London’s cabaret scene is one of the most thriving and diverse in the world, with new artists and shows constantly emerging. And it’s not just all happening at the weekend. Each night of the week there’s always something going on, catering to all tastes. Most of which is free entry or significantly less than a theatre ticket – perfect for these ‘times of austerity’ (and that way you have more to spend on shots). This week Jason Reid guides you through a selection of the best ongoing weeknight shows out there, from drag kings to drag legends via queer variety and showgirl glamour…

Monday

Life’s a drag

CellarDoor, Aldwych, Royal Opera House, WC2E 7DN
www.cellardoor.biz
9pm
Price Range: ££

One of London’s premier cocktail bars, this bijou basement space nestled at the Aldwych end of The Strand plays host to Topsie Redfern, Ginger Johnson, Michael Twaits and Cosmic every Monday (with each artist playing once a month) accompanied by the nimble-fingered Sarah Bodalbhai on the piano. If you want an intimate live music venue to kick back in, and a luscious cocktail menu to go to town on, away from the hustle and bustle of Soho, then CellarDoor is the place for you.

Tuesday

Bar Wotever

Royal Vauxhall Tavern, 372 Kennington Lane, Vauxhall SE11 5HY
www.vauxhalltavern.com
Doors 7pm, Show 8.30pm.
Price Range: £

One of the jewels of the cabaret scene! If you’ve never been to Bar Wotever, I implore you to go and experience this uniquely queertastic night at least once. Packed with traditional cabaret & burlesque, plus live music, performance art and spoken word, there’s a different theme/performers every week, based around highlighting and celebrating Queer culture and performance. Set up by Ingo Cando ten years ago, Bar Wotever is a welcoming and non-judgmental space for the Queer Community by the Queer Community.

See You Next Tuesday with Bette Rinse

Halfway to Heaven, 7 Duncannon Street, Charing Cross WC2N 4JF
www.halfway2heaven.net
9pm
Price Range: £

Bette Rinse (pictured) has been around as long as the dinosaurs but she’s still as great today as she was 165 million years ago. No two shows are ever the same, mostly because she goes off on the most hilarious tangents and rants. Expect traditional cabaret sing-alongs and heated debate in the weekly ‘Question Time’ section. There are often guests too, usually novice performers, who Bette likes to nurture and encourage. And then there’s the legendary Hannah of course – as much a fixture in the Centre Stage Bar as the various pictures that adorn every speck of wall-space available.

Wednesday

LoUis CYfer’s Wankered Wednesdays 

Admiral Duncan, 54 Old Compton Street W1D 4UD
www.facebook.com/1AdmiralDuncan
9.30pm
Price Range: £

This sassy, tequila swigging drag king has been resident here for over a year, but it was after winning last year’s Drag Idol UK competition that LoUis CYfer emerged proper, and was catapulted onto the performing circuit around the UK and America. Expect songs to make you strut like THE king, gender bending education, a friendly vibe and a heathy mix of all sorts in the audience.

The Dannii Dee Show

Freedom Bar, 66 Wardour Street W1F 0TA
www.freedombarsoho.com
11pm
Price Range: ££

Dannii Dee is a showgirl through and through. Flawless choreographed dance routines and masterful lip-syncing is on display every Wednesday night in the plush surroundings of Freedom’s downstairs bar. Having spent two years at the world famous Funny Girls in Blackpool before moving to London seeking fame and sequins, it’s safe to say she’s well and truly cut her teeth with the best, and has now come into her own at her spiritual London drag home.

Sandra  - The Hampstead Whore

Central Station, 37 Wharfdale Road, Kings Cross N1 9SD
www.centralstation.co.uk
11p

Price Range:

A night at one of Sandra’s shows is much like a night on the Heath: you’ll come home with a big smile on your face wondering where the time went. One of the true greats of the London drag cabaret scene, and an expert when it comes to improvising. Expect filthy banter, no-holds barred audience interaction and the odd song here and there. Hear me now!

Thursday

The City Shimmy

Proud Cabaret City, No.1 Mark Lane. EC3R 7AH
www.proudcabaretcity.com
Dinner 7-8pm, Show 8.30pm
Price Range: £££

Proud Cabaret City hosts a decadent evening of 1920’s speakeasy entertainment which will transport you to a world filled with beguiling burlesque and alluring cabaret, featuring a stellar cast. Perfect for special occasions/celebrations or if just fancy something ‘off-scene’ with a group of friends. Ticket includes a three course meal and full show.

The Jeff Kristian Show

Molly Moggs, 2 Old Compton Street W1D 4TA
www.jeffkristian.com
9pm
Price Range: £

Credited with being the longest concurrently running drag show in Soho history, Jeff Kristian has been performing at Molly Moggs for a whopping fourteen years. This is another diamond of a venue that most of us pass on our travels, situated at the Charing Cross Road end of Old Compton Street. What makes it especially unique is it’s clientele: kooky regulars, Soho characters, tourists, families, LGBT people. It really is a melting pot of London society, and every Thursday Jeff performs his two hour show to them all. Musically, anything from the last six decades is on the set list. A party venue that get’s very busy late at night, but with a warm and welcoming atmosphere, married together beautifully with the theatrical decor. Well, when you’re in the West End, darling…

Dylan Jones speaks with East London scenester Ola Awosika and drag performer Cairo to explore sexual attitudes towards black men on the London gay scene. 

You don’t need to look far to find controversial sexual attitudes to black men in the gay community. You just need to watch a bit of porn. Pornhub clips with titles like “two black thugs ruin skinny white boy’s ass” say it all. It might make you cum but it’s not exactly politically correct.

There’s even a website called Thughunter, where Aryan twinks parade around car parks and council estates, seducing ‘straight’ black lotharios. The homepage proudly displays the charming caption: “they’ll say no to taking it up the ass – but when you offer them a shit load of money, then you get their attention.” In one fell swoop black men are stereotyped as superficial, insincere and poor.

Racial clichés are a fairly common subgenre in gay porn; a black man being discovered robbing a house, and then proceeding to forcefully fuck their innocent white victim is a particularly offensive example. There’s also a shamelessly stereotypical selection of jungle themes, ghetto themes, prison themes…as you can see, I’ve done my research.

But does stereotyping matter in this context? It’s political incorrectness, but on a very superficial, purely sexual level. The same ridiculous profiling is given to other social groups. Scallies, sportswear, straight men – we’re all quick to shoot down the “masc” straight-acting ideology, but don’t pretend you’ve never been to brokestraightboys.com.

Elsewhere, daddy/son fantasies are getting increasingly popular and even hot gingers are now a thing, with Thomas Knights’ Red Hot 100 book appearing on coffee tables everywhere from Hoxton to Hampstead.

“I’m wary of men that ‘only date black’ too. I’m not your political statement or exotic experiment.”

The difference is context. Factors like hair colour or fashion sense are, for the most part, purely superficial. Race is a hugely significant socio-political issue in gay and straight communities alike, and probably always will be.

Ola Awosika is a visual merchandiser and East London scenester who’s had first-hand experience of exactly the kind of superficial stereotyping that still pervades the gay community.

“Black men are definitely objectified in the gay scene,” he says. “Our bodies are fetishised and sexualised. I feel as if some white gay men just want you fulfil the ‘thug’ stereotype they see in porn. I’m wary of men that ‘only date black’ too. I’m not your political statement or exotic experiment.

“A white gay male in the smoking area of a bar once said to me ‘you’re really hot for a black guy, in fact, the last guy I slept with was black.’ Why do white people think this is a compliment? Oh, so you sleep with black men? Let me just grab my jacket and let’s go back to yours so I can play out your ‘big black cock’ fantasies. Or not.”

In a recent survey by FS Magazine, 80% of black guys said they still experience racism on the scene, while 70% of white guys believed that all black men were well hung. Too often black men are categorised as hypersexual, hyper-masculine hunks, with massive egos and massive dicks to match. If people really believe that, it makes sense that they would fetishise black men; sadly, masculinity is often lauded in the gay community, and a 6’5 muscle-bound black guy could be perceived as the pinnacle of that.

