FUSE36 : The power of you. Gay Lifestyle (Boy Cover) by FUSE Magazine

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MADE IN AUSTRALIA FUSEMAGAZINE.COM.AU AUG / SEP 2013

LIFE LOVE 36 24 EQUALITY

DODGING THE COLLABORATIVE CONSUMPTION WHAT’S MINE IS YOURS!

Donkey MAKE YOUR VOTE COUNT!

SAME-SEX FAMILIES DOUBLE

+ STEVE + GRAND

FAME IN JUST TEN DAYS!

-–> VOTE WITH PRIDE AND AN OPEN HEART

WHO WILL SUPPORT MARRIAGE EQUALITY? TOP QUEER BIG AND BEAUTIFUL BERT & ERNIE’S MOMENT OF JOY

OZ TAIKMINGP M O DRU RKSH lay thethis WO w to p o in Y!

CANBERRA THEATRE CENTRE AND TAIKOZ PRESENT

ik URR o rn h g ta Lea inspirin shop. Hed! k it r awemin wo are lim7pm, s d 0 e 9 Plac an ber pm 4.30 Septem 2 2013

Program includes the exuberant performance of Toward The Crimson Sky by Ian Cleworth. The thunderous drumming of the taiko is interwoven with the hypnotic melodies of the shakuhachi and shinobue bamboo flutes, voice and a rare performance on the bass koto, a traditional Japanese 17-stringed plucked instrument.

26 OCTOBER 2013

FUSE MAGAZINE MADE IN AUSTRALIA AUG / SEP 2013

LIFE LOVE 36 EQUALITY EDITOR Alexander Thatcher

ASSOCIATE EDITORS Linda Djumlija Yasmin Element

FUSE FEATURES 15

POLITICAL EDITOR Simon Copland CREATIVE DIRECTOR Christopher Powell CONTRIBUTORS Scott Malcolm Elizabeth Gorrell Keiran Rossteuscher Rose Pappalardo Bebe Backhouse Dwayne Lennox Clancy Atkinson Melisa Paz Andrew Barr Hedda Murray Jarrod Dean

’S WHAT IS MINERS! YOU 4 P2

PHOTOGRAPHER Doug Robinson

How will you shop in the future? Collaborative consumption is sweeping the world as people everywhere are starting to realise that easy access to a product is more important than actually owning it.

A jump to left, then a step to the right. Andrew Barr, the ACT Deputy Chief Minister, gives us his personal opinion on the coming Federal Election and the importance of marriage equality.

29 Being ‘outed’ by someone in public can be awkward, but what happens when in the heat of the moment you do it all by yourself. 30 Jarrod Dean asks why Tony Abbott is ‘a little bit threatened’ and urges him to support same-sex marriage if he becomes the next Prime Minister.

WWW.FUSEMAGAZINE.COM.AU 08 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 FUSE publisher, editor or staff. Any health, fitness or dietary 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.

20 Cover boy, Steve Grand shows the world he’s not just a pretty face with his touching music video about being in love with a straight boy.

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CONTACT FUSE 0412 309 992 hello@fusemagazine.com.au fusemagazine.com.au PO Box 3577 Manuka ACT 2603 Published + designed by: Lithium Innovation Pty Ltd lithium.net.au ISSN 1836-8387

In a special Election 2013 feature, we look at the important issues that face the LGBTI community in Australia and how these may ultimately affect the way you vote.

FUSE REGULARS 02 04 07 08 27 32 35 36 38 40 42 45 46 48

Editor’s Rant What’s On : Movie Reviews What’s On : Events & Shows Round Up : News & Politics Out & About : Cube Nightclub Couch Potato : Film & TV Eat Me : Queen of the Dessert Out & About : Barcode Ear Candy : Music Reviews & News Top Queer : Big & Beautiful Health : 72 Hours Could Change Your Life Stargazer : Your Horoscope FUSE Community Directory Dear Rose FUSE36CONTENTS

❂ THE POWER OF YOU! Alexander Thatcher Editor

Since our last issue of FUSE a lot has happened and I’m again reminded that nothing ever stays the same. Probably the most significant change being the shift back to Kevin Rudd as Australia’s Prime Minister. I have mixed feelings about this, as I’m sure many Australians do. One the one hand, although I like Julia Gillard, her views on same-sex marriage perplex me. As Prime Minister she did lots of good things for Australia. I believe that introducing legislation to fund the national disability insurance scheme was one of her greatest achievements. It was clearly something that was close to her heart and it really showed. But unfortunately marriage equality wasn’t close to her heart at all... and that really showed too! On the other hand, Kevin Rudd — having changed his mind back in May of this year — is a supporter of marriage equality. There is a lot to be said about Mr Rudd, good and bad, but I’m going to leave that discussion to the dinner table. The fact that he now supports marriage equality matters to me, and it should matter to you. Whether you believe in the concept of marriage or think it’s completely ridiculous, at the end of the day it’s really about all people having equal rights. Across the board, equality is something we should stand up for even when it does not benefit us personally.

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EDITOR’SRANT

In our special ‘Election 2013’ feature, we have a close look at the people and parties that all have their eye on the prize. Very soon now we’ll all be heading to the polling booths. The direction that Australia takes over the next three years is very much dependent on how you decide to vote. It’s our hope that Elizabeth Gorrell’s feature article ‘Dodging the Donkey’ will help you make a more informed choice. Although most of us dislike the rigmarole of polling day, it may well be the most important day this year. p15. Talking about things changing, we also look at a new concept that is sweeping the world: collaborative consumption. Many believe that it will radically change the way we shop and use the things we already own. People everywhere are starting to realise that easy access to a product — for example a car, power tool or ski equipment — is more important, and usually considerably cheaper, than actually owning it. Although a radical shift in thinking, it’s actually been under our noses the whole time: think libraries and DVD rentals. The thing that makes ‘collaborative consumption’ so groundbreaking is similar to the reason why ‘social networking’ went viral — it’s all about the power of the individual — you! p24. Sharing is good, Alex

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IMAGINE A WORLD WITHOUT FACTORY FARMING... Few people realise that factory farming is the single greatest cause of animal cruelty on the planet today. Visit MakeItPossible.com and join thousands of other caring Australians who are making a world without factory farming possible. Watch the film. Sign the pledge. Inspire others.

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MOVIES

By Dwayne Lennox

RED 2 : OPENS 29 AUGUST

ELYSIUM OPENS 15 AUGUST

FUSE MOVIE PICK OF THE MONTH!

Director Neill Blomkamp, who broke through in 2009 with the impressive Oscar-nominated District 9, returns with another sci-fi effort. Elysium is set in the year 2154, where the ‘haves’ live on a man-made space station while the ‘have-nots’ reside on a ruined Earth. But one man (a buffed-up Matt Damon) takes on a mission that could bring equality to the polarized worlds. Elysium also stars Jodie Foster and District 9 leading man, Sharlto Copley, and if it’s even half as exhilarating as the South African director’s debut, Elysium will be worth catching. itsbetterupthere.com

Forget the expendables, the real kick-ass geriatric action heroes — Bruce Willis, John Malkovich and Helen Mirren — are back! In this sequel to Red — the 2010 actioncomedy — Willis and his team of ex-international covert agents are brought out of hiding and retirement when a portable nuclear device goes missing. Mary Louise Parker is back, joined by series newcomers Catherine Zeta-Jones and Anthony Hopkins. And if Red 2 doesn’t involve the veteran British thespians (and Hitchcock co-stars) Hopkins and Mirren going headto-head, we’ll be very disappointed.

PARANOIA : OPENS 5 SEPTEMBER

KICK-ASS 2 : OPENS 22 AUGUST Yes Kick-Ass 2 is violent, something fans of the 2010 hit, Kick-Ass, will already be aware of even if Jim Carrey apparently wasn’t whilst filming this sequel. Carrey plays Colonel Stars and Stripes, one of the not-so-superheroes inspired by the antics of Kick-Ass (Aaron TaylorJohnson) and Hit-Girl (Chloe Grace Moretz) to take on their city’s criminal element. Violence-in-film debate aside, we’re just hoping this sequel (which also sees Christopher Mintz-Plasse return as the vengeance-seeking Red Mist) is as much fun as the first outing.

Aussie hottie, Liam Hemsworth (a.k.a Thor’s little brother), joins acting titans Harrison Ford and Gary Oldman for this corporate espionage thriller. Hemsworth plays Adam Cassidy, an ambitious young man eager to get ahead in the business world who is faced with an ethical dilemma when he is asked by his new employer (Oldman) to spy on his former mentor (Ford), soon finding himself a pawn in the businessmen’s dangerous rivalry. Paranoia also boasts another Aussie talent, director Robert Luketic, who is better known for his comedies Legally Blonde and Monster-in-Law.

✔ FREE MOVIE TICKETS

Email us and tell us what you think of FUSE, comment on an article or sign up to the FUSE eNews and you could win free tickets to these fantastic movies. hello@fusemagazine.com.au

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CANBERRA FLORIADE LIGHTS UP THE NIGHT 25-29 SEPTEMBER @ COMMONWEALTH PARK Commonwealth Park will come alive after dark when Floriade NightFest returns for five spectacular nights in September from Wednesday 25 until Sunday 29. Now in its sixth year, Floriade’s ticketed twilight event will feature stellar light shows, live music, comedy and DJs. Whether you would prefer to spend your evening wandering through the night markets or chilling out with a cocktail while listening to some smooth tunes, this moonlit extravaganza has something for you. The enchanting evening destination, The Moonlight Lounge, will feature top entertainment such as Melbourne-based stand-up comedian Felicity Ward — best known for her work in Channel 10’s The Ronnie Johns Half Hour and ABC’s Spicks and Specks — and Matt Okine, who was recently named Best Newcomer at The Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Roving entertainers such as The Cloudmen, a serene act inspired by the popular Belgian surrealist artist, Rene Magritte, will leave visitors in awe, while The Space Ballerinas will tower over you as they twirl around the park in their pretty tutus. Floriade Nightfest’s new destination, the Electric Theatre, will wow audiences with thrilling circus performances, stunning light shows and an awesome array of live musical acts. Floriade NightFest attracts huge crowds every year and is bound to sell out, so grab your tickets at ticketek.com.au

A GENDER AGENDA & PLAYBACK THEATRE IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE STREET PRESENT

RE THINK MAN WOMAN 2

MORE DETAILS ON THE FUSE WEBSITE

SATURDAY 24 AUGUST : THE STREET THEATRE Re Think Man Woman 2 explores the identities and experiences of your journeys with gender. The times you’ve loved the gender you are; the times you’ve hated it; stories of changing gender or wanting to change gender; stories of questioning, being confused. Struggling for change in a world obsessed with the question — male or female? Playback Theatre is a form of improvisational theatre in which audience members who choose to, tell stories from their lives, then watch as actors and musicians play them back using movement, music and words, but without script or any rehearsal. Don’t miss this, book at the Street Theatre, call 6247 1223 or visit thestreet.org.au

WHAT’S ON! WANT TO KNOW WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING, CHECK OUT OUR ‘WHAT’S ON’ SECTION AT WWW.FUSEMAGAZINE.COM.AU

QWIRE

ANNIVERSARY BALL SATURDAY 31 AUGUST THE HELLENIC CLUB WODEN The Canberra Gay & Lesbian Qwire invites you to a gala ball in honour of its 20th Anniversary. This is one night where the Qwire will not be singing, rather this is a night for everyone to relax, enjoy good food and music, and of course get to know the Qwire and its friends a little better.

