SCOTSGAY MAGAZINE ================= ScotsGay is a bi-monthly magazine for lesbians, gay men and bisexuals. Edited, printed and published in Scotland Issue 18 - October 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 - fairytale land News - reports & investigations Ottonian Tales - dear Wendy, love Sue... Ogg's View - wither Diana? Inside Out - the total scene guide Venues - what and where Scene - gossip from everywhere Boxes - the ScotsGay Meet Market International - news from around the world Glasgay! Preview - all the events in Glaschu Reviews - books, videos, films Listings & Helplines- checked and updated every issue Music - Joy DJ Alan's latest chart ScotsDyke - a dyke's diary --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EDITORIAL ========= Her Majesty's Government have recently announced that they intend to introduce legislation to increase penalties for violence motivated by racism. Already, this has lead to calls from lesbigay campaigners to tack on homophobia to any new law as a way of discouraging gay bashers. I think the real point is being missed. We just don't take violence seriously enough in our society. It really doesn't matter WHY one is assaulted - it still shouldn't be acceptable in a civilised society. I've had a punch swung at me because I'm an ugly bastard - something I have no control over in the same way as I have no control over my skin colour or sexuality. Should I be looking for special treatment? Add to that the way in which the site of unwanted physical contact can lead to great differences in treatment by the legal system: Put your hand gently on somebody's goolies and you can be in much more trouble than if you had taken a broken bottle to their face and scarred them for life. Meanwhile, back in the fairytale land of Blairism, I see that the road to reform is grinding on slowly. Now, homosexual relationships of four years standing will be grounds for allowing foreign partners to stay in this country. A period which seems to have been carefully chosen to discriminate against foreign students - except in Scotland, where four year University courses are still, for the time-being at least, the norm. Not, of course, that there'll be many UK students left at Uni here if they have to pay for tuition fees, etc. John Hein ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- NEWS ==== CRISP WHISKY STUSHIE Quentin Crisp Scotch Whisky is at the centre of a business tussle - and AIDS/HIV Charity Waverley Care stands to lose money as a result of a fallout between the promoters of the brand. The whisky, a premium branded product aimed principally at the overseas market, was launched with a fanfare last year when Quentin Crisp made a rare visit to Scotland to endorse the product. Waverley Care were intended to benefit from the proceeds from their tartan ribbon which was included with each bottle. But now it transpires that only a few cases have been sold, mainly in Scotland, and 25 cases are sitting in store in the USA awaiting a new importer. Former bankrupt Mike Bell, who runs Peace and Plenty Whisky Company Limited along with his bidie-in Evelyn Moffat, says that he is having to find a new US importer after discovering that the previous one was homophobic. And to add to his problems, his former business partner, Suffolk JP Brian Winchester, is now claiming that Bell owes him a five figure sum - including money which he allegedly lent Bell to settle his personal debts - and is threatening litigation. Winchester has registered and now owns the Quentin Crisp trademark - but Bell claims that it is his company that has a 'cut and dried' agreement with Quentin Crisp to use his name on the whisky and accuses Winchester of sharp practice in registering the Trade Mark. He told ScotsGay that he hoped to have a new US agent in place shortly and be able to start business in earnest in the New Year. But, although he has recently updated his Internet site, several of the addresses on it are for accounts which no longer exist. According to Gordon Hudson, Fundraising Manager at Waverley Care, "We haven't actually lost anything. We did quite well out of it at first and we're not owed any money. But it's a great business idea with lots of potential to raise more money for us. I do, however, have one bottle of the stuff in my cupboard - and we'll be raffling it off at some point for our funds!" --- GAYS INVITED TO CONTRIBUTE TO PARLIAMENT PLANS Government Minister Henry McLeish has asked Scotland's gay communities to help shape the proposals for the Scottish Parliament. In an historic first meeting, Mr McLeish met campaigners from Scotland's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Equality Network. The Minister emphasised the Government's desire that members of the gay communities contribute to the plans for the new Parliament, and invited the delegation to submit proposals on the Parliament's consultation mechanisms. He affirmed the Government's intention that the Scottish Parliament will promote equal opportunities for all. But he confirmed that, under the Government's devolution proposals, the Scottish Parliament will be unable to pass any legislation or regulations to enforce equal opportunities policies, even in devolved areas of responsibility such as housing or health. This is because anti-discrimination legislation is to be reserved to Westminster. The Minister said there would be no constraints on the Parliament developing equal opportunities in non-legislative ways. He stated that the Parliament would be able to promote equal opportunities, for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Scots through clear policy statements and by appropriate allocation of resources. Helen Chambers, a member of the Equality Network delegation, said, "We welcome the commitment to equal opportunities, but there is a concern that under the current proposals, the Parliament will have no power to legislate to stop discrimination, whether for women, disabled people, ethnic minorities or for gay people." The Minister reaffirmed the Government's promise to allow the House of Commons a free vote soon on lowering the age of consent for gay men to 16, and to repeal Section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988, which inhibits schools from indicating to young people that their sexuality is acceptable. On the subject of homophobic bullying in schools, Mr McLeish stated that the Scottish Office is consulting with Education Authorities, and with others via the Scottish Schools Ethos Network, about the problem of bullying, and agreed that homophobic bullying is a concern that needs to be investigated. Keith Cowan of the Equality Network said, "This is an historic meeting. The Minister has made clear that the door is open to us to participate fully in shaping the future of Scotland, and he is encouraging us to come in through that door." --- TABLOID FAILS TO PLEASE After an absence of a month, Gay Scotland Magazine has emerged as a free distribution tabloid under the editorship of its former advertising manager, Paul Ivison. According to Ivison, 10,000 copies of the title are now being distributed not only to gay venues, but to a considerable number of straight ones as well (where many copies can currently be found in mouldering piles). However, Ivison also claims that sales of the previous magazine format had doubled to 2,000 a month - this is untrue as the print-run of GS for its last few months was well under that figure! And Ivison has also annoyed OUTRIGHT Scotland, who own the title and licence it out, because he has omitted the free advertisement to which they are entitled as part of the deal. Further annoyance has been caused to a potential advertiser by Ivison's refusal to accept an ad seeking photographic models. It seems that only Simon Peters Photography is allowed to run that sort of advertisement. Simon Peters Photography is run by Ivison who told the advertiser, ""I haven't spent UKP20,000 on this magazine to have competition". Other advertisers are furious at the poor design of the paper and the quantity of misprints (which include "Suchiehall Street" and two different spellings of the Editor's name). And worry has been expressed at the free distribution of a gay title to straight venues with the possibility that listings of gay groups, their contacts and meeting places could fall into homophobic hands - even if these listings are very much out of date. --- CHOGM OUTRIGHT Scotland demonstrated against Zimbabwe's President, Robert Mugabe, during the recent Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Edinburgh. Mugabe, a homophobe who has stated that homosexuals are worse than dogs and pigs, is also accused of the deaths of over 30,000 people in the western provice of Matabeleland. Joining OUTRIGHT were members of: Equality Network, Outrage!, Stonewall, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, UNISON, Autonomous Centre of Edinburgh and several students who turned up after reading of the demo on the Internet. TIM TIPPED Tim Hopkins has been voted Mr 142 in the Pink Paper's list of 500 influential lgb folk. Tim asks us to point out that there are lots of people who have done just as much as (or more than) him for the cause, but have never been recognised for it. "PAEDOPHILE" REGISTER TO INCLUDE GAY MEN OUTRIGHT Scotland has attacked recent claims that gay men would not go onto the Paedophiles' Register. Speaking to ScotsGay, Convenor Ian Dunn warned that such a sweeping claim was quite unjustified and potentially dangerous. "We have recently received copies of Home Department Police Division and Social Services Inspectorate Circulars (HD 12/1977 and SWSG 11/97 respectively, dated 8th and 11th August 1997). "Common Law offences which routinely apply to gay/bisexual men include shameless indecency and sodomy. Statutory offences for gay/bisexual men fall under Section 13(5) of the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995 (Homosexual Offences)", Dunn added. OUTRIGHT Scotland draws the community's attention to these Scottish Office guidelines: "All offenders aged 20 or over have to notify (since 1/9/97) to the Police (the Circular reproduces model police registration forms) - even if absolutely discharged by the court (OUTRIGHT's emphasis) - with the exception where every person involved in the offence other than the offender was 18 or over and a willing participant." "All offenders under 20 have to notify except where it was willing sodomy or where the homosexual act constituted an act of gross indecency or shameless indecency, whether or not every other person involved was a willing participant." Like all other gay campaigning organisations, OUTRIGHT demands a common age of consent (16) with no special laws which could apply to gay sexual intercourse. "Why a man in (say) his 20's or 30's should now have to go on the Sex Offenders Register because he is found guilty of sex with a 16 or 17 year old adult man is beyond belief. There is much work to be done and we will defend any man who is unjustly forced to go on the "Paedophiles' Register" CLOSURE West and Wilde, Scotland's only LGB bookshop, has gone out of business shortly after celebrating its 16th birthday. The Edinburgh shop, run by partners Bob Orr and Raymond Rose, had suffered in recent years from competition from straight bookstores who now stock gay books. LAUNCH "Healthy Gay Scotland", Scotland's National HIV Prevention Campaign for Gay Men, is to be launched at an invite only presentation in the Edinburgh International Conference Centre on 21st November. BANNER OUTRIGHT Scotland has found its banner. The banner, which cost nearly UKP1,000 pounds and had only been used once, went missing when Ian Dunn vacated the Edinburgh LGB Centre Café. However, it was eventually traced to PJ's - having been saved from the refuse pile by Paul Ivison. TROPHY The Polo Lounge in Glasgow has extended its premises with the opening of The Trophy Room on 16th October. REACH OUT Jackie Redding has been appointed at Reach Out Highland following the departure of Andrew Hunter. RIFKIND Former Edinburgh Tory MP Malcolm Rifkind has hit out at gay parenting and adoption on the BBC Television programme Panorama. UNISON The 4th Annual Conference of UNISON Scotland's Lesbian and Gay Members in Glasgow on 18th October was well attended (35) and there was a very constructive discussion on the coming Scottish Parliament. UNISON Scotland is now to be asked to affiliate to Stonewall at UKP240 per year. POLICE UNISON's "Policing the Lesbian & Gay Community" Conference originally scheduled for April 1997 is now set to happen (probably in Glasgow) in Spring 1998 (it was hit by the General Election). It's likely that the subject of the suicides following police action in Stirling public toilets will be raised as a number of UNISON members were affected. FIGHTBACK Police Officer Alex Horwood, who was sacked from his job at Edinburgh's Waverley Station by British Transport Police after he told them that he intended to undergo a sex change operation, is intending to fight his case all the way to the European Court of Human Rights. STUC The Scottish Trades Union Congress is hosting a conference (open to all) on "Preparing for Parliament" on 6th December in Glasgow. Details from the STUC on 0141-332 4946 (Fax: 0141-332 4649). CHANGE Divine Divas, the popular Lesbian Club run in support of Lothian Lesbian Line, is changing from the second Friday of every month to every fourth Friday. Next dates are 7th and 28th November. FIFE Majick Men Theatre Company and The Urban Pirates are to join forces to tour Fife community venues, schools and theatres with a production of Larry Kramer's The Normal Heart in a bid to raise awareness and combat ignorance surrounding AIDS/HIV. NEW KID Chris Lau has been appointed as the new manager of Body Positive Strathclyde. GMH Gay Men's Health, the Edinburgh based HIV & AIDS Agency, has appointed Eric Kay to manage the project for the next nine months. Kay, who was previously Project Co-ordinator at Body Positive, Strathclyde, took up post on 14th October. This appointment comes about as Gary Wilson, who has been Co-ordinator since 1995, begins a course of University Study for a Masters Degree in Public Health. He will continue to work with the Agency, focusing on strategic and financial development. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- OTTONIAN TALES ============== DEAR WENDY ... LOVE, SUE Middlesex Hospital, London. Dear Wendy, Hi! Student Nurse Sue Higgins here. Just thought I'd drop you a few lines to keep you in the know. I'll bet Castlemilk's not the same without me. Am I having fun or what .......? This nursing lark's a pushover! Are you still on the broo, Wend? I don't know why you don't just chuck it in and hitch to London, like I did. It's all happening down here. You know how everybody says what lovely legs you've got ..... You could get a job, no trouble! Not all models use their face. A friend of Sharon's mum models her hands. And she's really ugly! You wouldn't believe the face behind those manicured talons you see in the Lacey Liquid adverts. Sharon's mum says her secret's making your husband do the washing-up. Anyway..... back to me! I've got my own room in the hostel and a uniform that'll be getting the treatment very shortly. And the competition? One of 'em has a backside you wouldn't believe. But just wait until the doctors catch sight of me wiggling through their wards in me black fishnets! One whiff of my Number Six and they're going to wonder what hit them, Wend! Are you still going out with that Trevor McScally? Honestly, Wend. He's no good for you. Take my advice and give him the push. If he doesn't want to give you a baby he isn't worth it, and he can't love you that much either, can he? I met a bloke called Trevor this week. We nearly collided in the corridor when I was dashing up to the out-patients for a fag. He was helping some old bird along with a walking frame. When he told me he was a doctor. I nearly passed out! But not before I'd introduced myself, given him my number and arranged to meet at the local on my night off. You can't go wrong here, Wend. Up to my eyeballs in young doctors, I am! Oh.....! I nearly forgot! I've fallen in love! It's been here all of two days and I'm driven to distraction! This morning I tested Mr. Woodley's orange juice for sugar and swabbed six-year-old Wayne Stevens arm with a Tampax! I've also gone off me food and dyed my hair. Sister didn't think much of it. It was only a rinse! She told me to rinse it out! My bloke's name's Billy..... and he's a biggy! Plays rugby. I checked that out on Monday while I was having a quick fag round the back of the sheds. Everything is pointing to total success. He's got a car and a hairy chest! I first saw him on the ward while I was bandaging Miss Fitch's arm. My mind wasn't on the job. Too busy watching this hunk with a stethoscope listening to Mrs. Cavey's chest in the next bed. He would've got more than a few beats if he was to lay his instrument on my chest! This Miss Fitch, the old biddy whose arm I was doing. What an old moaner! Caught me giving this hunk the eye. "Oh, I see....!" she said. "So that's your young beau." (Talking all posh, like). I was gonna bung the flaming bandage in her gob! "It's a pity the hospital authorities can't afford proper qualified staff!" I carried on trying to wrap the old bird up, but it was no good, my concentration wasn't in it. I was making a fine mess of it. I pulled the thing undone again. Yards of it. All over the floor, just as Sister rushes by and sees me. "I hope