FEATURED: DNA #289 – The Party Issue | BUY
It’s a big party month, and you’re invited…
When Grindr launched in 2009 it was such a novelty, with its GPS capability making it truly groundbreaking. All the boys in the DNA office loaded it onto our phones one afternoon and were amazed at the technology and what it was delivering. Amusingly, as we travelled by train from the west of Sydney back into the inner-city at the end of the day, our phones all pinged as we came into proximity with other users.
Weeks later, I was travelling with a work colleague, again on a train, to a meeting, and his Grindr app pinged. It was face-up where I could read the message, which simply said, “chems?” I didn’t know what that meant. My friend explained that the other person was looking for chemsex, or what some people call PnP, or party and play. It was about 2pm on a Tuesday, and I thought, “Wow, I am really out of touch!”
We’ve done stories on chemsex before but not for a while. I felt it was time for an update – especially as here in Australia we are in the Mardi Gras season, which means a lot of parties and lots of boys on a busy schedule. But talking about chemsex is always important because it pertains to so many aspects of gay men’s well-being: physical, mental and sexual health, drug use, and underlying social issues like loneliness, acceptance, self-image and self-confidence. It’s also difficult to write about without making it sound sexy and inviting on one hand or sounding preachy and judgemental on the other. Our story aims to be plain-speaking, informative and helpful. If you party and play, we want you to be safe. If you are having issues, we want to help point you towards help.
Our contributing writer, Raja Qismat, has done a great job and found exactly the right tone. We also ran it by the AIDS Council Of New South Wales experts and implemented their feedback. It’s a great read.
In this party-themed issue, we preview some of the highlights of the upcoming Mardi Gras Festival, which brings together iconic events such as The Parade and The Mardi Gras Party, along with weeks of film, theatre, arts, conferences, and crazy queer stuff all over Sydney. I’m looking forward to the Bondi Beach Party and the latest show from the sexy Briefs troupe.
For a party of a different shade, Marc Andrews recently attended a gay sex pool party in the backyard of a private home in Palm Springs. There’s quite a sub-cultural community of pool party hosts in the glamorous desert city – a city chock-full of thirsty gays. As uninhibited and liberating as these parties are sex-wise, they also come with their own sets of rules. Marc gives us the lowdown on his adventure and adds his tips about how to stage your own gay sex pool party. Essential reading!
While we’re still in party mode, jump forward to our Partywear fashion story because it’s bursting with fabulous suggestions for party gear if you are heading out soon to a dancefloor full of men who like men! Even if you’re not, you’ll enjoy the pictures and imagining that you are there!
In this month’s issue, I’m very pleased to be reunited with an old DNA friend, Skye Boyland. He was on the cover 16 years ago when he was 23. Photographer Ross Brownsdon contacted me recently and pitched the idea of shooting Skye again, at 40. I said yes. And then I said wow! Skye, who practices natural bodybuilding (no steroids), is in great shape still and just as hot as ever. He even won some recent competitions. Matt Myers spoke with him for the Straight Mate interview and he’s as down-to-earth and adorable as ever, and a testament to a healthy lifestyle and positive attitude.
Contributing writer Gary Nunn is based in Buenos Aires for a while but he’s still delivering stories. This month, his feature is about Qtopia, the world’s biggest LGBTQIA+ museum, which is set to open in Australia soon. It’s been a long time coming and has, of course, attracted a bit of controversy.
If you are partying this month, have a great time, don’t be dumb and come back alive! Enjoy this issue. There’s tons to read and plenty of eye candy.
Andrew Creagh, Founding Editor
______________________________________________________________________________
