SCOTSGAY MAGAZINE ================= ScotsGay is a bi-monthly magazine for lesbians, gay men and bisexuals. Edited, printed and published in Scotland Issue 15 - April 1997 ELECTRONIC EDITION ***Now available on the Web: http://www.scotsgay.co.uk/ How to Subscribe and Unsubscribe information is now at the END of the magazine. All Material Copyright (c) Pageprint Limited 1997. Permission is hereby given to distribute this material provided that this copyright notice is included and that distribution is specifically for non-profitmaking reasons. Distribution for profit must be done only with prior written consent of the magazine any deviation from this will be seen as an infringement of copyright. Hardcopies are limited to one per person for personal use only and such hard copies are subject to the same copyright restrictions as laid out above. The printed edition of ScotsGay is available by post at the following rates: 6 issue sub (UK & EC) 6ukp 6 issue sub (Overseas) 12ukp 12 issue sub (UK & EC) 10ukp 12 issue sub (Overseas) 22ukp Make Cheques and POs payable to 'Pageprint Limited'or 'ScotsGay'and send them to: Subscriptions ScotsGay Pageprint Limited PO Box 666 Edinburgh Scotland EH7 5YW In this issue: Editorial - New Labour - New Tories News - reports & investigations Otton On... - worse than murder Ogg's View - interview with a virus Inside Out - the total scene guide Venues - what and where Scene - gossip from everywhere Boxes - the ScotsGay Meet Market Letters - your views International - news from around the world Soapbox - a Scott comes out Reviews - books & videos Listings - checked and updated every issue Helplines - if you need a friendly ear Music - Joy DJ Alan's latest chart ScotsDyke - more books & videos EDITORIAL ========= So, that's the election over (barring accidents) for another five years. A resounding majority for New Labour, no less. But, what's this? Just about the first act of the new Government was to announce the spending of very large sums of money on refurbishing Britain's Independent Nuclear Deterrent at Rosyth. Not, note, on Education, Health, Housing or Transport - all of them things calling out for major spending after 18 years of Tory Misrule. So, there's no change then. One set of Tories has been replaced by another set of Tories. Well, at least there's to be a free vote on the Age of Consent and there seems little doubt that we'll get 16. But, as far as anything else is concerned, the message is: Don't hold your breath. With John 'Little Red Yo-yo' Reid as Armed Forces Minister, it will clearly take Europe to give us equality in the Armed Forces - unless "Reasonable Man" Reid has become more reasonable than he was before the election, which we can only hope is a possibility! But, as for other law reform, please bear in mind what Peter Brearey said recently in the Freethinker: "The dangerous thing about a Labour Front Bench awash with Christians - Blair himself, Paul Boateng, Gordon Brown, Chris Smith, Jack Straw, et al - is that they appear really to believe in their superstitions." And we can see what these superstitions have lead to in the USA: the murder of doctors and other abortion clinic workers, enforced "teaching" of Creationism alongside Evolution in schools, and the use of "This Christian Country" as a club to bash anyone or anything remotely different, conveniently ignoring the US Constitution's separation of Church and State. Well, let's hope that it doesn't happen here. Let's hope also that New Labour turn out to be really radical in their approach and that pigs fly too. John Hein NEWS ==== PRIDE PLANS REVEALED Scotland's capacity to party has never been greater. This year's Pride Scotland looks set to be the biggest gathering of lesbians, gays and bisexuals Scotland has ever seen. On June 21st, Edinburgh - the Festival City - plays host to the 3rd Pride Scotland and the rainbow flag (The Gay Ensign) will fly over the City Chambers. Mary Kiani, Labi Siffre, Lorna Brookes, The Well Oiled Sisters, Cicero, Chloe Poems and Hufty are just some of the performers joining in Scotland's biggest free music event - with surprise guests to be announced nearer the time! The Pride Scotland March, expected to attract over 10,000 people, leaves London Street, in the City's Pink Triangle, at 11.30am (assembly at 11am). Edinburgh's Meadows will be transformed into a massive gay village with: the Virgin Dance Stage; market stalls; a health tent, highlighting numerous initiatives; a cręche; a women's area; a spiritual area; fully licensed bars and food outlets from the fast to the epicurean! The Pride Brochure, produced by Jon Jardine of G2 Magazine, is available free of charge by phoning 0131-556 8822. Jon also designed this year's Pride Scotland logo - unveiled here for the first time. A wide ranging programme of satellite events will take place around Pride Scotland '97. On Friday 20th June, the eve of Pride Scotland, an Equality For All conference, open to all lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans-gender organisations and individuals will take place. For more details, contact Tim Hopkins on 0131-553 1459 (E-mail: tmh@dcs.ed.ac.uk). Other satellite events include: Lesbian, gay and bisexual film seasons at the Cameo and Filmhouse; a gay book season at Waterstones; Labi Siffre reading at the CCA in Glasgow; and several club benefit nights. Details from Pride Scotland on 0131-556 8822 (E-mail: pridescotland@drink.demon.co.uk). Pride Scotland's major sponsors this year are Portland Insurance, Unison, Virgin and Waterstones. COUNCIL FLIES THE FLAG Glasgow City Council's Equality Initiative has distributed 2,000 posters and 5,000 leaflets to gay venues throughout the city stating "that lesbians and gay men are entitled to the same rights as any other Glasgow resident". The initiative, inspired by a similar programme run by Newham Council in London, was launched at a recent press conference in the City Chambers by Equality Committee Convenor Louise Fyfe along with the Council's Director of Personnel, Hogan Burke, John Wilkes (Co-convenor of the West of Scotland Lesbian and Gay Forum) and Angela Mason from Stonewall. As the Rainbow Flag flew proudly over the City Chambers, Cllr Fyfe announced that the ukp3,000 campaign was an investment which would produce long term gains. ""The initiative promotes the fact that Glasgow City Council recognises the entitlement of lesbians and gays living in Glasgow to expect the same rights as any other Glasgow resident. The cost to the council of dealing with issues of discrimination is immense - for example, having to rehouse people because of harassment, counselling services for victims and anti-bullying programmes in schools. This campaign is looking to change attitudes long-term by starting people thinking", she claimed. The council has already made changes in its Housing Department where same-sex tenants of council houses are now given equal treatment in tenancy transfers - particularly important following on the death of a partner. The council also now has a Gay and Lesbian Employees Forum which meets at the GGLC. Contacts are: John Dawson: 0141-959 7457 and Charles Thomson 0141-287 3744. EQUALITY FOR ALL The Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Equality Network is organising a major one-day conference on the theme "Equality for All", to take place in Edinburgh. The conference will be a satellite event for this year's Pride Scotland and will be held on June 20th, the day before the Pride March and Festival, also in the capital. The principal aims of the conference will be to develop priorities and plans for taking equality campaigning forward in Scotland, and to promote networking between groups. Tim Hopkins of the Equality Network said, "A change of government, with the chance of a Scottish Constitution and Parliament, are a great opportunity for us to move towards equal rights, and we hope the conference will help us to grab that opportunity." The conference is supported by the STUC and the London-based Stonewall Group. The Equality Network hopes that in addition to examining the inequalities which still face lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in many areas of life, the conference will also consider other equality issues which affect members of the LGBT communities, such as issues of gender, race, age and disability. The Equality Network intends to invite all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender groups and organisations in Scotland, and individual attendees will also be welcome. Further information and registration forms can be obtained from: LGB Equality Network, 58a Broughton St., Edinburgh, EH1 3SA, or from Pride Scotland by ringing 0131-556 8822. HARDIE BOY AND NANCIES TOO! The new Lord Advocate, Andrew Hardie QC has the fate of many gay men in his hands. Current guidance to Procurators Fiscal, from his Tory appointed predecessor, states that it is not in the public interest for prosecutions for gay sex involving men aged 16 and 17 to be brought as long as there is no allegation of coercion and that any sex takes place in private, etc. However, until Parliament gets round to bringing down the Age of Consent to 16, it is only this advice that stands between those who have sex with such young men and the full weight of the law. As we went to press, Mr Hardie had yet to confirm that he would continue the existing practice. It is hoped that the fact that, some years ago, he wrote a most unfriendly legal opinion on Section 28 for Edinburgh District Council, does not indicate any personal homophobia on his part. Another hot potato for his lap will be the conduct of Central Scotland Police in Stirling's Beechwood Park lavatories. Several men have now been convicted of having sex with a 13 year old rent boy (as have a number of men who were merely having sex with each other and got caught up in the surveillance). Swingeing fines of ukp400 have been imposed on men who had sex with men whilst those who had sex with the 13 year old have also been hit with Probation Orders. In December, Deputy Chief Constable Michael Currie denied using the youngster as ‘bait' and told ScotsGay (and other publications) that "The paramount duty of the police in this case was firstly the protection of the child and then the identification of the offenders involved". However, two Procurators Fiscal have alleged at the trials of three men that police had actually filmed the 13 year old having sex with men. The three men concerned plead guilty so that evidence was not actually led in Court. Both versions of events clearly cannot be true. At worst, either fiscals gave false information in Court or Currie lied to the press. At best, Currie was mislead by his subordinates as to what had actually transpired and told the press what he believed to be the case. DEVINE May 16th sees the launch of the much awaited Edinburgh Women's Club Night. Divine Deva's will be held at The Venue on the second Friday of each month. All proceeds go to Lothian Lesbian Line. CRAWLING Lambda Board - Edinburgh is running at reduced speed due to the failure of its 2400 baud modem. Callers to the UK's oldest lesbigay computer bulletin board on 0131-556 6316 can currently only connect at 300/300 or 75/1200 baud. However, a new high speed modem has been donated and when some new software has been written for the ageing BBC B computer which runs the BBS, users will have the luxury of connection at 14,400 baud! RIBBON Waverley Care Trust has filed for registered trademark status for its unique Tartan Ribbon. TALK Solicitor Fiona Cook will be giving a talk entitled: "Civil Law in Scotland: Issues for Gay Men and Lesbians" in the Gingerbread Offices, 19 Chester Street, Edinburgh on Wed 11th June at 7pm. The event is organised by the Edinburgh Lesbian Mothers Group and One Parent Families, Scotland who are also circulating a questionnaire on the subject of Gay Men and Lesbians and the Civil Law. Further details (and cręche bookings by 6th June) on 0131-556 3899/4563. STUDENTS A new network of lesbian, gay and bisexual students in Scotland was set up at a recent meeting in St Andrews. Phone: Aberdeen (01224) 272975. E-mail: src038@abdn.ac.uk. Write: Nick Bibby, c/o St Andrews Students' Association, St Mary's Place, St Andrews. KY16 9UZ. FIFE HIV services in Fife are under threat and in crisis as a result of Health Board funding cuts and the Social Work Dept having to review its service provision. Fife HIV Awareness (in association with Body Positive Fife) are running a conference in Kirkcaldy on Wednesday 28th May. It's called "Surviving the country ... living with HIV in Fife". Details from Alec Deary on Kirkcaldy (01592) 412808. E-mail: alecd@dircon.co.uk TEACHERS The Educational Institute of Scotland Lesbian and Gay Group will be meeting in the GGLC on 20th May at 7pm. Contact Jim for details: 0141-553 1678. OUTRIGHT OUTRIGHT Scotland has written to all the Scottish MPs congratulating them on their success and asking them to sign up to the Claim of Right published by the lesbigay campaigning group last July. An OUTRIGHT delegation intends to visit the new Lord Advocate, Andrew Hardie QC, later in the year. OUTRIGHT has also joined "Partnership for Parliament" and will campaign for a yes-yes vote in any Referendum. WALK Crusaid's annual 10km sponsored walk, Walk for Life, will be held in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow on 8th June. To register call now on FreeCall 0500 011696. WWW: Http://www.crusaid.org.uk/ SM SM Gays have produced a new info sheet on SM and the Law following the recent unfavourable ruling from the European Court in Strasbourg. It can be obtained free by sending an sae (C5 size) to: BM SM Gays, London. WC1N 3XX. MIXED Celebrate! - bringing together lesbians and gay men - is running a residential week of events in July at a fabulous hall with secluded grounds in South West Scotland. It is a relaxed week of dialogues, workshops, fun, community and celebration. Phone: Ania on 0113-250 7635. Write: Celebrate!, 5 Hill View Avenue, Leeds. LS7 4PZ. E-mail: daedalus@legend.co.uk MORE JOY Edinburgh club Joy will be celebrating its 4th birthday at Wilkie House on Sat 26th July with special guest DJ Queen Maxine (Kitty Lips, London). Meanwhile, co-promoter Alan Nicholls is not celebrating having to re-key his whole mailing list after a friend failed to keep a back-up disk! Joy Info Line: 0131:467 2551. E-mail: clubjoy@hotmail.com BARBIE Strathclyde Body Positive are holding their annual barbecue on Sunday 15th June in the Body Positive Garden from 3-8pm. Tickets, priced at ukp2 (ukp1 for under 16's), include all the food you can eat and are available; from the Body Positive Centre. NEW PHACES Ingrid McClements (Deputy Director of Glasgow Council for Voluntary Service) and Duncan Booker (Head of Glasgow City Council's Equal Opportunities Unit) have both been appointed as Directors of PHACE West. ERIC OFF Eric Kay, Co-ordinator of Body Positive Strathclyde, is leaving after three years at the job. Despite efforts to persuade him to stay, he'll be leaving when a replacement is appointed and is looking forward to a quieter life! BICON '97 Bicon '97 is to take place after all. Jean Bassington and Marc Turner, who fell in love at Bicon '96, couldn't bear the thought that there would be no Bicon this year to celebrate their anniversary at and volunteered to help. The conference will take place in Greenwich, running from 28th-31st August. Details from: BM Ribbit, London. WC1N 3XX. E-mail: bcn@bi.org WWW: Http://bi.org/~bicon/ GLASGAY! Glasgow's biennial lesbigay arts festival runs this year from Fri 31st October to Sat 8th November and they're looking for volunteers to help staff their office in the CCA and to hand out leaflets. Phone: 0141-332 7521. They're also running a Glasgay! Benefit at The Polo Lounge on Sun 25th May. FILM The London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival is on tour round the UK and will touch down at Glasgow Film Theatre from 13th to 26th June. In Edinburgh, the Filmhouse will be the venue from 13th to 23rd June. FOLLY Lothian Health has suggested that major cuts to the condom budget are likely to occur. This is despite the fact that recent research completed by the Medical Research Council shows that gay men on the Edinburgh commercial gay scene are engaging in high risk sexual behaviour. Lothian Health has suggested: "income generation to cover additional costs". Despite the fact that gay men currently make up the vast majority of new cases of HIV in Lothian, the health needs of Lothian's gay men are not a priority for Lothian Health. IAIN'S STORY - Worse than murder ================================ Cottaging is dangerous. Apart from the risk of queer-bashing, there is the police. In Stirling, monitoring the activities of a 13-year-old rent-boy with hidden cameras, resulted in the arrests of 11 men, two of whom went on to take their own lives. You are also leaving yourself open to the mercy of a homophobic judiciary and press who think nothing of dragging something private and consensual into the open for public scrutiny. Garry Otton spoke to Iain MacDonald, who also got 18 years behind bars! When I interviewed 32-year-old Peter Andrews (not his real name), for a magazine, at his home in Glenrothes, I wasn't expecting the story of his efforts to raise money for charity to be eclipsed by Peter's 39-year-old lover, Iain MacDonald. My first impression of Iain was a thoughtful, caring young man sitting proudly beside him on the sofa. He was inadvertently going to deliver the sort of ‘gay' story the press like best: "SEX BEAST NAILED BY THE DAILY RECORD. Caged: 18 years for the care worker who preyed on boys... Evil Iain MacDonald, 39, put a boy of 14 through hell for almost a year... James - not his real name - told (The Daily Record) how MacDonald's sickening abuse had torn his life apart." "Before I met Peter...," Iain told me, "I had a lover in the army who was killed in an accident. I was drinking about a bottle of vodka a day. I was 20." As a commissioned officer from a public school, Iain completed his term and rose to the rank of lieutenant. After leaving the army, his grandmother died, leaving him homeless and unemployed. His new found boyfriend, Peter, was at college in Stirling, but would regularly cycle over 100 miles to where Iain stayed with an elderly gay man in Edinburgh. Iain was scathing. "He charged for everything. I was skint by the end of the week, so he let me have a bit of bread and jam for 5p. Peter didn't believe me until I showed him the wee list. I could have a boiled egg for the same price as a bit of bread and jam. This was on top of the rent. It wasn't until weeks or months later I actually found out he'd been telling folk I was his affair. Some affair: charging me 5p a fucking egg!" When Peter's mother discovered a love-letter from Iain, his family threw him out. There was only one place he could go. Iain's landlord was delighted. "The old guy's hands were everywhere," Iain told me in disgust. "I managed to get another flat within a week, so we both moved into that. It was a box room in a flat with two other students." 