SCOTSGAY MAGAZINE ================= ScotsGay is a bi-monthly magazine for lesbians, gay men and bisexuals. Edited, printed and published in Scotland Issue 27 - April 1999 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 1999. 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 Inside this issue: Editorial - turn out your pockets News - reports & investigations Election - election round-up Media - scottish media monitor The nice bit - being honest Letters - open forum Ogg's view - how things change InsideOUT Edinburgh Glasgow Inverness Granny Spice Moray Dundee Aberdeen ScotsGay voice - our own 1 - 1 dating service Boxes - the scotsgay meet market Venues - what and where International - news from around the world Reviews - books & film Listings Switchboards - helplines around the country Music - joy & mingin' dj alan's chart Scotsdyke - beer, glorious beer! -------------------------------------------------------------------------- EDITORIAL ========= Following last year's collapse of the London Pride Festival, it seems that this year will see a queer pop concert, run by commercial interests, costing ukp10 a skull. Probably cheap at the price if you're into that sort of thing. But not if you're there mainly for the Pride March and the Festival event afterwards is peripheral. Certainly, last year I enjoyed the Happy Walk more than I had done for yonks. There was a real sense of community arising from the way in which things were thrown together at the last moment when it looked like cancellation seemed the only option. Everybody seemed to rally round to make sure that things could happen. And it's that sort of community spirit which is needed in Edinburgh at the moment. It's an open secret that Pride Scotland is having problems in raising all the money it needs to put on its planned programme. It seems that Edinburgh, unlike Glasgow last year, is being a bit canny with its cash when it comes to supporting Pride. Gay businesses in the City have been slow to contribute whilst Edinburgh Council's support falls far short of that provided by Glasgow's Council last year. Pride Scotland WILL happen - there's no doubt of that. It's just that it could be so much bigger and better if some of the main beneficiaries of thousands of pooves, dykes and bicycles descending on the city and spending money in their establishments could be persuaded to pass on some of that money in the form of advertising in the Pride Programme or other assistance to Pride Scotland. The folk at Pride Scotland work bloody hard to ensure that we all have a good day out. They need our support and our money! John Hein -------------------------------------------------------------------- NEWS ==== MARCH ROUTE VICTORY FOR PRIDE SCOTLAND Few people knew about it, but two years ago in 1997, just a week before Pride Scotland, a half dozen strong delegation of bus company representatives turned up at St Leonard's Police Station in Edinburgh and demanded that the route for that year's Pride march be altered. They were objecting to the fact that we march up Broughton Street and across the Picardy Place roundabout near CC Bloom's. They wanted us to start somewhere else, somewhere like Regent Road or Waterloo Place, somewhere that would disrupt fewer of their bus routes. They claimed many thousands of their passengers would have their journeys disrupted by Pride. They were really pissed off. Well, those bus companies were told "tough luck - your objection has come too late" and the march went ahead in 1997 as planned, but objections like those are kept on file, and they've come back to haunt Pride in 1999. For the last three months Stuart Brown, March Co-ordinator for Pride Scotland, has been locked in negotiations with the Police and City Council over the starting point and route for this year's march : "When we first started looking at the march route back in January, we realised we were going to have a battle on our hands... The authorities wanted us to go from Waterloo Place, where most marches in Edinburgh start, but through our outreach work with gay community groups around the country we discovered there was a really strong feeling about marching up Broughton Street. As one young woman put it - telling us we can't start in Broughton Street is a bit like telling the Notting Hill Carnival it can't go through Notting Hill, or the Pilton Anti-Racist Group that it can't go through Pilton. The Broughton Street area is the heart of our community." The police say that the introduction of Greenways and the new one-way system on Princes Street has put more traffic pressure on Queen Street and the Picardy Place roundabout, but the situation has not been helped by a recent change over of personnel at Gayfield Square Police Station, on whose patch the march will take place. "Gayfield Square has done some really good work on relations with the gay community over the last few years", says Stuart, "but the guy whose job it will be to police our march is new at Gayfield and I think new to gay issues. It was difficult for him to understand the importance that marching up Broughton Street holds for us." The disagreement came to a head last month, when the matter was referred to the Licensing Committee of Edinburgh's City Council. In a speech to Councillors, March Co-ordinator Stuart Brown said that while he understood police concerns that several thousand of bus passengers and car users would have their journeys disrupted by the event, those people would probably forget about it all within a few days, whereas for the several thousand people on the march it was a very special day that would be remembered for a long time. The Council Committee voted unanimously to approve Pride Scotland's march route request. The Pride Scotland March & Festival will be held in Edinburgh on Saturday 19th June. The March will assemble on East London Street at 11.30 am, and move-off up Broughton Street at 12.30 p.m. Pride Scotland is a not-for-profit event staffed by unpaid volunteers. They need your cash so please give generously! Pride Scotland is also looking for responsible folk to act as stewards on the day. If you'd like to volunteer your services, leave a message for Lesley or Ian on : 0141-400 2640. Pride has a new image with a corporate logo and festival logo both designed by James Adam. They also have a new web site and domain name: http://www.pridescotland.org/. GONE SOUTH Gay Scotland has ceased publication following the collapse of Editor-in-Chief Paul Bryan-Ivison's company Simon Peters Publishing Ltd with debts believed to exceed ukp20,000. Mr Bryan-Ivison has left the country after asking at least one advertiser to make payment in respect of advertising to a party other than Simon Peters Publishing Limited. TRADE London based club Trade has arrived North of the Border. It's being held monthly at the Arches in Glasgow's Midland Street. TOURISTS The British Tourist Authority has been embarrassed following the publication of a leaflet featuring gay venues in several British towns and cities. The embarrassment arises from the fact that the information is out of date and includes establishments which have been closed for some time. WUNCH Bank of Scotland continues to attract opprobrium following their joint business venture with American right wing preacher and homophobe Pat Robertson. The GGLC is the most recent gay venture to take their bank account elsewhere! 16 OR BUST The new Scottish Parliament will have powers to lower the male gay age of consent but indications are that it will leave Westminster to legislate following the rejection by the Lords of the recent Bill. ALERT The Gay Community throughout the UK have been warned to be alert following the London bombings claimed by Combat 18. Intelligence sources claim that gay venues may be next on the list for attention from the bombers. WEB Edinurgh Club Nights Shebang and Taste have arrived on the Internet. They can be found at http://www.webflyers.co.uk/shebang/ and http://www.webflyers.co.uk/taste/ FORTEAN The Claremont Bar in Edinburgh is now host to regular meetings of the Edinburgh Fortean Society on the second Friday of each month from 8.30pm. The society concerns itself with the paranormal and other unexplained happenings. --------------------------------------------------------------------- ELECTIONS ========= THINK PINK BEFORE YOU VOTE On May 6th, Scotland elects its first Parliament for 300 years. Under the new Additional Member System (AMS), we each have two votes. On the first, purple, ballot paper we vote for our constituency Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP), just as in a Westminster general election. There are 73 constituencies across Scotland. This is a "first-past-the-post" vote - the person with the most votes in a constituency becomes the MSP for that constituency. On the second, peach, ballot paper, we vote for a party (or an individual). It can be the same or a different party to the party of the candidate (or the individual) we vote for on the first ballot paper. These second votes are totalled in 8 regions across Scotland. In each region, the second vote is used to allocate 7 additional "top-up" MSPs amongst the parties, on top of any constituency MSPs for each party elected on the first ballot paper for constituencies in that region. The 7 top-up MSPs for each region are allocated to bring the total number of MSPs for each party (or individual) in that region as close as possible into proportion to the vote for the party (or individual) in that region on the second ballot paper. The top-up MSPs for each party are allocated from a list of names submitted by the party and printed on the second ballot paper underneath the party's name. What this means in practice is that if a party wins most of the first-past-the-post constituency seats in a region, it will not win any top-up seats in that region unless it wins a large proportion of the second vote as well. On the other hand, a party which polls 30% of the second vote in a region, but has failed to win any constituencies in the region, will get several top-up MSPs. However, under this version of AMS, it is the parties who choose the vital order of the party lists - voters have to accept the lists provided by the party as they are and have no influence over which candidates on a list are actually elected. The second vote is particularly significant for small parties. It is possible to win a top-up seat in the Holyrood Parliament with as little as 6 or 7% of the second vote in one region. The top-up MSPs (56 of them in total) will have exactly the same powers in the Parliament as the 73 first-past-the-post constituency MSPs. WHO TO VOTE FOR? ScotsGay has been looking at the parties' views on LGBT equality. What is their record? What does their election manifesto say? What is their response to the Equality Network's "Equality at Holyrood" manifesto for LGBT equality at the Scottish Parliament? (Copies available from Equality Network, 58a Broughton St, Edinburgh, EH1 3SA. or on their web site http://www.diversity.org.uk/equality/legal/edinburgh/manifesto.html) Conservative & Unionist Party: The Tories' record on LGBT equality is pretty dismal. During the 80's, under Thatcher, they introduced Section 28, and repeatedly encouraged homophobic prejudice, as a means of attacking the Labour party. Under Major in 1994, they allowed the age of consent for sex between men to be reduced from 21 to 18, but voted against equalising it at 16, and most Tory MPs still oppose equality. The Tory manisfesto for Holyrood says they oppose discrimination on grounds of sex, race and disability but makes no mention of LGBT equality. No Tory candidate has yet responded to the Equality at Holyrood LGBT manifesto, although Kate Pickering, their health spokesperson, told the Equality Network conference that she personally supported recognition of same-gender relationships. Labour Party: Since it was elected two years ago, the Labour Government has delivered a House of Commons vote to equalise the age of consent, and has promised to force it through the House of Lords as soon as the Parliament Acts allow. However, Labour has yet to deliver on their promise to repeal Section 28. Immigration laws have been somewhat improved, and there is speculation that the government will remove the ban on lesbian and gay people in the military, but the government opposed Stonewall's Sexual Orientation Discrimination Bill to ban discrimination against LGB people. 90% of Labour's Scottish MPs support an equal age of consent. The Labour manifesto for Holyrood says "Promoting equality for all in Scotland, regardless of their age, sex, physical ability, race, religion or sexuality will be a mainstream theme of Scottish New Labour's work in the new Parliament". Several individual Labour candidates have commented on Equality at Holyrood, some pledging unequivocal support and others indicating they are "broadly supportive" but that detailed legislative proposals need to be studied. Liberal Democrat Party: The Liberal Democrats claim to be the first party to publicly support an equal age of consent, supporting it proudly during the 1992 election campaign when most other parties chose not to speak out on the issue. LibDem MP Evan Harris has fought hard at Westminster in the past two years for LGBT equality in other areas of sex offences law, and the LibDems have supported other LGBT equality proposals at Westminster. All bar one of Scottish LibDem MPs (Ray Michie) support an equal age of consent. The LibDem manifesto for Holyrood says "We will guarantee the rights of the disabled and will strengthen action against discrimination on grounds of colour, race, nationality, ethnic origin, religion, gender or sexual orientation". Some individual LibDem candidates for Holyrood have said they support all the proposals in the Equality at Holyrood manifesto, while some say that the implications of same-gender marriage rights will need to be considered before they agree to detailed proposals in this area. Scottish National Party: SNP MPs have given significant support to LGBT equality work at Westminster. In particular, they promoted the extension of the Scotland Act to include sexual orientation in its definition of equal opportunities. All bar one of the SNP's MPs support an equal age of consent. The SNP Holyrood manifesto says "The SNP will put equality at the heart of government. There will be a Parliamentary Committee on Equality supported by Commissioners with responsibility for particular groups in society, such as women, ethnic minorities, children and young people, disabled people, elderly people, gays and lesbians. A key role will be to consult with communities". The SNP proactively approached the Equality Network for details of the Equality at Holyrood manifesto. It is the only major party at the time of writing to have issued a public statement on Equality at Holyrood, and has also issued guidance on it to all SNP candidates. The SNP supports much of Equality at Holyrood. They have no formulated policy as yet on recognition of transgender identity and same-gender marriage, but say that these are issues they wish to address. Smaller Parties: The smaller parties have a chance of being elected to the Holyrood Parliament on the second, regional ballot paper, where voters vote for a party of their choice. As little as 6 to 7% of the second vote in one region is enough to win a party a seat at Holyrood. Here is information about just a few of these parties: Civil Rights Movement: The Civil Rights Movement is a new party standing only in the Lothians region. Its stated aim is to be a voice for the voiceless and those whose civil rights are denied, and that specifically includes LGBT people. Its list of eight candidates includes two LGBT activists, Helen Chambers and Tim Hopkins. It supports all the proposals in the Equality at Holyrood manifesto. Green Party: The Greens are standing on the second ballot paper in all regions of Scotland. Their manifesto promises "A 'fair deal' for all people, including fair status in employment and relationship law for gay men and lesbians". One Green candidate has responded so far to say he supports the Equality at Holyrood manifesto in full. Highlands and Islands Alliance: The Highlands and Islands Alliance is only standing in the Highlands and Islands region. It is founded on three fundamental core values: human rights, equality and inclusion. A party spokesperson explained that all three of these core values relate to LGBT equality and underline its support for full equality for LGBT people. Liberal Party in Scotland: The Liberal Party in Scotland is standing in South of Scotland and Lothians regions. Candidates are ScotsGay Editor John Hein and bi-dyke Karen Hetherington who, needless to say, support the Equality at Holyrood manifesto in full! A spokesperson said, "The Liberal Party has a long history of public support for LGBT issues which goes back long before the formation of the Liberal Democrats". Scottish Socialist Party: The Scottish Socialist Party is standing in all regions of Scotland. Party leader Tommy Sheridan has spoken in support of LGBT equality, and marched at the front of last year's Pride March. The party's spokesperson on lesbian and gay affairs is LGBT activist Keith Cowan, who said, "The Scottish Socialist Party fully supports the Equality at Holyrood manifesto". ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SCOTTISH MEDIA MONITOR ====================== Garry Otton. Talking to Glasgow, writing for ScotsGay and reading for Scotland! This is for the reader still putting his or her money in the Bank of Scotland. What these wankers did even shocked Old Mother Burnie. (Wha'?) Pissed off Tom Browne. (Naaw)! And even had Colette Douglas Home in the Scottish Daily Mail writhing that: "to see (the Bank of Scotland) throw its lot with the fast-talking, buck-raking, evangelical American (Pat Robertson) is as shocking as seeing a maiden aunt take up with a snake oil salesman." Then, what with a rather dramatic plunge in share prices, the Bank of Scotland took to crying on the shoulder of Scottish Mirror columnist and former editor of the Scottish Sun, Jack Irvine, a PR consultant and claiming himself an expert in crisis management. Now that's about as shocking as seeing your maiden aunt getting her skirt lifted by Baroness Young, isn't it? This is what Jack said, last June in the Scottish Mirror about Labour's "Pink Mafia" and their efforts to equalise the age of consent. "You know the tired old argument - if you're old enough to get married, you're old enough for a slobbering old queer to have his evil way with you… Let's remember what male homosexuals like to do with each other. They like to indulge in anal sex." (Not, as much as straight men, apparently). "Anal sex is illegal." (No it's not). "Anal sex is liable to give a chap AIDS." (No, it's not). "And remember, the next time an old fruit gets caught with his hands in a 14-year-old's pants, he will probably get off when he lisps: 'but I thought the boy looked 16.'" Still think you should be keeping your money in the Bank of Scotland? Move it! When the Royal College of Nursing suggested school nurses should be able to hand out contraceptives, I suppose it is only natural it should have "prompted outrage" in the Scottish Daily Mail. The tabloid is able to do that by drawing on the forked tongue of its old regulars. Chums like the "spokesman for the Catholic Church in Scotland Monsignor Tom Connelly." (Know better as the Sexfinder General on these pages). "The simple fact is that this is wrong. It tells children that it is fine to indulge in these practices when it is not. As long as teenage girls think it is fine it will continue. The boys are out for what they can get but it leaves the girls soiled and disreputable." No roses growing round her porch! ooo And just how disreputable can you get after only just having reached your eleventh birthday and you're placed on the sex offenders' register! The mother of a girl with cystic fibrosis found the boy naked with his cousin and called the police. The incident was blamed on the boy - from Newcastle upon Tyne - having some sort of attention deficit disorder and he is now having to be administered regular medication. After serving time after a sex attack on Judy X, John Cronin needs to start a new life. The Scottish News of the World quoted a former neighbour who said: "…For the first few years of his life, his mum dressed him up as a girl. She wanted a girl so she dressed John in bows and frilly blouses. No wonder he's such a mess now." He wanted to return home but the Scottish News of the World reported "local vigilantes have threatened to lynch him…" Reporters from the Scottish Sun, however found the "monster in hiding" at a farm cottage and printed a picture of the: "Isolated… remote East Lothian cottage where Cronin is holed up." Not so isolated now, is it? No surprise then that the Daily Record should report: "Cronin came to the door of the cottage last night, but turned around and ran back inside and refused to talk." And had the audacity to add: "The move to the village of East Linton, in East Lothian was supposed to be secret." A villager "who wishes to remain anonymous" told the Daily Record: "'I passed him on the bridge… I asked him what he was doing and he said it was none of my business. I told him it was my business, because I have a wife and three kids and wanted to know where he was staying.' Cronin replied: 'I have never touched any kids.'" The Scottish News of the World found a villager who reckoned Cronin had whispered: "The beast is back" and another villager was photographed with his collection of tabloid cuttings pasted all over his garage wall, described as a "gallery of hate." They called on all their readers to "HELP US KEEP TABS ON THE BEAST. Women and children are living in fear because sick Cronin is to walk free. Help us to keep them safe by telling us what you know of his whereabouts…" The Scottish News of the World declared: "Vigilante villagers drive out a pervert." George McPhee had just served two years and got home to find "a vigilante crowd of parents gathered outside his home - yards from a school playground - in a bid to force him to move away." It disturbs me to find the term 'vigilante' - once used with caution - now being handled so lightly. The story finished on an even more bizarre note with the Scottish News of the World reporting a mum fighting "to have her own son listed on a sex offenders' register after it emerged he fantasised about raping a teenage girl… She said: 'I wish he'd never been born.'" "Jessica, six, and Sophie, 10" are pictured in school uniform by their PC with built-in video camera alongside their "horrified mum" in the Scottish News of the World. "Susan Donnachie revealed her family is now being targeted by cyberspace sickos" after "INTERNET MONSTER FLASHES AT KIDS." She apparently didn't realise "it was a perfect medium for perverts to get their kicks." And from the tabloid that finds outdoor sex between men so shocking comes the "sex-on-beach blackmail plot." And, oh look! It even mentions where it takes place: "A north Fife beach." Only what shocked the News of the World so much this time was that the businessman and his mistress "described as AB to protect his identity," - (gays needn't apply) - was filmed "making love" - (lewd and libidinous behaviour for gays) - and blackmailed by a "sicko." No comment was made about the sex in public and "Sheriff Johan Newall told the 'pervert… that the offences was so serious he had no option but to jail him.'" Double standards? Yes, I think so. ooo Frankly, as hard as I try, I can't keep track of all Scotland's local and national media. And unless readers tell me otherwise, papers like The Scotsman, the Scottish Express and even the Scottish Sun - English content aside - now boast infrequent mentions in the Scottish Media Monitor. That doesn't appear good enough for the Scottish News of the World whose Scottish editor David Dinsmore appeared dissatisfied a reader had to hand me a clipping. He wrote to me to say: "I would have thought a man in your position would have our paper at the top of his shopping list every Sunday morning." I regret having to apologise to Mr Dinsmore and have now added his disgusting tabloid to my list of those I consider to be misrepresenting sexuality, is sexually repressed, frequently indulges in what is now popularly referred to as homophobia, and is basically, up its own arse! The Daily Record revelled in another "church scandal" with "RODDY PRIEST IN SEX CLINIC." This time it was Father Sean McAulay who had left St Columba's Cathedral, Oban for the States and a spell at - not Betty Ford - but Washington's St Luke's Institute which specialises "in treating priests with addictions and sexual problems." The Daily Record gossiped: "Concerns were raised within the church after Father McAulay was seen regularly in a bar next to St Columba's drinking with a young man he claimed was his nephew. A local, who did not wish to be named, said: 'Tongues were wagging…The young man often wandered around in tight shorts and it didn't seem appropriate in the company of a priest.'" No? It must seem like arriving at the gates of Hell when... "Inside the building, (at St Luke's) visitors are greeted by a smiling female receptionist… Treatment includes giving priests the drug Depo-Provera to quell sex drive… Priests have to sign a contract agreeing to be monitored for years to come." And straight from the mouth of someone who really knows, St Luke's president, Rev Canice Connors - oh, how I wanted stick a 'd' in there - assured the Daily Record: "It is a recoverable disorder." A sick senior churchman told the Scottish News of the World: "We are praying for his recovery." For the sake of your own sanity, Sean, gedou'da there. NOW! Sarah Wolstencroft was judging the Scottish heat of A Thong For Europe (Channel 5, May 6) in a "selfless pursuit of truth." Pity then that the Scottish Sun found it necessary to decapitate the head of Full Monty star, Robert Carlyle and stick it over stripper, Solid Gold's "winning assets" with the caption: "You don't want to see what's under here." He is a "sinister Sir," and he "molested boys" said the Scottish Mirror. "Deputy Head Nigel Craik massaged aftersun cream into a 14-year-old's face…" on a "skiing holiday in the USA. During the trip, the 46-year-old went to a 15-year-old boys' room and rubbed his back and legs while telling him to 'relax.'" (A "15-year-old boys' room?" So older boys' have to be segregated from adults into their own rooms now, do they)? An 'indecent assault' on a 13-year-old is not elaborated on, but the Daily Record mentions "two occasions (Nigel Craik) sat on a 13-year-old's bed with his forearm on the boy's private parts until he was brushed away. On one occasion, he also tickled his body." The Scottish Mirror said: "Lanark Sheriff Court was told the geography teacher regularly greeted his young pupils by saying, 'Hello gorgeous, do you still love me?'" The Daily Record added "he tickled boys to get them out of bed." So he wasn't some self-hating closet, then? The pupils must've known where he was coming from. He still warranted being placed on the ever-expanding sex offenders' register and only escaped a gaol term because the Sheriff was assured his career was over. The judge recognised in the behaviour a "sinister element." So do I… The whole thing! ooo Dunblane is in the news again. This time over wrangles with money and two WPC's claiming compensation. Old Mother (Joan) Burnie was called in to grace the Daily Record with her presence. "Maybe in some way cash is a retribution, a way of making the society which bred Hamilton pay. I do not know." What a bizarre suggestion! How about making the sexually repressed tabloids - that everyday influenced Dunblane's attitudes to sexuality - pay! Hamilton massacred a classroom of children defending his reputation against being labelled a 'pervert.' The label is a tabloid construction. The madman was prodded and poked until he launched a sick and vengeful attack. Far from questioning the antagonism Hamilton faced on a daily basis leading up to the massacre, the press praised the people of Dunblane for it. Hamilton grew up believing his mother was his sister and harboured a confused sexuality that sought refuge in boys of a formative age. Given he read the Daily Record and Sunday Mail, where did all that come from? Old Mother (Joan) Burnie sorts out problems in the Daily Record and is too quick to draw her own conclusions. As with a 16-year-old whose sexual fantasies had only been about men and only recently had extended to women. She congratulated him for having "managed to work everything out pretty accurately. It's not as if you actually ever had sexual relations with your own sex - you only thought about it. That is not unusual. Now you fancy girls…" That's him told, eh? Welcome to the new, softer Old Mother Burnie. On the subject she still defiantly calls 'porn,' the old girl was challenged by a guy who enjoyed making "raunchy" videos and who accused her of "criticising people's morals." She yelped: "That's me told, isn't it..? So, maybe - but only maybe - you're right and I am hopelessly old-fashioned…" Nonetheless, it all sounded "distinctly iffy" to her and she procrastinated about it getting into "the wrong hands… your children, for instance?" To that she added blackmail, a shocked family and all his friends. In another letter she took to harping on about "'the real thing' rather than its somewhat sordid - to me at least - substitute." Hopelessly old fashioned, Joan. Hopelessly! The Scottish Media Monitor will broadcast across the media capital of Glasgow on Thursday, May 6th, at 6pm on SubCity Radio, 106.2 fm. it's a special on outdoor sex, so bring the Kleenex! And on Thursday, May 13th, and even more controversial: A young people's special. Children, students, age of consent, you know the stuff. Check out the site that outrages the Scottish press and otherwise 'angers parents!' http://www.bigfoot.com/~scotmedia (c) Garry Otton 1999 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ THE NICE BIT ============ I've got to be honest. I'm a complete slut and I like nothing better than to cop off with a straight guy. Have you seen some of the talent that lies outwith the gay scene? West Coast men are much more preferable than East Coast. Their accents... but I'm going off the point. We live in a society where the norm is to be monogamous. You don't have to be married anymore - but if you're in a 'caring loving relationship' with a partner then it's OK. I'll try and explain multi-relationships to others, but many fail to comprehend how it could work. I have three lovers. Two men, one woman. I am in love with all three of them. I am open and honest about it and they of course can see others too. To us it is normal. Why depend on everything from one person? Is monogamy a natural state? --- In the last issue, I wrote about the Stephen Lawrence report and then went on to upset some when I slagged off sections of the gay scene for being misogynist, racist and biphobic. Some, it seems feel that you can't slag of any aspect of 'gay life' in case a straight person reads it and gets a 'negative image'. Well fuck 'em. There is a lot wrong with the way the gay scene works and we all know it. Let's be honest about it and stop accepting second best from the rich owners who make a fortune out of all of us. In some cities, the scene is run like a mafia, often by heterosexuals, with venue after venue owned and run by the same folk. The result is crap venues, high bar prices and very little imagination when it comes to entertainments. With the arrival of the Scottish Parliament we will have to keep a close eye on Edinburgh. There will be more and more money to be made out of the scene in the months and years ahead. And we should know who's making it. --- July sees the coming of BiCon 1999 to Edinburgh. If you're interested in attending the great event on 16th-18th July then write to Alison Rowan c/o the Edinburgh LGB Centre or e-mail bicon99@bi.org --- Saw a great movie the other day. Will Smith in Six Degrees of Separation. Smith of course is a babe and plays a poor gay boy who hustles his way into rich people's lives and changes them for the better. He pretends that he is Sidney Poitier's son and promises them parts in the film version of Cats! So here's question... who is the odd one out? Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones, Wesley Snipes, Kevin Buchan, Antonio Banderas, Ewan McGregor, Robin Williams and Tom Cruise? Answers on a post card to ScotsGay at the usual address and the winner gets to snog the editor! --- Finally, quick plug for Bisexual Community News. Anyone who is bi should have it so write to BM RiBBit, London WC1N 3XX or e-mail ben@bi.org for the latest subscription rates. It's an intelligent, affirmative approach to bisexuality and it's through your door soon. Lots of love, Martin mgwuk@hotmail.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- LETTERS ======= 11 MARCH 99 TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN UNFORTUNATLEY (sic) DUE TO VARIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES NOT WORTHY OF DISCUSSION, THE FOLLOWING PREMISES IN GLASGOW NO LONGER WISH TO STOCK SCOTSGAY. BENNETS- CAFFE LATTE- CENTURIAN (sic) SAUNA- DELMONICAS- POLO LOUNGE- SADIE FROSTS- THE AUTHORISED SIGNATURE (sic) OF EACH PLACE IS BESIDE THE RELEVANT UNIT NAME THEREFORE PLEASE ENSURE THAT NO FURTHER DELIVERIES ARE MADE TO ANY OF THESE UNITS John Hein replies: Whilst the proprietors or managers of gay venues have every right to decide what publications they wish to keep on their premises, I think it's rather sad that they don't feel that the circumstances behind their refusal to stock ScotsGay and InsideOUT are worthy of discussion. I understand that, in the case of one owner, it's a personal matter - he just doesn't like one of our contributors. That's a shame. But it hardly warrants making his customers go elsewhere to pick up a copy of the magazines. And it's a shame that this information had to be wrung out of him instead of being volunteered. Other owners or managers must have other reasons but don't seem to think them worth sharing with us or our readers. Perhaps if we knew what these concerns were, we could address them. But we haven't been told, so we can't. Bulk supplies of ScotsGay and InsideOUT are available on request to any venue in Scotland serving the lgbt community. If your favourite venue doesn't stock the magazines, you should be asking: Why? If they won't stock our magazines, perhaps there's something in them that they don't want you to read! ScotsGay and InsideOUT are not produced for personal profit. All our contributors are unpaid. As Editor, I believe that individuals should be allowed to put words and ideas in front of readers even when these individuals and ideas may be unpopular (or even barking mad). And often when I disagree strongly with what is being said. We seek to encourage debate in our community - whether that debate takes place in our pages or in the pub isn't really important. What is vitally important is that these debates and interchange of ideas take place. Or, is gay community merely about delivering up a captive market to the entrepreneurs of the gay ghetto with no room for debate? If it is, count us out! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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. The late Ian Christie, one of the founders of gay liberation in Scotland in the early Seventies, said that change never happened overnight but over years "like a stone worn away by dripping water". As a young and impatient activist I rebelled against that tame advice. Change, I demanded, must come tomorrow, anything else was appeasement to straight oppression. Ian, a long time Labour Party aparatchik, believed in committees, conference resolutions, peaceful mass demonstrations, all the trade marks of Old Labour, Fifties-style smoke filled room politics. To me it stunk. All these years later it still does. Ian was proved by history to be right and wrong, both at the same time. Right, because nearly thirty years after he began campaigning for gay equality, the unelected House of Lords defeated yet again the age of consent legislation passed by a landslide majority in a House of Commons with the largest Labour majority this century. Thirty years of water dripping on the stone, and the drips still can't get a simple human right into law. He was wrong in believing in the nod and a wink, backroom committee approach to getting things done. Ian, bless his memory, thought that the 'liberal establishment' of Scotland would ultimately ensure social justice for all, if only we Scots could be left to govern ourselves within the U.K. The working class (we still talked of working classes in those days) were well meaning but badly led footsoldiers in this battle for social justice. The Scots, left to ourselves, would awaken from tabloid Toryism and become new Athenians, each of us enlightened, confident and achieving. Bigotry was an English import, a Thatcherite passing blemish soon shrugged off. Aside from the fact that it took Ian's blessed committees thirty years to get to the day when Scots will soon govern themselves, they do so in a society where politicians find the courage to lead only after the polls or the press or the focus group say it is safe for them to do so. No sooner have they won one election than the campaign to remain after the next begins. Politics is one never ending popularity contest these days. Principled leadership? What do the polls say? What will the Record or the Sun say? So what has this got to do with us gays after May 6th? Well the conventional wisdom is that we will be in clover. The Labour government (sorry folks - it's inevitable, even tho the Liberal Democrats will be forced to support them) has a generally pro-gay rights agenda, but it is soft on delivering it, the Scots tabloids are anti-gay and Scots public opinion has rather enjoyed the bullying and anti-rights tone of their favourite 'red tops'. The Equality Network - the innovative new style gay rights campaigning forum in Scotland, believe that by lobbying the MSPs in committee we shall whisper our agenda persuasively into the ready ears of our governors. A good script. But something in my suspicious lawyer's mind is raising alarm bells. Let me get it out and on the table. A heresy some would say. It's this... I don't think Scots are more liberal than the English on the more advanced gay rights issues (equality in employment, sex education, partnership rights adoption etc.) - I don't think the newly elected Holyrood government has a burning desire to enact laws at our suggestion and I think the popular press (which is indeed popular here) is strongly hostile to new Scotland becoming a gay haven. There, I've said it. I think there are dangers in this Brave New World we are building for gays. Part of this is our own fault. Not enough of us are out of the closet. We are not very visible in the Scottish (as opposed to UK) media, especially television. We have no prominent gay 'heros' nor do we have any prominent political advocates. Our lobbyists lack the skill, professionalism, access to media and money that, say, Stonewall has in London. Our small numbers mean that even an outfit such as the radical Outrage! doesn't survive up here. Furthermore we have a 'working class' that thinks homosexuality is a middle class thing. And anyone who swallows the New Labour spin that class is irrelevant hasn't tried living with his lover in Easterhouse or Pilton. Sadly class is still an issue in Scotland, or rather class envy is. It's just a continuation of our historical chip on our shoulders about being poorer than the English (who the Scots think are all middle class by default anyway). If a characteristic, like being gay, is associated with a disliked or envied group, like the middle class, then there should be no surprise that there will be popular resistance to real advances in gay rights. So it's back to my old hobby horse again, gay activists have to activate the visibility, self respect and self confidence of gay people as an urgent priority. Secondly and no less urgently we have to persuade the ordinary