitions.

When asked if similar actions would be taken, had a heterosexual kiss been featured, the Council stated that decisions are made on a “case by case” basis. eile.ie / August 17

Feature | Dublin Lesbian Line

EILE Magazine 51

Smoke Season

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