TELEVISION
MAKING BABIES: THE GAY WAY
Channel 4, Thu 22 & 29 Jan, 9pm
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For centuries it has been perceived that if you are a gay man you won’t have children. Lesbian couples may be more likely to start a family, but they are still in the minority. For women, gay or straight, the decision of whether or not to have a child before you’re 40 is enormous but it’s also becoming an issue for gay men. Now, Channel 4 has followed four gay and lesbian couples as they decide to start a family and face the issues from conception to parenting.
In 1998, millionaires Tony and his objectionable partner Barrie Drewitt put the issue of gay parenting and surrogacy into the headlines when their twins Aspen and Saffron were born using an advanced, expensive and controversial form of fertility treatment. They are now waiting for the birth of their third child - Aspen’s identical twin, Orlando. Lesbians Debbie, 38, and George, 20, on the other hand, are expecting the birth of their daughter Ellen. Debbie already has six children from a previous marriage. George just isn’t coping with pregnancy, although they do take great delight in showing the cup and syringe used to inseminate a friend’s sperm.
Meanwhile, cat loving lesbian Katy and her gay, club dancer friend Ricky have decided to try for a baby. This involves him masturbating into a syringe and her doing the necessary while lying on her back, propped up on pillows and eating chocolate. It doesn’t work and Ricky then moves to Brighton deciding he’s not ready for parenthood. Charity and Kate are definitely ready and proceed to order their sperm from the internet and have it delivered by motorcycle courier.
This disappointing programme does little to educate or help people understand gay parenting, playing to stereotypes with the majority being a rather dislikeable mix of butch lesbians and camp men. It has been edited in such a way that the prospective parents come across as dysfunctional people with unsound ideas and relationships. In short, it does little to change social attitudes. (Jane Hamilton)
Events are listed by city, date, then type. Submit listings at least ten days before publication to
~ glasgowGlist.co.uk, by post or by fax on 0141 353 2803. Listings are compiled by Jane Hamilton.
Glasgow Thursdays
Clubs
DogGod Qbar. The Corinthian. l‘)l Ingram Street. 552 l I0l. I0.30pm «3am. £2. Weekly. New gay/mixed night
Health and Support
Body Positive 3 Park Quadrant. 332 50l0. Support for those affected by HIV/AIDS.
Sandyford Initiative 2~6 Saudyford Place. Sattchiehall Street. 2l 1 6700. (‘entre providing support. counselling and information for women also hosts a monthly lesbian health clinic (contact 21 I 8130 for more details). a lesbian Counselling service and one-off support and the Steve Retson Project's twice weekly sexual health and counselling service for gay men (contact 2| I 8628 for appointment ).
Glasgow Lesbian Line PO Box 686. (i3 7'l'l.. 847 0547. Advice.
Glasgow Women’s Library 10‘) Trongate. 552 8345. ()pen Ttle Fri I 6pm: Sat 2 »5pm. Women's literature and the lesbian archive. also host to meetings of the LIPS group for lesbians and bisexual
promising everything from Kylie to house.
Theatre
Taboo King's Theatre. 2‘)7 Bath Street. 240 l l I I. Ttte. Wed. & Sat 7.30pm; l'iri 5pm & 8pm; Sat 2.30 & 7.30pm.
£7.50 £24.50. Tue 27 Sat 31. Boy (ieorge’s hit musical starring Neighbours’ old hand Mark Little.
Glasgow Fridays
Theatre Taboo Tue 27 Sat 3| Jan. See Thu.
wotnen under 25 (contact Shona Bruce on 552 8345 for more details on meeting times).
Homophobic Crime Reporting (‘ontact 847 0647. ()pen 7 I0pm daily. Phace Scotland 4‘) Bath Street. 332 3838. The main service in the West of Scotland for those alilccled by HIV/AIDS. Strathclyde Gay and Lesbian Switchboard Pt) Box 38. (i2 2QIi. 847 0447. ()pen 7 I0pm daily. ('onlidential advice.
VividYouth STI’(' ('entre. 333 Woodlands Road. 248 I842. Meetings weekly on Tue 7 ‘).30pm for young people aged I5 25.
Socral
LGBT Centre I I I)i.\on Street. 22l 7203. Main gay centre hosting Beyond Barriers (challenging homophobia). Steve Retson gay men’s se\llal health advice (Thu 5.30 8.30pm). Holistic Ilealing (iroup (Mon 7.30 I0pm). l’erlorntancc
Glasgow Saturdays
Clubs Surly Soundhaus. 47 llydepark St. 221
465‘). Sat I4 Jan. 10.30pm -4am. £‘) (£7).
Burly settles into its cruisiest venue yet.
Theatre Taboo Tue 27 —Sat 3| Jan. See Thu.
Glasgow Sundays
Pride Events
Pride Scotia (Glasgow 2004) Meeting LGB'I‘. il Dixon Street. 22) 7203. Sun I Feb 62 Wed 28 Jan. 7 ‘)pm (Wed): 2pm (Sttn). Free. Meetings for those interested in planning Pride 2004.
Glasgow Tuesdays
Clubs
Pink Penelope’s Penelope's Nitecluh. l8 Jamaica Street. 847 0820. I Ipm~ 3am. Free. Weekly.
