ORGULLO MAY ISSUE

orgullo A LEEDS BASED INDEPENDENT LGBTQ+ MAGAZINE

MAY 2018 £4.95 @orgullomag

THE WORLD ACCORDING TO KATE

EXCLUSIVE SHOOT WITH RIAN MCCAWLEY FEATURING ROSIE’S BATTLE WITH AIDS INSIDE ACCESS TO LEEDS LGBTQ+ SPORTS FRINGE FESTIVAL

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HERE AT orgullo:

LOVE MEANS LOVE STRAIGHT. LESBIAN. GAY. BISEXUAL. TRANS. QUEER.

#LOVEMEANSLOVE

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4 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF LETTER 6 TRAVEL FEATURE with Josie Sproson 15 YORKSHIRE MESMAC, CHILDREN AND HIV with Rosie Ellingham 20 GIRL-ON-GIRL with Kate Fish 26 KEEPING IT BRIEF with Rian McCawley 36 LEEDS LGBTQ+ SPORTS FRINGE with Danny Silk 42 REAL BODIES

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During my time with orgullo, I have heard stories of the highest highs and the lowest lows, but something that I have always been able to identify through the snippets that have been shared with me is the hope that members of the LGBTQ+ hold for change.

Change is something which we have covered overwhelmingly within this issue.

Rosie Ellingham and Danny Silk have both dedicated their adult lives to helping the LGBTQ+ community by taking on various projects in attempt to increase the support that is available for all sexualities.

This is something that much larger, and more popular institutions have failed to provide over the years, and something which we must not take for granted.

The world in which we live can be a wonderful, but cruel place at times. While this may forever be the case with the seemingly unending negative headlines and viscous acts, I truly believe we should always be grateful for the beautiful place with which we have been blessed.

Josie Sproson, an aspiring architect, photographer and artist, has highlighted some of this everyday beauty for you to enjoy.

All of us at orgullo genuinely wish to explore as many issues as possible which can have an affect gay life, and we will always try to make sure that we keep in touch with our readers and include content which is relevant and important to you.

If you take one thing from this issue, I would be more than gratified if it is that you know more about some of the support that is available for you, and that you know that honestly, we do care deeply. Even if you sometimes feel that at times, you are alone – there will always be people ready and willing to help.

I would like to also thank the charities, institutions and individuals which have come together to contribute to the content which you will find in the following pages.

T. Reynolds TRAVIS REYNOLDS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF @orgullomag @travisreynolds0

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orgullo

A LETTER FROM THE EDITOR- IN - CHIEF

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JOSIE SPROSON

orgullo SET OUT IN SEARCH OF FRESH UP AND COMING TALENT HIDDEN AWAY IN THE DEPTHS OF THE ART WORLD. WE TOOK A VOTE ON OUR FAVOURITES,, BASED ON THE MOST AESTHETICALLY PLEASING STYLES AND PRINTS WITHIN PHOTOGRAPHY, ART AND DESIGN. IN OUR EYES IT WAS WITHOUT A DOUBT THAT ASPIRING ARCHITECT JOSIE SPROSON WOULD TAKE THE CROWN

LOCATION: PRAIA DA LUZ, PORTUGAL PHOTOGRAPHER: JOSIE SPROSON 6

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We decided that it was absolutely essential that the team met up with her to find out a bit more about her work and ask for some tips!

Dividing her time between Manchester and Sheffield due to University commitments, Josie had no idea that she would be where she is today after finishing sixth form, however, she knew for sure that her strengths lay in her creativity, and that is the direction she headed.

Her Art Foundation degree was the thing that inevitably led her to decide what she wanted to do. Much to our surprise when we asked her whether she enjoys

painting, she responded “I do love to paint; however, I find it repetitive – dare I say boring when having to do it on a daily basis. I missed the academic aspects of my A Levels, so I started looking into architecture which was an area of design I’d never explored before.

