For Tiara Skye and Shivani Dave’s iconic ‘wedding’ cover for our Straight Issue, we threw a divorce celebration to remember.

ICYMI: The latest issue of GAY TIMES? Well, it’s heterosexuality themed.

Yes, it’s a tiiiiiny bit off-brand for a queer publication, but we decided it was time to flip the script and interrogate the institution of cis-heterosexuality and, why, exactly, it continues to hold so much power. 

In the issue, we have essays addressing homonormativity (heteronormativity’s gay cousin), how a short-lived Glastonbury fling reveals straight men’s relationship to the queer community, and a follow-up to Asa Seresin’s viral 2019 essay on heterofatalism. 

These are all great reads, we can assure you, but our pièce de résistance is our cover shoot: a fabulous, parodic celebration of the tabloid celebrity wedding. Featuring two icons of the UK queer community – performer and TikTok queen Tiara Skye and broadcaster and London Dyke March co-founder Shivani Dave – the images and accompanying story recreate the heterosexual marriage spectacle in Stoke Newington’s Clissold Park. 

While, contrary to what our social media audience seemed to believe, this was not a real marriage in any legal sense of the term, it was a coming together of two forces within our community – and a celebration of queer and trans creativity. 

So, in order to launch this iconic cover IRL and not just on our social media feeds, GAY TIMES decided to do what we do best – throw a party! 

With a guest list focussed on the GAY TIMES community – including some of our favourite writers, photographers and collaborators – we descended upon Dalston’s The Divine on 23 April for an evening of music, cake, and gossip. 

Fittingly, as a goodbye to Tiara and Shivani’s short-lived union, the party was divorce-themed and culminated with a ‘press conference’ where the two cover stars fielded questions from our audience about the demise of their ‘wedding’.

Taking over the decks before Tiara and Shivani graced the stage, we were blessed to welcome DJs Lil C, Lagoon Femshayma and Elkka (thank you divas!) and, throughout the night, attendees were encouraged to reflect on their own past relationships – the good, the bad, and the ugly – with a ‘Write A Letter To Your Ex’ station.

The night was finished off with ‘I’m Sorry About Your Divorce’ cake, eaten from plastic water glasses (no plates could be found) and washed down with prosecco. 

The overall message: romantic relationships may end, but queer community is forever!

Check out the images from the night, lensed by the fabulous Karen Stanley, above.

Subscribe and support GAY TIMES here.

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The UK’s Equalities and Human Rights Commission has issued bizarre interim guidance on the implementation of the UK Supreme Court ruling. Here’s what you can do to help.

TW: transphobia, transphobic terms used when quoting official documents. 

On 15 April, in a devastating blow to trans rights, the UK Supreme Court ruled that the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex alone. 

We are already seeing the negative effects come into play: last night, the EHRC (the Equalities and Human Rights Commission) issued disappointing interim guidance on how organisations should interpret the Supreme Court ruling. 

The guidance states that, in workplaces and services open to the public, trans women should not be allowed to use women’s toilets and trans men should not be allowed to use men’s toilets. It also adds that, in some cases, trans women can be blocked from men’s toilets and trans men from women’s toilets.

While advocating for the exclusion of trans people from all single-sex toilets, the guidance states that “where possible” mixed-sex toilets, washing or changing facilities should be available in addition to single-sex facilities. 

The guidance also ignores – or, more accurately, wilfully undermines – the fact that trans men can be bi or gay and trans women can be bi or lesbians. 

It advocates for the exclusion of trans people from gay and lesbian spaces, stating that, for associations of 25 or more people: “A women-only or lesbian-only association should not admit trans women (biological men), and a men-only or gay men-only association should not admit trans men (biological women).”

At a school level, it states: “Pupils who identify as trans girls (biological boys) should not be permitted to use the girls’ toilet or changing facilities, and pupils who identify as trans boys (biological girls) should not be permitted to use the boys’ toilet or changing facilities. Suitable alternative provisions may be required.”

 

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The context

The Supreme Court’s decision dictates how the 2010 Equality Act – which aims to prevent discrimination based on a number of protected characteristics, including sex – will be interpreted across Britain. 

The ruling was the culmination of a legal battle brought by For Women Scotland – a gender critical group which received a £70,000 donation from JK Rowling to help challenge the Scottish government’s assertion that any woman with a Gender Recognition Certificate is entitled to the same sex-based protections as women assigned female at birth. 

Understandably, the past week has been greatly disheartening and upsetting to trans women – and the wider trans and queer community – as the Supreme Court has opened the door to excluding trans people from single-sex spaces and undermining trans agency and dignity. 

What can be done about it? 

We’re unequivocally of the belief that the UK Supreme Court’s ruling – and the EHRC’s subsequent interpretation and guidance – are grievous attacks on the trans community’s right to simply exist in public. 

The queer community and allies must come together to challenge this – here are some things that can be done. 

Donate: 

Currently, The Good Law Project is fundraising to challenge the Supreme Court’s judgement, arguing that it has placed the UK in breach of its obligations under the Human Rights Act. You can donate here. 

If you have the means, direct your money and resources to the trans community: connect trans people to paid opportunities, donate to trans-led organisations and contribute to trans people’s fundraisers for gender-confirming care. 

Agitate:

Write to your MP! Write to the Prime Minister! Show up to a rally! 

If you’re unsure of how to go about writing to an elected official, the charity Trans Actual has helpful advice on how to write to Kier Starmer, your MP, or the Equalities Minister. 

Whether or not you identify as trans, you can also show up to Trans Pride marches in solidarity – come out for the trans community whenever you can.

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Participate: 

When it comes to directly addressing trans bathroom access, community solutions are already emerging. 

P Eldridge, Fi Kube and Caitlin McLoughlin, via SISSY ANARCHY, have just launched the Trans Bathroom Access Sticker and a plan for trans bathroom inclusion. 

“We launched this initiative to mitigate the effects of oncoming laws on trans people’s access to public life, which will be severely impacted, particularly as it pertains to access to public bathrooms. Trans people deserve the dignity and respect to leave the home knowing they can access a bathroom, or other spaces where gender is regulated, with simplicity, ease and safety,” say Eldridge and Kube.

The plan encourages workers, trans people and allies, to propose the following to employers:

 1) Allow all trans people to access the business’s bathroom; whether they are customers or not.

 2) Display a vinyl window sticker that declares your bathrooms are safe, accessible spaces for trans people. 

Community solutions like the Trans Bathroom Access Sticker allow individuals to make positive changes to support trans people – and encourage businesses to send a message of solidarity. 

