SCOTSGAY MAGAZINE ================= ScotsGay is a monthly magazine for lesbians, gay men and bisexuals. Edited, printed and published in Scotland ScotsGay 80/- Heavy - Issue 41 - August 2001 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 2001. 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) 12ukp 12 issue sub (Overseas) 24ukp Make Cheques and POs payable to 'Pageprint'or 'ScotsGay'and send them to: Subscriptions ScotsGay Magazine PO Box 666 Edinburgh Scotland EH7 5YW Inside this issue: Editorial News One Man's Story - I'd rather be HIV+ Alan Joy's Dance Chart ScotsDyke Glasgow Edinburgh Travel - Manchester Scottish Media Monitor Aberdeen Dundee International News from Rex Wockner Edinburgh Fringe Reviews Edinburgh International Book Festival Freebies ScotsGay Voice Personals Boxes - The ScotsGay Meet Market Helplines Listings Venues -------------------------------------------------------------------- Editorial ========= Do you want a Pride Scotland next year? Pride Scotland needs new blood. The folk who have been doing it for years are knackered, pissed off and want to be replaced. The last few years have seen Pride Scotland contracting from a small but perfectly formed march followed by a large hedonistic outdoor festival (well, pop concert, really) to a similar march followed by not an awful lot. In terms of folk turning up, the attendances are healthy. And there are always plenty of people prepared to muck in on the day - especially if it means getting the chance to swan around in a free T-shirt! The problem arises in the organisation process which should really take a year but always manages to get shoved into a few hectic months, weeks or days before the event takes place. The number of folk who are prepared to do this work have been getting fewer and fewer - this year's Pride was organised by a handful of people who slogged their guts out to make sure that the minimal event which took place actually happened. With no help from most of us. They've called a meeting to try and get more people involved - not just in terms of doing the actual donkey work - but also in looking for input on what sort of Pride we want. What they're not saying, but believe me what they are thinking, is that without a considerable influx of bodies, Pride Scotland will not survive. Oh, we can probably find a few mugs to get the march together next year, but French Onions - that's shallot! And what about the year after that? Nah... It just ain't going to happen. There's no reason why Pride can't be a success. It just needs the bodies. Organising an event like Pride will bring you new social opportunities, it will give you status in the community, it may even get you a shag or two. If you don't believe me, just ask that nice Alister Blades. Bodies - that's where you come in. I've said this all before. You've heard it all before. It's put up or shut up time. John Hein john@scotsgay.co.uk ------------------------------------------------------------------- News ==== PRIDE AT CROSSROADS - AN INVITE TO ALL A Public Consultation Forum on the 'Future of Pride Scotland' will be held on Saturday 1st September 2001 in the Glasgow LGBT Centre, 11 Dixon Street, Glasgow, G1 4AL from 11am til 4pm. Tea and Coffee will be provided and there will be a break for lunch. The venue is wheel chair accessible and is close to bus/rail stations and has good parking nearby. The purpose of the Forum is to look at the aims and objectives of Pride Scotland and to assess its current role in the 21st Century. Pride Scotland was founded in 1994 and over the past 7 years has seen many changes both in personnel and in what it offers. The last 2 years have been particularly difficult for Pride Scotland, with a smaller and smaller band of people trying to at least put something on. Pride is now at a crossroads - Can it go on? Is it still relevant in a modern Scotland? What is its purpose? What form should it take? Who will get involved in organising Pride Scotland 2002? How do we build better links between Pride Scotland and the communities it purports to represent? These are just some of the many questions we hope to address at the Forum. I hope you will be able to attend. However should you not be able to attend please feel free to send us your opinions either by post, e-mail or fax. Alister Blades (On behalf of the Pride Scotland Management Team) Pride Scotland 58a Broughton Street Edinburgh EH1 3SA Fax 0870 138 6392 Email: future@pridescotland.org (ScotsGay would like to apologise for the gremlin in our Pride Scotland report in SG40 which denied Andrew MacColl a picture credit for his Pride pix and totally ignored the contribution to the day of Green MSP Robin Harper and LibDem MSP Iain Smith). BE HEARD ON LAW CHANGE The Draft Criminal Code, if enacted, would be the most radical change to the basis of Scots criminal law since 1797. The unofficial Drafting Group, made up of leading academics, proposes not only to consolidate the criminal law but make key improvements. At a special consultation meeting, organised by Outright Scotland, Professor Chris Gane, University of Aberdeen, will speak to the Draft Code and answer questions from the floor. Professor Gane is a member of the Drafting Group and a leading expert on sexual offences law. Other speakers are yet to be confirmed. Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people have particular reason to be concerned with the criminal law - it has been and is used as a means of oppression both here and abroad. * Is a clear Criminal Code a good thing? * What hope is there for rational and humane reform in Scotland? * Can we trust the judges? * Are "hate crimes" a good thing? * Should men be recognised as victims of rape? * Is transmission of HIV or Hep' C a crime? * Will the age of criminal responsibility be set at birth or at 18 years? * Can you be arrested for breach of the peace for wearing "inappropriate" dress? * When is "I hate poofs" free speech and when is it hate crime or harassment? It is vital that as many LGBT people as possible take part in the debate about how, as citizens with human rights, we can ensure our criminal law changes for the better. The Draft Criminal Code is out to consultation until 9th September. Please be sure to comment by then. For further information see http://www.outright-scotland.org.uk/criminalcode For a copy of the draft code write to : National Secretary, Outright Scotland, PO Box 23253, Edinburgh EH1 3XD or E-mail:criminalcode@outright-scotland.org TWO PHACED September will see the launch of the first ever Gay Men's Health Service for the North-East of Scotland by PHACE West, one of Scotland's leading HIV prevention agencies. In partnership with the local NHS "The Gay Men's Health Project" aims to provide help and advice on AIDS and HIV for all men who have sex with men. The scene launch of the initiative will be taking place on the seventh of September in Aberdeen's Bar Castro's with resident DJ's, sexual health games and lots more. Funded by NHS Grampian, the Gay Men's Health Project offers a free condom and lube distribution service and a wide range of literature and information through local gay venues and the GET RUBBERED postal scheme. The project is currently looking for volunteers and anyone interested in working with GMHP should get in touch. For more information on any of the services provided please telephone Aberdeen (01224) 587167. CHURCH AWARD FOR EDINBURGH MCC Stephen & Robin of the Edinburgh MCC received the Founders Award from Rev Elder Troy Perry at UFMCC General Conference in Toronto, July 2001. The Citation read: To Holy Trinity Metropolitan Community Church Edinburgh, Scotland, for their justice work in making Scotland a less homophobic place by challenging the established Church and laws of that nation. The Founders Award is presented by Rev Elder Troy Perry every two years. MRS TUBBY BEAR - SIXTEEN NO MORE The Government's Information Commissioner is currently investigating the involvement of a former editor of Gay Scotland over the alleged theft of sensitive personal data from NOW UK Magazine. The IC (formerly known as the Data Protection Commissioner) was called in after allegations that Paul Bryan-Ivison had been behind the mailing out of copies of a controversial new publication using a computerised mailing list belonging to NOW, his former employers. Sixteen, a fortnightly free tabloid from the same Manchester stable as the Sunday Sport, was launched last month but immediately caused a stushie over its racy editorial style which isn't to the taste of the prudish. Venues throughout the UK have been trashing bulk supplies of the title rather than risk offending their customers by putting them on display. After individual unsolicited copies arrived at people's homes by post, NOW Boss Terry George took the unusual step of writing to customers apologising for the actions of former employee Ivison who he claims had stolen the NOW mailing list. Following the collapse of Gay Scotland under his management in April 1999, Ivison ignominiously left the country but soon resurfaced at the Leeds based publication North of Watford. He was subsequently made personally bankrupt. When he visited Edinburgh recently for Pride Scotland, he took a number of photographs and wrote several articles which appeared anonymously in the first issue of Sixteen along with erotic photographs under his professional name of Simon Peters. It is not known if his Trustee in Bankruptcy is aware of any income he may have received from Sixteen. Ivison has claimed to sources in Manchester that the data concerned is not covered by the Data Protection Act. However, he clearly hasn't read the Data Protection Act which rightly regards data referring to "the sexual life" of data subjects as being "sensitive" and it is clear that a file of names and addresses of customers of a publication aimed at the LGBT community is likely to be covered by this provision. Certainly this is understood to be the view of the IC's staff who will shortly be seeking to interview Mr Ivison. We also understand that the relationship between Sixteen and Mr Ivison has now been severed. HEALTH FOR THE YOUNG A study to determine the health needs of young people who are attracted to the same sex has been launched in Glasgow. Greater Glasgow Health Board in partnership with the Glasgow Women's Library, PHACE West and the Steve Retson Project is conducting a health needs assessment of young people who are attracted to people of the same sex. The study aims to provide a picture of the overall health (specifically mental health) of young people attracted to the same sex and the findings should identify what health services are required to meet those needs. Nicky Coia said:- "It has been recognised for some time that the health needs of gay and lesbian people across the country are not being adequately met. In Greater Glasgow we have established a range of services to meet those needs and we want to ensure that any gaps in services are identified and consideration is given as to the best way to deliver any new services required. "We will be circulating a questionnaire widely through gay venues and the Internet to maintain anonymity for those who chose not to disclose personal information. We would like to encourage as many people as possible to take the time to fill in the questionnaire and with their help we can start to redesign services to make them more accessible and valuable to the gay community." The questionnaire is being circulated through a variety of gay scene venues and youth clubs. It will also available online, which it is hoped will allow young people who are unable to openly identify as LGB, the chance to have a voice in this study. If you wish to participate in the study or know of someone who might like to, then call Sue on 0141-552 8345 to arrange an interview or you can access the questionnaire online http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/ggpct/survey/survey.htm DUMFRIES DANCE The Queensbury Hotel will see a dance for LGBT folk and friends on Saturday 22nd September with live music from "Humdrum", a gay two piece band. Tickets are GBP3 on the door or can be reserved by phoning Jennifer on Dumfries (01387) 265100. Overnight accommodation can also be arranged. JOBS FOR THE BOYS AND GIRLS Beyond Barriers is a new Lottery-funded project in Scotland which aims to facilitate the reduction of discrimination against LGBT people and others, and the development of supportive LGBT communities, and good links between them and other communities, across Scotland. It will employ three full-time and one part-time staff members, in Glasgow, and is now advertising for applications for these posts. Details on the Beyond Barriers website: http://www.beyondbarriers.org.uk/ SHAMELESS PUFF You've heard the talents of Alan Joy, now come and see the talents of his other half Alistair. Original, unique artworks in canvas, fabric and wire plus a range of items for your living space can now be found at Dispensable Interiors, 268 Leith Walk, Edinburgh. Open Tues - Sat 10am(ish) - 6pm. GANG BANG GO-AHEAD The Convention Rights (Compliance) Act, which repeals in Scotland the law banning group sex between men (the "Bolton 7" law) received Royal Assent on 5th July. FIFE FROLIC Friday 19th of August will see a Rocky Horror Theme Night at the Feuars Arms, the nearest thing Kirkcaldy has to a "gay friendly" venue. There will be a community awareness picnic at Ravenscraig Park the day after with Sunday afternoon featuring a Hunt The Treasure car tour starting from South Fergus Place. Then it's back to the Feuars Arms for a "Singalong Sound Of Music". Further details from Frank Watson on Kirkcaldy (01592) 265666. EVENT Laurieston Hall is hosting a week long event for LGBT people from 1st to 8th September. Details from Ann on 020-8764 1723 or David on Hindhead (01428) 607554. CAN'T GET THE STAFF Dumfries and Galloway G&L Phoneline is currently unable to operate a live service due to staffing difficulties. But their telephone answering machine is still being looked after. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ONE MAN'S STORY =============== I would rather be HIV+ Shocking, isn't it? To hear someone say they want to catch the dreaded HIV. Well, after reaching what is so nicely called "end stage liver disease" (ESLD) because of Hepatitis B infection, it is now how I feel about it all. I consider myself fortunate that I am not co-infected with both, as a good friend of mine in London is. Imagine his difficulty, where the liver doctor wants to do things that the HIV doctor cannot allow. Rocks and hard places? Many an HIV sufferer is now facing the prospect of dying of liver disease even though they have their combination therapy in place to control their HIV. Just look for yourself on the internet. In a few minutes you will find: * FOUR times as many die from hepatitis than die from HIV related illnesses. * The UK is the ONLY major industrialised nation that is not implementing the World Health Organisation's Treaty to vaccinate the entire population by the year 2002. * Medical personnel are required to be vaccinated and must be tested regularly to make sure they maintain their immunity. * Although free vaccinations are available for gay men, less than 30% who go return for second, third jab or the follow up blood test. Nothing is being done because of "cost benefit analysis". That lovely buzz-phrase means it's cheaper to let HBV victims die than to vaccinate the whole population. More than that, included in that cost benefit is a cynical conclusion about cost benefits of vaccination. When people are vaccinated, the first visit includes a blood test, which reveals - not a surprise - that many are already infected. Once people know this, they demand expensive treatments. It's cheaper not to test. Don't you find it amazing that medical personnel are required to be vaccinated and tested to make sure they produce antibodies? They need protection from patients, but what about the other way around? I believe I was infected in hospital. Why don't you or I deserve the same protection as the doctors and nurses? HBV vaccinations are free of charge to gay men, but less than 30% return for all three jabs, and almost none go back at month seven in the series for the vital blood test to make sure they are immune. Crazy! Head in the sand? Don't care? Why are the health charities, the HIV or others, not shouting about this? Why aren't there posters, campaigns, research, activism of any kind? I don't know. Where is the research money? The only "research" to speak of in the last decade has been where drug companies have discovered new anti-viral drugs by accident during HIV research. Failing in the HIV world, they are understandably keen to sell their new designer drugs to recoup their costs. With almost no options, I did volunteer for a trial nearly eight years ago when first diagnosed. Lamivudine, known as 3TC in the HIV world, was given to me for a year with loads of needles, tests and so on. The discovery made as a result of that trial and many like it world wide is no surprise to those in the HIV world. "Drug Resistant Strain of Virus" Sounds like something we've heard before, right? Well, that's me, and many thousands like me. Monotherapy does not work. Like the good friend lost to HIV; he'd been on early mono-therapy before the combinations came along. He did survive long enough to start combo, but did not respond because of the previous mono-therapy and died. Similarly, if I do not become immune, seroconvert, then I cannot have a liver transplant, my last remaining hope. Indications are that drug resistant virus sufferers last only a few days after transplant as the new liver is infected. (I've seen 17 to 35 days mentioned in one study) The immunosuppressive drugs given post transplant guarantee that the virus destroys the new liver very quickly. So I can't plan past the need for a transplant. The only possible hope on the horizon is another spin-off from HIV research, a drug called Adefovir. Taken off HIV trials after they had some deaths, this is a risky but potentially life saving drug. Can I get the drug now? No. The UK lags behind all of the EU in the time it takes to licence and approve drugs. I cannot even get drugs licensed elsewhere as a named patient for importation. I tried and failed. However, if I were a private patient, it would take about a day to get these new drugs. What choices have I left? Again, it's quite simple. As a result of having volunteered as a trial patient, my life expectancy has reduced. Grounds for compensation, and yet I am not entitled to legal aid. No HIV charity has offered me any legal assistance in this matter. I don't have HIV. The good professor at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary is hoping to be able to get some help with a legal action by the hospital legal department, but they have never done a case as pusuer, usually defending actions against the hospital. Alternatively, he would like them to run what is called a "class action" in the USA on behalf of all transplant patients. I do not have the luxury of a drawn out battle, even if the clause in all trial agreements includes a "no fault compensation" scheme. Do you care? Do you not feel the same outrage that I and many of my internet HBV+ friends feel? I have lost a few of those friends already, and the number is increasing. I was quite appalled to read a study in a GUM clinic in London which showed that nearly 70% of men who have sex with men showed markers for previous exposure to HBV. About 15% of them will be chronic, not immune. We used to be called carriers, but that implied the disease did no damage and we were just infectious. It's now known that even those who are now immune suffer damage to their livers, have a higher chance of developing cancer of the liver, and are generally ignored. Don't ask, don't tell is a tough policy to accept when it comes to fatal illness. I am so tired, in such pain, and can't think of any way of fighting, either for myself or for the greater good. One of these days (rather sooner than I would have liked) I will be gone. Will my passing be of any importance? Not unless I can find a way of persuading people to be as angry, as outraged and as amazed as me. Maybe somewhere, perhaps a ScotsGay reader, will say, "This is wrong. We must do something about this." Are you that reader? If all I say makes you think, makes you go and get vaccinated and tested, then that is something. Like the old advertising campaign says, don't die of ignorance. John Stewart Kirk forcedtouse@hotmail.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ALAN JOY'S DANCE CHART ====================== 1. PITCH BLACK- UNDERGROUND SOUND (Rhythm Syndicate) 2. KOSHEEN- HIDE U (Rollo & Sister Bliss Remix) (Moksha) 3. NEW ORDER- CRYSTAL (Creamer K Main Remix) (London) 4. NATIOUS- THRUST 1 (Bluestone) 5. PARIAH- KEEP THE PEACE (Rhythm Syndicate) 6. FU MAN CHOO- OUTLAW (Praha Remix) (good:as) 7. THE SPACE BROTHERS- EVERYWHERE I GO (Ian Wilkie Remix) /(Manifesto) - THIS IS LOVE (Tarantella vs Redanka Mix) 8. D-FACTOR- THE WRONG SHAKE (Tri Lamb) 9. NAT MONDAY- WAITING (Jay Welsh (Black Ice) Remix) (Distict_ive) 10. KING OF SPIN- TOOL 1 (Ronster) 11. WAY OUT WEST- INTENSIFY (Jay Welsh (Black Ice) Remix) (Distinctive Breaks) 12. DJ REMY- RADIATE (Mike Monday Remix) (Additive) 13. CAST- DESERT DROUGHT (Deserts Dry Mouth Mix) (Polydor) 14. BEN SHAW featuring ADELE HOLNESS- SO STRONG (Fire) (Cass/Slide v Meat Katie No Daddy Not The Whip Mix) 15. 