EILE Magazine October 2016 (Vol. 4, Issue 4)

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Magazine V4 Issue 04 - October 2016

Leo Goh

guitarist/Songwriter

Desert Tundra

Singer /Songwriter

Mullingar Pride Inside:

Travel | Film | Fashion |Health | News

EILE Magazine | Who’s Who

Contributors

Mark Anthony Mark is a UCD English graduate, who writes his own menswear fashion blog.

Mark has also produced several fashion shows in the past, all in aid of worthwhile causes M. Butler M. Butler is a writer and editor, with a keen interest in human rights, and has studied philosophy and psychology Nigel Connor Nigel is a Mullingar resident, and the Chairperson of the newly-launched Mullingar Pride Scott De Buitléir Scott is founder and Editor-at-Large of EILE Magazine. He is also a writer and broadcaster, originally from Dublin but now based in Nottingham Stephen Donnan Stephen is a writer, LGBT rights and political activist, based in Belfast. He is founder of the all-Ireland equal marriage group, #LoveProudly Lisa Reynolds Originally from Co. Meath, Lisa is a fashion industry student, now living in Bray, Co Wicklow, with a great interest in media and celebrity Brian Rochford Brian has studied health, exercise, and nutrition, with a special interest in controlling pain in rheumatism and arthritis Frances Winston Frances Winston is EILE’s resident film buff, and has contributed to many other publications such as The Irish Independent and Irish Tatler

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EILE Magazine | Welcome

Highlights October 2016 Mullingar Pride Launch - P.44 A new Pride group has started up in Mullingar, chaired by Nigel Connor and looking good

Acting Out - ‘The Ref’ - P.30 Acting Out’s award-winning production about the Marriage Referendum, called The Ref, returns for five performances only

Health - P.26 Brian Rochford tells us how to maximise the quality of sleep we get, and how it benefits our overall health

Music - Pps.6, 10

Volume 4, Issue 04 Editor-at-Large: Scott De Buitléir Editor: MKB Contributors: Mark Anthony, M. Butler, Nigel Connor, Scott De Buitléir, Stephen Donnan, MKB, Lisa Reynolds, Brian Rochford, Frances Winston Photographers: Leo Goh’s photos courtesty of Leo, Desert Tundra by Kelly Elaine NB: All images in this publication are either under Creative Commons licence, or used with permission. Image credits, where necessary, are printed on the corresponding page(s) or photo(s). Any queries can be made to hello@eile.ie Special Thanks to MKB for all her hard work, dedication and support.

The October issue sees guitarist/ songwriter Leo Goh, and singer/ songwriter, Desert Tundra as our musical guests

Web: http://eile.ie

Fashion P.14 and Literature P.18

Note: All opinions expressed in this issue are the writers’ own.

Mark Anthony guides us through the earth-tone fashion trend this month, and Lisa Reynolds reviews another classic, Jane Austen’s Persuasion

Contact: hello@eile.ie Twitter: @EILEMagazine Facebook: http://fb.com/eilemagazine

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…plus film reviews, news, travel, and much more!

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EILE Magazine | Editor’s Letter

Contents 6-

Leo Goh

10 -

Desert Tundra

14 -

Mark on Fashion

18 -

Review ‘Persuasion’

22 -

NY and Cancun

26 -

Health - Sleep

28 -

LGBT MMA

30 -

Acting Out The Ref

32 -

Shame Chorus

36 -

Frances on Film

44 -

Mullingar Pride

Page 50 onwards

World LGBT News, Views,

EILE October Edition!

Welcome to the October edition of EILE Magazine Our October issue is choc-a-bloc with interesting features and news articles, from our musical guests, Desert Tundra and Leo Goh, to our fashion piece from Mark Anthony on how to wear the new earth-tones.

Brian Rochford tells us why a good night’s sleep is important, and Lisa Reynolds reviews another classic, Persuasion.

We have news of how the Mullingar Pride Launch went, travel this month is about honeymoon destinations and city breaks in New York, and Frances Winston reviews some great films for us.

more film and entertainment etc

All this and much more in this October edition of EILE Magazine. We hope you like it!

Scott De Buitléir Founder / Editor-at-Large

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See our film reviews

by Frances Winston

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LEO GOH This month we chat with jazz/funk/fusion artist, Leo Goh, who has just released an amazing instrumental track from his EP of the same name, Jig Is Up, an upbeat, Shaft-esque piece with guitars, keyboards and drums Originally from Singapore, this versatile guitarist has lived in California for the last three years, where he writes songs, has played as a session musician, and has also worked as audio engineer. He has worked with the likes of Suvi Suresh, Noor Che’ree, Austin Gatus, and Curtis Brooks, and is a graduate of the Musicians Institute Hollywood.

Asked about what drew him into a musical career, Leo says: “It seemed like a natural calling, and something I was really passionate about.

I began with a lot of Japanese rock music like Miyavi, Gazette, MUCC etc. Their playing along with the visual aspect of their music intrigued me. This progressed to pop and acoustic gigs in bars around Singapore, and finally heading to further my studies at Musicians Institute Hollywood”.

Does he feel that the Musicians Institute helped him develop his music?

“This opened more doors with fusion, jazz and funk and further crafted my sound to what it is today. It is, however, and always will be a work in progress, and I’ll be constantly striving to make music and playing better”.

Leo tells us he started getting into music when he was doing his bachelor’s degree in business, at the University of Buffalo, New York. He was heavily influenced by Japanese rock music like MUCC and Miyavi etc but now loves all contemporary music, such as R&B, Jazz, Pop, and Rock.

Leo and his band, Groove Martini, which he runs with his partner, Nipun Nair, have played along the Sunset Strip, and have since opened for the likes of Macy Gray, showcased for Stevie Wonder, and have played at the prestigious Blue Sun Festival,

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with such musical luminaries as Michael MacDonald also on the bill!

I asked Leo how long it takes to put together an album like the Jig Is Up. “The Jig Is Up took several months just writing and planning.

Being self-produced, it was tougher having to think of the overall picture. My drummer, Leonne Castellas, and bassist, Jason Lobell, definitely helped a lot with their inputs. There were both exceptional at coming up with parts. I think the best part of it was that it was just pure fun”.

Asked about the pressures of keeping a band going in such a competitive environment, Leo says: “Having good friends who are also incredible musicians just makes things so much easier.

My keyboardist was none other than Nipun Nair, who also plays just about anything, and is my partner in Groove Martini now.

I think Jig Is Up is unique in its blend of genres, and definitely caters to both the commercial and niche markets, as it is funky, fun and yet intricate. Working on the corporate band has currently tied up most of my time, so I won’t be working on new music for a while, at least until next year. I am looking forward to it though, and really hope the readers and listeners will enjoy it then”.

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Groovemartini is a high-energy cover band playing corporate gigs, and is currently planning a Vegas headline show. They’ve been reviewed by Music Connection as, quote “Not your typical cover band” and “The band’s covers are arguably better than the original.”

They also host a monthly jam session at Couture Hollywood. You can check the next date at www.groovemartini.com You can also hear more of Leo’s music on SoundCloud at: soundcloud.com/leogohmusic or download the EP Jig Is Up on Bandcamp at: leogoh.bandcamp.com of follow him on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/ Leogohmusic/

-M. Butler

Leo in full flight...

“Having good friends who are also incredible musicians just makes things so much easier�

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Desert Tundra Desert Tundra, the alternative/poprock alter-ego of singer-guitarist, Janet Jelena, has recently released a new single, Virginia Hailing from Herndon in Virginia, a northern suburb of Washington DC, Janet Jelena is now based in Los Angeles, to further her musical career.

Her latest single, Virginia, is a soulful alt/rock track full of electronic sounds and drumbeats, and Jelena’s clear, melodic voice tells the story of a girl looking out through “the window of her soul”.

Bringing together a strong sense of pop, coupled with rock and roll bravado, Desert Tundra doesn’t let the genre define her content. Setting out to confront the anomalies that go with living in the moment, her songs span the range of human emotion, from unrequited love to hope, anger and loneliness, in addition to issues not usually broached in the genre, like body-image.

On the surface, her songs may seem like your standard rock anthems, but at their core they mirror real life closer than they appear.

As a child of the 90s, Jelena turned to rock, punk, and Riot Grrrl icons like Hole, Bikini Kill, and Le Tigre for their message and passion. From a purely guttural and emotional standpoint, both Metallica and Megadeth resonated with her as a teen, due to their speed and anger.

Her love of music deepened, and at the age of 15 she picked up her first guitar, a used Fender Stratocaster. Soon after that, she enrolled in vocal lessons.

“I told my mom that I wanted to be a rockstar, and she told me “maybe you should start out as a pebble.” It took me years to understand what that really meant” Jelena recalled.

Jelena soon settled on the path to becoming a solo performer, taking on the moniker of Desert Tundra, and forming a backing band of local players. A chance encounter led her to meeting Dan Reynolds and Ben McKee of Imagine Dragons, before playing a show in DC, where she took the opportunity to discuss with them what it takes to be a band on the brink.

She would take many things to heart Photographer: Kelly Elaine

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Desert Tundra aka Janet Jelena Photographer Kelly Elaine

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from that conversation, including the notion that the right producer could help make all the difference. She immediately started researching producers in the area, and found Jim Ebert, who would go on to produce her first three EPs, becoming not only a mentor, but a kind of father-figure to her.

want,” she says, “This is only the beginning, and the best is yet to come.”

After the release of the third Desert Tundra EP, Jelena started plotting her to move to California, which at the time was against the wishes of her main supporter, her mother.

