FUSE59 : Wear your true colours with love and pride by FUSE Magazine

MADE IN AUSTRALIA FUSEMAGAZINE.COM.AU NOV / DEC 2018

59 2018 SPRINGOUT FESTIVAL GUIDE

LIFE LOVE EQUALITY

United in love

UNITING CHURCH BECOMES FIRST TO OFFER SAME-SEX MARRIAGE IN AUSTRALIA

YES!FEST IS COMING INDIA’S QUEER COMMUNITY CELEBRATES

+ MY HEALTH RECORD DEALING WITH STRESS

BERT & ERNIE’S FELTY ROMANCE BOY ERASED AND GAY CONVERSION THERAPY

GRINDR GETS KINDR

> WEAR YOUR TRUE COLOURS WITH LOVE & PRIDE

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“THE SHOW IS LIVE, DANGEROUS AND MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE... IT ROCKS!” BRIAN MAY, QUEEN

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MADE IN AUSTRALIA FUSEMAGAZINE.COM.AU NOV / DEC 2018

59 2018 SPRINGOUT FESTIVAL GUIDE

United in love

UNITING CHURCH BECOMES FIRST TO OFFER SAME-SEX MARRIAGE IN AUSTRALIA

United in love

UNITING CHURCH BECOMES FIRST TO OFFER SAME-SEX MARRIAGE IN AUSTRALIA

YES!FEST IS COMING INDIA’S QUEER COMMUNITY CELEBRATES BERT & ERNIE’S FELTY ROMANCE

+ MY HEALTH RECORD

BOY ERASED AND GAY CONVERSION THERAPY

DEALING WITH STRESS YOUR MONEY PHILOSOPHY

GRINDR GETS KINDR

> WEAR YOUR TRUE COLOURS WITH LOVE & PRIDE

FREE

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FUSE MAGAZINE MADE IN AUSTRALIA NOV / DEC 2018

2018 SPRINGOUT FESTIVAL GUIDE

LIFE LOVE EQUALITY

YES!FEST IS COMING

BOY ERASED AND GAY CONVERSION THERAPY

DEALING WITH STRESS

INDIA’S QUEER COMMUNITY CELEBRATES BERT & ERNIE’S FELTY ROMANCE

+ MY HEALTH RECORD

FUSEMAGAZINE.COM.AU

LIFE LOVE EQUALITY

> WEAR YOUR TRUE COLOURS WITH LOVE & PRIDE

FREE

2018 SPRINGOUT FESTIVAL GUIDE P7

02 Editor’s Rant 04 What’s On : Movies 07 What’s On : SpringOUT Festival Guide

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Alexander Thatcher CREATIVE DIRECTOR & ASSOCIATE EDITOR Christopher Powell ASSISTANT EDITOR Maxwell Elliff CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Danny Corvini CONTRIBUTORS Dwayne Lennox Scott Malcolm Rose Pappalardo Robyn J. Whitaker Amy Bhatt Julia O’Boyle Philippa Moss

07 FUSE FEATURES 07

CONTACT FUSE 0412 309 992 hello@fusemagazine.com.au fusemagazine.com.au PO Box 844 Belconnen ACT 2616 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. Some articles in this publication may have first appeared on theconversation.com. Submissions of text, photographs or any other material will be taken as consent to publish said material.

With great excitement Canberra gears up for this year’s SpringOUT Festival, offering a full month of events celebrating the LGBTIQ community in all its diversity.

23 23

The Uniting Church has became the first of the three major Australian Christian churches to endorse same-sex marriage.

15 27 28 31

Round Up : News & Politics Money Shot : What Does Money Mean to You? Couch Potato : Film & TV Health & Wellbeing : Dealing with Stress

27 33 35 41 42

Home & Life : First Steps to Your Own Home OP.ED : Gay Conversion Therapy Size Queen : Numbers, Statistics & Figures Fab Things : Xmas Gift Ideas

37 37

India’s LGBTIQ community celebrates after their Supreme Court overturned a 157 year old British colonial law that had criminalised homosexual acts.

35 44 Health & Wellbeing : Your Health Record 47 Stargazer : Your Horoscope 48 Dear Rose FUSECONTENTS

SPRING PRIDE

FUSE ONLINE

There’s been a lot of confronting stuff going on in Australia and the world over the last year, but winter seems to make it all a bit harder to cope with. Having to be inside so much to escape the cold mornings, icy winds and dark evenings, means we don’t have our usual daily support mechanism of simply being outside and interacting with the world. We don’t linger, we don’t chat and we don’t explore. It’s too damn cold. So with spring well and truly here (and giving us a glimpse of an apparently very hot summer), I’m finally able to come out of my cocoon and emerge fluttering into the uncharted world again. It fills me with a bit more hope and optimism about my own ability to grow and change, and a bit more strength to cope with all the crazy.

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!

fusemagazine.com.au facebook.com/fusemagazine twitter.com/fusemagazine instagram > @fusemagazine

ADVERTISE WITH FUSE Call us on 0412 309 992 during office hours or email hello@fusemagazine.com.au

SCAN ME! Read FUSE Magazine on your smartphone, tablet or computer.

Spring also signals the start of pride season and over the next six months there is always something “rainbow” happening around Australia. No matter how you identify, it’s an important time not only to celebrate who we are, but also to remember how we got here and all the work our LGBTIQ elders have done to get us to the place we are now. Following Queensland who celebrated in September, it’s Canberra’s turn to be fabulous with their annual SpringOUT pride festival. Yep, it starts at the beginning of November, with the much loved CBR Fair Day officially kicking things off on Saturday 3rd at Gorman Arts Centre, hosted by that bedrock of the Canberra LGTBIQ community, the AIDS Action Council. Other events include the Meridian Club Reunion, remembering one of Canberra’s very first gay nightclubs tucked away in Braddon; Exclusion, an explosive new play by David Atfield; Fruit Tingles Women’s Dance; the Summer Sunday Lunch at the Lucky Stars Animal Sanctuary; Qwire’s Silver Anniversary concerts and of course the famous Bushdance (which sold out in record time). Sean and the whole SpringOUT team have really crafted a great festival this year and we’ve included a complete festival guide in this issue p7-13. Also in this issue, the Uniting Church has become the first of the three major Australian Christian churches to endorse same-sex marriage p23. India’s LGBTIQ community celebrates after their Supreme Court overturned a 157 year old British colonial law that had criminalised homosexual acts p37. Julia O’Boyle talks about dealing with stress over the holiday period p31 and Maxwell Elliff our resident millennial writes about Boy Erased and gay conversion therapy. Wishing everyone a safe and joyous holiday season. See you all in the new year. Happy pride, Alexander

DON’T FORGET THE BIG GAY CHAMPAGNE BREAKFAST !!! It’s our ninth year and we are excited to invite you all to the FUSE Big Gay Champagne Breakfast. It’s an LGBTIQ and everyone-in-between event! Eat, drink and be merry on a beautiful spring morning with all your fabulous friends at Tilley’s in Lyneham. Sunday 18 November. See p21 for more details. 2

EDITOR’SRANT

2018/19 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

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MOVIES

DID YOU KNOW? According to Queen band members in a recent interview, Freddie Mercury only revealed that he liked men years after it was obvious to pretty much everyone.

BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY OPENS 1 NOVEMBER Unless you’ve been living under a rock that doesn’t have a wifi connection, then you will be well aware of the behind-the-scenes troubles marring the production of this Freddie Mercury biopic, chiefly the removal of director Bryan Singer who was replaced by Dexter Fletcher (Eddie The Eagle and the forthcoming Elton John biopic, Rocketman). There were also whispers that the film would not address the Queen frontman’s sexuality or AIDS diagnosis, which would seem integral to such a story. Not one to pre-judge a film, we’ll reserve judgement until we see it, but if nothing else Rami Malek (TV’s Mr. Robot) certainly looks the part.

BOY ERASED OPENS 8 NOVEMBER The second American film this year to address gay conversion therapy (the other being The Miseducation of Cameron Post), Joel Edgerton’s sophomore directorial feature is based on the memoir of Garrard Conley (played here by Lady Bird’s Lucas Hedges) who is sent away to a conversion therapy camp by his religious parents (Russell Crowe and Nicole Kidman). Edgerton takes an evenhanded approach to the subject, eliciting strong performances from his cast, which also includes Canadian director Xavier Dolan (Laurence Anyways) and Aussie pop star Troye Sivan (who also contributes to the soundtrack).

FUSE MOVIE PICK OF THE MONTH!

WIDOWS OPENS 29 NOVEMBER

Five years after the Oscars success of 12 Years A Slave, director Steve McQueen returns with a 180-degree change in direction: a modern-day crime thriller set on the streets of Chicago. When a robbery goes wrong and leaves their husbands dead, four women, led by Veronica (Viola Davis), come together to pull off the heist their partners had been planning. But they’ll have to do so under the watchful eyes of both City Hall (Colin Farrell and Robert Duvall) and the crime king pin (Brian Tyree Henry) who Veronica’s husband was in debt to. Elizabeth Debicki, Michelle Rodriguez and Cynthia Erivo complete the quartet, while Jacki Weaver and Daniel Kaluuya (Get Out) also star.

AQUAMAN OPENS 26 DECEMBER After making his debut in 2017’s Justice League, Jason Mamoa’s Aquaman gets his first solo outing, directed by James Wan (Furious 7 ) and shot here in Australia. Arthur Curry, aka Aquaman, is a man of both the sea and the land; the result of a love affair between the Queen of Atlantis, Atlanna (Nicole Kidman), and a human, Thomas Curry (Temuera Morrison). But it’s not easy sailing for our hero when the rightful heir to the underwater throne has to challenge his brother Orm (Patrick Wilson) to prevent him from taking Atlantis to war against the land dwellers. Amber Heard, Willem Dafoe, Djimon Hounsou and Dolph Lundgren also star in this Xmas gift for superhero fans.

By Dwayne Lennox

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WHAT’S ON S P R I N G O U T 2018

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&2 NOV

7-10 NOV WE WILL ROCK YOU THE ARENA SPECTACULAR BY QUEEN & BEN ELTON

THE DYKESIDE: AND THEN THERE WERE TWO

MERIDIAN CLUB REUNION

We Will Rock You is based on the legendary music of Queen with a book by Ben Elton.

They’re coming back to Canberra! Lori Bell and Bobby Macumber will have you laughing all the way to the Dykeside. Showcasing their unique and critically acclaimed talent in a show not to be missed!

