September 2009 ISSUE 71 The Only Magazine Dedicated to Alberta’s GLBT+ Community FREE Scales and Claws Exotic Pets for the LGBT Community
Alberta’s top ten In depth interview with glbt figures Joyce DeWitt Sandra Bernhard
Community Directory • Map and Events • Tourism Info >> Starting on Page 17
GLBT Resource • Calgary • Edmonton • Alberta www.gaycalgary.com GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #71, September 2009 Table of Contents Table of Contents 5 Meeting Half Way Publisher:...... Steve Polyak Editor:...... Rob Diaz-Marino Publisher’s Column Graphic Design:...... Rob Diaz-Marino Sales:...... Steve Polyak 8 Keeping Company with Joyce DeWitt Writers and Contributors Mercedes Allen, Chris Azzopardi, Dallas Barnes, Antonio Bavaro , Camper British, 11 Scales and Claws Dave Brousseau, Sam Casselman, Jason Exotic Pets for the LGBT Community Clevett, Andrew Collins, James S.M.
Demers, Rob Diaz-Marino, Jack Fertig, 13 chelsea Boys A GE 8 Glen Hanson, Joan Hilty, Evan Kayne, P Boy David, Stephen Lock, Allan Neuwirth, Steve Polyak, Pam Rocker, 14 out of Town Romeo San Vicente, Diane Silver, D’Anne Berlin, Germany Witkowski, Dan Woog, and the GLBT Community of Calgary, Edmonton, and Alberta. 17 Directory and Events
Photography 23 creep of the Week Steve Polyak, Rob Diaz-Marino and Nassau County School Board contributors Karen Hofman, Jason Omelian. 24 gay Killings in Tel Aviv Videography Steve Polyak, Rob Diaz-Marino 26 Adult Film Review “Humongous Cocks #1” and “Double Barrell” Printers A GE 11 North Hill News/Central Web 27 Q Scopes P Distribution “Talk it out, Gemini!” Calgary:...... Gallant Distribution ...... GayCalgary Staff Edmonton:...... Clark’s Distribution 28 Deep Inside Hollywood Other:...... Canada Post Haynes and Winslet bring Mildred Pierce back to life Legal Council 29 cocktail Chatter Courtney Aarbo, Barristers and Solicitors A Sopping Wet Martini, Please and Ice, Ice, Crabby Baby Sales & General Inquiries GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine 30 Artists for Quality of Life 2136 17th Avenue SW “It’s a Communities Charity” Calgary, AB, Canada T2T 0G
Office Hours:...... By appointment ONLY 31 the Calgary Eagle’s Chili Cook-Off A GE 28 Phone:...... (403) 543-6960 A good meal in support of Beswick House P Toll Free:...... 1-888-543-6960 Fax:...... (403) 703-0685 E-Mail:...... [email protected] 32 letters to the Editor
This Month's Cover 32 So Your Child is Gay… Peter Z and Buffy the Snake (courtesy of Calgary Reptile Parties). Photograph by 33 look What’s Back Steve Polyak. 34 thank You Mr. Presley Continued on Next Page A Tribute to the King at Jubilations 38 the 2009 Scotiabank Walk for Life Pound the Pavement with AIDS Calgary and HIV Edmonton A GE 28 www.gaycalgary.com P Continued on Next Page GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #71, September 2009 Table of Contents
Continued From Previous Page Proud members of: 39 this is No Secret (But it Will Make You Wet!) 40 A History of Gender Variance in Expression and Identity Part 6A: Toward the Future (1996 - 2006) 43 fundraising Photos 45 Welcome Home: Building the Michigan
A GE 46 Womyn’s Music Festival P A “Visual Poem” of an often private space 46 Music Review Golden, POPular, Tonight Continued from Previous Page 47 the OutField ‘Stronghold’ stands up for wrestling Magazine Print Circulation:...... ~10,000 copies Pickup Density:...... ~3 readers/copy 50 children Suffer When the Religious Right Wins Online Circulation:...... ~125,000 readers A Personal Story Total Readership:...... ~155,000 readers Frequency:...... Every Month 51 Alberta’s Top Ten GLBT Figures Proof of monthly figures can be requested. A GE 47 Part One Distribution Locations P Alberta:...... ~300 Drop-off Points 53 the Leather Soul Please call us if your establishment would An Overview of Leather History like to become a distribution point. History 54 Bitter Girl Originally established in January 1992 as Men for Men BBS by MFM Communications. 55 A Couple of Guys Name changed to GayCalgary.com in 1998. Independent company as of January 2004. First edition of GayCalgary.com Magazine 56 classified Ads published November 2003. Name adjusted in November 2006 to GayCalgary and 62 Hey, world Edmonton Magazine. Big-mouthed comedian Sandra Bernhard has tackled a lot in her Disclaimer and Copyright 30-year career. Now it’s time for global domination. A GE 62 Opinions expressed in this magazine
P are specific to the author, and do not 64 Queer Eye - Community Events necessarily reflect those of GayCalgary staff October 2009 and contributors. Print Deadlines Those involved in the making of this publication, whether advertisers, Ad Booking contributors, or the subjects of articles Monday, September 28th, 2009 or photographs, are not necessarily gay, http://www.gaycalgary.com/i71 lesbian, bisexual, or trans. GayCalgary also includes straight allies and those who Ad Submission Read more articles and exclusive content online! are gay friendly. Thursday, October 1st, 2009 http://www.gaycalgary.com/RSS Articles • Recent News • Prize Draws • Events • Travel Info No part of this publication may be In Circulation reprinted or modified without the expressed written permission of the editor Monday, October 5th, 2009 Follow us on Join us on or publisher. Please contact us immediately if you think acebook Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. you may have missed the booking or GayCalgary is a registered trademark. submission deadline. www.gaycalgary.com/facebook www.gaycalgary.com/twitter
GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #71, September 2009 Editorial Meeting Half Way Publisher’s Column
ing us, at the same time we are shifting toward opening ourselves to them By Rob Diaz-Marino, MSc. – tearing down that metaphorical wall that we put up to protect ourselves years ago. They can move no faster and no further than what we are will- ing to give them, and we are only willing to give them as much as we are From my view on the gay side of the fence, it has often comfortable revealing about ourselves. So progress happens in little steps, seemed like the GLBT+ community has gone on doing and eventually we will meet half way. what they’ve always done, waiting for straight people to get After pushing so hard for straight culture to change, to teach straight caught up with us. But this month it became very clear to people about ourselves and our culture, and why it is not right to hate me that GLBT culture has been changing too, and indeed us, belittle us, or discriminate against us, I notice we often forget that we still have a few lessons to learn ourselves. we’re not the only ones with a lesson to teach. Our straight allies have a lot to offer, and a lot to teach us also. Marni Gras certainly showed the GLBT individuals have been seriously wronged throughout history by Edmonton Court a new trick or two when it came to fundraising. Not only the dominant heterosexual culture, where this behaviour toward people that, but she brought a greater awareness of the group in government and who were different in certain ways was accepted as justified, even expect- in mainstream media. So straight allies are powerful catalysts toward ed. In reaction to this, gay people who valued their safety, but still desired bringing knowledge and understanding across the barriers that still exist to be themselves, were compelled to live their lives secretively in under- between GLBT and straight cultures. ground isolation where a unique subculture developed. Metaphorically we put up a wall between us and the straight community in order to protect At the AIDS Calgary Annual General Meeting this month, we were ourselves. If a straight person were discovered amongst us during these treated to a speaker from the Sheldon M. Chumir foundation - an orga- times, we might have panicked that we had been discovered, dispersed as nization that advocates for human rights, and certainly an ally to our quickly as possible and known that it would not be safe to assemble again community’s causes. Among the many interesting things she had to say at this location for some time. about the delicate process of making these advances, she also spoke of one of the common pitfalls for minorities that often damage their own cause: Contrast that to today, where we see straight people joining us at overcompensation. gay bars and willingly participating in our culture. A few days prior to me writing this article, I was in Edmonton to witness the step down of Compensation is being granted the equality and respect that we de- Empress 33 Marni Gras of the Imperial Sovereign Court of the Wild Rose serve. Overcompensation is feeling entitled to give the straight community – a straight man, dressing in drag, and serving as a public figurehead for a taste of their own medicine, to make them experience firsthand the kind a gay organization. At the beginning of her reign she faced some harsh of hatred, ridicule, and discrimination that gay people have gone through. criticism from members of the gay community, all of whom, she was happy This is a problem that we have reported on in the past happening right to report, had come around since then. During her year as Empress, she here in Calgary, the idea of reverse discrimination and retaliation toward shattered all previous fundraising records for the Edmonton Court, raising the straight community, in revenge for past wrongs. $35,000 dollars for her charities: the NICU unit at the Royal Alexandra For instance, if a gay bar or other public venue were to charge cover Hospital, the University of Alberta AIDS Research Centre, and Camp only for straight people (assuming you can judge with 100% accuracy who fYrefly. is gay or straight just by looking at them – a unique and freakish ability Truthfully I believe heterosexual people would not have enacted these to say the least), or outright refuse straight people entry, this would be an terrible things on us without the presence of a culture that condoned it. example of discrimination in that it is designed to penalize, tax, or discour- Examples like Marni Gras show us beyond a doubt that straight culture age someone based on their sexual orientation. The truly homophobic is changing. The straight allies of today may just be the spray before the straight people that such a gay bar might be out to teach a lesson prob- flood. ably wouldn’t come out to a gay bar in the first place. Such a policy would mostly be hurting our straight allies...and they may take that message But don’t forget, we are changing too, and perhaps experiencing just back to their culture: “gay people feel it is okay to discriminate based on as many growing pains as straight culture. For older generations, it is sexual orientation, so how can they criticize straight people for doing the difficult to break the habit of concealing ourselves and our culture from same in the past.” the straight community. So when these straight allies come along with a genuine interest in us that we’ve never experiences before, it may raise It’s easy to see how such actions can put us back. As the kindergar- suspicion – are they really able to accept us, or is this just a Trojan horse ten saying goes, “two wrongs don’t make a right”. The law can help us to hurt us yet again? gain equality, it can decide how those who have wronged us can be fairly punished. But despite the injustices some of us and our predecessors So while straight culture is shifting toward learning and understand- have suffered, we cannot be elevated above the law to dole out our own punishment. If we had that kind of power, we would unfailingly go too far with it, and create new wrongs in others that would in turn catch up to us someday.
So let’s not become the very thing that we are fighting against. The temptation is there, but we must not let ourselves become Gay Suprema- cists, Heterophobes, or Straight Haters. Let’s not follow personal or business practices that work to segregate ourselves, and not implement policies that we would object to seeing mirrored in the straight world – i.e. “gay dollars only for gay businesses” as was brought up in other news this month. When straight individuals make a step in the right direction, even a small one, we should be commending them for it and not throwing it back in their face. In return, we should hope to receive similar reassur- ance the more we share.
Marni Gras, during the cheque presentation ceremony at the Edmonton Coronation, reminded us that “sick babies are not a problem faced only by straight people, nor is AIDS a problem faced only by gay people.” During her final step-down, she brought her son Alex onstage, the one of her two premature-born sons that survived. Though I’m gay and may never have a child of my own, I was unable to contain the deep sympathy I felt for her, as I’m sure was the case with every single member of the audience there
GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #71, September 2009 Editorial
that night: Drag Queens and Leather Men from all over Canada, Marni’s wife, and a number of straight couples (I inferred from seeing some kiss) – all brought together for something or someone they cared about, and all sharing that same powerful sentiment.
Yes, we in the GLBT community have come a long way, but straight people have too. So when you go out to celebrate Pride this month, I hope you invite all of the straight people who have been allies to you, because this celebration is as much theirs as it is yours.
Upcoming Events
Here’s a brief list of major upcoming events in Alberta this month:
• Calgary Pride Dance – Sep 5th • Calgary Pride Parade / Street Festival – Sep 6th • AFQOL: Cut-a-Thon (Calgary) – Sep 7th • Aids Calgary Walk for Life – Sep 20th • HIV Edmonton Walk for Life – Sep 20th • Great Chili Cook-off (Calgary) – Sep 20th • Calgary International Film Festival – Sep 25th to Oct 4th
For more information about these events and others, visit our online events calendar at www.gaycalgary.com/events, or peruse our business directory on page 17 of this magazine.
We would also like to congratulate PLAY Nightclub in Edmonton on their first anniversary this month – it’s almost surprising that the club is so young considering all that they’ve been doing for the community.
That’s it from me for this month, leaving Calgary with the hopes that you have a safe and happy Pride. http://www.gaycalgary.com/a1375 View additional pics/videos. • Share with a friend. • Post your comments.
We want to hear what YOU have to say about the topics in this article, and any other articles in GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine. Visit our chat forums at www.gaycalgary. com/forum and write your heart out! Or write us a letter to the publisher by post or by E- mailing [email protected], and we may publish or respond to it in the magazine!
GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #71, September 2009 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #71, September 2009 Celebrity Interview Keeping Company with Joyce DeWitt
By Jason Clevett
When I was in junior high school, my ritual every day after school was simple. Park myself in front of the television and watch reruns of Three’s Company on RDTV. Even to- “I have had women in their 30’s come to me and say I became a lawyer because of you. I knew women could be smart and have a way day, the shenanigans of the apartment originally housing in the world. I knew it was ok to be regular looking, in high school I Jack Tripper, Janet Wood and Chrissy Snow still exists in could still be cool and hot too. I am shocked but I am also grateful. I rerun form despite going off air in 1984. It is with a great loved playing her and I did fight hard to play her the way I wanted deal of excitement for the show’s many fans that Joyce to play her. I never imagined that all these years later people would DeWitt, who played Janet Wood, is in Married Alive kicking remember me because they remember her. But I am delighted, if I had to leave a calling card I would happily leave that character.” off the new season of Stage West. Janet was a strong female character, a polar opposite from ditzy DeWitt has chosen to avoid the spotlight since the TV show ended, blondes Chrissy (Suzanne Somers) and Cindy (Jenilee Harrison). yet still has a very loyal group of fans. “Janet was a good girl who was fighting to find her way and figure “People transfer their love and affection for those characters to us. out who she was supposed to be. The blue jersey nightshirt I wore It is a great gift in life to have people open their hearts and sound had an 88 on it. I asked to change it to zero because it is a sublimi- massive amounts of love to you. For the show’s legs to have lasted nal message that Janet is just like anybody else. There are days thirty years have kept me in the public eye. The affection people have when she feels like she is worthless and days where she thinks she for that show and me being a part of that keeps me there because it can actually do something. I would spray the hair up in the back is so joyful. Those feelings get transferred to me. She is someone that straight. We would have a temporary assistant hair person who people haven’t forgotten and thus they haven’t forgotten me,” DeWitt would stop me on the way to the set to fix it. It is an obvious flaw told GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine. and if you have small obvious flaws people will forgive your big ones. I just wanted to make Janet human and I think I lucked out and was able to do that. As an actor when you get the opportunity to create laughter in the world it is a great healing factor for all people. It is a great gift that actors get to do great comedy. To still have it doing that thirty years is a fantasy you can’t make up. You can’t even hope that your work might still create a giggle thirty years later.”
“I would spray the hair up in the back straight. We would have a temporary assistant hair person who would stop me on the way to the set to fix it. It is an obvious flaw and if you have small obvious flaws people will forgive your big ones.”
Now 60 (but looking in her forties) DeWitt carries Janet with her, and is often called by the characters name. While this would bother some actors, she takes it in stride. ”John (Ritter) and I always got called the characters names and figured it was because both names began with J. I have gotten so used to being called Janet that two women will be shopping in a store and one will be named Janet and I will turn and say what? and then duck down behind the racks and hide. I will have interviewers in the middle of the interview say Janet and keep on going with the interview. I recognize that they have that imprinted. I live such a pri- vate life out of the limelight that it isn’t like my name is being shoved in their face. So I have no problem with that whatsoever. For me it is always about the work. When I read a piece I ask what is the gift? What are you sending them home with? That is what is important to me, what you are taking home. If I think that is of value that is what it is about to me. The fact that I have gotten older, people seem to have made that transition very gracefully. They don’t seem to mind that the adult settled into the young girl.” After Three’s Company ended, she walked away from Hollywood, something she has no regrets about. ”Regrets are a dangerous thing. I am very fortunate that in my life I have only twice regretted something and that was 10 or 15 years later. If I had to do it over again I couldn’t change it. I was going to
GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #71, September 2009 Celebrity Interview take 6 months off just to chill out. I saw Hollywood and the way it behaved and it was not a moral code that was natural to me. If this was the way the game was played I wasn’t sure I wanted to play it. I took some time off and started meeting and studying with differ- ent spiritual teachers around the world. I thought it would be six months not 12 years. It evolved into this spiritual philosophy that I was seeking. In western civilization you are raised that if you are a good person, good things will happen to you, if you treat people fairly and tell them the truth they will do so in return. When you find out that you can be betrayed in those ways you can be shattered and fall to your knees. I am not a person who is willing to become jaded or bitter. So I needed to find a philosophy that encompassed everything – the good and bad things that happen in life, to walk with both of those things and keep walking. To be ok and find peace with that.” Don’t be surprised to see DeWitt start appearing more regularly. ”I have chosen to do theatre and film and not television. I am thinking about next year maybe making an assault on Hollywood again. I would be really happy if there was a place for me. I don’t know if there will be. It was very difficult to decide to have a poten- tially very public life again. Being innately a hermit, that is a choice but I would really like to participate. I think it is important for people in my generation to participate, there is a balance when you have an old fogie on there again.” As a private person she admits some nervousness about being back in the spotlight in an internet tabloid era. “It is scary. I am aware of that concern. When I first felt that I should go back it was more of an intellectual awareness so differ- ent parts of my personality I would negotiate with. Only take work where I can work two days and fly home to New Mexico for five. If it is something worth bringing to people let’s do it. I am really attached to being at home.” DeWitt is charming, sweet and a pleasure to speak to. The way her face lights up when she talks about the cast of Three’s Company makes you realize that despite the trials and tribulations, she loved it as much as we loved watching it. ”Norman Fell was the worst he would tell me things and I would say you’re kidding Normie! and he would say yes! I can’t tell you how many thousands of times he got me. John Ritter would do anything for a laugh. He had patience with it. We rehearsed in a hall and he would go over the coffee table if he wasn’t in the scene we were rehearsing and shove a napkin up his nose. He would just stand there until somebody saw him. Honey I worked with amazing men and women. The girls weren’t witty we were wonderful. The guys were actually funny. Richard Kline who played sleazebag Larry, what a good guy. John was the best of the best; precious to the depth of his being. The part of himself that he used to play Jack Tripper was the part that wanted to make sure everybody had a good time and was taken care of. With Don (Knotts) and John and Richard, or with Norman, … you would go home with your face sore from laughing. I think it is possible to have death by laughter.”
Look for an review of Married Alive online soon at www.gaycalgary.com http://www.gaycalgary.com/a1376 View additional pics/videos. • Share with a friend. • Post your comments.
Married Alive August 27th – November 1st Stage West (403) 243-6642 www.stagewestcalgary.com 10 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #71, September 2009 Lifestyle Scales and Claws Exotic Pets for the LGBT Community
By Benjamin Hawkcliffe
The LGBT community loves their pets. Many include dogs and cats as an important part of their family (often referred to as “fur kids”) but some people prefer their pets sans fur. Reptiles, amphibians and insects are becoming more and more popular amongst people both gay and straight. These unique pets can be low maintenance, entertaining, and a great addition to your home. “Reptiles have really become popular in recent years as people lose their fear of them and realize how cool they really are,” said Jason Clev- ett, president-elect of The Alberta Reptile & Amphibian Society (TARAS) myself and expand my mind to learn more.” and owner of Calgary Reptile Parties, which does educational pro- grams for kids. “People do need to realize that they are a responsibility Pahl’s face lights up when asked to describe some of his favorites of though, and do require specialized care such as lighting, supplements, the 200 to 300 animals that are in his collection at any one time. and heat to name a few. Education is a major part of TARAS’ mandate, as well as why I started Reptile Parties. Hopefully people will realize “I mostly have communal species. I have a Tanzanian flag tail cen- that the cute little snake or lizard they see in a store could grow to be 7 tipede with two little flags on its back legs. They make a rattling noise feet or longer, depending on the species, and live up to forty years.” when they are startled or scared; it is a really neat sound - some people can’t pick up on the frequency and hear it. I used to have a red knee Rich Wylder got into reptiles through friends. Two years ago he went tarantula that was over 35 years old. She died of old age a few months to a reptile show in Red Deer and came home with a bearded dragon. ago. I have a couple of scorpions that are about half a centimeter to a A year later at the same show he left with a crested gecko. These two centimeter when fully grown. Though there are some extremely venom- lizards are very common and popular in the pet trade, and appealed to ous scorpions like death stalkers and fat tails, the species I keep are Wylder for a number of reasons. more prone to playing dead because their venom is not potent in any way whatsoever - if they are startled they will act like they are dead. I “As soon as I saw the dragon I couldn’t resist her. She was so cute. I have a couple of different communal tarantula species. One is a Trini- hadn’t really had an interest in them before I saw her. My nephew had dad Olive Dwarf Tarantula, and I have a tank with three generations a snake and a veiled chameleon and I thought they were pretty cool but and probably about 100 tarantulas in there right now.” didn’t think I would ever have one of my own. A year later I got a harle- quin crested gecko. They are nice and soft and pretty neat. Really, just “The hobby has a long way to go in really getting [the average going to the shows every year, the different animals and experiences…it person] accustomed to reptiles,” said Clevett. “I’ve done public festivals is a bonus having an animal that is less care. I purposefully got ones and had people literally scream when they saw the snake on display. that require less care so that it would be easier. It is nice to take care I was taking a photo for someone and a person behind me said ‘I just of them and make sure they have a good home but it is nice to have want to kill that thing. It is disgusting.’ You try and let it roll off your freedom with my social life and work.” back, but it’s hard because it is a member of your family that they express disgust over. You just have to bite your tongue and accept they Erica Allerdings has an affinity for snakes, owning a corn snake and are not for everyone.” a boa constrictor. For Wylder, Allerdings and Pahl it has been a similar experience. “I have always been really fascinated with reptiles and bugs. It has Allerdings’ girlfriend is at a point where she accepts the snakes in the intrigued me how they moved, lived, their whole being basically,” she house but wants nothing to do with them. said. She adopted the snakes from her girlfriend’s sister two years ago. The couple also owns a bearded dragon. “They are a lot more indepen- “Some freak out about it and are uncomfortable, I can’t bring them dent and I like that about them. They are not as clingy and needy as a out. My girlfriend is actually terrified of snakes. If I bring one out when dog or a cat would be. I just dig them.” she is around she starts to jump around and freak out until I put it back. So the reaction isn’t really positive. I constantly remind her that Mack Pahl’s interests lie primarily in animals with more legs - 6 to it’s ok, he is not going to hurt her. I am not going to do anything to him 100 to be exact. While he has a snake and a gecko, his collection is to make him hurt her.” primarily made up of tarantulas, scorpions and centipedes. Pahl has unfortunately had some difficult experiences due to his pets. While on the dating scene, the reaction from potential boyfriends “I have always been really fascinated with reptiles has varied. and bugs. It has intrigued me how they moved, lived, “Sometimes I won’t even tell someone I have the bugs at first their whole being basically,” because I have had people completely blow me off and call me a freak. I have had some rumors made up about me because of the animals I keep as pets. It is quite shallow and fickle that these people, before they even get to know me or understand my hobby automatically judge “My earliest memories are of me collecting centipedes, spiders, frogs me and take what society has taught them. Instead of having an open and snakes. I was never allowed to keep them for more than an hour. I mind they go ‘this guy is a freak.’ It has been a great conversation was fascinated by this little world that everybody else had just passed starter in other instances. Some people have been very intrigued by it, over and treated like it was gross and disgusting. It felt like my own and want to see my entire collection or feedings. I have gotten mixed space, that people misunderstood and I was able to understand in a reactions, mostly negative, but a few people have really impressed me way that nobody else wanted to partake in. It was a way to express
GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #71, September 2009 11 Lifestyle
with how open minded and posi- tive they have been.”