But Ebert told her that that if she truly wanted to be a rockstar, then Los Angeles was be the place to be. So her mind was set, and with only a small amount of money saved in her bank account, the cross-country journey began.

twitter.com/DesertTundra5

You can find out more about Desert Tundra at: https://www.facebook.com/ deserttundra

or go to Soundcloud for more of her music at: soundcloud.com/deserttundra

-MKB

Sleeping in her car, and staying in sketchy hotels to save money, Jelena hit the ground running when she arrived in Los Angeles, quickly putting together a band of SoCal players using the site Bandmix.

When her mother found out that she was living in a small one-bedroom apartment with three guys, she decided to help her daughter pursue her calling.

“This was a huge turning point for me,” Jelena says, “She told me that “if this is really what you want to do then I’ll help you.” She is my number one fan, and I will always be grateful to her for that.”

Album Art for Virginia

Now with a little more breathing room, a solid backing band, and nothing to stop her, Jelena is able to completely focus her time and creativity on Desert Tundra, and plans on taking it to the next level and beyond.

For the future of Desert Tundra, Jelena sees only limitless potential.

“I can take Desert Tundra and go as far as I

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Watch Your Tone, Mark Anthony is here to help with the latest earth-tone trend this Autumn/Winter

Yeezy

This AW you have your tone, boy. Bu specifically, your Colours like sand and olive have all from the runways street for this com

You might want to c chart going forward that these earth tone selection for Autumn have to do is look at a fallen leaf. Howev these colours are be artificial stimulants omnipotent rapper a fashion brands.

From London, to Mi New York - earth to all the catwalks. Top us velour and overco of course), and Burb usual trench coat al 14 EILE Magazine

Boy!

e got to watch ut more r earth tones. d, clay, khaki, l been pulled s onto the high ming season.

consult a Dulux d. You could say es are a natural n/Winter. All you t the colours of ver, this season, eing fueled by s, such as a certain and very big

ilan, to Paris and ones have been on pman design gave oats (in earth tones berry gave us the long with track

TOPMAN DESIGN

tops. Everyone from Coach to Canali have been digging up this trend of late.

Most of these earth tones have been found in sportswear, so it’s no surprise it’s been a big driver in the athleisure department. However, that doesn’t mean it’s restricted to that area of menswear. It looks great in outerwear too.

However, if you are in doubt, then just start EILE Magazine 15

with a tee. And then when you get more comfortable, you can layer it with something of a similar shade.

Either way though, you might want to get used to it, because like Kanye’s ego, it is only going to get bigger.

SARAR

The one thing about all these earth tones is that they all go together.

And well, most other things too. But you

also don’t want to dig a hole in your pocket, unless it’s pre-ripped of course. You’ve got to start with the staple pieces that work for you, and gradually amend your wardrobe.

Layering up with this trend has been very popular, but you have got to be careful. You need to ground your

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YEEZY

outfit with something neutral around these tones. Otherwise, you might just start looking like an extra from Star Wars. Start

H&M

to incorporate shade and texture when messing about with these tones. It will only do the world of good.

Will you be moving heaven and earth for this trend, or will you just be jumping in some dirt in that crisp white shirt of yours?

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Classic Review

Persuasion

By Jane Austen

Lisa Reynolds Reviews Jane Austen’s Classic Romance

Persuasion (1817) by Jane Austen was the last book which Austen fully completed in her lifetime. Following Austen’s protagonist, Anne Elliot, who is the author’s oldest main character at the grand old age of 27, it is more of a mature read, but what is lovely about Austen’s piece is that Elliot is a rather authentic study into the mind of a woman in her late twenties.

While back in Austen’s time, late twenties suggested ‘over the hill’ and ‘deeply wise about life’, there is a modern feel to the text. Yes Elliot has learned from past mistakes, but she is far from an expert on life, and very capable of making further mistakes along the way.

In short, Austen does not seem to treat her as an old maid. Instead she treats her as a young woman.

At the beginning, Elliot is 19, and is engaged to Frederick Wentworth, who is a navel officer. Showing her impressionism at her then age, Elliot breaks off her engagement with Wentworth on the advice of her friend, Lady Russell, who deems Wentworth not worthy of her friend. However, as she gets older, Elliot is plagued with regret over leaving the man she loves. But a silver lining comes when, eight years on, Wentworth comes back into her life. He has been away at sea, and has become a wealthy and muchrenowned captain. At this time, Elliot’s family is going through financial struggles.

Adding to the plot is the information that Wentworth’s sister is living at Kellynch Hall, which is the Elliot’s estate.

Austen is the original queen of the ‘will they? won’t they?’ and the anticipation of whether the pair will get back together runs beautifully throughout the novel. It almost has a mystery quality to it, as the tension builds. Almost like Agatha Christie, only with matters of the heart at stake, instead of who killed whom with cyanide. It is like the ‘will they? won’t they?’ tension that runs through Patricia Highsmith’s ‘Carol’ to link it to a more modern-day text.

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The novel presents to us Austen’s great observational skills - a trait writers must have and often have naturally. We’ll call it natural curiosity, although quite frankly, it’s nosiness, and Austen’s ‘nosiness’ for depth of feelings, and her lifting of the veil between what people do, and what they feel inside, is authentically presented throughout.

Great characters draw us in. They make us feel and stand in their shoes for a few moments, as Harper Lee’s Atticus Finch might say. And what Austen does is makes us realise that love is not trivial. The mistakes we make can have the hugest impact in our lives.

For the first few chapters, this is a slow read as Austen sets the scene, so give it a few chapters to draw you in. It is quite a moving book, because Elliot becomes kind of like your best friend when you are reading it, and as clichéd as it sounds, you know Wentworth is the right man for her. So you end up willing her along and saying, “Go for it love. Throw caution to the wind”, which means Austen has done her job (or I need to get out more!).

It is certainly a book with a lot of paragraphs, and not as much dialogue in consequence. In modern day writing, Austen might be accused of more show than

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tell. But it’s personal taste for a reader really. I personally love the style, because it brings you more into the characters’ minds, and sets the scene more, but someone else might find it slows down the text, or there isn’t enough action happening.

As the name suggests, the book is about trusting your own judgment and being happy, despite the pressures of those close to you, or society in general. When the novel begins, Elliot is not yet sure of herself, let alone her powers to make the right decisions.

As she matures, she begins to trust her own judgment, and that makes her very relatable. Still, Austen portrays her as a young woman who has made strides on that journey, but is not there yet, because obviously she would need to live longer

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to make her fully sure of herself and her decisions. Still she is no longer pushed around or decided for. She has taken her life and happiness in her own hands, and with that she has a new freedom, even in the restrained period of the novel.

We, as readers, go on that journey with her. We also go on Wentworth’s journey, because we see through his eyes that when he had nothing Elliot deserted him, and he is understandably fearful that his affluence and success are the only reasons she notices him now. Oh, it all pulls at the heartstrings!

A beautifully written novel, with the heart placed at the centre, this is also an excellent social commentary of the time, which shows Austen’s witty side. A long read but a mustread.

Writer Jane Austen

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Travel

Wonderful week Shop ‘til you drop in New York in some of the world’s largest department stores, take in the beautiful sights and sounds of Philadelphia or take in Washington DC - the political hub and capital city of the USA. Whatever type of weekend getaway you’re looking for, American Holidays can put together the perfect trip for you!

New York Spend 3 nights at the Edison Hotel from only €619pp.

Price includes: Return flights ex. Dublin, 3 nights’ accommodation as stated, taxes and charges.

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kend city breaks!

Price includes: Return flights ex. Dublin, 4 nights’ accommodation as stated, taxes and charges.

Travel: February 2017 Ref No: 1457822 Washington DC Spend 4 nights at the Normandy Hotel Washington DC from only €779pp.

Price includes: Return flights ex. Dublin, 4 nights’ accommodation as stated, taxes and charges.

Travel: February 2017 Ref No: 1457816 Call American Holidays to book on 01 673 3804 or call into their office just off Grafton Street - 18- 19 Duke Street, Dublin 2 where the expert staff will help you plan your holiday of a lifetime. For more information visit www.americanholidays. com.

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The perfect honeymoon is waiting for you!

Your first trip together as a married couple should be nothing short of magical and the resorts of Cancun offer you the perfect blend of beautiful scenery, exciting excursions and of course glistening waters and golden sands.

Spend 7 nights at the 4* Dreams Tulum Resort & Spa on an all-inclusive basis from only €1,549pp.

Price includes: Return flights ex. Dublin, airport transfers, 7 nights’ accommodation as stated, $200 resort credit, taxes and charges. Based on two people sharing.

Travel: November 2016 - other dates and durations available.

Ref No: 1451049 Spend 14 nights at the 5* Secrets the Vine Cancun on an all-inclusive basis from only €3,159pp.

Price includes: Return flights ex. Dublin, airport transfers, 14 nights’ accommodation as stated, taxes and charges. Based on two people sharing.

Travel: May 2017 - other dates and durations available.

Ref No: 1451050 Spend 11 nights at the 5* Secrets Silversands Riveria Cancun on an all-inclusive basis from only €2,459pp.

Price includes: Return flights ex. Dublin, airport transfers, 11 nights’ accommodation as stated, $200 resort credit, taxes and charges. Based on two people sharing.

Travel: February 2017 - other dates and durations available.

Ref No: 1451056 Spend 7 nights at the 4* Dreams Sands Cancun Resort & Spa and 4 nights at the 4* 24 EILE Magazine

Cancun

Luxor Hotel & Casino from only €2,089pp.

Price includes: Return flights ex. Dublin, airport transfers, 11 nights’ accommodation as stated, $200 resort credit, taxes and charges. Based on two people sharing.

Travel: February/March 2017 - other dates and durations available.

Ref No: 1450217 If you’re feeling lucky, head over to Travelmood’s Facebook page where you could win a magical Royal Caribbean Cruise & Stay honeymoon worth €5000 in our amazing giveaway!

