SCOTSGAY MAGAZINE ================= ScotsGay is a bi-monthly magazine for lesbians, gay men and bisexuals. Edited, printed and published in Scotland Issue 19 - December 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 - foaming beef sandwich News - reports & investigations Media Monitor - our Otton reads the rags... Otton On... - ...then Lords it in the Isles Ogg's View - through the back door? Letters - Readers' Views Inside Out - the total scene guide Venues - what and where Scene - gossip from everywhere Boxes - the ScotsGay Meet Market International - '97 world news round-up Reviews - books & films Listings & Helplines - checked and updated every issue Music - Joy DJ Alan's latest chart ScotsDyke - a dyke's diatribe EDITORIAL ========= Oh well, that's another year of our lives been and gone... Here, at ScotsGay, that means that we're entering our fourth year of publication. Not bad for a magazine run on a shoestring with a staff of volunteers. Even though our print run continues to grow, there are very few copies (if any) of ScotsGay left at the end of each month - unlike a certain other tree wasting publication. And our web site at http://www.scotsgay.co.uk/ has increased in popularity with Internet users throughout the world. HIV/AIDS continues to affect many of us both as PWAs and as friends of PWAs. Sadly, the new treatments aren't working as well as we'd all hoped - but it seems that a possible vaccine may be on the way. Slow progress - but it's not for want of trying. That's in contrast to the New Labour government (which so many people thought would be an improvement on the last lot) but seems to have a Mission to Disappoint. Lesbigay Equality is still to arrive - in fact, it hasn't even set out on its journey. It's notable that our new out gay MPs have all been eager to support New Labour's efforts to penalise the children of single parents. Personally, I think parenthood should be discouraged, however you can't do that by taking it out on their kids with benefit cuts. And whilst we wait for what we really, really want, we see that New Labour isn't slow when it comes to making sure that we're not allowed to hurt ourselves (as long as it doesn't affect donations to the party or tax revenue). I can smoke myself to death, but I'm not allowed to buy soup bones from my local butcher any more. How the hell can I make Hough Soup without some decent beef marrow bones? Oh well, that's me back to being a criminal again - it's lucky I know a few bent butchers! John Hein ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- NEWS ==== WHO WANTS A HEP B XMAS? Greater Glasgow Health Board has launched a major campaign in co-operation with Phace West to warn gay and bisexual men in Glasgow about the dangers associated with unprotected sex. A number of new cases of Hepatitis B among men who have sex with other men have recently come to light. As a result, the Health Board have begun an awareness raising campaign to encourage men to be vaccinated. Dr Laurence Gruer, Consultant in Public Health at the Board said: "These new cases of Hepatitis B are largely due to unprotected sex involving gay and bisexual men. The festive season is often a time of parties and alcohol, which can lead to more sexual encounters. The risk of contracting Hepatitis B as well as HIV, can be avoided by adopting safer sex practices and by using condoms. "Hepatitis B infection can be very serious and difficult to treat. It may lead to lifelong infection, liver failure or very occasionally death. A safe and effective vaccine offers excellent protection. "Some men are not aware of the dangers of transmission of the infection, while others may be reluctant to come forward for vaccination. A range of services in Greater Glasgow provide a simple test to identify if you have come in contact with the infection and can offer the vaccination free of charge. We hope to encourage men that it is in their best interest to come forward." Previous studies have shown that 18% of gay men tested for Hepatitis B in Glasgow show evidence of infection. Three new cases have been identified in a single week suggesting that the risk of Hepatitis B is on the increase among this group. A confidential helpline has been set up to provide information of the clinics available and to deal with other concerns. The number is Freephone 0800 224488. Vaccination is provided by the Steve Retson Project in the Glasgow Gay and Lesbian Centre as well as at Glasgow Royal Infirmary and the Southern General Hospital. OUTRIGHT STRUGGLES ON OUTRIGHT Scotland has set its priorities for 1998 with a new awareness that the Labour Government is no true friend of the lesbian and gay community. As soon as resources will allow, OUTRIGHT plans to employ a paid assistant secretary to work from offices in Broughton Street, Edinburgh. The main focus of the campaign will be to lobby for improvements to the Scotland Bill (published on December 18th) and to ensure that OUTRIGHT liaises with other groups who face discrimination. Over the next two years, making sense of how the Scottish Parliament will work for ordinary people, is a priority. Both OUTRIGHT and Stonewall have published complementary "Equality 2000" charters. The two organisations will be co-operating closely on this campaign. OUTRIGHT has also (along with Lothian Switchboard and Gay Men's Outreach) held an important meeting with Assistant Chief Constable Tom Wood, Gay Liaison Officer Chief Inspector Stuart Taylor and Gayfield Station's Superintendent Jim Taylor (no relation!) with a view to implementing the recent Home Office Policing Lesbian and Gay Communities Guidelines. These guidelines only cover England and Wales at present. The Unison Scotland sponsored Police Conference on 6th March will be the next stage to take matters forward. Ian Dunn CRUISING A new gay publication is to be launched in Scotland early next year, we can exclusively reveal. Entitled CRUISE, it will be a monthly freesheet which aims to succeed in this competitive market which currently consists of ScotsGay, Pulse and Gay Scotland. Behind the title is Gordon Gosnell, who earlier this year sold off Pulse to Stuart Hammond. Gordon told ScotsGay, "Having seen some other tabloid efforts, I think that the lgb community in Scotland still has need of a community based publication which tries to give its readers what they want and not what they're told they want! Although Cruise is going to be a newsprint style publication, it will be of much better quality than other titles that sit around in unwanted piles." CLOUDS AGENCY Mark McLeod receives a goodwill gift at the launch of his new accommodation agency. Clouds, based on an idea from Sydney, Down Under, is a "dating agency for accommodation", where gay, gay-friendly and straight people are matched up for the ideal flat-share. DUMFRIES WITCH HUNT Local gay campaigners in Dumfries are bracing themselves for a new witch hunt being conducted by Dumfries and Galloway police against men allegedly having under age liaisons in public sex environments. Already, at least two men have appeared in court charged with 'homosexual acts' involving 13 year old males. And several cases have been reported involving men from Dumfries allegedly having sex with a 13 year old in nearby Cumbria. In Dumfries, John T Thomson (a serving police constable with the local force) has been accused of having sex in the town's Dock Park toilets whilst Stephen McRobert is alleged to have committed a similar offence at the swimming pool sauna at Greensands. Both men recently appeared at Dumfries Sheriff Court where their cases were Continued Without Plea until dates in the New Year. It's not clear if the same 13 year old is involved, but already parallels are being drawn with Central Scotland Police's agent provocateur techniques which recently led to suicides and gaol sentences of gay men in Stirling. According to OUTRIGHT Scotland's Convenor Ian Dunn, "Sexual acts involving young men under 16 pose a particularly difficult problem in areas where there are no facilities for gay youth and it's far to simplistic for people to wag their fingers at men who are only doing their best to make their way into the gay world". OUTRIGHT's meetings with Stirling Council are currently stalled until outstanding cases are dealt with by the courts. FIFE Fife Men are intending to apply for further funding from Fife Health Board to expand their project. INTRO A new Scottish introduction agency for gay men and lesbians have been launched from Glasgow by Liz-Anne Campbell who promises confidentiality and discretion to her clients. BPS Body Positive Strathclyde's Xmas Party will be on Saturday 20th December whilst their HIV Update seminar is now scheduled for 2pm on 16th January (with a free buffet!). TASK FORCE Gay Men's Task Force has been launched in Glasgow to spread the message of Safer Sex. Costing over UKP120,000, the six month initiative involves a Freephone helpline, a community based health service operating from the GGLC and a peer education force. 1 IN 3 Only one in three calls received by Lothian Gay and Lesbian Switchboard can be dealt with due to lack of resources and the Switchboard is appealing for funds. UNHEALTHY Healthy Gay Scotland, the national HIV prevention campaign funded by a grant of UKP136,000 from the government has attracted criticism from all sides of the community for lack of mass appeal and failure to consult with young people. SNUB Unison's Lesbian and Gay Conference in Bradford has snubbed bisexuals by rejecting Edinburgh Health Care's motion 'Including Bisexuals'. Their next conference is to be held in Glasgow in 1998. CONTRACTS Stonewall Youth Project, the lesbian, gay and bisexual youth group for Edinburgh, the Lothians and beyond, put on a musical for World AIDS Day. BOGGING Police in Edinburgh are paying special attention to public toilets in Nicolson Square and Hope Park Terrace. EDINBURGH Out Of The Blue is a new 500 sq. ft. shop opened on World AIDS Day under the successful Blue Moon Café. It's one of the largest venues of its kind in the UK and is open 7 days a week selling magazine, books, videos, gifts and clothing. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- OTTON'S SCOTTISH MEDIA MONITOR ============================== Once again, that tired old fart, Tom "I'm not homophobic, but..."" Brown has been scratching his quill across the pages of the century old Daily Record. "I know it's risking the tired old accusation of homophobia..." he wheezes. But "PRIVATE LIVES SHOULDN'T BE PUBLIC." (He means our lives, of course). "...There's a difference between tolerance and actively promoting it." (What, in the same way the Daily Record promotes heterosexism)? "While we've now got to accept homosexuality..." the old duffer sniffs, "flaunting homosexuality and setting it up as a model of acceptable public behaviour is something, I believe, most people are uncomfortable with. Yet is happening." Sorry, Tom, old boy - stiff upper lip and all that - but sharing your wank-fodder fantasy of sex with an older woman - "especially if she wore black stockings" - in a previous column, wasn't exactly kosher, either, now was it? Then the old tosser declares: "Dorian (Chris Smith MP's boyf). tells cosily how they cook dinner for each other... What are we to make of this muddled message the government are sending?" I don't know. That they cook for each other...? +++ There's just no stopping her. Old Mother Burnie, the Daily Record's own quack counsellor claims she heard from an army recruit who caught his wife kissing a female, it brought back too many painful memories of his own mother's gay relationship. "I put my arm through a glass door, which was just as well, because it stopped me from thumping them both." Charming! And to add insult to injury, here's Mother Burnie's assumptions: "I'd apologise to your wife as soon as possible. Explain why you went up in a blue light and then try to accept that you misinterpreted something which was wholly innocent." And if it wasn't? Then she goes and drops this little clanger: "Counselling... makes those who do it feel more important." Now, I recall, at the height of her tabloid's notorious "Pervert Watch" campaign they begged readers to call in and talk to a trained counsellor about sexual abuse. It led to a number of sensationalist pædophile specials and the imposition of an 18 year sentence on a gay man. Its leader gasped: "Some of our readers' experiences were so shocking that even our own trained counsellor needed counselling herself." Now the cheeky witch dares to breath down the nose of her editor, Terry Quinn to declare counselling: "...one of the most, sickening self-indulgent exercises ever. As if anyone's second-hand, brush with tragedy can be compared to the real thing." And finally, don't you think a gay man seeking emotional commitment from a married man is complicated enough without bulldozing in with useless observations like: "It's wrong to have an affair with a married man." You don't say, Blanche! +++ Well done, St David's Catholic High School in Dalkeith! Don't let the Pecksniffian morality of the Daily Record deter you from addressing this important subject to kids in their own language. Adrian Meehan, "teacher's shock lesson" began when he "ordered kids: Fill your jotters with *@!