OUT Africa Magazine Issue 26

Issue 26, AUTUMN 2016

AFRICA M A G A Z I N E

INTERVIEW: HENK OPPERMAN

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IGLTA COMES TO CAPE TOWN

BARBRA CASTLE FINDS HER OWN WAY TO HAPPY & GAY

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FEATURES 1. EDITORS COMMENT: 2. SWARTLAND CHARITY RECEIVES HUGE DONATION 4. LGBT BUSINESS CONFERENCE 2016 6. HAPPY & GAY - Author Barbara Castle-Farmer chats about her new book 8. THE BUZZ: Snippets of news 10: CAPE TOWN’S “POSH & BECKS” 11. THE PINK LOERIE MARDI GRAS & ARTS FESTIVAL 12. TRAVEL: Go West - discover Key West 14. KNOW YOUR FLAGS 20. ELIZABETH REMEMBERED: The last actress of Hollywood’s Golden Era 24. RAW SENSUALITY: OUT AFRICA interviews Henk Opperman 23. FAREWELL TO ROB 27. RED RIBBON FOUNDATION 32. TAKING LIBERTIES: Liberty Banks is back!

34: SHAMBHALA SCHOLARSHIPS 36. FITNESS - Killer Legs 38: THE SCIENCE OF GAY 40: MEN’S HEALTH - Dew on the lily 41: PUTTING THE MYTH ABOUT PrEP TO BED 42. A DOGS LIFE 44. CLASSIC GAY MUST SEES

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20 24 FASHION 16 - 19 SA FASHION WEEK AUTUMN / WINTER 2016 - A look at what’s trending on the catwalk

SCENE OUT 28. MCQP 29. BEARFEST 30. NELSON MANDELA BAY PRIDE 31. MAMELODI PRIDE

REVIEWS 43. OUT TO LUNCH: 45. MUSIC MOVES: A look at Adele’s 25 46 OUT ON FILM: With Daniel Dercksen 47 OUT ON DVD: With Daniel Dercksen 48 ON STAGE: With Daniel Dercksen Cover: HENK OPPERMAN

CONTENTS

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

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44

Mag 1

FROM THE EDITOR Hi All I hope you all had a wonderful holiday and are already enjoying 2016 – As I write, Cape Town is gearing up for what promises to be the biggest and most exciting Pride week in the Mother City (oops I hope that is not sexist) ever – there are more than 20 events on the calendar this year and with the support of The City of Cape Town and “We The Brave” the festival is really moving onto the world stage and fast joining the ranks of other great cities who celebrate their sexual, cultural diversity and freedom with pride.

The Pink Lourie’s are also happening in April and preparations are well under way in Knysna - so start planning your weekend of fun now and don’t be disappointed.

We interviewed Barbra Castle-Farmer who has just launched her new book, “Finding My Own Way To Be Happy And Gay” .

On OUT magazine’s cover this issue we feature the highly talented Henk Opperman, the principal dancer in Sean Bovin;’s dance company – who astounded audiences recently in “Queen At The Ballet” and “Private Presley”.

The new wonder drug - PrEP is now available, find out all the details in our health section.

Our four page fashion feature shows some of the spectacular designs showcased at SA fashion week held recently in Gauteng.

The IGTLA conference kicks off in April with more than 68 countries being represented in Cape Town. This prestigious event is selling South Africa as a world Gay destination with over R198 million US dollars spent in gay travel here annually.

We are absolutely bursting with great articles and info so sit back and enjoy..

Tommy Patterson MANAGING EDITOR: Tommy Patterson 082 562 3358 ISSN 2304-859X Published by: Patterson Publications P.O. Box 397, Sea Point 8060 Tel: 021 555 1279, Fax: 086 535 5063 E-mail: Keith Coventry at outmagafrica@telkomsa.net outmagazine@mweb.co.za Advertising Sales: Tommy Patterson 082 562 3358

Contributors: Daniel Dercksen Additional Photography: Simon Diener, Luiz Barros,

Printed by ABC Press, Cape Town Copyright: All articles, stories, interviews and other materials in OUT Africa Magazine are the copyright of the publication or are reproduced with permission from other copyright owners.

All rights are reserved. No materials may be copied, modified, published or otherwise distributed without the prior written permission of OUT Africa Magazine.

The views, opinions, positions or strategies expressed by those providing comments in this publication are theirs alone, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of OUT Africa Magazine or any employee thereof. OUT Africa Magazine and Patterson Publications cc., will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in any information contained in the publication.

Mag 2

Swartland children’s charity receives cash donation from LGBTI community

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Swartland-based charity supporting and uplifting disadvantaged rural children, young people and their communities received a financial boost on 27th January through a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) fundraising initiative in Cape Town.

Representatives from Goedgedacht, based near Malmesbury, attended the Other Foundation’s latest Conversations event at Zenith Sky Bar in Green Point to take receipt of a cheque for R42,000.

Conversations Cape Town, launched in October 2013, is a monthly networking event for gay and lesbian professionals living and working in and around the Mother City. To date, there have been 28 highly successful events, hosted in upmarket hotels, bars and restaurants stretching from Camps Bay to Newlands. Conversations launched in Johannesburg in November 2014.

As well as facilitating face-to-face conversations between gay and lesbian professionals, be it for business or social networking purposes, Conversations is also socially responsible by raising money for and awareness of local charities. The money raised for the Goedgedacht partly came from the door charge paid by the attendees at the Conversations events from June 2014 – October 2015. The R42,000 also includes generous donations from Triarc, DeVere Group and Gentlemen’s Health.

Andrew Howard, Partnerships Manager at the Other Foundation and founder of Conversations, said: “I chose Goedgedacht as the second not-for-profit that Conversations in Cape Town would support because they provide invaluable support to disadvantaged rural communities; and I also wanted the LGBTI community to look outside of itself and help others in need. I am absolutely delighted that Conversations has been able to raise this money that will help Goedgedacht to continue its crucial work. I would also like to thank all those who attended the Conversations events during the fundraising period. Without their support for this great cause, this fundraising effort would not have been possible.”

Mikal Lambert from Goedgedacht, who took receipt of the

R42,000 cheque, said: “The Goedgedacht Trust is extremely grateful to Conversations for raising this money for us, which we will be using to fund our important work on food security, with a specific focus on the transfer of skills around small scale organic agriculture. We will be investing time, money and effort in establishing living gardens at all our Path Out of Poverty (POP) centres that will demonstrate the potential of growing food at a household and community level. This will improve nutrition and reduce expenses, thus promoting the community-based economy. This large donation from Conversations will go a long way in helping us to achieve our aims in this regard.”

The next Conversations JHB event will be on Wednesday 16th March at Protea Hotel Parktonian All-Suite in Braamfontein.

The April event will be on Thursday 14th at Hyatt Regency Johannesburg.

Conversations in Cape Town is run through a Facebook page at www.facebook.com/conversationsza. In Johannesburg, the page is www.facebook.com/conversationsjhb.

Andrew Howard - CONVERSATIONS

Since this particular fundraising period for Goedgedacht ended, Conversations has become a programme of the Other Foundation, a Johannesburg-based African trust that gathers support for those who are working to protect and advance the rights, well-being and social inclusion of LGBTI people in southern Africa.

Shekeshe Mokgosi, the Public Engagement Manager at the Other Foundation, said “The Other Foundation is committed to contributing to the expansion of the field of African philanthropy. This involves raising money through programmes such as Conversations to promote and support innovative and effective strategies for social change with a particular focus on supporting LGBTI people to realise their full potential as individuals and full members of society.”

The Other Foundation’s next Cape Town event will be held at Palma Cape Town, an Italian restaurant on Bree Street, on Wednesday 30th March.

Mag 3

LGBT Business Conference 2016

South African Tourism Minister to Address IGLTA’s Historic Cape Town Convention The International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association is the leading member based global organisation dedicated to LGBT tourism and a proud Affiliate Member of the United Nations World Tourism Organization. This year from the 16 - 16 April IGLTA delegates from all over the world will descend on Cape Town to attend the 33rd Annual Global Convention .... with the IGLTA’s mission to expand LGBT tourism globally for the benefit of travellers and members and with a membership which includes LGBT and LGBT friendly accommodations, destinations, service providers, travel agents, tour operators, events and travel media in 80 countries, the spotlight on Cape Town will have a positive impact for LGBTI tourism in this part of the world .

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he 33rd Annual Global Convention of the In 1996, South Africa became the first country in the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association will be world to constitutionally prohibit sexual orientation based the first LGBT business conference of its kind on the discrimination. Same sex marriage became legal in 2006.

African continent.

The ground-breaking event, set for 14 - 16 April 2016 at theiconic Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel in Cape Town, South Africa, will include presentations from leaders in the tourism industry from Africa, Europe, Asia and the United States.

“We are delighted that the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association has decided to bring its annual convention to South Africa for the first time,” Minister Hanekom said. “It indicates that South Africa is now being recognized around the world as a country that respects the rights and dignity of all people, regardless of their gender, race, religion or sexual orientation.

After decades of condemnation as the pariah of the world under apartheid, we are all proud of this remarkable achievement.

South African Minister of Tourism Derek Hanekom is set to deliver the keynote welcome to the IGLTA delegates and then participate in a conversation on global tourism with World Travel & Tourism Council President/CEO David Scowsill. Pacific “I trust that this convention will help to advance the dignity and Asia Travel Association CEO Mario Hardy will also address rights of gay and lesbian travellers even further, and that it will attendees during the three - day event. give our operators of establishments more insight into how to cater for this market.”

“We hear so much anti-gay news coming out of Africa. This is an opportunity to take the conversation in a positive direction,” The Mount Nelson Hotel, where all daytime conference said IGLTA President/CEO John Tanzella. “This will be a activities will take place, is part of the portfolio of Belmond, an truly special event, blending top -quality education, business IGLTA global partner. development, and networking with events that showcase Cape Town, the most LGBT - welcoming destination in Africa.”

More information is available at iglta.org/convention.

Mag 4

IGLTA Chair Award 2016: Archbishop Desmond Tutu Global LGBT travel association to honor the legendary South African human rights advocate during historic first conference in Africa

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rchbishop Desmond Tutu will receive the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association’s prestigious Chair Award for 2016.

The award recipient is selected by the head of the IGLTA board of directors and presented to an individual or business that has made the world a more welcoming place for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender travelers.

“As we’re holding our convention on the African continent for the first time, I cannot think of a better award recipient than Archbishop Desmond Tutu,” says IGLTA Board Chair Dan Melesurgo. “He has been a global inspiration since the demise of apartheid, using his high profile to campaign for the oppressed and defend human rights. He is a true leader in the fight against HIV/AIDS, poverty, racism, sexism, homophobia and transphobia.”

Tutu’s rise to international prominence began when he became the first black person to be appointed the Anglican Dean of Johannesburg in 1975 and emerged as one of the most eloquent voices of the South African anti-apartheid movement.

In 1984, he received the Nobel Peace Prize. Although he retired as Archbishop of Cape Town in 1996, he remains a moral compass for the continent, speaking out against the anti-gay policies of other African countries. Tutu has been widely quoted as saying, I would not worship a God who is homophobic and that is how deeply I feel about this.”

The 2016 IGLTA Chair Award will be presented as part of the opening keynote session (on 14 April) of the IGLTA’s 33rd Annual Global Convention at the Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel in Cape Town in cooperation with the Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation.

IGLTA Annual Global Convention would not be possible without the generous support of our convention sponsors. NGLCC; South Africa Tourism; South African Airways; USAID; Rhino Africa; Silversea Mag 5

HAPPY AND GAY

Meet the author of an enlightening new book

Barbara Castle-Farmer is the author of a new book - “Finding My Own Way To Be Happy And Gay� - a great read for everyone ... Should you be lucky enough to have a friend, a child, a sister, an aunt or a colleague who is gay, the book answers many questions they would never dare ask. And for those on their way out of the closet it will keep them company all the way to being both happy and gay!

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Q: For those readers who do not know you, give us a little background info, like where you’re from, where you grew up etc.

A: I grew up in the little post-war suburb of Bergvliet about 20 minutes from Cape Town and just a stone’s throw away from the more up-market suburb of Constantia. I have three younger brothers and a stepsister. My parents divorced when I was about 20, my dad died at around 70 and my mom, at time of going to press, is still happily alive at 94.

Q: You’ve had a variety of careers but only at your last salaried job with Reader’s Digest were you actually employed as a writer. How did that happen?

A: I had my first article published in the Cape Times newspaper when I was 13. And I trained as a journalist after matriculating.

But my dad, a journalist himself, felt it wasn’t a career for a girl.

He insisted I start out on something safe ... and so my first job was as a draughtswoman with the City Council of Cape Town.

And I guess you don’t get jobs much safer that ... even today.

Q: But if a career in writing was your passion from such a young age surely you were frustrated not to be employed as a writer?

A: Well, yes, I didn’t write for the Council nor for any of the other jobs I had, of which there were many over the years. Because, in my teens, I had this romantic idea that I couldn’t be told what to write, or when, or how. So I guess I wasn’t employable as one.

But I did always write ... for magazines, newspapers, leaflets, and cards for friends ... just anything to do with words. Along with horses, writing is my abiding passion and has been all my life.

Q: After leaving Reader’s Digest I see you also worked for many years as a freelance advertising copywriter.

But all that is very different from writing a book. When did you decide to embark on a book project and what was your motivation behind it?

A: Well I’ve been out, gay and kind of proud most of my life. So when about the hundredth acquaintance (even semi-strangers have clasped my hand in aguish over this issue) turned to me tearfully asking, “What am I going to do ... my son/daughter/ nephew/etc. has turned gay?” It flashed through my mind that I’d love to be able to reach into my handbag, get out a book and say, “It’s not as bad as you think ... here I’ve got just the book for you.” But that book hadn’t been written and at aged 60 I felt that I might have that very book in me.

