END SCOTSGAY MAGAZINE ================= ScotsGay is a bi-monthly magazine for lesbians, gay men and bisexuals. Edited, printed and published in Scotland Issue 5 - August 1995 ELECTRONIC EDITION To subscribe: Send a mail message to listserver@drink.demon.co.uk The first (not subject) line of the message should be subscribe scotsgay-list (If you are subscribing for a different address from the one you are using to send the request, you should preface your request with a line of the form set address myotheraddress@my.other.system instead) To unsubscribe: Send a mail message to listserver@drink.demon.co.uk The first (not subject) line of the message should be unsubscribe scotsgay-list (If you are unsubscribing for a different address from the one you are using to send the request, you should preface your request with a line of the form set address myotheraddress@my.other.system instead) All Material Copyright (c) Pageprint Limited 1995. Permission is hereby given to distribute this material provided that this copyright notice is included and that distribution is specifically for non-profitmaking reasons. Distribution for profit must be done only with prior written consent of the magazine any deviation from this will be seen as an infringement of copyright. Hardcopies are limited to one per person for personal use only and such hard copies are subject to the same copyright restrictions as laid out above. The printed edition of ScotsGay is available by post at the following rates: 6 issue sub (UK & EC) 6ukp 6 issue sub (Overseas) 12ukp 12 issue sub (UK & EC) 10ukp 12 issue sub (Overseas) 22ukp Make Cheques and POs payable to 'Pageprint Limited' or 'ScotsGay' and send them to: Subscriptions ScotsGay Pageprint Limited PO Box 666 Edinburgh Scotland EH7 5YW ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- In this edition: Editorial - Keeping to ourselves? News - Reports and investigations Interview - We talk to Patrick Stewart Festivals - Our festivals extravaganza Inside Out - The total scene guide Venues - What and where Scene - Who and how Boxes - the ScotsGay Meet Market International - News from around the world Media - The new gay broadcasting Health - Developments in Glasgow Reviews - Wrist and upper arm exercises Serial - Dare Dave 'talk' to Mum? Listings and Helplines - Checked and updated every issue ScotsDyke - Who did what with Barbie? Credits - Who writes this stuff anyway? ---------------------------------------------------------------- EDITORIAL ========= Is the lesbigay scene getting too fragmented? That's a question I asked myself when I saw that Edinburgh has yet another cafe being opened to cater for a homosexual clientele. That brings the count here (depending upon how you class places) to something like four cafes, six bars, two clubs, a bookshop and Drondale. Glasgow is similarly supplied. There was a time when it seemed that we could all squeeze into the Kenilworth or even GHQ (in Glasgow it would have been The Duke of Wellington or St V's). These days are long gone and the scene is growing quicker than most of us ever thought possible. It's true that some of these businesses don't always last - Buster Brown's and QT's immediately spring to mind. But the general trend is towards an Expanding Gay Universe rather than one in a Steady State. It's not just the scene that's getting bigger - there's a proliferation of Special Interest Groups of all sorts. From the lesbigay Science Fiction fans who will be playing a major role in WorldCon in Glasgow later this year to the recently formed London Gay Real Ale Drinkers, there are now lesbigay groups to cover most interests. Our ghettos are becoming larger and more visible - but that may be at the expense of integrating (on our own terms, of course) with the rest of humanity. And I'm not entirely sure how I feel about that... John Hein ------------------------------------------------------- NEWS ==== BATTLE FOR THE MINISTER'S EAR Lesbigay activists are up in arms to hear that Michael Forsyth, newly appointed Secretary of State for Scotland, has chosen an outspoken homophobe, Gerald Warner, as his special political advisor. According to OUTRIGHT Scotland's Law Reform Secretary Tim Hopkins, "In this day and age, the appointment of an outspoken homophobe to such a post should be as unacceptable as the appointment of an outspoken racist". Warner's comments in the Sunday Times Scotland following Cardinal Basil Hume's condemnation of homophobic prejudice were among the most bigoted and hateful public remarks about homosexuality to appear in Scotland in recent years and a perfect illustration of the prejudice which Cardinal Hume sought to condemn. Now Hopkins has written to the Secretary of State to seek his assurance that Mr Warner's views on these matters did not reflect his own. He goes onto ask, "Can you also reassure us that this is an area in which Mr Warner's personal prejudice will not be allowed to influence policy in any way, and that lesbian, gay and bisexual people in Scotland can fully expect to be treated equally and fairly by your administration, without regard to our sexual orientation?" Forsyth voted against 16 as the male gay age of consent in the 1994 Commons debate on the issue and sent a fairly negative letter to a gay constituent shortly afterwards. Nevertheless, he did vote for 18 in the same debate and is not believed to be particularly personally prejudiced on the issue. After all, his wife is the former secretary of out gay Tory MP Michael Brown and the two men are believed to have been close political colleagues before the Stirling MP's meteoric rise to power. DUNN FOR OUTRIGHT Following a month in which OUTRIGHT Scotland's Co-ordinating Committee threw out founding member Ian Dunn, let him back in again and then saw their Convenor Martin Walker dramatically resign amidst accusations of character assassination by Dunn and assault on him by young men from a hostel near to Dunn's house, the Group now has Dunn as its new 'Convenor'. The Group has also seen the resignation from the Committee of respected campaigner Tim Hopkins and its Membership Secretary Sean Cross. A special General Meeting of the Group on the 20th of July threw out the two remaining members of the Committee (Jim Halcrow and John Hein) and proceeded to elect four replacements (Ian Dunn, John Wilkes, Paul Ivison and Charles Colquhoun). Halcrow and Hein did not stand as they claim that the meeting had no power to remove them and that the method of election used to select their replacements was deliberately chosen to eliminate opposition. Normally, the Committee is elected by a postal ballot of all members of the Group, candidates can be nominated in advance and the election itself is conducted by Single Transferable Vote. This method of counting allows proportional representation of different interest groups and factions within an organisation and has been a feature of the Group for many years encouraging diversity on its elected committees. This time, the meeting decided that only those present (less than 20% of the membership) could vote or nominate candidates and that the vote should be conducted by Eliminating Ballot - a method of election which excludes minorities and encourages a Stalinist dictatorship of the majority. In a move clearly planned in advance, Dunn, Ivison and Wilkes were nominated for the four vacant men's places in quick succession (nobody stood for the women's places). Then, after former OUTRIGHT Convenor Gordon Gosnell had been nominated for the remaining place and it looked as if the four men would be elected unopposed, Dunn was seen persuading his tenant Colquhoun to stand as well. Not surprisingly, Gosnell was not elected. Under the STV system, it is clear that he would have been. Later, Jim Halcrow, a founding member of the group with twenty five year's continuous service on the committee (longer than Dunn), told ScotsGay, "I refused to stand for election under such an inherently unfair voting system and will take no further part in the running of the Group until such time as it returns to being a democratic members' organisation." A change in the Group's year end, also decided on at the meeting, means that many young members who joined under Walker's youthful convenorship will have to pay another year's membership subscription if they wish to remain in the organisation and be able to vote in the Group's next annual election. Most will not bother. Dunn is now styling himself as Convenor of the Group (though Acting Convenor is more accurate as there has been no proper election procedure) and, in a mailing to members says that he hopes to raise the political temperature and the public profile of the Group. He believes that the challenge to fill the four vacant women's seats on the Committee will require past misogyny to be eliminated. "Gay rights in Scotland can't make progress until OUTRIGHT Scotland has visible and vocal women involved. One of my jobs as Convenor is to ensure that we welcome in women members." This is unlikely to happen. In the 1970s, Dunn was a founder member of the Paedophile Information Exchange and this fact is frequently given as a reason why many women unjustly refuse to work with him. Dick Wilson AIDS EXPENDITURE CLAIMS SLATED Scotland's Chief Medical Officer and many people and organisations working in the AIDS field have hit out at recent academic reports which argue that in the light of AIDS being relatively rare, the level of government funding earmarked for education and care was unjustifiably high. The Government and Health Boards say that the current low levels of HIV prevalence in the heterosexual population in Scotland is evidence of their success in halting the spread of HIV, particularly from drug injectors. But the report's authors claim that people are trying to protect their jobs in the AIDS industry, that the earlier forecasts of widespread infection into the general public were wildly exaggerated, and that expenditure was therefore excessive and largely unnecessary. This last point is surely clear indication of the attitude that AIDS doesn't matter much because it is mainly affecting gay men and drug injectors. Peter McGraith of Scottish AIDS Monitor argues that AIDS spending is not excessive, but rather that there is a need for funding decisions to be based on epidemiology. Although gay men currently make up more than 75% of new cases of infection in the Greater Glasgow area, an anomalous situation persists where less than 10% of expenditure on HIV education is targeted at work with gay men. LOCALS STEAMED UP OVER SAUNA Raymond Inverarity, owner of Bodytech sauna in Edinburgh's Haddington Place, has been threatened with the possible loss of alcohol licences for his pubs and club if he uses a loophole in the law to allow him to re-open his sauna without a Public Entertainment licence. Inverarity, who also runs popular gay watering holes Maggie Rayes, L.A.D.S. and Picardy's , bought the building six years ago and operated it quite legally as a sauna for several years. When he moved the business to other premises in the West End, the building was refurbished as part of a Common Improvement Scheme and he spent thousands of pounds in extra work to satisfy the local Councils' building, health and fire regulations. "I had to put in thirteen emergency lights - and there are only ever about twelve people in at any one time", Inverarity joked to ScotsGay. Nevertheless, when he applied to Edinburgh District Council for a new Public Entertainment licence last year (at a cost of over ukp500), he was knocked back after residents in the tenement above him objected on every possible ground (including the nature of the people likely to frequent the establishment). Now, if he runs the place without a licence, he could be fined up to ukp20,000 or imprisoned for up to six months. But he claims that there's nothing to stop him opening the place up if he doesn't charge for its use! And that's exactly what he intends to do: members of L.A.D.S. will be able to use the facilities free of charge on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 4pm to 9pm. However, police chiefs have threatened to oppose the future renewal of his drinks licences as 'being not a fit and proper person' - a label normally reserved for habitual criminals and drug pushers. "I've told them that a threat like that is sheer blackmail", said Inverarity. "I shall be opening up as planned towards the end of the Festival. I won't be charging, so I don't need a licence although I intend to apply for one at the next opportunity in December". HIGHLAND FLING II SAM's Highland Fling II at the Meadows in Edinburgh on Saturday 19th August is set to be the biggest ever safer sex promotion in Scottish history. Following on from the success of last year's Fling and the amazing Pride Scotland event on the Meadows earlier this year, the organisers - The Gay Men's Project and Blue Moon Productions - expect a huge turnout. The Highland Fling is like a cross between a Highland Games and a Gay Pride, a recipe for a great day OUT! The attractions include the Cabaret Tent, the Dance Tent, the various sports events not to mention the SAM Health Tent and a lot of talent in kilts. Acts already confirmed for the Cabaret Tent include gay comedians Scott Capurro and Bert Tyler-Moore of Gaytime TV. THANKS This issue sees the departure of Gordon Gosnell, one of the co-founders of this magazine who will be leaving the ScotsGay Editorial Team to pursue other business interests. However, he will continue to publish the monthly Pulse Magazine. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Gordon for all his help and support in setting up ScotsGay - it would not have happened without him. We wish him well for the future in all that he undertakes. John Hein INVERNESS Reach Out Highland is to hold an Information Evening on 24th August from 7-9pm. It will focus on the HIV/AIDS agency's work and how people can get involved as volunteers. Further information: phone Andrew Hunter on Inverness (01463) 711585 (office hours). GLASGOW Strathclyde Regional Council have made a grant of ukp87,000 to the Glasgow Gay and Lesbian Centre despite an investigation by the Scottish Office to see if this was against Section 28. The Centre hopes to be open on Saturday 28th October in time for Glasgay! PARTY The Lantern Group in Edinburgh is holding a party in the Eat Out caf‚ on Monday 21st August from 9pm to 1am. Entry will be by donation of ukp1 (minimum) and this will include food and a glass of wine. OPENING Actor and gay activist Michael Cashman recently opened Aberdeen Lesbian and Gay Switchboard's new offices in the oil capital. He was visiting the city at the time to appear in a play in a local theatre. ACCESS An appeal for ukp45,000 is to be launched to pay for alterations to Edinburgh's Lesbian Gay and Bisexual Centre to allow wheelchair access. The Centre was opened in 1975. ARRIVAL Former nurse Liz Jaconelli has been appointed as Strathclyde Gay & Lesbian Switchboard's new Development Officer. GRANTS Strathclyde Lesbian and Gay Advisory Forum is handing out small grants from their sessional funds to Strathclyde based lesbian and gay community groups. Applications, addressed to GLC Project, 196 Bath Street, Glasgow. G2 4HH, should be sent to arrive by 31st August. SUN FUN PHACE West has launched holiday safer sex packs containing condoms, lube and a handy translation card which includes the Italian, French, Spanish and German for 'I only have safer sex' and 'Where's the pharmacy?'