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QUEER GUIDE TO 2020 SEX EDUCATION’S BREAKOUT STARS NCUTI GATWA CONNOR SWINDELLS MODEL, ACTOR, ACTIVIST LEYNA BLOOM POP’S NEW QUEER PRINCESS L DEVINE INTERNET GLAMAZON MILES JAI MALAYSIA’S FIRST QUEER POP STAR ALEXTBH DRAG CHAMELEON ALEXIS STONE

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Issue 503 January 2020

Editorial Director Fashion Editor Design Manager Staff Writer Staff Writer Commissioning Editor Cover Designer Travel Editor Travel Editor

Photographers

Lewis Corner Umar Sarwar Jack Pengelly Daniel Megarry Sam Damshenas Oly Innes Willoughby Warner Simon Gage Stephen Unwin

Writers

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Matt Moore

Quintin & Ron

Jakub Koziel

Sophie Moncaster Solly Warner

With thanks to Adam Burrel, Bernardo Ferreira, Karolina Borchert-Hunter, Kate Bain, Magdalena Tucholska, Mark Simek, Matt Walford, Oliver Kinley, Oliwia Jakubik, Phoebe Sinclair, Rick Moreno, Ro Morgan, Robbie McKinnon, Rupert Abbott, Sven Bayerbach, Teresa Raeburn, Tony Medina, Victor Nobel, Zoe Moore

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issue 503.

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ALEXTBH

L DEVINE

Say hello to Malaysia’s first out and proud queer pop star.

We may have only just entered a new year, but the world has already been blessed with its first massive pop anthem of 2020, courtesy of L Devine.

QUEER GUIDE TO 2020 SEX EDUCATION’S BREAKOUT STARS NCUTI GATWA CONNOR SWINDELLS MODEL, ACTOR, ACTIVIST LEYNA BLOOM POP’S NEW QUEER PRINCESS L DEVINE INTERNET GLAMAZON MILES JAI MALAYSIA’S FIRST QUEER POP STAR ALEXTBH DRAG CHAMELEON ALEXIS STONE

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C’mon 20benty, let’s get sickening!

We concocted our very own queer guide for the year, featuring the most promising queer artists, movies and television shows.

The legendary YouTuber and comedian spills the T on our current social media climate.

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MILES JAI

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QUEER GUIDE TO 2020

PISSY PUSSY

ALEXIS STONE

Meet the NYC designer who is a walking, talking piece of art

The “botched monster” on how she catapulted to superstardom without the help of Drag Race.

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PATRICK MASON

TRAVEL

The creative director and DJ shares the moments that defined him as a queer person.

Palm Springs. Monaco. Paris. Dive into our travel destinations this month.

QUEER GUIDE TO 2020 NEXT-GEN INDIE-POP GIRL IN RED MODEL, ACTOR, ACTIVIST LEYNA BLOOM POP’S NEW QUEER PRINCESS L DEVINE INTERNET GLAMAZON MILES JAI MALAYSIA’S FIRST QUEER POP STAR ALEXTBH DRAG CHAMELEON ALEXIS STONE

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Model, actor, and activist, the rising star continues to bring trans awareness into the arts.

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FASHION

The world of fashion and beauty explode with colour for Pride. Take inspiration from the most daring fashion selects and high voltage glamour beauty looks.

IN CONVERSATION WITH

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LEYNA BLOOM

NCUTI GATWA page 52

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CONNOR SWINDELLS

A note from us.

Now that your decorations have been thrown back into the cupboard for another year, the last selection box has been reduced to empty wrappers, and you’ve watched pretty much everything Netflix has to offer during the holiday break, it’s time to look to the new year ahead. It’s the start of a new decade and one that follows 10 years of big wins for the LGBTQ community. From samesex marriage being legalised in numerous countries, the decriminalisation of homosexuality in places like India and Botswana, as well as increased visibility of queer people and culture in the mainstream, the 2010s – with all its political shocks and horrors – featured some big strides for LGBTQ people.

But as we step into the 2020s, we must remain focussed on even greater wins that will positively impact queer people everywhere. When you live in a world where it’s still illegal to be gay in more than 70 countries, it’s clear there is still much to do. We need to continue to champion and support our trans and non-binary siblings while their very existence is being questioned, and we need to see greater acceptance for LGBTQ people in places where living openly is challenged by society. In this internet era of hyperconnectivity and social media activism, we are more responsible for our queer siblings across the world than ever before.

However, changing laws and challenging policies is just one part of a bigger picture. For true equality to be realised, it needs to be embraced and celebrated by everyone on a social level too. It’s why, time and time again, we always circle back to the fact that visibility matters.

For our first issue of the new decade, we have put together a Queer Guide to 2020 that outlines all the very best music, film, and television we can expect this year that puts LGBTQ people and narratives firmly in the spotlight. There are some exciting and long overdue firsts on the horizon (we’re looking at you, Marvel Cinematic Universe), but there are also returning shows that will have an enduring legacy for their impact on the lives of LGBTQ people.

One of those shows we’re happy to showcase on our first cover of 2020.

When Sex Education first launched on Netflix in January last year, not even the cast themselves anticipated the huge impact it would have. Netflix was so pleased with it they released the streaming numbers which, at 40 million for its first few weeks available, was huge for this new twist on a British teen drama. Ncuti Gatwa plays Eric Effiong in the show, an openly gay black teen

who brightens up the screen during every scene he’s in. When I asked Ncuti why he thinks Sex Education had the impact it did, he replied: “I think because it has a lot of heart to it and a lot of truth to it. And like I said, it’s tackling issues that don’t commonly get tackled, and we’re starting conversations about things that get made taboo for no reason.”

He’s not wrong. A new generation of young queer people that are coming through crave and demand authenticity – and our art is thriving more for it. Which brings us to our second cover star. Girl In Red – real name Marie Ulven – is an indie-pop artist barely two years into her career, but has amassed a passionate following. She’s the antithesis of manufactured pop artists of generations past; there’s no massive label behind her, she has full control over her music, and is very clear as to how she wants to be presented and what she wants to say. In short, she cuts through the bullshit. “I don’t have to show my songs to anyone, I don’t have someone on the sidelines saying, ‘Oh, this is sad and gay, we need a hit’,” she told us. “I don’t have anyone defining me.” It’s refreshing energy that is clearly resonating with audiences.

It’s an outlook that I, for one, will be taking with me into this new decade.

It gets said often, but living your truth is the most powerful thing you can do.

For me, 2020 also sees me stepping into a new role at Gay Times. As Editorial Director, I will oversee our print, online and social channels, managing platforms that reach millions of queer people and our allies every month. It’s a massive responsibility, but a role I am proud and excited to hold. Gay Times started the last decade primarily as a publication for gay and bisexual men but finished it as a media organisation that is inclusive of the whole LGBTQ community. A genuinely spectacular glow up, I hope you’ll agree.

In 2020, our mission to amplify queer voices remains our number one priority. Whether it’s on the cover of our magazine, a post on our Instagram channel, or a digital cover story for Amplify, as a team we have reimagined and built Gay Times into a platform to serve, support and celebrate a diverse LGBTQ community. It’s what she deserves.

Lewis Corner Editorial Director 15

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DR RANJ SINGH

the love list.

SEX EDUCATION: SEASON 2

KESHA: HIGH ROAD

(on Netflix from 17 January)

(album out 31 January)

Coming-of-age dramedy Sex Education became one of Netflix’s most successful shows ever when it premiered early in 2019, garnering over 40 million viewers in its first week of release and receiving acclaim from both critics and viewers at home, thanks in part to its diverse representation and tackling of sensitive subjects. There were heartwarming moments, genuinely educational lessons to be learned, and... banana blowjobs. The show’s highly-anticipated second season will see the arrival of new students – as well as a chlamydia outbreak – at Moordale Secondary, while Eric (Ncuti Gatwa) will explore his new-found confidence after gaining acceptance from his father, and we’ll finally find out what happens to Adam (Connor Swindells) after he was shipped off to military school. Get ready to bingewatch. DM

“Kesha got her balls back, and they’re bigger than ever,” the singer proclaimed when she announced her new record High Road, and it couldn’t be a more apt statement. The iconic party-starter who delivered massive LGBTQ club anthems like Take It Off and We R Who We R took things down a notch on previous album Rainbow, which saw her address highly-publicised low points in her career with a more introspective approach to songwriting, but with High Road she’s back with a bang. The Big Freedia-assisted Raising Hell does exactly what it says on the tin, while My Own Dance is a skewering of the ‘party girl’ image she cultivated in the early 2010s, and the record’s title track is a soaring, empowering anthem. We also get some fierce rap on the album, in a way we haven’t heard since Sleazy. Kesha has teased that this may be her last proper pop album, so make the most of it while you can, gays. DM

SELENA GOMEZ: RARE

PET SHOP BOYS: HOTSPOT

(album out 10 January)

(album out 24 January)

It’s been five long years since Selena Gomez last released a solo album (the acclaimed Revival) and fans have been craving a new full-length record ever since. Finally, the time has come, as her third studio album, Rare drops this January. There’s a lot for the singer to get off her chest, including health issues and a highly-publicised breakup, so it’s no surprise that she’s described the record as “my diary from the past few years”. Lead single Lose You To Love Me details the difficult process of losing someone you love and finding yourself (which many fans have speculated is about ex-boyfriend Justin Bieber), while follow-up Look At Her Now plays the role of empowering post-breakup anthem. With track titles including Kinda Crazy, Dance Again and Cut You Off, we’re expecting the rest of the album to be just as liberating.

DM

If you’ve been paying attention to Pet Shop Boys over the past decade - and we truly hope you have - you’ll know that their grip on exhilarating electronicpowered pop has scarcely loosened since their 80s heyday. Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe remain the grand queer wizards of the synth, and their 14th studio album Hotspot proves that they have many more pop spells to cast. Lead single Dreamland - a collaboration with Years & Years - is a thumping anthem with a rousing refrain that will have crowds calling out in an almost cultic fashion come the live shows. Follow-up track Burning the Heather changes tack slightly, bringing in guitars and slower beats for an introspective mid-tempo that thrives with Neil’s trademark vocal. Pet Shop Boys are just a year shy of their 40th anniversary, but Hotspot is a timely reminder that their music still hits us in all the right places. LC 18 18

BOMBSHELL (in cinemas from 24 January)

If you’re looking for an album that will keep that spring in your step as we head into the depths of January, look no further than Bubba. The second full-length collection from Canadian producer Kaytranada, it’s a melting pot of funky licks, soulful vocals, slick R&B, sharp hip-hop and infectious rhythms, all sprinkled with dashes of disco and new-gen House. Lead single 10% featuring Kali Uchis is as catchy as they come, while Masego’s flow on standout track Need It will knock any winter blues right out of you. The more commercial numbers shine through on the Tinashe-helmed The Worst in Me and 2 the Music featuring Iman Omari, giving new listeners a pathway into the record. But once you’re in it, it’s the moments where Kaytranada goes solo that will give you chills. Ramp up the volume on instrumental track Scared to Death to get truly lost in its world. The whole record is somehow a cohesive soup of influences that come together for some genuinely magical moments. LC

Based on a true story, Bombshell focuses on various female Fox News personnel and their sexual harassment claims towards the network’s founder, chairman and CEO, Roger Ailes. Starring Charlize Theron stars as Megyn Kelly, Nicole Kidman as Gretchen Carlson, Margot Robbie as fictional character Kayla Pospisil and John Lithgow as Ailes, Bombshell is an explosive and revealing look into one of the most controversial media empires of all time. All three female leads give career-defining performances, especially Theron, who is almost guaranteed to land another Oscar nod. Her performance of the former Fox News host is eerily accurate and perfectly demonstrates why she’s one of the most talented actresses of her generation. We’ll go as far to say that it’s her best role since Aileen Wuornos in Monster. For that alone, Bombshell is worth checking out.

SD

CHILLING ADVENTURES OF SABRINA: SEASON 3

HALSEY: MANIC

(on Netflix from 24 January)

(album out 17 January)

Arriving less than a year after the third instalment, Sabrina season 3 focuses on the title character and her attempts to rescue Nicholas Scratch from eternal damnation. Not only does she have to battle the Lucifer, Sabrina faces a new foe: the Prince of Hell, Prince Caliban (because of course!). Showrunner Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa recently shared a behind-the-scenes photo from the set of a mysterious woman in a black cloak alongside the caption: “The dread banshee has arrived, but which Spellman will die?” The banshee comes from Irish mythology, and is a female spirit who heralds the death of a family member by screaming her lungs out. There’s four major Spellman’s in the series: Sabrina, Hilda, Zelda and Ambrose – is the show seriously about to chop one of them off? SD

Although Halsey’s last studio album Hopeless Fountain Kingdom catapulted the star to new heights - success-wise - with its radio-friendly bops, it was undeniably a less personal collection than her critically-acclaimed debut Badlands. However, her third studio effort Manic looks like it will be a nice balance between the two. Without Me, the star’s first solo chart-topper on the Billboard Hot 100, is an emotional R&B slash pop number, Graveyard is an electropop ballad, Finally // Beautiful Stranger is a tender country anthem and Suga’s Interlude is a dark rap track. For some unknown reason, Halsey has scrapped her fan-favourite feminist punk single Nightmare, but even without it, we’re sure this will be the singer’s most eclectic and diverse project to date. SD 19 19

Words Lewis Corner, Daniel Megarry & Sam Damshenas

KAYTRANADA: BUBBA (album out now)

new year, new queer HEALTHY FUN. This little device may look unassuming, but trust us when we say it will put you through an intense and effective workout. How? Paired with a smartphone device, the Activ5 is an exercise program that burns fat while you have fun. Holding, squeezing and balancing the device as part of isometric exercises will help you shed weight, with games lasting no longer than five minutes having you break a sweat in no time. There are 100+ easyto-follow exercises that can be matched to deliver you a workout plan that will match your fitness level. It’s proven to be so effective that professional athletes are using for more effective training sessions, while the app will track your progress as you start to notice headway.

Available from amazon.co.uk, priced £119.99

HEALTHY SPIN. If you’re anything like us, half the battle of getting to the gym is drumming up the motivation to actually leave the house. It’s why home fitness is fast becoming big business. London’s most popular boutique fitness studio, 1Rebel, has announced a partnership with fitness equipment brand TechnoGym to meet this increasing demand. The studio has launched RIDE LIVE where users can hop on their spin bike and tune into 1Rebel’s most theatrical and blood-pumping classes that are either live-streamed right into your home or can be played from a library of pre-recorded Rides.

Having the latest fitness tech in your home doesn’t come cheap, with the TechnoGym bike costing £2,450. However, as part of this new partnership 1Rebel are offering finance plans to remove the upfront cost of the bike, instead allowing customers to pay £99 a month over 36 months. There is also a monthly subscription of £39 for the classes.

To find out more information visit 1rebel.com/uk

HEALTHY AT HOME. When it comes to getting a personal trainer, who better than the God of Thunder himself? Chris Hemsworth launched his new digital fitness app earlier this year, bringing together his team of hand-picked experts including elite trainers, well-being gurus, celebrity chefs and meditation teachers.

Centr is a one-stop-shop for all your health and fitness needs. There are 20 to 40-minute workout sessions you can do at home or in the gym, which include boxing, HIIT, strength training and yoga. The plan helps you build your muscle at the right pace, maximising results. But it’s not just about the gym sesh. There are easy healthy meal plans so you can keep track of what you’re eating. With recipes from world-renowned chefs and auto-generated shopping lists, so you can make sure you have everything you need, meal prep has never felt so easy. To round it all off the app also offers plenty of tips for mindfulness to keep you centred. From meditation and confidencebuilding hacks, to tips on handling stress and 24/7 community support to keep you motivated, Centr is a fitness and lifestyle app that truly focusses on mind, body and soul.

Available on the App Store for iPhone and Apple Watch, from £7.83 a month

Health and fitness tech to give those resolutions a chance.

HEALTHY SLEEPING You can lift all the heavy weights you want, put in all the crunches, and suffer hundreds of squats, but if you don’t get a good night’s sleep for your muscles to properly recover, you’re not achieving the healthy lifestyle you’re hoping for. Snoozing is essential. But if you suffer from bouts of insomnia or need a gentle nudge helping to get to sleep, the Sleep’n Sound pillow is a piece of bedroom tech you might want to invest in. The premise is simple: the pillow features a small undetectable speaker concealed within it which will play your favourite chilled tunes and podcasts to help take your mind off the stresses of the day and drift into a deep slumber. Because sleeping is what? Fundamental.

