Gaycalgary and Edmonton Magazine #65, March 2009 Table of Contents Table of Contents

March 2009 ISSUE 65 The Only Magazine Dedicated to Alberta’s GLBT+ Community FREE WWesternestern CupCup 20092009 AApollopollo FFriendsriends iinn SSporport

CCocktailocktail CChatterhatter BBar-haviorar-havior andand BBetteretter MartiniMartinis

TThreehree NightsNights ofof GGenderender BendingBending AAlberta’slberta’s Post-SecondaryPost-Secondary LLGBTGBT SStudenttudent OOrganizationsrganizations PutPut onon a ShoShow

COOMMUNITYMMUNITY DIIRECTORYRECTORY • MAAPP AANDND EVVENTSENTS • TOOURISMURISM INNFOFO >> STARTING ON PAGE 17

GLBT RESOURCE • CALGARY • EDMONTON • ALBERTA wwww.gaycalgary.comww.gaycalgary.com 2 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #65, March 2009 Table of Contents Table of Contents

Publisher: ...... Steve Polyak 5 Boatloads of Beautiful Bears Editor: ...... Rob Diaz-Marino Publisher’s Column Graphic Design: ...... Rob Diaz-Marino Sales: ...... Steve Polyak 8 Boeing, Boeing Writers and Contributors Sexy farce comes to Stage West Mercedes Allen, Camper British, Dave

Brousseau, AIDS Calgary, Jason Clevett, 8 Andrew Collins, James S.M. Demers, Rob 9 Joni Mitchell’s The Fiddle & The E Diaz-Marino, Jack Fertig, Glen Hanson, Drum G

Benjamin Hawkcliffe, Joan Hilty, Karen A

Hoffman, Evan Kayne, Stephen Lock, Allan Alberta Ballet Delivers an Eye Opening Experience 8 P PAGE Neuwirth, Felice Newman, Brian Pawlak, Steve Polyak, Mark Randall, Matt Salton, Romeo San Vicente, Will Sutherland, Jody 12 Product Review Valley, Jerome Voltero, and the GLBT Shave the Planet, Luck of the Irish, Zonk Out Earplugs Community of Calgary, Edmonton, and Alberta. 13 Chelsea Boys Photography Steve Polyak, Rob Diaz-Marino, and 14 Out of Town contributors. Gay Travel Primer on Hawaii Videography

Steve Polyak, Rob Diaz-Marino 9 17 Directory and Events E

Printers G

North Hill News/Central Web 23 Buses Are Not Pulpits A PAGE 9 P PAGE Distribution Calgary: ...... Gallant Distribution 25 Q Scopes ...... GayCalgary Staff “Lead with your intuition, Capricorn!” Edmonton: ...... Clark’s Distribution Other: ...... Canada Post 26 The Lieutenant of Inishmore Legal Council Irish Play Kicks Off Bloody Good GZT Season Courtney Aarbo, Barristers and Solicitors

Sales & General Inquiries 27 Three Nights of Gender Bending GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine Alberta’s Post-Secondary LGBT Student Organizations Put on a Show #403, 215 14th Avenue SW 6 2

Calgary, AB, Canada T2R 0M2

28 Deep Inside Hollywood E

Office Hours: ...... By appointment ONLY New Projects for Johnny Knoxville G

Phone: ...... (403) 543-6960 A Toll Free:...... 1-888-543-6960 26 P PAGE Fax:...... (403) 703-0685 29 Camp fYrefly Passes Another E-Mail: ...... [email protected] Milestone This Month's Cover Connie Lingua (Antonio Bavaro), taken 29 Cocktail Chatter by Steve Polyak at Buddys Niteclub, Bar-havior and Better Martinis Edmonton. Edited by Rob Diaz-Marino. 30 Western Cup 2009 Apollo Friends in Sport Continued on Next Page ❯❯ 0 3

31 Pirates of the North Saskatchewan II E

All Aboard for Pirate Adventure at Jubilations G A

www.gaycalgary.com 30 P PAGE Continued on Next Page f GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #65, March 2009 3 Table of Contents

f Continued From Previous Page Proud members of: 32 Letters to the Editor 32 Do You Have What it Takes? 33 Dear Jody Daughter Bashes Gays, Embarrassed Over Finances

2 34 The Rocky Horror Show 4

Odd-Lot Theatre Co. brings Sweet Transvestite to Edmonton E G

A 35 A Couple of Guys PAGE 42 P PAGE 36 Bitter Girl 37 The BUTT Magazine Controversy ❮❮ Continued from Previous Page American Apparel Continues to Carry Gay Magazine Magazine 38 Looking back at Queer as Folk Print Circulation: ...... ~10,000 copies ~ Producer & Writer Reflects on Influential Gay Show Pickup Density: ...... 3 readers/copy Online Circulation: ...... ~60,000 readers Total Readership: ...... ~90,000 readers 3 Frequency: ...... Every Month

4 39 Dykes to Watch Out For

E The Essential Alison Bechdel Proof of monthly figures can be requested. G

A Distribution Locations

PAGE 43 P PAGE 40 A History of Gender Variance in Alberta: ...... ~300 Drop-off Points Expression and Identity Please call us if your establishment would Part 2: The Rise of Hatred (the Middle Ages) like to become a distribution point. History 42 Gay Tech Originally established in January 1992 as RSS Feeds for News, Media and More Men for Men BBS by MFM Communications. Name changed to GayCalgary.com in 1998. Independent company as of January 2004. 43 Fundraising Photos First edition of GayCalgary.com Magazine published November 2003. Name adjusted in November 2006 to GayCalgary and 2 Edmonton Magazine.

5 46 St Patrick’s Day Irish Auction Annual Charity Auction Benefitting Beswick House E Disclaimer and Copyright G Opinions expressed in this magazine A

PAGE 52 P PAGE 48 Classified Ads are specific to the author, and do not necessarily reflect those of GayCalgary staff April 2009 51 How Green was my Rental? and contributors. Queer DVDs worth renting for St. Patty’s Day Those involved in the making of this Print Deadlines publication, whether advertisers, contributors, or the subjects of articles Ad Booking or photographs, are not necessarily gay, Wednesday, March 25th, 2008 52 Music Review Annie Lennox, Rihanna, Maroon 5 lesbian, bisexual, or trans. GayCalgary also includes straight allies and those who Ad Submission are gay friendly. Friday, March 27th, 2009 56 Queer Eye - Community Events No part of this publication may be reprinted or modified without the In Circulation expressed written permission of the editor Tuesday, April 2nd, 2009 or publisher. Please contact us immediately if you think Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. you may have missed the booking or GayCalgary is a registered trademark. submission deadline.

4 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #65, March 2009 Editorial Boatloads of Beautiful Bears Publisher’s Column

ful” to get noticed – the shy and modest men are often the By Rob Diaz-Marino, MSc. most adorable. There’s a lot of socializing, accompanied by big hugs, fur play, and occasionally naughty groping. Basi- Earlier this month we took the opportunity to pre- cally, guys get to be themselves and celebrate their sexy view the new Strathmore location for the ARGRA nature just the way they are – fuck the shallow pretention, Rodeo, and even though we were knee-deep in snow and the twink body type that gay men are told to envy. Steve while touring the grounds, we were surely im- and I felt at home – we were defi nitely proud to have spon- pressed. sored this event. The potential that this new setting offers for the upcoming This Month rodeo is simply overwhelming. Imagine a full-sized, shaded Where are all the Lesbians? For the past couple of years grandstand, comparable to what we have at the Calgary we have affectionately termed our March edition as “Power Stampede; a larger central arena with infi eld seating adjoin- Lesbian Month”, with our Jann Arden and Lily Tomlin cover ing a full-fl edged race track; a larger trailer park, and over- in 2007, and the spunky hockey player in 2008. Unfortu- fl ow that’s probably 4 to 6 times larger than what we’re used nately with the Vagina Monologues not running this year, it’s to from previous years; a portable outdoor stage; admission taken the wind out of the Power Lesbian sails. Sadly, after wickets and other small buildings for selling food and bever- producing the Vagina Monologues for the past 10 years solid, ages. Furthermore, although the property nice and remote Marsha needed to take a break. But don’t worry girls; we’ll on the edge of town, it is adjacent to a large recreation centre get you an exciting cover (or more) for another month. with a swimming pool and other facilities, and only a short drive away from hotels, grocery stores, and bars. Some points of interest: We are extremely excited over this, and also to hear that • Congratulations to Woody’s Pub in Edmonton, which is ARGRA is moving ahead with our suggestion of a community celebrating its 7th anniversary this month! Midway where groups can set up carnival games and con- • The SHARP Foundation is holding their 4th annual Taste tests to raise money. I often avoid the Midway games at the for Life at Gypsy Bistro and Wine Bar, right quick on March Calgary Stampede because I know they’re wallet-wipers, but 10th. Phone in your booking for the 5:30 or 7:30 dinner if it’s going to support our community groups then it doesn’t service. Refer to their ad for more details. seem like such a waste. • There are THREE College Gender-Bender-style events Near the end of February, Steve and I both went up to Ed- happening this month, put on by Queers on Campus at the monton to attend the much anticipated BEEF Bear Bash Bar University of Calgary, the Diversity Centre at Mount Royal Night. I know, the two of us in the same city on a weekend, College, and OUTreach at the University of Alberta. For what a concept! To be perfectly honest, I had heard so many details, refer to the article on page 27. people talking about it at the phenomenally well attended Eagle Anniversary Party the week prior that I knew it was • The 4th Annual St. Patricks Day Irish Auction is hap- going to be a roaring success…pardon the pun. pening on March 14th down at the Texas Lounge. Read the article on page 46. In fact, it was packed when we arrived at 10pm, and people told us it had been that way since 9! It was easy to • The Mr. Rubber Contest is happening on April 3rd and feel at home with a strong attendance from Calgary, but we 4th. Check our events calendar or the Calgary Eagle website also got word that there were attendees from many other for further details as they become available. cities, including Vancouver! That bears would come from far and wide for this event was truly impressive – and I’m sure they weren’t at all disappointed. A straight friend of mine asked “What happens at a Bear- Bash, anyway?” Well let’s see…guys take their shirts off to parade around as much fur as possible; on a night like this, anything waxed is a strike against you. Beefy bodies and big bellies are revered, though muscles on a stocky frame are just as good. You don’t have to be young, loud, or “beauti-

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #65, March 2009 5 Editorial

• Apollo Western Cup is coming up in early April. Read Identity column, I strongly encourage you to read the 6 part the article on page 30 for more info. series she is currently running because it is highly relevant to everyone. I have always felt that one of the most crippling • April is going to be crazy! The week after Western Cup is disadvantages to the GLBT community is the sense that we the start of the ISCCA’s Coronation Week, going from Tues- have no history, so Mercedes’ past two articles have been a day through to Sunday. major eye-opener for me. If you missed last month’s article, For more event information, visit our online events calen- then dig up your old copy or read it online. February’s dar: www.gaycalgary.com/events article may be a little long, but it goes to show what a huge amount of information there is about GLBT people in ancient Reader Survey 2009 times. This month’s is about Medieval times, and gives an enlightening explanation about how and why GLBT behav- In my infi nite wisdom, to try and prevent multiple sub- iour fi rst became unacceptable in society – not because there missions by the same person in our 2009 reader survey I was something fundamentally wrong with it, but because programmed the form to reject duplicate phone numbers. it threatened the rising patriarchy. Go on, give it a read on Of course, when it comes to couples that live together in page 40. the same household, this proved to be problematic. Un- fortunately, nobody said anything until we were a few days GayCalgary Website Rings away from the survey deadline. Although we still got a great response in time for February 25th, to be fair to those who Last month we launched a new feature on the GayCalgary. couldn’t fi ll out the 2009 Reader Survey due to our mix-up, com website to help unify Alberta-based GLBT websites in we’ve lifted the restriction in our survey form and extended a new way. Though we have a pretty thorough collection of the deadline until March 25th. Thus, the Prize draws will sites in our Online Directory, it doesn’t afford visitors the also be postponed until shortly after this cut-off date – how- capability of easily touring through Alberta’s online GLBT ever as a thank-you to those who did persist to submit their presence. surveys before February 25th, the 2nd and 3rd place prizes A website ring allows you to do just this – to sequentially will be drawn for that pool only. The grand prize, however, is fl ip through a connected collection of websites. The GayCal- anybody’s game! gary.com website alone gets close to 2000 visitors in a day, Article Shuffl e so members can all benefi t from the shared traffi c that a website ring generates. Although we’ve left the Reader Survey open for another month, we’ve already seen some pretty clear trends in the If you run or maintain a GLBT-related website, you can way our readers are voting. Taking into consideration how easily join one of our website rings by signing up at: http:// well our existing articles are read, and what new article ideas www.gaycalgary.com/webring. Once you have placed the were popular, we’ve already started to bring on new types of code fragment on your website to generate the Website Ring articles for this edition. Of course we are limited to what is Navigation Panel, we will activate your membership. available to us, and some article ideas hadn’t even occurred Currently we are only offering the “Alberta GLBT Websites” to us when offering the possibilities in our Reader Survey. ring, but we have the capability of adding more as the need However we hope you like the new selection that we’ve added arises. Note that this is a home-grown solution – no third- to our already broad range. parties are used to provide our Website Rings service. New this month are: Another new feature that we added to the website this • Dear Jody - An advice column to pick up the reigns in month are RSS feeds. If you have no clue what an RSS feed Kevin Alderson’s absence (he decided to retire his regular is, have no fear – it is the topic of our premiere Gay Tech Queer Quest column), and in a way revive the concept of column on page 42. our long retired “Ask Nina” column. Jody Valley writes from We want to hear what YOU have to say about the topics in this article, and 12 years of experience as a clinical social worker and GLBT any other articles in GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine. Visit our chat counselor. 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 publisher@gaycalgary. • Cocktales Chatter – It’s a jungle out there in the bar com, and we may publish or respond to it in the magazine! scene, so this fun article covers all sorts of bar-related topics to untangle you from the vines. • Gay Tech – A home brewed Technology column written from a GLBT perspective to help demystify, for the average person, the things us tech geeks take for granted. Steve and I draw from more than 30 years of combined professional computer experience, and we get asked enough about computer problems as it is. At the very least, this article should save us from repeating ourselves! Note that for lack of space, the monthly Adult Film Review and Whole Lesbian Sex articles will not be appearing this month, however we intend to have them back again for April. I know it looks like an odd coincidence that both sex columns are absent, but don’t worry, we’re not succumbing to censorship! For those who usually pass over Mercedes’ monthly Trans-

6 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #65, March 2009 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #65, March 2009 7 Theatre Review Boeing, Boeing Sexy farce comes to Stage West

By Jason Clevett

Stage West’s current production, Boeing Boeing running until April 19th will fall into the “Love it or hate it” category; if you enjoy over the top comical farce, you will love the show. If that is not your cup of tea, you may hate it. As is often the case with farce, there isn’t really an in-between. That is not a knock on the show or its cast. While the billing lists Peter Scolari as the star, the show is really an ensemble, and Stage West has assembled some of Calgary’s fi nest performers for it. In particular Elinor Holt, who is easily one of my favorite actresses in the city, steals each and every scene she plays - in this case, as Bertha the housekeeper. Scolari admitted that there are times he cannot look at Holt during the show because she is so funny. Carrie Schiffl er, Chantal Perron and Nicole Zylstra all throw a ton of energy and charm into their roles as the three airhostess girlfriends of Bernard (Martin Evans). around like a madman. Not an easy task for a 53 year old. The story of Boeing Boeing centers on Robert (Scolari) who ”By and large I have had enough time to get used to the visits his friend Bernard at his Paris fl at. Bernard tells Robert mechanics of what I am doing, so I know where my safety is. that he, in fact, has multiple relationships that he juggles. Ev- In ten previews I have a couple of nicks and bruised my ankle erything goes to hell when all three of his girlfriends arrive at once. I have been truly looked after in this show by (director) the same time, leaving Robert to try and help his friend juggle Marty Fishman. Marty is an exceptional director and he got to things. Comedy ensues. know me very fast. There is a lot to what I am doing so I am not just falling all over the stage for no reason.” “There are four versions of this show. This show was written in French by an Italian, translated in 1962 for London, then While Scolari is listed as the headliner on the playbill, he revised for Broadway in 1965. Then revived thirty years later,” made it clear that Boeng Boeng is a group effort. Scolari explained. “I was in this [show] in Toronto. They called “I never had the mindset about [being a] celebrity. It gave me about doing this version, which is a lot more challenging me opportunities in New York and to travel and work but I with wit and more dialogue.” was warned very early on never to buy my own hype. I am not Scolari is no stranger to Calgary, where he lived for three saying I didn’t for a year or two and think I was entitled, but years shooting the TV series Honey, I Shrunk The Kids. in this life you are not entitled to anything. I have been taught and mentored by people and hold to being a straight up guy, “I am glad to be here, my son was born here. For some- and the rest I can’t be bothered with. The billboard getting one out of New York City it is refreshing to be around people asses in the seats, I am all for it. I am on a team and each where, if you look them in the eye, somebody is home.” one of the cast is very gifted. We all feel that way. I would be embarrassed to be the star in energy or needing more atten- Scolari’s face is instantly recognizable from the 300+ TV tion or to be treated differently. It happens and I do everything and fi lm appearances he has made, including Newhart and I can to squash that.” teaming with Tom Hanks in the 80’s comedy Bosom Buddies. Working on stage is a very different experience, he says. Of course, we had to ask Scolari about his stint as Henry Desmond on Bosom Buddies. The show featured Scolari and “Stage work is very personal. If you have a great show, ten Tom Hanks as bachelors who have to pretend to be women minutes after I am thinking what I can do better. When you in order to get an apartment they could afford. While not gay, fi lm something it is gone, preserved, captured and not yours seeing men in drag on network television was unheard of in anymore. I am lucky in that I have worked with great material 1980. and directors so there isn’t much I want back. When you want something back from a stage “We were always so upset because we took such a beat- performance you look for it ing in TV guide. ‘The boys are good but the show is stupid.’ the next night. “ Maybe it was stupid at times, but it was a half hour sitcom. About a year after us doing the show, Tootsie came out as a The role of Robert is very fi lm and was universally adored, and we thought it was just physical, bringing about mem- as silly a show, even though it was a wonderful movie,” he ories for me of John Ritter in recalled. “There are a few episodes we were very proud of. The Three’s Company. Scolari falls drag thing was disconcerting, we thought it was just part of over furniture, trips, and runs Continued on Page 50 f 8 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #65, March 2009 Theatre Review Joni Mitchell’s The Fiddle & The Drum Alberta Ballet Delivers an Eye Opening Experience

the ostrich and By Evan Kayne choosing not to see the reality of it all,” Growing up a mem- says Mitchell. “We ber of Generation are on this space- X, for the most part ship that is acceler- I had an ambivalent ating, the fuselage is coming apart and relationship with our leaders can only Joni Mitchell’s mu- think of going even sic - except that I faster.” twitched every time The produc- I heard the line tion – a bare stage from Woodstock: with only a center “half a million screen projection for strong”. Annoyed Mitchell’s images, has primarily two with the Boomer colour schemes – Generation’s pro- pink and green; odd pensity to exagger- colours for death ate their achieve- and destruction, ments I always especially given that sung under my green sometimes is the colour for hope. This colour scheme is refl ected in the dancers’ basic outfi ts of green – accentuated breath “400,000 strong”. with a red skirt for the song Ethiopia. But in the time from age 20-40, I’ve seen my own share of This semi-abstract narrative ballet, danced in neo-classi- hopes, dreams, disillusionment and disappointment - which cal style, presented several of Joni Mitchell’s songs, from Sex has humbled and educated me. Seven years ago, a Boomer Kills, Slouching Towards Bethlehem and of course, Woodstock. friend re-introduced me to Joni Mitchell and I realized youth But it was some of Mitchell’s songs I’d not heard before which and stupidity had blinded me to an exceptional songwriter struck me: Shine; a clear and poignant lullaby no child should whose poetry hit on emotions and thoughts relevant to ALL have to hear, and from the album “Dog Eat Dog” the song The generations. Three Great Stimulants. After debuting in February 2007, Joni Mitchell’s The Fiddle The whole of the work itself grabs you; all elements of and The Drum returned to both Jubilee Auditoriums this past movement, imagery, and sound unify and give full weight to month with four new songs. I missed it the fi rst time around, the words and emotions of Joni’s songs, especially given the but since its original premiere two years ago, this amazing col- weighty subject matter. Whether this work inspires some laboration between Mitchell and Alberta Ballet Artistic Direc- of the public towards action is beyond me to say; even if it tor Jean Grand-Maître inspires individuals towards action I can’t know. What I do has grown into a criti- know is that once again, my eyes have been opened wider to cally acclaimed ballet an amazing artist. that audiences world- wide have praised. The ballet addresses Ms. Mitchell’s preoc- cupations of war and environmental neglect, projecting visual imagery from the artist Joni onstage while dancers interpret the emotions from the singer/songwriter Joni. “Some people tell me that I am a pessimist, but I see myself as a realist. There are too many public individuals out there playing

