VISION

® m a d e t h at w ay

renascence*

#253

* arenewal, rebirth,
moral renaissance.
www.lockergear.es
www.code22.eu
 - GEMINI SHEER -
Reve a l You r
P rovo c at ive S ide
 DAVE MARSHALL
Page 48.

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CONTRIBUTORS PHOTOGRAPHERS: AMER MOHAMAD,

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February 2021

10 DNA
CONTENT
#
253
Features
32 CORVYX AND JOEY DEAN
A gay pop duo reclaiming prom night!
36 STRAIGHT MATE: LUKE ARNOLD
He’s played a pirate, a cop, a rock star and a
gay footy player’s boyfriend.
48 THE MANY TALENTS OF MR MARSHALL
An out gay pro-wrestler, a mental health
advocate, an OnlyFans porn star and an
online gaming leader. This self-proclaimed
“teddy bear” is certainly up for a challenge.
56 COCKSURE
Western culture fears dicks. Art
photographer Ajamu X finds out why.
60 OUT THERE ALEX
Indie pop faves, Alae (and sexy gay singer,
Alex Farrell-Davey) are back!
62 BIG SHOT Portfolios
The creative team of CiNava Photography mix
40 KONSTANTIN
muscle and glam in their striking visions.
By Amer Mohamad.
68 BIRDS DO IT, BEES DO IT…
14 IN THE BATH WITH JUAN
Scientists are realising homosexuality may
By Joan Crisol.
play an essential role in evolution.
72 TOMORROW IN SIGHT
Zuheir Kredieh is an award-winning
filmmaker. He’s also winning hearts.
Regulars
14 FROM THE EDITOR.

Digital Extra Pages 16 BURNTTOAST:

WHAT READERS SAY.
86 MATHIAS 18 MONTH IN A MINUTE.
By Pascal.
21 FIGHT CLUB.
94 PAOLO
By Joan Crisol. 24 MUSIC: SIA, BRONZE AVERY.

106 ANDRES 26 HEALTH: EASY SEXUAL HEALTH.

By Adrian C Martin.
28 THEATRE:
110 LEWIS FRIENDS – THE MUSICAL PARODY.
By PND Photography. 30 BOOKS: HOT READS FOR 2021.
114 JUAN 34 STREAMING: YOUR NAME
By Joan Crisol. ENGRAVED HEREIN.
120 MR ICONIC 82 GAY TO Z. THIS MONTH,
By Jarrod Carter. THE LETTER O.

ON THE COVER AND THIS PAGE:

Konstantin Kostin by Amer Mohamad.
Story starts on page 40.

12 DNA
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 FROM
THE EDITOR
Looking for something of
VISION sack of kittens and throw them in the river.”
value we may have lost…
A
s a visual medium, you might
expect DNA would have explicitly
explored ideas around “vision”
before now. Collaborating as
closely as we do with designers, artists and
photographers, we work with visionaries every
day, which is a privilege and joy.
But “vision” is a word that comes with some
baggage. There’s the woo-woo mysticism of
a Stevie Nicks “crystal vision”. There’s the
peasant children’s religious visions of angels
and the Virgin Mary that made Fatima in
Portugal a place of pilgrimage. There’s ghosts
– but are they visions or apparitions? And then
there’s the most dreaded vision of all – the
corporate vision, delivered via PowerPoint
with a slideshow of inspirational images and a
spreadsheet. Urgh!
And while a sentence beginning, “I have
a vision…” sounds like it’s going somewhere
positive, it could well conclude with, “…to buy a
Dave Marshall
Ajamu X.
14 DNA
Some people’s visions make the world a better
place. Think Mandela, Geldof, Goodall. Other
people’s visions create nightmares – Hitler,
Stalin, Pol Pot.
In more recent history, Donald Trump’s vision
was to “make America great again”. But vision
requires imagination and, unless you also
possess the ingenuity to bring your vision to life,
you are simply a dreamer or a fantasist. Trump
left his country broken, weak and divided.
Which is why the other word on our cover this
month is “renascence”. It means, “the revival
or rediscovery of something that has been
dormant”. Europe’s Renaissance, which takes its
name from the word, is the best-known example.
So, as we start a new year and a new decade,
and as the US enters a new political phase, I hope
we are able to rediscover some of the things we
have recently lost: our sense of humanity and
compassion, empathy and integrity.
The men of vision, imagination and ingenuity
in this issue include fashion photographers
Angel Cintron and Steve Nava, the duo behind
CiNava Photography; Lebanese filmmaker
Zuheir Kredieh.
CiNava Photography.
ANDREW CREAGH
Zuheir Kredieh whose persecution in his
country of birth makes his cinematic visions
unique; photographer Ajamu X who has made
a career photographing penises and redefining
masculinity; and the extraordinary Dave
Marshall – wrestler, porn star, activist – a man
who has created an utterly contemporary
version of what it means to be a man.
This month, the photography of Amer
Mohamad and Juan Crisol bring us two
beautiful men – truly visions in the most
idealised sense.
Elsewhere this month, I love Mike Hitch’s
feature on gay penguins (and other animals),
and Graeme Aitken’s sneak preview of some of
the best LGBTQIA+ books we can look forward
to throughout the year. And Luke Arnold is the
Straight Mate I didn’t know I needed – what
a pleasure to discover this actor and his fun-
time-gay-friendliness!
As always, stay safe, be kind, and love
yourselves.
Andrew Creagh
Founding Editor
 BURNTTOAST DNA READERS HAVE THEIR SAY...
good-lookin’ guy: that’s good for someone “WE WERE WRONG”: INTERFAITH
special. But you’re an amazing legislator and DECLARATION ASKS FORGIVENESS FROM
advocate: and that’s good for a LOT of people. THE LGBTQIA+ COMMUNITY
– Anthony J Ballard No. There
can be no
Thank you. Now reason and sanity can take forgiveness.
over. – Brian Arnett We must
hold these
GERMAN ACTOR JANNIK SCHUMANN organizations
COMES OUT accountable
and bring them
to an end.
Religion has
no place in government, or forcefully inserting
itself into the lives of millions of people for the
purpose of trying to eliminate those people,
inciting hate and violence for non-compliance
and telling young impressionable persons they
are wrong. – Damien Felix

Forgiveness is earned. Let’s see action to

RYAN DAHARSH ON THE COVER Be true to yourself and be happy.
OF DNA #252, BY JADE YOUNG – Tammy Dargel Sigler
Welcum back! – Edward Gulane
Coming out now is so easy… I had no one to
I’d salute his flagpole anytime. – Colin Day come out to. – Hudson Kelly
I pledge allegiance. – Bruce Frackler You only need to come out to yourself; no one
else really matters. Be happy in your own skin,
Is that Biden when he was younger? then you can find someone to share that with.
– David Page Being happy is the only choice we really have to
make in life. Take care. – Archie Lowe
Spectacularly neat, natural muscle and most of
all he is friendly. – Jay Kay US PRO RUGBY PLAYER DEVIN IBAÑEZ
COMES OUT
Very cute couple! Congrats guys! I wish you all
® the happiness you deserve. – Damien Felix
I look forward to the day this doesn’t need to be
AUST $8.95 nz $10.75 USA $9.99 cAnAdA $10.95 UK £5.20 www.dnamagazine.com.au
reverse the societal harm. Apologies without
action are worthless to victims. – Brian Triber
In complete love and acceptance of them
as people, the answer is no. Holding them
to account for their action and inaction, the
suffering and oppression of so many people, is
part of the healing process they are responsible
for achieving. – Daniel J Burford
Their harm is already done. – Marty Wayne
Comments published are from DNA’s
website and social media.
FOLLOW DNA ON
Í Twitter, Ú
Instagram and ÎFacebook.

news. – Lindsay Morgan DOWNLOAD THE DNA APP

To view DNA magazine on digital devices or
Oh, wow… the US has professional rugby? your mobile phone, download our free app.
– James Moon
#114
the travel issue
come away with us...
Ryan on the cover of DNA #114 (July, 2009) by
Kevin McDermott, and DNA #67 (August, 2005)
by Lewis Payton.

Man-Oh-Man, DNA you’ve given us gold once

again. You gave us Ryan in issue #114, a Travel
Issue, and I would have travelled anywhere
with him. Salute. – Alexi Michael

DNA EXCLUSIVE:
BRIAN SIMS ON
HOPE AND HEALING
IN THE USA
Great interview.
– Brian Hogan

Thanks for everything you do for Pennsylvania,

Brian. Oh heck, yeah… you’re a disarmingly

16 DNA
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 MONTH IN
A MINUTE
“I hope that I will meet
others like myself
playing a high level
of rugby and hoping
to inspire the next
generation of proud
LGBTQ rugby players…
I will proudly call
myself ‘that gay rugger’
in hopes that one day it
won’t sound strange in
men’s rugby.”
– US rugby professional Devin Ibañez
(left), coming out via Instagram.
PBS
MOURNING MOUSE Fans of the original
Armistead Maupin TV series Tales Of The City
mourn the death of actor Marcus D’Amico who
played the popular character Michael “Mouse”
Tolliver. Mouse was central to the ground-
breaking 1993 PBS-produced show. The role
earned D’Amico gay fans around the world.
He went on to appear in Stanley Kubrick’s
Full Metal Jacket, win acclaim for his theatre
work in Angels In America and make various
appearances on British TV including recently
in The Alienist. D’Amico died in England of
pneumonia. He was just 55. Marcus D’Amico
(pictured) with Chloe Webb as Mona from Tales
Of The City.
TEMPERATURE RISING A naughty nurse in
Indonesia is arrested following reports he had
sex with a COVID-positive male patient in his
care. The horny pair’s antics were uncovered
after the patient tweeted about the encounter,
which happened in a hospital toilet, breaching
soooo many protocols – not least the fact that
the patient has a highly transmissible virus. An
investigation continues.
18 DNA
COMPILED BY TORSTEN HØJER
AMAZON UNDER FIRE Amazon comes under
fire in the US for continuing to allow anti-gay
hate groups to fundraise on its AmazonSmile
platform. Activists say the tech giant currently
lets around 40 organisations that oppose gay
rights ask for donations using the site, with
supporters donating as they checkout online.
They say it goes against Amazon’s commitment
to equality.
THE AUSSIE POSITION Grindr reveals which
countries in the world have the most tops,
bottoms and versatile users on its app – with
Australians being
firmly vers. The
countries with
the most tops
are Morocco,
India, Nigeria,
Chile and Israel.
Bottoms tend
to be seated in
ELVIS DI FAZIO
Vietnam, Sweden,
Thailand, Peru
and South Africa.
HIV TREATMENT BY INJECTION A new, once-
a-month injection of HIV drugs is approved for
use by the European Union. Scientists call the
ground-breaking treatment a gamechanger,
as it will mean people living with HIV will
no longer have to take daily medication, but
can have monthly or bi-monthly injections to
suppress the virus and maintain health. It’s
hoped the treatment will be rolled out to other
regions shortly.
WEDDINGS SLUMP It’s revealed that fewer gay
men are getting married in Australia after the
rush to get hitched following marriage equality.
Studies say 15 per cent fewer gay couples took
the plunge in 2019 than in the previous year.
The statistics for 2020 are still pending but are
expected to be way down due to the COVID-19
pandemic.
HOLLYWOOD’S CROSSWALK LA’s uber-gay
West Hollywood district updates its rainbow
crossing to be more inclusive of the trans
community and queer people of colour. The
new crosswalk adds brown and black stripes, as
well as the colours of the Trans Pride flag.
PORNHUB’S
LOST VIDEOS
Gay sex
website
Pornhub (okay,
apparently
they do
straight stuff,
too) stuns fans
by removing
more than 10
million videos
overnight. The move follows an exposé by The
New York Times, which claims the site allows
unverified users to upload whatever they like,
without checks. In response, Pornhub takes
down all videos from unverified uploaders,
leaving just the basics. Thirsty gay men in
lockdowns around the world cry into their
lap(top)s.
Adam & Steve Toyboys

