list.co.uk/LGBT Events are listed by date, then city. Submit listings at least 14 days before publication to gay@list.co.uk. Listings are compiled by Laura Ennor. ✽✽ Indicates Hitlist entry

GLASGOW

Activities & Events Life Drawing for Bears (Butches, Belles & Beaus) Tuesdays, 6.30–8.30pm. £7 in advance; £8 on the night. The Virginia Gallery, 45 Virginia Street, 552 5699. Semi-tutored life drawing classes for those who like their models with a little more brawn or bulk than the average. Open to all levels of artistic ability. FREE Together Tue 10 & 31 Jan, 7–9pm. Gay Men’s Health, 48 Albion Street, 552 0112. A social, support and information group for gay and bisexual men living with HIV. FREE Prime Time Sun 15 & 29 Jan, 3–5pm. Luke and Jack, 45 Virginia Street, 552 5699. A chance for gay and bisexual men over 40 to meet others in an informal setting. Burlesque for Beginners Sun 22 Jan, 12.30–2.30pm. £20. The Virginia Gallery, 45 Virginia Street, 552 5699. Learn the teasing secrets of burlesque with Dolly Tartan, including everything from stocking removal to tassel twirling. Includes cupcake and a glass of fizz. Boylesque classes are also available on request. Arts FREE #MAN Until Sat 7 Jan, noon–5pm. The Virginia Gallery, 45 Virginia Street, 552 5699. Group selling exhibition exploring homo-eroticism, masculinity, the man-made and ‘man’ as subject. Patchwork 6: The French Connection Sat 14 Jan–Sat 11 Feb. Tue–Sat noon–5pm or by appointment. The Virginia Gallery, 45 Virginia Street, 552 5699. Exhibition of photographs by French and international artists, on tour after an acclaimed opening in Paris. Drop Dead Gorgeous Sun 22 Jan, 7.30pm. Glasgow Film Theatre, 12 Rose Street, 332 6535. Lock Up Your Daughters’ latest film screening is a mock-doc of a teen beauty pageant showing the ugly (and deadly) side of the competition as a former winner tries to ensure her daughter follows her footsteps. Brash, loud and funny, and introduced by a special guest.

Clubs Lip Service Fridays, 6pm–3am. £tbc. FHQ, 10 John Street, 0845 166 6037. Long-running lesbian club night with a focus on all things sensual. Includes facepainting, dressing-up box, spin the bottle booths and a ‘sexual postbox’. Ooh- er. FREE Bears in the Underground Fri 6 Jan, 9pm–1am. Underground Glasgow, 6a John Street, 553 2456. The BearScots night for Glasgow gents in search of a little furry company. Blitz! Fri 6 Jan, 11pm–3am. £3. The Flying Duck, 142 Renfield Street, 564 1450. Homo and hetero fun, playing new romantic, new wave, alt pop and indie dance hits. Sugar Rush Saturdays, 6pm–3am. £tbc. FHQ, 10 John Street, 0845 166 6037. Pop, house and dance from DJ Devine. FREE Passionality Mondays, 11pm–3am. FHQ, 10 John Street, 0845 166 6037. Passion’s the fashion on a Monday with this night from TLC and DJ Shawn Roberts. FREE Poptart Tuesdays, 11pm–3am. The Polo Lounge, 84 Wilson Street, 0845 659 5905. Start the weekend very early indeed with DJ Belle de Hell. 4play Wednesdays, 6pm–3am. Free. FHQ, 10 John Street, 0845 166 6037. DJ Shazza presents a party for girls. Lock Up Your Daughters Fri 20 Jan, 11pm–3am. £4–£5. The Flying Duck, 142 Renfield Street, 564 1450. Ass-shaking session from the LUYD fanzine pitched as ‘a response to the boredom and brain dead

OPINION POLITICS TIME FOR CHANGE In the recent public consultation on equal marriage, over 24,000 people responded in favour of lifting the effective ban on same sex marriage. MSP Joan McAlpine explains to The List what implications changes to the current laws would have, and why some are still so vehemently against changing the current rules

The introduction of civil partnerships in 2004 meant many people believe we already have gay marriage. Lots of us have celebrated the union of gay friends and family. Thirty years ago, few gay people were allowed to be open about their sexuality. Thank goodness we have moved on from those dark days. The proposal to equalise marriage will not seem like a huge step for

the majority of people who have long since accepted same sex partnerships. If you accept the relationship in the first place, then why should you not also accept its formalisation? Therefore the equalisation of civil marriage seems fairly straightforward.

Religious marriage is a bit different because several denominations,

including the Catholic Church, and the Church of Scotland, say it is contrary to their beliefs. However, nobody wishes to force any church to conduct marriages it opposes. We respect freedom of worship. There are some denominations who are happy to conduct such

marriages and if we believe in true freedom of worship then this must be allowed. This will also mean a great deal to same sex couples who have faith and wish to make their vows in a religious ceremony.

Some have claimed churches could be accused of discrimination if they refuse to marry gay people. However, they are already exempt from equality legislation for example the Catholic Church is not forced to ordain female priests, nor marry divorcees. If there is any doubt at all, the exemption should be tightened. While the marriage laws are devolved to Scotland, the equality legislation remains reserved to London. I would therefore urge the Westminster government to co-operate with Scotland if necessary, to help make equal marriage legal while also respecting spiritual beliefs. Joan McAlpine is a member of the Scottish Parliament for the South of Scotland and regular columnist in the Scotsman. Her award-winning blog, Go Lassie Go, can be found at joanmcalpine.typepad.com

stagnation that plagues modern gay culture’, with residents DJ Suezz, Lock Up Your DJs and Skeleton Boy. This month, it’s a Northern soul, Motown, psych, ska and mod special with DJs Jamo, Rio and Spill. FREE Stephanie Valentine presents Fri 27 Jan, 10pm–3am. Bennets Glasgow, 80–90 Glassford Street, 552 5761. Monthly theme party with drag icon Stephanie Valentine. Trophy Room Sat 28 Jan, 10pm–3am, FHQ, 10 John Street, 0845 166 6037. The club night returns promising to be bigger, better and cheesier than ever.

