Benjamin Riley, Author at Star Observer

Comrade Katya is the RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars winner we deserve

Benjamin Riley — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 00:57:23 +0000

NOTE: This article contains spoilers for RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars season two, and for RuPaul’s Drag Race season seven. For a long time my love of Katya Zamolodchikova came ...

The post Comrade Katya is the RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars winner we deserve appeared first on Star Observer.

‘We can never dream of taking LGBT issues to a referendum’

Benjamin Riley — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 00:28:32 +0000

Marriage equality is a far-off dream for gay African men facing homophobia and violence

The post ‘We can never dream of taking LGBT issues to a referendum’ appeared first on Star Observer.

AIDS Conference 2016: Trans men navigating the politics of misogyny in gay spaces

Benjamin Riley — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 00:07:59 +0000

The most confronting parts of the session involved the speakers discussing their experiences of sexual assault in gay-male spaces - experiences that appeared horrifically common.

The post AIDS Conference 2016: Trans men navigating the politics of misogyny in gay spaces appeared first on Star Observer.

AIDS Conference 2016: LGBT communities take spotlight

Benjamin Riley — Wed, 20 Jul 2016 01:56:38 +0000

WHILE experts acknowledged the progress made in the past 16 years ago, many expressed frustration that in some ways things are getting worse.

The post AIDS Conference 2016: LGBT communities take spotlight appeared first on Star Observer.

AIDS Conference 2016: What’s making HIV worse for gay and bisexual men

Benjamin Riley — Wed, 20 Jul 2016 01:47:12 +0000

WIDESPREAD homophobic violence and the exclusion of gay and bisexual men at the top levels of the global response to HIV and AIDS are halting efforts to fight the epidemic, according to experts at the International AIDS Conference in Durban, South Africa.

The post AIDS Conference 2016: What’s making HIV worse for gay and bisexual men appeared first on Star Observer.

Community Hero: Jamie Gardiner

Benjamin Riley — Thu, 30 Jul 2015 07:45:35 +0000

The 'Community Hero' segment in our monthly magazine shines a light on people who are working to make LGBTI people's lives better. This month, we highlight the work of tireless community advocate Jamie Gardiner.

The post Community Hero: Jamie Gardiner appeared first on Star Observer.

Throwback: Sydney Star Observer, Friday June 26, 1987

Benjamin Riley — Thu, 30 Jul 2015 00:09:47 +0000

IN June of 1987, two weeks before Australia would go to the polls to decide between three more years of a Labor government led by Bob Hawke or a Coalition ...

The post Throwback: Sydney Star Observer, Friday June 26, 1987 appeared first on Star Observer.

Closet Case: Monique Schafter

Benjamin Riley — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 08:05:01 +0000

Walkley Award-winning TV journalist Monique Schafter shares her coming out story in the latest instalment of Closet Case.

The post Closet Case: Monique Schafter appeared first on Star Observer.

On earth as it is in heaven

Benjamin Riley — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 07:43:59 +0000

The Metropolitan Community Church in Sydney this year celebrated its 40th anniversary, at a time when LGBTI communities themselves face uncertainty. Benjamin Riley asks what a future of increasing social acceptance might hold for a church that began as a refuge for gay and lesbian Christians excluded from their faith.

The post On earth as it is in heaven appeared first on Star Observer.

(Not) Too queer for cinema

Benjamin Riley — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 08:41:57 +0000

The upcoming Melbourne International Film Festival will have a line-up of feature films, documentaries, short films and animated films from all corners of the world — including a selection of LGBTI-themed movies. Benjamin Riley took a sneak peek.

The post (Not) Too queer for cinema appeared first on Star Observer.

Man’s man

Benjamin Riley — Tue, 23 Jun 2015 05:58:51 +0000

Melbourne's Trough X parties, gay dance parties held in a sex-on-premises venue, gave become legendary. Benjamin Riley spoke to Trough's creator Nik Dimopoulos about mainstreaming the fetish scene, taking the party to Sydney, and masculinity in counterculture.

The post Man’s man appeared first on Star Observer.

Closet Case: Dirk Caber

Benjamin Riley — Tue, 23 Jun 2015 05:44:01 +0000

Dirk Caber is a composer and classical musician, and his husband Jesse Jackman is a writer and software engineer. Living together in Boston, they are also two of the most recognisable names and faces (among other things) in gay porn. For Caber, coming out to his parents as gay was one thing, but coming out to them as a porn star was a little trickier. He shares his story for Closet Case.

The post Closet Case: Dirk Caber appeared first on Star Observer.

Closet Case: Jesse Jackman

Benjamin Riley — Tue, 23 Jun 2015 05:43:53 +0000

Jesse Jackman is a writer and software engineer, and his husband Dirk Caber is a composer and classical musician. Living together in Boston, they are also two of the most recognisable names and faces (among other things) in gay porn. The first person Jackman came out to face-to-face turned out to be involved with an ex-gay ministry. He shares his story in this month's Closet Case.

The post Closet Case: Jesse Jackman appeared first on Star Observer.

Hidden wounds

Benjamin Riley — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 05:38:17 +0000

For the first time in a long time family violence has become the focus of media and political attention across the country. However, such violence in LGBTI communities still faces a lack of basic understanding, let alone recognition. Benjamin Riley finds out more about how domestic violence is affecting some LGBTI people, and what needs to be done.

The post Hidden wounds appeared first on Star Observer.

Community Hero: Yvonne Gardner

Benjamin Riley — Fri, 19 Jun 2015 09:26:24 +0000

Our new monthly feature Community Hero shines a light on people who are working to make LGBTI people's lives better, and Yvonne Gardner has been supporting people living with HIV since the epidemic began.

The post Community Hero: Yvonne Gardner appeared first on Star Observer.

How to get started in gay porn: Interview with Jesse Jackman and Dirk Caber

Benjamin Riley — Tue, 16 Jun 2015 08:17:25 +0000

JESSE Jackman ended up working in gay porn after a hookup with a couple of guys who turned out to be performers while he was staying at a resort in ...

The post How to get started in gay porn: Interview with Jesse Jackman and Dirk Caber appeared first on Star Observer.

Testing and treatment up along with condomless sex in Melbourne

Benjamin Riley — Thu, 28 May 2015 07:31:55 +0000

Melbourne's results are in from this year's Gay Community Periodic Survey.

The post Testing and treatment up along with condomless sex in Melbourne appeared first on Star Observer.

Victoria repeals section 19A to reduce HIV stigma in law

Benjamin Riley — Thu, 28 May 2015 02:10:17 +0000

THE repeal of Section 19A of the Victorian Crimes Act, specifically criminalising the transmission of HIV, has passed the upper house of the Victorian Parliament with bipartisan and cross-bench support. ...

The post Victoria repeals section 19A to reduce HIV stigma in law appeared first on Star Observer.

World-first HIV study has major implications for treatment

Benjamin Riley — Thu, 28 May 2015 00:07:48 +0000

A major global HIV study has provided — for the first time ever — definitive evidence for the health benefits of going on treatment as soon as one is diagnosed with HIV. This has big implications in Australia, too.

The post World-first HIV study has major implications for treatment appeared first on Star Observer.

Closet Case: Tony Briffa

Benjamin Riley — Mon, 25 May 2015 08:18:48 +0000

The world's first openly intersex mayor, Tony Briffa, shares an often painful process of coming out as intersex in this month's Closet Case.

The post Closet Case: Tony Briffa appeared first on Star Observer.