Join us for a special reunion of a much beloved Canberra institution! Community owned, community led, Meridian was (and is) the friendly, social setting for so many fabulous memories in the 80s, 90s and beyond!

7 – 10 NOVEMBER AIS ARENA CANBERRA

Featuring 21 of Queen’s greatest hits, the show tells the story of a group of Bohemians who struggle to restore the free exchange of thought, fashion and have been forbidden from listening to rock music.

“The show is live, dangerous and more than anything else... it rocks!”

1 & 2 NOVEMBER FROM 8.30PM THE CIVIC PUB

Details: springout.com.au

SATURDAY 3 NOVEMBER 7.00PM – 10.00PM KNIGHTSBRIDGE

3 NOV

Tickets: aidsaction.org.au

Brian May, Queen

Galileo, a misfit who keeps hearing strange voices and songs in his head won’t dress like a GaGa kid, and has been caught trying to make music. Scaramouche, another misfit, gets herself into trouble with the secret police, and after meeting Galileo they run away together in search of the hidden musical instruments, rumoured to still exist.

“The audience get to become part of what eventually becomes a rock concert…” Ben Elton

Globalsoft control everything, lead by the Killer Queen who brings down anyone who crosses her with “Another One Bytes the Dust”, and her sidekick Khashoggi who leads the secret police and sends all those who break the rules to the “Seven Seas of Rhye”.

We Will Rock You is the 10th longest running musical in West End history. Don’t miss the Canberra Premier of Queen’s greatest hits in this spectacular arena production brought to life at AIS Arena. Tickets: premier.ticketek.com.au

3 NOV

CBR FAIR DAY 2018

RAINBOW PET PARADE

Celebrating diversity and pride in Canberra. Join in on all the fun and enjoy a fabulous day of music, performances, workshops and delicious food at the Gorman Arts Centre, Braddon.

Don’t miss the cutest, finest and fluffiest of Canberra’s pets as they come together to strut their stuff at the CBR Fairday Rainbow Pet Parade.

SATURDAY 3 NOVEMBER GORMAN ARTS CENTRE

Details: aidsaction.org.au/fairday

SATURDAY 3 NOVEMBER GORMAN ARTS CENTRE

Details: aidsaction.org.au/fairday Registrations: events@northside.asn.au WHAT’SON @ SPRINGOUT2018

WHAT’S ON S P R I N G O U T 2018

9-17 NOV

8&22 NOV

EXCLUSION

9 – 17 NOVEMBER THE STREET THEATRE From David Atfield, the award-winning creator of Scandalous Boy, comes an explosive new play that looks at the post-marriage equality political world and questions just how welcome LGBTIQ people really are in the corridors of power.

Exclusion is a sexy, funny, moving and wildly sensual play combining the complexities of human sexuality with ambitions for power. We see politicians stripped naked, literally and spiritually, as the characters betray, expose and manipulate each other, identities tumble, marriages fall, and alliances break. The play is about the complex intersection of the personal and the political, woven into a universal story about the personal compromises we all make in the pursuit of our careers.

10 NOV

QUEERAOKE

HARRY COOK ‘PINK INK’

Need to sing somewhere other than the shower? Drop by and let them rip at Queeraoke night hosted by the fabulous Phillis Dillis and her amazing lights.

‘Pink Ink’ is a memoir of Harry’s years in Hollywood, his addiction and life after rehab. It’s a story of love and marriage, equality and, ultimately, resilience and selfacceptance — because there is nothing more important than being exactly who you are.

THURSDAY 8 & 22 NOVEMBER FROM 8.00PM POLIT BAR, MANUKA

Details: springout.com.au

SATURDAY 10 NOVEMBER 4.30PM MUSE AT EAST HOTEL

Details: springout.com.au

Details and tickets: thestreet.org.au

LGBTQIA+ & ALLIES PROM 2018

3 NOV NFSA SUMMER SERIES BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN

SATURDAY 3 NOVEMBER 4.00PM NATIONAL FILM & SOUND ARCHIVES Re-visit this epic forbidden love story as rodeo cowboy Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal) and ranch hand Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger) fall secretly in love. The movie follows them over 20 years as they try desperately to negotiate a tortured, beautiful and sporadic love affair. Details and tickets: nfsa.gov.au 8

WHAT’SON @ SPRINGOUT2018

8 NOV

THURSDAY 8 NOVEMBER 6.30PM – 10.OOPM THE AINSLIE FOOTBALL CLUB

Now in its third year, the LGBTQIA+ & Allies Prom is an opportunity for young people to experience a formal style event and express their identity in a safe, supportive, and nonjudgmental environment. Details: ywca-canberra.org.au or call 02 62944633

10 NOV DRAW LIFE: SIP & SKETCH SATURDAY 10 NOVEMBER 3.00PM POLIT BAR, MANUKA

Sip and sketch. Relax in a comfy and inclusive space and let your creatives out for a run. No matter novice, professional, or simply itching to sketch, you’re all welcome. Draw, or kick back over a glass and watch others draw; this is an informal event where you are encouraged to enjoy yourself. Features male & female models. Details: springout.com.au FUSEMAGAZINE.COM.AU

For some

politicians sexuality

is just another game

Written and directed by David Atfield

From the award-winning creator of ‘Scandalous Boy’ comes an explosive new play set in the corridors of power. THE STREET THEATRE | 9 – 17 NOVEMBER 2018 BOOKINGS 02 6247 1223 | THESTREET.ORG.AU 15 CHILDERS STREET CANBERRA CITY

WARNING: CONTAINS NUDITY, SEXUAL & ADULT THEMES, DRUG USE, COARSE LANGUAGE

Part of SpringOut 2018

Supported by

Media Partner

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WHAT’S ON S P R I N G O U T 2018

11 NOV FRUIT TINGLES WOMEN’S DANCE

SATURDAY 10 NOVEMBER 6.30PM – MIDNIGHT MAJURA COMMUNITY HALL

10 NOV

Wear your comfy shoes for this one! Held at the Majura Community Centre in Dickson, Fruit Tingles brings women together from all ages and all walks of life. It provides a safe space to celebrate our pride. The event includes live music and DJs, door prizes, games, community stalls, massages and a cash bar. Yummo BBQ with a vegan twist will help fuel your night of dancing, plus surprises throughout the evening! Tickets are only $25, with proceeds going to local women’s and LGBTI projects.

16 NOV

RAINBOW CHRISTIAN ALLIANCE

PRIDE COCKTAIL BALL

Dinner and a chat with a troublesome priest. Rev Jo Inkpin is Australia’s first transgender Anglican priest. Jo will be sharing her journey of faith, sexuality and gender over a pot-luck dinner at the Tuggeranong Uniting Church.

A night of dancing, drag shows and competitions, plus lots of fabulous cocktails and canapes.

SUNDAY 11 NOVEMBER UNITING CHURCH 6.00PM – 9.00PM

Details: springout.com.au

FRIDAY 16 NOVEMBER 7.00PM UNTIL LATE CANBERRA SOUTHERN CROSS, WODEN

Details: springout.com.au

18 NOV

Details: springout.com.au

13 NOV

FAITH, HOPE & LOVE LGBTIQ MINISTERIAL ADVISORY COUNCIL THINK TANK TUESDAY 13 NOVEMBER 6.00PM – 8.30PM LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY

This session will explore and celebrate ‘Marriage Equality, Where to from here?’ Topics will include: ‘Religious Freedom and the LGBTIQA+ Community’ and ‘Is Canberra LGBTIQ truly inclusive?’ Join special guests and the ACT LGBTIQ Ministerial Advisory Council as we debate, question and discuss. Details: springout.com.au

THURSDAY 15 15 NOVEMBER 6.00PM – 8.00PM NOV AUS CENTRE FOR CHRISTIAN CULTURE

SUMMER SUNDAY LUNCH SUNDAY 18 NOVEMBER LUCKY STARS SANCTUARY, BYWONG

An inclusive interfaith event. An exploration of what it means to create safe and inclusive spaces to meet and share who we are and what we may or may not believe.

The Lucky Star Sanctuary is throwing open the gates for a meet and greet with the rescued animals and their carers. Games, entertainment and surprises are all part of the mix. Tickets are only $25 with all profits going back to the sanctuary animals.

Details: springout.com.au

Details: springout.com.au & luckystarssanctuary.org WHAT’SON @ SPRINGOUT2018

WHAT’S ON S P R I N G O U T 2018

17 NOV

17-18 NOV

21 NOV SPRINGOUT IN THE VINES

17 – 18 NOVEMBER 10.00AM – 5.OOPM VARIOUS LOCATIONS, MURRUMBATEMAN The Makers of Murrumbateman are pleased to host a weekend to celebrate diversity, equality and wine. Join any of the participating wineries to enjoy special offers for participants of “SpringOUT in the Vines”. Head to the website to find participating wineries. Details: makersofmurrumbateman.org.au

17&18 NOV

QWIRE’S SILVER ANNIVERSARY CONCERT

17 & 18 NOVEMBER THE Q THEATRE

Canberra Gay and Lesbian Qwire is celebrating 25 fabulous years with another great concert, ‘Taking Flight’. Drawing inspiration from the likes of Concita Wurst, Maya Angelou, Sia and even Disney, this concert reminds people of all genders, orientations and expressions that they can look forward with pride. Details: canberraqwire.org.au

QUEERSCO PRESENTS: THE AFTERPARTY SUNDAY 18 NOVEMBER 12.00 NOON THE PHEONIX BAR, CIVIC The Afterparty is a place to come down after the night before. Featuring artists and performers from interstate, Queersco Afterparty is sure to get you back up and dancing.

