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M A D E T H A T W AY

RED HOT
DOWN
UNDER
12 PAGES OF GARETH,
OUR SEXIEST GINGER

DROWN
THE AUSSIE FILM WEVE
BEEN WAITING FOR

CUTE
COUPLES
MEET RHYS AND KIRK
WILLING
AND ABLE
LIFE BEYOND
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MY PARENTS
WANT ME DEAD
THE HUNTING OF A GAY SON

TROPICAL
FRUITS
A VERY KOOKY NEW YEAR!
#182

ON THE COVER

LEO IN
BARCELONA
BY JP SANTAMARIA

Its absolutely stunning.

One of your absolute best!
Stephen Fry

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No part of DNA may be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission from
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March 2015

CONTENT 182
#

28
Regulars
10 FROM THE EDITOR
Dogma attack!

12 BURNTOAST

44

52

Your say on all things DNA.

Samples

14 LOVING
Boys, lotion and donuts.

16 MONTH IN A MINUTE
All the print thats fit to news.

30 MUSIC REVIEWS

62

76

32 BOYS TOYS

Has she got her groove back?

26 DIVINE KNIGHTS
Outrageous popaganda.

36 DEAR DIVA
Solve my goddamn problems!

40 STRAIGHT MATE

20 MADONNA

His retro film photography.

34 BOOK REVIEWS

Than a squirrel turd.

Open season for straight furries.

22 ALEX KING

Whiz and definately bang!

38 NUTTIER

18 THE TWO BEARS

28 DROWN

90

Aussie lifesavers go all the way under.

94 THE DNA POOL PARTY

Sydneys hottest day of summer.

Travis Jeffery.

New York truths.

Photography

96 GROOMING

44 MELTING HOT

42 COMMON MORTALS

The best hand job.

98 DNA PT
Bringing sexy back.

94

102

Rhys and Kirk by Rod Spark.

62 RED HOT
Gareth Wiecko by Thomas Knights.

112 THE BACK PASSAGE

76 LEO

Condoms: a seminal history.

Leo Rico by JP Santamaria.

114 URBAN HOMO

102 NICELY DOES IT

#curatinganimage.

Carson Nicely by Ethan James.

6 DNA

CONTENT 182
#

Features
52 WILLING AND ABLE
They are some of the most gifted, engaged
and engaging gays in the village. They also
happen to be living with disabilities. Meet
three of the worlds most inspirational.

74 TWINK, TWINK, LITTLE STAR

Youth is highly prized on the scene. Like
celebrity, it opens A-list doors, brings
adulation and advantage but it can easily be
seduced into the web of a waiting spider.

86 SAVE ME FROM MY FAMILY!

Hakan is young, gay and Turkish. His mother
wants Allah to beat the gay out of him; his
father wants to kill him. His story is a prescient
reminder that gay rights are still a matter
of life and death in many parts of the world.

90 FRESH FRUITS!
Camping, all-night dancing, parades, cabaret
and costumes galore. Welcome to Tropical
Fruits, where Mardi Gras meets the State Fair!

Leo wears Teamm8 swimwear.

Photography JP Santamaria.
Story starts page 76.
8 DNA

FROM THE EDITOR /Andrew Creagh

Dogma Attack!
THE DAY AFTER ISLAMIC fundamentalists
murdered twelve people at the Charlie Hebdo
office in Paris, a friend of mine ran into some
trouble at a train station in Sydney. It was
morning peak hour, and the station entrance
was partially blocked by two people, an older
man and a young girl, who were talking. As
my friend drew closer, he overheard their
conversation. The man was a Christian
fundamentalist explaining to the girl why gay
people were unnatural and would be punished
in the afterlife.
In the mind of the Christian, he was doing
something good spreading the word of
God, as the Bible tells Christians to do. But if
you ask me, he was doing a whole lot of bad.
Blocking the train station entrance for a start
bad! Preaching hate and intolerance to an
impressionable young person bad! The worst
thing, though, was that he was perpetuating
the idea that people with religious beliefs have
the right to impose them on others. That belief

had been expressed in the most extreme way

possible just the day before in Paris.
The journalists and artists who were killed
were judged to be guilty of blasphemy the act
of ridiculing or expressing contempt for God.
But if you dont believe in God, is that even
possible? Its like being told youve broken the
rules of a game you arent playing. If you dont
have religious beliefs, why should religious
rules apply to you?
This is why Im constantly annoyed that
churches are invited into the debate on
gay marriage. If Im not a member of your
church or your belief system, why should
you be entitled to an opinion on my life or
my marital status? Marriage doesnt belong
to the church. Long before it was hijacked by
religion, marriage was an agreement between
individuals, families and communities about
property which it still is. It is not a gift from
God. It is not a sacred bond.
Yet, in the Western World, churches tell us
we cant redefine their version of marriage.
Worse, they claim that by not adhering to their
rules, we are the oppressors. In the US, church
groups are claiming the right to discriminate

Their argument for freedom of religion is

really an argument for the freedom to oppress, and
taken to its most extreme, its deadly.

An anti-gay
marriage
protestor in the
US. What next
witch burnings?

10 DNA

against gays and lesbians because unless

they can refuse service to us in restaurants
or hospitals, we are depriving them of their
religious freedom.
Something similar already exists in
Australia, where churches, church schools and
universities, and religious organisations are
exempt from the Anti-Discrimination Act.
Why? Because they want the right to impose
their values on people who dont share those
values. Its moral totalitarianism.
Their argument for freedom of religion
is really an argument for the freedom to
oppress. And taken to its most extreme, its
deadly. The Paris massacre, for example. If
youre squeamish dont look online at the
videos of ISIS throwing gay men to their
deaths from towers. The massacre of 132
school children in Pakistan last December, the
enslaving of women and children in Iraq and
Syria by ISIS, the abduction of 300 school girls
by Boko Haram in Nigeria this is not just
terrorism, its the violent expression of religion.
The man at the Sydney train station was
not an extremist or a murderer but he is
not harmless. Religious extremists only exist
because religious moderates exist first. Like
that man, the terrorists in Paris also thought
they were doing something good.
It would now be hypocritical of me to suggest
that religion and spirituality are a personal
thing and should be kept private, because I
have no business telling anyone how to practice
their religion. In return, I ask that religion
respects the right of others to live their lives on
their own terms.
Founding Editor,
Andrew Creagh

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burnttoast @ dnamagazine.com.au
INSIDE THE MINDS OF DNA READERS! EMAILS, LETTERS, TWEETS, FACEBOOK POSTS, CARRIER PIGEON DISPATCHES AND RAMBLINGS
PLUS
INSIDE
NUTRIENT

Finding a
healthier,
sexier you!
WHY WHEY?
CLEANSING SECRET
GETTING SEXY PECS

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M A D E T H AT W AY

THE VEGE
ALTERNATIVE
DNA 3

BRENT
WILSON
MENSWEAR
STAR BARES
IT ALL!

10
HOTTEST
PARTIES IN THE
GAY WORLD

ASYLUM
HORROR

HOW AUSTRALIA
BETRAYS THE GAYS

COUCH
SURFERS

SEX ON THE SOFA!

MYKONOS

BACK ON THE MAP

#180

THE
69 JOYS
OF GAY SEX
DNA #180 COVER MODEL, BRENT WILSON

Brent, let me know when youre in Georgia!

Christopher Jones
Ive admired his clothes but whats beneath is
even better! Raj Patel
Why the beards all of a sudden? All I see on
good looking men is beards. Mark Schuster
HELLO MR EDITOR

You might not remember, but you helped me with

references for my Masters thesis, AFL And The
Closet. Given how hard it was to find any academic
information on the topic, mine is probably the first
academic work on the subject. Anyway, it is now
freely available via the Edith Cowan University
library digital collection. (Needless to say, various
DNA articles are referenced.)
Naturally, I noticed an item in The DNA
Awards 2014 [DNA #180]. Under the title Most
Likely To Come Out Eventually, you wrote,
Lets hope that we soon see an openly gay
READERS POLL

Im fine
with it
Its none
of my
business

12 DNA

12%
15%

26%

#TEAMHUMANITY

Asylum seekers being denied their rights in

indefinite off-shore detention is appalling
[Australian Horror Story: Asylum, DNA #180]
and even more so when I learned how nations
like Italy are acting in a legal, humane way
despite a much bigger burden of refugees. Our
governments policy shames all Australians.
Thanks for taking on this important story.
Brett Alder, Melbourne.
If you grab the latest copy of @DNAmagazine,
youll find an amazingly well written and
nuanced article about Australias asylum policy.
Samuel Walker, @SCGWalker
DNA, please help spread the word: www.
nogoingback.org.uk is charity that helps LGBT
people fleeing persecution and seeking asylum
in the UK. @NoGoingBack1
READERS POLL

What's your view on the 30-year age gap

between Stephen Fry and Elliot Spencer?
Its too
much of
an age
gap

Australian Football Leaguer. Well, I suppose it

is bound to happen eventually. However, my
research suggests there is a tacit block to this,
not least of which is media silence. AFL is the
only exclusively male, mainstream institution of
our society where gays apparently dont exist.
Nearly 15 years ago, a play was produced in
Perth on this very topic for the Pride festival.
The buzz was, then, that an AFL player was
about to come out. It still hasnt happened. Its
been more than four decades since gay liberation
reached this country, however, its effects have yet
to reach the AFL. Id like to think it will by the
end of this year, but I dont think we should hold
our breath. Keep up the good work at DNA.
Andrew Douglas
AFL: tight shorts, bulging pecs and biceps,
full body contact, hugs, kisses and the pats
on the bum Its hard to imagine that any of
them are actually straight.

47%

I wouldnt
care if it
was more
or less,
as long
as theyre
happy

Yes

Thats how
I came out
0%

ST
L AT E
L
L
O
P

15%

79%

CrossFit guys have the hottest bodies!

How has Bernardo Velasquez not got more
comments? Can you guys post more CrossFit
athletes like Khan Porter, Kurt Foggo,
Keegan Wolfenden, CJ Walker, Brendan
Clarke, Matt Healey and Denis Hamann?
Plenty of candidates for Instastuds in that lot!
Sean C, Brisbane. Thanks Sean. We love
this kind of homework!

SWEET TWEETS
@JoshThomas87
I dont drunk tweet. I
wouldnt waste wine
on Twitter.
@TheTweetOfGod Its times like
this I really wish I existed.
@maybemick You know youre in the gayburbs
when a @DNAmagazine poster is on the local
newsagents window.
@thomasward I hate when youre having a nice
night then randomly remember you havent fed
your Tamigotchi for eighteen years.

@Hat_Man_DooWhat did the number 3 say when

number 4 was acting odd? I cant even.

No

6%

GIMME MORE CROSSFIT

@nathvalvoIf Sam Smiths new relationship goes

balls up does he listen to the Sam Smith album?

Would you come out in a YouTube

video?
Only if I
got paid
to do it

BERNARDO VELASQUEZ BY FELIPE PILOTTO

Send your feedback to burnttoast@DNAmagazine.com.au Or post your burnttoast letters on our website. Go to DNAmagazine.com.au. Letters will be edited for length, clarity and hilarity!

@TTMSonair My next drag name is Amanda.

Because Im a man, duh.
@KhrisWarholI feel like 2015 will be the year
Robin Thicke will blur the lines between his music
career and working at Taco Bell.
@rhysnicholsonI was going to start a website
called himself.com featuring nude men talking
candidly about sex, but I realised thats Tinder.

The restuff
we

Celebrating gender
discombobulation!

Loving
Our Own
Budgie
Smugglers

DNA swimmers (theyre

aussieBum with our logo)
are very exclusive! We only
give them away at parties
to certified hotties, like
Marty Pappas, shot here by
Joel Devereux.

Sock Unity

Never let one sock lose touch with with its other half,
with Barnabys new range of socks that button up
together. Bless! Barnabyshop.com

SEE
MORE

14 DNA

Gays in ads

Are we so desperate for validation that we celebrate gay

characters appearing in advertising campaigns? Or, are
we pleased to see international brands acknowledging
that we are among their target demographics? Lynx,
Nikon, Tiffany and Tide we salute you.

Daily Male by CR Formulations

This luxury skincare range has the highest percentage
of proven active ingredients for a fabulous face. Its the
superfood of skincare!

Tony The Chew Toy

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has finally

become popular with Australians. Australian
dogs that is! Hes our best-selling chew toy, says
the manager at Darlinghursts Pup N Pussy pet
boutique. Pupnpussy.com.au

Donuts

If youve seen the donuts clip from reality show My Husbands Not
Gay, youll know exactly what were talking about. We love donuts
and so do you Mr In-Denial-Not-Gay-Married-Mormon.

Aussie Boardies
Legendary Aussie swimwear
label aussieBum (their
spelling, not ours!) made the
budgie smuggler popular
worldwide. Now, radically,
theyre having a go at making
the boardie (Australian
for board shorts) sexy and
doing a mighty fine job.
Aussiebum.com

DNA 15

/ MONTH IN A MINUTE
The family is threatened by growing efforts on the part
of some to redefine the very institution of marriage. These
realities are increasingly under attack from powerful forces
which threaten to disfigure Gods plan for creation.

Pope Francis addressing millions in Manila.

THE US SUPREME Court decides finally
to weigh in on the matter of marriage in
the nation. The high court announces
it will hear freedom to marry cases
from four states this year. The decision,
expected in June, is likely to have farreaching consequence.

AHEAD OF A NATIONWIDE referendum

on same-sex marriage, Irelands Health

Minister, Leo Varadkar, 36, comes
out. Im a gay man, he says. Its not
a secret, but its not something that
everyone would necessarily know. He
is the first government minister to come
out in the traditionally conservative
Catholic country. The referendum,
scheduled for May, also has the support
of fellow countryman Colin Farrell. The
actor, who has a gay brother, says, I
support this vote with every fibre of my
being.

STAR OF THE UKS gay drama Cucumber,

Freddie Fox, 25, plays the field with his
sexuality in an interview with the Daily
Telegraph. Ive had girlfriends but I
wouldnt wish to say Im this or that
because at some point in my life I might
fall in love with a man.
16 DNA

ANDREW BARR becomes Chief Minister

of the ACT and the first openly gay head of
state in Australia. Barr is openly gay with
a long-term partner, Anthony. In a press
conference, Barr says, It is quite ironic
that you can be elected Chief Minister but
cant marry your partner of 15 years. Its
time that this discrimination is ended in
this country and I will continue to be a
loud and passionate voice for that change.
BILLY CRYSTAL, WHO played one of TVs
first openly gay men (Jodie Dallas, in the
1970s sitcom, Soap) tells the audience at a
press event that some TV shows today are
pushing gay storylines too far for his taste.
I hope people dont abuse it and shove it
in our face to the point where it feels
like an everyday kind of thing.

On Twitter, ISIS celebrate their medieval barbarism by

posting images of gay men being tossed to their deaths
from a rooftop in Mosul.

CELIBATE? THE FDA PLANS to ease

the ban on gay and bisexual men from
donating blood, but only if they abstain
from gay sex for at least one year.

Two weeks after announcing his engagement to 27-yearold Elliot Spencer, Stephen Fry, 57, announces that the
two have married in Dereham, England. His tweet reads,
Gosh. @ElliotGSpencer and I go into a room as two
people, sign a book and leave as one. Amazing.

IN SYDNEYS Martin Place, Islamic

radical Man Haron Monis enters the
Lindt Caf and takes 18 people hostage in
a 16-hour standoff. In the final moments
of the siege, two hostages, barrister
Katrina Dawson and caf manager Tori
Johnson (pictured), are killed. Johnson is
hailed a hero as he allegedly lost his life
while attempting to wrestle for the gun.
Johnsons partner of 14 years, Thomas
Zinn, calls him, the most positive human
being I ever met. A formal inquest into
the siege is underway, while surviving
hostages are reportedly earning six figure
sums to tell their story to news outlets.

A Virginian ex-gay group puts up a billboard featuring

identical twins of different sexualities to make the claim
Nobody is born gay. The only problem is that the
model pictured is not a twin and is an out and proud
gay! South Africas Kyle Roux posed for the stock images
nearly a decade ago.

/ SAMPLES
Horse Meat Disco. Were big friends of theirs
and well get a gig in there sooner or later.

VI

DE

If you go down
in the woods
today you might
meet Raf Rundell
of The 2 Bears.

Bust A Hairy Bear Nut!

Theyre straight,
furry, make music and
sometimes get assaulted
by lipstick. Marc Andrews
tracks down Raf Rundell of
UK dance act, The 2 Bears.

DNA: Were very intrigued to know more

about a band called The 2 Bears! Has the bear
community embraced you?
Raf Rundell: Not just yet. Despite the name Im

not that plugged into the bear scene.

Are you more otter than bear? I guess so,
yeah. We were kind of given that name by
a friend of ours. Joe [Goddard] and I were
hanging out a lot making tracks and we were
all amused by the name. Everyone likes bears,
as well. Its also a fairytale.

You already won the gay audience over with

your name! Yes, that helps [laughs].
Joe is also a full-time member of [electronic
band] Hot Chip and an in-demand remixer,
so do you just become The 2 Bears whenever
you get the chance? Yeah. Making the music
18 DNA

we fit in around his schedule and mine. We

just get on with it. He is very prolific and a very
impressive creative force.
So you DJ the rest of the time? I DJ and have
some record labels which release soul and house
stuff. I am also raising a young family. Im a
bear with a few little cubs at home [laughs].
Your latest album, The Night Is Young, could
turn you into bona fide pop stars! I dont

know what that entails, to be honest. Were not

unambitious, but very realistic. Joe has made a
lot of albums with Hot Chip and I have worked
in the music business since I was 19. We are
not cynical or jaded, but you have to allow
these things to grow naturally and its a creative
endeavour as much as anything.
Is it fair to call The 2 Bears style of music
house? House is what we became known for

initially and its a framework for everything we

do. On this record we just wanted to try a few
different musical hats on for our own sanity in
the studio as we are lovers of all types of music.
House has a long heritage in gay clubs. As
a DJ, I play at a gay night in London called
Handsome. Im always very happy about that
because on the flyer when it says who is playing
it always calls them handsome. Everyone likes
being called handsome. We aspire to play at the

Does this mean well see you in sequins

or spandex on stage? Well, we are kind of

involved with this transvestite collective called

Sink The Pink in London. They are the guys
in our video for Not This Time. They are an
incredible hot mess of lycra and moustaches.
They run a monthly party and its fantastic.
Everyone gets so dressed up, even us. I dont
have the figure for spandex, though. I usually
get assaulted with a feather boa and a bit of
lipstick. I get in the spirit.

We are involved with this

transvestite collective
called Sink The Pink
in London. They are an
incredible hot mess of
lycra and moustaches.
We love you straight guys for that! Theres

something about the atmosphere at those

parties. It kind of de-sexualises everything
because everyone is so dressed up that you
cant tell whos who, or whats what. From my
perspective as a straight guy its like a lot of
kids with a dressing up box.

And theres no fights outside the club

afterwards either! Exactly. Theres a lot of

people getting together and getting off with

each other, which is what you want at a party.
Ive been playing at their party a lot and we
are involving them a lot in our live show. Even
Madonna saw our video.

She probably wants to steal all your ideas for

her next video! Well, there you go! She was

in touch with them and they were obviously

beyond delighted with that, so everybody is
profiting in some way from this hook-up.

Which leads us to ask: speedos or board

shorts at the beach? Board shorts, Im afraid.

If I wore budgie smugglers I would be busting a

hairy bear nut.
Some people like that! Okay, alright. I am a
big fan of the cricket and my mate sent me a set
of Shane Warne underwear from Target. They
are absolutely disgusting. Maybe I could wear
them down the beach.
Nobody wants to see anyone wearing Shane
Warnes underpants! Send me some speedos

then! Sweet.

MORE: Visit The2bears.co.uk or find them on

Facebook or Twitter. The Night Is Young is out
through Liberator Music/Southern Fried

stonemen.com / 02 9337 3112

/ SAMPLES

BUT IS IT
ICONIC?

