2014 07 • gay express july 2014 issue by GayExpress

The Man with The Edge! Mike Puru and the Breakfast Gang

Work of Art Michael Lett Back on the Kâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Road Strip

Honolulu Pride express Hits Hawaii! July 2014

PLUS NZ Film Festival | Tamati Coffey | Scene

US Pride | Pets | Foodie Bites | Amanda Tito

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Contents 4 Basement turns ten,turns transten, trans News Basement named campaign ambassador, named campaign ambassador, Tamati makes Labour list, US Tamati makes Labour list, US Pride, AUT steps up! up! Pride, AUT steps 8cene Pics Pics Scene It’s aIt’s love affair! a love affair! 10 he Man with The Edge The Man with The Edge

From the Contributing Editor

Out and proud DJ Mike Puru Puru Out and proud DJ Mike with with his breakfast teamteam his breakfast

Olly is back in the UK for a few weeks on annual leave which gives

14 ottie of the Month Hottie of the Month

me the opportunity to keep his seat

Christopher Christopher

warm. Something I have thoroughly enjoyed. express magazine and

18 he Work of of ArtArt The Work Michael Lett isLett excited to beto be Michael is excited backback on the Road strip strip onK’ the K’ Road

website are bought to you by a

22 International Film Film Festival NZ International Festival

small team of good sorts and we

Our top for 2014 Ourgay top picks gay picks for 2014

hope you enjoy this issue. I think we

have reached a good balance. And isn’t it fantastic that we live in a country where a top radio DJ on

FeastNew on aLaotian budgetfind!

gay. Good on you Aotearoa! When the All Blacks we will know we have really made it! Olly will be back for the next issue so from me it is haere ra. Paul Rose

Cover: Jay-Jay Feeney, out and proud Mike Puru and Dom Harvey from The Edge by Geoff Hedley. gayexpress.co.nz

Gay Gay boysboys go togo Honolulu PridePride to Honolulu 33 oodie Bites Foodie Bites

a top rating station can be openly we have the same happening in

30 ravel Travel

35 eet your community Meet your community Introducing silly and sweet Introducing silly and sweet Actress Amanda Tito Tito Actress Amanda 39k Agony AuntAunt Lisa Lisa Ask Agony

Giveaways

1 x DBL pass to NZ Int Film Fest: You have the choice of winning a double pass to GLTB film: 52 Tuesdays, Eastern Boys or Love is strange.

3x DVDS Blue is the Warmest Colour: Exploring social acceptance, sexuality and complex ties between the two main characters.

2 x Double Pass to Soul Fest: NZ’s first annual Neo-Soul, Jazz and Hip Hop Festival on Sunday October 26 at Western Spring Stadium.

Enter at gayexpress.co.nz

| July 2014 | 3

NEWS

Mary named Ambassador for ‘Its not OK’ campaign Described by one Auckland scribe as “The Trans Golden Girl of the social set’, Mary Haddock-Staniland has been appointed an Ambassador for the It’s not OK Campaign.

Contact

Its not Ok launched in September 2007 with the simple message Family Violence is not OK, but it is OK to ask for help.

Phone 09 360 7671 Fax 09 360 7663 2 Vermont Street Ponsonby Auckland

Mary herself suffered from domestic violence as a child and is honoured to work with the campaign, “I’m proud to be asked to be an ambassador for this amazing cause and will do what I can to raise awareness about domestic violence which occurs in the

info@gayexpress.co.nz

People Contributing Editor Paul Rose editor@gayexpress.co.nz

Publisher Cornerstone Publications Ltd PO Box 47514 Ponsonby, Auckland 1144 Printer Guardian Print

www.gayexpress.co.nz Ideas and opinions expressed in articles or advertisements in express are not necessarily representative of Cornerstone Publications Ltd. Publication of the name or photograph or likeness of any person in express is not to be construed as any indication of the sexual orientation of such persons or organisations and any similarity between individuals named or described in fiction articles and actual persons living is purely coincidental. Publication of any letters/ articles/photographs is at the discretion of the publishers and the right is reserved to withhold/alter/edit and comment on any article, letter, or advertisement published. Permission must be gained prior to reproduction of any articles or photographs contained in express. express’s list of mail subscribers is confidential and is not sold, rented or leased to anyone at any time. Orders for any products/ services advertised in express are made by readers at their own risk.

4 | July 2014 |

Keep an eye out on Mary’s social media platforms for events she will be involved with. Given her corporate exposure, the It’s not OK campaign plans to involve Mary in all sorts of ways.

Family violence thrives in secrecy, so if you are experiencing violence, using violence or witnessing it call the 0800 Family Violence Information Line (0800 456 450).

Advertising Regan Cotter 021 479 911 advertise@gayexpress.co.nz Design Amy Jane Todd design@gayexpress.co.nz

home environment and effects the workplace. If sharing my story about the abuse I suffered as a child can empower others to leave their situations, then that’s a good thing,” she said.

Basement celebrates 10 years! Neill Bartlett and Stuart Hobbs set up Basement cruise club and retail outlet 10 years ago this month! After six years in Norwich Street they moved the business to their present site in Canada Street, off upper Queen Street. To celebrate, a birthday sale starts mid July so watch their website www.basementnz.com for details. Neil says they stock some edgy products unavailable elsewhere in

New Zealand and of course their cruising facilities are legend! “We are proud to have been part of the gay and BDSM communities for the past 10 years and look forward to many more years to come, finding new products and supplying a friendly, safe place to shop and play” said Neill.

