Gay & Lesbian

Time Out’s coverage of gay and lesbian London has come a long way since 1975, when one cover featured a cartoon detective in full Raymond Chandler drag, preparing to enter what can only be described as the twilight world of the homosexual.

Since then we’ve stepped into the light and started speaking up for ourselves. Our covers have featured pink triangles, lipstick lesbians, a guide to Joe Orton’s London and a transsexual Eurovision winner. The Gay & Lesbian section wasn’t introduced until the early ’80s, but what we missed in the ’70s we’ve more than made up for since.

We were the first to feature the launch of Popstarz and the emerging gay indie scene, and the first to include a double page spread on Soho’s lesbian pole dancers. We were also the first to recognise the genius of David Hoyle – back in the days when he was still known as The Divine David – and the first to champion the gay pop and performance club Duckie. We fought against Lambeth Council’s plans to bulldoze the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, and celebrated the historic venue’s rise from the ashes in a two-page feature. Feature continues

We’ve explored the underground gay dancehall scene and the development of after-hours clubbing. Alternative drag stars Jonny Woo and Timberlina have graced our pages, as have lesbian artist Sadie Lee and FTM transsexual porn star Buck Angel. We’ve seen various areas of town described as the new gay village – from Soho to Vauxhall and now Shoreditch.

We were there for the opening of gay members club The Shadow Lounge, and got our kit off to report on gay underwear nights and the sudden boom in gay saunas. We promoted the gay literary salon scene, and the House of Homosexual Culture. We even spearheaded the ‘anti-gay’ gay movement of the early ’90s, prompting Jeremy Joseph of G-A-Y to change his ads to read ‘Not Anti-Gay – Proud To Be Gay’. (Well, you had to laugh).

More recently, we broke the story on the crisis in clubland as GHB and unsafe sex led to drug-related deaths and rising rates of HIV infection. The story even inspired a performance at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern.

As we celebrate our 40th anniversary, one renowned London homosexual is celebrating his 25th year in show business. Time Out was the first magazine to put Julian Clary on the cover, way back in the early ’80s. And this Sunday, the House of Homosexual Culture pays homage to Clary, as he enters the Hall of Fame at the Purcell Room. It seems only fitting that Time Out's gay and lesbian editor should be presiding over the proceedings.

The House of Homosexual Culture Hall of Fame with Julian Clary is on Sunday.