you're not going to use that bandage again, Nurse Higgins. Not after it has been on the floor. Cross-infection, Nurse Higgins, is the reason why. Because of cross-infection!" "Yes, of course, Sister," I said in my sweet Nurse Higgins voice. "Can't you get someone else?" Miss Fitch ordered Sister who, thankfully, by that time was well out of earshot. As she tried to sit up, I slammed her back on the pillow and told her if she didn't belt up I'd knock her out with an injection of amino-phylline acidics, (whatever the hell they were)! She's not put a foot out of line all week. I may not be Flo Nightinglale, but I sure get results! So where was I......? Oh, yes! Patsy King, the fat-arsed girl I share my hostel with, came running in yesterday to tell me she'd seen my hunk, Billy, going in the changing-rooms with one of the fellas he plays rugby with. They must have been training late because all the rest of the team of junior doctors had showered and gone home. A quick spray of Breath-fresh and a squirt of Number Six and I was in there! I barged into the men's changing-room asking in a demure, helpless little voice: "is anyone in here?" I felt like a medium searching out a lost spirit. (Talking of which, if you wonder how I had the nerve, I reckon it was down to the slug of Southern Comfort I had before I went on the ward that afternoon)! I knew those fellas were in there somewhere - you know me when I smell a man, Wend! They were in there alright! I'd caught Billy completely starkers, rubbing his gorgeous little bod down with a towel. My heart missed a beat at the sight of those thighs. I put my hand over my eyes and said in my sweetie-sweet Nurse Higgins voice, "Oh my goodness! I'm dreadfully sorry! Oh, for heaven's sake, I'm so awfully sorry!" Fuck it! I saw everything through a gap in me fingers. Billy's mate was struggling to get into his trousers while Billy was wiping the water off his bulging biceps. "I was looking for my towel," I said at last. "Oh my Gawd! Are these the men's changing rooms?" Not exactly full marks for observation but you can't help but admire my pluck. Even in junior school I was known for it. "A plucky little bitch," Miss Pringle once called me. I asked one of them if I could borrow their towel, (facing Billy so he would be the one who had to answer). "Sure," he said. I nearly melted. "Anyway.... what's your name?" I asked him in my Nurse Higgins voice - soft as shite - while I tossed me hair back. "Billy," he said, "and this is Mike...." "Billy....." I cooed in a spewy-sick voice with a quick look up and down at the meat for good measure. I think he got the message. I said something about how hot it was and undid the top button on my blouse. Why waste time, eh, Wend? He was getting the message alright. He looked me up and down before looking at Mike and nodding. Honestly, Wend. I had him wrapped round my little finger! We were chatting away like husband and wife. Apparently him and Mike have been mates for years. They met in medical school and share a flat in town. They're even thinking of buying a place together. A sort of double bachelor pad. We started talking about sport. I told them we had a lot in common because I really liked men who played sport. We got talking about this and that. Tell me, Wend. You ever heard of a 'fag-hag?' We must have chatted for hours. I had all the buttons on my blouse undone by the time we'd finished! They both know Castlemilk! They even knew that funny pub, you know the one I mean..... where that little poofy bloke from fifth-year used to go. They've even been in it! They must have gone in there by mistake when they came up to Glasgow for the day. Fancy that! Billy is really into his body! When he passed me his spare towel I noticed a magazine in his kit bag with a naked bloke on the front. It was his exercise book. You know - telling you what muscles to exercise next, and all that - you know the kind of stuff! It was silly really because he was more muscley than any of the ones he showed me in the magazine. You should've seen these blokes, Wend! Not a stitch on! None of 'em! When he put on his jacket to go, I noticed a little badge on him: DO YOU LIKE BOYS? "You bet!" I told him..... and he stared at me through eyes like limpid pools. I nearly drowned in 'em, Wend! I asked him if he wanted to show me around town sometime. I can't wait for tomorrow, Wend. He's got free tickets to a nightclub and he asked if I wanted to come along. Mike's coming as well, but then I suppose if he's a good mate, he's got to try and fix him up with a bird as well. Pity you weren't down here. Do you think I should ask fat Franny if she wants a free night out? Or maybe Patsy King deserves a chance, poor cow. I asked Belinda who told me I was wasting my time.....! Jealous bitch! When I asked Stephanie about the nightclub she wrinkled up her nose. She reckons it's full of men and there aren't any women. I ask you! She must be queer if she finds that a problem! I'd better finish now. Give my love to your mum and don't forget to carry some 'johnnies' in your handbag when you're out. Billy told me to tell you. I always do now - sensible bitch that I am! Illustration and Story by Garry Otton ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ OGG'S VIEW ========== THE STRANGE CASE OF THE DISAPPEARING DIANA My good friend Stefan died last week and there I was in Amsterdam carrying his coffin at the chapel, saying a few words to try to help make his loss mean something to the rest of the bereaved. His lover (and how) Peter looked shattered and shellshocked. "It's not now that's the worst time" I told his brother, "it's in two or three weeks time, when nobody writes anymore and the phone stops ringing, that's when the sheer offensiveness of the loss comes crashing in." His brother nodded sadly and said, "Yes, its as if the world just gets on with its business, as if it didn't really care all along." That is the pattern of a lot of intense personal loss and I was relaying this tale later to my other half when he said "Funny thing, have you noticed how quiet everything has gone on the Diana front? I mean there's virtually nothing about her now, it's as if she never mattered." I knew that like me my partner, Lee, had responded in a special way to Diana, that her life gave each of us something and her death robbed us of it. Maybe it was only knowing that a powerful and influential person cared about us gay men and our suffering and loss. Maybe it was seeing the triumph of a 'wounded healer' over the massed ranks of cynics and carpers. Maybe it was a dozen other intangible, inexpressible little ties and linkages that made us feel she was part of... how to say this... part of our tribe. "How do you mean 'gone quiet'? Weren't there enough obituaries, documentaries and epilogues done on her. The only thing I don't know about her is her hat size!" But that wasn't what he meant, and he recited how he'd noticed a certain sanitising of the news of all things Diana. After he'd mentioned it, I started to notice things too. It was as if there was a certain Establishment cover up. Even the Tory Conference passed without her name being uttered. Come to think of it, same with the other Parties. Strange also how we hear little of the French investigation into her death. I had to buy a copy of the American magazine 'Newsweek' to discover the results of the re-enactment of the crash by the police, that the' second car ' theory was now the police's most likely scenario and that it may have carried and been accompanied by additional paparazzi. I discovered there the whys and wherefores of her hour and a half delay in arriving at hospital. Does it matter now, you ask? Yes, frankly it does. She was part of the tribe, and now she's dead and I want to know why. I also want to know how her memory is to be celebrated, I want to hear how the Trustees of this massive charitable fund are to be selected, I want to know if any openly gay people are to be on it (that is, talented, imaginative, in-touch, competent gay people, not just a token), I want to know when the payouts start and what the criteria are for getting dosh. I'd like the BBC to play the Elton John song about Diana instead of the flip side and to stop pretending it's the flip side that's now selling it. Because like many of you I still care about the things she did and admire the way she did them, I'm not just yet ready to move on to the next episode in the Soap called 'Real Life' with no references to the written-out character of the last series. Just for once, I don't feel too much like being manipulated then asked to move on to the next hero the tabloids have lined up for me. My worry is that Diana was a helluva thorn in the side of the Establishment when she was alive and now that she's dead she's to be as much mulch as the bouquets at Kensington Palace. Yes, of course, the dead are dead and we can't bring her back by writing about her. But we have as much of an interest in immortalising what she stood for, and how she stood up for things, as the Establishment have in silencing it. Take the current New Labour line on compassion. It's to be 'hard edged compassion'. What, I wonder, would The Princess of Wales have said to the idea of hard edged compassion? Perhaps she would have told Tony, straight to his face that there is no such thing. You are either compassionate, or you're not. She could tell Tony a thing or two about the hard edges of things she has seen and experienced in her own supposedly privileged life. You could rely on her to say it, to say the awkward, but right thing. The point being that she was one of about four people in Britain who could have that level of access and possess the determination to use it . She was a friend in High Places and a friend in deed. I daresay a lot of vested interests will be content to get back to the old way of doing business. And so metaphorically speaking the phone has stopped ringing, nobody commiserates with us anymore about our loss, almost as if they never cared all along. We all agreed she was irreplaceable, that's all the more reason for us to keep the memory of what, and who, she stood for alive and in their faces. Already though I detect a certain all too British backlash against the strength of our own genuinely felt grief. Almost as if we ourselves are too embarrassed to acknowledge how we felt so short a time ago. That too is an adjustment reaction to grief, but one which I fear is now being taken advantage of to bury the significance of her life and consign it to history. We'd all be the losers if that happens but few more so than the marginalised, the left out and unwelcome in society. In case we forget all our history, that means gays too. Derek Ogg ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LETTERS ======= The Guide Fidelity Publishing PO Box 990593 Boston MA 02199 USA theguide@guidemag.com Dear Mr. Ogg, LASTING SIGNIFICANCE Your recent piece 'Boyz, Boys and Paedophilia - Why We Can't Remain Silent' (SG17) made the excellent point that good gays - who think they will not be caught up in the sexual hysteria that has led to travesties like registries for 'sex offenders, - are deluded. But you err in suggesting the solution is for us to distance ourselves from boylovers. Attacks on civil liberties are best opposed by those who have a clear understanding that such freedoms are indivisible; there are no bad gays (or colored people or Jews or communists) who deserve to be hounded for life for crimes the ever-more-oppressive state claims they might commit. To target politically vulnerable groups (and their neighbors or look-alikes) for vigilante abuse, harassment, violence, arson, and even murder is the agenda of a most uncivil society. Furthermore, suggesting that sexual interest in those who fall on the criminal side of an arbitrarily drawn age-of-consent line is inherently a sign of felonious depravity is at odds with human history, centuries of gay culture, and most men's personal experience. Laws that do not take into account the real question of consent (as opposed to Orwellian legalese or feminist cant) and instead brand every sexual act of a minor as criminal are themselves immoral. This will not be a battle we can expect to win anytime soon, but the gay movement, if it is to have lasting significance, must be clear that laws that punish anyone's consensual sex threaten the sexual freedom of all of us. Yours truly, French Wall Editor -- 23 Bank Street Glasgow Dear Editor, HUMANE I write on this joyful morning of referendum victory to welcome Derek Ogg's significant article, "Boyz, Boys & Paedophilia - Why We Can't Remain Silent". A new Scotland needs new attitudes & my hope is that everyone, no matter what their sexual orientation, will stop feeling and behaving like marginalised persons and come out as participating members of a more civilised and humane society. This means all of us responding to condemn abuse and exploitation of children in whatever form it takes. As long as gays behave like victimised & marginalised people who do not take civic responsibility they will be treated in that way. My hope is that some are already planning how to become members in the new Scottish Parliament. Kind regards, Kay Carmichael ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INSIDE OUT ========== Scotland's biggest and best guide to the whole scene. From all points of the compass we bring you the latest gossip, plus all the groovy places to hang out in. If you're for staying in, though, have a gander at our infamous Meet Market... You never know what you're gonna get! In this issue: Venues Dundee Edinburgh Glasgow Inverness Aberdeen ScotsGay Voice Personals Boxes - The ScotsGay Meet Market ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 Wed 8-10pm. CASTRO BAR AND CLUB 47 Netherkirkgate. Tel: (01224) 624472. Mon-Fri 5pm-2am, Sat-Sun 1pm-2am. Currently, Aberdeen's only gay watering hole. 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 ALLSORTS 8 Torphichen Place. Tel: 0131-229 6675. Thur-Sun 6pm-1am. Friendly gay local. Allsorts welcome. Silly Sundays - UKP1.30 pint. BENT 100% The Gallery, Cowgate. Infoline: 0410 750732. Every 4th Saturday.10pm-3am. UKP5 B4 11pm, UKP7 after. Gay club with strict "Nae Breeder" door policy. BLACK BO'S 57/61 Blackfriars Street. Tel: 0131-557 6136. Daily Noon-2pm (in the bar) 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. Mon-Thu 9am-1am, Fri-Sat 9am-1.30am, Sun 9am-Midnight. 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. 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! CATWALK CAFE 2 Picardy Place. Tel: 0131-478 7770. FAX: 0131-478 7771. Not going for a gay clientele, but still gay friendly. C.C. BLOOM'S 23 Greenside Place. Tel: 0131-556 9331. Mon-Fri 7pm-3am, Sat-Sun 2pm-3am. Karaoke on Thursday and Sunday. Male strippers Sun at 4.30pm. 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-Sat 11am-1am, Sun 12.30pm-1am. 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. WWW: http://members.aol.com/scifipub E-mail: scifipub@aol.com CYBERIA 88 Hanover Street. Tel: 0131-220 4403. Daily 10am-10pm (12pm-7pm Sun) Friendly mixed cybercafe with friendly mixed staff. Where the wired queers hang out. WWW: http://www.cybersurf.co.uk/ E-mail: edinburgh@cybersurf.co.uk DIVINE DIVA'S The Venue (Top Floor), 15 Calton Road. Tel: 0131-556 8997. Second Friday of each month, (4 weekly from 26th Dec.) 9.30pm-3am. Women only one nighter with all proceeds going to Edinburgh Switchboard. 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. 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 - 15th Nov, 13th Dec. 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 LOVEATE BISTRO Within the Stag & Turret, 1-7 Montrose Terrace. Tel: 0131-478 7231. Mon-Sat Noon-3.30pm and 5-9pm. Newly opened cosy upstairs bistro. Good value food with special discounts for bus drivers and OAPs! MASSAGE FOR HEALTH 58a/60 Broughton Street. Tel: 0131-669 8039 or 0131-478 1090. By appointment only. Therapeutic massage from ITEC qualified practitioners Anne and John. Concessions available. NEW TOWN BAR 26B Dublin Street. Tel: 0131-538 7775. Mon-Thu Noon-1am. Fri-Sat Noon-2am. Sun 12.30pm-1am. Especially popular with Bears, but has wide clientele. Intense, the sub-basement leather and fetish bar is open Wed-Thu 10pm-1am, Fri-Sat 10pm-2am and Sun 10pm-1am - men only, dress code. 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 aprs Kirk Session! THE OUTHOUSE Broughton Street Lane. Tel: 0131-557 6668. Mon-Sat Noon-1am. Sun 12.30pm-1am. Gay friendly cafe bar in a small lane in the gay triangle. 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. THE STAG & TURRET 1-7 Montrose Terrace. Tel: 0131-478 7231. Mon-Sat 11am-1am. Sun 12.30pm-1am. Friendly gay boozer just round the corner from the Solas Centre. Entertainment most evenings. 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 cafe at the Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Centre. Now under new management and increasingly busy. 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. Cosy bar attached to Edinburgh's biggest gay hotel. Cruisy at times. Superb Thai restaurant. Owned by London's Philbeach Hotel. WWW: http://www.scotsgay.co.uk/linden/ E-mail: 100756.3112@compuserve.com WEB 13 13 Bread Street. Tel: 0131-229 8883. Mon-Fri 9am-10pm, Sat 9am-6pm, Sun Noon-6pm. Informal mixed cybercafe with homely and approachable staff. WWW: http://www.web13.co.uk/ E-mail: queries@web13.co.uk WORLD CAFE IN LEITH 30 Sandport Street. Tel: 0131-538 7076. Tue-Fri 10.30am-10pm. Sat-Sun Noon-10pm. Alessandro Tidei's newly opened gay friendly cafe in Leith offering coffee and snacks from around the world. 