18 NOV

Details: springout.com.au

LGBTIQ REFUGEES AND THEIR LIVES SATURDAY 24 NOVEMBER 4.00PM MUSE AT EAST HOTEL Rainbow Refugee Action will host a panel of speakers addressing issues for LGBTIQ refugees and asylum seekers in Canberra. Details: springout.com.au 12

WHAT’SON @ SPRINGOUT2018

24 NOV

YES!FEST

SATURDAY 17 NOVEMBER 3.00PM UNTIL LATE LONSDALE STREET Celebrating the one year anniversary of Marriage Equality in Australia... YES!FEST will feature exciting live performances, DJs, food trucks and more. It all begins with a family-friendly kick-off at the Rainbow Roundabout at midday, and when the sun sets the beats begin from the Hopscotch main stage so you can party through the night. Details: springout.com.au

18 NOV BIG GAY BREAKFAST

SUNDAY 18 NOVEMBER 9.00AM UNTIL NOON TILLEY’S CAFÉ It’s our ninth year and we are excited to invite you all to the FUSE Big Gay Champagne Breakfast. It’s an LGBTIQ and everyone-in-between event! Eat, drink and be merry on a beautiful Spring morning with all your fabulous friends at Tilley’s in Lyneham. Details: fusemagazine.com.au

GAY AND LESBIAN SPEED DATING NIGHT

WEDNESDAY 21 NOVEMBER 6.30PM FOR 7.30 START TREEHOUSE BAR Led by one of Canberra’s most talented hosts Johnathan Davis, ‘First Impressions’ offers you the chance to connect with the person of your dreams, and will be filled with other single people looking for that someone special — just like you. Details: fusemagazine.com.au

BUSHDANCE 2018 SATURDAY 24 NOVEMBER YARRALUMLA WOOLSHED

24 NOV

Bushdance is a night full of crazy fun and non-stop dancing. Just ask the 600-odd people that come along every year from around the country. There is a bar, BBQ and a live band to lead you through the dances. THIS EVENT HAS SOLD OUT!

FRONTRUNNERS

3-24 NOV

3, 10, 17, 24 NOVEMBER VARIOUS VENUES A running / walking social group that meets at 9.00am Saturday mornings in various locations around Canberra for exercise and brunch afterwards. Details: springout.com.au FUSEMAGAZINE.COM.AU

YES!FEST

WHAT’S ON S P R I N G O U T 2018

SUGAR CUBE

23 NOV

FRIDAY 23 NOVEMBER 10.00PM – 5.OOAM CUBE NIGHTCLUB

A fundraiser for the AIDS Action Council. See the Cher Show from Canberra’s own Pixie Darling, as well as a special auction event where you could win a private room dance for you and three friends in Cube’s VIP room with one of BodyHeats Australia’s dancers plus an accompanying drinks package. Raffles during the night with prizes from local business such as Meating Room, OutKast Tattoo, F45 Braddon, Momoda, Jet Flight Simulator Canberra and more. Details: springout.com.au

ART NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

24 NOV

SATURDAY 24 NOVEMBER 8.00AM – 5.OOPM CANBERRA TENNIS CENTRE, LYNEHAM

Welcome to the Australian Rainbow Tennis’ first ever National Championships. Entries in this doubles event represent their club and state, the best performing state will be crowned ART National Champion. Lunch provided, refreshments available at the bar. Details: springout.com.au

25 NOV

THE SPRINGOUT BIG COMMUNITY PICNIC SUNDAY 25 NOVEMBER 11.00AM – 4.OOPM @ GLEBE PARK, CITY

An inclusive picnic and fun day for our wonderfully diverse Canberra LGBTIQ community. The plan is to “turn the park Rainbow” so wear your favourite rainbow outfit and join our Hosts ‘Karen from Finance’ and the timeless ‘Cindy Pastel’ for the SpringOUT Big Community Picnic. Details: springout.com.au

The Canberra Times described last year’s Marriage Equality Results Night street party at Hopscotch — attended by around 6000 people — as the first spontaneous thing to have ever happened in the national capital. YES!Fest is its successor and the Creative Director Danny Corvini (DJ Raydar) tells FUSE Magazine what we can expect of this year’s encore event. ‘YES!Fest’ is the name we chose for the follow-up to the Marriage Equality street party that lit up Lonsdale Street last November like a rainbow eclipse. As we intend to make this street party an annual event for Canberra’s LGBTIQ community and our allies, we needed a name that reflected the incredible positivity and pride of the original event, while broadening our scope beyond just marriage equality. While this year’s party will be less political and more of a celebration of the fact that we can now finally get married in Australia, we do always have to be vigilant about protecting and extending our rights as queer people (see: religious schools exemption fiasco), and so the political will inevitably always be there bubbling away in the background. This year, we are extending both the duration of the event and the amount of Lonsdale Street that will be closed off for the street party. The festivities will start in the mid-afternoon this time at the Rainbow Roundabout with rainbow family-friendly entertainment, food trucks and bars. The action will then shift to the Hopscotch stage where DJs and live performances will provide a Mardi Gras like atmosphere throughout the evening and well into the night. If you have kids, book a babysitter for this part! While this year’s event is a celebration of a year of marriage equality in Australia, we will also use our platform to shine a special spotlight on indigenous drag, which is one of the most exciting things happening in the country. Stars of the Black Divaz documentary, which screened on SBS in March, fab-original drag queens Nova Gina and Josie Baker will perform at YES!Fest alongside Canberra’s own Miss First Nations 2018 finalist MadB. YES!Fest will be spoilt for performers with an array of other kings and queens, dancers and singers appearing including The Berra Queens, Sheba Williams, Swagger, Kilia Tipa and Etcetera Etcetera. Music-wise, last year’s DJs Sveta and Raydar will return alongside new recruit DJ Estee Louder, and will drop queer classics, party jams and dance anthems well into the night. Canberra has transformed into a great place to live as an LGBTIQ identifying person. We returned the highest ‘yes’ vote of any state or territory in Australia, we have the only out-gay leader in Andrew Barr and now we have our own annual LGBTIQ event to rival the Sydney Mardi Gras and Melbourne’s Midsumma Carnival (and maybe even better because it’s the only street party!). Come and celebrate!

YES!FEST IS ON SATURDAY 17 NOVEMBER 3.00PM TIL LATE ON LONSDALE STREET Photo of the YES!FEST crew: Paul Eldon, Victoria Firth-Smith, Jacob White, Danny Corvini and Yen Eriksen at Canberra’s rainbow roundabout in Braddon.

WHAT’SON @ SPRINGOUT2018

12 Angry Men is a scintillating blend of raw emotion and high stakes where individual life stories are gradually revealed.

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ANGRY MEN

A YOUNG MAN’S LIFE HANGS IN THE BALANCE AS 12 STRANGERS DELIBERATE ON HIS ULTIMATE FATE.

At first glance the underprivileged boy appears guilty of murdering his father in cold blood. The evidence seems to suggest so but questions of prejudice, family, and class warfare threaten to tear their fragile deliberations apart. 11 men are ready to convict and send him to the electric chair. Only one man has doubts. With it’s unique presentation in the round, the audience will be in the jury room, experiencing every moment of the story up until the nail-biting finish. 12 Angry Men is a scintillating blend of raw emotion and high stakes where individual life stories are gradually revealed.

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By Maxwell Elliff

ROUND UP

DID YOU KNOW? Sesame Street’s ‘The Count’ and his love of numbers isn’t exactly just a play on his name. Vampires are supposed to have arithmomania. Individuals affected by this disorder have a strong need to count their actions or objects in their surroundings.

HIV RATES RISING IN STRAIGHT MEN

Speculation about Bert and Ernie’s sexuality has long created friction between Sesame Street fans and the show’s makers.

A recent study released by the Kirby Institute of UNSW has found a concerning rise in HIV diagnoses amongst straight men. The report found that although new diagnoses are at a 7-year low, the prevalence of the virus in heterosexual men has risen 10% in the last 5 years with a 14% increase shown between 2016 and 2017. It also found that half of HIV positive straight men lived for years without knowing they had contracted the virus, with 1 in 10 late diagnoses (4 years+) having progressed to AIDS. A 2012-2013 survey of 20,000 straight Australians indicated that an alarming two-thirds had never been tested for HIV, arguably in large part due to the popular misconception that the infection can only be contracted by gay men and intravenous drug users. Anyone having unsafe sex, regardless of their sexuality, is potentially at risk — so remind your straight mates to get tested!

SESAME STREET WRITER SPEAKS OUT ON ICONIC DUO’S SEXUALITY Speculation over the sexuality of Sesame Street’s favourite frenemies Bert and Ernie has been rampant for decades, but the debate recently reached a fever pitch after a former writer for the show spoke out. Chatting in September to online LGBTQI+ publication Queerty, writer Mark Saltzman acknowledged, “I always felt that without a huge agenda, when I was writing Bert and Ernie, they were (gay)”. Saltzman is himself gay, and at his time with the juggernaut children’s program (1984 to 1990) was in a self-described ‘Bert & Ernie relationship’ with editor Arnold Glassman. In response, the Sesame Workshop released a statement denying Saltzman’s claims, stating that the characters are simply best friends “created to teach preschoolers that people can be good friends with those who are very different from themselves”. Looks like the jury is still out on this one, but honestly, does it really matter?

‘‘

We will protect religious freedom, and get the balance right. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison In response to the release of the Religious Freedom Review headed by former attorney-general Philip Ruddock, which has recommended that Religious schools should be guaranteed the right to turn away LGBTIQ students and teachers.

GRINDR EMBRACES ‘KINDR’ USER POLICY Popular gay dating app Grindr has announced a new set of policies aimed at cracking down on discriminatory behaviour amongst its users. The ‘Kindr’ campaign will be geared towards reducing racism, abuse and transphobia on its member’s profiles by banning those who display discriminatory language or engage in harassment. The new community guidelines encourage inclusivity and a more welcoming environment for minorities, with Grindr’s head of communications Landen Zumwalt announcing,“as a leader in the gay dating space, Grindr has a responsibility to not only protect our users but also to set the standard for the broader community that we serve”. However, it has been noted that Grindr Xtra (the paid version of the app) will still allow users to filter on the basis of ethnicity, weight and body type — calling into question the genuine integrity of the campaign.

‘‘

Self-loathing among gay people is nothing new. We’re overwhelmed by it. Award-winning writer Matthew Todd Matthew Todd — former editor of Attitude Magazine and performer — comments about the disproportionate numbers of LGBTIQ people who still suffer from self-destructive behaviour due to bullying that is still found throughout our society.

NEWS&POLITICS

NEWS SLIDERS

ROUND UP

IRELAND CAKE NEWS

Russian Police have arrested over 20 activists in St Petersburg, who turned out to challenge the persecution of gay men in Chechnya.

CHECHNYA OPENS CONCENTRATION CAMPS FOR GAY MEN, FIRST SINCE HITLER The epidemic of gay oppression sweeping through the Russian Republic of Chechnya continues as reports have come in of homosexual men being rounded up and placed in concentration camps reminiscent of those under Nazi Germany. It is believed over 100 men, including local television personalities and religious figures, have so far been detained and at least three have died after facing electric shock torture and severe beatings.

The Christian owners of a Northern Ireland bakery have won their appeal in the “gay cake” discrimination case. The UK’s highest court has ruled that Ashers Bakery’s refusal to make a cake with a slogan supporting same-sex marriage was not in fact discriminatory. The case has cost over £200,000 and is being paid by The Christian Institute, a charity and lobby group. The cake at the centre of the dispute would have cost £36.50. It has proved to be the most expensive cake order in UK history.