working class Scots that we are not odd, weird, strange, dangerous nor even quaint. We're just like them. That means access to the mass media of the devolved Scotland, not the back room committees and the branch meetings. Thirty years later and the 'Gay Is Good' generation are at last realising that what we ought to have been teaching ordinary people is 'Gay Is As Good As You' or 'Gay Is O.K.' The tragedy would be if the next generation of gay activists were to carry on like the first. ------------------------------------------------------------------ EDINBURGH ========= Well, the Edinburgh gay quarter has been getting some top press lately, with former churchmen wanting to turn our modern assortment of bars into some kind of queer village a la Manchester. Good luck and more power to their elbow - that's what I say. Our very own CC Blooms has long been due a makeover. Poor dears, with their dull, unfunny and occasionally offensive Karaoke, even some of the bar staff look fed up with it all these days. It's dead quiet at weekdays and packed at the weekends - everybody knows the routine. On a Saturday night it's much better to go to Planet Out first and head to CC's or another club after. Planet Out, as everybody knows, is Edinburgh's best gay venue and for several reasons, namely service (the staff are fabulous!), price (pocket the difference!) and punters. Go to Paul and tell them ScotsGay sent you. Many on the scene are speculating on how many of the great and good will be frequenting our bars once the Holyrood Parliament kicks off. Some of the customers in the New Town Bar were running a book on which Edinburgh MSP's will be coming out. By all appearance, Willie Black, the SWP candidate in Edinburgh South must be in the running with that moustache (although he's married with four kids) and the SNP's Margo McDonald would make a great Fag Hag! The NTB punters wanted hustings from candidates in the bar, but I don't think Phil, the bar manager was too keen. Not everybody's cup of tea, the New Town Bar, but it's great to get away from the triangle and meet some different folk. The Stag and Turret and Solas Cafe are well worth stepping out of the triangle for, as well. The Stag is a friendly pub just like any other, only it happens to be gay. If it gets much busier then expansion must be on the cards. Friendly bunch too. Solas is where you'd go and eat first. Excellent home cooking at very little cost - it's open during the day every weekday, except Wednesday, when it's open in the evening. And check out some of the staff! Phew! Must mention Mother Bab's French Connection or she'll disown me. Check out the Karaoke on Tuesday and Fridays. It's actually quite good. Honest! Not the shite you get at CC's. Frenchies is a tiny place, but punters and staff alike are as friendly at it gets. Its a good old fashioned gay bar, complete with door bell! Nexus, in the revitalised Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Centre is booming. The Cafe Bar serves great, no-nonsense food at an excellent price. Nice mix of customers too. You could almost call it 'Straight Friendly'. Also popular with hetties is the Blue Moon Cafe. More expensive and more extensive menu than Nexus. The Blue Moon is Scotland's oldest gay cafe and still one of the best. You won't find better Nachos anywhere. So soon we'll be in for a plethora of new venues as big business and entrepreneurs move in and take over. I predict the gay scene will look very different in twelve months time. The question on everyone's lips will CC's survive? They have already been hit with the emergence of so many one nighters, proving that there is a market for alternatives. Weekend nights are best spent at Joy! or Mingin', Taste, or the wonderful Tackno (see venue listings for details) and more new events are springing up all the time. The gay scene is Edinburgh is changing. And ScotsGay will be right on top of it. Martin Walker ------------------------------------------------------------------------ GLASGOW ======= Some of you will by now have heard of the recent attempt by King City Leisure to prevent the free circulation of Scotland's only remaining lgbt publication. Unsurprisingly, King City Leisure appear to have decided that rather than address the fact that their venues are responsible for more complaints regarding inefficient sloppy service, arrogant staff, and arbitrary door policies than any others, it would simply be easier to attempt to prevent our readers from learning which venues are persistently the subject of letters of complaint received by this publication. The basis of this failed policy was an attempt by King City Leisure to contact all the Lesbigay venues in Glasgow in the hope that they could be persuaded to refuse to stock copies of ScotsGay, thus preventing these issues from being reported. No doubt many of you will draw your own conclusions from the fact that KCL embarked on this course of action without making any attempt whatsoever to deny the criticisms and allegations that have been made about them in the past. As you are all no doubt aware, ScotsGay is still freely available in those venues who have nothing to hide, and are prepared to accept fair criticism of their venues and act upon it. I have spoken to some of the venue owners who were asked to be party to the above censorship, and am happy to report that they refused, informing King City Leisure that its interests would be better served by sorting out their own problems, addressing the problem head on by dealing with those responsible, and not by resorting to this pathetic, and ultimately failed, attempt to subvert the truth. Certain others also expressed concern that KCL was prepared to suppress all the free exposure given to groups and charities in pursuit of their own self interests. I should like to take this opportunity to thank all those who refused to have anything to do with this course of action, and no doubt our readers will form their own opinions regarding the respect and esteem in which the other venues hold KCL regarding this matter. KCL have similar attitudes to literature to those of most authoritarian regimes. The Dictators burn books whilst KCL simply bin magazines who dare to criticise their standards and attitudes to their customers! It is for this reason that we cut down the number of magazines supplied to the KCL venues several months ago. Neither have we been supplying magazines to Centurion Health Club, who are also not happy with us for having lambasted them regarding the notice they posted in their club, making allegations against a competitor. This magazine was also the first to report that they themselves had been refused renewal of their own licence, and it may also be the case that Centurion's displeasure with us could be due to the fact that we recently found it necessary to take court action against them, obtained decree, and subsequently instructed Sheriff Officers who attended at the health club in order to obtain satisfaction of the decree. It goes without saying that I have now been barred from all of King City Leisure's premises, perhaps in the naive hope that I will either do as the rest of the scene does, begging and grovelling to be let back in, on the proviso that I only ever do a whitewashed write-up of what's happening in their venues. Alternatively, the theory could be that by preventing me from entering the premises, I will not be able to experience first hand the standards of service about which so many of you complain. I DON'T THINK SO! It may also interest our readers to know that in addition to myself being barred from KCL, Ms Hutton, who has also had more than a few harsh words to say about them is also not welcome. This means of course, that Dawn Davenport is the last remaining local ScotsGay contributor who has not been barred. Just as well her true identity is not known to KCL, or she would probably also be joining those of us in exile! It would appear that GAY SCOTLAND, the only other remaining Scottish based Lesbigay publication, has now folded. This leaves ScotsGay as the only locally produced magazine, now coming up for five years in publication, with a print run currently double that when I first got press-ganged (just realised where that term REALLY came from!!) into scribbling for my Small Bald Ginger Editor. I predicted last month that it wouldn't be long before a battle broke out between Penelopes and Bad Puppy, both desperate to chase the Tuesday night trade. Well folks, enjoy the cheap drinks, free entry or whatever else is on offer, because it sure as hell won't last. Said it before, only enough trade to support one venue, so somebody's gonna pull out before long. Penelopes are now offering free entry on Tuesdays, which is now called GOOD PUSSY (no doubt a gentle dig at BAD PUPPY!!) and the drink prices have been reduced even further. I've also been asked to remind you all that STAIRS will be appearing on Tuesday the 4th of May. They're a tribute band to STEPS, and even I've heard of THEM!. (Couldn't name a single one of their choonz though). A tribute band to STEPS, it could only happen on the Gay Scene!!. Pennys have also decided to chase the pink pound on Monday nights, with the introduction of QUIDS IN. Entry is also free, pints and selected bottles are 99p, so hopefully it should be well attended by all of those of you who've been moaning at me for ages that there's nowhere to go on Mondays. Live PAs are being arranged for both nights, and big GREG is DJ on both nights. Couple of faxes recently arrived at Planet Goldilocks from George at the GGLC asking me to thank Sadies, Benetts, Clone Zone, The Court Bar, The GGLC Cafe/Bar and all the various individuals who contributed to the success of the recent Race Night and Disco. The event was well attended, and a total of ukp460 was raised for the Centre. Also been asked to give a plug for the forthcoming May Queen (or is that Queer) Fete, being held in the Centre on Saturday 15th of May from 1pm onwards, when the current May Queen will be piped into the Centre. There will be various stalls, including bric-brac, Second Hand Rose clothes, plants, cakes and candy, tombola, books, records and CDs, videos and gifts, aromatherapy, Clone Zone, a healing stall and Tarot reading. For the sprogs there's the Spotty Dog Kennel, bouncy castle, face painting, Teddys Allsorts and games for sale. Upstairs is an art exhibition, and the Centre will also be holding a raffle. At 3pm there will be a mini auction of goods donated by various local businesses. If you want to donate any items for sale, call the Centre on 0141-221 7203, or you can leave them at reception. Also, the Centre are looking for people to do some baking for the cake stalls, so if you can help out, give them a call. All proceeds go to the Centre, so it's all in a good cause!! Oh, almost forgot, there will also be entertainment from Mary Kiani and others. The Gay Caledonian Club are now meeting on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month. So, if you like wearing a kilt (don't know if it's compulsory!), give Bill a bell on 0141-772 8322, and he'll tell you about outings and things that they've got planned. Glad to hear that the GGLC have now cancelled their bank accounts with the Bank of Scotland!! Perhaps you should all also consider refusing to fill the coffers of an institution which has recently entered into a questionable business deal with the bigotted Rev Pat Robertson. Strange how somebody who spouts so much venom against us in the name of religion, (or at least his dubious interpretation of it) conveniently forgets that the moneylenders were in fact banished from the marketplace 2000 years ago!!. It would appear that the GGLC Cafe-Bar will shortly be changing hands as Martha has decided to pursue her ambition of working in animal welfare. At the time of writing this, the deal with the new cafe owners has not been finalised, but this should be going ahead shortly. If you're out cruising, watch out!! Heard that there's been another queerbashing in Kelvingrove recently, and I was also recently attacked in Queens Park, although I was actually walking through on my way home, and was nowhere near the cruising area (That'll be a first time. Ed). I can look after myself after 14 years in the licenced trade, but didn't stand a chance when I got jumped by 3 muggers. Took a bit of a beating, despite attempts to defend myself, and was lucky to get away with a few cuts, and a fractured cheekbone. Take care, you might not be so lucky!! And if the worst happens, for fuck's sake report it to the police. I did, and there are now 3 arseholes less on the streets, preying on innocent members of the public. And finally, my very own website should be completed and uploaded shortly - check the ScotsGay site at http://www.scotsgay.co.uk/ for a link. It's a comprehensive warts and all guide to all the venues in Glasgow, with full listings of all the pubs, clubs, groups and links to those venues and organisations with their own sites. Been designed so that all venues have their own seperate pages, which means that it'll be easy to update the site quickly to promote forthcoming events, PAs etc. Well, that's about it for this month. Moans, groans, smutty photos and stuff to the addresses at the back of the mag or by e-mail. COME ON BABY LIGHT MY FIRE! GOLDILOCKS goldilocks@drink.demon.co.uk ------------------------------------------------------------------------- INVERNESS ========= Hi there folks! Not long since the last issue (or so it seems). So, this month, I will do a "What's On" to keep you up to date, though by the time you read this some events may have been and gone. 3rd May: Highland Lesbian Group - ROH - 7.30pm. 5th May: GLB Youth Group (Support Group) - ROH - 7.30pm. 7th May: HGMG Social at Station Hotel - 7.30pm. 21st May: GLB Youth Group Social - Drag Night - Come along and have fun and win a prize - ROH 7.30pm. 26th May: HGMG Support Group - ROH - 7.30pm. Saturday June 5th: Dance For Life as mentioned last issue. This is an ROH ceilidh to be held at the Eden Court Theatre the night before the Walk For Life on Sunday June 6th. Tickets are ukp10 and available as usual via ROH on Inverness (01463) 711585. Details of the Walk For Life are in our last issue or can be obtained from ROH on the above number. Should be interesting to see a few hungover walkers on the day!!! Sat 19th June: Pride - Edinburgh! Hope to see you at a few of the above. Calmac ------------------------------------------------------------------------ GRANNY SPICE ============ The tourists have started to arrive and the old gums are being kept busy! Talking of gums - Richard got new teeth from Daddy - well done - maybe your allowance will go up too! Yet again gums - where was my dear sister Dawn Davenport last month? As you know she's so uniform friendly, she could not contain herself with all these beautiful handsome KLA recruits on the telly, that she's flown out to assist in the R&R factor... Please Dawn not an Albanian version of "We'll meat again!" Cafe Habana's Ray tells me that contrary to rumour and evil gossip - Gays are most welcome in this new establishment. Apparently there was one unpleasant incident initially with a clash of personalities, but I'm assured that this has been resolved - try it the dEcor is to die for! Sammi's back from her hols and soon to be on the move. I'll be catching up on what she indulged in behind the dunes and we all know how she takes a lovely tan - and where! I have at last tracked down my dear daughter Betty B. Yes she's still around in dear old Glasgow - except that she is spreading her wings, legs, voice and multiple talent elsewhere at this moment in time. No doubt we will hear more of this lassie in the summer when the seaside venues get going….(although I had to admit the offer I had of 4 weeks in Burntisland) did not endear my heart to the Kingdom - the thought of my fanny grinding for all those ex-miners was too too much to think of - apart from that it clashes with my European tour of the pissoirs of France accompanied by Brenda (Ich bin ein Scotlander aus Glesca!) Lets hope they don't ask her to rewire the Reischtag! A little bird tells me that Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee of Court Bar fame, (and quality catering yet indeed) have returned from a Gin-soaked tour of the Eastern United States. How on earth they got that Jumbo back with all that Gin on it I'll never know. - However Shoojie - "I go back to before Beti Hutton" - (which is another way to saying she trolled the Air Raid shelters too! ) says the United States will never be quite the same - and yes they did find Shona's number in the bog of Boston bus station, alongside a small tasteful plaque which said - "In 1962-63 Beti Hutton blew here…..often!" Watch this space, I'm sure Barbara of Burnbank (not Burbank dears) will fill us in on the gory (or was it GLORYHOLE details?) I mean after all didn't Babs create those designer gloryholes in Strathclyde with her very own battery operated mini circular saw carried always in her pretty clutchbag.. CC BLOOM'S grand refurbishment is complete and throbbing again … Herself dropped in (some say fell) the other evening - lovely welcome from staff as usual ever friendly. Most pleasant and packed to the gills. Though I did feel I had been finger-fucked while crushed against the bar with a small sherry in my hand - (He must have been all of 20) cute, and was actually called Steven not Sherry! - But why do I keep meeting these young men who seem more interested in my clothes than my effervescence? The lovely Colin at the Newtown says it must be my understated taste in quite divine outfits. He's such a gem really - I wonder if he could - since he's already well proven himself in that field! I hope that you'll all be out putting your vote in for my new parliament - remember to chose your candidate carefully for their attitude to Gay issues. It will be interesting to see if the Scottish Tories could manage to come up with a friendly faggot whose not married, happily gay and who could fend off the more extreme examples of their party like the Hounder of the Pooves from Tayside! Also what about Labour's attitude to a recent hardening (some would say persecution) of gay men who troll. I'm told of yet again another suicide because of certain over-zealous fag-bashing police - when is this sort of shit going to be stamped on and the Homophobes sorted out? I'm told the relationship between the Gay Liaison group and police is very good - but that's not the feedback I'm getting from the street about one or two homophobic zealots in uniform who seem to have taken it upon themselves to "clean up the Capital" - the onus (not anus) is on you - choose your vote carefully and do not be afraid to influence as many friends and family as possible. Alas I must flee: my new wig is in the microwave - Dawn you did say 20 minutes for a quick perm. Love and safe fucks Beti, Granny Spice ------------------------------------------------------------------------ MORAY ===== While the regular gang from Moray are away galavanting on the Isle of Mull, I'm sitting here in front of my typewriter spreading the word to you wonderful readers. As forecast in the last ScotsGay a bus-load of our clan are away to camp it up along with the latest life-saving accessories, like tents and fire-lighters, on an obscure island. No animal will be safe - so Sugar Plumm tells me - and may possibly end up on the fire after all other uses have been expired. Talking of Plummy, he assured me that he would give me all the latest gossip for this column from his neck-of-the-woods before disappearing in his Ford Transit for the weekend... and did he? No! Thanks Sugar! I hope you and the rest of the ravers have a wonderful time. No doubt I'll hear all about the "Musical Tents" game when you get back! Good news, though, after the possibility of losing the use of The Cat's Whiskers pub for our fortnightly get-together; it is confirmed that the new owners will be carrying on the Wednesday nights, and not only that, they'll allow the function room to be used as well! Thanks to Hazel and Tom for that! The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence struck again this month. On the 3rd of April Sister Bobby of the Convent of Moravia, along with the Sisters from the Edinburgh Order descended on Scotland's Capital to raise money for the Name Project UK and the AIDS Memorial Quilt. The venue was Potter Row and Teviot Row where Edinburgh saw its first multi-venue event. Over 20 club DJs did their stuff throughout different rooms in the complex whilst the courtyard area was filled with buskers, jugglers and anyone else with a talent. And whilst I'm on that subject, I believe that that old whore-of-death Sister Athletica was determined to show off her talents by getting lost in the Grope Box for a few hours. No-one could say if she was getting many donations shoved in her slot but she did emerge looking considerably more dazed than usual. Anyway in the five hours that the Sisters were actively collecting they raised the grand sum of ukp1050 and as well as that held a raffle to raise more money for SOLAS (The National HIV and AIDS Information Centre) so all-in-all had a very successful time. Athletica will have recovered by Pride! Ah, Pride! Roll on June! I've got my little bag packed already... it's one of my favourite weekends of the year and let's hope the rain holds off this time around! I've been asked to let you know that if you need transport down to Edinburgh there are a few spare seats available with the Sisters from the Convent of Moravia... there's three of them in the bus along with a big marquee so you're more than welcome to squeeze in too! Actually I'm hoping for a whole week to remember this year because after the weekend I'm off to live it up in Manchester for a few days, and then London after that... I won't want to come home! Just before I sign off for another month and relieve Mr. H of one extra thing to worry about I will do my Community Service bit by informing you that if you require any free condom packs, etc., then contact Gay Line North East on 01343 542928 or send two stamps, to cover postage, to "Convent of Moravia", 2-4 Lamb Street, Elgin, Moray. There, glad to be of service! Right, I'm off, I'll be back next month to report on the "Mull Outing" and any other dirt I can dig up, so until then have fun and make the most of every minute. Dr Kenniff ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DUNDEE ====== All venues in Dundee have been extremely busy this month. Visitors from around Scotland have swelled numbers and so have one or two 'gay friendly' straights. Having tasted what's on offer in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen I would say that Dundee should not be missed. I understand Liberty's owner was decidedly miffed at being charged ukp5.00 to get in for a drink in the Polo Lounge and 35 pence more a pint than he charges! I am sure those nice people at King City Leisure would have him put on the guest list for free entry if he had not been incognito and undercover. I would of course love to tell you why he was there but the threat of knee-capping deters me - for the time being! Talking of undercover, Liberty had staff spied on by an investigative team resulting in sackings, warnings, and of course the protestations of innocence. One of the staff even short-changed the investigator. It could have been you or me so I am delighted an example was made. Ripping off your employer may seem fair game to some, but the punters - I think not! Friends of said staff are unhappy at having to pay for their refreshments. Glaswegians may be interested to note that famous (or is it infamous) DJ Stella aka Steven is guesting at Liberty on Friday 21st May. For Dundonians it will be something different and those who went to Pride last year may have heard Stella in the Smirnoff Dance Tent. A change is as good as a rest and popular DJ BP is having one for that night only. Standard door charges apply for the night. It may have been and gone by the time you read this but Liberty has a late licence to 3:30am on Saturdays 1st May, 15th May and 29th May. More time to party and more time to get pissed. If you're from out of town these are the nights to visit Dundee. Whatever you wear in bed, if anything, wear it to Dundee's gay club on Saturday 8th May when they host a 'Pyjama Party' with prizes for the sexiest, least sexy and the most daring promised. This is a night they haven't tried before and neither have I so look out for me Baby Dolls! And a suggestion for the management - how about a Toga Party? Charlies Bar are looking into reviving the popular karaoke at the former Devas pub. So long as former DJ Jan doesn't host it it's bound to be an attraction - it certainly pulls them in on Wednesdays at Liberty. Whether Charlie offers a free bar to the winner remains to be seen! He has certainly been seen offering free good times to young Terry on a number of occasions. Terry is the Dundee scene's equivalent of Nathan from Queer as Folk. Oops! was the reply of the Claverhouse Rotary who organised a fun run and bike run from Discovery Point along Riverside and through the gay cruising area. The gays did not complain as lycra clad bodies thrusted along the perilous pot-holed road. Sources tell me it lightened up an otherwise boring Sunday trawl. The city's nightclub owner is delighted the view from his palace will not now be threatened by the building of a large hotel at the Riverside cottages. Developers McDonald Hotels have stormed off in the huff after being denied planning permission. GOOD. The local elections are important to Dundee's gay scene - why? I hear you ask. If we are to get support from the Local Council in creating a better scene or even a Dundee Pride it is they who will decide. Why don't you phone the candidates for your area and ask them their views on gay topics and make them work for your vote. Mind you, three of the candidates are regulars of the gay scene anyway - but does the Dundee Tory Party know? Barred from Charlies Bar, Bar XS and Liberty Nightclub for life following an alleged serious glass assault on Bobby, Andy Fairchild has appeared in court and has been released on bail. Liberty is now trying toughened drink glasses. The disgruntled club owner was furious that in his "previous 8000 hours trading he had never had such a disgusting event". We won't be seeing Andy back there as he is banned for life much to the relief of all Psycho haters. So many drinks promos on the go at Liberty and Bar XS the last few weeks, I had to phone them to ask for a list and even they had a job to remember. So here goes: J&B Whisky, Baileys, Moscow Mule, Smirnoff, Hooch and soon to come Miller Pilsner, Jack Daniels and Peach Schnapps. Brian, you spoil us - you really do! (Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit. - Ed). Still waiting for the promos on Babycham. Apologies to the bald, sorry, bold Brenda for last month's column where I happened to mention her high profit margins. Seems I had forgotten that she offers pints in Bar XS for ukp1.20 every night up to 10pm and has done so for a couple of months and is doing so in May. Many a Glasgow lass would be delighted to get a pint so cheap in a gay venue! Stripper The Penetrator returns to Liberty on Holiday Sunday 2nd May. He does, I recall from his first visit, put on a good show and with a stripper and a holiday on the Monday to dry out before work, I may even be tempted myself. Might see you there! Liquid Silk ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ABERDEEN ======== Greetings from the UK's second most northerly city. And indeed the very city whose gay scene lately seems to have been under close scrutiny from quite a few gay publications. Which is cool. Sort of. I always get pissed off when people don't get their facts right though: like, Aberdeen is not the northernmost city in Britain. Nor is it always as cold as people make out. Certainly, it has been a bit on the Baltic side recently, but there is a very good reason for that. It's called WINTER! Anyone would think we lived near the Arctic Circle or something. Mind you, I suppose when you have lived in Aberdeen for a few years, cold is something you get used to, so my advice to anyone wishing to pay a visit and check out our scene - bring a jacket with you. And a brolly, wellies, fur-lined cap... Well, further to my last ramblings, I am now pleased to confirm that there are non-slip mats now covering the floor tiles in Club 2000. Not as a direct result of my comments, though, as they had actually been on order for quite a while. So, Colin will be pleased to know that I have absolutely nothing to moan about this month. I don't know if you can do anything about increasing the amount of talent... Actually, if the door staff were a bit pickier then it could probably be done, but knowing my luck I'd find myself excluded too. A bit of excitement was had a few weeks ago, as some punter was slightly hurt during an incident with a large bottle, thrown by some disgruntled youth who had apparently been causing trouble earlier in the evening and was ejected from the club as a result. I had been in Joy for most of the evening, but I heard lots of glass breaking, and apparently an ambulance was called shortly after. It always amazes me why people want to go and do something like that. Unfortunately, such incidents do much to attract police attention, and too much police attention puts licences in jeopardy. And no licence means no club. Joy, as I mentioned earlier, is back on my list of places to go out. On the first Thursday of the month, the club plays host to the Kia-Aura DJs. I was a little but sceptical at first, but I went along to find out what it was like, and was quite pleasantly surprised. Music-wise, it's mainly techno in its various forms, and a little bit of drum'n'bass thrown in for good measure. It's not usually my cup of tea, but I had a fantastic night, and at only ukp3 to get in, it's not too expensive either. It's mainly straight, but it has quite a young, friendly, studenty crowd, and a good atmosphere. I found it difficult to leave without a grin on my face! Friday and Saturday nights are pretty bangin' too, especially when DJs such as Blu Peter are part of the line-up. So if you like music of a more underground variety, then you know where to go. Those of you who are of a real-ale persuasion aren't really catered for on the UK gay scene as a whole, but in Aberdeen, there are many off-scene pubs which fit the bill. The Archibald Simpson, part of the Wetherspoon chain and situated near the Castlegate, is an excellent place to sit and have a drink, either on your own or with friends. The pub has a no-music policy, which makes for a relaxing atmosphere. For those of the non-smoking variety, there is an area specifically set aside, and the pub's food is not only excellent, but good value too. Burger and chips with a pint will set you back ukp2.99, which is so ridiculous it's almost unreal! And if you like things a little more spicy, on certain evenings a curry and a pint costs ukp3.99. One bar that has been mentioned in another gay publication is the Queen Vic on Rosemount. I used to pay the occasional visit last summer, and I quite enjoyed it. I have no idea what the evenings are like, but the afternoons were fairly peaceful affairs. On a sunny afternoon it is so nice to pop in for a cold pint after a walk in the nearby park... Well, I would love to stay and rabbit on for a bit more, but the sun has just come out and I think it's time I took the dog for a walk. Besides, if I don't get this lot posted off I'll miss my deadline. Cheerio fir noo. Gus gus@drink.demon.co.uk --------------------------------------------------------------------------- SCOTSGAY VOICE PERSONALS ======================== It's completely free to place your ad on 0800 138 4121 We'll print your ad in our next few issues and you can pick up replies on 09068 556613. That's also the number for our Browse Hotline - 09068 556613. Calls to 09068 cost 60p 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 09068 556613 (calls charged at 60p per minute) and use the number at the end of the ad. You can leave your own ad FREE on FREEphone 0800 138 4121. Chubby Chaser Sought Kenny from East Lothian - 46yrs, very chubby and heavy, balding with grey hair. He's loving, passive, discreet and loyal. Seeking a genuine guy to share laughs, hugs, massage and good times with. Phone 09068 556613 - Number 1821. Glasgow Bi-guy John, 38 year old Bi guy from central Glasgow. Likes swimming, driving and travelling. Looking for another Gay or Bi-guy. Phone 09068 556613 - Number 1820. Very Naughty - But Nice.... Edinburgh 32 year old, 5'11" seeking 50+ assertive disciplinarian to take the lead when he's been naughty - which happens quite a lot! Phone 09068 556613 - Number 1811. An American in Stirling American living in Stirling area. 5'10", 11.5st, brown hair and hazel eyes. Into sports and seeking 18-32 year old similar lads for a good time. 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Edinburgh - CP Offered/Wanted 45 year old Scots/English guy; seeking 25-50 year old for traditional spanking and role-playing + "afters". Can travel a few miles from or accommodate in Edinburgh. Discretion assured! Phone 09068 556613 - Number 9630. Fraserburgh Versatile and fair-haired, Classical Music, Books and Video-lover looking for similar. Phone 09068 556613 - Number 9628. Play The Field Together? Glasgow guy, 30's likes CP and Football Socks. He'll supply the Footie Gear - you supply the punishment... Phone 09068 556613 - Number 9556. Ayrshire Rob, 55 year old, fairly fit and fairly experienced seeking new friends and new experiences. Likes good food, travel, videos and theatre. Phone 09068 556613 - Number 9380. Dundee Early retired guy, mid 50's, 5'8", 11st, slim build, clean shaven, passive, SA, SL. WLTM active guy of any age for fun, friendship and possible relationship. Phone: 09068 556613 - Number 8982. Theo 33, 5'8", chubby, well endowed, short brown hair, looking for an older man who likes good fun. Can travel and accommodate. Phone: 09068 556613 -Number 8755. 23 Year Old Edinburgh 5'11", short brown hair, slim build, likes pubs, sport, football and music. Looking for similar 18-27 year old. Phone: 09068 556613 - Number 7991. Edinburgh 23 year old, 5'11", into music, pubs, clubs, badminton. Looking for similar 18-26 year old in Edinburgh or Glasgow. Phone: 09068 556613 -Number 7280. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 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, 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 Women Ayrshire 24 year old Ayrshire female, bubbly, affectionate, 5'5½", short brown hair, blue eyes, attractive, seeks female for relationship. Must be OHAC, prepared to give and receive loads of TLC. Don't be shy - why not reply? Box SG27002. Tayside - Edinburgh Area Gay female, 27, 5'2", looking for friendship possible relationship to enjoy the laughs and booze with at this year's Pride. Age unimportant. Photos appreciated. ALA. Time is ticking - write soon! Box SG27003. Impotent Lesbian Viagra didn''t work for me, can you? 25 year old Edinburgh dyke into music, music and music. Write to me. ALAWP. Box SG27001. Information Required On Artificial Insemination Looking for other lesbian women who have been through the process of insemination and can share their experience and provide advice and help. Box SG27004. Calling All Girls I am looking for friends in the Edinburgh area who enjoy going out and being mad. If this interests you: write. Age/looks unimportant. Box SG27005. !!! Absolutely Gorgeous female early 20's looking for females, any age, for going out and having fun. I enjoy the scene and loads of booze. Friendship only. Box SG27006. Men Edinburgh Slim gay oriental guy, seeks mature friends. E-mail & beards a bonus. ALAWP. Box SG27009. 2's Company; 3's Crowd; 4?? Let's get straight to the point! Who are we? 2 good-looking but horny Edinburgh guys (29, 5'10, 40" hairy ch, 32" wa, short dark hair, blue eyes; and 38, 5'10, 42" ch, 32" wa, dark hair - both s/a and s/l). What do we want? Looking for similar gay male couples (25-50) for fun nights over the summer. Let's have some swapping and all-in sessions to liven up those evenings. Safe and discreet fun assured and expected. One-off or regular arrangements. When do we want it? Now! Why do we want it? If you've read this far you don't need to ask!!! Box SG27010. Naughty Boys? Headmaster gives naughty boys (18+) bottom marks. Box SG27011. West Lothian - Anywhere 31 year old, good looking, S/A, seeks active S/A guys. Into football kit, sportswear, Adidas, Sambas, rubber. Your explicit letter/photo gets mine! Box SG27012. Skinhead Zero crop, blue eyes, 5'9", 10½ stones, seeks guys into army, rubber, leather, w/s, masks and football kit for hot wet fun. Phone number for quick reply. ALAWP. Box SG27013. Grampian/Tayside Area Fun loving guy, 24, has a vacancy for a full-time Best Mate. Initially no strings attached, but the successful applicant may be eligible for promotion to Boyfriend. The ideal candidate will be 18-25, SA/SL, good looking, preferably non-scene, although this is not essential. The successful applicant will enjoy going to pubs and clubs, occasional weekends of complete and utter hedonism, as well as cosy nights in front of the telly, and long walks in the country. Hours are negotiable, although a desire to spend Sundays in bed would be appreciated. Experience desirable, but not essential as full training will be given. If you think you can succeed in this fast-moving environment, then apply in writing, enclosing photograph if possible. Box SG27014. Have Fun With Your Shirt On Sexy guy, late 30's, W/E, dark hair, tache, fit swimmer's body, not bad looking, into sexy guys wearing collar and tie or uniform for hot horny versatile sessions. ALAWP, Can accommodate/travel. Box SG27015. Celtic Pride - Edinburgh 190699 Belfast guy (40) and London guy (27) visiting Scotland for Pride. Seeking pals to march with and join us for evening session at Glasgow Celtic FC bar. Photo appreciated (returned). Box SG27016. Wanted: Weekend slaves, North East of Scotland. Must be 18-35, passive, of slim build and into bondage. Send recent photo with full details and phone number. Now! Box SG27017. Oi! Skinheads In Scotland 27, 5'6", Zero Crop, slim, pierced, tattooed, shaved, wltm fellow Skinheads for friendship. Into army gear, leather, w/s, indoor and outdoor action. Frank letters answered, photo if possible. Box SG27018. Edinburgh 25 year old, tall, slim, very smooth body, seeks active WE older men (35+) for uncomplicated fun. Frank letter appreciated. ALA. Box SG27019. Edinburgh Master Seeks Slave Boy Friendly master seeks young (18-28) slim, submissive slave. Novices welcome. Live-in possible after initial period. Photo, telephone number and full details essential. Box SG27020. Edinburgh Young? 