CANBERRA CELEBRATES
SPRINGOUT
HOMOSEXUAL VS HETEROSEXUAL
PARENTING
WALTER BURLEY GRIFFIN IS DEAD!
REIMAGINING CANBERRA
REVELATIONS
2 WEEKS IN TEL AVIV EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
SHOW US YOUR MAN BAGS
CHAD’S FASHION TIPS
KYLIE
20 YEARS & STILL SHINING
QUEER MENTAL HEALTH
ACCEPTANCE & ACTION
HOT SUMMER HOEDOWN — BUSHDANCE IS BACK!!!
ur hat o y f f o t s u D oots... b r u o y h s i l ack! and po b is e c n a d h us Canberra B Join in the fun of Canberra’s biggest GLBTI event with a rollicking band in a real woolshed. It’s a night of rhinestones, singlets, denim jeans, twirling dresses, check shirts, akubras and boots.
It’s hot, it’s fun and you’ll get to dance with everyone. And new to Bushdance, the Sheep Pen Baa — it’s a bigger bar with a gourmet bbq and camp live acts throughout the night.
Date: Time: Where: Cost:
Saturday 20 November 2010 7.30pm - 1.00am Yarralumla Woolshed, Canberra Tix at the door $30 full / $20 concession*
*Concession card required. No ATM onsite so please bring cash. Canberra Bushdance is an 18+ event so make sure your bring a photo ID. For more info, check us out: Canberra Bushdance on Facebook or email canberrabushdance@yahoo.com.au
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‘My ex rang me saying: Get out of the club. They don’t know where the gunman is.’ Author Marc Andrews talks up his new book Revelations: 2 Weeks in Tel Aviv; a fictional take on some very real events that happened on the Israeli gay scene.
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Research has found that same-sex attracted people are the most susceptible group to depression and suicide. Simon Copland reflects on this poignant issue from a personal perspective.
FUSE OP.ED 06 Walter Burley Griffin is dead, so maybe it’s time to let go and move on. Andrew Barr ACT MLA has his say.
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Zara Jackson-Martin ponders about homosexual parenting versus heterosexual parenting and what it all means for our children.
FUSE19 NOVEMBER 2010
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CONTENTS
FUSE FEATURES
FUSE REGULARS 14
40
PUBLISHER & DESIGN Lithium Innovation Pty Ltd {www.lithium.net.au} EDITOR Alexander Thatcher {editor@fusemagazine.com.au}
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ASSOCIATE EDITOR Yasmin Element
PRODUCTION & EDITORIAL Christopher Powell
CONTRIBUTORS Tony Hamlyn Simon Copland Andrew Barr Rose Pappalardo Robert Henderson
Scott Malcolm Damien Pratt Scott Williams Chad Wijayatilake Hilary Caldwell
Zara Jackson-Martin Yasmin Element Keiran Rossteuscher Matt Patafta Lucy Jane
PHOTOGRAPHERS Douglas Robinson
Snez Saravovska
Josh Sellick
CONTACT Advertising, editorial enquiries or letters Telephone: 0412 309 992 • Email: editor@fusemagazine.com.au Mail: PO Box 3577 Manuka ACT 2603 • ISSN 1836-8387
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Editor’s Rant What’s On at the Movies What’s On in Canberra The Buzz : Entertainment & Gossip Footlights : What Are You? Money Shot : Be a Winnner Grooming & Fashion : Man Bags Community : SpringOut Calendar What’s On : Canberra Bentfest 2010 Sex Talk : Healthy Bits Ear Candy : Music Reviews Out & About : Canberra’s Night Life Body Shape : Be Your Best Footlights : New 2011 Theatre Season Out & About : Canberra Fairday 2010 Health : Accidents Waiting to Happen FUSE Community Directory FUSE Business Directory Dear Rose
www.fusemagazine.com.au All rights reserved. No part of the magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher. The appearance, mention or likeness of any person or organisation in editorial or advertising in no way suggests sexual or political orientation. Photographs used to illustrate editorial do not depict the real lives, behaviour or sexuality of the models. Opinions expressed in the magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher, editor or FUSE staff. Any health, fitness or dietry advice contained in this magazine is for informational purposes only. Consult your physician and a fitness/health professional before changing your diet, doing any exercise program, or taking any supplements or remedies of any kind. Submissions of text, photographs or any other material will be taken as consent to publish said material.
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EDITOR’S RANT
WE’RE WINNERS! I’m happy to announce that FUSE Magazine just won the AIDS Action Council of the ACT 2010 media and communication award — for the vision that the Canberra queer community deserved quality local media and for making the vision a reality.
Alexander Thatcher FUSE Editor
The FUSE mascot Gus (our dog) was also a winner this month, receiving the Fairday pet parade ‘most like owner’ award!!! More Fairday photos p42.
FUSE Magazine is successful because of many community members, supporters and friends. A very special mention to Christopher and Yasmin who both work very hard helping me make sure everything comes together and the magazine looks great every month. Of course without all our talented writers and photographers there would be no FUSE magazine — even after being hounded constantly about deadlines, they all still stick in there and help us produce possibly Australia’s best GLBTI community magazine. You should all be very proud. There is also another factor that is integral to FUSE and its success, and that’s advertising. I would like to thank all the businesses and individuals that have supported us. Some of our advertisers have been with us from the first issue and have continued through to our current edition — which is an amazing commitment and I think they deserve a very special mention: Form Haircutters, Money Mechanics, Hang Ups, Cube Nightclub, Hush Lounge, Alive Health and Fitness; and from our early days we have also had ongoing support from Tilley’s, Herm Legal, The Canberra Theatre, The Street Theatre, The Q and Dendy Cinemas. I’d also like to mention the AIDS Action Council of the ACT who have shown us a huge amount of support right from day one. If it was not for businesses and organisations like these FUSE would not be possible — and on that note, remember that your support of our advertisers in turn supports FUSE! So what have we got for you all this month? With SpringOut 2010 already started you’ll find the special FUSE SpringOut calendar of events on p24. This year SpringOut includes days in the park, picnics, rallies, workshops, queer films, drag, pride awards, live music and of course the very popular Canberra Bushdance — oh and on p42, you’ll find photos of the opening event Fairday which was held at the end of October. We have some special features and Op.Eds this month as well. Andrew Barr MLA (ACT Minister for Planning) shares his thoughts on the future of Canberra and suggests there may be some lessons to be learned from the The Simpsons when it comes to leaving the past in the past and moving on! p06. Tony Hamlyn, our entertainment and celebrity guru, reviews a new gay book written by Marc Andrews — Revelations: 2 Weeks in Tel Aviv. It’s a fictional take on some very real events and a gripping insight into what it must be like being gay in Israel. p14.
Yasmin Element Associate Editor
Recently young gay teens have been committing suicide at an alarming rate — four teenage boys dead in the space of just three weeks. One of latest being Tyler Clementi, studying music at Rutgers University in the US, who killed himself after two classmates secretly filmed him having sex and then uploaded it to the internet. It’s not surprising that the Australian national depression initiative Beyond Blue found that same-sex attracted people are the most susceptible group to depression and suicide in the broader community. Simon Copland writes about this crisis which desperately needs addressing, and shares some of his own personal insights. p20. While we are discussing young people, our youth writer Zara Jackson-Martin, gives us her spin on same-sex parenting and discusses how different environments, behaviour and upbringing can affect our children. p16. Yep, all this plus all our regulars — which we know you love. Oh and BTW don’t forget to check out the FUSE website www.fusemagazine.com.au for the latest news, special FUSE features and what’s on in Canberra and around Australia.
Christopher Powell Winged Courier Monkey
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Until next month — enjoy. Alex
Send all letters to the editor to editor@fusemagazine.com.au
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At the Movies MONSTERS : OPENS 25 NOVEMBER
HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 1 : OPENS 18 NOVEMBER Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the seventh and final adventure in the Harry Potter film series, is a much anticipated motion picture event to be told in two full length parts. Part one begins as Harry, Ron and Hermione set out on their perilous mission to track down and destroy the secret to Voldemort’s immortality and destruction — the horcruxes. On their own, without the guidance of their professors or the protection of Professor Dumbledore, the three friends must now rely on one another more than ever. But there are dark forces in their midst that threaten to tear them apart.
THE AMERICAN : OPENS 11 NOVEMBER George Clooney stars in the title role of this suspense thriller. As an assassin, Jack (played Clooney) is constantly on the move and always alone. After a job in Sweden ends more harshly than expected for this American abroad, Jack retreats to the Italian countryside. He relishes being away from death for a spell as he holes up in a small medieval town. While there, Jack takes an assignment to construct a weapon for a mysterious contact. Savoring the peaceful quietude he finds in the mountains of Abruzzo, Jack accepts the friendship of local priest and pursues a torrid liaison with a beautiful woman, Clara (Violante Placido). Jack and Clara’s time together evolves into a romance, one seemingly free of danger. But by stepping out of the shadows, Jack may be tempting fate.
Six years ago previously, a NASA probe returning to earth with samples of an alien life form, crashed over Central America. Soon after, new life forms began to appear, and half of Mexico was quarantined as an “infected zone”. Today, the American and Mexican military still struggle to contain ‘the creatures’... The story begins when a US journalist agrees to escort a shaken American tourist through the infected zone in Mexico to the safety of the US border.
FAIR GAME : OPENS 25 NOVEMBER A covert officer in the CIA’s counter-proliferation department, Valerie Plame (Naomi Watts) discovers that, contrary to the belief of many in the US Government, Iraq has no active nuclear weapons program. Meanwhile, Valerie’s husband Joe (Sean Penn) is sent to Africa to investigate rumours of possible sales of enriched uranium to Iraq. Finding no such deals took place, Joe writes a New York Times piece outlining his conclusions, igniting a firestorm of controversy. Soon Valerie’s top-secret identity is leaked to high-profile Washington journalists. Is it an unhappy accident or a coordinated campaign to retaliate against her husband? With her cover blown and her overseas contacts left vulnerable, Valerie is pushed to the breaking point as her career and private life collapse. Friends and family become indignant, then distant. Valerie receives anonymous death threats, and Joe’s business dries up. After 18 years serving the government, Valerie — a mother, a wife and a field officer with an impeccable record — now struggles to save her reputation, her career and her marriage.
FREE MOVIE TICKETS FUSE has double passes to give away to Dendy Theatre in Canberra. Write in and tell us what you think of FUSE, comment on an article or sign up to the FUSE website and you could win these great Dendy movie tickets • email: hello@fusemagazine.com.au • www.fusemagazine.com.au
Free movie passes kindly supplied by Dendy Cinemas Canberra Level 2, North Quarter Canberra Centre, Bunda Street, Canberra City
www.dendy.com.au
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Check out fusemagazine.com.au for a full list of what’s happening in Canberra including local and national gay and lesbian events.
CANBERRA BUSHDANCE Saturday 20 November 7.30pm -1.00am Tickets at the door $30 full / $20 concession
ACT ZOMBIE WALK!
Dust off your hat and polish your boots – Canberra Bushdance is back! Join in the fun of Canberra’s biggest GLBTI event — over 700 dancers and a rollicking band in a real woolshed. It’s a night of rhinestones, singlets, jeans, twirling dresses, check shirts, akubras and boots. It’s hot, it’s fun and you’ll get to dance with everyone. And new to Bushdance, the Sheep Pen Baa — it’s a bigger bar with a gourmet bbq and camp live acts throughout the night.
