Innholdsfortegnelse for March/April 2023 i Attitude Magazine

Emily Maskell FREELANCE JOURNALIST I am so lucky to have a lovely bunch of friends who have influenced me for the better in a variety of ways, but my pal Han has been a particular inspiration to me. She’s one of those people who paves the way and then puts down a ladder for the next person; she’s a source of light in the lives of everyone who knows her. Han’s the first person I came out to and the kindest soul I know. She’s an inspiration in her kindness, love and constant willingness to read my first drafts. Growing up with that loving presence is so important and it remains a force that inspires me every day. Jamie Tabberer CONTENT EDITOR The Spice Girls’ impact on my adolescence —…

CELEBRATE QUEER FILM BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival is returning for its 37th edition and offers the usual tantalising array of international queer cinema. Opening the festival, which runs from 15—26 March, the UK’s largest queer film event will be The Stroll. Fresh from this year’s Sundance, the stirring and deeply personal feature focuses on trans women of colour in New York’s Meatpacking District. Rounding off the event will be Drifter, which shows a year in the life of a young adult coming to terms with love and relationships in contemporary Berlin. BFI Flare will also showcase new immersive experiences for the first time. bfi.org.uk/flare ANIMÉ MAGIC Loewe’s final, much sought-after collaboration with Japanese animation company Studio Ghibli centres around the iconic movie Howl’s Moving Castle. The limited-edition capsule…

Americans or Brits? Brits, obviously. Americans say stupid things. So do Brits, but in a British accent. So I’m gonna be fine in this interview… Your worst question will sound intelligent to me. What were your rejected drag names? Brianna Cracker — Brie on a cracker. You’ve started a cult. What is it about? Brie. If you had to do Snatch Game tomorrow, who would you do? Nicole Kidman. Can you do her now? “Naur!” How would you describe your style when not in drag? Schlubby. I don’t much care for fashion when [I’m] my boy self. What does no one think to ask you? What I do with my regular life. Which is read. I study French, I study Wolof, which is the language of Senegal. And I drink…

Stephen Dobie (he/him), journalist Queer actors ought to be on every shortlist when a queer role is being cast. Whether they should be the default choice is a tougher topic, as it makes it plausible to argue that straight actors should play straight roles. That approach would have denied some of our best LGBTQ+ performers those vital first steps on their career ladder. I think it’s more pressing that LGBTQ+ films, TV shows or plotlines include someone with appropriate lived experience in a writing or directorial role. The diverse writing credits on Sex Education — including queer heroes like Rosie Jones and Mawaan Rizwan — prove how much extra sparkle and (crucially) truth this can bring. And would the wholesome narrative of Bros have been the same with a straight…

The American Dream — the belief that any citizen of America can achieve self-made success through hard work and determination — has long been questioned. In 1963, prominent civil rights activist Martin Luther King’s iconic speech highlighted that this ideology was not a reality for people of colour in the US. Instead, he dreamt of a world where people of all colours and creeds would be truly equal. Sixty years later and although the American Dream continues to be contested, one shining role model of both Black and LGBTQ+ excellence is Karine Jean-Pierre, a celebrated activist and social commentator, who, from humble beginnings, climbed the governmental ladder to become a prominent figure in politics, and the public face of the White House. Jean-Pierre grew up in Martinique, a Caribbean island…

SUPPORTED BY Adam Ali, an actor and writer, is wearing an all-black ensemble which perfectly complements their warm Arabic eyes and beautiful Libyan hair. And don’t get me started on the clarity of their skin: it’s glowing. “Thank you for taking the time to speak to me, guys,” says Adam. “I love Attitude. This means a lot to me. And how very full circle. I think it’s been a year since the Baba article that the magazine wrote (more on the sensational Baba later) and I’m talking to you again about another project that’s even bigger. I feel very lucky.” But the 23-year-old’s success is down to more than just chance. Most recently, their talents landed them the role of Kai Sharif, a queer lead character in this year’s revival…

Hands down, the prize for most sensational stunt of 2022 goes to Joe Lycett. The comedian and artist and TV presenter and (somewhat reluctant) social justice warrior closed the year in even more spectacular fashion than the vivacious ensembles he is accustomed to wearing when he called out David Beckham. The former England captain had spent the past two decades courting the gays, then sold his ally status for a hefty pay cheque (rumoured to be in the tens of millions) to be the face of Qatar — where same-sex relations are illegal. The stunt began with Joe threatening to shred £10,000 that would otherwise be going to charity if David Beckham did not address his endorsement deal of the country that punishes gay relations with the death sentence. Beckham…