13 years on, there is no disguising the affection Peter and Iain still have for each other. All the same, there was a period when Iain sought to spice up his sex life outside their relationship. Cottaging is not a remedy straights readily understand, but in rural areas like Glenrothes, in Fife, cottages are the hub of gay life. Every cottage in the country is likely to have the odd 13 or 14-year-old looking for gay sex. Given the fears surrounding under-age sex with teenagers, their isolation is compounded. The National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles, which interviewed nearly 19,000 adults in 1991, found that half the population of the UK have had their first sexual experience (not necessarily intercourse) before the age of 16. Research carried out at the University of Frankfurt revealed two-thirds of gays have had their first sexual experience between 14 and 16; 34% of them with a man over 18. It was not in a cottage, but after a school concert, 14-year-old Charles Kumar claims he first had sex with Iain. The experience was supposed to have so traumatised him he was unable to tell anyone what had happened until he found the courage to go to the Daily Record. "MacDonald came up and offered me a lift, " Charles told the tabloid. "I said I didn't know about getting into a stranger's car, but he said he was a teacher at my school. On the way, he stopped the car and seemed to get really violent. I was getting really scared, so I said it would be all right if I walked home from there. I went to get out but he pulled the door shut, grabbed my wrist and told me he wanted sex. I said no, but he said I wouldn't be going anywhere if I didn't. I started to cry and he started hitting me. He said I'd better do it or he would kill me. I was still really scared and he was still hitting me so I went along with it. After he'd done it, he just sat there. I was still crying." Charles arrived home at three in the morning and told his stepdad he'd been at a party. The Daily Record claimed Charles was "terrified at being branded gay." He told them, Iain's sentence "would give me time to get my life together." But since then, claims that Charles, now 16, has been spotted on the Edinburgh gay scene have been handed to the police, and his photo has even appeared in Gay Scotland, joining in a ceilidh organised by the Lothian Gay Switchboard. Iain denies ever picking him up after the concert. "I met Charles in a toilet," he admits freely. "He flashed his cock. We introduced ourselves, went to some nearby woods and had a wank. He asked me if he could give me a blow-job. I, of course, said: yes! He was not nervous. He knew what he was doing all the time. After we finished, I drove him home. We agreed to meet later, but he never turned up. "I met Charles again a few days later trolling the same toilet," Iain recalls. "We went out again to the woods. He wanted me to fuck him. I had a condom. I tried... But he was too nervous. We had more sex: I blew him; he blew me. I drove him home. He said: "What are you doing at the weekend?" I met him again on Saturday, we went back to my place, and we fucked. He fucked me, and I did the same to him. He was not nervous about fucking. I remember saying I wouldn't do anything he did not want me to do. He replied: "If I didn't want to do it: I wouldn't be here."" Whilst Charles claimed he was physically forced, Iain emphatically denies it: "At no time did I physically harm him, or force him. He even borrowed some of my porn films." Charles described them to the Daily Record as "child pornography films." Iain insists: "There were no pćdophile films!" I brought him to my house once more before he started coming on his own. Even the neighbours saw him. He was not nervous, or scared. Our little fling went on for eight or nine months. I must say, I think he had a crush. I would meet him outside his school, but always a few streets away. I liked him, but I loved Peter. And I still do... God, how I miss Stephen! "Towards the end he started asking for money. ukp5, then ukp10. At the end it was ukp15. He said: "You know, I could blackmail you," then sort of laughed... but just left it at that. The last I saw of him was when he asked me to take him to the theatre to see the Pearl Fishers at Kirkcaldy. He was going with friends and asked me to pick him up afterwards. Somehow, I missed him. He phoned my home and spoke to Peter.. Peter picked him up, drove him home and had a furious row with me about it afterwards. I didn't see Charles for a while until I saw him trolling again. He got a bit aggressive, so I left him to it. "One year later he's given his story to the most homophobic newspaper in Scotland and I'm arrested for raping him!" In the wake of the Celtic boys club scandal, the Daily Record was printing a special number, enticing young men to come forward with their stories of ‘abuse' and talk to them ‘in confidence'. Charles Kumar's story was sensationally splashed over the front page: "...We passed his evidence to the police and the beast was arrested... Stunned Iain MacDonald's legs almost gave way when he heard the sentence..." They used a picture of Iain throwing his head back, laughing. Given the gravity of the story, he looked manic. "Charles told the Daily Record I was having sex with residents at my work," explains Iain. "This came about because I had taken him to a 21st birthday party for a handicapped guy, called Jason. He is also gay, although he denies it now. My workmates all knew Jason had a crush on me. I was never violent towards him. He is catheterised, so is unable to sustain an erection. He is also incontinent. Don't believe what the Daily Record said about Jason being "barely able to talk." Jason is very vocal. If I had slapped him in the Home, he would have told. It could not be covered up. Jason's condition makes his testament unreliable. He would say anything. I was always going to plead to having had consensual sex with Charles, but not with any residents in the Home. There were six charges: three against Charles, and three with residents in the Home. All violent." (Under British law, the charge of ‘indecent assault' arises because young people under the age of 16 are deemed incapable of giving their consent). "My lawyer (Branislav Sudjic) kept saying this must not go to trial, because as soon as a jury see wheelchairs, I am done! "My lawyer scared me into this deal with the Crown. They would drop four charges if I plead to two. I said at first, no, because there was violence in them. My lawyer said if I went to court I could be found guilty on all six charges because there is in Scotland the Moorov Doctrine of Corroboration. I had no choice. Damned if I do, Damned if I don't. I thought, if we could get the violence out, I would think about it. My lawyer said if I plead the two charges, it would be the same as one charge, because I was going to plead to having sex with Charles anyway. This way I was supposed to avoid a trial and maybe a big sentence! In fact, he said the sentence would be the same. At least five years; ten at the most. He made me write out on a piece of paper, saying I was guilty to charges three and four. I thought this was for the Crown and was expecting six or seven years. He was on his feet for just three minutes. He kept telling the judge I was expecting a lengthy sentence. There times he said this! It was a bad deal. I pleaded guilty to something I did not do." Iain's defence lawyer appeared to have written him off anyway, telling the court there was little he could find to say in Iain's defence. Scotland's Moorov Doctrine of Corroboration appeared in the thirties when the High Court ruled it necessary to have two witnesses to another, similar crime, committed at around the same time. The law has recently been extended to make it easier to get convictions, so that now, only one witness is needed to convict someone of two crimes. In this case, the witness was Charles Kumar. Temporary judge Alexander Wilkinson QC told Iain he had "shamelessly exploited his victims" and sentenced him to a staggering 18 years which he is currently serving in Shotts Prison in Lanarkshire. Six years for having sex with Charles and 12 years for sex with Jason, both to run consecutively. Peter is adamant: "I should know Iain better than anybody. I know he wouldn't hurt anyone." INTERVIEW WITH A VIRUS ====================== Q: Whats your name? A: Human Immune deficiency Virus, my pals call me HIV. Q: How old are you? A: About 25, but I lie a lot about my age, I look so much younger and since I only came onto the gay scene about 17 years ago I get away with murder. Q: Where do you originate? A: I've been around girl! San Francisco, New York, Haiti... Q: ...but honestly now, A: I was going to tell you honest, the darkest jungles of Africa my dear sooooooo exotic and mysterious don't you think? Just me and a few green faced monkeys then along came man, a quick bite and I was transported into a new species that really knew how to take care of a virus. Q: You became famous in the 80s; to whom do you owe your big break? A: Mr. Whittle. Q: Duh? A: ...the inventor of the jet engine stupid. Without him I'd have ended up just another third world virus like malaria or sleeping sickness, so what if you kill millions out there nobody notices, nobody cares. Who ever did a ribbon for bilhazia ? Q: So you're an airborne virus after all... A: And this is Scottish humour I suppose... Q: ...sorry, back to history, after you made such a big hit in the States did you really think your career would last this long? A: I never suspected that white folks would put up with me after I first reached No.1 and stayed there longer than the beetles. In Africa nobody would spend the money trying to oust such a star as me, there's just no box office in it, no real profit, but the Americans and Europeans are so fussy I just assumed I'd slay 'em for a couple of years until something new came along and wiped me out. Q: So, what was the magic ingredient? A: I learned to change my act, diversify. You can't just stick with one audience, drug injectors, gays, you end up saturating the market before long you're just like death to them. So, soon I was playing to straights too... Q: ...but surely much smaller houses? A: Oh yeah, but that's my plan for a real long term career, not just for me but the whole family of us. Q: Are you not worried that you've made such a killing that you're being noticed by the big drugs suppliers and before long they'll make some kind of move on you, try to close you down altogether? A: Just let them try baby, I still hold a lot of the shots. 0h that's right nobody was interested in me when it was just a few gays but now I'm really global everybody wants a piece of the action, just watch me, I'll change my appearance, get a new agent, they won't know me... Q: I've heard some really big names are on your case though A: Who, names, names? Q: Well there was AZT... A: Hah! A one year wonder, couldn't make it on its own! Q: What about those new kids on the block then... A: The Protease Inhibitors? Them? Call that a CURE???! Q: They don't claim to be but their publicity people say that they've turned off a lot of your effects, that well they've got you on the run, you just can't slay them like you used to... A: Oh yeah, lets see, I've been written off before and I've had more comebacks than Sinatra, besides a lot of my public can't stomach those Protease kids, no matter how often they change their line up. Second, they're easily bored, it's really tough to keep up with them and remember I'm so much more accessible, so simple to reach. Q: But so many people want to avoid you these days, they know where you hang out, how to avoid you, don't you think you're over the hill, an 80's thing, past it? A: You underestimate me, as long as my public think that way I'll still be here. When you fuck without a condom I'll be waiting. I'm still tough, I've learned a few things you know, you think I've got no new material, that because you're BORED with me I'll just GO? Hah! Well I tell you this, I'll still take my chances with the next generation of gay kids, you see if I don't and you can tell your big shot drug supplying friends they don't scare me so easy. Q: What does then? A: Like I'm gonna tell you ? Q: Oh go on, just between us, A: Well you've been so nice, and really everybody knows anyway. Q: So why not tell me? A: ‘Cos everybody forgets y'know. Q: Am I missing something here? A: Thats it stupid, if people remembered I was always around I'd be history, so I guess I'll still be making it big for a while yet eh? Q: Do you feel anything about all the harm you've caused? A: I'm the virus remember, it's what we do. You're the ones that should have the conscience about my continued success. You're the humans, the ones that rule the earth. Go figure. Derek Ogg INSIDE OUT ========== Simply the best guide to the whole lesbian, gay and bisexual scene in Scotland. Inside you'll find a complete list of venues, all the news from all over the place plus our infamous Meet Market now has the most humungous selection of Box Ads EVER! VENUES ======= Aberdeen ABERDEEN WOMEN'S CENTRE Shoe Lane, off Queen Street. Tel: (01224) 625010. Fax: 01224 625777. Mon-Fri 9.30-4pm. Where the women hang out. Lesbian group meets Wednesday 8-10pm. CASTRO BAR AND CLUB 47 Netherkirkgate. Tel: (01224) 624472. Mon-Fri 5pm-2am, Sat-Sun 1pm-2am. Cosy atmosphere. Totally refurbished since its last incarnation as the Pink Flamingo. CLUB CABERFEIDH 9 Hadden Street. Tel: (01224) 212181. Tue-Sun 10pm-2am. Disco - tends to be quiet midweek but busier at the weekends. SWEET! Exodus (upstairs), Triplekirks, Schoolhill. Tel: (01224) 624288. Fri 10pm-2am. Weekly house night with the JOY DJ's from Edinburgh. Mixed but increasingly queer friendly. Dundee DEVA'S 75 Seagate. Tel: (01382) 226840. Mon-Sat 11am-Midnight, Sun 6.30-11pm. Dundee's long established gay bar. Dance floor with DJ Thu-Sat. Pool table. Something for everyone! LIBERTY NIGHTCLUB 124 Seagate. Tel: (01382) 200660. Wed 9pm-2.30am, Thu-Sat 11pm-2.30am, Sun 10.30pm-2.30am. Good atmosphere, very popular disco with wide selection of sounds and the occasional act/PA. Thursdays and Sundays are quieter - but not much. Edinburgh BENT 100% The Gallery, Cowgate. Info Line: 01410 750732. Every 4th Saturday from 10th May. 10pm-3am. ukp5 B4 11pm, ukp7 after. New gay club with strict "Nae Breeder" door policy. BLACK BO'S 57/61 Blackfriars Street. Tel: 0131-557 6136. Daily Noon-2pm and 6pm-10.30pm Superb little vegetarian restaurant. Friendly staff. Mixed clientele. Excellent value lunch menu. BLUE MOON 1 Barony Street/36 Broughton Street. Tel: 0131-556 2788. Sun-Thu 9am-1am, Fri-Sat 9am-3am. Popular lesbigay cafe/bar complex. BOBBIE'S BOOKSHOP 220 Morrison Street. Tel: 0131-538 7069. Mon-Sat 10am-5.30pm. Mixed bookshop selling a selection of UK and imported gay magazines. CAFE KUDOS 22 Greenside Place. Tel: 0131-556 4349. Daily Noon-1am. Food Noon-9pm. Fresh, stylish and always crowded. Mainly gay but tolerant of well behaved heterosexuals. WWW: http:/www.scotsgay.co.uk/kudos/ CAFE LUCIA 13-29 Nicolson Street. Tel: 0131-662 1112. Generally 10am-10pm but hours vary according to performances. Mixed bar attached to the Edinburgh Festival Theatre. Full of luvvies and their friends! C.C. BLOOM'S 23 Greenside Place. Tel: 0131-556 9331. Mon-Fri 5pm-3am, Sat-Sun Noon-3am. Karaoke on Thursday and Sunday. Male strippers Sun at 4pm. Disco every night from 10.30pm. CITY CAFE 19 Blair Street. Tel: 0131-220 0125. 11am-11pm. Not as outrageously mixed as it used to be, but still seriously conventional. CLAREMONT BAR & RESTAURANT 133/135 East Claremont Street. Tel: 0131-556 5662. FAX: 0131-558 3539. Bar: Mon-Wed 11am-Midnight, Thu-Sat 11am-1am, Sun 11am-Midnight. Restaurant: Mon-Fri 11.30am-2.30pm and 6pm-10pm, Sat 11.30am-10pm, Sun 12.30pm-10pm. Gay owned. Gay friendly and renowned for courtesy, comfort and good food. E-mail: scifipub@aol.com CYBERIA 88 Hanover Street. Tel: 0131-220 4403. Daily 11am-10pm (7pm Sun) Friendly mixed cybercafe with friendly mixed gorgeous staff. Where the wired queers hang out. WWW: http://www.cybersurf.co.uk/ EDINBURGH LESBIAN GAY AND BISEXUAL CENTRE 58a and 60 Broughton Street. Houses PJ's , Stonewall Cafe-Bar, OUTRIGHT Scotland, Pride Scotland and Massage for Health. Also provides meeting and noticeboard space for many lesbigay organisations. Private mailboxes available. FANTASIES 8b Drummond Street. Tel/FAX: 0131-557 8336. Mon-Sat 10am-9pm, Sun Noon-9pm. Scotland's ONLY licenced SEX shop where you'll be made welcome by the very bearish Vince (who's straight) or Paddy (who isn't). Toys galore, video rental too! Glamour shop upstairs. FLAMES 192 Morrison Street. Tel: 0131-221 0499. Mon-Sat 11am-11.30pm, Sun 12.30-11pm. Mixed (but very gay friendly with oodles of gay staff) up-market city centre restaurant with bars. International cuisine with good vegetarian range. Real Ale. FOUR BBBB’s CLUB 26b Dublin Street. Tel: 0131-538 7775. Big Beary Bulky Boys have their own club at Intense in the New Town Bar on the 4th Friday of the month. 8-10pm - bar opens to non members 9pm-1am. FRENCH CONNECTION 89 Rose Street Lane North. Tel: 0131-225 7651. Mon-Sat Noon-1am, Sun 1pm-1am. Intimate bar just off Rose Street Crawl. Never a dull moment. Karaoke Tue/Fri. JOY Wilkie House, Cowgate. JOY Info Line: 0131-467 2551. Saturdays - every 4 weeks. 10pm-3am. Joy, Scotland's most upfront gay club! ukp7 members/ukp8 non-members (reduced entry of ukp5 before 11pm). E-mail: clubjoy@hotmail.com MARMALADE CAT BISTRO Old Craighall Road, Millerhill, near Dalkeith. Tel: 0131-660 1211. Mon-Sat Noon-2.15pm and 6-9.30pm, Sun 12.30-2.45pm and 6-9pm. Mixed establishment specialising in Portuguese cuisine. Vegetarian menu available. MASSAGE FOR HEALTH 58a/60 Broughton Street. Tel: 0131-220 5154. By appointment only. Therapeutic massage from ITEC qualified practitioners Sara and Anne. Concessions available. NEW TOWN BAR 26B Dublin Street. Tel: 0131-538 7775. Daily Noon-1am. Especially popular with Bears, but has wide clientele. Intense, the sub-basement leather and fetish bar is open Wed-Sun 9pm-1am - men only. No EIGHTEEN 18 Albert Place. Tel: 0131-553 3222. Mon-Sat Noon-10pm, Sun 2-10pm. Sauna club for gay gentlemen - run by a couple of straight Dykes! Open on Sundays - great for that aprŹs Kirk Session! O.M.O. CLOTHING 1 Barony Street (Basement). Tel: 0131-556 2788. Thu-Sat Noon-5pm. Fashion and jewellery made by local designers. Something to suit every pocket. Also club tapes and tickets for clubs. OVER THE RAINBOW 32c Broughton Street. Tel: 0131-478 7130. Noon-Midnight. Good food. with a mixed crowd. PJ'S 60 Broughton Street. Tel: 0131-558 8174. Mon-Sat Noon-7pm, Sun Noon-5pm. Gifts and toys for gay boyz and girlz. ROUTE 66 6 Baxter's Place. Tel: 0131-557 3379. Mon-Sat 12.30pm-1am, Sun 3pm-1am. Misnamed - it's the best Route to a 69 that we've ever found - ask for details of where the bus stops are! The only gay bar in Scotland which serves Real Ale. SOLAS CAFE 2/4 Abbeymount. Tel: 0131-661 0982. Mon, Tue, Thur, Fri 11am-4pm, Wed 5-9pm. Attached to Solas National HIV Information Centre. Good home cooking (everything cooked on the premises). Both dead animal and veggie. STONEWALL CAFE-BAR 60 Broughton Street. Tel: 0131-478 7069. 