THEGAYUK

Category: Interview

  • INTERVIEW: Happy Day’s Amy Anzel “As Homophobic As A Rainbow”

    Much has been made in the press recently of homophobic comments.

    Whether it’s James Arthur’s lyrics, James Arthur’s apology, James Arthur’s tirade at Lucy Spraggan or, well.. it’s mainly been James Arthur. But, hidden amongst this is a little storm that blew up around Happy Days the Musical producer Amy Anzel following a Channel 4 documentary, The Sound of Musicals.

    Steven Hardcastle was auditioning for Happy Days, based on the popular TV series set in 1950’s America. This was not a time for overt, or even hidden, displays of gay behaviour, and so Amy suggested to one of the dancers that he “strip away the gay” to fit in with his character. When he didn’t react, Anzel wondered if she was mistaken. “You are gay, right?” she enquired, to which she received a positive response. “That’s fine,” continued Amy, “I love my gays!”

    Never one to miss a publicity opportunity, John Barrowman immediately baited his Twitter followers with ”Holly Shit! Did Amy Anzul [Sic] actually say that about Gay’s “I love my Gays, Strip away the Gay” #soundofmusicals jb”

    Amy has since been branded homophobic. Knowing this not to be true, I caught up with her to ask how she feels about the whirlwind her comments caused. I also asked where she got that amazing “lion” hairdo, because that’s what we all really want to know, right? RIGHT.
    Happy Days looks fantastic. How did it come about?

    “I acted in the developmental workshops in LA about 10 years ago when Garry Marshall (Happy Days creator) was turning the TV show into a musical, which was always his dream. I loved being a part of the show and the process. When I moved to London in 2009, 1950’s Americana was doing really well in the West End with Jersey Boys, Grease and Hairspray, and it seemed the British would really love it, so I optioned the rights to shop it around and see what I could do. The show came together and fell apart a few times, but here we are now. Happy Days finally came together with the right team behind it and it took almost five years. Everything takes time.

    I have a co-producer on board who comes from a financial services background, and he had this brilliant idea. Normally, theatre investment has been reserved for the really wealthy because, if you want to put money into a show, you have to put in £10-20,000. There are a lot of people who are supporters of the arts, lovers of theatre and lovers of Happy Days that want to support the show but might not have £10,000, so we let them put in as little as £10 and they still get a profit if the show makes one. We already have over 230 investors and all those people will talk about the show and own a piece of it.”

    How is the UK production different from the US one?

    “Garry’s making changes to the script – not making it British but some words and references don’t translate. Two songs have been added and, of course, the direction and the design can make or break a show it. To me, the American production just took the TV show and plopped it on stage. We have tremendous ideas how to really make it slightly larger than life but still be truthful and real, and pay homage to the TV show. We have a lot of big plans for it. There will definitely be a wow factor. There might even be a moment where Cheryl Baker rips off her skirt. You’ve got to give the audience what they want. I don’t think you can have her in a show without doing that.”

    You have an excellent cast. How did Cheryl Baker get involved?

    “We love Cheryl Baker. We’re so thrilled, and on tonight’s episode of The Sound of Musicals you’ll see her audition. We had seen a few other stars and she walked in and just was Mrs Cunningham. She was maternal, warm, lovely, sweet and kind, and then she sang and wowed us. She could not be a more perfect Mrs Cunningham.

    People also know Heidi Range as a singer (Atomic Kitten and Sugababes), but not everyone knows that she is a really good actress. People won’t know it until she steps onto stage.”

    And the rather delicious Ben Freeman as The Fonz!

    “I thought The Fonz would be easier to cast. It’s an iconic role so there are big shoes to fill. We saw a lot of star names once again and either they were not triple threats or they were just not cool. It’s hard to really want a role and still be laid back, and Ben just was. Fonzie was the only role we had to get approval for so we sent his audition to the creators. They love him and think he did a fantastic job. We start rehearsals soon, and Henry Winkler is coming in once a week to work with the cast.”

    Why did Craig Revel Horwood leave?

    “Craig’s a very busy man and wanted us to push our dates back. We have a January opening but, because he has so many commitments that need his time, he felt that an April opening would better suit his schedule. Obviously we can’t cancel half the tour, because we have a great tour booked.”

    As a producer and an actress, what is the best way for you to give or receive criticism?

    “I’ve always embraced constructive criticism. I don’t think you can grow as a person without being able to accept and absorb it. Usually it’s helpful and the more it stings, the more it probably needs to be dealt with. Maybe, being a performer since I was a child, I’ve always been used to it so, when I give it, I don’t always think twice that perhaps someone’s quite sensitive. I do think that it’s important in this industry – if someone says your dancing isn’t good enough, go take some dance classes. I think, in terms of constructive criticism, just accept it.”

    You received a fair bit of criticism yourself recently for what you said to Steven Hardcastle. Is there anything you’d like to say to those who took offence?

    “I just wish John Barrowman spelled my name right!

    Seriously, I don’t understand, I was just asking him “You are gay?” that’s not approving or disapproving. I don’t necessarily agree with defending myself but I’m happy to explain.

    I would have said to a straight person auditioning for a gay role to strip away the straight and be more gay. It goes both ways. Everyone in the room signed a release and understood that their audition and any conversation could be captured, so everything in that room might be on Channel 4. It’s not like people were standing around in a semi-circle watching that interaction. I was having a quiet word with him away from the group but the cameras were there. He knew it and I knew it. Channel 4 has a legal team that reviewed all this material before it was broadcast.

    Steven’s second performance was really good, and he would have had a really good chance. Unfortunately, by the time we cast the show, he had committed to another project.

