OUTinPerth 194 September 2017

ISSUE 194 • SEPTEMBER 2017 FREE MONTHLY

SAY YES! Mark McGowan | Lady Bunny | Marcia Hines | Bi Visibility | R U OK? | Claire Alexander

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SECRET SOUNDS Presents

The 25th Annual Music & Arts Festival FLUME • FLEET FOXES • RUN THE JEWELS • THE KOOKS • GLASS ANIMALS PEKING DUK • ANGUS & JULIA STONE • FOSTER THE PEOPLE • LIAM GALLAGHER VINCE STAPLES • JUNGLE • DUNE RATS • THE SMITH STREET BAND • DRAM DARYL BRAITHWAITE • EVERYTHING EVERYTHING • ALLDAY • THE JUNGLE GIANTS THUNDAMENTALS • METHYL ETHEL • SLUMBERJACK • D.D DUMBO • ANNA LUNOE DZ DEATHRAYS • CONFIDENCE MAN • JULIA JACKLIN • BAD//DREEMS • COSMO’S MIDNIGHT WINSTON SURFSHIRT • LUCA BRASI • ALEX LAHEY • CAMP COPE • FLINT EASTWOOD ECCA VANDAL • DAVE • TOTAL GIOVANNI + LOADS MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED

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tickets on sale now fallsfestival.com

Burnin’ Down The House with BarbieQ

culture

get stronger upgrade to pear halves! On a budget? Use Black and Gold brand!

Once you’re done, pop her open and eat!

How thrifty!

Forget Gwyneth and the House of Goop, the House of Q has all the lifestyle tips you need to survive.

This month BarbieQ shares how to keep a lean and mean figure on a budget; 1. Don’t eat unless you have to, if you’re hungry you will lose weight, and that will make you a fucking mean bitch because you will constantly be on edge, so everybody wins in the face of a skinny hangry bitch with cheekbones like razor blades.

2. Instead of buying a corset which can be costly, buy some glad wrap, hold it on your body and get your housemate to pull it tight and run around you in the kitchen.

That way you can scream at him to run faster and it will also make you sweat which drops more weight!

3. Weight lifting with canned soup! Who needs a gym when you can buy canned goods! Start off with soup and as you

4. Masturbate... ALOT! This will help tone your arms from quick repetitive movements! To make it more fun, invite a friend, that way you save on a personal trainer! This exercise is also fun as a group activity! Just avoid chowing down on the soggy Sao at the end of the night... it’s good for your skin but there are a lot of hidden calories in spooge.

5. Try getting tied to the back of someone’s moving vehicle - this beats a treadmill and also has varying speeds especially in built up city areas as there will always be breaks due to traffic lights and stop signs, just be sure to avoid freeways...because then you’ll really be fucked! And not in the good way.

BarbieQ

September 6 1947 Disco superstar Sylvester was born September 8 1975 Leonard Matlovich becomes the first openly gay person to appear on the cover of TIME magazine September 11, 1961 the documentary ‘The Rejected’ is aired on US television, a groundbreaking moment of recognition for LGBTI+ people September 12 1992 Actor Anthony Perkins died of an AIDS related illness September 14 2011 Rudd government announces it will make it easier for gender diverse people to get a passport in their preferred gender September 18 2011 The death of US teenager Jamey Rodemeyer highlights the issue of cyberbullying September 22 2010 US student Tyler Clementi committed suicide after his roommate secretly filmed him making out, the incident would be a catalyst for highlighting cyberbullying September 23 1999 Celebrate Bisexuality Day is created September 26 1975 The Rocky Horror Picture Show has its premiere September 26 2015 Who’s the Boss star Danny Pintauro reveals he has HIV September 29 1971 Poet W H Auden died September 29 2014 Local queer identity Buka passed away

After a sell-out festival last year, the WA AIDS Council is screening a second queer film festival at The Backlot Cinema in West Perth 13 – 21 September.

These are films that won’t be seen anywhere else in Perth.

Festival Director Mark Reid promises that the nine feature films and 21 short films from all over the world will be thought provoking. He said that rather than happy ever after films, the festival showcases the depth of lived experiences that are happening for GLBTI people around the world.

The opening film Discreet certainly provoked a lot of discussion when it previewed. This American film, directed

by Travis Matthews, weaves together four narratives. While a plastic covered body floats down a river, a troubled man living out of his van is trying to come to terms with his past, a man with dementia lives alone on an isolated property

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and the calm meditative voice of Mandy at Gentle Rhythms tries to calm us as the disturbing story unfolds.

No explanation can do this film justice. It is low budget, it is disjointed and it is confronting ... but it is a powerful personal story, beautifully shot and expertly edited for maximum impact.

The Backlot is a boutique cinema, so limited tickets are available for each film. Get out your diary, get your friends together and grab your tickets. Your ticket also gets you free entry into Connections and a glass of bubbles after each screening.

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This year’s festival also has a free ‘satellite screening’ of the film Velociraptor at Curtin University on Tuesday 19 September. This Australian premiere is a Mexican film about sexual awakening, friendship and an apocalypse.

The Perth International Queer Film Festival runs from Wednesday 13th - Thursday 21st September. For more information head to waaids.com Lezly Herbert

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OUTinPerth

September 2017

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inside out

CLAIRE ALEXANDER PG9

MARRIED TO THE VOTE I bet you’re sick of talking about marriage equality. Samesex marriage! Homosexual weddings! Boys wearing dresses! Safe Schools for some reason! Gateway to incest?! Plebisc, er… postal vo… um, survey! Whatever the descriptor, I am exhausted.

In just a few weeks, this debate has been amplified and intensified by the government’s insistence on putting this issue to the people - and it has been brutal.

The LGBTI+ community have been accused of stealing and grooming children, creating a new “stolen generation”, compared to paedophiles, of inventing almost 70 new genders and even teaching children to “sponke the monkey”! (Don’t ask, that was a weird one.)

Those who are fighting the loudest against making room in the Marriage Act for LGBTI+ couples have artfully crafted this debate, in the wake of Tony Abbott’s leadership, to obfuscate and confuse this conversation; forcing a national debate over an issue that could have been resolved in minutes in parliament, while blaming the extension of this conversation on queer Australians. On those whose lives would be forever changed and validated by our nation’s laws, on those who are asking for very little, and - in reality - asking for no sacrifice from others.

This prolonged conversation is shifting those who were indifferent to the No camp, as they grow tired of hearing about this issue more than any other that faces our nation.

Both Yes and No voters grow incensed, aggressive and even violent and as they are pitted against one another on a national scale. This is Tony Abbott’s creation, and Malcolm Turnbull’s fault; not ours.

Cory Bernardi’s Australian Conservatives have released a Facebook photo frame to counter the sea of rainbows that seem to dominate our profiles. It reads; “It’s OK to vote No.” The Prime Minister is certain Australians can have a civil

MARK MCGOWAN PG13 conversation about this. Television networks are bound to present both sides of this debate as equally valid. Well guess what? It isn’t, we aren’t and they shouldn’t.

It is very, very easy for me to say; there is no valid argument against marriage equality.

Can’t reconcile it with your religion? That’s okay! There are exemptions for religious institutions in the government’s curre nt bill, and I’m sure queer people don’t want to marry where they’re not welcome.

BI VISIBILITY DAY PG15

Kids need their biological mother and father? There are a number of studies that dispute that, let alone the fantastic single, adoptive, foster and non-traditional parents that already exist.

Think it will lead to polygamous or child marriage? No it won’t! Those are both illegal in Australia, and underage marriage does not allow for consent by both parties. Come on.

Children being taught about queer sex in school? Well, LGBTI+ kids already exist, and they have a right to know about safe sex too!

LADY BUNNY PG18

Worried people won’t be able to easily ask about your significant other because they won’t be certain of what gender they are? Get over it!

When this issue of the magazine hits the streets, the High Court will have decided whether or not we are having this vote at all - but the message on our cover remains. There’s only one thing to say to marriage equality in Australia.

Say Yes! Or, say nothing at all.

MARCIA HINES PG20

Leigh Andrew Hill (Special thanks to Flo Reel, Perri Oxide, Feminem and Steve’s Umbrella for taking part in our cover shoot! Shot by Claire Alexander.)

Put down your phone Ted! International comedy star, David Strassman’s brand new show, iTED E uproariously parodies our technology-laden lives. The sharptongued Chuck Wood and loveable Ted E. Bare are constantly on their devices. With everyone connected to social media and the internet 24/7, will Strassman get them back under control?

Battle of the Sexes This new film is based on an incredible true story, the 1973 tennis match between women’s World #1, Billie Jean King (Emma Stone), and ex-men’s-champ and serial hustler, Bobby Riggs (Steve Carell). It was billed as the “Battle of the Sexes” and became one of the most watched televised sports events of all time.

We got three double passes to giveaway to the opening night at tHe Regal; Theatre at 7pm on Tuesday, October 17, just head to the giveaways page at OUTinPerth.com and use the codeword: Selfie

We’ve got 5 in-season double passes to giveaway. Head to the giveaways page at OUTinPerth.com and use the codeword: racket

Managing Editor: Graeme Watson graeme@outinperth.com Creative and Content Editor: Leigh Andrew Hill leigh@outinperth.com Advertising: sales@outinperth.com Graphic Design: Haze Koelmeyer Contributors: Lezly Herbert, Jesse R Johnson, Jo Wynaden, Anthony K J Smith, Bella Broadway, Zac Gower, Clinton Little, James Fowler, Ashley Hayes, Misty Farquhar Photographers: Shot by Thom, Claire Alexander Disclaimer: Copyright on contributions to any ads published in OUTinPerth is retained by the author/advertiser respectively. Permission to reprint should be sought via the creative team. The views of this publication are contained in editorials. Opinions expressed in columns or articles are those of the author/s and do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher. Publication of the name, image or likeness of anyone herein does not indicate the sexuality or behaviour of that person. Advertisers are advised that all advertising copy is their responsibility under the Trade Practices Act. The appearance of any advert/advertorial herein does not imply endorsement by OUTinPerth. Contact Ph: 9227 0360 or 0402 549 811 Web: www.outinperth.com Find us on: Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Instagram Mail: 3/377 Newcastle Street, Northbridge, 6003 Publisher: Speirins Media Pty Ltd Printed By: Fairfax Printing ISSN: 1447-2678 Issue: #194 August 2017. Cover: Flo Reel, Perri Oxide and Feminem by Claire Alexander Secret Message: Does anyone else think Finnish popstar Tuure Boelius looks like Ry Wri?