“We need businesses to become advocates for the safety of trans people because right now, across the UK and beyond, trans people are facing unprecedented political attacks. We ask businesses to purchase the sticker and feature it on the facade of their business, showing they are a safe place for trans people to use their facilities, whether they are customers or not,” add Eldridge and Kube. 

“This small act sends a BIG message: You see trans people. You support trans people. You are a safe space for trans people to use basic facilities.”

For further info, and to buy the Trans Bathroom Access Sticker, click here.

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Feeling isolated? Getting active alongside your community can help. Here are the queer running clubs to know.

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH VOLTAROL

PHOTOGRAPHY JADE SMITH

While social media has found new ways to connect humans across the globe, paradoxically, it seems like loneliness is the defining feeling of our times. 

In 2023, the World Health Organisation declared loneliness a ‘global public health concern’ which can be as harmful for people’s health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. 

In the UK, according to official statistics, 7% of people report feeling lonely often or always. This figure increases sharply for those who are gay and lesbian (12%) and bisexual (16%), as well as for those whose gender identity is different from their sex registered at birth (19%).

In response to the isolation which so many people face in their day-to-day, folks have been lacing up their running shoes: data from Strava app and survey respondents, indicates a 59% increase in running club participation in 2024, with 58% of survey respondents saying that fitness groups helped them make new friends.

Running groups offer an opportunity to bring people together, fostering communities based around a shared love of running and movement as an antidote to isolation.  

The importance of queer-focused running groups

However, queer and trans folks might be less likely to seek out these groups. While loneliness is a pressing issue in the community, research by the National LGBT Partnership in 2016 found that 56% of LGBT women, 55% of LGBT men, and 64% of non-binary LGBT folks were not active enough to maintain good health.

The reasons for this may be due to the perceived barriers to access, with research suggesting that queer and trans people might not feel like existing exercise facilities are inclusive spaces.

To combat this, several LGBTQIA+ specific running collectives have emerged – creating opportunities for queer and trans people to come together, move their bodies and help combat loneliness by finding community and new friends. 

Dotted across the UK, these clubs are available in so many different cities: from Cardiff Foxes in Wales to Edinburgh Frontrunners in Scotland. Each group offers a space for all identities under the LGBTQIA+ umbrella to run and train without fear of homophobia and transphobia, and to meet people with similar outlooks and perspectives. 

For more details on queer running clubs in your area, please consult Pride Sports. 

Queer running groups as a space for community connection

In London, a vibrant community has developed at Queer Running Club, a group which is hosted on the queer-focused, fitness booking platform BEND Movement. 

BEND is co-founded by Georgie Okell, a fitness trainer whose work focuses on trans and queer inclusion. For Georgie, their running journey began as a “coping mechanism” and a way to improve their mental health. 

Similarly, Emma Kirk-Odunubi is a coach and running analyst for whom running has been a major source of self-discovery. Following the death of her father, she explains that throwing herself into running “saved” her and provided an antidote to the grief she was dealing with. 

In recent years, she’s turned to the sport as a way of exploring queerness. “I only came out 4 or 5 years ago. When I realised that was who I am, I sought out queer running groups, to have that relaxation in a space where you’re not putting on a front.”

For Georgie, there is still not sufficient trans inclusion in the running world – something which groups like the Queer Running Club are trying to change – but they note that running creates a unique opportunity for togetherness.

“I ran [the London Marathon] two years ago and I wore a t-shirt and I’d written on the back ‘trans rights are human rights’” they explain. “Everyone feels part of [the marathon] – if you’re there supporting, if you’re there running, you feel like a part of something so big.”

How Voltarol can support your queer running journey

Now, Emma is training for the London Marathon with Team Voltarol – but how can Voltarol help support you on your training journey by tackling pain?

While there are so many different aspects of training, one hurdle runners can face is that – alongside the dedication, perseverance and joy – there may be a bit of pain. From training through bad weather or going to new lengths in your training journey, your muscles and joints may start to ache or feel stiff. 

As the official pain relief partner of London Marathon, Voltarol is here to help. Voltarol Gel provides up to 12 hours maximum strength pain relief for sprains, strains and sports injuries. (Voltarol Joint & Back Pain Relief 2.32% Gel. Contains diclofenac diethylammonium. Always read the label.)

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Ruby Rare speaks to GAY TIMES to celebrate the release of The Non-Monogamy Playbook, a modern guide to navigating the world of non-monogamy.

Sometimes it can feel like there isn’t a single queer person who hasn’t tried non-monogamy at some point – but of course, as a polyamorous person myself, this is what I would say. While folks are certainly more aware of non-monogamy than ever before, and a thriving online community has cropped up of polyamory influencers creating educational content, it can sometimes be hard to know exactly how to begin, and continue to navigate, your non-monogamous journey. 

Specifically, it’s easy to feel uncertain when it comes to finding the answers to questions plaguing us at different points of our non-monogamous journey: from how to close an open relationship to advice on navigating whorephobic non-monogamous partners (hint: dump them!), or even tips on coming out as polyamorous to your family. 

That’s where the community’s love of relationship handbooks comes in: whether it’s picking up a well-thumbed copy of The Ethical Slut, lending a friend a copy of Polysecure to navigate some metamour drama, or downloading a PDF of legendary guide The Short Instructional Manifesto for Relationship Anarchy.

The latest entry into the canon of non-monogamy advice? The Non-Monogamy Playbook, from writer, educator and veritable icon Ruby Rare. Accessible, thorough and distinctly unpatronising (an important quality in self-help books, believe me) the book provides necessary context about the non-monogamous community, while succinctly explaining some of the subculture’s key terms. But it’s not all talk and no action – there are a range of prompts and thought-starters to help readers deepen their understanding of non-monogamy and begin to put these teachings into practice. 

Below, we catch up with Rare to discuss her own non-monogamy journey and explore the intersections between the queer and polyamorous communities. 

 

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Great to meet you Ruby! First off, how would you describe your own polyamory journey and how do you currently identify? 

I’ve been non-monogamous in some form or other for a decade now, and it’s been a ride. During the early years, especially, there were a lot of mistakes made and mess – to be honest, I think that’s an unavoidable part of the journey. After about three years, things started to level out and be less turbulent. I’m currently somewhere in between solo polyamorous and practising relationship anarchy. I’ve got a handful of loved ones that I share beautiful and filthy connections with, and I’m enjoying treating my relationship with myself as my ‘primary’ partnership.

