Duchampian Snap (And Some Other Stuff...)

"Duchampian Snap #3" (2009). Montage: dou_ble_you/Luis Drayton.

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Sorry for taking so long with my latest post, but this past week, I've been suffering from one vicious mouth ulcer! It started off a week ago as a nasty toothache, and within a couple of days, it had evolved into a full-blown ulcer, causing the lower-left side of my face to swell up alarmingly! I looked like Marlon Brando in "The Godfather" - 'all these years you disrespect my family, and now you come to me for help'... Went to the dentist, who gave me antibiotics, along with instructions to return on Monday, and to go to the local A&E to get the swelling lanced if it got any bigger... Well, thankfully, that wasn't necessary, and my toothache has since vanished and the Brando-bulge gone down - still got a lump of pus along the left side of my jaw, though - you can see why I haven't felt like doing anything much lately...

That aside, let me begin by saying that no, I didn't attend Pride this year, nor did I go to any grassroots-anti-Pride picnic - after all the noise, it seems no-one could be bothered to organise anything! Motherfucking lazy-ass pseudo-radicals... On reflection, though, I'm pleased I didn't go to Pride, Priscilla-orthodoxy or not; Stephanie went, and according to her, the whole march, not to mention Trafalgar Square, where the rally took place, was so g*ddamn crowded that it was impossible to move! The Devil's own stress-department incarnate - why the hell doesn't Pride take place at Clapham Common like it used to?

Anyway, screw the outside world - I've a helluva lot to occupy me at present, and all from the comfort of my own duvet... Last week, I was delighted to receive a package from friend and artist nirbhao, containing the result of our recent collaboration - a chicken-shaped tile with my very own design painted on it! (Click here to see my original design and here to see the finished tile - wicked likeness, huh?) Nirbhao has created a whole bunch of these tiles as part of her "Party of Chickens" project - and the good news is you don't have to be as talented as me to take part! Go take a look at the "Party of Chickens" flickrgroup, and see for yourself how you can get involved...

My big collaboration of the moment, however, is with dou_ble_you, a truly fabulous artist I've had the pleasure of working with before... Together we're busy playing "Duchampian Snap" - that's defacing playing cards to you! But who cares when the end result looks so good? You can see our latest collab at the top of this post (as well as two more here and here)... Again, if you wanna take part, the thing to do is go join the "Duchampian Snap" flickrgroup; in the meantime, keep checking my flickrstream for further results of my and dou_ble_you's artistic endeavours... Who needs fresh air when you've got Pritt-Stick?

Trans-London vs. Pride: Resolution!

Okay sweethearts, how about a little something to lighten your spirits? Here goes... On Saturday 6th June at the MLS Business Centre on Shaftesbury Avenue, the face-off between Pride and Trans-London went ahead as planned - and have Pride rolled over and displayed their bellies for all to see, or what?

For those of you who weren't aware of the bunfight in question, here's a brief summary: earlier this year it was announced that the transgender strand at this year's parade would comprise of a float at the back of the march crammed with Priscilla impersonators, its sole purpose (other than reinforcing existing transgender stereotypes) seemingly to "complement" a float advertising the musical "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert" at the front of the parade... (Front - back... You see the difference?) Anyway, it was only after a total shitstorm of complaints and criticism had passed through the air (including an announcement by Trans-London - London's biggest TG group and organisers of the Trans strand at Pride for several years previous - that it would be boycotting this year's Pride) that Pride saw fit to arrange a meeting between their beautiful selves and representatives of the Trans community... At the meeting, they outlined the following changes in policy regarding this year's Pride:

"- trans people will not be expected to participate in a “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert” style float. Pride London is planning an open top bus instead and will allow individual participants to decide on their own mode of dress. Trans groups may nominate people to ride on the bus, but written applications would have to be made as usual.

