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VANCOUVER’S & NEWS 2014 16–29, JAN #532

PROUD LIFE: @dailyxtra CARY GRANT E 8 PUMPJACK SACKED EXPANDING Former facebook.com/dailyxtra facebook.com/dailyxtra E 9 Chris Kluwe says homophobia cut short DX TRAVEL: his NFL career

dailyxtra.com dailyxtra.com LAS VEGAS E10 E 22 More at at More 2 JAN 16–29, 2014 XTRA! ’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS ’S Published by GAY & LESBIAN NEWS PUBLISHER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Brandon Matheson www.westend-dentist.ca #532 JAN 16–29, 2014 Roundup EDITORIAL MANAGING EDITOR Robin Perelle STAFF REPORTER Natasha Barsotti COPY EDITOR Lesley Fraser EVENT LISTINGS [email protected] NIKO BELL NIKO CONTRIBUTE OR INQUIRE Xtra’s editorial content: [email protected] EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS ISSUE Victor Bearpark, Niko Bell, Tom Coleman, Tyler Dorchester, Jacques Gaudet, Danny Glenwright, Shauna Lewis, James Loewen, Ash McGregor, Kevin Dale McKeown, Raziel Reid, Yuki Shirato, The Canadian Press/Bob Leverone, The Canadian Press/ Genevieve Ross, Dave Yin

ART & PRODUCTION CREATIVE DIRECTOR Lucinda Wallace GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Darryl Mabey, Bryce Stuart, Landon Whittaker

ADVERTISING ADVERTISING & SALES DIRECTOR Ken Hickling NATIONAL SALES MANAGER Jeff rey Hoff man DISPLAY ADVERTISING Corey Giles, Teila Smart CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING Jessie Bennett ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Lexi Chuba DISPLAY ADVERTISING Call 604-684-9696 FESTIVAL or email [email protected]. LINE CLASSIFIEDS Call 604-684-9696 or email classifi [email protected]. The publication of an ad in Xtra does not mean that Xtra endorses the advertiser. Whistler funding Storefront features are paid advertising content. SPONSORSHIP AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Erica Bestwick, [email protected] Printed and published in . ©2014 Pink Triangle Press. Xtra is published every two falls through weeks by Pink Triangle Press. ISSN 1198-0613 Address: 501–1033 Davie St, But WinterPride organizer promises Vancouver, BC, V6E 1M7 E Offi ce hours: Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm successful gay ski week 7 Phone: 604-684-9696 Fax: 604-684-9697 Website: dailyxtra.com Email: [email protected] SUBSCRIPTIONS $55 for one year (26 issues); Dr. Dean Wershler Editorial $65 (US) in the US; $100 (US) overseas. Chris Kluwe, role model Out in the City [email protected], 800-268-XTRA General Dentistry By Robin Perelle E4 PINK TRIANGLE PRESS New patients welcome. Saturday and The pixel is political Founded 1971 Feedback E4 evening appointments available. A growing number of DIRECTORS Jim Bartley, , Xcetera E5 Glenn Kauth, Didier Pomerleau, Ken Popert, developers are pushing for Gillian Rodgerson diversity in video games E15 HONORARY DIRECTOR Colin Brownlee PRESIDENT & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Ken Popert Upfront Blitz & Shitz CEO, DIGITAL MEDIA David Walberg Battle of the bad singles CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Andrew Chang Former Duff erin manager By Raziel Reid E18 T/ dies Cary Grant remembered Real Estate E19 as a generous, kind man E8 What’s On E20 PumpJack expanding Xtra Living E21 City endorses Davie Street pub’s plan to double its space E9 Daily Xtra Travel Simpson, Thomas Cover Story Boys’ weekend in Vegas Out of bounds? Former & Associates Party like a rock star NFL punter Chris Kluwe says in the city of sin E22 his coaches fi red him for his TRIAL LAWYERS support of gay rights E10 The Brotherhood By Tyler Dorchester E25 My tale of two dads We need to encourage Barrister & Solicitor more intergenerational Practice restricted to ICBC communication among ondailyxtra.com gay people E12 personal injury claims E Activist alleges assault Still QQ after being recognized as Questioning the kiss-in protester use of ‘queer’ E JEAN-MARC HÉBERT* By Kevin Dale McKeown E13 Vancouver council aims to increase safety and 778 999 5328 services for sex workers cell COVER PHOTO: THE CANADIAN PRESS/ E Nigeria’s president signs [email protected] GENEVIEVE ROSS anti-gay bill into law *Professional Law Corporation

MORE AT DAILYXTRA.COM XTRA! JAN 16–29, 2014 3 email [email protected] comment dailyxtra.com & facebook.com/dailyxtra Comment tweet @dailyxtra

was that ‘I didn’t feel like I could be FREE 20,000 AUDITED myself. I felt like it aff ected my play- FEEDBACK CIRCULATION ing because I was always worried that VANCOUVER’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS

Chris Kluwe, role model 2014 2–15, JAN someone’s going to fi nd out who I am. #531 GETS $7M Is today the day that someone discov- E 7 Sexphobic Eight years of SEX WORK social issues? Or is it one where every- ers my secret?’ DECISION EDITORIAL Trinity Western E 9 pokes UGANDA’S ROBIN PERELLE one is tip-toeing around things and “You can’t play to your full poten- ANTI-GAY Trinity Western would be homophobic L AW worried about saying anything at all tial that way,” he says, pointing out & tokes E 10 Whether or not we because they’re worried about losing the obvious. if they only banned same-sex inti- @dailyxtra can ever defi nitively their job?” Nor can you play to your full po- macy [“Fighting Trinity Western,” Xtra #531, Jan 2]. They actually ban prove that homophobia caused Chris tential when your coaches label you a facebook.com/dailyxtra Henkl and The Kluwe blames the National Foot- Brotherhood celebrate opposite-sex intimacy outside of mar- 200 episodes of Tyler Kluwe’s termination, the now-former ball League’s older coaches and ad- “distraction” and turf you for having dailyxtra.com Dorchester’s homegrown comic strip E14 punter could teach his coaches a thing ministrators for the less-than-warm the courage to stand up for others. riage (ie, premarital sex and adultery) at More or two about being a team player. welcome gay athletes and their more The Vikings deny that Kluwe was as well, so they are more sexphobic than homophobic. Kluwe is the former Minnesota outspoken allies may receive. Though released for his activism. They main- I’d like to say, as a queer person, that Diff erent cultures tend to be dif- Vikings punter who shook the he doesn’t think homophobia is tain that the decision was “strictly this makes me want to fight even ferent ways. Gay cultures tend to be sports world in early January with pervasive in the league among play- based on his football performance.” harder and become a lawyer despite fairly Asian-phobic in spite of being his allegations that he was cut not ers — whom he generally describes I’m skeptical. Given Kluwe’s consis- this [“Trinity Western Law School hyper-sexual. Go on any popular gay for poor performance, but for his as young and supportive, cycling up tent performance throughout his ca- Approval Humiliating, Clayton Ruby site or space, and the way gay Asian vocal support of same-sex marriage from college with new attitudes — reer and the record-high net average Says,” dailyxtra.com, Dec 16]. Truth- and Indian men are treated is appall- in the run-up to Minnesota’s 2012 he says some coaches may be less yards he punted in what turned out fully, I’m questioning whether I should ing and could be classifi ed as fairly referendum. open-minded. to be his last season with the team, submit my law school application at discriminatory. However, the aver- He says he doesn’t regret “I think problems would come from I think his vocal advocacy for gay all. Is what’s happening at TWU in- age gay person just sees it as a part speaking out, even though it likely coaches and administrators because rights tipped a previously dormant dicative of a trend of discrimination of gay culture and its complex codes cost him his job. they tend to be older individuals scale out of his favour. within the legal profession? of desire. “It’s the basis of a sound society,” [with] a certain mindset,” he says. Asked if he would encourage others FREYBUG he tells me. “People have to be free to Kluwe suggests the key to chang- to speak out, despite the consequenc- If gay people don’t want their cul- (DAILYXTRA.COM) live their own lives.” ing these coaches’ attitudes lies in es he faced, Kluwe doesn’t hesitate. ture to change, why do they expect He says he’d want others to speak showing them the player potential “Yeah, there might be consequences Christians to change their culture? Farewell, Cary Grant out for him if his rights were in jeop- they’re failing to capitalize on. If for speaking out. Yeah, there is a possi- Live and let live. SAMUEL.DANIEL.1829 As the manager at the Duff erin that ardy — even if it cost them their jobs coaches need players to play at their bility that you could lose your job. But (DAILYXTRA.COM) passed the torch to Cary [“Former too. The consequences reinforce the full potential to win as many games at the end of the day, if you feel strong- Dufferin Manager Dies,” dailyxtra. need to speak out, he says. If we live in as possible, then maybe they’ll be ly about the issues — you feel that peo- You might have a point if they allowed com, Jan 9] and also managed for a a world where people can be penalized more receptive to the argument that ple should be treated with respect and “same-sex intimacy” within a same-sex stint between his times there, Cary al- for expressing their views, shouldn’t players play best when they’re free to you’re willing to fi ght for that — accept marriage, but they don’t, so you don’t. ways helped a lot of people. He taught we “commit to making it better”? express themselves fully. the consequences,” he says. 1DIZZY1 (DAILYXTRA.COM) me a lot about life. He is one of the “What kind of world do we want to “I’ve talked with former players “If you’re not willing to risk what people I need to thank for helping me live in?” he asks. “Is it one where we who came out after they fi nished play- you have, then your heart’s probably Isn’t Clayton Ruby taking this on per- to be where I am today. are free to speak out on important ing,” Kluwe says, “and their message not in it.” sonally? Is he asking for funding? Mr As Emperor 25 of Vancouver, Cary I know it’s only January, but Ruby has taken this on and it seems supported Wanda Fuca and myself im- I’ve already found my straight ally to me any requests should come from mensely. He along with Terry Wallace The outcome that we seek is this — gay and lesbian of the year. him. Disbursements and fi ling fees are will always be in my heart. RIP, Cary, people daring together to set love free. chicken feed at his level of practice. and my condolences, Jerry. Xtra is published by Pink Triangle Press, at 2 Carlton St, Ste 1600, , M5B 1J3. Robin Perelle is the managing editor BARRY DENNISON MARTY.E25 of Xtra Vancouver. (DAILYXTRA.COM) (DAILYXTRA.COM)

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4 JAN 16–29, 2014 XTRA! VANCOUVER’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS XCETERA Look like yourself ‘ICH BIN SCHWUL’ again I was never ashamed of being who I am, but it was not always easy to sit

at a table with 20 young www.dubrules.com men and listen to jokes BEFORE 604.871.0119 about gays. You let them get on with it as long as the jokes are a bit funny and not too insulting.