I know that sounds a bit Eat, Pray, Love but it’s honestly doing wonders for me at the moment. I tend to use the phrase ‘non-monogamy’ because it’s the broadest term and gives an indication of how I do things without having to specify details straight up. It’s kind of like how the word ‘queer’ gives a general flavour of how you may identify in terms of sexual orientation, without you having to ‘prove’ exactly what that looks and feels like to you.

What are some of the biggest ways you’ve come into your queer, non-monogamous identity over the years? 

For me, non-monogamy and queerness feel very woven together as aspects of my life, because they both define how I create romantic and/or sexual connections. They also play a big part in shaping my politics and how I root myself in community. It’s quite hard to distinguish between the two, to be honest, which is why writing the ‘Queering Relationships’ chapter in my book felt so important. For me, non-monogamy aligns a lot with queer theory, and invites me to question rigid social scripts and learn to embrace fluidity and the unexpected.

How do you think that your book builds on the history of beloved non-monogamous how-to guides like The Ethical Slut and Polysecure?

There are some incredible books out there already, so I really thought hard about if and how I wanted to add my voice to the mix. In the end, I thought it was important to speak about non-monogamy from a UK perspective, because so many of the books and resources available are from the US. I also wanted to weave more personal experiences and informality into my book, along with introducing more political and theory-based ideas in an accessible way. Ultimately, I feel proud that this is my contribution to the wider conversation, I want more books available so that curious people have more perspectives to learn from.

“I’ve been non-monogamous in some form or other for a decade now. It’s been a ride”

Within the queer community, there is an expectation that bisexual and fluid sexual identities are more likely to be non-monogamous. What have you found in your personal experience?

On a personal level, I do see a lot of bi+ people who find that non-monogamy affirms their sexuality and can be a beautiful way of expressing it. However, there are so many bi+ people in happy monogamous relationships, which we need to celebrate and not discredit!

Anecdotally, there seems to be an overlap between kink and non-monogamy. Why do you think that is? 

There’s for sure a link between non-monogamy and kink communities. If you start questioning social norms about sex and relationships and begin exploring, there’s a good chance you’ll dip your toes into both of these spaces. The last kink event I was at was pretty much exclusively polyamorous and non-monogamous people, they don’t necessarily go hand-in-hand, but they often do.

As a last question, let’s get stuck into a classic question of  ~non-monogamy discourse~. What do you think on the age-old question: is polyamory is an orientation, like queerness, or whether it’s more of a lifestyle informed by choice?

This is a tricky one! My thoughts on this change often. For a lot of people, probably myself included, non-monogamy feels like an additional element to the way they do relationships. We’ve also got to acknowledge there are others who feel this is an inherent, non-negotiable part of their identity. Ten years in, this started out as a choice for me but now I really don’t think I could go back to being a monogamous babe. 

It’s important to listen to that and respect it, and acknowledge the real stigmas faced by non-monogamous people, most pressing around child custody, employment and housing. But I start feeling wary when this is put at the same level as systemic prejudice tied to racism, transphobia or ableism. There’s some perspective needed to be aware of how discrimination linked to non-monogamy sits alongside, and within, other forms of discrimination.

Get your copy of The Non-Monogamy Playbook here.

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The photographer discusses ‘Intertwined’: their latest photobook meditating on queer interconnectedness and community.

IMAGES SYPROS RENNT

Tattooed limbs tangled together in bedsheets, anonymous couples kissing on the dance floor, partially nude bodies bent in different shapes across living room furniture. These are just a few of the scenarios included within Intertwined: the latest photobook from the Greek, Berlin-based photographer Spyros Rennt. Reflecting on themes of queer intimacy and interconnectedness, the project, as Rennt explains, depicts “bodies, emotions, and moments overlapping and blending into each other”. 

A departure from the image-maker’s more explicitly erotic work, the project explores bonds of friendship and understanding that permeate the queer community. There’s also an implicit sense of trust and mutual respect between Rennt and his subjects, with the photographer’s honest gaze gently surveying his subjects in their most vulnerable moments — as they embrace a lover or regard the camera in various stats of undress. 

Below, the photographer discusses this latest photo project, his experiences of Berlin queer culture, and the commercialisation of nightlife across the past decade. 

First thing’s first, why did you decide to call this book Intertwined?

The title Intertwined felt right because the book is all about connection – bodies, emotions, and moments overlapping and blending into each other. My work has always been about intimacy, and with this book, I wanted to emphasise how relationships, friendships, and fleeting encounters all weave together to create something bigger. There’s also a strong physical aspect – I love shooting people in a way that their bodies merge, forming weird, almost sculptural shapes. That visual entanglement speaks directly to the title.

But beyond the physical, Intertwined also reflects something deeper: the way queer lives are inherently connected. Our fates, especially within our chosen family, are tied together – we support, shape, and carry each other through life. This sense of interdependence is something I feel deeply, and the book is a way of capturing that.

This latest phonebook serves as a departure from some of your more erotically charged work – how has this project evolved your perception and understanding of intimacy?

This book really reflects the mood and vibe I was in while creating it – I wanted to curate something that felt moody, even melancholic. That’s why it’s not as erotically charged as some of my previous work. I think it also shows a kind of evolution, maybe even maturity, in the way I approach intimacy. But that doesn’t mean I’ve left the erotic aspect behind – just that, for now, I was drawn to a different kind of emotional depth. Who knows what’s next?

Your work captures moments of closeness, hedonism and intimacy between individuals, how do you capture these moments without veering into voyeurism?

The people I photograph are either my friends or individuals who trust me and my vision. I don’t just walk into strangers’ bedrooms and start shooting intimate moments – there’s always a foundation of trust first. That makes all the difference. Once that connection is there, the process feels natural, collaborative, and organic rather than voyeuristic. It’s about capturing something real, not just observing from the outside.

"I don’t just walk into strangers’ bedrooms and start shooting intimate moments – there’s always a foundation of trust first"

Many of your images toy with ideas of anonymity, capturing bodies rather than faces. What is the thinking behind this creative decision?

For me, it’s more important to document the action rather than the individual – I don’t approach my work in a gossipy way. Focusing on bodies rather than faces shifts the attention to the feeling, the movement, the energy of the moment. Plus, anonymity makes the work more relatable and accessible – viewers can see themselves in the images, rather than feeling like they’re just looking at someone else’s life.

Your work is often associated with the dance floor – what is your relationship to nightlife and how does it inspire your work?