3 MONKEYS- CRAZY PEOPLE (Quivver_s Blissful Mix) (Bliss) 16. KRASH- DROP THE BISKIT (Original Drums Mix) (Salvador) 17. MAJOR NORTH- ANNIHILATE (Original) (Polyester) 18. SOUND 5- LATINSTATIC (Soul Mekanik Version) (Rip) 19. FAITHLESS- MUHAMMAD ALI (Rollo & Sister Bliss Tuff Love Mix) (Cheeky) 20. ANDY MOOR- PASSENGER (West Coast Dub) (Baroque) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SCOTSDYKE ========= Staying in is such sweet sorrow Coming out is hard, but is staying in the closet harder? Trying to stay in the closet when your girlfriend is happily out can be really tricky. There is no way you can keep yourself totally secret. Your girlfriend wants you to go out for an evening and what happens? She wants to go to a gay venue and although you take the view that if there is anyone (work colleague, woman that works in the local shop etc) you know there: well, fuck it, they are there too so what are they going to say? But the thought of "Oh No I've been seen" is still with you and realistically it spoils your evening. Then you bump into your girlfriend's friends and of course they know she's got a new girlfriend because there has been a smile the width of the Forth Road Bridge on her face all month and, hey bingo, you're out. She introduces you to them and they introduce you to more people as Suzy's new girlfriend and the stone keeps on rolling. Next thing you know you're out with your straight friends, just being one of the girls, and you bump into a couple from the club. Instantly you tense up wondering if the question "Where's Suzy? Are you's coming out at the weekend?" is going to come out. You are trying to act calmly while frantically making facial gestures. But how do you say "Don't mention Suzy" discreetly with your eyes. Not very easy, is it? Anyway they move on to another pub and you are left feeling drained and tense and guess what? Another evening ruined. So you head home to see your girlfriend for some moral support. You walk in the door and right into "Oh, hi! This is my mum, dad, three sisters, two brothers, niece and of course the neighbour. They just popped in for a cuppa. How was your night?". Hey presto, you're out again to more people. You feel like running so fast and you know it's not your girlfriend's fault. She is out and there is no need for her to hide it especially behind closed doors but all this has been put on you and you never asked for it. For some people, the stress of living two lives can make it unbearable but it doesn't finish there - you have your own family to think about. What do you tell them when they phone every day? "Hi mum. I'm at Suzy's" is fine for a few times but as your mum has never heard the name mentioned before in her daily calls she might think it strange that you are spending every day at Suzy's and no time with your other friends (the ones she knows the names of). So, you have to lie to her then you have to remember your lies and whose house you were at on what day and, if you said you were bowling with Jane, then you had better remember you were bowling with Jane because your mum certainly will. So, don't get it wrong because you will just make her suspicious. Then you bring your girlfriend into the equation as a friend as you have done with all your other friends. Well, it's going to be strange that all your other friends come round to your house but Suzy doesn't but the whole time she's there you are perched on your seat wondering if a "babe" or "darling" is going to come from her lips but you cannot rush your tea and run, so you stay for a little while trying not to look tense and escape at the first opportunity, but hey, it's all in the name of love... So all of you out there who have come out to their parents, work mates and friends, I do think you did the right thing. But don't look on us who haven't come out for whatever reason as trying to take the easy option. From personal experience, it's bloody hard work! Julie -------------------------------------------------------------------- Edinburgh/Dun Eideann ===================== The Festival brings many things to Edinburgh; traffic, queues in restaurants, and festival totty! Oh, and some theatre stuff too! For the complete month of August, we are bombarded with choices; what to see, where to go. Edinburgh becomes a cacophony of different things to do. And that's what I'd like to discuss this month; Different Things To Do. Obviously the usual pooferies are still baying for your business, and many of them truly deserve it. With Planet Out's new look coming under constant scrutiny, they are still packing them in most weekends, and on fortnightly Mondays for Trendy Wendy's nonsense. Cafe Habana is getting busier and busier and with the nicer weather appearing every now and again, for an hour, its outside seating area proves very popular. The New Town also, are making changes in their downstairs bar, updating the music and obviously going for a younger crowd. Clubwise, Maggie and Alan Joy must be delighted with the success of their move to Ego and the new fortnightly slot, it's heaving every time! Luvely is doing well at its new Honeycomb home and are even running monthly pre-club events at Cafe Habana. Mingin', Alan Joy's other little baby is growing up nicely too, and packs them in every fortnight at Studio 24. Another club that started its life at Studio 24 is UP! Well into its second year now, the move to The Venue, further up the road has proved popular, and they've now started doing monthly pre-club events in Pivo Cafe Bar at the top of Calton Rd. There are several clubs which you should really check out, which, although not specifically gay, are more than gay friendly and worth a look: Atomic Baby @La Belle Angele is a great little club, busy every month, with two of Scotland's best DJs Stuart Duncan and Michael Kilkie taking the helm. Acetate @Liquid Rooms is also a good bet, with Marco Smith (Taste) and Gail Sellers amongst the rotating jocks there. A new addition to the scene is B.A.N.G. and with DJs Nic Cavendish and Marco Smith, joined monthly by Brian Fisher (Taste), it's proving to be a huge success already. There are venues too, which for some reason, people in the gay community are loathe to visit. Most venues have suffered from this phenomenon at some point or another; Studio 24, The Venue, Wilkie House, The Honeycomb have all found it difficult to get a gay crowd, however if you take the trouble to venture past Planet Out and CC Blooms, you'll find a few little gems, and a few poofters too! Club Java in Leith is probably Edinburgh's most beautiful venue, being a converted church, and they have some great nights down there every month. The most gay friendly of them all is Saturday Social. on fortnightly Saturdays, with cheap booze, and a guest DJ from the Edinburgh scene every time. Past guests have included Maggie Joy, Trendy Wendy, DJ Michelle, and Alan James (UP!) and they are joined every time by co-promoter Dale from Lush, which itself has also been doing good business at Ego, fortnightly on a Sunday. You'll find that, especially during the festival, if you look at the club listings in general rather than just the gay ones, that you'll perhaps come across a whole load of new friends, a great night out, and perhaps even some of that festival totty! tottytastic E-mail: tottytastic@drink.demon.co.uk ------------------------------------------------------------------- Glasgow/Glaschu =============== Arse Bandit with Attitude Hiya scumbagz! Oh well, that's Mrs Goldilocks back off up to Dod and Bunty Town after another weekend of boozing, biking and bonking, so I'd better get Scotland's most widely read gay gossip column under way. As usual, I'll start off with a run down of the clubnights for the disco dollies and I'll try not to doze off going through all the pretentious drivel masquerading as press releases. I've had more of you asking what is happening about the Aurall monthly clubnight. Fucked if I know either - It was supposed to be returning this month, but I have no further information at the moment, so watch this space. Fruitfly, Glasgow's most popular mixed clubnight goes ahead this Saturday night (August 18th) when Jon Pleased starts the first of his quarterly residencies down at the Arches. Tickets are GBP12 for guests, and remember there is also a pre-club in Bar Soba beforehand for those of you who want to try blagging your way on to the guest list. As you all know, Fusion is now a monthly clubnight, and the next date for your diary is Saturday August 25th. Tickets are a reasonable GBP5 from Kushi records or 23rd Precinct Records, which is a bit more realistic than the extortionate Fruitfly door charge. Fusion certainly seems to be making a bit of a name for itself these days, and is now firmly established on the club bunny circuit. Those of you looking for somewhere to go during the week should get down to Cube on Mondays and Tuesdays (Read the flyers and make sure you go to the right door). Passionality is GBP2 with a flyer on Mondays, and Fun is GBP3 on Tuesdays. These are both long running gay nights, and I get the impression a stricter door policy is in force these days, as there were many complaints before about the numbers of straight trash that were getting in. And finally - the student types, cheapskates and Aberdonians can get themselves along to the nice and cheap (GBP3) Bedlam goth night up at the Queen Margaret Union up in Hillhead on Saturday 25th of August. Mrs Goldilocks has been nagging me to take him along, so you might catch both of us there this month. I was getting my ear bent a few days ago by John (a Fruitfly regular) who thinks I take the piss out of club culture. No need - the pretentious press releases and endless hype does a far better job than I ever could! (He was actually bending my ear at first about getting barred from Dullmonicas for daring to complain about the service in the Virginia Street shit-hole - no surprises there...) I was in Macsorleys talking to manager James a few days ago, and he asked me to remind you that the final of the Karaoke competition will be taking place shortly, with a first prize of GBP500. Heats are currently still taking place on Wednesday nights, and the final will be during the second week of September. For those of you who don't like Karaoke, remember that Macsorleys has live music at the weekends, with Roost on Fridays, Jamie Barnes and Cochise on Saturday, and a guest band later on Saturday night. James tells me that Macorleys is attracting quite a healthy LGBT clientele these days - no doubt fed up of the endless Steps and other queeny shite being played to death in the "gay" bars. Remember also that the Court Bar plays some really good stuff from the 70s and 80s - especially at the weekend. I see the Candle Bar have pretty much cleaned us out of copies of ScotsGay again, which is a good indicator of the amount of business they are doing since the refurb. There have been a few more changes to the entertainment - you still have Robert and May Miller packing the place out on Tuesday nights, DJ SpinDoctor Stu on Wednesdays, and Andrew does Karaoke on Thursdays. At the weekend, you've got Stu DJing on Friday, Willie on the decks on Saturday (slagging off the staff), and on Sundays Angie O slags off everyone and does a bit of Karaoke in between. This is definitely the place to be on a Sunday afternoon if you want a bit of a laugh. (Does Angie O wear those sunglasses on Sunday to be trendy, or does she always have a heavy session on the piss in Dod and Bunty Town the previous night?) The Candle Bar have various drinks promos on at the moment, but watch out for the 50p vodka coming up shortly. And I'd better also give a mention to the drag night on Sunday 26th of August. I've had a lot of you complaining that you've not been able to get a copy of Boyz recently. It seems that Boyz now want to start charging the pubs and clubs GBP500 a year for delivery of the magazine, and want the money up front before delivery commences. Unsurprisingly, the Glasgow venues have decided not to stock Boyz, although you can still get a copy from Clone Zone who are still getting deliveries free, after telling Boyz they could stuff their GBP500 charge, or stuff their advertising! Nice one!! Centurion Health Club will be holding a Fetish and Fantasy weekend shortly, with the club being open right through from Friday 31st August to Sunday the 2nd of September. The entry price has been reduced to GBP8 for those adhering to the dress code, which is leather, rubber, uniform, sportswear, underwear, or nothing at all for the exhibitionists. The rumours are still being put around that Centurion is closing down, so I'd just like to point out that this is not the case, and they are in fact hoping to move to better premises in the near future. I'd actually like to know why Centurion used the picture in their latest flyer - don't they know that gay men are absolutely obsessed about age. This guy is ancient - at least 30!!!. Gay businesses are only supposed to use pictures of nice pretty 18 year olds, cos nobody wants to actually shag a guy who's over 25 - do they now? Over at the Revolver Bar, the quiz has now moved to Saturday afternoons, and there was a fair crowd in this weekend. Jon has got himself a nice hi-tech scoring system using the big screen and does the Anne Ashton bit, while Brendan takes the Anne Robinson role. You can take part as a team or individually, and there are various rounds throughout the afternoon. During the quiz, the Revolver Bar will be showing some sad websites on the big screen, so if you know of any really boring ones, send the URLs to info@revolverdotbar.com The Revolver is rapidly establishing itself as a "locals" pub, and it's nice to see the staff greeting the customers by name, rather than the usual "what the fuck do you want?" attitude found in so many gay bars. Still no sign of the pinball machine yet - I know this dodgy bunch of shopfitters who could easily get it to fit in the space if you're interested!! Seeing as so many of you queens will be on your holidays, Brendan is having a competition to see who can send him the most boring holiday postcard. Don't know if there is any prize, but send them in anyway. As you know, the Glasgow Gay and Lesbian Website has been on the move recently, and the good news is that the Pub and Club Survey which you all love so much is back online after a short break, and I've reconfigured it to include all the newer venues and clubnights. Megashocking news is that The Revolver has knocked The Waterloo off first place for Best Pub, although only by 2 votes so I don't suppose Jo will be too worried. Best Clubnight went to Cube for their Monday and Tuesday nights with 44% of the votes, and Best Club went to Bennets with 72%. Best Service went to The Waterloo with 50%, and The Revolver got second place with 22%. Prettiest Bar Staff went to The Candle Bar with 72% - not surprising as they've got some very shaggable guys in there. And finally, your favourite category - the Biggest Dump Award went to Dullmonicas as usual. Not surprising for a place which manages to get more complaints than all the other venues combined. Dels got first place with 50%, Sadies came second with 22%, and The Poo came third on 16%. I could be flippant and ask if these places are proud of themselves but they probably are, taking the view that getting away with crap service and rude staff is a sign of how much "attitude" they have. Nice to see that they're finally starting to suffer financially though, as more of you tell them to stick their pubs up their arses and take your custom elsewhere.. I mentioned in the last issue that Bennets website was back online, and was wondering how long it would be before they lost interest, and stopped keeping it up to date. On a recent visit, I was quite surprised to see that they had a few entries on their website notice board, until I discovered that a lot of the entries had been placed by the same person under different names - no doubt trying to make it seem that the Bennets site was attracting a larger number of visitors. I think it's a bit pathetic that somebody is making a posting in one name, and then posting replies to it under other false names, but in the absence of real visitors, I suppose it makes the site look busier. Sad, sad, sad!! If anyone wants proof of this allegation, all the relevant files are on disc, and if any of my readers work for NTL, I'd be interested to know who IP address 62.252.128.4 is registered to! Thankfully, the Goldilocks website is busier than ever, and doesn't have to fabricate entries, although I have to edit a lot of the smut left on my website noticeboards cos some of my fans are well brought up modest types. (not) SNIPPETS >>> The Steve Retson Project recently started a health counselling service specifically for gay men under 25, and now holds a regular drop in session on the first floor of the GGLC every Saturday from 1-3:30pm. >>> The Glasgow Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Centre are currently looking for more volunteers to go out can rattling at the weekends to raise funds. If you have a few hours to spare and want to help a good cause, get in contact with George at the centre. Also, Centrepoint, the GLGBTC magazine are looking for more volunteers to help. If you can help with the production, or would like to submit articles, get in touch. And finally, the website team are always looking for extra help too. Right then - that's enough excitement for this month, so I'd better get this sent to the Small Bald Ginger One and then I can bugger off to bed. Gossip, death threats and offers of sleazy sex to the e-mail address below.. Say hello if you see me out and about.. Happy shagging!! Goldilocks. E-mail: goldilocks@btclick.com Webshite: http://www.gay-glasgow.co.uk/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRAVEL ====== A Changing Manchester Gordon Gosnell goes Oop North It's been about 10 years since I first started going to Manchester. In those days, the Manchester scene was a lot smaller and the pubs that formed the village were almost, to a venue, 100% gay, although they were welcoming to straight society as well. The same can't be said today, with many of the newer pubs and clubs being straight owned and only run as gay friendly, especially at the weekend. Now, call me old fashioned if you like, but when I'm in Manchester, I prefer GAY space. I tend to stick to places like the The Hollywood Showbar, The Rembrant, The New Union, Cruz 101, and Napoleon's, premises to me that are definitely gay. So it was with great interest that I headed off to see what all the fuss was about with the opening of The Hollywood International Hotel, Europe's largest "Exclusively Gay" hotel for men, women and TVs. Apart from the accommodation, 60 rooms, 42 ensuite, there are plans to build another 12 rooms by December. The Hollywood boasts the main disco - LEGENDS, a coffee bar, two leather bars, one for men and one for women, WELLS FARGO, a western style saloon, the PONY CLUB a women's only Club and a strictly members only internet cafe bar called DOWN TOWN. Then there are the STABLES, hmmmmm, ask at the hotel about this one. Due to be opened early next year, by Easter time, will be the sauna, cinema and at a later date a new fetish bar. Now, unlike some places in Scotland that have tried to combine several venues under one roof, the Hollywood's owners seem to have it right, not just a shot in the dark, but some real gay space catering for all tastes and not a sign of staff with attitude! Others could do well to have a look at how it is done. The first good point about the HOLLYWOOD is its close proximity to Piccadilly, the city's main railway station saves on the taxi fares for those with a big one, the bag that is. Although still only 2 minutes from Canal Street, the Hollywood seems to be on the edge of a new quarter of the gay village. Close by is a Tescos with all the trolling that brings. Soon to be built in the same area will be new flats aimed at the gay market. Also under discusion is the opening of another gay club. When you enter the hotel, it is obvious that this is an hotel and not just another B&B. The decor is best described as Hollywood Trash - but all in the best possible taste. There are loads and loads of prints of every Hollywood great you can ever remember, and what about the staircase? CAMP OR WHAT! Apart from the loads of gilt-edged mirrors for those of you vain enough not to be able to come down the stairs in the mornings without checking the hair-do, there are life size models of the likes of Marilyn Munro and the Blues Brother. I can just see a few of the pissed late nighters sitting down for a wee chat with their new found pals. The bedrooms, bathrooms, etc. are new, nicely decorated and have plenty of towels - something that many other places seem to forget about. I was very comfortable during my stay. Breakfast is served continental style in the main dining room, which, like the rest of the hotel, is nicely decorated and a relaxing place to eat Sunday lunch. It's also becoming the place to be seen. Many of the Saturday night residents stay on a few hours extra just to do so! The bar has the same theme as the rest of the hotel. It is nice to find a bar on the scene that you can relax in and have a chat without having your ear drums burst in the process. Having a 24 hour licence, the bar gets quite busy after the other bars and clubs close when residents and friends return from the village, one last stop as it were, and bed is only just up the stairs. If the rest of the premises are completed to the same standard, I will enjoy my return trip later on in the year. Will let you all know how I get on. Tell the lovely Julia that ScotsGay recommended the Hollywood. For further information and hotel bookings- Tel 0161-236 1010, E-mail: enquiries@hollywoodinternationalhotel. com or Write: The Hollywood International Hotel, 34 London Road, Manchester. M1 2PS -------------------------------------------------------------------- SCOTTISH MEDIA MONITOR ====================== Garry Otton Gets Ready with the Shredder We never learn do we? After studies showed youngsters would welcome facilities offering advice on sexually transmitted infections and family planning services if they were sited nearer schools - Ian Dow was busy manufacturing outrage in the Daily Record! "SCHOOL SEX CLINIC FURY" was embellished with the Catholic Church's parliamentary officer John Deighan's point of view - discredited by countless studies both here and in Europe - who insisted: "...The more they get these services, the more it reinforces that sort of lifestyle". Tory (remember them?) justice spokeswoman Lyndsay McIntosh added: "Moving clinics into schools and giving contraceptive advice to pupils will encourage under age sex". "Punter dies in sauna", wrote our old friend Ian Dow in the Daily Record. What a way to go, say I! Certainly not! Sniffed our Mr Dow after learning; "the married dad was naked with a prostitute when he slumped in a shower". The "seedy" sauna was owned by Ian Haig, "who drives a GBP50,000 blue Jaguar". The report went on to highlight how Gemini, another sauna near Scorpio, had had its licence bid turned down in 1995 by Edinburgh City Council who were "often criticised for a liberal attitude to saunas" (really?) Was this story about a poor fella who collapsed on the job, or just another opportunity for Ian Dow to express his moral indignation? The bold headline: "CELTIC FAN SHOT IN SLEAZE BAR" displayed all the usual sniffy attitudes the Record had about sex under its old editor, Martin Clarke. Ron Moore, who penned the report, even used to work with Keep the Clause Clarkey. His report snuggled up beside a full-page picture of Coronation Street's Maxine Peacock, played by 27-year-old Tracy Shaw, scantily wrapped in a white sheet being lifted by actor Stephen Beckett. This not sleazy? With the Daily Record nursing its wounds following allegations of racism after it called a recently murdered refugee a 'conman', I was forced to cast a critical eye on the otherwise, apparent sympathetic tones of the Daily Mail and Telegraph. After all the hard work of reforming liberals, ensuring inclusive policies at national and local levels, it is somewhat disconcerting to think, as a group, with their conservative values on morality and the Family, asylum seekers and economic refugees are prime candidates for putting a cross by the big 'C'. That bastion of Tory sensibilities, Scottish editions of the Daily Telegraph, wanted to attract more women to its business pages. Images included a bloke at Gleneagles Golf Course, a geezer in front of Edinburgh Castle and one big man standing by Glasgow's SECC. I guess the little ladies must've been at home busy getting their dinners on! I'm all for anything that encourages a less aggressive and more 'touchy-feely' attitude amongst Scots. So then, I was excited on two levels when I turned over a page in the Scottish Sun to find men in combats with their arms round each other in close embrace! The tabloid was a little less accommodating of the advice of "daft" hospital bosses who had recommended embracing colleagues to beat stress. "YOU SILLY HUGGERS" they blasted over two pages. "KISS off- you've got to be joking!" Building site workers Paul McNally (18) and Joseph Kennedy (17) were also happy to briefly pose for the tabloid with arms entwined, but only for a laugh though! Paul explained: "...If I tried to cuddle some of the blokes I work with I'd get a crack on the jaw and deserve it". Joseph called it "an insane idea... we'd be branded nancy boys. It would shatter our image for good and be the end of a national institution. Birds would be whistling at US in the street instead of the other way around". A quick cuddle between waiters Araf Aziz and Mohammed Bashir gave the Sun the opportunity to say "they would have nan of that either" while "bubbly" barmaid Heather Lawrence complained it might "invade her personal space". Chef Murdo MacLeod on the Isle of Harris confessed he'd do it for a pay rise- "but it would be a tough call". And under a picture labelled "burger off", "fry-up queen" Carolyn Etherson said: "With all the hot fat around it would be dangerous". What a pathetic nation we are! Interestingly enough, it was not the News of the World's 'Name and Shame' debacle, but a spoof documentary on Channel Four that evoked calls for a tightening of regulations and media censorship. Proof of the retrenched nature of the Scottish press came after a spoof documentary on pėdophilia called 'Brass Eye'. I tried scanning the papers for a positive note in the cacophony of outrage but was forced to give up. "...Drowned in a sea of bad taste and offensiveness", sighed Allan Laing in The Scotsman. "The sickest TV show ever", stormed an ever-fragrant Daily Mail. "Oh, Chris Morris, what have you done?" begged anti-porn campaigner Linda Watson-Brown in The Scotsman of the series' writer. Just 600 complaints to the ITC had Ms Watson-Brown squealing that Channel Four was now 'wallowing' in complaints. Moral Guardian-in-Chief, Home Secretary David Blunkett's junior minister Beverley Hughes went on BBC Radio 4's 'Today' programme to call 'unspeakably sick' - a show she'd not even seen! Richard Littlejohn, another homophobe working for The Sun blasted: "...Under-age gay sex; a man having a colostomy bag emptied over his head; rent boys; bestiality; lesbianism; necrophilia; bondage; grown men in nappies. It was only a matter of time before it got round to child molesting". Thankfully, Channel Four didn't lose its nerve, refused to apologise and repeated the bloody thing! Pėdophilia is an extremely difficult subject to tackle, so hats off to Chris Morris for doing it! The irony of Morris's satirical take on the hysteria over pėdophilia, itself evoking so much media hysteria was lost on the papers. But Chris Morris had proved his point. With a montage- used at least three times by The Scotsman - of abused children's faces wiped out, Linda Watson-Brown did a piece emotionally titled "SUFFER THE CHILDREN" in her stodgy, sex-negating commentary on the children in the Ayrshire sex-abuse case. Two children, an 11-year-old girl and eight-year-old boy claimed they had been sexually abused by a group of men. The boy told the court he had been buggered, made to wear a ballerina's dress and wet himself. The Scottish Sun could only bring themselves to describe "indecent acts". Infantilism, nappy-wearing, dummy-sucking, cross-dressing or watersports in sexual play I don't have a problem with; the involvement of children is quite a different matter. Linda Watson-Brown- as she would- focused on how the way children give evidence at their own abuse cases was detrimental to their mental health. Whilst it might be useful to look at alternative methods, there is no point condemning anyone unless guilt can be adequately proved. We should be careful. This is an age of sexually precocious children. I also wonder how helpful it is for The Scotsman to have these issues explored by a vociferous anti-porn campaigner who claims, "I know some of what these two children have already suffered". Recently, Age Concern expressed a commitment to deal with issues affecting older gays in sheltered housing or care homes. This is commendable. So too were the efforts of Southside Housing Association in Glasgow which asked if tenants applying for a home were heterosexual, gay, lesbian, bisexual... or other? No one had to answer, but it recognised and demonstrated a commitment to tackle different peoples' needs. The Sunday Mail thought otherwise and found a "potential tenant" to announce: "This is political correctness gone mad". John Scott of the Scottish Human Rights Centre told the Sunday Mail that if anyone was refused housing on the basis of sexual orientation it could be challenged in court. The Sunday Mail suggested Scott had "condemned the quiz". (Er... Run that by me again)? It appears 'Big Mags' Haney is not the only mother-from-Hell in Stirling! The Scottish Daily Mail found Leone Willis. Mrs Willis converted her golf-playing company director husband to Catholicism and had five children with him. She raised her spawn "with daily mass and prayers. Regular confession and a strict observation of morals..." She removed her children from sex education lessons and taught them herself. The family "expose any schools which promote homosexuality". Three of the girls are now militant religionists campaigning for the Pro-Life anti-abortion group bearing placards that read: 'Sex education is child abuse'. The feature sent a shiver down my spine. "...A housewife all her married life, (Leone) believes the group's shock tactics are what is needed to end abortion- even if it strikes fear into the hearts of health workers and doctors. 