To celebrate the release of his debut EP DIGIAL LOVE CLUB, the rising musician discusses their musical journey and what 2025 has in store.

IMAGE SOPHIE BUCKLEY

Scouring streaming platforms for your next new music find? Look no further. Get to know montykeates, the rising musician melding a rock attitude with electronic beats, taking inspo from the likes of indie sleaze icon The Dare and hyperpop goddess SOPHIE.

Below, we catch up with the creative about childhood piano singalongs and their debut EP DIGIAL LOVE CLUB.

What’s your musical background?

Growing up, music was always a huge part of my life. My family used to live above the pub we ran and I will never forget the karaoke nights. Music was encouraged, my dad got a piano and my four siblings and I would all learn songs (some better than others). I used to do a lot of musical theatre, and would sing at every talent show I could in school. I just wanted people to listen and feel something.

How would you describe your sound?

I think my sound is this huge amalgamation of everything I love, it’s electronic but with a rocky attitude, it’s vulnerable but still confident. I take inspiration from anime, video games, technology  and so many other things. If you like pop-rock or hyperpop, I think you’d love my music.

Who are the artists who inspire you?

Artists like The Dare, a lot hyperpop artists, SOPHIE and Y2K club music.

What does this EP mean to you and how does it advance your artistry?

As its my first body of work, it means so much to me. I did a lot of soul-searching when I started to write music. I know everyone does but I really can’t begin to express how much change I’ve seen within myself, I am so grateful that I found this sound and wrote these songs because they were incredibly cathartic to make.

Working alongside Sam Ellwood and Harry Winks was so fun and I’m grateful to have met them through the making of my music. Towards the last two tracks I really found more depth to me and my sound, too.

What has the response to the singles so far been?

It’s been great, it’s still so weird to me that people actually listen to these songs, I got a lot of support from BBC Introducing and Radio 1 which is awesome, seeing my parents’ reaction each time I was on the radio is genuinely priceless. Hopefully I’ve made them proud!

I even had one girl make a t-shirt with a photo from my music video on it. I never imagined these songs to connect with people like they have. But I was hoping they did, so I am very grateful.

What are your 2025 plans?

I have a fun live show planned for February time, but I don’t know enough yet to say more. It’s going to be a fun night for the queer community in London though. I want to take all aspects of queer art, not just music, and everyone’s gonna have a good night!

Then I’ve got some more music lined up and ready, some more experimenting with my sound too. It’s going to be good!

Editor’s note: montykeates is signed to wax talent, GAY TIMES’ sister company.

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Introducing GT Alliance, a new initiative to create more opportunities for our wider community and collaborators.

Today, GT Group is announcing the creation of GT Alliance, a new initiative that prioritises LGBTQIA+ and diverse-owned creative and production agencies in the creation of partnership campaigns and content.

GT Alliance is an approach that builds a stronger LGBTQIA+ supply chain, supporting community-owned business and enterprise. GT Alliance is our commitment to working with and platforming LGBTQIA+ and diverse production expertise, using our platform in the industry.

With this new initiative, GT is looking to onboard long-term production partners who will be involved in the conceptualisation and activation of branded output moving forward.  

Want to get involved? We are looking for brilliant production partners to work with, on everything from small scale design or content-led projects to larger 360-degree brand partner campaigns. 

We’ll be selecting initial GT Alliance partners from the United Kingdom, United States and Europe. 

If you have your own small creative or production agency, or are a freelance producer, creative or producer-director then get in touch via the contact form here. 

More about GT Alliance

GT Alliance is part of our multi-year strategy that actively contributes toward the communities we platform. 

Our work with brands helps power the wider GT content ecosystem, and with their allyship we are able to create impactful campaigns that uplift the voices we serve. 

Our track record speaks for itself: whether it’s exploring unique subcultures with Google, encouraging queer visibility in sport with Voltarol, discussing important topics like conversion therapy with Channel 4’s Hollyoaks, finding the next generation of music talent with Coke Studio, highlighting the financial challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ people with Money Supermarket or exploring the power of self-expression at Pride with Levis. 

In the past, like most media companies, we’ve supported our internal team by working with a range of suppliers across the industry. GT Alliance allows us to collaborate with external creatives, directors, producers and creative production agencies, to create content and activations.

We know our community is creative, insightful and innovative so working with a broader range of collaborators allows for more varied perspectives within our content. It creates new opportunities and allows more voices to be amplified, offering new opinions and connections from across GT Alliance.

We look forward to sharing more creative work through the GT Alliance model that centres topics important to our audience and wider LGBTQIA+ and diverse communities.

You can submit your information to be considered for GT Alliance here. 

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To celebrate the release of their latest album Circumnavigating Georgia, Sans Soucis discusses their origins as an artist, expressing their truth through music and their Palo Santo and gel pen-fuelled writing process.