adamandstevetoyboys.com.au
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20 DNA
 HOMOPHOBES GET SLAYED! / COMPILED BY TORSTEN HØJER
ADOBESTOCK
(SOME) FAITH LEADERS SAY GAY’S OKAY
With centuries of oppression under their belts, the world’s major
religions continue, for the most part, to persecute and discriminate
against LGBTQIA+ people.
The Pope and other faith leaders occasionally issue vague statements
about not hating any human beings, even if they are gay. But it’s never
the sweeping declaration of acceptance that’s needed to change the
minds of anti-gay people of faith around the world.
But now, gay British Anglican, Jayne Ozanne has secured the support
of hundreds of prominent religious leaders from major faiths who have
signed a declaration that LGBTQIA+ people “are a precious part of
creation and are part of the natural order”. It also affirms that “all are
equal under God” and should be “treated equally under the law”.
The declaration has sent shockwaves through the global Muslim,
Christian, Jewish and other faith communities. It is particularly
powerful as it demands an end to any form of anti-gay religious
discrimination, condemns conversion therapy and asks for forgiveness
for historical wrongdoings. The declaration culminated in a UK
government-funded Global Interfaith Commission on LGBTQIA+ Lives
virtual conference in December.
DON’T MESS
WITH ANTI-GAY
VIOLENCE
When LA County’s
district attorney,
George Gascón
(pictured) said
he was planning
to stop criminals
getting harsher
sentences for
anti-gay hate
crimes, California’s
WIKIPEDIA
LGBTQIA+ activists
saw a call-to-arms.
Gascón didn’t
realise what he’d be up against when he suggested the move, insisting
that attacks on people due to being LGBTQIA+ didn’t demand a heftier
penalty. The Anti-Defamation League was one of the campaign groups
leading the fight back, demanding that Gascón rethink his plans. They
highlighted the rise in anti-gay violence in LA and how our community
needs protection by law. As the campaign gained traction, Gascón
issued a statement saying his office will amend their plans, effectively
backtracking in a win for the LGBTQIA+ community.
FIGHT CLUB
ADOBESTOCK
DADDY DONE A BAD, BAD THING
We’ve all heard of dads finding it hard to come to terms with their
sons being gay but one Italian dad took it to a whole new level last year,
hiring a hitman to stalk his son and break his fingers. But all did not go
as planned.
The hitman followed the son around, trying to find the best time to
strike. But, after seeing the son with his loving boyfriend, he decided
that violence wouldn’t gain anything and warned him about this dad’s
dire plans.
When the police found out, well, it didn’t take long before bad daddy
was sentenced to two years in jail.
But, perhaps more interestingly, the case attracted attention
at a time when Italy is debating whether to introduce laws to
make anti-gay hate crimes illegal, meaning the dad might
have inadvertently helped protect gay men in the future.
TREVOR WILKINSON INSTAGRAM
THIS TEEN NAILED IT
When American gay high schooler Trevor Wilkinson (pictured) was
getting ready to return to class after Thanksgiving, he thought he’d
brighten up his day by painting his fingernails. Little did he know that
he’d be suspended for breaking the student dress code, which explicitly
prohibits boys from colouring their nails.
But Wilkinson was up for a fight, and how could he lose with those
nails? The 17-year-old launched an online petition against not only his
suspension but the homophobic dress code, gaining more than 380,000
signatures (and still rising). His campaign attracted national attention,
with an appearance on Good Morning America in the pipeline. The
school now says it will reassess its policy.
Find Trevor on Instagram @trevv_wilkinson or @trevormichae1.
Find his petition at Change.org. Follow him on Twitter
@trevvowilkinson
DNA 21
 ruderainbow.com
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FANS CAPS EYEWEAR SWIMWEAR BANDANAS + MORE

 MUSIC REVIEWS BY MARC ANDREWS

BRONZE AVERY – SEA SALT

LA-based queer artist Bronze is focusing on healing with Sea Salt.
This big fan of Charli XCX describes his breakthrough tune as
“folk-pop emotional disco”. Kylie, you’ve got competition! Written
about, “cleansing open emotional wounds, enduring pain, and the
rigorous process of healing while finding a new place for someone
in your life who’s hurt you,” Bronze pulled in another emerging
out artist, Miss Benny, to add vocals. “My music isn’t about being
queer or the queer experience because I intended it to be like that,
it’s just a natural by-product
when you’re telling truthful
stories about your life,” he
declares. “It’s important to see
queer lives and perspectives
in music to further prove our
validity in society.” While
Bronze promises “a wave of
new songs” arriving soon,
view now online his steamy
rendition of ’80s classic Never
Gonna Give You Up complete
with racy video.

BEN DAVIDSON – LEARN TO LOVE AGAIN MICKEY TAYLOR – JOKES

Hunky Mr Davidson doesn’t just have an enviable “body of work” when it If you can picture a more dangerous, edgy and daring version of Troye
comes to a manly torso or his intricate tattoos. His musical abilities are as Sivan then you can quite easily conjure up UK artist Mickey Taylor. Sung
notable. Learn To Love Again, originally by rockers Lawson, is stomping together with Lostchild, Jokes is a dramatic duet giving a kiss-off to a toxic
pop that somehow manages to find that sweet spot between dance and relationship and tossing some fairly harsh shade at an ex: “I was only
rock. Now that’s something we making jokes when I told you that
can learn to love again and again. I loved you”. Mickey says releasing
Although it’s somewhat late in the Jokes, “felt like closing a book on
Christmas season (or ridiculously those feelings and thoughts”. Also
early for 2021), DSM’s soaring invest some time in the cool black
power ballad The Snowfall Of and white video that features hot
December, featuring Ben’s powerful dancer Callum Sterling throwing
vocals, is so good Celine Dion plenty of impressive moves, too.
and Mariah Carey would merrily Find Jokes and more on Mickey’s
bitch-fight each other to nab it for most recent album Surrender,
themselves. If you like BD’s sound/ which also includes his impressive
look, investigate his debut album D**k, written about casual sex.
No One Knows, as well. No joke!

SIA – MUSIC YUNGBLUD – WEIRD!

A new album by Sia is always Twenty-three-year-old Dominic
something to celebrate. That it’s Harrison prefers to be known
also the soundtrack for a movie she by his rather more sinister stage
wrote and directed is even more name of Yungblud. (English
reason to rejoice. Music explores teachers please look away!) His
Sia’s recurring themes of finding second album gives him ample
your voice and creating your own opportunity to explore different
family, and is based on a short story shades of hair dye and styles, but
she wrote in 2007. The film stars also his mental health issues, too.
Maddie Ziegler, who has appeared God Save Me, But Don’t Drown
wildly prancing in numerous Sia Me Out and Strawberry Lipstick
videos. Included amongst the 14 as the album’s lead singles are
tracks from and inspired by Music are the singles Hey Boy (classic Sia), like a queer take on ’70s punk with a nod to The Sex Pistols, and yet still
Together (rainbow-loving Sia) and Courage To Change (life-affirming/ manage to be anthemic and endearing enough to get their important
political Sia) which were all released last year ahead of the movie’s release point across. “They’re gonna lock me in the closet but I’m coming out/
in February this year. Qualifying as her 8th studio album, this is yet more Singing fuck all the oppression and the self-doubt,” Yungblud stomps and
superlative music from Sia. you better believe him. The future is weird!

24 DNA
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DNA 25
 HEALTH

SEXUAL HEALTH MADE EASY Pilot Health co-founder,

Charlie Gearside.

Make your next STI test as easy

as a trip to the mechanic for a
rego check!

S taying on top of our sexual health is

something we all know we need to do,
but it’s often put in the too-hard basket
because it can be a bit embarrassing
and uncomfortable.
Australian men’s health start-up, Pilot.com.
au has launched a new online STI test, which
makes it faster and more convenient for Aussie Launched in 2019,
men to regularly make sure they’re in the clear. Pilot.com.au has treated
After receiving requests from hundreds tens of thousands of
of existing patients already using the Pilot Australian men for ED
tele-health site, the company has built an (erectile dysfunction)
innovative STI testing platform. and PE (premature
ejaculation), among other
stigmatised health issues.
It is now branching into
The goal is to make preventative aspects of
healthcare.
things seamless – Charlie Gearside, one of
Pilot’s founders, says the

a pleasure to use, vision was to make health

tests a regular part of a
healthcare upkeep.
cost-effective and “Taking the stress out
of STI testing is going to
shame-free. make staying on top of
your health more like
The test can be purchased online at the going to the mechanic
Pilot.com.au website and takes advantage of for a rego check,”
thousands of local collection centres all over says Gearside. “The goal is to make things
Australia. Within one to two days, results are seamless – a pleasure to use, cost-effective MORE: For more go to Pilot.com.au
securely sent to the patient’s phone. and shame-free”.

26 DNA
DNA 27
 THEATRE WITH MATTHEW MYERS

WHEN IT HASN’T BEEN YOUR… YEAR!

Theatre is back, and it’s The US cast of Friends: The Musical Parody.
sending up of those not-
so-perfect TV Friends!

A
 handful of television
sitcoms are experiencing
a renaissance through
the magic of theatre. The
Office, The Golden Girls and
Gilligan’s Island have all been revived thanks
to musical parodies. Friends: The Musical
Parody begins its Australian tour this month.
Love it or hate it, Friends was incredibly
successful, in production from 1994 to 2004. The
musical parody has opened to positive reviews
in New York and Las Vegas. Mashing up the
show’s popular story arcs, many liberties are
taken, and there are plenty of jibes at the actors
who originally played the characters on TV.
“The fact that it’s a parody takes some of the
pressure off!” admits Australian director, Dash
Kruk. “A lot of fans hold the original series
pretty close to their hearts. So if we were trying
to produce Friends! Live On Stage! We’d have a
lot of insurmountable expectations to uphold.
That it’s a parody allows us some freedom in
the way we represent the show and invites the
audience to lovingly poke fun at the characters
and storylines.”
The original show’s main demographic
was young women, and it was never a huge
hit with the LGBTQIA+ community perhaps,
admits Kruk, for good reason. Friends’ male
characters cringed obsessively over the
slightest gay overtones.
Australian
director,
Dash Kruk.
“Re-watching all ten seasons, I was shocked because they saw their own rollercoaster of
by some of the comments and jokes relating emotions, especially with the relationship
to LGBTQIA+ people,” says Kruk. “Some storylines. Everyone has experienced some
characters were worse than others but, overall, sort of heartbreak, love or even just a crush,
it made the queer community a punchline in so it’s been handy to draw on my own life
many ways. experiences.”
“I’m not justifying that humour, but what
struck me was the way in which the show
also normalised homosexual couples and
showed everyday people coming to a place of
acceptance. We’ve got to remember, this was
They had a same-
the ’90s and we still had a long way to go. The
fact that on prime-time TV they had a same-
sex wedding, same-
sex wedding, same-sex family units, and gay
people who were proud of their sexuality was
sex family units,
progressive for the time. In fact, we have a
couple of jokes berating Chandler for comments
and gay people who
he makes!”
The Australian cast includes Belinda Jenkin
were proud of their
(Phoebe), Stefanie Jones (Monica), Sarah
Krndija (Rachel), Tyran Stig (Ross), Rowan
sexuality.
Witt (Chandler) and Joseph Spanti as Joey. “This show is perfect for this moment in
Shakespearean actor Chris Huntly-Turner plays time,” says director Kruk. “After everything
the Rachel-obsessed Gunther. that’s been happening, a lot of people are
In preparing for the role of Ross, Tyran Stig looking for comfort and the nostalgia takes
spent time studying the original source. “We us back to a less problematic time. This show
have ten seasons of a beloved TV show and its connects everyone in that theatre and makes
characters at our fingertips for inspiration,” them a part of it. That’s a perfect antidote to the
he says. last 12 months.”
“I take my characterisation of Ross, created
by the brilliant David Schwimmer, through
his mannerisms, voice and incredible comic MORE: Friends: The Musical Parody opens
timing, and use it as a guide to fit the show at The Star, Gold Coast before heading to
we’re creating,” he says. Melbourne, Brisbane, Parramatta, Adelaide and
“The writing of the original show allowed Perth. Go to friendsmusical.com.au
people to feel deeply for these characters

28 DNA
I LOOK AFTER
MY HIV AND
MY KIDNEYS
Talk to your doctor about your
kidney function and getting the
most from your HIV treatment

HIVisjustapartofme.com.au

Gilead Sciences Pty Ltd. Level 6, 417 St Kilda Road, Melbourne 3004 Australia. ABN 71 072 611 708.
Call Toll Free: 1800 806 112. HIV/AU/18-12/MI/2274b. GIBF15324W/A3.