11am-11pm. The recently re-opened cafe at the Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Centre. Scottish/continental food. Good value all day breakfast. Unusual decor. TACKNO 36-39 Market Street. Tel: 0131-226 4224. Last Sun of each month 11pm-4am. DJ Trendy Wendy. Mixed and crowded club night. TASTE The Honeycomb, 36-38a Blair Street. Tel: 0131-220 4381. Sun 11pm-3am. Weekly mixed members' club with DJs Fisher and Price. Visitor's passes from West & Wilde. THEATRE ROYAL BAR 24 Greenside Place. Tel: 0131-557 2142. Mon-Sat Noon-Midnight. Basically straight, this Real Ale bar (formerly a Gas Board Showroom) in the middle of Edinburgh's Gay Triangle attracts a fair number of queers for an off-scene pint before heading for nearby fleshpots. TOMMY THAI'S BAR Linden Hotel, 9-13 Nelson Street. Tel: 0131-557 4344. Daily Noon-11pm. Quiet bar attached to Edinburgh's biggest gay hotel. Superb Thai restaurant. Owned by London's Philbeach Hotel. E-mail: linden.seal@ukonline.co.uk. WWW: http://www.scotsgay.co.uk/linden/ WEB 13 13 Bread Street. Tel: 0131-229 8883. Mon-Thu 9am-8pm, Fri 9am-7pm, Sat 9am-6pm, Sun Noon-5pm. Informal mixed cybercafe with homely and approachable staff. WWW: http://www.web13.co.uk/ WEST & WILDE BOOKSHOP 25a Dundas Street. Tel: 0131-556 0079. Tue-Sat 10am-7pm, Sun Noon-5pm. Scotland's only lesbian and gay bookshop. Lots of books and quite a few magazines! Falkirk DROOKIT DUCK 16 Grahams Road. Tel: (01324) 613644. Mon 11am-3pm and 5pm-11.30. Tue-Thu 11am-3pm and 5pm-12.30am. Fri-Sat 11am-1am. Sun 7pm-Midnight. Straight bar used by a few discrete local gays. Near to Grahamston station. PIERRE'S RESTAURANT FRANÇAISE 140 Grahams Road. Tel: (01324) 635843. Lunch: Tue-Fri Noon-2pm. Dinner: Tue-Sat 6.45-9.30pm. Mixed discreet clientele. Real French food and wine at a reasonable price. Galashiels GREEN'S DINER 4 Green Street. Tel: (01896) 757667. Mon-Tue 10am-5pm. Wed-Sat 10am-10pm. Mixed. discreet trendy cafe/bar. Regular meeting place for all Border Town lesbians, gays and bisexuals. Closed Sundays. Glasgow ASTRO GIFT SHOP GGLC, 11 Dixon Street. Tel: 0141-226 9977. Mon-Wed Noon-7pm. Thu Noon-8pm. Fri-Sat Noon-7pm. Sun Noon-6pm. Nicely appointed and stocked gift shop on the ground floor of the Glasgow Gay and Lesbian Centre. AUSTINS 183a Hope Street. Tel: 0141-332 2707. Mon-Sat 11am-1am, Sun 2pm-1am. Friendly and busy basement pub. Entertainment every evening. Happy hours: 4-10pm daily. BENNETS DISCO 80-90, Glassford Street. Tel: 0141-552 5761. Tue-Sun 11pm-3am. Beautifully appointed busy club. Frequent PAs. Tuesdays are straight. CCA Centre for Contemporary Arts, 350 Sauchiehall Street. Tel: 0141-332 7521. E-mail: cca@easynet.co.uk. Centre open Mon-Wed 9am-11pm Thur-Sat 9am-Midnight Sun Noon-7pm. Bookshop Mon-Sat 10am-6pm Sun Noon-5pm. Galleries Mon-Sat 11am-6pm Sun Noon-5pm (admission free). Two galleries, two performance spaces, cafe bar and bookshop. Lesbigay friendly place bustling with life, the universe and everything. Wheelchair accessible apart from upstairs performance space. CENTURION 19 Dixon Street. Tel: 0141-248 4485 Fax: 0141-400 1080.. Sauna and Shop: Noon-10pm. Shop sells toys, videos, mags and everything in between. Exclusive stockists for RoB. The much awaited sauna is now open for trade of the roaring variety! E-mail: info@centurion.prestel.co.uk CLONE ZONE 35 Virginia Street. Tel: 0141-552 3103. Mon-Wed 10.30am-6pm, Thu-Sat 10.30am-10pm, Sun 1-7pm. Newly opened shop selling lots of interesting bits to take home and play with. CLUB X-CHANGE 25 Royal Exchange Square. Tel: 0141-204 4599. Thu-Tue 11pm-3am. Large basement club, popular with young crowd. Wednesday nights are straight/student (though still quite mixed). COURT BAR 69 Hutcheson Street. Tel: 0141-552 2463. Mon-Sat 11am-Midnight, Sun 8.30pm-Midnight. Small bar beside former Sheriff Court. Straight until mid-evening. DELMONICA’S 68 Virginia Street. Tel: 0141-552 4803. Daily Noon-Midnight. Food Noon-7pm. Busy pub with backroom area (not THAT kind of backroom!). GLASGOW GAY & LESBIAN CENTRE 11 Dixon Street. Tel/FAX: 0141-221 7203. Daily 10am-10pm. Glasgow's community centre for lesbians, gay men and bisexuals. Cafe and gift shop. Other businesses in the centre include Asset Mortgages and Calosa Publishing. Two large meeting rooms available for hire. Not as busy as it should be - it needs your support! Fully wheelchair accessible venue. E-mail: gglc@gglc.org.uk. WWW: http://www.gglc.org.uk/gglc/ GLC CAFE/BAR GGLC, 11 Dixon Street. Tel: 0141-204 5418. Mon-Sat 10am-10pm, Sun Noon-6pm. The tastefully decorated eaterie for the Glasgow Gay and Lesbian Centre. INTERNET CAFE 569 Sauchiehall Street. Tel: 0141-564 1052. Mon-Fri 9am-11pm, Sat 10am-11pm, Sun 11am-11pm. Friendly staff, mixed clientele, full Internet access from ukp2 per half hour. Food served all day. Http://www.linkcafe.co.uk/ JOJO'S Tin Pan Alley, 39 Mitchell Street. Tel: 0141-248 8832. Info Line: 0141-770 5904. Tue 11pm-3am. Glasgow's newest weekly gay extravaganza. DJ Stella presides. LOVE BOUTIQUE The Arches, Midland Street. Tel: 0141-221 9736. 10.30pm-3am. 1st Saturday of the month. Busy mixed club popular with the younger crowd. THE POLO LOUNGE AND CLUB 84 Wilson Street. Tel: 0141-553 1221. Lounge: Mon-Thu 5pm-1am, Fri-Sat 5pm-3am, Sun 3pm-3am. Club: Fri-Sun 10.30pm-3am. Upmarket bar and club. Free entry to club before 11pm. Something new and definitely different. SADIE FROST'S 8-10 West George Street. Tel: 0141-332 8005. Noon-Midnight. Bar meals Noon-7pm. Friendly staff who compliment the upmarket decor. Nice and convenient for rail travellers to the North and East of Scotland. SAPPHO'S 8-10 West George Street. Tel: 0141-332 8005 (ask for Nathalie). Tue-Sun 7pm-Midnight. Glasgow's only all woman bar. Very popular. Inside Sadie Frost's. Pool table. SQUIRES LOUNGE 106 West Campbell Street. Tel: 0141-221 9184. Mon-Fri Noon-Midnight, Sat 12.30pm-Midnight, Sun 8pm-Midnight. Long narrow intimate basement bar, DJ Fri & Sat. Packed at the weekend. Happy hours Mon-Thu 9-10.30pm. TRON THEATRE CAFE BAR 63 Trongate. Tel: 0141-552 8587. Noon-Midnight. Friendly theatre bar. Mixed. VICTORIA BAR 157-159 Bridgegait. Tel: 0141-552 6040. Mon-Sat 11am-Midnight, Sun 12.30pm-Midnight. Basically straight, but justly popular with Glasgow's many Real Ale queens and dykes. THE WATERLOO 306 Argyle Street. Tel: 0141-221 7359. Daily Noon-Midnight. Popular, crowded, down to earth gay drinking shop. Scotland's oldest gay bar - what more can we say? If you're an American visitor, tell Cal we sent you! WEST END CAFE 6 Kersland Street. Tel/FAX: 0141-334 1345. Mon-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun Noon-5pm. Friendly cafe in the heart of the West End run by two beautiful, recently married, drama queens. Mixed clientele. Full vegetarian menu available. Inverness NICO’S BAR/BISTRO Glen Mhor Hotel, Ness Bank. Tel: (01463) 234308. Wed and Fri 9-11pm. Smart relaxed bar popular with local gays especially on Wednesday and Friday nights (9.15pm onwards). Mixed clientele. Kilmarnock KAYPARK TAVERN 27/29 London Road. Tel: (01563) 523623. Straight pub - the lounge is used by some local gays on Mondays evenings. Stirling BARNTON BISTRO 3 1/2 Barnton Street. Tel: (01786) 461698. Mon-Thur 10.30am-11.45pm, Fri-Sat 10.30am-12.45am, Sun Noon-11.45pm. (Food: Day and early evening). Near to railway station, Mixed, busy, bohemian and friendly bar/bistro. Popular with students and Sons/Daughters of the Rock alike. Good food. Real Ale. InsideOut: a monthly magazine for lesbians, gays and bisexuals. ISSN: 1360-9327. Edited, printed and published in Scotland. (c) Pageprint Publishing Limited, April 1997. PO Box 666, Edinburgh. EH7 5JW. In even numbered months, InsideOut appears as part of ScotsGay. Non profit use by the lesbigay community of material in the magazine will normally be permitted free of charge - but contact us first for permission. We haven't had sex with most of the people who appear in the magazine, so we don't actually know what their sexuality is. Editorial: Tel: 0131-539 0666. Fax: 0131-539 2999. E-mail: scotsgay@drink.demon.co.uk. Internet World-Wide-Web: http://www.scotsgay.co.uk/ Advertising: Tel: 0131-558 1279. Fax: 0131-539 2999. Subscribing by E-mail: Send a 'subscribe scotsgay-list' message to listserver@drink.demon.co.uk and the text files of future editions will be delivered to you by e-mail. DUN-DEAGH ========= There's still nobody local writing about Dundee (apply to the Editor if you're interested - you don't HAVE to shag him to get the job if that's what's putting you off), so it falls to me to get the bus pass out and head for the City of Discovery. Deva's seems to have been pretty busy recently - the punters managed to drink the recent Kronenbourg promotion dry - and there are lots of folk around who are up on holiday. A recent Bingo Night got a Full House of some 30 folk whilst the Pool Night, every second Wednesday, attracts a steady following - especially as Karen has promised to splash out for a big prize if she wins the Lottery! A big "Hi!" to Harry and Tyrone who are planning to move up from London and are looking for a house in the area. Mad fools! As Mrs Thatcher once said: "There Is No Alternative". Afraid that the new club, at the Tay Hotel, only lasted a couple of nights - even Kelly Marie brought in less than 30 folk. But at least the promoters involved were willing to try something out instead of just moaning. But, as one place opens and closes, it looks like another may soon follow it in opening. Brian at Liberty tells me that, by June, he hopes to have the licence for a new pub upstairs from the club. What's it going to be called? He was thinking of The Muscular Arms but he is, as always, open to suggestions! Watch out, there are bashers about. A couple of guys, who'd just dropped into Deva's for a quickie on the way back north from Edinburgh, had the misfortune to be jumped as they returned to their car at about 9.30pm. The two young bashers had followed them out of the pub, but aren't known to any of the staff there - and certainly won't be welcomed if they do return. Be on your guard when leaving anywhere in town. Down at Liberty, Jim Innes was the lucky winner of a couple of tickets to Gran Canaria. Runner-up was George Cater who got something nice (wish I could read my own handwriting to tell you what it was), whilst John Dolan won a handy sports bag! The Karaoke (which alternates week about with Male Erotic Dancers on Wednesday - did you see The Penetrator on the 14th of May?) brings in a keen crowd of warblers. A date for your diary: Friday 6th of June will see an Ibiza Foam Party! A chance to check out the new lighting system if nothing else! Iain iain@drink.demon.co.uk DUN EIDEANN =========== Greetings frae Edinburgh! Our Editor seems cock-a-hoop that he doubled his vote in Tweeddale Ettrick and Lauderdale - doubt if he'd have looked so damned pleased if he'd actually won and had had to go and live in the bloody Constituency! It seems, however, that he and Paul Coombes were the only out gay candidates in Scotland - nobody responded to the invitation in the last InsideOUT to out themselves in the magazine. Talking of the last issue of InsideOUT, I see that Andy at the New Town has got himself in a bit of a strop over the mention I gave his boozer. I wasn't trying to run the place down, after all, my bf spends most of his free time Bear Hunting in there. We don't tend to mention the New Town very much, but we publish quite a lot of pix of people in there - it's just one of these places where the customers make the pub, rather than vice versa. You never see the, er, Hip'n'Trendy queueing around the block here! That said, may I remind you that there will be a joint bash downstairs at the New Town organised by Pride Scotland and the Sisters of the Order of Perpetual Indulgence. Lothian Gay Men's Health will hopefully be in attendance although this is still to be confirmed. Come as the Gay Icon of your dreams - be it James Dean or Julie Andrews, leather maniac or lavender menace - ALL are welcome. Raffles, prizes, free skinheads (the haircut that is), sing with the sisters, join up and get sworn in as a Pride Scotland volunteer or just give us your best Joan Crawford. Saturday 10th May saw the first night of BENT 100% at the Gallery in the Cowgate. Promoted by two of Edinburgh's infamous individuals, Maggie Joy co-promoter and resident DJ at the legendary JOY and Kristina Glitters, renowned for her photography in and around Edinburgh's clubland. Maggie takes a step back from DJ'ing in this particular project and introduces some fresh talent. Enter Dani C and Leo playing the best in garage, funk and disco and not Forgetting Trendy Wendy spinning those classic easy listening tunes with the odd club anthem chucked in for good measure. Remember everyone, chat is back! Bent is 100% - nae breeders please! ukp5 B4 11pm, ukp7 after. To be held every four weeks. Club Info Line: 0410 750732. Popped into the Stonewall Cafe the other day. The place is beginning to settle down and find its own level under the new management. They're holding a Women's Social Night on Friday 23rd May from 8pm-2am which will feature a live band and a licensed buffet. When I was in, the place was full of Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence who were on a 3 day Nundraising Mission. I see that the competition from Stonewall is causing a few healthy improvements in the other Broughton Street establishments. Over the Rainbow has increased its hours and is now doing a roaring trade on Sundays. Alan tells me that the 24th of May will see a Joy Retrospective - all their greatest hits! It will be held, for one night only, at their old venue Studio 24 which, if you want to be formal, you can call the Calton Studios. Then, it's back to normal at Wilkie House the following week. Over at the Linden Hotel, Manager Tony has been proudly showing off the new decor in Tommy Thai's Bar. Makes the whole place so much fresher and brighter. Worth a visit if you haven't been in for a while! See you all next month at Pride! Iain iain@drink.demon.co.uk GLASCHU ======= THE M-FILES... THE TRUTH IS NOT HERE... Hello my little pop tarts, Minerva here with all the gossip from the Glasgow scene!. Well what a month it's been. We all stayed there glued to our telly screens for hours awaiting the BIG result. Tactical voting was greatly in evidence, we all knew what the final result would be, but resisted complacency til the last of the votes were in. After almost 2 decades out in the wilderness, we eagerly awaited a new regime, and looked forward to the dawn of a new era. Hours of nail biting passed, the last votes were counted, and the final result was announced. Yes, the UK had finally won Eurovision for the first time since 1981!! What an anticlimax! What happened to all the silly costumes? Bring back Katie Boyle, bring back Bucks Fizz and ABBA, and above all bring back all the campery that used to be part and parcel of the contest, it's just not the same without it!! (But squillions of us fairies are still sad enough to watch it!) Just realised that I'm the last of the original columnists writing for ScotsGay. Seems like Marcc, Jol, Little Bear and Co. couldn't stand the pace! What started off as a 2 hour job each month seems to take longer each time, with more and more venues to check out, more and more freebies to eat and drink, more and more potential advertisers to grovel to, and all the fan mail from around the world to reply to!! Bet you all thought this was a piece of cake, get in to the clubs free, get asked to all the opening nights and parties, open the occasional supermarket, and throw as much complimentary food and booze down yer gob as possible!! Ah, the price of fame!! The worst part about doing this column is trying to get it all to fit onto one page. His Most Wondrous Editorialness keeps moaning that I write too much! Why not just typeset it in 4 point bold, and tell my fans to hold the page a bit closer to their eyes, NO problem!! After a break of 6 years, Jojo's has returned, and is now held every Tuesday at Tin Pan Alley. DJ Stella is back on the decks after a break in Blackpool, playing a mixture of HiNrg and handbag music. Great to hear some of the old stuff getting dusted off!! I had expected it to be mainly the older crowd there, but there is a good mixture of boppers, with pretty youngsters dancing their tits off alongside the children of the seventies. The place gets decked out in campery for Tuesdays, with stilettoes and handbags adorning the walls to add to the atmosphere! DJ Stella is more than happy with the turnout, and is also hoping to take over another venue on Monday nights, if Tuesdays continue to be as popular as they presently are. The club is now open on two floors, with a quieter bar, seating and cruising area on the top storey, with the dance floor below. At the moment, three bars are open, so getting to the sherry is no problem. Stella tells me that he hopes to open up a third floor, and lay on more laid back music on the top floor for us queens to chill out to after we've exhausted ourselves on the dance floor, picked up a bit of trade, and want to sit down in peace to go through the 20 questions routine, before deciding whether to take it home for a shag (or not)! At the moment, the bar staff are all straight (we think), but seemed to be enjoying themselves anyway. Hopefully a few fairies will infiltrate the other side of the bar to add to the camp atmosphere. Popped into Club-X to see what effect Jojo's was having on them. It's pretty much dead in the water since Bennets re-opened, despite the reviewed entry charges and cheapo drinks, with only Mondays and Tuesdays being worthwhile now. Last Tuesday, there were only about 60 people in at 1230, compared with 200 in Jojo's, and a lot of us left shortly before 1 to get into Jojo's before the curfew. If you want a cheap night out, pick up flyers for both clubs, get into Club-X for free, get as much cheap drink down your throat as possible, then bugger off down Jojo's before the curfew. Seems like a lot of people were doing this last Tuesday. It will be interesting to see how long the price war lasts, but Tin Pan Alley are determined not to be beaten on price. This shouldn't be a problem, as they have half a dozen other outlets in the holding company, and their large barrelage discount should ensure that the cheapo drinkies will continue!! Now we know why Tuesdays at Club-X is called CHEEZE, it's cos the place is full of holes, where the customers used to be. It's nice to see the little guys taking on a major club, and winning hands down! Anyway, if you only go out clubbing one night a week, DON'T MISS THIS GREAT ONE NIGHTER!! For those of you living outside Glasgow, you can catch Stella at Pride Scotland in Edinburgh later this year. Clone Zone have now opened their new shop in Virginia Street. By the time this issue hits the streets, the official opening party will have taken place, and us VIPs will have guzzled all the freebie food and booze before they let you lot in!! The shop has a huge selection of mucky mags, videos, pornographic pressies and toys. Don't know what the blue rinse brigade will make of the display of leather harnesses and rubber ornaments in the window! As for the home enema kits, how do you explain THAT to your granny if you're walking past? Who saw His Editorness on Trial By Night? Oh dearie me, they say TV makes you look fatter, but this must be the only edition where they had to use Cinemascope! Get a baggier frock, John! Was looking forward to appearing as well, but had to pull out at the last minute. Shame, never got to meet Peter Tatchell! I was asked recently to submit reviews of all the gay pubs and clubs for a new Internerd site called "Glasgow After Dark". This gives price comparisons, marks out of 5, clientele type, facilities offered and a description and rating of bars and clubs in Glasgow. Site address is http://www.strath.ac.uk/~aeu95249/PubGuide/key.htm The listings contain details of all licensed premises in Glasgow, and they wanted a gay celebrity to ensure they had up to date reviews of all the best and worst of our favourite, and NOT so favourite, poofter palaces. Will be some time before the pages are uploaded, but any visitors coming to Glasgow soon can get copies of the information, just E-mail me, and I'll send you details of where you shouldn't miss, and where you shouldn't bother! There are various stories going around that the Poo Club are refusing entry to transvestites and transsexuals at the moment. A few of the girls say that they are no longer welcome, but the management of the Poo have assured me that this is just another naughty RUMOUR that is being put about. So, there you have it, Carla, Betty and Co. You ARE welcome after all, and if anybody tells you differently, let them know that Minerva has poked her nose into this story, and has been told by the MANAGEMENT no less, that it is definitely NOT true that such a ban is in operation!! They wouldn't dare lie to ME now, would they? It would appear however, that others are not so lucky. Can it really be true that one magazine editor was asked to leave for laughing too loudly, or are the powers that wannabee at the Poo getting a little upset that a lot of the scene are pissed off with the attitudes of the bosses, and we columnists are not scared of reflecting these views in print!! Maybe I'd better shut up in case I'm next on the hit-list!! Sappho's has now started doing bingo on Sundays with Nathalie. There are lucky dip prizes, cash prizes, crap prizes and a guess the famous face competition. That's all I can really tell you about it, not being of the Docs'n'dungarees persuasion. Snippets: Interesting point made by Pulse a few issues ago about no Scottish winners in the Boyz awards, why doesn't one of the mags run a similar contest between all the Scottish pubs and clubs? -:- Nice little piece in the papers about a policeman caught in the act in the bogs in one of Glasgow's department stores, now we know where to go for a bit of uniform! -:- So Ellen has finally come out of the closet, were we really supposed to believe she was the marrying kind? Betty B has more frocks than Ms DeGeneres. -:- Squires are no longer opening on Sunday afternoons, seems like the Jurassics are too busy sipping their Horlicks and reading the Sunday Post to make it worthwhile. -:- Which Glasgow pub doesn't display ANY of the stats, (the statutory notices to be displayed regarding drinking up time, spirit measures, price list, under age tippling etc) NAUGHTY!! -:- Archaos seem to be wooing the pink pound on Sundays with the Shirleys Temple club night, all drinks ukp1.25 all night, look out for the flyers. -:- Sadie's now allowing kiddies in during the afternoon, so watch out for bawling brats if you're looking for a quiet drink... Don't know what the tabloids would make of this, can just imagine the headlines "Children in Gay Bar!!!..Shock!!..Horror!!" -:- Can't help but notice that EVERYBODY'S got short hair just now. Are you all getting ready for summer, or am I the only one who's still being trendy? Looking around Jojo's, it seemed I was the only one left with a Jennifer Aniston hair do, with the exception of a few lesbians-who-do-lipstick, and a Jason King lookalike!! Finally, I got my most bizarre chat-up line earlier this month. Not the usual "Do you come here often", or "Got a light?" or "I can see you're gagging for it, your place or mine?", but "Have you seen Hale-Bopp yet?", weird or what??!! STOP PRESS!!!!!... GILLESPIES RE-OPENING!! Can it be true?. Well, I don't know either, but there is a rumour going around that one of the scene's top DJs will be taking the place over, and opening up after a major refurbishment. We all know that rumours come and go, but it would be great if this one was true. The three clubs we have are all pretty much alike. Same music, same indifference and same impersonal service, so a return to the different atmosphere that Madges had would be much appreciated. Suppose we'll just have to wait and see if anything actually happens, or if it's just yet another rumour doing the rounds!! Anyway fans, that's all for now, see you all next month, same time same page!! Hugz, kisses and all that crap! Minerva minerva@drink.demon.co.uk INBHIR NIS ========== Here! Here! Wheesht! Come away in and sit down, keep the noise down the election is on the TV (I meant Television). DJ wants to see if Herr Hein gets it tonight (voted in I mean). Right it's the commercial break, here's the gossip... Firstly, and for once seriously, I would like to point out to all and sundry, near and far, that I as Calmac, do not represent or write for Reach Out Highland in any shape or form. Also any views expressed are entirely my own and not that of the organisation or its management. Now in the words of the unique Gusset who writes for Aberdeen (Hiya sweetie! How are ya girl?)