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#769 APRIL 17–30, 2014 FREE INSIDE! 36,000 AUDITED CIRCULATION Xtra Living THE BEST OF TORONTO’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS GAY & LESBIAN TORONTO More at dailyxtra.com facebook.com/dailyxtra @dailyxtra

Raging homosHas the gay lobby E8 become the bully? 2 APRIL 17–30, 2014 XTRA! TORONTO’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS Ŕ
TORONTO’S INSIDE THIS ISSUE! GAY & LESBIAN NEWS Roundup #769 APRIL 17–30, 2014

The Case Against 8 screens at Hot Docs. THE BEST OF GAY & LESBIAN TORONTO A taste of Havana Handcrafted wood furniture Riverdale café culture East-end art institution Exploring Kensington Market

XTRA Published by Pink Triangle Press PUBLISHER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Brandon Matheson EDITORIAL ON SCREEN MANAGING EDITOR Danny Glenwright ARTS EDITOR Phil Villeneuve COPY EDITOR Lesley Fraser EVENT LISTINGS: [email protected] CONTRIBUTE OR INQUIRE about Xtra’s editorial content: [email protected], [email protected] Hot Docs heats up EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS ISSUE Drasko Bogdanovic, Kyle Burton, Scott Now in its 19th year, the festival has grown to be a Dagostino, Chris Dupuis, Ryan English, Ryan major international showcase for documentary fi lm, G Hinds, Ryan Kerr, Becca Lemire, Justin Ling, Michael Lyons, Anna Pournikova, Dylan C featuring 197 entries from 43 countries E18 Robertson, Rob Salerno, Alejandro Santiago, Sissydude, Jeremy Willard ART & PRODUCTION CREATIVE DIRECTOR Lucinda Wallace GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Darryl Mabey, Editorial Local news Bryce Stuart, Landon Whittaker New projects underway ADVERTISING Spring Event. 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DIRECTORS Jim Bartley, Gerald Hannon, mbtoronto.ca/PPM E Tegan and Sara Classifi eds E28 Glenn Kauth, Didier Pomerleau, Ken Popert, to close WorldPride Gillian Rodgerson HONORARY DIRECTOR Colin Brownlee Xtra Hot A CORPORATE E St Petersburg gay PRESIDENT & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Ken Popert STORE | MB DOWNTOWN | 761 Dundas St E | 866.722.7589 | mbdowntown.ca By Drasko Bogdanovic E29 CEO, DIGITAL MEDIA David Walberg © 2014 Mercedes-Benz Canada Inc. 2014 GLK 250 BlueTEC 4MATIC™/ 2014 B 250 with optional Sport Package shown has a Total Price of $46,230/$35,220. **Total price for advertised vehicle of $46,230/$33,200 includes MSRP and all applicable clubs adapt to Russian CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Andrew Chang dealer fees. 2Savings include $1,000/$1,000 in Spring Event Credits applicable on the 2014 GLK-Class/ 2014 B-Class models. *Lease offers based on 2014 GLK 250 BlueTEC 4MATIC™/2014 B 250 available only through Mercedes-Benz Financial Services on approved credit for a limited time. 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MORE AT DAILYXTRA.COM XTRA! APRIL 17–30, 2014 3 email [email protected] comment dailyxtra.com & facebook/dailyxtra.com Comment tweet @dailyxtra

FEEDBACK We need a system of housing for New blood at the BIA Youth homelessness troubled youth that gives them It’s time to start building housing a place to stay when they’re kicked for youth, not just shelters [“Raising ness, so his employment could also be EDITORIAL the Roof,” Xtra #768, April 3]. What an opportunity for the neighbourhood. out of the nest early. DANNY GLENWRIGHT happened to Tyler Johnston while he This is especially true as the BIA, Coun- stayed at Covenant House was (and [RE: YOUTH HOMELESSNESS] The new manager of the cillor Kristyn Wong-Tam and The 519 is, in my honest opinion) inexcus- Church-Wellesley Village implement several projects in advance able and had no business happening anymore. Toronto’s gay community FREE Business Improvement Area (BIA) had of WorldPride, everything from new fl ags 36,000 AUDITED (what if he was volunteering as a part CIRCULATION is so disparate and insular I would best roll up his sleeves. and banner poles to a rainbow-coloured of his courses at school and couldn’t TORONTO’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS caution every young lesbian and gay Mychol Scully has replaced longtime crosswalk (see page 12). just drop everything and come home boy in Canada to avoid Toronto. You’ll manager David Wootton, whose con- Glen Sanderson, owner of Distinct 2014 APRIL 3–16, early due to curfew?). We need a sys- #768 PLUS! live a hard, lonely life in this city. The tract was not renewed by the BIA board Hair Design on Maitland Street, says WORLDPRIDE WORRIES tem of housing for troubled youth E gay village of the early 2000s Queer as because he apparently doesn’t possess the BIA comes up with lots of new ideas, 7 FRANCIS that gives them a place to stay when BACON Folk era is dead and gone. The only the skills the BIA needs to participate in but it lacks strategic planning that takes E 17

they’re kicked out of the nest early for Young Torontonians 10 GREAT gays left are depressed middle-aged WorldPride and the 2015 Pan Am Games. into consideration the diverse market- share their stories of ISLANDS whatever reason. homelessness E8 E 24 It’s a good thing board members realized ing needs of local businesses. He thinks men who’ve been here since the ’80s. that when they did — WorldPride is two the BIA rolls out too many incongruent NEVILLE ROSS @dailyxtra Out on the In 10 years I’ve not seen one new gay TORONTO, ON club or gay restaurant open in the Vil- months away. projects that don’t fi t into a wider, long- facebook.com/dailyxtra Wootton has threatened to pursue a term business plan for the area. He’d also lage, only close down or move away. 519 Pride DJs dailyxtra.com STREETS wrongful dismissal case, which means like to see less money spent on one-day at More RYAN it hasn’t been the most auspicious start events like Halloween and more spent What’s wrong with this picture TORONTO, ON for Scully. In addition, there are worry- on attracting new businesses to the shut- [“The 519 Launches Its First-Ever such stories have you read or seen ing signs that Scully may suff er from the tered storefronts, or on initiatives like the DJ Search,” dailyxtra.com, April 3]? where a young male character fools A bank, a dry-cleaner and a fast-food same handicap as other board members streetside parklet patio project, which Toronto DJ legends Deko-ze, Mark around with another man in his youth joint don’t sound like a “return to life” who have often expressed an unwilling- the BIA cancelled after one year. “It’s Falco and Neill MacLeod have to win but ends up forming a long-term rela- to me. Of course areas change, but I ness to build bridges and listen to diver- easy to throw a party,” he says. “Harder a contest to get a chance to spin? This tionship with a woman (Maurice, etc). always thought Church and Welles- gent views. In his fi rst interview with Xtra is pursuing marketing and getting new is wrong on so many levels. Even the Netfl ix series House of Cards ley would remain the gay mecca of after taking the job, Scully said he doesn’t clients for the area.” JOHN W has such a storyline. Alternatively, Canada. It seems to me things started TORONTO, ON look at “Debbie Downer” media that talks But, of course, Sanderson’s is just one how many stories have you read or to change for the worse when Kristyn about the death of the Village — “I don’t view; other business owners will argue seen where a young male character is Wong-Tam took over. She has tried read Xtra or any of the major papers. I’m that the BIA should increase the amount David Wootton’s initially in a supportive relationship to make over Church Street to her a huge proponent of online information.” it spends on street parties. This cacopho- dismissal with a woman but ends up leaving her, liking, which means driving gay men While that bodes well for the BIA’s ny of opinions about the Village has often I hate to see our community fight- coming out of the closet and engaging out of the area. in a series of failed relationships with website, which is perpetually out of date translated into inaction, most recently ing amongst themselves [“Former KEVIN BROWN and provides scant information about the illustrated by the abandoned project to Church-Wellesley BIA Manager other men — while ending up being TORONTO, ON community, it’s a bit lacking as a commu- improve the corner of Church and Alex- Threatens Lawsuit over Dismissal,” alone (Making Love, A Smile in His nications strategy. It’s all too reminiscent ander streets. Wong-Tam says that while dailyxtra.com, April 4]. If Wootton Lifetime, etc). Proud FM of BIA co-chair Avery Pitcher’s 2012 there’s money for a bold new plan for the was dismissed, he has employment BRENT S TORONTO, ON I think a more relevant technical issue letter that said she would speak to Xtra busy corner, stakeholders couldn’t agree rights for wrongful dismissal and is Proud FM’s refusal to provide a nice only if our reporters write positive things on a design, so they get nothing instead. possibly a human rights complaint. Church Street normal M3U fi le so that we can stream about the BIA. It’s admirable that our councillor JERRY HERSZKOPF the station in whatever software we There are ample constructive things to strives for unity, except it’s unlikely she’ll TORONTO, ON Church Street isn’t starting to look choose, including iTunes [“Proud FM report on in the Village, but some mem- find it in the diverse neighbourhood. like Yorkville — it’s starting to look to Boost Signal Strength in ‘Gaybour- bers of the community maintain that the Surely all the stakeholders involved didn’t Based on the information in this ar- like the commercial part of Queen hoods,’” dailyxtra.com, April 7]. neighbourhood is increasingly divided — agree on the plan for each wall painting ticle, one might think that the Church- West or the Annex [“Signs of Life Wellesley Village BIA should have Returning to Church Street, Sort Of,” JOE CLARK gay versus straight, condo owners versus in the mural project or the design for TORONTO, ON renters, independent businesses versus the rainbow gateway markers, yet these terminated its “partnership” with the Xtra #768, April 3]. There is lots of 519 Church Street Community Centre, urban convenience but no particular chain stores, nightlife versus shopping initiatives somehow were implemented. Trans daughter destination. Many of these competing Mychol Scully has his work cut out for rather than fi re David Wootton as its character. The new dry-cleaner with interests are not mutually exclusive, but him, but if he’s able to encourage the right manager. locker service instead of actual staff Love is unconditional [“My Butch if the BIA is to make them work together, blend of Wong-Tam’s consensus-building KYLER J is symbolic of much of downtown Daughter Is Trans,” dailyxtra.com, its board members need to take their fi n- with the BIA’s ability to generate new TORONTO, ON Toronto these days: no personal inter- April 6]. Hate picks fi ghts. Hate doesn’t gers out of their ears and stop shouting, ideas, he might just succeed at helping the action required. Loblaws’ checkout is understand diff erences. Hate has no “I can’t hear you.” BIA bring new life to the Village. Cock like an automobile assembly line. At personal experience to draw from. Scully lives near the Village and has There is nothing new here [“Cock,” most of the food shops in the neigh- Hate is learned. Love asks questions 25 years of experience running a project Danny Glenwright is Xtra’s managing dailyxtra.com, March 30]. The old bourhood, you’re lucky to get a hello about the experience. Love takes time management and media relations busi- editor. literary closet of self-hate and self- or thank-you from the staff . Today at to listen and understand. Love al- loathing is now being dressed up as Church and Wellesley, a group of six ways comes through because it knows The outcome that we seek is this — gay and lesbian “queer.” This play is just following heterosexual street people and their it brings people together. Love is a people daring together to set love free. the formula of so many novels, plays two dogs were having a drunken party mother’s instinct. and movies of the past on the failure on the sidewalk all afternoon. This is Xtra is published by Pink Triangle Press, at 2 Carlton St, Ste 1600, Toronto, M5B 1J3. BARRY WILLIAM TESKE of gay male relationships. How many supposed to be a “gay” Village? Not TORONTO, ON