DNA 29
 BOOKS REVIEWS BY GRAEME AITKEN

UP AND COMING
A TASTE OF THE TITLES TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN 2021.
THE BOY FROM THE MISH KINK: STORIES EDITED
by Gary Lonesborough by RO Kwon and Garth Greenwell
When Jackson’s Aunty Pam visits from the city This collection of short stories
over summer, she brings along Tomas, a teenage portrays love, desire, BDSM and
boy with a troubled past. And as the friendship sexual kinks in all their glory.
between the two boys develops, Jackson is forced Readers of Garth Greenwell’s most
to face his own secret. This queer Indigenous recent novel Cleanness will have no
young adult novel has terrific advance praise doubt that he is the ideal co-editor
from authors such as David Levithan, Holden for such an anthology! Authors
Sheppard and Benjamin Law. February include Roxanne Gay, Brandon
publication in Australia. Taylor, Alexander Chee, Carmen
Maria Machado, Kim Fu and Chris
MY YEAR OF LIVING VULNERABLY Krauss. March publication in
by Rick Morton Australia.
From the author of the acclaimed memoir
One Hundred Years Of Dirt comes a a story CONFESSIONS OF THE FLESH:
about love, trauma and recovery. In early 2019, HISTORY OF SEXUALITY VOLUME 4
Morton was diagnosed with Complex Post- by Michel Foucault
Traumatic Stress Disorder, which led him on Famous for his groundbreaking historical
a 12-month journey to rediscover love. This analysis of how erotic desires and practices
book asks, what is love, how do we see it, what are fixed into what we now call “sexual
forms can it takes, how do we practice it in our identities”, the final volume of History Of
lives, what does it means to us, and how can Sexuality, completed before his death in
we live without it, even if we think we can? 1984, is finally available in English. In this,
March publication in Australia. Foucault extends his analysis to the early
Christian church fathers and their influence
SEX, SOCIETY AND THE MAKING OF on the modern notion of sexuality. Mid-April
PORNOGRAPHY publication in Australia.
by Jeffrey Escoffier
Escoffier returns to the topic of gay FRANCIS BACON: REVELATIONS
pornography that made his previous book by Mark Stevens and Annalyn Swan
Bigger Than Life: The History Of Gay Porn A decade in the making and based on
Cinema From Beefcake To Hardcore so hundreds of interviews and extensive new
notable. This one examines how the sexual material, this is the first biography of the
imaginations and identities of the performers, seminal artist to appear in 25 years. Bacon
writers, directors and editors have shaped the flung open the 20th Century closet doors:
contours of gay porn. by day he exposed the secrets of a dark
February publication in USA. century, and by night he swashbuckled
through Soho, never concealing his
WILLIAM YANG: SEEING AND homosexuality. Bacon was celebrated
BEING SEEN as a sexual adventurer who liked rough
Featuring reproductions of over 200 trade but he never stopped longing for a
photographs, this new book traces Yang’s committed relationship, however painful.
career from his early days as a social April publication in Australia.
photographer in the 1970s documenting
Sydney’s queer scene through to some of MADNESS OF GRIEF: A MEMOIR OF LOVE AND LOSS
his well-known series addressing family by Richard Coles
ties, sexual and cultural identity, and the He went from sharing the stage with Jimmy
Australian landscape. Also included are Somerville as part of pop act The Communards in
essays by Benjamin Law, Rosie Hays and the 1980s to becoming a Reverend in the Church
Susan Best who examine Yang’s meaningful Of England! Pastoral care for the bereaved,
engagement with queer history and cultural discussions about the afterlife and performing the
identity in Australia. The book is published to coincide with William last rites were all part of Reverend Coles’ life and
Yang: Seeing And Being Seen, an exhibition organised by the Queensland work. But when his partner died unexpectedly at
Art Gallery I Gallery Of Modern Art (QAGOMA) to be held at QAG, the age of only 43 in 2019, Coles discovered he had
Brisbane, from 27 March to 22 August 2021. a great deal more to learn about death and grief.
March publication in Australia. April publication in the UK.

30 DNA
UNTITLED MEMOIR IT’S ALL AN ACT: COURTNEY ACT’S MEMOIR ABOUT GENDER,
by Chelsea Manning SEXUALITY AND GROWING UP FLUID
Activist, politician and by Courtney Act
whistleblower, Manning
promises an intimate and candid
memoir. She will reveal her
challenging childhood, struggles
as an adolescent, and what led
her to join the military. We learn
how and why she decided to send
classified military documents
to WikiLeaks. The book also
explores her journey toward self-
acceptance as a trans woman.
May publication in the UK.

LET THE RECORD SHOW: A

POLITICAL HISTORY OF ACT-UP
NEW YORK, 1987-1993
by Sarah Schulman
Drawing on over 200 interviews with
ACT-UP activists, Schulman reveals the
radical power of people across races,
sexualities and backgrounds in the face of
a death toll caused by the AIDS epidemic.
She chronicles the strategy of these
activists to transform the US insurance
industry, and wage the battle against the
Church, the media, corporations and
the pharmaceutical industry to create a
liveable future for marginalised people.
May publication in USA.

LOVE’S NEXT MEETING: THE

FORGOTTEN HISTORY OF
HOMOSEXUALITY AND THE LEFT
IN AMERICAN CULTURE Since her original appearance on Australian Idol, her stint on RuPaul’s
by Aaron Lecklider Drag Race, 2019’s Dancing With The Stars and her yearly Mardi Gras
Based on rich archival research and involvement, Courtney Act is now a household name – and certainly the
critical exploration of art and literature, biggest drag star we’ve grown locally. This memoir promises to provide a
Lecklider reveals the deep connections personal account of what it has been like to grow into a proud, passionate,
between homosexuality and the politically aware genderfluid, queer Australian icon. October publication
American Left between 1920 and 1960. in Australia
Long before the Stonewall riot, queers,
radicals, workers, and the poor together SEVEN AND A HALF
had challenged censorship and other by Christos Tsiolkas
forms of conservatism for true sexual There’s limited info at
liberation. To be published June in present on the new book by
the USA. the author of Loaded, The
Slap and Barracuda except
FILTHY ANIMALS that it’s a “work of auto-
by Brandon Taylor fiction enclosing a novel
Laying bare intense desire, gripping and meditations on nature,
emotional undercurrents and human conflict and beauty”. We
vulnerabilities is all part of Taylor’s might also surmise from
literary talent. His first novel, Real Life, the title that it could have
was shortlisted for the 2020 Booker Prize something to do with cock
and this year he returns with his first size and a return to gay
collection of short stories. He continues themes. To be published in
exploring vulnerabilities and unruly the second half of 2021.
desires from the perspectives of a young
woman with cancer and a young man
entangled in an open relationship, NOTE: Books with a US or UK publication date may not be available in
among others. Late June publication Australia until two or three months later, depending on how the publisher
in USA. ships them.

DNA 31
 DNA SAMPLES

CORVYX AND JOEY DEAN

Not just a pop duo, they’re
also a couple reclaiming
prom night for the gays,
reports Marc Andrews.

DNA: There’s not many gay couples in

pop. We can only think of Tim Nelson and
Sam Netterfield of Cub Sport, who are now
husbands, and you!
Joey: We’d love to claim pioneering status but I
can’t imagine we’re a first. Olly Alexander and
Neil Milan [Years And Years] set the tone for
queer pop relationships a few years back, and
Sam Smith and Brandon Flynn were somewhat
of a Hollywood/pop music couple, right? I think
there have been a few closeted cases!
Corvyx: I think we can claim first gay
powerhouse pop duo.
How long have you been together?
Corvyx: We’ve been together for about an
eternity. And by eternity, I mean three years,
but I believe we might have known each other
in a past life.
How long have you been making beautiful
music together?
Joey: The Night We Met is our second
collaboration. The first, [a cover of Christina
Aguilera/A Great Big World’s] Fall On Me, jump
started our 2020. We arguably chose the worst
year but we’re happy we filled all the trash with
some love.
We’ve been together
for about an eternity.
And by eternity, I
mean three years…
Is Christina your diva... or are there others?
Joey: Gaga will remain the diva to my little gay
heart. Though, I balled to Celine’s live Grammy
performance of My Heart Will Go On when I
was seven. She taught little Joey Dean that he
was meant to be a singer… and a homosexual!
Corvyx: Hah! My number one will always be
P!nk. She captures all the grit, angst, honesty
and raw vocal energy I try to bring to my work.
Is it true you were watching 13 Reasons Why,
heard The Night We Met, and decided to
record your own version?
Corvyx: That is what happened. I was watching
the first season of 13 Reasons Why a few years
ago and, to be quite honest, the entire show had
a killer soundtrack. I would’ve happily covered
The Night We Met solo, but the fact the person I
love happens to be an incredible vocalist made
my decision to make this a duet super easy.
Prom night is a big thing in the US. Talk us
through it!
Joey: Prom is a collection of adolescent
hormone monsters gathering in expensive cars
and wearing expensive clothes that mommy
and daddy have bought, so they can all pile
into a hot, sweaty room while dancing way too
awkwardly. It’s terrible, but also somehow fun.
Neither of us enjoyed our proms, which is why
we reclaimed the prom in our recent video.
Do you feel the weight of being role models on
your shoulders as an openly gay couple?
Corvyx: If people are inspired by our work
and the way we lead our lives, that’s great, but
if people could take anything away from what
we do I hope it’s to inspire others to find what
makes them passionate about life.
Who do you regard as LGBTQIA+ trailblazers
and why?
Corvyx: I think every single queer artist
is a trailblazer. Our very existence is
resistance and spreads awareness. The more
queerness infiltrates the mainstream, the
more normalized it becomes. Joey and I are
humungous fans of RuPaul’s DragRace and
The Boulet Brother’s Dragula. Drag has created
an enormous platform for the LGBTQIA+
community to share themselves and their art
with the world.
What’s the most romantic thing either of you
has ever done?
Joey: Last summer we went to Firenze, Italia.
We both have Italian heritage and Corvyx is
very connected to his so it was nice to absorb
some of our history one of the most romantic
places in the world.
Describe each other in five words!
Joey: Corvyx is passionate, empathic, celestial,
exceptionally talented and, of course, the most
handsome.
Corvyx: Beautiful, exceptionally intelligent,
relentless, hard-working, talented.
Any special message for DNA readers?
Joey: Happy birthday on your 20th anniversary.
We’re both so grateful to be a part of your
journey! We’d love to come to the land of Oz.
We know Australia loves P!nk, so we know you
get music. Maybe once this pandemic perishes
we’ll plan a trip Down Under.
MORE: For more find Corvyx and Joey Dean
on Instagram, YouTube, Spotify and TikTok.

32 DNA
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 STREAMING
YOUR NAME ENGRAVED HEREIN (Netflix)
Despite the clumsy translation of the title (The
Name Engraved In Your Heart would be more
accurate), it’s enlightening to see the experience
of being gay in another culture.
It’s Taiwan, 1987, and 38 years of martial law
has just been lifted. The formerly repressed
nation has to re-learn how to speak openly
without fear. It will be a while before gays
emerge from the shadows, so any steps in that
direction involves huge courage.
Teenager Bo-De is a fan of American movies
and is nicknamed Birdy, after Alan Parker’s film
about two Vietnam vets, “one normal and one
crazy”, the crazy one obsessing with being a
bird – an obvious symbol.
Bo-De and best mate Jia-han are inseparable
at school. They can barely admit their love to
themselves, let alone each other, but others see
it and they’re victimised. (“Beat him or he’ll
force us all to be gay!”)
Making it harder, the boys attend a military
school with a strong religious tradition. Birdy
demands answers of the school priest, wanting
to know why he seeks love from his friend but
does not find it; he knocks but the door is not
opened, he asks but does not receive.
A Bible verse at the film’s start drives Birdy’s
quest for love and spiritual truth: “Many
34 DNA
REVIEWS BY IAN HORNER
waters cannot quench love, nor can
rivers drown it. If a man tried to buy
love with all his wealth, his offer
would be utterly scorned.” (Song Of
Solomon, 8:7)
Occasionally the acting lapses
into hysteria, lines are shouted
unnecessarily, and the constant use
of Danny Boy is incongruous, as are
the scenes at Niagara Falls at the end.
The characters are, however, tenderly
drawn. The shower scene at school
as Birdy washes Jia-hans bruises is
particularly erotic.
The story is very moving: it follows
the boys at high school, revisits them
at a 17-year school reunion, and
again 30 years after school. Birdy and
Jia-han may not have been able to
fully admit their love but times are
changing, the country is changing
and, importantly, the two men are
changing. The movie ends on a gentle
and uplifting note that will have you
in tears.
Marriage equality was proposed
in Taiwan 16 years after martial law
ended; it was another 16 years before
it was passed. (114 mins, rated M)

THOMAS BANKS’ QUEST FOR LOVE (Stan)
Thomas Banks is a young Australian gay man with cerebral palsy.
Defying his limitations, he put together a one-man show about his
journey to find love and this short-form doco is the account of that five-
year experience.
He does all the things other gay guys do – loves the sauna, struggles
on Grindr, tries to pick up guys. He has a great sense of humour. In one
scene he hides lube in his bag just so his female PA will find it.
He does find love, with Blair, and life is euphoric for a time. Until
Blair takes his things and leaves. “I’ve been hurt so many times before,”
Thomas says to camera.
Despite his difficulties, which includes unclear speech (an actor
provides voiceover for some of it) and uncoordinated movement, it’s very
clear that what Thomas wants most of all is to be accepted “for all I am”.
The biggest lesson is that “love comes when you’re not looking, when
you’re really happy with who you are”.
The final frame will have you cheering: “This is me. I am a gay guy with
a disability.” A win for inclusivity. (31 mins, rated PG)
TOY BOY (Netflix)
This bingeworthy
Spanish series,
shot in picturesque
Marbella, has enough
eye candy and
fluffy plot to engage
through to the end.
Gorgeous stripper
Hugo (Jesús Mosquera) wakes up on a party boat one
morning next to a burnt corpse and finds himself doing 15
years for murder. After seven years, hot-shot young lawyer
Triana (played to perfection by María Pedraza) defies her
boss and pursues the real killer, getting Hugo released for
a retrial.
He promptly returns to the only job he’s qualified for
– stripping – and re-teams with his old stripper buddies.
Thankfully, much of the plot revolves around their
rehearsals and performances.
The acting is inconsistent but who cares? The strippers
are all great at what they do, even if it’s not acting. Veteran
Spanish actress Cristina Castaño is excellent as local
powerbroker Macarena Medina de Solís, whose husband
was the victim on the boat. Her teenage son, with
inexplicably green hair, may have been raped years ago
and he’s now the love interest of one of the strippers.
The show attracted little attention until it was picked
up by Netflix where it has been a huge success, possibly
buoyed by another Spanish superhit, House Of Paper.
We can’t wait for series two, which has just been
announced with the return of the same cast.
(13 episodes, rated M)
FUNNY BOY (Netflix)
“A boy cannot dress up as a bride!”
In Sri Lanka in the 1970s, young Arjie is constantly taunted for his “odd
habits”.
Parallel to his inner turmoil is the political upheaval of the time as the
upper-class Tamils struggle as a minority group in the largely Sinhalese
country. But all eight-year-old Arjie wants to know is why the adults call
him “funny” and why it’s such a bad thing.
With unexpected allies in his extended family and an intoxicating
belief in himself, he manages to emerge from childhood and adolescence
as a proud gay young man, if somewhat falteringly.
Finally, 17-year-old Arjie (played by openly gay Brandon Ingram) and
his family flee to Canada where he’s free to embrace being gay… only to
be confronted with overt and ugly racism against people of colour. (109
mins, rated MA15+)
DNA 35
 OUR STRAIGHT
MATES BY MATTHEW MYERS
He’s played a pirate, a cop, a
rock star and a footy player’s
boyfriend. But The End could
be Luke Arnold’s toughest
gig yet.