Q: The book is essentially a coming out story – do you think that your experience is relevant today as young gay people are far more readily accepted by their peers nowadays?

A: Oh I don’t think “peers” are really a challenge. Most of them like us as friends anyway. It’s the parents, relatives, employers and colleagues who are the challenge. Because us gay people have plenty of experience at being gay... and many opportunities to familiarise ourselves with who does the cooking and other such ridiculous stereotyping. But the majority of straight people have never, to their knowledge, ever met a gay person and know little or nothing of the intricacies and obstacles of a gay life lived.

Q: At what age did you realise that you were lesbian, and how did you come out to your family?

A: Probably in my early teens around 1965 but remember that at that time there was no Internet to do a quick search on homosexuality. There were no chat rooms to confide with other gay people. Rock Hudson, James Dean, Marlene Dietrich and Greta Garbo were all firmly locked into Hollywood closets. And, although my first girlfriend’s mom was a librarian, you can be sure there was little or nothing to read on the subject that wasn’t appallingly depressing or downright horrifying. And there’s not much uplifting stuff to read even now.

Q: Were your friends and family supportive, because with many of us it’s those people that are most important?

A: My friends were brilliant, my family was hopeless. My dad didn’t want to hear. My mom wanted me to have shots of female hormones. And my brothers just kept their heads down and carried on as if I wasn’t there. Mostly because, I’ve come to realise, somehow those closest to us think they’re somehow to blame. “What did I do wrong?” is a cry I’ve often, well more than often, heard.

Q: You’ve been in a variety of jobs over the years … did you experience any discrimination because of your sexual orientation at work, after all the advertising/ publishing world is thought to be a more liberal, accepting environment?

A: I never came out at work. Ever. It was clear to me that Reader’s Digest was not keen to employ those of the Jewish faith. And while I might not be Jewish I was pretty sure that being gay would be a whole lot worse to my employer. When I left the Digest, after 13 happy years, I worked as a freelance writer and was able to get to know myself a whole lot better.

More importantly I didn’t have to worry about losing my job because I was ‘different’.

Q: Finding My Own Way To Happy And Gay is an intensely personal journey. Was it part of the process of self-acceptance even though you’d been out for many years?

A: You’ve hit the nail absolutely on the head. Writing, especially writing personal stuff, offers a unique opportunity for selfinterrogation. And in trying to marshal my thoughts and present a cogent picture of who us gay people really are, I discovered many things about myself. For instance I discovered that being gay isn’t enough to have in common for lasting friendships. You need lots of mutual likes, interests, values, and ideals to have rewarding friendships. If I’d been straight, I’d have mixed with my dad’s journalist friends instead of desperately searching for other people like me. Sadly many gay people only feel happy, comfortable and extravagant when they are with other gay people.

And that is both self-limiting and ... well ... rather incestuous.

Q Is coming out a single experience or do you find yourself coming out daily depending on who you meet?

A: It’s a daily occurrence. Especially as I work part-time for Gay van Hasselt of Gay’s Guernsey Dairy in Prince Albert. If I could have a rand for the number of times I’ve been asked during cheese-tastings, “Are you Gay?” (and been tempted to answer “Yes”) I’d be on a world cruise. Because, apart from me, there is nothing gay about the dairy. It is simply the best dairy and producer of raw milk products in the Karoo.

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Q: Now that your journey is out there for all to read, have you encountered any homophobia as a result of the book?

A: After being pushed into launching it at our annual Prince Albert LeesFees (Feast of Reading) last year I realised it was only me who was embarrassed about being gay. Organisers said they could have sold double the tickets for the launch breakfast and there were just as many straight people as there were gay.

My spice, Sandy, of 31 years cried the whole way through. No homophobia anywhere. And nobody spray-painted “voetsak lesbians” on our fence afterwards.

Q: The book is described as “an often amusing, often heart-breaking account of the coming out process for a lesbian in 60s South Africa.” Is that a correct description?

A: Yes. I wrote that myself and sweated over each word for days.

And although the body of the book is light and often funny, with chapters such as: Emperors, Kings & Drama Queens, As camp as a row of tents, Was I butch or fem?, How’d you know you’re gay? and Queer as a £3 Note how could it not be? But to put things into perspective, and give us (gay people) a history, each chapter begins with snippets of the treatment of LGBTI people through history starting back in the late 19th century and bringing us through to what life is like for LGBTI South Africans today.

Q: Much of your life-story is set during the apartheid years in South Africa. A time of immense social injustice for non-white South Africans as well as gay people. Did this injustice impact on your life and are you involved in activism for social change?

A Yes. And yes. Very little has changed for the disadvantaged of South Africa, especially women. Ours is a male dominated society with little tenderness or respect for women’s rights or women in general. Domestic violence is on the increase. A man beat a woman almost to death with her own baby for heaven’s sake! How could I not be involved in social change?

Q: Cape Town Pride is happening at the end of the month. Do you feel that there is still a need for Pride when today gays and lesbians have all the same legal rights under our constitution as straight people?

A: People who are different yet willing to raise their heads above the social parapet will always need support. We need to be reminded of how much there is for us to be proud of, what gay rights’ movements have achieved for us. And that we do indeed have a history. Having the legal right to get married hardly makes a blind bit of difference when so many gay couples are still precluded from being married in a church.

Q: How difficult was it to find a publisher willing to publish a book that would be targeted at a relatively small niche market?

A: It wasn’t possible. No one was prepared to take my book on and so I self-published with wonderful help from all sorts of special along the way.

Cnr Buitenkant & Roeland Street). And if bookstores want to order shedloads of books call my distributer, Xavier Nagel on 021 447 1773.

Q: On the lighter side ... who is your favourite diva?

A: Well it was Dolly Parton until she lost all that weight. Now it’s KT Oslin. Yep I’m a country music fan and proud to be one.

Q: What do you do to relax and unwind?

A: I either saddle up a horse and go riding with my best friend.

Or I hop onto my motorbike, find a gravel road and ride off into the unspoilt plains of the Great Karoo.

Q: Is there a special person that you share your life with?

A: Of course. You don’t get to be both happy and gay without a life partner like my Sandy. We’ve been together for 31 years and married for almost ten. And for sure she is the best thing in my whole life.

Q: You seem to be a person who has lived life to the fullest, you’ve travelled, followed your dreams, published a book … what’s left on your bucket list?

A: Well probably not to break a limb, get laid low by rheumatism or have a hip replacement or spinal fusion. Apart from that another world cruise would be just super.

Q: How can our readers get their hands on a copy?

A: Go along to the book’s website <http://happyandgay.yolasite. com/> for a variety of online options. If you live in Cape Town you can get a copy from the Book Lounge (71 Roeland Street, Mag 8

Barbara Castle married Sandy Farmer, the last and greatest love of her life, on 1st December 2006. And they are living happily ever after in a little house on the vast plains of the Great Karoo, South Africa.

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Mag 9

CAPE TOWN’S GAY “POSH & BECKS” One of Cape Town’s most glamorous and popular couples have recently celebrated their 12th wedding annversary as well as 12 happy year’s performing successfully ...

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rrol Stroebel and Kat Gilardi met in 2004, and soon got married.

They came onto the gay scene in 2010 when Kat entered and Won Miss Cape Town Pride. She went on to win Miss Gay Cape Town that same year, and thereafter, won Miss Gay Western Cape.

Errol was a finalist for Mr Gay South Africa and the couple became wildly known as the ‘Gay Posh and Becks’ of the Cape Flats. Errol then went on to win the First Ever Mr Gay Cape Town in 2012.

A documentary was filmed, ‘Glitterboys and Ganglands’, which won Best LGBT Movies of the Year at the San Diego Black Film Festival in USA. After that, Kat started the group 3D (three divas cabaret) in 2010, which is now the hottest cabaret group in South Africa.

Sharing the stage with Karin Kortjie, Salome, Judy Boucher, Jimmy Nevis and Mi Casa.

Errol started doing duets with Kat at Black Pearl’s ThursGay Night hosted by PJ Smith, performing Barbara Streisand and Bryan Adams “I finally found someone” which became a hot favourite.

They are also well known for Kat Gilardi’s DIVA’s One Night Only, a glittering event which is firmly established on the cabaret circuit having first started in 2010. As a highlight in the gay events calendar, DIVA’s One Night Only is not to be missed.

They have performed numerous duets together, being the only “male” and female duet couple on the gay scene. Valentines Day, marked the first ever duet Show at Zer021 Lounge. “I was so nervous, not knowing how the audience would react to me, because it was the first time I have ever done a solo performance.

After a few drinks, I was comfortable enough to do a solo and the audience reaction was unbelievable. ‘Roberto wants us back, and that says that he was happy with my performance” Kat and I are planning another show, to the request from Roberto”. Sometimes you need a show with a difference and we did.

They have also recently performed in Mossel Bay to a standing ovation. Working together, they have gone on from the pageant scene to the cabaret scene, being the first couple in Cape Town to do so. This is history in the making.

Mag 10

Pink Loerie Mardi Gras & Arts Festival Knysna 2016 in association with Malebooth

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his year’s Pink Loerie Mardi Gras and Arts Festival takes place from in Knysna, Western Cape from 27 April – 01 May. (Both 27 April and 02 May are Public Holidays), with the theme being Young at Heart and Never Been Kissed!

The Pink Loerie Mardi Gras is celebrating 16 years of the Pink Loerie and this year’s event promises to be bigger and better as it is in proud association with Bear Colony Festival and Wigstock Premium Drag Event.

There is an array of events is on offer with festivals and entertainment for young and old alike…

The organisors of the event are appealing to businesses and sponsors to become part of this amazing festival and pledge their assistance by either advertising with the Pink Loerie Mardi Gras & Arts Festival and/or sponsoring prizes or events.

The line-up once again features amazing and highly entertaining events including:: • Mr Mardi Gras South Africa 2016 • Miss Mardi Gras 2016 • Madame Wigstock 2016 • Miss Pumps 2016 • Miss Pants 2016 • Mr Bear Colony 2016 • VIP Dinner and Fundraising Auction • Farewell Lunch As they are celebrating the 16th year of success they have included 16 things to do in Knysna, 16 places of special interest in the region, 16 restaurants to visit and so much more.

Marketing and Advertising Opportunities: Annually the festival produces the Pink Loerie Magazine. This glossy offers you a special opportunity to receive your share of the much-revered pink rand! They are also offering special advertising rates for the Pink Loerie Magazine.

Last year, The Pink Loerie website received a formidable 7.5 million international and national hits from people aged between 18 - 55 years-old between 1 April and 30 May. It is important to note that this group are economically active with incomes exceeding R25 000 per month! Besides the flurry of website activities at the time of the festival, the website had a total of a further massive 9.9 million hits between January and October 2015. - indicating the increasing poplarity of the event which attracts people from all over the country.

Accommodation: It is important to announce that Pink Loerie Travel have

partnered with iGO Travel, a highly reputable travel partner) and have designed a Travel Packages for both local and international visitors.

These travel packages ensure that festive goers will get the best deals available from the ease of their arm chair.

Important Event Information: Visit us Online: www.pinkloerie.co.za | www.wigstock. co.za | www.bearcolony.co.za | www.mrmgsa.com | www. pinkloerietravel.com | www.pinkloeriemagazine.com Contact: www.pinkloerie.co.za/2016/contact-us Media Coverage: Out There PR Company - Pink Loerie 2016 and Mr Gay World 2016 - rough clipping report – www. pinkloerie.co.za/2016/media-coverage Pink Loerie Magazine: www.pinkloerie.co.za/2016/ previous-editions Accommodation: www.pinkloerietravel.com and www.igotravel. co.za/pink-loerie-mardi-gras-and-arts-festival-knysna-2016 Facebook: On a number of event sites: https://www.facebook.com/PinkLoerie https://www.facebook.com/groups/ PinkLoerieMardiGrasArtsFestivalI https://www.facebook.com/PinkLoerieTravel https://www.facebook.com/groups/ PinkLoerieMardiGrasArtsFestival2 https://www.facebook.com/groups/MissMeMardiGras https://www.facebook.com/MrMardiGrasPinkLoerie https://www.facebook.com/Wigstock https://www.facebook.com/BearColonyFestival On Twitter: @PinkLoerie, @PLTravelZA, @Bear_Colony, @ Wigstock, @MrMardiGrasSA Where to get Tickets: VIP Dinner & Fundraising Auction: https://www.quicket.co.za/ events/14302-pink-loerie-mardi-gras-arts-festival-2016-vipdinner-and-fundraising-auction Mr Mardi Gras South Africa: https://www.quicket.co.za/ events/14303-pink-loerie-mardi-gras-arts-festival-2016-presentsmr-mardi-gras-2016 Madame Wigstock: https://www.quicket.co.za/events/14547wigstock-festivals-southern-africa-presents-madamewigstock-2016 Miss Mardi Gras 2016: https://www.quicket.co.za/events/14546pink-loerie-mardi-gras-arts-festival-2016-presents-miss-mardigras-2016 Farewell Sunday Lunch: https://www.quicket.co.za/events/13158pink-loerie-mardi-gras-arts-festival-2016-farewell-sunday-lunch Mag 11

GO WEST ...

VISIT THE KEYS Once one of the premier gay destinations in in the World, Key West is having a resurgence and once again is establishing itself to a new, younger crowd of gay and lesbian travellers. If you are planning a holiday in the United States keep this island gem in mind to include in your itinerary ....

Guests at Island House

T

he Supreme Court in the United States of America legalised same-sex marriage on the 26th June last year and much to the disappointment of the evangelicals, Bible-Baptists, the extreme-right wing, the bulk of the Republican Party, rednecks and every other narrow-minded bigot in that country, plagues have not descended on the people, there have been no major catastrophes ... in fact life for all of them has carried on the same. For gay people though, the change in the law has enabled thousands of couples across the nation the opportunity and the right to marry the person they love.

