Happy New Year from Gay Traveller

All of us at Gay Traveller would like to wish you a Happy New Year for 2010. Whatever plans you have, be safe, and have a great 2010!

Big Bro tells you where you can't surf...

The Great Firewall of Australia

The freshly elected Australian government of Rudd in 2008 promised to improve the Internet in Australia and has put 44 million dollars aside to create better broadband for all. Broadband minister Stephen Conroy now has reserved 43 million dollars to make Internet safer for Australia’s children. A mandatory filter, to be installed by all Internet service providers, would block websites that are flagged as “inappropriate”. The senator wants to refuse Australians Internet access to child pornography, sexual violence and other content that has been refused classification (RC). Nobody in their right mind would approve of the first two, and since they are illegal anyway they should be taken off the net, no problem. But a lot of things are illegal in Australia that are legal in other countries, like euthanasia and cannabis. Websites with info on these topics or where they are simply being discussed will become inaccessible and will take Australia back to the dark ages and it will the laughing stock of other democracies.

The trickiest bit is the Refused Classification list. According to the minister this list would include bestiality, child sex abuse, depictions of drug use and sexual violence as well as content identified by an unspecified “public complaints mechanism”. And that means that anybody (e.g. Family First, gay haters) who complains about the content of a certain website can get it put on the list of forbidden sites… So far about 1300 sites are on that list, of a total of a zillion websites worldwide and more added every minute. Good job Conroy!

The next step towards the Ozzie Firewall will be the introduction of legislative amendments to the Broadcasting Service Act during the autumn 2010 parliamentary sittings, followed by a twelve month process of implementation…

A total waste of tax payers money: the filters are inaccurate, slow down the speed, it’s easy to work around them but most importantly: freedom of speech and freedom to get information are in terrible danger. So write to your MP!

More info: www.efa.org.au

FOMO PARTY at ARQ

SYDNEY- ARQ will have it’s first FOMO of the New Year on Friday, January the 8^th.

For this FOAM PARTY the dancefloor will be transformed into a moshpit of bubbles as hundreds of tasty boys and girls slid around in little more than their underwear. It will be the most fun you can have with your clothes nearly off. Foam is dumped from the ceiling in a huge column, filling the dancefloor and covering most of the people on it within seconds.

If you want to de-bubble for a while: the games room is an oasis of calm... air conditioned and quiet - the perfect place for a breather between diving into the mayhem again.

ARQ advises suitable clothing and strictly no high heels or open-toed footwear in the foam areas.

NO PRE-SALE, tickets at $20 at the door, which will open at 9 pm.

www.arqsydney.com.au ARQ Sydney, 16 Flinders Street, Darlinghurst

TROPICAL FRUITS NEW YEARS EVENTS

More info: www.tropicalfruits.org.au

The Tropical Fruits New Year's Festival is a four day queer celebration held in the city of Lismore in sub-tropical northern NSW, an area known suitably as the Rainbow Region.

The NEW YEARS EVE PARTY and the New Years Day RECOVERY PARTY are held at the retro-chic Lismore Showgrounds, lovingly transformed by hundreds of volunteers into a sumptuous smorgasbord of our own unique culture.

Take in the whole experience with our on-site camping facility, replete with themed areas to suit all your camp needs.

Party goers on New Year's Eve can sashay between two massive, proto-industrial dance spaces: TRADE and ARENA, featuring top Australian and International DJs. For a more relaxed, intimate dance experience, head to the THE CUBE groove/ chill space.

Tropical Fruits NYE PARTY

LISMORE (Just over 2 hours south of Brisbane)
The Tropical Fruits NYE party is not just any party - It has become an institution and an annual migration. Each year people from all over the country flock to Lismore to party with the best DJs in the land in a friendly, no attitude atmosphere. This year’s DJ line up includes, Mandy Rollins, Kitty Glitter, Phill Mezzatesta, Neroli and Sveta.