Saturday 27 November. Walk starts at 6pm from Glebe Park, Coranderrk Street, Reid
This is an 18+ event so make sure your bring a photo ID. Yarralumla Woolshed, Canberra
FORESHORE SUMMER MUSIC FESTIVAL 27 November at Commonwealth Place, Parks Foreshore is a highly anticipated event and attracts all types of people and is popular with the Canberra gay community — especially with those who still like to party! It has a fantastic line up of Australian and international talent. Staged at Commonwealth Place and surrounded by iconic national landmarks, this is a Canberra event that pumps! Check out www.foreshorefestival.com.au for more info.
WHAT’S ON
WHAT’S ON NOVEMBER {
Zombie walks occur annually the world over to raise money for charities, one of the most famous being the Toronto Zombie Walk. Now Canberra is getting in on the fun. Not only will you have more fun than the walking dead, but you’ll also help raise money for the Red Cross! For more info, dress tips, photos and more, visit: http://canberrazombiemarch.webs.com
SPRINGOUT 2010 30 October to 4 December 2010 Now in its twelfth year, Canberra SpringOut is now happening! Check out all the events and activities running from November to early December. It’s your opportunity to participate in a multitude of fun events and activities with the queer community and their friends. Check out the full SpringOut Calendar of events of p24 and the FUSE website.
BENTFEST Saturday 13 November and Friday 19 November Bar & Tickets at 7pm. Films start at 7.30pm Bent Lenses presents three must see movies as part of ther Canberra SpringOut Festival. With a great mix of both gay and lesbian films you don’t want to miss, The Butch Factor, Mr Right and Tru Loved. More info check out p26. Ticket only $10 at The CSIRO Discovery Centre, Nth Science Road, Acton. http://bentlenses.org
CHECK OUT THE FUSE COMMUNITY DIRECTORY ON PAGE 46 FUSE 5
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By Andrew Barr is the ACT Minister for Planning
OP.ED
WALTER BURLEY GRIFFIN IS DEAD ‘I have planned a city that is not like any other in the world. I have planned it not in a way that I expected any government authorities in the world would accept. I have planned an ideal city — a city that meets my ideal of the city of the future.’ Walter Burley Griffin, 1912 WALTER BURLEY GRIFFIN WAS BORN IN 1876. HE HAS HAD NO INVOLVEMENT IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF CANBERRA SINCE 1920, YET HIS LEGACY AND THE DECONSTRUCTION OF HIS “IDEAL CITY ” VISION CONTINUES TO DOMINATE DEBATE ABOUT THE FUTURE OF CANBERRA. It also proposes keeping future urban development within 15km of Civic. This In pop culture terms, Griffin is surely the “Jebediah Springfield” of Canberra. means a significant change to the way we It is hard not to draw parallels between the town pride demonstrated in The have traditionally done things. Simpsons for Springfield’s founder and that shown in Canberra planning circles for Griffin. We are starting to see that change now — in the past decade about half the new homes Rather than attempt to re-invent Jebediah Springfield ‘s legacy, built in Canberra have been apartments or Lisa Simpson decided to leave the past in the past. Perhaps it is townhouses and they have been built time Canberrans did the same. in established areas. Walter Burley Griffin is dead. We should not be casting back a century for Most Canberrans still choose to live in answers to Canberra’s contemporary challenges. Griffin could never a separate house on its own land but have foreseen the changes in lifestyles that technology has delivered apartments and townhouses in established and that climate change will require. We should not try to re-interpret areas are becoming much more popular. It is his ideal of the city of the future. easy to see why — they are generally located Our second century as a city must be about responding to our emerging close to employment and they are much more needs and taking new opportunities as they present themselves. affordable and sustainable. My vision for Canberra in 2030 is a progressive, inclusive and vibrant city with something to offer singles, couples and families — straight and gay. A city that offers services, entertainment, hospitality and amenities for a growing local and regional community. A place where people from many different backgrounds can live, work and play. Over the next twenty years Canberra’s population will grow by around 80,000 people. We will need about 50,000 more homes in Canberra to keep up. This level of growth is fairly similar to what we have experienced in the past twenty years. In 1990 our population was 283,000, today it is nearly 360,000. Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics indicates that between 2006 and 2031, single people and couples without children will make up 80 per cent of the increase in households. We must consider how and where we deliver housing that meets the needs of this type of household — both for the young and old.
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Current ACT Government policy, articulated through the Canberra Spatial Plan, supports the development of a compact city and sets targets for 50 per cent of future urban growth to occur within a 7.5km radius of Civic.
For many, these housing choices provide any number of opportunities and possibilities, allowing people to do what they want to do and live in suburbs they want to live in. Canberra is taking significant steps towards becoming more diverse and embracing different lifestyles and life choices. We now have a variety of neighbourhoods, public places and private places that a range of people can enjoy. I think this should continue. The next twenty years will be all about making the right choices to become a more affordable and sustainable city; Making the right choices to ensure equitable access to housing, jobs and education; Making the right choices to overcome long commutes and provide better public transport options; Essentially it is about planning to improve livability. As the Grattan Institute identified in their 2010 Report The Cities We Need:
‘Planning is indispensible to maintaining and improving cities as great places to live. But good planning also requires not planning; recognition that vibrant city life is partly spontaneous and that, in the long run, cities are likely to produce ways of living that we did not anticipate. That is no bad thing. We simply need to adapt and find ways to nurture what we value most.’
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THE
ENTERTAINMENT & GOSSIP
BUZZ
I don’t know about you, but I am totally geeking out on part one of Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows, hitting cinemas on November 18. The first time I saw the online preview I felt like I’d been hit with the “Expelliarmus Charm” (sorry — I did warn you I’m geeking out!). There are those who still cling to the falsehood that these books and movies are for children. You can’t see, but I’m putting on my sad face emoticon right now for all the grown ups who’ve totally missed out on this amazing adventure and these wonderful characters. Also, can we just talk about Rupert Grint and his big boy muscles? And before you get all “Call the authorities!” on me, might I just point out that young Rupert is now 22-years-old and no longer the pre-teen Ron Weasley whose awkwardness we all chuckled over merrily. Oh okay, you can call me an old “Horcrux” if you like, but I challenge you to check out the new pics of Rupert, with that Oasis shag-cut and shoulders that won’t quit, and tell me your wand isn’t made of hardwood. 8
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By Tony Hamlyn
HYPED HARRY ~ CAMP CRAIGERY ~ NPH DADDY ~ JACKASS GAY(ER) ~ SEXY KYLIE
HYPED UP FOR HARRY
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It’s all happening for the Potter trio at the moment, earning about a squillion dollars each for the films and, now that the story is coming to a close, moving on to the next stage of their careers. Emma Watson and her fabulous new pixie haircut are back in the US to finish her Liberal Arts degree at Brown no less, and (if you believe what the tabloids are saying) trying to steal Rob Pattinson off of Kristen Stewart. Good for her! And the oh-so-likeable Daniel Radcliffe is set to star in a Broadway revival of the 1960s musical How To Succeed In Business opening in New York early next year. Daniel infamously went all full-frontal nudity for Equus, his last Broadway stint in 2007, and friends of mine who saw it said he gave an ample performance. Fingers crossed that he’s able to extend that talent to song and dance. Rupert Grint’s career outside of the Potter franchise has so far been well received and enjoyed a kind of quiet success, so it’ll be interesting to see what he decides to do next. In the meantime, batten down the hatches for what promises to be the first of two utterly exceptional films to finish off the Harry Potter journey.
NPH IS A DADDY! A HUGE congratulations to my future ex-boyfriend Neil Patrick Harris and his super-hot partner David Burtka, who recently announced the arrival of twins — a boy and a girl.
CAMP CRAIGERY Who amongst us hasn’t sat around rattling off endless dialogue from Kath & Kim? Or quoted Steel Magnolias ad nausean with other friends in the know? Or delivered punchlines before they happen during an Ab Fab re-run? But none of us have been clever enough to film it topless and then post it on YouTube. I am of course referring to Craigery Morgan’s fabulous video that’s been doing the internet rounds, and has now gone well and truly viral with hits well into the millions. Craigery (I know, right?) sits shirtless in his living room, and delivers a near-perfect lip sync to a recent Saturday Night Live sketch in which Kristen Wiig becomes hysterical helping Christopher Walken plan a surprise party. If you haven’t yet seen it, what exactly have you been doing with your time? And for those of you who have, you have to admit that whilst it’s a simple concept, it is absolutely hysterical. Craigery has actually been doing this for a while now — uploading his lip synced performances of various Saturday Night Live sketches — but for some reason he’s never had the response he’s had from the more recent ‘Surprise Party’ one. I can’t imagine why… Could it possibly be the fact that this deliciously pretty boy who’s stacked like a gymnast decided to do this one sans t-shirt, by any chance? Whatever the reason, what I like most about this whole phenomenon is the fact that young Craigery is so out-of-control, off-the-chart, over-the-top, Hi-C CAMP! Believe it or not readers, I am a fan of camp. I love it. I support it. I am it! A lot of gay men seem to think that camp and effeminate can’t be sexy, but this sister-girlfriend is turning that shit around. Good girl! Now that he has a global audience it will be interesting to watch where this young comedian goes to next. Is it a flash in a shirtless pan? Or will he take his fifteen topless minutes and run with it? Check Chris out at: www.craigerymorgan.com
The Nuevo-Homo celebrity couple issued the news last August that their surrogate was knocked up, then NPH announced the birth last month via a Tweet exclaiming, ‘Babies! On 10/12 Gideon Scott and Harper Grace entered the Burtka-Harris fold. All of us are happy, healthy, tired, and a little pukey.’ I am LOVING the choice of old school names from the Deep South. My guess is a classic influence, like Gone With The Wind or perhaps Designing Women. Sure, with names like that these kids are sure to be beaten up in the playground, but their Dad was Doogie Howser so they were destined to be mercilessly teased regardless. Sometimes I think Neil Patrick is cut from cream cheese, I swear to god. His career is at an all-time high, having just scored an Emmy and directed a concert version of the musical Rent; How I Met Your Mother is still going strong in its sixth year; he’s about to direct a new indie feature film starring the hip and happening Emma Roberts and Josh Hutcherson (the hot young guy from The Kids Are Alright); he has a gorgeous husband and now two adorable babies. I’ve never wanted him more! But seriously, NPH is a fantastic advocate for out and proud gay men, and living proof that in this day and age you just might be able to have it all.
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MORE BUZZ
JACKASS GOES GAY(ER) Despite its obvious insanity, I have to (somewhat shamefully) confess that I’m a bit of a Jackass fan. Whilst I myself would never dream of doing any of those stunts — my idea of extreme sports is getting a pedicure from a stranger — watching those boys, for some inexplicable reason, has always tickled my fancy and made me laugh out loud. Of course it doesn’t hurt that Johnny Knoxville is uber-hot. But regardless, I often find their crazy antics completely hilarious. So sue me! And I’m thrilled now to report that, although the culture around the Jackass phenomenon has mostly been the domain of brainless straight boys, the Jackass dudes are subverting all that, beginning with their recent Vanity Fair interview. When Knoxville and fellow prankster Steve-O were questioned on the homoerotic nature of their act, instead of a predictable homophobic rhetoric, they’re quoted as saying, ‘We always thought it was funny to force a heterosexual MTV generation to deal with all of our thongs and homoerotic humor. In many ways, all our gay humor has been a humanitarian attack against homophobia. We’ve been trying to rid the world of homophobia for years, and I think gay people really dig it too.’