^*! words..." Enter "outraged mum" who is shown cuddling poor 12-year-old Donna who was removed from the school. The teacher had apparently "asked the class for words to describe sex and people's private parts. The kids shouted out a list of mostly obscene terms." +++ There was another rush up the crinolene of the Scottish Daily Mail at the suggestion of an exhibition of erotica "targeting" the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre in Glasgow. Apparently, the "sex festival" has been "condemned as an indecent proposal." But just look who they dug up to do the condemning! Their search engines must have gone into overdrive keywording the length and breadth of Scotland for all the bigots, rent-a-gobs and pursed-lipped prudes they could find. Starting with one half of the comedy duo, Wallace & Connelly, Father Tom Connelly of the Catholic Church spluttered: "The motto of the city is "Let Glasgow flourish by the praising of God's name and the preaching of his word." Erotica has no place in that." (He should hear a guy cum! Christ! Oh, my God! Jeeesus)! Next was Gordon Murray, the Scottish manager of that iffy org. Christian Action Research and Education who reckons "his group would campaign against any move to hold the exhibition in Scotland," observing, with much sucking in of cheek, that there'd been "a lowering of standards over the years." The Rev David Anderson, general secretary of the Evangelical Alliance in Scotland frothed: "...it is going back to an uncivilised state of savagery where people do what they want regardless of the harm they do to other people and themselves. Christians generally will be alarmed at this move." Eddie Lyall, Scottish director of Youth for Christ, lined up to bark with astonishing ignorance: "Escalating levels of pregnancy among under-16s can only be attributed to the creation of a climate which says Yes to whatever comes naturally without mature reflection." Tell that to the Dutch who boast teenage pregnancy rates seven times lower than Scotland's. Even Ali Syed, chairman of the Pakstani Media Relations Committee had to sidle into the pen: "These people are just capitalising on human weakness and human frailty." In an extraordinary display of unbalanced reporting, the Scottish Daily Mail gave Erotica chairman, David Wiseman only a few lines to respond. Now... If they had asked me, I would have "recommended the exhibition to school parties." And offered Messrs. Murray, Anderson, Lyle, Syed, Wallace & Connelly a simple message: "You don't like it? Then butt out." But no. They couldn't leave the subject alone. "...the biggest sex shop in Europe for three days..!" they shrieked in another edition. "Red faces at sex shop show of 'depravity.'" Uncle Tom Connelly dusted himself down for another airing: "We have enough problems in this city without importing this depravity." Get the royal "we!" They even managed to find a Glasgow Tory councillor, a John Young, who espoused: "A large section of the population will find this totally offensive but, given the track record of the Labour administration here, they will probably find a way of giving it a grant." Given Scotland's shocking record of teenage pregnancies I sincerely hope they do! +++ Prize for most ridiculous of religionists has to go to the Wee Frees. In their latest magazine the Rev Neil Ross thought playing Candle In The Wind at Diana's funeral was "offensive... The song was sung by a singer whose immorality is public knowledge." +++ For full-on, man-on-man contact under the guise of football, goal-scoring euphoria, well done the "first with the action" Sunday Mail, delivering yet another pic of Rangers' Paul "Gazza" Gascoigne "kissing team-mate Rino Gatusso after bagging two goals in Rangers' 7-0 win over Dunfermline." This was no idle peck, either. Gazza, who crys, snogs and pulls the pants off anyone he fancies, was right down the throat of Rino. And who wouldn't? The Daily Record can't fathom it. "Poor old Gazza must be losing his grip. He was out with Sheryl at the weekend but who did he decide to hug - Rangers pal Alan McLaren..! No, Gazza.. hug Shezza," they implored. And while he was doing this, estranged wife Shezza had her arms round Jan McLaren! Nice one, sisters! +++ Wayne Simpson opened a whole can of worms when, after discovering he was HIV positive, he wanted his lover, Stella Nelson charged for passing the virus on to him. Why is it that individual responsibility for safer sex seems to be lost on so many straights? It wasn't long before Scottish editions of The Sun declared "AIDS-FIGHT WAYNE IS A ROBBER AND WIFE BEATHER" and "needles claim denied." Sure, he was no angel. "Simpson was first arrested for stealing five sacks of letters from the mail train at Edinburgh's Haymarket Station.., was caged for ten months after beating up his wife, her man friend AND her dad Thomas in a busy shopping centre..." and was jailed for stealing a car. The implication was, that HIV was sent as some sort of retribution. The Sunday Mail went one step further with its exclusive and turned on his girlfriend, Stella. They blamed her for administering the "KISS OF DEATH. ...Yesterday it was revealed that Stella, 32, has had a string of lovers." And "...in an amazing twist Wayne last night claimed he still LOVES her." Why not? That was a tactless headline worthy only of a sister of the Daily Record: "I still love girl who gave me AIDS," he said. Wayne expected to be told she was HIV positive and told the Sunday Mail: "I just want her to stand up to her responsibility..." The pot calling the kettle black, don't you think? The tabloid tragically reported how: "Her kids are being taunted in the street and Stella hardly goes over the door." +++ A reduction in the age of consent shouldn't really be at all painful should it? Not when Scottish editions of The Sun are crowing on about the "amazing love tangle of Scotland's youngest father." With three kids and eight girlfriends, there is no reneging on his responsibilities when, without mincing their words they declare him: "A dad at 13; a rat at 15." +++ Following the National Union of Journalist's Gay/Lesbian and Bisexual Seminar (held in London in October and backed by both the president and vice-president of the Union) the extent to which human rights campaigner, Peter Tatchell was gagged by the media has now been printed in The Journalist. Also, the NUJ's Equality officer, Ann Coltart is responding to Scottish newspapers who are refusing personal ads on the grounds of sexual orientation. They include a whole host of newspapers, both big and small, from our old friend the Daily Record, (Mirror Group Newspapers) to the likes of the Hamilton Advertiser (Scottish & Universal Newspapers) and the Scottish Supermart. Despite her plea that Scottish newspapers imposing censorship on gays, lesbians, bisexuals and people of transgender, by forcing us to describe ourselves as "just friends" in columns of personal ads is just as unacceptable, Glasgow's The Herald printed her letter. (c) Garry Otton 1997 E-mail: garryotton@aol.com http://members.aol.com/garryotton/scotmed.html ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- RUM GOINGS ON ============= On the lonely Scottish island of Rum, I stumbled on George Bullough, an absolutely loaded S&M queen who managed his own football team from a castle he built out of pink rock at the turn of the century. Own up... What pea-brained, half-wit scheduled the Caledonian MacBrayne ferry, MV Lochmar to leave Mallaig for the isle of Rum at five in the morning? Five! Some of us haven't even pulled by that time. I was standing on the quayside with a group from the Gay Outdoor Club, waiting for my rucksack to be winched on board. We huddled together in the drizzle watching some gulls fighting over a bag of chips. After months of planning, we were finally off to an island the Victorians stuck an 'h' in, because they thought it sounded too much like an alcoholic tipple. The ferry, MV Lochmar gets as close to the island as it can before it's "all change" to a smaller tender, the Rhouma. Then, on a day like this, it's one mad dash to light a fire in a bothy, or, if you're really up shit-creek: pitch a tent. It was months ago, probably under some other less provoking pseudonym, a written request to stay on the island was made to the rather worthy organisation that runs the joint: Scottish Natural Heritage. We clearly wanted to impress its region chair, Sir John Lister-Kaye that we could be trusted to burn our perishables, crush our cans and take our bottles home with us. A bearded Scottish Natural Heritage official was halfway through reading the Riot Act before he was interrupted by the snorts and grunts of me heaving myself up the side of the quay. I was thrust a copy of Rum's answer to The List, a crumpled bit of A4 that had got stuck in the photo-copier and warned where not to visit. This included a whole section of the island for the exclusive use of a few scientists watching a couple of thousand Red Deer enjoying rampant sex. Under the heading: Shopping Facilities, I'm strangely drawn to Kinloch, Rum's capital city. Just a shop and a telephone box, already vandalised by a bird who had thoughtlessly built a nest in the corner. Otherwise, no-one had left graffiti, smashed the glass or even pissed in it. The very next day, the sun was shining. Holding my map upside down, I set my sights on a particularly tempting stretch of sandy beach. The only one on the island awarded, by the AA Road Atlas, the distinctive accolade of being marked in yellow. My endeavours were soon interrupted by a finger-wagging, sabre-toothed professor from Cambridge University. Feeling like I'd been caught in First Class with an Economy ticket, she escorted me in her Land Rover back to Kinloch. A decent enough, old bird, though. Been on the island for years. Knew all the Red Deer by name. Rattled on about the hormonal controls of breeding behaviour and the antler cycle in stags. Investigating the effects of population density on reproduction and social behaviour. Enlightened by recent studies of homosexuality in animals, I quizzed her on the extent of gay Red Deer in the herd. The Land Rover screeched to a halt by a crumbling bridge, leaving me to mull over my question on the last stretch back. I should hardly have been surprised. It wasn't so long since I'd been thrown out of a monastery at Fort Augustus for asking an abbot how many gay monks he had staying there. What is it with the 'g' word? With cheeks as red as Friar Tuck's, he insisted there was never anything like that going on in this monastery. (Yeah.., right)! I giggled a bit; tugged his robe, winked and confided in him that I reckoned it was rampant. My arse was out of that neo-gothic entrance hall so fast! But I digress... On the way back to Kinloch, I stopped off at the shop, just in time to overhear a bit of gossip on the imminent arrival of a boat full of American tourists. The Rouma was already preparing to bring them ashore. I ran down to the water's edge. I could have saved my breath. Stumbling up the beach in unsuitable shoes, despite all her assurances, Mary-Lou was in no fit state to take in the tour of Kinloch Castle. Last night's pigeon hadn't agreed with her and jet-lag was kicking in. "Why didn't you just stay on the boat, Mary-Lou?" friend Pearl hinted sharply. Mary-Lou was determined to join the Oregon Ladies for tiffin. "It's only sea-sickness. I just need some fresh air." But Pearl's volley of ammunition had not been spent. "Weeell, y'know, Mary-Lou, I'm shure it was the pigeon. No-one else is sea-sick. You're the only one who ate the pigeon." I was somehow swept up in it all, and before I knew where I was, standing in the grand hall of Kinloch Castle. Apart from overhearing one of the party whinge about uninvited "guests" tagging on, it was the perfect cover for an unscheduled tour of the castle followed by a nice little line in cocktails, served up in the ballroom. George Bullough inherited the island from his father, John, an industrialist from the north-west of England one of the top ten wealthy landowners in the country. George promptly shipped in half a million tons of soil and built the camp Kinloch Castle out of pink rock from Arran. A staff of over one hundred servants and their families tended his every need. There are only 21 inhabitants left now, and 2 pupils attending the local school. George managed Rum's own football team and even had a cache of hunky Edwardian "Scudders" attending heated ponds of giant turtles. The Sumarai wrestlers on the antique coffee table gave him away. That, a painting of the Boy Galloper, and a huge portrait of Queen James VI of Scotland hanging on the faded silk wall-coverings. There are so many clues to the sexual proclivities of its former owner, not even the Scottish Natural Heritage guide was likely to sweep it under the threadbare carpet. The guide, Clive Hollingsworth's patter was trimmed and cut for every audience. The Americans were treated to some reflections on the English that a coach party from Cheam would have been spared. All I had to do was mutter "gee" and guffaw loudly at every well-rehearsed crack. George was a queen so minted he was able to put in higher bids than the Emperor of Japan for the bric-a-brac on show. A rather large woman in ribbed slacks said it sent a shiver down her spine. Everyone agreed. There is something eerie about a place where its former owners have abandoned it in the twenties, leaving everything just as it was. There was a faded opulance. The curtains hang, holed and tattered across the French windows. The wallpaper is peeling around the dusty antiques and springs hang from beneath a rotting chaise-longue. We are going to take a quick look at his big organ, kept under the stairs. My interest is aroused. We are bustled into a hallway leaving Mary-Lou comfortably snoring in an antique chair. On the way, Clive the guide drops a hint that George was no ordinary married man. I was wondering how long it would take before the veneer of respectability would start curling up at the edges. Not that I needed any further convincing. The man was a card carrying Friend of Dorothy and no mistake! His wild parties must have been the talk of the western hemisphere. The audience gasped. Under the creaking staircase an Imhof & Mukle Orchestrion was stirring into life. Soon, the whole island would shake to the sound of a heaving barrel organ. On to the bedrooms. Lady Monica had her own, of course. I noticed someone had shined George's boots in the grate, as though waiting for him to return from hunting. George's four-poster bed stood against the wall. Was it rope-burn or teeth-marks carved into the bedpost, I wondered. And how many of the "Rum Rangers" had George brought up here to see his yacht moored out in the bay? What would they have made of the showers? This was something Mira couldn't achieve in her wildest dreams. A huge Victorian contraption that wrapped your whole body in small jets of warm water, including a few carefully aimed at where the sun doesn't shine. "Was he gay? Did his wife know? Who came to the parties?" My questions were left hanging in the air before Clive marched out of the bathroom at breakneck speed to the library. The guide was preparing for his piece de resistance, a photograph George had taken on holiday. The last word in holiday snaps. An execution. On his travels in China he found families prepared to accept payment for the life of a member of their family. The unlucky victims knelt with the barrel of a gun pressed against their heads. Everyone took a quick look before shuffling out along the corridor to the ballroom. Clive teased everybody with the fact that "pornography" was also kept in the library, but when I questioned him further he couldn't remember where it was. He just turned on his heel and followed the Americans, his face beaming as he launched back into his script. "This early sprung-floored ballroom was laid in 1900." His voice echoed off the mouldy walls of a room once filled with the sound of dancing feet and an orchestra. The band's instruments were still left propped up against the wall of the stage. It was as if the musicians had taken a break. It was to have been a very long one. Kinloch Castle had been the centre of a royal scandal involving Edward VII, a regular visitor to George's outrageous sex parties. A notorious womaniser, he had a penchant for Lord Charrington's wife, Lady Monica. Charrington wanted to name the King in divorce proceedings. As the story goes, the King's advisors avoided scandal by sniffing out a life-long bachelor, George Bullough, to be the adulterer who later went on to offer Lady Monica's hand in marriage. For such services to heterosexism, (under the guise of some fairly minimal efforts in the Boer War), he was promptly knighted. In 1957, Sir George's widow, sold the island to the nation at a pound an acre, (UKP26,000). While the American tourists were being handed out promotional slugs of single malt whisky, I cornered the guide on my way back to the library. "Come on. You must be able to show me something," I begged. That's when he dropped the hint something had been found. An extraordinary piece of equipment. An important sexual objet d'art, I would say. Something that reflected the sexual history of the upper classes at the turn of the century: a fully equipped S&M cage! Unfortunately finding itself in the hands of Scottish Natural Heritage it was discretely handed back to Lady Bullough and was lost forever. Without anyone about, I ransacked the library for clues. Time was running out. Mary-Lou had been revived and the American tourists were already being bustled back to the Rhouma. I could hear the guide's footsteps echoing down the hall toward the library. I pushed a handful of books to the back of the bookcase: "Letter To Young Sea Fishers"; "Gentleman