20/04/14: With moustaches a-plenty and the words ‘come to Papa’ dancing on our lips, Sunday night saw one of the biggest new happenings on the London club scene for ages as Tel Aviv’s Papa World Tour landed for its London debut.

Super-hot Eliad Cohen brought his cohort of sexy sailors to super club Pacha in Victoria wearing only skimpy pants that left nothing to the imagination.

The main room rocked to the tunes of international Papa DJ Suri as well as our very own Mike Dower and Zach Burns, while upstairs Daz Saund, Tom Stephan and Leonardo Glovibes provided some grrr and furrr in the Megawoof room, and Gordon John and Paul Heron the ‘gurl’ and hoopla in a packed room of chunky dirty sounds.

The club was packed with the hottest men imaginable and it was shirts off and tits out from the off with most staying right through ‘til closing at 5am. If you missed it, you definitely missed out, but hopefully it won’t be too long ‘til Papa comes back to see us again.

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Terminus Place, Victoria, SW1V 1JR
Words & Photos by Chris Jepson

On the 30th anniversary of discovering HIV, QX gives you the common misconceptions and truths about this virus, following a report launched today from the National AIDS Trust. 

By Patrick Cash 

Thirty years ago gay men were dying in their droves due to AIDS (Acquired Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome) and no one quite knew what was causing it, until on 23rd April 1984 the discovery was announced of HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). Three decades later, medical research has advanced to the point where people who are diagnosed early with the virus no longer face an inevitable death sentence. However, the National AIDS Trust have released today research revealing gay men’s lack of awareness about HIV prevention tools, and that younger gay men, in the 16-24 age group, are particularly less clued up about HIV than their older counterparts. This is worrying given that new HIV diagnoses amongst gay and bisexual young men have doubled over the past ten years.

QX put together three of the most common misconceptions about HIV, and the real truth of the facts here:

• You can’t get HIV if you are the active partner (the ‘top’) during sex

• There is no other method of prevention against HIV other than the condom

Although the condom is still the safest and most provenly effective method of prevention from the HIV virus, if you do think you’ve been put at risk of acquiring the virus, PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) can be taken up to seventy-two hours after exposure. Visit your nearest sexual health clinic as soon as possible.

PEP should not be confused with PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis), a new drug from the US currently being trialled in the UK. It has been evidenced to protect men who have sex with men from HIV infection even if they practise condomless sex. However, it is not yet licensed for use in the UK and does not protect against other STIs, such as Hepatitis C.

• If you get HIV, it’s a death sentence 

Medical advances have progressed to such an extent that HIV is now a manageable condition for most people living with the virus. But it still means that you will have to live on medication for the rest of your life, and QX only recently ran a story in the ‘Speaking Volumes‘ feature of a man who was thought to be asymptomatic of HIV until he developed crippling brain damage suddenly in his 50s. This doesn’t take into account the stigma of living life as a HIV-positive gay man in the LGBT community either.

• For more common myths, and their truths, about HIV visit: http://www.hivaware.org.uk/be-aware/common-myths.php
• NAT is conducting a nation-wide survey, Boys Who Like Boys: A Survey of Understanding About Sex, which aims to better understand where young gay and bi guys learn about sex, relationships and HIV. The survey is now open and NAT are looking for as many gay and bisexual men, aged 14-19, as possible to take part (www.hivaware.org.uk/boys).

19/04/14: When it comes to the biggest four-day weekend in anyone’s calendar, it’s no surprise that things can be a bit up in the air, but there was certainly one staple that was firmly fixed in our calendar; Neon Jungle’s latest performance at Heaven.

Obviously stumbling down that cobbled alley was as tough as ever, but believe us it was worth it. The crowd enjoyed some pumping commercial sounds as they awaited pop’s latest girl group, and when they emerged the entire club was no short of dripping like Cheryl Cole when she heard “X Factor comeback”.

The quartet certainly lived up to their name when they appeared in colourful outfits that would send any epileptic into uncontrollable fits. But we were actually LIVING for each one of their outfits! *writes Christmas list*

The girls burst onto the stage causing a whole lot of ‘Trouble’ with their debut hit, before performing title track ‘Welcome To The Jungle’ and their most recent smash ‘Braveheart’. We were shacking out like Janet Jackson doped up on speed; yes ‘cause ‘Braveheart’ is our jam!

The group looked – and sounded – amazing, so we were fully content when we had to drag our drunk arses along those cobbles again. Neon Jungle, we salute ya!

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Heaven, under the Arches, Villiers Street, Charing Cross, WC2N 6NG
Words by Anthony Gilét
Photos by Chris Jepson

Albino supermodel Shaun Ross was taunted by bullies as a child, but is now one of the most sought after faces in fashion. Following on from his ‘Radical Beauty’ talk at the TEDXHackney event, Patrick Cash went to meet him at the Dalston Superstore to talk more about modern ideas of beauty.

• www.facebook.com/ModelShaunRoss
• www.tedxhackney.co.uk 

Since October last year, as well as giving Friday mornings the middle finger, East Bloc’s Thursgays night has been home to the new kids on the bloc, The Yeast London Cabaret collective, who, with their midnight shows, provide a spotlight to fresh and new alternative performers, as well as established artists.

Heading the collective is Oozing Gloop, who is backed by her twisted sisters, Rodent DeCay, Lewis Burton and Daisy Confused. This week Jason Reid spoke to the man behind the Gloop about the newest tranny troupe in town…

For those who haven’t been, what can they expect at Thursgays?

Something super fun! We put on three/four shows a night, consisting of live music, lip-syncing, spoken word and dance pieces. People sit on the floor at the front to get the best view, and behind on stools. The audience is crammed in nice and tight, and because we all host as well as perform, it means everyone gets to be part of the act. It’s one big spectacle.

