A LETTER FROM THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

The relationship we have with our body is one of the most important we’ll ever have. It’s one that can bring us intense pleasure but can also cause huge stress. And it’s one that we can’t end with a quick, easy break-up.

the word on the st reet

WHERE: HORSE MEAT DISCO AT THE EAGLE, LONDON

BIG IN A WIG

CHI CHI LARUE, THE FLAMBOYANT DRAG POWERHOUSE AND PORN DIRECTOR, HAS AN INTERESTING THEORY ABOUT DOM TOPS, A LOVE FOR MERYL STREEP — AND A SUGGESTED CAREER MOVE FOR NICK JONAS

THE attitude BODY SURVEY

MORE THAN 5,000 OF YOU RESPONDED TO OUR QUESTIONS REGARDING HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT YOUR BODY. HERE ARE THE RESULTS…

THE BODY BEAUTIFUL

BIG ONES, SMALL ONES, SKINNY ONES, TALL ONES. THERE ARE ALL SORT OF BODY SHAPES AND SIZES AND THEY CAN ALL BE GORGEOUS AND DESIRABLE. JUST REMEMBER TO KEEP IT REAL…

REAL BODIES V FAKE BODIES

DO YOU ENJOY LOOKING AT HOT BODIES IN MAGAZINES BUT FEEL THEY PRESSURISE YOU TO AIM FOR THE UNATTAINABLE? TO DISTINGUISH FANTASY FROM REALITY, OUR EDITOR-IN-CHIEF MATT CAIN STRIPS OFF FOR A REAL BODIES SPECIAL — AND REVEALS WHAT MAGAZINES CAN DO TO HIDE IMPERFECTIONS

THE MYTHS AROUND SEX & DISABILITY

DESEXUALISED, INFANTALISED, FETISHISED AND OSTRACISED — WHEN SOCIETY ISN’T IGNORING THE SEX LIVES OF DISABLED PEOPLE, IT JUST GETS EVERYTHING WRONG. MYTHS RANGE FROM THE IDEA THAT DISABLED PEOPLE RELY ON SEX WORKERS, TO THEM NOT BEING ABLE TO LEAD HEALTHY SEX LIVES AT ALL. IT’S MORE COMPLEX FOR DISABLED GAY MEN, WHO HAVE TO CONTEND WITH THE OVERT BODY IDEALS OF THE SCENE AND THE HARSH NATURE OF DATING APPS

ME AND MY HAIR

AS A BOY, MATT LISTER WAS MUCH MORE HIRSUTE THAN ANY OF HIS FRIENDS. ALTHOUGH THERE WERE SOME ADVANTAGES, HE HATED THE WILD GROWTH ON HIS BACK. BUT — AFTER SOME HAIRY MOMENTS TRYING TO GET RID OF IT — THE ATTITUDE COLUMNIST AND CHAMPION CANOEIST HAS LEARNT TO LOVE IT

TAMING THE BEAST!

IT’S TRUE THAT THE BEARD HAS ENJOYED NEW HEIGHTS OF POPULARITY IN RECENT YEARS: TAKE A BOW HIPSTERS AND BEARS, AND SAY BYE-BYE CLEAN-CUT OFFICE CULTURE. BUT NOT EVERYONE LOVES THE HIRSUTE LOOK AND SINCE THE DAWN OF TIME, MAN HAS BEEN FINDING INVENTIVE WAYS TO REMOVE THE FUZZ. WAX ON, WAX OFF…

agenda

THE THINGS WE LOVE THIS MONTH

CLIFF JOANNOU

The death of George Michael is harder to take than all the other losses last year

NEVER GOING UNDERGROUND

AN EXHIBITION ON LGBT+ HISTORY SETS OUT TO NOT ONLY EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUT OUR PAST BUT ALSO TO PREPARE US FOR UPCOMING BATTLES, SAYS COMMUNITY CURATOR KIRSTY JUKES

WATERS COOLER

We all feel as if we know director JOHN WATERS. From Pink Flamingos to the original Hairspray, his ilms show him to be a unique artist with a unique life. But for several decades there’s been a missing link in his story — and it’s only now that it’s inally coming to light

MAWAAN RIZWAN

The night bus provides you with all your creature discomforts

CORBYN 2.0 IS PLANNING TO COME UP TRUMPS

The Labour leader is taking inspiration from an extremely unlikely source as he looks to turn his fortunes around and spring another major electoral surprise, says writer Jack May