For those readers who have travelled to this great country they will know that the States is a wonderful destination, offering visitors an enormous range of holiday destinations from huge cities to small country retreats, from balmy beaches to snowy mountain ski resorts. In this issue we are featuring the tiny island of Key West in Florida the most southerly point on the continental USA. We flew into Miami, a huge city and one of the most popular vacation spots in the world. After a few nights staying South Beach with its historic Art Deco architecture, glittering nightlife and beautiful bodies we hired a stretch limo to take us down along the Florida Keys to Key West. During the heady 1970’s and 80’s Key West became one of the World’s premier destinations for gay men and women. It seemed in those days that everyone on the Island was gay from the lesbian handling the luggage at the airport, to the policeman walking down main road, to the men and woman running the guest houses, bars, restaurants, gift shops, bell boys you name it. But that was back then. Then gay people bought holiday homes in the Island and every December would migrate to the Keys to escape the cold and wallow in the warm waters of the Caribbean.

Times I dare say have changed a bit with regard to the clientele .... the holiday home owners were in their 20’s then so they now hitting their 60’s and seventy’s so for some the vibe may have got a little quieter.

My partner and I travelled there for New Year and the music had changed, the clientele were still young, gay, trendy (we were invited to Calvin Klein’s house on New Year’s eve) .... the bars and the clubs vibed, and the golden sandy beaches, hotel pool areas were filled with all shapes and sizes, young and old good looking and the not so .... whilst no longer known as an exclusively gay destination the Island lives by its motto “One Human Family” proudly acknowledging that as a community they are “Close to Perfect and Far from Normal!”

On any given night there is an astonishing mix of live entertainment, concerts, sound checks, impromptu jam sessions, and

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Hemmingway House

Duval Street

The pool at Island House dance parties. And the venues vary just as widely too—from big bar blasts to crazy karaoke to howl-at-the-moon dance parties to smooth, intimate vibe lounges—there is a party waiting for you and yours. Grab a cocktail or three and get your island groove on!

Key West has 14 gay bars ... the most famous is 801 Bourbon Street which has been going for over 30 years which is a great bar and upstairs there is nightly cabaret shows.

The Bourbon Street Pub is the hottest video and dance bar in Key West is open 6 days of the week from 11:00 am to 4:00 am with Happy Hour Specials daily and dancers on the bar nightly.

Enjoy La Te Da, a beautiful Terrace Bar, with entertaining By George Piano Bar, or one of the many great performances at the upstairs Cabaret at La Te Da. Saloon One is the only gay leather bar in Key West. Where the real men come to play! Cock Shock is on every Friday @ Midnight!

At Schooners Wharf Bar you can take in great musicians while you gorge yourself of a variety of fresh seafood.

Aqua Night Club is a bar / club with drag show nightly.

Bobby’s Monkey Bar is a favourite with locals - it has a juke box, karaoke evenings and special events. Then there’s the Green Parrot Bar which has live musicians and has been proclaimed as the best venue for live music. The Hogs Breath Saloon is a great place for great entertainment and great food. A real fun place.

The Rum Bar at the Speakeasy serves spectacular cocktails and is a great place to watch the passing parade.

Key West is famous for its fresh seafood and has several award winning restaurants The Azur Restaurant is Gay owned and conveniently located in the heart of Old Town and is a locals favourite for creative Mediterranean specialities. Abbondanza Italian Restaurant has won several awards and is well worth the visit. You can also dine at La Te Da We stayed at the Island House, a very comfortable gay guest house where clothing in the pool area is optional. They have a

great restaurant where you can dine under lazy ceiling fans and rustling palms looking at naked men in the pool. The cuisine at The Café and Bar at Island House is creative and sophisticated and they have an extensive wine list.

Ricky’s Blue Heaven specialises in Caribbean cuisine, sea food and vegetarian dishes and if you want to sample local dishes this is a good place to try. But with over 38 restaurants on then island you won’t be disappointed either in the choice or the quality.

When looking for a place to stay the Island House in Fleming Street is highly recommended. As already mentioned, it is a clothing-optional resort for men with a pool-side cafe and bar.

Island House has a heated pool, fully equipped gym, sauna, steam room, two Jacuzzis, erotic video room and was recently named “The best gay men’s resort in the world,” by OUT Traveller Magazine. But if a clothing optional men only spot is not your cup-of-tea there are numerous guest houses and hotels on the Island to choose from.

Key West is not just about partying and naked men. The beaches are pristine and the weather is kind most of the year. Gay Key West is blessed with an incredible array of attractions, architecture, historic sites, theatre, concerts, art galleries, water sports, cinema, drag shows, burlesque, one-of-a-kind shops and live entertainment all year long. The beautiful, crystal clear waters are renowned as scuba divers, snorkelers, boaters, fishermen, paddle boarders, kayakers, waterskiers, and swimmers of all stripes can testify.

A day trip to Fort Jefferson, 69 miles west of Key West and the most remote property in their national park system, is a must.

For the truly adventurous there is back country kayaking, skydiving, shipwreck diving and eco-tours. On the rare rainy day on the island, there are lots of shops, art galleries, studios and the “best independent cinema in Florida” Visit Hemingway’s House and the Southernmost Buoy. Of course the most popular activity often is to do nothing at all! Want to chill? Reserve a favourite hammock or chaise lounge, break out the sun block, mix an excellent cocktail and open an interesting book. You will quickly learn why the most popular bumper sticker in Key West states: “Slow down! This AIN’T the mainland!” ... so book your next holiday and visit the Keys...

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GETTING TO GRIPS WITH LGBTIQA - xyz FLAGS Cape Town Pride has just happened and we now look forward to the country’s other pride celebrations - Durban Pride, Jo’burg, Pretoria and Soweto Prides, Limpopo Pride, Nelson Mandela Bay Pride and of course the Pink Loerie’s all later in the year. Apart form the Gay rainbow pride flag you may see a whole lot of others and wonder what or whom they represent ... Some indicate one’s sexual orientation, whilst others represent a persons gender identity or romantic attraction ...The world seems to be far more complicated than some of us think!

LESBIAN Women who are sexually, romantically or emotionally attracted to other women

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LIPSTICK LESBIAN Women who tend to fall heavily in the feminine gender spectrum

BEARS

LEATHER

A gay male subculture. Generally focus heavily on masculinity.

Some bears are described as bulky, hairy or cuddly

A predominantly gay male subculture. For men and women who dress and enjoy the feel of leather. Attracts masculine men.

Androphilia

Gynephilia

Those who are sexually attracted to men and masculinity regardless of their gender identity

Those who are sexually attracted to women and femininity regardless of their gender identity

Asexual

Demisexual

Those who feel little or no sexually attraction to anyone or anygender identity

Those who do not feel sexual attraction until a strong emotional bond has been formed.

Autosexual

Bisexual

Those who prefer self gratification over other types of sexual activity

Those people who are sexually attracted to both males and females

Pansexual

Polysexual

Those who are sexually, romantically and emotionally attracted to all genders.

Skoliosexual Those who are sexually and/ or romantically attracted to non binary identified individuals

Those whose gender identity is non binary and who are sexually, romantically or emotionally attracted to others regardless of their sexual identity Lithsexual Those whose experience sexual attraction but do not desire reciprocation for their attraction.

Transgender

Transexual

Those whose sexual identity is different to that assigned at birth

Those who emotionally and psychologically feel that they belong to the gender oppposite to their birth assignment.

Intersexual

Hermaphrodite

Those who are are born with characteristics or genitalia that are neither male nor female.

Those who have both female and male genitalia.

Androgynous

Drag / Feather

Those whose bothe male and femaile characteristics and gender identities.

Those who dress is clothing opposite to their gender - usually for personal expression and/or entertainment.

There are more, such as Genderqueer, Bigender, Gender Non-Binary, Neutrois, Trigender and Two Spirit ... however space doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t allow so check them out on google and familiarise yourself with our incredibly diverse community - enjoy Pride wherever and however you choose to celebrate it ....

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SA FASHION WE WINTER

SA Fashion Week Autumn/Winter â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;16 took place in Gauteng in the later part of last year where the runway lit up with gorgeous designs and the need to push beyond the edge.

From EPHYMOL African themes were dominated the collection

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Photographer: Simon Diener / SDR Photo

EEK AUTUMN / R 2016

Whether your taste was those presented by some of the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most well established designers or the newer designers, there was something for everyone.

Photographer: Simon Diener / SDR Photo

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From AGEO striking wearable Winter streetwear

Mag Mag 18 18

Photographer: Simon Diener / SDR Photo

Photographer: Simon Diener / SDR Photo

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ELIZABETH REMEMBERED Five years ago on the 23rd March, one of the world’s true movie stars in all senses of the word passed away. Not only did she live the part of the ultimate star but Elizabeth Taylor was a devoted supporter of LGBTI rights, a campaigner and AIDS activist - a true gay icon

E

lizabeth Rosemond Taylor was born on February 27, 1932 at Heathwood, her family’s home in Hampstead Garden Suburb,

London.

Her father Francis Lenn Taylor was rumoured to be homosexual, in fact there are reports that he moved his lover in to their family home when Elizabeth was still quite young.

The family moved to Los Angeles in 1939 settling in Beverley Hills. Her mother was encouraged to audition her “beautiful” daughter for film roles. It was her eyes in particular which drew attention; they were deep blue to the extent of appearing violet, and were rimmed by dark double eyelashes.

After a few minor roles she was given her first starring role at the age of twelve in National Velvet which became a box office success receiving both public and critical acclaim. One critic wrote that she “is rapturously beautiful ... I hardly know or care whether she can act or not.” Over the next twenty years Elizabeth starred in a number of films, some receiving high acclaim such as Giant where she starred opposite Rock Hudson and James Dean, Raintree County for which she received her first Academy Award nomination, Cat On A Hot Tin Roof which she considered a career high point. Suddenly, Last Summer in 1959, co-starred Montgomery Clift and Katharine Hepburn. Although the film was a drama about mental illness, childhood traumas and homosexuality.

Suddenly became a financial success and Taylor received her third Academy Award nomination and her first Golden Globe for Best Actress for her performance. Her next film Butterfield 8, a drama about a high-class prostitute, won her the Best Actress Oscar Next came the historical epic Cleopatra in 1963, in which she Mag 20

played the title role. According to film scholar Alexander Doty, she “emerged from the experience even more famous than she had been going into the project”. She became the first actress to be paid $1 million for a film role, and Fox also granted her ten per cent of the film’s profits. The film’s production — characterised by costly sets and costumes, constant delays, and a scandal caused by Taylor’s extramarital affair with her co-star Richard Burton— was closely followed by the media, with Life proclaiming it the “Most Talked About Movie Ever Made” It opened to mixed reviews and in retrospect, Liz called Cleopatra a “low point” in her career stating that the studio cut out the scenes which provided the “core of the characterisation”. But it was Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? in 1966, which featured the most critically acclaimed performance of her career. She and Burton starred as Martha and George, a middle-aged couple going through a marital crisis. Liz received her second Academy Award, a BAFTA, a National Board of Review and a New York City Film Critics Circle awards for her performance. She continued to make films after the success of Virginia Woolf but it was clear that her film career was in decline, making way for the new breed of actresses like Jane Fonda and Julie Christie.

Dubbed “Liz and Dick” by the media, Taylor and Burton starred together in eleven films and led a jet set lifestyle, spending millions on “furs, diamonds, paintings, designer clothes, travel, food, liquor, a yacht, and a jet”. It was said that they “became a cottage industry of speculation about their alleged life of excess. From reports of massive spending ... affairs, and even an open marriage, the couple came to represent a new era of “gotcha” celebrity coverage, where the more personal the story, the better”. In 1969, Burton famously gave her the TaylorBurton diamond, a huge 68 carat rock costing $1.1 million.

Burton wrote in his diary that “I wanted that diamond because it is incomparably lovely ... and it should be on the loveliest woman in the world”. Burton had previously bought Taylor the 33.19-carat Krupp Diamond in May 1968 at a cost of $307,000.

Taylor subsequently wore the Taylor-Burton diamond at the 42nd Academy Awards where she presented the Academy Award for Best Picture to Midnight Cowboy at the ceremony – a gay themed movie about male hustlers in New York City starring John Voigt and Dustin Hoffman

However by the early 70’s, the public were tiring their volatile marriage and over-the-top jetset lifestyle. Their last film together was Divorce His, Divorce Hers in 1973, fittingly named as they divorced the following year Taylor was both one of the last stars of classical Hollywood cinema, Hollywood’s Golden Era, and one of the first modern celebrities. During the era of the studio system, she exemplified the classic film star; portrayed as different from “ordinary” people, and with a public image carefully constructed and controlled by MGM. When the era of classical Hollywood ended in the 1960s and paparazzi photography became a normal feature in media culture, Liz came to define a new type of celebrity, whose real private life was the focus of public interest.

According to Adam Bernstein of The Washington Post, “more than for any film role, she became famous for being famous, setting a media template for later generations of entertainers, models and all variety of semi-somebodies.”[ Despite all the outward signs of her success, the one thing that has always eluded Elizabeth Taylor was happiness. This struck a note with her gay audience. Her appeal to the gay community came from not only from her beauty and celebrity, but also from this seemingly inability to find happiness. Famously married eight times, the tragic star seemed unable to find true love, and gay men the world over identified and sympathised with the tragic heroine. She was also a victim of domestic violence and sometimes lashed out herself and at times seemed to be hellbent on self-destruction, attempting suicide on one occasion and abusing her body with near-fatal cocktails of alcohol and drugs on many others.

But it was her charity work and activism addressing the AIDS crisis that cemented her gay iconic status. From the mid-1980s until her death, Taylor devoted much of her time to HIV/AIDS activism and fundraising, becoming one of the first celebrities to do so at a time when few acknowledged the disease, and helping to raise more than $270 million for the cause. Taylor started her philanthropic work in 1984, after becoming frustrated with the disease being talked about in the media, but “nobody was doing anything about it”. She began by helping to organise and

Mag 21

by hosting the first AIDS fundraiser to benefit the AIDS Project Los Angeles.

