Category: Interview

LOOK AT ME | Helen Lederer

There’s a mumble of excitement around the office as I pick up the phone to interview Helen Lederer. Helen is one of the UK’s funniest women. She’s been in countless comedy programmes, including probably one that has made her immortal for the gay community. In fact one of the most quoted lines from Ab Fab in this very office is one of Helen’s… ‘Just lots of lovely packaging…’ As I dial her numbers, I ready my magazine voice – I am certain she’ll appreciate it…

How do you feel about men in Onsies?

I don’t judge people, ever. If that’s their way and they’re comfy in it. I wouldn’t find it a turn on, lets put it that way

Judge ye not ye self be judged or something like that… Well done Hel!

Do you know what sounding is?

Sounding or fisting? I know some other sexual things… (We tell her about the world of sounding) Oh My God. Yes! And then what? Is that like when people end up in casualty saying, ‘I just happened to sit on a loo brush, I can’t image how this happened doctor!’ I’ve never heard of Sounding, but I am aware that domestic products can find their way into offrices as part of life. I never judge.

Quite (shuffles nervously towards the exit…) These things only happen to “friends”

What should Cher do next?

Ooo oooo I love Cher, you mean the Pop Star right? (yes, she of the apex of gay icon status!) Surprising people is good, Madonna is the queen of reinvention as they say, but I don’t want to see Cher turning into a Ralph McTell, do you know who is he is? No you’re too young – he’s a folk singer. I think she should be an individual and I reckon she’d be a kind person if I met her. So I want the best for her.

She should come to your show…

Oh my god, I wonder if she’s plugging! (we inform Helen that she was on X Factor indeed plugging away) I’d really like to interview Cher, I think she’d be approachable and she’s been through some shit and I love those types of people. Maybe you can help me get Cher on my show. Big me up to Cher. Make an introduction.

(Reaches for mobile phone and hit speed dial – in our dreams) This gal is a pro – manages to put Madonna and Cher in the same sentence and then asks us to introduce Cher to her!

Have you ever
a) Facebook stalked an ex for 2 hours
b) Sat alone in the dark with a bottle of red singing along to Celine Dion
c) Destroyed a man’s wardrobe with scissors, because it seemed the right thing to do

None. But I did bite a man’s shoulder once, my variation on c) which is regrettable – and I’ve also done b) as well.

We love a biter… Moving on.

Finish this sentence; I should be a national treasure because…

Oh… but I don’t agree with the premise of the question. I don’t fit into your format do i? Oh god I’ve ruined your format.

(totes okay love…)

I’d be embarrassed to want to be one, I cant be, I’m too odd.

Well, we’ve made a shrine for you in our office….

What’s the campest thing you’ve ever done?

(Laughs) So much. The other day I had my birthday and I found a place called the Crazy Bear and they’ve got seats with Diamonds. Really Upholstered. All men came. All gay men. I was the only lady. That was quite camp.

Darl, those weren’t Diamonds. We love a woman who has her birthday in a bear bar, with a gaggle of gay guys – very Barbra Windsor of you…

If you were the PM what would your first act be?

Rebuk…reduc… hummm… (She pauses, choosing her words) Just be nice.

Well said.

What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever read about yourself?

Oooo I love this question. That I’m a supply teacher of comedy. I find it funny, but in a masochistic kind of way. I should probably be alarmed, but I find it funny.

Anyone who uses the word masochistic to describe themselves is A OK with us.

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

Never go back

Deep.

What’s the gayest thing about you?
The fact that you were immortalised in Ab Fab,
b) That you’ve rubbed shoulders with Tom Daley in Splash
c) That you’re a “wine expert” and travel writer.

Tom Daley, all the way.

Tell us about his tan.

I think because he’s in pool areas so much, they have those solariums – it’s probably quite easy for him to pop out of the water into a solarium. Just to dry of quicker. But a lovely body, it was to be said.

Swim’n’Tan

This interview was taken from Issue 1 of THEGAYUK (2013) Subscribe here to never miss an issue

30th September 2016
MYSTYLE | You might end up in ER if you go out on a date with Bianca Del Rio

We catch up with the one and only Bianca Del Rio to get a sense of her very unique style.

CREDIT: PR Supplied

WATCH/TIME PIECE: SUN DIAL. BECAUSE I’M OLD.

FRAGRANCE: THIERRY MUGLER…OR TEQUILA.

STYLE:
Up Town: (fancy going out) MY USUAL BOATNECK DRESS.
Downtown: (lower rent) MY SHORT BOATNECK DRESS.
My Town: (Night in) MY FLANNEL BOATNECK DRESS.

DRINK: VODKA MARTINI – DIRTY.

HOLIDAY DESTINATION: LOS ANGELES (MY HOUSE).

MOVIE QUOTE: “LIVE! LIFE’S A BANQUET AND MOST POOR SUCKERS ARE STARVING TO DEATH!” – AUNTIE MAME.

SONG LYRIC: STRIKE A POSE, THERE’S NOTHING TO IT – VOGUE.

BOOK: THE WIT & WISDOM OF MAE WEST.

MOST EXPENSIVE THING YOU’VE EVER BOUGHT: A TOOTH.

MOST RIDICULOUS THING YOU’VE EVER BOUGHT: A LAP DANCE.

TOP THREE SONGS ON YOUR PLAYLIST: APPLE JACK – DOLLY PARTON, WON’T STOP RUNNING – A GREAT BIG WORLD, WHEN WE WERE YOUNG – ADELE.

TV SHOW: JUDGE JUDY.

BEST PLACE TO GO OUT ON A DATE: EMERGENCY ROOM AT A HOSPITAL.

FAVOURITE GADGET: MY CLAIRSONIC FACE BRUSH.

QUOTE TO LIVE BY: “NEVER LET A BITCH SEE YOU SWEAT”.