For more information or to book visit www.travelmood.ie, call the team on 01 4331063 or visit the Travelmood store on Duke Street, Dublin 2, just off Grafton Street.

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Health

SLEEP Brian Rochford writes on why we should get a good night’s sleep if we want to stay healthy Sleep and relaxation - do we get enough, and of the right kind?

You can spend a long time sleeping, and still feel exhausted and unrested. How much sleep and downtime is actually good for you? Are there any techniques or training that could help us make better use of the time that we have available, and eventually begin to actually benefit from these essential health-producing activities?

Because of the heavy demands on our time in this fast moving age, it would appear that people today may be easily persuaded to deprive themselves of sleep, to engage in activates that may, on the surface, appear to have some value.

Also couples with young children will often find it difficult to get access to the amount of time they need to feel rested and recuperated.

But how important are sleep and relaxation in relation to our overall physical mental and emotional health? Can it really be ok to be sacrificing this natural process in an effort to 26 EILE Magazine

get the more out of life?

It has been suggested that you are missing out. We have all heard the comment ‘if you snooze you lose’, and that it is completely acceptable to reduce your amount of sleep.

You may even subscribe to the popular belief that you require eight hours sleep every night, while others insist that you could reduce this to as little as five or six hours.

Can we really be expected to perform at our best, while ignoring the natural need for the body and mind to switch off and regenerate?

On the surface, the exchanging of sleep for extra time awake may look like a good deal. However, some research indicates that depriving yourself of sleep can result in putting yourself at risk of developing medical conditions like cardiovascular problems, as well as health issues like diabetes, and even obesity.

Some experts are now suggesting that making sure that you get a sufficient amount of sleep that is of a good standard, can be as essential as other health activities, like a regular exercise routine, and a good healthy diet.

As more research is being carried out on the area of sleep, and how our relationship with it can influence our general health, studies seem to show that reduced amounts of sleep can make us more susceptible to infection. .

went to bed. The advantages of an improved emotional state cannot be underestimated.

Feeling good not only helps you get through the pressures of the day, but can also have a positive effect on everyone you come into contact with.

Many of us will have experienced firsthand what it’s like to have a few nights without adequate sleep, eventually being so tired you fall asleep sitting down.

Developing good regular sleeping patterns can afford the body’s tissues and cells time to recover from life’s daily demands.

Here are a few suggestions that may help you on your way to a better night’s sleep:

Another important feature of getting a good night’s sleep can be the benefit of waking up feeling better than when you

1. Try to avoid eating too close to bedtime. Keep away from drinks like coffee or tea and even alcohol. If you must have a drink of something, try a relaxing herbal tea.

2. Many of us spend time watching TV, or are active on the Internet, just before bedtime. Research has indicated that certain media

activities can stimulate you mentally before retiring, and therefore result in difficulty achieving sleep.

3. It may seem like common sense, but a comfortable mattress is important, as it is difficult to relax on an uncomfortable surface, so finding a mattress that suits your needs will help you achieve a more restful sleep.

4. Get as much fresh air every day as possible, and make sure that you engage in some form of physical activity.

Exercise can help to reduce stress and tension, and it is essential that you go to bed feeling as relaxed and stressfree as possible, in order to get the benefits of a good night’s rest.

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Professional LGBTQ Mixed Martial Arts Fighters Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) a fullcombat and unarmed sport, is a mix of wrestling, boxing, and traditional martial arts. Known for its outright aggressiveness and brutality, it has very few rules, other than those minimally required to maintain a competitor’s safety. MMA’s popularity has increased in recent years, despite the fact many sports regulators remain wary of its legitimacy as an organized sport.

In such an aggressive sport, it is hard for a fighter to come out as LGBTQ, where a high-profile LGBTQ MMA fighter might not gel with the public stereotype of tough athletes in the MMA world, and MMA fighters who come out could face adverse fan reaction. Yet the sports’ largest organization, Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC), has expressed its support for diversity in the sport, and sponsors several HIV/ AIDS awareness programs.

Recently, weight classes, protective body equipment, and a professional women’s division were introduced. Indeed, the vast majority of publicly-out LGBTQ MMA fighters are lesbian.

To date, there is only one gay professional fighter, Shad Smith of the United States. Lesbian, Amanda Nunes of Brazil, has become the first openly-gay person winning a UFC championship belt, and Fallon Fox is the first transgender professional MMA fighter.

Queerbio have listed some professional LGBTQ MMA fighters, who hail from the United States, Brazil and Mexico.

To see the list and read their biographies, go to Queerbio.com

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Acting Out: Return of the award-winning show, ‘The Ref’ Acting Out are bringing back their award winning show, The Ref, a comedy with songs, about the marriage equality referendum, to the Pearse Centre, Dublin, for just five performances, from 1st-5th November. The Ref was the best selling show in this year’s International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival, and was awarded the Hilton Edwards Award at the Festival Galas.

begun, and for one family it’s very personal. Watch Clive, Susanne and their son Oisín, battle against the dark forces of the sanctimonious Deirdre Kilbride, self-proclaimed leader of ‘Mammys For God’, who forms an unlikely alliance with two gay men who are ferociously opposed to equal marriage.

Witness matters come to a frenzied climax in an all singing-and-dancing debate on National Television, featuring forged identities, a Eurovision-like ode to Voting No, a surprising coming out, and a rousing anthem for equality.

The Ref. is a comedy with songs that puts a funny, but satirical lens, on the trials and triumphs of one of Ireland’s greatest achievements.

The build up to the marriage equality referendum has Writer, Sean Denyer said: 30 EILE Magazine

“For many in the LGBT community, the marriage referendum was a whole roller-coaster of emotions, that fortunately ended in triumph, but I wanted to write something that put the fear and excitement of it into focus, by telling the story of one family’s journey through it.

Hopefully, it makes people laugh, but it also uses satire and song, to show up some of the absurdities we were forced to endure.

It made every gay person feel they were under the microscope”.

Acting Out have also teamed up with the charity fundraising committee of Musgrave to present a special fundraising performance for the Simon Community on Thursday 3rd November.

Director, Howard Lodge commented:

“ We think it’s really important for an LGBT drama group to give a reflection on the experience of the referendum, which was probably the biggest and most public debate on being gay that was ever held anywhere.

The show is funny, but makes some serious points between the laughs, and has some ridiculously catchy songs written by Sean, with music by Mark Power and Cal Folger Day! We were bowled over by the audience reactions – they seemed to find the show funny but also cathartic in a way, to relive that experience including the not-so-nice bits!”

Dates:

8pm Nov 1st-5th.

Venue: The Pearse Centre, 27 Pearse Street, Dublin 2 Tickets: €15/13 available from www. actingout.ticketleap.com/ref Follow Acting Out at: Twitter

@actingoutgroup

Facebook actingouttheatregroup

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UAL Lecturer Turns Shame of ‘Coming Out’ into Pride for London Gay Men’s Chorus Shame Chorus is an uplifting new music and spoken word performance art piece in reaction to the shame of being gay, as experienced by the London Gay Men’s Chorus. It was created by artist and University of Arts London (UAL) lecturer Jordan McKenzie who teaches BA Drawing at Camberwell College of Arts. It will premiere on 8 October 2016 at the London Irish Centre in Camden, London.

Working in collaboration with the Freud Museum in London, psychoanalyst Susie Orbach and the London Gay Men’s Chorus, Jordan gave anonymised psychoanalytic interview material from the choir, about their experiences of being gay and coming out, onto a range of well-known composers, to make new uplifting positive therapeutic songs. Composers involved include Billy Bragg, David McAlmont, Conor Mitchell, Sarah Morrison, Steven 32 EILE Magazine

Smith and Verity Susman, plus many more.

Jordan McKenzie, international artist, UAL Lecturer and creator of Shame Chorus said: “I wanted to make something positive and uplifting out of the negative experiences that the LGBTQ community across the country had faced in reaction to coming out.

This is the transformative power of art – it helps us to question, make sense of things and communicate – and what better way to overcome shame than through loud and powerful song”.

The project’s starting point is Sigmund Freud’s famous ‘talking cure’, a mode of psychoanalytic analysis where a patient talks in order to allow the therapist to uncover hidden, repressed and unconscious desires.

Susie Orbach and Sally Berry conducted the series of psychoanalytic interviews with members of the London Gay Men’s Chorus, asking them to recall memories of feeling shamed – events that may have in part shaped their feelings about themselves and their

sexuality.

As part of a UAL sneak preview, also filmed for BBC London, journalist Paul Prentice interviewed Jordan McKenzie about the inspiration for the project: Book tickets for the performance on Saturday 8 October via www. shamechorus.com & follow #ShameChorus on social media for latest news

Jordan McKenzie By Christa Holka

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Design: Anthony Zagariko, exclusively for EILE Magazine

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Frances Winston on Movies Frances Winston feels that this is the type of movie that you have to pay attention to or you may miss an important plot point Directed by: John Michael McDonagh - Starring: Alexander Skarsgård, Michael Peña, Theo James, Tessa Thompson, Caleb Landry Jones After the success of his first two movies, The Guard and Calvary, to say that there are high hopes for this latest offering from John Michael McDonagh is an understatement.

Add two of Hollywood’s hottest actors into the mix, and the excitement becomes even more palpable. McDonagh may not be prolific, but he has developed a reputation as a solid writer/director.

Where his previous two offerings were set in Ireland, this one shifts the action to New Mexico, where corrupt cops, Terry Munroe (Skarsgård) and Bob Bolaño (Peña) top up their income by blackmailing and ripping off the very criminals they are supposed to be catching.

Literally partners in crime,

they agree to collect the proceeds from a big heist they learn is due to happen.

