Below, Dr Tristan Barber and Tom Hayes-Isaacs, an activist living with HIV, discuss how advances in medicine now allow many people living with HIV to lead full and healthy lives.

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ViiV HEALTHCARE
WORDS MEGAN WALLACE
PHOTOGRAPHY LYDIA GARNETT
FEATURING DR TRISTAN BARBER AND TOM HAYES-ISAACS

Living with HIV has changed significantly over the years, thanks to improved treatment options, greater public education, and the gradual dismantling of discriminatory laws — including outdated restrictions on blood and organ donation, barriers to IVF and sperm donation, and the criminalisation of HIV transmission. HIV research and science is continuing to evolve, so it is always important to keep updated on any new developments from novel treatment options to innovative ways to manage living with HIV.

However, it can be hard to know where to start in terms of research and reliable resources and information. That’s why, in collaboration with ViiV Healthcare, we sat down with Dr Tristan Barber and Tom Hayes-Isaacs. Tristan is a consultant physician focussing in the field of HIV, who has more than twenty year’s experience and will be the new chair of the British HIV Association (BHIVA). Tom is an awareness activist who began blogging about their experiences of living with HIV when they were diagnosed in 2011, and who now continues this mission of battling misinformation and raising awareness with the charity Saving Lives UK.

Below, Tristan and Tom engage in an in-depth conversation around key topics for people and communities living with HIV, as well as allies looking to get better informed. From changing HIV treatment options to advice for people or communities living with HIV at different stages of diagnosis, navigating the patient/healthcare practitioner relationship, and battling stigma, here are key points you need to know, spoken through by experts with lived experience. 

How HIV has changed

“Compared to the 80s when life expectancy was short and there was no successful treatment, the changes in the management of HIV have been incredible” – Tristan Barber

Tristan, as a doctor and researcher, what do you think has changed in the management of HIV and people living with HIV since the 80s? 

Tristan: Many people living with HIV can now live their lives normally. Treatment can be as simple as one pill once a day or different formulations and modalities to suit each individual’s need. They can have children, and work in almost every career. They cannot transmit the virus sexually if on treatment with an undetectable viral load on a blood test. Compared to the 80s when life expectancy was short and there was no successful treatment, the changes have been incredible.

We have gone from having regimens where tablets need to be taken multiple times per day to now having regimens which allow for medication to be taken much less frequently. What new treatment options have become available during your career?

Tristan: I have worked in the HIV field for over 20 years. When I started, we had limited treatment options, many with lots of side effects and toxicities. I have worked on and seen the development of new drug classes, particularly the integrase inhibitors which are now in first line treatment options around the world in all major guidelines. I have also seen the development of PrEP, an antiretroviral that can be taken daily or as needed to prevent someone acquiring HIV through condomless sex. 

Tom, you were diagnosed 14 years ago, in 2011. How has treatment changed recently since your diagnosis?

Tom: HIV treatment has changed dramatically over the past forty years, but even in the fourteen years I’ve been diagnosed the pace of change hasn’t slowed down.

Back in 2011, I was taking one pill once a day – something that was very important to me to aid with my adherence (taking treatment at the same time each day). Unfortunately, that older medication had some pretty unpleasant side-effects. I’ve changed a couple of times since then, and now I’m very happy and not experiencing side effects on a newer combination pill.

The patient/doctor relationship

“Your quality of life is more important than starting an awkward conversation” – Tom Hayes-Isaacs

From your medical perspective, Tristan, how has the relationship with your patients changed over time? 

Tristan: The community has always been at the forefront of advocating for HIV treatment and care. Some key slogans support this particularly ‘nothing about us without us’. To be honest I don’t even use the term ‘patient’ anymore. These are people, people with HIV, and they are experts by experience. I think in many ways HIV has led on person-centred care, placing people and their loved ones in the centre. In many ways this hasn’t changed, as it was true in the early days also, where HIV services stood up for people experiencing stigma, and provided care in a unique way. Now that HIV is more manageable we continue to strive for this despite funding restrictions that may make it difficult for us to always provide everything we would like to.