Tickets: $75 Mem / $ 90 Con / $100 Guest

Lismore Showgrounds, Lismore

Tropical Fruits NEW YEAR’S DAY POOL PARTY & MR Q COMPETITION

LISMORE After working up a sweat on the dance floor all night the best way to cool down on New Years Day is to head down to the Lismore Memorial Baths to splash in the pool, get a bit of sun or to dance to the sounds of Beefy Boy and Lady K. The pool party will also play host to the first ever MrQ Search for a Cover Boi, Northern Rivers heat, with the winner to progress to the final at Big Gay Day.

Tickets: $10 Mem / $15 Con/ $20 Guest, only purchased on the day. From 1pm to 4pm, Jan 01, Lismore Memorial Baths, Molesworth Street, Lismore

Tropical Fruits NYE RECOVERY- NEW YEARS DAY

LISMORE Haven’t had enough? Then how about returning to the scene of the crime? The official Tropical Fruits recovery Party kicks of at 4pm at the Lismore ShowgroundsEnjoy a free BBQ and live entertainment as well as DJs Matt Vaughan & Stephen Allkins.

Tickets $20 Mem / $30 Con / $40 Guest, only purchased on the day. From 4pm to 1.30am, Jan 01, Lismore Showgrounds, Lismore

NYE Party for Rogues in Melbourne

Rogue Dance Melbourne has a huge New Years Day/Night event lined up for 2010. With the Rising crew they have sold out Day Wash @ Sydney’s Chinese Laundry. This sold out within a week and is the talk of the town. Now its Melbourne’s turn and what an event Rogue is about to launch to see in the first day of the New Year.

This Double feature event starts at The Iconic Motel for Rogue’s New Years Day party. This one kicks off at 9am and Rocks the day until 6:30pm. Double Decker buses will then escort you to the very sophisticated SILK ROGUE, featuring none other than The Freemasons.

This is the Freemasons only Melbourne performance and is set to lift the roof off the brand new Silk Rd venue in Collins Street, Melbourne.

Rogue Dance New Years Day
Melbourne’s iconic Motel Day Party
Friday 1st January 2010
9am to 6:30pm

Featuring: Dan Murphy, Ben (Stryker) Jackson, Wayne G (UK), Mike Evans, Thomas Williams, Keenan, and Damien Reddrop.

Where: The Motel, 172 York Street, South Melbourne

Tickets $55 plus B/F

Destination Ipanema Beach for New Year's Day

Home The Venue will be transformed into a tropical dance paradise for NYD 2010. The Homesexual crew going all-out to harness the heart and soul of Ipanema Beach.

DJ Aimee Newman, (AKA DanceMusicDiva), a popular fixtuere on the global gay scene, will channel Gay Pride Sao Paulo for the evening, where she played to 5 million people! Her style has been described as Tribal beats fused with progressive house.

The organisers have also assembled an all-star DJ line-up featuring the best local talent. Chip, Kitty Glitter, Jayson Forbes, Justin Scott, GI Jode, Brisbane’s Harry K and new comer Mikey Cee. Not to mention tearaway DJ crew, Starfuckers, who will be dishing their trademark mash-ups and tunes at Home’s rooftop.

Homesexual NYD: Ipanema Beach is on Friday, January 1, 2010 at Home The Venue, Cockle Bay Wharf, Darling Harbour. Starts 11pm-7am. Tix $49+bf from homesexual.com.au.

Mardi Gras 2010 Season Guide Now Available for your Party Planning

New Mardi Gras launched their 2010 festival guide revealing a spectacular line up for next year’s season. The much loved favourites are back again – Fair Day, Hats Off, Parade, Harbour Party and Party. Big names for next year’s festival include Whitney Houston, Spencer Tunick’s The Base, and John Waters’ This Filthy World.

A new party called Parade Carnival which will take place after the Parade at Entertainment Quarter. It’s free for Parade participants, Mardi Gras volunteers and Members and will take place at the Show Ring, Dome and Forum. Line up and ticket information is yet to be announced.

The Pool Party will be back this year at The Ivy pool. Queer Thinking is a new aspect of the festival which is a fusion of academia, literature and ideas, bringing together the queer community’s best creative and academic talent.

For the internationals cruising into town on the Atlantis ship, Harbour Party will be their chance to let their hair down after the Parade. Next year’s DJ line up includes Wayne G, Paul Heron, Paul Goodyear, Sista P, Kitty Glitter and Jason Barry, spread over two levels.