Clearly, some people are just ignorant, rather than consciously racist, but that certainly doesn’t make it any better. You could even argue this scarily colonial lack of awareness only makes it worse.

“You only have to look at dating apps,” he continues. “They’re either rife with ‘No blacks or Asians’, dressing up racism as preference, or thirsty white gays screaming out for a ‘big thug dick.’

“Racism is so insidious that it impacts our dating choices. I find it funny that people deny this, especially when racism affects choices in government, in work, and in education. Why wouldn’t it alter our romantic decisions?”

“Not every black man is going to steal your wallet. But they may steal your heart.”

Cairo is a well-known drag and cabaret performer, and a major figure on the scene. As not only a person of colour but also someone whose sexual identity is fluid, Cairo is subjected to a unique spectrum of attitudes towards race, gender and sexuality. It’s telling that there’s still consistency with Ola’s experiences.

“Black men haven’t really been portrayed as anything but big dicked, chauvinistic fuck machines, a sentiment which upsets and confuses me,” says Cairo. “I know such a diverse cross section of black men with personalities which differ majorly, some with small genitals, some who are stupendously eloquent and some who are the most kind and gentle people I know.

“It seems that people aren’t interested in the hearts or heads of black men, only girth and length. We see on Grindr that people are allowed to express their preferences, masking their internal racism. If you are someone that says ‘No Blacks’, or ‘No Rice’, then question why. Why do you not find an ethnic minority attractive?”

Like Ola, Cairo touches on the subject of Grindr, highlighting people’s insensitivity, dismissiveness and lack of imagination on the app.

“Can’t you look past their skin colour or features, and realise that they are more than their heritage?” says Cairo. “You may like tall people, but who’s to say you won’t fall in love with a person shorter than you? Black men are still seen as less than others because people are so blinded by prejudice. Not every black man is going to steal your wallet. But they may steal your heart.”

The most distinct thing that both Ola and Cairo address is people’s seemingly inherent need for pigeonholing and generalisation. I was in a serious relationship with a mixed-race Ghanaian/British guy for around eighteen months. Perhaps wrongly, it never occurred to me to delve into the psychosexual implications of it all. I was surprised when my friends and colleagues decided to do it for me.

We’d be out in bars and whenever a black guy walked past, no matter their age, appearance or demeanour, I’d get a nudge and someone would say ‘there’s one for you Dylan.’

Suddenly, I was ‘into black guys’. I am attracted to black guys. I’m also attracted to white guys, Asian guys, middle-eastern guys, native-American guys…I could go on. I’m not into black guys, I’m into guys. And if they happen to be black, then great, whatever. But it’s interesting that even my friends, artistic and worldly as they profess to be, felt the need to define and generalise.

I think where I went wrong was to not consider it at all. My arrogance and bleeding heart liberal attitude prevented me from seeing that it was still an issue, and that it’s still something people mull over and make judgements on. As Ola says, like it or not racism is still an insidious part of our society and, unfortunately, they are still fetishised.

That said, it’s fine to be attracted to black men and to say that you are. You certainly shouldn’t be afraid to express yourself [insert Madonna dance move here], or to approach someone you’re attracted to. Just be respectful, be aware of how you conduct yourself and delete Thughunter from your browser bookmarks.

05/06/15: QX found ourselves fumbling in Farringdon as Fitladz got its rocks off with a super-sexy launch bash at a brand new location last Friday. 

Taking in a marathon twelve hours of sizzling shenanigans, the venue may have changed but the antics are just as hot as ever. Featuring two romping rooms of top tech-house and chilled-out lounging at ground level, plus X-rated action in the basement cruise zone, promoter Steve Darragh pulled in a misbehavin’ mob of tasty totty for non-stop intimate action through ‘til 6am. Highlights included a giddying soundtrack from the Fitladz resident DJ crew in the atmospheric front bar, that had us throwing funky shapes under the mirror balls into the small hours. Meanwhile there was endless relief and relaxation to be had watching steamy vids and exploring the cruise cabins downstairs as those lusty ladz kept the party pumpin’ right up to closing time. Fitladz East is open seven days a week – watch this space for special themed nights launching soon!

[Show as slideshow]

117 Charterhouse Street, Farringdon, EC1M 6AA
Words by Chris John
Photos by Chris Jepson

A vision in an acid lemon yellow trouser suit and sporting a new jet black bob, Carly Rae Jepsen (no relation!) rocked up at G-A-Y on Saturday fresh from Capital’s Summertime Ball with her full band and treated the packed club to five brilliant tracks.

The Canadian songstress proved she was no ordinary reality show fodder (she placed 3rd in 2007’s Canadian Idol season five) and reinforced the argument that it is actually better NOT to win these shows if you want a credible music career! Her G-A-Y set list included ‘Tonight I’m Getting Over You’, ‘Black Heart’ and ‘Gimme Love’ from her new album E·MO·TION, worldwide number one hit ‘Call Me Maybe’ and new single ‘I Really Like You’ and saw her flirtatiously bouncing around the stage in heels and having a ball. While clearly holding something back and declaring “I really really really really really really like you”, the audience had other ideas and went all the way, screaming back “we love you”. Hard to disagree.

[Show as slideshow]

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

04/06/15: In surely one of the biggest tragedies in drag herstory, last Monday’s grand finale of RuPaul’s Drag Race season 7 saw our favourite queen Ginger Minj lose out to fellow contestant Violet Chachki.

I mean, pur-lease, even John Waters thought Ginger should have won, what was Ru thinking? Anyhoo, as consolation The Minj jumped on a plane and hopped across the pond to follow in a long line of RPDR alumni and take her seat on the G-A-Y Porn Idol casting couch with regulars Baga Chipz and Mary Mac. After last week’s vodka fuelled she-nanigans, this week before proceedings kicked off Jeremy breathalysed Baga to make sure she was fit for purpose, or about as fit as she can be anyway, and it was on with the show. They say red heads have all the fun, and Ginger lived up to her name by snogging the face off not one but two of the contestants leaving her baby pink lippy smeared across their faces, but when it came to crunch they were all made to sashay away and it was audience member Glen who walked off with the £100 and Ginger’s comments echoing in his ears, “well done for living your dream like a whore”.

[Show as slideshow]

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

Following her sellout UK tour in 2014, Mari Wilson is back with a brand new show, Ready Steady Girls, featuring unique interpretations of the artists and songs that inspired her growing up, including iconic classics from Dusty Springfield, Petula Clark, Cilla Black, with a personal touch of theatricality along the way. Ahead of her gig at the Vauxhall Tavern, Mari spoke to Jason Reid about how she shaped the show, past chart success, Lady Gaga and appearing on Top of the Pops… 

Hey Mari, lovely to chat. Excited about the RVT gig?

I think it’s gonna be hilarious! The last time I was there was for a chat show with Scott Capurro. And when my agent suggested returning for Ready Steady Girls, I instantly thought it’d be perfect because the crowd would appreciate that genre of music. Although it’ll be my interpretations of their songs. Not the 60’s versions, because what’s the point? You could just go and buy their versions.

Or you could just go and see a tribute act…

Exactly. That’s the first thing I said to my collaborator, ‘I don’t want to be a tribute act’. And there’s a fine line between the two.

So give us a taster of the kind of twist you’ve put on the songs. 

Well, of course there’ll be live musicians with me, but also, some of the backing tracks are quite electronic. Just to make it a bit more contemporary really.

Sounds like it’ll be right up the Vauxhall Tavern’s street…

Yeah, I think they’ll get it. It’s funny isn’t it, that whole thing of doing covers? Because I played Dusty Springfield in a musical a few years ago, my name almost became synonymous with hers. And my thing has always been: I don’t want to be like Jane McDonald [laughs]. I mean, I’m sure she’s lovely, it’s just not my thing.

How do you think those artists in the show compare with the artists of today, such as Adele and Lady Gaga? 

I think Lady Gaga is extraordinary. You know what I really like about her? She has a sense of humour.

Yes, that’s true, she doesn’t take herself too seriously.