– Retired German soccer player Thomas Hitzlsperger in an interview with Die Zeit newspaper. The ex–English Premier League star says there’s more locker-room acceptance in and England than in the US.

COWBOY ARIAS? OMG A not-so-Orthodox calendar Like Madonna’s “Like a Prayer,” the OPERATIC 2014 Orthodox Calendar’s pin-up “priests” will “take you there.” Calendar name: Bigger, Harder, Better BROKEBACK Primary goal: “Demonstrate that Annie Proulx’s short story that inspired the 2005 Orthodox believers do not all fi t the fi lm Brokeback Mountain is undergoing an operatic backward, hidebound stereotype adaptation set to open in ’s Teatro Real Jan 28. portrayed in the press but rather Playing Heath Ledger’s Ennis Del Mar is Canadian bass- are regular people with passions, baritone Daniel Okulitch, while American tenor Thomas preferences, interests and desires.” Randle will take on the role of Jake Gyllenhaal’s Jack Twist. Dedication: Yeehaw! as Jack would say . . . or, in this case, Bravo! Tribute to LGBT Russians.

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6 JAN 16–29, 2014 XTRA! VANCOUVER’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS Upfront He really left his stamp on the bar. You could feel his spirit throughout it. Paige Turner E 8 Whistler funding falls through

But WinterPride organizer promises successful gay ski week

FESTIVAL NIKO BELL

Whistler’s WinterPride has lost $37,000 in mu- nicipal funding over a deadline dispute. City council had agreed to pitch in the money this season to fund a headlining entertainment act for the annual gay ski week; in previous years, it has vocally supported the festival but never opened its chequebook. That changed, says WinterPride’s head orga- nizer Dean Nelson, when an economic impact study commissioned by the city showed that the festival generated $9 million in economic activity for the province and $300,000 in tax revenue for the city of Whistler. According to Nelson, however, the city missed WinterPride’s proposed deadline of Nov 15, leav- ing him not enough time to book a high-profile entertainer. Whistler city hall says, in a statement to Xtra, that it met WinterPride’s deadlines and is “disap- Ski guide Michael Muller is a 21-year veteran of Whistler’s gay ski week. When Xtra met him on the slopes last year, he said he keeps returning pointed” that the funding went unused. for that feeling of family — “that cohesion, that brotherhood.” NIKO BELL The city says WinterPride will have to reapply for funding if it wants to try again next year. This year, Nelson brought on Vancouver enter- “I tell you,” he says, “if it went from Salt Lake and Howe Sound who will spend a day at Whis- Nelson says he tried to find a headliner at the tainment company Big Roger Events, and with City to Sochi, this whole gay sport issue wouldn’t tler’s inner-tube park, meet the contestants for last minute but struck out: Joan Rivers could not them DJs Ivan Gomez from Barcelona and Phil be on anyone’s radar. But in 2010, we made it on Mr Gay Canada and discuss how young people escape her TV schedule, Kathy Griffin hates cold B from San Francisco. people’s radar. We got people talking about it.” can get more involved. weather, and Lily Tomlin said yes and then backed In addition to parties with big-name DJs, Just as summer Pride parades echo the Stone- “The young people were lamenting how you out at the last minute. Nelson hopes the city will Nelson promises more of what the festival has wall riots, he says, WinterPride can’t do anything unless you’re hold the money in trust so that the festival can always been known for: days on the mountain should echo the 2010 Olympics. 19,” says Squamish gay-straight al- afford a big name next year. with experienced ski and snowboarding guides Despite Nelson’s efforts, Winter- WINTERPRIDE 2014 liance organizer Margo Dent. She Sun, Jan 26–Sun, Feb 2 “In my opinion it’s a bad investment for the and casual après-ski socials. Pride has remained a less inclusive gaywhistler.com brought the idea to Nelson, and they municipality to rush it that quick. We wanted to do But Nelson hopes to build WinterPride into event than summer Pride festivals. planned a day on the mountain that it, but we didn’t want to sacrifice anything either,” more than just a party. He sees significance in The vast majority of attendees are did not involve alcohol or leather. Nelson says. “So when we saw it just wasn’t going the festival’s near coincidence with the Winter male, and many of the women’s events from 2013 Dent wants to create more events at Winter- to work, we decided we had to pull the plug now.” Olympics in Sochi, Russia, and wants to shape have fallen through this year. The entertainment, Pride that will be both safe for kids and interesting Despite this hiccup, Nelson promises this year’s the festival into a cultural symbol of gay people in from Mr Gay World to the mostly male DJs, re- enough to get them involved. WinterPride will be bigger and better than ever. sport — an echo of the first Olympic flects the clientele. “I think when we’re dealing with our youth He has grown the festival every year since he quit at the Vancouver Games in 2010. But Nelson hopes to broaden his base in other we need to meet them where they’re at,” she his job and mortgaged his house to save Whistler’s Nelson helped found Pride House and sees it ways. This year WinterPride will welcome its first says. “How do we create a party that’s youth- gay ski week in 2006. as a moment of gay history worth remembering. youth group, a handful of students from Squamish appropriate but still fun and exciting?”

MORE AT DAILYXTRA.COM XTRA! JAN 16–29, 2014 7 Former Dufferin manager dies

Cary Grant If the patrons drank remembered too much, he would ask for their car keys and as a generous, give them a room kind man upstairs in the hotel. He wanted to make sure PROUD LIFE everyone was safe. SHAUNA LEWIS PAIGE TURNER Cary Grant, former manager of the Dufferin pub and a supportive father figure to many, died after a lengthy illness Dec 20. He was 74 years old. loner, I didn’t have places to go. At the Dufferin Born in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, on March 7, we just put the food out. We don’t announce it. 1939, Grant was the only child of Edward and Ha- We don’t advertise it. Just anyone that comes in zel Grant. Predeceased by both parents, he is sur- has something to eat. I’ve always felt that people vived by his partner of 32 years, Jerry Hatchard. have to maintain their dignity and their pride. Hatchard could not be reached for comment, “The Dufferin puts in some money; I put in but longtime friends are remembering Grant as a some money,” he said. “We do it for the street selfless, kind, down-to-earth and generous man. people. There’s a lot of people in less fortunate “When he was managing the bar he was one circumstances, and rather than identify them, we of the gang, and we had a lot of fun with him,” just do it [the Christmas dinner] for everybody. says Earnie Doyle, a regular former patron of They have to maintain their dignity.” the Dufferin. “He was a very honest, loving, trustworthy man Grant managed the popular , which sat at and a true brother to me,” Byron Longclaws says. the corner of Seymour and Smithe streets, on and Longclaws, former chief of the Greater Van- off for at least a decade. The Dufferin became an couver Native Cultural Society, chose Grant as his important place for Grant and a host of hustlers, honorary chief in 1996. “I chose him because he was go-go dancers, drag queens and patrons who regu- manager of the Dufferin and he helped promote larly congregated over cheap pints, raunchy jokes, and do shows for fundraising,” Longclaws says. campy entertainment and infectious laughter. Grant hosted fundraising events weekly at the Grant made the edgy, gritty, dimly lit tavern a Dufferin and gave countless donations to com- welcoming space for all genders, sexual orienta- munity charities through the work of groups such tions and classes. It was a place where patrons as the Dogwood Monarchist Society, the House celebrated, mourned, hooked up, broke up and of Just Cuz and the Knights of . “[Grant] built lasting friendships. was very openhearted to a lot of people in the “You really got a full cross-section of everybody community, not just the Native Society, but to all in there,” says former Dufferin entertainer Paige societies,” Longclaws says. Turner. “I spent so much time there that it felt When the Dufferin changed ownership and like home. It was my living room.” eventually closed its doors in 2007, Grant was still “It’s got a lot of charm,” Grant told Xtra in 2004. on the frontlines, lobbying for the iconic gay pub. “That’s probably the last [gay bar] of its kind in “He tried to hold on to [the Dufferin] as much as North America. It’s a community centre. It’s a he could,” Turner says. “It was a huge battle for street bar. It caters to everybody, from the very him. He really left his stamp on the bar. You could rich to the very poor.” feel his spirit throughout it.” “He was like a father,” Turner says. “If you had “Once the Dufferin went, the whole feeling of a problem you could go to him and he would stop community went,” Turner says quietly. and listen.” “After the Dufferin had closed, we had to realize “If the patrons drank too much, he would ask that there wouldn’t be another place like it — and for their car keys and give them a room upstairs there will never be another man like Cary for the in the hotel. He wanted to make sure everyone community,” Longclaws says. was safe,” she adds. “He was the Dufferin,” says Al Houston, who Grant’s generosity was particularly appreciated worked as a doorman at the bar. “He saw that I was during the holidays, when he would host an annual struggling with personal issues and he offered me Christmas dinner for patrons, an act of kindness a job, and we became friends.” inspired by his own struggles with loneliness as a “If he could help, he was there to help,” Houston teen growing up in Toronto, Turner says. “Christ- says. “Cary was respected by many.” mas was the time [Grant] found the loneliest, and When pressed to define Grant’s character in a he always wanted people to feel love and have a few words, Turner falls silent. safe place to go.” “It’s really hard to put who Cary was into “I can paint a picture of this lonely gay kid words,” she says softly. “He really believed in in Toronto,” Grant told Xtra in 2004. “When Cary Grant poses in front of the old Dufferin pub and hotel in 2005. “He was a very honest, bringing the community together... He was an Christmas Day came around, and, being a bit of a loving, trustworthy man,” says Byron Longclaws. JACQUES GAUDET amazing person with a heart of gold.”

