Gay, Lesbian, Bi, Trans, Leather, and Queer Community Seasonal • Winter 2020 free copy

BEING... Bisexual/Pansexual/Asexual Ecosexuality

Also: Apanaki Temitayo Minerve, Toronto Police Services, Fiction, Event Listings, From The Heart, Horoscopes, and a special Matrimony Supplement From the Publisher

your own gender, and to people with gender(s) really loved our 2020 theme different than your own. “BEING”. I like representation Pansexual: In comparison to bisexuality, pansexuality, composed with the prefix pan- is the of our community to include sexual attraction to a person of any sex or gender. I Using these definitions, pansexuality is defined everyone, and I believe with differently, by explicitly including people who are intersex or outside the gender binary. So I gather each new edition along the way this term is broader and more inclusive. that we learned a good deal Asexual: The web says that research and academic work dealing with the history of the asexual about the different identities community is presently lacking. Although a few private sites for people with little or no sexual in our community; being desire existed on the Internet in the 1990s, scholars state that a community of self-identified gay, lesbian, trans, 2-Spirit, asexuals coalesced in the early 21st century. But generally speaking, an asexual person might not non-conforming, non-binary, experience sexual attraction, but they might still experience romantic attraction. An asexual person bisexual, pansexual, and could be romantically attracted to people of the same gender, people of another gender, or people asexual. of multiple genders. Many asexual people want, and have, romantic relationships. In this wrap up of the year edition we explore bisexual, pansexual, and asexual members of our The web is never lacking resources to help us community. For me personally, it’s important to understand others. understand the different identities, and it’s also Other than the above, it is the season to get in respectful. So I looked up the web’s definition of some relaxing and rejuvenating, so make sure to bisexuality, pansexuality, and asexuality, as part take some time for yourself. of putting this edition together. Here is what I gathered: Happy Holidays! Bisxual: To some it means attraction to the opposite sex, male or female. To some that definition is exclusionary, and it excludes Antoine Elhashem nonbinary genders, or even erases transgender Publisher people altogether. To others, bisexuality definition [email protected] is broader, and it reflects attraction to people of

2 winterplay! 2020 Being... Being... winterplay! 2020 3 winterplay! In this issue From the Editor Gay, Lesbian, Bi, Trans, Leather, and Queer Community Seasonal from PinkPlayMags 07 Matrimony Supplement - Free • Winter 2020 Getting Hitched During a Pandemic - Bryen Dunn Publisher/Creative Director: Antoine Elhashem Editor-in-Chief: Bryen Dunn 10 Being... Art Direction and Production: Mychol Scully Bisexual, Pansexual and Asexual – S.E. Fleenor Contributors Writers: S.E Fleenor, Annie Sprinkle and Beth 14 Ecosexuality Stephens, Bee Dee, Jon Pressick, Kelly Wilk, Sherry – Beth Stephens & Annie Sprinkle Sylvain, Mychol Scully, Julie Antoinette, Bryen Dunn 18 City of Toronto’s Welcome T.O. Winter Parks Plan – Bryen Dunn 23 Fiction: Punk – Bee Dee

Regular features Greetings and salutations, is with Apanaki Temitayo Minerve, a 21 Hot Artist: bisexual multi-disciplinary artist, author, Apanaki Temitayo Minerve spoken word poet, actor, teacher and – Jon Pressick his is the final instalment in mother of three. With Community 25 Community Cornerstone: Cornerstone, we take a look at the work Danielle Bottineau – Kelly Wilk our series of features on the of the LGBTQ Community Liaison for Toronto Police Services, Danielle Bottineau. 27 In the City – Sherry Sylvain topic of “Being...”, with this Our Fiction piece is written by Bee Dee, 29 From the Heart with a short story titled, . Cover BEING... Bisexual, Pansexual and Asexual T Punk – Mychol Scully issue spotlighting Pansexuality, Concept & Creative Direction Antoine Elhashem As always, we have our quarterly Photography Shawn McGowan-Leaver 32 Autumn Horoscopes horoscopes, and the inspiring Representing our community – Julie Antoinette Bisexuality and Asexuality. From The In the middle: Heart column written by Mychol Scully, Alia Carrerra – Bisexual The main feature article is wonderfully our Creative Director, who also designs Amy Vaughan-Dolson – Asexual written by S.E Fleenor, who gives insight this publication for us. Our event listings Marisa Cimadamore – Pansexual Rest of the group from left to right: into their own personal stories, as well remain virtual, which our Events Editor, Mary Sue Robinet - 2Spirit as input from a few other interesting Sherry Sylvain, takes great pride in Dan Bowen aka Brad Puddin aka Maya Naise - Non- individuals who offer their own compiling for us. conforming interpretations on how and why they Finally, be sure to check out our special Marisa Rosa Grant – Lesbian choose to identify their sexuality. Robyn DeCradle – Non-Binary Matrimony Supplement that provides Ryan Bince – Gay The second feature is co-written by partners some great tips on how to prepare if you’re Jeanette Jabier AKA Jeanette Dupree - Transsexual Annie Sprinkle and Beth Stephens, the planning on getting married during a pioneering duo bringing light to to world pandemic. Published by Websites of Ecosexuality. The premise being that our Thanks for being here with us throughout www.inspiredmediainc.com love for the earth can be far stronger than INspired Media Inc. this challenging year of 2020. We’re Operating INspiredcreative (www.inspiredcreative.ca), and www.thepinkpagesdirectory.com we realize, and they offer some tips on how looking forward to bringing more positive publishers of The Pink Pages Directory, PinkPlayMags, theBUZZ, and www.pinkplaymags.com to embrace your inner ecosexual being. The Local Biz Magazine. www.thebuzzmag.ca inspiration to you next year. President ...... Antoine Elhashem We’d love to hear from you. Please send comments, questions or In our Travel feature, we take a look at any other matters to [email protected] Enjoy the read! General Manager...... Kim Dobie what activities are available to participate Advertising Consultants...... Carolyn Burtch, Darren Stehle For advertising inquiries in this winter here in the city of Toronto, Counsel ...... Jerry Herszkopf Law [email protected] Bryen Dunn Mailing address Notice INspired Media Inc., its divisions, publications, the editors, authors, photographers, salespersons, graphic and along with some suggestions for socially- production artists shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any person or entity with respect to monetary or Editor-in-Chief 205-1691 Pickering Parkway, Pickering, ON L1V 5L9 emotional loss or damage caused, or alleged to be caused, directly or indirectly, by the information or claims contained distanced holiday events that are planned in this Publication. [email protected] Furthermore the opinions of the writers expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the around the GTA. Our Hot Artist feature To contact us publishers. 416.926.9588 Toronto 905.231.9722 GTA Full copyrights reserved. Any copying of material in this publication in whole or in part is prohibited and legal action will be taken, unless authorized in writing by the publishers.