FINISH THIS SENTENCE: “Someone once told me…” NEVER DO DRAG!

BIANCA DEL RIO is back on tour ‘NOT TODAY SATAN’
STARTS 3RD UNTIL 20TH FEBRUARY 2017

This interview was taken from Issue 22 of THEGAYUK, subscribe now to never miss another issue.

29th September 2016
INTERVIEW | Ira Sachs

With the release of his new film, Little Men, Ira Sachs sits down with THEGAYUK’s Editor in Chief Jake Hook to talk about why ‘coming-of-age’ films don’t need to be about sex and why economic woes could be making Hollywood’s homosexuals homophobic.
CREDIT: Jeong Park

I’m led up some steep stairs to an attic room where the critically acclaimed director Ira Sachs is waiting for me. I’m the last scheduled interview of the day in a press junket for his new release, Little Men. When I find out I’m the last one in, my heart sinks a little, that means every conceivable question has already been asked. In my experience interviews held at the end of a “press day” can yield very little with the subject of the interview being a little jaded from the barrage of questions from nosey journos. However I find Sachs in good spirits. He’s polite and there’s a sparkle in his eye.

We sit. Our ten minutes together begins. I ask if I can record the interview – he says “of course, and thank you for asking…”

JAKE: So often, coming of age films, especially coming of age films concentrate on a sexual awakening of the characters and Little Men is not that, but there is still an intimacy between two guys. Was that a conscious decision from the beginning with you? To kind of create a coming of age film but also to stay clear from sexuality?
IRA: It was certainly something we consciously discussed as we were writing, shooting and editing the film and I would say two things. One, speaks to my own experience as a gay man. In which, my friendships were not the sight of my erotic or romantic attachments so it was kind of what I knew. Secondly, with these two boys and particularly with Theo Taplitz who played Jake, he’s not there. There’s a youth and there’s an innocence to him, particularly around sexuality which I didn’t feel comfortable imposing on. Not because it would be negative but because it would be artificial. It did not feel true to the characters that we had created together. If I’d cast a different kid who was maybe at a different point, but it’s interesting when you start casting kids, you realise sexuality is almost like an age. It’s not as easily described as a number, but people are at certain points.

JAKE: There is a point in life where you kind of go, “I’m finding myself attracted to guys” and I was just interested whether you had made up in your mind whether either of the characters were gay or bi?
IRA: Well definitely I think Tony is a heterosexual kid, we see his attraction to a young girl and we see his disappointment when things don’t go (his) way. And Jake, at the end of the film, without giving too much away, you sense that he has a new community. That community is certainly open to queer identity. I think, for example, one of those extras, as far as I can tell seems like a gay kid and you sense that’s going to be acceptable. Some people think at the end of the film he’s trans. I think the film leaves an openness to his future. What I really hope, my first film was about a gay closeted teenager and the suffering he experienced and caused. Whatever these kids future is, I hope it’s not as tortuous as my own at that age.

JAKE: Keep The Lights On was about the millennial age group, Love Is Strange was about older men – Little Men is about teens… Which has been your favorite generation set to talk about?
IRA: Each film, if I don’t find it passionately interesting, I can’t make it so I’m incredibly engaged with the work that I choose to do. I haven’t had a favorite … Different films have different pleasures. It was a real pleasure to work with these kids and kids aren’t as demanding as adults!

JAKE: You’re one of the most visible out directors. How hard is it in circulation, how hard is it to be out and a director?
IRA: For me, it is not hard experientially in terms of my life and the community and the world and I think I’ve actually been given a certain amount of affirmation by just taking that position and making the work that I do. I think what is challenging is sustaining a career telling the stories that are meaningful to me. I say that from a position of having done that successfully and it’s still very hard. It’s about content and the content’s and ability to move past the economics of the culture. That is the challenge.

JAKE: The film industry it gets a lot of criticism for lack of diversity and homophobia, maybe the industry is internally homophobic?
IRA: It certainly is. Gay men are some of the worst in Hollywood.

JAKE : Oh really?
IRA: Well, for understandable reasons, people live by fear and they make choices based on fear. Look at this film, it’s all about what economics do to individuals and the choices they make. When the choice is about your job and your fear of what happens if you don’t succeed, if you take a risk that’s actually personal, so there’s a lot of reasons people choose to be safe.

JAKE: Are we still in that place where a Hollywood leading man wouldn’t be able to come out as gay? Is that still a fear?
IRA: Of course, people are engaged in the narratives of actors’ lives. I’m making a film about Montgomery Clift, who is a gay actor who lived in New York who was a Hollywood leading man and four time Academy Award nominee and didn’t like Rock Hudson, have a beard and married a women, but struggled with the imbalance of his private life and his public persona and died at 46.

JAKE: There’s a lot of people in the past who have talked about the fact that maybe gay men shouldn’t play straight parts or the other way around. What do you think?
IRA: In that way I agree with, isn’t it Olivier who says, “That’s why they call it acting?” Natalie Portman isn’t Jackie Onassis either. I think transformation within the context of fictional storytelling is part of the job.

JAKE: Do you genuinely enjoy watching the film as a punter?
IRA: What’s a punter?

JAKE: A fan… Someone who pays money to go and watch something…
IRA: Oh yeah, I very much do and I think I go to films in general that are like films that I make. I think I go to films that are going to move me. Now, I have 4-year-old kids so I’m going to some different ones. We just saw Wizard of OZ for the first time with our kids and that was an amazing experience. My husband, he’s a painter, he goes to many more movies than I do he’ll go every week to see the newest horror film and I love that there are still people like that. Have to get their popcorn and be in the cinema and watch a movie every week.

Little Men is in Cinemas now, click here for showing times.

23rd September 2016
INTERVIEW | Jamal Gerald – Taking Back the FADoubleGOT

Confrontation of prejudice is not always easy, but is essential in breaking down barriers. At 22 years old, Jamal Gerald, a black, gay, performance artist is embarking on his first UK tour with the provocatively named show “FADoubleGOT”.