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #65, March 2009 9 10 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #65, March 2009 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #65, March 2009 11 Product Review Product Review Shave the Planet, Luck of the Irish, Zonk Out Earplugs

our hands, the surface began to melt like butter. You are then By Jerome Voltero left with slippery oil with the smell of rose, fennel and lavender that makes for a pleasurable massage that moisturized your Shave the Planet from LUSH skin. Depending how much gets slathered onto you, you may Shave the cheerleader, shave need a shower before getting back into your day-clothes – I’m the world? Okay, that makes no not quite sure how fabric friendly the massage oil might be. sense (unless Marni Gras were to Or, you may simply want to save it strictly for bed time... become their new spokesperson), Shave the Planet Gift goes for $29.95 at a LUSH store near but Lush’s latest gift bundle Shave you. For more information, visit www.lush.ca. the Planet certainly does. Luck of the Irish Bath Bomb from LUSH Shave the Planet is a quartet of LUSH products to scrub up your We also got to preview the man: Shave the Planet shaving limited edition Luck of the Irish cream for super smooth shaves, Bath Bomb, available from LUSH Cosmetic Lad moisturizer to soothe this month in anticipation of St. sensitive faces, Bamboo soap to Patrick’s Day. The label reads, “A tone and leave skin smelling like refreshing bath for the morning the rainforest, plus a Business after a pint or two of Guinness. Time massage bar to get him in the Drop quietly into a soothing, warm mood to get busy. The package is bath. Lie in the water until you wrapped with a fun comic strip, feel better (but get out before you and makes a great gift for the su- shrivel up like a prune).” perhero in your life. The product is a green brick My partner and I took the op- about the size of your hand, and formed in the shape of a portunity to try out these products four-leaf clover. When dropped into bathwater, it erupts into ourselves. fi zz and dissolves in about a minute and a half, leaving the bathwater a vibrant green. Don’t worry, you won’t look like a I’m not quite sure what a rainfor- Leprechaun after getting out; the green color comes from the est smells like, but I have to say skin-nourishing avocado and it won’t stain. the Bamboo soap does have a nice, masculine scent to it – nothing Part of the fun is the invigorating scent of lemongrass, ber- fl owery or sweet, but rather earthy gamot and rosewood. It is perfect to prepare you for night of and even a little musky. The scent dancing the Irish Jig. isn’t terribly strong, so I doubt it Luck of the Irish Bath Bomb goes for $7.95 at a LUSH store would irritate anyone with sensi- near you. tive skin. Zonk Out Earplugs from DAP World Inc. The shaving cream is not quite what you would expect – it doesn’t Zonk Out is a brand new lather whatsoever, and in fact, the premium ear plug designed label states that it’s not supposed to help men get much needed to. This comes in handy if you are sleep in spite of work, stress, maintaining a fi nely sculpted beard and life changes. I’m not because you can see your face quite sure what differs be- perfectly where the cream has been tween a men’s earplug and a applied, so you know exactly where women’s earplug aside from touch-ups are needed. Because of the slightly waxy consis- marketing – in fact I’m pretty tency of this cream, you need to be mindful to use warm to hot sure they are just as effective water otherwise removing it from your shaver (and afterwards, for the working woman too. from your face) gets a bit diffi cult. “Lack of sleep can lead Afterwards we applied the moisturizer - not that our faces to premature aging, weight were feeling any sort of razor burn thanks to the shaving gain, negative effects on mood and one’s sex life,” says Dr. cream. We weren’t exactly sure if it is intended to replace af- Marc Darrow, assistant clinical professor at UCLA School of tershave, but the soft, cool cream felt a good deal more pleas- Medicine. “Hormones produced during sleep are needed for all ant than the usual sting. body functions – immune, cognitive and metabolic functions and libido, our sex drive.” The Business Time massage bar was probably the most interesting of the collection of products. In the bag it felt solid Douglas Pick, President of DAP World Inc., says, “By using like a bar of soap, but the moment it came into contact with Zonk Out, men will develop good sleeping patterns without the Continued on Page 50 f 12 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #65, March 2009 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #65, March 2009 13 OOutut ooff TTownown GGayay TTravelravel PPrimerrimer oonn HHawaiiawaii

DDiamondiamond HHeadead aatt WWaikikiaikiki ((PhotoPhoto bbyy AAndrewndrew CCollins)ollins)

Oahu located in the state’s capital Honolulu, is home to By Andrew Collins about 900,000 people (70 percent of the state’s population). Many visitors base themselves here because of the plethora of A trip to Hawaii requires a greater investment of high-rise beachside hotels in Waikiki, the dazzling variety of time and money than to just about any other U.S. restaurants and shops, the ease of getting around without a destination, but when planned carefully, the re- car, and the presence of Hawaii’s major international airport. Waikiki has also enjoyed a dramatic makeover during the past wards are unrivaled. The 50th state lies about 2,500 decade, but it’s still a densely developed neighborhood that miles from Southern California, its nearest major lacks the elbow room and mellow vibe common on neighbor island mass. The fl ora, fauna, and natural beauty of lands. Most of the big beachside hotels have undergone impres- this rugged archipelago are unique in the Western sive renovations of late, greatly increasingly the quality of ac- Hemisphere, and each of the four major islands that commodations. But Waikiki still has a number of rather bland high-rise properties, and if you visit only this stretch of (albeit make up the Hawaiian chain varies tremendously in beautiful) sand, you won’t really come away with a particularly terrain, diversions, and personality. Whereas most rich sense of the state of Hawaii. mainland destinations can be enjoyed over a long The ideal time to see Oahu is during the fi rst few days of weekend, Hawaii is best explored over at least a your visit, as Waikiki is walkable and downtown Honolulu of- week two if you can possibly manage it. fers the kinds of cultural attractions Iolani Palace, Chinatown, Doris Duke’s Shangri La Foundation for Islamic Art, the Bishop The creature least likely to enjoy a visit to Hawaii is the gay Museum you might be most in the mood to appreciate having single traveler with high expectations of fi nding romance (the just arrived from the mainland (once you experience the more gay single traveler with low expectations of fi nding romance pristine and peaceful neighbor islands, you’ll probably have may have a terrifi c time, however). While hooking up here considerably less interest in urban diversions). No visit to Oahu isn’t unheard of, it tends to happen more by accident than by is complete without a drive around the island’s splendid Wind- design. Honolulu (and its resort community Waikiki), may buzz ward Coast and North Shore, which can be managed easily in with commerce, shopping, dining, and other big-city diversions, a day (the only day you might consider renting a car, which is but it has only a smattering of gay bars. Waikiki has a handful unnecessary unless you plan to leave Honolulu and Waikiki). of gay bars, but overall the GLBT nightlife scene here is far mel- lower than in most cities this size. The island of Hawaii (or Big The island of Hawaii (known most commonly as “the Big Island) has a small gay bar. Island”) is about twice the size of the other islands combined. There’s considerable resort development along the western Hawaii is most defi nitely a destination geared toward cou- (Kohala) coastline, distinctive for its arid and beautifully deso- ples, so romantics should plan to bring along their own lover.

14 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #65, March 2009 Travel late terrain, characterized by massive black fi elds of lava rock. which consists of spacious rooms set within secluded three Ideally, you should try to spend at least three days on the Big and four-unit clusters facing either the ocean or golf courses. Island, one to drive to the verdant tropical eastern coast, which Private entrances, expansive lanais, a state-of-the-art health is anchored by the small, historic city of Hilo. Dedicate another club and spa, and parklike grounds set this compound apart day to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, which comprises two from the competition. active (and occasionally fl owing) volcanoes and countless trails and campsites. And spend your fi nal day driving north into the Four Seasons, Maui. A stunning U-shape hotel with an upcountry ranching community of Waimea, and beyond that to incredible collection of local, contemporary art, a fantastic spa the breathtakingly rugged Hamakua Coast. (treatments can be enjoyed in open-air hales by the ocean), three superb restaurants, and the most attuned and solicitous In terms of scenery, the one Hawaiian island that comes staff in all of Hawaii make this the ultimate luxe getaway. closest to living up to the expectations of many fi rst-time visitors is Kauai, a relatively small but magnifi cently lush isle Grand Hyatt, Kauai. Built with native Hawaiian materi- of rainforests, towering seaside cliffs, and secluded beaches. als and designs and furnished with a fascinating collection of Hikers fl ock to Na Pali Coast State Park, which is on the remote native art and antiquities, this elegant, gay-friendly resort is northwestern tip of the island, just beyond the picturesque head-and-shoulders above the rest on Kuaui. The setting at village of Hanalei (which has been the setting for such fi lms as Kauai’s fancy Poipu Resort incorporates 5 acres of swimming South Pacifi c, Indiana Jones and Jurassic Park. lagoons, a huge fi tness center and spa, and a multitude of fi ne restaurants. The eastern side is dominated by the waterfalls of the Wailua River Valley (home to several gay-friendly B&Bs), and the Hale Ohia Cottages, Big Island. This airy and cheerfully fur- southern side by Poipu’s beaches and grand resorts. Kauai nished seven room complex is nestled amid pine trees and ferns remains largely unspoiled and slow-paced, an ideal spot for in the shadows of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park it’s one of devotees of the outdoors; loyal admirers often vacation here the better values on the Big Island. The elegant cottages and exclusively and skip the other islands. suites sleep from two to fi ve persons and some have kitchen facilities. One island virtually any traveler could encamp happily on for a full week or more is diverse and dramatic Maui, the Horizon Guest House, Big Island. This super luxurious second-most populated and developed of Hawaii’s islands. guest house offers amenities and furnishings on par with any of Longtime visitors fret that the rate at which tourism has Hawaii’s top resorts but with the intimacy and seclusion of your boomed here has diminished Maui’s appeal, but a quick glance own private ranch. Each of the four units afford unparalleled at Waikiki should convince anybody that development could be ocean views, as does the in-ground infi nity pool and sweeping far more intense. Maui’s resorts are sophisticated and relatively grounds on a 40 acre mountainside high above the Pacifi c. new (most built over the past two to three decades), and fi ne JW Marriott Ihilani, Oahu. One of the only resorts on the restaurants and shops abound along the west coast, which island that’s removed from the busy Waikiki scene, the hand- is also where you’ll fi nd the best and sunniest beaches. The somely appointed Ihilani sits along the sun-kissed west coast, island’s must-do activities are a drive to the 10,023 foot Mt. Ha- affording guests incredible sunsets. Rooms are swanky and leakala, a dormant volcano whose peak offers unrivaled views contemporary. of the Pacifi c Ocean; and an all-day drive to the sleepy village of Hana, set in the richly verdant southeast side of Maui. If you’re planning to visit all four islands, you might consider staying with Hawaii’s gay-friendly Outrigger Hotels chain, Great Hawaiian Sleeps which has about 25 hotels and condos throughout the state, Hawaii is rife with gay-friendly accommodations, from luxu- most in Waikiki (the beachfront Reef and Waikiki properties are rious full-service resorts to modest upcountry B&Bs. Distin- the best on Oahu, and the Outrigger guishing the duds from the winners can take a bit of research, Aina Nalu on Maui is also a stand- so spend a little time perusing both gay and mainstream books out). With one call to Outrigger’s cen- and websites before investing time and money into your accom- tral reservation service, you can book modations. Determine how much you’re willing to spend, the comfortable and moderately priced intimacy and clientele you seek, and the setting you desire. And accommodations across the state of remember that many Hawaiian hotels and inns require a sig- Hawaii. nifi cant portion of the payment up front, so avoid committing to Andrew Collins is the author of Fodor’s a place you haven’t heard good things about from at least three Gay Guide to the USA and eight additional reliable sources the differences between dreamy and dreary travel guides. can be extreme among Hawaiian hotels. There are dozens of fi ne properties across the archipelago, but here are a handful of the best: Embassy Suites Waikiki, Oahu. This well-run, twin-tower, all-suites property is across the street from one of the prettiest The Little Black Book stretches of beach on Waikiki. Rooms are spacious and reason- ably priced, and many upscale shops and eateries are within a Embassy Suites Waikiki (808-921-2345, www.embassysuites. quick stroll. com). Fairmont Kea Lani (808-875 4100 or 866-540-4456, www. fairmont.com/kealani). Four Seasons Hualalai (808-325 8000 or 800 Fairmont Kea Lani, Maui. Accommodations at this Moorish- 332 3442, www.fourseasons.com/hualalai). Four Seasons Maui (808- inspired hotel at the posh Wailea Resort are among the largest 874-8000, www.fourseasons.com/maui). Grand Hyatt Kauai (808- and most beautiful in Hawaii, each with about 1,000 square 742-1234, www.kuai.hyatt.com). Hale Ohia Cottages (808-967 7986 feet of living space, Italian marble baths, kitchen facilities, or 800 455 3803, www.haleohia.com). Hawaii Convention & Visitors high-end entertainment centers, and room for two couples. Bureau (800-GO-HAWAII, www.gohawaii.com). Horizon Guest House (808-328 2540 or 888-328-8301, www.horizonguesthouse.com). Four Seasons Hualalai, Big Island. There are deluxe resort JW Marriott Ihilani Resort (808-679-0079 or 800-626-4446, www. hotels in Hawaii, and then there’s the Four Seasons Hualani, marriott.com). Outrigger Hotels and Resorts (866-956-4262, www. outrigger.com).

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #65, March 2009 15 16 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #65, March 2009 Directory and Events

http://www.twistedelement.ca Apollo Calgary Friends in Sports • Outdoor Pursuits Legend Dance Club and Lounge. http://www.apollocalgary.com If it’s done outdoors, we do it! This winter we Our Magazine Available Here ------✰ Apollo Friends In Sports is a volunteer-operated, will be downhill and crosscountry skiing, skating Wheelchair Accessible Venue ------Bathhouses/Saunas non-profit organization serving primarily members and snowshoeing and a whole bunch more. If you’re interested in any of these or something 6 Goliath’s ------✰ of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgendered else completely, get in touch with us. All events 308 - 17 Ave SW ℡ (403) 229-0911 communities but open to members of all are organized by the members so if you’re tired http://www.goliaths.ca communities. We currently have more than 400 CALGARY of playing alone outdoors and want to meet other Open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day members and are growing fast! The primary focus Bars and Clubs of Apollo is to provide our membership with well outdoorsy people, go to myapollo.org to create a Community Groups organized and fun sporting events and other profile and get added to the mailing list. 3 Backlot ------✰ activities to allow them to participate and interact in • Running (Calgary Frontrunners) 209 - 10th Ave SW ℡ (403) 265-5211 2 Aids Calgary ------✰ a positive social framework. Coffee Junkies, 7th Street and 1st Ave SW Open 7 days a week, 4pm-close 110, 1603 10th Avenue SW ℡ Tim (403) 660-6125 ℡ (403) 508-2500 • Badminton (Absolutely Smashing) 4 Calgary Eagle Inc. ------✰ [email protected] [email protected] St. Martha School (6020 4th Avenue NE) 424a - 8th Ave SE ℡ (403) 263-5847 Saturdays at 9am http://www.aidscalgary.org Wednesdays, 7pm-9pm http://www.calgaryeagle.com Oct 8 to Dec 10, Jan 7 to Apr 1. Distance varies. 8km-15km. Runners from 6 Open Wed-Sun, 5pm-close • Community Forum Fees Per session: $4 for Apollo member, $5 for non- minute/mile to 9+ minute miles. During the Leather/Denim/Fetish bar. MacEwan Conference and Events Centre members. Season’s pass $75. summer we attempt to have evening runs during 2500 University Drive NW ✰ the week. 5555 Marquee Room ------ Tues, Mar 17th, 9am-12:30pm • Bowling (Rainbow Riders League) • Slow Pitch 612 - 8th Avenue SW HIV, Disclosure and the Law. Let’s 10 Pin Bowlerama, 2916 - 5 Ave NE http://www.marqueeroom.com Wednesdays, 7pm, until March 4th Summer sport - not currently active. Alberta Society for Kink Alternative night every Wednesday. COST: Nightly - $17.00/night ($12.50 for lineage; • Tennis ℡ (403) 398-9968 ✰ $4.50 in prize money) and shoe rental is $2.50. Summer sport - not currently active. 9 MPs (Money Pennies) ------ [email protected] 1742 - 10th Ave SW ℡ (403) 263-7411 ca.groups.yahoo.com/ • Curling • Volleyball (Intermediate/Competitive) http://www.money-pennies.com group.albertasocietyforkink North Hill Curling Club (1201 - 2 Street NW) YWCA, 320 - 5th Avenue SE Closed Mondays. Meet and Greets: Mondays, 7pm-9:30pm Saturdays: 2:20pm and 4:30pm www.apollocalgary.com/apollo/volleyball Bar and restaurant. Season starts October 18, 2008 Every Sunday, 4:15pm-6:30pm, until April 5th • Kinky Flea Market ✰ This is for seasoned players. You can sign up for the 6 Texas Lounge ------ Forest Heights Community Centre • Golf season or drop-in. 308 - 17 Ave SW ℡ (403) 229-0911 4909 Forego Ave SE [email protected] http://www.goliaths.ca ℡ Info: (403) 398-9968 • Lawn Bowling • Volleyball (Recreational) Open 7 days a week, 11am-close Sat. April 4th, 12pm-5pm [email protected]. Langevin School, 107 - 6A Street NE 3333 Twisted Element Admission: $3.00 www.apollocalgary.com/apollo/volleyball 1006 - 11th Ave SW ℡ (403) 802-0230 Every Friday, 7pm-9pm, until April 24th DDOWNTOWNOWNTOWN CALGARYCALGARY

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #65, March 2009 17 Directory and Events