Ramzan Kadyrov, the President of Chechnya and close ally of Vladimir Putin, has called the allegations “absolute lies and disinformation” while asserting that gay men would be killed by their own families out of honour. Indeed in some cases, gay men have been released early from prison to allow for extrajudicial murder by relatives. Svetlana Zakharova, from the Russian LGBT Network, stated “we are working to evacuate people from the camps, and some have now left the region”. Let’s hope these archaic practices are swiftly dismantled.

SWITZERLAND RULES HOMOPHOBIA AND TRANSPHOBIA ILLEGAL The famously neutral Switzerland has moved to make discrimination, on the grounds of sexual and gender identity, illegal. The Swiss National Council has voted 118 to 60 in favour of adding homophobia and transphobia to its penal code, with violators facing up to three years in prison. The change has been spearheaded by socialist national councillor Matthias Reynard, who announced, “It’s a crime. One in five homosexuals attempted suicide, half before the age of 20. This victory sends a strong signal”. Councillor Matthias Reynard now intends to make the push for marriage equality, as same-sex couples in Switzerland still face discrimination when it comes to tax, fertility, adoption and welfare — despite the existence of same-sex civil partnerships since 2007. Continue that charge towards equality, Switzerland! 16

NEWS&POLITICS

IAN GALLAGHER IS LEAVING SHAMELESS Cameron Monaghan, who plays gay character Ian Gallagher, is sadly leaving Shameless during season 9. Cameron announced it via Instagram, writing, “I have known since last year, but I didn’t want to give it away too early as I wanted this season to be a surprise for the audience, allowing them to experience Ian’s unsure journey with his character. This role has been a joy to inhabit, a wild and special ride, and I’d like to thank #Shameless as well as you, the viewers, for being there with him. Goodbye, Ian Clayton Gallagher. We’ll meet again?” @cameronmonaghan FUSEMAGAZINE.COM.AU

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ROUND UP

DID YOU KNOW? Same-sex pairing is not just normal in the animal kingdom, it’s very common. Studies show that about 1,500 animal species are known to practice same-sex coupling, from insects, to fish, birds and mammals.

CHELSEA MANNING AUSTRALIA VISIT: ACCESS DENIED Prominent whistleblower and trans activist Chelsea Manning has been denied entry to Australia. Manning, who was sentenced in 2010 to 35 years in prison (later reduced to 7 by President Barack Obama) for leaking thousands of classified military documents, was due to talk at a number of scheduled events for the organisation Think Inc. and will instead appear via video link from New Zealand. The Australian government’s decision to deny Manning’s visa application has been criticised by various human rights groups who have labelled it as an obstruction to free speech. National director for Amnesty International Australia, Claire Mallinson, stated the move “has silenced an important voice on human rights”. Similarly, executive director of the Human Rights Law Centre, Hugh de Krester, argued: “As a democracy, we should be encouraging not banning contributions from people like Chelsea Manning”. At a time when the world is in desperate need of people standing up to the unchecked power of governments, I would be inclined to agree with them.

If you’re a Grey’s Anatomy fan, you’ve properly heard about the fresh new doctors joining the show. One of these, Niko Kim (played by Alex Landi) will be the first gay male surgeon to ever appear on the show.

GREY’S ANATOMY TO DEBUT GAY MALE ROMANCE THIS SEASON The popular medical drama Grey’s Anatomy is poised to continue its run of progressive queer storylines with the introduction of its first gay male romance. The fifteenth series, which started airing in September 2018, will introduce Doctor Nico Kim (played by Korean-ItalianAmerican hunk Alex Landi) who will reportedly catch the eye of one of the hospital’s young interns. Actor Giacomo Gianiotti, who has played Dr Andrew Deluca since 2015, teased the upcoming romance as having a “power dynamic” — which in a steamy hospital setting surely has fans’ imaginations running wild. The show has consistently received praise in the past for its portrayal of queer characters. Last season saw transgender actress Candis Cayne feature as a patient seeking a revolutionary vaginoplasty surgery, while bisexual Doctor Callie Torres (played by Sara Ramirez) is the longest running queer character in US television history.

GAY PENGUINS SAVE NEGLECTED EGG IN ZOO Zookeepers at the Odense Zoo in Denmark were left shocked after two gay penguins saved an egg from its neglectful parents. Zookeeper Sandie Hedegård Munck reported that it appeared that while the mother was sunbathing and the father wandering, the two gay male penguins swooped in to care for the apparently abandoned chick. Munck added that while the mother frantically searched for the missing chick, the father seemed very indifferent throughout the episode. The chick was nevertheless eventually returned to its birth parents, while the gay penguin couple were instead given an abandoned egg to care for and raise. While many would disagree with their extreme methods, it is heartening to see that the parental instincts of gay couples extend to the animal kingdom too. NEWS&POLITICS

ROUND UP

DID YOU KNOW? The origin of the term ‘Drag Queen’ is uncertain, however the first recorded use of the term was in reference to actors dressed in women’s clothing in 1870.

TWO DECADES ON THE ENDURING LEGACY OF MATTHEW SHEPARD

ROMANIAN REFERENDUM TO BAN GAY UNIONS FAILS A referendum to change the definition of marriage in the Romanian constitution as specifically between a man and a woman has failed, after only a fifth of voters showed up. It appears the ‘No’ campaign successfully rallied its supporters to boycott the vote — which needed a minimum 30% attendance to validate the referendum. The result may come as a surprise after a poll suggested that 90% of Romanians were in favour of the constitutional change, not to mention the ‘Yes’ campaign having the support of the country’s influential Orthodox Church. In practice though, the result will spark little change, as Romania currently does not recognise same-sex unions of any kind. Vlad Viski, president of LGBT rights organisation Mozaiq, spoke out in favour of legalising same-sex partnerships following the result, declaring, “They must answer the people’s wishes”. Hear hear!

October of this year marks 20 years since the death of American college student Matthew Shepard — a shocking incident that brought hate crimes to the forefront of the US social and political consciousness. Prior to 1998, Shepard had been a seemingly regular 21-year old, studying political science at the University of Wyoming, but he tragically became a martyr for the anti-hate crime movement after being abducted by two men and brutally beaten, tied to a fence and left for dead. After being discovered by a passing cyclist some 18 hours later, the comatose Shepard was taken to hospital where he succumbed to his injuries on October 12, 1998.

DRAG RACE STAR ALYSSA EDWARDS TO HEADLINE NETFLIX DOCU-SERIES The tongue-popping dancing drag queen Alyssa Edwards, best known for her memorable runs on RuPaul’s Drag Race season 5 as well as All-Stars season 2, will be featured on a new Netflix series. Dancing Queen will follow the outlandish diva, born Justin Johnson, who juggles life as a renowned drag performer whilst running her own dancing troupe for children, the Beyond Belief Dance Studio. In a recently released trailer, Edwards declares, “During the day I’m a business owner, I’m a teacher and a mentor… and by night, I am the Rondon diva of the south”. Post drag race, Edwards has been the star of the popular web-series, Alyssa’s Secret, but her collaboration with streaming giant Netflix is sure to push the performer’s career even further into the stratosphere — and I for one cannot wait to see it. Dancing Queen premieres 5 October 2018 on Netflix.

NEWS&POLITICS

His tragic story made international headlines, with candlelight vigils being held all over the world in his memory — while also sparking the push for new hate crime legislation (namely, the removal of the ‘gay panic defence’ — which Shepard’s attackers claimed as motivation in their trial). In 2009 Barack Obama signed into law what became known as the Matthew Shepard Act, which added to existing hate crime law to include a person’s gender, sexual identity or disability as motivation. His parents Judy and Dennis continue to fight for LGBT rights, particularly LGBT youth issues, through the Matthew Shepard Foundation. 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.

SUNDAY 18 NOVEMBER @ 9AM TIL 12 NOON SERVING YOU BREAKFAST, LUNCH & DINNER 7 DAYS Monday to Saturday 7.30am – 10.30pm • Sundays & Public Holidays 8.00am – 5.00pm

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At Relationships Australia we strive to support the mental health and wellbeing of people of diverse bodies, genders and sexualities, as well as those questioning their gender identity or sexual orientation. Our services can help you with: • Relationship difficulties • Communication issues • Parenting • Family violence • Trust issues • Sexual difficulties • Grief and loss • Managing conflict • Gambling issues

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

To find our more about our services call 1300 364 277 or visit www.racr.relationships.org.au

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United in love

ON FRIDAY 21 SEPTEMBER 2018 THE UNITING CHURCH BECAME THE FIRST OF THE THREE MAJOR AUSTRALIAN CHRISTIAN DENOMINATIONS TO ENDORSE SAME-SEX MARRIAGE, AND THUS THE FIRST TO OFFER GAY AND LESBIAN CHRISTIANS THE OPTION OF A CHURCH CEREMONY.

FUSEFEATURE

By Robyn J. Whitaker

The Uniting Network, a national network of LGBTIQ members of the Uniting Church and their friends and families, marched for the first time at the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade in 2003.

AFTER A LONG STRUGGLE, THE UNITING CHURCH BECOMES THE FIRST TO OFFER SAME-SEX MARRIAGE IN AUSTRALIA. This move comes just nine months after same-sex marriage was made legal in Australia, and as a result of a decision made at the Uniting Church’s national Assembly in July 2018. It permits those being married in the UCA to choose between two authorised marriage liturgies — one that continues to use the traditional language of “husband and wife” and one that speaks of the union of “two people” and is therefore open to same-sex couples. The choice also allows clergy, like myself, to exercise individual freedom of conscience. Ministers will not be compelled to marry a same-sex couple if it goes against their personal understanding of marriage. This freedom reflects the diversity of opinion on the matter while upholding a fundamental commitment of the UCA to maintain diversity in unity. While a shock for some, for others this change has been painfully slow. It is the result of decades of conversation, education, resourcing, discernment, and debate that began in the early 1980s. 24

FUSEFEATURE

Throughout the 1980s and 90s, the UCA Assembly — the church’s national council responsible for policy and doctrine — actively encouraged conversations about sexuality and theology. They produced Bible studies and other resources for congregations. They also commissioned doctrinal groups to examine the matter in response to growing requests for clarity on such matters from their regional bodies. Notable among these resources was the 1997 report “Uniting Sexuality and Faith”, which proposed the development of liturgies to bless same-sex couples. At a national level, motions relating to sexuality were often on the Assembly’s agenda. In 1997, the big issue was whether LGBTIQ Christians could be full members of the UCA, with the implication that such members could then serve on leadership committees and have equal status within the church. No decision was made at that time, in part because of the UCA’s commitment to Aboriginal and Islander Christians, who were unprepared to accept such a move towards inclusion. The Assembly advised continued respectful conversation. In 2003, the issue was whether lesbian and gay Christians could be ordained as ministers in the Uniting Church. The reality was that several gay and lesbian clergy had been ordained, some of whom were out, and others who had kept their sexuality private. FUSEMAGAZINE.COM.AU

United in love As the Assembly itself has noted at times, homosexual people have always been involved in the church. The question is, how openly and what can the church say theologically about the diversity of human sexuality? Ordination of openly gay clergy signified a shift away from the traditional view that anything other than a heterosexual orientation was sinful and towards a view that considers diverse sexualities part of God’s good creation.

