FUSE56 : 40 years of Gay and Lesbain Mardi Gras by FUSE Magazine

MADE IN AUSTRALIA FUSEMAGAZINE.COM.AU MAR / APR 2018

LIFE LOVE EQUALITY

YEARS OF EVOLUTION GAY & LESBIAN MARDI GRAS 1978-2018

LGBTIQ+ IS IT TIME FOR A RE-THINK? 1978 OUT OF THE BARS AND INTO ...EVOLUTION

+ WHY AIDS COUNCILS WORK IN LGBTIQ HEALTH CRYPTO CURRENCY

REACHING FOR THE TISSUE BOX CALL ME BY YOUR NAME ROUGH AND TUMBLE LOVE OF ROLLER DERBY

> CONGRATULATIONS ON 40 YEARS OF EVOLUTION

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MADE IN AUSTRALIA FUSEMAGAZINE.COM.AU MAR / APR 2018

LIFE LOVE EQUALITY

YEARS OF EVOLUTION GAY & LESBIAN MARDI GRAS 1978-2018

LGBTIQ+ IS IT TIME FOR A RE-THINK?

LGBTIQ+ IS IT TIME FOR A RE-THINK? 1978 OUT OF THE BARS AND INTO ...EVOLUTION

1978 OUT OF THE BARS AND INTO ...EVOLUTION

+ WHY AIDS COUNCILS WORK IN LGBTIQ HEALTH

FUSEMAGAZINE.COM.AU

CRYPTO CURRENCY

REACHING FOR THE TISSUE BOX CALL ME BY YOUR NAME ROUGH AND TUMBLE LOVE OF ROLLER DERBY

> CONGRATULATIONS ON 40 YEARS OF EVOLUTION

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REACHING FOR THE TISSUE BOX CALL ME BY YOUR NAME

WHY AIDS COUNCILS WORK IN LGBTIQ HEALTH

ROUGH AND TUMBLE LOVE OF ROLLER DERBY

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> CONGRATULATIONS ON 40 YEARS OF EVOLUTION

FUSE REGULARS

FUSE MAGAZINE MADE IN AUSTRALIA MAR / APR 2018

02 Editor’s Rant 04 What’s On : Movies 11 Round Up : News & Politics

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Alexander Thatcher CREATIVE DIRECTOR & ASSOCIATE EDITOR Christopher Powell

LIFE LOVE EQUALITY

FREE

SPECIAL MARDI GRAS PRIDE PHOTO FEATURE P32

ASSISTANT EDITOR Maxwell Elliff CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Danny Corvini CONTRIBUTORS Dwayne Lennox Scott Malcolm Rose Pappalardo Dennis Altman COVER PHOTOGRAPHER Jeffrey Feng PHOTOGRAPHERS Yes We Are Photography Wayne C Style Jeffrey Feng Brett Sargeant

32 12

FUSE FEATURES 17

Mardi Gras has come and gone for another year. Maxwell Elliff tells the story of how, back in 1978, the LGBTIQ community came out of the bars and into... evolution.

23 Sport : For the Love of Roller Derby 27 Money Shot : Crypto Currency

CONTACT FUSE 0412 309 992 hello@fusemagazine.com.au fusemagazine.com.au PO Box 844 Belconnen ACT 2616

23 28 31 32 43

PUBLISHER Published + designed by Lithium Innovation Pty Ltd lithium.net.au ISSN 1836-8387 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.

Couch Potato : Film & TV Movie Review : Call Me By Your Name Out and About : Mardi Gras Photo Feature Health & Wellbeing : Not So Straight

19 19

Professorial Fellow in Human Security, Dennis Altman, feels the term LGBTIQ+ confuses desire, behaviour and identity, and believes it might be time for a rethink.

32 47 Stargazer : Your Horoscope 48 Dear Rose FUSECONTENTS

❤ MARDI GRAS, 40 YEARS AWESOME

FUSE ONLINE Check out the FUSE Magazine website and our social media sites for daily news, videos, special online features, what’s on listings, the latest community updates on our popular message board, the LGBTIQ business & community directory and more!

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Photo: Travis Gilbert (FUSE Volunteer), Christopher Powell (Creative Director) and Alexander Thatcher (Executive Editor). Mardi Gras Media Pit 2018.

40 YEARS OF EVOLUTION Well, I don’t think I am understating things to say that the 40th Anniversary of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras was absolutely awesome! On the ‘night of nights’, under the theme ‘40 Years of Evolution’, an estimated 300,000 spectators filled the streets of Sydney to watch over 12,000 participants take part in the world’s biggest celebration of the LGBTIQ community — the 40th annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade. Afterwards we continued to celebrate at Australia’s biggest LGBTIQ party, which was headlined by superstar and gay icon Cher. The party busted at the seams with thousands of joyous glitter-coated revellers in every imaginable colour of the rainbow. It was all very fabulous! It was an honour and privilege to be able to celebrate and give thanks to our LGBTIQ elders, 78ers and the many other queer crusaders that over the past forty years have given so much to bring change, acceptance and equality to our country. Although there is always work to be done on many fronts, these brave people have made it possible for myself and my partner — along with all our LGBTIQ brothers and sisters — to live our lives, as we are, in relative safety. In this our special ‘40 Years of Mardi Gras Pride Photo Edition’ we have ten fabulous pages of Mardi Gras photos for you to feast your eyes on p32. We’d also like to send a special thank you to all our readers, advertisers and supporters who make FUSE a reality every year. With love, Alex

EDITOR’SRANT

2017/18 LGBTIQ BUSINESS & COMMUNITY DIRECTORY GRAB YOUR COPY TODAY! The FUSE LGBTIQ Business & Community Directory is an easy way to find businesses and organisations who choose to support our community. The directory also includes an extensive range of essential community services and LGBTIQ social and sporting groups. directory.fusemagazine.com.au

Scan this QR code to jump straight to the directory online FUSEMAGAZINE.COM.AU

Wake Up Wonderful

MOVIES

DID YOU KNOW? Ben Affleck and Matt Damon put a gay sex scene in the original Good Will Hunting script, just to see who’d actually read it. Harvey Weinstein did!

TOMB RAIDER OPENS 15 MARCH Much like Angelina Jolie before her, Alicia Vikander follows up her Best Supporting Actress Oscar win (for 2015’s The Danish Girl) by taking on the role of Lara Croft. Jolie played the first big screen incarnation of the video game heroine in 2001 (much to the delight of many boys and girls), and now Vikander takes on the action-packed role of the London bike courier drawn into the world of archaeological intrigue when clues to her missing father (Dominic West) lead her to a mysterious island. Norwegian director Roar Uthaug (2015’s The Wave) is at the helm of this reboot.

LOVE, SIMON OPENS 29 MARCH 2017 was a bumper year for queer films, topped and tailed by Moonlight and Call Me By Your Name respectively, and 2018 is already shaping up to be another good year for LGBTQI stories on screen. Based on the young adult fiction novel Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertali, Love, Simon sees closeted high-schooler Simon Spier (Nick Robinson, Jurassic World) communicating anonymously with a fellow gay student. Directed by Greg Berlanti (producer of TV’s Arrow, The Flash and Supergirl), this promises to be a tame albeit sweet and enjoyable take on coming out.

FUSE MOVIE PICK OF THE MONTH!

A WRINKLE IN TIME OPENS 29 MARCH Hot on the heels of Ryan Coogler’s Black Panther comes a second big-budget studio film helmed by an African-American director, this time Ava DuVernay. DuVernay, unlucky not to have been nominated for a Best Director Oscar for her stirring 2014 film Selma, has assembled an all-star cast for this adaptation of the popular sci-fi novel by Madeleine L’Engle which sees a young girl sent on an epic quest throughout the universe to find her missing scientist father (Chris Pine). Reese Witherspoon, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Mindy Kaling and Oprah Winfrey are among the galaxy of stars assembled for this family-friendly adventure.

AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR OPENS 25 APRIL With audiences still on a high after Black Panther, Marvel and Disney have wasted little time in getting their next superhero flick out. Infinity War is where the series of Marvel films have been headed since Iron Man first arrived in 2008. Now the Avengers, including Captain America, Hulk, Black Widow, Black Panther, Thor, Ant Man and Robert Downey Jr’s Iron Man, alongside the Guardians of the Galaxy and Spider-Man, face their toughest challenge yet: Thanos (Josh Brolin). Expect everything to be bigger than all that has come before, as well as a cliffhanger — as this is the first of a two-parter.

By Dwayne Lennox

FREE DENDY 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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INTERNATIONAL AIDS CANDLELIGHT MEMORIAL 2018 Please join with the AIDS Action Council and guest speakers to remember those who have gone too soon, and continue the legacy of more than 35 years of international activism by committing to a future free from the grief and stigma of the past. Sunday 20 May, 3:45pm arrival for a 4pm start The Great Hall, University House, ANU aidsaction.org.au/candlelight for more information

RSVP to events@aidsaction.org.au or 02 6257 2855

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WHAT’S ON

ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL

LGBTIQ Business & Community Directory Head to the FUSE LGBTIQ directory where you’ll find LGBTIQ friendly and owned businesses, community groups, sporting, social and support services. directory.fusemagazine.com.au

1-28 MAR

QUEER SCREEN FILM FESTIVAL

23-25 MAR

23 — 25 MARCH @ ARC CINEMA

1 MARCH — 28 MARCH PALACE ELECTRIC CINEMA

If you missed the Queer Screen 2018 Mardi Gras Film Festival in Sydney there is good news... it’s coming to Canberra again.

FUSE Magazine is happy to announce that this year we are a sponsor of the Alliance Française French Film Festival. The festival is a major French annual event, which attracts lovers of cinema from all walks of life. Since 1990, the festival has showcased a selection of the hottest, most sophisticated, vibrant and daring films from France. You are invited to embark on a fantastic journey of discovery.

DOCUMENTARY RETROSPECTIVE WITCHES AND FAGGOTS, DYKES AND POOFTERS Friday 23 March @ 7.00PM

Full program at: affrenchfilmfestival.org

ROMANTIC COMEDY SIGNATURE MOVE Saturday 24 March @ 6.00PM Brace yourself for mother-daughter relationships and ‘Lucha Libre Women’s Wrestling’ in this comic lesbian love story.

This is the story of the very first Mardi Gras from those who were there on the night of the 24th June 1978.

SEXUALLY CHARGED 18+ DRAMA A MOMENT IN THE REEDS Saturday 24 March @ 8.00PM

28 MAR FUSE AND PALACE MOVIE FUNDRAISER FOR ACT SAFE & INCLUSIVE SCHOOLS WEDNESDAY 28 MARCH @ 6.30PM PALACE ELECTRIC CINEMA

Join us to raise money for the ACT Safe and Inclusive Schools Initiative, and see an advance screening of the wonderfully funny love story “Love, Simon”. Simon Spier’s life is a little complicated: he’s yet to tell his family or friends he’s gay and he doesn’t actually know the identity of the anonymous classmate he’s fallen for. His journey turns out to be hilarious, terrifying and life-changing. Tickets & details at: fusemagazine.com.au

Director Mikko Makela captures the splendour of a Finnish midsummer and the rush of an intense love affair. DOCUMENTARY THE UNTOLD TALES OF ARMISTEAD MAUPIN Sunday 25 March @ 4.00PM Armistead Maupin reveals the real-life story behind one of the most enduring queer tales of our time, Tales of the City. COMEDY SENSITIVITY TRAINING Sunday 25 March @ 6.00PM Dr Serena Wolfe is a ruthless misanthropic microbiologist with a steely determination, little patience and knack for hurling insults. More details & tickets at: tix.queerscreen.org.au WHAT’SON

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SORRENTO BY HANNIE RAYSON

In Hotel Sorrento Hannie Rayson reaches into the heart of family relationships to reveal, gradually, the multiplicity of factors that both bring family members together – and drive them apart. A highly commercial and relatable comedy/drama this award winning play, which inspired the film of the same name, tells the story of three sisters who grew up together in the seaside town Sorrento.

WEDNESDAY 18 JULY 8.00PM • THURSDAY 19 JULY 10.30AM & 8.00PM FRIDAY 20 JULY 8.00PM • SATURDAY 21 JULY 2.00PM & 8.00PM

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A classic excellent night’s entertainment. Recommended. Diana Simmonds (Stagenoise)

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This is a real Australian family in a real Australian setting, a gentle psychological thriller that no Australian should miss. Adelaide Theatre Guide

A delightful and blissfully funny play that generates a rare glow of warmth and generous laughter.

By Peter Quilter

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WHAT’S ON

AIDS CANDLELIGHT MEMORIAL

20 MAY

SUNDAY 20 MAY

The International AIDS Candlelight Memorial, coordinated by the Global Network of People Living with HIV, is one of the world’s oldest and largest grassroots mobilisation campaigns for HIV awareness. Started in 1983, the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial takes place every third Sunday in May and is led by a coalition of some 1,200 community organisations in 115 countries.

CANBERRA

The Great Hall, University House, ANU 4.00pm -6.30pm. See p6 for more details. aidsaction.org.au

CANBERRA GAY & LESBIAN QWIRE TO THE RIPTIDE CONCERT

15 APR

SUNDAY 15 APRIL @ 4.00PM GUNGAHLIN COLLEGE, 23 GOZZARD STREET ‘To the Riptide’ kicks off the Canberra Gay and Lesbian Qwire’s exciting silver anniversary year. From Kylie Minogue to John Farnham — you’ll be singing and dancing in the aisles to iconic Australian songs. You’ll also be quietly reflecting on our Australian landscape with Stephen Leek’s evocative ‘Morning Tide’. This concert celebrating icons of Australian music previews what Qwire will be showcasing at the Various Voices Festival in Munich in May, alongside 100 other LGBTIQ choirs from Europe and North America. See p16 for more details.

SYDNEY

“Sometimes hope sounds like one lonely, lovely voice raised in song. One voice battling the ugliness of discrimination. Over time, that solo becomes a duet, and then a trio, and eventually a great choir. Here, tonight, we all can say that we know just what that Qwire sounds like.” — Ambassador John Berry.

MELBOURNE

Tickets: canberraqwire.org.au

Eternity Playhouse, 39 Burton Street Darlinghurst candlelight.org.au Queensbridge Square, Southbank From 5.00pm livingpositivevictoria.org.au More details for Australian and worldwide events visit: candlelightmemorial.org

FAME THE MUSICAL

11–26 MAY @ THE Q THEATRE

11-26 MAY

Based on the beloved TV show and motion picture, FAME: The Musical tells the story of the High School of Performing Arts in New York where students go to learn the craft of acting, music and dance. Tickets: theq.net.au or supaproductionsinc.com WHAT’SON

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ROUND UP

By Danny Corvini DID YOU KNOW? In 2000, Holland was the first country to permit same-sex couples to marry, divorce and adopt children. The first legal gay marriage in the world was in Amsterdam on 1 April 2001.