All are welcome. This is for all skill levels, including 1 Calgary Outlink ------✰ • New Directions • Monthly Screenings recreational players and beginners. You can sign up #4, 1230A 17th Avenue SW Every 3rd Friday of the month, 7pm-9pm The Plaza Theatre, Kensington for the season or drop-in. ℡ (403) 234-8973 Drop in peer-support group to provide support and Mar 25th, 7pm • Western Cup 2009 http://www.calgaryoutlink.com resources for individuals who identify as transsexual Were the World Mine - Encore Screening. www.westerncup.com Formerly know as the Gay And Lesbian Community or inter-sexed. If you are transsexual, or know • Annual Film Festival April 10th-12th Services Association (GLCSA). of someone who is, please contact our office for May 28th - June 6th, 2009 information and assistance. You are not alone! Annual GLBT sporting tournament. • Peer Support and Crisis Line There is support! Miscellaneous Youth Network • Yoga Front-line help service for GLBT individuals and http://www.miscyouth.com No information available. their family and friends, or anyone questioning • SHEQ Soulful Healing Ego Quest their sexuality. ℡ Trudy or Krista, (403) 585-7437 • Fake Mustache ------Alberta Rockies Gay Rodeo Association Runs for a ten week period on Thursdays, 7pm The Soda, 211 - 12th Ave SW • Library ℡ (403) 541-8140 www.argra.org A workshop for women that want to be themselves First Thursday of every month A great selection of resource books, fiction, non- in a supportive, safe environment. It is a chance Calgary’s ONLY Drag King Show. $5 cover. $2 • Monthly Dances ------fiction, videos and everything in between, all with a to grow and share their experiences related to cover under 18. Advance tickets available at Barbies Hillhurst-Sunnyside Community Association queer perspective. 1320 5th Avenue NW women’s sexuality. To participate, please call the Shop. All Ages show starts at 7:30. 18+ show Sat Mar 21st, 2009 @ 8pm • Drop-In Center exclusive SHEQ line or leave your name and a starts at 10:15. $6 ARGRA Members, $10 non-members. A safe and supportive environment for one-to-one contact time/number with Calgary Outlink. • Money Pennies Show peer counseling for many issues surrounding family, • Womynspace Money Pennies Artists for the Quality of Life coming out, homosexuality, loneliness and other Every first and third Friday, 7pm-9pm Saturday March 14th, 7:30pm-10:30pm ℡ (403) 890-1261 www.afqol.com issues. Peer social/support group for women providing an $5.00 at the door. Cabin Fever • Between Men and Between Men Online evening of fun, bonding, discussion and activities. Calgary Eagle, 424a 8th Ave SW Girl Friends Tuesdays 7pm-9pm Calgary Queer Book Club members.shaw.ca/girlfriends 3RD THURSDAY every month Peer support, sexual health education for gay Weeds Cafe (1903 20 Ave NW) Women’s dance and social night. or bisexual men, as well as those who may be Girlsgroove Wed, Mar 25th Calgary Gay Fathers uncertain or questioning their sexuality. Discussions http://www.girlsgroove.ca First meeting. Look us up on Facebook. [email protected] range from personal relationship or life issues, to HIV Peer Support Group http://www.geocities.com/calgaryfathers sexual health and well-being. Deer Park United Church/Wholeness Centre ℡ (403) 230-5832 77 Deerpoint Road SE ℡ (403) 278-8263 Peer support group for gay, bisexual and • Calgary Networking Club [email protected] questioning fathers. Meeting twice a month. http://www.dpuc.ca MPs, 1742 - 10th Ave SW ISCCA Social Association Worship Time - 10am Sundays Calgary Men’s Chorus First Tuesday of every month, 5pm-7pm http://www.iscca.ca http://www.calgarymenschorus.org The networking meetings are open to all individuals Different Strokes Imperial Sovereign Court of the Chinook Arch. http://www.differentstrokescalgary.org • Rehearsals who would like to promote their businesses or • Shooters at Texas Lounge Old Y Centre, 223 - 12 Avenue SW who would like to meet new people - no business • Swim Practice Tuesdays and Saturdays, 8pm-11:30pm affiliation is necessary. SAIT Pool, 1301 - 16th Ave NW Tuesday nights, Sept-Jun, 7pm-9:30pm • Shooters at Calgary Eagle Sundays and Thursdays, 6-7pm • Calgary Sings • Heading Out Sat Mar 7, Mar 21 Different Strokes Calgary accommodates both Knox United Church (506 - 4th Street SW) 2nd and 4th Friday of every month, 7pm-9pm recreational and competitive swimmers. Coaching • Shooters at the Backlot Sat, Mar 28th, 7:30pm Peer group for men who are looking for an is offered to assist with technique and fitness Mar 20, Apr 10 Tickets: $18.75 via Pumphous Theatre Box Office, alternative social activity to the bar. Activities vary development. After swim practice is a nice cool online or phone (403) 263-]0079. and are fun and entertaining. • Drag Shows at Calgary Eagle down in the hot tub where announcements will be • Illusions Calgary March 29, 9pm • Eclipse Concert made. Usually team members will go for dinner Social group for Calgary and area transgender Rozsa Centre, University of Calgary after practice and everyone is welcome. • Drag Shows at Money Pennies Sat June 20th, 8:00pm community members (cross dressers, transvestites, See website for details. drag kings and queens). Illusions provides a safe, • Annual Western Cup Swim Meet Tickets $20. To purchase, please visit website. • Introduction of Candidates discrete and welcoming atmosphere, in which Talisman Recreation Cntr, 2225 Macleod Tr SW ✰ Texas Lounge Calgary Sexual Health Centre ------transgendered people can meet others of like mind. Fri April 10th, 2009, 10am-2pm Tues, Mar 10th, 8pm-11:30pm 304, 301 14th Street NW Illusions offers discretion, acceptance, compassion A fun sprint meet. Although this is a Swim Alberta ℡ (403) 283-5580 and a safe place to express your gender. Cross- sanctioned meet, we emphasize fun! You don’t • Candidate Show http://www.calgarysexualhealth.ca dressing is the purpose of the group, but is not have to be an expert swimmer to come out and Money Pennies Calgary Sexual Health Centre is a pro-choice mandatory. compete and have fun! Sat, Mar 21st, 9pm organization that believes all people have the right Don’t Buy In Project • Imperial Roast and ability to make their own choices regarding • Inside Out http://www.dontbuyin.ca The Texas Lounge their sexual and reproductive health. Calgary Every Monday, 7pm-9pm This Calgary Police Service Initiative aims to Tuesday, April 14th, 7:30pm-11:30pm Sexual Health Centre started as a volunteer based, Peer-facilitated youth group for GLBTQ ages 15-25. encourage youth to working towards an inclusive grassroots organization and has been providing The group aims to let youth know they are not • In-Town Show environment in which diversity is embraced in their comprehensive sexuality education and counselling alone, and to connect them with their peers. It is MPs Eatery & Bar schools and community. programs to the Calgary community since 1972. a funky and safe environment with a variety of Thursday, April 16th, 7pm resources and activities. FairyTales Presentation Society • Emperor’s Pub Crawl #4 - 1230A 17th Avenue SW Friday, April 17th, 6pm-8:30pm ℡ (403) 244-1956 [email protected] • Out of Town Show http://www.fairytalesfilmfest.com Calgary Eagle Looking for Something? Alberta Gay & Lesbian Film Festival. Friday, April 17th, 9pm Browse over 450 listings in our Online GLBT Business Directory, and our • DVD Resource Library • Coronation 33 complete Online GLBT Community Events Calendar. Over a hundred titles to choose from. Annual The Westin Hotel, Grand Ball Room Saturday, April 18th, 6pm www.gaycalgary.com membership is $10.

18 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #65, March 2009 Directory and Events

• Alaskan Bird Water Party http://www.priderainbowproject.com http://www.thesharpfoundation.com 1166 Priape Calgary ------✰ Calgary Eagle Youth run project designed to show support for • 4th Annual Taste for Life 1322 - 17 Ave SW ℡ (403) 215-1800 Sunday, April 19th, 3pm-7pm same-sex marriage in Canada and elsewhere. A Gypsy Bistro and Wine Bar (817 - 1st Str. SW) http://www.priape.com • Tough Drag Show fabric rainbow banner approximately 5 feet wide Tues, Mar 10th, 5:30pm or 7:30pm Clothing and accessories. Adult toys, leather wear, Calgary Eagle - goal is to make it 3.2km (2 miles) long, in order ℡ Reservations: (403) 263-5869 movies and magazines. Gifts. to break the world record. Sunday, April 19th, 11am Proceeds to Bewsick House, Scott Hourse, Project Wares & Wear Ventures Inc. All monies raised go to Charity: Agape Manor, Primetimers Calgary 2011 (our newest home!) See Canada - Retail Stores. Beswick House, HIV Peer Support, Artists for Quality [email protected] Urban Sex Radio Show of Life, Children’s Wish Foundation http://www.primetimerscalgary.com CJSW 90.9 FM Services Prime Timers Calgary is designed to foster social http://www.cjsw.com 5544 Battistella Knox United Church interaction for its members through a variety of Every Wednesday from 9-10pm 192 15th Avenue SW ℡ (403) 290-1664 506 - 4th Street SW ℡ (403) 269-8382 social, educational and recreational activities. It is Focus on sexuality; gay bisexual lesbian trans www.battistella.ca http://www.knoxunited.ab.ca open to all gay and bisexual men of any age and Knox United Church is an all-inclusive church gendered and straight issues here in Calgary and Condo developer, real estate. respects whatever degree of anonymity that each around the web. located in downtown Calgary. A variety of facility member desires. 5577 BRAZILya rentals are also available for meetings, events and Western Canada Bigmen and Admirers #3, 1114 - 11th Street SW • Free Pool at the Calgary Eagle concerts. groups.yahoo.com/group/ ℡ (403) 457-2955 Every Wednesday • Worship Services WesternCanadaBigmenGroup/ www.brazilyalaser.com • Saturday Coffee [email protected] Wednesdays - Communion Service 12:10pm. Calgary Civil Marriage Centre Midtown Co-op, 1130 - 11th Ave SW Sundays - 11am. September to June. Vigor Calgary ℡ Every Saturday, 10am (403) 246-4134 [email protected] Sundays - 10:30am in July and August. ℡ (403) 255-7004 www.vigorcalgary.ca Marriage Commissioner for Alberta (aka Justice of Mystique • Monthly Gathering at MoneyPennies Violence in Gay Male Relationships (VIGOR) is a the Peace - JP), Marriage Officiant, Commissioner [email protected] Please check the website. committee of professionals dedicated to increasing for Oaths. the awareness of gay men’s domestic violence and Mystique is primarily a Lesbian group for women 30 • Vertigo Theatre Night 2244 Courtney Aarbo (Barristers & Solicitors) the services available to them. and up but all are welcome. March 8th, 6:30pm 1138 Kensington Road NW • Coffee Night Art of Murder - Director’s Performance “Yeah... What She Said!” Radio Show ℡ (403) 571-5120 Second Cup (2312 - 4th Street SW) • Pumphouse Theatre Night CJSW 90.9 FM http://www.courtneyaarbo.ca Last Saturday of every month, 7:30pm-10ish. March 17th, 8:00pm [email protected] GLBT legal services. Every Monday evening, 8:30-9pm NETWORKS Happy Birthday Dear Alice Cruiseline ℡ (403) 293-3356 Queers on Campus ------✰ Restaurants ℡ (403) 777-9494 trial code 3500 [email protected] 279R Student Union Club Spaces, U of C http://www.cruiseline.ca A social, cultural, and service organization for ℡ (403) 220-6394 4 Calgary Eagle Inc. ------✰ Telephone classifieds and chat - 18+ ONLY. the mature minded and “Plus 40” gay, lesbian, http://www.ucalgary.ca/~glass See Calgary - Bars and Clubs. Duncan’s Residential Cleaning bisexual, and transgendered individuals seeking to Formerly GLASS - Gay/Lesbian Association of 9 MPs (Money Pennies) ------✰ ℡ Jim Duncan: (403) 978-6600 meet with others at age-appropriate activities within Students and Staff. See Calgary - Bars and Clubs. Residential cleaning. Free estimates. apositive, safe, non-threatening and nurturing • Coffee Night Lorne Doucette (CIR Realtors) environment. 2nd Cup, Kensington. Retail Stores ℡ (403) 461-9195 Parents for Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) Every Tuesday, 7pm. http://www.lornedoucette.com ℡ Sean: (403) 695-5791 5511 A Little More Interesting ------✰ Rainbow Community Church Marnie Campbell (Maxwell Realtors) http://www.pflagcanada.ca 1501B, 17th Avenue SW ℡ (403) 475-7775 Hillhurst United, 1227 Kensington Close NW ℡ (403) 479-8619 PFLAG Canada is a registered charitable http://wwww.alittlemoreinteresting.com [email protected] http://www.marniecampbell.ca organization that provides support, education and http://www.rainbowcommunitychurch.ca Adult Depot ------✰ MFM Communications resources to parents, families and individuals who Services: every Sunday afternoon at 4:00pm 140, 58th Ave SW ℡ (403) 258-2777 ℡ (403) 543-6970 have questions or concerns about sexual orientation The Rainbow Community Church is an all-inclusive Gay, bi, straight video rentals and sex toys. or gender identity. 1-877-543-6970 church; everyone is welcome. 4488 ✰ Barbies Shop ------ http://www.mfmcommunications.com Positive Space Committee Rocky Mountain Bears 1313 16th Avenue SW ℡ (403) 262-8265 Web site hosting and development. Computer 4825 Mount Royal Gate SW [email protected] http://www.barbiesshop.com hardware and software. ℡ (403) 440-6383 http://www.rockymountainbears.com Bongs and Such------✰ [email protected] Rev. Nadene Rogers 214, 2066 18th Ave NE ℡ (403) 250-7004 http://www.mtroyal.ca/positivespace • Bear Bar Night ℡ (403) 247-0602 4829 Macleod Tr. SW ℡ (403) 243-5251 The Positive Space Committee at Mount Royal Calgary Eagle Fri, Mar 13th http://www.weddingsmyway.com 1-866-411-BONG College works to raise awareness and challenge • Fondue Night at Lyle’s Marriage Commissioner. ✰ the patterns of silence that continue to marginalize 4636 Monterey Ave NW Erotic Xxes Boutique ------Rick Grenier (Invis) lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans-gendered, two-spirited March 21st, 5pm 4823 Macleod Trail SW ℡ (403) 243-4196 ℡ (403) 862-1162 [email protected] and queer (LGBTTQ) individuals. $5 to cover costs. 4008 - 26th Street SE ℡ (403) 207-5542 Mortgage solutions. http://www.eroticxxesboutique.ca Pride Calgary Planning Committee • Coat Check ✰ Open 7 days a week and holidays 4455 R. Cobalt ------℡ (403) 262-3410 www.pridecalgary.ca Calgary Eagle March 13th, 27th 735 12th Avenue SW ℡ (403) 228-7822 4411 La Fleur ------• Pride 2009 - Dance Safety Under the Rainbow Hair salon and esthetics. 103 - 100 7th Avenue SW Sat September 5th http://www.safetyrainbow.ca ℡ (403) 266-1707 5566 Sacred Balance Piercing Mission: To raise awareness and understanding of • Pride 2009 - Parade and Street Gala Florist and Flower Shop. 1528 - 17th Avenue SW ℡ (403) 277-4449 Sunday September 6th same-sex domestic violence and homophobic youth www.sacredbalancetattoo.com bullying. The Naked Leaf------Tattos and body piercing. 305 10th Street NW ℡ (403) 283-3555 Sharp Foundation Pride Rainbow Project http://www.thenakedleaf.ca SafeWorks ℡ (403) 272-2912 [email protected] Organic teas and tea ware. Free and confidential HIV/AIDS and STI testing. [email protected]

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #65, March 2009 19 Directory and Events

DDOWNTOWNOWNTOWN EDMONTONEDMONTON

• Calgary Drop-in Centre 3377 Pumphouse Theatre------✰ 1122 Woody’s ------✰ • Gala Fundraiser Room 117, 423 - 4th Ave SE 2140 Pumphouse Avenue SW 11725 Jasper Ave ℡ (780) 488-6557 deVine Wines & Spirits, 10111 - 104 Street ℡ (403) 699-8216 ℡ (403) 263-0079 ℡ (780) 421-9463 [email protected] Mon-Fri: 9am-12pm, Sat: 12:15pm-3:15pm http://www.pumphousetheatres.ca Bathhouses/Saunas Saturday, March 7th, 8pm $100 includes a $60 contribution to Camp • Centre of Hope Stagewest ------✰ 7 Down Under Baths ------✰ fYreflyand a $60 Charitable Donation Receipt. Room 201, 420 - 9th Ave SE 727 - 42 Avenue SE ℡ (403) 243-6642 12224 Jasper Ave ℡ (780) 482-7960 Space is limited to the first 80 registrants. ℡ (403) 410-1180 Mon-Fri: 1pm-5pm http://www.stagewestcalgary.com http://www.gayedmonton.com Edmonton Pride Week Society • Sheldon M. Chumir Health Centre 5588 Theatre Junction ------✰ 1111 Steamworks ------✰ http://www.prideedmonton.org 1213 - 4th Str SW ℡ (403) 955-6014 Theatre Junction GRAND, 608 1st St. SW 11745 Jasper Ave ℡ (780) 451-5554 Sat-Thu: 4:15pm-7:45pm, Fri: Closed ℡ (403) 205-2922 http://www.steamworksedmonton.com • Pride Week 2009 - Age of Aqueerius • Safeworks Van [email protected] June 12 to 21, 2009 ℡ (403) 850-3755 http://www.theatrejunction.com Community Groups Edmonton Prime Timers Sat-Thu: 8pm-12am, Fri: 4pm-12am 3344 Vertigo Mystery Theatre ------BEEF Bear Bash [email protected] Sol Sourced Weddings 161, 115 - 9 Ave SE ℡ (403) 221-3708 Boots Bar and Lounge www.primetimersww.org/edmonton ℡ (403) 270-9480 http://www.vertigomysterytheatre.com www.bearbeef.org EPT is a group of older gay men and their admirers http://www.solsourcedweddings.com Bar night for hairy men and admirers. who come from diverse backgrounds but have Soleiha B. Mahrcell, Wedding Commissioner. common social interests. Meetings include a social EDMONTON Buck Naked Boys Club period, a short business meeting and then either Theatre and Fine Arts ℡ (780) 471-6993 a guest speaker, discussion panel, or a potluck Bars and Clubs http://www.bucknakedboys.ca supper. Special interest groups meet for other social 3366 ATP, Alberta Theatre Projects 2nd Saturday of every month activities throughout the month. In July and August 5 Boots Bar and Lounge ------✰ ℡ (403) 294-7402 http://www.ATPlive.com Naturism club for men. Our club has been meeting we have a BBQ or picnic in lieu of a meeting and in 10242 106th St ℡ (780) 423-5014 continuously for over 10 years. The similar club in AXIS Contemporary Art ------December it’s replaced with a Christmas party. EPT http://www.bootsbar.ca/ Calgary ceased to exist several years ago. Naturism 107, 100 - 7 Ave SW ℡ (403) 262-3356 is affiliated with Prime Timers World Wide. 6 Buddy’s Nite Club ------✰ is being social while everyone is naked, and it does [email protected] www.axisart.ca • Monthly Meetings 11725 Jasper Ave ℡ (780) 488-6636 not include sexual activity. Therefore participants Fairytales do not need to be gay, only male, but almost all Unitarian Church, 10804 - 119th Street ✰ See Calgary - Community Groups. 1133 PLAY Nightclub ------participants over the years do self-describe as being 2nd Sunday of most months, 2:30pm 10220 103 Street ℡ (780) 497-7529 March 8th: Presentation on Health Problems 4433 Lisa Heinricks (Artist) ------gay or bisexual. [email protected] April 12th: Annual General Meeting Art Central, 100 7th Ave SW, lower level http://www.playnightclub.ca Camp fYrefly May 10th: Presentation by HIV Edmonton http://www.creamydreamy.com 7-104 Dept. of Educational Policy Studies 8 Prism Bar & Grill ------✰ June 14th: Bingo 3355 Faculty of Education, University of Alberta One Yellow Rabbit ------ 10524 101st St ℡ (780) 990-0038 July 11th-13th: BBQ and/or Campout at Pine Trails Big Secret Theatre - EPCOR CENTRE Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2G5 http://www.prismbar.ca • Home Movies ℡ (403) 299-8888 www.oyr.org http://www.fyrefly.ualberta.ca Fri, Mar 13th, 6pm

20 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #65, March 2009 Directory and Events