Aavailable from amazon.co.uk, priced £19.99

HEALTHY TRACKING. The biggest reward for putting yourself through a regular exercise routine is seeing the progress you make. It’s why sport bands have quickly become some of the most popular wearable tech on the market. One of the latest models – the HONOR Band 5 – is a stylish professional fitness tracker at a competitive price point. Complete with a 0.95” AMOLED Full-Colour touchscreen, 24-hour heart rate monitoring, long battery life, and waterresistance up to 50 metres, it’s designed to withstand the most intense of workouts. When your body is in rest mode, the band’s TruSleep technology monitors your sleep quality, with 200 customised suggestions to improve your slumber. As a day-to-day watch, it also has functionality to alert users of incoming calls, messages and emails, while also acting as a remote control for your smartphone camera.

Available from amazon.co.uk, priced £29.99

A healthy and balanced lifestyle is, of course, going to centre around your diet. If you’re looking for quick, healthy and easy ways to cook, the George Foreman Evolve Precision Probe Grill with Deep Pan is the piece of kitchen tech for you. Don’t fall into the trap that electronic grills are just for meaty steaks and slabs of chicken breast; with its rectangular deep pan this appliance can be used for making curries and sauces, as well as baking healthier alternatives to your standard supermarket cake. Removable plates mean it’s easy to clean, a precision temperature probe lets you select how you want your meat and automatically turns off the grill when it’s done, and there’s even a sear function to achieve the perfect chargrill. We’re getting hungry just thinking about it.

Available from georgeforeman.co.uk, priced £149.99

Words Lewis Corner

HEALTHY EATING.

THANKS TO AUDI, OUR GUESTS ARRIVED IN STYLE. On 21 November 2019, over 1,000 people arrived at Magazine London for the GAY TIMES Honours 500 ceremony, which recognises queer people and their allies who have had a profound impact on the community over the last 12 months.

From community trailblazers to highly-visible queer stars, it’s an event that brings together people from all across our community to celebrate and inspire.

Hosted by comedian and actor Benny Drama, it marked the biggest event in our company’s recent history, with show-stopping performances by Brazilian drag sensation Pabllo Vittar, Swedish songstress ALMA, rising singer-songwriters L Devine and Vincint and festival collective Little Gay Brother. We also had DJ sets from Honey Dijon, Jodie Harsh and BBZ - with guest appearances from Kevin McHale, Charli XCX, Ncuti Gatwa, MNEK, Vinegar Strokes, Munroe Bergdorf, Dorian Electra, Courtney Act, Josef Salvat and Nicole Scherzinger. Thanks to Audi, our guests were chauffeured in style, arriving in 25 executive cars. To quote GAY TIMES Honouree Charli XCX, “Lookin’ luxe and tastin’ plush, I’m feelin’ so alive (vroom vroom)”.

Photography Getty Images

Everyone’s welcome at Tesco.

We’re proud to support our LGBTQ+ colleagues in feeling comfortable to be themselves at work, through an inclusive working environment and ensuring everyone has the opportunity to get on.

25

ALEXTBH. Meet Malaysia’s first openly queer pop star.

Photography Daniel Adams + Daniel Mutton / / Words Daniel Megarry

espite his home country having strict laws against homosexuality (a remnant of British colonial-era rule), Alex has been singing about same-sex love and desire for years, from proclaiming that “these boys are all the same” on deliciously lo-fi 2016 track Stoop So Low through to recalling a memorable date with another man at East London’s queer bar Dalston Superstore on tender new ballad Superstore. It may seem like a risk to be so open about his sexuality in a homophobic environment, but Alex says his personal experiences have been mostly positive.

“It feels great to be openly gay, it feels great that I can talk about these issues with people who are outside of my community as well, because I feel like that’s something I’ve always wanted to do, to let people know there is indeed a queer scene in Malaysia,” he tells us. “We’re living an oppressed lifestyle, but at the same time that doesn’t mean there’s not a burgeoning and eclectic queer scene happening here. It’s the opposite actually. There’s so many things happening and I have a lot of queer friends doing amazing shit – photographers, artists, drag queens – and it’s just great to be alive.”

We spoke to Alex over the phone to discuss what life is like for LGBTQ people living in his country, the power of his music crossing borders around the world, and how he feels about holding the title of Malaysia’s First Queer Pop Star.

D

You’ve been called Malaysia’s First Queer Pop Star, which could be a big responsibility. Do you like having that title?

I don’t mind it really. It was a moniker given by people around me, so I gladly accept that title if it means that I can do my best to provide my community with a voice. It doesn’t feel like a huge responsibility really, it’s more that I want everyone to focus on issues regarding the queer community in my country and my region.

Have you had any contact from other queer Malaysians who have heard your music and been inspired by that?

Yeah, I’m the kind of person who goes through their DMs on Instagram and reads everyone’s messages, and once in a while I’ll get a message from a queer person in Malaysia who says I inspire them to be brave and bold in how they present themselves to the world, and it’s just the best feeling ever, you know? I never intended to put myself in this position, but to know that this gave a platform to legitimise everyone’s feelings and making them feel like they belong and they deserve better, it’s a really great feeling. It’s one of the reasons that drives me to keep making music as my true self.

but love when I could have been in the worst position because I know there are other friends of mine who have been through some horrible, horrible shit to get where they are today. The fact that I’m not getting as much negativity as I should worries me a little because if anything it makes me realise my privilege and where I am compared to my peers.

It’s interesting that happened in London, which is seen as such a liberal place...

Yeah, out of all places! It’s definitely a reminder that homophobia exists everywhere. Generally in Malaysia, most people are homophobic, and they’ll give you dirty looks if you hold hands with another guy in public, but I just feel like in bigger cities people tend to be more bold and more violent in a physical sense. Whereas in Malaysia it’s a bit more of a cultural thing, so people tend to keep opinions to themselves but you can tell they’re probably screaming the word ‘faggot’ in their head.

Are there any LGBTQ icons in Malaysia for the community to look up to?

There’s this artist I’ve been stanning since I was young, her name is Zee Avi. She’s not queer but her latest music video showcases drag queens and people from the queer community, some of them are my close friends, and honestly I stan her. She’s my pop queen. Charli [XCX] comes in a close seconds – sorry, Charli – but when Miss Zee Avi did that I was so touched at how she embraces the queer community, that’s the one thing that made me think, ‘Okay, there is hope in pushing LGBTQ rights in Malaysia’.

What is life like for you as an openly gay artist in Malaysia?

It feels fucking great! I think it’s because I live a truthful life and people can see that in my eyes and it’s just much easier that way. It’s way easier to socialise with people, it’s way easier because I have nothing to hide, and I think people like that because it’s refreshing and it’s something new.

And vice versa, the more I am truthfully myself the more people are okay with it and accepting of it. So yeah, it feels great to be openly gay, it feels great that I can talk about these issues with people who are outside of my community as well, because I feel like that’s something I’ve always wanted to do, to let people know there is indeed a queer scene in Malaysia. We’re living an oppressed lifestyle, but at the same time that doesn’t mean there’s not a burgeoning and eclectic queer scene happening here. It’s the opposite actually. There’s so many things happening and I have a lot of queer friends doing amazing shit – photographers, artists, drag queens – and it’s just great to be alive.

On the flip side, have you faced any negativity?

Surprisingly, no, nothing so far. I think it’s because the people who are listening to my music are generally accepting of me and a person as well, which makes it easier. Somebody that’s homophobic would probably never listen to my music. However – again, non-career related – there was one time I was walking through Elephant and Castle on the streets of London, I was feeling fishy, I was feeling my oats, and then this bunch of guys drove past and starting yelling ‘faggot’ at me, and I didn’t even know what was happening until I took my airpods out and I was like, ‘Oh my god, I’ve been harassed’. It occurred to me then how lucky I have been to live in an otherwise homophobic country, in Malaysia, and yet I’ve been surrounded by nothing

My next question was going to be about misconceptions of the LGBTQ community in Malaysia, but I think you just answered that.

Yeah, I think people expect us to be really oppressed and expect there not to be a huge scene here, but there is, there’s a huge drag scene in Malaysia. It’s not as major as in London, for example, but it’s localised and it’s intertwined with Malaysian cultural identity and that’s what makes it amazing. We have our own people in the community to look up to, I think that’s the best part.

You don’t have to look far to stan people that you love. You can just look around you for people that inspire you within the community.

The law banning sodomy in Malaysia is a hangover from British 10 years go, the idea of listening to a pop star from Malaysia colonial rule. Do you think that our government has a responsibility wouldn’t have even crossed my mind, but thanks to the power of to help change laws in countries like your own? the internet and streaming services people do that every day – how On your side I think the more important thing is raising awareness of the do you think technology has helped open doors for artists and fact that these sodomy laws were enacted by the British a long time ago, I push the music industry forward? think if there’s awareness of that it’s easier for people to start a conversation like, ‘Oh shit, I think we’re gonna have to go and fix the damage that we did’, because historically a lot of places in Malaysia do embrace queer identities until the British came and started enacting these draconian laws. It’s a combination of being aware that the British started it, and government legislations pushing to remove it. But the fact that it’s still hard to remove it now I think is because a) it’s just way easier to gain popular votes by being homophobic, and b) politicians like to use the sodomy law as an excuse to persecute people that they do not stan. Because that’s what happened with our former prime minister, he used the sodomy law as an excuse to persecute the opposition leader – it wasn’t even proven that he was gay, it was just the fact that he was accused of sodomy, that’s pretty much it. It gets really dangerous in that sense. If anything I just feel like that law is only enacted for politicians to fuck other people’s lives over.

Now is the best time to showcase yourself as a musician, because the resources are all there for you, all you need to do is learn how to market yourself and express yourself. It’s such an amazing time, I love the era of streaming. I guess a lot of people are scared of it because of the pay issue, a lot of artists have to find other ways of earning money now to replace their dwindling income in terms of albums and streaming, but at the same time you get to put your music out there and anyone around the world can listen to it. It’s great, and I embrace it fully.

How important do you think it is that music can now cross borders in this way and – it sounds really cheesy – bring all these different cultures and people together?

Okay firstly, that’s not cheesy at all [Laughs]. The fact that I wrote these songs as love letters, as a plea, as a message for a certain somebody, and for another person from the other side of the world to look into it and say, ‘I can totally relate to whatever you wrote’, is amazing! It makes me feel like I am less alone in my struggles, and I take comfort in the fact that Jeremy from fucking Australia cries over my song that I wrote three years ago for some silly man. It feels great because it makes everyone feel like, ‘Oh I’m not the only one struggling with this issue’. And it’s even better because I write my songs from a queer perspective. To have somebody come up to me like, ‘Yeah, I just went through my first gay breakup and I got heartbroken and this song describes how I feel’, or the more common, ‘I just had sex to your song, you’re amazing’.

Do you think the situation is getting better for LGBTQ people in Malaysia?

I like to think that way. On a more individual and community level there’s not only awareness, there’s resources, there’s education, there’s NGOs reaching out to help everybody that they can. However, on a legislative level, little work has been done, and realistically speaking that’s kind of expected because politicians are selfish assholes and unfortunately it’s much easier to follow the herd. You get more hate if you have a different opinion than the majority, so it’s gonna be really difficult. I still have hope on it, mostly because on a cultural level and a community level there’s awareness and people are accepting it and embracing it. It takes time, just like any other policy change, it takes time. The one thing we need to keep doing is fostering conversations to bring people together for them to come onto the right side of history.

That’s a big compliment...

That is a big compliment, and I welcome all of it. It makes me feel better about myself!

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L DEVINE. We may have only just entered a new year, but the world has already been blessed with its first massive pop anthem of 2020, courtesy of L Devine.

Photography Jakub Koziel / / Fashion Umar Sarwar / / Words Daniel Megarry Hair Sven Bayerbach at Carol Hayes Management using Bumble & Bumble Makeup Zoe Moore using Kevyn Aucoin & Ole Henriksen Fashion Assistants Sophie Moncaster & Solly Warner

fter delving into funk-driven waters on Naked Alone, a massive bedroom anthem that saw her proclaim “all I really need is some sex” to fight off the loneliness, and taking us back to the 80s on the vocoder-bathed Peachy Keen, which brilliantly interpolates the synth line from classic track Bette Davis Eyes, L Devine has just is kicking off January right with another infectious single called Boring People. Like the title suggests, the song examines the monotony of life over dreary beats – but in a way that shows how similar we all are, rather than criticising others for their choices. “Might watch paint dry, and reminisce about when I was a child, get low, get high, my dreams are the same as my problems,” she sings, before launching into an anthemic chorus that skewers the 9 to 5 lifestyle and drinking coffee to fight off sleep. “We’re boring people, boring lives,” she laments.

“The inspiration came from the concept that we’re all the same. No matter how different from each other we think we are, we’re all going through the same shit,” she tells us. “I made a point of the verses being super introspective and calling out my own tendencies and the way I get bored of myself sometimes, and the shit I hear myself say. This was a chance to talk about myself a bit more, and then the chorus is a universal message.” Sonically, it’s different from anything she’s done before – but then, the same could be said about any song L Devine has released over the past year. Rather than settle on one genre or

theme, she’s exploring her options with a singles-first approach to releasing music. “For me it’s not really a conscious decision,” she explains. “I’m just interested in so much music and I don’t really want to have to put a lid on what music I can make and I always want to try something new.”

This versatility was no doubt inspired by the music she was fed growing up – her dad listened to Motown and Soul, while her mother always played Fleetwood Mac in the house. At school, her friends listened to hip-hop and R&B, and in her own time she discovered punk music like the Sex Pistols and The Clash. “There were so many genres coming into my life, and I was in love with them all,” she says. But it was a new-found appreciation for pop that finally kick-started her own journey into music. “I became totally obsessed with pop music when I found out you could be a songwriter for a career,” she recalls, citing strong female artists like Robyn, Christine and the Queens and Kate Bush as inspirations. Still, while pop may have been the catalyst, L Devine doesn’t want to be restricted by one sound. “With streaming now you don’t have to abide by genres anymore. It’s not like you have to go to the shop and spend £9.99 on one CD, you can listen to everything now. It’s kind of cool that we’ve come to this melting pot of genres, and artists can bend all of those boundaries.”

L Devine grew up in Whitley Bay in Newcastle upon Tyne. It’s not the most

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Tulle dress, £1,925, REDVALENTINO.

Number 24 metallic mini dress, £210, ROTATE BIRGER CHRISTENSEN.

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diverse place in the world, and like many queer people who’ve experienced small-town life, it can be stifling to feel like the only one who’s different. “I definitely didn’t find it easy, and I don’t think anyone does, even if it’s just your little secret, you’re battling that shame that’s been put upon you,” she admits, although she says she was lucky to have “so many loving and caring people” around her that accepted her. “I know that is not the case for so many people.” As she gained independence, she did what queer people have always done – she turned to the bright lights of the big city, moving to London and pursuing her music career. “Coming from a small town I didn’t feel like I could be as open about my sexuality as I could somewhere like London or LA,” she explains, “and I’m really lucky that I get to work in those places and have friends in those places because I’ve never felt like I can be more open about who I am than in a creative industry and in these places in the world.”

When we spoke to the singer-songwriter back in May, she said she never wanted to “capitalise or cash-in” on her sexuality, and was worried it would be used as a Wool sweater with crystals, £3,800, marketing narrative. ERMANNO SCERVINO. Asked how she toes the line between exploitation and celebration – which, of course, is important for young fans looking for people similar to them – L Devine says she’s got a slightly different view on the matter now. “I think that was something I was worried about growing up and looking at the music industry from an outside perspective. I don’t want to be pigeon-holed or put in any boxes,” she recalls, “but I realise now that that’s actually pretty ridiculous and it’s not my problem, it’s just what society has told me, and it’s not something I can do anything about.

I want to be known as an artist before I’m known as a gay artist, but also that is part of who I am.”

The uncertainty she felt looking into the industry from the outside almost put her off becoming a singer entirely. “When I was younger, I went through a phase when I didn’t want to be an artist at all, I just wanted to be a songwriter because I had this idea of what a pop star was and I didn’t think I fit into that,” she says. “I thought a female pop star was a girlygirl, all singing, all dancing, Britney-esque classic pop star and I just knew that wasn’t me at all. I definitely thought when I was a lot younger, when I was thinking about being a singer, I thought, ‘Well I’m going to have to say I’m bisexual so that I appeal to boys too’, which is completely ridiculous – and of course that’s completely changed now.”