A lot of people associate my work with nightlife documentation, especially from my early years when I was constantly taking photos while going out. I don’t do it as much anymore, but I still love that kind of photography, and I’m really happy I captured those moments when I did. There’s something special about photographing people when they’re out – everyone is looking their best, feeling good, and fully present in the moment.

Nightlife also played a huge role in my personal connections – I met some of my best friends that way, and photography was a big part of bringing me closer to people. Beyond that, I’ve always felt connected to the underground and subcultural side of nightlife, which is where so much creativity, freedom, and self-expression thrive.

How do you think nightlife has changed since you first starting taking photos from the frontline of queer nightlife?

Talking about Berlin, where I’ve been based since 2011, I’d say the biggest change is that nightlife has gotten more expensive. I remember paying 6 euros for a 24-hour party back then, now it’s 20+ euros. That shift isn’t just about ticket prices; it reflects a broader change in the city.

I also feel like I meet fewer interesting people now. Back in the day, Berlin was full of these wild, unpredictable characters who were just existing, creating, and thriving without being tied down by conventional work structures. But with the rising cost of living, people need stable jobs just to afford to be here, which inevitably affects the kind of crowd you find in nightlife. There’s still amazing energy, but it’s different.

Berlin figures as something of an omnipresent character in your photography to date. What does the city mean to you, as a person and as an artist?

Moving to Berlin played a huge role in shaping my life, both as a person and as an artist. Honestly, I don’t think I would have become a photographer if I hadn’t been here. Berlin showed me that a completely different way of life is possible – where creativity can flow freely and without many of the restrictions you find elsewhere.

How I became a photographer was pretty organic: I knew I wanted to do something creative, and I also knew that the community and experiences I was having – whether at parties, on the streets, or in quieter moments – were so interesting and real. So, I just started documenting it. If I’d been in another city, I’m not sure I would have had that same drive or sense of urgency to capture what I was experiencing. Berlin really opened up that possibility for me.

Lastly, as a queer photographer, how do you think your work fits into a lineage of LGBTQIA+ image-making?

I definitely look up to and cherish the work of the great artists who came before me, like Nan Goldin, Wolfgang Tillmans, Ryan McGinley, and Walter Pfeiffer. Their work has been incredibly inspiring, not just in terms of the images they created, but in how they shaped a visual language for queer life and intimacy. It would be an honour to be following in those legacies, and I absolutely strive for it in my own work. At the same time, I hope to add something unique to the conversation and continue pushing the boundaries of how we see and represent queer experiences.

Order Intertwined here. 

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The Museum of Transology is ringing in a decade with a new exhibition tracing trans, non-binary and intersex experiences through over 1000 objects and stories.

Transcestry is no regular exhibition. Bringing together 1000 objects and stories from trans, non-binary and intersex communities, it brings together everything from protest placards to personal ephemera to create a wide-ranging view of gender diverse life.

Here, artwork and zines are displayed alongside tights, items of clothing, tickets and razors – placing creative work exploring transness in dialogue with quotidian artefacts from individuals’ private gender journeys. Presented alongside these various objects are modest, brown tags carrying a note from the original owner about its significance, often written with earnest joy or misty-eyed sentimentality.

To be in a space which centres trans, non-binary and intersex lives, their personal histories and joys, is a special experience. Nowhere is there an impulse to explain or, worse, justify oneself for a cis audience: it’s a rare opportunity for gender diverse perspectives to be presented in an accepting, affirming environment and a place where trans+ folks can see their experiences reflected back to them.

For the past decade, The Museum of Transology has been dedicated to faithfully archiving gender diverse life for future generations and Transcestry is a celebration of ten years of this vital work. Below, E-J Scott, Founder of the Museum of Transology and a Senior Lecturer at Central Saint Martins, pulls out five key works from Transcestry and explains their significance.

TICKET TO ANOHNI AND THE JOHNSONS’ CONCERT

Marlo Mortimer, Letter To My Little Trans Self in collaboration with hotpencil press. MOT/2024/LTMLTS/007 

Tag: “MY TICKET TO SEE ANOHNI AND THE JOHNSONS AT SHEPHERD’S BUSH EMPIRE IN 2005. IT WAS THE FIRST TIME I SAW HER PERFORM LIVE. I HAVE NOW SEEN HER 7 TIMES. SHE IS A TRUE LOVE OF MINE. I FOUND SOMETHING IN HER MUSIC I BADLY NEEDED TO HEAR 💟 THANK YOU ANOHNI!”

E-J: “Just like in the gay community, cultural icons act as role models for the trans community that we turn to in the best of times and the hardest of times. Anohni actually kissed Martha P Johnson’s hand! We have been supporting each other across generations in the fight for trans human rights.”

BLACK DRESS

Travis Alabanza, Original Collection, 2014. MOT000052/1 

Tag: “this wasn’t the first dress I ever wore, but it was the first dress I put on and thought… “oh my god, I look good, I look like, me” I truly felt, if possible, like my gender.”

E-J: “When you visit the TRANSCESTRY exhibition, the first thing you’ll see is Zsarday Forde’s fur coat (AKA Skinny Bitch), then a video of her performing in a fur coat at the Black Cap where she is introduced onto the stage by Regina Fong (1992). Then you’ll see Mzz Kimberley’s first dress, she was the one who saved Zsarday’s coat when she died on her 40th birthday, and then years later donated it to the Museum of Transology. Then you’ll see the first dress Travis Alabanza felt truly reflected their gender identity. In the next video after Zsarday’s, Travis Alabanza restages her act move-for-move at Duckie’s Gay Shame (2019). Their act was directed by Nando Messiah’s, whose dress from her performance series Sissy’s Progress (2013). 

This lineage proves trans women of colour have been saving their transcestry long before British Museums were.”

GREEN TIGHTS “WIG”

Charlie Craggs, Letter To My Little Trans Self in collaboration with hotpencil press. MOT/2024/LTMLTS/011 

Tag: “These green tights were my ‘hair’ as a child, and in retrospect my first experience of ✨GENDER EUPHORIA✨”

E-J:  “I mean everyone knows how hilarious and brave and honest Charlie Craggs is – now we have evidence she’s been cheeky since she was a kid! This object is full of so much trans joy you can’t help but smile imagining her running around with it on her head.”