'Evil never likes to be faced up to. If they are frightened, then that is unfortunate. But fear might stop them'." Quick to pen a report that faithfully follows his paper's agenda, reporter Eddie Barnes added whistfully: "Listening to these young women speak, it seems too surreal by far that they are considered by some to be the dangerous storm-troopers of the anti-abortion movement. Sassy and good-looking, they see themselves as loving members of a loving family- albeit a family at war with a morally corrupt world". Nutters, every one of 'em! "Residents won't tolerate 'tolerance zone'," reported the Scottish Daily Mail. Not surprising, because there aren't any residents. Not where these girls are going anyway! Copying a similar plan adopted in Holland, sex workers will be moved from the Coburg Street area in Leith where they have worked since the 1800's to Salamander Street, an industrial estate. Dr Glenn Smith was trying to find lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered people who had undergone aversion therapy in the 1950s and 1960s. He said in The Herald: "I suppose there must be a different culture in Scotland. It could be that they do not want to talk about it". Although people have come forward from all over the country, including Northern Ireland, Dr Smith is still trying to find people in Scotland. But of course, aversion therapy is not yet history and is still promoted today amongst some religionists here. Between 1933 and 1945 in Germany the 'Law against Dangerous Habitual Criminals and Measures for Protection and Recovery' gave judges, for the first time in legal history, power to order gay men to be castrated. After the war, in Britain, following President McCarthy's crackdown in the States, Peter Mandelson's grandfather, Labour Home Secretary Herbert Morrison's persecution of gays led many into the hands of psychiatric consultants where electric-shock therapy or other bizarre methods would have been applied in search for a 'cure'. We should all have seen the billboard advertisements from soft drink manufacturer Barrs, by now. Scotland is the only country in the world where Pepsi or Coke is not the number one soft drink. The adverts for Irn Bru show a group of teenagers, a pop band, beside the words: "We'd go straight for a can of Irn Bru". 'Go straight' as in: 'Turn heterosexual' or 'reach out for a can of Irn Bru' shouldn't be difficult to establish, unless of course you're not familiar with the cheeky and sometimes challenging advertising campaigns run by Barrs'. Beats Keep the Clause any day! SEXUAL FASCISM a new book by Garry Otton will be available in October, published by Ganymede Books and distributed by AK Press Distribution, priced GBP8.99. Get the full Monitor at http://www.scottishmediamonitor.com/ (c) Garry Otton 2001 cut it out! * Muriel Gray in the Sunday Herald: "It's Archer who's going to do the time and, mark my words, even after his cell mate Big Vern has made him wear ringlets and a mini-skirt for two years, he will nevertheless spring from prison like a ph_nix from the flames with a whole new dazzling career plan". * And Muriel Gray again in the Sunday Herald: "It would almost be perversely comforting if some racist, sexist, homophobic loony-tune group were to emerge that had absolutely no religious context whatsoever. Imagine a band of people who stood up and spouted the usual bile but, when asked to explain themselves, didn't fall back on the dubious pronouncements of God, Allah, John Knox, Satan, a big scary stick man made from bits of corn sheaf, or indeed any other of man's invented saviours. Instead, those in the hate group would simply say that they despised their targets because those particular people made them sick. They would be forced to explain exactly why they didn't care for homosexuals..." * The Daily Record's description of Club 2000: "A well-known gay haunt near Aberdeen harbour..." Spooky! * Old Mother 'Joan' Burnie in the Daily Record answering a letter from a woman who had been told by her partner's daughter-in-law that he was a convicted pėdophile. "They look perfectly ordinary and about the only thing to do is to be suspicious of everyone. I know that sounds very sad, but that's the way it is". * Old Mother Burnie's advice to a woman reluctant to 'swing' with her husband after they had come back from their holidays: "...You were nuts to get involved in the carry-on in the first place. It was always going to end badly". * Old Mother Burnie on saunas: "...Frequenting saunas isn't a pastime I would want for anyone..." Don't worry, love. It only seems kinky the first time. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Aberdeen/Obar Dheadhainn ======================== Hello everybody! Exciting news, as September sees the launch of a Grampian Gay Men's Health Project. This project is spearheaded by PHACE West, and, in partnership with Grampian NHS, aims to provide help and advice on sexual health to gay and bisexual men in Aberdeen and the surrounding area. It will provide a safe and supportive environment in which various issues can be raised, along with providing services such as outreach to public sex environments, condom and lube distribution and will hold various health promotion events. The project is officially launched on September 7th, and there will be a scene launch that evening at Bar Castro's, with various sexual health games and lots more going on. The Leather and Lace night at Bar Castro's was seemingly a huge hit, with many of the crowd turning out in their best gear. Plans for the next theme night are under way, which is likely to take the form of either a Fetish night or a Cross-dressing night, and will probably take place on the 15th of September. Further details will be advertised nearer the time in the bar and on their web site (which should be up and running by the end of the month at http://www.barcastros.com/). Look out for the earlier opening hours at Bar Castro's as well, there are plans for a trial run which will see the bar opening much earlier throughout the week. My beautiful assistant Susan and I went along to check out Lashed this month. It's a regular night, held once a month at the Forum. Although not a gay night, it is gay friendly. Despite the fact that it was a really quiet night for the club it did still manage to provide a really friendly atmosphere in which a diverse range of lifestyles and sexualities came together for a good time. Seemingly it is popular with the students, so when the hordes start returning next month it should really pick up. This night is held the first Saturday of each month, so the next one will probably be September 1st. (This has not been confirmed though so look out for info, available on the notice board outside the Forum or on the website http://www.lashed.net/). Those of you who actually follow the music at Lashed and don't just go along for the (optional) slutty dress code may be interested in knowing that the DJ's are having a head to head competition with the DJ's from Pussy Galore's, to be held at the Palace on the twenty-third of September. Another venue that is attracting quite a lot of people from the gay scene is the Palace, especially the Mudd Club every Monday, and Disco 2000 every Thursday. Again this is not actually a gay venue, but is gay friendly. They have an excellent web site at http://www.thepalacenightclub. co.uk/ that details all the nights and offers that are on regarding cheap booze. That's about it for this month, apart from my apologies for afflicting you with the terrible photo again, Sunday mornings are not the best of times to catch me though, specially after a night in Glasgow with the boyfriend. Chris chris@cutearse.co.uk ------------------------------------------------------------------ Dundee/Dun Deagh ================ The evil spectre of hate attacks raised its head again in Dundee when a friend of mine was assaulted by two homophobic bastards. Luckily enough he survived with only a few cuts and bruises, but considering other recent developments in Dundee, this only highlights how fortunate he was! Few Dundonians living in the Hilltown area are unaware of the recent murder that took place on the Law Hill. This is why the gay community holds Pride events etc. In my opinion, it's not only to get pissed and have a laugh, but to highlight the presence of gay people in the community in an attempt to increase understanding and acceptance by all sections of society. Regardless of changing attitudes in genreal, there are still large elements harbouring deep seated hate towards gay people and for this reason we must be vigilant with our personal security. My friend was simply going home, as many times before, on public transport, and was attacked by two other passengers shortly after exiting the bus. There seems very little anyone could have done to prevent this type of attack and ,sadly, it seems all too true that gay people are, and will remain, a target for hate crimes for the foreseeable future. In answer to all of this, I can offer only my own tried and tested tactic of running like a rabbit at any sign of trouble (save the nights I've got on high heels and I get a piggy back then...thanx Steve)! Retreat is the only guaranteed method of preserving one's self and belongings in my opinion! Further, never be in a risky place alone (toilets in Charlies! naa only joking)! This fits in well with my excuse of never going home alone 'there's safety in numbers"... well it sounds plausible! Seriously, there are several groups out there were you can get good advice and tips directed at avoiding this type of incident. 'Diversitay' is just one of them. The contact details for them are; LGBT group PO BOX 53 Dundee DD1 3YG and via email to 'diversitay@hotmail.com'. Elsewhere Dundee continues to tick away as usual. Charlies is now the only gay friendly bar in Dundee, so Sir Charles informs me, but don't write off Brooklyn just yet as all sections of the community are still welcome there. Besides everyone knows that, Jollies, D.C.A. and the mid week madness at the 'Mardi Gras' are the real gay venues in Dundee! I mean just look for god's sake in H&M in the Overgate! All those camp clothes they sell (mostly to Wayne G), Dundee must be packed with queens! So if your out shopping there have a look around and you might recognise a few faces (how could you miss them!). H&M's 'Ross' is not only a purveyor of ladies and gentlemen's fashion, but is also a 'DJ' at a number of top venues, including Liberty on a Sunday! Up coming events? None! Well, probably none, other than the usual drink all you can before closing time in Charlies, and get in to Liberty before midnight and stock up on 'two for the price of one' bottles of red, weekly events! Oh and if you fancy earning GBP100 for a bit of Oral see Frankie! "What rubbish is he coming up with now?" I hear you moan! Check out the posters in Liberty for full details- I recall something about GBP100, Frankie and the use of your mouth! For all the upcoming events check out the flyers at all venues. 'Flyers's those are the things you get pressed into your hands when you exit the building at the end! And you all thought it was 'BP' trying to give you his phone number! Silly moos. Even as I'm typing this, there's something huge coming up my estuary! "Oh my God!" I hear you scream (at last! Sex talk.... yes!) Sorry peeps, I refer to all those lovely sailing ships making their way up the Tay packed full of sailors of both sexes! 'Hello Sailor'..'Ship Ahoy'...'I'll work your rope!'... 'I can handle the wheel'... 'I can work my passage'... the list is endless! Last line to the lovely Kerry, bar person at Charlies who wins this month's humanitarian award for being able to work along aside Paul R without strangling him! (Oh now I am! in the bad books) Perry x E-mail: perryj@drink.demon.co.uk ----------------------------------------------------------------------- International News from Rex Wockner =================================== MONTREAL PRIDE An estimated 750,000 people took to the streets of downtown Montreal on August 6th for one of the world's biggest and most spirited gay-pride parades. Numbers in that range have been seen elsewhere only in Berlin, Cologne, Los Angeles, New York, Paris, San Francisco, Sydney and Toronto. Montreal pride, known as Divers/Cite, pumps an estimated $40 million (US$26 million) into Quebec's economy. Corporate sponsors this year included Coke, Molson and Air Canada. Mayor Pierre Bourque and federal health minister Allan Rock joined the festivities. "We are seeing tolerance on a scale never imagined," said Divers/Cite communications director Elana Wright. "In Montreal, everyone gets involved -- married couples, families with children, young people and senior citizens. Montreal is open-minded and open to diversity." Indeed, the lengthy parade route was lined with apparently straight couples of all ages and lots of children. "Montreal is the unique-est of major cosmopolitan urban centers," gay Canadian Olympic gold medal swimmer Mark Tewksbury said in an interview. "The larger community embraces us." ILGA BANNED FROM RACISM CONFERENCE The International Lesbian and Gay Association has been denied observer status at the United Nations' World Conference Against Racism which begins on August 31st in Durban, South Africa. A vote on the matter at a July 30th organizing session in Geneva resulted in a 43-43 tie with 27 abstentions. Muslim nations led the anti-ILGA charge. Sweden's representative was not present for the vote, which would have tipped the result in ILGA's favor. The countries that supported ILGA's involvement are Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Monaco, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. Those that opposed ILGA are Algeria, Angola, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Botswana, Brunei, China, North Korea, Egypt, Gabon, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritania, Mongolia, Morocco, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, the United Arab Emirates, Vatican City and Vietnam. The nations that declined to cast a vote are Argentina, Armenia, Barbados, Bhutan, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire), Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Honduras, Mauritius, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Rwanda, South Africa, South Korea, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela and Yugoslavia. GREEN LIGHT FOR SYDNEY GAY GAMES Despite earlier doubts, the 2002 Gay Games will go ahead as planned in Sydney, Australia. Following a visit to Sydney by officials of the US-based Federation of Gay Games (FGG), the 2002 event is a go. An internal FGG memorandum, which was leaked to the media in July, questioned whether Sydney organizers would be able to pull off the Games, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. But after their visit, FGG officials said Sydney organizers "inspired confidence and demonstrated they will deliver the Games." The visiting delegation also rescheduled the timetable on which Sydney organizers must pay the FGG a US$650,000 licensing fee. BELARUSSIAN GAYS PROTEST AGAINST EXCLUSION Members of the Belarus Lambda League for Freedom of Gays and Lesbians protested against their exclusion from the first Belarussian Youth Congress on July 29th by picketing inside the conference hall in Minsk. They were joined by members of the Belarussian Anarchy Party, four of whom were in drag. KOREAN GAYS FIGHT INTERNET BAN South Korean gays are organizing to fight a ban on gay Internet content, the Korea Herald has reported. Nineteen gay, human-rights and university-based organizations have formed the Joint Action Against Discrimination of Gays and Lesbians to battle the nation's Information Communication Ethics Committee. The ICEC recently rated homosexual content as "immoral" and ordered its removal from most Internet sites. TORONTO MENINGITIS SCARE GROWS Toronto Public Health staff are vaccinating gay men against meningitis after two men died of the disease and three others became ill. "We're making it available to men who have sex with men who want it," Dr. Rita Shahin told Xtra! The disease is spread via saliva. Symptoms include headache, nausea, sudden stiff neck, fever, vomiting, rash, drowsiness, confusion, convulsions and seizures. MALAYSIAN POLICE RAID CLUB Police has raided a gay club in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, the Straits Times reported. They found men having sex and arrested 35 of them, including six employees. The customers were released after their statements were taken. The employees will be charged with violating entertainment regulations. HUNGARIAN GAYS BEAT MAYOR Budapest District III Mayor Istvan Tarlos and organizers of Hungary's week-long Pepsi Island Festival agreed in writing that homosexual groups would not be allowed to participate in the event, but gay groups went to court and beat the ban. Judge Judit Vida of the Districts II and III court ruled that Mayor Tarlos "had no right to sign an agreement that ... strengthens society's prejudices against sexual minorities." SIBERIAN GIRLS WANT TO BE BOYS One percent of girls aged 11 to 16 in the Kuzbass region of Siberia have asked doctors for a sex-change operation, according to Pravda and the local Vyorsty newspaper. The newspaper blamed the region's macho culture for the unusually high statistic. GAY GERMANS FLOOD MARRIAGE BUREAUS Demand for Germany's new marriage-like gay partnerships is so strong that marriage bureaus in some cities are putting heterosexual weddings on hold to accommodate the gay flood. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Arts - Edinburgh Festivals ========================== Martin Powell Bette Bourne, Quentin Crisp Resident Alien, Assembly Rooms The room looked far too tidy. It may be true that after 4 years the dust doesn't get any worse but there was almost no dust here, but then there are limits to what can be achieved on stage at the Fringe. This is set in Crisp's apartment in New York and Bourne ably brings Crisp to life describing his views on matters as diverse as Thatcher, Peron, Hells Angels, dust, washing up, the difference between the UK and US, relationships, and sex. The most memorable moment for me was when he told a joke about Princess Diana where half the audience laughed and the other half waited to see if they were allowed to laugh, and then laughed. Non-Fiction Theatre Group, Sex 1 Death 2, Pleasance Interview lots of people about birth, death, and sex. Listen to the recordings and then select the most interesting 55 minutes worth.. The interviews had been recorded on mini-discs and the three female performers wandered round a stage which also featured a coffin periodically fiddling with mini-discs. This added nothing to the performance. However the thing that really didn't work for me was having three women doing it where we only had the text to identify whether the character was male or female. Yes they were clearly talented and covered a huge range of accents, but at times when the characters were, for example, talking about sex with men it was not clear whether we were talking about women or gay men. A lot of effort clearly went into this piece which most of the audience found funny, but it was a pity that it was let down by some minor failings. Pivotal Dance, Departure 1, C Venues Well this lot certainly challenge your view of what is a space and what is a performance. As the C Venues staff announced that the house was open we were not allowed in. Why? Because the performance came to us with the first piece, Juliet's Dream, being danced in the entrance. I found the first piece danced in the main space, Libra choreographed by Carmen Vilches a supreme demonstration of exquisite and enthralling dance. As each piece featured the work of a different choreographer some were more appealing than others but the execution of the dance was superb. It finished with a humorous piece called Elvis Everywhere featuring what can only be described as 5 (female) Elvis impersonators. The publicity doesn't make it clear but they perform different programmes on alternate days. Northern Theatre Company, Mad Dogs and Englishmen, Gilded Balloon A beautiful show and so excellently executed. Northern Theatre Company take the works of the master and by singing them and with some spoken text place them in the context of when they were written. They were also aware that this show about someone who was quintessentially English was not been performed in England. Reference was made to Coward's sexuality, but this was done in a balanced and necessary way. We were delighted by an hour of Coward songs - some classics some less well known. One song was changed so that the main character was, perhaps as Coward originally intended, was male and it was fascinating to listen to it in this way. They also brought "Let's Do It" up to date, but didn't Coward also do that? The sort of show you could happily invite a maiden aunt or gay activist along to and expect either of them to enjoy it, although it might be best if you didn't invite them both to the same performance. Northern Theatre Company are also doing The Gasman Cometh which features the work of Flanders and Swann. The Kosh, 20th Century Girls, Gilded Balloon II A brilliant choreographer comes up with brilliant dance. Why am I surprised? Well partly because I read a couple of months ago that The Kosh were no more. I'm delighted that reports of their death were exaggerated.You never quite know what to expect from The Kosh. It will be good, original, and innovative but recent shows have bordered on cabaret - this is firmly back in the dance fold. And what dance. Sian Williams and Fiona Creese dance their way through over half a century accompanied by news reports of significant events since the early 1940s with little more than a wardrobe and some effective changes of clothes for company. We start off with Creese as a young woman and Williams as a sailor hiding in the wardrobe to avoid the blitz, and move through a number of characters of changeable genders including events such as the rise of Elvis, the Beatles hitting the scene, the Vietnam war, Martin Luther King, the Beatles breaking up, Nixon, Heath, Lennon being shot, AIDS, and the Gulf war, to name a few. Why can't all fringe shows be this good. Workhorse Productions, Going Down in History, The Garage I'm probably one of the worst persons to attempt to review this as I regard the current UK government as one of the worst Tory governments in my life and this appeared to be a eulogy for new Labour. The events are set in 1968 and in 1997. John Smith has just won the election and dies two days later. We follow James (Andrew McDonald) as a new Labour politician who goes for the top job and his psychotic teenage daughter who is obsessed with Margaret Thatcher who dearly wants her father to come out as a genuine Thatcherite. We also follow James (Ben Elliot) in 1968 at his public school, and his lover Luke (Emanuel Brierley) who elope to Paris in that tumultuous year. The idealist Luke against the rationalist James. However this constant scene changing between 1997 living room and 1968 bedroom annoyingly interrupted the flow of the plot. Why could they not have used one part of the stage for 1968 and another for 1997? Where I had greater problems was how someone with a past like this - there's more I haven't mentioned - would have kept it out of the tabloids for all this time. I kept expecting that the politician's past was going to catch up with him and destroy him, not least because Lord Archer is credited in the programme. Certainly the past does catch up with him but not in the way expected. The message, such as it was, seemed to be that to make progress today it is necessary to embrace the market and only tinker at the edges. College of Fine Arts UNLV, Dancescapes II, The Garage "This dance has no rhyme or reason, it's just there" said the text. Personally I didn't believe a word of it. I think that was aimed at an American audience, as we were treated to the worst excesses of flag waving through dance. On emerging from the theatre and looking at the programme I see the piece was called "Maid in America" and was described as "a dance satire that seeks to deconstruct the 'All American Girl' myth" so I got that bit right. It also consisted of flowing movement to haunting music. It wasn't all so serious. A series of 6 dances all separated by short clever dance transitions it formed a wonderful hour. A mixture of well choreographed styles that was beautifully put together, it culminated in "Nothing in their Jeans". 