More information at: floriadeaustralia.com/nightfest

Tickets are $85 each or $70 un-waged More info at: canberraqwire.org.au WHAT’SON

ROUND UP) BERT & ERNIE OUTED BY THE NEW YORKER The burning question of Bert and Ernie’s sexual orientation flared up again with The New Yorker’s amazing July cover, titled ‘Moment of Joy’. It features Bert and Ernie snuggling by the soft glow of a television set as they watched the Supreme Court overturn the Defence of Marriage Act. It’s simple, it’s very cute, it doesn’t have them kissing or in any way acting inappropriately yet that didn’t stop the anti-gay campaigner, Bryan Fischer — a US Christian radio host — spouting out a great deal of hate by commenting that the cover “promoted child abuse”. Fischer launched the attack during his Christian programme saying the characters were engaged in a ‘homosexual clinch’. Adding “This is shameless, using figures who are iconic to children to promote sexual deviancy. And worse, it is dangerous and irresponsible. This is grossly irresponsible for The New Yorker to promote this, they really are promoting child endangerment and they are promoting child abuse. He then went on to cite a laundry list of false and debunked information saying “It is thus clear from the best in social research that being raised in a same-sex environment poses completely unacceptable risks to vulnerable young children.” Many have believed that the two Sesame Street characters are a same-sex couple and some 10,000+ people even signed an online petition during 2011, urging the creators to allow the ‘couple’ to get married. Gary Knell, thenpresident of Sesame Workshop, hoped to put the issue to rest with the following comment: “They are not gay, they are not straight, they are puppets,” he wrote. “They do not exist below the waist.”

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY READY FOR SAME-SEX MARRIAGE Hot on the heals of the NSW government to move on legislation for same-sex marriage, (p10) the ACT is just months away from becoming the first Australian jurisdiction to actually have gay marriage. The ACT Attorney-General Simon Corbell told media outlets that the Labor/Greens government plans to introduce legislation into the ACT Legislative Assembly this spring. Simon Corbell said, “I’m confident the ACT could be one of the first, if not the first, jurisdiction to have such a thing, (same-sex marriage) but I still think it’s highly likely it will be the ACT that legislates first because of the clear majority on the floor of Assembly in a single-chamber parliament.” 8

NEWS&POLITICS

BATWOMAN POPS THE QUESTION TO MAGGIE SAWYER Back in 2009, “Lesbian Batwoman” was revealed as DC Comics’ first queer superhero. Her original story line and character, where she was Batmans love interest was completely re-imagined. Now in 2013 after emerging victorious from a recent crusade, Kane — AKA Batwoman — reveals her identity to Sawyer. “Marry me, Mags,” she says, planting a kiss on Sawyer before the police captain can react. “Batwoman” artist J. H. Williams had even hinted that bigger things were in store and also expressed just why this character’s story means so much to him and comic book readers alike. “Batwoman is an important character, and a socially important one that has meaning that extends well beyond the printed pages of the world she lives in, reaching out into ours possibly affecting those who encounter her story,” he wrote on his official website. Batwoman’s proposal is the first lesbian engagement to be included in a mainstream comic. FUSEMAGAZINE.COM.AU

ADD IT UP 80%

The proportion of ministers in Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s new Cabinet who support marriage equality, according to AME National Convenor Rodney Croome.

BEING GAY IS NOT A DISEASE! In a country where 79% of people believe “Homosexuality should be rejected”, as opposed to 18% who believe “Homosexuality should be accepted” the Lebanese Psychiatric Society has made a huge step forward for LGBTI people living in the country. In a statement published by the Ministry of Information, the Lebanese Psychiatric Society (LPS) announced that homosexuality is not a mental disorder and does not need to be treated. “The assumption that homosexuality is a result of disturbances in the family dynamic or unbalanced psychological development is based on wrong information” the organisation said.

79%

The amount of people in Lebanon that believe “Homosexuality should be rejected”, as opposed to 18% who believe “Homosexuality should be accepted”. From Pew Research.

LPS added that “conversion therapy” also known as reparative, or “ex-gay” therapy, which seeks to “convert” homosexuals into heterosexuals, has no scientific backing and asked health care professionals to “rely only on science” when offering opinion or treatment. The LPS cited the 1973 decision by the American Psychiatric Association that ceased to classify homosexuality as a mental disorder, and the 1998 decision which opposed any form of psychiatric treatment known as reparative or conversion therapy based on the assumptions that homosexuality is a mental disorder and that patients should change their sexual orientation. Article 534 of the Lebanese Penal Code criminalises “unnatural sexual intercourse,” which is punishable by up to one year of imprisonment. In practice, homosexual acts still fall under this law.

The ranking of the “Gay Marriage Rights in Australia” Facebook page according to independent website yoursocialmonitor.com

1 in 10

The amount of young Australian males that contemplated suicide last year. This disturbing revelation was revealed by The Young and Well Cooperative Research Centre.

The map below shows countries that are most and least tolerant of homosexuality. The Pew Research Center, as part of a fascinating new report on global attitudes toward homosexuality, asked people in 39 different countries a deceptively straight forward question: “Should society accept homosexuality?” People could answer yes, no or decline the question. Muslim majority countries tended to reject homosexuality as a general rule, with results under 10 percent for Islamic societies from Africa to Southeast Asia to the Middle East. The only exception is Lebanon, although the country is only about two-thirds Muslim. Only 2 percent of Pakistanis and Tunisians – who are generally considered cosmopolitan by Mideast standards – said society should accept gays.

Do you need help? Support is available for anyone in distress by phoning Lifeline 13 11 14, MensLine 1300 78 99 78 or Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800. NEWS&POLITICS

ROUND UP)

ADVOCATES TO PUSH FOR AUSTRALIAN STATE MARRIAGE EQUALITY LAWS Marriage equality advocates say they will push hard for laws allowing same-sex marriages now that a NSW parliamentary report has cleared the way by declaring such laws constitutional. Australian marriage equality national director, Rodney Croome, said, “We will be lobbying state MPs in earnest both in NSW and in those other states such as Tasmania and South Australia where reform has a good chance of passing. The NSW report declaring there is no constitutional barrier to same-sex marriage laws removes the major obstacle that has blocked reform across several states until now.”

Jennie Yates, Yvette Berry MLA and Peter Hyndal

A GENDER AGENDA RECOGNITION WELL DESERVED The ACT Chief Minister and Minster for Health, Katy Gallagher MLA and Yvette Berry MLA have congratulated A Gender Agenda for being the “Grand award recipient for outstanding achievement to promote health and wellbeing in the community”. On top of this AGA also won the ‘Building a Healthy Sex Diverse Gender Community Award’ which recognises innovative and best practice that aim to improve the health of people in the ACT. The project addresses the well-documented poor health outcomes of sex and gender diverse Canberrans, by providing safe opportunities and encouragement to increase physical activity and social connectivity.

“Marriage equality at a federal level would be preferable because it allows all Australian same-sex couples to marry, but as long as the federal parliament continues to balk at reform the states are the way forward.” According to the report, issued by the NSW Upper House, they reached the conclusion that the NSW Parliament has the power to legislate on same-sex marriage. However, if they choose to exercise that power the law could be subject to challenge in the High Court of Australia. The outcome of such a case is uncertain and therefore equal marriage rights for all Australians may best be achieved under Commonwealth legislation.” Recently in South Australia a same-sex marriage bill was defeated in the state Lower House when the Liberals refused to allow a conscience vote due to concerns about the constitutionality of the bill. Last year a Tasmanian same-sex marriage bill was defeated by just two votes in the state Upper House when some Upper House members expressed similar concerns. State same-sex marriage bills have been tabled or foreshadowed in NSW, SA, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia and the ACT.

Peter Hyndal, Executive Director of AGA told FUSE, “A Gender Agenda is very proud that the success of our Social Inclusion Project has been publicly acknowledged by receiving not just one, but two ACT Health Promotion Awards. The project, which we ran in 2011, significantly increased the mental health outcomes of over 100 participants and was pivotal in the development of a cohesive and growing trans* and intersex community in the ACT.” Peter who recently returned from a conference in the USA also commented that the Head of the UCSF Child and Adolescent Gender Clinic said that A Gender Agenda had developed an impressively unique service delivery model that should be duplicated internationally, adding, “We are hopeful that the ACT Health Promotion Awards will also increase awareness about the work that we are doing at a national level.” AGA is a not-for-profit community organisation which provides support for the trans* and intersex community of the ACT. For more information about services or if you need assistance, visit genderrights.org.au or call Mondays and Thursdays on 02 6162 1924. 10

NEWS&POLITICS

DID YOU KNOW? Daytime TV’s first same-sex wedding was in 2009. The ABC’s All My Children, the Emmy winning soap opera, aired the marriage of lesbian couple Bianca Montgomery and Reese Williams, the first ever marriage of a lesbian couple on scripted daytime television. The couple, along with family, friends, and Bianca’s two children, traveled from fictitious Pine Valley, Pennsylvania, to the state of Connecticut, where gay and lesbian couples can legally wed. FUSEMAGAZINE.COM.AU

ROUND UP)

20000

Male same-sex couples Female same-sex couples

15000

10000

5000

0 1996

AUSSIE SERIES ‘SHEZOW’ UPSETS CHRISTIAN MUMS IN THE USA If you have kids and watch Channel 10, you probably already know about SheZow an Australian-Canadian animated television series created by Obie Scott Wade aimed at kids 6–11 years-old. SheZow is about a 12 year-old boy called ‘Guy’… well some of the time anyway. When it’s time to save the world from evil, Guy dons a magical ring, utters the phrase, “You go girl!” and turns into SheZow, the female crime fighter. When the show was first aired in the US last month, the Christian group ‘One Million Moms’ released a press release that said “SheZow is an attempt by the LGT community to indoctrinate our children into accepting their lifestyles… It won’t be long before little boys are saying, ‘I want to be a girl, so I can help save the world!”

SheZow has received praise from many viewers for its portrayal of the first trans*cartoon superhero. Even so, creator Obie Scott Wade say’s the show is not meant to be political in anyway, commenting, “While the character of Guy does learn many things about himself by becoming SheZow, the main focus is on responsibility”.

2006

2011

SAME-SEX FAMILIES DOUBLE The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has released demographic information on same-sex couples from the 2011 Census. The new data shows a doubling in the number of children being raised by same-sex couples. The Census found the number of same-sex partners has increased since 2006, that 1,300 same-sex couples are married, and that the number of children being raised by same-sex couples has almost doubled from 2001 and is now at 6,300. Marriage equality advocate Mr Croome expressed some scepticism about results showing higher than average education and employment rates among same-sex partners saying, “I interpret the increase in same-sex couples as representing an increase in the confidence of same-sex partners to officially indicate their relationship rather than an actual increase in same-sex couples. But there are still many same-sex partners who are wary of ticking the box that indicates they are in a relationship, or aren’t aware this is an option, including those from ethnic or lower socio-economic backgrounds.”