- there will be no “cordon of stewards ‘for our own protection’” around the trans marching groups. As is required by health and safety regulations, there must be the usual four “wheel stewards” at the corners of all buses.

- while Pride London have not been able to arrange any trans performers for the main stage this year, it is planned that a trans person will be making a speech on the subject of the 40th Anniversary of the Stonewall Riots."

Oh, sweethearts... Major climbdown or what? And as a result of this "change of policy", Trans-London have since voted to overturn their boycott and march (under protest, I should point out) under the Trans-London banner in this year's Pride march. However, they've also voted not to attend the rally in Trafalgar Square, but to instead attend this grassroots picnic that everyone's been talking about... And to me, that seems like a pretty good plan - like, respect to Trans at Pride for their "change of policy" (there's that euphemism again); however, as I said in my previous post, last year's event was too damn corporate for my liking... So though I may go and watch the mad parade (depends on whether Pauline and Steph are up for it), I'd much rather follow it up with a nice picnic (in Hyde Park, so I've heard), than stand sweating in Trafalgar Square for several hours as one official organization/political party/business representative/C-list pop star after another declares their allegiance to the LGBT "cause"... Just one thing - I'd love to know the location of this "alternative grassroots picnic" for definite, as well as what time it's taking place! (If anyone can enlighten me, please do so in the comments... In the meantime, RECLAIM Pride London is the place to watch for news regarding Pride alternatives...)

Trans-London vs. Pride: A Belated Update...

* Note: Before reading any further, you really oughta check out my last post; otherwise you won't have any idea what the hell I'm on about!

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First off, thanks to Pandora and Steph for their comments on my last post (in case you didn't read 'em, Steph left a link to Facebook group RECLAIM Pride London)... However, since writing it, I've done a little more research on the matter, and it would seem that Pride London has already performed something of a climbdown! According to Trans-blogger Aunty Sarah, on May 29th, Diana Taylor (Trans at Pride's single, unelected "representative" for 2009) sent out the following email:

"Following considerable comment from the wider TQQI Community. Trans@Pride have decided to revisit their plans for a float based entertainment presentation. This was always driven by feedback from Trans members and was not meant to be in any way divisive. We have decide that given the comments surrounding our plans that it would be of great benefit to ask you all yet again, what you yourselves see as a more representative presentation? I have been asked in the past for an open topped bus as a focal point for the Trans Marching groups who plan to take part in the Parade: if this is so, we can arrange this with Pride London. The original initiative was to put something that was more than a decorated bus into the Parade, and Pride London has a general policy of preferring to block buses from entering the Parade, save for specific circumstances, but I am confident that I can get Pride London's agreement to this. We at Pride London will leave the music and who will actually be riding on the bus up to yourselves. We have never intended to make any stipulations that you provide anything in the way of a show, just that you come and enjoy the day in whichever we you as individuals and groups choose to do so. We already have sponsorship arranged for decorating materials, you may take advantage of this offer should you wish to do so. I will be hosting an open meeting on Saturday the 6th of June at MLS 130 Shaftsbury Ave W1 at 5pm all are welcome."

Well, the trail stops there, I'm afraid... I'll continue giving you updates on the matter as and when I get hold of 'em - if anyone out there knows how the meeting went down, though, and what the consequences are for Pride, Trans-London and that corporate-brand-licking display of "Priscilla at the front and Priscilla at the back", do let me know - I'd love to find out! (Whatever the result, however, I still don't think I'll be attending Pride this year; last year's event was too corporate-driven for my liking...)

Official - Transgendered People Are All Priscilla Clones...

"Triptych" (2007). Montage: Luis Drayton.