Mardi Gras Party will cap off the festival on March 6 from 10pm. The DJ line up includes David Guetta, Bimbo Jones, Dan Murphy, Jake Kilby, Alan Thompson, Mark Murphy, Sveta, Mandy Rollins, Ben Drayton, GI Jode and Steve Sonius. The party ends at 8am, which gives you a few hours to head home and scrub up for Toybox at Luna Park, which kicks off at midday.

For more information goto:
http://www.mardigras.org.au/

Be Your Self World Premiere at Adelaide Festival

The Adelaide Festival will feature the world premiere of garry Stewart's production 'Be Your Self.'

Garry Stewart's world premiere season of Be Your Self reveals the precarious stability of the concept of self as the work steps through the conventions we use to convince ourselves of a singular 'I'. In this extraordinary new creation Stewart situates the body at the centre of his inquiry. Despite our civilising cultural inscriptions the body is a force to be reckoned with. In Be Your Self the ADT dancers are transformed into erupting, powerful, creative entities projecting a mountain of startling physical images and impressions set to a wildly unpredictable, cartoonish, electronic score.

Collaborating with visionary New York architectural firm Diller, Scofidio + Renfro - (MacArthur Foundation 'Genius Award' recipients), Stewart wields dance, spoken text, video graphics and architectural design to collapse the underpinnings of who we think we are.

Be Your Self promises to be a formidable new contribution to Australian contemporary dance.

Garry Stewart's intelligent infusion of art forms and audacious choreographic approach has taken Australian Dance Theatre to the forefront of international contemporary dance.

Season begins February 19, 2010. Book at Bass.

2009 Sydney’s New Year’s Eve - Awaken the Spirit

Nowhere on earth does New Year like Sydney. With our glorious harbour, exotic national parks and party-hungry public, Sydney is the undisputed New Year's Eve capital of the world. And this year the world will watch in awe as our biggest and best show yet is unleashed and Sydney's spirit for the year ahead is awakened!


The countdown to midnight begins at 5 pm with pre-show entertainment on the Harbour in the form of a sries of aerial flyovers from a fleet of Three Pitts Specials, De Havilland Tiger Moths, Boeing Stearman and Beechcraft Staggerwing.


As is traditional in Gadigal country, an Indigenous Smoking Ceremony and an Acknowledgement of Country will follow at 8 pm. This is where our traditional custodians take to the Harbour in five indigenous vessels and stir up what Rhoda Roberts, creative director of the 2009 NYE, calls an awakening of "that spirit within our land, water, sky and people". This year it will also serve to ‘call up' the first reveal of the Bridge Effect with a series of fireworks firings.

At 9 pm the spectacular Family Fireworks and much-loved Harbour of Light Parade will ignite. This year's stunning display of pyrotechnics has been choreographed to a synchronised music soundtrack from much-loved children's movies and pop songs.


Following that 15 minute flurry will be the Harbour of Light Parade at 9.15 pm where a flotilla of 55 vessels illuminated by rope-lit decorative lighting that will parade around the Harbour, followed at 10 pm by the cannon blasts across the water to Awaken our Spirit for the year ahead.

Finally the moment we've all been waiting for: the tolling of the new year when Sydney bursts the night sky open

with the epic Midnight Fireworks display to welcome 2010.

Make sure you plan your night ahead!

GLBT RETIREMENT VILLAGE IS COMING TO VICTORIA

Construction of Australia's first much anticipated GLBT retirement village is likely to begin next year.

The Linton Estate is a $26 million retirement village aimed primarily at gay, lesbian and transgender seniors. Plans for the project were first submitted to city officials in 2000 but a weak economy had stalled the project, developer Peter Dickson said.

The development is to be located about an hour's drive from Melbourne – Australia's second largest city behind Sydney – in the rural town of Ballan.

The village is expected to include a community center surrounded by 120 single-story living units. Amenities include a gym, pool, bowling greens, tennis court and club house.

The Linton Estate is being marketed as a GLBT retirement community; however, sexual orientation is not a deciding factor.

“There's a fair number of straight people that want to live there,” developer Dickson says. (who wouldn't...)

