Written by Gavin McGuren. Photos by Nigel Etherington.
Monday, 29 October 2007
Saturday night must have been the coldest and most miserable in Pride history, with the exception of the first XES party back in 1995, when the temperature was close to zero and your breath was frosty even in the middle of the dance floor. With icy squalls on and off all day, the parade was very lucky to escape with little more than a light shower. Fortunately, there were plenty of after parties where people could celebrate undercover.
What people do behind closed doors is their business... I’ve always had a problem with this vague exoneration of homosexuality. It’s as if the doors of which people speak are shut and should remain that way, and reeks of “don’t ask don’t tell” hypocrisy.
Ever since the last warehouse style dance party was staged by Pride at the Roe Street Fishmarkets in 2002, punters have called for a return to the warehouse format. Well, Pride is now spending big money to return to the warehouse format and has secured a great lineup of entertainment. It is now up to the punters to respond.
The feature Two Mums and a Dad (directed by Miranda Willis) followed the
quirky Australian short film Prada
Handbag. Thankfully this was another outing for Stuart Vauvert’s Handbag in case you missed it as part of
the Revelation Independent Film Festival a few months back. At 22 minutes the
short is just like Goldilocks’ porridge: not too long, not too short… it was
just right.
Written by Kieran Bycroft. Photo by Nigel Etherington.
Friday, 12 October 2007
Two Old Queens started with Edgar Metcalfe walking onto the stage as the Queen Mother. One almost feels compelled to stand and bow as he physically embodies the much-loved monarch who seemed to outlive everyone. Including Noel Coward!
Newly elected Opposition Leader Colin Barnett has denied he promised to roll back key aspects of the Gallop Government's gay and lesbian law reforms during his unsuccessful campaign to become Premier in 2005, and claims he will not do so if elected this time.
The Great Gay & Lesbian Debate will return for this year’s Pride
Festival, with the event to be staged at the Astor Cinema on the
evening of Thursday 16th October, commencing at 7pm.
Tickets are already on sale for the four challenging and entertaining plays that make up the 2008 Pride WA theatre season. Presented in conjunction with sponsor The Court, the plays will be
performed at two venues over a six week season, commencing earlier than
usual in September.
Connections Nightclub will join forces with Sydney's Midnight Shift and former London Trade promoter Rod Lay to present Hunk on Saturday 6th September. CNC proprietor Tim Brown hopes the event will be the first of a series of monthly events featuring top international DJs.
Pride WA has appointed a strategic planner with the financial
backing of Connections Nightclub. Appointee Trudy Turner is already
working on obtaining corporate sponsorship for the remainder of 2008 as
well as funding for next year's festival.
Berlin's mayor has led a protest against vandals
who damaged the city's new memorial to gay victims of the Nazis. Police
say someone broke a window - a key part of the memorial - allowing visitors to
peer into a gray concrete slab to see an image of a same-sex couple kissing.
More here.
The gays who came in from the cold
After
being shunned for decades due to blackmail concerns, gay and lesbian Britons are now being sought as spies by domestic spy agency MI5. Expat Aussie activist Peter Tatchell says the policy change is long overdue. More here.
Bet she wishes she didn't kiss that girl
Singer Kate Perry is not only a non-lesbian, but a non-lesbian out of favour with her parents and GLBT commentators over her number one hit that may imply she has lesbionic tendencies. Can't a girl say she kissed a girl without all this drama? More here and here.
ACT does about face on same-sex unions
The ACT Government will not support a Greens push to reinstate its original
legislation on same-sex civil unions, which would have allowed gay and
lesbian couples to celebrate their unions with legal ceremonies. Pressure from the Rudd Government saw the proposal watered down earlier
this year. More here.
Gay tourism boom awkward for Israel
Cosmopolitan Tel Aviv is attracting thousands of gay tourists, while conservative, religious Jerusalem lives in fear of Pride parades. The gay tourism boom is a double-edged sword for Israel, where it seems nothing is ever easy. More here.
Circumcision doubles likelihood of becoming a bottom
Gay men considering adult circumcision to reduce the risk of HIV
infection may gain no benefit and instead end risking sexual dysfunction and becoming bottoms according to new Australian research reported in the Sydney Star Observer.
This week’s news that a lesbian couple in California filed for divorce
just three days after their June wedding – citing irreconcilable
differences – just confirmed my complete lack of interest in the
dreaded, world shattering, election clinching “gay marriage”.
Irreconcilable differences?
So, Madge's little bro, Christopher Ciccione, has written his autobiography, and it’s called Life with My Sister Madonna.
That tells you something before you even get to the very
unflattering photo of her Madgesty on the cover, looking every one of
her nearly 50 years.
Jeff Kennett should be sacked as Chairman of national depression initiative Beyond Blue for his homophobic support for the Bonneydoon Football Club, which recently sacked a trainer upon learning he was gay. We shouldn't be surprised though - homophobia in professional sports is rife.
I often get some dykestrous teasing about my taste in Hollywood leading
actors: I love watching Johnny Depp and George Clooney and I'm a sucker
for a Jeff Bridges movie. Well fair enough, I'm a lesbian who has a
soft spot for aging pretty boys. So, sue me!
