Têtu is a gay

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...

 magazine

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...

 published in France

France

The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...

. It is subtitled in French le magazine des gays et lesbiennes (the magazine of gays and lesbians).

History

Published since 1995, co-founded by Didier Lestrade

Didier Lestrade

Didier Lestrade , is a French author, magazine publisher, AIDS and LGBT rights advocate.- Biography :Didier Lestrade was born in Mehdia, Algeria. He grew up in the Southwest of France, and left home in 1977 after failing twice to graduate from the French Baccalaureate...

 and Pascal Loubet, directed by Pierre Bergé

Pierre Bergé

Pierre Bergé is a French industrialist and patron. He is perhaps best known as the co-founder of Yves Saint Laurent Couture House and former partner of fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent.-Early life:...

, it was started following the demise of Gai Pied

Gai pied

Gai pied or Gai pied hebdo was a monthly French gay magazine, founded by Jean Le Bitoux. Its name, which literally means "Gay foot", is a homophone of guêpier, which means a hornet's nest or, figuratively, a trap or pitfall — a reference to the magazine's determination to torment the...

magazine (published 1979–92). In July 2008, Thomas Doustaly stepped down and Pierre Bergé chose Gilles Wullus as the new editor .

Overview

The magazine contains interviews on LGBT issues, with politicians, celebrities, writers, dancers and so forth, along with articles and reviews on LGBT-themed books or films. Another section is concerned with LGBT news around the world, country by country. There are also posters, advertisements of brand clothes for men, and a few pages on lesbian issues. Additionally, some pages are dedicated to the news about AIDS

AIDS

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...

, prevention and treatment. Periodically a free information guide entitled Têtu+ is published about HIV

HIV

Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...

 and AIDS

AIDS

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...

.

In the summer, Têtu Plage, a magazine made specially for the beach ('plage' translates as 'beach'), is also published. It features pictures and crosswords, among other things.

Since the beginning of 2009, American writer Bruce Benderson has had a column in the magazine, entitled "Journal d'un goujat" ("Diary of a Boor").

Controversy

In July 2011, Alexis Palisson

Alexis Palisson

Alexis Palisson is a French rugby union footballer. He plays as a fullback and wing. He is 1.76m tall and weighs just 83 kg....

 featured in a topless pose in Têtu

Têtu

Têtu is a gay magazine published in France. It is subtitled in French le magazine des gays et lesbiennes .-History:...

wearing a fake moko

Ta moko

Tā moko is the permanent body and face marking by Māori, the indigenous people of New Zealand. Traditionally it is distinct from tattoo and tatau in that the skin was carved by rather than punctured...

 and holding a taiaha

Taiaha

A Taiaha is a traditional weapon of the Māori of New Zealand.It is a wooden, or sometimes whale bone, close quarters, staff weapon used for short sharp strikes or stabbing thrusts with quick footwork on the part of the wielder. Taiaha are usually between in length...

. This caused controversy in New Zealand

New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...

, with some Maori

Māori

The Māori are the native or indigenous Polynesian people of New Zealand . They arrived in New Zealand from eastern Polynesia in several waves at some time before 1300 CE. Over several centuries in isolation, the Māori developed a unique culture with their own language, a rich mythology,...

 saying that Palisson was being disrespectful to their culture and that permission should have been sought from a particular iwi

Iwi

In New Zealand society, iwi form the largest everyday social units in Māori culture. The word iwi means "'peoples' or 'nations'. In "the work of European writers which treat iwi and hapū as parts of a hierarchical structure", it has been used to mean "tribe" , or confederation of tribes,...

as the moko usually represents iwi affiliation. Palisson was eventually forced to apologise for any offence caused and stressed that he respects tattoo traditions.