Which turns into a club night after the show? 

Well, more like a house party than a club night, because the drinks are really cheap and it’s open late. It’s so small that we’re all up in each others grill, and everyone is open to hanging out with whoever, which makes the night electric. And when that gets too much there’s all these secret cubby holes to hang out and chat in.

Tell us a bit about the Yeast London Cabaret collective; who is Oozing Gloop? 

Oozing is a failed politics student who taught himself to design costumes and do make up, before becoming the golden child of Sink The Pink and learning the craft of cabaret from Marisa Carnesky and Scottee.

How do you want the character to be perceived?

As the active transgression of private to public, inner to outer and the subversion of the appropriate. Simultaneously, a person and a process as well as being the world’s only autistic green drag queen. An irreducible set of ambiguities.

What’s Oozing’s role?

She’s the founder of the Yeast London Cabaret and is committed to creating new spaces for new queens to get a foot-up on the same stage as local legends and performance art superstars, whilst keeping the experimental spirit of East London alive. She’s also the eternal pageant mom who fusses over everyone to keep all the shit on her stage looking cute.

It’s good to be fussy, I find. And the other members of the collective?

Rodent DeCay is a student of performance artist Dominic Johnson but was forced into doing drag by Ms. Gloop, and is set to become one of London’s most formidable queens. She is quite literally the most beautiful freak; there’s definitely something really twisted inside her and it’s screaming to get out with every perfectly poised moment of the show.

Lewis Burton on the other hand, fresh out of art school, revels in all the glories of the corporeal and never denies indulgence. Standing next to each other they look like the number ten and are two sides of the same coin held together by Gloop. Resident DJ, stage manager and all-round mechanic, James Phillips also wheels out his drag character, Daisy Confused, who Gloop hates and is trying to kill. She’s yet to take to the stage but furnishes us with hip-hop, electro-pop and a theatre of fun to wile away our disco dreams in.

How much of an influence is punk on you and your performance style? 

Well the attitude of punk transgression is an influence on us but in a modern setting. We’re certainly not all tartan and safety pins. I mean, The Sex Pistols are a bunch of lame old men who sell butter now. You could call us the only Millennial pop-punk cabaret if you like. Punk really is a static idea that sold out and died ages ago; basically all of our performances centre around the tension between creating work with integrity and satisfying the needs of an over hyped, stagnating consumer culture.

What do you think you’re doing that others aren’t? 

We’re the youngest authentic cabaret troupe and the only weekly tranny trove constantly creating new shows, featuring stars from the circuit. Some fail but most fly and both are awe inspiring. That’s pretty special.

So, what’s next on the cards? 

An American Sweethearts series. Five weeks of yankee doodle themed cabaret of all-new, all-original shows, starting off with a ‘Courtney Love trailer park party’, followed by some ‘Californication’ then ‘It’s Vegas Baby!’ before ‘Freedom and the Freeway’, only to wind up in ‘New York, NEW YOOORK!’. All interspersed with some variety nights.

Thursgays is at East Bloc, 217 City Road, Shoreditch, EC1V 1JN from 10.30pm-4am. Suggested donation of £3, £2 minimum.

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Ready to fly? Pam Ann is soaring in her latest show. I think this must constitute the eight thousandth time we’ve seen the first lady of the airlines, and we’ve never seen her so sharp. 

By Cliff Joannou

It must have helped somewhat when Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 disappeared on 8th March, just twenty days before this run took-off. And, extending the theme of travel-related disasters to the recent South Korean ferry tragedy courtesy of a completely coincidental rework of the 1997 film Titanic, there’s enough material to fill a Noah’s Ark of comedy. Too soon? Not for Pam Ann. If biting remarks and close-to-the-bone commentary about such things are your idea of bad taste, you’re better off watching Newsnight.

(Given such prophetic powers, it’s a miracle Pam Ann – aka Caroline Reid – isn’t on some CIA terrorist watch-list. Or maybe she is. That would be an easy thing to believe…)

Rightly, she doesn’t dwell on these tragic events too long as the joke would wear thin. Yes, of course, there are references. How could she possibly deliver a performance without raising either? But when she does, the comments are hilariously crude: “My Black Box doesn’t run out in 30 days.”

She just sticks another cock in it. Pam isn’t the shy type.

And after years of being the subject of crass stereotypes, her popular character ‘Lily’ finally has the perfect ‘featured’ role during the show as the bonkers Chinese air stewardess whose nation has fallen victim to the MH370 disaster.

It’s actually to Pam’s credit as a comedian that she shines when she interacts with the audience. She banters with posh French girl Tiffaney, who was formerly cabin crew (of course).

“Do we have Virgin Cabin Crew here?” she asks. Of course there is. “I thought I could smell cum,” she nods.

When she talks to a random guy from the audience who works in a client relations call centre, her response to his job role is simple: “Customer satisfaction? Never heard of it.”

I shouldn’t tell you much about the new video footage she’s re-edited. It would spoil the laughs. Needless to say, the Sound of Music will never be the same again. Once more, Pam Ann proves that when it comes to bitches we love to love, she’s amongst the best of the best.

• Leicester Square Theatre. Runs to 26th April.
• www.leicestersquaretheatre.com

Dalston Superstore put queer East on the map five years ago. With an incredible array of club nights, combining explosive DJs with the most mentalist drag queens and trannies, you don’t get more bang for your buck than a weekend at the ‘Superstore. Owners Mikki Most and Dan Beaumont plied Cliff Joannou with plenty of prosecco and told him just how they pull it all together every week…

CLIFF: Why is Dalston Superstore the dog’s bollocks?

