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A SOBER CONVERSATION

Posted 2012-04-22 11:57:26 | Views: 1,255

Coffee Date with Mads

We met with Mads, a representative of LGBT Denmark, at the aptly-named "Pussy Galore's" Cafe. Mads was just as open as we had hoped -- clearly, he was passionate about his cause! He does a lot of lobbying for LGBT Denmark, an organization that is trying to get government funding and support but is currently completely based off of volunteer work.
     Mads is really in line with our 'queen of queer,' Judith Butler. He says that these days, when LGBT Denmark goes into schools to educate, it's less about being gay or straight and more about "what does it mean to be a boy, what does it mean to be a girl, what constitutes gender." He says that his family, and generally the older Danes, don't understand his revolutionary views on gender. In his case, it seems like his parents want to understand, but just can't make the leap. They are accepting of his sexuality, but when it comes to what that may mean to him, and what he actually does with his partners (from dating to sex), they have no idea. His grandmother only found out he was gay from seeing him talking about hate crimes on Danish television!
     It seems like for Mads, getting away from Denmark was what actually prompted him to embrace his sexuality. He says that he always thought he might be gay, but was convinced that society was simply projecting that thought onto him. Then he went to China, got away from little Roskilde, and had a bit of an existential crisis there when he met a nice boy. He ended up writing to a Danish radio host and asking her what she thought, saying that he didn't think he was really gay, but wasn't sure --- he says she was really nice and pragmatic about it,  but in the end, when he wouldn't budge, just said, "Stop with the self-hate. You're gay."
     Once Mads came to terms with himself, he became a major activist for his sexuality. But ultimately, he isn't into the gay/straight definitions. He believes in new concepts of gender in the future. Perhaps he's the next Judith Butler.

We loved our night out on the town, but to learn a bit more about gay life in Denmark we had coffee with Mads Hvid, Chairperson of LGBT Youth in Copenhagen. 

PROOF

Posted 2012-04-22 11:42:03 | Views: 1,218

4 Fun Facts About LGBT Nightlife in Copenhagen

1) THERE IS SUCH THING AS "HETEROPHOBIA" ... KIND OF

2) GAY NIGHTLIFE IN JUTLAND SUCKS

3) "BEING GAY IN COPENHAGEN IS LIKE BEING STRAIGHT EVERYWHERE ELSE"

4) GAY BARS AND CLUBS COME IN ALL SHAPES AND SIZES

Last week our new friends Martin and Jobbe went to Nevermind with their straight couple friends. In the heat of passionate moment on the dancefloor, the heteros made out. Turns out, at Nevermind this is a big no-no. Within seconds, the bouncer came over and asked them to leave. "It might make the gay patrons uncomfortable," the staff told Jobbe and his friends. Then, as Jobbe put it, he "made a fucking scene." 

 

"I kind regretted the next day," he told us, "because a bunch of newspapers called me to ask about what happened. Now its turned into a big thing." Read about it here: http://jp.dk/indland/article2754483.ece 

Some food for thought... Martin, Mads, and Jobbe all told us that their favorite thing about Copenhagen is that they feel comfortable being themselves. They do not generally feel criticized or embarassed about their sexuality.  

 

In addition, the LGBT community in our city is large enough that there are opportunites to try many new bars and meet countless new people. Unlike in Jutland, social young people are not limited to a few venues and a small group of people. 

Apparently there is just ONE gay club in Arrhus, and two in Odense. Martin and Jobbe tell us that even though the club can be fun, it's never ideal to go to the same place every  weekend. I get that. 

 

The problem is that because Denmark is so small, many LGBTs can move easily to Copenhagen, where they feel more comfortable and have larger social networks. This leaves few members of the LGBT community in Jutland, and less resources/interest to open more bars, clubs, and cafes.

This place is cool.

This place isn't fun.

Denmark is home to many different gay bars. Yelp reviews warn women not to enter certain gay bars, while others tout openness to all kinds of people. There are lesbian bars, there are gay theme bars, and there are hard-core bondage bars for those who are seriously into leather.

 

Basically, Denmark caters to it all.

PROOF WE DIDN'T

    JUST HAVE FUN

Mike is intrigued.

Mr. Gay

Posted 2012-04-22 11:13:22 | Views: 1,688

Our_New_Best_Friends:


                            A night on the town with Martin and Jobbe.

Our adventure began with us going to a gay bar in Copenhagen’s best-known 'gay district.' We all felt a bit awkward at first so we decided to sit down for a drink before making our next move. After each having a beer we finally built up the courage to approach two men at the bar, luring them into talking to us by buying them a round of beers first.

 

The two men instantly opened up to us about themselves and the gay bar culture in Copenhagen. Not only did they share about the community in general, but also they told personal (and hilarious) stories. A half an hour into our conversation we realized that we were talking to THE Mr.Gay DK 2011. This male model, Jobbe, and his friend Martin continued to talk to us for hours as if we were just a couple of friends hanging out.  

Jobbe, aka Mr. Gay, is a well known model in Copenhagen's gay community. He modestly told us that he won the Mr. Gay DK commpetition in 2011 sending his photo into various Mr.Gay DK and In & Out Magazine ads. He is currently interesting in another male model who is 'playing hard to get.'  

We obviously had questions on how our new friends decide who ‘pitches’ and who ‘catches’ when they take someone home from the bar. Martin told us that when he meets someone at the bar he hopes that they prefer to be on bottom because he prefers to be on top. If it doesn’t work out that way, he says, "we just love each other, but don’t have sex."  

Jobbe, aka Mr.Gay DK, is a well known male model amongst the gay community in Denmark. He won the Mr. Gay DK competition in 2011 by sending his photo into various Mr.Gay DK and Out & About Magazine ads. He is currently romantically interested in another male model in Copenhagen who Jobbe claims is 'playing hard to get.'