With the more “acceptable” lizards, Wylder says it hasn’t been an issue.
“So far I have found most of them are pretty cool with it. There are a few that are pretty skittish, they don’t understand them or the basics of what they need to be taken care of. So there has been some adverse reaction but nothing severe. Usually people are quite interested and just want to know what they are about, ask some questions and learn more about them.”
So why get a reptile or insect as a pet? The reasons given by all four that we interviewed seemed to follow a common theme – they’re unique, easy to care for, and fit their lives.
“It’s an addiction. I have over 50 animals, and that is in part be- cause I need variety for my business, but in truth I love each and every one of them,” said Clevett. “I worked in a dog kennel once and trying to care for 50 - 100 dogs is brutal. But you can spend an average of an hour or so per day doing maintenance and feeding with a number of animals and continue on with other things in your life. They each have their own unique personality. I like that about them.”
“They are great pets but you can become very attached to them. The fact that you can go away and they will be ok as long as someone can come by and water them. It is convenient to have them and fits in my lifestyle,” added Allerdings.
“I am at school or work all the time which makes bugs a good fit. They are very economical. A small dog is going to cost you $30 - $40 in dog food every month. A Tarantula will probably cost you the same over a year. When you are feeding them five bugs a week, misting the tank for ten seconds every night, there is really not much more you need to do,” said Pahl. “Most tarantulas live in burrows to begin with. A small tank, food dish, water dish, clean it every few months and feed them once a week and they are good. You don’t have to walk them or social- ize with them. You don’t need to pay attention to them they are very low maintenance.”
Wylder echoed everyone else’s thoughts, but also felt the learning process was a great motivator.
“It is a good learning experience, to know more about not only the animal and its care but to show other people and help them learn too. As well they are cute, sweet, adorable and fun to play with, just like me.” http://www.gaycalgary.com/a1377 View additional pics/videos. • Share with a friend. • Post your comments.
TARAS will hold its annual Fall Show and Sale Sep- tember 12th and 13th at the Ogden Legion www.albertareptilesociety.org The Edmonton Reptile & Amphibian Society will hold its annual Fall Show and Sale October 3rd & 4th at the Sands Hotel www.edmontonreptiles.com Calgary Reptile Parties www.CalgaryReptileParties.com
12 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #71, September 2009 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #71, September 2009 13 Out of Town Berlin, Germany
Berlin’s Holocaust Memorial, in the Mitte neighborhood, is one of the city’s most popu- lar - and poignant - attractions.
War-era division). One highly enjoyable way to acquaint yourself is By Andrew Collins to choose a different neighborhood each day, and explore it. Here’s a look at a few of the city’s most alluring districts, and the exact It wouldn’t be a stretch to declare that Berlin has evolved streets and squares where you’re likely to find the great concentra- into first major gay city of the 21st century - it rivals London, tions of noteworthy shops, galleries, restaurants, nightspots, and Paris, and New York in sheer enormity, cultural importance, attractions. and it factor, and more than any of other prominent world Mitte This is Berlin’s city center, home to many smaller sections, capital. Its gay scene is defined less by clusters of discos and a considerable number of international hotels and restaurants, and drag bars and more by the remarkable degree to which GLBT dozens of prominent attractions. Plan to focus a good bit of your residents and visitors permeate the fabric of numerous neigh- time here, exploring Museum Island (home to the Old Museum, borhoods. New Museum, Old National Gallery, and Pergamon Museum), as well as Brandenburg Gate and the nearby Holocaust Memorial, To be fair, plenty of other big cities - including those mentioned a moving and incredibly striking site. Across the street, on the above - have seen a trend away from gay ghetto-ization, and edge of Tiergarten park, you can also view the small but poignant Berlin has a Gay Village (around Nollendorfplatz, in Schoneberg) Holocaust Memorial that specifically honors the plight of gays and that bears a striking resemblance to Sydney’s Oxford Street, West lesbians. Many other prominent museums are located here. Hollywood’s Santa Monica Boulevard, and countless others. But outside of this still highly charming district of campy bars and Tiergarten Just west of Mitte, you’ll find Tiergarten, which is cafes festooned with rainbow flags, your “gaydar” is likely to detect the name of both a neighborhood and the huge park for which it critical mass all over the city, in areas that fall both west of the is named. First, let’s point out the exciting part: the area of grassy former Berlin Wall, and east of it. lawns and light woodland just southwest of Siegessaule (Vic- tory Column), just off of Hofjageralle, is a notorious haunt of gay Particularly among the younger generation of queer Berliners, sunbathers. And in Berlin, you’re perfectly welcome to laze about there’s a sense that every intersection blessed with a few sidewalk cafes and diverting boutiques qualifies as miniature anchor of gay society. And yet in the most buzz-worthy of these areas - such as Oranienstrasse in Kreuzberg, Schonhauser Allee in Prenzlauer Berg, and Boxhagener Platz in Friedrichshain - people care not a lick about one’s sexual orientation. Berlin is an expansive city with excellent, though sometimes a bit complicated, public transportation (a legacy from the city’s Cold
14 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #71, September 2009 Travel in public parks completely nude. Tiergarten also abounds with cocktails. noteworthy attractions, such as Germany’s key institutions of government, which include the Bundestag, occupying the infamous Hotel Art Nouveau. Mod rooms with either international or color- Reichstag building. The park is beautiful to walk through and is driven themes are the draw of this antiques-filled boutique hotel also home to a mix of classic and postmodern monumental build- about a 10-minute walk from the Schoneberg gay scene. A great ings, from Berliner Philharmonie concert hall to Neue Nationalgal- choice if you’re seeking upscale digs at fair prices. erie (modern art museum). Frauenhotel Artemisia. Catering exclusively to women, this lesbi- Schoneberg Southwest of Tiergarten and adjoining the swanky an-friendly property is well-maintained with simple but airy rooms. Charlottenburg neighborhood, Schoneberg is itself a rather upscale Breakfast is included, and there’s even an art gallery on premises. district with wide, tree-lined streets and handsome homes and A very safe, economical option. apartments. Shoppers flock to KaDeWe, a massive department Mini Loft Mitte. The slick design of this modern apartment-loft store comparable to Herrods and Bon Marche. Within Schoneberg, hotel contains 14 chicly furnished units with high ceilings and chiefly along the streets just west of Nollendorfplatz (the former full kitchens. Given the reasonable rates and central locale near home of W.H. Auden and Christopher Isherwood), you’ll find Ber- Tiergarten, it’s no wonder this place lin’s lively and cruise-y Gay Village. You’ll find the majority of the books up fast. gay bars and sex shops along Motzstrasse, but be sure to venture along Fuggerstrasse and Eisenacher Strasse, too. If you can’t get Pension Elefant. With seven high- into trouble (in the fun sense of the word) in this part of Berlin, you ceilinged, charming rooms, this afford- may as well pack it in and go home. able, gay-owned B&B occupies a grand 19th-century building in the heart of Prenzlauer Berg Creative spirits and a slightly at-odds mix of the Nollendorfplatz Gay Village. self-conscious hipsters and anti-establishment artists favor this enormous swath of handsome 19th-century apartment blocks Westin Grand. A sophisticated, northeast of Mitte, in the former East Berlin. Although teeming elegant hotel with a wonderfully central with gay hangouts, Prenzlauer Berg is the least gay-ghetto-ized location along fabled Unter den Linden of any Berlin neighborhoods - along such fashionable streets as near Brandenburg Gate, this posh Schonhouser Allee, Kastanienallee, and Greifenhagener Strasse, property has a beautiful gym and pool, you’ll find cosmopolitan cafes, notable art galleries, fashion-for- excellent restaurants, and tastefully ward boutiques, and elegant boutique hotels. There are few genu- contemporary rooms. ine attractions in this neighborhood, but much to see for fans of dining, shopping, and neighborhood exploring. http://www.gaycalgary.com/a1379 View additional pics/videos. • Share with a friend. • Post your comments. Kreuzberg Just south of Mitte, Kreuzberg was a lower-income immigrant district of West Berlin during the pre-reunification Andrew Collins covers gay travel for the New York Times-owned website About. days, but it’s steadily developed cachet in recent years as a haunt com and is the author of Fodor’s Gay Guide to the USA. of radical activists (queer and otherwise). This is especially the case near the Kottbusser Tor metro station, where you’ll find arty bars, authentic Turkish restaurants, and bohemian bookstores and cafes along Oranienstrasse. The more gentrified SW61 section, around Mehringdamm metro station, is home to the Schwules (Gay and Lesbian) Museum as well as several gay-popular eateries and bars, and an exceptionally good food market, called Marheineck- The Little Black Book platz (considered by some to be the finest in the city).
Friedrichshain Like Kreuzberg, which it was administratively Ackselhaus & Bluehome (www.ackselhaus.de). Arcotel Velvet joined with in 2001, Friedrichshain is a somewhat hardscrabble (cc.arcotel.at). Axel Hotel Berlin (www.axelhotels.com/berlin). Berlin neighborhood that’s lately become fashionable, at least in certain Tourist Office Gay Travel Site (http://www.visitberlin.de/english/ sections. It’s the area around Boxhagener Platz that has the great- zielgruppen/e_zg_gay.php). Frauenhotel Artemisia (www.frauenhotel- est concentration of indie shopping and dining. It’s also worth berlin.de). Germany Office of Tourism Gay Travel Site (http://www. walking along Karl-Marx-Allee, which leads into the district from cometogermany.com/ENU/infocenter/gay_berlin_and_the_east.htm). Mitte, and is lined with imposing Stalinist architecture. One of Hotel Art Nouveau (www.hotelartnouveau.de). Mini Loft Mitte (www. these buildings contains Klub International, a retro-fabulous cin- miniloft.com). Pension Elefant (www.pension-elefant-berlin.de). Wes- ema that morphs into a gay disco the first Saturday of each month. tin Grand (www.westin.de/berlin). Where to Stay in Berlin Here’s a sampling of GLBT-popular hotels in Berlin, from afford- able B&Bs to luxury palaces: Ackselhaus & Bluehome. Comprising two stunning Victorian boutique hotels and the trendy Club del Mar restaurant, this fab hostelry is steps from the bohemian cafes and funky bars of Prenzlauer Berg. Rooms mix vintage, even rustic sensibilities with modern luxury - like staying with friends with impeccable taste. Axel Hotel Berlin. New and earning plenty of buzz, the “hetero- friendly” Axel (there are others in Barcelona and Buenos Aires) sits smack in the middle of the Schoneberg gay scene. Rooms are compact but smartly done with fabulous showers, and amenities include a hip restaurant, sexy lounge, and full-service spa. Arcotel Velvet. The dramatic design of this smart, contemporary, gay-friendly hotel along a trendy street in the Mitte delights style- conscious travelers. Each of the 85 rooms and suites has a wall of windows, and the on-site Velvet Lounge is a snazzy spot to enjoy
GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #71, September 2009 15 16 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #71, September 2009 Directory and Events
• Fetish Night Closed Mondays. Open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day Legend Fri Sept 5th Bar and restaurant. • Dance Party Our Magazine Available Here------✰ • Pride Celebration • TNT Pride Explosion Sept 5th, 6th, 12am-8am Wheelchair Accessible Venue------ Sat Sept 6th Sat Sept 5th, 9:30pm $7 entry fee, 8 hour stay (no locker/room required). • Rubber Night Nina Tron, Justine Tyme, guest Bianca LaBouche $3 day memberships available these days only. (Proceeds from day pass go to charity) CALGARY Sat Sept 12th • Pride Kick-Off Party • Great Chili Cook-off Aug 30th, 8pm Community Groups Sun Sept 20th, 6pm Kate Reid plays LIVE! Accommodations ✰ [email protected] • Post Parade Party 2 Aids Calgary------13 Westways Guest House------✰ 110, 1603 10th Avenue SW http://www.calgaryeagle.com/form.html Sept 6th 216 - 25th Avenue SW (403) 229-1758 (403) 508-2500 Entry forms available at the bar. ✰ 1-866-846-7038 [email protected] 5 Texas Lounge------ [email protected] www.gaywestways.com • Leather/Gear Night 308 - 17 Ave SW (403) 229-0911 http://www.aidscalgary.org Sat Sept 26th http://www.goliaths.ca Open 7 days a week, 11am-close • Walk for Life Bars and Clubs Club Paradiso Eau Claire Plaza • Vamp Thursday 3 Backlot------✰ 1413 - 9th Ave SE, upstairs Sun, Sept 20, 10am-2pm (403) 265-5739 Sept 17th, 10pm 209 - 10th Ave SW (403) 265-5211 Registration/Check In: 10am, Opening Ceremonies: www.villagecantina.ca A live cabaret show with Joseph Gabereau. Open 7 days a week, 4pm-close 11:30am-12pm, Walk: 12pm-1pm, Lunch/ Carly’s Angels Sat., Classic movie Thurs, and no 33 Twisted Element Entertainment: 1pm-2pm. 4 Calgary Eagle Inc.------✰ cover Live Sinatra tribute Fri. 1006 - 11th Ave SW (403) 802-0230 424a - 8th Ave SE (403) 263-5847 • GLBT-A Conference 55 Marquee Room------✰ http://www.twistedelement.ca http://www.calgaryeagle.com Fort Calgary (806 - 9th Ave SE) 612 - 8th Avenue SW Dance Club and Lounge. Open Wed-Sun, 5pm-close Oct 23rd, 8:30am-5pm http://www.marqueeroom.com Leather/Denim/Fetish bar. 5pm-7pm Reception Alternative night every Wednesday. Bathhouses/Saunas • Military Party • Volunteer Activity Nights 9 MPs (Money Pennies)------✰ 6 Goliath’s------✰ Thurs Sept 4th AIDS Calgary Training Room 1742 - 10th Ave SW (403) 263-7411 308 - 17 Ave SW (403) 229-0911 403-508-2500, ext.116 http://www.money-pennies.com http://www.goliaths.ca [email protected]
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1 Calgary Outlink------Community Groups 9 MPs (Money Pennies)------Bars and Clubs 35 One Yellow Rabbit------Theatre 52 Sandra G. Sebree------Services 2 Aids Calgary------Community Groups 13 Westways Guest House----Accommodations 36 ATP, Alberta Theatre Projects------Theatre 55 Marquee Room------Bars and Clubs 3 Backlot------Bars and Clubs 16 Priape Calgary------Retail Stores 37 Pumphouse Theatre------Theatre 56 Sacred Balance Piercing------Retail Stores 4 Calgary Eagle Inc.------Bars and Clubs 24 Courtney Aarbo------Services 41 La Fleur------Retail Stores 58 Theatre Junction------Theatre 5 Texas Lounge------Bars and Clubs 33 Twisted Element------Bars and Clubs 43 Lisa Heinricks------Theatre and Fine Arts 6 Goliath’s------Bathhouses 34 Vertigo Mystery Theatre------Theatre 48 Barbies Shop------Retail Stores GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #71, September 2009 17 Directory and Events
Wednesday, August 19, 5-7pm • Outdoor Pursuits Calgary Gay Fathers discrete and welcoming atmosphere, in which Thursday, September 17, 5-7pm See website for details. [email protected] transgendered people can meet others of like mind. Wednesday, October 21, 5-7pm • Running (Calgary Frontrunners) http://www.geocities.com/calgaryfathers Illusions offers discretion, acceptance, compassion Wednesday, November 4, 5-7pm Coffee Junkies, 7th Street and 1st Ave SW Peer support group for gay, bisexual and and a safe place to express your gender. Cross- Bring a friend, have a laugh, make a difference! Tim (403) 660-6125 questioning fathers. Meeting twice a month. dressing is the purpose of the group, but is not Registration required 2 weeks prior. mandatory. [email protected] Calgary Men’s Chorus • Women’s Healing Circle Saturdays at 9am http://www.calgarymenschorus.org • Inside Out AIDS Calgary Training Room Distance varies. 8km-15km. Runners from 6 Every Monday, 7pm-9pm • Rehearsals 403-508-2500, ext.200 minute/mile to 9+ minute miles. During the Peer-facilitated youth group for GLBTQ ages 15-25. Old Y Centre, 223 - 12 Avenue SW Wednesdays, 1:30pm summer we attempt to have evening runs during The group aims to let youth know they are not Tuesday nights, Sept-Jun, 7pm-9:30pm Topics Covered: Safer Sex & HIV/AIDS, Living with the week. alone, and to connect them with their peers. It is Calgary Sexual Health Centre------✰ HIV/AIDS, Challenging Stereotypes. • Slow Pitch a funky and safe environment with a variety of 304, 301 14th Street NW Alberta Society for Kink See website for details. resources and activities. (403) 283-5580 (403) 398-9968 • New Directions • Tennis http://www.calgarysexualhealth.ca [email protected] Every 3rd Friday of the month, 7pm-9pm See website for details. Calgary Sexual Health Centre is a pro-choice ca.groups.yahoo.com/ Drop in peer-support group to provide support and organization that believes all people have the right group.albertasocietyforkink • Volleyball (Intermediate/Competitive) resources for individuals who identify as transsexual and ability to make their own choices regarding Meet and Greets: Mondays, 7pm-9:30pm YWCA, 320 - 5th Avenue SE or inter-sexed. If you are transsexual, or know their sexual and reproductive health. Calgary www.apollocalgary.com/apollo/volleyball of someone who is, please contact our office for • Kinky Flea Market Sexual Health Centre started as a volunteer based, (Season has ended) information and assistance. You are not alone! Forest Heights Community Centre grassroots organization and has been providing This is for seasoned players. You can sign up for the There is support! 4909 Forego Ave SE season or drop-in. comprehensive sexuality education and counselling Sat, Oct 17th, 11am-5pm programs to the Calgary community since 1972. • SHEQ Soulful Healing Ego Quest • Volleyball (Recreational) Trudy or Krista, (403) 585-7437 Apollo Calgary Friends in Sports 1 Calgary Outlink------✰ Langevin School, 107 - 6A Street NE Runs for a ten week period on Thursdays, 7pm http://www.apollocalgary.com #4, 1230A 17th Avenue SW www.apollocalgary.com/apollo/volleyball A workshop for women that want to be themselves Apollo Friends In Sports is a volunteer-operated, (403) 234-8973 (Season has ended) in a supportive, safe environment. It is a chance non-profit organization serving primarily members http://www.calgaryoutlink.com All are welcome. This is for all skill levels, including to grow and share their experiences related to of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgendered Formerly know as the Gay And Lesbian Community recreational players and beginners. You can sign up women’s sexuality. To participate, please call the communities but open to members of all for the season or drop-in. Services Association (GLCSA). communities. We currently have more than 400 exclusive SHEQ line or leave your name and a • Peer Support and Crisis Line members and are growing fast! The primary focus • Yoga contact time/number with Calgary Outlink. Front-line help service for GLBT individuals and of Apollo is to provide our membership with well Season has ended. • Womynspace their family and friends, or anyone questioning organized and fun sporting events and other Every first and third Friday, 7pm-9pm Alberta Rockies Gay Rodeo Association their sexuality. activities to allow them to participate and interact in (403) 541-8140 www.argra.org Peer social/support group for women providing an a positive social framework. • Library evening of fun, bonding, discussion and activities. • Annual General Meeting A great selection of resource books, fiction, non- • Badminton (Absolutely Smashing) Calgary Queer Book Club Old Y (223 - 12 Ave SW) fiction, videos and everything in between, all with a St. Martha School (6020 4th Avenue NE) Weeds Cafe (1903 20 Ave NW) Main Floor Common Room queer perspective. Wednesdays, 7pm-9pm Wed Sept 9th, 7pm Look us up on Facebook. • Drop-In Center (Season has ended) Deer Park United Church/Wholeness Centre • Monthly Dances------A safe and supportive environment for one-to-one Fees Per session: $4 for Apollo member, $5 for non- 77 Deerpoint Road SE (403) 278-8263 Hillhurst-Sunnyside Community Association peer counseling for many issues surrounding family, members. Season’s pass $75. http://www.dpuc.ca 1320 5th Avenue NW coming out, homosexuality, loneliness and other • Bowling (Rainbow Riders League) Worship Time - 10am Sundays Sept 26th, Oct 18th, Nov 15th, Dec 6th issues. Let’s 10 Pin Bowlerama, 2916 - 5 Ave NE Doors open 8pm. Different Strokes • Between Men and Between Men Online (Season has ended) $6 ARGRA Members, $10 non-members. http://www.differentstrokescalgary.org Tuesdays 7pm-9pm • Curling Artists for the Quality of Life Peer support, sexual health education for gay • Swim Practice North Hill Curling Club (1201 - 2 Street NW) (403) 890-1261 www.afqol.com or bisexual men, as well as those who may be SAIT Pool, 1301 - 16th Ave NW Saturdays: 2:20pm and 4:30pm • Days of Disco Party uncertain or questioning their sexuality. Discussions Thursdays 7-8pm (Season has ended) The Backlot (209 - 10th Ave SW) range from personal relationship or life issues, to July 2009 to Aug 2009 (one/week only) • Golf Fri Sept 4th sexual health and well-being. Don’t Buy In Project [email protected] • Cut-a-Thon • Calgary Networking Club http://www.dontbuyin.ca See website for details. Tomkins Park (17th Ave, 8th Str SW) Ming, 520 - 17th Ave SW This Calgary Police Service Initiative aims to • Lawn Bowling Monday, September 7th, 10am-5pm First Tuesday of every month, 5pm-7pm encourage youth to working towards an inclusive Inglewood Lawn Bowling Club environment in which diversity is embraced in their Cabin Fever The networking meetings are open to all individuals 1235 - 8th Avenue SE schools and community. Calgary Eagle, 424a 8th Ave SW who would like to promote their businesses or Tuesdays, 6-9pm 3RD THURSDAY every month who would like to meet new people - no business FairyTales Presentation Society [email protected] Women’s dance and social night. affiliation is necessary. #4 - 1230A 17th Avenue SW See website for details. • Heading Out (403) 244-1956 2nd and 4th Friday of every month, 7pm-9pm http://www.fairytalesfilmfest.com Peer group for men who are looking for an Alberta Gay & Lesbian Film Festival. Looking for Something? alternative social activity to the bar. Activities vary • DVD Resource Library and are fun and entertaining. Browse over 450 listings in our Online GLBT Business Directory, and our Over a hundred titles to choose from. Annual membership is $10. complete Online GLBT Community Events Calendar. • Illusions Calgary Social group for Calgary and area transgender Femme Fatale Carnivale www.gaycalgary.com community members (cross dressers, transvestites, Fluid (1213 - 1st St. SW) drag kings and queens). Illusions provides a safe, Fri Aug 14th, 8:45pm
