Ex-Wellington drag icon Pollyfilla is back in town for her new show, Kitsch In Synch, which will run for four nights only starting this Friday.

Melbourne-based Wellington drag icon Pollyfilla is in the Capital for her brand new theatre show, which promises to be a camp affair. “I’m hitting Wellington this weekend with my brand new show for the 2012 NZ Fringe Festival,” she says. “Coincidentally this will be my fifth production at BATS, and is on the tenth anniversary of my theatre debut.”

The 50-minute show, Kitsch In Synch, is described as Desperate Housewives meets The Stepford Wives. It’s “an homage to the ‘kitchen sink drama’; a commentary on gender roles in society and a satirical look at 1950s women’s movies. It explores one housewife’s endlessly repetitive quest for domestic perfection. Will her obsession drive her over the edge?”

Kitsch In Synch opens at Wellington’s BATS Theatre this Friday evening (10 February) and runs until Monday evening.

We have a double pass to the Kitsch In Synch opening night (Friday 10 February) to give away. Just email Andy (andy@aaronandandy.com) and tell him why you should win!

Mike Puru and his fiancé Regan

Out-gay Edge radio personality Mike Puru has announced that he is a homophobic idiot.

By ANDY BOREHAM

The insecure gay revealed his feelings about being openly gay to Herald reporter Michele Hewitson, and he comes across like a total fuckwit.

He said he won’t show any public affection to his fiancé—including walking in the streets holding hands—and also has a phobia about walking with his dogs, who he fears people will say are ‘gay’, even though it’s actually him who labels them. “Regan [his fiancé] insists on getting these gay dogs,” Puru told the reporter. “At least it’s not a poodle!” *face palm*.

The idiot goes on about how he doesn’t like stereotypes surrounding being gay and doesn’t want to be judged as being gay, even though he happens to be just that. “… maybe I’m a homophobic homo.”

Puru joins other insecure separatist homos who insist that gays appearing hetero is the only way to be. “He’s completely straight,” he says of his partner. “Well, he’s not completely straight! Ha, ha. But, you know, he can go to a bar and people wouldn’t think he was gay or anything.” Wow, what a fuckwit.

The discussion then turns to Puru “pretending” to be straights for years — I’m sorry, but isn’t ‘straight-acting’ pretending to be straight? You’re still doing it, buddy!

It turns out Puru doesn’t mind being gay when it comes to getting cock, though. He revels to the reporter about his apparent hook-up with a member of the Vengaboys. Boom, boom, boom, boom, anyone? (He once hit me up for a hook-up online and said, before he sent his picture, that I need to be very discrete because he works in radio and TV. ‘Are you Mike Puru?’ was my instant response, and this was years before he ‘came out’.)

I completely understand that some people aren’t comfortable with their sexuality, and that some gays don’t at all conform to stereotypes, but Mike, you’re a public figure. You came out as gay (which was an awesome thing to do) and no doubt helped many young people struggling with their own sexualities to face their own uphill battles. But turning around and saying such divisive and homophobic things about being gay is a slap in the face to gay men and women all over New Zealand.

You are a fuckwit, and you’ve just lost any cred you gained from your coming out on the radio.

PS: Try my patented test: I call it Andy’s Straight-Acting Test, and it’s infallible. Try saying ‘straight-acting’ ten times really fast with a cock in your mouth. Yeah.

Queer-as-fuck Wellington artist Stephii Jackson will support bad-as Badd Energy next week for the first show of their February tour.

Kiwi group Badd Energy will begin their February tour at Bodega next Thursday, and Wellington queer Stephii Jackson will be playing support. “They’re pretty rad,” Stephii says of the group. “And it’s only $5!”

The group have just signed to Flying Nun Records and their retro-tastic latest single, Ba-Zing, has a tack-tastic and über-camp video (below) that you should check out.

Badd Energy w/ Fantails & Stephen Jackson hits Bodega Thursday 9 February from 9pm. Entry is only $5 — $5!!!

A number of queer artists have offered to donate their artworks to Wellington art fundraiser Under the Rainbow just a few days since the exhibition was announced.

Organisers of the event, which will auction off the artworks to raise funds for Out in the Square, are excited about the works they have received so far. “We have been contacted by some pretty amazing queer artists keen to take part,” organiser Andy Boreham says. “I can’t wait to show off these pieces and find them a new home!”