4 winterplay! 2020 Being... Being... winterplay! 2020 5 Getting Hitched During a Pandemic

By Bryen Dunn

o you want to get married? During a For all other non-vehicle focused outdoor events, careful consideration must be given to pandemic? Well, that’s okay, because planning, specifically around seating and catering there’s an app for that! arrangements. This is where a wedding planner S and accommodating vendors will be your best Like many businesses, the wedding industry has friend. There are also companies who have created been going through some turmoil during 2020, wristbands of varying colours that indicate your and like others they are learning to adapt and personal comfort level with regard to your safety move forward. If you had plans to wed, and felt and distancing comfort levels. Don’t forget to get the only option was to postpone until a later date, those designer masks ordered as part of the arrival you may want to reconsider, as there are plenty package for each guest. of ways you can still have a wonderful wedding If you decide it’s not worth the risk of even doing a day. Albeit in a more modern, less traditional socially-distanced in person event, there are many environment. options to still go forward with your wedding Social gatherings are all but eliminated, except for virtually. The first thing to remember is that just perhaps the smallest of groups, such as immediate because you’re not having a traditional wedding, it family members. However, there are still ways to doesn’t mean it will be any easier planning. You’ll hold an outdoor socially-distanced affair (weather still need to work with all the usual vendors, from permitting), or choose to go totally virtual, which design and decor, to catering, entertainment, and isn’t as difficult or as distancing as it may seem. gifting. For those opting for some sort of in-person event, There are a lot of great, free live-streaming or you may want to consider a drive-through, or even video conferencing services out there. Consider a drive-in option. Set up a stage for the wedding platforms like Zoom, Facebook Live, or YouTube couple, and have all guests stay safely distanced in Live, and make sure you create a private event for their own vehicles. Or giddy-it-up with a tailgate invited guests only. As with traditional wedding shindig. Guests will be able to scream, whistle, crashers, virtual ones are unwelcome as well. Live and honk the day away. Remember to appoint a streaming enables guests to view and chat with designated driver. others through the chat feature, whereas video conferencing allows everyone to see and speak

6 winterplay! 2020 Being... Being... winterplay! 2020 7 with each other. There are also apps like WebWe d the vendors, and a special shout out to your tech Mobile, We df uly, and LoveStream, that can help wizard for making it all happen. facilitate your ceremony and handle all the tech. Finally, the big day is done. Now what? The Digital invitations can be done via Paperless Post honeymoon of course. Remember there are plenty or Greenvelope. Google Hangouts can be used for of things you can still do, while remaining safe. the “reception”, and “party”. Book a honeymoon suite at your local hotel. Most Some planning tips here are perhaps having a hotels remain open and have adapted to local dress up theme for everyone, creating a signature safety protocols, and many are offering great deals cocktail that can be sent out in advance, have at this time as well. For those with restaurants a same-day delivery of a wedding meal and onsite, order room service, or support your local beverages, hiring a host or emcee, and bringing in restaurants by ordering in. some entertainment, like a DJ, musicians, or a drag If you’re looking for something a bit different, queen. try renting a cottage or cabin, or maybe a yurt or Most importantly, to make your virtual wedding other non-traditional lodging. These aren’t normal a success, you’ll need to invest some time and times we’re in, so let you imagination run wild, money into equipment, technology, and a trusted and who knows, this whole virtual or socially technical wizard to oversee everything, and ensure distanced affair may end up being far grander than the day runs smoothly (including rehearsals for any traditional wedding could every be. yourselves and your guests). This individual will Whatever you decide works best for you, just be vital to ensuring to mute everyone during the remember, Love Wins! wedding vows, then allowing guests to chime in with their memories, congratulations, and toast or roast. They can also choose the appropriate feed to Bryen Dunn is a freelance journalist based in Toronto show if opting for a more robust, multiple camera with a focus on tourism, production. You also might want to have your lifestyle, entertainment guests pre-record messages, send in photographs, and community issues. or have your administrator capture their video He has written several messages and images for a virtual album that can travel articles and has be shared with all. an extensive portfolio of celebrity interviews with Be sure to let guests know your email and home musicians, actors and address for those wanting to send gifts, and don’t other public personalities. forget to thank everyone involved in making your special day a success, including friends, family, all