Picture Credit – Mark West

Using his one man show to tell his own personal story of the highs, lows and in-betweens of growing up as a black gay man, Jamal draws on his experiences to confront the use of prejudicial language and anecdotally tells tales of sex parties, hook-up’s, relationships and Grindr dates; mixed in with candid accounts of surviving periods of self-loathing, experiences of racism and homophobia and of his internalised conflict between his religion and his sexuality. Following opening his tour at Doncaster CAST Theatre, Jamal spoke exclusively to TheGayUK about the themes of the show, why provocative theatre remains relevant and how Freddie Mercury changed his life.

TGUK – You have chosen quite a provocative title for the piece

JG – Yes, and it was very deliberate for a number of reasons. It stems from a friend of mine who I met at a festival who texted the word to me during an argument. I was astounded that someone would not only use that word towards someone who was a friend to them, but that they had typed it; they had spelt it out letter by letter – F-A-double G-O-T – and just how hurtful a word it was. But then it’s also about seizing ownership of the word for the LGBT community; about taking possession and disempowering the word by taking it back. Queer was used as an insult historically, but in recent years it has been taken back by the LGBT community and turned into a positive label. I wanted a title to reflect one of the aims of the show, which is about confronting and challenging the audience to look at issues of prejudice, racism and homophobia.

TGUK – Why do you think pieces of theatre like this are still important?

JG – Things have changed a lot, but there is still a way to go before prejudice is eradicated. Theatre is an art which has the power to do many things, and it is not just about being entertained. Of course, I want audiences to be entertained when they come to the show, but also I want them to be challenged; to look into themselves and to look at their own experiences, regardless of where their experiences lie. For the LGBT community, I hope that they will see glimpses of themselves reflected in my experiences. For straight audiences, I would hope that they either see some of the experiences that members of the LGBT community have to go through, which they themselves may not have experienced first-hand; or for them to see the impact of prejudice upon the victim. I also want younger people who may be struggling with their sexuality to come to the show and see that they are not alone; that their feelings are not unique; that they are not isolated. There are a lot of us out there, and despite the confidence that some people exude, for the vast majority of gay men and women, there has been that fear, that self-loathing and ultimately that transition into acceptance of their sexuality.

TGUK – You owe a lot to Freddie Mercury, don’t you?

JG – Freddie was the catalyst for my self-acceptance; the flamboyance and confidence he exudes made me realise that I could be the person who I wanted to be. I think most people have “a Freddie” – whether it is a person in the public eye, a friend, a family member or even an experience or moment where everything seems to suddenly fall into place.

TGUK – You have a real mix of influences in your life, your mother is from the Caribbean, you were born in Boston, Massachusetts, and you moved to Leeds when you were 11. How did you find your voice with such a varied influence of cultures?

JG – My mother is a very traditional Caribbean woman; religious, larger than life, joyous and uplifting. My experiences in America helped to shape a lot of my perceptions about myself and those around me and being brought up in Leeds, I do have a lot of “Northern mentality”. I am, in many ways, still finding my voice, and I think that every day brings something new to shape you as a person and as an artist. I am fortunate to have so many different influences from my family, friends and those around me.

TGUK – How did you reconcile your religious upbringing with your sexuality?

JG – Religion told me I was a sinner, an abomination. I was told by people in my school that I was going to go to hell. I used to pray to God to pray the gay away. But as I grew older, I was able to balance myself and my religion. I believe in the concept of a god, but I am of the view that I can believe in God; but because my race is so important to me I find it hard to believe in the bible, primarily because of the history of colonialism and the use of the bible in that process. When I look at the link between colonialism and the Bible, it is not something that I want to embrace or accept. My black heritage and my identity as a black man is something that is more important to me than my sexuality is; and the way in which the bible was used during that period of time was wholly unacceptable. For me, it remains a symbol of repression in many ways. It was used to repress the black community many years ago and, in my experiences as a younger person, it was used to repress my sexuality – but despite that, it doesn’t prevent me from embracing the idea of a higher power.

TGUK – One of the themes of your show is about your experiences as a black gay man. How has your ethnicity and your sexuality shaped your experiences of life?

JG – I have received so much acceptance and positivity about both of those things that it is hard to express some of my experiences without sounding like a cynic. The positive experiences do outweigh the negative ones, but during the show, I talk about my experience at a sex party, where a guy I was with only wanted to sleep with me because I was black and made a mood spoiling comment (when we were in the moment) about my ethnicity; and I do a section in the show about my experiences on Grindr, where the fact that I was black was often the predominant issue. It’s the usual stereotypes and prejudices; I’d get messages saying “Is it true what they say about black men?” or “I’ve always wanted to be with a black guy”; it made me realise that they didn’t necessarily want to be with me as a person, but that being black was just fulfilling a fetish for these men. It brought home to me the way in which black men can be perceived at times by others, almost as a commodity rather than a person. Racial fetishism is a subject which is not often talked about and it is another wall I want to break down with the show.

TGUK – Have you experienced more racism or more homophobia?

JG – It’s difficult to say; there have been times in my life when things have gone through phases. When I was at school, it was more about homophobia, as I went to a school in Leeds which was quite diverse, so ethnicity was not a particular problem. But as I went into higher education; it became less about my sexuality and more about my race. I have experienced both at the same time – when I was at school, someone wrote “Go home to Jamaica, Batty Boi” on our dustbin . That hurt – a lot. Given that my family is from Montserrat, it was an attack on my heritage and on my sexuality. I am naturally quite a flamboyant person, but I can hide my sexuality; I can’t hide the colour of my skin, so I would guess that would perhaps identify my ethnicity as the most obvious target. That said, I still identify myself as a black man first and a gay man second. When you look at the news about what is happening in America at the moment, with the rising racial tensions both politically and on the streets; and you look at the terrible tragic events in Orlando only a few months ago, both racism and homophobia are very much alive and predominant in society.