However, they don’t realise that the people behind it are in a different league to the street thugs they usually deal with, and the pair suddenly find themselves caught in the kind of crossfire they have never encountered before.

When a movie opens with a cop car chasing a mime (yes an actual mime) you know that, at the very least, it is going to have one or two humorous moments.

McDonagh once again brings his trademark black humour to the table, and both Skarsgård and Peña seem to relish in it.

Although they are ‘bad cops’, they both essentially have good hearts, so you find yourself rooting for them.

It helps that the bad guys are so outrageously bad that even at their worst, Terry and Bob are literally the lesser of the two evils.

Theo James, playing the superbad James Mangan, is so over the top that you actually look forward to the moment that he gets his comeuppance. There are also several rather ridiculous characters that would seem entirely out of place in a movie by any other director.

Even the violence has a

touch of the slapstick about it. However, McDonagh manages to create such an eccentric world, that it seems perfectly normal here.

You can see shades of other famous cop duo pairings throughout this, from Starsky and Hutch to Riggs and Murtagh, to everything before and after. After all, the buddy cop movie is a tried and tested formula that works with audiences.

What McDonagh brings to the genre are the depth and dimension of the characters that are usually lacking.

Skarsgård and Peña make a great pairing, and bounce off each other as if they have been working together for years.

This is extremely fast-paced.

Blink and you will literally miss an important plot point.

As with all McDonagh’s writing, there is no fluff, and absolutely everything that happens is relevant to the story. Hilarious, and with a lot of heart, this is as good if not better than his previous offerings, and is sure to become a modern classic.

If you want some laughs, backed up by the kind of story that demands your full attention, this is the movie for you.

In Cinemas Now! EILE Magazine 37

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Frances Winston on Movies continued...

Directed by: Tate Taylor – Starring: Emily Blunt, Rebecca Ferguson, Haley Bennett, Justin Theroux, Luke Evans, Allison Janney, Édgar Ramírez, Lisa Kudrow, Laura Prepon Prior to this movie, I always imagined that Emily Blunt woke up every day looking like the English Rose she usually portrays on screen, with lightly flushed cheeks, rose tinted lips and perfectly coiffed glossy hair.

Therefore, I found it somewhat comforting to learn that even she can look rough and haggard, as she does for most of this film.

In fairness, her character is supposed to be a deeply disturbed chronic alcoholic, so her usual perfectlygroomed ladylike look wouldn’t really have been appropriate. I just wouldn’t have thought it was possible to ‘ugly her up’.

She plays Rachel Watson, as I said, a chronic alcoholic, who has been fired from her job, and spends her days riding the train, sipping from her cup of vodka. A messy divorce from Tom (Theroux) has left her an emotional wreck, and his current wife, Anna (Ferguson) laments

what she sees as Rachel’s obsession with them and their baby.

On one of her train journeys, Rachel drunkenly spots the couple’s nanny, Megan (Bennett) with another man. But when Megan later disappears, Rachel finds herself being questioned about events she has little or no recollection of.

As I said, Blunt looks shambolic in this, and nearly seems to relish the lack of glamour. She is surprisingly unnerving as the permanently on-edge Rachel, yet you feel sympathy for her, as it is clear her problems are predominately emotional, and alcohol is just filling a void.

Mr Jennifer Aniston himself, Theroux, is actually surprisingly good here.

He veers between sinister and loving, depending on which woman in his life he is dealing with, and you find yourself wondering what’s really going on in his head.

In fact, there are no bad performances here, and the complexity of the characters means the actors have plenty to get their teeth into.

Much of the story is told by hopping back and forth through time. This technique doesn’t always work, but Taylor ensures that you clearly know where the scene

fits in the chain of events, so there is no confusion.

The time-hopping also gives you a sense of what must be going on in Rachel’s head, as she struggles to recall her drunken incidents. Honestly, this makes any drunken blackout you ever had look like nothing more than a sugar high!

This does get a bit repetitious at times. There are only so many train shots you can get away with, even when the premise of the story involves it, and some of the flashbacks are shown more than once, as if Taylor doesn’t trust the audience to have absorbed the information the first time.

That aside, The Girl On The Train is enjoyable, if a bit fragmented in places. Taylor does a good job of building tension, but sometimes leaves it hanging too long, and there are one or two tedious moments.

This film could have been far more suspenseful, but it is still a solid thriller that, if not quite leaving you on the edge of your seat, will definitely have you at least inching forward in your chair.

In Cinemas Now!

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Frances Winston on Movies continued...

Directed by: Tim Burton

well and if it ain’t broken…

Starring: Eva Green, Asa Butterfield, Chris O’Dowd, Allison Janney, Rupert Everett, Terence Stamp, Ella Purnell, Judi Dench, Samuel L. Jackson

Butterfield (who you will remember from The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas and Hugo) is all grown up here but still has enough awkward teen in him to play Jake. He is ably supported by a multitude of fellow teen and child actors playing the peculiars, and Eva Green in a stunning turn as Miss Peregrine.

She manages to convey so much with just a sweep of her hand or a single tear, that you really feel connected with her. And Samuel L. Jackson is the perfect baddie. Again I don’t want to spoil things, but nobody eats eyeballs with the relish he does.

Based on the novel of the same name, even the title screams ‘Tim Burton project’. After all, he is known as the king of quirky, and for making the unpalatable watchable. His unique, always-twilight, style has elevated numerous projects, and he manages to find that balance between creeping people out but entertaining them in a cute way. This made him the perfect candidate to direct this tween-lit hit.

Florida native, Jake (Butterfield) has always been enthralled by his grandfather Abraham’s (Stamp) stories about the children’s home in Wales in which he grew up, and the special characters that inhabited it. However, the tales are dismissed as whimsy by everyone else. But when Abraham is found dead in mysterious circumstances, Jake must take a trip to find the place where his grandfather grew up, and get answers to some questions.

Unfortunately, he is not the only one who has an interest in the home, and he gets sucked into a mysterious world that he is totally unprepared for.

The soundtrack compliments the look and the performances perfectly, and in 3D this movie really does become an assault to most of the senses. It is more innocent than some of Burton’s other work (except perhaps the aforementioned Frankenweenie) which is a necessity given the target audience. But he is also conscious of his adult viewers, and although based on a tween book, his grown up fans will still enjoy the whimsy and childlike wonder that are a staple of all Burton’s films.

Darker than you would expect given the source material, and full of Burton’s tricks and treats, this is extremely enjoyable if (for an adult audience) a bit tame. But if you like Burton’s previous offerings, you will enjoy this, and it is impossible not to be entertained This screams Burton. It has all his trademarks by it even if it is not your usual choice of fare. including the loner protagonist. The story allows him to go wild with puppetry and In Cinemas Now! effects (I didn’t want to spoil it so hence the brief synopsis but trust me on this) and he employs all his best known moves. Everything he learned from Frankenweenie onwards is here, and he seems to relish in it like a kid in a playground. This unfortunately means there’s nothing new in his bag of tricks here, but in fairness, his old tricks are so tried and tested who cares. What Burton does he does EILE Magazine 41

www.glen.ie 42 EILE Magazine

Quality LGBT News and Features – Produced from Los Angeles Available via podcast on our website (thiswayout.org) or on iTunes, and on 200+ Radio Stations Worldwide!

thiswayout.org | Twitter: @TWORadio Overnight Productions (Inc.)/”This Way Out” Post Office Box 1065 Los Angeles, CA 90078 U.S.A. EILE Magazine 43

Mullingar Pride Official Launch A Great Success!

The official launch of Mullingar Pride, a new group serving the interests of Mullingar’s LGBT+ population, was held last Friday, 30th September, in YoYo Youth Café in Columb Barracks, Mullingar.

The colorful event was well attended by locals, and the local LGBT community, with support coming from national groups like GLEN, TENI and the National LGBT Federation.

Mullingar Pride Launch: (From Left) Richard Muldarry, Jennifer Coyne, and Nigel Connor – Mullingar Pride Committee

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Sandra Irwin Gowran (3rd from left) was the main speaker at the event and Mullingar Mayor, John Shaw is on the right

The group’s Chairperson, Nigel Connor, welcomed the crowd and set out the aims of the organization. There was a welcome to the town from the Mayor, John Shaw, who talked about creating a more diverse and open town in Mullingar.

The main speaker of the evening was Sandra Irwin Gowran, who was instrumental in the passing of the marriage referendum on same-sex marriage. She spoke about her childhood in the town, and her hopes for the group. She said:

“I’m really delighted to see Mullingar Pride being launched – it’s really important for young people to have positive role-models, to see that you can live in a medium-sized town and be lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans. It was wonderful to see the visibility of Yes Equality Westmeath during the referendum, men and women, gay and straight, working together to create a better, fairer more inclusive society. I was so proud to see the images of people on the market square, to have my Mum adorn one of the canvass cards, to have my sister, her husband and their kids knocking on doors asking people to vote yes. So do I think the name Mullingar

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Pride is fitting? I certainly do, I hope that the generations of LGBT people, who grow up in Mullingar, will feel pride in their identity, and will be supported to do so by those around them.�

A beautiful rainbow cake was cut as a symbol of the launch. The cake was made by local woman, Lorraine Malone, and cupcakes were supplied from local bakery, Patisserie 2210.

The event was attended by local TD, Robert Troy, by the Cathaoirleach of the \Westmeath County Council, Frank McDermott, Mullingar Mayor, John Shaw, and a representative from the community division.

The Mullingar Pride committee is made up of Nigel Connor, Richard Muldarry, and Jennifer Coyne. The art for the group is produced by locally-based artist, Charles Badiller.