8 winterplay! 2020 Being... Being... winterplay! 2020 9 because bisexuality is transphobic. The idea was Veronique Emma that bisexual inherently relied on the gender Houxbois, creator binary, but that’s not necessarily true. Like the of Transcription and word bimonthly, which means both twice a month writer at Comicosity, and every two months, bisexual can describe describes her someone who is only attracted to binary genders, bisexuality: “Sexual but it doesn’t have to—and nothing is inherently orientation to me is a transphobic about that. key way in which we communicate with But, I didn’t know that. I was newly out and the wider LGBTQIA wanted to impress my much cooler, much queerer community. friends, so I changed to using the word queer. (I Orientations have their own accumulated histories still use it as one of the constellation of words and cultures, so to me, bisexuality communicates a to describe my gender and sexuality.) It took me lot about who I want to be in community, with as many years to return to the word bisexual, to let much as it does to who I want to sleep with.” Self Love... it wrap its arms around me and remind me that I always knew who I was, even if other people Stephanie Williams, or how I learned to stop worrying and had doubts. Around that same time, I started creator and writer of to read studies about mental health outcomes Living Heroes and for bisexual+ people, a term coined to describe Parenthood Activate, love being bi and pan the identities of us who are queer, but not agrees. “To me By S.E. Fleenor monosexual, including: bisexual, sexually fluid, [bisexuality] means pansexual, omnisexual, and other identities. While liberation, but not reading those studies, I learned that bisexual+ confined in terms of “Are you lesbians?” loved that I was bisexual. And, I hated myself for folks experienced discrimination from both just sexuality. The not standing up proudly and declaring who I was. straight, and the gay and lesbian communities, and reason for that is for I’d never heard a question asked with such malice. that by not being accepted and belonging to either the longest time I I looked at the woman I was on a date with, a Today, with years of loving, fighting, and figuring out my gender and sexuality between then and group was literally killing us. thought something was wrong with me because I woman I knew wasn’t straight either, and I don’t felt attraction to multiple genders, and for a long now, I realize that I was still in many ways a Two of the mothers know which of us was the one to say it, but the time I tried to ignore that part of myself. So, as I young adult, still figuring out what safety means of queer liberation, word “no” came out of one of our mouths. began to understand that how I felt was okay and in a world designed to destroy queer people. If I Marsha P. Johnson nothing was wrong with me, it became a bigger We continued on our date, walking up the long could go back in time, I would take that young and Sylvia Rivera, part of loving myself fully and not just in halves. main drag in the small city where we both studied. bisexual’s hand in mine and tell them they didn’t are known best for I feel like when people think of bisexuality they We had crepes from a little French restaurant do anything wrong, that sometimes we hide not being trans women think of 50/50 attraction and such, but it’s not where we justified our answer as true, because out of shame, but because we need to be safe—we of color who fought that. It’s just a total sum of expression. Or at least neither of us was, in fact, a lesbian. We talked need to live to fight another day. for a better future, about music we liked and she came back to my it has been for me.” Bisexuality and pansexuality have been defined including at the apartment to listen to my favorite album and Stonewall Riots. I don’t remember the exact moment that I began when I asked if I could kiss her, she said no. It many ways both within and outside of bisexual and pansexual circles. My personal definition is What’s lesser known to understand my pansexuality, just as I don’t stung a little—I was embarrassed and new to about the two is that they both identified as know the exact moment I realized I was non- dating—but a part of me had never gotten past that bisexual means being attracted to multiple genders, which sometimes means all genders, bisexual. From the start of queer revolution in the binary. Those identities both came to me after that first “no.” The “no” of two scared young U.S. trans and bisexual identities were working I’d been out for nearly a decade. What I can say, people on a street being confronted by a stranger. while pansexual means being attracted to all genders (and sometimes none because people can hand in hand—and we all owe them a debt of not though, is that my pansexuality and my non- Ten years later, that moment still sticks with me. I be…a lot). It probably seems more convoluted just gratitude but action. I know I do. If I hadn’t binaryness helped me understand the broadest can remember feeling afraid, being certain that I than it is, and to add fuel to that confusing fire, read about Johnson and Rivera, I wouldn’t have reaches of my bisexuality and my queerness. realized how important my bisexuality was to my was in danger. And afterward, I remember feeling some people—like myself—identify as both I’m often reminded of a course I took in graduate non-binaryness, and to my transness. deeply ashamed. After what felt like a lifetime in bisexual and pansexual. school about sex, gender, and sexuality. The the suffocating closet, I’d clawed my way out a I’m not the only one whose bisexuality is an professor was infamous for telling us that those year earlier. I was bisexual. I knew I was bisexual. I When I was first figuring out my sexuality, someone told me that I shouldn’t be bisexual integral part of their identity. three words were placeholders, that what we

