Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 497 i GAY TIMES

PLAY IT WITH 360 SOUND. It’s all good and well having a portable speaker to play anywhere you need it, but it’s useless if the sound gets dispersed in only one direction. Bang & Olufsen’s Beoplay P6 speaker comes with the brand’s effortlessly chic design, headed up here by the awar-winning Cecilie Manz. But more importantly, the P6 provides 360-degree sound meaning that whether you have it in the park, sitting on the side while you take a bath, or even by the pool on holiday, it doesn’t matter where you place it you’re guaranteed to have decent sound. (The Beoplay P6 is available from bang-olufsen.com/en, priced £349) PLAY IT OUT AND ABOUT. We know Loewe are masters when it comes to making statement television sets, but how do they…

Founded by artistic director Daniel Vais in 2018, Drag Syndrome is the world’s first collective of drag queens and kings with Down syndrome, defying what society expects of them and proving that anyone can embrace their inner superstar. As well as performing at iconic LGBTQ venues like the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, and British staples like the Royal Opera House and the Royal Albert Hall, they’ve travelled across Northern Europe and even have a tour of the globe planned for the year ahead. Here, we speak to four members of the colourful troupe – Justin Bond, Horrora Shebang, Gaia Callas, and Lady Francesca – about the confidence that drag gives them, who their celebrity inspirations are, and how they deal with the haters. When did you start doing drag? Justin: I…

After exploding onto the scene with debut single I Don’t Want It At All – you know, the one that featured Paris bloody Hilton in the music video – Kim Petras has been on an upwards trajectory that simply refuses to falter. A release strategy of one new single each month kept her fresh in the minds of pop consumers and, most importantly, on top of Apple and Spotify’s playlists, arguably the most essential promo a new artist can get for themselves in the age of streaming. It also gained her a legion of loyal fans who flock to her live shows, imitate her style, and pump out memes on an unprecedented scale – she’s affectionately known as “that wooah bitch” to many of her followers on Twitter, paying homage…

Mazurbate might have one of the coolest jobs in the world. As well as DJing at nights across New York City, where he takes inspiration from his “roots as a queer latinx” for his sets, he also capitalises on his fierce sense of fashion to style for the likes of pop star Kim Petras and K-pop icon CL. We asked Mazurbate – real name Matthew Mazur – about his musical inspirations, where his love of fashion bloomed, and what his advice for elevating your style is. How would you describe your personal style? Traditionally disruptive. It seems as though queer people have always been intertwined with fashion. Why do you think this is? I think people that come from struggle are forced to improvise and create escape plans per se…

At Mälarpaviljongen, a strange and beautiful gay-owned bar and restaurant based on a rambling pontoon under the trees that floats out on Lake Mälaren and which, on a summer night like this in summer night city, is buzzing with LGBTQs and even straight folk. On a night like this, everyone is knocking back their special rosé, a purchase that helps fund good works for LGBTQ communities across the world. They even make a point of employing and training up LGBTQ refugees at Mälarpaviljongen, to help them get a foot on the European ladder. Not that we’re here just to do good works, you understand. In summer in Stockholm, it never gets dark. Never quite. It’s why you’ll find people out at all hours, especially over there in the old town…

With state-of-the-art technology, rooms that could rival even the best back on shore and exquisite first class dining, billion-dollar cruise ship Celebrity Edge is cutting through the competition to mark itself as a contender for the world’s very best. But a billion-dollar cruise ship we hear you cry?! It is an almost incomprehensible idea, but it’s set to define a new era in the world of luxury travel – as were lucky enough to climb aboard, set sail and see just how brilliant Celebrity Edge is. Proclaiming proudly they wanted to bring the outside in, guest feedback has helped dictate the living quarters on Edge into pockets of minimalism versus modern style – and a large bathroom with a walk-in shower. Merging your traditional balcony area into the room itself,…

Jake Kuit is an artist and event florist whose iCal is never empty. “There’s constantly something happening in my life,” he tells us. “In floristry as well there’s a need and a timeframe for all these big installations and big parties. “It’s not always sunshine and daisies! There’s a lot of effort that goes into creating it, booking it, into conditioning and preparation – people don’t realise how many hours and how much physical labour – and also mental labour – get put into these creations for one night only.” And recently it’s not only events and parties Jake has been preparing for. “I’m also incorporating my floristry into my new exhibition that I’m going to be working on that’s going to be happening towards the end of this year,”…