ENGLAND BACKS GAY MARRIAGE

MOST COMMON OCCUPATIONS IN 2011

Queen Elizabeth has given her “Royal Assent” to the UK’s same-sex marriage bill. With her signature, the concept of marriage as exclusively between a man and a woman in the UK comes to an end. The legislation was championed by Prime Minister David Cameron and finally brings to an end the debate, which has divided the Conservative Party and often pitted Church against State. By the middle of 2014, same-sex partners will be able to marry throughout England and Wales — similar legislation in Scotland is expected to pass easily.

Men in same-sex couples Retail managers Sales assistants (general) Advertising, PR & sales managers Registered nurses Contract, program & project administrators Hairdressers

3.7% 2.9% 2.9% 1.9% 1.6% 1.5%

Women in same-sex couples Registered nurses Retail managers Sales assistants (general) Secondary school teachers Police Welfare support workers

4.3% 2.4% 2.3% 2.2% 2.2% 2.0%

Not happy, Paul Tully, from the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, told news outlets that the bill’s provisions amount to a forthright attack on the natural institution of marriage, saying ‘this bill will lead to discrimination and oppression of those who recognise the true importance of marriage for the generation of stable, sustainable families”. 12

2001

NEWS&POLITICS

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics

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MAKE YOUR VOTE COUNT

DODGING THE DONKEY In a special FUSE Election 2013 feature, Elizabeth Gorrell looks at the important issues that face the LGBTI community in both Canberra and Australia and how these may ultimately affect the way you vote this year.

In June of this year, the Federal Election game changed again. For the second time in four years, the reigning Labor Prime Minister was ousted. Julia Gillard was replaced by her predecessor, Kevin Rudd, and the Australian public were again left wondering what value their vote has. With this in mind, I’ve set out to inform young people of their options in the upcoming Federal Election, and to clear the air about the policies of the parties running in the ACT. I spoke with Andrew Leigh (ALP, current member for Fraser), Simon Sheikh (The Greens, who will be running for the Senate) and Robbie Swan (Australian Sex Party public officer). I invited local Liberal party members, but unfortunately did not receive a response.

By Elizabeth Gorrell

The interviewees were varied in their backgrounds, philosophies and policies but I asked them all about the same important issues including same sex marriage, Mental Health for LGBTI persons (young and old), sexual education, their plans for drug and alcohol policies, and what they could offer the LGBTI community. When we had moved past pleasantries, small talk and coffee, I started out asking my interviewees where they stood on same sex marriage. Hearteningly; all three were pro same-sex marriage, and Andrew Leigh even went so far as to guarantee that if Labor retains power after the next election, same-sex marriage will be legalised within the next four years. He said “our party policy is unambiguously for same sex marriage.” FUSEFEATURE

Once I had confirmed that same sex marriage was a priority for my interviewees, I moved my enquiries forward by asking them what they planned to do about the labouring state of mental health services (especially those available to LGBTI youth) in the upcoming political term. Of particular concern to me is the Chaplaincy program in public schools, which saw qualified school counsellors and youth workers replaced with Chaplains. The program has caused outrage amongst parents and students who want to see Public Schools stay secular. The High Court began hearing a constitutional challenge on the funding program in 2011, four years after the program was initially rolled out, but as of yet there has been no change. For gay, lesbian, bi and trans* youth who may be struggling with their sexuality or their gender identity, not having access to secular counselling and mental health services is a serious issue. Simon Sheikh’s experience with GetUp saw him leading a movement for mental health reform, including lobbying for more funding for organisations like headspace, and he wants to introduce more trained individuals into schools. He says: “The mental health sector is still struggling to cope with teenagers and young people in school… especially young people struggling with their sexuality.” Andrew Leigh agrees that the expansion of headspace is crucial to ensuring the mental health of our young people, but when I asked him about the impact of the chaplaincy program, he had little to say apart from offering some statistics. Both Robbie Swan and Simon Sheikh expressed deep concern about an openly atheist Prime Minister introducing and funding this program, and insisted that it is even more important now to ensure access to secular education and support for students and youth. Persevering with schools, I brought up my concern for the distinct lack of a standardised sex education program in the National Schools Curriculum. Living in a state that still has one of the highest Chlamydia infection rates in the country (1 in 14 people), this bothers me. It turns out I’m not the only one who’s bothered. Simon Sheikh agreed that the lack of a standardised sex education program was concerning, but he’s also worried about the messages that are currently available to young people. He would like to see a focus on prevention, rather than cure, and a rejuvenation of the way schools talk to young people about sex. He said “there are ways you can talk to young people and there are ways that are just terrible!” When I talked to him about the lack of any gay or trans* specific sex education programs in schools, Simon emphasised that communication is key, and that sex education needs to “include talking about issues that relate to homosexuality in a really normal way. There’s no need to sensationalise it, there’s no need to moralise about it, and there’s no need to have a curriculum that judges people either.” Andrew agreed that it’s vital that the safe sex message be “refreshed for every generation” but he conceded that attempting a roll out of a standardised sex education program has been too difficult. Andrew emphasised that Labor doesn’t want to see “sex education that encourages kids to have sex earlier than they would otherwise, or sex ed that provides information to kids before they’re going to need it.” 16

FUSEFEATURE

ANDREW LEIGH EVEN WENT SO FAR AS TO GUARANTEE THAT IF LABOR RETAINS POWER AFTER THE NEXT ELECTION, SAME-SEX MARRIAGE WILL BE LEGALISED WITHIN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS. HE SAID “OUR PARTY POLICY IS UNAMBIGUOUSLY FOR SAME SEX MARRIAGE” Not surprisingly, Robbie Swan and the Australian Sex Party hold a different view on how and when sex education should occur. They believe that sex education should be introduced in schools much earlier than it is now, and that there should be a less medical and biological approach to teaching our young people about sex. He says “when you’re thinking about having sex with someone, when you’re attracted to them, the last thing on your mind is biology.” So, if there was a standardised sex ed program in schools, what could we expect it to include? When I was in school there was no mention of the specific health and safety issues that might come with sex if you’re a young gay, lesbian or bi person; and there definitely wasn’t a single mention of what sex might be like if you’re a trans* or intersex person. It was all “put the condom on the banana and don’t make eye contact with the teacher. ”When I questioned my interviewees about this gaping hole in sex ed I got positive responses from all three, but it was Robbie who was clearest on policy reforms that his party would make in this area. He told me that the ASP want to see a more nuanced program introduced that discusses sex in an emotional and social context, and includes information and acceptance for those students who are of alternative sexual orientations without judgement. But we all know sex education isn’t all about school sex ed programs; we continue to learn about sex and STD’s throughout our adult life, and that’s where public health campaigns come in. It’s been a long time since the Grim Reaper bowled down the gays with AIDS in the eighties, and there’s still been little movement towards a comprehensive gay-specific public health program. FUSEMAGAZINE.COM.AU

When I asked about this, Andrew Leigh agreed that it’s been a delicate issue, but he thinks the current government is doing its best to “do what they need to do” in order to provide information and appropriate care to the sexually active population. He says “a federal labor government approach to sexual health is without any moral hang-ups; we take a practical, evidence based approach.” Andrew also thinks that “attitudes to gay and lesbian Australians are shifting faster than social attitudes on any other issue I know of”, so there could well be a bright future for openminded public health campaigns. It wasn’t long into our discussions about the health of young people before the issue of drugs and alcohol came up, specifically synthetic drugs. The death of Henry Kwan sparked a heated debate and there has been a call to ban synthetics completely. Robbie Swan pointed out that the most common side-effects of synthetic drug use are heart palpitations and panic attacks, which, he says, are also common side effects of strong coffee. Robbie wants the nation to talk about other factors influencing drug use, instead of just banning them based on side-effects.

GREENS CANDIDATE SIMON SHEIKH SAYS IT’S HIS YOUTH, AND HIS ENGAGEMENT WITH COMMUNITY THAT SETS HIM APART AND ALLOWS HIM TO CRAFT POLICY THAT REALLY MATTERS When I reviewed the Sex Party’s polity suite for the upcoming election, it seemed a lot of their goals had already been reached: RU486 has been introduced to the PBS system, and same sex marriage is on the horizon. In light of this, I asked Robbie what his parties’ first priority was right now, and the answer was simple: legalising marijuana. For the Sex Party whatever the drug, the policy remains the same: to legalise and regulate recreational drugs, and hopefully reduce drug-related crime and death. Robbie also made it clear that blanket bans work in direct opposition to the logic of young people. Banning a substance, in the Sex Party’s view, only glorifies it and makes it more tempting to those people who are willing to engage in risk.

Simon Sheikh (who was quick to remind me that legalising isn’t the policy of the Greens) would rather see a rehabilitative system in place. To this end, The Greens have been consulting with people in the supply chain of synthetic drugs, as well as users, to gain a better understanding of the risks and potential solutions for this growing problem. Simon said: “our policy is health focused, and we think that putting someone in jail for using a synthetic drug will probably just introduce them to even harder drugs; and that’s a bad outcome for society. We want to explore the safest pathway, and often the strictest pathway is not the safest.” Andrew Leigh spoke to me about the legal and legislative implications of a new drug craze, admitting that it’s extremely difficult for government and health services to keep up with quickly changing drug trends and arguing that “as different substances have kept coming on the market it’s made it much harder to know what chemicals are inside someone’s body. It’s a big risk, and its huge challenge for public health workers.” But when it comes to the law, Andrew says it’s pretty simple: “if a synthetic drug has a similar effect on the body as an actual drug it should be treated the same way by the law.” When I’d finished asking my interviewees about their drug policies, I decided to push them on transgender and intersex issues. All three agreed that, though they have long been relatively invisible, trans* and intersex equality issues might be the next big thing once same sex marriage is legalised in Australia; but none of them seemed to have really thought about it in the run up to our interview. Andrew Leigh reminded me the Labor government had been instrumental in granting trans* persons the right to change their gender on their legal passports, and they plan to do more. Robbie admitted that the ASP don’t have an official platform on trans* and intersex issues, but it was heartening that he took my suggestions and concerns seriously. Trans* and intersex issues might not have played in to the minds of politicians in the past, but all the interviewees had a positive attitude to raising awareness and protecting the rights of trans* and intersex people in the future. At the tail end of my interviews (when I’d had my fill of drilling my interviewees for policy platforms), I started a conversation about the growing frustration that the people of Australia are feeling with the two party system. Over 9% of the population currently vote, or are likely to vote, for an independent party and that number is set to grow. FUSEFEATURE

MAKE YOUR VOTE COUNT

Simon Sheikh holds a less alarmist, but quietly vigilant, attitude to the role of minor parties in the upcoming election: “these parties are starting to get some serious funding… they could achieve balance of power in the Senate, it’s possible. That tells me we’re facing something quite deep and scary here.” The solution? Robbie and Simon both agree that the only way to deal with parties like Rise Up, Family First and One Nation is to “shine a light on them”, and hold them accountable for bigoted policy and any hate-speech that is part of their campaign.