... "Erm... who put that soapbox there?" Anyway, down to business. Reach Out Highland celebrated their 2nd Birthday on the 25th of April, at Hayden's Island, Bank Road. This event was attended by all connected with ROH and its many and varied r™les which included a proportion of gays, lesbians and bisexuals. The event, although not perhaps as well attended as previous times, was a great success. The evening was loads of fun and a fab time was had by all, although many needed counselling after I hit the Karaoke like an out-of-tune hurricane... my apologies to all and their eardrums and delicate musical sensibilities. An excellent buffet was laid on and enjoyed by all, followed by some trendy moves on the dance floor. This was followed by much more music, hilarity and dancing. The spirit of the organisation was realised when Andrew Hunter, the Chief Executive of ROH, got everyone to form a circle, hold hands, sing Happy Birthday and then find someone you had not spoken to that night and introduce yourself. The Highland Transgender Group and Youth Group were represented, and in speaking to Julia of the T. Group I found out that excuses given for more of the girls not attending were thus: "Two girls intent on walking to Hayden's had to be given emergency treatment at Raigmore Hospital for acute ankle strain, another was arrested en route and charged with criminal dress sense, one fell foul of the Wee Free Vigilantes and is now in therapy and another stopped to earn her spending money and forgot where she was going!" Nevertheless Julia continued, "The T. Group really do appreciate these opportunities to put on our high heels and stagger into the big wild world." Well Julia, all I can say is that you and all the rest of the T. Group have my never-ending support and admiration: the guts, determination and sense of being (as well as dress sense!) shown by the Group are an outstanding example to us all! In this day and age bravery takes many many forms, yours is one of the finest. I salute you all! Think about it readers and Be All You Can Be! Anyway, sorry for the slightly more "sober" report than usual, but Hey, let's be careful out there! Til next time... take care, Calmac OBAIR DHEADHAIN =============== Greetings from the land of the Sheep! Or should I say, Hallo, failte don Obar Dheadhain! The story so far... My first article for this mag was greeted by surprise from some people. I heard my first critic only two hours after I'd read the article myself, and I feel it warrants a reply. SOD OFF! Just 'cos you've got a huge dick and can make people scream at the very thought of you coming anywhere near them doesn't mean to say you're qualified to criticise my journalism! Not witty enough... How could you possibly compare my wit to that of MINERVA??? I wouldn't stand a bloody chance... Anyone who saw me that night in Caberfeidh, looking like a bloody tourist with camera in hand, can hardly say I wasn't enthusiastic! Anyway - Aberdeen. Advance warning for all you people of a nervous disposition. The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence (Convent of Moravia) are to do another Nundraising Run in Aberdeen soon, as part of The National Nun Run of Scotland. Leaving Elgin on Friday 9th, they'll proceed to Dundee, and then onto Edinburgh at approximately midnight (heh heh, I've seen the itinerary... they'll no' make it in time without tripping several Gatsos on the way down!). The marathon run halts in Edinburgh for the night. The Sisters then do Glasgow on the Saturday night, and watch out Aberdeen... Sunday night is your night. This promises to be a hilarious experience, so bring any loose change, and as many loose men (I said LOOSE, not SLACK!) with you as possible. Castro was busier than I'd seen it for a long time. Friday night was good, and Saturday was also pretty busy too. They're still playing handbag music and the camp stuff - not my cup of tea, but hey! who cares as long as the dance floor is full, eh? I never seem to make it along there on the right evenings! There's quite a busy schedule for Castro over the next few weeks, so keep an eye out for the posters. Caberfeidh was a hoot! Quieter on the Friday, as it seems to be these days, but it got busier towards midnight, when I left! Saturday was simply excellent. Never before have I had such a good evening on three bottles of Bud! Rumour has it that there's a surfing night soon or something, also accompanied by a visit from the Moravian Sisters, once again! My evening in the Cab' was finished off with a spectacular argument with a hettie female, who accused me of trying to crack onto my ex-boyfriend. Aye, right, when his six-foot-three boyfriend is there too. I think so, uh-huh. Talking of heterosexuals... I paid another visit to our mixed venue. Like Caberfeidh, Exodus was fairly quiet. I would assume that the students were still on holiday or up to their eyeballs in exams, but nevertheless it wasn't too bad a night. I was a wee bit disappointed, but at the end of the night I was too wasted to care! There were a few pretty straight boyz with their pretty straight girlz too, but not too many of us. It's a shame that we can't get more of a gay crowd in there, but I suppose the music is perhaps not everyone's thing. I managed to meet Alan the DJ, and met a few more people in the process, which was all very nice. Gus gus@drink.demon.co.uk BOXES - THE SCOTSGAY MEET MARKET ================================ To reply to a Contact Ad: By e-mail: We can now accept replies by e-mail for Box Numbers. They should be sent to boxreplies@drink.demon.co.uk and will be printed out and posted on by snail mail to the box number holders. There will be no charge for this service. As box number holders are unlikely to have access to e-mail, please include your name and address so that they can get back to you! And remember to include the box number that you're replying to clearly on each reply. By snail mail: Just pop your reply in an envelope with the box number written in the TOP RIGHT corner and place the envelope with your reply inside another envelope with two loose first class stamps. If you are writing from outside the UK, an International Reply Coupon (IRC) should be enclosed for each reply instead of postage stamps. International Reply Coupons are available from most Post Offices throughout the world. We are unable to send on replies without postage stamps or IRCs. Send all replies to: ScotsGay Magazine, Pageprint Limited, PO Box 666, Edinburgh. EH7 5YW. To place a Contact Ad: Write to the above address enclosing your advertisement copy. Ads are FREE of charge to the advertiser. Or you can send them by e-mail to scotsgay@drink.demon.co.uk Personal Ads in ScotsGay's Meet Market are read by more people than any other Scottish Gay Title! WOMEN Honest And Sincere 34 Year Old I am a honest, sincere GWF with a GSOH. If you kinda think you fit the same category, why not contact me? You might be pleasantly surprised. Box SG15003. HGV Class I Driver Required Must be experienced with Caterpillar plant equipment. This sturdily built diesel powered machine, constructed in 1975, is still running despite minor hydraulic leakages. Successful candidate will have gentle but firm touch. Due to the demanding nature of this job, applicant must be under 30, physically fit and preferably fitted with ample front cushioning. Equal opportunities employer: females only, please! Box SG15031. Glasgow - Edinburgh Gay female, 22, cuddly and fun loving, seeks similar female for fun nights in and out. Box SG15034. MEN Young For Older? Very hairy genuine guy, 40, 5'6", offers uncomplicated fun to younger (18-25) smooth chested young guy. Edinburgh/Glasgow based but can travel and/or accommodate. Might suit beginner or bi-curious. Total discretion if required. No need to be shy! Box SG15001. Inexperienced Glasgow Male Hi I am looking to meet someone to show me the ropes, they can be young or old. I am 30, slim and good looking and very eager. I can travel or accommodate. Box SG15002. Glasgow Couple/Model 34, 6'3", slim, 33w, looks and acts 26, short brown hair, clean shaven, straight acting and looking. 24, 5'8", slim, 28w, short light brown hair, clean shaven. Looking for fun time with other guy/s under 26 & slim. First guy looking for modelling work - erotic, semi and nude. Http://www.dwalsh1.demon.co.uk/ Box SG15004. London Guy Seeks Bears London based Gay Guy, who visits Scotland every 3 months or so, seeks bears in Edinburgh, Glasgow or Aberdeen, for correspondence, friendship and possible meetings in Scotland. Wide variety of interests, including travel, photography, music, good food and conversation. I also have a good sense of humour and I am very easy to get on with. Why not drop me a line to say hello and let's see what happens? If you would like to know more about me, check out my website at: http://www.geocities.com/westhollywood/5793. I look forward to hearing from you! Box SG15005. Model Wanted Amateur photographer in Newcastle area is looking for well built (young) male model for fine art/nude work. Box SG15006. Glasgow Handsome Glasgow guy 28 seeks guys 18-35 for horny sessions. Explicit letter by return. Tell me about yourself. E-mail:weened@hotmail.com. Box SG15008. Young Fun Wanted I am 20 years old and am looking to meet a guy for fun and good nights in or out. Looks not important and can travel to meet you. Hope to hear from someone soon. Box SG15009. Glasgow - Horny, Hung, Muscular European traveller would like occasionally to meet Glasgow men & couples. Me: 34, 5'10", 200lb bodybuilder, well-endowed, oversexed, overfed, into good ol' heavy suck & fuck, poppers, massage, wrestling, cockrings, with other heavy-hung, bulky, sensual Scottish men. Also enjoy meeting in Amsterdam with my over-50 'daddy' super-hung lover. Pictures on my website: www.netjojo.com. Box SG15010. Dominant Master Wanted I'm passive (very passive) for the right man. I like to be in the control of a very assured, dominant master whose needs I can serve. I would be very happy to oblidge the right person. I am particularly skilled in 'O'. Let me serve your needs. I am 41, tall and can accommodate. Box SG15011. Strict Teacher - Anywhere Strict teacher (42) has vacancies for pupils. From mild spanking to CP, all needs dealt with. Use of the tawse a speciality. Hand out boy! Box SG15012. Big Boys Wanted Is there a big boy out there? I have been so let down in the past. It just has to be big for me. Passive tall slim male (41) WLTM WE and VWE males for photography and relief. All colours and tastes catered for. 'O' a speciality. Box SG15013. Wolverhampton Tattooed skinhead, 27, stockily built, roughish looks, bottom, into watersports, CP and all sorts of kinky fun. Box SG15015. Friends of the Tawse Glasgow male (40), keen to organise a party for those who yearn the passing of the tawse. A night where we can relive those moments that brought such pleasure. ALA. Box SG15016. Edinburgh Area Hi. 29 year old inexperienced guy looking for someone to show me the ropes (18-35). Must be discreet and the hornier the better. Box SG15017. Just Want Friends?? 24 year old seeks guys 18-35 for friendship and some fun in his life. I moved here in July... but am I the only one needing some friends? I'm 6ft tall, blonde hair and blue eyes. Fancy some fun?? Get writing before I get any more bored!!! Box SG15018. Falkirk - Central Scotland 43year old,, 5'10 slim, smooth, bi-guy looking for no strings fun with guys of any age, particularly young passive guys who want to fulfil their fantasies. Can't accommodate. ALA. Box SG15019. North Staffs/Manchester 32 year old hairy top looking for fun with lads 20-30, that doesn't just imply sex, but who knows what'll happen? Any indie kids bored with gay bars/clubs, let's get together and ... whatever. Take care. Box SG15021. Feet on the Ground Wanted a down to earth bloke who dosen't have any baggage. Preferably around 25-35. Hopefuly likes nice Bikes (cc). Just looking for a good time at the moment but hopefully leading to more. Box SG15022. Aberdeen Masculine, fit, thirtysomething guy, varied interests, looking for friends for fun etc., in or around Aberdeen City. Likes pubs, music, outdoors, getting stoned, having a laugh. Box SG15023. Aberdeen - Caberfeidh Fan! 26yr old, 5'9", slim & young looking wonders if there are any similar ga/uys out there who enjoy dancing the night away. If you do... let me know. Box SG15024. Glasgow Student 21, non scene, good looking guy, 6'1", 12 1/2 stones, seeks nice guy 18-28. I'm into theatre, art, cinema, opera, and lots of hugely contradictory stuff. Mail me with picture (pref) and long letter to tell me about you. Box SG15025. Stirling 43year old bi-guy seeking discrete fun with like minded guys, up to 50 y.o. I am 5'10", slim, fit, clean shaven, darkish hair. Willing to try most things. Can't accommodate. If interested get in touch. ALA. Box SG15026. Edinburgh 30, 5'8", slim, 10 stone, smooth & passive, seeks tall, hirsute, older man to provide reason to continue. I'm ambitious and motivated but I need someone to give me that extra boost and the love and support that I want and need. Box SG15027. Moray Coast - Anywhere 29 year old, masculine, good looking, genuine guy with GSOH and many interests seeks similar. Recently stopped smoking, need to find alternative activities for hands/mouth! Suggestions welcome... can accommodate. Box SG15028. Glasgow Gay 28 seeks guys 18-30 for horny sessions. Explicit letter by return. Tell me about yourself. Box SG15029. Glasgow Gay Guy 31, straight acting, likes music, sports, pubs, seeks a younger guy up to 25 for a good friendship, some horny fun and a possible relationship. I can offer total discretion, trust, confidence, and can accommodate. Inexperienced and those just curious are particularly welcome. All replies will be answered so get writing! Box SG15030. Highlands 30's Inverness vacancy for loving, considerate 20's (flat?) mate. 26ish-29ish opportunity to share flat, help me settle, otherwise I'll relocate for love, fun/friendship, to get in with 19-25ish?? (3some, fitness/fantasies!?) Non/smokers. Genuine, uniformed, studenty, professionals, 1-2-1? ALAWP. Detailed letter gets mine). Box SG15035. Dundee - Fife - Edinburgh Areas Convincing gay TV, very sexy, loves fetish fantasy fun, WLTM similar for relationship and support. Can travel or accommodate. SAE plus photo (returnable) please. Hot fun for a hot summer! Box SG15037. Ayr/Prestwick Gay Lad 6' tall, blue eyes, brown hair, straight acting GSOH and non-scene. Would like to meet other local lads, under 25, for fun, friendship and hopefully 1-2-1 relationship. Total discretion assured. Genuine advert, starting to feel I must be the only gay person around here! Replies from everywhere very welcome, all will be answered, thanks. Box SG15039. Hands Up For The Belt! Miss the thrill of being called out to the front of the class? Deliberately tried to get it? Showed off to the other boys? Science graduate, 40's, will remind (or initiate) you with a real Lochgelly. Stories of beltings welcome too. ALA. Edinburgh/Glasgow. Box SG15040. Friendly Bi-guy Glasgow - Anywhere 40's, seeking contacts to visit (22-28) who like to strut their stuff. Enjoy massage, safe fun, w/sports, watching videos. Cannot accommodate. Welcome hairy, VWE. Photo please (promptly returned). Let's meet soon. Box SG15041. Big Bald Bearded Businessman (50's) Seeks slim, smooth, shy, sensual, sexy 'son' (18-24) to spoil and pamper. We're both n/s and w/e and into safe no ties fun. Anywhere in Falkirk/Edinburgh/Glasgow triangle. ALAWP. Box SG15042. Edinburgh Skinhead 34 year old, zero crop, into DM's, army gear, leather, rubber, used gear, masks, w/s, wants to meet other skins up to 40 for hot wet fun. Phone number appreciated. ALAWP. Box SG15043. Grappling Guys Sought! Very heavy guy seeks similar hairy wrestler for friendship, fun and frolics. Perhaps some tuition also. But friendship is much more important than fighting. All letters answered with photo. Box SG15044. Edinburgh - Anywhere Tall, well built 30 year old, non smoker, cropped hair, goatee, normal bloke, enjoys sports, both playing and watching, seeks similar shorter, stocky guy for fun, friendship possible 1-2-1. Photo appreciated. Box SG15045. Central Scotland Guy, 32, shy, inexperienced, seeks a genuine, like-minded, non-smoking pal (maybe uniformed guy) for concerts, eating out, chats, country walks, discreet friendship and mutual exploration. Absolute discretion assured. Box SG15046. Inverness Area Tall, slim, fit, passive, outdoor type, 46, seeks accommodation. I'm quiet, n/s, s/a, genuine. Also WLTM 40+ active WE guys for fun and lasting friendship. Anything considered. ALA. Box SG15047. North East England - Scotland - Seeks Macho 34, 5'10", 11st, sporty, sa/sl, smooth, non scene, passive, seeks tall, beefy, sporty, masculine, VWE, exclusively active, hot, tender and dominant possesive macho under 45 years old. ALA. Box SG15048. Tayside - Perth Relatively inexperienced fun loving 35 year old. I'm slim, hairy, 5'8", GSOH, looking for like minded guys of any age for safe raunchy fun. Can travel or accommodate. Box SG15049. Leather Daddy Wanted Assertive dominant leather daddy required by novice teenager lad in Edinburgh as penpal to correpond about need for Discipline, Restraint, CP and Leather, etc. Hundreds of questions. Looks unimportant. ALA. Box SG15050. Nurse Fife Edinburgh + Surrounds 34, young looking, WLTM 25-45 slim-med build, bald a bonus. Enjoys TV, videos, sauna and massage. Get writing frank letters please. ALAWP. Genuine for more information. No time wasters. Box SG15051. Edinburgh - Central Scotland 41 year old, balding on top, hairy body, 'tached, seeks guys, any age, for fun. Into massage, DIY, briefs and possible w/s. Box SG15052. Glasgow - Edinburgh Well equipped master, 43, needs ne subs to train. Should have passive attitude and be keen to learn. TT, BD, CP, WS. Into chapps, jeans, rubber, harness, masks. Safe horny scenes assured. Box SG15053. Tattooed Hypnotist 38, 5'11", 14 1/2 st, Manchester, WLTM home loving, skint, skinny guys who like photography, music, reading and sex. ALAWP. Box SG15054. Edinburgh Young guy looking for active mates. Age or looks unimportant. A good time more important. send photo and details for prompt reply. Box SG15055. The Lochgelly In need of a reminder? All ages strapped. Box SG15056. Edinburgh - East Lothian - Anywhere Gay guy, 35, 5'7", not bad looking or so I have been told. An old romantic at heart. Enjoy cinema, travel, pubs, eating out or romantic dinner in. Also enjoy some sport. Would like to meet gay guy, 18-40, for genuine 1-2-1 relationship. Photo appreciated, mine in return. ALA. Box SG15057. Wales Gay guy, former resident of Kilmarnock now living in Mid Wales, 45 year old looking for Toy Boy - pen friend, holiday romance, maybe more - coming on holiday this summer, interested in walking then drop me a line. Box SG15058. Guy Near Inverness Seeks Closeness Wanted: Hairy big guy with sense of humour for long term relationship. Photo. Phone. Must be healthy. Box SG15059. Edinburgh Edinburgh guy (47) WLTM younger guy (25-38) for fun and friendship. Your place or mine. Photo and phone number apprecaited. Box SG15060. Glasgow - Edinburgh Young hot 24 year old, inexperienced slave, requires the firm attention of a master. Willing to obey all commands. Can't accommodate. Will travel. Interests: BD, TT, CP. ALA. Box SG15061. Paisley Just back from London after six years. Looking for genuine friends for nice safe fun - nothing too heavy. Please get in touch and take things one day at a time. Box SG15062. Edinburgh - Fife Master requires slave. Any age or size. You will accept CP and bondage if needed. Sub TV very welcome. Box SG15064. Fife - Edinburgh - Central Scotland Slim/skinny guys wanted for fun/friendship by versatile 39 year old medium built guy, s/a, s/l, brown hair, hazel eyes. Couples also welcome. Any age. Can travel or accommodate. ALA. Promise! Box SG15065. Optimistic 35 Year Old In Glasgow Loud when drunk. Quiet when sad. I don't work-out. I dance sometimes. Prone to distraction when it comes to the arts. Loves laughing, writing, talking and "stuff". 