It’s a privilege to be the mayor of a city which is such a beacon across the world for openness and diversity. Every day, I meet Londoners of all ages, races, genders, faiths and backgrounds who, despite their differences, share an appreciation of our diversity which not only unites them as Londoners, but has come to define us as a capital. In these increasingly troubled times, it’s vital that we ensure London’s beacon shines brighter than ever. The sight of Londoners and people from across the world lining our streets during Pride in celebration and solidarity is always a true highlight of the year. And I know this year’s Pride will be another great celebration of London’s LGBTQ community - a community that plays such a unique role in defining…

There really is no other artist quite like Aurora. When we meet the 22-year-old Norweigan on a rainy day in London, one of the first things she (quite gleefully) tells us is that she styles and trims her own hair with a pizza cutter. It’s exactly the kind of quirky, DIY approach to life we’ve come to expect from Aurora, who simultaneously exudes a childlike sense of wonder and a wisdom well beyond her years. Much like listening to her music, chatting to Aurora is a calming experience, but one that also provokes thought and stays with you long after the record’s stopped spinning. Right now, she’s preoccupied with the state of the environment, stressing that our generation is the one that has the power to destroy or save the…

While Little Gay Brother has burst with popularity over the past 12 months, the queer club night was first started back in 2012. It began its life at The Secret Garden Party, carving out a safe space at the music event for queer festival-goers and allies who simply just want to dance the weekend away to good music. Little Gay Brother’s ethos of inclusivity, freedom of expression and losing all of your inhibitions was so infectious that it didn’t take long before they transported their party out of a muddy field and into nightlife venues across the UK. With a cast of DJs, dancers and drag acts, the Little Gay Brother family create an environment of fun and freedom wherever they go. This year for Pride in London, Little Gay…

Festival season is well and truly in full swing, and one of our favourites of the summer (for obvious reasons) is Mighty Hoopla. The London-based queer-leaning music event is one of the most vibrant in the festival calendar, and this year – in partnership with Hunter – we got backstage access to set up a gold throne for the acts and special guests to pose up a storm on. It’s amazing how quickly your inner queen pops out as soon as you sit on a shimmering regal chair – even if it is set up in a tent. Here are some of the best pictures from the weekend.…

From the heart of Leicester Square, W London has unveiled a sensory experience for all ages – set to thrill anybody lucky enough to walk through its doors. Breaking the mould and pushing into an exciting world that merges music with fashion, in-room experiences and a one-of-a-kind ‘techorative’ pillow by esteemed designer Jack Irving that quite literally shines brightly as night falls, the all-new 192 rooms, inclusive of 28 suites, have undergone a multi-million-pound transformation that aims to fuel its guests’ lust for life – shattering the traditional concept of luxury. Picture it: newly renovated room, floor-to-ceiling photo-friendly mirrored walls inclusive of daring new feature walls, mood-set music as you move from welcome desk to your room, and everything from your television to your lights controlled from one centralised tablet,…

Where is it? Right on Sunset Boulevard, the most goddamn sexy street on earth, with the Hollywood Hills right up there up some very steep lanes, and the (LGBTQ) bit of Santa Monica Boulevard right down there down the very steep La Cienega Boulevard, and Mel’s Diner (possibly/definitely our favourite diner ever) five minutes walk that way (and now serving planet-friendly Impossible Burgers!), and sun-spangled views of downtown LA, like, everywhere. Why so lovely? It’s the newbie from 1 Hotels, who have put the hot damn gorgeous into sustainability. Which means every element of the hotel – and your stay – puts the planet first. All materials are recycled, reclaimed, sustainably sourced, or just generally kind to trees. There’s no plastic, so your keycard is in fact a wooden poker…

Lee Gray, meanwhile, has had an incredibly busy year launching the first series of his podcast, which has had such an overwhelmingly positive response. “Wolves in the City is a podcast about three black queer men who come together to basically talk about their experiences in London,” he tells us, escaping London with his friends JayJay Revlon and Karnage Kills. “We talk about everything from dates that we’ve been on and things that we’ve read in the news, to racism and prejudice. All kinds of different things. What you find in the podcast is that because we’re all very different, we have different points of view.” Following the success of the first series, Lee is now exploring themes and conversations to tackle in future episodes. “The key to creating an…