PEBBLES IN A BAG

National Day of Trans Collecting, M Shed Bristol, funded by the National Heritage Lottery Fund. MOT/2024/BRIS/010.1 

Tag: “The floor of my dressing room! While stuck in the closet at home, the most convenient place I can dress how I want to when going out is a driveway that leads to an alleyway behind everyone’s back-gardens. Today like many days, the stone are wet courtesy of the delightful British weather :D”

E-J: “There is so much meaning in this little money bag of pebbles. The way trans people can be forced into the closet, just like lesbian and gay people were and still are in some cultures for their own safety. It shows the determination nonetheless, to live our lives fully. It shows how these situations can lead to danger – just imagine the misreporting to police that could happen if a trans misogynist saw her changing outside… And finally, her inspirational sense of humour – despite the trauma embedded in this story, she can still crack a joke about the English weather.”

SILVER RAZOR

National Day of Collecting Manchester, Manchester Central Library, funded by National Heritage Lottery Fund. Manchester, 20.04.2024. MOT/2024/MANC/002

Tag: “My dad gave me this razor when I was 15. No one ever taught him to shave so when I came out he wanted to make sure I would not be left alone like him.”

E-J: “This razor shows just how much trans kids are loved by families everywhere. The week before Christmas, one of our youngest volunteers from the Trans Kids Deserve Better collective took their own life. Just this Thursday, a Mum, Dad and sister flew over to visit the TRANSCESTRY exhibition all the way from Israel to see the black vest their trans daughter died in. The Museum of Transology’s collection shows that it doesn’t have to be this way. Our young people need our whole LGBTIQA+ community’s love in order to thrive. This young guy’s Dad is a legend and his son has a brighter future because of him.”

Transcestry runs until 11 May at the Lethaby Gallery, Central St Martins, Granary Building, 1 Granary. Head to the Museum of Transology website for further details and opening hours.

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Nightlife organiser Lewis Burton reflects on ten years of London’s iconic, trans-centred techno night, alongside bold club photos from the INFERNO archive by Roxy Lee.

IMAGES ROXY LEE

Across ten years of raves, raucous party attendees and thumping techno, INFERNO has become synonymous with London’s shifting, experimental queer club scene. Founded by Lewis G. Burton in 2015, what started as a party has morphed into a performance art platform, an incubator for queer talent, and a vital space to prioritise trans and non-binary community. From parties across Europe and a residence in Amsterdam’s RADION, to a zine and annual summit, it’s become a veritable cultural movement.

As they announce an INFERO hiatus, we speak to Burton about the best moments from ten years of the iconic club night and the pressures forcing working class creatives out of nightlife.

Congrats on a decade of INFERNO! Let’s rewind a bit, how did the first party come to be?

INFERNO started because, 10 years ago, there wasn’t another LGBTQ+ centred techno party. Some of the elders in the community were running events, but they weren’t explicitly for us – and at times, they felt unsafe. I was always aware of how nightlife and queer history are deeply intertwined, and I wanted to carry that torch into a new generation. INFERNO was my way of honouring those who came before us while incorporating what I was learning about community care, empathy, and support.

The first events were held at Dalston Superstore for the first few years. We completely transformed the space – blaring techno and hard dance filled the basement, with boundary-pushing performance art electrifying the room. Upstairs, drag queens danced on the bar to the campest pop, disco, and R&B bangers. It was giving pure heaven and hell – chaotic, euphoric, and exactly what queer nightlife needed at the time.

What are you proudest of from your years with INFERNO?

The beautiful community that has grown around INFERNO. What started as a small event for me, my friends, and their friends has grown into something far beyond what I ever imagined. Now, over 1,000 people regularly pack out Colour Factory in Hackney Wick. I’ve witnessed so many people step into their most authentic selves, becoming queerer, bolder, and more liberated. To provide a space where people feel safe to embrace that authenticity – and empowered to do so – is something I’m deeply proud of.

INFERNO has also given us incredible opportunities to collaborate with institutions like ICA and the V&A, as well as expanding across Asia and Europe. We now have a residency at RADION in Amsterdam, which is a legendary club in its own right.

More than anything, I’m proud of the incredible DJs, artists, performers, and musicians who have grown through INFERNO and gone on to conquer the world. A decade later, we are still standing – and in this brutal nightlife landscape, that’s something to be immensely proud of.

Do you have any fun anecdotes or stories from the past decade?

So many! One that stands out is when a performer did something wild in a paddling pool. What we hadn’t accounted for was how heavy it would be with water in it – so when we went to remove it, the bottom broke, flooding the dance floor. Picture a queue of club kids (myself included) in full geish, mopping the floor at 3am to a soundtrack of pounding techno. It was absolute carnage.

The last INFERNO – our 10-year anniversary Red Rave – was one of the best nights of my life. It reminded me just how much this night means to so many people. It was one of those rare, magical moments where everyone showed up as their best selves, leaving their baggage at the door and coming together in pure appreciation and love for the space and each other. Everyone’s DJ sets were spectacular from start to finish, I performed with trans punk musician Sissy Misfit, and everyone turned it the fuck out in their finest red looks. It’s a night I’ll hold in my heart forever.

How has queer nightlife changed between when you started the night and now?

Queer nightlife used to feel more raw, hedonistic, and unpredictable – back then, we didn’t have smart phones! It felt lawless in a way that was both thrilling and, at times, chaotic. In terms of community, I think things have improved because of social media, there’s now a broader awareness of how we expect people to behave in queer spaces. It used to feel like the Wild West, but now we’re talking more about how to show up for each other, on and off the dance floor. And given that politically, things are worse for our community than they’ve ever been, this kind of solidarity has never been more important.

But I’ve also seen the impact of gentrification, the cost-of-living crisis, and the pandemic on our spaces. Working-class people – the ones who built queer nightlife – are being pushed out. The cost of running nights, DJing, or even just going out has skyrocketed. If I were moving to London now, INFERNO probably wouldn’t exist, I wouldn’t have been able to take the risk. These days, most working-class people in nightlife are behind the bar, at the door, or working cloakroom. We’re losing the next generation of grassroots queer creativity, and that’s a tragedy.

Oh, and RuPaul killed the drag queen! There was a time when people would turn looks in the club just for the joy of it. That’s something we’ve fought to keep alive at INFERNO – a space where identity, individuality, and creativity still take centre stage.

Nightlife is evolving, but because it’s so deeply tied to money and capital, marginalised communities are always hit first. We’re already seeing that in the loss of LGBTQ+ spaces, but it feels like the people in power aren’t listening. As someone who’s been at the forefront of this community for over 13 years, I know firsthand how vital nightlife is, not just culturally and artistically, but for people’s physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing.

How has the night been able to foster and encourage queer creativity?