The leaking of
Madonnas new album has
her screaming artistic
rape. Marc Andrews
braves the Queen Of Pops
wrath and cocks an ear
before her Rebel Heart is
officially released.
JUST A FEW DAYS BEFORE last Christmas an

unexpected little package showed up online in

the form of Madonnas new album. Cunningly
labelled Iconic, it appeared to have been re-gifted
to fans by someone on Madonnas team who had
leaked, or indeed stolen, the tracks.
Madonna herself, as you can well imagine,
was utterly unimpressed. This is artistic
rape! she declared with outrage on Instagram.
These are early leaked demos, half of which
wont even make it on my album the other
half have changed and evolved. This is a form
of terrorism. WTF!!!! Why do people want to
destroy artistic process??? Why steal? Why not
give me the opportunity to finish and give you
my very best?
Mads also asked fans to be loyal and not
listen to the demos. Thank you for waiting
and if you have heard please know they are
unfinished demos stolen long ago and not ready
to be presented to the world, she added, just so
everyone knew that this was unfinished business.
While she might have been rightfully
mad about the leak, Mads also saw a true
commercial opportunity. No less than 24 hours
later, her team officially released six tracks
from her new album, titled Rebel Heart, with
the complete shebang due on March 10.
So what to make of Iconic then? Is it
Madonnas state-of-the-art dance masterpiece,
or something more like a messy piece?
Plucking your way through the 13 tracks served
up theres plenty of material that sounds, well,
sub-standard and barely deserving of a slot on
her album, let alone as an extra track on the
Japanese deluxe box set edition.
Bitch Im Madonna is her recycling that old
Im the greatest, youre the greatest imposter
20 DNA

vibe with an annoying, cloying electro beat and

lyrics along the line of na na na. Its rubbish,
in other words, but a finished version with
Nicki Minaj appears on the new Rebel Heart
album. Hmmm.
Things improve when it comes to Living
For Love, the official first single. Kicking off
with a classic old school house piano and
beat, it seems Madonna has been taking some
listens to Kieszas Hideaway. Its definitely the
catchiest thing on Iconic and, not surprisingly,

Kicking off with a

classic old school house
piano and beat, it seems
Madonna has been taking
some listens to Kieszas
Hideaway.
hit iTunes in a version not too dissimilar to
the one that leaked. Its definitely hit material,
if people could be bothered to buy the proper
version, that is.
Other Iconic tracks, like the acoustic ballad
Joan Of Arc (which haters are gonna hate on
with the line Im not Joan of Arc not yet!),
or the heavy piano tearjerker Heartbreak City
(where she rhymes city with shitty) seem like
song sketches that hopefully will either be more
fully-rounded by the time the finished version
arrives, or else scrapped altogether.
Some may herald Illuminati as Madonna
heading back into Vogue territory with a rap

referencing Beyonc, Obama

and Gaga but its truly a
pale imitation of her biggest
selling single. Borrowed
Time is Madonna doing
Change The World with a
big stomping chorus Calvin
Harris would kill for, much
like album opener Addicted
(The One That Got Away)
with Madonna meddling
thick and fast in EDM
territory. Why she didnt
just call David Guetta and
have it done with remains
unknown.
Theres plenty here to
delight Madonna fans and
when we get to hear the final
SEE
versions of these songs on
E
R
MO
Rebel Heart they may indeed
have been worth the wait
and the leaks. What we
should not forget is that Madonna has been the
victim of early leaks before.
Before her last album hit the shelves, 2012s
MDNA, there was a leak of the lead single Give
Me All Your Luvin some three months before
its official release. The only problem was that
the leaked version was identical to the finished
version, so why would anyone bother buying
it when it had been available for three months
online for free? It was no surprise that the
track, a catchy cheerleader romp you may recall
from the hands of Martin Solveig, flopped in
the charts and didnt pave the way for a proper
Madonna comeback.
Now with Iconic/Rebel Heart leaking all
over the net, early demos or not, there are
two views on whether this is good or bad
for Madonnas career. The positive brigade
gamely believe that all publicity is good
publicity and if it means more people will
listen to Madonnas music, 30 years after her
prime, then all the better. Perhaps this is the
best launchpad that the new official Rebel
Heart album could possibly have, terrorists
or no terrorists.
The negative view is that people will hear
these demos, think Madonna is rubbish and
trying to play catch-up with the Rihannas and
Katy Perrys and her Queen Of Pop crown will
be further tarnished, if not destroyed.
Perhaps the final word on Iconic should be
left with one of the few women in the world
who have more balls than Madonna RuPauls
Drag Race winner Bianca Del Rio.
Madonnas album was leaked, Bianca
mocked on her Facebook page. She calls it
artistic rape. I blame Bill Cosby.
Bitch, shes Madonna!
MORE: Rebel Heart is released through Universal
Music. For more go to www.madonna.com

LINE UP (SO FAR):

ADAM LOVE (AUS)

AMANDA LOUISE (AUS)
ASTRIX LITTLE (AUS)
BENT COLLECTIVE
STEVEN REDANT (SPAIN)
+ DANNY VERDE (ITALY)
DAN MURPHY (AUS)
DAVID MORALES: A SALUTE TO
FRANKIE KNUCKLES (USA)

ni g ht o f
ni g hts

p l a y b i l l ve n u e s a n d
e n t e r t a in m e n t q u a r te r,
m o o re p a r k ,
s y d n e y, a u s tra l i a

- sat 07 mar, 1 0pm - 8 am -

SPEND THE NIGHT WITH OVER 15,000

INTERNATIONAL AND LOCAL PARTYGOERS AT
THE MARDI GRAS PARTY THE LARGEST GAY
AND LESBIAN EVENT IN THE SOUTHERN
HEMISPHERE.

JD SAMSON (USA)
KATE MONROE (AUS)
KITTY GLITTER (AUS)
MASON ANDREWS (AUS)
META ETCETERA (AUS)
PAUL MAC (AUS)
+ SPECIAL GUESTS
SAMMY JO (USA)
SVETA (AUS)
THE CARRY NATION (USA)
WAYNE G (UK)
YO! MAFIA (AUS)
COURTNEY ACT
(MG GLOBAL AMBASSADOR)
MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED

This is the big one. The LGBTQI annual general meeting. Everyone from everywhere. Every passion and every predilection. All welcome. All night.

ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPH BY ANN-MARIE CALILHANNA

WHOEVER YOU ARE, AND

WHEREVER YOU COME FROM,
THIS IS YOUR

DJ GRIND (USA)

/ SAMPLES

KILL
YOUR
SELFIE

What better way to

revive the lost art of 35mm
photography than with hot
guys in their underwear?
LA-based photographer
Alex King reveals his retro
quest to Maxim Boon.
DNA: You have a pretty great job:
photographing gorgeous guys in their
underwear! Youre a lucky man.
Alex King: Im very lucky, but its still a job. I

really have to make it a hustle. You have to keep

shooting, spending money on printing and
developing costs, and its a lot of work to find
new guys and new faces to photograph. Its a
challenge, but I love it!
How did you manage to build this as a career?

Ive been a fan of [photo-sharing site] Tumblr

for years; theres a huge gay population on there
and I really wanted to tap into that. About
a year ago I started a small fashion project
called Tie-Dye Undies. I started off making
about 20 pairs of tie-dyed briefs and I thought
they looked great, but I needed to see them
on somebody. A buddy offered to be my first
model, and I took a bunch of pictures and
posted them through Tumblr. The reaction
was amazing: lots of reblogs and people asking
where they could get a pair. Interest really
took off, so I was making maybe 30 new pairs
every week and shooting them all on different
models. Via Tumblr I was able to see which
photos and models were popular, but its not
22 DNA

as simple as youd think. Id shoot friends who

had done no modelling before, and people
really seemed to dig that. Sometimes youd
shoot a professional model and think, Wow,
these pics are amazing and theyd go nowhere.
Even though you have a big online following
youve decided to specialise in 35mm film
photography. What attracted you to go
old school? Im kind of a retro person. Tie-

dye is about as retro as you get! Im a hippy

at heart Im into vinyl records and vintage
cars. Before I used 35mm, I was shooting on
digital and Id take thousands of pics which
then needed to be edited down. I thought to
myself after one really painful edit, Why am I
always overshooting? I had this 35mm camera
that my grandmother had given me which I
hadnt touched in ten years. The first time I
used it was just an experiment, but when I got
the pictures back I was like, Fuck! Why have I
been wasting my time on digital? The colours
were all more vibrant, the skin tones were
gorgeous. Everything looked just a little bit more
authentic. I also love that the model has to trust
you just a little bit more to get the right shot.
Using 35mm taught me to be decisive and quick.
DNA 23

/ SAMPLES
Instead of a shoot taking all day, wed shoot for
an hour tops, and that stops the models from
looking bored or strained or clichd.

You havent cut all your ties with the digital

world, though. Absolutely not. Instagram and

Tumblr have been really important in getting

my pictures out there. Theyre also really good
for finding guys to photograph. I do work with
a few professional models, but a lot of the guys
Ive shot Ive connected with via Instagram.
When youre shooting someone who has 80,000
plus followers, you can get a picture out there
immediately on a scale which is pretty mind
blowing. Also, honestly, Grindr and Tinder
are really good ways to connect with potential
models, too, especially as Im really happy for
whomever I photograph to use those pictures

online if they want. Wouldnt you rather have

a professionally shot picture than just another
bathroom mirror pic? I have a secret ambition
to kill the selfie, but I somehow dont think
thats going to happen!

If youre sourcing models on Grindr, are there

any shenanigans on shoots? Surprisingly

not, and to be honest I really try to keep the

environment professional. Having said that,
I think having an element of sexual tension
with a model, where something might happen,
can produce some really exciting magic in a
picture. Im very lucky to have a boyfriend who
is pretty cool with me shooting guys in their
underwear, especially since Grindr and Tinder
are part of the tools of my trade!
Isnt there a fine line between art and

pornography? Ive worked in porn before as

a cameraman, but I found that it really wasnt

for me. The reality of it isnt very sexy. Lots of
the guys are straight and just plain not into it,
and the second the blue pills come out to keep
them going it becomes really hard work. It
made me realise that whats important to me is
capturing something honest and genuine, like
the moment just before something hot happens.
I think thats way sexier.

Light Luster, your first bound collection of

pictures, features the beautiful landscapes
and men of Los Angeles. Now youve
been travelling around Australia for a new
collection. How was your trip? Amazing!

There are such beautiful things here, and not

just the men. There are amazingly different
climates from jungle to desert, and stunning

Fuck! Why have I been

wasting my time on
digital? Everything looked
just a little bit more
authentic.
beaches, weird trees and crazy animals. As a
photographer the possibilities are endless, but
thats one of the tricky things about shooting on
film you have to choose your shots carefully.
Who would be your dream model? Chris
Mears, the British diver, would be top of my
list. Theres something about his eyebrows!
Nick Jonas would also be up there. I love how
he flirts with his gay fan base, it really reminds
me of Marky Marks Calvin Klein ads in the
1990s. One thing that really interests me is
how even though a lot of underwear shoots are
aimed at the gay market, they connect with a
lot of straight guys, too, especially overseas.
Andrew Christians underwear makes millions
in China it cant all be gay guys buying it!
Why do you think that is? The models are
beautiful! Whether you want to be that
person, or just fuck them, its all about
aspiring to something you want. Andrew
Christian uses a lot of porn stars to model his
stuff because sex really does sell. Its not my
vibe, but I totally respect it and understand
why it exists. I did hear a horror story from a
friend who had to airbrush a photo of a guy
modelling a jock-strap because his butthole
was too big! Thats definitely one advantage of
digital over film!
MORE: visit www.alex-king-35mm.myshopify.
com or www.apex35mm.tumblr.com/

24 DNA

/ SAMPLES

Divine Popaganda
Were huge in
Ukraine! So say
outrageous electro-pop
outfit Divine Knights.
The unabashedly gay duo,
Gerard Searle and Daniel
Beef Beck, tell Marc
Andrews everything!

DNA: When did you form Divine Knights?

Gerard Searle: We actually started in London
about six years ago. Beef and I had started
songwriting in Melbourne and as I was an
actor it took me to London. Beef came over
and its grown since then. We moved back to
Australia about five years ago.
Daniel Beef Beck: We released an album
independently in Australia, then we were
invited to be part of Australias Got Talent.
Gerard: They said they really wanted
something like Lady Gaga! We thought it could
be a terrible idea but they gave us $20,000
worth of production.
Beef: They said we could have whatever we
wanted and our eyes went bing!

Divine Knights:
Gerard (left) and
Beef Beck (right).

26 DNA

In hindsight, was a reality show the

launchpad you needed?
Gerard: No. In some ways it was a stupid thing
to do, but we did get fans in some weird places.
Beef: We have people from Russia and Ukraine
watching us who thought we were the shit.
Gerard: Most Australians probably looked at
us and went, Oh no, what the fuck was that
[laughs]!?
How far did you get on the show?
Gerard: We were semi-finalists.
Beef: We didnt disgrace ourselves, but our
semi-final performance was so over the top.
It was based around The Neverending Story
and they had to build these huge sets. We got
a bit of exposure out of it, toured and then
disappeared for two years. We didnt capitalise
on it in the way most people would.
Gerard: Since we started Divine Knights it was
all about being creative and performing and
that was just another way of doing that.
And now finally you have your first EP,
Popaganda!
Gerard: We were in the studio for a year-anda-half. We wanted it to be perfect and we love
it. We loved doing the videos and we have
started crystalising what we are about and the
storytelling is a lot clearer. Its more fun and
less navel-gazing than what weve done before.
We hope people embrace it and can relate to it.

Is this a full-time occupation for you guys?

Beef: You cant be a musician these days and
not work full-time, unfortunately. We do
have to work to pay the bills for the recording
and the videos. We are self-funding, which is
exciting, and we retain the control.
Divine Knights also seem unashamedly gay.
Gerard: We will always be ourselves. Every
time we present ourselves we are going to be
openly gay and very much about our work and
our creative vision. We are not hiding anything
or changing anything.
Beef: We always said that it would always be
a non-issue for us. We are more than happy
to talk about it. We are proud of that and I
fucking love being a gay man. Why wouldnt I
want everyone to know that?
Gerard: We are pop artists so there is not a lot
to read into that except we have the potential
to write stories and be people that can change
things, or inspire other people, or make young
people believe that you can be whatever you
want to be.

I fucking love being a gay

man. Why wouldnt I want
everyone to know that?
Your single, Hearts On Fire, was inspired by
gay activists of the past, right?
Gerard: It was inspired by Australias fight for
marriage equality.
Beef: One of the things I like about Sam Smith
is that he writes love songs and sings about
men just the way a man sings about a woman,
or a woman sings about a man. Its not garish.
Hes just singing what is true to him and
thats awesome. Its pretty inspirational. Hes
probably one of the first artists to do that in the
mainstream and thats pretty cool.
Do people assume you guys are a couple?
Gerard: Yes, they do. Weve been best friends
for over ten years. We are really comfortable
with each other, but I am married to a
wonderful man and he is in a relationship with
a wonderful man.
Beef: We havent crossed that line [laughs].
Can two gay men really work so closely
together and not be attached?
Gerard: Anyone who meets us gets it straight
away. You can see there is no sexual attraction,
but were best buddies.
Beef: Well, I am attracted to you but only on
Fridays [laughs].
MORE: Go to www.divineknights.com.au/home.
The Popaganda EP is released through Oxygen
Music Group.

Belvedere is a quality choice. Drinking responsibly is too.

KNOW THE DIFFERENCE.

FA C E B O O K . C O M / B E LV E D E R E V O D K A A U S T R A L I A

/ SAMPLES

All The
Way Under
Aussie Surf Lifesavers
find their patrol
compromised by a
champion who will do
anything to suppress
his gay desires in the
gripping drama, Drown.
Jesse Archer gets the low
down from director Dean
Francis ahead of its world
premiere at Mardi Gras
Film Festival.
DNA: Congrats on Drowns world premiere!
How did the film come to you and how long
have you been working on it?

Dean Francis: Thanks! Its been almost three

years to the day since I read Stephen Davis play
and approached him about turning it into a
film. I was drawn by the strong subtext that the
violence perpetrated by these straight men on
a gay guy was driven by repressed homoerotic
desire. A lot of homophobic violence we see in
society is the result of repressed desire and it
felt like something that needed to be said in the
context of fighting homophobia.
Give us your three sentence plot pitch.An
all-Australian surf lifesaving champion is
dethroned by a younger, hotter guy and starts
to hate him. But his hate turns into something
more confusing which threatens to destabilise
his sense of self. During a big night out, the
drunken lifesavers find themselves in a gay bar
and what happens next is violent, erotic and
absolutely confronting.
You didnt go through the usual system to
get it produced, such as through [funding
body] Screen Australia. Why not? We wanted

to make the film immediately without suffering

a long script development process. The play was
already well-developed subtextually and I wanted
to make it in an unconventional way where I
improvised with actors, shot the film myself
28 DNA

VI

DE

and filmed over an extended period. So the

conventional process of development funding,
production funding, doing everything in an
industrialised fashion didnt feel right. Doing the
film outside the system on a low budget was a
creative choice first and foremost. I wanted the
authorship to be direct and I wanted to limit the
number of voices chiming in about what would
work or sell. Every film is different and this
felt like the best process for the material.

Phil (Jack Matthews)

and Len (Matt Levett)
return to the beach
after a boozy night out.

trapped in an identity which they perform

based on how they are expected to behave
based on their sexuality. What I wanted to say
with this film is that when identity is based
on sexuality, it can be limiting and potentially
dangerous because so much becomes repressed.
The trailer intimates some serious violence.
How far will Len go to hide who he is?He goes

virtually all the way. At the risk of spoilers I

wont say too much. But Len needs to purge the

"During a big night out, the drunk lifesavers find

themselves in a gay bar and what happens next is
violent, erotic and absolutely confronting."
How different is your film version from the
play?The play is set entirely on the beach at

night and is large swathes of dialogue between

Len and Meat while Phil is unconscious.
My adaptation brought in Australian surf
lifesaving culture, Kings Cross nightlife, gay
nightlife, memory, backstory and, crucially,
the relationship between Tom and Phil. Tom
is a very stereotypical gay in the way that Len
is a stereotypical straight. Both characters are

feelings of attraction from within himself its

his last chance at avoiding oblivion.
Whats your favourite scene?After Len has
bashed Phil, he approaches him with a bottle of
rum and offers it to him its a test of sorts. Is
Phil man enough to drink with Len even after
Len pulverised his face? But theres a deeper
subtext: Len is by this stage completely in love
with Phil and Matt Levett plays that internal
struggle with great subtlety and power. We cut

between this very typically macho exchange

between the two men and images of Phil with
his boyfriend Tom at Mardi Gras. In some way
I think it shows the similarities between Mardi
Gras and competitive sports. Both feature
hulking guys with sweaty, exposed bodies and
the audience celebrates these expressions of
masculinity. But despite their similarities these
two cultures are often fundamentally opposed,
and threatened by each other.
Surf lifesaving is about as Aussie as you can
get. Did you cast any actual lifesavers?Yes,

many of the supporting cast are indeed

lifesavers! This was incredibly useful as our
leads could get coaching and advice from them.
The main cast went through rigorous training,
diets and workout regimes to beef them up and
make them feel authentic as lifesavers. Some of
the lifesavers on the beaches we shot at were also
really supportive and gave us tips here and there.

Which beaches did you film at? Was it hard to

get permission from councils?Beach night is

at Maroubra. The council cant prevent us from

filming by law, but there was a bit of tension
as our shoot kept extending because it rained
constantly. They tried to shut us down a couple
of times but we got through it!
How about the surf clubs? Most surf clubs
were hostile towards us. Once word spread
about the kind of film we were making no one
wanted anything to do with us. Except for the
amazing people at Mona Vale Surf Lifesaving
club where we shot all the interiors. They were
very supportive, even if we did get the odd
homophobic remark from some of the young
suburban club members while we were filming.
We hear Surf Lifesaving Australia wasnt
helpful, either. Why not? Was it the content?