18 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #71, September 2009 Directory and Events
Gay Singles in Calgary the mature minded and “Plus 40” gay, lesbian, • Vertigo Theatre Night Sharp Foundation http://www.gaysinglesincalgary.org bisexual, and transgendered individuals seeking to Vertigo Theatre (403) 272-2912 meet with others at age-appropriate activities within Sept 20th, 6pm Girl Friends [email protected] apositive, safe, non-threatening and nurturing members.shaw.ca/girlfriends • Lawn Bowling Jitney http://www.thesharpfoundation.com environment. Sept 19th, 2pm Girlsgroove • Bowling for Beswick Parents for Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) http://www.girlsgroove.ca Queers on Campus------✰ Inglewood Lawn Bowling Club Sean: (403) 695-5791 279R Student Union Club Spaces, U of C 1235 - 8th Ave SE • Wine & Cheese Event http://www.pflagcanada.ca (403) 220-6394 Sat Aug 8th, 12pm Blowfish Sushi Lounge (625 11 Avenue SW) PFLAG Canada is a registered charitable http://www.ucalgary.ca/~glass Registration: 12pm, Game: 1pm. $15 per person. Sept 11th, 6pm-9pm organization that provides support, education and Formerly GLASS - Gay/Lesbian Association of Unity Bowling OPEN event to both women and men. resources to parents, families and individuals who Students and Staff. Let’s Bowl (2916 - 5th Ave NE) HIV Peer Support Group have questions or concerns about sexual orientation • Coffee Night [email protected] (403) 230-5832 or gender identity. 2nd Cup, Kensington. New season begins Sept 13th. [email protected] Positive Space Committee Every Tuesday, 7pm. Urban Sex Radio Show 4825 Mount Royal Gate SW ISCCA Social Association CJSW 90.9 FM (403) 440-6383 Rainbow Community Church http://www.iscca.ca http://www.cjsw.com http://www.mtroyal.ca/positivespace Hillhurst United, 1227 Kensington Close NW Imperial Sovereign Court of the Chinook Arch. All Every Wednesday from 9-10pm The Positive Space Committee at Mount Royal [email protected] monies raised go to Charity. Focus on sexuality; gay bisexual lesbian trans College works to raise awareness and challenge http://www.rainbowcommunitychurch.ca gendered and straight issues here in Calgary and • Shooters at Texas Lounge the patterns of silence that continue to marginalize Services: every Sunday afternoon at 4:00pm around the web. Sept 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th, 8pm-11:30pm lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans-gendered, two-spirited The Rainbow Community Church is an all-inclusive • BBQ and Shooters at the Backlot and queer (LGBTTQ) individuals. church; everyone is welcome. Western Canada Bigmen and Admirers groups.yahoo.com/group/ Sept 4th, 11th, 18st, 25th, 5-9pm Pride Calgary Planning Committee Rocky Mountain Bears WesternCanadaBigmenGroup/ • BBQ and Shooters at the Calgary Eagle (403) 797-6564 www.pridecalgary.ca [email protected] http://www.rockymountainbears.com [email protected] Sept 12th, 26th, 10pm-Close • IGNITE Pride Dance Vigor Calgary • Drag Show at the Calgary Eagle Belgo (501 - 8th Ave SW) • Hot Tub Party (403) 255-7004 www.vigorcalgary.ca Sept 27th, 10pm Sat, Sept 5th, 8pm Brad & Gerry’s (403) 236-4264 Sept 12th, 8pm Violence in Gay Male Relationships (VIGOR) is a • Onyx 24th Mardi Gras Birthday • Pride Parade committee of professionals dedicated to increasing Texas Lounge Start: 8th Avenue and 8th Street SW • Bear Coffee Night the awareness of gay men’s domestic violence and October 2, 8pm Sun,Sept 6th, 12pm-1pm Good Earth Cafe (1502 - 11th Street SW) the services available to them. Mon Sept 14th, 7:30pm Knox United Church • Street Gala & Beer Garden THis will be the last coffee night of the summer. “Yeah... What She Said!” Radio Show 506 - 4th Street SW (403) 269-8382 Olympic Plaza CJSW 90.9 FM • Bar Night http://www.knoxunited.ab.ca Sun, Sept 6th, 1pm-6pm [email protected] Calgary Eagle Knox United Church is an all-inclusive church Every Monday evening, 8:30-9pm • Rocky Horror Pride Show Sat Sept 26th, 10pm located in downtown Calgary. A variety of facility The Plaza Theatre, Kensington rentals are also available for meetings, events and Sun, Sept 6th, 11:30pm • Potluck Dinner Restaurants concerts. Terry Bryant’s (403) 697-3042 Pride Rainbow Project 4 Calgary Eagle Inc.------✰ • Worship Services Oct 17th, 7pm [email protected] See Calgary - Bars and Clubs. Wednesdays - Communion Service 12:10pm. http://www.priderainbowproject.com • General Meeting Halo Steak, Seafood & Wine Bar Sundays - 11am. September to June. Youth run project designed to show support for Money Pennies Canyon Meadows Plaza Sundays - 10:30am in July and August. same-sex marriage in Canada and elsewhere. A Oct 22nd, 7pm 13226 Macleod Trail SE Miscellaneous Youth Network fabric rainbow banner approximately 5 feet wide • Halloween Bar NIght (403) 271-4111 http://www.miscyouth.com - goal is to make it 3.2km (2 miles) long, in order Calgary Eagle www.halosteakseafoodandwinebar.ca • Fake Mustache------to break the world record. Oct 31st, 10pm 9 MPs (Money Pennies)------✰ The Soda, 211 - 12th Ave SW Primetimers Calgary Safety Under the Rainbow See Calgary - Bars and Clubs. 1st Thursday, 7pm-9:45pm [email protected] http://www.safetyrainbow.ca Calgary’s ONLY Drag King Show. $5 cover. $2 http://www.primetimerscalgary.com Mission: To raise awareness and understanding of Retail Stores cover under 18. Advance tickets available at Barbies Prime Timers Calgary is designed to foster social same-sex domestic violence and homophobic youth Shop. interaction for its members through a variety of bullying. Adult Depot------✰ social, educational and recreational activities. It is • Annual General Meeting Scarboro United Church 140, 58th Ave SW (403) 258-2777 open to all gay and bisexual men of any age and Calgary Outlink (#4, 1230A 17th Ave SW) 134 Scarboro Avenue SW Gay, bi, straight video rentals and sex toys. respects whatever degree of anonymity that each Sun Sept 13th, 2pm (403) 244-1161 www.scarborounited.ab.ca member desires. 48 Barbies Shop------✰ Mystique Sunday Worship: 10:30am 1313 16th Avenue SW (403) 262-8265 • Monday Walkers [email protected] Scarboro United Church is a caring community http://www.barbiesshop.com Mystique is primarily a Lesbian group for women 30 Every Monday for risk-takers, adventurers, and explorers in contemporary Christian living. Scarboro is an 41 La Fleur------and up but all are welcome. • Lawn Bowling 103 - 100 7th Avenue SW Every Tuesday affirming congregation, which means that the full • Coffee Night inclusion of LGBT people is essential to our mission (403) 266-1707 Second Cup (2312 - 4th Street SW) • Free Pool at the Calgary Eagle and purpose. Scarboro United Church welcomes Florist and Flower Shop. TBA Every Wednesday all to our spiritually enriching Sunday Service at The Naked Leaf------NETWORKS • Saturday Coffee 10:30am. Afterwards, all are welcome to join us 305 10th Street NW (403) 283-3555 (403) 293-3356 Midtown Co-op, 1130 - 11th Ave SW in fellowship downstairs over coffee, tea, juice, and http://www.thenakedleaf.ca [email protected] Every Saturday, 10am home-baked treats. Organic teas and tea ware. A social, cultural, and service organization for
GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #71, September 2009 19 Directory and Events
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7 3 6 4 N 11 12
1 Pride Centre------Community Groups 5 Boots Bar and Lounge------Bars and Clubs 8 Prism Bar & Grill------Bars and Clubs 13 PLAY Nightclub------Bars and Clubs 3 HIV Network------Community Groups 6 Buddy’s Nite Club------Bars and Clubs 11 Steamworks------Bathhouses 4 Edmonton STD------Community Groups 7 Down Under Baths------Bathhouses 12 Woody’s------Bars and Clubs
16 Priape Calgary------✰ Duncan’s Residential Cleaning http://www.mfmcommunications.com TherapyWorks 1322 - 17 Ave SW (403) 215-1800 Jim Duncan: (403) 978-6600 Web site hosting and development. Computer (403) 561-6873 http://www.priape.com Residential cleaning. Free estimates. hardware and software. [email protected] Clothing and accessories. Adult toys, leather wear, Interactive Male Rick Grenier (Invis) http://www.therapyworks.com movies and magazines. Gifts. (403) 261-2112 trial code 8873 (403) 862-1162 [email protected] Take back your life from stress, sadness, and worry. • Summer Splash Sale 1-800-777-8000 Mortgage solutions. Youth Juice Until August 16th www.interactivemale.com 56 Sacred Balance Piercing (403) 686-7714 [email protected] Save up to 60% on Selected Items. Jeff LeBlanc, Century 21 1528 - 17th Avenue SW (403) 277-4449 http://www.ourworldnetwork.com/dianevp Wares & Wear Ventures Inc. #1, 4600 Crowchild Trail NW www.sacredbalancetattoo.com See Canada - Retail Stores. Cell: (403) 542-6926 Tattos and body piercing. Theatre and Fine Arts Pager: (403) 509-2121 SafeWorks 36 ATP, Alberta Theatre Projects Services & Products Fax: (403) 509-2130 Free and confidential HIV/AIDS and STI testing. (403) 294-7402 http://www.ATPlive.com [email protected] Calgary Civil Marriage Centre • Calgary Drop-in Centre AXIS Contemporary Art------ www.homesweethometeam.ca (403) 246-4134 [email protected] Room 117, 423 - 4th Ave SE 107, 100 - 7 Ave SW (403) 262-3356 Marriage Commissioner for Alberta (aka Justice of Keith Hill, North Hill Mazda (403) 699-8216 [email protected] www.axisart.ca the Peace - JP), Marriage Officiant, Commissioner 1211 Centre Street NW Mon-Fri: 9am-12pm, Sat: 12:15pm-3:15pm Fairytales for Oaths. Cell: (403) 614-7359 • Centre of Hope See Calgary - Community Groups. Phone: (403) 276-5962 24 Courtney Aarbo (Barristers & Solicitors) Room 201, 420 - 9th Ave SE Fax: (403) 276-7361 Jubilations Dinner Theatre 1138 Kensington Road NW (403) 410-1180 Mon-Fri: 1pm-5pm [email protected] Bow Trail and 37th St. SW (403) 571-5120 www.northhillmazda.com • Sheldon M. Chumir Health Centre (403) 249-7799 http://www.courtneyaarbo.ca 1213 - 4th Str SW (403) 955-6014 www.jubilations.ca GLBT legal services. Lorne Doucette (CIR Realtors) Sat-Thu: 4:15pm-7:45pm, Fri: Closed 43 Lisa Heinricks (Artist)------Cruiseline (403) 461-9195 http://www.lornedoucette.com • Safeworks Van Art Central, 100 7th Ave SW, lower level (403) 777-9494 trial code 3500 (403) 850-3755 http://www.creamydreamy.com http://www.cruiseline.ca Marnie Campbell (Maxwell Realtors) Sat-Thu: 8pm-12am, Fri: 4pm-12am Telephone classifieds and chat - 18+ ONLY. (403) 479-8619 35 One Yellow Rabbit------ 52 Sandra G. Sebree, Lawyer Big Secret Theatre - EPCOR CENTRE DevaDave Salon & Boutique http://www.marniecampbell.ca 1610 - 17th Ave SW (403) 299-8888 www.oyr.org 810 Edmonton Trail NE MFM Communications (403) 228-8108 (403) 290-1973 (403) 543-6970 37 Pumphouse Theatre------✰ www.sandrasebree.com Cuts, Colour, Hilights. 1-877-543-6970 2140 Pumphouse Avenue SW
20 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #71, September 2009 Directory and Events
(403) 263-0079 Camp fYrefly • “Love Me Forever” Film Presentation Transgender Education and Support Group: http://www.pumphousetheatres.ca 7-104 Dept. of Educational Policy Studies Prism Bar & Grill Wed, Aug 26, 8pm Education and support for transgender, transsexual Stagewest------✰ Faculty of Education, University of Alberta • In Town Show and questioning people in any stage of transition. 727 - 42 Avenue SE (403) 243-6642 Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2G5 PLAY Nightclub Thurs, Aug 27, 8pm • Men Talking with Pride http://www.stagewestcalgary.com http://www.fyrefly.ualberta.ca Protocol: 8pm, Show: 10pm. $5 cover. Main Space – Upstairs 58 Theatre Junction------✰ Edmonton Pride Week Society • Meet and Greet [email protected] Theatre Junction GRAND, 608 1st St. SW http://www.prideedmonton.org Boots Bar & Lounge Fri, Aug 28, 8pm Every Sunday, 7-9pm A social discussion group for gay, bisexual and (403) 205-2922 Edmonton Prime Timers • Hospitality transgendered men to discuss current issues and to [email protected] [email protected] Coast Edmonton Plaza, 22nd floor offer support to each other. http://www.theatrejunction.com www.primetimersww.org/edmonton Sat, Aug 29, 11am-3pm • Men’s HIV Support Group 34 Vertigo Mystery Theatre------EPT is a group of older gay men and their admirers Sat, Aug 29, after Coronation 161, 115 - 9 Ave SE (403) 221-3708 who come from diverse backgrounds but have Green Room – Upstairs • Coronation http://www.vertigomysterytheatre.com common social interests. Meetings include a social [email protected] period, a short business meeting and then either Coast Edmonton Plaza 2nd Monday of the month, 7-9pm a guest speaker, discussion panel, or a potluck Sat, Aug 29, 5:30pm Support group for people living with HIV/AIDS. EDMONTON supper. Special interest groups meet for other social • Victory Brunch • PFLAG activities throughout the month. In July and August Prism Bar & Grill Sun, Aug 30, 11am Red room - Downstairs 780-436-1998 Bars and Clubs we have a BBQ or picnic in lieu of a meeting and in Tickets: $20. [email protected] December it’s replaced with a Christmas party. EPT 1st Wednesday, 7-9pm 5 Boots Bar and Lounge------✰ OUTreach is affiliated with Prime Timers World Wide. Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays: A support 10242 106th St (780) 423-5014 University of Alberta, basement of SUB group for family members and friends of GLBT http://www.bootsbar.ca/ • Monthly Meetings [email protected] Unitarian Church, 10804 - 119th Street people. An excellent resource for people whose 6 ✰ http://www.ualberta.ca/~outreach Buddy’s Nite Club------ 2nd Sunday of most months, 2:30pm family members and friends have just come out. 11725 Jasper Ave (780) 488-6636 Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender/transsexual, Edmonton Rainbow Business Association Queer, Questioning and Straight-but-not-Narrow • Prime Timers 13 ✰ PLAY Nightclub------ 3379, 11215 Jasper Ave (780) 429-5014 student group. See Edmonton Primetimers. 10220 103 Street (780) 497-7529 http://www.edmontonrba.org • Queer Youth Sport & Recreation night [email protected] 1 Pride Centre of Edmonton------✰ ERBA’s primary focus is the provision of networking Alex Taylor School Gym, 9321 Jasper Ave http://www.playnightclub.ca 95A Street, 111 Ave (780) 488-3234 opportunities for gay, lesbian, bisexual and [email protected] Brendan, (780) 488-3234 8 Prism Bar & Grill------✰ transgendered (GLBT) owned or operated and [email protected] • Bears Movie Night 10524 101st St (780) 990-0038 GLBT-friendly businesses in the Edmonton region. First Tuesday of every month, 4:30pm http://www.prismbar.ca Membership is open to all kinds of entrepreneurs, TV room, Pride Centre of Edmonton from tradespeople to professionals to commission Last Sunday of the month, 1-6pm • Suit Up and Show Up: AA Big Book Study 12 Woody’s------✰ Downstairs Couch Area salespeople. • Community Potluck 11725 Jasper Ave (780) 488-6557 Saturdays, 12-1pm Main Space – Upstairs • After Business Mixers Discussion and support group for those struggling Bathhouses/Saunas Garage Burger Bar (10244 - 106th St.) [email protected] with an alcohol addiction or seeking support in 2nd Tuesday every month 5:30–7:30pm Last Tuesday, 7-9pm 7 Down Under Baths------✰ staying sober. A potluck open to all members of the LGBTQ 12224 Jasper Ave (780) 482-7960 Edmonton Illusions Social Club • TTIQ community. A time to get together, share a meal http://www.gayedmonton.com Boots Bar & Grill Green Room – Upstairs (780) 387-3343 and meet people from the community. 11 Steamworks------✰ [email protected] groups.yahoo.com/group/edmonton_illusions 11745 Jasper Ave (780) 451-5554 • Free School 1st and 3rd Sunday, 2-4pm 2nd Thursday of each month http://www.steamworksedmonton.com Main Space – Upstairs TTIQ is mixed gender open support group addressing 4 Edmonton STD [email protected] the needs of transsexual and transgendered Community Groups 11111 Jasper Ave 2nd and 4th Sunday, 11am-5pm individuals. Brunch at a local restaurant on the last Free School provides workshops on a variety of Sunday of each month at 12:00. BEEF Bear Bash Edmonton Vocal Minority topics related to local activism. Boots Bar and Lounge (780) 479-2038 [email protected] • Womonspace Board Meeting www.bearbeef.org www.evmchoir.com • Get Straight – Cocaine Anonymous Main Space – Upstairs Downstairs Couch Area [email protected] Bar night for hairy men and admirers. • First Rehearsal Thursdays, 7-8pm 1st Sunday, 10:30am-12:30pm Sept 14th Book Worm’s Book Club Cocaine Anonymous: Support group for anyone Womonspace is a Social and Recreational Society Second Cup, 11210 Jasper Ave Exposure 2009 struggling with cocaine or drug addictions. in Edmonton run by volunteers. They provide [email protected] Nov 13th- 22nd, 2009 • Get Tested for STIs opportunities for lesbians to interact and support Wed Sept 16, 7:30pm each other in a safe environment, and to contribute Embracing the Wide Sky by Daniel Tammet 3 HIV Network Of Edmonton Society---- ✰ Last Thurs of Month, 3pm - 6pm 11456 Jasper Ave www.hivedmonton.com Free STD testing for anyone interested. For more to the broader community. Buck Naked Boys Club information please contact the Pride Centre. • Youth Movie (780) 471-6993 • AIDS Walk for Life Main Space – Upstairs http://www.bucknakedboys.ca Sir Winston Churchill Square • GLBT Seniors Drop-In [email protected] 2nd Saturday of every month Sun Sept 20th, 11am-4pm Main Space – Upstairs Fridays, 6:30-8:30pm Naturism club for men. Our club has been meeting Imperial Sovereign Court of the Wild Rose [email protected] Every Tuesday & Thursday, 1-4pm Movie chosen by youth (aged 14 – 25), usually continuously for over 10 years. The similar club in http://www.gayedmonton.org with LGBT themes. Popcorn is served. Calgary ceased to exist several years ago. Naturism A social and support group for seniors of all genders • Ball Week Kick-off Party is being social while everyone is naked, and it does and sexualities to talk, have tea and offer each • YouthSpace Buddys Nightclub Sat, Aug 22 not include sexual activity. Therefore participants other support. [email protected] do not need to be gay, only male, but almost all • State Dinner • Trans Education/Support Group Tuesday to Thursday, 3-7pm participants over the years do self-describe as being Prism Bar & Grill Wed, Aug 26, 6pm Green Room – Upstairs Fridays, 3-6:30pm gay or bisexual. 2nd Tuesday, 7:30-9:30pm Saturdays, 3-6:30pm A safe and supportive space for GLBTQ youth aged
GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #71, September 2009 21 Directory and Events