Embracing her sexuality and being honest in her music has made her a visible role model for a new generation of queer people. On fan favourite track Daughter, for example, she chastises the mother of an ex-girlfriend who rejected her queerness and their relationship. “Trust me your ignorance don’t faze me, she’s my baby girl,” she sings. “It goes against everything you taught her, but I’m sorry miss, I’m in love with your daughter.” It’s true to her brand of truthful storytelling that comes straight from the heart, and it’s clearly had an impact on listeners. “I love to help people get through things, and that’s the best part of doing what I do is having people come up to me and say, ‘You’ve helped me so much with coming to terms with who I am’,” L Devine says.

“Seeing how much songs like Daughter have helped people, I never want to shy away from that.”

There’s a reason why authenticity has become such a buzz word of late – whether it’s trans actors playing trans roles, or queer singers writing queer songs, stories told from lived experiences are far more relatable. But of course that doesn’t always happen. British singer-songwriter Charli XCX – who, by the way, called L Devine the “motherfucking future” of pop – recently took to social media to express frustration with the way women in the music industry are questioned on their ability to be in control of their own career. It’s another topic L Devine is passionate about. “It’s unbelievable when you realise how many songs by young girls are written by 40-year-old men, and I don’t think that’s because women can’t write songs, it’s because the A&Rs and people setting up these sessions aren’t giving people a chance to get in the room and write these songs themselves,” she says. “It’s just common sense that if you’re going to write a song for a young girl, then it should be written by a young girl too. I think that’s changing now, honestly in the past two years some of the most creative and inventive music has come from females. Billie Eilish is the perfect example of a super young girl who has set the tone for music completely in the past two years, and Rosalia as well, everyone is looking to those young women to see what the next big thing is.”

Queer women especially have held a signifiant place in music over recent years, breaking taboos around same-sex love and female sexuality in general. Again, they’re challenging years of female pop artists being told what to sing about or how to present themselves. “I think we’ve moved forward so much in the past couple of years,” L Devine says. She’s positive that things are getting better. “Even since I’ve started releasing music there are so many other queer females who have released music explicitly talking about women in their lyrics, there are so many examples I can think of like King Princess, Clairo, Hayley Kiyoko, Carlie Hanson, so many people. I definitely think we’re moving in the right direction.”

This year, L Devine says the records that have been on repeat for her are Lana Del Rey’s criticallyacclaimed Norman Fucking Rockwell – “start to finish I was obsessed with that album,” she gushes – and Chris by French artist Christine and the Queens.

“I’m a huge Christine And The Queens fan, the songs and visuals and the live shows, it all adds up.” As for her own debut album, it’s definitely on her radar, but it seems like fans might have a while to wait until it’s finally here. “Albums are really important to me and that’s definitely the kind of artist I aspire to be.

When I make an album I want to go away and delve into a theme or a specific sound. For now, I’m not really there yet, I’m still having fun trying things out,” she says. “This year is gonna be about singles and getting music out there. It’s about consistency and relevancy.”

As we wrap up our interview, and with a year full of potential ahead, we ask a final question - how will L Devine know when she’s made it? “That’s a big, big question,” she laughs. “I guess the ultimate goal for me, even if it’s just a little smudge, is to leave a tiny mark on this big old music industry. I’d love to inspire people. I want other artists and creators to tell me that my music has inspired them. That’s the dream.” We’d say she’s already well on her way to achieving that.

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Indie pop’s new voice for the queer generation.

Photography Hanifah Mohammad / / Words Daniel Megarry

y the time our camera snaps Marie Ulven for the last time, she’s been in photo shoots for seven straight hours. By her own admission, she’s feeling the toll of weeks of touring and press interactions, although she remains engaged and optimistic. At just 20 years old – and barely two years into her career – the indie pop artist known to fans as Girl In Red has completed a tour of the United States and Europe, and achieved millions of streams with her music. Even more impressive, all of this has been achieved without the backing of a record label. When I speak to Marie a week later, she’s had some time to reflect on the experience of her first cover shoot, which kick starts a promising new year for the Norwegian singer-songwriter.

“When you met me, I’d just been travelling for a month on the road, and it’s like squeezing the last juice out of a lemon. I was extremely drained and really tired,” she says. “And nobody can know what touring is like if you haven’t done it yourself.” As well as being down-to-earth and undemanding on set – she even insisted on bringing her own clothes – Marie is also refreshingly unfiltered when talking about life and her career; she lacks the rigorous PR training that so many A-list celebrities go through to present a picture-perfect image of themselves.

“It can get kinda draining,” she says of the promotional wheel. “You have to be like, ‘Hey, hey, hey!’ to everyone you meet, because you don’t want to come across as a dick, you don’t wanna be rude.” Her biggest fear, she says, is that people will perceive her as a diva – which of course couldn’t be further from her naturally grounded persona. Marie is the kind of person you’d want to head down the pub with on a Sunday afternoon. “But also, it’s not really natural to be so positive to so many people for seven hours straight either,” she stresses. “I don’t know. I’m just very human. But I’m trying to have a mentality to be grateful and try and stay positive because at the end of the day, it’s like any job, some parts are more boring than others.”

Her experience of fame – which she admits is “pretty small scale” compared to others – has given her a new outlook on more glossy, mainstream singers.

“I’m thinking about really big pop artists who have been doing this since they were like 12 years old, people like Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande and Shawn Mendes. Maybe five years ago I would’ve been like, ‘Oh, you’re not edgy, you don’t play guitar, blah blah blah’, but now it’s like, they’re so professional, and I admire all of those people. I’m growing more and more fans of them every day.”

It’s this relatability that has won her a legion of loyal fans, who understand the brutally honest lyrics she pens. “Accepting I’m pointless isn’t the hardest, when it’s so completely obvious,” she sings on I’ll Die Anyway, a track that questions the futility of life over head-bang-worthy production. “Pretty face with pretty bad dreams, no one knows I cry in my sleep, waking up feeling like shit, it’s a normal thing to feel like this,” she confesses on Summer Depression, a mellowed-out diary entry about the mental health issues she faces with the change of seasons. On recent track I Need To Be Alone, she despairs,

“It’s getting harder to exist, I don’t want to feel like this.” Her songs are, in a way, the perfect antidote to the eternally-positive self-love anthems that have dominated the charts over the past year.

“I’ve never second guessed my honesty or what I should write about, but I definitely didn’t think people would like it as much as they did,” she explains.

“In a weird way, I feel we need to see more sad moments, because most of what we see on Instagram is just people’s highlights, we just see people’s good sides all the time. And if you’re not a part of that and you’re at home feeling like shit, then I think it’s good to have someone you can listen to and realise, ‘Okay, I’m not alone feeling this way or that way’. You never see when people are sad or not at the beach or at a party – and most of the time nobody is doing all those things, they’re just doing normal things in normal places, but you don’t see that so you don’t feel that way.”

Also key to Marie’s success is her honesty about her sexuality. Amid fierce debate over whether queer artists have a responsibility to use same-sex pronouns in their lyrics, the tender We Fell In Love In October sees Marie cry, “My girl, my girl, my girl, you will be my world,” over and over, ensuring there’s no doubt about where her attractions lie. On fan favourite Girls, she addresses the conflict she once felt about her growing attraction towards other women.

“I should be into this guy, but it’s just a waste of time, he’s really not my type,” she sings, before admitting, “They’re so pretty it hurts, I’m not talking ‘bout boys, I’m talking ‘bout girls.” I Wanna Be Your Girlfriend even name-drops an unrequited love called Hannah. When it comes to visibility, Marie has got it down.

“I think having all this queer art and music and movies and photography and paintings, it’s so important and all that shit is gonna help this world move towards a better place,” she says. On set, the speaker blasts almost exclusively queer women; artists like The Japanese House, King Princess, MUNA, Brooke Candy, Tove Lo and L Devine – mostly at the request of Marie. We agree that, even five years ago, having such a wide array of out and proud female artists to listen to would be unthinkable. “Seeing all these girls and boys making them gay tunes, I’m just like, ‘Yaaas!’” she laughs. “It’s all moving in the right direction, and I feel like more and more people are going to come out – or maybe they won’t need to come out, they’ll just be themselves from day one, you know?

That’s the ideal situation, they’ll just meet someone and they won’t care about gender or anything, because that doesn’t mean anything. What matters is that people are happy.”

Marie began writing music when she got her first guitar at the age of 13. She admits she was “the worst guitar player ever” at the start, but years of practice paid off. At the time, she was listening to Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber and One Direction – like most teenagers her age – but after an eye-opening viewing of The Perks Of Being A Wallflower she began exploring indie bands like The Smiths, New Order and Galaxie 500. All of these artists helped influence her

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BEING INDEPENDENT IS GREAT. I DON’T HAVE ANYONE TELLING ME WHAT TO DO, OR HOW TO BE, OR TO WEAR A FUCKING DRESS. I’LL WEAR A FUCKING SUIT IF I WANT TO, BITCH!

” current sound. “I like pop music, but it doesn’t feel like me. I could probably write one of those songs, but that doesn’t feel as honest,” she says. It wasn’t until a year ago, when people started listening to her songs online and her fan base grew, that she realised she had a real talent for making music. Even now, though, she second-guesses her success at times. “Sometimes I’ll think, ‘What do they see in me?’ I question it and I feel very doubtful and scared, but then other times I’ll be like, ‘Fuck yeah, this is the best shit ever!’ I feel like we could all be really good friends if I wasn’t living in Oslo. Most people are in the United States, but there are even people in, like, Saudi Arabia and shit. They’re everywhere. It’s awesome.”

The emergence of streaming and social media has opened up a world of possibilities for young independent artists like Marie. Where the prospect of creating and releasing music was once reserved for those signed to labels, anyone with the talent and ambition can now teach themselves to produce and record from their own bedroom. This has been especially significant for emerging queer artists, who may not get the same support from traditional entry routes into the industry as their straight, cisgender counterparts. “I’ve said this before, but I do feel like the music industry is way more democratic right now, because a lot more people have voices instead of just the dictators of the major labels handing out record deals,” she tells me. “You don’t need to go that way anymore.” Marie releases music under her own label called World In Red with the help of AWAL (Artists Without A Label), a new way of distributing that’s becoming increasingly popular among artists including Kim Petras, Allie X and Rex Orange County. “I just make all my tunes in my room, I think it’s awesome, and other people are making tunes in their room too, like Billie Eilish and FINNEAS. It shows that ‘bedroom music’ isn’t something that has to be small, it doesn’t need to be indie, it can be anything.”

Being independent also means Marie can write about whatever she wants, and not worry about dulling her queerness. “I don’t have to show my songs to anyone, I don’t have someone on the sidelines saying, ‘Oh, this is sad and gay, we need a hit’. I don’t have anyone defining me,” she explains. There have been talks with record labels, but they’ve left a slightly bitter taste in her mouth. “I did label meetings last year before I even had a manager, but they were telling me what I was, they were like, ‘You’re a songwriter to us, we just see you as a songwriter’, and they had never seen me perform or anything. So being independent is great. I don’t have anyone telling me what to do, or how to be, or to wear a fucking dress. I’ll wear a fucking suit if I want to, bitch!” Still, the prospect of writing a number one single isn’t totally out of the question for Marie. “I mean, I think all my songs are hits,” she laughs. “Okay, I need to calm the fuck down now – no, I don’t think all my songs are hits, but yeah,

that’s obviously something that’s cool in any artist’s career, and I do want to write a hit on my own terms, but I don’t think that’s the goal. I think the goal is to always make sure every song I put out there is good. Do you know The Japanese House? I love all her music. None of it is a chart-topping hit, but it’s all good, and I feel like I’d rather do that and have a really, really good discography than to just have hits.”

A recent study found that Norway is the safest place in the world to be LGBTQ, and the country consistently ranks as one of the friendliest places to visit for queer people. I ask if Marie’s experience matches up, and for the most part it does. She recalls the only time she ever faced overt homophobia. “I was with my ex-girlfriend and we were just laying in a park together, we probably kissed, and this kid saw us and he was riding his bike around us going, ‘That’s wrong, that’s gross’, and I got really angry. I’m the kind of person who might hit someone if I get really angry. Obviously I don’t get that angry – and I wouldn’t punch a kid, obviously,” she laughs. “It is really good being gay here. Just like in any country, when you get out of the cities and into the more religious parts, there’s homophobia. Like, there’s this whole thing going on right now about conversion ‘therapy’ because that’s still going on, but now they’re talking about banning it. So it’s good for me, but it’s not good for everyone, and that’s not enough.”

After putting two beloved EPs into the world, Marie’s discography remains all killer, no filler. But for many, the true test of an artist’s worth is the ability to create a fully-formed album with a concept, a sound, a theme – something that’s become less common in the age of streaming. “I think albums still have a lot of value to them,” she agrees, confirming a full-length record is in the works.

“Right now, I’m at home, and right after this interview I’m gonna make music, and I’m gonna do that every single day until I make a bomb-ass album and I’m gonna be like, ‘Fuck yeah, I made this shit’, then I’m gonna put it out, and it might flop, who knows? But then I’ll be putting out them singles to stimulate the streaming services and all the algorithms. So that’s what I’m gonna do.”

Does she have any other plans for the future? “I’m just gonna make music, play some sick-ass festivals, and just have fun. Oh, and read some books! I wanna get better at that shit. Maybe I’ll start working out. I have a membership, I’ve paid like €700 for a year at the gym and I still haven’t gone there once, so let’s start working out.”

I suggest a New Year’s resolution, but Marie’s quick to offer some advice right back. “Fuck New Year’s resolutions, man! We can’t wait, you know? We might get hit by a bus tomorrow! We can’t wait. Nothing is guaranteed,” she says. “The only thing that’s guaranteed in life is death. So let’s go.”

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QUEER GUIDE TO 2020.

Words: Lewis Corner, Sam Damshenas, Daniel Megarry + Matt Moore

There’s little doubt that queer visibility increased exponentially during the 2010s.

Whether it was the cultural phenomenon that is RuPaul’s Drag Race, Academy Awardwinning films like Moonlight, Call Me By Your Name, and Carol, or groundbreaking television series like Pose, we finished the decade with our stories being heard and in some cases, vitally being told by those with the lived experience to give it authenticity.

As we head into 2020, that legacy continues. Many of the cultural informers that have led the way over the past decade are heading into the year stronger and more beloved than ever. It’s why for our Queer Guide to 2020, we have a whole section dedicated to Drag Race. Its power is undeniable, giving visibility to LGBTQ experiences and issues scarcely featured in mainstream television before it.

As for television and movies, we have a slate of returning favourites to look forward who are joined by exciting new shows and narratives. Lena Waithe’s Twenties and Russell T Davies’ Boys are just two shows primed to entertain and educate in equal measure. The return of Netflix’s Sex Education kicks it all off this month, and you can find out more about what we can expect with our cover feature with Ncuti Gatwa (Eric Effiong) elsewhere in this issue. As for Hollywood, it feels like it’s finally starting to listen to and respect LGBTQ representation.

From the first openly gay superhero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in this year’s sci-fi blockbuster The Eternals, to a big-screen adaptation of West End musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, queer visibility is firmly on the agenda.

Then we have the increasing emergence of fresh queer talent in music. We could only squeeze eight new names to keep an eye on this year, but trust us when we say that music by LGBTQ voices has never felt so vibrant, diverse and culturally enriching.

Elsewhere in this issue, we have the incredible Girl In Red speaking about her ascension in the industry as a young queer female, with a refreshing outlook that demonstrates that there’s a generation coming through who value authenticity above all else.

But we will be starting off our Queer Guide to 2020 with the important stuff.

The 2010s saw the LGBTQ community makes big gains, with many Global North countries legalising same-sex marriage, the decriminalisation of homosexuality in places like India, Mozambique and Botswana, and a greater understanding and responsibility of ensuring equal rights for LGBTQ people all over the world. However, there is much much more to be done. There are new wins on the horizon, and if all goes well 2020 will welcome new rights for queer people in countries where it is intensely challenging to live openly.

Here, over ten pages, we present to you your Queer Guide to 2020. This is just a peek at what’s in store, but we think you’ll agree that 2020 is going to be pretty damn queer - and that’s just the way we like it.

