Understanding Body Image

Polari talks to Harriet Parsons of Bodywhys a national organisation that supports people affected by eating disorders and discusses whether ‘healthy lifestyle’ messages being delivered in the wrong way.

“When you really think about how central our perception of our physical selves is to how we interact with the world, we can understand why it is such an important part of our identities.”

An historical timeline of gay magazines, from 1897 to 2008.

The first gay magazine, Der Eigene, was published in Germany in 1896. The medium has gone from politics and activism to pop and hard-core.

“The word magazine is an Arabic term for storehouse. Although periodicals had been published before, it was first used to describe a publication in 1731 with advent of the Gentlemen’s Magazine.”

An interview with Paul Baker, author of Fantabulosa: A Dictionary of Polari and Gay Slang.

Polari is a voice from another era, and is remembered best through the Round the Horne characters Julian and Sandy. Who better to explain the phenomenon than Paul Baker?

It’s important to remember the role Polari played in the lives of gay men and lesbians. It’s a testament to their creativity, humour and tenacity.