Performing as Sans Soucis, Italo-Congolese musician Guilia Grispino creates melodic, fluid music infused with intimacy and vulnerability. On their latest album, Circumnavigating Georgia, they soundtrack their own coming-of-age — beginning and ending at their grandparents’ house in Italy and exploring themes of self-growth, familial histories and lived experiences via a collection of 12 danceable, bilingual songs.  

Below, we catch up with the artist to explore their development so far as an artist and  what this latest body of work means to them. 

Hi! How long have you been making music for and how was your sound evolved?

I’ve been making music since 2016. That’s the year I started writing my own songs, in my room, with my guitar and a scrappy recording set up. It’s always been a very intimate and therapeutic experience to me.

At the very beginning of my writing and production journey, I would rely a lot on my guitar compositions and vocal arrangements, definitely my first love, because that was what I could technically do and I wanted to honour my learning path.

I organically bought more gear in order to be able to incorporate diverse production elements into my canvases. Getting music libraries from other producers, collaborating with people and finally moving into my own studio, shared with some of my closest friends (a source of huge inspiration) is something I look at with immense gratitude and pride.

I always had quite an eclectic taste. I remember being mind blown by the acid punk sounds of Tame Impala, feeling nostalgic of noughties RnB and Italian classic songwriters, loving orchestration by Henry Mancini, and being drawn to electronic leaning music from Little Dragon, as well as genre-defying artists such as Solange, Kendrick Lamar, Rosalia, whose voice moves me to the core. I also adore introspective, carefully crafted songwriting, that as soon as you feel comfortable enough, it breaks a rule or two. Joni Mitchel is surely a master in this art.

I guess right now my sound is still in constant evolution. I try to learn things I love. In life I really struggle with understanding my emotions, so I associate certain music, genres and songs to specific emotions, moods and memories.  That’s how I’ve decided to produce Circumnavigating Georgia.

How do you approach crafting lyrics?

Lyrics are really important for me, and normally inform the production of a song. I try to write a song almost entirely before I commit to any kind of production.

I like to get to the bottom of things and one of the aspects I love the most about writing lyrics is that it allows me to hone a language that I’m not always able to carve out in life. I get to spend time thinking about feelings and experiences for long enough to be able to understand them and vocalise them with my own words, which I think it is something very difficult to achieve within the constraints of the society I live in.

When I write lyrics, I always have my notepad with me. I love writing on a piece of paper with a gel pen, and having some Palo Santo around. Alternatively, I probably just play guitar and start recording what I do with my phone, while I frantically transcribe words.

How does your identity inform your music?

I guess my identity is the reason why I decided to do music. Being Black and queer is something I struggled to accept my whole life.

I wasn’t born thinking I was any different from anyone else, but the world taught me that in fact, the agenda to marginalise groups of people that resonate with this experience is rooted in the history of this part of the world and it affected me in ways I wasn’t able to uncover up until recently.

My music is now the way I build a world in which I can exist and I can express my truth without fear. It is a process, which means I need to be patient and kind to myself, but it allowed me to feel more liberated and decolonised when I don’t wear my artist hat.

What does your latest body of work represent to you?

It was such a transformative experience for me. I call it my “erotic teacher”, to quote one of my biggest inspirations, Audre Lorde.

Circumnavigating Georgia represents acceptance, compassion, exploration, and gratefulness to the life I lived for a long time. A life that was a mix between the seed of who I am and a shield I had to build to protect myself from the harm of a patriarchal and systemically racist society.

Doing something that sits within the genre of pop/alt-pop, it also challenged the idea of pop stardom as the pinnacle of the mainstream music industry. What does it really mean?

This album destroyed some of the thickest survival mechanisms I held onto, but made space for real joy and a more grounding way to live life, as well as more awareness of the world around me and what I can do to be of service to my community. It will forever be a loving letter to the memory of that human being that survived.

What’s next for you?

I’m trying to enjoy this new phase of my life and I’m curious about where it will lead me personally and professionally. I’m also very excited to finally tour this album.

‘Circumnavigating Georgia’ is out now via Decca Records. Check out Sans Soucis’ tour dates here and support them on Bandcamp here.

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Nearly four years in the making, the review into gender-affirming healthcare for English youth was published on 10 April – here’s what you need to know.

On 10 April, the findings of the Cass review were published in a 388 page document, and quickly gave rise to concerns from trans advocacy groups and charities. 

But what is the Cass review – and what does it say about gender-affirming care for trans youth? And, importantly, how has the trans community responded to its suggestions?

What is the Cass review?

The Cass review is an independent investigation into the provision of care to children and young people questioning their gender identity, or experiencing gender dysphoria, in England and Wales.

With work beginning in Autumn 2020, the report was commissioned in response to the increase in children and young people seeking referral to Gender Identity Services. 