“Architecture appealed to me because it offered the best of both worlds, I could use my skills in painting, photography and graphic design to explore design and present ideas. On the other hand, you really have to think about what it is you are designing, the social, psychological, environmental, political and cultural impacts your building is going to have. It is very much about problem-solving, and if you're lucky enough you have the freedom to

ART AND CULTURE

LOCATION: PEMBROKESHIRE, WALES PHOTOGRAPHER: JOSIE SPROSON

LOCATION: FJAERLAND, NORWAY: PHOTOGRAPHER: JOSIE SPROSON

not just design a practical building, but an exciting and inspiring one.”

It isn’t uncommon that you hear of family members being inspirations for children when they are younger, and, Josie is no different. “My granny was a painter and my grandpa was a film director. I guess you could say it runs in the family. Recently, my paintings have been orientated around portraits” she told us, whilst reflecting on some of the more famous characters/work that she was passionate about.

“I was inspired to start portraiture by artists like Lucian Freud and Tai Shan Schierenberg. One of my biggest inspirations is David Hockney, I have been to a few of his exhibitions and his work varies from landscape and

LOCATION: EDALE, PEAK DISTRICT PHOTOGRAPHER: JOSIE SPROSON

portraiture to photography and digital drawings. Not many artists have that range. It would be great to explore all of those avenues and excel in each.”

How long does it take you to paint one of your portraits? “The portraits take me a LONG time, an A3 would take me around 10-15 hours, whereas the Mohammad Ali A0, took me well over 100 hours. The technique I use is very precise and meticulous, it’d be nice to paint with big, broad strokes and create something in a couple of hours. “

With social media platforms on a never-ending popularity hype, we asked Josie her favourite – “I love Instagram.

Since it introduced stories it’s really surged. I like being able to put photos on stories without having to think about it too much. If the photo is going on my account permanently, it takes more refinement. Twitter has got to be my favourite though, information is shared so instantaneously, you feel connected to things when you're on it, you can gain information immediately. It’s my number MAY 2018 orgullo

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LOCATION: SALZBURG, AUSTRIA PHOTOGRAPHER: JOSIE SPROSON MAY 2018 orgullo

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SUBJECT: LOUIE ARMSTRONG ARTIST: JOSIE SPROSON

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ART AND CULTURE

SUBJECT: KENDRICK LAMAR ARTIST: JOSIE SPROSON

SUBJECT: MOHAMMED ALI ARTIST: JOSIE SPROSON

one news source. But Instagram is a better platform for sharing my work.”

With a never-ending feed of travel photography, it seemed to us that she had an around the world plane ticket which never ended. When we threw her the option of only being able to travel to one place again, it was clearly and without a doubt that Norway had stolen her heart. “Oslo is one of the most beautiful cities i’ve visited. It’s a city full of art and exciting new design, situated right on the edge of the Fjord and a short tram journey from mountains. Everything I love in one place. If you go to Oslo, you must visit the Opera House, it’s roof literally descends into the water. And you can even walk on it, I’ve seen people use it as both a sun lounger and a ski slope! It’s a cultural and social triumph. From Oslo, I took trains and boats to Balestrand and Fjaerland, very small villages only accessible by boat. The scenery really is outstanding, a photographers’ paradise.”

With her youth beside her (and before we offered her a job a job building our new office), we just had to know how she kept herself so highly motivated. With a degree, a never-ending workload and also a full diary of destinations to go and explore, how does one keep such a balance? “To put it simply, I’m motivated by my love to paint. The idea of what I’m going to paint next excites me so much. What do I have the potential to do? How far can I take it? Next time, can I go even bigger and even better? Being able to share my work with the World is a huge bonus. Sending prints to people in America, Asia, Europe, that’s an amazing feeling.”

“I would like for my work to be exhibited, I know it’s farfetched, but that’s the dream! If not in exhibitions, then at least in people’s houses. I’m happy to keep painting as a hobby though, I’m pretty confident that I want architecture to be my profession. I think that if it was anything more than a hobby then it would lose its fun and excitement.”