DON’T BE APATHETIC WITH YOUR VOTE THIS ELECTION, DON’T DONKEY IT, AND DON’T VOTE FOR SOMEONE JUST BECAUSE ‘YOU ALWAYS HAVE’ OR BECAUSE ‘YOUR PARENTS DO’ So, what can these parties offer the young voter?

FIONA PATTEN FROM THE ASP WANTS TO SEE A MORE NUANCED SCHOOL SEX ED PROGRAM INTRODUCED THAT DISCUSSES SEX IN AN EMOTIONAL AND SOCIAL CONTEXT — ONE THAT INCLUDES INFORMATION AND ACCEPTANCE FOR THOSE STUDENTS WHO ARE OF ALTERNATIVE SEXUAL ORIENTATIONS WITHOUT JUDGEMENT I asked all the interviewees how they felt about the growing influence of minor parties, and the potential threat to LGBTI rights posed by far-right wing groups. It was no surprise that Robbie Swan gave the bluntest answer on this issue; “The Westminster adversarial system of politics is f***ed to its very core” he says, and he’s not surprised that the in-fighting and “he-said-she-said” politics of Labor and Liberal are starting to wear on the public’s nerves. But Robbie warns that it’s not just the big parties who have been making compromises in their politics to maintain power. We had a long discussion on understanding vote preferencing in elections. What became clear was that in order to know where your vote is really going, you have to do your research on which other political party your chosen candidate will preference in their bid to secure a seat. For example, Robbie showed some concern that the controversial (and decidedly left wing) Wikileaks party are showing signs of preferencing the Family First party in some seats in Victoria.

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Simon Sheikh says it’s his youth, and his engagement with community that sets him apart and allows him to craft policy that really matters. Andrew Leigh says he can offer you a track record of standing up for gay rights, and a legislative focus on removing discrimination (he personally removed almost 80 pieces of legislation that discriminated against same sex couples). And Robbie promises that the Australian Sex Party will be looking out for your civil rights in the next election. The point of this story isn’t really to convince the people of Canberra to vote for one of these individuals or their parties however; it’s to bring us back to what matters; and that’s policy. Don’t be apathetic with your vote this election, don’t donkey it, and don’t vote for someone just because ‘you always have’ or because ‘your parents do’. Simon Sheikh told me that the only number that politicians pay attention to is the number of people who change their vote based on specific policies, and he gives some excellent advice for voters who don’t always realise the amount of power they hold when they walk into the polling station: “Unless you’re prepared to put your money where your mouth is and move your vote then unfortunately political parties, especially the major ones, won’t take you seriously. This is how all change happens, it’s always one step, a second step and a third step into a thousand step journey.”

FUSEMAGAZINE.COM.AU

GRAND FAME

By Bebe Backhouse

IN JUST 10 DAYS STEVE GRAND WENT FROM BEING AN UNKNOWN ARTIST TO THE LATEST VIRAL CELEBRITY AFTER UPLOADING HIS FIRST MUSIC VIDEO, “ALL-AMERICAN BOY,” TO YOUTUBE IN JUST TEN DAYS! The song, a country-tinged pop-rock ballad, could have easily gone unnoticed as just another innocent love song from an aspiring singer. But Grand, with his dashing good looks, plenty of muscle and boy-next-door charm, turned heads for singing his tale of sweet, unrequited love...for another man. CHECK OUT The 23-year-old artist doesn’t have a label, manager, agent or publicist to ALL-AMERICAN back him, which makes amassing more than 1.2 million views in ten days an BOY ON THE FUSE WEBSITE impressive feat. In the music video, Grand is longing for a close male friend. They share a night of tender moments – stolen glances, affectionate touching, skinny dipping – which lead to a quick kiss. But Grand’s boy, despite perceived flirtations, is straight and returns to a girlfriend. The clip is a heartbreaking tale of love that surpasses sexual orientation, though it’s a story that countless gay men can connect with. Grand financed the video himself, even maxing out a credit card in the process. “I took everything I had, and everything I didn’t have, and made this video with that. There was no Plan B,” he said. “There was no going back.” Despite its polished look the video cost was a low US$7000. It caught the caught the attention of major international outlets like BuzzFeed, Billboard and Slate with most branding him as a ‘gay country star’ – a label he’s only partially OK with. “I actually didn’t set out to write a country song,” he said. “I was really surprised when I saw I was being labelled as a ‘gay country star’ and people saying I was the first. There have been people that have done it before, and I certainly don’t want to take anything away from them,” he continued. “I just wanted to create something really beautiful that resonated with people all over the world. The song has done all I could ask for.” While Grand isn’t the first openly gay singer out there, his country-tinged song is widely gaining traction for its groundbreaking potential in a genre that has been particularly shy about breaking gay acts. When country singer Chely Wright came out in 2010 atop a tidal wave of publicity that included a high-profile magazine cover, talk show, memoir and album, her record sales dropped by as much as 50%. As for k.d. lang? She hasn’t been synonymous with the genre since she came out in the early 1990s. However, Grand didn’t always welcome his sexuality. Raised in a Catholic family, his parents discovered he was gay through an instant message chat in eighth grade. They then sent him to “straight therapy,” which he did for five years. “They’ve come so far,” he later said of his parents. “Even with this video, it’s just amazing how much they’ve totally embraced me and who I am.” In regards to the song, and especially the video’s gay theme, Grand says, “The world never sees change until people say, ‘I’m going to just do it’. That’s why I went all in. I’m not going to play it safe. There’s no room in the world to play it safe.” Perhaps songs and stories like Steve’s will prompt more healing and understanding between gay people and straight people than any legislation or court ruling ever could. It could become the engine of a future reconciliation, an invitation not to settle with failure but to get ourselves up, try again and pursue the equality we all long for.

FUSETALENT

Prior to launching his musical career, Steve Grand modeled under the pseudonym Steve Chatham.

FUSEMAGAZINE.COM.AU

AND

IT’S JUST A JUMP TO THE LEFT

THEN A STEP TO THE RIGHT By Andrew Barr ACT Deputy Chief Minister

Having the Prime Minister in support of reform can only be a good thing. Federal Labor should campaign actively on marriage equality during the 2013 election. Not only is it the right policy and the right thing to do, it has the support of a majority of Australians, particularly the younger Australians that Kevin Rudd seeks to re-engage with.

VERY FEW THINGS SURPRISE ME IN POLITICS ANYMORE. The recent change in national leadership is no exception. Aside from their very different personal styles and, of course, the gender issue, not much will really change. We are experiencing a “time warp” in national politics. With apologies to the Rocky Horror Picture Show, “It’s just a jump to the left and then a step to the right.” Labor’s core political agenda remains largely the same. The education, health, disability and infrastructure policy directions pursued by Julia Gillard remain in place. There is some tinkering around the edges with support from the PM for marriage equality (the jump to the left) and the fast tracking of an Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) and the PNG asylum seeker solution (a step to the right). Acres of print will be devoted to analysis of Gillard’s Prime Ministership. I don’t intend to add to that here, other than to say that history will judge her kindly. The policy achievements of the Gillard government will, in time, be recognised as once in a generation reforms achieved in the most challenging of political circumstances. Kevin Rudd’s return has certainly refreshed the national political contest. The Press Gallery is captivated by his every move. Abbott is on the back foot for the first time this year. There is a sense of a real contest when polling day finally arrives. This contest gives renewed hope for change on a number of issues that I have been campaigning on for years. The first is marriage equality. A few months ago (then backbencher) Kevin Rudd blogged that he had changed his view on same-sex marriage and now thought that the Church and the State are able to have different positions.

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The second issue, tax reform, is not quite as sexy as the first, but arguably as important for delivering a fairer society. The Australian federal financial model is at breaking point. There simply aren’t enough financial resources at the commonwealth and state and territory level to meet the growing demands of our ageing population. Reforming our taxation system to eliminate inefficient and unfair taxes and replace them with simpler, fairer and more efficient taxes that raise enough revenue to meet our community needs is an essential task for the next federal government. The ACT Government is not shirking our reform responsibility in this area. We are abolishing stamp duty on the purchase of homes and taxes on insurance policies and replacing the revenue through our progressive rates and land tax system. It is high time that other States followed suit and that the Commonwealth Government financially supported the fast tracking of tax reforms. If we are able to get this done it will mean more resources for our schools, universities and hospitals, more investment in housing, transport and communications infrastructure, more money to protect the environment and a more productive Australian economy. More people will have jobs and fewer people will live in poverty. This is worth fighting for.

Kevin Rudd said, I have come to the conclusion that church and state can have different positions and practices on the question of same-sex marriage. I believe the secular Australian state should be able to recognise same-sex marriage. I also believe that this change should legally exempt religious institutions from any requirement to change their historic position and practice that marriage is exclusively between a man and a woman. For me, this change in position has come about as a result of a lot of reflection, over a long period of time, including conversations with good people grappling with deep questions of life, sexuality and faith.

‘‘

People do not choose to be gay. The near universal findings of biological and psychological research for most of the post war period is that irrespective of race, religion or culture, a certain proportion of the community is born gay, whether they like it or not. Given this relatively uncontested scientific fact, then the following question that arises is should our brothers and sisters who happen to be gay be fully embraced as full members of our wider society? The answer to that is unequivocally yes, given that the suppression of a person’s sexuality inevitably creates far greater social and behavioural abnormalities, as opposed to its free and lawful expression.

FUSEOP.ED

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You are invited to

A chat show all about Love, Life, Sex, HIV treatments and the whole damned thing...

12.30pm Saturday 21 September @ Clarke & Cook Room, Novotel Hotel 65 Northbourne Avenue, Canberra RSVP (Booking Essential â&#x20AC;&#x201C; by Monday 16 September) on 02 6257 2855 or support@aidsaction.org.au All Welcome: FREE Buffet Lunch & Drinks.

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By Scott Malcolm Director of Money Mechanics

COLLABORATIVE CONSUMPTION

and the future of shopping

A few months back I was attending the Self Managed Super Fund Professionals conference in Melbourne and met Rachel Botsman who is an expert in the area of collaborative consumption and author of What’s Mine is Yours which takes a look at the social, economic and environmental potential of collaborative consumption. This is a really fascinating area and is already changing the way we all consume and shop today! Time Magazine has said that Collaborative Consumption is one of 10 ideas that will change the world by creating new marketplaces and new ways to access the things we want and need in life. So what is collaborative consumption all about? You have probably already shopped this way without knowing it! 24

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Collaborative consumption is becoming a powerful force in Australia and is sweeping the world. The infographic below from the StartUp America Foundation provides ideas for how to make money on things in your home that you are not using, such as a spare room, your car or lawn mower, or renting out sports equipment. This idea of renting out your room, parking spot or other things is a way to make extra cash and this infographic provides information on where to look to potentially earn money or just share for the good of the planet.