13–25. Video games, computers with internet, Tuesdays & Thursdays, 8pm-10pm • Volleyball, Free To Be Recreational Grass Servicing Calgary, Edmonton & Red Deer clothing bank, and more. Have the whole gym to yourselves and an instructor Kinsmen Sports Centre exclusively. • Youth Theatre Project to help you achieve your individual goals. Cost is [email protected] Robertson-Wesley United Church Downstairs Couch Area $5.00 per session. Outdoor season, Sundays, 3-5pm 10209 - 123 St. NW (780) 482-1587 [email protected] • Outdoor Pursuits • Women’s Lacrosse [email protected] www.rwuc.org Every Wednesday, 7-8:30pm Sat, Sept 12th, 10am-12pm Sharon: 780-461-0017 Worship: Sunday mornings at 10:30am An opportunity for youth to address the problem of Zipline @ Birch Bay Ranch Pam: 780-436-7374 People of all sexual orientations welcome. Other homophobic bullying through theatre. Write and [email protected] Open to women 21+, experienced or not, all are LGBT events include a monthly book club and rehearse skits, perform in the community, and help • Running (Arctic Frontrunners) welcome. Call for info. a bi-monthly film night. As a caring spiritual make a documentary. Emily Murphy Park, meet at West End Womonspace community, we’d love to have you join us! • Youth Understanding Youth [email protected] (780) 482-1794 • Soul OUTing See separate listing. Every Sunday, 10am-11am [email protected] Second Sunday every month, 7pm • Youth Yoga All genders and levels of runners and walkers are www.womonspace.ca An LGBT-focused alternative worship. Alex Taylor School Gym (9321 Jasper Ave) invited to join this free activity. Women’s social group, but all welcome at events. • Film Night Every 1st Thursday, 4:30pm • Roller Derby (Practices) • Dance Bi-monthly, contact us for exact dates. Team Edmonton [email protected] Bellevue Community Hall • Book Club [email protected] Mondays & Thursdays, 6:30-8:30pm 7308 - 112th Ave NW Monthly, contact us for exact dates. http://www.teamedmonton.ca E-Ville Roller Derby is a community-wise sports Sat Sept 12, 9pm Members are invited to attend and help determine initiative for adult females. Their purpose is for fun, Youth Understanding Youth Theatre and Fine Arts friendly sports competition among like-minded the board for the next term. If you are interested in Edmonton Pride Centre, Main Space Upstairs Exposure Festival running for the board or getting involved in some of women. You need no prior experience in roller [email protected] www.members.shaw.ca/yuy http://www.exposurefestival.ca the committees, please contact us. derby. They’ll teach you everything you need to Every Wed/Thurs/Fri, 7pm-9pm know, including how to skate! Edmonton’s Queer Arts and Culture Festival. • Annual General Meeting A place where LGBTQ youth under 25 can gather to September 26th • Samsara Yoga have fun and learn about themselves and others in Korezone Fitness, #203, 10575 -115 Street a safe, supportive, and caring environment. BANFF/CANMORE • Badminton [email protected] • Sports and Recreation Oliver School, 10227 - 118 Street Classes resume Sun Sept 27th, 2- 3:30pm (780) 465-3620 Pride Centre, 9540 - 111 Ave Community Groups • Slo Pitch Brendan: (780) 488-3234 [email protected] Mountain Pride Parkallen Field, 111 st and 68 ave [email protected] Wednesdays, 6pm-7:30pm Brian, (403) 431-2569 [email protected] Wed/Thurs/Fri, meet at 4:00pm Oct 7th-mid March 2010, 6-7:30pm [email protected] Wednesdays, 7pm. Season resumes May 6th. Women’s Drop-In Recreational Badminton. $40.00 www.gaybanff.com Season fee is $30.00 per person. $10 discount for season or $5.00 per drop in. Restaurants Serving the GLBTQS community in Banff, Canmore, players from the 2008 season. •Ballroom Dancing 5 Garage Burger Bar & Grill------Lake Louise and Area. • Snowballs III Foot Notes Dance Studio, 9708-45 Avenue NW 10242 106th St (780) 423-5014 • Coffee Night February 5-7th, 2010 Cynthia: (780) 469-3281 8 Prism Bar & Grill------✰ The Hub, 302 Buffalo Street [email protected] Oct 11th-Dec 13th, Sundays, 7:30-8:30pm See Edmonton - Bars and Clubs. 4th Tuesday, 7pm-10pm Skiing and Snowboarding Weekend. • Blazin’ Bootcamp • Queer Cinema Night • Soccer Oliver Community Hall (10326 - 118 Ave) Retail Stores The Hub, 302 Buffalo Street [email protected] [email protected] Rodéo Drive 2nd Monday, 8pm-11pm Every Mon + Thurs, 7pm-8:15pm • Spin 11528 - 89th Street • Calgary Pride Roadtrip Mon Oct 19th at Lynwood School MacEwan Centre for Sport and Wellness (780) 474-0413 TBA • Bowling (Northern Titans) 109 St. and 104 Ave [email protected] Gateway Lanes, 100 - 3414 Gateway Blvd Wednesdays, 5:45-6:45pm http://www.rodeodrive.ca July 8th - Aug 19th [email protected] His and hers fetish wear, toys, jewelry, etc. LETHBRIDGE [email protected] Every Saturday, 5pm-7pm The Travelling Tickle Trunk 7 classes, $28.00 per registrant. Resumes Saturday January 3rd 9923 - 82 Avenue Community Groups $15.00 per person. • Swimming (Making Waves) (780) 469-6669 GALA/LA • Curling with Pride NAIT Pool www.travelingtickletrunk.com (403) 308-2893 Granite Curling Club, 8620 107 Street NW [email protected] Sex-positive adult toy store. http://www.galalethbridge.ca (780) 463-5942 Resumes Sept 4th Wares & Wear Ventures Inc. Gay and Lesbian Alliance of Lethbridge and Area. [email protected] • Tennis See Canada - Retail Stores. Begins Oct 19th, Mondays, 7:15pm. Kinsmen Sports Centre • Monthly Dances Airforce Veterans Hall, 517 - 5 Ave S • Cycling (Edmonton Prideriders) Sundays, 12pm-3pm Services Aug 29th, Sept 19th Oct 24th Nov 21st Various locations in Edmonton [email protected] Cruiseline 9pm-2am [email protected] • Ultimate Frisbee (780) 413-7122 trial code 3500 Bring your membership card and photo ID. Every Wednesday, 6:30pm Sundays http://www.cruiseline.ca • Monthly Potluck Dinners • Dragon Boat (Flaming Dragons) Summer Season starts July 12th Telephone classifieds and chat - 18+ ONLY. [email protected] McKillop United Church, 2329 - 15 Ave S [email protected] Interactive Male E-mail if interested. 3rd or Last Sat. every month, 5:30pm-8pm • Golf (780) 409-3333 trial code 8871 Members/family/friends, and children are all • Volleyball, Free To Be Intermediate [email protected] 1-800-777-8000 welcome to attend. Please bring dish that will serve Amiskiwacy Academy (101 Airport Road) www.interactivemale.com 4-6 people and own beverage (no-alcohol). Plates, • Gymnastics, Drop-in [email protected] Over the Top Designs utensils, and coffee provided. Ortona Gymnastics Club, 8755 - 50 Avenue Thursday nights from 7:30pm-9:30pm [email protected] (780) 974-5269 Continued on Next Page 22 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #71, September 2009 Political Humour
• Support Line (403) 308-2893 Monday OR Wednesday, 7pm-11pm Creep of the Week Leave a message any other time. • Parents & Friends for Lesbians & Gays Call us for information. Nassau County School Board • Gay Youth Alliance Group Betty, (403) 381-5260 [email protected] Every second Wednesday, 3:30pm-5pm By D’Anne Witkowski • Friday Mixer The Mix (green water tower) 103 Mayor Magrath Dr S In many places across the country, Gay-Straight Alliances are old news. I don’t Every Friday at 10pm mean “old news” as in “not needed,” I mean “old news” in that they hardly raise • Movie Night an eyebrow anymore. Room C610, University of Lethbridge Sometimes being a creep can also make you a loser. Or so Florida’s Nassau County School Thurs, Mar 26th, 6:30pm Board learned after their attempt to keep a Gay-Straight Alliance out of their Yulee High School Movie called “Changing Our Minds: The Story of Dr. failed. Evelyn Hooker”. Gay & Lesbian Integrity Assoc. (GALIA) When students at the school first tried to start a GSA they were told no. One of the reasons they were given was that it was not OK to use the word “gay” in the organization’s title. Why? Because University of Lethbridge [email protected] having a group called the Gay-Straight Alliance violated the school’s sacred abstinence-only educa- GBLTTQQ club on campus. tion curriculum. Because, you know, a GSA is a group of students who get together to have sex Pride Lethbridge with each other on school property. [email protected] Actually, that’s not what a GSA is. According to the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, “Gay-Straight Alliances are student clubs that work to improve school climate for all RED DEER students, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.” Basically, it’s a bunch of kids who want to stamp out homophobia, anti-gay harassment and Community Groups discrimination in their schools. Some of the kids are gay, others aren’t, but all of them have been witness to or touched by anti-gay bias and want to do something to combat it. Affirm Sunnybrook United Church Sounds pretty devious, eh? Well, to the Nassau County School Board it did. They rejected re- (403) 347-6073 quests to form a GSA repeatedly at both the high school and middle schools. 2nd Tuesday of the month, 7pm In February, the students sued and the American Civil Liberties Union stepped in and was Composed of LGBTQ people, their friends, family all, “Uh, you have to let the students form a GSA because of the federal Equal Access Act, which and allies. No religious affiliation necessary. protects all extra-curricular clubs not just gay ones.” And the school board was all, “Well, then no Activities include support, faith and social justice extracurricular groups get to meet. I hope the gays are happy.” discussions, film nights, and potlucks! Of course, no one was happy with this. In March a U.S. District Judge issued a preliminary injunction saying that the school had to let the GSA meet. On Aug. 14 U.S. district judge Henry ALBERTA Lee Adams issued a permanent injunction saying that the school couldn’t discriminate against the club and couldn’t put the smack down on people involved in the lawsuit. Community Groups “We started a Gay-Straight Alliance because we wanted a safe space where all students can talk Central Alberta AIDS Network Society about harassment and discrimination that LGBT students face,” said plaintiff Hannah Page. “We’re 4611-50 Avenue, Red Deer, AB grateful that the court recognized that the GSA should be allowed to meet and be treated like any http://www.caans.org other club.” The Central Alberta AIDS Network Society is the “This is a victory for our clients, for the Yulee High GSA and indeed for gay and straight kids all local charity responsible for HIV prevention and across America,” said Robert Rosenwald, ACLU of Florida LGBT Advocacy Project Director and lead support in Central Alberta. counsel for the students. “Time and time again, we’ve seen discrimination and intolerance struck Western Canadian Pride Campout down by the courts in these cases, and for every school that wishes to cross the line, we’ll be here July 31st - Aug 3rd to defend the students.” www.eventmasterinc.net And what did the school board have to show for its hissy fit? A lot of bad press and about $40 grand in legal fees to dish out. Discrimination is expensive, in more ways than one. Add Your Listing! http://www.gaycalgary.com/a1381 Find out how to have your business listed in our View additional pics/videos. • Share with a friend. • Post your comments. monthly magazine directory: (403) 543-6960 1-888-543-6960 D’Anne Witkowski has been gay for pay since 2003. She’s a freelance writer and poet (believe it!). When she’s [email protected]. not taking on the creeps of the world she reviews rock and roll shows in Detroit with her twin sister and teaches Add your listing to our online directory for free: writing at the University of Michigan. http://www.gaycalgary.com GayCalgary endeavors to keep our directory and events information accurate and up to date. If you notice anything incorrect or out of date, please contact us. Non-profit groups receive free listings. GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #71, September 2009 23 Politics Gay Killings in Tel Aviv
limited, the Internet as usual is full of commentary and reports. Google By Stephen Lock “Tel Aviv Gay Killings” and over 2,200,000 hits pop up. Plus, Israeli politicians, regardless of political stripe, have been unanimous in con- “Freedom fighters” who take an extreme position in demning the attacks, which killed two and injured between 11 and 15 people (reports vary on the actual number). the ongoing struggle for Palestinian self-government, blowing themselves up along with innocent bystanders Four of the 13 were taken to hospital with serious injuries. Pictures showing the blood-stained aftermath of the attack, perpetuated by a both Jew and non-Jew, in pursuit of that goal is one lone masked gunman, were widely distributed throughout Israeli me- thing (and here I am mindful that one person’s “free- dia. Witnesses described seeing bodies strewn on the floor surrounding dom fighter” is another person’s “terrorist” - but this a billiards table and just inside the entrance to the centre. column is not about discussing that aspect); opening Within hours of the attack, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, fire on teenagers congregating at a gay youth centre is who visited the centre after the attack to show his support, said of something else. the killer, “We’ll bring him to justice and exercise the full extent of the law against him.” President Shimon Peres described the shootings as Compounding the shock, at least for me, is the understanding that “despicable murder” that “a cultured and enlightened people cannot Israel as a country and as a culture has a profound understanding accept.” of the evils of persecution, of pogroms, of mass killing of a targeted group. Of course, just because a nation’s ethos is predicated on an Nitzan Horowitz, an openly gay member of the Knesset described the ideal doesn’t mean everyone who is a citizen of that country shares that killings as a “hate crime.” ethos. “We demand that the government put an end to this hate campaign Are there Jews who hate and despise homosexuals? Of course and that the Education Ministry institute proper information and edu- there are. The emotional reactions against Pride festivals being held in cation at schools in order to prevent the recurrence of such shameful Jerusalem bear this out. Certainly Orthodox Jews, who hold consider- events,” Horowitz said, according to Reuters. able say in the workings of the state of Israel, are vehemently opposed A “senior Tel Aviv police source” has stated a personal feud may have to what they perceive as the perversion of God’s plan for His people and been the catalyst but caution the investigation is in its early stages and constantly attempt to block any progress in Israeli GLBTQ rights. it is far too soon to make any sort of conclusions as to what prompted In 2005, an ultra-Orthodox protester stabbed three marchers during the attack. a Jerusalem Gay Pride parade. There is no indication as to what proof the Tel Aviv police might According to the Associated Press, Shlomo Benizri, a member of have to suggest this allegation and it seems to me that the anonymous Israel’s Parliament, the Knesset, who sits for the ultra-Orthodox Shas source was ill-advised to issue a statement like “[The GLBTQ com- Party, was quoted as saying that earthquakes were God’s punish- munity was] too quick with the rallies and the slogans. It’s not at all ment for Israel’s tolerance of the gay and lesbian community. The last clear - the motive for the attack may have been personal, rather than a person to suggest that was the Sixth Century AD Byzantine Emperor, general targeting of the community.” Justinian I. However, to their credit, leaders within the Shas Party were quick to condemn the attacks as well. Within hours of the attack, Prime Minister Benjamin Such statements, however, are noteworthy primarily for their Netanyahu, who visited the centre after the attack to uniqueness. The true nature of Israelis was evidenced by the hundreds show his support, said of the killer, “We’ll bring him to and thousands who took to the streets, in Tel Aviv and elsewhere, on justice and exercise the full extent of the law against him.” both Saturday (the Jewish and Muslim Sabbat) and Sunday (the Chris- tian Sabbath), to voice their outrage over the shootings. That in itself smacks of a homophobic reaction. It certainly wouldn’t Israel is not only a beacon of democracy in the eastern Mediterra- be the first time it has been suggested that we are so unstable that we nean, surrounded as it is by Islamist theocracies and dictatorships (all can easily turn homicidal over jealousy or some real or perceived slight. of which are intent on “driving the Jews into the sea”), but it is one of the most GLBTQ-tolerant, one might even say GLBTQ-accepting, na- Hmmm...spend a Saturday night in your typical gay bar and com- tions on earth. pare that to your typical night in a straight bar and then try and tell me gay men will “lose it” over being jilted, seeing an ex-lover with a new Israel was on the forefront of establishing legal precedents in regards man, turned down, or “just because”. Compare this to your average to GLBTQ equality rights, or at least lesbigay equality rights (to be hon- straight male club clientele who seem to engage in constant yelling est, I am not sure of the status of trans rights in Israel). matches and fisticuffs in the parking lot or along neighbouring residen- tial streets for little or no reason apart from a bad mix of alcohol and The Israeli Supreme Court has passed much groundbreaking leg- testosterone (and, I’ve long suspected, sexual frustration, but that’s islation, including recognition of gay marriages, the right of same-sex just a suspicion). couples and individuals to adopt children, and other anti-discrimina- tion laws. The personal grudge theory doesn’t seem to hold up well when one looks at who was killed; Nir Katz, 26, a youth counsellor, and Liz In 1992, then-Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin introduced a law prohib- Troubishi, 17. iting discrimination in the workplace on the basis of sexual orientation. This amendment was generally perceived as a major landmark in recog- Katz has been described as someone who “believed in his own way, nizing gay men, lesbians and bisexuals as equal members of society. lived for years with [his] boyfriend, [and whose] goal was to help people Then in 1993, he introduced another law abolishing sexual orientation who were struggling and who were still in the closet. He considered it a discrimination in the Israeli military, during a period when the world’s mission.” other great democracy, the United States, was introducing its notorious “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. Troubishi has been described as “a closed off and introverted per- son” who didn’t make an issue of being lesbian at all. While local coverage, and coverage in North America generally, was
24 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #71, September 2009 Politics
Neither of these individuals sound much like the sort of personality that would provoke someone into donning a black Ninja-like uniform, covering their face, and striding into a recreational centre and spraying the area with an automatic rifle. Being a raging little homophobe just might, however.
Naturally, various bloggers are firing off opinions right, left, and cen- tre (both metaphorically and literally speaking). One blogger, veteran leftist politician and editor of the Middle East Journal of the Middle East Institute based out of Washington D.C., Yossi Sarid, made a particu- larly interesting observation in his August 3 blog.
“...The Israeli media coverage has been heavy, but certain things are left unsaid, or rather are revealed in code. Two points to note in most of the reportage: officially it is said the incident was a hate crime and ‘did not have a terror motive,’ (translation: it’s an Israeli shooter, not an Arab), and the shooter used ‘an automatic weapon such as an M-16 rifle.’ (The M-16 uses 5.56mm ammunition. The AK-47 in common use by the Palestinian authority and other Palestinian groups is generally chambered for 7.62mm.) (The M-16 is standard issue for the Israel Defense Forces but is also widely held by reservists, which means most Israelis.) So the unspoken message of these code phrases is, this was an Israeli, not an Arab, shooter, and thus probably a fundamentalist Israeli opposed to open gay associations.”
This is interesting as it undermines any suggestion the attack on the youth centre has anything to do with the Palestinian issue or anything to do with the antipathy, to be polite, surrounding Arab nations have towards Israel. This clearly, then, was not an attack on Israelis but on queer Israelis, particularly on young queer Israelis, who are, by defini- tion, the future of the GLBTQ movement in Israel. The attack, despite the meanderings of the anonymous “senior Tel Aviv police source”, has all the earmarks of a political act, albeit a perverted one.
How do we protect not only ourselves, but our future? Here in Cana- da, we feel pretty safe, by and large. Over the years, we have struggled for, and won, many equality battles. So did Israeli GLBTQ activists. We believe ourselves to be living in a civilized, decent democracy. So do the Israelis, not withstanding bombardment from Hamas and other Islamists. We are free to come and go as we please. Overall, so are those who live and work in Tel Aviv, one of the most cosmopolitan and urbane cities in Israel, if not the world. And still, this sort of outrage can occur.
I don’t know how we can protect ourselves or our youth. Educa- tion? Certainly, and not just in our schools but of society in general. Refusing to cower and hide? Absolutely, standing up to the bullies and tyrants of this world takes balls (or ova) but nothing, absolutely noth- ing, is accomplished by trying to meekly placate them, either. If they’re going to take us down, then they may as well take us down with us refusing to give them the satisfaction of seeing us whimper.
This is something the founders of the modern state of Israel under- stood. They would no longer allow the perception of the weak, timid, bookish Jew hiding in his ghetto tenement or shtetl hovel refusing to fight back or stick up for himself to stand. In its place the strong and proud Jewish warrior, the Sabra, and his civilian counterpart, the Kibbutzim (communal farmers who developed so much of what is now Israel) defined the modern Jewish sensibility.
Did this prevent attacks against Israelis by those who wish to an- nihilate them? No. Will standing up and refusing to be intimidated by bullies and psychos stop the intimidation? No. But as someone far wiser than I once said, the meaning is in the doing. It is the act of standing up, of refusing to be intimidated, that counts and may lead to the intimidation eventually ending. Doing nothing and allowing it to continue only ensures it will continue.
The reaction of the Israeli GLBTQ community, and the nation’s lead- ers, speak clearly to their refusal to be intimidated ever again. Whether or not the perpetrator of this crime is ever found and brought to justice, and one hopes he will be, it is the act of refusing to be intimidated, of not allowing this act to slam shut the closet doors, that is important. http://www.gaycalgary.com/a1382 View additional pics/videos. • Share with a friend. • Post your comments.
GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #71, September 2009 25 Adult Film Review Adult Film Review “Humongous Cocks #1” and “Double Barrell”
intercepted by park ranger Steve Carlisle, who is asking for hunt- By Jerome Voltero ing permits. The two men don’t have the necessary paperwork - but is it really needed if they’re out solely for ulterior motives? “Humongous Cocks #1” Luckily, the park ranger is willing to “work something out”. They by Raging Stallion Stu- start off outdoors, but as things get serious they decide to move dios, Courtesy of Priape their activities to inside of a cabin. Cast: Antonio Biaggi*, Later on, hunting buddies CJ Madison and Coby Mitchell are Michael Soldier, Arpad sitting in a camouflaged shelter, I suppose waiting for the wildlife Miklos*, Taurus*, Rafael to come to them. Madison polishes the barrel of his rifle with an Alencar, Colin West, Michael oily rag, a motion that gives Mitchell some ideas. Save some gun Brandon, Bruce Jennings, oil, it might come in handy later! Madison is a major hottie in my Justin Christopher*, Hues- books, and always a pleasure to watch, especially for his growly sein, Marcos David, Enrique climaxes. Currero The bottom line: if you like mature, manly men, your gun won’t Okay, granted that most stay cocked for long. male porn stars are selected, Priape Calgary at least in part, for the size of Canada’s Favourite Gay Store their penis. Raging Stallion 1322 17th Avenue SW - (403) 215-1800 Studios brought in a couple of their obvious choices like Adult Depot Arpad Miklos, Huessein, and Over 3000 Gay Title for Sale or Rent the obscenely well endowed 140 58th Avenue SW - (403) 258-2777 Antonio Biaggi. Aside from that, they scouted out a large cast of [email protected] not so well known, moderately attractive stars, I suppose with the longest and thickest dongs they could find! (Still nothing com- pared to Biaggi, mind.) They’re sure not gentle with those things! The sex is really frantic, rough and dirty, incorporating a couple of unique sexual positions that were new to me; some made possible by the sheer length of their cocks. For instance, in the 2nd scene, Colin West is shown screwing Michael Brandon while simultaneously giving Brandon head! The average person might have a little trouble pulling that one off at home. The scenes tend to hit you with an early cum shot from one of the actors and then move on to new positions, taking their time to build up to a final, all inclusive cum shot. The porno is an obvi- ous choice for size queens, but I’m certain still has “wide” general appeal…it’s not the length, it’s the girth.