“I have always wanted to do more social work through art. Like public murals or community events.

Encouraging public interaction and participation. There’s a studio in Boston called Artists for Humanity, it’s a non-profit youth arts organisation. And it’s really cool because they basically employ young people to create work for clients. They equip them with necessary tools to become self-sufficient by teaching business acumen and entrepreneurship. It’s a fantastic organisation that builds confidence and ultimately changes lives, all through the use of art.”

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rosie CAN’T

I PASSELLINGHAM: ON HIV. People on effective HIV treatment cannot pass on the virus.

my battle wit abuse and aid Get the facts StartsWithMe.org.uk

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MAY 2018 orgullo

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SUBJECT: ROSIE ELLINGHAM PHOTOGRAPHER: TRAVIS REYNOLDS INTERVIEWER: TRAVIS REYNOLDS

Rosie Ellingham YORKSHIRE MESMAC, CHILDREN AND HIV

orgullo arrived at the Leeds City Centre MESMAC office (a

West Yorkshire based Sexual Health organisation) to it lit in glorious sunshine. Hidden in an alleyway close to the train station, few people know it exists, but those that do would describe it as one of the saving graces to touch the city. Rosie Ellingham, one of MESMAC’s Anti HBT Bullying Workers agreed to meet with us for a chat to discuss some of the work she does. Greeting us with a smile from ear to ear, she led us to one of the rooms that they use to council and began to tell us some of the history surrounding MESMAC.

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“THEY MIGHT BE OK WITH IT BUT HOW DO THESE YOUNG PEOPLE KNOW THAT YOU ARE OK WITH IT?”

SUBJECT: ROSIE ELLINGHAM PHOTOGRAPHER: TRAVIS REYNOLDS LOCATION: YORKSHIRE MESMAC

“MESMAC started off working with just predominantly gay men and HIV prevention. Now, things are completely different. To name just some, we work with black African communities, Trans communities and practically anyone who is at risk of contracting HIV. To help communities, we do testing in various places where we know people are at risk of contracting HIV and then branching from that there are lots of other projects.”

Rosie herself started working at the Youth Group in Bradford six years ago. The group was set up for LGBTQ+ orientated people she has continued to work there since. However, a national project that she is working on in particular at the moment within schools, set up by various charities which formed an alliance together to deliver anti-homophobic, transphobic and biphobia training to teachers in local school. The training focusses a lot on bullying but within it there is also lots

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of work surrounding LGBTQ+ awareness.

“Most of what you mostly find now is that schools are on board with accepting the LGBTQ+ community, everyone is ok with people being LGBTQ+ and because of this they think it isn’t an issue anymore, but actually what they don’t understand is that there are issues still concerning and affecting LGBTQ+ people.

They think that everything is fine and that they don’t need to do anything about it just because everyone is ok with it in their school. We do have to say to them that they might be ok with it but how do these young people know that you are ok with it? We take an active step in doing things like helping them promote LGBTQ+ awareness which we aim at teachers to take the lead with.”

This training by MESMAC is being rolled out ready for the start of the new PHSE curriculum being rolled

out in September, which has not been updated since 2000, meaning that for the last 18 years same-sex relationships haven’t had to be taught to children in schools. Rosie is confident that when it has to be taught in PSHE or sex education as part of the curriculum that teachers will be able to slip LGBTQ+ sexualities into lessons rather than separating it completely.

“With us offering this training to staff in all educational establishments for under 16’s, there has been a huge amount of our time spent in primary schools which stressed their interest. Primary schools seem to be so on board with it. We hear kids saying that something is gay in year 3 classes. We get boys dressing up in princess outfits and other boys saying that you can’t do that that’s a girl’s outfit and then calling them gay for it. Primary schools are really passionate in saying that they don’t want that to be the case and that they

want the opposite. Whether a child identifies as gay, trans or not they want to be able to break down those barriers and gender stereotypes.”