Uniting Church Reverend Alexandra Sangster

Over 75% of that meeting supported the motion that sexuality was not, in itself, a barrier to ordination, making it the first Christian denomination to allow ordination of openly gay ministers. At each of these stages, opponents claimed decisions that increased inclusion of LGBTIQ Christians would split the church or be its demise. While such data is notoriously difficult to track, there is little evidence great numbers have left over such decisions. Nor has the church been split. Critics of the UCA’s marriage change, both within and external to the UCA, have argued this decision sets the UCA at odds with worldwide Christianity. That is not quite accurate. While the majority of Christian institutions worldwide continue to limit marriage to the traditional arrangement of one man and one woman, several mainstream churches already marry same-sex couples. Australia’s Uniting Church now stands with Canada’s United Church of Christ, the USA’s Episcopal Church, the Presbyterian Church in the United States (PCUSA), the Scottish Episcopal Church, the Lutheran Church of Sweden, and closer to home, the Methodist Church in New Zealand in marrying same-sex couples. Many other churches are moving in this direction or offering blessing ceremonies for same-sex couples.

Unlike the aforementioned decisions, the 2018 Assembly vote about marriage was conducted behind closed doors in a private session. As historian, Dr Avril Hannah-Jones, points out in her recent article, one of the significant shifts that allowed the motion to go to a vote was a statement by the UCA’s Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress that acknowledged a diversity of views in their own communities. This meant they would not be moving to block such a change. In doing so, they embodied the “unity in diversity” that is almost a catch-cry of the UCA. None of these decades-long decisions have been easy or without controversy or personal cost to many, something acknowledged by Dr Deidre Palmer, UCA President, in her pastoral letter But the outcome of that work can now be seen in a Christian denomination that could remarkably quickly respond to a change in the federal Marriage Act with a same-sex service of their own. Fundamental differences remain, certainly. But I suspect the church that was birthed by bringing together three different denominations in the 1970s knows how to handle diversity and should be well equipped to live with the tension of differing views within its people. Change of this nature is never easy for an institution and especially for the church where tradition is so highly valued. For some, same-sex marriage challenges their belief in a literalistic interpretation of the Bible, although the UCA’s own stance towards the Bible is one that takes the text seriously but not literally.

A marriage equality sign ‘OMG YES!’ stands proudly outside of the St Michael’s Uniting Church in Melbourne. The Uniting Church have expressed their support for marriage equality.

For others, this recent decision is a source of celebration and perhaps even symbolic, finally, of full equality in the church for gay and lesbian members.

Robyn J. Whitaker is a senior lecturer in the New Testament at Pilgrim Theological College, University of Divinity.

FUSEFEATURE

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WHAT DOES

money

WE ALL DEAL WITH AND THINK ABOUT MONEY IN DIFFERENT WAYS — BUT DID YOU KNOW THAT YOUR PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY AND MONEY HABITS CAN HAVE HUGE IMPACTS ON HOW IT AFFECTS YOUR LIFE, YOUR HAPPINESS AND FINANCIAL CONTENTMENT. Following the Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry, we are starting to see changes in the way organisations and people deal with our money. In an ideal world, it would be great to have a system where everyone is able to interact with the financial sector without fear and apprehension. How fantastic would it be to see the industry working to improve people’s lives and actually help customers achieve their financial life goals — after all, money is only fuel in our lives and not the essence that makes us happy and fulfilled. One immediate change is that banks are requiring an understanding of your cash flow when applying for loans. This is a welcome change as the majority of people do not have a clear idea of ‘how much it costs to be them’. Having a clear understanding of this is one of the foundations for financial success in your life. The next foundation is having an understanding of how you actually interact with money in your life, and there are a few questions that can be asked. • Do you have unconscious habits or behaviours which support or sabotage you? • When it comes to making financial decisions, does this come easily to you? • What is your underlying money story or script based on your learnings through life?

MEAN TO YOU

By Scott Malcolm Director of Money Mechanics

Education and empowerment around money is a key element to achieve financial freedom. A recent Australian study by Adrian Furnham and Toni-Ann Murphy — Money types, money beliefs, and financial worries — published in the Australian Journal of Psychology unpacks some key behaviours we have around money.

The study examined the relationship between four money types: power, freedom, security and love — against the satisfaction with aspects of life: finances, friendships, personal development, family, health and fitness used as a measure of wellbeing. If you have habits or behaviours which sabotage you financially and emotionally, it may be necessary to unpack these to see where they have come from and if they support you or harm you. You have choice over what your money script is. If they don’t support you, change will be vital if you wish to become more empowered with your financial situation and goals. The good thing is that money is a learnt behavior, so we can all upskill, and find someone to help if you feel this is not a strength for you.

“HOW YOU DO MONEY IS HOW YOU DO LIFE.” ORNA ROSS, AUTHOR

Seek out further advice and start your journey to being free around your money and creating 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 Melbourne, Canberra, Newcastle and Sydney to achieve their life and wealth outcomes. Money Mechanics Pty Ltd (ABN 64 136 066 272) is a Corporate Authorised Representative (No. 336429) of Infocus Securities Australia Pty Ltd (ABN 47 097 797 049) AFSL and Australian Credit Licence No. 236523 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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DID YOU KNOW? If you’re in a relationship and you get dumped, statistics show that you’re most probably shown the door because you have stopped caring how you look, poor sexual performance or your partner is just plain bored with you.

THE BREAKER UPPERERS

THE WIFE

How good would it be if you could hire someone to breakup with your partner for you? Enter the Breaker Upperers, two women who set up just such an agency after a shared early-in-life romantic disappointment. Jen (Jackie van Beek) and Mel (Madeleine Sami) provide services as simple as a phone call or as elaborate as a faked death, but when unlucky-in-love Anna (Celia Pacquola) becomes their latest victim, cracks in the BU team begin to appear. Written and co-directed by Sami and van Beek, this comedy has a very distinct New Zealand sense of humour which translates easy enough for us antipodean cousins.

“And the Oscar goes to... Glenn Close!” Those are the words that many are expecting — hoping — to hear read out by Gary Oldman at next year’s Oscars. The six-time nominee, first nominated for 1982’s The World According To Garp, is the very definition of ‘overdue’ when it comes to that little golden statue. Close, who has been receiving awards buzz since The Wife premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in 2017, plays Joan Castleman, the longtime wife of an acclaimed author (Jonathan Pryce), who, on the eve of his greatest achievement, begins to question her marriage and her life choices. It’s easily one of the standout performances of the year.

MCQUEEN

BEAST

You don’t have to be a fashionista to be familiar with the name Alexander McQueen, the working-class English lad who rose to the highest echelons of the fashion world came to fame in the 1990s with daring, often macabre designs (his brand’s logo was, and remains a skull). This documentary, directed by Ian Bonhôte, and Peter Ettedgui, examines both the creative beauty and the underlying darkness of McQueen, talking with friends, family and ex-partners about a man who created such beauty but who tragically ended his life in 2010. Rags-to-riches, this story is a modern-day fairy tale laced with gothic darkness.

What to do when the handsome stranger who has added excitement to your small island life might also be responsible for a series of brutal murders? When Moll (Jessie Buckley) meets mysterious outsider Pascal (Johnny Flynn), she finally experiences a taste of freedom and adventure, but their passionate affair is threatened when Pascal becomes a suspect in a spate of murders. Written and directed by Michael Pearce, Beast is an impressive directorial debut that brings psychosexual tension to a fractured fairytale-of-sorts in which Jessie Buckley gives an impressive performance as the damsel who may or may not be in danger.

MADMAN ENTERTAINMENT

By Dwayne Lennox

FILM&TV

ICON HOME ENTERTAINMENT

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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stress By Julia O’Boyle

If you are too “stressed” for too long you might start feeling:

“I’M SO STRESSED”. “THIS IS TOO STRESSFUL”. “THIS IS STRESSING ME OUT.” These are common refrains that we hear everyday — from others, from the media, from ourselves. “Life is stressful”. Yes, life is full of challenges and stressors — deadlines, traffic jams caused by the new light rail building works, arguments with a spouse, work pressures, social anxieties, too many competing priorities, new relationships, navigating school or study — all are potential causes of stress in some degree or other. The good part about stress, the absolutely normal bit, is that experiencing stress is part of being alive. A small amount of stress, such as going to a job interview or meeting a deadline, can be useful. It can lead to increased alertness, motivation, energy and productivity. Stress is a human response to challenging or dangerous situations. We have evolved over time to be able to experience a range of stressors and recover from them. Stress triggers the ‘fight-flightfreeze’ response, preparing the body to take action against potential danger. Back in our ancestors’ day, the stress response enabled us to either fight the sabre tooth tiger, run away from it, or freeze and pretend to be dead and hope it would ignore us. The stress response releases hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol, causing the heart rate, metabolism and breathing rate to speed up so we can face the threat and survive. It works brilliantly well for short-term threats, but if the stress response goes on for too long, it can have damaging effects on the mind and body. In this day and age, we often perceive all “threats” to be a sabre tooth tiger — the traffic congestion, the boss striding through the office, our partner’s crankiness, a phone call from the bank, a deadline, being “unfriended” with no explanation. Stress can be caused by our circumstances or by our own attitudes and expectations. If stress is greater than our perceived ability to cope, it can lead to physical and mental health issues, and cause problems with relationships and work. Many people experience chronic stress or “burnout” without even knowing it.