4 APRIL 17–30, 2014 XTRA! TORONTO’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS Sushi A BIWEEKLY HELPING Gaelen Patrick OF POP CULTURE, Real Estate Sales Representative SERVED À LA CARTE XCETERA Rarely Offered Steam Plant Lofts! FROM THE PTP ARCHIVES 10 Wellesley Place 20 YEARS AGO Bee sting Offered at $399,900 According to a 1 Bed + Den / 1 Bath New Listing XTRA #247, APRIL 15, 1994 Cornell University 716 sq. ft. study, the three Corner suite with exposed brick, “When the Toronto Sun says that we’re the worst places to be high ceilings and loft windows! Scan to view the full details of this mobile-ready listing. radical fringe, they are perfectly correct,” explains stung are the nostril, the lip and the penis. Queerculture producer Sky Gilbert. In its sixth Buying? Selling? Thinking Pre-construction? year, Queerculture has transformed into an Severed penis Proudly Serving Our Community! autonomous organization from Buddies, after the Chinese doctors were Contact me previous year’s controversies. unable to reattach a man’s penis because 416.801.9265 he forgot to bring it [email protected] OUT ON THE STREET BY KYLE BURTON with him when he www.gaelenpatrick.com Photos | Floor Plan | Map biked to the hospital.

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‘Prescribe-a-Bike’ Doctors at the Boston Medical Center are writing prescriptions for memberships to the Hubway bike-sharing program to get patients moving.

Boston Marco Alisha Richard Hana Actor David Walton’s hometown. SOUND DESIGNER SOCIAL-SERVICE ART DIRECTOR BANKER WORKER I think I would have Mind control. Make people Burlesque The ability to fl y; batlike hearing. more tolerant . . . Walton plays I’d be a way better I would never take of everything. “Mark the DJ” in sound designer. the TTC again. the 2010 fi lm.

Cher QUOTABLE The star of Burlesque and currently on the road with her It’s insane that civil Dressed to Kill tour. rights are being denied $312 people in this day and Average price for a ticket to Cher’s show age. It’s embarrassing, in Philadelphia. Tetris and it’s heartbreaking. A supersized version of the video game It goes without saying was recently played on the face of the 29-storey Cira Centre that I’m completely in downtown Philly. Supersized in support of gay Name of a photo book by Giovanni marriage. In 10 years that showcases a series of “enormous we’ll be ashamed that cocks.” ElephantTube A website dedicated this was an issue. to well-endowed men and their — Chris Evans (aka Captain America) admirers. in an interview with Playboy in 2012

MORE AT DAILYXTRA.COM XTRA! APRIL 17–30, 2014 5 6 APRIL 17–30, 2014 XTRA! TORONTO’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS It’s three blocks that gets a lot of attention . . . That’s a lot Upfront for one neighbourhood. Kristyn Wong-Tam E 12 TDSB votes to reaffirm support for Pride Controversial motion calling for parade nudity crackdown fails

PRIDE NEWS oppose a motion proposed in March. DYLAN C ROBERTSON That motion would have formally re- quested that the city enforce public Toronto District School Board trustees nudity laws at the WorldPride parade voted to reaffirm the board’s support in June. Trustee Sam Sotiropoulos for Toronto’s Pride festival in a brief launched the proposal, noting that the but impassioned debate April 9. Trust- board has a contingent in the parade, ees swiftly defeated a controversial which he feels is not a “family-friendly motion targeting nudity at the Pride event.” The motion was delayed at a parade and followed this with messages March 5 meeting, giving his supporters of support for LGBT people. and detractors time to launch letter- “You could feel there was a collective writing campaigns. understanding of our struggles,” says The Campaign Life Coalition, a ma- The Toronto District School ence areas, which were mostly pink as Joy Lachica, a Grade 8 teacher with jor political group in Canada’s anti- Board contingent in the 2012 part of a board-endorsed national day It really the TDSB. “It really resonated with me. abortion movement, had published Toronto Pride parade. against bullying. resonated with I wasn’t expecting it.” an “action alert” asking its followers ADAM COISH A new motion, proposed by Trustee me. I wasn’t Lachica was among approximately to show their support for the original Maria Rodrigues, reaffirmed the TDSB’s 25 demonstrators who arrived with motion. Fewer than five people from support for Pride and queer students. expecting it. protest signs and rainbow bracelets to the group were visible within both audi- After an hour of debate, vote counting JOY LACHICA, TEACHER

NEWS BRIEFS to areas we’ve identified as gaybour- that we launch as fast as possible.” is also an active volunteer with LGBT starting from scratch. I’m just working hoods,” says Bob Willette, program- Proud FM can also be heard via community organizations, including through the process to make sure the ming director at Proud FM. “It should, its app and streamed via its website, the Inspire Awards and the Imperial BIA’s component of the festivities is Proud FM to boost theoretically, improve our coverage to proudfm.com. —Rob Salerno Court of Toronto. taken care of. It’s excit- those areas.” “I am a big proponent ing,” Scully says. signal strength The CRTC decision allows Evanov to of the living, breathing BIA co-chair Liz Devine increase its average effective radiated Church-Wellesley Village,” Scully says. “I says that the organization in ‘gaybourhoods’ power from 50 to 107 watts and change very rarely read any of was looking for a man- the antenna’s radiation pattern from non- Village BIA names the Debbie Downer me- ager who can carry out the The Canadian Radio-Television and directional to directional — 50 watts has dia that continues to talk BIA’s ambitious plan for Telecommunications Commission ap- proven too weak to penetrate downtown new general manager about the death of the better communications proved Evanov Radio Group’s applica- Toronto’s forest of condos. Village. I don’t believe and big events. The BIA’s tion to boost Proud FM’s signal strength Proud FM’s inability to obtain a The Church-Wellesley Village BIA has the Village is dying. It’s previous general manag- in downtown Toronto in a decision stronger signal had been a difficulty appointed Mychol Scully as its new certainly changing, and I er, David Wootton, says released April 3. in securing audience and advertisers general manager after the acrimonious think the BIA needs to be he was dismissed after Mychol Scully The decision means that Proud FM’s in the past. The CRTC had previously departure of its previous general man- able to respond to that in he criticized the board’s signal will become more reliable and will approved similar changes in 2010, but ager, David Wootton. an intelligent way.” direction, in particular reach a wider audience in the city. Proud FM was unable to secure a lease Scully, who lives a short walk from With WorldPride launching in just its focus on big events like the Pan Am “Our transmitter right now is at on a new transmitter site. the neighbourhood, comes to the BIA over two months, Scully will have his Games. —Rob Salerno Yonge and Eglinton. We’re moving it Willette says that while there’s no with 25 years of experience running his hands full getting the neighbourhood to a location downtown, closer to the official launch date for the new signal own project management, event plan- ready for its international debut. For more on these stories, Village, Queer West, Leslieville — closer power, “it’s a priority for the company ning and media relations business. He “A lot of work is in progress, so I’m not go to dailyxtra.com.

MORE AT DAILYXTRA.COM XTRA! APRIL 17–30, 2014 7 COVER STORY BULLY PULPIT Now that gay people are part of the establishment, are we abusing our newfound power?

BY JUSTIN LING ILLUSTRATION BY SISSYDUDE

I TRIED TO STIFLE A LAUGH. But 10 years ago, that rhetoric was pretty well “The activists don’t bring up marriage first of commonplace. Politicians and proselytizers alike all; they start with one thing, then they move on warned of the “homosexual lobby” and of the to something else. Before you know it, they want dystopian hellscape that would exist if gays kept same-sex marriage, then they want equality of receiving substantive, broader rights. adoption, then they want to promote homosexual- They were right, in the end; there really was a ity in schools. That’s the process.” gay lobby, and it was damned effective. That was Diane Watts, a researcher and spokes- That lobby made sure that our rights were not person for REAL Women of Canada, a socially just an ebbing of the tide but became the core conservative advocacy organization that I’ve of our progressive society. Where the gay com- profiled on numerous occasions. I was speaking munity was once a marginalized faction, we are to her on the evening that her group threw down now a part of the establishment. Where once the the gauntlet over Foreign Affairs Minister John state worked to stunt our movement, it now fights Baird’s “promotion” of homosexuality abroad. other states who do the same. (Baird had criticized Uganda and Russia for pass- While the struggle continues for smaller mi- ing anti-gay legislation.) norities within the queer community — trans “We value the family, and our institutions have people, for example — it is now blasphemy to been changed because of the homosexual activ- advocate standing still on gay rights, let alone ism,” Watts told me. taking a step back. Their views, of course, were readily brushed From the bathhouse riots to grassroots orga- off. Every metre of their rhetoric was laughed nizing and ACT UP, we made it into the courts at. How drôle. and eventually stuck our foot in the door of the Some comments were wry: “Why don’t they go political system. off and suck up to their fundamentalist patriarchal But in this round of musical chairs, there is one and gay-hating friends in the Taliban?” group left standing.

