14/02/15 

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Heaven, under the Arches, Villiers Street, Charing Cross, WC2N 6NG
Photos by Rob Cable

It’s that time of year again when we lock the gay scene’s most wizened minds in the basement of QX Towers and wheel out the Ouija board to determine who are the recipients of this year’s QX Hot Nob Awards!

It’s no mean feat as truly there are so many worthy nobs out there in Gay-Scene-dom, so what we did was close our eyes and pick names out of a hat to find out which of the scene’s most fabulous and ridiculous have touched our hearts and minds, plied us with the most booze, and generally been the most maniacally fame hungry in the quest to bless our pages with their faces and fill the clubs, bars and cabaret venues with their pungent body odour. *

* Unlike other magazines the QX Hot Nobs are awarded entirely on merit for outrageousness, fabulousness or shamelessness and not remotely based on advertising spend or how far up a person’s crack we are.

The world’s biggest escorts awards has its London event coming up. We spoke to organizer Bryce to find out what to expect… 

Who is Bryce Cruiz, for anyone who doesn’t yet know? 

I’m 25, and I live in Soho. I’ve worked in and around the London gay scene on and off for six years either as a host, promoter, dancer or creative director. I’ve been involved in many parties, as well as doing porn and escorting on the side and hosting my own radio show in Miami. I launched my own events management and media agency – Cruiz Concepts – last year so this is the first big event under the agency.

How did you get involved with the Hookies in the first place? 

I have been associated with Rentboy.com, who own the Hookies brand in New York City, for a few years now. I was involved creatively in their Hustlaball event in London and Brussels and also performed at them. When it came to handing over to a new organiser they felt my experience in the London gay scene, and with the nature of the event, I was best equipped to really make it an occasion… AND IT WILL BE!

We hear it’s heading to Ku Klub! Why is Ku such a great venue for the Hookies? 

Yes! I have worked at Ku Klub as a host on a Friday and Saturday nights and the whole team is a pleasure to work with; I can’t praise them enough, we have always maintained a great relationship. Part of the Ku Bar brand appeal is the tasteful use of the Ku Boys for promotion. They are very customer focused, every night has a great vibe, and I feel introducing an awards event like this is a great extension of that. It just made sense to house the event in such a great, well-known space and take advantage of the whole package.

“Expect a whole lot of flesh, bulges and a nice guestlist of pornstars and rentboys coming down to cheer on their peers”.

Who’s this uber-hot Falcon Studios exclusive porn actor who’ll be hosting?

David Benjamin is a brand spanking new addition to the porn industry, he has signed his second exclusive contract with Falcon Studios in ONE year. He is flying into the UK for the first time in his life for a string of events I’ve booked for him, and the Hookies is one. He’s been great to work with, sexy as hell, big personality and has stage presence. He knows what it takes to be at the top (and sometimes bottom), and it will make for a good attraction. Check out his films. Get acquainted. He’s going to make a big splash here, and what a great event to immerse himself in.

And talk us through the personalities on the judgement panel? Is there a Simon, a Mel B and a Cheryl?

I have selected four amazing judges, nobody is a Louis because let’s face it he’s a little basic and I wanted my judges to be far from that! We have pornstar/rentboy Saxon West from NYC who knows the industry and knows what it takes (he could be the Simon). Scene star Anthony Gilét will be our sass and humour. Club host and singer Danny Hilton is the voice of reason. They will be our Cheryls. Our superstar guest judge is Baga Chipz! Now if you have seen her judge at Porn Idol, you will know why her view COUNTS. Northern lass with a big gob, obviously the Mel B. It’s total (Se)X-Factor.

What are your hot tip-from-the-top predictions for who’s gonna win?

It’s tough, the online voting polls are strong but the winner could be a dark horse and kill it on the night, slaying all the others to win the crown. It’s too close to tell and we have thrown a few surprise boys in there to shake it up, so make sure to come down and see who else is in the running. I’d have to hire each one to predict that and I haven’t the energy after putting this together!

And finally, what kind of XXX action can we expect from the event to wet our guzzling whistles?!

Expect a whole lot of flesh, bulges and a nice guestlist of pornstars and rentboys coming down to cheer on their peers. The main thing is for everyone to have fun and carry on the party afterwards smiling and a little horny. I have few surprises along the way but attendance is the only way to really find out what goes on. Who knows what could happen at an event like this!

• The Hookies is at Ku Klub (30 Lisle Street, Chinatown, WC2H 7BA) on Saturday 21st February with showtime 10pm.
• For more info, visit www.thehookies.com

12/02/15: Last Thursday saw the opening of Vauxhall’s latest glam eatery and bar ‘Counter’, and what a night of glamourous shenanigans it was!

Upon waltzing over the glitzy threshold, we were greeted with a glass of bubbles – champers, darling – so evidently the hounds of Sherlock could tell the QX gurls were in the house! It was clear from the sparkling decor that they’re aiming this brasserie and bar at an up-market clientele.

The space is gorgeous, with a beautifully lit ambience, and was full to capacity with be-suited guys, hot media-types and boys in the know.

You’d never guess you were in a railway arch in South London. We certainly know where we’ll be picking up next Friday! Whilst we didn’t get to sample the food menu, owner Philip assures us it’s excellent and we’re looking forward to heading over again soon to get our tastebuds totally whetted.

If you fancy some style in civilized peace in SW8, this is definitely the venue for you. Cheers Counter and all who sail in her!

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Arch 50, 7-11 South Lambeth Place, SW8 1SP
Words by Chris Colman
Photos by Joel Ryder

14/02/15: The QX cupids hit town last Saturday as the Edge celebrated its 23rd birthday with a storming two-day Valentine’s and birthday bash.