Cross Sword are creating a new fashion genre that allows you to challenge what is considered to be socially acceptable by providing footwear and accessories that stand out in a crowd and confront gender norms. Until now the ability to wear heels, to feel taller, to improve your posture, to look dominant has not been easily available. Wearing heels gives you the appearance of looking long and lean, it emphasises your legs and gives you visually and physically more height. Fantastic shoes naturally draw the eye of the passer by and show everyone your personality and style. They make you the centre of attention and show others the way forward.…

THE LION KING (film out 19 July) A remake of one of the most beloved films of all time may seem doomed from the get-go, but if anyone can handle such a heavy task, it’s Disney. The house of mouse have seen success with live action adaptations of classics like Cinderella and Aladdin, and now they’re turning their attention to 1994’s box office smash The Lion King. The film features a stellar lineup of vocal talent, including Donald Glover, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner, John Oliver, Alfre Woodard, Amy Sedaris, James Earl Jones returning to voice Mufasa, and most importantly, Beyonce. Purists will be pleased to know that Elton John will once again be working on the soundtrack, so expect all your favourite songs to be present. Queen Bey…

So much of what we understand about ourselves is gleaned from the annals of history, but what story are we told about ourselves and our people when history is written by those who’ve not appreciated or acknowledged the tremendous contribution of queer people of colour? The modern LGBTQ liberation movement is littered with glittering stories of triumphant white people marching down the corridors of power towards wins in marriage and adoption, but what of those of us for whom marriage was never the goal? What about those for whom access to jobs, housing and the right to live violence-free lives were the focus? As we continue on in what feels like a never-ending fight for our humanity, it feels as important than ever to dig into history to unearth our…

“That community of sex workers are extremely criminalised and margnialised and so if this show in some way raises issues that they can either discuss, or the show does something incorrectly that they can correct, I think that is all a good thing and welcomed.” Since stepping into the world of short episodes, Netflix has found an entirely new audience of fans that have come flocking for their daily fix of the flix. Unsurprisingly popular with fans, the platform has introduced a small number of queer-focused series. Alongside smash-hit programme Special comes a second short with a queer character at its core; Bonding. It’s a show that takes a refreshingly candid approach to sexual discovery, and the challenges marginalised people face. “It’s about two young people trying to find themselves…

Key West, the southernmost point in the United States (they like to tell you that. They like to tell you that quite a lot), is one of those strange little seaside places that seems made up. It’s one of those little American towns that doesn’t actually feel like America at all. Like it might decide not to be America any time soon and become part of another country. Maybe Cuba, which is only 90 miles in that direction anyway. We’ve driven down from Miami in our fancy little Camaro convertible courtesy of Hertz and even though it’s often called one of the top road trips in all the Americas, truth be told, it can get a bit samey, even across those amazing, miles-long bridges. But then we arrive at The…

Looking over the water to Brownsea Castle (not to be confused with bouncy castle), which belongs to John Lewis or the person who owns John Lewis or someone very high up at John Lewis, where you can go and sea peacocks and red squirrels and drink champagne and maybe see an outside show in the summer, you realise we undervalue our own seaside sometimes. Yes, a lot of what we’ve got is hands-down horrible and dirty and grim, a collection of fast food joints, sticky pavements and people down on their luck but this stretch of the Dorset coastline is the opposite of that. Called Studland (which is promising in itself!), you need to get a little two-minute ferry over from the mainland even though it’s not technically an island…

As for British pop duo Nimmo, escaping London has allowed them to focus on creating new music, and also go over the final tracks of their debut album The Power. “Getting some time away in Devon has been so helpful,” band member Reva Gauntlett says. “It’s so nice to come along and set up, and just write loads of music. We took some time out last night to chill with a glass of wine and go over everything.” The fact they are releasing their debut during a time when queer female musicians are finally being given the opportunity to thrive certainly isn’t lost on Nimmo, and they continue to remain open about who they in order to be visibile role models for a generation of LGBTQ youth. “As queer women,…

subtlety isn’t our strong suit. With the explosive arrival of Urban Decay’s Sparkle Out Loud collection, it’s time to amp up the glitter voltage and start serving pure drama this Pride. From the Hi-Fi Shine Lip Glosses to the all-purpose Heavy Metal Glitter Gels, subtlety should not be in anyone’s vocabulary this season. And with 100 percent of the proceeds of the Heavy Metal Glitter Eyeliner in the Stonewall shade going to LGBTQ charity Stonewall, you can serve both looks and philanthropy simultaneously this Pride.…