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM REVIEW BOUND IN SECRECY The current review into ‘religious freedom’ that was locked in by the Turnbull government before same-sex marriage was passed into law has local LGBTIQ activists worried. Australian Capital Territory’s LGBTIQ ministerial advisory council chair AnneMarie Delahunt and member Suzanne Eastwood attended the first hearing in February. Eastwood subsequently wrote to fellow council members about being “alarmed, to say the least about the type of questioning and the complete lack of a ‘friend’ on the panel”. The hearings are not open to the public, nor are they advertised. Former Liberal frontbencher Philip Ruddock is chairing the review, which was described as a “timely expert stocktake to inform consideration of any necessary legislative reforms”.

AMERICANS LESS COMFY WITH QUEERS

49%

A survey conducted by American queer organisation GLAAD has reported a ‘swift and alarming’ drop in overall acceptance of LGBTQI people in the United States. The 2018 Accelerating Acceptance report found a drop in the number of straight respondents that consider themselves to be ‘allies’ of the queer community from 53% in 2016 to just 49% last year. Similarly, 55% of LGBTQI respondents reported sexuality-based discrimination in 2017, up from 44% a year earlier. It’s the first time that the survey results have gone negative, following several years of strong social progress. The pushback is being blamed on Donald Trump’s anti-LGBTIQ policies, the change in results having occurred within the same timeframe as his controversial presidency.

CANBERRA PARTIES FOR ‘YES’ Boasting the highest ‘yes’ vote of any state or territory and the nation’s only out and proud leader, Canberra celebrated the affirmative result for the nation-wide same-sex marriage postal survey in style. Following a daytime picnic in Braddon’s Haig Park, where the news was heard that Australia had voted in favour of marriage equality, a massive crowd of 4,000 to 6,000 people descended on Lonsdale Street later in the day for a massive ‘results night’ street party. The crowds packed out the host venue Hopscotch and the closed street outside to hear celebratory speeches by Penny Wong, Andrew Barr and Jacob White from Australian Marriage Equality. Inside, local DJ Raydar, Sydney’s DJ Sveta and drag queen Trixie Vancartier kept the party going well into the night with gay dance classics and shows.

PREP SET FOR PBS LISTING

ACT RAINBOW PLATES

The Australian government is set to approve PrEP for listing on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), following a recommendation by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) to do so. This will mean that for the first time, same-sex attracted Australians will be able to protect themselves from HIV by purchasing PrEP at their local chemist with a doctor’s prescription. A month’s supply of PrEP will cost $39.50 per bottle while Health Care Card and Pensioner Concession Card holders will get it for $6.40. The free PrEP trials operated by the Canberra Sexual Health Centre and the Interchange General Practice will continue on regardless.

The ACT showed up the other states and territories when we recorded the highest ‘yes’ vote in the same-sex marriage survey in November — a whopping 74% of respondents voted yes. The ACT government have locked the good vibes to ‘high’ by painting a ‘rainbow roundabout’ in the centre of Lonsdale Street (providing a great instagram moment) and offering special ‘rainbow number plates’ for those drivers who want to do rainbow roundabouts around the rainbow roundabout. Drivers can apply to have their existing ‘Y’ series plates remade with the rainbow design, which will take about four weeks, or get them new. The plates are $60 at Access Canberra. NEWS&POLITICS

ROUND UP

DID YOU KNOW? Bill Tilden was the first American to win Wimbledon and considered one of the greatest tennis players of all time. He was also one the first gay athletes to be out during the 1920’s. His life was not easy.

ON-TRACK FOR A HEALTHY HAPPILY-EVER-AFTER Australian gay track athletes Craig Burns and Luke Sullivan have made their professional careers out of trying to come first. True to form, the dashing couple had pole position in the wee hours of January 9th, the first day that same-sex couples were legally allowed to marry in Australia, when they tied the knot shortly after midnight. The couple were joined by fifty guests on a New South Wales estate. But the newlyweds have postponed their honeymoon until after the Commonwealth Games in April as they’re both competing.

MELBOURNE TO GET A $38 MILLION PRIDE CENTRE A jaw-dropping design featuring a series of curves and stylistic nods to St Kilda’s art deco and Moroccan-style heritage has been declared as the winner of a competition for the new $38 million Victorian Pride Centre. Two local firms, Grant Amon Architects and Brearley Architects and Urbanists, produced the winning design for the centre, which will provide a permanent home for at least 10 of Melbourne’s LGBTQI organisations. The Pride centre will rise on a historically important site. It was once occupied by Monroe’s Restaurant, home of Australia’s first trans support group, Seahorse Victoria. Find out more at pridecentre.org.au Eric Radford & Luis Fenero

OXFORD STREET GETS A NEW GAY BAR — HURRAH! It’s been a rough couple of years for Oxford Street, since, ahhh, forever? The home of the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras parade and birthplace of many one-night stands (and hangovers), Oxford Street has seen a spate of club closures in recent times including the iconic Midnight Shift and Gay Bar. Thankfully, there are glimmers of hope for the former glitter strip with the opening of the Baby Bear Bar. With it’s entrance on Liverpool Street, the new bar transforms the lowest level of the Burdekin Hotel into a permanent home for Sydney’s hairy gay wildlife. The Baby Bear Bar is open every Friday and Saturday with DJs, local beers, wood-fire pizzas and pub meals. ilikehoney.com.au 12

NEWS&POLITICS

QUEEREST OLYMPICS YET While 2014’s Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia attracted seven out-andproud athletes — all lesbians — the Winter Olympics in PyeongChang in South Korea became the queerest Olympics ever in February. Australia’s snowboarder Belle Brockhoff and cross-country skier Barbara Jezersek were joined by The Netherland’s Ireen Wüst and Cheryl Maas, Austria’s Daniela Iraschko, Canada’s Eric Radford (pictured) and America’s Gus Kenworthy and Adam Rippon. The latter challenged Mike Pence leading the US delegation at the games because of the vice-president’s long record of anti-LGBTIQ policies, including proposals to redirect HIV prevention funding into ‘gay cure’ therapy. PyeongChang also boasted the highest number of African-American participants ever while figure skater Harley Windsor became the first-ever indigenous-Australian to compete. FUSEMAGAZINE.COM.AU

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ROUND UP

DID YOU KNOW? A Chinese firm has recently purchased Grindr for $152 million. Grindr founder, Joel Simkhai, who has left the company, stated that the Chinese government does not have access to users accounts.

IS GRINDR POSSIBLY THE UNHAPPIEST PLACE TO BE?

77%

It’s something that many of us suspect deep in our hearts, yet we keep on logging on. Some 77% of participants in a survey by technology website Time Well Spent have admitted that Grindr actually makes them feel unhappier. It was the worst result in the survey, which asked 200,000 participants how different iPhone apps made them feel. The next unhappiest apps are Candy Crush Saga at 71% and Facebook at 64%. The happiest apps were those for meditation and mindfulness like Headspace.

CHECHEN-RUSSIAN POP SINGER LIKELY MURDERED FOR BEING GAY AFTER ANTI-GAY CRACKDOWN Zelim Bakaev has become the unfortunate face of the anti-gay purge sweeping Chechnya, where hundreds of gay men have been abducted, detained and tortured in the past year. The out-gay pop singer was last seen arriving in the Chechen capital Grozny on 8 August where human rights activists suspect that Bakaev was picked up by security forces on suspicion of homosexuality and tortured to death. Chechnya’s dictator president Ramzan Kadyrov has previously encouraged Chechens to kill their gay family members and said that the 25-year-old singer was probably murdered by his own family. “None of his relatives laid a finger on him,” refuted Zelim’s father, Khussein Bakaev. “There was no reason to lay a finger on him.” Bakaev had been living in Moscow since 2012 but returned to Chechnya in August to attend his sister’s wedding — disappearing just two days after his arrival. It was first reported in April that authorities in the autonomous Russian region had begun rounding up and torturing gay and bisexual men. President Ramzan Kadyrov has denied that an anti-gay purge had taken place, claiming that there are no gay people living in Chechnya.