Looming like a beacon in the heart of the West End, it’s not hard to see why this London landmark is still a popular party destination after almost two and a half decades on the scene – and no wonder either that the crowds keep flocking back for more.

Starting with sophisticated shenanigans at ground level, we joined in the proceedings as a throng of hot young things rolled through the door for Champers and cocktails. Moving on and the Valentine’s vibe was in evidence for cosy and intimate interaction on the first floor, as dishy dudes got friendly amidst the banquettes and comfy cushions.

Upstairs, the birthday atmosphere took flight for a non-stop barrage of anniversary R&B and pop hits at the decks, courtesy of DJ Glen John, with even more to come from scene star Aamyko.

Back on the ground floor and the gorgeous bar dudes had their work cut out as exuberant thrill seekers ramped up the ambience, with the night still young and hours more fun to be had right through to 3am. Here’s to another great year at The Edge in 2015!

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11 Soho Square, W1D 3QE
Words by Chris John
Photos by Mark Store

14/02/15: QX checked out the top totty on Lisle Street as Ku Bar threw a combined Valentine’s and 8th birthday extravaganza last Saturday.

There were no end of celebratory antics as a crowd of youthful cuties (and some of their older admirers) packed into one of central London’s most popular party destinations for amorous anniversary antics and a whole lot more.

Featuring a flawless cast of topless bar beauties in bow ties and trilbies, we grabbed a red balloon and a handful of fizzy love hearts as a romantic evening turned into a thrilling night. Highlights included VJ Rodrigo raising the roof with all our fave pop vids beamed onto giant video screens.

Elsewhere, there was no chance of going hungry as the ever-accommodating Ku boys handed out tasty birthday cupcakes. Meanwhile, the proceedings carried on al-fresco as we checked out the terrace, complete with tables and chairs and a fab view of all the comings and goings in China Town.

As if that wasn’t enough excitement, there was even more to look forward to on the DJ front with sensational sets to come from Prince Persona and special guests SexShooters. Happy Birthday to all at Ku Bar and congratulations on 8 fantastic years!

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30 Lisle Street, Chinatown, WC2H 7BA
Words by Chris John
Photos by Mark Storey

With over three decades of performing under her belt, the hilarious and much loved Saucy Sophie has seen the London drag scene change dramatically over the years and has learnt from the best. This week Jason Reid spoke to her about old-school glamour, drag greats and sequins…

“The first gay pub I ever went to was George IV in Poplar. It was the late 80s, I was sixteen and it was there that I met drag acts such as Sister Slim, Tony Page, Candy Du Barry and The Harlequins. My life changed as soon as I entered that pub. I was amongst some of the greats of the day. From then I got bitten by the drag bug and began to work the amateur circuit, entering competitions at the RVT and The Black Cap, much like Drag Idol today.

“After I became known, people started booking me and it went from there. I do remember though, someone saying to me: ‘You’re shit Sophie, you’ll never make it.’ That stuck in my mind, I can’t pretend it didn’t. And they may well be right, but thirty-four years later, I’m still working. If anything, that person made me more determined to succeed.

“I’ve always described myself as a blue comedian in a frock, actually no, a gown, dear! I don’t profess to be the best singer in the world, but I can crack a gag and make people laugh and smile, which is the most important thing to me in this job. That’s what drives me, the adrenalin you experience onstage seeing a crowd of happy faces.

“My inspiration for Sophie has always come from the ‘old-school’ branch of drag performance. I mean my ultimate idol is Phil Starr. People talk about unique performers all the time nowadays, now let me tell you, Phil was the REAL deal in that respect. He will never be replicated. A consummate professional and a master gag-teller.

“There are some great performers around today, too, even though I think the glamour and commitment to ‘the look’, which once was such an integral part of an act, has diminished somewhat. I’ve always said: ‘If there’s not a sequin or diamante on my outfit, I don’t want to know.’ Sadly it seems that ‘old-school’ glamour is a dying breed, but we mustn’t forget it’s where our history lies.

“Of the current batch I have a real soft spot for Miss Jason, who reminds me of the late, great Dockyard Doris in so many ways, especially the mannerisms. She’s a joy to watch, is Jason. Drag With No Name is another of my favourites. He’s a brilliant singer and bursting with ingenuity. He’s also a bloody lovely and genuine guy.

“As for me, I’ll keep going until they stop making sequins. There will always be drag in my life and on the scene in one form or another, in supportive venues such as The Old Ship, and that should be celebrated. To the acts that are putting their foot on the first rung of the ladder, like I was in the 80s, my advice to you would be: be prepared for the hard work, the knockdowns and the adulation. And take the criticisms on the chin and most importantly, believe in yourself.”

• Saucy Sophie is at The Old Ship (17 Barnes Street, Limehouse, E14 7NW) on Sunday 22nd February, from 8pm. Free admission. 

With a new Wayne Shires night crashing into town, we caught up with the man himself to get the lowdown on Brüt! 

Tell us about Brüt. First, it’s a new venue space. How did you find it and what’s the look?
I’ve been wanting to do a new night for a while, a men-only dance night for all types of guys who want to hear good music. I loved the Crash days and the Sound Factory in New York, London is ready for a new hot night on a big scale with amazing sounds.
The venue is brand new and we are the only gay night there. It’s three big arches under Cannon Street station in the City with a great industrial feel: high vaulted ceilings, exposed brick, all the old metal works are still there – it’s perfect for the type of big night Brut is (1,000 capacity) and kinda looks like it was made for gays with a ‘sports bar’ adjacent to the main room with pool tables and draft beer for the bear bar crew.