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SAME-SEX MARRIAGE One piece of pro-LGBTQ legislation that is guaranteed to pass this year is the legalisation of same-sex marriage in Costa Rica. At the start of 2018, the InterAmerican Court of Human Rights ruled that several American countries needed to legalise same-sex marriage. Although some have actively resisted, Costa Rica was fairly compliant. However, the country fell into a general election, where same-sex marriage became a main issue. Opponents to legalisation were beaten, and in August 2018 the country’s Supreme Court ruled that legislation allowing same-sex marriage had to be legal by May 2020, otherwise it would automatically become legal. Thailand is also on its way to bring in same-sex partnerships, which offers some of the same rights as marriage, this year. Some of the main benefits of the bill revolve around property and inheritance rights, with the term ‘life-partners’ being used. The Thai Cabinet passed a bill to this effect on Christmas Day in 2018, and when the bill heads to the country’s parliament early this year, it is expected to pass there. Public support has been high for the bill, with public hearings held from 12 to 16 November 2018 reportedly having 98% of those in attendance approving the bill.

NORTHERN IRELAND

DECRIMINALISATION

CONVERSION 'THERAPY'

No ‘petition of concern’ could stop it this time, as last year the UK government legislated to legalise same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland, the only part of the United Kingdom where it hadn’t been legal. Parts of the law came into effect in October, but same-sex marriage will be fully legal by 13 January 2020. Where couples in Northern Ireland have to indicate their intention to get married at least 28 days prior to the ceremony, it is thought that some of the first same-sex marriages to take place in the country will be happening on the week of Valentine’s Day.

Two countries could be on the cusp of legalising homosexuality this year. Last summer, Bhutan’s National Assembly overwhelmingly voted in favour of removing laws which banned ‘unnatural sex’.

This will now be debated in the National Council during its current winter session. The African nation of Mauritius could also decriminalise homosexuality, although this depends on a Supreme Court judgement. Four Mauritians made a case to the Supreme Court, saying the law violates their “fundamental rights and freedoms”.

The next hearing in the case is in February, but a result might not be known until 2021.

Germany could become the second European country, after Malta, to introduce a nationwide ban on the discredited practice known as gay ‘conversion’ therapy. The draft bill was introduced

by Germany’s openly gay Health Minister, Jens Spahn back in November. Although there are no fixed dates for the law to be voted on, a German Health Ministry spokesperson confirmed it would likely be during this year. The bill would punish those found to be coercing people into undertaking the practice with up to a year in jail, as well as a fine of up to €30,000 for those advertising it.

STEPS TOWARDS EQUALITY.

VICTORIES. WE LOVE TO SEE IT.

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QUEER GUIDE TO 2020 • QUEER GUIDE TO 2020 • QUEER GUIDE TO 2020 • QUEER GUID

MUSIC.

ABISHA

BLITHE

DAMEZ

Best Track: Real Life

Best Track: Bad

Best Track: Pull Up

London-based rising singer-songwriter Abisha knows what it feels like to be an outsider. Growing up in Devon, she tells us she “used to cry to my mum and beg her to straighten my hair, because I wanted to look like everybody else”. Now, she wants to be an inspiration for other people who experience confusion and isolation for their race or sexuality. With a string of autobiographical songs including pop anthem Nothing Matters and altR&B jam All That (as well as a stunning cover of Sade’s Smooth Operator) already gaining traction on streaming services, Abisha is one to watch.

If A-grade pop bops with a dark edge are your thing, then Blithe is an artist to add to your playlists this year. In her recent video for breakup anthem Becoming You, she showed off her extraordinary dance skills as she performed a stripped-back interpretive routine, proving she’s got the talent to take her far. Other tracks like Don’t Blink, Masochistic and Bad echo the pop sensibilities of chart-topping stars like Katy Perry, who she cites as an inspiration, which can only be a good thing.

With the goal of becoming a role model for LGBTQ youth of colour, and breaking down barriers for queer artists in the hip-hop industry, Damez is entering 2020 with a purpose. After his brother tragically died from gun violence, he found a calling in songwriting and has been dropping fierce tracks ever since. His last single Pull Up was an incredible anthem that’ll make you feel like a boss on your worst days. “Tell ‘em come through when he wanna get his shit up, fuck ‘em then I make him and his main bitch split up,” he spits on the track.

Confidence? It’s here in spades.

GIA WOODS Best Track: Keep On Coming Continuing the recent trend of queer women making incredible pop music is Gia Woods. The 22-year-old released a few tracks here-and-there over the past few years, but 2019 is the year she fully committed to her musical career, having already released a string of made-for-radio bops that fit right at home alongside the biggest chart hits. New Girlfriend was a cheeky twist on a same-sex breakup anthem, bittersweet One Big Party sounded like the kind of song you’d belt out at karaoke (or in the shower), while Keep On Coming showed off Gia’s sultry side – if you think the title is brash, wait till you hear the lyrics. 2020 is looking even brighter, as January sees the arrival of new single Hungry, a grungy empowerment anthem about taking control and living for your own approval. Whether it’s her lyrics (“I like your new girlfriend more than you,” she purs on breakout track New Girlfriend) or her music videos (recent release Feel It sees her passionately make out with another woman) she’s the visible lesbian representation we need. Gia has the whole package; the visuals, the tunes, the voice. This is her year.

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EIGHT QUEER ARTISTS TO WATCH IN 2020.

ARLO PARKS Best Track: Sophie After releasing her brilliant debut single Cola at the end of 2018, and being given a boost by pop superstar Lily Allen who made it one of her top five tracks on Apple Music, Arlo Parks went on to play sets at Glastonbury and Latitude Festival.

Now with two critically-adored EPs to her name, the Londoner’s refreshing brand of confessional soul-meets-jazz-meets-funk is speaking to Gen Z like no one else can. “I’m still denying that I’m anxious as fuck, and I’m lacking in trust, and I think my art sucks,” she admits on Sophie, while coming-of-age anthem Super Sad Generation sees her address mental health, body issues and drug use among young people. “Start doing ketamine on weekends, getting wasted at the station, and trying to keep our friends from death,” she sings.

There’s heartbreak too, of course. “You’re there thinking about a girl who ain’t thinking about you,” she whispers over gloriously low-fi beats in Angel’s Song. “Baby you’re wishing you could die with the moon, but I would miss you.” Arlo could easily ascend to become the voice of her generation, and 2020 might be the year she fulfils that potential.

SXMSON

MOOD KILLER

JOESEF

Best Track: Cam Boy

Best Track:Play Me Something Nice Best Track: Smile

Much like creative forces and longtime collaborators Dorian Electra and Weston Allen, genderless artist Mood Killer is challenging our expectations of pop music with an unhealthy dose of camp and social commentary. Their debut EP Liquify delivered infectious hooks wrapped up in experimental production and vocal distortion; standout Cam Boy is a sex-positive anthem about making coin through the computer screen, while Go Hard is a thumping party anthem that does exactly what the title promises. We have no idea what’s coming next, but we can’t look away.

With just one EP to his name, Glaswegian singersongwriter Joesef is already selling out headline shows and gaining comparisons to British sensation Amy Winehouse. It’s easy to see why; his sad boy alt-pop – driven by plenty of soul, expansive production and plucky guitars – is both dreamy and heartbreaking, and his distinctive vocals immediately capture your attention. Songs like Kerosene, which tells the story of his first time with another man, are gloriously honest and straight from the heart. We predict big things are on the way for Joesef.

Although SXMSON has been writing music for over 10 years, the rising star has only recently launched his bid for superstardom. Born and raised in North-West London, he was influenced by the 90s R&B he grew up listening to, as well as influential artists like Prince and Stevie Wonder. 2019 saw the release of several golden pop tracks including electronic ballad Smile, and dark synthpop bop Memory, all of which come from an authentic and unapologetically queer place. He’s promised us an EP, a dance feature and a “more fully-formed SXMSON” on the way in 2020, so get excited.

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LIGHTS. CAMERA. QUEER. ETERNALS

6 November Set at the beginning of the universe, The Eternals will focus on an immortal alien race of the same name created by the Celestials, who are sent to Earth to protect humanity from their evil counterparts, The Deviants. The 25th entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has an ensemble cast, featuring the likes of Angelina Jolie as Thena, Richard Madden as Ikaris, Kumail Nanjiani as Kingo, Salma Hayek as Ajak, Gemma Chan as Sersi, Kit Harrington as Dane Whitman, Bryan Tyree Henry as Phastos and Lauren Ridloff as Makkari. It will be historic for the franchise because it will be the first Marvel film to feature an out-and-proud superhero. Kevin Feige – Marvel Studios president - said of an unidentified character: “He’s married. He’s got a family. And that is just part of who he is.” In a recent interview, Madden - who is rumoured to play the character - said it’s “hugely important” for blockbusters to start becoming more diverse. “I’m a white male actor and not in the majority of this cast,” he explained. “I’m the minority, which is important in terms of diversity in filmmaking. I think Marvel are really at the forefront of that.”

AMMONITE

AND THEN WE DANCED

EUROVISION

Release Date TBA

13 March

Release Date TBA

Coming in early 2020, Ammonite is set to explore the life of the acclaimed, but under-recognised palaeontologist Mary Anning as she meets with fellow geologist Charlotte Murchison as she cares for her own ailing mother. The film has major star power with Academy Award winner Kate Winslet in the starring role, and Academy Award nominee Saoirse Ronan as her love interest. However, it has attracted controversy ahead of its release, with relatives of Anning saying that Mary didn’t identify as a lesbian, and that the film was fabricating a love story where there never was one.

Another film here that incited controversy upon its release, although for much different reasons, And Then We Danced received threats from ultraconservatives and pro-Russian groups in Georgia who argued that screening the film was promoting the ‘sin of sodomy’. Although that phrase alone might tempt you in, there are many other reasons to watch the love story blossom between dancer Merab, played by Levan Gelbakhiani, and his rival turned strongest desire, Irakli, played by Bachi Valishvili. And seeing as the film is now Oscarnominated, there’s even more reasons for films buffs to go watch.

Comedy heavyweights Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams have teamed up with Netflix to star as Lars Erickssong and Sigrit Ericksdottir, two aspiring performers who wish to represent Iceland at the Eurovision Song Contest. Pierce Brosnan will play Lars’s father Erick - the “most handsome man in Iceland” - and Dan Stevens steps into the role of Russian contestant Alexander Lemtov. However, the cast member we’re most excited for is Demi Lovato, who will be returning to her comedy roots as Katiana, the “best and most angelic singer in all of Iceland”. Hopefully the comedy film will be able to capture the magic, craziness and extreme campiness of the competition that it is based on.

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MOVIES. JUNGLE CRUISE

QUEEN AND SLIM

PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE

24 July

31 January

28 February

Based on the Disneyland ride of the same name, Jungle Cruise follows scientist Lily Houghton (Emily Blunt) and brother McGregor (Jack Whitehall) as they join river boat captain Frank (Dwayne Johnson) to journey through a dangerous jungle in search of The Tree Of Life. From what we’ve seen so far, it looks promising, and will likely follow in the footsteps of Pirates Of The Caribbean to become another beloved, long-running franchise. It’s also been reported that it will feature Disney’s first major openly gay character on the big screen, as British comedian Whitehall takes on the role of McGregor Houghton.

Although Queen And Slim might not be telling an LGBTQ story, it packs a real emotional punch as it explores the horrors of racism. Queen And Slim is directed by Melina Matsoukas in her film directorial debut, however you may be more familiar with music videos that she’s directed, like We Found Love by Rihanna. And although the plot may not be LGBTQ-related, there’s still plenty of queer talent in the film with Lena Waithe having written the story, and trans and non-binary actor Indya Moore has a role as a literal Goddess.

Portrait of a Lady on Fire made history when it screened at the Cannes Film Festival, as it picked up the Queer Palm award, and made director Céline Sciamma the first ever woman director to win the accolade. Sciamma’s minimalist storytelling really pays off in a moving film that explores the forbidden relationship between Marianne and Héloïse, from Marianne painting Héloïse before the couple’s first kiss as their relationship steadily grows more intense. The film will be reaching British shores come February, and you will not want to be missing this masterpiece of a film.

EVERYBODY’S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE 23 October

Award-winning musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, which started life in Sheffield and quickly transferred to London’s West End, is based on the real-life story of Jamie Campbell, and follows a schoolboy who dreams of going to prom dressed in drag with the help of his mother. It’s a bit like Billy Elliott but with less angst and more glam. The inspiring message and LGBTQ themes were a hit with audiences and critics, so it’s no surprise that it was picked up for a big-screen adaptation – from 20th Century Fox, no less. The film stars newcomer Max Harwood in the leading role of Jamie New, where he makes his professional big screen debut, while BAFTA-winner Sarah Lancashire (Happy Valley, Kiri) will play Margaret New, his supportive mother. Academy Award-nominee Richard E. Grant (Game Of Thrones, Spice World) will star as Hugo and his drag alias Loco Chanel, who teach Jamie how to do drag, and BAFTA-winner Sharon Horgan (Catastrophe, Pulling) will play Jamie’s unsupportive teacher Miss Hedge. Meanwhile, Shobna Gulati (Coronation Street, Dinner Ladies) will reprise her role as Margaret’s best friend Ray, which she originally played on the West End. It’s destined to become a classic British film.

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THE BOYS Late 2020

Over 20 years following the landmark success of Queer As Folk, Russell T Davies will return to Channel 4 with another LGBTQ-centred show.

The Boys follows three young people who move to London in the early 1980s, just as the HIV/AIDS crisis started to unfold. Starring Years & Years singer Olly Alexander in the lead role of Ritchie Tozer, the show will remember those we lost during the epidemic but also celebrate the colourful and vibrant LGBTQ community during the era as they rose up against social and political resistance.

Year by year, episode by episode we will see the increasing prejudice queer men faced during the decade, but also how they came together as a community to overcome it. Neil Patrick Harris, Keeley Hawes, Omari Douglas and Stephen Fry are among the ensemble cast in what promises to be one of the most important television events of 2020. “I lived through those times, and it’s taken me decades to build up to this. And as time marches on, there’s a danger the story will be forgotten,” Russell T Davies says. “It’s an honour to write this for the ones we lost, and the ones who survived.”

LOVE SIMON

ELITE

SCHITT'S CREEK

Late 2020

Late 2020

7 January

The film adaptation of Becky Albertelli’s novel Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, titled Love, Simon, was a box office success that proved once and for all that queer rom-coms have a muchneeded place in the mainstream. For 2020, newlylaunched streaming service Disney+ have created a TV series follow-up to the movie, which will be set in the same world but feature a new roster of characters. Michael Cimino will star as Victor; a new student at Creekwood High School who faces challenges when coming to terms with his sexual orientation. He reaches out to Simon for advice as he navigates his journey of self-discovery. Nick Robinson will return as Simon Spier, but only as narrator for the show.

With more twists and turns than a category five hurricane, Netflix’s Spanish teen drama has gripped audiences the world over with its murder mystery story arcs packed full of turmoil, emotion and plenty of drama. At the centre of it all is one of our favourite same-sex couples on TV right now: Ander and Omar. The couple had a rocky ride of it in season two as they went public with their relationship, with their love story getting tangled up in the dark secrets of their friends. Thankfully we left them on a good note, but with bisexual character Polo released from police custody ahead of season three, we can’t even begin to guess what’s going to happen next.

We’ve laughed, we’ve cried, and we’ve laugh-cried our way through five seasons of Schitt’s Creek, but the sixth and final season is going to be the most emotional one yet. So what can we expect? Top of the most anticipated list is the wedding between David and his partner Patrick. We’ve seen them grow into one of TV’s most lovable couples, and with each member of the Rose family sure to play their part in the big day, what could possibly go wrong? Add to that a whole new line-up of wigs for Moira, and plenty more humour, it’s going to be one of the most heartwarming series this year. Fingers crossed for a follow-up to A Little Bit Alexis.

TV SHOWS.

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THE POLITCIAN

TWENTIES

Early 2020

Late 2020

Early 2020

For this one-off series for ITV, David Tennant will take on the role of notorious serial killer Dennis Nilsen. The criminal confessed to killing 15 men in London between the years of 1978 and 1983 before he was jailed for the remainder of his life. He targeted gay and homeless men during his killing spree, and authorities found that he would get his victims drunk before murdering them. Daniel Mays and Jason Watson also star, with the drama starting with Nilsen’s arrest and being told through the eyes of the detective piecing the case together.

A true-crime drama not to be missed.

In these testing political times, a Ryan Murphy drama about ambitious private school student Payton Hobart using all the tricks in the book to become student body president feels relatively on the nose. And that’s even when you consider that he gets poisoned in a bid to end his campaign for good. But with plenty of queer representation, sharp humour, and an iconic line from Jessica Lange (“That’s what gays do: munch butts and celebrate Halloween”), The Politician cemented its place as must-watch viewing. If the ending hinted at anything, it’s that in season two the stakes will be so much higher.