Phil and Len in the

locker room at Parer
Vale Surf Lifesaving
Club.
Above: Dylan Hare,
Daniel Needs, Matt
Levett and Matt James
are lifesavers racing
at the annual Parer
Vale Surf Lifesaving
competition in Drown.

few years earlier it wouldnt have been possible to

achieve the film on this level with our budget.
What was your actual budget? Around 1.4
million [Australian dollars] including deferrals.
Drown has truly incredible cinematography,
just from the trailer alone. Thank you. The

They were worried that some of their less

progressive clubs would be offended by the film
and so they refused to offer us assistance. At
one point we were told to expect their solicitors
at our meeting. We tried to emphasise that our
portrayal of a fictional club is actually quite
positive. Yes, violence, bullying and homophobia
occur but the club in our film tries to take steps
to deal with that.

challenge of being the cinematographer and

director is you need to balance your attention
between these two equally important aspects,
trying not to neglect the cast. But there
is a fantastic immediacy to operating the
camera and directing. You can grab moments
very quickly and respond intuitively to the
performance like a dance.

another 13 days of second unit. Because we all had

to hold down jobs at the same time we shot two
or three days most weeks so it stretched out for
months. The cast had to maintain their physical
fitness as well as linger in challenging emotional
territory for a very long time and we all had to
get through the shoot without any wage. Id have
to check the bank balance on my phone between
takes to make sure we could afford lunch for the
crew. Luckily, some angel investors came on board
after the shoot which meant we could finish it,
but the low budget meant we did all the picture
post-production in-house and embraced cutting
edge techniques for grading and online. Even a

We had two incredibly talented underwater

cinematographers: Dean Cropp, who worked on
the ocean underwater shots, and Jon Shaw who
worked on the beaches. It was a pretty simple
process of going out on a boat, throwing the
cast into the water and Dean would dive down
to the ocean floor and shoot. I trusted him to
find the shots and he came out with stunning
work. Jon was equally fantastic in the shallows of
Maroubra beach with a huge swell. It was a great
collaboration and I was so lucky they believed in
the project and offered their help.
Are there any sex scenes? There are indeed sex
scenes and scenes that stretch the definition
of sex scenes as well!
Did you cast any openly gay actors? When we

How long was your actual shoot? What other

struggles did you have in getting it made on
a tight budget? We shot for ages 48 days and

How did you go about filming underwater?

cast, the only openly gay actor was Jayr Tinaco

who is gorgeous as Dan, a gay club regular who
preys on Len. Subsequent to filming, Harry Cook
[Meat] came out as gay and his announcement
attracted international media attention. Im sure
the film played a role in his decision and he draws
the comparison between his character standing
back and watching the violence without doing
anything and his own silence about his sexuality.
After your World Premiere in Sydney and its
film festival run, do you have a distribution
deal? Drown has distribution in major world

territories including the US, UK, Germany

and others. No one in Australia has been brave
enough to commit yet and we want to avoid what
often happens with Aussie films where they last
a week at the cinema and are gone before you
know it. So were considering using a cinemaon-demand model which has been successful in
the US, where a groundswell of interest generates
ticket pre-sales for special event screenings which
can roll out during the entire year across the
whole country. We will see what the reaction is at
Mardi Gras. If there is interest from an audience
then well absolutely make sure they can see it.

MORE: Drown premieres at the Mardi Gras Film

Festival March 4th. It also screens at Melbourne
Queer Film Festival March 21st. Visit the films
website for more, including a short featurette
with the cast: www.drownthemovie.com.

DNA 29

Music
Compiled by Marc Andrews

PERFUME GENIUS
TOO BRIGHT
Seattles Mike Hadreas is now up to his
third solo album of moody melancholic
pop. You might remember him best
from the video for Put Your Back N 2 It,
featuring gay porn actor Arpad Miklos
and Mike canoodling, for want of a
better word. To try and put Too Bright
into perspective, imagine a more twangy,
80s-influenced soft pop
sound that creeps up on you,
rather than hammers you
over the head. Fool sounds
like the kind of classic Taylor
Swift was aiming for on her
1989 album, but missed.
Too Bright might be a tad
abstract or dense to ever
receive any radio play, but
this unsettling, disturbingly
beautiful music demands
your attention.

VI

DE

JOHN GRANT
LIVE IN CONCERT

Take minimalist electro ice prince John

Grant out of his comfort zone into a
grander environment and this is just as
sweeping, stirring and sumptuous as you
would expect. Over 16 tracks he teams up
with the BBCs Philharmonic Orchestra
in London to perform songs from his
two solo albums. They include Queen Of
Denmark, which Sinead OConnor has covered, and GMF, an ode to one of
Berlins superclubs (I am the greatest motherfucker that youre ever gonna
meet). We also love I guess Im just one of those guys who gets better
looking as they age from album opener It Doesnt Matter To Him. This is
gorgeous music by a gay man who deserves as wide an audience as possible.

MARK RONSON
UPTOWN SPECIAL

While others have been looking recently

to the 1980s for inspiration, producer
whiz Mark Ronson (the clever clogs who
gave Amy Winehouse and Lily Allen their
tickets to fame) has moved on to the 90s.
Growing up in NYC in that decade, Mark
soaked up the Big Apples hip-hop, funk,
soul and R&B and now hes morphed it all
into one big, beautiful album that has Grammy winner written all over
it. Already the first single, Uptown Funk, featuring Bruno Mars, has been a
global charttopper and theres plenty more where that came from, including
three tracks by Australias Kevin Parker from Tame Impala.
30 DNA

Mike Hadreas, the

musical mastermind
behind Perfume
Genius.

CERRONE
BEST OF

Although a pioneers of electrodisco in

Europe, French artist Cerrone never
found the level of fame he deserved
outside of Francophile countries. Having
had hits since the 1970s he continues to
produce music and remain something of
a forgotten genius. Now the grey-haired
60-something star is seeing a revival in
his fortunes. Beth Ditto is a fan and decided to lend her voice to a new
recording of Cerrones biggest hit, Supernature. Its everything you would
hope it would be an absolute disco stormer with Beth in better voice
than ever. Dimitri From Paris also contributes a 70s-licious remix of
another early Cerrone classic, Love In C Minor. Pure boogie-down bliss.

TAKE THAT III

Its strange to think that while One

Direction attempt to reinvent themselves
as the new U2 (or is it Coldplay?) the boy
band who still really matter are Britains
Take That. Now down to a trio (Robbie
Williams appears to have finally left the
building for good while Jason Orange has
decided hes had enough of fame) they just
seem to get better with age. Snappy lead
single These Days is as good, if not better, than anything theyve done and
thats saying something when you remember Back For Good is in their back
catalogue. Let In The Sun will be huge in the clubs in Ibiza while Get Ready
For It matches, if not surpasses, One Direction at their own boy band game.

GETTING IN THE RING?

GEAR UP
#loveyourcondom
BCG2 LYC0019_DNA_BOX

BOYS TOYS /with Michael "Bam Bam" Bamford

WHIZ-BANG!
This month, Bam Bam throws away the house keys,
refocuses with multiple megarays and suggests a sleek
upgrade for your back door!

For extra
protection,
put a high-tech
condom on that
deadbolt.

DONT LOOK UNDER THE DOORMAT

The modern gay boy always looks for ways to
make rent without sacrificing the drinks budget.
Theres no better way than AirBnb to boost the
cash when theres more month than money.
But with all that fiddling around with getting
keys to the overnight guests and whatnot, its
all a bit of a hassle. Happily, Lockitron has the
answer. Its the perfect way to secure your pad
without using your keys. Fit Lockitron over your
existing deadbolt, and lock and unlock your
front door from its app on your phone. No
more keys! Lockitron will allow access to your
guest from their phone using your special entry
code that you can set to expire. When theyve
finished their stay, Lockitron keeps your place
secure and will even text you that theyve left,
letting you know its safe to come back from
Bali. Perfect! Around $200.
http://lockitron.com

Stunning ergonomic
contours and enticing
ripples createmaximum
enjoyment from every
pleasurable probe.

BACKDOORA THE EXPLORA

The modern gay man defines style. Its all
surfaces, sleekness and subtlety. Kitchen, living
room and bathroom have all been tailored to
impress, but the bedside is a disaster. That
nasty silicon rubber pleasure device doesnt
complement your feng shui. Replace it with
the No. 13 Ribbed Pleaser from the Backdoor
Collection. Artistry, simplicity and functionality
meet in these sleek anal stimulators. It uses
stunning ergonomic contours and enticing
32 DNA

Thats not a bike tire pump.

Your new boyfriend is
lucky number #13. Right:
The Illum, revolutionising
photography for the
unfocused.

ripples to createmaximum enjoyment from

every pleasurable probe. This 10-function,
powerfully motorised backdoor buddy will
prove to be a most vigorous lover. When hes
done with you, your new boyfriends aesthetics
show off handsomely as an artistic mantlepiece.
Suave dinner guests will be most impressed.
$110http://blackdoor.theclosetcollectiontoys.
com/ Batteries not included!

MEGARAYS KILLED THE PIXEL STAR

Cell phones have killed the compact camera,
and clunky DSLR cameras arent looking
particularly healthy, either. But the Lytro Illum
is something completely different. All cameras,
no matter their capabilities, have always been
point, focus and shoot. The Illum reverses that
mundane workflow. Use it to point, then shoot,
then take your time to focus. Youll take a most
fabulous photo every time. This camera uses
megaray technology to capture the direction,
colour and brightness of every ray of light and
then allows you to focus later using its included
touch screen. The results are amazing, pictures
that totally come alive and are entirely up to
you. Harness the power of Herb Ritts and
send your social media circles spinning!
Around $1900. www.lytro.com
MORE: Michael Bamford is a computer
programmer, tech geek, North Bondi Surf
Lifesaver and depraved circuit boy. Find him
hunting and tinkering at any dork computer
trade show, or at 3am on a dance floor.
Michael@michaelbamford.com

Books
Compiled by Graeme Aitken

Beaton raved about Audrey Hepburn:

She is like a portrait by Modigliani
where the various distortions are
not only interesting in themselves
but make a completely satisfying
composite.

34 DNA

CECIL BEATON: Portraits And

Profiles Edited Hugo Vickers

Cecil Beaton (1904-1980) was renowned for

having photographed virtually every prominent
person in public life during the course of his
long career. And while Cecil photographed his
subjects, he conversed with them, questioned
them, and after theyd left hed often write
down his impressions. So in effect, he recorded
portraits with both lens and pen. However,
Malice In Wonderland (as Jean Cocteau
described him), did not feel in the least obliged
to flatter these celebrities and could be utterly
scathing. This handsome book contains his portraits and associated texts that
were either written to accompany the images or were taken from the openly gay
photographers personal notes or diaries.
Those who receive the sharp edge of his acid tongue include Elizabeth Taylor,
who he describes as this great thick revolving mass of femininity in its rawest.
George Cukors house is slammed as inexcusably lacking in all taste a mad old
trollops idea of style. He claims Evelyn Waugh died of snobbery and goes on to
say that he became pompous at twenty, and developed his pomposity to the point
of having a huge stomach and an ear trumpet at forty-five. Tennessee Williams
physical attributes are also scorned with his head the shape of a pineapple, Mr
Williams is plump and portly. Mae West was rigged up in the highest possible
fantasy of taste. She could hardly be considered human. Of course, Mr Beaton
also makes admiring and complimentary remarks about many of his subjects
theyre just not quite so entertaining to read!

A LIFE APART

Neel Mukherjee
Indian-born British novelist
Mukherjee gained a new level
of fame when his novel The
Lives Of Others was shortlisted
for the 2014 Man Booker Prize.
This sweeping Indian saga set
in 1960s Calcutta was widely
considered the frontrunner for
the prize, yet ultimately lost out
to the Australian author Richard
Flanagan. However, this new
prominence also focused attention back on Mukherjees
first novel, A Life Apart, which was published back in 2010
but failed to make much impact in Australia. It should
have gained attention for the gay reader, at least, as one UK
reviewer praised Mukherjees frank and exuberant depiction
of the main characters gay life, comparing the novel to Alan
Hollinghursts groundbreaking The Swimming Pool Library.
The main character, Ritwik Ghosh, has been orphaned and
having buried both his parents in Calcutta, he arrives in
Oxford on a scholarship to study English literature. About
100 pages into the novel his sexuality comes to the fore, as
he details compulsively cruising the toilets of Oxford and
elaborates on the finer points of cottaging. Yet Ritwik also
gradually reveals the extreme physical and emotional abuse he
suffered at the hands of his tyrannical mother. A Life Apart is
structured with dual narratives. Ritwiks contemporary story
is interspersed with a novel he is writing set at the turn of the
20th Century in colonial India.

THE PAYING GUESTS

Beatons on/off friend and fellow

gay, the writer Truman Capote.

Beaton wasnt a fan

of Liz Taylor: Her
breasts, hanging
and huge, were like
those of a peasant
woman suckling her
young in Peru.
Above: Joan
Crawford:
legendary Mommie
Dearest manages
to look stiff even
with her feet on the
couch.

Sarah Waters
The year is 1922 and the widowed Mrs
Wray and her daughter Frances are
forced to take in lodgers: a married
couple, Lilian and Leonard Barber.
Once wealthy but now impoverished,
Frances and her mother struggle
to adjust to their new houseguests.
But cracks are soon apparent in the
Barbers relationship, and Frances and
Lilian are drawn closer together. Sarah
Waters GLBT readers will be very happy with this new novel
which has a lesbian relationship front and centre. Yet equally
important as the lesbian romance is the crime narrative that
develops halfway through the book a murder is committed,
a suspect arrested, and the narrative builds to the climax of a
court case and its outcome. Frances and Lilian are caught up in
this case and whether their covert and fledgling relationship can
survive the rigours of this trial is the other climactic question.
As always with Sarah Waters, the historical background and
detail is paramount and here she is exploring a period that
she hasnt examined before the early 1920s. The pain and
loss of the war is still paramount, yet the changed world and
the declining circumstances of a once genteel family, add a
welcome complexity and depth to the narrative.
MORE: The Bookshop Darlinghurst specialises in gay and lesbian
books. Phone (02) 9331 1103, email info@thebookshop.com.au,
go to thebookshop.com.au or visit 207 Oxford Street, Sydney.
DNA 35

ADVICE /with Robbyne Kaamil

Dear Diva

Hoping to play Hump The Host with your married

friend? Hop in a cold shower first, cautions DNAs
advice diva.
Dear Diva, One of my friends hooked me up
on a blind date. This friend has known me for
over six years and knows the types of guys I
like. This blind date was a disaster! The guy
was totally not my type and so unattractive.
My friend has been calling me to find out
what happened. I have been avoiding her like
the plague because she set me up with this
dude. I dont want to say something that will
damage our friendship but I am pissed off at
her for wasting my time.

Dear Pissed Off, Im sure that your friend

had your best interests in mind when she set
you up. Perhaps she has some insight into
this guys personality and thought he was
good enough to meet you? I dont believe in
types. When you are looking for love, be
open because it may not come wrapped in the
package you expect. And you will never know
whats inside if you throw the package away
before opening it. Of course you dont want to
date someone who has bad breath and a head
full of dandruff. The Vatican would nominate
you for sainthood! Call your friend. Tell her
you didnt make a love connection but thank
her for her efforts. Always be gracious. You
never know the next one she introduces you
to may be Mr Right.

friend to catch you writhing inflagrante in

her sheets with her man? If her husband is
gay let him initiate it with someone else, but
its more likely he just had one too many
drinks. Some drunk guys will hump a log if
its within reach.
MORE: Robbyne Kaamil has been featured as a
relationship expert on numerous TV and radio
shows, including the Howard Stern Show. She is
also an actress, comedian and singer. Find her
on FB, follow on Twitter @theadvicediva, and
email your confidential Dear Diva queries to:
asktheadvicediva@gmail.com

with a man he seems to care. Be happy for

him. You can still be a part of his life. Its
normal for you to have feelings of sadness as
your relationship has now evolved, but dont
hang on to the jealously and envy. Those
emotions generate negative energy. Change
often forces us to reflect on our lives and take
that proverbial look in the mirror. You may be
fearful about doing that, but when you do what
you fear the fear goes away.
Dear Diva, My boyfriend has several times
suggested a menage-a-trois with one of our
mutual friends, Toby. Toby is super sexy
and I hate to disappoint my boyfriend but
Im not sure that I am 100 percent on board
with the idea.

Dear Menage-A-No, Honey, if you dont want

to do something, dont do it. Nobody likes
to disappoint their man but you cant let
anybody disregard your feelings. Threesomes
can get messy. If Toby pays you or your
boyfriend more attention when you are
doing the nasty somebody is bound to get
their knickers in a twist and it will all lead
to drama. Keep your man, keep your friend
and keep your hands off Tobys dick. Let the
choir say amen!

Keep your man, keep your friend and keep your

hands off Tobys dick. Let the choir say Amen!
Dear Diva, My friend and I used to be the
ultimate circuit party boys. It was always
sex, drugs and anything else but we were
always together until now. He met a great
guy and then moved in with him. This is the
first serious relationship hes had in years
and I want to be happy for him but Im not.
I feel like Ive lost my best friend. He invited
me over for dinner with his new man who is
actually a really nice guy. But I felt like the
third wheel.

Dear Lonely Circuit Boy, Your friend has

moved on to a different phase in his life. He
has decided to settle down and make a home
36 DNA

Dear Diva, My sister and I recently visited

one of our childhood friends. She and her
husband often invite us over, and this time we
all had a little too much to drink and I could
swear I picked up a gay vibe from my friends
husband. He is a super hot guy and since our
last visit Ive been fantasising about seducing
him. I dont know what has come over me and
not sure what to do next?

Dear Horny Homewrecker, Do not fuck your

friends husband! Take a cold shower. Do
you know the pain, devastation and betrayal
that a move like that would bring? Think of
the consequences. Do you really want your

He just had one too many drinks. Some drunk

guys will hump a log if its within reach.

Receive 10% off with promo code DNA10.

NUTTIER
THAN
A
SQUIRREL
TURD
{#8 IN AN ONGOING SERIES ABOUT WHAT THE HATERS HAVE BEEN SAYING.)
The Middle-East and Africa are not the
only places youll find religious fantatics
advocating that homosexuals should
be killed. Welcome to the USA

[Gay activists] believe that

the views they want to silence
are not worthy of ever being
spoken and so they must
be punished, they must be
vanquished, and everyone
must know its going to
happen to them as well.
CONSERVATIVE ERICK
ERICKSON, FOLLOWING
THE TERRORIST MURDERS
AT FRENCH SATIRICAL
PAPER, CHARLIE HEDBO.

All the people who advocate for so-called same-sex marriage ought
to have to live in homes in which the plumbers who built them, or
the electricians who built them, didnt understand the difference
between the male and female end of piping or plumbing or of
electrical, and see how that works for them. It doesnt work.
LA MESA, CALIFORNIA PASTOR JIM GARLOW

Im going to explain to you why God wants these people to be put to death. The
word of God is very clear that God is against the sodomites, that theyre filthy and
it says theyre an abomination to God. I love that part of the Bible, and Im going to
preach that part of the Bible until the day I die, and if I ever stop preaching that part
of the Bible, I hope my kids tell me, Dad, youre going soft on sin, you need to get
up there and rip on these queers, because its only getting worse and worse.
FORT WORTH PASTOR, DONNIE ROMERO. HE WAS ORDAINED BY
NONE OTHER THAN STEVEN ANDERSON (AT RIGHT)!

38 DNA

In the Bible, there are sins that you would think of as worse: you know,
murder or mass murder, but what does it come down to? Leviticus 18 tells
the Hebrews exactly what it is that God identifies as the most rebellious
behavior, the behavior that causes the land to actually vomit out its
inhabitants and every item on that list, except for child sacrifice, is sexual
perversion, and child sacrifice is often a form of sexual perversion. So thats
where we are. Homosexuality is not just another sin, it is the sin that defines
rebellion against God, and it is the harbinger of Gods wrath.
US CHRISTIAN SCOTT LIVELY, WHO IS BEING SUED FOR CRIMES
AGAINST HUMANITY AFTER FANNING THE FLAMES OF HATE IN
UGANDA WITH ITS KILL THE GAYS BILL.

Ive had people say, Hey, you know, theres nothing wrong with gays in the
military. Look at the Greeks. Well, they did have people come along who they
loved that were the same sex and would give them massages before they went
into battle. But you know what, its a different kind of fighting, its a different
kind of war and if youre sitting around getting massages all day ready to go
into a big, planned battle, then youre not going to last very long.
TEXAS REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN, LOUIE GOHMERT

Everybodys talking about lets have an AIDS-free

world by 2020. Look, we can have an AIDS-free world
by Christmas 90 percent AIDS free If a man also
lie with mankind as he lieth with a woman, both of
them have committed an abomination: they shall
surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon
them. And that, my friend, is the cure for AIDS. It
was right there in the Bible all along, and theyre out
spending billions of dollars in research and testing.
Its curable right there. Because if you executed the
homos like God recommends, you wouldnt have all
this AIDS running rampant.
ARIZONA PASTOR, STEVEN ANDERSON

DNA 39

/ STRAIGHT MATE

Soldier Boy
From Unbroken to

Gallipoli, actor Travis

Jeffery has kept his
characters in khaki. He tells
Matthew Myers about life
in the trenches.

DNA: Tell us about your character in [TV

miniseries] Gallipoli.
Travis Jeffery: I play a working-class Perth

boy named Stewie whos a bit of a rough-head

looking for adventure. Hes the kind of guy
who likes to jump in and have a go, and is
disappointed if he misses out on the action.
Like a lot of the other guys that join up, hes
a larrikin, which is a big part of the ANZAC
image and legend.
In your research, did you discover a whole

40 DNA

new side to the ANZAC soldiers? Yes, I

watched documentaries and read a lot of

books such as Gallipoli by Les Carlyon, which
the series is loosely based on. I was also lucky
enough go to Gallipoli last year and took my
mum along, who hadnt been out of the country
in twenty years. I had never been to Turkey
myself, so it was fantastic to check out Istanbul
and to see where it all happened. It was also
incredible to see how respected everything is
at Gallipoli now, and how well the graves are

taken care of. That was really lovely to see.