“Double Barrell” by Titan Media, Courtesy of Adult Depot Cast: Dirk Jager*, Max Schutler, Marco Blaze, Alex Baresi*, Steve Carlisle, Coby Mitchell, CJ Madison*, Revel Milan, Chad Manning Put on your very best Elmer Fudd impression and say, “Be vewy vewy quiet, I’m hunting cwock!” In this porno, hunting with a double barrel rifle is just another ex- cuse for men to be out in the woods together. But if they don’t handle their guns prop- erly, they might get them- selves shot in the mouth! In the first scene, Alex Baresi and Marco Blaze are
26 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #71, September 2009 Astrology Q Scopes “Talk it out, Gemini!”
By Jack Fertig LIBRA (September 23 - October 22): It seems you can’t do enough for your friends. Of course, there’s The Sun aligned with Saturn in Virgo makes us always more to be done, but as with the oxygen mask on more serious and critical. Venus in Leo makes it an airplane, make sure to take good care of yourself first hard to keep ego out of the way, while aspects from – if only to be of better help to them. Uranus and Neptune can distort our sense of pro- portion. Modesty and meditation help. SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21): Your community and cultural background are important, but ARIES (March 20 - April 19): Work isn’t getting holding too tightly to them can blind you to the power they any easier, but bringing fun and creativity into your offer in a more universal vision. You can’t reach the top of approach make it more productive and satisfying. Worries a tree while clinging to the roots. and doubts about your efforts can offer clues to making your work easier and more purposeful. SAGITTARIUS (November 22 - December 20): Your imagination can easily get the better of your TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): Hosting a get facts. If your narratives tend to fantasy, be clear about together with some creative friends and some of the more that! Keeping the nabobs entertained can be as good as “important” people in your life could help your career. That keeping them informed, as long as everyone knows which could be an explosive mix, but if you pick the right folks it is which. will improve your image. CAPRICORN (December 21 - January 19): GEMINI (May 21 - June 20): Stress between Resist the urge to correct everyone. As long as you know demands at home and at work is now at a breaking point. what’s right, does it really matter what other people say Good! This can be the breaking point that pushes you to and think? Be sensitive to what’s important for them. You fix it. Talk it out with a good friend and find new solutions. can open a lot more flies with honey than with vinegar. CANCER (June 21 - July 22): Take a hard, AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 18): pragmatic look at philosophical and sexual questions that Looking hard and authoritative works for you, but if you have been on your mind lately. Be ready to challenge long- can be sweet and gentle while looking tough, all the better! held assumptions. Changing your mind can be a sign of Being all things to all people only works if you can stay growth! true to yourself. LEO (July 23 - August 22): While there are more PISCES (February 19 - March 19): Your trouble serious foundations to a solid relationship, a little erotic in relationships is largely about being unsure of yourself. variety would be nice, too. Honesty is most important. Trying to please others is a lousy way to compensate. Whether or not your playful curiosity gets full rein, at least Exercise, or decorating your workspace, can help bring discuss your desires. you back to yourself. VIRGO (August 23 - September 22): Meditate on what you love about your partner and how he or she can support you. You may be stressing out too much on Jack Fertig, a professional astrologer since problems that could be easily resolved with some quiet 1977 teaches at the Online College of time together and new approaches to communication. Astrology : http://www.astrocollege.com. He can be reached for personal or business consultations at 415-864-8302 or through his website at http://www.starjack.com
GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #71, September 2009 27 Celebrity Gossip Deep Inside Hollywood Haynes and Winslet bring Mildred Pierce back to life
like she can sing. At least that seems to be the idea behind By Romeo San Vicente The Goree Girls, which will star Aniston in the true-life story of female prison inmates who formed a country-western ensemble Haynes and Winslet bring Mildred Pierce back to life in the 1940s. Aniston will do her own singing for the film, and the one-time Friends star will also learn how to play the dobro One thing you can definitely say about visionary gay filmmak- (a resonator guitar). If Sucsy could get a passable “Tea for Two” er Todd Haynes is that he’s unpredictable, bouncing from the out of Barrymore and Jessica Lange for Grey Gardens, he’ll no chillingly unsettling acclaimed ’90s drama Safe to the Douglas doubt elicit some sweet vocalizing from Aniston for The Goree Sirk homage Far From Heaven to the Dylan biopic fantasia I’m Girls, warbling its way onto screens in 2010 – and, with a little Not There. Now he’s tackling an old-school gay favorite, writing luck, taking Faith Hill down a peg or two on the country charts. and directing an HBO miniseries of Mildred Pierce. The James M. Cain novel was indelibly brought to the screen in the 1940s Will Young joins Ab Fab star in new Agatha Christie mys- with Joan Crawford in the lead role – it’s the movie that won tery Mommie Dearest her Oscar – and now Kate Winslet will play the striving greasy-spoon entrepreneur who’s brought down by Singer Will Young became a megastar in the United Kingdom a mean, ungrateful daughter. And it’s a safe bet that Haynes’ (and a cult fave among American gays) as the first winner of version will hew closer to the too-hot-for-the-Hays-Code novel that country’s American Idol-spawning Pop Idol. And while his than the first film, so Romeo is counting the days until this new coming out nabbed him even more headlines, it didn’t impact Mildred moves into the pop culture landscape. his pop career much. Next step was, of course, acting. (Because if Mariah can keep getting work in movies, anyone can, right?) After his well-received appearance in Mrs. Henderson Presents, Young is now set to do his first Agatha Christie whodunit, star- ring in a new British TV production of The Mirror Crack’d from Side to Side, opposite Absolutely Fabulous star Joanna Lumley. Old movie fans will remember The Mirror Crack’d as a 1980 theatrical feature starring Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, Kim Novak and Angela Lansbury (as Miss Marple). This latest incar- nation of the mystery –about murders on a movie set – could air in the UK before the end of 2009. Xandir returns for The Drawn Together movie Since real reality-show celebs never seem to want to let go of their 15 minutes of fame, why should their animated counter- parts be any different? Comedy Central has announced The Drawn Together Movie: The Movie!, a direct-to-DVD feature about politically incorrect cartoon characters living in a Big Brother-style house. When one character notices they can now all curse without being bleeped, the cast realizes that the show has been canceled, leading them to fight to get back on the air. The series’ cast includes gay actor Jack Plotnick (Girls Will Be Photo courtesy The Weinstein Company Girls), who provides the voice of Xandir, a video-game prince who doesn’t seem quite ready to acknowledge he’s a homo- sexual, even though it’s painfully obvious to everyone else in Aniston sings behind bars in Goree Girls both his universe and ours. The Drawn Together Movie: The Movie! will hit your If gay director Michael Sucsy could make Drew Barrymore Netflix queue in 2010. sound exactly like “Little Edie” Beale in the acclaimed HBO movie Grey Gardens, then he can make Jennifer Aniston sound Romeo San Vicente once thought he had been cast on an unusually gay, X-rated season of Big Brother, only to realize that he had somehow wound up in one of those internet web-cam houses by mistake. He can be reached care of this publication or at [email protected].
28 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #71, September 2009 Lifestyle Cocktail Chatter A Sopping Wet Martini, Please and Ice, Ice, Crabby Baby
It’s not so crazy. I know people who carry cocktail bitters in their By Camper English bags in case bars don’t have them when they want a Manhattan, much the way old ladies carry Sweet ‘N Low in their purses in case A Sopping Wet Martini, Please they should find themselves with only real sugar for their decaf. That’s just wacky- I would never bring an extra bag just to carry bit- You think you don’t like vermouth, and you are probably wrong. ters in, unless of course it matched my outfit. If you only ever ate moldy cheeseburgers found in the dumpster you would think cheeseburgers are disgusting, and likewise that nearly- But the ice thing seemed crucial at the time. I felt it was too early full, dusty bottle of vermouth in your cupboard probably went bad a in the day for a mixed drink like a Gin and Tonic, yet not too early for couple of years ago. Try a fresh bottle and you may change your tune. a stately glass of whisky. (My complicated system of proper cocktail timing is best left for another column.) But if I were to order a whisky, Vermouth is a fortified and aromatized wine. The wine part is why the bartender would ask me if I wanted it neat (room temperature, no it spoils once it’s opened. The fortified part indicates that has some ice) or on the rocks. This is a trick question if you haven’t seen the higher-proof spirit added to give it a longer shelf life than table wine. rocks. (Other fortified wines include port and sherry.) That vermouth is aromatized means that it has extra flavorings added, in this case This bar had a limited selection of whisky- no good single-malts herbs, flowers, spices, and bark, according secret recipes unique to that I would take neat (eliminating the ice problem), thus forcing me each brand. to choose between a blended scotch and a bourbon made in the good old US of A. With both of these I like some ice. We generally speak of two types of vermouth: sweet/Italian/red, and dry/French/white. I sometimes forget which is Italian and which If the ice were concave, Chiclet-shaped non-cubes you get in a lot is French, so I remember that the sweet/Italian/red has the acronym of bars, then a glass full of them would melt very fast and soon I’d SIR, and the other has the same initials as the Dallas/Ft. Worth have more water than bourbon. This is exactly the kind of ice you international airport. want for a Mint Julep where diluted ice is actually an ingredient in the drink, but I actually want rocks in my scotch-on-the-rocks. The red one (Thank you, SIR) usually pairs well with dark spirits like whisky and goes into drinks like the Manhattan, Negroni, and If the ice were regular -sized cubes then I could ask for just a few of Americano. The white works well with clear spirits and goes into the them in the glass to achieve the proper dilution-cooling ratio. I knew vodka or gin Martini, of course, as well as newly popular old drinks better than to hope for the gorgeous, jumbo-sized ice spheres you like the Chrysanthemum and the Obituary Cocktail. When you only seem to get in very high-end bars, which make a glass of whisky request an Extra Dry Martini you are requesting one with less dry last an hour without getting watery. vermouth, not more, so perhaps it should be called the “Extra Vodka I realize that I sound like a crabby baby whining about ice cubes Martini” instead. now, but really I’m a pleasant person. Case in point: At the airport But long before anyone put vodka in a Martini, the drink (and its lounge, I caught myself asking about the ice and stopped. “Actually, predecessor, the Martinez) was made with genever (a malty gin from never mind,” I said. “May I please have a bourbon, neat, and also a Holland) and sweet vermouth. Over the years leading up to Prohibi- glass of ice water?” tion, the London dry style of gin became increasingly popular, and Back at my table I fished out the appropriate number of cubes from dry vermouth is a better match to that. So the term “Dry Martini” may the ice water to add to the whiskey, and then drank both glasses. have first referred to dry gin and dry vermouth over the sweet ver- After all, I was getting a plane and it’s good to stay hydrated. sions of each. Nowadays it refers to using as little vermouth as pos- sible, and that’s a shame because the wet version can be delicious. http://www.gaycalgary.com/a1386 To improve your Martini and Manhattan mixology at home, buy View additional pics/videos. • Share with a friend. • Post your comments. the smallest bottles of the most expensive vermouth you can find. Look for boutique brands Dolin or Vya, but Noilly-Prat is a good and Camper English is a cocktails and spirits writer and publisher of inexpensive dry vermouth and Martini & Rossi is a good sweet one. Alcademics.com. Before you throw out your current bottle, buy a new one and compare the two. The old vermouth will smell like vinegar and rancid vegeta- tion (kind of like that dumpster cheeseburger) while the new will have a crisp fresh aroma.
After opening, keep your vermouth in the refrigerator to help it last longer. (This is especially important with dry vermouth.) The better and fresher the vermouth, the more of it you’ll want mix into your cocktails. Soon instead of crying for a dry Martini you’ll be begging the bartender to make it wet.
Ice, Ice, Crabby Baby “May I see your ice?”
I heard myself asking the airport lounge bartender this, while real- izing I sounded like a complete bar snob. (I am, of course, but I prefer silent condemnation over verbal abuse.) But I wasn’t judging her or her ice; I merely wanted to make an informed decision about my drink, and to do that I would need to know what type of ice I’d have in it.
GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #71, September 2009 29 Community Event Artists for Quality of Life “It’s a Community’s Charity”
work with past Cut-A-Thon’s and works with the Artists for Qual- By Sam Casselman ity of Life.” Donnie’s legacy has lived on, growing in participants, and becoming a yearly date that many look forward to. Do you need a haircut? Perhaps something new for the sea- This event is meant for the whole family, including children and son, or a trim to be rid of that summer hair. If that is the case, pets! Cuts for adults and pets are priced at $20, while children you should head to Tomkins Park to get your hair done for a only pay $10. That’s not a bad price to pay for a hair cut from any fraction of the cost of a regular cut, while supporting a great of the reputable stylists from all over the city. In the park there charity. Artists for Quality of Life (AFQOL) is holding their 6th will also be clowns, face painting, food, and music – it’s a great Annual Donnie Peters Memorial Cut-A-Thon on September 7th way to spend your Labour Day! with proceeds going directly to feed people living with AIDS/ HIV, via the AIDS Calgary Nutrition Program. You can further support AFQOL and get a kick start on Pride weekend by heading to the Backlot on Friday, September 4th for “AFQOL consists of Calgarians volunteering their time and The Last Days of Disco, promising to live up the fun of the Disco talents to produce high-impact fundraising events in order to era. There will be a silent auction, shooters, prizes, and an award donate much needed funds to make a difference in the quality for best costume. Dust off your 70’s best for this party. of life of those living with AIDS/HIV,” says the front page of their In an economically challenging time, individuals in need are website. The organization was formed in 1988 by Minni Carlson always the first to feel the pinch, and rely on the support of the and her husband George by creating the Positive Living Lunch community to get them through it. The Cut-a-Thon is a great way Program, not only serving a healthy meal to individuals living with for everyone to support a great cause, and get a great haircut for a HIV/AIDS, but giving them a chance to socialize with their peers and connect with other services that may benefit them at AIDS great price! Calgary. http://www.gaycalgary.com/a1387 After Minnie retired in 1994, Patrick O’Neil and Doug Langille View additional pics/videos. • Share with a friend. • Post your comments. took over and now offer this lunch on bi-weekly Fridays from Sep- tember until June. Each meal is generously sponsored, and is run solely by volunteers. “No woman, man, or child living with HIV/AIDS should suffer from a lack of ‘Quality of Life’ - a good hot meal is only a start.” AFQOL Presents Donnie Peters, whose name is remembered through the Cut- A-Thon’s full title, was its creator and executor before passing The 6th Annual Donnie Peters Memorial Cut-a- in 1999. He generously contributed to the Positive Living Lunch Thon Program. It is with his contribution in mind that Linda Huston continued the tradition after he passed. All day Monday, September 7th Tomkins Park (17th Avenue SW) Huston’s goal for this year’s Cut-A-Thon is simple. The Lunch www.afqol.com Program is in need of funds to assist with purchasing groceries and to have an ongoing supply of cooking essentials, equipment, and to provide tables and chairs. Huston’s goal to have this pro- gram run “every second Friday of every month of the year, as well as offering funds for the bi-weekly coffee and support program” can come to fruition with your support. “We also want to honor the memory of Donnie and his hard
30 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #71, September 2009 Community Event The Calgary Eagle’s Chili Cook-Off A good meal in support of Beswick House
By Sam Casselman Trans Identity - From Page 41 tude.” In his paper, the female-to-male Barres notes the differences in As the leaves begin to change colour, the return of Fall is treatment of female scientists from male ones, drawing from his own becoming apparent. Ads for Campbell’s Soup remind us experiences in both genders. year after year, there is never a better time to sit down, One of the directors of the “Matrix” movies, formerly known as Larry relax, and enjoy a warm bowl of soup. On September Wachowski, is reported by Rolling Stone Magazine to be transitioning to 20th, why not pass on that soup and come out for some female. In the article, leather culture and associated personalities such as Buck Angel (an FTM porn actor) are used to generate an unflatter- amazing homemade chili, and make a difference support- ing controversy. As a consequence, Lana remains out of the public ing Beswick House? spotlight and a bit of an enigma.
The staff and patrons of the Calgary Eagle bring us this event for The State of Wisconsin passes the “Inmate Sex Change Prevention the 3rd year now. There are many culinary greats that frequent the Act” to deliberately ensure that the state would not be responsible for Eagle and were more than happy to try these talents in a little friendly the costs of GRS, also having the effect of completely stalling transition competition to raise funds for this worthy charity – the winner earns for transsexual inmates. bragging rights. Cult favorite TV-show, “The L Word,” introduces a female-to-male September 20th is also the date of Calgary’s AIDS Walk for Life. transsexual. Max (Moira) is the first regularly-occurring FTM character Jonathan, one of the owners of the Calgary Eagle is inviting everyone in the history of television and the first transgender character to transi- to come to the Eagle after the AIDS walk at 5:00 to “to drop by and give tion during the course of a show. Actress Daniela Sea is no stranger it a try.” He says it is important “to help raise money in support of the to performing as male, but some trans activists take issue with the Beswick House on behalf of the SHARP Foundation. early series portrayal, saying that it is “based on the stereotype that transmen are driven by and use testosterone as an excuse to become Currently, the SHARP Foundation’s major needs for funding include abusive, violent, and over-sexualized.” The producers listen, and the installing a new floor for Beswick House and elevator repair, aside from character of Max is later developed more fully. their continued care giving, and programs to maintain physical and emotional health of their clients. Chinese surgeons perform the world’s first penis transplant success- fully (however, the patient later has it removed at the request of his “Participation is open to everyone who loves to cook or eat chili,” wife, who has psychological objections), raising a question about the Johnathan states. Volunteers, staff, and residents of the Beswick possibility of developing a similar option for transmen. Such a develop- House get to judge the Chili on several different categories, including ment is still likely years away, however, because of the need to find best tasting, most original, most spicy – not to mention, which cook ways to deal with the differences in the underlying infrastructure. has the best costume! The 2005 documentary, “Screaming Queens: The Riot at Compton’s “All the contestants have not only donated their time, but also a Cafeteria,” written, directed and produced by Victor Silverman and small fee to support Beswick house. The chili is offered [in exchange Dr. Susan Stryker, is awarded an EMMY for “Outstanding Achieve- for a nominal donation] with all the proceeds going to Beswick as well.“ ment, Historical / Cultural Program.” The film gives life to the early In addition to the abundance of culinary creations and crazy cos- transgender (and wider GLBT) movement, and is one of the first true tumes, there will also be a small silent auction during the event. Prior transgender-exploring works to be recognized with a major award (the Chili Cook-Offs have received many generous donations from mem- closest previous trans-ish recognition is Jessica Lange’s 1983 victory in bers of the community, including a signed hockey jersey from Sydney “Tootsie”). Crosby that was auctioned off last year. Next month: Part 6B - Toward the Future (2007 - 2009)
“The winners of this event are definitely the SHARP Foundation Partial Bibliography: and all the people who have entered and supported the event,” asserts Johnathan. Much of this had been compiled over time, and not all the sources have been recorded. Some online sources have been involved as well, “We all benefit by the community spirit and enjoying a great early although I search for more corroboration in these cases. evening of great food, spirit, and knowledge of being there for each other.” Bullough, Vern: Homosexuality: A History From Ancient Greece to Gay Liberation Califia, Patrick: Sex Changes: The Politics of Transgen- http://www.gaycalgary.com/a1388 derism Colapinto, John: As Nature Made Him: The Story of a Boy Who View additional pics/videos. • Share with a friend. • Post your comments. Was Raised as a Girl Currah, Paisley; Richard M. Juang and Shan- non Price Minter: Transgender Rights Feinberg, Leslie: TransGender Warriors Fletcher, Lynne Yamaguchi: The First Gay Pope (and other records) Kessler, Suzanne; and McKenna, Wendy: Gender: An Ethno- methodological Approach Rudacille, Deborah: The Riddle of Gender Walker, Barbara: various works Williams, Walter: The Spirit and the Flesh The Calgary Eagle Presents The Great Chili Cook-Off http://www.gaycalgary.com/a1395 View additional pics/videos. • Share with a friend. • Post your comments. Sunday, September 20th @ 5pm Pick up an entry form at the Calgary Eagle. See the Mercedes Allen is a writer who blogs at http://dentedbluemercedes.wordpress. com/, has been featured on bilerico.com, PageOneQ and others, and has also ad in this magazine, or visit the bar for more details. developed the website at AlbertaTrans.org as a resource for transgender information and support.
GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #71, September 2009 31 Letters Community Event Letters to the Editor So Your Child is Gay…
Dear Readers, By James S.M Demers On behalf of the ISCCA, the Texas Lounge and myself, Emperor 32 Michael Myte, I would like to thank the community of Calgary once Being a parent is the single most thankless, demanding, again for coming together for a cause! This time the cause was grant- ing a wish for a dear friend who is entering chemotherapy for cancer. and unpredictable path anyone can commit to. Yet it is an Grand Duke 22 Kevin DunaNation started chemo on Aug 30th, and so expectation for most people on the planet, that one day he wanted to do a fundraiser for cancer research. they will grow up to birth, raise, and set examples to influ- With the help of Calgary’s community, our little shave your head ence their moral upbringing. fundraiser netted $1321.00!! This is amazing and we thank everyone But the model family from many years ago is evolving into some- for their support of Kevin’s idea and bid to make this donation to the thing markedly different. The modern family spends less time eating Alberta Cancer Society! together, being together and connecting with each other; the latter Special thanks to the Texas Lounge for hosting this event, Deva being the root cause of miscommunication surrounding larger concerns Dave for making everyone bald, the ISCCA for being on hand to sell and expectations from parent to child and vice versa. As their children shooters and, as Kevin is part of this organization, the funds will be a begin to grow into young adults, parents envision the life and path that direct donation to the Alberta Cancer Society through the ISCCA; and they want (and often expect) for their children, often including marriage of course GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine for photographing the and having children of their own. event! Teenagers feel the stress of adolescence (an experience that their And just because charity cannot get enough cash, I’m sending a parents have fought hard to forget) which include new responsibilities, challenge out to all those who got their heads buzzed to pop out to the peer pressure and school work, and of course the awkward onset of Donnie Peters Cut-A-Thon on Monday September 7, and although we puberty. don’t need a cut, a $20 dollar donation in lieu of your cut helps some- But few parents expect their child to sit them down and discuss with one with HIV/AIDS benefit from the AIDS Calgary Hot Lunch Program. them how they see their life differing from their carefully drawn out I hope to see you all out there, and thank you again for you friend- blueprint. Most have not even considered the possibility that their child ship and support of everything we do. may turn out to be gay, bisexual, or trans.
Sincerely, Several reactions commonly take place: Michael Espeseth - Denial that their child is old enough, or otherwise has the capacity aka to know what their sexual attractions are. Emperor 32 of Calgary Michael Myte - Dismissing what their child says, in favour of a theory that they are going through an immature phase and they will snap out of it in time.