18-22? Shy? Not into the scene? Looking for an older guy for fun and friendship? Look no further! Edinburgh based businessman, 40's, would like to hear from you! A photo would be nice, but isn't essential! Not after LURVE - just an easy going friendship and no strings fun. Box SG27021. Paisley - Glasgow 43 year old dreamer, fit, OK looks, into psychedelic music, movies, gay videos, sci-fi, countryside, seeks intelligent, skinny younger guy for companionship and serious cuddles. You're out there somewhere: write! Box SG27022. "This Charming Man" In Angus Educated, eclectic, spiritual, sensual, erudite, egalitarian, attractive, thoughtful, green, arty, blue eyed, reliable, discreet, non smoking, S/A, N/S, Guardian reader seeks best friend, married, 37, "What difference does it make". Box SG27023. Glasgow - Lanarkshire SA, SL, medium, 34 year old, into boots, trainers, videos, nights out, seeks guys into the same. Any colour, any race, for no strings attached fun under 35. Box SG27025. Stirling Businessman, 40, in Stirling twice a week, would like to spend a pleasant few hours with a young guy - student perhaps. Own flat. Non-smoker. Would suit beginner who prefers mature men. Total discretion assured if required. Box SG27026. Glasgow - Edinburgh - Central: Briefs And Outdoor Fun 33, 5'9", medium build, short receding brown hair, quite hairy, uncut, clean shaven, NSm/NSc. WLTM guys 25-45 into briefs, kilts; swimmers for fun times. O skills, musical, etc. IT, ALAPWP. Box SG27027. Glasgow 6'4", 30something, rugby players build, hairy and handsome, looking for WE guyz for some no strings fun. Box SG27028. Glasgow Guy in 40's, seeks slim guy under 27, non-smoker, for fun times, maybe leading to 1-2-1. Photo please, but looks seriously unimportant. Detailed and frank letter gets quick reply. Box SG27029. Edinburgh - Central Scotland Guy, 28, seeking S/A, N/Sc, SL mate between 24-35 for quiet nights in and out, who enjoys conversation, travel and the outdoors. Discretion assured. Phone number appreciated. Box SG27030. Allies Against The Federation! Glasgow guy, 28, tall, slim, brown hair, brown eyes, goatee, GSOH, seeks same, into Daleks, The Liberator, Emma Peel, Hammer, for fun and more. Where are you Vince?! ALAWP. Box SG27031. Edinburgh 40something Indian guy seeks friends for afternoon and evening fun. Cannot accommodate or travel. Total discretion required and assured. ALAWP. Box SG27032. Glasgow Steph Camp Goings On! 38 year old seeks new friends, possibly leading to 1-2-1. You: aged 23-35, like myself, medium build, short hair, preferably smooth, dry sense of humour, N/Sc, open minded, laid back humanitarian. Box SG27033. Clyde Coast Ayrshire, attractive, youthful 53, slim, good body, passive, seeking discreet, active male 43-60 for friendship, mutual pleasure and share new experiences, likes small briefs, gay videos. Can travel most weekends. Box SG27034. Glasgow 50 year old guy is looking for slender guys up to 24 (student type maybe), shy or camp especially welcome. Letter with photo appreciated. Box SG27035. West Glasgow Mid 20's gay guy, good looking, smooth slim body, GSOH, looking for new friends with possible 1-2-1. Love hugs and cuddles, relatively inexperienced but willing to learn. Can accommodate. Box SG27036. Retired Hippy 42 year old guy, small, hairy, unconventional, hippy type seeks smooth young guys for uninhibited no strings fun. Can accommodate or travel. Box SG27037. Glasgow - Anywhere - Friendly Bi-Guy 40's seeking Scotland's hairiest bum/legs. I'll pull your briefs down! Also XXVWE. Can anyone suck himself? Strut your stuff!!! Love safe fun. Photos please (returned). Let's meet very soon. Box SG27038. Asian And Oriental Pals Wanted For young white guy, 18. I'm 5'10", slim, good looking and VWE. I'd like to meet guys for fun and friendship. You: Asian/oriental, under 30 and friendly. ALAWP. Box SG27040. Glasgow Area Unsexy, unconvincing TV, 21, 5'5", seeks TVs who can assist with make-up, make me feel less of a pillock in a frock, and generally dispense words of wisdom and/or consolation. Box SG27041. Big Is Beautiful? Then Tell Me So! Heavy hairy gay guy, 23st, seeks chubby chasers for fun and frolics. I like hugs, food, the arts. I am a soft soppy bear who seeks cuddly chasers. Write now! Box SG27042. Asian Men Wanted Glasgow - Anywhere Would like to meet Asian guys 18-35 for correspondence and friendship. I'm 21, student, white and would love to have Indian/Asian friends. ALAWP. Box SG27043. Glasgow Heavy built Glasgow guy seeks slim, horny, smooth versatile sex maniacs, under 30, who know what they want and how often. Don't be shy - I'm not! Box SG27044. Edinburgh Isolated, unemployed, Edinburgh guy, 37, wltm others in similar position with view to socialising together. Poss 1-2-1 with right guy. Sincerity a must. Looks unimportant but photo appreciated. Box SG27045. Whacko! Father figure seeks naughty sons to report for CP correction. All limits respected. Safe raunchy fun for cute buns. Box SG27047. Fife Area Early 40's gay guy loves men's briefs, tangas, undies and swimwear would like to meet similar guys, security guards, army uniform wearers a bonus. Phone no helps for quick reply. Box SG27048. Glasgow - Edinburgh - Central 42 year old guy, own home, car and business, seeks student type for uncomplicated fun and/or relationship. Small guys welcome - but I prefer slightly plump or muscled rather than skinny types. Clean shaven essential. No piercings please! Box SG27049. Shetland Needs Company 34 year old looking for new friends. Can accommodate. Holiday makers welcome. Honest and genuine. All letters answered. Discretion assured. Please drop me a line soon. Box SG27051. Young Glasgow Lad Seeks Older Lad Glasgow lad, 28, fair, 5'9", athletic, seeks older gent 50+ for some good ol' fashioned fun and friendship. Glasgow/anywhere. Cannot accommodate but will travel. Frank letter preferred. ALA. Box SG27052. Minerva Look Alikes Minerva loo alikes or other long haired guys 18-40, S/NS, SA/SL. Sexy into correspondence. I'm a 23 year old gay guy, single, never slept with a guy but needing you's very very bad. Box SG27053. What's Normal? 34 year old Glasgow male seeks soul mate. Passive. 25-35. GSOH. Fed up with scene. Likes travelling, theatre, cinema, photography. ALAWP. Box SG27054. Rear Action Sought By Active Scots Guy S/A, attractive guy, 28, medium build, dark Latin/Celtic looks. Looking for fit S/A attractive Scots man to fxxx my rear whilst visiting Scotland (Glasgow, Edinburgh). Photo (returned) gets mine. Box SG27055. Bisexual Edinburgh - Glasgow - Anywhere Bi-curious? Beginner? Why not explore possibilities with a discreet mature guy. If you're under 22, and would like to learn what it's all about, then get in touch. I can accommodate or travel. Total discretion assured. Box SG27008. Edinburgh Bi male, fit, 40's, non smoker, married, wltm couple or similar versatile male for friendship, relationship. Discretion assured. Box SG27024. Edinburgh Incredibly sane, but kinky 30something bisexual male, seeks deranged female in need of calm waters. E-mail: summer160@hotmail.com or write. Box SG27039. Edinburgh Gay 30's, wltm nice b/s guys for friendship, poss sex. Looks not that important, personality is. Non scene. Beards, goatees welcome. Box SG27046. Straight Edinburgh - Stirling Off the wall guy, 30, lots of gay friends, distinct lack of female companions, seeks relationship with good looking bi female nutter! Nice Catholic girls need not apply. Box SG27007. Friends Abroad Canada French speaking Canadian from Quebec City is visiting Edinburgh in May for three months. Looking for someone sensible, funny and intelligent. I'm a 20 year old passionate man who travels a lot, slim, 5'11". Be original, different and write me some words. Write: Claude Pratte, 391 Desfranciscains, QuEbec QC, G1S 2P9, Canada or E-mail: ludvigphilip@hotmail.com Italy 24 year old Italian guy, blue eyes, 185 cms X 95 Kgs, is looking for Scottish guys as penfriends (or e-mail friends, as we live in the WEB era). They must be my age (22-25), body-builders types would be better. I hope this will be the beginning of some new and pleasant friendships. See U! Write: Ivan Patti, Viale Trieste 24, 26845 Codogno (CO), Italy or E-mail: ivpatti@tin.it Straight Acting Chinese Indonesian 27 y/o, Chinese, mixed Indonesian looking for a boy friend, 175 cm tall, 65kg, good looking, smooth. Looking for a boy friends less then 40 y/o. Write: Indra Wijaya, jl. Palapa 1/no.12, Kedoya-Jakarta barat 11520, Indonesia or E-mail: indrawijaya@yahoo.com 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 on 0207-373 1107. Edinburgh Is there anyone who is prepared to teach conversational French or Spanish (for a fee) locally? Please contact and leave message on 0131-452 8929 with details. Models Wanted Previously published photographer needs good looking guys (18-25) who want to earn ukp20 per hour for publication work. For details please telephone Stuart on 0141-636 6556 (No withheld numbers please) or E-mail me: sborg16184@aol.com Products Aloe Vera For your health's sake take a high quality natural product which aids the immune system and detoxifies the body and much much more. You owe it to yourself! Call me to find out more: 0141-959 0431. Or E-mail me: bmdoc@dircon.co.uk Services Aberdeen - Luke's Domestic Services Quality domestic service by attractive versatile W/E guy. Voyeurs catered for. Confidential and private service. Tel: 0831 831157. Business Opportunity Great business opportunity in health, nutrition, skin care and cosmetics. Take charge of your own future using the world experience of a multi billion dollar 20 year old company. Real earnings potential with backing of a sponsor. Tel: 01772 555619. Buying A PC? 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Make The Most Of Your Garden This Year Personal touch landscape design and planting services - serving the entire central belt. Let me deliver a personal design solution to your garden from design to completion. All tasks considered and estimated for , first consultation offers free advice and no obligation. Call 07970 421153. Martin's Cleaning Service, Lothians Domestic Household cleaning done to a high standard. Also caters for voyeurs. Confidential, private service. Tel. 0131-552 1870. Pen Friends Lesbian Gay and Bi Pen Friends, non profit service, Box numbers, Monthly listings, no outdated 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 Worldwide Penfriends Regular lists. Make friends, exchange holidays, improve your languages. For general and music lovers' lists send ukp3: "The Penpal List", c/o 221B Merton Road, Southfields, London. SW18 5EE. Back Rubs Black Male Escort Educated, discreet, expensive VWE escort - women welcome too. In or out calls. Tel: 07970 528229. Central Scotland Black Top, active Muscular VWE lad, six footer, 12.5 stones. 27, smooth with strong arms and thighs, offers a discreet and friendly back rub. In or out calls, Call Chris 07050 082461 or 0141-579 7273. Edinburgh Cuddly chubby gay man offers discreet personal service to genuine callers. ukp20. 0131-271 0481. Edinburgh - New Lad Mature, educated 21 year old male, offers discreet and friendly personal service to genuine callers. Professional rates. In or out. Call anytime. Thomas. 0131-558 3785. Escort - Kissogram - Massage The very best for entertainment. The ultimate in sexual fantasy. Private shows or parties: the choice is yours. Telephone: 0411 284558. Escort/Massage Offered Hi! Want to relax? Let my trained hands send you to heaven and back. 22 year old, 6'1", WE, slim, very attractive and versatile. For unhurried personal attention, page me on 01523 181882 or E-mail: djmbig@aol.com Glasgow Danny and Callum (together or separate). Professional masseurs. 7 days a week. WE. Mobile: 0421 753 677 or 0403 172 486. Glasgow Boyz Two For One Sensual erotic all over rub experience by discreet friendly lads. New in Glasgow. 22/24. Satisfaction guaranteed. In/out calls. David/Nik. Mobile 0797 1362110. Glasgow/Edinburgh Hot Rod Call Callum for total enjoyment and satisfaction. All tastes. All ages. All races. Call now: 0403 172486. 7 days. 24 hours. ukp30 p/h. Glasgow Escort/Masseur Mature educated 23 year old good looking male, 6ft, blond, muscular, VWE, offers 12 alternative treatments. Unhurried, relaxing, professional, 24 hour service, seven days. For the ultimate experience, call Kurt 079311 20394. Glasgow Joe Skin, horny, smooth, pierced, friendly. In/out - 7 days 24 hours. Good rates for an unhurried, relaxing service. Call me: 0403 480601. Glasgow Mike The best sensual/erotic back rub offered by attractive, slim, horny guy. Excellent value. New clients most welcome. Call 0141-889 1764 and ask for Mike. Let Me Pull Your Cracker Simon (Glasgow only). Being of mature years (60), 5'8", I will escort the tired businessman 50+ or the titled gentleman or executive for the evening:- To Dinner for Two, or the Cinema, Theatre or just perhaps in your home or hotel room where I can take you in hand. Simon is caring, gentle, passive and aims to please. Into most things. Confidentiality absolutely guaranteed. Relax with Simon. Page me: 0839 732555. Massage For Men Great caring, relaxing, sensual pampering. 1 hour full body treatment ukp15. Jim (Qualified). 0131-556 7199. Our Prices Will Not Be Beaten! Our service is unmatched, satisfaction guaranteed. Discounts available. Call Mike or Chick on 0141-889 1764. Rub You Right Good looking, smooth faced, well hung lad gives fantastic back rubs. Into Lycra, Speedos, J/Straps and pouches. Brilliant prices. Call Jamie - 0403 237403. South Lanarkshire Blond slim horny guy, 5'9", all tastes, all races. On your own or with friend. In/out. Call Zander on 01698 333625. West Glasgow For the ultimate in pleasure! Let your body talk the language we understand. For the extra bit in value. All races welcome. Value guaranteed. Call Ross or Tony 07931 613616. Where to Stay North East Scotland Farmhouse Retreat Bed & Breakfast Gay, non scene, rustic, remote, private, warm relaxed atmosphere. Enjoy that extra special break you really need. Treat yourself. Discretion assured service. Weekly terms. Details and other information: Telephone 01261 851154. 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 The Maltings Bed & Breakfast Small guest flat double room. Friendly Service. Homely atmosphere. Midway between Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen. Call Peter on 01674 674148 or mobile 0831 438999. USA One Bedroom Condo, Los Angeles, California available for vacation rental. Located in West Hollywood, Walking distance to clubs, restaurants, bars, gym. Fully furnished, all new and updated, linens, etc. $650 per week. If interested call Michael at 00 1 714-381-5855, or write to Michael Winston, 8577 Rugby Drive #202, West Hollywood, Ca 90069, or E-mail: LagunaGuy9@aol.com. Spirituality Christian Gay Event "PARTNERS", a retreat/holiday for Christian lesbians and gays. A supportive event on the beautiful Welsh coast. June 5-10. Details: http://home.clara.net/loyola/ Tel: David: 0151-426 4137. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- VENUES ====== aberdeen ABERDEEN WOMEN'S CENTRE Shoe Lane, off Queen Street. Tel: (01224) 625010. Fax: 01224 625777. Tue-Thu 10am-2pm. Where the women hang out. Lesbian group meets Wed 8-10pm. CLUB 2000 62 Shiprow. Tel: (01224) 596999. 9pm-2am. Following the closure of Castro, now Aberdeen's only gay pub/club. Friendly, small and intimate. Entry charge Fri/Sat only. Free before 11pm and ukp2 after with no re-entry fee. dundee CHARLIE'S BAR 75 Seagate. Tel: (01382) 226840. Mon-Sat 11am-Midnight. Sun 12.30-11pm. Previously known as Deva's and, before that The Gauger, Dundee's longest established gay bar has recently changed hands and is much improved. 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. BAR XS St Andrew's Lane (behind Liberty Nightclub). Tel: (01382) 200660. Mon-Sat 8pm-Midnight. Sun 8-11pm. Cafe/bar for lgb clientele under the same successful management as Liberty to which it has its own entrance. edinburgh ATLANTIC BLUE The Dome, 14 George Street. Info Line: 0131-538 1598. First Sunday of each month. 10.30pm-3am. The newest gay/gay-friendly club in Edinburgh for the kitsch and glamourous party people which will change its name every month in order to confuse people - it opens as Elegance. ukp3/ukp7. Craig Burger Queen is the DJ. ATOMIX 60 Broughton Street. Tel: 0131-558 8174. Sat-Wed Noon-7pm. Thu-Fri Noon-8pm. Another world of gay shopping - gifts and toys for gay boyz and girlz. Formerly PJ's but now under new management. 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-Fri 11am-11.30pm, Sat-Sun 9-12.30am. Food served until 10pm. 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 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-Sat 6pm-3am, Sun 3pm-3am. Karaoke on Thursday and Sunday. Male strippers Sun at 4.30pm. Disco every night from 10.30pm. THE CAULDRON 77 Clerk Street. Tel: 0131-622 7237. Mon-Sat Noon-1am. Sun 12.30pm-1am. Edinburgh's best kept secret. Real ale in a gay friendly atmosphere. Esoteric jukebox. "If you must go on the scene, why not have some beer first?" Frequented by members of Diverse Drinkers who meet there on the first Monday of the month from 8pm - WWW: http://www.antipope.org/feorag/drinkers/ CITY CAFE 19 Blair Street. Tel: 0131-220 0125. 11am-1am. 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-Wed 11.30am-2.30pm and 6pm-10pm, Thu-Sat 11.30am-10pm, Sun 12.30pm-10pm. Gay owned, gay friendly and renowned for courtesy, comfort and good food. E-mail: http://www.scifipub99.freeserve.co.uk/ CLOUDS 16 Forth Street. Tel: 0131-550 3808 FAX: 0131-550 3807. A gay-owned, Edinburgh based Letting Agency offering a comprehensive competitive service for Landlords/Owners for long-term short term property management. 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. E-mail: edinburgh@cybersurf.co.uk WWW: http://www.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. DUST Studio 24, 24 Calton Road. Info Line: 0131-668 3072. Thu 11pm-3am. Metal, Industrial, Goth, Punk. ukp1.50. Drinks Promos. E-mail: http://members.xoom.com/dust_net EDINBURGH LESBIAN GAY AND BISEXUAL CENTRE 58a and 60 Broughton Street. Houses Atomix, 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), Paddy (who isn't) or Steve (who is too cute to ask!). Toys galore, video rental too! Glamour shop upstairs. 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. 10.30pm-3am. Next dates: 1st May, 29th May. Joy, Scotland's most upfront gay club! ukp7 members/ukp9 non-members (reduced entry of ukp6/ukp7 before 11pm. E-mail: joy.scotland@virgin.net WWW: http://freespace.virgin.net/alanjoy.dj/joyhome.htm MASSAGE FOR HEALTH 58a/60 Broughton Street. Tel: 0131-669 8039, 0131-478 1090 or 07970 921209. By appointment only. Therapeutic massage from qualified practitioners Anne and John. Concessions available. MINGIN' Studio 24, 24 Calton Road. Info Line: 0131-467 2551. 10.30pm-3am. Saturdays: 8th May. Alan Joy's club Mingin' runs every fourth Saturday featuring Alan Joy himself on the decks plus Brian Dempster. ukp5 entry. E-mail: its.mingin@virgin.net WWW: http://freespace.virgin.net/alanjoy.dj/mingin.htm THE MISSION Studio 24, 24 Calton Road. Info Line: 0131-467 9701. Every second Saturday Dates: 1st and 22nd May. 3 floors. Alternative. Pansexual. ukp3/4. Drinks Promos NEW TOWN BAR 26B Dublin Street. Tel: 0131-538 7775. Mon-Sat Noon-1am. Sun 12.30pm-1am. Especially popular with Bears, but has wide clientele. Intense, the downstairs Disco is open Thu-Sun 10pm-1am. NEXUS CAFE-BAR 60 Broughton Street. Tel: 0131-478 7069. 11am-11pm. The cafe at the Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Centre. Friendly and increasingly busy. E-mail: nexus1cb@aol.com No EIGHTEEN 18 Albert Place. Tel: 0131-553 3222. Mon-Sat Noon-10pm, Sun 2-10pm. Long established sauna club for gay gentlemen! THE OLIVE GROVE 36 Broughton Street. Mon-Sat 10am-6pm. Eclectic little deli. Notably stocks an amazing range of seriously perverted chillies - remember to wash your hands! Part of the Blue Moon Cafe complex. THE OUTHOUSE Broughton Street Lane. Tel: 0131-557 6668. Daily Noon-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 Caf). Tel: 0131-478 7048. Daily Noon-7pm. Gay and lesbian store selling books, mags, videos, toys, wearing apparel, etc. PERMISSION Pansexual fetish club currently in hibernation due to closure of their venue. Write: Permission, BM Boog, London WC1N 3XX. E-mail: permission@hedonism.demon.co.uk WWW: http://www.hedonism.demon.co.uk/permission PLANET OUT 6 Baxter's Place. Tel: 0131-524 0061. Mon-Thu 4pm-1am, Fri-Sun 12.30pm-1am. Food served: Mon-Thu 4pm-9pm, Fri-Sun 12.30pm-7pm. Formerly Route 66. Has been extensively refurbished. But there's still no real ale! REBEL YELL The Penthouse, West Tollcross (Entry between Cavendish and Mambo). Info Line: 0131-228 6315. Fri 10pm-3am. Weekly pansexual rock night with Mission DJs. ukp3. Drinks Promos. SHEBANG Wilkie House, Cowgate. Tel: 0131-557 4656. Next dates: (Saturdays) 8th May, 5th June, 3rd July. 11pm-3am. Mixed club with an all-woman DJ line up. THE STAG & TURRET 1-7 Montrose Terrace. Tel: 0131-478 7231. 11am-1am. Friendly and thriving gay boozer just round the corner from the Solas Centre. 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). Vegetarians and carnivores catered for. TACKNO Club Mercado, 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: 0131-557 4656. Sun 11pm-3am. Edinburgh's only weekly House dance club with DJs Fisher and Price, Martin Valentine and Stuart Barrie. Mixed. 