8 APRIL 17–30, 2014 XTRA! TORONTO’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS John McKay Ted Bird John McKay is the federal Liberal member of Ted Bird was a morning radio host on Montreal’s Parliament for Scarborough-Guildwood. TSN 990. In his 17-odd years as an MP, he’s come to be In July, I was about to hop on the metro in known as a sharp policy mind and as a dedicated Montreal and head to a panel discussion on a social conservative. He was a member of the friend’s podcast about the Sochi boycott. I got a ever-shrinking pro-life caucus and was offside message pointing me to Bird’s blog, so I gave it on his government’s stated position on the gay a read. “Gay rights have evolved into a political marriage vote. McKay, an evangelical Catholic, issue in North America, but in many parts of the argued that legalizing gay marriage would hurt world it’s still a moral issue, and it’s no one’s place the institution and increase divorce rates. He to impose their moral standards on someone else’s didn’t end up voting against his government’s culture,” Bird waxes. bill; he abstained. “Russia will evolve at its own pace. It always has, When discussing his support for a study to and always will. In the meantime, calls to boycott examine when human life begins — seen as a all things Russian from vodka to nesting dolls to backdoor into regulating abortion — he told Sun Olympic Games because Bill can’t hold Bob’s hand News that his contrarian position on the issue at the Olympic Village in Sochi are as dubious as made things “awkward” at times. “I don’t like to they are impractical,” he concluded in his on-air go against my colleagues or the platform of the remarks, the text of which appeared on the blog. Liberal Party. It is not a lot of fun,” he said. But, I posted the link to Twitter and hopped on the he continued, “I think my opinion should count metro. When I got out, it had turned into a tweet for something.” war between Bird and the rest, myself included But McKay’s opinions have become less the — the situation in Russia is dire, we pointed out, convictions of one man and more the indictment and that’s nothing to take lightly. of a political party. In the last week of the Toronto But the effigy burning of Bird went further. Centre federal by-election, Liberal MP Chrystia The bare-knuckles boxing match culminated in Freeland, then just a candidate, posted a picture repeated calls, including from some other radio in which she had her arm around McKay. That personalities in the city, to have Bird fired. It set off the ire of Justin Stayshyn, who works for also included a blog by Adam Goldenberg, Kirby the Ontario NDP. Simon Human Rights Fellow at Yale Law School “It may come across as a bit odd to have a and former Liberal speechwriter, in Maclean’s. candidate for the riding with Canada’s highest “Why do we tolerate statements by sportscasters proportion of LGBTQ people posing with her arm about the persecution of LGBT people in faraway around a guy with a long record of opposing gay places that we would instantly condemn if they rights,” he wrote on his blog. He also took to Twit- were about any other group?” Goldenberg wrote. ter to flatly suggest that Freeland’s support for the Later, he concluded, “Homophobia’s defenders queer community ought to be in question. Other have a right to their opinions, and to express them partisans joined the pile-on, especially thanks to how they wish, but the rest of us are just as entitled the awesome power of social-media groupthink. to demand that their patrons stop paying them Freeland’s repeated and emphatic support for to do so. We should hold advertisers and station gay rights was irrelevant in the context — touch- owners accountable for what they’re sponsoring.” ing a man who opposed gay marriage eight years Homophobia? Is that what Bird’s views are? ago somehow taints that support, like he was af- In another version of history, one where gay flicted with a terminal virus. Like a leper. Merely rights were still but a marginal notion, would gay touching him could communicate the contagion advocates — such as myself, or Goldenberg — be and turn you, too, into a virulent homophobe. chased off the airwaves for suggesting that Russia This isn’t just one-off partisan opportun- shouldn’t be implementing such laws? Would that ism — though it is certainly that, as well — it’s call-to-arms target us? Is it really free speech if symptomatic of a shift. Bring up Employment you can expect pitchfork-wielding townspeople Minister Jason Kenney in queer company and after you, and your livelihood, for each contro- you’re sure to hear some mumbling of “self-hating versial opinion you express — even if it is odious? gay.” (There is no evidence of Kenney being gay, Bird’s views may force the hair on the back of for the record.) our necks to stand up, but they are not akin to Kenney opposed gay marriage while the de- taking to air with the view that Russia’s Jewish bate was had. When it was over, he muted his population should be rounded up. In that regard, objections. Whether he opposes it now or not is some want us to have it both ways — they want us immaterial — if he ever vocalized it, his political to be considered normalized, and accepted, yet capital would plummet. And continuing to chide still maintain that we are a political movement. Kenney, or any other federal politician, over his Rest assured, we are very much a political past non-support of gay marriage dwarves, in a movement. And political movements can expect way that is emblematic of a long narcissistic streak opposition. Which is why we must continue to in the cisgendered gay community, the fact that he agitate and reach out instead of trying to subli- refused to support the federal Trans Rights Bill. mate those who speak out. The gay community has a chip on its shoulder I sent Bird an email and invited him for coffee. from the politicians and preachers that it once We met up at an ungodly early hour at the Tim fought, passing it off as a never-again mentality. Hortons in Montreal’s Pierre Elliott Trudeau That’s bunk. International Airport. It’s not a popular opinion, but it’s true: the gay lobby has become the bully. continued next page E

MORE AT DAILYXTRA.COM XTRA! APRIL 17–30, 2014 9 E continued from previous page government-sponsored cleansing. Similar hor- support for gay rights than a forum post on neo- of the publisher. “They reinforced our opposition rors are repeating themselves in Gambia, Nigeria, Nazi website Stormfront will convert the broader to state censorship as a form of social control — I asked him why he decided to opine on the Kenya and elsewhere. population into anti-Semitic racists. even control of material that might be controver- gay issue at all. How is it that selfies are the real issue? Egale made the case that people like Whatcott sial within our own communities,” Pink Triangle “The more I read about calls for a Sochi boycott, Perhaps it’s because we feel threatened at the present a danger and their opinions could inspire Press’s website reads. the more I thought, ‘Well, a boycott doesn’t do first sight of seeing fellow Canadians not fitting others to violence against the gay community. It was an uphill battle from then on. You can any good.’ We’ve seen that historically. Then the into the narrative that we’ve demanded of them. One of the best arguments against that idea, find online a rather unnerving list of attacks on other angle of it, of course, is what I perceived It is a very recent phenomenon, demanding however, comes from an unlikely duo — noted this paper by the Toronto Sun, which, in retro- as the automatic assumption that anyone who that society at large need not just stop beating us, conservative commentator Ezra Levant, chan- spect, verge on the comically absurd. is not vehemently and unconditionally opposed nor just tolerate us and not even just accept us, nelling the ideas of former Egale head Gilles But the spirit of the paper, which would even- to the Russian laws is automatically a bigot and but that they have to like us. The queens ducking Marchildon, to the House of Commons committee tually become Xtra, survived. Its position is a homophobe,” Bird said. batons at Stonewall didn’t give a shit who liked on justice and human rights. cemented as an utterly normal, mainstream Bird says he’s not necessarily in favour of the them. We shouldn’t, either. “Marchildon was asked why he didn’t want to publication. And it has maintained an editorial Russian laws — and certainly doesn’t excuse the Quite the opposite: we ban anti-gay speech, even the position that emphatically refuses to gang up on violence against the minorities there. He says should revel in the fact that most vicious kind. He gave the little guy — even if that little guy doesn’t fit he wanted to offer some perspective on those nobody can defend or propose three reasons why he was for into the queer-friendly line that it commits to. who did hold conservative, moralist views on homophobia in this country freedom of speech,” Levant At the end of the day, where does it end? Do we homosexuality but who don’t necessarily hate and that we have to read into told the committee. go after every person who actively works against gays. People like his family. a selfie or a vague on-air rant “One, he wanted to know us — like Diane Watts and REAL Women? Do we Acknowledging that it sounds like a classic on early-morning sports radio who the bad guys were so he destroy every funder of anti-gay movements — “one of my best friends is gay” defence, Bird told to delineate even a whiff of could isolate them and argue like Mozilla CEO Brendan Eich? Do we attack me the story of his openly gay cousin who died anti-gay attitude. against them. Two, he wanted everyone who speaks out or makes a one-off of AIDS in 1986. While Bird says his family may Bird was fired, in the end, what he called a teachable comment — like Ted Bird or reality-TV bachelor not have been entirely onside with his cousin’s but he says it has nothing to do moment: ‘Look, people, we Juan Pablo? sexuality, they still loved him, in a time when that with his on-air pontificating. just saw an act of bigotry; let’s Where does it end? wasn’t the norm. reeducate people on why that Institutionalized homophobia, transphobia, But those people, the ones who did not evolve was wrong.’ Three, which I racism or discrimination should always be fought. on the matter as fast as society at large, are painted think may be the most im- But teasing out the personal convictions of anyone as homophobes. Bill Whatcott portant, he did not want to and using it as a basis to take them out? That’s Bird never said anything homophobic, or even Bill Whatcott is a social- outsource his civic duty to exactly what we experienced, and we know how anything tremendously controversial, in his post. conservative activist from some bureaucracy.” oppressive it feels. He tells me he’s largely indifferent to most ques- Toronto. Whatcott was certainly iso- The queer community won its rights — and tions concerning homosexuality — he accepts In 2013, the Supreme Court lated. Yet, rather than just will continue to win its rights — by engaging the it’s biological and calls initiatives like You Can fined him $7,500 for dropping leaving him be to espouse his debate and winning. We won’t cement those rights Play “terrific.” leaflets into mailboxes in Sas- ill-informed insanity in peace, in place by turning around and taking shots at He did, however, fail to entirely condemn the katchewan. Those leaflets, the they went after him. He was those who haven’t come around to seeing us as legislation, like most people. That, apparently, is court decided, contravened dragged through the courts, normal, yet. grounds to have him fired. the Saskatchewan Human flogged and even put inside And we don’t reduce violence by engaging the He calls it a “lynch mob mentality.” Rights Code. They further IT IS A VERY RECENT a jail cell. His finances were state to attack our enemies. We do the opposite. And maybe it is. saddled him with the legal destroyed; his life, essentially, Gay rights are not a lucky break brought about Bird wasn’t the only one who faced the wrath costs of his opponents. During PHENOMENON, ruined. by fooling the populace at large. Gay rights are of the Sochi boycott crew. During the Games, a his long run-in with the state, And for what? not a fragile peace that can be broken by a man gaggle of Canadian athletes dared to take selfies Whatcott has even seen the DEMANDING THAT in a sandwich board with a strongly worded with Russia’s autocrat-in-chief, Vladimir Putin, inside of a Calgary jail cell. leaflet. Gay rights are the product of decades and post them on social media. Their comments Whatcott’s flyers — and his SOCIETY AT LARGE of struggle, and if you think a few holdouts are were fawning and perhaps a little undignified. almost comedic sandwich NEED NOT JUST On winning going to threaten that, you have another think But the responses were swift and exact — those boards warning of the dan- coming, sister. selfies are homophobic. gers of homosexuality — cer- STOP BEATING US, the fight If you want to stand up for closeted youth or “You’re all dead to me,” wrote one Canadian tainly bridged on hateful, and marginalized queer populations or our oppressed gay rights activist, epitomizing a wrong-headed, they were entirely incorrect. NOR JUST TOLERATE The absurdity of it all is that cohorts overseas, do it not by demonizing the few albeit well-intentioned, campaign to demonize They warned of the horrifying we’ve won. who don’t like us, but by holding up the millions the athletes. sexually transmitted diseases US AND NOT EVEN Not every member of the who do. All in all, Putin’s anti-gay law is odious and that, he contends, are thanks queer community. Far from I remember when, back home in Cape Breton, contrary to the fundamental right to freedom to the vile homosexuals. JUST ACCEPT US, it. And hardly all of our broth- we held our first Pride parade. There was initially of expression. But is it not less extreme than his Civil liberties groups in- ers, sisters and fellow queer some nail-biting over the moral preening of a decades-long campaign against the Chechens that tervened in the Supreme BUT THAT THEY people worldwide have ex- half-dozen anti-gay protesters assembled, but it has claimed thousands of lives? And what of his Court decision, arguing that perienced the same victory was otherwise uneventful. In the years that fol- considerable support for the iron grip of ousted Whatcott’s freedom of speech HAVE TO LIKE US. that we have. lowed, as the area’s small gay community became Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych? Or, ought to be protected. But if we’re talking about an integral part of the town, the small crowd dis- perhaps, his obstruction that is costing thousands “In their view,” wrote Jus- middle-class white gay men in sipated to one man. of Syrians their lives? tice Marshall Rothstein, delivering the unanimous Canada? Hell, we arguably have it better than the The local paper described him as “dressed How is it that when a Canadian athlete hugs decision of the court, “speech that is made in good average straight guy. That’s not a comfortable, or neatly and all alone.” Putin it is an endorsement of homophobia but faith and on the basis of the speaker’s religious perhaps even conceivable, thought for a popula- Pride president Peter Steele spoke to the Cape not of a genocidal foreign policy? And how have beliefs should be given greater protection.” tion so well trained in cultural guerrilla warfare. Breton Post about that neatly dressed man: “We we expended so much energy in attacking fellow But Egale Canada, the country’s premier gay Violence still occurs and discrimination still never mind him being there. Every time he’s Canadians who never signed up to be activists? rights group, argued that even someone’s deep- happens, but we don’t solve that by rooting out there, we all make it a point to wave and say, ‘Hi, Energy that could be better spent on lobbying seated beliefs can be dangerous — they argued every homophobe and destroying them. how are you?’“ efforts for struggles that have obtained hardly that Whatcott marginalized the opinions of sexual Xtra knows better than anyone. On Jan 5, 1978, We are the majority, now, and we should take a a modicum of the attention that we focused minorities. charges were brought against the paper’s prede- lesson from our experience as the vocal minority. on Sochi — like in Uganda, where gay rights This seems absurd when you consider that cessor, The Body Politic, and its parent company, We should wave and say, “Hi, how are you?” group GEHO is struggling for resources as the Whatcott is one man, facing a crushing majority of Pink Triangle Press, for publishing “immoral, state enforces draconian new laws that threat- pro-gay Canadians. He’s no more likely to sway the indecent and scurrilous material.” To comment on this story, en to elevate state-sanctioned homophobia to population to backtrack on their overwhelming Those charges stiffened the editorial backbone go to dailyxtra.com.

