Gay London Life | June '25 Edition - Magazine - Page 16
BE YOU!
George’s look and the boys in the room were
Antoin
Strachan,
Brand Events
Producer for
Recon
Simon Rose,
Director at
Libidex
joining in. I just remember thinking how cool he
Can you name a
was in all his finery and make-up!
moment when you
Does London still feel like a place where
first felt like you were
Can you name a
anybody can be who they choose?
living as your true
moment when
I believe it is and that it has progressed a lot since I
you first felt like
arrived here over 40 years ago. I know there is still
There was more than one single moment. Let me
you were living
a long way to go in certain areas and that some
try to explain. In a past life, I was a professional
as your true self?
people’s journeys are more difficult than others,
dancer, choreographer, teacher, singer, actor,
I guess the
but London has a diversity that a lot of other cities
etc… and whenever I was dancing, I felt my most
moment I stood
find hard to match.
authentic and truest self. I could be me – without
on the stage at
What advice would you give to people
labels, and I could fully express myself, without
Heaven having
struggling to live as their authentic selves?
fear. Years later I discovered that there exists
been asked
If you don’t feel comfortable or happy, look for
another “Me”. I also had this kinky identity which
to dance clad
your crowd. In a city like London, I believe you
then allowed me to experience another true part
completely in rubber! Around the same time, my
have a good chance of finding it. For instance, I
of myself. That was at Folsom Europe in Berlin,
boyfriend and I had just moved into our first flat
know the fetish community well and it’s very warm
September 2006.
together. We were partying a lot and having a gay
and friendly —people are always happy to meet
Have there been times when you couldn't be
old time being myself.
newcomers.
who you wished to be?
Have there been times when you couldn’t be
What does Pride feel like to you?
As a gay black man, with Caribbean heritage,
who you wished to be?
I’m actually very proud of Pride, especially when I
there have always been times when family,
I went to an all-boys military boarding school on
travel to other countries that don’t enjoy the same
religion, identity and just being who you truly
the White Cliffs of Dover in the late 70s. I was
liberties that we are now fortunate to enjoy, even
want to be, don’t always match societal norms
surrounded by temptation wherever I looked, but
if we still have a way to go. It’s great that we can
and or expectations. Even at the age of 54, I
sadly never got to act on it! I remember being in
party and openly show the world that diversity
find myself needing to supress or adapt parts
the television room and seeing Boy George and
is alive and well, and that we will continue to
of my identity in many situations. When I go
Culture Club. The presenter was trying to mock
challenge societal stigma!
back to the Caribbean my mother often warns…
self?
“You’re not in Europe now!”
Does London still feel like a place where
had to hide my sexual identity and interests. There
anybody can be who they choose?
were, however, challenging moments back in
I absolutely love the perception of London
the day when we were all facing the AIDS crisis
when it comes to being a city of “openness and
and Section 28, when we all had to push so much
acceptance”. Many truly feel that it’s a city where
harder for visibility and acceptance. And indeed,
people are absolutely free to be whomever
we still do - and must!
they choose. But we’ve seen too many recent
Does London still feel like a place where
incidences where our identities are being
anybody can be who they choose?
challenged, and it should remind us that the fight
London and bigger cities are a tad easier to ‘be
for acceptance is one that we should never stop
yourself’ in, but that’s never a given. Families and
fighting for.
work environments can all present challenges to
What advice would you give to people
overcome along the way. But as the host of HUNTER,
struggling to live as their authentic selves?
I’m thrilled and happy to create a space where fetish
What is “your” version of your “authentic self”,
men can truly be who they choose to be.
and how does this feeling manifest for you? Many
What advice would you give to people
years ago, I moved countries, and went to another
struggling to live as their authentic selves?
city where I thought I could live my authentic
Take it one day at a time. Circumstances may
self. But I also realised it not just the environment
not make it easy, but just know and realise that
(even though it’s important), but it was also about
there are so many people in similar situations in
the people I surrounded myself with. Be with
Brew Hunter, HUNTER
our communities trying to live an authentic and
the people who allow you to begin to be your
Can you name a moment when you first felt
powerful life. Seek out knowledge and help if
authentic self. This is the best place to start.
like you were living as your true self?
needed. You can do it!
What does Pride feel like to you?
I had always worn boots and a leather jacket since
What does Pride feel like to you?
Pride feels like we have somehow forgotten,
being a teenager, but it wasn’t until I started my
I went to my first Pride March when I arrived in
I admit - not entirely, that it’s supposed to be
dynamic as a Leather Dom, and truly recognised
London as a teenager in the 70s. I saw for the first
a protest march. But I love that it gives us the
the impact that Leather, Fetish and BDSM had on
time two Leather Men proudly walking in full gear.
opportunity for visibility of our incredibly diverse
my sexual identity, that I knew that was my true self.
Wherever those guys are now, I just want them to
and colourful community, on a massive scale.
Have there been times when you couldn’t be
know that their Pride inspired a young, nascent
“We are here. We are visible. And yes, we are
who you wished to be?
Leatherboy to acknowledge and discover his true
diverse, but we are still part of your community.
I acknowledge that I have been remarkably
self, and to experience an amazing journey. Thank
We will be supressed!”
fortunate throughout my life that I rarely, if ever,
you, men — whoever you were!
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