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. TOWNHOUSE HEALTH CLUB 51-53 East Claremont Street. Tel: 0131-557 6430. Noon-11pm. Plush new healthclub. Usual facilities. E-mail: davidklan@bothysummerside.freeserve.co.uk VIVA MERCADO Club Mercado, 36-39 Market Street. Tel: 0131-226 4224. 2nd and 4th Saturdays of each month 11pm-4am. Mixed and crowded club night. WEB 13 13 Bread Street. Tel: 0131-229 8883. Mon-Fri 9am-10pm, Sat 9am-8pm, Sun 11am-8pm. Informal mixed cybercafe with homely and approachable staff. The largest cybercafe in Scotland with 19 terminals. WWW: http://www.web13.co.uk/ E-mail: queries@web13.co.uk falkirk DROOKIT DUCK 16 Grahams Road. Tel: (01324) 613644. Mon-Wed 11am-3pm and 6-11.30pm. Thu 11am-3pm and 5pm-Midnight. Fri-Sat 11am-12.30am. Sun 7pm-Midnight. Straight bar used by a few discrete local gays. Near to Grahamston station. galashiels GREEN'S DINER 4 Green Street. Tel: (01896) 757667. Tue 10am-5pm, Wed-Sat 10am-10pm. Relaxed Eurocafe style every opening day from 10am-5pm, Full Restaurant Service from 5pm (Booking essential 10 days in advance for weekends). Mixed. E-mail: Greensdiner@hotmail.com glasgow BAD PUPPY Planet Peach, Union Street. Tue 11pm-3am. Queer/indie/retro disco. Entry ukp2/ukp3. Brendan Nash returns to the fray. BENNETS DISCO 80-90, Glassford Street. Tel: 0141-552 5761. Tue-Sun 11pm-3am. Beautifully appointed busy club now on two floors. Frequent PAs. Tuesdays are straight. CCA Centre for Contemporary Arts, 350 Sauchiehall Street. Tel: 0141-332 0522. Temporarily relocating just down the road to the McLellan Galleries whilst their old building is being completely rebuilt to their requirements. E-mail: gen@cca-glasgow.com CAFFE LATTE 58 Virginia Street. Tel: 0141-553 2553. Mon-Sat 11am-Midnight, Sun Noon-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). Reduced entry charge at weekends! All the usual facilities. CLONE ZONE 11 Dixon Street. Tel: 0141-248 2593. Mon-Wed 11am-7pm, Thu-Sat 11am-9pm, Sun 1-7pm. Clothes, videos, magazines, toys. In temporary accommodation at the GGLC due to a building mishap at their Virginia Street premises to which they hope to return shortly. WWW: http://www.czone.demon.co.uk/ COURT BAR 69 Hutcheson Street. Tel: 0141-552 2463. Mon-Sat 8am-Midnight, Sun 12.30pm-Midnight. Intimate bar beside former Sheriff Court. Straight until mid-evening. DELMONICA'S BAR 68 Virginia Street. Tel: 0141-552 4803. Daily Noon-Midnight. Large pub - popular with the younger crowd. FRUITFLY The Arches, Midland Street. Tel: 0141-221 9736. Third Sunday in the month. Next dates: 17th April, 15th May. 11pm-4am. New mixed club run by Taste from Edinburgh. GLC CAFE/BAR GGLC, 11 Dixon Street. Tel: 0141-400 1008. Daily 10am-10pm. Full breakfast always available. Home cooking. Friendly and busy! GLASGOW GAY & LESBIAN CENTRE (GGLC) 11 Dixon Street. Tel/FAX: 0141-221 7203. Daily 10am-10pm. Glasgow's community centre for lesbians, gay men and bisexuals. Cafe. Clone Zone shop. Two large meeting rooms available for hire. Getting better and better after recent changes in management. Increasingly busy and popular! Fully wheelchair accessible venue. WWW: http://members.aol.com/gglcpress/ E-mail: gglcpress@aol.com 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 ukp2.50 per half hour. Food served all day. WWW: http://www.linkcafe.co.uk/ E-mail: tim@linkcafe.co.uk THE LANE 60 Robertson Street Lane (off Argyle Street). Tel: 0141-221 1802. Mon-Fri 1-10pm, Sat-Sun Noon-10pm. "Exotic Gay Men's Club" with sauna and private cabins. Look for the green light. 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. PENELOPE'S 18 Jamaica Street. Tel: 0141-400 1423. Mon-Tue 11pm-3am. Weekly club nights. DJ Greg. Regular PAs and drinks promos. Free entry. THE POLO LOUNGE 84 Wilson Street. Tel: 0141-553 1221. Mon-Thu Noon-1am, Fri-Sun Noon-3am. Upmarket bar with comfortable seating. WWW: http://www.pololounge.co.uk/ 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. Dress Code night on Fridays in the Blue Room. SILKS AND SECRETS 308 Argyle Street. Tel: 0141-572 1017. Mon-Sat 10am-5.45pm. Sun Noon-5pm. Clothes and toys catering for gay, transvestite and fetish tastes. Friendly understanding staff. Larger sizes stocked. TRADE The Arches, Midland Street. Tel: 0141-221 9736. 1st Saturday of each month. 10.30pm-5am. The most famous club night in the UK with a host of big name DJs. Entry ukp10 in advance, ukp12 on door. TRON THEATRE CAFE BAR Chisholm Street. Tel: 0141-552 8587. Noon-Midnight. Friendly theatre bar. Mixed. WWW: http://www.tron.co.uk/ E-mail: info@tron.co.uk UNSCENE 13th Note Caf, 50-60 King Street. Tel: 0141-553 1638. 1st and 3rd Wednesdays. Doors open 8.30pm. Relaxed mixed club. Indie/whatever music policy. Guaranteed HiNRG-free zone. VICTORIA BAR 157-159 Bridgegait. Tel: 0141-552 6040. Daily 11am-Midnight. Basically straight, but justly popular with Glasgow's many Real Ale queens and dykes. VIOLATE PO Box 808, Glasgow. G71 7YN. Violate Club Line: 0890 1292 058 (60p per min at all times).Replaces the Hellfire Club. BDSM and general pervery. Saturdays 8th May, 5th June: Cafe Royal, Edinburgh. Sat 14th May, 11th June: GGLC, Glasgow. Thursday 27th May: Bongo Club, Edinburgh. WWW: http://www.violate.co.uk/ E-mail: update@violate.co.uk THE WATERLOO 306 Argyle Street. Tel: 0141-229 5891. Mon-Sat Noon-Midnight. Sun 12.30pm-Midnight. Semper idem! Popular, crowded, down to earth gay drinking shop. Scotland's oldest gay bar - what more can we say? Busy, busy, busy! Awarded the Betty Hutton seal of approval. inverness NICO'S BAR/BISTRO Glen Mhor Hotel, Ness Bank. Tel: (01463) 234308. Wed and Fri 9-11pm. Smart relaxed bar popular with some local gays especially on Wednesday and Friday nights (9.15pm onwards). Mixed clientele. STATION HOTEL Station Square, Academy Street. Tel: (01463) 231926. Wed and Fri 9-11pm. Inverness's main gay friendly establishment. Smart hotel bar. Increasingly popular with Inverness gays who are tired of putting up with the antics of a certain homophobic establishment owner. stirling BARNTON BISTRO 3 1/2 Barnton Street. Tel: (01786) 461698. Mon-Thu 10.30am-Midnight, Fri-Sat 10.30am-1am, Sun Noon-Midnight. (Food: Day and early evening). Near to railway station, Mixed, busy, bohemian and friendly bar/bistro. Popular with students and Sons/Daughters of the Rock alike. Good food. Real Ale. InsideOut: a monthly magazine for lesbians, gays and bisexuals. ISSN: 1360-9327. Edited, printed and published in Scotland. (c) Pageprint Publishing Limited, April 1999. 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. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ INTERNATIONAL ============= Swiss Ban Discrimination Swiss voters have approved a new constitution that bans discrimination based on sexual orientation via the phrase "way of life," the gay group Pink Cross has announced. Article 8, paragraph 2 prohibits bias based on race, gender, age, language, social standing, way of life, religion, ideological or political conviction or handicap. Gays lobbied for inclusion of the phrase "sexual orientation," but had to settle for "way of life" and an accompanying explanation that gays and lesbians are included in the phrase's purview. Other countries that ban anti-gay bias via their constitutions include Canada, Ecuador, Fiji and South Africa. Australian High Court Judge Comes Out A judge who sits on Australia's top court came out recently by listing his partner of 30 years in the 1999 edition of Who's Who In Australia. High Court Justice Michael Kirby made no further comment on the issue. According to the book entry, he and Johan van Vloten have been together since February 11th 1969. News reports called Kirby one of Australia's most respected legal thinkers. Rodney Croome of the Australian Council for Lesbian and Gay Rights commented: "It's unprecedented that any judge in Australia should be honest and open about his homosexuality while still in office. He's a great humanitarian, a very hard worker and respected by people from all sectors of the community." Croome added, "They've been together for almost as long as I've been alive." Canada Gay Canadian Olympic gold medalist Mark Tewksbury has become an immigration activist. Tewksbury's lover, Swiss actor Benjamin Kiss, is attempting to stay in Canada by applying for residency based on humanitarian and compassionate grounds - the only option available to same-sex couples - and Tewksbury says that's discriminatory. "I'm standing up for the right thing, for people to be treated fairly, for a certain standard of ethics to be involved in processes, and to ensure that everybody in this country has the same basic human rights," he said. "Changes are needed right across the board. ... I'm in a same-sex relationship. I'm finally out and very open and proud of my relationship, and I want that relationship to be legitimized formally. "I will take this as far as I can," he said. "This is my life." Argentina Police and neighbours are terrorizing Buenos Aires' La Fulana Feminist Community Centre for Women Who Love Women, the women report. After complaining to police about "disturbing noises," "orgies," "naked parties," "weird people, even transvestites" and "immoral tortilla makers" (a derogatory term for lesbians), a group of neighbours pounded and kicked at the centre's door last month and grabbed and beat a woman who responded. They claimed music coming from the centre was too loud. In another incident, a group of men gathered at the centre's door and shouted things such as, "Damned tortilleras, we're going to fuck you all" while grabbing their crotches. Finally, police raided the centre in mid-March and removed all the audio equipment. The centre requests protest letters to the judge who authorised the raid: Sr. Juez Marcelo Vazquez, Juzgado Contravencional Nro. 2, Carlos Pellegrini 291, primer piso, 1331-Buenos Aires, Argentina. Send a copy to La Fulana, Venezuela 2080, 1096-Buenos Aires, Argentina. Phone/fax: 00-54-11-4942-6931. Malaysia Sacked Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim was sent to jail for six years for interfering with police investigations of allegations he had sex with the wife of a staff member and with his male driver. Anwar has denounced the charges as a political conspiracy to keep Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad in power, an analysis shared by Amnesty International, which condemned the sentencing. Anwar was charged after leading large anti-government protests last year. "We ... consider Anwar Ibrahim to be a prisoner of conscience, detained solely for peacefully expressing his dissenting political opinions, and reiterate our call for his immediate and unconditional release," AI said. Czech Republic A bill granting registered gay/lesbian couples most of the rights of matrimony has passed second reading in the Czech Republic's Chamber of Deputies. The vote was 88 to 80 with 13 abstentions. A final vote is expected in May, after which the measure would go to the Senate and then to the president for his signature. The bill is supported by all political parties except the Christian Democrats. The only significant marriage right that would be withheld is the right to adopt children. Denmark, Greenland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden have gay registered-partnership laws that grant nearly every right of matrimony, and The Netherlands has a partnership law that grants all rights of marriage. Hungary has a type of gay common-law marriage that withholds only the right to adoption. Denmark Frank Wolff Hinrichs, 22, has won Denmark's first anti-gay job discrimination case. Hinrichs proved he was fired from a centre for troubled youth by producing a recording of the conversation in which his boss dismissed him. He had hidden a tape recorder in his pocket. In the settlement, the centre paid Hinrichs the equivalent of seven and a half months salary. Denmark has banned anti-gay discrimination in employment since 1996. Australia About 260 people have participated in the Australian Gaymes Easter weekend in Brisbane. The most popular of the 12 sports were swimming, volleyball and track-and-field events. Athletes came from Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, northern New South Wales and far-north Queensland. Commonwealth gold medalist Lisa Marie Vizaniari won the discus competition. Next year's Gaymes will be in Sydney as a precursor to the 2002 Gay Games. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ REVIEWS ======= books ----- The Chronicles of the Celts by Peter Berresford Ellis Robinson Publishing, ukp16.99 Did you know that you and the nice Indian lady in your corner shop might just share some common ancestry? It is probable that the earliest Celtic roots are to be found somewhere between the Baltic and the Black Sea and that the first Celts not only migrated westward, but also towards the South-east across the Himalayas into India. This theory is supported by incredible similarities of not only the legends of the Celts and those found in the scriptures of the Indian religions, but also in the resemblance of names and words in the Celtic and Indian language. Having found out about this seemingly incredible fact yours truly was absolutely fascinated by this book. Being German by birth and having been brought up on a diet of legends of Brunhilde, Lohengrin, Loreley and all the other 'German' folk heroes I was not a little amazed that all this characters from my childhood have their earliest roots in the Celtic legends. Apart from the wow factor this book is brilliantly written and had me missing loads of my favourite TV programmes (not the Alan Titchmarsh one, of course, though :-). Between its pages I was transported into a world of magic and wonder, with heroic battles and treacherous spells, Kings and handsome princes galore, love and murder, birth and death. There is the sinister Lady of the Lake and the epics of the Cornish Kings, I met the beautiful mermaid of Manx legend, the Ben-Varrey and read about the Scottish legend of the Kelpie and the evil monsters of the Corrievreckan. There be Dragons....... Thicker Than Water by Garre Brumes Blackwood Press, ukp4.99 My heart sunk in trepidation when about a month ago I got a 'phone call from an author asking me if I would like to review his first book, which he had just published himself. I had visions of a book rejected over and over by the publishing houses and finally brought out as a vanity publication. How wrong I was! A few days later Thicker Than Water arrived through the letterbox and I started reading. And I kept reading. About a couple of hours later the phone rung and I let the answer phone cut in. I did not want to be disturbed. I just wanted to be there with Nicholas and David and read about their trials and tribulations. Thicker Than Water is a very moving story, very well written, succinct and down to earth, no frills love story. Nicholas Harding, having been brought up by a very domineering mother and a father he hardly knew, is not very worldly wise. In fact, he always believed himself to be a bit of an ugly duckling... Until he gets called to his seriously ill father in the hospital. There he meets and falls for Dr. Young... "Call me David, please." Only 20 pages later they end up in bed together and the whirlwind feeling of this book never stops. None of my trepidations were realised and quite unusually for me I read this book in one sitting and never put it down, oblivious to the world until I devoured the last page. I shan't tell you any more of the plot and to be honest, the only one little gripe I have about the book is that too much of the plot is revealed on the back cover. So if you want to read it without knowing the plot, don't read the back cover. The New Supergardener by Alan Titchmarsh Ward Lock, ukp16.99 I love reading about gardening, I love watching gardening programmes on the box, I even have to own up to having a CD-ROM on garden design. But hey, nobody is perfect... When it actually comes to even half win the battle against the weeds by being out there, digging for victory, well that is another kettle of fish. My gardening consists very much of planting low maintenance trees and shrubs, rather then back breaking, knee wrecking, soft hand destroying flowers and vegetables. But I do like Alan Titchmarsh... and if you have a passion for gardening you could do worse then getting this book. Better still, you could give it to your boyfriend/girlfriend in the vain hope that the bug will miraculously be passed on and the digging and other hard work will be done for you and all you have to do is the pleasurable parts like swinging in the hammock in the sunshine in your immaculate garden. Chance'll be a fine thing! But back to young Alan, do you know, I have my doubts about him, he's recently made a couple of comments on his show that makes me think any day now he might just come out of the garden shed, allegedly. Watch this space... Speciality Breads in Your Bread Machine by Norman A. Garrett Sterling Publishing, $7.95 It's incredible, people never cease to amaze me. You see, to do these reviews we are always in touch with the publishing houses and their various employees. When my boyfriend rung up the publisher of this and the next book the woman on the other end of the line said to him: "I don't think your readers will be interested in our output." My boyfriend retorted: "It might surprise you to hear that we own a bread machine and we bake our own bread in it and believe it or not, we have a garden and are quite into keeping it neat and tidy and looking as lovely as the gardens tended to by our 'straight' neighbours." Couple of days later the books arrived through the door. Nice one, Andy... I'm glad you were as quick with your retort as you were. You see, I love bread, especially when it is still warm and fragrant and I love breads that are different. The recipes in this book give a whole new lease of life to that bread machine that you bought, used twice and put on the top shelf. With the help of this book you can make Italian Herb Bread, Yemarina Yewotet Dabo Bread, Multigrain Garlic-Dill Bread, Old-fashioned Buttermilk Bread, etc., etc. That is of course if you can get to terms with the American measures used throughout this book, to be perfectly honest, I find these very difficult to get right, all these ¾C and 2 ½t really get on my nerves. Only with complete perseverance was I able to follow the recipes in this book. It would have been nice to include British measurements, but hey, the price of this book isn't even quoted anywhere in Sterling. Never mind, some of the bread I baked with this book was delicious and devoured before it touched the bread board. So if you need to justify the purchase of a bread machine and you can cope with American weights and measures this book will do the trick. Dirk Kriete film ---- Anyone happy with total disillusion might consider reading "Clint Eastwood - The Life and Legend" by Patrick McGilligan just published by Harper/Collins. It appears the idol of millions finds it totally impossible to be faithful to one woman and it would be a wonder if he could remember the names of everyone he has stimulated horizontally. Because of his world fame they are very happy to come forward with all kinds of proof about his period in their lives. It is an amusing coincidence that in "True Crime" (15) he plays a very mature newspaper reporter who can't keep a job because his bosses constantly find out he is having an affair with their wives. His current editor is informed about Clint's association with his wife and, in an opening scene, as they relax on a bed together, the editor phones his wife asking if she wouldn't mind sending him back to the office as an urgent job has come up for him. That night at midnight a black man in prison for murder is being given a lethal injection and, instead of just covering that, Clint starts an investigation to prove the man is innocent. Because Mr Eastwood is an expert director most of "True Crime" is well worth your time and money. But he has chosen to include in the script his wife finding out about his latest affair and her disapproval of him not arriving to take their young daughter to the