DNA: Let’s start with Black Sails, in which you

play Long John Silver. The show certainly has
some gay overtones!
Luke Arnold: Oh, it’s the gayest show on TV!
One of the greatest triumphs of Black Sails is its
queer elements. Pirate shows often have this
idea of freedom, which is symbolic of being free
of the shackles of king or queen. However, this
was about the freedom to be oneself and, for a
lot of the characters, sexuality and identity is
tied up in that idea.
You’ve played a few gay roles.
Yes. I did a remounting of the plays Like Stars
In My Hands and Thieving Boy by Timothy
Conigrave who wrote Holding The Man. I
did an episode of the ABC’s Lowdown where
I played the secret boyfriend of a footballer
struggling with coming out. Then the Black
Sails fans have their forums about the sexuality
of John Silver. I’ll leave that to them!
Have you ever gone out clubbing with your
gay friends?
Sure! Last year I partied with the Dollar Bin
Darlings at the Sydney Festival. Any straight
person who doesn’t take their shirt off at a
gay dance party is missing out on one of life’s
great joys!

Any person who

doesn’t take their shirt
off at a gay dance party
is missing out on one
of life’s great joys!
You stood up for the gays on Twitter against
the homophobic comments of American
comedian Kevin Hart. Thanks for that!

END GAME
Not being gay myself, I only get a passing
glimpse of the homophobia that’s out there but
sometimes it strays into my feed. It’s important
to be clear when it comes to something like that
because I know, with Black Sails in particular,
I have a lot of LGBTIQA+ fans. Something
like that is crossing into their feed as well as
mine and is associated with a show they have
affection for. Giving a bit of a “fuck you” like
that helps remind them there are a lot more
people on their side.
What’s the most irresistible dancefloor track?
Anything Motown. I like my soul, especially

36 DNA
As Michael
Hutchence in
Never Tear
Us Apart.
at the gym or while running. Songs like I Can’t
Help Myself by The Four Tops. I also love Get
Lucky by Daft Punk. It begins with a little
groove beckoning you onto the dancefloor and
builds from there!
Who’s your music diva?
I remember dancing around the house to Kylie
before any other music in my life. Then to have
Samantha Jade play Kylie opposite me in Never
Tear Us Apart… I know Kylie has watched the
show but we haven’t met. I’m looking forward
to meeting her one day but I’m also intimidated
by the prospect! Playing her ex-boyfriend on TV
with someone also playing her… that’s weird!
There’s no blueprint on how to best handle that!
Do people recognise you as playing Michael
Hutchence in Never Tear Us Apart?
It depends if my hair has grown out, but they
do, which I love. It also happens with Black
Sails. More and more people are becoming fans
of that show.
How do you keep in such great shape?
I do my best to maintain it, knowing that it’s
part of being an actor. It’s easier than going
through a hellish boot camp before a project.
Being a writer, I spend long periods at my
computer and I’ve learnt how to eat in relation
to my energy output. If I’m working out I’ll eat
heaps and smash the protein, but when I’m in
writer mode I lower my calories.
Do you have a grooming tip?
When it comes to hair, my thing is to jump in
the ocean and leave it for as long as possible
before washing it. I have curls and the more you
try something with them the more they fight
back! My usual routine is to wash it on Friday,
let it be fluffy over the weekend and then don’t
touch it over the week.
Tell us about your writing.
I’m writing a series of detective fantasy stories.
The Last Smile In Sunder City and its sequel
Dead Man In A Ditch were published last year.
They are the first in what will hopefully be an
ongoing series.
Who has been your biggest influence on your
acting career?
The End. Simon Tate, the head of
drama at my high school.
He went above and beyond,
creating opportunities for
me. He gave me my first
real acting training playing
Romeo and showed me
how much work you can
and should do. Being 17 and
having a teacher not let me
coast through on youthful
energy was the biggest
turning point for me.
Have you ever had an on-set
wardrobe malfunction?
I’ve worn a cock sock more
times than any other actor
and it’s the most unflattering
thing! There’s a scene in
Never Tear Us Apart where I
jump out of bed naked and
start marching back and
forth. They had one camera
behind and another on my
face but the cock sock could
still be seen between my legs
so I had to have the whole
thing taped to my stomach!
On that note, is it briefs,
boxers, free balling – or
cock sock?
Black Sails. [Laughing] A cock sock
would certainly be a good
way to trip out into the world! It was boxers
when I was younger but now I’m more a briefs
man. That’s because I started wearing tighter
pants, which came from playing Michael
Hutchence. I also lived in London and tight
black jeans were part of the uniform. The
tighter the jeans, the less material you need
underneath!
Tell us about the character you play in the
new Showcase series, The End.
When we meet Josh, his wife Beth (Brooke
Satchwell) has motor neuron disease and is
reaching a point where communication will be
impossible. With her quality of life taking a turn
she decides to end it on her terms. Josh acquires
the drug Nembutal from the internet and shows
their doctor, who confiscates it. That sets off a
chain of events. I’ve played a lot of fantasy and
larger-than-life characters but Josh is just a
dude who fell in love with a beautiful woman,
whose awful disease brings pain in so many
ways.
It sounds like intense.
There’s a lot of actual nudity in this but
performance-wise I’ve never felt as naked as
I have in The End. It deals with some of the
heaviest issues I’ve had as an actor.
What about filming in the COVID-19 era?
We finished filming The End last year [2019].
I then went on to Home And Away, which was
one of the only things still shooting in this
country. Everyone worked really hard to keep it
all moving and to keep people employed. Home
And Away is now a fantasy because COVID-19
doesn’t come to Summer Bay!
IF YOU WERE GAY,
WHO’D BE YOUR CRUSH?
Luke: Leslie Odom Jr. I’ve listened
to the Hamilton soundtrack a lot but
after watching it online he just blew
my mind. He has a ridiculous stage
presence. I’m ready to be serenaded!
MORE: The End screens on Foxtel Showcase,
with all episodes available on demand.
DNA 37
 / ON THE COVER

KONSTANTIN
This month’s cover model lives in St
Petersburg, Russia. He started body
building at 19 but now, 25, no longer
competes as it’s too hard on the
body, he says. He currently works as
a personal trainer – although online
only during the current health crisis.

To see Konstantin’s beautiful nude images, go to the

DNA website and log-in to the Subscriber Zone.

PHOTOGRAPHY AMER MOHAMAD

Ú SHOOTMEAMER
Ô AMERMOHAMAD.COM

MODEL KONSTANTIN KOSTIN

Ú K.KOSTYN
Í K1KOSTYN

40 DNA
/ ON THE COVER

DNA 41
 / ON THE COVER

42 DNA
/ ON THE COVER

DNA 43
 / ON THE COVER

44 DNA
/ ON THE COVER

DNA 45
 / ON THE COVER

46 DNA
/ ON THE COVER

DNA 47
 VISION

The Many
Talents of
Mr Marshall
D ave Marshall inhabits many worlds. He’s an
out gay pro-wrestler, a mental health advocate,
an OnlyFans porn star and an online gaming
community leader. This down-to-earth, self-proclaimed
“teddy bear” is up for a challenge, fearless, friendly and frank.
Feature by Mike Hitch. Photographer by Richard Matias. >>

48 DNA
DNA 49
 VISION

50 DNA
 I
came out in January of 2015 and
by about March or April I was pro-
wrestling. A big part of it was that I
stopped working in my finance job
and went into personal training. In
one year, I went from being an engaged, straight
man to being a single, gay man, professional
wrestler and personal trainer,” says Dave
Marshall, describing his rapid metamorphosis.
What prompted his decision to come out?
“I didn’t want to get to an age where I didn’t
think I could start my life again,” he says. “I
didn’t want to get to 45-years-old, have two kids
in their teens, and go, ‘Hey, sorry, dad’s gay’.
“But my friends and the group around me
were so supportive; I knew things would be
alright. I just didn’t want to hurt the people
around me that I loved.”
Life has only become more interesting for
Dave, now 31, since coming out and ditching
his sales job in favour of pitching his wrestling
opponents across the ring. Though, his interest
in pro-wrestling is not new.
“I started watching it when I was 12. We’d
just got Foxtel and it popped up on the TV one
day and from the first second I saw it, I was
completely hooked. Yeah, it’s been a huge part
of my life for the last 20 years,” he admits.

The year I came out

I decided, ‘I’m going
to do everything I
want to do,’ and one of
those things was pro-
wrestling.
Coming out did more than just free Dave to
explore his sexuality.
“At some point, I didn’t believe in myself but,
funnily enough, the year I came out, I just kind
of took everything off and decided, ‘I’m going
to do everything I want to do,’ and one of those
things was pro-wrestling.
“The manager of the gym I was training at
was a professional wrestler and he helped me
out with a contract. That’s how the story began.
I just jumped in the ring with him and he
showed me how it works.”
Dave now wrestles for Perth-based
wrestling company, Southern Hemisphere
Wrestling Alliance (SHWA) which, for almost
ten years, has held monthly shows in Western
Australia’s capital city where Dave and his
partner live.
He’s quick to point out that pro-wrestling is
“much gayer” than many people might expect
and that his experience as an out wrestler in the
industry has only been positive.
“It’s very much a theatrical performance,” he
says candidly. “To me it’s like a live performance
where it’s a different show every single week. >>