Which DJs are playing and what’s the sound gonna be?
We’ve got two of my favourite DJs for the launch party:  Terry Farley & Pete Heller. I’ve known both for years and have always loved the music they’ve produced – they kind of defined UK house for me back in the nineties with Fire Island, Junior Boys and Roach Motel and they’ll be bringing that heritage and history to the dance floor alongside new music that compliments that. I want this night to celebrate the best of house from the past and present. They’ll be joined by Ben Jamin and Ross Jones and Done & Dusted, all of whose music I love.
Who would like this night?
If you’re into hot men who are on the big or butch side and who like great dance music and a beer then this is for you!
We hear Handsome is involved, too. Who’s representing from them?
Handsome is hosting room two where there will be an early drinks pre-party from 9pm. It’s a logical fit with its music policy. Martyn Fitzgerald, who promotes the night, will be getting that room going and will be followed by Ninebob and Wes Baggaley.
Who would be your ultimate Brüt celebrity and why?
Tom Selleck. Wouldn’t you, back in the day?

• Brut is on Saturday 21st February at The Steel Yard (13-16 All Hallows Lane, EC4R 3UL) from 9pm-6am. £10 advance tickets available.
• VALID PHOTO ID REQUIRED FOR ENTRY.
• Brüt runs monthly after the launch event. 

Who are the people catfishing porn stars? 

By Patrick Cash

‘People who knew me were laughing because there was a Kayden Gray in every town and city,’ says softly spoken gay porn star Kayden Gray, seated opposite me in smiling 3D real life. ‘I got asked ‘are you in Berlin? Are you in Australia?’ and I’ve never been to Australia! There are two Kayden Grays in London apart from me on Grindr.’

I first heard about this robbing of adult entertainers’ images when I asked Kayden to speak on a panel last year. After meeting to discuss the project, I said that I’d message him the details on Facebook. He scowl-laughed.

‘I don’t have Facebook,’ he said.

‘But KD Gray is always posting photos -’

He shakes his head, still half-grinning.

‘That’s not me.’

What was strangest for me was that I’d had a brief conversation with this KD Gray. I knew Kayden, as in the real Kayden, in passing from my adventures on the scene’s merry-go-round and so I wasn’t surprised when he – or who I thought he was – added me as a friend. He messaged me thanking for the acceptance and we spoke fleeting Facebook; all typo’d one-liners and excessive emojis.

After Kayden told me the account was a fake, I began noting its posts. It seemed eerily akin to a real profile of a porn star. Pictures were often shared, that were quite clearly Kayden, of him on set with his co-stars. But then these pics were easily obtained from Kayden’s official Twitter account – KaydenGrayXXX –, and apparently one of the keys to the mystery were the headless cam shot videos frequently offered.

“They advertise camshows that I apparently participate in, which I have never done.”

‘They advertise camshows that I apparently participate in, which I have never done,’ Kayden explains. ‘I don’t know how people do it, maybe they have a twin of my body, because they’re obviously not going to be my twin. I do camshows but I only advertise it on Twitter and it’s in my bio, that’s it. Somehow they get away with getting people signed up for sites and I’ve actually been accused by someone who may have been a victim of it of doing that on Growler and I’ve never had a Growler account.’

In the name of researching this article, I contacted the KD Gray profile. I said: ‘Don’t freak out, but I’m writing a feature for QX about people impersonating porn stars online and I was wondering if you’d want to take part in it?’

As of going to press the KD Gray profile is now dead on Facebook. It’s still searchable but says ‘sorry, this page doesn’t exist’ when clicked.

‘I don’t have a Facebook account myself,’ says Kayden. ‘But I did have one that was Kayden Gray XXX, and I was stupid enough to add people as friends that I didn’t know and Facebook basically started questioning me about it. They blocked me and said ‘who are these people?’ I couldn’t answer. Funnily enough, it takes them forever to actually do anything about the recurring impersonation pattern. Nothing you find on Facebook is authentic.’

Financial gain may be one motivation for creating these false accounts, but then that doesn’t explain pretending to be Kayden in conversation, too. Porn is a fantasy

But surely the ultimate fantasy for the obsessive porn wanker (literally, not derogatively), would be not just to meet, not even to sleep with, but to become porn stars. The vast, lubricated slipperiness of social media and its anonymity between user and screen enables this impersonation to happen. We’re all wise to ‘it’s time I told the truth… I’m gay’ frapes, but we can’t really know that any post on our newsfeed actually belongs to the person its Facebook name purports to represent, unless we are sitting next to them when they post.

Now we’re waltzing into wild, uncharted territory; we ain’t in Kansas no more, Toto, and we don’t want to spin your daily Facebook use into a conspiracy theory of whether your friends are really posting their Fifty Shades updates on the top of Jamie Dornan’s cock, or it’s GCHQ fucking with your mind. So let’s keep it angled on the porn, one of our favourite phrases in the QX office, and take a tiptoe down the sexual garden path to the flickering, dark windowed shed of porn obsession.

As luck would have it, just as we were writing this article, the god of emails dropped a zinger into our inbox from someone named ‘Gay Porn Addict’. He claims to have watched porn non-stop without sleep from Friday evening to Sunday evening before, and to have 568 GB of pure porn perfection downloaded on to a hallowed hard drive.

I ask GPA if he thinks his porn watching adversely affects his day-to-day life. His answer walks that delicate tightrope between lucidly honest and unhinged: ‘Not at all, I think about porn during the day for sure but it doesn’t affect me. I like to think of it as a dirty secret that no one knows but at the same time I wish I could win an award for being the best gay porn addict in the world.’

“Porn is a fantasy spun by aesthetic desire, lusting for horse-hung boys in a kaleidoscopic collage of Adonis bodies and bubble butts.”