And she has every right to take herself seriously because she’s a great musician who knows her stuff. Yet she sends herself up all the time, and that’s something that Madonna doesn’t do: she DOES take herself too seriously and isn’t particularly funny. Even with her millions and great success, Gaga still comes across as endearing and someone that could be your friend. That’s something she has in common with the singers of yesteryear.

Let’s talk about your own big mainstream success, which happened in the mid 80’s. Most notably with the song “Just What I Always Wanted”. Do you ever tire of people asking you to sing it?

No. I don’t even get tired of people saying ‘where’s your beehive?’ If it wasn’t for that song and the other hit singles, then I probably wouldn’t have a career now, so I’m grateful. And plus it’s a great song.

“When my agent suggested returning for Ready Steady Girls, I instantly thought it’d be perfect because the crowd would appreciate that genre of music”

Will you be singing it at this show?

Oh yeah!

Right, a couple of quick-fire questions to finish; as an artist, what’s your biggest fear?

Playing to an empty room.

If you could relive one year, which would you choose? 

1981, because it was the build-up to when I broke through. And that’s always the most exciting part.

What one thing would you change about the modern music industry? 

NO auto tune.

Would you ever do an X Factor/Britain’s Got Talent type show?

No. Didn’t take me long to answer that one. [laughs].

What’s been the happiest ‘wow moment’ of your career? 

Probably my first time on Top of the Pops. That’s something I’d wanted to do since I was a child watching at home. Just amazing!

• Mari Wilson’s Ready Steady Girls is at the Vauxhall Tavern on Thursday 18th June, doors 7pm, show 8pm. Tickets start from £15 at www.vauxhalltavern.com

Get your teeth into this! Meat Magazine are launching their seventeenth issue at the RVT. Meat is a super-trendy cult gay zine, with lovely thick matte pages full of lovely thick-thighed hairy men.

No smooth, homogenous Bel Ami boys here. Twinks in Tuscany? No THANKYOU. It’s all about otters in Old Street babes. Meat pay homage to the sort of man you might wake up next to after a particularly hard night out at Chicken Cottage. These men have PROPER jobs. They’re not visual merchandisers at the Oxford Street branch of Topshop, they fucking BUILT the Oxford Street branch of Topshop. With their big, bare, calloused hands. Oooft.
But everyone deserves a thick juicy slice of meat, whether you’re a shrivelled little Lidl’s wiener, an ethically farmed Cumberland sausage from Belsize Park Budgens, or even a vegetarian Quorn banger!
So get down to the good old RVT, you meatpackers. You can pick up a free copy of the magazine, and a free Meat tee! Plus a great selection of synth, Sambuca and sausage. In the words of Soho slag Baga Chipz; “I’ll batter your sausage for 80p, and I love to be covered in daddy’s sauce!”
As well as all that, DOUCHE BAG’s Michael Kelly will be DJing and Harry Clayton-Wright will be hosting. What a sausage fest!

• Meat Seventeen is at the Royal Vauxhall Taver n (372 Kennington Lane, SE11 5HY) on Friday 12th June, 10:30pm-4am. £5.

Leona Lewis has had enough. She’s taken her amazing vocal range and song-writing talents away from Simon Cowell’s Syco and hotfooted it over to a new label, Island Records, where she’s released new single “Fire Under My Feet”.

With a corker of a show planned for this Saturday at G-A-Y, James Egan decided to have a serious chat with the original X Factor songbird about her big career shakeup, her views on animal rights and er… her drag doppelganger, Leona Lewisham.

“Fire Under My Feet” is a bit of a stomper! You’re sounding very confident and empowered. 

Thank you! I was inspired to write it because I wanted to get myself out of a situation, get myself motivated to do something different and take things into my own hands. To write a song that would motivate myself and be motivational to other people.

It’s definitely the kind of song you could put on your iPod and strut along Old Compton Street to!

[Laughs] Yeah, it’s got that energy. A lot of people have said it feels very earthy and…

Uplifting?

Yeah, exactly!

You were with Simon Cowell’s label Syco for seven years, what prompted the decision to part ways with them last year?

It was quite hard to leave because I’d built a lot of relationships there and change can be scary, but I was really prompted to leave on around my fourth studio album, when they wanted me to do an album that wasn’t me. It was going to be a covers album and I just didn’t want to go down that route. That prompted me to go and find a different label. In the meantime I was already getting the album together. When I found Island [Records] I already had the first part of the album finished. I went in and played it, they really liked it and were really supportive. So I signed to them!

With Island Records now, is it different to working with Syco?

With my other records, a lot of them were writing with a lot of different people. At the time I really enjoyed that, but this time I had a lot of subject matter to draw from and I needed it to be consistent. That’s why I chose to do the record with Toby Gad, who’s probably one of the best producers and songwriters in the world. I thought it was important to work with just one person so the message didn’t get lost.

Simon Cowell tweeted you congratulations on your deal with Island and also credited you with putting X Factor on the map, so I’m assuming you two are still on good terms?

Yeah, we’re all good. Simon, at the beginning, helped me so much. I definitely owe him a lot for that. It’s important to me to keep a good relationship with him, but at the same time I needed to do things for myself.

Tell me about the upcoming album, I Am.

There’s the title track, “I Am” which I did with Toby Gad and Ed White, it’s got beautiful strings and a nod to Massive Attack. I titled the album I Am because I felt like it was a very strong affirmation and I’ve really had to use a lot of those in the past to help get myself into a better place. There’s a song called “Ladders” which I love, about the highs and lows I’ve experienced in the past. About being thankful for those moments because I can take those lows and make them into something positive, using it to inspire my writing. There’s also a song called “You Knew Me When” which was written by Diane Warren, it’s the only song I didn’t write on the album.

It’s worth not writing one to have a Diane Warren song though!

Yeah, it is definitely worth it!

It sounds like it’s going to be a very honest record.

Yeah, it’s very real. It’s just me and people can take what they will from it.

You’re a vegetarian and an animal welfare campaigner. You famously turned down the invitation to open the Harrods sale due to the fact that they stock fur. When did you develop an interest in animal rights?

I remember going to the West End at a really young age and seeing these awful pictures of animals being tested on, with people trying to get you to sign petitions for laboratory testing to end. Seeing those images and being quite young, it was literally burned into my brain. It was awful and very graphic. I was already a vegetarian but after that I really got into animal rights, because to me the thing that needs to change is the law. I love PETA and those organisations, but I feel like the best thing is to change laws and build relationships with people in order to do so. I also think it’s important to educate people, because at the end of the day, it’s about people being actually aware about animal cruelty.

People can’t change if they don’t understand.

Exactly, I don’t bash people for eating meat because I really think it’s just down to mis-education. People are just not aware, so I just try to bring about as much awareness as possible. I feel like the more extreme campaigners have their place too, because those more extreme moves are what people see, red paint thrown on coats and such, but to me that is also a bit… violent and I don’t condone that. I feel like there’s a middle ground we need to find and that would be going and sitting with different politicians and talking to them about changing laws.

On a lighter note, you’ve also received the ultimate accolade from the gay community: a drag queen named herself after you! Have you seen any of Leona Lewisham’s videos?

[SCREAMS] LEONA LEWISHAM!? No! That is so amazing!

“Leona Lewis is gonna duet with Leona Lewisham!”

She’s on YouTube, look her up!

Oh my GOD. That’s amazing, I’m gonna look that up now! Leona Lewis is gonna duet with Leona Lewisham!

You sang the theme to James Cameron’s Avatar. It must be quite surreal singing the theme tune to one of the biggest films of all time.

Yeah, I was contacted by James Cameron- oh my god [laughs] sorry, we’re just looking up Leona Lewisham. We’re still on that! Oh my God… Sorry!

Never mind! Back to “Fire Under my Feet”, you performed it at the Palladium for the first time, how did that feel? How did the audience respond?

Really well, they were all clapping along. I don’t think they knew what to expect at first, so when the beat kicked in they were all like “Oh! Okay, yeah! We can jam along to this!”

Got them up out of their seats?

And tapping their feet!

Finally, what are you most looking forward to about your performance at G-A-Y on the 13th?

You know what, it’s so cool because you can literally do what you want. The kitchen sink and everything else in the kitchen can be thrown in! It’s fun and lighthearted, that’s what I love about it. I just get to have playtime. I’m gonna have dancers and there’s will be water involved! It’s gonna be big.