DNA 51
 VISION

52 DNA
>> Or it’s like an episodic television show, but
live. It’s a performance where we put our bodies
through hell, constantly ‘fighting’ for other
people’s pleasure.”
Pleasure and pain wrapped up in
performance. Pro-wrestling traditionally comes
with flamboyant costumes and large-than-life
stage personas but Dave maintains that his
wrestling identity is simply an extension of his
own personality.
Dad was not great at
showing emotion…
and one day he just
was not here anymore.
Mental health is such
an invisible thing.
“I grew up in the old-school ways of wrestling.
You’d have someone who was essentially a
police officer or an Indian chief and they’d
all be complete characters,” says Dave,
inadvertently drawing a parallel between pro-
wrestling and The Village People, “whereas
these days everyone has a personal social
media page. Everyone knows we’re real people.
“So, to me, I am my character. When I jump
into the ring, it’s still me. I’ll come out and crack
a joke because I’m not a serious person. I’ll
come out and be a bit larger-than-life. Turn up
the volume.
“My character is gay at the wrestling, but I’m
still six-foot-four [195cm] and 115kg, so people
take me as a big guy. I’m a big guy who happens
to be gay – and I’m that guy who will beat the
crap out of you as soon as the bell rings. But
afterwards, I’ll go see the kids in the stands and
then I’m a down-to-earth, normal guy.”
Wrestling is gaining increasing popularity
in Australia with organisations such as the
Australian Wrestling Federation (AWF),
Wrestling GO, Future Wrestling Australia
(FWA), and Battle Championship Wrestling
(BCW) helping to develop a pro-wrestling
scene. Other gay performers, such as Sydney’s
Silvio Milano, are also building a following.
LGBTQIA+ Aussies are among the new
devotees, and why not? There are costumes,
characters and men in skimpy Lycra onesies
throwing their bodies against one another.
Dave also thinks the appeal lies in the lack of
actual physical violence.
“People understand the performance side of
things a lot more now, and I think audiences are
appreciating what we put our bodies through to
entertain others. I personally don’t enjoy things
like Mixed Martial Arts,” adds Dave.
Mixed Martial Arts (or MMA) is sometimes
also referred to as cage fighting and allows
combatants to use a variety of martial
arts including boxing and kicking. It’s less
theatrical, the violence is 100 per cent real,
and the knockouts are 110 per cent more
concerning.
“It’s quite a brutal sport and a lot more taxing
on the body compared to what we do,” says
Dave, “because it’s about actually trying to
hurt somebody. I would rather go into a match
trying to entertain the audience and protect
the person I’m wrestling, than going into a
sport where I’m trying to hurt my opponent. It’s
something I’d never enjoy. The boxing side of
things, the fact that the other person in the ring
is there to hurt me, and vice versa, it’s just not in
my DNA. I am the epitome of a teddy bear!”
As someone who’s taken the title of
Heavyweight Champion for SHWA, and who
hopes to return to bodybuilding once his
wrestling career is finished, Dave is definitely
buffer than your average teddy bear.
His physique doesn’t just work for him in the
ring. He currently has over 500 followers on
OnlyFans. Dave and his partner, who prefers
to go unnamed and keep a low profile, upload
explicit, hardcore videos of their sex life to the
subscription site. If you’ve ever wanted to take
a peek inside a pro-wrestler’s bedroom and
watch him pound his boyfriend’s butt until he
orgasms, now you can.
Dave started his OnlyFans page because,
he says, “I saw an opening at that time, there
was demand, people were asking for it. When
it comes to wrestling, I’m not a shy person and
I’m very sexually open as well.”
OnlyFans satisfies his ever-growing fanbase
of horny gay men and also acts as something of
a buffer between the fans and his monogamous
relationship.
“If people are happy to pay for it, and that’s
what they want, then go for it,” he says. “I’ve
been in a relationship for most of the time since
coming out, so I’m not going to directly send
people a picture of that sexual nature. But, if
you want it, there’s a place for it.”
While Dave initially used OnlyFans as a
cheeky side hustle, the money it raises now goes
to a greater cause – including the Black Dog
Institute, the Los Angeles LGBT Centre and a
number of other charities who need it.
The emphasis on mental health awareness
comes from personal experience. Dave’s father
took his own life in 2017. Since then, Dave
has been working to breakdown the macho
stereotypes that regard mental illness as a
weakness that must never be discussed.
As young men, we are conditioned to “man
the fuck up” when it comes to mental health
but, currently, eight Australians die by suicide
each day and 75 per cent of those are men.
LGBTQIA+ Australians are 14 times more likely
to attempt suicide than our heterosexual peers.
“It’s such an invisible thing, especially
in 2020, above all years,” says Dave. “It’s
something where you never know what the
other person is going through, especially in
my dad’s age group where you don’t talk about
it ‘as a man’. Dad was not great at showing his
emotions… and one day he just was not here
anymore. It doesn’t matter if you’re that age or
you’re five; mental health is a huge issue but
it’s invisible.
“We all have our struggles, big or small, and
yet very often people are not empathetic to what
someone else is going through.
“With OnlyFans and other projects I’ve done,
we’ve put together $45,000 towards things like
suicide prevention and eating disorders. So, it
was originally an income stream but now I use
it to give back as well.”
However, Dave admits that some
organisations have taken issue with the means
by which the money is made. >>
DNA 53
I’m a big guy who happens
to be gay – and I will beat the
crap out of you as soon as the
bell rings.

54 DNA

>> “The first donation we made was to Beyond
Blue – about $5,000. But they turned around
and said, ‘No, we don’t want the money because
it’s from OnlyFans’. So, we contacted the Black
Dog Institute, I explained where the money
came from, and they said it was totally fine.
But Dad would also talk about the ‘Black Dog’
himself so in the end it made sense that the
money should go to them.”
In the era of COVID-19, it’s even more
apparent that mental health is as important as
physical health, and if the toxic masculinity
around mental health can be addressed, Dave
believes there’s no reason not to. He’s all too
familiar with his own challenges.
“I’m my own worst saboteur. I’m the first
person to doubt myself before I can do anything.
I’m just as human as everybody else, despite
how other people see me, despite whatever
judgements they may make about me.”
OnlyFans has allowed Dave to finance his
mental health activism while expressing his
sexuality in the most authentic way possible – a
unique feat – but it has also made him vulnerable
to exploitation. Some fans feel “entitled” to his
body and the content he uploads. Others go
as far as illegally downloading his images and
videos and unlawfully re-posting them across
platforms for which they were not intended. This
poses challenges for an adult entertainer who is
also a pro-wrestler.
“Things do get leaked, unfortunately, and
that’s just because bad people exist. They feel
they own the content that they pay for,” says
Dave. “I have to be very careful about removing
things from Twitter and from other pages that
have taken videos from my OnlyFans, and
that’s the unfortunate side of social media that
people don’t see. They think, ‘Oh, I’m going to
Removing
that stigma
around sex is
so important
because it’s
such a great
pleasure in life.
take this and put it on my Twitter, I’m going
to get all these likes…’ or whatever. But they
don’t consider that I’m a professional wrestler
who deals with kids, and I don’t think that kids
should be going onto OnlyFans.
“People are very demanding about what they
want from you. Plus, there’s a very thin line in
my life between promoting sexual health and
being oversexualised.”
But, despite the digital demands from his
growing fanbase, Dave says that fans are
much more respectful when they meet him in
the flesh.
“In person, I find people are super respectful,
sometimes a lot more than I would expect them
to be,” he says with a laugh. “I’ve had people
come up and ask me, ‘Hey, you’re that guy!’ –
and that’s really great – but I’ll say it’s never a
good idea to be disrespectful.”
None of this, thankfully, is putting Dave’s
wrestling career in jeopardy. “I’ve always
been in very close communications with the
producers of wrestling to let them know that
it’s there, but everyone’s been good about it.
They’re pretty down-to-earth with normalising
sexual stuff.”
In fact, Dave is one of a growing number
of OnlyFans figures who also lead a life in
the general public, challenging the stigma
surrounding sex work.
“Removing that stigma around sex is so
important because it’s such a great pleasure
in life. I mean, who doesn’t like sex? It’s
something that should be embraced.
Essentially, we all do it!”
With his fingers in multiple pies, you’d think
Dave wouldn’t have much time on his hands,
however, one of his latest projects has come
courtesy of his coronavirus downtime. On hiatus
from wrestling at the start of 2020, Dave began
streaming himself playing video games on the
popular platform, Twitch. Combining his love
of wrestling and video games, and his desire
to reach out to others, he’s created a close-knit
gaming community without even having to
leave his house – or put on a wrestling skin.
“I’ve built up a really cool community!” he
says with pride. “I don’t get sexualised in that
area. It’s very much about wrestling, video
games, whatever you want – apart from my
junk,” he says with a cheeky grin. “It’s really
good for my mental health and for a lot of
people in the community. In so many places
around the world, people haven’t been able
to get out and see their families or make new
friends. We discuss issues… or just anything.
It’s nice to have a lot of friends that don’t just
see it as a sexualisation thing, and to have
something that I’ve created that other people
really enjoy.”
Realistically, Dave reckons he only has
another four years of wrestling in him.
However, in a world that’s still dealing with
COVID-19, he isn’t exactly sure how that future
will play out. Considering the tribulations of
2020, he reckons he’s “simply happy to be here”
but is keen for the return of overseas travel.
“I’m really hoping to do some national and
international shows next year if the world
opens up. Just to be able to stay wrestling
interstate, or wrestle in Europe or Japan. At the
end of the day, if I could get a show in here and
there I’m going to be happy. I mean, I never
thought I’d be a wrestler so I’m never going to
complain about wrestling. Right now, it’s the
small goals that matter the most!”
As for this stunning photoshoot by Richard
Matias for DNA?
“I completely loved it – I’ve never felt so
comfortable with someone, so quickly. Yes, take
my clothes off!” Dave laughs. “I’ve done shoots
with ‘nude connotations’, but not as much as
this. Knowing Richard’s work from when I first
came out and with other models he’s shot, I
knew it was going be a good experience!” •
MORE: Find Dave Marshall on
Instagram: davemarshall89
OnlyFans: davemarshall89
Twitch.tv/gorillagayming
For mental health support and information
visit the Black Dog
Institute:
www.blackdoginstitute.
org.au
Or search for mental
health support and
counselling in your area.
Richard Matias’ latest
photobook Retrospective is
out now. Go to richardmatiasphotographer.com
DNA 55
VISION
COCKSURE
Why is Western culture so
fearful of images of dicks?
Art photographer Ajamu X
has made it his life’s work to
find out. In the process, he’s
charmed the pants off a lot
of men! Ian Horner reports.
L you hide something the
ondon artist Ajamu X photographs
penises for a living. He’s so good
at it he was hired to do just that for
Britain’s Channel 4 documentary
Me And My Penis, now streaming worldwide.
In it, Ajamu talks to eight very different men
about their dicks – and photographs them soft,
hard and inbetween. This made history in
Britain, becoming the first time erections had
been shown on public TV.
“I’m sick of all the taboos,” laments Ajamu.
“We Brits are the most repressed people in
Europe. Why are we so afraid of the dick?
We should be talking about men’s emotions,
feelings, traumas and the pleasure we get
from our dicks. Let’s break open that taboo
56 DNA
and talk about everything that goes into being
masculine and men and male.”
Fighting words.
He was born Carlton Cockburn in a
claustrophobic West Yorkshire town. Six years
after coming out he moved to London “to
breathe”. Ajamu Ikwe-Tyehimba is the name
given to him by his mentor in the ’80s and the
name of his Facebook page. Ajamu X is his
artist-activist name, evoking Malcolm X and
the black activists of the ’60s. His family still
call him Carlton.
Ajamu (say “Ar-JAH-mu”) explained to DNA
how he wins the confidence of the models who
give him such evocative, provocative shots.
The eight different stories of Me And My Penis
are each compelling and honest, and are some
heartbreaking. Ajamu’s approach rewrites the
rulebooks about men and our dicks and that
has proven controversial…
DNA: It would’ve been easier to be young and
gay after you left West Yorkshire and moved to
London, right?
Ajamu: So true! Huddersfield is a very small
town with one gay club, the Gemini. Like most
towns, people don’t fit in for lots of reasons. For
me it was how I dressed. I was post-punk and
goth, black nail varnish, mascara, Tucker boots,
frilly shirts. Us black guys were marked as
different. Then my sexuality kicked in and we
had to run from the small town to the big city to
breathe. I got to London at 24, in 1988. I’d come
out at 18.
In the West we hide the
penis, and the more
more power it takes on.
Your family’s reaction?
They were amazing. I said, “Mum, I want to
speak to you.”
She said, “I have no money.”
“Mum, it’s not about money – I think I might
be gay.”
“Well, you’re my son and I love you.”
And she went back to her book. I was
disappointed! [Laughs] I’m out to my whole
family now. They know my work, they come to
the exhibitions.
My family have always been in my corner. I