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OUTinPerth

September 2017

We get what matters to you

Same Sex Family Law

Adoption

Binding Financial Agreements

De Facto Relationships

Property Settlements

Surrogacy

Violence Restraining Orders

Contact/Custody

Address: 1/100 Terrace Road EAST PERTH WA 6004 W: kavlaw.com.au

T: (08) 9218 8422 E: reception@kavlaw.com.au

news

Marriage equality sign vandalised

Landmark study looks into the mental health of trans youth A ground-breaking survey by the Telethon Kids Institute in Perth has found trans young people are at high risk for suicide and are approximately 10 times more likely than other young Australians to experience serious depression and anxiety.

Trans Pathways is the largest ever survey conducted into the mental health of trans young people in Australia, and the first to include the experiences of parents of trans young people.

Researchers surveyed 859 trans young people aged 14-25 years, along with 194 parents and guardians.

Senior researcher Dr Ashleigh Lin said almost half of the young people surveyed had attempted suicide and almost 80 per cent of them had self-harmed at some point.

“The finding that one in every two genderdiverse young people we heard from has attempted to end their life is a sobering statistic that demonstrates the urgent need for services that are better equipped to support gender diverse young people.”

Dr Lin said the levels attempted suicide and self harm reported by young trans people were vastly higher than the general population.

“These are vastly different figures to the general young population, with the 2015 Young Minds Matter survey indicating that one in 40 young people aged 12-17 had attempted suicide, and one in 12 had self-harmed.”

Researcher at the Telethon Kids Institute conducted two parallel surveys. Firstly they sought information from young trans people aged 14 – 25.

At the same time they conducted a survey about the experiences of parents who had a trans child who was under 25 years of age. There has not been a great deal of research into the attitudes and experiences of parents of trans youth.

Mental health challenges were common among the youth surveyed, 74.6 per cent of those surveyed had been diagnosed with depression at some point, and 72.2 per cent had been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder.

One of the report’s findings is that the factors which cause mental health challenges for trans youth are largely external.

“As a society we need to accept gender diversity, and we need to provide support to young people, and their families, who are trans.”, Dr Lim said, “It’s not being trans that leads to poor mental health, its societal attitudes towards trans people that leads to these young people experiencing mental health issues.

OUTinPerth

Undeterred, mother of four Julia Burch fixed the flag and made it even more fabulous.

The family’s neighbours and the local community also showed their support. Sadly Julia was forced to remove the flag after she received threats that the flag would be set alight, which was too much of a risk in the bush-fire prone community.

Fremantle Says ‘Yes’

Challenges with finding accommodation, a lack of family support, educational institutions that were not inclusive and welcoming, and abuse, were all identified as factors that affected mental health outcomes.

Young trans people who took part in the survey have welcomed the report’s findings. Drew (pictured above, right) said the new publication would help in making information more accessible.

“This report is really important because there’s not really anything like it. There’s a lot of little pamphlets and things that you get, but this is really a big step forward in helping people understand, and making that information accessible to people.”

“I think the outside perspective is where a lot of judgement comes from and it’s where a lot of misunderstandings happen, so if we can just help people understand and make that information available there is less likelihood that there will be hate or misunderstandings.”

Drew said.

Fremantle residents showed their support for marriage equality at a recent rally, participants used their bodies to create a clear message of support.

Gender Recognition Board to be scrapped

At the WA Labor conference in late August the party voted in favour of a policy to scrap the WA Gender Recognition Board. The proposal was put forward by Jonathon Mann and Katrina Montaut, both who serve on the board of Rainbow Rights WA. Premier Mark McGowan has told OUTinPerth that at this stage there is no timeline on when the board will be removed as the decision has only just been endorsed.

For Leon (pictured above, left) the hope is the report will help improve understanding of trans experiences and allow other trans youth to feel that they are not alone.

“Even just reading other people’s stories, it gives young trans people a voice to be heard.” Leon said.

“We’re just people, obviously we have to do things a bit differently and we struggle in different areas that people who aren’t trans can’t understand or relate to in any way, but we are just people.”

Self harm was reported by 79.9 per cent of of the cohort, while 48.1 had attempted suicide at some point in their life.

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A family in Glen Forrest were devastated when their rainbow flag declaring ‘YES’ for marriage equality that they had hung on the front of their property was defaced with the word ‘AIDS’ spray painted over the fabric.

September 2017

Rainbow Happiness Neighbouring properties on Guildford Road in Bayswater have shown their support for marriage equality by painting a giant rainbow sign with a giant YES!

world

Legally Speaking I guess we’re all a bit bruised by the Turnbull government’s announcement of a postal survey regarding same sex marriage. I know this will be examined in detail in this issue by people who are more knowledgeable than I. So, when I was preparing to write I looked at what I felt I can offer the community in this stretch of time between now, the vote and the outcome. I decided what I bring to the game is information about how to keep yourselves and your families protected.

Romanian Marriage Referendum ROMANIA Romania will hold a referendum on marriage to ensure that LGBTI couples cannot access the institution in the future. The ruling Social Democrats party hopes to limit the definition to as a union between a man and a woman. The proposal follows a family group delivering a petition with over three million signatures, the group would also like government subsidies for contraception and abortion to be reduced, compulsory marriage counselling before divorce and lower tax rates for married couples.

There are two legal documents that, in my opinion, those in relationships should have. This is especially the case when that relationship has the power to be challenged (as previously discussed) These documents are called Enduring Powers of Attorney and Guardianship. These are the two legal documents that allow you to nominate your partner (and others, if you choose) as the person to make financial and medical decisions on your behalf when you can no longer do them yourself.

Most lawyers don’t like to tell people this but these documents are available for free and with excellent instructions on how to fill them in.

Jamaican Gay Rights Campaigner Murdered JAMAICA

Follow me.

The Office of the Public Advocate, a government organisation, provides both the Enduring Power of Attorney and the Enduring Power of Guardianship as a free download on their website. The page has very clear instructions and it also provides some fact sheets about the documents. If you fill the instructions as directed these forms are as

Dexter Pottinger, a gay rights campaigner who has been described as ‘the face of Jamaican Pride’, was found dead in home on 31 August.

Police attending the scene have said there man’s body was found in the bedroom with multiple stab wounds and a large amount of blood. Local press have reported that neighbours told police that they heard cries of “murder” and “help” in the early morning but they didn’t respond because they were unsure of what was occurring.

Chile moves ahead with marriage equality CHILE A bill has been introduced into the Chilean parliament will see the country embrace marriage equality. The new legislation was put forward

by President Michelle Bachelet and follows a series of LGBTI focussed laws that have been introduced in recent years, including hate crime provisions and the establishment of civil unions.

Bachelet won’t be in power when the laws are finally approved in 2018, as her term as president expires at the end of the year.

Nigerian students beat classmate to death NIGERIA Fifteen students aged between seventeen and nineteen have been arrested in Nigeria after they beat a classmate to death.

Suspecting that their classmate was gay, the group formed a ‘disciplinary committee’ and took the youth into bushland in the early hours of the morning and beat him with sticks. Police confirmed that the boys brought the youth’s lifeless body back to the school and a hospital later confirmed he was dead. Nigeria has some of the world’s toughest laws against LGBTI people.

Indonesian authorities raid homes of lesbians INDONESIAN Twelve lesbian women were arrested in the Indonesian city of Bogor on Saturday 2 September. Police raided the women’s homes claiming that neighbours had reported “immoral activities”. Media reports following the arrests highlighted that some of the women had short hair, and police made statements saying some of the women were ‘playing male parts in a relationship’. Homosexuality is not illegal in Indonesia but there has been a growing number of arrests in the last year.

French firm offers spyware to find out if your son is gay FRANCE A French technology film has come under fire for offering a spyware computer product and suggesting that parents may want to use it to find out if their children are gay. The company, Fireworld, posted an article to its website suggesting their software would be perfect for parents concerned about the continuation of their family’s line. Installing spyware on another person’s computer is illegal in France.

valid as those you would pay a lawyer to draft.

Let’s begin with the Enduring Power of Guardianship. This document is signed by person A when they have legal capacity. They give rights to Person B (usually a partner/spouse) to make decisions regarding Person A’s own medical treatment. Decisions made with this document also include decisions about appropriate accommodation based on physical or mental needs of person A. The second document is an Enduring Power of Attorney. This document allows person A to give power to person B to make financial decisions – any decision that person A can legally do. This document is important if Person A suddenly becomes incapacitated and bank accounts or other assets must be accessed to pay for medical bills, mortgage repayments and any other number of financial debts issues.

Both of these forms can be found at www. publicadvocate.wa.gov.au (You can head to the online version of the article at OUTinPerth.com if you’re having trouble locating the right ones) Protecting your rights, and the rights of your partner and family are what we are currently advocating for. Please take a few minutes to read this piece and visit the website. A small document can end up preventing a serious problem later down the track.

Jo Wynaden

sonder : the realisation that each passerby has a life as vivid and complex as your own

family law wills & probate inheritance disputes debt recovery personal injury elder abuse Sonder Legal 2/62 Fitzgerald Street, Northbridge (08) 6558 1718 / 0449 886 499

Sonder Legal is proud to provide safe spaces for our LGBTI community

OUTinPerth

September 2017

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L OV E • I S • L OV E CONNECTIONS NIGHTCLUB MARRIAGE EQUALITY FUNDRAISER • SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 9TH “The time is now to support equal love in our country. Join the whole team at Connections Nightclub in supporting Marriage Equality Australia to ensure that every Australian adult can marry who they wish. Come support our community for a fabulous night and let’s make sure LOVE WINS.”

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 16TH - KATYA SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 23RD - MASON ANDREWS SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 23RD TRIDENT - MEN'S NIGHT SUNDAY OCTOBER 24TH QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY POP & BINGAY WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 27TH - LADY BUNNY FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 29TH - OUTER BODY SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 16TH, 23RD & 30TH, OCTOBER 7TH & 14TH UNDER THE SEA DECADANCE • FRIDAY OCTOBER 6TH 1985 - 1995 • ELECTRIC DREAMS

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8 1 J A M E S S T R E E T N O R T H B R I D G E W E S T A U S T R A L I A W W W . C O N N E C T I O N S N I G H T C L U B . C O M W W W . F A C E B O O K . C O M / C O N N E C T I O N S N I G H T C L U B

A M B

culture

If you’ve been to Connections Nightclub or The Court Hotel while drag performers are working the stave, there’s a very high chance you’ll recognise the subject of this interview.

Photographer, Anthropologist and Academic Claire Alexander is a fixture of Perth’s drag scene, documenting our local queens and touring RuPaul’s Drag Race girls alike - with a keen eye for the captivating and a true love of the art form.