    I was surprised that people got so upset and took it so personally, but people don’t know me and my background. In January 2012, I was on the cover of Boyz magazine and I did three gay shows in a row. Almost my entire creative team is gay. I got this email from one of them who doesn’t want to be named so he doesn’t get drawn into this: “You, Amy Anzel, are about as homophobic as a rainbow.”

    How was it patronising? I don’t understand that? How is asking someone if they’re gay patronising? Someone asked me yesterday “Are you Jewish?” and I said “Yes!” I wasn’t offended at all! Did the dancer feel offended? Ask him. Ask him on Twitter!”

    Steven’s Twitter feed clearly shows he thinks it’s hilarious and did not feel at all patronised. He also suggests we start a #LoveMyGays hashtag!

    My feeling is that we can safely put the upset to bed and look forward to Happy Days the Musical, safe in the knowledge that the producer really does love her gays. And this gay loves her right back.

    The next episode of Sound of Musicals (featuring Cheryl Baker’s audition) is on Channel 4 tonight (Tuesday 26 November) at 9:00pm. Happy Days the Musical tours the UK from January 2014. Watch this space for an exciting Happy Days giveaway coming soon!
    Oh, and the hair was at John Frieda.

  • INTERVIEW | The creatives behind the Laramie Project in Brigton

    Next month, the Academy of Creative Training brings The Laramie Project to Brighton, 15 years after the murder of Matthew Shepard. We speak to Kordian, Paolo and Sarah about the groundbreaking show and why it’s still so important so many years on.

    What is The Laramie Project about
    Kordian: The Laramie project is about the killing of a young boy in a rural town called Laramie. The boy’s name was Matthew Shepard and it is believed that he was killed because of his sexuality. The Laramie Project is an interview- style play where a theatre company called ‘The Tectonic Theatre Company’ run by Moises Kaufman travels to Laramie over the course of two years to talk to Matthew’s close friends, family and the residents of Laramie, Wyoming. The play is a collection of interviews that have been put together in such a way that it gives the audience a chronological image and structure of the run up to the killing, the brutal murder itself and the aftermath.
    Sarah: The Laramie Project is a true story about the aftermath of a hate crime. An unprovoked gay beating.
    The events in the play are real versions of events. When you watch the play you are listening to what are the real words of the townsfolk.
    The style and form of the play is ‘epic theatre.’ which means everything is kept as real as it was as much as possible, even the words. It is like being a ‘fly on the wall’ or watching a documentary

    Paolo: The Laramie Project is about people, is about us. Is about your home town and its people, from the neighbour who asks you for glass of milk to the police officer who gave you a ticket for having parked your car on double yellow line.

    Do you think that the Laramie Project will resonate with the UK public?
    K: I hope that this play will stay with the people who come to see it and I hope that they will pass on their thoughts and feelings about the play and about the major issues that are still prominent within our society.
    S: Absolutely. The play is about hate crimes and there are many worldwide motivated by sexuality, beliefs, what people look like. The list goes on !
    I think the play will resonate with any parent as well. I am a mother of a five year old boy. I cannot imagine what the parents of Matthew went through. In fact you hear his Father’s actual words at the end of the play when he is in court making a statement. I will be very surprised if there are dry eyes at the end of show !

    P: I believe it will, it’s a play for everybody and so whether you agree with the general moral of the play or not it is a great piece of entertainment worth watching, it will make you think and feel. Brits love that 😉

    Why is it such a powerful story?
    K: A young man was killed by two other boys who were the same age as him and knew him. There are murders every day of this kind and worse. The ‘story’ is not important, the act itself is the most important thing, we are doing terrible things on a day to day basis and the killing of Matthew Shepard was one of many.
    P: Because you are taken on a journey with the people of this small Wyoming town, Laramie, feel love with them, feel anger, sadness and joy with them; you will laugh and cry and that’s why the Laramie project is such a powerful story.
    Why is it important to do a play like the Laramie Project?
    P: Like Moises Kaufman once said, this wasn’t the only hate crime ever committed in America, or in the entire world, but the Tectonic Theatre Project chose this particular tragic event. It got involved in so many different aspects and changed so many lives, starting from the people who were involved, the people of Laramie, and consequently the whole nation because of Fred Phelps and the media etcetera … that it had to be told. People had to know. Not only because hate crime is wrong, but people had to understand and still have to understand how the death of one person can affect other’s lives, minds and beliefs.

    What’s the most touching thing about the film and play?
    K: The fact that what’s written in the play is the complete truth. People aren’t going to be sitting in the theatre thinking ‘ blah, blah, blah, lines, lines, lines’, they will be (hopefully) listening closely to what’s being said because what’s being said is what real people have said after a horrific event that shook their town. That is the most touching and important aspect of the play I believe.

    S: The play : Dennis Shepard’s (Matthew’s father) court room speech. He advocates life to the people that have murdered his son, against his gut feeling.

    What is touching about both Matthew Shepherd’s parents is that they have fought endlessly since Matthew’s death to stop hate crimes and to stop prejudices about gay people, with people like Ellen de Generes and Elton John. And in April 2013, Barack Obama passed a hate crime bill with Judy Shepherd (Matthew’s Mother.)

    P: You’ll have to come and see it so YOU can tell us what that is!

    Does the film and play differ?
    S: We make sure, as actors we don’t watch the films associated with any of our productions as we don’t want to copy or emulate any parts. We gather the source material ourselves and make our own versions of the characters.

    Do you think the minds of people like the Westboro Baptist Church will ever be changed?
    K: No. They will only ever struggle with their own beliefs and the conflicts created by them and those who oppose them will push them further into believing whatever it is they believe.

    S: Some people when they have their minds made up, there is nothing you can do to change it. It is just very sad to see that there are people in this world that are so full of hate.
    Fred Phelps hates Jews, Catholics, he hates Barack Obama.
    But underneath it all, he hates himself the most.