INFERNO has always been a platform first, a party second. We’ve given emerging DJs, performers, and artists a space to experiment and create without fear. I’ve mentored the next generation of LGBTQ+ club nights and promoters, passing on knowledge and skills while giving them opportunities – like taking over INFERNO’s second room.

We also host the INFERNO Summit, a bi-annual seminar where we explore different themes and celebrate the beauty, talent, and diversity in our community.

Over the years, we’ve commissioned over 250 works of art, showcased over 500 performers and had over 2,000 DJ sets worldwide. INFERNO’s impact has been global – I’ve had people from almost every continent tell me it inspired them to start their own nights and build their own communities. We’ve blurred the lines between music, fashion, art, and performance, creating a space where people push beyond their limits. Some of the most innovative queer artists of today started at INFERNO, and that’s something I’ll forever be proud of.

What’s next for INFERNO?

I’m taking a sabbatical! The pandemic taught me that sometimes, stepping back is necessary – to reassess, to evolve, to figure out the bigger picture. Nightlife is changing rapidly, and spaces like INFERNO are more vital than ever. With trans rights under attack globally, we need spaces where we can be together, be seen, and know we are loved.

That being said, INFERNO isn’t disappearing. We’re continuing our residency at RADION in Amsterdam, including a special collaboration with resident Samantha Togni’s Boudica on Friday, 23rd May. We may even pop up at a few festivals this summer, keep an eye on our socials.

I’d also like to do one final, huge send-off event before rebirthing INFERNO into something more intimate but more regular – a space where community, care, and creativity are truly at the core. But I need time to figure out what that looks like.

During my break, I’ll be organising London Trans+ Pride (26th July), working on new music with Wax Wings, and finalising the first draft of my book, a guide to everything I’ve learned over the last decade as a community leader.

I’ll still be keeping busy as ever, while plotting the day INFERNO will return…

The post A decade of club kid fashion and chaos at INFERNO appeared first on GAY TIMES.

What to visit and where to go out if you’re queer and heading to the Catalan capital.

WITH THANKS TO THE HOUSE OF ERIKALUST AND THE BARCELONA EDITION

Sandwiched between a beach and the peak of Tibidabo, a hill which, for some reason, boasts both a monastery and a theme park, Barcelona is a tourism beacon.

It’s likely you already know the city’s major attractions: the colourful, cartoonish architecture of Gaudí, clamorous market stalls snaking down La Rambla, and the characterful buildings in the Gothic Quarter. There’s also the annual Primavera Sound festival, which is to liberal arts students what Aiya Napa is to school-leavers.

If you are going to Barca, we beg you to switch up your itinerary. Ditch the TikTok recs and old school travel guides and listen to us. Not only will we look after you, we’ll make sure you have a gay (or LGBTQIA+) old time.

LGBTQIA+ Barcelona:

Anyone who values GAY TIMES travel tips is likely of the queer and/or trans persuasion. (Any allies reading this, have a gold star). If you’re heading to Barcelona, there will be plenty of options to keep you entertained.

Beyond the typical petty crime you can experience in any major city (hold on tight to your wallet) it’s a pretty safe spot for queer folks and you’ll see lots of couples holding hands on the streets. Have a scan of any street and you can easily spot queer-friendly venues: they often sport Pride and trans flags in their windows.

There’s also plenty of gay-centric bars, clubs and sex shops in the city’s Eixample (affectionately known as Gaixample) area – which mixes the fabulously seedy energy of London’s Soho with just a touch of Berlin bohemia. 

Beyond the annual Pride parade in July, the city boasts a Matinée Easter Gay Weekend in April and a Circuit Festival (which we can only presume is for circuit gays) in August. There’s also an annual Barcelona Queer Film Festival, next taking place in its full format in November 2025, which also organises smaller events and screenings throughout the year. 

Fancy heading out on a day trip? Seaside town Sitges is a short train ride away and is brimming with gay beaches. There’s also Girona, a picture-perfect town with stunning architecture, quaint shops and, if you happen to stay the night, a very cute lesbian-owned B&B.

 

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Where to eat:

Barcelona’s food scene is so much more than paella (which, by the way, actually originates from Valencia). 

Catalan cuisine is fresh, rustic and notably different from the tapas and burgers plied by overpriced tourist traps. For a more authentic Catalan food experience, in a space that feels modern and queer-friendly, we recommend 7 Portes.

If you’re looking for a specifically queer spot, try Poble Sec’s La Raposa, a feminist bookshop and vegan cafe co-op. Proudly intersectional, trans-inclusive and LGBTQIA+ friendly, it’s a great spot for queer and FLINTA folks to plot the revolution over gluten-free baked goods.

In the queer neighbourhood Eixample, you can head to Funky Eatery (which adjoins Funky Deli). By day, it’s an airy cafe great for brunch or a light lunch. By night, it serves orange wine by candlelight, serving up eclectic small plates which combine a modern European sensibility with Turkish inspiration.

There’s also Soma, which gives a speakeasy feel thanks to its olive green interior, dark wood furnishings and well-stocked bar. The foodie fabulations include delicate cheese buñuelos, a beautifully presented mini caponata stacked with bread crips, and fresh fish and meat options. 

If you’re hankering for well-made classics, head to Bar Cañete, which serves elite tapas and fresh fish from Catalan markets. Be warned, however, booking is essential. You can queue up right before service begins for a coveted countertop space but the line is long and waiting cap-in-hand may be too much to stomach for some.

 

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Where to go out:

If you’re on holiday, you’ll want to go to the club.

Our number one rec? Dykey, FLINTA party MARICAS. Founded in 2018 by Eloisa Blitzer, Gina Gausch and ISAbella, the party has booked the likes of D.Tiffany, JASSS, Slim Soledad and Roza Terenzi and continues to push the scene forward. This sexy, silly collective believes that the dancefloor is a healing space, with a suitably robust safer space policy to support their aim.

If you’re less of a club rat and more into scrappy, experimental queer performance, head to Candy Darling. Named after Warhol’s trans muse, the bar hosts cabaret, drag and even a regular queer flamenco night. There’s also El Raval’s Madame Jasmine, a self-described “GENDERFUCK HOUSE” (where do we sign up?).

Looking for something different? Try The House of ERIKALUST: a first of its kind, immersive erotic experience from the world’s most famous feminist porn director. Utilising the director’s expansive back catalogue, visitors can enjoy a variety of large-scale erotic screenings and even a VR experience taking you into a virtual porn mansion.