zoo. As Clint has made the stockholders at Warner Bros a great deal of money over the years, the executives are not likely to complain about and decision he makes. Plus Hollywood superstars usually surround themselves with yes men who never question anything they do - and keep their well paid jobs that way. If he now had the incredible good looks he had in the sixties and seventies, "True Crime" would have had far greater potency. But, at 69 years of age, apparently nobody has told him that directing young men in love scenes is something he could do better than most people in the history of Hollywood. Playing them now with women half his age could make the new younger audiences, who are the bulk of American cinemagoers, view him as simply a lecherous old man. "Get Real" (15) is for anyone who grows up gay in a world where you are terrified of people at school finding out. Sixteen year old Steven has only one confidante in Linda, the girl next door, to whom he confesses an enormous crush on John Dixon, the school's sporting superstar. Steven's rare sexual outlet is meeting guys in a local public convenience and he is wide eyed with disbelief one day to run into John Dixon there who is terrified anyone might tell his girlfriend he is bisexual. The dramas of their relationship will ring bells with anyone who has memories of similar circumstances in their teens. And this film proves the desperate lack of common sense in the law introduced by the Conservative Party that there should be no reference to homosexuality in the curriculum at any British school. The fact that the young men in "Get Real" are very attractive indeed is an extra bonus in tracking it down. If there is not quite enough violence in your life you must consider "The Debt Collector" (18) in which Billy Connolly started his Edinburgh life beating up the nearest and dearest of anyone who didn't pay money owed. He does a prison sentence for it and the film starts much later when he has found fame as a sculptor. The night an exhibition of his work is happening a police inspector who never forgave him for his crimes, Ken Stott, walks in to tell the world about him. Mr Stott is determined to make Billy suffer, but I was nauseated watching him take it out on Connolly's wife, Francesca Annis, giving the most impressive performance of he career. If violence stimulates you, and it does seem to please many audiences currently, there is an abundance here. Problems involved with thumbing lifts across that vast country are shown in "American Perfekt" (18) their spelling, not mine. Amanda Plummer is driving herself, but is forced off the road by someone who drives as if their car is stolen as he doesn't care what damage he inflicts on other vehicles. Psychiatrist Robert Forster stops to offer help with her blown out tyre and their dramas covering 96 minutes involve kidnapping, murder and the police finding a human tongue in the toilet at a local motel. You will have to have a strong stomach for this one. "An Ideal Husband" (PG) confirms that there can never be enough film versions of Oscar Wilde's superb play. Rupert Everett establishes his status as one of the most charismatic actors in films today. Performing those choice Wilde lines must have been a joy. Jeremy Northam, Cate Blanchett and Minnie Driver bring Oliver Parker's direction to vibrant life. You must see this. Hollywood producers who care about their reputation only put violence in films when the audience know the people suffering deserve what they are getting. In "8 MM" (18) Nicolas Cage plays a detective called in when an elderly billionaire dies and his wife finds in his safe a sex movie that seems to show a girl being murdered. Can Mr Cage track down the maker of the film, she asks, wanting confirmation that it is only acting and special effects. Nicolas finds the girl was murdered and much suffering comes to the people who did it. Justification for violence makes audiences far happier when they leave the cinema. "Dance With Me" (PG) is a musical delight bringing film audiences a South American superstar, Chayanne, who has sold over four million albums scoring 20 platinum and 35 gold disks. This Puerto Rican here plays a poverty stricken Cuban who arrives in Texas to work in a faded dance studio run by Kris Kristofferson where a former dance champion, Vanessa L Williams, works as an instructor. A chemistry develops between them and the last third of the film has the most memorable dance championships you will ever see. Great music and you just might fancy Chayanne. David Cronenberg is a director known for making the most bizarre movies of our time like "Rabid", "The Fly" and "Crash". His latest "eXistenZ" (15) - that is the spelling you will see on posters - is about an organic game system that is plugged into the base of your spine. You experience the games as reality. This is definitely for young audiences. The presence of Jude Law, Willem Dafoe and Christopher Eccleston made it easier for me. "Solomon And Gaenor" (15) is 1911 in the Welsh valleys where a young man doesn't admit to a girl he is courting that he is Jewish and the troubles it leads to. She becomes pregnant and his parents will never agree to their marriage. Chiefly memorable for Ioan Gruffudd in the lead known to TV viewers for the Hornblower naval series plus "Great Expectations". A very pleasing sight to many. Malcolm Epstein --------------------------------------------------------------------- LISTINGS ======== 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. 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. Tel: 07020 933 952. Fax: 07020 933 954. WWW: http://www.diversity.org.uk/equality/ E-mail: equality@diversity.org.uk We hold weekly meetings, quarterly forums and an annual conference; contact us for more details. Join the campaign network! 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.womens-library.org.uk/laic.htm E-mail: gwl@globalnet.co.uk PRIDE SCOTLAND: Pride Scotland organises the annual lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Pride event in Scotland. Phone: 0131-556 8822 or 0141-400 2640 or write: c/o 58a Broughton Street, Edinburgh. EH1 3SA. E-mail: pridescotland@drink.demon.co.uk WWW: http://www.scotsgay.co.uk/pride/ This year, the festival will occur in Edinburgh on 19th June, but all kinds of help are urgently required all year round! Local Organisations ABERDEEN: North East Scotland Gay Group caters for all ages and meets at 7.30pm on the 3rd Sunday of every month. Phone Ron on Aberdeen (01224) 312547 (7-11pm) for information. E-mail: nesgg@drink.demon.co.uk Icebreakers is a social group which meets on the last Monday of each month. Contact Grampian Switchboard for details. AYRSHIRE: Ayrshire Social Sexuality Support Group. Meets 3rd Wednesday of every month at 7pm in Irvine. Details of venue from David Bingham on 0141-332 3838 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm) or Strathclyde Switchboard. E-mail: phacewest@enterprise.net 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. E-mail: Jimscot@aol.com 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: Dundee Queerier is a monthly newsletter for people in the Dundee, Angus and Perth Kinross areas. Contact via Dundee Switchboard. E-mail: queerier@dundeelgb.freeserve.co.uk 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 CC Blooms. First-timers are invited to arrive at 7.30pm. Phone Lothian Switchboard for details. ELGIN: Pride of Moray Firth LGB Social Group meets informally every 2nd Wed 8pm. Cat's Whiskers lounge bar, Elgin. Open to all. Details phone Simon on Brodie (01309) 641258 or E-mail: PofMF@aol.com The Moray Gayzette is an lgb newsletter for folk living in the Moray area. Published every three months, it is available from GG Productions, PO Box 5773, Elgin, Moray. IV30 1XP. 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 and has weekly pub nights. FORTH FRIEND: Provides advice, information and support for gays, lesbians and bisexuals in the Forth Valley Area. Social evenings monthly. For details, write to PO Box 28, Stirling, FK9 4YW or phone Stirling (01786) 471285 Mon 7.30-9.30pm. GLASGOW: Glasgow Gay & Lesbian Centre Board Limited, manages GGLC, fundraising, campaigning and social group. Board meetings are held regularly, the Centre Administrator (10am-1pm Mon-Fri), has full detail of dates, held in the Centre, first 15 minutes are open to all. Annual General meeting of members, last Saturday in May, membership will be closed in last month. Write to Glasgow Gay Lesbian Centre, 11 Dixon Street, St Enoch, Glasgow, G1 4AL or contact 0141-221 7203 (phone/fax). Childcare at a charge and BSL interpreter may be available - please give advance notice. E-mail: http://members.aol.com/gglcpress/ Icebreakers Group for lesbians, gays and bisexuals new to the scene: Noon-4pm on First Sunday in each month. GGLC, 11 Dixon Street, Glasgow. Details from Strathclyde Switchboard. Out On Sunday is a group for lgbt individuals who want to meet up to organise their own social events and agenda. Informal and fun. Last Sunday of every month in the GGLC, 11 Dixon Street, Glasgow. Details: 0141-221 7203. INVERNESS: Highland Gay Men's Group meets on the 4th Wednesday of each month at 34 Waterloo Place. Phone: Inverness (01463) 711585 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm) or write to: PO Box 67, Inverness. IV1 2XX. LANARKSHIRE: Lanarkshire Gay Men's Group is a group which meets every Wednesday from 8pm at Beckford Business Centre, Beckford Street, Hamilton. Social and educational events. Write: LGMC, c/o 22 Dunlin, East Kilbride, Glasgow. G74 4RU. Tel: 0845 6071936. E-mail: lgmg@bigfoot.com WWW: http://www.bigfoot.com/~lgmg/ WEST LOTHIAN: Go West is a gay men's group which meets every Thursday evening in Livingston. Tel: Bo'ness (01506) 777136. Thu-Fri 9am-4pm. 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: We Bissums - a regular newletter for Dundee women. Write c/o Young Women's Project, 28 South Tay Street, Dundee. DD1 1PD. Phone: Dundee (01382) 224956. E-mail: lmat1053@aol.com EDINBURGH: AD Group: For lesbians 40+. Monthly meeting and frequent social events. For details, phone Edinburgh Lesbian Line or E-mail: 40plus@drink.demon.co.uk Dykes Nytes Out: Social events for couples and singles. Meets 1st, 2nd and 3rd Friday of each month. 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. GLASGOW: 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. E-mail: http://www.womens-library.org.uk/ Lesbian Mothers Discussion Group: Meets every second Monday from 6-8pm. Support group, social events, informal chat. Crche and fares help available. Phone Vicky on 0141-333 1450. OLGA - Older Women's Group: Phone Jenny on 0141-810 1468, Alex on Dalmellington (01294) 558171 or Lorna on Lochwinnoch (01505) 842352. Racketeers: Women's badminton. Mixed abilities. Thu 6.30-8.30pm at the Coburn Centre, near Southern General Hospital. Phone: Dunja on 0141-576 1345 or E-mail: dab97215@aol.com 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 Five-a-side Football: Indoor football on Sunday evenings 5-7pm. Mixed ability, new members/visitors welcome. Phone Dunja on 0141-576 1345 for venue details or E-mail: dab97215@aol.com INVERNESS: Highland Lesbian Group is a friendly lesbian social group that gets together on the first Monday of every month at Reach Out Highland's premises, 34 Waterloo Place, Inverness, from 7-11pm. If there has been any problem opening the premises we'll be at the Station Hotel. Write to: PO Box 91, Inverness. IV2 7GJ. E-mail: High_Les@bigfoot.com 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, Strathclyde Switchboard or Grampian Switchboard. Bisexuals EDINBURGH BISEXUAL GROUP: Meets every Thursday at 8pm-9.30pm in the Edinburgh Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Centre, 58a Broughton Street. There's an excellent programme of talks and speakers usually followed by a visit to a local pub for socialising. Phone: Bisexual Phoneline on 0131-557 3620. E-mail: http://www.ebg.org.uk/ GLASGOW BI GROUP: Contact: David Craig, c/o GGLC, 11 Dixon Street, Glasgow. G1 4AL. Meets 2nd last Wednesday of month in GGLC at 7.30pm. Atheists/Humanists EDINBURGH FREETHINKERS: An informal network of militant atheists (with one militant humanist agnostic atheist). Write to: PO Box 666, Edinburgh. EH7 5YW. E-mail http://www.antipope.org/freethinkers/ GAY AND LESBIAN HUMANIST ASSOCIATION (GALHA): A group for atheist/agnostic 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. E-mail: http://visitweb.com/galha/ Bears BEARS' CLUB UK: For hairy, moustached and bearded men and their admirers. Aberdeen: Meets 1st Fri of month. Aberdeen contact: Bruce on Aberdeen (01224) 317552. E-mail: glasgowbears@drink.demon.co.uk Write: BCUK, PO Box 89, Hoylake DO, Wirral. L48 4LD. Bereavement LESBIAN & GAY BEREAVEMENT PROJECT: Lesbians and gay men needing advice and support can ring 020-7455 8894 at any time. Or write to: Lesbian & Gay Bereavement Project, Vaughan M Williams Centre, Colindale Hospital, London. NW9 5HG. Bikers GAY BIKERS MOTORCYCLE CLUB: A UK-wide club for women and men. Active Scottish section. Details: GBMCC, PO Box 33, Nottingham. NG10 2BF. E-mail: http://www.gaybikers.demon.co.uk/ Christians ACCEPTANCE: A new group for lesbian gay and bisexual Christians providing a liberated environment where all may explore and celebrate their own sexual and spiritual integration without fear of judgement or censure. Write: Acceptance Pigeonhole, University of Aberdeen Chaplaincy Centre, 25 High Street, Aberdeen. Tel: (Day) Aberdeen (01224) 272137, (Evening Aberdeen) (01224) 324962. CHANGING CHURCH ATTITUDES: Write c/o 58a Broughton Street, Edinburgh. EH1 3SA. E-mail: cca2000@btinternet.com EVANGELICAL: Lesbian, gay or bisexual? From an Evangelical tradition? So are we. Tel: Ewan on Polmont (01324) 715542. Or write: Evangelical Fellowship, 45 Hillary Close, Chelmsford, Essex. CM1 5RP. HOLY TRINITY METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCH: An inclusive church of the lesbigay and trangendered community open to all irrespective of sexuality. Services: Every Sunday at 6pm in the Quaker Meeting House, Victoria Terrace, Edinburgh. Relationship blessings conducted by arrangement. Phone Stephen on 0131-332 7088. Write: Holy Trinity MCC, PO Box 12433, Edinburgh. EH1 3FU. E-mail: http://www.geocities.com/westhollywood/8362 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 different regional groups throughout Britain. Scottish meetings held in Glasgow. For information, phone Linkline Glasgow on Sundays 7-10pm on: 0141-948 0397. Write to Quest, BM Box 2585, LONDON WC1N 3XX. For Quest Glasgow write to: Quest, PO Box 280, Glasgow G11 7JP. E-mail: quest@dircon.co.uk WEEKLY WORSHIP: Held every Sunday at 2pm in the GGLC, 11 Dixon Street, Glasgow. Open to people of all religious backgrounds or from none. Communications 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 CELTIC MUSIC GAY GROUP: Mixed LGB group. Scottish/Irish music/culture fans (Wolfstone, Runrig, Wolfe Tones, Athenry, Aire Og, Christy Moore, etc). Watch and swap videos/cassettes. Write to: CMGG, BM Box 7970, LONDON. WC1N 3XX. 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: ibetts@erols.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. GAY CALEDONIAN CLUB (KILTIES): Meets 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month in Glasgow. Phone: Bill 0141-772 8322. GLASGAY!: Lesbian and gay arts festival. Write: c/o GGLC, 11 Dixon Street, Glasgow. G1 4AL. GLASGOW GAY MEN'S CHORUS: The Chorus meets Wednesday nights downstairs in the Polo Lounge to sing all types of music. New members always welcome. No auditions needed! If you want further info, telephone Ross on 0802 627344 or E-mail: andrew.wright@bms.com 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. Tel: 0131-453 3284 for details. Drink Problems If you are a lesbian or gay man with a drink problem and want help and advice, 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) 020-7247 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: 020-7652 6464. Wed 7-9pm. Scottish Co-ordinator: Calum McLean. Phone: Inverness (01463) 236878. E-mail: http://www.rank-outsiders.org.uk/info Health Matters AA MONDAY NIGHT GROUP: For anyone worried about a drink problem. Meets at 8pm every Mon at Phace West, 49 Bath Street, Glasgow. AXIS: HIV Information and resource service is now operational. Mon-Fri 9am-5pm - Sat and Sun by arrangement - Friday nights 7-10pm Fife Friend phone line. 5 South Fergus Place, Kirkcaldy, Fife. KY1 1YA. Tel: Kirkcaldy (01592) 265666. Frank Watson Development Worker. 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 (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. E-mail: http://homepages.enterprise.net/bpstrathclyde/ BODY POSITIVE (TAYSIDE): Self help for HIV+ people on Dundee (01382) 461555 Tue, Wed Thu 10am-4pm. Support Line: Dundee (01382) 453111 Wed 7-9pm. Write: 11 Princes Street, Dundee. DD4 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: 24a Ainslie Place, Edinburgh. EH3 6AJ. Telephone: 0131-225 8918. Fax: 0131-220 4033. AIDS/HIV Fundraisers who organise the annual Walk for Life and run the Individual Hardship Fund for HIV+ve people on low incomes. (For Hardship Fund applications or queries, contact PHACE WEST on 0141-332 3838). Volunteers welcome. E-mail: http://www.crusaid.org.uk/ DOT (DUNDEE OUTREACH TEAM): Harm Reduction Centre, 55 Constitution Road, Dundee. DD1 1LB. Telephone: Dundee (01382) 201919. Sexual health and relevant issues for gay and bisexual men. Free and confidential service. Drop in coffee shop: Sat 1.30-4.30pm. Friendly and informal. FIFE MEN: 5 South Fergus Place, Kirkcaldy. KY1 1YA (Behind Sheriff Court). Telephone: Kirkcaldy (01592) 265666. Information, advice and support on gay and health issues, free condoms, and much more! E-mail: http://www.users.dircon.co.uk/~alecd/ 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. Office open 8.45am-5pm Mon-Fri. Telephone: 0141-204 2202. FAX: 0141-204 2203. Write: Friends for Life, 5th Floor, 52 St Enoch Square, Glasgow. G1 4DH. E-mail: ffl@cqm.co.uk GAY MEN'S HEALTH: A voluntary sector project for gay men. Services include individual or group support and counselling, scene work, peer education and training, volunteer projects, Safer Sex Squaddies, provision of condoms, lube and Safer sex materials. 10a Union Street, Edinburgh. EH1 3LU. Telephone: 0131-558 9444. FAX: 0131-558 9060. E-mail: gaymen@globalnet.co.uk GLASGOW BARS AIDS WELFARE FUND: Raises funds for people with HIV/AIDS in the Greater Glasgow area. PO Box 3954, Glasgow. G31 2YF. E-mail: gbawf@hotmail.com GLASGOW FOOD LINE: Confidential service which provides nutritionally balanced meals and information to HIV+ people and carers in Glasgow. Tel/FAX: 0141-946 0003. Write: Unit A, Maryhill Workspace Limited, 45 Garrioch Road, Glasgow. G20 8RG. 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. HEALTHY GAY SCOTLAND: Free condoms and lube available by post (Scotland only) from their website. E-mail: 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. PHAN: Pagan HIV AIDS Network offers peer support and a forum, through correspondence, for Pagans living with or affected by HIV/AIDS to discuss issues and topics with other Pagans. Tel: 0831 464319. Write: PHAN, c/o 22 Rosebank House, 217 Belle Vue Road, Leeds. LS3 1HG. 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: http://homepages.enterprise.net/phacewest/ POSITIVE ACCOMMODATION TEAM: Tel: 0141-552 4488. Fax: 0141-552 2760. Write: 2nd Floor, Granite House, 31 Stockwell Street, Glasgow. G1 4RZ. POSITIVE HELP: Practical help for people who are HIV+ or who have AIDS and their families, children, friends and carers. 13a Great King Street, Edinburgh. EH3 6QW. Phone: 0131-558 1122. POSITIVE VOICE: Formerly Body Positive (Lothian). Self-help agency for people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. Phone: 0131-652 0754. FAX: 0131-661 9100. Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 10am-4.30pm. Or write to: 37-39 Montrose Terrace, Edinburgh. EH7 5DJ. E-mail: pozvoice@yahoo.com THE RAINBOW FUND: Raising funds for the future care of HIV/AIDS patients in Glasgow. PO Box 9525, Johnstone. PA5 OYB. Tel/FAX: 01505 347301. E-mail: 106756.701@compuserve.com REACH OUT HIGHLAND: 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. 