The review is headed up by Dr Hilary Cass – who, despite being a one-time president of the Royal College of Paediatrics, notably has no prior experience in paediatric gender-affirming care.

Is this the first time Cass’s findings have been published?

This is not the first time that recommendations from the Cass review have been publicly shared. 

In February 2022, interim findings from the investigation were published. 

These led to the closure of what was the UK’s sole Gender Identity Development Service (Gids) for trans youth, managed by the Tavistock and Portman NHS foundation trust in London, in the interest of cutting waiting times.

Cass’s provisional findings also led to NHS England’s decision in March 2024 to stop prescribing puberty blockers (medication which temporarily, and reversibly, halts the progression of puberty).

In July 2022, Cass wrote to NHS England to outline further advice on a proposed model for care for trans youth – encouraging a more “holistic and localised” approach and a transition from a single centralised clinic to multiple regional clinics.

Dr Cal Horton, a research fellow in Oxford Brookes’ Centre for Diversity Policy Research and Practice, wrote an academic paper raising concerns about preliminary documents published as part of the Cass review. 

In the article ‘The Cass Review: Cis-supremacy in the UK’s approach to healthcare for trans children’, published in The International Journal for Transgender Health, Horton argued that the review up until that point promoted cis-normative standards and ideals.

What recommendations does the Cass review make?

With the full report now published, the final review’s contents have been at the centre of heated media coverage this week – but what does it actually say?

The final Cass review makes a wide-ranging selection of points – 32, to be exact.

Some of the key recommendations include continuing to advocate for decentralised gender identity services and the creation of a separate pathway for pre-pubertal children and their families/carers. 

It also calls for holistic, individualised care plans for trans and gender diverse youth, as well as screening for mental health conditions and neurodiversity and recommends that a service is provided for those wishing to detransition. Additionally, it recommends another “follow-through” service for those aged 17 to 25.

While retaining the possibility of prescribing hormone therapy for adolescents aged 16 and 17, the report recommends “extreme caution” in doing so before the age of 18. 

However, some points included within the review appear to have been more widely reported on than others. 

These include claims within the report that there is a “lack of high-quality research” on the effects of long-term hormone use among young people, as well as references to the “toxicity” of discussions around trans identities.

How has the UK Government reacted?

In response to the report, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has urged “extreme caution” around the provision of gender-affirming care for young people.

Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Health Secretary Victoria Atkins has criticised a “culture of secrecy and ideology” within gender services for youth.

“There are few other areas of healthcare where professionals are so afraid to openly discuss their views, where people are vilified on social media, and where name-calling echoes the worst bullying behaviour,” she writes.

Following the release of the report, NHS England has stated that it intends to carry out a major review of its adult gender services and a review into the use of hormone therapy. 

It has also ordered adult gender clinics to pause inviting under-18s to any appointments.

What are members of the trans community saying about the Cass review?

Understandably, LGBTQIA+ advocacy groups and public figures are concerned about how the contents of the Cass review are being perceived – and whether they could harm rather than help the trans community. 

Trans youth charity Mermaids shared a statement to this effect, exploring how the recommendations in the report could be manipulated in order to restrict gender-affirming care. 

“[We] are concerned that some of the language in the report is open to misinterpretation and could be used to justify additional barriers to accessing care for some trans young people in the same way the interim report has been,” the statement reads.

The charity also urged medical practitioners to centre trans voices at this moment of potential controversy and change. “[W]e call on NHS England, and the NHS across the UK, to resist pressures from those who seek to limit access to healthcare, listen to trans youth directly, and act urgently to provide gender services which are timely, supportive and holistic.”

The official statement from LGBTQIA+ charity Stonewall struck a similar note. 

“Many recommendations could make a positive impact – such as expanding provision of healthcare by moving away from a single national service towards a series of regional centres, while recognising that there are many different treatment pathways that trans children and young people might take,” reads the official statement. 

“But without due care, training or further capacity in the system, others could lead to new barriers that prevent children and young people from accessing the care they need and deserve.”

Writing for The Guardian, trans journalist Freddy McConnell has warned that the Cass review – and the further reviews which the report has triggered – may be used to justify the scrapping of vital services for trans people. 

“Now, reviews hang over us too – about us but no one knows to what extent with us – that may become Trojan horses for those who would roll back or perhaps eradicate affirming trans healthcare from the NHS altogether,” he writes.

You can read the Cass review in full here.

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Today, 27 January, marks International Holocaust Remembrance Day, also known as Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD).

HMD has been observed since 2006, after the United Nations General Assembly in November 2005 adopted a resolution to commemorate the victims who died during the Holocaust.

Why is International Holocaust Remembrance Day celebrated on 27 January?