Emmy Award-winning actress Lena Waithe’s new comedy series Twenties will follow a queer black woman named Hattie over eight episodes as she navigates her way through adult life. With a cast including Jenifer Lewis, Vanessa Williams, Big Sean and Kym Whitely, expect plenty of drama with sharp wit. “Twenties has been a project I’ve been dreaming about for as long as I can remember.

I think a lot of people were interested but didn’t see the vision,” said Lena. It will also become the first original BET scripted series to feature a queer female lead. We love to see it.

POSE

Mid 2020 There wasn’t a dry eye in the land during season two of Pose when some of our favourite characters parted ways with the show. The groundbreaking series continued its vital role of showcasing authentic trans narratives in the mainstream while giving younger viewers a vital herstory lesson on the ballroom scene in early 90s New York City, and the challenges that queer people from the AfricanAmerican and Latino communities faced – and still do face – in society. With Mj Rodriguez, Billy Porter, Indya Moore, Dominique Jackson, Ryan Jamal Swain, among others set to return for a third season later this year, we hope Blanca gets her fairytale romance with that hunky lifeguard. It’s likely the House of Evangelista will be welcoming some new family members as we return to the show later this year, as Mother Evangelista guides her children through the mid-90s. We will be rooting for the fairytale romance that is Angel and Papi, ranting at anyone and everyone who will listen that Pray Tell needs to be protected at all costs, and living for Elektra Wintour’s legendary quips and incredible put-downs as she continues to hide that dead body in her closet. We can’t wait.

BINGE-WORTHY QUEER SERIES.

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DRAG RACE ALL STARS 5

DRAG RACE SEASON 12

DRAG RACE CANADA

Early 2020

Early 2020

Summer 2020

It’s been less than a year since both Monet X Change and Trinity the Tuck controversially sashayed away on All Stars 4 with $100,000 doollahz each and a spot in the Drag Race Hall of Fame, yet it’s ruturning for another fierce instalment. With fan-favourite queens such as Shea Coulee, Jujubee, Miz Cracker, Alexis Mateo and Ongina rumoured to make a comeback, as well as a slight shift in the format which will see lip-sync assassins return each week, this could very well be the best season since All Stars 2. But will they top Read U Wrote U and that infamous Shut Up and Drive showdown between Alyssa Edwards and Tatianna? Whatever the case... no jury and just one winner please.

Can you believe it’s been a whole year since Yvie Oddly became the 11th crowned queen after slaying with her Professor Quill-inspired headpiece in a lipsync showdown against Brooke Lynn Hytes? Woo henny, time flies eh? Filmed back-to-back with All Stars 5, season 12 of the regular series is scheduled to premiere in the first quarter of 2020; if it follows in the footsteps of 10 and 11, it should debut on VH1 two weeks after the All Stars 5 finale. Is there such a thing as too much Drag Race? Like Michelle Visage once said, “NO!” So far, there’s been no word yet on who will be competing this season, but we wouldn’t be surprised to see some more sisters, aunts, nieces, cousins and second cousins of previous Drag Race contestants entering the werkroom...

The queens of the North are coming... OFFICIALLY. Last year, Drag Race Canada was confirmed as the latest international spin-off by World of Wonder and Ru. Later, it was ruvealed that season 11 runner-up Brooke Lynn Hytes will be a permanent judge on the series, making her the first contestant in HERstory to sit on a Drag Race panel. Joining Brooke will be UnREAL actor Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman, and Canada’s Next Top Model judge and runway queen Stacey McKenzie.

Meanwhile, TV personality and host Traci Melchor will be ‘Canada’s first Squirrel Friend’ on the show, making special house visits to test the queens with some challenges and provide a dose of reality when needed. It will run for 10 one-hour episodes and will premiere on Crave and OUTtv.

AJ & THE QUEEN 10 January

This month, RuPaul will make her Netflix Original debut on AJ and the Queen as Ruby Red, a “biggerthan-life but down-on-her-luck drag queen” who travels across America in a rundown RV from the 90s; accompanied by a wise-cracking 11-yearold orphan called AJ. Each episode, Ruby will visit a drag club and perform a “killer musical number” where she will be joined by 22 legendary Drag Race contestants, including: Alexis Mateo, Bianca Del Rio, Chad Michaels, Eureka O’Hara, Ginger Minj, Jade Jolie, Jaymes Mansfield, Jinkx Monsoon, Jujubee, Katya, Kennedy Davenport, Latrice Royale, Manila Luzon, Mariah, Mayhem Miller, Monique Heart, Ongina, Pandora Boxx, Porkchop, Trinity The Tuck, Valentina and Vanessa Vanjie Mateo. Ru’s keeping it in the family honey!

The Emmy-winner wrote and executive produced the show alongside Michael Patrick King, who is best known for directing, writing and producing iconic HBO comedy Sex and the City, as well as its two spin-off feature films. Josh Segarra (Orange is the New Black) also stars as Ruby’s “dark and dangerous” boyfriend while Katerina Tannenbaum (The Bold Type) will play Brianna, a “clueless hooker” with a deep connection to AJ. MichaelLeon Wooley (Dreamgirls), Tia Carrere (Wayne’s World) and Matthew Wilkas (Bonding) round out the cast.

COME ON 2020, LET'S GET SICKENING!

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DRAG RACE UK Autumn 2020

Last October, RuPaul’s Drag Race UK premiered after years of anticipation to universal critical acclaim and quickly became an international phenomenon with over 10 million requests on BBC iPlayer. The Frock Destroyers even charted within the top 40 of the UK Singles Chart, making Break Up Bye Bye the most successful release from the franchise’s HERstory. The impact! So when it was announced that Drag Race UK will sashay, shantay and stay o n the BBC for a second season, it came as a surprise to, well, no one. “This season’s queens proved that Britain’s got charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent and I want to see more!” Mama Ru said in a statement. “Here’s to another season of love, laughter and light!” Kate Phillips, who works for BBC’s entertainment strategy, said the response to the UK series has been “nothing short of dragulous” and that viewers “have really taken the show and the amazing queens to their hearts”.

If it follows in the footsteps of its predecessor, then season two should air on the channel in late 2020.

However, the queens have already been chosen so we wouldn’t be surprised if they’re filming a maxichallenge as we speak. Our fingers are crossed for EuRuvision, CoRunation Street and Ru’s Women...

DRAG RACE AUSTRALIA

CELEBRITY DRAG RACE

WE'RE HERE

Spring 2020

Summer 2020

Spring 2020

Aussies, start your engines! Drag Race will be exporting its Emmy-winning format down under on ITV Studios Australia and it’s been confirmed to air sometime this year. David Mott, the channel’s CEO, commented: “Drag Race has moved on to being a show that captures the imagination of everyone, no matter their age or gender and we will commence discussing with potential broadcast and streaming partners shortly. It will be one of the most talked about and noisy formats next year.” It’s not been confirmed if RuPaul and Michelle Visage will return - maybe Courtney Act will assume the mantle?

All we know for certain is - and we’re speaking on behalf of everyone ‘ere - Kath and Kim must a ppear in some capacity. It would be nice. It would be different. It would be... unusual.

RuPaul’s Celebrity Drag Race will air in 2020 for four episodes with 12 celebrity contestants (three per episode). They will vie for the title of America’s Next Celebrity Drag Superstar as well as a cash prize, which will be donated to the charity of their choice. The celebs will be aided by former contestants such as: Alyssa Edwards, Asia O’Hara, Bob the Drag Queen, Kim Chi, Monét X Change, Monique Heart, Nina West, Trinity the Tuck, Trixie Mattel and Vanessa Vanjie Mateo. “Doing drag does not change who you are, it reveals who you are,” said RuPaul. “I can’t wait for the world to see what happens when our celebrity contestants get all up in drags!”

Well halleloo! Drag Race legends Bob the Drag Queen, Shangela and Eureka O’Hara have landed their own HBO series titled We’re Here. It will follow the three sickening performers as they “inspire and teach their own ‘drag daughters’ to step outside their comfort zone” whilst travelling across the United States and empowering local communities.

Nine Rosenstein, executive vice president of HBO programming, said in a statement: “Drag is about confidence and self expression. We are so thrilled to showcase the transformative power of the art form with our audience.” According to Shangela, the series will premiere in Spring. We’re expecting Drag Race meets Queer Eye, so don’t be shocked if this scoops a few Emmy’s.

DRAG RACE.

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R SWINDELLS O N N O C H IT W N IO AT S R IN CONVE

Photography Kenny Whittle / / Fashion Umar Sarwar / / Introduction by Lewis Corner Hair + Makeup Sven Bayerbach at Carol Hayes Management using ClarinsMen Super Moisture Collection Fashion Assistants Solly Warner & Lewys Davies

Kite belted tux blazer, £1,290; tuxedo round hem shirt, £350; contrast panneled drawstring wide leg trousers, £450, all JW ANDERSON. Heritage runner trainers, TOMMY JEANS. Assortment of rings worn throughout spread, NCUTI’S OWN.

f a pair of 16-year-olds running a covert sex therapy clinic in their American-styled high school set in the British countryside sounded like a risk to Netflix, it was one that paid off handsomely in the form of Sex Education. The teen comedy-drama was an instant hit globally when it debuted in January 2019, coaxing Netflix to do something the company very rarely does: release the streaming figures. When the show was standing at a cool 40 million within a matter of weeks, it’s no wonder the platform wanted to shout about its unprecedented success.

Straddling between slapstick, barmy comedy scenarios and genuine, sincere drama, Sex Education is brimming with humour and heart. At its core is Eric Effoing, an openly gay black student with a smile that brightens up even the rainiest of British days. His journey throughout the series resonated with LGBTQ audiences the world over, subverting tired tropes of what a gay or a black character would traditionally be portrayed as.

This was a fresh take on a teen drama that poked fun at the stereotypes that plagued the genre before – and Eric was a shining example of authentic, honest and boundary-pushing storytelling. His warmth and immediate popularity is driven by the actor who plays him: Ncuti Gatwa. “I thought that people might be confused by it,” he laughs when interviewed by his co-star Connor Swindells for his GAY TIMES cover story. “When I got the script, I thought it was either the funniest thing I’d ever read in my life, or the weirdest shit I’d ever read. I couldn’t figure it out, it was either/or.”

Connor plays Adam Groff in the show; a character who is grappling with his own identity and in the process becomes entangled with Eric. “He was obsessed with Eric,” Ncuti says. “Turn around and Adam’s just there, turn around and he’s staring at you with a sausage in his mouth – the clues were there. So, I knew.” As we head into Sex Education season two – which will be available to watch from 17 January – the dynamic between Eric and Adam is “complicated”. We don’t want to give too much away, but as Ncuti puts it himself: “There will be opinions!”

Here, Connor speaks with Ncuti about the impact of the show around the world, the importance of representation in mainstream media, how Sex Education is breaking down the taboo of speaking openly and honestly about sex, and teases what we can expect as we head into the highly-anticipated second season.

But when we were making it, we had nothing to go by. I knew people were going to watch it because we had Gillian Anderson and she has such a core base. But I didn’t think it was going to have the impact that it had. I thought that people might be confused by it. When I got the script, I thought it was either the funniest thing I’d ever read in my life, or the weirdest shit I’d ever read. I couldn’t figure it out, it was either/or. You don’t know what people are going to like.

I

Connor: You could never imagine the kind of success that we’ve had.

Ncuti: Yeah, you can’t.

Connor: That happens to other people.

Ncuti: Yeah! For us, we had never been involved in something like that, ever. And also coming from working-class backgrounds as well, I never expected something that I’m in, that we’re in, to blow up like that. But it did.

Connor: Why do you think the show connected with audiences so quickly?

Ncuti: I think because it has a lot of heart to it and a lot of truth to it. And like I said, it’s tackling issues that don’t commonly get tackled, and we’re starting conversations about things that get made taboo for no reason. And I feel like it’s very funny, but it’s also quite tragic as well. Each character has some form of pain, you know what I mean? But then the show’s quite funny, and I feel that makes it very real and honest. And I think that’s what people connected with, the realness of the show.

Connor: It’s kind of absurd at times, but then also very sincere. I haven’t really seen anything like that before, which treads the line between absurdity and sincerity in such a way that I find really interesting. And with a subject matter that everyone is faced with as human beings. It’s not like it’s a niche topic that the show is about, it’s about sex, and growing up, which everyone goes through.

Connor: How has life changed since the first season of Sex Education was released on Netflix?

Ncuti: Life has changed quite considerably. It was such a huge hit and it’s launched us all into the public eye in such an immediate way. It’s cool to be in the thing everyone seems to love.

Ncuti: Exactly, it’s something that everyone can relate to. And these issues, many people have had them. And why else did it impact people? The writing was really good and fresh, and I think people were ready for that, and I think the world was ready to hear new stories told from fresh perspectives, and that’s what we did.

Connor: What was your first reaction to the show being big? Were you happy?

Ncuti: Connor:

Oh, gassed, fucking gassed. I thought ‘Fuck you haters, fuck off my haters!’

Yeah I was gassed, and it seemed to keep getting bigger. When it dropped, there was a little bit of a reaction. And then each week went by it seemed to be more people watching and more people watching. Then it was the number one IMDB thing for a bit - it was mad. Do you remember that?

Then Netflix flippin’ releasing the numbers and I was like ‘What?’ And to be in a show, where it’s the first time that Netflix did it. So it felt amazing. I didn’t think I was going to get Sex Ed, and just before I did, life was a bit peak. So getting it, and being a part of something so successful it felt like the biggest blessing of time.

Diverse stories.

Ncuti: Diverse stories, innit.

Connor: In episode 7 of season 1, Eric has that memorable, emotional scene with his father which resonated with a lot of people in the LGBTQ community. Why do you think it was so important?

Connor:

Ncuti:

Although it’s a British teen drama, it had such a wide international appeal instantly - did you expect that?

Just because we need to see all types of love on our screen represented.

And I think it was a really beautiful representation of a young LGBT boy of colour and his journey through life, and his journey through his own acceptance, his culture, coming from a West African background. I was at UK Black Pride and the amount of people who were coming up to me specifically about the relationship between Eric and his dad was constant.

And I think it really touched people to see this portrayal of this black man, this strong big black man loving his gay son. It was quite beautiful, and it’s something that we don’t see often and I think that’s why it impacted people.

It was an interesting portrayal of masculinity as well. I think it’s important to show that level of acceptance and love between men because there’s a lot of young boys out there killing themselves and killing each other because of their views on masculinity or their identity. So it was a nice portrayal of

Ncuti: No, I didn’t expect that. I didn’t expect it at all because it was just so different. Even shooting it, we knew that it looked different, it had a different aesthetic, and just a different format. And obviously we’re tackling issues that aren’t commonly tackled in teen dramas.

Connor: It makes sense now!

Ncuti: 54

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Ncuti:

masculinity.

Yeah, I’m happy to do that, call me Uncle Ncuti!

Connor: Connor:

A lot of my family, their favourite character is Eric because he represents oppression, or someone who is very oppressed. And from a working-class, white, Romani, traveller family their favourite character from a TV show is a gay, black young man.

When people are criticising the lack of inclusivity in sex and relationships education within schools, does that make a show like this even more vital to start conversations?

Ncuti:

Ncuti:

That is mental!

Yes, because there should be more inclusion in sex education in schools! I’d just like to say that Scotland has introduced an LGBTQIA+ curriculum into our sex education.

Connor: But it makes sense, as now their views have changed as well. Their culture is in a world that they’re having to adapt to, and they’re seeing their own oppression through your portrayal [of Eric].

Connor: Really?

Ncuti:

Ncuti:

How fascinating! I was thinking about this the other day, do you know how I used to train in that bodybuilder’s gym in Tottenham? Full of ex-cons and that, and they would come up to me, and be like ‘You’re that brother from Sex Education, you’re my favourite character, you’re my girlfriend’s favourite character, can I get a picture?’ And I found it so funny that these big, hench guys at my gym, and their favourite character is Eric. That’s the power of the show, innit. It’s changing people’s perspectives just through representation.

This is why representation matters.

Yes, we have! Scotland is always on the ball. But sex education should be more inclusive because not everyone is having sex to have a baby. And that’s the main angle of sex education in schools now, reproductivity. We need to have more chats about relationships, mental health within sexual health, it just needs to be a lot broader and a lot better.

Connor: Would you say that Sex Education is breaking down the taboo of people talking about sex in a positive and informative way?