    P: I don’t think it will. I don’t expect them to change their beliefs anyway. It’s their religion and they are free to believe in what they want. What I hope is that they understand we have our beliefs too and there are no reasons why they should hate us because of that. That is unnecessary.

    The Laramie Project is in Brighton at the Nightingale Theatre Brighton

    Dates: 14th- 18th December 2013, nightly at 8pm
    Where: Nightingale Theatre Brighton BN1 3PA
    Tickets: £10.50/8.50
    Buy online: www.actbrighton/whatson.php
    Phone: 01273 818266

  • INTERVIEW | Dr Daneshmand

    There’s more to Vegas than large hotels, bright lights and 24hr gambling as Dr Daneshmand from The Fertility Center of Las Vegas tells us when we spoke with him this week. Thousands of us are looking to fertility centres to start our own families and if we can fit in a bit of Liza at the LVH (Las Vegas Hotel) in the same day, then why not?

    Having been with my partner now for over nine years the inevitable questions have popped up. Should we get married? If Niall Horan asked me out would I dump you? Do we want kids?

    The latter question got me thinking the most. I like the idea of having children at some point in my life, and it seems I am not the only one. ‘I was one of the key note speakers in a New York city conference called ‘Men Having Babies’, two hundred and fifty male couples were there intending to learn more about surrogacy and parenting’, said Dr Daneshmand.

    ‘In the UK, France and nine states in America where gay marriage is legal, desire for gay couples to come forward has increased. Right now a significant portion of my practice is helping gay couples to become parents. At UCL (University of Central London) where I studied, even 20 years ago, I felt society had to catch up with their views and the stigma they attached. I was a big advocate that a child needs love and it doesn’t matter if you have two dads, two mums, a single mum or a single dad as long as you can provide love to the child.’

    So how does it all work? How do gay men go about having babies? The first step is communication and understanding and Dr Daneshmand seems ready to talk anytime of the day or week. ‘Being thousands of miles away has made no difference for our patients as we’re always there for them. I Skype at weekends, midnight and I’m always available on email. We go over the medical and legal parts of surrogacy and I get an understanding of who they are.’ I asked if he ever took holidays or switched off from his work for a few days. ‘I’d like to be the kind of doctor that I’d like to go to, so no.’ Wouldn’t we all like a doctor like that!

    After learning more about the prospective parents and telling them all about the processes of having a child, it’s then time to find the right egg donor and surrogate mother. ‘All surrogates come from across the US from states which are open to surrogacy like, Nevada, California, Illinois and Oregon’.

    I wondered how a surrogate mother may feel about having a child to hand over to two gay men and if there was ever any refusals. ‘Absolutely there are, but we don’t work with those surrogates. We have a questionnaire which asks “are you willing to work with all couples” if their answer is no, we don’t work with them. It’s something we don’t tolerate in our practice.’

    Once you have your surrogate mother it is then time to sort the legalities of it all. Again Dr Daneshmand is there to help work with the UK and American attorneys to sign all the documents, making it a painless process for the parents to be. Interestingly, ‘It doesn’t require adoption papers as a Pre-Birth Order in states of open surrogacy means the intended parents names are on the birth certificate.’

    We then went into the process of how the child is created. This involves lots of graphic words which I’m sure the doctor will be happy to tell you all about over a cuppa, like he did with me. Lets just say you’ll want to book your flight out there for 7-8 months time. ‘The intended parents usually like to be there for the birth of the child. With in as little as one week you can then travel back to the UK with your new son or daughter.’

    In total, the whole process can take up to a year and a half from first discussions about having a kid to introducing your new child to friends and family. This isn’t the end though. Help and support is always on hand from the “doctor who never sleeps” and once a year a large party is thrown to celebrate the growing numbers of families. ‘Last year we had 1,500 people there and I step back and see all these kids running around and that’s the greatest joy of our profession.’

    Having joined The Fertility Center of Las Vegas 16 years ago, 10 years after the doors first opened by Dr Shapiro, Dr Daneshmand has helped grow its success opening up a second centre in Las Vegas with expansions into LA and Utah coming soon. Invited all over the world to give presentations on IVF treatments and talk about the research both doctors are carrying out, it was a pleasure to chat with a man so genuinely excited to give straight, gay and celebrity, no names were mentioned, the opportunity to have children.

    If you’re thinking about starting your own family or would like to learn more about the process of surrogacy then do visit: fertilitycenterlv.com

    Dr Daneshmand will also be in London on the 3rd November at the Langham Hotel giving free private consultations on egg donation and surrogacy alternatives in the US. If you would like to book a free place then do click here for more details. Langham Hotel Consultations

  • INTERVIEW | David W. Ross

    With the release of his brand new film ‘I Do’ on Peccapics this week, we hunker down with the incredibly sexy Mr David W. Ross to talk Hollywood, Boybands and Gay Marriage

    The entire film feels very personal – how much is based on fact and/or personal experience?
    I love that you thought that. I really wanted to have a sense of a fly-on-the-wall and a personal feel to it. Well, I became a photographer for the film. So that’s life imitating art. Mano is based on a guy I fell in love with in America but couldn’t get his work permit so had to move back to the UK. It’s the reason I wrote the film. And Sam, played by my dear friend and awesome actor Mickey Cottrell, is based on a friend I had living in LA. I lived with a lady who was quite eccentric and used to be Avedon’s assistant in the 60s in New York. But overall I was so outraged by the lack of marriage and immigration rights, and saw first hand through shooting rallies in California how families were being effected, that I wanted to tell a story that would move people to some sort of action.