You might think GPA would be an enthusiastic gay porn impersonator, but his answer is to the contrary. ‘I could imagine hanging out with them but being so addicted to porn they’d probably find it off-putting,’ he says, with remarkable self-awareness. ‘I’d rather just wank off over them. I don’t agree with [impersonation] at all! Gay porn stars should be respected, I think they’re amazing!’

But perhaps it’s GPA’s final point that’s most revealing in our relation to porn and its pixelated constellation of sex-sweating stars: ‘I used to be obsessed with gay porn stars. I fell in love with them on a sexual porn level. I kept a very long list of names but lost it. Mainly I recognize them by appearance and not by name anyway.’

Our gay porn stars don’t have personalities. They don’t speak but for moans, they don’t feel but for dicks and ass, they don’t do but for fucking. They’re loosely tied knots of sex, image and body. When a body is on your screen, stripped of its emotional complexity that makes him human, sure they’re fair game for any opportunistic persona-sculptor to thieve.

‘I had a mini identity crisis last year because I felt most people knew me as Kayden instead of the person I am really,’ says the sweet-talking boy who’s known as Kayden Gray. ‘When you become a public figure of any calibre you can’t defend yourself directly, because it is an indirect relationship that you have with your audience. That way, it’s very easy for someone to sneak behind a picture and call themselves you. I will set up a Facebook account eventually and make sure I authenticate it, otherwise: ‘who is the real Kayden Gray?’’

• Kayden’s Twitter account, as told directly to QX, is: www.twitter.com/KaydenGrayXXX

Louise Dearman is a goddess among musical theatre buffs with a fantastic career behind her. Not only has she played coveted roles such as Eva Peron in Evita, she’s also been in Wicked! as Glinda and Elphaba!
This week, G-A-Y is lucky enough to get another visit from her, this time with a trio of handsome leading men in tow. We talk to her about her upcoming performance and her most celebrated roles.

By James Waygood

What does performing at G-A-Y mean to you?
I’m really looking forward it. It’s always a fantastic night. I love that you’re in this club and it’s really late at night, and everyone’s had a few drinks and having a great time. We come on stage and sing songs from musical theatre, which you would think would bring down the mood a little, but it really doesn’t. The support from the crowd there is always phenomenal and we feel very welcome and appreciated.

Any clues as to what you’ll be performing?
Well, I’m bringing three lovely friends of mine who are all gorgeous men as well. I’ve worked with them all in various scenarios: in musicals and in concert work. My dear friend Ben Richards is coming along. We can’t decide on our duet just yet. We really can’t make up our minds whether to go for something from Grease or Guys and Dolls. With Ben Forster, we’re going to be singing a duet from Dreamgirls. Killian Donnelly will be coming along and we’re going to do something from Dirty Dancing. I’m sure you can guess what duet that is. I’ll be doing a couple of solos as well. One from Wicked! I’m sure will come out of the bag. But it’s a really nice mixed bag of different genres of musical theatre, so it’s going to be good fun.

Speaking of Wicked!, you famously played both Glinda and Elpheba. Do you have a preference of those two roles?
I really enjoyed playing both those characters. With Glinda, I love comedy roles. To play her was fantastic as it quenched that thirst. With Elpheba, I loved the physical transformation into the green girl, and I got to sing all those fantastic songs. I couldn’t decide. It completely depends on what mood I’m in.

How difficult was it to get out of Elpheba’s make-up?
It’s quite gross, but you cover everything that’s green in this oil, and then you just wipe it away: it comes off pretty easily. It used to get stuck in your ears and around your hairline and stuff like that, but that’s a small price to pay for such a fantastic role. I used to go home on the tube looking a little bit yellowy-greeny, like I was a bit poorly, and I used to get a few looks.

Did you ever think you’d play Glinda then Elpheba?
I used to watch Rachel Tucker, who was playing my Elpheba at the time, and think, “It’s such a cracking role. I’d love to give it a go: just once. I’d love to just be painted green and fly up in the sky and do ‘Defying Gravity.’” It was all down to the creative team of Wicked! The producers called me ten months after I left the show and said, “We’re sat on the panel wondering why you’re not auditioning for it!” It was entirely down to them, because I really don’t think I would have put myself forward. I never thought it would happen, so it’s hats off to them.

I strive to play as many different roles as possible, that’s why I wanted to be an actress. I refuse to become pigeon-holed into one type of character, and that almost happen very early on. I played Jan in Grease, and then started to get offered similar roles. I just decided, “No. I don’t want to do that. I want to do some straight stuff as well, and I want to do the big belty roles.” I had to say “no” to a few things in order to then be taken seriously to play the other roles, and it paid off.

What would you consider some of your career highlights?
There have been many. Moments that stand out are both my opening nights at Wicked! as Glinda and Elpheba. Getting the role of Evita was pretty huge for me at the time. Also, I had this thing in my head that I had to work at the Royal Albert Hall. I just absolutely love the venue. It’s so thrilling to be stood in that auditorium when it’s empty. But to be in it when it’s full is something else. I got to do that with Michael Ball when I joined his tour. But Wicked! was a game changer for me. It made people stand up and look at what I’m doing and really take notice.

What would you consider the most challenging moments of your career?
Oddly, the challenging moments are the between jobs. You have to remember that every year is very different, and when you’re in this industry you have to be prepared for the empty spaces in between and just roll with it and make sure you keep busy. I have a brilliant management team behind me who are constantly pushing me to try different things, keep focused, and keep my eye on the game.

As an actor, I would say it was either playing Eva Peron in Evita or Elpheba in Wicked! They’re both very challenging in different ways. Elpheba was vocally challenging. With Eva Peron, you’re barely off the stage and it’s completely sung through, so it really tested my stamina and my technique. But both were fantastic.

