Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2021 i Attitude Magazine

Tom Doyle, sales executive It probably has to be our ‘muck-up day’, when me and my best friend decided to throw paint grenades into the year 7 playground. Let’s just say a few uniforms were ruined… Luckily, I didn’t get caught! Ranj Singh, doctor and columnist Rebellious? I was an absolute angel at school. The perfect student. That was until I took a dislike to one particular teacher who unfairly singled me out in class. I was quite a shy kid, so this was mortifying for me. So, when nobody was looking, I let his car tyres down during lunch break. And I’d do it again. Don’t come for me unless I send for you, Sir. David McGillivray, writer Teachers told me that if I kept putting stupid things they…

BANG & OLUFSEN BEOPLAY H95 Go for gold with a pair of Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H95 headphones. To celebrate their 95th anniversary, the Danish brand have given their signature collection the Midas touch — and we wholly approve. The H95s raise an already high bar and look damn pretty while doing so, combining luxury design with outstanding sound performance — including adaptable active noise cancellation, so you can fully immerse yourself in whatever you’re listening to, no interruptions. Now that’s the kind of cancel culture we can get behind. Price: £700. bang-olufsen.com CALVIN KLEIN UNDERWEAR You can’t beat an original, and when it comes to underwear, Calvin Klein is the brand you’ll return to on repeat. Their latest range of stylish smalls focuses on form and function, embracing simplicity,…

It is what some are calling the gay civil war and it started in the Mexican resort city of Puerto Vallarta. “Ring in the New Year at White Party, where restaurants, gyms, bars and clubs are open,” said the invitation from American party promoter Jeffrey Sanker. At the time, the Puerto Vallarta hospital was operating at 100 per cent occupancy. COVID was cutting through the state of Jalisco with terrifying speed. As a concession to this, Sanker agreed to move the party 10 miles down the road. Thousands duly attended. For one gay tech industry worker, who remains anonymous for fear of reprisals, this was too much. He set up @TheGayRona and became a COVID vigilante. His account, along with @GaysOverCovid, set about sharing the images – and usernames –…

If you had told Max Harwood when he walked into London’s Apollo Theatre to see true-story-inspired musical, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie three years ago that it would turn out to be the first step towards landing the kind of role a young actor could only dream of, he’d probably have raised a very disbelieving eyebrow in reply. It was a snowy day in February 2018 and London’s Urdang Academy, Max’s drama school, had closed early. On a whim, he and some friends decided to see a show. “We said, ‘Wow, we’ve got nothing to do for the rest of the day. We’re in central London, might as well go and see a show,’” he recalls. “We just stumbled into the theatre, wet with snow and sat at the stalls, freezing…

If I could give my younger self a piece of advice, it would be: give a shit about yourself a bit sooner, but apart from that, make the mistakes and fuck-ups and live crazy, because you’re a pretty cool 24-year-old. When I was in Year 4 or 5, I remember running around mine and my mum’s place wearing her clothes and heels with a cute bag on my arm, feeling free. At times, I’d sit back and wonder what would happen if I told the other boys at school: how would they react? How would they treat me? So, like many young boys dressing in ‘girl’s’ clothing, I kept it to myself. I started to really explore [my identity] in 2016 and 2017, buying skirts and crop tops and wearing…

New year, new you As the new year brings fresh hope that 2021 might be better than the clusterfuck of 2020, many of us will set goals to improve our health and lives in general. So, while we wait to get vaccinated against Miss Rona, why not take this opportunity to finally give up the cigarettes; lose the lockdown love handles — let’s be honest, we all have them now — or simply improve your mental health. The NHS has created a range of campaigns to help — just head over to the NHS website, nhs.uk, to find out more. Sign up to beat COVID In response to the urgent need for effective COVID-19 vaccines, the NHS has launched its very first vaccine trial registry. Sign up on the NHS…

BOOK OF THE MONTH Making a modern family Your ex calls: will you help raise his baby with another woman? DETRANSITION, BABY Torrey Peters/Serpent’s Tail Ferociously smart and fearlessly queer, Detransition, Baby is an uncompromising journey into trans desire, psychology, relationships and modern family-making. Set in New York, the story flits between the past and the present as it follows the lives of three characters: Reese, a trans woman; Ames (or Amy), Reese’s former trans girlfriend who has since detransitioned and is now living as a man; and Katrina, a cis woman who has been having an affair with Ames and just discovered she is pregnant with his child. In the wake of her split from Amy, Reese is getting by the best she can, soothing her loneliness by sleeping…