6 cowgirls dancing their way through America. If most of the dance I saw was only 10% as good as this I'd be a happy man. Where do I book my ticket for Dancescapes III? Peepolykus, Goose Nights, Pleasance Courtyard Greek taverna music, 3 gods are summoned in a deliberately incompetent address to the people of Athens. At first I thought it was remarkably similar to the last show I saw them do, but it wasn't until it was about half way through that I realised it was the last show I had seen them do - it had changed so much. A grand example of deliberate incompetence, ham acting, and bad puns used to superb comic effect. And what an ending. Initially fairly conventional to loud applause they kept reappearing or throwing stuff on stage. I'm sure the audience must have sat there for at least 5 minutes after they initially stopped clapping. College of Fine ARTS UNLV, Joe in Winter, The Garage I really liked this and I don't usually like solo dance. This piece by Louis Kavouras tells of the long winter of Joe, which starts early when his lover John leaves him. Having lost him we see Joe dancing through his loneliness, his isolation, the way everything around him is cold. Eventually we see him getting his life together and there is a witty scene where we find him meeting a new guy, which eventually leads to his spring. Dance of great beauty and intensity. Angel Exit Theatre, Imaginary Prisons, The Underbelly On paper this should have been superb. A company trained at Ecole Jacques Lecoq at least one of whom had worked with Xavier Levet of Kaos Theatre. On stage however it failed to live up to its promise. We faced a king with an Inspector Clouseau accent, the king's keeper of birds with a suitcase of cutlery, a woman eating a carrot and spitting it out, a dog, confiscation of sharp objects and then we heard "Ladies and Gentlemen we are running out of time". "Yes" I thought but this was only the start of a piece about the nature of time. How many times does it need to be said that physical theatre is not just about the meaning coming from the physical nature of the piece, it is also necessary to convey that meaning to the audience. Theatre to make sitting in a doctor's waiting room seem exciting. Blue Productions, The Age of Consent, Pleasance Courtyard I had spent the previous 23 hours seeing total dross when I came across this gem. Not light entertainment this for me was theatre at its best. Powerful, riveting drama that forces the audience to interpret in their own way and come away still thinking about the piece. It tells of two unrelated people - I kept wondering how their stories were going to come together, they didn't but that didn't matter. Stephanie (Katherine Parkinson) is a not particularly bright 25 year old with a 6 year old daughter Raquel whom she is desperate to get into show business. Exactly what was the interest of the film director in the daughter. The main problem I had with this character was that I would not have expected such a person to be able to come up with some cracking one liners as occurred here. Timmy (Ben Silverstone) is a 19 year old in an institution clearly for some serious crime who is troubled by what he has done and anxious about how people will relate to him when he is released. I don't think we need to look very far to guess who this character is modelled on. However it is important to remember that this is fiction and is only one example of how such a person might feel. Randolph Studio, Address Unknown I really liked this simple tale. It is 1932 and Martin Schulse and Max Eisenstein are art dealers in San Francisco. Martin decides to return to Munich and we hear read out their exchange of letters between an American Jew and a German as Hitler comes to power. A powerful demonstration of a significant period in European history. The text is accompanied by live piano music which was not enhanced when at one point the piano player's mobile phone went off. It's bad enough when the audience forget to turn them off, but you would expect the performers to remember. J Boys, Gay Samurai Review, The Garage There is a glossy brochure going round Edinburgh published by Visiting Arts with the names of the great and the good extolling the virtues of foreign groups coming to Edinburgh. In it Shakti, who runs The Garage, states "Regarding programming policy: we look for those who have something to say...for those who believe in what they are doing and are ready to accept the challenge. Whether they are students or professionals we look for those who have a motive and belief in what they do." One does wonder how many people reading that understood exactly what the nature of some of this art was. There are many types of dance and one type involves moving around as an excuse for getting ones kit off. This is at that end of the scale but if this is the sort of art that appeals to you, where the audience is invited to handle the goods, then why not? Personally I like something a bit more intellectually demanding. Paines Plough & Frantic Assembly, Tiny Dynamite, Traverse A theatre critic in previewing a show uses a ludicrous piece of hyperbole about fighting his way to the front of the box office queue. That person has checked the web site which tells him to collect his ticket from the box office. On going to see the show he leaves his flat 15 seconds later than he should have. 10 seconds before he arrives at the theatre a crowd of women come through the door and seem to spend an interminable amount of time at the box office. Eventually he gets to the front of the queue only to find that the web site was wrong and he has been queueing in the wrong place. What happens? Well in this case nothing much, as it's all rapidly sorted out. But what if in walking to the theatre he had bumped into someone and delayed them for a few seconds thereby resulting in them not getting run over at the next corner as the car that they would have failed to notice has now passed? It is such tiny seemingly inconsequential incidents and the massive effects that they can have for good or bad that are at the heart of the play. However it wasn't instantly apparent that this was what the play was about and I found myself for quite a time wondering if I'd ever understand it. But that's not a problem if over its course it turns into a stunning event that rightly played to a rapturous audience. Set over a summer holiday this new play by Abi Morgan features 3 characters Lucien (Scott Graham) and Anthony (Steven Hoggett) are old friends who meet Madeleine (Jasmine Hyde). It is strong and intense with superb lighting by Natasha Chivers that adds considerably to the production.. I loved it. David Benson, To Be Frank, Pleasance Dome Having done Kenneth Williams and Princess Diana, David Benson decided to do the story of Frankie Howerd. Then he hit problems. There just wasn't the published material available to do it. So he doesn't. OK there is quite a bit about Frankie Howerd in the show but most of tells of the last few years of Benson's life but this is done with the voice and mannerisms of Frankie Howerd and so he brings him back to life and very funny it is too. I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Trestle Theatre Company, Blood & Roses, C Underground What a venue. A 200 year old chamber under South Bridge is turned into a medieval kitchen of a great house. What was more surprising was that to start with there was not a mask to be seen.. We learn of Lambert Simnel who was a 10 year old orphan when Henry VII seized the throne of England. He was taken and trained to pretend to be a claimant to the throne. It all ended in tears and he was set to work in the royal kitchens. Now 20 years later it is coronation day for Henry VIII. It's not long before the masks appear. For this one the ordinary people who work in the kitchens are unmasked but the great men and women are masked, which works really well.There is a memorable battle scene where 4 actors manage to portray 2 armies and it works. Is it good, is it visually stunning, do they manage to play a huge number of characters with only 5 actors, did I thoroughly enjoy it? It's Trestle we're talking about so the answer to all those is "of course". Vitriol, Dolly, Rocket@The Royal College of Surgeons Seriously weird this is plainly about the abuse of a young girl by her father. It features the expression "I don't want to wake up", a woman writhing on stage, a big book in a dolls house, the women gets in the dolls house, gets out again. You know the sort of thing. After a while she rushes through the back and the stage lights go dim. We wait for her to reappear, the lights come back on, we wait, then the house lights go up, we look at each other, we leave. Double Edge Drama, Gross Indecency, The Underbelly This is a long piece for Edinburgh running for 110 minutes, 10 more than in the programme, but it is well worth it. This time is necessary to go into the detail of how Oscar Wilde was reduced from a man who was admired and respected to being seen as nothing as a result of three trials. This was the first thing I found out as I had previously assumed there were just two. It is brilliantly done with particularly powerful portrayals of Wilde (Simon Yadoo) and Queensbury (Jonathan Broke). Most of the action follows the libel trial and the two for gross indecency, but the dialogue flows with extensive quoting from letters and press reports. I usually have a problem with plays about Wilde as Wilde's writing comes across as far superior to whatever goes around it, but this play by Moises Kaufman is marvellous. Unlimited Theatre, Neutrino, Pleasance Dome "Oh god! I'm not in for 70 minutes of this." Meaningless gestures, tearing up paper, meaningless numbers. I've no idea why they bothered with all this and didn't get stuck into the action which starts with a conversation on a train. The various scenes are separated by slide lectures about particle physics from a very dubious physicist, which get more and more bizarre with discussion on happiness particles, the effects of railway travel on anger particles, and the deconstruction of a Carpenter's song as a message for aliens. Meanwhile back on the train we are introduced to two women who are lovers off to visit the parents of one of them and the conversation is that they are just friends (not Friends) that weekend because one of them hasn't told her parents. The message is that details are not important but the pursuit of happiness is. Things are not black and white they are Technicolor and that what is important for one person may not matter to another. I'm not sure I entirely buy the philosophy but it was an enjoyable hour once it really got going. Pip Utton, Resolution, Assembly Rooms He can certainly turn them out. At one stage I felt I'd have been happier back in the bunker in Utton's earlier play Adolf than be here. Peter is a happy family man, proud of his daughter, Suzy, who is doing well until a hit and run driver kills her on her 18th birthday. We follow events over the next three years for Peter and the man who killed his daughter. Where Adolf chillingly dealt with the narrow band we live on between civilised society and racism, this dealt with the edge between civilised society, lynch mobs, and the loathing for people who are not "normal". What makes this all the more uncomfortable is that Utton speaks to the audience, dragging us along in his crazy excesses. I came close to shouting out "No, you're wrong", but hang on a minute this was just a play. Well it didn't feel like just a play. I left the theatre emotionally drained. If this doesn't win major prizes the major prizes are rigged. Illyria, The Importance of Being Earnest, Bedlam There are some plays that are so good you can do a lot to them and they still work. The Importance of being Earnest is one such play. It said in the programme that they were going to bend the genders. What I was not expecting was something with women playing the male roles and the female ones played by pantomime dames. That is what we got and it worked. But why not? In many ways Lady Bracknell is a pantomime character. Not what I was expecting but then this 106 year old play is always worth seeing and for me would beat 90% of the stand up for getting laughs. Short and Girlie Theatre Company, Play, C Venues I was surprised this was listed under theatre rather than comedy & revue. A play about rehearsing a play which doesn't exist 6 days before it is due to go up. It is more a series of sketches about lesbian life and has some good send ups of TV programmes and how they might look if they were aimed at lesbians. There was also a very clever bit of three separate conversations which individually were quite innocent but when threaded together gave a rather different message about sex. Seeing a show at 11.30pm after a long day in a long week is probably not the best time to appreciate a show like this but it was good fun and I'm sure Short & Girlie have a future. Discovery Dance Theatre, Ouch, C Venues Definitely more theatre than dance. Some of the early words were "do you know what others are thinking", and "who do you trust". As the title suggests this is about hurting in all its forms, the trivial, the serious, the ludicrous, the numerous. That was the problem in that it was not sufficiently focused and tried to cover too much. For within the clutter was an astoundingly poignant story struggling to break free and that was the bombing of the Admiral Duncan pub in London, not that you would know that from any of the publicity for the show. The story is told through the words of a survivor of the bombing who only suffered minor injuries and it brought back to me memories of two events one was the pictures on TV of the bombing of the pub, and the other was the memory of being in shock when I was a passenger in a major train crash. If only they had focused more on this I'm sure they would have produced a much better piece. Driscoll & Message, Gilded Balloon They've certainly got the marketing right. This was playing to a sell out house although 5 people left during the show. A series of sketches featuring Steve Message as Rita, the only transsexual Tasmanian, and Julie Driscoll as Kylie. They are useless TV show hosts who have no guests so they make them up. We also meet Derek and Linda, two National Express employees, Rolf Harris, a bizarre singing foetus, and many more. Utterly deranged. Tiny Dynamite & The Bull Theatre, From Ibiza to the Norfolk Broads, C Venues This play written and directed by Adrian Berry is the story of Martin. A teenager with problems and an obsession with David Bowie. Gradually we learn about his eating disorders, his inability to relate to other people, his alcoholic mother, cynical sister, and his father. Very well put together with some great acting. Kaos Theatre, The Kaos Volpone, Theatre Workshop The stage has a large round red curtain and most of the action takes place within it when it is lifted. There is no elaborate set, mainly a couple of doors and a hole in the floor, but no more is needed as the actors create the atmosphere and various sites in Venice where this is set. Quite when it is set is another matter, but I think that is part of the point, desires such as avarice, greed, and lust are not restricted to any particular time. The larger than life performances merely add to the quality of this production and allow the actors to get away with quite a lot that would fail in a lesser work. I certainly got the impression on a couple of occasions that the cast were just having fun and to hell with the script. Particularly memorable were the ludicrous hearing aid and the judges as sheep. I was expecting great things. I got them. In Human Form, Lucky, C Venues 19 year old Sam fancies Toby, or does he fancy Lucy, what is Pod's problem with all this, and how would the other lads in the football team feel? This fast moving play, written and directed by Eddie de Oliveira looks at what it is like to be young, the pressures to conform, and trying to come to terms with friendship and sexuality. There is a lot of good material here and there is lots of humour. We follow six young people through a summer of troubled emotions and confusing hormones. There is also the odd reference to football but don't let that put you off. Well worth seeing. Gareth Armstrong, Dr Prospero - The Rough Magic of John Dee, Assembly Rooms I saw Gareth Armstrong in his magnificent Shylock last year, so I was definitely back for more this year. Was John Dee the Elizabethan character wpon whom Shakespeare based Prospero in The Tempest? This play written by Stephen Davies assumes he was and follows his life and how it matches that of Prospero. It includes details of possible discussions between Shakespeare and Dee. A superb and towering performance by Armstrong where he brings to life an earlier age. Hull Truck Theatre, Pigs, C Belle Angele Hull Truck doing dance? This I've got to see. I'm glad I did. This is stunning.This is about the life of England football hooligans. Without a single word on the soundtrack we are effortlessly taken from a boring office job, through relaxing on the squash court, socialising which involves drinking and fighting, the boozy journey to the match, the match itself and sickening flag waving, more violence, and various other scenes before it's back to the office. The intensity of this piece is breathtaking. Lucy Cullin ord, the choreographer, could not have done better. Rarely have I seen dance that says so much and is so enjoyable to watch. The music's good too. Martin Walker Martin Walker came to Edinburgh for the festival ten years ago and stayed. This year the Naked Ginger Editor let him have a Press Pass. Talk about the cat that got the cream... Martin would like to thank Belinda at the Fringe Press Office for her patient smile as he endlessly tormented her with requests for the impossible, as well as fellow reviewer and old chum, Tony Challis, from the Lesbian and Gay Humanist magazine (for inspiration and a sense of humour). Elegies for Angels Punks and Raging Queers - Ego and Out Hull University Students are a spunky lot, judging by the half dozen or so that cavort and entertain us for over an hour. This show might have been just another retelling of the story of HIV/AIDS, but is so much more. A quite stunning looking cast, as confident as you like, confound your expectations and show us how complacent we've all become since the days when AIDS plays were all the rage. In the past, so much stuff on the Fringe dealing with AIDS worked the same formula. Have sex (or use a needle). Get the virus. Die. The dire warnings of impending doom made a generation of young gay men feel guilty for wanting to fuck. And those who already had the virus felt worse than ever. Elegies for Angels Punks and Raging Queens had to convey the message of prevention with one of acceptance for those infected. This, they did perfectly. Using a script penned in 1989 and choosing the perfect venue to perform it, the cast sat amongst the audience, popping up from time to time to sing a song, recite a monologue, and retell the story of how the virus affected and continues to affect so many of us. There is a lot of humour here, and some bloody good songs. Indeed, this lot could have been singing and performing drivel and it would still have been entertaining. Thank God they turned their talents to a script that means something. Come to the festival and see this show first. ***** Opera Galactica - The Gateway Theatre So you're into Doctor Who but your boyfriend's into Wagner? At last a show you can go and see together. I am no opera buff myself, indeed I have never been to an opera in my life. Nor do I ever intend to. Ever. But this is a good show with some wonderful camp performances. Opera, has far as I can tell, is the story of boy meets girl, boy looses girl, boy finds girl again, everybody dies. This is infact what happens here. Except G. Dubya Lukah intervenes and the last scene has to be retold with a Sci-Fi happy ending. Very loosely based on the Star Wars saga - the performances delighted all. *** Hedwig and the Angry Inch - The Pleasance See the film and catch the live performance, its all here at the Festivals. Hedwig is a phenomenon that will become as big as the Rocky Horror Show. A comparison of Hedwig and Rocky is too easy, but inescapable. A rock soundtrack, humour and transgender issues make both shows what they are. Kevin Cahoon as Hedwig is a powerful singer, and the musicians looked so really cool I wanted with them all. But do we really need any more tortured transgender stories? Not so long ago the only gay men portrayed on stage and screen were unhappy unfulfilled souls. Now we have some more realistic portrayals of queers - and that is good. A perfectly happy portrayal of a transsexual individual would be such a refreshing change. And not just some TS/TV that we can all laugh at. ** Spittoon - The Gilded Balloon These two obviously talented actors had played with toy guns when they were children. And they are still at it. An affectionate piss-take of the Hollywood Western, this show was surely more suited to drama students than grown up comedians or actors. The interplay between the two did have a charm that saw the show through to the end. It was easy to imagine some sexual chemistry there. Oh, and great outfits... *** Fucking Our Fathers - The Scotsman Assembly Scott Capurro's brilliant stand-up comedy last year was a real highlight of the Fringe. He offended everybody. I knew that he had problems with bisexuals, and I knew he had issues with people called Martin, a Bi-boy of that name once dumped him. Now, as I'm a bisexual called Martin this could have been a problem. But if the Jew in the audience next to me could laugh at jokes about the holocaust then fuck it, I could laugh too. This year Scott's back with a truly awful show. The performances by Capurro and his partner John Cardone were woeful. But the real problem was the script. A completely pointless pair of bitter queens in baby clothes bitched for a bit and then stopped. That was the show. The night I went much of the audience walked out. Not because of the subject matter being offensive. But because you could hear a much more entertaining version of their conversation in Edinburgh's New Town Bar. The show under-ran by 25 minutes. Avoid. Kevin Gildea's Stand up set to Music - The Gilded Balloon "They say that you are what you eat. I must have eaten a stupid cunt for breakfast this morning." If this is your humour then this is your thing. A stand up act set to live jazz. It largely works too; this Irishman dealt with hecklers brilliantly. His singing was great. A very political set, maybe the stories were s a little too preachy. *** Revolting Young Men - Stage by Stage Edinburgh Academy It was not a good sign. The woman that took my ticket as I prepared to enter the venue for this show was much too keen to see me. I was personally introduced (all be