To add fuel to the flaming fire, Knoxville hosted a special advance screening of the boys’ new film Jackass 3D at a notorious LA leather bar called The Eagle, (pictured above) for an audience he himself referred to as ‘some very hungry bears’. The photos of the night have to be seen to be believed. I mean, WOOF! Altruistic or exploitative — who can say, really? But I like to think that maybe these Jackasses are helping change the world, one donkey kick in the nuts at a time.
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HOMO HERITAGE In a new regular feature of The Buzz, we look back at a significant cultural phenomenon from our big gay past… I can’t even believe I’m about to admit this, but it was exactly twenty years ago — November 1990 — that Kylie Minogue’s Rhythm of Love album was unleashed on the world. Often sited as Kylie’s first great work, Rhythm of Love was released to coincide with the album’s second single ‘Step Back In Time’ and introduced a new, hot look for our first lady of pop, which the press quickly dubbed ‘SexKylie’. Her relationship with Michael Hutchence was by now public knowledge and anyone living in Sydney at the time had an outrageous story about the two of them out and about on the Oxford Street club scene, disco dancing and living the high life. Very high, allegedly. To those of you who were filled with gay abandon as you danced to ‘What Do I Have To Do’ or ‘Shocked’ with your hands in the air — did you EVER think that twenty years later she would still be around? We all did, I’m sure! Surprisingly the album only made number ten in Australia and number nine in the UK, but achieved platinum sales in both countries and eventually went on to sell more than a million copies worldwide. Rhythm of Love is notable for being the first co-writing experience for Kylie, an endeavour that produced some of her finest songs to date, including ‘The World Still Turns’ and the fabulously flirtatious title track. Jam-packed with top pop tunes like ‘One Boy Girl’ and ‘Things Can Only Get Better’, the penultimate moment on this album has become arguably Kylie’s most memorable single ever, ‘Better The Devil You Know’. Suddenly even straight guys were saying, ‘Wow, I really like that new Kylie song’ and gay guys across the world were saying, ‘I told you so!’ The Rhythm of Love album is a wonderful moment in Australian pop music — few and far between in this era of Oz Rock domination — and really was the first baby step towards the glamorous gay icon we know and love today.
Solar Solutions • Grey Water Solutions • Hot Water Systems • Recycled Decking • Worm Farms Greenhouse Emporium has been envisioned to be a portal and information centre for environmental information and solutions for home, business and industry. We endeavour to make awareness of environmental issues and environmental consciousness as easy and accessible as possible to our customers. By providing our customers with the information they require and the right solutions to suit them, we hope to help the community make the right choices when deciding to ‘GO GREEN’! WE ARE COMMITTED TO FINDING PRODUCTS AND TECHNOLOGY THAT WORK AND ARE BENEFICIAL SOLUTIONS TO HELP PREVENT THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON OUR ENVIRONMENT.
Cleaning Products • Personal Care Items • Organic Baby Products • Environmentally Conscious Products You wont believe all the exciting environmentally conscious products we have at Greenhouse Emporium. Why not drop by, grab a coffee or lunch in our relaxed and laid back coffee shop (inspired by organic and local products) and see what’s new on the green market.
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FOOTLIGHTS
WHAT ARE YOU? THE UP-AND-COMING LOCAL PRODUCTION OF WHAT ARE YOU IS A SHOW THAT DIRECTOR LUCY MATTHEWS DESCRIBES AS VERY RELEVENT TO QUEER ISSUES THAT ARE PRESENT IN SOCIETY TODAY. Lucy and fellow director Braiden Dunn have a lot of confidence in the power of this show to challenge and provoke thought within the audience.
What Are You is a new musical which challenges the ideals and stereotypes that social expectation places on individuals. Written by Braiden Dunn and Lucy Matthews, the show explores these stereotypes and how they contribute to typical traditions and rituals that pervade western society — in particular marriage. Kieran and Mary are newlyweds excited for their future together, yet at the night of their wedding reception they begin to discover that life does not follow a plan and love is never definable or simple. Looking closely it seems that the groom loves someone, yet it isn’t the bride. The bride lusts after another, but it isn’t the groom. Meanwhile, the best man is conflicted between morality and desire while the bartender is sitting back and enjoying the show. Also including the music of Lady Gaga and Keisha, with drag, dance and drama, What Are You is a show designed to challenge what the audience thinks they know. Also including original compositions by Lucy Matthews the show is a combination of cabaret, pop and rock. What Are You will be performed on the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 10th, 11th and 12th of December at Gorman House Studios. Tickets are on sale now, phone 6247 3150 to book seats.
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By Yasmin Element Photos by Josh Sellick @ Clear Vision Photography
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FEATURE
REVELATIONS
FROM A FOREIGN LAND
AUTHOR MARC ANDREWS TALKS UP HIS NEW BOOK REVELATIONS: 2 WEEKS IN TEL AVIV; A FICTIONAL TAKE ON SOME VERY REAL EVENTS. Last August Aussie journalist Marc Andrews found himself in Tel Aviv, partying at a gay club on a busy Saturday night. He was having fun, drinking, dancing, flirting… then watched as, in the space of only a few seconds, the music stopped and complete chaos broke out. ‘Suddenly all these phones went off and people started screaming and crying. I had no idea what was going on.’ A stranger in a strange land, he was unsurprisingly alarmed. The panic was over a nearby fatal shooting which had occurred only minutes earlier. A man had walked into the local support centre for gay teenagers with a mask and a firearm and indiscriminately shot into the gathered crowd, killing two people and injuring another fifteen before fleeing the scene.
‘My ex rang me saying “Get out of the club. They don’t know where the gunman is. He may be going to all the clubs tonight.”’ Andrews was lucky; the killer did not strike again that night. But experiencing the aftermath of such a shocking event clearly had its effect on the writer. ‘I came back and told everyone what had happened. They all said “Oh my god, that sounds like a novel” and a little light bulb went off.’
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The result is his first book, Revelations: 2 Weeks in Tel Aviv, a fictional story based around what unfolded during his time spent in the Israeli metropolis. And whilst it’s an odd choice, for a journo especially, to observe something like this directly and then create a work of fiction around it, the format was something the author felt strongly about. ‘It’s putting it into a kind of personal context. Trying to personalise some of the tragedy so that it’s maybe relatable on some level, more than if you were reading a non-fiction book.’
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By Tony Hamlyn
Spending a few more days in Israel after the shooting, Marc saw firsthand the affect the incident had on his friends, and of course Tel Aviv’s entire gay community. He stayed on to attend a public solidarity rally attended by more than 20,000 people in the city’s Rabin Square, and was both moved and fascinated by what he witnessed. ‘It was all in Hebrew, but really moving. Tel Aviv is very much like Sydney was maybe twenty years ago, I tend to think, when gay was new and fresh and exciting. So they were really taken aback that something like this happened.’
MY EX RANG ME SAYING “GET OUT OF THE CLUB”
A number of high profile politicians and popular artists condemned the shootings, but not all Israelis were so tolerant on the issue of homosexuality, and this disparity is addressed in the novel. There is a scene in which the mother of one of the characters expresses her disappointment that only two people were killed — this she says to her gay son. ‘And this is actually a true story someone told me,’ Andrews explains. ‘They’d gone home and their mother had said this to them. It was just kind of this blinding fundamentalism. He was just totally devastated.’ It was stories like this, he says, that inspired him to volunteer his share of the book’s profits to ORAM, an organisation that assists refugees escaping sexual or gender-based persecution. Andrews got involved with ORAM whilst researching the book, and made the decision to donate his own proceeds because he felt it would be ‘a great way to actually help someone out’.
THE STORY, WHILST OBVIOUSLY DEALING WITH SOME VERY SAD AND FRIGHTENING SUBJECT MATTER, IS ALSO A CANDID AND GRAPHIC LOOK AT GAY LIFESTYLE AND SEXUALITY. Definitely not light on the details, Andrews laughs when I ask him if there was any fear in putting to paper the kind of explicit gay sex scenes that are included. ‘At first I was kind of censoring myself because originally I wanted to go to big publishers, and they don’t look too kindly on stories about fisting and that kind of stuff.’ He instead went through a small publisher he knew through work, primarily to enable him to have the book published in time for the August 1st anniversary of the shooting, but also to allow him more creative control and less compromise with the sexual element. ‘It just seemed natural as part of the story to have that stuff in it. And I don’t think it’s gratuitous, like suddenly there’s a sex scene for no reason. I mean, gay men have sex, they have a lot of sex, and there’s different kinds of sex, and that’s presented in the book.’ Later he also mentions that after reading the book a friend had said to him, ‘The sex in the book is so graphic… I had to read it twice!’ Marc Andrews
‘When people think of Israel they think of a lot of old rocks and a lot of old historic biblical sites.’ Wanting to show a different side of Israeli culture he felt was essential, as it was all part of what he himself experienced. ‘I mean Tel Aviv is just absolutely fascinating. It’s a beautiful city, so cosmopolitan, so sophisticated, and has a huge, very open gay society.’ Anyone who buys the novel online also receives access to a free 90-minute audio file the author put together, featuring some of the songs mentioned in the book. The mix is eclectic, ranging from traditional Middle-Eastern tracks to current dance/pop favourites, but it makes a complimentary addition to the story. ‘I hope that I can introduce some interesting music, and put it in a context as well,’ Marc explains. ‘Music is this universal tool, and really is something that can unite people in so many ways.’
“TEL AVIV IS ABSOLUTELY FASCINATING... AND HAS A HUGE, VERY OPEN GAY SOCIETY”
Considering the controversy of the source material, this new gay novel manages to tell a difficult story in an uncomplicated and accessible way. And while Revelations does ask some tough questions, Andrews steers clear from trying to offer up any solutions for peace in the Middle East, focusing more so on the senselessness of hate crimes such as this one, and the dangerous absolutes of religious fanaticism. A self-proclaimed “pop anthropologist”, Andrews brings a lot of himself and his passion for music to the novel. Littered with a number of detailed pop culture references, he cites well-known songs and artists, even specific producers like The Freemasons and Haji & Emanuel. ‘That’s part of my background, and I guess in a way it’s being true to myself to have that stuff.’ Clearly Kelly Rowland lyrics and Sophie Ellis-Bextor remixes are not what you would normally expect to come across in a book on this subject, and he agrees, suggesting that ‘If you’re reading a book about Israel you’re not expecting to find a lot of those kind of references’.
Revelations: 2 Weeks in Tel Aviv is available from The Bookshop Darlinghurst or online from Marc Andrews’ blogsite at: www.marcandrewsblog. blogspot.com
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{ X E S E M SA G N I T N E R PA
OP.ED
By Zara Jackson-Martin. Check out her blog at: http://idburnthecitydowntoshowyouthelights.blogspot.com
WHAT I WANT TO EXPLORE THIS MONTH IS THE IDEA OF HOMOSEXUAL VERSUS HETEROSEXUAL PARENTING, AN ISSUE, WHICH, DESPITE MY OWN SEXUALITY, I HAVE OFTEN PONDERED.