Tamati Coffey 30th on Labour List The Labour Party announced on 23 June the list of candidates with Tamati Coffey in 30th spot. According to analysts this is unlikely to result in out and proud Tamati being an MP after the next election unless

Labour do a great deal better than their current polling is indicating. Alternatively he needs to win the electoral seat of Rotorua where he is standing against incumbent National MP Todd McClay. gayexpress.co.nz

NEWS

June Was Officially Pride Month in the US President Obama declared June 2014 the official GLBT Pride Month in the US. The President also called on Americans to recommit themselves to finishing the work that remains to achieve full equality. “As progress spreads from State to State, as justice is delivered in the courtroom, and as more of our fellow Americans are treated with dignity and respect — our Nation becomes not only more accepting, but more equal as well,” Obama stated. “I call upon the people of the United States to eliminate prejudice everywhere it exists, and to celebrate the great diversity of the American people.” June was a busy month for GLBT issues Stateside. According to a White House official, Obama has directed his staff to prepare an executive order for his signature prohibiting federal contractors from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity — a move long sought by GLBT-rights advocates

that builds upon Obama’s legacy as the strongest GLBT ally to ever occupy the White House.

Upcoming Gay Pride Events

The President was expected to sign the executive order as express went to print.

July 3-6 4-6 4-6 16-20 19

Also in June the United States’ first black, openly gay male judge was appointed to the federal bench in a unanimous confirmation decision by the US Senate. Darrin P Gayles, appointed to the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida, one of the nation’s busiest federal benches, has served as a Miami-Dade Circuit Court judge since 2011. He was born in Peoria, Illinois in 1966 and earned a law degree from the George Washington University Law School.

dads in a statement celebrating Fathers Day. Whilst he may have declared June as the Official Pride Month,

The Senate also confirmed Judge Staci Michelle Yandle, an openly gay African-American woman, to the US District Court for the Southern District of Illinois. She is the federal bench’s second openly lesbian black woman and the first in Illinois.

there are still plenty more Pride

The President also included gay

Article | Paul Rose

Celebrations to be had in the USA and other Northern Hemisphere territories over the next few months. Check out the opinon piece on page 17 about Auckland Pride.

Madrid Gay Pride Black Pride, LA Cologne Gay Pride San Diego Pride Glasgow Pride

August 1-3 Amsterdam Gay Pride 2 Brighton Gay Pride 3 Vancouver Gay Pride 5-10 Reykjavik Gay Pride 7-10 Antwerp Gay Pride 11-17 Prague Gay Pride 22-25 Manchester Gay Pride 25-2 Belfast Gay Pride Festival 26-3 Hamburg Pride 26-31 Gay Pride Copenhagen 31 Oakland Gay Pride September 5-6 Las Vegas Pride 12-13 Benidorm Gay Pride 20 Austin Gay Pride 21 Dallas Gay Pride 22-1 Calgary Gay Pride

NEWS

AUTs ‘Schools Scorecard’ to Dramatically improve Circumstances For Diverse Students AUT’s strategy and planning team have collaborated with departments across all schools to develop a new way of demonstrating the different contributions that each of the schools make to the University’s priorities. The Schools Scorecard is an initiative to collect data to identify focus areas within AUT. This will better enable the University to provide and tailor resources to each students needs. Vice Chancellor Derek McCormack says, “The initiative and creativity of the strategy and planning team to develop the Scorecard has been outstanding. This is not only a valuable tool for our university,

but is also a unique development attracting national and international interest.” AUTs recent announcement of signing up to the Rainbow Tick initiative and the Schools Scorecard program demonstrates the importance AUT puts on a safe and diverse learning and working environments. Article | Tux Hika

NZ Prostitutes Collective New Premises Both the Auckland and Dunedin offices of the New Zealand Prostitiues Collective (NZPC) have recently moved. After many years on K’ Road the

The NZPC was formed in 1987 and

Auckland NZPC office is now off

is an organisation advocating for

upper Queen Street, at 3/2 Canada

the wellbeing of sex workers, their

Street (close to Basement).

health and human rights.

The Dunedin office is now at 411

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Scene

It’s Just a Love Affair - Family Bar Saturday 21 June. Photos | Evan Donnelly. Capital PACKED! Bar manager Neil aka WIlma Ballzdrop held down the fort whilst most all of rainbow Auckland decended upon K’ Roads hottest gay nightclub. We had outrageous drag queens, Arabian knights and gayed up disco Stu’s! This is only a sampling of what fun was had, head over to gayexpress.co.nz to see the rest of our gallery photos.

8 | July 2014 |

gayexpress.co.nz

COVER FEATURE

The Man with The Edge express sat down with The Edge Breakfast Show’s Mike Puru, Jay-Jay Feeney and Dom Harvey to discuss the lifestyle of successful shock jocks, being out on radio and their advice for the presenters that remain in the closet.

Mike Puru is New Zealand’s go-to guy for presenting youth programming. The 38-yearold who heralds from Gore made his name in television, presenting the likes of Sing Like a Superstar and Flipside, but that success has been all but eclipsed by his decade-long run hosting The Edge Breakfast radio show with Jay-Jay and Dom. 2014 is shaping up to be their year. In the highly competitive TNS NZ Commercial National Survey, The Edge was ranked as the number one commercial network station, and followed up at the NZ Radio Awards in May winning Network Station of the Year for the first time in its twenty year history. The awards confirmed the breakfast slot deserved much of the credit for the station’s success, awarding the trio Best Metropolitan Music Breakfast Show and the Paul Holmes Broadcaster of the Year gong. The team’s hard work has given them the opportunity to work even harder, as this month