DAN: Come down to our birthday next Sunday and we’ll show you …

You’re on. How has Dalston itself evolved over the past five years, and what impact has the ‘Superstore had on the area…

DAN: When we started out people thought we were crazy trying to open a gay bar in Dalston!

MIKKI: Yes, we were pretty much the first bar in the area, and certainly the first gay bar, so I think people thought we were mental. We’ve opened up a lot of doors in the area for people though, and it’s been amazing to be part of helping make Dalston more diverse. It’s been stressful at times but the booze helps!

How have you set it apart from other gay venues?

DAN: Music, booze, food and fun! You never know what to expect at the ‘Superstore. You could fine John Sizzle and A Man To Pet reenacting the Human Centipede on the bar – don’t ask! – and then pop downstairs for dance courtesy of some hot young DJ we’ve found in New York or Berlin.

MIKKI: Yes, we’ve always tried to push things a bit here and not just do the obvious stuff. We both ran clubs before [TrailerTrash and Disco Bloodbath] and putting on great DJs is fundamental. We’re open day and night, and I like the idea you can come for a decent cocktail and some food early evening and still be here at 4am in the morning dancing… There’s not too many places offering that in London.

For such an intimate club spot, you’ve had some very cool DJs jump at the chance to play there…

DAN: The best thing about programming your own discotheque is that you get to bring all your favorite DJs over to play. Highlights for us have been an amazing set from Prosumer in the early days, Erol Alkan dropping a disco set, the legendary David Morales playing for four hours, and multiple visits from people like Optimo, Horse Meat Disco, Chloe and Spencer Parker. Plus, our amazing residents – it wouldn’t be the same without Hannah Holland, Borja Peña, the Little Gay Brother guys, Lovely Jonjo, Dave Kendrick, Jos Gibson and the Duchess of Pork et al.

MIKKI: Absolutely, we recently had the guys over from Members Club in Berlin for B(e)ast and the music was really amazing and fresh for London. It’s great to have the freedom to bring over international talent and introduce it to our scene over here.

“Music, booze, food and fun! You never know what to expect at the ‘Superstore”

And it’s the place to put a wig on it… 

MIKKI: It’s part of what we are and to be honest all the best nights I can remember at ‘Superstore have involved wigs and heels flying around all over the place. So many of our regulars turn up in flats and leave in heels, it’s what gives the place its sparkle.

DAN: [Laughs] Yes, our bar very often gets mistaken for a stage by our bewigged regulars doesn’t it? We wouldn’t be the venue we are without the support of people like Jonny Woo, A Man To Pet, John Sizzle, Jacqui Potato and Glynn Famous. In fact we are still in awe of their talents… not to mention their ability to stage dive in heels on a Friday night without sustaining any injuries.

• Dalston Superstore, (117 Kingsland High St, E8 2PB) celebrates its 5th birthday over the May Bank Holiday weekend with the main party on Sunday 4th May, 6pm – late. 

• Photos by Franc-off Godevi 

Circa owner Alan Winter asked his team to fess up about their most memorable nights at one of Soho’s most insanely sociable venues…

Sam DMS at TWERQ, Tuesday

We all get our fair share of unwanted attention but one particular guy kept turning up on my night and getting overly-friendly. I made the mistake of moaning to Alan to which I was met with the response: “Oh be quiet Sam, it’s a quiet night, take one for the team!”

Dusty O  Detained, Wednesday 

On one particular day there was an event on in Soho I was working at. One of the first places I head to is Circa. On this occasion Mr Winter’s generosity overcame me, and combined with the lovely atmosphere I always enjoy so much and – you guessed it – I got drunk. In fact, I got bladdered. So much so that I forgot I was working and spent the whole night at Circa. It was only the next day after waking up fully clothed on my bathroom floor did I remember I was actually meant to be somewhere else and had come home without doing my duties. I never miss a gig, especially my own and was horrified. However, it’s a testament to how much I adore the bar and its wonderful welcoming atmosphere. Thanks Circa. I love you!

Munroe Bergdorf at VS, Thursday

That mirrorball booth has seen its fair share of moments, but the time that I managed to get both my dress and weave stuck in the DJ booth fan was particularly epic. I’m not sure what I would have done without Adam Turner untangling me before the track finished…

Munroe Bergdorf at Discipline, Friday 

Fridays are always full of crazy, but that time I was balancing explaining WHY I wasn’t going to play Celine Dion’s ‘new one’ to a punter, whist trying to remain invisible to two ex-boyfriends in the crowd and hide the new one inside the booth, was particularly memorable.

Adam Turner, Saturday

There was one night during our late licenses last year that we had a DJ who had to get to another gig before Circa closed, which meant I had to do the last hour of Circa. With a two hour gap of no DJing for me and Alan forcing Jaegarbombs down my neck, once I got back on the decks I have no idea what I played, if I played or where I was. Moral of the story: never agree to DJ the last hour if Alan has anything to do with it!

Jonathan Bestley at Love #Hangover, Sunday

We were obsessed with American Horror Story this year. Little did I realise I’m actually part of a coven. We cursed a wicked man the other day and he woke up in hospital the next morning with concussion. Do not incur our wrath! (He was fine btw LOL)

Lee Dalloway, Dungeon Master

Downstairs at Circa, affectionately known as “The Dungeon”, is naturally the venue’s epicentre of sin. While not the delightfully rotten core of the bar (that honour goes to our leader Alana Wintour) many of the things a drunken cloakroom slut gets up to on an average shift are unprintable.