. AWARD Nominations for the annual Mike Rhodes Award are being sought. The ukp500 annual award is given to an individual who has significantly promoted an understanding of lesbian and gay life. Nominations sent to Mike Rhodes Trust, 50 Roupell Street, LONDON, SE1 8TB must arrive by 31st August. ------------------------------------------------------- INTERVIEW ========= A STERLING CHARACTER Patrick Stewart is easily one of "our favourite actors", who left our shores to show the Americans what real acting is all about. With an outstanding career in the Royal Shakespeare Company behind him he went on a voyage of discovery as the captain of the USS Enterprise in Star Trek: The Next Generation to become one of the most famous faces on the planet. Brandon Judell spoke to him about his new film, Jeffrey, which unfortunately hasn't made it to the Edinburgh Film Festival as was hoped. We should see it before the year is out. "I am not the archetypal leading man. This is mainly for one reason. As you may have noticed, I have no hair," Patrick Stewart humbly admitted a few years ago. On a more serious note, he told the graduating class of Pomona College this past June that "it is what you do from now on that will either move our civilization forward a few tiny steps, or else... begin to march us steadily backward." What Captain Picard of Star Trek: The Next Generation has done is trade in his space togs for a sweater over the shoulders and a lover who's a chorus boy in Cats. This star of the sci-fi institution that ran for seven seasons and was the highest-rated syndicated show in TV history is now indeed leading his Trekkie fans to parts of the universe few have ever envisioned _ and they've envisioned quite a bit in the past. His Sterling in the film Jeffrey is a flamboyant interior decorator who prowls the streets as a Pink Panther, protecting his fellow gay man, when he's not shopping or attending the opera. A sample Sterling line: "I was watching these two guys on Nightline on Gay Pride Day, and one of them said, 'I'm Bob Wheeler and I'm a surgeon. And my lover is an attorney. And we'd like to show America that all gays aren't limp-wristed, screaming queens. There are gay truck drivers and gay cops and gay lumberjacks.' And I just thought, 'Ooh, get her.' " Attired in a very expensive grey flannel sports jacket, a collar-less shirt, grey slacks, light brown socks, and exquisitely soft brown leather shoes, Stewart immediately starts off our interview reprimanding us for even suggesting he'd have second thoughts about playing a gay man. "I'm not quite sure why you see the role as controversial," he insisted. "I can see that the film might be controversial. In fact, it damn well is controversial. Some people who may not know what's in store for them are going to be a little surprised by what they encounter. But I only saw a cracking good role. One of the best roles I've ever had, and it just happened to be a gay man in a rather provocative movie about gay men and AIDS." Stewart, who was a rather unknown entity to the American masses until he travelled into the future for them, did entertain the PBS crowd at one time in such mini-series as I, Claudius; Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, and Smiley's People. His film efforts include Robin Hood: Men in Tights, Excalibur, Dune and, of course, Star Trek: Generations. Currently, he's outdoors in Central Park, New York, starring as Prospero in The Tempest. So is he worried about how his fans will react? Is he apprehensive about US homophobia having any effect on his career? "Homophobia I don't think is localized just in the United States," Stewart instructs, "although if you were to read the wit and wisdom of Jesse Helms in the last couple of weeks you might be inclined to think it is. Actually, in a way, it's a kind of blessing because Jeffrey could not be released at a more appropriate time than when the unspeakable Helms is making these statements." After a quick pause, he exclaims enthusiastically, "I'm glad to say Jeffrey is in your face, isn't it? It really is... The first time I saw the film, even though I knew what was in the film, I gasped more than once. But then I have to cast my mind to the first day of rehearsal," Stewart says. "Six of us in a room. The six principal protagonists: writer, director, four actors. Three of us gay. Three of us straight. None of us really knew one or another at all." "We'd been together about half an hour, talking rather nervously. We were going to read the script when Steven Weber suddenly grabbed hold of Michael Weiss and kissed him on the mouth and said, 'THERE I'VE DONE IT. I DONE IT. I'VE GOT IT OVER WITH.' " "That was the moment everyone was most terrified of. The first kiss, how it would be. Steven, who is marvellous in the movie, his gesture at that moment was absolutely appropriate because not only did it make us laugh, but it brought out into the open all of that heterosexual nervousness about what it would be like when the moment actually had come." Three gay? Three straight? And which group did Stewart belong to? "I can't speak for the others, but in recent interviews, certainly with the gay media, to my surprise, it's been put to me that I might be gay. There's a genuine body of opinion that I am. Well, I explained that I'm not as far as I'm aware. Nevertheless, it's a kind of a held body of opinion in the gay community. " "You know I found myself curiously flattered by this. I'm serious. I'm not sure why but I do feel flattered by it. Perhaps in a way, it's one of those things that makes my casting in Jeffrey so appropriate." Sterling, probably couldn't agree more. When asked which group he's marching with on Gay Pride Day, Sterling replies, "Gay Men Who Need a Cigarette." Puff on that, Trekkies. Brandon Judell ------------------------------------------------------------- FESTIVALS ========= FILM: The Drambuie Edinburgh Film Festival runs, this year, from the 13th to the 27th of August. Showing some six hundred or so films, it promises to be one of the biggest ever. It has films from around the world, short films and some excellent documentaries. BRAITHWAITE looks through the programme and gives us a preview. This is the 49th Annual International Film Festival to be held in Edinburgh and promises to be one of the best yet. It is split into a number of highlighted sections including: Rosebud which consists of the best innovative discoveries the film world has to offer, Gala which has some of the most glamorous films in the festival, and Scene By Scene with screen writers and directors giving insights into filmmaking. The Stanley Donen Retrospective is showing some of his campest musicals including Singin' In The Rain and Seven Brides For Seven Brothers. His other great movies like Charade and Two For The Road are also being screened in a 14 strong programme for which there is a special Donen Pass at ukp40. The festival opens with the first screening of Ken Loach's Land and Freedom. It also has Kevin Costner in Jon Avnet's The War and Mario Van Peebles' Panther. There are quite a number of films of lesbian and gay interest, full details of which follow. The international premiere of Jeffrey (see our interview with Patrick Stewart) was to have been the big gay film of the Festival. Unfortunately, it has been pulled from the programme to allow it to be entered for a supposedly more prestigious Film Festival elsewhere. Ballot Measure 9 by Heather Macdonald This documentary won an award at the 1995 Sundance film festival and is the story of the fight against "Section 28" type legislation in Oregon. This is the UK premiere of a documentary which deals with the issues with a degree of humour and pathos. Mon 14th August, 4pm Cameo 1 & Tue 22nd, 1pm Cameo 1. ukp6/ukp4 I'll Be Your Mirror by Nan Goldin & Edmund Caulthard This is a profile of one of the world's best photographers: Nan Golin. It deals with her work and life. With beautiful torch songs by Eartha Kitt, it deals with issues as diverse as the 1970s Boston drag scene, 1980s gay New York and the devastation of AIDS in the 1990s. It is being shown with another documentary called Martha. Both films question voyeurism and decadence. Mon 14th August, 8.45pm Filmhouse 2 & Sun 20th, 4pm Filmhouse 2. ukp6/ukp4 Scene By Scene with Terence Davis This is a section of the film festival where you get the opportunity to talk to directors, and they get the chance to explain their latest piece of work. Davis has made a number of very personal films The Long Day Closes and Distant Voices Still Lives. Wed 16th August, 6.15pm Filmhouse 1. ukp8/ukp4 The Neon Bible by Terence Davis Gena Rowlands, Diana Scarwid and Denis Leary Having made a series of semi autobiographical movies he has turned his attention to the 1940s Southern Bible Belt. The Neon Bible is based on the novel by John Kennedy Toole and is an odyssey of childhood memory. It tells the story of young David and how his life changes when his flamboyant aunt comes to stay. Wed 16th August, 9.30pm Cameo 1. ukp6/ukp4 Three Steps to Heaven by Constantine Giannaris Katrin Artlidge, Frances Barber, James Fleet The first feature from director Constantine Giannaris who previously made a series of short films and worked on Out on Tuesday. This is a thriller about three very different Londoners: a city whizz kid, a left wing Labour MP and a game show host. A fascinating modernist and homoerotic film. Thu 17th August, 4pm Cameo 1 & Sat 26th 9.30pm Cameo 1. ukp6/ukp4 Carrington by Christopher Hampton Emma Thompson and Jonathan Pryce This film won several awards at this year's Cannes Film Festival. It tells the story of the relationship between painter Dora Carrington (Thompson) and Bloomsbury Set writer Lytton Strachey (Pryce) who scandalised London in the early part of this century. Strachey was a gay pacifist, Carrington a free spirited tomboy who had a string of lovers some of whom were also Strachey's objects of desire. Fri 18th August, 8.15pm MGM. ukp6/ukp4 The Basketball Diaries by Scott Kalvert Leonardo DiCaprio, Bruno Kirby, Lorraine Bracco, Marky Mark This is the international premiere of the much awaited film version of Jim Carroll's cult book about his own years as a teenage drug addict. It has cute young dynamic actor Leonardo DiCaprio (This Boy's Life and What's Eating Gilbert Grape?) who gives an amazing performance in one of the best films at the festival. If you don't see anything else, watch this. Look out for Marky Mark and some serious ball play. It's hoped that DiCaprio will attend the premiere. Sat 19th August, 9.30pm, Cameo 1 & Fri 25th, 7.30pm UCI. ukp6/ukp4 Living in Oblivion by Tom Dicillo Steve Buscemi From the director of Brad Pitt in Johnny Suede, this is a comic story of paranoia in the film business. Steve Buscemi (Parting Glances and Reservoir Dogs) is a low budget director who leads a misfit crew including a muscle-bound cameraman, the production manager who is in love with him and a strange leading actress. Sun 20th August, 7.30pm UCI & Sat 26th, 8.15pm Filmhouse 1, ukp6/ukp4 Madagascar Skin by Chris Newby John Hannah, Bernard Hill Another UK premiere, this is director Chris Newby's second feature and has the 'other' star of Four Weddings and a Funeral, John Hannah as a man whose sense of alienation stems not only from being gay but because he has a large birthmark on his face in the shape of Madagascar. He forms a relationship with a lonely kleptomaniac Bernard Hill and the film explores their odd relationship. Sun 20th August, 10.30pm Filmhouse 1 & Sat 26th, 6pm Cameo 3. ukp6/ukp4 The Limits of Thermal Travelling by Mark Bender This babes and bikes saga with its tongue firmly in its cheek (and a few other places) is bound to be one of the underground hits of the festival. Shot and edited like a promo, the film tells a typical Miami tale of how Karen is bored with brain dead Josh and hooks up with lesbian biker Viper. Should pack in the dykes if nothing else. Mon 21st August, 11.30pm Cameo 1 & Wed 23rd, 10pm UCI. ukp6/ukp4 There are a number of other films which are well worth watching: Panther starring and directed by Mario Van Peebles; The War starring Kevin Costner; The Four Corners of Nowhere, the cult hit of the Sundance Film Festival; Love And Hate - European Shorts, a series of excellent short films; The Near Room, shot in Glasgow; Venice Bound, the story of a drifter with a disturbing past; Mad Love with star of Batman Chris O'Donnell and Drew Barrymore; The Good Old Boys, the directorial debut of Tommy Lee Jones; and Loved Up, a bittersweet 90s love story. FRINGE: Another Festival, and as usual Edinburgh's lesbian, gay and bisexual population gets boosted by lots of visitors. But, so many shows, so little time. What to see? Well certain venues have a better track record than others, but good new venues appear, and others seem to lose their way. One new venue well worth attention is Bluefest on Calton Road which describes itself as "the first ever gay and lesbian venue" - why did it take so long for one to emerge? With an adventurous programme of 12 shows focusing on the lighter end of the spectrum this could be good. One venue that one can almost review without looking at the programme is Theatre Workshop in Hamilton Place. As usual this has a wide ranging programme of different types of theatre, most of which will undoubtedly be excellent. As always Clyde Unity Theatre are back with a new play written by John Binnie, Bone, which if past form is anything to go by, will address issues of sexuality and sexual stereotypes. This is also likely to be hugely entertaining and thought provoking at the same time. Definitely one I won't be missing. Theatre Workshop also has the advantage of some of the comfiest seats in Edinburgh and an excellent cafe with the best ambience of any front of house in the city. Lovers of dance who have not got money to burn should forget about the official Festival and get themselves down to Continental Shifts at St Brides, just off Dalry Road. For the last two years this venue has put together a programme of astounding quality which has put the official Festival to shame. It looks like they plan to do the same this year. It is difficult to single out one of the 11 shows on there as the one to see, so I won't. The Demarco European Art Foundation on Albany St is not so much a venue as an installation one is invited to become a part of. People can be found amongst the art exhibits studying piles of leaves, unsure whether they are someone's latest creation or piles of leaves that have just been swept up. As for the programme - on the heavy side concentrating on companies from throughout Europe. The home of comedy is undoubtedly The Pleasance. With its 6 performing spaces and 1000 performances it can provide entertainment for all. The home of just about everything is The Gilded Balloon just along the road in the Cowgate. Now also up to 6 spaces it uses them to the full to provide some of the best in all fields of theatre to satisfied audiences. The venue that showed the greatest improvement last year was The Mad Abbot in Abbotsford Lodge, off Morningside Road. Back again are the superb Aspects Touring Company and The Bad Habit Cabaret from 10pm onwards was definitely the place to find new talent last year. What to avoid? Student companies into Physical Theatre. Now, when done well theatre where much of the meaning is conveyed by the physical nature of the piece is great, but when performed by those that can barely act who seem to have forgotten that the meaning is supposed to be conveyed to the audience it is rubbish. Have fun, I intend to. Martin Powell Listings: Bluefest: V94 - New Calton, 24-26 Calton Road - The Fringe's first lesbigay venue. The dates given below do not include Mondays when the venue is closed. As well as these productions, there are regular clubs in addition to various speciality and benefit nights - see the Bluefest leaflet for details. The biggest crowd will undoubtedly be for Boy George who will be appearing on 18 Aug. Cat. A. Theatre Company 'Doing Bird' are three inmates of a women's prison. Comic genius which won them a Fringe First. But a far cry from 'They used to eat my Rhubarb, I wish they would again ....' Aug 15-20; 2.30pm The Divine Feud 'Plush .. An Intimate Review' combines a dazzling mixture of drag, juggling, song, dance, puppets, acrobalance, fan-dancing and strip-tease to explore the frequently undervalued history of British Variety. Aug 15-20 7pm, Aug 22-27; 9.30pm Israeli Writers 'Words Of His Own' is a selection of gay short stories by Israeli writers - an alternative view of masculinity to the macho bravado of popular Israeli culture. Aug 15-27; 4.30pm and 8.15pm Killer Disco 'Fame Costs' is a multimedia production starring 'Angel Valentine'. The drag show of the 90s. Aug 10-27; 10.15pm The Living Juke-Box You name it - they'll sing it! From a selection of 50 numbers. Sing along at your peril. Aug 22-27; 11pm Michael Atavar 'Don't You Want Me Baby?' showcases the missing link between Neil Bartlett & Morrissey. Where Shirley Bassey sings, Grant and Phil become porn stars and the Human League dance all night long at the Daisy Disco. Aug 10-20; 6.15pm Miss Fit's C.O.C Conceived, choreographed and performed by Derek Porter, from the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras comes 'Miss Fit' - a thought-provoking piece about transsexuality. Aug 22-27; 2.30pm Oxygen House A new production of 'Are There Really Tigers In The Congo?' - an HIV/AIDS play that won a Fringe First for the 1991 production at the Traverse. Focusing on a middle class heterosexual context, the play challenges us to radically re-assess our attitudes to HIV/AIDS. August 11-27 (not 14, 21); 1pm Pantomime Prods 'Knockers' is written and performed by Jenni Potter (a man with a woman's name, playing a man playing a woman). 