The Edge was NZ’s first commercial radio station to launch it’s own TV channel. Edge TV promises to offer the same irreverent banter and new music as it’s audio counterpart, Jay-Jay sums up, “We want to entertain people, and we try so hard to do that.” She’s not lying. Her and husband Dom are in work by 5am, which gives them an hour to do final research for their show, while Mike checks the audio cuts. They are on air from 6-10am followed by meetings to review the show and plan for the next, before going home and spending the rest of the day online looking for further inspiration and flicking ideas to each other. They are in bed by 9.30 with alarms set for 4.30. The three have worked this schedule together for ten years now and naturally have become very close. “Jay-Jay was one of the first people I told I was gay,” Mike confirms. “I was shocked because Mike is one of the least gay people

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I know.” She retorts. “I would have been less shocked if Dom had come out.” She goes on to confess her and Mike even, ‘pashed’ once. “Was that an on-air thing?,” Dom enquires, “No we were just twenty and drunk,” she casually replies. Mike told her he was gay in 2001, nine years before he emotionally came out to listeners live on-air. At the time he was taking then-partner Regan Wallis to industry functions but describes being fearful every time he picked up a Sunday paper that he could be outed. It wasn’t till he and Regan were living together that he came out to his parents. Unsure how they would react he told his mother by email before she was due to stay with them in Auckland. When he later went to stay with his dad, the subject went unmentioned. Mike says, he wondered ‘what the hell was going to happen’, when his father took him on a long drive down a dirt road, but turned out to be taking him to

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meet a friend’s daughter who was a fan of Flipside. When later dropping Mike at the airport, his father revealed he had seen the email and just wanted Mike to be happy. His parents acceptance added fuel to Jay-Jay and Dom’s encouragement that Mike should come out on radio. “Mike withheld a lot of himself on-air because he was afraid of accidentally outing himself, so it was difficult to really get the wheel turning,” Jay-Jay reflects. “It was difficult to penetrate Mike,” agrees Dom, tongue placed firmly in cheek. “We were trying to show him it wouldn’t be as bad as he thought, plus he could be himself,” Jay-Jay explains. On 24 January 2010, Mike came out live on-air stating,

“this is a very hard thing for me to talk about and for years I’ve never really mentioned it… for my sake and for your sake, because we’re all just friends here, I think it is time that I came clean. Yes, Regan is a dude. I am gay.” He later announced that he and Regan were engaged and celebrated with a party attended by the Prime Minister. Even after he publically came out Mike admits, there was a period of 3-4 months that he remained worried. But he soon realised “it was the tipping point for our show because the response was so overwhelmingly positive. It gave us a point of difference and a great scope of material.” Jay-Jay adds “there’s someone on our show who can actually relate to the gay community. Dom and I are supportive, but we’re straight and married, so it’s like ‘so what’, but when it comes from Mike it’s really real.” Dom feels Mike, “breaks down a lot of stereotypes because he’s not flamboyant and

is probably easier for a lot of gay people to relate too.” Mike agrees, “it’s probably helped a few people growing up and questioning their sexuality to be able to say, ‘oh he’s a normal dude who just happens to be gay’.” In 2012, Mike and Regan’s nine year relationship ended. Mike was devastated. “I had to heal myself and find myself again. Work out who I wanted to be.” He tells us, recommending exercise as the best aid for a broken heart. “I started running, which helped clear my head. I brought a house and lived there on my own. I was heartbroken for a while, but you just have to look after yourself mentally and physically. Don’t go looking for anything. That’s how I met JP.” JP stands for Jean-Paul the third, a name the DJs gave Mike’s new partner who did not wish to be named on their show. Mike tells us JP is a French born 25-year-old who was raised in Keri Keri. Mike describes him as, “calm, motivated, on to it and non-scene.” In 2014 it is still not typical to hear a male DJ talk

COVER FEATURE about a male partner on commercial radio. Mike admits, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I know a few who are gay and arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t out.â&#x20AC;? Our conversation moves to one specific radio personality who remains closeted on-air. Surprisingly, in the closet is where Mike feels he should stay. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Because I know him I think heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s better suited to not being out actually.â&#x20AC;? Jay-Jay agrees, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I just donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think it would sit well with him because heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not open at all in real life. With Mike he is, so it matters that heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also

open on the radio and comes out, but for that guy it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t matter because he doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t share anything of himself anyway, so it wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make a difference to how the[ir] show works.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;What do you think ultimately though? Each to their own?â&#x20AC;? Asks Dom.â&#x20AC;&#x153;Do it when youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re ready, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no pressure.â&#x20AC;? Mike confirms, adding, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I wish I had done it sooner, because thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nothing like being who you are in your day-today life. Giving a fuck what people think has

always been a problem for me but as soon as you let that go, you make better decisions in your life, because you make them for yourself.â&#x20AC;? While the profile of out-New Zealanderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s like Mike have made coming-out easier than it once was, we still have ground to cover. As Mike puts it, â&#x20AC;&#x153;when thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an openly gay All Black, you know that this countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s come a long way.â&#x20AC;? Article | Oliver Hall

Radioâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Favourite Threesome pick their ideal Threesomes: Dom Harvey: Lindsay Lohan, Rihanna.

Jay-Jay Feeney: Ryan Gosling, Enrique Inglesias.

Mike Puru: Zac Efron, All Black Aaron Smith.

Dom says, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Imagine ejaculating on that massive forehead!â&#x20AC;?

Dom says, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d just stand in a corner filming and masturbate.â&#x20AC;?

Dom says, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Why not make it exclusively brown boysâ&#x20AC;Ś Sonny Bill and Sean Johnson?