it briefly) to one of the members of the cast. I wondered where the rest of the audience was... It was worse than I expected. I was the only punter there. But I was in for a real treat. The story revolved around a group of satirists in London during the Macmillan era. They published a 'Private Eye' type journal called 'The Flea' which for a while sold bucket loads as they helped topple the government of the day. What ensues is wholly unexpected and quite brilliant. A very funny drama about class, relationships and sexuality, with some exceptional performances, notably James Nivey's drunken Stephen and Miranda Hani's bumbling Wendy. Some of the best character acting on the Fringe. Go and see it. Now. ***** Discoll and Massage - The Gilded Balloon 'An alcoholic transexual chat-show host and her narcotic sidekick Kylie,' reads the blurb. Oh and how we all laughed. This show features an Australian pair of comedians getting easy laughs in a show you will have seen before many times if you've been around the Fringe for a couple of years. Actually these two occasionally rise above the obvious and say something new. Domestic abuse and drugs feature heavily. But they need a much better script. And the point about the negative portrayal of the Transgendered has already been made. * Sean Cullen's Erotic Laser Show. - The Gilded Balloon Sean Cullen is a comedy genius and members of his male backing band are all gorgeous. I'm not exaggerating, they really are beautiful. Towards the end of the show they strip down to women's underwear and it works. And they are enjoying it. Never have I seen performers have such a good time. If all men who wore women's clothes were this happy we'd all be doing it. Why this is billed as a laser show however, well I have no idea. There is some great improvisation here. Much of it, on a night I attended, at my expense. But the banter is so friendly, no one in the room was afraid. He dispensed with the usual 'So where are you from?' questions and simply improvised songs around peoples names or hair colour or whatever. I saw the show twice and got two very different nights. Recommended. *** Check Your Coupon - The Gilded Balloon at the Peppermint Lounge Oh I did enjoy this bit of nonsense. Three women who work in a Bookies dream up a scam to win the pools. Features some hilarious set pieces and a male stripper who was really rather good. And it was great to hear some genuine working class Scottish humour with accents to match. *** Quentin Crisp - Resident Alien - The Scotsman Assembly "I received a very angry letter from a member of the 'Homosexual Community' who said I was a twisted old queer who should die a horrible death after the comments about the 'Peoples Princess'. You see I lost the love of all the homosexual men in America in a single night when I said that I thought Princess Diana was trash and got what she deserved." An hour and ten minutes of real class flew by with this joyously rich production. Bette Bourne, who is now, surely, the definitive Quentin Crisp, performed Tim Fountain's script to perfection. Actually, the actor looks very little like Crisp. But that is forgotten after the first words uttered. Almost perfect. **** Ferydurke - Komedia St. Stephen's Time now for some high art from Poland, based on Gombrowicz's banned satire. Billed as physical and homoerotic, it tells the story of classroom conflict and discipline before a long, largely wordless monologue about one characters desire for stable boys. Actually the first twenty minutes of the show were fart jokes. Seriously. Then there were characters picking their noses before much pinching and prodding each other. Later a lot of sweating went on. And a great deal of shouting which alluded to the beating and whipping each other. To be honest I'd hadn't a clue what the hell was going on. It may be art but I know what I dislike. * Cyderdelic - The Pleasance These three guys kick ass in a show unlike anything else on the fringe this year. Three hippie anarchists from the West Country protest and rap to save the world and smash up the government. It is all very silly, but they send up the Reclaim the Streets protests superbly, featuring video footage and original rap music. Underneath the piss take these guys are broadly sympathetic to the counter culture. They clearly understand it too well. Their excellent web-site www.cyderdelic.com gives the game away with links to many lefty groups listed. If you don't go and see it, catch them at the Stonewall Benefit at the Playhouse on August 22nd. Then you'll definitely want to see the whole show. **** Tell Me You Love Me - C, Chambers Street The story of two gay men, who live together and desperately want a child, this show could not be more topical. Now throw in a sister who's getting abused by her partner, a dodgey subplot about bisexuality, oh and a suicide, then you get a real queer soap opera. The young cast did their best, but Lee Weston's script was so full of issues that the poor actors seemed to lurch from one crisis to another, with no real coherent plot. We never get to know who the main protagonists are, and what makes them tick. It all seemed rather preachy and pointless. If this were television there would undoubtedly be a '5' in a circle on the top left-hand corner of your screen. ** Lucky - C, Chambers Street Sam fancies boys. At least he thinks he does. He's not sure because he thinks he also fancies girls. Clearly confused about his sexuality he searches in vain for a label for himself. He can't find one so he remains confused. He then meets a boy called Toby. Now Toby is definitely into other boys. Only he likes girls as well, and to make things worse, starts seeing a girl Sam fancies. You might think you know what happens next. You'd be wrong. What transpires is simply the best fiction writing I've come across anywhere regarding bisexuality and identity politics. And it's funny too. The hugely talented writer and star, Eddie de Oliveira will doubles be very famous one day and rightly so, but the rest of the cast are also excellent. The flirty young relationship between Gareth Thomas' Toby and Fiona Horsey's Lucy is realised perfectly. Andrew Hume's Mikey White-Jeans and Ben Ramsland's Pod are a great piss take of young, drunk, homophobic straight boys. Every gay man will recognise Sally Waldron's Brenda as Sam's best straight women friend. And the interplay with Louis Barron's football coach, Harry, and his stooge, Rowan D'Albert's Morph, was so funny that the two could almost have a full length Fringe show of their own. If someone from FILMFOUR is reading this, sign up the rights to Lucky now. You must keep the original cast mind... ***** David Benson - To be Frank - The Pleasance Dome David Benson was responsible for a sell out show about Kenneth Williams a few years ago, then a little later, a show about Princess Diana's Funeral. This year he does Frankie Howard. Except he doesn't. He does David Benson. And the show is non-the worse for that. After a hilarious opening monologue, which lasts about ten minutes, he stops, turns to the audience and asks them what they think. An open debate then ensues, with the occasional words of wit and wisdom thrown in from Benson. This guy would make a really cool university lecturer, he can control a room brilliantly, even when esteemed members of the audience like Janet Street-Porter decides to disagree with him. But we learn much more about Benson than Howard. He does a hilarious skit which involves him killing off celebrities one by one; the likes of Cilla Black and Graham Norton were lampooned. (We were supposed to be repulsed but I just wanted to join in.) Those celebs sold out years ago to crap. David Benson hasn't made it big because he has refused to do the same. He got an office job instead. Never the less you wonder, just a little, if the next big thing at the Edinburgh Fringe will be a show staring Graham Norton on the life and work of David Benson. **** Beautiful Thing - Agustine's Oh beautiful thing. The story of teenage gay love. Jonathan Harvey's script gets another outing at the Edinburgh Fringe. And what a great job Drummond Street productions did of it. When staging a show that has been done many times already it is important that you bring something new to the story, or at least do the story really well. Peter England's Jamie is absolutely top notch, as is Criag Vye's Ste. The awkwardness of the first physical encounter between the two of them is brilliantly handled, every gay man in the audience will have felt, "I've been there!" Susan Mason's Sandra also deserves praise. She managed to give her character real depth even though she shouted through the entire script you could not help but like her. The audience could easily accept that she would eventually support her gay soon and his lover. The only question left on the lips of this reviewer is "Why was the run so short?" ***** Gay Samurai Review - The Garage Now this, as Peter Snow would say, is just a bit of fun. These boys cavort around the stage in almost total nudity for about an hour and appear to be having the time of their lives. As is the audience, which is largely made up of giggling straight women. After the show each of the boys thanked each member of the audience individually for coming. Oh and one gave me a lovely kiss... This is not art. But I know what I like. **** ----------------------------------------------------------------------- EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL BOOK FESTIVAL by Richard Wilson Like some good reading? (Daily Record readers can stop here). Wing your way down to Charlotte Square Gardens at any time till Bank Hoiday Monday (Aug 27th) and you'll find the place heaving with fave authors as well as people you've never heard of and lots of attractive punters. Admission to the venue is free and the events themselves are great value. Motherwell's finest, Liz Lochhead was in great form with her acute observations on folk. 500 people listening to her poetry and natter. You had to be there. Clever wordplay and amoving eye for detail like sorting through "A decency of good coats" after her mother's death then bundling them off in bin liners for Oxfam! A packed audience in the Consignia Theatre (it's what we used to call the Post Office) was thrilled by their hero, Ian Rankine, whose new novel The Ressurection Men could be his biggest yet when it comes out next spring (bringing a new meaning to advance publicity). There are even now Ian Rankin Crimetours because, of course, Edinburgh needs more tourists. Another Scottish crime novelist scaling the dizzy heights, Christopher Brookmyre, managed to star at two events being far more interesting than the supposed headliner on political satire, Roy Hattersley. Whilst Hattersley grunged on about Blair's failings in office which sounded suspiciously like his own, Brookmyre caught the mood of the audience well in a good double act with Steve Bell who generously described Maragret Thatcher as a psychopath. At his solo event, Brookmyre had the audience falling about with his latest work on a psychopath who enjoys getting rid of people who irritate him, people at school re-unions, on training courses and so on - you must have had the feeling! His scorn and irony directed at the bourgeousie at the Scottish Parliament went down well. Steve Bell did another another event with Brian Homer on political satire at which they launched Chairman Blair's Little Red Book (it's blue, by the way), Blair getting kid glove treatment: "He's only a sort of psychopath". Anyone worried that Bell might be going soft at 50 would have been put at their ease by his treatment of the man rumoured to be Blair's favourite with a sacry drawing of Thatcher leading Blair leading Blunkett: The Blonde leading the Bland leading the Blind! Still to come: Feisty (to her friends) author Jeanette Winterson currently living near Offa's Dyke. Nuclear Debate chaired by Ruth Wishart. Other star names include Sandi Toksvig, Clive James, Willy Russell, Edwina Currie (some mistake surely), Hanif Kureishi, Steven Berkhoff and the great John Cole. There's an interesting substitution: Anthony Sher is replaced by Gore Vidal. Give yourself a treat, get down to Charlotte Square Gardens where, incidentally, there's a curious sign by the ghastly Hanoverian staue "Keep On The Grass". I'll see you there! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- FREEBIES - VIDEO OFFER ====================== Thanks to those nice people at Millivres, we have six video copies to give away of a film by Constantinos Giannaris called From The Edge Of The City. It's a rather strange and somewhat disturbing tale of young Pontian immigrants from the former USSR who have returned to their original motherland, Greece. Rentboys, drug users, violent hedonism and an underlying futility - all shot in a semi documentary style with gritty realism. If you'd like a copy, send your name and address to: From The Edge Of The City Offer, ScotsGay, PO Box 666, Edinburgh. EH7 5YW. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SCOTSGAY VOICE FOR PERSONALS ============================ (We regret that this service is only available within the UK) 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. Close Contact 40-ish Inverness-based guy looking for close-contact friends from their late twenties upwards who are serious and genuine. Interests include Sports, Fitness, Theatre, Arts, Wine. Phone 09068 556613 - Number 4380. Dundee Gay guy from Dundee, 5' 8" tall, slim and passive, seeking active guy for friendship and a possible relationship. Phone 09068 556613 - Number 4382. Edinburgh Bear Hi, I'm Richard, a 49 year old bear-type guy from Edinburgh. 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He's new to the scene so discretion is expected and assured. Phone 09068 556613 - Number 3062. Father / Teacher Required 32 year old, 5'11" offshore worker, lives Central Edinburgh. Seeking 50+ medium to well-built guy to play the strict father/schoolteacher role. Phone 09068 556613 - Number 2896. Glasgow Sub Glasgow Sub seeking Dominant for a spanking good time. Phone 09068 556613 - Number 2858. All Present For Correction Edinburgh. "All present for correction". You: 50+ well-built with a very strict outlook. Me: 33 years old, bad boy in need of spanking and caning. Phone 09068 556613 - Number 2337. Falkirk Bi Seeks Similar 45 year old married bisexual professional male from Falkirk area. Seeking another, in a similar situation, for friendship and problem-sharing. Phone 09068 556613 - Number 1862. 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. Bad Boy Needs Discipline 32 year old Edinburgh bad boy wants 50+ gentlemen who are strict disciplinarians with interest in CP. Phone 09068 556613 - Number 1602. Fraserburgh Versatile and fair-haired. Classical music, books and video-lover looking for similar. Phone 09068 556613 - Number 9628. -------------------------------------------------------------- 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 24 Year Old First Time Lesbian Hi! I'm 24, blonde hair (natural), green eyes, 5'4", first time lesbian - yes tha'ts right, a virgin lesbian although not completely a virgin. I am dying to have fun with another woman. I don't consider myself beautiful. Like girly girls and want to go to nookie heaven and can work wonders with a tongue. I love music and concerts and music festivals, been to Glastonbury 2000, V99 and am planning to got to the Gig on the Green this year as Reading's too expensive which is a bummmer as I love the Manics. Love all things weird and wonderful, reading and telly especially the X-files! COULD YOU BE MY FIRST?? GO ON!! MAIL ME ;o) You're horny little angel!! Box SG41010. As Girls Go Italian girl aged 26, living in the Glasgow area. Not exactly sure which side of the line I happen to be. I'm looking for friendship and understanding first of all, for people who want to listen and be listened to. I'm a quiet person, rather shy, but not a dead bore! Love music, going to pubs, travelling, hillwalking, having a laugh with friends. Box SG41011. Is It You? It Could Be Me It's Me, Honey, you know the lurve bug's caught me red handed, wandering around the place, if you think you've got what it takes, why not let me know your face?? How can I forget that I am a gorgeous red blooded 24 year old Asian girl? Every time I try to I'm in a passionate swirl. Is it you? Box SG41016. Dyslexic Lesbians Are there any dyslexic lesbians? I'm dyslexic. Maybe we could meet up. I_m 24 years old, of Indian origin, a final year student at University of Stirling, like travelling, drinking, cinemas, theatres, music, keeping fit, sex. I_ve been told I_m pretty, I_m femme, 5ft tall with shoulder length black hair. According to the dyslexic meter I_m a highly creative thinker, daydream a lot and so forth. I_m intelligent and certainly know how to show a girl a good time. Cum on, giv me a buzz. Box SG41018. Discreet Bi Relationship Hi there! I'm Laura from Dundee and I'm looking for a bi discreet relationship with a woman in my area. I'm caring, loving and love wild nights out and cosy nights in. So, if you like the sound of that, get in touch. Box SG41020. Fit For Anything! Fun loving, genuine 39 year old lesbian with a passion for all things sporty (except golf!), and vegetarian cooking, seeks friends for weekend adventures, nights out/in. Possibly a relationship. Box SG41029. Strathclyde Lesbian Mid 40's, looking for friends, maybe more. GSOH, NSM, fun loving, like nights out, cooking, cosy nights in. Loves animals. Box SG41030. Faithfully Yours Shy, sensitive 31, 5', boyish female, smoker, enjoys music, reading, films, cosy nights in, 'chilin out', WLTM similar female to share love/life and long chats. ALA. Box SG41031. Men Men Spanking Men A fully illustrated magazine containing CP stories of Men Spanking Men. Canes, Tawses, Hands, Straps and much more. For full details and an order form, ring Jason Junior on 0800 980 5469. E-mail: jason@jason-junior.co. uk WWW: http://www.jason-junior.co.uk [42a] Edinburgh Friendly 40something Indian guy, hairy, versatile, seeks top (35-45) for casual fun and friendship. Cannot accommodate and can only travel in Edinburgh area. Total discretion expected and assured in return. Box SG41001. Your Bear Hunt Could Be Over Traditional Scottish Bear, 43, 5'6", 15st, very hairy with beard and long red (balding) hair. I'm looking for no strings fun and friendship with a smooth chested and faced young guy (16+). Can accommodate (Edinburgh) or will travel. Mainly active but can be versatile with the right guy. I'm into guys who aren't too skinny - 'plain' or even 'ugly duckling' rather than 'pretty boys full of themselves'. But no piercings, please. Non smoker preferred. See my pix at http://i.am/weebear/ and, if you like what you see, drop me a line (ALAWP) to: Box SG41002. Fife Guy Looking For Fun Hi, I am a 27 year old male in the Dunfermline area of Fife looking to meet a younger male under 28 for friendship and maybe more. Quite laid back, sensitive, caring and romantic. I have short brown hair, nice blue eyes (apparently), 5'10" approx, well built although slightly overweight. Looks are not that important: personality is. Box SG41005. Ex-army Officer Looking For Love Fit, professional, 32 year old ex-army officer. Enjoys cooking, travel and sex, in no particular order. Desires 30-39 year old, SA white guys, Glasgow area. Box SG41006. Young Slave Needs Spanked! I am 22 and need an older man 35+ to use and abuse me. Am into spanking, "A" and "O" levels and having my face and arse covered. Have never done but would also like to be gang banged. Can dress as schoolgirl have short skirt, tights, rubber arseless pants. Box SG41008. Looking For Friends - Maybe More Single 28 year old man looking for men under 35 for fun and friendship in the Edinburgh, East Lothian areas. I like staying in, going out, enjoying life. Box SG41009. Looking For True Love Mark is looking to find Mr Right for the long term. Not interested in one night. I am 34, non scene. Own house/car. 5'10'' around 15 stones, clean shaven, non smoker. Enjoy cinema, badminton, squash, theatre, eating, travelling. Looking for someone similar, must be genuine and sincere. ALA. Box SG41012. Central Scotland Still roadworthy 1940-vintage banger, original engine but paintwork slightly tatty, alone in double garage, seeks senior mechanic (41+) with full toolkit for regular servicing. "O" levels and full commitment to 1-to-1 relationship essential. Box SG41013. 48 Year Old Heavy Hair Bear Seeking friends. I am a country/animal lover, seeking a friend to share days out, weekends away, etc. I prefer straight acting guys 30/50 who share love of the countryside. Box SG41014. Hebridean Days And Nights Non-scene and discreet island native seeks another for some company. Late 30's and slim seeks older man to share some time and a roll in the machair, or failing that a bed. Can accommodate. Box SG41015. Threesome Fun Two guys in Fife, 25 and 40, looking for guys for hot horny no strings fun. Box SG41017. Do Not Disturb Active 38 year old Glasgow guy, L4 passive guy, <36, to pretend he's sleeping/ drunken stupor, whilst I strip, probe, stroke and explore his naked body, and use for my pleasure. Box SG41019. Genuine Glasgow Professional good looking guy in 40's seeks companions who are both slim and genuine for friendship and possibly more. I'm looking for integrity above all else. Box SG41021. Borders Area New to area, 40 year old gay man seeks others in area. I am slim, hairy, medium height, attractive, non-smoker, sincere, good listener. Varied interests. Box SG41024. Aberdeenshire Bear Cub Straight acting, discreet bear cub, 30, bearded. New to scene. Likes large cigars and leather bikers. Looking for friendship and possibly more with bear or cub aged 18-40. Must have moustache or beard and share same interests. Box SG41025. Skinhead Bootboy 20, 5'9", No 1 crop, slim, masculine. Into DMs, boots, skins, uniforms, BD, VA. Need booted guy to break me, also skin mates. Good boot licker. Show me who's in charge. Box SG41028. Glasgow - Central Professiona guy, 40's, new to spanking, WLTM other guys to experiment on give or take basis. Serious replies only. Photo if possible. Total discretion expected and assured. Box SG41032. Edinburgh - Glasgow Mature guy, 40's, offers no strings uncomplicated relationship to 16-22 year old student type guy. Total discretion offered. Box SG41033. Edinburgh - Scotland - The Sea Help! I'm from Edinburgh. Sick of the scene. Me: 30, GL, slim, dark, lots of fun. You: 18-40 in need of soulmate/excitement/loving. Naval personnel expecially welcome. Write soon. ALAWP. Box SG41034. Male Naturist Group Newly formed naturist group for discreet males. Glasgow and Central Scotland. Meet nude in each others homes for social evenings, etc. Details E-mail: nudescots@yahoo.com or Write (with sae): Box SG41035. Glasgow - Bearmaster In Need Of Tender Have been used as master slave bear. Now wants person not just for sex, sex, sex. In A/N as a worker. Would like same kind. I an 5'10", bald. Box SG41036. Fife-Edinburgh-Dundee-Central Belt 49 year old Fife guy looking for any slim guys/couples of any age for no strings fun at my place or yours. I'm meium built, SA, SL, NS, NSM. ALA - honest! Box SG41037. Skinned Zero Crop Want to meet guys into WS, rubber, DMs, lots of gob. Let's meet up for pints and pints and have some wet fun. Phone number for quick reply. Box SG41038. Well-built Weight-lifter - 30's Needs strict new master, soon, preferably expert in birch and tawse. E-mail: sweetbigbrawnyscot@hotmail.com. Photo please. Anywhere. Box SG41039. Edinburgh - Central Belt Sorted 40something WLTM younger (16-24) guy for fun and friendship. Likes quiet nights in/out, cooking, a few beers. Non scene. Photo helps but not essential. Box SG41040. North Ayrshire - Anywhere Genuine, youthful 50's, passive, smart appearance, good slim body, waist 31", cute little butt, WLTM discreet active guy for friendship and more, likes gay videos and countryside at weekends. Letters please. Box SG41041. Glasgow Bi guy, 50, WLTM new friends, bi, gay, TV, for fun and play. Love 'O' both ways, DIY and underwear. Sorry, can't accommodate. Will travel in Glasgow area. ALA. Box SG41042. St Andrews Films, books, art, cafes, laughs, walks, gym, travel, people watching, talking, sharing, enjoying. Me: 35, fit, bright, attractive. You: the same or younger. Friends or maybe more. ALA. Box SG41043. Falkirk - Glasgow 48, 5'8", brown eyes, hairy, chubby is looking for fun and friendship with guys, any age, looks do not matter, it's what is inside that counts. Box SG41044. You Know What I Like In A Man? Me! Mature active hairy guy with GSOH is looking for the company of smooth young guy. Non smoker preferred. Non scene. Box SG41045. Glasgow Guy, 34, fit, active, slim, seeks red heads or blonds for some summer fun. Lesser mortals may also reply if you see I have a genuine sense of humour. Box SG41046. Looking