Do you have a favourite leading man to work alongside?
No! I couldn’t possibly say that. They’re all so different and all so wonderful. I’m very lucky that I have got on with every one of my leading men, so I definitely not been a chore. I couldn’t possibly pick a winner there as the best, because they’re all fantastic.

Who’s your dream leading man?
Hugh Jackman.

Good choice!
a) He’s gorgeous b) he’s super talented. Watching him in the Les Miserables movie was something else. I couldn’t’ imagine him in the role at first, but thought he was fantastic.

• Louise Dearman is playing at G-A-Y Heaven (under the Arches, Villiers Street, Charing Cross, WC2N 6NG) on Saturday 21st Feburary, 10.30pm-5am. Discounted entry wristbands available from G-A-Y Bar. 

Vogue Fabrics has a new, scintillating night in town, Straight Nasty, which looks set to revolutionise your weekend and bring a new lease of dancefloor-pumping life to Dalston’s nightlife. When the press release landed in our inbox QX just had to find out more about the event! 

Who is Straight Nasty?
Straight Nasty is the love child of superstar DJ duo TR!NNY & $U$ANNAH (aka Ned Alderwick and Henry Petrides).

Why is Straight Nasty different from the other nights out there? 
Straight Nasty is the unapologetic pop party for sissy boys and sassy girls, playing shameless pop anthems as an antidote to the po-faced house music you pretend to enjoy most other weekends. The gays of East London often like to pretend that 2003 never happened, but Straight Nasty won’t be shying away from noughties nostalgia! From Holly Valance to Nicki Minaj, Geri Halliwell to J Lo, we’re serving a perfect selection of grimy and gorgeous pop that you can really sink your tits into…

What kind of person will be on the dancefloor to your music? 
We’ve tweeted all the designers from Changing Rooms to see if they’ll come, so hopefully we’ll bag one of them. But otherwise you can expect a gaggle of gyrating hustlers unafraid to sweat it out to Emma Bunton’s Maybe.

Who are going to be the DJ sets?
TR!NNY & $U$ANNAH (Slagbox, Debbie), SHY CHARLES (Best City Fashion), JE M’APPELLE ROCHELLE & GG BEAR.

And finally, what should we wear?!
As the real Trinny and Susannah would say, it’s simply a matter of knowing what not to wear. Just keep it cute.

• Straight Nasty launches at Vogue Fabrics (66 Stoke Newington Road, Dalston, N16 7XB) on Saturday 28th February, 10pm-3am.
• Free before 11 / £5 after. £3 guestlist available at facebook.com/straightnastyclub

This week, David Stuart talks about the language we use and the dirty word of shame.

All very dirty words, my Mum would tell me. 

Unless you’re gay of course. We’ve reclaimed these words, as disenfranchised people have done heroically for decades. The ‘n’ word lost (some of its’) power as Gangsta-rappers reclaimed it through artistic expression, Madonna disempowered the accusation of “whore” by owning her sexuality through artistic expression.

We, modern gays, are true champions of it. The word “addict” appears on underwear racks galore around Soho, “Slammed” is among TIM’s most watched porn movies, ChemPigs.com and BareBackRT, attract hundreds of players each weekend, and “Bitch”; well hey, that’s just what you call your best ‘girl’friend.

Yes, we’ve reclaimed our sexuality. And then some. The sex that was about shit-on-dicks, about shirt-lifting, about sin, disease and death is now owned, shameless and proudly displayed all over Soho, with dildos and porn on sale in window displays all along Old Compton Street.

Yay. Sorted. Victory to the gays.

Seriously, our prolific successes at de-shaming some of our healthy gay lifestyles and activities will go down in sociological history, as truly amazing cultural achievements. We’ve endured and (barely) survived imprisonments, AIDS epidemics, estrangement from families and hellish school playground experiences. And here we are, out, proud, shamelessly sexualised and owning it, bitch.

And what’s more, we’re defensive as fuck about it. Brandishing a robust sense of entitlement to all we’ve fought for.

So what’s the new dirty word in town?

“Shame”.

The suggestion that London’s ChemSex problem might be associated with a feeling of shame around sex is something that triggers a very angry response from some. 

Try and tell a proud gay man, who’s fought for a different kind of sex, marched defiantly for gay sexual liberation for decades, that there is a lingering shame about his ’sex’, and you’ll get shot down in trolling balls of flame. And perhaps that’s as it should be; that’s a long time to fight for something so righteously and passionately.

I truly feel a sense of bursting pride, at how we have shattered stigmas, de-shamed homophobic stereotypes, and owned our sexuality. It’s a phenomenal achievement. I just wonder where we put the breaks on. When an 18 year old on a second date is frightened to reject someone who insists on an open relationship, for fear of being an “un-cool gay”, I worry a bit.

When I interview potential volunteers who tell me they use chems, but safely and it’s not a problem, I worry a bit; I mean, dude, it’s a job interview. Drugs are against the law. (Usually followed by an embarrassed, whispered, “Oh yeah”.) A sense of entitlement for the freedoms we fought for is great, but we may need to reign that sense of entitlement in a bit on occasion.

The suggestion that London’s ChemSex problem might be associated with a feeling of shame around sex is something that triggers a very angry response from some. I’d argue (not too loudly) that shame can play a part; having spent our childhoods absorbing cultural messages that the sex we crave, secretly under the duvet, is filthy, wrong and, yeah, shameful, can manifest itself as a thing that inhibits our ability to feel liberated, horny and abandoned when in bed with a lover. It can manifest itself as a craving for the disinhibition chems provide.