Collaborative Consumption is a shift in the way you spend your money as a consumer, from a value of ‘ownership’ to a value of ‘access’. The concept is to be able to achieve and do more with less, by renting, lending, swapping, bartering, gifting or sharing products and or services. When this happens on the largescale, economies become more sustainable and produce less waste as well as breaking down the physical barriers of doing business or buying a product or service. Have a think about your music collection, once upon a time in order to have the latest music you had CD’s (some of you, like myself, might even still have some vinyl records and tapes lying around the place) and now through digitalization and services like iTunes we can buy our music online or we can simply watch and listen via streaming services like Spotify or YouTube. FUSEMAGAZINE.COM.AU

There are more and more collaborative consumption businesses and companies emerging here in Australia and across the globe that are generating massive amounts of money and profits for their owners. Examples of these in Australia include the Melbourne Bike Share melbournebikeshare.com.au where you pay an annual subscription to use a bike for short trips across the city, returning it to one of the 50 bike stations, this is really where access is more important than ownership. The same goes for the car share programs which exist in places like Sydney and Melbourne where you can remove the day to day cost of owning and running a car by signing up to a collaborative car share group or peer to peer car sharing program. Hopefully as Canberra continues to grow and expand we will be able to collaborate and start using some of these types of services. But even locally there are some really fascinating collaborative services such as technology office parks and share hotdesk services for small business to operate from. In my last FUSE article I mentioned one of the big collaborative consumption companies AirBNB airbnb.com, which is estimated to be worth around $1 billion. Australia now makes up approximately one tenth of the consumer base of the company. You can rent out your whole house or apartment when you are away, or you can even just rent out a room and make some extra money! One of the other great elements to the concept of Collaborative Consumption is that it also looks at under-employment within the economy, those people who want to work full-time or who wish to earn extra but are unable to find the work as global economies scale back, can use peer to peer options to generate more income. Open Shed, Craigslist, eBay, Friends with Things, Freecycle, Airtasker and Occasional Butler are all online resources which allow people to sell, exchange, swap and gift things that they no longer have use for, or offer up errand services which can be a great way to top up cash flow with an additional income stream in a time suitable for you. As a finance geek one of the other really fascinating area’s of collaborative consumption is the concept of crowd funding. This is a new way to fund a creative project or new business venture as people can select to lend money to a project listed on a crowd funding website. Creative movie, theatre and other business projects have been funded by large groups of people rather than traditional funding sources such as banks. This may be a really exciting concept for new start up businesses that might not be able to access the more traditional funding sources without a financial history. Another aspect Rachel Botsman commented on was the duration of this trend. The view is that this is a long-term values shift in our society and it will change the way we all continue to shop, use resources and earn incomes in the future. As government debt further increases across the globe and there is potential for under-employment as economies need time to rebound, these new trends will continue to expand and build further collaborative networks that will change future generations. So welcome to the world of Collaborative Consumption, whether you have been aware of it or not, you have probably already embarked on this type of shopping, enjoy the journey and if you are looking to boost your financial position think about some of the creative ways it is now possible to save or make additional cash as this new economy further develops!

COLLABORATIVE CONSUMPTION SERVICES 1. COMMUNITY SHARING: Use Open Shed to make money from the things that sit around. Think; tools, lawn mowers, bikes, skis, feather bowers. Rent those things you probably only use once in a blue moon. openshed.com.au Looking for free stuff? friendswiththings.com.au, which is like Open Shed but things are shared for free. Also vist Freecycle, Ziilch and OzRecycle — to receive free items from people nearby and give away stuff you don’t need. Find A Uniform lets you search or list a huge array of second-hand uniforms ranging from school tunics, Scout uniforms, sports uniforms and even ballet shoes. findauniform.com.au Streetbank shows you all the things and skills your neighbours are offering. It’s a giant garden shed, toolkit, fancy dress chest, book and DVD library and skills bank for your neighbourhood. streetbank.com/country/AU 2. CAR SHARING: Car Next Door is Australia’s Neighbour-to-Neighbour Car Sharing Network. Building community, helping the environment, and saving people money. carnextdoor.com.au 3. CAR POOLING: Travel by carpool, ride sharing, bus or shuttle. Share your journey and make some cash, get to know your neighbours and commute faster in the transit lane. jayride.com.au & coseats.com 4. SHARE SPACE: SpaceOut – brings together people who are looking for cheap local storage space with those who have a spare room in their home or business. spaceout.com.au 5. COMMUNITY PARKING: Divvy puts the fun back in parking by connecting people who want to rent out their driveway, apartment parking or garage, with those who need to find a parking space. divvy.com.au 6. MOVING STUFF: MeeMeep connects people who need stuff moved with people on the move. meemeep.com 7. LAND SHARE: The Landshare website helps connect those with land to share with those who need it to grow food. landshareaustralia.com.au 8. ACCOMMODATION: Airbnb is a global site that matches people seeking holiday or short-term rentals with those who have rooms to rent. Rent out your spare bed for a month or your entire flat while you’re away. airbnb.com

If would like to ask Scott any questions, you can email him at scott@money-mechanics.com.au or call 02 6257 5557. (http://money-mechanics.com.au) Scott Malcolm is Director of Money Mechanics who are authorised to provide financial advice through PATRON Financial Advice AFSL 307379. The information provided in this article 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.

MONEYSHOT

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RE T N E THEM

Shows @ 11 & 12 By

Alaska St James | Candy Surprise | Ellie Minium 26

OUT&ABOUT

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♥

FREE ENTRY & HAPPY HOUR

There is nowhere else you should be! Come and join us at Cube nightclub. We do free entry and happy hour every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night until 11pm.

OPENING HOURS • THURSDAY 9PM-5AM • FRIDAY 9PM-5AM • SATURDAY 10PM-5AM • SUNDAY 10PM-LATE 33 PETRIE PLAZA CIVIC, CANBERRA CITY CUBENIGHTCLUB.COM.AU

♥ THE PARTY NEVER STOPS! What a great first half of the year Cube has had! Not only have we seen Ru Paul Drag Race, but amazingly enough Willam performed twice — everyone just loved it — plus no one will forget Cubes very first underwear night. A big congratulations to Pauline who was the winner of Cube’s Got Talent 2013. Keep a look out for more fantastic events in the second half of the year and make sure you join the Cube mailing list at cubenightclub.com.au to keep up to date with all the fun!

OUT&ABOUT

Tilley’s

Devine Café Gallery

For nearly 30 years Tilley’s has been a gathering place for the gay and lesbian community.

LOVE HAS ALWAYS BEEN EQUAL AT TILLEY’S SERVING YOU BREAKFAST, LUNCH & DINNER 7 DAYS. THE CALL IS YOURS! TILLEY’S CAN DO IT FOR YOU!

Monday to Saturday 9am –10pm Sundays 9am – 6pm Reserve your favourite table or booth call 6247 7753 www.tilleys.com.au

CORNER OF WATTLE AND BRIGALOW STREETS, LYNEHAM 28

Over the years Tilley’s has become renowned for its breakfasts, lunches, dinners and 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! Envelop yourself in an intimate and warm 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. FUSEMAGAZINE.COM.AU

My queer Goulburn By Hedda Murray

BEING ‘OUTED’ BY SOMEONE CAN BE AWKWARD, BUT THERE HAVE BEEN MOMENTS IN MY LIFE WHEN I’VE ACTUALLY ‘OUTED’ MYSELF, ALL BY MYSELF. THAT’S RIGHT, NOBODY DID IT FOR ME. A couple of years ago I visited Goulburn and while there I found myself in a very uncomfortable situation. I was sitting amongst a small crowd of people when suddenly a man nearby started yelling to another, “You faggot.” My heart froze – “oh no, here we go”. Unfortunately many of us will have experienced unpleasantness like this in our lives, ‘bloody dyke’, ‘faggot’, ‘poofter’ ‘queer’, and of course they’re the more polite terms. It is always very upsetting to have queer references hurled about as insults in an aggressive, assaulting way with the hope of diminishing or belittling someone, or making them less of a human being. To non-queers it may be a case of just trying to ignore the insults and look the other way, knowing they are not really any of these things. But when this is part of your very makeup it’s impossible not to take it personally on some primal level. We may pretend not to hear, but we do hear. It hurts and jars and it silences people. I couldn’t quite identify the target of this man’s vitriol, but the assailant was ramping up into a fever pitch. The veins began straining in his neck and popping in his reddened forehead. It was really alarming, I couldn’t tell where the hell this was heading. But at that same moment the part of my brain that protects my life and limb inexplicably shut down. I heard myself calling to him, demanding his attention, “Hey, you, listen. Most of my friends are dykes and faggots and they’re wonderful, generous people. I’d rather be friends with them any day, so how about giving us all a break and put a sock in it?”

‘outing’ OMG! I had just outed myself as being dyke-and-faggotfriendly in front of a furiously aggressive and very public homo-hater. Nowhere to hide now, OMG, OMG! I waited for him to cross the distance between us and thump me, my eyes darted to see which way I could run. But surprisingly my tanti counteracted his tanti. I had shocked him into silence! He shut his mouth, and there was a pause during which he seemed confused and was probably tossing up his options (I dread to think). The moment passed and he turned, called me something under his breath (…derr), and walked away, swearing in a huff. It was over. You could almost hear the sigh of relief go up from the crowd. I certainly felt the relief in the pit of my pants. I do not recommend anyone copying this plan. It was foolhardy and reckless, with a totally unpredictable outcome, but, gee it felt good. Silently I was hysterical with excitement and amazed at my own brashness, ‘Wow! You go girl!’ and now that it was safe, the woman next to me quietly whispered, “Thank you pet.” Funnily though, I never did see the man of the moment, the focus of this drama. I turned to look for him, but I guess he’d slipped away. Never mind, that’s life – all in a days something-or-other I’m sure. I thought fleetingly that he’d see me in the crowd, but maybe he did and didn’t want to be seen back; after all, not everyone is eager to ‘out’ themselves in dangerous environments. Well, there was more for Superwoman to do with her day than stop homophobes in their tracks. I was staying over and so I put this drama behind me and moved onto the next one in this, my weird Goulburn outing. Hedda Murray is a freelance writer based in Canberra.