Do you think after watching Gallipoli, young

people will see their heritage in a new light?

I think so. I was never really taught about it at

school and I think most people get a gist about
the war in general, but the great thing about
Channel Nines Gallipoli is that it shows the
individual, which we can sometimes skim over.
It shows the poor blokes in a dark trench with
nothing but their bare hands left to fight with,
and fighting some other poor guy whos doing
it for the same reason: for god and country.
Thats why ANZAC Day is so important,
because we are not only remembering the war,
but also the individuals. Of course television
shows embellish, but the writer Christopher
Lee did such an incredible job in keeping it
realistic. Its heavy, but it gives a really good
insight into what these boys went through.
Youve also played a soldier in ANZAC Girls,
the documentary Changed Forever and in
Angelina Jolies Unbroken. Yeah, Unbroken

was an incredible experience and I was really

fortunate to get to work on something of
that size and energy, and it was so close after
graduating from drama school. It was really
good to see how everything worked at that level,
and not to mention that it was an absolutely
incredible story. It could be quite taxing because
we were all playing prisoners of war and tried to
drop as much weight as we could, so there was
a bit of fatigue and it was quite tiring at times.
But it was definitely worth it. The story of Louie
Zamperini is so inspirational.
What actors have influenced you? Heath
Ledger has always been a big hero of mine.
I really respect the integrity and work ethic
he had, and how fearless he was when he
approached roles. Its such a tragedy that he
passed away so young. He inspired me to go to
drama school. He rode horses, too, which is a
common link. I thought Brokeback Mountain
was interesting with the way it was handled.
Would you play a gay role? Yes, I played a gay
role last year in a film called The Tender Dark,
which is a great story, again with integrity and
I had no problem playing that. I played the love
interest of a young boy. Its set in the Fifties and
tackles issues around repressed homosexuality.
I have a very fleeting appearance, but it had
such a great script that I wanted to do it. It
should be at the gay film festivals this year.
If you were gay, who would you go for? It
would definitely be between Chris Pratt and
Matthew McConaughey. Chris Pratt seems like
a lovely big teddy bear and youd spend most of
your time laughing with him. Hes become very
ripped and hes also a great actor.
Who is your diva? Does Bette Midler count?
Of course! Shes a legendary diva. How does
someone as young as you know Bette Midler?

I guess from growing up with her movies. I loved

her in Hocus Pocus! I think her song, The Rose,
is fantastic and she really nailed I Put A Spell On

D
VI

EO

Ill probably be out of

work until 2039, when
they start doing the WW2
centenary stuff!
You in Hocus Pocus. Shes a very versatile and
interesting cool lady, though I think sometimes
her mouth needs to be washed out with soap!
Growing up in Gen Y, have you witnessed
homophobia? I know it exists and thats very

frustrating, but I dont think I ever witnessed it

first hand at school. I grew up in a small town
and I only really remember one kid coming
out, and he was actually quite well supported.
I remember some people making passing
comments, but I never saw any physical kind
of homophobia. My family have been really
supportive in that way. We have gay friends
who would spend Christmas with us, and I feel
very lucky to have grown up with that.
What do you think was the trigger point
where your acting career took off? I think

it was getting the role in Unbroken. Its really

handy to now have something with so much
credibility behind me. I auditioned for the role
of an Aussie character and in the end it didnt
come about, but Angelina [Jolie] really liked
the look I had, so they kept me in the loop and
I started to lose weight because I knew that if I
got the role Id be playing a prisoner of war. So
I wanted to get a head start. A few weeks turned
into a few months and then it was all quite
hectic and last moment. I was at work one day
and I got a call from my agent saying the Aussie
role had been given to somebody else, but they

Travis (far right) in

Gallipoli. My high
cheek bones make
me look sick!

had me in mind for a Scottish role and could I

audition? I had never done a Scottish accent, so
it was a little bit intimidating. I had to fly up to
Queensland to meet with Angie, so I managed
to get in a couple of dialect classes. When I
got to the set, I met the other guys who had
already been cast and Angie said, Okay guys,
grab some food and well get you into hair and
wardrobe. I was like, Im a little confused. Am
I up here for an audition? And she said, Oh,
sorry, you got the role last night and we start
shooting Monday. It was one of the best acting
experiences Ive ever had so far.
You caught the eye of Angelina Jolie! Thats
pretty cool. Yeah [laughs] I think its because I

have high cheekbones that make me look sick!

But it was lovely meeting her after growing up
watching her films, and the charity work she
does outside of acting is just amazing and so
sincere. Shes one of the loveliest people Ive
ever met! The passion she had for this project
was nothing short of inspiring.
Whats the next project in store for you? Ive
just finished working on an episode of The
Doctor Blake Mysteries, which was a lot of
fun, and Im also working on the docu-drama
Changed Forever in Adelaide, which is about
WW1 as well.
Youre not being typecast, are you? [Laughs]
No, not at all. In fact, Ill probably be out of
work until 2039, when they start doing the
WW2 centenary stuff!

Do you wear Jocks, fitted boxers or freeball?

Fitted boxers for the support and comfort, and

Im afraid to say thats also the case under my
WWI uniform. I probably should have got
some old cotton long johns to be authentic!
MORE: Gallipoli is screening on Channel
Nine. Follow Matthew Myers on Twitter @
MattMyers1964

DNA 41

COMMON MORTALS /with Christopher Klimovski

15

THINGS YOU SHOULD

KNOW BEFORE
MOVING TO NYC

Have a stiff drink, take a breath and brace yourself

then go ahead and read the scroll! Christopher pens
his top tips for surviving in the city that never sleeps.
AS I WALK TOWARDS the subway in SoHo in

the ridiculously cold March weather, I realise

that its been a whole year since I made the
move from Australia to New York. You have
all been along for the ride as Ive attempted to
traverse the mean streets of the city that never
sleeps. Weve all learned the importance of
developing a network of support with Common
Mortals, weve learned never to make eye
contact with the homeless on the subway, that
Craigslist is basically where you put out an ad
for the citys most deranged potential flatmates,
and that poly-relationships do, in fact, exist.
I like to think of myself as a well prepared
person and so I did some reading to prepare
for the move. However, what I came to find
was that none of the information was relevant
or seemed afraid to really go there, so Ive
compiled a list of things I wish Id known before
moving to New York. I write this final post
in hopes that a wide-eyed young Aussie gay is
reading this and saying to him or herself, One
day, Ill move to New York City, and thank fuck
Christopher told me all these survival tips.

1. Theres nowhere safe to walk. In Manhattan

you have one of two options. Walk close to the

road and take the risk of being swiped by a
rogue car or walk close to a building where you
will get dripped on. I thought it was from air
conditioning vents but you never really know,
so never look up, keep your mouth closed and
walk quickly.
2. The subway is a pressure cooker. When its
summer, underground NYC becomes an oven
where you will literally cook in your own juices
until an overcrowded subway car comes along.
Bring water.
3. If youre in bed and feel your leg hair settle
and think its a spider its bed bugs. You

have to literally start all over again. Strip down

and boil everything, put the mattress on the
street and move house.
4. Drugs are everywhere. And they are
recreationally taken by everyone. But this
doesnt mean that you have to indulge or even
overindulge. Pace yourself. There are subway
advertisements for cocaine addiction for a
reason and its very easy to end up a statistic.
5. People will want to fuck you, conscious or
unconscious. This means you have to either

be drinking your drink, or have a finger in

the neck of it to prevent the array of date rape
drugs people will attempt to throw into it.
6. People will say you should only spend a
third of your pay on rent. They are lying. It

is an impossibility to live in this city and do

something like that, especially if youre a creative
type. Youll be paying at least half. Plan for this.

7. No matter what you eat, you will lose an

exorbitant amount of weight because you
either cant afford to eat or because you walk
absolutely everywhere. Gym membership is

not necessary. The city is your gym. People

will also ask you if youre sick or addicted to
drugs. Please refer to point no. 4.

8. Keep your ears pricked at a Starbucks and

some stupid girl ordering a pumpkin spice
latte will offer her Netflix password to her
friend in an overbearing obnoxious voice.

Use the password for yourself. Also hope shes

42 DNA

born into money and do the same for her Hulu

password and HBO GO password. Then youll
be sorted for life.
9. You WILL get lonely. Even though you have
an extensive group of friends, the one day you
have off absolutely everyone is busy. You will
be sitting in your room wondering why youve
left all your beautiful friends and family back
at home, but then realise that you have Netflix,
Hulu and HBO GO to drown out them negative
thoughts and you wake the next day in NYC.
10. Abandoned plastic bags in the subway are
always filled with shit. Animal, human, who

knows? But theres shit in there. Also, if your

carriage is packed on the subway and the one
next to it isnt, theres a reason for that. Dont
switch carriages. Trust me on this.

11. Houston Street is pronounced Howston, not Hew-ston. Capsicums are bell

peppers. Mobiles are cell phones. Uni is

College. Repeat these until cemented into your
head. Or dont. When you get things wrong

Strip down and

boil everything, put the
mattress on the street and
move house.
people find it adorable.

12. Seamless and Grubhub are the two best

inventions to ever exist. Food in your house, in

a hurry and cheap if you can find good deals.

Dont order the goat curry, ever. Even as a joke.

13. It will take you forever to develop a strong

network of friends. The reason for this is that

you need them, they dont need you. Keep your

cool and just be yourself because, I promise
you, friends will come.
14. People from out of town will be the bane
of your existence. This happens as you slowly

forget that you, too, were once from out of town.

15. You will be inspired by complete
strangers. This will lead to you wanting to be

around them 24/7 and then coming off as a

psychopath and, finally, them never returning
your call. Dont sweat it, the city is full of
incredible, driven people.
I could go on spouting infinite points of advice,
but the fun is in figuring these things out for
yourself. As I face my second year in NYC, I
look forward to the hard work it takes to stay
here, the things that will shock me and shake
me to my very core, and to the time where all
of this seems commonplace and I am, in fact, a
true New Yorker.

MORE: Find the author on Twitter @KhrisWarhol

/ COOL COUPLES

Interracial, interdisciplinary
and interested! Performer
Rhys Bobridge and med
student Kirk Lee are not
your everyday boyfriends.
Rhys explains how the two
met, what makes them tick,
and the differences that
keep them together.
INTERVIEW JESSE ARCHER
PHOTOGRAPHY ROD SPARK

DNA: Hi Rhys. You and Kirk look very sexy

and sultry in the wrestling outfits. Do you
ever wrestle or are the singlets just a fetish?
Rhys Bobridge: [Laughs] That day we were at the

mercy of [photographer] Rod Spark who dressed

us up and down.

You two have been together for three years.

How did you first meet?We caught each others

eye at the gym and eventually started chatting

on Facebook. Our first meet up was after a
performance of mine on New Years Day 2012 and
we hit it off. So far, so good!
Law permitting, do you ever plan on getting
married? Marriage isnt something Im really

interested in for myself but I will always fight for

my right to do so if I choose. >>

44 DNA

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46 DNA

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>> How about kids? We have spoken about
having kids, but right now we are looking at
adopting a new family member from the local
pet rescue.

Kirk is studying podiatry. Does his homework

include foot massages for you? He is also a

highly qualified massage therapist so you think

that would mean plenty of muscle manipulation
for me. Wrong! Im the one who usually dishes
out the back rubs. Kirk has another two years

It has been quite

a difficult coming out
process and culturally
still taboo in the small
province where he is
from.
to complete his Masters so Ill be happy to play
guinea pig. My hooves have copped some abuse
over the years as a dancer so Im keen to improve
my own foot health.

Youre a showboy and he studies medicine.

What do you do together as a couple? Our

favourite thing to do together is laugh. Funny

animal videos are always a winner but making
each other giggle is a favourite pasttime.

Kirk is originally from mainland China and

now is an Australian citizen. Youve been
to China for work, but do you speak any
Chinese? I know a few words and phrases. It

seems like we speak our own strange language

sometimes.
Have you met his family or vice-versa? Kirk
has spent time with me and my family in Adelaide
but Kirk has only just come out to his immediate
family who are still in China and are quite
traditionally conservative. His mother and I will
meet for the first time this year!
Are you nervous about that? A little bit as
it has been quite a difficult coming out process
for him and culturally still taboo in the small
province where hes from. The pressure for him
to find a girl and get married grew too much and
he decided to live honestly and openly. Ill never
understand how difficult it has been for him but I
am extremely proud of his big step.

Do you find there are certain cultural barriers

or struggles in a multi-cultural relationship?

We have definitely had some clashes of culture

when it comes to family values and societal
pressures. Kirk speaks English very well but
sometimes the language barrier is a benefit as he is
unable to mince his words and filter what he really
means. In this way, he can be unknowingly harsh
sometimes but generally I appreciate the level of
48 DNA

honesty that comes with it. We probably have the

most fluid communication of all my relationships.
Do you ever get any flack for being a bi-racial
couple from other Australians or within the
gay community? Not really. Sometimes I clock

the surprise when people find out that my partner

is Asian but thats about it.

You grew up in Adelaide why does this

city get such a bad rap? Maybe it did, but I

think Adelaide is growing up. Its so much more

culturally diverse since I moved away at 20 years
old. I was a pretty flamboyant kid when I lived
there and copped my fair share of attitude from
idiots, but Id like to think its not as narrow
minded now as how I perceived it back then.

Youve since worked all around the world as

a dancer and entertainer. Whats one place
youre dying to go back to? Actually, Ive really

only been through various parts of Asia. I love

Singapore and consider it a place where I think
I could comfortably live, however I would really
love to see more of the USA and Im yet to visit
anywhere in Europe. On my to-do list for 2015!

Whats the most Showgirls experience

youve ever had working? Im no diva but I did

butt heads with a cast member in a show while

I lived and worked in a Taiwanese theme park.
I was only 18 and was placed in charge of the
team because of prior experience at the park. He
defied me a fair bit, much to my frustration, but
karma threw those beads onstage when his foot
was crushed in the platform lift that was used
to bump in the live caged tiger to stage level. We
actually reconnected a while ago and its all water
under the bridge.
Youve also been part of the cabaret troupe
Boylesque how does Kirk feel about your
more risqu work when its not posing
alongside him? Kirk and I are very different,

obviously, when it comes to what we do for a

living. He supports me in everything that I do
but doesnt feel the need to be at every gig or keep
tabs on what Im up to while Im in show mode.
I prefer it that way as Ive dated guys who are in
the industry and I dont think I would ever [do
that] again. Our differences are what makes us
compatible. Maybe Kirk does get a little green
with all the sexy fellas around that I work with

So what happens if you get a gig with sexy

fellas overseas? Do you guys have an open
relationship?We have always been very up front

about sexuality and our relationship. We are

in what people would call an open relationship
when it comes to casual sex and its pretty
uncomplicated. We seem to feel pretty similarly
about such things and for us it works. Our
commitment to each other is about so much more
than just sex.
Who do you look up to as a choreographer?

Im a big fan of Ms Polyswag Parris Goebel from

New Zealand whose range, musicality and vision
just astound me. Big shout out to the boys of The
Squared Division from Australia who are making
such a huge name for themselves around the world.

Do you have a favourite dance number from

a film? Typically I hate dance movies. They are

generally lame and predictable but I would have to

say that I love the semi-autobiographical musical
All That Jazz by Bob Fosse. The Take Off With Us
number was way ahead of its time. Honourable
mentions go to Lullaby Of Broadway from Gold
Diggers Of 1935, an elaborate Busby Berkeley tap
dance production with an eerily dark undertone
and morbid twist; Cyd Charisse and Gene Kelly
in the Broadway Melody Ballet sequence from
Singin In The Rain, proof that dance is a form
of love-making; and the Saga Of Jennyfinale of
Robert Wises 1968 extravaganza STAR!with Julie
Andrews doing acrobatics while singing live.
You played an elf on TV show The Fairies,
were you ever tempted to wear your
costume out in public? Aah no.
Since it was a kids show, did you feel a
responsibility to behave while out and
about? When I worked on The Fairies I was

also working as a drag queen in the clubs of

Melbourne. The two different aspects of my career
at the time would rarely cross paths so I wasnt
really concerned.

How often does your drag alter ego, Regime

Dettol, come out to play? Im more of a drag

king these days. Instead of exploring the feminine

aspect of my stage persona, Im channeling a more
masculine aesthetic. In reality, I fall somewhere in
the middle.

You play a lead in the upcoming short film,

We are in what
people would call an
open relationship, and its
pretty uncomplicated
Our commitment to
each other is about more
than just sex.
Criticism. Whats it about and where can we
see it? Its my first dramatic role and its based

on the play by Gary OCasey and was inspired

by the rumours and speculation that surrounded
the home invasion assault of a prominent theatre
critic. The film is finished and should screen at the
majority of Australian short film programs and
queer film festivals this year. First, though, it has
to screen at the international festivals. As I age,
film and acting is a medium I am looking forward
to sinking my teeth into more and more.
So whats one role youre dying to play?Ive
never performed in a major musical theatre
production, but I would love to play the Emcee
from Cabaret. H

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Costume
Diary Of A
Showboy
Away from partner
Kirk Lee (see previous
pages) entertainer
Rhys Bobridge finds
himself wearing some
pretty extraordinary
outfits. We hope
these inspire your
next Mardi Gras look!
PHOTOGRAPHY HAMID MOUSA

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/ FEATURE
They are some of the
most gifted, engaged,
and engaging gays in
the village. They also
happen to be living
with disabilities. Jesse
Archer reports on
three of the worlds
most inspirational.
OUT IN PUBLIC, its easy to notice the

WILLING
AND ABLE
52 DNA

hearing aid, the wheelchair, the seeingeye dog, the little person or the poster
of an underwear model who is wearing
a prosthetic leg. For many others, their
disability is not quite so visible. According
to the United Nations, there are an
estimated one billion people living with
disabilities. They are the worlds largest
minority, and yet all too often they are
dismissed, ignored or underestimated.
Historically, society has ascribed to
this group of people terms that imply
helplessness, despair or outright ridicule.
Major strides have been made to bridge
the gaps in perception, accessibility and
opportunity, and much of that is thanks
to the hard work and high profile of
disability activists themselves. Despite
these advances, many consider it bad
manners to bring up the obvious or
ask prying questions and opt instead to
ignore someone who may be deaf, blind,
disfigured or in a wheelchair. Others go too
far to be accommodating and treat them
as precious goods. The late comedian and
short-statured activist Stella Young once
recalled the time she was at the bank and
a well-meaning stranger kept asking if she
needed any help. Yes, she smarted, Do
you mind giving me a deposit? Im a bit
short this week.
While the gay community is especially
critical of perceived flaws, be they physical
or mental, real or imagined, we are also
some of the first to be inclusive and
accepting of others differences. Being gay
is itself still, in some circles, considered a
flaw or limitation, when in fact it is often
the key that opens doors to a world of
opportunity. The same applies to the gay
men featured here; men who have used
their differences to break down barriers,
foster awareness and redefine what it
means to live with purpose.