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...Or at least that's what this year's Pride march would have you believe! According to discussion/support-group Trans-London, "the democratic and transparent structure used in 2008 to co-ordinate participation of trans groups and the funds made available for transgender attendees, through the elected Trans at Pride committee, has been abolished by Pride London for 2009. Instead, Pride London have imposed their own unelected "representative" for the trans strand." And guess what delightful spectacle this visionary has planned for us... "The 2009 pride participation is, so we are told, to consist of a float at the very back of the parade which would pander to the most tired and inaccurate media stereotypes of trans people. Trans women would, in Pride's vision, be dressed in sequins, high heels and fairy wings and, apparently as an afterthought, a few trans men would be invited to pose in football strips. The Pride representative explained that the trans float would complement a float at the front of the march with members of the cast of the West End musical, "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert". In her vision, onlookers would be delighted to see 'Priscilla at the front and Priscilla at the back'."
"Priscilla at the front and Priscilla at the back". Sweet Jesus sucking on a sausage... Now (as I roll up my sleeves)...it's taken years for the general public to recognise that being transgendered doesn't automatically mean swanning around in sequins and high heels; and such complex distinctions as the difference between "transvestite" and "transsexual" are still way beyond the understanding of your average straight tabloid-reader... So, I ask (finger pressed to my lips and brow furrowed deep in thought), isn't it just possible that a float bearing several drag queens, a few token drag kings in football strips and nothing else - (and it's officially representing the "Trans" element of Pride, remember) - might have the effect of reinforcing that damn stereotype it's taken us (the Trans community) so long to eradicate from the average person's mind?* And is it just me, or has this "representative", in sticking a float advertising a popular musical at the front of the march, and the Trans float at the very back, got their priorities ever so slightly confused? (Oh yeah; the Trans float's also going to have a visible cordon of security stewards surrounding it; ostensibly "for our own protection". Aaawww - how thoughtful! Why doncha add a "do not feed the animals" sign, while you're at it?)
My sickest sweethearts, do I need to tell you that Steph, Pauline and myself aren't gonna be attending this year's Pride? The rest of y'all, meanwhile, might want to read the entire article over at Trans-London's website, before you decide for yourselves whether or not you'll be attending this year...

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* Just in case you think I have a problem with Drag Queens - I spent five years performing in a tranny rock group alongside two drag queens, close friends who I specifically asked to front the group...so don't run away with the idea that DQs redden my ass cheeks with embarrassment, or something...

Deathline - Supa-Cool!

"Ten Years On" (l-r: Mona Compleine, Miss K, Luis Drayton); (2009).

Photo: Helena Love.

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Have I just spent the coolest week (nine days, to be exact), or what? On Friday the 22nd, Stephanie and I spent a day in Central London - first we had a little snack in Russell Square Gardens (we fed the pigeons while we were at it), then we made our way towards our main destination - The British Museum. Great to see it again; the last time I went, I must've been about three years old... The reason for our visit? Steph wanted to see the exhibition "Intimate Portraits (From Ramsey to Lawrence)" - a collection mostly of portraits from the 17th up to the end of the 18th century... Steph's fave was a portrait of a young girl, which though it was drawn in the 1780s, looked to Steph like it had been done in the 1920s - and I gotta say, I could see what she meant! My personal faves, however, were the nature studies - textbook-style drawings of flowers, animals and insects - all drawn with an amazing attention to detail and fabulous colours too! Having made our way round the exhibition, we then took a look round the Egyptian rooms - I remembered the exhibits vividly from my visit to the BM as a child in the late seventies (in particular a skeleton laid out in a horizontal glass case - freaked me out at the time!) and I wanted to see if everything was as impressive as it appeared at the time. Wasn't disappointed, I'm happy to report; the mummies had retained their eerie, ominous nature, and the sarcophagi were a Surrealist's delight...

On our way out, Steph stopped to take some pics of an Indian garden which had been set up in the forecourt to accompany an Indian exhibition taking place at the Museum (you can see some of her pics here, here and here )... Then, walking back down Great Russell Street, I decided to pay a quick visit to comic book store Gosh! (another place I hadn't visited in years) with the intention of seeing if a new book featuring the artwork of John Kricfalusi (creator of Ren and Stimpy) had come out yet. No such luck, I'm afraid...

