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OUT IN THE CITY MARCH 2012


THE TEAM Editor


DAVID HUDSON hudson@outmag.co.uk +44 (0)20 7258 1943


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This month, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Dancing On Ice’s Louie Spence (p.12) to talk about his life and career... and can that man talk! With Louie, what you see is what you get: he’s the epitome of ‘upfront’. What struck me most about him was that he seems to be someone who has few hang-ups about his sexuality. He says he knew that he was gay – or at the very least, different, from the age of five. Fortunately, although he didn’t openly discuss these feelings with his parents at the time, he says that they were always hugely supportive of him – not even batting an eyelid or making any negative remarks as he started throwing himself about in ballet tights when other boys his age simply wanted to kick a ball around a field. Louie was indeed fortunate. Parents have a profound influence on their children, and – in turn – the adults they eventually grow up to become. Disparaging words and actions can leave deep scars. Sometimes, just a silence around anything gay-related can leave a deep and lasting impression. It’s rare to find someone who appears to be unburdened by any residue of internalised homophobia – most of us carry some around, or find ourselves checking our behaviour or appearance for signs of being ‘too gay’. I still wince inside when I realise my little finger’s sticking out at an angle when I pick up a cup. Now I just remind myself, “You’re gay, David… get over it!” Despite this, there are some who have knocked Louie on exactly this “too gay” behaviour, suggesting that he and certain others “give gays a bad name”. Give gays a bad name to whom exactly? Straight people? Do you think straight people tie themselves up in knots over how they are seen by gay people? As Louie himself concludes, stop denying yourself, or trying to squeeze yourself into a mould that doesn’t quite fit. You’ve only got one life – don’t waste it trying to be something you’re not. Elsewhere in the magazine this month we chat with The Ting Tings, visit gay Tokyo, look at the dangers of hepatitis C infection for those who are HIV- positive, and bring you another gym-toned hunk in Body Talk. Enjoy, and keep sending us your feedback.


hudson@outmag.co.uk @OutInTheCityMag


CONTENTS 12


04 LETTERS Send your


correspondence to editorial@outmag. co.uk


06 MY LONDON Promoter Wayne Shires gives us his capital highlights


10 COLUMNIST Mario Forgione seeks love in a cold climate


12 LOUIE SPENCE The Dancing On Ice judge talks careers, criticism and camp


16 COLUMNIST Paul Burston ponders the contradictions of Brazil


19 DIARY March’s cultural highlights & arts listings plus details of the London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival


22 MUSIC We talk with Katie and Jules of The Ting Tings


34 24 FILM


Contraband, This Means War, Safe House and Hunky Dory reviewed


28 THEATRE The Madness of George III reviewed and theatre news


31 OUT THERE Scene highlights for March, plus coverage of XXL, Ku Bar’s fi fth birthday and


Anthem at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern


38 OUTREACH Stonewall Housing and older LGBT people, plus the Stonewall Brighton Equality Walk


22


40 OUTNEWS Gay news from home and abroad, plus the winners of our annual Out In The City Readers’ Awards


44 CIVIL PARTNERSHIPS Runnymede-on- Thames and other gorgeous locations to host your special day


46 LEGAL Law fi rm Dawson Cornwell on forced marriage


48 PARENTING British Surrogacy Centre and London Sperm Bank


52 PROPERTY New property from ASRA and items for the home


58 TRAVEL The bright lights and traditional charm of Tokyo


63 BODY AND SOUL


Agony uncle, the threat of hepatitis C and Body Talk


Hudson’s Letter


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