Out of all the issues that Rosie has been faced with in schools, it was evident from our conversation that children using the word gay negatively as another word to call something rubbish is a prominent theme across the board. Children are failing to understand the true meaning of the word gay as it has become such a part of the language to be used in a negative way.

“I go into each school three times over a period of three to six months to do a two-hour session and every time I go in without a doubt there is somebody that’s done something new or learned something that they didn’t know before could have such an impact on members of the LGBTQ+ community. Other things that people seem to be challenging is sexism and within

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“WE GET BOYS DRESSING UP IN PRINCESS OUTFITS AND OTHER BOYS SAYING THAT YOU CAN’T DO THAT, THAT’S A GIRL’S OUTFIT AND THEN CALLING THEM GAY FOR IT”

that homophobia, because homophobia would not exist without sexism. It’s great that people are changing the way they use language in their personal lives and not just in a school environment.”

“A very rewarding thing for me is to revisit a school and see that they have put an LGBTQ+ display board up and that they’ve started a new group at lunchtime and are investing in same-sex literature to read to children. It’s an amazing feeling.”

Pride as a national event has been a massive success in more recent years, with people of all ages, genders and sexualities coming together from around the country to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and reinforce the positive norms surrounding it.

There are, however, still prejudices which the community face, which makes us wonder, is it really all down to the schools to educate children or should their parents be helping teach these things to?

“Schools worries lie with the parents.

They think that parents are more likely to have negative influences on their children and schools are worried about how they can tackle that. In general, schools see children as innocent, they just use the language they have picked up from people around them, language that they don’t understand fully and therefore are completely unaware of the consequences.”

“Racism is tackled really well in school as it is always outlined in policies. They would never allow anyone to be racist their school

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grounds and this should be the same for LGBTQ+. For example, if you were to hear a parent using phobic slurs then you would deal with it in the same way that you would deal with racism. I work with some of the schools to update their policies to make sure they are fully LGBTQ+ inclusive, so, it would state ‘our behaviour policies would not allow negative LGBTQ+ behaviour’ or ‘we celebrate and promote diversity and diverse lifestyles and we celebrate LGBTQ people within that’.” Schools are trying also trying to involve parents by having a big pride display and celebrating LGBTQ awareness month and asking parents to contribute and support.”

Rosie, alongside two other community development workers that carry out HIV prevention within the community, also works onsite at the MESMAC office carrying out HIV testing on a sessional basis. Preparing individuals who come to the sessions is vital so that they don’t become overwhelmed if their results are positive.

“It’s all about giving the people you are testing all of the information about HIV before you do the test and make sure that they know that HIV doesn’t really kill people anymore. Medication and treatment is now readily available on the NHS for everyone and if you catch it early enough and it hasn’t affected the immune system you will live a full and healthy life.”

“We always advise them that if they do get a reactive result, actually, that’s a really

good thing because it means we can do something about it so it doesn’t get worse compared to if you hadn’t done the test and can’t do anything about it. This also means that it can be stopped from being passed around and the other people that have come into contact with it can get the help they need. The stigma is still there and there are still gay men that come in here for tests so worried because of that stigma and because they don’t want to be labelled as a disease carrier.”

With PEP and PEP now both available on the NHS, Rosie believes that one day there will be a cure for AIDS/HIV. PREP is the pre-exposure treatment which prevents HIV from being contracted in the body and PEP is post-exposure so if you go to your local A&E within 72 hours if you believe you have been at risk of being exposed to HIV you can be placed on PEP treatment to potentially stop HIV from taking over your body. Individuals that are aware of being HIV positive and taking medication for it are also no longer a risk for HIV transmission because the medication as a prevention method, so people are able to have a more than normal sex life as it can’t be passed on.