I love the liberties we fought for, and exercise them frequently. Let’s enjoy them, and keep up that fight. But in our defensiveness, let’s not lose the counterbalance; that intimacy is awesome, monogamy can still be a very cool choice (and not just a heteronormative concession). And let’s not deny that shame permeates our lives, despite our militant defenses and achievements; and let that knowledge heal the woes our community still endures.

• David Stuart is lead substance use advisor at Soho sexual health clinic 56 Dean Street, W1D 6AE. 
• www.davidstuart.org

Gods and Monsters was a captivating acid trip through the fissured workings of a fractured mind. James Whale, the once famous director of 1930s horror movie classic Frankenstein, now paints his days away in largely forgotten obscurity. But the aftermath of a stroke brings hidden-away memories back unbidden to his brain, embers sparked further into fire by the reawakening of his lust, courtesy of his handsome and muscle-ridden young gardener Clayton Boone. 

By Patrick Cash

The acting in this production is consistently good across the five-strong cast, with Ian Gelder by turns wickedly incorrigible and sympathetically poignant as Whale, Will Austin suitably brooding, likeable and peerlessly bubble-butted as Boone, and Lachele Carl infusing her fairly one-dimensional Mexican maid character with some spectrum of personality. Will Rastall and Joey Phillips showed great versatility, adapting both persona and accent for various vignettes that crack Athena-like from Whale’s memory and spill out across the stage.

Set design was mercurially fluid, a quick liquid delve from the codified reality of Whale’s Hollywood front room to the battlefields of the Somme, or a brain surgeon’s X-ray room, to the riveted inside of Whale’s head. The flow was achieved through ingenious use of projection, lighting and technical prowess, where the theatrical lines between subjectivity and objectivity sometimes shimmered and diluted across their consciousness.

My only criticism was that, in my opinion, the climactic scenes towards the end lacked a certain intensity required to achieve full pathos. As the actors roared and wrestled, a spark that had sizzled during their earlier tentatively exploring scenes appeared to have been doused. But the show I watched was shortly after opening night and it can only be expected that the emotional crux will heighten and deepen in richness with the run.

Ultimately, this production was suave, thoroughly engaging and slickly executed. Thoroughly recommended.

• The Southwark Playhouse, 77-85 Newington Causeway, Southwark, SE1 6BD
• Running until Saturday 7th March. £18 (£16 concs).
• www.southwarkplayhouse.co.uk / 020 7407 0234

With new venue The Imperial Arms exploding into West London QX just had to find out more about owners James Barnor and Nye Watkins and what’s in store!

Tell us about yourselves!
James, Managing Director, is an experienced professional/entrepreneur. Originally from Ghana, he is the son of a top Ghanian diplomat and statesman and his achivements before The Imperial Arms include the launch and subsequent sale of Illumium Perfume Inc, a fragance of which Kate Middleton wore on her wedding day!
Nye, Operations Director, has 20 years’ experience working in different styles of pubs across England and Wales, of which 15 years was spent in management.
Nye and Jimmy met six years ago at Bromptons and are both fun-loving people who don’t take life too seriously!

We’re excited to hear of a new venue in London – what does the Imperial Arms offer us?
The Imperial Arms is a mainstream bar and welcomes everyone. We are targeting a varied, open-minded client so if you want the ‘metro’ experience then this is the place to come.

Any entertainment or special nights we should look out for?
The current thinking of the Imperial is to resume Karaoke on Sundays where the winner gets £300. On Fridays we will be having an open-mic night, a Cocktail night on Mondays, and on Tuesdays its buy-one-get-one-free between 8pm and 9pm. On the week beginning the 4th of March we are beginning a quiz night. And it’s Happy Hour every Monday to Thursday between noon and 7pm where all pints are £3.20!

• The Imperial Arms is at 8 Lillie Road, SW6 1TU, open Monday-Thursday 7am-midnight, Friday & Saturday 7am-1am and Sunday 12noon-midnight.
• Their launch party is on Saturday 28th February with special guests and surprises! 

THE IMPERIAL ARMS

There’s a new boy in town and he’s beginning his party with a bang this weekend: his name’s The Imperial Arms! New owners Nye and Jimmy invite you all to their launch party of a pub that promises to give warm, welcoming friendliness and great quality to the gay scene, on the evening of Saturday 28th February. With special guest Dame Julie Paid from 7pm doing the rounds, it’s going to be a great night!

8 Lillie Road, SW6 ITU

WEST 5

On Friday 27th February at West 5 catch X Factor and West End star Lucie Jones on stage before your eyes! Lucie was on the X Factor Season 6 and famously voted off by the judges, saving Jedward in her stead. Since those days she’s forged herself an admirable West End careeer with roles include Cosette in Les Miserables, the We Will Rock You World Tour, American Psycho the Musical and more! £3 advance tickets, £5 on the door.

56 Pope’s Lane, Ealing, W5 4NB

THE QUEBEC

The Quebec is renowned as one of the most enjoyable gay institutions of London with its great gay scene ethos and friendly, welcoming smiles! You’re always guaranteed a good time and an entertainer from the gay scene’s sequinned cabaret constellation will be treading the boards at the weekend; this Sunday check out Tony Sinclair cracking the crowds up.

12 Old Quebec Street, W1H 7AF

NEW BLOOMSBURY SET

She’s been ruling over London’s gay scene longer than we’re inclined to comment. Oh yes, Dusty O is a prominent force on the city’s gay scene and has recently embraced a new era of theatricality having headlined Leicester Square Theatre’s panto season. Now, she brings her glam to Bloomsbury’s finest bar. Join Dusty and guest pianists and singers as they serenade you through Sunday with a ‘Musical Menagerie’ of delights. Doors open 4pm, showtime 6pm onwards.