- Becoming completely furious at the idea that their little boy/girl is Dear Readers, different from what they expected, and feeling embarrassed or ashamed Thanks for playing with your balls!!! to face friends and family, usually resulting in a threat or actually kick- ing the child out of their home. (Statistically 30% of the homeless popu- The second annual “Lawn Bowling for Beswick”, held August 09, lation in major cities are under the age of 18 and of these, a majority 2009 at the Inglewood Lawn Bowling Association was another HUGE identify along the queer spectrum.) success. We managed to more than double our fundraising dollars; we caught another great day of sunshine and managed to provide a - Admitting they already suspect their child may be gay and having refreshing bar and hot burgers from the ISCCA. prepared themselves for this possibility.
I would really like to thank some of the people that made our event Some parents will grapple with one or more of these reactions. Some an even better success than last year: The Texas Lounge for your will be able to accept their child, and some will not. wonderful donation of bottled water, the volunteers who kept things The best way for any parent to cope and learn (of those who are will- on schedule and cleaned at the end of our day, and the Inglewood ing to make the effort) is to find support with other parents and queer Lawn Bowling Association for donating their facility for a beautiful day positive people who can help answer their many questions. One such of lawn bowling with friends and supporters of the SHARP Founda- opportunity coming up very shortly, is a seminar being hosted by the tion and Beswick House. I would also like to acknowledge and thank Women’s Health Resource Centre, called Your Child Just said that S/He GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine for your sponsorship of the event is Gay – Now What? again this year. It was greatly appreciated by everyone involved in the planning. The session will be taught by Jane Oxenbury, a registered psycholo- gist, who has extensive work with families and queer youth. It will take I wish to extend an extra thanks to the queens from the ISCCA for place on September 24th from 7pm to 9pm at the Women’s Health daring to face the sunlight (and not go “poof”) while gathering a team to Resource Centre located at 185, 1441 - 29th Street NW. lawn bowl into a solid last place finish. You go girls! Call 403-944-2260 to register – it costs $35 dollars but early regis- Watch for us again in August 2010 and come out to take part in all tration is only $25 (financial assistance is available on request). the fun that you have been missing. Thank you everyone for coming out to play with your balls in support of Persons Living with HIV/AIDS. Don’t let this important opportunity pass you by - it will mean the Cheers, world to you and your kids. The Friends of Beswick http://www.gaycalgary.com/a1390 View additional pics/videos. • Share with a friend. • Post your comments. http://www.gaycalgary.com/a1389 View additional pics/videos. • Share with a friend. • Post your comments.
32 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #71, September 2009 Health Advice Look What’s Back
Infectious syphilis is completely treatable with antibiotics, By AIDS Calgary although easier to treat early on. Since the painless syphilis sore may be difficult to identify, we encourage anyone who is sexually What do dictator Adolf Hitler, philosopher Friedrich Ni- active to get regularly tested for both HIV and STI’s, including etzsche, gangster Al Capone and artist Paul Gaugin all syphilis by contacting your family doctor, the Calgary STD Clinic; have in common? All 4 were suspected of having syphilis (403)-955-6700, or Calgary Safeworks; (403)-850-3755, for a syphilis blood test and follow up treatment if required. These ser- and, ultimately, dying due to that infection. vices provide free syphilis testing and treatment and do not require With treatment for syphilis readily available today it is not identification and/or an Alberta Health Card. nearly so common to hear about syphilis causing death. However, For additional information on syphilis, the AIDS Calgary HEAT Syphilis infection rates are steadily rising in Calgary and through- Outreach Program provides information to community members out Alberta and is specifically a concern within the gay men/MSM through community outreach, online outreach, and educational (men who have sex with men) community. materials and programs. For further information, us at 403-508- The gay men/MSM community currently represents 28% of 2500x115 or via email at [email protected]. new syphilis infections in the Calgary Region. According to Alberta References: Health Services, 218 cases of infectious syphilis were confirmed within the province last year, with several cases still being investi- 1. Alberta Health and Wellness. February 2009. Sexually Trans- gated1.. [1] mitted Infections, January – December 2008, Preliminary Data. Prevention to Alberta Advisory Committee on HIV and STI. Syphilis first appeared in known human history sometime around the 14th to 15th century. Academics theorize that Syphilis http://www.gaycalgary.com/a1391 first showed up in Europe in 1493, coinciding with Christopher View additional pics/videos. • Share with a friend. • Post your comments. Columbus’ return from the New World. An effective treatment for syphilis was discovered with the advent of antibiotics but even with effective treatment, we have not managed to completely wipe out the disease. The last spike in rates that many people remember occurred over 30 years ago. Often thought of now as a disease of the 70’s, we saw rates of syphilis infections plateau in the 90’s. In Alberta, low rates of anywhere between 0.01 and 0.03 per 100,000 were common in the 90’s. Five years ago those rates started to rise. 74 cases in 2004, 147 in 2005, 218 in 2006, and 250 in 2007. It’s official, syphilis is back. It’s been so long since the last syphilis outbreak that many of us probably don’t even know how to identify syphilis. Here is some handy information on syphilis symptoms, prevention, testing and treatment. Symptoms Syphilis may present different symptoms at all three stages of infection. The primary infectious stage may include a single pain- less sore (ulcer) or multiple painful ulcers in the genital area. The secondary infectious stages of syphilis may present as a generalized rash commonly found on the palms of hands or soles of feet, and could be accompanied by fever and swollen glands. If left untreated syphilis could develop into its latent stages lead- ing to serious complications including neurological or cardiovascu- lar damage. Also, syphilis may expose individuals to an increased risk of HIV infection through sores or lesions present around genital areas and mucous membranes. Prevention Infectious syphilis can be prevented through engaging in safer sexual practices including condom use for anal and oral sex. Communicating with your partner, negotiating safer sex practices, and getting tested for sexually transmitted infections and HIV on a regular basis are important in maintaining your sexual health. Testing and Treatment
GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #71, September 2009 33 Theatre Preview Thank You Mr. Presley A Tribute to the King at Jubilations
Thank You Mr. Presley By Benjamin Hawkcliffe takes place in a hotel that is halfway between Memphis If you are a regular at Jubilations Dinner Theatre you and Vegas called the Heart- have likely seen Joe Davies in action. He’s been in- break Hotel. There are rumors that Elvis Presley used to stay volved with the company since the late 1980’s either there on his gigs between performing in shows or writing scripts. For the first Memphis and Vegas. People time, he acts in a show he wrote, Thank You Mr. Pres- go to the hotel to experience ley the spirit of Mr. Elvis Presley. , playing until November 8th. There are lots of rumors - that “I did a production back in the late 80’s in Regina where the whole he is still alive and lives in the concept of Jubilations began. It was a 1950’s musical review called hotel, he owns the hotel, has I Like Mike. It was based on an election with the music of the 50’s. been seen in the area. There Back then you were allowed to work at Jubilations at 12. And you are a number of couples that could smoke during the show. Things were different back then. Any- visit the hotel over the course thing goes in the 80’s that was the real recession,” he quipped. of an evening and discover the true nature of love, with the Davies has been in many shows including Ranchers and Rustlers, music of Elvis Presley to move 29, and last year’s Grey’s House of Anatomy to name a few. He has the story along. also written seven shows including Betwitched, Canadian Graffitti, Buddy Holly Birthday Bash, the upcoming Luck Be A Lady and of “I get to play four differ- course, Thank You Mr. Presley. ent characters - the man in a young couple who is planning ”In the mid 90’s I had just moved out to Vancouver, and Randy to have a family, a middle Apostle had just taken over as Artistic Director. I had written a show aged couple having a mid-life crisis and an older couple celebrating based on Buddy Holly music and he wanted to use it,” he said. Per- their 60th wedding anniversary. I also, at the top of the show, play forming in a show he wrote isn’t strange for him. “They are different an Elvis Tribute Artist. So I get to explore difference aspects and disciplines. The scripts are finished so far in advance of rehearsals facets of human relationships throughout the span of a lifetime. It and you get removed from the process as soon as it is finished. You is a lot of characters but that is what makes it fun for the performer relinquish that involvement with the piece.” and the audience.” Davies has often incorporated tasteful gay themed jokes into his So why see Thank You Mr. Presley? Davies makes a pretty strong scripts. argument. ”I think any kind of sexuality in itself, in light comedy entertain- “First of all, keep me employed! Come for the very attractive men ment, should be handled tastefully. Looking at how our shows in the cast and for Brandi Chemerika who is basically a gay man explore heterosexual relationships you could say the same thing. with boobs. It is a good time from the moment you walk in until As a young man when I was writing a lot of corporate events with a you leave. It is loosely based on some themes from A Midsummer producer in Vancouver he would always say that I had my ‘agenda.’ Nights Dream where Shakespeare says ‘The path to true love is never He meant in a very polite way that I was always trying to forward a smooth.’ When you come into a theatre and experience this evening, message either of my own political beliefs or how I’d like to be viewed you will see it is about human relationships. Our ideas of romantic sexually, as a person who has relationships and the same trials and love are never as romantic and ideal as we picture them. You will see tribulations as any heterosexual couple. I don’t think I consciously parallels with the relationships presented, in the relationships people go out to make positive role models in that aspect. I try to stay away have with their own lover, in their parents, family and the people from clichés with any kind of character that I create. The best thing around them. The music is great and it is extremely funny. It is so to do is take interesting people in interesting situations and let it funny if you don’t think it’s funny I’ll give you your money back!” he play out itself.” concluded, before adding “Just kidding! Well, about the refund. The show is that funny.” That said, at times GLBT audience members have reacted strongly in a negative way, taking a light fun moment and feeling it is homo- phobic. http://www.gaycalgary.com/a1392 View additional pics/videos. • Share with a friend. • Post your comments. ”I understand why people say that because there are perceived negative stereotypes of what makes a gay character. I have played them and I don’t like playing them or seeing them. If a gay person is in a movie, play or TV they always have to be flamboyant, can’t have a strong leading role, and are played up for camp effect. Those are the characters I saw growing up like Mr. Humphries on Are You Being Served or men dressing up as ladies in Monty Python. I can see why people get tired of that kind of representation of themselves be- Thank You Mr. Presley cause there are such a diverse variety of people. That said, pick your battles. There was a time when you couldn’t mention homosexuality September 5th – November 8th let alone put it on a stage without people showing up with billboards Jubilations Dinner Theatre and signs. Angels in America had a big stink about it when it was (403) 249-7799 produced up in Edmonton. I did a gay piece in Edmonton in 2002 that got flak from straight media. With Jubilations, or any theatre www.jubilations.ca company, you know your audience and you play to them.”
34 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #71, September 2009 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #71, September 2009 35 36 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #71, September 2009 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #71, September 2009 37 Community Event The 2009 Scotiabank Walk for Life Pound the Pavement with AIDS Calgary and HIV Edmonton
tion that spans many years and is celebrated across the country. By: Dallas Barnes Come out and support AIDS Calgary, HIV Edmonton, and the SHARP Foundation. “One person in Canada is infected with HIV/AIDS approxi- mately every 2 hours.” In fact, it is estimated that 4000 http://www.gaycalgary.com/a1393 Albertans are affected by HIV and AIDS. AIDS Calgary and View additional pics/videos. • Share with a friend. • Post your comments. HIV Edmonton would like these statistics to be on your mind as you walk and support The 2009 Scotiabank Walk For more information, check out the Walk for Life Pledge Form centerfold in this magazine. for Life on September 20th. Floyd Visser of the SHARP Foundation could not be more ex- cited for this event. Although it is hosted by AIDS Calgary, “they have kindly allowed the funds that are pledged to the SHARP team walkers to go directly to The SHARP Foundation for its care programs.” These programs are consistent with the Foundation’s The Scotiabank AIDS Walk of Life Edmonton approach to wholisitic support to improve the health and quality of life for its residents. Currently, it cares for up to 18 residents www.hivedmonton.com in three facilities including The Beswick House, Scott House, and Project 2011, and others through outreach care. However there The Scotiabank AIDS Walk of Life Calgary are still many individuals that are being referred to the SHARP www.aidscalgary.com Foundation that, for lack of funds, cannot be supported by the organization. This is why the Scotiabank AIDS Walk for Life is so The S.H.A.R.P. Foundation important. “The need is urgent!” www.thesharpfoundation.com Visser is proud of his walking teams that are made up of supporters, residents, former residents, funders, volunteers, and Board members. Naturally they welcome more pledges and additional walkers. Visit their website to find out how to support their team, or choose the SHARP Foundation as your pledge recipi- ent on the Walk for Life Pledge Form centerfold in this month’s magazine. HIV Edmonton is just as excited. For the second year in a row, AIDS Calgary has challenged HIV Edmonton to what they call the Alberta Throwdown. “The agency that raises the most money for The 2009 Scotiabank Walk for Life will be declared tops in Al- berta.” The loser will be subject to an embarrassing task as chosen by the winner. All in good fun, this is more reason to come out and support your city of choice. HIV Edmonton “has been providing support, community educa- tion, advocacy, prevention and harm reduction education to the Edmonton community for twenty-one years.” Similarly AIDS Calgary “promote(s) the healthy choices people can make to reduce their risk of getting or spreading HIV/AIDS. (They) provide infor- mation and resources on practicing safer sex, wearing condoms and avoiding behaviors or situations that could put you at risk since 1983.” There are two ways that you can participate at the walk in your city. You can either register as a team or as an individual; the goal for teams is to raise $2000 and individuals to raise $250. All of the proceeds go to help those programs in your chosen city. Simply register at either the AIDS Calgary website or the HIV Edmonton website. The walk begins at Eau Claire Centre in Calgary, and Churchill Square in Edmonton. Even if you are not walking, you can still come down to these locations to cheer on the walkers. If you are walking, make sure you dress the part and bring your enthusiasm with you! Prizes include: Top Early Bird, Top Walker, Top Child, Top Youth, Top Corporate Team, Top Non-Corporate Team, and Top Dog. Make sure to stay after the event to enjoy food, fun, and entertainment. The Scotiabank AIDS Walk for Life is a time honoured tradi-
38 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #71, September 2009 Concert Review This is No Secret (But it Will Make You Wet!)
for the same team, you can see them hanging with their homo homeys By Antonio Bavaro all over town.
“We joke that there are 3 gay men in the band, plus Lyle and Paul. If I were to say “Alberta Queer Music”, the first person to We have tagged the girls as 14 year old gay boys trapped in bodacious come to mind is probably k.d. lang. Although this Edmon- female bodies,” mentions Trevor. ton native is the most celebrated queer artist to come out The idea of a band first took seed when local writer Fish Grotowski of this ‘redneck’ province, she is certainly not the only one. took a picture of Lyle licking Trevor’s ear at a pub one night - a Wet It’s no secret that there does tend to be more gays in the Secret. The band officially formed in 2005 as an experiment between arts scene, but let me whet your appetite with an inter- friends, seeing if they could write, compose and record a full 10 song view withby interviewing one of Canada’s up &and coming album in a week. Thus they created the do-it-yourself album, “A Whale of a Cow”. The album became an independent favourite, and after musical acts. playing at many venues and festivals here in the west, the Wet Secrets We were blessed this year during Edmonton’s post-Pride parade recorded their first studio album in 2008, “Rock Fantasy”. The album celebration in Churchill square with an array of spectacular entertain- became widely popular, spurring a tour to the east and to the US…or ment, including drag queens, singer/songwriters and stilt walkers, but was it spurred by their own appetites? Trevor Anderson explains: a highlight was when the Wet Secrets took the stage. “We love meat! In Montreal there was smoked meat sandwiches to “Our song ‘Secret March’ was just waiting to be played for thousands devour; in Austin, Texas, a huge BBQ every night where Donna, who’s of dancing queers on a nice, sunny day,” says drummer and paint-can been a vegetarian for years, ate nothing but steak! As long as a city is player, Trevor Anderson. “Luckily, when we asked the lovely Krystal famous for meat, we’ll play there.” Ball to help out on the triangle, she more than stepped up to the chal- Fans will be happy to learn that the band plans on going back to the lenge with a fantastic solo! It didn’t hurt that [her outfit] matched the studio this fall for an album to be released early next year. drum kit we got from local punk rock legends SNFU, either.” “At first we started all this jokingly for our own amusement, but it’s They describe their work as fun-good-time-dance-in-your-underwear evolved into something great. With our over the top costumes, they music. You can’t help but shake it up under the influence of their think this is all a joke, so we’re trying to make the music real and as rockin’ energy and stage presence, once they start marching in their mind-meltingly good as possible, so it will stand on its own and sur- matching red and white band uniforms (which Trevor acquired from prise everybody!” Red Deer College). A benefit of being in a wealthy part of the world is that people have The fuzz/horn-y/indie rock band members are among Edmonton’s money to go support local talent, and unfortunately our queer artists busiest and most prolific artists. The amount of involvement that the and allies sometimes get left in the dust by our community because members of the Wet Spots have in other bands and businesses can get people simply don’t know about the great stuff being produced nowa- a little difficult to explain. On tuba, trombone and trumpet, we have days. So next time you see the Wet Secrets in print, make sure you go Donna Ball and Kim Rackell, founding members of the classic and sexy and check them out; your ears (and your feet) will thank you for the Capital City Burlesque (some of you might remember Donna from her workout. In the immortal words of one of their song titles, “Get Your days bussing after you party animals at the Roost). Kim’s fiancée, bass- Own Fucking Moustache, Asshole!” ist and lead vocalist Lyle Bell, is part of the Juno nominated Shout Out Out Out Out!. Pianist Paul Armusch, who works with Bell as the Whitey Houstons and Whit Sundays, is also in the band the Faunts. Anderson http://www.gaycalgary.com/a1394 himself has produced and directed 5 short films with his companyDirt View additional pics/videos. • Share with a friend. • Post your comments. City Films which have played at GLBTQ film festivals around the world: Rugburn, Rock Pockets, Dinx, Carpet Diem, and The Island. The Wet Secrets www.wetsecrets.ca With super gay songs like “Mr. Rimjob 1999”, “Anal Rape Santa” and “Rock Fantasy” is available on iTunes and at HMV stores. “The Chinball Wizard” (which is all about Trevor Anderson, surprise surprise), it’s no wonder that the homo-centric band has opened for another gay favourite, Metric. But although the whole band isn’t playing
GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #71, September 2009 39 Trans Identity A History of Gender Variance in Expression and Identity Part 6A: Toward the Future (1996 - 2006)
paper that exposes John Money’s claims of success in the “John/Joan” By Mercedes Allen case.
Sigmundson is David Reimer’s (see 1956 and 1972 entries) supervis- It is interesting that it really wasn’t until after Stonewall - ing psychiatrist at that time, and the two describe Reimer’s literal quest when the gay, lesbian and bisexual (GLB) and transgender to regain his manhood. Diamond goes on to found the Society for the (T) communities started to define themselves - that marked Scientific Study of Sexuality. divisions occurred among them. From the earliest ages, 1998 - John Colapinto publishes “As Nature Made Him: The Boy gender variance and same-sex love were seen as connected Who Was Raised As A Girl,” telling David Reimer’s story in depth, on and congruous, even if one aspect manifested entirely the heels of a pivotal Rolling Stone article on the subject. Ongoing without the other. Before the oppression of the Middle troubles would plague Reimer, however, including divorce, the death of Ages, both were also seen as equally innate and equally his twin brother, family strain and more - Reimer commits suicide in 2004. respectable. The rifts that began in the early 1970s (albeit with some earlier genesis in The Mattachine Society and Rita Hester is murdered in late November. Discussion about trans- Daughters of Bilitis), deepening with third-wave feminism phobic violence that caused her death, that of Tyra Hunter and many others inspires activists (including Gwendolyn Ann Smith, who curates and other movements, would start to come closer together the list) to catalogue and commemorate these deaths in the form of the again as Western culture entered the new millennium, and Transgender Day of Remembrance. TDoR events as the various communities learned now take place annually, usually between No- that they could distinguish themselves vember 20th and 28th, in communities around and still learn to understand and re- the world. spect each other. The trans community Transgender activists once again protest would remain outside the longest, not exclusion from The Gay Games in Amsterdam, seeing any protective civil rights legislation this time with modified rules from those previously rescinded in the last Games: that competitors require pass until 1993. But as inclusion would documented completion of sex change or two years on spread, so would protections. hormones before being able to compete. Female-to-male (FTM) transman, photographer Loren Cameron drops out 1996 - JoAnna McNamera of It’s Time Oregon successful- of competition in protest, but Israeli MTF singer Dana Inter- ly convinces Oregon’s Bureau of Labor and Industry (BOLI) national still performs at the Games’ festivities. that transsexuals are protected under existing Oregon labor law dealing with discrimination of people with disabilities and Japan allows the first legal gender reassignment surgery medical conditions. This made Oregon the third state to extend (GRS) in that nation to be performed on an FTM transsexual. employment protection to transgender people, following Minnesota and Nebraska. Hayley Cropper, a transsexual character, first appears on the popular British soap opera, “Coronation Street.” It is the third time The Transgender Community Forum becomes a major hub of com- that a transgender character appears in serialized television (the first munication for America Online users, and eventually spawns a wealth was Maxwell Q. Klinger in “M*A*S*H;” the second occurrence was in of information and support websites. Gwen Smith, who later founds Australia in 1973), and the first time that the character is kept on as the Transgender Day of Remembrance, spearheads much of the TCF’s a regular in a daytime soap opera (she was originally planned to be resources. The explosion of the Internet would ultimately spread written out of the show, and viewer response pushed them to bring her awareness and access to information in ways like never before. back). Cropper continues to be a regular (and sympathetic) character on the series. Notable descendents would include heartcorps.com (1997, origi- nating earlier on AOL), drbecky.com (1998, originating earlier on Nong Toom, a Thai kathoey (female-to-male transgender person) Mindspring), tsroadmap.com (1999, originating in 1997 on AOL), enters professional kick-boxing - despite taking feminizing hormones transsexual.org (1999), annelawrence.com (1999, originating earlier on - and becomes a legend. She would later go on to have GRS surgery, Mindspring - also notable for its controversial support of the theory of and her story is told in the subtitled movie, “Beautiful Boxer.” Autogynephilia), antijen.org (1999) and lynnconway.com (2000). 1999 - Since the Michigan Womyn’s Festival (a noteworthy and The 1995 deaths of transwomen Tyra Hunter in DC, and Chanelle popular lesbian community event) continues to exclude transwomen Pickett in Boston, gradually bring to the spotlight several issues facing and refuses to acknowledge them as being women, Camp Trans is the African-American transgender community including race, justice, revived to protest. discrimination, and transphobia. They emphasize the point that the faces of transgender hate violence victims are increasingly people of Initially, post-op MTF transsexuals are allowed to attend, but color. confrontations occur. The exclusion and the protests would continue annually, through the time of writing. Michael Alig is arrested for the murder of “Angel” Melendez over a drug debt. The arrest draws national attention to the Club Kids, an The National Transgender Advocacy Coalition (NTAC) is formed as an often-cross-dressing troupe of wildly costumed teens in New York in advocacy organization across the US. the late 1980s and early 1990s. The Club Kids fall from grace and In a Texas court, in Littleton vs. Prang, Christine Littleton (a post-op eventually vanish. The story is later chronicled in James St. James’ MTF transsexual) loses her case against the doctor who she contended memoir, “Disco Bloodbath,” and in a movie and documentary, both negligently allowed her husband to die. As the defense argues, even entitled, “Party Monster.” Of particular significance, the famous female though her birth certificate has been amended to denote “female,” it impersonator RuPaul was discovered during the Club Kids’ tour of the had originally read “male,” and since same-sex marriage is not permit- talk show circuit, roughly around 1988, and later catapults to fame in ted in Texas, she was not legally his widow or entitled to anything on a music video for the B-52s’ single, “Love Shack.” behalf of his estate. 1997 - Milton Diamond and Dr. H. Keith Sigmundson publish a
40 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #71, September 2009 Trans Identity
Dr. Scott Kerlin founds the DES Sons International Network, an sexuals to compete as their reassigned gender if the surgery has taken online support and advocacy group for children exposed to Di-Ethyl place at least two years prior to the competition and if the athlete has Stilbestrol (DES) in utero, fighting the perception that DES is strictly been on a regimen of hormones equal to that of a person born to the a womens’ health issue. When DES Sons is only a few months old, a gender. Despite this resolution and a promise to eliminate gender new member raises the issue that he had always felt that he was a girl, testing, gender testing continues to this day, and the participation of and was, in fact, transsexual. This initiates a flood of confessions about a transsexual in the Olympic Games uncontested has not yet been other members’ own gender identity issues, and quickly becomes one of tested. the dominant themes raised by male children of DES births (although not all DES Sons experience transgender leanings). DES Trans is later The Transgender Law Center is founded, and works toward protect- set up by Kerlin and Dr. Dana Beyer as a separate support group for ing and entrenching the rights of transgender persons in California, as this discussion. well as assisting legal activists elsewhere.