PRISCILLA THE MUSICAL The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert is Australia’s 13th highest grossing film of all time and celebrated as a queer classic right across the globe. Now after almost a decade shaking groove thangs everywhere from Brazil to Broadway, the Priscilla musical that the movie spawned has returned to Australian stages for a second time. The musical has now opened at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre and stars Tony Sheldon as Bernadette, David Harris as Tick and Euan Doidge as Felicia. The musical will then move to Sydney in May and onto Adelaide and Brisbane in September. 14

NEWS&POLITICS

The Russian LGBT Network has been assisting Chechens who have managed to escape after being arrested and tortured. The head of the organisation, Igor Kochetkov, said some of the tortured men were questioned about Bakaev’s sexuality while in detention.

UK GOVERNMENT TO FINALLY END ‘GAY CURE THERAPY’ The UK government has announced it is preparing to put an end to ‘gay conversion therapy’ after an investigation uncovered the harmful practice being offered at a church in Liverpool. Despite all major psychological bodies in the country believing gay ‘cures’ can cause serious psychological damage, the practice has remained legal in the UK. A 12,000 strong petition was presented to the UK government, demanding the practice be made a criminal offence. In response, a government spokesperson said “This Government is absolutely clear that being LGBT is not an illness to be cured, and the practice of conversion therapy is wrong.” FUSEMAGAZINE.COM.AU

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OUT OF THE BARS AND INTO…

EVOLUTION WELL, IT IS THAT TIME OF THE YEAR ONCE AGAIN, AND GAY CHRISTMAS HAS COME AND GONE!

And while I’d apply the term ‘Gay Christmas’ to any time that Teen Wolf alumni have racy pictures leak online, I am of course referring to the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. This year marked the 40th anniversary of the now iconic festival and featured a dazzling procession of thousands of marchers on some 200 floats showcasing the diversity of the queer community. Not to mention a headline performance from a little someone by the name of Cher… although at 71 years of age, the megastar wasn’t straddling too many canons. The theme of this year’s Mardi Gras was ‘40 Years of Evolution’, and it is no doubt the festival has come a long way since its humble yet politically charged beginnings in 1978. As a 24-year-old gay guy, I am always fascinated to learn about queer history and often marvel at how drastically society has progressed in a relatively short amount of time. Just last year I was lucky enough to witness a live interview with a handful of the ‘78ers’ (the brave men and women who took part in the very first march). I was bartending for the event, which was being filmed at the now-defunct Midnight Shift in Sydney, and I couldn’t help myself from sneaking away from the bar at every opportunity to listen to the fascinating stories being shared. Needless to say, my disgruntled manager was not too impressed, but I can’t say I have any regrets!

By Maxwell Elliff

The events of that night have since become legendary. On the 24th of June 1978, the Gay Solidarity Group organised a night street festival in commemoration of the Stonewall riots but also to seek an end to discrimination against the queer community in employment and housing, an end to harassment from police, and an end to anti-gay legislation. Despite the cold, some 500 participants (some in fancy dress) gathered at Taylor Square and, accompanied by a truck and small sound system, marched towards Hyde Park. Along the way, and hearing the chant ‘Out of the bars and into the streets’, hundreds of punters joined in the parade, and upon reaching Hyde Park, it reportedly numbered around 2000 participants. Whilst the organisers had obtained permission, this was revoked, and police confiscated the lead float, broke up the parade and threw 53 people into paddy wagons, placing them under arrest — with many being beaten in cells. Ultimately only two people were charged, but the Sydney Morning Herald published the names of those involved, costing many family relationships and jobs (homosexuality being illegal in NSW until 1984). But this also lit the spark for gay liberation in Australia… as well as what would become the outrageous celebration that is the Mardi Gras we know and love today. As a gay millennial that can count on one hand the number of times I’ve copped a malicious gay slur, not to mention go out ‘on the regular’ dressed camper than a member of the Village People, it seems absurd to think that the rights and privileges I enjoy today had to be fought for a few decades ago. So with another Mardi Gras done and dusted, I encourage my fellow millennials next time you’re out and about to take a moment to divert your eyes from that headless torso on Grindr, put down that twelfth vodka-lime-soda and go chat to an older LGBTIQ person. You might just learn a thing or two.

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By Dennis Altman Professorial Fellow in Human Security, La Trobe University

LGBTIQ+

THE RISE OF SEXUALLY TRANSMISSIBLE DISEASES MADE FRONT-PAGE NEWS IN THE AGE, WHICH TRIED TO MAKE SENSE OF THE RISE AMONG “GAY MEN” AND “HETEROSEXUAL PEOPLE”. This illustrates the increasingly common confusion between behaviour and identity. What is involved is sexual contact, or to use the expression common in the early days of the AIDS epidemic, “the exchange of bodily fluids”. Whether people involved have a particular identity, as the words used in the report suggest, is irrelevant. Desire, behaviour and identity are distinct, and they do not always overlap. Someone who is celibate may also have strong sexual desires or even a particular sexual identity; someone may identify as heterosexual but have homosexual experiences; most people will have sexual desires that are not necessarily acted out in practice. Freud knew this, even as he constructed elaborate explanations for how our sexual beings are created. Alfred Kinsey shocked Americans 60 years ago when he revealed the extent of homosexual behaviour among men who would have denied any homosexual identity. Contemporary research — for example, the Australian Study of Health and Relationships — suggests that behaviour, desire and identity overlap in complex ways.

The term LGBTIQ+ confuses desire, behaviour and identity – it’s time for a

rethink.

THIS MAY BE WHY SOCIAL CONSERVATIVES FEEL SO THREATENED BY “GENDER IDEOLOGY”. Sexual and gender fluidity are common themes in most cultures, and novels, opera and film are rich in their exploration of this fluidity. As Patrick White wrote in his memoir Flaws in the Glass: “Ambivalence has given me insights into human nature, denied, I believe, to those who are unequivocally male or female.” The recent film Call Me By Your Name (see FUSE review on p31) tells the story of two young men who have a brief relationship one summer in Italy. Neither identifies as “gay”, and the elder seems largely heterosexual in his subsequent life. Yet some critics complained at the absence of identity politics — one even complained that openly gay men had not played the leading roles — ignoring the basic premise that desire does not equal identity. The use of the acronym “LGBTI”, sometimes with added letters to indicate “queer”, “asexuals” or “allies”, is a direct product of American identity politics, and one increasingly used in debates about human rights. But there is a far neater alternative language, which is the term “SOGI”: sexual orientation and gender identity, the preferred usage in international human rights discourses. FUSEFEATURE

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LGBTIQ+ The term LGBTIQ+ confuses desire, behaviour and identity – it’s time for a rethink.