Chicago, Bourne Ultimatum. Contact for more 1 Pride Centre of Edmonton ------✰ Wednesdays, 6pm-7:30pm [email protected] information. 95A Street, 111 Ave ℡ (780) 488-3234 Season starts March 8th Every Sunday, 10am-11am Women’s Drop-In Recreational Badminton. All genders and levels of runners and walkers are • Dining Out • Annual General Meeting invited to join this free activity. Prism Bar & Grill March 15th •Ballroom Dancing March 20th, 6:30pm Foot Notes Dance Studio, 9708-45 Avenue NW • Swimming (Making Waves) • Bears Movie Night Steak dinner. $15 each. ℡ (780) 469-3281 NAIT Swimming Pool TV room, Pride Centre of Edmonton Sundays, 7:30-8:30pm [email protected] • Coffee Last Sunday of the month, 1-6pm Tim Hortons (104th Street) Beginner Ballroom program is designed for people Every Tuesday, 8am-9pm • Get Tested for STIs March 18th, 2:30pm who have no previous dance instruction and have Every Thursday, 7:30pm-8:30pm Last Thurs of Month, 3pm - 6pm the desire to gain confidence on the social dance • Roller Derby (Practices) Edmonton Rainbow Business Association Starting Mar 26th floor. *Students may take level 2 upon completion 3379, 11215 Jasper Ave ℡ (780) 429-5014 [email protected] • GLBT Seniors Drop-In of the beginner course. *All gender combinations of http://www.edmontonrba.org Mondays & Thursdays, 6:30-8:30pm Every Tuesday & Thursday, 1-4pm dancers are welcome. *Partners are not required. ERBA’s primary focus is the provision of networking E-Ville Roller Derby is a community-wise sports Program serving our GLBT seniors. Hosted by Jeff opportunities for gay, lesbian, bisexual and Absolute Beginner Session Dates: September 21st initiative for adult females. Their purpose is for fun, Bovee. transgendered (GLBT) owned or operated and - November 30th, January 18th - March 29th, April friendly sports competition among like-minded GLBT-friendly businesses in the Edmonton region. • Trans Education/Support Group 19th - July 5th. $149.00 +GST / 10 weeks. Call women. You need no prior experience in roller Membership is open to all kinds of entrepreneurs, 1st & 3rd Sundays of each month, 2-4pm to register. derby. They’ll teach you everything you need to from tradespeople to professionals to commission Support and education for all transsexual, • Blazin’ Bootcamp know, including how to skate! salespeople. transgendered, intersexed, two-spirited and Lynnwood Elementary School, 15451- 84 Ave • Samsara Yoga questioning individuals. • After Business Mixers [email protected] Korezone Fitness, #203, 10575 -115 Street Garage Burger Bar (10244 - 106th St.) • Men’s Discussion Group Every Monday, 7pm-8:15pm [email protected] 2nd Wednesday every month 5:30–7:30pm [email protected] Indoor season resumes January 5th Every Sunday, 2pm-3:30pm Every Sunday, 7pm • Bowling (Northern Titans) • Soccer Edmonton Illusions Social Club Mens social and discussion group. Boots Bar & Grill Gateway Lanes, 100 - 3414 Gateway Blvd [email protected] ℡ (780) 387-3343 • Men’s HIV Support Group [email protected] • Tennis groups.yahoo.com/group/edmonton_illusions 2nd Monday of the month, 7-9pm Every Saturday, 5pm-7pm [email protected] 2nd Thursday of each month Resumes Saturday January 3rd • Prime Timers $15.00 per person. • Volleyball, Free To Be Intermediate 4 Edmonton STD See Edmonton Primetimers. Amiskiwaciy Academy, 101 Airport Road 11111 Jasper Ave • Cross-Country Skiing [email protected] • Queer Youth Sport & Recreation night Gold Bar Park Thursday nights from 8pm-10pm Edmonton Vocal Minority Alex Taylor School Gym, 9321 Jasper Ave Saturday January 10th, 1pm ℡ (780) 479-2038 [email protected] ℡ Brendan, (780) 488-3234 Indoor season resumes on January 8th www.evmchoir.com [email protected] • Curling with Pride • Volleyball, Free To Be Recreational Granite Curling Club, 8620 107 Street NW ✰ First Tuesday of every month, 4:30pm Mother Teresa School, 9008 - 105A Ave 3 HIV Network Of Edmonton Society --- ℡ (780) 463-5942 Tuesday Nights, 8pm-10pm 11456 Jasper Ave www.hivedmonton.com • Suit Up and Show Up Group [email protected] Every Saturday, 12 noon Indoor season resumes January 6th Imperial Sovereign Court of the Wild Rose Every Monday, 7:15pm-9:15pm Big Book Study of Alcoholics Anonymous. Drop-In $4.00, Full Season $60.00 ($2.50/game), http://www.gayedmonton.org 16 games - Oct 27 to March 2nd. Half Season $35.00 ($2.91/game) • Sick and tired of being sick and tired? Opening Night Funspiel (October 27). St Paddy’s • Bingo with the WPCCs Every Thursday, 7pm-8pm Day Spiel and Awards (March 2). $250/person. Womonspace Boots Bar & Lounge Escape Cocaine. Early bird registration draw (2 prizes of $50 off ℡ (780) 482-1794 Mon, Mar 9th, 6pm [email protected] • YouthSpace fees) register by 1 October 2008. Final registration • Turnabout 2009 date: 10 October, 2008. www.womonspace.ca [email protected] Boots Bar & Lounge Women’s social group, but all welcome at events. Tuesday to Friday, 3pm-7pm • Cycling Sat, Mar 28th, 10pm-12am Saturday 2pm-7pm Various locations in Edmonton • St. Paddy’s Day Dance • Dinner with the Imperial House An after-school drop-in program for gay, lesbian, [email protected] Bellevue Community Hall Boots Bar & Lounge bisexual, trans-identified, queer, questioning and Every Wednesday, 6:30pm 7308 - 112 Ave NW Sun, Mar 29th, 6pm-8pm March 14th, 9pm - 1am allied (GLBTQQ&A) youth under 25. • Dragon Boat All you can eat pierogi dinner, $10/person. Members $10, guests of members $15. • Youth Understanding Youth [email protected] • 007: Boy’s Night Out [email protected] www.members.shaw.ca/yuy We are exploring the option of setting up a dragon Restaurants Woody’s Every Saturday, 7pm-9pm boat team for 2009. Please send your name and Fri, Mar 15th, 10pm-12am Youth support and social group. contact information. 5 Garage Burger Bar & Grill ------ 10242 106th St ℡ (780) 423-5014 Northern Chaps • Youth Yoga • Gymnastics, Drop-in ✰ http://www.northernchaps.com Alex Taylor School Gym (9321 Jasper Ave) Ortona Gymnastics Club, 8755 - 50 Avenue 8 Prism Bar & Grill ------Edmonton’s original leather, latex, fetish, uniform Every 1st Thursday, 4:30pm [email protected] See Edmonton - Bars and Clubs. club. Everyone is welcome to join or attend events. Team Edmonton Tuesdays & Thursdays, 8pm-10pm Have the whole gym to yourselves and an instructor Retail Stores OUTreach [email protected] to help you achieve your individual goals. Cost is University of Alberta, basement of SUB http://www.teamedmonton.ca Rodéo Drive [email protected] Members are invited to attend and help determine $5.00 per session. 11528 - 89th Street http://www.ualberta.ca/~outreach the board for the next term. If you are interested in • Outdoor Pursuits - Night Ski/Snowboard ℡ (780) 474-0413 Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender/transsexual, running for the board or getting involved in some of [email protected] [email protected] Queer, Questioning and Straight-but-not-Narrow the committees, please contact us. Snow Valley March 6th http://www.rodeodrive.ca student group. His and hers fetish wear, toys, jewelry, etc. • Badminton $10 for 4 hours. E-mail if interested. • A Night Out With the Girls Oliver School, 10227 - 118 Street • Running (Arctic Frontrunners) Wares & Wear Ventures Inc. Play Nightclub April 3rd [email protected] Kinsmen Sports Centre See Canada - Retail Stores.

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #65, March 2009 21 Directory and Events

Egale Canada Services 8 Wellington St E, Third Floor Cruiseline LETHBRIDGE RED DEER Toronto, Ontario, M5E 1C5 ℡ (780) 413-7122 trial code 3500 1-888-204-7777 www.egale.ca http://www.cruiseline.ca Community Groups Community Groups Egale Canada is the national advocacy and lobby Telephone classifieds and chat - 18+ ONLY. GALA/LA Affirm organization for gay men, lesbians, bisexuals, trans-identified people and our families. Robertson-Wesley United Church ℡ (403) 308-2893 Sunnybrook United Church www.newgaylethbridge.ca ℡ (403) 347-6073 Membership fees are pay-what-you-can, although 10209 - 123 St. NW ℡ (780) 482-1587 Gay and Lesbian Alliance of Lethbridge and Area. 2nd Tuesday of the month, 7pm pre-authorized monthly donors are encouraged (and [email protected] www.rwuc.org Composed of LGBTQ people, their friends, family get a free Egale Canada t-shirt). Egale has several Worship: Sunday mornings at 10:30am • Monthly Dances committees that meet by teleconference on a People of all sexual orientations welcome. Other Airforce Veterans Hall, 517 - 5 Ave S and allies. No religious affiliation necessary. regular basis; membership on these is national with LGBT events include a monthly book club and 2nd or 3rd Saturday every month, 9pm-2am Activities include support, faith and social justice members from every region of Canada. a bi-monthly film night. As a caring spiritual Mar 21, Apr 18, and May 23 discussions, film nights, and potlucks! community, we’d love to have you join us! Bring your membership card and photo ID. Retail Stores • Soul OUTing • Monthly Potluck Dinners ALBERTA Wares & Wear Ventures Inc. Second Sunday every month, 7pm McKillop United Church, 2329 - 15 Ave S ℡ (780) 980-1977 www.wwlatex.com An LGBT-focused alternative worship. 3rd or Last Sat. every month, 5:30pm-8pm Community Groups Fetish wear and toys. • Film Night Mar 29 , Apr 26, May 31 Members/family/friends, and children are all Alberta Positive Voices Conference Bi-monthly, contact us for exact dates. welcome to attend. Please bring dish that will serve Camp Horizon, Bragg Creek Services • Book Club 4-6 people and own beverage (no-alcohol). Plates, March 13-15th ATM Service Solutions Monthly, contact us for exact dates. utensils, and coffee provided. A conference held by and for people living with 1-866-640-8830 HIV/AIDS. Theatre and Fine Arts • Board Meeting [email protected] 1206 - 6th Ave S YouthSafe http://www.minibanks.net Exposure Festival Tues March 24th, 7:30pm http://www.youthsafe.net Squirt http://www.exposurefestival.ca Mar 24, Apr 28, May (Annual Meeting) Alberta’s website for youth with sex-and-gender http://www.squirt.org Edmonton’s Queer Arts and Culture Festival. differences. Youthsafe.net lists the resources, Website for dating and hook-ups. 18+ ONLY! • Support Line information and services to help youth find safe and ℡ (403) 308-2893 caring spaces in Alberta. Theatre and Fine Arts BANFF/CANMORE Monday OR Wednesday, 7pm-11pm Leave a message any other time. Theatre and Fine Arts Broadway Across Canada http://www.broadwayacrosscanada.ca Community Groups • Parents & Friends for Lesbians & Gays Alberta Ballet Call us for information. Mountain Pride http://www.albertaballet.com OUTtv http://www.outtv.ca ℡ Brian, (403) 431-2569 • Gay Youth Alliance Group Frequent productions in Calgary and Edmonton. GLBT Television Station. [email protected] ℡ Betty, (403) 381-5260 [email protected] www.gaybanff.com Every second Wednesday, 3:30pm-5pm Serving the GLBTQS community in Banff, Canmore, CANADA Add Your Listing! • Friday Mixer Find out how to have your business listed in our Lake Louise and Area. The Mix (green water tower) Community Groups monthly magazine directory: • Queer Cinema Night 103 Mayor Magrath Dr S ℡ (403) 543-6960 1-888-543-6960 The Living Room, the Hub, 302 Buffalo Street Every Friday at 10pm Alberta Trans Support/Activities Group [email protected]. Monday, March 9th, 8pm Gay & Lesbian Integrity Assoc. (GALIA) http://www.albertatrans.org A nexus for transgendered persons, regardless of Add your listing to our online directory for free: March movie will be “Rent”. University of Lethbridge [email protected] where they may be on the continuum. http://www.gaycalgary.com • Coffee Night GBLTTQQ club on campus. GayCalgary endeavors to keep our directory and The Hub, 302 Buffalo Street Canadian Rainbow Health Coalition events information accurate and up to date. If See website for details. P.O. Box 3043, Saskatoon, SK, S7K 3S9 ℡ (306) 955-5135 you notice anything incorrect or out of date, 1-800-955-5129 please contact us. http://www.rainbowhealth.ca Non-profit groups receive free listings.

22 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #65, March 2009 Politics Buses Are Not Pulpits

down to it, than having the right to display a Rainbow Pride fl ag By Stephen Lock or carry a placard supporting gay rights in the annual Gay Pride Parade. Freedom of expression and belief cuts both ways. For the benefi t of new readers of this column, I will Where I take issue, however, is when religion spills into the state at the outset a particular bias when it comes secular sphere, whether it is a temple, synagogue, church or to this month’s subject. Regular readers will have mosque or cleric doing it, or secular humanists choosing to take already learned of this bias. their issues concerning religion into the public sphere. While quite churched in my younger years I now identify as The atheist/agnostic campaign to emblazon the sides of buses agnostic. I have issues with “The Church” and organized religion with “There probably is no God, so relax and enjoy life” is there- in general. I vacillate between a desire to be fully atheist yet deal fore likewise offensive to me. with a nagging sense that to do so might compromise how I spend I see it as a pointless, and needless, provocation for one eternity. I don’t outright reject the notion of a Deity, an afterlife thing. What is to be gained by such a campaign? Will seeing this or a conscious eternity (as opposed to oblivion) but am not sure I splashed across public transit suddenly convert, if that is the fully accept the concepts, either. Being agnostic hedges my bets word, individuals to question the existence of God and embrace with that whole eternity thing. agnosticism or become atheist? Of course not. It’s a cheap and My religious process has been complex and would take up too rather tacky publicity stunt, and I fi nd that offensive. much space to go into here. And my process isn’t the point. The Proponents say it is to open dialogue. Bull. It is clearly de- point is to clarify that I understand faith, am familiar with Scrip- signed to elicit a reaction, not a response. What dialogue needs ture, and understand being a practicing Christian (and hopefully, to be opened here? Dialogue infers some sort of mutually agreed by extension, practitioners of other religions). resolution. It seems pretty clear no such resolution will ever oc- The issues I have with Christianity are not so much in regards cur between people of faith and those who reject faith. Living to- to the faith per se, although those exist, but have more to do with gether in peace and allowing each to hold their particular views is how certain Christians choose to practice that faith. I make a valid and, in Canada, we have that. What’s the point of wiggling distinction between “Christian” and “Christianist.” It is mainly a stick into a hornet’s nest other than to rile up the hornets? the latter I have issues with - the rigid, sanctimonious, Right- True, there is a freedom of speech issue here. Humanists wing, bigoted and condemnatory manifestation of the faith that (amongst whom I count myself) are free to express their secular- those of us who have fought for GLBTQ rights and other liberal ism as much as any religious group is free to express their faith, causes have so often encountered. and both camps do. But on the sides of a bus? As an activist, I have had public and sometimes tense confron- Calgary Transit is a public service and as such should remain tations with various representatives of “the Church”, including a neutral in areas such as religion and politics. I see no reason for certain bishop as well as a high profi le imam. Calgary Transit to accept such ads, from either side. It would be, However, despite what many may see as my “anti-Christian” I would suggest, perfectly within their rights to say, “You know stance, which is a rather shallow reading of my position, I have what? This is going to offend some of our riders and others who always maintained people have a right to their beliefs as long as have to see the ads. It’s an unnecessary provocation. So, no, those beliefs do not interfere with my life or my beliefs or those of we’re not doing it.” others. There is room in a liberal democracy for a variety of views This is not censorship. By disallowing such ads to be dis- and approaches. played through a publicly funded venue, from either side, is I take issue with blanket attacks against Catholics or Pente- not disallowing the debate/discussion/dialogue to occur...there costals, for instance, despite the issues I have with them. To me, is ample opportunity to engage in such debate in any number dogma is fair game for debate and discussion and I am highly of spheres in our society and rightly so. On the sides of a bus critical of much of the dogma within Christianity, be it Orthodox, strikes me as perhaps not the most appropriate place to do so. Catholic or Protestant. To be clear, I would be equally offended seeing a “Christ is I also think it is reasonable to criticize certain practices. How- Risen,” “Allah Akbar,” ads for Hare Krishna or quotes from the ever, here it gets a bit murky as it is too easy to slip into bigotry. Torah, Talmud or Vedas splashed across a city bus. Religious Being anti-Catholic, for instance, is no different than being anti- billboards offend me, too, and this is no different. Semitic or Islamophobic. Bigotry is bigotry however it manifests I respect all these religions. They have the right to exist and itself. Informed dissent or disagreement is one thing. Blanket practice without molestation; this is not only a constitutional attacks against a particular faith are something else. right enshrined in our Charter of Rights and Freedoms, it is a There is much in how Christianity is presented in North moral and ethical right as well. This does not, however, neces- America that I fi nd offensive. However, as a civil libertarian and sarily translate into covering the sides of a public bus, bus stop an advocate for equality I am aware the offence is my issue. If I bench, or any other publicly-funded venue, even if they pay for am offended by seeing a massive “Jesus is Lord” sign on the side the ads themselves, with proselytizing advertisements. Neither of the Church of the Nazarene downtown, the approach is not to do slogans promoting the non-existence of a Deity. Public transit force the church to remove it because I happen to fi nd it offensive was not designed to be a vehicle for a slap in the face. but for me to learn to tolerate it, if not actually accept it being It’s tacky, tasteless, and gauche. Ads for Wendy’s Hamburgers there. Does the slogan harm me? No. Does it force me to adopt or local radio stations, fi ne. Leave it at that. beliefs I do not hold? No. It is no different, when you come right

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #65, March 2009 23 24 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #65, March 2009 Astrology Q Scopes “Lead with your intuition, Capricorn!”