Connor: Ncuti:

What was the reaction like for you after people saw that episode?

Yeah.

Ncuti: Connor:

Yeah, it was great. I definitely felt a sense of responsibility being Eric, because I know how much he means to people, and people around the world. I get messages from people in different countries where homosexuality is illegal, so being able to play a character who gives people strength and hope is very important. And being part of a show where lots of different characters can do that, as I feel like people can find strength with your character, in his journey with his dad, and how he’s struggling with the lack of intimacy and affection. Being part of a show that’s empowering feels cool.

I’ve had a lot of conversations with family about sex now that I wouldn’t have had before.

Ncuti: Yeah, I’d say that. And people who I would never imagine talking about sex so openly as a direct follow-up from a conversation about the show.

Connor: Connor:

And it will always start off funny, they’ll talk about a funny moment from the show, and it’ll lead into a broader, deeper conversation about the show about a particular issue.

When Eric meets the older gay black man in season 1 that he identifies with, he gains the confidence and self-acceptance to be his authentic self. How does it feel that Eric is that role model to plenty of young queer people of colour at home who traditionally have rarely seen themselves represented in this way?

Ncuti: It’s cool though. We’re all here because of sex. Why is it being made so secretive and taboo? When I think about queer sexuality and female sexuality, there’s a lot of shame attached to those two things. And the fact that Sex Education showcases those two things in such an open but normal way is very powerful.

Ncuti: It feels wonderful. I’m an uncle, and I like to take care of my people. But it feels important.

Connor:

Connor:

I love that scene in series 1, episode 7 with the man Eric meets at the roadside. That’s one of my favourite bits.

What was the most difficult scene to film and why?

Ncuti: Ncuti:

Eric getting jumped, because it was cold! I was in batty riders, I was walking down a steep steep hill in six-inch platforms - very well thank you very much! - and that was difficult because I had to keep doing it again and again.

Technically it was difficult, it was cold. And obviously, he’s in quite a dark place emotionally, and trying to stay in that place when it’s cold and all that kind of stuff is difficult. I’ve been jumped before, and so there was personal experience there. But that’s what we do as actors, there’s always a little bit of us that we bring into roles, and we somehow enjoy it. That was a difficult scene to shoot, but definitely fulfilling.

It was a beautiful moment for Eric, who for the first time, met someone that he could identify with.

Connor: Did you have people like that growing up?

Ncuti: Not really, only my mum and dad. I think the first time I saw myself represented in the media was when Top Boy first started. I was at drama school, training classically, and in TV and film I couldn’t really see any people of colour. So I thought, ‘Who’s going to have me?’ So, 2011 was the first time I saw myself represented. But now we’re in a moment in time where we’re telling these stories, and people are feeling represented. It feels very important to me, and I want to continue playing characters that matter and represent people.

Connor: And you were able to take your past trauma and share it, not waste it, because otherwise it’s just trauma. When you first read the script for Eric and Adam’s kiss in season 1, did that moment surprise you?

Ncuti: Connor:

No, I knew from the moment that Adam pushed Eric into the locker. When we were shooting episode 1, I was like ‘We’re going to end up together.’ And lo and behold, when I was flipping through that episode I was like ‘Aha, I knew.’ He was obsessed with Eric. Turn around and Adam’s just there, turn

And it gives people something to strive for. If you don’t have role models, you don’t know where to go. It gives people a cause.

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“

I HOPE IT’S A SHOW THAT’S EMPOWERED PEOPLE, ALL PEOPLE. AND A SHOW THAT’S ENCOURAGED PEOPLE TO BE OPEN AND BE HONEST AND TAKE UP SPACE AND LOVE THEMSELVES AND ACCEPT WHEREVER THEY ARE IN THEIR JOURNEY.

” Connor:

around and he’s staring at you with a sausage in his mouth, the clues were there. So, I knew.

Inclusion. Bigger. It’s just deeper, but it’s different because the first season was about laying foundations, and the second season is about building upon them.

Connor: How would you describe the dynamic between Eric and Adam in the second season?

Ncuti: Exactly. In season 1, there’s a lot you have to set up, characters you have to introduce, and we only have eight episodes. There’s only so much you can do within that time. But exactly like you said, we’ve set that up now, so we can just be like ‘We’re in that world now.’ We’re just going, the universe is spinning. Season 2 is explosive.

Ncuti: More complicated. Heartbreaking, a bit.

Connor: Full of heart.

Connor: Ncuti:

What are your hopes for the characters of Eric and Adam in the future? Not as them as one, but individually.

But full of heart, yeah.

Connor:

Ncuti:

But more complicated, more questions, more opinions, there’ll definitely be more opinions.

Just that they can both be happy, and continue to find love and acceptance within themselves.

Ncuti:

Connor:

There’ll be opinions, bro. There’s going to be opinions! I would describe it as heartbreaking because Adam is so human. What you’ve done with him is very clever, he’s so human and there’s so much pain in Adam’s eyes as well. And he has that relationship with his dad, and how that’s affected him.

That’s true for all the characters, that’s the main theme finding love and acceptance for yourself.

Ncuti: All of them! They’re all searching for it. But that’s what the show does it so well, the relationships. I’m hoping that they find more love and acceptance in themselves.

Connor: And Eric knows that.

Ncuti:

Connor:

And Eric knows that, he’s the first person to ever see all this. When he sees Adam at prom, and when he calls Adam out in the music classroom. They’re both boys that have been clocking each other and also both clocking that they’re both searching for intimacy and love. Everyone can identify with his want to be loved. It’s not as easy as it seems, the whole Eric and Adam thing, of where Adam is the bad guy. Season 2 is complicated because we delve a lot deeper into all of the characters’ storylines, so we learn a lot more about Adam, we learn a lot more about Eric. And we’ll see where that goes.

Teen dramas always have a dear place in people’s hearts. What would you like the legacy for Sex Education to be for future viewers?

Ncuti: Acceptance and empowerment. I hope it’s a show that’s empowered people, all people. And a show that’s encouraged people to be open and be honest and take up space and love themselves and accept wherever they are in their journey. I hope it’s a show that makes people face their fronts. Don’t look right, and don’t look left, because you’ll get lost, just face your front and follow your own path. I hope that’s the legacy it leaves, what about you?

Connor: How would you say the second season differs from the first?

Connor: Ncuti:

I agree completely. I hope that the legacy is that it was the start of all that.

It’s more in-depth, more intense. The world is just opened up, more... what’s the word?

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MILES JAI. Photography Dylan Perlot / / Fashion ChainĂŠ Leyendecker / / Words Sam Damshenas Location Rose Studios LA

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The legendary YouTuber spills the T on our current social media climate. ight years ago, self-described “professional weavologist” and “relatable queen” Miles Jai became a viral sensation after the release of LIKE MAH STATUS; a two-minute clip in which he critiques and parodies ‘like4like’ culture on social media. Like Christina Aguilera’s Bionic, it was ahead of its time, because the state of social media now? It’s... changed, we’ll just say that.

“I used to have so much fun on social media, it was like a game, but now I want to escape it,” Miles tells us over the phone. “Social media in the next eight years will hopefully not be like Skynet from Terminator 2, let’s get as far away from that as possible. You don’t need Twitter or Facebook having control of the government.”

Here, we talk to Miles about how he’s managed to stay relevant in a rapidly changing digital environment and how he feels about this politically correct era of ‘cancel culture’ and Social Justice Warriors.

people I don’t know. I guess celebrities are the exclusion to that, but I’m probably never going to meet a famous person anyway. God forbid I meet Nicki Minaj! I’ve definitely gotten my fair share, I feel like it’s so much lighter than people who talk about social issues, so I don’t mention it. It’s also a defence mechanism, me not talking about hate, I feel like it lets me avoid it a little bit easier. But if you’re already getting hate, I would say ignore it and try not to engage with it as best as you can. I know it’s difficult, and I’ve had my moments where I’m like, ‘Okay, I’m going to pop off’ but if the people that are watching don’t vibe with that energy, it’s important to not do that. Because then you’ll start a quote-on-quote ‘fan war’, your mentions will be a mess and then at the end of it you’re going to be tired because you put yourself through that mess. And you’re not going to get sex from it, so you’re doing it for free, and in addition to having your time wasted. So, why go through that? Why go through making the response? Instead, I’ll just go back to my business and do what I’m doing, as this person is just another cent to my cheque. So, that’s how I think about it.

E

It’s been eight years since LIKE MAH STATUS - what do you think of the state of social media now?

What would you say are the misconceptions that people have of you?

The dynamics have changed a lot. I remember actually feeling worried about things around 2012 or 2013, maybe a little later than that. After that the social shift, the Social Justice Warriors started popping up and the other buzzword that people always use, the PC, politically correct. That’s one part of it, but there’s so much more like the actual social aspect we use now has changed.

A lot of girls like TikTok now, Vine is dead, Tumblr... I don’t know how she’s doing, I think she’s okay. I believe in my Tumblr, but I don’t have one anymore, I’m going to have to strike that off the LIKE MAH STATUS clip, RIP to her.

I feel like people think that I’m more high-energy, which I can be. But most of the time when I’m out and about, I’m pretty chill. And that’s for like a bunch of reasons. Let me explain myself, back in high school, I’d act crazy. I say “act crazy” but I was wearing loud shit. It’s like the first gay wave, when you first come out, it’s your gay birthright to be loud and gay, so that’s what I was doing. And in order to protect myself from bullies, in-between me being loud and gay, I would be quiet and make try to make myself small, as I am six foot. It was a weird dynamic, I wanted to bring attention to myself because I wanted people to know who I was, but I also wanted people to stay far away enough from me so that I wouldn’t get hurt and have someone try and bully me. I’ve lived most of my life that way, when I’m walking down the street, I subconsciously and consciously make the attempt to make myself a bit smaller, just a little incy bit, so I can avoid conflict. So, I want the girls to know that I don’t hate you or anything, I’m not having a bad day, it’s just a defence mechanism, I’m working on.

Now that we have that SJW and the PC culture, it comes with cancel culture. What are your thoughts on that?

I don’t think cancelling really exists in the way that people think it does.

At least online, it’ll be like, ‘Oh, this person is cancelled’ and then they’ll leave it at that, they won’t do any extra follow-up work on this person they wanted to cancel. They’ll just say they’re cancelled, list the reasons why and then go about their business, not really thinking about how this person they’re cancelling is still getting paid; still getting cheques from the video and probably getting more exposure from the blast on Twitter and getting more traffic back to them. I feel that cancel culture is ineffective and doesn’t do anything. I think it takes actual real action in order to hold people accountable. If you really want to quote on quote cancel someone, it’s going to take some real work - especially if it’s someone higher up.

How do you adapt to a rapidly-changing digital environment?

I don’t know, I feel like in the beginning it was just me reacting to things and acting out things, just different things that were happening in my life at that moment in time. So, I think it boils down to being present in whatever moment you’re living in, and being able to articulate it in a way that is consumable and relatable to the audience that you want to reach. Now I sound like a YouTube ad, but basically that’s what you want to do. I know this sounds cheesy, but basically be yourself, be your authentic self, unless yourself is an asshole.

But that’s doing well on YouTube right now so if you are an asshole, you’ll probably get a million followers in a month. So, best of luck! But yeah, just go where you want to go.

And how do you feel about YouTube? It’s become a bit more... polished?

That’s another kind of shift in the media, it got more popular, people finding out they could make money from it, jumpstart your career and have a nice show. The mainstream has slowly started to absorb it and with that comes higher expectations, higher quality and higher levels of conformity. It just heightens everything. I had a feeling it was coming, that was going to happen eventually, but it still kinda sucks. There’s definitely video channels out there that are completely raw normal stuff and they’re doing so great right now, and I don’t want to discourage anyone from going out there, picking up a camera and doing something really cool, because you still totally can. I think YouTube, as a company itself, is focused more on creating a more standard, mainstream version of content, which is like, ‘Okay, cool, but that’s not how we started.’ I think that’s what people go to YouTube for, the authenticity and candidness, and I feel like when they don’t see that they get mad.

Where do you see social media in the next eight years?

That’s terrifying! I used to have so much fun on social media, it was like a game, but now I want to escape it. It’s crazy! Social media in the next eight years will hopefully not be like Skynet from Terminator 2, let’s get as far away from that as possible. You don’t need Twitter or Facebook having control of the government. I just need them to calm down a little bit. What I hope for is that there’ll be some medication happening, and a little less like brands acting like people on Twitter... That freaks me out.

What advice would you give to people who are dealing with online And also people acting like brands... hate?

That’s probably worse!

I mean, my audience is pretty chill so it’s very, ‘Don’t start nothing, and it’ll be nothing’ and I try not to be too out of pocket toward other people, especially 65

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PISSY PUSSY. Meet the NYC designer who is a walking, talking piece of art.

Photography Nicholas Needham / / Words Lewys Davies

he first thing that one notices about Pissy Pussy is...EVERYTHING. The New York-based designer is the antithesis of understatement, towering high above crowds in sky-scraping shoes, headpieces and alien couture. Pissy was birthed in the NYC club scene by Robert Reed, the brains behind the brand, following in the footsteps of the long lineage of queer royalty to emerge from the city’s electric nightlife.

Reed is a self-identified ‘outlaw in the fashion scene’, refusing to play by any style rulebook and always defying easy categorisation. For one, Pissy Pussy never shows their face due to Reed’s hatred of make-up, and it is this choice to be covered that makes the creation so uncanny. The absence of such a key human feature helps to take Pussy from human experiment to living art piece; a walking, talking, exhibit.

Pissy Pussy’s 2019 has been a busy one, having released their first collection for Spring 2019 at NYFW and launched a (now sold out) online collection for Black Friday. Recently working with Sasha Velour, David LaChapelle and Jodie Harsh to name but a few, Reed shows no signs of slowing down until he achieves his goal of “pop[ping] up on Google before porn” (until then, we recommend searching for his work away from sensitive eyes). We spoke to the designer about Pissy Pussy’s future, working with Drag Race star Milk, and all things Barbra Streisand.

I was always a very creative kid. I wasn’t really into fashion: my art form of choice was film and I was totally consumed by it from a young age. When I was 10 I would be watching Ingmar Bergman, Lars von Trier and Akira Kurosawa films and I think this has benefitted me tremendously in my artistic ventures in life. I spent thousands of hours filling my brain with some of history’s greatest films, and I’m able to translate such artistic integrity into my work.

T

You’ve said before that Barbra Streisand has been one of your greatest influences. What was it about her style that captures you so much?

Barbra was a true fashion pioneer in the 60’s and 70’s, doing things most people wouldn’t dream of; from her Ann Roth designed lingerie in The Owl And The Pussycat, to her iconic fashion mishap at the 1969 Oscars when her Arnold Scaasi sequin two-piece ended up being completely see-through in the light of the camera flash. Besides the fact that she is the most perfect human being, her fashion continues to inspire my current work. Sometimes when I’m having trouble creating new work, I’ll spend hours looking through Barbra photo books that I have to give me inspiration.

Who is someone inspiring you right now?

How would you define who Pissy Pussy is?

As you can guess from my obsession with Barbra, I’m a very old soul. I don’t follow much current pop culture, music or art. If I were to choose someone inspiring me currently, I would have to say my boyfriend Bogdan Stanga. He’s photographed 90% of my work. He met me at a point in my life when Pissy was kind of at a standstill. He reeled me in, directed my focus to editorial work over nightlife, and has created a whole new vision for Pissy. He is definitely a huge reason why Pissy is what Pissy is today. His work and vision always inspire me to continue creating, we always bounce ideas off of each other and make such wonderful work together.

Pissy Pussy is a faceless, towering, living art piece. Removing the face allows for my audience to absorb my creations from head to toe. I find faces to be distracting (especially in fashion). It’s made me kind of an outlaw in the fashion scene because faces are the money maker for large publications, but I find it overdone.

Would anyone have been able to sense this fashion persona brewing when you were growing up?

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Googling your name produces an array of, shall we say, interesting, results: where did it come from?

things. They pulled a few archive pieces from me and I’ve also been able to make them a few custom pieces. They are the perfect build for my work: sometimes I’ll make something for myself and I’ll be like, wow, this would look really good on Milk. That’s kind of how they ended up modelling for my new collection, I just knew they would look killer in the new pieces!