'Chloe Poems' is Tory MP 'Paddy Field' by day and a gay socialist poet and raconteur by night! The Gingham Diva is the best thing to come out of Liverpool since Ms Savage. Aug 10-20 9.30pm, Aug 22-27; 4.30pm Projectile Children 'Adventure Playground', featuring Tu Tu and Alison Cocks is a collaboration of theatre, dance, song and spectacle drawing on their own experiences of the sex industry. Aug 10-20; 11.15pm Scarlet Stories Parisian jazz singer Caroline Nin, now living in London, performs French ballads and classic songs. Aug 22-27; 6.15pm The Tina C Experience New Country Star from Nashville Tennessee. The woman who put the cunt into country music. A loud woman with balls. Aug 22-27; 7pm Comedy & Revue: Rhona Cameron The funniest thing to come out of Musselburgh in years, Cameron has been sitting around at 'Gaytime TV', but now presents her own stand-up show. V3 - Assembly Rooms - Aug 11-Sept 2; 9pm Scott Capurro Following his surprise success at last year's festival, Capurro returns with his 'Love and Affection Tour'. A very funny young man. V 33 - Pleasance - Aug 10-Sept 2; 6.50pm Julian Clary Having exposed himself in Australia and New Zealand, Clary is back (sans mutt) for just four nights. Nice work if you can get it! V3 - Assembly Rooms - Aug 24-27; 9.15pm Bob Downe The King of Kitsch returns! Outer and wilder than ever, this Australian misfit appeals to all sorts of family audiences. V37 - George Square Theatre - Aug 14-28 (not 20); 10.15pm Karen Dunbar 'No Laughing Matter' allows the well kent DJ and all round funny woman a chance to examine the art of being Scottish whilst doing song and dance numbers. V78 - CC Blooms - Aug 18-26 (not 20); 8.30pm Simon Fanshawe New show from the well known professional woofter, comic, broadcaster and Fringe heid-bummer. V3 - Assembly Rooms - Aug 21-Sept 2; 6.10pm Paul Hull 'These Girls I Knew' is a musical whirl through the wilder excesses of gay culture featuring songs of some of the world's most famous dental dames. V82 - Southside - Aug 13-Sept 2; 11.10pm Jeffrey Dahmer Is Unwell A black comedy in three crime scenes. Probably in extremely poor taste. V51 - Gilded Balloon II - Aug 11-Sept 2 (not 31); 6.45pm Jenny Eclair 'Prozac and Tantrums' is likely to sell out early, so get tickets soon. Superbitch Eclair is well worth seeing. V33 - Pleasance - Aug 11- Sept 2 (not 31); 9.30pm Lee and Herring's Fist of Fun A chance to see the cute one and the naff one - as seen on TV. I won't say which is which. V33 - Pleasance - Aug 9-20 (not 17); 8.45pm Earl Okin The campest and horniest man on the Fringe - even though he's straight! V50 - The Music Box - Aug 11-Sept 2; 7.35pm & V90 -Mansfield Place Church - Aug 12,18,19,25-28,Sept 1,2; 4.15pm Tom Robinson Bisexual star of the Locker Room presents his late-night showcase of talent - music, anecdotes, etc. V33 - Pleasance - Aug 17-28 (not 22); 11pm Lily Savage, Gayle Tuesday and Bob Downe 'Best of the Fest 4' is a one nighter described as the hottest show on the Fringe. Nice and convenient for the scene afterwards. V59 - Playhouse - Aug 22; 8pm Bert Tyler-Moore Bertie Something is the genial comedian's first one-man show in Edinburgh. Following his exposure on 'Gaytime TV', Mary's son should be fair getting the bums on seats. V82 - Southside - Aug 11-Sept 2 (not 15,22,29); 7.45pm Dance & Physical Theatre: Archaos Bikers BVDA Alternative circus with some very dishy people and some rather interesting bikes. V109 - Cirque Surreal - Aug 12,15-19,22-26,29-Sept 2; 5.30pm & Aug 14,21 6pm, Aug 13,14,20,21,27,29; 9.15pm Burklyn Youth Ballet 'Peter and the Wolf' is danced by 18 young dancers aged 12-20. V46 - Church Hill Theatre - Aug 12,14-19; 3pm The Re-animators Caf‚ Flesh is presented by the world's most bizarre ballet company. Costumes to die for. V62 - St Bride's Centre Aug 14-19; 9.30pm Music: Damage Nights Although it didn't work out as a lesbigay venue, 'M8' is now punting for a mixed crowd and promises the best dance/chill venue at the festival. V116 -Club M8 - Aug10-Sept 2 (not Mons); 12 midnight Musicals & Opera: American High School Theatre Festival 'Personals' is a musical about people placing lonely hearts ads. Gay relevance? Probably not! V176 - Roxburgh Halls - Aug 12,14,16,18; 3.03pm & Aug 15; 7.30pm Edinburgh University Savoy Opera Group 'Gilbert and Sullivan Go Wilde' combines the music of Sullivan, the lyrics of Gilbert and the humour of Wilde. A veritable how-de-do! V23 - Chaplaincy Centre - Aug 27-Sept 2; 8.15pm Nancy 3. Hoffman Herself More G&S as the usual 40 strong cast of 'The Mikado' is replaced by one woman. This I must see! V49 - Bedlam Theatre - Aug 14-26; 11am & Aug 28-Sept 2; 7pm Strawberries With Cream 'The Boy-Friend' is a camp classic - a witty pastiche of 1920's musical theatre. Revisit the sparkle of a bygone age. V34 - Adam House Theatre - Aug 20-26; 5.15pm & Aug 28-Sept 2; 7.45pm Union Theatre 'Kiss Me Kate' is hardly PC, but this is said to be a production well worth seeing. V93 - James Gillespie's High School - Aug 22-26; 7.15pm Talks And Events: Edinburgh Festival Voluntary Guides Association Free walking tours of the 'Royal Mile' which, for three weeks, ruin the business of the local professional guides. V165 - Canonball House - Aug 7-Sept 2; Tours leave regularly. Theatre: Arches Theatre 'Sexual Perversity in Chicago' is a hilarious exposure of modern sexual mores. V38 - Gilded Balloon Theatre - Aug 11-26; 4pm Ballonatics Theatre Company A solo show by Paul O'Hanrahan, 'Zany of Sorrow' recreates Oscar Wilde as our most phenomenal contemporary. 100 years after the trial, relish kisses and conundrums that still inspire convulsions. V20 - Theatre Workshop - Aug 14-Sept 2 (not Suns); 5.45pm Bradford Playhouse Studio Group 'Nativity' by Jonathon Hall was the 1993 Fringe Hit. A comedy on an all too familiar theme. V82 - Southside - Aug 12,14,16,18,20,22,24,26; 2.05pm 'Statements of Attainment' is Jonathan Hall's new comedy set in a Bradford infant school. V82 - Southside - Aug 13,15,17,19,21,23,25; 2.05pm The Bridge Theatre Company Much is known of Oscar - but what of his mother? In 'Mother of Oscar' we hear Speranza, the fiery young poet who electrified Ireland. V82 - Southside - Aug 27-Sept 2; 12.20pm Clyde Unity Theatre 'Bone' is gay writer John Binnie's exciting collaboration with dancer Rosina Bonsu. Raw, emotionally searing, physical. V20 - Theatre Workshop - Aug 14,16,18,20,22,24,26,28,30,Sept 1; 6pm John Binnie's Independent Theatre Award winning drama, 'A Little Older', is about friendship enduring under exceptional circumstances. V20 - Theatre Workshop - Aug 15,17,19,23,25,27,29,31,Sept 2; 6pm David Forest In 'Entertaining Changes', David reveals all in words and song - plus deviation in his private life. V33 - Pleasance - Aug 9-21 (not 14); 12.25pm Demarco Foundation 'Beyond All Certainty - UK - Sweden' is 'The Great Escape Theatre Company's' meeting between two pooves: philosopher Wittgenstein and father of computing Turing. It examines their public and private dilemmas. V22 - Demarco European Art Foundation Aug 14-19; 1.30pm 'Latin! or Tobacco and Boys' is Stephen Fry's comedy of corruption set in an English prep school. Wonder if any of the cast will do a runner? V22 - Demarco European Art Foundation Aug 21-26; 11.15am De Montfort University Theatre 'Equus' - A deranged youth blinds six horses with a spike showing how materialism has killed our capacity for passion and thus pain. V23 - Chaplaincy Centre - Aug 21-26; 1.30pm The Electric Company A young teacher and his pupil come to terms with their sexuality and one another in 'Caliban On Thursday'. V36 - Festival Club - Aug 16-18,21,22,25,26; 2pm Fettes At The Fringe The famous Fetteshists (Tony Blurr's old school) present 'Equus'. V54 - Fettes College - Aug 23-25,28-30; 7.35pm 4X4 Theatre Company 'Hoplite' is a gay love story set during WWII. The way of life Captain Markham fought to protect now traps him. V19 - C Venue - 9 Aug - Sept 2 (not 17,31); 8.20pm Ken & Barb 'A Day in the Life of a Supermodel' has Barb as silicone babe and Ken as her frustrated accessory. Wickedly funny 4-hander. V38 - Gilded Balloon Theatre - Aug 11-Sept 2; 5.30pm The Liverpool Playhouse 'The Legend of Pope Joan' is a hard hitting and often raw story of sexism and a woman's struggle to survive it at any cost. V45 - Old St Paul's Church Hall - Aug 14-19; 7.25pm Merlin In 'A Meeting With The Monster', junkie, womaniser, homosexual and pornographer Alex Trocchi takes you through his turbulent life. V61 - The Wee Red Bar - Aug 27-31; 8.30pm Northern Theatre Company In 'Family Values', Anna and Jo want a baby. No problem - except that they're dykes! V34 - Adam House Theatre - Aug 12,14,16,18,20,22,24,26; 11.30am Oxford Brookes Drama 'Equus' - yet another production! V82 - Southside - Aug 21-Sept 2 (not 24,30); 4.05pm Perpetual Theatre 'Limp Writs' consists of three monologues by local lad 'Paul Trainer' - drawn from contemporary gay life with characters as diverse as they're recognisable. They're all here, from the self-oppressive hyper-closet to the acid tongued queen, to one, with perhaps, a more regal station in life. V78 - CC Blooms - Aug 17,18,19,25,26,27; 7pm & Aug 31-Sept 2; 9pm Pharma Theatre Company In 'Acid Maze', drugs and clubs bring five people together. Friendships are forged but when sexualities are questioned the framework crumbles. V98 - Marco's - Aug 27-Sept 2; 8.15pm QMW Theatre Company 'The Normal Heart' is Larry Kramer's harrowing play chronicling the first frantic episodes of the AIDS epidemic. V45 - Old St Paul's Church Hall - Aug 21-26; 8.15pm The Sexact Roadshow 'Teen Spirit' is a lively play about HIV, AIDS and what it's like to be a teenager in the 90s. Devised by its youthful cast, it follows the fortunes of a group of teenagers experimenting with their sexuality. V58 - Royal Mile Primary School - Aug 28-Sept 1; 7.30pm Starving Artists 'Road Movie' is a passionate, hilarious trip through love and loss in gay America. Combining monologue, laconic humour and hilarious comedy, the text is powered by passages of great lyrical beauty and tenderness. Mark Pinkosh performs the last in Godfrey Hamilton's trilogy. V15 - Traverse Theatre - Aug 22,26,31; 12.30pm, Aug 22,26,31; 3pm, Aug 24,29,Sept 1; 5.30pm & Aug 25,30,Sept 2; 8pm Traveling Light Productions 'Food For Thought' celebrates the resilience of the human spirit as a woman and her two gay friends navigate the treacherous New York world of brunch, homophobia, gravity and anonymous sex. V55 - Randolph Studio - Aug 11-12; 8pm & Aug 14-Sept 2 (not 20,29); 11.15am When Harry Met Cathy (& Anne & Jane & Anne & Kathy & Cathy) Bernadine Corrigan's camp romp through the wives of Henry VIII. V33 - Pleasance - Aug 9-Sept 2 (not 14,29); 3.10pm John Hein OFFICIAL: Most fag interest in the Official Festival this year is focused on dance with Bill T Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Co (graphic below) and the Mark Morris Dance Group being the names to go for. Which is fine if you're into dance. If you're into music, you can forget John Adams' I Was Looking At The Ceiling And Then I Saw The Sky - it'll doubtless by the hit of the Festival but then, there's no accounting for tastes - his dreary Nixon in China was a wow in 1988. ------------------------------------------------------------- INSIDE OUT The most accurate, up-to-date and accessible guide to Scotland's scene, with all the pubs and clubs, bookshops and cafes, along with all the juicy gossip contained therein. If that's not enough, our numerous box ads might just contain the very person that your mother warned you about... Aberdeen CLUB CABERFEIDH 9 Hadden Street. Tel: (01224) 212181. Every night 10pm-2am. The biggest and most popular Lesbian and Gay disco in the north! PINK FLAMINGO 47 Upper Kirkgate. Tel: (01224) 624472. Noon-2am. Plush cocktail bar frequented by the trendier crowd. Increasingly busy disco downstairs. Dundee CLUB CRUISE 60 Brown Street (part of Oscars). Tel: (01382) 221176. Sat 11pm-3am. Noisy with soft lighting, but, despite its name, relaxed and not too cruisy. Possibility of a new monthly Wednesday Romp - watch this space. DEVA'S 75 Seagate. Tel: (01382) 226840. Mon-Sat 11am-midnight, Sun 12.30pm-11pm. Formerly the Gauger, no expense spared in the re-decoration. Something for everyone! Edinburgh During the Edinburgh Festival, most Edinburgh venues have greatly extended hours courtesy of the Licensing Board who, for three weeks, allow Edinburgh to look and act like a proper European Capital. As we go to press, we don't know what these hours will be so we've continued to list the conventional opening hours. You'll just have to suck it and see! BLACK BO'S 57/61 Blackfriars Street. Tel: 0131-557 6136. Mon-Fri 12.30pm-2.30pm and 6pm-10.30pm, Sat 12.30pm-10.30pm, Sun 6pm-10pm. Superb little vegetarian restaurant. Friendly staff. Mixed clientele. Good value lunch menu. BLUE MOON 36 Broughton Street. Tel: 0131-557 0911. Mon-Thu 9.30am-midnight. Fri 9.30am-3am. Sat 9am-3am. Sun 11am-3am. Popular lesbigay cafe. The Barony Street entrance gives access to the Buzz Bar open Mon-Thu 9am-1.45am, Fri 9am-2.45am, Sat 11am-2.45am, Sun 11am-1.45am). The new Tapas Bar in the basement serves Spanish food, drink and music and is open Wed-Sun 7pm-1am. BODYTECH SAUNA 29a Haddington Place. Open FREE to members of L.A.D.S. only. Will operate Thu, Fri, Sat 4pm-9pm from end of August. CAFE KUDOS 22 Greenside Place. Tel: 0131-556 4349. Noon-2am. A new addition to Edinburgh's flourishing cafe society in the former Chapps premises. Fresh and stylish. CAFE LUCIA 13-29 Nicolson Street. Tel: 0131-662 1112. Generally 10am-10pm but hours vary according to performances. Mixed bar attached to the financially challenged Edinburgh Festival Theatre. Full of luvvies and their friends! CC BLOOMS 23 Greenside Place. Tel: 0131-556 9331. Noon-3am. Bar/diner serving superb food in the Hole in the Wall restaurant (Noon-10pm). Karaoke on Thursday and Sunday. Male strippers Sun afternoons. Disco every night. CITY CAFE 19 Blair Street. Tel: 0131-220 0125. Mon-Sat 11am-1pm, Sun 11am-midnight. Not as outrageously mixed as it used to be, but still seriously conventional. CLUB SAPPHO 25-27 Market Street. Tel: 0131-226 4224. Fri 10pm-4am. Scotland's new women only nightclub/bar. Fab atmosphere, venue and sounds. Wheelchair accessible. DRONDALE LIMITED 60 Broughton Street. Tel: 0131-556 1471. Open Mon-Fri 10am-7pm, Sat 12-8. At the front of the Edinburgh Lesbian Gay and Bisexual Centre. Undoubtedly the largest gay shop north of Manchester, with a large selection of magazines, cards, toys, underwear, swimwear, leather and rubberwear. Well worth a visit. Worldwide mail order service. EAT OUT IN EDINBURGH 60 Broughton Street. Tel: 0131-556 0152. WWW: http://www.colloquium.co.uk/www/eponym/eatout.html. 11am-11pm. Licensed cafe at the rear of the Edinburgh LG&B Centre. Now under the capable management of Brendan Nash - need we say more? Undoubtedly, the place to partake of a superior set of comestibles. EDINBURGH LESBIAN GAY AND BISEXUAL CENTRE 58a and 60 Broughton Street. Owned by OUTRIGHT Scotland, it houses Calosa Publishing Limited, Drondale Limited, Eat Out in Edinburgh and Pride Scotland as well as providing meeting and noticeboard space for many lesbigay organisations. FOUR BBBB's CLUB 26b Dublin Street. Tel: 0131-538 7775. Big Beary Bulky Boys have their own club at Intense in the Newtown Bar on the 4th Friday of the month. 8-10pm - bar opens to non members 9pm-12.30am. JOY AT THE NEW CALTON 20 Calton Road. Tel: 0131-558 3758. Sat 11pm-late (during the Festival, not open until midnight). Edinburgh's Saturday One Nighter is Scotland's largest gay club. Reduced entry before midnight. For membership: write to JOY, PO Box 13456, Edinburgh. EH6 8YA. Wheelchair accessible. L.A.D.S. 2 Picardy Place. Tel: 0131-556 5414. 9pm-2am. Membership only cruisy club/disco. Downstairs from Picardy's but with its own door. Raymond has gone wild with the black emulsion! LORD NELSON BAR Linden Hotel, 9-13 Nelson Street. Tel: 0131-557 4344. Mon-Sat Noon-2pm, 6pm-11pm. Sun 7pm-11pm. Quiet bar attached to Edinburgh's biggest gay hotel. Superb Thai restaurant. MAGGIE RAYES 85 Rose Street Lane North. Tel: 0131-225 7651. Mon-Thur Noon-1am. Fri-Sat Noon-2am. Sun 1pm-1am. Frenetically friendly impromptu cabaret bar. Friday is karaoke night! NEW TOWN BAR 26B Dublin Street. Tel: 0131-538 7775. Noon-1am. Especially popular with Bears, but has wide clientele. Real Ale. Intense, the sub-basement cruise bar is open Fri-Sat 9pm-1am - mainly men, but women welcome too!. No EIGHTEEN 18 Albert Place. Tel: 0131-553 3222. Mon-Sat Noon-10pm. Scotland's only sauna club for gay gentlemen - run by a couple of straight Dykes! OVER THE RAINBOW 32 Broughton Street. 11am-1am. New licensed cafe. Live music a speciality. PICARDY'S 2 Picardy Place. Tel: 0131-556 5414. 