Under the Rainbow is a week-long art exhibition that culminates in an auction.

Queer artists keen to take part and donate some art are still being sought, Andy says, and they can contact him directly.

Under the Rainbow will exhibit at Wellington’s Thistle Hall Gallery from 7 – 12 May. Artists wishing to take part can email Andy (andy@aaronandandy.com) for details.

Mama previously, and Mama "post-surgery"?

Rumour is swirling that Wellington drag queen Mama DeZiyah has gone under the knife after a private photo was leaked that is purported to show her “post-surgery”.

A friend close to the performer, who wishes not to be named, tells Aaron and Andy.com that Mama is facing pressure to conform “in the looks department” after two successful gigs.

“She was thrown into the spotlight in a big way when she performed at Out in the Square and Glitter,” her friend says. “She never knew it would happen, but she’s become susceptible to pressure from the industry to ‘look the part’.”

That conformity apparently means a Michael Jackson-nose job, Felicity Frockaccinio-brow lift, Ribena-lip injections, tattooed eye makeup, Gummy Sue-tooth removal and Dolly Parton hair implants, according to cosmetic surgeon Imma Fiksit. “Based on the image you’ve supplied me, I’d say Mama has undergone extensive cosmetic reconstruction, to the point where she is almost not recognisable,” he tells Aaron and Andy.com. The most notable change, he says, is the hair implants. “Her hair has gone from looking like a frizzed-up piece of hay, to shiny, tight, healthy curls.”

Mama’s friend says the performer has faced considerable pressure from her drag mother, Ellie Kat, which has included regular groundings and religious chants. “Ellie would often ground Mama from going out and from performing if she had a zit or if she stopped using her homemade lip pump. She also forces Mama to take part in drag prayer circles with Felicity [Frockaccino] and Gummy [Sue] in order to channel their beauty and supplant it onto Mama”.

Mama DeZiyah could not be reached for comment, although Ellie Kat said she was keen to do coffee sometime.

Which gay Wellington flat had to enforce a rule banning under 18s because of the ‘young looking’ guys one of the flatties was bringing home?

Afraid of being associated with scandalous behaviour, a ‘no under 18s’ policy was strictly enforced in a flat of inner-city Wellington gays. One of the flatmates, it turns out, likes ‘young looking’ guys and brought home a couple that raised a few eyebrows.

It was so strictly enforced, in fact, that the flatmate started asking hookups to bring their ID with them to present to the flat before entering the bedroom!

Sheesh, talk about scandalous!

Under the Rainbow, an art exhibition auctioning off donated works to raise funds for Wellington’s Out in the Square, is looking for artists keen to participate.

The exhibition, which first took place in Wellington two years ago, has just secured a week-long spot at the city’s Thistle Gallery in May. The last exhibition raised around $3,000 for Wellington’s most popular annual GLBT event, Out in the Square.

Out Wellington Chairperson Andy Boreham, who is producing the event, says the group are excited and eager to chat with artists who might be keen to donate a work or two. “Our first exhibition featured work from amateurs and professionals, and we show-cased a number of pieces that ranged from sketches to paintings to photographs to comics,” he says. “We’re really excited to put on another exhibition and are keen to hear from anyone who considers themselves a queer artist.”

Boreham says the event is a great way for artists to showcase their work and to meet other artists and art lovers in the community. “Under the Rainbow runs for a whole week, which means the art featured is viewed by many people — last time every piece found a new home.”

Under the Rainbow will launch on Monday 7 May with an opening party, and the auction and closing event will take place on Saturday 12 May. Anyone interested in supporting Under the Rainbow can contact Andy directly by email (andy@aaronandandy.com).

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has spoken out against homophobia in Africa and told leaders they must respect gay rights.

In an uncharacteristic speech from the UN, Ban Ki-Moon told delegates at the African Summit in Addis Ababa that African nations have discriminated against GLBT citizens for too long. “One form of discrimination ignored or even sanctioned by many states for too long has been discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity,” he said. “It prompted governments to treat people as second-class citizens or even criminals.”

Homosexuality is illegal in a number of African nations, with many gay activists murdered across the region and others forced into hiding.