By Jack Fertig LLIBRAIBRA ((SeptemberSeptember 2323 - OctoberOctober 22):22): YYouou oonlynly kknownow yyourour llimitsimits wwhenhen yyouou hhitit tthem.hem. SSportsports iinjuriesnjuries oorr Uranus and Neptune are doing a long, slow dance, tthehe ppainsains ooff eexcessxcess ccouldould pproverove a bblessinglessing iinn ddisguise.isguise. AAss provoking important social and technological inno- wwithith wwork,ork, ““playplay ssmarter,marter, nnotot hharder.”arder.” TTakeake iitt aass a ccreativereative vations. The Sun is now joining in showing how you cchallengehallenge aandnd youyou willwill bbee ppleasedleased wwithith yyourour iinnovations.nnovations. as an individual can ride these currents and make a difference yourself! 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SSAGITTARIUSAGITTARIUS (November(November 2222 - DDecemberecember 220):0): SSiblingsiblings wwillill cconfuseonfuse ffamilyamily iissues,ssues, bbutut tthathat lleadseads TTAURUSAURUS ((AprilApril 2200 - MMayay 220):0): YYourour ffriendsriends wwillill ttoo nnewew pperspectives.erspectives. WWorkork ttoo ggetet nnewew iinsights.nsights. IIff yyouou hhelpelp yyouou ggetet aahead,head, iiff yyouou ccanan fi ggureure ooutut wwhathat yyouou rreallyeally hhaveave problemsproblems wwithith nneighbors,eighbors, ttakeake tthosehose oon,n, ttoo.oo. BBracerace wwantant ttoo ddo.o. PPerhapserhaps ttheyhey ccanan hhelpelp wwithith tthathat qquestion,uestion, ttoo.oo. yyourself!ourself! TTheirheir aassessmentssessment ooff tthehe ssituationituation mmayay sshockhock yyou!ou! BBee oopen-minded.pen-minded. SSomeome ooff ttheirheir ssuggestionsuggestions aarere nnotot aass ooff-ff- tthe-wallhe-wall aass ttheyhey sseemeem aatt fi rrst.st. CCAPRICORNAPRICORN ((DecemberDecember 2211 - JJanuaryanuary 119):9): SSurprisingurprising nnewsews ccanan cconfuseonfuse yyourour fi nnancialancial ssituation.ituation. GGEMINIEMINI ((MayMay 2211 - JJuneune 220):0): TTryingrying ttoo aactct llikeike RRelax.elax. TThat’shat’s justjust nnewew iinformationnformation tthathat ccanan pproverove vveryery yyouou knowknow itit aallll wwillill oonlynly bblowlow uupp iinn yyourour fface,ace, eevenven iiff iitt hhelpfulelpful ooncence yyouou ssortort iitt oout.ut. WWhenhen iitt ccomesomes ttoo mmoney,oney, lleadead sseemseems ttoo wwork.ork. YYou’llou’ll bbee mmoreore aauthoritativeuthoritative iiff yyouou aadmitdmit wwithith yyourour iintuition,ntuition, bbutut ddoubleouble ccheckheck wwithith llogicogic bbeforeefore yyouou ttoo tthehe llimitsimits ooff yyourour eexpertisexpertise aandnd mmakeake tthehe eeffortffort ttoo llearnearn ddoo aanything!nything! mmore.ore. AAQUARIUSQUARIUS ((JanuaryJanuary 2200 - FFebruaryebruary 18):18): CCANCERANCER ((JuneJune 2211 - JJulyuly 222):2): LLookingooking wisewise aandnd FFinancialinancial ssurprisesurprises ccanan tthrowhrow yyouou fforor a lloop.oop. RRememberemember wworldly,orldly, aand/ornd/or mmixingixing wwithith a nnewew ccrowd,rowd, wwillill mmakeake yyouou wwhat’shat’s rreallyeally iimportantmportant ttoo yyouou aandnd ttakeake iitt aass aanothernother ffeeleel aandnd llookook a llotot ssexier.exier. BBee oopenpen ttoo aadventuredventure aandnd yyou’reou’re oopportunitypportunity toto rre-invente-invent yyourself.ourself. NNoo hharmarm iinn aann ssureure ttoo ggetet aass mmuchuch aass yyouou ccanan hhandle.andle. ooccasionalccasional buzz,buzz, bbutut iiff ggettingetting hhighigh iiss oonn yyourour ppriorityriority llist,ist, yyouou needneed toto tthinkhink aaboutbout that!that! LLEOEO ((JulyJuly 2233 - AAugustugust 22):22): YYourour eeagernessagerness fforor eeroticrotic eexperimentationxperimentation ccouldould bbee a bbitit ddazzling,azzling, eevenven PPISCESISCES (February(February 1919 - MarchMarch 19):19): YYouou ccouldould cconfusingonfusing forfor yyourour ppartner.artner. BBee cclearlear oonn wwhathat yyouou wwant,ant, bbutut ggetet llostost iinn mmeditation,editation, bbutut tthat’shat’s tthehe ppoint.oint. TToo ttrulyruly fi nndd aalsolso oopenpen ttoo wwhathat yyourour mmateate wwants,ants, eevenven tthoughhough hhee oorr sshehe yyourselfourself yyouou hhaveave ttoo bbee aatt lleasteast a llittleittle bbitit llost.ost. CCharitableharitable mmayay nnotot kknownow tthehe aanswernswer ttoo tthat.hat. wworksorks ccanan lleadead ttoo eempatheticmpathetic ccatharsesatharses aandnd ddeepeep iinsights.nsights. VVIRGOIRGO ((AugustAugust 2233 - SSeptembereptember 222):2): YYourour eeagernessagerness ttoo wworkork wwithith oothersthers mmayay bbee mmoreore ggung-houng-ho tthanhan eeffective.ffective. CChallengehallenge yyourour oownwn ccollaborativeollaborative sskills,kills, nnotot ttheirs!heirs! TThathat ccouldould mmeanean hholdingolding bbackack a bbit.it. LLeadead wwithith yyourour Jack Fertig, a professional astrologer since iintuition,ntuition, bbutut aalwayslways ccononfi rrmm wwithith ddirectirect ccommunications.ommunications. 1977 teaches at the Online College of 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 #65, March 2009 25 Theatre Preview The Lieutenant of Inishmore Irish Play Kicks Off Bloody Good GZT Season

than do a half assed job of it we decided to go all the way, and By Jason Clevett they can do some great visual effects that we just couldn’t do,” he explained. “The play opens up and onstage is a dead Padraic is a ruthless Irish Liberation Army enforcer, cat. Right from the get-go you are looking at the authentic- and the one thing he loves more than anything else ity of creating what looks like a real cat. There are effects in in the world: his little black cat, Wee Thomas. When the show where there are actors hanging upside down, there is a gun battle onstage, like what you would see in an action Wee Thomas is found dead on a lonely country road, movie, and people do get shot. There is a certain realistic effect the terrorist in Padraic wants someone to pay for with the show that you want to go for. Martin McDonough has kitty’s execution - just as soon as he’s returned from written a very anti-violent play by using a lot of violence to get his torture and chip-shop bombing stints in North- his point across. So as the play moves on its journey, it ern Ireland. The Lieutenant of Inishmore explodes gets more and more comedically violent to show not only how ridiculous the situation is, but onto the Vertigo Studio stage in society how ridiculous a means it is March 14th – 29th with love, to justify your ends. By the end of the guns, blood, and the diffi cult play when everything has turned into to master Irish accent. a mess, it has reached such a climactic point and taken the audience on such a “My friend you don’t have to tell me! We have a ride. That is why we brought bleeding arts into fantastic actor/director Pat Benadict who is straight the mix because it has to be realistic and comedic, from Ireland herself. She is working very intently an almost heightened realism.” with all of us being militant with our Irish accents. That right there is a challenge to master that The show is written by Martin McDonagh, the dialect,” Ground Zero Theatre’s Ryan Luhning author of The Pillowman. told GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine. “We are “The very fi rst McDonagh play I read was The having a great time with it so far. That isn’t even Lieutenant of Inishmore back in 2003. If you ever the basement of the iceberg of the challenges of read any of his works you can sense by his style this show.” he is probably the greatest playwrite of our gener- Ground Zero Theatre & Hit and Myth Produc- ation. His scripts are so well crafted and touch on tions brought Calgary Urinetown, The Full Monty things that most people wouldn’t even touch. This and Cocktales. While all of those shows were play was written back in 2001 and it was commis- challenging in their own right, they weren’t sioned by the Royal Court Theatre. They are the quite as… bloody as a season that includes home of the risky, more unconventional work, and this show as well as Evil Dead: The Musical they said to him, ‘We can’t produce this. It is way this May. too hardcore and diffi cult technically. We can’t do it.’ It ended up being the Royal Shakespeare “When we went into last season, I spe- Company that did it. cifi cally was coming off of performing in The Pillowman and living in that world, and also If you enjoy action movies, you will enjoy this having new babies, I felt there wasn’t enough “love story… with guns” which has been described light in the world. So we made an effort to lighten up and as “Monty Python meets Quentin Tarantino.” appeal to a more mass audience. There were some rumblings “It is a fantastic story about the state of our world and that GZT had gone soft. So going into this season it was a violence in our society. It is not only a challenge for the actors, conscious effort on a lot of parts to get back to the roots of the but for the audience as well because it is such a raucous ride. company. I have always based my company on not only creat- You are pretty much going to see an action movie on stage. It is ing challenges for our audience but for the creative people that something that Calgary theatre goers have never seen before, I go into the work. Not only are these challenging works for the guarantee that. We are about ‘event theatre.’ What sets us aside audience but extremely challenging for the artists as well.” from a normal play is that it is an event, and something people For this show, GZT has teamed up with special effects com- will not forget.” pany Bleeding Art Industries to maximize the effect. “This script deals with a lot of technical problems, and rather

The Lieutenant of Inishmore March 14th – 29th, 2009 Vertigo Studio Theatre www.gzt.ca

26 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #65, March 2009 Community Events Three Nights of Gender Bending Alberta’s Post-Secondary LGBT Student Organizations Put on a Show

By Dallas Barnes OUTreach (U of A) Presents It’s time to brush off that suit and tie, or maybe your best A Night OUT with the Girls dress and heels to support three of Alberta’s fi nest post- Friday, April 3rd @ 8:00pm secondary LGBT student organizations: OUTreach, the Play Nightclub, Edmonton University of Alberta’s GLBTQQ and Straight-but-not-Nar- www. ualberta.ca/~outreach row student group; Mount Royal College’s Diversity Cen- tre, dedicated to fostering a safe environment for people The Diversity Centre (MRC) Presents of all genders and sexual orientations; The University of Glam Slam Calgary’s Queers on Campus, a group of queer people and allies working together to encourage and promote under- Saturday, March 21st standing and acceptance of queer people within the greater Liberty Lounge, Mount Royal College student, faculty, and staff community at the University [email protected] of Calgary. This month, all three are presenting their own Queers on Campus (U of C) Presents evenings of gender bending at its fi nest, to raise money Gender Bender and awareness for their respective organizations. Play Nightclub in Edmonton will be the host of OUTreach’s “A Friday, April 3rd @ 9:00pm Night OUT with the Girls” on April 3rd. Mike Cursio, Male Co- The Den, University of Calgary Chair of OUTreach, asserts “Despite the title, both Drag Queens [email protected] and Drag kings are invited to perform.” As Venezuela Calor, Cursio www.ucalgary.ca/~glass will be hosting the event and asking for audience participation in determining the best performance. OUTreach is putting a call out for any interested performers to message Mike at [email protected], with their Drag Name and song they wish to perform. Six to ten performers will be selected, and will be able to entertain the audience on Play’s central stage. “The show is meant to be our principal fundraiser for the year. We don’t get any fi nancial backing from the University, so we’ve got to raise it all ourselves,” Cursio emphasizes. Tickets for “A Night OUT with the Girls” will be available at the door at 7:30pm, with the show starting at 8pm. Mount Royal College’s Diversity Centre will also be hosting a Gender Bender of their own. On Saturday March 21st, Diego Padilla and company will be presenting “Glam Slam”, a night dedicated to glam rock and cross dressing. Performing that night will be the talented Fake Mustache, and a sneak preview of the Fringe Festival’s stage presentation “Rocky Horror Picture Show”. Make sure to dress in your Glam Rock fi nest! Tickets for “Glam Slam” are available at the Student Association at Mount Royal College, or at the Fake Mustache show at Soda on March 5th. Presale Tickets are $5, cost $10 at the door, but you can reduce it to $6 if you are dressed in drag. For more information, please contact The Diversity Centre. The University of Calgary’s Queers on Campus (formerly GLASS) will be presenting their annual Gender Bender on April 3rd, at the Den on the University’s campus. The show starts at 9pm. The audience is sure to be entertained by resident drag performers, drinks, and door prizes. Make sure to wear your gender bending fi nest, and be prepared for a great time. Tickets for the Queers on Campus Gender Bender are $5 in advance and $7 at the door, and are available from any Queers on Campus executive. For more information please contact Queers on Campus. These student organizations rely on their annual Gender Bender events as their primary means of fundraising for the year. Please support these groups in maintaining a positive space for all students!

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #65, March 2009 27 Celebrity Gossip Deep Inside Hollywood New Projects for Johnny Knoxville

Hello to Stan Talmadge speeds off in a completely different direc- By Romeo San Vicente tion – Gary Cole (Offi ce Space) stars in the title role as a dead- beat dad who tries to mend his family ties by dragging his wife Cher and and kids cross-country in a mobile home (circa 1979) to compete Knoxville Drop- in a game show. The supporting cast includes Jennifer Coolidge, Agnes Bruckner (Blue Car) and Tina Holmes (Six Feet Under), so Out it sounds like a winner. And if not a winner then maybe a not- Energizer-Diva Cher bad Little Miss Sunshine remake. Stan Talmadge doesn’t have a has had on-screen ro- release date, but should hit the festival circuit pretty soon. Stay mances with a variety tuned for buzz. of Hollywood players, It sounds like a lesbian exploitation fl ick, but it’s actually a from Nicolas Cage to new reality series: Hot Girls in Scary Places. As you might guess Dennis Quaid to Jack from the on-the-nose title, this new show will send attractive Nicholson to Diana young ladies into locations that have supposedly experienced Scarwid. (Remember some kind of paranormal disturbance. (Think The Ghost in the her playing lesbian in Invisible Bikini. Or not.) The pilot for the show (airing March 13 Silkwood? Sure you on E!) will feature three USC cheerleaders spending the night in do.) Now she’s hooking an abandoned – and allegedly haunted – hospital to compete for up with John Waters’ a $10,000 cash prize. Given the series’ all-sexy-chicks-all-the- favorite MTV person- time premise, it sounds like we have a new lesbian guilty plea- ality, Johnny Knox- sure coming to cable, just in time for the fi nale of The L Word. ville, in the upcoming If the March broadcast draws big numbers, look for Hot Girls in comedy The Drop-Out. Scary Places to become a permanent part of the E! schedule. The Jackass alum stars as a slacker Guarino and Vardalos Hate Valentine’s Day and perpetual college student whose parents If you saw Confessions of a Shopaholic and were wondering fi nally lose patience why the receptionist looked so familiar, it’s because actor Ste- and throw him out of the house; Knoxville’s character winds up phen Guarino is one of the funny boys on Logo’s Big Gay Sketch moving in with the cougar next door (Cher), whose own adult Show. And the up-and-comer’s landed a role in I Hate Valen- son is in desperate need of a role model. Both Cher and Knox- tine’s Day, the latest from My Big Fat Greek Wedding and Connie ville have big gay followings (OK, yes, Cher’s is bigger than big) & Carla star Nia Vardalos, who makes her directorial debut. and enough tattoos between them to cover about one and a half Vardalos plays a fl orist who wants to date a restauranteur (John people. Maybe they’ll actually have onscreen chemistry too. We’ll Corbett, another Big Fat alum) without it turning into a serious see when The Drop-Out reaches screens in 2010. relationship. In addition to Guarino, the movie features the very funny Judah Friedlander (30 Rock) as well as Dan Finnerty of Moreton Wants You To Say Hello to Stan culty guy-singing-girly-songs group The Dan Band. February Talmadge may be over, but you may get to Hate Valentine’s Day before the year is up. Director David Moreton is one gay director who won’t be pigeonholed; he made his screen debut with the moving coming- Romeo San Vicente’s actually likes Valentine’s Day, especially when he’s of-age tale Edge of Seventeen and then followed it up with the presented with a big package. Of candy. dark and violent Testosterone. But his upcoming comedy Say

28 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #65, March 2009 Community Spotlight Lifestyle Camp fYrefly Passes Cocktail Chatter Another Milestone Bar-havior and Better Martinis

By Antonio Bavaro By Camper English

If you haven’t heard about Camp fYrefl y yet, you Bar-havioral Problems probably live under a rock. It is Canada’s largest Gay bar bartenders, who are not necessarily gay bartenders, are leadership retreat for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans- usually the most effi cient and fair intoxicologists in the drink- identifi ed, two-spirited, queer and allied youth - the ing universe. I say “fair” because at straight establishments, hot major community outreach initiative of the Institute women and rich-looking men (usually jerks) get fi rst priority, and the bartenders frequently take drink orders out of order. Infuriat- for Sexual Minority Studies and Services at the Uni- ing! This is not often the case in gay watering holes, where the versity of Alberta. The camp, which is now expand- bartenders tend to be the hottest people in the room and don’t ing nationally, was founded in 2004 by Dr. André P. need to impress you by serving you fi rst. (You need impress them Grace and Mr. Kristopher Wells, and is now sup- with the size of your tips.) ported by many community, individual, government, Also, gay bar patrons know how to behave (toward the bartender and corporate donors. anyway) and will often line up in an orderly fashion at the drink well rather than shouting and waving like the opening scene of The Camp fYrefl y has gained much recog- Love Boat all along the bar. I take straight friends to my favorite nition since its inception 5 years ago, gay bar and they are amazed at the German-like effi ciency in including local & national place. They are often jealous and determine to start coming there news, tons of YouTube. every night, until they hear the 14th Madonna remix in a row. I com videos and even a can’t say I blame them. nod from the queen of In a nightclub or other crowded venue, or anywhere with a gossip himself, Perez mixed crowd, all bets for orderly ordering are off. You need to gain Hilton! Last month on the attention of the bartender as well as make him or her think the 19th, 21 members you’re going to be a good (i.e., fast, non-annoying) customer. Here and facilitators repre- are a few suggestions for attracting the bartender and keeping his senting both the insti- attentions. tute and Camp fYrefl y were introduced to the Alberta Legislature Look available. You want to make eye contact with the bartend- as honoured guests by the New Democrat Party’s Opposition er and have him/her give you the “I see you” nod. To accomplish House Leader, Rachel Notley. This marks the second major this, face the bar, not your friends behind you. If you’re turned around chatting and using the bar as a leaning post, you’re not introduction of a queer organization at the legislature by the giving the right signal. noble MLA of Edmonton Strathcona (the International Sover- eign Court of the Wild Rose was introduced to the house on Be ready. When you are trying to get the bartender’s attention, November 19th, 2008). And during this latest session of the have visible cash in your hand - but don’t wave it around un- Legislative Assembly, she was on the ball again fi ghting for our less there is a row of drag queens in six-inch heels blocking your rights. line of sight. And if you’re planning to pay with a credit card, you may want to keep that hidden. It takes longer to process, so the Ms. Notley has been an important ally in the fi ght to achieve bartender will serve the cash-holding folks fi rst. Also, be ready full recognition of rights for GLBTQ persons in our province, with your friends’ drink orders. Don’t wait until the bartender gets which hasn’t added sexual minority status alongside ethnicity, there to turn around and say, “What do you guys want?” As the race or religion to the Alberta Human Rights Code. Every other person standing next to you, I’ll swoop in and say “Three martinis province in our great nation has added it their codes, but the please” when your back is turned. I’m like that. Minister of Culture & Community Spirit, Progressive Conserva- tive MLA Mr. Lindsay Blackett of Calgary North West, says that Strategize. Don’t shout to get the bartender’s attention. Nobody the government has been ”looking at reforming the administra- likes to be yelled at while doing their job. A friendly “Hi!” sometimes helps though. Make your fi rst tip the most generous one to help en- tive process” of the code since April of last year. Even 10 years sure prompt service and healthy pours for the rest of the evening. And after the case of Vriend vs. Alberta, in which the Supreme be respectful of others - if the guy next to you was waiting longer but Court of Canada fi nally ruled that provincial governments could the bartender comes to you, give him the “he was here fi rst” point. not exclude LGBT individuals from human rights legislation, The bartender will remember that you’re next, and you never know sexual orientation is not protected under the province’s hu- if that guy next to you will return the favor and pay for your drink. man rights code. Ms. Notley is correct in her demand that it is ridiculous that the victims must apply to the Supreme Court Colder, smaller, weaker: Better martinis itself in Ottawa instead of being able to follow judicial recourse in provincial court rooms here in Alberta. Gay bashings & The diplomatic way of defi ning the “best martini” is as “the homophobia still run rampant in our province, as many kids martini that you like the best.” But, really, if you’re pulling a jug that attend Camp fYrefl y can attest to, and the population as a of vodka out of the freezer and pouring it into a glass, you’re not whole won’t take these crimes seriously until the well deserved drinking a martini at all. You’re drinking a glass of cold vodka. recognition of our rights is included in our provincial legisla- Add olives and you’ve got vodka with a snack. tion. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. I drink cold vodka all Continued on Page 45 f Continued on Page 45 f GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #65, March 2009 29 Community Events Western Cup 2009 Apollo Friends in Sport