For Friends Slim, NS, gay male, young 50's, WLTM similar non scene guy for friendship/relationship. Interests include walking, reading and music. Dundee. Box SG41047. Edinburgh - Lothian - Borders - To Berwick NSC tall genuine 37 year old, enjoys the beach, gym, tennis, practices massage, Reiki. WLTM muscular guy aged 30-55 for friendship, maybe more. Can travel, can't accommodate. Box SG41048. Wrestler - 22 - 14st Seeks pals with same interests. Photo please. Glasgow/anywhere. Also likes computers. Box SG41049. Lanarkshire Area Good looking 38 year old, slim, with short dark hair, likes nights in and out. Looking for someone 18-35 like myself, caring and kind, for fun, possible 1-2-1. So get writing. Photo please. Box SG41050. Inverness - New City - New Venture - CU Soon Fit, hairy, fashion conscious, early 40's, WLTM local/visitor 30+ business or BND/student? Practice massage, share fitness, domestic fun, theatre, (fantasies?) wine, outdoors, veggie food, ultimately 1-2-1, can accommodate. Photo/tel helpful. Box SG41051. Cute Geordie Guy New To Glasgow 25 year old, fit, blond, intelligent, professional into keep fit, clubbing and shopping seeks good looking twentysomething with personality for friendship and fun. Box SG41052. City And Country Life Retired business man would like to meet country gentleman/farmer for occasional weekend visits in return for city accommodation. Glasgow/Edinburgh. Box SG41053. Are You Into photos, sexy underwear, videos? Looking for similar to exchange. Write or meet me. SA. Own home and car. Can travel or accommodate. Photo please (naughty). Mine by return. Box SG41054. Edinburgh Gay businessman, 45, seeks the company of younger guy (16+) for meals out, nights in. Photo helps but not essential. Box SG41055. Ayrshire - All Scotland Attractive, fit, mid 50's, slim, smart appearance, 5'7", 10st, WLTM discreet guy, 40-67, for friendship and safe fun. Likes evening meals in and watching gay videos. Likes countryside. Box SG41056. Bisexual Bi Curious? There has to be a first time for everything! If you're aged 16-21 or so, why not get in touch? Considerate experienced older guy will talk you through things at your own pace before getting down to some safe fun. Your limits respected. Total discretion assured. I have a large double bed and collection of gay videos in Edinburgh but will travel if required. Box SG41003. Bi TV Baby Girl (Or Normal Bi) Hi All! I am a male Bi TV baby girl 53 (sexually aged 20ish) for clean bi fun normal or as baby girl so you can baby me All welcome gay les groups 1on 1, 3 somes, couples etc. Willing to accommodate. Located in Stranraer area. E-mail: babypants6@hotmail.com or Write: Box SG41007. Sub Gay Male - 57 Looking for a dom bi male, CD, TV, to take me for first time. Box SG41022. Bi-curious 31 year old gay man looking to broaded his experience of life. Seeks mixed bi couple or understanding female for safe relaxing fun/activities. Discretion assured. Box SG41023. Straight Sexy?? Silver Bear! Clean, well read 45 year old, fair figure for age and capable of holding a coherent conversation, WTLM similar, preferably younger, female type for chatting, country walks, cooking at home and some unattached discreet fun. Edinburgh - Perth. Box SG41004. Friends Abroad Espa§a Busco amigo de 20 a 30 a§os, muy varonil, atractivo, majo, discreto, formal y fiel con fines de amistad con sexo, posible pareja estable, si surge. No afeminado, no velludo y no del ambiente. Muy varonil. Yo, 40 a§os, atractivo, buen cuerpo y lo otro tambien, viviendo y trabajando en Madrid. Soy activo y/o pasivo, gustando tambien sexo oral. Escribir espa§ol o en polaco. Te espero preciosidad. CRIS. E-mail: torres40es@yahoo.es Heading To Gay Games In Sydney Going to run the marathon in the Gay Games Nov 2002. Hoping to be in touch with fellow Scots. I would like to join the Scottish team as I remember it being a small number. I live in Vancouver, Canada and the team from our city alone is a few hundred! Hope to hear from you soon. Cheers, Euan. Write: Euan Mackie, 2650 Palmerston Ave., West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. E-mail: dreuan@home.com Russia Hi! I'm a 26 year old, 6ft, 12 st, cute English teacher. Brown hair, hazel eyes, pale skin, looking for men who can help me settle in Scotland/UK/Worldwide. Write: Andrei, Ul Chapayeva, 68-11, UVA, Udmurtia, 427261, Russia. E-mail: andrey_ud@rambler.ru Spain Mature, attractive gay guy, living in Spain's beautiful Costa del Sol. Journalist with own small tourist related business. Alone 5 years - misses genuine caring, sharing, genuine togetherness. Photo and intimate letter guarantees same in return. James. Box SG41027. Accommodation Available Glasgow Furnished room to let in large comfortable South Side house. Rent in the region of GBP300-GBP350 pcm. Box SG41058. Jobs Offered Cash For Your Body Photogenic guys can earn GBP75 cash - or GBP100 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 Phone: 020-7373 1107. E-mail: mike.arlen@talk21.com [99] Models Required Fun and financially rewarding introduction to photo modelling for cute young guys 18 to 24. Call Billy on 0870 3215110 (withheld numbers ignored). Leave message or E-mail: tinmanproductions@btinternet.com [41] Models Wanted Previously published photographer needs good looking guys (18-25) who want to earn GBP20 per hour for publication work. For details please phone Stuart on 0141-636 6556 (No withheld numbers please) or E-mail: xpozure4u@shaws2000.fsnet.co.uk [99] Services CAFFMOS Contacts and friendships for men over sixty. The organisation for the more mature gentleman and his admirers. Write to: CAFFMOS, PO Box 2273, Hove. BN3 2 . Or phone Hove (01273) 220995 for information. [99] Clearing Own Video Collection Selling my own gay video collection at only GBP5 per video. All great tapes. My own choice. Send GBP5 note to Box SG41026. Contact Mag Contact Mag for adults: over 900 photos. Approval copy from: Matchmaker (K38), Chorley, PR7 4BS. Or ring 01257 483335 (24 hours). [99] Corporal Contacts The CP Magazine offering strict male/male fun. Now in 19th year of publishing. Many Scottish subscribers. Stories, letters, interviews, photos, ads. "BEND OVER BOY!" Your SAE brings our illustrated Brochure: BCM/CORPCO (SG), London. WC1N 3XX. [43a] CP Contact Paper CP contact paper for spanking, skins, discipline, etc. SAE to TD Monthly, PO Box 352, Manchester. M60 2PG. [99] CP Equipment Canes, Birches, Straps, Strops, Tawses, Paddles - all Hand Made. From as little as GBP3. For a catalogue and order form, ring Jason Junior on Freephone 0800 9805469. E-mail: jason@jason-junior.co.uk WWW: http://www.jason-junior.co.uk [42a] Free TV/TS News A Tranny not for profit newsletter. Views, news, venues and free personal adverts. A5 sae: BM Box 2534, London. WC1N 3XX. [99] Golden Wheel Seeking discreet gay or bisexual new friends, male or female? Long standing service, all areas and worldwide. Send stamp for details to: (Sadie), The Golden Wheel, Liverpool. L15 3HT. [99] Limited Co mpanies Only GBP90 for your own Limited Company. PLCs GBP100. Charitable and Unlimited Companies also available. Freephone 0800 526421 for our free 'Guide To Limited Companies'. E-mail: cosun@drink.demon.co.uk WWW: http://www.quick-companies.co.uk/ [99] Proofreading And Tuition In English (including TEFL) French, Latin, Greek and Gaelic, typing services, historical and genealogical research. Write: Charles S Coventry, 23/9 Viewcraig Street, Edinburgh. EH8 9UJ. Phone: 0131-558 8785. E-mail: charlie_ cov@yahoo.com WWW: http://www. geocities.com/charlie-cov/ [46] Translation Services Qualified translator based in Edinburgh offers translation services between the following languages: English, Ukrainian, Russian, Turkish and French. E-mail: trots@drink.demon.co.uk or Write: Box SG41059. [99] Worldwide Penfriends Regular lists. Make friends, exchange holidays, improve your languages. For general and music lovers' lists send GBP3: "The Penpal List", c/o 221B Merton Rd, Southfields, London. SW18 5EE. [99] Back Rubs Edinburgh Big, chubby, passive, gay guy, 45, gives great relaxing, sensual, erotic massage. Phone: 0131-653 0436 (or 07890 024865 anytime and ask for Kenny. [99] Edinburgh Comfortable relaxing sensual massage given by open minded male. Friendly service. Call Gordon on 07759 476767 and enjoy. [41] Edinburgh Purely platonic massage. GBP15 per hour. Men or women. 0131-538 5028. [41] Glasgow Attractive male, 26, offers friendly relaxing massage to gents. Most tastes catered for. Call John 07957 236687. Glasgow City Centre. Tony, 27, toned, tanned, blue eyes, 5'10", good massage. Out calls only. Call 07765 194696. [41] Glasgow City Centre 25, toned, fit smooth, VGL, hung, versatile lad, 5'11", offers discreet all round service. In/out calls 24/7. Call Paul 07811 566423. WWW: http://www.glasgowgayescort.co.uk/ [41] Massage For Men - Edinburgh Great relaxing, holistic, sensual, tantric, full body pampering relief in nurturing masculine environment. Shower, warm towels, refreshments. GBP15 per session. Exceptionally good value. Jim. Qualified, experienced, caring. 0131-556 7199. [42] Where to Stay All New, All Gay Guesthouses - Edinburgh Two great locations. Exclusively gay. Easy walk to nightlife. Stylish rooms, all with TV and video (tapes available). Shared and private bathrooms. Breakfast available till noon. Non-smoking houses. Easy parking. Room rates: GBP29-GBP49 per night. Call 0131-558 1382 or Fax 0131-556 8279. WWW: http:// www.gayscotland.com/alvahouse/ [45a] Camp and Cruise Wonderful holiday opportunity on Lossiemouth sea front. Residential four berth fully-equipped mobile home near cruisy beach. WC and all facilities. GBP150 a week all in. Available April-October. Phone: Elgin (01343) 542928. [99] Edinburgh The Alexander Guest House is a gay friendly guest house (owned and run) with a mixed clientele. Every detail has been thought of in our recently refurbished bedrooms to make your stay a more memorable one. They are equipped with refreshment trays, ironing facilities, hairdryers etc. We serve a full Scottish and continental breakfast menu. We are located 1 mile from the city on the south side with private parking. You can check out our web site at http://www.thealexanderguesthouse.co.uk/ Please call Glenn or Alex on 0131-258 4028 or E-mail: alexander@guest68 .freeserve.co.uk A warm welcome awaits you. Mention ScotsGay and get 10% discount. [45a] Sutherland An A9 to Wick, B&B. Roadside, 60 miles from Inverness. Double or single. GBP13 per person. Tea and sandwiches included. Phone: Helmsdale (01431) 821570. [45a] The Maltings - Bed & Breakfast Small guest flat double room. Friendly Service. Homely atmosphere. Midway between Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen. Phone: Peter on 01674 674148 or mobile 07909 567683. [41] West Highlands 17 miles from Fort William. Small friendly guesthouse set in beautiful gardens and overlooking loch and mountains. It is very peaceful and every effort is made to ensure that guests can relax and enjoy their stay. Meals are prepared with great care and the best of ingredients are used. Dinner, bed and breakfast GBP30. Bed and breakfast GBP17. Please phone 01397 772625. [41] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ HELPLINES ========= BISEXUAL HELPLINE Tue, Wed 7.30-9.30pm, Sat 10.30am-12.30pm. Phone: 020-8569 7500 BORDERS GAY SWITCHBOARD Thu 7.30-10pm, Phone: Galashiels (01896) 756611 CROSSLYNX NATIONAL TV/TS HELPLINE Mon 7.30-9.30pm, Phone: 0141-332 3333 WWW: http://SGLS.tripod.com/transgen.htm DIVERSITAY LGBT SWITCHBOARD Mon 7-10pm, Phone: Dundee (01382) 202620 E-mail: diversitay@hotmail.com WWW: http://www.dundeelgb.freeserve.co.uk/ DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY L&G PHONELINE Thu 7.30-9.30pm, Phone: Dumfries (01387) 261818 FIFE FRIEND Fri 7.30-10pm, Phone: Kirkcaldy (01592) 266688 E-mail: info@fifefriend.co.uk WWW: http://www.fifefriend.co.uk/ GRAMPIAN LESBIAN, GAY AND BISEXUAL SWITCHBOARD Wed, Fri 7.30-9.30pm. Phone: Aberdeen (01224) 212600 (Minicom available), E-mail: glgbs@glbgs.org.uk WWW: http://www.glgbs.org.uk/ LOTHIAN GAY AND LESBIAN SWITCHBOARD Nightly 7.30-10pm, Phone: 0131-556 4049 E-mail: mail@lgls.org WWW: http://www.lgls.org/ LOTHIAN LESBIAN LINE Mon, Thu 7.30-10pm, Phone: 0131-557 0751 MORAY LGB SWITCHBOARD: Men: Fri 7-10pm; Women: Thu 7-10pm, Phone: Elgin (01343) 541188 NIGHT OWL CRISIS LINE: Nightly Midnight-5am, Phone: 0141-332 2992 STRATHCLYDE GAY AND LESBIAN SWITCHBOARD Nightly 7-10pm, Phone: 0141-332 8372 E-mail: info@sgls.co.uk WWW: http://www.sgls.co.uk/ SWITCHBOARD LESBIAN LINE Wed 7.30-10pm, Phone: 0141-354 0400 WWW: http://www.sgls.co.uk/services1.htm LONDON LESBIAN AND GAY SWITCHBOARD 24 hours, Phone/Minicom: 020-7837 7324. FAX: 020-7837 7300. WWW: http://www.llgs.org.uk/ ------------------------------------------------------------------ LISTINGS ======== ScotsGay Listings are FREE! We TRY to provide Scotland's most up-to-date and accurate listings. If your group isn't listed- or if your entry needs updating -please write to ScotsGay with full details. We're not clairvoyant: If we don't know about it, it just won't go in! We'd also like to know about your forthcoming events and meetings. Although many of the listings are for specific towns, they often cover a much wider area. If in doubt, you can always phone one of the Switchboards for more information. Write to:- ScotsGay Listings, PO Box 666, Edinburgh EH7 5YW, Fax them to: 0131-539 2999 or E-mail them to listings@scotsgay.co.uk. Our most up to date listings can always be found on our web site at http://www.scotsgay.co.uk/current/list.html NATIONAL ORGANISATIONS OUTRIGHT SCOTLAND: Scotland's oldest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender 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. Currently focusing on work arround the Scottish Parliament, Scottish Executive and the Scottish Public Institutions such as the NHS, Police and Justice System. Phone: 0131-558 9216. Write: The Secretary, OUTRIGHT SCOTLAND, PO Box 23253, Edinburgh. EH1 3XD. E-mail: convenor@outright-scotland.org WWW: http://www.outright-scotland.org/ Why not support OUTRIGHT SCOTLAND's work? Membership is GBP15 waged, GBP9 low-waged (under GBP10,000 pa) and GBP5 unwaged. Life membership is GBP150. Affiliation from Trades Union and Political Party Branches also welcome: GBP100 (Local Branches), GBP150 (National Organisations). Please make out your cheque/Postal Order to OUTRIGHT SCOTLAND and send to The Secretary, OUTRIGHT SCOTLAND, PO Box 23253, Edinburgh. EH1 3XD. EQUALITY NETWORK: Working for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality in Scotland. Write: c/o 58a Broughton Street, Edinburgh. EH1 1SA. Phone: 07020 933 952. Fax: 07020 933 954. E-mail: en@equality-network.org WWW: http://www.equality-network.org/ We hold weekly meetings, regular 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. Phone/Fax: 0141-552 8345. Open Tue-Fri 1-6pm and Sat 2-5pm. E-mail: gwl@womens-library.org.uk WWW: http://www.womens-library.org.uk/laic.htm PRIDE SCOTLAND: Pride Scotland organises the annual lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Pride march and festival in Scotland. Phone: 0131-556 8822. Write: c/o 58a Broughton Street, Edinburgh. EH1 3SA. E-mail: info@pridescotland.org WWW: http://www.pridescotland.org/ All kinds of help are urgently required to make sure that the 2002 Pride Scotland happens (probably in Glasgow). STONEWALL SCOTLAND: Scottish office of the London based campaigning group. Write: 11 Dixon Street, Glasgow, G1 4AL. Phone: 0141-204 0746. Fax: 0141-204 5110. E-mail: scotland@stonewall.org.uk WWW: http://www.stonewall.org.uk/ LOCAL ORGANISATIONS ABERDEEN: Icebreakers is a social group which meets on last Mon of each month (except December). Contact Grampian Switchboard for details. 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). E-mail: northeastscotlandgaygroup@breathemail.net AYRSHIRE: Ayrshire Social & Sexuality Support Group. Meets 3rd Wed of each month at 7pm in Irvine. Details of venue from David Bingham on 0141-332 3838 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm), Irvine (01294) 323473 or Strathclyde Switchboard. E-mail: davidb@phacewest.org BORDERS: Borders Gay Switchboard provides confidential information and support. Phone: Galashiels (01896) 756611 (Thu 7.30-10pm). Write: Borders Gay Switchboard, PO Box 13237, Galashiels. TD1 1WG. E-mail: BORDERS@switchboard.fsbusiness.co.uk CAITHNESS GAY AND LESBIAN CONNECTION: A friendly informal group which meets regularly. Phone: 0780 8814007 (Fri 7-9pm). Write: Box 689, Journal Office, 42 Union Street, Wick. KW1 5ED. E-mail: caithnessglc@aol.com WWW: http:// members.tripod.co.uk/caithnessglc/ index.htm DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY: Regular social meetings - usually every second Wed. Phone: Dumfries (01387) 261818 (Thu 7.30-9.30pm). Write: Dumfries and Galloway Lesbian and Gay Group, PO Box 1299, Dumfries. DG1 2PD. DUNDEE: Disco:very is the newsletter from Diversitay which will be launched in September. Available from: Diversitay (LGBT Group), PO Box 53, Dundee, DD1 3YG. EDINBURGH: Icebreakers is an alternative to the scene and takes place 8-9.15pm on the 2nd Wed of each 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 2nd and 4th Sun of each month from 8pm in the Lounge Bar of the Royal Hotel (near the railway station). All welcome. Contact for full details of this and other social events in the area. Write: PoMFSG, PO Box 5866, Forres. IV36 1WG. Phone: Moray LGB Switchboard. FIFE FRIEND: Small voluntary phoneline offering support, advice and information to lesbians, gay men and bisexuals within Fife. Also runs monthly disco, and pub nights with karaoke. Phone: Kirkcaldy (01592) 266688 (Fri 7.30-10pm). Write: PO Box 19, Kirkcaldy. KY1 3JF. E-mail: info@fifefriend.co.uk WWW: http://www.fifefriend.co.uk/ GLASGOW: The Centre Board manages Glasgow LGBT Centre Limited, which is registered as a Scottish charity and as a Scottish company. Centre Administrator is on duty (10am-1pm Mon-Fri). Membership criteria for Glasgow LGBT Centre Limited is available to all interested people agreeing to the code of conduct. See press for notice of the Annual General meeting of Members - childcare and BSL interpreter can be organised, but please give advance notice. Membership is closed in the last month. Write: Glasgow LGBT Centre, 11 Dixon Street, Glasgow, G1 4AL. Phone/Fax: 0141-221 7203. E-mail: lgbt.glasgow@gglc.org.uk WWW: http://www.gglc.org.uk/ Icebreakers Group for lesbians, gays and bisexuals new to the scene. 8-9.30pm on 3rd Tue in each month at Sadie Frost's, 8-10 West George Street. 12.30-3pm on 1st Sun of each month at GGLC, 11 Dixon Street. Details from Strathclyde Switchboard. Out on Sunday is a social group for lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender people. 7.30-9.30pm on last Sun of month in the GGLC. Self determined programme, which is organised by the group. A warm welcome for new members. Phone: Stuart on 0141-221 7203 or E-mail: lgbtart@gglc.org.uk INVERNESS: Highland Gay Men's Group meets on the 4th Wed of each month at 34 Waterloo Place. Phone: Inverness (01463) 711585 (Mon-Wed, Fri 9.30am-4.30pm, Thu 9.30am-7pm). E-mail: project@reachout.demon.co.uk LANARKSHIRE: Lanarkshire Gay Men's Group is a group which meets every Wed from 8pm at Beckford Business Centre, Beckford Street, Hamilton. Social, educational events, health issues and support in a friendly and non judgmental environment. Write: LGMG, 10 Bartie Gardens, Ashgill, Larkhall. ML9 3FB. Phone: 07967 140629 (7-10pm). E-mail: lanarkshiregaymensgroup@yahoo.com WWW: http://www.geocities.com/lanarkshiregaymensgroup/ STIRLING: Stirling Gay Men's Group meets monthly (generally 3rd Fri) in private houses. Also monthly informal pub meets. Write: PO Box 28, Stirling. FK9 5YW. WEST LOTHIAN: Gay Men's Health West Lothian Project is a gay men's group which meets every Tue evening in Livingston. Phone: Bathgate (01506) 631010 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm). E-mail: colin@gmh.org.uk WOMEN'S LISTINGS SCOTTISH NETWORK FOR LESBIAN STRENGTH: To further lesbian issues, follow a lesbian agenda and foster lesbian visibility. Further information from Highland Lesbian Group at PO Box 91, Inverness. IV2 7GJ. E-mail: High_Les@bi oot.com ABERDEEN: Granite Sisters. An Aberdeen based social group for lesbians and bi-sexual women over the age of 30. Various meeting venues. Phone: Aberdeen (01224) 713336 or 212600. E-mail: GraniteSisters@hotmail.com WWW: http://GraniteSisters.tripod.com/ DUNDEE: We Bissums - a regular newletter for women in and around Dundee. Write: We Bissums, PO Box 6819, Dundee. DD1 2YG. E-mail: we_bissums@hotmail.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 Edinburgh Gay Women's Group: Weekly social group to chat, laugh, do crazy things or more relaxed ones. Hiking, cycling, painting, poetry, Shiatsu or Swedish massage, pottery, Ceroc dance, fancy dress parties, travel photos/stories whatever!! As well as go to the movies, pub, theatre, have themed discussions. Meets every Wed 8pm onwards at Nexus, 60 Broughton St. LIBRA: Help for women concerned about their drinking. Free 1-2-1 counselling. 0131-661 0111. Menstril Cycles: Lesbian women's cycling group - monthly cycles in Central Scotland and Borders. Approx 40-60 miles, average pace, coffee shop en route. For dates and routes call Morna on 0131-454 9766. GLASGOW: Badminton Club - looking for women who used to play to quite a high level (class b and +) or are still playing. E-mail: Dunja.Burke@ntlworld.com Glasgow Women's Library, 4th/5th Floors, 109 Trongate, G1 5HD. Phone: 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: gwl@womens-library. org.uk WWW: http://www.womens-library.org.uk/ L.I.C. - Lesbian Inclusion Co-ordination: Social group co-ordinating a range of activities and involvement for lesbians at the Glasgow Gay and Lesbian Centre. Meets at 7pm on last Tue of every month at 11 Dixon Street, Glasgow. Details 0141-221 7203, WWW: http://www.gglc.org.uk/ or E-mail: AliJarvis@unify.freeserve.co.uk OLGA - Older Women's Group: Meets monthly. Phone: Jenny on 0141-810 1468 or Alex on Dalmellington (01294) 558171. Out And About: A social group for gay women living in Glasgow who enjoy movies, food, drinking, talking, laughing and making new friends. Couples/singles welcome. Phone Hazel on 07990 582921. Sandyford Initiative, 2-6 Sandyford Place, Glasgow. G3 7NP. Incorporates Centre for Women's Health (E-mail: rosie.ilett@glacomen.scot.nhs.uk), Family Planning (E-mail: Alison. Bigrigg@glacomen.scot.nhs.uk) and Genitourinary Medicine : (E-mail: glasgowgum@glacomen.scot.nhs.uk). Disabled access. Drop in: Mon-Thu 10am-8pm, Fri 10am-3.30pm. Sandyford Public Library: Mon-Fri 10am-4pm (closed for lunch 12.30-1.30pm), Sat 1-3.30pm. Women Only Library (a Reference Library within the Centre for Women's Health): Mon-Thu 10am-8pm, Fri 10am-3.30pm. Crąche: Mon-Fri 10am-4.15pm. Phone: 0141-211 6700. Fax: 0141-211 6702. Minicom: 0141-211 6701. E-mail: info@sandyford.org WWW: http://www.sandyford.org/ Self Defence and Personal Safety: Personal safety and self defence courses for women are offered by Wise Women, 120 Sydney Street, Glasgow. G31 1JF. Phone: 0141-550 7557. INVERNESS: Highland Lesbian Group is a friendly lesbian social group that gets together on the first Sat of each month at the Royal Highland Hotel (formerly the Station Hotel) in Inverness from Noon onwards. Also offers support and information. Write: PO Box 91, Inverness. IV2 7GJ. E-mail: High_Les@bi oot.