• Leona Lewis is at G-A-Y @ Heaven (Under the Arches, Villiers Street, Charing Cross, WC2N 6NG) on Saturday 13th June, 11pm-5am. Discount entry wristbands available at G-A-Y Bar.

• Leona’s new single, Fire Under My Feet’ is available on iTunes now.

If you’ve finally had enough of queer culture, if you’re bored of having to think all the time and if you’re still looking for some closure from that election result, then it’s probably worth checking out Bourgeois & Maurice and David Hoyle’s collaborative show, Middle of the Road at the Soho Theatre.

A celebration of all things bland and popular, it’s a sarcastic attack on the mainstream, a musical exploration of what it means to be beige and a brilliantly devised takedown of everyone from Kim Kardashian to that cheating mutt from Britain’s Got Talent. Even the really, really, really lovely Princess Charlotte is a target.

The show opens with David Hoyle’s keynote speech, delivered with all the slickness of an abstract TED talk from an Apple executive. Among other things we’re told to not ask questions and not think too much. With Hoyle at the reigns, it’s a tempting offer.

The musical numbers throughout are irresistible; everyone from shy tories, the commentariat, and anyone who just can’t resist giving you their opinion comes under fire from the trio’s acerbic, sardonic wit. The angry ode to the world of comment sections and Twitter is particularly hilarious for anyone who’s spent time in either of those tedious echo chambers.

As you would expect, trying to define the show is a nightmare. It’s a mishmash of genres and set pieces; there’s portraiture, there’s a chat show, there’s numerous costume changes and at one point we’re literally watching paint dry (and cheering it on too). But whatever the trio are turning their hand at the performance remains hilarious and thoughtful throughout.

Their decision to appeal to the conventional may have been the sarcastic premise for a deliciously cynical show, but anyone capable of making Coldplay, James Blunt and Mumford and Sons interesting deserves to go mainstream.

• Soho Theatre, 21 Dean Street, London W1D 3NE

Box Office: 020 7478 0100 / Ends 13th June

www.sohotheatre.com

Pride Arts Festival 

Next week is London’s Pride Week! Kylie’s going to be strutting around Hyde Park in hot pants (not just randomly, she is doing a gig there). And of course there’s the Pride Parade, and a host of performers on the Trafalgar Square stage, including Blue and Sandy & Sandra from Gogglebox (!).

As well as all that, the Pride Arts Festival will hit London in a sparkling glitter cannon explosion of arresting artistry. With more than 25 events over the course of the week, at a host of venues across the city, it’ll have more paint, sequins, impromptu performances and drama than a chillout at Ke$ha’s house.

There’s a fancy dress Sound of Music Sing-A-Long at L’Escargot (Camp with a capital “C”), a special screening of Pride (pictured) at Clapham Picturehouse, piano-crooning drag queen Vanity von Glow at the ambient Phoenix Artists Club, lesbian indie flick Magda’s Lesbian Lover at Raindance Film Centre, and Ten One Night Stands (we can relate to that) which is a collection of art works portraying various brief trysts and fanciful flings.

There’s more too; orchestral performances, introspective talks, family stuff with potato painting and things for kids, emotive plays, readings, debates and quizzes. Downing a Red Stripe and crunching through the rubble on Frith Street hand-in-hand with someone called Benji is all well and good, but sometimes it’s nice to get a bit of culture at Pride, innit?  Pride Arts Festival runs from 21st – 28th June at a selection of venues across London.

Parade

Of course the centrepiece of the Pride in London celebrations is the parade, which takes over the city in a defiant exhibition of equality. Very few things can succeed in making the busiest capital in Europe grind to a halt, but the parade achieves it, glow sticks, klaxons and all! The theme for this year is Pride Heroes, in homage to individuals who have gone above and beyond for the LGBT community in the last year. Think Ian McKellen riding in a chariot (that’s chariot, not Chariots). In fact he usually makes an appearance at the parade, so that may not be far from the truth. There’s even an award for the best pride hero costume, so dust off that Batman leotard. The parade leaves Baker Street at 1pm, finishing up at Whitehall at around 4:30pm.

Cabaret

The Pride Cabaret stage on Wardour Street will be playing host to all manner of dragtastic campery. Feather boas will be flung, songs will be sung, and sequins will be scattered as a salacious selection of entertainers exhibit their feminine (or in some cases masculine) wiles. Among the tantalising talent on offer will be celibate (pah!) sensation Virgin Extravaganzah, sparkling show pony Topsie Redfern (pictured) and the internationally ignored, unfashionably late, viciously vulgar Vanity von Glow. There will also be a selection of finalists from talent competition Pride’s Got Talent, the final of which was filmed for ITV and judged by none other than Sinitta! Can’t argue with that. Things kick off at 1pm and finish around 7pm.

Women’s Stage 

ULTIMATE Girl Power at the Women’s stage this Pride; whether you’re a lady-loving lady, a man-loving lady, a lady who used to be a man, or just a man who ended up there by accident, there’s plenty of fun to be had! Example number one; there’s a lesbian band The Dykeness! Their Facebook page describes their genre as “intergalactic feminist cock rock”. HOW CAN YOU SAY NO TO THAT?! As well as that, there’s dashing DJ Sandra Davenport (pictured), X Factor contestant Charley Monroe and a special speech by Pride in London director Alison Camps (insert “camp” jokes here). The women’s stage is located on Dean Street, with festivities starting at 1pm and wrapping up at 7:30pm.

Pride in the Park

Kick back after the weekend’s madness with the chilled and salubrious (well, salubrious might be a stretch) Pride in the Park! It’s a mini festival in its own right, with a kaleidoscopic rainbow of activities, performances, food and drink to enjoy throughout the day. A major part of the event will revolve around UK Black Pride, who are putting on a stellar line-up of stage acts and stalls. The celebration of African, Asian, Arab and Caribbean LGBT people is always of a formidable standard, and everyone is welcome. As well as that there’s the presentation of the inaugural Pride in London Parade Awards. Pride in the Park will take place in Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens (not as sleazy as the name suggests) from 1pm.

Stereo Kicks, the cutest musical mob since Bugsy Malone, will be swarming the stage this weekend at G-A-Y. We caught up with mono-Kick Tom Mann to chat about X Factor judges, band best friends and why he’d avoid Sharon Osbourne!

Hey Tom! Tell me about the new single, ‘Love Me So’, you wrote it right?

Yeah, I wrote the song a while back, not necessarily with Stereo Kicks in mind but the boys really liked it. It’s easier writing our own songs because I know what everyone in the group likes, so rather than having a song from the label that a couple of people need convincing on, you can write something that fits everyone’s tastes.

That’s quite a task with so many of you though! It must be like Cheaper By the Dozen, do you all travel around in a van?

At the start we had a minibus and it was horrific. It was just a mess. Now we have a sleeper bus and it’s much easier. Even when it’s chaotic though, I always say I’d much rather be doing this with a group of friends than by myself.

A lot of solo artists say that travelling by themselves is really lonely.

Yeah, I mean obviously you have your road managers and drivers but those are more professional relationships. With a band I’ve got loads of other guys to talk to.

Yeah, it’s not even like a three-piece band where you’ll be sick of each other in a week’s time, you have quite a lot of friends to choose from.

Exactly, everybody’s got their little groups within the band. Not in a bad way, it’s just who you naturally connect with more, your best friends within the group. It’s great. Even when they’re all screaming and shouting, doing your head in, I’d still prefer this than being alone.

You guys were originally managed by Louis Walsh but you parted ways earlier this year. Tell me about that.

Well, technically we weren’t managed by him, but he was our mentor through the show. That’s really his only involvement. He took us through the shows and then that was it. Not much else.

So pretty hands off!

Pretty much. We already had a manager and we were doing our own thing.

You’re playing G-A-Y this weekend and you’ve got a pretty big gay fanbase, how do you feel about that?

You know, we haven’t had the chance to interact with them that much yet. But we pretty much love anyone who loves us, so they’re great! We performed at G-A-Y before, just after we came off X-Factor. We’re really looking forward to going back. It’s a great energy and vibe.

