A note from us.
Now that your decorations have been thrown back into the cupboard for another year, the last selection box has been reduced to empty wrappers, and you’ve watched pretty much everything Netflix has to offer during the holiday break, it’s time to look to the new year ahead. It’s the start of a new decade and one that follows 10 years of big wins for the LGBTQ community. From samesex marriage being legalised in numerous countries, the decriminalisation of homosexuality in places like India and Botswana, as well as increased visibility of queer people and culture in the mainstream, the 2010s – with all its political shocks and horrors – featured some big strides for LGBTQ people.
But as we step into the 2020s, we must remain focussed on even greater wins that will positively impact queer people everywhere. When you live in a world where it’s still illegal to be gay in more than 70 countries, it’s clear there is still much to do. We need to continue to champion and support our trans and non-binary siblings while their very existence is being questioned, and we need to see greater acceptance for LGBTQ people in places where living openly is challenged by society. In this internet era of hyperconnectivity and social media activism, we are more responsible for our queer siblings across the world than ever before.
However, changing laws and challenging policies is just one part of a bier picture. For true equality to be realised, it needs to be embraced and celebrated by everyone on a social level too. It’s why, time and time again, we always circle back to the fact that visibility matters.
For our first issue of the new decade, we have put together a Queer Guide to 2020 that outlines all the very best music, film, and television we can expect this year that puts LGBTQ people and narratives firmly in the spotlight. There are some exciting and long overdue firsts on the horizon (we’re looking at you, Marvel Cinematic Universe), but there are also returning shows that will have an enduring legacy for their impact on the lives of LGBTQ people.
One of those shows we’re happy to showcase on our first cover of 2020. When Sex Education first launched on Netflix in January last year, not even the cast themselves anticipated the huge impact it would have. Netflix was so pleased with it they released the streaming numbers which, at 40 million for its first few weeks available, was huge for this new twist on a British teen drama. Ncuti Gatwa plays Eric Effiong in the show, an openly gay black teen who brightens up the screen during every scene he’s in. When I asked Ncuti why he thinks Sex Education had the impact it did, he replied: “I think because it has a lot of heart to it and a lot of truth to it. And like I said, it’s tackling issues that don’t commonly get tackled, and we’re starting conversations about things that get made taboo for no reason.”
He’s not wrong. A new generation of young queer people that are coming through crave and demand authenticity – and our art is thriving more for it. Which brings us to our second cover star. Girl In Red – real name Marie Ulven – is an indie-pop artist barely two years into her career, but has amassed a passionate following. She’s the antithesis of manufactured pop artists of generations past; there’s no massive label behind her, she has full control over her music, and is very clear as to how she wants to be presented and what she wants to say. In short, she cuts through the bullshit. “I don’t have to show my songs to anyone, I don’t have someone on the sidelines saying, ‘Oh, this is sad and gay, we need a hit’,” she told us. “I don’t have anyone defining me.” It’s refreshing energy that is clearly resonating with audiences.
It’s an outlook that I, for one, will be taking with me into this new decade. It gets said often, but living your truth is the most powerful thing you can do. For me, 2020 also sees me stepping into a new role at Gay Times. As Editorial Director, I will oversee our print, online and social channels, managing platforms that reach millions of queer people and our allies every month. It’s a massive responsibility, but a role I am proud and excited to hold. Gay Times started the last decade primarily as a publication for gay and bisexual men but finished it as a media organisation that is inclusive of the whole LGBTQ community. A genuinely spectacular glow up, I hope you’ll agree.
In 2020, our mission to amplify queer voices remains our number one priority. Whether it’s on the cover of our magazine, a post on our Instagram channel, or a digital cover story for Amplify, as a team we have reimagined and built Gay Times into a platform to serve, support and celebrate a diverse LGBTQ community. It’s what she deserves.
Lewis Corner
Editorial Director