We celebrate International Holocaust Remembrance Day on 27 January as it coincides with the day in 1945 when Soviet troops liberated the Auschwitz concentration camp in occupied Poland. 

Although many prisoners were sadly forced on a ‘death march’ in the days leading up to this date, around seven thousand were left behind – meaning that thousands could be freed and receive urgent medical attention. 

Why is it important to commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day?

International Holocaust Remembrance Day is an important opportunity to remember the millions of people who were targeted between 1933 and 1945 and killed in concentration camps during the Second World War. 

This includes six million Jewish people who tragically lost their lives during on-going anti-Semitic persecution. In total, two thirds of the entire Jewish population in Europe were killed – amounting to one third of the global Jewish population. 

Around 10,000 to 15,000 men accused of homosexuality by the Nazi state were deported to concentration camps. There, many died of exhaustion due to the inhumane conditions but others underwent castration or were used in medical experiments. 

Groups who were also targeted under Nazi rule include Roma, Sinti and disabled people, as well as Freemasons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Polish and Slavic citizens, political opponents, trade unionists and other cultural or social minorities living in Germany and its occupied territories.

Commemorating International Holocaust Remembrance Day is a way of educating ourselves about the atrocities which took place under Nazi rule and to express our unwavering commitment to combating antisemitism, racism, homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia and any other form of discrimination. 

How can I take part in International Holocaust Remembrance Day?

To mark the day, you can strengthen your understanding of the Holocaust by reading books or articles and watching and listening to resources about the events of 1933 to 1945. You may also light a candle or read aloud the names of the people who lost their lives. 

In the UK, you can take part in International Holocaust Memorial Day by lighting a candle at your window at 8pm to remember those who lost their lives for simply being who they are and to stand against hatred and prejudice today.

Across the nation, six million candles will be lit in a digital display on billboards to mark the six million individuals who were killed in the Holocaust.

You can find resources for further education and search for details of site-specific International Holocaust Memorial Day activities across the UK via the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust website. 

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Language is, understandably, pertinent to the queer experience — words affect how we present ourselves and perceive others. Here, two writers go head-to-head to debate the term. 

WORDS BY NICK LEVINE AND JORDAN PAGE
HEADER DESIGN BY YOSEF PHELAN

In another week of LGBTQIA+ on-goings, the internet has, yet again, struck up a fresh new debate. Following the appointment of Gabriel Attal, France’s youngest-ever PM, a conversation has opened up online about the phrase “openly gay”. 

We’re never short of online discourse but this conversation seems to have something to it. Language is, understandably, pertinent to the queer experience — words affect how we present ourselves and perceive others. For many of us, the commonly used binary of being either out or closeted is not reflective of our reality. Our choice of language is vital for how we choose to convey our identity, whether in public or private. For some, as Andrew Scott recently criticised, we would never use the term “openly gay” in a conversation. However, others have argued the term could be a helpful distinction as not everyone has the luxury of just being out: what if you’re comfortable being out with your friends but not in your workplace?

So, where do you stand on the phrase? Two writers go head to head to debate the term. 

AGAINST [NICK LEVINE] 

New year, same old reductive coverage of queerness in the mainstream media. When Gabriel Attal was announced as the new Prime Minister of France this week, publications including the New York Times, CNN and the BBC called him the first “openly gay” person to hold the position. While these outlets were right to draw attention to the historic nature of Attal’s appointment – he is only the ninth out LGBTQ+ person globally to serve as a head of state or government – their choice of language was bitterly disappointing. To label someone “openly gay” in 2024 isn’t just anachronistic; it also carries the stale whiff of stigma.

Irish actor Andrew Scott made this point strikingly during a recent roundtable hosted by The Hollywood Reporter. “I’m going to make a pitch for getting rid of the expression ‘openly gay’,” he told a panel of actors that included Robert Downey Jr., Mark Ruffalo and Colman Domingo – the latter, like Scott, is an out gay man, “It’s an expression that we only ever hear in the media,” Scott continued. “You are never at a party and say: ‘This is my openly gay friend.’ You never say it. Why do we put ‘openly’ in front of that adjective? You don’t say you’re openly Irish, you don’t say you’re openly left-handed.” 

“You are never at a party and say: ‘This is my openly gay friend.’ You never say it. Why do we put ‘openly’ in front of that adjective?” 

Scott then went further, pointing out that “openly gay” comes loaded with a subtle sense of judgement. “There’s something in it that’s a little near ‘shamelessly’. You’re open about it? I’d nearly prefer shamelessly,” he said. Scott is absolutely right: the phrase “openly gay” is a sad hangover from a time when discussions of queerness in the media tended to be tacitly or even overtly disapproving. “Openly gay” feels a little like a rebuke from a homophobic relative: “We know you’re gay, but do you have to keep rubbing it in our faces?” 