Walking down Charing Cross Road, we dropped into Foyle's bookstore and had a browse around - spent quite a bit of time in the Gender Theory section in particular - before going into the Pizza Hut on Cambridge Circus for dinner - fab!

All this is but a prelude, however, compared to the night out Steph and I spent last Thursday - Miss K (ex-Six Inch Killaz guitarist and still a good friend)'s current group Deathline were playing the Hope and Anchor in Islington, and Steph and I had decided to see if they lived up to the hype! Pauline was going to come, but 24 hours prior to our leaving for the gig, her lower legs and ankles had swollen up badly for the nth time (one of the many unpleasant consequences of Pauline's accident in September 2007), which meant she had no choice but to stay at home - boo! hiss!...

Steph and I arrived at the Hope and Anchor at 8.30pm, just as Deathine were due to go on; so we were pretty surprised to find the downstairs section (where the gigs take place) to be completely empty! Steph took the opportunity to take a photo of me on stage; and then we stood back and watched as the place began to fill (very, very slowly)... By the time K and his bandmate Jennie took to the stage, there were about a dozen people present... Besides Steph and myself, ex-Killaz guitarist Mona Compleine (who along with K, remains a good friend to this day) was present; and Helena Love (another good friend) was moving amongst the crowd (if you can call it that) taking photos of Deathline in action... A shame there weren't more people there, since hand on dick, Deathline fucking rocked! Take a look at the photos Helena took, and you can at least see for yourself just how cool K and Jennie are performing...

The set over, we all went upstairs and stood outside drinking and talking with one another; I gave K and Mona copies of the new Killaz CD I've just compiled, and K returned the favour with some Deathline badges (he'd also managed to get me in on the guest list; and would've done the same for Steph, except for the fact that band members were only allowed one guest each - boo! hiss! again!)... Mona told me about his performances as a member of the recently-reformed A Band; Jennie regaled us all with tales of life in her native Stockholm; and Helena was curiously self-deprecating when I asked her how much she'd charge for a photo shoot of my beautiful self - don't you realise just what a fab photographer you are, Helena? I also spent some time talking to Roger Craig Searle - a fashion designer who revealed to me, in the course of our conversation, that he'd used Killaz classic "Seventeen" as soundtrack to a fashion show he'd organized back in 2000...

Steph and I left for home shortly before midnight; and a good thing too, seeing as we only just managed to catch the last tube home! Jennie, Roger - great to meet you; hope it's not the last time; Helena - fab to see you again; your photos really succeeded in catching the mood of the evening... K and Mona - wonderful to see you after all this time, and I really hope you can both make it over for dinner sometime during the next few weeks, as does Pauline - she seriously wants to make up for some of the fun she missed out on!

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* Both Miss K and Helena Love have posted their own accounts of our fab night out at the Hope and Anchor - check 'em out! (Click on the links, like you need me to tell you...)

Midnight Killaz

"SIK" (2009). Image: Zowie Wilde.

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Check out the rest of Ms. Wilde's wonderful works here; and enter (at your own risk) the twilight world of transgendered rock 'n' roll chaos here...

Yell Saccani - Anarchistic Soul

"Some Other Try" (2008). Photo: Yell Saccani

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Don't wanna (and can't be bothered) boring you with the usual bullshit, so I'll cut the crap and get straight to the meat on the butcher's hook... My dear friend, photographer and Anarchistic Souls supamatrix Yell Saccani has just launched her very own site - and man, is it good! Yell is without doubt a first-class artist and photographer; but only now has her wonderfully conceived, brilliantly executed, and not least, highly individual work got its own personal arena - where without doubt it'll soon be getting the recognition and praise it so rightfully deserves... Click here to enter Ms. Saccani's box of delights; then, when you're done there, go and check out the rest of her work over at her flickrstream - okay?