In July 1985, Taylor’s long-time friend and former co-star Rock Hudson announced that he was dying of AIDS. Together with Hudson’s physician, Dr. Michael Gottlieb, Taylor founded the National AIDS Research Foundation in California the following month. In September 1985, the organisation merged with Dr. Mathilde Krim’s New York-based AIDS foundation to form the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR).

As amfAR focuses on funding research, Taylor founded The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation (ETAF) in 1991 to raise awareness and to provide support services for people with HIV/ AIDS. She paid for its overhead costs herself; her trust has continued to do so after her death. She also arranged for 25% of her image and likeness royalties, including those from her fragrance and jewellery brands, to go to ETAF. In addition to her work for people affected by HIV/AIDS in the United States, Taylor was instrumental in expanding amfAR’s operations to other countries; ETAF also operates internationally, recently partnering with Madonna’s Raising Malawi Grassroot Soccer HIV prevention programs in Malawi.

Taylor testified before the Senate and Congress for the Ryan White Care Act in 1986, 1990 and 1992. She also persuaded President Ronald Reagan to acknowledge the disease for the first time in a speech in 1987, and publicly criticised presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton for what she perceived as their lack of interest in combatting the disease. Taylor’s other efforts included founding the Elizabeth Taylor Medical Centre to offer free HIV/AIDS testing and care at the WhitmanWalker Clinic in Washington, D.C., and The Elizabeth Taylor Endowment Fund for the UCLA Clinical AIDS Research and Education Centre in Los Angeles. Taylor’s business partner Kathy Ireland stated in 2015 that Taylor also ran an illegal “underground network” that distributed medications to Americans suffering from HIV/AIDS during the 1980s, when the Food and Drug Administration had not yet approved their use in the United States.

Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra Liz was plagued by health problems throughout her life and sadly passed away on the 23 March 2011 having lived one of the most glamorous and public lives from a very early age.

Elizabeth Taylor is undoubtedly the ultimate diva, a legend in her lifetime, blessed with unbelievable good looks, a unique acting talent, a business brain and untold wealth but there was always a dark side to every success – and it’s that vulnerability that makes her such an icon in our community.

Taylor was honoured with several awards for her philanthropic work. She was made a Knight of the French Legion of Honour in 1987 and received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 1993, the Screen Actors’ Guild Lifetime Achievement Award for Humanitarian service in 1997, the GLAAD Vanguard Award in 2000 and the Presidential Citizens Medal in 2001.

Elizabeth Taylor the AIDS activist

Elizabeth Taylor was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2000 Mag 22

CAPE TOWNâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S GAY FRIENDLY SPORTS BAR

FAREWELL TO A DEAR FRIEND

Rob Simpson, who was with OUT Magazine since its inception, was a dear friend and colleague, well-known in the Johannesburg gay scene who sadly passed away on the 22nd December, 2015.

247 Main Road, Sea Point, Cape Town Tel: 021 4439 4498

Rob will be sadly missed by all who knew him - his beaming smile, wonderful sense of humour, loyalty and kindness made him a friend to many.

Rest in peace dear friend you will be missed.

Mag 23

Daniel Dercksen shares a few thoughts with Henk Opperman, a dynamic dancer who infuses a robust energy and raw sensuality into the art of dancing.

W

hen Henk Opperman enters a room, everyone knows about it and the spotlight turns on him.

When he performs on stage, the lights illuminate his talent for communicating story through movement, and it’s an experience you will always remember.

For the last five years he has been the Principal Dancer of Sean Bovim’s vibrant dance company and wowed audiences last year in the roles of ‘Freddie Mercury’ in Queen at the Ballet as well as ‘Elvis Presley’ in Private Presley.

“Henk is a mesmerizing, multi-talented and gifted dancer who dominates South African stages with his uniquely powerful presence and performances,’’ says Bovim, who cast Opperman as Tybalt in his debut performance for Bovim Ballet in Romeo’s Kiss.

Henk started dancing at the age of six, training at the Elize Cogle Bloem Dance Connection. When he was seventeen, he represented South Africa at the Freestyle World Championships in Blackpool (UK), and in 2008, won Kyknet’s National Television program Dans!Dans!Dans! Henk went on to train at the Cape Academy of Performing Arts, and during this period was accepted into the Cape Dance Company where he has performed both Nationally and Internationally.

When you talk to Henk, his sincere and boyish charm is alluring.

He listens and responds with passion, yet keeping ardent fans at a safe distance.

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Henk Opperman in Sean Bovim’s “Private Presley”

You have many admirers but seem to shy away from attention? Why? Growing up with the incredible parental support that I had, I was always told and taught how important it is to be humble.

When I was thrown into, probably one of the most gruelling industries one can be in at a young age, it became very clean to me why staying humble and being grateful was such an important moral fibre that was instilled in me from a young age. I’ve witnessed how admiration and ‘being the spotlight’ can make people strangers to those around them. How quickly it can change beautiful souls to bitter, sour, mean and ungrateful personalities. It’s not so much that I shy away from admiration and attention but more an attempt to always stay true to myself and show humility and thankfulness. I guess sometimes it may seem like I don’t appreciate and adore the attention and admiration after a gruelling and fulfilling performance. *I’ll admit shyly* Do you think you are an introvert or extrovert? Why? If I had to pick one I would have to say extrovert. As a young boy I didn’t really speak much. I was that boy that was always overlooked in school, keeping to myself very much and even getting away with not doing my homework because teachers ‘could simply not be bothered enough about the poor boy in the corner’. *Giggles* As soon as I won Dans! Dans! Dans! my whole personality erupted and everything changed. Being a Leo star sign, it was almost as if the Leo in me broke loose and started living like there was no tomorrow. My confidence,

Photo: Pat Bromilow-Downing

HENK OPPERMAN

determination, perseverance and lust for new and exciting things were suddenly fuelled like never before. I have been told many times that I come across as an unapproachable person from time to time. But I guess that can just be that little ‘overlooked schoolboy in the corner’ putting up he’s defences ;)

Henk Opperman as Freddie Mercury in “Bohemian Rapsody”

Tell me about the man behind his craft? Who is the real Henk?

I grew up in Bloemfontein, Freestate so I’m a little Afrikaans boer seun *Giggles* although I doubt that you will say that when you meet me right now, although I am very proud of where I come from.

The prestigious Kyknet reality television program Dans! Dans! Dans! changed everything in my life. My personality erupted and a confidence that was never there, suddenly started growing as I realized there were people looking up to this young boy, looking up at me . . . self confidence and drive became my fuel to push me into a career that entitled me to live everyday practicing my god given talent that I loved with every inch of my being. I Consider myself a little bit of a psychedelic trance junkie and outdoor hippie . . . but only a little bit of course LOL! I love to creating things with my hands from designing clothes, photography, making clothes and beading - Gay I know ;) - 100% Hard worker every day, combined with 100% socializing and partying is my lifestyle choice. Do everything with every inch of YOURSELF, nothing halfheartedly.

Merely another piece of the puzzle, but here to leave my mark!

You have grown up very suddenly since swopping Bloemfontein for Cape Town? Tell me about this?

Growing up in Bloemfontein and being thrown into an adult world out of my comfort zone at, what was for me at that stage, a little bit too soon was something that I’m grateful for looking back at it now. It allowed and also motivated me to make a lot of decisions and mistakes that have taught me so much. My childhood was a very safe and protected one in a way. I have the most incredible parents that anyone can ask for and they have supported me every step of the way in all my endeavors. Sacrificing and helping me all the way in order for me to reach the point in my life that I am at now. In many ways I feel like there are a lot of things that I would’ve been ‘protected’ from, had my life not taken the turns that it has, but as an artist I yearn for growth and life experience each day. Maturing as quickly as I did though every event that Mag 25

took place in my life is something that I am forever grateful for because it allowed me to see things in different ways, experience things with a unique outlook and live every decision and consequence thereof to the fullest.

Perfection seems to be your middle now? Is there a secret to your success?

As much as we would all like to wish there was a shortcut or secret to success, I’ve also learned that succeeding and achieving in your goals and everything that you do comes with ONLY HARD WORK. When you have passion, drive and determination in every endeavor you set for yourself in life, combined with talent, skill and extremely hard work you can achieve anything that you aim to achieve. Whenever you lose focus of your goals and feel unmotivated, remind yourself what it was that made you strive for it in the first place. If you still want it that badly, half of the work is done and the rest will feel like it is not work at all. Personally it is also very important for me that, whenever I set out to pursue goals I set for myself, to take a moment and think about what it may be that is holding me back from reaching those goals, weaknesses and threats that are prohibiting me from reaching that potential. Set out to annihilate those weaknesses and threats and get ready to pick and enjoy the ‘fruits of your hard work!’

You seem to be married to dancing? Is there any time for personal relationships?

I am yet to find the relationship formula that enables someone in my position to have the time as well as love (greater than the love for my craft), to make a personal relationship work. I have and ALWAYS will believe in having a balanced lifestyle. It is a very important thing to always make time for family, friendships and social occasions in this industry. It is very easy to start isolating yourself from ‘normality’ when you love what you do as much as most performing artists do, and it happens to most of us at some point in our careers. I was fortunate enough to learn the unhealthy and negative impact in can have on you as a person, very early on. A romantic relationship is a different story, and can take a lot of sacrifice and compromise that both people have to be willing to make. I have been in several incredible relationships, the problems that have occurred in all of them have had to do with a decision being made to further my career, be it work or training.

What inspires and motivates you in your work and in life?

Unfortunately I don’t have the ‘appropriate sad tear jerking’ story, like certain people on reality television, to back up my motivation in life *Just kidding* Like I said, I grew up in a very good home with extremely supportive parents that did everything in their power to help me succeed and get to the point I am today. I’ll have to say it’s probably my dedication, drive and determination in my craft that motivates me to always strive for better and more in everything that I endeavor. It’s an unsatisfiable appetite to entertain, perform and touch people with whatever it is that I do on a stage. It is my ambition and attempt to touch even just a single person in every audience that I perform to. Making, just a single person, FEEL something when they watch me. There is no greater drive and motivation for me, that achieving that through my language that I speak with my body on stage.

Your views on the freedom of sexuality in South Africa, where we no longer have to hide in a closet?

Growing up in Bloemfontein and moving to Cape Town in 2009, Mag 26

Henk Opperman as Faun in Underground Dance Theatre Production of “Bok”

it was the most breathtakingly beautiful thing to witness how homosexuality was embraced and uplifted in a city. Over the last 5 years we gradually started seeing a different generation step in and start ridding homophobia out of our homes and towns.

People just need to keep being reminded that homosexuality is beautiful flawless love shared between people, the only difference in gender. Having the freedom to express love towards someone even though it may be considered by some to be different is a beautiful thing. We are all brought up with one fundamental principal instilled in us from birth, and that is to love every person around you, as you love yourself. With the incredible change that has taken place in our country and in our world, it allows you and me to live without fear and ‘come out of the closet’ to live a free life of love and passion with the person, race and gender we choose.

You seem to have your pulse on dancing and really make it happen without waiting for it to happen… your views on this?

If there is one thing that I have learned in my career as well as in life, it’s that if you want something and you are willing to do anything in your power to get it, you have to make it happen for yourself. Nobody in this world can fight your fights, make your goals and dreams happen for you or always fend for you. At the end of the day only you know what it is that you TRULY want, and if you’re willing to fight to make it happen you have to. I have been truly blessed since my grade 12 year of school, and I’ve been fortunate enough that a lot of opportunities have been handed to me, and I’ve also been fortunate enough to make the right decisions when it came to those opportunities and that I have always been prepared for them when they come along.

Talent and opportunities are things that we are given, it’s when these things meet trained skill and preparation that you truly become successful and make things happen!

How do you see the future for your male dancers in South Africa?

Dance in South Africa has enormous growth potential, and there are many people in the industry doing what needs to be done to nurture the talent that the young people in this country show. It is sad to know that in some parts of South Africa there is still so many unrecognized talented male dancers, because of conservative views implemented in communities. Many communities do not necessarily encourage nurturing talented young male dancers, although this is slowly being changed all around South Africa. I have been fortunate enough to equip myself with the necessary skill to make a career out of my craft, and that is the movement that I see happening in South Africa over the next couple of years for male dancers. I also want to form a part of educating male dancers and equipping them with skill wherever I can. Training male dancers to be versatile and develop a creative platform to showcase to greater extent the incredible talent and art that is already so rich here.

RED RIBBON FOUNDATION

a beacon of hope to people living with and affected by HIV/Aids Words: Glenton ‘Liberty’ Matthyse

O

n 12 December 2015, the Red Ribbon Foundation (RRF) took to Rondebosch Golf Club where it hosted its Second Annual Red Ribbon Ball. Initiated two years ago, the event gives a voice to persons living with and affected by HIV/Aids. It has quickly grown from early and humble beginnings to a major event that attracts support from various South African celebrities. Well known celebrities such as Salome Damon-Johanson, Irma G, Anton Jeftha, Soli Philander and Kim Cloete have enthusiastically dedicated themselves and pledged their support to the cause.

Continuing the wonderful work the organisation engages in, another headline event that the RRF has successfully hosted is the Igniting Change Concert. The event presents a night out where people come together to transcend the stigma attached to HIV/Aids and honour the memories of all lives lost in the fight against HIV/Aids.

The RRF was founded on three primary pillars. The young and vibrant organisation creates awareness around the stigma surrounding HIV/Aids and the effect it has on persons living with and affected by this chronic condition. It also seeks to educate people through community-based training programmes which it aims to roll out in the Mitchell’s Plain and Scottsville areas this year. Through these initiatives, the RRF calls everyone to action to spread and live the act of love beyond measure, irrespective of a person’s HIV/Aids status.