76 Marchmont Street, Bloomsbury, WC1N 1AG

KU BAR

 On Friday 27th night down in one of the hottest basements in Soho, Ku Klub, the great man chasing apps Jack’d and Manhunt take over the party and get you hot under the collar from 10pm! £5 entry. Then on Saturday 28th it’s ‘Destination: Palm Springs’ from 8pm-3am, across all Ku venues, where you’re invited to dress white, with VJs and shot boys, competition and giveaways, plus guest DJ Anthony May.

30 Lisle Street, Chinatown, WC2H 7BA

27/02/15: G-A-Y CAMP ATTACK introduces ‘Life Before Rihanna & Beyonce’

There are now four rooms of music at G-A-Y Camp Attack! In Room 1 there’s 70s/80s/90s/2000s to 05; Room 2 sees 2004 to the present day; and Room 3 is ‘It’s Showtime’ with a chance to perform at 1am. The new boy on the block is Room 4 featuring all those classic RnB jams from years past with ‘Life Before Rihanna & Beyonce’… aka ‘Life Before RnB’ – get it?

Heaven, under the Arches, Villiers Street, Charing Cross, WC2N 6NG. 10.30pm-5am. Free entry wristbands available from G-A-Y Bar. 

27/02/15: LATINA CODE 

Exilio has been introducing Latin music and culture to the LGBT community since 1996. It’s a one-of-a-kind ‘Latin House Party’ and people come to Exilio to have fun, to dance to salsa, merengue, bachata, cumbia, Latin House and some commercial music, too. Exilio’s resident DJ G will be joined later their very own Miss Cupcake, the Queen of the Decks, who’ll be spinning dance and classic party floor-fillers, twisted remixes and anything to keep the red hot blood pumping until 3am! Arrive before 10.30pm to take advantage of the cheap drinks deals.

Labels, 23 Frith Street, Soho, W1D 4RR. 9pm-3am. £5 before 10pm, £8 after. 

27/02/15: A:M 

Every Friday night/Saturday morning your Saturday morning afterhours has been revolutionised to give you a party that’ll get you enjoying your liberty down the Vauxhall way all night long! This week, enjoy commercial house from Fabio Luigi and Terry Bryan, the turbocharged Deep South Soundsystem of Massimo Paramour, Paul Heron and Dmitry Strigun. Hosted by Louise Port with a door patrol of Ian Turner.

Protocol, 6a South Lambeth Place, Vauxhall, SW8 1SP. 11pm-11am. £3 before 1am with QX advert, £7 before 6am with QX advert, £12 others. 

28/02/15: G-A-Y ‘MEAN GIRL’ PROM

As part of National Student Pride, relive your favourite teen movie with a Mean Girls style school prom! Who will be crowned Prom King, Queen & Mean Girl? Just don’t do a Regina George and get mown down by a bus, it aint gonna win you no sympathy vote!

Heaven, under the Arches, Villiers Street, Charing Cross, WC2N 6NG. 10.30pm-5am. Discounted entry wristbands available from G-A-Y Bar.

28/02/15: SAVAGE

There’s a new Saturday weekly club night from the Sink the Pink lot in town, with pole-dancing trannies, and international DJs on rotation including Raf Daddy, Jonjo Jury, Josh You Are, Gaff-E, Severino plus more. If you’ve been to the venue of the Metropolis Strip Club before you know to expect: glorious fun, bizarre antics and hedonistic partying all night long!

Metropolis Strip Club, 235 Cambridge Heath Road, E2 9NN. 11pm-5am. £5.

28/02/15: SHADOW LOUNGE ‘SPEAKEASY PARTY’

Get your Gatsby out! It’s a night of roaring 1920’s at Soho’s most exclusive club. Host Johanna Londinium will be serving her finest flapper looks while DJs AttackAttackAttack and Andrew Elmore provide the tunes to have you doing the Charleston! Or maybe that’s just the sloe gin…

The Shadow Lounge, 5 Brewer St, W1F 0RF. 10pm-3am. £10.

28/02/15: TIK TOK – THE RITES OF SPRING 

Winter’s gone, Spring is here, the sun is warmer and the days are longer, come celebrate in the night at Barcode’s ‘Rites of Spring’! Helping to evoke the Spirit of Spring will be Borja Pena, Mattias Dabo, Chris Barker and Alex Georgiou with Raul Pony, La Pequena and Deborah Ombres.

Barcode, 69 Albert Embankment, Vauxhall, SE1 7TP. 9pm-super late. Free before 10pm, £8/10 after, special £6 with QX ADVERT before midnight

28/02/15: R & SHE

Are you looking for a little aphrodisiac this weekend? Wanna feel on Top of the World? QBoy, David Oh and Neil Prince are here to give you another tasty shot of R & She down at the aptly named Tipsy. They’ll be serving Brandy, Monica and every other Queen of the hip-hop game you can name. Get down there early, cuz this joint is jumpin’….er, jumpin’.

Tipsy, 20 Stoke Newington Road, N16 7XN. 9pm-3am. FREE before 10pm/£5 after.

28/02/15: STRAIGHT NASTY

Sick of pretending to enjoy po-faced house music every weekend? Straight Nasty is the unapologetic pop party for sissy boys and sassy girls, serving up shameless pop anthems from Holly Valance to Nicki Minaj, Geri Halliwell to J Lo, it’s a pristine selection of grimy and gorgeous pop that you can really sink your tits into…

Vogue Fabrics, 66 Stoke Newington Road, N16 7XB, 10pm-3am. Free before 11pm/£5 after.