Riders Pride and Present" and "Uncensored Recollections" by Anon. The quotes: "Disraeli used Jim Daly as a "show boy"" still rattled in my head as I made my way out of the castle into the garden. By the end of the First World War, George's yacht, the centrally-heated glass conservatories, the alligators and giant turtles that swam in the pools of warm water and the young men who tended them, had all gone. They never returned from the war to trim the vast lawn sloping down to the water's edge where Manx Shearwaters now swoop and dive. All that is left is a meadow of wild flowers and buttercups. When George was buried, he had a mausoleum built at the other end of the island at Harris. Many thought it a beautifully outrageous affair of pretty florets on coloured tiles. Lady Bullough thought otherwise. Interning his body in a grim, neo-classic affair along with his father, she had the mausoleum blown up. The ferry for the Hebridean island of Rum leaves early. A good enough reason to book a night in Mallaig. Don't. Instead, book a cabin on a Caladonian MacBrayne ferry taking you on an overnight cruise to the even more remote island of Canna before sailing back to Mallaig in time for the 5 am ferry to Rum. Bothy accommodation is UKP4.50 a night. Campsite 60p a night. Or you might like to sample the delights of George Bullough's four-posters and stop at Kinloch Castle for around UKP84 per person for dinner, bed and breakfast. The S&M cage is not included, but the shower is. Gay Outdoor Club - 0113-273 7040 Caledonian MacBrayne - 01687 462403 Scottish Natural Heritage Reserve Office - 01687 462026 Kinloch Castle - 01687 462037 (c) Garry Otton 1997 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ OGG'S VIEW ========== Derek Ogg is a leading criminal lawyer and gay activist. He founded SAM, Scotland's largest AIDS/HIV agency in the 80's, and is currently a Trustee of Milestone House, Scotland's only AIDS hospice. He helped found the ground-breaking radical AIDS education agency GMFA in London in 1992. SURPRISE RIGHTS BONUS FOR SCOTS GAYS The English gay scene will at last have something to envy us Scots for! The devolution Bill which gives us our own Parliament will contain a little known rule making it impossible for a Scots government to harass or oppress gays. Most gay activists have been wrongly concentrating on trying to get a special anti-discrimination clause into a Bill of Rights, but to everyone's surprise that may all prove unnecessary since Scotland looks set to leapfrog the South in human rights protections from the first seconds of devolution. So how do I know this? It's simple really, read the Blair government's draft Human Rights Bill, just published. You'll notice that the Government will soon incorporate the European Convention on Human Rights into British law, which means you can complain about civil rights violations in your local court for the first time. Up until now you would've had to go all the way to Strasbourg in a six year long legal battle to win a rights hearing, now you can claim your rights, including the right to privacy and non discrimination, in the Court of Session in Edinburgh. So how is this different from England? So far it's not, the neat trick is what happens if the court finds against the government in any new law or Act of Parliament: in England the Court can only say "this is a human rights violation", it can't change the law and it's up to Parliament to do something if it wants to. Too bad in the meantime for any poor bugger whose rights are being violated. But in Scotland things will be very different. The Human Rights Bill makes it unlawful for a Scots Parliament to act contrary to the Euro Convention on Rights. Better still the Court has the power to strike down and completely ignore any act of a devolved parliament it considers to violate the Convention. Better still no local authority, police force or other "public authority" can act in violation of your rights - the courts here will not only reverse their violation, they will order compensation to be paid to you as well! Why the better protection for Scotland? I have absolutely no idea, but you'll not hear me complaining. What if the crusty old Scots judges decide they don't like gays very much and don't interpret the Convention rights in our favour, could it all go horribly wrong? Nope. The Human Rights Bill makes sure that our courts must apply European case law to their own decisions, and the Europeans have already decided a number of pro-gay cases which protect gays from unequal treatment in the law and employment for example. Also if a Scots judge gets it wrong and doesn't give you a remedy - then you just appeal, all the way to Strasbourg if necessary. An extra reason for a devo feelgood factor is that with proportional representation no one political party will be able to call the tune. That means that with Labour, LibDem and SNP all having liberal gay rights policies there will be little conflict between the Courts and the Parliament. So whatever the gutter press or the extremists try to do down South in years to come to try to target gays in any new 'family values' campaigns, at least here in Scotland we will be a bastion and retreat for all who respect human rights. Could Scotland become the Holland of the new Millennium? I'll drink to that! Derek Ogg ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- LETTERS ======= Paisley Dear Sir, CIRCULATION PROBLEM As someone who has been involved in the production of gay publications for over 12 years, it is with interest that I note the many changes in some of the magazines and papers available to readers in Scotland. Recently both Pulse and Gay Scotland have changed Editors, with Gay Scotland also changing format to that of a tabloid style newspaper. It goes without saying that all three are competing for the same advertising budgets that are scarce enough for one publication let alone three. Gay Scotland's change to a cheaper production style has enabled them to up the print run to approximately 12,000 - a figure that will not be lost on advertisers. They also claim to distribute to over 200 venues. All fine and well, but it raises two very important questions. Firstly, having raised their distribution to over 200 venues, it goes without saying that all of these are not gay or even pro-gay establishments. Many are restaurants and the such like and are totally straight. The danger of highlighting gay lifestyle in the straight world is that not all the readers are sane well balanced individuals who are willing to live and let live. It is one school of thought that such actions are only feeding the warped minds of the homophobes and giving them more information to vent their 'Queer Bashing Tactics'. Secondly, while Gay Scotland will want to he able to tell their prospective advertisers that they are distributing X amount of papers, what the advertisers really need to know is how many are actually being read per issue. Having done the rounds and noted the amounts of Gay Scotlands that are still lying around after the crucial 10 day period of a monthly publication, I would beg to state that the amount of copies required is no more than 5.5 - 6,000 per month. Of course it is better to tell the advertisers that 12,000 are being published, after all many are straight business people and are not around to see the truth. The current editor of GS has in his previous role of advertising manager been less than truthful with the circulation figures, once again he is caught out massaging the readership figures claiming that most of the venues have 'sold out'. If he is truly interested in providing a publication that Scottish lesbians and gay men can be proud of, maybe Mr Ivison can address these points or is he only interested in a fast buck? Gordon Gosnell ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- INSIDE OUT ========== Scotland's most gallus guide to the whole lesbian, gay and bisexual scene. From intriguing Inverness to gorgeous Galashiels, we list the groovy places to hang out in, and their latest tittle-tattle. Dinna forget our massive shagfest - The Meet Market! In this issue: Venues Edinburgh Glasgow Inverness Dundee 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. 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-Sun 11pm-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. XS St Andrew's Lane (behind Liberty Nightclub). Tel: (01382) 200660. Sun-Fri 7pm-Midnight. Sat Noon-Midnight. New opened cafe/bar for lgb clientele under the same successful management as Liberty. Dunfermline THE CELLAR CLUB Canmore Street. Infoline: 0831 469914. Thu 9pm-2am. DJ Dave. Newly opened discreet one nighter in quiet street. Edinburgh THE ACADEMY The Shooting Gallery, Broughton Street. Infoline: Bathgate (01506) 636038. Sat 27th Dec and 17th Jan. 10.30pm-5am. New gay club from the original management of the much lamented Fire Island. PAs galore. Plus free bus from Glasgow. 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 Shooting Gallery, Broughton Street. Infoline: 0131-467 2551. Every 4th Saturday from 21st February 1998. 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 decidedly 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 CLOUDS 16 Forth Street. Tel: 0131-550 3808 FAX: 0131-550 3807. A gay-owned business helping those looking for rooms in shared flats and those looking for flatmates find each other based on similar requirements, criteria, life-styles etc. E-mail:cloudsacc@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. Every fourth Friday - 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 , Nexus 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. Next dates: Hogmanay - Wednesday 31st December. 1998: Saturday 10th January, 7th February, 7th March, 4th April.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 WWW: http://freespace.virgin.net/alanjoy.dj/joyhome.htm 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. NEXUS CAFE-BAR 60 Broughton Street. Tel: 0131-478 7069. 11am-11pm. The cafe at the Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Centre. Now under new management with a new name and increasingly busy. E-mail: nexus1cb@aol.com 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. OUT OF THE BLUE 36 Broughton Street. (Downstairs at the Blue Moon Cafe). Tel: 0131-478 7048. Noon-9pm. New gay and lesbian store selling books, mags, videos, wearing apparel, etc. Providing some welcome competition for Mrs Tubby Bear at PJ's! 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: 0131-524 0061. 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. 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. 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-Fri 4pm-Midnight, Sat-Sun 2pm-Midnight. 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: Sun-Fri Noon-10pm, Sat Noon-Late (Allnighter). Shop sells toys, videos, mags and everything in between. 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. FLAMINGO'S 26 Cheapside Street. Infoline: 0800 783 2451. Revamped club due to open on 19th December in the former Garbos/Gillespies premises. 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 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. Booking advised in the evening. PENELOPE'S GOES PINK Penelope's, 18 Jamaica Street. Tel: 0141-400 1423. Tue 11pm-3am. Weekly club night: DJ Boff. Regular PAs and exotic dancers. Free entry. 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. Trophy Room should now be open. 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. 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. TIN PAN ALLEY 39 Mitchell Street. Tel: 0141-248 8832. Mon-Tue. 11pm-3am. DJ Stella. Entry UKP2/3. Drinks UKP1.50. Tacky and cruisy as ever (in the nicest possible way). 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? Busy, busy, busy! 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, December 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. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EDINBURGH ========= Hiol! Don't know about you, but I've been in blue arsed fly mode for the last few days what with the Xmas shopping and having to buy the Rib Roast in early for Xmas Dinner thanks to that ignorant fucker Jack Cunningham and his minions at the MAFF. Well, the opening of Out Of The Blue on December 1st passed off without a hitch and the new shop is well and truly open for business under the Blue Moon. It's a bit more clothes oriented than PJ's down the road, more like Sport Locker or Prowler's new Soho emporium, really. So, I really don't know why Mrs Tubby Bear Ivison was so narked with Clark over the new shop. Anyway, another 500 square feet of the Pink Economy can't be bad. I didn't manage to make it down to the Lesbian Gay and Bisexual Centre on Friday 12th December for the relaunch of the caff, but I sent the boyf with camera and he tells me the place was stowed out. Goodbye Stonewall and hello to Nexus! The decor has changed a bit and the place is looking brighter with an interesting new library in the hallway! I hear that things are progressing slowly with regard to the Centre Charity buying the Centre from Outright Scotland - let's hope that time doesn't run out! Things are fair looking up on the club scene in town with Bill Grainger of Fire Island fame returning to the fray with a new gay disco at the Shooting Gallery in Broughton Street. It's called The Academy and kicks off on Saturday 27th December with a PA by Massive Ego whose Divine Tribute "You Think You're A Man" has been wowing them in the London clubs. Saturday 17th January sees a Rocky Horror night (with prizes for the best dressed punters) and a PA by Damian who will be performing The Time Warp. Music policy is 90's and Classic Gay Disco (DJ's Lady Marmalade & Grant Duff) in the main room with Retro Funk and Soul (DJ's Bob Cairns and Bootsy) upstairs. There's a free bus from Glasgow which may bring over a few fresh faces and quite a load of well worn ones too! Tackno have their Xmas Party at Mercado on Sunday 21st December - Trendy Wendy will no doubt be doing her stuff although I don't think that's her on the flyers! Xmas Day at Mercado sees Playmates Snowball Away With The Fairies from 10pm-5am. UKP6 entry (UKP5 with flier) includes a free snowball sherry on entry. Loud noise is by Miss Janatalia and Miss Glittoris Allsorts. And don't miss the Joy and Luvely spectacular Hogmanay bash at Wilkie House with resident DJs from both clubs running from 9pm-5am. Bet you there'll be a lot of knackered folk after that eight hour session! Women can look forward to Divine Divas Boxing Day Party on, wait for it, Friday 26th December. "We are family" with DJs Alley Vegas and Guest! All proceeds, as per usual, to Lothian Lesbian Line. Looking ahead, Lothian Gay and Lesbian Switchboard is pushing out the boat for their Silver Jubilee Valentines Ball in the Assembly Rooms on Saturday 14th February. Similar events in the past have sold out extremely quickly and this one promises to be no exception although it will be the largest ever with a capacity of over a thousand! The Norloch Ceilidh Bank will provide the traditional dance music although there will be Jazz and C&W in the Supper Room and Trendy Wendy will also be appearing. Tickets are UKP12 (UKP10 concession) and are available from the usual culprits as well as the 24 hour Hotline/Faxline on 0131-556 8997 (have your plastic ready). Iain Iain@drink.demon.co.uk -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GLASGOW ======= Well folks, here we go again for Scotland's most widely read look at what's happening