The new X-Factor judging line-up was announced recently: Cheryl, Simon Cowell, Nick Grimshaw and Rita Ora. What do you think of that?

I think that’s a pretty good line-up. Nick Grimshaw is the face of Radio One and Rita Ora was good on The Voice. Pretty fiery and opinionated. Obviously they’re trying to revamp the show and go a bit younger. That should work.

Personally I will miss Mel B; her and Cheryl together was the best.

Yeah, where is Mel B? She was lovely to us. I feel like she just disappeared.

“Even when it’s chaotic though, I always says I’d much rather be doing this with a group of friends than by myself.”

Let’s play a quick game of SNOG, MARRY, AVOID.

You’re going to get me into trouble!

Probably! Britney, Christina, Jessica Simpson?

Who do you choose out of that? I’d snog Christina, I’ve always had kind of a thing for her, marry Jessica Simpson and avoid Britney. I’m a pretty simple guy, I don’t need that kind of hassle. Britney is drama.

Leona Lewis, Alexandra Burke or Rylan?

I love Rylan. I can’t avoid him! I’d marry Rylan, snog Leona and avoid Alexandra Burke.

Cheryl Cole, Nicole Scherzinger, or Sharon Osbourne?

If I avoid Sharon she’s gonna kill me.

She won’t be happy. I’ve seen her chase people with buckets of water.

Oh my god. She is but…snog Nicole, marry Cheryl, avoid Sharon!

She’ll be coming for you now.

Oh god! Sorry Sharon!

• Stereo Kicks are at G-A-Y @ Heaven (Under the Arches, Villiers Street, Charing Cross, WC2N 6NG) on Saturday 20th June, 11pm-5am. Discount entry wristbands available at G-A-Y Bar.

Squatters reopened Camden’s beloved Black Cap last Saturday, bringing one last eclectic night of performances to its historic stage. Dubbed as unofficial, unsanctioned and unapproved, Chris Godfrey spoke with the event’s organisers and carousers.

In an act of delicious insubordination, the Black Cap welcomed patrons once again last Saturday night, as squatters occupying the building briefly reopened the pub for business. A colossal middle finger to property developers, private landlords and an increasingly beige London, it was a night of queer cabaret and anarchist poetry, celebration and defiance – all brought to you by the Camden Queer Punx. No corporate sponsorship necessary.

For over a week now the dozen or so strong group have been occupying the space, hoping their presence will help publicise the venue’s struggle and apply pressure on those responsible for it’s current demise.

“We’re just locals living in the area and identify as queer and punk,” says George, one of the squatters occupying the building. “We figure this is two parts of Camden which are getting eroded by the gentrification of the area. There’s a real need, an urgent need, for spaces not only to live but to use as community hubs as well.

“There are examples of these kind of occupations helping to reopen places. The hope is we’re generating a lot of press attention and then reinvigorating the campaign through occupying, which brings more pressure on the developers and Camden council to maintain it as an LGBT cabaret venue.”

The Cap had already fallen into a state of disrepair by the time the squatters moved in. The lights had stopped working, many of the venue’s fixtures had already been stripped, while black sacks lined the floor, filled with broken frames and indeterminate refuse leftover from the pub’s hasty gutting.

But since last Monday, squatters and old patrons of the Cap worked together to pump new life into the old girl’s veins, dragging it out of morbid darkness back into vivacious glory, ready for its envoi.

It was a valiant effort. Disco balls hung from the ceiling, red neon glow sticks lined the skirting and the now working again spotlight illuminated the stage.  The floors were cleared, bar restocked and decorated, while two rainbow flags were proudly draped form the wall, flanking that of a London anti-fascist banner. Even the screens above the bar were brought back to life, playing the same ambiguous three-minute clip of Edward Dildohands on repeat.

The night, carefully ‘advertised’ through social media and word-of-mouth, attracted over a hundred revellers, most of them old patrons of the Cap, keen for one last soiree. “It’s just nice to be back inside,” says Karen. “We were here the Friday before it closed and we were gonna come on the Sunday…and then it was closed. Money before people I’m afraid isn’t it. That’s why we’re here tonight: to support.”

With the safety of the 200-year-old venue paramount, organisers kept the doors bolted to avoid overcrowding (and any unwanted drop-ins from the local constabulary). But even with this pseudo closed-door policy it was likely the most inclusive private party in London – just as you’d expect from the Cap.

“The last two years we’d been regular and being a tranny, point is, you’re so welcome,” says Louise, a regular since 1992. “I swear to God we haven’t been welcome anywhere like this have we? I swear. Nowhere. You don’t have to be gay you don’t have to be lesbian. Everybody’s welcome. And that’s the Black Cap, that’s what it’s all about.”

The show itself was as diverse as you’d expect from the Cap, with the usual mix of drag acts and cabaret, as well as performances from the BDSM community and spoken word artists. There was even room for a spate of anarchist poetry; it may not have been the Cap’s traditional serving, but its raw aggression and cutting rhetoric aimed at the usual suspects – the 1%, exploitative developers, capitalism – resonated with the crowd, many still in a state of disbelief and despondency that the venue remains closed (legally, at least).

“What’s most upsetting about it is we are losing queer history when these buildings go,” says Jill, who’d been coming to the Cap since the eighties. “You still now get young queer people wanting to know queer history and these buildings hold queer history. I came here as a 20-year-old in the eighties and there were older gay people here, queer people, that gave me a sense of history and that I belong somewhere to a culture.

“I learnt a lot about my queer history from places like this and I think that’s really important that you don’t lose that, that young people that are coming into the queer nights. I think it’s quite depressing. These are really important buildings.”

The night drew to a close with a cabaret performance from Lucy McCormac and some naked crowd surfing. It was a fitting finale to a successful night, but the organisers are hoping that it won’t be the last bout of nude flesh shamelessly displayed in the confines of the Cap.

“We would love for it to become a regular thing,” says George of the Camden Queer Punx. “We have been served papers already, so we’re already in the legal process, so it’s unlikely we will be here much longer because the Bailiffs are on their way in a couple of weeks. But ideally, yes, we would love for it to become a regular thing and for people in the community to come down and use it.

“We’re very keen to keep it to the community so we can protect our space and protect each other. We’ve had various offers of people wanting to put on plays that were set in the back cap, it was just very short notice for a lot of people but a lot of them have shown their support.”

When the Camden Queer Punx are inevitably removed from the premises, the fabled pub will once again slip into darkness. But whether Saturday night was the first in a sequence of similar events, a defiant call-to-arms against it’s closure and catalyst for further action, or simply an epilogue in the venue’s rich history, the Black Cap finally got the send off it deserved – one Mother Black Cap herself would have been proud of.

UK Black Pride will be celebrating its tenth festival this year. Chris Godfrey speaks with the carnival’s director, Phyll Opoku-Gyimah, about why it’s still such an important event in the LGBT calendar.

Hey Phyll, how is preparation going for UK Black Pride 2015?

You know what, it’s always exciting because you get so many people from the community emailing saying they want to perform, they want to act, they want to do some spoken word, they want to volunteer. And this year we’ve had quite a number of lone people say they want to come but it’ll be their first pride and they don’t want to be by themselves.

So this is great! We’ve got them helping and staffing the stall for Stonewall, or working with St Mungo’s just so their journey in terms of their very first pride is one that feels safe to them, where they don’t feel isolated, and one where it’s exciting and they can have a shared commonality with others who they wouldn’t have necessarily met.

For someone who’s never been before it will feel like a place they’ve been before because everybody is so welcoming, there’s no drama, there’s lot’s of excitement, great food and drink (if they do drink) and entertainment in abundance. But importantly they have the feel of family where they won’t feel lonely.

This year marks a decade from the first event, how have things changed?

Well, there will be more people for a start! There’s more love and passion and drive for people to come together to come collectively to do more. We’ve noticed over the years more people have bought into the idea that there should be a space for BME people to celebrate their achievements and their friends. So let’s get behind it and support it. Because we understand that solidarity is important. It’s about learning and if we don’t learn then we don’t grow. And that’s probably what will be the difference.