FUSEOP.ED

By Jarrod Dean

A LITTLE BIT

THREATENED WHEN I FIRST STARTED WRITING THIS ARTICLE, ELECTION DAY WAS DUE TO BE ON SEPTEMBER 14, WHICH HAPPENED TO COINCIDE WITH THE HOLIEST DAY OF THE YEAR FOR THE JEWISH PEOPLE, YOM KIPPUR. Being Jewish myself this gave me a great introduction to this article, but alas, before I even got to finish it… Kevin 07’, was back and now the election it seems will be “in due season”. (Election date called for 7 September 2013) But no matter really as this article is actually about Tony Abbott — leader of the Australian Liberals — and come Election Day I will still be praying. Praying the closest Tony Abbott ever gets to Kirribilli house is a swim in the bay in those famous budgie smugglers of his. I’m usually pretty indifferent to politics but even with the polls neck and neck once more, the Liberal party may well be in government by the end of the year and I don’t want same-sex marriage sent to the Abbott-oir. I have nothing personal against Tony Abbott. I know he’s a good swimmer and I’ve gotten kinda used to his strange Abottisms. But I want him to make a solid commitment to same-sex marriage — or at least as much as he does for a Ironman competition. Unfortunately I think my hope is in vain. I might want to get married one day. Some of my friends do. Maybe even in a synagogue. Fitness First may be a “gay church” for many, but it’s not the only place of worship. To be fair the Yom Kippur election clash wouldn’t have affected me because in truth I’m not that religious. I’m more of a once-a-year Jew. My high holidays are around Mardi Gras when, Emanuel Synagogue and Dayenu host an annual Mardi Gras Shabbat Service in Sydney. But I digress… The question seems, if there is separation of church and state in Australia, why then is gay marriage an issue of conscience? Tony Abbott and others justify their position based on their own set of personal beliefs and “traditional values”. Yet the majority of his own electorate in Warringah and Australians in general now support same-sex marriage. 30

FUSEOP.ED

As part of a photo stunt in front of Flinders St Station in Melbourne with two models posing as Tony Abbott in budgie smugglers, I wore a Kevin Rudd mask and ran through a gay marriage banner. It was a real adrenaline rush with a large crowd of onlookers. The photos went national with Fairfax Media and throughout the gay press. The MYGP event was sponsored by Teamm8. Fuse readers can use code ‘MYGP’ at checkout for a 20 percent discount on full price items on teamm8.com

The council in Abbott’s electorate of Warringah is “supportive of all couples that wish to make a formal commitment, irrespective of their gender”. There are many locations listed on the council’s website near his Forrestville home where he could celebrate the wedding of his lesbian sister, should she decide (and be allowed) to marry her partner. If Tony Abbott does become our PM I truly hope — at the very least — he’s versatile and considerate (not in a sexual way). I just hope he changes his position on marriage equality like Kevin Rudd has. When the Liberal party platform does change what will the coalition MPs have to say? In my opinion, marriage equality in Australia isn’t anymore important than removing the death penalty for gay people in Uganda, state sanctioned homophobia in Russia or other election issues here at home like suicide and depression amongst Australian youth and the LGBTI community, trans* rights, queer healthcare, education, immigration or the environment. Let’s get on with it Australia and pass same-sex marriage laws in Australia, so we can move on and focus on some other important issues!

Outed by a newspaper in 2012 as being the gay sister of federal Liberal Party leader Tony Abbott, one could say Christine Forster’s life has come pretty much full circle since then. A private person, the 48-year-old journalist became the centre of chatter around the political world. Here is the country’s potential Prime Minister — a conservative, one-time trainee Catholic priest who only a few years ago claimed to be “a bit threatened” by homosexuality — with a sister who was not only lesbian but also now on the public record of supporting the right of same-sex couples to get married. Photo: Tony Abbott’s sister Christine Foster, right, with Virginia Edwards.

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RUST & BONE Despite Golden Globe, SAG and BAFTA nods, the Academy (for whatever reason) decided not to nominate Marion Cotillard for her performance in Rust & Bone, arguably her best since winning the Oscar for 2007’s La Vie En Rose. She’s equally matched here by Matthias Schoenaerts, a mountain of a man who plays Alain, a street fighter and night club bouncer who forms an unlikely relationship with the steely Stephanie (Cotillard) following her horrific accident. Directed by Jacques Audiard (2009’s brilliant Un Prophet), Rust & Bone is a bruising yet highly rewarding encounter. Available on DVD August 21.

WARM BODIES Zombies are so hot right now, whether it’s TV’s The Walking Dead or Brad Pitt saving the world in World War Z. Warm Bodies is a zombie film but not your typical one; it’s a zom-rom-com with a beating heart beneath its walking dead protagonist. That’s R (Nicholas Hoult), one of the zombie hordes now roaming the planet, who’s shaken from his flesh-eating stupor when he spies Julie (Teresa Palmer), a member of the human resistance. Rather than eat her (like he does her boyfriend) he wants to protect her, and so ensues one of the year’s warmest, and most fun and surprising romances. Available on DVD August 14.

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potato

DID YOU KNOW? The first DVD players and discs were available in November 1996 in Japan, March 1997 in the United States, 1998 in Europe and 1999 in Australia. By 2003 DVD sales and rentals topped those of VHS.

FIRST POSITION So you think you can dance? Think again! As this doco reveals, it takes great physical strength and determination of will to be a ballet dancer, and the pressure to succeed is immense. It’s so often a blood sport where the wounds are self inflicted. (No wonder Natalie Portman went cray cray!) First Position follows six young dancers as they prepare to compete in the U.S.-based international championships which may ultimately decide their futures as dancers. It’s involving, eye-opening and inspiring stuff.

“Bess Kargman’s ‘kids compete’ documentary enters the world of the classical ballet competition, which makes for a compelling and emotionally involving film.” Los Angeles Times.

TWENTYSOMETHING SERIES 2 Even if you missed season 1 of this Gen-Y comedy, it’s not too hard to pick-up on the adventures of Jess (Jess Harris) and her gay best friend and housemate, Josh (Josh Schmidt). Back from an overseas trip, Jess finds that the world, including love interest Billy (Hamish Blake), have moved on. But as she tries to win him back, Jess must also contend with everyday hassles, like finding a job and a suitable housemate for her and Josh. Twentysomething series 2 is funny and often excrutiatingly relatable. Available on DVD August 7. By Dwayne Lennox

COUCHPOTATO

You’ll find all these titles at JB HIFI, online or at all good DVD outlets. Check out fusemagazine.com.au for DVD giveaway details. Reviewed for FUSE by Dwayne Lennox — thelennoxfiles.blogspot.com.au FUSEMAGAZINE.COM.AU

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DID YOU KNOW? Chlamydia is the most common Sexually Transmissible Infection (STI) in Australia, and affects 1 in 14 sexually active young people. Chlamydia affects both men and women and is easy to catch, but usually doesn’t have any symptoms, so many people don’t think to get tested for it. Find out more at socproject.net

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By Clancy Atkinson Chef & Food Consultant

avlova

ONE VERY DELICIOUS RECIPE

QUEEN OF THE DESSERT

THEY SAY THE SIMPLE THINGS IN LIFE ARE OFTEN THE BEST AND NOTHING IS MORE SIMPLISTIC THAN PAVLOVA. Conceptually, pavlova is a straightforward dessert made up of three main components — meringue, cream and fruit. However, underneath the billowing soft, sweet ivory peaks there lies a complex puzzle of controversy, tradition and science. Despite its name, pavlova is not a Russian dessert. Its origins remain a passionately disputed affair between Australia and our friends across the Tasman, New Zealand. The pavlova was named in honour of Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova while she was touring Australia and New Zealand in the 1920’s. We may never resolve the mystery of where pavlova originated, however it remains one of our most loved puddings and is considered our national dessert. Pavlova has an intimidating and petulant reputation, however it is not terribly difficult to make provided a few fundamentals are adhered to. Firstly, its important that any equipment being used is clean and free of any grease, a good tip is to clean the utensils with white vinegar. Next, ensure that all the ingredients being used are laid out ready to use, once you start mixing the meringue its important to work at a swift pace trapping as much air in the mixture as possible. Consisting of only four ingredients the mixing process should only take 10 minutes. Egg whites are the heart and soul of a pavlova, always use the freshest, organic, free-range eggs available. When separating the egg whites from the yolk ensure there is no trace of the yolk as fat inhibits the aeration of the whites. A standard pavlova recipe consists of 4 room temperature egg whites, 250g fine castor sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of white vinegar and 1 tablespoon of sifted cornflour. Preheat an oven to 200ºC and line a tray with baking paper. Using an electric mixer, beat the egg whites on a medium speed until soft peaks form, once the soft peaks are formed add the sugar and turn the mixer to full speed. Once the sugar has dissolved the mixture will start to thicken and turn into a glossy, white meringue. The aim is to beat the mix until it reaches the ribbon stage, this is when the surface of the meringue holds a ribbon shape when agitated. The following steps are crucial to the success of the pavlova. Slow the speed of the mixer and add the vinegar. Next remove the bowl from the mixer and sprinkle over the cornflour, using a spatula gently fold in the cornflour taking care not to over-work the mixture. Next spoon the meringue onto the prepared oven tray and mould it into the desired shape, the key is to work fast and get the mixture in the oven as quickly as possible. Place the tray in the oven and immediately turn down the temperature to 120ºC, do not fan bake. Cook the pavlova for approximately 80 minutes, a little syrup may seep out of the bottom but the crust should be crisp. Do not let the pavlova colour, the aim is an ivory coloured outer crust with a soft, marshmallowy inside. Once cooked remove the pavlova from the oven and allow to cool to room temperature. Store the pavlova in an airtight container, do not refrigerate. Like its ballerina namesake, Pavlova is a thing of stunning beauty “so swift and light and sparkling that the eye was dazzled at the sight.”

CLANCY’S VERSION OF PAVLOVA

BLOOD ORANGE AND STRAWBERRY ETON MESS The poached orange can be replaced by any other seasonal fruit. Serves 6. PAVLOVA : Make pavlova as directed. FOR POACHED BLOOD ORANGE 6 blood oranges, pealed & cut into 1cm pieces 250ml water 250g castor sugar 1 x star anise 1. Combine all ingredients, except blood orange in a saucepan and bring to boil. 2. Once boiling remove from heat and allow to cool for 5 minutes. 3. Next add the blood oranges to the syrup and let infuse for 30 minutes. Remove segments from syrup when ready to use. FOR BLOOD ORANGE JELLY 2 cups of blood orange juice 2 tablespoons castor sugar 2 sheets of titanium gelatin 1. In a saucepan bring juice and sugar to a simmer, remove from heat. 2. Soften gelatin sheets in cold water, when soft, squeeze excess water out and add to juice mixture, stir until combined. 3. Pour the mixture into a container and set in the fridge for 3 hours. When set, cut jelly into cubes and keep refrigerated until ready to use. EATME

BARCODE CANBERRA — PHOTOS BY DOUG ROBINSON

FUSEMAGAZINE.COM.AU

By Bebe Backhouse

EAR CANDY AS YOU ALL MAY WELL KNOW P!NK HAS BEGUN THE AUSTRALIAN LEG OF HER ‘THE TRUTH ABOUT LOVE’ TOUR.

Needless to say, this girl takes concerts to the next level by aiming for the sky — literally. The singing acrobat spends almost a third of her show in the air, defying gravity because, unlike 99% of her contemporaries, she can. Even when she’s hanging upside down or spinning above your head, she’s singing completely live. P!nk has sold over 200,000 tickets for her eighteen shows at Rod Laver Arena, breaking the record she set on her 2009’s ‘Funhouse’ tour. However, P!nk prefers to remain closer to the people. That feeling is clearly mutual after fans showered her with gifts for herself and her daughter Willow, with the singer noting it was “another reason she’s going to think every day is Christmas”. So, what will easily be the years biggest and best pop, I can’t help but wonder how Beyonce will compete with this when she arrives later this year?