The group’s newly-launched website is: www.mullingarpride.com

More photos and information on the following pages on Mullingar Pride>>>

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Official Mascot of Mullingar Pride Artwork by Charles Badiller

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Why Mullingar Pride Was Launched Mullingar Pride is an organisation formed to support the needs of LGBT+ people in Mullingar and surrounding areas. Their aim is to continue supporting the already established LGBT+ community within Westmeath, as well as providing education and raising awareness in relation to LGBT+ issues. They are a voluntary group made up of local volunteers.

Mullingar Pride’s official launch was an opportunity to introduce themselves to

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the people of Mullingar in a formal way, and set out their goals, to make Mullingar a more LGBT+ friendly and inclusive environment.

Unfortunately, there is still a way to go before LGBT+ people can feel like they are truly equal in today’s Ireland.

Issues such as mental health problems, isolation, homophobic/transphobic bullying, stigma around HIV/ AIDS and, in extreme cases, physical assault, are still day-to-day realities for LGBT people.

The committee is made up of Mullingar natives and residents. Chairperson, Nigel Connor, resident in the town for a year now, said:

“I think Mullingar is a great place to live, but there seemed to be a lack of a formal LGBT group as there seemed to be a number of LGBT people in the town, and so together we have worked on fixing that”.

The secretary is local youth worker, Jennifer Coyne, and the Treasurer is another Mullingar native, Richard Muldarry, a sergeant in the Defence Forces. The mascot for the group, and all the posters, have been created

by Charles Badiller, a French artist resident in the town. h/t Nigel Connor

(Above) Treasure Richard Muldarr

er ry

Mullingar Pride Secretary Jennifer Coyne (below) Mullingar Pride Chairperson, Nigel Connor

Sandra IrwinGowran (R) and wife Marion (L)

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Cast and Veterans Attend ‘The Siege of Jadotville’ Savoy Dublin Screening Jamie Dornan and members of the cast, including Jason O’Mara, Michael McElhatton, Sam Keeley, Conor MacNeill, Conor Quinlan, Mike Noble, Ronan Raftery, Charlie Kelly, Richie Smyth (Director) Alan Moloney (Producer), Kevin Brodbin (Producer), and Ruth Coady (Producer) were in Dublin for the special screening of The Siege of Jadotville, which honoured the Veterans who fought in Jadotville in 1916.

Veterans from A Company of the 35th Battalion, who served in Jadotville in 1961, were also in attendance, and members of the Irish UN Veterans Association.

Commandant Pat Quinlan (left) in Jadotville, September 1961.

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Actor Jamie Dornan as Commandant Pat Quinlan (right)

The Siege of Jadotville is a gripping true story of incredible bravery against impossible odds, as it thrillingly depicts the 1961 siege of 150-strong Irish UN ‘A Company’, under Commander Patrick Quinlan (Jamie Dornan) by 3,000 Congolese troops, led by French and Belgian mercenaries who were working for mining companies.

Declan Power (Author – The Siege of Jadotville), Mr Paul Kehoe, Minister for State, Department of Defence; Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, Vice Admiral Mark Mellett, and Kevin “Boxer” Moran also attended the red carpet event.

Following the screening, Dave Fanning hosted a Live Q&A with Jamie Dornan, Richie Smyth and Alan Moloney, for streaming live to cinemas around the country.

Directed by Richie Smyth, and written by Kevin Brodbin, the film features a stellar line-up of acting talent, including Jamie Dornan, Mark Strong, Jason O’Mara, Guillaume Canet and Sam Keeley.

The Siege of Jadotville was produced by Alan Moloney (Brooklyn, Albert Nobbs, Byzantium) for Parallel Films, as well as Richie Smyth and Kevin Brodbin. The film is based on the novel ‘The Siege at Jadotville: The Irish Army’s Forgotten Battle‘ by Declan Power.

(Now on Netflix) EILE Magazine 51

‘Hating Peter Tatchell’ With Ian McKellen – Kickstarter Campaign Filmmaker, Chris Amos, is asking people to donate to a Kickstarter campaign to fund a documentary film on LGBT and Human Rights activist, Peter Tatchell. The Kickstarter goal is £10,000 (just over €11,000) of which just over £5,000 has been raised, with only 7 days to go.

Narrated by film actor and human rights campaigner, Sir Ian McKellen, Hating Peter Tatchell is the inspiring true story of world renowned human rights activist, Peter Tatchell.

In 2017, Peter will celebrate his 50th anniversary crusading for human rights.

Filmmaker, Chris Amos, discovers why Peter Tatchell, for decades a public hate figure, is still being targeted by hate campaigns and smears by the far right and far left.

Over the past decade, Peter has gone from being one of the most despised public figures in Britain, to one of the most loved. His unique brand of human rights activism has brought him media and public scrutiny.

Amos says of Peter Tatchell: “Over the years I have come to appreciate Peter’s eccentricities, his meticulous detail defending human rights accurately and articulately, and witnessed his passion to work 52 EILE Magazine

around the clock on campaigns. Despite his efforts he has come under severe criticism.

He is the person who for decades the media and critics loved to hate. Through this documentary you have the chance to meet the real man and hear the true story”.

Hating Peter Tatchell charts his 50 years of human rights activism, and the immense personal price he has paid; the hate mail; death threats and violent assaults – with the latter resulting in brain and eye damage.

This film documents his triumphs and tribulations, which have impacted British politics, and the politics of other countries as far-reaching as Russia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa.

It includes challenges to, and encounters with, Tony Blair, Robert Mugabe, Mike Tyson, the African National Congress leadership, and successive Archbishops of Canterbury.

Peter Tatchell, director of human rights organisation, The Peter Tatchell Foundation, commented: “This documentary is not just my story, it is also a snapshot of the struggle for human rights over the last half century. Your support in getting this film made is greatly appreciated.”

This is a true story of overcoming adversity and of incredible personal achievement: how one man can bring marginal human rights

Acclaimed actor and film star, Sir Ian McKellen (right) unveils the blue plaque honouring gay rights and human rights campaigner, Peter Tatchell

issues into the mainstream to create positive change.

Everyone who backs this film will have their name in the credits.

How You Can Help

For more on how you can help, go to the Kickstarter page at:

1. Back the Project: Kickstarter is all or nothing – if they don’t make their goal, they get nothing.

2. Spread the Word: Even if you can’t donate, sharing the link with your family and friends makes a world of difference in getting more people to contribute.

3. Follow Online: Be sure to check out the Facebook and Twitter accounts for more information including behind the scenes photos, clips, and anecdotes!

www.kickstarter.com/projects/ christopheramos/hating-petertatchell-a-documentary-film

This project will only be funded if at least £10,000 is pledged by Wed, Oct 12, 2016 12:00 AM IST.

-MKB

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Irish Comedy ‘The Young Offenders’ Races Past €500K At Irish Box Office As audiences continue to flock to see The Young Offenders in cinemas across the country this week, the smash-hit Cork comedy is going from strength to strength.

Praised by critics and audiences alike, the film achieved a 19% increase in its second weekend and has surpassed €500k at the Irish box office today. This follows a week after achieving the highest opening for an Irish film at the Republic of Ireland Box Office this year.

The feature has also been taken on by US sales rep XYZ Films. The news comes after the film had its international premiere at the Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas, last Friday, where it was well-received, and is now up for the Comedy Features Jury Prize.

It is competing with five other films from all corners of the globe for the prize, including the Cannes hit, Toni Erdmann, which was nominated for the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival.

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(Left) Alex Murphy & (right) Chris Walley

Los Angeles-based XYZ Films, whose slate includes international indie hits such as The Raid, will now represent The Young Offenders for North American sales.

Inspired by Ireland’s biggest cocaine seizure of ₏440 million off the coast of Cork in 2007, the laugh-out-loud comedy follows two Cork inner-city teenagers, Conor and Jock, as they embark on a 160km road trip on stolen bikes, in the hope of finding an unrecovered bale of cocaine. It is the debut feature from Peter Foott, and introduces new acting talent, Chris Walley and Alex Murphy, in the lead roles.

The film will have its UK premiere at the BFI London Film Festival, which will be attended by the film-makers and cast.

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Little Gem Records: Tenro – One Little Gem Records are proud to present One by Tenro.

The debut release from the duo of Marc Aubele (Nanu Nanu, Pigg, Bell X1) and Brian Conniffe (Nurse With Wound, Patrick Kelleher’s Cold Dead Hands, Catscars), Tenro present 90 minutes of intense and electrifying music.

Combining the attitude of original industrial music with elements from the more complex forms of techno and dub, this unconventional work is underpinned by colourful, blackly humorous, surreal and dense layers of concept.

From the narcotic and erotic opening track ‘Content’, through to the rapturous and dizzying climax of ‘Discontinued Product’, Tenro present a journey through an alien landscape of opulent pulsating modular electronics, meticulously crafted layered textures, and thrillingly addictive rhythms.

The feverish rush and tightly controlled chaos of ‘Broken Window’ evokes both Amon Tobin and Sun Ra, while the kinetic and frenetic state-of-the-nation polemic of ‘Invalid Fades’ and the mischievous and menacing ‘Goodbye Judy’ remain impossible to categorise. Striking and irresistible contrasts to this sound are to be found in the stunningly beautiful hallucinogenic ambience of ‘Cubensis’ and the gloriously misshapen pop song ‘Vimana’, darkly luminous pieces which recall Coil and Burial at their most vibrant.

This remains – above all – an original and diverse work, and for the adventurous and open-minded listener, an immensely rewarding one.

The album is released on cassette / download / little gem player.

littlegemrecords@gmail.com www.littlegem.ie

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Little Gem Records Basement 18 Kildare Street Dublin 2 http://www.littlegem.ie/ EILE Magazine 57

Netflix Release “Who Is Luke Cage?” Featurette on 30 September After a sabotaged experiment leaves him with super strength and unbreakable skin, Luke Cage (Mike Colter) becomes a fugitive trying to rebuild his life in modern day Harlem, New York City. But he is soon pulled out of the shadows and must fight a battle for the heart of his city – forcing him to confront a past he had tried to bury.