“Confronting these discriminations is a challenge, but we must not give up on the ideas of the universal declaration [of human rights],” Ban said.

Last year the British government announced it would limit aid to African nations that discriminate against GLBT citizens, leading Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe to label British Prime Minister David Cameron ‘satanic’.

Which gay bar DJ was last night apparently caught just playing a pre-mixed CD by Ministry of Sound?

Word is that a well-known drag queen sprung the DJ playing a Ministry of Sounds CD that was already mixed while pretending to mix it himself. Oh, the scandal!

The DJ is allegedly the same one who doesn’t own any music by Lady Gaga, Madonna, Kylie Minogue, Britney Spears, or Christina. It is still a gay bar, right?

We chat with gay pop star Onicks about being a star, being a villain, visiting New Zealand, and taking over the world!

A&A: Tell us about yourself.
Onicks: My name is Onicks. I’m a dark, edgy, villainous recording artist based in Los Angeles, California. I’m going to bring my own vision to the table. With my minions, I WILL take over the free world. My music pieces together my life. I strive to make sure my fans can connect to every word I sing. I’m a performer and I live to scare.

When did you start performing?
I began performing in Denver, Colorado in 2009 under a different alias. I was promoting for a new club and would hire myself as the live entertainment until I moved to Los Angeles and started rocking out all over California.

What was the process/path you took to arrive at your current artistic state?
The moment I let Onicks loose on the world, I did one thing. I told myself I was a pop STAR. That I was already famous. I pushed me so hard for the better. I began recording with the best producers I could find. I would have my close friends show up at clubs before I did and wait by the entrance with their cameras pretending to be OBSESSED fans until people started asking questions. It worked. I knew I needed more so I wrote multiple videos and began work. Low budgets, high production value. I’m still on the path I need to be on. I will never stop.

When did you come out?
I came out to my parents when I was 18. I had been dating my first boyfriend for 9 months and he was completely out to his family so I felt pressured into telling my own. I remember being so terrified. I actually sent my mother a TXT telling her that I was in a relationship with a boy. To my surprise, my mother completely accepted me. My father ignored the subject entirely. When graduation came along, my boyfriend and I went to each other’s ceremonies. I was terrified and excited. I’ve never looked back and I always make it my mission to help those in need of guidance!

What fellow GLBT artists inspire you?
I really enjoy Sam Sparro as well as the evil tones of Jeffree Starr. Personally, I’m a man of the past. There was a gay artist by the name of Jobriath in the 70s and 80s that I adore as well. I get a lot of inspiration from Prince, David Bowie, Daphne Guiness, and Michael Jackson. Their passion excites me!

Tell us about your latest song and video (below). It’s very animalistic (LOL)!
Manimal is my first sexual song. It’s about laying down the law. Telling your lover that you are no one’s animal. You are a MAN who’s going to take control now that you’re unleashed. The video is a metaphor. I am battling myself which was a challenge for me to write as a script but turned out so stunning! This man in the video that I portray has ultimate power over these ‘animals’ until one of them steals the upper hand! Then, you see his journey to reclaim what has escaped, only to be defeated yet again as the Manimal triumphs! It was a 3 day, 42 hour shoot. The hardest I have ever worked but I have never been more proud!

What will be your next step? What would you love to happen next?
I have actually written two more music videos! They will begin a story. I am the Super Villain so I want to show my fans how I got to that point in the world I’ve created. How did Onicks become the villain? That is what I want to showcase. A series of music videos and a small video series that are all in a specific order. I am extremely excited! We shoot my next video in March! I will also be travelling to Europe and HOPEFULLY Australia and New Zealand in June!

We’d love you to come to New Zealand! What would you like to say to other young GLBT artists who are just starting out?
Always be legitimate! If you’re going to be an artist, BE an artist. Be real with everyone you come across and don’t EVER think that because you’re fresh and new, you must settle. Skip a few steps. Find an investor. Don’t sleep as much as you should. Live for it…and it will live for you!

Anything else you’d like to say?
Please everyone who came across this interview…write to me. I will always fight for you and give you the best advice I possibly can. We are the new age…Here to take over the free world. Are you on board?

>>> ‘Like’ Onicks on Facebook and visit his official website.