“I COULDN’T HELP BUT WONDER…” STEPPING OUT The work of legendary NYC artist Keith Haring is making its way back to the streets, courtesy of a collaboration with Dr. Martens. Their classic 1460 boots and 1461 shoes have been given a Haring makeover with designs varying from subtle to more colourful reproductions — complete with lace charms. Walk this way. drmartens.com GET A MOVE ON Find the motivation for that home HIIT workout or park run by investing in some new kit. Marks & Spencer’s latest Goodmove range offers a mix of classic monochrome neutrals with pops of neon yellow, as well as all the sportswear trimmings including moisture-wicking, four-way-stretch fabrics, reflective trims, flat seams, waterproof finishes and the brand’s patented Stormwear technology. Every base is covered, with double-layered shorts,…

STACEY ABRAMS Voting rights activist. Architect of the Democratic win in Georgia. Best-selling author. What a lady. Our favourite Stace since Stacey Slater off EastEnders MASK4MASK The Masked Singer is the guilty TV pleasure we don’t feel remotely guilty about. Plus, Joel Dommett *drool* SEX & THE CITY REVIVAL We can’t help but wonder if a reboot will work without Samantha? We’ll certainly be tuning in to find out *hums theme tune, gets splashed by a big puddle* ‘TRAVELLING FOR BUSINESS’ Hmm, not sure sunbathing and downing cocktails in Dubai is work, hun? HOW DO YOU HATE YOURS? Dumb Cadbury Creme Egg critics with too much time on their hands object to gay couple. Equality is no yolk! SINKING DICKS Puerto Vallarta was the Titanic sequel we didn’t ask for.…

SHOW YOUR C.U.N.T.: have Charisma, Uniqueness, Nerve and Talent, of course. Failing that, steal precious screen time by being a shady bitch — then complain afterwards that you got a bad edit #rucocococo PUT A PIN IN IT. Learn how to sew, henny. Or at least be able to wield a glue gun. The sewing challenge is a Drag Race staple — why y’all gagging? She bring it to you every ball — so, no excuses. Less bitching, more stitching. NAIL SNATCH GAME. Those who triumph typically go on to win the crown. Make sure your performance is as tight as Violet Chachki’s corseted waist. Do not impersonate a fellow queen. In the words of Bianca del Rio: “Baloney!” FIND COMMON GROUND WITH MAMA RU – but only when the…

“I like to think, when we die, our energy really does occupy the world, and travel through space and time” What were your rejected drag names? One of them was Sierra Valentine – I was going to go with Ciara with a ‘C’, but I thought an ‘S’ would be a sassy change. Another was Delta Devotion. Delta meaning ‘D’ — devoted to the D, you get what I mean? Horrendous, really! Describe yourself in three emojis. (of course!) Describe your drag style in five words. Art in its finest form. Best pick-up line someone has said to you? “You’ll do.” What’s the worst thing someone could say to you in bed? “Is that your alarm going off?” How would (or does) your Grindr profile read? “I want to sleep…

“Mommy!” calls Javicia Leslie, so suddenly that Attitude physically jumps from the other end of the line. It’s always fascinating hearing relatives interact, isn’t it? We’ve just asked the actor about her upbringing as part of a military family, and she verifies details with a fitting swiftness and efficiency — but also a comfortable intimacy. These close ties are everything to this rapidly rising star. “My godfather was my mom’s first sergeant; my godmother was her commander,” explains the 33-year-old, who is replacing Ruby Rose as Batwoman for season two of The CW’s hit show, which is coming soon to UK TV screens. “I remember at one point my stepfather went to Bosnia for, I believe, two years. Seeing that happen in my house — people being deployed, being gone,…

c. 2400 BC 1. THE FIRST GAY COUPLE? The tomb of Khnumhotep and Niankhkhnum, manicurists to the Pharaoh Niuserre, was discovered in the necropolis of Saqqara, Egypt, in 1964. The men are shown in paintings embracing and holding hands. But it wasn’t until 2005 that Greg Reeder stated in a lecture at the University of Wales, “Same-sex desire must be considered as a possible explanation.” c. 600 BC 2. GREECE IS THE WORD The city of Sparta in Greece established all-male sports events with naked athletes. Relationships between upper-class men and boys aged between 12 to 17 may have developed from this culture. Rock inscriptions on the island of Thera, a Spartan colony, are the earliest known written evidence of gay sex. One piece of graffiti, first described in 1898,…