And what does a good patient/HCP relationship look like in your opinion? 

Tristan: It should be open, honest, trustworthy, and never complacent! As HIV is a lifelong condition it needs to be a partnership, with both people working together to achieve the best outcome for the person with HIV.

Tom, with the above in mind, how is your relationship with your current doctor and what do you think makes a good patient/doctor relationship?

Tom: I’m very lucky to have a doctor that is both one of the best in her field, as well as a truly wonderful human being. Although I may only see her a couple of times a year, we chat for ages about what’s been going on in both our lives. The actual time spent on HIV is probably in the minority compared to the amount of gossiping! Regrettably, not everyone has the same relationship with their HIV care team. One of the first doctors I had was a very grumpy gentleman who treated the patients like numbers – not people. 

A good patient-doctor relationship must be grounded in honesty and mutual respect. As our doctor you’re asking us to share very personal information about ourselves, our sex lives and more – people aren’t going to do that if they don’t feel safe and respected. As patients we need to recognise that our doctors need us to be onboard and engaged so that we can pick the right treatments and care for the best outcomes.

To both of you, how can people with HIV advocate for their needs? 

Tristan: I think the best way is to be prepared! Keep notes between appointments – what isn’t working for you, what problems have you had, what do you need from the appointment at your clinics? If something isn’t working, say so. Feedback always shows that people like seeing the same doctor, who knows their story, but sometimes I think seeing someone new, even if only for one visit, may give a different perspective, result in different questions or referrals, and can be a way to get a different opinion, even if you then revert back to your long standing and trusted clinician. We all work as a team and want the best thing for those we care for.

Tom: Sometimes we all need to be our own advocate and that can often seem daunting, but no-one knows your needs like you do. Understanding more about your condition, your care and your treatment goes a long way towards making you feel empowered to advocate for yourself. You don’t need to be an expert, but knowing the basics will help you and your doctor have a more constructive conversation and hopefully build a treatment plan that fits all your needs.

If you don’t feel you’re getting the level of care and support that you need from your HIV care team it’s important to know that you have options. You can ask to see another doctor or nurse. You can move your care to another HIV clinic. Don’t be afraid to speak out. Your quality of life is more important than starting an awkward conversation. 

L: Tom Hayes-Isaacs. R: Dr Tristan Barber

Advice for people and communities living with HIV at different stages of diagnosis

“Science and research evolve, and we always have new treatment options” – Tristan Barber

Tristan, as a doctor, what advice would you give to someone recently diagnosed with HIV? 

Tristan: Most people newly diagnosed with HIV have a normal life expectancy. Treatment is well tolerated and simple, and we should be able to find something that doesn’t cause side effects. Once on successful treatment (usually after 6 months), they cannot transmit the virus through sex, and can have children (should they choose to!) who are at extremely low risk of acquiring HIV. We changed the law in the UK so that people with HIV can now donate sperm and eggs to start a family if they choose to. Despite a normal life expectancy, we know people with HIV are at slightly higher risk of some things, like some cancers and infections, and that’s why it’s important to attend for specialist care and report symptoms early. But, in general, life can be lived normally (and well!) with HIV.

And what advice would you both give to someone who has been receiving treatment for a while but may be unaware of treatment options? 

Tristan: Science and research evolve, and we always have new treatment options. People with HIV can be given links and written information to find out more about these. We also have peer support workers and services who can help them find out more about new treatments. People may be advised to switch treatment for a number of reasons – age, interactions with other medicines, side effects, or just new data and new options. The thought of changing therapy can be scary for some people, but for the most, if they don’t get on with a new treatment, they can always be reassured they can switch back, or that there are other options that should work well for them.

Tom: It’s very easy to get comfortable and just accept side-effects from medications, you don’t want to try something else in case it’s worse, you don’t want to rock the boat, you don’t want to cause a fuss with your HIV care team – I get it! The thing is, HIV medication has advanced so much, in the last couple of years alone, that what was cutting-edge ten years ago is now no longer routinely prescribed. Long-term impacts of treatments start to emerge, we discover newer and kinder drugs.