11am-late. Cabaret Show Bar. At the Centre of Edinburgh's Gay Triangle. ROUTE 66 6 Baxter's Place. Tel: 0131-556 5991. Sun-Fri 3pm-1.30am. Sat Noon-1.30am. Food served all day. Discos Fri and Sat with DJ Patsy. Real Ale. THEATRE ROYAL BAR 24 Greenside Place. Tel: 0131-557 2142. Mon-Sat 11am-midnight. Sun 6pm-11pm. Basically straight, this Real Ale bar (formerly a Gas Board Showroom) in the middle of Edinburgh's Gay Triangle attracts an increasing number of queers having an off-scene pint before heading for the fleshpots nearby. WEST & WILDE BOOKSHOP 25a Dundas Street. Tel: 0131-556 0079. Tue-Sat 10am-7pm, Sun Noon-5pm. Scotland's only lesbian and gay bookshop. Lots of books and quite a few magazines! Falkirk DROOKIT DUCK 16 Grahams Road. Tel: 01324 613644 Mon 11am-3pm and 5pm-11.30. Tue-Thu 11am-3pm and 5pm-12.30am. Fri-Sat 11am-12.30am. Sun 7pm-midnight. Straight bar used by a few discrete local gays. Glasgow AUSTINS 183a Hope Street. Tel: 0141-332 2707. Mon-Sat Noon-midnight, Sun 12.30am-midnight. Friendly and busy basement pub. Food lunchtimes (until 5pm). Entertainment every evening. BENNETS DISCO 80-90, Glassford Street. Tel: 0141-552 5761. Tue-Sun 11pm-3am. Very popular busy gay disco. Tuesdays straight. CAFE DELMONICA'S 68 Virginia Street. Tel: 0141-552 4803. Mon-Sun Noon-midnight. Food Noon-7pm. Busy pub with backroom area (not THAT kind of backroom!). Cabaret Thurdays. Bingo Tuesdays. Karaoke Wed and Sun. Happy hours 5-7 and 9-10 every night. DJ Monday nights with Becks at ukp1.25 all night! CCA Centre for Contemporary Arts, 350 Sauchiehall Street. Tel: 0141-332 7521. Centre open Mon- Wed 9am-11pm Thur-Sat 9am-midnight. Bookshop 11am-7pm. Galleries 11am-6pm (admission free). Two galleries, two performance spaces, cafe bar and bookshop. Lesbigay friendly place bustling with life, the universe and everything. Wheelchair accessible apart from upstairs performance space. CLUB X-CHANGE 25 Royal Exchange Square. Tel: 0141-204 4599. Tue-Sun 11pm-3am. Large basement club, popular with young crowd. Wednesday nights are straight (though still quite mixed). COURT BAR 69 Hutcheson Street. Tel: 0141-552 2463. Mon-Sat 11am-Midnight, Sun 8.30-11pm. Small bar beside former Sheriff Court. Straight until mid-evening. DIVALLY'S 86 Maxwell Street. Tel: 0141-221 4657. 11am-3am. Members' club containing lounge bar and cinema showing legal erotica (gay and straight). Gayer on Mon and Tue. Membership available at the door. GHQ CAFE/BAR 8-10 West George Street. Tel: 0141-332 8005. Bar: Noon-midnight. Cafe:10am-10pm. Nice and convenient for Queen Street Station. Large bar featuring Suave Gav - Glasgow's most popular DJ. Happy hour 5pm-7pm nightly. MADAME GILLESPIE'S 26 Cheapside Street. Tel: 0141-226 5468. 6pm-3am. Scotland's first gay revue bar. Duplex complex incorporating disco with fab light show. Staff permanently in drag. SQUIRES LOUNGE 106 West Campbell Street. Tel: 0141-221 9184. Mon-Fri Noon-Midnight, Sat 12.30pm-Midnight, Sun 8pm-12pm. Long narrow intimate basement bar, DJ Sun, Tue, Wed, Thur, Fri & Sat. Packed at the weekend. Nightly happy hours 9-10pm (all night Sun). VICTORIA BAR 157-159 Bridgegait. Tel: 0141-552 6040. Mon-Sat Noon-midnight, Sun 12.30pm-midnight. Basically straight, but still popular with real ale queens and dykes. THE WATERLOO 306 Argyle Street. Tel: 0141-221 7359. Mon-Sun Noon-midnight. Popular, crowded, down to earth gay drinking shop. Cabaret every Thursday, Karaoke on Sundays. Greenock Although Greenock doesn't have a gay bar as such, some discrete local lesbians and gays meet and socialise in the Princess Lounge. Some young gays also use the Jolly Sailor. Inverness NICO'S BAR/BISTRO Glen Mhor Hotel, Ness Bank. Tel: 01463 234308. Wed and Fri 9-11pm. Smart relaxed bar popular with local gays especially on Wednesday and Friday nights (9.15pm onwards). Mixed clientele. Kilmarnock KAYPARK TAVERN 27/29 London Road. Tel: 01563 523623. Straight pub - the lounge is used by some discrete local gays on Mondays. Stirling BARNTON BISTRO 312 Barnton Street. Tel: 01786 461698. Mon-Sat 10.15am-11pm (Meals Noon-8pm), Sun 6.30pm-11pm. Situated near to the railway station, this mixed, busy, bohemian and friendly bar/bistro is justly popular with students and Sons/Daughters of the Rock alike. Good food. Real Ale. ABERDEEN Summer arrives at last and, along with it, comes the predictable flow of tourists wondering where the Aberdeen gay scene is. The thinking goes like this ... Aberdeen has a population of 200,000, half of them of drinking age is 100,000, ten per cent of that should be gay, so Aberdeen should have a gay population of about 10,000! The question on everybody's lips is "where are they all?". The recession seems to have finally hit Aberdeen and the past few months have been fairly quiet on the scene. However, things have been picking up now for the past eight weeks or so, and hopefully things will be back to normal before long. So, what has been happening recently in Dod and Bunty land? Aberdeen is down to two gay venues with the changes at the old Flannies. As predicted, this has now been relaunched as a straight venue, with a new name, new staff, new management and now catering for a straight clientele. The two remaining venues are of course Club Caberfeidh and the Pink Flamingo. Due to the changes in opening times recently there has been some confusion with visitors not knowing what hours the Clubs are open. Club Caberfeidh is open seven nights a week from 10pm to 2am. Entry is free except on Friday and Saturday. At the time of going to press, the entry charge was ukp1 from 10pm-11pm, ukp2 from 11pm-midnight and ukp3 after midnight. The Pink Flamingo is open seven days a week from midday til 2am and there is no door charge. The two venues are only a few minutes walk apart. The last ScotsGay stated that the Women's Group disco was being held at the East Neuk. They are now in fact held on the first Friday of the month in the Pink Flamingo and are being increasingly well supported. Wednesday is also becoming increasingly busy after the Women's Group meeting and the downstairs bar is now open from 10pm. Quiz Night in the Pink continues to go from strength to strength and has now become so busy that some teams have to go and sit in the disco! Come early if you want a table upstairs or you might get stuck sitting in Tarts' Corner! Now that the trade (licensed!!!) is starting to pick up, the club is remaining busy right up 'til closing time seven nights a week, although most of those out after midnight during the week just want a late drink in the upstairs bar. If you're out to pull a disco bunny on a Monday night - forget it! Entry charges to the Pink have now been abolished at the weekend resulting in a vast increase in numbers on Friday and Saturday. There is now also a happy hour from midnight until 1am on Friday and Saturday when all bottled beers, all pints and all spirits are only a pound. Predictably, this has been a huge success, and the Pink is now rapidly re-establishing itself as a busy disco at weekends. Rumour has it that Grippy Graham has got something else up his sleeve to accelerate the process! DUNDEE Dundee has been throbbing recently, but the wee 1am drinking extension for the Golf has been and gone and it's back to a midnight "Gies us yer glesses" at Deva's. The regular Thursday night cabaret, entertainment and PAs there have fair been pulling them in with even a few douce denizens straying in from the Ferry! Most notable of recent events was Blind Date which saw two poor lads sent off on the Dundee Tour Bus - wonder what they discovered? Stars in Your Eyes is set for 17th August - should be a fun night. During July, Access All Areas proved a wow with their bouncy set of covers and Jack Daw went down well too especially with the older crowd. Karn hasn't been seen much in the pub recently - it seems that she's been leaving all the work to Anne. "She just hides in her office and only comes out to shout at people", says Anne! Figures!!!! Club Cruise continues to thrive on Saturday nights with its usual mix of house and chart music. However, the much awaited opening of the Club on a second night in the week failed to draw many punters the other Friday. Advertising might help! There's certainly room for a bigger scene and a little bird tells me that there's a good chance that another Dundee pub will soon start welcoming lesbigay drinkers. Watch this space! EDINBURGH Since I spoke to you last, things in Jessieburgh have been on the move quite a bit (must have something to do with the hot weather). Jimmy Quinn is no longer involved at the former "QTs", (now called "Picardy's"), with the downstairs bar now open and trading as "L.A.D.S." (Leather And Denim Scotland) a private members club. Proprietor Raymond Inverarity told ScotsGay in an exclusive interview that L.A.D.S. are offering FREE membership until 9th September 1995, after that it will be o2.50. You will also need a passport photograph (so, get posing). Membership forms are available at the door. For those of you who want to avoid the Techno/Rave stuff, L.A.D.S. guest DJs will be playing their own style of music. See the in-house blackboard for details. Picardy's is being opened as a camptastic (now that's a big word) showbar, with lots of female impersonators giving you their all in a magical journey in music and dance. Just what we need, somewhere for a gal to show off her new dress (you know the one, the one that the boss won't let you wear around the office). Now, as we are all aware, Brenda Le Vell (the great one nighter) has jumped ship (or was he pushed?) at Fusion, now re-launched as "Cafe Kudos"(no, Brenda, we don't mean that you have been re-launched). Cafe Kudos is being re-opened by Iain MacDonald formerly of Maxies Bistro. Please, no choruses of 'Old MacDonald Had a Caff'! It is expected that the classy new cafe will be open from 12 noon until 3am, serving all sorts of continental things from all over the continent. Certainly beats a bacon butty! By the time we go to press "Eat Out Edinburgh" should have opened its doors in the Lesbigay Centre. Brendan Nash tells us that Eat Out (seems an odd name for an indoor cafe) will be run on the same lines as its former namesake in Glasgow, with the emphasis on Fresh-Fresh-Fresh (What? No need for a sell by date? - I think we're both long past ours, Gordon - Ed). And not to forget the coffee top ups. Whooooo! Not content with all of that, just in off the fax is even more news of another cafe opening its doors in Broughton Street. Next door to the Blue Moon will be the site for the city's latest cafe venture "Over the Rainbow". If you are not sure where to find what is sure to be the campest eatery in town, just watch for the soapy bubbles. One cafe with a difference and well worth a visit is Web 13 in Bread Street. A place where you can not only be fed but can also spend a fun time surfing the internet. For those who don't already know, ScotsGay for the past 10 months and its sister magazine Pulse, for almost two years, have been available on the net. As the country's first Lesbigay magazines to go out over the net, it goes without saying that should anyone wish information regarding this service please feel free to contact us direct: 'scotsgay@ drink.demon.co.uk' and 'pulse@ drink.demon.co.uk'. Who better? For those of you in the mood for a bit of Mexican food, you could always try the Tapas Bar in the basement of the Blue Moon Cafe open Wed-Sun 7pm-1am. Over at Route 66, it would appear that the vodka bar has taken off a trick, but do watch out, those little cocktails can be lethal (well, after six pints anyway). I hear that No 18 Sauna has just had its licence renewed, and that there are plans afoot to open on a Sunday (I wonder what will happen to the beef and two veg). If the day time trade is anything to go by, the Sunday opening is sure to be a smash hit! GLASGOW With all the openings going on in Edinburgh, it is good to see business as usual in the Holy City (no, not the street corner type). Well, if you count business as usual to mean that the pubs and clubs have been busier than usual, then so be it. There has been a rumour in some of the press that the old Duke of Wellington is about to reopen once again. However, that rumour has been about before. We will believe it when it happens. ScotsGay contacted the owners of the property who claim that they have no plans to open the pub in the foreseeable future. Now someone somewhere is telling porkies. Talking of the Duke of Wellington, reminds me of the evening during the spell of power cuts, when I was down in the gents when the lights went out. A young man and I, who was also relieving himself, like me could not find his way out in the pitch darkness. Being the friendly Glaswegians that we were, we soon made the best of a bad situation. Unfortunately the lights came on 90 minutes later. Can't win them all. Another ukp500 or so was added to the coffers of the Glasgow Bars Aids Welfare Fund, after their recent Hoe-down on the Ferry. Chairman Jim Glenn tells us that, although it wasn't as busy as previous events, a good night was had by all in attendance. A special thank you must go to Colin McKee from Austin's for his efforts on the night and to Robert and May Miller for yet another outstanding performance. Next stop is the Ball in January. More details later. "Busier and busier" is how manager Robert Anderson describes Glasgow's latest club. If the nights I have been in have been anything to go by, then I can see what he means. This month sees the start of Madam G's floor shows. To launch what will be a spectacular night (Aug the 12th), the club has combined with Phace West to bring the one and only Hazel Dean to top the bill, in what we are promised will be a night such as Glasgow has never seen. The live floor shows begin at 9.30pm. Over at Bennets this month, on Sunday the 27th, we see the only Scottish appearance of disco diva Irene Cara, who will be performing her full 30 minute show. This one is sure to pack them in. With the departure of Calum from the Waterloo, there has been no shortage of gossip as to why. However, to end all the speculation, I can exclusively reveal that if you were to ask Calum you might just get near enough the truth and it will stop all the bad mouthed queens from expounding on something they know nowt about. And probably never will. There, I've said it. On the pub scene, Barbara Bryceland will be making her usual appearance at Delmonica's, while in the Waterloo, Georgia is packing them in each week. As is La Belle Hutton in her cameo part in the Sunday night Karaoke. Up at Squires, there are now six nights a week to choose from if it's live DJs you prefer, and, if this weather lasts out until the 12th, the toga party at Squires will I'm sure go down a treat. Just the job before heading off to the disco. Down in Austin's, it has been can opener stuff, no matter which night of live entertainment you choose from their menu of Cabaret, Karaoke, or their quite funny Quiz Night. There has to be a night for everyone in there somewhere. Eh? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- BOXES - THE SCOTSGAY MEET MARKET ================================ To reply to a Contact Ad: By e-mail: We can now accept replies by e-mail for Box Numbers. They should be sent to boxreplies@drink.demon.co.uk and will be printed out and posted on by snail mail to the box number holders. There will be no charge for this service. As box number holders are unlikely to have access to e-mail, please include your name and address so that they can get back to you! And remember to include the box number that you're replying to clearly on each reply. By snail mail: Just pop your reply in an envelope with the box number written in the TOP RIGHT corner and place the envelope with your reply inside another envelope with two loose first class stamps. If you are writing from outside the UK, an International Reply Coupon (IRC) should be enclosed for each reply instead of postage stamps. International Reply Coupons are available from most Post Offices throughout the world. We are unable to send on replies without postage stamps or IRCs. Send all replies to: ScotsGay Magazine, Pageprint Limited, PO Box 666, Edinburgh. EH7 5YW. To place a Contact Ad: Write to the above address enclosing your advertisement copy. Ads are FREE of charge to the advertiser. Or you can send them by e-mail to scotsgay@drink.demon.co.uk ScotsGay's FREE personal ads are read by more people than those in any other Scottish based lesbigay publication. WOMEN Glasgow/West Coast Area Quiet shy female seeks mature unattached non-scene fun loving lady for friendship possibly leasing to a relationship. Can travel and accommodate. Photo appreciated. Box SG0501. German Lesbian (27) Love brought me to Glasgow but I had to leave my friends behind. Looking for fun loving, dance all night, talk all day women (no romance!). Somebody interested? Box SG0502. Stirling - Central Region - Ravishing Very attractive female bisexual, 20's, 5ft4in, shapely and desirable, intelligent, VGSOH, affectionate and supportive. Seeks similar non-scene bisexual or bicurious girlfriend 18-30 for discreet sexy indoor friendship. Feminine type only. Box SG0503. MEN Fife - Lothian Shy 24 year old seeks guy under 50 with firm hand. May also try w/s. Your place only. Write soon. Photo would help but not essential. Box SG0507 Hairy 40 Year Old Would like to meet you if you're smooth and under 26. Student types welcome. Can accommodate or will travel for right guy. Photo helps (but not essential). Write fully to Box SG0508. Dundee - Tayside - Anywhere Slim good looking randy gay guy seeks 18+ for friends or 1-1. Can accommodate and travel. Don't be lonely, write to me. You won't be disappointed. ALA. Box SG0509. Perth - North Scotland Young 35 year old guy, slim, dark hair, genuine sincere and honest, seeks similar over 21's only for friendship etc. Photo if possible. ALA. Box SG0510. Glasgow Guy Cuddly Glasgow Guy, 30, seeks men 18-? for friendship and fun. Varied interests. Can accommodate or travel. N/s, w/e. All suggestions welcomed. Photo and phone number please. Box SG0511. Edinburgh Festival Are you 18+ (any nationality), living in Edinburgh or visiting for the Festival in August? I'm from London, 48, fit, attractive, intelligent. Let's meet up, spend time together, have fun. Box SG0512. Under 5'8"? If you're short, stocky and smooth chested: look no further! 