It makes perfect sense that my first guest in this new series of Out in collaboration with Attitude Magazine

is with its editor-in-chief, Cliff Yano. A brilliant writer, an activist, and under his leadership,

Attitude has gone. Well, it's grown into something so much more than a magazine. He helped

launch the Attitude 101 list for LGBT Traveblazers, the Attitude

Pride Awards and elevated the Attitude Awards to its status as the world's biggest queer

awards ceremony. He is also a brilliant public speaker. His speeches at the various

Attitude Awards always rally, give hope and encourage us to be part of a move for change for better.

Now, before doing this interview, I decided to get in touch with Darren, who is the publisher of Attitude magazine,

because we've chatted before about how brilliant you are and I wanted to get...

Is this you giving me my P-45?

This is, I'm taking over as the editor-in-chief note. I thought it would be lovely to get an idea of what it was like, you know, what you're like as an editor from someone inside the house. Because obviously I only see you at the awards do's, and I know you a bit socially. So this is what Darren Stiles, who is the publisher of Attitude had to say. When I bought Attitude a decade ago, the title had really struggled for a while. Too often cross rather than celebratory, judgmental, rather than supportive, and carrying the angst of battles long and hard fought, but increasingly won. The mojo had gone. Initially, I focused on fixing the roof, getting the numbers right, bringing in an editor-in-chief who made lots of noise I needed for a reboot, and reordering the team into an office that we could actually afford. But after that first year, with the editor-in-chief moving on, I needed a new figurehead. The deputy editor Cliff seemed like my best bet. I made a choice that would define attitude for a generation. I could not have found

someone less like an editor in my own image. Our politics are often different. When I think I'm

funny, he thinks I'm rude. As I charge into the China shop, he's already called of head to secure

a dustpan and brush. He offers compassion and kindness, measured thought and calm influence,

and brings the best out in those around him and those who give him something of themselves in an interview setting.

He lives and breathes and understands completely the many nuances of the community that we represent and would do nobody harm, except occasionally those who cross him, which really takes a lot of doing.

That doesn't mean he's weak, fronting attitude you can't be.

It demands a robust persona and a sense of purpose, and he has those in spades.

He's a craftsman, a gentleman, and he inspires, and only a little bit frustrates us every day.

Not only could I not have resurrected attitude without him, I wouldn't have wanted to. Welcome to the show, Cliff. Oh, that's nice. That's really dearie. Well, I... He says all sorts of horrible things about me in my face. I know, he said, I usually only write things like this when someone's died. It doesn't sound like a eulogy. It did a literature. As you were reading, I was like, am I dead?

I wear a lot of black.

Am I mourning?

...