Executive producer and showrunner Cheo Hodari Coker and cast including Mike Colter (Luke Cage), Simone Missick (Misty Knight) and Rosario Dawson (Claire Temple) explore this street-level hero’s internal conflict between his desire to live in the shadows while being drawn to protect a neighbourhood in need with his special abilities.

Marvel’s Luke Cage, premiered globally on September 30, 2016 at 8:01am (Irish time) is the third show in the Defenders series to launch on Netflix. The series follows the releases of Marvel’s Daredevil and Marvel’s Jessica Jones, leading up to the future release of Marvel’s Iron Fist, and ultimately, Marvel’s The Defenders.

In this ground-breaking new series, audiences will witness the evolution 58 EILE Magazine

of Luke Cage (previously introduced in Marvel’s Jessica Jones) after he has relocated to Harlem and is in the process of picking up the pieces following his failed relationship with Jessica Jones.

Like the preceding Marvel series on Netflix, Marvel’s Luke Cage is a gritty, action-packed drama, grounded in the real world with heroes who focus on saving their neighbourhood and have their feet firmly planted on the ground.

Mike Colter plays the charismatic lead character, Luke Cage and is joined by Mahershala Ali (Cornell “Cottonmouth” Stokes), Alfre Woodard (Mariah Dillard), Simone Missick (Misty Knight), Theo Rossi (Shades), Frank Whaley (Rafael Scarfe) and Rosario Dawson (Claire Temple). Marvel’s Luke Cage is Executive Produced by series Showrunner Cheo Hodari Coker (SouthLAnd, Ray Donovan) and Jeph Loeb (Marvel’s Daredevil, Marvel’s Jessica Jones), who also serves as Marvel’s Head of Television.

Twitter: @LukeCage https://twitter.com/ lukecage #LukeCage Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ MarvelsLukeCage http://facebook.com/lukecage

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Film: ‘Arrival’ in Irish Cinemas 10th November

Directed by: Denis Villeneuve – Starring: Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Forest Whitaker When mysterious spacecraft touch down across the globe, an elite team, led by expert linguist Louise Banks (Amy Adams), is brought together to investigate. As mankind teeters on the verge of global war, Banks and the team race against time for answers — and to find them, she will take a chance that could threaten her life, and, quite possibly, humanity.

Based on the short story Story of Your Life by author Ted Chiang.

In Cinemas from November 2016

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Belfast: The Big Fat Gay Wedding – Playwright Martin Lynch ‘Married’ Lesbian Couple Playwright Martin Lynch took centre stage in Belfast Friday evening 16th September, as he officiated at the ‘wedding’ of a lesbian couple as part of Culture Night. The event was called The Big Fat Gay Wedding.

The Big Fat Gay Wedding took place in St Anne’s Square, Belfast on Friday 16th September 2016, 8pm.

It was organised by Love Equality, the campaign for civil marriage equality in Northern Ireland.

The 66-year-old writer, director and producer led the vows for Gemma and Stacy Fitzner Hutton, a same-sex couple due to ‘marry’ as part of the Culture Night in Belfast.

Hundreds attended the Big Fat Gay Wedding, a creative protest against the ban on equal marriage rights for same-sex couples in Northern Ireland.

The happy couple were in full bridal dress and the ceremony featured live organ music versions of famous Abba and Kylie songs and a reading by a local drag artiste.

Martin Lynch explained his reasons for being part of the event: “The Big Fat Gay Wedding is a joyous, subversive way of saying to the people in the Big House at Stormont that everyone in this society deserves equality. That’s why I leapt at the chance to be part of this event.

“We’ve come a long way in this city. Personally I remember, as a stupid teenager fifty years ago, being involved in a physical attack on a gay man in Belfast – ‘rolling a queer’ is what we called it. I look back and I can’t believe the sheer ignorance of it all.

“We all know better now. I have written and directed plays with really strong gay characters and I hope I have played my part in giving the LGBT community a voice in Irish theatre.

Lynch continued:

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“But gay people still aren’t treated equally by this society. It should be a matter of great shame and embarrassment to Northern Ireland that we are the only place left in these islands without equal marriage rights.

I want to play my part in ending that injustice. Culture Night is a great opportunity to communicate the Love Equality message in a really fun way.” h/t Stephen Donnan

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Ecoutez-les: Four French trans people on law proposal for legal gender recognition In France, in 2016, to get one’s gender marker and first name changed, a trans person needs to go to court, and often comply with abusive requirements: psychiatric diagnosis, forced sterilization, medical treatments, etc.

On 20th September, ILGA Europe launched a video on legal gender recognition, and about the vote on the law on Justice in the 21st century in the Senate Laws Committee.

In the video, in French, four trans people explain why the law will have a great impact on their daily lives.

The Law on Justice in the 21st century, voted on by the National Assembly before the summer, partially improved the current process by endorsing the principle of demedicalization.

However, trans people would still need to go to court and the procedure would not be accessible to minors.

The Senate Laws Committee voted on 21st September. The vote in plenary takes place at the end of the month.

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The video aims to: Give a voice to the people primarily concerned trans people themselves, on how they see the current legal gender recognition procedure.

Explain what it means in the daily lives of trans people, to not having papers that match their gender.

For video in French, go to: http://www.ilga-europe.org/resources/news/latest-news/ecoutez-les (eile.ie 22 September 2016)

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Winter Pride M From 7 - 13 of November 2016 in Gran Canaria, Europe´s favourite gay paradise ProGay presents, in Europe´s largest and most popular gay paradise Gran Canaria, the third edition of Winter Pride Maspalomas, from 7 – 13 of November 2016.

One week with 15 high quality and entertaining events where the central messages are respect and acceptance, the keys of life.

With 35,000 visitors from all over Europe, it promises to be an exciting week, while enjoying the average temperature of 23 degrees in the daytime.

The live shows on the Yumbo Main Stage are free but reserve your tickets for one of the

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Maspalomas! special events in time to guarantee a place!

Visit the website of Winter Pride Maspalomas, and check out the programme with some great new events like the Wine & Tapas Night Market, Musicals in Concert, Grand Opening of Ocean Beach Club and much more!

http://www.winterpridemaspalomas.com/

Winter Pride Maspalomas is organised by ProGay and it is their objective to promote Gran Canaria as Europe´s most popular LGTB destination .

You can expect high quality events with many live artists, special events, Pride Walk, dinner show and a workshop for people interested in living in Gran Canaria.

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Exciting new departure for GLEN and for LGBT Equality in Ireland Today, 30th September, GLEN [Gay & Lesbian Network] are delighted to announce the appointment of Áine Duggan as the new Executive Director of GLEN.

brings with her a wealth of experience in understanding and tackling the underlying causes of discrimination and inequality that must be addressed to ensure that we can deliver on GLEN’s goal of full participation of LGBT people in all aspects of Irish life”

For the past four years, Áine has served as President and CEO of Re:Gender, a national U.S.-based gender equality organization. Under her leadership, Re:Gender rebranded and evolved its programming to address discrimination experienced by all individuals across the gender, sexuality and sex spectrums, led a cross-sector network of academic institutions, nonprofits and corporations to integrate an intersectional gender lens in their structure, programmes and policies, and initiated a merger with the International Center for Research on Women.

stated Kieran Rose, GLEN Co-Chair.

“We are delighted to appoint Áine as the new Executive Director of GLEN. She

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“This is an exciting and crucial time to be advancing a culture of equality in Ireland, and it is an honour to join the staff and board of GLEN. I am looking forward to getting out and meeting with people and hearing how we can leverage the diversity of our LGBTI voices and experiences to ensure inclusion across all communities and sectors” said Áine Duggan. Áine, a graduate of University College Dublin, teaches public policy in the MSW and Graduate Social Research program at Hunter College, New York, and has

regularly contributed to reports and served as a speaker at government hearings and academic, corporate and community events and forums. She currently serves on the boards of OutRight Action International (formerly, International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission) and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, and has previously served on the boards of Queers for Economic Justice and Irish HIV/Aids organisation, Cáirde.

that LGBT people can grow up happy and healthy, marry and have a family”

“The last number of years have seen extraordinary progress for LGBT people. It is clear that Irish people have given a huge mandate to ensure that LGBT people belong fully across all aspects of Irish society.

However, there remain many challenges yet to be overcome to ensure that our schools and workplaces are safe and affirming for LGBT people, that our streets are safe, and

continued Slattery.

added Margot Slattery, GLEN Co-Chair.

“We are very pleased to have Áine lead the very talented and committed team in GLEN to address these challenges in partnership with the Government, LGBT people and communities, and all stakeholders including the Irish public”

Áine will take up her post at the end of October, replacing Brian Sheehan, who has been Executive Director of GLEN since 2007. (eile.ie 30 September 2016)

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WEI: Ireland’s ‘Best Places to Work for LGBT People’ Unveiled With Accenture In Top Spot creativity that LGBT This afternoon, Tuesday September people bring to the workplace” 20, GLEN (Gay and Lesbian said Kieran Rose, GLEN CoEquality Network) Chair. announced Speaking at the awards, Martin the winners of Shanahan, CEO of the IDA, commented: Ireland’s LGBT Workplace “Ireland’s reputation as an Equality Index open and welcoming country for diverse employees from Awards at an all over the globe is critical award ceremony in in creating employment and Dublin. economic growth in Ireland.”

Workplace Equality Index.

“We are delighted to recognise the companies and executives who are leading the way in making Irish workplaces fully inclusive of LGBT people. These organisations and leaders are playing an integral role in creating a business culture in Ireland that values the skills, ideas and

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“The Workplace Equality Index benchmarks a key element of diversity – inclusion of LGBT employees. This Index benchmarks best practice and recognises those companies where LGBT employees can bring their full selves to work” he continued.