Now on the brink of completing her PhD with a focus on drag and gender, Alexander’s images and musings have been published in a chapter of a new book entitled RuPaul’s Drag Race: Shifting the Visibility of Drag Culture and the Boundaries of Reality TV. Alexander sat down with Leigh Andrew Hill to talk about her academic findings, her passion for drag and the connections she’s drawn between Perth’s drag scene and the international phenomenon of Drag Race.

Perth’s queer community knows you as a drag photographer - What sparked your initial passion for drag as an art form?

It all started with Hannah Conda. I was looking for a person to make a short documentary piece about, someone who would be a really interesting and engrossing character, and I was a little lost

for inspiration. Then one day I went to Bingay at Connections, and Hannah was hosting. She was such a fun and captivating host, so I asked her whether she’d feature in my piece. She said “yes”, and it all spiraled from there! Shortly after that, I started shooting Drag Factory at The Court, and the rest is really a blur, in that it happened so fast… I started a PhD focused on drag, I went to LA to shoot Drag Con, and went on to shoot two drag cruises, one in the Mediterranean, and one in the Caribbean. I started exhibiting drag portraits internationally, and just in general, everything has been about drag and drag culture for me since then.

How did you come to start analysing drag from an academic perspective?

My first degree was in anthropology, and in those early years I started thinking about the constructedness and performativity of gender thanks to theorists like Judith Butler and Jack/Judith Halberstam. Later on, I started to add documentary photography to my methodology, which makes my approach more visual ethnography. Being queer myself, and already on the fringes of the LGBTQI+ community, allowed my presence in the drag community to be a generally welcomed one, and from there, thinking and writing about drag was a pretty natural progression.

What exactly do you cover in your chapter of this book?

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I explore the ideas of a group of local Perth queens who entered the Perth drag scene at various stages of its development, from about 1980 to the present day. I discuss the changing face of Perth drag in light of RuPaul’s Drag Race, drawing on themes presented to me by the queens, including their personal histories and inspirations and their general knowledge of drag history. I also explore perceived changes within the wider queer and non-queer community, and adaptations made to adapt to the ‘new ways’ of doing drag. I use an ethnographic approach to explore the growing popularity of RuPaul’s Drag Race, and talk about its multifaceted influence on the local scene. I basically discuss the changing face of Perth drag in light of RuPaul’s Drag Race.

The nine drag performers whose voices are heard in this chapter are Stryker Meyer, Champagne de Ville, BarbieQ, Feminem, Hannah Conda, Veronica Jean Jones, Ruby Jewelz, Perri Oxide, and Harvest Dubois.

This is exactly what I write about in my chapter—except from the queens’ perspective, and divided into a few key areas. I think RuPaul’s Drag Race has undeniably increased the number of conversations about drag and the prevalence of drag themes in mainstream culture. Wow, I can’t believe there have been so many seasons of the show already… Has it almost been a decade?

Many of the queens in your work are from RPDR. There are some criticisms that show has homogenised the art form - how do you respond to that?

I don’t think that’s true. I definitely think there’s way more room for mimicry in drag, but I think that was always happening, it’s just on a much larger scale now because of the ease with which information can be shared. With RPDR, Youtube and social media, people just have a lot more access to drag than they ever have before. The effect of that, I think, is to bring gay culture into the mainstream, which is a positive thing. I think artists will always be copying and learning from what they’ve seen, but it takes talent and originality to stand out from the crowd!

How have you seen the Perth scene evolve over your years observing it?

I’ve definitely seen a huge influx of queens over the years, and there’s no doubt that RPDR has played a significant role in influencing both the number of new queens on the scene, and what/how they perform. Actually, in my chapter I interview Perri Oxide who talks about how she started drag, and the influence of Max on both her aesthetic and confidence in pursuing drag as an art. Drag queens have also been embraced by small sections of the majority population, and a lot of queens are getting work in fields they wouldn’t have before. I’ve seen a lot of shifts in how drag is transmitted, and changes in drag family structures (Barbie, VJJ and Ruby also talk about this in my chapter).

What elements do you think make a drag performer stand out on the stage and through the lens?

Would it be a cop out if I said charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent? I think a variety of different qualities make different performers stand out. I would say that having a confidence in your art despite what others may think really stands out to me.

That comes across as a resolve and groundedness in what you’re performing. That, and know your words.

RuPaul’s Drag Race: Shifting the Visibility of Drag Culture and the Boundaries of Reality TV is available online now. You can also see more of Claire’s photography on Instagram @claire.alexander edite d by Niall Brenn an and David Gude lunas

Leigh Andrew Hill

How have you seen the culture of/conversations around drag change in the last decade?

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OUTinPerth

I also had the idea of perhaps doing the spine in the Drag Race flag. check

September 2017 erboard pattern

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of the

RuPaul’s Drag Niall Brennan ISBN: 978-3-3 Format: A5: 14

health

In 2017, the sexual landscape for gay and bisexual men has never been more complex.

With an ever-growing spectrum of HIV prevention tools available, people are making informed decisions that suit their personal social and sexual contexts. The WA AIDS Council has worked hard to ensure information about all available tools is accessible by those who wish to utilise them.

These prevention tools include condoms, serosorting, strategic positioning, treatment as prevention (and undetectable viral load), PEP (post exposure prophylaxis), and more recently, access to PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis).

In spite of all the available prevention tools, HIV transmissions in WA remain stubbornly high, and syphilis rates are at record numbers for gay and bisexual men.

At the WA AIDS Council, we have always remained sexpositive when it comes to the way we provide education and information to gay and bisexual men. For thirty years we have been leading on the difficult conversations.

It’s time for another tough conversation.

We need to talk about group sex, orgies, keys in the bowl – whatever your language is – because epidemiology and contact tracing are presenting us with an emerging picture of very high risk behaviours occurring in these sexual contexts. Put simply, men who are participating in group sex without utilising any of the prevention tools, are contracting – and transmitting – HIV and other sexually transmissible infections.

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OUTinPerth

September 2017

Increasingly too, methamphetamine is playing a significant role in the social and sexual life of people in Perth, especially gay and bisexual men. In a group sex context, this can significantly decrease your – and your sex partners’ – ability to fully comprehend the risks that you are being exposed to.

It’s more important than ever to take control of your own sexual health. Relying on your casual partners and your fuck buddies simply does not work; understanding the risk and committing to your own appropriate mitigation strategies does.

Knowing your own HIV status is so important; men who have contracted HIV and aren’t aware of it are the most likely to unknowingly transmit to their sexual partners – and in a group setting, this can expose multiple guys to HIV. We also acknowledge that methamphetamine is becoming intrinsically important in this setting and we are conscious that the ‘chemsex’ phenomenon is a very real part of life for some gay and bisexual men in Perth, and will very likely continue to be.

For those men who are concerned about their methamphetamine use – or behaviours that may have placed them at risk or exposed them to HIV – we strongly encourage you to link in with the good folk at M Clinic, and chat with one of the nurses or peers there in a confidential and non-judgemental environment.

Group sex can be a fun and rewarding experience. We’d like you to have everything you need to enjoy it safely, and encourage this amongst your social and sexual networks.

Key Messages •

Test regularly

•

Know your status

•

Choose the prevention tools that best protects you

•

Reach out for support if you are questioning your methamphetamine use

WA AIDS Council ph. 9482 0000 M Clinic ph. 9227 0734 mclinic.org.au 548 Newcastle St, West Perth Methamphetamine Help Line (24/7) 1800 874 878 This article was provided by the WA AIDS Council.

This Thursday 14th September marks R U OK? Day, a day dedicated to reminding people of the power of conversation spark change: in someone’s day, in their perception of themselves, in how they are feeling or how they see a situation they are in. R U OK? Day prompts us to ask our family, friends, colleagues, loved ones and even strangers the question - “R U OK?. After experiencing suicide of his father in 1995, founder Gavin Larkin started R U OK? Day with the aim of creating a national platform to prompt and support people to ask about the mental health and wellbeing of people in their lives, knowing that checking in with someone can make a real difference to their immediate mental state.

Having conversations about the mental health and wellbeing of people we care about can be hard. Sometimes we may feel like “It’s not my business” or “They would tell me if something was wrong” and sometimes we don’t ask because we are afraid of the answer we might get. We can also feel like we need to have enough “evidence” to justify asking how someone is.

What we do know is that when people are struggling with their mental health it can be really difficult to talk to others about it. Shame, stigma and not wanting to burden other people can be barriers to people asking for help when they need it. R U OK? Day reminds us that we need to push past our worries about asking how someone is, and remember that the only real way we can know if a person is ok is to ask!

R U OK? Day supports us to have these conversations by giving us 4 easy steps to follow, Ask, Listen, Encourage Action and Check In. There are some pointers on how to go about these steps in the image to the left.

Before you can help other people, it is important to look out for yourself. If you are not in the right headspace or have too much going right now to approach an individual yourself, then think of someone else in their lives who might be able to talk to them instead. Tell this person that you are worried, what you have noticed and that you think someone should talk to this person but that it can’t be you. This is not a failure on your part or a betrayal of confidence. Knowing when you are able (and most importantly not able) to give 100% to the conversation and seeking out someone else to step in shows care, concern and respect to the person that you are worried about.

If you decide you are in the right place to have the conversation ask yourself: Am I ready?

Am I prepared? Have I picked my moment? Answering these questions will give you a good indication of whether you are well prepared. Follow the steps Ask, Listen, Encourage Action and Check In. Remember that all the responsibility does not fall to you. You are simply the person who might be opening the door wide enough for someone to be able to explore their mental health and wellbeing and to help them seek any supports they may need at this time. You cannot and should not be the only support for someone.

What if I get it “wrong” and the person is fine?

Great! This conversation has done some wonderful things. Firstly, it has shown that you are an amazing and wonderful human being who cares about others, and if this person ever does need someone to talk to they know that they can come to you. Secondly, if you had been having concerns about that person you now know that everything is fine and you don’t need to spend time worrying any more.

What if I don’t believe someone or they push back and dismiss my concerns?

Sometimes when people are in pain they need a little time to open up about it. Giving that person some silence and space then asking gently again or letting them know that they can come to you later if they need someone to listen can be a great help here. As can asking if there is someone else they would like to talk to instead of you. Human relationships are complex and sometimes people may love and care for us, but feel more comfortable talking to different people about certain things. If you are ever concerned about the immediate safety of someone - get help asap. You can contact a crisis line for support and information, speak with someone else in their life or contact emergency services.

What if I say something in the moment that they react badly to or seem like I am trying to solve their problems or talk for them?

