Gay London Life | June '25 Edition - Magazine - Page 14
BE YOU!
Ahead of London Pride next month, we asked some famous
faces from the city’s LGBTQ+ scene to tell us of their
experience of living their lives as authentically as possible
Silverhook,
BEEFMINCE
anybody can be who they choose?
Can you name a moment
It’s vibrant, liberal and diverse — and stunningly
when you first felt like you
beautiful. It’s the place I found (and often lost)
were living as your true self?
myself in.
When I first moved to London
What advice would you give to people struggling
in 2001. Freshly out of the closet, with nothing to
to live as their authentic selves?
lose and everything to look forward to.
Sadly, this is still the reality for many people and
Have there been times when you couldn’t be
many places. I would say, “Find your voice through
who you wished to be?
arts and culture. Find hope in the support from
Twenty-four long years of it. I was a late bloomer, I
the rest of the LGBTQ+ community — you are not
know, but I had a lot of shame to get rid of, growing
alone. Find strength to carry on and come out when
up in the patriarchal, homophobic and misogynistic
you’re good and ready.”
Greek society of the 80s and 90s. When I came out,
What does Pride feel like to you?
I remember thinking “I need to accept who I am, if I
In this political climate full of anti-trans rights
am ever to be happy”.
narratives, Pride reverts to being more than just a
Does London still feel like a place where
celebration. It’s a protest. It’s a riot.
Photo: Norbert Mery
Absolutely. I am still very much in love with this city.
Prince JayJay, DJ
Can you name a moment when you first
felt like you were living as your true self?
Jake and Max,
Social Media
Influencers
personality I dimmed just to blend in.
Honestly? When I was a little kid playing
Does London still feel like a place where anybody
dress-up and putting on full-blown shows
can be who they choose?
for my neighbours. No fear, no filter, just pure
Can you name a
M: Honestly, I feel like London is starting to move
joy. That was me before the world told me to
moment when you first
backwards in a lot of ways. It used to feel like a
tone it down.
felt like you were living
place where people could be themselves, but
Have there been times when you couldn’t
as your true self?
with everything going on politically and socially,
be who you wished to be?
M: A moment that really
it’s becoming harder for people to just live openly
Absolutely. Anytime I was around big groups
stands out was a trip Jake and I took to Santorini. For
without pushback. I have hope that it will turn around,
of straight lads, especially growing up, it felt
the first time, I didn’t feel even slightly self-conscious
though! There are so many incredible LGBTQIA+
like I had to shrink myself just to feel safe. It’s a
about us being a couple in a new country. The owner
spaces where people can show up as their true
horrible thing, not being able to just be.
of the apartment we stayed in was so friendly and
selves, and I really believe that as a community, we’ll
Does London still feel like a place where
welcoming that it actually took me a couple of days to
keep pushing forward, like we always have.
anybody can be who they choose?
realise it hadn’t even crossed my mind to worry about
J: The recent changes around trans rights are a
London’s lost its sparkle. So many queer venues
how we might be perceived. It was such a small thing
clear sign of that shift. London always felt like a safe,
are gone, and with them, that buzzing sense
on the surface, but for me it was a powerful shift — I
inclusive space, but over the past few years, I’ve
of freedom. It used to feel alive, like anything
was just living, fully and openly, without that extra
definitely noticed a change. It feels less welcoming
was possible. Now? It’s all a bit soulless, like
layer of awareness I’d carried for so long.
than it used to, like we’re slowly moving away from the
the spirit’s been stripped out. I feel a new
J: For me, it wasn’t one specific moment but more of
progress we’ve made, and that’s worrying.
underground queer movement may be rising.
a period of time. The years immediately after I came
What advice would you give to people struggling
What advice would you give to people
out, I started to accept myself and let go of the idea
to live as their authentic selves?
struggling to live as their authentic
that I had to fit into anyone else’s expectations.
M: Take the time to really figure out who you are.
selves?
Have there been times when you couldn't be who
Know what you stand for, what you love, what you
Don’t let other people’s opinions dim your
you wished to be?
don’t. The better you know yourself, the more
shine. You’ve got one life, live it loud, live it
M: There are definitely times when I don’t fully feel
confident you’ll feel living authentically.
proud, live it your way. But if you’re not in a
like I can be who I want to be, especially when it
J: Surround yourself with people who make you feel
safe place right now, find community. Safe
comes to public affection. We don’t really do PDA,
like the same person you are when you’re alone.
queer spaces where you can breathe and feel
and while that’s partly just us, there have been
And remember, you’re never as alone as you might
seen. It doesn’t have to be a club — it could be
moments (like when we’re in romantic settings,
feel. There’s a whole community out there ready to
a book group, an art circle, or anywhere you
for example) where I’ve wanted to be more openly
support you, so lean into it whenever you can.
feel held.
affectionate but naturally held back. It’s a reminder,
What does Pride feel like to you?
What does Pride feel like to you?
I guess, that even small gestures can feel like a big
M: It’s having the confidence to walk into a room and
Pride is power. It’s a celebration of queer
deal depending on where you are.
be openly myself without overthinking it. For a long
excellence, yes! But also a big, beautiful
J: Absolutely. For me, school was the biggest
time, I felt like I had to hide or change parts of me, but
“fuck you” to every hardship we’ve faced
example. The fear of judgment, or being labelled,
Pride reminds me that I’m enough as I am.
and survived. It’s a protest, a party, and
meant I kept a lot of myself hidden. I was constantly
J: Not having to shrink yourself to fit in. It’s also about
pure resilience all wrapped up in delicious
aware of how I acted or what I said, always trying to
knowing you’re part of a community that’s got your
debauchery.
play it safe. Looking back, I realise how much of my
back no matter what.
You can find Jake & Max on TikTok & Instagram:
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@jakeandmax_