in Glasgow. Yes, it's that time of year again. Good will to all men (I'd be happy with just one), spend as much dosh on stupid fucking Teletubby dolls as some poor sods earn in a week, make a pig of yourself while half the world is starving, and sling as much booze down your gob as possible while millions of people have to trek miles through jungles and deserts just to get a drink of water. Just in case you haven't guessed, I'm a bit aggrieved about this annual display of greed, selfishness and wasteful frivolity that masquerades as a Christian festival. As usual, we can expect clubs up and down the country to award the loyal clientele with rip off entry charges 'because it's Christmas' and, as usual, the punters will dig into their wallets without complaint in the belief that a few bits of tinsel and some self acclaimed 'big name DJ' justifies the extra door-money. Still, it came as no surprise last year that nobody was willing to take up my public challenge to justify this annual 'screw the public campaign'. I rest my case! Ah well, suppose I'd better stop being a roaring old bastard and get on with the column. I think we can expect quite a few of the sheep-shaggers coming out of the wilderness (and Edinburgh) to join the Hogmanay parties in Glasgow this year, as all the passes for the bash over the East Coast were snapped up ages ago. Apart from the main bash for the drunken breeders in George Square, we've got our very own poofter party down in Virginia Street. Anybody else see that letter in the local press from some stupid cow moaning about her Council Tax being used to fund a lesbigay event? Does she think that breeders are the only ones that have to pay taxes, and that the gay businesses down in the Pink Ghetto are all exempt from VAT, UBR and Corporation Tax? Anyway, the party is free, just bring a six-pack and a bit of trade! Hope it's not windy this time cause I vaguely remember trekking home through a fucking blizzard last year with my kilt wrapping round my ears (Makes a change from the legs. Ed.) Interesting silly rumour doing the rounds just now about the Waterloo. Apparently, somebody's being putting the story around that the lease on the building may not be renewed, and the future of the pub is in doubt! Although this story appears to originate from somebody in the trade, it certainly came as news to Mr Valentine from Tennents Taverns who would also like to know who's responsible! Anyway, it's a load of crap, and that's official! Glasgow without the Waterloo, I don't think so! Still, a load of confused fairies around wondering what's happening on the Apartment/Tin Pan Alley/Penelope's nights not exactly helped by all the old fliers still lying around in the GGLC, etc. The Apartment is now off the menu and Stella has decided to return to Tin Pan's which will shortly be under new management and is also due for a refurb, although this will be done on a floor by floor basis, and will not affect the gay nights. Wouldn't matter anyway, the scene's quite used to our venues looking like building sites at the moment - progress has its price! Anyway, the gay nights are on Monday and Tuesday at Tin Pan's although Penelope's is still going strong on Tuesday with DJ Boff pumping up his popular selection of Hi-NRG and handbag despite getting a lot of irreplaceable poofy old classic 70's dance records (Sure you don't mean 78's? Ed?) nicked during the break-in at the old Garbo's. Stella decided to return to Tin Pan's due to the lack of support at the Apartment which, despite being a beautiful club, just didn't seem to work as a gay venue. Shame really, but, let's face it, dark cruisy clubs with smoke machines get the punters in and posh clubs don't really count for much if you're just tarting around for a shag! (So I'm told!) It's pretty much the same as it was before the last move: dark, cruisy and tacky, just as we like it, no bloody ash trays but at least there aren't as many breeders as their used to be, although I did end up being chatted up by a pair of bimbos last week. Makes a change from 12 year old schoolgirlies asking if I play in a band because of my rock star hairdo! Same prices as before: UKP2 with a flier and UKP1.50 a drink, so it's a good cheap night out and Mondays seem to be busier than they used to be. Been asked by Stella to pint out that he's also doing a couple of gay bashes in Edinburgh on Xmas and New Year's Eves at Studio 24 with Alan from Joy and others. Tickets are UKP12 from 23rd Precinct, Virgin and FOPP or UKP15 at the door. At the time of writing, flyers are starting to go out for the new club down at the old Gillespies/Garbo's building. If everything goes according to plan, it should be opening at about the same time as this issue of ScotsGay appears on Friday 19th December. Given the chequered history of the premises, the new promoters are in the process of totally redesigning the interior, which will have booths around the dance floor. The suspended ceiling has been removed, exposing a much higher roof and the front bar, to be called the Red Room, is also being redesigned. At the time of writing, the place is still like a building site, but promoters Chris and Walter are confident that they should have the remaining work completed in time for the opening night. The club is to operate under the name of Flamingo's, and it is hoped that the bar area next door should be open for business in March. The London backers are confident that the venue will be a success and are looking to open further gay venues in Glasgow. Those of you who remember Big Jackie from the old days will be glad to hear that she will be doing PR for the new place, and some of the Scene DJ's have already been approached to provide the music. Watch out for the opening night flyers! Snippets: Centurion Health Club are celebrating their first anniversary on the 5th of January with a Prize Draw. Prizes include a portable colour telly, Gold Club membership and a UKP50 Clone Zone voucher, enough to buy one of their gay Billy dolls with a tenner left over! -+- A new free sheet is now available from Lanarkshire Gay Men's Group - pick up a copy from the GGLC or phone 0141-332 3838 for details. -+- The long awaited Trophy Lounge down in the Polo Dungeons should finally open (Brendan promises) on the 19th of December after a few delays. Improvements are still continuing in the club itself and the nice new flagstone floor appears to be finished (must have caused a few broken fingernails prising up all the old Club X flooring for recycling!). -+- Tickets are now on sale for the annual Gay Ball on 9th February - UKP15 each from the usual pubs and clubs. -+- GGLC cafe/bar is still trading normally as the refurb has not yet started. -+- And finally, there was a serious assault recently in Kelvingrove Park, so watch yourself if you're out cruising. The first rule of avoiding becoming an assault victim is to make sure you land the first punch and make it a good one! Stay around the duck pond area for safety. Sunday afternoons are quite busy at the moment with a load of shopping bag laden fairies out for a quick for a quick troll after buying their Xmas goodies. Well, I think that's about it for this month's pile of tinsel-free crap, so I'll bugger off now, and let you get on with reading the contact ads. I suppose I'd better wish everybody a Merry Xmas unless you're broke, a student worrying about paying your next tuition fees, unemployed, a freezing pensioner who's just had their Xmas bonus cancelled, a young person who can forget about getting the Minimum Wage, a single mother who's just had their benefit cut or a disabled person awaiting what the New Year brings. Merry Xmas and a Happy New Labour to you all! LUV, MINERVA. minerva@drink.demon.co.uk ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INVERNESS ========= Well, here we are again, it seems like only yesterday that I spewed out my load of bollox to you all. This issue, it will be slightly different, however, because it's me covered in tinsel and fairy lights. This year, I really can't be arsed with all this Christmas crap, I just can't get into the spirit of the thing, perhaps it's because I've got to work this year, and himself will be over on Skye with the in-laws, so I'll be on my lonesome too. I can't even manage to go to the Xmas Day Reach Out Highland party which is being held at 28 Huntly Street, Inverness, 19.30 till late. All friends (and their partners) of ROH are very welcome to attend, bring a bottle, and contact Ronald (clean foxy hygienic young lady) at ROH for further details. Last year's party was a resounding success, so should be good this year too. Other happenings (though this might have passed by the time you read this) include the Xmas weekend at the Rothes Glen Hotel, Rothes, Moray on the weekend of the 20th/21st December. This was also highly successful last year. Contact Moray LGB Switchboard for further details. What else? Hmmmm. Oh yes - thanks to all who sent me e-mails etc. recently, special thanks to Mrs Gilmooooor (She knows who she is!!!). Also, no sign of any Xmas cards yet from you lot. Why not, may I ask? Poor wee Gussie complaining that my column was larger than his. Well, all I can say, Gussie, is that my column in the mag may occasionally be larger, however your 'column' attached to your body is considerably larger than most, so I wouldn't complain about the size of yours considering I had to walk bandy legged for two days after being exposed to it!! So, I think that, all things considered, we are even! (Heh, Minerva! Do you fancy making me walk bandy legged?) (Ha, ha! Wait till himself reads that - I'll get a slap!) I read recently in the Inverness Courier a letter from a chap coming out with the usual reasoned and balanced (NOT) argument about us gays. I quote: "The only hopeful message for gays, lesbians, bisexuals and 'straight' people is repentance towards God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ" (who has been spotted in Nico's). I really wish I myself could be so right and just and so narrow minded in my views, however, being the imperfect human I am, I cannot afford the luxury of the same wankers like the chap who wrote the letter. They really piss me off, they really do. Anyway, 'nuff said about him otherwise I'll throw a tantrum and get all hot and bothered!! Should prime my lipstick and challenge him to handbag at twenty paces for his obnoxious comments. Whilst I've got your undivided (?) attention, I'd like to say here thanks to all who have supported me in my various little jobs in '97: ie this column and Rank Outsiders. You know who you are and all have been great ... Thanks! Kissy! Kissy! Right, that's all folks, except to say have a Cool Yule, be careful and if you're feeling depressed at the prospect, always remember that Santa only cums once a year .. you lot, I imagine, manage considerably more times than that! So you're not as badly off as you think. See ya's in '98 - let's make it a good un. Lurve, CalMac, calmac@drink.demon.co.uk ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DUNDEE ====== Dundee Outreach Team and friends put on a brilliant cabaret at the gay night club to mark World AIDS Day. The different acts ranged from the Spice Grannies through John Bruce as a hooker to undoubted star of the show Mrs Steve Oldbury and the Rocky Horror Show. In a dramatic finale, and to the music of Freddie Mercury's 'Who Wants To Live Forever?', a single candle was lit and held aloft by the club owner (and production guru for the night). The moving climax could have been entitled 'Holding Back The Tears' as there were a number of moist eyes that night. Almost UKP10 was raised for children in the Tayside area whose lives are affected by HIV and AIDS. Well done, Dundee. Whilst on a note of sadness, one of our community recently committed suicide. Over the forthcoming 'festive period', remember that Switchboard, Dundee Outreach Team and the Samaritans are there if life becomes a real bitch. When is the Bibliotek disco opening? As yet another planned date passes, the venue has been dubbed the 'Bloodyheck' by those watching the farce unfold. The hype has fallen flat and music policy has shifted to heavy house. Devas promises a major refurb in February when the pub is to be gutted it is well overdue. Perhaps the hatch behind the bar will be altered so that Mig Crayford doen't fall into the cellar again. It was only her girth that saved her. Numerous drinkies later, her nerves were steady although she may not be seen in stellies for a while. Her place has bee taken by Stephen whose facial piercings must be somewhat of a hazzard when he is so far up Andrea. Pity nobody told him not to smoke behind the bar, fondle the beer taps and other things too hideous to mention. The Wimmins Xmas Disco is to be in Sinatras on the Saturday before Xmas. It is a sell out, but due to a change of manager, the venue will shut at midnight. Discount flyers have been promised for Liberty which is open up to 3.30am. Pissed dykes are guaranteed and so are one or two fights. Liberty Nightclub are selling Xmas and Hogmanay tickets now and sorry to them for reporting them on sale in the last issue. At least this nightclub will definitely be open. They're also open on Xmas Day Night 'to get away from the hetties' and had just over a hundred of us in last year. DJ Patricia is on that night to provide festive fun. Brilliant Bar XS opened one day late and to much acclaim (it's too bright) but is clean, friendly, relaxed and does coffee, newspapers and, on Saturdays, light snacks. Prices are remarkably cheap - perhaps we are reaping the benefits of impending competition. Direct entry into Liberty Nightclub is an affordable UKP2 which saves you having to go outside. Well done - this place is a hit - it was even busy on a Sunday night resulting in the club being busy with a fantastic party mood. The Mecca Playhouse staff came along - their bingo hall has more gays working in it than the Tesco Call Centre! Nice to see employers taking us on. Could someone clarify for me that we have had a change of government recently. With cuts in single parent benefit, disablement benefit, etc, I feel William Hague is operating Tony Blair in time honoured puppet fashion with his fist up his ....! Kisses for Xmas and Hugs for Hogmanay. Liquid Silk ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ABERDEEN ======== 'Tis the season to be jolly. Well, it is if you're some sort of masochist that likes crowded pavements, shopping centres like sardine tins, and non-stop Christmas music in every shop in town. Bah, humbug!! Sorry folks, but the season of goodwill is nothing but a major inconvenience to me, although that's partly to do with working in a retail environment I suppose. Although, I think staff at the Jolly Giant have a lot more to contend with this year, especially with the current bout of Teletubby-mania! So, what's happening in old Aberdeen then? Silly question really. For starters, it's cold. Bloody freezing in fact. Getting out of bed in the morning is a regular pain in the arse when your blood freezes the minute you poke your big toe from underneath the duvet. Perhaps I need a man to keep me warm at nights - in fact, with so many new faces in Castro recently, I might just get lucky! A couple of weeks ago they had their first birthday party, with lots of freebies from Health Promotions, who were pushing the safer sex message again. Since then, the condom supply in Castro has been fairly full, which I am pleased to note. I was rather worried for a while, as more often than not, the basket at