Pricing details and final plans are expected to be made public next year.

Circus Time In Melbourne

Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls!
Step Right Up, Step Right Up! Enter the Circus!

You won’t believe your eyes!

Welcome to BATHTUB GIN
a new breed of music festival!
Saturday 19th December

On a night designed to completely overwhelm the senses, Bathtub Gin combines the very best in House Music, Circus Art, Dance and Burlesque that Melbourne has to offer!

Leave your inhibitions at the door and submerge yourself into an alternate reality where passion drives the soul!

Set inside Melbourne’s glorious Forum Theatre, Bathtub Gin is an unforgettable way to party out the end of the working year!

A 1920’s Burlesque Circus with one dark, dirty secret.

From the beginning ‘till the end let the story be told through music, dance, mime and trick.

Let your imagination soar with live aerial acts and let your mind wonder in amazing light shows and ask yourself; "is it true what they say? Is it all just fun and games? Or is there more behind the make up, and the faces full of paint?

Nothing will ever leave you so fulfilled and entranced… so I ask you… Do you want to come and play?

WHEN:
Saturday 19 December.

WHERE:
Forum Theatre, 154 Flinders Street, Melbourne VIC 3000.

FEATURING
DJS
Mark Pallegrini
Chris Ng
Phil K
+ a live set from
Marcus Knight and Ladi Tash!

PLUS
Burlesque Clowns
Baby Gin and The Ring Leader
Acrobats
Freakshows
Aerial Hoop
Fire Twirling
+ Popcorn, Cotton Candy and Frozen Cocktails
And more!

Dress Wild!
(No Street wear, NO dirty denim, NO sneakers, NO thongs)

TICKETS – Onsale 15 October
From only $35*
www.ticketek.com.au
or phone 132 849

For more info: www.bathtubgin.com.au

Wishing all our friends at Gay Traveller a Very Happy Christmas

To all our friends, family and supporters at Gay Traveller, we would like to take this opportunity to thank-you for your support and we wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Whatever celbrations you have in mind, we hope that you enjoy them all and whatever you do, be safe.

We look forward to bringing you many new and exciting developments in 2010!

Midsumma Melbourne Launches 2010 Program

Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle and Member for Prahran Tony Lupton were amongst the guests invited to launch the 2010 Midsumma Festival program. The event was held at Collins Quarter in Melbourne’s CBD and featured the accapella songbirds The Nymphs, as well as Tina Del Twiste, the character creation of cabaret superstar Wes Snelling.

Adam Lowe from the Adam Lowe Group who manages the running of the Midsumma festival, said in his opening speech, “The 2010 Midsumma Festival program represents our gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities… and beyond because it is made by the community and artists and event organizers, often self funded, for the community… This program certainly adds to the argument that Melbourne is Australia’s queer cultural capital…”

The 2010 Midsumma Festival program includes a truly diverse bevy of events across Visual Arts, Performing arts, Cabaret, Live Music, Literature, Spoken word and even sporting events. Not to be left out are more social, party and community events than you could poke a stick at! Even the ambigious, abstract but sexy cover drew many comments and has been called a wonderful success.

Signature events Midsumma Carnival, T-Dance, and Pride March continue to premiere festival highlights. Other highlights include Pink Shorts (Midsumma’s queer short play competition), dance work Nex-us, Gentlemen Prefer Blokes (by Courtney Act and Trevor Ashley), and an exciting and powerful Queer City (Queer Public Art program). And a wonderful tribute exhibition of two decades of costumes and images of transsexual drag artist Vivian St James who passed away recently.

The 2010 Midsumma Festival program is out now, and you can get full program details right at:

http://www.midsumma.org.au/

Sydney 2010 Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras Programme Released

With the launch of the 2010 Mardi Gras Season Guide, organisers have unveiled an event-packed week between the Parade and Party, which includes a new free event – The Parade Carnival.

To be held at the conclusion of the Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday, February 27, The Parade Carnival is a free party for NMG members, Parade participants and volunteers. Taking place at the Show Ring, Dome and Forum, it will offer attendees the chance to kick up their heels and get up close with the floats and costumes. A limited number of tickets will be made available to the public.