Sometimes we avoid having conversations because we don’t know what to say. The beauty of R U OK? Day is that we mostly only need to listen. If we do say something that gets a surprised or frustrated reaction that is ok. Just name it, apologize and move on. You could say something like “Sorry I just got caught up in trying to help too much instead of listening, tell me more about what is going on” How do I tell someone I am not ok?

Find someone you trust and ask them for a chat. Let them know that you have been feeling like you need someone to talk to and you think they will be a good listener. The amazing thing about asking someone for help is not only that you are now not alone and have someone to help you work out what supports would be helpful for you, but you have also smashed those barriers of stigma and shame right to the ground! Asking for help can be an act of revolution that encourages others around us to both seek and offer help.

R U OK? Day conversations don’t have to be just about suicide, mental health and wellbeing. They can be about self-care, resilience and checking in as a way to keep ourselves mentally fit. They can also just be a great way to tell someone that they are cared for, noticed and loved.

R U OK? Day shouldn’t be only September 14th- it can be every day! Don’t save up your conversations for one day of the year. Ask often and always. You may have no idea the power that those four little letters can have to the people you say them to.

Bella Broadway More resources can be found at; https://www.ruok.org.au/ Contact QLife 1800 184 527 or www.qlife.org.au (3pm-midnight, 365 days a year) Contact Lifeline 13 11 14 (24 hrs 365 days a year)

OUTinPerth

September 2017

11

health

The goal of this article is to write openly about psychoactive substances (drugs) and some considerations you might make if you’re using, planning to use, or open to experimenting with use. Psychoactive substances – including most ‘illicit drugs’, some prescription medications, along with tobacco, caffeine, and alcohol, are defined as ‘psychoactive’ due to their capacity to alter our central nervous system (CNS). Some psychoactive substances slow down our CNS, some increase its activity, others distort messages in the CNS and alter our sensory perceptions, and a few combine the aforementioned effects.

The legal status of a psychoactive substance is often assumed to be proportionate to its the health and harms – this is false. Legality of substances has little to do with health, and a lot to do with history, economics, culture, and domination. Unfortunately, substances that are illicit often end up being more harmful because they are ‘cut’ with unknown chemicals, however, if they were legalised and regulated, this would no longer be an issue (heroin vs. diamorphine is a great example). It is vital to suspend the legality of any substance when understanding the effect it has on your body.

Having some knowledge about what’s going into your body, the effect it is likely to have on you, and the safer ways of taking the drug is invaluable. If you’re using different substances at once, it’s also a really good idea to read up on any possible effects – some combinations of substances can be potentially life-threatening. Even with all of the knowledge, you might not be prepared for some effects that substances can have on your body (everyone reacts to things differently), but you can at least be familiar with some of the risks. It’s important to know that if you’re injecting, always use your own equipment and don’t share anything (you can exchange free equipment at needle and syringe programs!), and sterilise the injecting site.

The first question you need to ask yourself when using any substance is – “what am I hoping to experience?” Having some idea about what you hope to experience with a given substance, and how it will change your current mood and state of mind can make all the difference in using. Getting drunk when you’re celebrating is very different to getting drunk after a breakup!

However, this might not always fit into the reality of substance use (peer pressure and experimenting don’t always allow you the leisure of planning!)

Figuring out your limitations and boundaries is a productive way of reducing harms when using.

Many people already do this with alcohol – spacing out drinks and counting standard drinks because you’re going to be driving, having a back-up plan to crash at a friend’s place in case

you drink too much, limiting drinks because you’ve got an early start the next day, or abstaining because you’re the designated driver this time. It’s important to consider the practicality of your boundaries with your peers – substance usage usually occurs in a social setting, and your peers vary in the support they might give to your boundaries.

Most importantly, if you think you or your peer’s life is in danger, you need to call 000 and go to an emergency department. You will not get in trouble with the law for having using substances when accessing a health service.

If you’re worried about your usage or want to find out how to use in the safest way possible, consider chatting to someone or reading some credible information online. All of these resources are non-judgemental and free to help you.

Anthony K J Smith Resources Alcohol & Drug Support Line (24/7) (08) 9442 5000 M Clinic Drug & Alcohol Clinic http://www.mclinic.org.au/aod-clinic/ Touchbase – queer drug & alcohol information www.touchbase.org.au WA Substance Users Association www.wasua.com.au Chemsex Care Plan http://www.davidstuart.org/care-plan

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OUTinPerth

September 2017

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people

Premier Mark McGowan entered the auditorium at the WA Labor conference in late August to thunderous applause from the party faithful.

At the state election in February McGowan led the party to a resounding victory, delivering a landslide result that obliterated the longstanding Barnett Liberal government. This was the party’s moment to celebrate that win and layout their policy priorities for the years ahead.

The WA AIDS Council and Living Proud received emergency funding to provide additional counselling services to deal with the postal marriage survey, plus a new round of mental health funding was announced.

Speaking to OUTinPerth a few days after the conference the Premier said whatever the outcomes of the High Court challenge on marriage the funds given to provide support to the LGBTIQ community would remain with the organisations.

In his keynote address McGowan continually returned to themes of equality, fairness and progression. The day before federal leader Bill Shorten had spoken along similar lines, and while Shorten had opened his address by speaking about marriage equality, McGowan saved the topic for the end of his speech.

“We provided additional support to that AIDS Council of $30,000 and $30,000 towards Living Proud. That money is committed and that will stay. That’s in order to assist people who might be affected by the recent campaign in respect to their mental health and that will continue.”

“It’s time” McGowan declared, echoing the Whitlam era slogan for change. The Premier urged all Labor members to get out and campaign for a Yes result, declaring that the days of exclusion were numbered.

McGowan said the first round of advertisements from the ‘No’ campaign had been “ugly and misleading” and were filled with “ludicrous and embarrassing” claims.

“Let’s be united and strengthened in inclusion; in diversity; in acceptance; in love” McGowan said delivering his rallying call for action, “It’s time. Vote Yes.” It was a significant change from the same event just six years ago where delegates fought over a push to declare the party in support of marriage equality, with then Prime Minister Julia Gillard dismissing the news that New York City had just passed marriage equality.

Over the two day conference the party passed a cavalcade of policy changes and throughout it all there was little debate, few contentious issues, and many insertions of inclusive language, statements of equality and some significant announcements for the LGBTIQ+ community.

“That can impact on people’s mental health and that’s why we’ve put this funding in place.”

The Premier said the difficulties faced recently by Living Proud where they faced a funding gap which impacted on their services was something that his government was working to reduce.

“We have a process being run by the Minister for Community Development, Simone McGurk, which is about having longer contracts and greater alignment” McGowan said noting that improving the consistency of the timing of funding was a priority.

At the conference a commitment was made to scrap the WA Gender Recognition Board, a decision welcomed by transgender people who will no longer have to front the board. But at the same time it also immediately created uncertainty for people who were about to go through the challenging process, suddenly they find themselves wondering if it would be better to wait.

McGowan said the policy change at the conference was the first step in the process, but was unable to speculate on how long it would take to remove the board and install a new procedure.

One area where the Premier could comment on progress was the removal of historical convictions for people who were charged over their sexuality in the past.

“We are in the process of drafting legislation, we will do that, and no doubt that will alleviate some suffering in particular for middle aged and older men.” McGowan said, highlighting that he hoped to have the legislation introduced before the end of the year.

The Premier acknowledged it was a tricky legal area to draft legislation for because over the decades when gay men were targeted they were charged under a wide variety of laws.

“We want to make sure we don’t remove convictions from people where the offence they were charged with is still an offence. You want to remove the conviction from people where it is no longer an offence that exists, but applied to them back in the 50s, 60’s or 70s.” McGowan said.

While the party has a wide range of social issues they’d like to address, upon coming to power McGowan has also inherited a difficult economy and soaring debt, but the Premier said his challenge was simply one of prioritisation.

“No government has ever had unlimited money, but our situation is much more difficult than any other government in memory from a financial sense, so we have to do better with what we have.”

To read our full interview with Premier Mark McGowan head to www.outinperth.com Graeme Watson

OUTinPerth

September 2017

13

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STAtickets fr

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Perth International

Film Festival 2017 3 Internatio na rth l Pe

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#piqfilmfest

The Backlot Perth Tickets from waaids.com All proceeds support the WA AIDS Council

waaids.com thebacklotstudios.com

people

On Saturday 23 September, Bi Visibility Day will be celebrated all over the world. First observed in 1999, it is an international call for the bisexual+ community, their friends, and supporters to recognise and celebrate bisexual+ history, community, and culture.

“I am a straight-looking guy in a long term relationship with a straight lady but I am still part of the LGBTQI community. I am celebrating because I have teen daughters who identify as bi and I want them to know that it’s ok to be who they are.” ~ Justin

Is a dedicated day still necessary? We asked the Perth Bisexual+ Community, and they answered with a resounding “yes”.

“Being bisexual has caused me to be shunned by heterosexuals and homosexuals alike. For those who are finding themselves in this obstacle course – others may not see you, but we do. Keep on shining and don’t let either side dull that sparkle.” ~ Kelly

Despite recent statistics showing that bisexual / pansexual people make up at least half of the LGBTIQ community, they experience poorer health in comparison to the gay and lesbian populations, with fewer targeted services to address them.

In addition to the discrimination they face from the general community, they are often misunderstood within the LGBTIQ community.

“There is a nuance to our love that gets buried in all of the arguments and explanations and metaphors. I love being this way, I love that there are things I see in people that others seem not to.” ~ Kate “I’m sick and tired of gay, lesbian and straight people assuming my sexuality [is] based only on what they see, erasing the feelings, desires and relationships they don’t know about.” ~ Natalya “Bi Visibility is important to me as a queer woman in a relationship with a man. I feel like my identity is erased unless I scream it, and doubted even when I do. It’s not a stage, it’s not for attention, it’s me.” ~ Stacey

“Bi Visibility is important to me because I spent too long not knowing whether I was allowed to be myself and stand up in my identity. Everything gets easier when you can see other people standing proudly in theirs.” ~ Hen Bisexual+ people just want to be acknowledged and included.

Bisexual+ people are an important part of the LGBTIQ community. How can we forget about that big “B” right in the middle of the acronym?

“When people chant, ’we’re here, we’re queer,’ the word queer shouldn’t be a synonym for gay and lesbian. Bi+ people are part of the community and we should feel part of the community, too.” ~ Duc “Celebrating Bi Visibility Day is super important to me. I don’t want people to beat themselves up because they don’t really feel like they fit in anywhere. I want bi+ people to feel validated and supported wherever they go. I want the whole community to see us, and to celebrate along with us.” ~ Misty

But the bisexual+ community is resilient.