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HOTTIE OF THE MONTH

Christopher A builder of tree-houses, a Thai masseuse and an English tutor! Our July Hottie is the charmingly charismatic Chris. Chris hails from Liverpool, northwest England. This 23-year-old has only been in New Zealand 13 months and he’s fallen in love with our beautiful country. An avid tramper, Chris loves to be outdoors - hiking, tramping, cycling, you name it! His fondest hiking trip was with his bestie as they took on Adams Peak deep in the heart of Sri Lanka. He tells us there was an incident with a leech but the sunrise was well worth the seven km hike at 2am. If Chris isn’t hunting for the next outdoor adventure, you can find him pumping weights at Les Mills, or cooking up a storm at his Newton residence. Chris is only here for another 10 months and then it’s off to travel Australia. Let’s all try to convince him it’s better here! Photo | Jarrad Mapp for express

14 | July 2014 |

gayexpress.co.nz

Scene Party Hopping Hottie - Pop Bar Friday 20 June. Photos | Evan Donnelly. Warm and wonderful times on Friday night, hers and hers hens with their rowdy gaggle of girls kept Pop packed out, with grooving til the wee hours of the morning.

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OPINION

Pride, In the Name of Love Why Auckland Pride is still

No one is forcing you to. But don’t

relevant.

spend all your time badmouthing people who organise events

First there was Hero and now Pride.

or activities, or the people who

Auckland has now hosted two

participate in them. Unlike you they

Pride Festivals and planning for the

want to celebrate the fact they are

third, to be held in 2015, is already

fabulous.”

underway. Many older members of the rainbow community question

The fact that the crew of

it’s relevance now that we have

Auckland’s top rating breakfast

gained equal rights here in

show includes Mike Puru, an openly

Aotearoa. “Why is it still necessary?”

gay man, is testament to how far

they ask, “We’ve achieved

we have come as a country.

everything we were fighting for.” All the more reason to celebrate, I say!

Mike is out and proud and it is a pleasure to have him and his co-

Yes, those of us with greying hair,

hosts gracing the cover of our July

may have done the hard yakka

issue of express. It is a celebration.

and fought for Homosexual Law Reform (1986), Civil Unions (2004)

If I hear anyone from my generation

and, finally, Marriage Equality (2013)

banging on about how easy the

and we should feel proud of our

kids have it these days I will scream.

achievements, but just because the

Yes, it’s a damn sight easier for them

war is won is no reason to prevent

than it was for us, but “coming out“

a new generation from celebrating

is still “coming out,” bullying is still

the fact that they are Out, Loud

bullying, bigotry is still bigotry and

and Proud.

violence is still violence.

Surely that is what Pride is, a

We have to look out for each other,

celebration! A celebration for

young and old.

young and old, it is an affirmation

the general population.

environment, in a large gathering of non-straights is LYC Big Gay Out

that we are special and we’re here

We have to celebrate who we are.

If nothing else, Pride can have a

at Coyle Park. How exciting and

profound impact on GLBTI teens

affirming that must be. Why would

I can’t wait for the next Pride

Pride, in all it’s glory and across all of

and young adults, who may be

you want to take that away from

Festival. It can’t come soon

it’s varied activities, from the Parade,

questioning, or struggling with their

them?

enough!

through to LYC Big Gay Out and

sexuality. To the naysayers and cynics, I say,

Article | Paul Rose.

to stay.

finally the Party to end all parties is our chance to show off, to be seen,

For many a teenager their first

“Get over yourselves. If you don’t

Photo | Auckland Pride Parade

to be embraced by ourselves and

experience of being in a safe

want to participate in Pride, don’t.

2014.

gayexpress.co.nz

| July 2014 | 17

ART

The Work of Art Michael Lett is excited to be back on the strip. In 2003, Michael Lett’s eponymous gallery opened just along from Urge bar and the Prostitute’s Collective on Auckland’s Karangahape Road. The first show, Dive, featured a video of female models swimming in a pool observed by the artist, Steve Carr, clad in scuba gear. Subsequent exhibitions (over 100 of them) have seen the gallery smeared with mud and half-filled with pink balloons, walls erected and demolished and work made from every possible substance (spit, bran flakes, paper towels) displayed in every way imaginable. “I try not to let the commercial imperative get in the way of the artist’s vision,” Lett says. It’s an approach that has seen Lett earn a reputation as one of New Zealand’s leading gallerists.

Lett is excited to be back on the strip. “There’s no doubt that it’s one of the most interesting streets in Auckland. It has a certain energy that I love and it doesn’t hurt that is has some good bars too.”

Michael Lett’s interest in contemporary art began early. At age 15, he would bus in from Orewa to visit Auckland’s dealer galleries; at 16, he bought his first work (a painting by John Reynolds). Following University study and work in both public and dealer galleries, Lett opened his gallery at age 25. “My experience of working with artists at other galleries wasn’t always as collaborative as I thought it should be,” Lett says. “I wanted to work with artists in a more collegial, mutually respectful way.”

One of those artists is Simon Denny. “Simon and I spent a lot of time talking in the lead up to his final art school presentation. It was clear that he had a unique way of working, and was making very sharp work. I was intrigued and excited enough to offer him a show and the keys to the gallery. Simon spent the four-week summer break making his show in situ. The rest is history.” Denny, now 32, is based in Berlin and is widely regarded internationally as a key figure in ‘post-internet’ art. Denny’s project Five Eyes has been chosen as New Zealand’s official representative at the 2015 Venice Biennale (the so-called ‘Olympics’ of the art world).