1-2-1. ALAWP. Box SG15066. Glasgow Area Required: Young, friendly male/s for discreet safe fun. Possible 1-2-1. Must be under 25. Photo/phone helpful. Non scene. Into shorts, denims and black trousers. GSOH. All letters definitely answered. Penpals also required. Box SG15067. Glasgow Young gay white male seeks Asian/Black/Oriental guys for horny sessions. Discretion assured and expected. Reply guaranteed. Photo phone helps. Can accommodate. Box SG15068. Aberdeen - Glasgow - Edinburgh 5'10", 31, skinny, SA, non-smoker, WLTM guy 18-35 who enjoys clubs, music, cinema. GSOH essential. Like small endowed guys and orientals. If you're both, get writing. ALA. Box SG15069. Dominant Skins Required 28 year old, 6' and chunky, into gobbing, bootlicking and pissing. ALAWP. Include phone number. Box SG15070. 19 Year Old Scots Lad Hi. Cute 19 year old Scots lad would like to have 18/24 year old Australian pen friends for fun and friendship. Genuine replies only. Photo appreciated. Box SG15071. Aberdeen Couple Seek Mates Couple, both 28, seek new mates, 18-35, for good hot horny clean safe fun and friendship. No queens. Can travel. Box SG15072. Southern Scotland - Anywhere 39, attractive, discreet professional, SA, WLTM good looking guy with GSOH, outgoing with positive attitude for fun and friendship. ALAWP. Box SG15073. Edinburgh - Anywhere 29 year old attractive friendly guy seeks non-camp, preferably non scene, genuine guy, 25-40. Interests: motorbikes, leather gear and boxing. Drop me a line! Box SG15074. Aberdeen - Teacher Required 36 year old male, 5'6", stocky build, until now straight, seeks male to learn all there is. Anything considered, Bondage etc. Non scene, very discreet. E-mail: 106277.1611@Compuserve.com. Box SG15075. BISEXUAL Seeking Other Teens (18-23) Hi There! I'm 18, and looking to meet other teens for friendship and fun. Box SG15007. Adult Baby Seeks Loving Carer Baby Joshy is my name and I'd like to meet a loving carer preferably female but would entertain others from a caring father. Contact Me For Further Details. Box SG15014. Donor/Co-parent Wanted Sporty, professional, caring, non-scene guy wanted for co-parenting/donor by 34 year NZ lesbian living in Hertfordshire. GSOH essential. Box SG15020. Dundee - Tayside - Fife - Lothians Sub TV, Bi, attractive, seeks Dom M+F couple to serve. Very obedient. Can be maid at parties. Very versatile. Friendly. Good at role playing. Sae and photo. Genuine. Discreet. Box SG15036. Glasgow - Edinburgh Bi male, 32, seeks bi female for friendship hopefully to a stage of tentative fulfillment but must be prepared to give it a real go. Your place only. Box SG15038. STRAIGHT Edinburgh Straight male, 28, WLTM slim, attractive, intelligent bi-female for company and friendship. Happy spending time on and off scene. Likes pubs, cinema and conversation. Me: baby faced, muscular, self employed, serious natured but happy and cheerful. Box SG15032. Edinburgh - Lost Cause 44, mostly straight bi-male, seeks understanding female for fun and friendship. Box SG15033. FRIENDS ABROAD Student Seeking Penpal Hi...I'm looking to make some friends for an email-penpal. I'm 6'1", 160 lbs, blond, and cute. Studying graphic design, and interests include hiking, mountain biking, music (everything from Smashing Pumpkins to the Pet Shop Boys) and hanging out with friends. I'm particularly interested in meeting any students from the University of Edinburgh. E-mail: JKBjeff@aol.com or write: Jeff Bender, 601 E.Apache Blvd #125, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA. Accommodation Trade To Orlando FL Exchange a week in my home with private pool in Orlando, Florida for a week in the Edinburgh area. Have two guest rooms with bath. Enjoy outdoors, travel, arts and politics. E-mail: Britluvr@aol.com or write: Alan Lunin, PO Box 678281, Orlando, Florida 32867-8281, USA. New Zealand Scotophile GWM wishes to make contact with hunky Scottish guys. Any of you visiting this way? I am 40, 6ft, 12 stone, hairy, and horny. I live in Wellington and would love to show you a good time. A couple of words in that sexy accent is enough to really get me going! Can accommodate the right guy. E-mail Richard King at: PARSK@natlib.govt.nz or write: 142 Nevay Road, Miramar, Wellington, New Zealand. Look forward to receiving your replies soon. New Friends Wanted Hi there 2 guys from San Francisco moving to Scotland in the Fall. 1 Frenchman 39, 1 Scot 35. Would like to make contact with gay guys around our age. E-mail: Garstrick@aol.com or write Gary Strickland, 179 Corbett Ave. #2, San Francisco, CA 94114, USA. HIV+ American seeks HIV+ Scot GWM, 32, wishes to correspond with and possibly meet Scottish man. I am masculine, good-looking, and aesthetically-minded. Photo exchange desired as well. E-mail to Hunk601@aol.com. Thanks! Sam Blythe, 9620 College Road, Olive Branch, MS 38654-8897, USA. Visiting Edinburgh and Inverness Hello. I will be visiting Edinburgh and Inverness in late July and am looking to meet up with gay Scots while there. I am GWM, 29, 5'11", slender, long blondish hair, green eyes, college instructor of Anthropology. I love to dance! E-mail: ianmac@concentric.net or write: Ian Macgillivray, 1647 Clarkson St., Apt.1, Denver, Colorado 80218, USA. Hey! Will Nice To Meet You One man from Russia come in you "savage" West and... You may understand that. I am 27 and I don't like write more. If you will have a free time and answer I will glad to answer too. E-mail: igor@snoopy.phys.spbu.ru or write: Igor Goidenko, 191037, Russia, Saint-Petersburg, Muchnoj Lane, 4, f.20. Yank Loves Men In Plaid Attorney who frequently travels overseas is looking for a young man, mid-20's, slender with little body hair for a meaningful relationship. I am tall, 5'10", dark and handsome. I can be generous to the right person. Write to: Jeff "PUD" Gubernick, 2029 Century Park East #3150, Los Angeles, CA 90067, USA. Looking for Husky Scots I am 30 y/o, husky, hairy and uncut. I would like to correspond with Scottish guys who fall in the same category. Your picture gets mine. E-mail: uncut_guy@hotmail.com or write: Daniel LeFebvre, Suite #7, 6705 Arlington Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V5S 3P1. 19 Year Old USA Boy Wants Friend Ahhh.... the Scots, such a fun loving people who are constantly being harrassed by the empirical English. If you need to vent, there's a young gay boy from the states willing to listen! E-mail: Landerhoffe@AOL.com or write: Scott Landerhoffe, 30 Logan Street, Denver, Colorado 80203, USA. Sweden I'm a 33 years old gay male who wants to correspond with younger gay males in the age 17-33 in Scotland, Latin America and Asia. I'm interested to know more about the way for a gay. My hobbies are to listen to music, drawing, read literature, sport, gardening, and of course sex. E-mail: runxx@hotmail.com or write: Jan-Anders Josefsson, Hdradsvdgen 3, 6tr, S-152 48 Svdertdlje, Sweden. FOR SALE Leather Jacket: Size 40 deluxe padded bike jacket. Leather Trousers: Waist 36, regular inside leg deluxe padded bike trousers. Leather Bike Cap - Village People style. All items are in excellent condition and have only been worn twice so still as new. Retail price: ú420 - sale price: ú200 or nearest offer. Phone Balmedie (01358) 742281 after 6pm or e-mail me: doug@wintermute.co.uk PASSING GLANCES Stonehaven - Edinburgh Train 19th March, 1235. You: VGL, 20's, tall, baseball cap, red jacket, jeans, black shoes. Me: 20's, tall, glasses, black hair, denim jacket and jeans. Exchanged glances. Please get in touch. Box SG15063. TO LET Country Cottage To Share Near Inverness Offered to guy, own room, etc. Share bills. ú140 per month. Immediate entry. Phone: Farr (01808) 521236. JOBS OFFERED Cash For Your Body Photogenic guys can earn ukp75 cash - or ukp100 with chest and arm definition - posing for Mike Arlen who has had 13 glossy magazines published called Mike Arlen's Guys. Send snapshots of your magnificent body to him: Mike Arlen, Wetherby Studios, 23 Wetherby Mansions, Earls Court Square, London. SW5 9BH or call him on 0171-373 1107. BACK RUBS Best Massage At Best Price Too! Sensual all over body massage by passive and stout and cuddly gay man. To visit: call 0131-665 8219 or leave number and name on Ansa-Phone. See you soon! Edinburgh Massage Let your body relax under my skillful hands. Attractive TV offers that personal touch. Treat yourself to that unforgettable thrill. Call Stacy on 0131-478 0400. Edinburgh Masseur A caring skilled personal touch at excellent poundstretcher value. ukp15. Jim. 0131-556 7199. Escort Glasgow/Edinburgh locality. Attractive 25 year old student offers professional unhurried service. Available some days/weekends & some evenings. Advanced bookings prevent disappointment. 01683 221486. Massage - Paisley Let me rub you up the right way - using essential oils. Reasonable rates. Give yourself a treat!!! Ask for Tony. 01505 324561. Masseur - Aberdeen - Dundee Young guy, 29, gives great massage. Phone Steve on 0589 565418. Anytime. Rex 24 hour escort or massage. My place or yours. Built to please. Phone 0541 570727. SERVICES Books Good quality books for gay men available by mail order. Fast confidential service and good discounts. Titles include Spartacus '97, New Joy of Gay Sex and Safer Sexy. Call 0171-635 0332 for leaflet or write: Frontier Books, 149 Chadwick Road, London. SE15 4PY. Get Wet Leather, rubber & PVC clothes for men & women, leather & rubber harnesses, silicone and latex toys, lubricants, SM equipment, wholesale available. Send ukp5 for catalogue or sae for price list to: Get Wet, BCM 3564, London. WC1N 3XX. Tel/Fax: 0171-627 0290. Golden Wheel Seeking discreet gay or bisexual new friends, male or female? Long standing service, all areas and worldwide. Send stamp for details to: (Sadie), The Golden Wheel, Liverpool. L15 3HT. Pen Friends Gay, Lesbian and Bi-sexuals ages 16+, non profit organisation, members nationwide and worldwide, membership ukp6 p/a or ukp3 p/a concessionary. Write, enclosing 2 stamps to: LGB National Pen Pals, PO Box 2000, Horwich, Lancs, England. BL6 7PG. Penpal Mag Penpal Mag for adults: over 500 photos. Approval copy from: Matchmaker (K38), Chorley, PR7 4BS. Or ring: 01257 480155. The Cellar Contact group for hot, horny, raunchy guys into leather, rubber, uniform, denim and bikers. Plus "Studs", our new additional listing for all skins, boots and shorts enthusiasts. Information: 2 stamps. PO Box 17, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. IP32 7AT. Worldwide Penfriends Regular lists. Make friends, exchange holidays, improve your languages. For general and music lovers' lists send ukp3 to "The Penpal List", c/o 221B Merton Road, Southfields, London. SW18 5EE. PHOTOGRAPHY Ginger Snaps 35mm film developing and printing service. Mail orders processed in 24 hours. Videotape conversions to and from all worldwide systems using broadcast spec equipment. Scanning: images scanned onto disk or via e-mail. Callin or phone. 21 High Street, Acton, London. W3 6NG. Tel: 0181-993 6772. Fax: 0181-993 9982. E-mail: bginger@dircon.co.uk. Visa, Mastercard, Amex welcome. Just 18 Nude photo sets, sample set ukp15 from BM Ferrari, London, WC1N 3XX. Cheques and postal orders payable to 'M Bentley'. Models required. Send photo to above address. VIDEOS Free Video Lists The premier "one-stop" mail order service for all the best videos/books/photosets from Prowler, Pride, SAP, Load, etc., etc. Plus exclusive 'BoyBabe' videos unavailable anywhere else! Trading Post, Freepost BR1307, Eastbourne. BN21 1BR. Telephone: 01323 737481. WHERE TO STAY Ardbeg House Ardbeg House Hotel, Dervaig, Isle of Mull. Welcome breaks, two nights or more, ukp27 per person per night, Dinner B&B (some en-suite rooms with four poster beds). Scenically situated. Beautiful period country house full of character, home comforts and good food. Phone Neil on 01688 400254. Beside the Seaside ... Roseland Guest House, Ayr. Ron invites you to enjoy Bed and Breakfast in his quiet, centrally located Victorian townhouse. For that totally relaxing break. (Not exclusive). Please Tel/Fax 01292 283435 for current prices. Birmingham, West Midlands Sebastion Guest House. Telephone: 0121-455 9459. Large Georgian house located in the city centre, close to the gay village, all rooms colour TV, double beds, tea/coffee, communal lounge, sun room and large gardens. Blackpool Regent Hotel. Telephone: Blackpool (01253) 22787. Recently refurbished, Late Bar, Happy hour daily, En-Suite available, Flamingo's concessions, Mid-week specials Mon-Fri ukp44 B/B, Fri-Mon B/B (excluding Bank Holidays). Single nights available. Call Ernest NOW to avoid disappointment. Brighton Shalimar Hotel, 23 Broad Street, BN2 1TJ. Exclusively gay in centre of gay village. Most rooms en-suite. Four poster for that special occasion. Full English breakfast. Tea/coffee. Fridge. Hairdryer. Colour Television. Clock Radio/alarm. Telephone. Residents' bar. Phone or Fax Kevin or Lawrence - 01273 605316. Brighton Women's guesthouse. Fantastic value accommodation from ukp11pp in a friendly atmosphere next to the sea - and you don't have to get up early! Leaflet: The Only Alternative Left, 39 St Aubyn's, Hove, Sussex. BN3 2TH. Telephone: 01273 324739. Scotland-Brighton direct train! Capital Accommodation Want a gay stay for a holiday or just a change of scene?!!! Aries Guest House offers a warm, friendly welcome to Edinburgh. Ten minutes from Princes Street, close to theatres, cinemas, shops and restaurant, clubs and bars. Telephone: 0131-229 4669. Central Private Hotel Mixed clientele, Junction 28 M1, short distance to Nottingham, Derby, Sheffield, ALTON TOWERS, Sherwood Forest, Rooms En-suite, Licensed Restaurant, vegetarians, laundry service. Own front door key, no restrictions, Massage & Sunbed room. Weekend rates available. Phone: 01623 552373/Fax: 01623 443106. Edinburgh Mansfield House - Small elegant guest house within minutes of bars and clubs. All rooms have colour TV, tea and coffee making facilities. Basic room or En Suite. Continental breakfast available until midday. 57 Dublin Street, Edinburgh. EH3 6NL. Tel/FAX: 0131-556 7980. Fife - Scotland B&B Private Residence - central situation - convenient public transport - parking if required. Good facilities, relaxed friendly. Businessmen, UK tourists, overseas visitors, welcome - guys only. Telephone: Vic 01592 201985. Glasgow Berkeley Hotel, 63 Berkeley Street, G3. Phone: 0141-204 5470 or 0141-221 7880. Central, gay friendly, TV room, pool room, self catering facilities, shared and doubles. Special midweek rates. New York and San Francisco Pride Travel has the largest selection of gay and lesbian friendly hotels, guest houses and apartments in New York, San Francisco and throughout the USA/Canada. For brochure, phone Pride Travel-USA on 01273 606656. Provincetown USA Provincetown - America's most popular gay/lesbian resort. It's like being at Gay Pride every day of the week. Live the legend. For free brochure telephone Pride Travel-USA on 01273 606656. Relax in the Scottish Highlands Edwardian country hotel. Interesting food. Good wines and malts. Spectacular views. DBB ukp35-69. Although not exclusively gay you will be warmly welcomed. Call Ian or Eric: 01479 851347. Auchendean Lodge Hotel, Dulnain Bridge, Inverness-shire. PH26 3LU. Scarborough Hotel Interludes, "Holiday Which" recommended, welcomes gay men/women. Friendly, peaceful atmosphere. Licensed. Unique theatre theme. Elegant, en-suite, non-smoking seaview bedrooms (double, twin, 4-poster). ukp24pp B&B with 5% discount for 4 nights and 12.5% for 7 nights. Phone Ian/Bob 01723 360513. The Plough Hotel Luxury Gay-Friendly Hotel Gateway to the Lakes and Dales. 14 en-suite rooms, pub food, fine a la carter restaurant. 2 mins Junc 36 M6 on the A65. Cow Brow, Lupton, Cumbria. LA6 1PJ. Tel: 01539 567227. Fax: 01539 567848. Torquay Oscars Hotel is a gay family run hotel in the heart of Torquay's English Riviera. Single, Double & Triple rooms available all year round. Very comfortable 2 star accommodation and candlelit cellar restaurant. Call Ricky or Allan for details. 01803 293563. 