8 JAN 16–29, 2014 XTRA! VANCOUVER’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS 175 tables of bargains on Deluxe 20th Century Junque! Vintage jewellery, boho chic accessories, memorabilia, retro decor & kitsch, collectibles & much, much more... Plus drop-in appraisals all day! Full details on Website. Sunday s JAN 19 s 10am-3pm Croatian Cultural Centre 3250 Commercial Drive at 16th Avenue Vancouver s Near Skytrain co-owner Vince Marino says “everything is lining up” for the Admission $5 at door s Free Parking s Food Services popular pub to expand into the former Info s 604.980.3159 s www.21cpromotions.com bakery next door. JAMES LOEWEN PumpJack expanding Real Change… City endorses Davie Street Lasting Change Life Coach Doug Anderson pub’s plan to double its space Personal & Business Coaching/ GAY SPACE the provincial liquor licensing, which [email protected] | 778.877.6276 SHAUNA LEWIS will issue the fi nal licence before the www.21stcenturydynamics.com | www.povcanada.com establishment can expand.” The PumpJack Pub will expand its Marino can’t say when the renova- space and programming in time for tions will be complete but hopes the 2014 Pride events, co-owner Vince larger space will be open to the public Marino says. “Our space will double,” by spring. “We want it complete as he tells Xtra. soon as possible because we are paying The popular pub, located at 1167 Da- rent on the space and it’s not generat- vie St, will grow into the neighbouring ing any revenue right now,” he notes. venue, formerly the Cho Pain bakery. Once the province issues the licence, PumpJack took over the bakery’s lease the pub owners will have to apply for on Aug 1. a development permit, which would “We’ve been looking at that space for consider factors such as parking and a while,” Marino says. “The community a building permit for the structural has said they’d like a bigger pub.” modifi cations. The city will then have Before the expansion could proceed, to issue a new business licence to refl ect the pub had to apply for a permit and the changes, Gulyas says, adding that produce architectural design plans. the pub’s hours will remain unchanged. “There are steps to complete,” he The process is “simply a part of li- explains. censing and expansion,” Marino says. City council supported the pub’s But “everything is lining up,” he says. application to increase its capacity on “It has been a positive process with Dec 18 and endorsed its request for a the city.” new licence. “The community has been support- “Council approved the staff recom- ive of us [as well],” he adds. mendation to endorse the application Pub patrons can expect some excit- for an increase in the number of liquor ing new changes following the expan- seats from 107 to 244,” city spokesper- sion, Marino promises. “We will be son Maureen Gulyas confi rms. “Coun- able to expand our programming, have cil direction is not an approval but a larger dancefl oor and be able to host an endorsement that is forwarded to more community events.”

MORE AT DAILYXTRA.COM XTRA! JAN 16–29, 2014 9 OUTCOVER STORY OF BOUNDS? Former NFL punter Chris Kluwe says his coaches fired him for his support of gay rights ROBIN PERELLE

hen Chris Kluwe proached by a group called Minnesotans his office to ask him to tone it down. agreed to speak for Marriage Equality as a constitu- When he refused, Kluwe alleges, Priefer, out for gay rights tional amendment to limit marriage the assistant coach in charge of special in 2012, he never to one man and one woman made its teams, including the punting crew, and expected that it way toward the ballot box. (The amend- Kluwe’s direct supervisor, grew increas- would cost him ment would be defeated, making Min- ingly hostile, asking him, among other his million- nesota one of four states to support things, if he’d written any more letters dollar career on gay marriage in the November 2012 defending “the gays” and denouncing the field. referenda, along with Maine, Maryland the idea of two men kissing. Kluwe was a and Washington.) Kluwe claims Priefer’s antagonism Wpunter for the in the By November, tension had escalated culminated in a special-teams meeting , arguably the not only on the election front, but be- in November 2012 where he declared, best punter the Vikings had ever had. hind the Vikings bench, Kluwe alleges. “We should round up all the gays, send His last year on the field, he averaged At the season’s outset, Kluwe says, he them to an island, and then nuke it until 39.7 net yards per punt, the highest of sought and obtained permission from it glows.” his consistently solid career. the team’s legal department to publicly Priefer denies the allegations and, It wasn’t enough to keep his job. support gay marriage. A few weeks later, in a public statement, says he does not In a Deadspin article that reverber- he published an open letter respond- tolerate discrimination of any kind. ated through the sports world in early ing to Maryland delegate Emmett C “I personally have gay family members January, Kluwe alleges that he was fired Burns Jr, who had pressured the NFL’s who I love and support just as I do any by “two cowards and a bigot” — the other outspoken gay rights advocate, family member,” he adds. cowards being Vikings general manager Baltimore Ravens linebacker Brendon The Vikings also deny the allegations Rick Spielman and now-fired head coach Ayanbadejo, to stop speaking out. and, in their own public statement (who was axed himself Burns’s letter, written on Maryland released Jan 2, promise to “thoroughly Former Minnesota Vikings punter Vikings public relations staff refused Dec 30 after a disappointing season). House of Delegates letterhead, leaned review this matter.” Chris Kluwe (pictured here in a to comment further and referred Xtra Kluwe reserves the bigot status for on Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti to “As an organization, the Vikings con- 2011 game against the Carolina back to the statement. Panthers) says he wasn’t looking special-teams coordinator . “take the necessary action” to “inhibit sistently strive to create a supportive, for a career change when he It’s hard to prove causality in cases Though he can’t say for sure, Kluwe such expressions from your employee.” respectful and accepting environment started advocating for same-sex of discrimination-based firing, Kluwe says he’s “pretty confident” that his gay- Kluwe was shocked. “I find it incon- for all of our players, coaches and front marriage in 2012. “I was actually tells Xtra. “I mean, it’s always going to rights activism got him fired. ceivable that you are an elected official of office personnel. We do not tolerate looking for a contract extension,” be hard to prove because unless you can he says. “My [punting] were still Maryland’s state government,” he wrote discrimination at any level,” the state- THE CANADIAN PRESS/ BOB LEVERONE read someone’s mind, you can’t say with exactly the same, and I’d been doing to Burns in a letter that quickly went ment says, adding that the team would certainty what their intent was.” everything that the coaches wanted me viral. “Your vitriolic hatred and bigotry not have impinged Kluwe’s free speech. Asked what other factors could have to do and no one had ever expressed dis- make me ashamed and disgusted to “Any notion that Chris was released contributed to his firing, Kluwe openly satisfaction with how I was performing, think that you are in any way responsible from our football team due to his stance examines the possibilities. so I look at everything and I — the thing for shaping policy at any level.” on marriage equality is entirely inaccu- There’s his age, he quickly points that changed is I started speaking up,” Suddenly thrust into a spotlight of rate and inconsistent with team policy. out. At 32, he’s not getting any younger, Kluwe tells Xtra by phone Jan 9. gay-rights support, Kluwe’s coaches Chris was released strictly based on though he’s equally quick to point out Kluwe began speaking up during seemed less than comfortable. his football performance,” the state- that punters tend to have more longev- the summer of 2012, when he was ap- Kluwe says Frazier called him into ment says. ity on the football field, and he knows of

10 JAN 16–29, 2014 XTRA! VANCOUVER’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS ment on the Vikings roster kicked some- last year took the helm of the campaign “Chris wasn’t a top-10 punter,” he no bites. He was briefly signed to the what shorter than he did in net average launched by hockey’s Burke family and notes. “If Chris was a top-10 punter, I Oakland Raiders, but the team cut him yards this season. friends in 2012 to change the culture really doubt that we’d be having this in favour of an up-and-coming star Kluwe also claims that Priefer repeat- of sport. conversation.” punter, he says. edly asked him to kick shorter punts But he’s reluctant to conclude that the If the Vikings could find a younger Davis says the Raiders’ willingness to to give his teammates a better chance NFL as a whole is homophobic. “Let’s player to punt with the same success sign Kluwe and give him a chance shows of getting downfield in time to prevent not single-story the NFL,” he says. “Let’s rate for less money, that would be a at least one NFL team wasn’t put off by their opponents’ run-backs. Not an not tell an incomplete narrative.” financial decision, he says, and the NFL his advocacy. unreasonable request from a special- Though he thinks there’s “still a lot of is a business. It would be easy to conclude that the teams coach and one that Kluwe says he work to be done around homophobia in Plus, the NFL doesn’t like distrac- Vikings cut Kluwe for his advocacy, gladly took for the team. But it affected sports,” he also says football is like any tion, he continues. If coaches perceive Davis says, but it may not be accurate. his numbers, he says. other industry: there will be individuals a player to be a distraction, and his pro- “I can’t be sure if that’s true or not. I Then there’s the money question: who are homophobic, but that doesn’t ductivity doesn’t justify the distraction, would hope that it’s not true. Kluwe had one year left on his five-year, define the league’s culture overall. “I’m then he’d be in danger of getting cut. The “I want to believe that he wasn’t let $8.3 million contract, making him one of not painting a picture of kumbaya and coaches might begin to ask themselves, go because of his LGBT activism.” the highest-paid punters in the league. roses,” he says, “but I do believe that “Can we find someone cheaper to do this Whether Kluwe’s allegations prove But, he says, the Vikings never ap- players are a lot more accepting than kind of work?” true or not, Davis says his courage to proached him with a request to decrease speak out should be honoured. “The his salary. “They never talked to me work that Chris has done has been bold about money being an issue at all. IF WHAT CHRIS SAID IS TRUE, THEN I BELIEVE THAT and courageous,” he says. “Any time “And I was actually cheaper than other THE VIKINGS ORGANIZATION AND THE NFL WILL COME someone tells their truth, it changes punters that came in at a similar time as the world for better. I did and had similar numbers,” he adds. DOWN HARD ON THE PEOPLE WHO WERE INVOLVED. “If what Chris said is true, then I be- Asked if he was looking for a career lieve that the Vikings organization and WADE DAVIS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF YOU CAN PLAY change and wanted to go out with a the NFL will come down hard on the bang, Kluwe laughs. “No, no. I was actu- people who were involved and make sure ally looking for a contract extension! I’d that it doesn’t happen again,” he adds. been talking to my agent about talking to the Vikings,” he says, adding that he had been hoping to play with the team espite the potential consequenc- for another four to five years. es, Kluwe says he doesn’t regret Everything seemed fine, he reiter- speaking out. ates — until he started speaking out for “If the positions were re- gay rights. D versed and I needed someone to “My punting stats were very con- speak out for me if I was in trouble, and sistent year to year, and, like I said, no they could potentially lose their jobs, one had ever expressed dissatisfaction then I’d want them to do so,” he says. with the job that I was doing,” he says. “I mean, it’s just a game. I think basic “What’s the one thing that changed? I human rights are probably a little more started speaking out on same-sex mar- important than playing a children’s riage rights.” game, when all is said and done.” Asked if he’s concerned that other straight allies might be discouraged ade Davis doesn’t want to from speaking out now, given the way believe that homophobia things ended for him with the Vikings, cut short Kluwe’s career in Kluwe says they should know that with the NFL. activism comes potential consequences. The retired NFL player, “If you’re not willing to risk what you W As a gay man, retired NFL player and now the executive director of the You Can and new executive director of the You Play campaign, Wade Davis doesn’t want to believe that Chris Kluwe was have, then your heart’s probably not in Can Play campaign to challenge ho- fired for his gay-rights advocacy. COURTESY OF WADE DAVIS it,” he says. mophobia in sports and make fields and “What kind of world do we want to rinks more welcoming to gay players, we give them credit for.” “I think distraction is a euphemism live in?” he asks. “Is it one where we are is struggling with this story. Kluwe, too, says his teammates were for non-corporate behaviour,” Kluwe free to speak out on important social “This is the most complicated story generally supportive. Even the players contends. Front office and administra- issues? Or is it one where everyone is that I’ve ever had to speak about,” he who disagreed with him expressed their tive types get concerned about players tiptoeing around things and worried says candidly. “The hardest thing about opinions respectfully, he says. speaking out on contentious subjects about saying anything at all because this story is that either you’re going to It’s not a question of pervasive, insti- because if fans object, it could cost the they’re worried about losing their job?” several his age who recently signed bash the NFL or you’re going to bash tutionalized homophobia throughout team profits, he says. Davis says it’s essential that straight contracts. Chris. For someone who is a gay man the NFL, he agrees, adding that Vikings Kluwe wonders how big a distraction allies keep speaking out. “They create His performance hasn’t deteriorated, and an ex-NFL player, I’m like, ‘Oh owner Zygi Wilf was also supportive and he could have been to his teammates space for LGBT individuals to speak he continues. If anything, he had his my god, how do I speak about this and even shook his hand and encouraged since, after a disappointing season out for themselves,” he says. “I think strongest statistics in 2012 (the year he be respectful of two entities that I him to keep speaking out. in 2011, they unexpectedly made the that’s what someone like Chris is doing: was so outspoken). He continues to punt believe in?’” It’s his coaches’ bigotry and coward- playoffs in 2012, the year he was so he’s stepping up, he’s showing bold and well — “45 yards outside the numbers Davis didn’t come out until two years ice that got him fired, Kluwe alleges. outspoken. courageous leadership. with hang time, and in the NFL that’s after he left the NFL, but he doesn’t Davis has a hard time with that, Still, Kluwe concedes that “the dis- “His career is over. There’s very little supposed to keep your job as a punter blame the league. “I had so much self- too. “I do believe that what Chris said traction word” probably kept him from chance that Chris will ever play again. at least until you’re 38 or 39,” he says. hatred and internalized homophobia happened, happened,” he says, “but I getting a spot on another roster after But that speaks to what the movement Admittedly, his consistently solid that I had to really work through,” he can’t just point to that as the reason the Vikings released him. “I think other needs — someone to be that bold and numbers were only “middle-of-the- says. The NFL didn’t keep him in the he was let go.” teams look at it and they’re like, ‘This is that courageous.” pack, sometimes a little lower” when closet, he says; he was already there. “The NFL is a what-have-you-done- the guy who is willing to speak out on Stripped of his punting duties, Kluwe ranked against all NFL punters. Though These days, his life is considerably for-me-lately league,” Davis says, asked things, and if that’s the case, then we’re doesn’t know what he’ll do next. “I’ll it’s also worth noting that the pack, in different. He’s been out to family and to provide an alternate explanation for going to pick a different guy.’” probably keep writing,” he says. “I find this case, consists of the best football friends for eight years and publicly out Kluwe’s termination. “If you aren’t at the Kluwe tried out last spring for Chi- that I enjoyed it. Watch my kids grow up. players in the world, and his replace- for two. He works with gay youth and top of your game 24/7, you could be cut.” cago, Buffalo and Cincinnati but got And just see what life throws at me.”