TGUK – When you are on stage performing this piece, you lay yourself bare, both metaphorically and literally. How does it feel to relive highs and lows of your life night after night on stage?

JG – It can be emotionally draining and it can be cathartic. Despite its simplistic presentation, it is quite a deep piece. I talk about things which are really difficult for me; such as my internalised homophobia as a younger man; the moment I came out, my experience in the church and about relationships which have hurt me in one way or another; but that is counteracted by the fact that I also talk about the positivity I have experienced. It’s not just about reliving the hard times; it is also about constantly remembering and reinforcing the positive steps on the journey which have led me to where I am today. By performing the majority of the piece in just a pair of short, black, tight trunks, it shows that I am hiding nothing, that I am open and honest. There is nothing to hide behind on the stage, not even clothes, and it is about reflecting that I am quite literally exposing my life, my thoughts, my experiences to the audience.

TGUK – You use a lot of symbolism to tell your story

JG – There is a section where I eat a raw onion in the show. On a simplistic interpretation, it may look like the usual analogy of an onion having layers and about how that is reflective of me as a person, which may look almost cliché. But it is deeper than that; the symbolism behind it is that, as anyone who sees the show will tell, I hate onion and consuming it is symbolic of ingesting something that I hated, of my repressed sexuality as a youngster and of my internalised hatred of who I was as a result of my cultural experiences growing up. The piece has a lot of aspects which have multiple meanings and it is for the audience to draw out their own conclusions about what the piece is saying. My show is, in some ways, a gift to the audience. They can take it and use it how they want. They can accept the gift and enjoy it, they can appreciate it, pass it on, re-gift it or put it in the cupboard – but it is something I offer to them with a genuine intention; what they then do with that is up to them.

TGUK – You end the show painting yourself in the colours of the rainbow flag. Why chose that piece of symbolism to round off the show?

JG – I wrote a poem some years ago where I used the line “ripping rainbows apart” and I wanted to bring that line to life. But also because the rainbow flag is a symbol reflecting both sexuality and colour, which is what this piece is about. It felt a natural way to bring the piece full circle. Ending the show embraced in the colours of the rainbow flag feels comfortable and is about how, despite their differences, the LGBT community do embrace each other. The flag gives us protection and a sense of togetherness. How else could I end the show except for showing the unity and the positivity of the LGBT community as a whole?

FADoubleGOT is currently on tour, calling at The Hive in Shrewsbury (30.09.16); Hackney Showroom in London (04.10.16), as part of the And What? Queer Arts Festival; Live Art Bistro in Leeds (14.10.16); Camden People’s Theatre in London (18.10.16 and 19.10.16) and Theatre Deli in Sheffield (17.11.16). You can follow Jamal on Twitter at @JamiBoii and on Tumblr at http://jamalgerald.tumblr.com/ . Many thanks to Doncaster CAST Theatre (www.castindoncaster.com) for facilitating this article.

23rd September 2016
MYSTYLE | Jahmene Douglas

Jahméne Douglas was undoubtedly one of the breakout stars from the ninth season of X FACTOR, which would crown James Arthur as the winner.
CREDIT: PR Supplied

After reaching number 1 with his first album Jahméne is back with the second. We caught up with the man to find out a few of his favourite things.

Watch: Raymond Weil.

Fragrance: Calvin Klein CK One.

Clothing Brand(s) :
Uptown: Zara Man and Reiss. One of my favourite Jackets is from Viktor and Rolf.
Downtown: Adidas and Duffer (I love JD.)
Mytown: At home… Anything that’s clean and comfy.

Favorite Drink: Other than water… KA Black Grape.

Favorite Restaurant: Jerk City (Caribbean Flavours) or Köz.

Favorite place to go on a first date: If I was to take a girl on a date I think somewhere like The Lounge in Whiteleys is a good place to break the ice. Cinema and Food!

Favorite Travel Destination: My favourite place is in good company.

Favorite Book: Other than the Bible… My mother’s new book “You Can’t Run.”

Three Top Songs On My Playlist: Sipprell ‘Curious’ , Laura Mvula “You Work For Me” and Erykah Badu “Hotline Bling”

Favorite Gadget: My Sonos System. (Anything that plays music well tbh.)

Quote to live by: I always say… Shine your light because you never know who you’re inspiring to do the same.

Finish this sentence: Someone once told me… without commitment you won’t start and without consistency you won’t finish.

23rd September 2016
INTERVIEW | Mackenzie Claude, RuPaul’s marine queen.

Season 5 of RuPaul’s Drag race saw many a queen become well know and popular, but little did people know that being featured on only one episode would lead to so much. Nebraska Thunderf**k AKA Mackenzie Claude was Alaska’s drag sister and since the show aired, he now has his own shows in the clubs in Las Vegas, and is going from strength to strength on social media. I spent time talking to him on Skype from his Las Vegas home, and I learned a great deal about him, and what a genuine soul he is.

What was your reaction when you were approached by RuPaul’s Drag Race to take part in an episode?
Yes, of course , jumped at the chance to be on the show, However I had never watched the show before, so I didn’t exactly know what I was getting myself into. I just know that opportunities like that don’t happen every day, so I was very excited. As you clearly saw on the show, I’d never done drag before, so it was quite the experience.

How was the show for you? And what’s it like working with Alaska?
First off let me say, filming the show was a lot of fun, and it was very rewarding for me, personally and in my modelling career. However at the time we were filming the show, it was terrifying and very intimidating. Coming off a military assignment in Morocco a month earlier, which is a very testosterone driven environment into the Workroom of RuPaul’s Drag race… it couldn’t have been more polar opposites. I felt maybe I had made a mistake. I say that because I went there representing the military and I didn’t know how that was going to be portrayed in the final product.