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MORE AT DAILYXTRA.COM XTRA! APRIL 17–30, 2014 11 New projects underway in Village New banners, gates, crosswalks, info pillar on tap for Church-Wellesley neighbourhood — but no parklets

COMMUNITY NEWS into the neighbourhood, which Coun- street party for both weekends of World- ROB SALERNO cillor Kristyn Wong-Tam attributes to Pride — a first for the festival. The BIA the city’s efforts to get it ready for the hopes the first weekend will have more As construction season gears up for world’s attention during WorldPride of a community feel and is sponsoring 2014, residents of the Church-Wellesley and the Pan Am Games. “It’s three blocks an art tour of the neighbourhood that Village can look forward to a host of new that gets a lot of attention,” she says. will show off the Church Street murals, neighbourhood projects — both to get “That’s a lot for one neighbourhood.” as well as art that will be installed in the Village ready to host WorldPride One project residents won’t be seeing storefront windows throughout the and to leave a lasting legacy afterward. is last year’s popular Church Street “par- neighbourhood. “The first weekend of These will include new flags and ban- klets.” The temporary wooden sidewalk WorldPride is going to be very neigh- ner poles to identify the neighbourhood extensions will remain in storage this bourly, getting to know your Village and as the Village and market WorldPride year unless the Church-Wellesley Vil- focus on residents and community and throughout downtown, the installation lage BIA can find another BIA willing local celebrations,” Devine says. “I’m The popular “parklet” project will not be rolled out this year because the Church- of a new “information pillar” at Church to rent them. The BIA doesn’t have the really looking forward to being able to Wellesley Village BIA does not have enough money to pay for it. ADAM COISH and Wellesley, and new permanent funds to pay for their installation and showcase that.” gates that can be used to close the street maintenance this year, and they’d be in Meanwhile, another project appears come to agreement. “[Residents and with the city’s water-main and road during festivals. This is in addition to the way of needed water-main upgrading to have fallen by the wayside. Wong- neighbours] need to gather consensus work, but it no longer has time to raise previously announced improvements scheduled for August and September. Tam says she’s dropped efforts to ani- amongst its membership, speak to the the necessary funds or complete the re- and projects under construction, such BIA co-chair Liz Devine could not con- mate the large public space at the corner residents, determine whether they have quired environmental assessment before as a new rainbow-coloured crosswalk, firm whether the parklets would be back of Church and Alexander streets, which some form of consensus, then work water-main work begins this summer. the renovation of Cawthra Park and in 2015. Instead, businesses on Church were touched off when the removal together,” she says. The BIA and The 519 have together the sidewalk in front of the 519 Church are being given the option to extend their of benches from the space caused an The BIA has also had a plan for years secured funds for several of the improve- Street Community Centre, the comple- patios onto the sidewalk during Pride outcry. Wong-Tam says neighbours to improve and expand the sidewalks ments, including the new banners and tion of the Church Street Mural Project Week for 2014, and Wong-Tam says “six were unable to agree on a design for throughout the Village, which would gates. These come from development and the installation of new bike lanes. or seven” have applied for the extensions. the corner, but the city still has funds add more permanent seating and trees. charges and sponsorship by the Pan Am It all amounts to a lot of work going Church Street will be closed for a set aside for the project should they The BIA had planned to time this work Games and the Yellow Pages. #news #arts #travel #events

Everything gay, every day. DAILY dailyxtra.com

12 APRIL 17–30, 2014 XTRA! TORONTO’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS .com Psychotherapy • Counselling • Depression • Anxiety Mother Clap’s mollies Gender • Sexuality • Life & Executive Coaching

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MORE AT DAILYXTRA.COM XTRA! APRIL 17–30, 2014 13 CANADIAN PREMIERE THE CASE AGAINST 8 INTERNATIONAL PREMIERE D: Ben Cotner, Ryan White LADY VALOR: Trace the landmark case that brought marriage equality to THE KRISTIN BECK the US Supreme Court. STORY D: Mark Herzog, Sandrine Orabona One decorated Navy Seal’s challenging transformation into a life as a transgender woman.

WORLD PREMIERE BEFORE THE LAST

CURTAIN FALLS WORLD PREMIERE D: Thomas Wallner SONGS FOR ALEXIS A sumptuous look at the D: Elvira Lind tumultuous lives of six aging transvestite and The struggles of a teenaged transsexual performers. transgendered musician looking for love.

INTERNATIONAL PREMIERE WORLD PREMIERE TO BE TAKEI CHILDREN 404 D: Jennifer Kroot, Bill Weber D: Pavel Loparev, Askold Kurov Pop culture icon and Courageous Russian LGBT equal rights activist youth fight against Putin’s George Takei surveys his homophobic laws. fascinating career.

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14 APRIL 17–30, 2014 XTRA! TORONTO’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS I don’t believe in ‘queering’ defi nitions, nor in ‘institutions’ like Out inthe City marriage or family. Writer Paul Aguirre-Livingston E16 MOOREDONNA To say that performance artist Jimmy Moore is an avid Madonna fan would be a gross understatement. Moore has been touring his Material Girl–themed shows across North America for the last 15 years and will soon hit the stage at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, for the very fi rst time, recreating Madge’s wildly successful MDNA tour. “I am reproducing the complete MDNA tour. I’ll be onstage with four dancers for a non-stop, two-hour show,” Moore says. “I’ve done this show about 15 times in the last year, but it’s the fi rst in Toronto. Robert Keller brings I hope people will show up.” the gay to Yuk Yuk’s. Moore says emulating the Queen of Pop can be cost-prohibitive at times, considering how often the singer reinvents her look. “It’s a singer who costs me a lot to impersonate. But you know, she QUEER COMEDY has brought me so much success, so I don’t mind the investment . . . It’s completely diff erent when I think of my work as Michael Jackson. He’s dead now, so there’s no possibility of having surprises in GOES MAINSTREAM the future.” In the last 15 years, the Montreal-based impersonator has staged his Toronto has several popular queer comedy shows in N ew York, Las Vegas and Vancouver. “I really look forward to my nights — including Queer as Fuck at The Steady and 120 Wednesdays, a new open- performances at Buddies because I really want to invest the time in Toronto. mic night at Club120 — but none of them is I love the city and I love the people. Everybody has been so nice to me.” what you’d call mainstream. That is, until — Ryan English now: Robert Keller is set to host a new monthly queer comedy night at Yuk Yuk’s. Jmy Mor Does Madonna: The MDNA Tour is Fri, April 25 and Sat, April 26, To Keller, it is unacceptable that there’s 8pm, at Buddies in Bad Times, 12 Alexander St. jimmymoore.ca Jimmy Moore does Madonna. no recurring queer comedy show at any of the major comedy clubs in Toronto. “Not to diminish [other queer comedy shows], but we should have a commercial show. Fre- quently, shows are tip-based, which is fi ne, but there should be a platform for queer comedians to go and get paid,” he says. Called OUTrageous! With Robert Keller, the show will take place the last Wednes- Jewel of the Jewish Film Festival day of each month. Audiences will fi le in to one of our favourite gingers, DJ Johnnie The work of Montreal director Joe Balass, whose cultural background and you get Nana, George and “Orange Pekoe” Walker spinning pop and contribution to the Jewish cultural oeuvre is Me, which includes interviews with his nonagenar- R&B, and each show will begin with Keller peppered with stories of displacement, resil- ian grandmother and fl amboyant uncle, George, performing a musical number featuring some eye-candy. “I’m working with two of ience and self-acceptance, has been chosen by who divulges sexy secrets from his ostentatious the most gorgeous backup dancers you’ve the Toronto Jewish Film Festival for its 2014 London mansion (George’s monologue about ever seen, and, naturally, I insist they be festival showcase. foreskin is a highlight). shirtless,” Keller says. Balass has three fi lms screening in the festival, The final film in the trilogy is a French- The fi rst show will open with Ian Lynch what he calls his Iraqi Trilogy. All three are docu- language documentary called La Longueur de (1 Girl 5 Gays and MuchMusic’s New Music mentary features telling stories of fractured iden- l’alphabet (The Length of the Alphabet). The fi lm Live) and Ted Morris (CBC’s Stephen and tity and the struggle to acclimate to new languages, profi les Canadian writer Naïm Kattan, whose Chris and CTV’s Comedy Now!), followed cultures and continents. The fi rst to be screened extensive literary history is interwoven with by headliner Gavin Crawford, well-loved for is the historical Baghdad Twist. In addition to archival footage and personal interviews that his current and insightful character-based shedding light on an eradicated population of Iraqi detail his experience moving to La Belle Province comedy. “Getting Gavin is a huge coup, and we’re thrilled to have him. He’s very busy Jews, Balass humanizes his birthplace, which is early in his career. “For me, Naïm represents the and diffi cult to book. He’s only performed often associated with war. “The fi lm is trying to new generation of Iraqis — that transplanting of at Yuk Yuk’s once before,” Keller says. “He’s imagine a place that no longer exists,” he says. the fl ower that was cut in Iraq — and watching it sort of not what you’re expecting; he’s “The basic premise... is that I saw an old Super blossom,” Balass says. “I think we’re all like lotus very unassuming, but he’s a perfection- 8 fi lm of a wedding in 1965 Baghdad — an Iraqi/ fl owers in that sense. We can fl oat around and ist and does so many interesting things.” Jewish wedding — where people were dancing still bloom.” — Ryan Kerr — Jeremy Willard the twist. And then, a couple of years later, people were being imprisoned and hanged, tortured. The Toronto Jewish Film Festival takes place Thurs, OUTrageous! With Robert Keller is Wed, And things deteriorated so rapidly that we were May 1–Sun, May 11. For venues and screening times, April 30, 8pm, at Yuk Yuk’s, 224 Richmond forced to leave.” Photos included are from La Longueur de visit tjff .com. St W. roberthkeller.com Add a dash of queer to Balass’s already rich l’alphabet and Nana, George and Me. JOE BALASS