But the biggest sin is clearly vanity, thanks to the floor-to-ceiling “selfie mirror” next to the loos – where the great, the good, the drag and the bladdered pout into an iPhone then Instagram the shit out of it. Security cameras regularly catch Soho’s drunkest sprucing and preening, but the best moment had to be a staggering kween who, somehow, mistook the giant mirror for a continuation of “The Dungeon” and smacked face first into his own visage. We’ll leave it up to you to decide if the problem was a lack of reflection…

• Circa (62 Frith Street, Soho, W1D 3JN) celebrates its 3rd birthday on Thursday 8th May. Open ‘til 4am.

26/04/14: QX checked out the excitable antics amidst London’s revamped and newly-buzzing King’s Cross as Central Station welcomed a Saturday night crowd for top-class cabaret and more last weekend.

Featuring the larger-than-life talents of DJ Jason Prince, plus outrageous on-stage action from the Drag With No Name, an evening of springtime shenanigans saw a sociable crowd of down-to-earth blokes thronging one of the capital’s best-loved bars into the small hours.

Highlights included pop-lover Jason spinning out a sugar-coated soundtrack of pop ‘n’ dance smashes at the decks before introducing Drag With No Name’s versatile repertoire of top tunes, skits and banter that had us almost falling off our stillies with mirth.

Taking in the likes of Lady Gaga (‘she lives for the applause, she sometimes pisses her drawers’ – ooh missus) a gyrating Susan Boyle performing Beyoncé’s ‘Single Ladies’ and a drunken bank holiday fag-hag (‘I Think I’m Gonna Heave Right Now’) this is one cabaret artiste willing to go the extra mile to entertain – and we’ll certainly applaud that.

Central Station is open seven days a week for thrilling cabaret, fantastic food and a diverse line-up of fetish fixtures in the downstairs ‘Underground’ club space!

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37 Wharfdale Road, King’s Cross, N1 9SD
Words by Chris John
Photos by Joel Ryder

19/04/14: Cliché launched with a diva-like aplomb as a performance laden La Scala flung open its doors to the sequined, exciting and excitable last Saturday night.

With those sexy Room Service videos playing and pounding on huge screens above the main dance floor, the balloons everywhere at the ready, our first stop was of course going to be up in Scottee’s secret boudoir where a packed crowd were licking up their drinks and loving the eccentric array of scene faces treading the boards and giving us their vocal chords on a platter.

Then everyone descended en masse to the main dance floor where Sink the Pink’s Glynn Fussell ascended to the stage in a head-dress extraordinaire that could only be rivaled by Jodie Harsh’s wig herself.

And following Sink the Pink and Figs in Wigs’ wonders, there was Miss Harsh on the decks, spinning in the burning beats to keep us dancing until the early hours! The night might have suffered a little in attendance launching on the Bank Holiday.

But as a mini-festival in itself, Cliché got us running around the venue like madmen, and as a warm-up to Bestival it succeeded in getting us excited for the main event!

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The Scala, 275 Pentonville Road, King’s Cross, N1 9NL
Words by Pat Cash
Photos by Mark Storey

27/04/14: Sunday night at Eagle’s Horse Meat Disco got a lil’ bit hotter as Mark Oakley and the crew at Eagle spread its wings to give a big hug to everyone’s favourite club manager, Simon, as he celebrated turning the big 4-0!

Nothing says ‘happy birthday’ like a personal performance by that dame of the Vauxhall stage, A Man To Pet, ‘singing’ a medley of hits in a wild fast-moving stage show. In a surprise double-bill, Mr Teds performed a cautionary tale of living life in the fast lane. How she pulled out that ginormous straw from her ‘pocket’ is beyond us — the magic of the theatres.

DJs Jim Stanton and Severino cranked out all our old school favs as we danced, shimmied, shook and waved our hands in the air in a rousing hip-hip-hooray to our beloved Blutto, Simon.

The club was packed with well-wishers old and new including first-timers Francois Metge and Alex Schweizer, who had no idea this gem of a night lay just around the corner from the big booming clubs on the Vauxhall strip.

Like kids in a sweet shop, the adorable little tykes ran giddy through the playground gorging on free burgers, birthday cake, champagne and disco music making tons of new friends!

Propping up the bar, the birthday boy himself, reminisced on his years at the helm: “I’ve spent six years here, five of them as manager.” He surveyed the room of happy campers and sighed a little. “I’ve never been happier.”

Happy birthday, Simon!

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The Eagle, 349 Kennington Lane, Vauxhall, SE11 5QY
Words by Tom Redkid
Photos by Joel Ryder

26/04/14: Forgive us for our sins, but we’d yet to make it to Vogue’s flagship R&B night R&She, which is why when we heard its second birthday was happening we dropped down those famous tranny-painted stairs of Dalston’s disco faster than you could say ‘Whitney’.

R&She is a night designed by musical maestro Neil Prince, devoted to the divas of R&B throughout the ages, and last Saturday it was packed from wall-to-wall with the gorgeous young urban men of London town!

QX was all of a flutter, and quickly all of a flush, too, as we sidled onto that dance floor to get down and dirty to the awesome beats and soaring vocals provided by Mr Prince himself and the ever-cute QBoy and David Oh. What a way to celebrate a birthday in style, and we’ll be back for more next time!

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Vogue Fabrics, 66 Stoke Newington Road, Dalston, N16 7XB
Words by Pat Cash
Photos by Chris Jepson

26/04/14: Eastbloc pulled the bloc outta our cocks and greased up our lug nuts with BlocHeads, their Saturday night hub-bub in the dark underworld throbbing ‘neath Old Sreet.

DJ Andrew Moore kicked off the night in the Main Room followed by the award-winning Smokin Jo’ turning things positively tribal as she thumped up the bass with such fierceness you’d think the whole damn building was gonna bounce down the street!