realise it’s not like that for lots of people. The
politics of being black and queer is skewed
because we don’t hear the voices of our black
parents, aunts, uncles or siblings in that
conversation. I push back against the narrative
that somehow black and brown queer families
are more homophobic. Lots of us are out and
proud in our families yet we only get this
problematic narrative. Well, the world can fuck
off! [Laughs]
How does your family react to the nudity in
your exhibitions?
They know the work, they watched the
film. Queer politics is locked into desire but
dismisses pleasure. We talk about sexuality
but not about sex. Queer politics, including
black queer politics, is actually respectability
politics. So much is excluded. We need to talk
about joy, pleasure, dirt, mess, fucking, kissing.
We talk about the social and the cultural but
not that we love and we fuck. The erotic is
central to my work.
For me, as an S&M kinkmaster, I also create
work around black kink and BDSM because we
don’t hear those voices or see those images. We
exclude sex workers. LGBTQ politics, black and
white, is sanitised. So many people’s narratives
are excluded. Folks like me are seen as unruly
queers. [Laughs]
The documentary describes the penis as
“a squishy piece of meat between the legs,”
which it is. Why is it given importance over
other body parts?
So much of what it means to be male is locked
into the penis. It’s about power, pleasure,
violence. It represents patriarchy. So much is
invested in it. In Asian, Japanese and African
cultures the penis is celebrated. The West wants
to hide it, and the more you hide something the
more power it takes on.
The documentary looks at eight guys and how
their relationship with their penis informs
Ajamu at work on
Me And My Penis.
the rest of their lives. Tell us about your
relationship with your penis.
I was first aware of it at eight when I had my
first wet dream over a girl at school. I dated girls
until I was 18. At eight I was like, what the hell is
going on? I was embarrassed. I thought people
could tell what was happening. A few years later
I learned it was a wet dream. Growing up, your
parents show you how to clean your dick, but
you hear about sex outside that context, in the
playground, from pornography.
At school we learnt about the penis from a
vague medical view, in terms of biology, not in
terms of pleasure. Masturbating, we’re told, is
wrong. If you wank too much you’ll go blind! I
feared going blind because I was wanking non-
stop. It felt good, but I was embarrassed. That’s
how I became aware of my penis. Actually, I
hate the word penis; dick is better.
How do you convince someone to drop their
pants so you can photograph them?
A lot of my models have been ex-lovers or fuck
buddies, which makes it easier. Some of the
guys who have posed nude for me are straight.
Usually I find gay men get caught up in looking
good. Some of my favourite images are of
straight men because they’re not so hung up
about their bodies. I tell guys who strip for me
that the work isn’t about them but ideas I’m
working through. That way guys can enter the
space I want to work in.
Also, I charm them. I’m a terrible flirt. I find
that some straight boys actually like the fact I
find them attractive without wanting to fuck
them. People know my work and they know
boundaries are respected if they pose for me.
In the film we meet a guy who grew up in a
family that denied the existence of sex, a guy
who was raped at 10 and had to relearn his
emotions, a bomb-disposal officer who had
his testicles blown off, an escort, and there’s a
heartbreaking story about a guy who had no
testicles but was desperate to be a dad. Their
dicks are the gateway into their stories. How
did those stories affect you?
Some were tearful. Some were funny. On
set, weirdly, I found myself sad one minute
and feeling such pain, then some men would
describe their trauma with such humour. They
were amazing. Strangers trusting me to take
their picture is a privilege.
Some of my favourite
images are of straight
men because they’re
not so hung up… gay
men get caught up in
looking good.
Was it easy to get where you wanted with
these guys?
I knew some of their background. Research is
part of my process. As I walk into the studio
I’m watching every move, every gesture. By the
time I get them in front of the backdrop, I’m
talking, they’re talking, I have seconds to create
rapport, and that moment is intensely intimate.
They have to trust me, I have to like them. I
find a connection, an entry point. I have to find
something desirable, sexy about them. It feeds
into the process.
The shot of the guy with flowers around his
erection – was that planned?
The producer wanted to use plants but I
knew plants wouldn’t work. Flowers, though,
are often used in still-life photography but
I hadn’t seen anything using a penis and
flowers. Sensuous, yet erotic. I often use the >>
Auto Ajamu.
DNA 57
VISION
Get Up, Stand Up.
>> tension between hard and soft, male and
female. Here, the erect dick is in the middle of
beautiful, tender flowers.
How did you talk the model through it?
He was up for it, which was great. I was talking
dirty to him. He was playing with his dick and
with his nipples and when his dick got hard I
quickly grabbed the camera.
Once the documentary was shot and
assembled was there any suggestion that it
may not be allowed on TV?
That was all settled beforehand. Channel 4
had endless meetings about why we need to
talk about the penis and why we need to have
erections on TV.
What were their reasons?
The research among lots of men, including
trans men, was that we don’t get men’s
emotions, feelings or a serious treatment of
Cobra eel.
58 DNA
men’s sex and sexuality on TV. There are so Novel shot of a bike rider.
many policies in the UK restricting sex and
sexuality. I’m sick of all the taboos.
Has this film helped?
There’s been an amazing response and not
about the penises, more their emotions and
feelings, expressed openly and publicly. We
got people talking about these things. You
don’t usually get a black guy, a South Asian
guy, a straight guy, a trans guy talking about
masculinity and their bodies. We hear voices
we don’t usually hear and a diverse range of
masculinities.
The media and society generally are
preoccupied with dicks – and censoring
images of dicks. The film asks, why are we
ashamed of dicks and why are we (men) not in
touch with our feelings?
It’s how we’re socialised. Being male means
you’re hard and lack emotions. It’s how you
run the world. Culturally and socially, women
have carved out more spaces for their feelings
and their bodies. Men are penalised for talking
about feelings. We have put-downs like “sissy”, allowable limit in that image. The clenched fist,
“too soft” and “weak”. a symbol of the Black Panthers, is a political
To some extent, gay men have created a statement. The dick and the hand belong to one
space to talk about this stuff, but not all gay of my fuck buddies.
men. The minute straight men talk about their
feelings, a homophobic language kicks – that
somehow they must be gay. Straight men will
always have intimate relationships with other We should be talking
straight men that aren’t sexual but will only
have those conversations behind closed doors. about men’s emotions,
Straight men who are seen as “sensitive” suffer
homophobic abuse. Our concept of masculinity
feelings, traumas and
is too rigid. And masculinity isn’t just the
domain of men; there’s female masculinity. We
the pleasure we get
have to deconstruct outmoded ideas. from our dicks.
Your photo of a guy with an eel over his
shoulder has so much dignity. The images of the two dicks, Andre and
Yes, it’s a massive cobra eel. The image is Desmond, appear as though one is kissing the
based on Renaissance paintings of Mary and other. In another image, one dick appears to
baby Jesus. The child is often on the breast, hug the other.
which the eel mirrors. I often play with ideas Andre and Desmond are my fuck buddies,
from paintings. ex-lovers. I love creating very intimate and
What does the self-portrait of you in the tender images of black men. Black men are
wedding dress express? always framed around fear and threat so I like
I’m playing with masculine and feminine. I’m to create sensitive intimate images around
dressed in purity, the virgin bride in white, black sexuality and black male joy. Growing up,
and I’m in army boots. I was in the army at 18. I never saw these sorts of images of black men.
Lots of identity is about performance, hence I’m filling that gap. “Soft” and “sensuous” are
gendered artefacts. It’s playful politics. And I key words for me. It’s so important that black
like the fact that people will be curious – is it big men see images created by other black men.
when erect? Sexual racism, you know. Good for white men to see them, too!
You’ve spent your life photographing other
guys’ dicks but you’re also prepared to shoot
your own.
Yes. I do lots of nude self-portraits because I’m MORE: For more go to w: ajamu-studio.com
also exploring my own body, and with drag Facebook: facebook.com/ajamux
and kink. View Me And My Penis on SBS Viceland in
There are many contrasts in the image of the Australia, and on Channel 4 in Britain.
erection in a gloved hand. The hand could be
popping champagne! It’s starkly erotic. Many of the images from this story cannot be
In Britain we used to have the “McIntyre published here. To see more, go DNAmagazine.
Law” where you couldn’t exhibit a penis that com and click on Subscriber Zone.
was more than 45-degrees erect. It was at the
DNA 59
 FEATURE
I’m single and it’s awesome…
even though some intimate
company would be nice.
OUT THERE ALEX
Indie pop faves, Alae are
back with Frozen In LA. The
Kiwi band’s handsome gay
singer, Alex Farrell-Davey
spoke to DNA about music,
mental health and why Dua
Lipa’s New Rules is his mantra
when it comes to men!
Interview by Marc Andrews.
DNA: Welcome back. How has life been for you
since DNA last spoke to you in February 2019?
Alex Farrell-Davey: Thank you for having
me back! It’s been 2020 I guess… [chuckles] …
what a time to be alive! I’ve been busy with the
band, trying to figure out what’s next. I’ve been
co-writing for other artists, which is awesome.
It’s always good to get into a different creative
environment. On top of that, I’ve started
swimming again. It’s been so beneficial for my
mental health and I’m looking slimmer, too, so
that’s a bonus. All up, life’s been good, even in
the current climate.
You spoke to DNA about your sexuality
last time around. Do you feel the world is
60 DNA
Alex (centre) with Alae bandmates Jayden Lee and Allister Meffan.
becoming more accepting, and less defining,
about gay pop stars?
The world has come so far in the last 20 years.
However, it doesn’t mean we’re out of the
woods. Sexuality as a spectrum is constantly
expanding, or at least we’re becoming more
aware of its diverse nature. There are still an
ignorant few who think it’s funny to laugh at
those who are different, sadly, even within
LGBTQI+ communities. Part of me thinks that’s
conditioning or it may just be in our nature. Pop
stars and anyone in the limelight have always
had it harder because they put themselves out
there. Until the world chooses to change, this
will always come with judgment. When I find
myself feeling stubborn and rigid, there’s one
quote that always helps me from Socrates: “I
know that I know nothing.”
You also told us last time there was no one in
your love life. Any update?
I’m as single as that odd sock at the bottom of
the washing machine and you know what…?
It’s awesome. I’m focusing on my mental health
at the moment and, even though some intimate
company would be nice, I’m loving figuring out
what I want and what I need. At the moment
that’s just good friends, a positive outlook, and
drive. I’m so lucky I have the best mates anyone
could ever ask for because the rest can be hard
some days!
What do you look for in a romantic partner?
It’s ever changing. I think every relationship’s
end comes with a new perspective. “New
rules,” if Dua Lipa doesn’t mind me quoting her
[laughs] – ways to improve and things to look
for in future partners. It’s all about development
and finding someone you want to fight for and
vice versa.
Frozen In LA is a superlative pop song – sexy,
melancholy and radio-friendly.
I suppose the message is in the juxtaposition.
While I was in LA writing and recording the
song, I’d had a moment where I wasn’t sure why
I was there and what I really wanted out of my
music. The lyrics are supposed to be a mantra
addressing that feeling. I hope it translates well
It took me a few years to understand that the
feeling I’m talking about was depression and
anxiety. It’s hard coming to terms with those
feelings. I just had to remember and believe
that I was, and I am, worth it.
“No one’s gonna save you, you’ve got to want
to save you” is a pretty heavy lyric.
That was a lyric born of realisation, a kind of
epiphany. I’d struggled to put this into words
before this song. I’ve always been a dreamer,
to my own detriment –assuming things will
work out because that’s what I want, but never
pushing myself as hard as I need to in order to
get to the places I want to be. Realising this was

Alae including bass player
Marika Hodgson.
very confronting and hard to swallow. This lyric
is one of my favourites from this song, so I’m a
chuffed that it stood out for you.
There’s also a fab house remix of Frozen In
LA. Is this Alae stepping out of the box?
It’s always great to experiment and welcome
another artist’s interpretation of our music. We
often get other artists to remix our music and
this is one of my favourites. It’s got this almost
Daft Punk sounding guitar throughout the pre-
chorus, then the chorus hits so damn hard. It’s
a club banger for sure.
When can we expect your next album?
We’re working on it. It’ll probably be more of an
EP but, nonetheless, the content is there. Albums
are a whole different beast to tackle. Our first
album, Henry Street was a very introspective,
coming-of-age body of work. It’ll take me a while
to figure out what I want from an album and
how that will translate to the listeners. At the end
of the day, it’s all about you guys.
How was lockdown for you?
Lockdown came with its challenges. Gigs were
cancelled and practicing came to a standstill.
The only thing that could continue was writing.
I came up with a lot of material, whether or not
that’s for Alae or another project, time will tell.
It was definitely a time for self-reflection, which
in itself was a little bit scary. Being trapped
at home for four weeks with four flatmates
who I didn’t know particularly well was quite
confronting. I just tried my best to stay active
and keep my head out of bad places. Easier said
than done!
How do you maintain hope when there’s a lot
of hopelessness in the world?
Your mind is as heavy as you allow it to be. I
used to operate under the guise that happiness
was just a kind of pleasant ignorance. There’s
always something horrible happening
somewhere at any moment, that’s scary to think
about, but you can’t let it rule you. I believe that
all emotions have an osmotic effect on those
around us and vice versa. In order to ensure we
have peace of mind we have to project our best
intentions onto the world and keep fighting the
good fight.
Do you see Alae playing arenas at some point
in the future?
Of course! I’m a dreamer! Arenas are always
making cosmic cameos in my dreams. That
and interviews with Graham Norton! There’s
nothing quite like singing to a crowd that wants
to be there, for you, listening and resonating
Frozen In LA, 2020.
with your thoughts and feelings. Imagine an
audience 20,000-plus singing your lyrics back at
you. I try not to do that often because when I do,
I start to well up.
Do you have other ambitions?
Music is the focus but I dabble in lots of
things. I’ve worked a lot of different jobs, in a
lot of different industries, in a lot of different
places. I started with teaching guitar in
Bahrain (UAE). Then moved to Melbourne and
started hospitality. Then in Auckland I taught Henry St, 2018.
swimming. I used to compete, so thought it was
an awesome idea. In the end it wasn’t for me. I
didn’t have the right temperament for teaching
but eventually figured out it requires a lot more
patience than I was willing to provide [laughs].
Writing for others is one thing I’d like to do
more of – there’s a lot more freedom in that.
What do you do in your spare time?
I swim. I’m currently doing 1km a day as a
minimum. Also, there’s a few Saturdays that
seem to end on Tuesday. I love thinking too
much. I don’t know if I love it but I’m certainly
good at it [laughs]. I listen to a lot of music as
well; that comes with the territory though.
Keeping in contact with family is becoming
more important for me, which is cool, so I’m
always talking to mum about life and seeing
what she’s up to.
What are the causes closest to your heart?
That’s a really good question – I’m not actually
sure! This is making me want to figure that out.
Any sort of oppression is a thing that grinds my
gears and there’s a lot of that around. Looking
after the world is a big one, too. This place is
beyond beautiful, let’s not fuck that up!
2020 was harsh. What are your 2021 hopes?
To release more music and to start a couple Lucy’s Mix Tape, 2020.
more projects, including a solo project, Alex
Jones. I’m currently writing my face off for that. ALEX ON NEW ZEALAND’S WINNING
I’d love to see the world open up its borders WAYS AGAINST COVID-19
again. We had plans to tour around Australia “Jacinda Ardern [NZ Prime Mininister]
and head to The States, but that’s been put on led us through pretty incredibly. The
hold due to COVID. Damn you, COVID! majority of the country had faith that she
What music have you been listening to? was making the right decisions and we
Arlo Parks – such a cool artist. I’ve been all came together to sort it out as quickly
listening to a lot of Skinshape who is an and as best we could. We do still have
awesome Australian artist and Tame Impala. a lot of precautions in place to ensure
There’s a huge place in my heart for Leon COVID-19 won’t take over again, but the
Bridges, Khruangbin, Tom Misch and Wilco. future is looking bright.”
Groove Armada, Gnarls Barkley and Gorillaz
have been finding their way back into my
playlists, too. What’s the one thing that might surprise
What advice would you give to any young gay people about you?
musicians out there? I really like food on toast. Like, anything
Honestly, just be. Your sexuality doesn’t have on toast. Toast is great! Also, I used to do
to matter. In fact, unless you want it to be an gymnastics and I can still do a round-off
obvious part of your music it doesn’t even have backflip. Just saying. I may have sprained my
to weigh in. I find that lyrical ambiguity is the ankle last time. I may have been drunk at my
key to being relatable. Even if you’re a gay man manager’s wedding. Classic.
writing about breaking up with your boyfriend
you can use gender neutral pronouns to
describe him – them, they, theirs. I don’t think MORE: Frozen In LA is released through Xelon
that’s any less sincere than saying him, his, etc. Entertainment. For more go to alae.band or
Just be honest with yourself and the rest will find them on Facebook and Instagram.
fall into place.
DNA 61
VISION Thomas “The Boxer” Canestraro
@thomastheboxer