MORE AT DAILYXTRA.COM XTRA! APRIL 17–30, 2014 15 All in the family New anthology examines queer relationships

BOOKS ily and says, “I think that if ROBERT G.COATES, VALERIE A. CHANG, SCOTT DAGOSTINO you’re raising kids, whether B.SC, LL.B, TEP B.A., J.D. you’re in a same-sex couple, BARRISTER, SOLICITOR & NOTARY BARRISTER & SOLICITOR I once mentioned my family in pass- an opposite-sex couple, a CERTIFIED SPECIALIST ing and was stopped in mid-sentence. triad or as a single person, (ESTATES & TRUST LAW) “You don’t have kids. You mean your if you’re raising kids in a way boyfriend and your dog?” that consciously resists so- R.G. COATES ESTATE LAW P.C. “Yes,” I said, “My family.” cialized gender expectations, 120 Carlton Street, Suite 307 Toronto, Ontario M5A 4K2 1 9 8 1 My memory might be embellishing, then that is queering family Tel. (416) 925-6490 Fax (416) 925-4492 E but I think there was an eye-roll at this. and it’s really crucial.” web: www.rgcoates.com C Nevertheless, I have not stopped using Or perhaps not. “I really N email: [email protected] I the phrase. enjoyed Dorianne Emerton’s

email: [email protected] S “I think queer people have always piece because it challenged my been very good at choosing who they ideas about relationships and consider family and creating a much parenting,” says Vancouver broader range of what a family can playwright Rosemary Rowe. be,” says Bruce Gillespie, editor of the But she disagrees about the Is your business 51% + new essay collection A Family by Any kids. Her essay, “Aspiring Other Name: Exploring Queer Rela- Lesbian Aunt,” is a hilarious LGBT owned and operated? tionships. The fi fth in a series of books manifesto on not having chil- from TouchWood Editions dren. “I didn’t want to come about “the changing na- off like a jerk who’s saying, ture of the family in the “Parenthood, I shit on it! I shit 21st century,” it’s a book on your parenthood!” she says, Gillespie felt had become Bruce Gillespie edited laughing, but notes, “I love that we’ve necessary. the essay collection, reclaimed the word queer and I love “In some ways, we’ve be- the fifth in a series that we appear to have reclaimed ‘fam- about the changing come complacent about nature of the family. ily,’ too.” same-sex rights in Canada Calgary poet and editor Dale Lee because we’ve had same- family is worth it, even Kwong says her contribution was ca- sex marriage for a reason- if some of us struggle thartic. “I believe in full disclosure,” ably long period of time,” with the defi nition. she says. “Secrets create shame, and Are you interested in corporate procurement he says, “but I think it’s “I saw that fi rsthand I suspect our personal situations are timely to explore where families are when I started collecting stories,” Gil- more universal than we realize. I had and business development opportunities? today and how they’re diff erent.” lespie says. “One said, ‘You may think I one painful family anecdote I debated Gillespie approached a wide range fi t what you’re looking for in the word whether to share, and in the end I con- Join the Canadian Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, of queer authors and collected “adop- ‘family,’ but I find that word totally vinced myself it was vital that I didn’t partners and certified LGBT business enterprises at the: tion stories, insemination stories, mar- off ensive.’ It’s a word that’s so loaded, hide the incident or candy coat it.” riage stories, and I left it open for other and it’s been used by the religious right That kind of honesty and openness LGBT Supplier Diversity Forum things... I loved getting a story on gay for such a long time, but I wanted this is what Gillespie hoped for with this divorce because I’d never even consid- book to say that we are family. Whether book, and his contributors rose to June 19, 2014 - 1:30-6:00pm ered that at fi rst,” he says, also citing El- we’re married or in civil unions or the challenge. His only regret is that len Russell’s powerful story of losing her polyamorous or monogamous or we the widely praised fi nal piece by trans The Carlu, 444 Yonge St, Toronto partner to cancer as a haunting example. have children or we don’t, all these storyteller S Bear Bergman was also The book’s gentle blue cover doesn’t supportive communities of people featured in the author’s own collec- Meet procurement leaders from Canada’s top corporations who prepare readers for more than a few who care for each other are families.” tion Blood, Marriage, Wine and Glit- are looking to buy goods & services from companies just like yours. harrowing tales of struggle. Xtra’s “I fi nd ‘family’ to be a very lovely idea ter, published earlier this year (“His managing editor, Danny Glenwright, indeed, but it can also be incredibly book made it to market fi rst!” he says, Early Bird Registration reveals how he and his partner endured restrictive and vindictive,” says Berlin- laughing), but Bergman was delighted racism in South Africa, while journalist based writer Paul Aguirre-Livingston, to take part in this collection: is now available at Noreen Fagan writes of the tortuous whose essay was written over a dismal “I often hear people say it takes a vil- process of uprooting her family from Christmas when his family failed him. lage to raise a child, because that’s the www.cglcc.ca Zambia to Canada, where her son Se- “I don’t believe in ‘queering’ defi ni- quote that Hillary Clinton popularized. bastian declares at Pearson Airport tions, nor in ‘institutions’ But I hear from people immigration, “Mum, I like this country. like marriage or family,” A FAMILY BY ANY who I’d trust to know Platinum Sponsor Event Sponsors OTHER NAME: That was the fi rst time we’ve ever been he says. “I would suggest EXPLORING QUEER that the actual quote is called a family.” Jason Dale, a teacher we champion words like RELATIONSHIPS ‘It takes a village to raise Edited by in Port Dover, writes of his agonizing ‘clan’ or ‘household’ or Bruce Gillespie a villager.’ And that seems struggle to adopt a child from foster ‘kin.’ Fuck, call it ‘dynas- TouchWood Editions more true to me, and also care and “wishing that every parent ty’ if you want. How’s that $19.95 like more of a challenge. was vetted so thoroughly before con- for fabulous?” What strikes me about ceiving or raising children.” Double Toronto theatre critic Dorianne the pieces in this book is that many of standards abound, but, as nearly every Emmerton writes of incorporating these people are doing exactly that — I author within asserts, the fight for a partner’s child into her poly fam- really appreciate their company.”

16 APRIL 17–30, 2014 XTRA! TORONTO’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS THE BEST OF

APRIL–SEPT 2014 THE BEST OF GAY & LESBIAN GAY & LESBIAN TORONTO TORONTO — ON YOUR DESK- TOP AND ON YOUR MOBILE

DEVICE! A taste of Havana Handcrafted wood furniture Check out the Riverdale café culture East-end art interactive institution Exploring digital edition Kensington of Xtra Living at xtralivingtoronto.com