Desire, behaviour and identity are distinct, and they do not always overlap

There are three good reasons to prefer this term. First, it avoids the neat categorisation of people according to assumptions about fixed identities, allowing for the realities that how people experience sexuality and gender is often messy and changes over a lifetime. It is also less linked to liberal Western notions of identity politics, and therefore less likely to be attacked as part of neo-imperial attempts to destroy traditional cultures. This week saw a film festival in Tunisia addressing “issues of gender identity and non-normative sexualities” — a deliberate choice of terminology in a deeply hostile environment. But perhaps most important, everyone has some sense of their experience of sexuality and gender, and the term serves to remind us that we are not speaking of discrete minorities, rather of the complexities of human experience. Yes, there are times when particular identities are important. Same-sex marriage was only an issue precisely because lesbian and gay relations lacked full legal and social acceptance without it. People who feel discordance between their bodies and their gender expression need recognition and protection from widespread discrimination. 20

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But there is an equal danger in assuming that everyone will be comfortable with labels that define them through increasingly arcane acronyms. In his recent memoir, the British scholar Jonathan Dollimore wrote: It’s one of the delusions of identity politics to think that our desire comfortably coexists with our identity, a belief which has more to do with consumerism than desire. I’ve come to feel that sexuality might at different times express different aspects of one’s self, a situation further complicated by the fact that the self-changes. The current Melbourne Midsumma Festival program refers to “LGBTQIA+” in an attempt to incorporate everyone with “diverse gender and sexuality”. But there is a risk of becoming so inclusive that the term loses all meaning. Adding letters to the acronym simply hides the complex interconnections of desire, behaviour and identity in everyday life. FUSEMAGAZINE.COM.AU

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ROUGH AND TUMBLE LOVE OF ROLLER DERBY

By Eliza Murray aka Icy Red / Sydney Roller Derby League

Photo: Canberra Roller Derby League by Brett Sargeant, D-Eye Photography deyephotography.com

IT WAS AT ROLLERCON IN GLITTERING LAS VEGAS THAT I WITNESSED MY FIRST LESBIAN MARRIAGE PROPOSAL. At half-time of the Vagine Regime vs Caulksuckers’ annual face-off, a handful of the best roller derby players in the world gathered at the centre of the elliptical track. Strumming ukuleles and guitars, they played for the small crowd at their feet and the thousands packed into the convention hall. Then one of the Vagine Regime skaters — who goes by the moniker Fifi Nomenon — dropped to one knee in front of her girlfriend — Sweethurt. The crowd erupted into cheers, and I stood there watching, tearyeyed, grinning into my hands. I credit the roller derby community with helping me discover and nurture my queer identity and my inclusive politics. The strong and powerful role models I have had throughout my derby journey have made me the confident queer woman I am now — and I am far from the only one. Often called ‘the sport for those who hate sport’, roller derby attracts a diverse bunch of people. Here, we find a welcoming home among the ranks of skaters, officials and fans that make up the world’s roller derby leagues. Roller derby is popular Australia wide, with over eighty-nine leagues in women’s, men’s, co-ed and junior categories. “The derby community is amazing, and I love the accepting and alternative vibe it has,” says Elliot Alder, who skates as Curly for the Canberra Roller Derby League. “It is a place where [people] can express themselves as they wish and be with people doing the same. It’s a place filled with amazing strong people. It’s a sport that is a little weird and queer just like them.” “Honestly, I feel I learned about the majority of my identity through derby. Playing roller derby gave me a new pride in my body and the things it could do.”

While many consider roller derby to be a queer oasis, it has not always been that way, particularly for trans and gender-diverse skaters. Fifi Nomenon, now wife to Sweethurt, joined the WFTDA before any official gender policies regarding league members had been put in place. As a trans woman, she experienced every aching step the WFTDA took toward gender inclusivity. In 2011, the WFTDA announced a gender policy which included a deeply problematic definition of ‘female’ that required trans women skaters to meet certain medical criteria regarding sex hormones. Disregarded were those skaters who were unable to access such interventions or did not wish to undertake them. Thankfully, this definition has since been trashed. As of 2016, a new policy is in place that says that skaters can join as long as ‘women’s flat track roller derby is the version and composition of roller derby with which they most closely identify.’ For those unsure of taking the plunge into the derby scene, Curly’s advice is simple. “Do it! Trust me you can do it, and it really doesn’t matter if you can’t roller skate. Yes, it is scary but so incredibly amazing and worth every single bruise! And if you can’t do derby, try getting involved by becoming a ref or a non-skating official.” ROLLER DERBY IS A FULL CONTACT TEAM SPORT, PLAYED ON ROLLER SKATES. THERE ARE TWO TEAMS OF 5 SKATERS, FOUR OF WHICH ARE BLOCKERS AND 1 IS THE JAMMER. JAMMERS SCORE POINTS BY PASSING THE OPPOSING TEAM’S BLOCKERS. SYDNEY ROLLER DERBY LEAGUE A dynamic, all-inclusive, full contact team sport striving for empowerment, athleticism and, above all, fun. sydneyrollerderby.com CANBERRA ROLLER DERBY LEAGUE Season starts 14 April at Southern Cross Stadium in Tuggeranong. crdl.com.au VICTORIAN ROLLER DERBY LEAGUE Consists of three awesome teams: All Stars, Queen Bees and Notorious VIC’s. vrdl.org FUSESPORT

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By Scott Malcolm Director of Money Mechanics

CRYPTO CURRENCY WITHIN THE PAST 12 MONTHS, THE VALUE OF BITCOIN HAS SOARED FROM $1,247.51 AUSTRALIA DOLLARS PER BITCOIN TO A HIGH OF $25,055.77 PER BITCOIN. IF YOU ARE THINKING OF INVESTING IN THE CRYPTOCURRENCY, THEN YOU NEED TO REVIEW IT JUST LIKE ANY OTHER INVESTMENT. CREATE YOUR INVESTMENT FRAMEWORK Regardless of what you are investing into: shares, managed investments, property or cryptocurrencies, you need to have a framework. Think about why you are investing and what outcomes you want. What is the money for? Are you aiming for financial freedom? How much is enough? What is your exit strategy? Then think about your risk tolerance, and any ethical investment focuses you may have. What is your comfort zone when it comes to volatility and seeing your capital go backwards? Then consider what fees you need to pay and what is the tax outcome for holding the investment. The more transaction costs and management fees, the more your money has to work for you to make money. Finally, you need to consider what the different income tax and capital gains tax outcomes are. UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE INVESTING IN When it comes to cryptocurrencies, there’s a lot to get your head around. I’ve found the computer language used hard to understand. Currently, we work on a Fiat Currency system where the trust or security in the system belongs to our governments and central banks. When it comes to cryptocurrencies, the ideology is based around secure trading outside of these institutions. Trust is in the code, rather than a central bank or government. This is currently not regulated, and it has associations with black market transactions. If all crypto ‘mining’ stopped today, every digital coin would cease to exist. Behind each cryptocurrency is a processing speed for the number of transactions they can handle per second.

Bitcoin can handle up to 30 transactions per second. That sounds impressive until you discover that the VISA network processes 24,000 transactions per second! Although the desired outcome is for computers to be eventually trusted to run and secure the data without human intervention, it is our interaction as humans that actually creates the value. Like any other asset or investment, this has the risk of price movements based on human emotion and perceived reward. THE TAX OFFICE VIEW The ATO’s view is that bitcoin is neither money nor a foreign currency and that the supply of bitcoin is not a financial supply for goods and services tax purposes. Bitcoin is, however, an asset for capital gains tax purposes. WHAT I THINK IS COOL The exciting element is the technology behind it all: blockchain. Blockchain a digital, decentralised ledger that’s useful for handling a lot of information. Think property title deeds, medical records or other legal or business agreements which need to be secure. Big banks and companies are spending money in this space, and the ASX is planning to replace its Clearing House system with the blockchain over the next few years. The future certainly will see us interacting in the blockchain — even if we are not spending cryptocurrency. As with all other investments, my advice regarding bitcoin is to seek out further financial advice so that you can start your journey towards financial freedom and create your wealth with understanding.

Scott Malcolm has been awarded the internationally recognised Certified Financial Planner designation from the Financial Planning Association of Australia and is Director of Money Mechanics. Money Mechanics is a fee for service financial advice firm who partner with clients in Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney to achieve their life and wealth outcomes. We are authorised to provide financial advice through PATRON Financial Advice AFSL 307379. For more information email scott@money-mechanics.com.au or call 1300 772 643. 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 financial goals, objectives and personal circumstances.