I DID IT UNTIL I WENT BLIND

David New
relaxes at home
in South Beach.

perfect straight black hair. We smoked a joint

and he touched my leg. I got very excited. This
was what I wanted. It lasted less than a minute
and then I pulled up my pants and ran out. I
got into my jeep. The top was off and it was
raining. I drove home freaking out, crying.
I wasnt sexually active again until I was 21. I
didnt want to be gay in my hometown so I moved
to South Beach. I went to the Paragon, a dance
club in a huge old theater. The place was packed
wall-to-wall with beautiful gay men. I was like
Oh my God, Oh my God, I am not the only one.
I was standing at the bar when I saw this
guy. Dark brown hair. Tall. He saw me looking
at him. He walked over. He had dimples. He

The doctors asked

me if I wanted my parents
to leave the room. I
said no and then the
diagnosis came. I found
out I had AIDS and came
out to my parents at the
same time.
An estimated 300 million people in the world are
visually impaired. R David New is one of them. But
hes much more than a man who is blind. Industrious,
attractive, gay and successful, the Miami Beach
local is improving the lives of others. He shares his
unbelievable story, and explains how finding his true
potential meant losing sight of everything.
SEX WAS THE REASON for my downfall. Ever
since I was a kid, I knew I was gay. Throughout
my teens, I was afraid to act on it because
acting on it would mean it was true. But every
man who was fit and who had a good head of
hair was a fantasy object. Id see a guy with his
chiseled chest showing through a T-shirt and
obsess about him when I was alone.
In the middle of the night, when no one could
see me, Id drive to the public library to pick up

a gay newspaper to learn about what it meant

to be gay. I called the 900 numbers in the back
pages, just to talk to gay men.
It was 1987. AIDS was all over the news,
not just my gay papers. I knew about the
transmission of fluids and was afraid to even
kiss. Being gay meant dying of AIDS.
When I was 17, another 17-year-old-boy
invited me over. We worked together at the
mall. He was hot. He had a beautiful body and

offered to buy me a drink. I was like okay. I

was ready. And so nervous. The sex was good.
But it wasnt even the sex itself. It was allowing
myself the pleasure for the first time. I was free.
I was somewhere new and I was someone new.
I was finally me. We were together maybe a
month and when it ended, I lost all control.
All I wanted was to have the most sex and the
best sex. I had two or three different partners
every day. Sometimes in a bathroom or in
a parking lot. I became addicted. The most
thrilling part was the hunt. Id see a guy. Id see
him see me. It was instant gratification. I fooled
myself into thinking I was careful. If my cuticles
were cracked, I wouldnt do anything with that
hand. If I flossed my teeth and my gums bled,
I would not have oral sex that night. I was so
afraid of AIDS I couldnt even talk about it.
I assumed, like most gay men, that I was
negative. And I assumed that if the guy I was
with didnt bring it up, then he was negative too.
I never got tested. I was living in a >>
DNA 53

/ FEATURE
>> suspended reality. People were dying of
AIDS. I was blind.
In October of 2000, I was admitted into the
hospital for fevers that could not be controlled.
When the blood work came back, the doctors
asked me if I wanted my parents to leave the
room. I said no and then the diagnosis came.
I found out I had AIDS and came out to my
parents at the same time. To complete the
trifecta, it was also my Dads Birthday.
Although I was told that if I was diligent
about taking my medications, everything
would be okay, three months later I was rushed
to the ER with severe pain. After three spinal
taps, I was diagnosed with spinal meningitis.
I had developed a lesion on my spinal cord,
which caused me to be paralysed from the
waist down. I couldnt move my legs.
They loaded me up with narcotics. All of my
basic systems began to fail. I lost my hearing. As
I lay in the hospital bed, I noticed that the room
was getting darker every day; like a shade was
being pulled down over my eyes. In a matter of
days I was totally and irreversibly blind.
I was scared. But my only choices were fight
or die. Sometimes, I didnt know which was
worse. After two years in the hospital my
parents brought me home. The doctors said I
was terminal and suggested hospice care, but
my parents wouldnt accept that.
Slowly I healed. It took six months to regain my
hearing all the way, and two years before I learned
to walk again. I never regained my eyesight.
I lost more than my sight. I lost one of the
most pleasurable things to me: the beauty of

a man, the moment I see a man see me. Sex

would never be the same.
A couple of years later, I heard about a guy
who also went blind from AIDS. I contacted
him by phone and for a year, we talked every day
for hours. He was still vital and so confident.
His voice was deep and sexy. And we had this
huge thing in common that almost killed us and
left us blind. It was like we shared a secret. He
understood me like no one ever had. For the first
time, I didnt care what a man looked like.
I wanted sex again, and for the first time,
I equated sex with love. Finally, we planned
to meet. The day came and went. He never
called and I never heard from him again.
It took years after that before I felt ready to
date. The experience hurt, but it taught me to
see things differently.
Now, I connect with men mentally first and

Most people have

a great fear of blindness.
On many occasions I
have had strangers say
to me that if they were
blind they would kill
themselves.

then get closer physically. If I feel a bald spot,

crazy teeth or a weird body thing, it can be a
turn-off, but Im looking for more than looks. Im
looking for a man who sees me. Really sees me.
Its been 14 years since I got AIDS and went
blind. Im still afraid to have sex. Of course, Im
afraid of contracting other STDs. That would
complicate things. But now Im a person with
disabilities. Im so afraid no one will love me
because of them.
Its funny. I see myself as the 17-year-old me.
Afraid again, but for different reasons. I used
to worry about protecting my body. Now I have
my heart to protect.

M M M M
DNA: Thanks for sharing your story, David.
Varicella zoster, the opportunistic infection
which nearly killed you, is most commonly
known as chicken pox. We dont think of it as
deadly. How many T-cells did you have?

R David New: I was told I actually had zero

T-cells and that my viral load was over 100,000.
Many people now consider AIDS a
manageable annoyance, like asthma. After
nearly having died of AIDS complications,
does this kind of attitude upset you?It

bothers me that no one really understands how

quickly it can devastate you. People are still
dying and getting sick and now they dont even
understand why. They think its okay if they
miss their medication. You can go blind, deaf
and become paralysed from complications.
How are you doing now, health-wise? I am
doing very well as my T-cells are at an all-time
high of 1,426 and my viral load is undetectable.
I have residual effects of the spinal cord injury,
some hearing loss in my left ear and still totally
blind but Im in good shape for the most part.
You were blind, paralysed and deaf at 30
but you are no longer paralysed or deaf, is
there any hope to regain your eyesight? The

top doctors say that there is nothing that can

help me, however, they are doing trials now and
perhaps in 10 or 20 years I might be a candidate
for some new procedures.

What gave you the strength to battle on

and not give up when so much was lost? My

family and friends surrounded me. I never

really knew how bad it was. My parents never
told me the doctors said I was terminal. My
90-year-old grandmother stood at the foot of
my hospital bed and massaged my feet and
brought me chicken soup and cookies so I
would gain weight and get well.

You were a visual artist when you lost your

sight what did you then transition into? I
Actor and keynote speaker, Steve Guttenberg
poses with David at the Ability Explosion
luncheon. In his speech (which can be seen on
YouTube), Guttenberg recalled how Hollywood
rejected him repeatedly for being too short, too
Jewish or not good looking enough.
54 DNA

started to use the other side of my brain like

never before. I had skills that I didnt know
I had. I became more focused and wanted
to learn new things so I went back to school
for law. I still am very creative and recently
designed my home to reflect my taste. I still

love working with different mediums such as

glass, fabric and technology.

Did you learn Braille? How long did that

take? It only took me about a month to learn the

alphabet. Its only a matter of memorisation for

the basics. It takes a great dealof concentration
and I would have never been able to learn it
unless I was completely blind. The dots are so
small and only people congenitally blind can
read it fluently. I designed a T-shirt with puffy
paint in Braille, which I make everyone feel. It
says, Touch Me.
What about technology, how do you read
emails? Is it through a computerised voice?

I use special screen-reading software that

reads the text aloud to me. There is a similar
program on my iPhone called VoiceOver.
Whenever I touch the screen, it tells me what
I am touching. Unfortunately, not all websites

There is not the

great divide between
us that they think there
is. If you close your
eyes right now, you
are having the same
experience as me.
and apps are accessible with these programs. I
spend a lot of time trying to convince people
at large companies such as Facebook and
Google that all they have to do is label links
and buttons with text when they are creating
their sites and apps. It seems that they would
rather pay their lawyers millions of dollars
than do something that has no cost, which
would only take a second, and would bring
a disenfranchised group of people from all
around the world together.

You mention having been obsessed with

ogling men previously. You still work out at
Crunch gym in Miami, home to some worldclass, body-obsessed beauties. How do you
relate to them now? Its very difficult to find

guys who can get past the disability no matter

what I look like. I mostly see people on the inside
now before I see them on the outside. Of course,
strippers are the exception to that rule! [Laughs]

So whats the single most annoying thing

people do or ask people who are blind?

Most of the time when I go anywhere with

a friend such as a store or restaurant, the
employee will address my friend and not me
directly. Its as if they think I have some kind of
cognitive impairment and would not be able to
understand them.I think that most people have

The Mayor of Miami, Philip

Levine, spends some time
experiencing what its like
to be blind in his city.

a great fear of blindness. On many occasions

I have had strangers say to me that if they
were blind they would kill themselves. I feel as
though I am a better person for it and have only
realised my potential as a human being from
having had this experience of losing my sight.
Do you believe you would have ever realised
your full potential with sight? Its hard to say

but I have a proclivity toward no. It just seems

that losing my sight forced me to focus on
things that I wouldnt have had the patience to
concentrate on. Often times it is the thing that
is hard that holds the most meaning and reaps
the best rewards.

Did your friendships change after you nearly

lost your life and through your recovery? I had

many friends who I hadnt spoken to in years

who suddenly came to my bedside when I was

at my worst. I also had lifelong friends who
could not deal with my illness and disappeared
when things started to get really bad. When I
began to recover, the ones who ran away began
to resurface. I learned the true meaning of the
phrase, fairweather friends.
What did you take away from that? Did these
fairweather friends ever apologise or come
around? I learned that everyone is different in

crisis situations. I kept them at bay for many

years and then finally decided to let them back
into the conversation. I will not count on them,
though. It was the worst kind of betrayal and
very hard to forgive. I tried to think what I
would have done in that situation and I dont
know how I would have acted before >>
DNA 55

/ FEATURE
>> my trauma but now I wouldnt hesitate to be
there for a friend.
Having gone blind later in life, do you
consider having known sight at one point
in your life more of a challenge or less?It is

definitely better to have seen and lost than to

have never seen at all. I relish my memories
and still have a very visual esthetic. People who
are born blind are incapable of grasping certain
concepts and I think this gives an advantage to
people like myself who are adventitiously blind.

Do you know any congenitally blind gay men?

Im curious to know how they discovered they
were gay? Usually we discover that visually,
so I wonder how that sexual awakening
happens. I know its not your experience,
but can you share your understanding of it?

I do know gay men who were born blind. I

honestly do not know how they came to terms
with their sexuality but I know from my own
experience that wanting to be with a man is not
just a visual experience. It can be physical and
tactile and is deeply rooted in ones essence. It
is a feeling and a desire and it is what you are
comfortable with when you are true to yourself.

Do you consider blindness a disability? What

is the preferred terminology? Without a

doubt, being blind presents me with challenges.

Everyone has challenges and must find ways to
work around them. The politically correct term
now is People With Disabilities. We put the
word people first because we are talking about
people, not disabilities. For example, you would
say a person who is blind or a person who
uses a wheelchair.

You started the awareness campaign, Ability

Explosion, where you get others walking in
the shoes of a person with a disability. You
even blinded the Mayor of South Beach and
the Chief Of Police and led them around so
they could experience what its like. What do
you most hope people learn from this?I hope

people will come to understand that there is

not the great divide between us that they think
there is. If you close your eyes right now, you
are having the same experience as me. How
would you deal with it? Dont be afraid to
think about it.

Its incredible how much we take for granted,

for example, how difficult it was for the
police chief to simply to find the button on
the elevator. How is it getting around South
Beach for you? South Beach is a great place

to live because it has more accessible features

than most cities in South Florida. I think
the language barrier and ignorance are more
difficult challenges than anything else.
You have a guide dog, right? Yes, but
Charmichael is 13 and retired. She just had
surgery for a paralysed larynx. She is doing
well now and will be with me forever.
Will you be getting a newly trained dog? I am
in the process of applying for a new dog and it
could take up to two years.
56 DNA

South Beachs Police Chief,

Dan Oates, also learns
what its like to cross traffic
in total darkness.

So youre more action than distraction? I

An unexpected
gift was a laser guided
focus that was missing
in my life when I could
see. It seemed that every
bare-bottomed boy or
ab-rippling Adonis gave
me whiplash
Youve also been working with kids who are
blind on various civic projects. Whats your
biggest accomplishment? I have been the

Chair of the Miami Beach Disability Access

Committee For The Mayor for the past six
years. One of the most important projects
I have introduced to the city has been the
Audible Pedestrian Signal program. When they
work, they can save your life. When they dont
work, politics are to blame and people can die.
What is your overall purpose right now? My
survival and what is essential for health and
vitality, and new ideas that will allow for a
greater reach into the global community.
Whats the greatest gift youve received
out of the challenge of being blind? What I

learned to do, and perhaps wasan unexpected

gift, was a laser guided focus that was missing
in my life when I could see. It seemed that
every bare-bottomed boy or ab-rippling Adonis
gave me whiplash and my penis was my guide.
Its amazing what we are capable of when we
dont have that visual distraction.

probably get more action than most sighted

fellas, Excuse me, sir, do you mind if I hold
onto your shoulder while you show me to the
bench press? Im sorry, thats not your shoulder;
whoops! Fortunately they seem to like it as
much as I do. Although this can happen, Im a
bit more restrained when meeting someone for
the first time.
Hows your imagination?I have an excellent
imagination. Its necessary to fill in the blanks
when so many pieces of the puzzle are missing
so much of the time.
Have your other senses been heightened?
What do you most find attractive in a man;
what gives you whiplash now? I pay more

attention to sounds and smell and touch,

however, Im not sure I would say those senses
have gotten better. A sexy voice turns me on. If
you are a guy who is intelligent and thoughtful,
I am eager to know you. H
MORE: www.abilityexplosion.org

After losing his sight in 2001, David New

became an advocate for the disabled. He
is chairman of the Miami Beach Disability
Access Committee and chief promoter
of Ability Explosion. David also serves as
president for the Miami Beach Council Of
The Blind. As a successful entrepreneur,
David owns and operates American Chair
Exchange, an internet specialty furniture
company, as well as Ballooniverse, which
sells and delivers specialty balloons for
parties and events. David is a resident of
South Miami Beach, Florida. He can be
reached on email at rdavidnew@gmail.com.

BORN THAT WAY

Stephen Bell was born
with a rare condition that
fused his fingers together,
but that hasnt stopped
the event planner from
holding on to positivity
and raising the profile of
those who look different.
DNA: Hi Stephen, where are you from?

Stephen Bell: I am from London, England.

Tell us about your hand? I was born with a
condition called syndactyly. Four of the fingers
on my right hand were fused together. After
numerous skin grafts and plastic surgery
operations, my index finger was separated. The
other three fingersshare one bone, so if they
were to be separated, just one would be useable
and three would be floppy.
What kind of restrictions does that mean for
you? I have full flexibility and Im not in any

pain, but I cannot catch a ball or clench a fist

and I sometimes struggle with gripping large
or heavy items.
How common is syndactyly? Syndactyly
normally occurs in animals and is an extremely
unusual condition in humans. It can be the fingers
and/or the toes which are joined fused together.
People are familiar with birth defects caused
by Thalidomide. Is syndactyly caused by a
drug or is it genetic? Syndactyly is caused by

the chromosomesnot connecting fully.

PHOTO: KRISZTINA AMBRUS

Youre right-handed have you ever tried to

switch to be left-handed? I am right-handed,

and many people comment on my creative and

artistic hand-writing! I have never yet tried to
be left-handed.
Have you ever tried to hide your hand? No.
This would only cause unnecessary attention.
Some people never even notice. I am normal
and as unique, special and different as the next
person. No one is one hundred percent perfect;
some people have a visible difference, others
have invisible differences.Beauty is about being
comfortable in your own skin.
How did your parents help or teach you to
be comfortable in your own skin? My parents,

three brothers and two sisters helped me with

the mantra, Inhale positivity and exhale
anxiety. They have constantly supported and
encouraged me to strive for the best.

Did you suffer much harassment growing up,

or were you treated differently at school? Ive

never suffered harassment, abuse or verbal attacks.

Ive been very lucky in that respect. In high school
I was offered extra time in my exams because I
cant write very fast. I declined the offer, as I did
not want to be different from my peers.

Why do you still see a plastic surgeon for

checkups? My plastic surgeon, Mr Stewart

Watson, checks that the skin graft is not

splitting or bleeding, that there is no webbing,
or Carpal Tunnel syndrome. He also monitors
my hands movement, grip and flexibility.
Do you get asked about your hand a lot
and what kind of reactions do you get? Yes,

probably once or twice a month. The reactions

can be mixed. You learn coping strategies
and mechanisms as you go through life, so if
someone starts staring or glaring, I will politely
ask them, Have we met before?

Has it ever stopped you from doing anything

you really wanted to do? Yes, playing the

piano. For as long as I can remember, I have

always wanted to learn to play the piano.
I opted for singing as a hobby instead and
Ive never looked back on the incredible
experiences, challenges and opportunities Ive

Stephen Bell out on the

town in London. Left:
Stephens three fingers
are fused together on
his right hand.

event that raised so much money for his

Kids Of Bolton charity. The night was such a
tremendous success.
Do you have a boyfriend? No, but I would be
so thrilled, pleased, delighted and excited to
have a boyfriend when the time is right.

Do you have any difficulty dating because of

your hand?Not really, its something different

to talk about on a date and sometimes a bit

of an ice-breaker. I dont blurt everything out
straight away, but generally Ive had positive

If someone starts staring or glaring, I will

politely ask them, Have we met before?
had while singing in various choirs since 1991.

You also spend your time advocating for

changing perceptions and attitudes. Yes, as

well as raising both the profile and awareness

of looking different with presentations at
universities such as Oxford and Cambridge,
and in collaborations with organisations
like the Centre For Appearance Research,
the Changing Faces charity and the Body
Confidence Awards. I will continue to do this
for as long as I am able, as I think it is vitally
important to give a voice to looking different.
What is FEDS? Fairness, Equality, Diversity
And Social Inclusion. This is my main
objective inclusion, not separation.

and interesting reactions. I cant recall any

negative behaviour or nightmares on this front.
Attitudes from other gay men have been
fabulous. They are very open, accepting and
respectful. Its part of me and my personality.
Many people are amazed I'm right-handed.

What about a message for a young person

learning to live with a physical deformity or
difference? Coco Chanel said, In order to be

old Event Management and Planning business,

Epitome Celebrations.

irreplaceable, one must always be different. I

agree two hundred percent! Never hide away.
Do research on organisations that can support
or assist you, and ask for help, if you need it.
Try not to complain. Be happy, enjoy life, and
be you. Positivity is key.
How do you keep so positive? Staying positive
has always been a driving force for me. Life is
not a dress rehearsal! I only get one shot like
everyone else out there.

Working for footballer Kevin Davies on an

MORE: Find Stephen on Twitter @StephenBell4

This is all done in your spare time. What do

you do for a career? I run my own six-year

Whats been a favourite event to plan?

DNA 57

/ FEATURE

SUPERPOWERED
Hes an expert in the art of listening, fluent in body
language and master of the non-verbal cue. William Le
is hearing impaired, but hes also extra-sensory.
DNA: Hi William. Were you born with a
hearing impairment or was it the result of an
illness or injury?
William Le: I was born with profound hearing

loss. My mum contracted rubella when she was

pregnant with me, which sealed my fate. When
my parents realised that I wasnt responding to
verbal cues, they took me to a doctor and his
diagnosis confirmed their fears.

When did you get your first hearing aid?

I received my first cochlear implant (CI) at 8 years

of age and underwent various upgrades before
settling on ESPrit 3G on my left ear. I received
Nucleus 5 on my right ear at the age of 25.
Can you explain what it does? Its function is
to filter, prioritise, transmit and convert sound
picked up by a microphone into electronic signals
that would then be received by a coiled magnet
embedded in the brain above my ear. Beginning
as a body-worn form of a speech processor

strapped to my neck, scientific and technological

leaps have shrunk the device to something that
could easily and wirelessly fit on my ear; with
higher hearing frequencies, waterproofing,
recharging and Bluetooth capabilities!

Wow, that sounds bionic! So what do you

actually hear? The CI is meant to artificially

replicate the effects of standard hearing. With

each iteration and regular visits to my speech
pathologist, my hearing improves marginally
but you cant miss what you dont have. I
simply have pangs. I refer to myself as deaf or
hearing impaired.
Are those terms interchangeable? I used
to think so, until a friend with hearing aids
pointed out that I should technically be hearing
impaired rather than deaf. The former falls
into a spectrum from mild to profound, which
is what I have.
What do you think of the words disability
or handicapped? The PC-ness of those words

seem to swell and fall, like a trend. Other than

those, lets run the gamut: handicapable,
special needs, differently abled, invalid,
dwarf, little people, gifted and of course
that magic word, retard. You can see the
various degrees of likely offense, some more
subtly aggressive than others. I think we coin or
supplant these phrases out of good intent or in
medical terms, but a rule of thumb is that any
word thats been carelessly bandied about or can
appear as patronisingly polite avoid at all costs.
So what are some of the safer terms?

Terms like intellectually disabled, hearing

impaired and short statured have proven to
be stalwarts because they are safe, speak to a
specific condition and dont define the person
on the whole.

Should people acknowledge someones

disability? They might worry about causing
offence. The biggest offence that I have ever

received was reluctance to refer to my cochlear

implant for fear of drawing attention to the
elephant in the room. But I always reassure
people that Im happy to talk about it, and I
understand that they mean well. In other words,
theres nothing that they shouldnt do except to
keep common sense and good manners, which I
find to be the case 99 percent of the time.
How do you primarily socialise? Because I can
still hear and was raised on speech therapy, I
tend to socialise with the hearing world and
speech is the main mode of communication.
The deaf member, on the other hand, tends to
stick with his own kind, and is more at home
using Auslan [Australian Sign Language].
Finally, theres a third type where individuals
can move between these two worlds, a
subculture within a subculture a deaf world
submerged within a hearing impaired world if
you like, or a bit of both.
William (left) and Michael
at home in Sydney.