In 2011, Lett left the original K’ Road location and moved the gallery into a converted 6000 square foot car workshop, a space that offered room to present more ambitiously scaled projects. In late May this year, the gallery returned to K’ Road, moving to the newly renovated historic Union Bank of Australia and New Zealand building situated at 312 K’ Road. “The opportunity arose to relocate into these elegantly scaled rooms, which offer different possibilities to a sprawling warehouse. There’s also an amazing basement space that is in complete contrast to the gallery above… in a previous life it was a bank vault, and in a parallel universe is probably a cruise club.” gayexpress.co.nz

Since 2003, Lett has built up a formidable stable of artists, ranging from established figures such as Shane Cotton to younger talents including Campbell Patterson and Imogen Taylor. “My interests are wide-ranging. The gallery doesn’t have a ‘house style’ of work. I’m drawn both to intimate drawings and rambling installations, and often find myself attracted to work that I don’t fully understand,” Lett comments. “It’s about the artist too: I need to know that we can develop a strong relationship.”

And Denny isn’t the only artist Lett has seen rise from art school to art star, with a number of the gallery’s artists having received accolades internationally. “It’s important that our artists look beyond the context of the New Zealand art world,” Lett says. “I really believe in these artists, and their work deserves to be seen beyond these shores.” Article | Alexis Drake Photo | Russ Flatt

| July 2014 | 19

ANIMALS

Animal Companions

On a beautiful mid-Winters day contributing editor Paul Rose and photographer Tux Hika headed for the countryside to catch up with horse obsessed Show Jumper, David Collett. Later, in the urban jungle we met up with retailer Ryan Lightfoot and his rabbit, Hop. We asked them both about their animal companions past and present.

David Collett What are your animals called? The two horses are Lingo (brown) and Ontario (coloured). The poodle is called Black and the hunterways are Bella and Britney. Can you remember your first pet? A Welsh Mountain Pony called Lisa. She was black, about 12 hands high, and very naughty! Haha. Have you always been a pet person? I got my first pony when I was three years old. Growing up I was horse obsessed and used to drive my parents crazy talking about them all the time! Horses have always been my passion. My

20 | July 2014 |

partner Craig and I own three horses together. We live thirty minutes north of Auckland. I am very lucky I get to do what I love doing - show jumping. What are the advantages of owning horses? They keep you fit. You get to see a lot of the country going away to Show Jumping Competitions in Summer and they can be very therapeutic! Are there disadvantages? They cost a lot of money! Feeding, covering, shoeing, vets, saddles and the list in endless! LOL. Any advice for budding horse owners? Don’t, unless you are very committed to put in your time , not to mention any spare cash you have! Also, when buying a horse always take someone with experience who knows what’s right for you.

Ryan Lightfoot What’s your rabbit called? Hop.

Can you remember your first pet? Yes, her name was Karla. She was a border collie my parents bought together as teenagers. Have you always been a pet person? Yes. I grew up with a dog and two cats. I got my first rabbit when I was 12. Since moving out of home I now have 2 cats, a rabbit, 2 chickens, a rat and a tank full of lizards! What are the advantages of owning animals? The attention, love and appreciation they have towards you. Are there disadvantages? The disadvantages are minimal. Having to get someone to take care of them when you’re away. Any advice for budding pet owners? Do it. Remember you are in it for the long run. They are living and not disposable. Article | Paul Rose. Photos | David with Lingo and Ontario, Ryan with Hop by Tux Hika.

gayexpress.co.nz

ANIMALS

Single with Cats? Roz is a single young lesbian making her way in the world with fears of looniness and dying with her home over run by cats. I have a confession to make. As with so many things in life that come to annoy us, I’ve been as guilty of the following misdemeanour as everyone else who ever posted up a meme of a box of kittens with the label “Crazy Cat Lady Starter Kit”. As someone who’s been single for years, I’ve made my fair share of jokes about dying alone surrounded by cats, of the SPCA turning up with a van and unloading half the unwanted kittens in town into my living room once I turned 30. It’s a trope that goes double for queers it seems. After all, if a lesbian brings her couch on the second date, the third date is to the cat shelter. At least owning a cat or two is fine if they’re having their tails pulled by your over-eager toddlers, but talk of getting a new pet when your Pink Sofa profile is still regularly updated will be met with a knowing look and a comment about biological clocks. There’s only a certain amount of selfdeprecation (and, let’s face it, deprecation of others in similar situations) that you can really do before you start questioning why the stereotype exists in the first place. Why the link between women and cats, single women and lots of cats? Why, when I talked about possibly getting a cat, was I greeted with arched eyebrows and jokes about what took me so long. For the record, I ended up with a small green parrot with anger management issues. There’s an inherent sexism to all this, once you get past the Simpsons references. The inference that women are so desperate for affection, to nurture, that once they get left on the shelf too long they’ll mother anything they can get their hands on. It’s not just cats of course, our gendered view of the world extends to our relationships with pretty much any animal. Single man has dog? He’s gayexpress.co.nz

outdoorsy, masculine, at least he is as long as the dog can’t fit inside a handbag. Single woman has dog? Child/man/woman substitute. I appreciate that I am coming across as a humorless feminist who can’t take a joke but it’s the little constant micro-aggressions like this that make being female just that little bit harder. When even our choice of fluffy, feathery or scaly money-sink is seen as further proof of our inability to manage by ourselves, when a woman’s

relationship status becomes linked to her mental health (It’s never a sane cat lady, is it?), when we’re such slaves to our biology that we have trouble telling the difference between an animal that disembowels rats for fun and an infant, in terms of affection. It’s disempowering, it’s a little demeaning, and maybe it’s time to leave the meme on the shelf and appreciate that a pet is just a pet. Article | Roz Simpson

| July 2014 | 21

FILM

Top Picks From International Film Festival The New Zealand International Film Festival 2014 has many a treat in store as it makes it’s way around Aotearoa. Here are some favourites:

Love Is Strange

Eastern Boys

Reaching For The Moon

52 Tuesdays

After 28 years together, Ben (John Lithgow) and George (Alfred Molina) take advantages of the new marriage laws and tie the knot in a garden wedding, surrounded by friends and family, in the East Village.