Finally, the city’s reputable het clubbing haunts include Razzmatazz and Club Nitsa, spots similar to London’s Fabric which attract the major names in techno, house, trance and Latincore.

 

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What to visit:

There’s a lot to do and see in Barca, so please don’t resort to heading to the theme park or hopping on a cable car.

Art mavens can check out the side-by-side cultural institutions Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona (MACBA) and Centro de Cultura Contemporánea de Barcelona (CCCB), both of which boast diverse programming and nuanced curation.

In terms of LGBTQIA+ specific happenings, there’s plenty to keep you entertained. You can head to Odd Kiosk, a queer-owned magazine spot that brings together the best in print culture – from queer zines, to art prints, to esoteric European fashion mags.

If you fancy getting ~active~ and plunging into the local queer scene, you can head to a meeting of Queer Pong Club – a queer (but lesbian leaning) ping-pong meetup which takes place in Poble Sec the first Monday of most months.

 

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Where to stay:

There are plenty of cute hotels in Barca, but none as luxe as The Barcelona EDITION. Well-situated in the Poble Nou area – right next to the massive Mercat de Santa Caterina food hall – the hotel is just a short taxi ride from the queer haunts of Eixample.

Part of the wider The EDITION group – who’ve been known to help GAY TIMES celebrate Pride in style – the atmosphere is open and queer-friendly.

Inside, the decor is a chic, modern minimalism and the public areas are flooded with a bespoke Le Labo fragrance that smells of opulence. Rooms boast fluffy duvets, powdery white bedding and the kind of power shower that can cure any hangover.

There’s lots of amenities, too. For dinner, the ground floor restaurant Veraz offers fresh, seasonally inspired dishes (including good vegetarian options). If you’re more partial to a liquid dinner, try the first floor cocktail bar Punch Room – while it has its own menu of mixological delights, the bartenders can also whip up the classics, including an ice cold Cosmopolitan.

In the summers, you can re-enact SATC S6 E3 (you know, the one with Annabelle Bronstein…) thanks to the hotel’s in-demand rooftop pool, the best place in the city to cool down from the heat.

 

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Responsible tourism

Let’s address the obvious: Barcelona has an overtourism problem. The Catalan capital is home to just 1.5 million inhabitants but receives 32 million visitors a year.

The consequences of this situation are far-reaching: rabid gentrification, near-constant construction, a major housing crisis, and unbearable overcrowding during the summer months. In response, a grassroots anti-tourism movement – which is responsible, somewhat comically, for targeting visitors with water pistols – has emerged.

All that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t visit Barcelona. However, you’ll probably have a much more enjoyable time – and feel better about yourself, too – if you visit the city away from the peak season.

Avoid big, international shopping and food chains and instead opt for local, small businesses (like our recs above). Whatever you do, do not stay in an AirBnB – holiday lets have a hugely disruptive impact on local residents, driving up rents and swallowing up available housing.

While you’re at it, try learning some words in Catalan rather than relying on English – the effort will go a long way.

The post From Maricas to museos: a very queer guide to Barcelona appeared first on GAY TIMES.

Here’s what you should know about being aromantic and, nope, don’t listen to anyone who says it’s just ‘commitment issues’.

The LGBTQIA+ community contains so many diverse identities and perspectives that, sometimes, groups can be overlooked. This is certainly true for asexual and aromantic communities – demographics whose experiences are often misunderstood or misinterpreted, both within and out with the queer community. 

However, to truly understand the spectrums of desire and love, it’s crucial that we educate ourselves about and advocate for ace and aro folks. Whether it’s reading about identities like fraysexual and demisexual that sit on either end of the ace spectrum, correcting harmful assumptions that ace or aro identities can be “cured”, or signal-boosting the work of ace-aro activists like Yasmin Benoit, there is so much that allies can do.

When it comes to aromantic identities, there is particularly limited visibility in the media and wider culture. For questioning folks, that means that there is little representation out there that validates or mirrors their perspective. Our society is so obsessed with the idea of romantic love as an ideal that most alloromantic (non-aromantic) individuals may not even know about alternative models of experiencing love. 

That’s why we tapped The Ace and Aro Advocacy Project to answer a range of NTK questions about being aromantic for those who are questioning and for allies. 

 

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What does it mean to be aromantic?

It can be hard to settle on a concrete definition of aromantic, not least because the term refers to a spectrum of different identities rather than one definitive experience. However, even if it risks over-simplifying things, it can help to have a quick explanation you can rattle off whenever family, friends or the public pose questions about what, exactly, the term aromantic means. 

“Aromanticism is a spectrum of identities that involve experiencing little to no romantic attraction,” explains a spokesperson from The Ace and Aro Advocacy Project. “More colloquially, that means not really getting crushes or falling in love, often not wanting romantic relationships.  Beyond orientation, it represents navigating an amatonormative world [a world in which romantic love is the norm] in non-normative ways, in defiance of cis-heteropatriarchy and settler sexuality.”

What are the different aromantic identities?

As we explained above, aromantic is actually an umbrella term, under which lies various aro identities which exist in a spectrum. Below, we provide a primer of different aro identities:

• Lithoromantic: people who feel some degree of romantic attraction but don’t need these romantic feelings to be reciprocated.
• Greyromantic: individuals who experience infrequent romantic attraction, or romantic attraction of lesser intensity.
• Demiromantic: folks who only experience romantic attraction after developing a close emotional bond with someone. 
• Cupioromantic: people who are curious about or may desire a romantic relationship but don’t necessarily experience romantic attraction themselves.
• Apothiromantic: individuals who do not experience romantic attraction.

There is nothing unhealthy about not wanting a committed romantic relationship.  We are already whole on our own.

Are there any misconceptions about aromanticism?

With the lack of visibility of aro folks, as well as the pedestal upon which society places romantic love, there are plenty of misconceptions about aro folk.

For the people at The Ace and Aro Advocacy Project, the biggest misconception is the believe that aro people have ‘commitment issues’ which, upon resolution, will lead to them renouncing their aro identity and embracing normative romantic love.

“One common misconception and frequent source of invalidation for questioning people is the conflation of aromanticism with ‘commitment issues’, ‘avoidant attachment style’, or some other armchair psychology diagnosis that depicts us as pathological,” the spokesperson explains.

“There is nothing unhealthy about not wanting a committed romantic relationship.  We are already whole on our own.”

How might learning about aromanticism broaden our ideas of love, intimacy and friendship?

