As a media brand, making it to the forty-year milestone is no easy feat. In recent years, the journalism world has undergone no shortage of paradigm shifts and, as an LGBTQIA+ publication, GAY TIMES has weathered everything from censorship to police raids. Today, however, GT is the longest-running, queer-focussed magazine in Europe – and, with all we’ve overcome, we’ve got plenty to celebrate.
To help us do so, we’ve tapped a brilliant selection of names from across the worlds of sport, fashion, entertainment and activism: bright voices who embody the many different facets of LGBTQIA+ identity and who advocate for our rights on the public stage. With a member of the community behind the camera – Alec Maxwell, the director, photographer and founder of KLOSS FILMS – it was a pleasure to bring these figures together one chaotic, caffeine-fuelled Friday back in March. Bustling with energy on set, we’re overjoyed with the final results: a joyful, abundant celebration of queer excellence.
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Among the talents selected for this joyful cover are GAY TIMES’ alumni, including GT fashion intern turned drag phenomenon Bimini and the journalist and writer Paris Lees, who formerly served as Acting Assistant Editor and penned a column for the magazine. There’s also long-time friends of the brand, including; activist and model Munroe Bergdorf, actor and stage sensation Layton Williams, and RuPaul’s Drag Race UK’s Black Peppa.
There are also new voices brought into the fold, such as trailblazing comedian Rosie Jones and emerging musician Lava La Rue – two very different figures, bringing more depth and nuance to the ways our communities are represented in the field of entertainment. In the sports world, MMA fighter Molly McCann and former football and HYROX champion Jake Williamson are pushing for visibility within an infamously heteronormative sector.
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Together, these individuals stand as a strong, empowered vision of what it means to be queer today – we hope that they can inspire future generations to live life loudly, proudly and on their own terms. Alongside this pivotal cover, we’re launching an issue celebrating four decades of queer life in the UK: from the history of LGBTQIA+ helpline Switchboard to the untold story of bisexual activism.
We’re also delving into our history for the first time. The writer and frequent GT collaborator Nick Levine has spoken to the magazine’s former editors and staff to compile an oral history of the first decade of the publication – exploring its creation in the 1980s, as well as a number of tumultuous incidents across police raids and censorship. Despite the adversity, it’s a story of resilience, joy and community, and this first instalment will be followed by more deep-dives into the past four decades of GT.
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The GAY TIMES logo has also been reimagined by a quintet of international artists to ring in this special anniversary. These collaborators include 3D artist BORA, illustrator blackpowerbarbie, visual artist Jer Dee, illustrator Ohni Lisle and animator Jack Zhang.
Stay tuned across the summer for more events, activations and collaborations exploring the GAY TIMES legacy and looking forward to its future.
These features are published in the June 2024 issue of GAY TIMES. Head to Apple News + for more exclusive features and interviews from the issue.