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, Lothian Lesbian Line, Grampian Switchboard or Strathclyde Switchboard. YOUNG LESBIANS: See our Youth Groups listings. BISEXUALS BI GLASGOW: Glasgow's own bisexual group, for information, support and socializing. Meets first Wed of month, from 7.30-9.30pm in the Ian Dunn Room at Glasgow LGBT Centre. Also organises training and activist activities in support of bisexual visibility and pride. Write: Bi Glasgow, c/o Glasgow LGBT Centre, 11 Dixon Street, Glasgow, G1 4AL. Phone: Sarah on 07980 855801. E-mail: glasgow@bi. org WWW: http://biglasgow.bi.org ATHEISTS/HUMANISTS EDINBURGH FREETHINKERS: An informal network of militant atheists (with one militant humanist agnostic atheist). Write: PO Box 666, Edinburgh. EH7 5YW. E-mail god@antipope.org WWW: http://www.antipope.org/freethinkers/ GAY AND LESBIAN HUMANIST ASSOCIATION: GALHA is a national membership group promoting the gay-friendly Humanist outlook and gay and lesbian rights as human rights. Details from: The Secretary, 34 Spring Lane, Kenilworth, Warwickshire. CV8 2HB. Phone/Fax: Kenilworth (01926) 858450. E-mail: secretary@galha.org WWW: http://www.galha.org/ PINK TRIANGLE TRUST: PTT is a gay charity which can arrange non-religious ceremonies of love and commitment for lesbian and gay couples at very reasonable rates in most parts of Scotland. Details from: National Co-ordinator, 16 Grange Lane, Lichfield, Staffs. WS13 7ED. Phone: Lichfield (01543) 268647. E-mail: ceremonies@pinktriangle.org.uk WWW: http://www. pinktriangle.org.uk BDSM MSC SCOTLAND: A club for men interested in Leather, Rubber, Uniform. Meets at the Claremont Bar, Edinburgh, on the last Saturday of each month from 9pm. Write: MSC Scotland, PO Box 28, Edinburgh. EH3 5JL. OI SCOTLAND!: An Edinburgh based group for gay Skins living in, or from, Scotland. Dedicated to the promotion of Boot-worship, discipline, loyalty and camaraderie. Non-racist; Non-sectarian; Non-political. Write an appropriate letter for further details: PO Box 13487, Edinburgh. EH5 1QN. See also WWW: http://communities.msn.co.uk/ ScotsSkins/ SM GAYS: Write: SM Gays, BM SM Gays, London. WC1N 3XX. E-mail: info@smgays.org WWW: http://www.smgays.org/ BEARS BEARSCOTS: For hairy, moustached and bearded men and their admirers. Edinburgh: Meets 1st Sat of each month from 2pm in the Townhouse Health Club and then from 8pm in the Claremont Bar. Write: BearScots, PO Box 12785, Edinburgh, EH7 5YD. Phone: Dundee (01382) 640059. E-mail: bearscots@bearlovers. demon.co.uk Glasgow: Meets 4th Sat of each month (in conjunction with BCUK) from 9pm in the Revolver Bar. Phone 0141-883 9055. E-mail: glasgowbears @drink.demon.co.uk WWW: http://www.bearscots.org.uk/ BEREAVEMENT LESBIAN & GAY BEREAVEMENT PROJECT: Provides support and information to bereaved lesbians and gay men or anyone bereaved by the death of a lesbian or gay man. Phone: 020-8455 8894 (Mon-Fri 7pm-Midnight). Write to: Lesbian & Gay Bereavement Project, Vaughan M Williams Centre, Colindale Hospital, London. NW9 5HG. E-mail: lgpb@aol.com BIKERS GAY BIKERS MOTORCYCLE CLUB: A UK-wide club for women and men. Active Scottish section. Details: GBMCC, PO Box 33, Long Eaton, Nottingham. NG10 2BF. E-mail: info@gaybikers.co.uk WWW: http://www.gaybikers.co.uk/ CHRISTIANS A COMMON BOND: An international support group for all gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender people whose lives have been affected by the teachings of the Watchtower Organisation, commonly known as Jehovah's Witnesses. Open to all - whether active/inactive, disfellowshipped or disassociated Witnesses, or friends and family of such. E-mail: ACBUK@excite.com WWW: http://hello.to/ACBUK EVANGELICAL: Lesbian, gay or bisexual? From an Evangelical tradition? So are we. Phone: Ewan on Polmont (01324) 715542. Write: Evangelical Fellowship, 123 Byron Road, Chelmsford, Essex. CM2 6HJ. HOLY TRINITY METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCH: An inclusive church of the lesbigay and trangendered community open to all irrespective of sexuality. Services: Every Sun at 6pm in the Quaker Meeting House, Victoria Terrace, Edinburgh. Relationship blessings conducted by arrangement. Phone: 0131-347 8699. Write: Holy Trinity MCC, PO Box 12433, Edinburgh. EH1 3FU. E-mail: mail@mccedinburgh.comWWW: http://www.mccedinburgh.com/ 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: Ruth, 3 Hallsfield, Cricklade, Swindon, Wilts. SN6 6LR. QUEST: Organisation for lesbian and gay Catholics. Monthly meetings are held in different regional groups throughout Britain. Scottish meetings held in Glasgow. Phone: Quest Linkline (Freephone) 0808 808 0234 (Fri 7-10pm - answerphone all other times). Write: Quest, BM Box 2585, LONDON WC1N 3XX. (For Quest Glasgow write to: Quest Glasgow, PO Box 280, Glasgow G11 7JP.) E-mail: quest@dircon.co.uk CREATIVE ARTS DIVERSE ARTISTS @THE GLC: An opportunity for Artists from all Art Disciplines, to meet discuss their Art and develop projects and workshop opportunities. Membership is open to all diverse Artists. Art Gallery space available on a booking basis. Phone: Stuart on 0141-221 7203. E-mail: lgbtart@gglc.org.uk PERFORMANCE GROUP AT THE GLASGOW LGBT CENTRE: Why not come out and try your Theatre and Performance skills at a new group meeting in the GLC. If you are interested in Theatre Skills, workshops, whether as a musician, actor, singer, dancer, or in stagecraft, writing, or whatever. For details Phone: 0141-221 7203. E-mail: lgbtart@gglc.org.uk POET AND WRITER EVENINGS: Every third Wed in the month from 7.30pm in GGLC Cafe/Bar, Glasgow. Both established and new writers welcome (and people wanting to be part of the audience). The programme will include an open mike session set within the scheduled evening. Phone: 0141-221 7203. E-mail: lgbtart@gglc.org.uk WWW: http://www.gglc.org.uk/anthology_2001.html CULTURAL CELEBRATE: Celebrate is a community organisation that puts on residential community events for people who identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual. Our events are a chance for people to get away from it all for a while, meet other people and explore community, creativity, diversity. Our next event is at Laurieston Hall near Dumfries 1st-8th Sep: costs from GBP100 upwards. Write: BM CELEBRATE!, London. EC1N 3XX. Phone: 08703 211921. E-mail: Celebrate!@cwcom.net WWW: http://www.celebrate.cwc.net/ 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! Write: Clann An Uabhair, GLSA, PO Box 630, Murray Hill Station, New York, NY 10016, USA. Phone: 00 1 (212) 726-1418. E-mail: clann_an_uabhair@hotmail.com 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. Must be devout fans! Write: William Wilson, 2 New Kirk Road, Bearsden, Glasgow. G61 3SL. Phone: 0141-943 1428. GLASGAY! 2001: Lesbian and Gay multi-arts festival 26th Oct-4th Nov 2001. For more information or to be added to mailing list write: Glasgay!, Room 320A, 74 Victoria Crescent Road, Glasgow. G12 9JL. Phone: 0141-334 7126. E-mail: info@glasgay.org.uk WWW: http://www.glasgay.co.uk/ 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. KILTS: A newly established group to promote, encourage, enjoy and esteem the wearing of the Kilt. Regular meetings and outings. Write: Brian Barras, 23a Milne Park Road, Bannockburn, Stirling. FK7 8NZ. Phone Stirling (01786) 480201. E-mail: brian.barras@btinternet.com CYBERSPACE DIGITAL DIVERSITY: Cyberqueerdom Central. E-mail: info@diversity.org.uk WWW: http://www.diversity.org.uk/ 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). HEALTH AND ABILITIES ALZHEIMER'S SOCIETY GAYLINE: For LGBT people with dementia or LGBT carers. Phone: Sally on 020-8675 0660, Roger on Thanet (01843) 220932, Bruce on Oxford (01865) 847471, or Arthur on Brighton (01273) 628047. General helpline - Phone: 0845 3000336 (8.30am-6.30pm Mon-Fri). E-mail: info@alzheimers.org.uk 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. GLASGOW GAY ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS: Meets every Fri 8-9.45pm in the GGLC, 11 Dixon Street, Glasgow. GAY CARERS (EDINBURGH): Do you look after a partner, friend or relative who needs physical or emotional support? They may have a physical illness or disability, a mental health or substance abuse problem, a learning disability, an acquired head injury or dementia. Caring for someone can be isolating and emotionally and physically exhausting. If you would like to get together with other LGBT carers for support and information, phone Celia on 0131-553 8452. E-mail: usercarer.workers@edinburgh.gov.uk LADDIES & LASSIES CLUB: Scottish Deaf Gay & Lesbian Club. Write: The Laddies & Lassies Club, PO Box 7005, Glasgow. G44 4XH. LESBIAN BREAST CANCER SUPPORT GROUP (EDINBURGH): A support group for lesbians living with breast cancer and their partners/friends. (Meeting together or separately). For more information, phone Celia on 0131-553 8452. E-mail: usercarer.workers@edinburgh.gov.uk PINK PSYCHE: For LGBT people suffering (or recovering) from mental health problems. Phone: Robbie on 07904 288522. 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 XXY GAYS: Part of the Klinefelter Organisation for men aged 18+ with Klinefelter Syndrome (47,XXY). Men with the syndrome usually have an extra X sex chromosome. Write: Steph Tonner, KO, PO Box 60, Orpington, Kent. BR6 8ZQ. E-mail: xxy.gays@klinefelter.org.uk WWW: http://www.klinefelter.org.uk/ HIV/AIDS BODY POSITIVE (FIFE): 13 Wemyssfield, Kirkcaldy. KY1 1XN. Providing support for those HIV+ and with AIDS in the Kingdom. Phone: Kirkcaldy (01592) 597756. Fax: Kirkcaldy (0592) 561057. E-mail: bodypositivefife@care4free.net BODY POSITIVE (GRAMPIAN): A self help group offering support and assistance for individuals with HIV/AIDS in the Grampian area. Phone: Aberdeen (01224) 404408 (Telephone Answering Machine). Write: PO Box 83, Aberdeen. AB9 1AA. BODY POSITIVE (STRATHCLYDE): 3 Park Quadrant, Glasgow. G3 6BS. Providing support for those living with HIV and AIDS in the West of Scotland. Mon, Tue, Thu 11am-8pm, Wed & Fri 11am-5pm (Administration 9am-5pm Mon-Fri). Phone: 0141-332 5010. Fax: 0141-332 4285. E-mail: bpstrathclyde@enterprise.net WWW: http://homepages.enterprise.net/bpstrathclyde/ BODY POSITIVE (TAYSIDE): 11-15 Princes Street, Dundee. DD4 6BY. Self help and support for those who are HIV positive and affected by HIV. Phone: Dundee (01382) 461555. Fax: Dundee (01382) 461424. Mon (Women's Group) 11am-2pm, Tue-Thu (Drop In) Noon-3.30pm, Fri (Activity) 11am-2pm. E-mail: admin@bptayside.sol.co.uk BROWNLEE CENTRE (GLASGOW): Gartnavel General Hospital, 1053 Great Western Road, Glasgow. G12 0YN. Confidential information, advice, counselling and testing for HIV and hepatitis. Phone: 0141-211 1089. Mon-Thu 9am-5pm, Tue 5-7.30pm, Thu 5-7.30pm, Fri 9am-4.30pm. FIFE MEN: 5 South Fergus Place, Kirkcaldy. KY1 1YA. (Behind Sheriff Court). Information, advice and support on gay and health issues, free condoms, and much more! Mon-Fri 9am-5pm. Phone: Kirkcaldy (01592) 265666. Fax: Kirkcaldy (01592) 643866. E-mail: enquires@fifemen.co.uk WWW: http://www.fifemen.co.uk/ GAY MEN'S HEALTH: 10a Union Street, Edinburgh. EH1 3LU. A community led Lothian wide project for gay and bisexual men. Wide ranging volunteering opportunities which provide services including support and counselling, scene work, peer education and training, provision of condoms, lube and Safer Sex information. Phone: 0131-558 9444. Fax: 0131-558 9060. E-mail: gaymen@gmh.org.uk WWW: http://www.gmh.org.uk/ GET RUBBERED FOR FREE: Men in Grampian who need extra strong condoms and lube can have them posted to them at no cost. Please contact PHACE West on 0141-332 3838 for further information or an application form (confidential service). GLASGOW BROWNLEE AIDS WELFARE FUND: Raises funds for people with HIV/AIDS in the Greater Glasgow area. Write: PO Box 3954, Glasgow. G31 2YF. GRAMPIAN AIDS LINE: Helpline for anyone who is worried about HIV/AIDS. Phone: Aberdeen (01224) 574000 (Telephone Answering Machine). GRAMPIAN BUDDY GROUP: Befriending and support service for people living with HIV/AIDS. Phone: Aberdeen (01224) 404407. GRAMPIAN GAY MEN'S HEALTH PROJECT: Phone: Aberdeen (01224) 587166. HEALTHY GAY SCOTLAND: Free condoms and lube available by post (Scotland only) through their website. WWW: http://www.hgscotland.org.uk/ HIV-AIDS CARERS AND FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP: Suite 226, Baltic Chambers, 50 Wellington Street, Glasgow. G2 6HJ. Mon-Fri 9am-5pm. Phone: 0141-221 8100. Fax: 0141-221 8529. E-mail: hiv-aids_carers@lineone.net WWW: http://www.hiv-aids-carers.org.uk/ LANARKSHIRE HIV, AIDS AND HEPATITIS CENTRE: Counselling Service, Monklands Hospital, Monks Court Avenue, Airdrie. ML6 0JS. One stop shop for HIV and Hepatitis health services. Mon-Fri 9am-5pm. Phone: Airdrie (01236) 747960 or 712247. Fax: Airdrie (01236) 712449. MILESTONE HOUSE: 113 Oxgangs Road North, Edinburgh. EH14 1EB. Residential care (primarily respite and paliative care) for people with HIV/AIDS. Phone/Fax: 0131-441 6989. NATIONAL AIDS HELPLINE: Freephone 0800 567123. 24 hour service for confidential advice and information. Minicom: 0800 521361 (24 hours). Other languages: 0800 9172227 6-10pm Mon Bengali, Tue Urdu, Wed Arabic, Thu Gujerati, Fri Hindi, Sat Punjabi, Sun Cantonese. Welsh 11am-11pm on 0800 567123. (All calls to 0800 numbers are free except from some mobile networks). E-mail: info@healthwise.org.uk PHACE WEST: 49 Bath Street, Glasgow. G2 2DL. HIV prevention and support support services in Lanarkshire, Ayrshire and Arran, Argyll and Clyde and Greater Glasgow including Buddying, NIGHTOWL Crisis Line and the Crusaid Hardship Fund in Scotland. Also provides a range of health promotion services for Gay and Bisexual men throughout the West of Scotland and Grampian. Please contact for further details. Volunteers welcome! Phone: 0141-332 3838. Fax: 0141-332 3755. E-mail: contact@phacewest.org 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. Write: PHAN, c/o 22 Rosebank House, 217 Belle Vue Road, Leeds. LS3 1HG. Phone: 07831 464319. E-mail: dragondale@amserve.net POSITIVE ACCOMMODATION TEAM: Social work service for people with HIV/AIDS providing supported living arrangements, intensive community based support and supported accommodation. General advice and information on community care and housing needs also provided. 1st Floor, Granite House, 31 Stockwell Street, Glasgow. G1 4RZ. Mon-Thu 8.45am-4.45pm. Fri 8.45am-3.55pm. Phone: 0141-552 4488. Fax: 0141-552 2760. POSITIVE HELP: 13a Great King Street, Edinburgh. EH3 6QW. Practical help for people who are infected or affected by HIV and AIDS in Edinburgh, their families and carers. Phone: 0131-558 1122. Fax: 0131-558 3636. E-mail: posihelp@globalnet.co.uk POSITIVE VOICE: 37-39 Montrose Terrace, Edinburgh. EH7 5DJ. Community self-help organisation for people living with or affected by HIV/AIDS. Phone: 0131-652 0754. Fax: 0131-661 9100. Peer support: Mon, Tue, Thu, 10.30am-2.30pm. Not closed at other times though. Anyone affected or infected by the virus can come along if they have an appointment with a volunteer. People can phone for an appointment or make one while they are in for peer support. E-mail: pozvoice@yahoo.com RAINBOW FUND: Raising funds for the future care of HIV/AIDS patients in Glasgow. Write: PO Box 9525, Johnstone. PA5 OYB. REACH OUT HIGHLAND: 34 Waterloo Place, Inverness. IV1 1NB. 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. Phone: Inverness (01463) 711585 (Mon-Wed, Fri 9.30am-4.30pm, Thu 9.30am-7pm). Fax: Inverness (01463) 711793. E-mail: support@reachout.demon.co.uk WWW: http://www.reachout.demon.co.uk/ ROAM OUTREACH PROJECT: Spittal Street Centre, 22-24 Spittal Street, Edinburgh. EH3 9DU. Outreach sexual health service for male sex workers and men using cruising areas including the Internet. Phone: 0131-537 8300 and ask for Mark or John. E-mail: roamoutreach@hotmail.com SOLAS HIV/AIDS INFORMATION CENTRE: 2/4 Abbeymount, Edinburgh. EH8 8EJ. Information, support, advice, physical therapies, counselling and a cafe. Opening times: Tue & Thu 11am-8pm, Wed & Fri 11am-4pm. Phone: 0131-661 0982. E-mail: solas@waverleycare.org WWW: http://www.waverleycare.org/ STEVE RETSON PROJECT: Sandyford Initiative (old Eye Infirmary), 2-6 Sandyford Place, Glasgow. G3 7NP. Weekly sexual health service for gay men. Tue 5.30-9pm. Phone: 0141-211 8601. (Also at GGLC, 11 Dixon Street Thu 5.30-8.30pm.) WWW: http://www.steveretsonproject.org.uk/ TAYSIDE GAY MEN'S HEALTH PROJECT: Phone the Co-ordinator, Richard McIntosh, on Dundee (01382) 220718. E-mail: richard.mcintosh@thb.scot.nhs.uk WAVERLEY CARE TRUST BUDDY SERVICE: Buddy Service offers 1:1 emotional support to individuals living with HIV & AIDS in Edinburgh and the Lothians. Write: Buddy Service Co-ordinator, Solas, 2/4 Abbeymount, Edinburgh. EH8 8EJ. Phone: 0131-478 7927. Fax: 0131-652 1780. E-mail: buddy@waverleycare.org WORLD AIDS DAY ORGANISING COMMITTEE (LOTHIAN): Write: c/o SOLAS, 2-4 Abbeymount, Edinburgh. EH8 8EJ. Phone: 0131-661 0982. Fax: 0131-652 1780. E-mail: info@worldaidsdaylothian.org WWW: http://www.worldaidsdaylothian.org/ OLDER GAYS CAFFMOS: Nationwide Contacts Club (postal) for the older gay gentleman and his admirers, both young and old. Write: "CAFFMOS", PO Box 2273, Hove. BN3 2 . Phone: Hove (01273) 220995. E-mail: Caffmos2@aol.com WWW: http://www.Caffmos.co.uk/ PH_NIX: National group for the over forties and friends of any age. Write (enclose sae): Ph_nix, PO Box 103, Wallington, Surrey. SM6 9SJ. ORDER OF PERPETUAL INDULGENCE The Sisters and Brothers of the OPI are part of a world wide order of queer men and women of all sexualities which is open to all who feel the habit. Its tenets are: The expurgation of stigmatic guilt and the promulgation of universal joy. OPI CONVENT OF DUNN EIDEANN: Write: Sister Athletica de la Bain OPI, c/o PO Box 666, Edinburgh. EH7 5YW. E-mail: sister.athletica@dunneideann.thesisters.org.uk 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. Phone: Elgin (01343) 542928. E-mail: sister.bobby@moravia.thesisters.org.uk OUTDOOR PURSUITS GAY BIRDERS CLUB: Enabling contact between gay and lesbian birdwatchers world-wide. Active in Scotland. Write: 28 Graham Road, Salford. M6 8PS. E-mail: gay.birders@dial.pipex.com WWW: http://www. gay.birders.dial.pipex.com/ GAY OUTDOOR CLUB: Holds regular events including walking, skiing, cycling, mountaineering, camping, youth-hostelling, badminton and swimming. Monthly social evening in Edinburgh on 2nd Thu of month. Please send an A5 sae to GOC, PO Box 637, Skellingthorpe, Lincoln, LN6 5XD, or ring one of the Scottish contacts: EDINBURGH: Walks & Social: Grant on 0131-556 8705 (E-mail: g.obrien@btclick.com), Swimming: Colin on 0131-226 4476, Cycling: Ian on 0131-539 0715. GLASGOW: Walks: Robert on 0141-950 1081 (E-mail: r-watt@dircon. co.uk), Cycling and Swimming: Douglas on 0870 3215894 (E-mail: drb61@bi oot.com), Climbing: Jonathan on 0141-334 0812 (E-mail: jridge@bi oot.com), Badminton: Robert on 0141-954 2404. DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY: Walks & Cycling: Ian on Waterbeck (01461) 600624. HIGHLANDS: Walks & Weekend Trips: Michael on Lairg (01549) 421344 (E-mail: Keates@eggconnect.net), Alan on Dores (01463) 751258 & Les on Inverness (01463) 238920. MOUNTAINEERING: Roger on York (01904) 659544 (E-mail: r.sutton@ukonline.co.uk). E-mail: goc@bi. org. WWW: http://bi.org/~goc/ Fri/Mon Aug 24/27: MOUNTAINEERING. Lochnagar and Mount Keene. Camping in the Braemar area. Contact is Mark Lodge on Lochgilphead (01546) 603853. Fri/Sun Sep 7/9: CENTRAL HIGHLANDS. Hillwalking and Funghi Foray, this year in Glen Lochay. Camping. Carn Mairg Group or Glen Lochay hills followed by a barbecue on Saturday evening. Funghi on Sunday. Co-ordinator is Grant on 0131-556 8705. Sun Sep 9: CLYDE COAST - CYCLING. Largs and the Great Cumbrae Island. For a macho trip (40 miles plus) run meet Paisley Gilmour Street Station at 10.15am. For a more sedate 10 miles circuit of the Island meet the group at Largs pier around 1.45pm. Co-ordinator is Douglas on 0870 3215894, Mobile: 07010 700561. E-mail: drb61@bi oot.com. Thu Sep 13: EDINBURGH. Social evening. Contact Grant on 0131-556 8705 for further details. Fri/Sun Sep14/16: HIGHLANDS/MOUNTAINEERING. Hillwalking or scrambling weekend based in Glencoe. Camping at the Red Squirrel camp site or youth hostelling. If hostelling make your own reservations early by calling 08701 553255. Co-ordinator is Noel on 0131-667 7853. Sun Sep 23: BORDERS. Manor Hills - serious walk on hilltops or archaeological walk in valley bottom depending on weather and fitness. Co-ordinator is Alastair on Galashiels (01896) 757861. GLASGOW GAY RAMBLERS GROUP: Leisurely walks on the 2nd Sat and last Sun of each month. Sensible footwear/clothing and packed lunch required. Phone: Robert on 0141-950 1081. E-mail: r-watt@dircon.co.uk. WWW: http://www.bi oot.com/~drb61/ Sun Aug 26: Walk on the Island of Arran. Seven mile semi-low level walk through Glen Rosa and Glen Sannox, with the high level options of Cir Mhor and/or Goat Fell. Meet at Ardrossan Harbour for 09.45 crossing (08.40 rail connection from Glasgow Central). Phone: Douglas on 0870 3215894 (Mobile: 07010 700561). E-mail: drb61 @bi oot.com. Sats Sep 8 & Oct 13: Meet 11am in Berkeley Street (by the Mitchell Library). Venue decided on day. Contact is Robert on 0141-950 1081. PARENTS ABERDEEN LESBIAN MOTHERS GROUP: Meets on first Sat afternoon of each month at Aberdeen Women's Centre. EDINBURGH LESBIAN MOTHERS GROUP (ELMG): Normally meets on second Sat afternoon of each month at St Columba's by the Castle, High Street. Phone in advance to check venue and/or book crąche. See listing for Lesbian Mothers Network (Scotland) for contact details. GAY DADS SCOTLAND: Meets on last Thu of each month at 8pm in Edinburgh LGB Centre, 58a Broughton Street. Glasgow meetings also being held. Also meets socially on first Friday of month in different cities. Contact for details. Phone: 07947 835246. E-mail: gaydads@drink.demon. co.uk WWW: http://www.gaydadsscotland.org.uk/ GLASGOW LESBIAN MOTHERS DISCUSSION GROUP: Meets every second Mon from 6-8pm. Support group, social events, informal chat. Crąche and fares help available. Phone: Vicky on 0141-333 1450. LESBIAN MOTHERS NETWORK (SCOTLAND): Phone: Sue Robertson on 0131-556 3899/4563. Fax: 0131-557 9650. Write: One Parent Families Scotland, 13 Gayfield Square, Edinburgh. EH1 3NX. E-mail: opfs@gn.apc.org WWW: http://www.gn.apc.org/opfs/ MORAY PARENTLINE: Information and advice for parents, relatives and friends of lesbians, gays and bisexuals in the North of Scotland. Phone: Elgin (01343) 541188 every 2nd Mon 7-9pm. Write: Moray Parentline, PO Box 5763, Elgin. IV30 4ZE. PARENTS' ENQUIRY SCOTLAND: Support for parents of LGBT children. Phone: 0131-556 6047 before 10pm. E-mail: parentsenquiry@hotmail.com Contact Lothian Switchboard or write c/o 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 International UK to promote LGBT issues. Write: AIGLBT Network, Amnesty International, 11 Jeffrey Street, Edinburgh. EH1 1DR. Phone: Dave on 0141-575 2277. E-mail: dgilmour@innocent.com DELGA-SCOTLAND: Liberal Democrats for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Equality. Write: DELGA-Scotland, 4 Clifton Terrace, Edinburgh, EH12 5DR. E-mail: delga. scotland@delga.libdems.org WWW: http://www.scotlibdems.org.uk/ao/delgscot/delgscot.htm INTERCOURSE: Group focused on discussion of issues surrounding sex and sexuality. Mix of ages, genders, sexualities, ethnicities etc. Write: Intercourse, 60 The Pleasance, Edinburgh. EH8 9TJ. E-mail: info@intercourse.org.uk WWW: http://www.intercourse.org.uk/ LESBIANS & 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: 0151-259 5935 (Telephone Answering Machine). Write: Liberal Party Lesbian & Gay Campaign, 41 Sutton Street, Liverpool. L13 7EG. E-mail: libgay@libparty.demon.co.uk WWW: http://www.liberal.org.uk/ OUT FOR INDEPENDENCE: The SNP's LGBT Group, has been established to bring together lesbians, bisexuals, gay men and transgender people who support Independence, and to act as a forum within the SNP to discuss LGBT issues. Write: Out for Independence, 107 McDonald Road, Edinburgh. EH7 4NW. 