By Evan Kayne

This upcoming Easter long weekend, Apollo Calgary will be celebrating the 27th anniversary of Western Cup - the longest running annual LGBT multi-sport tournament in North America. While Western Cup will have the usual assortment of athletic events for attendees, Apollo president Brad Bostock wants all to know that the event has a large social component open to family, spouses, friends, supporters and the athletes. Continuing a slight format change Apollo initiated last year, there are three social events for each night April 9th to 11th. Thursday April 9th is the Participant Check-In where attendees can meet old friends, and make new ones. An addition to the Thursday night set-up is the return of the fun-money Casino. Bostock mentioned Apollo will also “…invite a lot of social service groups and community groups as well as our sponsors to set up booths” so visitors can be informed of what our community has to offer. Friday’s social event is a banquet with entertainment provided by comedians Lori Gibbs, Marcus Beaubier, and Karen O’Keefe. The Friday night banquet is the second iteration of this newer event, replacing the Sunday farewell brunch. Then, of course, Saturday is the Dance. All three functions occur at the host hotel – the Westin downtown. Bostock told GayCalgary and Edmon- ton Magazine that for those just wanting to attend the dance, tickets will be $20 in advance and $25 at the door, and will be available soon at various locations around town (check the Western Cup Web- site for updated information). If there are fans, family and friends considering attending ALL social events, Apollo offers a Party Pak of admission to all three for $75 ($90 after March 12th). For the actual participants, checking Western Cup’s website will also give you the varying rates for each of the athletic events – athletes can choose “Sport & Socials” or “Sport Only” when they register. The “Sport & Social” is the better deal – with prices ranging (per sporting event) from a minimum of $140 before March 12th to a maximum of $165 March 13th and on. But don’t wait too long…registration closes March 26th! The list of sporting events this year includes Badminton, Bowling, Curling, Running, Swimming and Volleyball. Brad expects a good turnout this year – while most attendees come from Calgary, Edmonton, and various parts of Alberta, they’re also expecting folks from Vancouver, Winnipeg, Montreal, Continued on Page 50 f 30 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #65, March 2009 Theatre Review Pirates of the North Saskatchewan II All Aboard for Pirate Adventure at Jubilations

away, but the performers [are given] something else that they By Benjamin Hawkcliffe can work with. In order sell it and make it real you have to tune in to what you are doing,” said Devine. Farnell agreed. “I If you witnessed The Pirates of the North Saskatch- like the way (writer) Cory Wojcik does things. He does put in ewan in 2005, you know why it was one of the best things you won’t see in any other show. People look at it and shows in Jubilations history. Well, Jack is back, go ‘Whoah, we have never done that.’ To have that in there is with a new band of scallywags to sail the mighty very refreshing. The people that come are going to be pleasant- ly surprised by it because they don’t get a lot of drama. They North Saskatchewan, search for treasure, and battle come here for singing, dancing and jokes, but we have some some beaver. emotional depth to it which adds a lot to the show. I really enjoy that aspect of it.” Murray Farnell returns to the role of Captain Jack - he absolutely captures the mannerisms that Johnny Depp made The energy in the room is a great deal of fun as well, as famous in the fi lms. Matt Andre more than lives up to captur- guests are served by an assortment of pirate characters, ranging the pirate-ness of Jack’s dad Keith, while the stunning ing from Peter Pan and Smee, to a parrot, and of course many Nicola Devine, whose voice will send chills down your spine, wenches. plays Jack’s mother Mary. We asked Farnell’s thoughts on having a hot Mom. “The additional cast have really taken the ball and run with it. Everyone has seen the movies and knows the characters. “Wow. Dad must really have it going on!” So being able to dive into it, I was sur- Farnell stated when he and Devine chatted prised that people in other cities haven’t with GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine done it as much here. The energy on this prior to a performance. Farnell returns to fl oor is truly fantastic. I knew I was going Jubilations after a stint as a medi-vac co- to enjoy this city.” pilot. “I got the offer to come back and do this show. I was in the mood that I wanted to get If you have never been to Jubilations back into performing and step back into this before, this is the show to experience it. We world. I couldn’t think of any better way to do asked the pair why you should come see it. that than to play one of my favorite charac- “For Murray’s hot Mom,” Devine said. ters. It was a very good decision I think.” “And for Nicola’s hot son,” Farnell added, For Devine, the chance to rock out ap- before explaining that even if you haven’t pealed to her. Songs like Heart’s Crazy On seen the fi rst one, you will enjoy the sequel. You and Barricuda strike her rocker girl chord. “There are little jokes that if they remember the fi rst one “I’ve done a lot of 50’s shows so when I saw the song list for they will get it. If you didn’t see the fi rst one, it is an entirely this one, it was awesome - it is my type of music. The people new storyline and roster of characters, so they didn’t need to in this cast are wonderful people and performers, so getting see the fi rst one in order to understand this one. It has those the chance to work with them is great. You get to run around elements that bring people in to pirate shows – sword fi ghting, and be scallywags. That is what drew me to it.” double crossing, arby darby, fog, thunderclaps, magic, dark ominous lighting.” The cast is rounded out by three more incredible female voices in Ariel Gerard as Elizabeth, Aimee Beaudoin as Elsie, “It is a good evening out. It is a good story, all of the perfor- and Cherise Kotelniski as with Queen Moosette. Christoff Lun- mances are fantastic, there is not a weak singer, dancer or ac- dgren adds a highly comedic element in his portrayal of Benji. tor in the bunch,” added Devine. “The energy that the ad-cast It isn’t all laughter and song in this show however. I admit I brings to it, out of all of the was caught off guard by a moment in the show that had tears shows I have done, this one brimming in my eyes. Real poignant emotion isn’t exactly a feels the most cohesive. Ev- Jubilations trademark. eryone who works here does their best to set up their own “So often these shows are just ‘wacka wacka’. Jubilations little facet of that world. As performers are highly underestimated because they don’t get the show is actually going on challenged that way. I think it is a wonderful thing to have people stop thinking about because it not only gives the audiences something else to take their life and just get lost in it for a few hours. I love going to see shows like that.”

The Pirates of the North Saskatchewan II Running until April 12th, 2009 Jubilations Theatre www.jubilations.ca

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #65, March 2009 31 Letters Health Letters to the Editor Do You Have What it Takes? Re: Mardi Gras Dance By AIDS Calgary I had the (dis)pleasure of attending the Different Strokes Swim Club Mardi Gras dance on February 28th, and I have to For the past year AIDS Calgary has been working as say, it was one of the most poorly put together events I have a member of the Steering Committee for the “Do you ever been to. They charged people to come in the doors with have what it takes?” national sexual health campaign, only 45 minutes left of the dance, ran out of alcohol, and were obviously not cognizant of liquor laws, as I saw more than one for gay men, bisexual men and men who have sex with person getting served cocktails who clearly shouldn’t have had men (MSM). Sero Zero, an AIDS Service Organization any more. I’ve been to several other events in Calgary, and have in Montreal, has been the lead agency in this campaign never had as bad of an experience as this one. and has brought together the 8 members of the Steering Committee. The 2009 campaign builds on the successes I spoke to a member of the group, and when I asked them what charity they were supporting with the proceeds from the of the past 2 national campaigns; Assumptions and Gay dance, I was told “Oh, we don’t do that. This money goes to our Men Play Safe. group.” “To reinforce these previous messages of prevention, the present I can safely say that in the future, I won’t be attending these campaign continues to disseminate information that will enable events, rather sticking to other functions that are better run. men who have sex with other men to identify their own areas (factors) of vulnerability that may lead them to sexual risk taking. - Anonymous A resolutely playful, sexy, and provocative tone gives a particular color to Do you have what it takes? — a new campaign based on data and observations gathered by community groups as well as on data from social research.” Source: http://www.what-it-takes. Research Study org/en/campaign.html Are you a gay dad? Would you be willing to answer some The campaign works to assist gay men/MSM in understanding confi dential questions about your life and about your family? different areas of vulnerabilities and options to reduce HIV/STI The purpose of this study is to examine the many ways families transmission, while still maintaining a healthy and satisfying headed by gay fathers have been created, explore how families sex life. The campaign materials utilize the slogan “Sex, Passion, function, and learn about the relationship between partners. Romance, Adventure... Do you have what it takes?” with fun and provocative visuals that encourage people to visit the website for The study consists of an online survey and will take approxi- an interactive experience. The materials include posters, condom mately 25-35 minutes of your time. To qualify for the study pack inserts, table top displays with post cards, YouTube video, you have to identify as male, a father, and gay, bisexual or ho- computer wall paper, website and interactive self assessment quiz. mosexual and have at least one child of any age; this child can The website based quiz allows individuals to identify potential ar- be biological, adopted, foster, step, or other child. You do not eas of vulnerability and provides specifi c strategies to reduce risk. need to be the child’s legal parent to participate. This study has In some regions, the campaign will be complimented by offering a been approved by the University of Virginia IRB #2008-0407- sensual risk reduction workshop series, for gay men/MSM, based 00, and I am working with Dr. Charlotte J. Patterson who is a on the Phoenix Project. Professor of Psychology at the University of Virginia. AIDS Calgary has benefi tted tremendously from being a part of If you and/or your partner are interested in participating or this campaign process as it has allowed us to contribute a local want further information please contact Samantha L. Tornello perspective to this national campaign. We would not have the (Principal Investigator) via email [email protected]. resources to do such a large scale and interactive campaign alone. She will send you a web link that you can use to access the We will integrate the campaign concepts and materials into our study. ongoing outreach via the HEAT Program. The HEAT Program has been a longstanding service of AIDS Calgary. HEAT (HIV Educa- Thank you for your interest and I hope to hear about your tion and Awareness Today) - is a program designed to address family soon! HIV/STI education, awareness and prevention for gay men/MSM. The program provides HIV/STI education, support and health Sincerely, promotion, and free safer sex supplies, through outreach at GLBT Samantha Tornello events, venues, and online. Graduate Student We encourage you to visit the website, take the quiz, watch the University of Virginia fun video, review the information and fi nd out what it takes for (434) 243-8558 you! [email protected] Resources: HEAT Program: http://www.aidscalgary.org/programs/heat.shtml HEAT Facebook Profi le: “Heat Worker” Do you have what it takes? Website: http://www.what-it-takes. org/en/home.html Do you have what it takes? Quiz: http://www.what-it-takes.org/en/ quiz.html YouTube Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbAi_QXDSPk Phoenix Project: http://www.ateliersphenix.ch/

32 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #65, March 2009 Advice Dear Jody Daughter Bashes Gays, Embarrassed Over Finances

I hate myself. I just don’t know where to turn. What can I By Jody Valley do? Daughter Bashes Gays - Losing My Pants A: You need support during this diffi cult time. It is important Q: I am so mad I could just scream. I just walked downstairs that you decide which of your family and friends will be most and my 15-year-old daughter, “Sara,” and her friends were tell- supportive and tell them fi rst. (I’m wondering why you wouldn’t ing jokes about “queers” and all laughing their heads off. Well, talk to your lover about this, but that’s a question for another I told them they all needed to go home and that I would not put time.) Let them know how you are feeling, what has happened, up with those kind of jokes at my house. My daughter went off and what your fears are. to her bedroom, locked her door and wouldn’t come out or talk to me. Sara has been raised to respect all people and, in our You might want to fi nd a reputable credit counseling service; home, I have been openly gay since she was little. Several of there may be ways other than bankruptcy. Just remember you our friends are like aunts and uncles to her and she is always are not alone in having fi nancial problems. Many people are happy to be around them and they do lots of things with her. I going through this sort of thing, especially given the fi nancial am so distressed that she would talk like that and make funs problems in our economy. of gay people. I expected so much more of her and I am really disappointed in her character. What do I say to her to make her Jody Valley spent 12 years as a clinical social worker. She worked with the realize what she has done and to make sure she doesn’t do it LGBT community both as a counselor and a workshop leader in the areas again? of coming out, self-esteem and relationship issues. To contact Jody, send an e-mail to [email protected]. Letters may be edited. - Disappointed Mom A: First of all I think that your daughter said what she did because of peer pressure. Fifteen-year-old kids are under an incredible amount of pressure to be just like everyone else and conform to what others are saying and doing. When one of my daughters was about this age, I made it clear that no prejudiced jokes—of any kind were allowed in our house. We also talked about people’s feelings and why it wasn’t OK to tell jokes or make fun of people different from us. In spite of this she and her friends would occasionally tell jokes that I didn’t approve of. After explaining to them that I didn’t approve of this and why, I would hear them tell other kids: “We can’t talk like that here, wait until we get outside” – having taken “no prejudiced jokes in our house” very literally. As my children have grown into beautiful adults, they have embraced my values and all are working in human service fi elds and are very open and defending of diversity of all kinds. So, don’t be disillusioned about what is going on with your daughter. Fifteen is a hard age; an age where she is trying things out and discovering who she is. I believe that how we conduct our lives and how we speak around our children makes an impression on who they will become as adults. But ultimately, there are no guarantees, and we can’t control what they say, think, or do.

Embarrassed Over Finances Q: I think I am going to have to take out bankruptcy and I don’t know how to tell my family, my lover or my friends. I am so embarrassed and the whole thing is making me so depressed that I don’t know how to go on. I lost my job because of the economy. My company downsized and I ﬁ nally found another job after 10 months, but it doesn’t pay nearly as much as my old job. During the 10 months that I didn’t work, I maxed out my credit cards and got a second mortgage on my house. Since I have this job I have just gone downhill; my debt is getting worse and worse and now there is no where else I can borrow.

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #65, March 2009 33 Community Events The Rocky Horror Show Odd-Lot Theatre Co. brings Sweet Transvestite to Edmonton

at 3pm, where the audience is invited to participate by dressing By Will Sutherland up and shouting out!

In 1975, the fi lm The Rocky Horror Picture Show hit Tickets are $10 for students or seniors and $15 for the general public, and are available at the door one hour prior to screens around the world, and since its premiere performance, or at tix on the square. in London England, the sexy sci-fi cult musical has taken the world by storm. It’s about Brad and This is leading up to be an exciting event as the Odd-Lot’s fi rst Edmonton project. Thanks to the local-star cast, the hype Janet, two seemingly innocent young adults, who only continues to build. Come out to show your support and get engaged and head off to announce the news to enjoy the wonderful show put on by members of our own com- an old friend. On the way, their car gets a fl at tire munity! and they go to a nearby castle for help. Little do they know what awaits them. The Rocky Horror Show The lesser known fact is that the highly criticized play The Rocky Horror Show started back in 1973 with just under 3000 March 25th to Friday, April 3rd, performances all over England making its debut on Broadway in Tues-Sat: 8pm, Sun: 3pm 1975. Thanks to a new theatre company, the Odd-Lot Theatre Co., Edmonton is able to bring back the old-school version with Catalyst Theatre a new take. 8529 Gateway Boulevard, Edmonton www.tixonthesquare.ca The Odd-Lot Theatre Co is a group of young emerging artists Tickets: $10 students/seniors, $15 general who focus on presenting wild, outrageous and unique theatrical experiences. Their main goal is to break down the boundaries that divide a theatre performance and rock concert, and help create more opportunities for other such youth theatre artists. Originally hailing from Fort McMurray, the Odd-Lots won the best of festival award at the 2007 Interplay festival for their original puppet show Touch. The Odd-Lot Theatre Co. states, “…the script is transformed from standard musical to an energiz¬ing, exciting rock concert. The goal of such a stylistic switch is to re-energize the sexiness of Rocky Horror, which has become muffl ed by all the camp over the years, without making too radical a reinvention in the show. Some may be surprised with this interpretation...But, like always, The Rocky Horror Show will be a wild, outrageously, sexy rock-musical.” With the opening date growing closer and closer, everyone is excited to see how this group of artists is going to amp-up the original screen play. This classic turned sexy rock-musical is directed by Brendan Boyd with Music Direction by Tyler Collins. It stars local actors such as Antonio Bavaro as Frank N’ Furter, Jess Wood as Janet, Matthew Lindholm as Brad, Evan Johnston as Rocky, Lindsey Walker as Columbia, Dylan Caddy as Riff Raff, Joleen Ballen- dine as Magenta, Darlene Arseneault as the Narrator, Brendan Halama as Dr. Scott, Nina Hladio as Eddy, and also features Bonnie Ings & Ryan Mackenzie. The Rocky Horror Show will run from Wednesday, March 25th to Friday, April 3rd, Tuesdays through Sundays, at the Catalyst Theatre. All shows will be at 8pm except for the Sunday Matinee

34 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #65, March 2009 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #65, March 2009 35 36 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #65, March 2009 News The BUTT Magazine Controversy American Apparel Continues to Carry Gay Magazine

in their rush to condemn this magazine is that the cover of By Jason Clevett BUTT is not adult. What the woman saw was the photography inside the magazine, after she removed it from the display and In January of this year, West Vancouver mother after she opened and looked through the magazine.” Trina Campbell went to the media with what she Surprisingly, American Apparel has received a lot more described as the discovery of a porn magazine at a support than condemnation. Reading through the comments local American Apparel store. She had been shop- sections of some of the articles, people have been very vocal in ping with her 13 year old daughter and pulled the hoping the stores continue to carry the magazine. magazine out of the backpack of a mannequin on “The comments sections of the articles was something we display. She then chastised the company for having took a lot of pride in, for the most part. I think it shows the it so easy to fi nd by children in the store, and boy- disconnect between the open-minded, rational public who cotted the company. were skeptical about it all and the media who tarnished the reputation of a great magazine without stopping to consider its ”I pulled it out and I went to open it and it fl ipped open to a merits. BUTT isn’t pornography; it’s sold at museums all over double-page spread of two men having full-on sexual activity, the world. The reason we wanted to come out and reaffi rm our not just suggestive,” Campbell told CBC news. “I don’t think support for this is that we didn’t want anyone to think that this is something that the average person wants to see unless we would abandon a publication we think is important just they’re ready or going out of the way to see it.” because the media got caught up in a juicy story and tried to shame American Apparel for its artistic choice.” Why she went out of her way to see it by taking something from a display mannequin is unclear. However after an initial American Apparel has come under fi re for some of it’s adver- media buzz surrounding the store carrying the magazine in the tising, which is often sexual in nature, but less focus is given fi rst place, on February 26th the company released a statement to the positives of the company. American Apparel does not use confi rming it will continue to sell the quarterly magazine. sweatshops and has above standard workers rights within the company. They have also been a major supporter of gay rights, “BUTT Magazine is a wonderful fashion, culture, art maga- including battling Prop 8 in California through their “Legalize zine and a popular seller,” stated company creative director Iris Gay” campaign. Alonzo in the release. “American Apparel has always supported gay rights and will continue to support its gay and gay-friendly “American Apparel believes that sexuality should be celebrat- customers by carrying publications and products they appreci- ed, not condemned. But Proposition 8 is just that, a condemna- ate.” tion of the basic right of marriage of an entire group of people based on their sexuality. We’re proud to stand against Prop 8 American Apparel stores fi rst carried the magazine in 2005, and what it represents. In November of 2008 our Legalize Gay and in 2007 it was CEO Deov Charney’s mother who expressed shirt was originally printed to give to protesters at rallies and concern over its content. Charney wrote his mother regarding marches. The response was so overwhelming that we had more her concern. made and distributed them to our stores and put them up ”BUTT is an important art magazine that I support. No ques- online.” tion, that it is going to offend people and it is my feeling that Their website says, “Sometimes what we do is controversial that is the nature of provocative art. At times, to make prog- and not everyone agrees with our opinion. We hope that you ress, you end up offending people. And people were offended can understand that we’re sincere about this and that we think by many things I have done over the years. But I did what I it’s important, just like we are about Legalize LA.” felt was right, especially from an art and creative point of view. We are going somewhere with what we are doing, and no one “In advertising, American Apparel makes decisions that other is required to buy it. Many people have told me how much companies are afraid to make. The models aren’t airbrushed they appreciate our carrying the magazine. It has sold out in or Photoshopped into being something they are not. American some stores,” he wrote. “Also, because some moralistic anti-gay Apparel models are real girls and the company does all the forces opposed our carrying it within our company, I am com- photography, so we stand behind it rather than contract it out mitted to having it. I wanted our company to be open enough to some ad agency,” said Holiday. “I think the best way to put it to accommodate this kind of magazine, and if I don’t set the is that American Apparel does what it thinks is right and that’s precedent now, it could become too late to get that done later. how the company is run from top to bottom.” Sexual freedom, art, and photography are important to me and I am standing fi rm on my support for BUTT.”