There’s a collective gasp as our airboat driver, Humberto, jumps over the banister of the raised walkway separating our group from a supposedly 60-year-old female alligator. What seems like sheer recklessness is of no concern to Humberto, however, who assures us he and the affectionately named ‘Mama Gator’ are so well acquainted she can recognise Humberto by the sound and vibrations of his swamp craft. Humberto takes one of our phones to snap some close-ups and casually bops Mama G on the snout as he explains how he can tell her apart from the others because of the ridges along her back. Later, he pats her on the belly, like you would a dog. Amazingly, the alligator remains unperturbed throughout most of the encounter as she bathes in the Florida…

IN ASSOCIATION WITH WAX WINGS The dark prince of the UK’s queer club scene, Wax Wings’ early music tastes included bands like Nine Inch Nails, Deftones and Korn. Then he discovered the Leeds house and techno scene. Today, he can be found blending these genres at some of the nation’s edgiest events, like Inferno, UnFOLD, Boudica and He.She. They. From painting to graffiti via photography and music production, he’s a man of many talents. As the child of a musician and an artist, the creative energy is literally built into his DNA… How would you describe your sound? It comes in a few forms, all tied together with a darker and edgier sound. Whether it’s hard techno or dark electro, I love full drama and unexpected curveballs. Which DJs have…

The piercing eyes. The jet-black hair. The Greek sculpture-ready body. Beauty and the Beast star Luke Evans is, you’ve probably noticed, a tad attractive. Sort of beauty and beast. (In a good way.) But brace yourselves: the 43-year-old Welshman wasn’t always such an object of desire. “Growing up, I didn’t like myself,” the Dracula Untold actor tells us. “I was constantly trying to change the way I looked to be in the gang, the gay group I wasn’t involved in, wasn’t accepted in. I never was, by the way — never cool on the gay scene. Never in the group I wanted to be part of — the really sexy guys. I realised, ‘You have to accept who you are.’ And when you’re happy with who you are, good things…

I’m not sure how yours was, but I remember my careers advisor at school being, well… rather rubbish. There was almost nothing offered in the way of support for planning any kind of path to fulfilling work. It’s almost like the then Tory government’s education department didn’t have a plan for the future. “Plus ça change,” as they may have said in the French classes, which I didn’t take. (I studied German, Spanish, Greek and, randomly, Latin — the latter because when I chose it as an innocent 12-year-old in a Roman Catholic school I thought I’d actually be learning Italian. Imagine the shock on my face on that first day of class when I found out its only use would be if I ever found myself stuck in an…

Three comic-book movies we’re looking forward to in 2023 Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania The third film in the Ant-Man franchise within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) could be the biggest yet, as well as having the biggest impact on the MCU to date. Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas and Michelle Pfeiffer all return for another adventure into The Quantum Realm. However, this time, they come face to face with Kang the Conqueror, played by The Last Black Man in San Francisco’s Jonathan Majors. Kang is shaping up to be the next big baddie of the MCU and we can’t wait to see what this film sets off! Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse A sequel to the popular and Oscar-winning animation Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, this film was meant to…

The biggest lesson I learned at Burning Man was the result of accidentally making eye contact from across an orgy. Let’s back up. Hi, I’m Meg. I explored the world for 10 years before launching EveryQueer, a website prioritising the travel experiences of queer women, transgender and nonbinary people. I’m a traveller who reviews posh resorts for work and has a taste for butler service. So how did I end up in the desert, sleeping on the ground, with no electricity, phone service or running water — all while pissing in a bucket? The one thing I’m good at is discovering and developing spaces around the world where queer women are flourishing. When I was gifted the opportunity to attend Burning Man for the very first time by a client…

Air is essential to human life — we all know this. Yet because we can’t see it, it’s the one element at the core of our existence whose quality has historically been the least controlled. It sounds obvious, but you wouldn’t drink tap water if it was brown, or eat food that was rotten, or sleep in an unsafe environment. But polluted air is all around us and we have no choice but to take it in. In 2018, the UK government named poor air quality as the “largest environmental risk to public health in the UK”, causing chronic conditions and reducing life expectancy. And research conducted in 2019 by analyst platform State of Global Air showed that air pollution accounts for more than one in nine deaths around the…