The high-octane week continues with Harbour ’10 at Mrs Macquarie’s Chair on Sunday, February 28; Spencer Tunick’s debut Sydney installation The Base on Monday, March 1; and a Fag Tag event in Manly on Tuesday, March 2.

Other events include John Waters’s one-man show at the Opera House, This Filthy World (March 2); Mardi Gras’ ‘Dinner at the Zoo’ (March 3); Burt Bacharach with the Sydney Symphony (March 4); the return of the Drag Races at Bondi Beach (March 5); and a barbeque at Tamarama Surf Club hosted by Lifesaver with Pride on the day of the Party (March 6).

The week culminates with the Mardi Party on March 6, followed by official after-party, Toy Box at Luna Park on March 7.

Mardi Gras 2010 Season Sneak Preview

To register for Spencer Tunick’s The Base, go to mardigras.org.au
FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS

MARDI GRAS FAIR DAY

Saturday, February 21
On Saturday, February 21, celebrate the launch of the 2010 Mardi Gras Season at this much-loved community event at Victoria Park. Kick on at the Bank Hotel in Newtown for the official after-party. Victoria Park, Camperdown

MARDI GRAS PARADE

Saturday, February 27
Embark on a trip through the queer ages at the world’s best gay and lesbian parade which in 2010 takes on the theme, ‘Mardi Gras’ History of the World’. Oxford Street and Flinders Street, Darlinghurst

MARDI GRAS PARTY

Saturday, March 6
French superstar DJ David Guetta headlines the 2010 Mardi Gras party, joined by a stellar line-up of local and international acts including Bimbo Jones. As always, keep an eye out for surprise guests. Hordern Pavilion and surrounds, Entertainment Quarter
BETWEEN PARADE AND PARTY

In 2010, New Mardi Gras organisers have assembled a high-octane week between the Parade and Party weekends, ranging from arts events to big dance parties. Here’s a rundown of key event highlights.

Saturday, February 27

Parade Carnival
New Mardi Gras members, volunteers and parade participants are invited to kick up their heels at this free-post Parade event. It’s a great opportunity to get up close to the amazing floats and costumes. There will be also general release tickets available. Show Ring, Dome and Forum, Entertainment Quarter

Sunday, February 28

Harbour ’10
This iconic Mardi Gras event makes it harbourside return with DJ luminaries Wayne G, Paul Heron and Paul Goodyear in the mix. Mrs Macquarie’s Chair, Royal Botanic Gardens

Monday, March 1

Spencer Tunick
Shed your clothes for world renowned artist Spencer Tunick’s first Sydney installation, The Base. Registrations at mardigras.org.au

Pool Party
The famed Ivy Pool plays host to the return of the Mardi Gras Pool Party. Time to get your gear off, grab a cocktail and make a splash. Ivy Pool Bar, Sydney.

Tuesday, March 2

Fag Tag in Manly
Party outfit Fag Tag will be tagging one of Sydney’s most stunning beachside suburbs, Manly. Expect plenty of volleyball and tanning action, following by sunset drinks at one of Manly’s best bars. Details at fagtag.com.au

John Waters
Iconic auteur John Waters celebrates his film career, and joyously bad taste, at his one-man vaudeville act, This Filthy Word, at the Sydney Opera House. Bookings sydneyoperahouse.com

Wednesday, March 3

Dinner at the Zoo
Watch the bird show, meet some of the exotic creatures, and hear about the not-so-straight habits of some of the Zoo’s inhabitants, before a sumptuous meal overlooking the harbour. Held in support of Australian Marriage Equality. Taronga Zoo, Mosman

Thursday, March 4

Burt Bacharach
Legendary Burt Bacharach performs one of two shows at the Sydney Opera House. An wonderful opportunity to experience the magic of one of the greatest songwriters of the twentieth century. Bookings sydneyoperahouse.com

Friday, March 5

Drag Races
Hosted by Vanessa Wagner, the much-anticipated return of the Drag Races will hit Bondi Beach in a flurry of heels, sand and hilarity. Bondi Beach, Campbell Parade, Bondi

