Fridae

æ: ASOL (Age, Sex, Occupation, Location)
Joe: 32, male, DS Magazine - Publisher, Creative Director, Art Director, Hong Kong

æ: When you started DS Magazine in Dec 2002, it was the only gay English language magazine in Hong Kong. What inspired you to start it? And what were your objectives?

Joe: Back in 2001, I opened a gay bar with some friends. There were a lot of tourists who would ask where to go and how to get there, and we were constantly giving people directions. At the time, the only gay magazines in Hong Kong were soft porn, with no (useful) text. After half a year, I left the bar, and started DS - partly as a gay guide to Hong Kong, but also because I wanted to showcase my design work and discuss relevant issues.

æ: What were your challenges then and now?

Joe: Finances. I had to pay for everything out of my pocket. Also lack of writers - it's hard to get qualified writers who can meet a deadline, and are not lazy - especially in the beginning, when they were all volunteers! Now the biggest challenge is to provide compelling content every issue, and to educate our readers.

æ: How did the LGBT community respond to the magazine?

Joe: We have received many emails from readers all over the world to say thank you. Even better, we have offers from all over from people wanting to help - of course I can't say yes to everyone, but it's a great gesture! We certainly have quite a few people looking forward to the next issue.

æ: How does DS differentiate itself from G magazine? Do you think there's a large overlap in readership and do you think there's room for more gay magazines in HK?

Joe: I quite liked the early versions of G, and they were complementary to DS - sometimes covering issues that we might have missed. There is certainly room for two magazines in Hong Kong - but I would hope that any new magazine would try to ensure a quality product that does something for the community.

æ: Will there be a party to celebrate the magazine's fourth anniversary?

Joe: We will have a party at Volume on Jan 12, called Room Service. This will be the first of many DS monthly parties on the second Friday of every month.

æ: The South China Morning Post described you as being a gay icon in Hong Kong in its write up about DS Gallery. What do you make of that and has coming out publicly (in various media reports) changed anything for you?

Joe: What is a gay icon? I just publish a gay magazine. I guess Madonna is a gay icon - not me. Being out publicly has not really changed my life in any real way, people may know what I'm doing more, but that's made little difference.

æ: What is your vision for the Hong Kong gay community?

Joe: Hong Kong seems to have more gay saunas than any place in the world! I'm glad to see so many new gay venues opening this year. Vision? I hope there are more venues, more events, more people willing to go out and hopefully a less fickle gay community, and that the community will start to support each other more.

æ: What other projects are you involved with?

Joe: I am involved with the Lesbian and Gay Film Festival - this year was the largest ever! I want to re-launch the Kit Cat lesbian parties next year - we had a lot of fun doing that last year, and also explore another monthly party which may carry the DS brand. About a year ago, I started doing styling for DS, and have had a lot of styling projects since then - mostly in the international fashion scene. Also the aforementioned monthly parties at Volume. I would also like to work more closely with AIDS Concern and other HIV & AIDS charities in Hong Kong.

æ: Tell us about a cause that you support?

Joe: HIV & AIDS education and awareness gets most of my charity attention - for example our February issue (Survivor) was done with the intent of educating the public. There was a good response from the readers, and we learned that more people went for testing after that issue. I also am very interested in Transgender Issues - they are not part of this world, and that is a great loss for us. The Transgender issue was the most interesting for me to publish - I learned so much!

æ: What was the most important thing that happened to you in the last 12 months?

Joe: I've been into fashion since I was a child, but this last year I finally dived into it with my styling work and photography. Response has been great, and I've since had the opportunity to collaborate with a lot of fascinating people.

æ: Have you made any resolutions for 2007?
Joe: I want to quit smoking cigarettes, especially considering that smoking in public will be outlawed soon, and it's ridiculous that I started smoking only last year!

æ: What's your biggest guilty pleasure?

Joe: Watching America's Next Top Model (I know, it's stupid, but it keeps me home on Sunday night!)

æ: Tell us one of your fantasies?

Joe: To develop DS into a regional entity, that is of service and interest to the Asian LGBT community.

æ: Who would your dream date be if you were straight for a day?

Joe: Courtney Love - I love trashy women, and I want the gossip on Kurt.

æ: Tell us something even your mother doesn't know.

Joe: We have launched another publication, called Q Guide, and I forgot to tell her!

DS can be picked up at various venues in Hong Kong including bars, book stores, coffee shops, restaurants and art galleries, and is also available online in PDF format. Party with Joe and DS Magazine on Jan 12 at Volume (www.volume.com.hk), LG/F 83-85 Hollywood Rd (corner of Aberdeen, in NoHo), Central. Room Service will be the first of a monthly party held every second Friday of the month.