58 DNA

Whats one thing hearing people could learn

from all these factions of the non-hearing
population? There has been much lament on

unwanted noise in modern society, so any time

people bemoan that theyd like to get out of the
city, commune with nature and find a silence so
startling that they can hear themselves think,
Id smile to myself and think, I can do that any
time. I can be in the middle of a crowd, turn my
ear off and fall into that world of silence. That is
meditation in motion, in my opinion. The trick
is that inner silence probably takes more skill
to achieve but its something that the hearing
population can certainly learn from.
Is the difference between hearing and
listening highly distinct for you? Just because

you have two functional ears doesnt mean

you are always capable of hearing wisely and
productively. Listening is when you consider,
support and understand the total weight of the
speakers words as well as non-verbal cues.
Over your lifetime have you seen a change in
attitudes towards people with disabilities?

Having always been aware of my hearing

loss, I felt as normal as can be, thanks in
large part to the nurturing environment
of St Gabriels [school for deaf and hearing

I can be in the
middle of a crowd, turn
my ear off and fall into
that world of silence.
That is meditation
in motion, in my
opinion.
impaired children]. Because of my lack of
personal experience in facing prejudice, I felt
that presumptuous attitudes such as speaking
more loudly or more slowly than usual, or
condescending treatment tended to be assigned
to older generations. I had neither notion nor
qualm of societys foibles.
Did you ever struggle with learning? I was the
product of a very specific time, a Bob Hawkeera [Australian Prime Minister, 1983-91]
which mantled policies of youth skills training
and school retention rates, so I was lucky to
be recognised by wonderful teachers for my
talents rather than for my disability, which
was simply something to be accommodated in
a different way. For instance, I received notetaking services in some classes and I would
also explain to teachers to wear a microphone
amplifier that connected through to my speech
processor, functioning a little bit like a one-way
walkie-talkie, on a private wavelength.
That is an incredible credit to those policies.

Just as importantly, it really comes down to

Michael and
William at
a friends
wedding in
Balmoral.

how our parents have handled us and equipped

us for life. In earlier times, there was a sense
that we had to be protected and shielded from
the real world, thus probably translating into
an over-arching disconnect with life.
What about attitudes within the gay
community, do you find them more or less
inclusive? Do you face rejection because you
are hearing impaired? The attitudes of the

gay community have had no bearing on my

personal identity or of my hearing disability,
but there has been no rejection, preconceived
judgment or anything of the sort. I have no
qualms coming up to someone in a gay venue
and mentioning that I am deaf. Reactions have
always been one of piqued interest, or they
simply dont care. I like to think its my charm
that ropes them in instead [laughs].

Have you ever dated another man who is

deaf? I have always dated men who can hear I

dont discriminate, after all! Ive never actually

thought at great length as to what it would be

like to date a deaf man, but for some reason I

imagine twice the frustrations, twice the mixed
signals, twice the silence, twice everything! It
would probably be like trying to talk to a mirror.
With hearing men, at least they can compensate
for what I lack if that makes sense.

Youve said that being so different has given

you superpowers. Can you elaborate? If

they havent given me flight, invulnerability

and elemental control (yet), Ill have to settle
for insight and empathy. I like to think that I
perceive things that other people dont, mainly
in terms of psychoanalysis and debate. I can
read between the lines for example, what you
say is not necessarily what you mean. I also
think these go hand-in-hand with lip-reading
ability, as you spend a lot of time watching
people talk and how they relate to each other.
You might say, I burnt my hand on the stove
this morning and got really upset with myself
for being so clumsy across a crowded room
and Ill be able to grab all that. I might also >>
DNA 59

/ FEATURE
>> laugh at I love you because it can be
mistaken for colourful its a trick that
hearing people fall for. Go on, try it! Or how
about vacuum try sounding it out silently
and see the reaction!

What is the biggest misconception people

have about people who are deaf? This answer

may be surprising, but in my view, it is that

people actually forget that Im deaf. This can
be a minor gripe in a noisy environment, like a
nightclub, when they keep leaning into my ear to
talk, and I keep having to pull back to lip-read.

That must make you want to say vacuum!

So is your hearing impairment ever
something you do try to cover up? I like

the fact that it makes for an excellent talking

point, much like having a pet snake in the
living room. Other times people may realise
that I am deaf even before I inform them.
This is usually because they may either know
someone who suffers from a similar condition:
a mother with gradual hearing loss due to
age, a cousin with a cochlear implant, or a
colleague who is an Auslan signer. This also
creates another excellent talking point for us,
particularly upon introduction.
How did you meet your fianc, Michael? We
met through the social networking app, Scruff.
I was coming off an emotional breakup so I
wasnt looking for anything in particular. But
I think having no expectations helped so that I
could be pleasantly surprised.
Are there any specific challenges to being in
a relationship with a hearing man? There have

been few. I had always been self-assured, but I

had a huge crisis of revelation in Cambodia last
year. We were at a landmark outside of Phnom
Penh and a tour guide was explaining the history
of the stupas, temples and statues. All afternoon,
Michael was interpreting for me what the tour
guide was relaying. All was going well until
we got back to the hotel and he had a minimeltdown. He said that he was finding it too
difficult to deal with me simply because I needed
to understand what the tour guide was saying. It
was then I realised that he, too, struggled with
my deafness, because it impacted on his ability
to communicate with me as fluidly. While I
understood his perspective, I said, It might be
hard for you, but its harder for me. I have to
deal with this every day. I dont exist to make
life harder for you. Would a carer or a nurse be
telling a paraplegic the same thing? For the first
time ever, I lamented my hearing loss wishing
that I controlled the accidents of my birth so that
I could be born like everybody else, which of
course is the most absurd thing ever to say.

Would you have rather hed just not told you

at all how he felt? He was the only person ever

in my life to admit that he had a problem with

my deafness; neither my family nor ex-partners
said such things, because they probably knew
that it would make me feel bad and that it
was not my fault. Michael realised his error
60 DNA

and admitted that it was his problem to work

through, not mine. He felt awful! That was the
only time I felt such a knock to my pride for
being different as a deaf individual.
Does he continue to act as your translator?

Or hearing dog, as I like to call him [laughs].

Michael, bless him, keeps trying to understand
my limitations and be considerate of my needs.
He has made very sweet progress.
You are of Vietnamese background, gay
and deaf do you identify with one of
these three minorities more than the
others? I like to think that I have a finger

in each slice of the same pie, or three in this

case. But it is safe to say that Ive put a lot
more emphasis in gay identity insofar as
belonging to that community. I grew up near
Vietnamese communities in both Bankstown
and Cabramatta. I had the option to learn
Vietnamese alongside my sister and cousins
at Sunday School but I preferred English!
Similarly, I grew up on my mothers cooking,
but I never truly connected with my heritage
until I went to Vietnam. The first time I went,
in mid-2005, I felt reverent when I stepped
into my fathers childhood home, almost like

I might laugh at
I love you because it
can be mistaken for
colourful its a trick
that hearing people
fall for!
retracing his footprints because I realised that
if he hadnt come to Australia, or had died in
the war well, I wouldnt have existed, full
stop. The second time was with Michael, and it
was so good to return to my homeland. It was
both a process of rediscovery and introducing
my fianc to all the places that represented my
heritage, in a sense.

Youre a writer and Michael is an actor. Do

you ever clash creatively? I dont think we will

ever clash. I find we complement each other

in strangely interesting ways. A deaf person
matched with a hearing person who made a
living out of singing, how about that?

Does he sing for you? Can you tell if hes

any good? When hes sung for me, its more

about the emotion, projection and storytelling

etched on his face than vocal quality. For
minutes he gets caught up in the passion and
the drama of the lyrics and then resumes his
old self. I am gripped and fascinated by such
intimacy. I may not be able to hear the lyrics,
but I can tell that it means something to the

singer, and they do it extraordinarily well.

You and Michael founded interCulture Casting

and Management (iCCAM). How is your
agency unique? We represent clients with a

very specific minority focus. Everyone loves

to see a piece of their own culture reflected on
screen, Theres me up there! That is exactly
like my life! Our business addresses the gaps
in access, opportunity and reality between
predominantly white casting professionals
and a pool of ethnically diverse actors, singers,
dancers and performers who just simply want a
chance to stand on the same platform.
There is also a disability offshoot, right? Yes,
which was perfect as my deaf identity would
be reflected on a larger scale. And that goes
for everyone else, whether theyre autistic,
have cerebral palsy or suffer from Aspergers.
Recently, we have acknowledged the LBGTIQ
sector as vital to the minority message. Of
course some of our clients already swim in
more than one world anyway.
Tell us about the Dont Dis My Ability
campaign. How did you become an
ambassador. I had understood duty to

myself, but it is absolutely vital to learn to

turn it outwards. I never really understood
the meaning of duty to ones people until
somebody was foolish enough to believe in and
nominate me and that somebody happened to
be my fianc, Michael.

What are your priorities as an ambassador?

To bring about large-scale awareness and, in

a practical sense, contribute to the evolution
of the Disability Inclusion Plan draft. I
would at first concern myself with overseeing
the nationwide development, rollout and
maintenance of closed-captioned access in
all cinemas and theatres, uniformly, at no
cost to the user. This is my dream, for deaf
individuals to be able to contribute to the
cultural dialogue as equally as everybody else
at the same time.
What would you like to tell young people
learning to live with a disability? Understand

that the world is a far bigger place than our

own backyard and the key is an open mind
and honesty. If you hide your disability or
dont talk about it straightforwardly, it sends
a mixed message and people pick up on
your possible projected embarrassment or
shame. As a result, they may not know how to
respond accordingly.
What is the single most important message
you would like to give to those who are
not disabled? Empathic intelligence. Thats

it! Even something as simple as, I may not

understand what youre going through, but
you can tell me what its like is the first step
towards awareness. H

MORE: Celebrating diversity and ability:

Dontdismyability.com.au. For William and
Michaels talent agency, visit www.iccamoz.com.

YOUR FAVOURITE
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ON THE COVE

LEO IN NA
BARCELOIA
BY JP SANTAMAR

DNAMAGAZINE.COM.AU

/ FEATURE

Hot
In The
City
Much to his own surprise, Melbourne classical
composer and busker Gareth Wiecko won a
competition to find Australias hottest redhead.
Here's how it happened

PHOTOGRAPHY THOMAS KNIGHTS

PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANT THIBAULT LA DROITTE

62 DNA

Gareth wears
Teamm8 underwear.
DNA 63

/ FEATURE

RED HOT DOWN UNDER was part of a campaign

during World AIDS Day last year sponsored by
DNA, Same Same, ACON and NSW Health. Brit
photographer Thomas Knights travelled Down
Under to help find the ginger winner and shoot
him for his Red Hot 100 project and this DNA
fashion story.
The Welsh-born musician reluctantly
entered at the urging of friends and on grand
final night at Sydneys Slide nightclub was
named the winner. Yes, admits the humble
Gareth, It came as a bit of a shock!

DNA: Judging by the look on your face when

the announcement was made, we suspect you
didnt expect to win the Red Hot Down Under
Model Search competition.

Gareth Wiecko: [Laughs] Yeah, my face

definitely came across like that. I wasnt exactly
sure what the judges were looking for and each
of the guys had something to give. Ive never
won a competition based on my aesthetics so,
yeah, I guess it did come as a bit of a shock
when I was told that Id won.
What prompted you to enter the competition?

A friend asked me to take part in a

photoshoot for a gay night in Melbourne

had to do the DNA photoshoot. Was that like

being dropped in the deep end? You fall into

the swing of it quite quickly. Thomas Knights,

the photographer, was great. The minute we
started shooting he put me at ease. Hes very
natural and lovely to get along with. Id never
done modelling before so was unsure what to
expect. The same for the DNA guys. Everyone
involved made it feel like a very organic
process. I had a lot of fun.

You are a musician and a busker so you must

feel relatively relaxed performing in front
of people. Is modelling in an underwear
photoshoot much the same? The two dont

really go hand-in-hand, hah! Being an

entertainer Ive learned to feel comfortable
in most situations; you dont have time to be
insecure when youre presenting yourself as
an artist. Id done the Trough shoot a month
or so before the competition and Im pretty
comfortable as I am.

The Red Hot competition was about

countering discrimination. Have you ever been
bullied for being a redhead? I think most

redheaded children encounter a decent share

of bullying at a young age. But from personal
experience and from talking to other redheads
it all seems to die down before you hit your

Ill still have people wailing ranga at me from

car windows but it doesnt bother me anymore. Im
the hottest redhead in Australia!
called Trough. The video came out and a few
people started to get in contact quoting the
Red Hot Down Under competition and that
I should compete. Initially I thought nothing
of it but then my friends started getting on
board saying that I should compete. I entered
with a profile photo and next thing I knew I
was being flown to Sydney to compete against
eight other guys.
Had you ever done anything like that before?

Being a musician Ive had the opportunity to

compete, but to compete against other redheads
for the title of the most attractive redhead in
Australia? No, cant say Ive done anything like
that before. Definitely one for the bucket list.
The very next day after the competition you
64 DNA

early teens. Dont get me wrong, Ill still have

people wailing ranga at me from car windows
but it doesnt bother me anymore. Im the
hottest redhead in Australia!

Do you think people fetishise you as a redhead?

Id say more so in Australia than back in the

United Kingdom. There are a higher percentage
of us per capita in the UK. Were saturated over
there! But in regards to fetishising, Id say no
more than any other common fetish thats out
there. It does make the job easier though, half
the work is already done!
One of the other messages around the Red
Hot events was ending HIV. Is that something
you expect to see in the near future, distant
future or ever? The advances in medicine >>

Gareth wears vintage

rugby shorts.
DNA 65

/ FEATURE

66 DNA

Gareth wears ES Collection

swimwear and Adidas trainers.
DNA 67

/ FEATURE

Gareth wears Teamm8 underwear.

68 DNA

Gareth wears Teamm8

beach towel.
DNA 69

/ FEATURE

Gareth wears Teamm8 underwear.

70 DNA

DNA 71

/ FEATURE
>> over the past thirty years in regard to ending
HIV are incredible. If medicine has come this
far, whats not to say that there is a potential for a
cure. Theres strong advocacy toward the fight to
end HIV now and awareness is more prominent
than ever. Though not having a direct impact, I
was proud to be involved in the process of aiding
the fight.
You are a pianist who busks. How does that
work? Music is my life, I play every day. Be that

busking, gigging, composing or just having a

jam. I ran out of money when up at Cairns a
few years back and sold my vehicle in order to
buy a stage piano. I started hitchhiking down

Discrimination
stems from a lack of
understanding
we could all do with a
little more love in the
world.
the east coast of Australia, playing music as I
went. By the time I got to Melbourne I had it all
figured out and fell in love with it. I now play
regularly in Bourke Street Mall in Melbourne.
Theres a huge influx of people coming and
going and I get a real sense of accomplishment
from creating an organic process on the streets.
No two gigs are the same and the public are
really responsive. It feels good being able to
bring art to the streets and change peoples day.

The music you compose is classical/electronic/

ambient and you cite your influences
diversely from Rufus Wainwright to Ludovico
Einaudi. Yes, Ive been writing music since I

can remember and also had the opportunity

to release my album, Notes To Self, back in
2011. Its a solo piano album and has gone on
to sell a decent amount. Im in the process of
producing my second album at the moment. I
also attend University in Melbourne, studying
Composition and Digital Production. My
aspiration is to compose professionally for
media, be that film or video games and so on.

In the digital age, theres no money in selling

albums, right? Musicians really have to
perform live to make a living. That may be the

case for some musicians but I make most of my

money through album sales. My album can be
found online through a variety of mediums but
also via myself when I busk on the streets. On
Bourke Street we have half hour sets every hour to
showcase ourselves and most people hang around
for that half hour. By the end of the set theyve
decided whether they appreciate my art or not.
Plus people really enjoy taking something physical
home with them as part of the experience.
Where can DNA readers hear your music?

You can listen to my album and hear work

related to my upcoming album at www.
garethwiecko.com. Im also found busking
around Melbourne, mainly in Bourke Street
Mall, roughly three days a week.

Has winning the competition changed the way

you perceive yourself? Not really. Im happy

with who I am and where I am today is due to

dilligent effort and hard work. The competition
was a great experience and lots of fun. I got to
meet some great people and Id definitely do
something like it again.

How did it feel when Thomas Knights

revealed the huge portrait of you at the
gallery opening? I honestly didnt expect it

to come out as well as it did. Its a beautiful

photograph and Im really proud of it. My
eyes are my favourite part; hes really made
them striking. Im now part of the Red Hot
Exhibition which will be over in the UK at some
point so Im trying to get my parents to make
the drive to London to see my mug in a gallery!
As a performer you must value your freedom
of speech, but as a gay man and redhead
you may have experienced bullying or
discrimination is there a fine line between
what people should and shouldnt be allowed
to say? I think everybody should be allowed

to have a joke. The world would be pretty

dull if that wasnt the case. But its when the
context and tonality have a negative impact
thats directed toward a person or group of
people that I have a problem. More often than
not, bullying and discrimination stem from a
lack of understanding and are often difficult
problems to tackle. We could all do with a little
more love in the world.
Finally, how should we pronounce Wiecko?

Thats an easy one: Vi-en-sco. H

MORE: Find Gareth at garethwiecko.com.

For more on Red Hot, go to thomasknights.
com, redhot100.com and facebook.com/
redhotexhibition.

SEE
MORE

72 DNA

Gareth wears Teamm8 underwear.

DNA 73

/ FEATURE

Twink Twink,

Little Star
Youth is highly prized on the scene. Like celebrity, it
opens A-list doors, brings adulation and advantage
but beware, there are ruthless predators lying in wait
for their prey. Samuel Leighton-Dore tells his story.
Twink (noun, adj.)
1. A homosexual or effeminate.
2. A young man regarded as an
object of homosexual desire.
IM FIRST CALLED A TWINK when Im eighteen

years old. With my shiny blond mop of Jesse

McCartney hair, virgin arsehole and the body
of a Ukrainian gymnast, Im considered hot
property amongst the tired rotation of Oxford
Street queens and grizzly middle-aged bears. I
watch their eyes grow hungry as I pass by, all
fawn-like with my skinny-jean swagger.
Im new, Im untouched, Im fresh meat. Im
a twink.
Named after the American phallic-shaped
snack-cake (Twinkies), twinks are commonly
regarded as having little nutritional value,
sweet to the taste, and full of crme. Eternally
euphemistic, theyre enjoyed for their
packaging, not their substance and tend to be
treated as such. Only ever as desirable as they
are disposable, one always interchangeable with
the next.
Im relishing my new-found title; wearing
the badge (in one case literally) with pride. The
winds in my hair and Im soaring from the
bottom of the social food chain (high-school)
74 DNA

to somewhere near the top. Im somebody now,

and I like it. The acceptance, the camaraderie,
the glitter, the undying sense of community.
The nicknames, the arse-grabs. The open
minds and open hearts.
This all abruptly changes, however, late one
Saturday night in 2010, as I discover the cruel
degradation to my apparent orientational
royalty. You see, theres a perverse underbelly
to the raucous laughter and seductive neon
lights of Sydneys gay night life. And I stumbled
right into it.
Local queer folklore tells of a penthouse
somewhere above the throngs of Sydneys
Darlinghurst where parties are held on
weeknights, queen-size beds come rent-free,
and top-shelf alcohol is poured in unlimited
supply. The flash, split-level abode is owned by
a scrawny and obnoxiously wealthy man whose
name Ive chosen not to publish. For the sake of
narrative, lets call him Andrew.
Andrew started a well-known Australian
fashion label with his then-wife and mother of
his children. Now, however, he busies himself
housing an eclectic rotation of twinks both
initiating and feeding their drug addictions
under a sexually paternal pretence.
I know this because, for one night, Im one
of them. A friend and I have been drunkenly
invited to what could only be described as

a penthouse party with free booze. Now,

as anyone whos ever been an unemployed
eighteen-year-old will surely attest, a penthouse
party with free booze is the absolute holy grail
of unplanned Saturday night adventures.
So we tag along; moths drawn to the flame.
We buzz the the apartment number, pat down
our button-ups and take the mirror-clad
elevator all the way to the top floor. Ding!
Before long Im sipping vodka between
tempered puffs of foreign cigarettes on
the wrap-around balcony, feeling like the
misguided protagonist in some homoerotic F
Scott Fitzgerald nightmare. Ive been granted
exclusive access to the good life, the rich life.
The life you might occasionally read about
in magazines or catch glimpses of on the
television. Drunk middle-classers shout from
the stagnant nightclub lines below. It suddenly
seems dirty down there. I dont belong with
them, I belong up here; where high school
drop-outs wear leather fisherman shoes and
dramatically fling taupe sweaters across their
bony shoulders.
Andrew commands the room as a cult
leader would his church. Nothing about him
is physically attractive, but it doesnt seem to
matter. His lifestyle is seductive enough. He
spots me from across the room, eyes dancing
salaciously along the lines of my body. My
stomach drops. Does he like what he sees? Am
I welcome here? Why do I even care?
It soon hits midnight, and here that seems
to mean something. Designer make-up is
being applied hurriedly in full-length mirrors;
bronzer over cheekbones, a cloud of hairspray,
fringes adjusted meticulously one final row
of tequila shots. Were ready though for what,
Im not sure.