MUSIC REVIEWS

JAY Z : MAGNA CARTA HOLY GRAIL Magna Carta Holy Grail is the rapper’s 12th album yet it doesn’t have the pop or mainstream appeal that his past records have offered. The sixteen-track set, mostly helmed by Timbaland, is full of robust and moody beats that maintain a nice groove, but lack the booming party anthems and party jams that he is known for. With the exception of rapping about fatherhood, lyrically Magna Carta doesn’t tell us anything new about the superstar. There’s some lyrical flavour and freaky beats on ‘Tom Ford’ and the bumping ‘Picasso Baby’ but it’s when he talks about the other lady in his life, his daughter, that we see a rare side of the typically braggadocio rapper. “Uncle said I’ll never sell a million records, I sold a million records like a million times,” he raps on ‘Crown’. Yes, you’ve defied the odds, but I expect a little more from the king.

LORDE : ROYALS

ROBIN THICKE : BLURRED LINES The R&B crooner sonically shakes things up a bit with this compacted album (there are sadly only 10 songs) by experimenting with more up-tempo, futuristic rhythms. His title track and summer anthem ‘Blurred Lines’ along with his new single, ‘Give It 2 U’ are examples of the singer’s new 1970s inspired sound, yet he regularly divests himself of dignity, claiming on ‘Give It 2 U’ that he’s “got a little Thicke for you, big dick for you”; offering on ‘Take It Easy on Me’ to “rip through all your fancy clothes” to “get a shot of your underwear” and so on. With the release date of his sixth studio album Blurred Lines’nearing, Robin Thicke certainly has made an entrance back into the world of the mainstream music charts. 38

MUSICREVIEWS

With Royals, Lorde asserts herself as a force to be reckoned with. A marvelous piece of vocal centred pop, Lorde makes her voice the focal point of the mix, expertly treated to accentuate the young singer’s strengths. The layering of her vocals during the chorus gives her words a largerthan-life feeling and results in some stunning harmonies. There is no shameless splicing of hard electro or bass drops; nothing but tasteful light brushes seamlessly weaved into a vocal-pop song. Overall, Royals represents everything pop music has the potential to be in today’s musical landscape. FUSEMAGAZINE.COM.AU

BRITNEY’S BACK!

After her electrifying performance at the Super Bowl in the US, Beyoncé started her world tour. She’ll be touring Oz during October and November.

THE MRS. CARTER SHOW Beyonce’s ‘The Mrs. Carter Show’ Australian tour has been announced! Lady Bey will be landing in Oz for the second half of October this year and performing right around the country through to November. Although at the moment there is only one show announced in each capital city, the amount of space between each concert makes it seem like the addition of more dates is almost a certainty. This is set to be a tour of epic proportions, and one not to be missed. In the official press release, Live Nation reveals that with ‘its explosive special effects and intricate, strobe-laden light show, (this tour) is an artistic triumph and the entertainer’s most ambitious undertaking to date. It is bigger in scope than any of her previous shows, fittingly designed for the vastness of arenas.’ I can’t wait!

MOTHER MONSTER ABANDONS TWITTER In a bizarre twist, Lady Gaga abandoned her Twitter account for several weeks, after removing her profile picture and changing her bio to claim that the account has been “shut down”. Mother Monster, who is currently working on her third album ARTPOP for release later in 2013, is the second most-followed person on the site, with just under 39 million followers. Her short bio on the site now reads, “This interface has been shut down temporarily. Please check back for updates” and her photo has been replaced by the generic egg that greets all new users on the microblogging site. So what is going on? Some fans have speculated that it’s part of a pre-release marketing campaign for her new single — slightly echoing Demi Lovato’s Blackout campaign from February, where she changed her profile picture and backgrounds on all social media sites to plain black ahead of the release of ‘Heart Attack’.

Another new album in the works is that of Britney Spears, who has said that it will be her “most personal ever”. Spears last record Femme Fatale was released back in 2011 and now the singer is busy working on her eighth studio album. No release date or title is yet known, but the star has taken to teasing fans through her Twitter account about what the new offering will contain. As well as working on her music, Britney is focusing on being a mother to sons Jayden and Sean, who she hinted may be following in her famous footsteps. She told Mario Lopez, “They do like attention so I think they would probably be a little good in the limelight. We’re taking baby steps right now as far as agencies and stuff go but they’re little comedians so we’ll see.”

STEREOSONIC 2013 This years Stereosonic lineup is an absolute cracker! With the announcement that Stereo was going to be held over two days this year, pressure was on promoters to deliver an artist lineup that warranted the $200 ticket price. Thankfully they delivered what was promised with EDM acts of the highest calibre being on the bill. The two-day showcase will be the first of its kind in Australia for such a large scale electronic festival. Fans will not be disappointed with the 2013 offering. Leading the unrivaled lineup this year are David Guetta, Calvin Harris and Armin van Buuren. Australia’s own Empire of the Sun is in the mix as well, fresh after the release of their latest album Ice on A Dune. Add to that the previously announced artists Zedd and Gareth Emery and you’ve got a pretty stellar event! Touring nationally November and December.

MUSICREVIEWS

2013 NISSAN PATROL

IT’S BIG & BEAUTIFUL!

By Stuart Poole

IT’S BEEN A LONG TIME IN THE MAKING, BUT IT IS HERE AT LAST AND HAS BEEN WELL WORTH THE WAIT. The 2013 Nissan Patrol has landed down-under and is eager to please. When I went into Lennock Motors to pick up the Patrol, I looked at it and thought “This is the best looking Patrol ever”. It’s appearance is a little softer than previous brutes but beauty is only skin deep, and toughness goes through to the bones. The Nissan Patrol has won favour among serious off-roaders for that exact virtue: Toughness — this 4WD is almost bullet proof. The Nissan Patrol was the first car to conquer the Simpson Desert in 1962 and a quick scan at the specs of the current model will soon show that it might be built like an armed vehicle but it certainly doesn’t ride like one. Considering the off-road attributes of the Patrol, the on-road manners are also much better than expected. The new Patrol has 4 wheel independent suspension for an improved ride — this is a first for the Nissan 4WD flagship. The Patrol is large but it never felt heavy or difficult to drive, the steering is assisted and feels effortless, even at highway speeds, which was never a “real”4WD strong point in days gone by. As for the engine, what a cracker. It’s a fabulous 5.6 litre V8. The noise this baby makes has to be heard to be believed. I must admit that sometimes I found myself flooring it just to hear the song from under the bonnet! This is mated to a 7 speed automatic with tip shift capability. The auto works well to keep the sweet engine in tune and engine braking in the lower gears was very good. 40

TOPQUEER

The 4WD system was easy to use, with pictures and familiar “positions” on the electronic selector that were clear enough to understand without having to break out the Owners Manual. Indeed all of the controls in the Patrol were easy to understand. The interior is totally luxurious and a pleasure to ride in, with lots of great features to make your ride sweet. The Patrol has an excellent sound system —which filled the cabin with my favourite tunes — and it is hard to say which I liked more, the safety reverse camera or the cool sliding glass sunroof. Despite the great interior and mod cons you are still very much aware that you aren’t riding in The Patrol wears many upmarket Infiniti badges, some fluffy pretend 4WD. The and the interior reflects it... it’s all very impressive. Motafrenz boys came along for the ride to Braidwood with me and they reported ample room for three adult men across the back seat. The Patrol was easy to get in and out of too, thanks to a fairly flat rear floor and wide opening doors. This car get a big thumbs up from me. You can test-drive a Patrol for yourself at Lennock Motors, 150 Melrose Drive, Phillip. Call 02 6282 2022 or visit lennock.com.au

AUNT DOROTHY’S MOTORING TIP Never (NEVER) pour hot water on your windscreen during winter. The difference between the outside and inside temperatures on you glass will be too great and may cause it to shatter and break. Use warmish water, or better still, scrape the ice off with an ice scraper. And remember, keep your windows clear, it’s an offence to drive with them obscured by frost or ice. FUSEMAGAZINE.COM.AU

POST EXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS

PEP

IT COULD BE THE MOST IMPORTANT 72 HOURS OF YOUR LIFE. THE CHOICES THAT YOU MAKE IN THOSE 72 HOURS COULD IMPACT YOUR FUTURE HEALTH, RELATIONSHIPS, WORK AND EVEN YOUR ABILITY TO TRAVEL.

72 HOURS THAT COULD CHANGE YOUR LIFE WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PEP • Most effective within 72 hours of exposure • Available at the Canberra Sexual Health Centre (BH), and Emergency Departments of Canberra & Calvary Hospitals (AH) • Insist on seeing a doctor ASAP – time is everything! • Treatment takes 4 weeks • Be honest during the risk assessment • ‘Window period’ extends to six months • PEP doesn’t mean you don’t need to use safe sex For more information visit: aidsaction.org.au/pep or call 02 6257 2855

72 hours is the window of time that PEP is effective in stopping HIV transmission. After the condom and water-based message, I have always felt that PEP was the next most important thing that everyone, especially gay and bisexual guys, needed to know about reducing their chances of HIV transmission. And like the use of condoms and lube, it is just as important for HIV positive and HIV negative guys to know about PEP and when you need to get it. WHAT IS PEP? PEP is HIV medication that is used to stop HIV from replicating and spreading further in your body. If successful, then it is the difference between remaining HIV negative or becoming HIV positive. Recent evidence is increasingly demonstrating the important roles that HIV treatment plays in reducing the risk of HIV transmission, and the different ways that it does that. So when do I get it? Is it like the morning after pill? While I have often heard PEP referred to as a morning after pill for HIV, it is not. PEP (Post Exposure Prophylaxis) is a month long treatment that can only be accessed by prescription. If you think that there is a good chance you have been exposed to HIV that is when you need to go and get PEP. Inside the ACT you can access PEP during business hours from the Canberra Sexual Health Centre at Canberra Hospital, or 24 hours a day from the Emergency Departments of both hospitals. A specially trained doctor needs to see you. They will do a risk assessment to see what the chance is that HIV might have been transmitted. For this they consider three things: • The way that you were possibly exposed to HIV • The risk that the source was HIV positive • Other factors that may increase the risk of transmission Maybe the condom broke. Maybe you just got caught up in the moment and didn’t check that he put the condom on. Maybe you got a needle stick injury at work. It is really important to be honest about what happened. This isn’t about judgement but about whether or not PEP is the right course of action. If exposure was through sex then it helps to know your partners HIV status. You can still ask for PEP if they say they are negative. PEP may have side-effects such as nausea or diarrhoea for some people but they can all be treated separately to reduce discomfort, and shouldn’t be reasons to avoid PEP. But this is a month-long commitment to your health. PEP also extends the usual 3 month ‘window period’ for being able to detect HIV antibodies out to 6 months. This also doesn’t mean that you don’t need to use condoms anymore. When someone becomes HIV positive, they are most infectious, and PEP is effective but it is not a guarantee that you have not become HIV positive. It is important that you keep using condoms and water-based lube. By Keiran Rossteuscher AAC Social & Program Marketing Manager

HEALTH&WELLBEING

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A Little Laser

Trans Health Survey People Wanted

Cosmetic Laser Clinic

Jennifer Dromgold is the owner of a boutique clinic providing hair removal and skin rejuvenation with medical grade treatments at affordable prices. Jennifer has clients ranging from gay boys & girls to people in the trans* community who need a professional that understands their needs.