Pvt. Barry Winchell is murdered by fellow soldiers, resparking a The Centurion, a modified form of metoidioplasty is introduced as a questioning of the “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy of the U.S. Military. surgical alternative for female-to-male transsexuals. He is murdered because of allegations that arise from his relationship 2003 - Calpernia Addams and Andrea James found Deep Stealth with transwoman Calpernia Addams. Their story is retold in the 2003 Productions. Deep Stealth produces video work providing advice on movie, “Soldier’s Girl.” Addams later starts the TSroadmap website with voice therapy and makeup / presentation, and supplements the TS Andrea James, and the two collaborate on several projects to assist Roadmap spectrum of MTF online written advice. transwomen. J. Michael Bailey publishes “The Man Who Would Be Queen: Mayor Georgina Beyer becomes New Zealand’s (and the World’s) first The Science of Gender Bending and Transsexualism,” a horribly-re- transsexual Member of Parliament. Beyer did so against the odds, hav- searched text that heavily sexualizes transsexuals and popularizes ing come from a background of sex work, then transitioning and rising Ray Blanchard’s theory of Autogynephilia, while dividing transsexu- to public office. als according to sexual orientation. Bailey would later be reduced in Robert Eads dies of ovarian cancer. A transman, Eads is denied status at his position at Northwestern University amidst allegations of treatment by more than two dozen doctors out of fears that taking him not having disclosed to some of his interviewees that they were being on as a patient might be an embarrassment to their practice. His story recorded (one of whom also alleged that Bailey had slept with her), is told (in his own words) in the award-winning documentary, “South- though the University denied that the allegations had anything to do ern Comfort.” with the demotion.
After a few years of fighting with the British legal system, Petra Northwestern University and Toronto’s Clarke Institute of Psychiatry Henderson, a UK citizen residing in Germany, puts forward a special (later the Centre for Addictions and Mental Health) would become in- case that is decided by the Lord Chancellor: she is allowed to change extricably linked by the associations and cliquish affirmations between her name and gender status (despite Britain’s refusal to change Birth Blanchard, Bailey, Kenneth Zucker, Anne Lawrence, Alice Dreger and Certificates)... without affecting her marital status. Because the case others whose work sexualizes and stigmatizes transsexual, transgender is considered a unique case, authorities refuse to allow it to set a prec- and sometimes intersex people. edent. In 2002, with Henderson’s assistance, a British citizen in Paris Mara Keisling starts the National Center for Transgender Equality. approaches the consulate in France and wins a similar victory, thus defusing the “one-off” claim. This helps pave the way for the Gender The significant “Re Kevin” set of legal decisions comes down in Recognition Act in 2004 (although the GRA requires a divorce before a Australia. They are cited in many cases internationally with regards new gender is recognized). to identification and access issues, stating that “There should be no escape for medical and legal authorities that these definitions (of man The Transgender Pride flag is designed by Monica Helms, and is first and woman) ought to be corrected and updated when new information shown the following year at a pride parade in Phoenix, Arizona, USA. becomes available, particularly when our outdated definitions bring 2000 - Congressman Tom Lantos (D-CA) introduces a measure suffering to some of our fellow human beings”. “expressing the concern of Congress regarding human rights violations Jennifer Finney Boylan’s memoir, “She’s Not There,” becomes the against lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, and trangendered [sic] individu- first-known best-selling work by a transgender American. als around the world.” In doing so, Lantos, the only Holocaust survivor to be elected to US Congress, introduces the first known transgender- In Lawrence v. Texas, the US Supreme Court arrives at a 6-3 ruling inclusive resolution proposed on a national stage in the US. It does not that strikes down the prohibition of homosexual sodomy in Texas, and pass, but paves the way for later attempts. declares that such laws are unconstitutional. Several other states still have anti-sodomy laws on the books, but they are now not frequently Jane Fee becomes the first openly transgender person to attend any enforced. political party’s national convention (the Democratic National Conven- tion in LA). 2004 - The Gender Recognition Act of 2004 is passed in the UK, allowing transgender persons to legally change their sex and have it 2001 - Erin Lindsey begins producing Venus Envy, a popular ongo- recognized for the purposes of marriage and other issues. ing webcomic strip focusing on the life of Zoe Carter, a young trans- sexual girl living in Salem, Pennsylvania. Dee Palmer (born David Palmer), former member of the rock band Jethro Tull, comes out as an MTF transsexual. Palmer had been born Canadian cyclist Michelle Dumaresq enters the sport of downhill intersex and assigned male gender at birth. bike racing, six years after her SRS surgery. She would go on to win battles with Cycling BC and the Canadian Cycling Association to 2005 - Although homosexuality had been delisted as a mental dis- compete, win the 2002 Canada Cup series, win the 2003 Canadian order in 1973, transgenderism is still listed in the DSM-IV. However, a National Championships and score additional victories. At the 2006 new wave of thinking has transsexuality and transgenderism linked to Canadian Nationals, a protest from one of her competitors during the more biological factors, such as DNA predisposition, or DES. Books of podium ceremonies would bring renewed attention to Dumaresq’s the time begin to reflect this, including Deborah Rudacille’s “The Riddle participation in female sports: the boyfriend of second-place finisher of Gender.” Danika Schroeter would jump up onto the podium and help Schroeter put on a t-shirt reading “100% Pure Woman Champ.” Dumaresq later 2006 - The Gwen Araujo Justice for Victims Act becomes law. The becomes the subject of the CTV documentary, “100% Woman.” bill, fueled by the murder of Gwen Araujo and 2004 murder of Joel Robles (in which the defendant plea-bargained his way down to a 4- 2002 - Gwen “Lida” Araujo is murdered by several partygoers, who month sentence), prevents defendants from using panic strategies and had discovered her male genitalia. The three men who were charged potential biases against the victim to minimize their actions. alternately resorted to panic strategies during their defense, trying to minimize (i.e. to a charge of “Manslaughter”) or legitimize their actions Dr. Ben Barres writes a highly-noted article in Nature refuting an because of their apparent shock at the discovery. Araujo’s mother and earlier theory by Lawrence Summers and others that there are fewer local activists would embark on a battle to address this tactic. female scientists than male because of a difference in “intrinsic apti-
The International Olympic Committee amends policy to allow trans- Continued on Page 31 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #71, September 2009 41 42 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #71, September 2009 Fundraising Photos
ISCCA Drag Show at the Calgary Eagle Fake Mustache Show at The Soda - Calgary
Bowling for Beswick - Calgary Pride Calgary Art Auction at the Calgary Eagle
GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #71, September 2009 43 Fundraising Photos
ISCWR Candidate Show - Edmonton Marni’s B-Day Fundraiser at PLAY - Edmonton Photos by Karen Hofmann Photos by Karen Hofmann
Shaving Heads for Hope at Texas Lounge - Calgary Tits and Mitts Tournament - Edmonton Photos by Karen Hofmann
44 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #71, September 2009 Book Review
Welcome Home: Building the Michigan Womyn’s Music Festival A “Visual Poem” of an often private space
a community form around this process.” By James S.M. Demers Each worker’s story has been documented on film. Photos depict- ing the sense of community and belonging show how strong the bond “Michigan is a conscious experiment in living accord- of women can be, and how powerful the sense of “coming home” to be ing to feminist principles, and what that means is very oneself is. These women come every year and volunteer their time to complicated.” ensure that the legacy of The Michigan Womyn’s Festival stays as true and pure as it was in 1976. For the first time ever the Michigan Womyn’s Music Festival is be- ing visually documented by photographer Angela Jiminez. Officially Although Michigan has met its fair share of controversy with its released at the Festival in the summer of 2009, Jiminez’s photographic “womyn born womyn” policy, which mandates that womyn attend- documentary chronicles three years of the “herstoric” festival. ing and working the Festival must be born a girl, lived as a girl, and presently identify as a womyn, it has largely been somewhat of a secret Jiminez, a 34 year-old Brooklyn based journalist/documentarian society. Jiminez tells a story with her pictures, and we can now have photographer is a regular contributor to The New York Times and a a sneak peak. When viewing these photographs, however, one comes contract photographer with the Getty Images Creative Department. to realize that not all is told. One can only know everything by being there. The sense of accomplishment that must come year after year, In 2003, while on assignment for Velvetpark Magazine, a lesbian and the be-as-you-are environment could never be replicated on paper. publication, she first discovered the Michigan Womyn’s Festival, or What Jiminez does do instead, is make us want to be there ourselves, Michigan as it has come to be known as. A little nervous about the and to yearn to be welcomed home. unfamiliar idea of an all female environment, she left the event “deeply inspired to go back. Michigan is a major part of herstory. It is aging and Welcome Home: Building the Michigan Womyn’s Music Festival, and its story has gone largely untold.” prints from the book are available online at www.thewelcomehome- book.com. Michigan was created in 1976 by than 19 year-old Lisa Vogel, her sister Kristie and Mary Kindig “as a response to perceived misogyny, http://www.gaycalgary.com/a1397 sexism, and homophobia” of the time. These three women have wit- nessed too many female musicians and stagehands become victims of View additional pics/videos. • Share with a friend. • Post your comments. harassment at events run by heterosexual men. As a result, Michigan was, and still is feminist-minded women run musical event that allows women to just be, and finally feel at home without any heteronormative rules and restrictions.
The Vogels and Kindig purchased 650 acres of land in Hart, Michi- gan with funds raised by sponsors and fundraisers. “The Land” as it is lovingly referred to is now the permanent home to the Festival.
All of the stages, buildings, light systems, cooks, babysitters, and anything else facilitated are run by women. All decisions about the Festival are made by these women. All women are welcome to attend, and certain sub-cultures of women are made to feel welcome through various “healing communities” such as “Womyn of Colour” only spaces, special arrangements for women with disabilities, and sign language interpretation stations. No base is ever left uncovered.
On top of the musical performances with such past acts as Tracy Chapman, Melissa Ferrick, Tegan and Sara, and Sarah McLachlan, there are workshops, campfires, movies under the stars, drum gather- ings, dances, and sweat lodges to name a few events. Perhaps this com- munity-oriented, grass roots festival can only be told truthfully through photographs. This is what Angela Jiminez has done.
“Inspired by the Do-It-Yourself spirit of the Festival” Jiminez has not only captured the labour-of-love that goes into the project year after year. She has also documented her own journey at times in a very explicitly pure fashion of being a labourer for the Festival.
Each one of her photos evokes a feeling of community. The Land is returned to a natural state once the Festival is over. All the stages are taken down, the electrical components are removed, and everything is left as it once was. Jiminez has captured both the natural scene of the Land before the Festival, and compares it to what it is after. “I watched
GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #71, September 2009 45 Music Review Music Review Golden, POPular, Tonight
showed how it ought to be By Rob Diaz-Marino done - a very professional job. I’m not certain whether “Golden” by The Pinup they used the original vocals Saints or recorded their own – nev- ertheless they were seam- We interviewed the Pinup lessly mixed onto their own Saints for the June edition instrumentation. Aside from – if you recall they are a that, I found the selection dance group that features impeccably compatible with So You Think You Can my musical taste. Favorites Dance Canada’s winner Nico were “Let It Rock”, “Circus”, Archambault, but apparently they have some real musical talent “Right Round”, “Keeps Get- behind them as well. This unconventional album comes as a ting Better”, “Cry For You”, one-size-fits-all black thong with the album’s name emblazoned in and “My Life Would Suck gold. Where does the music come from? Well put the underwear Without You”. Other good on and you’ll find out…that there’s a drop card attached with the ones were “Sober”, “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)”, and “I Hate information you need to download your album off the internet. This Part”. This album definitely gets my strong recommendation. There are a great many upbeat songs on this album with some Volume 3 by DJ Bob Wolcott real character. My first big-time favorite is title track “Golden”, a continued the professionalism, manic number about a boy who lusts after a woman that he only but had a really odd selection knows in a magazine. It’s full of naïve excitement, with a brief but of songs. Most of them were hilarious moment where he realizes how sad his obsession really unfamiliar to me, and frankly sounds. they didn’t grow on me what- “Mister” is a sassy number dripping with clever innuendo. “I soever by hearing them here. feel I’m misbehaving, I’m hungry too. You wanna make a sand- But he did have a couple of wich?” It has a heavy-beat reminiscent of Madonna’s “Hanky winners, for example, “Wak- Panky”, accompanied by a mischievous saxophone and gratifying ing Up In Vegas” and “When electric guitar. Love Takes Over”. By far my favorite was “Second Chance” “Make Me Over” is dynamite! It has a catchy but quirky melody, – a rock song that translated and alludes to the hardcore bonus track that appears after it. The phenomenally well into a pow- bonus track is a teardown of labels and gender barriers when erful dance number. it comes to sex: “What if I like girls, does that make me a dyke? What if I like clit, isn’t that what you like? What if your girlfriend is my girl for the night? Am I a bitch?” “Tonight” Single by Yuksek Well, this weird looking European guy has some pretty snazzy dance tunes. It’s a really simple lyrical concept, with the line “POPular” Series by Cen- “take my hand tonight, go ahead tonight, play my game tonight, taur Music keep your head tonight” repeated over a bed of percussion and The POPular series takes electronica. The album version is catchy in itself, but the Edit many favorites from the last version gives it a slightly different melodic tilt. In my opinion, the year or so, remixed for the best dance mix included on the EP album is the RAC Remix, but dance floor. I received the I was quite smitten with the “Bewitched” cover that turns it into a first 3 volumes to review, folk piece. I’m definitely interested to see what else Yuksek has to and found the albums to be offer on his new album. hit and miss. http://www.gaycalgary.com/a1398 DJ Corey King chose to View additional pics/videos. • Share with a friend. • Post your comments. reconstruct his selection of songs from scratch in Volume 1, rather than hunt- ing down samples from the originals. Perhaps this gave him more freedom but I wondered, why bother starting from scratch when the final result is a big step down in quality from the original? On my list of tolerable tracks were “Pocket Full of Sunshine”, “Hot N Cold”, and “Sandcastle Disco”. By far the most disappointing track was “Disturbia” where it was like DJ Corey King recorded weak vocals, hastily laid down a beat, and then gave up. A total wet rag of a song, and a slightly weak album over all. Thank goodness for Volume 2 by Eastside, who came along and
46 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #71, September 2009 Sports The OutField ‘Stronghold’ stands up for wrestling
provide graphic evidence that By Dan Woog such activity has long been part of male life. Wrestlers get erections. Rook spent enormous time That straightforward fact is the elephant in the wrestling organizing his material. “Be- room. And it’s just one of many controversial, often-ignored top- fore you can talk about one ics addressed by Victor Rook in his insightful new documentary, thing, you have to cover an- “Stronghold: In the Grip of Wrestling.” other,” he notes. For example, a section on “Masculinity and Here are others: Vast numbers of men are sexually attracted Wrestling” served as a lead-in to wrestling. As kids, they cut photos out of library wrestling to more sensitive discussions books; as adults, they believe they must hide their interest. of arousal and eroticism later Now – thanks to Rook’s film, an accompanying book and his on. WrestleMen.com Web site – wrestling fans are coming out of the Current events played a closet. role too. When eBay banished Growing up near Buffalo, Rook did not wrestle. “I thought you all amateur-made wrestling had to be a short, thick-necked Italian,” he laughs. “I was tall videos to the “Mature Audi- and lanky. I played tennis.” ences” section – even those with no sexual content – Rook He earned a degree in mechanical engineering from Michigan juxtaposed the decision with State, then worked as a technical writer for years. But in the late female and coed videos, which 1990s he realized two ambitions: He made a nature documen- were not affected. tary for PBS, and he started wrestling. Cramming all that – while describing the stark distinction After a wrestling cartoon he drew earned attention, he quit between scholastic and professional wrestling, the societal taboo his job. Since 1998 WrestleMen.com has been his main source against adult amateur wrestling and the underground world of income. Through conversations with thousands of men – gay of wrestling for pleasure and gratification – into two hours was and straight, single and married – he realized his attraction to extremely difficult. Rook ended up including an hour of material wrestling was far from unique. on an “extras” disc. In 2004, he decided to make a film. He wanted to address Reaction has been very positive. Men tell Rook they no longer sensitive subjects like wrestling homoeroticism, but in a way feel alone or odd because of their attraction to wrestling. that straight and gay men could both respect. He also wanted to include every form of wrestling: amateur, professional, submis- The film has been praised by coaches, too. Among the most sion and “horseplay.” compelling interviewees is a high school coach who seems sur- prised when he realizes he never addresses fears of erections, or He posted a request for interviews on the Web site of USA the perception that all wrestlers are gay, with his young charges. Wrestling, the umbrella organization for high school and college grappling. It was removed on the grounds of “solicitation.” How- Rook hopes the video is seen by many scholastic coaches. ever, a similar request for a fictional film was allowed to remain. “Listening to adult men talk about their fears and shame around wrestling growing up may help coaches become more sensitive Rook says that USAW did not want to be associated with to their wrestlers’ concerns,” he says. lightning-rod issues. He notes, “That’s unfortunate. Those same issues – boys’ shame about their bodies, and homophobia – ulti- Until then, Rook will be sustained by a conversation he had mately prevent more kids from getting into wrestling.” with a teenager. Advising him to ignore the gibes of those who call wrestling a “gay sport” – and to concentrate on the self- As he traveled the country filming interviews, Rook felt pres- confidence, physical fitness and joy he takes from training and sure from two sides. “Gays were afraid that this film may set competition – Rook told the boy: “Don’t worry. It’s not about you. back gay men who take wrestling seriously,” he says. “And It’s about everyone else, and what they’re feeling.” straight audiences wanted nothing to do with anything that spoke of homoeroticism, even when kids make constant jokes For more information on “Stronghold,” visit www.wrestling- about wrestling looking so ‘gay.’” film.com. But clearly, interest was there. Every day for four years, Rook (For further information, contact www.gaywhistler.com) wore a wrestling T-shirt. That made people feel comfortable Dan Woog is a journalist, educator, soccer coach, gay activist, and author initiating conversations. “In bars, guys have dumped their girl- of the “Jocks” series of books on gay male athletes. Visit his Web site at friends to talk to me all night about wrestling,” Rook says. www.danwoog.com. Compared with the rest of filmmaking, the interviews were easy; finding archival footage was especially arduous. Rook http://www.gaycalgary.com/a1399 spent months searching for clips in the public domain, and View additional pics/videos. • Share with a friend. • Post your comments. obtaining rights for others. But the many black-and-white and sepia pictures of boys and men wrestling through the ages
GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #71, September 2009 47 48 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #71, September 2009 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #71, September 2009 49 Politics Children Suffer When the Religious Right Wins A Personal Story
lies have been forced apart. In the 1990s, 12-year-old Cassie By Diane Silver was taken from her mother, Mary Ward, in Florida and given to her father – a convicted murderer. In 2006 and 2007, the For any mother, the day her child turns 18 is a mile- children of Keri Jones of Utah and B.F. in Kentucky lost the stone, but for a lesbian mom that particular birth- right to even visit their co-parents. Today, Kathryn Kutil and day can be overwhelming. Cheryl Hess of West Virginia are fighting to keep custody of the baby they fostered when no one else wanted a child born to a The day my son turned 18 was routine, as birthdays go. I drug addict. went to work. I made jokes about how I couldn’t possibly be old enough for him to be 18. A high school senior, Tony played Despite our family’s good fortune, it wasn’t until my son be- trumpet in the marching band, and his friends surprised him came a legal adult that I realized how frightened I had been. I that night with an impromptu concert on our front lawn. They never knew whether the people who believe I’m an abomination stayed for cake and ice cream and then jammed in my living would find a way to legally remove my son from the only family room. he had ever known. It was a good day, but it was also odd. As much as I enjoyed This is just a taste of what it is like to be a lesbian or gay it, I felt strange. It wasn’t that I felt bad; I felt relieved, but I parent in the United States today. With the 2008 passage couldn’t figure out why. Tony had always been healthy. He got of the adoption ban in Arkansas and the Religious right’s good grades. He was a normal, rowdy teen. I couldn’t figure out continuing agitation for other bans, our families face repeated why I was so incredibly relieved that he had turned 18. attacks. Nothing made sense until I had a “eureka” moment in the If an adoption ban had been shower the next morning. Tony had reached the age of adult- in effect when my partner hood. No one had the legal right to rip him away from his fam- died, it would have been im- ily anymore. possible for me to adopt Tony. What a tragedy that would Tony is the biological child of my late life partner, who died have been. of breast cancer more than a decade ago. As co-parent – par- Diane Silver is a former newspaper ticularly as co-parent in the very red state of Kansas – I was a reporter and magazine editor, legal nonentity. whose work has appeared in The I was there when he was born. I held out my hands for Progressive, Salon.com, Ms, and his first step. I heard his first words. I sat up all night with other national publications. him when he had his first cold. I went to every single parent- teacher conference. I paid for his doctor checkups and school fees, and I kept him in shoes. I held him when his birth mother http://www.gaycalgary.com/a1400 died when he was just 7. I love him more than I ever knew you View additional pics/videos. • Share with a friend. • Post your comments. could love any soul. Despite all that, without the intervention of a court, I wouldn’t have had the legal right to be in the same room with him, let alone to be his parent. We were lucky, though. I was able to legally adopt him, largely because my partner’s family supported me. I might not have succeeded if they hadn’t. I didn’t know how close Tony came to being torn away until my late partner’s brother told me he considered taking my son after his sister died. He consulted a psychologist friend. That psychologist - bless him - told the man I still consider to be my brother-in-law that taking me away from Tony would mean that he would lose both parents and not just one, with the death of his birth mother. Even though this good man had seen me with Tony for years and knew how close we were, it never occurred to him to think of me as Tony’s parent. To his credit, my brother-in-law saw the truth in his friend’s statement and supported the adoption. Think about how close that was. What if my partner’s brother couldn’t see the wisdom of his friend’s words? What if he had talked to a different friend? My son and I are blessed. Despite one tragedy, our family avoided another. We stayed together when so many other fami-