They did a great job, but at the time I didn’t know that’s what it was going to be like and I was nervous what the people in my unit, or the people that I served with were going to think. Alaska was incredible to work with. She made me feel very comfortable. When we were talking and getting to know each other, I look over and see she has a fake pink AK-47 and I was like “What is that? Why do you have it, and how can we use it?” So she came up with the bank robbers theme and we spray painted them black, and got to walk the runway with guns. I felt right at home!

You were part of the former military personnel episode. What interesting experiences did you had while serving?
Well I enlisted under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, so I was open in my personal life, but when I joined the military I was advised to go back into the closet and I did. This was going to be a career that I was embarking on and I didn’t want anything to get in the way of my hard work and my commitment. With Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, if the wrong person found out that you were gay, or suspected you of being homosexual, they could present that to the chain of command and there would be an investigation that would take place. You could be discharged from the military simply for being homosexual. So imagine that not everyone is comfortable with homosexuality. I was completely in the closet for the first 2 years and it was very challenging because I would be in class or in the hall and I would hear conversations that would take place. All these people were from all over the United States, from all walks of life, brought together with a common goal, but they still have their opinions.

I remember one incident, there was this red-headed Raggedy Ann looking girl, speaking about gay people and how they are only gay because they can’t get someone of the opposite sex, and she was telling people like this was the truth. I’m a person who stands up for himself and what is right, but at the time I couldn’t say anything and that was very challenging and hurtful. After a couple of years serving with these people in the Marines I learned something, that the Marines don’t give a f*** if you’re gay or straight, they just care that you do your job right. I was a good medic, so eventually, I was able to open up to them. We have a lot of downtime in the military, so we pass it by sharing stories and they were fascinated by mine. They had so many questions and were so open and welcoming. The military was a very positive experience for me. But I’m not from a military family, I was in foster care, and that’s one of the reasons I wanted to join the military. I needed some sort of foundation, I needed direction, you know, those things that parents provide.

What sort of child were you, and where did you grow up?
I was well behaved, I was creative, I was resilient, and you have to be in that situation. My childhood was very sad and it’s still difficult for me to discuss. I’ve learned to take that sadness and anger that I felt and I’ve used that now to drive me towards success. I’ve tried to turn my negative into a positive. If anything, I’ve learned what not to do in life, and I’ve learned who not to be in life because I was surrounded by those types of people that you didn’t want to be, you didn’t want to be around. I feel that drives me to be successful, and be a good person. I hope that with my platform that I’m getting now, that I can encourage others to do the same who maybe come from a broken home like I did or from foster care like I was. There can be a lot of times where you don’t feel like there’s a light at the end of the tunnel, you feel trapped and despondent. I just want other people in that situation to know that THERE IS a light at the end of the tunnel, and if I can make it to that light, then they can as well. If I can be successful coming from those circumstances, they can and WILL as well.

You moved from military service to modelling. How did that come about?
Well I’ve always wanted to be a model since I was little and I’ve always been very tall. Most people have parents who tell you you can be whatever you want to be, I had a social worker who said “find and keep a job, and make money and survive”, so modelling didn’t seem very practical to me. It ended up becoming a dream put on the back burner. I didn’t know if I was ever going to get to that, and that’s why the military became my number one priority. Through the military they provided me with financial stability and a foundation to pursue my dreams. I was able to take what I had saved with the military and move to LA and try out modelling. I guess one of the blessings of being a foster child, and not having a family as such, is not having anyone to answer to. You can truly make decisions and just go with them, there’s no strings attached. I simply packed my stuff in my car and went out to see if I could become a model. It wasn’t smooth sailing I hit a lot of dead ends in LA. Nothing ever works out how we plan, right? I ended up going to Vegas and that is where everything fell into place, and I’ve been so blessed and thankful

Your modelling portfolio is extensive! What photo shoots or catwalk shows have been most fun to work on?
Recently I opened a runway show during LA Fashion Week for the designer Perry Meek, who is Lady Gaga’s costume designer. I opened and closed his show which as a model is a very big deal, I was like “Check that off my bucket list”. Working for Marco Marco was an honour, because he includes a lot of Drag Queens, but I got to walk as a male model. My favourite photo shoot I did was for the cover of Las Vegas Weekly, which is one of the biggest publications in Las Vegas. It’s in every hotel, and Casino which was exciting. Around the same time I did a billboard campaign for the AFAN black and white party which was on seven digital billboards around Las Vegas and on the strip. Talk about a dream becoming reality. When I was younger, I would never have thought these things were possible, and now here I am looking up at myself on a billboard in Sin City.

What persuaded you to continue with Nebraska Thunderf**k after Drag Race?
There was a number of factors, one being my partner Derrick Barry. We did Drag Con in May where he was one of the special guests. He had a booth set up and I was helping work the line, I was telling people about some of his merchandise that was for sale, and there were a lot of people that were asking “Where have I seen you before?…Oh my god it’s Nebraska”. Derrick and I were shocked because I wasn’t in drag, and I hadn’t done drag since Drag Race, which was the one and only time. So based off of the reaction at Drag Con, Derrick encouraged me to pursue it. He has helped me immensely with developing my character. It has also been such a shock to me with the references to Pamela Anderson, and every performance there’s people who come up to me and say I should do this look of Pamela or that look of Pamela, which is the coolest compliment. We’ve been putting together different ideas and concepts of looks that she’s done and I’ve just started debuting some of those. We want to do Barb Wire and Baywatch, there’s a lot of fun things that are coming up. One of the other factors was the fans. After the show I wasn’t expecting that kind of online response. For the past two years I have received messages and tweets from fans of the show asking to see Nebraska again. It’s surreal to go from the first half of my life feeling unloved and unwanted to having love from people all over the world.