U Formel Chef Frederik Amexander Rudkjøbing has held a Michelin star at his Formel B restaurant for 16 years, but I am just as happy to dine at its more relaxed and informal sister restaurant, U Formel. The food from the five-course tasting menu is sublime, with the signature beef tartar wrapped in tomato slices a highlight. uformel.dk Restaurant Møntergade Looking for a Danish classic? Look no further than Restaurant Møntergade. Within the charming red and timber exterior, the elegant setting is matched by the charming staff and the house speciality is Smørrebrød — exquisitely garnished open-faced sandwiches. montergade.dk El Cava At El Cava, it is best to dine al fresco with the stunning view of Christiansborg Palace, the Danish parliament, across the canal. Philip, the owner, is a charismatically…

I believe the human condition is fluid, with regular variations in mood, anxiety levels and a changing mindset. This is a normal part of who we are and learning how to manage and self-regulate oneself is important. Although our emotions alter, sometimes we can become intolerant of ourselves when we are feeling low. Beneath this struggle is ‘shame’, which is often an unspoken beast that lurks in the shadows and doesn’t get enough airtime. Sadly, as a therapist, I come across this demon more frequently with my LGBTQ+ clients than I do with clients from heteronormative backgrounds. WHAT IS SHAME? Let me keep it simple. Every time you question your worth, value, or doubt your lovability, shame is working its toxic charm. Your inner world at times might also feel…

MUSIC THERAPY My boyfriend and I have set up an honesty box to survive lockdown and I recently found an ‘anonymous’ note asking me to ‘stop hating everything’ — hmm, I wonder who wrote that… We’re all feeling a bit fed-up right now, but before we can be together again, it’s time to love and show up for ourselves. With that in mind, let me introduce you to three queer artists whose authentic anthems will help. Ashnikko puts the ‘miss’ into misogyny; it’s not anti-men, per se, but it is definitely anti-bullshit. Deal With It samples Kelis’s iconic R&B hit Caught Out There, and her new mixtape slays in a bringing-down-the-patriarchy kinda way. Singer-songwriter Jason Kwan, (right) meanwhile, challenges queer Asian representation in his music. On his oh-so-enticing track Seduction,…

Breaking out of the box — or rather, boxes — they were put into on RuPaul’s Drag Race, DJ ‘Shangela’Pierce spreads her talents far and wide. After being robbed on All Stars 3 (still not over it), the American drag queen sashayed onto HBO’s uplifting, Emmy-nominated series, We’re Here, alongside Bob the Drag Queen and Eureka O’Hara. Shangela, 39, recently teamed up with Spotify to launch their Halleloo Happy Hour podcast, and they even created their own range of hand sanitizers, ingeniously titled Shanitizer — a portion of the proceeds goes to Feed the Queens: a COVID 19-triggered initiative to galvanise support in the fight against food insecurity among the drag community. Here are a few of Shangela’s favourite things… shangela.com …song? A DEEPER LOVE BY ARETHA FRANKLIN This is…

“It’s all just a little bit of history repeating,” sang Shirley Bassey in her 1997 hit with the Propellerheads. Well, yes it is, usually. Except in queer terms where we often have to really dig deep for our past — and not because we didn’t contribute to history, but because our many contributions have been sidelined or erased. My experience of history at school revolved around two events: the Great War of 1914-1918, and the Second World War, 1939-1945. [Spoiler warning: the Brits won both.] Very little else was discussed in school, beyond perhaps Christopher Columbus ‘discovering’ North America, and the British shipping thousands of convicts to the southern hemisphere to build modern-day Australia. Speaking to my 15-year-old niece, it seems little has changed in the education system. Last year,…