PHOTOGRAPHER: TRAVIS REYNOLDS LOCATION: YORKSHIRE MESMAC

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PHOTOGRAPHER: TRAVIS REYNOLDS LOCATION: FETTLE CAFE, LEEDS

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SUBJECT: KATE FISH PHOTOGRAPHER: TRAVIS REYNOLDS INTERVIEWER: TRAVIS REYNOLDS

GIRL-ON-GIRL with KATE FISH “ISN’T EVERYONE A SINNER SOMETIMES?” orgullo recently met with 20-year-old Kate Fish to talk all

things lesbian, relationships and cosmetic surgery. She remains one of Leeds best-known waitresses and is an ever-present figure down in the nightlife of Lower Briggate.

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She was over an hour late to the interview after sleeping through her alarm, but I didn’t expect anything less. Anyone who knows Kate should know of her lack of good time keeping skills, but she never fails to disappoint. As she arrived, she stumbled out of her taxi, tripped up the curb and fell through the door of the new Scandi-style Fettle Café where we’d decided to host the interview. Clearly flustered and giggling away to the barrister who was laughing at her dramatic arrival, I overheard her order a double-shot oat milk latté. I couldn’t wait to start digging into the nitty-gritty of her life since we last met over a year ago.

How come you’re drinking oat milk now Kate?

“I’m off on holiday to Spain in the next couple of weeks. Trying desperately to cram in that pre-holiday weight loss. I’m trying out the slimming world diet and it’s going well at the moment. It’s hard not to syn. Isn’t everyone a sinner sometimes?”

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Anyway, how have you been since we last met, are you still seeing the same girl?

“Which one? I’ve lost track of the last few nightmares! There was one that I met on Tinder – she messaged me of course! We dated, and it got a little bit serious, but we were arguing almost every day. We stopped speaking for a while and then she found out that I’d had sex with someone that she knows. We ended up speaking again for a while after that, but things don’t always work out and it was the same with me and her.

“I don’t feel guilty about having sex with her friend because we weren’t exclusive, and you should never regret things that you do. Everything happens for a reason - I’m a strong believer in that.”

Is it just exclusively girls that you’re seeing or have there been any boys on the scene?

“Well, it is exclusively girls in terms of attraction, but there

GIRL-ON-GIRL

PHOTOGRAPHER: TRAVIS REYNOLDS LOCATION: FETTLE CAFE, LEEDS SUBJECT: KATE FISH

has been one boy on the scene – it was a complete accident if I’m allowed to call it that. I ended up going on a night out in Birmingham with my two friends and meeting this boy. We ended up having a threesome at his apartment! You’d think it would be awkward having sex with your best girlfriend and a random boy but we just ended up waking up and laughing about it. She’s straight so it could’ve gone one way or another but we both had a good time, to say the least.

“It was her first time with a girl too so that’s one ticked off the bucket list.”

So, have you been back on Tinder? I’ve always wanted to know how people choose the pictures they put on there…

“I just went through my Instagram and found the most liked pictures. Basically, presuming that because they had the most likes they were the ones where I looked the best.”

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“DO SOMETHING FUNNY KATE” PHOTOGRAPHER: TRAVIS REYNOLDS LOCATION: LOWER BRIGGATE, LEEDS SUBJECT: KATE FISH

Are you still super-liking?

“No never a super like! You don’t want to look too keen it can put them off! Play it cool. I have ended up meeting a girl on there who is actually nice is time. Much better than the girls we were talking about this time last year.”

Amazing. Where did you go on your first date?

“We went for drinks at Nation of the Shopkeepers and then onto Belgrave. It was nice, and we’ve been speaking ever since. At the moment I don’t know where we’re at in terms of a relationship, it’s hard to tell. I’m not in love yet but it’s definitely on the cards! My feelings are quite strong for her and I’m staying hopeful she could be the one.”

Speaking from your own experience, do you have any advice for people looking for love?

“I don’t really have any advice to give someone getting into a relationship. My track record isn’t the best! I would definitely say that you need to love yourself before you

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GIRL-ON-GIRL

go looking for love. Having confidence in your own image is crucial.

“People push self-confidence to one side and it can sometimes create a worse situation in the grand scheme of things. I would definitely say that you should talk about your feelings and lay all of your cards on the table. It has happened one too many times for me and the people around me where one person thinks things are going one way and the other person has interpreted the situation completely different.