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-2.15pm. 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 AUSTINS 183a Hope Street. Tel: 0141-332 2707. Mon-Sat 4pm-12.30am, Sun 2pm-1am. Friendly and busy basement pub. Entertainment every evening. Happy hours: Mon-Fri 4-9pm, Sat 7-10pm. 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. 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. E-mail: cca@easynet.co.uk CAFFE LATTE 58 Virginia Street. Tel: 0141-553 2553. Mon-Sat 11am-Midnight, Sun 11.30am-Midnight. European style diner. Relaxed atmosphere. Wide selection of pastas, pizzas and sandwiches. CENTURION 19 Dixon Street. Tel: 0141-248 4485 Fax: 0141-400 1080. Sauna and Shop: Mon-Thu Noon-10pm, Fri-Sat Noon-7am, Sun 2-10pm. Shop sells toys, videos, mags and everything in between. Exclusive stockists for RoB. Very busy on Sundays! 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. The largest gay shop in Scotland. Clothes, videos, magazines, toys. 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 BAR 68 Virginia Street. Tel: 0141-552 4803. Daily Noon-Midnight. Busy pub with backroom area (not THAT kind of backroom!). Pool table. Upstairs grill opening soon. FRUITY The Apartment, 23 Royal Exchange Square. Tel: 0141-221 6381. Mon 11pm-3am. Weekly club night with DJ Stella. 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. Other businesses in the centre include Asset Mortgages. Two large meeting rooms available for hire. Not as busy as it should be - it needs your support! Fully wheelchair accessible venue. WWW: http://www.gglc.org.uk/gglc/ E-mail: gglc@gglc.org.uk 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. WWW: http://www.linkcafe.co.uk/ E-mail: tim@linkcafe.co.uk JOJO'S Penelope's, 18 Jamaica Street. Tel: 0141-400 1423. Tue 11pm-3am. Weekly club night: Mair Maher. Regular PAs and exotic dancers. 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. OVER THE RAINBOW BISTRO 6 Kersland Street. Tel/FAX: 0141-357 3739. Cafe: Thur-Tue 9am-5pm. Bistro: Mon-Sat 7-11pm. Friendly cafe/bistro in the heart of the West End run by two beautiful, recently married, drama queens. Mixed clientele. Full vegetarian menu available. BYOW. THE POLO LOUNGE 84 Wilson Street. Tel: 0141-553 1221. Mon-Thu Noon-1am, Fri-Sun Noon-3am. Upmarket bar. Piano Bar on Tuesdays, Jazz on Sundays. Something new and definitely different. QC's CAFE-BAR GGLC, 11 Dixon Street. Tel: 0141-204 5418. Mon-Sat 10am-10pm, Sun 11am-6pm. The tastefully decorated eaterie for the Glasgow Gay and Lesbian Centre. Closing 25th October for a few days for refurb but will have tables in the foyer for the duration. 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 (with 'Killer Pool Competition' on Tuesdays). Bingo nights on Sundays. During the day (Noon-7pm) opens as a mixed coffee shop). 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! 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, October 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. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DUNDEE ====== The Dundee scene is buzzing with rumours and counter rumours about new bars and nightclubs opening for us to spend our little pink pounds in. The former St Roques Library is to be halved with one side being a bar and the other a club with a capacity of less than 150. It is, as I candidly reported last month, the brainchild of one ex Dundee lass, Andrea Malone. With local right hand girl Joan McDermott at the tiller, we hope that this ship does not sink like all previous ventures at these premises. The name of the place has not been released yet but may I suggest "Cinders" as it has been on fire two or three times lately. As we go to press, there is some question of their licence application being approved after the 'Big Yin' at Liberty advised the Dundee Licensing Dinosaurs about the involvement of the good ladies mentioned above. Something they had 'forgotten' to do. With a three page long objection lodged, this squabble may even get a few lines in the local Tory rag - the Dundee Courier and Advertiser. Liberty awaits a licence for a cafe/bar at the same Licencing Court and hope to complete whatever fitting out is required by the end of November. So it looks like we may end up with three pubs and two nightclubs for a short period until one or all go bust! If the dykes and queens of Aberdeen with their oily dollars failed to support two venues, what chance do we have in Dundee with our Unemployment Benefit? A rather disappointed nightclub owner has cancelled the bus from Aberdeen to Dundee's Liberty after a six week trial period. The last bus only attracted about a dozen punters. Well, we all enjoyed new faces but not as much as Laurie who had a passion for one particularly handsome Aberdonian. These folk from the Granite City failed to support the venues they had and a bus to Dundee and deserve what they have been left with - almost fuck all! Brilliant comedy was found at Libs on Saturday 11th October provided by Kerry Wilson. Yes, she is a dyke and brought her girlfriend with her. Kerry tailored her material for the gay scene and got the crowd warming to her as she impersonated gay icons and television soaps. A bubbly personality who was appreciated by the audience. More good acts like that, please! Apparently last issue I upset Deva Karen by congratulating her regulars for collecting money for an electric wheelchair. I stand corrected that it is for some form of exercise tricycle. This was accidental misreporting and I hope that she will accept my humble apologies. Down by the Riverside, I notice a land drilling rig - perhaps they have found oil! Perhaps our favourite cottaging area will have roughy toughy oil men swarming over it. Perhaps ... Liquid Silk ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EDINBURGH ========= By the time you read this, we should be just about shut of CHOGM with all the restrictions on the life of the city which it has entailed. Congratulations to some of our anarchist colleagues who have been going about discreetly removing the security seals from street furniture and utility access covers to the dismay of the guardians of law and order! So, what else has been happening? Well, the one thing we all seem to have missed out on was the opening - in May - of Allsorts at Groucho's in Torphichen Place just opposite the West End police station. When I finally made it there last week, I found the place full of a down to earth collection of lesbians, gays and their straight friends. And a Sunday afternoon visit to Groucho's (Allsorts wasn't open then) produced a similar selection in this straight bar! Certainly a friendly place, a lot of folk from the West of the city seem to use it as their local or just drop in on their way to the Broughton Street Triangle. A similar gay local feel obtains over in the East at the Stag and Turret where John Malcolm has just opened the upstairs room as a bistro. When I dropped in the Tubbychef himself (always a good sign when the cook obviously benefits from his own cooking) greeted me after a hard lunch session in the kitchen. The whole upstairs room has a nice intimate feel to it - just the place to take the loved one (or intended loved one) for a night out. A reasonable vegetarian selection too for the culinarily disadvantaged. Don't know what he sees in Bus Drivers, though! Back in the centre of town, I hear that it was standing room only for Dockyard Doris at Frenchies the other week. A popular act that never fails to please - wonder when Babs will have her back? Down in Broughton Street itself, the continued closure of Over The Rainbow doesn't seem to have done any harm to the other establishments there which all seem to be doing quite well. The Stonewall (still without that new name although the old ghost is back from holiday and has been seen around the building) reports increased trade, whilst the Blue Moon is as busy as ever. The Edinburgh Traditional Beer Festival at Meadowbank had the usual turnout of incognito(ish) dykes and pooves. Included in this bunch was a dyke who thanked me for putting her on the last bus back to Edinburgh after the Glasgow Beer Festival earlier in the year. As I thought that I came home by train, I am confused. But, what the hell - I don't even remember getting home! Next date for CAMRA Queers is the Great British Winter Beer Festival in Glasgow's Old Fruitmarket from 27th to 29th November. Our dyke friends at Lothian Lesbian Line tell me that Divine Divas is going 4 weekly from 26th December - so popular has the event been. Run as a fund raiser for the phoneline, it all happens in The Venue in Calton Road. CC's is as busy as ever, the New Town is as beary as ever (but is the dress code in the basement working?) and the bushes in London Road are as well watched (for our safety) by Plod. What more could a queer want? Iain iain@drink.demon.co.uk ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GLASGOW ======= Fit like fans! Well, summer's definitely over and I'm sitting here freezing my bollox off cos the heating's not working! Don't you just hate this time of year? It's cold, it's wet, when you get home from partying, it's still pitch black and when you get up in the afternoon it's starting to get bloody dark again - roll on summer! Well, I'm going to try and keep this month's column a bit shorter, cos the print size was really small last month to get everything on the page and was a bit hard to read after 10 pints of lager down the pub. Actually, you're lucky you're getting a column this month, cos if I was a drama queen, I'd have stomped off in a huff about his Editorialness's comment last month about me having middle age spread! What a fucking cheek! Still got a 30 inch waist - want to see the label on my knickers? Got a lot of years and inches around the waist before the chubby-chasers are after ME! Bit rich coming from the guy who bought me lunch recently and promptly ate half the grub off MY plate! Right, now I've got that off my tits, let's get on with the scene stuff. I had hoped to do a piece about the refurbished Delmonica's last month but, by now, most of you will have been down to see it for yourselves. Anyway, for those of you who haven't, and for the benefit of the tourists and those reading this on the Internerd, it's been totally revamped and is quite unrecognisable from the old Del's. Lots of polished wood and brighter lighting and easier to get to the bar. The place should appeal to all the yuppie queens as it's stylish and ideal for posing - a bit like all those trendy breeder bars that sprung up in the 80's. Will I be getting tarted up in designer labels when I'm in? Get a grip! Some of us are born scruffy buggers and don't give a toss about the piss-elegant fairies who look down their noses as if to say "Who let you in?". There's also a pool table upstairs which I've not got around to playing on yet. For those of you who liked the tacky old Del's, not everything's been consigned to the skip so you shouldn't feel too out of place. Talking of re-furbs, the GGLC cafe/bar is going to be closing down for a short while for some re-construction and redecoration. The tarting up should take about two weeks with the re-opening scheduled for mid-month. The centre office has now been moved into one of the vacant shop units on the ground floor, with the Steve Retson Project operating from the other. Hopefully, this is only temporary until the units can be re-let as shops or whatever. The visitors book seems to have re-appeared, but this time signing in and out appears to be voluntary, so the closets don't have to leave their name if they don't want to. The dreaded purple couch remains - UGH! The Wednesday Gay Night at Strawberry Fields has now been cancelled due to a lack of interest. The first night was dead (and that's an understatement), but I had hoped that, given a few weeks, and better publicity, it would have been a popular mid-week club night. Pity it didn't work out as Glasgow should be able to support more weekday discos given that the venue was the right size and ideally situated. I think they'd hoped to just open the doors and the Janets would come mincing round in their hundreds, but it doesn't work like that. Club Nights take a few weeks to become established, and if more flyers had been out when it was operating, it might have stood a better chance. Here's hoping something else starts up soon for the mid-week disco dollies. The Waterloo (where the REAL men are) is now running a 70's session on Sunday afternoons. Oh well, any old excuse to dig out the flares, platform soles, kipper ties and strut your stuff to all the crappy shite of the decade! Bound to be naff, tacky and loads of fun! Usual entertainment on the other nights from resident Disc Jessies Rocco, Francine and Twiggy with the Oldest Bag In Drag (their words) taking the piss out of everyone on karaoke nights. Now then, what's the story on Garbos, you ask? Well, don't ask me, coz I'm in the dark as much as anyone else!! The place opened after a re-furb, was steadily getting itself re-established despite the usual teething problems, the closed again! At the time of writing, it's still closed, but by the time that this issue hits the streets, it may have re-opened. The usual predictable rumours are being put around by the usual predictable sad people who all claim to be close personal friends of the Licensing Board, the owner, Stefan King, Peter Stringfellow or Mystic Meg depending on who you speak to. It's been sold, the boss has run off with all the money, it will be re-opening, it definitely won't be re-opening, it's lost its licence and all the other crap that you usually hear when some place closes its doors, is currently doing the rounds. I hope the place does get sorted out as it was gradually getting busier and the city could well do with an alternative to the 1 point 5 nightclubs we currently have. Finally got round to having a long chat with the boys at Centurion to see what they've got planned. Well overdue, in fact, as I've not had a rabbit for ages! Since opening nine months ago, membership has grown considerably and now stands at around 2,500 people. Sunday afternoons are by far the busiest time and the weekend all nighters are also proving really popular. As you may be aware, the health club only occupies about half of the available floor space and, due to the popularity of the club, they are looking at the possibility of expanding the club and installing more locker space and extra equipment. At the time of writing, the shop is still having a sale with up to 50% off magazines and cards and a third off some lines of clothing. They've also got a nice line in cards with mucky pictures of pretty young things, rather than the pumped up Muscle Mary cards that everywhere else seems to stock. Membership is still free, so it's actually a cheaper day out than going down the pub and a sauna is supposed to help get rid of spots. (Oh well, any old excuse!!). Now then, been an interesting development down at Kelvingrove Park. The main entrance at the end of Kelvingrove Street has now been fenced off. This means that the police now have to harass all the fairies on foot, which is a pity for them, as they can't run very far or fast with all the Robocop hardware that Strathclyde's finest currently wear. Wish they'd do something about the arseholes who no doubt think it's funny to drive over the footbridge and tear around the paths chasing those out cruising. It might give those tossers a cheap thrill, but unless we start throwing rocks and trash a few windscreens, somebody is going to get hurt. Best time to go is before 3am as the place is a bit like the Twilight Zone after that. All the drunks, wierdos and married men start appearing, which is fine if you're into all that, but most people aren't. Police activity is at its lowest on Friday and Saturday nights. Hardly surprising really as they're far too busy dealing with a load of drunken breeders battering fuck out of their own wives and kids. Don't get me wrong, I'm not singling out Glasgow, this is typical heterosexual behaviour all over the country and such crimes as murder, rape, theft, mugging, child abuse, vandalism and assault with an offensive weapon gain far more brownie points for plod than nicking some poor sod for cruising. I've actually been asked to write an article about the subject, which came as a big surprise, considering its a bit of a taboo subject, even among the scene themselves. "You won't get me doing anything like THAT!", everyone says. Yeah, right! Why not just admit you're as big a tart as I am and there's nothing wrong with a healthy interest in men! Well, that's the main stories out of the way, so we'll round off with all the little snippets of gossip and other crap, then I can get off to my bed, coz it's almost midday, well past my beddy-time, and I need my beauty sleep. That's assuming I get any sleep, coz the Water Board have been digging up the road for the past week. My cat digs a bigger hole than they've managed, every time she goes for a crap, and doesn't need a fucking pneumatic drill to do it either. Seems like I'm not the only one who's been ogling the pretty young guy who's been adorning bus shelters and subway stations in an advertisement for jeans recently. Can't remember the make, but all you fashion victims will know what I'm talking about. Overheard a couple of Giggling Mary's discussing his body, moaning "he's wasted on that tart"! -+- Seems like I pissed off one of my readers