10% discount on stays of three nights or more offered to ScotsGay readers! York Pauleda House Hotel, 123 Clifton, York. YO3 6BL. Enjoy superb accommodation centrally situated only minutes away from all the historic attractions. All rooms en-suite. Satellite TV, some Fourposters. Parking. B&B from ukp20 pppn. Family run. Gay Friendly. Tel: 01904 634745. Fax: 01904 621327. LETTERS ======= ScotsGay welcomes letters from readers. They should be sent to: ScotsGay Letters, PO Box 666, Edinburgh EH7 5YW, fax them to: 0131-539 2999 or alternatively send them via e-mail to letters@scotsgay.co.uk 2/1 4 Fountainwell Terrace Sighthill, Glasgow. Dear Sir, old faithful Oh dear, it would seem, from the latest copy of InsideOUT, that I have upset your dear columnist Minerva. Who would have thought that she would take such offence! I must admit I never expected such a furious and vehement response to my humble letter of complaint, but I was pleasantly surprised to notice that Ms Minerva dedicated over half of her column to it. I suppose she had nothing better to talk about this month? On reading the said column, I feel I must respond to some of her points in turn. To be perfectly honest, and I know she won't believe me, I was expressing my own views in the letter - I can't imagine why she 'smelt a rat', I have absolutely no vested interests, I simply believe, as I stated in my first letter, that Club X and the Polo Lounge were unfairly treated in her January column! Maybe they didn't complain, that's their business, I felt that they were hard done by, so took it upon myself to point it out. In the same way Minerva slags people off, I stand up for fair play!!? I said before and I'll say again - why weren't Bennets mentioned by name - if you're going to do it to one club, why not another? So, it would appear that Minerva has managerial experience? I must apologise - I hadn't realised. Of course I now know that she is an unreserved expert on everything, as you are when you've bossed a couple of folk around in a pub. If she has worked in as many pubs and clubs as she says, she's either very old, or she hasn't lasted very long in each! I wonder why? Perhaps she could turn her talents to something else - I hear the local button factory are looking for trainees! I must say I am very disappointed that Minerva chooses to be so vindictive against me, mind you it just goes to prove my point. I did call her a 'stroppy, bitch little stuck up queen', and her response shows just that - she gets terribly upset that someone actually has the audacity to complain about her, throws a wobbly and then tries to slag them 'till the cows come home! She talks of her 'fan mail' (it must cost her a fortune in stamps!) and 'squillions' of 'adoring' fans, and then refers to the rest of us as 'peasants'. She's obviously got such a high opinion of herself, I wouldn't want to be behind her in the queue for Bennets next time she gets her head stuck in the door! Finally, I do wish she wouldn't slag off my DJ'ing, it's a bit of a touch subject. We are a touch bunch I suppose, but only because we take our profession rather seriously. If I'm that bad a DJ then I'll retire gracefully but 5 years on the scene DJ'ing in front of some of the biggest crowds in various different clubs can't be bad - and, unlike Minerva, that's not me taking an ego trip, I'm just telling it like it is! Yours faithfully (again), Gavin J. Watson PS I quite like the name Janice (or Janus, whatever?) - I think I might keep it. Could catch on!!! Gordon Tervit gordon@netconx.demon.co.uk Dear ScotsGay, deficient buns What on earth is going on down at Del's Diner? I popped in for lunch today with my boyfriend to discover that not only do you have to wait for half an hour for the food (no change there), but they expect you to get your own cutlery and condiments! Still, at least the chef was in this time, instead of pissing about in Tesco's in the middle of the lunch hour. Ooh, a hint btw - don't even consider asking for anything other than exactly what's on the menu - they're a bit touchy about leaving the cheese off of the burgers... gordy Gay-zette N PO Box 426 Sheffield S2 3YJ Dear John, HONORARY ABERDONIAN Further to the letter that you printed in ScotsGay 14 from David Ward complaining that the Company will not accept stamps upside down because it's an insult to the Queen, I am writing to tell you that I have now purchased the SP-Mag, formerly the Sheffield Pink, and now trading as Gay-zette N. With regards to putting the stamps on envelopes upside down, please carry on! I believe in freedom of speech and allowing the Scots to show their Scottish Pride, but I'd prefer you put them in the bottom left hand corner as they are less likely to be marked by the Post Office which means I can save money and use the stamps again. After all, it's a business and, as I've spent up my compensation money from an harassment case on buying the mag and a new computer system, I'd appreciate the kind thought!! Yours in jest, Krystyna Haywood Editor and Proprietor 140 Hill Street Glasgow Dear ScotsGay, clubbing the competition I recently spent a most enjoyable night at Jojo's@Tin Pan Alley. The camp decor, Shag Tags, free party giveaways and complimentary champagne added delightfully to a usually otherwise boring night at one of the other Glasgow Gay Clubs!! I am concerned to notice though that Club X-Change have decided to resort to free entry and lower their prices to compete with Jojo's - which, if closed after its huge success of the opening weeks, would be a big loss to the Glasgow Scene. I have two questions: 1) Why wait until the opening of Jojo's to arrange free entry and cheaper drinks? 2) If Jojo's does close, will entry remain free and will drink prices remain the same? My assumptions are that for Question 1: Because Club X-Change had lost many of its customers they panicked and Question 2 has already been answered by Club X-Change themselves "Of course not, it's a business we run", they said!!! I would urge the people of the Glasgow scene to continue to support Jojo's and I'm sure that it could soon become one of the UK's leading Gay Nights. The monopolisation of the Gay Scene by King City Leisure via Delmonica's, Club X-Change and the Polo Lounge has gone on too long. Is it any wonder that they don't allow Jojo's to issue flyers on their premises? I rest my case. Frank Loan New Town Bar 26b Dublin Street Edinburgh Dear ScotsGay, clean licence As per usual we hear nothing about the New Town Bar from one year to the next in the ScotsGay "InsideOUT" supplement and when we do it is usually either negative or incorrect - pray tell why bother to mention us at all! In your statement you say that you find it odd about us having "straight bouncers on the door". This is mighty strange as they are the same doormen we have employed for the last NINE years! Alec the doorman not only worked at Fire Island but also for us at Chapps Bar and when we closed that, he moved along to the New Town. So this is hardly a new set-up. You must also find it strange that the other gay bars in town also use straight doormen! Your statement implies that there must be a need for doormen - if you were a regular customer at the New Town you would know just how ridiculous this sounds! But I wonder how many new customers will now be put off coming along to the New Town after reading your comments - they may seem pretty tame to you but if read them the wrong way it does not shed a very "safe" light on us. I would have thought that having a clean licence and NO police incidents at all after three years in a very busy city centre bar would amount to something - obviously not in your book! Pray tell how CC's would get on if they didn't have their regular weekend fights and police visits - now that would imply something! Please think in future about making comments or better still check them out first. Yours faithfully. Andy Morrison Owner 26a Herut Ramat Gan Israel 52541 Dear Editor, foreign bodies I am writing to point out a cruel example of discrimination against gays and lesbians that has been pretty much ignored till now. Four years ago, I met my partner. We very soon decided that we loved each other and wanted to live together. The only problem was that he is an Israeli and I'm British. For a straight couple, this would be crunch time. They could decide whether or not they loved each other enough to marry. And if they did then the Home Office would gladly give the non-EU partner residency. Well my partner doesn't even exist according to the Home Office. So I had to move to Israel. And I've been here ever since. We cannot get married. We do not have that option. In Israel, I see straight British-Israeli couples happily making plans to settle in the UK or anywhere in Europe. We're stuck here. At least we are together. Many lesbian and gay couples don't have anywhere to go and split up. I'm glad that lesbians and gays are demanding rights to equality in housing, the forces and work. But I hope that immigration will not be ignored. Yours sincerely, Andrew Reid INTERNATIONAL ============= ROMANIAN CHURCH ATTACKS GAYS Homosexuals, drug abuse, "baby-murdering mothers," and "unnatural sins and debauchery" are destroying Romania, Orthodox Patriarch Teoctist said in his Orthodox Easter message. Teoctist denounced parliament for its technical legalization of homosexuality last year. MPs lifted the nation's sodomy ban under pressure from the Council of Europe but also passed two new laws that prohibit the development of any kind of gay community. One measure — which bans gay clubs, media and most anything else gay — reads: "Propositioning or enticing a person to take part in sexual relations with a person of the same sex, as well as propaganda or association or any other acts of proselytism with the same purpose, is punishable by one to five years imprisonment." A second law states: "Sexual intercourse between persons of the same sex, taking place in public, or producing a public scandal, is punishable by one to five years imprisonment." Romanian law defines "public scandal" as anything two or more people find offensive. TASMANIA: FREE AT LAST Following a nine-year campaign by gay activists, the Australian state of Tasmania has finally legalized gay sex, wiping out the nation's last sodomy ban. In an unrecorded voice vote on May 1st, the island's Legislative Council repealed Criminal Code sections 122 and 123, which outlawed consenting sexual intercourse "against the order of nature" and "indecent practice between male persons." The punishment was up to 25 years in prison. The lower chamber of parliament, the House of Assembly, passed the repeal measure on March 27th. Pro-repeal forces in the 19-member upper chamber fought off proposed amendments that would have banned "promotion" or "encouragement" of homosexuality and would have set the age-of-consent for gay sex higher than 17, which is the legal age for straight sex. They also dislodged a preamble that would have blamed gays for AIDS. "This marks the end of a 25-year campaign for gay law reform across the country," said Rodney Croome, spokesman for the Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group (TGLRG), which waged the long battle to legalize homosexuality. "What we have got today is an uncompromised and unqualified victory for justice and equality for gay and lesbian people in this state, for all Tasmanians and all Australians. "For nine years we've been sustained by our faith in the Tasmanian people: our faith that they are essentially rational and fair-minded. Today's decision shows that our faith was not misplaced. ... This decision lifts a destructive criminal stigma from our shoulders — a stigma we've lived with all our lives." Tasmania's ban had been condemned by a 1994 ruling of the United Nation Human Rights Committee (as a violation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights) and denounced by Amnesty International and the Anglican Church. It was the subject of a federal High Court case, which gays were expected to win, and the target of a federal law passed in 1995 guaranteeing the right to sexual privacy. The High Court was expected to determine that the privacy law took precedence over the state ban. TGLRG plans to move forward with a campaign for an anti-discrimination law. AUSTRALIA A gay former diplomat is suing the Commonwealth under Australia's Sex Discrimination Act, reported Sydney's Capital Q. Roger Muller, who lived openly with his lover, Michael Stock, for four years while he was first secretary at the Australian High Commission in Britain, took action after the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade denied him $29,000 worth of benefits available to diplomats in heterosexual relationships. Muller previously won a case before the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission but that finding is not binding and the government is appealing it in federal court. CANADA The school board of Surrey, British Columbia, a Vancouver municipality, has banned three gay children's books. Pulled from the shelves were "Asha's Moms," "Belinda's Bouquet," and "One Dad, Two Dads, Brown Dad, Blue Dads." The next day, British Columbia Premier Glen Clark denounced the board's action. "Burning books is no solution," Clark said. "What we have to do surely in the '90s is preach tolerance. ... School boards are democratically elected, we try to respect that even when they make stupid decisions." GERMANY From May 17 to June 30 the Berlin Gay Museum and the Berlin Art Academy will celebrate "100 Years of the Gay Movement." On May 17, 1897, pioneering gay activist Magnus Hirschfeld founded Berlin's first homosexual group to fight for repeal of Paragraph 175, the ban on gay sex. The exhibit will be accompanied by a daily program featuring artists and activists. ITALY Italian activists are requesting international protests against a magazine that defamed gays. A new ad campaign for the magazine Il Borghese shows purse-snatchers, people throwing rocks at cars from a highway overpass, a briefcase full of kickback money, and two gay leathermen. Then an announcer says, "These sorts of folks don't read Il Borghese." The magazine can be faxed at 00-39-11-66-98-880. SWEDEN A new study by the Swedish Institute for Public Health found that 1 homosexual in 4 has been threatened or physically attacked because of his or her sexual orientation. 2000 gays and lesbians were surveyed. Haakan Andersson, chair of RFSL, the national gay group, responded with a call for improved hate-crimes legislation, including the addition of sexual-orientation factors in the anti-incitement-to-hatred law. TURKEY A female prisoner in western Turkey was discovered to be a man after he got a fellow inmate pregnant, Agence France Presse reported. Ugur Kilic, sentenced to 15 years for murder, was having sex regularly with five fellow inmates, officials discovered. ZIMBABWE Former Zimbabwean President Canaan Banana, 61, has been sued for $115,000 by a policeman aide who says Banana raped him and forced him into a three-year sexual relationship from 1983-86. The policeman, Jefta Duba, 35, is now in prison, convicted in February of the 1995 killing of a fellow cop who allegedly had called him "Banana's wife." A PERSONAL OUTING ================= This month I feel a better person than as far back as I can remember; I feel human again, not some outcast from society. I feel more honest, candid, proud and contented. Yes, at the ripe old age of thirty, I have finally woken up to my sexuality and decided to come out. So what, cynics might ask? I must be just another sad attention seeker passing through a rather early mid-life crisis, and while I admit the significance of that ominous number possibly played some part in my recent announcement, I simply hope that this piece I've written supports, or even inspires, others in their personal struggles to reconcile their respective identities. Although clearly able to recollect my gay desires from the period surrounding puberty, I realise now that at the time - attending a typically tough Scottish secondary school during the early eighties - there was absolutely no opportunity to vent my feelings, peer pressure largely saw to that. Of course, thank goodness, in the more enlightened 1990s a young gay or lesbian may find the subject easier to broach, today's society displaying more understanding and acceptance of the matter. I guess the final decision, however, to tell a close friend or family member, retains a level of universal trepidation - regardless of age or amounts of self-confidence. I certainly suffered the proverbial butterflies when confronting a close, straight friend with my news, just a few short weeks ago. How would he react? Would I lose a good mate forever? Would he broadcast the revelation to everyone, ostracising me from society? Did he maybe already possess an inkling? GET A GRIP SCOTT! Fortunately, his reaction was extremely positive. I suppose, on reflection, I knew he was the right person to tell first, but there remained that underlying, niggling doubt. In the days since then, I have outed myself to others who have been as reassuringly receptive; I now await my first negative response. Until that time, if it happens, every new friend I confide in is an extra weight lifted from my conscience. I no longer feel it necessary now to convey some false persona; I have managed to break down my disingenuous facade. Perhaps, more realistically, I should say that I'm really still chipping away. I have yet to come out to my surviving parent, family and others at my workplace. To some extent I have also passed through a phase of self-loathing, fighting against the stereotypical images and name-tags associated with gays, which appear to become instilled during a person's formative years. Evidently, it's a long learning curve and I'm moving steadily uphill from its base. My only major regret is not having started out, on this particular journey, earlier in life. The best advice I can give anyone else hiding from themselves is to be proactive, tell someone, phone a local switchboard for support; being out is so much more rewarding than staying in. Scott J. Reid scottjr@web13.co.uk BOOKS ===== Loving Sander by Joseph Geraci G.M.P., ukp8.95 0 - 85449 - 231 - 3 A wonderful tale of a special love full of compassion and understanding. It is the story of an American photography scholar working in Holland who has befriended the ten year old son of colleagues there. Over the next two years, Will is increasingly caught up in tensions between Sander's mother Marijke and her estranged husband Niek over his growing intimacy with Sander. And the boy himself, lovable but difficult, is ever more demanding. As Sander's twelfth birthday draws near, Will has to decide whether to return to San Francisco and the security of an academic life, or remain in Amsterdam, where he must face the risks of his friendship and Sander's expressed need for him. I am not sorry to say this again but it is a wonderful story, it is written so well that you could almost be a fly on the wall watching the trials and tribulations of these characters. It is a tale of a different love, a love that dares to speak it's name. This book deserves to sell well and should be read with intelligence and compassion in mind, it is not a so called dirty book but a tale of true love a thing that is sadly lacking in a lot of relationships today whether straight or gay. Ricardo Nanchez A Friendship of Convenience by Rufus Gunn G.M.P., ukp8.95 One of those rare breeds of books that I simply couldn't put down once I started reading it. It pulls you into a maelstrom of intrigue and high treason in its very authentic mid fifties setting. Cleverly incorporated into this imaginative work of fiction are real historical people and events and you are left with a feeling that perhaps it is not just fiction. Set against the backdrop of McCarthyism across the big pond and the extreme homophobic attitude on these shores at that time it tells the story of Joe Losey, an American film director on the run from the witchhunt orchestrated by his government and trying to make sense of a world gone topsy-turvy in this country. The book evokes brilliantly the political and intellectual life at the height of the Cold War and successfully recreates a world where the appearance of politeness and civility barely covers a reality of cynicism and betrayal. I look forward to any new books by this comparatively unknown author, who has managed to keep me entirely enthralled with this book. Duval's Gold by Chris Hunt G.M.P., ukp9.95 0 - 85449 - 243 - 7 Stand and deliver - your money or your life. No I am not an Adam Ant fan it's just that this book is centred around a character in the world of highwaymen (the type that used to rob old style carriages not those ones who put the cones out, I just thought I would make that clear) and the adventures of Davy Gadd. In our younger days we hear tales that may frighten us or tales of heroes that we are inspired by and young Davy Gadd has listened to many a fine tale of highwaymen. Davy goes off to London and proceeds to follow in the wake of his heroes and with horse, mask and pistols sets out to become a gentleman of the road but not before he has been loved by a Jacobite lord, dressed up by Lucinda and Aunty Mary, and been married at Mother Clap's Molly House. This is my sixth Chris Hunt book and it seems to have lost a bit of its sparkle although, having said that, it's worth a read. The other books I have reviewed of Chris Hunt's are also available from G.M.P. and these books are: N for Narcissus, The Bisley Boy, Mignon ( one of my favourites ), Thornapple (another very good one) and lastly but not least Gaveston. I feel that Duval's Gold would make good reading for a teenager. Partings At Dawn — An Anthology of Japanese Gay Literature Gay Sunshine Press, $19.95 0 - 940567 - 18 - 0 An Anthology of Japanese Gay Literature is I feel a very sedate, in fact may I say, a very Japanese way of expressing a festival of life, religion, and culture of an honourable nation. This book is stuffed full of historical and literary events stretching over a period of about 800 years all of them have gay related themes. It is I feel a celebration of beauty and honesty and it is so nice to see a nation that seems to me to embrace all ways of life and to be proud of your heritage. It takes a certain kind of strength to be filled with that kind of humility. Joyous reading like this is rare. The front and back covers of the book are adorned with pictures from Sadao Hasegawa which makes it a joy to look at as well as to read. From Samurai and actors boy-loves to Buddhist blessed gay relationships and from some beautiful wonderful poetry to fisting, yes it's all here. What Needs To Change - New Visions for Britain Edited by Giles Radice, Introduction by Tony Blair Harper Collins, ukp14.99 With the advent of a new era in British politics this reviewer felt compelled to reread a book originally published in September of last year. It contains an introduction by our new leader, Tony Blair and contains essays by people from many varying backgrounds