Transsexual? Transgender? Sistergirl? Genderqueer? Researchers from Curtin University are looking for trans people to take part in an anonymous internet survey of mental health and wellbeing.

Find out more here: transoz.org Make tomorrow better.

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By Melisa Paz

AUG & SEP 2013

YOUR HOROSCOPE

Good things are ahead. After many difficult weeks the next two months will be much more up-beat and for some signs, totally amazing! There are no retrogrades and by the end of September Pluto will go direct — and that means excellent outcomes for almost everyone! Pluto will also give us all a lot of positive energies that can help with transformation, creation and healing. Use the next two months to get back in touch with yourself and the present moment. Find new ways of doing things that benefit your life and bring you and others joy.

Aquarius

January 21 – February 18 Life may have been a little hard for you recently, but things are on the mend. By the first week of August the Sun and Venus will begin to fill you with amazing energy and everything should improve, including things related to love. Tip: Keep life simple and be in the present.

Taurus

April 21 – May 21 Life is looking up. You may have accomplished a few important things and it’s time to relax and enjoy life. By mid August there may be a surprise for you around family — be positive and do not let any other situation steal your energy. Tip: Really listen to loved ones.

Leo

July 23 – August 23 August will bring wonderful new possibilities for love and romance. Be open hearted and let Venus guide you — in matters of the heart, beware of your ego and do not over think things. Tip: Stop worrying about money and possessions — it’s stealing your time

Scorpio

October 24 – November 22 By the last week of August things may get a little harder at work. Do not let any situation take away your self-control — if you are mindful and present things will be okay. Tip: Take some time off by the beginning of September — you deserve it.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20 August will be a great start for you. The Sun will be there giving you positive energy relating to work and any goals you may have set recently — especially within academic or economic areas of your life. Tip: Look at improving your diet and eat more fresh fruit.

Gemini

May 22 – June 21 Around the middle of August will be the perfect time to end cycles and change old negative patterns. It will be important to truly pay attention to your heart — it’s telling you, let go so Pluto can guide you into better days. Tip: Try to remember the real meaning of family.

Virgo

August 24 – September 23 Let go and try not to worry. You may be missing someone special in your life — by the first week of September the Moon will help you find a way to be together and enjoy each others company. Tip: During August try sharing more time with your family.

Sagittarius

November 23 – December 22 By late August you may well be feeling creative. Let your imagination work for you in a positive way and remember to follow your instincts and heart for a joyous life. It is time for you to start doing what you know is right for you. Tip: Rest! You need time to listen to yourself.

Aries

March 21 – April 20 By the second week of September Pluto will begin its work on you. You might find yourself with new ideas and a great willingness to change the way things are for you now. Tip: When it comes to love and your sexuality, you are the only one who knows what is right for you.

Cancer

June 22 – July 22 Breathe and be present with your breath and struggling will come to end. The Universe wants you to take the lead in changing your life. Tip: There may be wonderful things for you in the area of love and romance in September — be open, positive and smile more.

Libra

September 24 – October 23 Venus has something special in store for you in early August. Pay attention to every little detail and enjoy all that happens, especially in the love and romance area. Tip: Try eating more at home. Homemade food is always better and it allows you to spend time with your loved ones.

Capricorn

December 23 – January 20 August will be a family month, so enjoy it! Has it been awhile since you spent real quality time with the ones you love? If so, let Venus bring some love to your home and plan something nice. Tip: Take care of your finances by the end of September.

STARGAZER

COMMUNITY DIRECTORY AIDS Action Council The AIDS Action Council provides information, support and services. More info: aidsaction.org.au

PFLAG-ACT A support and friendship group for parents and friends of LGBTI people. More info email pflag.act@gmail.com

A Gender Agenda A resource for transgender, intersex, gender queer and gender variant people. genderrights.org.au

Long Yang A friendly social club for Asian and non-Asian gays and their friends. Canberra: lyccanberra.org Sydney: sydney.longyangclub.org

ACTQueer A free email list for LGBTI people in Canberra and surrounding region. groups.yahoo.com/group/actqueer 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. Email: bit_bent@hotmail.com Canberra Gay & Lesbian QWIRE Want to be involved with Canberra’s own gay and lesbian choir? Singers and non-singers encouraged. More info: canberraqwire@yahoo.com.au

OUTBIZ : LGBTI Business Network Connect with other like-minded people, expand your business, find new customers or suppliers, network and support the LGBTI business community. Email: outbiz@yahoo.com.au Pink Tennis Gay & Lesbian Tennis Group meets Mondays 6pm–9pm at Turner Tennis Club, Cnr McCaughey & Condamine Sts.

Capital Queers Canberra’s Mardi Gras group. More info at capitalqueers.com

Qnet : Queer Youth Cyberspace GLBTI people under the age of 25. Check out qnet.org.au

Dyke Dinner & Movie Group More info on FUSE website or see Canberra Lesbians on Facebook.

Queanbeyan GLBTI Youth Support Mondays 4pm–6pm at Axis Youth Centre, Campbell Street, Queanbeyan Park.

Diversity ACT A LGBTI community and service centre, for more information call 1300 794 717 diversityact.org.au

Radio Q Canberra LGBTI community radio show on 2xx 98.3FM 2xxfm.org.au

Gay ACT Squash Group Wednesdays 6.30pm–7.30pm. National Sports Club, Mouat St, Lyneham. groups.google.com/group/gayactsquash Gaycrash Canberra Taking over the coolest Canberra straight bars one night at a time! facebook.com/gaycrash.canberra/info

Motafrenz GLBTIQ Car Club Contact Stuart Poole ACT Convener Motafrenz on 0420 523 238 or email act@motafrenz.org motafrenz.org.au

Rainbow Bubs A playgroup and support group for same sex parents and their kids. Email: hoogied@yahoo.com Uni of Canberra LGBTI group A social group for all LGBTI students and staff. Queer Space is located at the UCSA building 1 at the Uni of Canberra. Info email: sexuality@theucsa.org.au

✪ Come and play at CUBE Nightclub! CANBERRA HANGOUTS Cube Nightclub Canberra’s premier gay nightclub venue. 33 Petrie Plaza Civic, Canberra City. cubenightclub.com.au Barcode Barcode is Canberra’s newest LGBTI venue. Yummy café by day, cool lounge come bar at night — it’s a place for everyone. 2/26 Challis St, Dickson. barcodecanberra.com.au 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. To reserve your favourite table or booth call us on 02 6247 7753. Cnr of Wattle & Brigalow Sts, Lyneham. Westlund House Westlund house is a welcoming space and community centre for the whole LGBTI community. You’ll find us at 16 Gordon Street, Acton, ACT Online at: westlundhouse.org.au Ranch Men’s Lounge Canberra’s mens’ space. They are located at Unit 19, Molongo Mall in Fyshwick ACT. A safe venue for men who want to meet men. See ad p47.

Want to know ‘what’s on’ or be listed here, then visit us at www.fusemagazine.com.au

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DATE FOR YOUR DIARY The AIDS Action Council of the ACT invites Members and Friends to The 2013 Peter Rowland Address & Annual General Meeting Wednesday 9th October 2013 Commences from 6.30pm Reception Room ACT Legislative Assembly 196 London Circuit, Canberra ACT For more information please email events@aidsaction.org.au or call 02 6257 2855

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Dear Rose, Both my brothers are gay and out. My mum and dad are both supportive of all us but always joke that a least they have one heterosexual son. But alas no. I know they will be okay with me being gay as well, but I do feel I’m letting them down somehow. Nate

Dear Nate, It’s understandable that you may feel a little guilty that like your brothers you’ve realised you are gay. As you said, your parents will be totally supportive of you as they were when your brothers came out. But I can understand, what are the odds? The thing to keep in mind is that your amazing parents have brought up 3 beautiful human beings. Thankfully as society progresses, it’s starting to matter very little whether you are gay or straight but more about the quality of your character. Just be honest with them, tell them when the moment is right, empathise if they seem disappointed and reassure them that they are great parents and you love them always. Ultimately you can only be who you are and your parents would expect no less of you.

Dear Rose, For the last few months I have been out of sorts, nothing specific has happened but I am concerned my mood is starting to effect my life. I have started to become grumpy and snappy with the person I love the most. Am I going crazy? Sulky

Dear Sulky, It’s not surprising in our world of constant pressure, your not alone and you’re definitely not crazy either. It might not be necessarily a big thing that happens to alter your mood but the red flag starts flapping when it starts to effect your relationship. This is a good time to reflect and reassess where you are. It might not be a big event that affects you; it may be a lot of little things over a long period of time that can make it difficult to know where to start. There are many alternative activities you can try to improve how you are feeling, for example, regular exercise, improving your diet, meditation, yoga, massage or even a short break can alter your perspective and help get you back on track. I have cut out watching nightly news, limit my Facebook time and generally try not get too consumed in negative discussion. If you continue to feel like this however, seek professional counselling. The secret to counselling success is to find a counsellor who you connect with; you may need to try few before you find one that works for you.

By Rose Pappalardo

EMAIL DEAR ROSE WITH YOUR PROBLEM TODAY!

Dear Rose, I am very shy and find it hard to make friends let alone have a relationship. My shyness means that I spend most of my time on the net socialising, but my family say they are worried about me and that I should go to counselling. I get what they are saying but I don’t think I am that bad, any ideas? JF

Dear JF, One of my favourite movies, About a Boy, has a line in it “No man is an island!” Interactions with others give us a greater sense of belonging and purpose in life. Don’t get me wrong, shyness can be a hard thing to overcome. It is easy to convince yourself you’re socialising when you are on the net. Whilst there is nothing wrong with using the net as a tool, face-to-face interaction gives us a totally different experience. The memories of a fantastic live concert give you a totally different experience than watching the same concert online. I suggest you work out how many hours you actually spend online. If you spend 10 hours on per week, commit yourself to 3 hours a week in face-to-face socialising and then over a few months steadily increase your commitment to about 5 hours. You can do a range of things by starting small, visit a friend for coffee or go to a movie. When you start to feel more confident perhaps join a hobby group or do a short course in something that interests you, it’s surprising how many people you meet on community courses. Once you start, you will be surprised how quickly your 3 hours a week will fly, be persistent and keep at it. It won’t cure the shyness but it’s a good start — go and enjoy life.

“I learned compassion from being discriminated against. Everything bad that’s ever happened to me has taught me compassion.”

Ellen DeGeneres Ellen on Oprah show 9 November 2009

Is life just too hard? Support is available for anyone in distress by phoning (24 Hours) QLife 1800 184 527 or Lifeline on 13 11 14

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If you need help or have a question email : dearrose@fusemagazine.com.au FUSEMAGAZINE.COM.AU

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