the end of the bar was empty. However, a good night was had by many. Jacqui Morrison played a superb set that evening, and it kept me bouncing for most of the night. I was told that Jacqui actually does a good set most Saturdays, although to be honest, that was the first time I'd actually noticed. I will actually jump on my wee soapbox here for a minute and say that I do not have to say nice things about people just because everyone else thinks so. As an individual, my views are not necessarily representative of the whole of the Aberdeen gay community (thankfully!), and it infuriates me when people try to tell me what to write etc. I keep saying that if I don't like something, I will say so, and a threat of a ban if I don't do a good write-up, no matter how jokingly it's made, doesn't go down too well with me. Anyway, enough ranting. Joy seems to have become my regular Friday night haunt these days. I have finally found something to replace my nights out at Sweet!, whose demise I still sadly miss. The good thing about Joy is that it's always packed, and the atmosphere is brilliant. I did have my first homophobic experience of sorts the other night though. "The trouble with Saturday nights in here is that it's always full of poofs.". Just Saturday nights, dear? The guy didn't seem to have any problems when I told him that I was one of these strange people - in fact, he became slightly friendlier! Ye cannae win! I suppose that'll have to do for now. I hope you all have a wonderful and safe time over the festive period, and I wish you all the best for '98! Luv ya lots. Gus Gus@drink.demon.co.uk "Every man who is high up likes to think that he has done it all himself, and the wife just smiles and lets it go at that" - J.M. Barrie ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. Falkirk Ivor, 35, brown hair, blue eyes, slightly hairy chest, W/E. Recently arrived in Scotland looking for new friends aged 25-45. Can travel or accommodate. Phone 0891 556613 - Number 7566. Glasgow 34 year old looking for cropped W/E horny singles or couples for long sessions. Denim, boots, jocks, poppers. Phone: 0891 556613 - Number 7411. Stirling Seeking dark haired medium weight guy 25-45, moustache or Uncle Figure an advantage. I'm from the Mediterranean, 11st, tall, dark hair, green eyes, straight looking, very attractive. Postgraduate student at Stirling University. Phone: 0891 556613 - Number 7407. Glasgow 40's, into eating in/out, fine wine. Likes younger (under 25) guys who are seriously into older guys. Young of mind. You should be slim, preferably non smoker. No time wasters. Phone: 0891 556613 - Number 7330. Lanarkshire David, 27, bi, looking for 26+ to show me what I'm missing out on. Phone: 0891 556613 - Number 7312. Edinburgh 23 year old, 5'11", into music, pubs, clubs, badminton. Looking for similar 18-26 year old in Edinburgh or Glasgow. Phone: 0891 556613 - Number 7280. North Of Scotland Brian, originally from Central Belt and possibly relocating there. Mid 30's but sound and look much younger. 5'8", hairy, fit, looking for folk to socialise with. Also looking for Jim who contacted me recently but didn't leave a contact address/number. Phone: 0891 556613 - Number 7191. Leather Trevor, 28. Bi-curious but into leather. Ready to go the full hog with dominant leather man. Phone: 0891 556613 - Number 7112. Beginner Mike, 6'1", 46" chest. Enjoy a sociable drink and good company. Have led a straight lifestyle up until now and am a beginner to gay life. I am straight acting/looking and a recent graduate. Looking for a guy who is patient with beginners - any race/size/looks. Broad minded and will try anything with the right person. Phone: 0891 556613 - Number 7108. Daddy's Boy? Uncle Andy, 48, is looking for Daddy's Boys 18-35 for no strings fun. Light discipline if required. Anywhere - can travel or accommodate. Phone: 0891 556613 - Number 7040. Glasgow Dave, 33, 5'10", grey/green eyes, no bad looking, slightly hairy, straight acting/looking. Looking for much older possibly bald (or balding) grey or white hair. Phone: 0891 556613 - Number 6982. First Timer Mike, new to scene, inexperienced. 6'11", self employed, down to earth. Looking for experienced guy 18-60. Phone: 0891 556613 - Number 6907. Inverness - Highlands 36, slim, fit, hairy, 5'8", short receding dark hair. Looking for friends to share interest in fitness, arts and music events. Also seeking flatshare/companion aged under 30. Can accommodate visitors to the area. Phone: 0891 556613 - Number 6848. Central Scotland David, 6', 32, blond hair, blue eyes, passive, smooth skinned. Into rubber, leather, waders, etc. Seeks genuine older guy(s) - not overweight - for fun. You won't be disappointed. Phone: 0891 556613 - Number 6691. Edinburgh 30, 6', slim horny professional, recently out, seeks athletic student types, stocky, 20-30. Discretion assured. I need somebody to show me the ropes. Phone: 0891 556613 - Number 6644. Edinburgh Tony, 30, slim, 6', very hairy, seeks discreet fun with smooth muscly guy 20-35. Phone: 0891 556613 - Number 6509. 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! Apology! We have had several phone calls from readers wondering if their recreational activities had been leading to an ocular dysfunction or if it was our fault that the Meet Market in the last InsideOUT was difficult to read. In this case, it was our fault completely. So, we're not only giving our box ads more room from this issue, but we're repeating the ads from InsideOUT 18a so that everybody gets a fair crack of the whip, squeeze of the KY, or whatever... Happy hunting, folks! WOMEN Experience Hi, I am a 26 year old, professional, attractive female who requires a sensual similar experienced female to introduce me to this new world. This is a genuine ad - no couples need reply. Box SG19075. Cute Lesbians Required Outgoing gay female, 23, short dark hair, blue eyes, pretty, slim, into FUN, pubs, clubs, cinema, cycling, flirting, seeks similar lesbians for fcreindship etc. All interesting letters with photo answered. Box SG19083. Central Scotland Lesbian Couple Professional lesbian couple with child want to meet similar couples for friendship, discussion, dinner. We'd also enjoy days out, games of balderdash and wine. Box SG19001. MEN Had Enough Stuffing Over Xmas? Or still have a corner that needs filling? If you're 18-25 and have a good sense of humour, this 42 year old Edinburgh guy would like to meet you. Box SG19000. 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 SG19002. Hi! This is me! I'm still looking for someone around 30. Anyone? Page me on: 01426 288931. Box SG19009. Glasgow Male, 30's, seeks others for friendship, possible 1-2-1. Can accommodate and travel. Me: 6'2", slim, 'normal' guy. You: similar. Box SG19003. Dundee - Edinburgh Shy transvestite student, 20, 5'4", seeks older guys for fun and friendship. Box SG19004. 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 SG19005. 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 SG19006. Middle Aged Sex maniac seeks young skinheads with a healthy sexual appetite. You: slim build (me: heavy build) but built for comfort. Box SG19007. 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 SG19008. 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 photo along with your detailed letter. Box SG19009. Wanted: 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 can accommodate. Box SG19010. 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. Box SG19011. 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 SG19012. Seeking Dominant Guy This 45 year old gay guy, rather passive, would like to hear from a dominant sort of guy for disciplined times. Anything considered. Preferably the Edinburgh area. Box SG19013. Glasgow 30 year old guy, fair haired, straight acting and discreet, seeking 18-25 year old guy for horny fun times. I'm very well hung and love 'O'. Photo, phone helpful. Can accommodate. Box SG19014. No Strings Fun 37 year old top looking for guys 30+ for no strings fun. Can't accommodate. Straight acting. 5'10" medium build. Seeks horny guys (hairy a plus) for who knows what? Very broad-minded and will try most safe things. Send explicit letter and photo. Box SG19015. Glasgow Couple / Model Dave: 31, 6'3" slim, 33" waist, looks and acts 26, short brown hair, clean shaven etc. straight acting looking. Grant: 24, 5'8", slim 28" waist, short light brown hair, clean shaven 8" uncut cock etc., looking for fun time with other guy/s under 26. Box SG19016. Inexperienced 22 Year Old Hi! I'm an inexperienced (with men), non-scene, medium built 22 year old with a beard. I would like to meet a cute top to help me explore my sexuality. Box SG19017. Passion Needed!! Hi! I'm 30 living in the Moray area and would like to hear from lads gay or bi (18-26). I enjoy all sports but spend a lot of time playing squash and running. If there is anyone out there, please write. Box SG19018. Aberdeen Guy Are there any gay guys (especially French or German) in or around the Aberdeen area, aged 25-35 who'd like to meet up? I'm a 28 year old guy, recently single after a long relationship, looking to meet new people. I'm fit, good looking, n/s and enjoy good company, dinner and nights in/out. Box SG19020. Central Sports Kit Wearer 40's slim, smooth bodied, hygienic, seeks likeable minded younger the better thin to slim guys into kit, uniform briefs etc for fun dressing/undressing times. ALAWP. Box SG19021. Are You Young? - Smooth? - Stocky? Or even, dare I say it, on the fat side? If so, and you like the company of older guys (or lack self confidence and don't feel you can get anything else), why not drop me a line? Me? Oh well, if it doesn't put you off, you might as well know that I'm 40, small, fat, and hairy but have a nice King Size bed in Edinburgh to make up for it all. At a loose end over Xmas and the New Year? Let me make your end looser! Box SG19022. Central 18 Year Old Seeks smooth, experienced, 20-25 year for uninhibited times. Horny reply! Box SG19023. North Boy Needs Teaching Attractive Scottish boy (20) needs to be taught the correct way to make friends. Requires MAN in similar age group, built and ready for ultimate stimulation. IS THIS YOU? Box SG19024. Sexy Student Looking For Good... Hi! I'm a student in Aberdeen, 22, quite good looking and I'm looking for other guys to show me around the scene and show me a good time. If interested, please be discreet, as I share with 4 other straight blokes. Box SG19025. 23 - 6'2'' - Fun And Trouble! In Aberdeen (that's just down from the north pole), student and very fun loving, very straight looking and acting. No time for screamers! I am into a lot of very good but safe fun - if you are worth it! Want someone for good sex and a good laugh? Box SG19026. Glasgow Guy Glasgow guy (22) seeks younger guy for fun and friendship. I have dark hair, green eyes and am smooth. ALAWP. Box SG19028. Glasgow: Fun Guys Fun guys wanted for hot release times. I'm 29, 5'10", slim, short light brown hair, told good looking. Into O Level activities. No timewasters, please. I can accommodate. Photo/phone would be helpful. Box SG19029. Daddy Wanted I'm a shy inexperienced 18 year old who would like to meet an older gentleman to spoil me and show me the finer things in life. All letters answered. Box SG19030. Get Stuffed Big holes required in Glasgow for big toys. Photo/phone. Also needed, guys for CP, bondage, one way or two way. Box SG19031. Dundee - Edinburgh - Central Areas Into lingerie and over the knee fun? Let's meet. I'm early 40's, slim, friendly, discreet. You 40-60, sincere. Can accommodate. Send details, exchange photos. Discretion assured. No mobiles. SAE please. Box SG19032. Men Young late 20's, own flat and car, looking for new friends in Edinburgh. Must be WE. 18-35 years old. Likes staying at home, going out, travel, active people, friendly open minded. Thanks. Box SG19033. I Want It All! Home lover yet extrovert, quiet cafEs yet pounding nightclub, muscular yet intelligent, good looking yet loyal, mellow yet berserk, wicked yet angelic, gentleman yet uncouth, 24-35 yet mature, me straight acting you more so, me more of the brains you more of the brawn. Is this you? Aberdeen (by default). Box SG19034. Glasgow - Edinburgh Guy, professional, 47, tall, slim, straight acting and looking, interested in lingerie, seeks compatible preferably active male for friendship, hopefully relationship. Box SG19035. Dundee - Tayside Early retired straight acting passive GSOH, urgently seeks genuine active and caring guy for friendship and relationship. Age and looks not important. Can travel/accommodate. ALA. Box SG19036. Edinburgh - Glasgow - Central Honest, caring 31 year old, civil servant, 5'9" tall, dark hair, hairy, non smoker. Likes briefs, kilts, swimming. Seeks guy 25-45 for kilt raising experience, fun and friendship. ALA. Box SG19038. Ayrshire - Glasgow Guy, 36, is looking for friends 30-50 for lots of fun, kisses and cuddles. Box SG19039. Edinburgh - Anywhere 51 year old professional guy seeks young orientals/asians for fun. NS. Discretion assured. Can accommodate. Student type more than welcome. ALAWP. Box SG19040. Nairn Male 6'1", 34 year old, seeks 18-25 year olds for O Level fun but will do anything. GSOH, black hair, very horny and in need of friends. All letters answered. Write soon. Box SG19041. Edinburgh Guy - 21 5'11", medium build, GSOH, enjoys clubs, pubs, partying. Looking for 18-24 straight acting guys who enjoy the Edinburgh scene and are also looking for friends and possible 1-2-1. ALA. Box SG19042. Biker - Tayside Me: 27, 6'+, big sports bike into leather, pubs, runs, etc. You: biker with leather under 35. Photo would be nice. Box SG19043. Skinhead - Edinburgh - Glasgow 34 year old zero crop skinhead wants to meet other skins in gear for long wet sessions inside or out. Also into leather, rubber and army gear. Photo and phone number appreciated. ALAWP. Box SG19044. Glasgow - Lanarkshire Straight acting 35 year old, 5'11", short hair, 'tache, passive, GSOH, young outlook WLTM top man for safe 1-2-1. Can accommodate. No squares, please. Box SG19045. Generous English Man Seeks You! Are you a student or under 30? Can you serve a fun loving master? Let's meet soon in the UK. Next year we could holiday together in Europe. Photos welcome. Box SG19046. Glasgow TV Young (28) very convincing bi TV loves to go out to clubs, bars or cosy nights in. Looking for tall sporty muscly guy for fun and games out and in. Box SG19047. Motherwell - Lanarkshire - Glasgow 34 year old SA/SL guys, 18-35, clean shaven, with leather, denim interest, submissive type preferred. I enjoy being spanked. BJ. Have tawses, videos, toys. Can accommodate. Discretion assured. No timewasters, please. Box SG19048. Glasgow - Edinburgh Guy, 47, tall, slim, seeks guy 40-55. I need love to change our lives. Box SG19049. Student Seeks Pampering Tall, slim, smooth-bodied 24 year old seeks older, mature, executive gent who would love to pamper this final year student. Box SG19050. Dundee Guy 27 year old GWM 5'8" tall, good looking, medium build, hairy chest, blue eyes, brown hair. Looking for smooth bodied 18-30 year old - preferably oriental - for fun and friendship. Must be able to accommodate. Box SG19051. Glasgow - Lanarkshire Area I am 24, brown hair, blue eyes, slim. Looking for someone between 18-27, SA, caring, discreet. I enjoy going out, clubbing, movies, meals. Possible 1-2-1. ALA. PA. Box SG19052. Glasgow - Anywhere Guy, 36, seeks guy(s) for non-committed fun and friendship. Married bi guys welcome. Discretion assured. Box SG19053. Glasgow Sadist Hairy 42 year old male enjoys rough sex. More S than M. No long term contract needed. Must be non smoker. Have some equipment - more would be good. Box SG19054. Cuba Visit - February 1998 Scots guys wanted! Join attractive 26 year old, 5'8", medium build guy on fortnight visit to Cuba's glorious beaches, cities and gay life. Write for more info/suggestions. Photo gets mine. Box SG19055. Booted Lads Wanted 32 year old cropped lad into other booted lads, any age. I like wearing boots, DMs, jeans, Fred Perry's. Like bootlicking, verbal, gob, rimming, w/s. Enjoy poppers, outdoor action. ALAWP. Box SG19056. Free To Good Home Lonely 44 year old from Central Scotland, heavy build, seeks guys from home and abroad. Will answer all letters. Box SG19057. Looking For Daytime Or Night-time Fun? Gay guy (31), slim, S/L, S/A, seeks similar 20-40 for uncomplicated no-strings fun. Must be good looking and VWE. Cannot accommodate but can travel Falkirk - Stirling - Livingston. Photo please. Box SG19058. Aberdeen Guys Wanted Where are all the cute ones? Me: 28 year old, 5'10", dark hair, hazel eyes, slim build, GSOH. You? 20-35 good looker for fun and friendship. ALAWP. Box SG19059. Pink Rainbow Needs Pen Pals Hello! I'm in need of pen pals. Me: 24, VGSOH, VWE and plenty of TLC. Looking for bi or gay mates aged 17-40. ALAWP. Frank letter. No photo required first time. Box SG19060. Boy Next Door 24 years old, boyish, looks younger, 5'8", cropped hair, slim, smooth body, honest, reliable, mature, WLTM nice guy, 20-35 for friendship, maybe more. Genuine replies only. Aberdeen, anywhere. Box SG19061. Glasgow - Wrestling Fun 5'8", fit and 52 seeking younger well built, smooth guys around my own height for fun grapple. Your place or mine. Let's share fun, laughter and get fitter too! Box SG19062. Fife - Edinburgh Looking for long term friendship/relationship. I am 50, active, tall and slim. Interested in sport, music, going out. Age not important - commitment is. Box SG19063. Glasgow Glasgow guy. Well adjusted, enlightened and 40. 