SUPPORTED BY Sakeema Peng Crook graduated from the London Contemporary Dance School in 2015. Since then, she’s showcased a plethora of styles and forms of movement, collaborating with huge artists on some of the world’s biggest stages. She danced all the way to Glastonbury, performing on the iconic Pyramid Stage with Years and Years, appeared in FKA Twigs’ ‘Cellophane, Live at The Wallace Collection’ video and more recently in Sam Smith and Kim Petras’ music video for ‘Unholy’, which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100. She has also toured with dance productions created by Shobana Jeyasingh, Alexander Whitley and art organisation Fevered Sleep. Crook is a regular fixture and active member of the London ballroom scene and was an original dancer in Europe’s first LGBTQIA+ inclusive strip club,…

Here in the UK, the LGBTQ community enjoys the freedom to express our thoughts — and our love — openly, but in many other countries and cultures the LGBTQ+ community are leading hidden lives. In China, for instance, life continues to be difficult for queer people, but the launch of the Chinese edition of Attitude magazine in 2021 marked a huge step forward in giving a voice to its LGBTQ community. Its editor Fan Li has highlighted how a different approach is needed in engaging with its readership. “Our editorial mission is that we want to show our friends and family that our community in many ways is no different to the rest of the Chinese society,” Li told Chinese outlet Dao Insights earlier this year. “We share the same…

Joseph Ryan-Hicks revisits Madonna’s controversial Erotica album To say Madonna’s fifth studio album ‘caused a stir’ would be an understatement. Between 1989 and 1991, she was embroiled in conflict with everyone from Pepsi to the Pope. Her 1990 single, ‘Justify my Love’, was deemed too racy and its music video was banned from TV. Controversy plagued the singer’s work and the tabloids were out for blood. Amused by the storm she was creating, Madonna chose to kick down the door she had been scratching at and in 1992 released Erotica, her most boundary-pushing record to date. On the album’s title track and opener, we’re greeted not by the Queen of Pop, but by an alterego. “My name is Dita / I’ll be your mistress tonight”, she says, by way of…

Photography @no.one.studio.london ROAST Every second and last Saturday of the month, 10pm–6am, Electrowerkz, 7 Torrens St, EC1V 1NQ London club night ROAST isn’t your average Vauxhall Ken doll scene, although they’re here. So too are the big boys, the fetish crowd, the young, the mature, and other clubbers from every background. People are so comfortable, at times it’s almost startling. As I walk from the dancefloor to a side bar, outfits include harnesses to crop tops and every variation in between. ROAST was launched in June 2022 by cofounders Lerone Clarke-Oliver, Andrew Harris and resident DJ King James Lee at the historic N1 club, Electrowerkz. Billed as ‘London’s beefiest clubnight’, it took opportune advantage of the easing of COVID-19 regulations and launched at a time when we were all looking…

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Quite why we did a sexy nurse-inspired, Carry On-adjacent cover shoot with Spice Girls legend Geri Halliwell back in 2004, we’re unsure. Brilliantly surreal as it is. (Her previous cover, from 2001, was set in a boxing ring, which is equally ridiculous.) “When I was thin, I felt like sex was not on my radar,” Ginger Spice told us of her ‘It’s Raining Men’-era look. “I was almost androgynous, and my hormones weren’t as alive and kicking. Then suddenly, I don’t know if it’s because I’ve hit 30, but I feel much more in touch with my sexuality, my female instinct.” Having previously divulged on The Howard Stern Show that she’d had a fling with a woman, the star refused to confirm TO US whether the lucky lady was Mel…

After three and a half years, I’m newly single and the first place I bumped into my new ex-boyfriend was, you guessed it, at one of London’s sexual health clinics. Horrendous. “Omg. What are you doing here?!” I exclaimed. I will never forgive myself for asking a question I so clearly did not want the answer to. “Picking up a home test,” he replied. “You?” “Getting PrEP,” I lied. I actually needed an antibiotic shot in my bum for gonorrhea. Why did I fib? I should have been proud of us: two people that love/loved each other looking after our sexual health by knowing our status. Please welcome, gay shame! My ex and I had already been open for the last year of our relationship, but the shame of this…

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It’s mid-December and the temperature outside is close to zero. It’s no warmer inside our shoot location in Lewisham, south London, a vast old building spread across three floors — or is it four? The endless stairways are rather confusing, and it’s a game of cat and mouse trying to keep up with the team as they move between rooms with every outfit change. It’s easier to follow the sound of photographer Kosmas Pavlos as he yells excitedly: “YES!” “AMAZING!” as Ben Aldridge effortlessly pulls off one hot shot after another. The photos are electric. The clothes vary from looks that wouldn’t feel out of place at Berghain through to a full-on Studio 54 glitter moment, via laddish sportswear. Just as the actor is getting warmed up, it’s time to push…