BISEXUAL+ COMMUNITY PERTH is a safe place for people who are not gay or straight (we use “bisexual” as an umbrella term for that) to engage in respectful discussion, connect with people, and form community online. There are also regular opportunities to connect in person, including events for Bi Visibility Day (23/9) and the Pride Parade (25/11).

It has evolved over time to incorporate a more sophisticated understanding of sexuality and gender; one that recognises more than just two genders. Bisexual+ people have been on the front line of the LGBTIQ rights movement through history, and yet continue to look out for members that may be struggling.

“Bi Visibility is important for the mental health of young people who may be feeling multi gender attraction, so that they know there is a community of people with the same sexuality where they can find support.” ~ Jenine

You can join the Bisexual+ Community Perth group by going directly to www. facebook.com/groups/bicommperth

T: 08 9427 8888 25 Money Street, Perth WA 6000

For Sale

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The extensive renovation combines the art deco theme with luxury finishes.

A limited offering of apartments for sale in the following formats; 1 bed, 1 bath, 1 car 2 bed, 1 bath, 2 car 3 bed, 2 bath, 2 car Register your interest for more information.

0433 926 283

OUTinPerth

0416 208 888 Craig Boyanich

‘Local Knowledge’

rayner.com.au

September 2017

15

photos events Queen’s Birthday POP & Bingay!

CLUBS Marriage Equality Fundraiser

The time is now! Join the whole team at Connections Nightclub in supporting Marriage Equality Australia to ensure that every Australian adult can marry who they love.

LOVE WINS! Saturday September 7th, Connections Nightclub, 81 James St, Northbridge

Katya’s Krisis Kontrol Tour

RuPaul’s Drag Race favourite and squashing hot mess Katya Zamolodchikova is returning to Perth for a show about whatever she wants!

Because it’s her show. And not yours.

Saturday September 16th, Connections Nightclub, 81 James St, Northbridge

Snatch For Girls

Celebrate with rainbows and shiny things at this night for queer ladies and femmes! Don’t let the postal survey get you down … make it rain, bows!

Saturday September 16th, 110 Aberdeen St, Perth

POOF DOOF

The massive East Coast party returns to the West for a very gay night on the dance floor!!

Why you always gagging? They bring it to you every month.

Friday September 22nd, Connections Nightclub, 81 James St, Northbridge

Mason Andrews

Everybody’s favourite bi-coastal DJ returns for his monthly set at CNC! Mason is a master of keeping the pop flowing, so bring your best dance moves.

Saturday September 23rd, Connections Nightclub, 81 James St, Northbridge

Get your Thursday night serve of POP and Bingay on a Sunday for a special long weekend party! BarbieQ and VJJ will be grabbing the balls and bringing the fun all night long - God Save The Queens!

Sunday September 24th, Connections Nightclub, 81 James St, Northbridge

Lady Bunny

NYC drag legend Lady Bunny is bringing her critically acclaimed show, Trans-Jester to Connections for one special night. Not for the easily offended!

Wednesday September 27th, Nightclub, 81 James St, Northbridge

Connections

Lesbian Mud Wrestling

For over ten years Lesbian Mud Wrestling has been the biggest event on a Wednesday night, it’s people wrestling in mud! Although not always lesbians, sometimes there are dirty boys too.

PUBS

BARS

Balls Up Bingo

Looking for some Tuesday night fun? Feminem is bringing bingo to Morley this month with a round of Balls Up Bingo at Two40Three.

Tuesday September 19th, 8pm, Two40Three, 243253 Walter Rd West, Morley

Glitterpuss

Drag DJ extraordinaire Kitty Glitter returns to Perth for the most sparkly party in town! Dress up in your most glittery gear or your best pussy bow and shine, shine, shine!

Saturday September 23rd, The Court Hotel, 50 Beaufort St, Perth

Queen’s Birthday Block Party

The Court Hotel know how to make the most of a long weekend! Enjoy all three rooms at The Court & Verdict and get into the groove

Every Wednesday from 8pm, Connections Nightclub, 81 James St, Northbridge

Sunday September 24th, The Court Hotel, 50 Beaufort St, Perth

POP!

Drag Factory

Nothing but bright, bubbly, sugar coated pop tunes at this popular mid-week get together hosted by our very own BarbieQ. Drag shows at 1am, or even try your own wig on the stage for Dragathon!

Every Thursday from 10pm - Late, Connections Nightclub, 81 James St, Northbridge

Throw on a frock, slip on a wig, pick out a tune and give drag a whirl. Wannabe drag queens, kings and performers can lip-sync the house down and compete for cash prizes!

Every Wednesday from 9pm, The Court Hotel, 50 Beaufort St, Perth

Karaoke Sundays

Each week Connections DJ’s play with you and tease you and they lead you through a journey through disco, house, progressive and even a touch of techno.

Warm up those pipes! The Court has a brand new tradition with Karaoke Sundays.

With performances from host Feminem and $20 pizza & jug deals, it’ll be a perfect end to the week.

Every Friday from 10pm - 5am, Connections Nightclub, 81 James St, Northbridge

Every Sunday from 5:30pm, The Court Hotel, 50 Beaufort St, Perth

Must Be The Music

Sundays at Swallow

The food is first rate, the choice of wines is adventurous and on Sundays they have sublime live music. Relax with a Sunday Session at Swallow Bar. Every Sunday from 4pm, Swallow Bar, 198 Whatley Cres, Maylands

Meet Marina from The L Word

Actress Karina Lombard is meeting fans of her iconic character in Perth.

Saturday September 16th, 7pm - 9pm, The Aviary, 141 William St, Perth

COMMUNITY 3rd Wednesdays

A casual gathering of LGBTI friends and supporters for drinks, nibbles and meeting new people.

Wednesday September 20th from 6pm – 8pm, Brisbane Hotel, Cnr Beaufort & Brisbane St, Perth

GALSWA Quiz Night

The team at Gay and Lesbian Singers of WA are having a quiz night with fabulous prizes, treats and a whole bunch of good company!

Sing it loud with one of the friendlies clubs in town.

Friday September 29th at 7:30pm, Royal Park Hall, 180 Charles St, West Perth

COMING SOON Pride Parade, Saturday Nov 25, Northbridge

ROY ORTUSO PRESENTS

DIRECT FROM THE USA

CUTTING CREW

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TAYLOR DANE

STARRING WILLIAM HALL

80s MANIA RETURNS TO AUSTRALIA WITH SOME OF THE BIGGEST 80s ACTS TO PARTY THE NIGHT AWAY WITH!

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WANG CHUNG

OUTinPerth

September 2017

ASTORTHEATREPERTH.COM OR TICKETEK.COM.AU abstractentertainment.net

fitness After watching Australian Ninja Warrior, I decided that I could be a ninja. After being laughed at by my colleagues (at the idea of me pulling some of the moves), I decided to prove them wrong and test out the only ninja course in Perth, Ninja Academy.

Founded by Dave Ravi (who you may have seen on the TV show), the course was born from a passion for the Japanese culture and the original Ninja Warrior series Sasuke.

The course is designed to challenge even the most experienced fitness fanatic with a series of obstacles that test mobility, strength, grit, acrobatics and a sense of play. But don’t be fooled, this course is also challenging and competitive.

The workouts are designed to help constantly improve your ninja skills and are based around the four elements of earth, water, fire and air. Dave suggests the best place to start is one of the water/mobility courses as it helps the body let go of old movement patterns and discover new mobility and flexibility.

Next challenge? The vertical wall. Dave walks me through the basics of how to get up and how to fall. I start off on the basic wall and progress to the three and a half metre intermediate wall, which I surprisingly manage to conquer. I’ll try the four and a half metre wall another day.

Don’t worry if you don’t think you have the skills to hit the warped wall, the team at Ninja Academy also hold classes to help you with the skills you need to feel confident on the course.

The Ninja community is also based on the idea of support and encouragement, so if you fall, you will be caught by not only the cushioned floor, but the teachers or participants.

The awesome team are welcoming, encouraging and a whole lot of fun for people of any fitness level. If you’re looking for a workout and community that is playful and challenging, then you might just need to find your inner ninja.

For more pictures of me and the wall follow my Instagram @zacgowerofficial. You can find Ninja Academy is at 7/443 Scarborough Beach Road, Osborne Park

MARRIAGE EQUALITY POSTAL SURVEY COUNSELLING AND SUPPORT

1800 671 130 www.waaids.com/counselling 664 Murray St, West Perth If the Marriage Equality Postal Survey is having a negative effect on your health, please contact the WA AIDS Council today, for free counselling and support.

OUTinPerth

Western Australian

AIDS COUNCIL

September 2017

17

people

NYC drag icon and queer pioneer Lady Bunny is returning to Perth this month for one big night of laughs, music, debauchery and vulgarity and Connections Nightclub.

Bunny’s name is readily recognised from the an(n)als of drag history alongside Leigh Bowery, Divine and RuPaul, and her trademark wig and filthy mouth will not be ignored!

We caught up with Bunny to talk about drag, politics, reality TV and what to expect from her critically acclaimed show.

First up, a question from one of our readers! Tell us about your first time in drag and where your name came from.

I pretty much lived in drag as a kid--with long hair, feminine features and long t-shirts which covered my short shorts--so I was always very androgynous. The bizarre thing is that not too many people questioned it. As a teen I was always experimenting with makeup, but it was more a new wave thing than actual drag with wigs, falsies and heels.

That full drag started in 1982, when I moved to Atlanta and hooked up with RuPaul. But we were dirt poor and the looks were whatever we could find in thrift shops. Because many of the pageant queens in Atlanta were dead serious pageant queens who were very polished, they often called themselves things like Lady Dubois or Lady Chablis. I assume those names were to make them seem fancier. We were so far from fancy that adding Lady to my name was a bit of an in joke. The established queens tolerated Ru and I with eye rolls, but we were the club kid booger drag to them.

The name Bunny came from an late 1960s comic book called Bunny, Queen Of The In Crowd. She was a psychedelic, blonde model!

You’ve been in the game for a minute. How have you seen drag evolve, or devolve?

I see more emphasis now on looks than on talent, which ain’t my cup of tea. Drag Race emphasizes challenges like selling RuPaul’s chocolate bar, which I find very bizarre, over actual performances.

Some of the queens from Drag Race are extremely talented. But when a queen like Valentina on Season 9 refuses to lip-synch, clearly the emphasis has shifted to looks. What I thought was telling is that her elimination was seen as controversial - a word often repeated in the press when describing her final episode.