The boys come from all over Eastern Europe : Russia, Ukraine, Moldavia… The eldest appear to be no older than twenty-five and the youngest very young indeed. They spend all their time hanging around the Gare du Nord train station in Paris. Some are rent boys, others not.

Reaching For The Moon is a love story between two women. Elizabeth, a weak, alcoholic loser, and Lota, a strong winner, provider and do-er.

16 year old Billie thinks she knows everything about her mother so is utterly surprised when she learns of mum’s decision to transition from woman to man. Billie’s parents decide that she will live with her dad for a year only seeing mum on Tuesdays.

However, upon returning from their honeymoon, Ben gets fired from his job as a Choir Master at a Catholic School and the two of them can no longer afford the mortgage so they move in with a nephew and his family in Brooklyn, who’s neighbours happen to be two gay cops.

Daniel, a discreet man in his early fifties, has his eye on one of them – Marek. He plucks up enough courage to talk to him and Marek agrees to visit Daniel at his place the following day.

A multi-generational story of love and marriage, Love Is Strange depicts the delicate nature of any two people trying to build a long life together, and the possibility of love to grow deeper, and richer, with time.

Eastern Boys portrays characters living clandestinely who represent both a danger and a promise for one another. The film threads its way through ambiguous feelings, borderline situations and moments of pure jubilation.

Director Ira Sachs Country of Production USA Language English Running Time 98 minutes

Director Robin Campillo Country of Production France Language French (English subtitles) Running Time 128 minutes

22 | July 2014 |

They meet when Elizabeth, a frustrated poet travels to Brazil where they are introduced by Mary, Lota’s lover of more than twelve years. Lota falls for Elizabeth and initial hostilities make way for a complicated, yet long-lasting love affair that dramatically alters Elizabeth’s relationship to the world around her. Set in the Rio de Janeiro of the 50’s and 60’s this is a film that speaks of love, loss, despair and joy and is based on a true story. Director Bruno Barreto Country of Production Brazil Language English/Portuguese Running Time 118 minutes

Very quickly Billie’s once close relationship with her mother becomes limited to unsatisfying Tuesday afternoons together and she begins to find connections elsewhere. Filmed over the course of a year, once a week, every week – only on Tuesdays – these unique filmmaking rules bring a rare authenticity to this emotionally charged story of desire, responsibility and transformation. Director Sophie Hyde Country of Production Australia Language English Running Time 110 minutes Article | Paul Rose gayexpress.co.nz

Scene Where are the All Blacks? - Family Sat 07 June. Photos | Evan Donnelly. A quick trip on the Pink Link took us to a very “packed to the rafters” Family Bar! So many people our poor photographer had to push his way through the hot and dancing masses to gain space to shoot! It was rugby fever and there were loads of fans in their blacks after the game at Eden Park, we tried our best to find a real live All Black in the shadows but they must have all been snapped up! gayexpress.co.nz

| July 2014 | 23

OPERA

La Traviata Opens with Acclaim! NZ Opera’s production of La Traviata opened in Auckland on 19 June to enthusiastic acclaim from a full house at the Aotea Centre.

were particularly powerful and impressive, all helped by the new interior of the ASB theatre and its vastly improved acoustics.

Verdi’s tale of a fragile society girl in Paris who reluctantly accepts love only to be forced to give him up, is possibly the most performed opera in the world and a real classic.

This is opera at its best – and if you have never been to opera before this is the one to go to. A world standard of production (indeed it surpasses a production I saw in Barcelona), great sets, familiar music, magnificent voices… and a tragic love story to get everyone’s tears rolling.

Co-produced with The State Opera of South Australia and Opera Queensland the sets were chandelier sumptuous and the singing magnificient. The three leads, Violetta, sung by Lorina Gore, Alfredo, sung by Sam Sakker and Alfredo’s father Giorgio, sung by David Stephenson

La Traviata continues until 15 July at the St James theatre in Wellington after five performances in Auckland. Article | Richard Todd

posters print place e: bill@proﬁleplus.co.nz

THEATRE

The Good Soul of Szechuan Bertolt Brecht’s play gets a reinterpretation in this Auckland Theatre Company Production. Shen Te, played by Robyn Malcolm, is a “tart with a heart”, compassionate and generous, but somewhat gullible. When three Gods on a fact-finding mission come across her they give her the means to start a business. This is when her troubles begin, as everybody takes advantage of her good nature. To survive she creates a male alter ego, the ruthless and exploitative Shui Ta, but she struggles to keep her world together switching between these two characters.

In The Good Soul of Szechuan, Brecht has created a dark and dazzling parable which explores the place of love and goodness in a complex world. It’s hard to be good when you’re broke and harder still if you’re living in a broken world. This ATC production showcases the talents of a truly multicultural cast of actors, singers and musicians headed by the brilliant Robyn Malcolm. Directed by Colin McColl, with music direction by John Gibson, this special show will be one of the theatrical highlights of 2014. The Good Soul of Szechuan plays from 24 July to 17 August at Q Theatre.

Scene

GABA June Mixer â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Empire Tavern Wed 04 June. Photos | Evan Donnelly. There was a good turn out at GABA for the June Mixer, those there braved the cold for a good chat, a catch up and some nibbles.Â Under discussion were the community events for June lead by the ever uplifting GABA Presdident, Skot Barnett.