Under the dedicated leadership of Dorian Basson and his incredibly hardworking team, the organisation has already made huge inroads in communities. RRF have raised funds and distributed it to its two main benefactors, Missionary Sisters of Charity (Khayalisha) and Lizo Nobanda Day Care for HIV infected children.

If you would like to contribute to the growth of RRF and support the amazing work it does, you can do so by volunteering in its various community projects, donate non-perishable food items, clothing or any monetary donations. You can also show support by coming out to the RRF’s upcoming events. The Second Annual Igniting Change Concert will take place on Saturday, 9 April 2016 at Westend, Athlone.

For more information regarding the superb work RRF is engaged in, please contact the organisation on: Call & SMS Line: +27(0) 62 586 9576 Whatsapp Line: +27(0) 72 636 3007 Email: info@redribbonfoundation.co.za Website: www.redribbonfoundation.co.za Facebook: Red Ribbon Ball Twitter: @redribbonfound1 Instagram: rrfdorian Mag 27

SCENE OUT MCQP

Photoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Luiz Barros - www.mambaonline.com

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BEARFEST Photoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Luiz Barros - www.mambaonline.com

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NELSON MANDELA BAY PRIDE

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Photo’s Luiz Barros - www.mambaonline.com

MAMELODI PRIDE Photo’s Luiz Barros - www.mambaonline.com

Mag 31

Taking liberties!

The world outside the box.

Words: Glenton ‘Liberty’ Matthyse

When you become the image of your own imagination, it is the most powerful thing you can ever do – Ru Paul.

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ometimes we underestimate the power that our own original existence carries. Instead we often decide, knowingly or unknowingly, to buy into the existence of others and see them as having more value and importance. Instead of just being ourselves, we aspire to be like them, we subconsciously aspire to be them.

Many people love Beyoncè. Many people want to live, look and be Beyoncè. Many people loose themselves in aspiring towards “beyonceness”. ‘Beyonce’ being a metaphor for anyone popular who are elevated to being beyond the realms of ‘ordinary’ people in society and even within our own communities. Please do not misread what I mean. Having a role model you look up to is good.

However, when you want to change who you are because you like who they are more, then such aspiration ought to be questioned.

It is concerning when we blindly follow our superstars believing all that they tell us and portray to us. Take Beyonce’s recently released ‘Formation’ music video as an example. Many members of the Beyhive (dieheart Beyoncè supporters) lost themselves in Beyoncè that they were unable to appreciate the critical views of human rights activists. They seemingly were unable or reluctant to consider the effects of the imagery in the music video and disconnected lyrics on the lives and narratives of black people with poor working class struggles in a capitalist society. Many of these Beyhive supporters themselves come from and live poor black working class struggles. The fantasy of and wanting to be Beyoncè stands in stark contradiction to the reality of our everyday lives. And in as much as the fantasy portrays itself as a liberating reality, the reality is that the fantasy exudes oppression.

Trying hard to live an authentic life? Have you ever sat down and asked yourself the questions: ‘Am I being me? Or am I living a life for the pleasure of others?’ Have you ever asked yourself: ‘Am I living a life where I become what people want me to be?’ For if I am not that which they want me to be, I am no-one. A life that says that in order for me to matter as someone, I need to live up to peoples’ expectations. Indeed, I certainly know these questions and the feelings they stir all too well. Perhaps you can relate as well…

Growing up, I was constantly bombarded with peoples’ opinions and images of what they wanted me to be – this butch, heterosexual, intelligent boy. To my demise, I sought hard to find beyonces that I could role a masculine-aggressive, heterosexual model after. This is a far cry from where I am at now in my life. For a while, trying to break out of the masculine male mould which I was forced to conform to, aspiring to become and embody the imaginary of Liberty Banks was the most gender progressive step to take in my life. The creation of Liberty Banks was a rebellion against what society wanted me to be. However, as I am growing, I am realising more and more that Liberty in hirself is a persona I have constructed in the confines of a box based on realistically Mag 32

unattainable standards. Subconsciously Liberty was created to embody that which Miss South Africa, Miss World and Miss Universe embody. In this way Liberty hirself thus upholds the very foundations of gender binaries and was never truly liberated from sexual and gender oppression. Liberty became a tool of self-oppression whilst stumbling towards emancipation. In this moment of life, I am at the point of needing to push the envelope further. However, this push is not forced and unnatural. It is motivated by the internal currents of my life. It thus manifests itself externally in complex ways not easily respected by society on account of their limited understanding of human sexualities and gender identities.

My Body, a site representing aspects of my identity, a site of pleasure has also been a site of social and political warfare.

Even though I do not accept this, and even though hard, I can understand much of the ignorance and belief-systems that fuel people’s hatred towards people with non-normative sexual and gender identities. What is a little more difficult and challenging to understand is the ignorance experienced in my own community for difference. Not too long ago, I had the unfortunate experience of being confronted by someone identifying as a gay male. Very firmly and self-assured he let me understand that he never wanted to see me in clothing typically associated with guys again as I was too beautiful and glamourous to want to ‘act’ butch. You can just imagine the horror I felt in this moment! Apparently, people have the expectation that I always need to perform (hyper)femininity and maintain the illusion that I am an ‘ideal’ female. It is with this in mind that I reiterate Ru Paul’s words ‘Make no mistake, dressing up and impersonating women (at times), does not make me less of a (gay) man’.

Let me just say that by no means do I claim my manhood in this particular way in order to devalue womanhood. I was born and designated male. I am comfortable with my male body, or rather I have grown to embrace and love this male body. And apparently, claiming one’s body as a particular sex gives rise to other labels attaching to that body. And in my case, being male equates to being a man. I thus claim my space as male and man from the hegemony that masculine heterosexual, gay and transmen seek to claim over these categories to my detriment. Moving fluidly between the feminine and the masculine does not reduce the value of My Body. It is worth respecting and understanding!

There are days that I feel more masculine than feminine. There are days that I feel more feminine than masculine. There are days that I just go with the flow and don’t question or even try to determine what it is that I am feeling. I have realised that this is okay! We all feel different on different days. And if we allowed ourselves and gave ourselves permission we would probably all express ourselves in manners in which we feel comfortable, contrary to what society says. For me most days the joke is on

struggle to fit in and live our truths because we do not accept, understand and allow others (in our community and society) to live their truths, whatever that may be.

We have made it very challenging for ourselves to live authentic lives. As a person who does not want to conform I continuously experience being placed in a check-mate position. I find it extremely difficult to fathom that we are failing to adequately, as ordinary people in the LGBTIAQ communities, reconstruct various sexual and gender identities and relationships worthy of respect and understanding. As queer people, in the past century we have created the greatest opportunity ever to come our way, an opportunity to reconstruct how the world and societies understand human sexualities and gender identities. We have and are continuously opting to uphold heteronormative values such as male/female, feminine/masculine, man/woman, top/ bottom, butch/fem and their misguided and overemphasised complementary relationship. I am not saying that such identities and relationships cannot and do not legitimately exist. I am saying we are too fixated on being boxed by them as the ultimate and best model in which to live life. It feels as if we have regressed to a space of having little tolerance, let alone understanding for sexual and gender differences, outside our own construction of what ‘normal’ is. If this is true, then we have become no better than the straight, white, masculine, abled-bodied men that have historically and still currently construct our oppression. We ourselves, being products of this system, continuously seek to find innovative ways to oppress those in less privileged positions than ourselves.

Consequently, this article is my lament. This semi-naked, borderline nude, sexual, provocative photo signifies my reckoning with society and the power it thinks it has over my existence. It forms part of the process of continuously reclaiming My Body, My Pride and My Identity. My Body has experienced many moments of death and rebirth. Death and rebirth of the dominant Glenton and Liberty. A constant calling into existence of both, yet neither. A portrayal of boxed identities that are at the same time me but not me entirely. It is a manifestation of a soul that is ever seeking, ever wanting, ever discovering and ever so uncomfortably honest with itself on how it can fit in and revolt through the currents of time. It is a journey gladly undertaken in order to find moments, glimpses and spaces of happiness and contentment to live an authentic life. It is the search of a Body to exist unapologetically and live a life that many do not dare to live.

They say a picture says a thousand words. What you see is what you get! Many people make assumptions about what My Body is.

A dress and performing femininity, as a person of Colour, does not make me a woman nor does it mean that I want to be female.

A pants and needing to perform masculinity does not define my manhood or supposedly lack thereof.

This article signifies my narrative, which I have for a long time wanted to share. It is a narrative of internal struggle, pain and discomfort that yearns for liberty. But it is also my narrative of liberation in itself. Through it I wish to assert that I refuse to live a life that is fearful of the world I cannot change. I choose to live a life that seeks to change the world it refuses to live in.

us, all of us! Our oppressors, who happen to be us, are training ourselves well to police each other and punish one another every moment we step out of line in order to live our truths. We

Ru Paul said it best. Life is about using the whole box of crayons.

It is your choice if you want to colour with a few. But think about this… How would you experience the world and how would you see Others if you used all the crayons in your box? What if you don’t aspire to be the beyoncè. What if you are just you?

Mag 33

SHAMBHALA SCHOLARSHIPS Shambhala Scholarship recipients are set to help develop the LGBT community by leading its change

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he Shambhala Organisation is awarding ten R25,000 scholarships for the 2016 academic year to future leaders in the LGBT community.

The Shambhala Organisation was established by Dale Pudney, who had the vision to see LGBTI leaders continue to take their rightful place in the business world.

The objective of the scholarship initiative is to improve the image of the LGBTI community as a whole by outlining LGBTI role models, developing LGBTI leaders and showcasing mainstream gay life so that people can be proud to be part of the LGBTI community. Not an easy task indeed!

The 10 scholarship recipients were competing against 40 applicants in three rounds of applications. The aim was not to choose the best 10 out of the applicants, but to select the candidates who demonstrated that they are worthy of the scholarship.

The Shambhala Organisation launched a promotion and awareness campaign to ensure that we received applications from many high calibre individuals. The effort of this was positive.

We are looking for leaders, people who are doing something for their communities, doing it for the good of others; because they will be successful in whatever they put their mind to and contribute to achieving the organisation’s objectives.

The selection process was a collaboration effort between five leaders from a range of backgrounds, who have volunteered their time and efforts to find candidates who can make the biggest difference in the LGBT community, to showcase the aspects of gay life that we can be proud of, through: · Natural leadership qualities · Evidence of activism (#DoSomething) · Ability to achieve great things · Likelihood of promoting The Shambhala Organisation The recipients all have a good balance between activism and leadership in order to effect change and improve their chosen

Mag 34

spheres. A lot of applicants who are academically strong in their fields, did not make the grade for the scholarship, because the focus is on leadership and people who can effect change. Therefore, while the selection process is very subjective, the committee’s assessment of the individual applicants were well aligned.

The recipients for 2016 are Jett Jones (Tjaard du Plessis), Khayalethu Gwala, Kudakwashe Masamvu, Nigel Patel, Pieter du Plessis, Seoketsi (Tshepho) Mooketsi, Steph Jansen van Vuuren and Winston Sussens. The final two will be awarded shortly.

While enabling the students to study towards a career in leadership positions in various types of organisations, the recipients are required to give back by doing community service. While this was left to the recipients own discretion in 2015; in 2016, each recipient has personalised action plans built into their scholarship agreements. These action plans include the development of a non-profit organisation for trans activism, a business seeking to provide a safe environment for LGBT youth to interact (as a counter to all the hook-up apps), LGBT affinity groups to overcome discrimination in university residences as well as marketing for The Shambhala Organisation and its affiliate companies and initiatives.

The Shambhala Scholarship program will continue to grow and adapt according to the changing needs of the community; assisting to improve the environment so that even more can be done more of the community can be proud to be gay.

Please go like the page on Facebook at TheShambhalaOrg, get involved and #DoSomething.

MARCH diary Friday 4th Leather Night Free entrance with leather gear · Friday 11th Long Schlong Night Free entrance for 20cm + · · Friday 18th Fetish Night – Indulge your fantasies · Sunday 20th Equinox Human Rights Day – Celebrate your right to be gay in Africa · Wednesday 23rd Full Moon – Celebrate hedonism with free libation wine · Thursday 24th Bad Thursday Party – You know you want it bad. We’re open all Easter · Friday 25th Public Pigz Night Be a pig on the bar counter for an entrance refund · Sunday 27th Family Day Party – Cum escape the family APRIL diary Friday 1st Leather Night Free entrance with leather gear · Friday 8th Long Schlong Night Free entrance for 20cm + · Friday 15th Fetish Night – Indulge your fantasies · Friday 22nd Full Moon – Celebrate hedonism with free libation wine · Tuesday 26th Freedom Day Cum Be Free · Friday 29th Public Pigz Night Be a pig on the bar counter for an entrance refund MAY diary Sunday1st Worker’s Day – Cum Work It · Friday 6th Leather Night Free entrance with leather gear · Friday 13th Long Schlong Night Free entrance for 20cm + · Sunday 14th Valentine’s Day Party Cum be everyone’s Valentine · Friday 20th Fetish Night – Indulge your fantasies · Saturday 21st Full Moon – Celebrate hedonism with free libation wine · Friday 27th Public Pigz Night Be a pig on the bar counter for an entrance refund Also, Mondays: Daddies & Toy Boys - R30 entrance between 6 & 9 for under 20s and over 50s Thursdays: Student Night. Free entrance 6-9, R30 thereafter with student card.

Mag 35

KILLER LEGS

Legs are often the most neglected part of the body when it comes to getting in shape. We see it in Cape Town during the holiday season when the gyms fill up with visitors from up country. Great upper bodies, chests, arms and shoulders but as oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gaze drops below the waist those neglected legs are most disappointing. To some of us, big, strong, shapely legs are the biggest turn on... Here are a few excersises that will pack on slabs of leg muscle that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve never known before!

A few kick-ass supersets for more shapely thighs and glutes so you can rock the heck out of those jeans.

Goodluck!