Controversial? What a joke! If you go on American Idol or The Voice and don’t sing, you lose. It ain’t rocket science. To elevate queens who may look good but can’t perform is a real slap in the face to those of us who have spent years developing an act. But then there are truly gifted queens from the show like Bianca, Shangela and Latrice. Jinkx also blows me away. She’s not yet 30 and has 3 or 4 fully realized one “woman” shows. She excels at singing and comedy. I’m drawn to talent, so I’m sometimes at odds with Drag Race fans, who are drawn to hype, branding and mindless catchphrases.

So you’ve seen a change in drag since youngsters started getting into it through Drag Race and social media?

Yes, I’ve seen a lot of “experts” who think they know everything about drag because they’ve watched a few youtube tutorials on makeup and hip pads. They constantly judge and follow these imagined rules. But rules can stifle creativity. I’m more interested in breaking rules. And while there are some Drag Race queens with extraordinary make-up, some of them can’t walk to a beat or perform to save their lives. They get booked out of town for huge fees. Then you see them perform and think “Wow, the local queens in my city have more talent than this.” So why is Ru booking so many queens with little talent? Your hip pads can be perfect, but if you lack stage presence then forget it! Did Dame Edna, Divine or Conchita Wurst follow rules?

You’re also very active on social media, often about politics.

How do you respond to those who pull up dark humour as “politically incorrect”?

I ask them if their political correctness and their desire to shut me down over language is in keeping with the correctness of their own politics. Please don’t complain to me about words which some perceive as insensitive if 1/2 of your tax dollars go to bomb people in countries which never attacked the US and you have nothing to say against that. Mass bombings would in places like Iraq are more important to stop than whatever word they are calling Will Smith’s son today. A jackass like Trump is now our president. This is not the times to mince words and be prissy, or stifle discussions which we clearly need to have. Messy and uncomfortable conversations.

But the real news is that the Democrats have failed as a party and offered a rotten candidate like Hillary Clinton who actually lost to Trump - who has never held elected office and has insulted over 1/2 the country. I’ve been a Democrat all my life from a family of Democrats, yet I was forced to vote Independent in the last election because I could not stomach Hillary’s dishonesty, flip-flopping on issues, ties to big banks which crashed our economy and the war machine. I think it’s time for a 3rd party in the US which represents working Americans and helping the people of our country, not destroying other countries for sketchy reasons.

Trans-Jester! asks tough questions some about our newfound obsession with pronouns. I’m sure I fall within one of these new terms: genderqueer, non-binary or genderfluid. (Although I think gender fluid refers to when I am in drag and have diarrhea.) The funny thing to me is, I don’t exactly take off my drag and magically become some alpha male gym queen. I’ve experimented with gender for my entire life. I’m just not precious about the terms,

which younger people seem to take solace in. As I sing in the show, “My generation fought for medicine for AIDS, now we fight over silly names.” Coming up in my generation, I was more concerned with not getting hit than what you called me. Sticks and stones...

Your banter with Bianca Del Rio at the Chicago premiere of Season 8 of RuPaul’s Drag Race is one of my favourite goto’s on YouTube - how did the two of you meet?

In New Orleans, where I just happened across her emceeing bingo at 3PM for a very hungover crowd. She somehow still made bingo super fun and later that night she came to my show. Soon after, she moved to NYC after Hurricane Katrina and we got to work together a lot. She’s an absolute scream and one of the funniest emcees ever. She’s not at all worried about being PC and I see audiences begging to be humiliated by her.

This isn’t your first time in Oz - what do you think of the Aussie drag scene?

I’m senile and honestly can barely remember. And I’m always so jet-lagged when I’m there. I do always note your queens’ elaborate costumes, and the Priscilla vibe which is quite outrageous and draggy--yet it’s even worn by some transgendered performers.

Definitely a lot of effort is put into it and there was some fab drag shopping in Sydney.

What kind of characters do you usually see in Bunny’s audience?

Often a very young crowd, who know me from mentions on Drag Race, Bianca impersonating me on her show or my youtube videos.

But in the states, many know me as the organizer of Wigstock--an annual drag festival which ran in NYC from 1984 through the next 20 years.

Your poster warns the show is not for the easily offended what should Perth expect?

Smutty song parodies of everyone from Adele to Bruno Mars to show tunes, wicked one liners, fart jokes and my usual madness.

I’ve been surprised that many reviewers have commented on me having a lot of energy. I guess I’m from the old school where you perform. Getting the look together is step one. What you do in that look is what interests me. But this show also challenges the (what I consider to be) the overly PC crowd, so it hopefully makes them think in addition to laughing. While I love performing dirty material, I actually don’t like to offend. But if you enjoy offensive humor, you will probably love this show!

Siena’s Famous Pizza or Pasta

fax. (08) 9444 1779 115 Oxford Street Leederville WA

$14

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(08) 9444 8844 www.sienas.com.au

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OUTinPerth

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Lady Bunny’s Trans-Jester will be at Connections Nightclub on Wednesday September 27th at 7pm. Tickets available at eventbrite.com.au.

Leigh Andrew Hill

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community

I asked my son what he thought about the plebiscite and marriage equality to see how much of it he understands. His response?

‘What’s so bad about marriage equality? People should have the choice. We all have human DNA, people are just people.’

In case people are concerned about the gay influence, he’s about as straight as they get. So are both my parents and all three of my siblings. I can personally attest to the support I’ve received from my own family after my own internal battles.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, one in three married couples divorce. If your parents are happily married, your divorce risk decreases by 14%. By the time I got to high school most of my friends’ parents were divorced. The few whose parents were still together wished their parents had divorced.

The Australian Study of Child Health in Same-Sex Families (ACHESS) gathered data on 500 kids aged from 0-17 years from 315 LGBT families. These studies showed that the scores on overall health and connectedness in families with same-sex attracted parents were significantly better than those of every other family background and construct nationwide.

Further studies indicate that teenagers of same-sex parents are more likely to talk about emotional and sexual issues with their parents, and that LGBT parents who have previously had difficult relationships with their own families tended to reconnect over the shared experience of parenthood.

Coming out is a constant process, I have to come out whenever someone at a new job or a medical facility asks me about my partner, assuming I’ve always had one. For whatever reason it’s commonly assumed I’m into guys. There still seems to be this notion that girls who like girls should dress in such a masculine way as to provide a warning to folks.

One in five children growing up in Australia today are being raised by a single parent. I really needed to bring this up because while the argument against children being raised by two same-sex parents is infuriating, I was more steamed about the insinuation that one parent isn’t enough.

In claiming that children are worse off without the cocoon of the nuclear family construct, the Australian Christian Lobby don’t appear to be bothered by this slight against families in which there has been limited or no choice in the matter.

Children who have lost a parent due to illness, divorce or various reasons are being targeted by the same hate speech directed at same-sex parented families, even via posters which imply over 90% of parents who are same-sex attracted are abusive.

My son has positive male role models in the form of an awesome granddad who grew up with a single mum and became a great dad, brilliant uncles and my male mates who all give solid advice and support.

I asked my son what he would say if someone told him that his family wasn’t as good as someone else’s because he has two mums.

‘I’d tell them to go eff themselves. We’re all the same.’

P: 9228 1944 66 Angove Street, North Perth

secondtime.com.au

Jesse R Johnson

OUTinPerth

September 2017

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photos music

Grizzly Bear Painted Ruins A small shift in sound from their previous album, featuring more toned-down melodic instrumentation and smoother vocals, Painted Ruins is a great album for day of relaxation or for those who love indie sounds and arty qualities. Whilst all songs on Painted Ruins are enjoyable to listen to in differing degrees, the songs that really grabbed my attention were Wasted Acres and Mourning Sound, each with distinct sounds different from the other nine songs. An enjoyable album overall – Ashley Hayes

Disco Queen on the Scene A Day on the Green is going disco in December. KC and the Sunshine Band will be playing alongside The Village People, Sister Sledge and Australia’s own superstar Marcia Hines.

Anyone who saw Hines during her appearance in Velvet at Fringe World earlier this year will know that the acclaimed singer knows how to throw a glitter filled party.

Hines chatted to OUTinPerth about all things D.I.S.C.O. The lineup for this show is pretty amazing, this night is going to bringing back a lot of memories for people.

Here’s hoping! the disco era was fun, the only unforgivable thing was the fashion, which was pretty tragic, but the rest of it was great music, great dancing and great memories.

Well my top question I had written down here to ask you was what was your best disco era outfit?

I remember, I saw a picture from way back in the day and I thought ‘I didn’t wear that!’.

It was powder-blue, and I do love powder blue, I only wear powder blue fingernail polish, but it was a powder blue fake fur jacket, and a powder blue pantsuit. I can tell you, Graeme, I knew I was stylin’.

I look at it now though and I go, ‘What were you thinking!’

Your biggest hit in the disco era was the song You what do you remember about recording that song.

the studio there was a box of ‘45s sitting in a corner.

My drummer, who was Mark Kennedy at that time, said “What’s are all these records in this box?”

The producer said “Those are songs that we had considered.” Mark asked “What’s this song You?” We had a listen to it and we all thought what a great song, lets record it.

It wasn’t even on the list, which is fascinating, but what is yours nobody will ever take away.

You did a whole album of classic disco tunes with your Discotheque album, and included a KC and the Sunshine Band tune.

Yeah, nobody safe, you pull out all the songs and take a look at them, but all the songs I included on Discotheque were songs that I actually danced to and were my favourites. It really was a fun album to record.

Back in the 70’s at the height of the disco era, were you living the disco life?

I wish I could say yes, but I’d be lying. I was living the ‘on tour’ life. Most of my life was on the road, back then you could, but now most of those gigs have dried up. But I remember that we’d come over to Perth and head up to Geraldton and head further north.

A Day on the Green with Marcia Hines, KC and the Sunshine Band, The Village People and Sister Sledge is in Kings Park on Thursday 7 December for all the info head to www.adayonthegreen.com.au Graeme Watson

LCD Soundsystem American Dream The band’s fourth album comes after a long seven year break, and it’s a slower and more introspective type of work than the tunes that propelled them to be indie darlings. This is an album of meaningful lyrics and intricate and subtle music. James Murphy and his collaborators take their time, every tunes is at least 5 minutes long.

Reminiscent of Ultravox and Talking Heads, LCD Soundsystem aren’t hiding their influences, their embracing them. Music for dancing and thinking.- Graeme Watson

Paul Weller A Kind Revolution Review The former front man of the 80’s band The Style Council that produced hits like Shout to the Top and his sublime 90’s solo effort Wildwood returns with his new album A Kind Revolution. Combining elements of folk, funk and lo-fi psychedelic rock, Weller has created a captivating recording that has traces of his disco pop beginnings but it’s musically and lyrically more mature. This is not top forty material, there’s no distracting voice altering vocoding going on, rather it’s a collection of well crafted songs coated in a light electronic wash that is music for grown ups that resides somewhere in between the electro meets folk territory marked out by Dido and Elliot Smith. - Clinton Little

Bev Rage and the Drinks Honk If Yr Hungry This is a high energy, ballsy record. It’s great to see drag talent existing outside of the autotuned, glamazonian, RuPaul sphere. I really wanted to like this album, but the garage pop genre is really just not up my street, or even up my alley. Currently detoxing with some Whitney, Celine and a dash of Enya. If you are a fan of grungy riffs and vocals though, give Bev and her Drinks a go-go! - James Fowler

Very interesting story, very interesting question.