5'6" honey monster wants to hear from you before anybody else grabs you! Box SG0513. Tayside - Anywhere Gay guy, friendly, good listener, seeks similar genuine guy for friendship, 1-1. Interests: clothes, cinema, theatre, socialising. 32 with a GSOH. Box SG0514. Wanted: Nigel Mansell Lookalike Glasgow student seeks a mature gent. Non scene? Discretion? No problems! Me: 21, 5'11", slim, dark hair. Box SG0515. Old Fashioned Tuition Offered to naughty 25-40 year old guys by strict 35 year old guy. Edinburgh area. Box SG0516. Make An Old Man Happy! 43 year old who didn't like the scene then and doesn't like it now would like to snog the night away with similar 18-25 year old. Discrete, VGSOH, good cook - what more could anybody want? Box SG0517. East-Central Scotland Pleasant slim gay male (39), 5'10", seeks mature well presented, well dressed gay gent 40-55 for genuine relationship. Tallish professional type welcome. Relaxed times. Travel or accommodate reasonable distance. Photo appreciated. Box SG0518. Gay Couple Seeking Friends Mid 20's couple would like to meet others 20-35 for friendship - first time ad! Central Scotland - anywhere considered - we are based in Central Region. Box SG0519. West Of Scotland Artist based near Glasgow (active) seeks male models 18-35 to pose nude for figure drawing, fun, etc. Looks not important, slim to medium build preferred. Box SG0520. Friendship Or More Gay guy (41) living in Dundee, Tayside, would like to meet other guys for friendship perhaps leading to more with right guy. Box SG0521. Glasgow - Anywhere Young gay nudist seeks other males 18-40 for outdoor and indoor fun with or without the sun. Box SG0522. Fed Up Being Hurt Young 26 year old attractive gay male seeks young under 25 slim guy for 1-2-1 permanent relationship. Fife/Edinburgh/West Lothian. N/s, GSOH. No time wasters. Box SG0523. Glasgow Beefy, 14st, 5'9", fairly butch, into weights, leather, discipline, seeks similar, non-camp, 18-35. Photo helps. Box SG0524. Glasgow - West Of Scotland Guy, 34, 5'11", slim med build, tidy, still looking for Mr Right. Are you out there? GSOH, straight acting, into anything, well just about anything. Box SG0525. Edinburgh - Glasgow - Anywhere You: young, shy, not sure if you're gay but willing to explore the possibility, Me: mature, discrete, kind and understanding. What have you got to lose? Box SG0526. Lothians - Fife - Anywhere Two gay guys, both 26, seek other guys under 30 for fun, socialising and friendship. Can travel and accommodate. Frank letter and photo. Discretion assured. Box SG0527. Glasgow - Paisley Area Interesting, easy-going, fit guy, just 40, seeks 'younger buddy' to share interests in the arts, outdoors, searching for the meaning of life, etc. Alternative/studenty type especially welcome. Box SG0528. Glasgow - Anywhere Gay guy (27), skinhead, brown eyes, slim build, 5'11", looking for guys 25-40 for fun, friendship, poss 1-2-1. Can accommodate, travel. Go on - make my day. Box SG0529. Edinburgh 30 year old guy, unemployed, would like to meet SMers, shoe enthusiasts, boot lickers, exhibitionists, from 25 to 45 years old. Bikers especially welcome. Box SG0530. Glasgow - Scotland Do you, if aged 18-35, require a disciplined relationship? If you would like a caring but strict dad, then contact me now! Box SG0531. Aberdeen 33, 5'10", 'O' crop, well built, pierced, tattooed, into DMs, 501s, Fred Perrys, seeks active skin type for experiment in blues, yellow, rimming and shaving. Can accommodate weekend. Box SG0532. Edinburgh Submissive, 40 yr old, Bi guy into computers amongst other things, seeks kind, disciplinarian, 40+, Edinburgh area, for friendship, nights in. E-mail address would be an advantage. Box SG0533. Oxford - London Recently hurt shy student seeks a friend to help make things better. 18 yr old gay guy seeks similar inexperienced and uninhibited young people for friendship and maybe more. Lacking in self confidence due to recent upset. All replies appreciated. Thank you. Box SG0534. Edinburgh Caring Type Young early 40s wants gay guy for love etc. Non scene, 1-2-1 basis, ALAP, can accom. Any takers anywhere. Will be discrete but true. Are you lonely? Write now. Box SG0535. Edinburgh Unemployed 26 year old guy would like to meet shoe enthusiasts, boot lickers, exhibitionists, S/Mers, aged 18-30. Own place near centre of city. Box SG0536. Glasgow Mid 40s dom male seeks naughty nephew in need of corrective times. Firm but loving nature. SG0538. La Cage Aux Folles Saw you in the foyer at the opening night in Edinburgh. You: 5'11", mid twenties, red hair, specs, wearing jeans and brown jacket. Me: 6'2", 22, brown hair, leather jacket. With parents, so unable to speak. I've come out now. Get in touch! Box SG0539. Important Info Over 30's Only Inverness guy, 43, 5'9", stocky build, GSOH, varied interests, seeks others over 35 locally and nationwide for fun, friendship and possibly more. Make contact today. See what happens. ALA. Box SG0540. Cabin-Boy/Son Sought Wealthy professional businessman with 50ft power cruiser seeks a son or cabin-boy for weekend cruises to France and summers to Med. You must be under 28, non-smoker, preferably smooth. Box SG0541. Edinburgh Gay male, 38, GSOH, chubby, hairy, non scene. You: student, unemployed, for nights out and in, cinema, theatre, pubs, etc? Box SG0542. Edinburgh/Glasgow/Anywhere Mature early 40's self employed man seeks younger friend (under 24) for nights in, meal out. No complications. Non smoker prefered. Box SG0543. Is Your Bed Strong Enough? Chubby guy, 41, in need of chasing but not hard to catch, would like to hear from younger guy. Box SG0544. Edinburgh Mid 50s guy with gentle touch seeks smooth friends for hands on experience and hopefully ongoing friendship. Chubby chasers especially welcome! Box SG0545. BISEXUAL Married Couple Both bisexual. Seek another similar couple for a special relationship. Age is unimportant. Please write enclosing a recent facial photograph. Box SG0504. Bi Guy seeks Bi Gal! Thirtysomething guy, tired of the superficiality of the scene, would like to meet a female soulmate to share friends, boyfriends and girlfriends! Box SG0505. Too old at 42? Bisexual man, university educated, resourcefully unemployed, would like to hear from younger women preferably in the Edinburgh area. Box SG0506. Edinburgh/Central Scotland 39 year old bi guy, tall, fit, easy going, tolerant, enjoys most things, seeks similar woman for fun times. Box SG0537. COMMERCIAL Get onto the Internet For only a tenner a month (plus VAT), Demon Internet Services provides full access to the Internet. Want to learn more? Phone 0131-552 0344. Genuine Phone Dating For Gay Men The Dating Line that has it all! Instant Messaging, VoiceMale Dating and "Traditional" Phone Dating. 0891 556655. 39p/min cheap, 49p/min other. TBO, Box 425, PE25 2RQ. CALL NOW! Stories To Order Our stories enliven those parts others cannot. Why? Because they are created especially for you and only you. Read about whatever you wish by using our definitive fantasy service. Intrigued? Then why not send a stamp for full details of our truly individual service to: TTS, PO Box 1846, Bath. BA1 3TJ. Assistance Needed Looking for a personal assistant to help with small farm and kennel in America. Position is for someone good with animals and interested in business and travel. Must be adventurous and business minded. Possibility of extensive travel opportunities for the right person. No fats, fems, drugs or alcoholics. Room and board with travel expenses provided. Salary to be negotiated. Prefer bi-sexual male 30-40 years old. Send photo and resume to: PO Box 1393, Cashiers, North Carolina 28717-1393, USA. Will return with phone call to schedule interview in Edinburgh. Translations English to German and German to English. General business and personal translations undertaken by native German speaker. Details: Phone Colne (01282) 862351. Accountancy Services Tax problems, accounting, auditing, business plans, call Marios on 0131-555 0600 (Fax: 0131-555 6652). We are members of the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants and Registered Auditors. Personal and confidential service. Therapeutic Massage Trainee masseur offers therapeutic massage at ukp10 per session. Telephone John on 0131-554 2429. New Zealand Accommodation SIGMA - South Island Gay Managed Accommodation, a network of accommodation for gays and lesbians visiting the South Island of New Zealand. For a free list, write to: Ron Harris, Shag Point, RD2 Palmerston, Otago, NZ or phone 00 64 3-465-1742. Worldwide Penfriends Regular lists. Make friends, exchange holidays, improve your languages. For general and music lovers' lists send ukp3 to 'The Penpal List', c/o 221B Merton Road, Southfields, London. SW18 5EE. Contacts in USA and France Voluntary Group for holiday exchange, penpals, etc. Covering USA and French-speaking countries. For sample bulletin send 3 International Reply Coupons to: Recontre France/Amerique, 350 Nature Trail Lane, Murrysville, PA 15668, USA. Pen Friends Gay, Lesbian and Bi-sexuals ages 16+, non profit organisation, members nationwide and worldwide, membership ukp6 p/a or ukp3 p/a concessionary. Write, enclosing 2 stamps to: LGB National Pen Pals, PO Box 2000, Horwich, Lancs, England. BL6 7PG. FRIENDS ABROAD Australia 40 something aussie with a long-lost Scots background seeks a Scot to write to. I'm an open friendly guy, looking to build a circle of friendship and support - maybe more! You'll like to write letters, maybe e-mail and be looking for a warm and lasting link. E-mail: rossb@ozemail.com.au or write to: Ross Bell, PO Box 104, Mayfield, NSW, Australia 2304. South Africa I am a 25 y/o white male Medical Biochemist (Molecular Biologist). Next year I will be in Switzerland from end of January for PhD studies. I would like to meet gay friends in Europe (esp. Switzerland). Deon Pretorius, 36 Olive Schreiner Street, 7500 Parow East, Cape Town, South Africa. E-mail: 'gsp@ maties.sun.ac.za' Canadian Bear ISO Cubs Teddy bear near Ottawa welcomes e-mail (dbonyun@globalx.net) or letters from gays everywhere, all ages, races, interests. Possible visit exchanges. Me: 58, hairy, cuddly, professional computer nut. Love 69, JO. Write to: David Bonyun, President and Grand Wizard, Bunberry, Filbert, and Stokes Enterprises Limited, 7 Keppler Crescent, Nepean, Ontario, CANADA, K2H 5Y1. (a.k.a Abe Luochs, but, PLEASE, never Babe!) Finland Calling Next time you go abroad, why not visit Finland? You may start by studying pictures by Tom of Finland. I am 39, 6', 120 lbs, interested in bondage (Master). E-mai;: bjorn@seta.fi or write to Bjorn Palmen, POB 312, FIN-00101, HELSINGFORS, Finland. California Couple Seeking correspondence. Just looking for friends. We're a longterm couple (18 years). E-mail: chanton@hooked.net or write to: J. Chandler Werline & Anthony C. Buehler, 3120-A Los Prados, San Mateo, CA 94403-2014, USA. Bisexual Guy Single, Australian, tall, slim, blue-eyed, with long brown hair, likes travel, meeting people, music, history, culture, politics, visited Edinburgh in early July would like to correspond with similar minded bisexual guys and girls aged 20 to 35 with view to friendship and future visits. E-mail: robertw@planet.mh.dpi.qld.gov.au or write to: Wayne Roberts, PO Box 490, Lutwyche, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia 4030. Looking for penpals Southamerican guy living in Norway would like to have some penpals. People from any age, or any part of the world are welcome. I am 38yrs old. I promise to answer everyone! E-mail: gabriel@oslonett.no or write to Gabriel Sanchez, Totengate 13, N-0658, Oslo, Norway. Rugged Oregonian GM, 5'1O", 185, professional. Blend of outdoorsman/intellectual. Irish good looks, very masculine. Nicely-hung bottom. Seeks counterpart Irish or Scot for friendship and/or relationship. E-mail: herrick@oregon.uoregon.edu or write: James Michael Herrick, PO Box 14O4, Springfield, Oregon 97477, USA. Texas GWM, 42, interested in E-mail correspondence with Hot Scots. E-mail:nik4@eden. ------------------------------------------------------------- INTERNATIONAL NEWS ================== from Rex Wockner ITALIAN ANTI-GAYS ORGANIZE Italy's new "Defence Committee for the Natural and Christian Family Order" has gathered 70,000 signatures on petitions urging Italy to reject a 1994 European Parliament resolution that directed member nations to grant gays absolute equality, including the right to marry. "The situation is like a civil war," the national gay group, ArciGay-ArciLesbica, said in a press release. ArciGay has collected 70,000 signatures of its own supporting the European Parliament. Defence Committee President Coda Nunziante claims "homosexual debauchery, contrary to God's Law, is repugnant to the conscience, and people reject it on instinct as a deep moral disorder." ArciGay requests letters of support, stating, "I (name/address) agree with ArciGay-ArciLesbica's petition for civil rights in favour of the Strasbourg Resolution for civil unions." Mail to ArciGay-ArciLesbica, Segreteria Petizione, Piazza di Porta Saragozza 2, 40123 Bologna (BO), Italy. ILGA CONFERENCE DISASTER The International Lesbian and Gay Association's recent 10th annual conference for former East Bloc nations was a "grandiose scandal," reported the Moscow newspaper Segodnia. When the 100-plus delegates arrived at the end of May in Kiev, Ukraine, no one was there to meet them. They finally found the conference site the next day, one hour out of town, but were later evicted a day early. An organizer, from the Ukrainian Gay and Lesbian group Two Colours, apparently made off with the registration fees, part of a $10,000 grant from the World Health Organization, and a donation from the Lifestyles condom company. Immigration officials detained and interrogated two British delegates, both named Peter Norman, for failure to register with the Department of Visas and Registration of Foreigners. A letter guaranteeing payment to the conference site, a spa, supposedly bears the signature of one of the Normans. ILGA's one employee, Andy Quan, a Canadian who works in ILGA's Brussels office, was horrified at the mess. He promised, despite ILGA's financial quagmires, to make efforts to reimburse all delegates who had been promised scholarships. At the conference's end, the exasperated attendees voted to agree that the conference had never taken place. CANADA "Don't Be A Fucking Idiot." That's the slogan of the Edmonton (Alberta) AIDS Network's new pro-condom campaign and some Albertans are shocked, according to a local paper. The poster also features a straight couple having sex. Network officials said they used street language to get the attention of people in their teens and 20s who ignore messages that sound as if they come from authority figures. CZECH The head of the Czech Republic Parliament, Milan Uhde, and the minister of the interior, Jan Rumi, support extending marriage rights to gays and lesbians under a registered-partnership law. "There's no reason why gays can't marry," Rumi said. Uhde said he "carefully considered" the arguments in favour of partnership presented by the gay group SOHO, thinks the arguments are "important" and forwarded the material to two Parliamentary committees. The partnership bill will be considered this year when Parliament rewrites Czech family law. DENMARK Denmark's National Organization for Gays and Lesbians (LBL) has closed its Copenhagen cafe and disco to survive a financial crisis. The decision followed a courtroom agreement between LBL and its creditors. LBL's other functions, including its newspaper, Pan-Bladet, will continue as before. The organization's offices will move to a smaller space, at