10 winterplay! 2020 Being... Being... winterplay! 2020 11 were discussing was something more than labels Asexuality (ace) is another identity for bodies—we were doing our best to describe that’s often misunderstood. It’s realities for which we have poor or no language. basically someone with little to no That concept has been important to how I’ve interest in sexual activity (orientation), come to understand my gender and sexuality: which is different from abstinence or Every label I claim is an approximation, is the celibacy (behavioural). The term can nearest possible word to describe an experience encompass a broad definition, which that is deeply embodied, an experience that lives may or may not include romantic non- beyond words. sexual partnerships, solo masturbation, or having sex for the sole purpose of Pansexual folks feel all kinds of ways about satisfying their partner. As well, asexual our identities. For some of us, pansexual is our individuals may often still identify with preferred term; for others, it’s a helpful term for one of the several other identities clarification. within the LGBTQ+ or heterosexual Woodworker Shawn communities. Wheeler says, “I’m pansexual, but me is that bisexual and pansexual people belong sometimes I say I’m together, not pitted against each other, or divided. bisexual because it’s easier in conversation Five years after the awkward situation where a with people who date and I were asked if we were lesbians, I stood don’t understand outside a 7-11, waiting for my partner to come pansexuality, but I back outside. We were decked head-to-toe in our don’t like it. Outside Pride best, as were thousands of people gathering of queer spaces, we’re in downtown Denver. often seen as the I was fiddling with my phone when I heard queer woman with the straight guy. For us, being someone approach. I am not much for talking to misread takes everything away. It takes his gender strangers, so I continued to type out a message to away; it takes my sexuality away.” the friends we were supposed to meet 30-minutes Vanessa Roberts, earlier. Feeling the person’s eyes on me, I looked executive director of up and gave them a nod. Rookie mistake. Project VOYCE, feels “Are you a lesbian?” he asked. slightly differently. “I identify as queer, I immediately remembered that inauspicious both as a sexual date, the nagging feeling in my stomach. I looked orientation and as a through the window to see my partner checking political statement. out at the register. So I took a deep breath, held I’ll say I’m pansexual my head up high, and said, “No. I’m bi.” if further nuance is required. I’ve always S.E. Fleenor writes been attracted to a person. Body composition and novels and articles genitalia is secondary. Basically, if I’m attracted to centering on queer you, we can figure out the physical component.” identities, feminism, When I read back the quotes from the bisexual pop culture, and and pansexual folks I talked to, I see myself in literature. Words appear both of them. I see the search for community, in The Independent, the liberation, the frustration of being misread, Buzzfeed Reader, Vice, the broadness of my attractions. What it reminds them.us, and SYFY WIRE, among others.