Tom Stephan’s rippling rhythms had us shucking our brawny shoulders til headliner pretty boy Paul Heron put those big biceps of his to work pushing hard, hard, dirty beats from way down there that had models Christian and Greg flexing their tattoos under their couture mesh shirts.

The music swirled to such a crescendo it prompted club kid Mateos to shout, “I may look like a li’l boy, but I’m pure VOLTAGE!”

The Macho Sluts room was of course dominated by the suitably mucho macho slut Ursula Snakes re-twerkin sexy hits into “darker, edgier, sexier” tunes that were downright sinister. Ollywwod brightened up the cave with his own mix of pop and techno, but if we thought this was gonna be a skip in the park we were dead wrong.

Who crept out of the black but none other than the DJ of darkness himself Ray Noir. Tribal was the beat of the night and raw beef sizzled on the grill as Mr. Noir had us trippin back balls deep in the funk prompting Mimis Kormas to exclaim: “It’s not like a club. It’s like a house party!”

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East Bloc, 217 City Road, Shoreditch, EC1V 1JN
Words by Tom Redkid
Photos by Mark Storey 

26/04/14: We’ve got the T-shirt, we’ve downloaded the app and, with newly extended opening hours, we seized the opportunity to party through ‘til 8am as XXL raised the roof on Pulse with a rockin’ ‘St George’s Day’ blast last weekend.

Featuring five futuristic arches of decadent delights, promoter Mark Ames and his posse packed in a rampaging crowd yet again for hirsute happenings and more at one of the hottest homo-haunts in town.

Hulking hi-jinks on the dancefloor saw resident deck star, Christian M, working the masses into a frenzy for rampant disco remix-action beneath a sea of St George Cross flags in homage to England’s patron saint.

Next door and top DJ daddy, Joe Egg, opened his back-pack of pop grooves for a stonking session that had chart-lovin’ boyz bumpin’ and grindin’ through ‘til closing time.

Elsewhere, the always-popular XXL darkroom saw more through-traffic than Croydon IKEA on a bank holiday, whilst the laid-back lounge terrace absorbed the overspill for no-end of sociable shenanigans.

Meanwhile, there was still plenty more to come with DJ turns from the likes of Alex Logan and Mark Ames as the hairy hordes kept the action going through ‘til the very last. Get ready for arresting antics as the guys return with an ‘XXL Cop’ spectacular this Saturday!

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Pulse, 1 Invicta Plaza, Southwark, SE1 9UF
Words by Chris John
Photos by Chris Jepson

20/04/14: Easter is a time for new beginnings. So sayeth the lords of the new rave, Chapter 10. Impresario Dan Beaumont, fashion writer/DJ Charlie Porter and Morgan Clement hatched a golden egg in the perfect nest: an East End post-Chernobyl dystopic warehouse; distilling Berlin/Detroit into a grimy carburator producing some seriously ethereal sonic black sunshine.

“Well, ‘Chapter 10’ is ‘meaningless’,” Charlie grinned, “attach your own meaning.”

“It’s a ‘gay’ rave,” said Morgan, “but it’s not exclusively gay.”

As Dan so astutely put it, “We want to play music that has substance and means something to people.”

With that, our hosts took to the decks and opened the night. Corrugated tin walls heaved and sighed with the rhythm of a collective mindset of true music lovers. A ‘non-scene’ scene of a thousand like-minded souls lured by the same beat packed all the way up to the dripping overhead pipes. Bejeweled hostess A Man To Pet swanned around despite a wig malfunction.

“Hair too high for the sky,” fashion designer Andrew Culloo beamed, “Incredible! Not clubby just great music, cool people!”

DJ Portable aka Bodycode spun irresistable dance grooves of ‘Afro-electro-house’ peppered with soaring vocals and premiered ‘Continue’, his new summer release.

Homegirl Hannah Holland filled the air with her indefinable fusion of styles that were downright eclectic, surfing waves of trippy bass remixes to her distinguishable twist on Berlin/London house.

Berlin DJ Rodhad’s uber-dreamy, provocative dub/techno tracks sent us to dizzying heights bordering on whirling dervish trance. His new single ‘Red Rising’ and tracks by Zippo and Lewis Fautzi took the enchanted to Valhalla and back again.

The room swelled to bursting with aggressive pounding bass yet blanketed by such an incredible feeling of goodwill, as if by magic. When the music ended, the crowd reared back then rushed forward, foaming horses jettisoned towards the stage to grasp the hands of the almighty.

He was off to Amsterdam to spread the love at ‘Queen’s Day’ assuring us he’ll make a second coming to London soon.

We emerged Monday morn, reborn with new eyes to a pale blue dawn…

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Autumn Street Studios, Unit 3, 39 Autumn Street, E3 2TT
Words by Tom Redkid
Photos by Joel Ryder

26/04/14: It’s quite rare that a Saturday night passes without something eventful going down at G-A-Y, and trust it to be Miss Lily Allen to get bitches talking.

We’re never quite sure what to expect when Lily is scheduled to appear on stage (especially after her previous performances at G-A-Y), so when she emerged in a conservative white mini dress singing new single ’Sheezus’, we were surprised that she’d perform in a subtle fashion – and in heels so high they’d make a stripper stumble.

After that Lily went on to whip off the bottom half of her dress – bit like we do when we see a hot man on the dance floor. Singing ‘Hard Out Here’, in the white leotard, Allen revealed a banging post-baby body!

*Side note to Katie Hopkins: Who’s laughing now, bitch?

But the real show-stealing moment was when Lily slipped in to a Black Bikini, got drowsed by a bucket of water and writhed around the stage miming to Beyoncé’s ‘Drunk In Love’.