Teglgardsstraede 13. EUROPE Three of Europe's top five gay publications have died in as many months _ the latest, Sweden's Reporter. The newspaper announced in July that it was suspending publication and filing for bankruptcy. Among other problems, the paper did not receive its annual grant from the state Cultural Periodicals Commission. London's highly regarded weekly Capital Gay died in early June and Germany's glossy monthly Magnus disappeared in March. Capital Gay, which was 14-years-old, blamed its demise on declining advertising revenue. A new owner bought Magnus this month and the magazine plans to return in September. SWEDEN A 69-year-old Swedish man who was caught in 1993 having sex with a 13-year-old boy in a hotel room in Pattaya, Thailand, was sentenced in Sweden June 22 to three months in prison, reported Stockholm's Dagens Nyheter. He must also pay the Thai youth, now 15, approximately ukp8,000. Sweden is one of several countries, including the US., that recently passed laws allowing prosecution at home when a citizen has sex with someone below the age-of-consent in a foreign country. Similar legislation has been proposed in the UK. -------------------------------------------------------------- GAY BROADCASTING ================ The Buggers are everywhere! In the pubs, on the streets, and now on the radio and telly. There's just never been so much lesbigay broadcasting around and things can only get better. BRAITHWAITE gets his teeth into the unexpected surfeit. Time was when the love that dared not speak its name did not have its name spoken on radio or TV. Nation might speak peace unto nation - as long as it wasn't Queer Nation! However, over the last few years, things have changed and the airwaves are now full of out queers. Radio may be an 'old fashioned' medium, but some of the best fag broadcasting around has been on the wireless. If you're prepared to endure the Medium Wave snap crackle and pop, Radio 5 Live's Out This Week each Sunday at 10.05pm is well worth listening to. Because it's cheaper to make, ghetto radio tends to be a lot meatier than ghetto TV - but maybe I'm biased. As usual, July and August is the season for lesbian and gay television and BBC2 has just ended a series called Gaytime TV. It was their first lesbian and gay series and was produced by Planet 24 - who gave you The Big Breakfast and The Word. Gaytime was studio based with a few filmed location reports. The studio format was an attempt to parody Good Morning with Anne and Nick but instead of that staid duo it had Bert Tyler Moore and Rhona Cameron indulging in camp chat. It also had an exercise section filmed on the beach in Miami, and a weekly celebrity interview. The series was the 90s version of Out but was better in that it had none of the silly PC programming that dogged the last two series of that now defunct C4 show. It was fun, light and entertaining and although l must admit that l don't like the presenters, I'm sure that like Richard and Judy or Nick and Anne they will probably grow on me. l hope there is a second series. Channel Four have bought a series from America which was produced by PBS called Over The Rainbow. It's a kind of civil rights programme similar to the award winning series on black civil rights Eye On The Prize. A four part, powerful and illuminating documentary series which examines what it means to be lesbian and gay in America, it traces the history, politics and culture of an emerging movement. This is the first ever major US lesbian and gay television venture. The series is to be broadcast on successive Wednesdays from 1st August at 9pm. Outrage 69: Following the beginning of the lesbian and gay movement from its beginning and the restrained Mattachine Society of the mid 1960s to the explosion anger, frustration and violence of the Stonewall riots in 1969, this film is an excellent history of the birth of the lesbian and gay movement. It has interviews with those who were at the Stonewall bar on the night that changed the lesbian and gay movement forever. The style of the programmes is standard documentary with no real frills. Covering the 1950s to the 1970s, it leaves few areas uncovered showing our gains and failures, the arguments which still continue between lesbian and gay men, gay men and gay men, lesbians and lesbians and our fight against a homophobic world. Culture Wars: This starts with the story of the murder of gay man Julio Rivera in New York which could have been just another tragic anti gay murder but becomes a rallying cry for the whole of a community. This murder brought together a movement that had been destroyed by AIDS and infighting in a remarkable way. The middle class professional gay men met Queer Nation and fought the indifference of the police and New York State to bring the murderers to trial. The film exposes the background behind the attacks by Senator Jesse Helms on Marlion Brigg's film Tongue Untied and the religious organisations that tried to put forward a measure similar to 'Section 28' and the fight against it. However, it ends on a rather depressing note: one of the interviewees says that while they were celebrating victory she sat down and wondered what we had won - not more rights or better conditions but the right not to be attacked? Hollow Liberty: This is an examination of how US Federal policies reduce lesbians and gay men to second class citizens: a look at the strange sodomy laws and how they are being used to criminalise homosexuality. It gives an analysis of the Gays in the Military furore which shook the Clinton administration. It shows how this came up and the fight against it There is a excellent section where some of the interviewees are asked if we want lesbian and gay men in their army and the programme also deals with how the campaign has damaged the community as a whole. Generation Q: This is the last in the series and concentrates on the homophobic 1990s and the new generation of lesbigay activists as they battle to find and accept their own sexual identity in climates fuelled with hate and ignorance. The tone is upbeat with students' fighting for equal rights in the school system. The interviews with the school kids are really heart warming and are full of the optimism that only really comes with youth. There is an amazing school where young lesbian and gays can finish their education without the hassles of a homophobic school life. It reminds all those cynical hard worn older activists like me what it is all about. There is a book which comes out to accompany the series Over The Rainbow. With a foreword by author Armistead Maupin the best-selling author of Tales of the City, it costs ukp12.99. C4 are also going to broadcast a series called Dyke TV which starts from the 2nd September and which has already caused controversy with Tory MPs like Emma Nicholson. Amongst other things, it will have items on the Lesbian Avengers and will be the largest collection of films made for and by lesbians ever broadcast on UK television. It looks like it will make for great entertainment and not a little fulminating in the tabloids. As well as these gay/dyke themed series we've also found an increasing number of 'regular' documentaries and travelogues occasionally giving over a programme or segment to a lesbian or gay perspective, such as the recent Travels with my Camera: Greetings from Out Here, which looked at the US' Deep South. It may have been a long time a comin', but queer broadcasting is now here with a vengeance. Long may it remain. -------------------------------------------------------- HEALTH ====== A HEALTHY GREATER GLASGOW Growing recognition of the specific health needs of gay men and lesbians has led to a number of exciting developments within Greater Glasgow Health Board and Glasgow's gay community. In November 1994, Greater Glasgow Health Board appointed Mark Dawson as Health Promotion Officer with specific responsibility for gay men and other men who have sex with men. The emphasis of Mark's work is on HIV and sexual health, although he is committed to developing a holistic approach to gay men's health. He has forged links with gay and lesbian groups in community, educational and workplace settings, enabling the Health Board to work more closely with the gay community. A range of new materials for gay men is currently being developed, following the successful launch of leaflets on alcohol and ecstasy at the Health Board's 'safer sex, drugs and alcohol installation', witnessed by many at Pride Scotland in June. Topics covered will include sex and sexuality, recreational drug use and coming out. A library with a wide selection of books, videos and packs specific to gay men or those working with gay men is also being developed. Anyone may borrow these items from the library. A number of innovative themed campaigns and events are planned for the coming year, including involvement at Glasgay!, Europe's largest lesbian and gay arts festival, in October/November. Mark has also been appointed City Contact Person for the Gay Men's Action Group of MCAP AIDS (the Multi-City Action Plan on AIDS). MCAP AIDS is part of the World Health Organisation's European Healthy Cities Project: the Gay Men's Action Group has participants in Gothenburg, Nancy, Rotterdam, Tallin and Vienna as well as Glasgow... the potential for European Collaboration in the gay men's health field is substantial. For further information, please contact Mark Dawson on 0141-946 7120 ---------------------------------------------------------- REVIEWS ======= books: Fortunes of War by Mel Keegan Gay Men's Press, ukp7.95 Rather different from his SF masterpieces Death's Head and Equinox, this enjoyable little maritime romp is set in 1588 rather than in the future. A good solid read with a few surprises, some top class erotic writing makes this definitely one for the bedside. Kama Sutra of Gay Sex Pics: Bjorn Andersen Words: Ray Lightbown Prowler Press, ukp19.95 It really is sad when you have to bung in a load of well meaning how to do it and safer sex advice in order to be able to publish a wank book. Yes, it's very nicely printed. Yes, the photos show just about everything. Yes, there are stiff(ish) willies in mouths, bottoms and condoms. But, ultimately, this coffee table 'Limited Edition Art Book' which accompanies the video of the same name fails to satisfy. Sorry Bjorn, stick to honest to goodness filth instead of dressing it up as art and education. The George Day Gay Guide to Holiday Accommodation in the UK 1995 Edited by Geoffrey Leigh George Day Publishing, ukp4.95 As the book says, "Holiday accommodation in the United Kingdom for gay men and lesbians can be a problem". But it's a problem which can largely be solved by referring to this excellent 70 page booklet - obviously a labour of love on the part of its compiler. Glancing through it, I'm amazed at just how many establishments there are which cater for us - nearly 200 of them spread throughout the length and breadth of the land. And the listings seem to be about as accurate as any listings of this sort can ever be. A useful little book - lesbigay community publishing at its best. mags: Hunk No 24 Prowler Press, ukp4.99 This bi-monthly gets better every issue. 'Big boys with big toys', indeed! There's a most amiable guy on the front cover with a big broad smile and nicely muscled arms - inside you get to see everything else! Yes please! There are 5 spunky models in solo shots and a duo. Get those tissues handy! Prowl No 32 Prowler Press, ukp4.99 A goodly selection of healthy homoeroticism from Prowler. 'Hunks - Cuties - Sexy Stories' - they're all there. From the boy next door look of David Brownstone (showing his all in a sylvan setting) to the rippling muscles of Gyula Pearce (a new discovery from Budapest) via the mucky Adventures of Rick Jackson USN (his first off-duty adventure), this mag upholds the reputation of Prowler as Porn Merchants of Repute. video: Only the Brave Ana Kokkinos, ukp12.99 One of the hits of the London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, marking the directorial debut of Ana Kokkinos. An Australian film, it's the powerful and haunting story of the heat and anger of two Australian/Greek teenage girls searching for a way out of the teenage war zones of ragged emotions, sex family, boredom and abandonment. As with most teenage angst films - a tragic ending which has all the highs and lows of emotion that this small budget film can muster. 6/10 Romeo & Julien Sam Abdul This video won awards at the Adult Video Awards 1995 for best director, best actor, best erotic scene and best music. A gay variation on the Romeo and Julliet story, it's billed as the first romantic gay musical...yes porn musical.....It has very low production values but it's a soft porn movie and they sing every so often (rather badly) but it makes a change. The story is: Julien is a busy man who works too hard to find a lover so he goes to a bar and finds Mr Right (Romeo), but the path to true happiness is never easy. A few minor problems, a few painful songs and some very long sex scenes. It could have been very witty but is has turned out awful really. 4/10 EuroBoy 9 Prowler Press, ukp14.99 This is number nine in one of my favourite series of soft porn videos and is subtitled "While his parents are away". It is set in a country house where there's the son, his friend, a handsome chauffeur, a French butler, a dishy black window cleaner and a special bonus of an American beau at a photo shoot. It is really quite fun. Tron is a babe and the others have fun scenes. There is a need for a slight change for the future in the EUROBOY series - maybe some humour - but l cannot imagine everyone watches all of these videos anyway so perhaps they won't pall.. 6/10 Home Made Bad Boys Vol. 4 Prowler Press, ukp14.99 This the fifth in what Prowler Press call their "home made" series. It features eight models in various scenes. The first is in Brighton where Sid the Filthy goes on his skateboard for a good time on the beach. The second has Mark and Marc in a twosome in tight white briefs. The third has Andy working out in the gym. The fourth has Steve in a moment at home. The fifth has Paul in the countryside. The sixth has Tim in his dressing gown. And, finally, there is Renato who really gets down to it. There is no real story or dialogue but who really cares - worth it for a quick one off the wrist. 5/10 I Like You, I Like You Very Much Oki Hiroyuki, DTK, ukp15.99 This is one of a series of Rose Family Films which are Japanese gay erotic films not until recently available in Europe. This is a low key slice of drama which eloquently captures the nuances of daily life as two men Yu and Shin struggle to maintain the integrity and love in their relationship. One day Yu finds himself attracted to Tara who he meets on a train platform and he promptly announces that he loves Yu. This causes problems between Yu and Taka which is the basis for the story. This is an amazing series from which l understand DTK are about to release two further titles later in the year. 7/10 Midnight Dancer Mel Chionglo, ukp16.99 This was recently shown on C4 as part of the Secret Asia season but this is the video release of the full length version. Shot in somewhat of a documentary style, it's the story of three brothers who are embroiled in Manila's shady world of "Macho" dancers and was banned on its release in its native Philippines - it has numerous gay sex scenes. The film attempts to become a thriller and fails but is, nonetheless, very watchable. 6/10 Six Degrees of Separation Fred Schepisi The film adaptation of the stage play which was a major Broadway hit, it stars Donald Sutherland, Stockard Canning, Ian McKellan and Will Smith. It's the story of a young man who cons his way into the homes of rich New York. He pretends to be a friend of kids who are all away at college and their parents take him in and let him entertain them with stories of his father who they believe is Sidney Poitier. They are all impressed with him and give him money and a bed for the night - it's a great comment on how the rich live and their relationships. Will Smith is shockingly good - he has you convinced of the depths of his character even when he picks up a man and is caught in bed by his new rich friends. He goes from rich family to rich family with great ease. Then he has sex with the boyfriend of a couple who take him in - the girlfriend is disgusted and upset. This is a great film which is ideal for those Sunday afternoons. 