12 winterplay! 2020 Being... Being... winterplay! 2020 13 pleasure back to the water! Ideally, ecosex is a give and take proposition. ecosexual: There are all kinds of ecosexual practices and 1. A person that finds nature romantic, proclivities. Some nature fetishes are mild/ sensual, erotic, or sexy, which can subtle, and some extreme/edgy, and downright include humans or not. dangerous. Ecosex isn’t all sunshine and daffodils. Ecosexuality Mild ecosex fetishes might be wind play, 2. A sexual identity. stargazing, grassalingus (erotically licking grass Annie Sprinkle & Beth Stephens while sniffing the soil), moon communion, using 3. A person who imagines the Earth as veggie dildos, or smearing clay all over your body. their lover. More edgy practices would be like swimming 4. A term used in dating with sharks, branding, tornado chasing, extreme advertisements. whitewater rafting, scuba diving nude at night… 5. An environmental activist strategy. By Beth Stephens & Annie Sprinkle Be careful! The Earth is a cruel mistress and there is no safe word. 6. A grassroots movement. e are two women in love - life bisexuals…and any other kinds of folks can also Perhaps sex with humans is your thing. Well, 7. A person that has a more expanded identify as ecosexual. We always add the E to the that’s ecosex too! When you make love with a notion of sex and eroticism and partners and artist collaborators LGBTQIIA+E moniker. person, you make love largely with water, bacteria, orgasms that go beyond mainstream for the past nineteen years. and non-human creepy crawly things that live definitions, to include energetic W Many people imagine the Earth as a mother, or a inside us. Just standing next to someone your exchange with living things. father, or a friend…as a she or a he. We are free to biome clouds are having an orgy. We humans In 2008 when we discovered our ecosexuality it imagine the Earth however we want to. The two are not separate from the Earth. Sometimes it’s 8. A person that imagines sex as an rocked our world and gave our lives a paradigm of us like to imagine that the Earth is trans-gender, nice to ponder how we and our sex partners are ecology that extends beyond the shift. Our queer ecosex adventures have offered us beyond gender, all genders at once. True we are the Earth, and to be aware that we are part of an physical body and explores the more sensual pleasure, new inspiration, and even anthropomorphizing, —giving the Earth human extraordinary ecosystem. eroticism found in nature through more purpose in our lives. qualities. Naturally the Earth is way more complex their senses. What about consent, you may ask? For example, You might wonder, what is ecosexuality and who than being simply human, and the Earth’s qualities how do we know if a tree wants to be hugged, 9. As yet to be defined. are ecosexuals? These terms were vaguely defined extend way beyond what we know. However, or not? Some people think ecosex is “nature when we came out as ecosexuals in 2008. This was anthropomorphizing can be useful as it can abuse.” We don’t speak the language of trees just after we staged a big performance-art wedding help us to connect more deeply with the Earth. so we don’t know for sure if a tree wants a hug where we made vows to ‘love, honour and cherish Ecosexuality often requires some imagination and or not. However, experiments show that most Ecosex is everywhere! However we recommend the Earth until death brings us closer together fantasy. living things respond well to love. We try to be going outside if you can. forever,’ along with 150 creative collaborators One of our mottos is ‘eroticize everything!’ So respectful and to sense what some entity might who helped create the wedding, and over three Ecosexuals unite! In soil-idarity forever. how exactly do we, and how can you, make love like or not. However we wonder why is it the hundred audience members saying “I do too.” As with the Earth? Here are just a few suggestions. same people who worry about people hugging creative types, we took the term ecosex and ran Beth Stephens & Annie Sprinkle are filmmakers, visual Tell the Earth “I love you, and I can’t live without trees don’t have a problem with cutting down and with it, doing lots of art experiments imagining artists, and performance artists. Their book, “Assuming the you.” Spend time with her. Taste him. Touch her killing trees? We can be fairly certain a tree doesn’t the Earth as our lover. Then we formulated our Ecosexual Position—The Earth as Lover” is coming out in all over. Swim naked in their waters. Sing to the want to die. own terms and definitions, which have pollinated Earth. Kiss and lick her. Bury parts of your body early spring 2021, published around the world to become an international deep inside her sand or soil. Plant seeds in her. One of the great things about ecosex, is it can by University of Minnesota Press. They are based in San movement. Talk dirty to her plants. Circulate erotic energy simply be an energetic exchange, or a fantasy, or a sensual experience. Ecosex can also include Francisco. To watch them We are polymorphous, pollen-amorous, and we with them. Lay on top of them. If you see the the whole body, including the genitals. There is marrying the Earth in 2008, are everywhere. Needless to say, for us ecosex is Earth being abused, raped, or exploited, protect a Universe of possibilities. Another great thing go to Ecosexual Wedding definitely in the realm of the queer. Ecosex goes her as best you can. Run naked through nettles. about ecosex is when you are lovers with the Project. Visit Waters Make Us way beyond sex between two (or more) people. Let the Sun’s rays penetrate your pores. Feel the Earth, you always have a lover. You always have Wet, Sexecology, and their Ecosexual can be a primary identity or not. You fresh, crisp winter air penetrate your lungs--deeply. opportunities for sensual pleasure and fun. official website for more info. can add ecosexual to whatever other identities Straddle the hot tub jets. Don’t just take pleasure you might hold dear. Heterosexuals, asexuals, from the rushing water, try giving love and

14 winterplay! 2020 Being... Being... winterplay! 2020 15 16 winterplay! 2020 Being... Being... winterplay! 2020 17 City of Toronto’s Welcome T.O. Winter Parks Plan By Bryen Dunn o help people stay active this • City parks with additional 60 kilometres of reservation, registration is required with eFun If outdoors is not your thing, there’s plenty of paved recreational trails and pathways with and rink status updates will be posted online. Stay, Play and Learn at Home programming. winter season, the City of Toronto snow maintenance For skating trails, check out Colonel Samuel People looking for ways to stay active and engaged is highlighting its offering of new Smith Park in Etobicoke, and Barbara Ann Scott while staying home can find a listing of free T • 100 parks with winter maintenance, Ice Trail at College Park. There are also a few recreational and fitness programs, fun virtual and enhanced exercise-based recreation including 60 with enhanced maintenance private rinks to check out, such as The Bentway, activities, and learning and leisure activities online. this year that include cleared parking lots and activities in parks locations across the city. Evergreen Brick Works, CampTO is a new day camp program developed paved pathways this year that offers games, arts and crafts, with As well, throughout the winter the following both indoor and outdoor activities at 42 locations Here’s a list of all the activities that will be • Free, leisure skating at the City’s 54 outdoor parks amenities will remain open: available throughout the winter. ice rinks, including Nathan Phillips Square, across the city • More than 800 playgrounds and 30 parks weather dependent, with a maximum of 25 While the winter ahead may seem longer this year, • 23 toboggan hills with outdoor fitness equipment participants (reservations recommended) there’s no shortage of activities to keep you busy! • 8 snow loops for walking and snowshoeing • Up to 30-plus natural ice rinks - the City is • Outdoor sport courts, including 57 tennis at the City’s five golf courses, with loops accepting applications until December 31 for courts with nets in place for winter tennis Bryen Dunn is a freelance journalist based in Toronto ranging from 1 kilometre to 2.5 kilometres community-built and maintained natural ice • 70 outdoor table tennis and 60 chess tables with a focus on tourism, lifestyle, entertainment and • Six disc-golf locations, including the newest rinks in City parks community issues. He has • 68 dog off-leash areas at Scarlett Woods Golf Course, beginning Leisure skate times will run in 45-minute sessions, written several travel articles November 28 and skating on the City’s outdoor ice rinks is only • The City will more than double its supply of and has an extensive portfolio of celebrity interviews with • New guided outdoor Walk Fit programs, permitted during supervised hours. Capacity for winter park washrooms from 64 to 143 as all skating rinks is limited to 25 people per ice part of its ongoing response to COVID-19 musicians, actors and other including 45 sessions each week (reservations public personalities. recommended) pad. Indoor washroom access will be available, however, change rooms are closed and skaters • The archery range in E.T. Seton Park • High Park car-free weekends should come ready to skate. In order to make a