I often compare keeping on top of your HIV treatment to an iPhone (or your Android, if that’s your thing). It’s easy to stick with that old iPhone 6 that’s held together with tape because moving all your photos and apps to a new phone seems like a lot of work, but you’re a good few generations behind now and you’re missing out on all the new features – in this case smaller pills, less frequent dosing, fewer side effects etc. Treat yourself. Ask your HIV care team if there’s a newer, or more optimised, HIV treatment you could be on. There’s no need to put up with a lower quality of life. 

Focusing on quality of life

“Individualising treatment is key to ensuring people get the best option for them” – Tristan Barber

Tristan, picking up on what Tom just mentioned, what are some reasons for changing treatments beyond side effects but instead focussing on quality of life? 

Tristan: As treatment has evolved we have newer options that may include fewer pills, and may cause less long-term issues for someone with HIV. Even though someone may not be experiencing side effects, some of the older drugs may impact on their bones, kidneys, or cholesterol for instance, things that we monitor in clinic regularly. Newer treatments may avoid these issues and help maintain health and quality of life for the long term. 

Tom, from a patient point of view, what advice would you give to stay informed about HIV and treatment options?

Tom: For a lot of people the easiest way to stay informed about the latest HIV treatment options would be to ask your HIV care team. The doctors, nurses, pharmacists and peer support workers will all be able to fill you in on what’s hot and what’s not in the world of HIV treatment. If you’re interested in learning a bit more in your own time, I can heartily recommend the i-base.info website. They make some incredibly useful and well-designed guides to HIV treatment and care. You can also check out Saving Lives UK’s HIV news articles at beyondpositive.org.

Battling stigma and advancing awareness

“A lot of the negative attitudes and perceptions people have about folks living with HIV have barely changed since the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s – and frankly, it’s exhausting” – Tom Hayes-Isaacs

Tom, you’ve been working as an awareness activist for people and communities living with HIV for over a decade. How do you navigate HIV stigma and how is this stigma changing?

Tom: Whilst HIV medicine has changed and advanced at breakneck speed over the past forty years, sadly the same can’t be said for stigma. A lot of the negative attitudes and perceptions people have about folks living with HIV have barely changed since the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s – and frankly, it’s exhausting. 

As someone living openly with, and working in, HIV it doesn’t really have much of an effect on me these days. Water off a duck’s back. But online messages like “You clean?” and “DDF” (drug and disease free) can really have a devastating impact on newly diagnosed people who’re still coming to terms with their diagnosis themselves. If someone is making the decision to share their status with you, please see that as the big trust fall that it is – and respect their privacy and decision.

And how can we advance awareness of U=U?

Tom: Education. Conversation. Representation. Sex and relationship education in schools needs to be much better. HIV awareness, U=U, PrEP and PEP should be part of a robust sexual health education framework – taught consistently at every school, including private and faith schools.

We need to talk more about HIV, and sexual health in general, in our day-to-day life. Let’s not be shy about politely and respectfully asking for someone’s HIV status and when they were last tested before you hook up. Talk to your friends about new HIV news you’ve heard, or TV storylines that covered HIV well.

People with HIV should be involved in designing the services that provide their care and support. Representation of HIV, and different experiences of HIV, at every level ensures that services are appropriate for our needs – and that everyone, both patient and healthcare worker alike, understands topics such as U=U.

Thanks so much for your time, both. Is there anything else they want to add?

Tom: It’s 2025, not 1985. HIV has changed. If you’re living with HIV you deserve to be on a treatment that fits around you, and not the other way around. If you’re unhappy with your current treatment, please speak to your HIV care team – we want you to be living your best life and HIV should be no barrier to that.

This article was sponsored and content reviewed by ViiV Healthcare. ViiV Healthcare is a global specialist pharmaceutical company 100% dedicated to HIV medicines and research. ViiV Healthcare’s mission is to leave no person living with HIV behind.

TB and TH-I received a fee for their involvement. This article is for education and awareness only and does not contain medical advice. Anyone needing medical advice should contact their GP, Sexual Health or other appropriate medical service provider.