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DID YOU KNOW? Vincent van Gogh is well-known for his self-portraits. He painted over thirty of them between 1886 and 1889. Post-impressionist selfies? Over his life he made roughly 900 paintings in total.

LOVING VINCENT

THE POST

By the time you read this, we will know whether Dorota Kobiela and Hugh Welchman’s Loving Vincent won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature. But even if it didn’t (Pixar’s Coco was the odds-on favourite), that doesn’t undermine the achievements of this unique film: an investigation into the final days of Vincent Van Gogh, captured in the style of the Post-Impressionist Dutch artist’s beautiful paintings, and brought to life by a voice cast including Saoirse Ronan (Lady Bird) and Chris O’Dowd (The IT Crowd). One for both film and art fans. Who said animation was just for kids?

Although set in the 1970s under the presidency of Richard Nixon, Steven Spielberg’s latest politically themed film (following Lincoln and Bridge of Spies) couldn’t be more about today’s US political climate if it tried. As Trump wages a war on the media, The Post recalls a time when another president tried to stop the press, in this instance The Washington Post, from exposing damaging truths about the US war efforts in Vietnam. Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks, together on screen for the first time, play the paper’s owner and editor, respectively, who risk their reputations, the paper and their freedom for the truth.

THE MAN WHO INVENTED CHRISTMAS

THE FLORIDA PROJECT

Though you may currently be stocking up on Easter eggs and hot cross buns, here’s a little yuletide treat to warm your cockles. Based on the novel by Les Standiford, The Man Who Invented Christmas tells the story of how Charles Dickens (Dan Stevens, Beauty and the Beast) revived the holiday of Christmas with his self-published novel, A Christmas Carol. The Dickens classic has been repeatedly adapted for film, most notably by The Muppets, but this version, directed by Bharat Nalluri, is about the author himself as he battles more earthly demons, writer’s block chief among them. Still, Ebenezer Scrooge makes an appearance.

Sean Baker’s follow-up to the iPhone-shot Tangerine (2015) is set in the shadows of Florida’s Disney World, but isn’t necessarily a fairytale. Six-year-old Monnee (amazing firsttime actor Brooklynn Prince) and her mum (Bria Vinaite, discovered via Instagram) live in an rundown motel, the Magic Castle, overseen by Bobby (Willem Dafoe, giving an Oscar-nominated performance). Moonee may be poor but her childhood is not entirely impoverished. She enjoys a richly adventurous summer with her young friends, oblivious to, or perhaps just choosing not to see, the harsh realities that threaten to rob her of her home and her innocence.

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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

BIG GAY CHAMPAGNE BREAKFAST A lesbian, gay, trans, bi, intersex and everyone inbetween event! Eat, drink and be merry on a beautiful autumn morning with all your fabulous friends. You’ll find us on the undercover terrace. Complimentary Champagne, buy your own breakfast.

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We can also support anyone experiencing emotional distress around the debate surrounding marriage equality.

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As Hollywood continues to churn out a seemingly endless barrage of sequels and prequels, reboots and remakes (not to mention a stomach-churning number of superhero snooze-fests), it is easy to forgive queer cinemagoers for feeling utterly unrepresented by what is being offered up on the silver screen. But every now and then a film with prominent queer characters and storylines manages to break into mainstream theatres… and what a breath of fresh air it brings! In 2005 it was Brokeback Mountain. Four years later we got A Single Man. More recently we had Carol and of course last year’s Best Picture winner Moonlight. This year we have Call Me By Your Name adapted from the 2007 novel by André Aciman, this romantic coming-of-age drama could not be further away from holiday blockbusters The Last Jedi or Thor: Ragnarok — and in my opinion thank goodness for that.

This is in large part due to the assured direction of Guadagnino, who weaves meaning and complexity into every single shot. Not to be overlooked is the gorgeous cinematography of Sayombhu Mukdeeprom, whisking the viewer into the intoxicating Italian countryside. The soundtrack too, particularly the original songs by Sufjan Stevens (“Visions of Gideon”, “Mystery of Love”), magnifies the emotional moments of the story while perfectly capturing the wondrous feeling of falling in love for the very first time. But what makes Call Me By Your Name so electrifying and universal goes beyond the technical prowess on display. It is the way in which the raw intensity of first love and first heartbreak is captured with every glance, word and touch between the young leads. The fact that they are both male has very little impact on the overall story; they are simply two humans falling in love over the course of a summer. We witness their relationship blossom without the threat of impending doom that plagues countless other entries in the pantheon of queer cinema. In a way similar to Moonlight, Guadagnino’s film sets aside gay politics entirely.

By Maxwell Elliff

Even the most stoic of viewers will be left reaching for the tissue box and reflecting on a long forgotten first love.

Unfolding over the summer of 1983, we meet Elio (Timothée Chalamet), a precocious yet brash seventeen-year-old who is holidaying with his parents in northern Italy. Elio’s father (Michael Stuhlbarg) is an archaeology professor and each year invites a student to assist with his academic paperwork. The student comes in the form of 24-year-old Oliver (Armie Hammer), whose charisma and rugged handsomeness immediately draw the attention of Elio. The chemistry between Chalamet and Hammer is magnificent to behold and casts a spellbinding effect that anchors the entire film (it is small wonder each have received Golden Globe nominations for their performance). While the romance is slow to build, there is barely a dull moment over the two-hour-plus runtime.

The conflict instead arises from the ‘will-they-won’t-they’ dynamic of the first half before transitioning to looming tension in the second half as the end of summer, and thus Elio and Oliver’s time together draws near. It is this fleeting nature of summer romance (symbolised perhaps by the many flies that appear throughout) that makes this story feel strikingly authentic. By its heartbreaking conclusion, even the most stoic of viewers will be left reaching for the tissue box and reflecting on a long-forgotten first love. And isn’t that a more powerful cinematic force than, well, ‘the force’? Call Me by Your Name DVD and Blu-ray release date is set for 13 March 2018 and is also available on Digital HD from Amazon Video and iTunes. DVDREVEIW

2018 SYDNEY GAY & LESBIAN MARDI GRAS 40 YEARS OF EVOLUTION

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40 YEARS OF EVOLUTION 2018 SYDNEY GAY & LESBIAN MARDI GRAS

An estimated 300,000 spectators filled the streets to watch over 12,000 participants take part in the world’s biggest celebration of the LGBTIQ community, the 40th annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade. Four decades after one night of celebration became a political protest, the Mardi Gras spirit continues. The 2018 parade, themed ‘40 YEARS OF EVOLUTION’, involved thousands of LGBTIQ people and their champions from all across the globe uniting in creative self-expression and a celebration of diversity and equality.

Photographers: Wayne C Style, Rose Pappalardo, Christopher Powell, Alexander Thatcher & Jeffrey Feng.

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2018 SYDNEY GAY & LESBIAN MARDI GRAS 40 YEARS OF EVOLUTION

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40 YEARS OF EVOLUTION 2018 SYDNEY GAY & LESBIAN MARDI GRAS

CAPITAL OF EQUALITY Photographers: Wayne C Style, Rose Pappalardo, Christopher Powell, Alexander Thatcher & Jeffrey Feng.

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2018 SYDNEY GAY & LESBIAN MARDI GRAS 40 YEARS OF EVOLUTION

Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re invited to mobilise in support of the most significant advance against HIV since the introduction of HIV treatments nearly 20 years ago.

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40 YEARS OF EVOLUTION 2018 SYDNEY GAY & LESBIAN MARDI GRAS

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Photographers: Wayne C Style, Rose Pappalardo, Christopher Powell, Alexander Thatcher & Jeffrey Feng.