18 winterplay! 2020 Being... Being... winterplay! 2020 19 by Jon Pressick

Hot Artist

Some of those featured include James Baldwin, the Goddess Oshun, bell hooks, Danai Gurira, and Maya Angelou. Through her work, Apanaki wants to increase visibility of People of Colour in queer spaces. Because queer spaces are predominantly white, “we have had to make space for ourselves as people and as artists, in order to for BIPOC to to exist in those spaces.” Art is just one way we can move forward. Apanaki sees us being in a unique time in history when, through the efforts of united voices, change is possible, to break down anti-black racism and Apanaki Temitayo Minerve discrimination. While some governments and corporations are making efforts, more inclusive Born and raised in Trinidad and Tobago, Apanaki effort is needed. She recalls, “During the midst Temitayo Minerve is an author, spoken word of the Black Lives Matter movement, the hashtag CONTINUES poet, actor, multimedia artist, teacher and #AllBlackLivesMatter was trending in order to mother of three. As the Artist-in-Wellness at include the LGBTQ2S bodies that were also being the , she Centre of Addiction and Mental Health slain in hate crimes globally. It is my hope that we conducts for staff and Art for Everyone Workshops as LGBTQ2S BIPOC will become a permanent inpatients. Her rich, vibrant piece Pride Is A Riot! part of the global landscape, which will be more was commissioned by Pride Toronto for their the rule than the exception.” Virtual Pride 2020 event, and will be permanently installed in their official office. She recently Safety for all resonates for Apanaki, particularly on participated in a panel discussion on Racialized the home front. This year has provided significant & Bisexual+: Exploring Identity in Art Practice personal change. “2020 is literally my coming at the Bi+ Arts Festival, with fellow panelist out year, so navigating my bisexuality and my and filmmaker, Jaene F Castrillon discussing parenting is very new.” As with other intersections, inclusivity within Bi+ Community for BIPOC. she notes that her “parenting style has always been to make a safe space for my kids to be and interact Apanaki is inspired to create and chooses her with people from all races, cultures and sexual subjects from the discussions she sees in social identities. Living in Toronto has helped to make media and what is happening in our world. “I safe spaces for my kids to grow and thrive.” believe it is my duty as a multi-disciplinary artist at the intersection of being an Afro-Caribbean www.apanaki-temitayo-m.pixels.com bisexual, single mother with lived mental health and PTSD experience, and as an art facilitator Jon Pressick is a writer and a mental health advocate.” She shares stories who focuses on sex of “activism, artistry, philosophy, rebellion and and sexuality. View his work at resistance.” sexinwords.ca “My Black Icon Series is literally my life’s work,” Apanaki shares. “I create portraits of BIPOC and LGBTQ icons, those voices that influence the landscape of the lived experience of BIPOC.”

20 winterplay! 2020 Being... Being... winterplay! 2020 21 Fiction

you’re a teen could seem insurmountable and as Punk distant as the death that surrounded us. I was slammed up against him, and I must say it 2020 is complicated enough. We would walk the graveyard admiring all the felt good. Me and my gal pal Sylvie decided to tombstones, and discussing the lives that came venture out to the big city to catch a gig by The Why make appliance shopping complicated too? before us of people we would never have the Muff Divers, a group of rough looking, scraggly opportunity of knowing. This was far more boys from the U.K. who were touring North satisfying to us than chatting with the living, and America for the first time. hearing about their boring lives. We’d make up tascoappliance.ca Sylvie lived up the street from me, and we ended stories for each of them, stories of lives the way we up bonding over our same anti-everything thought they should be lived. attitude. Not that we were negative, at least not We also would read the same existential books, in our own minds, we just knew something wasn’t and watch the same independent or foreign films. right about this world we were brought into. Our Kerouac and Burroughs, Fellini and Van Sant. But suburban town was the bane of our existence. We mostly, it was about the music. One day, while certainly didn’t fit in with any of school cliques, so hanging at our local record store, Sylvie picked we created our own – the misfits. Although that up a copy of The Muff Divers. Neither of us had maybe taken as a derogatory term for some, for us heard of them, but the album cover and name it was a term we chose with pride. itself were enough to make us buy it. We dropped Our biggest bond was with music. We searched it on the turntable, and waited for the record to high and low for the obscure and alternative, begin. Bang. There is was. The energized kick in music that could not be classified into any genre, the ass we both needed. much like us. We also created our own fashion, The concert was something neither of us had avoiding anything with a label. We shopped at experienced before, not even so much the band thrift stores, and hung out at record stores. We themselves, but for the crowd around us. A crowd wanted to create our own world, away from the of misfits, just like us. As the band played on, we mundane confines of society. got closer and closer to the stage, a sweaty pit On weekends we’d nick some tins of beer, or of individuals dancing in whatever else our parents had on offer in their solidarity. It was then that I cabinets, and head over to the cemetery to chill knew, I was a punk. with the dead. Me, Sylvie, and a bunch of stiffs. It was our sanctuary, an oasis of calm and quiet among the noise pollution of the world. We would Bee Dee is a globally-inspired chat for hours about world problems, which when immortal scribe of inconsequence. ‘Til death do us part.