We’d just about finished recording an album and in

CIVIL CELEBRANT Andrew Pickering Supporting Marriage Equality www.andrewpickering.com.au

0405 540 300 20

OUTinPerth

September 2017

HIFi Sean featuring Crystal Waters - Testify a glorious gospel dance tune featuring the infallible Miss Waters Cut Copy - Standing in the Middle of the Field a quirky feel-good tune from the electronic band that has a vibe reminiscent of the ‘80s Benny Andersson - My Love My Life ABBA legend and a piano - perfection Four Tet - SW9 9SL slowly building layers of sound on top of each other, absorb it slowly Paul Weller Mother Ethiopia Pt 1-3 Hot on the heels of his amazing ‘A Kind of Revolution’ album Wellers back with something unexpected - a three part afro-funk collaboration Ola Kvernberg - Credits best Norwegian jazz released this month Moses Sumney - Doomed intriguing, haunting and heartbreaking Kolsch - Liath amazing mix of electronic beats and a symphony orchestra Kai Schumaker - Music For Airports 1/2 minimalist piano version of Brian Eno’s ambient masterpiece Mocky - How It Goes hip hop infused jazz funk magic The Andreas Hourdakis Trio - It’s Alright Ma (I’m Only Bleeding) Dylan’s powerhouse rock tune is swaddled in jazz Rat Boy - Laidback geezer indie pop init Balmorhea - Clear Language beautiful chilled out tune Dungen - Archmed Flyger (Version 1) Disco remixer Prins Tomas collaborates with famous psych band

WHAT’S ON AT WAAPA SEPTEMBER Radio Active

Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts

Pop, rock and R ‘n’ B hits

Thu 14 & Sat 16 , 7.30pm

Hit Parade: Defying Gravity

WAAPA’s famous percussion ensemble turns 30!

14 - 16, 7.30pm + Sat 16, 2pm matinee, One O’clock Jump

Jazz Vocal Ensemble in the Spiegeltent

Wed 20 , 7.30pm

WAAPA Postgrad & Research Showcase

FREE EVENT - Music, Dance and Performing Arts

Sat 23, 7.30pm

OCTOBER Sound Spectrum

5 nights of FREE new music by WAAPA Composers

Mon 2- Fri 6, 7.30pm

The Threepenny Opera

Bertolt Brecht’s masterpiece performed in the Spiegeltent

13 - 19, 7.30pm + Sat 14, 2pm matinee, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson

WA premiere of this raucous, off-Broadway rock musical

14 - 21, 7.30pm + Sat 2, 2pm matinee

OPERA DOUBLE BILL

The Impresario & Les Mamelles De Tirésias

16 - 21, 7.30pm

All performances at WAAPA ECU, 2 Bradford St, Mount Lawley Free Parking after 6pm WAAPA Box Office TEL: (08) 9370 6895 For more information head to the website or Facebook.

waapa.ecu.edu.au

community group listings *UPDATED* ALCOHOL and DRUG SUPPORT LINE — 24 hour confidential non-judgemental telephone counselling, information and referral service. If you’re concerned about your own or someone else’s drug or alcohol use please call the Alcohol and Drug Support Line on 08 9442 5000 or Country Callers 1800 198 024 (toll free) – alcoholdrugsupport.mhc.wa.gov.au; email alcoholdrugsupport@mhc.wa.gov.au ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS RAINBOW GROUP meets every Tuesday 7-8pm, in the hall next to St Lukes church, cnr George and Rowland Sts, Maylands. If alcohol is costing you more than the price of the drink, please join us for sharing and recovery in a 12 Step Program with proven results. The only requirement for AA membership is a desire to stop drinking. For more information www. aaperthwa.org BEARS PERTH — BEARS PERTH - A Friendly men only social club for men with body and / or facial hair and their admirers. The dress code is masculine, and men of all shapes, sizes and amount of hairiness are welcome.

Licensed Den Nights are on the 2nd Saturday and 4th Friday of each month 9pm till Late @ Loton Park Bulwer St (near Lord St) East Perth. There are also different events on the 2nd Sunday of each month, often at a members residence or alternative events as advised. Visitors welcome. Contact us via phone 0487 595 672, email: info@bearsperth.org, http://bearsperth.org or http://bit.ly/ bpi-www BISEXUAL+ COMMUNITY PERTH — is a safe place for people who are not gay or straight (we use “bisexual” as an umbrella term for that) to engage in respectful discussion, connect with people, and form community online. There are also regular opportunities to connect in person, including events for Bi Visibility Day (23/9) and the Pride Parade (25/11). You can join the Bisexual+ Community Perth group by going directly to www. facebook.com/groups/bicommperth CATHOLIC GLBT AND PARENT SUPPORT — This service provides pastoral support to all members of the Catholic GLBT community, including parents of GLBT children; giving an understanding & an opportunity for processing & healing feelings of confusion, hurt, anger exclusion or being marginalised. Individual consultation is provided as well as communal gatherings of the Catholic GLBT community for mutual & spiritual support. For more information, please call 6336-8602 (leave a message if unattended) or email cathgaysupport@ gmail.com DYKES ON BIKES — A diverse, loosely-knit social group, occasional organised rides & gatherings plus annual appearance as the traditional lead float in the Pride Parade. If you are a female who rides a motorbike and loves women, then come along and check out dykes on bikes. General enquiries see our public group on facebook... Dykes on bikes WA or email dykesonbikeswa@hotmail.com FREEDOM CENTRE — Freedom Centre provides a safe space, peer support, information, and referrals for LGBTTIQ and Questioning young people (under 26).FC provides a range of services including an online Forum, trainings, workshops and our drop-in centre sessions which are open for: Freespace – every Wednesday 5-8pm & Friday 4-8pm, Outspace – 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month 12pm-5pm, GenderQ – 1st Thurs of the month 5-8pm, 1st People’s Qspace – 3rd Thursday of the month 5-8pm, Junior aGender - last Monday of even months 5-8pm, QMovie – last Tuesday of odd months 5-8pm. 93 Brisbane St, Perth WA 6000 Ph: 9228 0354 Email: info@ freedom.org.au Web: www.freedom.org.au www.fcyeah. tumblr.com GAY AND LESBIAN SINGERS OF WA (GALS WA) — GALSWA welcomes members from all shades of the sexuality and gender diversity rainbow and our allies.

There are no auditions, singers of all abilities welcome.

Rehearsals Thursdays 7 to 9 pm at the Royal Park Hall, 180 Charles St, West Perth (cnr of Vincent St). For more information see our website: www.galswa.org.au, Email info@galswa.org.au or contact Jackie on 0405 081 638.

GAY & LESBIAN ARCHIVES OF WA — Located in the Murdoch University Library on the South Street Campus.

For opening hours and access details, please contact the Library on 9360 2563.

GRAI (GLBTI RIGHTS IN AGEING INC.) — works to improve the quality of life for older LGBTI people, both in care and in the community. Providing visibility and a voice for LGBTI elders is key to this. Through research and advocacy we have achieved law reform to end discrimination for older LGBTI people. We work with the aged care sector, delivering training to achieve safe and inclusive aged care services. We hold community events to build better community supports and friendships. New members welcome. Interested?

Contact June on 08 9383 7753. PO Box 514 North Perth WA 6906 or 54 Bickley Cres, Manning 6152. E: info@grai.org.au or visit www.grai.org.au GOLF BAGS — Golf club play every Sat morning at a variety of courses north and south of the river. We are a group of friendly gals who love our golf and good company. New players are always welcome. For details contact us at golfbagswa@gmail.com HEADSPACE MIDLAND — headspace can help – headspace provides FREE information, confidential support and services for all young people 12-25 years and their families. Our experienced team includes LGBTIQ friendly Social Workers, GPs, Psychologists, Drug and alcohol workers and more. No referral is required and you can bring a friend for support. Drop in at 64 Morrison Rd, Midland (upstairs from the market) or call 08 9274 8860. www.headspace.org. au/midland HEPATITIS WA — providing information and support to people affected by hepatitis. If you would like to know more on hepatitis A, B or C, contact us on 9328 8538 (Metro) or 1800 800 070 (Country). 134 Aberdeen St Northbridge WA 6003 — www.hepatitiswa.com.au LESBIAN ELDERS’ TALKING GROUP — GRAI’s Meet n’ Muse (MnM) is a supportive social space where women (55+) who identify as lesbian or bisexual discuss a variety of topics (chosen by the group) and share past and present life experiences.

Coffee afterwards.

MnM Perth meets 2nd and 4th Weds at 1.30pm; MnM Mandurah meets on 1st and 3rd Weds at 7pm. For more details email Pam: graipamm@gmail.com LESBIANS WHO LUNCH (LWL) — LWL is a monthly lunch club for older lesbians – meeting on 3rd Thursdays at different venues around Perth. It’s an opportunity to widen our friendship networks and stay involved in the community.

Organised by GRAI, for info about up-coming lunches, contact June: chair@grai.org.au LIVING PROUD LGBTI COMMUNITY SERVICES OF WA — (formerly Gay & Lesbian Community Services of WA). Information, support, referrals and professional training. City West Lotteries House, 2 Delhi St, West Perth WA 6005. Qlife counselling and referral Line: 1800 184 527 Admin/Fax: (08) 9486 9855 Email: admin@glcs.org.au Web: www.glcs.org.au LOTON PARK TENNIS CLUB — Diversity is our advantage. Come on down and try something new at Perth’s Other Gay & Lesbian venue. It’s not just about tennis. Open to all levels of players – social and competitive – with an emphasis on enjoyment for everyone. With the city skyline as our backdrop, sit back on the embankment or balcony and enjoy a drink in a relaxed and fun atmosphere. A full social calendar ahead ensures a summer of fun for everyone.

Enquiries@lotonpark.com.au Ph: (08) 9328 5065 — www.lotonpark.com.au M CLINIC – FREE STI/HIV SCREENING CLINIC — For Men who have sex with men. Free, confidential, non-judgemental STI testing & Treatment. Please call (08) 9227 0734 for appointments. Central location.