8/10 Trance Pride Video, ukp14.00 This is really part two of the video DESERTION with sex scenes in beautiful locations in the new democratic South Africa. It has six white actors aged in their mid twenties and one black actor who all get down to some fairly erotic sex scenes in some really beautiful locations. It's difficult to really comment on the 'plot' which is billed as 'a hallucinogenic trip to the far reaching heights of sexual excess and fantasy', but l wonder if it is really worth the cost. 3/10 ------------------------------------------------------------------- SERIAL ====== COME OUT, COME OUT, WHEREVER YOU ARE! The rest of our Easter weekend at Gran's passed without further excitement, unless of course you count some of the most pleasurable bouts of sex imaginable. The threesome with Peter had us both buzzing all weekend and must have acted as a stimulant. Whenever we could grab the moment it was clothes off and at it boy, I seemed to have a permanent hard-on at just the very thought of the way Paul could suck me to the point of explosion and then stop before I could come. By the time he was ready to enter me, my body was screaming to be fucked, and I was never let down. To have your body at such a high pitch then slowly fucked for ages was as much pleasure as a guy could ever want. The last night there was a prime example of this. Paul had been having me and I could tell he was getting ready to come, normally he would wank me off after he had finished and rested a bit, but this time he grabbed hold of my bursting cock and began to go to work on me at the same time and rhythm as he was thrusting in and out of me. His breath quickened and quickened, I could feel the pleasure rising out of my own loins, we both came at the same time. I have never experienced a come like it, I never knew it was possible to come at both ends at the same time. I never wanted the weekend to end, but end it must, and home we had to go. It was good to get home for a rest. Well! Maybe not. On the way home we had talked constantly about us and whether or not we could come out to our parents. "No way" Paul said, "my folks would kill me if they thought their son was a poof". "Paul, I am so in love with you I just want to tell the whole world. I am so happy, I want people to know about you and us". "Do you really think your parents could handle it?", Paul said, looking at me in an odd sort of way. "Well I think my mother would be OK, but I'm not so sure about my dad". "It's a big step for you to take". This I knew. I drew my breath in, looked at lover boy and said, "Yes, I'm going to do it". "When?", Paul quizzed me. "No time like the present." " Do you want me to come in with you?", Paul asked in a very caring manner that belied his lack of years. I smiled and we both headed off to the manse. When we got in, my mother was sitting reading in the kitchen. "Did you two have a nice weekend", she greeted us on our arrival. "Yes it was fine" I replied. "Mother, there is something I want to talk to you about". She lifted her eyes from her paper. "Yes?" "It's about Paul and I." "Yes, yes" she retorted. I drew my breath in, gave Paul a quick glance and blurted it out: "Well, em, do you know why I have never brought any girls round to the house?". Mother looked at me in silence. "Well, it's because I'm gay". Before the words had parted my lips, Paul blurted out, "And I'm his boyfriend", as if to try to share the moment with me. Mother looked at me and smiled, "Yes, I had guessed as much, and Gran confirmed it when she phoned me on the Saturday night. We already had our suspicions. She is not as deaf as you two might think". The two of us were really blushing by now. "Does Dad know as well?", I asked. "Yes of course he does." "Oh God!", I replied. "Leave it to me", said Mother, "When he comes back tomorrow we can all discuss it over lunch". I looked at Paul and he just nodded. That was the first hurdle over and done with. Mother looked at us and said. "You two look as if you want to be on your own". I smiled and started to leave for my own room, when mother smiled at us and said, "If Paul wants to stay over, it's alright with me. Just make sure his parents know where he is. I am going over to Mrs Murphy's, I'll be late back, so I will see you in the morning". We closed the door to my room behind us, and just stared at each other in disbelief. I grabbed hold of Paul and hugged him as hard as I could, "Are you going home or are you staying over?". "This is one fuck I'm not going to pass up on. A crafty old yin, is your granny, eh?". "Oh Paul, I'm so happy I could burst". "Well, maybe this might help", he said as he put my hand on his stiff cock. Soon the clothes were off, Paul turned me on to my belly. "This I what you need, lover boy", he teased as he entered me. I groaned with pure pleasure as his strokes brought my senses to a pitch then some more. Somehow it was different this time, we were not just fucking, we were making love. God, I was so happy! -------------------------------------------------------------------- LISTINGS ======== We TRY to provide Scotland's most up-to-date and accurate listings. If your group isn't listed, _ or if your entry needs updating _ please write to ScotsGay with full details. If we don't know about it, it just won't go in! We'd also like to know about your forthcoming events and meetings. Although many of the listings are for specific towns, they often cover a much wider area. If in doubt, you can always phone one of the Switchboards for more information. Write to:- ScotsGay Listings, Pageprint Limited, PO Box 666, Edinburgh EH7 5YW, Fax them to: 0131-558 1262 or e-mail them to scotsgay@drink.demon.co.uk. NATIONAL ORGANISATIONS OUTRIGHT SCOTLAND is Scotland's oldest lesbian, gay and bisexual rights organisation. It was founded in 1969 as the Scottish Minorities Group, later became the Scottish Homosexual Rights Group and changed its name to OUTRIGHT SCOTLAND in December 1992. OUTRIGHT SCOTLAND owns the Edinburgh Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Centre. To contact, write to: The Secretary, OUTRIGHT SCOTLAND, 58a Broughton Street, Edinburgh. EH1 3SA or send e-mail to outright@drink.demon.co.uk EDINBURGH: The Lantern is a drop-in discussion group which meets every Monday 7.30-9pm in the Edinburgh Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Centre at 58a Broughton Street. Varied programme _ please drop down any Monday, no formalities, new members welcomed. Details: Phone Gerry on 0131-448 2040 or Marshall on 0131-467 4456. DUNDEE: OUTRIGHT SCOTLAND Dundee Focus Group for lesbians, gay men and bisexuals meets 4th Thursday of each month at 7pm in the YMCA Special Projects Office, 76 Bell Street. Write to: PO Box 104, Dundee. DD1 3DU. OUTRIGHT SCOTLAND has other Focus Groups. The contacts are: LBG Disability Forum _ Jim Halcrow 0131-661 5398. Diversity (Anti racism group) _ Andy Gentle 0131-557 1662. Outright Women _ Alison Rowan. International _ John Hein 0131-558 1279. Law Reform _ Tim Hopkins 0131-553 1459. Police Liaison _ Ian Dunn 0131-557 1662. If no telephone number is given, you can write to the person listed c/o 58a Broughton Street, Edinburgh. EH1 3SA. Why not join OUTRIGHT SCOTLAND? Membership is œ10 waged and œ5 unwaged. Please make out your cheque/Postal Order to OUTRIGHT SCOTLAND and send to The Membership Secretary, OUTRIGHT SCOTLAND, 58a Broughton Street, EDINBURGH. EH1 3SA. PRIDE SCOTLAND: Pride Scotland has been established to organise the annual lesbian, gay male and bisexual Pride event in Scotland. Phone: 0131-556 8822. Or write: 58a Broughton Street, Edinburgh. EH1 3SA. Pride Scotland would like to thank all those who worked so hard to make this year's event such a success. All kinds of help are urgently required for next year! LOCAL ORGANISATIONS ABERDEEN: Aberdeen Gay Group caters for all ages and meets 3rd Sunday of every month. Phone Ron on Aberdeen (01224) 640996 for information or write to: AGG, PO Box 129, Aberdeen. AB9 6EY. Swim or Social most Wednesdays: Phone David on Aberdeen (01224) 317552. Icebreakers is a social group which meets on Friday evenings. Contact Aberdeen Switchboard for details. AYR: Ayrshire Forum is a group for gay men, lesbians and bisexuals providing support and acting as a social focus. Meets every Wednesday 7-10pm. For info: Telephone Ayr (01292) 268900 Tue and Thur 7-10pm or write c/o The Leisure Centre, 24 Wellington Square, Ayr. Ayrshire Gay and Lesbian Switchboard operates Mon/Wed/Fri 7-10pm (answerphone outwith these periods). Phone: Ayr (01292) 619000. Or write to: PO Box 1043, Ayr. KA6 5JQ Ayrshire Mesmen Group for gay and bisexual men. Meets Tue 7-10pm. Details from Ayrshire Switchboard. CAITHNESS GAY AND LESBIAN CONNECTION: A friendly informal group which meets regularly. Write to: Box 689, Journal Office, 42 Union Street, Wick, Caithness. KW1 5ED. CENTRAL REGION: Forth Friend has a social group which meets every second Wednesday. The Forth Friend phoneline operates each Monday from 7.30pm to 10pm on Stirling (01786) 471285. Or write to: PO Box 28, Stirling. FK9 5YW. DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY: Regular social meetings - usually every second Thursday. For details of all events: phone Dumfries (01387) 269161 Thursdays 7.30-9.30pm or write to Dumfries and Galloway Lesbian and Gay Group, PO Box 1299, Dumfries. DG1 2PD. DUNDEE: Tay Friend, holds regular social meetings for gay men. Write to: Tayfriend, PO Box 182, Dundee. DD1 9UP. EDINBURGH: Edinburgh Gay Social Club is an off-scene social group for gay men. Write to: EGSC, PO Box 12207, Edinburgh. EH4 3YX. Icebreakers is an alternative to the scene and takes place between 7pm and 8pm on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each calendar month in the Blue Moon, 36 Broughton Street. Phone Lothian Switchboard for details. The Lantern is an informal discussion group held every Monday 7.30-9pm downstairs in the Edinburgh Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Centre, 58a Broughton Street. Phone: Gerry on 0131-448 2040 or Marshall on 0131-467 4456. ELGIN: Newly formed to bring together gay men and women living in the Elgin area. We are also looking for gay women living in the area to help form the new Elgin Gay Switchboard. For more details, telephone Bobby on Elgin (01343) 542928. FIFE FRIEND: Small voluntary phoneline offering support, advice and information to lesbians and gay men within Fife. Friday: 7.30pm-10.30pm. Telephone: Kirkcaldy (01592) 266688. Write to PO Box 19, Kirkcaldy, Fife. KY1 3JF. Runs a monthly disco. GLASGOW: Glasgow Gay and Lesbian Centre Project meets on the 1st Saturday of each month at 2pm in Strathclyde House. Write to: GLC Project, PO Box 463, GLASGOW G12 8NJ or contact Strathclyde Switchboard. For childcare, phone Jennifer (at least 1 week in advance) on 0141-552 3320. BSL Interpreter is usually available (check 2 weeks in advance). Glasgow Gay Group is an informal social group for gay men. Has a regular weekly pub night as well as running other social events like theatre, cinema, bowling, etc. Phone: Steve on 0141-339 7395 - preferably on Mon or Tues evenings. Icebreakers Cafe _ An alternative to the gay scene _ First Sunday in each month. 12.30-3.30pm in Austin's Bar, 183a Hope Street, Glasgow. Details from Strathclyde Switchboard. GREENOCK: Inverclyde Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Group is a new group just being established. Details from Joe Hammill on Greenock (01475) 729174 (work). INVERNESS: Gay Group meets on the 4th Wednesday of each month at 28 Huntly Street. Phone Andrew on Inverness (01463) 711585 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm) or write to: PO Box 67, Inverness. PAISLEY: Paisley Forum is a social group for lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and our allies. Meets Paisley Arts Centre, New Street on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month 8.30-10.30pm. Details: Phone Strathclyde Switchboard. WOMEN'S GROUPS ABERDEEN LESBIAN GROUP: Meets every Wednesday 8-10pm in the Women's Centre, Shoe Lane. Phone Aberdeen (01224) 625010 or 627415 for details. EDINBURGH: AD Group: For lesbians 45+ (younger lesbians who support the concerns of lesbians 45+). Meetings for discussion and support, first Saturday (1-5pm) of month in The Women's Centre, 61a Broughton Street. For more details, phone Edinburgh Lesbian Line. Dykes Nytes Out: social events for couples and singles in Edinburgh and Glasgow. Write to: PO Box 169, Edinburgh. EH1 3LU. Lesbian Line 0131-557 0751, Mondays and Thursdays 7.30-10pm. For information, advice and counselling in confidence. Write to: PO Box 169, Edinburgh. EH1 3UU. Edinburgh Bisexual Group meets every Thursday at 8pm-9.30pm in the Edinburgh Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Centre, 58a Broughton Street. All welcome. Women's Network: PO Box 159, Edinburgh. EH7 5EL. GLASGOW: Dykes Nytes Out: social events for couples and singles in Edinburgh and Glasgow. Write to: PO Box 169, Edinburgh. EH1 3LU. Glasgow Women's Library, 4th/5th Floors, 109 Trongate, G1 5HD. Tel: 0141-552 8345. Open Tue-Fri 1-6pm. Sat 2-5pm. Closed Mon. Lending and reference library - books, magazines, journals, videos, leaflets and information. UK and overseas feminist and lesbian publications. Lesbian Avengers: Contact Strathclyde Switchboard for details. Lesbian Line: 0141-552 3355 Wednesdays 7-10pm. Write to: PO Box 686, Glasgow. G3 7TL enclosing an sae for monthly 'Lavender Listing'. Lesbian Mothers Group: Meets every second Monday at 7pm. Support group, pub nights, informal chat. Crˆche and fares help available. Phone Lynne on 0141-221 7150. Lesbian Networking Meeting: Contact Glasgow Lesbian Line for meeting details and Lynne on 0141-221 7150 for childcare information. Lesbian Sports Group: Squash, badminton, tennis. Meets weekly. Phone Glasgow Lesbian Line for details. Lesbian Youth Action: Contact Lindsay Jane Morgan c/o Glasgow Lesbian Line. Olderwomen's Group: Contact Glasgow Lesbian Line for details. Team Caledonia West Women's Cycling Group: Phone Women in Sport on 0141-227 5933 for details. Women's Softball Group: Meets weekly. Contact Glasgow Lesbian Line for details. INVERNESS: Out and About is a friendly lesbian social group that gets together once a month. Write to: PO Box 91, Inverness. IV1 2GJ. LESBIAN INFORMATION SERVICE: PO Box 8, Todmorden, Lancashire. OL14 5TZ. Please enclose an sae. Phone/Fax: Todmorden (01706) 817235. BISEXUALS EDINBURGH BISEXUAL GROUP: Meets every Thursday at 8pm-9.30pm in the Edinburgh Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Centre, 58a Broughton Street. There's an excellent programme of talks and speakers usually followed by a visit to a local pub for socialising. Phone Bisexual Line on 0131-557 3620. ATHEISTS/HUMANISTS EDINBURGH FREETHINKERS: An informal network of militant atheists (with one militant humanist agnostic atheist). Write to: PO Box 666, Edinburgh. EH7 5YW or e-mail god@dorothy.demon.co.uk GAY AND LESBIAN HUMANIST ASSOCIATION (GALHA): A group for non religious lesbians gays and bisexuals which promotes an enlightened, rational Humanist approach to homosexuality. Details from GALHA National Office, 34 Spring Lane, Kenilworth, Warwickshire. CV8 2HB. Phone/Fax: Kenilworth (01926) 58450. BEARS BEARS' CLUB UK: For hairy men and admirers. Meets in the New Town Bar, Edinburgh on the 3rd Wednesday of each month from 8.30pm. Write to: BCUK, 56 Albert Street, Beswick, Manchester. M11 3SU. BEREAVEMENT LESBIAN & GAY BEREAVEMENT PROJECT: Lesbians and gay men needing advice and support can ring 0181-455 8894 at any time. Or write to: Lesbian & Gay Bereavement Project, Vaughan M Williams Centre, Colindale Hospital, London. NW9 5HG. BIKERS GAY BIKERS MOTORCYCLE CLUB: A UK-wide club for women and men. Active Scottish section. Write for details to GBMCC, PO Box 33, Nottingham. NG10 2BF. BODYBUILDERS/WEIGHTRAINERS GAY BODYBUILDERS/WEIGHTRAINERS CLUB: contact Frank Wallace on 0181-675 5858 for contact with Scottish members and nationally. Club produces "Fizzical" magazine as part of œ12 membership. CHRISTIANS L&GCM: Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement. Glasgow Group _ Helpline 0141-334 2286 Thurs 7-10pm or write to PO Box 1436, Glasgow. G31 2NY. Edinburgh Contact _ Phone Jim Liddle 0131-332 1949 (work), 0131-669 3205 (home). QUAKERS: Quaker Lesbian and Gay Fellowship (formerly Friends' Homosexual Fellowship) is a welcoming and supportive national group for people of all sexual orientations and their friends. Write to: Ruth, 3 Hallsfield, Cricklade, Swindon, Wilts. SN6 6LR. QUEST: Organisation for Roman Catholic men and women who are gay. Regular monthly meetings, socials, befriending, help at times of calm or crisis. Groups meet in Edinburgh and Glasgow. Telephone Linkline Glasgow 0141-333 9340 Tuesday and Sunday 7-10pm. Or you can write to Quest, PO Box 280, Glasgow. G12 0AW. COMPUTER BUFFS BORDERS BULLETIN BOARD: Computer based info every evening 6pm-8am. Hawick (01450) 377877. To get at the Gay areas, leave a message for the SYSOP asking for access. CHAPPS BBS: 24 hour board operating at speeds up to 28,800. 