62 DNA
BIG SHOT
The creative team of CiNava
Photography mix muscle and
glam in their striking visions.
Profile by Wayne Davis.
A
ngel Cintron and Steve Nava,
the duo behind the CiNava
photography team, are known
for crafting highly produced
editorial images of finely
sculpted men.
“The perfect image should capture the
attention of the viewer for at least three to five
seconds,” says Cintron. “That is when we know
it has made an impact.”
Cintron obtained his Bachelor Of Fine Arts
Degree in photography at the Academy Of Art
University in San Francisco.
His life partner, Steve Nava, became his work
partner six years ago. Before picking up the
camera, Nava spent 30 years working in drug
discovery and development, with photography
being merely a fun side hobby.
“Angel taught me the technical aspects of
the camera, from lighting to concept and
composition,” he explains. “Joining Angel and
creating CiNava offered me a chance to leave
clinical and technical work for a life of creativity
and self-expression. I’m finally exercising a
creative side that had remained dormant in my
life for way too long.”
We spoke with the life and work partners
from their home in San Francisco.
DNA: Your practice combines the male
physique and fashion. How did you develop
an interest in this subject?
Angel Cintron: We started with a deep passion
for high energy fashion. It led to our interest
in athleticism and from there, it was a natural
progression for us to incorporate the male
muscular physique into our art.
CiNava photographs is highly stylized and
provocative. How would you best describe
your work and the concepts behind it?
Angel: Our images are creative, edgy and
artistic. We stretch the limits in our photos. We
strive to incorporate fresh ideas that tell a story
in a way that hasn’t been told before.
The male form in your photographs is often
portrayed as powerful yet sensual.
Angel: It’s a heightened take on the male
physique that examines feats of strength and
the power of the pose.
Tell us about CiNava’s work process.
Steve Nava: We first collaborate with all the
The CiNava Photography team:
Angel Cintron (left) and Steve Nava.
different creatives on our team to build a mood
board that determines the feel and direction of
the shoot. We then search for the models that
are best suited to bringing the vision to life. It’s
similar to casting a movie. Once models are
selected, we refer to the mood board again. It is
always beneficial to show the model examples
of poses and facial expressions that we are
looking for in the shoot.
Would you consider working with a model
who wasn’t with an agency?
Steve: We have worked with non-exclusive
agency models in the past, however, casting is
not always under our full control. The models
in many shoots must also be approved by
editors and publishers and, often times, they
will only work with agency models.
How important is it for you to connect with a
model on set?
Angel: It’s extremely important. Vital, in fact.
Part of the job of a good photographer is to
take the lead and have the model adapt to your
vision.
What are some things that you do to establish
the connection?
Steve: When on set, first and foremost,
the mood and vibe have to be established.
Everyone on set needs to have a positive school
of thought and the energy needs to be kept up.
Music is essential.
How would you describe your photography
and how does it differentiate from
other photographers who specialise in
photographing male fitness models?
Steve: We view ourselves as fashion
photographers who work in a new age of
brand advertising that’s influenced by social
media. Our images tend to be sexual, often
featuring men with six packs, but they’re more
complex than the typical swim and underwear
billboards you might see along West Hollywood
or in New York’s Chelsea neighbourhood.
Our images tell a unique story while also
highlighting the stylist’s fashion and designs.
CiNava’s portfolio includes a variety of
magazine editorials. How do you balance
between personal and commissioned work?
Angel: The one thing our personal and
commissioned work have in common is that in
both, we are never afraid to take risks. We see
our work as art and art is about stepping out of
the box, embracing challenges and not letting
anything step between you and the vision.
Whose work do you admire the most today?
Steve: Mike Ruiz. He is a really brilliant
photographer, creative director and role model.
He uses photography as a platform to speak
on important social issues including homeless
youth and animals in shelters. He is truly an
inspiration.
What are your future plans and projects?
Steve: We are always looking for ways to
support our community. Currently, we are
using our platform to raise awareness for the
Equality Federation, an organisation that works
to amplify the power of the LGBTQ movement.
MORE: Go to cinavaphotography.com
DNA 63
VISION

Nick Sandell (profile).

@nick_sandell

64 DNA
 Our images tend to
(left) Nick Sandell be sexual but they’re
@nick_sandell
(right) Nick Topel
complex and tell a
@nicktopel unique story.
DNA 65
 Michael Scanlon
@michaelscanlon_

66 DNA
 VISION

We are never afraid

to take risks… art is
about stepping out
of the box.

Nick Sandell
@nick_sandell

DNA 67
 FEATURE
BIRDS DO IT, BEES DO IT…
In fact, homosexuality
probably exists among all
animals, and scientists are
just realising it may play
an essential role in the
continuation of species.
Mike Hitch reports.
L
ate in 2020, a news story popped
up that seemed all too familiar.
Yet another gay penguin couple
had adopted an egg and were
happily nesting it.
Gay penguins seem to appear in the news
with surprising regularity. Is it because
penguins are particularly gay, or because in
captivity it’s easy to observe their behaviour?
The pair of Gentoo penguins, named Sphen
and Magic at Sydney’s Sea Life Aquarium, had
just fostered a second egg. Sphen and Magic
68 DNA
met and became a couple in 2018 and that same
year successfully hatched a first egg – their
daughter Lara – who they raised in their home
at Darling Harbour. The egg originally came
from a couple of penguins who had produced
two eggs but could only nest one.
To human gays, adopting a child with your
significant other the same year you meet seems
hasty but when you’re a Gentoo penguin with
a lifespan of roughly 13 years, it’s smart to get
started quickly.
“Penguins, including Gentoo penguins, are
among the many species in which male-male
or female-female pairing occur frequently and
we are fortunate to have our own male-male
pair,” announced Sea Life Aquarium. “Just like
our other Gentoo parents, Sphen and Magic
are attentive and incredibly caring and we feel
privileged to have such an amazing duo in our
colony,” they said.
As it turns out, same-sex couples and
courtship in many species are a lot more
common than most people think.
Back in 1999, Canadian biologist, linguist
and author of the book Biological Exuberance:
Animal Homosexuality And Natural Diversity,
Bruce Bagemihl, found that 450 species
of animal, including insects, had been
documented engaging in what can be described
as homosexual behaviour.
Now, we know that over 1,500 species of
animal across the world engage in homosexual
behaviour – from co-parenting to sex – with
bisexuality being even more prevalent across
species.
Rams, for example, have an 8 to 10 percent
rate of exclusive homosexuality, and are one
of the few animals (other than humans) who
exhibit exclusive homosexual behaviour.
Roughly 18 to 22 percent of rams can also be
considered bisexual.
However, chief executive of the UK’s
National Sheep Association, Phil Stocker told
The Independent, that the idea of gay rams is
“nonsense”. “You don’t get rams that are gay.
You find rams with high sex drive that will ride
anything, but they won’t have full sex with
other rams. It’s nonsense.”
 There is truth to this. Crudely labelling
the sexuality of animals, including humans,
diminishes the complexity that underlies
sexual orientation but the existence of
homosexual behaviour in animals has
resounding implications for those who label
gayness as abnormal or unnatural.
For centuries, homosexuality in humans
was deemed unnatural in many cultures
and, until recently, homosexual behaviour in
other animals was overlooked by scientists
who believed it contradicted Darwin’s theory
of evolution. It was regarded as a “Darwinian
paradox” because it involved non-reproductive
sexual behaviour.
It wasn’t just science that was confronted by
the prevalence of homosexual activity across
nearly all species. That homosexuality is a
natural phenomenon is problematic for a broad
swathe of cultural and religious beliefs.
Now, with open minds and new research,
scientists are discovering that homosexual
behaviour is not a paradox but may play an
essential role in the continuation of species.
While we don’t quite understand the causes
of homosexuality – physiological, genetic and
neurobiological factors are still being debated –
Bagemihl interprets the research as suggesting
that there’s more to sex than just reproduction.
BONOBOS
ADOBE STOCK
As homosexuality in animals is multi-varied
and includes same-sex courtship, pair-bonding,
sex, co-parenting, and even lifelong homosexual
bonding, Bagemihl argues that homosexuality
also serves an essentially social purpose.
Bonobos seem to offer the best example of this.
Frans de Waal, author of Bonobo: The Forgotten
Ape, describes this species as the “make love, not
war” primate. Their actual sex closely parallels
that of humans (shrieks and grinding) and is
used for stress relief, reconciliations and even
just for random hook-ups.
Unlike another of our cousins, the more
violent chimpanzee, bonobos resolve conflict
through sex. As a result, they rarely kill each
other – there’s never been an observed case.
Instead, bonobos share food and cooperate
harmoniously as a group. If tensions arise
between two females over wrangling
offspring, they’ll make-up by rubbing their
clitorises together.
BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS
But, like humans, can it sometimes just be a
phase? Well, yes.
ADOBE STOCK
Bottlenose dolphins are one of the most
enthusiastic same-sex-enjoying mammals.
Researchers from the Mandurah Dolphin
Research Project in Western Australia have
observed males “getting it on” after their mating
season. Once mating season has ended, male
dolphins are known to form temporary same-
sex partnerships, which scientists believe helps
them establish lifelong bonds.
Sex, it would seem, is good for social
cohesion, however, homosexual behaviour may
also be a necessary tool for reproduction in
some species.
Once mating season
ends, some male
dolphins form
temporary same-sex
partnerships.
Found in New Mexico, whiptail lizards
are all female. They reproduce asexually in
a process called parthenogenesis in which a
female’s DNA recombines with itself during the
replication of sex cells, making each daughter
slightly different from her mother.
While two female whiptail lizards don’t
need to copulate to conceive, that doesn’t stop
them. In fact, scientists have found that female
lizards that perform the courtship ritual have
greater fertility than those kept in isolation due
to changes in hormones triggered by sexual
behaviours. Simply put, one female lies on top
of another in a gesture of sex pairing and the
lizard that’s on the bottom has larger eggs as a
result.
But what about male-male pairings and the
reproductive process? Sex between them will
never result in offspring.
BLACK SWANS
Back in Australia, it turns out that roughly
a third of all black swan pairings are male
homosexual couples. How is their instinct to
raise a chick manifested? Sometimes the couple
will steal another couple’s nest once the eggs
are laid. They have also been observed mating
with a female but chasing her away once the
eggs are laid and hatching them as a male-male
parent couple. Similar behaviour is observed
among flamingos.
Scientists are beginning to forward theories
on the evolutionary advantages of such
behaviour. Among many species, there is a
higher survival rate of offspring raised by gay
male couples when compared to heterosexual
pairs. Why? The physical strength of two male
parents compared to a male-female couple
gives the male couple an advantage when it
comes to protecting the nest from aggressive
neighbours and predators. Two male parents
may have an advantage when it comes to
catching more and larger prey with which to
feed the offspring.
ADOBE STOCK
Some theories also include the suggestion
that by choosing to become parents, same-
sex parents may be more caring and attentive
parents than heterosexual pairs.
If same-sex parenting and coupling is so
widespread across the animal kingdom, why
has science only begun investigating this in the
last couple of decades?
“There was a lot of hiding of what was going
on,” de Waal told National Geographic in 2004.
“I think, because people were maybe afraid that
they would get into trouble by talking about it.”
The implications for humans have been
profound. For example, Bagemihl’s book
detailing animal homosexuality was cited by
the American Psychiatric Association and other
groups to the United States Supreme Court in
2003, to help strike down existing sodomy laws
in the case of Lawrence v Texas.
The argument that homosexuality is an
“unnatural condition” no longer carries the
same weight it once did. Thank you, science!
So, what of homosexuality within our
own species? Male homosexuality is partly
hereditary and tends to cluster in families. Male
identical twin brothers are more likely to both
be gay than fraternal twin brothers as fraternal
siblings do not share identical DNA. >>
DNA 69
 FEATURE
>> Aside from the social cohesion of
groups, sexual gratification, and perhaps
the advantages of raising offspring with two
devoted parents, there may be another specific
reason why homosexuality occurs in humans.
Having a gay uncle may give offspring a better
chance of surviving to adulthood and therefore
an evolutionary advantage. The Kin Selection
Hypothesis suggests that the homosexual
sibling of a reproductive adult is biologically
inclined to help support that sibling’s offspring.
Basically, gay uncles and lesbian aunts are good
at helping raise their nephews and nieces.
Evolutionary psychologist at the University
Of Lethbridge in Canada, Paul Vasey notes that
BRINGING UP BABY: SPHEN, MAGIC AND BABY LARA…
70 DNA
this is nature’s way of allowing gay men to pass
on the genes they share with their siblings.
Male-male black swan
couples can steal
another couple’s nest and
eggs to raise as their own.
“Maybe what’s happening is they’re helping
their kin reproduce more by just being altruistic
towards kin,” he says. “Kin therefore pass on
more of the genes which they would share with
their homosexual relatives.”
There is still much to be understood about
homosexuality within the animal kingdom but
it’s clearly not abhorrent or unnatural, and its
existence proves that sexuality has purposes
other than procreation.
Could it even be that the altruism
demonstrated in Kin Selection, enhancing
the survival of our species, suggests that God
deliberately created Adam and Steve? And
where would Lara and her new sibling be
without Sphen and Magic? •
PHOTOS: SEA LIFE SYDNEY AQUARIUM
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DNA 71
VISION
TOMORROW
IN SIGHT
Flying was once
a dream, an idea,
a vision. Never
underestimate
what you can do.
Forced to leave his
homeland after coming out
as gay and HIV-positive,
Zuheir Kredieh is now an
award-winning filmmaker.
He’s also winning hearts, as
Marc Andrews discovered.
72 DNA
E
arly last decade, a Lebanese
student filmmaker, Zuheir
Kredieh made a documentary
as a university project in which
he came out as both gay and
HIV-positive.
The film went viral globally on the film festival
circuit but was heavily criticised in Lebanon.
After being verbally abused, and facing
the threat of prison, Zuheir arrived in the
UK in June, 2017 and sought asylum based
Zuheir Kredieh on
the set of See You
Tomorrow.
on persecution because of his sexuality and
HIV status in Lebanon. After gaining refugee
status in London, and a scholarship at the
Central Film School to complete his masters in
directing, the 31-year-old made a psychological
melodrama about two gay men based on the
true story of a friend dying from cancer.
See You Tomorrow has gone on to win
numerous international film awards and taken
him on a journey from local pariah to global
prize-winner.

