[rating=4]
60 min • Etcetera Theatre, London • From September 18-20, 2014

Odd Shaped Balls is a one-man play which is based on Gareth Thomas’ coming out experience. An intelligent and dynamic performance.

“Odd Shaped Balls examines what it might be like for a professional sportsman, married , conventionally ‘masculine’ (in the Daily Mail’s sense of the word) to come out in the 21st Century, in the media spotlight, instant news and the ravenous hunger of social media.”

Subversive Mutants.

Does science fiction have the power to infiltrate the mass consciousness with socially progressive ideas that can ultimately change a person’s worldview?

“The allegorical power of the series over the decades has probably done more to shape contemporary culture than placing a range of rather token gay characters ever could, and this alone should justify X-Men’s place within queer history.”

Revealing the Hidden Life.

Nick Smith talks to wrestler Ben English, aka The VIP, about his experiences of coming out in the world of professional wrestling

“Professional wrestlers are not the most politically correct group, but the messages of support I received from my peers were incredible.”

IDAHOT 2014 – Coming out again.

VWalter Beck writes about having to come out again when he didn’t even realise it was necessary. Did they not notice the rainbow suspenders? .

“Neither one of them were offended or anything, they were just surprised that this six-foot tall long-haired dude in the black metal t-shirt, dirty flannel, and leather jacket was a queer, a half-cocksucker, a certified ten percenter..”

Who Needs Love (Like That)?

Ryan MacGrath writes about his experience of growing up gay and becoming an artist. And twirling in his sister’s prom dress.

“As soon as this happened, I immediately knew what I had been missing with the girls I’d been kissing. I wasn’t sure exactly how to come out, but I knew that I needed to start the process.”

Stephen Fry, by Mat Price.

To celebrate LGBT History Month, 2013, Polari is publishing a daily series of LGBT Heroes, selected by the magazine’s team of writers and special contributors.

“Throughout my teenage years I looked up to Stephen Fry and he became my role model. I realized I could relate to him as a gay man.”

2012 Retrospective

The Editor looks back at the year 2012 in Polari and how it has explored the LGBT subculture. Part 4: Real People.

Unexpected and Supportive Words.

In this tender, autobiographical piece, writer Jonathan Kemp recalls what it was like growing up gay, and the words said when he came out to his mother.

“The very next day she rang Gay Switchboard who put her in touch with a support group for parents with gay children and she went along. It touched me that she did that, eager to understand and learn rather than, as many parents do, judge.”

The aftermath of yesterday’s ‘Villains’ article.

The case of Sophie Miriam Herold has taken on a life of its own and raises important questions about how homophobia on the internet can be dealt with.

“The anonymity afforded by the internet makes this situation really difficult to assess and to monitor. Is this one person? Is it an actual 21-year-old woman, as she claims?”

Magda Szubanski

The Editor selects Magda Szubanski for Polari Magazine’s list of LGBT Heroes. For UK LGBT History Month 2012.

“It was not about coming out, per se, but about Szubanski using her position to change hearts and minds. And as one of the show’s presenters, Dave Hughes, pointed out, ‘you’re one of the most popular people in this country’.”