Firstly, it is important to consider that there are many limitations looking into queer families. For this reason you will notice that much of the research relates to families with two mothers as opposed to two fathers (the former being a more legal and viable option at the present time). Thus, please do not assume this is my personal bias, I have tried to include as much information here as possible. One in five lesbian women and one in ten gay men in the US describe themselves as a parent (very few reliable Australian statistics exist, though I doubt we have less gay parents, more likely an ardent hate of math!). Just as with heterosexual families, homosexual families come in a wide variety of types, including single parents (I myself come from a single parent family). Research since the mid1980s has consistently found that parents’ sexual orientation does not correlate with changes in children’s behavior or social relationships, when looking at single mothers, either homosexual or heterosexual. Moreover, those who had grown up with lesbian mothers (single or otherwise) failed to show any increased likelihood of being homosexual themselves (Tasker FL & Golombok S, 1997). On a similar topic, Wolf and Mikach (1995) interviewed 75 sons from same-sex families with two gay fathers and found only nine per cent identified as gay or bisexual (estimates of those with in the general population who identify as gay or bisexual vary from four to seventeen per cent).
A study into adolescent health in the United States in 2008, comparing 46 matched pairs of homosexual/ heterosexual families found that adolescents in same sex parented families (average age of 15) were no more or less likely to be romantically involved or show substance abuse or delinquency than their counterparts brought up in heterosexual families. Consistently, what seems to affect children’s social adjustment and behavior most is the warmth and quality of their relationships with their parents, biological or otherwise — gender and sexual orientation aside (ChanRW, Raboy B & Patterson CJ, 1998). This is one effect that I’m sure we have all observed in life, unfortunately abusive and neglectful parents rarely bring up extroverted, conscientious children. Last but not least, another area which I am hesitant to explore but feel I should mention, is gender roles and gender identity which, while not as widely researched, have not, as of yet, been proven to be influenced by parental gender, though these roles have only been researched with reference to favorite games, toys and television shows (which, in my eyes, are very subjective measures, as you all know I’m not a huge fan of gender binaries in the first place!). If anything, what recent research is indicating is that having gay parents may actually be beneficial. Research surrounding the longest running study on same-sex families (the National Longitudinal Lesbian Family Study) which has been running since 1986, suggests that children brought up by two mothers are, on average, more intelligent and more socially well-equipped. The children who were tested were aged 17 and compared with a control group born to heterosexual parents from a similar socioeconomic and educational background. And so as I leave you today, I urge you to speak up in favor of same-sex families, because we deserve the right to 2.5 children and a white picket fence as much as our heterosexual counter parts.
Gay rights are human rights.
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MONEY SHOT
As the Commonwealth Games wrap up and we celebrate the successes of the Australian team I was thinking about the focused goals of the athletes with their dreams and achievements and how this can relate to us all.
A E B N A C U YO
‘A dream is just a dream. A goal is a dream with a plan and a deadline.’
R E N N I W
One athlete most of you may know, Matt Mitchem, being one whom I feel has done so much more above and beyond being an elite athlete; one of the best in his chosen sport but also as an openly gay athlete, challenging perceptions and beliefs to show that regardless of sexuality you can achieve anything! With any dream becoming a goal by putting a plan in place or taking a step towards making the dream happen does take sacrifice. Sacrifice of resources such as time, money and other opportunities or things you may want to be doing. If you are studying this may be at the sacrifice of socialising. If you are saving for a deposit on a home this maybe at the sacrifice of buying the latest season’s clothing or going out as much. If you are saving for retirement it maybe at the sacrifice of increased consumption today. This all ties back to our values and beliefs and when done properly financial planning is all about this! How do you work out which dream is the really important one for you and then develope an action plan to make it happen? Now it isn’t about always making drastic changes in your life (unless your able to keep it happening), as this might not be sustainable. But set up a plan with little goals for the next day, week, fortnight, month and year. Break it down and it is easier to make it happen. My congratulations to our entire team who represented Australia at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi and who make sacrifices every day to achieve their dreams and goals while representing our country in sport! The awesome thing about having a goal is they are fluid and change all the time and if we really put our minds and hearts into it, anything is possible! If you need assistance in exploring these ideas further, talk to a professional but most importantly start your journey to being free around your money and creating wealth with understanding.
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Scott Malcolm (scott@money-mechanics.com.au) is Director of Money Mechanics (ph: 6257 5557) who are authorised to provide financial advice through PATRON Financial Advice AFSL 307379. The information provided on this document is of a general nature only. It has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on this information you should consider its appropriateness having regard to your own objectives, financial situation and needs.
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FEATURE OP.ED
On the 22nd of September, Tyler Clementi, a young man studying music at Rutgers University, walked up to the George Washington Bridge in New Jersey and then threw himself to his death. He did so only days after two of his roommates’ streamed footage of him having sex with another man live on the internet. This tragic loss was just one of many high profile incidents over recent years. With it, the issues of queer bullying, mental health for queer people and the extremely high rate of suicide for queer people has once again been highlighted as needing urgent attention.
There are even reports that Beyond Blue, Australia’s largest mental health organisation has repeatedly ignored the queer mental health crisis. After re-releasing its issues paper, Mental Health, Depression and Anxiety in SameSex Attracted People in June 2009 (after initially releasing the report in January 2008) criticism began to flow that the organisation wasn’t doing anything to address the problem. In June 2009, queer activist Rob Mitchell argued that Beyond Blue had only released their initial report after significant pressure from queer activists and even after releasing the report they continued to refuse to put money into addressing the problem.
Growing up as a young queer man it very quickly became clear that depression was simply part of life for many GLBTI people. For me, it began largely after I came out, as the realisation that I was living in a world where some did not accept me became a reality. With it came an immense feeling of sadness that most of the time I did not understand.
Even now, neither Beyond Blue, nor any other major mental health organisation, has any major projects or campaigns addressing this issue. Whilst small scale work continues from committed people across the country, there is a lack of resources to aid any form of national campaign. Whether these organisations will conduct these campaigns in the future is yet to be seen.
However, I was one of the lucky ones. My family was nothing but supportive and overall my friends were great too. Many people I knew however were not so lucky. Some had family that rejected them outright, others had friends who bullied them; many suffered from both. For many this lead to severe depression; a sense and feeling of being alone and isolated from a world that didn’t accept you. For some this escalated into attempted suicide (I am lucky to have never known someone who has committed suicide).
There are clear reasons why some queer people suffer from mental health issues more than their straight counterparts. Evidence shows that there are clear and obvious links between social stigmatisation, discrimination and isolation and mental health problems. Whilst official discrimination is now limited in Australia, there is still a high level of low-level queerphobia in the country; something that has a clear effect on many queer people.
The statistics around queer mental health issues are stark. A research scoping paper commissioned by the national depression initiative Beyond Blue, in December 2008 found that same-sex attracted people, in particular women, are the most susceptible group to depression and suicide in our community. According to the study, in any twelve-month period, approximately 42% of queer people suffer from some form of mental illness (this includes affective disorders, anxiety and substance abuse), compared to fewer than 20% of heterosexualidentifying people. The realities are the worst for young people. According to the paper, some studies show that more than 50% of young queer people have suffered from severe anxiety or depression, with approximately 42% of young queer people attempting suicide at some point in their life. The study found that young gay men were 3.7 times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual counterparts; a figure that increases for same-sex attracted women and even more for bisexual people.* Yet, even with such strong statistics, and despite increasing attention being put onto mental health issues, queer mental health has often been forgotten as an issue needing attention. Whilst many have spent decades putting huge amounts of work providing support services and running campaigns to end discrimination, funding has continued to be short and no national organisation has put any major resources into addressing the problem.
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What is unclear however is why, given the serious nature of queer mental health problems, the issue has continued to be ignored. Whilst one could easily say that it is a case of queerphobia from mental health organisations and those who fund them, there is not clear evidence that this is the case (although it must be considered a factor). It is possible that the most prominent reason for the lack of action on this issue is that tackling queer mental health issues requires a lot more work than awareness raising and providing easily accessible treatment options. Tackling queer mental health problems requires tackling the high levels of low-level queerphobia that exists in our society, particularly that targeted at young people. Possibly more than any other mental health issue, queer mental health problems require an approach that is focused on preventative health — it is not until we tackle discrimination that we are going to be able to solve the queer mental health crisis. This has been a problem for the mental health lobby for a number of years. In the initial stages of what is becoming the mental health revolution, campaigns and funding have been focused on awareness raising, service delivery and treatment. This unfortunately forgets that a large percentage of mental health problems are preventable with the right proactive measures. In some cases this means giving people access to services such as youth groups where they are able to discuss issues in their lives, whilst for others it means tackling some of the serious social issues that still dominate our society. In cases such as queer mental health, this means tackling queerphobia within our society and particularly within our schools. This is a difficult task.
Anti-discrimination campaigns require devotion to longer term change, rather than finding short term solutions. Campaigns such as this would be hard to measure and somewhat difficult to implement. The long term solutions however, would see the results we so desperately need. However, the unfortunate reality is that there is a queer mental health crisis; a crisis that is predominately caused by the way our society operates. Tackling this crisis therefore does not just mean investing in treatment programs, but rather preventative programs aimed at ending discrimination and social stigmatisation.
If we don’t begin to tackle this problem we will continue to be shocked and saddened by deaths such as Tyler Clementi’s. I know I don’t want to live in a society where anybody feels as though they have to do what Clementi did, but I am sure that until we tackle the queer mental health crisis these sorts of stories will continue.
*Note: The Beyond Blue study was based on a literature review. This meant that some statistics were unavailable due to a lack of research and not all statistics presented are from Australia. The study can be found at: http://www.beyondblue.org.au/index.aspx?link_id=4.1255
QUEER MENTAL HEALTH {
By Simon Copland
For me, depression began largely after I came out, as the realisation that I was living in a world where some did not accept me became a reality.
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GROOMING
SO I’M IN THE CITY ON A MONDAY AFTERNOON HAVING A COFFEE WITH A FRIEND WHEN I START TO NOTICE THE AMOUNT OF BOYS AND MEN CARRYING THE MOST UNUSUAL BAGS. SOME GUYS GOT IT RIGHT AND SOME JUST DID NOT GET IT AT ALL. SO IT MADE ME THINK, DO GUYS REALLY KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A MAN BAG AND A GIRL BAG?
THE ! G A B MAN
Every season designers make a great statement with bags for men in all their latest men’s collections. From duffle bags to totes to over-the-shoulder satchels, men have a great selection to choose from. Yet what I witnessed was guys carrying bags that they clearly stole from their mum or their sister or maybe they’d been given a womens bag by mistake for their birthday and did not have the heart to ask for the receipt and return it for something better.
When I started to do some research for this article, I first asked around and found out that a lot of guys conceded a man bag to be a larger wallet with a zip around it that a man can carry around when he goes about his day. So then what are the rest of the guys carrying? I took myself for an example… I have a few bags but the latest work bag has come under some harsh comments by my work friends and they think it’s a little bit too ladylike. Well, firstly it’s a tote, not a lady’s bag, secondly it’s from the Marc Jacobs collection, a Marc Jacobs tote to be precise that was seen on the catwalk carried by MEN. Then I realised I too could look like I’m carrying a lady’s bag and no one else would know that it’s a men’s Marc Jacobs tote. So what were some of the guys doing wrong? When I looked closely I realised they were carrying it like a girl and not like a guy. Big mistake!