50 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #71, September 2009 Community Spotlight Alberta’s Top Ten GLBT Figures Part One
“The Pride Centre is important because for many in our com- By Pam Rocker munity there are not a lot of other places that they can turn to for resources or help. Particularly for groups such as youth and seniors In this modern age where YouTube videos of panda’s who either aren’t able to go to other queer-friendly venues (i.e. bars) sneezing seem to get more attention than, say, world or don’t want to - but still want a safe place to come and be who they really are.” hunger, it’s refreshing to recognize and acknowledge real human beings that are humbly making a difference Johnathan Finlayson day in and day out. Johnathan wears many hats in Calgary, one of them being an Gay Calgary and Edmonton Magazine asked you in their Reader owner of the city’s only leather Survey earlier this year, to nominate individuals who you thought bar, The Calgary Eagle. In addi- deserved recognition for making a positive impact in their commu- tion to this, his work as a com- nity through their personal efforts, or through their efforts within munity leader and volunteer runs a business or community group. Your response was so overwhelm- deep and wide. ingly diverse that many of the nominations remained tied with only a handful of votes. It was definite that there was no clear winner, so He is currently on the Board instead we decided to celebrate the top ten people (in no particular of Directors for the AIDS Calgary order) that you selected, based on the best written responses given Awareness Association and a co- as to why they deserved recognition. founder of the HIV Peer Support Group in Calgary, with which he This month, the first five will be showcased, and we will conclude has continued to serve as a volunteer since 1995. Johnathan sup- with the other half in October. So here is your first batch of everyday ports and/or oversees organization of fundraisers for both of these heroes, in no particular order: organizations, as well as for The SHARP Foundation. The SHARP Brendan Van Alstine Foundation (Society Housing AIDS/HIV Restricted Persons) is a Calgary-based non-profit charitable organization with a mandate A quick look at his involve- to provide a wholistic (medical, physical, psychosocial and spiritual ment in the community makes aspects) continuum of care to people living with HIV or AIDS. one wonder if there is any room in Brendan’s calendar for the On Sunday, September 20th, The Calgary Eagle hosts their third little things like eating and sleep- annual Great Chili Contest, with all proceeds benefiting the Beswick ing. Van Alstine is the Youth House on behalf of the SHARP Foundation. The Beswick House Program Coordinator at the Pride provides 24-hour long-term and palliative support for up to ten indi- Centre of Edmonton and a found- viduals. Contest entry forms can be picked up at the Eagle or filled ing member of the Queer Allied out on their website. Network and the Transit Riders’ When asked why he is passionate about being involved in the Union of Edmonton (TRUE). He is community, Finlayson responds with characteristic humility and also a facilitator with Youth Un- vulnerability: “I never truly thought of why I’m involved, it has derstanding Youth (a local LGBT always seemed to be the right thing to do. I went through some very youth discussion/support group) personal and challenging times in 1992 and through AIDS Calgary and a regular volunteer with the and their volunteer program, I found support and from there the Carrot Community Arts Café. rest is history. I began volunteering as a way to give back for what “I enjoy seeing my work and involvement create tangible change I received, and it has just become a natural part of my being ever that has a positive impact on people’s lives,” says Brendan. His since. My passion continues to grow all the time due to the contin- passion for creating this tangible change is evident in his running ued overwhelming support that this community has offered time and for Edmonton City Council in the newly created Ward 7, with his time again. If we as a community change one life for the better, no campaign launching on October 17th. matter our involvement, we have done the right thing.” Transit regulars will appreciate Brendan’s involvement in the The values of unity and teamwork are a common theme in Finlay- Transit Riders’ Union of Edmonton, which includes the annual Tran- son’s words and actions. “Businesses and organizations are seen as sit Challenge Week. “In the last week of November, TRUE will once leaders. We have a great responsibility to work with and listen to our again challenge Edmonton’s city Councillors to give up their private community for enrichment. When we listen, we are in a better posi- vehicles and rely entirely on transit for one week.” TRUE believes tion to assist, advocate, inform, educate and to partner with those that to serve the needs of Edmonton’s transit riders, one must un- whom we are all responsible to; our community. This support for the derstand what it means to be transit dependent in Edmonton. They community is not for specialized groups, ideologies or interests. It’s hope that Councillors will gain an appreciation for the strengths and for everyone. We all have the opportunity to look to and build our weaknesses of the transit system and be able to base their future futures together.” decisions on first-hand experience. Tyler Gschaid As the Program Coordinator for YouthSpace, Brendan looks Tyler has been working with the Gay And Lesbian Alliance (GALA) forward to re-launching the Peer Mentor Program in September. since 1996 and currently serves as the Board Secretary for GALA in The Pride Centre’s YouthSpace offers a chance for youth to interact, Lethbridge. make new friends, pursue leadership opportunities, access a variety of resources and information or just hang out in a safe and accepting “Last year was a very productive year for GALA/LA. For the space. first time in several years, an operating budget was prepared. We obtained board insurance and moved the dances from a facility just
GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #71, September 2009 51 Community Spotlight
outside of city limits to one that possibilities for inhabiting sexuality and gender. is more accessible downtown,” Tyler states. Michael’s advocacy doesn’t stop at the Arts. His pivotal founding of HIV Edmonton means that this organization has been providing sup- He is also a committee member port, community education, advocacy, prevention and harm reduc- for the Lethbridge Pride Fest and, tion education to the Edmonton community for twenty-one years. as many may know, Lethbridge hosted their first Pride Festival For Michael, there is always more work to be done. He is cur- this past June with great suc- rently a committee member for Pride Week, an honorary patron cess. Gschaid was instrumental of Edmonton’s Vocal Minority and a member of Edmonton’s Pride in reaching out to invite other Centre and HIV Edmonton. He is also involved with the Institute of community groups and volun- Sexual Minorities Study and Services and Camp fyrefly at the Uni- teers to come on board in the versity of Alberta. support and planning of Pride He shares that the importance of these organizations resides in events. He also worked with the the impact that they make on the individual, as well as the larger Mayor’s office to secure permis- community. “Organizations in our community that offer support, sion to raise the rainbow flag at assistance, education, social, recreational and political opportuni- City Hall for the first time. ties, strengthen our community and change, for the better, the city His fervent desire to support the community is rooted in his de- of Edmonton.” termination to involve himself with programs and organizations that Keith Andony allow people to be themselves. “I try to bring the perspective of those who are or may feel they are on the fringes of the GLBTTQ commu- Keith is one of the many dedi- nity; those that are perhaps less popular or not very outspoken.” cated volunteer coordinators for activities affiliated with the Team Tyler’s connection with GALA has a personal link: “Although as a Edmonton Sports Association. teenager I knew I was attracted to other males it wasn’t until I was He acts as a volunteer coordina- attending University in the early 90s that I made any real attempt tor and instructor for Blazin’ to come out to anyone else. It did not last long, as there was no Bootcamp, a twice weekly fitness great welcoming and I didn’t feel that I fit in. So I went back into the bootcamp. “I share this respon- closet. Then, around the time of Ellen’s coming out episode and Mat- sibility with my partner Alex thew Sheppard’s murder, I made more steps in coming out. I started Mawanay, who is equally deserv- attending the coffee nights that were coordinated by GALA/LA.” ing of recognition,” he admits. When asked what his influences are, Gschaid shares that his vol- Andony also assists with the unteering is sparked by the drive to make society a more welcoming coordination of Samsara Yoga, a place. “I know two gay men whose sexual orientation probably played weekly GLBTQ yoga class taught a role in their suicide and another two gay men whose alcohol/drug by Romeo Ripoli at Korezone addiction coupled with depression and isolation eventually lead to Fitness. The donations they receive from offering this class have their deaths. They were wonderful people and society should have allowed them to create further activities for the community such as offered them help, but because of fear and ignorance, they are no funding a self-defense expert to offer a workshop at Camp fYrefly. longer with us.” He is also a big part of the Free To Be Volleyball league, with As a founding member of the Rhino In The Room Film Festival counterparts Al Ling, Jim Knoepflij and Chris Evans. This is the larg- (September 17th and 18th) as well as the News Editor for GayLeth- est GLBTQ sports and recreation group in Edmonton and operates bridge.com, it’s clear to see that Tyler always has an answer to his throughout the year. “We have all seen these groups grow and de- daily mantra: “What have I done today to make me feel proud?” velop in recent years to be able to serve the needs of the community Michael Phair in a better way,” says Andony. In his five terms as a City The passion and enthusiasm he exhibits for each of these or- Councillor in Edmonton, Phair ganizations is contagious: “I have been involved in these activities was a consistent champion of because there is a demand for well organized sports and recreational and advocate for the Arts, as well opportunities that are inclusive of the GLBTQ community. Every as a strong voice for Edmonton’s time a new person shows up at one of the 28 different activities that GLBT community. His work re- Team Edmonton promotes, it is a tribute to the volunteer work and cently earned him the distinction resources that the entire community puts into these various groups.” of being inducted into the Arts Team Edmonton will be holding the annual general meeting and and Culture Hall of Fame for the volunteer appreciation event on September 26th at Play Night- city of Edmonton. club. It’s a chance to recognize and celebrate the success of their Edmonton’s Arts and Culture programs, volunteers and participants that are the heart of the landscape was very different organization. when Phair arrived in 1979. His “There is a need for the GLBTQ community to expand and diver- leadership and fearlessness in sify its range of activities to reflect a full array of interests. Team supporting and pioneering new initiatives (Edmonton Arts Council, Edmonton activities provide healthy physical and social outlets that Writer-in-Exile Program, Cariwest Festival, and many more) have have not always been the most accessible or recognizable part of the played a huge part in the growth and diversity of the Art scene in community. It is critical that we ensure that we are visible and active Edmonton; a city which was named a cultural capital of Canada in in the community,” Keith states. 2007. Keith puts his words into action, literally, on a daily basis and is a Phair founded the Exposure Festival two years ago and it was proud participant in the HIV Walk for Life on September 20th. such a hit that it became an annual event. Exposure aims to un- cover, highlight and celebrate queer arts and culture. The festival http://www.gaycalgary.com/a1401 exposes queer artists to new audiences, and exposes Edmonton View additional pics/videos. • Share with a friend. • Post your comments. audiences to new art. By creating environments where artists can explore queer culture and take risks, the festival cultivates creative synergies, thought-provoking displays, social commentary, and new
52 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #71, September 2009 Lifestyle The Leather Soul An Overview of Leather History
Through the 60s and 70s, the culture grew and evolved, as By Boy David it always has. Cultural traditions evolved in some groups to embrace more stringent roles and greater militarism in the 1970s Ask around the community about leathermen, and you in what is often referred to as “Old Guard” leather. The release of will hear a number of different responses. We’ve been “Leatherman’s Handbook” by Larry Townsend along with “Drum- described as everything from self-hating perverts to hide-covered anachronisms, but regardless of opinion, The dynamic of dominance and submission, the leather has been an integral part of our collective LGBT meritocracy, the emphasis on experience, and other history for the past 70 years or more. In this and fu- subtleties of the relationships between senior and ture articles, I hope to explore a subculture of our com- junior members of the community are still common munity that is often misunderstood; without any kind in leather culture today of introduction, though, there isn’t much to explore. So when I saw that Mayor Bronconnier declared Septem- mer” magazine exposed even more men to leather. Men flocked ber to be Pride Month in Calgary, I decided that there to gay villages to see and experience this culture, and had be- was no better time to inform our community about this come so popular that at one point there were more than a dozen aspect of our shared history. gay leather bars in San Francisco alone. After returning from service in Europe in the years following At the advent of the AIDS crisis, leathermen were hit espe- World War II, gay men typically had nowhere to go. Unlike the cially hard because of their promiscuous sex habits; this has left public perception of homosexuals, they were not effeminate and a hole in our ranks which has since gone unfilled, resulting in had no trouble fitting into the service long before the introduction many leathermen creating their own paths as opposed to falling of DADT. These men, without wives or families to support, often in line with what an experienced mentor might require of them. became involved with the highly masculine motorcycle culture, The commands of “You shall, you will, you must” have fallen to joining clubs and connecting with other men who had similar the wayside in favor of “You could, you can, you might”, mak- experiences as themselves in the war. A fascination with the ing leather bars a much safer place for the curious outsider now masculinity of bikers, along with influence from Hollywood with than ever before. the movie, “The Wild One” (1953), compelled several gay men to Gone are the days when walking into a bar wearing the wrong embrace motorcycle culture. Eventually, in 1954, The Satyrs attire could get your shirt torn off for being too “foofy” (and I were created in Los Angeles as the first gay motorcycle club, won’t go into detail about what could have happened to a guy and soon afterwards similar clubs were established throughout who dared to wear cologne), and questions are always welcome America. from interested parties. We’re always looking for somebody new Some of these motorcycle clubs, as the story goes, were operat- to “corrupt”, after all. ed in militaristic fashion. Seniority and merit won the respect of others. Junior members of the clubs were charged with the task http://www.gaycalgary.com/a1402 of being in service to these senior members. These junior mem- View additional pics/videos. • Share with a friend. • Post your comments. bers would often be responsible for the care and maintenance of their seniors’ leathers and boots, as well as the sexual desires of For more information on leather history, you might be interested in reading the senior members. Over time, the junior members would earn Urban Aboriginals by Geoff Mains, The Leatherman’s Handbook by Larry their colors and would earn the right to have subsequent junior Townsend, and checking out http://www.cuirmale.nl online. members at their disposal. The dynamic of dominance and sub- mission, the meritocracy, the emphasis on experience, and other subtleties of the relationships between senior and junior mem- bers of the community are still common in leather culture today. Shortly after the establishment of gay motorcycle clubs, the first leather bars were opened. By the late 50s, gay leather bars were established in LA, New York, and Chicago. This provided both a place for gay motorcyclists, as well as their admirers who were likely more interested in the dominance/submission dynamics, leather, and boots, than the motorcycles themselves. By 1957, Touko Laaksonen, better known as Tom of Finland, was introduced to gay North America through his drawings in physique magazines whose depictions of hyper-masculine men wearing tall boots and leather became a hit, compelling even more gay men to seek out like-minded individuals. In 1964, Life Magazine ran an article about homosexuality with a page devoted to the Tool Box leather bar in San Francisco; by this time, leather culture had truly been established as a kinky lifestyle, as the article outright stated that its masculine patrons enjoyed S&M and other kinks, commonly referred to within the community as leathersex.
GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #71, September 2009 53 54 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #71, September 2009 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #71, September 2009 55 Classified Ads
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58 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #71, September 2009 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #71, September 2009 59 60 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #71, September 2009 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #71, September 2009 61 Celebrity Interview Hey, world Big-mouthed comedian Sandra Bernhard has tackled a lot in her 30-year career. Now it’s time for global domination.
By Chris Azzopardi
Sandra Bernhard, who’s been targeting celebrity cul- ture and politics with a biting snap for over 30 years, always puts it all out there. We mean that in every which way – remember the nude 1992 Playboy picto- rial? Now she has a different platform to do so: Twitter, where she rants on drug companies, plugs her new world-music LP – Whatever It Takes, out Aug. 25 – and talks booze with gal pal and fellow queer actress, Sarah Paulson. When the comic pacesetter’s not tirelessly Tweeting, she’s performing “Without You I’m Nothing” shows during a 20th anniversary revival and pitching a New York-set project she co-wrote with Rip Torn’s daughter.
From her New York pad, Bernhard chatted about her world music album, Twitter freaks and her “weird” life.
I just started following you on Twitter – and now I feel bad. I made you feel bad?
Yeah, because you’re a more diligent tweeter than me (laughs). view, and he said, “Would you be into doing this?” And I said, “Yeah, of course.” We started collaborating. He’s a very creative person, obviously, It’s summertime – I’ve got a little more time on my hands than usual. and he has access to all these people, all these world musicians. I mean, Even when I’m busy, I run to the computer during the day and try to re- off the top of my head, it’s not the first kind of music I’m attracted to, but mind people of little things and ideas. It’s a nice creative outlet, but don’t I feel like we kind of blurred the lines. It’s not so heavily African or Latin, let it make you feel bad (laughs). but it has a lot of those influences.
Do you ever get any weirdos sending you messages? Tell me what it was like working with Chrissie Hynde of The Pre- I’ve gotten maybe a handful of negative off-the-wall responses, but I tenders on “All Around.” have to say, all in all, considering how out there I am, everybody’s been We’re very good friends, but she happened to be in town and we were very cool. If it gets too weird, I’ll just jump off. in the studio those days. Chrissie’s like hardcore. She’s a no-nonsense, The new album is very liberating. I felt like I took a trip around no-B.S. kind of person. the world without having to get on a plane. Just like you then? That’s kind of the point of all of my work, but musically, this album Yeah. Well, she makes me look like a lightweight, to be honest with kind of captures that without saying it so didactically. It’s just there you (laughs). in the music and the beats and the rhythms and the lyrics. I’m really excited about it. You mention shopping in Kazakhstan on “We’re on Our Way” – do they have good deals there? Why did you decide to make a foray into world music? (Laughs) It’s just about stopping along the way and experiencing all It wasn’t really my idea. Ted Mason, the producer and co-writer, ap- the different cultures. I’m sure they do. I actually haven’t been to Ka- proached me. He wanted to do an album like this, and he was looking zakhstan. I can imagine they probably have a few good bargains. for somebody who had my kind of outlook on the world and my kind of
62 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #71, September 2009 Celebrity Interview
Assuming you’ve been all over the place, which locations inspired you for this album? Actually, I haven’t been in as many places as I’d like to. The most ex- otic place I think I’ve been to is Morocco, which I’ve been to three times. It’s my favorite super-exotic locale, but I haven’t been to the major parts of Africa and I really haven’t been that far east, either. I’ve got a lot of traveling to do. I put my imagination to good work, but certainly I know a lot of people from various experiences who have been around, and what I don’t know, they fill me in on.
A lot of people who think world music think Yanni. (Laughs) That’s really kind of the Dairy Queen of world music. I think world music has influenced everybody – hip-hop and rap and all of the R&B artists, there’s a lot of that in there. Without African and world music, there wouldn’t be the American kind of soul/R&B sound. Now it’s everywhere.
The last time I saw you live, when you closed with a song, I recall a sea of surprised faces. Are a lot of people shocked that you’re a trained singer? I think less and less. I’ve been doing it now for so long. I was on the Lilith Fair Tour. I’ve gotten to collaborate with a lot of people, like Sheryl Crow. People who don’t know my work so completely, they always say, “Oh, I didn’t know you could sing.” They’re happy to hear it. I always get good feedback.
I remember watching you perform with The Dixie Chicks’ Natalie Maines in a YouTube clip. She’s another great friend, and I think she has one of the greatest voices in the world. She’s the kind of person that opens her mouth, and it’s there. She’s a big talent.
I can see why you’d get along. (Laughs) Yeah. Well, obviously, she’s another very, very outspoken and ballsy person.
So how about that Mariah Carey – I know that you and her are BFFs (laughs). I happen to love her.
Really? You’re always raggin’ on her. Oh, sure. You can’t deny Mariah’s talent. She’s eccentric, and anytime someone is really willing to put them self out there, for me, it’s an op- portunity to find an ironic, funny way of talking about them. But there’s nothing about Mariah that I find offensive; I just think she’s crazy and funny and interesting.
Check out her “Obsessed” video, where she’s an Eminem looka- like. Oh, Mariah. She’s a trip. I know Eminem gives her a hard time. We Michiganders don’t pull any punches.
What’s different about doing “Without You I’m Nothing” now versus two decades ago? The Internet and the kind of exposure you get now as opposed to the ’80s, it’s so different. The whole world is different. The material that’s from the original show still holds up because it’s so personal, but the things I talk about around it obviously are more contemporary. And when you see the difference between what I talk about then and now, I don’t know – the world has just moved very quickly, and continues to kind of surprise me at different turns.
It surprises everyone. It’s a lot to take in, and I don’t think it’s easy for everybody to do. I think that’s why so many people are freaked out. It’s just a weird time.
Sure is. It was a pleasure talking to you. Great talking to you, Chris. Keep twittering! (Laughs)
I’ll try to keep up with you (laughs).
Just don’t wear yourself out. http://www.gaycalgary.com/a1406 View additional pics/videos. • Share with a friend. • Post your comments.
GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #71, September 2009 63 Queer Eye - Community Events
Bloke Grand Opening Marylin Monroe Impersonator at MPs - Calgary
Vamp Night at Texas Lounge - Calgary Toga Night at PLAY - Edmonton
64 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #71, September 2009 Queer Eye - Community Events
ISCWR Coronation 33 - Edmonton
GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #71, September 2009 65 PQueerhotography Eye - Community Events
ISCWR Coronation 33 - Edmonton
66 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #71, September 2009 Queer Eye - CommunityPhotography Events
AIDS Calgary Annual General Meeting Calgary Fringe Festival
Queen of Hearts Show at Boots - Edmonton Photos by Karen Hofmann
GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #71, September 2009 67 Queer Eye - Community Events
Twiggy Show at Prism - Edmonton Photos by Karen Hofmann
Western Canadian Pride Festival
68 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #71, September 2009 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #71, September 2009 69 70 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #71, September 2009 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #71, September 2009 71