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GUEST COLUMN to graduate schools, immigrating to a certain age, on Grindr. YUKI SHIRATO Canada, dealing with a long-distance Professors Christopher Hajek and relationship, breaking up with my Howard Giles have for many years writ- I have two dads. It is not that I was boyfriend of seven years, and moving ten about intergenerational communi- raised by a gay couple. It’s because I on to my next relationship. cation among . They pointed GENERAL met my gay dad, Bob, in my adult life. Bob is my parents’ age. He lived the out that younger gay men fear growing He taught one of my classes when history of gay movements in the US older in a gay culture that places an ex- I moved from Japan to study at the and the world. He told me about the cessively high value on physical appear- DENTISTRY University of California at Berkeley. unforgettable day of Harvey Milk’s ance. Many researchers also find more When I found out that he was also gay, assassination in 1978. He became the discrimination against older people in I sought out help from him. I needed a second openly gay tenured professor gay culture than in straight culture. Offering cosmetic restorative gay mentor... badly. at Princeton in 1982. He has testified Whatever the reason, it is a great dentistry. Botox & Invisalign Braces At that time, after years of emotional extensively in California about the eco- shame that there is little, if any, com- in a comfortable environment upheaval, I was finally able to accept nomic impact of HIV-related legislative munication between younger and my own sexuality and came out to my measures and unmarried couples. He older gay people. parents and close friends. My parents lived through widespread homophobia In the straight world, most young were devastated by their only son’s in the 1970s, the HIV pandemic in the people can seek advice from older confession, and we couldn’t actually 1980s, Pride marches in the 1990s, and generations through biological family dr. langston discuss anything with cool heads. A same-sex marriage in the 2000s. or everyday communal ties — parents, few of my friends were supportive yet, Don’t get me wrong. I love my par- brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, raymond understandably, couldn’t grasp my ents. Fortunately for me, they have grandparents, friendly neighbours and deeply personal struggle. become extremely supportive about friends’ parents. They tell you how to I had never met openly gay adults my sexuality. Moreover, they have been cope with your first love and how to until I met Bob. In Japan I had wanted married for 40 years. They will always respond to racial slurs at school. to, and I actually spoke with some older be great role models and have shown There is a tremendous amount of successful (closeted) gay people to ob- me, through words and conduct, what wisdom, experience and insight among tain guidance — politicians, professors, family, relationship, acceptance, love older gays about gay-specific concerns. actors and business executives. Their and affection means. Nevertheless, my I believe that it is extremely important Serving the advice was basically, “Do not come out straight parents were not necessarily to recognize the existence of excessive Community dr. anna publicly if you want to succeed profes- best placed to teach their gay son about, age-based discrimination in our gay preis sionally.” It was not an option for me; for example, sexually transmitted dis- culture and to deliberately encourage since 2000 I wanted to be honest to myself in all eases or homophobia in the workplace. intergenerational communication aspects of my life. As I go through my 20s, I feel (and among gays. It requires efforts from Since then, Bob has generously given many others agree) that young gays both sides; the gay young need to be me mentorship at every crucial step of have a propensity to abhor old(er) gays more proactive, while the older genera- suite 512-1033 davie street my gay and (non-gay) life. Coming to no matter what. For instance, it is very tion must approach the young as the on-site parking available 604.687.1008 terms with telling my parents, com- common to see an upper age limit, or a children they never had but dreamed ing out to my colleagues, applying filtering out of guys who are older than about. We should start talking.

12 JAN 16–29, 2014 XTRA! VANCOUVER’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS Questioning the use of ‘queer’ Three hours later, we agreed to keep talking

STILL QQ Gordon was also against the term KEVIN DALE “queer,” pointing out that it emerged MCKEOWN from academic gender studies in the 1990s and is now used by a new genera- It seemed such a simple tion of activists. “It’s not a term that’s idea. Assemble a few of the folks I con- been generally accepted in the com- sider friends and, over coff ee, get them munity, no matter what queer activists talking about the question of commu- might think.” nity and identity and the terms we use “Except maybe younger people,” Reg to identify ourselves. noted. “It has an edgy feel to it, and the I envisioned about an hour of compar- young like to be edgy. They don’t know The members of the coffee klatch, from left to right: Antonette Rea, Kevin Dale McKeown, Reg Manning, Kona and Gordon ing experiences before perhaps reach- the history of the word’s use.” Hardy. ASH MCGREGOR ing a consensus on whether we still “Queer was defi nitely seen as deroga- constitute a distinct community and, if tory in the ’70s,” Gordon said, adding trans person to be,” Antonette pointed a community — and, if so, whether we are talking and listening. so, what we are comfortable calling it. that, despite some reservations about out, “and being safe was more impor- need to identify as a community and Essentially, we’re just a group of The group I assembled included an imitating the American movement, tant than the names we were calling whether we need a physical place to call queer/gay/lesbian/trans folks who have aging gossip columnist (moi), an old- Vancouver’s Gay Liberation Front pre- ourselves.” our community’s “centre.” decided not to wait for the appropriate school gay liberationist from the 1970s ferred the word gay. We also read a letter sent by an Xtra We agreed that, mostly for reasons government-struck committee or ap- (Gordon Hardy), a senior drag queen Kona took the wider view that queer reader in response to my earlier column of safety, our community, whatever we plicable board of directors (bless them (Reg Manning), a leatherdyke (Kona), and gay could both be useful: both say, introducing this discussion. He’s asked call ourselves, needs a place of its own. all) to tell us what they’ve decided. As and a trans former sex worker and per- “I’m not heterosexual” without opening to remain anonymous for now but is And then, since we were hitting the Kona identifi es herself, we could all be formance poet (Antonette Rea) ranging doors to a lot of explanation. happy to have his thoughts shared: three-hour mark and were all severely “community disorganizers” at large! in age from our early 40s to early 70s. “I’m not going to say I’m a leatherdyke “I’m a bit younger than you and I have over-caff einated, we agreed to table the Next meeting we’ll try to narrow our How could we not agree? in a casual conversation and then have never liked the term queer. I think it discussion of what that should look focus a bit and drill down to some core Three hours later, having exhausted to break that down for someone,” she may be empowering to use it amongst like — and how it should be identifi ed questions that we’d like to hear ad- ourselves and our welcome at the café, said. “Queer is an entry point to estab- ourselves (maybe), but it is fundamen- to create the biggest, safest comfort dressed by our wider circles of friends. we agreed on one important thing: that lishing what I’m not.” tally a term of oppression. We need zone for the greatest number — until Then we’ll be asking you to come to we need to keep talking. “Sometimes it’s just the shortest and something aspirational and affi rming our next coff ee date, which we heartily coff ee with us and continue the con- We began by asking each other an most diplomatic route, the easiest thing for ourselves, but which also can be used agreed to hold soon. versation. identity question: “Are you queer?” to say that gives someone just enough with those outside our communities to If this sounds a bit disjointed and all There was certainly no consensus there. information,” Gordon agreed. build us up.” over the boards, well then you have a Kevin Dale McKeown was Vancou- “Definitely not!” was Reg’s table- Sometimes it’s more convenient to And so we moved from the momen- good sense of our conversation. To me ver’s first out gay columnist, penning thumping response. “It’s a negative be “queer” or “gay” even if that doesn’t tarily irresolvable question of what we the most important thing is that a group QQ Writes... Page 69 for the Georgia word, there’s no good way of using it, quite cover your own bases. “The gay should call ourselves as a community to of people who come from distinctly dif- Straight through the early 1970s. Contact and I don’t accept it.” community was the safest place for a the question of whether we are in fact ferent “tribes” of the “rainbow nation” him at [email protected].