22 winterplay! 2020 Being... Being... winterplay! 2020 23 by Kelly Wilk Community Cornerstone

Women in Film and Television Toronto In addition to delivering training to service members, Bottineau also delivers workshops to external stakeholders, including hate crime presentations in partnership with Egale Canada I had the pleasure of speaking with Danielle nationwide, as well as internationally to police Bottineau, Police Constable 7718, who has spent services in Montenegro, St Vincent, and the nine enjoyable years as the LGBTQ liaison for Grenadines. It seems that with leadership, the Toronto Police Service (TPS). This initiative perseverance, and dedication, Bottineau has was introduced in 2001 in response to complaints spearheaded a lot of positive change both inside from the LGBTQ+ community, after a women’s and beyond TPS. bathhouse was raided by Toronto Police in 2000. “By being a visible queer woman in policing it After aHuman Rights Commission report, TPS has helped to change the conversation within the was required to implement LGBTQ+ sensitivity institution, resulting in an expanded three-hour training for its members, as well as appoint a LGBTQ2S training session, Gender Neutral liaison officer to facilitate this program. The Washrooms at police headquarters, and hosting Liaison Officer works within theCommunity the 2nd World LGBTQ Conference for Criminal Partnerships and Engagement Unit (CPEU) Justice Professionals,” to provide community policing support to “By being in this position I am visible, and I make stakeholders within the community, as well as to myself available to both LGBTQ community TPS members. CPEU strives to deliver strong members and TPS, including members who are community/police partnerships, based on mutual not able to bring their whole selves to work. I trust, respect. and understanding. In addition to believe the only way forward is through ongoing the LGBTQ2S Liaison, there are several other conversations and education. I have seen the liaison officers for other minority communities, positive change both within the service, as well including the Black, Chinese, South Asian, etc. as in the community. We still have work to do Bottineau has worked for TPS for 21 years, and and we are not perfect, but I truly believe we when she was first approached by a supervisor to are moving in the right direction, and we can fill this position, she admits she was hesitant. I can only get there with the help and partnerships of imagine in addition to being an out police officer, community members.” it would be a very visible role to fulfill. Well said, and thanks for your continued service “To be honest I was quick to say no. I had always Danielle! been out at work and really had no issues with living my authentic self both on and off the job, Kelly Wilk is a freelance writer and single mom to red- but I didn’t feel I needed to be the poster child for headed, Irish, Aries boy who is growing up way too the service. Out of all positions that I have held, fast. Follow their adventures being the LGBTQ2S Liaison Officer has been the on PinkPlayMags’ parenting most rewarding. By being the Liaison I was able blog “The Ginger Gent” , and also on Kelly’s own website to bring both parts of me together. It provided and blog, Brave. Creative. Me me an opportunity to hopefully make things at www.kellywilk.ca better and more inclusive for the LGBTQ2S Community,”she explains.

24 winterplay! 2020 Being... Being... winterplay! 2020 25 WINTER IN THE CITY

by Sherry Sylvain

In response to COVID-19 and the closure of venues due to restrictions on social gatherings, all events, festivals, and other group activities have either been cancelled or postponed for the immediate future. In the meantime there have been several creative virtual events taking place online. Please check our sister site’s listings of events that are happening from a screen near you www.thebuzzmag.ca/events Our regular events print section will return as soon as venues start reopening. Let’s all stay safely connected.

26 winterplay! 2020 Being... Being... winterplay! 2020 27 From The Heart

By Mychol Scully

WE HAVE THE CAR THAT Being... Visible Since coming out to myself as bisexual when MATCHES YOUR STYLE. I was in my late teens, I have tried to make As a bisexual cis-gender white myself as visible as possible, by presenting man, I often comment on the myself authentically and initiating thoughtful issue of “bi-visibility.” conversations with peers and strangers about the nature of human sexuality and the amazing 10 12 111 The fact that I live my life today presenting diversity available to us. Too often, our available primarily as a GAY man is driven in large part Dealerships Brands Models www.dag.cars options are limited by cultural norms that tend by the resistance I experience from gay men in to attempt to make all “non-standard” identities my community when I self-identify as bisexual. invisible. That’s why I try so hard to BE VISIBLE I would go so far as to say that I experience more when living my life. resistance and bisexual stereotyping from gay men than I do from heterosexuals of either sex. Much of the so-called “phobia” associated with queer identities has more to do with fear of the At this point in my life journey, I do prefer unknown than any true phobic response to a the emotional and physical companionship of specific individual or classification. cis-gender men, but I am by no means “vagina- phobic,” as many of the gay men I associate with By making the unknown known, we move appear to be. I remain emotionally committed to incrementally forward in shared understanding my former wife, and I do have an intellectual and and appreciation of our differences, and we move physical appreciation of the female form and the away from the fearful responses that separate us female spirit. and compromise our equitable existence among the human family. There is a common misconception that “being bisexual” is a transitional state somewhere between Be authentic. Be visible. Be present. “being straight” and “being gay.” The reality is that “being bisexual” is its own legitimate identity... not “sitting on the fence,” nor “being greedy” (an awful Mychol Scully is Senior Art assertion), nor “in the [gay] closet.” All of these Director for INspired Media terrible tropes deny the wonderous and wonderful publications PinkPlayMags, diversity of sexual identities of which humans theBUZZ, The Local Biz are capable. In an effort to simplify the innate Magazine, and The Pink Playful. Elegant. Unexpected. complexity of human sexuality, many retreat to Pages Directory. Mychol some version of a binary reality... a person is “this” is available for thoughtful conversation or lascivious Kingston | frontenacclub.com | 613.547.6167 or “that” but never “either” or “neither.” teasing any time at [email protected].