TORONTO’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS

MORE AT DAILYXTRA.COM XTRA! APRIL 17–30, 2014 17 ON SCREEN

Equal-marriage activists demonstrate in front of the US Supreme Court in HOTDOCS The Case Against 8. HEATS UP Now in its 19th year, the Hot Docs festival has grown to be a major international showcase for documentary film, featuring 197 entries from 43 countries. Here are a few of the highlights. BY CHRIS DUPUIS Dancing in the gardenias Supreme Court snowball Though it was shot partially in Ger- When Ben Cotner and Ryan White fi rst Angeles restaurant, through finding When Vanessa many with a cast of Belgians, Thomas Van Durme had began shooting The Case Against 8, they plaintiff s, selecting a legal team and, Wallner’s Before the Last Curtain Falls her sex-change weren’t entirely sure they had a fi lm on ultimately, through the SCOTUS deci- was born on a train somewhere between operation, she their hands. Charting the lawsuit chal- sion to uphold a lower court’s ruling and Toronto and Montreal, when Wallner was looked at as lenging California’s Proposition 8, the return the right for marriage equality struck up a conversation with a Ger- a monster. pair’s project began with a basic desire to the state. AXEL SCHNEPPAT man broadcaster who urged him to to record history. Both the fi lm and the lawsuit hinge on catch a performance called Gardenia “For the fi rst year, there wasn’t any the odd-couple partnership of Ted Olson at Montreal’s Festival TransAmériques. real conversation about the fi nal prod- and David Boies, previous adversaries in “The piece was so full of authentic- uct,” Cotner says. “It was about docu- the Bush versus Gore political battle in ity and very moving,” Wallner says. “It menting the process in case the lawsuit 2000, which ultimately saw George W brought the house down. When they snowballed into something historic. It Bush become president. As articulated called to ask if I would consider direct- wasn’t really until the Supreme Court in the fi lm, the choice to bring together ing a fi lm based on it, the answer was an took the case four years in that we counsel from both parties in the case emphatic yes.” defi nitely knew we had a fi lm.” was seen as a means to make marriage First mounted in 2010, Gardenia was “It’s not fun shooting 600 hours of equality a non-partisan issue. the creation of choreographer Alain The fi lm blends scenes from the fi nal Wallner says. “He was deeply uncom- footage without knowing if you really Though the fi lm serves as an in-depth Platel and director Frank Van Laecke. performances and interviews with the fortable with perpetuating the cliché have a movie,” White adds. “But that look at the legal process and the fi ve- It brought together eight elderly gay cast. We hear stories of coming out, of of the lonely old queen, which speaks to comes with the territory when you’re year record of one group of people’s and transsexual performers to tell their working as prostitutes and drag per- this fear of being alone at the making a film about a court lives, for the fi lmmakers it’s ultimately stories through movement. After 200 formers, of the men they’ve loved and end of your life. Though none HOT DOCS case.” something bigger. shows in 25 countries, it returned to hated, and how it is to live out their of the characters have found FESTIVAL The story begins on the eve “It’s about taking bold, sometimes Thurs, April 24– Belgium for its fi nal run, and Wallner golden years. One is a political activ- love at the end of their lives, Sun, May 4 of Nov 4, 2008, the same day risky moves to stand up for your rights,” arrived to document its last days. ist. Another mops fl oors in a brothel. you get a strong sense they’ve hotdocs.ca Americans elected Barack Cotner says. “We think that’s a message “We felt like intruders,” Wallner re- Inspired by doing Gardenia, one is now found themselves.” Obama. This is also, of course, that’s universal and that will hopefully calls. “Lunging into the fray backstage touring with her own solo show. the day Proposition 8 passed, reversing resonate, even in countries like Canada amidst the cast dressing and undress- Though Gardenia began as a refl ec- Before the Last Curtain Falls screens the California Supreme Court’s deci- that are beyond the marriage-equality ing. You saw bodies of all shapes and tion on the gay/trans experience, Before Mon, April 28, 8:30pm at the Bloor Hot sion from May that year and halting debate.” sizes, ravaged by time. Scars from op- the Last Curtain Falls is ultimately more Docs Cinema, 506 Bloor St W, and Tues, marriages for same-sex couples in the erations and places where gravity had about aging, loneliness and the search April 29, 4pm and Fri, May 2, 12:20pm at state. The Case Against 8 follows the The Case Against 8 screens Wed, April done its work. But they had such dignity for love. “I told a friend about the fi lm, the TIFF Bell Lightbox, 350 King St W. process in forensic detail, from the 30, 10:30am at the Isabel Bader Theatre, about them, a kind of naturalness.” and he had a very strong reaction,” hotdocs.ca fi rst musings about a lawsuit in a Los 93 Charles St W. hotdocs.ca

18 APRIL 17–30, 2014 XTRA! TORONTO’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS MORE QUEER PICKS

Lady Valor: The Kristin Beck Story After decades of fighting for his country, decorated American Navy SEAL Chris Beck explores liberty and personal freedom in a new way as he embarks on his most challenging mission ever: transitioning and beginning life as a woman.

To Be Takei Starship Enterprise helmsman George Takei discusses his various personas, from William Shatner’s nemesis to gay sex symbol, while preparing his dream project: a musical based on his childhood inside a Japanese-American internment camp.

Portrait of Jason Part of the Redux program, Shirley Clarke’s 1967 film tells the story of an African-American street hustler and aspiring cabaret singer in his own words. Shot over a single 12-hour day in the subject’s New York living room, this seminal piece of cinéma vérité explores race and class unlike any film before or after it.

Go to dailyxtra.com for our video coverage of Hot Docs.

MORE AT DAILYXTRA.COM XTRA! APRIL 17–30, 2014 19 put something on someone so without them even engaging anybody, they’re communicating and sending a message. That has a huge appeal!” When I ask him what we can expect Fabulously FAT to see in his runway show this year, his answer reveals the philosophy behind L’uomo Strano: “I started looking past Fashion Art Toronto grows up gender, enquiring what clothing will look like when gender isn’t an issue. It’s not TORONTO with structured woven fabrics mixed with specifically menswear... it’s more about AT NIGHT softer knits and chiffons, stiff silk with elegance overlaid on the body in ways RYAN G HINDS rabbit fur.” The Ryerson fashion student that prioritize innovation and functional- has two years left in his program but is ity. You can wear these clothes practically Ask around and it seems impressively ambitious with his work. and not just for a gala. I’m in love with Fashion Art Toronto may have officially “The community that comes out of FAT is leather; I’m in love with leather culture, grown up this year. A former FAT model a warm one. Everyone who shows comes and I think it’s fascinating how we inter- is now competing on America’s Next Top out a little bit changed, so I want that. I act and bond with leather. You’ll see lots Model, and the list of established indus- want to change and share that experience of leather, satin, sheerness and tulle along try folk who’ve been involved during of changing with other people,” he says, with dynamism and Afro-futurism.” the event’s formative years continues adding that he feels no pressure about Much like Zoffranieri, Carter wears to grow. But if you ask me, FAT retains showing his collection on the runway. his ambitions on his sleeve. Although its scrappy indie cred; the five-day style, At the other end of the nerves spec- he’s got both age and experience on the culture and nightlife orgy is nowhere trum is returning designer Mic Carter. younger designers, he has great respect near being mainstream. Even with a new “Trying to be innovative and have a for what FAT brings to the city. “Vanja venue (Regent Park’s Daniels Spectrum) concept and aesthetic that is authen- runs a tight ship,” he says, laughing. “FAT and ever-expanding programming, or- tic and not reductive? I absolutely get is accessible in ways that other fashion ganizer Vanja Vasic is keeping a balance nervous!” By day, Carter is a Grade 5/6 experiences — both in Toronto and in- between alternative artistic expression elementary school teacher, but by night ternationally — are not, which allows for and organizational maturity. he’s the designer behind L’uomo Strano. fashion artists to engage in community That goal is reflected in this year’s He studied fashion at Britain’s Central building and dialogue. It’s unique, and theme of In Fashion/Un-Fashion. Vasic Saint Martins College of Art and Design there’s a massive difference in how cre- promises that local fashionistas will and is a head-turning local nightlife ativity works here versus other cities.” see grit versus glamour, earth versus fixture. His FAT show last year damn There’s that word “versus” again! If industry, and masculine versus feminine near shut down the runway and featured you expect nothing else, expect contrast collections writ large on the runway, the kind of clothes both fashion writers to be the name of the game this year. guaranteeing that the event will maintain and connoisseurs dream about. To say Whether it’s a debuting its distance from the other big fashion he exploded onto the scene would be an FAT designer mixing struc- game in town. FAT will never be World understatement; Carter displayed such a Tues, April 22–Sat, April 26 ture with softness or Daniels Spectrum MasterCard Fashion Week, but at the rare blend of editorial vision, impeccable 585 Dundas St E last year’s champ pitting same time, Fashion Week could never be craftsmanship and to-die-for design skill fashionarttoronto.ca leather against satin, FAT FAT — and that’s a very good thing. Don’t that a year later people are still talking will do what it does better believe me? Just ask this year’s designers. about his collection. than any other fashion event in the city: First-timer Michael Zoffranieri He’s well aware that living up to that blaze a path and point the way forward worked for six months on his collection, isn’t going to be easy. “I ended up taking for designers and consumers alike. titled Queen, which is “all about encom- an entrepreneur class, and now I have a passing royalty and a modern idea of viable business instead of just a passion Designer Mic Carter stole the show at last year’s FAT. Can he do it again? Toronto at Night appears in every power: strong, soft, beautiful. I’m playing project,” he says. “Design allows me to MIC CARTER (SELF-PORTRAIT) second issue of Xtra.

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20 APRIL 17–30, 2014 XTRA! TORONTO’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS PRESENTING SPONSOR

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MORE AT DAILYXTRA.COM XTRA! APRIL 17–30, 2014 21 Xtra and Tangled Art+Disability bring you a chance to win a pair of tickets to Peggy Shaw’s Ruff, part of the 2014 Tangled Arts Festival, at Daniels Spectrum, Ada Slaight Hall, 585 Dundas St E, Friday, May 9 at 8pm.