Generally, progress has been made since the early noughties, when it wasn’t uncommon to read about people in the public eye “admitting” to being LGBTQIA+. Back then, some British tabloid newspapers viewed closeted pop stars as scoop material. Shortly after he won the talent show Pop Idol in 2002, Will Young learned that a tabloid was planning to “out” him, at 23, as gay. Recalling the difficult decision he had to make at the time, Young said in 2022: “Homophobia was still happening to me in public. It was a real patriarchal system run by straight white guys, so it was rife in the media, in the music industry.”

Thankfully, tabloid “outing” is now seen as completely unacceptable. In 2022, the Sydney Morning Herald was criticised when it emerged that Rebel Wilson had gone public about her relationship with Ramona Agruma because a columnist was planning to write about it. Outlets have become careful about the language they use to describe coming out – we don’t expect to read about someone “revealing” or “confirming” that they’re a member of the LGBTQIA+ community. Instead, coming out stories tend to be framed as someone “sharing” or “telling fans” about their gender and/or sexuality.

Hopefully one day it won’t be considered “news” when someone with a public-facing job speaks about being LGBTQ+. As writer Damian Barr pointed out this week on X, formerly Twitter, “the phrase ‘openly gay’ wouldn‘t be necessary if we didn’t live in a world where everyone was assumed to be straight”. But until then, our choice of language matters. At best, “openly gay” implies an act of bravery: it suggests that coming out is a risk someone has weighed up and deemed to be worth taking. 

Our choice of language matters. At best, “openly gay” implies an act of bravery: it suggests that coming out is a risk someone has weighed up and deemed to be worth taking. 

Sadly, in many parts of the world, coming out really is a risk – not just to a person’s public image, but also to their personal safety. But this doesn’t mean “openly gay” should be attached to Gabriel Attal, a successful politician in a relatively liberal Western country. According to a 2023 poll, 84% of people in France agree with the statement: “There is nothing wrong in a sexual relationship between two persons of the same sex.”

In most cases, simply describing someone as “gay” or “LGBTQ+” does the job. When we want to celebrate someone for being the “first” in a certain role, “out gay” or “out LGBTQ+” is a solid compromise: it means we don’t inadvertently erase someone from a previous generation who never spoke publicly about their gender and/or sexuality. The LGBTQ+ community has worked hard and is still working hard to gain equal rights and greater acceptance. We don’t deserve to have that progress undermined by a lazy phrase that harks back to less enlightened times. So, “openly gay” is out in 2024 – just “gay” is in.

FOR [JORDAN PAGE]

Queerness is made up of layers. For some of us, these may be few and far between as we feel empowered, assured and safe to share this part of our identity freely. For others, it’s complex. Whether it’s cultural or religious pressures, outright bigotry or fear for our safety, deciding when and where we disclose our sexuality and gender identity – and to whom – can be an exhausting task. Now, more than ever, language is one of the most important tools for LGBTQIA+ people to navigate this process. 

While language is important, so is context – especially when it comes to referring to someone as “openly gay”. Say we’re talking about one of our friends to another – it’d feel redundant to describe them in such a way, right? But when it comes to, say, the reporting on the appointment of Gabriel Attal, the phrase feels natural. Why? It’s not about shame, guilt or embarrassment – I’d argue that it’s loaded with a historical sense of both recognition and respect.

Whether a politician, sportsperson, or musician, referring to someone as the “first openly gay” figure recognises an undeniable milestone for the LGBTQIA+ community. History may be plagued with the suppression of queer voices and experiences, but to an extent, so is the world we’re in today. Although the “more accepting” country you live in may appear lightyears away from those where homosexuality is illegal – or even punishable by death – the statistics don’t lie: queer people still face discrimination and violence daily across the world. With a legacy of feeling suppressed, or closeted, why shouldn’t we take every opportunity to celebrate being “open”?

Not only that, but affixing “openly” before denoting someone’s sexuality is a marker of respect. Why? The distinction nods to the fact that throughout time, LGBTQIA+ people have held important positions, broken records and made important contributions to the world. Using “openly” doesn’t erase these achievements, instead, it honours them. As people on X, formerly Twitter, have noted regarding Attal, it “simply means the media can say he’s the first gay PM without knowing the inner thoughts of every previous one”. 

We’ve grown to encourage each other to use the terms that we feel reflect ourselves most accurately – who are we to judge and dictate other people’s self-expression? 

As time evolves, so does language. Just because now some feel that “openly” isn’t needed, let’s not forget the older generations of queer people – many of whom will still be reading these headlines – who fought to be seen, to be heard, and who have earned the right to use the terms and phrases of their choosing to describe how they operate in a heteronormative society. Much like our sexuality and gender identity, the words we use to describe these facets of our identities are just as personal. We’ve grown to encourage each other to use the terms that we feel reflect ourselves most accurately – who are we to judge and dictate other people’s self-expression? 