I think were underground. Its hot and

dark and the bass-line makes my teeth jitter.
The drinks at Arq are expensive, more than
I can afford, but my hands never empty. Im
not sure where my friend is, but I dont really
mind. People are smiling at me, dancing with
me, grinding on me. Andrew moves in close,
folding the palm of his hand over mine.
I swallow the pills like theyre tic tacs,
washing them down with a sloppy mouthful of
vodka-lime-and-something. And now we wait;

Limping unceremoniously to the station, I

decide that I hate being a twink. The silent
objectification. The permission so readily
assumed by others to touch, grab, feel, fuck
my body. I hate that it seems to connote
both physical weakness and emotional
dependability. I hate that young gay men can
be targeted at their most vulnerable, emerging
from their tumultuous teenage years and
desperate for connection. They way theyre
too often broken down, when they so need to
be empowered.
But most of all, I hate myself. I hate that I let
it happen. I hate that I didnt say, no. H

This story is in no way indicative of the

authors relationships with older gay
men. He has since been fortunate enough
to find supportive mentors whose guidance
has helped him channel his experiences
creatively. He directed a short film, Showboy,
which competed in the Sydney Film Festival
last year, and will soon release a childrens
book, I Think Im A Poof. Visit him at www.
SamuelLeightonDore.com

PHOTO: BRIANNA ELTON

I mutter, but
nobodys listening.
My heart starts to race.
Time drips slowly, like
the melting clock in
that Salvador Dali
painting.

I mutter, but nobodys listening. My heart starts

to race. Time drips slowly, like the melting
clock in that Salvador Dali painting.
I come-to in the shower, my limped body
resting naked in Andrews arms. His calloused
hands wash me down with soap that smells
of rosemary. Im not sure whether its in
preparation, or clean-up but the harder he
scrubs, the dirtier I feel. Is this sex? Is this what
it means to be an adult?
Now were in bed, and were not alone.
This is what you want, isnt it? he asks,
but it doesnt feel like a question. Hes
already inside me, rocking back and forth
without hesitation. Others are watching,
too. Stroking my face as I take it. Kissing the
nape of my neck, as if they know my name. I
close my eyes and escape to some half-state
of consciousness. The kind you get when
anticipating a punch or fall.
Im scared, Im hurting, but I cope.
I dont remember falling asleep, but the next
morning I wake, flush-cheeked and swolleneyed; chest pounding, aching with regret. Im
sleepily tossed $3.50 in silver coins for the
train ride home. Andrew says that Im welcome
back anytime. But I never go back. Ive already
endured my inauguration.

DNA 75

/ COVER STORY

LE
O
WITH A SCANDALOUSLY SEXY body, deep
green eyes and a great big smile, Leo Rico
is as tasty as his name suggests Rico is Spanish
for yummy. A Barcelona resident, 180cm tall
[510] and 36-years-old Leo is also wait for it
a real fireman.
I love my work as a fireman, he says. Its
amazing to be able to help people when they
need you the most. Many lives depend on you.
Its not easy, but it is always worth the effort.
When not saving lifes and fighting fires,
Leo loves mountains climbing up them and
skiing down them. Skiing and climbing are my
passions. I also love ultra-distance competitions
like Ironmans. I love hard work! From time to
time I do some work in fashion but I dont take
76 DNA

it very seriously. People tell me I should do more

but I dont want to be famous. Id prefer to keep
being a fireman, and helping people.
Modelling can definitely be fun though,
especially when being shot by a world-renowned
photographer like JP Santamaria. When JP
contacted me and said he wanted to shoot me for
the cover of DNA I was so happy, he says.
Leo was brought up by his mum, two sisters
and his gay uncle so, he says, hes very well
educated in tolerance and freedom I always
have a very good feeling when Im around gay
people.
The shoot was amazing. We had so much
fun, and I hope DNA readers enjoy it so that we
can repeat it soon!

PHOTOGRAPHY JP SANTAMARIA
(JUANPABLOSANTAMARIA.COM AND
FACEBOOK.COM/JPSANTAMARIA.
PHOTODESIGN)
MODEL LEO RICO
ASSISTANTS LUCCA ROCCI AND
GASPAR GARRE

Leo wears Torchpack

swimwear.
DNA 77

/ COVER STORY

Leo wears Teamm8

swimwear.
78 DNA

Leo wears Gabriel

Croissier swimwear.
DNA 79

/ COVER STORY

Leo wears Zara swimwear.

80 DNA

Leo wears Addicted

swimwear.
DNA 81

/ COVER STORY

Leo wears aussieBum swimwear.

82 DNA

Leo wears Gabriel Croissier swimwear.

DNA 83

/ COVER STORY

Leo wears Addicted swimwear.

84 DNA

DNA 85

Hakan suffers
pattern hair loss due
to immense stress.
His crop circles are
visible in this picture.

MY
PARENTS
WANT TO
KILL ME
86 DNA

Hakan is young, gay and

Turkish. His mother wants
Allah to beat the gay out
of him, his father wants
to kill him. Greg Page
presents this shocking
story; a prescient reminder
that gay rights are still a
matter of life and death in
many parts of the world.
OVER THE YEARS I have found myself, quite
by accident, becoming a mentor to numerous
young gay men that I meet out and about.
These are usually men who have thrown
themselves headfirst into the quickie sex and
party lifestyle that is so readily available in the

PHOTO: PAOLO CANEVESI.

/ FEATURE

gay world. After a while, these same young

men begin to get jaded with what the scene
has to offer and want something more. Often
what they really need is just a cuddle and some
parental-like guidance.
My partner and I met Hakan* in Brussels in
2013 at the annual La Demence circuit party.
At 22 years of age, broodingly handsome and

When the purchase

of lube and condoms
found its way onto his
parents credit card bill,
they threatened to kill
him.
with large, almond-shaped brown eyes it was
hard not to notice him from across the dance
floor. He also had some intriguing crop
circles on the back of his head where it looked
as if he had shaved shapes into his dark thatch
of hair.
On the Eurostar trip back to London he came
into our carriage, sat down and talked to us
for the whole two hours. He was smart, quickwitted and spoke excellent English. It became
apparent he was looking for more than sex, or
even friendship. He needed family.
We kept in touch back in the UK through
Facebook (he was studying graphic design at a
university up in Manchester). We made plans
to meet up a few months later after arranging
with some of our other pals to converge on
Amsterdam for the Rapido party. We spent the
weekend there together, all taking or sharing
rooms at a so-uncool-its-cool Dutch hotel
styled to look as though it was still functioning
in medieval times.
It was during this weekend that we got to
know Hakan better and finally got to hear his
whole hard-to-believe-in-this-day-and-age
story. He had been studying engineering at
Oxford because that was what his wealthy,
well-connected parents in Istanbul wanted him
to do. After two years, however, he realised he
was never going to be an engineer and that his
true calling was in graphic design. He swapped
courses and universities, boldly setting a new
path for himself. At the same time he knew he
was gay and happily met guys for dates and fun
along the way.
When his parents found out he had switched
courses they threatened to cut off his money
supply. When they found out that he was gay
(a purchase for lube and condoms at a gay
store, Clone Zone, inadvertently found its way
to his parents credit card bill) they threatened
to kill him. Little wonder that those crop

circles at the back of his head were actually

bald patches where his hair had fallen out due
to stress.
His father told him that if he came home to
Turkey he would shoot him to restore the family
honour. His mother, well connected with the
authorities in this militantly Islamic-turning
country, informed him she did not care about
him in this life. All I care about is you in the
after life, she announced without any hint of
remorse, or a mothers love for her child.
While this may seem shocking, it should
also be revealed at this point that Hakans
mother, a relatively recent convert to radical
Islam, heads a charity in Istanbul that raises
money for jihadists. Having an openly gay son
is something which not just makes her want
to stop loving him, but also makes her want to
have him killed. This is a lot for any 22-yearold to process.
Gradually, we got to know Hakan, and his
situation, a lot better. He would stay with us
in our house outside of London, and each
morning he would happily bound in from the
guest bedroom to our bedroom. His crop
circles even slowly started to show signs
of regrowth. You are my family now, he
declared emphatically. You saved me!
His mother, however, was not about to leave
things there. She travelled from Istanbul to
Manchester, spending two days sitting outside

his student apartment waiting for her son.

She said it was just to talk to him, but Hakan
feared she had hired thugs who would bundle
him into a car, drug him and take him back to
Turkey. He went into hiding until he was sure
she had left the country.
Soon afterwards, his mother began sending
Hakan messages insisting he come home so
she could commit him to a special Madrasa
(Islamic school) where Allah would assist
him to leave his sinful life behind. What she
didnt mention was that this actually involves
daily beatings, where Islamic fanatics bring
their victims to the point of near death before
getting them to repent. To save themselves
they must fully renounce their former life and
devote themselves, and their future life, to
Allah and the cause of Islam.
If this seems extreme, consider that Turkey
in recent years has become viciously anti-gay.
Mobile app Grindr has been blocked by the
government, gays and lesbians regularly suffer
violence and harrasment, legal protections
against discrimination in employment,
housing and health care have been shelved,
and criminal courts give less jail time to the
murderers of gay people due to what they term,
heavy provocation. Gay men dare not reveal
their sexuality as the country is on a path to
turn the clock backwards on human rights. In
2008, 26-year-old Ahmet Yildiz was shot to >>

It became apparent he was looking for more

than sex, or even friendship. He needed family.

Two men dare a kiss

at Istanbul Pride.

DNA 87

/ FEATURE
>> death in Istanbul by his father,
who had travelled almost 600 miles
[965 km] to murder his gay son in
what the media deemed fit to call
an honour killing. His partner,
Ibo, had tried to get protection
from the authorities, after Ahmet
had received death threats from his
family, but to no avail.
With the country trying its best
to improve overall standards in
order to join the European Union
someday, Turkeys appalling
record on gay rights has often
come under close scrutiny, but
little progress appears to have
been made. Istanbuls Gay Pride

Left: A touching poster

in Istanbuls Beyoglu
neighborhood honours Ahmet
Yildiz, who was murdered by
his father. Turkish authorities
issued an arrest warrant for the
father, but only after he had
fled the country.

parade, touted as the largest GLBT celebration

in the Muslim world, managed to bring people
out into the streets last year, but they did so
for fear of their lives.
Turkey currently has the record for highest
number of gay hate crimes in Europe, according
to advocacy group figures. The Turkish
President, Recep Tayyip Erdoan, has declared
that being gay is a sexual preference which
goes against the culture of Islam, while his
Minister For State, Selma Aliye Kavaf blithely
states that she considers homosexuality a
biological disorder; a disease.
Because Turkey is at the crossroads between
Europe and Asia, it is of significant geopolitical
strategic importance. In the fight against
the emerging ISIS threat many countries in
the West seem willing to turn a blind eye to
Turkeys barbaric views on homosexuality,
womens rights, use of torture, little to no free
press (journalists are regularly jailed), and
general human rights violations.
Turkeys government is still officially secular,
but with the rise in religiosity [99.8 percent of
its population is now registered as Muslim]
over the last two decades, Islam heavily dictates

The Startlingly True Tale Of

Turkeys Transgender Diva
Turkeys national singing treasure,
Blent Ersoy, known to fans simply
as Diva, has in her 62-years
experienced many more things
than your everyday male-tofemale celebrity. She is also the
possessor of one of the finest
voices in the former Ottoman
Empire, one that makes even
devoutly religious men weep
when she breaks into a traditional
Turkish tune.
Blent originally found fame
as a man, singing classical
Turkish music. She underwent
gender reassignment surgery
in London in 1981, but kept the
name Blent, despite it being
avowedly masculine. The Turkish
regime at the time forbade her
from performing due to social
deviance and after a failed
suicide attempt she fled the
country and moved to Germany
and then Australia, briefly.

88 DNA

When the government stance

softened in 1988, Blent was
finally accepted back into Turkey
as a woman. She returned to
prominence and became more
popular than she had ever been.
Soon after, she was shot on
stage five times after refusing to
sing a song celebrating war, yet
somehow she survived. A decade
later she married a man twenty
years her junior, though she
divorced him quickly when she
found out he was having sex with
a prostitute on the side.
In 2008, Blent was charged
with slander after declaring she
would not let her children (if
she could have them) go to war.
After a prolonged court case
she was eventually found not
guilty (after she donated money
to a military foundation), which
also won her a new fan base
from Turkeys much-maligned

The changing
face of Diva
Blent Ersoy.

Kurdish minority. In later years

Blent began dressing more
conservatively, presenting herself
as a Muslim nationalist, which
may have been her way of trying
to appease the fundamentalists
in her country.
Until recently Blent continued
releasing Arabesque albums and
performing on stage and on TV
(she was a judge on Turkish Idol
called Popstar Alaturka and
one of its contestants was the
young man she married). She
even performed a duet with the
countrys biggest pop star, Tarkan,
who has long been the subject of
gay innuendo and speculation.

Of late, however, the ebullient

Blent appears to have all but
disappeared from public view.
This is most likely due to the
hardline Islamic regime in power
once again chiding her low
morals. Type her name into
YouTube to hear her sensational
voice (and to witness her
fondness for plastic surgery).
There may yet be another
iteration of Blent Ersoy. This
Diva is a revolutionary, icon and
survivor. Even the man who shot
her five times knows that. Of
course she didnt die, he said.
She stands for so much, shes
Turkish.

education, doctrine and common law. Many

consider the preservation of Turkeys secular
state to be only a faade, with growing concern
that it will become the next Pakistan.
Whereas drag queens and transsexuals,
including Blent Ersoy [see breakout], were
among the countrys favoured entertainers in
a less religious era of sexual liberation, now
they are kept off TV screens and hidden away.
Being gay in Turkey has become something to
hide or deny, otherwise you will face intolerable
harassment and the fear of death at every turn.
This is what scares Hakan. He often dissolves
into tears when he receives a message from
his mother telling him that he should come
home. He knows what she really wants. She
either wants him to turn to Islam, or she wants
him dead. In September 2014, Hakan was
required to make a trip back to Turkey to show
the authorities that he could not complete his
compulsory military service because he was
studying abroad. He flew to Istanbul.
After landing, his lawyer there wisely called
ahead to find out what the reception for him
would be like when he presented himself at
the appointed hour with his documents. After
the lawyer bribed the right person, she was
told that if Hakan showed up he would be
immediately arrested and put in prison.
He knew he had to leave the country
immediately. Hakan was further warned by a
friend that his mother had sent a car around to
all the people she knew he associated with in
Istanbul, employing strong-arm tactics to seek
any information about his whereabouts. She
knew Hakan had arrived in Turkey because
his name was on a list of people the authorities
needed to question as soon as he touched
down at the airport. She had essentially put
her sons name on a wanted list.
Hakan raced to the airport to get the next
flight back to London, his lawyer in tow. At the
airport, in front of the boarding gate, he was
stopped by a member of the Turkish Airlines
staff. He was told his visa was not valid for
travel and he could not board.
Hakans lawyer, standing next to him, told
the staff member that if her client was arrested
then a full report would have to be made
about the incident including that persons
name, rank and work history. With a quick
bribe passed underhand as well, the staff
member backed down and Hakan managed to
get on the plane and get back to London.
When he arrived back in the UK he came
directly to us and cried for at least an hour.
He was overwhelmed by it all a mother who
wants to hand him on a platter to Allah, a
father who wants to shoot him and a country
that wants to disown him.
He handed over a few boxes of Turkish
sweets that he had bought at the airport dutyfree while awaiting his flight. Thats the kind
of person he is in the midst of an intense life

In Turkey, criminal courts give less jail time to

the murderers of gay people due to what they term
heavy provocation.
or death situation, hes still thinking of others.
We gorged ourselves on the sweets and held
onto him that night not wanting to let him go.
He had truly become like our adopted son.
The next move is to find a way for him to
remain in the UK, or at least not have him
return to Turkey. While Turkey remains
outside the EU, it is difficult for Hakan to
reside anywhere in Europe. When his student
visa runs out there are few options left. One
is to apply for political asylum. Yet if this is
rejected (remember that the UK government
is now a conservative one, with the ultra right-

wing UKIP party nipping at its heels) then all

hope is lost. If you lose a claim for political
asylum, no country will allow you entry. No
country except one: Turkey, from which you
may never escape alive.
Hakan knows that and so do we. He has a
long battle ahead, but were prepared to fight
alongside him, as his proud gay family. We live
in hope, but the crop circles at the back of his
head still have not fully regrown. H
*Hakans name and some identifying details have
been changed for his security.

Not An Illness, Nor A Crime!

IN ITS MOST RECENT report, Amnesty International declared that in Turkey the rights

of LGBT people remain insecure in law and activists continue to face harassment by
authorities. During 2011 Amnesty quoted LGBT rights groups recorded eight murders
allegedly on the grounds of the victims sexual orientation or gender identity, but the actual
unreported figure is likely significantly higher. The orgs website also features a disturbing
downloadable report about gay life today in Turkey called Not An Illness, Nor A Crime.
Meanwhile, ORAM, the gay Organization for Refuge, Asylum And Migration, has made
a worrying statement about the current global climate for gay people. It gravely declares
that LGBTI people are among the most persecuted individuals in the world today. Seventyeight nations criminalise same-sex relations. Seven of these apply the death penalty for
consensual same-sex conduct.

MORE: Visit oraminternational.org and amnesty.org to find out how you can make a difference.

DNA 89

/ WHAT WE DID ON OUR HOLIDAYS, PART 1

FRESH
FRUITS!
Camping, all-night dancing,
parades, cabaret and costumes
galore, Jesse Archer greeted
2015 at Tropical Fruits where
Mardi Gras meets the State Fair!
PHOTOGRAPHY BRAD MUSTOW
(WWW.BRADMUSTOW.COM)
ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY SIMON BARWICK

MORE: www.tropicalfruits.org.au
With this years high-concept theme, Art Deco Kiss, Lismores
legendary new year festival inspired revellers to repeal
prohibition, get their Gatsby glamour on, dabble in dapper
and flaunt their flapper The fireworks display had so many
mindblowing climaxes the grateful crowd left spent.

A practical
hat under the
tropical sun.

Henry and Josh and

their caravan Lucille.

The Tramps just a handful of

the eighteen Charlie Chaplins.
90 DNA

An understated parade
entry from drag legend,
Maude Boate.

There are
only a few
showers, but
theres no
shortage of
festive frills.
DNA 91

/ WHAT WE DID ON OUR HOLIDAYS, PART 1

Flamingoes the true

spirit of camping.

Athena Pineapple takes home the

Miss Tropical Fruits title and sash.
92 DNA

After not much sleep, the

Lismore Memorial Baths play
host to one giant gay pool
party on January 1st.

DJ Kitty Glitter
has the room
pumping.

A final
touch up
backstage.

Crooners, clowns and queens took

to the cabaret stage all night long.

King of Boylesque,
Prince Enigma.
DNA 93

/ WHAT WE DID ON OUR HOLIDAYS, PART 2

THE DNA
POOL
PARTY
PHOTOGRAPHY JEFFREY FENG

The weather, the boys, the

Santas and the presents were all
hot. The drinks, the DJs and the
guest were cool See more on
the DNA Facebook page.

94 DNA

DNA 95

GROOMING /with Lee Kynaston

Take a minute to think of

those hardworking paws,
says grooming guru Lee
Kynaston, and follow this
handy advice

OKAY, I KNOW YOURE PROBABLY disappointed

to discover that this is actually an article about
looking after your hands rather than having
some fun with them, but in my book the two
are inexorably linked. After all, men make love
with their hands and, being a part of the body
thats constantly on display, few parts of us
come under quite such scrutiny.
Weve all heard about how much a man is
judged by his shoes, hes most certainly judged
by the state of his hands and, in particular,
his nails. This is why a manicure (probably the
simplest and quickest of all male grooming
treatments) is one worth investing in. Taking as
little as 20 minutes, theyre inexpensive, can be
squeezed into a lunch hour and, best of all, you
dont need to slip into those scary disposable
pants you get in spas to have one.
But if youre the kind of guy who baulks at
the idea of paying for a hand job, how about
giving yourself one at home? Heres how
96 DNA

THE
PERFECT
Hand Job
1. SCRUB UP NICELY. Hands take quite a
pounding especially if you work outdoors
or are lifting weights down at the gym every
other day so its little wonder unsightly
calluses can form. To minimise them,
exfoliate once or twice a week with LOccitane
One Minute Hand Scrub or simply use a
blob of your favourite face scrub and wring
between your hands with a little warm water.
2. CUT SQUARELY. Whether you use
clippers or scissors, always cut fingernails
straight across the top. Avoid trimming down
the sides as this can lead to painful hangnails.
Instead, you can smooth down the edges with
a file (see next step). If your nails are as hard

First things first: LOccitane

One-Minute Hand Scrub.

as hooves, soften them by soaking them in

warm water for a few minutes or by cutting
immediately following a bath or shower.

