GAY TIMES Magazine

22 September 2023

GAY TIMES has seen our community across four decades of queer life spanning legal challenges, health epidemics and an ongoing battle for equal rights for all LGBTQIA+ individuals globally. It’s this shared history which has inspired the theme of this latest issue: legacy. Fittingly, the edition is headed up by the inimitable Billy Porter, a figure who has blazed new horizons for LGBTQIA+ representation and changed the face of fashion. Now, as he tells writer Tom George, he’s looking towards his new era: reintroducing himself as a musician. Abi McIntosh marks UK Black History Month by going in search of the queer Black elders who have been hidden from the history books and, in the process, reflects on the ways stories are passed down and preserved. To celebrate National Coming Out Day, Jordan Page speaks to queer historians and different members of the community about the act of proudly declaring our identities: exploring how coming out transitioned from political tactic to rite of passage and questioning whether it will hold the same relevancy for future generations. From history, we then segue to culture where GAY TIMES’ Entertainment Editor Sam Damshenas catches up with Felix Mufti and Alexandra James, two new stars of the fourth and final season of Netflix’s Sex Education who look back at the show’s legacy of depicting diverse queer stories with integrity, authenticity and joy. Closing the issue, our Fashion and Creative Director Umar Sarwar reflects on thirty years of BFC NEWGEN: a fashion incubator programme that launched the careers of LGBTQIA+ design talents like Richard Quinn, JW Anderson and the inimitable Alexander McQueen. So there we have it: a new season, a new UK Editorial Director, and a new cover star whose outstanding impact has been felt across the industry. I hope you can use this issue as a chance to reflect on what legacy means to you – whether it’s documenting the history of our community or the impact of living as your most authentic self.