and persuasions, such as David Sainsbury, Frank Field, Stephen Tumin, Patricia Hewitt etc. etc. I thought it an intriguing exercise to match the very different ideas expressed in these pages to the manifesto of the Labour Party. The overriding sense within these pages was one of sympathy. Sympathy for the people, sympathy for the country, sympathy for business, sympathy for minorities and sympathy for humanity. To be quite honest, I felt quite blown away by the sentiments expressed by most of these people and if this book turns out to be a bit of a bible to New Labour, then we haven't got much to worry about. There are passages which deal with the reasons for the social glue of shared obligations cracking and measures to be taken to stop the underlying decay in our society. There are passages dealing with very real worries of many people who have become little more then a depersonalised cog in an uncaring social machine and it tells us that in a sane society, there must be more to life - a sense of continuity, a sense of contribution and a sense of connection. I am inspired by this book, although sadly lacking were any comments of the predicament many of us gays and lesbians are finding ourselves in, but the way other minorities are dealt with in these pages gives way to hope. Wouldn't it be nice if the parents of the next Tory prime minister have not yet met! Drag Queen by Robert Rodi Plume / Penguin, ukp8.99 If you are in need of a good laugh then this book is for you. I've not laughed as much over a book in ages. It reminded me in many ways of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, not because the story is similar or the people portrayed are very similar, but because the bitchy humour was portrayed with the same extreme sense of understanding and feeling as in that film. This writer has been called the king (or shouldn't that be queen?) of gay satire. That accolade fits entirely judging by this book, which is well crafted and follows a coherent, although contorted storyline with many twists and turns in the relationship between the two long lost brothers. Rodi tells us the story of two people who couldn't be much more different, finding out that they are twin brothers separated at birth. One grew up a respectable member of society, although more or less open about his homosexuality, working towards a partnership in a firm of solicitors, while the other is firmly walking on the wild side with his engagement at the local dragclub as a resident performer. Each wants to change the other to fit in with their respective lifestyle with absolutely hilarious consequences. A tour de force for your stomach muscles. Mine were aching with all the laughter and I think my boyfriend thought I had gone quite mad. video ===== Blonds - 80min Trying It For Size - 60min Detention - 60min Prowler Press Sebastian - 88mins Dangerous To Know Gentlemen, do you prefer Blonds? If so, then Blonds is the mucky of the month for you! Featuring ten blond young guys, some natural, some died, this compilation from Prowler's previous opus is a worthy 'best of' that will keep you amused for as long as it takes. Trying It For Size is directed by John Travis and is part of Prowler's US Male series. Slightly more mature guys here, as you'd expect from this American director. And with a silly plot that will make the tears run down your leg. Resistance is set in a Baltic Borstal. So, lots of fairly young guys doing interesting things with each other and the warders. Reminded me a bit of one of Cadinot's films - the difference being that the guys here are cuter but you see less of their naughty bits! Sebastian, though not without its moments of eroticism, is a rites-of-passage comedy which was adopted by the Norwegian Ministry of Education for showing in schools. The eponymous sixteen year old Sebastian (Hampus Björck) is happy spending his school holidays with his close friends. One evening, his best friend and local heart throb Ulf (Nicolai Cleve Broch) calls round and the pair playfully bond in an evening of foaming baths, waffle making and body painting. But Sebastian misreads the situation, tries to steal a kiss, and Ulf walks out... Distraught and seemingly rejected, Sebastian must come to terms with himself which he does with the help of his understanding parents and friends. A tender little film which should be compulsory viewing in all schools. Justin Milne LISTINGS ======== We TRY to provide Scotland's most up-to-date and accurate listings. If your group isn't listed, — or if your entry needs updating — please write to ScotsGay with full details. We're not clairvoyant: If we don't know about it, it just won't go in! We'd also like to know about your forthcoming events and meetings. Although many of the listings are for specific towns, they often cover a much wider area. If in doubt, you can always phone one of the Switchboards for more information. Write to:- ScotsGay Listings, Pageprint Limited, PO Box 666, Edinburgh EH7 5YW, Fax them to: 0131-539 2999 or e-mail them to listings@scotsgay.co.uk. NATIONAL ORGANISATIONS OUTRIGHT SCOTLAND is Scotland's oldest lesbian, gay and bisexual rights organisation. It was founded in 1969 as the Scottish Minorities Group, later became the Scottish Homosexual Rights Group and changed its name to OUTRIGHT SCOTLAND in December 1992. OUTRIGHT SCOTLAND owns the Edinburgh Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Centre. To contact, write to: The Secretary, OUTRIGHT SCOTLAND, 58a Broughton Street, Edinburgh. EH1 3SA or send E-mail to tmh@dcs.ed.ac.uk Why not join OUTRIGHT SCOTLAND? Membership is ukp12 waged, ukp6 low-waged (under ukp10,000 pa) and ukp3 unwaged. Life membership is ukp150. Please make out your cheque/Postal Order to OUTRIGHT SCOTLAND and send to The Membership Secretary, OUTRIGHT SCOTLAND, 58a Broughton Street, EDINBURGH. EH1 3SA. LESBIAN ARCHIVE AND INFORMATION CENTRE: The UK's largest and most significant collection of materials relating to lesbian lives. LAIC (at Glasgow Women's Library) 109 Trongate, Glasgow. G1 5HD. Tel: 0141-552 8345. Open Tue-Fri 1-6pm and Sat 2-5pm. WWW: http://www.quine.org.uk/resources/glasgow_womens_library/lesbian_archive.html. PRIDE SCOTLAND: Pride Scotland organises the annual lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered Pride event in Scotland, which will next be held in Edinburgh on Saturday 21st June 1997. Phone: 0131-556 8822 Mon-Sat 2-5pm, Tue 7-8pm. Or write: c/o 58a Broughton Street, Edinburgh. EH1 1SA. E-mail: pridescotland@drink.demon.co.uk. WWW: http://www.scotsgay.co.uk/pride/. All kinds of help are urgently required all year round! LOCAL ORGANISATIONS ABERDEEN: North East Scotland Gay Group caters for all ages and meets at 7.30pm on the 3rd Sunday of every month. Phone Ron on Aberdeen (01224) 312547 (7-11pm) for information or write to: PO Box 129, Aberdeen. AB10 7QT. Icebreakers is a social group which meets on 2nd Friday and last Monday of each month. Contact Aberdeen Switchboard for details. AYR: Ayrshire Forum is a group for gay men, lesbians and bisexuals providing support and acting as a social focus. Write c/o The Leisure Centre, 24 Wellington Square, Ayr. BORDERS: Borders Gay Switchboard operates every Mon, Wed & Fri evening 7.30-10pm for confidential information, advice and counselling. Phone Galashiels (01896) 756611 or write to Borders Gay Switchboard, PO Box 13305, Hawick, Borders. TD9 9YG. CAITHNESS GAY AND LESBIAN CONNECTION: A friendly informal group which meets regularly. Write to: Box 689, Journal Office, 42 Union Street, Wick, Caithness. KW1 5ED. CENTRAL REGION: Forth Friend has a disco (1st Saturday of most months) and a social group which meets every second Wednesday. The Forth Friend phoneline operates each Monday from 7.30pm to 9.30pm on Stirling (01786) 471285. Or write to: PO Box 28, Stirling. FK9 5YW. DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY: Regular social meetings - usually every second Thursday. For details of all events: phone Dumfries (01387) 269161 Thursdays 7.30-9.30pm or write to Dumfries and Galloway Lesbian and Gay Group, PO Box 1299, Dumfries. DG1 2PD. DUNDEE: OUTRIGHT SCOTLAND Dundee Focus Group for lesbians, gay men and bisexuals meets 4th Thursday of each month at 7pm in the YMCA Special Projects Office, 76 Bell Street. Write to: PO Box 104, Dundee. DD1 3DU. Tay Friend, holds regular social meetings for gay men. Write to: Tayfriend, PO Box 182, Dundee. DD1 9UP. EDINBURGH: Icebreakers is an alternative to the scene and takes place between 7.45pm and 9pm on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each calendar month in Cafe Kudos. Phone Lothian Switchboard for details. ELGIN: Moray Lesbian and Gay Network meets second and fourth Wednesdays of each month 7.30pm in the Cat's Whiskers pub in New Elgin. Also meets every Saturday 3.30-5pm for informal coffee afternoon in Mathieson's Pastisserie (lower ground floor of St Giles shopping mall). Sunday afternoon outing takes place every 4th Sunday. Phone Bobby on Elgin (01343) 542928 for details. Or write: MLGN, 2-4 Lamb Street, Bishopmill, Elgin. IV30 2DG. FIFE FRIEND: Small voluntary phoneline offering support, advice and information to lesbians and gay men within Fife. Friday: 7.30-10.30pm. Telephone: Kirkcaldy (01592) 266688. Write to PO Box 19, Kirkcaldy, Fife. KY1 3JF. Runs a monthly disco. GLASGOW: Glasgow Gay & Lesbian Centre Project, fundraising, campaigning and social group. Committee meetings held on 1st Saturday each month at 2pm in the Centre, open to all. Write to Glasgow Gay & Lesbian Centre, 11 Dixon Street, Glasgow, G1 4AL or contact 0141-221 7203 (phone/fax). Childcare expenses and BSL interpreter available - please give advance notice. E-mail: gglc@gglc.org.uk. WWW: http://www.gglc.org.uk/gglc/ Glasgow Gay Group is an informal social group for gay men. Has a regular weekly pub night as well as running other social events like theatre, cinema, bowling, etc. Phone: Logan on Duntocher (01389) 875078. Icebreakers Cafe, for lesbians gays and bisexuals new to the scene:12.30-3pm on First Sunday in each month. GGLC, 11 Dixon St. Details from Strathclyde Switchboard. HAMILTON: Lanarkshire Gay Men's Group is a group which meets every Wednesday. Social and educational events. Details from Phace West: 0141-332 3838. INVERCLYDE: Inverclyde Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Group meets every Tuesday 7-10pm. Details from Joe Hammill on Greenock (01475) 745903 or write:L PO Box 9700, Port Glasgow. PA14 5YD. INVERNESS: Highland Gay Men's Group meets on the 4th Wednesday of each month at 28 Huntly Street. Phone Andrew on Inverness (01463) 711585 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm) or write to: PO Box 67, Inverness. IV1 2XX. WOMEN'S GROUPS ABERDEEN LESBIAN GROUP: Meets every Wednesday 8-10pm in the Women's Centre, Shoe Lane. Phone Aberdeen (01224) 625010 or 627415 for details. DUNDEE: Sumbiddies Dachters (Lesbian Support Group) meets at 7pm every second Tuesday at Women's Health & Family Project, 1 Russell Project, Hilltown, Dundee. DD3 7RU. Telephone: 01382 810230. EDINBURGH: AD Group: For lesbians 45+ (younger lesbians who support the concerns of lesbians 45+). Meetings for discussion and support. For more details, phone Lesbian Line. Dykes Nytes Out: social events for couples and singles in Edinburgh and Glasgow. Write to: PO Box 169, Edinburgh. EH1 3LU. Edinburgh Bisexual Group meets every Thursday at 8pm-9.30pm in the Edinburgh Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Centre, 58a Broughton Street. All welcome. Lesbian Line 0131-557 0751, Mondays and Thursdays 7.30–10pm. For information, advice and counselling in confidence. Write to: PO Box 169, Edinburgh. EH1 3UU. Lesbian Mothers Group: Phone: Sue Robertson - 0131-556 3899/4563. Or write: One Parent Scotland, 13 Gayfield Square, Edinburgh. EH1 3NX. LIAS: Lesbian Information And Support. A self help group which meets fortnightly at 40 Shandwick Place (EAMH Meeting Room). Offers help and support and provides a comfortable environment to meet and discuss problems/issues for the lesbian community in the Lothians. Phone: 0131-225 8508. Women's Network: PO Box 159, Edinburgh. EH7 5EL. GLASGOW: Dykes Nytes Out: social events for couples and singles in Edinburgh and Glasgow. Write to: PO Box 169, Edinburgh. EH1 3LU. Glasgow Women's Library, 4th/5th Floors, 109 Trongate, G1 5HD. Tel: 0141-552 8345. Open Tue-Fri 1-6pm. Sat 2-5pm. Closed Mon. Lending and reference library - books, magazines, journals, videos, leaflets and information. UK and overseas feminist and lesbian publications. Contains the Lesbian Archive and Information Centre - a unique national collection of publications, journals and ephemera by and for lesbians. WWW: http://www.quine.org.uk/resources/glasgow_womens_library/ Lesbian Avengers: Meets regularly. Phone 0141-552 8345 for details. Lesbian Line: 0141-552 3355 Wednesdays 7-10pm. Write to: PO Box 686, Glasgow. G3 7TL enclosing an sae for monthly 'Lavender Listing'. Lesbian Mothers Discussion Group: Meets every second Monday at 6-8pm. Support group, social events, informal chat. Cręche and fares help available. Phone Vicky on 0141-333 1450. Lesbian Networking Meeting: Contact Glasgow Lesbian Line for meeting details and Lynne on 0141-221 7150 for childcare information. Lesbian Sports Group: Squash, badminton, tennis. Meets weekly. Phone Glasgow Lesbian Line for details. Olderwomen's Group: Contact Glasgow Lesbian Line for details. Team Caledonia West Women's Cycling Group: Phone Women in Sport on 0141-227 5933 for details. Women's Softball Group: Meets weekly. Contact Glasgow Lesbian Line for details. INVERNESS: Out and About is a friendly lesbian social group that gets together once a month. Write to: PO Box 91, Inverness. IV1 2GJ. LESBIAN INFORMATION SERVICE: PO Box 8, Todmorden, Lancashire. OL14 5TZ. Please enclose an sae. Phone/Fax: Todmorden (01706) 817235. BISEXUALS BI MEN'S NETWORK: In formation. Contact: Tim Sallis, c/o Edinburgh Bi Group, 58a Broughton Street, Edinburgh. EH1 1SA. DUNDEE BI GROUP: Write: Fiona or James, c/o Dundee LG Switchboard, PO Box 53, Dundee. DD1 3YG. EDINBURGH BISEXUAL GROUP: Meets every Thursday at 8pm-9.30pm in the Edinburgh Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Centre, 58a Broughton Street. There's an excellent programme of talks and speakers usually followed by a visit to a local pub for socialising. Phone: Bisexual Line on 0131-557 3620. EDINBURGH SM BI GROUP: Meets regularly. Write: Edinburgh SM Bis, 58a Broughton Stret, Edinburgh. EH1 3SA. GLASGOW BI NETWORK: Social support and health advice to Bis and supporters. Meets GGLC. Contact Dominic Aveyard on 0141-248 6864 (day) or E-mail greenaction@gn.apc.org GLASGOW BI WOMEN'S GROUP: Meet 2nd and 4th Wednesdays at the Centre for Women's Health. For details, write: FAO Carole, c/o Centre for Women's Health, 6 Sandyford Place, Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow. G3 7NB. E-mail: (mark mail FAO GBWG) quine@quine.org.uk. WWW: http://www.quine.org.uk/gbwg/ ATHEISTS/HUMANISTS EDINBURGH FREETHINKERS: An informal network of militant atheists (with one militant humanist agnostic atheist). Write to: PO Box 666, Edinburgh. EH7 5YW or E-mail god@drink.demon.co.uk GAY AND LESBIAN HUMANIST ASSOCIATION (GALHA): A group for non religious lesbians gays and bisexuals which promotes an enlightened, rational Humanist approach to homosexuality. Details from GALHA National Office, 34 Spring Lane, Kenilworth, Warwickshire. CV8 2HB. Phone/Fax: Kenilworth (01926) 858450. BEARS BEARS' CLUB UK: For hairy men and admirers. Edinburgh: Meets in the New Town Bar on the 3rd Wednesday of each month from 8.30pm. Glasgow: Meets at the back of the bar in Squires Bar on the second Friday of the month from 8.30pm. Write to: BCUK, 56 Albert Street, Beswick, Manchester. M11 3SU. BEREAVEMENT LESBIAN & GAY BEREAVEMENT PROJECT: Lesbians and gay men needing advice and support can ring 0181-455 8894 at any time. Or write to: Lesbian & Gay Bereavement Project, Vaughan M Williams Centre, Colindale Hospital, London. NW9 5HG. THRESHOLDS: Individual and group support for gay men, bisexual men and men who have sex with men, within Edinburgh and the Lothians. 10a Union Street, Edinburgh. EH1 3LU. Telephone: 0131-558 9444. BIKERS GAY BIKERS MOTORCYCLE CLUB: A UK-wide club for women and men. Active Scottish section. Details: GBMCC, PO Box 33, Nottingham. NG10 2BF. CHRISTIANS CHANGING CHURCH ATTITUDES: Write c/o 58a Broughton Street, Edinburgh. EH1 3SA. E-mail: cca2000@btinternet.com EVANGELICAL: Lesbian or gay? From an Evangelical tradition? So are we. Phone: Ewan on Polmont (01324) 715542 or write: EF/LGC, 13 Westbrook Drive, Macclesfield, Cheshire. SK10 3AQ. HOLY TRINITY METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCH: An inclusive church of the lesbigay and trangendered community open to all irrespective of sexuality. Services: first and third Sunday of each month at 6pm in the Quaker Meeting House, Victoria Terrace, Edinburgh and third Sunday of each month at 1pm in the Glasgow Gay and Lesbian Centre, 11 Dixon Street, Glasgow. Phone John on 0131-556 1309. Write: Holy Trinity MCC, PO Box 12433, Edinburgh. EH1 3FU. E-mail: mcc@tattoo.ed.ac.uk L&GCM: Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement. Write to PO Box 1436, Glasgow. G31 2NY. QUAKERS: Quaker Lesbian and Gay Fellowship (formerly Friends' Homosexual Fellowship) is a welcoming and supportive national group for people of all sexual orientations and their friends. Write to: Ruth, 3 Hallsfield, Cricklade, Swindon, Wilts. SN6 6LR. QUEST: Organisation for Roman Catholic men and women who are gay. Monthly meetings are held in Glasgow. For information, call Linkline Glasgow on 0141-948 0397. Sunday 7-10pm. Or you can write to: Quest, PO Box 280, Glasgow. G12 0AW. COMMUNICATIONS BORDERS BULLETIN BOARD: Computer based information, programs and gay message exchanges. On-line 24 hours a day. To gain access to these areas, register as a new user and leave a messsage for the Sysop who will upgrade your access accordingly. Connect speeds 2400-28,800 baud. Hawick (01450) 377877. CHAPPS BBS: 24 hour board operating at speeds up to 28,800. 