Author » Maxi Shield
Home sweet home

There aren’t many words that strike fear into a drag queen’s heart, but I found myself a quivering mess last week when I was sorting through my mail. Like many, ... Read more
Tue June 30th, 2009 - No Comments
Reasons to be proud

After having life breathed into it by many members of our community and being championed by Stonewall Hotel’s Glenn Hansen, we are knee-deep in Pride Week events around the city. Many ... Read more
Tue June 23rd, 2009 - No Comments
Playing it straight

Over the years I have been bombarded with some interesting and very strange questions. Some have really made me think, others have had my eyes rolling. One that pops up regularly ... Read more
Tue June 16th, 2009 - No Comments
Not funny

When I was growing up I was lucky not to have too much trouble at school, plodding along with a group of friends who watched each others backs. But I ... Read more
Tue June 9th, 2009 - No Comments
Remembering

Like a good wine, or is that a stinky cheese, I get another year older. Plagued with an army of grey hair sprouting like weeds in my back garden, I surrender ... Read more
Tue June 2nd, 2009 - No Comments
Crazy Talk

When I first heard the news that New Mardi Gras had decided to separate the parade and after-party and then cut the festival to just two weeks, I thought it ... Read more
Tue May 26th, 2009 - No Comments
A slice of Italy

So much is put on the club and nightlife scene that it is exciting to hear about a daytime event. Last weekend we had the annual Bake-Off, which filled Paddington ... Read more
Tue May 19th, 2009 - No Comments
Family ties

Last week was the last straw. I received a rude letter, written by someone who really had no idea. It seems politeness, respect and manners haven’t been taught to some ... Read more
Tue May 12th, 2009 - No Comments
Vale David

As tears stain my keyboard, I try to get my head around the loss our community experienced at the weekend, with the sudden passing of DJ David (Hilda) Hiscock. I woke ... Read more
Tue April 28th, 2009 - No Comments
Shows and pubs

For the last couple of weeks I have been knee-deep in production of the new show to hit the Sunday night stage, A Tale of Two Titties. My thumb and ... Read more
Tue April 21st, 2009 - 3 Comments
Chocfest 2009

It seems like the year is jetting past us at full speed. Wasn’t it only yesterday I was making up some excuse to eat like a crazy person over Christmas? ... Read more
Tue April 14th, 2009 - 1 Comment
Light on service

I was excited to hear that last weekend Oxford St saw the kick-off of secure taxi ranks. I have lost count of how often I have risked it and walked ... Read more
Wed April 8th, 2009 - 2 Comments
It’s showtime

A show’s standard run given by clubs is usually about 13 weeks. Once the 13th week has hit, the time has come to either move on and give another cast ... Read more
Tue March 31st, 2009 - No Comments
Fly our flag with pride

Every time I see a rainbow flag, a pang of pride shoots through me. When I see it flying or hanging I feel a sense of community. I was delighted to ... Read more
Wed March 25th, 2009 - No Comments
Showgirl to shopgirl

It’s everywhere. You are bombarded with facts and figures on the television, newspapers jump from the stands, screaming that the bottom has fallen out of the world’s economy. People are ... Read more
Wed March 18th, 2009 - No Comments
On the queen’s throne

I have said it a million times and I’m sure many are sick to death of me saying it, but I love that our community is so diverse. The gay ... Read more
Wed March 4th, 2009 - No Comments
A toothy problem

I was performing last Wednesday when a horror came over me. “Do I have funky breath?” As this is a phobia of mine, I turned the venue upside down in search ... Read more
Wed December 3rd, 2008 - 3 Comments
The Queen’s throne

I’m not sure if it was the sight of my shrinking editor or the call of the mankini, but I have plunged head first into intensive training at the gym ... Read more
Wed November 26th, 2008 - No Comments
All in the family

Like many people I know, I’m from a mixed family, bits and pieces from everywhere, with lots of kids running around screaming. Both my parents believed in child labour, so ... Read more
Wed November 12th, 2008 - 1 Comment
LIGHTS OUT

I have been bombarded with questions about my take on the curfew trials that will be taking place, not only on our Oxford St but statewide. Some venues are getting ... Read more
Wed November 5th, 2008 - 2 Comments
Swanning around in Perth

I was at the computer researching for a new show— OK, surfing porn — ALRIGHT, I was on the lounge doing absolutely nothing, when out of the blue, I received ... Read more
Wed October 22nd, 2008 - No Comments
Your pole or mine?

They say there is no rest for the wicked, so I must have been very bad at some point because I have been running around like a headless chook for ... Read more
Wed October 15th, 2008 - No Comments
New shows

As with any career there are moments when you feel totally engulfed, overwhelmed and overwrought, when you come up for air only at irregular moments. Being a full-time showgirl is no ... Read more
Wed September 24th, 2008 - No Comments
Fact or fiction?

There are those who claim gay men’s relationships don’t last. Well, I know many couples who have been together for years. They’ve even traded in the IKEA furniture to fill their ... Read more
Wed September 17th, 2008 - No Comments
Vale, Atlanta

Once again I find myself in an uncomfortable position — having to talk about someone who has died. I understand we all have to leave this world at some point, but ... Read more
Wed September 10th, 2008 - No Comments
GAMMA
GAMMA, a support group for married men who have sex with men, meets in secure confidential and non-sexual surroundings at the ACON building, 9 Commonwealth St, Surry Hills, on the first and third Wednesdays of each month at 8pm. There is also a support line, Monday-Friday 6-10 pm, on 9267 4000.
www.gamma.org.auGAY BUSINESS
The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Business Association hosts Lemons With a Twist on the first Friday of each month and Fruits in Suits on the third Thursday of each month, at Slide.
www.sglba.com.auCOME OUT AUSTRALIA
Come Out Australia is a social group for our community, with branches in Canterbury-Bankstown, Epping/ Northern Districts and Penrith. You're invited to "Come Out"; get involved with a branch, event, project, or to start something happening in your area.
www.comeout.org.auQUEERSCREEN
Lovers of gay cinema are encouraged to become a member of Queerscreen, Sydney’s premier gay and lesbian film festival body.
www.queerscreen.com.au
Current Issue
Hope for lock-out rethink

Oxford St publicans have called on the newly-formed Sydney Liquor Task Force to review the 2am lock-out system and come up with more effective measures for handling alcohol-related violence. The state Government, with the City ... Read more
Oxford now with receiver
Oxford Hotel management insists it will be business as usual despite the pub’s holding ... Read more
Same-sex marriage push
The Greens have made good on a promise to introduce a private member’s bill ... Read more
ACON’s three-year vision
ACON CEO Stevie Clayton has declared a drop in HIV rates as a key ... Read more
Back on the trax
DJ Rob will be back at Bears Den Night Flinders Hotel on Friday, July ... Read more
They could get away with murder
With a name like KillaQueenz, one would naturally assume Kween G and Belizean Bombshell ... Read more