last month with my comments about pop-cherubs Hanson. Anyway, to the tosser who was giving the severe brain-ache about it, I didn't even imply that their music was crap, can't you read? I just said that they looked like a bunch of girlies, a sentiment shared by a wifey I work with, who was concerned that her own son was growing up to be "a bit of a cissy". -+- Got collared recently while out clubbing, and asked if I'd give a mention to Vinyl Freaks Heaven. It's a record shop at 49 Gibson Street, Hillhead, and they specialise in rare and collectable second hand vinyl. They've got a selection of the poofy 70s and 80s Hi-NRG stuff that used to be all the rage, and still fills the dance floors. They also buy in records, so if you're a student, and you've drunk your student grant already, or a poor fairy who needs to trade in her classic record collection in order to buy that "must have" new frock, then give them a call. -+- The Polo (formerly known as the Poo) will now be stocking ScotsGay, which means the baldy-manny will probably spell it properly now to keep them happy. This actually started out as a perfectly straightforward typo, but I left it in, and the name kind of stuck! Nice to see somebody is doing the dusting these days, I'm impressed! -+- And finally, are there any DJs who promise never to play that fucking awful Barbie song? If so, I'll go right to the top of the guest list! It really gets right on my tits - what a load of breederbunnyhandbagdancing crap! Whigfield has a lot to answer for, but at least we don't have a Barbie dance, although as I write, there are probably a load of dancing queens wearing holes in their mother's living room carpet practising a Barbie@Bennets routine! Right then, that's me finished for this month, and I'm off to bed. See you next month, Love, kisses and all that bollocks, Minerva minerva@drink.demon.co.uk -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INVERNESS ========= Mod Naiseanta Rioghail Inbhir Nis And what a week it has been, the town has been invaded by an army of kilted, hairy-legged young and not-so-young talent (and not just of the cultural type) and that's just those of the female persuasion. As for the boyz, well... if you didn't make it up to see it for yourselves then I'm not going to tell you! But what I will tell you is all the latest gossip and news which, for once, is quite a lot. Since the last time we "spoke", I've had a rather unfortunate time, whilst down doing a job for the BBC in Glasgow I had to leap to the defence of a lassie who was going to be attacked after a man broke into the house she was in. Good news is that I managed to prevent any harm happening to the girl and that the attacker is now in BarL awaiting trial. Bad news is that I got stabbed five times in the process, so I would just like to thank all those who have supported me and send good wishes over this last very difficult 6 weeks - I should be returning to work in about a fortnight. One of the responses that I got when a friend received the news of my stabbing was "Christ sake Calum, I knew you liked lots of pricks - but this is ridiculous!" Ha Ha! Witty little bitches up here, aren't we? However, not one to be deterred, as soon as "himself" would let me go out to play Yours Truly did the rounds and here's the goss. Nico's as usual has been steady with the 30 or so patrons every Wednesday, both bars in the building are being frequented by "us" now, so I wonder how our host, Mr Manson, is taking that? However, as long as he keeps employing gay-friendly and dare I say it on the whole cute barstaff, we will keep spending I should say on average UKP200 Pink Pounds every evening, which he would not get if we were not there. The Wednesday night during the Mod was actually quieter than usual, however. This was probably due to the amount of competition between bars during the Mod, but the 15 or so gents who did turn up had great craic and partied away into the wee sma' oors before going on to visit various other hostelries in the town which were open until 4am, and just as it happened to the lovely Minerva, the cry went up "Calmac has now left the building", at which point myself and band of merry (pissed) queens tottered our way to the Station Hotel. Now, for those of you who don't know, the Station Hotel and associate bar - currently named Sleepers (formerly Dempsters) has had a long and as far as I'm aware friendly relationship with LGBs in the area, having in the 80s been the "Nico's" of Inverness and been advertised as gay-friendly. Then for a long time it went quiet, still frequented occasionally by gays but never advertised as such. We then entered the Nico's era, which we are still in, but in the last year the Hotel has become more and more popular with the younger scene in Inverness, who, encouraged by the fact that the staff are friendly and helpful (and that they could more or less be themselves and not just huddle together and whisper away in a corner) , have started using the bar more frequently. It's now the place of choice to meet up and have a night out. So it is really cheering to see in recent months that the place is advertising again in the gay press as a place to stay whilst in Inverness. Anyway, when we staggered there on the Wednesday night (Thursday morning) we knew we would have a great time, and even when two of our number had a quick cuddle and snog in the corner (not normal Inverness gay protocol!) not a word or dirty look was given. I would like to think that this was deliberate and not just because everyone was pissed and the place hoaching, but probably it was just not noticed. However, in some premises in Inverness just the fact that a group of guys sit together is provoking enough for the doorstaff to be intimidating, offensive and aggressive - these premises being Mr G's Nightclub, where recently a mixed group of gays and lesbians were celebrating one of their number's birthday. The club had sent out free tickets to the birthday boy and had invited him and friends to celebrate his birthday in their premises - a common marketing ploy by these nightclubs. So happily this bunch met up (as usual) in the excellent Station Hotel and Sleepers Bar premises and (as usual) were given a warm, friendly welcome of the type we have come to expect at quality establishments. Then on to Mr G's in Castle Street, and apart from a mix-up over the VIP room they had no hassle and strategically positioned themselves between one of the bars and the dancefloor, when one of the allegedly Police-approved and trained "Doorsafe" doorstaff approached and without provocation launched into a tirade of homophobic abuse and saying that if he caught any of the group fucking kissing or touching each other then they would be out the fucking door. Management was called and said he would sort out the door person involved. After this apparently was done the same door person (Doorsafe badge No.7) and his equally homophobic colleague No.10 gave more abuse to the complainer, telling him that if he had a problem to come to them and not the manager, and did he want to go outside about it, and warning him that they could chuck him out for any reason, and hinting darkly that they were allowed to use the minimum of force required to do this. This also raises the question that if the gay man in question was so much of a problem and creating a nuisance, why did they not approach the two of Northern Constabulary's finest who were doing a routine patrol of the premises not 5 yards away? When management were re-approached about the second outburst they refused to believe the story. The group then left of their own will, unsure of their safety and totally disgusted with the management's comments about having had lots of complaints from other clubgoers about them ringing in their ears. So, basically management and certainly Doorsafe staff 7 and 10 at Mr G's nightclub, Castle Street, Inverness, are completely homophobic - watch this space for the response from Police and Brewery to the letters of complaint sent to them. Speeding up now as space is running out, I've heard on the grapevine that the "Out & About" group for lesbians are planning a few fun-filled events for the girlz, which is great! However, what is not so great is that I've heard that they complained that this column does not cater enough for or mention lesbians - well 'scuze me for being a wee bit miffed and sarcastic here, but don't you have to supply me with any gossip or news? If you want more coverage in this column then send me your newsletter or get in touch via ScotsGay! I'm more than happy to include news from you - if the T Group, YGG and Reach Out can supply me with stuff to write about then I'm sure you could make the effort too, okay? And remember, readers, the contact points for "Out & About" and other groups mentioned here can be found in the Listings section at the rear of ScotsGay mag. Now, to back up my point, here to finish off is the latest gossip I've received from the Highland T-Group and Highland Youth Group. Speaking to "Julia" of the T Group recently I was informed that for the second time this year the T-community took over a hotel in Perthshire recently for a weekend of fun and frivolity. Girlz from all over, including Glasgow, Inverness, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, England and even America! (good news travels fast!) made the trip. Among the activities organised was a make-up demonstration, accessories workshop, and even a Miss Tartan Skirt contest! On a more serious note, on the Sunday a meeting and intergroup discussion took place concerning the initiation of a closer working relationship with the LGB community, and I believe as a result of this a Scottish Transgender Forum has been set up. At a more local level, the Highland T Group continues to offer support and advice to anyone who crossdresses or is transgendered, and the group was pleased to welcome a couple of new faces at one of their recent meetings. "The Tartan Skirt" - the magazine of the Scottish Transgender Community - has been relaunched after a two year period of absence following the untimely demise of its editor, Anne Forrester. However, it is now resurrected by a few individuals' co-ordinated efforts - copies can be obtained by sending a Postal Order for UKP2.50 (50p for P+P) to The Tartan Skirt, c/o The Grampian Gender Group, PO Box 18201, Aberdeen AB21 9YF. And now almost finally (sorry John sweetie (and what about my poor typing fingers, they're worn to stumps - Seumas)) the news from the Highland Youth Group is that they are having a Hallowe'en Party on the 31st October. This is an invite-only affair and any wayward youth members who haven't been to the group recently should contact ROH for details. Also, next group meeting is Wed Nov 5th, where the group are hopefully going to the town's firework display. Again, all those under 26 who wish to go contact ROH or steering group. That's it for now folks, except to say thanks for the e-mail to one of my fans, namely Roy, who is an ex-Invernessian now living in America, it was great to hear from you! Finally, remember be all you can be... and more. CalMac, calmac@drink.demon.co.uk ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ABERDEEN ======== Hello people!! Well, the bitch is back - and with a vengeance too! Yes, the rumour is true, I am indeed once more resident in the Granite City, and at the moment I'm up to my eyeballs in trying to find permanent accommodation! That together with starting a new job, I certainly have got my work cut out for me, so it would seem. Right, well, what has been happening here in old Aberdeen then? Well, not a lot really to be honest. I haven't been out on the scene nearly as much as I would have liked, not that there is really much scene to go out on in the first place. First we lost the old Cab, and now Lust has bitten the dust too, so what are we left with? Well, Castro, really, and that's about it. I went there on Friday night just past, and although there were a fair amount of people there, it was hardly heaving. I obviously picked the wrong night to go, as apparently it was busy on the Saturday night. "Malarky" seems to be packing them in, although I have heard people complaining about the entry prices. Graham Park was guest DJ for the Saturday, so it should have been a good night. Castro seems to be getting in quite a wide range of DJs, and is showing quite a bit of variety with the music too. It is nice to know that the place is quite busy once more. Liberty's in Dundee will be mourning (then again, perhaps not!) the loss of the trade from Aberdeen. A very short-lived bus trip was happening for a while, and apparently it has been cancelled due to lack of interest. Now there's a shock. I honestly hoped that it would work at least to give our clubbers a little bit of variety. And talking of variety, I decided to go out and give myself a change this weekend, so I paid a visit to Aberdeen's own Joy - no connection with the one in Edinburgh apart from similarities in the choice of music. DJ Alan Sadler certainly had a bouncing crowd that night, and it was indeed a very happy, if somewhat mixed atmosphere. In fact, I didn't see many gay people there at all, but then again, we can't be expected to wear name badges, can we? Mixed, and very gay friendly it would seem. It was nice to have a change, and nice to go somewhere that plays my kind of music. Definitely worth a visit if you want something different. On the subject of Joy (and I'm trying not to encroach on Iain's territory here), I paid a visit to the original (and undoubtedly the best) Joy in Edinburgh, where Tony de Vit was guest for the night. Well, what can I say, I haven't had such a good night in a long time, believe me! TdV was also DJing at Lovechild in the Palace, and although I didn't get a chance to go, I heard it was pretty good. It would seem that a lot of the straight clubs in Aberdeen are turning out to be mixed these days, and basically you've got to keep an eye out for the posters around town to find out what's going on. Moray Gay & Lesbian Network have a lot of things happening up in their part of the world. There's a big Christmas extravaganza at Christmas, funnily enough, and if it's anything like last year's one, it's going to be a hoot! There's some kind of birthday bash happening for the first anniversary of Moray LGB Switchboard too, so that should be fun. For info on these events, call Moray LGB Switchboard on Elgin (01343) 541188. And finally, as I type this on the day of Jacqui and Elaine's leaving do, may I wish them all the best for their new venture in Tenerife. They've got fed up with you lot and got themselves a pub in some hot place instead. I know you said that you weren't returning, Jacqui, but haste ye back, at least for a visit. Meanwhile, I'm going to book my next year's summer holidays. Take care, y'all. Ciao! Gus gus@drink.demon.co.uk -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SCOTSGAY VOICE PERSONALS ======================== It's completely free to place your ad on 0800 138 4121 We'll print your ad in our next few issues and you can pick up replies on 0891 556613. That's also the number for our Browse Hotline - 0891 556613. Calls to 0891 cost 50p per minute which is half the price charged by some other gay magazines! See magazine for full conditions of service. ScotsGay Voice For 1-2-1 To reply to ScotsGay Voice Ads, phone 0891 556613 (calls charged at 50p per minute) and use the number at the end of the ad. You can leave your own ad FREE on FREEphone 0800 138 4121. Daddy's Boy? 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Glasgow Guy, 40's, looking for slim guy under 26 who is seriously interested in older guys. Likes eating out. Fun to be around. Phone: 0891 556613 - Number 6411. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Secretive Hi, 32 year old lady would like to experiment in a lesbian relationship. I already live with a man but he's becoming a bit of a bore these days. I smoke, have a lot of animals and I think that I am a nice person. I am looking for someone to show me the ropes. I'm not a perv by the way. Dundee/Forfar area. Box SG18001. Aberdeen Final year sociology student seeks lesbians in the Aberdeen area to interview about their experiences of coming out to GPs or hospital staff. Write including a contact phone number please. Box SG18002. Lonely Gay Female Looking for someone to share my lonely nights with. Age 40, slim build, GSOH, likes pubs, eating out, going to the cinema. Look forward to hearing from you. Box SG18003. MEN Edinburgh Shy transvestite student, 20, 5'4", seeks older guys for fun and friendship. Box SG18004. Central Scotland - Anywhere Considerate cuddly uncle type, 42, small, fat, with lots and lots of red hair all over his body, beard and long balding hair, would like to meet smooth chested young guy (under 26) for uncomplicated safe fun. Student types welcome. Beginners and bi-curious especially welcome. Can travel or accommodate. Total discretion assured if required. Your limits respected. Non smoker preferred. Go on, take a chance! Box SG18005. Looking For First Time Experience 28 year old married male seeks experienced male for lessons in man to man. Box SG18009. Dundee/Tayside - Twentysomething WLTM similar for good times, long nights, big breakfasts, no frills, hairy men especially. You must be under 30, not ugly, and a bit daft (but not simple!). ALAWP. Box SG18010. Glasgow - Professional 36 year old single, straight acting, solvent, sensible professional male with good sense of humour and well balanced outlook on life, no hidden agenda. Looking for honest upfront relationship with similar younger guy 24-32. Could it be you!! Box SG18011. Dundee 22 year old student would like to meet other guys in Dundee/Tayside area, aged 18-25. I'm told I'm quite good looking and have a VGSOH. Box SG18012. Men Wanted 24 year old from Dundee seeks men of all ages for discreet, no-strings fun. Only straight-acting guys please. Older men and daddies are welcome too. Photo means a definite reply. Box SG18013. Very Gay ABBA Fan Wishes to hear from any other (or ex) Svenskas with anything they're willing to swap/sell. Happy to negotiate. Box SG18014. Glasgow Guy 40's, recovering from long term affair. Now ready to commit again. You: under 26, slim build, clean shaven and a non-smoker. Detailed letter and photo gets quick reply. Looks unimportant - personality is the keyword. Box SG18015. 