26 | July 2014 |

gayexpress.co.nz

ADVICE

Dance Your Heart Away! to ignite their students passion in the performing arts with modern music, performance, people, and a real sense of community at its core. They teach students of all ages, shapes, genders, levels and sizes with the mission to develop a life-long passion for the arts. The emphasis is on ‘feeling good’; believing in yourself, gaining confidence, fitness, skill and nurturing good self esteem through a modern take on dance. Every Tuesday at 8pm for 15 weeks Claire donates her time to offer a free adult hip hop, hair and heels dance class, a social taster to anyone over 21. Amongst other things they run a rainbow hip hop class for the rainbow community. Claire also teaches performance classes for youth and young adults. There is a school of thought in Kingsland that the expression of the arts is for absolutely everyone. That regular performance is the key to building life long skills in confidence…

Baxter School of Dance is a warm and encouraging home for performance and dance. Aiming to use new forms of communication, and fusion of modern and traditional dance genres

Check out www.clairebaxterdance.co.nz or call 09 9407 991 for more information. Photo | Hip Hop Class by Evan Donelly.

Where there’s a Will, there’s a way. Around 60% of us don’t have Wills. What a mess we can leave. Not to mention fights over badly made Wills. If you don’t have a Will, your family won’t know your wishes, and your property will be divided by law, which may not be what you want. You have no control over who administers your estate. If you have no relatives your estate will go to the Crown, while you may prefer friends, and/or charities. A Will must be written, signed and witnessed in a certain way. You must have capacity, so it is no good waiting until you are gaga! Failure to observe these rules may render your Will invalid. The law allows the Court to make an order declaring a Will valid if it is satisfied that it expresses the deceased person’s testamentary intentions, but requires application to the High gayexpress.co.nz

Court, which is expensive, time-consuming, and success is not guaranteed. People can bring a claim against your estate if they consider that proper provision has not been made for them. These could be folk who consider they have been promised something when you die; disgruntled family members who believe they have not been left enough or have been left out; and de facto partners and their children. Your Will should not gather dust. It should be reviewed every few years, especially if your family or financial circumstances change. Separation does not revoke a Will, but marriage and civil union does, unless the Will is made in contemplation of marriage. Don’t try and make your own Will. It may seem a simple matter but there are a number of

extremely important legal issues to be considered. This is not intended to be legal advice. If you have any concerns about making a Will, see your lawyer. Article | Alan Clark. Photo | Alan and Jeremy Clark.

| July 2014 | 27

Scene

Annie Opening Night – The Civic Friday 14 June. Photos | Suki Zhang

F R

I D

S UR D

ES D AY

ESD

S U

N D

Direct from the UK, Annie the Musical opened in Auckland last month. The who’s who of local theatre and television strutted the red carpet with kids in tow.

AU G U S T S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4 MOREFM

Opening Party

GAYDAR Presents

Ladies or Gentlemen? FOR THE BOYS: GAYDAR Strip Night

gayskiweekqt.com

FOR THE GIRLS: GAYDAR Girls @ No.5

CRABBIE’S Presents

Bingay!

ANIKA MOA Live @

GIBBSTON VALLEY

SASSO

Life is a Cabaret!

SKYCITY

Queenstown’s

Karaoke!

FAMILY BAR & NIGHTCLUB Presents

‘B’ Word

BELVEDERE Presents

Oh, what a circus!

30 AUGUST - 6 SEPTEMBER Queenstown, New Zealand

HOTTIE OF THE MONTH

Nancy Wijohn Nancy Wijohn is a high-flyer. Not only is she the face of two of NZ’s top dance companies, but she has also performed with the infamous Douglas Wright in Auckland and in Holland. Some may recognise her from Tama Waipara’s Medicine Man music video dancing in a K Rd laundromat or from CrossFit madness in the park. From babin’ photos on a New York rooftop to gracing our streets on posters for the upcoming NZ tour of Okareka Dance Company’s Mana Wahine - you can’t get a more feisty wahine than this lady. Mana Wahine tours to 14 centres around NZ from June 27th. For more details visit www.okareka.com. Photo | Alex Efimoff

gayexpress.co.nz

| July 2014 | 29

TRAVEL

Honolulu Pride! Thanks to the support of Smirnoff, Family and Pop Bars, express magazine and website and Hawaiian Airlines eleven gay boys ventured off to participate in Honolulu Pride held on 7 June. Patric Seng and Richard Todd tell the story...

Auckland’s Pop Bar was buzzing on Friday nights

build quality that these 50-year-old buildings are

in April and May as the winners of the Hawaii

still near perfect. Many, such as our hotel, had

competition were announced. Each winner

undergone recent interior refurbishment. Waikiki

received two air tickets and a six night hotel

Beach is stunning and clean. A beautiful blue

stay at Vive Hotel Waikiki. Winners jetted off on

sea and crowded with all sorts, from cute surfers

Hawaiian Airlines to join the fun of Honolulu Pride

to the Japanese with their perfectly defined

on Thursday night 5 June – to arrive the same

bodies. In fact all of Waikiki is well tendered and

day, late morning!

tidy. People walk slowly and the traffic is quiet – even the homeless are unobtrusive.