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. Write: c/o GGLC, 11 Dixon Street, Glasgow. G1 4AL. TORCHE: Tory Campaign for Homosexual Equality. Write: BM TORCHE, London WC1N 3XX. E-mail: Torche@cableinet. co.uk WWW: http://www.torche.gb.org/ PRISONERS FREE MAGAZINES FOR PRISONERS: Copies of ScotsGay are sent free of charge to prisoners in UK prisons and institutions. Please contact us if you wish to be added to the 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: 1-2-1 counselling and psychotherapy by arrangement. Phone: 0141-550 2048. Mon-Fri 10am-5pm. RAPE AND ABUSE LINE: For male and female survivors. Women answer the phone: Freephone 0808 8000123 (or Dingwall (01349) 865316) 7-10pm nightly. Men answer the phone: Freephone 0808 8000122 (or Dingwall (01349) 862686) Mon and Wed 7-10pm. Callers are welcome to phone either line. Write: PO Box 10, Dingwall. IV15 9HE. REAL ALE DIVERSE DRINKERS: Edinburgh group for LGBT real ale and cider fans. Meets in The Holyrood Tavern 1st Mon of each month from 8pm to sample the brewers' art. Phone: Karen on 0131-557 8790. E-mail: diversedrinkers@drink.demon.co.uk WWW: http://www.antipope.org/feorag/ drinkers/ GLASGOW GAY REAL ALE GROUP: Meets first Wed 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: ggrag@dodrums.dircon.c o.uk WWW: http://www.dodrums.dircon. co.uk/ggrag/ UK pub listings can be found at WWW: http://www.goldings. demon.co.uk/queerale/ SPORTS ABERDEEN GAY MEN'S SWIMMING GROUP: Swim every Wed from 8pm onwards. Phone: David on Aberdeen (01224) 317552. E-mail: agmsg@drink.demon.co.uk DUNDEE GAY MEN'S SWIMMING GROUP: Swim every Thu at 8.30pm at the Olympia training pool. Tickets for the training pool must be purchased by 7.30pm. Phone: Dirk on 0797 7606448. E-mail: dirk@geelen45.freeserve.co.uk EDINBURGH GAY BOWLING CLUB: American 10 pin bowling. Meets 1st and 3rd Thu of each month from 8pm at the Fountain Park Bowling Centre Mega Bowl. Phone: Merlin on 0797 7606448. E-mail: merlin_cgn@hotmail.com EDINBURGH GAY MEN'S SWIMMING GROUP: Meets informally Mon at 8pm in the Commonwealth Pool. Phone: Colin on 0131-226 4476. GAY GOLF CLUB: Phone: Frank on 0141-576 2373. GLASGOW BADMINTON CLUB: Glasgow based gay badminton club meets twice weekly for competitive games. International tournaments and matches against clubs in London and Europe are held annually. Phone: John on East Kilbride (01355) 220041 or David on 0141-429 7445 or E-mail: TeamScotland@hotmail.com Sorry - no beginners. GLASGOW BADMINTON GROUP: Meets Knightswood Secondary School on Thu from 7-9.30pm during term time. Phone: Robert on 0141-954 2404. WWW: http://www.bi oot.com/~drb61 GLASGOW SWIMMING GROUP: Meets informally during adults-only session 7.30-9pm Thu at North Woodside Pool, Braid Sq. Phone: Douglas on 0141-649 5896. E-mail: drb61@bi oot. com WWW: http://www.bi oot.com/~drb61 GAY FOOTBALL SUPPORTERS NETWORK: Write: SN Membership Secretary, c/o Central Station, 37 Wharfdale Road, London. N1 9SE. Phone: Clive on 0141-779 2321 or Chris on 020-8926 3616. E-mail: csma@supanet.com WWW: http://www. sn.co.uk GOC CYCLING GROUP: Regular Sat, Sun and evening runs. Phone: Douglas on 0141-649 5896 or Calum on 0131-557 5802. Forthcoming Runs: Sun Jul 15th: Tweed Valley. Meet 11am at Peebles Tourist Information Centre. Sun Sep 9th: Largs and Great Cumbrae. Meet 10.15am at Paisley Gilmour Street Station. Sun Oct 14th: Tummel Bridge Weekend trip. Sun Nov 11th: Autumn amble in the Trossachs. STUDENTS Many Universities and Colleges have Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered Societies. Contact these via your Student Union or Student Association. ScotsGay also links to a number of LGBT Soc websites from our own web page at http://www.scotsgay. co.uk/ Many LGBT Socs are open to non-students living in the area. Phone: NUS Scotland LGB Officer on 0131-556 6598. Fax: 0131-557 5679. Write: LGB Officer, NUS Scotland, 29 Forth Street, Edinburgh. EH1 3LE. E-mail: nus-scot@dircon.co.uk TV/TS ABERDEEN: 3G (Grampian Gender Group). Meets 3rd Sat of each month Noon-5pm. Phone: Gillian on Aberdeen (01224) 633108 6.30-9.30pm Mon. EDINBURGH: Scottish TV/TS Group meets last Sat of each month (except Dec) 1-5pm in Phoenix Cellar Bar, 46 Broughton Street. Phone: Irene on 0775 9830541. E-mail: IanD56@excite.com Trans-Lothian is a new group aiming to support both pre and post-op transexuals, their families and friends. Phone: Andrea on 0781 846 7512 (Wed 7-9pm). E-mail: andreacath22@hotmail.com WWW: http://maxpages.com/translothian/ GLASGOW: Crosslynx TV/TS Group meets second Wed of each month (except December) from 7-10pm. Phone: Crosslynx Helpline on 0141-332 3333 (Mon 7.30-9.30pm). Write: Crosslynx, c/o SLGS, PO Box 38, Glasgow. G2 2QF. WWW: http://SGLS.tripod.com/transgen.htm HIGHLAND T-GROUP: Transgender support group meets first Fri of each month from 7pm at Reach Out Highland, 34 Waterloo Place, Inverness. IV1 1NB. Contact Vikki Melrose (Group Co-ordinator) by E-mail: vmelrose@hotmail.com Or contact Aileen Steen at Reach Out Highland (Phone: Inverness (01463) 711585 or E-mail: T-group@reachout.demon. co.uk). WEST LOTHIAN: Transgender Support Group meets in Livingston on 2nd and last Sat of each month from 5pm (phone for details). Drop In Centre at Crofthead Community Centre, Templar Rise, Dedridge, Livingston every Fri 6.30-9pm. Phone: John on 07808 564626 (Mon-Thu 6-9pm) or 07979 685796. E-mail: kira@westlothiantsg.co.uk or irenetsg@aol.com WWW: http://www.westlothiantsg.co.uk/ WORKPLACE AFLAGA: The Armed Forces Lesbian & Gay Association (formerly Rank Outsiders). Support group for all serving and LGBT ex members. Write: BCM Box 8431, London. WC1N 3XX. National Helpline: 0870 740 7755 (Wed 7-11pm). E-mail: info@aflaga.org.uk WWW: http://www.aflaga.org.uk CAS: Support group for all LGBT people involved in Scottish Citizens Advice Bureaux. Phone: Ian on Nairn (01667) 454760. EIS GAY AND LESBIAN NETWORK: Write: Veronica Rankin (Equality Officer), 46 Moray Place, Edinburgh. EH3 6BH. Phone: Veronica Rankin on 0131-225 6244. E-mail: vrankin@eis.org.uk FIRE BRIGADES UNION GAY AND LESBIAN SUPPORT GROUP: Write: National Gay And Lesbian Committee, PO Box 10555, LONDON. N1 8XT. Phone: 0800 783 4778. E-mail: flag.ship@lineone.net GLASGOW CITY COUNCIL G&L EMPLOYEES FORUM: Phone: John Dawson on 0141-959 7457 or Charles Thomson on 0141-287 3744. GMB SCOTLAND EQUAL RIGHTS GROUP: Write: Regional Equal Rights Officer, GMB Scotland, Fountain House, 1/3 Woodside Crescent, Glasgow. G3 7UJ. Phone: 0141-332 8641. UNISON GLASGOW CITY LESBIAN & GAY GROUP: Meets monthly on Payday Tuesday in the GGLC at 6pm. Phone: Neil MacInnes on 0778 7506287. E-mail: neil.macinnes@unison-glasgow.demon.co.uk UNISON SCOTLAND L&G COMMITTEE: Write: Neil MacInnes, Secretary, UNISON House, 14 West Campbell Street, Glasgow. G2 6RX. Phone: 0141-332 0006 or 0778 7506287. E-mail: neil.macinnes@unison-glasgow.demon.co.uk UNISON WEST NETWORK: For Unison members in the West of Scotland. Meet quarterly. Phone: Neil MacInnes on 0778 7506287. E-mail: neil.macinnes@unison-glasgow.demon.co.uk YOUTH GROUPS Bi-G-LES Youth: Strathclyde's Lesbian Gay and Bisexual Youth Group: Friendship and support for under 26s. Meets Tue 7.30pm at the Glasgow GLBT Centre. Details from Strathclyde Switchboard or PHACE West (0141-332 3838). Write: c/o GGLC, 11 Dixon Street, Glasgow. G1 4AL. E-mail: info@bi-g-les.freeserve.co. uk WWW: http://www.bi-g-les.freeserve.co.uk/ 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 4th Tue of each month. Phone: Julian Heng on 0141-332 3838 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm) or Strathclyde Switchboard for details of venue. E-mail: julianh@phacewest.org HIGHLAND GAY, LESBIAN AND BISEXUAL YOUTH GROUP: Meets 7.30pm 1st Wed of each month at 34 Waterloo Place, Inverness. Phone: Inverness (01463) 711585 (Mon-Fri 9.30am-4.30pm) and ask for Ronald. Social meeting 3rd Friday of each month, same time and place. E-mail: project@reachout.demon.co.uk LANARKSHIRE GAY, LESBIAN AND BISEXUAL YOUTH GROUP: If you are under 26, live in Lanarkshire and are looking for support and friendship, whether you're coming out, thinking about it, or just want to know more, then contact Toby on 0845 6071936. E-mail: bigllany@hotmail.com WWW: http://bigllany.moonfruit.com/ LESBIAN YOUTH SUPPORT INFORMATION SERVICE: PO Box 18, Ashton-under-Lyne, Cheshire. SK15 2FE. Enclose sae. LIPS - LESBIANS IN PEER SUPPORT: Project supporting young lesbians and bisexual women aged 25 and under. Offers a safe space for young lesbian and bisexual women to meet, providing information, support and activities. Meets every 1st and 3rd Sat, 2-4pm and every 2nd and 4th Thu, 7-9pm at Glasgow Women's Library, 109 Trongate, Glasgow. Phone: Shona or Sue on 0141-552 8345/7539. E-mail: ylpsp@freenetname.co.uk STONEWALL YOUTH PROJECT: Provides services for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered young people living in Edinburgh, Lothians and Borders. Project Phoneline: 0845 113 0005 (Tue 7.30-9pm) is staffed by trained staff members ready to give information or just chat. Stonewall Youth Group is for young people aged 13-18. Meets every Fri eve in Central Edinburgh. Stonewall Friends is for young people aged 18-25 and meets every Wed eve in Edinburgh with regular social events at other times. Stonewall Girlz carries out events and projects for lesbian, bisexual and transgendered women aged 13-25. Office Phone/Fax: 0131-622 2266 (Mon-Fri 9.30am-5pm). Write: Stonewall Youth Project, John Cotton Centre, 10 Sunnyside, Edinburgh. EH7 5RA. E-mail: info@lgbtyouth.org.uk WWW: http://www.lgbtyouth.org.uk/ THIS WAY OUT: Group for lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgenders or those who are unsure. For people aged 25 or under. Informal meetings/gatherings held from 6.30pm on Sun eve every fortnight. Phone Diversitay LGBT Switchboard on Dundee (01382) 202620 Mon 7-10pm. Write: Diversitay LGBT Group, PO Box 53, Dundee, DD1 3YG. WWW: http://www.dundeelgb.freeserve.co.uk/ --------------------------------------------------------------------- VENUES ====== * indicates the venue stocks ScotsGay ABERDEEN ABERDEEN WOMEN'S CENTRE* Shoe Lane, off Queen Street. Tel: (01224) 625010, 713336 or 212600. Fax: 01224 625777. Tue-Thu 10am-2pm. Where the women hang out. Lesbian Night for all ages every third Wed of each month from 7.30-9.30pm (E-mail: LesbianNight@hotmail.com WWW: http://granitesisters.tripod.com/ page3.html/). Lesbian and Friends Lunch every first Sat of each month 12.30-2.30pm. BAR CASTRO'S* 47 Netherkirkgate. Tel: (01224) 639920. Sun 5pm-2am, Mon 5pm-Midnight, Tue-Fri 5pm-2am, Sat 12.30pm-2am. Aberdeen's only gay venue has re-opened. Free admission before 11pm. COATBRIDGE PULLMANS BAR AND PUNJAB EXPRESS RESTAURANT* 22 West Canal Street. Tel: (01236) 440643. Comfortable bar with restaurant upstairs. Run by Kally. Food served 11am-Midnight, children's certificate and carry out food. Popular with local LGBTs who gather through in the back room round the fire. Gay friendly, warm welcome, and no bad attitudes from the local troggies allowed. Veggie nosh and bits of dead animals for the carnivores. Live music Wed to Sun eves, Karaoke on Thu and Quiz on Sun. Nice place! DUNDEE BROOKLYN'S BAR 2 St Andrew's Lane. Tel: (01382) 200660. Wed-Sun 7pm-Midnight. Well appointed gay friendly bar next door to Liberty Nightclub and under the same management. CHARLIE'S BAR* 75-79 Seagate. Tel: (01382) 226840. Mon-Sat 11am-11.45pm, Sun 12.30-11pm. Gay friendly bar with free disco Sat 8-11pm and karaoke first Thu of each month 8-11pm (both with DJ Ewan). Free use of premises for pre-booked groups. E-mail: charlies_bar2001@hotmail.com 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. E-mail: club@liberty-nightclub.co.uk EDINBURGH During the Edinburgh Festivals, most places are open for much longer than the normal hours shown in ScotsGay. Phone venues for details. BLUE MOON* 1 Barony Street/36 Broughton Street. Tel: 0131-556 2788 (Bar) or 0131-557 0911 (Office). 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. BO'S VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT 57/61 Blackfriars Street. Tel: 0131-557 6136. Fri-Sat Noon-2pm. Daily 6-10pm. Superb little vegetarian restaurant. Friendly staff. Mixed clientele. Excellent value lunch menu. C32 CAFE 32c Broughton Street. Tel: 0131-557 2012. 10am-11pm. Stylish gay friendly licensed cafe with extensive menu including vegetarian selection. THE CAULDRON* 77 Clerk Street. Tel: 0131-622 7236. Noon-12.45am. Friendly boozer frequented by omnisexual persons mainly of a Gothic persuasion. Under new management who have taken the real ale out (and painted over the sign board - so nobody seems to know what the hell the pub is called!). C.C. BLOOM'S 23 Greenside Place. Tel: 0131-556 9331. Mon-Sat 6pm-3am, Sun 8pm-3am. Two floors. Karaoke on Thu and Sun. Disco every night from 10.30pm. 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. First and Third Sats of month from 8pm: a male only night aimed at leather, denim, rubber, skinhead, uniform and bears run in conjunction with the MSC Scotland Monthly Meeting and BearScots. E-mail: robin@scifipub99.freeserve.co.uk WWW: http://www.scifipub99.freeserve.co.uk/ CLOUDS 26 Forth Street. Tel: 0131-550 3808. FAX: 0131-550 3807. A gay friendly, Edinburgh based Letting Agency offering a comprehensive & competitive service for Landlords/Owners for long-term & short term property management. E-mail: info@clouds.co.uk WWW: http://www.clouds.co.uk/ DIVINE DIVA'S The Venue (Top Floor), 15 Calton Road. Tel: 0131-557 0751. 2nd Sat of each month. 10pm-3am. Women only one nighter with all proceeds going to LGL Switchboard and Lesbian Line. Next date: 8th Sep - DJ Michelle is back with her top tunes and indie sounds. E-mail: jean@lgls.org EASYEVERYTHING 58 Rose Street. 24 hours. Large Internet Cafe from which many gay men seem to troll the net instead of just picking up each other! EDINBURGH GAY ESCORTS 19a Albany Street. Tel: 0131-558 1011. Fax: 0870 055 3890. Provides gay and lesbian escorts throughout Scotland. Tours of Edinburgh and surroundings. Member of the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association. E-mail: enquiries@edinburghgayescorts.co.uk WWW: http://www.edinburghgayescorts.co.uk EDINBURGH LESBIAN GAY AND BISEXUAL CENTRE* 58a and 60 Broughton Street. Houses 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: 0131-557 9413. FAX: 0131-557 8336. Mon-Sat 10am-9pm, Sun Noon-9pm. Scotland's ORIGINAL licenced SEX shop where you'll be made welcome by the very nice assortment of folk who work there! Toys galore, video rental too! Glamour shop upstairs stocks larger sizes. HABANA* 22 Greenside Place. Tel: 0131-558 1270. Mon-Sat Noon-1am, Sun 12.30pm-1am. Centrally located pre club bar. Open and bright as well as quite intimate. Increasingly busy. Quizoke every Thu with John. HOLYROOD TAVERN* 9a Holyrood Road. Tel: 0131-556 5044. Noon-12.45am. Edinburgh's best kept secret. Real ale in a gay friendly atmosphere. "If you must go on the scene, why not have some beer first?" Diverse Drinkers meet there on the first Mon of the month from 8pm - WWW: http://www.antipope.org/feorag/drinkers/ HOT STUFF* 89 Rose Street Lane North. Tel: 0131-225 7651. Mon-Sat 1pm-1am. Sun 2pm-Midnight. Previously Frenchies, this vibrant gay 70's disco theme bar is in the heart of Rose Street. Karaoke Wed from 9pm. JP's Trivia Quiz (in aid of GMH) Sun 4.30pm. JOY Ego, 14 Picardy Place. Tel: 0131-478 7435. JOY Info Line: 0131-467 2551. 10.30pm-3am. Fortnightly Sat. Next dates: 18th Aug, 1st, 15th & 29th Sep. Joy is Scotland's most upfront gay club. GBP8 members/GBP10 non-members. E-mail: clubjoy@blueyonder.co. uk. WWW: http://www.clubjoy.co.uk/ LEATHER AND LACE* 25 Easter Road. Tel: 0131-623 6969. Noon-6pm. Run by the folk from Fantasies, this shop stocks an entirely different selection of naughty clothes of the type that do not actually require a sex shop licence but would if the Good Christians at the church round the corner had their Neanderthal way! LUSH! Ego, 14 Picardy Place. Tel: 0131-478 7434. 10.30pm-3am. 1st and 3rd Sun of each month. Club night with DJ's Dale Wilkinson and Craig Dempster: funky dance, pop, house, anthems. GBP3. WWW: http://www.clublush.co.uk/ LUVELY AT THE HONEYCOMB 15-17 Niddry Street. Tel: 0131-530 5540. Info Line: 07711 307997. Monthly. Next date: Sat 18th Aug. 10pm-late. Mega club night with resident DJ's Tommy Kay, Newton & Stone, Jared and GP. E-mail: Luvely_Team@hotmail.com MASSAGE FOR HEALTH 58a/60 Broughton Street. Tel: 0131-669 8039, 0131-478 1090 or 07970 921209. By appointment only. Therapeutic massage and a range of complementary therapies from qualified practitioners Anne, Alan, and John. Concessions available. E-mail: info@massageforhealth.co.uk WWW: http://www.massageforhealth.co.uk/ MINGIN' Studio 24, 24 Calton Road. Info Line: 0131-467 2551. 10.30pm-3am. Fornightly Sat. Next dates: 25th Aug, 11th & 25th Sep. Alan Joy's dark, sexy, dirty trance night features Alan Joy himself on the decks plus Brian Dempster. GBP5 entry. E-mail: mingin@blueyonder.co.uk MSDEMEANOUR Phoenix Cellar Bar under the Phoenix Bar at 46 Broughton Street. 8.30pm-1am. Next dates: Sats 18th Aug (Festival Special - open until 2.30am), 15th Sep, 20th Oct, 17th Nov & 22nd Dec. Edinburgh's only regular TV/TS night club. TG's GBP4, Regular Mortals GBP5. E-mail: MsDemeanourUK@aol.com WWW: http://www.msdemeanour.co.uk/ NEW TOWN BAR* 26B Dublin Street. Tel: 0131-538 7775. Mon-Thu Noon-1am. Fri-Sat Noon-2am. Sun 12.30pm-1am. Especially popular with men. Real ale. Cellar Bar open Fri & Sat with resident DJ from 10pm-2am - "Formerly Men Only - Now Mixed"! Also available for hire Sun-Thu. NEXUS CAFE-BAR* 60 Broughton Street. Tel: 0131-478 7069. 11am-11pm. Great food and drink at reasonable prices. Internet access available. Recently refurbished in the best possible taste. E-mail: nexus1cb@aol.com No EIGHTEEN* 18 Albert Place. Tel: 0131-553 3222. Sun-Fri Noon-10pm, Sat Noon-11pm. Long established sauna club for gay gentlemen! Facilities include large sauna cabin, 14 man steam room, 10 (very popular) private rooms, 8 man filtered jacuzzi, TV lounge with hot and cold refreshments available and friendly staff. GBP8 (GBP5 concessions). WWW: http://www.number18sauna.co.uk/ OOT: OUT ON TUESDAY Stand Comedy Club, York Place. Tel: 0131-558 7272. Second Tue of each month. 9-11pm. Monthly gay comedy club in established comedy venue. Hot food. E-mail: admin@thestand.freeserve.co.uk OUT OF THE BLUE* 1 Barony Street. (Downstairs at the Blue Moon Cafe). Tel: 0131-478 7048. Sat-Wed Noon-7pm, Thu-Fri Noon-8pm. Gay and lesbian store selling books, mags, videos, toys, wearing apparel, etc. PLANET OUT* 6 Baxter's Place. Tel: 0131-524 0061. Mon-Fri 4pm-1am, Sat-Sun 2pm-1am. Popular and busy gay bar with friendly staff. THE STAG & TURRET* 1-7 Montrose Terrace. Tel: 0131-661 6443. Noon-1am. Friendly gay local just round the corner from the Solas Centre. Karaoke: Wed, Fri, & Sun 8.30pm-12.30am. SOLAS CAFE* 2/4 Abbeymount. Tel: 0131-661 0982. Tue & Thu 11am-7.30pm, Wed & Fri 11am-4pm. Attached to Solas National HIV/AIDS 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. 10pm-3am. DJ Trendy Wendy. Mixed and crowded club night. WWW: http://hello.to/trendywendy/ TASTE AT THE HONEYCOMB 15-17 Niddry Street. Tel: 0131-530 5540. Info Line: 0131-557 4656. Sun 11pm-3am. DJs Fisher & Price play garage and uplifting bangin' house in the Main Room with guests and Martin Valentine and Marco Smith play garage and US house in the Back Room, to an up-for-it mixed/gay crowd. Preclub bar at Gilded Saloon, Cowgate with Marco Smith and Martin Valentine. GBP6 Members/GBP8 E-mail: feedback@taste-clubs.com WWW: http://www.taste-clubs.com/ 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 SAUNA AND GYM* 53 East Claremont Street. Tel: 0131-556 6116. Sun-Thu Noon-11pm, Fri-Sat Noon-Midnight. Scotland's largest, featuring steam room, 20 person sauna, large Jacuzzi, new Kruze Video Zone, licensed bar and cafe, free weights gym, massage by appointment. Admission GBP9 (Concessions GBP6), Mon 18-22 years old FREE entry, Tue GBP2 before 2pm, Wed GBP12 per couple, Thu GBP6 entry before 4pm, Fri half price beers/spirits all day, Sun GBP5 for students. Annual Membership GBP2. Proudly gay owned and operated. WWW: http://www.townhouse-sauna.co.uk/ UP The Venue, 15 Calton Road. Tel: 0131-557 0751. Last Fri of each month. 10.30pm-3am. LGBT House/Trance Club for all sexualities. E-mail: up.up@talk21.com WWW: http://www.upclub.co.uk/ WEB 13* 13 Bread Street. Tel: 0131-229 8883. Mon-Fri 10am-8pm, Sat 10am-6pm, Sun Noon-6pm. Informal mixed cybercafe with homely and approachable staff. E-mail: queries@web13.co.uk WWW: http://www.web13.co.uk/ WORK? Ego, 14 Picardy Place. Tel: 0131-478 7435. JOY Info Line: 0131-467 2551. 10.30pm-3am. Monthly. Next dates: 17th Aug. New monthly one nighter with Maggie Joy and Pete Owen. GBP6 members/GBP8 non-members. E-mail: clubjoy@blueyonder.co.uk. WWW: http://www.clubjoy.co.uk/ FALKIRK DROOKIT DUCK 16 Grahams Road. Tel: (01324) 613644. Sun-Thu 11am-11pm, Fri-Sat 11am-Midnight. Straight bar used by a few discrete local gays. Near to Grahamston station. GLASGOW AURALL Mas, Royal Exchange Square. Info Line: 0141-404 1510. Sun 11pm-3am. A mixed night for open minded hedonists. Up-for-it pumping residential loud noise. Entry GBP7 (GBP5 for Taste and Fruitfly members). BENNETS DISCO 80-90 Glassford Street. Tel: 0141-552 5761. Tue-Sun 11pm-3am. Beautifully appointed busy club on two floors. Frequent PAs. Tuesdays are straight. WWW: http://www.bennets.co.uk/ CANDLE BAR* 20 Candleriggs. Tel: 0141-564 1285. Noon-Midnight. Food served Noon-5pm. Upmarket bar in the heart of the Merchant City. Beautiful place with comfortable seating. Nice staff get the Goldilocks seal of approval. Easy parking. Regular cabaret, karaoke and disco. Has just been very nicely refurbished. CENTURION SPA* 19 Dixon Street. Tel: 0141-248 4485. Fax: 0141-400 1080. Sun-Fri Noon-10pm, Sat 11am-7am (All Nighter). Facilities now include 2 saunas, steamroom, Jacuzzi, gymnasium, fully equipped cafe, large rest area, luxury private rest rooms, television lounge, smoking and non-smoking lounges, Loyalty Scheme for regular clients. E-mail: centurionspa@gay.com CLONE ZONE* 11 Dixon Street. Tel/FAX: 0141-248 2593. Mon-Sat 11am-9pm, Sun Noon-7pm. Clothes, videos, magazines, toys. E-mail: admin@clonezone.co.uk WWW: http://www.clonezone.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. CUBE Queen Street. Tel: 0141-226 8990. Mon-Tue 11pm-3am. Formerly Planet Peach, two nighter with DJ Shawn. Various drinks promos. Entry GBP3. DELMONICA'S BAR 68 Virginia Street. Tel: 0141-552 4803. Daily Noon-Midnight. Large pub - popular with the younger crowd. Nice if your face fits. EASYEVERYTHING 57/61 St. Vincent Street. 24 hours. Large Internet Cafe from which many gay men seem to troll the net instead of just picking up each other! FRUITFLY The Arches, Midland Street. Tel: 0901 0220300. Info Line: 0141-404 1510. 3rd Sat of each month (except September). 11pm-4am. DJs Fisher & Price play uplifting to pumping house in the Main Room. A hassle-free night in like-minded company - guaranteed. Preclub bar at Soba, Mitchell Lane with Marco Smith. Entry GBP8 members/GBP10 guests. WWW: http://www.fruitfly-club.com/ FUSION Renfrew Ferry, Clyde Place. Info Line: 07890 237642. 2nd Sat of every month. 9.30pm-2am. 9.30pm-2am. Club night that the organisers personally guarantee will take Glasgow by storm. Entry GBP5. E-mail: mdrproductions@hotmail.com GLC CAFE/BAR* GLGBTC, 11 Dixon Street. Tel: 0141-400 1008. Daily 11am-Midnight. Full breakfast always available. Home cooking. Friendly and busy! Film Night Mon 7pm. Karaoke on Fri and Sun. GLASGOW LGBT CENTRE (GGLC)* 11 Dixon Street, St Enoch. Tel/FAX: 0141-221 7203. Reception: 0141-400 7203. Daily 11am-Midnight. Welcomes lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgendered. Services include: Cafe Bar, Clone Zone shop, Info Box, Health Info, Interest Groups, Free Newspapers, Diary of Events, Reading Room, Garden of Reflection, Function space for hire and innovative Art Gallery. Increasingly busy and popular! Fully wheelchair accessible venue. E-mail: lgbt.glasgow@gglc.org.uk WWW: http://www.gglc. org.uk/ also see their Art Gallery: http://www. gglc.org.uk/index2.html 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. Not as busy as it used to be. MacSORLEYS BAR 42 Jamaica Street. Tel: 0141-248 8581. Mon-Sat Noon-Midnight, Sun 12.30pm-Midnight. Glasgow's second oldest pub which is now actively seeking LGBT trade! Live music Fri, Sat & Sun eves. OOT IN GLASGOW Stand Comedy Club, 333 Woodlands Road. Tel: 0870 600 6055. Second Sun of each month. 8.30-10.30pm. Monthly gay comedy club. E-mail: admin@thestand.freeserve. co.uk THE POLO LOUNGE 84 Wilson Street. Tel: 0141-553 1221. Mon-Fri 5pm-1am, Sat-Sun Noon-3am. Upmarket bar with low seating. WWW: http://www. pololounge.co.uk/ REVOLVER BAR* 6a John Street. Tel: 0141-553 2456. Mon-Sat 11am-Midnight, Sun 12.30pm-Midnight. A refreshing antidote to the current gay scene. Pool table, state of the art free jukebox (with over 3,000 tracks on it), reasonably priced drinks, good quality service, no karaoke. Food available. Real ale. E-mail: info@revolverdotbar.com WWW: http://www.revolverdotbar.com/ SADIE FROST'S 8-10 West George Street. Tel: 0141-332 8005. Noon-Midnight. Bar meals Noon-7pm. A mere shadow of its former self. 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. TRON THEATRE CAFE BAR* Chisholm Street. Tel: 0141-552 8587. 10am-Late. Friendly theatre bar. Mixed. Good food. E-mail: boxoffice@tron.co.uk WWW: http://www.tron.co.uk/ 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: 09099 108174 (60p per min at all times). BDSM and general pervery. Operates in Glasgow and Edinburgh. E-mail: info@violate.co.uk WWW: http://www.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 Beti Hutton seal of approval. INVERNESS SLEEPERS Station Square, Academy Street. Tel: (01463) 231926. Mon-Thu 11am-11pm, Fri 11am-1am, Sat 11am-12.30am. Sun Noon-11pm. Inverness's main gay-friendly establishment. Smart hotel bar. Gayest on Wed and Fri evenings. PAISLEY FAIRPLAY - REGARDLESS* Liberty's Night Club, 6 New Sneddon St. Tel: 0141-889 3973. Thu 10pm-late. New weekly club night which launched in May. Promotions and live PA's. Entry GBP3(GBP1 with flyer). E-mail: nightlife@carnegies.co.uk 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. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ScotsGay: a monthly magazine for lesbians, gays and bisexuals. ScotsGay 60/- Light appears in odd numbered months, whilst ScotsGay 80/- Heavy appears in even numbered months. ISSN: 1357-0595. Edited, printed and published in Scotland (c) Pageprint Limited, August 2001. PO Box 666, Edinburgh. EH7 5YW. 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. WWW: 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. To Unsubscribe: send an 'unsubscribe scotsgay-list' message to listserver@drink.demon.co.uk Please do not include the quote marks with your message. In either case, please ensure that your message is in the body (NOT header of the message) and that MIME and HTML options are switched OFF. Our listserver can only accept ASCII text. 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