“It’s hard to find sex with no strings attached so make sure you go into things with your eyes wide open!”

In terms of your own self-confidence, have you done anything to help you achieve it?

“I’ve just had my lips done so I guess you could say yes. It was really painful, but I’d definitely recommend it to people if they felt under-confident about their lips. My sister was my inspiration for getting them done. She’s had them done for a couple of years now and they still look as good as they did on the first day she got them.”

"IT WAS HER FIRST TIME WITH A GIRL TOO SO THAT’S ONE TICKED OFF THE BUCKET LIST"

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KEEPING IT BRIEF RIAN MCCAWLEY SLIPS OUT OF HIS CLOTHES AND INTO SOMETHING TO KEEP HIM COOL FOR THE SUMMER MONTHS PHOTOGRAPHY: TRAVIS REYNOLDS FASHION: CALVIN KLEIN LOCATION: SPECIAL THANKS TO LBU

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RIAN WEARS BLACK CALVIN KLEIN BRIEFS AVAILABLE AT WWW.CALVINKLEIN.COM

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RIAN WEARS WHITE CALVIN KLEIN BRIEFS AND WHITE SPORTS CAP BY NIKE

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RIAN WEARS WHITE CALVIN KLEIN BRIEFS AVAILABLE AT WWW.CALVINKLEIN.COM

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RIAN WEARS BLACK NIKE CROSS COUNTRY SHORTS AVAILABLE AT WWW.NIKE.CO.UK

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RIAN WEARS WHITE CALVIN KLEIN BRIEFS AVAILABLE AT WWW.CALVINKLEIN.COM

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RIAN WEARS BLACK NIKE CROSS COUNTRY SHORTS AVAILABLE AT WWW.NIKE.CO.UK

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PHOTOGRAPHY: TRAVIS REYNOLDS FASHION: CALVIN KLEIN / NIKE LOCATION: SPECIAL THANKS TO LBU MODEL: RIAN MCCAWLEY (FOLLOW AT @RAIN_MCC)

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DANNY SILK “THROUGH SECRECY I BECAME QUITE AGGRESSIVE, THEN I BECAME LIKE YODA”

With the Leeds LGBTQ+ Sports Fringe Festival just months away, orgullo decided to catch up with the man behind the plan - 35-year-old Danny Silk. Talking Sport, Men and Yoda, here he is in an exclusive tell-all interview about his up and coming projects…

PHOTOGRAPHER: TRAVIS REYNOLDS LOCATION: LEEDS CITY CENTRE SUBJECT: DANNY SILK

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DANNY SILK

PHOTOGRAPHER: TRAVIS REYNOLDS LOCATION: LOWER BRIGGATE

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Travis: So Danny; hope you’re well. How are you getting on with the planning of the LGBTQ+ Sports Fringe this year? Have you managed to get more businesses involved?

Danny: Well, we’ve managed to double the number of events we hosted last year with almost 50 pencilled in so far. We’ve also managed to get some LGBTQ clubs, personal trainers, activities and also community allies, Nuffield Health and Virgin Active on board.

T: Amazing! Is it after Pride or before?

D: Before. It’s taking place in the weeks leading up to pride. We’re a free event just like Pride and if you look at them both combined it’s the UK’s biggest free pride event.

T: Is it just Leeds that’s hosting the Sports Fringe at the moment then?

D: Yeah as far as I’m aware - this is the first fringe festival or anything of its kind worldwide. I know ‘Gay Games’ have their own events which have been going on a lot longer but we’re just UK based to help promote other businesses and LGBTQ+ clubs within the city.

T: Do you see the Fringe taking place nationally anytime soon?

D: Actually, this is the last year where the festival will only be held in Leeds, I’ve been approached by 5 other cities to see if I can organise events for them too.

T: That’s quite an achievement, have you got a team behind you to help you with the organisation?