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2018 SYDNEY GAY & LESBIAN MARDI GRAS 40 YEARS OF EVOLUTION

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40 YEARS OF EVOLUTION 2018 SYDNEY GAY & LESBIAN MARDI GRAS

Photographers: Wayne C Style, Rose Pappalardo, Christopher Powell, Alexander Thatcher & Jeffrey Feng.

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2018 SYDNEY GAY & LESBIAN MARDI GRAS 40 YEARS OF EVOLUTION

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40 YEARS OF EVOLUTION 2018 SYDNEY GAY & LESBIAN MARDI GRAS

Photographers: Wayne C Style, Rose Pappalardo, Christopher Powell, Alexander Thatcher & Jeffrey Feng.

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By Philippa Moss Executive Director, AIDS Action Council of the ACT

not so straight WHY AIDS COUNCILS WORK IN LGBTIQ HEALTH IN 1981 CASES OF SEVERE IMMUNE DEFICIENCY IN GAY MEN WERE NOTICED FIRST IN LOS ANGLES AND NEW YORK, AND LATER ACROSS THE USA, AND THE WORLD.

THE PROFOUND IMPACT OF THE AIDS CRISIS MOBILISED COMMUNITIES AND LED TO THE CREATION OF VOLUNTEER LED ORGANISATIONS WHICH LATER BECAME OUR AIDS COUNCILS. ALMOST ENTIRELY CONSTITUTED OF MEMBERS OF THE LGBTIQ COMMUNITIES, THESE ORGANISATIONS ACTED FIRST, POWERFULLY AND CONSISTENTLY. Throughout the 1980s, they:

By early 1982 it was called GRID: “Gay Related Immune Deficiency” and half of the known cases in the USA had died. It soon became clear that GRID was not restricted to the gay community and it was renamed AIDS. By 1986, the virus was known as HIV, and it was clear that it was not just a gay man’s disease. It became evident that while HIV does not discriminate, people do.

• Set up support services to allow people to remain in their own homes, to live and die with dignity, compassion and love;

Australia, as a whole, understood earlier than most, that HIV, as a blood-borne virus, did not discriminate in who it infected. Although there was still hysteria in the health system, government, media and the community. The Grim Reaper Campaign in 1987 directed fear and loathing towards those at risk of HIV.

• Ensured adequate support for those living with HIV/AIDS;

Fear led to diagnosed children and adults being isolated from their communities, schools and families. Due to the early identification of the virus being almost exclusively in gay men, the wider community and the media continued to fixate on gay men as the cause of HIV and AIDS.

• Created safe and inclusive healthcare clinics to support screening of key populations and individuals at risk of HIV; • Developed health promotion and HIV prevention campaigns for the community, by the community;

• Volunteered personal care, health and legal services; • Raised money for research, treatment, and funerals; and • Banded together to make the personal political, to demand action, to lobby governments and agitate for change.

This led to discrimination and intolerable abuses of the human rights of those living with the virus, including the denial of access to safe, inclusive and informed healthcare and social services. Services were extended outside the LGBTIQ community on the basis of need, rather than identity. Alliances were born and nurtured. Across the globe, affected populations became diverse. The AIDS Crisis transcended sexual orientation, gender, culture, ethnicity, faith, and socio and economic status. The only commonality among people living with HIV was the existence of a virus in their blood.

The LGBTIQ communities mobilised to take action in support of ending the dual epidemics of HIV and HIV-related stigma. ACT UP protest at Flinders Street Station in Melbourne.

HEALTH&WELLBEING

LGBTIQ communities are the advocates for the dignity, rights, and well-being of people living with and impacted by HIV in all aspects of life and at every level of society. In Australia, the populations we serve are more diverse than the broader community realises. Those people disproportionately impacted by HIV include transgender people, women, travellers, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and people who inject drugs — just to name a few. While about two-thirds of our affected community are men who have sex with men, our impacted community is far more diverse. If we are committed to fulfilling our mission of ending HIV transmission and supporting people living with HIV we must serve all affected and impacted communities.

Protesters demand attention to the AIDS epidemic.

The LGBTIQ community has always been part of the response and the solution to HIV/AIDS. Not the problem — the solution. The LGBTIQ response, in part, highlighted the indignity experienced by people living with HIV, and drove social change; making services more inclusive of diversity. While not all LGBTIQ communities are directly affected by HIV, LGBTIQ communities played a remarkable role during the AIDS crises and continue to be a significant piece of the puzzle.

We are the AIDS Action Council because action still needs to be take to eliminate HIV transmission and end the stigma for all affected communities.

Community advocates have worked tirelessly over the years.

Some have suggested that, given the increased focus on LGBTIQ issues and community concerns, it is time the AIDS Action Council changed its name. After all, haven’t we already won the war on AIDS? Isn’t the name reflective of a different time, different concerns, and a different focus? Our work is created by and for LGBTIQ communities because we support those who initiated and continue to support the HIV and AIDS movement. While HIV and AIDS disproportionately affect LGBTIQ communities, these communities are not the only communities impacted. As the epidemic evolves, new affected communities are emerging. Our organisation needs to ensure that individuals and communities in this emerging epidemic are not left behind. Developments in HIV science and technology have made HIV a chronic and complex condition, instead of an acute illness. At a population-wide level, HIV treatment has addressed the chronicity of HIV, enabling people living with HIV to live long and healthy lives. Yet, the complexity of HIV remains. People entering old age are no longer dying from HIV, but HIV stigma remains and, within, and outside of LGBTIQ communities, this stigma perpetuates discrimination and compromises the public health investment in HIV. 44

HEALTH&WELLBEING

To work for the eradication of HIV transmission, the Council must continue to work with and for the LGBTIQ community. But the task of the Council is not only in the LGBTIQ community, and it is not done yet. To ensure that difficult-to-define communities and at-risk individuals are not left behind, there is still a need to talk about, respond to, and address issues relating to being affected by or living with HIV and AIDS. If we submit to those who advocate for a name change we take an unnecessary risk; we reject our history, reinforcing the stigma and discrimination associated with the word AIDS. We could lose our way, compromising the gains made over three decades, only to see HIV rebound.

Our name ‘The AIDS Action Council’ serves to connect us with our roots, our journey and to educate our communities about the current realities of HIV and AIDS, as well as the effects of stigma on the very communities that are most in need, those being all affected communities.

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STRIP CLINICS

STI TESTING

& SEXUAL HEALTH COUNSELLING

For more information about our programs and services please call on 02 6257 2855 or email us at contact@aidsaction.org.au

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SOMETIMES YOU NEED TWO TOOLS TO DO A JOB PROPERLY

KNOWING YOUR STATUS HELPS YOU AND OTHERS MEN WHO HAVE SEX WITH MEN SHOULD GET TESTED EVERY THREE MONTHS

PrEP CAN PROTECT YOU AGAINST HIV, BUT ONLY CONDOMS WILL PROTECT YOU FROM SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES SUCH AS CHLAMYDIA, GENITAL HERPES, GENITAL WARTS, GONORRHOEA, HEPATITIS, SYPHILIS AND TRICHOMONIASIS. If you would like more info about PrEP, condoms or testing call 02 6257 2855 or email contact@aidsaction.org.au

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YOUR HOROSCOPE MARCH & APRIL 2018 The Pisces sun period is shaping up to be an intense time that will be filled with creative and romantic energies. Things will also be extremely fluid and flexible, which can be wonderful for many people, but for others a time where life feels a little out of control. The next couple of months will suit daydreamers, lovers and those with a free spirit. The tendency to romanticise everything will be strong.