• • • • •

Hopeless and helpless, feeling incapable Irritable or angry for no reason Like you want to withdraw from people Anxious and worried all the time Extra “sensitive”

You might notice physical symptoms such as: • • • •

Stomach upsets Headaches and muscle tension Sleep problems Appetite change — eating more, or less, than usual

And your behaviours and habits might change. You might drink more, increase use of prescription or other drugs, you might take days off work. “I FEEL LIKE THE LIFE HAS BEEN SUCKED OUT OF ME”. “I DON’T CARE ABOUT ANYTHING ANYMORE.” “Burnout” can be dangerous to our physical and mental health and might be characterised by: • • • • • • •

Feeling exhausted all the time, unable to perform basic tasks Losing motivation in many aspects of life, including work and friendships An inability to focus or concentrate on tasks Feelings of emptiness, lacking in emotion Losing your passion and drive Increased conflict in relationships with colleagues, friends and family Withdrawing emotionally from friends and family.

If left untreated, burnout may cause or exacerbate mental health concerns such as depression and anxiety disorders. If you feel stressed, make sure you take regular time out. Switch off from technology, develop your problem-solving skills, learn to say “no” and avoid over-extending yourself. Get support and tell others how you feel. Learn relaxation techniques, do things you value and enjoy, and look at your priorities to make work and life more manageable. If you are feeling overwhelmed by stress and feel unable to cope, do seek advice from a counsellor or health professional.

Need help or someone to talk to? Julia provides psychological counselling and support for a range of mental health issues and can be contacted via lifeunlimited.com.au. Support is also available for anyone in distress by phoning (24 hours) QLife on 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. Some other useful resources are: blackdoginstitute.org.au, au.reachout.com and beyondblue.com.

HEATH&WELLBEING

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Home Loans and Mortgage Broking Services. If you want great results, call me today! Julianne Major Dip FS M. 0475 852 077 Julianne@hudsonGRAYfinance.com hudsonGRAYfinance.com 32

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By Julianne Major Mortgage Broker

WHAT COMES FIRST...

THE PROPERTY OR THE LOAN? Buying property may be something that’s been on your mind, and the prospect of having your own nest is pretty exciting, but it’s important to make sure all your financial ducks are lined up beforehand so the process can be as stress free as possible. Although organising your finances may seem drab compared to mining the internet for property sales and new listings, gaining pre-approval with a lender will give you confidence about how much you can afford to borrow before setting your heart on a property. With pre-approved finance, you can confidently look for your new home without the dreaded “but can we afford it?”. By delaying getting your finance in order, you may also weaken your negotiating position on both the property and the loan. Arranging finance before finding the perfect property will put you in a good position when it comes time to make an offer. That way, when you do find the property you have always wanted, you present to the seller and estate agent as a prepared applicant who is serious and reliable. Arranging finance as an afterthought always adds unnecessary pressure to the process, and has the potential to jeopardise a hard-earned deposit when it sometimes takes longer than expected to arrange.

Letting a professional mortgage broker (which is a free service BTW) deal with the ‘drab’ by lining up your pre-approval takes away the uncertainty and also a lot of the stress, so you can focus on the ‘fab’ and find your ideal property. A mobile mortgage broker will also come to you and personally help guide you on your first steps to being in your new home. :-)

Having your pre-approved finance in place also shows that you mean business. This gives the seller peace of mind that your financing will not fall through. Don’t be afraid to let the selling agent know you have a conditional loan approval in place — you’re serious and ready to roll. Sellers are most interested in completing their property sale fuss-free and without the risk of a buyer’s finance falling through at the last minute. Showing that you are capable of completing the transaction and have taken steps to ensure you are ready to buy will help put you at the top of a potentially competitive list of bidders.

An important tip is that the best deal is not necessarily the cheapest interest rate. A good mortgage broker will examine your circumstances and want to understand your future plans, in order to recommend a loan that is right for you. Having an appropriate loan which works for you can help you build wealth and a property portfolio and give you options in future years. Many lenders and their products seem to offer a great deal, but they could have penalties, fees and charges you may not be aware of, or they may not offer the flexibility you require in the future. A mortgage broker can help you avoid taking out a loan with hidden ‘gotchas’ that you might later regret.

The choices now available in the mortgage market can seem limitless and completely overwhelming, particularly with the competition to grab market share as existing and prospective home owners face a trend upwards in interest rates and a recent tightening of lending criteria. You can choose to research the subject, the lenders and their admittedly complicated products yourself, or work with a professional mortgage broker who already has that knowledge ready at hand and is prepared to go in to bat for you. Together, you and your broker will find the right lender and loan specific to your needs, and work out what you can borrow before entering the property market. A broker is best placed to advise you on the complexities that arise with a major life decision such as buying a home and will do the hard work for you. Julianne Major is a finance professional with an extensive background in developing tailored solutions for clients with a broad range of needs, she is a fully qualified Mortgage Broker with a Diploma in Financial Services and is accredited with the Mortgage & Finance Association of Australia. Julianne is a passionate supporter of the LGBTIQ community, loves meeting people, and is an active member of the Canberra community. For more information email julianne@hudsongrayfinance.com or call 0475 852 077. 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.

HOME&LIFE

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By Maxwell Elliff

A MILLENNIAL MUSES

Gay Conversion Therapy IN ANTICIPATION FOR THE UPCOMING THEATRICAL RELEASE OF THE COMING-OF-AGE DRAMA BOY ERASED (DIRECTED, WRITTEN AND CO-PRODUCED BY OUR VERY OWN JOEL EDGERTON), I WANTED TO DIVE INTO THE KETTLE OF FISH THAT IS GAY CONVERSION THERAPY. This pseudoscience (emphasis on the ‘pseudo’ part) is the practice of attempting to convert someone’s queer sexual orientation to a heterosexual one, typically through psychiatric or spiritual methods. While there is virtually zero scientific evidence that any such therapy works, not to mention its condemnation by nearly every medical organisation on the planet (including the Australian Medical Association, World Medical Association and WHO), it is still being practised across Australia.

Boy Erased. Jared is the son of a small-town Baptist pastor who gets outed to his parents at age 19. He’s soon faced with an ultimatum — attend a gay conversion therapy program or be permanently exiled and shunned by his family, friends and faith.

Conversion therapy emerged on our shores during the 1970s, spearheaded by religious leaders primarily of conservative Protestant congregations, although such practices can be found in all the major religions. A recent study titled ‘Preventing Harm, Promoting Justice’, jointly conducted by Melbourne’s La Trobe University and the Human Rights Law Centre, is the first academic study into the detrimental effects of conversion therapy in Australia, and includes anonymous interviews of 15 people who had first-hand experience with such treatments. The report is truly shocking, detailing practices you would be more likely to associate with B-grade horror movies than real life — for instance, electroshock therapy, brainwashing, exorcisms and hypnosis. But these things did (and in some cases, still do) happen — with the report suggesting at least 10 organisations across Australia and New Zealand today advertise the provision of services aiming to ‘pray the gay away’.

Legally speaking — and here’s the scary part — conversion therapy is not technically against the law. And it really should be. The notion that any young person could be exposed to harmful treatment that goes against something so intrinsically ingrained to their identity (which sexuality is), as well as there being no scientific evidence to support it (in fact, bucket loads that go against it), is terrifying. But change is on the horizon. In 2016, the Victorian government passed laws to crack down on pseudoscientific practices, including conversion treatment, while the ACT and Western Australian governments have declared their intention to follow suit. ACT Health Minister Meegan Fitzharris stated, “The ACT government will ban gay conversion therapy. It is abhorrent and completely inconsistent with the inclusive values of Canberrans”. In September this year, the Australian Senate unanimously passed a motion against conversion therapy and encouraged state governments to enact laws that make it a criminal offence. As someone that was lucky enough to be raised in a non-religious household (thank God!) and attend non-religious schools (I mean, we did still have scripture once a month, but that usually turned into an hour of me wanting to know why there is no mention of dinosaurs in the Bible along with so many other questions about things that made no sense), I am nothing but thankful for the fact that conversion therapy played no part in my adolescent years. Years that are hard enough when coming to terms with same-sex attraction and feelings of being different from your peers. Which is why I am very excited about Boy Erased. Based on the 2016 memoir by Garrard Conley, the film promises to dive head-on into this subject matter, and will feature veterans Nicole Kidman and Russell Crowe as small-town Baptist parents who, after discovering their son’s (up-and-coming talent Lucas Hedges) sexuality, send him to conversion camp — where he comes into conflict with the head therapist (Joel Edgerton, once again directing himself on set). As a firm believer in the power of media to elicit social change, here’s hoping this film hits the mark and sparks an end to the idea that queerness can, or should, be cured.

Boy Erased will be released in Australian theatres on 8 November 2018. If you have been subject to conversion therapy or this article brings up any personal issues, support is available by calling QLife 1800 184 527, Lifeline 13 11 14 or Westlund Counselling 02 6257 2855.

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By Amy Bhatt

India’S queer community celebrates THE INDIAN SUPREME COURT HAS LEGALISED HOMOSEXUALITY, OVERTURNING A 157 YEAR BAN ON CONSENSUAL GAY SEX.

OUR COURT, OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM, REALLY BELIEVES IN THE RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE Kalyani Subramanyam

In a nearly five hundred page unanimous decision issued on 6 September 2018, India’s highest court affirmed that “whenever the constitutional courts come across a situation of transgression or dereliction in the sphere of fundamental rights which are also the basic human rights of a section, howsoever small part of the society, then it is for the constitutional courts to ensure that constitutional morality prevails over social morality.”

Gay rights advocates worldwide celebrated the legal victory, which came after nearly a decade of contentious court battles against a British colonial law criminalising homosexual acts. “Our court, our justice system, really believes in the rights of the people,” said Kalyani Subramanyam, program director for the Naz Foundation, the primary petitioner in the court case, which could open the door to gay marriage. And the ruling is more than a human rights win. It is also a restoration of ancient Indian sexual norms. FUSEFEATURE

> 37

India’S queer community celebrates GAY INDIA AND THE ‘THIRD GENDER’ In that way, India’s ruling differs from recent court decisions legalising gay marriage in Colombia, Taiwan and Germany — though for LGBTQ Indians, the impacts may be similarly life-changing. Sexual and gender minorities in India are regularly harassed, assaulted and jailed. Yet many gender researchers who study India — myself included — argue that India’s religious and cultural heritage has long been more accommodating to multiple gender and sexual expressions than Western societies. According to scholars Ruth Vanita and Saleem Kidwai’s groundbreaking 2000 essay collection on same-sex love in India, Hindus embraced a range of thinking on gender and sexuality as far back as the Vedic period, around 4000 B.C. Hinduism’s first sacred texts tell stories of same-sex love and gendermorphing figures. The Hindu deity Shiva is sometimes worshipped as a multi-gendered figure composed of Shiva and his wife Parvati together, in what’s known as his Ardhanarishvara form. Hindu texts from around 1500 BC likewise show that the “third gender” — individuals sometimes called “hijras” who do not fit into the categories of man or woman — were integrated into India’s political and social life. In the Kama Sutra, India’s famed erotic guidebook, the character Svairin is described as as a liberated woman who lives either alone or in union with another woman. “Male-male attraction” is also “one of the themes of pre-colonial Urdu poetry” writes Vanita in her book about Indian Islamic literature from the 18th and 19th centuries.

