Love Shack(s).

Andi Fraggs talks to Kate Pierson from the B52s and partner Monica Coleman about hotels, Airstreams, and the ‘Love Shack’ video.

“We really put our heart and soul into creating our lodging – and I think this authenticity shows through in the hotels – we’re not a cookie cutter corporate hotel with the same dresser and artwork in every room across the country.”

Surviving.

Polari talks to Andi Fraggs about his new show, I Can Take It!, which is playing in the RVT’s Hot August Fringe.

“Each song in the show relates to something that has happened in my life, whether it’s suffering bullying throughout , being attacked when I was in my teens, addictions, sexual encounters, friends of mine who haven’t made it to today.”

Express Yourself.

Drag Terrorist Christeene talks about how we should all stop trying to be pretty for other people and really learn to express ourselves.

“She just wants to wake you up, loosen you up, and help you to have a reeeeall good time y’all. Who are you to say no?”

A History of Same-Sex Desire.

Curator R.B. Parkinson talks about A Little Gay History and how a heritage of same-sex stories is an integral part of the British Museum.

“When we created the web trail we used the term ‘same-sex desire’. When you’re talking about Ancient Egypt to say ‘gay’ or ‘queer’ is entirely meaningless. Same-sex desire avoids the issues with terminology. It’s neutral and not anachronistic.”

Living The Blues

Walter Beck talks to Sleepy Eyes Nelson about what it means to be a blues singer in the 21st century.

After a top gig in Austin, loaded with moonshine and Lone Star we headed for Oklahoma, we played at a great wee bar in Norman called The Blue Bonnet. We saw some sights that night that … You know some things that happen on the road must stay on the road.”

History and Visibility.

Tony Fenwick, the co-chair of the UK’s LGBT History Month organisation, talks about how teacher training is in conflict with the negative influence of pop culture, and the popular use of the word ‘gay’ to mean anything bad.

“We should be using LGBT History Month together with all the other events in the classroom. It’s invisibility that creates prejudice and it’s that invisibility that makes teenagers so frightened and alone when they’re growing up questioning their sexuality.”

Literature and Music.

Laki Mera talk about their third album, Turn All Memory To White Noise, and the three words that describe their music: organic, emotional, electronic.

“Lyrically, Laura draws inspiration from many sources in everyday life including literature, art and design. Films can also be incredibly inspiring and make the imagination wander.”

She’s Coming…

Polari Magazine interviewed the incomparable Christeene during her visit to London last week… and here is a teaser of what’s to come.

“Don’t apologise for anything anymore about being your own faggoty self…”

An 18th century trans marriage.

Andrew Darley talks to Danny West about the life of Catharina Linck, who lived as a man, married, and was executed for sodomy.

“There’s so little gay history that is taught to us in school or generally spoken about. As a community, we sometimes have a very bad understanding of where we come from and if this play is able to help then that’s great.”

The Accidental Chronicler.

Polari Magazine interviews the brilliant cartoonist David Shenton who has, over the last four decades, chronicled LGBT history.

“We filled the gay press with cartoons, and between us we actually wrote down and documented gay history without even meaning to…”