Ready to take control of your health? Arm yourself with knowledge, visit here and download a conversation guide to support discussions with a healthcare professional. Knowledge is power.

NP-GBL-HVX-WCNT-250023 | July 2025

The post The realities of living with HIV have changed appeared first on GAY TIMES.

Jessica Winter on her debut album, growing up in the punk scene, and a current internet fixation with kittens and mini dachshund puppies

PHOTOGRAPHY REBECCA THOMAS
STYLIST LUCY-ISOBEL BONNER
HAIR SVEN BAYERBACH

It’s midway through my conversation with London-based pop artist Jessica Winter, and I’m laughing. We’re talking over Zoom on a sunny afternoon, informing me that her rider at her recent headline show at The Divine in Dalston consisted of limp salad leaves and a single ginger and lemon teabag. No disrespect to the venue, mind you, this was at her insistence. “I don’t know what I was thinking,” she admits. “I must have been on a health kick.” She promises to amp up the rockstar vibe with ten bottles of whiskey next time, neither of us is sure how well that would pair with wilted lettuce. 

Booked to headline the GAY TIMES stage at XOYO for SXSW London on June 6th, lead performer Jessica Winter is well acquainted with the LGBTQ+ scene in the capital. Often gracing the floors of Dalston Superstore and nearby venues with her inebriated presence, she has quite literally been raised with the gays through her family. Her brother Joshua is currently on a mission to make Soho nightlife queer and sexy again through the bougie Hotel @ 49A club night. Winter lent her musical talents for the launch night, welcoming in the new party with an opening DJ set, promoted by an incredible image of her flexing her guns in a fishnet catsuit. She is torn between Divine and Judy Garland as her favourite notable icon. 

Growing up on Hayling Island off the shores of Portsmouth, Winter spent a lot of her early childhood strapped to a piano as a result of her hip dysplasia. “I had this bar back and my legs were in the splits,” she says of her earliest memory. “My Mum would put me on the piano stool because my legs could poke out on either side, and I’d be safe. And I used to play on that for ages, and I just remember loving it: like I was only two.” She didn’t start singing until she was 11 or 12. “I never really considered myself a singer at all,” Winter explains, only properly writing when she finally had something to say. 

Also hailing from Hayling is her musical collaborator, Alex Sebley, a former member of The Saudis whose musical career bubbles around the fringes of Fat White Family. The two met by chance years later in London, forming the eccentric indie disco band PREGOBLIN but friction arose around the time the debut single Combustion was released in 2018. I’d surprisingly met Winter for a brief moment around this time, my ex was a bassist in the band and living with Sebley throughout our breakup. I remember a table full of collaged scraps of paper, including images of Winter assembled as they were making a DIY scrapbook video for that first track. Speaking to her now feels cathartic, being on the other side of that strange era. 

Winter has notably produced for artists including Jazmin Bean, The Horrors, The Big Moon, Phoebe Green, Fat White Family, Walt Disco, Sundara Karma, Brodka, Lauren Auder, Solv, The Moonlandingz, and has toured with Rebecca Black and Death Grips separately. On July 11th, Winter is excited to drop her first debut album, cheekily titled My First Album, with a UK tour starting with a performance at Rough Trade East. Inside, thirteen pop tracks tell the story of Winter finding herself through a series of personal anecdotes. She tells me that working on her solo material has been fun but stressful. “It’s 100% me and I freak out about that sometimes, but it’s not like I can give it up because it’s a therapy and how I heal my wounds.” There’s no way around being authentically an artist without being truly seen.

In an age where AI music infiltrates streaming services like a mechanical cancer, the music itself feels rich and nostalgic, like razzing it down the motorway on a sunny Friday afternoon with the top down (and, optionally: your top off) after making a life-changing realisation. Playing with sounds in a very textural way, there are slices of Scissor Scissors, grunge, and Kylie Minogue. Each track has a personality and soul. “I wanted to make it much warmer and more analogue,” she explains about the production process, trying to capture the raw feeling of when she would listen to noughties pop as a youngster.

“I was making sure that everything I did was trying to use as many real instruments as possible, taking it out of the laptop and putting it through vintage equipment.”