0131-539 1132. Fido echoes. LAMBDA BOARD _ EDINBURGH: A free 24 hour computer based bulletin board system. Private mailboxing, areas for Women, Gay Men, Bisexuals, Leather Enthusiasts, TV/TSs, etc. 0131-556 6316. Scrolling (8N1) and Viewdata (Prestel) formats at speeds up to V22bis (2400/2400). CULTURAL GAY CALEDONIAN ASSOCIATION: Social group for kilt wearers and friends. Meets in GHQ on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month. Phone Bill on 0141-646 1513. GLASGAY!: Scotland's Lesbigay Arts Festival taking place 27th Oct - 5th November. Write: PO Box 1590, Glasgow. G12 9XZ. Phone: 0141-204 0741. Fax: 0141-204 0742. INTERNATIONAL KILT APPRECIATION SOCIETY (IKAS): Contact and social group for guys interested in viewing/wearing kilts. Regular newsletter: SAE Mervyn Tacy, 'Ziveli', 20 Ordsall Park Road, RETFORD, Notts, DN22 7PA. LONG YANG CLUB: An international organisation for gay orientals and interested people of other nationalities. Promotes social events, education and mutual help services and publishes a magazine. Phone Robert: Falkirk (01324) 632185. 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. FOOTBALL GAY FOOTBALL SUPPORTERS NETWORK: Glasgow group holds monthly meetings in Squires Bar. For further details, please send an sae to GFSN, c/o Gay Times, 116 Bayham Street, London. NW1 0BA. FORCES AT EASE: An advice service to armed forces personnel and their families on any subject. Free, independent, confidential, impartial. Write: 28 Commercial Street, London E7 8LY or phone (Sundays 5-7pm only) 0171-247 5164. RANK OUTSIDERS: Support group of Lesbian and Gay Ex Armed Forces Personnel. No rank distinctions. Write to Rank Outsiders, c/o The Stonewall Group, 2 Greycoat Place, Westminster, London. SW1P 1SB. HEALTH MATTERS AYRSHIRE AIDS AWARENESS PROJECT: Support and assistance for those living with AIDS/HIV. Befriending and buddy services. Phone: Ayr (01292) 619000 Or write: PO Box 1043, Ayr. KA6 5JQ. BODY POSITIVE (GLASGOW): Providing support for those HIV+ and with AIDS in the West of Scotland. Phone: 0141-332 5010. Or write: 3 Park Quadrant, Glasgow. G3 6BS. BODY POSITIVE (GRAMPIAN): Support and assistance for gay men with HIV/AIDS. Phone: Aberdeen (01224) 404408. Or write to: PO Box 83, Aberdeen. BODY POSITIVE (LOTHIAN): Phone to speak to a gay positive person 1:1 on 0131-652 0754 Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri 10am-4pm, Thur 10am-7pm. Or write to: 37-39 Montrose Terrace, Edinburgh. EH7 5DJ. CENTRE FOR WOMEN'S HEALTH: 6 Sandyford Place, Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow. G3 7NB. Open Tue-Thur 10am-4.30pm (other times by arrangement). Fully accessible. Telephone: 0141-211 6700 (Minicom: 0141-211 6701). GALUP: Gay and Lesbian United Programme. Promotes health issues among lesbians gays and bisexuals in the Dundee area. Phone: Dundee (01382) 200352. Or write: c/o YMCA Special Projects Office, 76 Bell Street, Dundee. GLASGOW HIV CARERS SUPPORT GROUP: Phone: 0141-353 2979. Or write to: Church House, 340 Cathedral Street, Glasgow. G1 2BQ. GRAMPIAN AIDS LINE: Aberdeen (01224) 574000 Tuesdays and Fridays 7-9pm or write to GAL, PO Box 250, Aberdeen. PAISLEY SUPPORT GROUP: For people with HIV, partners, friends and family. Meets Tues 1.30-3.30 at The Wynd, School Wynd (off Moss Street). Phone: 0141-842 7203. PHACE WEST: A new, locally based and managed agency for people affected by HIV/AIDS serving Glasgow and the West of Scotland. 49 Bath Street, Glasgow. G2 2DL. Phone: 0141-332 3838 (Fax: 0141-332 3755). POSITIVE HELP: Practical help for people who are HIV+ or who have AIDS and their families, children, friends and carers. 64a Broughton Street, Edinburgh. EH1 3SA. Phone: 0131-558 1122. PSORIASIS GROUP: A new self-help group for lesbians, gays and bisexuals affected by psoriasis. Write to: Stuart Easton, 7/9 Orwell Terrace, Edinburgh. EH11 2DU. REACH OUT HIGHLAND: encourages and supports people throughout the Highlands _ whether living there or visiting _ to take responsibility for, manage, and make informed choices about their sexual health and well-being. 28 Huntly Street, Inverness. Phone: Inverness (01463) 711585. Helpline: Inverness (01463) 241000. Mon & Fri 7-9.30pm. SCOTTISH AIDS MONITOR: provides information and support on all matters relating to HIV/AIDS, including welfare rights and legal advice, charitable relief fund, Buddy support and counselling for friends and family. Phone: 01382 461167 (Dundee), 0131-555 4850 (Edinburgh), or 0141-353 3133 (Glasgow). Or write to c/o SWT Dept, Northern College, Gardyne Road, Broughty Ferry, Dundee, 26 Anderson Place, Leith, Edinburgh. EH6 5NP or 22 Woodside Terrace, Glasgow. G3 7XH. SOLAS NATIONAL HIV INFORMATION CENTRE: 2/4 Abbeymount, Edinburgh. EH8 8EJ. Information, advice and cafe. Information centre: Mon, Tue, Thurs, Fri - 11-4pm. Wed, 5-9pm. Phone: 0131-659 5116. STEVE RETSON PROJECT: Weekly sexual health service for gay men. Tuesday 5.30-9pm. GUM, Royal Infirmary, Castle Street, Glasgow. NATIONAL AIDS HELPLINE: 0800 567123. A Freephone, 24 hour service for confidential advice and information. LEATHER MSC SCOTLAND: MSC Scotland, PO Box 28, Head Post Office, Edinburgh. EH3 5JL. MSC Scotland is a member of the European Federation of Motorcycle Clubs. LEGAL GAY AND LESBIAN LEGAL ADVICE: GLAD is a London based advice line run by lesbian and gay lawyers. Phone: 0171-976 0840 (Mon-Fri 7-9.30pm). State clearly that you seek Scottish legal advice as our law is very different from that of England and Wales. MALE RAPE/SEXUAL ABUSE MASA: Men Against Sexual Abuse. Phone: 0141-550 2048 Friday evening 7pm-9pm. OUTDOOR CLUBS GAY OUTDOOR CLUB: Holds regular events including walking, cycling, swimming, hillwalking, windsurfing, cross-country skiing, camping and youth hostelling etc. Also holds regular swimming/social meetings in Edinburgh and Glasgow. For more details about GOC, write (enclosing an A5 sae) to: GOC, PO Box 24, Minehead, Somerset, TA24 8YZ or ring one of the Scottish Contacts:- East: Grant on 0131-556 8705 (Hill-walking), John on 0131-226 2341 (Swimming), Iain on 0131-539 0715 (Cycling). West: Douglas on 0141-848 6643. North: Michael on Inverness (01463) 230651. GAY RAMBLING GROUP: Walks on the 2nd Saturday of each month. Phone Robert on 0141-427 1511. OVER FORTIES PHEONIX: The only national group for the over forties and friends of any age. Write (enclosing an sae) to: Pheonix, PO Box 103, Wallington, Surrey. SM6 9SJ. PARENTS PARENTS' FRIEND: Phone: 0113-267 4627 from 7.30-10pm. Or write to: Voluntary Action Leeds, Stringer House, 34 Lupton Street, Hunslett, Leeds. LS10 2QW. SCOTTISH PARENTS ENQUIRY SERVICE: Support for parents of lesbians and gay men. Contact via Lothian Switchboard or write to SPE, PO Box 169, Edinburgh. EH1 3UU POLITICAL CONSERVATIVE: Tory Campaign for Homosexual Equality _ write: BM TORCHE, London WC1N 3XX. LABOUR CAMPAIGN FOR LESBIAN AND GAY RIGHTS: Works within the Labour and Trades Union movement to secure equality for lesbians and gay men. Contact PO Box 306, LONDON N5 2SY. There are also Local Groups throughout the country. LESBIAN AND GAY FREEDOM MOVEMENT: LGFM is a movement to bring Anarchist ideas and ideals to lesbians, gays and bisexuals, and to make sexuality a major campaigning issue for all anarchists. Details (3 postage stamps please) from LGFM, BM Box 207, LONDON. WC1N 3XX LIBERAL PARTY LESBIAN AND GAY CAMPAIGN: Phone: Southport (01704) 500115 (day), 0151-259 5935 (ansaphone), write to: Liberal Party Lesbian & Gay Campaign, 41 Sutton Street, Liverpool. L13 7EG or e-mail: libgay@libparty.demon.co.uk RUNNERS EDINBURGH GAY MEN'S RUNNING CLUB: Meets for 3-4 mile casual local run. Call Alistair: 0131-661 0008. SCIENCE FICTION GLASGOW GAY SCIENCE FICTION SOCIETY: Meets every 3rd Sunday of the month. Contact Paul on 0141-339 9176. S/M SM GAYS: Write to SM Gays, BM SM Gays, London. WC1N 3XX. E-mail: bandanas@dircon.co.uk SPORTS BRITISH GAY AND LESBIAN SPORTS FEDERATION: Encourages participation in sport. Write (with sae) to BGLSF, Central Station, 37 Wharfdale Road, London. N1 9SE. STUDENTS Many Universities and Colleges have Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Societies. Contact these via your Student Union or Student Association. Many are open to non-students living in the area. There are also groups covering wider areas run in conjunction with the National Union of Students _ East of Scotland: Write to Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual Officer, East of Scotland Area NUS, 11 Broughton Market, Edinburgh. EH3 6NU or phone on 0131-556 6598. North of Scotland: Write to Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual Officer, North of Scotland Area NUS, University of Aberdeen, 50/52 College Bounds, Aberdeen, AB2 3DS. West of Scotland: Write to Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual Officer, West of Scotland Area NUS, Cathcart House, Langside College, 50 Prospecthill Road, Glasgow. G42 9LB. You can contact the NUS Scottish Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Officer on 0131-556 6598 or write to NUS Scotland, 11 Broughton Market, Edinburgh. EH3 6NU. TEACHERS LESBIANS AND GAYS WORKING IN EDUCATION: Write to BM LAGWIE, London. WC1N 3XX. TV/TS ABERDEEN: Crossdressing Group. Contact Aberdeen Switchboard for details. EDINBURGH: Scottish TV/TS Group meets in private rooms every last Saturday each month except December. Ring Lothian Switchboard for further information. GLASGOW: Crosslynx meets on the second Wednesday of each month from 7pm-10pm. Phone Strathclyde Switchboard for more details. VISUAL IMPAIRMENT VISUAL IMPAIRED GAY GROUP SCOTLAND (VIGG): Offers a listening ear and support to women and men in close co-operation with the Lesbigay Disability Forum. Phone Colin and Jim: Dumfries (01387) 261679. WORKPLACE MSF: Lesbians and Gays in MSF. Phone: 0171-738 5469 or write c/o 39b Pentonville Road, London. N1 9LP. UNISON NATIONAL L&G CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE: Phone: 0131-469 3880. Or write: c/o 18 St Giles Street, Edinburgh. EH1 1PT. WRESTLING ALTERNATIVE WRESTLERS EUROPE: A European-wide gay/bisexual wrestling organisation organised from Glasgow. Contact c/o Alternative Sports, PO Box 437, Glasgow. G42 8HU, phone 0973 310416 or e-mail 100022.2554@compuserve.com WRITERS INDELIBLE INC: Writers' Group, Phone: Brian 0141-946 2078. YOUTH GROUPS LESBIAN YOUTH SUPPORT INFORMATION SERVICE: PO Box 8, Todmorden, Lancashire. OL14 5TZ. Please enclose an sae. Phone/Fax: Todmorden (01706) 817235. LOTHIAN LESBIAN AND GAY YOUTH MOVEMENT: For those under 26. Phone Lothian Switchboard or write to: LLGYM, PO Box 169, Edinburgh. EH1 3UU. STIRLING YOUTH GROUP: Meets Mondays fortnightly. Details from Forth Friend on Stirling (01786) 471285 Mon 7.30-10pm. STONEWALL YOUTH GROUP: For lesbian and gay teenagers. Meets Sats. Phone: 0131-556 4040 Tues 8-9pm. Or write: PO Box 169, Edinburgh. EH1 3UU. STRATHCLYDE LESBIAN AND GAY YOUTH MOVEMENT: Friendship and support for under 28s. Meets Tuesday 7.30pm and Sat afternoons. Details from Strathclyde Switchboard or Glasgow Lesbian Line. SWITCHBOARDS AND HELPLINES ABERDEEN LESBIAN & GAY SWITCHBOARD: Wed & Fri 7-10pm Phone: Aberdeen (01224) 586869 Minicom: Aberdeen (01224) 213355 Fax: Aberdeen (01224) 212333 AYRSHIRE GAY AND LESBIAN SWITCHBOARD: Mon, Wed & Fri 7-10pm Phone: Ayr (01292) 619000 BISEXUAL PHONELINE: Thurs 7.30-9.30pm Phone: 0131-557 3620 DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY L&G PHONELINE: Thurs 7.30-9.30pm Phone: Dumfries (01387) 269161 DUNDEE LGB SWITCHBOARD: Mon 7-10pm Phone: Dundee (01382) 202620 EDINBURGH LESBIAN LINE: Mon, Thurs 7.30-10pm Phone: 0131-557 0751 FIFE FRIEND: Fri 7.30-10.30pm Phone: Kirkcaldy (01592) 266688 FORTH FRIEND: Mon 7.30-9.30pm Phone: Stirling (01786) 471285 GLASGOW LESBIAN LINE: Wed 7-10pm Phone: 0141-552 3355 LOTHIAN GAY & LESBIAN SWITCHBOARD: Nightly 7.30-10pm Phone: 0131-556 4049 STRATHCLYDE GAY AND LESBIAN SWITCHBOARD: Nightly 7-10pm Phone: 0141-332 8372 LONDON LESBIAN AND GAY SWITCHBOARD: 24 hours Phone/Minicom: 0171-837 7324 --------------------------------------------------------------------- SCOTSDYKE ========= BARBIE EXPOSED! Barbie's Queer Accessories by Erica Rand has recently been published by Duke University Press. Paperback ukp14.95, Hardback ukp43.50. Monica Smith has been reading it for ScotsDyke. When I was a little girl, it was never dolls that interested me. I wanted to play with my brother's train set! You probably think that led to fights. In fact, it didn't. He played with my dolls and I played with his Hornby (except when The Parents were looking). Now I'm a big girl, I've got a train set of my own - a good sized layout that bores the knickers off my girlfriends and causes some poor men to go green with envy - yes, it really IS bigger than theirs! So, it really should be my brother who is writing this review - except that he's out in Hong Kong chasing yet another Chinese boyfriend and, therefore, isn't currently available. "She's skinny, white, and blond. She's Barbie - an icon of femininity to generations of American girls. She's also multi-ethnic and straight - or so says Mattel. But, as Barbie's Queer Accessories demonstrates, many girls do things with Barbie never seen in any commercial. Erica Rand looks at the corporate marketing strategies used to create barbie's versatile (She's a rapper! She's an astronaut! She's a bride!) but nonetheless premolded and still predominantly white image. Rand weighs the values Mattel seeks to embody in Barbie - evident, for example, in her improbably thin waist and her heterosexual partner - against the naked, dyked out, transgendered, and trashed versions favoured by many juvenile owners and adult collectors of the doll." From dyke activist Erica Sand's book, it appears that Barbie was a lot more of an icon than Cindy ever was in Britain - although they seem to have been largely contemporary. Barbie's boobs put a lot of mothers off buying the doll for their daughters whilst TV advertising and peer pressure contrived to keep up demand amongst the little horrors for the profitable plastic plaything. Once you get your head around the academic jargon, the book is quite a good read and combines history and personal reminiscences of women who had experiences with Barbie in their girlhood. Unfortunately, although it is mentioned frequently, the book does not reprint the famous photograph from On Our Backs that shows a woman inserting a Barbie (feet first) into her vagina! Mattel, the manufacturers of Barbie are portrayed as baddies: "Mattel doesn't want you to know this, but a business woman later convicted of financial fraud bought the patent to a plastic German sex symbol and turned it into Barbie with the help of a guy whose other credits include designing missiles and, he says, fucking one of his numerous lovers out of drug addiction". They're also portrayed as naive idiots over their introduction of Earring Magic Ken in 1993 - a doll wearing a cock ring! Rand blames the design team: "I imagine a scenario closer to what got all those penises drawn onto The Little Mermaid's magic castle: subversion from within by at least some people who knew exactly what they were doing". It's the subversion of Barbie which especially appeals to me. AIDS Barbie - from the 'zine Diseased Pariah News is a classic of its kind and there should be some kind of medal for the people who swapped the voice chips between a consignment of G.I. Joe and Barbie dolls and then replaced them on the shelves! I never had a Barbie when I was a wee girl so I think that I'll give my brother this book for Christmas - maybe it'll make him realise what he missed! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- CREDITS ======= ScotsGay: a bi-monthly magazine for lesbians, gays and bisexuals edited, printed and published in Scotland. ISSN: 1357-0595. c Pageprint Limited 1995. Non profit use by the lesbigay community of material in the magazine will normally be permitted free of charge _ but contact us first for permission. We haven't had sex with most of the people who appear in the magazine so we don't actually know what their sexuality is. Editor: John Hein. Contributors in this issue: Martin Powell (Performance), Dick Wilson (News), Brandon Judell (Features), Gordon, Graham and John (Scene), Rex Wockner (International), Tony Hiscox-Sloan (Smut), Justin Milne (Mags and Books), Braithwaite (Films and Media), Monica Smith (ScotsDyke). Editorial Enquiries: Write to: ScotsGay, Pageprint Limited, PO Box 666, Edinburgh. EH7 5YW. Telephone: 0131-539 0666. Fax: 0131-558 1262. E-mail: scotsgay@drink.demon.co.uk We welcome news, articles, photos, cartoons, etc. _ especially lesbian and bisexual material. Advertising Enquiries: Telephone: 0131-558 1279. Fax: 0131-558 1262. Subscribing by Internet: Scotsgay is available on the Internet. Send a 'subscribe scotsgay-list' message to listserver@drink.demon.co.uk and the text files of future editions will be delivered to you by e-mail.