My main goal in life is to pop up on Google before porn [laughs]. When I was first going out in nightlife, I knew I needed to find a name (because no one goes by their real name, c’mon). It came to me one night when I remembered that my sister’s childhood nickname (given to her by my mom) was Pissy, derived from Missy. So it was a little joke. I stole that name and Pussy just came naturally after it. I knew it was vulgar, rhymed and would stick in people’s head.

Last year, former Gay Times cover star Jodie Harsh also featured one of your costumes in her music video, Tuesday, a silver, faceless bodysuit complete with the shape of her iconic wig. What is it about the drag community that resonates so well with your artistic What is your creative process like? Do you begin with one piece in vision? mind and build out around that, or does the concept reveal itself I loved working on that project for Jodie! They saw my original disco look from all at once? my shoot ‘Pissy Pool Party’ and thought it would be cool to create a disco ball My creative process is pretty simple. I usually get these visions in my head that I can see so clearly, but I can’t draw so I keep it in my head. I usually start with the headpiece or large element of the look to make sure I can execute it before continuing with the rest. Sometimes something amazing comes from this process, and sometimes something not so great comes out of it. It’s all a learning process for me.

silhouette of themselves. It was a very challenging look to make, but such an awesome outcome. I think the drag community is really drawn to my work because we are in a time where we question what drag is, whether it’s gender, fashion, or makeup. I don’t like to consider myself a drag queen (just an artist works for me), but I do think drag queens can find inspiration in my work to help break barriers in the drag world.

Your fans had their first proper chance to own one of your creations in a Black Friday collection, most of which is now completely sold out. Will you continue to design and release ready to wear pieces?

Having already worked with the likes of Sasha Velour and David LaChapelle, who do you dream of dressing?

I’ve had the opportunity to work for some really awesome people, but my number one person to dress would be Grace Jones! Her fashion is as timeless as her music is.

I think Grace Jones in Pissy Pussy would be psychotic!

Yes! My Black Friday collection was something new for me.

Previously I only really sold masks. I knew my following wanted bodysuits (which has kind of become a staple of mine), matching gloves and masks. I didn’t have much time and did it on a whim, but I thought if my following wants it, I should give it a whirl. I was astounded when everything sold out almost immediately, it was really nice to know people really wanted to wear things that I made. I never have any set plans about what I do in the future, but I’d like to do something similar again.

How has your relationship with fashion changed since it became your career and not just for exhibition on the NYC club scene?

I’ve honestly never been really into fashion. If you threw famous designer names at me I’d probably be lost. I think my distance from the fashion world allows me to create more original pieces. But I would say, going from making club looks to having my work photographed by David LaChapelle in a few years feels amazing. I don’t really go out anymore because I simply don’t feel like it. But I’m glad my fashion sense was born in the NYC club scene.

Do you plan on releasing more collections following your first for Spring 2019 at NYFW? Like I said, I don’t really plan anything out. My 2019 NYFW collection was a random opportunity I got. I was given a space to present my work with all fees waived. I only had three weeks, myself and maybe $3,000 to complete 14 head to toe looks and find enough models to walk in my show. In the future, I would like to do more of a living exhibition for a fashion week presentation, but I need to find the right sponsors and such. But hopefully, soon I can bring a new wearable art collection to the table.

Can you offer any advice to young queer creatives, especially those whose work challenges convention?

Work hard, focus, don’t drink (too much), don’t do drugs, find what makes you happy, sleep a lot, mind your own business, and work towards building a brand.

You’ve collaborated with Drag Race alum Milk a number of times: Finally, what’s next for Pissy Pussy? what have these experiences been like and how did they influence Ugh! How do I answer this?! I’ve done a lot of stuff for other people recently, your art? so I’m hoping to make some seriously outrageous looks for myself in the I love Milk! They were one of the first people to really want to wear my

coming months...then from there, world domination (duh).

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HOW TAIMI IS TAKING LGBTQ DATING INTO THE FUTURE. s we embark on a new decade, it’s perfect timing for a fresh perspective on modern love, life and community. The 10s saw the digital explosion of dating apps, ushering in a new way to connect with people and potential partners. That has, however, come with its healthy amount of challenging issues and problematic behaviours. Finding love, for some, became loaded with the risk of prejudice, discrimination and dishonesty.

A new social network and dating app is dismantling that culture, taking digital connections and modern dating into the future. TAIMI prides itself in currently being the only social network and dating app for LGBTQ people.

There is no other product on the market that combines both of those things.

Its users don’t just log on for a hook-up, but rather are encouraged to share stories, discover new networks, and develop meaningful relationships. “For those looking for love we give them the ability to find out more about each other, learn about the person essentially give the users more than just meets the eye based on one photo,” the company says. They have created a safe space for all of their users to post updates, create groups and video call. To tackle catfishing, toxic behaviour and online abuse, the app has several layers of verification, 24/7 profile moderation, around-the-clock live support, and PIN/Fingerprint/Face recognition.

The creator of TAIMI, Alex Pasykov, wanted to give people a space to form meaningful connections. What started as a gay dating app quickly developed into a social network known for safety, diversity and inclusivity. “When we first started, TAIMI was a gay dating app,” says Alex. “However, in just over a year our app has grown to include a massive social networking aspect. Precisely this networking element made us understand that TAIMI cannot afford to be just a gay dating app. TAIMI has to be more. We must give everyone regardless of their gender or sexual identity the opportunity to connect and form different relationships. We tremendously value our freedom and want to do everything in our power to eliminate homophobia around the world.”

At the heart of TAIMI are its core values of freedom of expression, equality and diversity. The app is LGBTQ inclusive and is welcoming to anyone from within the community regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. TAIMI’s staff are LGBTQ activists and advocates committed to fighting homophobia, transphobia, biphobia and any form of discrimination towards queer people.

The app has a zero-tolerance policy, so if any toxic posts, comments or language is used on the service, it will be removed. Their 24/7 moderation team carefully reviews all complaints and will act swiftly where necessary. TAIMI is unequivocally a no-hate zone.

As for the modern-day challenge of eliminating online catfishing, TAIMI’s co-founder Jake Vygnan says they have created a system to help eliminate the risk of falling victim to fraud. “We have several layers of verification.

Email, Facebook, photo, Snapchat, and that’s just the start of it. TAIMI’s large

moderation team carefully moderates all our user profiles. We invest a huge amount of time into AI technology but don’t neglect the human intellect when it comes to spam.

We review each report individually. If we notice that a profile was reported because of a person’s gender/ethnicity/sexuality/etc, these reports are rejected by our team and do not impact the user. If the moderation team has doubts about a profile photo, for instance, prior to taking any action, we reach out to the user and confirm that the photo belongs to them. If there are any harassment reports confirmed by the moderation team, we send the reported user a notification that it’s not allowed in the app, or in some cases, block the profile immediately.”

Dating apps are a modern way of making romantic connections and that trend isn’t going to change anytime soon. What TAIMI has created here with their mix of dating service and social network, lays down the blueprint for where these apps are headed next. This positions TAIMI as a pioneer in their field.

“There will always be users who want quick romances but the majority are looking for relationships that will last more than a minute,” the company says.

“We wanted to give our users the simplicity associated with combining both dating and networking. Most importantly, users who download TAIMI will get the opportunity to create social profiles and connect with others on a different level. Being able to go from social network to dating app and both is something unique, something that is truly appreciated by TAIMI’s users.”

TAIMI are also fierce advocates for LGBTQ equality across the globe, investing in “multimedia campaigns, partnerships and volunteer projects aimed at changing the law and addressing discrimination on a global scale.”

The company adds: “Recently, we sponsored a project by AZ Mag called I Am Here about the experiences queer people of colour face in their daily lives.

In addition to that, TAIMI is avidly working towards partnerships with human rights organizations. In the past we have joined forces with UNAIDS and LGBT Foundation on their groundbreaking LGBTI Happiness Survey.” Their advocacy is focussed around positive representation, awareness and helping the progression of true social change.

So if you’re stepping into the future of online dating and social networking, what’s the best advice for creating a profile on TAIMI’s platform? We got TAIMI’s head of business development, Halyna Virt, to give us some tips. “The users have to remember that dating is just one part of the app, social networking aspect is actively growing and expanding. So, be open to discussions, post the latest news, interact with one another. Don’t be afraid to express yourself in your profile and stories and show your vision and ideas in your feed, we’re sure that you will find acceptance and support on TAIMI!” At the dawn of a new decade, there’s a new way to find meaningful connections that is ushering a more positive and bright era in online dating and social network.

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TAIMI is available to download on the App Store and on Google Play.

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ALEXIS STONE. The “botched monster” on how she catapulted to superstardom without Drag Race.

Photography Brandon Lundby / / Fashion Pechuga / / Words Sam Damshenas Hair Tony Medina / / Makeup Adam Burrell / / Set Design Oliver Kinley

“I

’m always expected to act as this PG Disney queen who opens my window singing to my adoring fans with them being the reason I wake every morning,” says Alexis Stone. “But the reality is, I’m not. I’m not that person and I’m never going to be that person.”

If you’re a queer who has access to ze internet, then you’ve probably heard of Alexis. Over the past decade, the British performer has established herself as one of the most notorious and boundary-pushing artists in the industry thanks to her makeup skills, extraordinary illusions of celebrities and for popping the lid on society’s perceptions of beauty with her (unintentional) ’social experiments’. This year, she launched a makeup line with Revolution, becoming one of the first drag queens in HERstory to collaborate with a major makeup brand (without the assistance of RuPaul’s Drag Race). She’s a prime example of a modern drag queen who has managed to propel herself into superstardom without having to sashay and shantay into an Emmy Award-winning werkroom to win a lifetime supply of MAC Cosmetics and $100,000 ‘doollahz’. “It is very hard to make it to the same level or beyond the level of those who have been on the show,” she admits. “It’s not meant to be easy, it took endless nights, it took… all of this.”

Alexis has always been a creative whiz. Although her past feels “very blurred” - which she blames on “amnesia or a selective memory” - Alexis

remembers finding creativity through a “queer” and inclusive home environment. “Me and my twin brother were so identical that my mother used to paint his fingernails blue and mine pink, so I think it was institutionalised from the very beginning,” she recalls. “When I played dress-up and decided which character in Lord of the Rings I wanted to be, I would always be the female elf.” Just like a large proportion of gay men, Alexis would resonate with powerful female characters on-screen, but she jokes that she doesn’t know whether that was down to her sexuality or “just an admiration for sparkly shit”.

And for her Christmas presents, Alexis would ask for dresses and wigs, which she wouldn’t think twice about thanks to her mother’s liberal values. It was normal in her household, as it should be, for a child to express both masculine and feminine traits; however, she was met with resistance from “other grown adults” who told Alexis that it wasn’t “right”. Thankfully, her mother was there to fight in her corner. “The biggest blessing in my life is having a mother that supports me in any context, whether that’s my sexuality, my expression or these crazy work ventures that I have,” she adds.

On the same day she received her GCSE results, a 16-year-old Alexis relocated to London to pursue a career in the fashion industry. “I wanted to be a fashion designer and I didn’t need any results telling me what I was and wasn’t going to do,” she admits. Alexis had her first taste of success on her 17th 78

birthday when she was flown out to Turkey with L Magazine with other emerging designers, where she showcased a “shocking, and very visually triggering collection”. Alexis received praise for her work but ran into trouble with Turkish officers for wearing a “gimp mask”. But… silver lining. The attention from her arrest caught the eye of fashion icons such as Nicola Formichetti and Lady Gaga, leading to multiple collaborations with musicians and fellow designers.

However, living independently took its toll on Alexis, who ended up in rehab.

“London is an incredibly isolating place because you work six or seven days a week to afford the bare minimum,” she explains. “Doing that as an adult is hard anyway, but doing that as a 16-year-old kid in a big city, being co-dependent, emotionally unstable and all the above… it drove me insane.”

After moving to Manchester, Alexis garnered a passionate following on social media after uploading jaw-dropping metamorphosizes in which she transforms into celebrities such as Lana Del Rey, Lady Gaga, Angelina Jolie, Kylie Jenner and Kevin McAllister from Home Alone. Y’know, gay icons. As of January 2020, she boasts over 845,000 followers on Instagram (more than most Drag Race contestants), a number that was significantly boosted after her first project - dubbed a ‘social experiment’ by the media - went viral. In 2018, Alexis uploaded a dramatic surgical makeover akin to American socialite and model Jocelyn Wildenstein - Alexis’ idol - who is best known for her extensive cosmetic surgery. “I believe what Jocelyn does is monumental,” says Alexis. “She pushes the boundaries, whether they are right or wrong.” But on 1 January 2019 – after seven months – Alexis revealed that the transformation was a Mrs Doubtfire-esque ruse, a mask created by award-winning artist David Marti; the vision behind prosthetics on big-budget movies such as Hellboy and Pan’s Labyrinth. “There was no angle where I went into it thinking it was going to be a ‘social experiment’. I wanted to reinvent myself in a way where I could take a step back away from the most toxic thing in my life, which is social media, focus on sorting myself out, my health, my sobriety, and to demonstrate what I’m all about,” Alexis told us at the time. “This project started off as a very narcissistic angry ‘fuck you’ to the world and it ended up breaking a lot of boxes surrounding beauty and how we perceive other people’s happiness. If we can’t be entertained by a crazy crossdresser living his Mrs Doubtfire fantasy for seven months, we’re gonna go insane.”

Alexis received her fair share of online abuse, being labelled a “botched monster” by trolls, losing major brand partnerships and even being detained by authorities on suspicions of terrorism. “The same comments I got with the mask I still get today, that I’m botched, that I’ve got a plumped-up face,” she reveals. However, the project received universal praise from the media and was hailed as a commentary on beauty standards in modern society. “The project broke me ten times over, but it’s made me who I am today. I still get recognised for it, and I think it is something that will hopefully live on past me.” Back in July, Alexis uploaded a sequel, of sorts, when she unveiled a four-month long stunt called The Replicant, where she created a replica of her face and used it every time she uploaded a photo or video to Instagram. Months went by and no one clocked that it was a prosthetic, which begged the question: is anyone really

paying attention? “It raises more questions than answers,” she tells us. “I just didn’t want to do my makeup anymore. I feel like, especially with Instagram, you really can’t get people’s attention unless you tear your face up or smash your face in with an axe. I just think it’s become Black Mirror, we spend our whole day swiping.”

Although she may not want to beat her own mug anymore, Alexis does, however, want to make her fans feel sickening. In September, she launched a groundbreaking collection with Revolution, becoming one of the only drag performers in history to collaborate with a makeup brand. “The only drag queens to have achieved that before RuPaul’s Drag Race were people like RuPaul or trans icons like Amanda Lepore,” she explains. “It is monumental, and it might not seem that monumental in the online world as every Dick, Tom and Bobby can make a collaboration, but it’s something that I never thought in a million years would come to life.” Alexis says it sets a precedent for gender non-conforming people who could also be in “every Superdrug across the States and the UK, alongside these incredibly beautiful cisgendered females”. It’s proof that drag queens can stand on their own two heels without the help of RuPaul’s Drag Race. Of course, the series has helped propel the art-form into an Emmy-winning cultural phenomenon, but it’s difficult to name any queen with 800k + Instagram followers who hasn’t lip-synced for their life (or legacy). But even though she’s proven herself time after time, she’s still not perceived as a success in the world of Drag Race stans. “It still happens to me when I go and see my girls who have been on the show and support them,” Alexis reveals.

“There are times that people who don’t know who I am, or don’t recognise my work, and tell me to audition for the show. I think it’s a different world, the Drag Race fans are dedicated to the show, and my fans are dedicated to my journey, it doesn’t take away from any of the artistry.

If it was easy then there’d be more than 150 famous RuPaul Drag Race queens, there’d be a million.”

So what advice would Alexis have for fellow drag performers who can’t - or don’t want to - appear on the show?

“Just have some integrity, stay true to yourself, be refined and submerge yourself in the community. Don’t conform, what you’re doing is right,” she states passionately. “There’s no right or wrong way of doing it. It’s taken me years to get to where I am now. Yes, it was a very quick and overwhelming growth overnight, but just be different, give something to the world that needs to be given, and it will take you a long way.” With two critically-acclaimed ‘social experiments’ and a partnership with one of the biggest makeup brands in the world, it will be hard for Alexis to top 2019. But as you’ve gathered from our interview, this “botched monster” doesn’t give up easily. Alexis describes her 2020 as “monumental” (which appears to be her favourite word) and teases a back-to-basics kind of year. “Everything I do evokes emotion, whether it’s something like the mask or simply going into a group chat and asking among friends what I’m doing,” she teases. “2020, I’m done doing what the kids want. It’s time to go back to my roots and showcase what I do best.” Whatever the hell she does, stay tuned: we’re sure it’s going to be revolution-ary.