First impression and forever with you in Waikiki is how pleasantly dated everything is. For lovers

Food-wise it is a real mix. American chain

of modernist architecture this is heaven. And

restaurants can be bad, but do your homework

it is a testament to the integrity of the original

(and open your wallet) and you can find top-

30 | July 2014 |

gayexpress.co.nz

TRAVEL

class restaurants such as Taormina – or The Terrace at Moana. Price-wise, the good news is clothing and drinks. Thanks to the Japanese pouring into Hawaii the top fashion labels (A/X for instance) are all here and at prices Americans can afford. Similarly cocktails and spirits are all around US$5 and pack a punch that will soon catch up with you! Of course the big event was the Pride Parade and Party on Saturday 7 June. The parade started in Ala Moana at 10am and wound its way down Kalakaua Ave to Kapiolani Park where everyone got together and continued celebrating ‘Big Gay Out’ style. The local police headed the parade on motorbikes followed by the Royal Hawaiian Band, Lady Gaga, roller derby girls and much more. Curious onlookers - mostly tourists - watched as it rolled by. A separate smaller function was held at Ala Moana after the parade. Our Mika and entourage did a show and just about everyone headed off to nearby Hula Bar to party from mid afternoon! gayexpress.co.nz

Hawaiian gays and lesbians are conservative dressers. So Zakk in our group, teetering along in high heels and stockings, was about the only person making it “outside the square”. Other oddities included the prayer at the opening of the Pride festivities at Fusion nightclub. Like the other gay venues (Hula Bar and LoJax), Fusion is a real time warp. Abba? No wonder there is a lack of younger patrons, although this may be also due the drinking age being 21. Hawaii offers great weather, friendliness, beaches and fun - if dated - venues. Perhaps the only thing missing is the café scene. Waikiki was built before this became popular. If time permits get out of Waikiki… rent a car or go on the fixed fare bus all round the island. All too soon our time was up and we headed home to wet, cold Auckland! Article | Patric Seng and Richard Todd Photos | Patric Seng and Zakk D’Latte

| July 2014 | 31

REVIEW

The Best Of The Rest Metro magazine recently revealed their picks for the top 50 restaurants in Auckland and I always look forward to seeing who makes the list. I enjoy reading their picks, but I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t always agree with them. The restaurants I am reviewing this month all deserved their spot on the list.

The Oyster Inn 124 Ocean View Rd, Oneroa 09 372 0222 Owners Andrew Glenn and Jonathan Rutherfurd-Best take a hands-on approach in the Cape Cod inspired dining room and the service is terrific. The frequently-changing menu is concise and well-executed. The pork sliders ($26.25), the mussel fritters ($17.50) and the half-dozen tempura oysters ($24) were all excellent choices to start. The fish of the day ($32) was good but somehow failed to build on the excitement of the entrees. Their veranda is the perfect place to spend a lazy sunny afternoon.

The Federal Delicatessen 86 Federal St, Auckland 09 363 7814 Easily one of my new favourite places. The pea and pastrami croquettes ($9) were seriously addictive and the smoked Kahawai cakes ($14) were delightfully moist. The spiced eggplant salad ($9.50) with yogurt, apple and chilli tabbouleh was simply superb. The meatboard ($24) of house pastrami was substantial enough for three of us to share and really satisfying. The poutine ($12) was good but nowhere near as good as real Montreal poutine. The true star of the meal were the pies for dessert. The three way combo ($18) of three pies was one of the best desserts I have had in ages.

Ima 57 Fort St, Auckland 09 300 7252 Chef Yael Shochat is a real gem of the Auckland restaurant scene. Her Israeli/Mediterranean menu is hearty and heart-warming and designed to be shared with friends. The mezze platter to start ($29) was devoured quickly, which was followed by the half chicken ($30), the lamb shoulder ($16) and a selection of Imaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s delicious sides ($36). The food is excellent and make sure you try one of their amazing coffees before you leave. It will have you buzzing for hours! Article | Mark Garrison

32 | July 2014 |

gayexpress.co.nz

EAT

Foodie Bites

Fabulous Farina

A touch of Laos in Mt Eden We love Mt Eden newcomer Bolaven for its great coffee, fab sweet treats and gorgeous fitout. We’re also very excited about the Laotian menu items (Sip, the owner, harks from there) and can’t wait to get back in at lunchtime to try them. 597 Mt Eden Road, Mt Eden, www. facebook.com/Bolavencafe.

Be of Best the Best th Ne of this News broke just b as a we went to print last month la sso no chance c to mention it in the June issue issue. One o of our favourite gay chefs, Robert Oliver, won the Best TV Chef Cookbook In The World 2013 for ‘Mea’ai Samoa’ at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards. Robert is an insanely talented chef and the recipes in both this latest book and the last (Me’a Kai) bring modern pacific cuisine to a whole new level. www. robertoliveronline.com.

gayexpress.co.nz

Blue Breeze Pride We were very proud to hear that Blue e Breeze Inn did so well in the recent Lewisham Hospitality awards (we’d like to think it’s because gay hospos really know how to run a good restaurant!) They picked up Most Outstanding New Establishment 2014 and Mark Wallbank won the Outstanding Restaurateur award sonby for this year. Well done folks. 146 Ponsonby Road, Auckland. www.thebluebreezeinn.co.nz.

TThe lovely editor, Olly, and I headed o out to check out one of Ponsonby’s llatest additions – Farina. We loved tthe options of small plated Italian sstreet food, bigger full meals or TToto’s pizza by the metre. The LLasagne (with house made pasta) was wonderful and the antipasti w we ordered from the cabinet was w also excellent. We’d have to rate a ttheir Arancini balls as some of the b best we’ve tasted, and if you’re llucky you’ll be served them by the gorgeous silver fox Frenchman of g Mondial and Beresford Wine Bar M ffame. Farina, 244 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby (walk ins only). P

Market Stall of the Month: Magnolia Kitchen On a recent trip to Hobsonville Markets, we fell in love with the gorgeous Magnolia Kitchen with its amazing sweet treats and charming vintage feel. We loved the fudges and other old-fashioned delights but our favourite had to be the homemade Apple Crumble marshmallow. It’s like all your favourite, most comforting tastes and textures rolled into one pillowysoft treat. www.facebook.com/ magnoliakitchen.

Article | Alexia Santamaria. Alexia exia is the co-authorr of popular blog www. cheapeats.co.nz nz the Auckland guide to eating g great food without hout going bankrupt. t.

| July 2014 | 33

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