Beach Party
From 3pm until midnight, Mardi Gras will be taking over the historic Bondi Surf Life Saving Club for a unique beach party experience. Queen Elizabeth Drive, Bondi Beach

Saturday, March 6

Beach BBQ
Sun, Speedos, swimmers and sausages – enjoy Sydney at its best the day of the party with a beach BBQ hosted by popular group, Lifesavers with Pride. Tamarama Surf Club, Tamarama

Sunday, March 7

Toy Box
Kick on after the Mardi Gras Party at Toy Box at Luna Park. Renowned for its high production values and sense of fun, it will be a fitting end to the week’s festivities. Luna Park, Milson’s Point

The Official 2010 Sydney Mardi Gras Season is out now. Go to www.mardigras.org.au.

Avenue Q comes to Adelaide

Six years on Broadway, three in London, and six months and counting in Australia, Avenue Q comes to Adelaide in January 2010.

Described as an R-rated Muppet Show, Avenue Q has been a hit around the world. Avenue Q involves a cast of eleven humans and a rather larger number of puppets, led by Princeton, a new college graduate who’s come to New York City to try his luck. Luck, alas, is in short supply, and he moves to the lowly Avenue Q and encounters its many weird and wonderful residents. Avenue Q's puppets communicate a really useful message, which is, you’re in your 30s, and you’re dissatisfied with your life, so get the f*** on with it! And it has a great message about inclusiveness and tolerance.

Avenue Q opens on January 7 at Her Majesty’s. Book at Bass.

The Peel Turns 21!

According to Peel Hotel Proprietor, Tom McFeely, The Peel is more than a pub, it’s a family. The Peel was the centre of controversy a couple of years ago after winning an exemption which allowed it to refuse entry to women and heterosexuals. According to McFeely, the Peel is a place where everyone is welcome, but first and foremost it’s a pub for gay men, where they can come and feel safe and socialise with like-minded people.

For The Peel’s 21st birthday McFeely is bringing in a team of male pole-dancers from Sydney as part of the celebrations. There will be other surprises too. The Peel's upstairs section os currently gutted for renovation, after which it will become a separate space in its own right. Clearly the Peel is positioning itself well for adulthood.

McFeely is keen to keep the place running with it's own freindly management style for teh next 21 years. Happy Birthday, Peel. And here's to 21 more fabulous years from the Gay Traveller team.

George Michael goes 'outside'

George Michael might be part of Mardi Gras 2010, after it was announced that he will tour Australia next year, and that his original dates were pushed back to co-incide with Mardi Gras. It’s George Michael’s first Aussie tour since 1988, and he’ll only be playing in Sydney, on February 26, and Perth, on February 20.

Promoter Paul Dainty released a statement saying, “It is thrilling to bring George Michael to Australia again, he toured here on the Faith tour in 1988. He is a consummate performer and will deliver a stunning show to his fans who have waited 22 years to see him perform in Australia”.

Michael’s last shows were in 2007 and 2008 for the 25 Live Tour which has just been released on DVD through Sony Music. Sydney and Perth get ready for George Michael's brief appearance - which is sure to be a sellout.

World Aids Day All Star Tribute To Elton John

Join the cream of Sydney musical theatre and cabaret as they celebrate the music of legendary singer/songwriter Elton John.

Following the success of last year’s inaugural event, this year’s concert is set to be even bigger and better! All proceeds help fund vital services for people with HIV.

The all-star line-up

Hosted by Peter Eyers
Virginia Gay
Paul Capsis
Shauna Jensen
Rob Mills
Monique Montez
David Harris
Michael Cormick
Genevieve Lemon

All stars will be performing with the 30-piece Sydney International Orchestra.

Created and directed by: Trevor Ashley
Musical Director: Craig Renshaw
Musical Supervisor: Ken Laing A.M.
Orchestral Supervisor: Media Music Pty Ltd

An All-Star Tribute To Elton John – The 2009 Sydney World AIDS Day Concert
When: Sunday 6 December at 7:30pm

York Theatre, Seymour Centre, cnr City Rd and Cleveland St, Chippendale, Sydney

$70 A Reserve, $60 B Reserve (concessions available)

Bookings: www.seymourcentre.com.au or (02) 9351 7940