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IT’S TIME TO GIVE HOMOPHOBIA THE BOOT. Photography Morgan Hill-Murphy / / Words Dan Tickner

In partnership with

ast month saw the conclusion to a Rainbow Laces campaign never so visible and - judging by the action of some fans - still so necessary.

For some of us, the sight of gay symbolism blending with the boots, flags and stadia of our national game was spine-tingling, for others old habits proved harder to break. At Stamford Bridge, chants of ‘Chelsea Rent Boys’ from West Ham fans throughout were almost encouraging in their backwardness - better dated-homophobia with a shelf-life than anything more sophisticated or sinister.

One week later, the same group of players faced more abuse as they took on Everton at Goodison Park - Big Dunc’s debut soured by home fans abuse.

Their target? A diverse and youthful Chelsea side cast in the image of manager Frank Lampard. Under such smart stewardship, you wouldn’t be surprised to see a generation of players for whom sexuality is a non-issue to emerge here.

This stirring of the pot by Rainbow Laces - and the good and bad that comes from it - is both vital and preferable to the deafening silence from football’s governing bodies prior to the campaign’s launch by Stonewall in 2013. The laces themselves, at last, give visibility to this issue within the game and force a reaction, for better or worse. In the same way that the presence of players of colour meant that the issue of racism in the game had to be at least confronted if not resolved. Half the battle with homophobia in football - and beyond - is that sexuality, crucially (and sometimes fatefully) can be hidden.

Growing up in Nottingham, spellbound by the larger-than-life Brian Clough I became a huge Forest fan and was quickly presented with an immediate dilemma - should I be gay or a football fan? It was a binary choice that preyed on my mind as I sat watching from the stands falling in love, yet already preparing two versions of myself. To this day, 43% of LGBTQ people still think public sporting events aren’t a welcoming space for them. I decided pretty early on that I wasn’t going anywhere, that ultimately football should be the one to change and though the sight of a rainbow-attired Stuart ‘Psycho’ Pearce would’ve been helpful in 1994, I’ll gladly take Harry Kane in 2019.

It’s been a long journey to get here: from the first footballer to come out in 1990 to the England captain’s rainbow armband some thirty years later. The death of the former - Justin Fashanu - in 1998 would cast a shadow over the next generation of footballers already steeped in a laddish culture that peaked with Robbie Fowler’s homophobic gesture to Chelsea’s (them again) Graham Le Saux a year later. As the landscape shifted more favourably towards coming out in the mid-noughties the emergence of social media meant that while the speed of social change increased, a player’s actions were now under global scrutiny there was no longer just the British red-tops to answer to.

It’s long been said that before a male footballer (the women’s game has progressed quicker) can simply come out, the game needs to create an

environment where they feel comfortable to do so.

Finally, with the Rainbow Laces campaign, it feels like this is happening.

Often perceived as a one-off day, it actually runs more like a mini football festival between two-match weekends. At all Premier League fixtures there are bespoke Rainbow Laces pitch flags, ball plinths, handshake boards and substitutes boards (as well as the aforementioned rainbow captain’s armbands and rainbow laces). LED boards at the stadiums highlight the campaign and clubs showcase the wide-ranging work they do to support and celebrate their LGBTQ communities.

As well as donating to Stonewall, Coca-Cola (alongside the Premier League) have this year unveiled giant welcome mats outside stadiums as part of their ‘Where Everyone Plays’ campaign (at last a classy, non-clunky slogan) as well as purchasing 30,000 Rainbow Laces to be gifted to fans throughout the second weekend.

The real success of the concept is two-fold: its opt-in format gives a more flexible approach to the issue which has allowed it to grow organically into something meaningful over the years following a string of (and trust me, I’ve seen them all) ill-judged flash-in-the-pan campaigns. Secondly, its simple message chimes with social media, allowing it to gain key allies along the way: from early adopters Joey Barton and Gary Lineker tweeting approval in the first year through to Graham Souness going viral with his (literally) game-changing monologue last month.

Reaching football’s old guard is undoubtedly impressive, but the irony remains that now the game is finally listening, the world outside it has changed.

For so many years it was football that was out of step with society - its fingers held firmly in its ears while progress was made elsewhere - now a more hostile world is slowing change in the game from the outside in. Who would’ve thought just a few years ago we’d still be seeing racist incidents in 2019? Apart from anything else, it’s a sobering reminder that the battle against homophobia is still in its infancy.

There’s still the age-old question: when will a player come out? And perhaps that’s part of the problem. It’s a question that belongs to a different age, a relic that still conjures up images of “confessing” on a newspaper front page. Even the phrase “Gay footballer” feels tabloid. Should one person be defined by these two things in the 21st century? The binary world that I grew up in - the one that made me question watching a simple game of football - is thankfully a thing of the past. So let’s not wait for ‘the one’ or any sort of announcement, rather let’s continue to build an environment that allows for something more nuanced - an Instagram post or a Twitter ‘like’ - to create a path forward. Until then every lace helps build the bridge.

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PATRICK MASON. Photography Marcus Branch / / Introduction by Daniel Megarry

The queer creative shares the moments that defined him. s one-half of music duo SRVD, creative director and vocalist Patrick Mason has become a heavyweight on the Berlin club scene. Since meeting Radio Slave at Panorama Bar, the pair have set venues alight around the world with their infamous DJ sets, and even released their own tracks online.

With Patrick literally putting the serve in SRVD for his GAY TIMES photo shoot, we asked him to delve into his past and write about the moments that make him proud to be queer.

been only a couple months old, not able to walk yet, but pulling myself up and dancing to Michael Jackson. He also was my first hero and icon. I mimicked every move, learned all the choreography and lyrics to his songs. I recall one stormy summer night - I must have been six or seven years old - I grabbed my mum’s silk bathrobe, walked out on the porch and let it fly in the wind, re-enacting Michael’s Black And White ‘Panther Dance’. He empowered me to the most powerful and outgoing person that I can be. I always was a kid who liked being the centre of attention and to entertain. In my teens, artists like Prince, Grace Jones and Erykah Badu became my spirit animals.

Their enormous energy transcended through all levels of consciousness and at the same time being super unapologetic about it. This energy is what drives me to this day. When I’m on stage performing this is what I draw from.

Music is what gets me out of bed in the morning – a funky disco tune to start the day right does wonders. Music is probably the most powerful tool of communication we have. It unites us all, no matter the race, creed, color, sexual orientation, gender identification or social position. That’s the beauty of it.

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FAMILY. I consider myself extremely lucky to have such wonderful and supportive parents. I had a great childhood... well, mostly. I grew up in a small town in Bavaria, Germany, a very conservative town where nothing exciting ever happened. My dad and I were probably the first and only people of colour they have ever encountered, so I guess it’s no surprise that during my childhood I was confronted with a lot of racism and bullying. My dad taught me from a very young age that I had to work twice as hard to be recognised – which I did. I was an A-grade student, I practiced martial arts from a very young age. I was always a very flamboyant, extravagant and outgoing young boy. Oh, and of course I played with dolls and Barbies, painted my nails and wore dresses when I was little. My dad always tells this story how I used to stick my hand out of the car while in motion, holding a Barbie doll, because I liked watching her hair fluttering in the wind. As my dad was in the American military and my mom was raised in a very Catholic household, it’s no surprise that it didn’t sit quite well with them. But I was a strong-headed young kid and they probably thought that I would grow out of it. I myself knew from a very young age that I was different. When I finally hit puberty, I ended up in my first identity crisis. During my teen years I went through a lot of emotional stress and baggage, some of which I still carry around. What has changed is how I carry it.

COMING OUT. Like every queer guy, my coming out was a branding experience in my life.

It happened on a very uneventful Thursday afternoon. I was all snuggled up in my room about to explore the depths of Pornhub. Tissues: check! Lube: check! Favorite porn: check! Just before I was ready to go, the bedroom door opened and my mum entered in a quick pace. Of course, shocked as I was about this unannounced intrusion, I knocked my laptop off my bed revealing just a glimpse of what was going on before it went dark... enough though for my mum to see that there were only naked men on the screen. So any attempt from my side to wiggle out of it was already doomed to failure. So there it was, my not-so-voluntary coming out to my mum. She took it quite well, of course she knew for ages but there were some tears and awkward silence. The next few weeks were a little strange, with a ‘don’t ask don’t tell’ situation. But she came around quite quickly... unlike my dad, who was still in the dark. As I mentioned earlier, my dad was in the US Air Force and comes from a very strict and conservative household. I always had a more distant relationship with him, as I had this fear I wasn’t the son he wanted me to be.

So it was very clear to me that he could never know. I was 20 years old at that time, about to leave home and a virgin. When I moved to Berlin shortly after, I experienced my sexual awakening. Especially in a city like Berlin, where anything goes and it’s super open-minded, I finally felt at home and understood. I was living my best life, far from home and the knowledge and supervision of my parents. Then, one summer, when my parents came to visit me in Berlin it happened. It started very innocent of me giving my mum my old phone as I just got a new one and she was in need of it. Naive as I was at that time, I handed over my phone to my dad as he is the one to execute any technological tasks, forgetting to erase any ‘sensitive’ content still on it. Inevitably, what had to happen, happened. I was woken up early in the morning the next day with a hysterical phone call from my mum saying, ‘He knows! He went through your pictures!’ From this moment on the already complicated relationship with my dad span out of control. Up to that point I never raised my voice against my parents, especially my dad, as I feared the consequences too much. But after this incident it was the first time I stepped up to my very dominant father. The confidence I obtained from living in a city like Berlin, being surrounded by wonderful supportive people, highly succeeding in my studies and career gave me the balls to speak up about all the issues I kept buried deep inside for all those years. I am a proud, young gay man in the prime of my life who worked very hard to be where I am right now. So after half a year of not speaking a word to each other, I came to the conclusion that if my own father can’t accept me for who I am, I’d rather have no father at all. It was hard for me to go that far, but it was the only way I could see this working for me. After a long and intense conversation, where I saw my dad cry for the very first time in my life, we found common ground.

Since then, my dad has done a full 180. He has been not only a father but also a friend who I can talk to. The future is shaped by the people we send into it and I’m proud of him for realising that.

FRIENDSHIP. I was quite the loner for most of my life, not letting anyone close enough to hurt me. I had a lot of casual friends I hung out and partied with but it was always hard for me to share my feelings with anyone. I always like to paint a picture of a big oak tree to explain my understanding of friends and family. When you see a big oak tree up on a hill during the last strokes of autumn, the tree crowns patched, branches thinned out and cold to the touch. If I myself represent that oak tree, then the leaves would represent the acquaintances I’ve made over the years. They bloom over one summer season, and fade away when it gets cold. The thin branches are friends who stayed over more than just a year’s season, strong enough to endure the winter’s cold and breeze, but will break when a storm is rattling them hard enough. The big and strong branches, emerging from the stem, builds the visual structure of the tree. They represent true friends, who have the most influence on me, shaping me as a person, enduring the coldest season, holding up against the stormiest weathers. And then there are the roots.

Strong and nourishing. Essential for the growth and existence. You won’t see them, but without them the tree won’t be able to survive. These roots represent my parents and my closest friends, friends so dear to my heart I consider them family. Not even a hand full to the count, but what I treasure most in this life. They were always there when I thought I couldn’t go on.

They were there when I was soaring through the sky, so high I thought I could reach the stars. Especially in the past three years I came a long way, went through a lot of changes and grew a lot. They stood by me on a journey to self-acceptance and self-love. Suffering from body dysmorphia I had a very distorted picture of myself. It translated into my work and basically every aspect of my life. It was just toxic. My friends were instrumental in helping me overcome this. I’m so grateful to have such outstanding people in my life.

MUSIC. For as long as I can remember, music and dance have always been an essential part of my life. There are polaroids of me in my crib, I must have 89

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TESCO IS LEADING THE CHARGE ON LGBTQ INCLUSIVITY. s proud Stonewall Diversity Champions, members of the Open for Business Coalition and supporters of this year’s GAY TIMES Honours 500 celebration, Tesco has made it its mission to not only support its LGBTQ employees but to support LGBTQ people across the globe. “For the last few years in the UK we have supported Switchboard and raised money for them, and in Ireland, we support the Belong To youth LGBTQ charity,” says David Page, UK & ROI Communications Director for Tesco. David who joined the company in 2018 - is also executive sponsor for Out at Tesco, one of the largest LGBTQ colleague networks in Europe with more than 3500 (and growing) members. It was also named Colleague Network of the Year 2017 by Stonewall Scotland and Colleague Network of the Year by Inclusive Networks in 2016.

“We provide mentoring and a confidential email account for any colleagues to ask questions and seek advice when asked,” explains David. “The LGBTQ network is part of our wider D&I network and programme to ensure that everyone is welcome at Tesco. A diverse workforce reflects our customers and the communities we serve and when our colleagues feel comfortable and confident to be the person they are, they do the best job for our customers.”

Barry Davies - Head of Supply Chain at Tesco Ireland and chair of Out at Tesco - agrees with David, saying colleagues perform at their best when they can be “their best selves”.

This was the case for one of Tesco’s Collegues who has proudly worked for the company for two years (they prefer to remain anonymous). They realised they were trans at age 16 and were apprehensive to come out to their fellow colleagues because their last place of work wasn’t particularly welcoming.

Thanks to Tesco’s initiatives, they were fully embraced by their co-workers. “I told my team that I wasn’t comfortable with my female name anymore,” they said. “Everyone at Tesco has been extremely supportive. I’ve changed my name on all my work records without any problem, and whenever I’ve needed time off for an appointment about my transition, there’s been no problem at all.” Barry and David meet with senior directors of Tesco every four weeks to review the objectives they implemented at the start of the year to help support their deliverables. “I’m incredibly proud and privileged to be the Chair for Out at Tesco, representing our members inside and outside of the Tesco business,” says Barry. “We are proud to empower our colleagues to be who they are at work.”

The network also supports its LGBTQ colleagues through queer activities such as Trans in the City, LGBT History Month - and of course, Pride. Amal Narayanasamy, Store Manager at Tesco Harrow Superstore Paddington,

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has worked with the company for 15 years. Each year she stands in solidarity with her LGBTQ peers by marching alongside the community. “So much has changed for LGBTQ+ since then. When I first started, no one talked about being gay - now it’s totally the opposite.” Amal praises Tesco for its diversity and how they allow everyone to live authentically. “We have a very diverse team at Tesco, and everyone is completely accepting of others. I’m straight, but I feel it’s important to attend Pride and show my support for everyone there, whatever their sexuality.”

Over the past few years, Tesco has had a huge presence at Pride events.

In 2016 Tesco sold F+F t-shirts - which featured quotes from customers and colleagues explaining what Pride means to them - and launched a 40-foot delivery truck that came fully equipped with a dance floor, bubble machine and a DJ. In 2018, to celebrate Pride, its Bags of Help scheme awarded money raised from the sales of carrier bags to LGBTQ community projects in London, Brighton, Manchester, Cardiff and Glasgow. Last year, Tesco was headline sponsor of both London and Dublin Prides and supported 40 other events across the country, most of which were requested by their colleagues. “Many of our stores go all out to support the Pride season!” says David.

In the last three years alone, the company has raised over £150,000 for LBGTQ charities, local communities and Pride events. David says Pride is Tesco’s “jewel in the crown each year” as it shows its colleagues and customers how much the company supports the LGBTQ community. “They galvanise and excite our colleagues and visibly show that everyone’s welcome at Tesco,” he adds. Tesco is committed to supporting its employees “all year round, not just for Pride. Networks, support, collaborations and activities must be year-round.”

In 2020, Tesco will further support the trans community with trans activist Samantha Howard for T&Coffee, a new non-profit community support group that will provide accessible and safe spaces where transgender people can share their experiences. It will be aimed at those who identify as a member of the “transgender spectrum” as well as their families and carers who are seeking support. Out at Tesco will also “start a trial to use our community rooms as safe spaces for LGBTQ groups to meet”. David passionately tells us: “I’ve been very lucky in that my sexuality has never been a major issue where I’ve worked or in my career. But I’ve grown up in PR and communications in London which has mainly been a liberal, liberated and accepting community. But outside of that bubble, I’ve watched with pride as elements of LGBT, then LGBTQ+, have become more and more visible, mainstream and accepted. Our job now is to ensure that continues, in all parts of our society, in all parts of our country.

Workplaces should be for work, not judgement.”

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