EDINBURGH Activities & Events FREE The Big LGBT Music Jam Sat 7 Jan, 1–4pm. LGBT Centre for Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street, 523 1100. Music-making in a creative and supportive environment. Bring an instrument (which could be your voice) and join in with singing, playing or just listening.

FREE Word: Women’s Book Group Wed 11 Jan, 7.30–9pm. LGBT Centre for Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street, 523 1100. A chance to meet members of the LGBT community who share a passion for books and discuss the rest of the group’s choices. FREE The Sewing Circle Tue 24 Jan, 7–9pm. LGBT Centre for Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street, 523 1100. If you want to learn how to sew, or just make a few friends in a crafty setting, bring along your own needles and thread for a monthly group offering help with basic projects. FREE Edinburgh Gay Men’s Book Group Wed 25 Jan, 7–9pm. LGBT Centre for Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street, 523 1100. A book club for gents with a lust for reading. All types of books considered. FREE LGBT Film Club Fri 27 Jan, 6.30–9.30pm. LGBT Centre for Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street, 523 1100. Monthly screenings of feature-length films, shorts and unusual offerings with an LGBT

LGBT

focus, contact the centre to find out what’s going on this time. LGBT Retreat Sat 28 Jan, 11am–4pm. £2.50. LGBT Centre for Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street, 523 1100. Relax, de-stress and get your zen on with art therapy, aromatherapy, reflexology, singing and laughter yoga. Just what everyone needs after a dismal start to January. FREE The Culture Club Wed 1 Feb, 7–8.30pm. LGBT Centre for Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street, 523 1100. New monthly group offering a safe space to discuss the arts in all their forms, from music to exhibitions, ideas for new events and creative practices. LGBT Families: Our Stories Thu 2 Feb, 7–9pm. £5. Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. An evening of storytelling organised by the Storytelling Centre with the LGBT Centre for Health & Wellbeing and LGBT Youth Scotland, looking at different forms of family within the LGBT community. In particular, there’s a focus on LGBT parenting, with discussions of co-parenting, fostering, adoption, assisted fertility and all its associated highs and lows. Arts Craig Hill: Blown By A Fan! Sat 14 Jan, 7.30pm. Fri 27 Jan, 7pm. Sat 28 Jan, 8pm. £14.50 (£12.50). Brunton Theatre, Ladywell Way, Musselburgh, Edinburgh, 665 2240. The latest offering from Scotland’s campest funny man, with ten years of experience at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe under his sporran. Gutter Lane: Sparkle In The Sorrow Sat 14 Jan, 8pm–1am. £6–£9. The Jekyll & Hyde, 112 Hanover Street, 225 2022. Cabaret and circus sideshow with all the atmosphere of a gin-soaked 17th-century backstreet dive. They’re promising all manner of titillation to warm your cockles on a cold winter night.

Clubs FREE Frisky Disco Thursdays, 10pm–3am. GHQ, 4 Picardy Place, 0845 166 6024. Start the weekend early with DJ Dale. FREE Camp Thursdays, 11pm–3am. CC Blooms, 23–24 Greenside Place, 556 9331. Deejay Bird spins camp classics from Hi- NRG and disco to pop. Nocturnal Disco Fridays & Saturdays, 10pm–3am. £4–£5. GHQ, 4 Picardy Place, 0845 166 6024. Pop, chart, filthy house and electro sounds. FREE ELECTROsexual Fri 6 Jan, 11pm–3am. CC Blooms, 23–24 Greenside Place, 556 9331. Lucky Luciano and Kenwai are spinning the usual dirty bootlegs and ‘cheeky’ electro at this remix- lovers’ haven. FREE Sunday Skool Sundays, 11pm–3am. CC Blooms, 23–24 Greenside Place, 556 9331. Strictly 90s dancefloor fillers music policy from DJ Shelle La Belle. FREE Twisted Tuesday Tuesdays, 10pm–3am. GHQ, 4 Picardy Place, 0845 166 6024. DJ JT plays commercial house, electro and chart tracks, plus giant jenga, twister, etc. FREE Pop du Jour Tuesdays, 11pm–3am. CC Blooms, 23–24 Greenside Place, 556 9331. Chart, dance and pop from DJ Paton. FREE Bears in the Basement Sat 14 Jan, 10pm–2am. New Town Bar, 26b Dublin Street, 538 7775. A men-only night for bears and their admirers to meet up with old friends or make new ones, organised by the BearScots. Saturday Night Beaver Sat 21 Jan, 11pm–3am. £5. Cabaret Voltaire, 36–38 Blair Street, 247 4704. Women’s club night in the capable hands of The Street’s Trendy Wendy and Louise, with a kickin’ soundtrack for ladies and their invited male guests in The Speakeasy. FREE Friday Funk Sat 28 Jan, 11pm–3am. CC Blooms, 23–24 Greenside Place, 556 9331. DJ Shelle la Belle does her best to get your booty shaking with a mix of funky tunes from past and present. Bar is open from 6pm.

5 Jan–2 Feb 2012 THE LIST 73