Theatre Taboo Tue 27 Sat 31 Jan. See Thu.
Glasgow Wednesdays
Clubs
Fourplay Iinvy. 26 (‘ambridge Street. 332 3437. l lptn 3am. £4 (£2 with Ilycr). Weekly. New gay cltib.
Allure The Tunnel. 84 Mitchell Street. 204 I000. I I.30pm 3am. £3. Weekly. New gay club promising happy. cheesy pop in the company of DJ Darren.
Pride Events Pride Scotia (Glasgow 2004) Meeting Wed 28 Jan 8; Sun I Feb. Sec
Taboo Tue 27 Sat 31 Jan. See Thu.
Edinburgh Fridays
Bars
Polysuper—Camp Newtown Bar. 26b Dublin Street. 538 7775. 10pm 2am. Free. Weekly. (‘amp classics and disco hits.
Clubs
. Blaze ligo. Picardy Place. 478 7434. Fri
30 Jan. I Iptn 3am. £3 before midnight; £4 alter. Fortnightly. l)J James Longworth ignites the gay weekcnd. Velvet The ('ommplex. 3‘) 40 (‘ommercial Street. 555 5622. Fri 30 Jati. I0pm 2am. £6 (two for one before I0.30pm £5). Monthly. A new ventte for the club night for gay girlies and their invited gay boy friends.
Edinburgh Saturdays
Clubs Polysuper—Mix Up Newtown Bar. 26b Dublin Street. 538 7775. I0pm 2am.
(iroup (Mon 7.30pm). and the tnonthly meetings of. among others. ()l.(i:\ (social group for older lesbians). Icebreakers (for those new to the scene). l.l(' lesbian social group. Speakeasy poets and writers.
EDINBURGH SCENE
Health and Support
Lesbian Line 557 075|. Mon & Thu 7.30 I0pm. Ilelpline.
LGBT Centre for Health and Wellbeing ‘) lit)“ e Street. .525 I Hill. New centre opened to protnote lesbian. gay. bisexual and transgentler health. The Hub Information (‘entre will be open Mon 4 8pm & Wed 3 7pm.
LGBT Police Link l.(iB ('entre. 60 Broughton Street. Mon 6 7pm. Weekly. ('all 620 5|38/620 5l40 if you want a chat with your community officer. Lothian Gay and Lesbian Switchboard 556 404‘). 7.30 lopm every day. Ilelplitie.
listings Gay
Free. Weekly. New night of chee/ee disco pop for boys and girls.
Mingin’ Studio 24 (upstairs). ('alton Road. 558 3758. Sat 24 Jan.
l0.30pm 3am. £5 before midnight; £6 after. Monthly. (Say-friendly clubbing with Brian [)empster and Alan Joy.
Eye Candy Massa. 36 3‘) Market Street. 226 4224. Sat 24 Jati. l Iptn 3am. £I0 (£6 if outrageoust dressed £8). Fortnightly. Infamous. glam hotise party.
Edinburgh Sundays
Clubs
Taste The Liquid Room. ‘)c Victoria Street. 225 2564. I Ipm 3am. £5 before I l.30pm; £8 (£6 members) after; £I0 non-members on guest l)J nights. Weekly. Tasty brew of house and garage. Tackno Massa. 36 3‘) Market Street. 226 4224. Sun 25 Jan. I0.30pm 3am. £3 £6. Monthly. ('heesy charty tunes from Trendy Wendy. BootyLUSHous Medina Nightclub. Lothian Street. Sun I Feh. l0pm 3am. £3. Fortnightly. New venue for the gay/ mixed night which features a masterful blend of R& B. sotil and funk and more.
Edinburgh Monday
Clubs
Polysuper-Cheez Moot) (Tub. ()mni ('entre. (ireenside. 07788 474 4 I4.
10pm 3am. £I before 12.30am; £3 after. Weekly. New chee/y assortment with a mix of 70s. 80s, ‘)()s.
Edinburgh Tuesdays
Clubs Vibe ligo. Picardy Place. 478 7434. l lptn 3am. £3 (£2 members). Weekly.
qayinterest
Voulez Vous Night of unadulterated cheesy pop in the company of a top Abba tribute band. Just the thing to chase away the January blues. See Theatre.
Shakespeare’s R&J The Bard '5 classic love story is brought up to date with this retelling featuring an all male cast. See Theatre.
LGBT Youth Scotland (‘ontact 622 2266 (Office) ("'08-'15 I I3() ()05 (Youthline). Social events for I.(iBT under 26.
Waverley Care Solas. 2/4 .»'\bbeymotint. 66I 0‘)82. Free. Various services including Jtticc. a weekly social group for gay men affected by HIV/AIDS (Fri 2 4pm).
Socral
AD ('ontact 556 404‘). For lesbians ov et' 40. Meets monthly to plan social events. ('all for more details.
LGB Centre 60 Broughton Street. 478 706‘). Important gay centre hosting the Women's (iroup Drop-In (Thu). (lay Dads Scotland (monthly ) as well as Bi. Iidinburgh the social/support group for bisesuals and those questioning their sexuality (monthly).
Scottish TV/TS Group The l’hoeni\ ('eIIar liar. 46 Broughton Street. 557 0234. Monthly.
1’." .I.tti is I Hi) L’()(‘-1 THE LIST 65