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22 APRIL 17–30, 2014 XTRA! TORONTO’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS Shadows between two fi ctional characters Based on a true story, Margo in the midst of the 2010 WikiLeaks MacDonald’s play looks at the life scandal. Wed, April 30–Sun, May 11, of Eva Le Gallienne, a 1930s actress various showtimes. Buddies in Bad who, at the height of her career, was Times, 12 Alexander St. PWYC–$30. outed in the press and disfi gured in buddiesinbadtimes.com an explosion. Runs until Sat, April 19. WHAT'S ON Videofag, 187 Augusta Ave. $20; $15 artists, students, unwaged. SEX & BURLESQUE FOR MORE EVENT LISTINGS, GO TO DAILYXTRA.COM videofag.com Spit Magazine Hypnotixxx: A Slightly The Last Confession Play Party Naughty Comedy David Suchet, best known for A play party for kinky folks of all ART playing the strangely mustachioed genders and orientations aged 19 to Hypnosis Show Belgian sleuth Poirot, stars as Generations of Queer 35. There is also a live porn shoot Brandon the Hypnotist takes Cardinal Giovanni Benelli, a man for Spit magazine in a sectioned- An exhibition comprising work audience volunteers on a risqué who must investigate the sudden off area. Mon, April 21, 9pm. Oasis by Robert Flack, Elisha Lim, Kiley and slightly rude jaunt into the and mysterious death of Pope John Aqualounge, 231 Mutual St. $15. May and John Greyson, including subconscious. Thurs, April 24, 7pm. Paul I. Royal Alexandra Theatre, oasisaqualounge.com Prison Arabic, a video of fl ashcards The Flying Beaver, 488 Parliament 260 King St W. Sat, April 19–Sun, Greyson drew while imprisoned St. $10 advance, $15 door. June 1, various showtimes. $35–119. Dog Play vs Pup Play in Egypt. Runs until Sat, June 28, pubaret.com mirvish.com In this workshop, Master Tony (ILS various times. Onsite [at] OCAD 2009) explains the transformation University, 230 Richmond St W. Sharron Matthews: Gender Failure from human to canine and the Free. ocadu.ca Surprise Night Artists Ivan Coyote and Rae Spoon Theatreworks Bacchanal — distinction between dog play and The beloved cabaret diva performs present a multimedia show about Buddies, Thurs, April 17 puppy play. No dress code. Sat, April whatever tunes suit her fancy. Fri, failed attempts to fi t into the gender 26, 3–6pm. Black Eagle, 457 Church COMEDY & CABARET April 25, 9pm. The Flying Beaver, binary. This is also the Toronto launch St. $10. blackeagletoronto.com 488 Parliament St. $20 advance, The 519 Community Centre, 519 Play Again? of their book Gender Failure. Wed, Singular Sensation: A $25 door. pubaret.com Church St. Free. the519.org April 23, 7pm. Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Sapphic Aquatica Musical-Theatre Open Mic Gamers gather to play Super Mario, Tetris and other games Queen St W. $15. ivanecoyote.com Women and trans people enjoy a Jennifer Walls invites amateur FTM Support Group on a big screen, as well as such sauna, outdoor heated pool, plush crooners to perform their favourite HEALTH & ISSUES Trans men share their experiences board games as Trivial Pursuit and Cock playrooms and ice-breaker games. songs accompanied by a live band. in a supportive environment. Takes Scrabble. Every Tuesday, 7pm–2am. The Canadian premiere of the Takes place the last Sunday of each Every Monday, 9:30pm–12:30am. The 519 Legal Clinic place the fi rst and third Friday of Henhouse, 1532 Dundas St W. Free. Olivier Award–winning comedy month. Sun, April 27, 8pm–2am. Statlers, 487 Church St. No cover. A free, accessible service for low- each month. For more information, henhousetoronto.com about John, a man who, when he Oasis Aqualounge, 231 Mutual St. statlers.ca income people. Volunteer lawyers contact [email protected]. Fri, takes a break from his boyfriend, $20. oasisaqualounge.com provide legal advice, referrals and April 18, and Fri, May 2, 7:30pm. The The Mums & accidentally meets the girl of his Shaken, Not Stirred: A help with forms and letters. The 519 Community Centre, 519 Church Mums-To-Be Potluck dreams. Runs until Sun, April 27, Beyoncé vs Rihanna Cabaret Fundraiser confi dential and private visits St. Free. the519.org various showtimes. The Theatre The monthly family support Burlesque are fi rst-come, fi rst-served. Bring Centre, 1115 Queen St W. $25–35. A night of art, comedy and libations program hosts a potluck where This A Platinum Production diva- any necessary documents. Every studio180theatre.com to benefi t the School of Toronto SOY Monday queer people who have or are off pitches the songs of Beyoncé Dance Theatre’s upcoming Thursday; registration 6–6:30pm. Night Drop-In against those of Rihanna to planning to have children can Hackerlove graduation and trip to Ottawa for Queer youth ages 14 to 29 gather socialize, share information and determine whose best complement Inspired by Bradley Manning and the Canada Dance Festival. Tues, to watch movies, participate in art celebrate. Sat, April 26, 10:30am– the art of burlesque. Sat, May 10, Adrian Lamo, Sky Gilbert’s new April 22, 7:30pm. Buddies in Bad projects and special workshops, 1:30pm. The 519 Community Centre, 10pm. Club120, 120 Church St. $10. play is about a queer love aff air Times, 12 Alexander St. $8–15. and chat with Supporting Our 519 Church St. Free. the519.org club120.ca buddiesinbadtimes.com Youth’s community mentors. For more info, contact Inside Out Gay Trivia jcaff [email protected]. Launch Party Drag divas Gina Hamilton Every Monday, 5:30–8pm. Hosted by Gavin Crawford, the and Bunni Lapin host a Sherbourne Health Centre, 2nd queer fi lm festival’s offi cial launch night of outrageous trivia fl oor, 333 Sherbourne St. Free. features a silent auction and and fabulous prizes. soytoronto.org music by DJ Craig Dominic. Wed, Every Tuesday, 9pm. April 30, 7:30pm. The Burroughes, O’Grady’s, 518 Positive 639 Queen St W. $10 suggested Church St. Free. Routes to donation. insideout.ca ogradyschurch.ca Recovery Club120 A peer-led Punk Rock Bingo support group Wednesday Jenna Syde hosts a night of getting for gay men pissed and playing bingo to punk Standup comedian working through rock. All proceeds go to charity. Mandy Goodhandy substance abuse Wed, April 30, 9pm. The Beaver, 1192 presents a weekly issues. Takes place Queen St W. Free. beavertoronto.ca open-mic comedy the fi rst and third night. For more Tuesday of each info, contact month. Tues, May toddklinck@ 6, 6–8pm. The STAGE gmail.com. Every 519 Community Theatreworks Bacchanal Wednesday, 8pm– Centre, 519 Church Eric Morin hosts a saucy Berliner 1am. Club120, 120 St. Free. pr2r.org Church St. No cover. cabaret to benefi t Theatreworks club120.ca Productions’ upcoming staging of Paulo and Daphne. Thurs, Queer as LEISURE April 17, 7pm. Buddies in Bad Fuck: Comedy Times, 12 Alexander St. $40–80. & PLEASURE buddiesinbadtimes.com Open-Mic Catherine McCormick, Queer Fear: The Last Five Years the creator of Laughs Elvira, Mistress This story of a half-decade love at Slack’s, presents a of the Dark aff air is told in two ways: Cathy tells twice-monthly comedy In celebration of the fi rst the story backward and Jamie tells night in the west end. anniversary of Queer Fear, it forward, and the two meet only Features such comedians the monthly horror-movie once, at their wedding in the middle as Rush Zilla, Adrienne night screens Elvira, Mistress of the show. Runs until Sat, April Fish and Ashley Moff att. of the Dark. Macabre attire 19, 7:30pm. The Winchester Street Wed, April 23, 9:30pm. The is encouraged. Mon, April 21, Theatre, 80 Winchester St. $25 Steady, 1051 Bloor St W. Beyoncé vs Rihanna 8pm. Videofag, 187 Augusta Ave. advance, $30 door. thelastfi veyears. PWYC. thesteadycafe.com Burlesque — Club120, PWYC. videofag.com brownpapertickets.com Gender Failure — Gladstone Hotel, Wed, April 3 ADAM PW SMITH Sat, May 10

MORE AT DAILYXTRA.COM XTRA! APRIL 17–30, 2014 23 men. 10pm. Black Eagle, 457 Church St. $5 before midnight, $10 after. blackeagletoronto.com Fly Saturday DJs Kevin Bailey and Alain Plamondon spin house and EDM. 10pm–5am. Fly, 8 Gloucester St. fl ynightclub.com CLUB SCENE Sissyboy Hissyfi t: Big Trouble St. $10 advance, $15 door. with Man Chyna DJ Orange Pekoe Thurs, April 17 spearheadtoronto.com spins top 40, ’90s hits and hip hop for Peepshow DJ Pagano (UK) the Asian-themed night. Performance Deep Endz DJs Eytan Tobin, Young makes his Toronto debut spinning by Man Chyna, who’s also serving up Bran and Stephen Thrasher spin house and circuit beats. Presented a pan-Asian buff et. 11pm. The Beaver, house, techno and everything by Prism. 10pm–5am. Coda, 1192 Queen St W. $5. beavertoronto.ca related. 10pm. The Steady, 1051 Bloor 794 Bathurst St. $20 advance. St W. No cover. thesteadycafe.com prismtoronto.com Sun, April 27 Easter Weekend DJs Shawn Riker The Smirnoff Best Chest Contest and Mark Falco spin house and Underbear DJ Knight Muzik spins Sofonda Cox, with Sapphire Titha EMD. 10pm. Fly, 8 Gloucester St. house and top 40 for the last Reign, hosts the shirtless boys fl ynightclub.com Underbear of the season. 50/50 competing for $300 in cash prizes. draw and prizes from Northbound Jockstrap DJ Deko-ze spins house Prism Pride ticket giveaways. DJ Leather, Iceberg Vodka and Out and EDM for the scantily clad dudes. Mark Falco on decks. Midnight. on the Street. Proceeds go to 10:30pm. Marquis of Granby, 418 Woody’s, 467 Church St. No cover. the Toronto People with AIDS Church St. $10. facebook.com/ woodystoronto.com Foundation. 4–10pm. Black jockpartyto Eagle, 457 Church St. No cover. Fri, April 18 Go Hard: Fourth Anniversary blackeagletoronto.com DJs Blackcat, Pleasure and Lady Sapphic Aquatica Monthly Barbershop: Grease Lightning Supa on decks. Introducing the Go bathhouse event exclusively for Edition DJ Michael K spins for the Hard “Make It Rain” series, with women/trans-identifi ed people guys with slicked-back hair and performances by Tokyo Blu and looking for fun and safe sex play leather jackets. 10pm. Henhouse, Mr Arquez. 10:30pm. Club120, 120 in a clean, inviting space. The 1532 Dundas St W. $5 after Church St. $10 before 12:30am, $15 last Sunday of every month. No 10:30pm. henhousetoronto.com after. club120.ca Pop Asia DJ Sumation spins top cis men, please. 8pm–2 am. 40, house, K and J-pop, with VJ Oasis Aqualounge, 231 Mutual St. Gary White in the lounge and Jockstrap — Marquis of $20, includes locker and towels. a performance by Cassandra Granby, Sat, April 19 oasisaqualounge.com Moore. 10pm. Fly, 8 Gloucester St. Sinful Sunday Chow Mein and fl ynightclub.com Sun, April 20 Thurs, April 24 Regretro DJs Ace of Case, Wei Leelando Calrissian perform Tough Customer Cigar Party Back and Party McFly spin for the burlesque, with an after-show LeatherSIR Canada and LeatherSIR/ Woody’s Sunday Hollywoody Ladyplus Parties DJ Todd Klinck is queer scream-and-sing-along dance party. 9pm. Cherry Cola’s, Leatherboy present their annual Broadway Show, co-hosted by on decks for the meet-and-socialize dance party. 10pm. Henhouse, 1532 200 Bathurst St. No cover; cigar party on the patio. Featuring Tynomi Banks and Sapphire Titha event for T-girls and their friends. Dundas St W. henhousetoronto.com tips accepted. facebook.com/ Spontaneous T-girl go-go shows sinfulsundaysburlesque a plaster mummifi cation demo by Reign, with D’Amanda Tension, at Mighty Real DJs John Caff ery and and private VIP dances throughout Master Tony (ILS 2009). 10pm. 6pm; Old School, hosted by Georgie The Robotic Kid spin classic and the night. 8pm. Club120, 120 Church Black Eagle, 457 Church St. Girl, at 9pm; Five Smokin Hot Divas, nu disco, house and bass, with a Mon, April 28 hosted by Georgie Girl, with Devine St. $5 before 11pm, $10 after. blackeagletoronto.com performance by Man Chyna. 10pm. Drag Race Viewing Party Scarlett Darlin, Sofonda Cox, Cassandra club120.ca DFMO DJs John Caff ery The Round, 152A Augusta Ave. Bobo and Daytona Bitch host Moore and Jada Hudson, at 11pm. and Produzentin spin for Woody’s Thursday Launch mightyreal.net the weekly dinner and bitchfest, DJ Blue Peter on decks. Woody’s, party and star-studded the dancefl oor makeout. XXX Men Only DJ Alain with Bradley serving up food and 467 Church St. No cover. show for A Chorus Queen, Special performance by Plamondon spins the libation. 8pm. The 8th Deadly Sin, 6 woodystoronto.com the offi cial drag musical Judy Virago. 10:30pm. “porn and fuck party you Gloucester St. No cover. the8th.ca of 2014 Pride, at 9pm; Buddies, 12 Alexander St. always wanted.” With The Smirnoff Best $5. buddiesinbadtimes. Mon, April 21 live models, pornstar Tues, April 29 Chest Contest, hosted com Dodgeballer Night The Gay show, porn shoot and by Brooke Lynn Woody’s Tuesday DJ Mark Falco Ball Society hosts a fl irty darkroom glory-hole Hytes, with Tynomi spins for boys taking advantage social, with DJ Blue Peter action. A men-only Sat, April 19 Banks and DJ Mark of the low day prices. 8pm. on decks. 8pm. Woody’s, event the last Friday Black Eagle Saturday Falco, at midnight. Woody’s, 467 Church St. No cover. 467 Church St. No cover. of every month. Torn Rubber Saturday, Woody’s, 467 woodystoronto.com woodystoronto.com 10pm–4am. Fly, 8 with the Toronto Church St. Gloucester St. $8 Rubbermen Network No cover. Wed, April 30 Tues, April 22 before midnight. hosting a no-dress- woodystoronto. fl ynightclub.com Lights, Camera, Auction Gavin code party for rubber Games Night Eric Cashmore com Crawford hosts and DJ Craig Dominic enthusiasts and hosts a night of play and Ultimate Sat, spins at the Inside Out launch friends, 4–9pm; Daddy playing around. DJ Chris Thursday DJ party and silent auction. Food and Cool, with DJ Joe Steinbach spins. 8pm. Craig Dominic April 26 drinks provided by Urban Source, Black spinning original Woody’s, 467 Church St. No spins top 40, Pop Machine Barefoot Wine, Steam Whistle and disco classics (no cover. woodystoronto.com dance, EDM, DJs Shane Iceberg. 7:30pm–midnight. The remixes), at 10pm. Black Dinner and Drag Race House urban, dancehall Percy and Burroughes Building, 639 Queen St W. Eagle, 457 Church St. of Filth hosts a viewing of and soca beats. 10pm. Aural spin Suggested donation $10. insideout.ca blackeagletoronto.com RuPaul’s Drag Race, with Judy pop, retro Crews & Tangos, 508 Club120 Wednesday Open-mic for Cherry Bomb DJs Virago, Igby Lizzard, Allysin and dance Church St. No cover. comedians, magicians, illusionists Cozmic Cat and Denise Chaynes and Nancy Bocock. classics. crewsandtangos.com and burlesque performers, with Benson spin for the ladies Untucked follows, and a live 10pm. Wayla, Mandy Goodhandy. Open-mic and their friends, with performance wraps things up. 996 Queen Fri, April 25 performers must show up before guest DJ FeelGoodSmalls 9pm. Henhouse, 1532 Dundas St W. St E. $5 8:45pm. 8pm. Club120, 120 Church spinning hip hop, nu disco and No cover. henhousetoronto.com Cue Poc DJs Sissy Fuss before 11pm, St. $8, $5 guest list (toddklinck@ indie dance. 9pm. Andy Poolhall, and Nik Red spin queer $10 after. facebook.com/ gmail.com). club120.ca 489 College St. No cover before Wed, April 23 jams for queer people of colour. waylabarnounge Hosted by Hiba Al-a-Mode. 10pm. 10pm, $8 after. facebook.com/ Sin DJs Chez and Cory College Night DJs Sumation and The Beaver, 1192 Queen St W. $5. cherrybombtoronto Activate spin, with the Men Craig Dominic spin top 40, dance, beavertoronto.ca Masquerade DJ Cory Activate EDM and urban for the studious of Sin dancers enticing the Byzantium ’90s Night DJ Craig spins retro beats for the crowd. 10pm. Church, 504 Church Submit your event listing Dominic takes over the monthly offi cial victory party of the Mighty Real — St. No cover. churchonchurch.com to [email protected]. Central Canada LeatherSIR, residency, spinning classic The Round, faves. Best ’90s costume wins Deadline for the May 1 Leatherboy and Community Fri, April 25 Dinner and Drag Bootblack Weekend. 9pm–3am. a prize. 10pm. Byzantium, 499 Race — Henhouse, issue is Wed, April 23. Erotico Lounge, 461 Church Church St. No cover. byz.ca Tues, April 22