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine spoke to company American Apparel Stores spokesperson Ryan Holiday about the controversy. One of the statements made by the mother was concern about it’s acces- Calgary – 17th Avenue, Market Mall & Sunnyside sibility to children. Edmonton – 82nd Avenue, West Edmonton Mall ”The magazine is normally kept behind the counter or high www.americanapparel.net up in a display. We always try to shrink wrap them and they www.americanapparel.net/legalizegay have an 18+ sticker on the front. What a lot of reporters missed

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #65, March 2009 37 Interview Looking back at Queer as Folk Producer & Writer Reflects on Influential Gay Show

“I think that on the one hand it is getting accepted into mod- By Jason Clevett ern popular culture. I fi nd it is hard to point to a trend and see beyond exceptions to the rule. Whenever I have pitched things From 2000 to 2005, the GLBT community and a that aren’t even as gay as Queer as Folk, artistic directors at lot of straight women were glued to their TV sets to theatre companies tend to blanche at them. It is sort of like the watch the groundbreaking series Queer as Folk. Al- Brokeback phenomenon. After that came out everyone expected a rise in gay movies, but we haven’t seen a big Hollywood gay ways thought provoking, at times controversial, and fi lm again until Milk. It is always seen as these strange excep- defi nitely revolutionary, at this point it is still too tions to the rule but the rule never seems to change.” soon to know its long-term impact. He speaks from experience as a gay playwright, whose work Canadian playwright Michael Lewis MacLennan was an contained gay themes and characters. executive producer and writer on the show from season 2 to its ”I have been a widely produced playwright so I am not saying fi nal fi fth season. MacLennan recently chatted with GayCalgary this out of sour grapes. But I have been told that a lot of my and Edmonton Magazine to promote his play The Good Egg as plays would be more widely programmed if they didn’t have so part of the Enbridge playRites Festival that ran last month. In much gay content. So that was one of the challenges I gave my- addition to QAF, he has been involved in Godiva’s, jPod, and self with The Good Egg, to write about things I was passionate Being Erica. He took some time to talk about his uniquely queer about and were socially relevant and also a lot of fun, and to do TV experience. it in a way that doesn’t have any explicitly gay characters in it.” “They actually fi red all of the writers off the fi rst season so it Over the course of the fi ve years, the show and its characters was a whole new crop who were totally terrifi ed and wondering matured. if you were going to make it,” he recalled. “If you look at that fi rst year, the things they were doing were As a gay writer, he has always included gay characters in his baser kinds of issues, there was more of a reveling of, look how shows - The Good Egg is his fi rst to not include one. We asked much we can scandalize our viewership. When we got to places how he has found, over the progression of his career, the ac- like being in a relationship where you are negative and they ceptance of gay characters, shows and people, from the general are positive, or fostering a child, changing a career, divorce… public. sometimes it wasn’t specifi cally gay issues. The characters ”I think there are two sides to that answer. There is a tre- themselves were growing up. I think that the show, for those mendous curiosity and appetite for that world. Queer as Folk that stuck with it, really allowed the characters to evolve. The was the number one rated show on Showtime in the United exploration of the issues got more out there.” States. You aren’t anybody’s top rated show if you have a frac- The fi nal season was one in which, in addition to the charac- tion of gay people watching it. In fact gay audiences were the ters’ growth, much of the show was very political. MacLennan hardest on the show. People enjoyed it and wanted to watch it. remembers the fi rst meeting with the other writers to plan out Women really responded to those characters without getting the show. too wrapped up in them, and emotionally identifying with the woman getting treated badly by the man. It was a response to “This was when Bush was at the height of his evilness. We good storytelling. The fi rst year was more about, oh my god look were a room largely of Americans and we were really despairing what we are seeing on television. But that isn’t going to keep what was going on in the world. I said, we have the opportunity people coming back week after week. It was about getting in- right now to talk about things going on politically in the world volved with the characters. It did wonders to create tolerance.” and within the gay community and exposing a lot of hypocrisy. Nobody is stopping us so why don’t we be fearless? That last The other side of the answer is the gay community itself, season we really went for it in terms of some of the issues that which gave the show a lot of fl ack. we explored and the discussions that we brought up. You are “I can’t tell you how many people said things like, why do you never going to see that on any show in terms of how frankly have to show gay people in bath houses? Even though it was political we were. It exists as a bit of a time capsule in a way, the fi rst gay show that showed people adopting children, going at looking at that period of gay history. I don’t think it is dated back to school, getting justice against violence, overcoming yet but I think there will be a time when people will look at the addiction, using wealth to do good there would always be the, show and go, wow there was a time when it was an issue to why do you have to show the guy having sex. I was like, guess adopt? Those things will very soon be taken for granted.’ what, you go to the bath houses. I know you do. They would re- What is startling in retrospect about the fi nal season is that ply, yeah I do but I don’t want people knowing that. There was much of it focused on a battle against “Proposition 14” a fi cti- this sense of, represent us but only do it using certain param- tious threat to outlaw gay marriage, adoption and civil rights. eters. It was a TV show. Whose life is like Gossip Girl? Shows This was mirrored in several states in the 2008 election, most like that are way less realistic than Queer as Folk. Life is not a publicly with Proposition 8 in California. TV show, if your or my life was on TV I don’t think it would run for fi ve years. “ “There was that hypocrisy within the political thing where people knew this would get votes. Even if they didn’t believe in What is acceptable for television and mainstream fi lm has the issues themselves they knew it was politically expedient to certainly come a long way, but not as quickly as one would expect, MacLennan says. Continued on Page 39 f 38 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #65, March 2009 Comic Review Dykes to Watch Out For The Essential Alison Bechdel

knew in high school and By James S.M. Demers the campaigners on your doorstep. These comics When Womannews grant a glimpse into the Newspaper began lives of real-life Lesbians, publishing the as- not the prime-time femme- girl on femme-girl niceties sorted one panel portrayed on mainstream cartoons of the then television (L Word). relatively new cartoon- The recent compilation, ist Alison Bechdel in The Essential Dykes To 1983, no one could Watch Out For covers the have imagined what comings and goings of 22 plus characters from the last thirty these rough drawings years of print. You will laugh, oh yes, you will laugh, at the would become. Now, unintentional ironies and too true coincidences; you will cry, and feel the companionship. 13 comic compilations and later a bio comic Alison Bechdel has done her homework, so it is worth taking masterpiece, (Family the time to sit down and let yourself meet some new community members as they have, in effect, become. I know they will al- Fun Home) Bechdel ways be friends of mine, and they remain just as enthralling to has made a name for me as they were on the hardwood fl oor years ago. Give a copy herself and created a recognizable visual representa- to your newest baby dyke, they will appreciate it immensely. tion of the lesbian community in celebrated comics for close to thirty years. I remember coming across a copy of Hot Throbbing Dykes To Watch Out For on my best friend’s apartment fl oor in the early High School years. The book married my two passions of the time: dykes, and comics. I read it through cover to cover without breaking, completely hooked on the characters with my head swimming in politics. It was a special kind of love; the fondness for these characters and stories never fails to lift me up no matter how bad the political or emotional dramas were playing out in my own life. Dykes to Watch Out For is merciless in its political entangle- ments, the politics of the time are as real and present in the f Looking Back at Queer as Folk - From Page 39 everyday lives of the characters as it is in the minds and hearts throw the queers under the train.” of the readers. Frequently the situations leave the characters gasping for a breath of fresh air from the political circus that Time will tell what impact Queer as Folk will have, on the gay governs them. rights movement, popular culture, acceptance, and even other television shows. The characters in Bechdel’s panels span a spectrum of race, gender, class, and political stance. Unique to the strip, Bechdel “We were the fi rst show to have a gay marriage, to show gay represents many characters of colour and incorporates ethnic adoption, to talk about the whole arrangement with Brian, traits by way of their personalities, not just by shading their Melanie and Lindsay. Now, what show doesn’t have someone faces. You don’t often encounter that sort of detail in the comic being a sperm donor? At the time those things had never been world. done before. It is too bad that Queer as Folk doesn’t get a little more credit for it. When it fi rst came out it got a bit of a critical Of course one of the more signifi cant visual merits of drubbing and the gays were hard on the show. So far no one Bechdels strip is her representation of members of the lesbian is really judging it well but I do think it will play an important community as they are. Dykes have always had their own way role.” of walking and talking, their own methods of seduction and frustration, their own views of the world and what it’s really all “For me it is something that I am most proud of in my career. about. They wear Birkenstocks and own multiple cats, work It taught me a great deal about not only being a writer but at book stores, hold degrees in sociology, invest in sex toys being a citizen and how you create something that is entertain- and drag kinging. They march in political rally’s, discover the ing and compelling but also has some degree of social purpose. awkward middle ground between parental acceptance of long Ultimately it is a TV show and people have to enjoy themselves term partners, wrestle with questions of artifi cial insemina- – good songs, hot bodies, juicy storylines – but within that tion, and the question of settling down at all. In short these there’s ways of really tackling some of the other issues.“ characters are your lovers, best friends, the rugby players you

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #65, March 2009 39 Trans Identity A History of Gender Variance in Expression and Identity Part 2: The Rise of Hatred (the Middle Ages)

throw was found in Elagabalus’ penchant for wearing womens’ By Mercedes Allen clothing and makeup, in his reportedly prostituting himself, in his offering a large sum of money to any physician who can give The advent of class divisions, the acquisition of him female genitalia (never claimed), and from declaring one of wealth and power, and the ownership of property fed his male lovers to be his husband. a movement toward patriarchal governing that ulti- When Constantine the First arrived in 324 A.D., his fusion of mately became threatened by the existence of female religions (the Roman Catholic church was a synthesis of early and transgender spiritual leaders. While patriarchal Christianity with Mithraism and worship of the sun god, Sol), societies were gradually able to synthesize and later and his fusion of religion with the state, strengthened anti- trans sentiment as it bolstered slavery (which had by then be- entrench the notion that females should be subser- come the lot of most gender non-conformists) and set the stage vient, gender-variant persons posed a more puzzling for feudal witch-hunts. These later evolved into the Crusades quandary, because of their uniqueness. It was for and the Inquisition, in which as much evidence as possible of this reason that patriarchal religions, which reached early matriarchal and transgender-venerating paganism was their epitome with the Roman Catholic Church, felt stamped out. Repressive laws which aimed to crush gender variance and same-sex love evolved into part of the Corpus juris that they had to stamp out trans- civilis, the Roman body of law upon which gender people (and also gay / les- many legal systems were later based, in- bian people, who were often thought cluding those of England and America. of as mixed-gender of a sort in early This occurred because it was necessary societies) and demonize their legacy. to the land-owners (chief of which was the Roman Catholic Church) to break the spirit of This helped to facilitate the development of the serfs toiling on their behalf, thus pre-empt- patrilineal inheritance, keeping the reins of power ing uprisings. Communal bonds had to be erased, in hands that grew ever more elite. The status of and the idea of communalism had to be demonized. women was degraded, and by so doing, leadership Pagan tradition was reinvented as “witchcraft,” and also typically portrayed any sign of gender variance quashed with impunity. as “less than male.” Dual-spirited gods and goddesses, thought at one time to be doubly powerful, were turned Transgender Saints and Joan of Arc into contemptible, “weak” entities. But in true subversive fashion, what couldn’t be com- For the “Greater Good” pletely suppressed was absorbed and reinvented to conform with the new ruling ideal. Early cross-dressing heroes idol- In 186 B.C., when Rome banned the bacchanalia (a plea- ized by the peasantry were canonized, with the church reshap- sure-centered festival to Dionysus), an oppressive campaign ing the reasoning behind the admiration of those historical followed in the Greek territories, keyed on preventing the lower fi gures, thus co-opting them. Saints Pelagia, Margarita, Ma- working classes from seeking their own happiness and better- rinus (Marina), Athanasia (Alexandria), Eugenia, Appollinaria, ment, and pushing them to focus on the enrichment of owners, Euphrosyne, Matrona, Theodora, Anastasia, Papula and Joseph employers and country, and / or to become willing to go to war (Hildegund) were canonized transfolk who were female-bodied for patriarchal society. The system became an effi cient, self- but lived as male, along with bearded women, Galla, Paula and propagating machine, later evolving into one in which war drove Wilgefortis (Uncumber). Pope Joan (John Anglicus) appears the economy and power trumped reason. likely to have been a legend, but this legend was likely cultivat- Gender-transgressive behaviour and same-sex amoury, ed for the same purpose. There are no known male-to-female although greatly reduced, still existed to an extent in Roman equivalents of transfolk elevated to sainthood - MTFs suffered a culture, but was tolerated only tentatively - and only if it came zero-tolerance agenda. from the ruling class or coincided with the agendas of the In 1429, at the age of 17, Joan of Arc dressed in male cloth- leaders and generals. Around 60 AD, Emperor Nero reportedly ing, gathered several peasant followers and presented herself had a young slave boy, Sporus, castrated (eunuching, in early at the court of Prince Charles, declaring that her mission and times, was believed to be the primary mechanism of gender dress were compelled upon her by God; said mission was to change - “eunuchs” ranged in form from males whose testicles drive out the English from France. The heir to the French had been removed to those also given a total penectomy), and throne put her in charge of an army of 10,000 peasants. took him as a wife in a legal public ceremony. Sporus was Ultimately, the drive would be victorious, but she would be from then on clothed as an Empress, and accompanied Nero as abducted by English sympathizers (who called her “homasse,” such. or “man-woman”) and turned her over to the Inquisition in When factional battles would break out, homosexual and England. Although the French king had the opportunity to pay transgender tendencies or loves were often used to justify the her ransom, he felt threatened by the emotional sway she had destruction of enemies. In 218 A.D., Elagabalus (or Helioga- over the peasantry, and left her to her fate. Eventually, the balus) became emperor of Rome, and was later assassinated, Inquisition decided that there was not enough evidence to have mutilated and dragged through the streets (222 A.D.) before her convicted of witchcraft, but she was burned at the stake being thrown into the Tiber River. Justifi cation for the over- on May 30, 1431 for wearing men’s clothing, which the Church

40 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #65, March 2009 Trans Identity

referred to as “idolatry.” The steadfastness with which she refused to recant and revert to female clothing, and the fi erce loyalty from the peasantry over what her cross-gender expression symbolized to them paints a dramatic picture of old tradition resisting stubbornly under the boot of the now-entrenched patriarchal authority. Little by little, gender transgression became more limited; at fi rst to peasant festivals, and then one by one those festivals were outlawed. Halloween, or All Hallow’s Eve, which was rooted in early matrilineal Celtic society (drawn from celebrations surrounding Samhain), is the most recognizable event still surviving today. Some traditions from the pagan festivals of Saturnalia and Bacchanalia survived, incorporated into Carna- val and Mardi Gras. The Celtic Winter Solstice (Christianized as the “Feast of Fools”) did not fare as well, because it developed into a trans-inspired mocking of the Church. Yet even the Church itself appeared to assimilate some transgender motifs into its trappings, such as the fl oor-length gowns, jeweled trappings for hierarchy and such (having a son join the priesthood, after all, used to be referred to sending him “into skirts”). It may also have been that trans priestesses had somehow inspired the practice of recruiting Castrati for Church choirs, even though Roman Catholic rule had technically forbid the castration of youths. While much of this change relates to medieval Europe and rule that spread at times to Asia, the Middle East and northern Africa, similar transformations happened in some other cultures, or were later imposed on those cultures by patriarchal conquerors or their infl uence. Native Two-Spirit tradition would persist until the arrival of the white man in North and Central America, and the genocide and culture subversion that followed. Trans traditions did still persist somewhat in other parts of the world though, such as Japanese Noh dramas, which fi nd their root in the harvest folk dance, dengaku. And in a few “untouched” places, notably among the Polynesian Islands (parts of Samoa, Tonga and Tahiti), communal and trans-affi rming traditions would survive to this day. Next, Into the Modern Age... Partial Bibiography: Much of this had been compiled over time, and not all the sources have been recorded. Some online sources have been involved as well, although I search for more corroboration in these cases.

• Bullough, Vern: Homosexuality: A History From Ancient Greece to Gay Libera- tion • Caliﬁ a, Patrick: Sex Changes: The Politics of Transgenderism • Colapinto, John: As Nature Made Him: The Story of a Boy Who Was Raised as a Girl • Currah, Paisley; Richard M. Juang and Shannon 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 Ethnomethodological Approach • Rudacille, Deborah: The Riddle of Gender • Walker, Barbara: various works • Williams, Walter: The Spirit and the Flesh Mercedes Allen is a writer who blogs at http://dentedbluemercedes. wordpress.com/, has been featured on bilerico.com, PageOneQ and others, and has also developed the website at AlbertaTrans.org as a resource for transgender information and support. La at. Ut nit lor sed euguer iurerat numsand ipismod del utat. Iquisim enim ip eum dio diamcor amet wismodio dolore modit utpat.

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #65, March 2009 41 Fundraising Photos Gay Tech RSS Feeds for News, Media and More

that will take you right to the feed that you select. By Rob Diaz-Marino, MSc. Furthermore, IE has a built in utility for viewing RSS feeds Here at GayCalgary, we are continually pushing that will display the RSS items nicely, and allow for simple the envelope, providing our readers, visitors, and operations like sorting by title, date, category, and searching. You can subscribe to the feed by clicking the “Subscribe to community partners the many benefi ts that new this feed” link that appears in the RSS viewer, and it will add and popular technologies can offer. But with every a bookmark in the Feeds area of your favorites menu so that technological addition, there is an associated learn- you can easily return to it again. ing curve (and in some cases a price tag) that may Firefox provides very similar capabilities – just look for the deter some from taking full advantage. We want to RSS icon beside the address bar. However, Firefox also gives help you keep up! you the option to automatically pass the subscription off to Microsoft Outlook, browse for a custom application of your Most major media outlets, includ- choice, or select a few other online services like Bloglines, My ing TV stations and papers use Really Yahoo!, and Google. Simple Syndication (RSS), a method of broadcasting news content to any One hopes that the latest versions of other popular web number of destinations: your person- browsers also provide these capabilities. Failing that, most al computer or laptop, your mobile sites display an RSS icon that will manually take you to their device, even to your Facebook profi le! channel list. At the very least, you should be able to grab the Some RSS publishers will only give URL for the feed to use in another program. you a preview of the item with a direct Microsoft Outlook link to read the remainder on their website, while others may give you One of the most popular mail clients for Windows us- the whole shebang. RSS contains encoded information about ers, newer versions of MS Outlook have built in support for things like authorship, publication date, etc. and the main RSS feeds. In the Mail Folders sidebar underneath Personal body can contain text, images, links, and other multimedia Folders, you’ll likely fi nd an “RSS Feeds” folder. Right click such as videos and sound. The cool part is that the infor- it and select “Add New RSS Feed…”, where you will then be mation is live; so very soon after the source is updated, all prompted for the URL of the feed. You can grab this informa- subscribers (aka. consumers) of the feed receive those updates tion right from the address bar in Internet Explorer, once you the next time their device refreshes. have navigated to the desired feed. So how is this any different from just going to a website, The nice thing about MS Outlook is that it adapts the feed like MSN.ca, and reading the articles there? Well, in a lot of to a readily understood E-mail metaphor. That is, each item cases RSS feeds can save you the time and trouble of browsing in the feed is displayed as you would see a list of E-mails in through volumes of information to fi nd something that inter- your Inbox. Even handier is the fact that unread items are ests you – especially if you just want to see what’s new. Some highlighted in bold, so you know what you’ve already read. websites provide multiple RSS feeds (aka. channels) dedicated to groupings of related content like sports, theatre, music, Windows Vista Sidebar and so on – so you only need to subscribe to the ones that are If you’re a Windows Vista user and haven’t turned off the relevant to your interests. Furthermore, you can use RSS to Vista Sidebar application that comes standard with the op- collect items from many different sources and then read them erating system, then you have a convenient little RSS viewer all in one place, which saves you from the usual routine of at your fi ngertips. You may have removed it, not knowing navigating to (and through) your thee or four favorite news what it was, but once you have added it again the application websites. will automatically pull any feeds you have set up in Internet Now, it’s all very well to know something like this is out Explorer or MS Outlook and fl ash updates from the sidelines. there, but how can you access it? The remainder of this You can confi gure which feeds from article will talk about a number of easily available ways to these sources that you prefer it to subscribe to RSS feeds, followed by a summary of the exciting show. RSS feeds now available through GayCalgary.com. Mobile Devices Accessing RSS If you own a Blackberry, Smart- phone, or even an iPhone/iTouch, Internet Explorer and Firefox you probably have a basic RSS Some websites embed information about available RSS feeds reader built in. If you search in their underlying structure, but you wouldn’t be able to fi nd around online, you are likely to fi nd it without viewing the webpage source and sifting through its nicer applications for free (a good guts. However, Internet Explorer 7 (and newer versions of the one we found is called “Viigo”), or popular browser) has an RSS icon that lights up in the pres- at a reasonable cost to purchase. A ence of this information, providing a convenient drop down list Continued on Page 46 f 42 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #65, March 2009 FundraisingPhotography Photos

Cheque Presentation at Twisted Element - Calgary (Photos ISCWR Pierogy Dinner - Edmonton Courtesy of Aids Calgary)

Fake Mustache Show at The Soda - Calgary

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #65, March 2009 43 PhotographyFundraising Photos

