GAY TIMES Magazine

31 August 2018

“In current state of America, if you don't have a message that you're pushing out, if it's not some sort of activism, then why are you doing it?” That’s a quote that looms heavy in our September cover feature with Hollywood’s most outspoken LGBTQ ally, Chlöe Grace Moretz. With so much queer talent out there, we’ve crammed six cover features into our September issue to truly celebrate not only the established voices, but the emerging individuals on the cusp of international fame. Chloë Grace Moretz is one of the LGBTQ community’s most outspoken allies in Hollywood. Her fantastic new movie The Miseducation of Cameron Post aims to shine a spotlight on the barbaric practice of gay conversion therapy that continues to be a huge problem across the globe. We caught up with Chloë on why she’s always been an advocate of the community, the insights into conversion therapy she gained while researching for her new film, growing up with two gay brothers, and why it’s essential in the current political climate for art to be political. “I want this movie to be a platform. I want this movie to start a conversation and to help lobby against conversion therapy in America. Religion isn't inherently negative. It's the misinterpretation of it and the weaponisation of it that becomes abusive.” MNEK has been working in the music industry for nearly a decade, writing hits with such unknowns as Dua Lipa, Madonna, Kylie Minogue and Beyoncé. After making his name behind the scenes, the singer-songwriter is finally releasing his debut album. We met up with MNEK to speak on navigating the music industry as an out and proud queer man of colour, the prejudices he receives from both within and outside of the community, and why he’s not ready to compromise for anyone. “I think the public's perception of ‘gay being okay’ is Olly Alexander. Olly's my girl – I love him – so it's awesome that people see him, and they see someone who's so comfortable in himself. But I think even he would say that the lack of diversity and the lack of variety in that idea of what ‘gay being okay’ is, is alarming, disturbing, and discouraging. It's the world we live in. I'm not a politician, I'm not an activist, but my activism is my music.” Jake Shears rose to fame as the frontman of queer act Scissor Sisters, and after a recent hiatus from the music world is back with his first solo album. During the early 2000’s Jake was one of the few out and proud global pop stars in the world, and now reflects on the incredible queer talent we’re seeing high in the charts these days. We sat down Jake on the commodification of the gay experience, his battles with anxiety and depression, and what to expect from his new album. “As out-and-proud and independently-minded as I like to think I am, I have felt pressure to conform in all kinds of ways. I’ve had major body image issues for the last 10 years. Like, what the fuck? Why do I struggle with that? I think about it all the time, and I feel like I’m in a better place with it now, but it’s definitely something I’ve struggled with. I’m super excited to go into my 40s, but I do feel like I have to reassess what it all means and I’ve been thinking a lot about that.” At the end of the first episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race season 10, a new phrase was officially entered into the vernaculars of a global community of fans. The impact of Miss Vanjie as a viral sensation has been monumental, with her final farewell from the Drag Race stage sealing her destiny as one of the most memorable contestants in the show’s 10 year history. Here, we asked Vanessa Vanjie Mateo to wax lyrical on the current state of the world, Tr*mp, receiving dirty videos from fans, and all those All Stars rumours. “I would not want somebody saying the ‘Vanjie’ bullshit in the middle of intercourse. Fans love to send me videos of them being in an intimate setting with somebody else, and then say my name in the middle of them having sex. It's so weird. It's the freakiest fucking thing. For me, I would automatically get turned off and get really soft, so I don't get why saying my name during the session became a thing.” Russell Tovey is one of the UK’s most prominent gay national treasures, having been out and proud since the very beginning of his career. Russell has been involved in several monumental productions that display the gay experience in a nuanced, considered way and continues to push for queer representation both on screen and on stage. We spoke with Russell on his return to the West End, dating in 2018 and why his newfound ‘daddy’ identity is bittersweet. “Back in the day people were worried about being stereotyped or typecast but it’s not like there’s just one gay guy to play. There are billions of fucking gay people and their stories haven’t been told.” Hungry’s iconic drag style has gathered global recognition from Drag Race alumni, artists and more recently: Bjork. The Berlin native spoke with Gay Times about why you won’t be seeing her on Drag Race, the emerging Berlin drag scene and living her truth unapologetically. “RuPaul’s Drag Race is generally quite dangerous at this point. It gives this perception of how drag is supposed to be and how people’s skills are viewed. The queens that leave the soonest are considered bad at drag, when it comes down to it. Just because they weren't good TV, or they couldn't adapt to what this reality TV programme is about. It becomes really dangerous because it is bad for their career, and for a lot of them, it turns into somewhat of a curse. It doesn't leave them. Of course, the network wants to bring good TV, but then it also should take care of what the queens take home with them, and it's a great programme, but it could teach a bit more about the aspects of drag. I'm happy I'm not involved, but I also wouldn't mind being involved if it changed.”