SO HERE ARE MY RULES FOR THE MAN BAG Firstly, if you’re a guy, you should not carry your bag in between your wrist and elbow. This can make any bag look like a lady’s bag. You should always hold it by the straps or put it over your shoulder. Secondly, if you are going to carry an oversized bag to make a statement, make sure that you, yourself is bigger than the bag and that the bag is not bigger than you. Yes that’s right readers, I have seen this happen and it looks like you are carrying around someone you kidnapped in your bag. It is so not hot! And that brings me to the final rule, which is that size does matter. A small bag can make you look like you stole it from your little sister and a bag that is too big can make the wrong statement, which is, you love to carry around lots of crap — plus you’ll give yourself lower back pain and noone wants that. So choose a bag that you can fit your gym clothes in, carry all your work documents or pop your iPad in and run out the door.
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{
By Chad Wijayatilake from Form Haircutters
Above: Louis Vuitton men’s spring summer messenger bag. Below: English soccer player Everton striker Victor Anichebe slings his very metrosexual LV manbag in liverpool .
10
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SpringOuThe Hush Lounge eets
Irving Str ceston & T Phillip AC
Cnr Laun
ber rd Novem 3 2 y a d s e Tu m - late Time: 7 p 0 concession 5.00/$10.0 one free drink ight Entry: $1 r on the n napes and
des ca the doo Entry inclu e bar at Hush or at m th ailable fro ut.com.au Tickets av w.springo w w t u o k Chec
SpringOut 2010 is proudly supported by
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COMMUNITY
AR2010 D N LECEMBER A C NTER — 4 DE E V E OB SPRINGOUT FAIRDAY
CT 30 O
SATURDAY 30TH OCTOBER FREE EVENT!
SpringOut Fairday is the LGBT community’s day to show off the diversity, colour and vibrancy of the community. Visit the stalls representing community groups, organisations and businesses and enjoy the entertainment all afternoon featuring live music, drag shows and competitions for everyone! 12noon – 5.00pm @ Westlund House, Gordon St, Acton.
EQUAL MARRIAGE RALLY
SATURDAY 6TH NOVEMBER FREE EVENT!
WHEN LOVE CONQUERS FEAR: PERSONAL STORIES OF QUEER SPIRITUALITY IN RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES
SUNDAY 7TH NOVEMBER FREE EVENT!
Join us as Canberra LGBTIQ community members and friends share their personal experiences of queer spirituality in their own lives and in their religious communities. Supported by Canberra Quakers. All welcome! More details contact email Evan Gallagher enquiries@quakerway.org.au 2.30pm @ Westlund House, Gordon St, Acton.
Come rally in support of the queer community at a public demonstration opposing the Government’s homophobic marriage policy. There will be a range of speakers and a march. Bring your banners, passion and pride! 1.00pm @ Garema Place, Civic. www.equallove.info/act
SWEET SIXTEEN PROM
SATURDAY 6TH NOVEMBER Cost: $25.00 full / $20.00 concession
The ANU Sexuality Department is inviting everyone to come celebrate our coming of age, at our prom themed queer ball. Come along dressed in old school prom clothing, and yes, there will be drag queens! 7.00pm @ North Oval Pavilion Cnr Barry Drive & McCaughey Street, Acton. Email sexdep@anu.edu.au for details.
GENDER DIVERSITY COMMUNITY PICNIC
SUNDAY 7TH NOVEMBER FREE EVENT!
A Gender Agenda’s annual community picnic for trans*, intersex, other sex or gender diverse people, and their family, friends, supporters and allies. BYO food to share. BBQs and childrens play area available. 1.00pm @ Glebe Park Cnr Bunda and Akuna St Civic. www.genderrights.org.au
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YOUTH SEXUALITY AND GENDER DIVERSITY EVENT
THURSDAY 11TH NOVEMBER FREE EVENT!
Celebrating the contributions of young people aged 12 - 25 who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and/or intersex, and raise awareness of the issues they may experience. This event will be hosted by the Minister for Children and Young People, Ms Joy Burch MLA. ACT Legislative Assembly, London Circuit, Civic Registrations are essential for this event! Please email: erin@youthcoalition.net
WORKSHOP: ARSE CLASS
THURSDAY 11TH NOVEMBER FREE EVENT!
Everything you wanted to know about arses, but were afraid to ask. This forum gives you a chance to learn more about anal health, anal sex, sexual health, toys, and general care of the anus. If you would like more info on the workshop contact the AIDS Action Council. Call 6257 2855 or email david@aidsaction.org.au 6.00pm @ Westlund House, Gordon St, Acton.
DRAG FOR DOLLARS A FUNDRAISER FOR THE AIDS ACTION COUNCIL
FRIDAY 12TH NOVEMBER
FREE entry before 11pm. $10 covercharge after 11pm with a FREE $5 drink voucher! Drag for Dollars will be raising money for the Aids Action Council. Featuring local Canberra drag queens & Cube’s resident DJ Matt. Cube will also be donating a percentage of door takings, so make your way down to Cube and help us raise some much needed funds for a good cause. CUBE Nightclub 3 Petrie Plaza Civic, Canberra City
QUEER FILM FOR BOYS
SATURDAY 13TH NOVEMBER
Ticket price: $10 for one film / $15 for both films Bent Lenses, Canberra’s Queer film film group features a Double Feature: The Butch Factor and Mr Right. See page 26 for more details or www.bentlenses.org
Butch Factor screens at 7.30pm Mr Right Screens at 9.15pm CSIRO Discovery Centre Nth Science Road, Acton.
QUEER FILM FOR GIRLS
FRIDAY 19TH NOVEMBER Bent Lenses, Canberra’s Queer film group features Tru Loved. Tickets $10 See page 26 for more details or www.bentlenses.org 7.30pm @ CSIRO Discovery Centre, Nth Science Road, Acton.
WORKSHOP: CRUISING MEN
SATURDAY 20TH NOVEMBER FREE EVENT!
Develop a greater understanding of gay venues and events, beats, online cruising, sex venues and more. Cruising Men explores personal expectation, self esteem, non-verbal language, health, safety, well-being and insight aimed at gaining greater control and fulfillment when cruising. If you would like more info contact the AIDS Action Council on (02) 6257 2855 or email david@aidsaction.org.au 10.00am @ Westlund House, Gordon St, Acton.
TRANS* DAY OF REMEMBRANCE
SATURDAY 20TH NOVEMBER Trans* Day of Remembrance is an annual, international event which acknowledges the large number of people who are murdered every year around the world because of their gender identity and/or expression. This year we’re going to try to balance the sombreness of the event with a concerted focused on also celebrating all the amazingly fabulous gender diverse people who are alive! More details at www.genderrights.org.au 6.00pm @ a venue to be confirmed.
CANBERRA BUSHDANCE
SATURDAY 20TH NOVEMBER
$30.00 Full / $20.00 Members & Concession Canberra Bushdance is canberra’s largest queer event attracting more than 700 people from all over the ACT, as well as Sydney and Melbourne. It is a fun-filled night of music, dancing and entertainment from a rollicking band in a real woolshed. New to Bushdance 2010, the Sheep Pen Baa — a bigger bar with gourmet BBQ and live camp acts. It’s hot, it’s fun and you’ll get to dance with everyone. 7.30pm - 1.00am @ Yarralumla Woolshed, Cotter Road, Yarralumla. See ad inside front cover.
SPRINGOUT COMMUNITY PRIDE AWARDS
TUESDAY 23RD NOVEMBER $15.00 / $10.00 concession
Canberra Pride and The Hush Lounge invite you to help us thank those who make a difference in our community. The Awards Ceremony and Cocktail Party will feature entertainment by local artists and canapés in a celebratory atmosphere. Nominate that special someone now at www.springout. com.au or email info@springout.com.au Nominations close on Monday 15 Nov. 7.00pm @ The Hush Lounge Cnr Launceston & Irving Streets, Phillip.
TRANS* GUY’S GROUP MEET UP
SATURDAY 27TH NOVEMBER A casual catch up for transguys. We welcome all FTM (Female To Male) spectrum people (TS, TG, GenderQueer etc) and people questioning their gender. Newcomers welcome! Partners, family, friends, and children welcome. Look for the toy stag on the table or ask for booking under ‘Peter’. More details at www.genderrights.org.au 5.00pm @ Tilley’s Café at Lyneham
QWIRE : BEST IN SHOW
SATURDAY 4 DECEMBER
$20.00 / Groups of 10 or more - $15.00
The Canberra Gay and Lesbian Qwire present a brilliant mix of musical hits from Broadway, the West End and Hollywood, in new arrangements and with that special Qwire twist. Come as you are and enjoy an evening of gorgeous music, moves and mayhem as the Qwire sings the best hits from the best musicals including Phantom of the Opera, Avenue Q, South Pacific, Grease, Rocky Horror Show and The Music Man, just to name a few! 7.30pm @ ANU Arts Centre, University Ave, Canberra. Bookings: www.canberrarep.org.au
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WHAT’S ON
Bentfest 2010 }
THE BUTCH FACTOR IS THERE A GAY MAN OUT THERE WHO HASN’T PONDERED THE MEANING OF MASCULINITY?
What does mean to be gay and be a man? There’s no straight answer for sure. Insightful interviews mixed with entertaining eye-candy make this fast-paced testosterone tour a must-watch movie for all gay men. From the Castro clone culture of the 1970s to today’s bears and gym rats this fascinating investigation of gay men and masculinity blows the lid off old stereotypes and showcases a strapping battalion of interviewees including muscle men, rodeo riders, rugby players and cops. The men speak candidly on a range of topics from homophobia to metrosexuality to embracing effeminacy as they reveal what it means to be a gay man today.
The Butch Factor is an extremely entertaining and informative piece that shows the masculine side of homosexuality and how some of the butcher men often feel alone in their plight to enjoy gay life as a masculine male. This film breaks through many stereotypes and quite frankly could be shown in schools. KEVIN M. THOMAS - Examiner.com Saturday 13 November • Bar & Tickets at 7pm • Film starts at 7.30pm. Ticket only $10 at The CSIRO Discovery Centre Acton.
}
MR RIGHT LOUISE THOUGHT SHE’D MET THE MAN OF HER DREAMS ... but it all went horribly wrong when she introduced him to her gay friends. Harry hates being a TV producer and dreams of leaving his job to travel the world. He loves Alex, an aspiring actor who is struggling to create an identity for himself as a performer. Rugby player William’s nine-year-old daughter is intent on sabotaging his relationships with new boyfriends, and he’s finding it difficult to let Lawrence, the soap star, into his life. Lars is a handsome sometime-model kept by Tom, a successful artist, who will excuse his every betrayal so long as Lars doesn’t leave him. Saturday 13 November • Bar & Tickets at 7pm • Film starts at 9.00pm. Ticket only $10 at The CSIRO Discovery Centre Acton.
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TRU LOVED BEFORE THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT, THERE WAS STEWART WADE’S QUIRKY LESBIAN-MOM COMEDY. Recently relocated from San Francisco to conservative suburbia by her lesbian mothers, Tru struggles like all teens to fit in and find love, but her quest is complicated by sexual politics, closed minds, and closeted friends as she seeks to establish her school’s first Gay-Straight Alliance. Featuring Alec Mapa (Ugly Betty) and Jane Lynch (Glee). Friday 19 November • Bar & Tickets at 7pm • Film starts at 9.00pm. Ticket only $10 at The CSIRO Discovery Centre Acton.