Emotion builds as the songs progress, peeling back layers until you find the heart of the person beneath. Already released from the album is her music video for the track ‘Wannabe’, where you watch Winter metamorphose into the misunderstood 90s goth icon Edward Scissorhands. It’s the scene where he’s outside awkwardly fingering the hairstyles of various older lady neighbours with his namesake appendages into something entirely new. In Winter’s rendition, the models are styled into clones of her until the end, where she finally breaks free of creating the same style over and over again, becoming a bleach blonde babe in the process. It’s fitting to the lyrics, where an unhealthy habit of self-comparison through social media is revealed. “It’s really important to find out who you are, or you lose yourself,” she affirms. “Comparison is a mirror, not a truth.” This is especially true in the music industry, where mental health struggles amongst artists are infamously rife.

Winter relates to the misfit essence of Edward Scissorhands and how he doesn’t fit in. “He wants to be liked and loved, and kind of just tries, but when he tries, he cuts people’s faces,” she explains. “Sometimes when you’re trying, it just goes wrong. A lot of people can feel like an alien sometimes, it’s just good to remember that you are just equal to any other human being on this earth.” It’s directed by Roger Spy, the multimedia artist and musician. “He can sing, he can dance, he can direct,” Winter appraises. “He is the next Michael Jackson, if not Michael Jackson incarnated,” she quips, although the timeline of this reincarnation is questionable. It transpires that Spy has directed two more of her upcoming videos, in one, she’s screaming atop a cliff in Wales, which will also be revealed on the album launch release. 

Lyrically, ‘Wannabe’ touches on the feeling of self-comparison on social media and using outside distractions to avoid yourself. “It’s that comparing and despairing, seeing other artists doing way better than you or seeming more confident, but I’m sure they’re all going through the same,” she describes. “When you’re comparing yourself to someone, you’re not seeing them, you’re seeing your insecurities reflected,” but she has a tip to trick your brain into doing the opposite when you notice that happening. “Write it down and then write the opposite statement: one of compassion, not punishment. Do it every time and collect them in a jar. When the jar is full… burn them and let all those negative thoughts disintegrate into thin air!”

Winter notes her current internet fixation involves an adorable combo of cute kittens and mini dachshund puppies, a blessed algorithm if there ever was one. “Sometimes I have to throw my phone across the room to get it out of my hand.”

Avoidance can be achieved through anything and everything. In one of the upcoming tracks, I See The Robin, Winter averts her attention from the present moment by looking for signs. I recalled my past superstition of robin sightings as a sign from my deceased Granddad, and she said the same. How many Granddads could one local red-breasted bird be symbolic of in one area? “Is it serendipity, or is it a coincidence?” she asks, perhaps seeing 1111 everywhere is only indicative of habitually looking at your screen at 11:11 each day. “I think sometimes it’s a bit poisonous to be living in this fantasy land, because again, you’re believing this narrative in your head and you’re not being in the present moment, which is better. Usually.”

There’s an equally gothic undertone across her entire discography, in part due to her relationship to metal and rock music as a teen. She was part of the punk scene in Portsmouth and adored the fashion, the music and the ethos. “It shaped me and I think it will always be a part of me, no matter what music or clothes I wear.” Before the interview, I had been tipped off that she was partial to Epic by Faith No More. “I got a top badge for that on Spotify.”

“What I love about pop music is you can be as extreme as you want to be in three minutes, seeing how far you can push certain structures and boundaries,” Winter explains. “What I love about rock bangers is that it’s dramatic, you can hear that in my music. Punk music has theater and drama, I love all of that. It’s where I’ve come from. My whole family is very dramatic.”

The drama is undeniable. ‘Got Something Good’ features sirens and an industrial edge, ‘L.O.V.E’ feels like the hero making a comeback in a ‘90s romcom. The song ‘Big Star’ immediately followed by ‘Worst Person In The World’ feels like an immediate comedown from the positivity in the track before it. It’s theatrical but not in a cheesy way. The album ends on ‘To Know Her’, where the protagonist Winter leaves you on a fairytale ending with a baroque-style harpsichord and an organ. A heavenly moment that sounds like finally finding the light at the end of a long struggle. You’re left sitting there introspectively as the sound echoes around the room inside your headphones.

