From The Team

Welcome, dear reader, to an issue that celebrates sensuality and sexuality, but also all the other great things that get us in the mood – feeling safe, feeling respected and feeling seen. To that end, in this issue we have an amazing photo series by the insanely talented Hazel Coonagh (who also created that genius cover image) of Fionn Scott - the current Mister Leather Ireland, and hopefully soon to be International Mister Leather. We have our gloved fingers crossed, Fionn!

From L-R Katie Donohoe, Stefano Pappalardo, Lisa Connell, Peter Dunne, Dave Darcy.

We look at the launch of Call It Out - a new civil society campaign which aims to address homophobia, biphobia and transphobia and the corresponding impact they have on on Ireland LGBT+ community. Alongside that, we highlight the three queer women leading the creative side of the campaign.

Even though there’s still a month to go before Pride, it’s been a busy time for the community - we look back at the recent Front Line Defenders Awards where five LGBT+ human rights defenders who selflessly put their safety on the line for others were justly celebrated. We also look ahead to two hugely important events for our LGBT+ family. First up, we get the lowdown on what to expect at the TRANS-FUSION Trans Arts Festival from Sara R Phillips, while the keynote speakers who will address the Gay Health Forum share the messages they intend to bring.

While we’re counting down the days to the upcoming Body And Soul festival, we interview not one, but two, super cool, LGBT+ musical acts who’ll be wowing the crowds – SOAK, who speaks about growing up as a lesbian in a small town and the necessary journey her new album took and Lebanon’s Mashrou’ Leila – the thrilling indie band who share how they were banned from playing due to their progressive stance.

There are a series of candid articles beginning with a dive into the world of ‘cam girls’ - women who work in the online sex industry, and a frank discussion of male sexuality from the editor of the new magazine Quench, followed by a profile of the wild life of screenwriter David McGillivray - described as “the Truffaut of smut”.

We have a pair of hard-hitting articles dealing with chems. Firstly, front line specialists talk about dealing with the rise of Crystal Meth and GHB on the afterparty scene and secondly, there’s a report on the growing prevalence of gay men using performance and image enhancing drugs to get the bodies they want.

We also share a tribute from Ellen Murray to her friend, Lyra McKee.

A dedicated journalist, Lyra was murdered while covering the breakout of a riot in Derry when a gunman from the ‘New IRA’ opened fire.

No words of praise we could write would ever do justice to such a brave and vibrant woman, so we instead share the words of Ellen, who loved her dearly. We offer our condolences to Lyra’s family, her partner, Sara, and Ellen, her friend.

Rest in power, Lyra.

THE GCN TEAM