Tilley’s
Devine Café Gallery
TILLEY’S IS NESTLED IN TREE LINED LYNEHAM JUST 4KM FROM THE CITY For over 26 years Tilley’s has been famous for its breakfasts, lunches, and dinners... and of course its fabulous coffees. Tilley’s attracts not only ‘regulars’ but visitors from overseas and interstate who enjoy the all-day menu specials, and oh such lovely cake! Internationally renowned for legendary blues, jazz and classical concerts, Tilley’s continues to attract artists of international calibre who prefer the intimacy of a warm theatre atmosphere clad in red velvet, brass and dark timber booths. With a fully licensed bar, one can enjoy champagne with breakfast, or in the evening savour our broad range of wines, spirits or boutique beers on tap.
OPENING HOURS Serving you breakfast, lunch and dinner 7 days. Monday to Saturday : 9am – 10pm Sundays : 9am – 6pm
THE CALL IS YOURS! TILLEY’S CAN DO IT FOR YOU... To reserve your favourite table or booth phone us on 6247 7753 Corner of Wattle & Brigalow Streets, Lyneham • www.tilleys.com.au FUSE 27
SEX TALK
Healthy Bits On your own, or with a partner, self-examination of breasts and genitals is useful to get to know yourself, to feel comfortable with yourself, to feel control over your own body, and to detect any changes that a doctor may need to check out for you. Examinations should be done monthly and do not replace regular medical check-ups including pap smears. Self-examination can be a lonely task, so partner examinations are a good idea to reinforce the value of each other’s health and who knows, it may even lead to some novel fun! Same sex couples have the advantage of each person having a vague idea of what is normal and also the added bonus of being able to compare norms. Although, if you have all your expectations of the appearance of genitals from watching porn, you may be disappointed/relieved or at least confused!
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By Hilary Caldwell (MHSc – Sexual Health) Sexuality Counsellor : Call 0430 855 739
If you find any lumps, bumps, swellings, abnormal discharges, colour or size changes, or if you suffer pain, report to your medical adviser. You will be more comfortable if you ensure your privacy for these procedures… some things are more difficult to explain than others! ... So which bits? Whatever bits you have, are worth checking. Breast and rectal examination is important for men and women, and people of transgender and intersex need to examine all the bits they have and any they might have acquired. The following quick guide is designed as a memory jogger and not a full description of procedure. If these examinations are unfamiliar to you, ask your doctor or sexual health nurse to show you how to do it for the first time and advise you on the frequency of medical examinations.
Everyone’s Bits
Boy Bits
Use lube and gloves if you want. Use a mirror to check out colour, texture and look for any haemorrhoids, skin tears or discharges. Slip in a finger and feel all around the inside of the anus. If checking out the prostate, push the finger in deep and attempt to feel the prostate with the tip of the finger. Get a feel for the size, shape and texture (about a walnut is good). If a partner is checking for you, tell them when they are ‘on the mark’. Nothing should hurt. Go slow and gently.
For guys over the age of 14, a monthly self-exam of the testicles is an effective way of becoming familiar with this area of the body and thus enabling the detection of testicular cancer or other problems.
Rectal exam with or without prostate exam
Girl Bits Breast exam
Look at size, shape, skin texture and colour and any nipple discharge: look standing up and lying down, with arms by sides and above your head. Feel with the flat of the fingers, in every place over the breast and under the arms with arms up and down, as with the visual.
Cervical, vaginal and vulvar exam Get: lube, gloves (if you want), a long handled mirror (with or without a partner, if you want to see yourself), a light such as a torch or spot light, and a speculum if you want to visualise your cervix. Thoroughly check out your vulva; pulling the labia from side to side to see it from all angles, and have a look at the vaginal opening as far as you can see. Do a few pelvic floor exercises and congratulate yourself if you see movement in there! Gently prod the entire area with the flat of your fingers. In a reclining position, gently insert the speculum using lube, and when comfortable, slide open the duck bill. Focus a light source onto a mirror and angle the whole thing to look directly up the speculum (notice I didn’t say, look straight up your twat — or something equally as crass!) You may need to move around slightly and reposition the light and the mirror. The cervix (glossy little donut thing), and the cervical mucus look different at different stages of the menstrual cycle; so you may like to examine weekly for the first month; to get to know all your stages. Everything looks different when pregnant as well, though selfexamination of a cervix when heavily pregnant would be a feat indeed!
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are good bits!
Testicular exam
Draw a warm bath. This is the best way to relax both you and your scrotum. If you haven’t cleaned the tub in... like... ever, or don’t have one, then you can also take a nice hot shower. Warm water is paramount for relaxing the scrotal structures. If possible, stand in front of a mirror. Check for any swelling, change in skin colour or texture of the scrotal skin. Next examine each testicle with both hands. Place the index and middle fingers under the testicle with the thumbs placed on top. Roll the testicle gently between the thumbs and fingers — you shouldn’t feel any pain when doing the exam. Don’t be alarmed if one testicle seems slightly larger than the other, that’s normal. Signs to look out for are, change is the size of your testicle, ache or soreness, unsusual lumps or texture, discolouration of skin and anything you might think is unusual.
Don’t panic if you do find changes, but do seek medical advice. Self-examination is for you. You are in control and can get to know yourself as quickly, or as often as you like!
Fenkil, 25 Queer Rights Campaigner
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It’s always interesting to see who reaches for it first
Photography by
aidsaction.org.au
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MUSIC ROUNDUP
EAR
By Damien Pratt
THE JEZABELS OMG, OMG, OMG! Now for those of you that know the Jezabels well, would know that these two EPs were released in 2009, so I am reviewing them a little late but they are so good that they don’t deserve to be missed.
CLUBBERS GUIDE SPRING 2010 Well the Clubbers Guide to Spring 2010 is yet another compilation album from the massively successful Ministry of Sound label. But can you expect anything new and unique from this version of the Clubbers Guide? No not really… Don’t get me wrong, the album is great as they all usually are with at least a third of the tracks being worthy of listening to. Traditionally the thing about the Ministry compilations is that you have to do so much bloody skipping of tracks just to get to the goods ones that are often hidden within the rough. This is not such a big problem with this season’s Clubbers Guide. All in all this version gets a pretty good vote from me as there is a few more good tracks than usual like ‘Kickstart’ by Example, fricken awesome song! ‘The Bum Song’ is too funny and who can get enough of Dirty South? I mean really, who can?
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SHE’S SO HARD AND THE MAN IS DEAD (EPS)
MINISTRY OF SOUND
FUSE
CANDY
Both CDs in this double album take you on the normal Ministry journey of some fun poppy stuff at the start then progresses into a trance mega-mix before finishing a little bit lighter. So if you are used to the Ministry formula and you are hooked on your clubbing tracks, then this one is yet another album you can add to your probably already extensive library of dance music and I say, ‘Good for you guys and gals’. Enjoy the return of the warmer weather you little clubbing freaks, because everyone knows that the hotter it gets the less clothes people wear, which always makes for a good night out at the clubs.
This little band is a four-piece from Sydney that all met while studying at Sydney University in 2007. Their quick rise to prominence is mostly due to their success on the Triple J Unearthed website (check it out if you don’t know what it is — www.unearthed.com.au) and the fact that their live performances are nothing short of amazing and magical. The voice of the lead vocalist Harley Mary, together with the amazing piano ability of Heather Young, reminds me of a young Tori Amos. That should get a few more of you gay boys interested… yes I did say Tori Amos!!! The music that the Jezabels produce can be enjoyed by listening to their recorded works on the above two EPs but to get a true representation of how amazing this band actually is you need to see them live. They do a lot of touring so keep an eye out for them, worth a trip or two to Sydney (hehe like you need an excuse anyway). Their music can be categorised as a bit of a cross between indie rock and indie pop, I guess but the good part about the sound is that most of the time it is like there is some kind of battle between the vocals, the piano and the drums in order to be the dominating instrument. The result is that none dominate but they all sound as if they do if you get my drift? Probably not, so go and get the EPs and have a listen for yourself. The better of the two EPs, in my opinion, is She’s so Hard because of the first two tracks ‘Hurt Me’ and ‘Easy to Love’. Amazing! Another bonus is that Haley Mary is smoking hot and all you lovely gay gals out there are gonna go nuts for her, especially when she dresses all in black like a true indie legend in the making.
From 9 December 2010, all outdoor eating and drinking places at restaurants, cafes, pubs, taverns and licensed clubs can be enjoyed without exposure to tobacco smoke. This is an important step in improving the health of the ACT community. Smoke-free environments can encourage people to quit smoking and reduce the likelihood of young people taking up the habit. ACT Health continues to work towards reducing the community’s exposure to the harmful effects of tobacco smoke.
For more information visit health.act.gov.au/smokefree or call the Office of Regulatory Services on 02 6207 3000 (Fair Trading).
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MORE EAR CANDY
MUTU
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By Matt Patafta
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THIS RIPPED YOUNG GUY AND ALL ROUND HOTTIE; CANBERRA BORN, SYDNEY BASED SINGER, MUTU WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO HIS R&B/POP STYLINGS.
By Damien Pratt
Let’s get the beat rolling! My friend suggested I check out this local RnB artist, Mutu, who was born in Canberra and has now moved to Sydney to pursue his music career. Mutu’s music kind of reminds me of Jay Sean, Flo Rida, Akon and Jason Derulo all mixed into one. ‘Familiar’ is Mutu’s debut single; it has been produced with slick, smooth and well formed beats which make it really easy to listen to or dance to, even DJ Nino Brown has stated that the single is ‘One of the best releases from Australia in 2010.’ The first verse is sweet and really makes you want to listen through to the chorus. While Mutu’s music video for ‘Familiar’ brings a different feel — well produced and has good choreography which features Beatphonik from the Australian Hip Hop Dance championships. Well don’t take my word for it, check out Mutu’s music video ‘Familiar’ for yourself at youtube.com/itsMutu and dance along. You might just start hearing this fella on the radio or even in the clubs around Canberra.
Keep a lookout on the FUSE website as we have some CDs to give away in November.
BRANDON FLOWERS IF YOU LIKED THE KILLERS, YOU’LL LOVE BRANDON FLOWERS! While the killers are on hiatus, Brandon Flowers, the front man of the band has decided to make his own solo album Flamingo. As the rest of the band wanted a break, Flowers continued to plough on with writing songs, which lead to him releasing his own debut album — it has the sounds of The Killers but with a bit more of a personal touch. Flowers has thrown in catchy pop songs and jaw-clenching rock with a bit more of mellowness. His first solo release ‘Crossfire’ brings on a million-dollar music video, that resembles a scene from a Bourne action flick and stars the beautiful Charlize Theron, what more would you want?
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Overall this album does bring a bit of a different feel, including a duet with Jenny Lewis (lead in Rilo Kiley) on ‘Hard Enough’; a gospel like song, ‘On The Floor’; and the similar to Killers sounding track ‘Jilted Lovers and Broken Hearts’. Flamingo is easy to listen to, chill to, and sing along to, but still leaves you wanting just a little bit more... possibly leading to the Killers releasing a new album next year. But for the mean time Flamingo is one album that has to be added to the playlist!
