DUCKIE: BEST GAY SHAME MOMENTS

Over the past 18 years the Duckie collective have run some legendary alternative events on Gay Pride night, usually called Gay Shame. Here the Duckie hostess Amy Lamé and the DJs Readers Wifes reminisce over their favourite times at the Shames of Yesteryear…

 
Amy Lamé: Duckie Hostess

“I really liked the early, punky Gay Shames in the mid and late 1990s that were nothing more than a politicized piss up at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern. I’d make a rabble rousing speech railing against tight white t-shirts, the Readers Wifes would play a Kylie record on extra slow speed, and we’d all dance our legs down to our knees.

“The über-Shame in my opinion, was EUROSHAME (2006), because it was like a homosexualist, twisted version of Disney’s ‘It’s A Small World After All’. Staged on the same day as London hosted EuroPride, we enabled people to go to Poland in the back of a van accompanied by drag queens, wonkily put together Ikea furniture in Sweden, and get spanked in England. It was like an InterRail holiday, only better.

“I think my favourite Gay Shame so far has been MASCULINITY (2008), because it gave me – and lots of others – the opportunity to get out of a girly comfort zone. I had my dad send me one of his plumbing uniforms from New Jersey so I could butch up. I got quite a few propositions from gay boys with cheeky porn fantasies! My girlfriend wore a sexy sleeveless “HOIST” t-shirt with “Security” emblazoned on the back… She was nearly kicked out for impersonating a bouncer.”


Chelsea Kelsey: Readers Wifes DJ

“Ah, we’ve had some great Gay Shames over the years. The first one took some beating, as did dressing up as fishwives for GROSS INDECENCY (2010). But I think my favourite Shame moment was probably just as we opened the doors for EUROSHAME at The Coronet in the Elephant & Castle.

The Wifes were representing the United Kingdom so we’d dressed up as officers in the Royal Navy. We’d also been positioned up a ladder, on scaffolding high over the dancefloor. It was terrifying but the view was really something. I can still see the view, looking out at this tremendous bazaar, with all these artists doing… stuff and representing all the European nations, positioned right around the massive space of the Coronet.

The doors opened and we played The Rolling Stones’ ‘It’s Only Rock ‘N’ Roll’ and I could see Scottee and The Bears sort of grinding and pole-dancing and all the people in these weird installations grooving. I’m pretty scared of heights but at that point I knew it was going to be our best night ever and it was.”


Kim Phaggs: Readers Wifes DJ

“I don’t think I’ve enjoyed one particular Shame more than any other, they have all been pretty special for different reasons. I loved the Gay Shame Goes Girly one, at the Brixton Academy in 2009. The whole venue was done out like a Department Store with Femme police on patrol, I remember standing on top of the big stage rig where we were DJing from and looking down at Saint Etienne backstage before they went on, Sarah was groovin’ to T. Rex, looked up and waved. It was such a simple moment but I know I’ll never forget it.”


• This year Duckie present Duckie goes to the Gateways, a spectacular vintage queer club in their unusual alternative tradition at Camden Town Hall on Friday 28th & Saturday 29th June. Info and tickets from duckie.co.uk.

 

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