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14 JAN 16–29, 2014 XTRA! VANCOUVER’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS After the show I’m giving free STD tests. In my mouth. Out inthe City RuPaul's Drag Race contestant Willam Belli E 18 The pixel is political A growing number of developers are pushing for diversity in video games

TECHNOLOGY the University of Washington. DAVE YIN She tries to convey the split- second, random and often un- Lim is a deceptively simple game. I was confused conscious decisions she has to when I fi rst booted it up. Dull brownish squares make to try to maximize her make up the title in large capital letters — it all safety in any given situation. She equates looked almost too minimalistic. playing Lim to “walking into a space and I pride myself on the number of games I’ve having no idea how people are going to played over the years, so I was a bit abashed that I treat you.” couldn’t immediately clue in to what to do. There The same sense of dread returned when are no points. No timer. There is no heterosexual, I played Mainichi, created by game critic and San dark-haired white male protagonist in his 30s. In Francisco State University student Mattie Brice. Lim, I controlled one of the squares, and the vague While Mainichi’s gameplay is diff erent — it uses goal seemed to be to navigate through the winding human sprites to simulate the everyday barrage of pathway in which I was trapped. putdowns Brice faces as a trans woman of colour But the task isn’t easy. Other coloured squares — it clearly explores similar themes. As with Lim, of either brown or blue would perceive me as the the message derived here was largely up to me. opposite colour — as the enemy — and before The only title in the same vein to off er its au- long they were attacking from all directions. The dience an explanation is perhaps also the most screen shook violently as each square slammed well-known among fl ash-game enthusiasts and into me. I was weak and easily pushed around, one of the genre’s earliest entries. Dys4ia, by unable to fi ght back. American game designer and author Anna An- I didn’t immediately see the option of pressing thropy, fi rst appeared last year on Newgrounds, Clockwise from top left: a graphic from Dys4ia, “Z to blend in” — perhaps I chose to ignore it. the do-it-yourself game community website. a game about hormone replacement therapy; a There is no timer, after all, and no “lives”; even if Shortly after, it was featured on the front page, screenshot from Mainichi, a game that simulates I was knocked around, my square was invincible. and today the game has garnered nearly 450,000 the everyday putdowns that designer Mattie Brice faces as a trans woman of colour; a screenshot Except I wasn’t. views and 800 player reviews. from Lim, a video game that reflects the It didn’t take long for the endless assaults to Anthropy’s disclaimer reads, “This is an auto- frustrations faced by trans people; Merritt Kopas, become grating. Not blending in became in- biographical game about my experiences with who designed Lim; game designer Mattie Brice. creasingly diffi cult until fi nally, progress became hormone replacement therapy.” impossible. I betrayed my instincts and hit Z. such a powerful moment of empathy, where Q playing this game had really allowed the student Q to identify with the character. As a It came as no surprise to the designers when the woman myself, it was encouraging to see her for Few would guess just from playing Lim that key hyper-personal nature of their games and their a few moments really understanding what my parts of the game draw on Merritt Kopas’s experi- unusual subject matter garnered attention. day is like.” ences of choosing a public bathroom early in her Some notable reaction came from Samantha For Ivan Metzger, who was also in Allen’s class, transition. Since she created the game in August Allen and her students. The instructor and PhD these games bridge cultural gaps that “interfere last year, the Toronto native, currently based in student at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, with people’s abilities to relate and empathize.” Seattle, has come to be regarded as one of several decided to incorporate Lim, Mainichi and Dys4ia cerns that her classroom presentations would be He says Dys4ia, in particular, opened his eyes. key people pushing the boundaries of the types into her fi rst-year gender-studies course. reduced to “a display, a spectacle that my students As tempting as it would be to slap a “queer” label of experiences video games can deliver, and the When she speaks with me, she has just returned could observe but not one that would require their on these short interactive experiences, doing so types of voices they can represent. from a trip to Vancouver, where she presented at active engagement.” would not do them justice, Kopas says. Among them, some of the most visible — and the second annual Feminists in Games workshop. Teaching with video games gave them a tool The label would also pose a barrier to those in- vocal — are queer women like Kopas. “Traditionally, the format of the classroom to learn and explore for themselves rather than terested in trying their hand, Brice says. “People “I wanted to inspire that feeling of self-ques- is that I’m up there lecturing,” Allen says. “I’m being lectured to, she says. have started to think because they aren’t queer, tioning and self-doubt in the player,” Kopas tells responsible for guiding [students] through it Allen describes one particularly touching mo- they can’t make these games,” she writes in an me over Skype, recalling her fi rst summer moving and offering them possible interpretations of ment when a girl playing Mainichi encountered email. “Nothing’s further from the truth!” through the world as a trans woman. At the time, the material.” in-game street harassment. “It looked like she she was doing graduate studies in sociology at During the past term, she had expressed con- was about to cry,” she says. “For me, this was continued next page E

MORE AT DAILYXTRA.COM XTRA! JAN 16-29, 2014 15 American author Anna Anthropy is the creator of Dys4ia, a video game that draws on her experiences with hormone replacement therapy. Happy Winter Pride Below, a screenshot from Dys4ia.

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Gerald Finley baritone Julius Drake piano The pixel is political If video games E continued from previous page are compared SCHUBERT’S WINTERREISE Q unfavourably to

Few have been more instrumental in other art forms . . . pushing for diversity in video games it is likely a result “Mr. Finley has long been than Anthropy. recognized as a recitalist In her book Rise of the Videogame Zin- of how limited a esters: How Freaks, Normals, Amateurs, of rare versatility, a Artists, Dreamers, Drop-outs, Queers, perspective they concert artist of the first Housewives, and People Like You Are have offered up rank, and an opera singer Taking Back an Art Form, she argues you’d imagine to be very active in the that it is people in marginalized groups indie game sphere. to this point. of distinction.” who must help the medium mature. And he was until this past May, when GAME DESIGNER & –THE NEW YORK TIMES “If video games are compared un- he took to the gaming website Gama- AUTHOR ANNA ANTHROPY favourably to other art forms such sutra to denounce the community for as novels and songs and films... it is what he described as “exclusionary likely a result of how limited a per- behaviour.” culture where anyone can make a game spective [they] have offered up to this “The more I have reached out into and not be silenced... that’s a change point,” Anthropy writes. “If a form has the community, the more I have come that will transform our culture.” attracted so many authors, so many up against people who are in less privi- Within the last few years, a number voices, that several of them come from leged positions than myself,” Gallant of alternative game conferences and experiences outside the social norm... says. workshops have sprung up, including can’t that form be said to have reached He says he began to notice prejudice the Queerness and Games, Different cultural maturity?” from friends and colleagues, some he Games and Feminists in Games con- Anthropy, Kopas, Brice and Allen had long admired. He cited one ex- ferences, all of which offer views on are only a few of a growing choir of ample in which a friend from the local new directions in which the medium voices calling for greater diversity in indie scene harassed and eventually can head. video games. Yet to the industry, they drove a female colleague out of town Similarly, Toronto’s Dames Making Tickets from are decidedly outsiders. while the community stood by. Games organization, of which Gallant This fight is also taking place in the For the first time, Gallant says, “it is now a member, provides program- $ world of mainstream gaming, but reb- shook my faith.” ming workshops to minorities, includ- 25 SUN JAN 26 | 7:30 PM els like David Gallant are few and far This culture is all too familiar to ing members of the queer community. Vancouver Playhouse between. Anthropy, who says she, on the other As recently as March, the Tropes The day I meet Gallant in Toronto, hand, has no misgivings about influ- vs Women in Video Games web series he has an air of defeat about him. The encing mainstream gaming. Instead, launched, having raised 26 times its VANCOUVER RECITAL SOCIETY Brampton-based game developer is she focuses her efforts entirely on initial fundraising goal. As of writing, known in some circles as the creator getting newly available game-making it has already produced several videos VANRECITAL.COM 604.602.0363 of I Get This Call Every Day, a satiri- tools into the hands of marginalized analyzing sexism in games. Series Sponsor Concert Sponsor Season Sponsor cal game about working at a customer people. “Our discussions of politics Even if judging solely based on the Robert Lemon service call centre — a game that got seem to always be focused on... images number of people doing work similar in memory of Robert Ledingham him fired from the Canada Revenue of marginalized people, rather than on to Kopas, Brice and Anthropy, change Agency. A bearded man in his early the people themselves and on helping is coming. 30s, Gallant looks the part of someone them gain power,” she says. “Building a “I’m heartened,” Kopas says.

16 JAN 16–29, 2014 XTRA! VANCOUVER’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS Global Dance Connections series

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MORE AT DAILYXTRA.CA XTRA! JAN 16–29, 2014 17 Battle of the bad singles The drag races to Vancouver