School was never this hot! New FREE workshops for gay and bi men @ Westlund House this SpringOut
Cruising Workshop
Understanding of gay venues and events, beats, on-line cruising, sex venues and more Check out www.aidsaction.org.au/cruising 10:00am to 4:00pm Saturday 20 November
Arse Class Everything you wanted to know about arses but were afraid to ask Check out www.aidsaction.org.au/arseclass 9.30am to 12.30pm Saturday 27 November
To RSVP to either workshop call 02 6257 2855, or e-mail nick.nguyen@aidsaction.org.au WESTLUND HOUSE RESOURCE CENTRE
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OUT & ABOUT
33 Petrie Plaza Civic, Canberra City www.cubenightclub.com.au
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Are you free this weekend? Cube is... THIS MONTH @ CUBE NIGHTCLUB
Every Thursday, Friday & Saturday night until 11pm you’ll get FREE entry & 2 for 1 drinks @ Cube Nightclub.
Karaoke Thursdays 8.30pm till 5am with DJ Pete CASH PRIZES, FREE pool & FREE entry all night
Cube Saturdays 10pm till 5am with DJs Matt & Pete. $10 cover after 11pm.
Foreplay Fridays 9pm - 5am with DJs Matt & Pete - $10 cover after 11pm. FREE pool & FREE $5 drink voucher.
Cube Sunday 10pm till late with DJ TJ FREE pool & FREE entry all night.
KARAOKE THURSDAYS FUSE 34
8.30-5AM CASH PRIZES WITH DJ PETE
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@
OUT & ABOUT
THIS MONTH
HUSH
COME DINE WITH HUSH THURSDAYS! Come by and enjoy a fine wine and dine in with HUSH on Thursday evenings with our exclusive new menu options for both meat lovers or vegetarians. Something delicious for everyone.
THREE-COURSE MEAL WITH TEA OR COFEE FOR ONLY $35. Book for a table for six or more and get a free bottle of wine!!! The menu is a set menu with a vegetarian option. This event will be held every Thursday and the menu will change from week to week.
Bookings call Joel on 0433 858 467
SPRINGOUT COMMUNITY PRIDE AWARDS AT HUSH Tuesday 23 November $15.00 / $10.00 concession Canberra Pride and The Hush Lounge invite you to help us thank those who make a difference in our community. The Awards Ceremony and Cocktail Party will feature entertainment by some great local artists and fabulous canapés in a celebratory atmosphere! Nominate that special someone now online at: www.springout.com.au or email info@springout.com.au Nominations close on Monday 15 November 2010
CHILL OUT EVERY WEDNESDAY @ HUSH, WITH LIVE MUSIC AND $10 PIZZAS!!! Every week at HUSH we now have Acoustic Wednesdays with Rock Nation Unplugged, organising local musicians to sing and play. That means that every Wednesday night we turn down the lights, turn down the volume and unplug the amps for an intimate session with Canberra’s finest musicians — this is not a rock event, so come and chill out with us. Crn of Launceston & Irving Streets Phillip www.hushlounge.com.au ~ 02 6282 1944
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WWW.HUSHLOUNGE.COM.AU CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE FOR THE FULL LINE UP OF LIVE MUSIC, KARAOKE NIGHTS, SPECIAL EVENTS, PARTIES & MORE!
OUT & ABOUT TOP & RIGHT: Chilling out at the Hush Lounge. BELOW: Mr Ockerfrock at the Canberra Hospital, where a group of male staff members took part in a drag show to raise money for Ovarian Cancer research as part of Frocktober. Pretty good for a bunch of blokes!
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BODY SHAPE
BE YOUR BEST! HEY ALL, IT’S SCOTT BACK AGAIN FOR ANOTHER EDITION OF FUSE BODY SHAPE. AS SUMMER AND MARDI GRAS IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER IT’S TIME TO GET WORKING ON THAT BODY! HERE ARE A FEW POINTS TO HELP YOU ON YOUR WAY! PHYSICAL ACTIVITY KEEPS YOU HEALTHY Regular physical activity has significant benefits for your health and wellbeing. For me personally, I stick to 30 minutes of moderate activity each day. This really can and does improve my health and reduce the risk of developing certain conditions or diseases.
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By Scott Williams from Alive! Health & Fitness
AIM FOR AT LEAST 30 MINUTES A DAY Health authorities recommend that everyone should have at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity, such as brisk walking or a gym session on all or most days of the week. This activity can be accumulated in bouts of 10 minutes or more if it’s more convenient. There are many opportunities to be active throughout your normal daily routine, such as walking to and from work, walking to a café to buy lunch or walking children to school. People who take part in vigorous physical activity (for example aerobics, netball or touch football) are encouraged to continue to do so — these activities can provide extra health benefits. AEROBIC EXERCISE I always aim to incorporate aerobic exercise into my daily routine. Aerobic exercise is when your body uses oxygen to produce energy for physical activity. Aerobic means ‘with oxygen’. Aerobic metabolism occurs when the body breaks down fat and glucose by combining them with oxygen. During intense aerobic exercise, your body uses more oxygen and your breathing and heart rate increase. Over time, regular aerobic exercise will improve your health and fitness and reduce levels of body fat. Whatever activity you choose to do, it should be something you enjoy. Different forms of aerobic exercise I enjoy include: walking, jogging or running, swimming, dancing, aerobics classes and cycling. SCOTT’S BENEFITS OF REGULAR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY If you are physically active regularly, you tend to: • Have improved long term health • Look and feel better (my favourite) • Feel more energetic and have a better sex life • Manage your weight better • Healthier blood cholesterol level and low blood pressure • Have stronger bones and muscles (less osteoporosis) • Feel more confident, happy, relaxed, and sleep better. AN EFFECTIVE TREATMENT FOR DEPRESSION
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Studies have shown that regular exercise can be used in isolation or in combination with other therapies to treat some forms of depression and anxiety. Even people who don’t suffer from depression feel happier and more relaxed when they exercise regularly.
SEE YOUR DOCTOR FIRST It is advisable that you consult your doctor before starting your physical activity program if: • You are a male over 35 or a female over 45 • Physical activity causes pain in your chest • You often faint or have spells of severe dizziness • Moderate physical activity makes you very breathless • You are at a higher risk of heart disease • You are pregnant. MY TIPS FOR BECOMING ACTIVE Even if you have done no activity in the past, beginning some form of activity can set you on the road to improved health (and looking great at Mardi Gras). Here are some of my tips I use to ensure I incorporate physical activity into my everyday routine: • I always choose an activity that I like so that my enthusiasm doesn’t wane. • I vary my program (daily) to prevent boredom. • I exercise with a friend where possible to add an enjoyable social element to my training. • Start gently — let your body be your guide on intensity. • Warm up thoroughly before you start, by going through the motions of the activity to increase blood flow to the required muscles. • Start off with short sessions until your fitness improves. Multiple smaller bouts of 10 minutes will bring benefits and gradually build up the time if you haven’t exercised for a while. • Start gently and progress gradually. If you are overly fatigued, rest for a day, but remember the key to health is regular physical activity. • Warm down after exercise with easy stretches to let your body ‘cool down’ slowly. • Give injuries time to heal, it’s ok to have time out. WHERE TO GET HELP • Personal Trainer • Exercise physiologist
• Health clubs • Qualified sports coach.
THINGS TO REMEMBER • Aim for at least 30 minutes of physical activity every day. • See everyday activities as a good opportunity to be active.
1 in 14 people have Chlamydia.
Have you been tested? S.O.C
STAMP OUT CHLAMYDIA
CANB E R RA HO S P I TAL A division of ACT Health
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WHARF REVIEW FOOTLIGHTS
TOPS CANBERRA THEATRE 2011 SEASON! {
By Robert Henderson
This year tickets for Wharf Revue sold out in just hours. The only way you’ll get tickets to the Wharf Revue 2011 is by being a Canberra Theatre Season subscriber. Our own Phillip Scott again teams with Jonathan Biggins and Drew Forsythe to satirise a very interesting year in politics. Add Amanda Bishop’s channelling of Julia Gillard, and you have another fantastic night out. I went twice last year and loved every minute.
The Warf Revue is the highlight for me for the new subscription season but I’ll have to wait till the end of the year to catch it. In the mean time the first half of the year has a lot of shows with great promise. The year kicks off with the feel good musical The Sapphires starring Christine Anu and Australian Idol winner Casey Donovan. A good friend of mine tells me Donovan was the surprising hit, not only a stunning singer, but she also displayed talents for comedy. It tells how a group of four Koori sisters travel to Vietnam to entertain the troops, and find love, romance and adventure. Boy can they sing. They do all the hits of the Supremes so hold on for all those fantastic Motown Hits like ‘Heard it on the Grapevine’, ‘Baby Love’ and ‘Stop! In the Name of Love’ — all those diva songs you know and love.
Wharf Revue Little Gem
Female readers of FUSE in particular will be interested in seeing the international production from Ireland’s Gúna Nua Theatre Company Little Gem. As the blurb says, three women, three generations, one play of pure honesty. A big winner at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2009 and now internationally, Little Gem stars a talented cast from Ireland’s Gúna Nua Theatre and features a series of hilarious and uplifting moments in the lives of three generations of Dublin women.
Sydney Dance Company
Sydney Dance Company return with the world premier tour of new works from the intense collaboration between choreographer Rafael Bonachela and composer Ezio Bosso. Rafael said ‘when I hear his music I see things, I see movement, dance, even costumes.’ I can attest it really does resonate. In their last production, the music of Bosso’s first symphony was fantastic to hear along with Bonachela’s choreography. Bell Shakespeare will present two pieces, one directed by John Bell himself, the ever popular Much Ado About Nothing. It’s a play that demands a light touch and a supurb cast and often I prefer plays that Bell’s directed rather than performed in. The fantastic cast includs Blazey Best, Toby Schmitz, Max Gillies and Tony Llewellyn-Jones.
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New season subscriptions begin procession on Monday 2 November. Bookings canberratheatrecentre.com.au
Health Services Relocation
ACT Health Village Creek Centre, opens Monday 15th November The centre brings together a number of Aged Care and Rehabilitation Services providing a ‘one stop shop’ to improve the coordination of services for our clients. Relocating services include: • Prosthetics and Orthotics, • Transitional Therapy and care program, • Driver Assessment and Rehabilitation Program, • Vocational Assessment and Rehabilitation Program, and • all the equipment services — Loan Schemes, Oxygen and Respiratory Support Scheme.
ACT HEALTH VILLAGE CREEK CENTRE 37 Kingsmill St, Kambah, ACT
For information visit our website health.act.gov.au
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OUT & ABOUT : FAIRDAY
Happy 50th Birthday, Mz Angie Can’t wait for the next 50 years! All my love, Mz Rose By the way...Will you marry me? Photo by Robyn Geering • www.robyngeeringphotography.com
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AT THE LAUNCH OF WORLD AIDS DAY 2009, AIDS ACTION COUNCIL GENERAL MANAGER ANDREW BURRY DESCRIBED OUR COLLECTIVE COMMITMENT TO YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT HIV AS ‘PATHETIC’.