28 winterplay! 2020 Being... Being... winterplay! 2020 29 MEGA 30th EDITION CELEBRATION

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30 winterplay! 2020 Being... Being... winterplay! 2020 31 Winter Horoscopes JANUARY 2021 to MARCH 2021 by Julie Antoinette

Aries (March 21 – April 20) Scorpio (October 24 – November 22) You feel confused about a long-time friend. You thought you knew them Sometimes our minds lead us into dark places. Recently there has been so well but lately their mask seems to be slipping. It’s hard to trust your ample fodder for irrational fears of all types. You must be a diligent own observations against your memories because of the inner conflict gatekeeper in what you allow your mind to entertain. One thought it causes. Consider perhaps that you are changing too. Some things can quickly snowball into a black ball of raging anxiety. The great break our heart but fix our vision. philosopher Nietzsche said, "…If thou gaze long into an abyss, the Taurus (April 21 – May 21) abyss will also gaze into thee." If your anxiety feels heightened lately, take comfort that you are Sagittarius (November 23 - December not alone. Your requirement for comfort and security are currently 21) threatened by global circumstance. Your challenge is to find your You take great pride in the quality of your craft. If the world only happiness within the concept of “less is more.” Remember, life begins knew the dedication to detail you embrace, the utmost selectivity you at the end of your comfort zone. exercise, the patience you exert, the years you have given to build your craft and skill, you’d surely be more appreciated. Time to appreciate Gemini (May 22 – June 21) yourself. Stop working for a pittance and start charging more. How can In these uncertain times, many feel insecure and grasp to maintain you expect others to value you when you allow yourself to be devalued? stability. Not you. The present conditions are perfectly suited for Gemini to thrive. Multiple possibilities open up before you creating Capricorn (December 22 – January 19) the opposite dilemma – “What to choose?” The Japanese word for You have a brilliant business idea that fits society’s current crisis “crisis” also dubs for “opportunity.” The best choice is always that perfectly. Don’t dismiss it as impractical or unprofitable. Set to work which excites you the most. Follow your excitement. and draw up a business plan and then take action. Many success stories have the humblest of beginnings. You and others will mutually Cancer (June 22 – July 22) benefit from this effort. Society as a whole will be improved thanks Your sign is the least bothered by the current lockdown measures. Just to you. like the crab carrying its home on its back wherever it goes, you too are all about your home. Working from home is the most singular delight Aquarius (January 20 – February 19) you could imagine, not to mention the home improvements you’ve been You’ve grown accustomed to relying on the presence of something in making! Hunker down in your bunker! your life. You’ve always considered that presence a “sure thing” to be accessed whenever you wished. But something has changed and it is Leo (July 23 – August 22) no longer available to you. Perhaps you took it for granted? The good That thing you want to do, you should go do it. That brilliant idea that thing is that now you truly understand the value it brought you. Bear came to you in a moment of celestial inspiration gently knocks from this in mind for future gifts that are bestowed upon you. beyond an invisible door. Will you answer? You are the vessel by which it will be birthed into reality to benefit many. Release any doubt or fear Pisces (February 20 – March 20) of failure. You are merely the vessel. It does not belong to you alone, It is time to learn the power of goodbye. The gift of closure is one it belongs to all of us. of those lessons in life that we all must embrace. The burning of bridges, the final nail in the coffin, crossing the Rubicon, let bygones Virgo (August 23 – September 23) be bygones. Allow yourself to feel the pain of loss, but also, allow You must truly understand the importance of boundaries. There is a yourself to feel the relief of blessed endings and the heralding of new danger in opening yourself up to invasion by unscrupulous parasitical beginnings. types. Do not deny the power of the word “NO” with no explanation required. It will serve you greatly in preserving your energy, stability and sanity. Someone wise once said, "The only people who get upset about you setting boundaries are the ones who were benefiting from you having none." Libra (September 24 – October 23) Julie is a Sociology and Karma is hard at work checking and balancing her accounts. Why is Psychology graduate, a that unjust thing happening to you? Flip the roles and think back for Psychotherapy Intern and a your answer. How did that precious gift ever make its way into your lifelong student of the psyche. life? Apply the same thought principle. Karma never loses an address. Now that you know how karma works, make it work for you. She seeks to relay intuitive messages of guidance from the collective astrological archetypes.

32 winterplay! 2020 Being... Being... winterplay! 2020 33 We will rise again TOGETHER to make this planet a HEALTHY PLANET!

29 LOCATIONS AND GROWING