Aquarius

January 21 – February 18 An amazing connection over the next few months may make you reconsider everything you thought you knew about chemistry, true love and relationships. Tip: A situation may make you paranoid — instead look deeper into what is happening and share your feelings.

Taurus

April 21 – May 21 Step up that exercise program (or start one) — the fitter you are the better you’ll feel. If you are having motivation issues, an exercise buddy may be just what you need. Tip: If you find yourself feeling jealous, stop, breathe deeply, and you may learn something new about yourself.

Leo

July 23 – August 23 The more completely you can give yourself over and focus your creative side — in everything you do — the more positive and successful your experiences will be. Tip: Listening to your feelings is really important to staying healthy and living a happy life.

Scorpio

October 24 – November 22 Romance, sex and creativity are on the menu for you over the next couple of months. The more open you are to new ideas and experiences, the more pleasure you’ll get from any interactions you have. Tip: If you’re going on a date, make sure you’re relaxed and on time!

Pisces

February 19 – March 20 A partnership, friendship or relationship may be creaking under the strain of unmet expectations and unexpressed feelings. If so, it might be time to do some serious reevaluation of where things are at. Tip: Stay positive as some fantastic news is coming your way.

Gemini

May 22 – June 21 Some serious loving may leave you in a seriously good mood. You may find that non-conventional relationships are just what you need. Tip: Give your emotions — good or bad — all the space they need. Take deep breaths and let them flow over you.

Virgo

August 24 – September 23 If you’re feeling a little frustrated with your romantic hopes and dreams, it might be time to take a step back and reconsider what’s happening around you. Tip: Be more social Virgo, and chill, go to yoga which will help you stay flexible and calm in all parts of your life.

Aries

March 21 – April 20 If you lead with your heart, you can’t lose. If you are single, a new lover may be just around the corner. For those in a relationship, it’s the perfect time to expand your social pool and make new friends. Tip: Remember, it’s healthier to get things out on the table.

Cancer

June 22 – July 22 There may be a few issues in your domestic life over the next couple of months. The best way to deal with any problems is with honesty and by being completely clear about what you expect from others around you. Tip: Physical activity is going to really help right now.

Libra

September 24 – October 23 March is going to be super-romantic. Be sure you do everything you can to have a great time — this includes breathing deeply, being present, working out and getting enough sleep. Tip: Express yourself and be open and honest about your feelings even if it doesn’t come easily.

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Expect an avalanche of romantic and sexual energy. It will be important that you make time for yourself, eat well and stay fit, if you are to make the most of this amazing energy. Tip: Be aware that things may go missing over April — be extra careful with your stuff.

If you’re totally focused on work or study at the moment, make sure you take a few well-earned breaks. Spend a night out with friends or catch a movie with someone special. A relaxed state will increase your overall productivity. Tip: Be alert for problems at work.

November 23 – December 22

December 23 – January 20

STARGAZER

EMAIL DEAR ROSE WITH YOUR PROBLEM

By Rose Pappalardo

Dear Rose, My cousin is getting married at ‘The Chapel at Hillsong Church’. My partner and I are both invited, but we know that we are not really welcome at Hillsong. We are not comfortable going there, but my cousin wants us to there. Not sure what to do. Mike

Dear Rose, I’ve just started seeing a new girlfriend. I have bipolar disorder, and it can make things difficult for people around me. When do you think I should tell her, should I wait until we have a solid relationship and/or risk losing her by telling her sooner. BG

Dear Mike, Having been brought up Catholic, I have had this situation arise myself. Weighing it against how you could be treated is a balance between pleasing someone you care about and ensuring that you don’t put yourself in an uncomfortable and possibly difficult position. Your cousin must know what it means for you to walk through those doors and will hopefully appreciate the courage needed to attend. It’s not ideal, but if things go badly, you can simply leave. Really the decision rests with you both, but I say lift your heads and hearts high and go — be proud and be strong. Ultimately you can’t control how other people will behave, only yourself.

Dear Bipolar Girl, Be honest and upfront — tell her sooner than later. I say this because finding out after an episode will probably not go well. I would look at this as being a good opportunity to see if your new girlfriend is serious about you and the relationship.

Dear Rose, It seems my boss has a crush on me. I really like him too. My friends think if I go there it could destroy my future at the job I really love if things ever go bad. What do you think? Jay

Dear Jay, After recent events in Australian politics, it’s ironic that you find yourself in a similar situation. Let’s face it though, office romances have been going on for decades, and many people who have happy relationships met on the job. But your friends do have a point and dating your boss does make it more tricky to navigate. It’s possible that once people find out you are having a relationship with your boss, work colleagues could become suspicious and your credibility may be questioned. In the event this doesn’t end in a happily-ever-after scenario; the likelyhood is that you will need to leave your job. My advice is to find out what your boss’ intentions are, and that he is aware of the possible consequences. Don’t assume that flirting means he wants a relationship. If he is seeking something more and you are both serious, consider changing jobs — a new workplace could turn out to be an excellent career move, and you get the guy too. PS: Make sure he’s not married — just saying.

I realise that bipolar disorder can carry stigma, especially for those who know little about it. I suggest before you disclose, speak to your doctor or psychologist. Having their support will help you gather all the facts you’ll need when your new GF has questions. Being informed of your condition will show her how serious you are about the relationship and how much you trust her with this incredibly personal information. It also means that if something does happen, your GF will know what to do to help you. Being honest about yourself and owning your mental health condition is a courageous and wonderful thing to do.

“There will always be enemies. Time to stop being your own.” Larry Kramer, American playwright, author, public health advocate and LGBT rights activist.

Need help or someone to talk to? Support is available for anyone in distress by phoning (24 Hours) QLife 1800 184 527, Lifeline on 13 11 14 or AAC counselling services on 02 6257 2855. If you require relationship support or services call Relationships Australia on 1300 364 277

ASK DEAR ROSE 48

DEARROSE

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

FUSEMAGAZINE.COM.AU

WHETHER YOU ARE

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GAY LESBIAN BISEXUAL TRANS QUEER STRAIGHT OR EVEN SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN?

YOUR SEXUAL HEALTH MATTERS! Take charge of your sexual health and wellbeing Visit our website at shfpact.org.au where you’ll find heaps of information — or make an appointment at the SHFPACT clinic by calling 02 6247 3077 • STI and HIV screening, checks and advice • Male, female and trans reproductive and sexual health services • Info and resources on sexually transmitted diseases • Safe sex education and advice • Sexual difficulties and contraception services • Education and training programs • Pap Smears and HPV Vaccine • Services for people with disabilities

SEXUAL HEALTH AND FAMILY PLANNING ACT

The SHFPACT clinic is located at Level 1, 28 University Ave, Canberra City. We offer a holistic, confidential and respectful service. Call 02 6247 3077 or email shfpact@shfpact.org.au to make an appointment. More at shfpact.org.au

MOVIE FUNDRAISER FOR ACT SAFE & INCLUSIVE SCHOOLS Join us to raise money for the ACT Safe and Inclusive Schools Initiative, and see an advance screening of the wonderfully funny love story “Love, Simon”. Simon Spier’s life is a little complicated: he’s yet to tell his family or friends he’s gay and he doesn’t actually know the identity of the anonymous classmate he’s fallen for. His journey turns out to be hilarious, terrifying and life-changing.

GRAB YOUR TICKETS @

FUSEMAGAZINE.COM.AU DRINKS & MOVIE

MARCH @ 6.30PM

PALACE ELECTRIC CINEMA

This special “Love, Simon” screening is proudly sponsored by FUSE Magazine, Sexual Health & Family Planning ACT and Palace Electric Cinema.

SEXUAL HEALTH AND FAMILY PLANNING ACT