GAY TIMES

If you hadn’t already noticed, we’ve had a redesign! GAY TIMES Magazine is going to be the place where you will find insight and discussion on the issues and challenges that face LGBTQ+ people in the the UK and across the world. That will never change. But we also want it to be a place where queer people can be uplifted, inspired and have a moment of escapism. We have so much to celebrate within our diverse and vibrant community, and we want these pages to be filled with some of that joy too. So what better place to start than with our first two covers for this reimagined quarterly title? As soon as we saw the camp and playful music video for Tinashe’s latest single Rascal, we knew we had to do something spectacular with her. A vintage pink cadillac, Tinashe soda cans, and a 90s-inspired car wash photoshoot later, we achieved that and then some. As a Black, bisexual woman working in the music industry, Tinashe has faced plenty of testing moments in her career. But she has a fiercely loyal LGBTQ+ following who will always support her. In the brilliant accompanying cover story, Tinashe is candid about her sexuality, the challenges she has faced as an artist and what we can expect from her next. Since the release of his stunning debut album Pony last year, we have been obsessed with Orville Peck. We of course had him for an all-pink Amplify by GAY TIMES digital cover last summer, but his career has sky-rocketed since then so we thought it was time for his GAY TIMES Magazine debut. As our cover shot suggests, everyone wants a piece of the enigmatic country star. We got to speak to Orville about his whirlwind success over the past 18 months following the release of his new EP, Show Pony. We also checked in with Shania Twain (as you do) to find out why she’s such a huge fan and how she found working with Orville on their new track, Legends Never Die. Elsewhere in the issue we have Drag Race favourites Gigi Goode and Heidi N Closet, the cast and director of Wonder Woman 1984 (Gal Gadot, Kristen Wiig, Chirs Pine, Pedro Pascal and Patty Jenkins), trans model Jari Jones, author Mohsin Gaidi, rising music stars Gia Ford and Walt Disco, internet star Brendan Jordan, Legendary winners House of Balmain, and plenty of new-season fashion from Moncler, Richard Quinn, Dior, Gucci, Lanvin, and more. We also have a powerful photo essay of Pride in lockdown during the summer, an exploration of LGBTQ+ groups in political parties, and a heartfelt discussion around the beauty of interracial relationships within the queer community. We’ve been very busy. This marks an exciting new era for GAY TIMES Magazine, as well as the organisation as a whole. For more than 45 years we’ve adapted and grown with the core mission of keeping LGBTQ+ representation on the newsstand, queer visibility on your social feed, and the latest stories sent to your inbox. It’s been a challenging and transformative year for many of us, so we want to thank you all for your continued support. We can assure you that we don’t take it for granted. Enjoy the Autumn 2020 issue of GAY TIMES Magazine!

Gay Times • Issue 508 Autumn 2020

Editor’s Letter

GOTTA HAVE IT

Jari Jones • Reconstructing industry beauty standards, one campaign at a time.

Gia Ford

Power of Pride

Orville Peck • How a masked singer became country music’s most exciting new artist

The Spectrum of Love • The joys and challenges of interracial relationships

Walt Disco

15 MINS WITH AN ICON SHANIA TWAIN

Tinashe

Pride vs Politics • What do LGBTQ+ groups in political parties actually do?

House of Balmain • Now this is what you call hot property.

Heidi N Closet • “Heidi to the Closet is her name” and it’s staying that way.

WW 84 • The cast of Wonder Woman 1984 talk about the year’s most anticipated blockbuster event.

Mohsin Zaidi...