40's West Coast Gay man, seeks younger guys for no strings fun times. Enjoys eating out, nights in and out. Can accommodate or travel. Student types more than welcome. Box SG18016. Middle Aged Sex maniac seeks young skinheads with a healthy sexual appetite. You: slim build (me: heavy build) but built for comfort. Box SG18017. Glasgow Glasgow based business man seeks naughty boys under 25 who are in need of their rear end warmed. All limits respected. Safe raunchy fun. Role play welcome. Box SG18018. Northern Area Business man is looking for companions (under 26) for overnight stays when I have to be away on business. Hotels can be so lonely. If you like good food, wine, and a nice night or two in an hotel, then drop me a phto along with your detailed letter. Box SG18019. Glasgow Sex starved young male seeks horny fun times with other young guys 18+. Discretion assured. Photo/phone helpful. Reply guaranteed. I can accommodate. No time wasters. Box SG18020. Glasgow Area 39 year old professional guy seeks younger guys for fun and friendship. Box SG18021. Scottish Country Dancing How's your pas de bas? Aged juvenile seeks partners for Scottsih Country Dancing and Ceilidhs. Any age, any sex. Box SG18022. Anybody - Anywhere Large build and good looks . 44 year old guy from Central Scotland seeks guys from abroad and home. Red heads especially welcome. Will answer all. Box SG18023. 50+ - Far North Scotland Would like to meet others for friendship and meetings. Can travel. Box SG18024. Glasgow - Paisley Horny 22 year old seeks leather guys, 20-35, to teach me all they know and love about leather. Box SG18025. Livingston Is there anybody there? Professional guy, 34, slim, solvent, WLTM sincere, straight acting guys for socialising locally and/or occasional scene. Enjoy walking, eating, in/out, music, tennis, swimming, cinema, good conversation. Box SG18026. Glasgow Daddy Good looking fit Daddy, looking for inquisitive new pups to teach a few tricks in leather and rubber. Me: WE 40's. You preferably 20's. Safe, very horny scenes guaranteed. Box SG18027. Edinburgh Day/Night Fun Guy/s - 30 year old, slim, horny? 52 year old sucking enthusiast and voyeur seeks your company for fun times. Anything goes, everyone cums. Singles, couples, UB40's welcome to enjoy spare time at my place. Can accommodate. ALA. Box SG18028. Ayrshire - Glasgow Guy, 36, slim, is looking for fun times with other guys 28-45. Box SG18029. Uncle Seeks Naughty Nephew RU 18-33? Looking for an Uncle to keep you in line, light discipline (kissed better)? I'm 48, fit, medium build. Reply with details. Beginners and shy virgins most welcome. Box SG18030. Glasgow Guy, 42, seeks slim guys under 40 for good 1-2-1. Hobbies include: gay videos. Can accommodate if required. ALA with photo or phone number. Box SG18031. Whip Master 30's. Seeks well built slaves 18-40 for strict training and CP. Central Scotland, anywhere. Box SG18032. Lanarkshire Professional Glasgow guy aged 26, own home and car, 5'11" tall, blond hair, blue eyes, slim to medium build, looking for other guys for fun times. Box SG18033. Give Me Uniform No 1 cropped guy (29) will do anything for the uniformed guy. I have big dick, tight ass and fit body. Let me strip you from your uniform. Box SG18034. North East Scotland - Anywhere 35, 5'9", BND looks, lithe, sports freak, swimmer's physique, SA/SL/NSc, professional, deep need to belong to tall, athletic, burly, active, truly VWE, randy, dominant, tender hunk for romantic, everlasting, 1-2-1. Box SG18035. I Want You - If You're Under 25 S/A, S/L cute guy under 25 wanted by cute 18 year old guy for fun and hopefully 1-2-1. No camp queens please. Box SG18036. Fife - Central Scotland Eager to visit Blackpool or Manchester for long weekend. Not keen on going alone. Hoping to meet nice friendly guy in the same boat. Me: 37 years old, 5'9", slim build and extremely friendly. Box SG18037. Young Gay Guy 18, 5'10", handsome, fit young Indie kid! Looking for similar or older guys to take me by the hand and show me the ropes. Horny letter gets reply. Box SG18038. VWE Edinburgh Guy 26 years old and looking for good hard time. Looks and age unimportant. Send frank letter for prompt reply. Can travel or accommodate in all ways. Box SG18039. Scotland - Anywhere Tall gentleman, youthful 40's, WLTM gentle quiet man needing the benefit of civilised CP. ALA with courteous consideration. Box SG18040. Glasgow - Central Scotland 35 years old, 5'11", GSOH, WLTM active top for no strings 1-2-1. Can accommodate. Discretion assured. Box SG18041. Skinhead Mates Wanted By 34 year old No 1 crop who seeks horny mates for long wet sessions in denim, boot and braces, poppers, used jocks and gear, cammos and rubber. Photo and phone number ace. Box SG18042. Dundee - Tayside Early retired, straight acting passive guy urgently seeks genuine active and caring local guy for friendship and relationship. Age and looks are not important. ALA. Box SG18043. Edinburgh - Lothians 52 year old guy looking for 30 year old and upwards for friendship. Box SG18044. Friendly Guy Straight acting 28 year old good looking guy with short hair, goatee beard and good sense of humour, very broad minded, seeks guys for 1-2-1, safe fun and friendship in the Livingston area. Can't accommodate but can travel. Please send photo for prompt reply. Get writing guys! Box SG18045. Stirling Area Handsome fat bloke wanted for friendship, fun and possible 1-2-1 by sincere, inexperienced 24 year old chaser. 6'1", slim, dark, good looking, GSOH. Photo appreciated. Can accommodate. Box SG18046. Anyone Out There? Gay guy, 20, looking for any guy who could offer a cute young boy a new life. Send photo and letter. Box Sg18047. Just 19 Looking for 18-30. Me: good looking, blue eyes, blond hair, GSOH. You: butch guy. Please send photo/letter. Box Sg18048. Dundee - Tayside 28 year old, male, 6'2", fair complexion, blue eyes, medium build. Enjoys music, films, nights in/out. WLTM fit guy, 20-35 for fun, friendship and possible 1-2-1. Photo please. Box SG18049. Rescue Me Central Scotland novice guy (32), medium build, non-smoker seeks genuine like-minded guy (28-38), maybe from emergency services, for 'behind closed doors' friendship. Absolute discretion guaranteed. Box SG18050. Passive - Edinburgh Professional guy, 31, seeks dominant WE guys, any age, for no strings fun. Photo and frank letter appreciated. Box SG18051. Glasgow 42 year old would like to meet friends. I am hairy chested and enjoy other men the same. I am not a size queen but I like big ones and moustaches. Box SG18052. Glasgow Young gay male seeks guy/s 18-25 for sexy fun. I'm non scene, VWE, love lots of 'O'. Photo helpful. No time wasters please. Can accommodate. ALA. Phone number if possible. Box SG18053. Young Guy I am a straight looking (average), straight acting professional guy (30). Tall, slim and I smoke and drink. I like to have a good time and have a strange sense of humour, but at least you will laugh. I am looking for a guy basically the same, aged 18-25 and non scene who is looking for some FUN, FRIENDSHIP, and possibly a 1-2-1. I can accomodate.Box SG18054. Gay Guy In Glasgow 32 gay guy in Glasgow, dark haired, straight acting, discreet, seeks guy aged 18-30 for a good friendship, a bit of horny fun, and perhaps a relationship. I promise discretion and will answer all replies. Reply by e-mail to Glasgowguy@cableinet.co.uk or in writing to: Box SG18055. Gay Guy - Edinburgh 25 year old, fit and attractive straight acting guy, seeks 20- 35 year old guy in or around Edinburgh/Glasgow for fun times. Box SG18056. Beginners Please! Experienced, considerate guy, 40, very hairy, would like to meet young (18-22) smooth chested guys for whom this is the first time. Students, school leavers welcome. Prepared to let you take things at your own place. I don't bite (but will nibble gently if required!). Box SG18057. BISEXUAL Spanking Bi guy, 29, seeks gay/bi males/females into spanking. Give, take, both ways. Photo if possible. Your place. ALA. Box SG18006. STRAIGHT Edinburgh Hi... I am a mature straight but very gay friendly woman looking for some gay friends in the Edinburgh area.... am very young at heart... into films, computers, animals etc. etc.... If you'd fancy having a straight friend you would be willing to accompany to gay bars etc.. please contact me.... Hope to hear from some nice gays out there (male or female). E-mail: 113117.2176@compuserve.com or Box SG18007. Edinburgh Friendly straight guy, 28, said to be cute by my gay mates, would like to meet intelligent talkative bi or straight woman for friendship possibly leading to relationship. Box SG18008. LOOKING FOR Daniel + Michael from Edinburgh I am searching for Daniel and Michael - a gay couple from Edinburgh. Daniel is circa 25 years old, 180 cm tall, blond hair. Michael is circa 30 years old, 175 cm tall, dark hair. Write: Joerg Schoene, Stiftsmarkt 8a, D-48231 Warendorf , Germany or E-mail: Yoschi.WAF@aol.com FRIENDS ABROAD Penpals Wanted Retired social worker from Minnesota, 59, wants to correspond with guys in Scotland, any age, because I love the Scottish wry humour, intelligence and affectionate nature. Will respond to all. Write: John Mazzitello, R.R.#2, Box 202, McGregor, MN 55760, USA or E-mail:JmazzSJ@aol.com German Romantic ISO Active Scot V. Cosmopolitan German, 43y, w. great warm-hearted personality and charm, ISO similar, Scotsman. LTR also possible. Currently residing Munich, you should therefore be able to travel to here or host. I live near MUNICH airport, directly on the airp.subway line. Ideally you: are tall, v. hirsute and srt.masculine acting (like myself), sexually active. Interesting, humourous personality more important than Adonis-looks. I love the outdoors, travel and intelligent conversation. Write or call: Rebonto GUHA/ Bahnhofsplz.5/D-85737 Ismaning. Tel.fax:(00.49.89) 96201227- evenings. E-mail: rguha@eso.org Open your heart and let love shine in. Sweden I am a Swedish man, and I'm looking for new friends. I want to start a friendship, and maybe more. I am 33 years old and I'm blond haired and blue eyed, flexible, and I want men 18-33 years of age. My interests are to listen to music, read books, poetry, draw and paint, TV, theatre, opera, and nature, philosophy and technic. Please write me: Jan Josefsson, Hdradsvdgen 3, 6tr, S-152 48 Svdertdlje, Sweden or E-mail: jan.josefsson@stadsbibl.sodertalje.se ACCOMMODATION OFFERED Aberdeen - House Share Two women offer extremely comfortable double room in spacious home with en-suite facilities available. Suit professional woman/partner. Sorry - no smokers. Tel: Aberdeen (01224) 487327. ACCOMMODATION REQUIRED Council Exchange Wanted 2 apartment, semi detatched bungalow, near bus and shops. Double glazed, recently decorated. Anything considered. Partick, Byres Road, West End, Broomhill, Charing Cross, Woodlands, Anderston. Contact: Debs, 1 Hunter Place, Milngavie (by post as the phone don't work no more). FOR SALE Brain Machines Direct Cut out the middle man and flash your way to heaven! Relaxmate Goggles UKP65, DeltaBeta only UKP47. Ideal Original Gifts/Personal Development. Cheques to: 'Toad', 38 Oakdale Road, London. E11 4DL. Tel: 0171-636 8232. HELP! Gay Sports Men & Women Required for a national survey as part of a final year student dissertation. If you'd be willing to complete a short questionnaire, please write direct to: Fiona, PO Box 127, Tring. HP23 6RX. 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. Previously Published Photographer Looking for young (18+) horny guys to model in the style of Vulcan, EuroGuy, GlobalGuys, etc. Fees paid. Models wanted. Please contact Stuart on 0141-636 6556 or E-mail me on Sborg16184@aol.com BACK RUBS Aberdeen Area Attractive 18 year old escort/masseur. Your place or mine! Call Michael: 0468 706789. Aberdeen Area - Kissogram - Escort Luke Wild: The very best for entertainment, the ultimate in sexual fantasy. Private shows or parties - the choice is yours. Telephone: 0411 284558. Best Massage At Best Price Too! Sensual all over body massage by passive, stout and cuddly gay man. To visit: call 0131-665 8219 or leave number and name on Ansa-Phone. See you soon! Edinburgh/Glasgow Escort Central Scotland, active, sporty, muscular, handsome, black, straight acting, built to please. Friendly and discreet, offers versatile service. No time wasters. Please call on 0705 0082461 - Chris. Edinburgh Masseur A caring skilled personal touch at excellent poundstretcher value. UKP15. Jim. 0131-556 7199. Escort/Backrub 32 year old attractive slim lady available for escort or massage. Available to either sex. For bookings call 01307 820339. Massage - Paisley Let me rub you up the right way - using essential oils. Reasonable rates. Give yourself a treat!!! Ask for Tony. 01505 324561. PHONE DATING The Club "3-in-1" telephone dating for gay men! Virtual Chat: Exchange Home Phone Numbers and other uncensored voice messages with other callers who are on line now. Voicemale Dating: Leave Private Replies to other guys' messages or record your own. Members Only Noticeboard: Dozens of messages with Home Phone Numbers available from our Helpline. Phone 0891 556666. Calls cost 50p per minute at all times. PO Box 425, PE25 2RQ. What are you waiting for? - Phone NOW! 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. Contact Mag Contact Mag for adults: contains over 600 photos. Approval copy from: Matchmaker (K38), Chorley, PR7 4BS. Or ring: 01257 480155 (24 hours). 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 Lesbian Gay and Bi Pen Friends, non profit service, Box numbers, Monthly listings, no out dated ad's, free voice mail, SAE PO Box 2000, Horwich, Bolton, Lancashire, England, BL6 7PG. Tel/Fax 01204 667747 or e-mail lgb@clara.net 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. 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. 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. 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. Rothes Glen Hotel Moray's premier country house hotel, in acres of grounds and glorious views towards the Grampian Mountains, is noted for warmth and friendly service. Six miles south of Elgin, midway between Inverness and Aberdeen. Contact Michael or Freddie, Rothes Glen Hotel, Rothes, Morayshire. AB38 7AQ. Telephone: 01340 831254. E-mail: 101516.1660@compuserve.com 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. 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! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ INTERNATIONAL ============= by Rex Wockner GUATEMALAN AIDS ACTIVIST MURDERED Transgendered AIDS activist Luis Palencia (aka Maria Conchita Alonso) has been gunned down in Guatemala City. "Some men in a white pick-up passed by the corner where he worked [as a prostitute], 30 metres from the door of our office, and shot him in the stomach, causing almost instant death," said Ruben Mayorga, executive director of OASIS, the Integral Sexuality AIDS Support Organization. "His death is a reflection of unchecked machismo, profound homophobia and the widespread disrespect for fundamental human rights that holds sway in Guatemala and continues snuffing out innumerable lives," added OASIS press spokeswoman Laura Asturias. OASIS urges e-mail protests to Guatemalan President Alvaro Arzú at AlvaroArzu@guate.net, Presidential Human Rights Commission head Marta Altolaguirre at copredeh@guate.net, the United Nations Guatemalan Mission for Peace Accords Verification at minugua@guate.net, the Archbishop of Guatemala's Human Rights Office at odhagua@pronet.net.gt and Amnesty International at amnestyis@amnesty.org. 60 MARCH IN PERU'S FIRST GAY PARADE Word has reached us that 60 gays, lesbians and transgendered people marched in Lima, Peru's first gay-pride parade this summer. They walked 10 blocks from the offices of the Lima Homosexual Pride Movement (MOHL) to Plaza Francia downtown. "For the first time ever, we can truly say to people not just that we exist and are part of this society, but that we, too, have rights," said activist Ruth Ramos. "This is definitively a turning point for our movement," said gay leader Oscar Ugarteche, a respected economist and MOHL co-founder. "Tonight we will be on all the news programmes. We are no longer invisible." Gays in Peru are routinely bashed, fired and arbitrarily detained, according to MOHL. BELGIUM Foreign domestic partners of Belgian citizens now receive automatic provisional residency permits, Internal Affairs Minister Johan Vande Lanotte announced recently. The only provisos: The relationship must be permanent, the couple must live together, and they must sign a domestic-partnership contract. COSTA RICA The man who recently forced Costa Rica's government-run health-care system to provide antiviral drugs to people with AIDS has died of the disease. "I have been very brave," William Garcia, 29, told friends two days before his death. In late September, the Supreme Court ordered the medical system, Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS), to buy anti-HIV "cocktail" drugs for Garcia and, a few days later, for three other people who had filed similar suits. Garcia had presented the court with prescriptions for AZT, 3TC and Crixivan that CCSS refused to fill. He also provided proof he had paid the required 23 percent of his salary into the health-care system during the years he was employed. CCSS continues to claim the drugs don't work, have debilitating side effects and are too expensive. ISRAEL Two of Israel's national health-care programmes have stopped paying for anti-HIV "cocktail" drug combos after the Ministry of Finance refused to budget for the treatments. The decisions by the Meuchedet and Leumit Health Funds leave 300 Israeli persons with AIDS without treatment. "The responsibility for the impending disaster lies with the minister of finance, Prof. Ya'akov Ne'eman, and the deputy in charge of the Ministry of Finance Budget Department, Mr. Haim Peltz," said the Headquarters of Israel's AIDS Organizations. PUERTO RICO The first international conference of the Latino-Latina Lesbian and Gay Organization (LLEGO) drew more than 1,000 delegates from across the Americas to San Juan, Puerto Rico recently. LLEGO head Manuel Ornelas Quintero said the group selected San Juan because it is "the door to the Americas." The island bans gay sex under threat of 10 years in prison. The confab's keynote speaker was Patria Jimenez, the newly elected openly lesbian member of the Mexican Congress' Chamber of Deputies. SINGAPORE Singapore banned Janet Jackson's new album, Velvet Rope, last week due to lyrics about homosexuality, battery and abuse, a local newspaper reported. The action was taken by the Controller of Undesirable Publications. According to a review in the Los Angeles Times: "While exploring the challenges and rewards of intimacy Jackson drops a few hints that nasty boys aren't her only interest. "One interlude finds her flirting with a girlfriend, and on a delicate version of the Rod Stewart chestnut 'Tonight's the Night' she leaves the original lyrics intact, suggesting that the object of her affection may be female." SWEDEN The Swedish Federation for Gay and Lesbian Rights (RFSL) has launched insemination-education programs in the cities of Helsingborg, Gothenburg, Oerebro and Linkoeping. "It is time that lesbians' and gay men's desire for children is taken seriously," said RFSL Vice Chair Eva Ogenborg. "Lesbians do not have access to artificial insemination at Swedish medical clinics. ... We therefore take the responsibility for informing and supporting those who wish to have children." RFSL receives calls daily from gays and lesbians considering parenthood, many looking for a willing opposite-sex partner. "By arranging these courses we can create opportunities for people to establish contacts, as well as informing them of practical details and legislation related to gay and lesbian parenthood," Ogenborg said. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ WAITING FOR GLASGAY! ==================== Glasgay! recently announced that this year, under the banner of Waiting for Glasgay!, it will act as a publicity umbrella for Lesbian and Gay events taking place in Glasgow during October and November. The programme comprises a dozen venues hosting in total twenty-eight events, thirteen of which have been programmed as a direct result of the Waiting for Glasgay! initiative. TRON THEATRE Pictures from Pride by Robin Mitchell (Fri 24 - 9 Nov FREE) An exhibition of photographs taken during Gay Pride marches and festivals of '95 and '96 in Glasgow, Edinburgh and London. A personal record - inspiring, uplifting, sometimes even intimidating, but invariably life-enhancing. 'Pictures from Pride' will be exhibiting at the Tron throughout 'Waiting for Glasgay!'. Come along and see who you recognise! Defining Gay Theatre (Sun 26 Oct 2pm FREE) What is it? ... the good, the bad and the truly inspiring. How do we create new lesbian and gay theatre for future Glasgay! festivals? An 'open to the public' practical workshop with the participation of Ken Alexander (Byre Theatre), John Binnie (Clyde Unity Theatre), Christopher Deans (mct), Leslie Finlay (Borderline Theatre Co.), lain Heggie (writer), Lorenzo Mele (mct), lan Reekie (7:84 Theatre Co.), Grant Smeaton (Hopscotch Theatre Co.) and Natilie Wilson (mct/7.84) X-Factor SeXual Choreographer - Alan Greig (Sun 2 Nov 8pm UKP8/UKP4) X-Factor make their Tron debut with SeXual, an exploration of the hidden areas of male sexuality - man as sexual compulsive, predator and voyeur. Text, strong visual imagery, with physical and emotionally powered performances, chart the explosive self-destruction wrought when fantasies spiral out of control. (Not suitable for young people under 16) Mouthing Off (Sun 9 Nov 2-4pm FREE) Glasgay! is only possible through the dedication, enthusiasm and creative input of many different people. 'Mouthing Off' offers you an opportunity to listen, debate and contribute to the vision of what will be Glasgay! 1998, 2000 and beyond. This exciting forum will be the springboard for festivals to come and proves that Glasgay! is a festival for everyone. Practical Drama Workshops mct (Sat 8 Nov 2-5pm Open to All, FREE) How do you devise a story for the stage? Come to this practical workshop, bring along an object that says something about you and discover how your personal story is developed into the stuff that plays are made of. Many of these stories presented in Molly's Collar & Tie (Wed 5 - Sun 9 Nov) have been informed through a similar workshop process with members of the Glasgow lesbian, gay & bisexual community. For further information, please contact mct on 0141-424 1369 Open to all. Maximum of 15 people. Molly's Collar and Tie by Christopher Deans, mct Theatre Company (Wed 5 - Sun 9 Nov 8pm UKP8/UKP4) After last year's successful work-in-progress, the company returns to present the full production of Molly's Collar and Tie. From sexual intrigue in the court of King James VI, to a Govan woman passing as a man in nineteenth century New York ... from the famous police raids on illicit parties in 1960's Glasgow to a woman caught between her lesbian partner and her children in the 1990's. Chloe Poems Universal Rentboy (Sat 8 Nov 10.30pm UKP8/UKP4) Sex? Drugs? Politics? Chloe Poems, gay socialist transvestite poet and global prostitute extraordinaire sells her all in a show packed with the profound and the profane. WATERSTONES 153 Sauchiehall Street Gay's The Word (Tue 4 Nov 8pm UKP2 All proceeds go to Glasgay!) A forum on gay writing in Scotland including readings and discussion from Rose Collis (biographer of Nancy Spain), Edwin Morgan (poet), Ellen Galford (novelist), Christopher Whyte (poet/novelist) and Colin Spencer (author of The Gay Kamasutra). ARCHES THEATRE Soldier on a Monday by Christopher Hodgson Complete Productions (Tue 28 Oct - Sun 2 Nov 7.30pm UKP6.50/UKP3.50) Love, betrayal, The Nolans, sexual fantasy and gourmet cooking! Soldier on a Monday is a blackly comic rebuke to homophobia, celebrating sexuality and challenging the clichés of 'The Family'. GLASGOW FILM & VIDEO WORKSHOP New Visions (UKP2/UKP1 Bring your own refreshments) To coincide with 'Waiting for Glasgay!' New Visions has programmed the following 3 works: Mad Cow by David Oswald is a vivid culmination of camp, kitsch, suspense and horror ... Infected make-up has made its way on to the market. Vivianne, a carefree but fashion conscious young woman buys some despite warnings. The make-up company is directed by Marilyn Sharp, a ruthless and corrupt business woman. Fate brings Vivianne, now rabid due to her infected lipstick, and Marilyn together in a climactic battle to the bitter end. Bubble Gum by Peter Strickland is an anti-fairy tale of paranoid narcissism. Working at a supermarket check-out, Holly Woodlawn plays an ageing, obsessive would be groupie starstruck by the charms of a young rock star, whom Nick Zedd is hell-bent on imitating. A chance encounter with Zedd's fraudulent superstar lures Holly into a back street john, whilst on a lunch break, leading to a tragic and humiliating denouement. XXXTripping by Pictorial Heroes consists of three short documentary works exploring the topics of Magic, Sex, and Death filmed recently in the US, UK and Europe for Channel 4's 'Renegade TV' series. The works examine the themes and obsessions of underground culture, featuring contributions from Genesis P Orridge, Alan Moore, Richard Kern, Stewart Home and Beth B. GALLERY OF MODERN ART Premiere Pierre et Gilles (France) (Fotofeis'97 until 9 Nov) This exhibition of large-scale overpainted colour photographs depicts fantasy worlds with a marked use of synthetic materials, props, costumes and artificial lighting that create a sense of the magical balanced between irony and naiveté. Darker in mood and less restrained in tone than their earlier oeuvre, this new exhibition continues their exploration of artifice as an expression of homo-erotic camp. Male nudes, drag queens and femme fatales, the protagonists inhabit a shadowy bower of tinsel trees and fabricated foliage in images of more or less explicit sexual potency. DELMONICA'S BAR & GRILL Thu 30 Oct 9.30pm Delmonica's plays host to the 'Waiting for Glasgay! Championship Quiz Night' with a roll-over cash prize and Glasgay! trophy going to the winner. GLASGOW GAY & LESBIAN CENTRE Writing Workshop (Sat 1 Nov 1-4pm FREE) If you've always had an urge to express yourself on the page, then here's your chance to start. The workshop is open to anybody, regardless of experience. Led by John Binnie (Clyde Unity) and Natalie Wilson (7.84/mct) GLASGOW FILM THEATRE Ma Vie en Rose (Fri 12 Oct - Thu 13 Nov various times) This charming comic fable with a tart edge starts as smart couple Pierre and Hanna move into a bland Parisian suburb with their family. Eager to befriend their neighbours, they host a housewarming party. All goes swimmingly well until their seven year-old son Ludovic makes his appearance dressed in a sugary confection of tulle - the perfect fairy princess. Is Ludovic just going through a 'girly' phase or is there something more significant going on? Alain Berliner's film sensitively teases out the conundrum at hand as Ludovic disappears into a fabulous world of his own making with candy kitsch colours and ruled over by Pam, a Barbie-like doll with a perchance for sequin strewn garb who revels in all that is feminine. FRANCE/UK 1997 93 mins cert 12 SUBTITLES Go Fish (Tue 28 Oct 5.45pm) Lively and romantic, Rosa Troche's Chicago-based comedy features five women who hang-out, cook, drink, talk and then talk some more. Their sexual identity is a given - they are lesbians! Does this audience pleasure blow fresh air on the fusty conventions applied to the representations of lesbian and gay sex lives? USA 1994 83 mins + New Visions-Curated shorts cert 18 Torch Song Trilogy Party (Fri 7 Nov 7.30pm UKP4.25/UKP3 or, buy a Special Season Saver Ticket) A gay GFT evening of torch, song and cross-dressing with Harvey Feirstein's film as the centrepiece. Glasgow's excellent Horse will be supplying live vocals, accompanied by Marj Hogarth and Patricia McGowan, with Tom Urie on piano. A night of celluloid delectation ... drag queen usherettes and the gay Glasgow short film, 'Sugar For My Honey' by Manu Kurewa complete this marvellous line-up. Drag up, and drag your friends along, to what promises to be 'Waiting for Glasgay!'s kitsch extravaganza. A Bit of Scarlet followed by Victim (Sun 9 Nov 2pm) Andrea Weiss' documentary excavates British film and television archives for examples of lesbian and gay representations. This fascinating clipfest, tartly narrated by lan McKellan, is followed by Basil Dearden's classic 'Victim' with Dirk Bogarde. UK1997/1961 75/100mins cert18 The Square Circle (Fri 7, Sat 8 & Sun 9) The story of 'The Square Circle' relays the experiences of an actor from folk theatre, trained to play female roles, and an innocent village girl. When fate throws them together, the girl is shocked to find that her companion dresses and behaves as, and prefers being, a woman - whether on stage or in life. As they make a the long journey back to the girl's village home, it becomes a physical and emotional voyage of discovery for the unconventional pair. The vast spaces of rural India set the stage for this moving tragic/comic love story examining sexual identity and gender stereotypes. Chasing Amy (Sun 9 Nov) Hoiden meets Alyssa at a comic-book convention and thereafter falls in love. He is captivated by her wit, personality and endearing frankness, but is a little bewildered when he discovers that she is gay. Hoiden's feeling of shock at this revelation is only surpassed by the realisation that he loves her anyway. Kevin Smith's latest movie is a touching, comic tale presenting passionate, verbal and poetic characters in poignant scenes as they try to reconcile the problems of gay/straight romance. 'Chasing Amy' is an inspiring tale of 'boy meets girl' with a difference. PEARCE INSTITUTE, GOVAN 'Auction of Pleasures' Sat 1 Nov (A women only event) Viewing 6pm onwards auction starts 7pm Ceilidh and disco to follow UKP6/UKP5, UKP1 for members and tickets sold in advance. Woman's Library on 0141-552 8345 for tickets and information. An auction of delectable delights gathered by Glasgow Women's Library that is sure to satisfy all desires, from aromatherapy to flying lessons, Horse memorabilia to B&B weekends. Start your bidding please... And when it's going, going, gone - get down to some dancing. BARGO 81 Albion Street Sense and Sexuality (4 Nov - 5 Dec 12 noon - 12am daily) An exhibition of photographic images by 'The Country Girls'. THE POLO LOUNGE & BENNETS NIGHT CLUB Get those broomsticks dusted and dress up for the Lesbian Line Halloween fancy dress party in the Polo Thu 30 Oct 10pm - late UKP3/UKP2. Bennets Famous Halloween Party with Karen Dunbar Thu 30 Oct. Bennets 16th Anniversary Party Week Thu 4 - Sun 9 Nov. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ REVIEWS ======= BOOKS The Mammoth Book Of Gay Short Stories edited by Peter Burton Robinson, UKP6.99 A goodly selection of light, not so light and damned right thoughtprovoking tales from writers varying from James Robert Baker to John-Paul Zaccarini by way of Neil Bartlett, Toni Davidson, Simon Raven and Colin Spencer. So absorbing was this book that somebody removed our review copy from the lavatory and I had to go out and actually purchase another copy. Robinson are soon to publish their Mammoth Book of Gay Erotica to which I look forward with anticipation. John Hein Oscar Wilde Nothing ... Except My Genius Penguin, UKP2.99 I must be turning into a cynical old git. I do like Oscar Wilde and his cutting wit and that part of me was looking forward to read this "Celebration of his wit and wisdom". Yet I could not but think that the timing of this particular book was far from incidental, a suspicion soon confirmed by the inclusion of a very worthy foreword by Stephen Fry. But I digress, this book has given me giggles and chuckles and even the odd outburst of laughter. Refreshingly witty as always, Oscar Wilde is the perfect antidote to the mindless servings of Friends and Neighbours, Far and Away they may be. I know I have included some Aussies in that list, but what springs to mind is one of the quotes contained in this book: 'They say that when good Americans die they go to Paris and when bad Americans die they go to America.' But where does that leave Quentin Crisp? Rubber Up! Every Gay Man's Guide To Condoms Edward King & Chris Markham Cassell Straight forward information, straight forward talk and even straight forward pictures. But that is as straight as it gets with Rubber Up, Every Gay Man's Guide To Condoms. I'm a little late with this review considering that this book has now been available for over a year, but honest I didn't receive a review copy until fairly recently. That really is a shame, because I would like to do my best to help with the success of this really handy little book. As a matter of fact I think that copies of this book should be available free of charge to any interested gay man. Making books like this one freely obtainable especially to the sometimes very confused younger generation could save the nation an awful amount of money in the longer run. So, how about it, Tony, can we have this one on the National Health please? Mind you, he'll probably think that pictures suitable for the German populace will only help to further shift the British citizens on the path to Sodom. Yes, please! Dim Sum (Little Pieces of Heart) British Chinese Short Stories Crocus Books, UKP6.95 We all know about minorities, don't we? After all we are being referred to as a minority due to our sexual preferences. Whether you are gay or lesbian or any other deviation from the norm, you are what is commonly known as a minority. And with that word unfortunately comes bigotry and hate. Deplorable as this is, any minority seems to find another to be bigoted and hateful to. So the story about the gay Chinese guy in this book has, quite apart from the quite humorous outer cover, a very deep sense of confusion and desolation. Caught in a circle of obligation, consideration, responsibility, thoughtfulness and duty, he is ridden with bewilderment about why