HOW DID YOU FIND OUT YOU HAD HIV? After coming out of a long-term relationship in my mid 20s, I spent a year on my own in London — as it turns out, without really knowing how to look after myself. When I moved back to Birmingham in the summer of 2011, I took a routine STI test. I was actually on holiday when I got the call. When I explained I couldn’t come straight into the clinic, the panicked nurse said, “Sh*t, don’t have sex with anyone,” and hung up. She couldn’t give me my results over the phone, but I knew from her reaction that I must have tested positive for HIV. WHAT HAS YOUR JOURNEY BEEN LIKE SINCE? It was an emotional rollercoaster at first, and in…

The first person I came out to was my mam, who is also a nurse. She already knew; they always say, “I knew, I knew, I knew” — and she had asked me over the years. But the main thing for me was [getting] the acceptance of my five brothers. As soon as they — especially my two older brothers — phoned me, they were so lovely, and it just made it a lot easier. I didn’t care who else knew, as long as I had them, my mam and my nana, I was fine — everything else was a bonus. Now, I’m out and proud and happy. If I had to choose another life, I’d come back as a gay man again. [However], being a gay chap yourself, you…

2001 Russell graduated from Warwick University 2003 Russell graduated from the Royal Academy of Music 2004 Jordan graduated from the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts 2004 Russell and Jordan work as actors in theatre and television for over a decade 2006 Jordan and Russell become a couple. 2014 Jordan appears on BBC Two’s Great Interior Design Challenge as a contestant 2014 Based in south-east London, Jordan and Russell launch interior design company, 2 Lovely Gays, now known as 2LG Studio 2015 They begin renovating their home studio space, known as the Design House, alongside private client projects 2015 They release their first bedding collection for Secret Linen Store 2016 2LG produce their first wallpaper collection for Graham and Brown 2017 2LG become the House Doctors for Metro newspaper with a…

“When having sex, use plenty of lube and try to be as relaxed as possible” I had anal sex for the first time and was in really bad pain for a while afterwards; apparently, I had anal fissures. I also bled every time I went to the toilet. It has all settled now, but it’s put me off ever doing it again. What do I do? Henry, Brighton Anal fissures are little tears in the anal margin – the ring of the anus – that can happen when it is stretched too quickly, damaged during rough sex, or even when trying to go to the toilet when significantly constipated. The bum is a sensitive organ, and these tears can be really sore; especially when you go for a poo, as…

MY MOTTO IN LIFE IS: BE AN ENTHUSIAST. YOU’LL PROBABLY GET MORE OUT OF LIFE IF YOU APPROACH THINGS KEENLY. I was given hundreds of train books as a child by my grandpa, so I grew up learning about the world through a railway lens. The last time I got angry was when I had to get off the Tube for the third time in a journey because of groups of marauding idiots titting about without masks on. My happy place is aboard a train, anywhere in the world, window wide open or standing on the back veranda, looking smug and rocking along with a gin and tonic in my hand. My biggest fear is submechanophobia. It’s a phobia of where deep water meets a man-made object. God, that’s so…

A  Alexander McQueen alexandermcqueen.com B Balenciaga at Matches Fashion matchesfashion.com Barbour barbour.com Bianca Saunders biancasaunders.com Bleach London bleachlondon.com BOSS hugoboss.com Bottega Veneta bottegaveneta.com Burberry uk.burberry.com C Calvin Klein Underwear calvinklein.co.uk Carlota Barrera carlotabarrera.com CDLP cdlp.com Christian Louboutin at Selfridges selfridges.com Coach coach.com D Daniel w. Fletcher danielwfletcher.com Dior dior.com Dr. Martens drmartens.com E  Emporio Armani armani.com F  Frescobol Carioca at MR PORTER mrporter.com H  Hilfiger Collection uk.tommy.com L Lacoste lacoste.com Levi’s levi.com Loewe x Paula’s Ibiza at Matches Fashion matchesfashion.com Louis Vuitton louisvuitton.com M  Marks & Spencer marksandspencer.com Marni marni.com Montroi at MR PORTER mrporter.com Moschino moschino.com N Neck On the Line neckontheline.com Nike nike.com P  Prada prada.com R  Richard Quinn richardquinn.com Rufskin rufskin.com S  SockShop sockshop.co.uk T  Tommy Jeans uk.tommy.com U  UN_DID theundid.com Uniqlo uniqlo.com V  Versace at Selfridges…