“I’m just trying to be authentic. That sounds lame, doesn’t it?” I assure her that it will look better written down. “I’m just trying to figure it out, as I’m sure a lot of the readers are. There might be resonance with that and we can all feel heard together.” 

Jessica Winter’s debut album ‘My First Album’ is out now.

The post Jessica Winter: “Comparison is a mirror, not a truth” appeared first on GAY TIMES.

From Bel Priestley to Vanity Milan, leading LGBTQIA+ figures reflect on the lessons they wish they had known earlier.

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH GARNIER MICELLAR WATER
CHARITY PARTNER JUST LIKE US
GARNIER CREATIVE AGENCY FRESHEATHER

This Pride, Gay Times and Garnier are thrilled to unveil a new project celebrating queer coming of age. 

We’ve invited a host of LGBTQIA+ talent to reflect on how they came into their identity, reflecting on all the joy, confusion and breakthroughs which led them to a place of self-love and radical acceptance. 

For three years, Garnier has proudly partnered with Just Like Us, a UK charity which works to support schools and empower younger people within the LGTBQIA+ community nationwide.

As the UK’s #1 skincare product* Garnier’s beloved Micellar water has long been a cult favourite of the LGBTQIA+ community. As a make-up remover and cleanser suitable for all skin types, Garnier Micellar is the perfect product to help individuals embrace the art of self expression – make-up or no make-up, it’s time to celebrate the skin you are in. 

Below, Bel Priestley, Vanity Milan, Mitchell Halliday, Jason Kwan, Way of Yaw and Charley Marlowe share heartfelt pieces of advice to their younger selves. 

Bel Priestley

To my younger self,

Never let someone else’s narrative define who you are.

People will try their hardest to discourage you from being yourself, but you must prevail – no matter what. Never, ever listen to haters; they are always wrong. It gets easier, and you’ll care less and less as time goes on.

You are incredibly strong – even if you don’t always feel that way, it’s true. Being trans is one of the hardest journeys anyone can face, and yet you are becoming the beautiful woman you’ve always wanted to be, with such grace.

Every day, you will grow more into the person you truly are and want to be. One day, you’ll feel fully like yourself – I promise. You’re going to achieve everything you dream of, and so much more. Just stay focused on you. Enjoy the process.

There will be challenges along the way, but don’t let them change who you are. Never forget where you come from or who you are. Let that knowledge empower and motivate you.

You are so special. Never forget that.

Love,

Bel x

Vanity Milan

To my younger self,

I know you’re scared. I know you’re confused. I know you’re constantly checking to see if the world has figured out your secret. You try to blend in, not stand out, and silence parts of yourself that are begging to shine.

But here’s the truth: you were never meant to shrink. There will come a day when you stop apologising for who you are. When you realise that Pride isn’t just a month or a parade. It’s a daily act of showing up for yourself, exactly as you are. You’ll learn that softness is strength. And your queerness? It’s not a burden. It’s your superpower. You’ll meet your people. You’ll fall in love. You’ll laugh, really laugh, without worrying about how you look or who’s watching. And the things you once tried to hide will become the things you’re most proud of.

It took time, but now, when I remove my make-up, I’m not erasing anything. I’m revealing everything. The confidence. The joy. The journey. The Pride. Every wipe is a reminder that I no longer need to hide because being me is worth celebrating.

Removing my make-up doesn’t strip anything away. It brings me closer to myself. Closer to truth. Closer to Pride.

With love,
Your older, prouder, unapologetic you

Charley Marlowe

To my younger self,

If I were to tell you one thing, it would be that there’s a reason you’ll feel the way you do.

There’s a reason you feel different. You’re gay and in hindsight you should have realised that a lot sooner.

I wish you’d been surrounded with more education and acceptance. But you always had a laugh regardless. And that’s made you who you are today. You’re still learning. And you’ll use your platform to advocate for the other members in your community. You are so loved, and I wish I could tell you that there’s nothing to be afraid of. It’ll all be okay.