THE HINDU GOD SHIVA HAS BOTH MALE AND FEMALE CHARACTERISTICS

India’s Khajuraho temples, built in Madhaya Pradesh state between 950 and 1050, even include depictions of homosexual orgies and fellatio, among other erotic sculptures and scenes.

THE BRITISH EMPIRE PREFERRED THE BINARY

Some scholars of Islam, India’s second-largest religion, also find acceptance of gender fluidity in the Koran, which says that Allah “shapes you in the wombs as He pleases.”

India’s fluid gender and sexual norms did not fit into Britain’s strict Victorian conceptions of appropriate sexual behavior.

Indeed, in India’s 16th century Mughal courts, hijras and eunuchs often held positions of high esteem as advisers or emissaries between men and women.

As the British empire grew more powerful in the Indian subcontinent in the early 19th century, so did their ideas about culture, society and law. Viewing local notions of sexuality as barbaric, British officials imposed Western, Judeo-Christian sexual norms on colonial subjects. Before the British, homosexuality was not illegal in India.

TRANSGENDER PEOPLE WERE RECOGNISED AS THE THIRD SEX BY INDIA’S SUPREME COURT IN 2014

FUSEFEATURE

But by 1861 the British had consolidated their rule over India and were enforcing Section 377 of their penal code, which could punish those who committed sodomy or other homosexual acts with life in prison. When India gained its independence in 1947, this statute remained, becoming Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code. FUSEMAGAZINE.COM.AU

By Amy Bhatt

Amy Bhatt is an Associate Professor of Gender and Women’s Studies at the University of Maryland.

IN LEGALISING GAY SEX, THE SUPREME COURT IS ALSO RECOGNISING INDIA’S RICH PAST

BRITAIN’S ANTI-GAY COLONIAL LEGACY India was not the only British colony where formerly acceptable sexual behaviors and identities became criminalised. Section 377, or a similar statute, was imposed in 42 former colonies, including Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Nepal, which was never formally colonised by Great Britain, also adopted anti-sodomy laws based on India’s British-influenced penal code. In 2007, the Nepali government became the first in South Asia to re-recognise a third gender category. Today, Nepal’s Constitution specifically protects LGBTQ people from discrimination and abuse. Neighboring Pakistan, like former British colonies Bhutan, Uganda and Singapore, still criminalises homosexuality under Section 377. This “unnatural offense” is punishable with up to 10 years in prison. But in 2018, Pakistan, a Muslim-majority country, passed the historic Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, allowing Pakistanis to choose their gender on government documents and prohibits discrimination in employment and public accommodations on the basis of gender identity.

THE FUTURE OF GAY RIGHTS IN INDIA Despite India’s legalisation of gay sex, the path toward full acceptance of LGBTQ rights is complicated and has a long way to go still. For more than a decade, India’s right-wing Hindu nationalists — who espouse a fundamentalist interpretation of Hinduism called Hindutva — have worked to portray homosexuality as a reprehensible Western import. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a Hindu nationalist elected in 2014, is himself a follower of Hindutva. In July, as India’s Supreme Court was preparing to hear arguments on the gay sex ban, Subramanian Swamy, a high-ranking member of Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, retorted that homosexuality “is not a normal thing.” It’s “against Hindutva,” he said. After the ruling against Section 377, an armed Hindu nationalist group called the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh declared that “same-sex marriages and relations are not in consonance with nature.” “Traditionally,” read the September 8 2018 public statement, “Indian society has not supported such relations.” Historic evidence says otherwise. “India’s pre-colonial sexual history is important,” Chaitanya Lakkimsetti, a Texas A&M professor who has studied the fight to end Section 377, told me. Yet, she reflects, “This is not just about hearkening back in time.” For Lakkimsetti, the legal victory shows that “the Indian constitution is a living document that protects minorities.” In legalising gay sex, then, the Supreme Court is not just recognising India’s rich past — it’s also “looking forward.” FUSEFEATURE

30 Ways to World AIDS Day THERE ARE 30 DIFFERENT WAYS YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE BY RAISING FUNDS AND AWARENESS IN THE LEAD UP TO WORLD AIDS DAY. W H I C H W AY S W I L L Y O U R A I S E ? THE AIDS ACTION COUNCIL INVITE YOU TO JOIN THE 30 WAYS TO WORLD AIDS DAY CAMPAIGN IN THE LEAD UP TO WORLD AIDS DAY ON DECEMBER 1.

Visit our website to find out more and download campaign resource.

WORLD AIDS DAY 1 DECEMBER events@aidsaction.org.au | aidsaction.org.au/30ways 6257 2855 | @aidsactionact | #30WaystoWAD 40

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IT'S ALL IN THE NUMBERS

“Numbers do not feel. Do not bleed or weep or hope. They do not know bravery or sacrifice. Love and allegiance. At the very apex of callousness, you will find only ones and zeros.” Amie Kaufman, Author

23% 14% The proportion of LGBTIQ young people that smoke — compared with 5% of the general population.

259

The jump in the number of citizens who are living with HIV/AIDS in China. More than 820,000 people are affected in the country. About 40,000 new cases were reported in the second quarter of 2018 alone. Year-on-year, the number of those living with HIV/AIDS in China has risen by over 100,000 people.

The amount of people that have died taking selfies between 2011 and 2017. The most common ways that people died while taking selfies was by drowning, being hit by traffic or falling. Death by selfie happens mostly to men, with nearly three quarters of the victims being male. Eight people were killed by animals while taking selfies and another 16 were electrocuted over the same period. The country where most of the deaths happened was India, which accounted for around half of all the selfie-related deaths, closely followed by Russia, the USA and Pakistan.

0 The number of crimes committed in public restrooms by transgender people. A new US study has found that transgender bathroom access does not correlate with an increased risk to public safety. The research provides concrete evidence against anti-trans rhetoric which posits that allowing trans and gender diverse people to use the bathrooms which reflect their gender will cause an increase in bathroom-related crimes.

92% The percentage of Australian gay and bisexual men currently living with HIV with an undetectable viral load (UVL). The report by The Centre for Social Research in Health at the University of New South Wales also found that the proportion of gay men with casual partners using PrEP has increased from 1% in 2013 to 16% in 2017.

2/3 According to the latest Australian Essential Research data, conducted in May of this year, a solid two-thirds of Australians want less heavy weight legal action on drugs and a more health-based approach. Only about 17% still think the answer lies with the law.

45% Every year an estimated 1 in 5 Australian adults struggle with a mental health problem, with over 45% of us experiencing some kind of psychological illness during our lives. FUSEINTERVIEW SIZEQUEEN

xmas

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DID YOU KNOW? The Montgomery Ward department store created Rudolph the Reindeer as a marketing gimmick to encourage children to buy their Christmas colouring books.

TABLETOP FIREPLACE The Anywhere Fireplace makes an elegant and romantic Xmas gift. It can be moved anywhere you want so you can enjoy the ambience of a real fire, but without the hassle of smoke or melting wax. It suits any decor and makes a beautiful addition for those special evenings. From $200 @ ebay.com.au

ULTRA COOL MOBILE PHONE COVERS If you’re looking for a cheap but seriously cool Xmas gift, check out these fun mobile phone cases. From a retro 80s music cassette tape to the earthy hardwood floor, there’s a pick for everyone. $20 - $50 @ etsy.com

SMARTPHONE PROJECTOR This unique gift lets you project movies or photos onto the wall — perfect for those moments when you’re snuggled up in bed using just your phone! Smartphone Projector has been designed by Luckies of London to create intimate screenings any time, any place. From $50 @ ebay.com.au

PRIDE XMAS TREE Add some pride to your Xmas this year with a fabulous rainbow tree that would make any Christmas fairy proud. You’ll be the envy of all your friends. The trees come in large, small and tabletop sizes. From $80 - $300 @ ebay.com

COOLXMASGIFTS

CAMP CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS Want to camp up that Christmas tree? Diamonds of the Sea have a huge range of queer Xmas decorations. Here are just a few... Bell Mermaid wears a beautiful Xmas dress while enjoying her candy cane martini cocktail. Elvin the Christmas Fairy has sexy glittery shorts, armbands, translucent wings and very little clothing so he can show off his sculptured body, and lastly Candy Cane Merman is sporting his red and white striped hat and drinking a candy cane martini while showing off his chiselled chest ;-) $35 @ ebay.com

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A Little Laser

Cosmetic Laser Clinic Jennifer Dromgold is the owner of a new boutique laser clinic A Little Laser in Manuka. She provides safe, fast, high end medical grade treatments at affordable prices. Hair removal and skin rejuvenation treatments for people of all skin types. Jennifer’s experience in providing clinical and laser treatments spans over 10 years. Jennifer has clients ranging from gay boys who want to be ultra smooth to people in the trans* community who need a professional clinic that understands their needs. “As somebody that supports and understands your needs I’m very keen to offer my services and help individuals look and feel better. I am excited and proud to be able to offer my clients individual treatment plans and give them the time they deserve in a boutique style clinic. I enjoy building an honest relationship with my clients and love having the opportunity to help people achieve results with their individual concerns.”

We believe it’s about more than just beauty... it’s about you!

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CERVICAL SCREENING

A SIMPLE TEST THAT COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE The Cervical Screening Test looks for HPV, the virus which can cause cervical cancer. If you have a cervix, are between 25 and 74 and have ever been sexually active you should get tested. Even if you have not been sexually active recently, or have been in a long term monogamous relationship, HPV can be dormant and become active again so testing is still important. This includes women who are same sex attracted and people who identify as transgender.

MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH ONE OF OUR EXPERIENCED NURSES TODAY 6247 3077 SHFPACT.ORG.AU

SEXUAL HEALTH AND FAMILY PLANNING ACT

HEALTH &WELLBEING

By Philippa Moss

YOUR CHOICE YOUR CONTROL YOUR INFORMATION MY HEALTH RECORD

THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF DEBATE ABOUT THE PRIVACY IMPACTS OF MY HEALTH RECORD. Some people were uncomfortable that it had changed from an “opt-in” scheme, where you had to make a decision to participate, to an “opt-out” scheme where you participated unless you acted to not participate. Other people were uncomfortable with the level of protection in the law for the information stored in the record. Some people welcomed not having to repeat everything to every health professional and having detailed information readily accessible and under their control. So, is My Health Record good or bad — how do we know? Like most things, there are both positives and negatives. My Health Record used the way it is meant to, will have helpful outcomes, especially for those who have a lot of interactions with health professionals. It allows all your relevant health information to be in one place, and you can control who has access to the information. To do that, you need to understand what information is held, and how you can use your privacy settings with the record to control who sees what. For example, you may not want some health providers to have access to sensitive information about your mental health or aspects of your medical care or prescription drug usage that you do not want to share. On the flip side, you can decide that it is more helpful if a particular treating health professional has a full picture of what is going on in your health care, including pathology tests, x-rays and scans, and prescription drugs. If you participate, health professionals will be able to upload information directly to your record, and other health professionals will be able to review that information. You might decide that some health information reveals things about you and your health that you only want to share with relevant professionals. 44

HEATH&WELLBEING

By using the privacy controls and content settings, you can make sure that only the people you want to have access to your information can have access to it. There is an exception to this: law enforcement bodies will be able to apply for access to your record through a court, and the court will then decide if information is released and what information is released. Many people I know in Canberra, including sex workers and people from the trans and HIV communities, have a right to be wary of the online database. Concerns from these communities are well founded, and participation in the scheme could lead to prosecution and stigmatisation from medical professionals. It could be deeply problematic for many. The use of My Health Record has to be about choice and control; your choice, your control about information about you. That means that you need to be empowered and equipped to be an active and involved health consumer. It is important that you have a look at what information can be held on your My Health Record. You need to understand both the privacy protections available and their limits. Then you can decide if participating in this scheme is for you. You can opt for your information to not be used for research purposes, decide who and in what circumstances the information is shared, and determine what information is included. After thinking about this, you might decide that you do not want a My Health Record. That is your right, and you can ‘opt out’ — but you need to act now. Unless you ‘opt out’ by 15 November 2018 a record will be created for you. Check out myhealthrecord.gov.au and put yourself in control of your health information. FUSEMAGAZINE.COM.AU

CANBERRA SEXUAL HEALTH CENTRE We are a free, friendly, non-judgemental and confidential specialist sexual health centre. Knowing your status for STI, hepatitis and HIV allows you to reduce risk to your partners, get treatment early and stay well. Both walk-in clinic and booked appointments are available. Please call for an appointment to discuss options for PrEP.

PEP IN AN EMERGENCY If you think you have been exposed to HIV, PEP should be started as soon as possible, but may be taken up to 72 hours after the exposure. PEP is available at Canberra Sexual Health Centre, Canberra Hospital and Calvary Hospital Emergency Departments.

e entr lth C a e H xual W? ra Se O r e N b IV n UK at Ca ing H O p s n p Y o o f st ipti DO ays o rescr p w P e v E i et Pr ffect ost e can g m e You up! re th oing rEP a g P TI e r d a es ost S s an s m o m t n o s g gain Cond s dia on a s phili i t y c S e onth nd rot a m p a 6 t e s o e be ry 3 orrh s eve Gon till th s k c d e I ch ol an er ST re co d a i s s n om ld co Cond shou n e em activ y l l a Sexu

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No time to get an STI check? It’s easy with MClinic for men who have sex with men. It’s on the first business Monday of every month.

2018 DATES MON 6 AUG

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2019 DATES MON 7 JAN

MON 4 FEB MON 4 MAR

We are located at Building 5, Canberra Hospital Call 6244 2184 or check our website for opening hours at health.act.gov.au/canberrasexualhealthcentre health.act.gov.au | act.gov.au Enquiries: Canberra 13ACT1 or 132281 © Australian Capital Territory, Canberra

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PrEP PRE-EXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS (PrEP) IS NOW AVAILABLE ON THE AUSTRALIAN PHARMACEUTICAL BENEFITS SCHEME (PBS).

While any GP can prescribe PrEP, many may not be familiar with it or not confident prescribing it to you. At Sexual Health & Family Planning ACT you can be confident that we can help you every step of the way and have the knowledge that you need to make the right decision for you. In most cases, the cost will be $39.50 per month or $6.40 per month for concession card holders. To find out more or to make an appointment call SHFPACT on 6247 3077. We are located at Level,1 28 University Avenue Canberra City.

SEXUAL HEALTH AND FAMILY PLANNING ACT

SHFPACT.ORG.AU

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YOUR HOROSCOPE NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2018 Jupiter, the bringer of sparkling luck, optimism, hope and growth is the major player at this time. Jupiter also brings exuberance and energy, setting the perfect scene for the holiday season. If you’re just not feeling all this goodness, then it means Jupiter is challenging you to rethink some aspects of your life so you can grow and move onto nurturing a happier and more contented state.

Aquarius

January 21 – February 18 Relationships and friendships are in focus over the next two months. You may find yourself meeting someone extraordinary who will change your life forever. Tip: The end of the year will be busy — it will be important you don’t neglect the people you love the most.

Taurus

April 21 – May 21 The next couple of months are pretty darn intense. A holiday romance or new friendship may be coming your way, so keep a look out for that someone special. Tip: Keep things light this Christmas — there will be plenty of time to be serious in the new year.

Leo

July 23 – August 23 A relaxed and calm state of mind is exactly what you need dear Leo. We all know you’re a workaholic, so be sure to take time off from all of this work and spend it with friends and the people you love. Tip: Don’t be too proud to ask for help if you need it.

Scorpio

October 24 – November 22 Lucky Scorpio, the end of the year is looking pretty fantabulous for most of you, and all you need to do is just relax and enjoy the ride. Tip: If any dramas do pop up over the next month or so, keep calm and remember what’s important and what’s not in your life.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20 Some pre-holiday blues could throw you off your game at home or work, but don’t worry because it just means you may need to take off early. Tip: Keep a look out for any red flags that may indicate that a friend or family member is not ok.

Gemini

May 22 – June 21 You may be feeling inexplicably drawn towards helping others. You’re a naturally giving kind of person, and the more you indulge this aspect of your personality, the more fulfilled you’ll feel. Tip: If you’re not happy at work you might want to consider a career change.

Virgo

August 24 – September 23 A deep sense of intellectual curiosity is going to take you to all kinds of amazing new places over the next few months. Tip: If you sense yourself getting overwhelmed, just take a step back and do something that makes you feel relaxed and calm again.

Aries

March 21 – April 20 You may find your emotions are running high and intimacy may be on your mind. Single or partnered, something big is coming your way. Tip: Taking extra care of yourself, physically and mentally, will be super important during December.

Cancer

June 22 – July 22 Some fabulous vibes coupled with a few great hair days put you in a wonderful mood. This is a great time for some personal growth. Tip: Use your intuitive nature to do everything you can to maintain a peaceful and happy atmosphere around the house.

Libra

September 24 – October 23 As usual dear Libra, your head is teaming with ideas, things you want to do and a whole bunch of super creative urges. Remember to take a breath so you can centre yourself. Tip: Take a step back — that head of yours needs a rest — take time to relax and do the things you love.

Sagittarius

Capricorn

You may be feeling a real sense of excitement as there could be some huge life changes in the wind. Keep an open mind and let the universe and your intuition guide you. Tip: Someone close could drive you a little nuts — remember a deep breath always helps.

Pay attention to the little things. Your natural determination and practical ways of looking at things will uncover something extra special that you may have been craving. Tip: The universe wants you to connect with someone you haven’t seen in a long time.

November 23 – December 22

December 23 – January 20

STARGAZER

EMAIL DEAR ROSE WITH YOUR PROBLEM

By Rose Pappalardo

Dear Rose, My BF and I have been together for only two years now, and he does not want to have sex anymore. He feels sex is shallow and we should be creating a more profound bond though god and worship. I love him, but I’m worried about the path he is taking us down. M

Dear Rose, I’ve fallen very much in love with a married bisexual guy I met several years ago now — I see him on a weekly basis. He and his wife have an open relationship. The problem is I want more than just sex, what can I do? Ben

Dear M, One thing I do know is that successful relationships include discussions and agreements about major lifestyle changes, and it appears that this has not happened. While there is no problem with people choosing a more spiritual life, both of you need to agree that you’ll walk this path together and what that path looks like. Even for spiritual couples, intimacy is an important element of a healthy relationship — in fact, it’s an act that should bring you closer to each other and to god as you create a profound emotional connection with love and affection.

Dear Ben, Your lover clearly has a successful agreement with his wife to have a consensual open relationship which appears to work for them, but obviously, it isn’t working for you now.

Dear Rose, After so many years of loneliness, I’ve finally met a wonderful girl online. We love each other very much and chat every day. I’ve been helping her financially and really want to meet her. Do you think if I surprise her with a visit that would be romantic? I want to ask her to marry me. June

Dear June, It’s wonderful that you have someone you are connecting with you. There are a few red flags here that concern me, however. There’s a lot of Catfishing (to lure someone into a relationship by adopting a fictional online persona) happening online, so I urge you to be mindful of this and extremely careful, especially if you’re sending this person money. Having said that, meeting this person face to face is important to see if a relationship has potential. It would be wise to meet in a public place, and even bring a friend if you can. Call me old-fashioned, but I like to look into a person’s eyes to see how sincere they are, what kind of character they are. I also urge you to be patient, as marriage is a serious obligation for both you. After you meet her, and have spent a decent amount of time with her, only then should the question of marriage be considered?

You can express your desire to your lover that you would like more; however, I caution you not to be disappointed if he tells you that he is unable to give you more. One of the key rules I have discovered for these types of relationships is that the couple sets rules that they are not allowed to spend too much time with an individual. More than likely it is because when two people start to spend a significant amount of time with each other, they naturally start to form bonds with each other. This would threaten your lover’s primary relationship. I suggest you start to open yourself up to other people and look for someone who wants to spend time with you outside of the bedroom as well as inside the bedroom.

“ The fact is, I’m gay, always have been, always will be, and I couldn’t be any more happy, comfortable with myself, and proud.”

Anderson Cooper (above right) is an American journalist, television personality and author. He is the main anchor of the CNN news show.

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 Westlund Counselling on 02 6257 2855. If you require relationship support or services call Relationships Australia on 1300 364 277.

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