Scenes from See You Tomorrow.
DNA: See You Tomorrow has been winning
lots of awards. Congratulations.
Zuheir Kredieh: No words can tell how proud
I am of the achievements of See You Tomorrow
so far. At a film festival in Hollywood, it won an
outstanding achievement award and in London
was named best LGBTQ+ film. I ask myself,
what are the chances of a film being selected
from hundreds of films as the winner? I feel
very grateful.
Where does the story of the film come from?
It’s based on a true story. It’s mainly the story
of me, or Alex in the film, finding a hospice for
Steve, the guy I met a few times who died from
cancer, and everything around this.
The film was your masters’ degree project but
has gone on to be much more.
It was, but turned out to be a story of love that
got to the heart of every single person who
watched it and touched a huge number of
audiences.
You became slightly infamous in Lebanon at
the time of your coming-out documentary.
[Laughs] I was a bit famous for being the gay
director who has HIV. In 2014 I decided to come
out as gay and HIV-positive in a documentary
that discussed my deportation from Dubai
in 2012 because of being positive and the
reaction of my family and friends. It looks at
the ignorance of some people and also the
love and support of my friends and some of my
family. It is the story of hope for every person
who is living with HIV in the Middle East. My
documentary was selected to screen at Beirut
International Film Festival, where the media
were keen to put the spotlight on me.
Why did you move to London?
After my TV appearances I encountered lot
of verbal harassment on the street. The great
Egyptian writer, Nawal El Saadawi said, “Home
is not where you are born in prison, home is
where you feel appreciated, creative, safe and
loved.”
Do you consider yourself a refugee?
Legally, yes, I am a refugee, but London never
made me feel like that. The journey wasn’t easy,
but I always felt loved and safe here.
How was life in London when you arrived?
Especially in the first month I was super happy
like a tourist and experienced my first Gay
Pride. The day I landed my first question was,
“Where is a gay bar?” My friend’s husband
guided me: “Go out of the building, turn right
and walk for three minutes!” It was Soho. I
felt as if I was in a dream. I tasted freedom.
A month later, when the journey of being an
asylum seeker started, I was very anxious and
also experienced hunger and homelessness. I
don’t want to sound poetic but I really felt warm
in this cold city. I simply love London.
Your talent has taken you places quickly.
[Beaming] I just love my career. Let me confess
something: I am the worst filmmaker when it
comes to watching films. If you asked me to
name three Robert DeNiro films I wouldn’t be
able to. My friends make fun of me and say,
“Zuheir only likes his own films!” I’m really bad
at watching films but I do have few I’ve watched
thousands of times like Sunset Boulevard and
Saraband. When I was doing my interview
for London’s Central Film School, I was asked
about the three traits a director needs to have
on set. I said, “Love, love and love,” and I got the
full scholarship.
What were some of the issues you
encountered making See You Tomorrow?
No issues! [Laughs]. I’m the only issue of See
You Tomorrow because I’m a perfectionist
and I don’t trust people easily when it comes
to production. It was very tough to be in the
rehearsals with my actors, focusing on the
script and story and obsessing about the
production work at the same time.
What do you hope queer audiences get from
your movie?
I don’t like to use the words “queer audiences”
because I don’t like to divide the audience into
categories. I’m a queer filmmaker but my films
are for everyone. I’d like to touch them with
feelings. Sometimes we love a film without
knowing why. This is the work and sensitivity of
the filmmaker who has hooked us in.
Why do you think See You Tomorrow has been
so well-received?
Because it’s very honest, transparent and
the audience felt this. I’m not very surprised
because I do believe in what I do and I have
faith in my talent and in the power of speaking
to people through film.
What’s next for you?
Like any filmmaker, my aim is to find a
producer who believes in me. Until then I’m
writing a feature film and trying to get funds
from the British Film Institute.
What advice would you give for other young
queer filmmakers?
Hady Zaccak [Lebanese filmmaker] told me
to make films about things I know from my
daily life. Then I will succeed. That was the
best advice.
Zuheir Kredieh,
a portrait.
When you’re not making movies what do you
like to do?
I’m a thinker. I overthink, which can be toxic
at some point. That’s why I go out and take
photographs, too. I’m an observer, I listen to
people’s chat and get inspired. There’s always
a story that needs to be told. Creativity can go
wrong if we sit and don’t move.
How was lockdown for you?
Lockdown was very tough but the success of my
film gave me hope during the pandemic.
You’re a handsome director – ever thought of
getting in front of the camera?
[Blushes] I’m flattered! There are people who
are more handsome who need someone to
direct them – I’m happy to be that person.
I don’t mind being in front of the camera if
there’s necessity, like in a documentary.
Are you romantically attached?
I am very attached at the moment and let’s
speak about mental health, too. I have an
emotionally unstable personality disorder
coming from traumatic childhood experiences.
I can get attached very easily and have a fear of
detachment.
Did you imagine, five years ago, that this is
where you’d be now?
To be honest, I knew that I was going to get
somewhere because I’m very determined but
I never imagined being where I am today…
I’m getting so emotional… Thank you for
reminding me about my beautiful journey.
Where’s the best place for people to find you
or see your work?
Everything is social media now. I’m on
Instagram if people would like to connect. I
hope to have my next films get into cinemas
worldwide. See You Tomorrow is currently
doing the festival circuit. Its next selection is
for Los Angeles Rocks Film Festival, which will
hopefully be in May in Hollywood.
What would you like to tell DNA readers?
Everything is possible in this life. Always
remember that flying in the sky was once a
dream, an idea, a vision. Never underestimate
what you can do. I love you
Anything important we’ve missed?
I think I missed taking my HIV tablet while
doing this interview! [Laughs].
MORE: See You Tomorrow is currently playing
(online) film festivals circuits around the world.
Find Zuheir Kredieh on Instagram.
DNA 73
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IN THE BATH
WITH JUAN
PHOTOGRAPHY JOAN CRISOL
Ú JOAN_CRISOL

MODEL JOHN NEDA

Ú JOOHNNEDA

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 A DICTIONARY GUIDE TO STUFF GAYS LOVE
COMPILED BY PAUL JOSEPH AND TIM BENZIE

OSCAR WILDE
In the late 1800s Oscar Wilde was the toast
of London, with his scandalous comedies
including An Ideal Husband and The
Importance Of Being Earnest playing to
adoring audiences. He even had groupies:
ORGIES homosexual fans wore “unnatural”
green carnations to performances as a
secret symbol. But when the Marquess
Of Queensberry accused him of being a
sodomite, Wilde sued him, lost, and was
THE MORECOCK FAMILY BY MARCO OVANDO

sentenced to hard labour in prison. He died

The Ancient Greek orgia involved ritualistic
worship that could include masked dancing,
animal sacrifice and a state of ecstasy that
brought participants closer to the divine. This
evolved to describe any form of arranged
group sex, especially where there’s a level of
anonymity among those involved. In terms of
modern gay sex, the word feels a little dated –
give us gangbangs or chillouts, not grapes and
goats on a chaise lounge. Hell, we’ve forever
been making out en masse everywhere from
New York piers to Berlin sex clubs, and many a
gym changeroom inbetween. Important note:
according to Wikipedia an orgy includes at least
five people, so if you’re down for a three- or
foursome you may need to bring a friend or two.
penniless in Paris. His celebration of beauty
and subversive wit made public a new type
of person in society, although they didn’t yet
have a name for us – for years after the trial,
an “Oscar Wilder” became shorthand for
queer. A reluctant icon, he lived by his claim
that “in matters of grave importance, style
not sincerity, is the vital thing”.
OUT
Being “out of the closet” or openly gay has “if Kevin in accounting is homosexual, then
been the single most important political act maybe gays aren’t all bad”. Yet Eve Kosofsky
for gay people in the last century. Unlike Sedgwick’s Epistemology Of The Closet
race (arguably), sexuality has to be (way back in 1990) argued that the
performed to be seen, so to win whole concept limited sexuality
political rights we had to drop to a homo/hetero binary that
the pearls and pick up the simplified our complex
placards. Today, the sheer natures. Gen Zers might
volume of out gay people well agree and time will
has helped generations tell if future generations
of families, friends and will need (or miss) the
colleagues get over their elephantine wardrobe in
homophobia because, the corner.

ORVILLE PECK
We do like
a mystery,
especially
when it
involves a hot
gay cowboy,
and even more
so if there
are tassels
involved!
Orville Peck stormed the Country music
scene with his debut album Pony in 2019.
His vintage decorative suits and husky voice
recall Johnny Cash, but as far as his face goes,
all we get is piercing blue eyes behind his
trademark fringed masks. We do know Peck is a
pseudonym, that he is gay, in his 30s, and based
in Canada. Proudly doing his thing for Queens
and Country, last year Peck released both a
cover of Smalltown Boy and a duet with Shania
Twain. A masked singer we are in no rush to
reveal, Peck remains the enigmatic country
crooner we never knew we needed.

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PHOTOGRAPHY JOAN CRISOL
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MODELS PAOLO BELLUCI
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PHOTOGRAPHY ADRIAN C. MARTIN
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