The ‘tribute’ comes as no real shock as we’ve seen her do Dorothy (Wizard of Oz) and Britney both at Heaven before, but this wet hair realness was probably the best.

She was joined on stage by scene DJ QBoy who was also just in underwear (we’re definitely not surprised at that though). As her performance closed she whipped off that tattered weave and slung it in the crowd – bit like Friday nights at Zoo Bar.

Another crazy night at G-A-Y, long live Lily!

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Heaven, Under the Arches, Villiers Street, Charing Cross, WC2H 6NG
Words by Anthony Gilét
Photos by Dave Hogan

The Metropolitan Police Service isn’t traditionally perceived as the most minority-friendly of institutions. But is this an outdated image for the modern police force? In Issue 999 of QX, we speak to two LGBT liaison officers from the MPS, plus a new recruit, about relations between the police and the LGBT communities of London, and ways of tackling hate crime. 

TONY FORSYTH
MPS CENTRAL LGBT LIAISON OFFICER

Tell us a bit about yourself. 

I’m an active detective sergeant leading the Metropolitan Police Service around all areas of hate crime and domestic abuse. I used to work on one of the community safety units on boroughs and they investigate all of our hate crime, and I was a LGBT liaison officer on that borough as well. And then I came to the central unit to have a more strategic overview.

What made you join the force in the first place?

I didn’t fancy a 9-5 job, I didn’t want anything that was too conventional and I wanted something where I could change within my role, so it was an ideal job to do that. It’s constantly changing. It’s one of the most challenging but rewarding jobs at the same time.

And how old were you when you joined? 

About twenty-two. I’ve been in the force for nineteen years.

When were LGBT liaison officers introduced into the Met?

LGBT liaison officers were born from the tragic bombing of the Admiral Duncan pub in Soho in April 1999. As a result of that tragic incidence, the senior officers at that time realised we needed to have better community links with LGBT people, not only just around Soho but obviously for the impact it had around London nationally and internationally as well. And actually the feedback that we got from the community as well, was that it made an impact and difference to the way that LGBT communities saw the police beyond the uniform.

How do they go about recruiting LOs?

With regards to recruiting, it’s a voluntary role that the officers do. They do it in conjunction with their daytime job, and officers don’t have to be LGBT to be a liaison officer, but we do say that they have to have a good understanding of LGBT lifestyles and people so that they can professionally be able to give advice.

Are you gay yourself? 

Yes.

From your own personal experience, have you seen a change in the Met since you joined in attitudes towards LGBT people?

I wouldn’t say things have changed only because I never experienced any kind of homophobia or hate crime, from the moment I joined the job up to my current role now. I’ve always been impressed by the way the Met treats their LGBT staff internally.

What about LGBT people in general externally? 

The Met have worked really hard over the last ten years to use the organisational learning that we’ve had from tragic incidents and a lot of our community work that we’ve dealt with, as well. I think that’s really informed our current policies of where we are and how we train staff, and how we deal with operational matters. It’s a constant learning process and we definitely evolve around that. We have thirty-two community safety units across the boroughs with five hundred community safety officers who are trained to deal with all areas of hate crime, so not bespoke to LGBT, but hate crime is hate crime whether the person is ‘Black and Minority Ethicity’, LGBT etc.

If a gay person experiences a homophobically motivated attack, what should they do? 

Report it, report it, report it. We always say to everyone by reporting a crime or incident, or even with people witnessing a hate crime, it enables us to build up a pattern of behaviour with profiles of hate crime incidences within the communities of London. Ideally, speak to a police officer or community support officer directly, but we also work with LGBT organisations like Gallop and Switchboard, who offer the facility where people can report information via a third party. It may be small to that person but it’s the bigger part of the jigsaw puzzle.

Do you think a lot of homophobic abuse being shouted in the street still goes unreported? 

People might think it’s too minor to report, but it’s totally unacceptable. And sometimes people don’t realise it’s a crime so we’re working in hate crime education too. We might not be able to find the person who’s shouting abuse, but it builds up a bigger picture so please report it.

If someone in the LGBT community isn’t going to come immediately forward to the police, why do you think that is? 

I think there is a definite barrier when we talk about uniforms via a person. Some people see the uniform rather than the person behind that. There’s also other reasons why things go unreported, down to personal circumstance and the type of crime that has happened to then. Offences that have happened in public sex environments, etc. But we’re not here to make judgements about people’s lifestyles, we’re here to make sure the perpetrators are held to account for their actions.

And finally, in general in London are you seeing a rise or fall in homophobic/hate crime? 

In general, homophobic offences have increased by 5.6% and, whilst we have to be careful to celebrate a rise in any sort of crime, it could be because people are reporting them more. We believe that the increase is down to a growing willingness of the victims to report hate crime, the public in general are less accepting of hate crime against them, and that’s brilliant. As long as that increase is balanced with people being arrested and perpetrators being held to account, we’re comfortable with that rise. And when people come in and are arrested for a LGBT hate crime we do deal with them robustly.

MARK MCLELLAN
LAMBETH LGBT LIAISON OFFICER

When did your borough introduce LGBT liaison officers?

Around 2008.

What was the motivation for this? 

It was a pan-London initiative and they wanted everyone to have at least one or two. I’m the lead liaison officer for Lambeth and we now have seven officers and staff who act as LGBT liaison officers.

When did you join the Met?

I joined the Met in 2000.

Have you seen attitudes change towards LGBT people?

I’ve had no harassment, no prejudice against me and we’ve turned into a massive family. In the response team, for example, you have six days on, then four days off, and then you’re back with the same team. So you almost feel like brothers and sisters.