3. GET FILING. Filing is a good way to give

nails a professional finish, as well as the perfect
way to smooth the edges so rough bits dont rip
your sheets to shreds! To prevent nail damage,
though, avoid metal files (theyre too harsh)
and use crystal files, working from the corners
to the centre using continuous stokes. Dont go
back and forth like a madman as this can also
damage the nail.

4. CREAM YOURSELF.
Given that mens hands are
so susceptible to damage,
a hand cream should be an
essential part of your home
manicure kit. Clarins Men
Active Hand Care is worth
having in your grooming
armoury as its quickly
absorbed and non-greasy. Or try
Vitamans Paw Paw Skin Repair
Crme (which contains healing
allantoin and anti-bacterial tea
tree oil) or Sukins Hand & Nail
Cream. Apply twice a day, wring
hands together and ensure every
part, including the nails and nail
beds are covered.

If youre the kind of

guy who baulks at paying
for a hand job, how
about giving yourself
one at home?

5. FACTOR UP. Hands are

constantly exposed to sunlight
so its little wonder theyre
a prime location for uneven
pigmentation and unsightly
age spots. To help fade any you
have and to prevent further ones
developing use a hand cream like
Cliniques Even Better Dark Sport
Correcting Hand Cream SPF15
which reduces pigmentation and,
thanks to a built-in sunscreen,
protects against UV damage too.

6. STAY BUFF.
Although there are
clear nail polishes
aimed specifically at
men, nails that are
too shiny tend to look
a little too considered and
obvious. Instead, give your
nails a natural-looking shine
with the help of a nail buffer.
Last stop,
get buff.

MORE: Award-winning journalist Lee

Kynaston is one of the UKs best-known male
grooming experts. He writes for numerous
papers, magazines and websites. He blogs at
groomingguru.co.uk.

Cream yourself with Clarins

Mains Active Hand Care.
Top-right: Make discolouration
blanche with Cliniques
targeted treatment.

File for a professional finish.

DNA 97

DNA PT /with Arron Ryan

BRINGING
SEXY
BACK
Put your back into it and
master the chin-up.

WHETHER YOU CALL it a chin-up or a pull-up,

being able to lift your own body weight off the
ground is a challenging feat for most, but when
you conquer the pull-up its a hugely satisfying
exercise that will help build muscle and tone
the shoulders and back, creating a strength that
will bring your sexy back.
Try some of these modifications and tips in
your routine and boost the workload of your
back and more:

Arron gets a
grip: The overgrasp heave.

OVER-GRASP PULL-UP
(AKA THE HEAVE)

With this, and all the modifications, you need

to make sure you have a solid start. Ensure that
when you suspend your body weight from the
pull-up bar that you have active shoulders.
By that I mean you have pulled your shoulder
blades back and down and you can feel the
muscles in your back activating ready to take
the load.
For strict heaves you need to begin with
your knuckles facing the ceiling and hands
outside the shoulders in width. Find the
active shoulder position and then focus on
squeezing your chest to the bar. You will
have more success in achieving this move if
you focus on lifting your chest rather than
moving straight up and down. Try to get
your chin above the height of the bar. If that
is easy for you, then try to get your chest to
touch the bar. Once complete, lower yourself
to the starting position focusing on not >>

THE 1 TO 15
Jump up and do one pull-up then drop
off and do 15 push-ups. Then do two
pull-ups and 14 push-ups and so on until
you finish with 15 pull-ups and one pushup. Get ready for the burn on this one!

98 DNA

The challenging
one-under /
one-over grip: an
excellent exercise
for beginning
to develop
more advanced
calisthenics.
DNA 99

/ DNA PT

>> losing the active shoulders at the bottom.

Strict heaves will enhance the lats, sub scaps
(the subscapularis muscles that connect the
shoulders and the chest), the rhomboids and
teres major muscles to name just a few but also
uses the pecs major and minor, deltoids, biceps
and triceps to create shoulder stability and
assist in the pulling motion.

UNDER-GRASP PULL-UPS
(AKA THE CHIN UP)

Start by grasping the bar with your palms

facing your face, activate your shoulders and,
again, try and squeeze back and down on the
shoulder blades popping the chest out.
As with the heave, the idea is to get your chin
over the bar. When that becomes easy, go for
getting your chest to the bar. Really squeeze the
back muscles as you touch the bar and youll
find the extra range of motion will make your
biceps and your lats work extra hard. This is a
great way to build bigger arms without having
to do a thousand bicep curls.
For an extra challenge, try doing some holds
at the top. Pull yourself up as high as you can go,
hold for three to five seconds and then lower to
the beginning. One to three reps is a good start,
six to eight is strong, and above 10 is excellent.
100 DNA

ALTERNATE GRIP PULL-UPS

If you can already do the Over- and Undergrasps then challenge yourself by mixing it up
one hand over, and one hand under. Its nasty
to begin with but can become so much fun.
As per before, take up the grip and create
your active shoulders while hanging from the
bar. Do as many reps as you need, then swap
so that the opposite hands are over and under.
This variation to the standard pull-up will
make you move in a slightly altered pattern and
make you adapt to varied stimulation. This is
an excellent exercise for beginning to develop
more advanced calisthenics.
If all of these are just totally out of your
league, dont worry. Ive seen guys go from
zero to hero in a matter of months by using
rubber-assistance bands or assisted pull-up
machines in the gym. Keep to the point of
trying and you will always be successful.
So, the big question is, how do I incorporate
this into my routine? Here are several
challenging workouts you can do to improve
your strength or endurance:
Strength Five sets of as many reps holding
each rep for three to five seconds at the top.
Endurance Every minute on the minute
complete 10 pull-ups for 10 minutes. Try and

aim for a quantity that will afford you 25 to 30

seconds rest. If resting isnt for you then do sit
ups or squats until the next minute.
Volume One to 15, 15 to one. Jump up and
do one pull-up then drop off and do 15 pushups. Then do two pull-ups and 14 push-ups and
so on until you finish with 15 pull-ups and one
push-up. Get ready for the burn on this one!

PROTEIN, THE GOOD THE BAD

AND THE UGLY

Not all sources of protein are created equal

when it comes to absorption and supporting
muscle growth and weight maintenance.
Consider that half the dry weight of your
body is protein, over 100,000 different proteins.
The quality of your proteins determines both
the quality and the quantity of their effects on
the genome.
Protein is made up of amino acids. There are
20 amino acids that we need; nine of which are
labelled as essential because the body cannot
make them and must be consumed through
our diets. These are called complete proteins
and include dairy, chicken, beef, fish, and eggs.
Foods that dont have all nine essential amino
acids are incomplete proteins grains, beans,
nuts and seeds.

For building muscle, whey protein reigns

supreme not only because its a complete protein,
but also because it has a high concentration of
branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) such
as leucine, isoleucine and valine. These can be
absorbed readily to stimulate muscle growth,
especially when consumed after exercise.
When considering whey proteins there
are two types: Casein and Whey. Casein
represents about 80 per cent of milk protein.
Casein has poor results in producing lean
mass in athletes. Whey represents about 20
per cent of milk protein. It has superior results
to other proteins such as eggs, meats, fish,
soy, nut, pea, rice and other plant proteins in
producing lean muscle mass. To call a product
whey protein concentrate it can have anywhere
from 29 per cent to 89 per cent whey protein.
At the bottom end of that scale, 29 to 49 per
cent protein with the other 50 to 70 per cent
almost all fat and lactose you will see a lot of
this cheap whey for sale in bulk stores and
markets. Leave it on the shelf. The new shirt
you buy with the money saved will not look
good on a pumpkin.
Near the top end of the whey scale, 70 to 89
per cent protein with only 10 to 25 per cent of
the mix being fat and lactose is where you want
your whey to be.
At the high end is Whey protein isolate, 90 to
95 per cent protein. The higher price of whey
isolate, however, could be money wasted as
both high-end concentrate and isolate are fast
proteins, that is, they are very rapidly absorbed
compared to Casein or meat or fish proteins. H

ARRONS PICK: SHORTS THAT MAKE YOU GO HMMM!

There are some pretty sexy looking shorts out there from your favourite brands and
even the run of the mill footy short, but many arent designed to be worn in any sort of
functional training routine. As a coach, Ive witnessed everything from butt seams splitting
open, balls popping, and even being told, I cant squat in these shorts!
Stop the nonsense. Get comfortable, functional and fashionable shorts like the Smesh
Gear shorts. Shown here in classic dark grey, they have a four-way stretch fabric that
is super light and sit just above the knee, which is great for squats, running or even
swimming. With two pockets you can have your phone in one and membership card in the
other without it interfering with your workout. Available online at smeshgear.com

ABOUT ARRON RYAN

Also known as Coach Az, Arron is an elite
personal trainer and CrossFit instructor.
He has recently relocated from Sydney
to Brisbane. Specializing in advanced
strength and conditioning for athletic
performance, weight loss and fitness,
functional fitness and rehabilitation, he
designs packages unique to every client.
Contact him at fitness@multi-fit.com.au
or visit www.multi-fit.com.au

DNA 101

/ PHOTOGRAPHY

Nicely
Does It
It all began with a test
shoot in 2010. The
collaboration between
photographer Ethan
James and model
Carson Nicely has
since spanned years
and resulted in a
lasting friendship and
hundreds of stunning
images. Here is their
Best Of so far!
PHOTOGRAPHY:
ETHANJAMESPHOTOGRAPHY.COM

102 DNA

DNA 103

/ PHOTOGRAPHY

104 DNA

Ive been able to watch Carson grow as a model and actor, and now
he has even picked up photography. We became good friends and try
to catch up in person with food and photography whenever were in the
same place at the same time. Im terribly proud of him. Ethan James

ABOUT CARSON:
Carson Nicely grew up in Knoxville, Tennessee
before heading to Rollins College in Winter
Park, Florida, where he obtained a degree in
Psychology and was a champion swimmer (he
still holds 4 NCAA swimming records there).
Carson later moved to Nashville, and then to
Dallas, Texas, to pursue modeling and acting. It
was in Dallas that he added photography to his
rsum, and now he does all the above in Los
Angeles, California, with his girlfriend Miranda.
Find him at www.nicelymademedia.com.
DNA 105

/ PHOTOGRAPHY

106 DNA

DNA 107

/ PHOTOGRAPHY

108 DNA

DNA 109

/ PHOTOGRAPHY

110 DNA

AGE-DEFYING FOR THE PROGRESSIVE MAN.

FACE TODAY LEADING ADVANCED COSMETIC CLINICS SPECIALISING IN MALE REJUVENATION
Cairns
146 Anderson St
Manunda QLD 4870

Chatswood
66/47 Neridah St
Chatswood NSW 2067

Bondi Junction
603, 26-30 Spring St
Bondi Junction NSW 2022

1300 668 573

www.facetoday.com.au
facebook.com/facetodaymediclinic

DNA111
17
DNA

/ THE BACK PASSAGE

A Seminal History
Fitting snugly into the
Back Passage this month,
the humble condom.
Alexander Lowe offers a
slick and surprising
summary.

112 DNA

DRAWINGS DISCOVERED in Stone Age caves in

France show us that condoms may have been

used as many as 15,000 years ago. According
to legend, King Minos of Crete used condoms
made of goat bladders circa 1500BC. Their use
was also recorded in Ancient Egypt, where
linen condoms were among the treasures found
in King Tuts tomb.
For millennia, the most popular material was
animal and fish intestines; however, in Ancient
China, condoms were made of silk paper and
lubricated with oils. In Japan, leather condoms
were used, as well as condoms made of tortoise

shells and animal horns that covered the penis

glans only. Roman warriors were said to have
made condoms from the muscle tissue of the
enemy warriors they slaughtered.
Curiously, condoms were mostly intended
to protect men from sexually transmittable
infections, rather than as birth control (which
was the prerogative of women). Legendary
womaniser Casanova, who was, in fact,
bisexual, was an early ambassador of safe
sex, describing in his memoirs how he used
to blow up linen condoms as balloons before
intercourse to entertain his partners and to

The first rubber condoms

were as thick as bicycle
tires, uncomfortable, and
smelt of sulphur.
check his condoms integrity.
Those condoms were secured with a pink
ribbon and Casanova called them French
Letters, in reference to the French disease,
syphilis. It was the French soldiers of King
Charles VIII who contracted syphilis from
Spanish missionaries during the siege of
Naples and spread it across Europe. It was
recorded as being specifically transmitted
through anal sex. In Britain, the oldest
condoms found were in a toilet in Dudley
Castle and have been traced to the soldiers of
Charles I who, reportedly, used them on each
other also to protect against syphilis.
The first rubber condoms were made around
1860 and had to be custom-fit to cover the head
of the penis only. They were as thick as bicycle
tires, uncomfortable, and smelt of sulphur.
However, being reusable, they became a
popular alternative to skinny condoms (those
made of animal intestines) which came at the
price of a weeks salary. Then Germans started
the cement dipping process which allowed for
making rubbers thinner and, since the 1920s,
condoms have been primarily made from latex,
suspended in water rubber.
In WWI, German soldiers were supplied with
condoms, but not the Allied forces, where STD
rates skyrocketed with nearly 417,000 cases
recorded among British and Dominion troops
and over 300,000 cases among Americans
(nearly 15 percent of US troops). New Zealand

nurse Ettie Rout became concerned with high

numbers of venereal diseases among ANZAC
soldiers and developed her own prophylactic
kit with condoms that she distributed to
servicemen. She published an article in The
New Zealand Times advocating for condom
use, which caused an outrage but managed to
persuade authorities to start distributing free
condoms to troops in Europe.
Conflicting morals, particularly stemming
from religious bias, have often been the leading
opposition to condom usage, with restrictions
on manufacture and sale in Ireland and the
USA existing for nearly 100 years. The last TV
advertising ban was only lifted in America in
1979, right before the start of the AIDS epidemic.
Condom history continues these days with new
designs, such as anal condoms for the receptive
partner and prototype spray-on condoms.
Another development is a cap condom to cover

Clockwise from top-left: The Egyptian choice for

love glove? Linen. Condoms were marketed to
soldiers in wartime to ward off catching the clap!
Antique condoms were made from the gut of pig,
sheep or fish and reusable. Penis Cop, 1993, Art
Chantry.

the tip of the penis only. In Canada, the invisible

condom is in its trial stage: its a special gel that
hardens up as a thin film in the rectum or vagina
and then dissolves after several hours.
Pre-exposure drugs like Truvada have sparked
suggestions that the days of the condom might
be numbered for gay men wanting to protect
themselves from HIV. But Truvada offers no
protection from other sexually transmitted
nasties like syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia and
herpes so, it would seem, theres still a place for
the rubber in the wallet of gay men yet! H
DNA 113

If ever the media should need emergency

information about me I really hope they
dont reach out to @merry_widow.
AKA my mother.
And by emergency information I mean in
the case that I may somehow be entangled in
some Breaking News:
Aeroplane thats evaporated into thin air.
Hostage situation.
Nightclubbers fleeing bootleg venue during
drug raid.
All communication lost with far-flung exotic
holiday destination.
Bushwalker lost in Ku-ring-gai National
Park for 14 days. Survives on nothing but
Nicorette and sheer determination.
Actually this last scenario is the least likely.
But you know where Im going with this.
Apart from the comments I imagine @
merry_widow would make:
I always knew his bad temper would get him
in trouble.
I told him that no matter how good a tan
he would get, he is just too gay to travel to a
country ruled by military dictatorship.
Did he try and pick up a pilot again? Midflight?
She could also be relied upon to supply them
with really bad photos of me.
In fact, the worst.
Ever.
As was evidenced by a recent visit to her
house where I saw my picture.
Magnetised to the fridge.
Along with those of all my siblings.
And their various offspring.
Theirs all showed them in the best light
posible no mean feat, let me assure you.
Many from special events, professionally
photographed in some cases.
Mine, however, was an iPhone snap.
Taken from below.
During a particularly porky phase.
By one of the above-mentioned siblings.
Who was pissed.
At the end of a three week holiday, spent
entirely on a boat, with nothing to do but eat,
drink, and be brown as a berry.
I was also, sadly, as round as a berry.
And wearing only speedos.
And somehow @merry_widow thought that
that picture was not only fine.
But worthy of display.
As I was leaving, I slinked past the fridge,
grabbed the offending image, tore it into
several pieces and shoved them in my pocket.
She called me once shed noticed.
Disappointed that Id destroyed her
property which, yes, technically the photo
was.
Adding that Im terribly vain; its a lovely
photo.
114 DNA

At that point I decided she was clinically

insane.
So said to her.
Loudly.
And clearly.
Should anybody from any news outlet ever
contact you, please DO NOT GIVE THEM A
PICTURE OF ME.
EVER.
Not even one.
No matter the reason.
No matter how much money they offer.
Also remembering a hideous photo of a
runaway on Australias Most Wanted, to
which @merry_widows comment had been:
What a shame, such a pretty girl.
Which further confirmed my decision.
And just so were clear, its not that it
would have been okay for the girl to have
disappeared had she been ugly.
Its just that @merry_widow sees the beauty
in everyone.
And is therefore ill-equipped to make
essential judgements.
How I am her son baffles me.
So anyway I have nominated @fab_flatmate
to step forward and manage the imagereleasing process should any of these
situations arise.
She, thank goodness, showed the requisite
empathy, and is clearly qualified for the task.
And just to ensure this task is easy for her,
and also that I maintain the control I always
find so difficult to relinquish, I have created
an album.
More of a library, really.
Of suitable imagery.
Nothing too recent.
But of course nothing too old.
A balance of serious pics.
And happy snaps.
Some solo.
Some with friends.
Some with family.
All making me appear much more handsome
than I am.
And when viewed together, designed to
show a good looking, fun, stylish, popular
and well travelled person, with a variety of
interests.
Much like my old Grindr profile actually.
Although of course without the cock pics.
But unlike the pics on my Grindr profile, I
took the time and made the investment to
have the images professionally retouched.
Im taller, thinner, more tanned, less
wrinkled, and with whiter teeth.
And you know what, thats okay, because if I
did emerge from Ku-ring-gai National Park
after 14 days, while I would indeed appear
much more dishevelled than any of those
images, I would also be much thinner.
Ive often fantasised about such a scenario.
Running from captors.

Swimming ashore after being lost at sea for

weeks.
Being trapped down a mine for days on end.
(And not just for the butch miners Id be
trapped there with.)
But for the moment of release, when the
cameras are at the ready.
And the eyes of world are on me.
As I emerge a hero.
Whos conquered adversity.
Defied the odds.
And am 12 kilos lighter.
Although of course you cant control those
images, so Ill not worry about them now.
They may provide a future project.
The current project, however, is almost done.
Each album is on my iphone, my ipad, and
my laptop.
As they are on all of @fab_flatmates devices.
We each also have them all on a USB.
And for extra caution, theres also an
emergency USB with @former_model, who is
a vocal supporter.
Each image has been labeled with a date
more recent than the time at which it was
actually taken.
And they have been sorted so that they can
be searched via event, date, location or outfit.
Plus, theyre online.
Every single one.
For the (God forbid) lazy (or time-poor)
journo, who decides just to google my name
and see what images appear.
They will find access to this library across
Facebook, and especially created Twitter and
Instagram profiles.
Ive also made a website.
And even applied to an ad to research and
write for Wikipedia.
Just so I could insert a listing for myself.
Linking to all the images.
As well as vastly embellished facts about my
life.
To make my tragic involvement in imagined
activities all the more material-worthy for
the media, and all the more sympathyinducing for the reader, this information is
also stored on those USBs.
Im just putting the finishing touches to a
draft for my obituary, which, like the photos,
I plan to update annually.
And then Ill be done.
Which is a very good thing.
As those photos might be aired sooner than
Id thought.
Because Ive just been implicated in a
shoplifting scandal involving a Mardi Gras
outfit, a dildo, and two bottles of amyl.

URBAN HOMO IS A WORK OF FICTION. ANY RESEMBLANCE

TO ACTUAL PEOPLE OR EVENTS IS PURELY COINCIDENTAL.
DNA DOES NOT ENDORSE DRUG USE.

#curatinganimage

Famous Last Words: Kodak founder George Eastman (suicide note) My work is done, why wait?

/ URBAN_HOMOSEXUAL

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