D: No, I’m completely on my own. There are people involved in a small committee as we have had to create a community bank account so that we can apply for funding, and, I have support from other people like Ian from DZL. DZL do a lot of work with deprived children and disabled children getting them off the streets and into dance, so he’s been able to guide me in the right direction, so to speak.

“I WAS NEWLY SINGLE TRAVELLING ALONE IN THAILAND AND WE JUST STARTED MESSAGING EACH OTHER ON FACEBOOK WHILE I WAS LAID ON THE BEACH”

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It’s been a learning curve, and, I think I’m annoying a lot of people on Twitter and Facebook – I’ve had Gay Games message me this morning saying that they don’t need to be tagged in every single post I write! I don’t know what they expected when they’ve asked me to be affiliated with them… but I don’t think they realised just how much I was going to be tagging so I’ll give them a break for a while.

T: Have you managed to gain funding from institutions like Gay Games then?

D: Well the Sports Fringe is a non-profit festival. We received £300 from Leeds Pride last year to help with some of the marketing but the majority of it came out of my own pocket - which I refuse to do this year with being engaged and having a wedding to pay for!

T: A Wedding? Congratulations! How did you both meet?

D: We’ve known each other for years! I was newly single, travelling alone in Thailand and we just started messaging each other on Facebook while I was lay on the beach. We organised a date for when I was home and the second day I got back the date happened. The rest is history.

T: Have you decided on a location for the wedding?

D: We entered a competition called ‘Cash for Kids’ just over Christmas to win a wedding. I think we came 4th raising £2000 in 18 days, but it’s just so expensive! With all my attention going on personal training, Fringe Festival and everything else we have given ourselves a two-year deadline to plan it.

He’s got expensive taste he’s been looking at Hazelwood Castle! It’s almost £15,000 just for the lawn and the room – this is before food and all the rest on top.

T: Wow you will have to start saving! Are you personal training as well now then?

DANNY SILK D: I’m a PT with my own gym in my house – so people come to me and I’ll train them.

T: Have you found that over the years exercising has helped you overcome any stressful periods?

D: The only thing I can really relate to that is when I was younger, I wasn’t really confident with my sexuality. I knew I was gay when I was 13 but my family and friends didn’t know so it was a secret. Through the secrecy I became quite aggressive – so I used to Thai box – then I became like Yoda, practically the calmest person in the world.

“IT’S BEEN A LEARNING CURVE, AND, I THINK I’M ANNOYING A LOT OF PEOPLE ON TWITTER AND FACEBOOK”

I do think physical activity is a key factor in mental health, it can help people with depression and it helps to have someone there to talk to.You shouldn’t be doing it to find the perfect boyfriend/girlfriend you should be doing it for yourself.

T: Danny I have to ask – what on earth is ‘The Hills Have Gays’?

D: I thought you might have found it! I named the group the Hills Have Gays because I love horror films, especially the Hills Have Eyes if you’ve not already guessed.

Me and one of my friends Daemon used to go walking and on our bikes every Sunday, and quite a few people were commenting on our photos saying that it looked really good and asking to join us. We created the group together, but he’s ended up moving to Australia so it’s down to me now.

Initially, we had a lot of people turning up to the events and then as time went by the events became smaller and smaller. I’ve made the group more of a notice board now, so anybody can post an event or create an event on there.

I’ve seen paintballing, abseiling, escape rooms – any healthy activity promoting unity for the LGBTQ+ community is welcome.

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PHOTOGRAPHER: DANNY SILK LOCATION: LEEDS CITY CENTRE SUBJECT: DANNY AND PARTNER

“IT’S NEVER GOING TO STOP AS THERE WILL ALWAYS BE SOME PEOPLE THAT JUST DON’T UNDERSTAND”

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DANNY SILK T: Alongside everything else, you’re also you’re also working as a journalist for the Freedom Quarter and City Dweller – are there any topics that you feel are affecting the LGBTQ+ community at the moment?

D: My focus is sport, wellbeing and health. I give advice on nutrition from my own experience. My advice won’t work for everyone because everyone is different, so it’s just sharing what I’ve learnt over time with other people.