28/02/15: THE GALA PARLOUR presents JIMMY SOMERVILLE 

For the closing party of Camden’s LGBT History Month 2015, The Gala Parlour presents Jimmy Somerville! Book your free tickets now for a true end of February treat with superstar Somerville, plus music and performance from the iconic Al Pillay, star of Channel 4’s ‘The Comic Strip Presents’ and ‘Eat the Rich’. Hosted by Sandra, the night features Ida Barr, Trudy Howson, Mzz Kimberley and tops DJs Jonathan Kemp, Sadie Lee and Alexander Price. Plus, prizes for the best historical outfit worn!

Conwat Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, WC1R 4RL. 7pm-late. Free.

28/02/15: TRANSISTER – THE SECOND CUMMING

Hosted by The Legend That Is Miss Stein, featuring DJs Chicken, Sven Jon and Nexus-K, Transister is a night for trans, queers, allies and admirers, safe exploration, socializing and dirty dance music. No admittance after midnight so get there early to make sure you get in past the queue to this sexy play dance space! Presented by the legendary Bright Daffodil.

The Resistance Gallery, 265 Poyser Street, Bethnal Green, E2 9RF. 9pm-3am. £10. 

12/03/15: G-A-Y PORN IDOL featuring KATIE HOPKINS

It’s the night everyone’s been chatting about! The Marmite of celebrity world, Katie Hopkins, is the special guest judge for the launch night of G-A-Y Porn Idol when it returns to Thursday nights at Heaven. Absolutely anyone can enter – just text 07789 553 868 or email info@g-a-y.co.uk to be a part of it. The heat winner nabs £100, the grand final winner walks away with £1000.

Heaven, under the Arches, Villiers Street, Charing Cross, WC2N 6NG. 10.30pm-5am. Discounted entry wristbands available from G-A-Y Bar. 

21/02/15: What a steamy hot night that was! Last Saturday, London’s gay scene saw the launch of BRÜT, a men-only club night for all kinds of men (from bears to twinks) who enjoy good quality music and good quality men.

The night took place at the Steel Yard, a brand new venue spread over three arches near Cannon Street station. UK house legends Terry Farley and Pete Heller were taking over the main room that kept everyone dancing until the early hours of Sunday morning. Room two was hosted by Handsome with Wes Baggaley, Nine-bob and Fitzgerald on the decks providing us with some of the freshest dance tracks. Overall, BRUT was a celebration of house music, raising the bar for the London gay scene. Most probably the hottest night since Crash!

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The Steelyard, 13-16 All Hallows Lane, EC4R 3UL
Words by The Soho Bitch Project
Photos by LuxxXer

21/02/15: Wow. So along we swished to Heaven for a night of huge show tunes and big West End hits as musical star Louise Dearman and friends took centre stage for last Saturday’s G-A-Y.

And when her friends include some of musical theatres mightiest talents, you know you’re in for a good time. Sharing the stage with the swoonsome threesome that is Ben Forster, Killian Donnelly and Ben Richards, that’s one ‘singing in the shower’ session we’d love to join in on. As they blasted their way through renditions of hits from classics like Rock of Ages and Dirty Dancing, we were literally having the time of our lives to ‘Time of My Life’. Of course, the biggest applause came for Louise herself as she belted out ‘Defying Gravity’ from Wicked – and deservedly so being the only actress to have played the roles of both Glinda and Elphaba. In a month that saw classic acts like Atomic Kitten and current pop darlings like Kelly Clarkson and Nick Jonas headline, this week showcased once more the true variety that G-A-Y is all about.

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Heaven, Villiers Street, WC2N 6NG
photos by cableimage.com

21/02/15: Well, award season is upon us and it’s the one you’ve all been waiting for!

No, not the Oscars sweetie – The Hookies. Saturday night saw the London leg of the gay escort awards final! Judges Saxon West (porn star), Baga Chipz (Porn Idol) and Anthony Gilét (QX/Cocktails & Cocktalk) were the three queens the contestants had to impress in order to win that trip to New York for the world final. The event was hosted by ‘Drag Queens Of London’ star and Supreme Fabulette Vicki Vivacious, who’d come dressed as one of the Jackson 5. She welcomed Gianluigi Volti, Justin King, Patrick Michaels and late-entry Russell to the stage to seduce the audience and judges. Gianluigi was packing more muscle than the Michelin man, while Patrick Michaels worked the Lycra like a Sunday afternoon chill out. Justin King was first to get starkers and Russell, well, he had the lowest price tag! So after much deliberation, Justin King and Gianluigi went through to the final two, but it was the bisexual beefcake Gianluigi that took the trophy; the judges prefer it when an escort doesn’t waste time with all that speaking English. It was a great night from Cruiz Concepts and KU Bar, with more eye-popping moments than last week’s EastEnders. We raise a glass to the ballsy contestants too!

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Ku Klub, 30 Lisle Street, Chinatown, WC2H 7BA
Words by Jackie Jockstrap
Photos by Joel Ryder

21/02/15: “Hiiiiiiiiiii!” (In that high pitched American twang) was the greeting I got as I walked in the Black Cap to sample the Madonna celebration night for the queen of pop’s new single.

The place was packed full of raving, screaming Madonna fans going wild for track after track of the Queen of Pop’s back catalogue. The Black Cap was simply Madonna heaven for a night. Johnny Kalifornia and Neil Prince Superstar Extraordinaire kept those Madonnalicious tunes spinning. The fun was hosted by the camp David Robson dressed as a matador, with performances from the incredible Virgin Xtravaganzah, a stunning Madonna mash up from Crystal Lubrikunt and a surprise guest spot by the multifaceted Myra DuBois, the night was complete. And the crowd reacted more like they were at a Madonna concert than a gay venue in Camden. Oh what a night! And yes was suitably sloshed by the end of it, thanks David.

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171 Camden High Street, NW1 7JY
Words and photos by Joel Ryder