Attitude celebrates 25 years with a triple cover special featuring Colton Haynes, Ben Hunte and Hamed Sinno
A quarter of a decade after the first issue of Attitude hit newsstands, we're celebrating where the community has come from and where it's headed next.
By Steve Brown
25 years after the first Attitude hit newsstands, we’re celebrating a quarter-century of life with a jammed-packed 25th anniversary issue, featuring three special covers showcasing some of the world’s most important LGBTQ figures right now: Hollywood actor Colton Haynes, BBC News LGBT Correspondent Ben Hunte, and Mashrou’ Leila frontman Hamed Sinno.
As part of the year long celebration, we take a no-holds-barred look at how far the LGBTQ community has come over the past two and half decades and where we could be heading over the next 25 years.
As part of Atittude’s 25th anniversary issue – available to download and to order globally now – Arrow star Colton Haynes speaks for the first time about his battle with drug and alcohol and addiction, revealing how a dark year which saw him dealing with the death of his mother and a divorce from husband Jeff Leatham left him on the brink of self-destruction.
Colton Haynes, shot by Leigh Keily exclusively for Attitude’s 25th birthday issue
Meanwhile, in his first feature interview with a major publication, the BBC’s first ever LGBTQ correspondent Ben Hunte reveals his plans for the groundbreaking role, as he sheds light on his own experiences of being outed as a teenager and suffering racism as a black gay man.
Elsewhere, lead singer of Lebanese rock band Mashrou’ Leila, Hamed Sinno, reveals how he’s embracing sobriety and flying the flag for the LGBTQ community in the Middle East.
As Attitude releases another landmark issue, editor-in-chief Cliff Joannou says: “Most magazines use their anniversary issues to pat themselves on the back and look retrospectively at past success, and while there might be a time and place for that, we don’t think that’s right now.
Ben Hunte, shot by Francisco Gomez de Villaboa for Attitude’s 25th birthday issue
“So, our 25th anniversary issue sees Attitude looking instead to the future, doing what it has always done best, by showcasing the people in the public eye who are helping move the conversation around LGBTQ issues forward.
“Our three cover stars – Colton Haynes, Ben Hunte and Hamed Sinno – represent the diversity and the challenges of our community and encapsulate the moment.”
Attitude’s publisher and owner, Darren Styles OBE, adds: “Given the seismic shift in the media landscape in the past decade, let alone the past quarter of a century, to see Attitude make 25 years in such rude health is a tribute to all of those who have been part of a story that dates back to that first issue of May 1994.
Hamed Sinno, shot by Michelle Helena Janssen and Ade Udoma exclusively for Attitude’s 25th anniversary issue
“LGBTQ rights have come so far, heroes have come and gone, governments stood and fallen, and yet here we still are.
“What began as a print magazine is now, by necessity, available for digital download, a flourishing website, active with nearly 1.2 million followers on three major social platforms, the biggest award event of its kind in the world and, most recently, a charitable foundation distributing £200k to LGBTQ causes. My, how we’ve grown.”
Elsewhere in Attitude’s 25th anniversary issue, we speak to star of Netflix’s The OA, Ian Alexander, about how the young actor is bucking trends for trans performers, and meet Manchester drag queen Anna Phylactic.
Now Apcalypse star Avan Jogia aalso opens up about his role in director Greg Araki’s dark yet funny vision of sexuality and identity, and the legendary Roger the Alien from American Dad offers up some timeless life lessons.
Meanwhile, we break out our crystal ball as we predict where the future might be headed for LGBTQ rights, culture and travel, and introduce the new queer vanguard of performers and creators who are set to be the next big things.
That’s alongside all your usual news, reviews, fashion, travel and opinion, of course… *blows out our candles*.
Attitude’s 25th Anniversary issue is out now.
Buy now and take advantage of our best-ever subscription offers: three issues for £3 in print, 13 issues for £19.99 to download to any device.