everybody seems to exist purely to make his life difficult. There are lighter moment in this diary style story, but overall he seems a sad person. But it's not all doom and gloom, a few pages on is the British-Chinese equivalent of Adrian Mole, but this one is 15 and a full half year old Huang, who feels himself caught by his domineering and very Chinese father. With hilarious scenes like a daydream with his mother dancing in the Parthenon dressed only in a flimsy wet toga... The mind boggles. This is a celebration of being different. Whether this means being Chinese, Scottish, gay or lesbian is of no consequence. And while we are at it, let's try and not talk down to any minority ourselves, let's try and be instrumental in the demise of bigotry and hate. Skin Deep by John R. Gordon The Gay Men's Press, UKP9.95 The story line in this fine novel carries you along like a very small jockey on a race horse. It is fast, full of the unexpected with more then the usual twist at the end. It centres around the lives of two talented and young black guys, a photographer and an actor. But the photographer is only sexually attracted to white guys, which the other guy sees as a bit of a betrayal to his race. Complications arise when drawn in to their circle are several weird and wonderful characters, such as Clinton (no not that one, this one does inhale) a heterosexual pimp and Louis the photographer's young lover. I liked this one, it's funny, it's gritty, it's erotic and it's downright nasty at times, but what the hell, life isn't a bed of roses. A.L. Martin VIDEOS Lives and Lusts of a He Devil, A Star Is Porn, Hustler White and Man of The Year - Dangerous To Know Al Fresco Volume 2 and Changing Room Exposed - Pride Video Hazy Days Of Summer and Aroused- Zipper It's a hard job reviewing videos. I've asked the producers to stop sending me the videos themselves and just send me some of the actors instead. But will they listen? This issue's lot are a mixed bag. Lives and Lusts of a He Devil provoked a phone call from me to the distributor asking if they were sure they'd sent me the right tape. You don't expect to see stiff cocks, real blow jobs, wanking and buggery in a legal for sale UK film. But, apparently this is certificated 18-R so although it's not for sale in Virgin, you can buy it in Fantasies or order direct from DTK. Silly plot, lots of arty shots but, apart from the lack of visible semen (still a taboo, it seems), the most explicit video around. Also from DTK, A Star Is Porn is a documentary following the making of their previously issued pornoflick Butt Buddies. As with Prowler's similar opus a few months back, I found the pornographers better looking than the actors. Hustler White, directed by Bruce LaBruce, is an American import which will appeal to the collectors of such artifacts. Hit and run foot amputation, hustling, porno film making and the joys of fluffing - all fertile ground for Mr La Bruce's filthy imagination. Man Of The Year, failed to impress. The story of the gay man who became a centrefold star whilst in the closet, this is a documentary which possibly has more resonance on the other side of the pond from whence it came. Al Fresco Vol 2 from Bel Ami forced me to locate the bog roll. Some pleasing Eastern European lads pleasing each other quite a lot without managing to get any hard ons. But your reviewer made up for that! Hazy Days of Summer, is a good example of the high production values of the UK soft porn industry. A day out in the country assembles an interesting melange of types ranging from the gardener to the vicar, from the heir to the un-hairy. All doing not very much but doing it most erotically. Aroused gave an interesting insight into somebody's rather interesting E8 domicile which seemed to be full of young well proportioned sex maniacs with short hair doing it on the bed, in the shower, on the couch, on the stairs, on the kitchen sink, in the sea - sorry, that was a flashback to the holiday in the Algarve. But nae stiffies! Changing Room Exposed was a real let down after all that filth and eroticism. Lots of Candid Camera shots of guys in changing rooms and showers. Yawn. I've had more fun at the local swimming baths with an attendant patrolling! Justin Milne FILM Are there those amongst us who don't know that Oscar Wilde was the most memorable Victorian playwright Britain produced and revivals of his brilliant plays "The Importance Of Being Earnest", "Lady Windermere's Fan" and "An Ideal Husband" never stop happening. Married with two sons, like more than a few Members of Parliament, he became bisexual and a relationship with the good looking Lord Alfred Douglas, known as Bosie to friends, eventually led to a major scandal. Bosie's father, Lord Queensbury, was known as a sadistic bully to his wife and children. When he forbade his son to continue seeing Oscar, threatening to stop Bosie's allowance, knowing the Wilde income would keep him, he laughed in his father's face. "Wilde" (15) is an excellent new movie that follows this period of Oscar's life. It shows bow Bosie took outrageous advantage of the older man's infatuation with him making the playwright pay for the services of male prostitutes whom Lord Alfred fancied. When Queensberry left a card at the Wilde club which said "Posing as a somdomite", Bosie's hatred for his father made him persuade Oscar to take the man to court for defamation of character. To understand the atmosphere of the film you need to know working class Britain had a very hard time compared with today. There was no such thing as social security, poverty was rife, and in London thousands of people of both sexes turned to prostitution to survive. Despite the fact Oscar had given inscribed silver cigarette cases to many young men he denied to his counsel there was any truth in Queensberry's libel. But word reached his barrister that Queensberry was spending fortunes on private detectives to track down the very working class young men Oscar had any association with and was prepared to pay them to give evidence against him in court. In mid trial the first case was abandoned and Wilde was warned that if he didn't leave the country quickly he would be charged with homosexuality. It was 1895 and homosexuality didn't become legal in Britain for adults 'til 1967. Amazingly he chose not to leave the country. France and Italy didn't have the sexual inhibitions of the British and only requested people didn't do it in the streets and frighten the horses. The resulting court case was the scandal of the decade and brought him two years hard labour - which was very hard in prisons of the time. Two previous movies on the subject in the sixties had none of the honesty of this version. Based on a meticulously detailed biography by Richard Ellmann its only failing is in offering no explanations for why Oscar acted so outrageously at the time. At a period when the classes rarely mixed socially he took working class young men in a party of four to West End restaurants frequently and stayed the night with them at the Savoy Hotel. Leaving his wife and sons at their Chelsea home he spent most days writing at rooms he rented in a turning off St. James Street. If his mind had been working rationally he would have employed a manservant to serve lunch or dinner in those rooms to entertain young men of his choice. For it was social madness to parade them in restaurants and hotels. Mr Ellmann's book specifies that Oscar caught syphilis while studying at Oxford in 1878, probably from a female prostitute, which was not curable in this era. The film makes no mention of this - and the fact is it brings about a steady mental and physical degeneration. After leaving prison he never wrote another play spending the last few years of his life in Paris. Generations to come will be able to appreciate the wittiest plays ever written by a man clearly born a hundred years before his time. Channel 4 recently screened some eye opening documentaries about the problems of transsexualism and TV is really the best place for this subject. Unless the French "Ma Vie En Rose" (12) comes your way. Ludovic is a 7 year old boy who wants to be a girl. His parents are embarrassed when he appears at parties wearing a dress. They find it just about impossible to get him to change his ways. People in the district take against him. Only his grandmother sympathises and suggests he lives with her. Britain is so behind sexually in these problems that girls who feel nature has made a major mistake in their sex have to go to Dutch hospitals for treatment in their teens. I cried through most of this film. What is the function today making movies about Japanese cruelties in wartime concentration camps? It is debateable whether it can be called entertainment. But as the Japanese government has never paid compensation to those they starved and tortured, a worth considering theory is making them realize there are vast numbers of people who still remember the forties and won't let millions of others forget barbaric behaviour. "Paradise Road" follows the moving stories of a group of women imprisoned on Sumatra during the Second World War. To help the inmates maintain their sanity, Glenn Close organises a vocal orchestra to sing complex arrangements of classical pieces. The soundtrack from the film has just been released by Sony Classical. But I came away from this picture remembering a scene where, at an assembly of all the prisoners, a woman who had displeased her captors was covered in petrol and burned to death. Fancy visiting Russian gambling casinos in the 1860s to see how the rich frittered their money? You can in "The Gambler" (15), for the writer, Dostoyevsky, was a compulsive gambler. He borrowed 3,000 roubles from an unscrupulous St. Petersburg editor who made a habit of buying up the debts of artists in exchange for the rights to their work. Our writer finds he has to complete a 200 page novel within a month or forfeit all rights to his existing work and anything he writes for the following seven years. Michael Gambon is the struggling writer and it is mostly worth tracking down for the first chance of seeing a stunning young actor called Dominic West who is currently in a few plays at London's Old Vic Theatre with the Peter Hall company. If costume dramas are your scene you will have a very good time. "Face Off" (18) is the movie to track down if you want the most extraordinary action. You won't believe the plot. Suffice to know John Travolta is the inspector determined to bring terrorist Nicholas Cage to justice who has murdered and maimed for years. Its direction by Chinese John Woo, who used to make martial arts films in Hong Kong, is breathtaking. For 139 minutes you'll be mesmerized - particularly If you are under 25. "Welcome To Sarajevo" (15) takes a dramatic look at life in a city under siege and how the foreign media go about reporting the endless troubles in Bosnia. It follows the true story of a journalist who took a starving child back to Britain to adopt. Chiefly memorable for a rare screen appearance by Stephen Dillane - one of the most charismatic new actors we have ever produced - who is well known on stage and TV, but so far, outrageously neglected by the film industry. "Keep The Aspidistra Flying" (15) is a British comedy with great style. Set in the thirties and adapted from a George Orwell novel, it has Richard E. Grant as a successful advertising copy writer who is prepared to give it up for a period of dire poverty while proving himself as a poet. Helena Bonham Carter is his long suffering girlfriend. Their strength of personalities make it great fun. Sally Potter is a very determined writer and director who stars herself in her latest movie "The Tango Lesson" (PG) which is definitely for the film connoisseur. Its Latin American atmosphere enhances a superb and stunning to look at tango dancer, Pablo Veron, making it compulsive viewing for those of us who appreciate the sensuality of this dance. Its shortage of plot (will she or won't she get the fiancé to make a film starring him) is made up for by Miss Potter's original visual style. She had considerable success with her last film "Orlando". This one is far better. Can you imagine Joe Pesci as a tough gangster who has to prove he has assassinated a group of hoodlums by delivering their heads? That is the plot of "8 Heads In A Duffel Bag" (15) which is hilarious in a very sick way. On a plane his bag is mislaid and watching him track it down is an amusing nightmare. At 60 years of age Dyan Cannon looks 25 years younger. And she wears her skirts so short she could have sold advertising space on her knickers. "G.I. Jane" (115) has been a big hit in America with Demi Moore having a very hard time as a naval officer selected to take a back breaking course with the toughest combat unit called the Navy Seals. They put her through most humiliations known to man, woman and beast. Anne Bancroft is impressive as a scheming Senator, and the masculine and magnificent Viggo Mortensen is her tough trainer, by whom I would be very happy to be humiliated. Best Of The Current Releases The Julia Roberts comedy "My Best-Friend's Wedding" (12) has been top box office in America for months which could be because it is the first time onscreen a leading lady has a close friend in a gay man whom she constantly phones for advice. "It surprises me that some women don't realize a gay man has all kinds of advantages as a good or best friend over another woman", says Julia. "He is far less likely to steal your lover or husband. Many gay men have a much more greatly developed sense of humour. Most of our top couture designers of women's clothes are gay and gay men seem to inherit a much more imaginative taste in clothes than women do." In her film Julia plays a successful restaurant reviewer who at college had an affair with the dazzling Dermot Mulroney which, she decided with her career girl aspirations, should change from lovers to "just friends". They vow that if neither has found true love by 28 they will marry each other. A little before that deadline, Dermot phones to say he has proposed to a sensational new girl in his life, whose parents happen to be Chicago millionaires, and invites Julia to the wedding four days ahead. With feminine unpredictability, she tells her gay editor, Rupert Everett, she has suddenly decided she loves him and can't bear the thought of him marrying someone else. She rushes to Chicago phoning Rupert frequently to explain her latest desperate efforts to get her man. Directed with brilliance by Australian P.J. Hogan, who made "Muriel's Wedding" a big hit, it mixes great comedy with high drama. And as Mr Everett was proud to announce awhile ago that offscreen he is gay it is little wonder he grabs every script opportunity to steal the film. Malcolm Epstein ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 alecd@dircon.co.uk Why not join OUTRIGHT SCOTLAND? Membership is UKP15 waged, UKP9 low-waged (under UKP10,000 pa) and UKP5 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. EQUALITY NETWORK: Working for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality in Scotland. Write: c/o 58a Broughton Street, Edinburgh. EH1 1SA. WWW: http://www.diversity.org.uk/equality E-mail: equality@diversity.org.uk 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. 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! SPEAK OUT SCOTLAND: is a new pressure group which aims to protest against cases of homophobia, in and around Scotland, using non-aggressive direct action. Write: 58a Broughton Street, Edinburgh. EH1 3SA or e-mail: speak.out.scotland@drink.demon.co.uk 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: NESGG, 104 Inchbrae Drive, Garthdee, Aberdeen. AB10 7AL. Icebreakers is a social group which meets on 2nd Friday and last Monday of each month. Contact Grampian Switchboard for details. BORDERS: Borders Gay Switchboard operates every Thursday 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 Wednesday. For details of all events: phone Dumfries (01387) 261818 Thursday 7.30-9.30pm or write to Dumfries and Galloway Lesbian and Gay Group, PO Box 1299, Dumfries. DG1 2PD. DUNDEE: Tay Friend, holds regular social meetings for gay men. Write to: Tay Friend, PO Box 182, Dundee. DD1 9UP. Or phone Dundee Switchboard. EDINBURGH: Icebreakers is an alternative to the scene and takes place between 8pm and 9.15pm 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 Moray Switchboard 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 Café, 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. E-mail: phacewest@enterprise.net INVERCLYDE: Inverclyde Gay & Lesbian Group meets every other Wednesday at the Greenock Arts Guild. Crêche facilities are available. Contact Greenock (01475) 745903, daytime, for further info. P.O. Box 9700, Port Glasgow, PA14 5YD. E-mail: inverclydeglg@drink.demon.co.uk INVERNESS: Highland Gay Men's Group meets on the 4th Wednesday of each month at 28 Huntly Street. Phone: 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: Babs Greenwood on Aberdeen (01224) 625010. E-mail: ab.womenscentre@dial.pipex.com 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: Dundee (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 Edinburgh Lesbian Line. Dykes Nytes Out: Social events for couples and singles. Meets 1st, 2nd and 3rd Friday of each month in Café Kudos. Phone Edinburgh Lesbian Line for details. Edinburgh Bisexual Group meets every Thursday at 8pm-9.30pm in the Edinburgh Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Centre, 58a Broughton Street. All welcome. Edinburgh 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. GLASGOW: Glasgow Lesbian Line: 0141-552 3355 Wednesdays 7-10pm. Write to: PO Box 686, Glasgow. G3 7TL enclosing an sae for monthly 'Lavender Listing'. 