Spike: Who and what is the Queer Punk Collective in Vancouver? How does the zine Faggo fit in the equation?

Mason Newlove: QP Collective is made up of diverse, creative people who somehow identify with the word queer. Members participate within the realms of music, art and spoken word come together to help put on events and shows.

Spike: Gay Shame in San Francisco is a new generation of queer activists attempting to challenge the old order through direct political action. Their statement of purpose defines them as a radical alternative to the gay mainstream and the increasingly complacent left who seek nothing less than a new queer activism that addresses issues of race, class, gender, and sexuality, to counter the self-serving "values" of the gay mainstream. Do the Skinjobs identify with the Shame activists? Do you have a political agenda?

Mason Newlove: I'd say we reject the "gay mainstream", which seems to be as exclusive and consumeristic as the "straight mainstream" when it comes to values. Rather than listening to and supporting groups within the queer culture, celebrating the unique queer individuals that struggle and arise out of every step of a hierarchy of issues, "gay mainstream" is comfortable with not rocking the boat to include others, satisfied with mirroring straight mainstream ideals. Fuck that! Our political agenda is simple - being ourselves is political. Being proud of your original backgrounds and struggles, while honoring and celebrating the individuals within all queer cultures.

Spike: "Burn Your Rainbow" is a call-out to a new generation of queers. Your music challenges and celebrates life. "Put the fear back in queer. Tell all your friends that we are recruiting" and "Burn your rainbow" are deliciously controversial statements. Can you tell us more about your ideology?

Mason Newlove: Tongue n' cheek. "Recruiting" is a celebration as well as a satire of many parents' worst fear, that their child will be gay. Maybe we'll have a budget to have go-go dancers smashing the shit out of toasters on stage during this number in the future. "Burn you Rainbow" punk-punches you right in the gut. Some people are like, "how can you suggest defiling a sacred emblem of gay identity?" We don't like what the rainbow flag has become: not a symbol of identity, but a consumeristic marketing tool. When a symbol for the array of diversity of all gay people turns into a sticker slapped onto the door of a shop in hope of the proprietor making more money, somewhere the meaning of that rainbow is terribly misappropriated. We encourage people to look at that rainbow and ask; "who does this really represent? Am I part of this?" instead of, "how much does it cost?"

Spike: In regard to your sexual agenda, you've stated that punk has always been a social cast for misfits, freaks and queers. The DIY ethic and non-conformity is a strongly held ideal. What about the punk sexuality and how do the Skinjobs intend to focus on that sexuality? And on gender politics?

Lee Hendon: I do believe that we have an agenda, partly sexual, partly political, partly musical and partly punk but all-inclusive. As far as the sexual agenda goes, we support the "anything goes" ethic, challenging what the mainstream deems unhealthy. With a community that is so fucking diverse, creative and out there, it's hard for me to justify conforming to society's norm just to fit in. Same goes for gender fucking. At one point in my life you could have definitely called me a femme, lipstick and all. In hindsight, it didn't feel completely comfortable, although I do get more confused looks now as a gender queer, challenging the boy/girl societal norm than ever before. Maybe homophobia wouldn't exist without our binary gender system - being only boy or girl. If we all viewed each other as being fluid with our gender, we wouldn't be scared of being ourselves.

Spike: The Skinjobs emerge from a tradition of queer punk bands: Pansy Division, Best Revenge, Limp Wrist and Nick Name and the Normals, to name just a few. How do you plan to carry out this progression forward and what are your goals?

Mason Newlove: To encourage others in their own communities to decide to represent themselves and their queer experience. If there is no queer music scene where you live, start one. No one else can do what you want to do for you! Progress and change only happens with courage to be yourself, creativity and proud determination inspire queer punks elsewhere.

Spike: Thanks ever so much, Skinjobs.

The Skinjobs official website can be found at: www.agitproprecords.com/skinjobs/.

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"Burn Your Rainbow"
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