Why do you think there’s been this surge in popularity?

When we first started people were like: ‘oh my god, how bloody dare you have a black pride, that’s really racist’. When clearly I can’t be racist! But I think that where we’ve got the next generation coming up, they’re really free to be who they want to be in comparison to the times when I was coming out.

There’s more of a space for people to be out, without fear of major discrimination. Don’t get me wrong I’m not being complacent, there’s still a lot of discrimination that goes out on towards the LGBT community, but there’s also a lot of homophobia and Islamaphobia for people that carry those different intersections of who they are.

Speaking of which, what did you make of the recent research by FS Magazine which looked at prejudicial attitudes on the gay scene?

Well, I skim-read it but having spoken to some of the guys in our community they said it’s true, it’s out there. Some have said they’ve always had a good time when they’ve gone out and never had any problems. But I think that may be few and far between. I think a lot of BME men have experienced real stereotypes and stigmas around who they are.

There’s a reason why UK Black Pride exists, there’s a reason why we have self organised groups that support BME gay men. And if we didn’t have those groups it would mean we’re living in an ideal world. So there needs to be a space to talk about gay people who may be disabled, gay people who may be BME, or women BME who are suffering certain forms of discrimination out there. Even within our community where we claim to understand marginalisation.

We must never try to out-trump each other with our disadvantage within society at large. But it’s important we bring our whole, true authentic self to the table when we talk about what we need and what our aspirations are. Maybe one day there won’t be a need for a Black Pride, but until then we’re going to continue growing and growing.

So how have you grown and what have you learnt in your time with UK Black Pride?

That I’ve aged! I think I’ve learnt that every individual is absolutely instrumental in making UK Black Pride successful. I’ve learnt tonnes about the queer community, I’ve learnt that it’s important that we have allies, that we’re not talking to ourselves, that we’re working side-by-side with our white brothers and sisters who in turn will help us challenge any form of racism and discrimination that affects different groups of people.

I love looking around on the day when everyone’s dancing, eating food, sharing space, networking or forming relationships, which will last for two minutes, two years or a lifetime. Last year on stage we had a rabbi, an imam, a Christian, an atheist and a Buddhist and they led the one-minute silence for all the people we had lost here and abroad due to LGBT discrimination. To see that on stage was powerful to me.

• UK Black Pride is a free-entry event and will be held on Sunday 28th June in South London’s Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens. 

The ultimate after-hours party, Beyond, is moving to a new home at the Ministry of Sound. Quite frankly, we can’t think of a more perfect place for a brand that takes music selection so seriously. We caught up with promoter Nadim Auon to find out what’s in store at the Ministry ….and Beyond

So Nadim, what prompted the move to Ministry?

Well, as you may know we took over Ministry of Sound over Halloween last year for the first Beyond event and it was epic. We followed it up with two exponentially more successful events to the point where the club almost sold out over As One… an after hours! That’s when we knew we were onto something special.

What have you got in store for us? 

Besides an updated music policy, special guests and a huge investment in diversifying the entertainment we will also have crossover promoters guesting rooms on a weekly basis.

With Pride being the biggest night of the year, is there anything extra special planned?

The king of after-hours, Pagano is back for what will no doubt be THE event of the week. Also, the Baby Box will be hosted by Heir – this is an extremely cool brand that’s done events at The Nest and XOYO – it will be insane!

Will anything change with the move to Ministry?

The opening time will change to 5:30am. There’s no shame in waking up to come out for a Sunday boogie to this one! All I can say is the vibes we get at Beyond @ Ministry are SO positive, it’s reminiscent of London circa ’07! Good times

What are you looking forward to most about the future of Beyond?

The move to Ministry is just the start – lets put it that way. I can’t tell you too much but expect our incredible London and international residents to get a whole lot more well-known on the international house music scene.

Five Things We Love About Beyond

1.It’s probably the only afterparty you attend without feeling guilty:

No begging a friend to ask the host if it’s ok, no limits on the mates who can come, no hovering around outside the club to see what everyone else is doing. Stroll up, check your coat and strut on in. What awaits is much better than any bedsit in Oval could hope to be.

2. The boys are, well, Beyond!

The man-candy pedigree in Beyond truly lives up to the name. From the onstage dancers gyrating in all manner of sexy costumes to the curiously cute clientele, it’s no wonder your sunglasses are steaming up. Even if you ARE wearing them inside.

3. The music is even better

You don’t get the Ministry’s stamp of approval with a few ropey podcasts played off your mate’s iPhone. This is world-class aural pleasure, with the biggest names in music serving you sonic sensations you won’t hear anywhere else. From homegrown talent like Fat Tony and Sam DMS, to international stars like Mickey Friedmann, Gonzalo Rivas and more, it’s the ultimate in musical magnificence.

4. It’s more fun than Church on a Sunday morning

If we’re given a choice between listening to the vicar’s wife squawk her way through “All Things Bright and Beautiful” and rubbing up against a host of hunky men on a dance floor on a Sunday morning, well, we know what we’re doing. Who needs the Kingdom of the Lord when we have the Ministry of Sound anyway? If we’re all going to Hell because of it, then it looks set to be quite a party.

5. Nobody is going to hang around awkwardly afterward

There’s nothing more uncomfortable than someone outstaying their welcome and after parties tend to be a breeding ground for blokes who just want to shore up on your couch and stay there for DAYS. But at Beyond, once the party’s over, you’re out the door, into a cab, looking fab and on your way. Where you go next though? Well, depends how good you looked on the dance floor, we’re guessing.

• Beyond is at Ministry of Sound (103 Gaunt Street, Elephant and Castle, SE1 6DP) every Sunday, 5.30am (Sunday morning)-late. 

Every year it’s the same. Winter is awful. Spring is awful and wet and cold but everyone is really surprised, despite it being like that EVERY YEAR. Summer eventually rolls around and after weeks of white skies and middling temperatures, it finally starts to pick up a few days of warmth. Everyone heads to Topman for luridly coloured hot pants, drinks cider in Soho Square and next thing you know, it’s Pride again.

Now Pride is, of course, a hugely important event for visibility, awareness, fostering a feeling of community and showing the world that London is a safe place for LGBTQ people.

HOWEVER. Pride is also a MINEFIELD of people you thought you’d never have to see again in your life. Every maggot you’ve ever met will be crawling out of the woodwork today and there’s not a thing you can do to stop it. Here are some examples of the characters you may have the misfortune to meet and how to avoid such situations.

SHITE-RELATED EMBRRASSMENTS

Everyone’s got one. Like the guy who’s sink you blocked whilst trying to douche in the downstairs loo. You bolted from the house, ignored his texts and now he’s standing directly opposite from you in a pair of white chinos and espadrilles, sipping a cherry VK and laughing to his mates. Probably about the boy who left chunks of faeces on his facial cleanser.

PRIDE PRO-TIP: Don’t douche in sinks. They are not equipped for heavier waste and are also not very accommodating.

THAT GIRL FROM WORK

Another person you will almost undoubtedly run into at a Pride event is that girl from work. That girl from work is alright when you’re both stuck folding down merino wool jumpers at closedown. She’s alright on the staff night out when she says she watches Bad Girls Club too. She is not alright when she bowls up to you amid the crushed cups of Old Compton street and declares you to be her gay best friend, introduces you to her fifteen other girlfriends all wearing a selection of shutter shades and whistles, then follows you around like a lost gosling for the rest of the night, getting you turned away from three after parties in the process.

PRIDE PRO-TIP: Go on the dole to avoid awkward interactions with future co-workers. The dole is actually really great. It’s like being on a self-catering holiday to Bognor. Forever.

EXES

Then there are the exes. Because of course the best thing that could happen while you’re drunkenly swaying around like an ear of corn in the wind to ‘Born This Way’, is to run into the person who told you they’d love you forever and then proceeded to fingerbang twinks at every chillout within the city limits. How wonderful it is to politely say hello, then start “reminiscing”, then start picking open old scabs, before furiously hurling your beaker of party punch right into their SMUG VENEER-FILLED FACE YOU CHEATING SCUM.

