Editors Letter - July 2024
The July issue of GAY TIMES comes shortly before Pride in London, and a spirit of celebration is in the air. Pride is a time for us to reflect on the year in queer life – and no queen has made a bigger impact in the past twelve months than the one and only Nymphia Wind.
Following her triumphant reign on season 16 of RuPaul's Drag Race, becoming the American franchise's first East Asian winner, Nymphia speaks with personal friend (and former GT cover star) Joel Kim Booster about her historic win, gaining praise from Taiwan's President and life post Drag Race.
Another queer trailblazer covering this issue is Swedish experimental musician Fever Ray. Speaking to Anna Cafolla, they discuss their There's No Place I'd Rather Be tour, overcoming chronic stage fright, accepting love into their life and the growing neo-fascism in Sweden.
Our features section is headed up by a portfolio from queer writer and photographer duo Ryan Cahill and Richard Dowker (himself once a Young Farmer) who explore the realities of homophobia in farming via profiles of four farmers of different generations. From mental health struggles, rural isolation and entrenched attitudes, as well as the organisations which have been established to remedy the situation, they explore the highs and lows of the agricultural world.
Elsewhere, Eli Cugini explores playersexuality: a phenomenon in video games where companion characters will be attracted to playable characters regardless of their sexuality or gender. While this increases the queerness of these games at a surface level, Cugini argues that it erases the nuances and specificity of queer relationships - providing shallow and inauthentic representation.
In our fashion pages, GAY TIMES spotlights Levi's latest Pride collection which takes inspiration from LGBTQIA+ rodeo and cowfolk culture from the ’70s to today. The collection has been brought to life via an original shoot and interviews with three queer creatives: photographer Hidhir Badaruddin, drag king Wet Mess and trans model Munya. The trio reflects on style, authenticity and expression in this rodeo-themed shoot.
Finally, closing out the issue, we catch up with pop icon Adam Lambert following his cover last year in order to discuss his forthcoming ITV documentary exploring the history of queer artists in the music industry as well as his forthcoming EP, set for release in July.
We hope these features speak to the breadth of the queer experience – all of our many shapes, sizes and circumstances – reminding us of just how special our shared solidarity and power is.