BLITZ & SHITZ RAZIEL REID

Host Michelle Visage called it their fabulous “shit-show,” which Willam Belli took literally. Her unique version of “Scream & Shout” was renamed 523 Parliament St. “Scream & Shit” — and let it all out! Tel 647.988.489 Girl brought the raunch. Visit www.ftjco.com/custom “After the show I’m giving free STD tests,” she said. “In my mouth.” On Jan 10, RuPaul’s Drag Race Battle of the Seasons played The Commodore Ballroom. Brought Public Hearing on to you by OUTtv, TFD Presents and Live Nation, the queens rep- West End Zoning resented cast members from the reality show’s fi ve seasons, including Carmen Carrera — campaigning to Amendments become a Victoria’s Secret Angel by wearing as little clothing as pos- The West End Community Plan was approved by Vancouver City sible — Luzon, Jinkx Mon- Council in November 2013. The plan will be the future road map soon, Pandora Boxx, Willam and Ivy on areas ranging from housing and land use to transportation and Winters. As far as Raziel’s concerned, the Battle of the Seasons went to Ivy Winters public spaces. Visage started the show by making (right), who trailed giant butterfly wings and stomped around the stage on sure the crowd knew that being mis- As part of the implementation of the plan, amendments have been stilts, Jan 10 at The Commodore. VICTOR BEARPARK proposed to the Zoning and Development By-law for social and taken for a drag queen “is the great- market rental housing, residential and commercial developments, est compliment you can be given.” thundering applause. “Well, get your stomped around the stage on stilts. (And here I thought the greatest own fucking event! Get the fuck out And who was wise enough to lip-sync and the Downtown Official Development Plan and Rental Housing compliment is “Your money’s on the of here! God says no.” After pausing to someone else’s song while doing so. Stock Official Development Plan. The proposed changes include nightstand”!) for more cheers, this time from all adding definitions for “social” and “secured market rental” housing, The Drag Race judge sang a live the gays, she winked. “I just wanted Name shame and rezoning on portions of Davie, Denman and Robson Streets. song from The Rocky Horror Picture you to know what it feels like.” Remember when everybody was Show, and her voice was tolerable, The only queen who killed it vo- freaking out about the name Queer CITY COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER THE PROPOSED but unfortunately, it set the tone for cally was, as expected, Jinkx Mon- Bash for a party, saying it promoted AMENDMENTS AT A PUBLIC HEARING ON: the rest of the night. Almost every soon. She sang “Everybody’s Girl” violence against gays? And then Thursday, January 23, 2014 at 6 pm girl performed her shitty single, faultlessly. there was the uproar over Fag Friday City Hall, 453 West 12th Avenue, Third Floor, Council Chamber which I admit I sometimes blog on Each set started with a video mon- because some cunts decided that dailyxtra.com — when it’s a slow tage of the performers. In her video, “fag” is a politically incorrect term. Anyone is welcome to attend the Public Hearing. If you would like news day. Jinkx taught us the eff ects of diff er- Oasis management recently to speak at the meeting to present your comments or concerns, Manila Luzon “sang” — a term ent drugs, from laughing maniacally pulled an event I helped create, register individually by 5 pm on January 23, 2014: looser than her asshole — to a back- at a carpet on LSD, to scrubbing a Pussyboi, because, they say, they got Email: [email protected] ing of her single “Hot Couture,” but toilet with a toothbrush really fast on complaints about the word “pussy” Phone: 604-829-4238 it was her version of “Vogue” that meth, to wanting someone to put an- from some pussies who were bul- In person: 5:30 to 6 pm on the day of the Public Hearing was truly contemptible. I needed other baby inside of her on ecstasy... lied by that word growing up. Plus, a blood transfusion by the time Don’t act like you haven’t been some people reportedly felt the You may also submit comments by email to mayorandcouncil@ she left the stage. My ears are still there! dollar signs replacing the two Ss vancouver.ca or to City of Vancouver, City Clerk’s Department, bleeding! For one of her onstage skits, Jinkx, in the name, which is how the logo 453 West 12th Avenue, Third Floor, Vancouver, BC V5Y 1V4. At least when Pandora Boxx sang, the Season 5 winner of Drag Race, was styled, promoted prostitution. Copies of the draft by-laws are available for viewing starting she was in on the joke. “This song is neurotically pulled out the hairs of That wasn’t the intent, but if it were, January 10, 2014 at the City Clerk’s Department in City Hall, so fucking bad,” she said, while still her blonde wig while saying in a qua- what’s the problem? Lord knows 453 West 12th Avenue, Third Floor, and in the Planning performing it. vering voice, “Every time a promo someone needs to make money at Department, East Wing of City Hall, Third Floor, Monday to Friday Pandora shone during her mono- comes out for the new season, I feel that place... from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. logue, getting the most laughs from my power slipping away... If I knew Answer me this, Vancouver: if the diverse crowd. The number of who was going to win, I’d kill her and the oppression comes from within FOR MORE INFORMATION: straight couples at The Commodore reign for another year!” our community, what chance do vancouver.ca/publichearings brought home the cultural signifi - But it isn’t a new queen she should we stand against oppression from and vancouver.ca/westendplan cance of Drag Race as a bridge be- be worrying about. As far as I’m con- outside groups, governments and tween communities. cerned, the Battle of the Seasons was religions? “Are there any heterosexuals in won by the inimitable Ivy Winters, Show me your dick, not your here tonight?” Pandora asked to who trailed giant butterfl y wings and dictatorship!

18 JAN 16–29, 2014 XTRA! VANCOUVER’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS We Moved Across the Street Real P rofessional VOTED BEST REALTOR Xtra! Reader’s Poll R esponsive Estate Top 10% of all Lower Mainland I n Touch Realtors - 17 years Former Gay & Lesbian Business D ependable Association Board Director 2120 Commercial Drive, Vancouver E thical Donates 5% of commissions to Xtra’s your favourite charity upon purchase 604.215.7833 of a new home /jeanqueen.ca guide Award-winning service to the Gay and “14 Years of Inspiration” to the ,ESBIAN#OMMUNITYFOROVERYEARS Re/Max Real Estate Services 0HONEs&AX NON JUDGEMENTAL | FRIENDLY | HELPFUL | SERVICE-ORIENTED | SIZES UP TO 3X lucrative 4OLL&REEsIAN IANHOLTCOM

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MORE AT DAILYXTRA.COM XTRA! JAN 16–29, 2014 19 hosts its fi rst dance of the season. Lesson at 8:45pm; dance until WinterPride — Whistler, 11:30pm. Newcomers welcome; Sun, Jan 26 THINKSTOCK no partner required. 8–11:30pm. Let’s Dance Studio, 927 Granville St, 2nd fl oor. Tickets $12–15 at Little Sister’s, 1238 Davie St or email [email protected]. WHAT'S ON notsostrictlyballroom.ca Tomboy Vancouver’s newest queer night for boyish girls, girly girls and girly bois who like girls, with DJ Kasey Riot spinning a mix of electro, house, trap and dub. 9pm–2am. Heaven’s Door, 1216 Bute St. $5. heavensdoor.ca Sun, Jan 19 Time To Get Jacked Vancouver’s newest gay sex club hosts a jack-off party for guys. 2–5pm. Club 8x6, 1775 Haro St. $10, includes locker. 8x6.ca Mon, Jan 20 Condom Packing Party Join the guys at the Health Initiative for Men every Monday to help package condoms and lube for distribution. 6–9 pm. HIM, 1033 Davie St, Ste $10 members, $15 guests; includes Search for Gay Surrey BC Pageant Cruisey Cinema Sunday Hang 310. checkhimout.ca locker. 8x6.ca Weekend on Facebook. out with other porn-loving guys in a Genderqueer This support and Gay and Bisexual Men’s safe, comfortable porn space. 2–8 social group for people who identify Bereavement Support Group This pm. Club 8x6, 1775 Haro St. $10 or outside the male/female binary Sat, Jan 25 support group for men grieving the $5 each with a buddy. 8x6.ca meets the fi rst and third Monday of Glitter DJ Paulo (LA) kicks off loss of a same-sex partner meets every month. 6–7:30pm. Qmunity, WinterPride week with wall-to- the second and fourth Thursday of 1170 Bute St. qmunity.ca. wall projections and glittery go-go Mon, Jan 27 every month. 7–9:30pm. Qmunity, gods. 10pm doors. Club 560, 560 GPS: Gay Poz Sex Positive The Bobbers Vancouver’s queer 1033 Davie St, Room 610. Free. Seymour St. $20. gaywhistler.com Living BC presents a weekly improv comedy troupe is back qmunity.ca program for gay and bisexual in the with a whole Judy & Company Take a trip Timberline Vancouver’s country- HIV-positive men, facilitated by new show in a whole new format. over the rainbow with drag queen western dance group meets every gay, HIV-positive men. Every 7–9pm. Heaven’s Door, 1216 Bute St. Delica C to support Frank Theatre’s Thursday. Dancers of all levels are Monday, 6:30–8:30pm. No cover. heavensdoor.ca March show Ga Ting and its queer welcome. 7pm. St Paul’s Anglican youth writing workshop, Telling It Positive Living BC, 1107 Church, 1140 Jervis St. $10 donation Bent. 7–10pm. The Frank Theatre Seymour St. Contact Michael Tues, Jan 21 partially benefi ts A Loving Spoonful. Company, 928 Beatty St. $10. or Jonathon at 604-240-7205 Men on Men A weekly discussion timberlinedance.org thefranktheatre.com or [email protected]. group for men who love or have sex Sin City The sinners host a BiFocus This peer-led social and with men. Every Tuesday, 6:30pm. customer appreciation night with support group to help bisexual Gordon Neighbourhood House, 1019 reduced cover. Dress code: fetish. and pansexual people cope with Broughton St. checkhimout.ca 9pm–2am. Blvd22, 750 Pacifi c Blvd. biphobia and heterosexism meets $9 before 10pm, $10 after with pass, the second and last Monday of Wed, Jan 22 $12 without. sincityfetishnight.com every month. 7–9pm. Qmunity Generations, 1033 Davie St. Free. Trans Workshop: Emotional Gear Saturday: VML Join the The Revolution qmunity.ca Well-Being Facilitated by Vancouver Men in Leather for their Will Not Be peers and service providers, this monthly get-together. Dress code: Circumcised workshop aims to off er trans and leather, rubber and fetish. 9pm. Tues, Jan 28 — Buchanan gender-variant people strategies PumpJack Pub, 1167 Davie St. No Our Lives, Our Stories The Building, for emotional well-being. 6:30– cover. pumpjackpub.com Health Initiative for Men presents 9:30pm. Qmunity, 1033 Davie UBC campus, Bears, the Baths and Beyond a 10-week creative-writing course St, Room 610. For more info or Fri, Jan 17 Steamworks hosts an afternoon for for gay men. 6:30–8:30pm. HIM, to register, contact education@ COURTESY OF bears the fourth Saturday of every 1033 Davie St, Room 310. Group GLEN CALLENDER qmunity.ca or call 604-684-5307 month. 1–6pm. Steamworks, 123 W runs weekly until Tues, April 1. Free. x112. qmunity.ca Underwear Friday — Club 8x6, Pender St. Membership and rental checkhimout.ca Fri, Jan 17 THINKSTOCK FOR MORE EVENT LISTINGS, GO TO DAILYXTRA.COM Gay & Grey Join this group of gay rates, $6–150. steamworksonline. senior men every Wednesday for com/vancouver Wed, Jan 29 friendly, casual and supportive Vancouver Men’s Chorus Fri, Jan 24 Out in Harmony Vancouver’s Penis meets An Inconvenient Truth discussions on topics such as Open Rehearsals Join the Thurs, Jan 16 Friday Yoga Drop-In The Health queer choir presents its winter in a live multimedia show for adults retirement, housing, dating and Initiative for Men off ers yoga chorus tonight and on Wed, Feb 5, The Sundown The Cobalt hosts a concert and refl ects on the nature about foreskin and sexual freedom. self-image. 7pm. Roundhouse sessions every Friday night. 7:15pm. Vancouver Academy of laid-back clubhouse-style night for of time. 7:30pm. Unitarian Church 5pm. Buchanan Building A104, 1866 Community Centre, 181 Roundhouse 7–8:15pm. Scotiabank Dance Music, 1270 Chestnut St. Free. queer women and their allies every of Vancouver, 949 West 49th Main Mall, UBC campus. Free. Mews, second-fl oor boardroom. Centre, 677 Davie St. Drop in or call vancouvermenschorus.ca Thursday. 9pm. The Cobalt, 917 Ave. Tickets $15 at Little Sister’s, can-fap.net ahead for info: 604-488-1001. Free, Main St. $3–6. thecobalt.ca Gab Youth Drop-In This fun, 1238 Davie St, or at the door. Bingo for Life Joan-E’s weekly Underwear Friday Whether you inclusive drop-in group for LGBT but donations gratefully accepted. fundraiser for Friends for Life Lipstick Jungle This month’s party outinharmony.org prefer tighty-whities, boxers or youth and their allies meets checkhimout.ca features brilliant prizes, cheap for the “cosmopolitan lesbian” briefs, Club 8x6 invites you to show Wednesdays at 4pm and Fridays Gay Surrey BC Pageant Weekend drinks and snappy drag queens. and her friends features singer/ Sun, Jan 26 off your underwear on Friday nights. at 7pm. Qmunity, 1170 Bute St. Surrey’s drag court hosts its 15th 8–10pm. Celebrities, 1022 Davie songwriter Nat Jay, 8–10pm, then WinterPride Whistler’s 22nd annual 8pm until late. Club 8x6, 1775 [email protected] annual pageant weekend, starting St. $10 donation at door for bingo dancing with DJ Cho Cha until 2am. gay ski week begins today and runs Haro St. $10 members, $15 guests; with a show for friends and family cards. celebritiesnightclub.com Ginger 62, 1219 Granville St. $6. until Sun, Feb 2. gaywhistler.com includes locker. 8x6.ca tonight at 9pm and culminating Sat, ginger62.com Thurs, Jan 23 Jan 25 with the pageant, hosted Woof Night Vancouver’s newest by Mr Gay Surrey, David Cook. 7pm Sat, Jan 18 gay sex club hosts a bear and cub Fri, Jan 17 doors, 8pm pageant. Both events Come Out and Dance! Vancouver’s night. Dress code: less is better. 8pm Submit your event listing to [email protected]. The Revolution Will Not Be at Olympia Pizza & Restaurant, same-sex ballroom and Latin dance until late. Club 8x6, 1775 Haro St. Deadline for the Jan 30–Feb 12 issue is Wed, Jan 22. Circumcised Puppetry of the group, Not So Strictly Ballroom, 10257 King George Hwy, Surrey. $20.