    The casting is superb – Alicia Witt is ideal as Mya, and Maurice Compte is perfect as Mano – how did you go about casting this piece?
    I was lucky enough to get my script to Alicia Witt and Jamie-Lynn Sigler who signed on rather quickly. Then our amazing casting directors did the rest. We had a couple of days of sessions that I sat in on. I read with everyone. And the casting directors also sent us tapes. One was from Maurice and I knew right away that he was Mano. I think the casting directors knew that I DO is not really a gay film and got some amazing people. Casting makes all the difference. Who knew someone like Grant Bowler would come on board!

    Funding: how did you fund the film?
    I was in the normal Hollywood holding pattern for about two years. I had the script but couldn’t get money before the star and the star before the money. One day I got an email from a film maker friend asking for me to check out their project on Kickstarter and donate to their film. I had no idea what crowd funding was but but very quickly realized I could raise money for the film. I started a campaign on February 14th and the next three months were an amazing whirlwind of hard work, very little sleep and a lots of fun. I surpassed my goal of $50,000 and was able to secure more funding from private investors. I did another Indiegogo for finishing funds and again supposed my goal of $25,000. I’ve been so lucky to have such an amazing amount of supporters from all around the world, for this film.

    Social Media: I follow you on Twitter, and remember you’re tweets relating to the film. I’m curious how you feel about social media and the part it can play?
    So you’ve seen my crazy antics!? I love twitter. I’m still blown away by how amazing everyone is and how powerful it can be. I think it’s incredibly useful for getting ideas out there and for indie artists I think it may be the new way to fund projects. I love that I can be having a conversation with someone on there that I’ve never met and we’ve got something in common to talk about. Plus it really shows what a bunch of like minded people can achieve. Social media is the only reason I DO got made at this point and for that I will be eternally grateful.

    Boy band member – hope or hindrance?
    I think that’s changed over the years but I think now it’s all good. I didn’t want to be defined by it for years and really struggled with coming to terms with how I was viewed in the public eye. But these days I’ve lightened up and look at it as a great time of my life where I did something some would call extraordinary and in America they all think it’s incredibly cool, which I find amusing. I think making I DO, from writing to producing it, has really solidified something inside myself about who I am as an artist. I’m glad to be in film but I miss performing and touring. Too much fun.

    And finally – what’s next?
    I’m working on a new script that I intend to direct and also play a small part. I have Helen Mirren as my muse. She’s plastered all over my desktop right now. And the intention is to make it in the UK so I get to come back for a while. I miss drinking beers outside the pub and Sunday roasts with friends.

    I Do is available from Amazon UK on 28th October (available to pre-order now)

    BUY FROM AMAZON NOW

  • INTERVIEW | Trade DJ – Rosco Brady

    Q1: What is your first memory of TRADE?
    When I was 18 I was set to DJ in Stockholm but due to passport issues, I was stuck in London at midnight with no money. My school friends were all going to the Trade 10th Birthday and I had nowhere else to go! Laurence generously put me on the guest list but I was refused entry at the door!!! I was carrying my record box and an overnight bag with me too. After a short wait I was allowed in and I had the wildest most memorable night of my life!!! I was completely, absolutely hooked. I’d never seen anything like it being straight and from the North!!!

    Q2: What is your most embarrassing TRADE moment?
    Going to the toilet mid way through my set! I was playing the 11 minute long ‘Show Me Love’ by Fruitloop at the time and coming back to the DJ booth to realise the door code had been changed. After a mild panic the lighting technician came back just before the record had ended. I quickly grabbed Never Lost His Hardcore and started it at the ‘This is not over yet’ sample which saved the day!

    Q3: What is your ultimate TRADE anthem?
    NRG’s ‘Never Lost His Hardcore’ – the Baby Doc Remix

    Q4: Why do you think TRADE has stood the test of time in club land?
    Trade has an unrelenting hedonistic attitude and atmosphere that you can’t find anywhere else. Coupled with the way everyone is equal, the progressive music policy and stunning visual identity with stunning artwork plus Laurence’s exquisite taste in all areas nothing comes close.

    Q5: What are you most looking forward to at the forthcoming TRADE Birthday?
    Playing my pumping set to a crowd of wonderful people and sampling Trade anthems through modern tracks, which I love doing for the Trade crowd.

    Q6: Who is the most famous person you have kissed at TRADE?
    HRH Laurence Malice!!!

  • INTERVIEW | Trade DJ – Massimo Paramour

    With Trade’s birthday celebrations around the corner some of the regular DJs tell us what they enjoy most about the club night.

    What is your first memory of TRADE?
    It was 1996 and I had just moved to London. I had heard a lot about this party, and I got quite curious, but as I didn’t have any gay friends in the city I had to check it out on my own. I remember that, as I got in, it was like descending into Dante’s inferno; I suddenly found myself squeezed between a multitude of sweaty bouncing bodies. I could barely see around me because of the smoke. The music was quite dark and fast, but incredibly exciting. I felt a bit out of place and overwhelmed at first, but after an hour or so I was completely absorbed by it.

    What is your most embarrassing TRADE moment?
    I remember feeling very embarrassed when people kept coming up to me asking if I needed some drugs or if I was bored, as I was always standing in a corner without dancing; actually I was enjoying the music pretty much, I was in my own world, but sometime I wished I was invisible .Things changed with time, but it took a while!

    What is your ultimate TRADE anthem?
    Celvin Rotane ‘I Believe’, Force Mass Motion ‘Pulse’ and Play This House’ Hard House Mix by Bum Bum Club.

    Why do you think TRADE has stood the test of time in clubland?
    Because of its uniqueness. I saw a lot of clubs in my life, but nothing quite like Trade!

    What are you most looking forward to at the forthcoming TRADE Birthday?
    I’ve always been a big fan of Egg London as a venue, and even though I miss Turnmills a lot, I think it’s the perfect place for such event! I’m also really looking forward to playing there..it’s a dream come true!!

