December 07 - The Divas Issue
It’s hard to believe it’s December already – unless you work on a magazine, in which case you’ve been bombarded with festivities for months. (I received my first Christmas press release in July – I wanted to slit my wrists.)
We Love The Ladies! This festive issue has become, a Diva-themed issue by default rather than design. First, Prima Ballerina Darcey Bussell wanted to speak with us (p 68), then squillion record-selling Céline Dion invited us to hang out with her and her fag-a-licious entourage (p 62), and then it turned out that top GT contributor Rupert Smith was holding a queer salon, “Viva La Diva” (p 61). To top it all, Jerry Herman got in touch – yes, the man who wrote the diva anthem to top all others, I Am What I Am, wanting to chat Barbra and Bassey with us (who were we to refuse? – p 73). Well, It’s about time we had a few ladies round the house.
To balance things out, we have an exclusive shoot by our favourite East Coast photographer, Joe Oppedisano, capturing the totally woofsome Colton Ford (p 144), Daddy pornster turned Pop star – and I have to say, his record is a lot groovier than Jeff Stryker’s Country-tinged 12” was.
There’s a lot of crap written in the popular press about illegal immigrants and bogus asylum seekers “flooding” the nation. But really, how desperate do you have to be to cross three countries in a container? Many people who are fleeing countries where they’re unable to be open about their sexuality, places where people have been hounded, beaten, ostracised, imprisoned and worse just for being gay, deserve to be welcomed with open arms. Instead, when they arrive here, they’re expected to prove they’ve had a night out at G-A-Y so they can stay. Sally Howard reports on the work of the Lesbian and Gay Immigration Group (p 104) and the people they are trying to help.
I hope you have a really great month. Enjoy Christmas, Hanukkah, Eid-al-Adha – or hiding until the whole damned shebang is over. Another small sherry, anyone?