PRIDE PRO-TIP: Six gay men a year break a finger during unsupervised fingerbang sessions. Always tell a friend what you are doing and have them accompany you to the fingerbang.

THE CRUSH

Of course, Pride wouldn’t be complete without a cameo from the current object of your affection. This will always coincide with the desperately inebriated moment in which you realise you haven’t fully pulled your penis free of your jeans and have somehow managed to sluice a thick, wet, steaming streak of urine down your leg at the Soho Square Port-a-Potties. This will, in turn, lead you to douse yourself with the remainder of your nice, warm can of Carling and then claim to your potential beau that you were pushed by a vicious Muscle Mary. Sadly, the unmistakeable odour of hot ammonia rising from your crotch belies the truth. Looks like there’s not going to be a post-Pride cheeky Nandos for two. For you at least.

PRIDE PRO-TIP: Nandos serve chicken. But they also sell soft drinks.

• Accept it, understand it, acknowledge it: one, some or all of these things can and will happen to you at Pride this year. Prepare yourself accordingly and perhaps you’ll manage to avoid some of the crushing embarrassment. Best of luck.

The state-of-the-art new sexual health service that’s hassle-free and free of charge.

With an efficient, no-nonsense approach to sexual health testing, this revolutionary new website is a much-needed resource in the gay community. SH:24 are a community interest company, working in partnership with the NHS, integrating their services to focus on giving people diagnoses as swiftly as possible, while acknowledging the all-important need for respect and discretion. And they are important factors to recognise. Fear of exposure as well as an unwillingness, or even embarrassment, to go and sort out the problem is a major cause of rising sexually transmitted infections in the UK. Us Brits are notoriously bad at going to the doctor.

SH:24 gets around this by allowing its users to send off for home testing kits for the four most common STI’s; chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis and HIV. It comes with a freepost envelope to send your samples back in, and there is no need to put your name or personal details on any post/samples you send back. If you have a positive result you get fast-tracked at a local sexual health clinic.

The website is entirely free of charge to residents of Lambeth and Southwark, two areas that have some of the highest rates of infection in the UK, and large populations of social groups statistically most likely to contract STIs; young people, gay men and BME communities.

As well as liaising with the NHS, SH:24 have collaborated with Lambeth and Southwark councils, who commission the service for their residents. SH:24 would like to expand the service to other parts of London and the country – If you don’t live in Lambeth and Southwark but would like to access such a service – email info@sh24.org.uk so they can let other local authority commissioners know there is a demand for the service.

SH:24’s Programme Director, Dr Gillian Holdsworth, said: “A third of people attending sexual health clinics could potentially self-manage using SH:24, thereby avoiding a clinic visit. We also know many people who want or need a test don’t get tested for a number of reasons – inconvenience, embarrassment about going to a clinic, or not realising they’re at risk. SH:24 aims to increase efficiency and improve the experience for users, as well as radically improving sexual health outcomes. It’s available 24 hours a day, with confidentiality and results by text within a week guaranteed.”

• The service is now live at www.sh24.org.uk.

Aviator shades. Check. Denim hotpants. Check. Half-drunk bottle of Sainsburys Basics rum. Check. Sense of irony. Check. That checklist could only be for two events…Ibiza Pride or Haggerston Pride. Haggerston doesn’t have a pride (John Sizzle’s ears prick up, Pritt Stick at the ready) so yes, you guessed it, it’s IBIZA PRIDE. 

The concept of Ibiza Pride is actually quite daunting. Can you IMAGINE. Ibiza’s mad enough as it is without adding tens of thousands of gays to the mix. We never know when to stop (and we caaaaan’t stop). It’s going to be insane! And not just, like, “oh I got too drunk and woke up in a strange bed” insane. More like “WHY WAS PARIS HILTON AT THAT CHILLOUT?” insane. It’ll be a lock-stock jock-strap helter-skelter glissade of biceps and bass, twinks and drinks, yachts and YAAAAS.

It’s scheduled to run from 8-12July and it’s sponsored by Scruff and Facebook, with events, parties and happenings at world-famous venues like Space, Ushuala and Privilege. Rebeka Brown is performing (we love her, she’s got a single called Big Bad Bitch #BBB – NEED WE SAY MORE?) along with infamous DJ’s like Javier Gonzalez, Dandy and Elias.

“The whole thing is going to be too much fun. You deserve it, quite frankly.”

As well as all THAT, there’s a massive event called Animal Park on the 10that Benimussa. It’s sort of a cross between a zoo and a nightclub, complete with swimming pools, fountains, food stands and the “Seal Pit”, which has actual seals in it. The Seal Pit is located just next to the Chill Out Zone. Would seals chill you out or just make you more jittery? They’re quite calming actually aren’t they.

Anyway the whole thing is going to be too much fun. You deserve it, quite frankly.

• Book your tickets immediately at www.ibizagaypride.es

QX Magazine chats to photographer Tom Dingley about his upcoming photographic portrait exhibition of LGBT people at the Pride Arts festival. 

Hey Tom, tell me about #outcome. What is it and what were you hoping to achieve with this project?

I wanted to shine a light for anyone who’s yet to come out and daunted by the prospect. My portraits show there is a life out of the closet and you can be who you want to be. I’m not attempting to sugar-coat the coming out process because it can be tough, but there is a happy life past that. #Outcome is a visual representation of the widely used ‘it gets better’ mantra. I want to encourage people to live their life and know they are not alone. All of us in the LGBT community have been there.

How long have you been working on it?

The first test shoot was in spring 2014, so the project is a year old roughly, but I’ve had other work on the go at the same time. So I’ve done a little here and a little there steadily over the past year. I’ve photograzphed 50 people to date, mostly found through social media – mainly Twitter – but also Arts Jobs listings and Facebook. Lately word of mouth has been useful.

Tell me about some of the responses you’ve had from #Outcome already?

From people I’ve photographed, all have been pleased to be part of a positive project, some have been happy to take part even though they’re not used to being photographed or even like having their photo taken. It’s the concept they’re keen on.

I had a lovely comment from an elderly lady who said: ‘it’s just love, isn’t it, whoever you are.’ I’ve also had the reaction that a project like this – and other similar projects – would have been beneficial to people when they were growing up, to not feel alone.

“My portraits show there is a life out of the closet and you can be who you want to be.”

So will this be your first time exhibiting something at Pride? 

Yes, this is my first time in Pride exhibiting.  I was part of a group exhibition last year at Brighton but I wanted – and knew – #Outcome deserved it’s own exhibition. It’s been great working with Pride in London and New Bloomsbury Set to get this exhibition in place. I’m really looking forward to it launching on Monday 22nd June from 6pm.

What do you want people to take away from it?

I want the audience to take away a sense that ‘being gay’ isn’t ‘being different’ and we can all lead successful and happy lives as an out adult.

So do you plan on keeping the project going after Pride?

I plan to keep adding to my project. I have 50 portraits in this current exhibition and will be adding to this in time for my exhibition at Brighton Pride in the Jubilee Library from July 17th. I want to get to 100 portraits before I start to think of a book. I want to take the exhibition to schools and colleges and have a visual presentation similar to equality talks and combating homophobia in schools.

• New Bloomsbury Set, Bloomsbury Monday 22 June – Sunday 28 June – See more at: prideinlondon.org/festival2015/#sthash.Gs3iMZe6.dpuf

QX finally get round to taking a look at last year’s BDSM documentary, Kink, produced by James Franco.

The idea of James Franco being involved in a movie about BDSM is one that would normally fill us (and his agent) with fear. Luckily (or unluckily if you’re hot-for-Franco) he decided to stay on the other side of the lens, fulfilling the role of producer with his documentary, Kink. And it’s actually quite good.

Directed by Christina Voros, the documentary premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2013 and tracks various figures in the San Francisco BDSM movement, delving deep into the world of Kink.com, the largest producer of BDSM content on the Internet.

“I’m down for anything”, says one of the porn stars, when being interviewed about his limits (or lack of). It sets the tone of the film. There’s plenty of whipping, shocking, fuck machines, nipple clamps, bondage, more flogging and yes, lots and lots of screaming. But as well as all the kinky sex, the documentary is actually an endearing look behind the scenes of an often-maligned movement. As stated in the film: if the porn industry were a high school, the BDSMers would be the Goth kids. Kink tastefully looks at why.