0131-539 1132 or 0131-538 3345 (speeds up to 14,400) Fido echoes. LAMBDA AMATEUR RADIO CLUB (EUROPE): Europe's only club for gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgendered amateur radio enthusiasts and their friends. Sae to: LARC, PO Box 2782, Brighton. BN1 7LJ. LAMBDA BOARD — EDINBURGH: The UK's oldest lesbigay 24 hour computer based bulletin board system. Private mailboxing, areas for Women, Gay Men, Bisexuals, Leather Enthusiasts, TV/TSs, etc. 0131-556 6316. Scrolling (8N1) and Viewdata (Prestel) formats at speeds up to V22bis (2400/2400). CULTURAL CLANN AN UABHAIR (A FAMILY OF PRIDE): New York City's own Gay & Lesbian Scottish Association. Membership open to anyone. Dances, ceilidhs, cultural events throughout the year. A particular warm welcome to anyone visiting our town from Scotland! E-mail: Gay_Piper@NYCnet.com for any and all information, or snail mail to Clann An Uabhair, G.L.S.A., P.O. Box 630, Murray Hill Station, New York, NY 10016, USA. Phone: 00 1 (212) 726-1418. GLASGAY!: Lesbian and gay arts festival. Takes place next 31st Oct-8th Nov 1997. Write: c/o CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow. G2 3JD. Phone: 0141-332 7521. GLASGOW GAY MEN'S CHORUS: Meets Mon, 7.30pm, GGLC. No auditions: new members always welcome. Phone: 0141-337 3806. INTERNATIONAL KILT APPRECIATION SOCIETY (IKAS): Contact and social group for guys interested in viewing/wearing kilts. Regular newsletter: SAE Mervyn Tacy, ‘Ziveli', 20 Ordsall Park Road, RETFORD, Notts, DN22 7PA. LONG YANG CLUB: An international organisation for gay orientals and interested people of other nationalities. Promotes social events, education and mutual help services and publishes a magazine. Phone Ray: 0131-336 1287. E-mail: raymond@ probus.demon.co.uk WESTERN STARS: Western style line and partner dancing for gays, lesbians and friends of goodwill. Thu evenings. Phone: 0131-453 3284 for venue details. DRINK PROBLEMS If you are a lesbian or gay man with a drink problem and want help and advice, you can ring Tom on 0141-770 6599, 7 days a week anytime. Tom refers to Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), but does preparatory work. FORCES AT EASE: An advice service to armed forces personnel and their families on any subject. Free, independent, confidential, impartial. Write: 28 Commercial Street, London E1 6LS or phone (Sundays 5-7pm only) 0171-247 5164. RANK OUTSIDERS: Support group of Lesbian and Gay Ex Armed Forces Personnel. No rank distinctions. Write:Rank Outsiders, BCM Box 8431, London. WC1N 3XX. National Helpline: 0171-566 0044 Wed 7-9pm. Scottish Co-ordinator: Calum McLean. Phone: Inverness (01463) 236878. HEALTH MATTERS BODY POSITIVE (GLASGOW): Providing support for those HIV+ and with AIDS in the West of Scotland. Phone: 0141-332 5010. Or write: 3 Park Quadrant, Glasgow. G3 6BS. E-mail: bpstrathclyde@ enterprise.net BODY POSITIVE (GRAMPIAN): Support and assistance for gay and bisexual men with HIV/AIDS. Phone: Aberdeen (01224) 404408. Or write to: PO Box 83, Aberdeen. AB9 1AA. BODY POSITIVE (LOTHIAN): Phone to speak to a gay positive person 1:1 on 0131-652 0754 Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri 10am-4pm, Thur 10am-7pm. Or write to: 37-39 Montrose Terrace, Edinburgh. EH7 5DJ. BODY POSITIVE (TAYSIDE): Self help for HIV+ people on Dundee (01382) 461555 Tue, Wed Thu 10am-4pm. CENTRE FOR WOMEN'S HEALTH: 6 Sandyford Place, Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow. G3 7NB. Open Tue-Thur 10am-4.30pm (other times by arrangement). Fully accessible. Telephone: 0141-211 6700 (Minicom: 0141-211 6701). CRUSAID SCOTLAND: 25 Queensferry Street, Edinburgh. EH2 4QS. Telephone: 0131-225 8918. Fax: 0131-220 4033. AIDS/HIV Fundraisers who organise the annual Walk for Life. WWW: Http://www.crusaid.org.uk/ DOT (DUNDEE OUTREACH TEAM): Harm Reduction Centre, 55 Constitution Road, Dundee. DD1 1LB. Telephone: Dundee (01382) 201919. Sexual health and relevant issues for gay and bisexual men. Free and confidential service. Drop in coffee shop: Sat 2-5pm. Friendly and informal. FRIENDS FOR LIFE: Provides support and information in Glasgow and surrounding areas to people affected by terminal or long term chronic illness. ie Cancer, AIDS, MS, etc. Please call 0141-204 2202 or write to Friends for Life, 5th Floor, 52 St Enoch Square, Glasgow. G1 4DH. GALUP: Gay and Lesbian United Programme. Promotes health issues among lesbians gays and bisexuals in the Dundee area. Write: c/o YMCA Special Projects Office, 76 Bell Street, Dundee. GAY MEN'S HEALTH: A voluntary sector project for gay men, bisexual men and men who have sex with men. Services include individual support and counselling, Thresholds (a bereavement project), scene work, educating and training. 10a Union Street, Edinburgh. EH1 3LU. Telephone: 0131-558 9444. GLASGOW BARS AIDS WELFARE FUND: Raises funds for various HIV/AIDS projects in the Glasgow area. PO Box 3954, Glasgow. G51 4RA. GLASGOW FOOD LINE LIMITED: Voluntary organisation which provides a cooked lunch to people who are HIV+ living in the Glasgow area. Unit A, Maryhill Workspaces Ltd, 45 Garrioch Road, Glasgow. G20 8RG. Phone/Fax: 0141-946 0003. GLASGOW HIV CARERS SUPPORT GROUP: Phone: 0141-221 8100. Or write to: Suite 226, Baltic Chambers, 50 Wellington Street, Glasgow. G2 6HJ. GRAMPIAN AIDS LINE: Aberdeen (01224) 574000 or write to GAL, PO Box 250, Aberdeen. HAVEN: Drop-in space for those affected by HIV and AIDS in the west of Scotland. Mon-Fri 11am-5pm. Ruchill Hospital, 520 Bilsland Drive, Glasgow. G20 5NB. Tel: 0141-946 7120 ext 1550. LANARKSHIRE HIV COUNSELLING: Phone Airdrie (01236) 747960 (Mon-Fri 9am-5.15pm) MILESTONE HOUSE: Residential care (primarily respite and paliative care) for people with HIV/AIDS. 223 Oxgangs Road North, Edinburgh. EH14 1EB. Phone: 0131-441 6989. OASIS: Drop-in and information service for gay and bisexual men. Mon-Wed, Fri 10am-5pm, Thu 10am-10pm. 10a Union Street, Edinburgh. Tel: 0131-558 9444. PAISLEY SUPPORT GROUP: For people with HIV, partners, friends and family. First Wednesday of the month 7.30pm at The Wynd, School Wynd (off Moss Street). Phone: Margaret McAllister on Brediland (01505) 814284. PHACE WEST: A locally based and managed agency for people affected by HIV/AIDS serving Glasgow and the West of Scotland. 49 Bath Street, Glasgow. G2 2DL. Phone: 0141-332 3838 (Fax: 0141-332 3755). E-mail: 101606.3052@compuserve.co.uk POSITIVE HELP: Practical help for people who are HIV+ or who have AIDS and their families, children, friends and carers. 64a Broughton Street, Edinburgh. EH1 3SA. Phone: 0131-558 1122. REACH OUT HIGHLAND: encourages and supports people throughout the Highlands - whether living there or visiting - to take responsibility for, manage, and make informed choices about their sexual health and well-being. 28 Huntly Street, Inverness. IV3 5PR. Phone: Inverness (01463) 711585. E-mail: support@reachout.demon.co.uk SOLAS NATIONAL HIV INFORMATION CENTRE: 2/4 Abbeymount, Edinburgh. EH8 8EJ. Information, advice and cafe. Information centre: Mon, Tue, Thurs, Fri - 11-4pm. Wed, 5-9pm. Phone: 0131-659 5116. E-mail: information@solas.demon.co.uk STEVE RETSON PROJECT: Weekly sexual health service for gay men. Tuesday 5.30-9pm. Department of GU Medicine, Main Outpatient Department, Royal Infirmary, 16 Alexandra Parade, Glasgow. Phone: 0141-211 4753. WAVERLEY CARE TRUST BUDDY SERVICE: Buddying Service for people with HIV/AIDS. Buddy Service Co-ordinator, 4a Royal Terrace, Edinburgh. EH7 5AB. Phone: 0131-556 3959. Fax: 0131-556 5045. NATIONAL AIDS HELPLINE: 0800 567123. A Freephone, 24 hour service for confidential advice and information. Minicom: 0800 521361 (10am-10pm). LEATHER MSC SCOTLAND: MSC Scotland, PO Box 28, Edinburgh. EH3 5JL. MSC Scotland is a member of the European Federation of Motorcycle Clubs. LEGAL GAY AND LESBIAN LEGAL ADVICE: GLAD is a London based advice line run by lesbian and gay lawyers. Phone: 0171-831 3535 (Mon-Thu 7-9pm). State clearly that you seek Scottish legal advice as our law is very different from that of England and Wales. NON-MONOGAMY ABUNDANCE: New supportive UK/European network for non-monogamous people. For more info on polyamory/polyfidelity, write enclosing sae to: Abundance, PO Box 5190, Birmingham. B13 9DJ. E-mail: polyenq@sugito.demon.co.uk ORDERS ORDER OF PERPETUAL INDULGENCE: The Sisters and Brothers of the OPI are part of a world wide order of queer men and women of all sexualities which is open to all who feel the habit. Its tenets are: The expurgation of stigmatic guilt and the promulgation of universal joy. Contact Sister Solicitation OPI, c/o 60 Broughton Street, Edinburgh. EH1 3SA. OUTDOOR CLUBS GAY OUTDOOR CLUB: Holds regular events including walking, cycling, hillwalking, windsurfing, cross-country skiing, camping and youth hostelling etc. For more details send a large (A5) sae to: GOC, PO Box 24, Minehead, Somerset, TA24 8YZ or ring one of the Scottish Contacts:- East: Grant on 0131-556 8705 (Hill-walking), John on 0131-657 3707 (Cycling). West: Douglas on 0141-636 5894 (E-mail: dougoc@aol.com). North: Michael on Inverness (01463) 230651. South-West: Philip and Mark on Southwick (01387) 780653. GAY RAMBLING GROUP: Walks on the 2nd Saturday of each month. Phone Ross on 0141-427 1511. OVER FORTIES PHŚNIX: The only national group for the over forties and friends of any age. Write (enclose sae) to: Phśnix, PO Box 103, Wallington, Surrey. SM6 9SJ. PARENTS PARENTS' FRIEND: Phone: 0113-267 4627. Or write to: Voluntary Action Leeds, Stringer House, 34 Lupton Street, Hunslett, Leeds. LS10 2QW. SCOTTISH PARENTS ENQUIRY SERVICE: Support for parents of lesbians and gay men. Contact via Lothian Switchboard or write to SPE, PO Box 169, Edinburgh. EH1 3UU. POLITICAL DELGA: Democrats for Lesbian and Gay Action - write to 4 Cowley Street, London. SW1P 3NB or E-mail archdruid@cix.compulink.co.uk LIBERAL PARTY LESBIAN AND GAY CAMPAIGN: Phone: Southport (01704) 500115 (day), 0151-259 5935 (ansaphone), write to: Liberal Party Lesbian & Gay Campaign, 41 Sutton Street, Liverpool. L13 7EG or E-mail: libgay@libparty.demon.co.uk THE PASSION BRIGADE: Mixed sex/sexuality - all ages and races. Anarchism. Details (2 postage stamps please) from BM Box 207, LONDON. WC1N 3XX. SCOTTISH LABOUR CAMPAIGN FOR LESBIAN AND GAY RIGHTS: Works within the Labour and Trades Union movement to secure equality for lesbians and gay men. Meets quarterly. Contact c/o GGLC, 11 Dixon Street, Glasgow. G1 4AL. TORCHE: Tory Campaign for Homosexual Equality — write: BM TORCHE, London WC1N 3XX. RAPE/SEXUAL ABUSE RAPE AND ABUSE LINE: For male and female survivors. Women: Dingwall (01349) 865316 7-10pm nightly. Men: Dingwall (01349) 862686 Mon and Wed 7-10pm. Write: PO Box 10, Dingwall. IV15 9LH. REAL ALE GAY REAL ALE CLUB: Meets regularly for sampling of Real Ale in Glasgow pubs. Contact: Douglas 0141-883 9055 or E-mail: dwalker994@aol.com SCIENCE FICTION DELANEY'S EDINBURGH CHILDREN: Meets every 1st Sunday of the month in Edinburgh from 3-4.30pm. Contact Jane on 0131-556 6109. DELANEY'S GLASGOW CHILDREN: Meets every 3rd Sunday of the month. Contact Paul on 0141-339 9176. S/M EDINBURGH SM BI GROUP: Meets regularly. Write: Edinburgh SM Bis, 58a Broughton Street, Edinburgh. EH1 3SA. SM GAYS: Write to SM Gays, BM SM Gays, London. WC1N 3XX. E-mail: bandanas@dircon.co.uk SPORTS ABERDEEN GAY MEN'S SWIMMING GROUP: Swim every Wednesday: Phone David on Aberdeen (01224) 317552. BRITISH GAY AND LESBIAN SPORTS FEDERATION: Encourages participation in sport. Write (with sae) to BGLSF, Central Station, 37 Wharfdale Road, London. N1 9SE. EDINBURGH GAY MEN'S RUNNING CLUB: Meets for 3-4 mile casual local run. Alistair: 0131-661 0008. EDINBURGH GAY MEN'S SWIMMING GROUP: Meets informally, Commonwealth Pool on 1st and 3rd Mondays - details from Tom on 0131-229 5755. GAY BODYBUILDERS/WEIGHTRAINERS CLUB: contact Winston Duncan on 0171-379 3480 for contact with Scottish members and nationally. GAY FOOTBALL SUPPORTERS NETWORK: Glasgow group holds monthly meetings in Squires Bar. Contact Ewan on 0141-779 2321 or write enclosing sae c/o Phace West, 49 Bath Street, Glasgow, G2 2DL. GLASGOW & EDINBURGH ALTERNATIVE WRESTLERS: Edinburgh club meets every Sunday 6.15-9.30pm. Glasgow club meets every Friday 10am-4.15pm. Pinfall & Submission plus Pro-Style Wrestling. We now produce a monthly wrestling publication. ukp2 from address below. Phone: Derek on 0131-467 1465 or Iain on 0141-423 4175. Write: Alternative Wrestlers, PO Box 437, Glasgow. G42 8HU. E-mail: altspor@dial.pipex.com GLASGOW GAY BADMINTON & SWIMMING: Every week during term time at Woodside Secondary School, Berkeley St. Badminton: Mondays at 8.30pm and Thursdays at 6.30pm. Swimming: Thursdays at 8.30pm. Details: Andrew 0141-576 6875 (Badminton) or Douglas 0141-636 5894 (E-mail: dougoc@msn.com) (Swimming). STUDENTS Many Universities and Colleges have Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Societies. Contact these via your Student Union or Student Association. Many are open to non-students living in the area. There are also groups covering wider areas run in conjunction with the National Union of Students — East of Scotland: Write to LGB Officer, East of Scotland Area NUS, 11 Broughton Market, Edinburgh. EH3 6NU or phone on 0131-556 6598. North of Scotland: Write to LGB Officer, North of Scotland Area NUS, University of Aberdeen, 50/52 College Bounds, Aberdeen, AB2 3DS. West of Scotland: Write to LGB Officer, West of Scotland Area NUS, Cathcart House, Langside College, 50 Prospecthill Road, Glasgow. G42 9LB. NUS Scottish LGB Officer on 0131-556 6598 or write to NUS Scotland, 11 Broughton Market, Edinburgh. EH3 6NU. E-mail: nus-scot@dircon.co.uk. OPEN UNIVERSITY L&G SOC: Phone David: 0141-554 7159. TV/TS ABERDEEN: Crossdressing Group. Contact Aberdeen Switchboard for details. EDINBURGH: Scottish TV/TS Group meets in private rooms last Saturday of each month. Ring Lothian Switchboard for further information. GLASGOW: Crosslynx meets second Wednesday of each month (except December) from 7pm-10pm. Phone Strathclyde Switchboard for more details. HIGHLAND T-GROUP: Monthly TV/TS support group. Contact Inverness (01463) 711585 (9am-5pm) or write to: PO Box 67, Inverness. IV1 2XX. VISUAL IMPAIRMENT VISUAL IMPAIRED GAY GROUP SCOTLAND (VIGG): Offers a listening ear and support to women and men. Phone Colin and Jim: Dumfries (01387) 261679 or write to: VIGG, 112 Annan Road, Dumfries. DG1 3EZ. WORKPLACE EIS GAY AND LESBIAN NETWORK: Write c/o 46 Moray Place, Edinburgh. EH3 6EH. Or contact Veronica Rankin, Equality Officer, on 0131-225 6244. GMB: Contact Mary Harrison, Regional Equal Rights Officer, Fountain House, 1/3 Woodside Crescent, Glasgow. G3 7UJ. Phone: 0141-332 8641. GLASGOW CITY COUNCIL G&L EMPLOYEES FORUM: Phone: John Dawson on 0141-959 7457 or Charles Thomson on 0141-287 3744. UNISON NATIONAL L&G CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE: Phone: Steve Weddell on 0131-469 3880. Or write: c/o 18 St Giles Street, Edinburgh. EH1 1PT. YOUTH GROUPS ABERDEEN LGB YOUTH GROUP: For 21s and under. Meets Noon-4pm on 2nd and 4th Saturdays, Phone: Aberdeen (01224) 272975 or E-mail src038@abdn.ac.uk HIGHLAND YOUTH GAY & BISEXUAL GROUP: Meets 7.30pm 1st Wednesday at 28 Huntly Street, Inverness. Contact Inverness (01463) 711585 (9am-5pm). IRVINE: O.L.A. is a group for young gay/bisexual men under 26. Meets Mon 7-9pm. Details: Kevin Wright, Ayrshire Central Hospital, Irvine (01294) 323473. LESBIAN YOUTH SUPPORT INFORMATION SERVICE: PO Box 8, Todmorden, Lancashire. OL14 5TZ. Enclose sae. Phone/Fax: Todmorden (01706) 817235. STIRLING YOUTH GROUP: Details from Forth Friend on Stirling (01786) 471285 Mon 7.30-10pm. STONEWALL FRIENDS: Friendly, fun, informal social group for gays, lesbians and bisexuals under 26 in the Lothian Region. Meets every Wednesday with regular social events at other times. Phone: 0131-556 4040 Tue 7.30-9pm or E-mail: edyouth@cableinet.co.uk STRATHCLYDE LESBIAN AND GAY YOUTH GROUP: Friendship and support for under 26s. Meets Tuesday 7.30pm at the GGLC. Details from Strathclyde Switchboard or Glasgow Lesbian Line. Write c/o GGLC, 11 Dixon Street, Glasgow. G1 4AL. SWITCHBOARDS AND HELPLINES ========================== BISEXUAL PHONELINE: Thurs 7.30-9.30pm Phone: 0131-557 3620 BORDERS GAY SWITCHBOARD Mon, Wed, Fri 7.30-10pm Phone: Galashiels (01896) 756611 DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY L&G PHONELINE: Thurs 7.30-9.30pm Phone: Dumfries (01387) 269161 DUNDEE LGB SWITCHBOARD: Mon 7-10pm Phone: Dundee (01382) 202620 EDINBURGH LESBIAN LINE: Mon, Thurs 7.30-10pm Phone: 0131-557 0751 FIFE FRIEND: Fri 7.30-10.30pm Phone: Kirkcaldy (01592) 266688 FORTH FRIEND: Mon 7.30-9.30pm Phone: Stirling (01786) 471285 GLASGOW LESBIAN LINE: Wed 7-10pm Phone: 0141-552 3355 GRAMPIAN LESBIAN, GAY & BISEXUAL SWITCHBOARD: Wed & Fri 7-10pm, Tues 2-5 Phone: Aberdeen (01224) 633500 (Minicom available) Fax: Aberdeen (01224) 634055 LOTHIAN GAY & LESBIAN SWITCHBOARD: Nightly 7.30-10pm Phone: 0131-556 4049 MORAY LGB SWITCHBOARD: Men: Tue & Fri 7-11pm Women: Thu 7-11pm Phone: Elgin (01343) 541188 STRATHCLYDE GAY AND LESBIAN SWITCHBOARD: Nightly 7-10pm Phone: 0141-332 8372 LONDON LESBIAN AND GAY SWITCHBOARD: 24 hours Phone/Minicom: 0171-837 7324 ALAN'S CHART ============ 1. Loop Da Loop - Go With The Flow (Dex & Jonesy's Fruitloop Dub / Klm's Loop'In London Mix) (Manifesto) 2. Stateside - Gonna Make It (Original) (Moonshine) 3. Blackout - Gotta Have Hope (Spacebase Millenium Mix) (99 North) 4. Sapphire - Never Be Lonely Again (Hard Trade Mix) (WEA) 5. DJ Oberon - Brainwave (Chug N Bump) 6. Ascension - Someone (Slacker's Rolling Mix) (Perfecto) 7. Universal - Open Space (Pete Bones Highland Excursion Mix) (Red Ant) 8. Claudia Chin - Reach Out For Love (Grab The Dub Dub) (Dance Pool) 9. Mirabeau - Bang Da Beat (Club Trance Mix) (La Maison Grande) 10. The Red Hand Gang - Gotta Keep On (Time 4 Getting Down) (Left Hand Mix) (Tidy Trax) 11. Sash! - Ecuador (Powerplant's ‘Inject This' Mix) (Multiply) 12. Skylab 2000 - Auburn (Slapp'd Up Dub) (JDJ) 13. BBG - Just Be Tonight (Paganini Traxx Vocal) (Hi-Life) 14. Hydra - Butterflies (Hermaphrodite Main Mix) (Polydor) 15. Wild England - Golden (Libido Remix) (Fresh) 16. Deulalli - Suck This (Sister Suck Mix) (Nu) 17. Eternal - I Wanna Be The Only One (SPS Caned Extended Club Mix) (EMI) 18. Benedict Brothers - 4 Those That Can Dance (Original Mix) (Tidy Trax) 19. E.T.A. - Casual Sub (Distant Drum Remix) (East West) 20. Hysteric Ego - Ministry Of Love (Tall Paul's "Blowout" Mix) (WEA) SCOTSDYKE ========= Big Bouncy Heather has been cooped up in her Galston Garret with several books and a couple of videos. Well, if you can only get up to the civilisation of the Big City once a month, what else is a girl to do with herself? books ----- I Never Told Her I Loved Her by Sandra Chick Women's Press ukp3.99 This is the kind of book you read curled up with a cup of Bovril and some nice music. It's about a teenager whose mother has died and now she is regretting not telling her she loved her (hence the title). It has only 84 pages and is easy to read so for that lonely night in when your girl is out on the town, get a hold of this book and settle down! Mellissa Etheridge - Our Little Secret by Joyce Luck ECW Press ukp12.99 When I received this book I thought it would be good and I was not disappointed. It tracks down the life of Mellissa Etheridge from growing up in her home town of Leavensworth through to her life as it is now. It is a book full of quotes from friends, family and fans. Her musical career is covered with full attention to what was going on in Mellissa's life - as each song was written, there is a piece of her personal life in it. Joyce Luck describes the mood in the concerts - whether it was when she was starting out in women's bars or playing to a full stadium at Wembley - in a way that you can actually feel the energy Mellissa uses when performing and you can visualise the fans going wild with excitement and the feel of adrenaline comes soaring through from both parties. This is a great book and well written - enjoy it. video ----- Costa Brava Dangerous To Know ukp15.99 This is a story about a woman (Anne) who is working as a tour guide to raise money for her one woman show and how she begins to fall in love with Montserrat, a girl on one of her tours. Set in Barcelona, this film is slow to start with which makes it quite hard to get into. It's a low budget film and in some places this shows whilst in other places it's got a slight twist and gets quite quirky. You have to concentrate quite hard as the film jumps back and forward to different clips of the show. It gets better towards the end, but will it turn out alright? You will either love this film or hate it - so watch a friend's copy before buying (or not) your own! Meeting Magdalene Dangerous To Know ukp9.99 To be released 25th May Meeting Magdalene is the story of what happens when your girl and your best friend fall for each other. The tale is about Jean who wants to be a cop and her friend Sarah who is visiting Olympia on business but has to go back to DC the same night. Jean drops Sarah off at her home while she goes to take a lie-detector test and tells her that she will be back to take her to the airport after work. Sarah enters the house and meet Magdalene. The attraction between them is magnetic, but it won't be long before Jean is back from work ... This strange film is erotic but not explicit. It is also short and in black and white - but the film doesn't suffer for it. ScotsGay: a bi-monthly magazine for lesbians, gays and bisexuals edited, printed and published in Scotland. ISSN: 1357-0595. © Pageprint Publishing Limited, April 1997. Non profit use by the lesbigay community of material in the magazine will normally be permitted free of charge — but contact us first for permission. We haven't had sex with most of the people who appear in the magazine so we don't actually know what their sexuality is. Editor: John Hein. Contributors in this issue: Garry Otton, Derek Ogg and Scott (Features), Iain, Minerva, Calmac & Gus (Scene), Rex Wockner (International), Dirk, Andy & Justin (Reviews), Alan Nicholls (Music), Heather (ScotsDyke) Editorial Enquiries: Write to: ScotsGay, Pageprint Limited, PO Box 666, Edinburgh. EH7 5YW. Telephone: 0131-539 0666. Fax: 0131-539 2999. E-mail: scotsgay@drink.demon.co.uk We welcome news, articles, photos, cartoons, etc. — especially lesbian and bisexual material. Advertising Enquiries: Telephone: 0131-558 1279. Fax: 0131-539 2999. World-Wide-Web: http://www.scotsgay.co.uk/ Subscribing by Internet: Send a 'subscribe scotsgay-list' message to listserver@drink.demon.co.uk and the text files of future editions will be delivered to you by e-mail. To unsubscribe, send a message with 'unsubscribe scotsgay-list' in the body of the text.