Love,

Charley

Way of Yaw

To my younger self,

It’s okay not to totally understand yourself right now. It is a beautiful journey of self discovery.

Some people in your life won’t accept you, but you will find amazing people that totally embrace every part of you.

You will try to fit into the stereotypes of masculinity and femininity, but realise you are the best of both. You will see that your outward appearance does not define you.

Don’t allow people’s opinions of you to define you. Instead, let your confidence and authenticity guide you to your true self.

Love,

Yaw

Mitchell Halliday

To my younger self,

Instead of wondering why people aren’t accepting you, start thinking about why you aren’t accepting yourself.

The world might not see it right now, but as soon as you feel it, that will become infectious. Stand in your power, your power is yourself.

Love,

Mitchell

Jason Kwan

To my younger self,

You’re going to realise that not fitting in is your greatest strength. They’re going to say you’re too loud, too expressive, and too much. But all these things will make you the unique creative that you are.

People will soon embrace your expression and celebrate your creativity. So, give yourself time and patience to explore who you are. Have fun with it! You’re going to find an incredible chosen family who will uplift you and support you.

Don’t let those who doubt you define who you are. Keep breaking free and stomping forward. Trust me, it’s so worth the ride.

Love,

Jason

The post This Pride, queer and trans icons write letters to their younger selves appeared first on GAY TIMES.

The London-based artist discusses her creative journey as she unveils a sensual, sanguine tease of an EP sure to soundtrack sweltering dancefloor hookups.

Famously, the 2020s have emerged as nightlife’s ‘harder, better, faster, stronger’ era. Whether it’s the influence of TikTok, G, or our dwindling attention spans, BPMs are cranking up as dancers become more frenzied, seeking new horizons of escapism – and nowhere is this more present than in queer nightlife, where genres like donk and hard trance dominate. 

It’s interesting, then, that the past few years would also see the ascent of London-based DJ and producer Elkka. A name frequently featured in major lineups across the UK, EU and US – with plenty of far-flung dates to boot – the artist embodies, well… more of an embodied approach to club music. Behind the decks, she favours beats that come complete with a sway of the hips and simmering percussion. As a producer, her tracks are sinewy and tactile, firmly rooted in the experience of being a living, breathing human. 

An advocate for partying as praxis, she also runs Prism of Pleasure: a curated club night which centres FLINTA acts and audiences, and takes its name from her ecstatic debut album. Fittingly, her latest project, the EP Xpression, is a culmination of her years-long appreciation for the energising role of clubbing in the queer and dyke communities. Landing on 20 June, the four-tracker is low-slung, hazy and destined to be the soundtrack to sweltering bank holidays and sweaty dancefloor hookups.

Inspired by moments of liberation in the club, the EP overflows with hedonism, desire and – a recurring theme for Elkka – pleasure. In case you need any further convincing, the cover art for its double single, ‘Automatic/ Gentle Gaze’, looks like a still from an 80s music video: a coupe glass capturing a trail of champagne, suspended strategically in front of a pair of bikini bottom-clad thighs. Consider us enticed.

In order to share more, the artist sat down with Gay Times in East London’s La Camionera over a glass – or two, or three… – of white wine. (A couple of days later, Elkka posed for exclusive images shot by the photographer Alex Lambert, her creative collaborator and wife.)

Corset CRAIG MORRISON STUDIO, shorts FEYZA BERCA, jewellery VITALY

Hey diva! Wait… how old are you? Your skin is so radiant.

I am 36… she’s old! 

Not old at all. 

Do you know, my age used to be something I was really self-conscious about? I’m not anymore. I did a headline show a couple of years ago, and it was on my birthday. I was like, ‘Do I say it’s my birthday? Do I say how old I am?’ I then kind of ended up talking about it really openly with, like, 700 people. When I was younger, I thought I would ‘make it’ at 22. But, oh god, I was so straight at 22! I was a lost soul at that age and I was figuring out my music and my sexuality at the same time.

Intriguing… so what has your journey been like from that lost 22-year-old to now?

