Gay Times
Encyclopedia
Gay Times is one of the United Kingdom's leading gay magazine
for gay and bisexual men.
, for lesbian
s. The first issue of the Gay Times appeared in 1984, when it starred Lewis Mannion and was created as a spin-off from HIM magazine, which started in 1975. AXM
magazine, Gay Times younger brother and a rival to attitude
was also published by the same company.
Gay Times includes features, celebrity interviews, news, satire, male art, an agony uncle section, personal ads and sections on music, film, literature, style, travel and the internet. It also features lifestyle advertisements and a large directory section, including ads for escort services, counselling services and phone lines.
was interviewed for the cover story after suffering a significant career setback after coming out as gay in October 1990.
In September 2004 Gay Times had a controversial advertising campaign on the London Underground
with pictures of their September issue front cover, that proved popular with Gay Times readers. It was the first advertising campaign to feature a gay kiss, attracting only one complaint that was later thrown out by the Advertising Standards Agency
.
From March 2007, Gay Times re-labeled itself as GT, announcing: "The Future's Here: Are You Up For It? New Look. New Attitude. New Sections. New Writers. New Style. Gay Times becomes GT".
In the November 2008 issue a controversial advertising campaign was launched, entitled Homo Promo. This campaign was a reaction to right-wing evangelical groups claiming that gay people have an agenda to promote homosexuality
. In response to these accusations GT asked advertising agencies to create campaigns that would sell 'Homosexuality' as an appealing choice and recruit for the cause.
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
for gay and bisexual men.
Publication and content
The Gay Times (GT) magazine is published by Millivres Prowler Group Ltd. and has a sister paper, DivaDiva (magazine)
Diva is a leading lesbian magazine in the United Kingdom. It was launched in 1994 by Millivres Prowler Group Ltd., who also produce the Gay Times. The current editor is Jane Czyzselska, who was promoted to the position in 2004. It includes many articles dedicated to lesbian and bisexual social...
, for lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
s. The first issue of the Gay Times appeared in 1984, when it starred Lewis Mannion and was created as a spin-off from HIM magazine, which started in 1975. AXM
AXM
AXM is a British lifestyle digital magazine aimed at young gay and bisexual men.The magazine ceased publication of printed magazines after December 2008 due to financial downturn, and so it claims, to show videos online, thus the magazine is now in an online-only format.Its content is heavily based...
magazine, Gay Times younger brother and a rival to attitude
Attitude (magazine)
Attitude is a British gay lifestyle magazine owned by Vitality Publishing. It is sold worldwide as a physical magazine and a digital download for the iPad and iPhone via the App Store. The first issue appeared in May 1994....
was also published by the same company.
Gay Times includes features, celebrity interviews, news, satire, male art, an agony uncle section, personal ads and sections on music, film, literature, style, travel and the internet. It also features lifestyle advertisements and a large directory section, including ads for escort services, counselling services and phone lines.
Historic issues
In July 1991 Justin FashanuJustin Fashanu
Justinus Soni "Justin" Fashanu was an English footballer who played for a variety of clubs between 1978 and 1997. He was known by his early clubs to be homosexual, and came out to the press later in his career, to become the first professional footballer to be openly gay...
was interviewed for the cover story after suffering a significant career setback after coming out as gay in October 1990.
In September 2004 Gay Times had a controversial advertising campaign on the London Underground
London Underground
The London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
with pictures of their September issue front cover, that proved popular with Gay Times readers. It was the first advertising campaign to feature a gay kiss, attracting only one complaint that was later thrown out by the Advertising Standards Agency
Advertising Standards Authority (United Kingdom)
The Advertising Standards Authority is the self-regulatory organisation of the advertising industry in the United Kingdom. The ASA is a non-statutory organisation and so cannot interpret or enforce legislation. However, its code of advertising practice broadly reflects legislation in many instances...
.
From March 2007, Gay Times re-labeled itself as GT, announcing: "The Future's Here: Are You Up For It? New Look. New Attitude. New Sections. New Writers. New Style. Gay Times becomes GT".
In the November 2008 issue a controversial advertising campaign was launched, entitled Homo Promo. This campaign was a reaction to right-wing evangelical groups claiming that gay people have an agenda to promote homosexuality
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
. In response to these accusations GT asked advertising agencies to create campaigns that would sell 'Homosexuality' as an appealing choice and recruit for the cause.
As cultural icon
- On Little BritainLittle BritainLittle Britain is a British character-based comedy sketch show which was first broadcast on BBC radio and then turned into a television show. It was written by comic duo David Walliams and Matt Lucas...
, Daffyd Thomas is outraged when his local news agent sells the copy of Gay Times to the local blacksmith, as she only gets "the one in for you", as he loudly and often proclaims that he's the only gay in the village. The news agent describes the issue as having Hazell DeanHazell DeanHazell Dean is a British dance-pop singer, who achieved her biggest success in the 1980s as a leading Hi-NRG artist. She is best known for the top ten hits "Searchin' ", "Whatever I Do " and "Who's Leaving Who"...
in it and a "very informative article on rimming". - In the film Beautiful ThingBeautiful ThingOriginally Beautiful Thing is a play written by Jonathan Harvey and first performed in 1993. A screen adaptation of the play was released in 1996 by Channel 4 Films, with a revised screenplay also by Harvey. Initially, the film was only intended for television broadcast but it was so well-received...
, Jamie's theft of a copy of Gay Times (issue 200) from a newsagent for himself and Ste to find gay venues to go to is a key plot element.
See also
- Attitude (magazine)Attitude (magazine)Attitude is a British gay lifestyle magazine owned by Vitality Publishing. It is sold worldwide as a physical magazine and a digital download for the iPad and iPhone via the App Store. The first issue appeared in May 1994....
- Boyz (magazine)Boyz (magazine)Boyz is a free, London-based magazine, targeted at gay men and distributed mainly through gay bars, clubs and saunas in the United Kingdom. Published weekly, it tends to focus on news about the gay scene and celebrities popular with young scene-going gay men.Boyz is relatively light on "serious"...
- Diva (magazine)Diva (magazine)Diva is a leading lesbian magazine in the United Kingdom. It was launched in 1994 by Millivres Prowler Group Ltd., who also produce the Gay Times. The current editor is Jane Czyzselska, who was promoted to the position in 2004. It includes many articles dedicated to lesbian and bisexual social...
- Bent (magazine)Bent (magazine)Bent is a free magazine that targets gay men and is distributed to 400 gay bars, clubs and saunas right across the United Kingdom. Published monthly by All Points North UK in Leeds, it largely focuses on entertainment – celebrities, film, DVD and music as well as television, comedy and scene...