Mag 36

The quadriceps femoris also called simply the quadriceps, quadriceps extensor, or quads, is a large muscle group that includes the four prevailing muscles on the front of the thigh. It is the great extensor muscle of the knee, forming a large fleshy mass which covers the front and sides of the femur.

LUNGES

LUNGES

Stand with your feet hip-width apart, holding dumbbells at your sides. Take one giant step forward with your right foot, and upon your foot’s landing, bend your right knee at a 90° angle, making sure your knee stays behind your toes, while simultaneously bending your left leg toward the floor.

Push yourself back up to your starting position, and repeat the movement. Try to do 3-4 sets of 8-12 reps on each side; if you see that you can do more, without feeling a burn, increase the weight of the dumbbells you are holding, until 12 reps is a challenge.

Muscles worked: glutes, quads, calves CALF RAISES Standing with your heels hanging off the edge of a step, holding dumbbells by your sides, push yourself up onto your toes, and slowly come down. Again, aim for 3-4 sets of 8-12 reps, increasing the weight if you feel that it is not challenging enough.

Muscles worked: calves Leg Curls Climb onto the leg curl machine, gripping the handlebars and placing the foot pad just above your heels. Bend your legs, bringing your heels toward your buttocks, but not touching it; slowly bring them back down. Do 3-4 sets of 8-12 reps, making sure you are using enough weight.

CALF RAISES LEG CURLS

Muscles worked: calves, hamstrings LEG EXTENSIONS Sit on the leg extention machine, with your knees bent and the foot pad on your shins. Straighten your legs, until they are parallel to the floor. Then bring them back down. You guessed it: 3-4 sets, 8-12 reps.

Muscles worked:quads

DEAD LIFT

Dead Lifts Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, making sure not to lock your knees. Hold a barbell loaded with weights, palms facing down, hands shoulder-width apart, making sure not to lock your elbows. Keeping your back straight, bend forward at the waist, bringing the barbell down near your ankles. Using your hamstrings and your buttocks (not your back), come back up to your starting position, with a slight thrusting motion. You know the drill.

Muscles worked: hamstrings, glutes Leg Press Climb into the leg press machine, place your feet hip-width apart on the platform, with your toes facing slightly outward.

Lower the platform until your knees are at a 90° angle. Press the platform back up until your legs are nearly straight; do not lock your knees. Do 3-4 sets of 8-12 reps.

Muscles worked: quads, glutes, calves, hamstrings

LEG PRESS

LEG EXTENSIONS

THE SCIENCE Of BEING GAY We are always asking ourselves the question “why am I gay?”

Especially when one is raised in the same home, attended the same school, mixed with the same people and were exposed to the same influences as our straight siblings. Science has come up with some of the answers ... do these findings apply to you ....?

AROUND 10% OF THE WORLD’S HUMAN POPULATION IS GAY 3.5%

20%

There is no consensus estimates range from 3.5 - 20% of the population

HOMOSEXUAL BEHAVIOUR HAS BEEN OBSERVED IN

DUCKS & GEESE MATE FOR LIFE 4 - 5% OF ALL GOOSE & DUCK COUPLES ARE GAY

DWARF CHIMPANZEES LIONS THE ENTIRE SPECIES TO ENSURE LOYALTY, MALE IS BI-SEXUAL LIONS WILL HAVE SEX, STRENGTHENING BONDS

BIRTH ORDER may be a factor in

DETERMINING SEXUAL ORIENTATION Mag 38 Mag 38

PENGUINS

DOLPHINS

GIRAFFE

HAVING OLDER BROTHERS MAY INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD THAT A MAN WILL BE GAY Older sisters don’t have that effect and it doesn’t matter if the brothers grow up in the same home

THE ODDS OF A MAN BEING GAY INCREASE BY

33%

for every additional older brother that he has

15%

can attribute their homosexuality to birth order according to research

of gay men

WHY WOULD BIRTH ORDER BE A FACTOR?

A study published in the Quarterly Review of Biology suggests that EPIGENETICS are the biological driving force behind sexual orientation.

EPI .... WHAT!???

Epigenetics are inheritable factors that regulate DNA, switching genes on and off

Epigenetic changes have evolved to benefit adults but are sometimes passed to their children.

Epigenetics may be responsible for the response in mothers of multiple sons.

After giving birth to sons, the mothers body may fight the production of another male by “feminising” sexual orientation.

Inherited epigenetic markers may explain why homosexuality seems sometimes to run in families, despite the lack of a “gay gene” confirmation

TWIN BROTHERS IN A STUDY OF 400 SETS OF TWINS RESEARCHERS AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY FOUND GENE MARKERS THAT MAY CONTRIBUTE TO SEXUAL ORIENTATION THIS STUDY FOUND THAT GAY MEN SHARE GENETIC SIGNATURES ON PART OF THE X-CHROMOSOME

XQ28 So the next time somebody asks, “how did you become gay?” you can confidently tell them ... its in the genes.

Mag 39

DEW ON THE LILY Words: H4M contributing writer - Mickey Diablo

I

t’s the appetizer before the main course, the Royal Variety Performance preceding the NYE fireworks, the isolated showers which herald the Highveld storm. I could wax lyrical a little longer but I think you get the point… The fact is that precum is not the main event, it’s not necessarily that exciting, and it frequently goes unnoticed.

So what exactly is this colourless, viscous appetizer, and how, if at all, does it differ from cum? Quite simply, precum is the clear liquid that is secreted from the urethra after sexual arousal (either visual or physical) prior to ejaculation. It is referred to rather clinically as pre-ejaculate, preseminal fluid, Cowper’s fluid and, more colloquially, as precum.

Precum originates primarily from two pea sized bulbourethral glands (also known as Cowper’s glands) located below the prostate, which release their secretions directly into the rear of the urethra.

The Cowper’s glands are supported in turn by the smaller Littré glands located in the penis along the urethra. Precum’s composition is similar to that of cum, and yet it has some significant chemical differences. There has been mass debate regarding the presence of sperm in precum. Studies, however, have been conflicting, with some not having found any viable sperm in precum, while others have found that a subset of men leak sperm into their precum.

The statistically small numbers of participants in the various studies, however, have rendered any decisive conclusions elusive. Bad news then, for those of us practising coitus interruptus (the “pull out” method of contraception in straight sex)!

So now that we know what precum is, the next logical question is why do our bodies produce it, and what is its function? Owing to the fact that acidic environments are hostile to sperm, precum acts to neutralise residual acid levels in the urethra caused by urine, thereby creating more favourable pH neutral conditions for the survival of the sperm on its passage through the urethra. Precum also acts as a lubricant during sex, although depending on the quantities that your guy produces, you may not want to put away that lube tube just yet.

Amongst the men that I’ve, ahem, come across (and I’ve come across a few) their precum production levels were as varied as their dick sizes. Many guys produce no precum at all, while others experience slight to moderate discharge, which may leak onto their underwear. Others still may produce a Mag 40

squirting discharge (as much as 5ml and more).

Many men may find excessive precum production a source of embarrassment. Its also important to bear in mind that the production of precum should not be confused with premature ejaculation, which is another matter entirely. There are a huge number of geographical and cultural variations in the reported incidence of excessive precum production. With these factors in mind, it is difficult to say whether the difference is really excessive precum, or the social and cultural acceptability thereof.

My advice is to look on precum, including “excessive” production, as normal, desirable and pleasurable, as opposed to something dirty or shameful. For those who are still concerned, take comfort from the fact that the amount of precum produced usually declines with age. And if all else fails, there is medical treatment available, although most guys would do well to realise that this approach involves an element of using a sledgehammer to crack a nut (or to bust a nut as the case may be…)

On a rather more serious note, studies have been interpreted to suggest that, in men who are HIV positive, a small amount of the virus can be found in their precum although this is at significantly lower levels than that found in cum. Evidence suggests that precum carries a very low risk of HIV transmission, but this body fluid becomes much more significant when we look at other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Precum from a guy with gonorrhea, chlamydia or syphilis could be infectious. One’s risk of contracting an STI is not limited to HIV, gonorrhoea, chlamydia and syphilis, however. Other infections that can be spread through precum include herpes, HPV (the virus that causes genital or anal warts) and hepatitis.

So it seems that, as innocuous as this distillate of love may first appear, precum not only has very clearly defined biological functions, but also that we ignore the potential sexual health risks inherent in STI transmission at our peril. Perhaps some of you guys, newly armed with this information, may now have a fresh appreciation when admiring the glistening dew on the lily before the rain showers commence (and I’m not talking about flowers. Or the weather.)

The views expressed in this article is that of the writer’s. To find out more about Health4Men or to find your nearest gayfriendly clinic please visit www.health4men.co.za.

PUTTING MYTHS ABOUT PREP TO BED The Medicines Control Council (MCC) has recently registered the use of a combination of two antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) as a form of preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) medication to reduce HIV infection in HIV-negative individuals. This had led to widespread speculation.

Professor James McIntyre, CEO of the Anova Health Institute, aims to dispel some of the myths surrounding this powerful weapon in the fight against HIV.

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he Anova Health Institute is an NGO dedicated to improving health of all South Africans with particular emphasis on HIV. The organisation is currently spearheading WETHEBRAVE.co.za, the first large scale sexual health campaign ever in South Africa to specifically address gay men and other men who have sex with men (MSM) – the country’s most at risk population for HIV acquisition and transmission.

MYTH: PrEP cannot protect me from getting HIV Multiple clinical trials and research studies have proven that PrEP can safely add up to 92% protection against HIV when taken daily. In real life settings, PrEP has prevented 100% of HIV infections among large populations of gay men.

Furthermore, the World Health Organization (WHO) fully supports men who have sex with men using PrEP to prevent getting HIV.

MYTH: Using PrEP will make me feel unwell because of side effects For most people, PrEP will not cause side effects at all.

However, a small proportion may get minor side effects such as nausea but these generally go away after a few weeks. It is important to note that PrEP can cause a very rare but serious side effect which could negatively affect kidney function but your medical provider will check to see if you are susceptible to this side effect before you are prescribed the drug and monitor your kidneys once you are on it.

MYTH: If I start PrEP I will have to take it for the rest of my life When you are taking PrEP it is very important for you to take it every day. However, you can stop taking PrEP all together if you no longer think that you need it. This is similar to how women can take the birth control pill – when on it, they have to take it every day but if they aren’t worried about getting pregnant they can go off of it.

MYTH: I can take PrEP only when I need it on the days when I think I will have sex PrEP should be taken once daily in order to get the most protection from it. Daily dosing is recommended based on the best available evidence from clinical trials. PrEP takes seven to ten days to reach its highest level of protection.

Good HIV protection has been demonstrated if pills are taken four or more days per week, but the best level of protection occurs with daily pill taking. If you take PrEP less than four times a week and are exposed to HIV, you risk becoming infected.

MYTH: I can safely stop using condoms if I take PrEP If you take PrEP and do not use condoms when you have sex, you will still have up to 92% protection against HIV. Adding condoms will provide additional protection against other STIs. Bear in mind that PrEP does NOT protect against other Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), such as syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhoea or HPV. Some of these STIs are curable but others can require lifelong treatment. If you are taking PrEP and not using condoms, you should increase the frequency of your STI testing. This should include tests for STIs around your penis, anus and in your throat, as these are typical locations where men who have sex with men may be infected.

MYTH: Taking PrEP will make me test HIV positive The medications used in PrEP will not make you test HIVpositive. You will only test HIV positive if you have been infected with HIV and your body is producing HIV anti-bodies.

MYTH: Taking PrEP is expensive PrEP is not yet available for free through public clinics and is only covered by some medical aids but it can be purchased for approximately R260 – R500 per month from a pharmacy, with a doctor’s script.

MYTH: PrEP is only needed for guys who bottom (receptive anal sex) PrEP should be used by men who bottom, top, or who are versatile. The drug will provide protection against HIV regardless of your sexual positioning.

“Understanding the realities of taking PrEP can encourage more HIV-negative men who have sex with men to be brave enough to come forward and accept this potentially lifesaving medication.

Our challenge now is to work towards removing barriers to access,” concludes McIntyre.

For more information on the WETHEBRAVE.co.za campaign visit www.wethebrave.co.za or join the conversation on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

Mag 41

A DOG’S LIFE Acceptance, tolerance, unconditional love … these are things dogs give everybody, but gay people haven’t always been the beneficiaries of such gifts from their fellow humans, so for us that pooch, little or large, tends to be pampered and spoiled and is our one constant companion.

F

inding a permanent boyf or (girlfriend if you’re a woman) is difficult enough. A lot of the gay guys I know seem to find it difficult to hang on to any of the hot guys they meet, be it on a dating site, or in a club or at the vegie section in the local supermarket when handling the cucumbers … for many their lives are an endless string of brief encounters and one-night stands.

To counteract the empty house syndrome, many gay people get themselves a furry friend, dog or cat, who will be company in the quiet alone times and something on whom to shower gifts, affection and attention. And wow, do pets just love their gay owners. Then when their master / mistress finds a partner, they become the kids! And generally in a gay home there aren’t any real ones to play second fiddle to! These little treasures get to enjoy the benefit of two incomes, the constant attention of two humans and that royal treatment that only a queen can give out.

Be it diamante collars, brightly coloured rainbow leashes and when it’s winter the softest, most colourful jackets and jerseys.

They often get taken everywhere, especially if there’s a gay gathering, like pride and get paraded around or cuddled like the latest fashion accessory or clutch-bag and are oohed and aahed by loads of other humans. They don’t get hauled or dragged around by children intent on turning their existence into a miserable one – otherwise known as a dog’s life. For a gay pet a dog’s life is something quite different. .

.In fact what you’ll get is approving looks when you talk to him or ask his opinion. In return, all you have to do is give them food, water and a little love - there’s no schooling, pocket money, monthly visits to doctors and dentists, afterschool activities and no annoying sleep overs (unless your Grindr friend brings his pooch too!), there’s no endless parade through shops for clothes they going to grow out of, any clothes you buy are for yourself!