You feel it’s an inclusive and supportive environment?

Very supportive, yes. And obviously the liaison officers aren’t just there for external community engagement, they’re there to support internal LGBT issues if there are any, which there haven’t been to date, thankfully.

If a gay person experiences homophobic abuse in Lambeth in particular, what are the guidelines? 

Get a call in to us – 999 for emergencies, 101 for non-emergences. We work in partnership with Lambeth Council and they’ve got an online hate crime and online crime reporting system as well, and we’re also looking to establish third party reporting sites across Lambeth so that if you don’t want to come to the police direct you can go to a coffee shop or a community borough and report crime that way. I just stress, if it has happened, then report it.

And what initiatives are there to connect the LGBT community and the Met police in Lambeth?

We’re just started working with the new hate crime coordinator called Mark at Lambeth Council and we’re now going through a revamp of the Hate Crime Action Plan which brings in loads of different authorities. It brings in the council, the NHS primary care trust, the British Transport Police, and it’s that partnership and joined-up approach where we’re working with key groups and giving that message of report the crime.

“We might not be able to find the person who’s shouting abuse, but it builds up a bigger picture so please report it”

And if someone rang 101, could they ask to speak directly to a LGBT liaison officer? 

Of course they could, yeah. And we’ve also got a LGBT mailbox, so if you didn’t want to report it and you just want to speak to someone, one of our LGBT officers, you can go via that way, and that’s on our Lambeth Police website.

And are there any plans to tackle the roots of hate crime in schools? 

Yes, the Hate Crime Action Plan tackles primary roots, looking at kids at school age, working with the safer schools officers and getting into their curriculum and giving them some advice at the early stages.

KYLE MALONE
THAMES VALLEY POLICE
(JOINING THE MET IN SEPTEMBER)

I believe my career choice was influenced initially by my parents, as they had raised me with strong moral values and who themselves had pursued similar careers within the criminal justice field. As a child I was fascinated with the police and it was in my teens when I decided that I wanted to be an officer. I began my adult life with a variety of work experience within retail and office environments, however never felt as though I was making enough of a contribution to society.

Ultimately the continuous feeling of wanting more of a challenge and to help others encouraged and guided me towards a career within the police force. Upon starting my employment with the police four years ago, I did expect to be ‘the only gay in the village’, as I had come from a town where there wasn’t really an LGBT community and thought this may be the case in the work place as well. I was pleasantly surprised to find that several of my colleagues were in fact gay. Additionally, included in my pre-joining instructions for the role was information on the Gay Police Association (GPA) and other support networks within the organisation. The Thames Valley GPA often host social evenings that include cinema/theatre visits, dining out and camping trips which everyone is welcome to attend whether or not they are a member of the LGBT community.

“I haven’t ever experienced or been subjected to homophobia or prejudice because of my sexuality within the work place”

I felt very comfortable very quickly in coming out to my colleagues who simply acknowledged the fact, although a few female colleagues did express their disappointment! I haven’t ever experienced or been subjected to homophobia or prejudice because of my sexuality within the work place. Not only does the organisation adhere to its diversity policy which clearly states that any such behaviour will not be tolerated but I also work with some fantastic colleagues who are very broad-minded and non-judgemental, something that is a prerequisite for the role.

Nigerian cabaret artist Le Gateau Chocolat has travelled the world with his very distinctive sound and look, performing to sell out audiences, in iconic settings such as the Sydney Opera House. He brings a much more intimate show to London’s Soho Theatre this month. ‘Black’ promises to be a personal and raw autobiographical piece that will delve into the singer’s hope and fears as well as his battle with depression. Jason Reid spoke to him about that battle, and more, this week…  

It’s safe to say that you’re baring your soul to some extent in this new show. How daunting is that? 

Incredibly. A terrifying prospect to go that deep and bare, with an audience present. The issues I deal with in the piece are a huge part of the man and performer I am, but not exclusive to me. It’s a task that seemed insurmountable without the help of my friend and director, Edward Burnside, but it is something that I felt it was time to discuss.

The ‘humanity of the performer’ is something you say you want to convey… 

One of my primary aims was to try and transcend the obvious talking points: my colour, my size, my sexuality, my Lycra-wearing antics and highlight the truth. That before all of those elements, which some might consider outlandish, I’m a person first, with the same aspirations; to be loved, to laugh, to live persecution free, to dream and find the means to achieving them.

What kind of connotations does the word ‘black’ hold for you? 

I’ve always been ‘black’ – even growing up in Nigeria. That may seem weird, but for me, the word has come to mean being the outsider and I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t. The show explores other memes of black; black dog, black and blue, black music, black sheep. It was of the utmost importance that I explored the idea, that at some point in our lives, regardless of your colour, you would’ve had a ‘black’ experience.

You share your own personal experiences of ‘the black dog’ [depression] in the show. Do you think it’s still a taboo subject? 

Yes. There’s always been a ‘stiff upper lip’ approach to it. And comparing it to what some might deem real, tangible problems leaves one with the feeling of it not being worthy of discussion.

Is there a shame attached? One that makes opening up difficult? 

An inherent shame, from what I experienced; this coupled with the lack of understanding people had, or the offered resolution of ‘cheer up’ or ‘what’s wrong?’ Not having an answer to this made them frustrated and me, in return, retreat further making this a very dangerous condition. I’ve lost friends to the ultimate darkness – friends who’ve lost the will to continue fighting and that’s what’s terrifying. There’s no definitive way to go about talking about it, except hoping for understanding, patience and education.

In time, do you think the stigma will be broken down? 