Ultimately, aromantic folks experiences can teach the wider community so much about how we navigate relationships and our support networks. When we listen to their perspectives, we gain insight into our own biases as well as the broad possibilities of human connection and relation beyond a romantic, monogamous couple unit.

“We live in a society that glorifies and legally reinforces the couple unit and the nuclear family as central to life,” explains  The Ace and Aro Advocacy Project. “As a result, aromantic people often have to build their relationships differently than alloromantic people, involving a more thoughtful reflection of their social needs and a rejection of societal assumptions and dictation about what different types of relationships entail and mean.”

Aromantic folks don’t necessarily rely on one romantic partner who is expected to meet all of their emotional and support needs. Instead, they may embrace a more communal approach and reject the privatised nature of care which is encouraged through social assumptions about the role of a romantic partner.

“Aromantic social support networks might include consent-based care and mutual aid distributed across friends and community instead of obligatory care for and from one dedicated partner,” the spokesperson explains. “They may value friendships more deeply.  They may be more egalitarian and less hierarchical with how they prioritise different people in their lives.”

Even for those people who identify as alloromantic, adopting an aromantic lens may help encourage folks to remain connected to community even when they are in a monogamous couple.

“Everyone can learn from aromanticism because amatonormativity harms us all.  It promotes isolation and leads to the overlooking of other important interpersonal relationships and the erosion of community,” the explain.

Where can aromantic folks and allies find further information and support?

Now that you’ve read through this article, it’s likely you’re hungry for more info. Not sure where to look? We’ve got you.

The first port of call should be The Ace and Aro Advocacy Project website, taaap.org, which has various aro-affirming resources, from 101 information (which you can find under the ‘Learn‘ section) to various presentations explaining different topics in-depth (which you can find under the ‘Projects‘ section). 

Interested in new approaches to structuring support networks? Check out the presentation ‘Moving Beyond Relationship Hierarchies to Community Care with Relationship Anarchy‘.

Links to further information:

The Ace and Aro Advocacy Project

Aromanticism.org

Arospecweek.org

The post Aromanticism 101: a guide for questioning folks and allies appeared first on GAY TIMES.

From the viral ‘Protect the Dolls’ tee, to Tayce closing out the Grete Henriette show, these are the queer highlights of the season…

Things are feeling pretty bleak in the world rn – we don’t need to rehash it, you know what we’re talking about – meaning that when LFW officially descended upon the streets of London, the mood was anything but jubilant. Factor in a reduced schedule and UK’s signature shitty weather and it could have easily been a washout.

However, the smaller, scrappier city out of the ‘big four’ continued to punch above its weight – bringing drama, virality, and a slew of fresh designers. Attending the shows, we couldn’t help but notice just how vibrantly queer the London offering is. The city’s creative lifeblood is the trans and queer folks who push the boundaries of style in the club, at the office and on the streets, and LFW’s latest outing was all about celebrating the communities who make the city what it is.

Keep reading for some of our fave – and queerest – moments from the latest LFW season.

CONNER IVES

A New Yorker living in London, Conner Ives’ eponymous label uses vintage to create throwback designs which deconstruct Americana and pay homage to the women who made him. For AW25, he presented a bold selection of sequins, late aughts silhouettes, and animal print – perfect for cosplaying as one of the OG Real Housewives.

However, our fave moment came when he took his bow while wearing a tee emblazoned with the words “Protect the Dolls”, a statement we can all get behind. The tee will be available for pre-orders from today (26 Feb), with all proceeds going to Trans Lifeline.

GRETE HENRIETTE

We’re long-time fans of Grete Henriette, whose precious garments elegantly drape the body in precious stones and metals and have won fans in the likes of Lil Nas X, Kim Petras and Sam Smith. Her debut LFW show was staged in an East London church, with a live harp rendition by Xiaoqiao soundtracking a parade of heavenly muses including Charley Sayers and Maxim Magnus. Show closing duties were done by Drag Race UK alum Tayce, who strutted in full high priestess cosplay. In Henriette’s world, God is a woman – and a doll, at that. 

FASHION EAST/ OLLY SHINDER

Fashion East darling Olly Shinder has quickly attracted attention with his combination of BDSM, kink and workwear codes, sending nipple-exposing latex tops, buttoned-up uniforms and leather chaps down the runway. Besides making us wonder if we can get away with latex at the office, the styles highlight the ways we carry our queerness into all aspects of life – and highlight the ways we are forced to downplay aspects of our identities in certain spaces. This season, Shinder was uncharacteristically subtle, but there were still nods to the kink scene with leather accents, high-shine anoraks and see-through jumpers beckoning men to start their own ‘free the nipple’ movement.

RICHARD QUINN

Is this the 2019 Met Gala? Because the AW25 Richard Quinn collection was camp. Unfolding within a The Holiday-esque (Cameron Diaz’s version) winter wonderland, models strutted through fake snow in vibrant velvet, splashy florals and grandiose wedding dresses, to the soundtrack of 80s pop. Special kudos to whoever had control of the aux for queueing The Pete Shop Boys.

SINÉAD O’DWYER

Another LFW designer who should audition to do the costuming for Kinky Boots the musical, Sinéad O’Dwyer is known for her reinterpretation of kink – from ‘shibari’ leggings, to cutouts and suspender belts. Our fingers are crossed for her to come out with a high fashion strap-on harness next season…

DI PETSA

A proponent of divine femininity, Di Petsa’s wetlook dresses and celebration of, well, female wetness has made her a London fashion darling. This season, she clearly set herself up for virality, tapping Ayra Starr for a genuinely mesmerising catwalk appearance and arranging for a model to kiss an onlooker who was sat front row. Our fave bits, however, were all about overt queerness of the show. From bicon Mia Khalifa walking in the kind of ‘plunging’ dress that could spark a thousand Daily Mail headlines to a female model’s crotch being covered in lipstick kisses (I guess she got lost via La Camionera?) there was plenty for the girls, gays and theys to enjoy.

CHET LO

Chet Lo’s iconic spiky knitwear became an instant cult classic since he first showed with Fashion East back in 2022. For his AW25 offering, the designer unveiled fun and flirty menswear – from a spiky short-sleeve top and patterned tie over a shirt, to a non-chalant scarf – that reminded us of the joy and playfulness which is so often missing in (cis, straight) male wardrobes. We also enjoyed Lo gracing the catwalk for his end-of-show applause, where he didn’t so much as bow but catapult himself into the air, peace sign at the ready.

The post Your cheat sheet to the queerest moments from LFW appeared first on GAY TIMES.