    Who is the most famous person you have kissed at TRADE?
    I’m not into celebs…lol:-)

  • INTERVIEW | Trade DJ Stevie B

    With Trades birthday celebrations around the corner some of the regular DJs tell us what they enjoy most about the club night.

    What is your first memory of TRADE?
    Wow what a question! Well as I cast my mind back to the year 1999 I was DJ jing in Leeds and I had been to Turnips, sorry Turnmills, the previous week for the first time and I never knew a club “traded” (excuse the pun) at those times!
    I was invited by the these guys that I had met at the club Melt the week before and they were avid trade goers. One of them is one of my best friends now and well-known Trade pyromaniac, Wyn!!
    Well I’d just driven for 3 hours after a gig and it was about 6am and there was steam coming off the brickwork down the side of the venue. As we hit the top of the stairs this throbbing bass just hit me, then once inside it’s another wow, and holy shit this is really busy!!! We are in it…the best atmosphere I’ve ever experienced in such a small space. It was mental and I will never forget it and after that we pretty much went every week 🙂

    What is your most embarrassing TRADE moment?
    I don’t get embarrassed but if I did it would be falling down the stairs…

    What is your ultimate TRADE anthem?
    Jeeeezzzz what a question for a dj…erm…’Inside out’ by Joff Roach, and the sample says it all “party time”

    Why do you think TRADE has stood the test of time in club land?
    High Standards, quality branding, its attention to detail and of course,Trade was like an art gallery!! Plus the sheer love from all the great people that have graced the doors over the years talking about what an amazing piece of history it is.

    What are you most looking forward to at the forthcoming TRADE Birthday?
    Seeing all the people that I’ve met over the years come together dare I say As one?

    Who is the most famous person you have kissed at TRADE?
    Erm hang on…George Michael…No that was a dream! I mean, George Mitchell….wait …oh I can’t think it must be Yvette The Conqueror!!

  • INTERVIEW: RuPaul

    INTERVIEW: RuPaul

    All the way from LA we speak to the gorgeous RuPaul about the best way to deal with young drag queen tantrums, living the bohemian lifestyle, Britney’s ‘bitch track’, and men in dark rooms where it doesn’t matter what they f**k!

    RuPaul
    CREDIT: Photography Mathu Andersen

    How does it feel to be a national treasure?

    Who have you been talking to? (Laughter) I didn’t know I was. The best anyone can do is to be themselves to the fullest and to not really compromise your own lovely beautiful spirit. I think if other people get something out of that, that’s great, but that’s never been my reason for doing what I do, to give other people something. It’s really a selfish reason, it’s really to have fun whilst I’m here on this planet. I mean it all starts with you. Self preservation is love and nature. Even as a performer on stage if you have fun the audience will have fun.

    A lot of people looked up to you and appreciated your advice on Drag U. Do you have any advice for our readers who want to become drag queens?

    Well I think it’s probably important for anybody who’s going to get into show business to get your real estate licence, (laughter), because you probably won’t be making enough for your rent money. Show business is a hard business. Most people see all the glamour and their names in the paper but that’s just such a small part of what it takes to maintain a career. You have to be very resilient, you have to know thyself and you have to have an understanding of what is being asked of you by the public. What is it they get from you? What your value is?

    What do you think Drag Race has done for you personally in your life?

    You know, in terms of my legacy as a performer on this planet in the past 32 years of me working in show business it has been my crowning glory, honestly, because I’ve been able to create something that other performers can use as a launching pad and through them my legacy will live forever, because I was able to introduce the world to them.

    Who was your drag mother. Did you have one?

    I actually did not. I had several mentors throughout my life who guided me and who’s advice I trusted. When I was 9 years old my sister married a guy who was very influential in guiding me. When I was 21 I met an older gay man named Dick Merchant who looked after me and taught me about Tennessee Williams and Tallulah Bankhead and social politics. You know drag wasn’t really about the drag it was more about being bohemian and drag just happened to be a tool to sort of ride the bohemian train. Drag calls out, its always been there to remind us not to take life so seriously.

    How does it feel to be the drag version of Tara Banks?

    (Laughs) I’m not going to answer that. I’m Ru and I mean honestly when you compare yourself to other people you really do yourself a dis-service.

    What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?

    The best advice I’ve ever been given was from my 10th grade acting teacher Mr Purnell, who I’m still friends with. He said ‘RuPaul, do not take life too f**king seriously.’ And that really is the best advice I’ve ever gotten. You know when you’re young it doesn’t really resonate as much, so the older you get the more important that message becomes.

    What’s the best way to deal with upstarting drag queen tantrums?

    Well, we are doing a reality show so we do like a bit of drama, but if they’re becoming violent or something then we would have to threaten their ass with being kicked off the show and they don’t want that. We do encourage, actually we don’t even have to encourage drama. Drama is inherently there with drag queens. Usually the kids understand what they’re there for. They know this is their launch pad and they know there’re gonna be watched and there’s cameras on them at all times. I think the worst thing a girl could do really is just sabotage her own chances. There’s nothing really she could do to the other girls, the world is watching, the world will see how you behave and decide whether or not they want to follow you or support you.

    I know you’ve had many camp moments in your life, but was there a campest moment?

    You know I think all life is irreverent and campy and part of the bohemian lifestyle that I grew up with was to make fun of everything. Nothing is off limits except unkindness. Deliberate cruelty is not fun. I think of everything as camp. I think this life is all a dream, it’s all a funny fuzzed up illusion so I have to laugh at everything, I think it’s all camp.

    You decided to get clean and sober. How does that improve your outlook on work and do you have any advice for readers struggling with that right now?