Yes, in some ways, the society we live in today is improving its treatment, acceptance and representation of LGBTQIA+ identities. But holistically, society is still pretty straight. Whether we like it or not, it’s this world that the very headlines in question cater to. There are still plenty more of these firsts, like Gabriel Attal, that will – and need – to happen. But with dangerous legislation, hate crimes and complete erasure facing our community at all angles, is fueling further division between us, over something ultimately positive, really the hill we want to die on? 

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Elegant fetish items for your friend, lover, or polycule member from the GT Holiday Gift Guide.

By GT Editors
Photography by Justin J. Wee
Production Design by Libby Lark

For all the last-minute shoppers out there, fear not. Your local sex shop or smut store has something sultry (or kitschy!) to nab just before you pull up to White Elephant gift exchange.

Sex is a part of almost everyone’s life. You could be totally vanilla or a hardcore fetishist and there will still be something sexy under the tree you’ll appreciate. This year, we’ve curated an array of unique ideas related to the liberatory power of sex that you can find mostly anywhere.

1. Bondage Bears – Want a good laugh out of your kinky gift-receiver? Find a campy teddy that reflects their… personal interests. There are a range of naughty stuffed animals you can get at a local spot, but these ones from the gorgeously curated Tom of Finland store are adorable.

2. Flogger – A flogger may feel like an intense gift, but something mini always takes the edge off —and not to mention, portable! Flogging, whether soft and playful, or all-out, is a lovely way to spice up how you do foreplay. These ones from Ilya are the best of the best.

3. Poppers  – Know yourself a poppers sommelier? Snatch the RUSH out of their hands and upgrade their offering to something boutique-worthy. Double Scorpio is sold at many sex shops and could be described as the “fine wine” of poppers. A range of scent profiles and options can be found, but our fave is “Amber.” 

4. Chrome Butt Toys – Chrome is in, Beyoncé decreed, and who says a butt toy can’t also be a display item? These affordable alloy gem plugs could make your Christmas *extra* special.

5. Fancy Anal Beads – The Tom of Finland weighted anal beads aren’t just good,  but the packaging they come in will make your gift feel luxe and thoughtful. That and, these will be the nicest anal beads you’ve ever owned — and if you don’t own any at all, what’s wrong with you??

6. Cock Cages – You can get cock cages anywhere, and if you are not so open about your sex life, you’ll be delighted to know they also make effective candle holders. Lock It Up tends to have the most robust offering.

7. A Mini Hitachi – The Hitachi has been the go-to pleaser for all people on the LGBTQ+ spectrum, but did you know it comes in compact size? (We’re obsessed with minis, as you’ve seen.) Add some pleasure to their purse (no pun intended) with this adorable, rechargeable necessity. 

8. Butt Plug Collection – In our continued campaign to promote play toys as display items, these Maude butt plugs are the elegant balance between sex and aesthetic. 

9. Vintage Smut –You can find vintage porn in a range of different places. Your local sex haunt or vintage bookstore might have a selection of erotica, VHS tapes, or magazines. Tom of Finland’s queer curated store also upkeeps a collection of 90s porn and Physique Pictorials. Add a campy, tasteful  stack to their coffee table or bathroom.

10. Lube – A good gift is something you would never buy for yourself, but always need. Lube is one of those things, and let me tell you, most people get bad lube anyway. Spring for the new Head South lube, an independently owned and operated sex company that also has a gorgeous body oil.

This is the GT Holiday Guide. We’re curating 50 (ish) gift ideas across a range of curated lists for all kinds of queer and trans people. These recommendations are not sponsored and have no affiliate link benefit. Our range of gift options and price points ensure you can give a genuinely unique gift, no matter how you celebrate.

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Ever since a Senate staffer was allegedly filmed having sex in the building, many social media users appear to have forgotten that we all deserve respect.

WORDS BY GAY TIMES EDITORS

If you’ve been on social media over the last few days, then you’ll know about the Senate staffer who has been accused of having sex in the hearing room. Discourse about the drama has seen those on the right use it as a way to mock the left, while others have launched a manhunt to find the unidentified top. What wasn’t discussed, however, was the lack of consent in the video being widely circulated on social media. Why is that?

Having allegedly been posted in a WhatsApp group for gay men who work in politics, the clip was eventually leaked by right-wing news and opinion website The Daily Caller on 15 December. Now, while there’s definitely an argument to be made that the news being shared was in the public interest, there isn’t one to be made for the actual video being plastered all over social media. We should absolutely know if members of staff are acting inappropriately in official government buildings, but surely the better way to approach this would be to share the story rather than the video itself? The relevant authorities could then investigate and take the necessary actions with those involved (in this case, it’s already been reported that the staffer allegedly featured in the video has lost his job).