Dogs are also have a lot in common to most of the gay men I’ve met. They are great company,( well most of the time). They’re self-centred, demanding more and more attention all the time, they also sleep around and are not too fussy about who they have a brief sexual encounter with. They are supportive and loyal - Oh yes, we love our furry friends!

Now having a special cat or dog is a long-term commitment. Unlike that gorgeous young man you met on Gaydar or Scruff you can’t just dump your little pet when he does something wrong.

No this little treasure you get as a puppy will live for years. He will always have to be considered, which means you can’t just move wherever and whenever you like, perhaps pets are not allowed. He or she will have to be considered if you go out or away. He or she will need to be exercised daily, potty-trained and cleaned up after, will need to be parloured and pampered, fed and cared for. In Andrew DeBriscoes book WOOF: A Gay Man’s Guide To Dogs he says, “gay men tend to spoil their dogs, treating them like true family and giving them high priority. For lots of gay men, dogs exist as substitutes for lovers, children, close family, and maybe even good friends. Unlike most of our lovers, dogs truly enjoy being used and don’t panic when they

It’s true, just take a moment to look at your gay friends with pooch or a pussy (one that miows!)and I am sure you will agree that nine times out of ten, that lucky little darling is more pampered than the children of any of your straight friends. I’m not saying that hetero people don’t love their animals, it’s just that us gays, we luurve ours.

Our little (and large) treasures don’t answer back, don’t complain about the colours we dress them in, don’t talk out of turn in front of friends, strangers, tricks, customers or any other hottie that crosses our path. They also don’t criticise if your boyfriend is not the neatest, cleanest, cleverest , best looking or even if you pay him now and again. No your pet will go along with whatever or whom-ever you choose without complaining Mag 42

decide that you’re devoting too much time to them. Dogs believe in commitment and are defined by their loyalty.”

For us gay men who truly love and live for our dogs, they are on the top of the list, right above our partners, parents, friends and personal trainers.” Just ask Benji ….

OUT TO LUNCH A TASTE OF SPAIN VICKY CHRISTINA

extensive Tapas menu.

VickyCristina’s & Conquistabar - Tapas & Bar 011 3251263 or 082 3554554 The Colony Shopping Centre 345 Jan Smuts Avenue Craighall Park hydepark@vickycristinas.com

We chose the Paella, Moorish Lamb, Grilled Chicken Skewers, Chorizo Prawn Skewers, Pork Belly with Apple, Fillet Steak Stack, Crispy Calamari and a Drunken Waldorf Salad. After a short wait the dishes started to arrive, filling the table with a feast of food and mouthwatering aromas.

VickyCristina’s is inspired by the flavours of Spain. Their passion for food encompassing many aspects of Spanish cuisine, as well as traditions and dishes created by their Hispanic cousins in Latin America. So whilst they indulge their love of tapas, they have also embraced Catalonia’s coca - a flatbread that predates pizza - and added the grilled beef beloved by the Basque people to Spain’s obsession with pork and seafood.

Traditional dishes share the table with reinterpretations of Spanish flavours, and you’ll find some familiar favourites in a different guise.

There are VickyCristina’s restaurants in Camps Bay in Cape Town, Craighall Park in Johannesburg, and Hillcrest in Durban. We sampled the one at The Colony shopping centre in Craighall ….

We arrived at the restaurant for lunch on an day when Johannesburg was experiencing a heat wave and were welcomed in to the cool dark interior of the restaurant a refreshing respite from the extreme heat outside. The waiter immediately took our drinks order and whilst we perused the menu, we gulped down glasses of sparkling water and sipped our drinks.

There were four of us in the party and we decided to order a variety of dishes for the table – which we chose from their

We sampled all everything – my favourite has to be the Moorish Lamb and the Chorizo Prawn Skewers were to die for. – skewered prawn tails wrapped in shaved Spanish choriza, succulent and delicious. The fillet a favourite of one of our party was cooked to perfection, slightly underdone but not bleeding. I always find chicken a bit dry but these were deliciously spiced with cumin and paprika and left my taste buds screaming for more. The Moorish Lamb is cubed and slow cooked with cumin, cinamin, raisins, sultanas and almonds. Paella is not always cooked right, but Vicky Christina’s Paella was gorgeous. I could have eaten the whole dish but we were sharing… What a feast!

Having skipped house specialities we found space to sample the deserts. I chose my all-time fave – Crème Brulee the sugar crust was perfect and the baked custard was sensational. My partner had the Cherry Cheesecake, whilst the others in the group selected a Chocolate Lava ( Chilli Chocolate Lava ckae with ice cream) and the Sangria Poached Pear and judging by the fact that nothing was left behind, were also a tasty as mine.

What a triumph! Fortunately they have opened a restaurant in Camps Bay so I don’t have to wait till I’m back in Jo’burg to have another awesome meal.

MagMag Mag 43 41 43

CLASSIC GAY MUST SEES

W

hilst it was officially not a gay movie or even a gay-themed movie, I always considered to be one. Top Gun, a movie about students at the United States Navy’s elite fighter weapons school compete to be best in the class – the Top Gun. The movie is filled with sexual tension in a testosterone driven environment.

The volleyball and numerous locker room scenes are a delight to the eye as buffed boys show off their awesome physiques, whilst hugging and high-fiving their way through the movie.

Another classic movie, released in 1996 which is gay, screams gay and is brilliant entertainment is The Birdcage with Robin Williams, a hysterically amusing Nathan Lane and Gene Hackman. The story if you haven’t seen it centres on a gay cabaret owner and his drag queen partner who agree to put up a false straight front so that their son can introduce them to his fiancée’s right-wing moralistic parents. ...The movie is a laugh a minute and very entertaining and whilst it is a remake of the French classic La Cage Aux Folles which purists think is a cheap Americanisation, I thought it was brilliant.

Quentin Tarantino famously noted the film’s homoeroticism and suggestive undertones accusing the film of having a strong gay subtext. The locker room encounters between Maverick (Tom Cruise) and his nemesis, Iceman (played by the sultry Val Kilmer), you can cut the sexual tension with a knife.

As Tarantino once pointed out, this ambiguously gay duo’s relationship arguably forms the core of the film: It is only after he is tempted by the heterosexual life, embodied by Kelly McGillis, says Tarantino, that the “dangerous” Maverick can come to terms with his sexuality and announce that Iceman is his “wingman” in the film’s climactic scene.

But even the scenes with Kelly McGillis are questionable. In the first he doesn’t sleep with her but instead jumps on his Harley and roars off in to the sunset, keeping her and us guessing.

When he does finally make out with her she is dressed in baseball cap and jeans, looking very much like a guy.

Then there’s the dialogue: “Get your butts above the hard deck,” “I want somebody’s butt, I want it now” and numerous other gems come to mind all too easily.

So it appears I am not the only one who sees the film as a closeted gay epic!

Top Gun is 30 years old, released in 1986. I caught it on Netflix the other day and enjoyed it just as much as the first time round.

A long-awaited sequel Top Gun 2 is in the works, with Tom Cruise reprising his role as airman Pete “Maverick” Mitchell.

Kilmer has agreed to play the role of Iceman but he will need to get on a healthy low carb diet to match up to Cruise’s hot looks. However, let’s hope this one is more frank when it comes to the gay sub-plot especially now that President Obama has proclaimed that gays in the military are ok!

Mag 44

Also released 20 years ago and not to be missed is Beautiful Thing, a British movie about the coming out of two young boys who live on a council estate. The movie is an alternately somber and witty coming-of-age drama, featuring Jamie played by Glen Berry and an athletic Ste (Scott Neal).

Beautiful Thing is tender and sweet in the way it builds up the boys’ friendship. They’re refugees from a hostile world, and while they initially resist the temptation to show affection toward each other, the tug proves irresistible. It also features other characters, a tough single mother, a brutal violent, homophobic father, but my fave is Leah (played by Tameka Empson), who lives a risky life and dreams of becoming a pop singer in the mold of Mama Cass. She is a hoot and brilliant, but a bout of despondency and her ventures into drugs and alcohol prompt others in the complex to take stock of their lives.

Beautiful Thing isn’t particularly deep, nor is it a great piece of filmmaking, but it’s so sweet-natured and well-acted that it’s hard to resist.

MUSIC MOVES

I

t was the biggest event in pop last year, and probably this year, too: the release of Adele’s third album, 25. broke records with her hit song Hello and the album, make her officially the biggest-selling artist of 2015.

The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), said that the British singer was the top-selling musical act last year based on worldwide sales of recordings.

Adele achieved the feat for the full year even though she did not release 25 until 20 November and declined to put the album on streaming sites, a rare move at a time when such on-demand services are growing rapidly.

Adele’s third album which came more than four years after its predecessor – broke records for first-week sales in both the United States and Britain.

The first track Hello, an introspective ballad, was the first single to be downloaded more than one million times in the United States in one week. With three years gone by since last smash hit single Skyfall, the singer/songwriter blew away any completion with Hello – the dramatic song from its mournful piano chords that build into that searing, soaring climax together with her powerhouse vocal workout is testament to Adele’s incredible talent.

The second track on the album, Send My Love (To Your New Love), “falls into that classic pop tradition of transforming a turn-down into a lover’s rebuke”, when she sings “We both know we ain’t kids no more I forgive it all – you set me free,” she is vocalising a sentiment shared by a zillion broken hearts the world over.

The third track, I Miss You is a retro soul number which “pushes Adele to delve deep and channel the inner Winehouse” and is a track that will grow on you and you’ll find yourself listing to it more and more. On the 4th track When We Were Young, Adele belts out “You look like a movie, you sound like a song in that tender, rousing piano fashion that she is so brilliant at doing. Heart-felt and touching a nerve Adele manages to get in touch with her audience in a personal emotional way. The emotion continues with Remedy co-written with Ryan

Tedder. Adele’s in solo piano mode for perhaps her most earnest expression of devotion to date. It’s hard to resist the bone-chilling vocal delivery – as she pledges to be her lover’s Remedy for most of the world’s woes.

By now the record’s slow pace is starting to drag ever-so-slightly, which is rescued with the next track Water Under the Bridge – This number has a beat, a groove, and a huge melodramatic chorus with pummelling reverb-laden drums straight from a 1980s power-ballad. A pop sing-along which sacrifices none of Adele’s trademarked intimacy. It would make a smart choice for the album’s second single.

Next comes River Lea - “Everybody tells me it’s time I moved on, I need to learn to lighten up and learn to be young,” begins Adele, in the half-spoken intro, but what threatened to shine soon dissipates into mid-tempo plodding electro,. Not her best.

Love in the Dark is another mournful piano ballad. Which is followed by Million Years Ago a delight, because it pushes its singer out of the tried and trodden. Over a jazzy, chord sequence,

Adele offers a broken confession which benefits from the smaller, intimate production. She actually sounds on the edge of tears in the first chorus. “I’m not the only one, who regrets the things I’ve done – I wish I could live a little more,” she cries. And we believe her.

All I Ask with its tidy, fast piano patterns is a dated derivative ballad, recalling the likes of Celine Dion, Whitney Houston and a host of 1990s singers. However, despite the hearty whiff of a karaoke-classic-in-waiting – big key-change and all – All I Ask certainly doesn’t sound like Adele.

Save the biggest for last – after a short verse Sweetest Devotion erupts into a rousing, gospel-tinged chorus, before taking a country-ish, rock radio pounce and building into a stadium-ready outro.

This is sure to become one of her torchsongs and will be requested at concert after concert. Overall this album is better than 21? It’s more mature.

IFPI chief executive Frances Moore, , called 25 the “runaway global sensation of 2015” and said Adele’s achievement was “simply phenomenal.”

Acknowledgements: Rob Garratt (The National) Mag 45 Mag 45

OUT ON FILM

LET’S GO TO THE MOVIES WITH DANIEL DERCKSEN

WOMEN IN LOVE The difficulties faced by a lesbian police detective and her domestic partner is explored in Freeheld (25/3), based on the 2007 documentary short film of the same name about police officer Laurel Hester’s fight to allow her pension benefits to be transferred to her domestic partner after being diagnosed with terminal cancer.

Two friends confront the trauma of breast cancer in Miss You Already (7/4), and moms collide in the comedy Mothers Day (6/5)

Visit Let’s Go to the Movies on Facebook or visit www.writingstudio.co.za

HAVE A LAUGH When a beloved kitten, Keanu (29/4) is catnapped, two cousins impersonate ruthless killers in order to infiltrate a street gang and retrieve the purloined feline.

Tina Fey plays a war correspondent in Afghanistan and Pakistan during Operation Enduring Freedom who develops a crazy relationship with a fellow journalist from Scotland(Martin Freeman) in Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (13/5), three retired men (Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, Alan Arkin) hatch a scheme to rob a bank in Going In Style (20/5), and Melissa McCarthy plays an ex-convict who tries to rebrand herself as America’s latest sweetheart in The Boss (27/5).

ADVENTURE FOR ALL The Jungke Book (15/4) is an all-new live-action epic adventure about Mowgli (newcomer Neel Sethi), a man-cub who’s been raised by a family of wolves; Chris Hemsworth and Charlize Theron return for the dark fantasy The Huntsman: Winters War (22/4); and Alice returns to the whimsical world of Underland and travels back in time to save the Mad Hatter in Alice Through The Looking Glass (27/5)

THE ART OF FILMMAKING With Knight Of Cups,(11/3) Terrence Malick is very much a storymaker in search of meaning, and through his journey of finding and answer to the essence of live, love and art, he allows us to reconnect with our own our own personal journey into ourselves and our place in this world. This is the story of a lonely a comedy writer Rick (Christian Bale) who longs for something other, something beyond the life he knows, without knowing quite what it is, or how to go about finding it.