6 foot tall, zero crop, clean shaven. Gym trained body. Into swimming, hill walking and other hairy-arsed activities. VGSOH. No lover of the scene. Seeking genuine masculine active guy for friendship, maybe 1-2-1. Box SG19064. Whip Master 40's well built, experienced, seeks new trainees, preferably 18-30. Central Scotland, anywhere. Box SG19065. Classic Car Owner Seeks enthusiast to scrabble around underneath and oil and grease the damned thing! Box SG19066. Young For Old 40 something guy, GSOH, seeks student type for fun and uncomplicated friendship. Glasgow, Stirling, Edinburgh, anywhere. Can travel and/or accommodate. You should be smooth chested, preferably non-smoker. I prefer cuddly guys to skinny ones. Discretion assured if required. Box SG19067. Glasgow 27 Seeks Chubby Chaser Glasgow guy, 27 year old, 5'9", short cropped hair(what's left), green eyes, large build, seeks a man who is turned on by big guys, my interests include cinema, music, snow ski-ing, travel. I am hoping to meet my soulmate for a 1-2-1 relationship. Box SG19068. 39 Year Old From SE London Would like to make new friends UK-wide. If you have access to the internet my e-mail address is tiger@dircon.co.uk or you can pop into my website at: http://www.users.dircon.co.uk/~tiger I look forward to hearing from you. Graham Box SG19069. Uniform Hi, My partner Steve and I are looking for guys who are interested in uniform and leather. Get pen to paper and get in contact. ALAWP. Box SG19071. Ayrshire - Glasgow Gay guy 30 year old, straight acting/looking, sensible with GSOH, looking for balanced, honest, stable guy in Ayrshire or Glasgow. Likes include cinema, nights in/out, travel, all the usual stuff. Box SG19072. Scottish Highlands 34 year old Master seeks slave for bondage and discipline training. Master has a good selection of bondage equipment and toys. Can not travel but can accommodate. Box SG19073. Fife - Edinburgh Dave, 18, 5'10", lonely, Fife/Edinburgh Area. Looking for companion, partner, just a chat. Frequently travelling between Fife/Dundee/Edinburgh. If you're gentle, or lonely (18 - 25) drop me a line. Box SG19074. Glasgow - Hairy Men Wanted Student, 29, 5'11", slim, blue eyes, straight acting but inexperienced, WLTM guys 25+, tall, hairy, muscular build with big feet or any of above. ALA. Box SG19076. Goodlooking Bi-Guy - Paisley 33 years old, slim build, WLTM guys 18-40 for safe sexy fun. Clean, discrfeet, can travel or accommodate. Photo appreciated, returned with mine. ALA. Box SG19077. Edinburgh - Islands - Highlands - Anywhere S/a, n/s mates sought by English lad, hunky, fit, genuine, discreete, for fun, friendship, visits. 18-40. ALAWP. Box SG19078. Edinburgh 19 year old Oriental, 5'7", slim build, smooth , cute, sa/ns WLTM attractive GWM 20-29 with dark hair and hairy chest for fun and friendship. May travel for right guy. Photo? Box SG19079. Aberdeen Chubby slave seeks hairy master. Me: 26, 6", brown hair/eyes, docile and obedient. I will comply with all your wishes. You: big, forceful, VWE, dominant daddy bear, 40+. Box SG19080. Dundee - Tayside 40 year old guy, 5'11" tall, medium build, looking for genuine gays aged 30-50 for safe fun/friendship, possible 1-2-1. ALA. Photo and phone gets quicker reply. Box SG19081. Paisley - Glasgow Area Sean, 5'10", slim, smooth, blue eyes, collar-length brown hair, 33 (looks 25/26). Seeks younger companion(s) 18-29, preferably passive, for long hours of mutual pleasure in the comfort of my bedroom. Students, school-leavers, inexperienced more than welcome. Frank letters appreciated. Box SG19082. Thirteenth Monkey SW Ayrshire, 29 years old, slim build, seeks older Bruce Willis look alike for fun, friendship and possible 1-2-1 with right guy. Photo or phone number guarantees reply with photo. Box SG19084. Help Me Smile Again Recently hurt 29 year old seeks new friends for fun and friendship. GSOH a must. Me: 5'8", fair hair, blue eyes, goatee. You: similar. Photo appreciated. Can reply by e-mail: derek.scott1@virgin.net Box SG19085. Glasgow - Anywhere Genuine 30 year old seeks romantic guy for 1-2-1/friendship. WLTM loving passionate guy for laughs and good times. Enjoy music, football, travel. ALAWP. Make the New Year OUR Year. Write soon. Box SG19086. Edinburgh Guy Wants Sleaze Good looking 5'7", 30, wants sub passive guys under 35 for w/s and hard times. Anything goes. Sub and dom. Guys up for group sessions very welcome. ALAWP. Box SG19087. Dundee Recently returned 32 year old, brown hair, green eyes, 6' tall, medium build, seeks tall, strong man 25-45 for friendship possible 1-2-1. Photo please. Box SG19088. Gay Friend In Angus Area Best friend needed for 31 year old married straight guy, very open minded, for nights out and fun. Must be 30-40, good fun, straight acting, very genuine. Photo please. No wasters. Box SG19089. Elgin - Moryashire 38 year old into jock straps, torn shorts, seeks others for fun times. Top guys preferred. Have own place. Box SG19090. Glasgow Young white male seeks young black/asian male/s 18-30 years for hot horny times. I'm VWH, honest, sincere and discreet. I can accommodate. I love coloured guys so let's meet. Photo guarantees reply with my phone number. I love giving 'O'. Box SG19091. Fife - Edinburgh - Glasgow 39 year old guy seeks slim guys/couples for no strings fun. 18-50. I'm n/s, s/l, medium build, versatile, GSOH and up for anything. ALA. Get writing. Box SG19092. Glasgow Couple Seek Spunky Men Couple, 29, 30, one smooth, one hairy, both medium build, WLTM hairy horny guys, 25-40 into poppers, videos, sexy card games. Try anything once. Horny letter and photos required. Box SG19093. Edinburgh - Glasgow VWE 28 year old looking for active older men to give me a good hard time. Send explicit letter and photo for prompt reply. Box SG19094. Dundee - Scotland - Anywhere Two very honest gay guyz, 30, 35, seek other genuine guyz of similar age, good looks, for safe horny fun. We can travel or accommodate. All letters replied with photo. Box SG19095. Gentlemen Prefer Blonds Handsome, dark haired, slim, 25, good natured, WE, considerate, sexually normal, seeks passive, slim, young male, 'not' well endowed a bonus but not essential. Send mugshot to get mine. Box SG19096. Heavy Guy Needs Love 44 year old, not bad looking, needs tender love and affection. Will answer all letters. Let us start 1998 together. Box SG19097. Edinburgh - Glasgow 26 years old, VWE guy, wants to meet active guys into red, blue, TT, poppers, smoking. Send frank letter and explicit photo for prompt reply. Can accommodate or travel. Box SG19098. Is There Anybody Out There? 45 year old male would like to meet someone who would like to visit or find out more about Spiritualist meetings in Glasgow or other areas. A drink afterwards? Box SG19099. BISEXUAL Lonely Fife Bi Seeks Similar I am a 5'6", stocky built (190lbs), 44 year old bisexual. I am looking for a "no strings attached" 1-2-1. I am straight acting and very discrete. Age or looks unimportant. ALA. Box SG19070. Let's Do It Now!!! 6 ft blond, blue eyed bi-guy, attractive and 9" cut, seeks ANYTHING goes fun. Phone/e-mail for reply. Box SG19027. MIXED *** Urgent *** GWM, 30 year old USA passport holder, seeks Irish, UK (EU) female for MBA. Discretion assured. Box SG19019. LOOKING FOR Barry From Dundee We met in Edinburgh during the Festival. I gave you my card, but didn't have e-mail. I do now: soitgoes@scn.org I will be in London August '98, let's get in touch. Rick from Seattle. FRIENDS ABROAD TX Gal ISO Scottish Lass E-Pal Howdy from San Antonio, Texas! 45 year old lesbian plans Scotland visit next summer w/girlfriend, wishes to correspond with Scottish lesbian who could advise where to go and what to do while there. Homepage is http://members.tripod.com/~cyndi45/index.html - please e-mail cyndigo@txdirect.net or write: Cyndi Johnson, 12231 Ridge Spur, San Antonio, TX 78347-3482, USA. Wanted! Hot, young stud to dominate me during my visit from New York the week of Feb. 2, 1998. I'm very in shape and cute. hope you're young and need a "slave". Write: Gary Renville, 557 Martling Avenue, Tarrytown, New York, 10591, USA or e-mail: nyshark243@aol.com Hunky New Yorker En route to Scotland in March, 1998. This 33 yrs. 6ft. 200lbs swarthy American hunk looking for local contacts throughout Scotland. Red headed, bearded highlanders with legs like treetrunks particularly interesting. Detailed responses with pic will get same. Write: David Carballo, 121 East 31st St. Apt. 12D, New York, NY 10016-6837, USA or e-mail: DavCarballo@webTV.net Cuba Pedro Julio Ochoa, 35, 1.70, 60 Kg. Industrial engineer. Work in show business. Hobbies: languages, trips (journeys), sports, music, nature. Looking for penfriends all around the world. Write to me at: Calle 6 No 92, La Quinta, Holguin, 80 900 Cuba. 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 ACCOMMODATION OFFERED Dundee Central House Share Gay guy looking for someone to share a spacious 2 bedroom flat. Close to town. Good decor. Easy going preferred. Box SG19037. 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! Central Edinburgh Full versatile service by boyish blond. Call Danny on 0976 885981. Visit me/hotel calls. Withheld numbers not answered. 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. SERVICES Contact Mag Contact Mag for adults: contains over 600 photos. Approval copy from: Matchmaker (K38), Chorley, PR7 4BS. Or ring: 01257 480155 (24 hours). 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 WWW: http://www.angelfire.com/ga/lgb/index.html Special December offer: write in for FREE copy of our November Newsletter with full details of our special offer! 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) 622787. 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. 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. 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 ============= 1997 World News in Review More gay news emerged from more corners of the world in 1997 than ever before - and most of it was good. Our hunky International Correspondent, Rex Wockner, looks back on an interesting year... General explanations for the mostly good news are difficult when the topic is the entire planet but here are a few facts: + The increasingly influential courts of the European Union and the Council of Europe inevitably come down on the side of gays and lesbians who file appeals from the 40 nations that belong to one of the two groupings. + The Internet has made the planet a much smaller place. Gay activists in Guatemala City, Hong Kong, Kiev and Santiago now know all about the latest successes in Amsterdam, Copenhagen, San Francisco and Sydney - and they are demanding the same things. Inspired by what they read when they log on, gays, lesbians and transgendered people in the most far-flung of places are filing lawsuits, marching, and coming out in the local media. The Internet is the most important organizing resource the worldwide gay cause has seen. + Major news services are increasingly carrying routine gay news, and newspapers and broadcast outlets across the planet are increasingly picking up the stories. Visibility is step one on the road to equality and a powerful synergism between visibility and news coverage is underway worldwide. Here, then, are some of the highlights of 1997's global gay news. WE ARE ON A ROLL! + A lesbian activist won election to Mexico's Congress in July. Patria Jiménez took her seat in the Chamber of Deputies Sept. 1 as a representative of the left-wing Democratic Revolution Party. She is one of the 200 legislators in the 500-member body who are selected by political parties rather than by direct voting. Each party appoints a number of specially listed candidates to represent a several-state region, based on the percentage of the vote the party received in the region. + Ecuador's Constitutional Tribunal unanimously struck down the nation's gay-sex ban in November. The gay groups Andean Triangle Movement and En Directo and the AIDS Education and Prevention Foundation had filed suit against Penal Code Article 516 on Sept. 24. It punished gay sex with four to eight years in prison. Only three other places in Latin America ban homosexuality - Chile, Nicaragua and the U.S. Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. + The British Columbia legislature changed the definition of "spouse" in the Family Relations Act to include same-sex partners in July. The legislation was aimed at recognizing same-sex unions in matters of child custody, access and support. But the effect may be more wide-ranging, giving gay couples many of the same rights as common-law heterosexual couples. + The Netherlands' special parliamentary committee on gay equality instructed the government to legalize gay marriage and adoption in October. The government is expected to do so by April. It will be real marriage rather than specialized gay partnership like in Scandinavia. Meanwhile, on Jan. 16, a new Dutch partnership law comes into effect. It grants registered gay and straight couples every right of matrimony except access to adoption and artificial insemination. Four other countries offer marriage-like gay partnerships: Denmark (and Greenland), Iceland, Norway and Sweden. The laws grant all rights of matrimony except access to adoption, artificial-conception services and church weddings. In Iceland, though, partners can obtain joint custody of each other's biological children. In Hungary, common-law gay marriage was made legal last year. All matrimonial rights are included except access to adoption. + The Costa Rican Supreme Court in September ordered the nation's government-run health-care system to buy anti-HIV "cocktail" drugs for four people with AIDS who had filed suit over the matter. It was expected that the ruling will extend to other HIV-positive Costa Ricans. + Brazil's Medical Council gave the OK in September for free sex-change operations in public and university hospitals. "Techniques are sufficiently developed to demonstrate that the surgery is not mutilation," said council President Waldir Mesquita. + The High Court of South Africa's Western Cape province legalized gay sex in July. Although South Africa is the only nation in the world that bans discrimination based on sexual orientation via its constitution, many older laws still discriminate against gays. In September, the National Coalition for Gay and Lesbian Equality and the national Human Rights Commission filed a High Court suit against several remaining laws that prohibit gay sex. + Following a nine-year campaign by activists, the Australian state of Tasmania legalized gay sex in May, wiping out the nation's last sodomy ban. The penalty was 25 years in prison. + Gays won Japan's first gay-rights lawsuit in September. The Tokyo High Court ruled that the city Board of Education discriminated against the gay group Occur by refusing to let its members hold an overnight study meeting at a city-run youth hostel. "The city government should have given due consideration to homosexual people, and its indifference and ignorance will not be tolerated," the court said. + The tiny European nation of San Marino legalized gay sex in July. Members of Parliament voted 28-21, with one abstention, to repeal laws that banned "libidinous acts with persons of the same sex" under penalty of one year in jail. + Argentina extended government widow/widower pensions to same-sex partners in June although political pressure has prevented any payments from being made yet. At the same time, the unions for teachers and flight attendants extended health-care benefits to gay employees' lovers. + A gay man won his fight to receive an Israeli Defence Force spousal pension in January. A Tel Aviv District Court Appeals Committee said the military engaged in illegal gender-based discrimination when it withheld benefits from Adir Steiner after his male lover, Col. Doron Meisel, died of cancer in 1991. + The secretariat general of the Council of Europe granted consultative status to the International Lesbian and Gay Association in November. It takes effect Jan. 15 unless objections arise from the Council's Committee of Ministers or Parliamentary Assembly. WHAT PART OF 'EVERYWHERE' DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND? + Sixty gays, lesbians and transgendered people marched in Lima, Peru's first gay-pride parade in July. "We are no longer invisible," said gay leader Oscar Ugarteche. + Three hundred lesbians and a few drag queens marched through Tokyo's Shibuya area in October in the nation's first dyke march. They banged drums and blew whistles as k.d. lang songs blasted from a sound system. + Two hundred gays and transvestites marched through San Salvador, El Salvador, in June. "Homosexuals are ... productive beings who don't want to cause harm to anyone," said William Hernandez of the gay group Entre Amigos. + About 400 people staged Hungary's first gay-pride parade in September in Budapest's busiest shopping district. They carried pink triangles, rainbow flags and signs reading, "Proud To Be Gay" and "Equal Rights For Homosexuals." + One hundred seventy marchers turned out for the first gay-pride parade in Prince George, British Columbia, Canada, in September. The city, pop. 67,621, is 12 hours by car north of Vancouver. + Over 30 gay organizations staged Taiwan's first gay/lesbian pride festival in June. Organizers of "Rainbows, Homosexuals and Dreams in the Park" said they hoped "to encourage recognition and friendship from the general public." + About 3,000 people showed up at Lisbon, Portugal's first Pride Festival in Principe Real Park. The events, which included a variety show and a fireworks display, were heavily covered by the media. + About 225 gays and lesbians, half from Mexico and half from the U.S., walked the length of Tijuana's glitzy and rowdy Revolution Avenue in June to loud cheers from both supporters and hundreds of surprised shoppers and partiers. It was Tijuana's third annual pride march down the city's busiest street. Another 200 people walked the entire route on the pavement to stay out of the view of TV cameras. + About 10,000 gays and lesbians marched from Madrid's Puerta de Alcala to the Puerta del Sol in February demanding legal recognition of gay partnerships. It was Spain's largest gay demonstration since the 1970s. + More than 5,000 protesters descended on the New South Wales Parliament House in Sydney, Australia, in October demanding that the age of consent for gay sex be reduced to 16, which is the legal age for straight sex. When Stevie Clayton of the Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby called on closeted gay MPs to "pay your dues," the crowd chanted "Out them, out them." + Ignoring pressure from the Catholic Church, Carnival organizers in Barranquilla, Colombia, allowed a contingent of gays and transvestites to march in the Grand Parade and elect their own Carnival Queen in February. "This is about art and culture. We're not at all immoral like the archbishop is saying," one transvestite told local TV news. + Fifty delegates from across Brazil converged on Salvador in Bahia state in September for the Second National Lesbian Conference. + Gay and transgendered members of Rosario, Argentina's Rainbow Collective picketed the Provincial Tribunal in September "to present to the public and the media the situation of transvestites in our city and denounce the police and judges who violate our rights with total impunity." + Attacks from President Sam Nujoma spurred gay organizing in Namibia. "The response from the wider society has been very positive and supportive and even the [governing] Swapo [party] politicians have softened their tone," said Rainbow Project spokesman Niko Kisting. Among Nujoma's remarks: "Homosexuals must be condemned and rejected in our society." + The formation of Swaziland's first gay group caused an uproar. Prime Minister Sibusiso Dlamini called homosexuality an "abnormality and sickness" and former Prime Minister Prince Bhekimpi, who is also a chief, threatened to evict gays and lesbians from his region of the country because "homosexuality is regarded as satanic in Swaziland." FIVE NAUGHTY AUTHORITIES + Authorities smashed South Korea's "1st Seoul Queer Film & Video Festival" in September hours before it was to open at Yonsei University. They threatened to seize the equipment and films and fine organizers $22,000 if they went ahead with the program. + The homosexual-assault trial of former Zimbabwean President Canaan Banana began in September in Harare's High Court but was quickly suspended to await a ruling on whether he can receive a fair trial. Banana is charged with 11 counts of sodomy, attempted sodomy and indecent assault on seven aides, a cook, a gardener and a bodyguard. t Several hundred people were detained in an August raid on Havana's most popular gay discotheque, El Periquiton. Police said they targeted the club because prostitutes, pimps and minors were present. But sources in Havana and Miami said the raid was the latest move in a widescale crackdown on all things gay. Several other private gay clubs also have been raided, along with government nightclubs whose customers were predominantly homosexual. And the Cuban Association of Gays and Lesbians, which formed in 1994, has been squashed and its members taken into custody from their places of employment. + The Singapore gay group People Like Us exhausted all appeals in its effort to be registered in August and the government ordered the group to cease operations. Participating in an "unlawful society" in Singapore can lead to three years in jail. + Denmark's parliament banned lesbians from obtaining artificial insemination in state-run or private clinics in May. The procedure is now available only to women who are married or in a marriage-like heterosexual partnership. QUEEREST QUOTES OF 1997 REVELATIONS "Tom is so big and so manly, he could, you know, just grab me. I was like Vivien Leigh to his Clark Gable." -Actor Kevin Kline to Entertainment Weekly on his kissing scene with Tom Selleck in the film In and Out. "I used to fight with my daddy and my mama about the stuff I wore. I wasn't doing it to be trashy. I was doing it 'cause I didn't feel right just being ordinary. It was almost like being gay. It's a good thing I was born a woman, 'cause I'da damn sure been a drag queen if I hadn't. I can't get flamboyant enough." -Singer Dolly Parton to Out magazine, July issue. ELLENMANIA "I accept this on behalf of all the people - and the teenagers out there especially ... who think there's something wrong with them because they're gay. There's nothing wrong with you, and don't ever let anybody make you feel ashamed of who you are." -Ellen DeGeneres accepting the Emmy award for outstanding writing in a comedy series, Sept. 14. "Let's go out and terrify some Baptists!" -Actress Emma Thompson, playing herself in an episode of Ellen, as she prepares to out herself as a lesbian during a televised awards ceremony. The Southern Baptist church is boycotting Disney, which owns ABC, in part due to Ellen Morgan's coming out. SEX AND ASSIMILATION "There are those people who wish to make us, quote unquote, palatable to the mainstream. That's how they think we are going to be able to gain our rights. I don't believe that. I believe that we have our culture and our own way of doing things. I also think that if we had spent half as much time dealing with the government as we've spent yelling at each other, we would have had our rights 20 years ago." -Comic Lea DeLaria to The New York Times, Aug. 20. "I did not fight all those hideous battles, and watch all those people die, so you young kids could go out there and make the same fucking mistakes we made in the first place that killed so many of my, our, brothers. We did not fight those battles so you could get drugged out of your tits and fuck your minds out and dance for three days straight and then go to the gyms and pump your bodies back into some balloon full of hot air and then go to work, go back into the world and just sit on your asses until the following weekend. Is your most important purpose in life to look good without a shirt on the dance floor? That was how my generation behaved when they were your age and they're all dead!" -Author/activist Larry Kramer writing in New York City's LGNY, July 6. IN AND OUT "By declaring her homosexuality, Jodie would be an inspiration to thousands and thousands of others like her. If Jodie is indeed a lesbian - and I assume she is - she should come out." -Actress Jodie Foster's brother Buddy to The National Enquirer, May 27. "We even have homosexual wallabies and lesbian penguins." -San Francisco Zoo zookeeper Jane Tollini to the San Francisco Examiner, Feb. 7. Tollini runs the Zoo's "R-Rated Sex Tour." MEOW! "His asshole was busier than his toilet." -Gay author Larry Kramer on gay author Edmund White's autobiographical book, The Farewell Symphony, as quoted in the Village Voice, Sept. 16. "Fuck you and fuck your father." -Gay actor-writer Harvey Fierstein to Michael Reagan during taping of the May 20 episode of Politically Incorrect when the topic turned to Ronald Reagan's handling of AIDS. "Great revenge on the homophobic old bastard." -Tales of the City author Armistead Maupin on the fact that gay waiters regularly challenge his father (Armistead Maupin Sr.) over the name on his credit card, to The Guardian, Feb. 3. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- REVIEWS ======= books The End of Alice by A.M.Homes Anchor, UKP6.99 This is the book they tried to ban in America. The narrator of the End of Alice is a pædophile serving his 23rd year in prison who has been corresponding with a 19 year old woman who is intent on seducing a young neighbourhood boy. I thought that with all the fuss in the USA at the time this book was published over there that this novel would be totally shocking, but as it turns out, it is just a mirror of our society today. A society that lacks understanding and love and that leaves room for only negative actions and images. The End of Alice is disturbing, though by no means shocking, as the events that happen are sadly an everyday occurrence. But it takes a true genius and courageous person to tackle this taboo subject. As with the Myra Hindley painting which was recently in the headlines, people always want to ban the image or words that disturb their cosy little world and instead of banning things they should maybe help do something towards gaining a better understanding of those around them. A.Finklestein In Awe by Scott Heim Black Swan, UKP6.99 Probably one of my favourite authors today, it was a pity that I could not get down to London to meet him, but maybe someday!!!!. In Awe is a book full of passion, be that love, hope, despair, sadness and death. Oh, I hear you say, that sounds like a lovely book for Christmas. Well, yes it is, after all, isn't it the season of goodwill to all men, but isn't it a shame that the hypocrisy lives on? By that I mean should the case not be that we care for others all year round instead of just for Christmas. When you read in this book about Sarah, Harriet and Boris you start to get drawn into their lives and soon find yourself believing that these people are real and you travel along on the journey with them. Again, as in previous books by this author, we read about people living on the edge of society's norms, abused souls looking to live in a world of their own, a place where they can be loved and loving, but reality can be a real downer and soon starts to rear its ugly head. What happens is... well why don't you just go out and buy a copy and at only UKP6.99 you can't get a better rate of entertainment value. Scott Heim is the new messiah. Mysterious Skin was the debut novel by Scott Heim and is also published by Black Swan. Physique - The Life Of John S. Barrington by Rupert Smith Serpents Tail, UKP14.99 At first glance I thought, why should someone want to write yet another book about a photographer, because after all there are a lot of them about? But this is no ordinary photographer and certainly no ordinary person. This book shows a man who outshone all those around him and whose flamboyance and charm won him many friends and he could quite literally charm the pants off those he met. His list of occupations include pornographer, photographer, artist, actor, theatrical designer of sets and costumes, magazine editor, sculptor, engraver, producer, writer and director of plays and films etc. etc... He lived a full and, by all accounts, happy life. I hope that after you've read this book you will be inspired to go and do the things you have always wanted to. Amsterdam Scene Thai Scene GMP, UKP7.95 Invaluable pocket sized books for the discerning gay traveller. Would make a wonderful Christmas present for any budding globetrotter. Just two of many guides to the gay sights in the world. Get in touch with GMP for other destinations covered by these consistently well researched travel companions. White Rose of Night by Mel Keegan GMP, UKP8.95 This book would make a great present for young gay teenagers who are just discovering their