    Well you know I’ve been sober for 14 years. I feel incredible. If you wanna lead a life on this planet there’s an evolution a story line, somethings get left behind. It’s like a rocket and a fuselage. To launch a rocket into space you need to use the fuselage but at some point you leave Earth’s atmosphere and you don’t need that fuselage anymore and you realise its important to break it off, if you want to move further. My point is you have to be present enough to understand when it’s time to give certain things up, but you also need tools to know how to deal with being present, because sometimes being present is really f**ked up. Sometimes you get really bored, sometimes you have a lot of pain, a lot of loneliness, but you need the tools to deal with that otherwise you’re gonna be in a lot of pain.

    What do you think it takes to have longevity in this business?

    I think a sense of humour. I think it takes an open perspective because for me I have to see outside of what I think I am, because there’s more to me than even I can see. Throughout the years I challenge myself to do different things which is a multi diversity of writing books, scripts, designing clothes, designing shows and contests, so there’s lots of different things you can do. You can’t just lock into ‘oh I’m and actor, oh I’m just a singer’ you have to go across the board and this is not just show business this is with everybody on this planet. We all live much longer than we did 100 years ago so in one lifetime you can have several different careers like Jane Fonda or Quincy Jones who have just done so many things with one lifetime.

    What’s your favourite way to be entertained?

    I love to laugh. I love to dance. I love beauty and art and colour and I love being present and clear enough to see the beauty in some of the smallest things which otherwise would not be given a second thought.

    What’s going to be big in fashion this winter?

    Fashion has been around for a long time. I’ve always followed fashion and the truth is there’s nothing good out. It’s really all the same. You have two legs, two arms and a torso. For young people a lot of things they’ve never seen before so it seems like it’s new but it’s not new. There’s a new way people can interpret something that’s old, but there’s nothing new. I love fashion, I just cant stand the pretentious people. same with art. I love art, can’t stand the pretentiousness around it.

    What do you think of Britney’s version of ‘Work Bitch’?

    I wish there was more to it. I wish there was more melody. I loved that bridge but the rest of it is what we called in the 90s a ‘bitch track’, where you talk over a track and there’s no melody to it.

    We now have some readers questions for you.

    Christmas or Halloween?

    Oh definitely Christmas I can’t stand Halloween. (They’re going to love that for TheGayUK Halloween edition) Christmas is a renewal of and the ability to give thanks and appreciation to all the people around you. I’ve always resented Halloween because I think it should be Halloween every day. I like to dress up every f**king day. I hate the fact they sanction it to one f**king day a year. That’s the day I would NOT dress up.

    Shocking Pink or Emerald Green Nail Varnish?

    Oh Shocking Pink. It looks so good with brown skin.

    What’s the best way to convert a straight guy?

    He’s gotta forget about converting anybody. He’s gotta just focus on himself. The truth is as a drag queen you get any man in a dark room with a couple of beers and they will stick their thing in any hole and you realise what a big hoax our culture is, as men like to f**k and it doesn’t matter what it is they f**k. Honestly, everybody’s really a big big lier when it comes to that stuff, but converting someone, you don’t wanna be with someone who needs to be converted it takes too much time and life is too short.

    What’s next for Ru?

    Well I’m making a record right now and writing another book and I’m redoing my house. I like to take it one day at a time. I do have long term plans but mainly I like to focus on what’s happening right now.

  • INTERVIEW | Coming Out to the kids – Paul’s Story

    Here at THEGAYUK this month it’s all about Coming Out. We’ve spoken to two parents about their experiences of Coming Out to their children. Both of these parents were concerned about the impact of telling their story on themselves and their family and asked for their identities to be protected. So throughout this article pseudo names are used for both the parents and the children.

    The second is Paul, a 51 years old father from London, England. Paul has two now-adult children his son David, 25 years old and his daughter Janet, 23 years old.

    Tell us, how did you Come Out to your children?

    It’s very complex. My ex-wife, the mother of David and Janet, and I had been unhappy for about 5 years. I had met somebody who at the time was just a friend, but he wasn’t the reason my ex-wife and I separated. It was actually she who said: ‘Look I think it’s time we separated.’

    I didn’t protest too much, as I knew we had both been unhappy, and I had the support of someone else – who happened to be male. I moved out of the family home and went and stayed with him. I rented a home on my own, and we saw more of each other, then a year later we bought a house together. We wanted somewhere big enough for the children to come and stay. It was very important for me that I could see David and Janet.

    The children were gradually introduced to him as a friend. It always crossed my mind – do I tell David and Janet that he was my partner or do we just go on? David and Janet just accepted him and they liked him, they felt included and it felt like a family unit. They were happy because they felt loved and that’s what children want.

    Over time, our circumstances changed, we had a series of stressful events happen to both of us. We lost the house and ended up renting a small house. We just grew apart and eventually split up. I got a lodger in to help pay the rent. This lodger also happened to be gay. He had a boyfriend and all was good.

    Then about a year later, I met this chap who was twenty-seven. I had dated one or two other men before, around my own age, but the lodger didn’t like this chap and tensions resulted in my asking the lodger to leave. I gave him his month’s notice. David at this time was travelling abroad and Janet was at university.

    The lodger left without paying me his final month’s rent, which came as no particular surprise. But then I noticed he’d stolen something – a DVD player. I texted him asking him to return the item but got no reply

    The Police came, took my statement and made contact with the lodger, and it was then that the lodger texted Janet, my daughter, along the lines of:

    “you’ll want to know your dad’s the stereotypical gay, get c*ck at any cost and has had a string of over 60 boyfriends. I would think twice about sleeping under your dad’s roof because he’s a psychopath who’s likely to stab you.”

    The lodger contacted all my friends on Facebook and told them the same things. I had to get a harassment order, but by that time the damage had been done.

    I didn’t know any of this until I got a call from my ex-partner who said: ‘You’ve got a real problem. Janet knows everything.’ The ex-partner explained what had gone on.