How much of yourself is in Nebraska? Does your military background make her a bit of a bad ass?
Absolutely it does. I definitely think Nebraska is one part Alaska, one part Derrick Barry and the rest is all my personality. It’s been fun taking parts of my experiences, and my personality and infusing that into Nebraska. I like that I get to make her pretty, but I’m not afraid to get dirty. That’s the military in me, you get dirty. I feel there’s a lot of drag queens that look beautiful, but they won’t don’t dance and they don’t sweat. I’m not afraid to do those things. I love incorporating my military background because it is such a profound part of my life. That’s a theme you’re going to see consistently throughout. I am enjoying the fans reaction to the evolution. It’s fun when people repost the photos or leave comments. It makes me so happy reading that stuff, it makes me happy to have a positive impact on other people’s lives.

What do you love about doing drag?
I think that I like drag because it’s helped me find my creativity again. RuPaul’s Drag Race helped me rediscover this creativity that was robbed from me as a child. Let me explain something to you. As a child being creative got me attention, and attention got me consequences. So you learn to blend in, to not stand out. It’s a lesson that becomes ingrained that stays with you, and it’s hard to break, but doing Rupaul’s Drag Race, and being around such creative individuals completely left a positive impression on me. I think with Nebraska and creating that character, it helped me find my creativity again that I lost a long time ago

Not many people may know, that you’re actually in what you affectionately call “a trouple” with Britney Spears impersonator and drag queen, Derrick Barry and artist Nick San Pedro. What would you say to people who question this or who are new to the idea?
Well knowledge is power, so I’d love to encourage people to get information before they cast judgement. My partners and I are in a committed trinogamous relationship, and what that means is there’s three of us. There’s never a forth, it’s not an open relationship, it’s just like any other traditional relationship except there’s an extra person. We’ve been together now for almost 4 years, Derrick and Nick have been together for almost 9. So just like any other relationship, we’re a team, we live together, we are interdependent, we sleep in the same bed. I think with this kind of equation, people have misconceptions like we have an open relationship or we invite a fourth and that’s not the case, that’s not our reality. Honestly, I’m too territorial for that. Most of the people that we know are 100% supportive, they know us together, they see how it works, they understand it. If they didn’t at first, being around us now they love it, they see we’re like Ying, Yang and…Yang. But if someone has a problem with it, it being my happiness, that doesn’t bother me. They should take a look at their own situation and focus their energy on their own happiness and their own relationships. At the end of the day I only answer to two people and their names are Derrick and Nick. As I said, I spent the first part of my life feeling unloved and unwanted, I went to sleep like that and I woke up like that. Now I’m at a point in my life where I wake up and I have double the love and affection. It’s like life is making up for lost time.

Any advice for aspiring models or drag queens you can offer?
Absolutely, if this is something they really want to do, they need to commit 110%. What I mean by that is I wanted to become a model so I packed everything I owned into my car, tied up all my loose ends and drove to LA and made it happen. I didn’t just half ass it, I dived in 110%. I feel like when there is risk there is a reward, so I would encourage them to commit to their craft entirely. If you want to be a model, move somewhere there’s a lot of agencies, print your photos and physically walk them into agencies and ask to be seen. I got a lot of being told no at first but then I got told yes, and it leads to billboards and then magazine covers. If you want to be a drag queen, make friends with one of your local queens. Watch them get ready, watch the process, ask them questions, watch their performances and learn everything that you can from that queen, because there is so much work that goes into it. If you don’t have a local queen watch YouTube tutorials!

What is your life’s motto?
“Ride or Die”. I feel that everything I commit to I’m ride or die about, so for example with the military that was my number one priority, my number one commitment, and I gave everything. That’s what I did with modelling and now that’s what I am doing with Nebraska now. I value respect, loyalty and committing 110%.

Who are your role models?
One of them is Janet Jackson, I grew up watching her. During my tumultuous childhood, her music was an escape for me. The Velvet Rope in particular, helped me through a lot of sad days and nights. I admire that she was always so sweet to people and so nice when she spoke to the fans and I really love that about her. She always changed up her look which fascinated me. She always pushed the envelope and she danced. I try to incorporate those elements to Nebraska. Another role model I have is Janice Dickinson. I read her book No Lifeguard on Duty and connected with her story. She came from a very challenging childhood and I related to that. It’s encouraging to see that through those circumstances she was still able to find success. That has stayed with me, and that is a story I look up to.

What does the future hold for you? Do you plan to continue both modelling and Nebraska?
The future holds both for me. I want to merge Nebraska with my modelling career. I see a way to do it, I’m visualising it and it’s just a matter of making it happen. You know, I actually got my first magazine cover because of Drag Race. It was Qvegas Magazine and the headline was “Mackenzie Claude, RuPaul’s Stallion Soldier”. So in a way, the show has already helped launch my modelling career just from that cameo. Now I am ready to take it to the next level.

Would you apply to do Season 9 of Drag Race?
If I feel that I am ready, then, of course, I would apply for the show. I’m extremely competitive, it’s the military in me. I’ve always been a fighter. I started with nothing and have fought for EVERYTHING that I have today. I’m very passionate about life, so if anyone were to stand in my way between where I am and what I want, I’m not afraid to move them.

Mackenzie’s final thought
Through my journey, I want to encourage and uplift others. I want all the people out there reading this that is going through a difficult time, or trapped in that broken home, or navigating foster care to be empowered. They need to hear that it WILL GET BETTER. When I was in that situation I needed so badly for someone to say that to me and unfortunately, I never heard it. So you know what, I am going to be that voice for somebody else because I know first hand how important it is.

This interview first appeared in Issue 19

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17th September 2016
MYSTYLE | Il Volo

Meet the incredibly handsome guys from Il Volo… Always beautifully suited and booted the guys have a new album about to drop so we thought we’d catch up with them to find out what turns them on style wise.

Watch (time piece): Patek Philippe, Rolex.

Fragrance: Guerlain Vetivier.