The winner of the ‘Best Place to Work for LGBT Equality 2016’ is Accenture, who received the Employer of the Year award, being ranking number one for their performance in the LGBT

The 2016 ‘Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality’ are: 1.

Accenture– Employer of the Year 2.

EY

3.

Microsoft

4.

Deutsche Bank

5.

Trinity College Dublin

6.

eir

7.

IBM

7.

Sodexo

9.

Metlife

10.

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

Michelle Cullen, Managing Director at Accenture, 2016’s No. 1 employer, said: “At Accenture, we are committed to creating an environment where our people can simply be themselves at

work, where all of our people can feel welcome, supported, rewarded, and inspired.

Building an inclusive culture starts with a vision, and is achieved through many small acts, and through celebrating all of our people irrespective of differences.”

“We are very proud to receive an award for diversity; but we are more proud of our people, and our diverse role models. A diverse team performs better, challenges one another more and creates better, more inclusive solutions. We are delighted to collaborate with GLEN and applaud their work to champion the Workplace Equality Index to make Irish workplaces more LGBT inclusive”

2. LGBT Role Model of the Year: Dena Y. Lawrence, Business Evangelist, Microsoft 3. Ally of the Year: Alice Tolan, Senior Strategic Account Manager, eir 4. LGBT Employee Network of the Year: Out@In, LinkedIn 5. Public Sector Employer of the Year Award: Trinity College Dublin 6. SME of the Year: Enterprise Rent-a-Car “Congratulations to Accenture and all the employers named in the Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality, as well as the winners of the Workplace Equality Index Leadership Awards” said Kieran Rose, GLEN CoChair. (eile.ie 20 September 2016)

she added.

Cullen is Managing Director at Accenture, with responsibility for Inclusion and Diversity.

GLEN also announced the Workplace Equality Index – Leadership Award winners for their outstanding contributions to LGBT diversity and inclusion:

Michelle Cullen, CEO of Accenture, 2016 WEI Employer of the Year

1. Senior Leader of the Year: Catherine Vaughan, Global Compliance Leader, EY

EILE Magazine 71

Arosa Gay Ski Week 2017!

The Arosa (Switzerland) Gay Ski Week team wish you a wonderful and sunny summer!

You can find them at the Circuit Festival in Barcelona, on the beaches of Sitges, or at the Elysium Hotel in Mykonos.

PACKAGES for 7 nights PACKAGES for 5 nights PACKAGES for 3 nights Visit: https://web4.deskline.net/ arosaskiweek/en/package/list

They are now actively preparing their 13th Annual Ski Week, which will take place from Saturday 21st to Saturday 28th of January, 2017.

If you book from their website or call them at +41 81 378 70 20, you will get the best rate from their partners. If you find a better price, they’ll match it. That’s their Best Price Guarantee, and it’s just one of the ways to help you find the perfect hotel for their ski week.

NEW HOTEL PARTNER – Provisorium 13

They will start Saturday, and end the week with farewells at the ‘Avalanche‘ party, Friday night at the Kursaal.

HOTEL PROVISORIUM13 central, across the ice-rink: the host hotel during the ski week with affordable rooms:

Below are their exclusive, all-inclusive packages: Hotel + event pass + ski pass at great rates and take advantage of -10% by booking before August 30!

7 nights + breakfast + event pass gold + 6 days ski pass Triple room: CHF 700.- per person (650€ / 720$) Double room: CHF 840.- per person (780€ / 860$)

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Single room: CHF 940.- per person (870€ / 960$) You can book for this event by visiting: https://web4.deskline.net/arosaskiweek/ en/package/list Some of the items you can book in advance: Fondue evening & night sledging - 26th January 2017 60.00 Event Pass GOLD - from 21-27 January 2017 150.00 Event Pass SILVER - valid 23 - 27 January 2017 90.00 Event Pass BRONZE - valid 21 - 23 January 2017 70.00 7-day ski pass 332.00 6-day ski pass 299.00 5-day ski pass 263.00 4 PACKAGES AVAILABLE Package ACCOMMODATION + EVENTS Accommodation (hotel or holiday apartment) Event Pass Gold, Silver or Bronze! from 400.00 per package

DETAILS Show possible arrival dates | Travel period from 21/01/2017 Package ACCOMMODATION + SKI Accommodation (hotel or holiday apartment) Ski pass Arosa Lenzerheide from 550.00 per package DETAILS Show possible arrival dates | Travel period from 21/01/2017 Package ACCOMMODATION + SKI + EVENTS Accommodation (hotel or holiday apartment) Ski pass Arosa Lenzerheide Event Pass Gold, Silver or Bronze! from 700.00 per package DETAILS Show possible arrival dates | Travel period from 21/01/2017 Sunstar Wellness Plus from 750.00 per package DETAILS Travel period from 21/01/2017

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WALES - Cardiff’s LGBT Iris Prize Festival 12-16 Oct 2016 Identified as one of the top 50 film festivals in the world by Movie Maker Magazine for the second year, Iris Prize Festival are also delighted this year to have been promoted by BAFTA to ‘A’ list festival status, alongside Cannes and Sundance, by officially being recognised as a qualifying festival for the BAFTA awards. One of the Irish entries for the Iris Prize Shorts is ‘Between Us’, directed by Daithí Ó Cinnéide, a 10 minute short.

The festival’s slogan is “Watch films. Party Nightly. Repeat.” Iris is the home of LGBT filmmaking, and the festival prides itself on sharing the best content from around the globe to an annual audience in Cardiff each October. This is made possible through their 25 partner festivals in 19 countries, ensuring that the very best in storytelling is shown at Iris.

The Iris Prize – Cardiff’s International LGBT Short Film Prize – is supported by The Michael Bishop Foundation, and continues to be the largest LGBT short film prize in the world. With the winner receiving £30,000 to make their next short film in the UK, Iris is exactly what film makers need – funding, support, guidance and of course a warm welcome into the Iris Prize family.

To date seven short films have been produced with the winning filmmakers of the Iris Prize, with the eighth currently in pre-production. As for the ninth? Well, that could be yours.

The Iris Prize Awards: Often referred to as the Gay Oscars, the Iris Awards is a glittering award show, presented

by Matt Lissack (Capital FM) and includes a three course meal, two drinks receptions, and a special musical performance. The highlight of the evening will be Lord Glendonbrook announcing the 10th winner of the Iris Prize, who will take away the £30,000 cash prize to make a new short film.

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Still from Irish Entry Between Us

Iris Prize – Sponsored by The Michael Bishop Foundation, the winner will receive the largest LGBT short film prize in the world – valued at £30,000. They will be invited back to the UK to make another short film, benefiting from the very best filming equipment and facilities available in the country, and are offered the chance to sit on the 2017 Iris Prize International Jury; Iris Prize Best British Short – The winner will receive a package of sound post-production services sponsored by Pinewood Studios Group, valued at £20,000, and be invited to Cardiff to sit on the 2017 Iris Prize International Jury; Iris Prize Best Feature Award – The winning director receives a £1000 cash prize, sponsored by Martin Briggs; Iris Prize Best Actor in a feature film – sponsored by Gay Star News; Iris Prize Best Actress in a feature film – sponsored by Gay Star News; Iris Prize Youth Jury Award for Best Short – sponsored by Cardiff University.

You can take a look at the 2016 Iris Prize Festival shortlist at: http://www.irisprize.org/the-prize-2016/iris-prize/

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Australian Labor Leader Bill Shorten Voiced His Total Opposition To A Plebiscite The opposition to a plebiscite on marriage equality in Australia is very strong, and there are many reasons to oppose it, including the fact that although it will be a compulsory vote, it is non-binding, and will cost in the region of $160 million to the Australian people. Bill Shorten has also said recently that it risks providing a platform for prejudice and hate-speech.

The Australian Labor Party’s Bill Shorten has voiced his opposition to the plebiscite very well recently in a speech he made in parliament – partial text below: PRIVATE MEMBERS’ BILL – MARRIAGE EQUALITY – CANBERRA – MONDAY, 12 SEPTEMBER 2016 78 EILE Magazine

“[..] I speak for Sophie Meredith and Alison Gerard, who have been together for eight years.

their families, those criticisms are far more common, far more cruel – and they are backed by actual, legal discrimination.

They wear rings, they have two children whom they adore.

Why should the children of LGBTI Australians be denied the formal recognition of their parents’ relationship?

They fulfil all the obligations of marriage: care, respect, love and family.

Yet they are excluded, their relationship is – in the eyes of our laws – somehow different, somehow less.

So, some might say marriage equality is a second-order issue, ‘identity politics’, mere symbolism.

But what they need to understand is that if you Go down any street in Australia already enjoy a legal right, it is and you can hear these stories. easy to take it for granted.

Hardworking people, raising children, building communities, serving the country – made to feel like second-class citizens through one last lingering relic of legal prejudice.

It is in our power – in this place – to change that, once and for all. [..] for LGBTI Australians and

For me, it is as simple as this.

In delaying marriage equality, we are not just falling behind the rest of the world – 21 countries who we consider our legal, cultural and social peers – have already moved ahead of us.

We are falling short of our national sense of self – the country we want to see in the

Left: Australian Labor Party Leader Bill Shorten

mirror, the Australia we tell our children to believe in.

the people of Bristol, about the job of a parliamentarian:

How can we call ourselves the land of the fair go if we discriminate against our citizens on the basis of who they are and who they love.

“Your representative” – Burke said – “owes you, not his industry only, but his judgment; and he betrays, instead of serving you, if he sacrifices it to your opinion”.