    I didn’t have any contact with any of them: David, Janet or my ex-wife for three weeks, it was horrendous. I didn’t know what was going on in their heads. It was awful.

    My ex-wife eventually invited me round to dinner to break the ice; things are much better now.
    What were you worried about before you Came Out?

    The opportunity for me to tell them in my time was taken away from me in really brutal circumstances – and I still feel very bitter when I think about it. I have always been worried that my children may judge me, and that it would somehow make me less of a parent. I had always had a brilliant relationship with both my children, and didn’t want that destroyed.

    How old were your children when you Came Out to them?

    David and Janet were 24 and 22 when my ex-lodger decided to tell them about me. I still haven’t been able to discuss any of this with them.

     

    Has it made you closer to your children?

    I’ve always been a very hands-on dad. When they were younger I was probably the principle parent. I was the one who always went to parents evenings, took them camping, we used to do a huge amount together. We have always been close.

     

    Have any of your children told their friends or partner about your sexuality?

    When Janet told her friends, they were really sweet. A lot of them said: ‘Oh I always knew your dad was gay. Don’t worry about it.’

    David, my son, has gay friends. He’s very non-judgemental.

    I’m very proud of both of them.
    Have they spoke to you about how they felt when you Came Out to them?

    When it all happened Janet was very bitter and angry. She felt I’d lied. She felt that she’d been stuck with this problem while David was travelling.

    Janet has said since that they knew that I was gay, and that my ex-partner and I had been a couple as well. It was the shock in the way that they were told.

    David’s response was very touching and moving. He was still away travelling when it all happened and his response was: ‘Just make sure that dad is happy.’

    David has met my new partner, introduced as a friend. But I have no doubt that he will have put two and two together.

    They’re fine now but we’ve never talked about it properly. I think it will come to a point where I have to talk about it with them. I don’t know what they are thinking and that’s the difficult thing. But they talk a lot about my ex-partner. It’s almost as if they think that that’s acceptable but I’m not sure that anything else is yet.
    Did you access any sources of support before or after Coming Out to them?

    I had two sets of counselling: one from the GP and one from GMI Partnership. GMI Partnership offers sexual health and sexuality counselling and is run by volunteers. I had an amazing woman counsellor there who helped me enormously.

    I still find it difficult at times. I don’t call myself a ‘gay dad.’ I’m just a dad.
    What advice would you give to other parents thinking about Coming Out to their children?

    That’s a really difficult one because everybody’s experience is bound to be different. I still haven’t found my own particular answers.

  • INTERVIEW | Coming out the kids – Linda’s Story

    Here at THEGAYUK this month it’s all about Coming Out. We’ve spoken to two parents about their experiences of Coming Out to their children. Both of these parents were concerned about the impact of telling their story on themselves and their family and asked for their identities to be protected. So throughout this article pseudo names are used for both the parents and the children.

    The first is Linda, a 55 years old mother from Glasgow, Scotland. Linda has two now-adult children her daughter Julie, 37 years old and her son Darren, 34 years old.

    Tell us, how did you Come Out to your children?Mine had a whole load of baggage built in; my relationship with my adult children was affable but inevitably affected by their marred childhood. And it was, thanks to a violently bipolar father, and a mother who must have appeared to pay more attention to him than to them.

    Difficult to cite diversionary tactics, although this was often true; he was perfectly capable of inflicting cruelty on them to make me suffer; obvious confrontation gave him power. Not the whole story, of course; I admit that I was a dutiful and pragmatic parent, rather than the sort of warm, cuddly mother that my own mum was.So after my husband’s death and my subsequent ecstatic love affair with my beautiful partner, it became apparent that I would need to tell the kids.

    I dreaded it.

    I prepared. Rehearsed. Lost sleep. Imagined worst-case scenarios. But it had to be done; I’m gay, whatever their reaction, I told myself; and I can’t keep it secret forever. This was at a moment when diplomatic channels were open and the climate looking propitious for the announcement, but that almost made it worse, in that there was so much more to lose.

    Things will always be tricky. But these things have to be worked at, and at least hailing frequencies are open.
    What were you worried about before you Came Out?

    I feared yet another barrier to add to the issues they already had with their father and me as parents.
    How old were your children when you Came Out to them?

    Julie was 29 and Darren was 27.

    Has it made you closer to your children?

    No, we’re not closer. I’m on good terms with both, but there are always underlying reservations.

    Neither of them is homophobic, but bear in mind that even liberal children can be shocked to think that their parents actually have sex – eeeeeew! – let alone a form of sex with which they may not be too familiar!
     

    Have any of your children told their friends or partner about your sexuality?

    I told Julie my daughter’s partner. He was totally cool with it. Darren my son presumably told his wife.

    Both children’s partners have always been supportive and affectionate. I have no idea whether my children have told their friends; possibly not, since my being a lesbian has never been considered a suitable topic for conversation with them.
    They wouldn’t hide it if asked, but as I don’t present as particularly butch and visit rarely, I’d be surprised if anyone would be that interested.
    Have they spoke to you about how they felt when you Came Out to them?

    As I gather from other people, individual children will take it differently, and so it proved. The elder, Julie claimed that it had been a matter of conjecture for some time, and that the news was neither a bombshell nor any big deal.

    The younger Darren operates on two levels: a saying level and a thinking level. Once I made it clear that my partner was not a 70s-style, aggressive, possessive, stuff-it-down-your-throat stereotype, the saying level was cautiously satisfied. Unfortunately, despite an outwardly liberal stance, I believe that his thinking level may have sustained another degree of separation.

    Did you access any sources of support before or after Coming Out to them?

    No. I cope with my own sh*t, apart from sharing (some of) it with my partner. I internalise. I also write, which is an excellent form of therapy!