I started out being a songwriter and singer, going down the pop route, but I knew that wasn’t going to serve me very well. I was doing well as a writer and featuring on people’s records… but I didn’t want to be the fucking feature artist. I wanted to be the artist. I wanted to have control of my own career, not have my songs on some boy’s laptop. 

So, I started producing for myself and I set up my record label Femme Culture. That was the turning point for me. I remember calling my mum and saying, ‘I’m going to stop doing these sessions now. I’m going to try and teach myself how to produce and DJ’. She was like, ‘Do you know how to do that?’ I was like, ‘No, but I’m going to figure it out.’

“When I was younger, I thought I would ‘make it’ at 22. But, oh God, I was so straight at 22!”

And you did figure it out!

I did! Since then, everything’s just kind of kept going forward, I feel really in control of what I’m making. But I still feel like I’m 22 and I still feel like I’m learning about myself as a musician and as a woman.

It’s been about a year since your first album, Prism of Pleasure, came out, and we still have it on repeat in the GT office… What was the process of making that project?

The album took a couple of years. There was a pause because I did a DJ–Kicks album in 2023, then I went back to the album. Then, sadly, my dad died and I had to make the decision whether to stop or finish – and I decided to finish the project. The last track on the album was written on the day of the funeral. It was important to me to keep going. He was so supportive of my career. 

That sounds like such an important process of catharsis. How did you settle back into making music after you released the album back into the world?  I know you have a new EP, Xpression, out at the end of the month…

As soon as you finish something, everyone’s asking, ‘What are you doing next?’ I needed to take a minute to live, to take time away from touring or writing, to just be. Otherwise, I can’t really write. What’s really been inspiring to me is partying.

Sorry, side bar: What’s been your favourite clubbing experience recently? And – as good as they are, I’ve been – you’re not allowed to mention your own Prism of Pleasure nights… 

There’s a party called Club Are, which I’ve been to a couple of times as a punter and it’s one of the best clubbing experiences that I’ve had in a very, very long time. You can talk to people there, the music curation is exceptional and it’s just very open, warm and inviting. People are very free and expressive there, there’s no music snobbery. It just reminds me of how difficult it is to curate a good party, and how all the small details add up to the feeling of it. I just really had the best time. I felt liberated and it reminded me of what it’s like to be on the dancefloor again. 

“Xpression is inspired by the dancefloors that I felt most free in”

Okay, back to the EP! What was the creative process like?

Well, after going to parties like that, I knew what I wanted to write – the music I made really poured out on me. I didn’t know what it was going to be, but I knew I wanted to make club music again. I know that ‘club music’ can mean a million different things, but I’m really happy with what I’ve made. Generally, I find it hard to make music that, discernibly, as a DJ, I would choose to play. There’s a block there. It’s the first time I’ve made this type of music, which is really exciting. 

How would you describe the influences behind Xpression? 

It’s inspired by the dancefloors that I felt most free in and the most inspired by. 

You’ve recently moved to East London, right?

I did. I lived in South London for a long time, and I loved it there. But everything’s here for me. The lesbian bars are here: they’re popping up, left, right and centre. There’s a moment happening and I kind of get to be in it. 

You must have spent a lot of time in East London before you moved here, though? Think of Dalston Superstore!

I think my second date with my wife Alex and my first ever DJ gig, was at Dalston Superstore. It was terrible. I blagged my way into getting booked and didn’t realise it was an R&B night, so I tried to put on house music. They took me off the decks after 20 minutes, and Alex watched the whole thing. But it ended well: Alex and I are now married, and I’m making my living from club music. 

Leztopia x Prism of Pleasure will land in Corsica Studios on 6 June. Get tickets here. 

Xpression is out on 20 June via Method 808. Check out the singles so far via the embed below. 

The post Elkka: “I didn’t want to be the feature artist – I wanted to be the artist” appeared first on GAY TIMES.

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.

The post EHRC says trans people shouldn’t be included in gay or lesbian spaces appeared first on GAY TIMES.

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.)

The post We’re living through an LGBTQIA+ loneliness epidemic – could running clubs be the answer? appeared first on GAY TIMES.

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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