24 APRIL 17–30, 2014 XTRA! TORONTO’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS MORE AT DAILYXTRA.COM XTRA! APRIL 17–30, 2014 25 1 2 ANNA POURNIKOVA PHOTOS BY ALEJANDRO SANTIAGO & XPOSED BECCA LEMIRE 1E Hotnuts had a Betchelorette sive 10. There’s a certain party and invited every single polished look that Toronto Queer West player to prance tends to have. It’s not quite with them. Max Mohenu got fashion; it’s almost mall. The in the spirit as best as a butch haircuts are too perfect, the man can and broke up his jackets never fi t, but Dwayne black-on-brown-on-white out- here works the polish to his fi t with a lovely pink lei. You advantage with an extremely gotta hand it to him for that pared-down, simple, but well- incredible leather and suede constructed coat and slightly letterman jacket. tousled look. Thanks for not 2E At fi rst I kinda felt creepy sucking, bro. looking at Michelle’s black- 6E Back on the fashion tip: tie Pussy Riot getup, but the there were a lot of misses longer I looked the more I at Massive 10 this year, but enjoyed it until I’ve arrived then again, these corporate at this sort of staring obses- aff airs attract all kinds. sion with her balaclava-clad Francis Zih was like a fucking Barbie face. It takes one really unicorn in that sea of sale- hot face to look good with a rack black knock-off and nylon stretched over it. smart heels. The tailoring 3E Oh, Peg Zilla, you perfect on his jacket alone is worth 3 little creature, you. Peg is a blowjob in a location of his demonstrating the quintes- choosing. The crisp checked 6 sential Best-End craft-drag shirt in complementary look. The shoes on shoes; the green and ruffl ed necktie 5 monochrome colouring in provide a lovely frame for tights, wig and top; the askew his “frame”-style fascinator. eyebrows and glitter unibrow. Francis wins the award for But fi nally — it’s the cross- best dressed at Massive 10 eyed “this is art” look on her this year. Hands down. face that nails it. The true evo- 7E Speaking of blowjobs, lution of club kids embodied Joseph of Joseph and the in this perfect MacBook ad. Mercurials is one of those 4E Mikiki Mikiki is wearing dudes that everyone loves: all the colours at Hotnuts’ boys, girls — I bet he could Betchelorette blowout party pick up a bull dyke at a pool at The Garrison. Somehow hall if he wanted. He’s just got it’s not too much. Somehow. that charm. And chops, too: I have to take a moment to the Mercurials are always a thank Alejandro Santiago for good bet. these incredible pics: Becca 8E Rose, David and Justin was sick for this one with a re- are really partying it up (by ally bad bout of that hangover drinking a lot of sponsored that’s been going around. beer) at the AGO. Justin has 5E Dwayne is looking very been involved in this party in on-point at the AGO’s Mas- some way or another for as 4 long as I’ve known him, and this year he had a large piece 7 8 9 in the show. I’m also feeling (begrudgingly, I must admit) their 2008 throwback style. There are so many accesso- ries and colours here. It’s like the glory days of dance music when money was thrown at everything. 9E My god, Sarah, what I would give to be your outfi t. Black leather turtleneck under light one-shoulder casual sweater and matching black fanny pack, anyone? Could you just die over and over for her Siouxsie Sioux Xposed appears in every other issue of Xtra. For this week’s sans makeup look and perfect Deep Dish column, by Rolyn Chambers, go to dailyxtra.com. fringe? Could you?

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28 APRIL 17–30, 2014 XTRA! TORONTO’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS DRASKO XTRA HOT BOGDANOVIC Checking in with Jeremy: Week 14

BODY BREAK JEREMY WILLIARD

I’ve now lost 20 pounds, and although I’m not very muscular, I look much less like an ogreish Seth Rogen than I did before. I haven’t been this light in at least fi ve years. I fi t into clothing better, I move better (I fi nd myself bouncing out of chairs, rather than having to fi ght my way up), and it’s great to feel confi dent about how I look. My partner and I went to a sex party the other night, and I felt mostly comfortable frolicking nakedly in front of a crowd — and we got several compliments for our performance! Not bad for three and a half months of exercise. On my own I wouldn’t have been able to make this kind of progress. The program at Evolution Fitness addresses just about everything I need in order to change my shape, from my time with the nutritionist to my personal trainer to the support of various friendly staff members around the gym. Evolution is a Jeremy is now confident enough to romp around naked at sex parties. smaller, boutique-style set-up, so COURTESY OF EVOLUTION FITNESS all the trainers — not just my own — keep tabs on my progress and off er Harry Potter nerds like my partner tough. And my elation over fi nally es- NAME: PJ SHIELDS helpful tips whenever they can. And will know “Accio” to be a summon- caping planking — I can’t emphasize AGE: 35 SIGN: TAURUS, ARIES CUSP while they’re giving me advice, I can ing spell.) I suppose it helps that the enough how much I hate planking surreptitiously check them out. owner is always at the gym, either — is somewhat diminished by a new There’s a newness and a coziness working out, which is an impressive hell that is doing lunges while holding “A night out can be with friends for drinks, a walk in the park, a circuit party to the space. Unlike the last gym sight, off ering encouragement or set- dumbbells. There’s also this annoying or a leather event,” PJ says. “I wear many hats and my mood leads me I belonged to, all the equipment ting up some new furniture. swoopy-batwing thing, where I stick around, so things can either be really planned or totally random, and that’s works, nothing’s falling off the walls, Over my remaining two weeks out my ass, bend over and swing my the fun — never really knowing what’s going to happen.” The Pitbull go-go and during my time there some new at Evolution, I think I’m mainly al- arms out from my sides while holding dancer is turned on by confi dence, something that was necessary during amenities have appeared. As soon as ternating between three diff erent dumbbells. I’m sure my trainer just his wildest sexual experience: “driving out to the middle of a park in San there seems to be a need for some- workouts, focused on the lower body, makes these things up to make me Francisco on the back of a bike and walking in just far enough we could hear thing — Accio! – it’s there. (Obsessive upper body and back. It’s doable but look absurd. the road but not see it. Kneeling in front of my alpha and him soaking my jeans, blowing him, then climbing back on the bike and heading straight to dinner in my wet denim. Hottest date ever.” Twitter: jonshieldxxx

Go to dailysquirt.com to see more sexy photos of PJ. To comment on or become an Xtra Hot guy or gal, email Drasko at [email protected].

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