Sharing private videos of this kind without consent is dehumanising, no matter how wild or funny the circumstances appear to be. Some have argued that the alleged staffer posting a near-naked video of himself in the hearing room to his Instagram Close Friends makes reposting and ridiculing the subsequent sex tape fair game. But this logic doesn’t ring true. Close Friends is a controlled, relatively private digital environment – and he chose to share intimate photos to the followers he has there. He didn’t, however, choose to have a sex tape circulated ad-infinitum and out of context.

We shouldn’t trivialise the significance of the ways the video has been taken outside of its intended audience. After all, it could end up justifying toxic behaviour surrounding how intimate videos are weaponised by ex-partners, political opponents and various other stakeholders.The ongoing Senate saga should serve as a stark reminder of how far society needs to come in recognising that we all have the right to dignity, regardless of the context.

It’s worth noting that consent is not the only issue at play here. One of the most eyebrow-raising aspects of the social media discourse has been the difference between how the bottom and top in the video have been treated. While the bottom has been chastised and nicknamed the ‘Senate twink’, people desperately tried to identify the top, not because they needed to know who he is, but because they thought he looked hot. In both instances, the public interest in the issue has led to both parties’ privacy being compromised. However, there’s a double standard at play: the bottom has been slated while the top has been praised – despite both playing a very equal role in opting to have sex in the Senate. So let’s call this what it is: bottom-shaming. 

The act of bottom-shaming is typically seen as a way for men to achieve a sense of masculinity by framing the act of bottoming as something that’s undesirable, which is usually part of a wider power dynamic taking place in a relationship. It’s not a new thing, but it can sometimes be hard to spot. In this case, we’ve seen it in social media trolls finding and resharing semi-nude images of the bottom in question without permission, reducing him to the aforementioned nickname of ‘Senate twink’ and – perhaps most disappointingly – those within the LGBTQIA+ community mocking the bottom’s body as they shower the top with praise. Despite the outrageous nature of the video, there’s definitely an argument to be made that what we are seeing is actually a microcosm of what many men who have sex with men face when bottoming. 

Make no mistake, none of this is to suggest that having sex in the Senate – let alone filming it – is appropriate. Having sex in your workplace is highly irresponsible, especially if your workplace happens to be the upper chamber of US Congress. But, what some people appear to be missing is that this issue is a lot more nuanced than it appears to be on the surface. Instead of resharing private videos without consent, let’s discuss the story without the need for salacious images. Instead of holding different standards for the top and bottom in the video, let’s hold people accountable in a way that’s equal and fair. Consent and someone’s right to basic respect are two things that should never be up for debate, regardless of their actions. 

The post No matter your thoughts about the ‘Senate twink’, he still deserves dignity appeared first on GAY TIMES.

Walk into the room purse-first with the GT Holiday Gift Guide.

BY GT EDITORS
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JUSTIN J. WEE
PRODUCTION DESIGN BY LIBBY LARK
MODELED BY CHERRY JAYMES

I don’t really know what the whole “murse” trend was a few years back, but purses don’t have a gender, and men can just call them “purses.” Yes, some purses are soft and feminine, other purses are hard and leather, some feel less like purses and more like “bags” but we promise there is a bag for every body, every style, every outfit. 

Ditch the tote, please, and bring your loved one into their fashion era.Gift one of these six bags,many of them queer-owned or designed, to any It Girl (or Boy or They) looking for something this season.

1. D-Vina-Xxs by Diesel – Diesel has brought Y2K culture back with full force, and their new holiday campaign is a deliciously sex-positive homage to porn actors and sex work. This versatile micro bag has kitschy metal crystal charms and opens to a greater size for those who need to fit more than just a phone and a lip gloss.

2. The Raver Bag by Fang – Rave or not, this bag can be adjusted and worn as a sling bag, cross-body, or tiny backpack. The polished leather and firm structure give an industrial look that goes with literally everything when you’re about to head out.

3. BAGGU x Sandy Liang Bow Bag – You may have to hunt for this coveted seasonal item, but the Sandy Liang collab brought affordability to the luxury space — and cute little bows too. Comes in red, powder blue, and black. 

4. The Syro Stiletto Bag – Don’t wait, this boot bag is destined to become the new it girl bag with its campy-chic concept and luxurious hardware heels and belt buckle. Syro is a brand that makes genderless heels for big footed babes, and now it comes as a bag to (in roomy size 43). There are three different colors, but Black is the way to go.

5. Ostrich Ana Bag by Luar – Raul Lopez won NYC fashion week and as a queer Dominicano has become one of the most influential, copied, and sought-after designers of our generation. His iconic Ana Bag is part of the reason for that, which is hits the runway in a new pattern or texture every season. The ostrich one is still our favorite as its versatility is still unique and stunty. 