20 JAN 16–29, 2014 XTRA! VANCOUVER’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS Health Care Massage - Printing 948 Denman St, Vancouver: Services Certified/ East Van Graphics E Registered 604-642-6588 indexdirectory.ca HIM - Health eastvangraphics.ca 2061 West 4th Ave, Initiative for Men Linda Duncan, RMT Mail Box Plus Vancouver: checkhimout.ca 604-630-0101 604-683-1433 604-736-6588 Sound Hearing Clinic Pacifi c Coast Massage Minuteman Press 3048 Main St, Vancouver: 604-687-1488 Therapy – Christopher 604-879-6586 Robins RMT 604-572-8558 STOP HIV/AIDS Team 604-687-4078 Psychologists Poncho’s Restaurant 604-838-1331 604-683-7236 Rick Girardeau, RMT Dr Joachim Sehrbrock, Vancouver rickgrmt.com Registered Psychologist Sex Coastal Health 604-366-3112 squirt.org 604-736-2033 Media squirt.org Hearing Aids Vivo Media Arts Psychotherapy vivomediaarts.com Edward Sandberg, Shopping Sound Hearing Clinic Counsellor/Therapist twospiritwolf.com 604-687-1488 Men’s Services THE BEST OF GAY & LESBIAN VANCOUVER 604-728-6569 604-688-6648 Home & Garden BC Society for Male Survivors of Sexual Public Relations Storage Eden Accents Abuse (BCSMSSA) C&C Communications Freeway Mini 604-523-3433 Accounting Bedding Dental Services Funeral Services 604-682-6482 604-664-8995 Storage/U-Haul Services Home - - Mr. Mattress Aarm Dental Group Amherst Funeral and Motorcycles Publications 604 251 2017 Felicity Webb 604-255-2113 604-647-0006 Cremation Services Inc Improvement & Scooters & Repairs Pink Triangle Press Studio Space 604-721-7537 604-831-3023 Daher Orthostyle Motorcycle World - - - Boat Cruises Maison D’Etre Build Inc. 1 800 268 9872 Scotiabank – Dr Sam Daher - - Airlines & Charters Valley View - - 604 582 9253 Dance Centre - - 604 484 4030 Xtra (Vancouver) Harbour Air Waterway Houseboats 604 662 3290 Funeral Home Optical Services 604-604-6400 - - 604-684-9696 604-274-1277 1-877-WATERWAY Dr Dean Wershler 604 596 8866 Interior Design Abasa Optical Xtra () Theatre 604-688-4080 Richmond Rodrozen Designs Addictions Business & 604-687-3937 613-986-8292 Bard on the Beach Funeral Home 604-558-4443 Professional Dr Langston Raymond Shakespeare Festival Orchard Recovery 604-273-3748 Bruce Eyewear Xtra (Toronto) Organizations 604-687-1008 Laundry Services bardonthebeach.org 604-947-0420 604-662-8300 416-925-6665 West End Business Redtree Dental Valley View Laundry Valet AIDS/HIV Memorial Gardens Pet Care Transportation Improvement 604-873-3337 604-568-2020 Real Estate Agents Resources 604-596-7196 Harbour Air Association Kitty Kare Darryl Persello Device Repair Lawyers 604-274-1277 AIDS Vancouver 604-696-0144 Martin Brothers Funeral 604-813-4239 604-306-1340 604-893-2201 iRepair.ca 778-330-7799 Dahl & Connors Helijet International Chiropractors Pet Stores Ian Eggleton, RE/MAX 778-987-2571 604-687-8752 800-665-4354 AIDS Vancouver Island Downtown Chiropractic Furniture & Supplies 604-773-1443 250-384-2366 604-685-9444 Education Barbara Findlay Dog Country Travel - 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- 604 730 1768 - - twospiritwolf.com 604-893-2200 & Barbers 604 732 8453 West End Seniors Museum of Vancouver Marketing Grandview Hwy: 604-688-6648 Vancouver Network 604-736-4431 Enchante C&C Communications 604-436-3001 Restaurants - - Weddings Coastal Health 604-669-5051 604 669 9166 604-664-8995 Gilley Ave, Burnaby: & Cafes PlayLand 604-736-2033 604-434-2812 Gallery Cafe & Catering . 2 Dears and a Queer Community Amusement Park Health Farmer’s Markets 604-688-2233 604-306-1340 STOP HIV/AIDS Team Organizations - - Physiotherapy 604 253 2311 Dr. Aaron Vancouver 604-838-1331 & Rehab Joe’s Grill Yoga Community Based The Dance Centre VanGaver BSc ND Farmers’ Markets - - 1031 Davie St, Vancouver: Research Centre 604-604-6400 604 629 1120 604-879-3276 Andrea Martens, YoGuy Men’s Yoga Alternative Health - - 604-568-7478 Health - Men’s BScPT, CAFCI 604 682 3683 778-995-1970 Ignite Smoke Shop Financial Services Urban Active Sport 778-786-0977 Vivo Media Arts DeVie Business HIM - Health Therapy Clinic vivomediaarts.com Medicinal Cannabis Solutions Initiative for Men 604-669-8233 Dispensary Construction 604-298-4148 checkhimout.ca - 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My CannaMeds 604-484-4030 THE BEST OF mycm.ca NOV 2013–APR 2014 GAY & LESBIAN Counselling VANCOUVER YoGuy Men’s Yoga Counselling BC 778-995-1970 counsellingbc.com treasures Apartments Iosono Counselling Gearing up Capreit Services – Ron for winter caprent.com Paviglianiti, RPC The Drive’s - - organic soul Archives 604 290 1445 Joe Ramirez The heart Vivo Media Arts of gay Integral Counselling vivomediaarts.com Vancouver 778-227-9423 Art Galleries Lehmann Vivo Media Arts Counselling Service vivomediaarts.com 604-614-8121 THE BEST OF GAY Audio Visual Monique Silverman, Equipment MA, RCC, CCC Book - - & LESBIAN VANCOUVER Vivo Media Arts 778 228 8456 vivomediaarts.com Tricia Antoniuk, Bakeries MSW, RSW your ad 778-378-2633 Andy’s Bakery Willow Tree Counselling Don’t miss the next edition! 604-251-5667 604-521-3404 now! Beauty Couriers 604-684-9696 Enchante Mail Box Plus 604-669-9166 [email protected] CANADA’S 604-683-1433 GAY & LESBIAN NEWS VANCO UVER’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS

01_XLV2013-2 Cover indd 1

MORE AT DAILYXTRA.COM XTRA! JAN 16–29, 2014 21 A world of gay adventure Travel Boys’ weekend in Vegas Party like a rock star in the city of sin