It’ll happen, but as with most things that society doesn’t understand or is afraid of, it’ll happen slowly and incrementally. Gay marriage was once improbable, being gay in Nigeria is as recently as last year, outlawed. Celebrities such as Stephen Fry and Ruby Wax publicly lend a voice that gives the condition a licence to be real to the public. The currency of their outspokenness must never be underestimated. There’s a slow turning of the tide. We’ll get there, we just have to keep ebbing away at the ignorance.

Often labeled as an invisible disease, how would you describe to the layman what depression feels like at its worst? 

Imagine lights suddenly going out, and with them, taking your drive, your lust for life, your ability to socialise, your appetite. A darkness that has a profound effect not only on your vision but your entire being. At my worst, I felt like I had lead in my veins. I lay in bed for days on end finding it a real struggle to even turn over.

What practical or emotional advice would you give to fellow sufferers? 

In the thick of it, it always seems insurmountable. As it’s cyclical, for me anyway, and it’s likely that you’ve beaten a bout before. Remember what helped, remember beating it, which sometimes helps. That’s much easier said than done. I’ve sometimes found my physiology so drastically altered that I’m incapacitated. In that scenario I look to friends, family and just hope.

Moving on to the music in the show, you’ve packed in plenty of variety… 

Yes, there’s an eclectic mix of songs; Wagner, Gershwin, Purcell, Nina Simone, Whitney Houston, Bernstein and some original music. It’s a rather taxing combination to perform nightly but a challenge that I relish as I absolutely adore this repertoire.

• Le Gateau Chocolat presents ‘Black’ at Soho Theatre (21 Dean Street, London, W1D 3NE) from Mon 12th – Saturday 24th May, 9.15pm. Tickets: www.sohotheatre.com

SexCircus is the new porn-studded party from Martin Princess and Issac Jones that takes over Area in Vauxhall this weekend. Here’s what you need to know…

3 hot and sexy rooms of porn and music featuring the Eurocreme terrace, Hard On chapel and Menatplay circuit room.

2 Exclusive VIP areas, GPScort VIP hangout and Censored Private lounge.

1 horny cruise maze

A gazillion uncensored live sex shows

5 of London’s Top DJs: Lee Harris, Matt Bogard, Brent Nicholls, Nathan Six and Chris Brogan.

4 of the hottest international DJs flying in: ex-porn star Spencer Reed, XLsior resident Noor Q and the sexiest twins, O’Halley Brothers.

15 of the Hottest international porn stars, including: Damian Crosse, Francesco de Macho, Alex Martes, Jonathan Agassi, Robin Sanchez and Lucio Saints.

10 of the UK’s finest home grown porn stars including: Scott Hunter, Dan Broughton, Rocco Hard, JP Dubois and Sam Barclay.

8 of Europe’s sexiest gogo boys.

3 amazing circus performers.

7 of London’s hunkiest hosts including John Brooks, Mark Cassar, Adanyal Yaz Mir and Biagio Galotti.

Over 30 porn studios and brands all under one roof.

[Show as slideshow]

• SexCircus is at Area (67 Albert Embankment, Vauxhall, SE1 7TP) on Saturday 3rd May, 11pm-6am.

Bump is the new Friday night from Manbar owner and promoter Chris Amos that delivers commercial dance tunes to the top of central London at sky-high venue Rise. Here, the DJs share their love of Bumps…

BRENT NICHOLLS

What makes Bump the perfect place to be?

Fab venue, great DJs and in the heart of London. Plus, its elevated view over Leicester Square just has to be seen…

Which male celeb would you most like to bump into and be stuck in a broken lift with? 

Thor aka Chris Hemsworth in his outfit… do I really need to tell you why?

Mr Bump is also a famous Mr Man character. Which Mr Man character best describes you?

I would be Lady Bump… because I like to boogie!

Tell us about a time you Bumped into the wrong person at the wrong time…

I try not to be in a situation where I do bump into the wrong people, but there are a few people I would like to bump off a Cliff!

Top 3 Bump Tunes

1. ‘Pushing On’ – Oliver $ & Jimi Jules
   Deep, sexy with dirty vibe… groin bumping good.
2. ‘Where Love Lives’ (My Digital Enemy Remix) – Matt Boothroyd
   Remixed and funked-up for 2014. This classic will make your heart go bumpity bump bump!
3. ‘Are You Gonna Go Miami’ (Phunk Investigation Remix)-  Phunk Investigation & Paul Bigham
   This tech flavoured and uplifting house tunes is so addictive, you will want another bump!

ALE AMARAL

What makes Bump the perfect place to be?

New venue, new concept, upbeat music, upbeat staff and new attitude. What else would you like?

Male celeb you’d most like to Bump into in a broken lift?

Matt Damon, what a Bump! Woof!

Mr Bump is also a famous Mr Man character. Which Mr Man character best describes you?

I would be Mr Cheeky. Because I have the same sassy attitude.

Tell us about a time you Bumped into the wrong person at the wrong time

Well, these things we shouldn’t share. Next question!

Have you ever had a bad Bump? 

Yes, actually, I bumped into another DJ in the DJ booth, and I fell on the stage. The party had about 1,000 people looking at us… how cool was that?!

Top 3 Bump Tunes

1. ‘The Party!’ – Eddie Martinez feat. Josephine Halle B (Original Mix)
2. This song talks about the nightlife funny and weird things that usually happens. It’s fun!
3. ‘I Wanna Dance’ with ‘Cha Cha Cha’ – GSP mash-up
   For me this is one of the best mash-ups I’ve had come across in the last times. Super uplifting!
4. ‘Keep the Peace’ (Carlos Gallardo Remix) – Sokool
   I must consider old school music for London scene. Carlos with this track represents a new lecture of new old school. Super cool!