There are lots of issues with the community. I think bullying is a really big factor at the moment. People think bullying only takes place at school, but there’s still an element of it when I go on nights out on the scene. Certain people have probably experienced it all their lives, so they just put up with it as it’s what they’re used too.

The LGBTQ+ community, the bars, the clubs are brilliant – they’re great ways for people to get out and experience the gay lifestyles but it doesn’t begin and end on Lower Briggate – it’s all across the city. This is why we focus on different areas for Fringe as people travel to different areas to learn different things. It was great last year because we had people coming to the Fringe and saying that they don’t go to Pride because they don’t like drinking or the loud music, so, in doing something else it offered an alternative.

T: Finally, Danny, do you think we’re close to being up there as the most equal city in the UK? D: The way society is I don’t think that whether you’re LGBTQ+, practicing religion or a minority group there will always be a certain bit of prejudice from people that don’t understand. It’s all about education which starts at school but doesn’t stop at school. It’s a good leader in the field but unfortunately, it’s never going to stop and there will always be some people that just don’t understand.

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REAL BODIES WITH orgullo

JIMMY COX 21, STUDENT

PHOTOGRAPHER: TRAVIS REYNOLDS LOCATION: WITH THANKS TO LBU SUBJECT: JIMMY COX

“CHEESE IS MY GUILTY PLEASURE”

WHAT SORT OF FOOD YOU ENJOY? I couldn’t name a food I don’t enjoy. I love all food.

WHAT ARE YOUR GUILTY PLEASURES? Cheese is my guilty pleasure.

There’s something about it that really gets me going.

DO YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE NAKED? Yes. Completely.

WHAT MADE YOU DO THIS SHOOT? People need to realise what they see in magazines isn’t what most people look like and magazines just present unrealistic body images.

DO YOU THINK SOCIAL MEDIA PUTS PRESSURE ON PEOPLE TO LOOK GOOD?

HEIGHT

5 FT 11 IN WEIGHT

14 ST 7 lbs

IF YOU’D LIKE TO BE CONSIDERED FOR A REAL BODIES FEATURE WITH orgullo, EMAIL REALBODIES@ORGULLO.CO.UK 42

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Yes, there is no escape from social media, which means you’re more likely to interact with these images on a daily basis.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO PEOPLE ABOUT LOVING THEIR BODY? Just enjoy yourself it honestly doesn’t matter one bit what you look like. People will love you for your personality and not your appearance.

REAL BODIES WITH orgullo

HANNAH WILLIAMS 21, STUDENT

PHOTOGRAPHER: TRAVIS REYNOLDS LOCATION: WITH THANKS TO LBU SUBJECT: HANNAH WILLIAMS

“IMPERFECTIONS MAKE YOU BEAUTIFUL”

WHAT SORT OF FOOD YOU ENJOY? I love to cook Mexican food.

I try not to eat a lot of meat so I usually use seafood and fish.

WHAT ARE YOUR GUILTY PLEASURES? Sugar in Tea, Wine and Crisps.

DO YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE NAKED? Yes. I do have insecurities but overall I would say I am body confident.

WHAT MADE YOU DO THIS SHOOT? I think it’s important to display pictures of real bodies.

The media has created an unattainable and unhealthy body image of what is accepted as attractive. This needs to change.

HEIGHT

5 FT 7 IN

DO YOU THINK SOCIAL MEDIA PUTS PRESSURE ON PEOPLE TO LOOK GOOD?

WEIGHT

Absolutely. I think it has created an idea that everyone needs to look ‘perfect’.

10 st 8 lbs

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO PEOPLE ABOUT LOVING THEIR BODY? Don’t compare yourself to others! Your imperfections make you beautiful.

IF YOU’D LIKE TO BE CONSIDERED FOR A REAL BODIES FEATURE WITH orgullo, EMAIL REALBODIES@ORGULLO.CO.UK MAY 2018 orgullo

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