The documentary is packed with fascinating aspects of the BDSM lifestyle that most viewers would never have considered. Watching directors carefully and considerately orchestrate the simulated abuse of their co-workers is a surreal experience, while there’s plenty of insightful thoughts about the world of bondage from those involved in putting the films together. Viewers are even shown the correct way to dramatically stamp on a cock without causing any long-term damage.

As Tomcat, one of the interviewed directors, says the BDSM movement is often grossly misunderstood. In Kink, Voros and Franco strive to give it a face, one that’s not clad in a leather mask. They’ve helped demystify the scene with an honest portrayal of the culture and endearing look at those who make the magic happen. A look behind the curtains might mar the illusion for some, but for most Kink will offer a fascinating supplement to their knowledge of the BDSM lifestyle.

• Kink is out on the 15th june.

Without last year’s critically acclaimed movie ‘Pride’ the story of LGSM would likely have been lost forever in the annals of queer history. Now, after a 30-year hiatus, the group have reformed and will hoist their banners once again as they march through the streets of London. Chris Godfrey talks activism, Pride and LGBT rights with members of LGSM and the mining community they strove to help.

Pride is a very different beast to the one that saw LGSM (Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners) prowl through the streets of London three decades ago. It’s tamer, it’s put on weight and it now comes sporting a Starbucks branded tiara and gloriously blue Barclays sash. It hasn’t lost its roar though, and that it’s now the country’s second biggest street party after Notting Hill Carnival is a testament to how far LGBT rights in the UK have come.

But while Pride and LGBT rights in the UK have transformed beyond recognition, the political landscape bears more than a few similarities to that faced by LGSM and the miners during the mid-eighties. An unexpected conservative majority has promised more cuts to the tune of £12 billion, trade unions face further strangulation, and just last week 250,000 marched against austerity and the damage its doing to the most vulnerable.

The parrallells aren’t lost on Dai Donavan, one of the miners from the community portrayed in the film, who’ll be marching with LGSM and the trade union bloc at the parade.

“Certainly it would be more redolent of 30 years ago when the miners came to what was ostensibly a gay march,” he says. “But I do say to some friends and colleagues, if you think [the last general election] was bad, just think what it was like in March of ‘85, after a year on strike, having made such strong bonds and relationships with groups all over the country.”

Though LGSM has marched in recent Pride festivals their reunion in London stands to be their biggest gathering since the events of the movie. They’d originally been scheduled to lead the entire parade but in a mark of solidarity with the rest of the trade union bloc – itself too big to be pushed up front – they opted to drop back and head up Section C.

Though there’s just 20 members of LGSM left at the parade more than 200 will march under their banner, as they’re joined by family, friends, the Tredegar Town Brass Band and South Wales Gay Men’s Chorus. Such a display of solidarity and support is a tribute to the strength of the bonds made between two distinctly different groups.

“We were desperate for the assistance of workers up and down the country,” says Donavan. “We were fortunate that there were like-minded people in LGSM; that instead of criticising the mining communities for their blasé attitude to the attacks that lesbians and gay men had been experiencing up and down the country, they offered their hand of friendship.”

Sian James, also part of the mining community, readily accepted the group’s support when it came, despite concerns from others in her town. Since marching with LGSM at Pride in the eighties, she’s continued her LGBT advocacy over the years, both as an activist and a Member of Parliament (culminating in her recent chairing of Swansea Mardis Gras). When she marches at Pride in London, she’ll do so with three generations of family by her side.

“What was really interesting over the years was to see the atmosphere in a certain way change,” says James. “In the early days you might just see gay people who are brave enough to be out…and over the years what we saw was people were bringing family, friends, neighbours. It became a much more wider event in the community and that’s been great.”

Since the miner’s strike, James became actively engaged in various women’s rights campaigns and was eventually elected to Parliament in 2005, becoming the Swansea East’s first female representative and one of only eight women MPs from Wales. It’s a highly successful career, one that’s benefitted greatly from her experiences with LGSM.

“It’s very interesting that from our miner support group, which was such a catalyst in my life, two of our members became members of parliament: our Francis and myself,” says James. “I do think that that’s where we learnt to have the confidence in things. We got the confidence in Wales. And a big catalyst for us was LGSM.

“It gave us so many opportunities as activists and a lot of those skills we learnt from the gay men and the gay women that we met. We actually learnt that there was an art to positive, passive resistance. We would never have learnt if we hadn’t met up with these groups.”

James stood down as an MP in early 2015, but though her career in Parliament may have drawn to a close she remains politically active and regularly attends events as a speaker.  Her work as an activist is far from over, her enthusiasm far from drained.

“We have a very famous banner in our community…and it says ‘the price of freedom is eternal vigilance’,” says James. “It means you can never take your foot off the pedal. Whatever happens to have freedoms you have to look after them, you have to protect them. The battle is never won; the fight is never over. There will always be some unfairness that will draw your attention back.”

It’s a sentiment that rings true with the remaining members of LGSM. With the movie enjoying international acclaim they’ve now reunited, reforming the group to pick up from where they left off. As well as raising money for The Mark Ashton Red Ribbon Fund (set up after Ashton died of HIV, aged 26) the newly reformed LGSM are also fundraising for the widows of Turkish miners that died during in the 2014 Soma disaster, which killed 311 people.

“The movie has brought us all back together again,” says Mike Jackson, who co-founded LGSM with Ashton and operated as the group’s secretary. “Some of us have remained friends, I probably had about half a dozen I’d kept in regular contact with over the years. The movie’s had such an impact on us that we’ve reformed and are seeing a lot more of each other. It’s great, we’ve got our legacy at last.”

Though there was a period when Jackson stopped attending Pride, he started going again six years ago. The event’s current format is a stark contrast to what he was used to as one of the early activists that fought for LGBT visibility and equal rights at a time of institutionalised homophobia.

“I’ve seen the huge transformation from a small and highly politicised organisation – it’s still always had its fun elements in, drag queens and so on – but now it’s a much more commercial affair,” says Jackson. “I came out in 1973, so my first pride march was in 1974. It was a tiny march and a lot more political. There was a lot more the LGBT community had to fight for back then.”

Back then even paying for visibility was a struggle. In the late seventies Jackson tried to place an advert for the North Staffordshire Gay Switchboard in one of the local papers, but out of homophobia the editors refused to run it (a decision which caused Jackson and the Switchboard’s organisers to occupy the paper’s offices).

Today though, the world’s biggest corporations are scrambling over themselves to be affiliated with the most high profile Pride marches, stamping their logo on anything that so much as glitters, rolling out rainbow editions of everything from burgers to trainers. Even with this heavy commercialisation, Jackson still sees the value in Pride parades.

“I think even more so,” he says, when pressed about the political relevance of the parade. “One of the nice things that Pride [in London] has done is have all the flags on the march and that’s a reflection that this is a global movement. There are 73 countries where it’s illegal, 10 where it’s a capital offence. So I think we have a particular duty here to reach out to the rest of the world and offer support and practical help.

“This is the spirit of LGSM: just because we’ve got it better here it’s even more imperative that we strike out globally. If we have got our LGBT rights in Britain it’s important that we help other countries to push for it.”

The film may be LGSM’s legacy but it’s the group’s resolve that has had the more significant impact, one that still resonates strongly with Donavon.

“At a time when that great union, the national union of miners, was flickering and in danger of being extinguished, there was another flame being ignited in the hearts and minds of lesbians and gay people across the UK,” he says. “You do not know where that flame will be picked up and carried forward. I just feel that’s a justification for someone like me, doing the work we do.”

Whether they’re continuing their work with the unions, speaking about the importance of vigilance at public events or supporting widows of deceased miners in Turkey, the passion to help the vulnerable still burns strongly within the LGSM community. At a time when Pride is locked in arguments over UKIPers and ubiquitous advertising, LGSM serves as a reminder of what is really important, of why these marches are still of huge significance.

They may no longer be leading the parade, but they symbolise everything Pride is about.