6. Star Bag by Coach – Chrome is in, Beyoncé decreed, and Coach released an array of silver metallic accessories in time for the holiday season. This Star Bag is just begging to be brought to a holiday party with structured handles or a removable cross-body strap. 

This article is part of the GT Holiday Guide. We’re curating 50 (ish) gift ideas across a range of curated lists for all kinds of queer and trans people. These recommendations are not sponsored and are entirely editorially-led. Our range of gift options and price points ensure you can give a genuinely unique gift, no matter how you celebrate. 

The post 6 gender-free bags and purses to gift this Holiday appeared first on GAY TIMES.

Shop our favorite makeup, skin, and hair brands in GT’s Holiday Gift Guide.

By GT Editors
Photography by Justin J. Wee
Production Design by Libby Lark

To a lot of people, makeup is something for girls. But as queer people, we see it so much more. Gays and theys have started donning shiney metallic eyeshadows and glittery face candy at the club. Tiktok lesbians are going hard embracing the across-the-nose blush-and-freckle trend. Trans e-girls are rocking graphic liners and slicked-back ponies before they check their reflection in the Facetime camera. Even pretty T-boys can’t resist reclaiming makeup with long bottom lashes and natural, kissable lips on a first date. No matter your gender, aesthetic, or sexuality, beauty is for everyone.

Beauty brands have caught onto the ways LGBTQ+ communities are revolutionizing and expanding makeup offerings with the demand for gender-expansive options, and the industry has  risen to the occasion.These are a few of our favorite products and brands to stuff into stockings this year. 

1. & 2. Eye Candy – Danessa Myricks quickly became a cult-classic brand after emerging on the scene a few years ago. Her Colorfix Liquid Metals in any color are a necessary addition to any makeup-curious loved one. But for a less stunty look, the Clear Glaze for lips and eyes will brighten up any face, with our without makeup.

3 & 4. High Pigment Palettes – When she’s not busy being an iconic drag artist in the Brooklyn scene, Junior Mintt is a purveyor of quality makeup and is one of the few (if not the only) Black, trans woman-owned brands stocked at JCPenney and other major outlets. Though we love her blush palette pictured here, her signature palette gives you the greens you never knew you needed.

5 & 6. Foundation and Lip Oil – Gaga’s foundation range has taken the makeup world by storm, but her colored lip oils are criminally underrated, coming in a range of lucious options with a pillowy, non-sticky finish. 

7 & 8. More Lips and Eye Pencils – Speaking of lip oils — you can never have enough. Our other favorite is the Odyssey Lip Gloss that has a slightly more robust shade range. Milk also has the best eye pencils for someone who likes to play with eye shapes in colored-pencil fashion. Smearable yet waterproof, and powerful in their color range.

9 & 10. Haircare – If you know someone who struggles with the unsexy predicament of winter scalp, Jonathan Van Ness is here to save the day. Their sustainability focused vegan brand checks all the boxes of intentional hair products, and the Scalp Oil is a gorgeous thing to display on your shower shelf. If your gift-receiver doesn’t have dry scalp, can we recommend the Air Dry Cream? This smooth texture enhancer gives a little shape and tones down frizz for any girl (or boy or they) on the go, and it comes in travel size.

11 & 12. Sultry Skin – Is this the gayest moisturizer to have ever existed? It’s omething about the packaging and vibe of this fresh-on-the-scene brand Dieux (pronounced “dew”). In lieu of concealer, give your face a glorious luminosity throughout the day. Dieux also just launched its gel cream for sensitive and acne-prone skin types.

13. Cheek and Lip Stains – Makeup products should feel like toys, because they are! And we’re strong believers in products that have multiple functions. The conscious beauty brand HUDA has a Lip & Cheek stain that comes in colorful, collectible blocks.

14. Mascara – An everyday mascara is necessary for the brightness of any face and Ilia has our fave Limitless Lash solution. Even for beauty skeptics, or transmasculine lovers with an aversion to girly stuff, lashes are gender-free, and mascara is a great place to start someone on a beauty journey.

15. Natural Deodorant – Don’t get it twisted, we love all facets of queer culture. But BO is optional. We’re all for the natural musk, but if you have a friend who’s looking to turn the pheromones off everyone once in a while, the brand new, cruelty-free, waste resistant Glossier deodorant comes in a range of odors — but the “You” signature scent is our  staple. 

This article is part of the GT Holiday Guide. We’re curating 50 (ish) gift ideas across a range of curated lists for all kinds of queer and trans people. These recommendations are not sponsored and are entirely editorially-led. Our range of gift options and price points ensure you can give a genuinely unique gift, no matter how you celebrate. 

The post 15 gender-free gift ideas for any budding queer beauty guru appeared first on GAY TIMES.