    What advice would you give to other parents thinking about Coming Out to their children?(a) Do it.

    (b) If geographically possible, do it by stealth.

    Condition the kids to being used to seeing you with your friend, introduce the partner to family occasions, Christmas dinner etc., till the assumption of partnership is subliminally planted. Then mention something in passing that will leave them in no doubt, and move on, as if it were a given.The big, dramatic announcement is something I would avoid, if I had to do it again!
    Of course, if you’ve discovered your sexuality but don’t have a partner, telling the kids that you’re just off down to the leather bar or lesbian singles night could be a mistake…

  • INTERVIEW | Laverne Cox

    INTERVIEW | Laverne Cox

    ‘Hello, New York calling!’ We’ve just been put through to one of our favourite women on television right now and I’m just bursting with questions. The dazzling Laverne Cox who plays in-prisoned hairdresser Sophia Burset in the hit Netflix series Orange Is The New Black is on the phone.

    Asking how she felt to be the object of everyones desires, through much laughter I’m informed in her delicate Southern Belle accent ‘Well, I’m still single’.

    Yet behind the laughter is a deeper message where the reality of her situation was quickly offered.

    ‘I just did the Thomas Roberts Show this morning and I said, I’m not supposed to be here. Black trans women from a working class background in America aren’t supposed to be promoting hit TV shows on national television.’

    In an industry which has become strongly focused on ticking boxes it would seem that Laverne ticks a lot and yet Laverne is far from a ticked box.

    ‘I didn’t have any expectations. I hoped that people would like the show [Orange Is The New Black]. I was like, ok, Netflix have a lot of folks. A lot of people will see this show and it may lead to some more acting work.

    ‘I loved the part and was thinking this is great, people can get to see what I can do as an actress.’

    Laverne Cox hails from Mobile Alabama, deep in the Bible belt of the United States, lodged between Georgia and Mississippi. Her first television appearance was on Law & Order in 2008, but it wasn’t until 2010 that Laverne’s true television credentials would be proved, when she became the first African American transgender woman to produce and star in her own TV show TRANSform Me on VH1

    Laverne’s current project Orange Is The Next Black is fast becoming a landmark show for Netflix, I asked why Laverne thought the show had been so popular?

    ‘There are stories we don’t get to hear a lot in our culture. We don’t hear from women who are incarcerated, especially diverse women of colour.

    ‘In America we have 5% of the world’s population and a large proportion of it are in prison. It represents what’s wrong with our culture.

    ‘Most of the time it’s because the system has failed them as people, they are not humanised.

    ‘We’re not programmed to think of them as human beings and our show makes these women profoundly human.’

    Laverne is one of the most regarded if not the most visible activist for the transgender community, which being a famous face must bring about a lot of extra pressures.

    ‘I would love to just have one day without having to talk about transgender but the reality is that so many trans people are impaled in their lives. Such as that story in Jamaica about the trans kid Dwayne Jones who was brutally murdered’

    ‘I would love to not talk about it, but the problem is people aren’t talking about trans issues, about transphobia so somebody’s got to talk about it and that talk has to lead to action.’

    n action group here at home Trans Media Watch were also keen to put a question to Laverne asking what her perception was on how trans people are represented on TV and if she thinks it is starting to change.

    ‘The reality is we don’t get enough trans people on television, enough transgender stories told and so I think we have a long way to go before we have more of those representatives like Sophia, but I would like to think we are moving in the right direction.’

    I wondered how the transgender community has reacted to Laverne since she’s become so much more visible now,

    ‘There has been a lot of love and support, the biggest was when trans kids write to say that I’ve inspired them to go for their dreams.’

    I asked if there were any role models in her life,

    ‘My idol was Leontyne Price the African-American opera singer who was the first international black opera sensation and she’s a huge inspiration for me.’

    As September is our Coming Out month we wondered if coming out was little by little for Laverne or a big blaze of glory?

    ‘It’s weird the words coming out. The only person I ever came out to was my mother. I thought I was gay and joined an LGBT organisation on campus in university.

    ‘I then realised I was trans. The interesting thing for trans people that’s different for gays or lesbians, who often have to come out to different people in many parts of their lives, I don’t have to as people generally know or suspect and if not they google me.

    ‘As a trans women it was a really slow process and was really about accepting myself, starting my medical transition and then changing my name.

    ‘It was all very gradual and all very much about accepting myself.’

    Not everyone in this world is switched on to the many differences in life so I wondered how Laverne coped when people realised she was trans. Did she see the change in their eyes or the thoughts of what should or shouldn’t I ask?

    ‘For most part if people are gonna have a problem with me that’s pretty obvious because they’re going to steer clear of me. Which is the best thing about being out and proud.

    ‘I don’t draw bad energy to me. When I’m myself then people are cool with me.’

    I asked whether it was easy to come or to accept the realisation that you’re transgender, Laverne has a very simple formula;

    ‘It depends where you live, how much money you have, on race, your support networks’.

    Although we had focused on a lot of serious questions I had just one more to ask. In Orange is the new Black, Sophia had amazing hair in prison. Does she think she’d keep up the look if she was locked up?

    ‘Oh God, I don’t think I’d personally care that much’ she laughed.

    So what would be the worse fear about going to prison?

    ‘All of it’ was the quick answer. ‘Often trans people don’t end up in women’s prisons so that leads us to become targets of sexual violence, so I would be terrified of that’.

    It seems even the light hearted questions have this harsh reality of real life behind them and the work style to be done for trans recognition.

    I couldn’t leave it there. If you could smuggle one thing into prison and be allowed to keep it, what would you take. ‘Moisturiser’

    We both started laughing.

    If you want to read more about Trans issues or are looking for support then do check out:http://www.transmediawatch.org