ZOMBIES & THINGS THAT GO BUMP IN THE NIGHT England is overrun with the undead, upending genteel Victorian mores and Mag 46

Freeheld turning the bucolic countryside into a war zone in Pride And Prejudice And Zombies (4/3); a mother who struggles with the loss of her son opens the door between the worlds of the living and the dead, unleashing a horrific figure in the form of her son in the supernatural horror The Other Side Of The Door (11/4); a woman goes into Japan’s Suicide Forest to find her twin sister, and confronts supernatural terror in The Forrest (15/4), a man discovers a terrifying Satanic cult and human sacrifice rituals in Regression (6/5); a boy’s darkest nightmares comes alive and wreaks havoc in the superb Before I Wake (20/5).

THE END OF THE WORLD A virus wipes out half of the population in Viral (25/3), a worldwide chemical attack leaves Earth’s surface uninhabitable in 10 Cloverfield Lane (8/4), in the wake of a disaster that wipes out most of civilization two men and a young woman find themselves in an emotionally charged love triangle as the last known survivors in Z For Zachariah (8/4), and in a futuristic utopian society, human emotions have been eradicated and everyone lives in peace but when a new disease surfaces in Equals (27/5)

LOCAL IS VERY LEKKER A woman return from New York to help her widower father run the struggling family farm in Sonskyn Beperk (11/3); two best friend’s come up with a wacky money-making scheme in Safe Bet (11/3); a Mozambican domestic worker in Johannesburg is forced to make a lifechanging decision after her daughter dies while under the care of her employer in Sink (18/3); Modder en Bloed (1/4) deals with a Boer warrior and family man whose wife and only child were killed by British soldiers during the Anglo-Boer War; Mignon Mossie Van Wyk ( 15/4) tells of a girl who learns to fly; a random act of kindness sparks a forbidden love affair between a white girl and an Indian man during the Apartheid system in South Africa in Free State (29/4); Verskietende Ster (29/4) tells of a talented 15-year-old pianist whose genius is threatened by the weight of the world; a woman is left penniless on an island paradise after her husband disappeares in Mrs Right Guy (29/4); Cry Of Love (6/5) is an authentically African musical featuring the cream of local musical talent; Uitvlucht (13/5) tells the story of a teacher who through an extramarital affair loses everything that matters to her in life and finds a job at a farm school where she learns to forgive herself, and Casper De Vries’ Snaaks Genoeg (27/5) hits the big screen.

LIVE THEATRE ON THE BIG SCREEN In Christopher Hampton’s irresistible Les Liaisons Dangereuses (5/3) sex, intrigue and betrayal in pre-revolutionary France causes an uproar; Shakespeare’s glorious comedy of love and change As You Like It (19/3) celebrates romance; everyone wants to know what the secondbest hangman in England plans to do when they abolished hanging in the deeply funny Hangmen (9/4).

LIVE OPERA ON THE BIG SCREEN Experience the best opera from the Metropolitan Opera: the stage ignites when soprano Kristine Opolais and tenor Jonas Kaufmann join forces in Puccini’s obsessive love story Manon Lescaut (26/3); Anthony Minghella’s breathtaking production of Madama Butterfly (23/4) features Kristine Opolais in the title role; Sondra Radvanovsky plays Queen Elizabeth I, Roberto Devereux (7/5); and Nina Stemme portrays a woman’sprimal quest for vengeance for the murder of her father in Elektra(28/5).

OUT ON DVD

Visit Let’s Watch DVDs on Facebook or visit www.writingstudio.co.za

LET’S WATCH DVD’S WITH DANIEL DERCKSEN 12 classic LGBT DVDs you have to have in your collection!

THE DANISH GIRL The extreme truth of his hidden identity and acceptance of his true self sets an impassioned artist free in the exceptionally soulful The Danish Girl. Eddie Redmayne delivers a tour de force in his dual roles as man and woman; it is astonishing how he never imitates or impersonates, but becomes, immersing himself wholeheartedly into the character of Lili, allowing his transformation to be truthful.Redmayne’s passionate performance is layered with immense sadness, but equally presents us with the blissful joy of true fulfilment and absolute enlightenment.What’s truly admirable about Redmayne’s courageous performance is how he perfectly captures the innocence and essence of a man who falls in love for the first time when he unleashes the goddess inside.The Danish Girl boldly celebrates the valour of those who embrace their true identity and are not shamed of who they are, and salutes those whose kind-heartedness makes the world a place everyone wants to share equally.If you are looking for a film that offers a sincere and profound journey into the heart and soul of those who walk a different path, The Danish Girl should definitely not be missed.It is a film that will transform the way you see the world of those who live outside your comfort zone.

THE DRESSMAKER If there is one film that is divinely unique in every possible way, it’s the quirky Australian charmer The Dressmaker, a film that transforms you in many ways. The Dressmaker showcases a fantastic ensemble cast, with Hugo Weaving stealing many of the scenes as a zany crossdressing policeman, whose fondness for lady garments causes much uproar on and off the screen. The refined and witty comedy of The Dressmaker allows its characters to burst out of their shells and do some crazy stuff; it’s scenes like these that make us yearn for our very own Dressmaker!These comedic interludes are wonderfully balanced by melodramatic and thrilling overtures that allow us to experience a gambit of emotions.Its dark comedy infuses some darker moments with a breath of fresh air, allowing is to connect with issues that could easily become overstated. If you are looking for a film that offers first rate entertainment and ultimate escapism, let The Dressmaker change your world.

ABRAHAM This is undoubtedly one of the best South African films ever made, a profound and consummate masterwork from industry legend, Jans Rautenbach that marks his first film in 30 years.It tells an unforgettable tale that will break your heart, a story that connects with who we are as South Africans and how we fit into the bigger scheme of things. Dann-Jaques Mouton delivers a riveting performance as Abraham, an artist and dreamer from Kannaland in the early 1980’s. It’s an open and honest film that invites us to make sense of our lives in a world where those who live in the shadows of society have to survive on nothing but hope in their hearts, and those who own the world feed this desolate hopefulness with unimaginable dreams. An inspiring and tragic tale, filled with the music of Kannaland, Abraham offers an intimate and emotional viewing experience that is meaningful and will change your life, creating an awareness of how important it is to embrace our humanity and those who share our lives, even the strangers who dare to remind us of the unpleasant realities outside our comfort zones.

CAROL Love is larger than life in Carol, Todd Haynes’ masterful poetic ode to passion, a sumptuous adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s seminal novel The Price of Salt, following two women from very different backgrounds who find themselves in an unexpected love affair in 1950s New York. As conventional norms of the time challenge their undeniable attraction, an honest story emerges to reveal the resilience of the heart in the face of change.Carol poignantly reveals how dangerous it can be to love for real and break the moral code.Love is splendid and beautiful and deserves to be celebrated with honour and dignity, no matter how impossible the quest.Haynes’ lingering haunting images beautifully captures the essence of true love, with Rooney Mara absolutely radiant in her heartfelt performance as the beguiling 20-year-old Therese Belivet, a clerk working in a Manhattan department store and dreaming of a more fulfilling life when she meets Carol (a mesmerising Cate Blanchett), an alluring woman trapped in a loveless, convenient marriage.

HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER If there’s one series that offers non-stop viewing from its riveting pilot to its startling last episode, it’s this superb creation from Peter Nowalk. Nowalk, who was mentored by producer Shonda Rhimes since he worked as writer on her series’ Grey’s Anatomy, makes his series debut with this brilliant murder mystery and human drama. It features a stunning performance by Viola Davis as Annalise Keating, a law professor and criminal defence attorney at Middleton University, who selects five students to intern at her firm. Without revealing too much and spoil your viewing, it’s all about how to get away with murder and, trust me; it will bowl you over with its brilliant scripting, outstanding performances, and first rate direction. Try to know nothing about the story or what happens until the end of the last episode. There are many spoilers that will ruin your viewing. The bonus features include a great introduction to the creators and cast.

LIFE If ever you wanted to spend a week with James Dean, the superb Life is an outstanding film that transports us to New York of the 50s when Dean was at the beginning of his career. Inspired by the true story of a friendship that developed between Magnum photographer Dennis Stock (Robert Pattinson) and actor James Dean (Dane DeHaan) when Stock was commissioned to photograph the actor for LIFE magazine in 1955, Australian screenwriter Luke Davies’s heartfelt screenplay is strikingly brought to life by director Anton Corbijn (A Most Wanted Man). Pattinson and DeHaan are perfectly cast and embody the true spirit of their characters, with and equally brilliant performances by Ben Kingsley as the enigmatic producer Jack Warner and Joel Edgerton (The Great Gatsby, Warrior) as John Morris

WIN A LIFE DVD! If you want to add Life to your collection, tell us who wrote the screenplay and send your answer and contact details to daniel@writingstudio.co.za Mag 47

ON STAGE

For more information, visit Let’s go to the Theatre on Facebook or visit www.writingstudio.co.za

AT THE THEATRE WITH DANIEL DERCKSEN Burn The Floor: Fire in The Ballroom

Burn The Floor, the show that revolutionised the image of dance, returns to South Africa, its “home away from home”, for the fourth time: performing in the Opera Theatre of The South African State Theatre in Pretoria from 27 April to 15 May; the Baxter Theatre in Cape Town from 19 May to 5 June; and at the iZulu Theatre at the Sibaya Casino in Durban from 8 to 16 June. The original concept of Burn The Floor grew from an electric display of ballroom and Latin dancing at Sir Elton John’s 50th birthday party in London, March 1997. There, producer Harley Medcalf discovered the ballroom dance world and its charismatic people, with their deep intensity, commitment, discipline, burning passion and total love of the ballroom art form. Initially, Harley’s idea of a new theatrical ballroom production sent shock waves through the ballroom dancing establishment.

The new edition to be seen in South Africa, the “gloriously sinful” Burn The Floor: Fire in The Ballroom, choreographed and directed by Peta Roby, has more surprises in store and promises to blow the roof off the theatre!

It has the same rebellious spirit as the previous editions, though more daring with a theatrical rock angle – including music from Santana, Janis Joplin, Christine Aguilera and Led Zeppelin.

Burn The Floor has the reputation of being the world’s toughest dance show and the dancers are handpicked to embrace a new Latin American feel. The international cast of dance champions now includes the sensational South Africans, Johannes Radebe and Kylee Brown. Book at Computicket or purchase your tickets at any Checkers, Shoprite or CheckersHyper stores.

Retelling the Biblical story of Joseph and his coat of many colours, this magical musical is packed full of unforgettable songs including Any Dream Will Do and Close Every Door To Me and will be on at the Pieter Toerien Theatre, Montecasino, from 29 April to 7 August 2016. It stars Earl Gregory (Joseph, Jc Superstar, Cats, Sweeney Todd) as Joseph with Bianca Le Grange (Blood Brothers) as the

JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOUR DREAMCOAT Narrator. Jonathan Roxmouth (Sweeney Todd, Phantom, Cats, Sunset Blvd, Jc Mag 48

testosterone induced male bravado, from bragging about girls to locker room chatter and excessive physicality.

However, underneath this veneer is a delicate exploration of friendship, sexuality and mutual dependence. At Theatre on The Bay from May 17 to 28.

Book at Computicket.

DRAGGING 30 - cabaret and drag show for Sandton

Superstar, A Handful Of Keys, Beauty And The Beast, Call Me Lee, Stage By Stage, Jeeves & Wooster, I’m Playing Your Song) will work his magic as the Pharoah! Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat features a stunning local cast of 23 of the best musical theatre performers and dancers, and promises to be “A Technicolor Triumph” for the whole family to enjoy!

Book at Computicket.

A COCK & BULLshit STORY is the localised reimagining of British playwrights Richard Zajdlic and Richard Crowe’s blockbuster play of the same name. At the hand of Quentin Krog, director of the film ‘Ballade for a Enkeling’, and actor Geon Nel, the setting is transferred to contemporary suburban Cape Town. The production features Edwin van der Walt (‘Ballade for a Enkeling’, ‘Hollywood in my Huis’, ‘Die Pro’ and ‘Modder en Bloed’) and Dean John Smith (2014 Fleur du Cap Award winner for Most Promising Student), undoubtedly two of South Africa’s most promising young actors, and is directed and designed by Marthinus Basson with lighting designed by Chris Pienaar.

This exciting two-hander is filled with

Dragging 30 is a fabulous fresh explosion of musical energy for theatre goers, opening at the Auto & General Theatre on the Square in Sandton from 15 March for two weeks only! This hilarious comedy cabaret and drag show is a wonderful journey through the minds of two women, trying to come to terms with life’s third decade - whilst learning to love themselves and embrace their thirties!

Starring in the production is Genna Galloway (Grease, Cats and Sound of Music), Natasha van der Merwe (Mamma Mia, Sister Act) and Alan Fleischman, who drops in halfway for a special appearance as drag queen, Cadenza Jones. He spills out pearls of wisdom through his pouty lips of a botoxed face.

The stories and witty dialogue are spiced with loads of humour and a combination of classics and original songs. Book at www.ticket.co.za or by calling 011 883 8606 or Strictly Tickets on 082 553 5901

DANCE

The Cape Town City Ballet presents a new programme of ballets by Ashley Killar at The Artscape Opera from May 7 to 22. Each ballet portrays varying aspects of love. In Towards Illusion, using Benjamin Britten’s wonderfully danceable Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, we see dancers at work, preparing to create the magic of performance - and the love for dance that they share in their quest for perfection. Love in some of its forms, such as the greedy love of gain, the fear of true love and love in the form of deep compassion are depicted in Bela Bartok’s The Miraculous Mandarin, and Sarabande is inspired by the extraordinary beauty of Ravel’s Piano Concerto for the Left Hand with its glittering cascades of notes and its dark sensuousness. Book at Computicket HenkOpperman will be performing in the Best of Bovim Ballet in a programme highlighting the last 7 years. It’s called Ovations and will be on at the Oude Libertas Theatre from 3-12 March.

Tickets through Computicket

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