After hours options available. For more information email info@mclinic.org.au or visit mclinic.org.au OPEN ARMS FELLOWSHIP — Perth’s Only Welcoming & Affirming Pentecostal Church. “This is Church for those who’ve been told they don’t belong in church!” It doesn’t matter whether your Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Trans or Intersex, Young, Old, Or somewhere in-between Including their Family friends and supporters. Everyone is welcome meeting at UCIC hall, first floor, 97 William St, Perth. Sundays 6pm. For further information email:

FEES include GST Annual (Unfunded) $110 Annual (Funded) $200

info@openarmsaustralia.org; or go to the website: www.openarmsaustralia.org; or call Pastor Graham on ph: 0405 285 233 OUTDANCE — Same Sex Partner Ballroom & Latin American Dance Classes - Group Classes & Social Nights for Beginners, Intermediate and Advanced Dancers. Private Lessons by appointment. Group Class - 6.30pm Tuesday Mt Hawthorn Community Centre. Class Enquiries: Judy 0417 911 214 or Warwick 0450 041 023. OUTdance Studio Principals: Darryl Davenport & Tania McGuinness.

P: 0414 666 034 F: 08 9403 2220 E: info@outdance.com.au PERTH INNER CITY YOUTH SERVICE— or PICYS as we are commonly known, we are a LGBTI inclusive organisation and welcome and celebrate each and every person. PICYS is available to assist young people between 16 – 25 who are experiencing homelessness; and 15 to 20 who are wanting to get support with their mental health and other life matters.

Check our website for more service info www.picys. org.au or call on 08 9388 2791 Mondays to Fridays 9am - 5pm.

PFLAG PERTH (PARENTS, FAMILIES & FRIENDS OF LESBIANS & GAYS — is a community group offering support and understanding for families and friends with loved ones who are GLBTI. Meetings are held every second month in Perth city (please call to register) Visit website for more information, news, events and meeting dates: www.pflagwa.org.au Email: info@pflagwa.org.au. Information Line: 0404 594 699. Facebook:www.facebook.com/pflagperth PRIDE WA INC. — To lead by example in creating a world where inclusion and diversity are embraced and celebrated. Pride WA encourages the cultural expression, celebration and human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer and all people of diverse sexuality and gender living in Western Australia. We recognise that our collective strength lies in our diversity and willingness to embrace and respect the differences that exist both within our Pride community and the broader communities in which we live, work, love and celebrate. PRIDE WA stages events through the year, including their annual Arts and Culture festival PrideFEST, Pride PARADE and FAIRDY. Information can be found on www.pridewa.com.au or contact us; E: pride@pridewa.com.au, P: 9427 0836 PRIMETIMERS WA — If you are a mature gay or bisexual man, we are keen to welcome you to Prime Timers. The group meets at 2pm on the second Sunday of each month, at Lotteries House: 2 Delhi St, West Perth. PO Box 829, Mt. Lawley 6929. For more info go to www.primetimerswa.com or email: primetimers@primtimerswa.com.

QLIFE – COUNSELLING & REFERRAL — QLife is Australia’s first nationally-oriented counselling and referral service for people of diverse sex, genders and sexualities. QLife provides nationwide, early intervention, peer supported telephone and web based services to support Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) people of all ages. Freecall: 1800 184 527 Time: 3pm to 12pm Web: www.qlife.org.au RAINBOW LABOR — This is a group of LBGTI and like-minded community members volunteering at a grass-roots level of the WA Labor Party. The branch meets monthly, has a direct link to State Executive and delegates at State Conference. Being involved in Rainbow Labor gives members the opportunity to have a direct influence on policies of the Australian Labor Party at both State and Federal levels. For further information or to join please contact Branch President, Andy Skinner on 0452 446 995, email rainbowlabor.branch@walabor.org.au or visit facebook.com/RainbowLaborWA

RAINBOW RIGHTS WA a community based organisation working to change public perception, end discrimination, and achieve social justice for LGBTI+ people and their families in Western Australia. Membership open to all. Find us on Facebook. E: rainbowrightswa@gmail.com SAINT ANDREW’S ANGLICAN CHURCH — Open door worship 6pm Sundays. Welcome and affirmation for all GLBTI people. 259 Barker Road, Subiaco. 9381 1130. standrewsubi@bigpond.com www.siriol.net/StAndrew SECCA (SEXUALITY EDUCATION COUNSELLING CONSULTANCY AGENCY) — Counselling for people with a disability, their partners, carers & family about relationships & sexuality. Professional education & consultancy services available covering sexuality & disability. Fees may apply. Mon-Fri 9-5. City West Lotteries House, 2 Delhi St West Perth WA 6005.

Ph 9420 7226 / Fx 9420 7229. e: admin@secca. org.au — www.secca.org.au SEX WORKERS — Magenta offers support, education, info & referral services for F, M & T/G sex workers (private, escort, parlours, street).

Peer-based, worker-friendly staff for confidential & anonymous phone, inhouse & outreach help/advice.

Free clinic for STI screenings. Stock at reduced price to workers. Mon–Thu 9am–4pm. 9328 1387. e: sexworker@fpwa.org.au TEAMPERTH— TeamPerth is a hub for bringing together all the queer sporting and recreation groups here in Perth and WA. Our goal is to promote diversity and inclusion in all sports, as well as to provide support and to help connect groups together.

If you’re looking to join a club, or if you’d like to start your own, go to our website at teamperth.info, check out our Facebook www.facebook.com/teamperth or email us at teamperthaus@gmail.com TRANSFOLK OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA — A peer support network for gender diverse people and their loved ones in Western Australia.

Contact info: email: admin@transfolkofwa.org facebook: www.facebook/com/TransFolkofWA website: www.transfolkofwa.org WA AIDS COUNCIL — Strengthening our community’s health and quality of life. Provides a range of services for people living with HIV/AIDS, Counselling ( issues include HIV/AIDS, relationships, sexuality & gender) Needle and Syringe Exchange, Peer Education, workshops & STI screening for men who have sex with men. Other community education, prevention and training services offered. 664 Murray Street, West Perth, Admin: 08 9482 0000 AIDSline 9482 0044, Mensline 9322 8401 (Toll Free 1800 671 130) www.waaids.com email: waac@waaids.com WASUA (WA SUBSTANCE USER’S ASSOCIATION) — WASUA is WA’s state-wide, peer based Drug User Organisation that provides harm reduction, advocacy and peer education services to substance users. Services provided include a 7 day per week fixed site Needle Syringe Exchange Program, Health Clinic for STI/BBV testing, pre and post test counselling, Hep A/B vaccinations, Hep C/HIV education, alcohol & other drug support and treatment referral, Drug user & Pharmacotherapy advocacy. Contact us 22/7 Aberdeen Street Perth, Phone 9325 83 87 Fax 9325 6152, email: info@ wasua.com.au WA GAY LEAGUE — Tenpin Bowling. Everyone is welcome. Sun from 11:00am at Warwick Superbowl.

12 Dugdale St, Warwick Grove. e: rayjc@iinet.net.au — www.wagl.org.au WA WANDERERS MENS BUSHWALKING — are a social walking group for gay guys and gay friendly guys who are keen to get outside and enjoy Western Australia’s countryside with an easy going and friendly group. 0415 249 265 www.wawanderers.com.au

To list a community group or service in the paper and online ph: 08 9371 9877 email: community@outinperth.com web: www.outinperth.com

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American hero Cruise is ideal for the larger than life antics of the catch me if you can game that Seal seems to be playing. The upbeat music gives a light-hearted edge to drug smuggling and gun-running and animated inserts explain the US / Russia / Nicaraguan War. The risk-taking is presented as an adrenaline-charged romp and the far-fetched story is presented as laughable. The disturbing thing is that the story is not a fable but an account of what actually happened, even if it is a rather superficial account. There are lots of human casualties even though CIA Agent Schafer (Domhnall Gleeson) manages to walk away and suggest solutions for that other troublesome country, Iran.

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In Steven Soderbergh’s hilarious heist film Logan Lucky (), it is fun to see actors cast in extremely different roles to what we are used to seeing them. Set at a massive Nascar speedway in West Virginia, a couple of not-so-bright desperados come up with an elaborate hare-brained plan to rob the speedway during the Coca-Cola 600 race on Memorial Day. Sporting thick Southern accents, brothers Jimmy (Channing Tatum) and Clyde Logan (Adam Driver) decide to break local thug Joe Bang (Daniel Craig) out of prison to help with blowing up the safe. With Jimmy’s noticeable limp, Clyde’s prosthetic arm and Joe’s incarceration – what could possibly go wrong? Especially when they are relying on cockroaches to find a vault of money.

While the Logan sister Mellie (Riley Keough) shows off her driving skills, Jimmy’s ex-wife Katie Holmes, who has married into money, is preparing their daughter for a beauty pageant. Meanwhile Joe brings his rather dim brothers Fish (Jack Quaid) and Sam (Brian Gleeson) into the arrangement and FBI agent Hilary Swank smells a rat but can’t seem to locate it. The clever script makes sure the narrative twists and turns as the heist is attempted and the huge amount of bumbling and misunderstanding is a continual source of humour.

Tom Cruise is back flying aeroplanes in Doug Linman’s American Made (½). Presented as a boys’ own adventure, Cruise tells the story of real life Barry Seal who was recruited by the CIA in the 1970s to take aerial reconnaissance pictures of potential threats in Central America. Next thing you know, he is smuggling huge amounts of cocaine into America for Pablo Escobar with the full knowledge of American intelligence and earning more money than he knows what to do with. As a trade-off, he is forced to smuggle weapons into Nicaragua to help the Contra war effort.

Malcolm D Lee’s Girls Trip (). has been hailed by critics as a “raunchy vacation comedy and a female-bonding melodrama”. Four college friends reunite after 25 years to attend a weekend festival in New Orleans “celebrating black women in all shapes and forms”. The successful Ryan (Regina Hall) who is promoting her Oprahish self-help book “You Can Have It All” meets up with gossip columnist Sasha (Queen Latifah), single mum Lisa (Jada Pinkett Smith) and outlandish risk taker Dina (Tiffany Haddish). The aim of the weekend is to get (quoting from their dialogue) “white girl wasted” and get as many dicks inside them as possible.

The result is a chaotic series of mishaps that release out of control anger lingering just beneath the expensively tarted up veneers of the four women. Abusive swear words turn into alcohol-fuelled bitch fights ... and just when you think it can’t get any worse, two of the women decide that it is a good idea to urinate over crowds of people while suspended above them. No amount of last minute feel-good sista-love band-aids can make this 2 hour film any better.

Lezly Herbert

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OUTinPerth

September 2017

23

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