BY DANNY GLENWRIGHT how much you drink). This intrepid journalist took one for the team and got Las Vegas is not for pussies. It’s the kind wasted like Britney for the sake of the of town where you can get married on story — and, of course, in order to suss your first date, sign your name with out the best Vegas has on offer. Here dollar signs and strip down with random are some suggestions for an excess-ful floozies in a plush hotel room — right, gay weekend in Nevada’s finest oasis. Prince Harry? Everything is big, Sweetie, huge. Lac- Arrival roix, Chanel, Wynn! Wolfgang, Darling, Grab a quick beer while you acclimatize Wolfgang! When Celine builds a dress- at the McCarran International Airport ing room in Vegas, she creates a replica — named after Pat McCarran, a Las of her real home, which is only minutes Vegas senator from 1933 to 1954. McCar- away from the Caesars Palace theatre ran was a Communist-hating politician that was also constructed for La Dion who spent many years trying to restrict on the famed Vegas “strip.” When they immigration to the United States and make burgers in Vegas, they fly in the Nevada. It didn’t work, and the senator beef from Japan and top it with French is surely rolling in his grave: one fifth truffles and foie gras; when they run out of those who live in Nevada today were of water, they steal it from Arizona; and born in another country, making it one of when they create ice sculptures, they the most diverse states. The airport has carve them from cubes previously used several bars and slot machines where you to freeze Walt Disney (okay, that last can drink to McCarran’s failed policies one might not be true). and whet your appetite for the weekend If you want to make it in Vegas you’d ahead. Better to enjoy the airport’s booze better have big tits, big tigers or big tal- and blackjack at the beginning of your ent. The saying goes “Don’t mess with trip because you’ll likely retch at the Texas,” but it’s Las Vegas that’s really sight of both on the way out. something to be reckoned with. “Lost wages,” as the city is so tenderly known Regroup and ALEX HILL by locals (and there are so many ways Above, Bellagio. Right, the Luxor hotel’s Temptation Sunday is where all the cute boys of Vegas play in the afternoon sunshine. to lose yours), is also gayer than Steel explore your mini bar Magnolias. It’s the city of Liberace, Now is not the time to stop and rest. Siegfried & Roy, Elton, Barry Manilow, Check into your hotel (the city has doz- Dinner on the Strip straight for one of its glitzy restaurants. David Copperfield and Frank Marino. ens to choose from, including six of the The infamous Vegas Strip is like a Mo- Try a light dinner at Andrea’s at Wynn, And those are just the divas. world’s 10 largest), have a quick whore’s nopoly board, with as many pitfalls as where chef Joseph Elevado’s sharing It’s also a city flush with the best and bath and pack the necessities for a night opportunities. Please don’t end up in jail. plates are just right for a group. Elevado worst of everything American — which out: gum, cologne, condom, deodorant, Depending on where you start, the Strip spent almost a decade working under means it’s a perfect place for a dynamite p-p-p-poker face, check! Don’t forget can seem either daunting or mesmeriz- celebrity chef Nobu Matsuhisa (whose quick-and-dirty weekend getaway that a cheeky shot from the mini bar and ing. If you’re planning a big Friday night Las Vegas spot, Nobu, is also a must- you won’t soon forget (depending on you’re on your way. out, better to save your energy and head visit for dinner), and his modern Asian

22 JAN 16–29, 2014 XTRA! VANCOUVER’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS ALEX HILL Left, the buffet at Simon Restaurant at The Palms includes everything from French toast to sushi. Above, Roman guards (and gods) abound at Caesars Palace.

LAS VEGAS TOURISM

dishes show off what he learned. Our ment. The Bathhouse’s dark and cavern- flashing appliances. Once you’re bored group especially loved Andrea’s wagyu ous clothing-optional hot tub and sauna from not winning, jump on the handy beef tataki with ginger and green onion area also allows for a full recharge before Vegas Monorail and head back to your and the scallop sashimi with salsa verde. heading back into the bright lights of Ve- hotel to freshen up for an evening show. gas. And its cute pool boys will help you Round one get other systems back up and running. It’s all coming Las Vegas has dozens of nightclubs, Before leaving Mandalay Bay, grab back to me now including several gay spots. The safe bet lunch at Border Grill, where famous lezzie chef Susan Feniger — of cooking It’s not a trip to Las Vegas without a show. for a Friday night is Share, a two-storey And boy, did my group of boys put on a nightclub, bar and lounge that offers show Too Hot Tamales — and business partner Mary Sue Milliken have created show as we walked drunkenly down the VIP cabanas for groups that want to street on the way to see Celine. “There party like rock stars. For those looking a hot and spicy Mexican menu that’ll guarantee the previous evening’s booze were nights when your cock was so hard,” for something more traditional, Share we sang (well, shouted and squealed), so provides private rooms, and its website continues to evacuate your pores. We couldn’t get enough of their Peruvian excited were we to see Canada’s most suggests customers “ask shot boys how popular export. Celine didn’t disappoint, you can receive special treatment and ceviche and Yucatan slow-roasted pork in banana leaves. If you’re ready to start but of course, if you’re not into Ms Dion make your experience a little more (don’t admit to that in Vegas), there are Sharable.” Nothing says slutty vacation drinking again, Border Grill’s flavoured margaritas are a very good place to start. plenty of other options. Cirque du Soleil like an anonymous backroom hookup usually has a handful of shows on the go with a hot cocktail waiter. Glut, guzzle (give Zarkana a miss, see O if you can) or check out magicians Penn & Teller or one Sweat it out and gamble of the many celebrities always on hand. If you completed day one following the Spend Saturday afternoon like any self- above instructions, you’ll be feeling a little respecting Las Vegas tourist: walk the Pre-clubbing drinks worse for wear Saturday morning. That’s Strip, gamble, spend money you don’t If Vegas were a zoo, The Cosmopoli- what you get for waking up in Vegas! Best have, eat lots of bad food and drink tan hotel would be the panda enclosure. to follow Katy Perry’s lead, shake the glit- slushy piña coladas from guitar-shaped Take yourself there Saturday night when ter off your clothes and sweat out your plastic glasses. Remember that casinos you’re still somewhat fresh and classy and hangover at one of Vegas’s many luxury offer free drinks to customers who a few drinks away from “Work Bitch.” spas. The Bathhouse (not that kind!) at gamble, so it’s a great way to get soused (Britney’s video, by the way, was filmed Mandalay Bay’s THEhotel offers spa without the fuss of reaching for your in Vegas.) Head for The Chandelier bar, packages that include everything from hot wallet. I recommend the MGM Grand, a three-storey affair surrounded by two stone treatments to “soufflé” scrubs. My where wait staff always made sure I had million crystals that feels a bit like Studio throbbing head thanked me for the spa’s a bevvy so long as I was shifting cash gorgeous deep-conditioning scalp treat- from my bank account into the hotel’s continued next page E LAS VEGAS TOURISM MORE AT DAILYXTRA.COM XTRA! JAN 16–29, 2014 23 E continued from previous page

54 meets The Ritz. The Cosmopolitan is known for its mixology program that includes more than 150 cocktails. Your mouth will hopefully be filled with all kinds of wonderful things during a Vegas weekend but likely none more unique than The Verbena cocktail, also known as the Szechuan Button. The tequila-based potion is garnished with the bud of an Acmella oleracea plant, native to Brazil, which, when chewed, releases mouth- numbing chemicals. It intensifi es every- thing you taste for the next few minutes, including the citrus cocktail it garnishes. COSMOPOLITAN A room with a view at the Cosmopolitan hotel. Right, the Bathhouse at Mandalay Adventurous types may want to grab a few Bay has a clothing-optional hot tub and sauna area. extra Acmella buttons for later. Sunday brunch includes sushi, paninis, MANDALAY BAY Round two Lather, rinse, repeat peel-and-eat shrimp and an all-you- it’s a refreshing homo vibe compared to you had fun — but gosh, there’s only so Krave Massive, Las Vegas’s newest gay You’ll be all fear and loathing when you can-drink Bloody Mary bar complete many of the strip’s family-friendly or much fun you can have before you col- club, should be somewhere on your look at yourself in the mirror Sunday with every possible garnish, from spicy ultra-macho pool areas. Rent a cabana, lapse into an airplane seat and think, agenda. Not to be outdone by the other morning. But you still have plenty to beans to Mexican hot sauce. I drank my order a bucket of beer or a pitcher of “I can’t wait to get home.” But beyond superlatives fl oating around Vegas, Krave discover, so swig back a quick hair of way through several of my group’s drink margaritas, get into a tiny swimsuit the slot machines, there’s something bills itself as the country’s largest gay the dog from the mini bar — or down a combinations because I’m a journalist and kick back and enjoy the sunshine. rather addictive about the city. And just club. While it doesn’t yet have the energy coff ee if your stomach’s not there just who likes to get to the bottom of things. like Celine before you, a new day will of an established space like Share, Krave yet — and get back out there. Start with Leaving Las Vegas come and you’ll likely head back there is worth a visit. If you get there early, stop a buffet brunch at Simon Restaurant Sunbathe like again. For now, settle back into your in for a drink where there’s plenty of vibe at The Palms hotel. There’s something It’s always hard to wrap up a vacation, an Egyptian seat, order a cocktail from the fl ight at Drink & Drag, a drag-queen bowling- deliciously trashy about a Vegas buff et but something about the debauchery The Luxor hotel’s Temptation Sunday is attendant and, whatever you do, don’t alley bar in the same complex as Krave. — but that said, it’s best to get your buff et that is Vegas makes it a particularly the Don Juan of Vegas’s gay party scene post any of your photos until you’ve had Warning: the Las Vegas City Council fetish out of the way at brunch so you can easy city to leave. It could be the sun- — a poolside event that’ll have the pants a chance to sober up. There’s a certain recently denied both bars liquor licences, reserve your evenings for the city’s best burn or the scabies, or possibly that off any lad still wearing them. This is saying about allowing some things to so be sure to check online to see if they’re dining spots. The team at Simon knows big hole in your bank account. It’s not where all the cute boys come to play, and stay in Vegas. up and running again before you go. their clientele, and the all-you-can-eat that you didn’t have fun — of course

STOREFRONT The city that never sleeps Pride in Tel Aviv & opera in Masada

Tel Aviv, known as “the city that The tour will then continue to never sleeps” and the “white city,” is Masada, where you’ll enjoy a considered by many to be the most spectacular performance of Giuseppe cosmopolitan city in the Middle East. Verdi’s opera La Traviata on June 16 You can saunter down almost any (after you fl oat in the Dead Sea). THE BEST O

NOV 2013–APR 2014 street and fi nd café-goers, joggers Competing with all the gay capitals GAY & LESBI THE BEST VANCOUVER and dog walkers. around the world, this experience of Gastow With its prime position on the Israel encompasses both celebration treasur Mediterranean coast, Tel Aviv is and culture. In addition to visiting OF GAY Gearing u for wint known for its sea, sun and surf. This Israel’s regular attractions, more The Drive fun-loving city never stops. There than 50 special events take place organic so & LESBIAN is always something to do or see, during Pride Week, culminating in The hea La Traviata of ga whether it be entertainment, art, . Vancouve VANCOUVER shopping or visiting picturesque artists’ quarters. Above, Gay Pride Tel Aviv. Visitors can also enjoy a rich night- Below, La Traviata at Masada. life, shopping and international YYZ TRAVEL GROUP cuisine. Tel Aviv is considered a gay- friendly city, where anyone is free to live, love, work and play. Don’t miss Book A specially designed tour to Is- your ad rael for the LGTB community led by the next Colin Sines, president of Travel Gay now! Canada, is being off ered by Aufgang edition! Travel (based in Toronto) from June 9 CANADA’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS VANCOUVER’S to 17. The tour will put you in Tel Aviv GAY & LESBIAN NEWS just in time to celebrate Pride Day 01_XLV2013-2 Cover indd 1 604-684-9696 on June 13 with thousands of others [email protected] who descend on the city each year for the festivities.

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