I don’t think it’s unreasonable to describe Daniel Jervis as the ideal example of an LGBTQ+ role model in sport. The Welsh Olympic swimmer is humble when discussing his successes and refreshingly candid in sharing his losses. The 26-year-old from the South Wales Valleys town of Resolven, near Swansea, is also polite and utterly charming. Last year was a big one for the Team GB swimmer, both professionally and personally. In June, he came out publicly, and in doing so, he became a trailblazer. Not only did Dan become one of the few publicly gay professional swimmers currently competing, but he also joined the growing list of gay watersports stars that includes Tom Daley, Anton Down-Jenkins and Markus Thormeyer. In the pool, there were both highs and lows. In August,…

When Not A Phase, a charity to change the lives of trans and gender-diverse adults for the better, was founded in 2020, it was a time of immense upheaval and pressure for the queer community. According to a report by Galop, four out of five trans respondents said that they had been the victim of a transphobic hate crime. And a quarter of those said that the attack had been violent in nature. “The irony is,” says Not A Phase founder Dani St James, “that back then we believed that the issues that we were talking about seemed like the peak of anti-trans sentiment in the media and by the people that were working to oppress us, when in reality, here we are three years later and I still don’t…

Michael F. Rumsby always wanted to be an artist full time. In fact, that’s how he’s seen himself ever since he was a child. According to him: “We’re all born artists. When you’re a kid, what’s the first thing you do? You pick up coloured pens and draw. That doesn’t mean you’re going to turn out to be Picasso, but that’s what we do.” After building a successful career in the world of PR and communications in the beauty industry for brands such as L’Oréal, Michael turned away from that ten years ago to focus on his true passion. At 54, he can finally claim the title of ‘artist’, but the journey to get there has been a long one. Growing up on the Suffolk coast, Michael was always surrounded…

CERTIFIED WITH PRIDE As LGBTQ+ travellers we want to feel safe, but also welcome when on our holidays. With this in mind, it’s great to see more hotels and destinations being certified as LGBTQ+ safe spaces where staff recognise the importance of understanding and respecting our community. Queer Destinations, an LGBTQ+ tourism company committed to reducing inequalities through consulting and marketing, has awarded two hotels and the region of Los Cabos in Mexico a Committed Distinction certificate, which is supported by the IGLTA (International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association). Additionally, the queer Italian travel company Sonders & Beach has launched QueerVadis, a certification programme for hotel staff to be trained and certified, so that LGBTQ+ guests can enjoy their getaways without fear of harassment or judgement. THE ART OF LISNESS…

New writers are told to write about what they know. Actor Ian Hallard tells me that the first play he wrote, The Way Old Friends Do, which begins a UK tour in February, “isn’t autobiographical, but there’s an awful lot of me in it.” It’s about two friends who have been ABBA fans since their schooldays. (Ian has loved ABBA since he was three.) The play is also about “gay men of a certain age”. (Ian is 48 and has been married for 14 years.) It’s even directed by his husband — Mark Gatiss — who Ian has his arm around for almost our entire conversation. “I love him to bits,” he says. In the 90s, Mark, 56, became famous as part of the dark comedy quartet The League of…

The Shards Bret Easton Ellis/Swift Press The Shards is the seductive and meaty new meta-fiction novel by Bret Easton Ellis, author of American Psycho, his first new book in 13 years. Set in Los Angeles in 1981, the story is told through flashbacks by lead character Bret, a 17-year-old closeted bisexual who attends the prestigious Buckley prep school. We encounter Bret’s filthy-rich, coke-snorting girlfriend Debbie, the beautiful Susan and her sexy, stacked boyfriend Thom (both of whom Bret is in love with), and the drop-dead beautiful jocks like Matt and Ryan, who he sucks off in secret. Then the earth-shatteringly handsome Robert Mallory arrives with a mysterious past. Bret’s deepening obsession with Robert is equalled only by his increasingly unsettling preoccupation with The Trawler, a serial killer. As hormones rage and…

Tell us about the show you’re currently starring in, The Ocean at the End of the Lane. Think 80s, neon pink, Stranger Things, fantasy-sci-fi vibes. My character just wants to make everybody happy, she’s a super-nanny — but there are dark forces at play. Clearly, I’m typecast… It’s an adventure story, exploring memory. This is the National Theatre, so I feel so honoured to be part of it. Being back on stage is terrifying and exciting in equal measure. She sells it. 4/5 Do you have a favourite gay bar? I don’t go out much anymore. I’m a hermit, so boring, usually tucked up in bed with a cup of tea by 9pm. I used to love going out in Soho back in the day — Madame Jojo’s! I…