Clothing Brand(s) Uptown (going out dress up): Armani Gucci Dolce & Gabbana.

Downtown(going out casual): Matchless, Nike, Diesel.

Favorite Drink: Bellini.

Favorite Restaurant: Zuma.

Favorite place to go on a first date: Dinner, then a beach, under the stars.

Favorite Travel Destination: Maldives.

Favorite Book: The Little Prince, Harry Potter.

TV Show: Arrow, Dexter and of course The Late Late Show.

Three Top Songs On My Playlist: “Cant Buy Me Love”, “Bridge Over Troubled Water” and “Nessun Dorma”.

Favorite Gadget: My phone!!!

Quote to live by: The universe is the limit!

Finish this sentence: “Someone once told me….” you’ll become a Famous singer

Il Volo’s newest album Notte Magica :A Tribute To The Three Tenors is out on 30th September. Buy now on Amazon.
A tribute to The Three Tenors, out September 30th. It’s an album paying homage to one of classical music’s most recognisable names, The Three Tenors (José Carreras, Placido Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti). The record is beautiful – a live recorded taken from their perform at Florence’s Sante Croce, earlier this summer. Placido Domingo, one of the original tenors also features on one of the songs, as well as conducting the orchestra on 8 songs.

Visit them online at http://www.ilvolomusic.com

13th September 2016
Mind Matters

We talk about our physical well-being all the time; discussing everything from our gym and dieting regimes through to our sexual health and exploits. Our mental health is all too often overlooked, even though LGBT people are known to suffer disproportionately more from poor mental health compared to the straight population. Recovery can be a long and arduous road, so it’s important for anyone suffering from poor mental health to be able to access the help they need.

One charity that knows all about that is the LGBT Foundation. We spoke to Lucy Rolfe, the Wellbeing manager, and asked why the clinic was set up. She told us that not everyone suffering from a mental health issue is comfortable using their GP as the first port of call.

“There are a lot of people who’ve had a negative experience accessing a mental health service. Either they’ve felt they can’t be open about their sexuality or they’ve been met with an uncomfortable silence. Sometimes the professional has been directly homophobic. That can put people off accessing support that they need. Even if they’ve not had a negative experience they might be too nervous or too frightened about coming out to their GP. If they can’t be open about themselves they may have difficulty explaining why they are experiencing mental health problems.”

Undiagnosed mental health problems can result in a whole host of negative consequences, including efforts to self-medicate, and that’s something Lucy told us more about.

“When people are struggling to cope, alcohol is very accessible. In Manchester we know that the village in the city centre where we’re based is the heart of the LGBT community social life. We provide spaces other than bars and clubs. People can go where it’s not based around socialising with alcohol, or going clubbing where there may be drugs around.”

Lucy sees drug and alcohol abuse as a consequence of efforts to become part of a community.

“Often we get people who come into the village on their own, and in other parts of the country they may not know anyone else who is LGBT. One of the easiest ways to meet people is to go to a bar or a pub. Many are nervous about meeting new people and deal with that using alcohol and sometimes drugs as a confidence booster. It’s very easy to fall into that unhelpful cycle and pattern. We’ve run a befriending service for round about four years now, and that’s aimed at people who are isolated. Isolation can have a massive impact on mental health.”

Even the act of coming out in the first place can, for some, prove a traumatic experience with a build-up of stress before informing friends and family. As Lucy tells us,

“When you’re worried how friends and family may react, you can feel incredibly isolated. It’s that 1% of doubt that someone will react negatively that can prevent you from coming out.”

We asked Lucy if her long experience of talking to gay people with mental health issues had given her an awareness of the triggers that we should be aware of.

“Many people come to the LGF because they’ve experienced some kind of prejudice, discrimination or bullying, and in some of the worst cases some of our clients have been victims of hate crimes. That can have long-term psychological impacts.”

We can have a supportive family, but still suffer homophobic abuse in the workplace or from neighbours, which at least partially accounts for higher rates of mental health issues even for gay people from accepting and stable backgrounds. Those of us from conservative or religious backgrounds are in an especially high-risk category, and can be victim to their own internalised homophobia. Lucy told us,

“If people of faith hear their religious leaders saying being LGBT is wrong, then that can be really difficult.”

So with rejection by family and peers, experience of homophobia and repressive backgrounds high on the list as triggers for a spectrum of mental health-related conditions, we wanted to know if there was any good news that might eventually see LGBT people sharing the same degree of good mental health as the rest of the population.

Lucy told us that people can start to recover,

“When they know they don’t have to suffer alone, that mental health problems affect a large percentage of us, and that help is available”. The first step is always finding the help you need. “People who come to us may look at the website first, and then might call our helpline and may then eventually pop in and see us face to face. For some people, that process can take months. It’s all about building trust.”

Find out more about the LGBT Foundation and access their advice on mental health.

8th September 2016
Drag Kings: Male swagger with a touch of glamour

When I heard THEGAYUK was doing an issue on Drag, I proposed to do a feature on Drag Kings, and FTM Cosplayers an often far too ignored part of the Drag Community.

I have performed as both a cosplayer and a drag kind for most of my adult live (my Johnny Barrie has started branching out on his own on Twitter as well as YouTube) so thought it was time to introduce you to some well known as well as up and coming faces in the world of Drag and Cosplay.

These swashbuckling males will show you they are every bit as glamorous and funny as their female counterparts!!

Ruth Watson
LH Roberts
Annette Boss Wilkinson
Georgia Haines
Amber Oakenshield
Ffion Elizabeth May
Skylord Phoenix
Melanie Sprott
Patricia Garvey

5th September 2016
INTERVIEW | Patricia Garvey

Patricia Garvey

Who Are You?
My name is Patricia Garvey, Im a 26 year old that’s born and raised in Derby.