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/ Jive Classes: Wednesday nights from 7.30-10.30pm. Beginners through to advanced, no need to bring a partner. Phone Glasgow Lesbian Line for venue details. Lesbian Mothers Discussion Group: Meets every second Monday from 6-8pm. Support group, social events, informal chat. Crêche and fares help available. Phone Vicky on 0141-333 1450. Listening Ear: Counselling for lesbians available at the GGLC every Monday 1.30-2.30pm. Phone: 0141-221 7203 for details. Massage and Aromatherapy: Qualified practitioners offer a sliding scale of fees for women on low incomes. Phone Glasgow Lesbian Line for details. OLGA - Older Women's Group: Phone Glasgow Lesbian Line for details. Self Defence and Personal Safety: Personal safety and self defence courses for lesbians are offered by the Women's Safety Centre, Wellpark Women's Business Centre, 120 Sydney Street, Glasgow. Tel: 0141-554 7676. Women's Badminton Group: Meets weekly. Phone Glasgow Lesbian Line for details. Women's Five-a-side Football: Indoor football on Sunday evenings 5-7pm. Mixed ability, new members/visitors welcome. Phone Glasgow Lesbian Line for venue 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. LILLIDOTS: Lesbian Feminist Walking Group. Contact via Dundee Switchboard, Edinburgh Lesbian Line, Glasgow Lesbian Line or Grampian Switchboard. BISEXUALS 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: Edinburgh Bi Helpline on 0131-557 3620. GLASGOW BI GROUP: New group in process of formation. Contact: David Craig, c/o GGLC, 11 Dixon Street, Glasgow. G1 4AL. GLASGOW BI WOMEN'S GROUP: The group has folded, but their web pages linger on! 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. WWW: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/hompepages/GALHA/ E-mail: GALHA@compuserve.com 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. 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. HOLY TRINITY METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCH: An inclusive church of the lesbigay and trangendered community open to all irrespective of sexuality. Services: 1st and3rd Sunday of each month at 6pm in the Quaker Meeting House, Victoria Terrace, Edinburgh and 3rd Sunday of each month at 1pm in the GGLC, 11 Dixon Street, Glasgow. Phone John on 0131-556 1309. Write: Holy Trinity MCC, PO Box 12433, Edinburgh. EH1 3FU. WWW: http://www.geocities.com/westhollywood/8362 or E-mail: mcc.edinburgh@ cheerful.com 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. E-mail: quest@dircon.co.uk 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. GAY ABBA FAN CLUB: For anyone wanting to meet with other guys with a Scandinavian fixation, watch/swap videos, memorabilia or just jam with other Svenskas. Phone: 0141-943 1428. GLASGAY!: Lesbian and gay arts festival. Postponed until 30th Oct - 7th Nov 1998. Write: c/o GGLC, 11 Dixon Street, Glasgow. G1 4AL. 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. WESTERN STARS: Western style line and partner dancing for gays, lesbians and friends of goodwill. Mon evenings, Wee Red Bar, Art College. Phone: 0131-453 3284 for details. DRINK PROBLEMS If you have 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 (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 (STRATHCLYDE): Providing support for those HIV+ and with AIDS in the West of Scotland. Phone: 0141-332 5010. Fax: 0141-332 4285. Centre open at 3 Park Quadrant, Glasgow. G3 6BS. Mon-Fri 10am-5pm. WWW: http://homepages.enterprise.net/bpstrathclyde/ E-mail: bpstrathclyde@enterprise.net 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/ E-mail: office@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. TeleFAX: 0131-558 9060. GLASGOW BARS AIDS WELFARE FUND: Raises funds for various HIV/AIDS projects in the Glasgow area. PO Box 3954, Johnstone. PA5 0WS. E-mail: 106756.701@compuserve.com 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 AND AIDS COUNSELLING: Phone Airdrie (01236) 747960 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm) 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, Edin. 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: phacewest@enterprise.net POSITIVE ACCOMMODATION: Tel: 0141-552 4488. POSITIVE HELP: Practical help for people who are HIV+ or who have AIDS and their families, children, friends and carers. 13 Great King Street, Edinburgh. EH3 6QW. 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/AIDS 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: Freephone 0800 567123. 24 hour service for confidential advice and information. Minicom: 0800 521361 (10am-10pm). Other languages: Arabic 0800 282447 (Thurs 6-10pm), Bengali 0800 371132 (Tues 6-10pm), Cantonese 0800 282446 (Mon 6-10pm), Gujerati 0800 371134 (Wed 6-10pm), Hindi 0800 371136 (Wed 6-10pm), Punjabi 0800 371133 (Wed 6-10pm), Urdu 0800 371135 (Wed 6-10pm) and Welsh 0800 371131 (Daily 10am-2am). (All calls to 0800 numbers are free except from some mobile networks). 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 58a Broughton Street, Edinburgh. EH1 3SA. E-mail: alecd@dircon.co.uk ORDER OF PERPETUAL INDULGENCE (CONVENT OF MORAVIA): Sister Bobby, 2-4 Lamb Street, Bishopmill, Elgin. IV30 2DG. Informal get together every Monday. Contact Moray Switchboard for details. OUTDOOR CLUBS DUNDEE HILLBILLIES: New hillwalking group mets 2nd and 3rd Sundays of the month. Contact: Derek on Aberlemno (01307) 830428. GAY OUTDOOR CLUB: Holds regular events including walking, cycling, mountaineering, camping, youth-hostelling, badminton and swimming. Please send an A5 s.a.e. to GOC, PO Box 16124, Glasgow, G12 9YT, or ring one of the Scottish contacts: East: Grant on 0131-556 8705, West: Jonathan on 0141-334 0812; North: Michael on Inverness (01463) 230651. Website: http://bi.org/~goc GAY RAMBLING GROUP: Walks on the 2nd Saturday of each month. Phone Ross on 0141-427 1511. OVER FORTIES PHŒNIX: The only national group for the over forties and friends of any age. Write (enclose sae) to: Phœnix, 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. PARENTS' SUPPORT: Support for parents of lesbians, gays and bisexuals. Phone: Alice on Lanark (01555) 895306. SCOTTISH PARENTS ENQUIRY SERVICE: Support for parents of lesbians gays and bisexuals. Contact via Lothian Switchboard or write to SPE, PO Box 169, Edinburgh. EH1 3UU. POLITICAL DELGA: Liberal Democrats for Lesbian and Gay Action - write to 4 Cowley Street, London. SW1P 3NB or E-mail archdruid@cix.compulink.co.uk WWW: http://www.libdems.org.uk/people/aos/delga 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. WWW: http://www.libparty.demon.co.uk/ 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 Stonewall Café 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 SM GAYS: Write to SM Gays, BM SM Gays, London. WC1N 3XX. E-mail: smgays@aol.com SPORTS ABERDEEN GAY MEN'S SWIMMING GROUP: Swim every Wednesday: Phone: David on Aberdeen (01224) 317552. EDINBURGH GAY MEN'S RUNNING CLUB: Meets for 3-4 mile casual local run. Alistair on 0131-661 0008. EDINBURGH GAY MEN'S SWIMMING GROUP: Meets informally Mondays at 8pm in the Commonwealth Pool. Phone: Tom on 0131-229 5755. GAY BODYBUILDERS/WEIGHTRAINERS CLUB: Contact Winston Duncan on 0171-379 3480 for contact with Scottish members and nationally. GAY HIGHLAND SPORTS GROUP: Contact Brian on Inverness (01463) 237138. Badminton, 10-pin bowling, swimming. Welcomes visitors to the area. 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 BADMINTON GROUP: Meets Wednesdays 6.30-9.30pm, during term-time, in the games hall at Knightswood Secondary School, Knightswood Road. Contact: Andrew on 0141-576 6875. GLASGOW SWIMMING GROUP: Meets Thursdays at 8pm, during term-time, in the pool at Woodside Secondary School, Berkeley Street. Contact: Derek on Stirling (01786) 475897. LESBIAN & GAY FOOTBALL SUPPORTERS NETWORK: Phone: Ewan on 0141-779 2321. 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: on 0141-554 7159. TV/TS ABERDEEN: Crossdressing Group. Contact Grampian 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: Crosslynx Helpline on 0141-332 3333 Mon 7.30-9.30pm. 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 or 0141-353 3595. 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 GLASGOW CITY LESBIAN & GAY GROUP: Meets monthly on Payday Tuesday in the GGLC 6pm. Phone: Neil MacInnes 0958 754315. 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. UNISON WEST NETWORK: For UNISON members in the West of Scotland. Meets Quarterly. Phone: Neil MacInnes 0958 754315. 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 GLASGOW LESBIAN AND BISEXUAL YOUTH GROUP: Youth group for women aged 21 and under. Meets fortnightly on Monday evenings. Contact Jai or Lyndsay at Glasgow Lesbian Line for details of venue. 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. SONS AND DAUGHTERS CLUB: A new group for the sons and daughters of lesbian, gay and bisexual parents enables these children to mix with each other in a social environment. Activities include outings to fairgrounds, cinema an shows, etc. Phone Strathclyde Switchboard for details. STIRLING YOUTH GROUP: Details from Forth Friend on Stirling (01786) 471285 Mon 7.30-10pm. STONEWALL YOUTH GROUP: Group for lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgendered people aged 14-18 in the Lothians. Meets every Friday 7-9.30pm. Phone: 0131-556 4040 (Tue 7.30-9pm) or E-mail: edyouth@cableinet.co.uk STONEWALL FRIENDS: Friendly, fun, informal social group for gays, lesbians and bisexuals (18-26) in the Lothians. 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 GAY AND BISEXUAL 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. WWW: http://bigles.ml.org/ E-mail: info@bigles.ml.org ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- SWITCHBOARDS AND HELPLINES ========================== BORDERS GAY SWITCHBOARD: Thurs 7.30-10pm Phone: Galashiels (01896) 756611 CROSSLYNX HELPLINE: Mon 7.30-9.30pm Phone: 0141-332 3333 DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY L&G PHONELINE: Thurs 7.30-9.30pm Phone: Dumfries (01387) 261818 DUNDEE LGB SWITCHBOARD: Mon 7-10pm Phone: Dundee (01382) 202620 EDINBURGH BI HELPLINE: Thurs 7.30-9.30pm Phone: 0131-557 3620 EDINBURGH LESBIAN LINE: Mon, Thurs 7.30-10pm Phone: 0131-557 0751 FIFE FRIEND: Fri 7.30-10pm 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 7-10pm Women: Thu 7-10pm 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. Dizzy featuring Luvain - Destino (Tevendale's Tunnel Dub) (EastWest) 2. Curve - Chinese Burn (Forbidden City Remix) (Universal) 3. Jimmy Ray - Are You Jimmy Ray? (The Lisa Marie Dub Sequential / John '00' Fleming Pumping Club Mix) (Sony) 4. Uplift - Dark Forces (Uplift Mix) (South of Sanity) 5. Cupid Stunt - That's It! (Todd's Mix) (CrossTrax) 6. Westbam - Sonic Empire (3 In 1 Mix) (Low Spirit) 7. Gamma Loop - X-Ray Eyes (Ugly Bug) 8. Zanzibar - Platinum (Whoop!) 9. Brittany - Mont Blanc (Original Mix / Mistral Mix) (Heat) 10. Melonhaus - Assetstripper / Screwbassdriver (Bomba) 11. Fix To Fax - Down You (Deal) 12. Wosh - Power To Groove (Natural Bom Grooves Remix) (Heat) 13. Ispirazione - Release It (XVX) 14. Backstage Works - Let There Be Light (Jon The Dentist Mix / Chris Liberator Mix) (Phoenix Uprising) 15. DDR & Choci - Valhalla (VCF) 16. Capricorn - 20Hz (Nalin & Kane Mix) (R & S) 17. United DJs Of Utrecht - Rough & Revamped EP: DC Chant - Cindela (Flipped Fantasia) 18. Beat Foundation - Foundations '97 (SkinnyMalinky) 19. Madely - Tour De France (Jon The Dentist's Mix) (Bosca Beats) 20. DJ Dero - The Horn (Manifesto) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ SCOTSDYKE ========= DYKE'S DIARY Well, what a busy time I have had over the past two weeks after my move to Edinburgh, which was very hectic and stressful. I decided a few days away were called for so my better half and I went for a few days away in Blackpool and what a time we had! Steve & Bob from Lancaster House, our guesthouse, made us feel really welcome and we didn't have to get up at 8am for breakfast as you do in a lot of B&Bs! Our room was lovely, with a double and single bed so if your partner snores just kick them into the other bed. After settling in we went for a look around, had something to eat and headed back for an early night. Next night we went to Flamingo's, the gay club of Blackpool. It has four floors, live entertainment and dancers. It costs between UKP2 and UKP6 to get in depending on what night you go, but most B&Bs have concessions (so pick them up). We also visited the Cow Bar, a roomy pub with pool room and very colourful walls (yellow & purple?). On our last night we went to Forbidden Fruit, a small and exclusive restaurant. The food was delicious and the prices very reasonable, but book your table as they can get very busy. After a walk down the Golden Mile we were ready for bed and the long journey home in the morning. When I got back I had a few days to settle in and then headed for the Edinburgh Lesbian Mothers Group. It was my first time and I was quite nervous as I had not been to anything like it before, and what a surprise! I was made to feel very welcome and they have a crêche for the kids. It was fun and lively and everyone chatted like old friends. I was surprised at how fast time slipped away, so we arranged our next meeting and home we went. I thought a night out at CC's would be good to finish off the week - the place was mobbed and you could hardly get to the bar never mind dance, so it was home to bed (after a pizza) to think about my busy and fun-filled week. I think I'm going to enjoy living here. Bye for now, Heather PS. If any of you gals out there would like me to cover something specific, do let me know at: ScotsDyke c/o ScotsGay PO Box 666 Edinburgh EH7 5YW DYKEBOOKS Sweet Bitter Love by Rita Schiano Rising Tide Press This romantic novel is about Jenny Ceretti who, while sitting in the coffee house, comes across a woman watching her. Over the summer, Jenny occasionally sees her in the village until one day she introduces herself as Susan, a high flying executive and married (but trying to end the marriage). Jenny befriends her and soon learns that there is more to Susan than meets the eye. These two women have a chemistry which could explode at any minute. This is a debut novel by Rita Schiano - passionate, courageous and dramatic - definitely a name to remember. When's the next book out? Dream Lover by Jane Futcher Alyson Publications This is the classic tale of falling for an old flame but with an exciting twist. Kate is a lesbian artist, who twenty years ago had a very brief affair with Ellie, now a married mother who is used to getting her own way. When Kate receives a phone call from Ellie her mind is awash with feelings she had all those years ago at school. After finally agreeing to meet Ellie, Kate finds that her feeling haven't changed but that bot their lives have in so many different ways. Will their romance blossom again in this steamy novel of longing and betrayal? Feathering Your Nest by Gwen Leonhard and Jennie Mast Rising Tide Press This is an interactive workbook and guide to a loving relationships. It has exercises for you and your partner to do and gives you a key to looking at problem solving, creating a family as well as loads of other interesting things that you wouldn't even think of to spice up your relationship. A handy and helpful book of good ideas. Final Take by Jackie Manthorne Gynergy Books, UKP6.99 This Harriet Hubbley mystery takes Harry to San Francisco with three friends to stay with Fran, one of the friends' sisters. At first harry doesn't want to go as she doesn't feel up to having just split from her long-term lover. On her first night there was a complete stranger touching her up - a stranger who turns out to be Raven, a girl half her age, and as they grow closer Fran is murdered. Raven, who is Fran's ex along with Moira are the prime suspects, as between them they stand to inherit Fran's house. Harry doesn't want to believe that Raven could do a thing like that - or could she? This is a mystery story with lots of twists and turns - a good bedtime book. The Second Coming edited by Pat Califia & Robin Sweeny Alyson Publications The sequel to Coming To Power, this is a lesbian S/M book full of short stories, poems and photographs from over fifty writers and artists. It is a stimulating and provocative book of both domination and submission. A passionate and erotic read that you won't want to put down. Ferrari Guides Women's Travel In Your Pocket 16th and 17th Editions These are worldwide travel guides full of accommodation, nightlife, tours and outdoor adventures. Mainly concentrated on the USA, but also with up-to-date information on British towns and cities. If you have a travel bug they are quite handy to have and are small enough to carry around easily. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CREDITS ======= ScotsGay: a bi-monthly magazine for lesbians, gays and bisexuals edited, printed and published in Scotland. ISSN: 1357-0595. (c) Pageprint Publishing Limited, October 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: Ian Dunn (News), Garry Otton & Derek Ogg (Features), Liquid Silk, Iain, Minerva, Calmac & Gus (Scene), Rex Wockner (International), John, Dirk & Andy (Books), Justin Milne (Videos), Malcolm Epstien (Film), 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. END