ISCCA Drag Show at Calgary Eagle ISCCA Drag Show at Money Pennies - Calgary

ISCWR Drag Show at Play - Edmonton

44 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #65, March 2009 Technology

f Gay Tech - From Page 42 Planning a trip to Alberta? Need to call your favorite bar but can’t remember the number? If you don’t have a copy data plan will be required for retrieving feeds live from the in- of the magazine nearby, then this feed will defi nitely come in ternet, but on the bright side, they will likely be less awkward handy! It provides you with address and contact information and take less bandwidth than visiting the websites that they for local gay bars and clubs, bathhouses, accommodations, come from. Even without a data plan, programs like AvantGo and restaurants – including any recent advertising images will help you load up your phone with your RSS items when – directly from our online business directory! This feed too you synch with your computer, so that you can read them on will soon be divided into Northern and Southern Alberta, the go. rather than by city. Your Website or Online Profi le More Coming Soon For those who run or maintain a website, who have access We hope to have RSS feeds for new photographs and discus- to the underlying code and the knowledge of how to manipu- sion forum topics within the next month or two. late it, you can use an RSS feed to display relevant news headlines to visitors. However, you will need something to Conclusion convert the raw RSS data to something more presentable. If your website can run server-side code (PHP, ASP, ASP .NET, RSS may sound cryptic and scary to the lay-person, but etc.) there are pre-built libraries available for free to accom- once you get to know it, you soon realize how useful and plish this. However, if your website is just plain HTML there widely accessible it is. If you like keeping up to date on what’s are still plenty of free services to do this for you - typically they going on in the world, it can save you a lot of hunting around. just ask you to embed a simple Javascript reference into your Of course, your access to RSS is limited to the technology that HTML document. A quick web search will turn up any of this you possess, and in the end, a good old print copy is acces- information that you may need. sible by anyone! On mainstream profi le sites like Facebook and MySpace, Was this article still over your head? Are you confused about something where the content you post is often stripped of any HTML tags else related to computers and other technologies within a GLBT context? that you may try to embed, you need to search for something Write us an E-mail (or send us a letter if it is easier), and we may cover to do the legwork for you. On Facebook, we recommend the your topic in a future edition of GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine! RSS-Connect app – it lets you post several feeds to your page Our contact information is listed under “Sales & General Inquiries” in our so that friends and visitors can see what you’re interested in. Masthead (the black column beside the table of contents at the beginning Similarly, MySpace has a whole list of apps to bring RSS to of this edition). your online profi le. GayCalgary.com RSS Feeds We’ve stretched the use of RSS feeds beyond their typical purpose – to give you live information not just about news and articles, but also monthly prize draws, community events, and GLBT business information for travelers. This offers a whole new way of tapping into Alberta’s GLBT community! Below is a list of the feeds now available on GayCalgary.com. GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine – Articles A complete list of articles featured in the latest edition of GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine. We still want you to pick up the magazine or read the online edition, so we’ve only provided a small portion of each article to stimulate your interest. Follow the link to read the full article in the online edition. GayCalgary.com – Recent News Read press releases and breaking news, updated weekly on our website. Much of this information doesn’t make it into our monthly magazine, so this is the only place you may fi nd it! The link provided will take you to the full article on our website. GayCalgary.com – Prize Draws Get updates about the prizes that are up for grabs in our monthly online prize draws. GayCalgary.com – Calgary/Edmonton Events Get a complete list of upcoming events directly from our ex- tensive online community events calendar. Full event details are provided, including event posters! This feed will soon be divided into Northern and Southern Alberta, rather than by city. GayCalgary.com – Calgary/Edmonton Travel Info

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #65, March 2009 45 Community Events St Patrick’s Day Irish Auction Annual Charity Auction Benefitting Beswick House

Beswick House is one of two housing complexes operated by By James SM Demers the SHARP Foundation. Established in 1993, it provides 24- hour long term palliative support, serving a maximum capacity In the past three years, the annual St. Patrick’s Day of ten people at a time. They seek to provide care to individuals Irish Auction has experienced a great deal of growth, often with dual diagnoses of HIV/AIDS and other problems that says founder and organizer Sean Hogan. ‘The fi rst make managing the disease more diffi cult. They also deal with the stark reality of providing end of life care - the opportunity year I think we raised $900, the second $1000 and for someone dying to live out the remainder of their time in a last year about $3500.” comfortable home setting rather than in a bleak hospital room, can be a godsend. The fourth annual auction is slated to happen on Friday March 13th at the Texas Lounge, where it has been consistently The auction begins at 8pm, and will be hosted by Mystare hosted. The charity auction is poised to raise much needed and Coco who promise to give a stellar return performance. funds for Beswick House, Hogan’s charity of choice. ‘They did a fantastic job last year, we all really enjoyed ourselves,” said Hogan. ”Alan and Andrew (owners of the Texas “One hundred percent of the proceeds go to Beswick house. Lounge and Goliaths) have also been fantastic to work with!” They are always in need of something, be it bed sheets, pots and pans, little things. Government cutbacks have not helped.” The auction list is available on their website, as well as on But he has high hopes for this year; everyone working on the Facebook. Hogan warns that bidding can get “pretty intense” project has committed countless volunteer hours to make sure as there are some incredible things up for auction donated by a it runs smoothly. many Calgary businesses and individuals. The SHARP Foundation (Society Housing for AIDS/HIV Re- ”It was something I wanted to do and it has taken off. I’m stricted Persons) established in 1990 has been working within proud of it, and will continue to do it every year.” the Calgary community providing a range of care to those af- fl icted with HIV/AIDS. The foundation has been committed providing a variety of essential services including housing, health care and family/com- St. Patricks Day Irish Auction munity support. They rely largely on donations and fundraising March 13th, 2009 - 8pm from the Calgary Community to make their work possible. Bars The Texas Lounge (308b - 17th Ave SW) and local businesses have frequently gone the extra mile to help support this important organization. For instance, the Irish www.stpatricksdayauction.com Auction is just one of many SHARP Foundation fundraisers that happens at the Texas Lounge throughout the year.

f Cocktail Chatter - From Page 29 the time, and who doesn’t enjoy a string of olives for dinner? But remainder cooling of the strained drink in the freezer. a martini is a mixed drink, necessitating more than one ingredient to mix into it. Do not fear vermouth. Try it and you might fi nd you actually like it – but probably not the 4-year-old, mostly full bottle gather- The working theory is that the martini started as a spinoff of the ing dust in the back of your liquor cabinet. Use a fresh bottle. Martinez, a cocktail made with sweetened gin, sweet vermouth, Vermouth spoils like wine after opening, so buy small bottles and maraschino liqueur and bitters (with a lemon twist). As tastes in keep them in the refrigerator to lengthen their life span. cocktails shifted away from sweet drinks, the “Dry Martini” made with dry vermouth became more popular, and eventually most Ice, too, is an ingredient in the drink. If you keep your vodka everybody forgot about the bitters. Vodka didn’t become an option or gin in the freezer, not much water will melt into your martini. until later. Dilution brings the drink down to a manageable level of alcoholic strength to keep you from making that too-strong scrunchy face Given the variations over time, you could rightfully order your that gives you wrinkles. A martini should be refreshing, not pain- martini made with gin or vodka, sweet or dry vermouth or none at ful. all, bitters or not, olives or a twist – and you could fi nd a published recipe to back it up. None are the “right” way to make a The shaken-versus-stirred decision is not worth the weight martini, but I would encourage experimentation to fi nd the way given to it. Shaking adds ice chips and air bubbles that make the that’s right for you. drink look cloudy and taste fi zzy, whereas stirring results in a clear and smooth cocktail from the get-go. I prefer a stirred martini While jumbo-sized martini glasses used in many bars provide a when I’m at a nice cocktail lounge, but I do often shake them at lot of liquor for the dollar, by the time you get to the bottom half home. Not because it tastes better, but because shaking is more you’re drinking room-temperature alcohol. That is bad. Or worse, fun. it’s a warm salt bath if you’ve got the extra-large-sized olives in there that help to heat it up. The very classiest of bars serve their Camper English is a cocktails and spirits writer and publisher of martinis in very small, very cold glasses – with an additional Alcademics.com. quantity of the drink in an ice-chilled container on the side. That is lovely. At home, I use vintage (small) glassware and keep the

46 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #65, March 2009 Community Spotlight f Camp fYrefly - From Page 29 Luckily, the youth participating in Camp fYrefl y are part of the change itself in Alberta. I’m sure those who attended this session of government will leave with an impression that they are part of something great. Who knows, maybe even one day, a member of the camp will become Premier of Alberta? But that won’t happen unless this camp continues to thrive, and they cannot do so without monetary support. Although the organization receives funding from the government (surprise, surprise!), as well as businesses and private donors, they still need to create buzz about the camp and raise money on their own. For the past few years, fYrefl y’s main fundraising event has been a wine gala, including a silent and ”Live” auction. The semi casual event starts off with the wine tasting at deVine Wines, continuing on next door to TZiN for more wine & tapas, and then fi nishing off the night down the street at Play with VIP access. Tickets are $100 per person, with all proceeds going to support the camp. The gala goes from 8pm-11pm March 7th, 2009. From someone who’s benefi tted directly from Camp fYrefl y, if you have the chance to donate or just to talk to someone involved about this amazing retreat, do so with gusto.

Camp fYreﬂ y www.fYreﬂ y.ualberta.ca

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #65, March 2009 47 Classified Ads

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50 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #65, March 2009 Movie Review How Green was my Rental? Queer DVDs worth renting for St. Patty’s Day

has very little memory and so too do humans in love, who By Matt Salton seem to make the same mistakes over and over again. For example, how many people do you know that have repeated Breakfast on Pluto, disastrous relationships with much younger partners and Directed by Neil swear every time to never again date someone younger? If Jordan/2005 you’re reading this right now and think I’m talking about you personally… I am. If you were to imagine Forrest Gump as an Irish I’m not about to get into each and every character in Gold- tranny growing up in the fi sh Memory because there’s just way too many fi sh in this 70s, then you’ve got a bowl. Let’s just say the fi lm covers gay, bi, lesbian, straight, good idea what to expect creepy, kinky, and conservative dating relationships between from the lead character primarily young, white Dubliners who often overlap in their of Breakfast on Pluto. dating partners on their hunt for their soul mates. Patrick “Kitten” Braden is The fi lm also features a vibrant soundtrack that includes a poor orphaned boy left Damien Rice and The Frames. in a basket and watched over by kindly Father Liam Rating: 3 out of 4 leaf clovers (Liam Neeson). Hmm, Liam playing Liam, what are the odds? That would The Crying Game, be like Cher playing a Directed by Neil character named Cher. Back to the plot, Kitten is played by the beautiful Cillian Jordan/1992 Murphy whose androgynous appearance works to his advan- Ok, fi rst off, I’m not tage here as he grows from a scrappy cross-dressing lad to a THAT old however, I re- glamorous wannabe seeking fame, fortune and her birth- member when this movie mother in London. came out into theatres Kitten’s adventures are told as mini chapters from her and the thing that had memoir and are often narrated by sub-titled sparrows watch- everyone buzzing was THE ing the action from above. Yes. That’s what I said. It’s a real BIG SURPRISE! Well who “tweet”. To call Kitten naïve would be an understatement, doesn’t love a surprise? and if I had any complaints about what is by and large a fan- I’ll tell you who doesn’t. tastically entertaining fi lm, is that Kitten is incredibly frus- Stupid shop girls with big trating and emotionally distant from everything and everyone bangs who work at the around her, which makes it often times hard to sympathize mall where you’re about to with her trials. While tragedy abounds in Kitten’s life, it’s all go see a movie about a big just another exciting chapter in her memoirs. surprise in an hour, but you stop at Woodwards Rating: 3 out of 4 leaf (twinks can look it up on clovers wikpedia) to buy a totally rad sweater and the shop girl decides to make small talk while she rings in your purchase. “Oh what movie are you Goldfi sh Memory, gonna see?” I tell her. “Oh don’t go see that, it’s about a Directed by Eliza- chick who’s really...INSERT SPOILER HERE.” beth Gill/2003 Needless to say I was pissed right off, put a Wiccan curse on shopgirl, and went to the movie anyway. (The curse Before sitting down to worked btw, big bangs went out and Woodwards went bank- watch this nifty indie gem rupt). In any case, the twist is a doozy and the movie is still on love and dating in Dub- worth watching even if you have the foresight to know what’s lin, make sure you keep a going to rock Stephen Rea’s world as a former IRA terrorist pen and paper or an excel who promises to make amends with the girlfriend of one of spreadsheet handy to keep his victims he had a hand in murdering. Look for Miranda track of the myriad of Richardson as a mean, lean IRA killing machine, Forest single characters looking Whitaker as a Brit, and Jaye Davidson as the lovely Dil who for love in all the wrong has so much to give to the right man. people. The title refers to the concept that a goldfi sh 4 out of 4 leaf clovers Continued on Page 53 f GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #65, March 2009 51 Music Review Music Review Annie Lennox, Rihanna, Maroon 5

by today’s hottest dance By Rob Diaz-Marino producers including Tony Moran, Seamus Haji, Jody “The Annie Lennox Den Broeder, Moto Blanco Collection” and Wideboys. For the fi rst time, the “Don’t Stop the Music” greatest hits from the most has been my partner’s successful female British proverbial favorite song for artist in pop music history quite some time now, and are available as a 14-song it was on my own favorites retrospective. The Annie playlist long before we Lennox Collection brings received this new album. together her fi nest solo The version they feature work and two new songs is the Jody den Broeder available exclusively on version – one of the better remixes that I’ve heard out there. this release. Meanwhile, the Wideboys remix of “Shut up and Drive” is bound to be a crowd pleaser with its heavy bass, jagged “I’m fairly grounded as a synths and shuffl e rhythm. human being,” says Lennox, “but there’s another part of me that engages with the potentiality of music, melody, colour It was my fi rst time hearing “Umbrella” so I don’t really and sound, and I’m profoundly grateful to have been able to have the original to compare to. There are two different mixes express myself through this exquisite medium.” on this album that book-end the playlist: The fi rst one is a bouncy, with a mean and sassy attitude; the last one is a In the January 2008 edition, I reviewed Annie Lennox’s happy, light-hearted mix - both are utmost danceable! album “Songs of Mass Destruction” – from which a few tracks appear in this collection: one of my favorites “Dark Road”, Another favorite was the Jody den Broeder version of “Dis- and the single “Sing” that was released on World AIDS Day turbia”. Yes, I have heard the original of this one on Makay- to raise funds for HIV/AIDS awareness. Lennox spoke about la’s recommendation, so I can tell that they’ve transplanted a these tracks - in fact she had interesting anecdotes about dance beat and minimal melody aside from Rihanna’s vocals. every one of her revisited songs, from the fi lming of the music It’s better suited for the dance fl oor, certainly not a replace- videos to the infl uences that inspired her to create them in ment for the original. the fi rst place. Tracks in the middle such as “Breakin’ Dishes”, “I Hate “The dark road is a metaphor for life’s journey, almost like that I Love You” and “Push Up On Me” didn’t appeal to me the Pilgrim’s progress. You could get led astray; you could quite as much, since they began to feel a little too groovy. lose your way. There’s a future ahead and you don’t know Defi nitely some kickin’ dance rhythms, likely good to play where it’s going. …The function of [Sing] was to launch the while driving, but I found them far too strong for pleasure SING campaign. I wanted to make an anthem. I want to listening at home. come back and write more SING theme songs and use them as a vehicle. People talked a lot about the 23 artists that I in- “Call and Response: vited to sing with me; it’s a call for solidarity. HIV/AIDS has The Remix Album” so much stigma and people are terrifi ed to speak up. Singing – Maroon 5 is a metaphor for speaking.” Being musically chal- Aside from that, the album features immortal themes like lenged, I had no idea who “Little Bird” and “Walking on Broken Glass”, as well as slower this group was until I sentimental numbers like “Why”, “No More I Love You’s”, and found a personal con- “A Whiter Shade of Pale”. nection in the song “This Love” – I’m not quite sure The two new tracks were instant favorites: “Pattern of my where I had heard it, but I Life” is a touching feel-good piece that refl ects the ups and defi nitely knew it. I found downs in life and love, while “Shining Light” is a catchy and out Maroon 5 is a multi- upbeat ode to someone special - I haven’t been able to get it platinum Grammy winning out of my head for the past week! quintet, so as usual it was “Good Girl Gone Bad: The Remixes” – a what-rock-have-you-been-under moment for me. Rihanna “I’ve always found it really interesting that a group of people looking at the same painting can all see different things,” Good Girl Gone Bad: The Remixes is a remix album of Ri- says Maroon 5 vocalist/guitarist Adam Levine. “That was the hanna’s double platinum, chart topping Good Girl Gone Bad. idea behind this record – to take a few of our songs and have This collection features new versions of her hits, remixed

52 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #65, March 2009 Music Review them interpreted by some of our favorite artists. We were really blown away by what they came up with.” The album is a collection of 18 Maroon 5 songs as seen through the eyes of artists Pharrell Wiliams, Cut Copy, Deer- hoof, of Montreal, Cool Kids, David Banner, Paul Oakenfold, and many more. While over half of the tracks didn’t appeal to my tastes, the album was deﬁ nitely worth it for the many good ones that I found. It kicks off with a frenetic beat-breaking take on “If I Never See Your Face Again” by acclaimed hip-hop producer Swizz Beatz. I quite liked this track – it was an excellent introduction to Maroon 5’s style of vocals. It ﬁ nishes with Paul Oakenfold’s angle on the same song – a dark and dirty dance mix featuring vocals by Rihanna! I loved Mark Ronson’s take on “Wake Up Call”, an upbeat, almost humorous tale of a husband retaliating against his cheating wife’s lover. However, the more serious David Ban- ner spin on the same song, appearing later in the list, left me pretty cold. Questlove’s relaxed version of “Sunday Morning” conveyed a sense of melancholy abandon despite its catchy rhythm. I also highly recommend listening to Tiëtso’s dark dance mix of “Not Falling Apart”, and the morose Premier 5 remix of “Secret”.

f Movie Review - From Page 51

Cowboys and Angels, Directed by David Gleeson/2005 Do not judge this DVD by its cover. You will get the impression that this is a nutty Irish comedy about a sexy straight boy, and the hijinx that ensue when he moves in with a ﬂ amboyant, but adorable gay fashion design student. Wrong! The movie starts out that way, with all the predictable clichés that include gay roomie falling for breeder roomie but, then he starts bofﬁ ng the blonde babe upstairs, and starts dealing drugs with a seedy underworld gang. After a particularly unpleasant hour or so of watching a downward spiral, our straight eye candy gets by with a little help from his friends, and cleans up in time to star in his roommate’s fashion show. Gag. 1 out 4 leaf clovers Matt Salton is the festival director of the Fairy Tales International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival in Calgary. He can be reached for comment at [email protected] Movie rental courtesy of Zip.ca. Online DVD rentals carrying a huge selection of GLBT themed DVD’s as well as standard brand new releases, TV shows, classics and more. No Late Fees, No Due Dates, and 72,000 Titles. http://www.zip.ca

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #65, March 2009 53 54 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #65, March 2009 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #65, March 2009 55 Queer Eye - Community Events

BEEF Bear Bash at Boots - Edmonton Team Edmonton Mixer

56 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #65, March 2009 Queer Eye - CommunityPhotography Events

Calgary Eagle Anniversary Party

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #65, March 2009 57 PhotographyQueer Eye - Community Events

Lipstick Lounge at Buddys - Edmonton Mardi Gras Drag Show at Play - Edmonton

Stardust Lounge at Boots - Edmonton

58 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #65, March 2009 Queer Eye - CommunityPhotography Events

Cabin Fever at the Calgary Eagle EVM Concert and Womonspace Dance - Edmonton

Dueling DJs at Boots - Edmonton Dueling DJs at Play - Edmonton

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #65, March 2009 59 Queer Eye - Community Events

Fairytales “Harvey Milk” Screening - Calgary Oscar Party at the Backlot - Calgary

So You Think You Can Dance Canada - Calgary

60 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #65, March 2009 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #64, February 2009 61 62 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #65, March 2009 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #65, March 2009 63