Why and when did you decide to become a Drag King or do FTM Cosplay?
I can’t really say, I’ve always loved dressing up, even the days when I use to be the blonde haired, blue eyed 5-year-old who loved all things that were pink and fluffy. But even when I loved those things, if my friends wanted to play games and someone had to be the man, I’d happily play the guy. And as I grew older, I just went ahead and wore what I felt comfortable in, which just so happened to be guys clothes.

Do you have a favourite character? (Why is he your favourite?)
It’s quite hard to choose, it’s like asking me what is my favourite anime/manga! I have so many names running through my head! Monkey D Luffy, Shanks, Sanji, Kisuke Urahara, shikamaru nara , Roy Mustang, Kakashi Hatake, Shizuo Heiwajima.
They’re the names just from the top of my head, but I can go on… but I won’t… I just love the guys that’s crazy or calm, but always have that strange sense of loyalty to them, the sort of guys who you’d want on your team because you know they’ll have your back… even if some of them do it in a weird way.

What attracted you to dressing and performing as a male character?
I just prefer it. I don’t like a lot of female characters in many things, well, at least I feel like my own personality would not suit such characters. I have tried to dress up as certain girls but I feel so uncomfortable and then I feel like I’ve not done the character any justice. I can only seem to cosplay as female characters who are quite tomboy themselves. But when I first properly cosplayed as a guy (to the best that I could with what I had) I had an amazing time! I felt so comfortable, I was in character most if not all the time. And I am a huge believer in doing what makes you happy. So now, I do!

Why do you think Drag Kings/FTM cosplayers are usually ignored in favour of Drag Queens MTF Cosplayers?
I know that this can be a touchy subject to certain folks out there, but honestly, I’ve never seen them as being ignored. At least, I’ve never ignored the Drag King FTM and I don’t ignore Drag Queens MTF cosplayers. I know both sides and both are amazing folks! If I see someone wearing something that looks pretty damn amazing, I let them know regardless the sex.

Okay, I know there’s more Drag Queen shows out there which are awfully popular, but if people want to get out there and do shows like that’s on TV, then there’s ways to do it, it won’t just fall onto peoples laps. Drag Queens are probably more known because not enough Drag Kings FTM actually go out there and actually express themselves.

What would you like the world to know?
My cosplays right now are not great, I am working on them but you know what? I don’t care!! Because at the end of the day, I have an amazing time, I’ve made some amazing friends and that’s all that matters! It doesn’t matter if your boobs are too big to cosplay as a dude, it doesn’t matter if you have a feminine face which can never pass as a guy. As long as you go out, do it and have fun, that’s all that matters!

5th September 2016
INTERVIEW | Melanie Sprott

Melanie Sprott

CREDIT: ChristopherWaltonPhotography/ https://www.facebook.com/ChristopherWaltonPhotography/

Who are you?
Siriusly Cosplay aka Mel

Why and when did you decide to become a Drag King or do FTM Cosplay?
I started cosplaying in July 2013, and my first cosplay was actually a FtM crossplay of Sirius Black from Harry Potter Marauders era. I am very invested into the character side of cosplay and always choose my cosplays based on the character, regardless of gender (so I do female cosplays as well)

Do you have a favourite character? (Why is he your favourite?)
My favourite character is probably still Sirius Black as I perform in character panels with him along with the rest of my cosplay group (Bandursnatch Studios) at conventions all over the country and they are also very popular on YouTube! I have a lot of fun as Sirius: running around as though you’re a teenager again and sniping at the Slytherins in the group as part of an improv question and answer session where you don’t know what’s coming next is a huge adrenaline rush.

What kind of act do you do and do you have one or more characters? What attracted you to dressing and performing as a male character?
I enjoy the character regardless of the assigned gender. Being tall (5’8 ) with big feet means that when I first started I could buy men’s clothes as easily as women’s clothes and soon learnt my sizes for both! A good binder is a must, both for safety and accuracy in my opinion, and just learning ‘male’ mannerisms or walk is all part of the character development for me. I work closely with a male photographer (Geordie Gent Photography, who took the lovely shot of me as Jayne from Firefly) and he has helped me immensely with body language and posing.

Why do you think Drag Kings/FTM cosplayers are usually ignored in favour of Drag Queens MTF Cosplayers?
Within the cosplay community. I would argue it is seen as more of a norm for FtM cosplay rather than MtF. My friend and I were crewing a convention last year and both ended up crossplaying (I was FtM and he was MtF). We helped each other a lot with the wigs, makeup and posing and ended up confusing people, which was fun! What would you like the world to know?

The cosplay community in the UK is very open and welcoming of everybody, regardless of whatever you choose to cosplay – male, female, non-binary. If you’re interested, give it a go – it’s addictive! If you have any questions, head to my page and ask me directly if you like: www.facebook.com/siriuslycosplay
Photo credit: https://www.facebook.com/ChristopherWaltonPhotography/

5th September 2016

Category: Interview

We catch up with the one and only Bianca Del Rio to get a sense of her very unique style.

With the release of his new film, Little Men, Ira Sachs sits down with THEGAYUK’s Editor in Chief Jake Hook to talk about why ‘coming-of-age’ films don’t need to be about sex and why economic woes could be making Hollywood’s homosexuals homophobic.

Confrontation of prejudice is not always easy, but is essential in breaking down barriers. At 22 years old, Jamal Gerald, a black, gay, performance artist is embarking on his first UK tour with the provocatively named show “FADoubleGOT”.

Jahméne Douglas was undoubtedly one of the breakout stars from the ninth season of X FACTOR, which would crown James Arthur as the winner.

Meet the incredibly handsome guys from Il Volo… Always beautifully suited and booted the guys have a new album about to drop so we thought we’d catch up with them to find out what turns them on style wise.

When I heard THEGAYUK was doing an issue on Drag, I proposed to do a feature on Drag Kings, and FTM Cosplayers an often far too ignored part of the Drag Community.

Patricia Garvey

Melanie Sprott