sexuality, because it shows them that being gay is not just about seedy sex in back alleys or public toilets in the park. Just as in the straight world, there is room for relationships and this I feel might help young people realise that there is nothing wrong with them and that they are normal. I personally would not go out and buy this book as it leans too much towards the Barbara Cartland style of writing, but Mel Keegan and his books should have a place in libraries, both public and in educational establishments. In Guilty Night by Alison Taylor Penguin, UKP5.99 A teenage boy is found dead on the railway, he is naked and he has been abused. He was supposed to be in a secure care institution and, although this story is fiction, it does of course have many parallels with real life. Not surprising, considering that the author has made a career in social work. She has to be admired for exposing the abuse of children in care, and I think she is very brave to take on the system that for too long has been run almost exclusively by Judges, Doctors, Policemen, Social Workers, Care Workers, Teachers, etc., etc. Incidentally, I, as a working class person was always taught to respect those people, yet these are the same people who have been able to cover up for their abuse for many, many years because of who they are or who they know. From about the age of 11, I used to love finding men to have sex with, but that was my choice and it was not thrust upon me as it is in the case of abuse. When I was a child I was always asking my mum to put me in a children's home, because I feared my violent dad, but she always denied me that wish. I think she loved me too much for that and it is quite ironic then to think that if I had gone into care I would more than likely have ended up in one of the same children's homes where allegedly a lot of abuse has taken place in the 70s and which are now finding themselves under investigation. A care home without love is no home at all. This book is a brilliant stab right to the heart of the British care system and I salute you, Alison Taylor, thanks to you we can start twisting that knife and cause the guilty a lot of grief. All we can do is SURVIVE. Love Sucks by Ken Shakin GMP, UKP9.95 Collection of NY stories of love hate and anonymous sex. I enjoyed reading these stories, hope you will too. Have a Merry Christmas. A.L.Martin Dares To Speak- Historical and Contemporary perspectives on boy-love by Joseph Geraci Gay Men's Press , UKP14.95 When did you discover sex? When did you discover that that thing down there could give you pleasure? So who are you to thing that children are not sexual beings? This anthology has gathered contributions from a wide range of international authorities and certainly will change your outlook on the facts of intergenerational sexuality. It is not all abuse and to be condemned out of hand. Admittedly, taken out of context, the notion of sexuality and children might be repulsive to a wide variety of people, but then so does the notion of consenting adults. Is the persecution of known boy lovers in this country not a modern equivalent of the Witch Hunt in the Middle Ages? The Victorian attitudes and moral values we still cling to do not become our age any longer and I am afraid that the moral subterfuge of Mr. Blair and his Christian cronies will do nothing to change the hysteria and misinformation adopted by the press and the rest of the media. Oscar Wilde was imprisoned over a hundred years ago for "The Love that Dares not Speak its Name" and still there doesn't seem to be the slightest shimmer of a light at the end of this particular tunnel. Brilliant civilizations have risen where this love was seen to be a normal part of development, whether it was the Samurai of medieval Japan, the brilliant artists and philosophers of ancient Greece, the merchants and traders of the great early Islamic civilizations or the warriors of the Celtic Gauls. So is our civilization really that civilized? Ricardo Nanchez film Movies with gay themes have never been box office in America. But they have come up with "In And Out" which has appealed to their small town audiences - probably because it is a small town story about a gay teacher - Kevin Kline. One of his students, Matt Dillon, has become big in movies and is receiving an Academy Award for playing a gay soldier in a war film. When accepting his Oscar he says, on worldwide TV, this is a tribute to his high school teacher who gave him drama lessons and is gay. Teacher Kevin is to be married a few days later and his town watches the TV programme in wide eyed disbelief. His mother, Debbie Reynolds (the same one who danced across the screen with Gene Kelly in "Singin' In The Rain" 45 years ago) and his fiancee, Joan Cusack wonder why this could happen to them. Dozens of TV reporters arrive to interview him including one, Tom Selleck, who is pleased to tell him that he is gay and proud of it - as he kisses him on the lips. All thls makes an amusing comedy as far as straight audiences are concerned. But a gay viewer will be a fraction more critical. The age Mr Kline Is playing is not stated. But his conversations with the wife-to-be reveal sex has not happened in their three year engagement. How could someone who has lived in the closet all his life, which is likely to be the case with many teachers across the world, contemplate giving his wife a disastrous married sex life? Despite this lack of reality in the plotline you will enjoy "In And Out". "Kiss Me Guido" will have a more limited release, but is worth tracking down as the New York characters in it are gay in a witty way with no denials. Twenty four year old Frankie Zito is an Italian American with big acting aspirations who is tired of working in a pizza cafe. Catching his girlfriend having sex with his brother makes him determined to move in a hurry. He answers a flatshare ad that has, in abbreviations, GWM, which he assumes means Guy With Money. The advertiser thinks readers will know that it means Gay White Male. A clash of cultures begins. The homophobia and heterophobia expressed in a clever script, plus a cast of interesting new faces, are well worth your time. The Canadian lady director and writer of "Kissed", Lynne Stopkewich, must know where her audience is, but I can't help feeling it is not a large one. Am I wrong in thinking necrophilia Is not a favourite subject with many? Leading lady Molly Parker plays a girl obsessed with making love to dead bodies. She wangles a job in her local undertakers and finds recently deceased young men irresistible. Studying embalming engrosses her. I hoped her affair with an attractive medical student might help her realise the advantages of men with blood still coursing through their veins. But he decides to end their relationship in a way I won't explain just in case you happen to be in the minority who can't resist corpses. "Bring Me The Head Of Mavis Davis" has the lovely Jane Horrocks, best known to TV audiences as the hopeless secretary In "Absolutely Fabulous", as a pop star looking for a hit record and her recording manager, Rik Mayall, desperate to find her one. Years without hits mean Rik has had his house repossessed, his Jaguar blown up by gangster debt collectors and his life threatened. Gang boss Danny Aiello now insists his talentless son be turned into a major pop star. Through all the hysteria Ms Horrocks emerges as a very talented lady. Early February brings the release of "Hard Rain", an action movie difficult to resist if, like me, you love to watch torrential downpours and rivers bursting their banks with alarming results. Armoured car guard, Christian Slater, is carrying $3 million when the vehicle slithers to a halt in mud and water. Armed robbers kill his partner and, led by Morgan Freeman, chase him in speed boats around the town in the dead of night to persuade him to give up the money. It must have been shot In horrendous conditions with the production crew afloat continually. I hope it wasn't this film that made Mr Slater take to cocaine in a big way and assault a policeman under the influence of it. He has been given a three month gaol sentence and will go into a drug rehabilitation clinic for the same period. The same day, that incredibly attractive Robert Downey Jr. was put away for six months on drug charges. Could the moral be life may not be perfect when you have vast amounts of money in the bank? Best Of The Current Releases "I Know What You Did Last Summer" has teenage students driving at night who are horrified to feel someone they have run into on a desolate road hitting the car's grill with force as they shudder to a halt. On the empty road the crumpled form of a man appears to have stopped breathing. With the prospect of scandal and possible arrest clouding their bright futures, in the darkness they make a decision that will change their lives forever. Pushing the body off a seaside pier they think their secret slides into the murky depths with it. They are wrong. Someone saw them do it. One by one he will bring the same terror to them that they brought to the stranger who happened be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Ideal for audiences who like having their nerves shattered. You may prefer "This World, Then The Fireworks" that offers a little incest and murder for audiences who don't have much of either in their lives. The stunning Billy Zane and his sister, Gina Gershon, grow up in a world of violence and murder which, the script explains, leads them to incest. Rue McClanahan is their long suffering mother who is understandably at her wits' end for, although she has produced the best-looking offspring In the state, they have no apparent conscience about maiming or murdering anybody. It is chiefly memorable for watching Mr Zane chat up any girl he fancies with her resistance weakening as she studies him and realises the excitement she will be missing if she lets him go. "Persons Unknown" is one half of a very good thriller. Joe Mantegna Is a former cop who runs a failing security business. He is pleasantly surprised when an attractive blonde throws herself at him. But, after a one night stand, he realises her motive. Some of his confidential files have been stolen. He manages to track her down and discovers she is part a gang planning to rob some of his former clients who happen to be big time drug dealers. If watching maniacs on the loose with guns is your scene you could enjoy this. But there is so much shooting I began to feel they were aiming at me. 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. GAY MEN'S TASK FORCE: Freephone 0800 525253 (Mon-Tue 7pm-9pm). 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. HEALTHY GAY SCOTLAND: Freephone 0800 731 8101 (7-10pm). Advice and info on AIDS/HIV. Free condoms and lube available by post from their website: http://www.hgscotland.org.uk 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. Wham! - Everything She Wants (Forthright Club Mix) (Epic) 2. Absurd - Behaviour (Whoop!) 3. Orinoko - Mama Konda (Timo Maas 'Low Budget' Remix) (3Lanka) 4. Martha Wash featuring Ru Paul - It's Raining Men...The Sequel (Dillon & Dickens Hers & Hers Vox Mix) (Logic) 5. M.T.C. (Deal) 6. Ollie vs Jon The Dentist - The Fourth Kingdom (Ollie's Kingdom) (Bosca Beats) 7. Pete Wardman - Do What You Like / Overdose (Shift) 8. Viper - The Twister (Terry Francis Ruff Tuff Dub) (Hooj Choons) 9. S-J - I Feel Divine (Queen Maxine & Vikki Red's Kitty Lips Mix / Steve Thomas Tradetubbies Mix / Tall Paul Mix) (React) 10. Ironik - Slave / The Unexpected (TEC) 11. Five - Slam Dunk Da Funk (Bug Remix / Sol Brothers) (RCA) 12. Mega'lo Mania - Emotion (Enriched) 13. The Freak & Mac Zimms - ? (Fruitloop Trade Mix) (Tripoli Trax) 14. Red 5 - Lift Me Up (Jean & Peran Mix / Experts Remix) (Multiply) 15. BT - Flaming June (BT &PVD Mix / BBE Club Mix 1 & 2) (Perfecto) 16. The Combat Force - Combat Assault (The Original Force Mix) (Triebhafte) 17. Louise - Let's Go Round Again (Paul Gotel's Warrior Dub / 187 Lockdown Dub) (EMI) 18. U2 - MOFO (Matthew Roberts Explicit Remix) (White Label) 19. D-Tune - The Fan (2-Play) 20. Soundscape - Dubplate Culture (49 South Mix) (Satellite) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SCOTSDYKE ========= DYKE'S DIARY So, Tony Blair's new proposal is to cut benefits for lone parents from April, and most of the country are up in arms about it and rightfully so. That includes 120 of Tony's own MPs. Under the cuts, lone parents will be UKP5 to UKP10 worse off every week. The Social Security Bill will see any new claimants on Income Support denied the Lone Parent Premium from April. Now Tony's not that bad, he's putting money into after school clubs set up to look after our kids while we work, but most schools don't take kids until they are six years old for after school clubs. This new act wants parents into the Job Centres for interviews when the youngest child is of school age which could be as young as 41/2. Most lone parents who do manage to get a job make on average UKP10 a week above their previous benefits. This is because of the availability of low paid jobs together with the added expense of cut housing benefit, so parents will have to pay all or part rent not to mention travelling expenses and child care if children are not of school or school club age. If the government want lone parents to seek employment, they should pass an Act making a statutory minimum wage. Instead of this, they are attempting to abolish one parent benefit thereby making parents worse off and leaving them with no desire to seek employment. No government will build a future pushing people further into debt and poverty which will only lead succeeding generations into vast social dilemmas. If the childcare provisions are successful, it should not be achieved by a direct attack on the people who are already suffering. The majority of lesbian mothers are single or are seen to be single (due to the fact that the government will not let us get married!) or maybe we just haven't found the woman of our dreams. But don't let all this doom and gloom spoil your festive season, get out there and spend the money (while you still have it to spend) and make sure you above everything else have a very Gay Xmas and a Merry New Year. See you all next year. Love, Heather PS. I'd just like to say thank you to my other half. It's been a great year together, Anne - I love you. xxx BOOK REVIEW Lucy On The West Coast by Mary Beth Caschetta Alyson Books, UKP6.99 This book is full of short stories which are written with a clear insight into the human heart. Lucy is a Puerto Rican lesbian who is obsessed with the fact that she has AIDS but she has not been tested and has encounters with the ghosts of past boyfriends. Then there is 'Old Country', the story of two ageing Italian women who have been through the confines of marriage, children and a life time of strict religion when one innocent kiss threatens to smash their beliefs to smithereens. These are only two of the ten short stories in this funny but sensitive view of American life. Definitely a good Xmas pressie! Heather White ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- CREDITS ======= ScotsGay: a bi-monthly magazine for lesbians, gays and bisexuals edited, printed and published in Scotland. ISSN: 1357-0595. (c) Pageprint Publishing Limited, December 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), A., Ricardo & A.L. (Books), Malcolm Epstien (Film), Alan Nicholls (Music), Heather White (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