LEO IN LA LA LAND

To hell with being able to move faster than a speeding bullet or turn yourself into a ball of flames, LEO RICHARDSON would rather be Britman

PAUL FLYNN

Swapping all the slimming tips of the stars for mental gymnastics has taken a huge weight off my mind

WHEN JAMIE MET “JAMIE”

Six years ago Jamie Campbell shocked his school friends by turning up to prom in drag. Almost immediately, the BBC made a documentary about the teenager from County Durham. Now his story is being turned into a musical

LESSON I S MORE

THE FOCUS OF THIS YEAR’S STUDENT PRIDE IS SEX EDUCATION. BUT THERE’S ALSO A LOT MORE

TOP(PING) OF THE POPS

JAMES BARR GORGES ON AN ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT ED SHEERAN BUFFET

MOONLIGHT FIT

BARRY JENKINS’ EXPLORATION OF GROWING UP BLACK AND GAY IN AMERICA WORKS TO PERFECTION AND SHOULD CAST A LONG SHADOW OVER OTHER CONTENDERS THIS AWARDS SEASON

LIFE HANGS BY A THREAD

TRUE-LIFE LOOK AT GEORGIAN LONDON’S CRIMINAL UNDERWORLD HAS ECHOES OF DICKENS AND WILDE

cultur club

Homoerotic artist TOM OF FINLAND wasn’t just any Tom, Dick or Harry

BIG GAY FOLLOWING

THE KING OF DISCO, HE’S A PRODUCER, WRITER AND GUITARIST, AND THE LIST OF PEOPLE HE’S WORKED WITH READS LIKE A ROLL CALL OF THE WORLD’S TOP GAY ICONS. IF THAT’S NOT ENOUGH, HE’S RAISES CASH FOR AUTISM RESEARCH

LOUNGING AROUND

Covered up, or showing a bit of skin — learn to relax in the right way in your underwear

CRUSH

Your monthly fashion need-to-know

BALLET ROYALTY

Watching ballet dancers perform, there’s no doubting their gracefulness, elegance and beauty. But they are athletes too and each of them puts their body on the line in every performance. Three of the Royal Ballet’s ballerinos tell us how they keep in shape, what their bodies mean to them and how that can affect relationships

“THERE’S MORE TO ME THAN JUST A BODY”

HE’S GOT ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS BODIES IN THE WORLD AND IT’S ON DISPLAY ALMOST EVERY TIME YOU SEE HIM. SO THE CHOICE OF WHO TO PUT ON THE COVER OF OUR BODY ISSUE WAS SIMPLE — IT HAD TO BE OLYMPIC DIVER TOM DALEY

NO JOKE

FRESH FROM GIVING AUDIENCES AN EYEFUL IN THE JUNGLE ON I’M A CELEBRITY, STAND-UP COMIC JOEL DOMMETT TELLS US HIS TRAINING SECRETS AND WHY YOU CAN HAVE TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING…

ACTIVATE

THE LATEST TECH, GEAR AND INFO YOU NEED TO LEAD A FITTER LIFE

FOCUS

THIS MONTH, MATT LISTER SLIPS ON HIS RUNNING SHOES TO HELP GET YOU FIT FOR A MARATHON

THE LEGS

DON’T LEG IT UNTIL THESE ARE DONE

our spanish lullaby

SPAIN IS FAMOUS FOR ITS LAID-BACK WAY OF LIFE. BUT AS TIM HEAP EMBARKS ON A JOURNEY AROUND ITS EASTERN COAST, HE FINDS THAT THE COUNTRY CAN RELAX ALL VISITORS — NOT JUST THOSE ON A PACKAGE HOLIDAY. HIS PLANS TO EXPERIENCE THE GAY NIGHTLIFE, HOWEVER, ARE THWARTED

just the ticket

TRAVEL TIPS AND A ROUND-UP OF ALL THE LATEST HOLIDAY NEWS. THIS MONTH, WE’VE GOT THE SCOOP ON SOME GREAT WELLNESS GETAWAYS

my battle with ea t ing di sorder s

School bullies started Daren on a road to self-loathing and an obsession with both food and his body

man of the month

Each month we profile one of you guys, our readers, to find out what you get up to in your life

table for two

Daniel and Conor dined at M Restaurant Victoria Street, London

stepping out

We all remember that exciting, nerve-racking night when we made our debut on the scene. So what was it like for you, the first time you walked through the door of a gay venue?