And we who sit in this parliament, trusted with the great privilege of representing all the Australian people – not just some of the Australian people.

A plebiscite would represent a fundamental failure of this parliament to do its job”. […]

How can we call ourselves leaders, if instead of acting to correct this unfairness, we push the responsibility back onto the people who sent us here, with an opinion poll which will cost at least $160 million.

“How can we look Australians in the eye and say a piece of legislation three pages long – a straightforward change which a majority of members in both houses support – how do we say this is too much for us to handle?

The Prime Minister and the Member for Warringah are both fond of quoting 18th Century Conservative Edmund Burke.

How do we say that every question of human rights can be decided by the parliament – but a special exemption, a new hurdle must be imposed upon LGBTI Australians?

They would know what he told

As Justice Michael Kirby has said, the plebiscite in itself is a “discriminatory step” driven by “hostility”.

And how can anyone justify spending at least $160 million on a compulsory vote, when members of the government won’t be compelled to respect the result?

A plebiscite is not a real vote – it is a straw poll.

But it will cause real harm – and real waste.

The true cost of a plebiscite is far greater than $160 million.

Putting the question of marriage equality to a national vote, risks providing a platform for prejudice and a megaphone for hate-speech”.

-MKB (eile.ie 27 September 2016)

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Australia: Latest Poll Reveals Majority Want Parliament To Deliver Marriage Equality 53% of Australians want the parliament to resolve the issue if the proposed plebiscite bill fails More than two thirds (68%) of Australians don’t support public funding for plebiscite campaigns Australian Marriage Equality (AME) today welcomed the latest Essential Poll that reaffirmed that Australians overwhelmingly support Marriage Equality, and want it to be resolved by the parliament.

Australian Marriage Equality Co-Chair, Alex Greenwich said: “AME believe this is an issue that can be resolved by the parliament, and this poll confirms that Australian people believe this also.

“The proposed plebiscite is deeply

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unfair, overly complicated and totally unnecessary” Mr Greenwich added.

“This Poll revealed that almost half of Australian people are concerned about the possibly of a public campaign that has a negative impact on LGBTI Australians, their families and friends.

“No Australian should have to have to sit through a national debate about their worth and the value of their relationships.

“Australian Marriage Equality is concerned that the proposed plebiscite has no strategy to support LGBTI people through a plebiscite campaign, particularly young people or marginalised members of the community.”

The poll also revealed that Australians disapprove of the planned $7.5 million to be provided for advertising both the Yes and No campaigns with 68% of the nation unsupportive of this additional funding.

“The public funding provisions in the proposed plebiscite legislation would allow tax payers funds to be used to

Image: countrydigest.org

attack other Australians with fear campaigns, and it[..] is totally unnecessary for achieving a reform that the parliament could deliver now” Mr Greenwich said.

The Essential Poll revealed that if the plebiscite is defeated in the Senate, more than half the nation (53 %) of respondents would like a free vote in parliament on samesex marriage to be held.

“AME continue to urge all political parties not to proceed with this complex and unfair process, and instead should work towards a multi-partisan parliamentary vote” Mr Greenwich continued.

“The people of Australia don’t want marriage equality to remain a political football for the next three years or more – they want to get this done” he concluded. (eile.ie 24 September 2016)

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US: Chelsea Manning Ends HungerStrike, Promised Gender-Affirming Surgery In the US, Imprisoned transgender whistle-blower, Chelsea Manning, ended her hunger strike yesterday (13th Sept) having secured assurances from the US Army that she will receive the medically prescribed treatment for her ‘gender dysphoria’. The treatment will begin with the surgery that was recommended by her psychologist in April of this year.

hair length were back in 2014. In any case, I hope this sets a precedent for the thousands of trans people behind me hoping they will be given the treatment they need.”

On September 9, she began a hunger-strike to demand, among other things, that she be treated with medically necessary and recommended care.

“It is nonetheless troubling that the government continues to insist that they will enforce the male hair length standards against her and subject her to a disciplinary board over administrative charges related to her suicide attempt in July, which was precipitated by the government’s refusal to adequately treat her for gender dysphoria.

Given the recognition of Chelsea’s health care needs, we hope that she is immediately permitted to grow her hair consistent with the standard for female military prisoners and that all charges related to her suicide attempt and the investigation that followed are dropped.”

Chase Strangio, staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union, had the following reaction:

“This is a monumental day for Chelsea, who can now enjoy some peace knowing that critically needed medical care is forthcoming. This medical care is absolutely vital for Chelsea as it is for so many transgender people — in and out of prison — Since she was first taken into custody in who are systemically denied treatment solely 2010, Manning, a transgender woman being because they are transgender. Thankfully the forced to serve out her sentence in an all-male government has recognized its constitutional prison, was subjected to long stretches of obligation to provide Chelsea with the solitary confinement during her court martial, medical care that she needs and we hope that and has been denied medical treatment they will act without delay to ensure that her related to her transgender status. suffering does not needlessly continue”.

“I am unendingly relieved that the military is finally doing the right thing. I applaud them for that. This is all that I wanted — for them to let me be me,” said Manning in a statement.

“But it is hard not to wonder why it has taken so long. Also, why were such drastic measures needed? The surgery was recommended in April 2016. The recommendations for my

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Chelsea Manning

The ACLU represents Manning in a lawsuit against the American Department of Defense, that was first filed in 2014, over the department’s refusal to treat Manning’s well-documented gender dysphoria.

To date, no transgender individual has received gender-affirming surgical treatment in prison in the US, despite medical recommendations for such care in prisons across America.

More about the case can be found at: https://www.aclu.org/cases/manning-v-hagel-et-al (eile.ie 14 September 2016)

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US: White House Hosts Historic Meeting on LGBTQ People in the U.S. Criminal Justice System Yesterday, September 20, in the US, the White House hosted 150 formerly incarcerated LGBTQ people, policymakers & advocates to discuss unique challenges faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people, and people living with HIV (PLHIV) in the criminal legal system.

White House officials in attendance included Ashley Allison, Deputy Director of Public Engagement and Senior Policy Advisor, Roy Austin, Deputy Assistant to the President for Urban Affairs, Justice and Opportunity, White House Domestic Policy Council, and Michael Botticelli, Director of National Drug Control Policy, and Raffi 84 EILE Magazine

Freedman-Gurspan, Senior Associate Director for Public Engagement, the first openly transgender White House appointee.

Formerly incarcerated individuals in attendance included: Monica Jones, a Black transgender woman, who successfully fought profiling for prostitutionrelated offenses in Phoenix; Ashley Diamond, a Black transgender woman, who successfully sued the Georgia Department of Corrections for denial of medical care, resulting in system-wide changes in the treatment of transgender people in that state; Robert Suttle, a Black man living with HIV who was convicted and incarcerated under an HIVspecific statute in Louisiana; and Evie Litwok, a formerly incarcerated lesbian, who founded Witness to Mass Incarceration, an organization dedicated to documenting the experiences of incarcerated LGBTQ

people upon her release.

They joined legal, advocacy and Administration leaders in discussions on discriminatory policing and other factors driving LGBTQ people into the criminal legal system such as HIV criminalization, youth homelessness, and high rates of poverty and discrimination against LGBTQ people, as well as conditions of confinement in federal prison, and HIV and health issues. Experts presented cutting edge research, innovative programs from around the country, and policy recommendations.

LGBT people comprise roughly 4% of the U.S. population yet recent federal data show that 8% of people in prisons identify as LGBT. Research reveals particularly high rates of incarceration among LGBTQ people of color, people with HIV, and transgender people. In the U.S., 32 states have HIVspecific criminal statutes.

A national survey of LGBT people found that three quarters of respondents had interactions with law enforcement in the previous five years. Of these, a fifth experienced police misconduct, including profiling, false arrests, verbal or physical assault, or sexual harassment or assault.

Consistent with national trends, LGBTQ people of color, LGBTQ youth, transgender respondents and people living with HIV report higher rates of police harassment and violence, discrimination in courts and sentencing, incarceration, and immigration detention.

One in five LGBTQ people of color report being asked about their immigration status by law enforcement, and transgender people of color report high rates of abuse in immigration detention.

“Racial profiling, abusive police officers, mass incarceration, and inhumane prison conditions are hurting our community.

I am thankful that we are having these important conversations and that my experiences and ideas–and those of other people who have been arrested or gone to prison–are being included in a real way,” said Ashley Diamond.

“Over the past two years, members of the LGBT Federal Criminal Justice Working Group have drafted policies, litigated groundbreaking cases, built coalitions, and advocated before Congress for important policy changes to address the experiences of LGBTQ people and people living with HIV within a broader agenda to reduce mass incarceration and address racial disparities in the criminal legal system” said Urvashi Vaid of the Vaid Group, one of the founders of the Working Group.

“Today’s meeting is indicative of the progress and engagement LGBTQ and HIV advocates have had with this administration, and I’m hopeful it will lead to further important reforms and ensure that the work that remains to be done continues through the next administration”.

Criminal Justice Working Group (The Working Group) is a network of nearly 50 organizations and individual stakeholders working to reduce the unique harms of the U.S. criminal legal system experienced by LGBTQ+ people and people living with or at risk of HIV (PLHIV) through research, education, and policy advocacy at the federal level. [..] The Working Group was launched in 2014 after an 18-month participatory policy development process which produced A Roadmap for Change: Federal Policy Recommendations Addressing the Criminalization of LGBT People and People living with HIV. (eile.ie 21 September 2016)

“Today we bore witness to the unique effects of mass incarceration on LGBTQ people, raising voices that are often unheard within broader criminal justice debates,” said Evie Litwok of Witness to Mass Incarceration.

The LGBT/HIV Federal EILE Magazine 85

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Desert Tundra Photo: Kelly Elaine