HEALTH
He challenged parents and teachers to take more responsibility in encouraging conversations about sexual health generally, particularly since it seems that a fast growing area of new infections is among those aged under 29-years of age. That got me thinking; what about the conversations we have inside our own community? If we know that teachers and parents struggle with even half decent sex talk, what hope is for those of us who like to have sex with the same sex or both sexes? Who helps us to feel that our preferences are natural and normal? It is still gay and bi men in Australia that make up two thirds of new infections. When was the last time we talked to one of our friends about using condoms or even HIV? For all the hoopla about the Grim Reaper campaign, we seem to forget that the peak in new infections occurred well before that two-week campaign hit the big and small screens. In fact, what made the biggest difference in stopping the epidemic getting much worse was that gay men talked to each other and they created the ‘condom culture’. We know that most of us wear condoms most of the time with our casual partners. But there are some of us that don’t, and while there may be a whole range of reasons, we want to make sure that as many of us as possible are comfortable and confident with these little life-savers. ‘Out There’ and ‘Looking Out’ workshops for same sex attracted men have been running for more than fifteen years in the ACT. It’s always interesting to see how issues about using condoms are sorted out pretty easily just by frank and honest conversations. But it’s also interesting or maybe even disturbing to realise that this is usually the first time many guys have ever had a serious talk about this pretty crucial aspect of sexual health. The sorts of problems we can experience include the condom size and shape, the perceived reduction in sensitivity and that maybe sexual spontaneity gets a bit dislocated (kind of coitus interruptus). These sorts of things are generally no big deal to sort out, however the big one takes a bit more work, and that’s having enough confidence to insist that condoms are used by our partners. This can be really tough when we’re young.
Accidents Waiting to Happen
More of us need to be having these conversations more often, and this was the point of the ‘I ♥ Sex, I ♥ Condoms’ campaign you will have seen around over the last year or so. The campaign sets out to remind us that it’s more than OK to enjoy sex. Actually it’s quite essential, and so sexual partners need to communicate how they enjoy sex so they get the sex they want. And, that conversation might include the peace of mind and health security a condom provides. After all, who wants to ruin a good root with worrying what you might have caught?
FUSE 44
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By Keiran Rossteuscher AIDS Action Council
It’s a bit obvious, but if all of us just used condoms as a matter of course, then we wouldn’t even have to discuss it, but that’s not how we are. So, if we care about ourselves and we care about our friends, let’s get talking. We tend not to let our friends get pissed and then drive home, so why wouldn’t we encourage them to stick a condom on? When you think about it, they are otherwise both just accidents waiting to happen.
AIDS Action Council of the ACT Living Well Services
Vitamins & Supplements Changes to our Vitamins & Supplements Service have led to more affordable options for all people with HIV. We now provide quality items at discount prices to assist you to take control of your health and wellbeing. A note from your doctor or an HIV Dietician stating your requirements is all that is needed. For those people with a pension or Health Care Card, there is a small dispensing fee of $5 and for all others, including those in paid employment, products are available at 50% of our cost price. For further information on either of these services, contact the Living Well Co-ordinator on 02 6257 2855 or marcus@aidsaction.org.au
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COMMUNITY DIRECTORY
www.aidsaction.org.au/worldaidsday
REGULAR QUEER EVENTS
GLBTQ COMMUNITY DIRECTORY
HANGOUTS
Q RADIO ON 2XX FM98.3 Canberra Queer Radio Show. Saturdays 7pm – 9pm 2XX, 98.3FM Canberra’s own GLBTQ radio show.
CUBE NIGHTCLUB Canberra’s premier gay night club venue along with ARIA accredited resident DJs playing a mix of music beyond the charts.
DYKE DINNER & MOVIE GROUP More info on FUSE website or see Canberra Lesbians on Facebook. GAY & LESBIAN TENNIS Mondays 6pm – 9pm. Turner Tennis Club, Cnr McCaughey and Condamine Streets. Bring a tennis racquet, shoes and $5. GAY ACT SQUASH GROUP Wednesdays 6.30pm – 7.30pm. National Sports Club, Mouat St, Lyneham. More info see: groups. google.com/group/gayactsquash
COMMUNITY GROUPS FUSE 46
BENT LENSES Canberra’s very own Queer screen culture group. www.bentlenses.org GIRL THING ON RAW FM 87.6 Wednesdays & Sundays from 7pm For girls who like girls. Presented by Tori Mac, an hour of sexy house and electro served up girly style. QWIRE WANTS YOU! Want to be involved with Canberra’s own gay and lesbian choir? Singers and non-singers encouraged. More info: canberraqwire@yahoo.com.au RAINBOW BOWLERS Meet new people on ‘Gay Bowling’ Sunday nights at Belconnen Bowling Alley. 1 Emu Bank from 7pm.
RAINBOW BUBS A playgroup for same sex parents and their kids. Email Michelle at hoogied@yahoo. com for info.
ACTQUEER A free email list for LGBTI people in Canberra and surrounding region. groups.yahoo.com/group/actqueer
AIDS ACTION COUNCIL The AIDS Action Council provides information, support and services. More info: www.aidsaction.org.au
BIT BENT YOUTH GROUP Meet other young people, get support or just hang out. Mondays at Belconnen Youth Centre 6pm – 8pm and Thursdays at the Woden Youth Centre 5pm – 6.30pm. For more info email: bit_bent@hotmail.com
UNI OF CANBERRA LGBTI GROUP A social group for all LGBTI students staff at the University of Canberra. Queer Space is located at the UCSA building 1 Uni of Canberra. Info email: sexuality@theucsa.org.au LONG YANG CLUB ACT A social club for Asian and nonAsian gays and their friends. More info: lyccanberra@gmail.com
CANBERRA BEARS Bears at the Bar is held at 4pm, first Sunday of each month HUSH. For the bear facts: www.bearscanberra.com
33 Petrie Plaza Civic, Canberra City. www.cubenightclub.com.au More p34 THE HUSH LOUNGE Hush is a unique and stylish gay and lesbian (GLBTI) lounge bar. It has a friendly, relaxed and chilled feel about it with regular live music, shows and great food. Cnr Launceston & Irving Streets, Phillip. www.hushlounge.com.au More p36 TILLEY’S DEVINE CAFE For over 26 years Tilley’s has been a gathering place for the gay and lesbian community. Warm and sumptuous, it’s famous for its food and fabulous coffees and cake. Tilley’s is a place for everyone. With a fully licensed bar, you can enjoy champagne with breakfast, or in the evening savour a broad range of wines, spirits or boutique beers. Corner of Wattle & Brigalow Streets, Lyneham. To reserve your favourite table or booth call us on 6247 7753. More p27 BAR32 Bar32 is gay friendly bar and nightclub with a mixed younger crowd. Indy and alternative dance music and bands. 32 Northbourne Avenue, Canberra City. www.bar32.com
FRUITS IN BOOTS A social and support network for rural GLBTI members outside the ACT. Email: fruitsinboots@gmail.com
RAINBOW BUBS Rainbow Bubs and IVF Support Group is a playgroup for same sex parents and their kids as well as a support group for GLBTQ people who are thinking about starting a family. More info: hoogied@yahoo. com
CHAMPIONS MEN’S LOUNGE Canberra’s men’s space. Champions Lounge is located within Mustang Ranch and is a venue for men who want to meet men. More p47
SAME WAY RAINBOW NETWORK ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander GLB and Sister Girl community network. For more info email: lespur77@hotmail.com
CANBERRA GAP GROUP Gap group is a monthly coffee/drinks group for same sex attracted women and gender diverse people. Contact: meganmunro2001@yahoo.com.au
Want to know ‘What’s On’ or be listed here, then visit us at www.fusemagazine.com.au
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FUSE 47
Rose
Dear
Dear Rose,
DEAR ROSE
My BF’s semen sometimes tastes a bit odd. Is there something he can do to make it better? SOS Dear SOS,
Remember that saying ‘you are what you eat’? Well in this case it’s not only for watching your weight but also when it comes to semen that tastes a bit odd or funny. Now, if the girls think they have escaped this embarrassing problem, you would be wrong, pay attention as this can apply to you as well. Your BF’s semen could taste funny because he may be eating some foods in excess. These foods can be: too much protein, too much coffee, too much garlic or onion, excessive smoking or maybe it could be too much stress in one’s life. The problem is not so much what it is, but more how you approach this awkward problem. Whilst I encourage people to be direct and straightforward in addressing this problem, keep in mind that most people don’t taste their own juices that often, so a little subtlety is in order. I would highly recommend you introduce to your’s and the BF’s diet more water, celery, fruit or even cinnamon in some form. And of course my personal favourite and pantry stock item... Pineapple juice! I never go a day without a glass!
My girlfriend recently told me she is bisexual, which I think is pretty cool and I’m supportive of her exploring new horizons (my mates of course think it’s every guys dream). Recently however I’ve started to worry she might like girls more than me and I worry she’ll run off with one of her new lesbian friends. Jed
Wow, I am hearing ya Hon; it is hard to know which way she might go! If it makes you feel any better it seems to me you have a pretty great GF who is comfortable enough with who she is and to admit to you that she is bisexual. It takes a pretty brave and worldly person to acknowledge that she looks at a person, rather than the equipment that they come with. You have to give her credit; she has been honest to you when she could have kept her bisexuality to herself and you would have been none the wiser. You need to trust her enough that she will do the right thing by you in the event of her meeting someone else, whether male or a female.
FUSE 48
Dear Love at first site There is nothing wrong with you wanting to spend as much time as you can with a new love interest, especially in the beginning when you are getting to know each other. Whilst I have also fallen to the cliché of virtually moving in on the second date when I have met someone new, there is merit in being a little cautious for the first six months at least.
In the beginning you hardly notice that someone is messy and you are a neat freak. You might not mind so much that they don’t have a routine, where you might need a routine because of your work. You might not think that their music is so cool at midnight and she is hanging out with her friends, when you need to get some sleep because you have a big day at work the next day.
Dear Jed,
It is a pretty big thing to know that potentially, you are competing with other boys as well as girls when it comes to your partner. My Dear Rose advice is to communicate, communicate, communicate — and also make sure that you listen!
Dear Rose, Since we first met just a few weeks ago we have spent every night together, so we thought we may as well move in together, do you think that would be OK? Love at first site
When you first meet someone it is really easy to not look at someone’s faults, because you want them to like you. But there will come a time when you might have disagreements, and without your own place to go you may find yourself compromising on issues because you don’t have anywhere else to go. Trust me, I have been there!
Dear Rose,
In the meantime, you need to allay your own fears and insecurities, and talk to her about your fears of losing her to one of her girlfriends. Set some rules about what is acceptable behaviour and what is not and how much time she spends with her lesbian girlfriends.
If you would like to write to Dear Rose please email her at dearrose@fusemagazine.com.au ~ letters are placed either here or on the Fuse website fusemagazine.com.au
My best Dear Rose advice is that there is nothing wrong with moving in a few things to her place so you are comfortable, but I strongly suggest that you keep your own place for a little while, until you are absolutely sure that this is the one for you. Think of it as “your own space” insurance, you might not ever use it but it comes in handy when you need it!!!
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DEAR ROSE’S
QUOTE OF THE MONTH ‘Labels are for filing. Labels are for clothing. Labels are not for people.’ Martina Navratilova A Czech American tennis player and a former World No. 1. Billie Jean King said about Navratilova’She’s the greatest singles, doubles and mixed doubles player who’s ever lived.’
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