34 Waterloo Place, Inverness. IV1 1NB. Tel: Inverness (01463) 711585 (Mon-Fri 9.30am-4.30pm). FAX: Inverness (01463) 711793. E-mail: support@reachout.demon.co.uk WWW: http://www.reachout.demon.co.uk/Reach_Out_Highland.html R.O.A.M: Outreach sexual health service for sex workers and men using cruising areas. Spittal Street Centre, 22-24 Spittal Street, Edinburgh. EH3 9DU. Tel: (Weekday afternoons) 0131-537 8326. 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: http://www.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 4753/4. Also at GGLC, 11 Dixon Street Thu 5.30-8.30pm. WAVERLEY CARE TRUST BUDDY SERVICE: Buddy Service offers 1:1 emotional support to individuals living with HIV AIDS in Edinburgh and the Lothians. Buddy Service Co-ordinator, Solas, 2/4 Abbeymount, Edinburgh. EH8 8EJ. Phone: 0131-661 0982. Fax: 0131-652 1780. E-mail: buddyservice@solas.demon.co.uk 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). E-mail: network@netscot.co.uk Leather MSC SCOTLAND: MSC Scotland, PO Box 28, Edinburgh. EH3 5JL. MSC Scotland is a member of the European Federation of Motorcycle Clubs. Meets in the Claremont Bar, Edinburgh on the last Saturday of each month from 9pm. Legal GAY AND LESBIAN LEGAL ADVICE: GLAD is a London based advice line run by lesbian and gay lawyers. Phone: 020-7837 5212 (Mon-Thu 7-9.30pm). State clearly that you seek Scottish legal advice as our law is very different from that of England and Wales. Older Gays CAFFMOS: Contacts And Friendship For Men Over Sixty - for the older gentleman and his admirers! Write: "CAFFMOS", PO Box 2273, Hove. BN3 2GF. Phone: Hove (01273) 220995. E-mail: http://members.aol.com/Caffmos/ PHOENIX: National group for the over forties and friends of any age. Write (enclose sae) to: Phoenix, PO Box 103, Wallington, Surrey. SM6 9SJ. OPI 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. OPI CONVENT OF DUNN EIDEANN: Contact Sister Athletica de la Bain OPI, c/o PO Box 666, Edinburgh. EH7 5YW. E-mail: dunneideann@hotmail.com OPI CONVENT OF MORAVIA: A more Northern manifestation of the Sisterate. Write: Sister Bobby OPI, Convent of Moravia, 2-4 Lamb Street, Bishopmill, Elgin. IV30 2DG or phone Sister Bobby on: Elgin (01343) 542928. Outdoor Clubs DUNDEE HILLBILLIES: Hillwalking group mets 2nd and 3rd Sundays of the month. Contact: Kevin on Dundee (01382) 455099. GAY BIRDERS CLUB: A club for gay and lesbian bird-watchers. UK-based with a world-wide membership, and particularly active in Scotland. Contact: Deneside, Foulden, Berwickshire. TD15 1UL. E-mail: http://ds.dial.pipex.com/gay.birders/ GAY OUTDOOR CLUB: Holds regular events including walking, skiing, cycling, mountaineering, camping, youth-hostelling, badminton and swimming. Also holds regular socials in Edinburgh and Glasgow. Please send an A5 sae to GOC, PO Box 16124, Glasgow, G12 9YT, or ring one of the Scottish contacts: East: Grant on 0131-556 8705 (E-mail: grant@music.ed.ac.uk ), West: Jonathan on 0141-342 4088; North: Michael on Lairg (01549) 421344. (E-mail: keates/IC@fc.uhi.ac.uk ). WWW: http://bi.org/~goc GAY RAMBLING GROUP: Walks on the 2nd Saturday of each month. Phone Ross on 0141-427 1511. Parents PARENTS' FRIEND: Helpline: Wolverhampton (01902) 820497. Hours change weekly, but telephone answering machine will always give current details. FAX: 0113-294 9677. Write: c/o Voluntary Services Council, 2/3 Bell Street, Wolverhampton. WV1 3PR. WWW: http://www.parentsfriend.demon.co.uk/ 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 AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL GAY, LESBIAN, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER NETWORK:Campaigns for lgbt prisoners of conscience overseas and works within Amnesty UK to change attitudes. Write: AIGLBTN, 11 Jeffrey Street, Edinburgh. EH1 1DR. Tel: Catherine 0131-555 0534 or David 0141-554 7159. E-mail: scotland@amnesty.org.uk BANK OF SCOTLAND PRESSURE GROUP: Campaigning to persuade Bank of Scotland to cut its business links with Pat Robertson. Write: 17-23 Calton Rd, Edinburgh. EH8 8DL. E-mail: kate@ling.ed.ac.uk WWW: http://www.scotsgay.co.uk/bank/ DELGA SCOTLAND: Liberal Democrats for Lesbian and Gay Action. Write: DELGA-Scotland, 4 Clifton Terrace, Edinburgh. EH12 5DR. E-mail: annehorner@cix.co.uk WWW: http://www.scotlibdems.org.uk/ao/delgscot/delgscot.htm GAY POLITICAL PARTY:Contact David Shiloh, 109 (8/2) Bluevale Street, Dennistoun, Glasgow. G31 1HL. LESBIANS AND GAY MEN SUPPORTING IRISH POLITICAL PRISONERS/IRISH SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGNS IN SCOTLAND/LONDON: For details of monthly pickets, socials, functions, commemorations, etc, write to: Paul, BM Box 7970, London. WC1N 3XX. 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. E-mail: http://www.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. SNP LGB GROUP: Works to further LGB issues within the Scottish National Party. Write: SNP LGB Group, 6 North Charlotte Street, Edinburgh. EH2 4JH. E-mail: http://www.snplgb.freeserve.co.uk/ TORCHE: Tory Campaign for Homosexual Equality write: BM TORCHE, London WC1N 3XX. E-mail: http://www.torche.gb.org/ Prisoners FREE MAGAZINES FOR PRISONERS: Copies of ScotsGay and InsideOUT magazines are sent free of charge to prisoners in UK prisons and institutions. Please contact us if you wish to be added to our free mailing list. PRISONERS' LGBT GROUP: For lesbian, gay, bisexual, TV, TS or just curious people who are in prison or any institution in need of advice, help or a friendly ear. Run by gay guy in HMP Shotts. Write: Joseph N Campbell, (LGBL Angel Fire), 142/29 Delta, HMP Shotts, Lanarkshire. ML7 4LE. Rape/Sexual Abuse MEN AGAINST SEXUAL ABUSE: MASA Helpline: 0141-550 2048 Mon, Tue 7-9pm. RAPE AND ABUSE LINE: For male and female survivors. Women answer the phone: Dingwall (01349) 865316 7-10pm nightly. Men answer the phone: Dingwall (01349) 862686 Mon and Wed 7-10pm. Callers are welcome to phone either line. Write: PO Box 10, Dingwall. IV15 9HE. TAYSIDE MALE SURVIVORS: Helpline: Dundee (01382) 858085. Thu 7-9pm. Real Ale DIVERSE DRINKERS: Edinburgh group for lgbt real ale and cider fans. Meets in The Cauldron every 1st Monday of the month from 8pm to sample the brewers' art. Phone: Karen on 0131-557 8790. E-mail: http://www.antipope.org/feorag/drinkers/ GLASGOW GAY REAL ALE GROUP: Meets first Wednesday of each month plus regular visits to real ale pubs in the Glasgow area and to real ale festivals. Why not come along and have a beer and a laugh? Phone Ken on 0141-427 4764. E-mail: http://www.goldings.demon.co.uk/queerale/ Science Fiction DELANEY'S EDINBURGH CHILDREN: Meets every 1st Sunday of the month in Nexus Caf from 3-4.30pm. Contact Jane on 0131-553 5569. E-mail: hj.carnall@virgin.net 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 from 8pm onwards. Phone: David on Aberdeen (01224) 317552. E-mail: agmsg@drink.demon.co.uk EDINBURGH GAY MEN'S RUNNING CLUB: Meets for 3-4 mile casual local run. Alistair on 0131-556 9995. EDINBURGH GAY MEN'S SWIMMING GROUP: Meets informally Mondays at 8pm in the Commonwealth Pool. Phone: Tom on 0131-229 5755. E-mail: egmsg@drink.demon.co.uk GLASGOW BADMINTON GROUP: Meets Thursdays 7-10pm, during term-time in the main hall at Govan High School, Ardnish Street. Contact Clive on 0141-779 2321. WWW: http://www.bigfoot.com/~drb61 GLASGOW SWIMMING GROUP: Meets Thursdays 8.30-9.30pm, during term-time in the pool at Govan High School, Ardnish Street. Contact Douglas on 07010 700561. E-mail: http://www.bigfoot.com/~drb61 LESBIAN & GAY FOOTBALL SUPPORTERS NETWORK: Write to - GFSN Membership Secretary, c/o Central Station, 37 Wharfdale Road, London. N1 9SE. E-mail: gfsn@geocities.com WWW: http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Slope/3743 QUEER FISH SWIMMING GROUP: Meets every Friday 5pm in the foyer of the Commonwealth Pool, Edinburgh. If you're looking for people to swim with but can't make that time, get in touch anyway. Contact Kate on 0131-556 9958. E-mail: kate@ling.ed.ac.uk WWW: http://www.ling.ed.ac.uk/~kate/queerfish.html 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. NUS Scotland LGB Officer on 0131-221 1966. FAX: 0131-228 1953. Write to Debbie Aitken, LGB Officer, NUS Scotland, 26 Rutland Street, Edinburgh. EH1 2AN. E-mail: nus-scot@dircon.co.uk OPEN UNIVERSITY L&G SOC: Phone: Ian Thompson on Wigtown (01988) 403219. E-mail: oulags@openlink.org TV/TS ABERDEEN: 3G (Grampian Gender Group). Meets third Saturday of month Noon-5pm. Tel: Gillian on Aberdeen (01224) 633108 6.30-9.30pm Mon-Tue. EDINBURGH: Scottish TV/TS Group meets in private rooms last Saturday of each month. Ring Agnes on 0131-229 7177 evenings. GLASGOW: Crosslynx meets second Wednesday of each month (except December) from 7pm-10pm. Phone: Crosslynx Helpline on 0141-332 3333 Mon 7.30-9pm. HIGHLAND T-GROUP: Monthly transgender support group meeting in Inverness. Contact Inverness (01463) 711585 (9am-5pm) or write: Julia Gordon, c/o Reach Out Highland, 34 Waterloo Place, Inverness. IV1 1NB. E-mail: julia@support.demon.co.uk Visual Impairment SCOTSGAY ON DISC: The text from ScotsGay and InsideOUT is available free of charge to visually impaired readers on 3.5" or 5.25" computer disk in IBMPC format. We will be glad to add you to our mailing list if you send your name and address (and disk size required) to us at: SOD, ScotsGay, PO Box 666, Edinburgh. EH7 5YW. E-mail: SOD@scotsgay.co.uk VIGOUR: Self support group for visually impaired gay people. Tel: Jim or Colin on Dumfries (01387) 261679. 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 EDINBURGH HEALTH BRANCH L&G SELF ORGANISED GROUP:Contact Mags Elliot, c/o Union Room, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Morningside Terrace, Edinburgh. EH10 5HF. Tel: 0131-537 6681. UNISON LESBIAN & GAY NE NETWORK:Meets monthly on 2nd Monday at Unison Resource Centre, Alford Place, Aberdeen. Further details from Andrew on Aberchirder (01466) 780802 or Carole on Aberdeen (01224) 643262 after 6pm. UNISON SCOTLAND L&G COMMITTEE:Contact Neil MacInnes, Secretary, UNISON House, 14 West Campbell Street, Glasgow. G2 6RX. Tel: 0141-332 0006 or 0958 754315. UNISON WEST NETWORK: For UNISON members in the West of Scotland. Meets Quarterly. Phone: Neil MacInnes 0958 754315. Youth Groups DUNBARTONSHIRE SEXUALITY AND SUPPORT GROUP: A local group that helps young gay men come to terms with their sexuality. Open to men aged 26 and under. Meets last Tuesday of every month. Details of venue from Julian Heng on 0141-332 3838 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm) or Strathclyde Switchboard. E-mail: phacewest@enterprise.net DUNDEE LGB YOUTH GROUP: Weekly group for young lesbians, gays and bisexuals or anyone who is unsure. Informal meetings held on Sunday evenings. Phone Dundee LGB Switchboard for details (Mon 7-10pm Dundee (01382) 202620) or write to PO Box 53, Dundee. DD1 3YG. HIGHLAND YOUTH GAY & BISEXUAL GROUP: Meets 7.30pm 1st Wednesday at 34 Waterloo Place, Inverness. Contact Inverness (01463) 711585 (9am-5pm). E-mail: support@reachout.demon.co.uk LANARKSHIRE GAY AND LESBIAN YOUTH GROUP:New group currently forming. Telephone 0845 6071936. E-mail: gally@prontomail.com LESBIAN YOUTH SUPPORT INFORMATION SERVICE: PO Box 8, Todmorden, Lancashire. OL14 5TZ. Enclose sae. Phone/Fax: Todmorden (01706) 817235. STONEWALL YOUTH PROJECT:Provides services for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered young people living in Edinburgh and the Lothians. Project Phoneline: 0131-556 4040 (Tue 7.30-9pm) is staffed by trained young people and adult volunteers ready to give information or just chat. Stonewall Youth Group is for lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgendered people aged 13-18 in the Lothians. Meets every Friday evening in Central Edinburgh. Stonewall Friends is for young people aged 18-25 and meets every Wednesday evening in Edinburgh with regular social events at other times. Stonewall Girlz is a once a month group for lesbian, bisexual and transgender women aged 13-25, providing social and educational activities in a safe, off scene environment. Office Phone/FAX: 0131-622 2266 (Tue-Fri 3-5pm). Write: Stonewall Youth Project, PO Box 4040, Edinburgh. EH3 9YF. E-mail: http://www.syp.dircon.co.uk/ STRATHCLYDE LESBIAN GAY AND BISEXUAL YOUTH GROUP: Friendship and support for under 26s. Meets Tue 8pm and Sat 2.30pm at the GGLC. Details from Strathclyde Switchboard. Write c/o GGLC, 11 Dixon Street, Glasgow. G1 4AL. E-mail: http://www.bi-g-les.freeserve.co.uk/ --------------------------------------------------------------------- SWITCHBOARDS AND HELPLINES ========================== BISEXUAL PHONELINE: Thurs 7.30-9.30pm Phone: 0131-557 3620 BORDERS GAY SWITCHBOARD: Thurs 7.30-10pm Phone: Galashiels (01896) 756611 CROSSLYNX NATIONAL TV/TS HELPLINE: Mon 7.30-9pm 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 LESBIAN LINE: Mon, Thurs 7.30-10pm Phone: 0131-557 0751 FIFE FRIEND: Fri 7.30-10.30pm Phone: Kirkcaldy (01592) 266688 FORTH FRIEND: Mon 7.30-9.30pm Phone: Stirling (01786) 471285 GAY LINE NORTH EAST Nightly 7-Late for Gay and Bi men Phone: Elgin (01343) 542928 GRAMPIAN LESBIAN, GAY & BISEXUAL SWITCHBOARD: Wed & Fri 7-10pm 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: Fri 7-11pm Women: Thu 7-11pm Phone: Elgin (01343) 541188 STRATHCLYDE GAY AND LESBIAN SWITCHBOARD: Nightly 7-10pm Phone: 0141-332 8372 SWITCHBOARD LESBIAN LINE: Wed 7.30-10pm Phone: 0141-354 0400 LONDON LESBIAN AND GAY SWITCHBOARD: 24 hours Phone/Minicom: 020-7837 7324. FAX: 020-7837 7300. WWW: http://www.llgs.org.uk/ -------------------------------------------------------------------- ALAN's CHART ============ 1. DER DRITTE RAUM - LIMITED VOL.1 : Trommelmaschine (Original Version) (Virgin) 2. IAN WILKIE vs TIMO MAAS - TWIN TOWN (Nick Warren Mix) (Hope) 3. DJ TAUCHER - BIZARRE (Extended Club Mix) (Additive) 4. KHUSTI - CONTROL ZONE (Zazoo) 5. LIFE ON MARS - LIFE IN MINDS (Evolution Martian Mix) (Quad) 6. M.I.K.E. - MOVING AHEAD (Bonzai) 7. MAURO PICOTTO - LIZARD (Mondo Bongo Mix) (Acalwan) 8. STEVE GIBBS - ARABIAN DREAMS (Eve) 9. EQUATOR - SECRET SILENCE (Aquaplex Remix) (Drizzly) 10. I-CHING featuring DJ PATRICK REID - SOULSTORM (Platipus) 11. TILT - INVISIBLE : What's This? (Tilt's Tunnel Mix) (Hooj Choons) 12. 5:55 - DURANGO - 95 (Original Mix) (Duty Free) 13. LEILANI - DO YOU WANT ME? (Olav Basoski Samplitude Remix) (ZTT) 14. TR JUNIOR - ROCK WITH ME (Lange Mix) (Amato) 15. RR WORKSHOP - MESS WITH DA BULL (Journey) 16. [0] - [0] (Club Mix) (3 Lanka) 17. SOTO featuring JESS OKORO - PRECIOUS (Digital Monkeys Corregated Dub) (Quad) 18. G.D. - THE HEAVENSENT PROJECT : Beam Me Up (Automatic) 19. DELERIUM - SILENCE (Sanctuary Mix) (Nettwerk) 20. PHIL FULDNER - THE FINAL (Sharp Remix (Kosmo) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- SCOTSDYKE ========= Beer, Glorious Beer! What is it with them pooves? I've read quite a bit about the so-called 'gay gene', but nowhere did I see anything in the popular scientific press linking it to an individual's sense of taste. Perhaps the world of folklore and mythology can provide a clue. Maybe there's a faerie (of another sort) who visits young gay men when they first come out and wheechs out their tastebuds in the night to prepare them for the rigours of the scene? So what's bothering me? You see, hardly any of them drink anything other than fizzy pigswill, and there's not a single gay pub in the whole of Scotland which serves a decent pint of good, honest real ale. I'm pretty sure it's just the men, and only the exclusively gay ones at that - I know enough bisexual men who prefer proper beer. And the few gay venues which do have something worth drinking tend to be dominated by women (no complaints there!). The Rembrandt in Manchester (J.W.Lees) and the Bavaria in Bradford (the elusive decent pint of Tetley Bitter) spring to mind. I even remember the latter appearing in the Good Beer Guide once, complete with appropriate euphemisms. I've also learned that the Rembrandt is now mostly men, so presumably the real ale will disappear in due course. Oh well, at least the drag queens at the New Union like their Burtonwood. Similarly, I recently spent a pleasant weekend on the south coast of England (the Campaign for Real Ale AGM, quelle surprise) and naturally enough found myself in Brighton at the Marlborough (Harvey's Bitter). The place was stuffed with cute young dykes! Pity I'd already been enjoying myself at the AGM beer festival and was fit only to sit in a comfy chair reading a 1960s Private Eye annual. I wasn't alone in there, though. A certain fat, balding editor was there with me (he's clearly some kind of freak, unless he has a secret bi side), and we did run into some other folk from the AGM. Brighton is pretty close to beer heaven. There's another gay pub, the Regency Tavern, which sells a small range of ales and The Quadrant is an unusual bar with a firm place in the gay history of Brighton. It has a notorious upstairs bar reached by stairs so steep they must have been specially imported from Edinburgh's Old Town. Not only does it sell some interesting beer, but it has real cider as well. Like most pubs with an interesting interior and valuable heritage, the developers would like to demolish it. I've heard various excuses from licensees and the only one with which I can't argue is the lack of a decent cellar. I've been told that it won't sell, presumably because the product is so good that the makers don't feel the need to spend millions of pounds on incomprehensibly silly advertising to get people to drink it. I suspect the pink pound is easily influenced by cardboard cut-outs and singing frogs, judging by the fare on offer in most gay establishments. And then there's the myth that it is hard to keep. I'm sorry dear, but I usually have a pin of something delicious in my spare shower - currently a dry-hopped version of Restalrig Village Brewery's Otter of Leith. Even I can keep it going for the time it takes four of us to empty the cask. All it needs is attention to detail and a concern for hygiene which I would hope to find in any establishment serving food and drink. I have a plastic autospile on it, which not only helps keep the beer longer and cuts down on switching between soft and hard spiles, but is inedible by enthusiastic kittens with a taste for traditional wooden spiles. Although CAMRA would be very unhappy indeed, there's always the controversial 'cask breather' - a device which sits where the spile should be and fills the space above the beer with carbon dioxide. It stops the beer going off, but it can also affect its maturation. I think I could turn a blind eye to the use of such a device in the short term if it meant I could get something drinkable. It's not as if the breweries are unwilling to supply the beer. I know of at least one microbrewery interested in producing appropriately-named house beers for gay pubs. They're even willing to supply it in pins - four-and-a-half gallon casks, half the size of the more typical firkin. One wag suggested calling it "Shirtlifter" but you lot, being utterly unfamiliar with anything with flavour, won't get the pun. Maybe if it had pink food colouring in it... Feorag NicBhrìde (writing in her personal capacity of about eight pints) See our Listings pages under Real Ale for details of Edinburgh's Diverse Drinkers and the Glasgow Gay Real Ale Group. ------------------------------------------------------------------- ScotsGay: a bi-monthly magazine for lesbians, gays and bisexuals edited, printed and published in Scotland. ISSN: 1357-0595.(c) Pageprint Publishing Limited, April 1999. 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. Production: Seumas Macmhicean. Assistance: paul. Contributors in this issue: Stuart Brown & Tim Hopkins (News), Garry Otton & Derek Ogg (Features), Martin Walker (The Nice Bit), Granny Spice, Liquid Silk, Martin Walker, Minerva, Calmac & Gus (Scene), Rex Wockner (International), Dirk Kreite, Malcolm Epstien (Reviews), Alan Nicholls, (Music), Feòrag NicBhrìde (ScotsDyke). Editorial Enquiries: Write to: ScotsGay, 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.