It has taken me a while, but I am slowly warming to Barack Obama. His speech to a 200,000 strong crowd in Berlin overnight showed he is truly a person of his time. It was an inspiring speech which, at best, could mark the beginning of the most significant change in global politics since the fall of the Twin Towers in 2001.
Perth fashion’s night of nights moved to the recently refurbished ballroom at Burswood for 2008, and what a difference a few years and some renovations can make. StyleAID 'Renaissance' was dubbed the best yet by many guests.
George Pell's assertion that Australia must populate or perish is at odds with the Pope's view that Catholics must find a style of life that eases the problems caused to the environment. Not that Pell is worried about the environment - his real and unmentionable concern is Christians being outnumbered by Muslims.
Ever since the last warehouse style dance party was staged by Pride at the Roe Street Fishmarkets in 2002, punters have called for a return to the warehouse format. Well, Pride is now spending big money to return to the warehouse format and has secured a great lineup of entertainment. It is now up to the punters to respond.
The feature Two Mums and a Dad (directed by Miranda Willis) followed the
quirky Australian short film Prada
Handbag. Thankfully this was another outing for Stuart Vauvert’s Handbag in case you missed it as part of
the Revelation Independent Film Festival a few months back. At 22 minutes the
short is just like Goldilocks’ porridge: not too long, not too short… it was
just right.
Two Old Queens started with Edgar Metcalfe walking onto the stage as the Queen Mother. One almost feels compelled to stand and bow as he physically embodies the much-loved monarch who seemed to outlive everyone. Including Noel Coward!
Newly elected Opposition Leader Colin Barnett has denied he promised to roll back key aspects of the Gallop Government's gay and lesbian law reforms during his unsuccessful campaign to become Premier in 2005, and claims he will not do so if elected this time.
The Great Gay & Lesbian Debate will return for this year’s Pride
Festival, with the event to be staged at the Astor Cinema on the
evening of Thursday 16th October, commencing at 7pm.
Connections Nightclub will join forces with Sydney's Midnight Shift and former London Trade promoter Rod Lay to present Hunk on Saturday 6th September. CNC proprietor Tim Brown hopes the event will be the first of a series of monthly events featuring top international DJs.
Pride WA has appointed a strategic planner with the financial
backing of Connections Nightclub. Appointee Trudy Turner is already
working on obtaining corporate sponsorship for the remainder of 2008 as
well as funding for next year's festival.
Berlin's mayor has led a protest against vandals
who damaged the city's new memorial to gay victims of the Nazis. Police
say someone broke a window - a key part of the memorial - allowing visitors to
peer into a gray concrete slab to see an image of a same-sex couple kissing.
More 
After
being shunned for decades due to blackmail concerns, gay and lesbian Britons are now being sought as spies by domestic spy agency MI5. Expat Aussie activist Peter Tatchell says the policy change is long overdue. More 
Singer Kate Perry is not only a non-lesbian, but a non-lesbian out of favour with her parents and GLBT commentators over her number one hit that may imply she has lesbionic tendencies. Can't a girl say she kissed a girl without all this drama? More 
The ACT Government will not support a Greens push to reinstate its original
legislation on same-sex civil unions, which would have allowed gay and
lesbian couples to celebrate their unions with legal ceremonies. Pressure from the Rudd Government saw the proposal watered down earlier
this year. More 
Cosmopolitan Tel Aviv is attracting thousands of gay tourists, while conservative, religious Jerusalem lives in fear of Pride parades. The gay tourism boom is a double-edged sword for Israel, where it seems nothing is ever easy. More 
Gay men considering adult circumcision to reduce the risk of HIV
infection may gain no benefit and instead end risking sexual dysfunction and becoming bottoms according to new Australian research reported in the 
This week’s news that a lesbian couple in California filed for divorce
just three days after their June wedding – citing irreconcilable
differences – just confirmed my complete lack of interest in the
dreaded, world shattering, election clinching “gay marriage”.
Irreconcilable differences?
So, Madge's little bro, Christopher Ciccione, has written his autobiography, and it’s called Life with My Sister Madonna.
That tells you something before you even get to the very
unflattering photo of her Madgesty on the cover, looking every one of
her nearly 50 years.
Jeff Kennett should be sacked as Chairman of national depression initiative Beyond Blue for his homophobic support for the Bonneydoon Football Club, which recently sacked a trainer upon learning he was gay. We shouldn't be surprised though - homophobia in professional sports is rife.
I often get some dykestrous teasing about my taste in Hollywood leading
actors: I love watching Johnny Depp and George Clooney and I'm a sucker
for a Jeff Bridges movie. Well fair enough, I'm a lesbian who has a
soft spot for aging pretty boys. So, sue me!
George Pell's assertion that Australia must populate or perish is at odds with the Pope's view that Catholics must find a style of life that eases the problems caused to the environment. Not that Pell is worried about the environment - his real and unmentionable concern is Christians being outnumbered by Muslims.
