In This Issue Queer and Rebel Days in Halifax Halifax Pride Gets

Halifax Pride Gets Hallmark Festival Status alifax Regional Council Johns. Councillors Dawn Sloane and Flag. Halifax Regional Council recog- recently voted to make the Jennifer Watts spoke in favour of the nizing Pride as a Hallmark Festival is a HHalifax Pride Festival (July motion, noting the hard work of the major symbolic victory for our whole 18 – 26) a Hallmark Event and award- Pride Committee and that Halifax had community,” said Dann. “I guess you ed the Pride Committee $25,000 become a truly welcoming place for could say that in our 21st year, we’ve towards this year’s celebration. the gay community; no councillors come of age.” Halifax’s defini- spoke against. Halifax Pride is the largest lesbian, tion of a Hallmark “This is an gay, bisexual, transgender and queer Event is, “A recur- “This year’s theme is extraordinary (LGBTQ) cultural event in Atlantic ring event possess- Breaking Down Walls; moment.” said Canada, and the fourth largest Pride ing such significance Halifax Pride Festival in the country. in terms of tradition, Building Bridges, which Chair Hugo As many as 75,000 people now attractiveness, image Dann. This take part in Halifax Pride events. It’s or publicity that it is kind of appropriate, places Halifax estimated that $2,000,000 is generated provides to the host when you think of it.” Pride in the for the local economy during Halifax community with a same category Pride Week. This year’s festival takes competitive advantage. These events as other signature cultural events, place from July 18 – 26, with the Pride are associated with HRM’s identity such as the Royal Nova Scotia Inter- Parade on Saturday, July 25. Leonard Preyra, Maureen MacDonald, and Howard Epstein celebrate the NDP’s , will raise its profile globally and national Tattoo, landslide in the Nova Scotia election. Photo: Patrick Casey position it as a place to invest. Over International Air Show and the time, the events and destination can Halifax Busker Festival. become inseparable in terms of their “This year’s theme is Breaking Queer and Rebel Days in Halifax image.” Down Walls; Building Bridges, which By Queer and Rebel Organizing would love to hear your ideas in our many of us will be at many of the Awarding Hallmark status was is kind of appropriate, when you Team friendly, non-competitive, feminist great events Pride has to offer – we a recommendation from HRM’s think of it,” said Dann. “There are f you’re out on the street in spaces. are simply creating another option, Special Events Advisory Committee some municipalities in Nova Scotia Halifax on July 11, you may see Unfortunately, many corporate another outlook. Please come share (SEAC) and was put before Council that have recently gone to extraordi- a group of queer and trans folks city Prides and urban gay centers your personal experiences and we’ll I discuss how to challenge the exclu- by SEAC Chair, Councillor Brad nary lengths not to fly the Rainbow and their allies dressed up in costume, tend to be exclusionary on the basis hurling water balloons at each other of class, race, gender and ability due sions that take place in many gay and as they bike by. This queer costumed to their intrinsic connection to money queer spaces in corporate Prides. Happiness is... bike ride is one of the many events and consumerism. For example, If Queer and Rebel Days will run out that will occur during Queer and you can’t afford to go to an event, or of the Roberts Street Social Centre By Angus Campbell and will take place a week before wee bit of rain wasn’t enough Rebel Days – a week of queer events, if you can’t afford indicators of gay actions, parties, and workshops identity such as particular clothing, Halifax Pride, from July 10-16. The to dampen anyone’s spirits on full schedule is listed in the Halifax Saturday, May 30, as Doug – inspired by the Queer and Rebel you might feel or be excluded from A Days in Schwartzer Canal, Berlin. gay spaces. Queer and Rebel Days is Happenings section on page 16. Melanson (owner of SeaDogs and Please send us an e-mail if you want co-owner of Menz Bar) and Glenn All events will be free, all-ages, meant to challenge consumerism as trans-, lesbian-, gay-, bi-sexual-, connected to gay identity (and con- to be part of our mailing list. Also, Baker publicly professed their love if you are interested in volunteering for one another. Officiated by Rev. queer- questioning-, intersex-, two- sumerism in general) as well as the spirit, dyke-, fag-, poly-, asexual-, assimilation of queer identity into for any of the events, just let us know. Bob Bond of Safe Harbour MCC If you have any thoughts, comments the happy couple spoke their vows straight allies-positive, and volunteers heteronormative standards. will provide childcare upon request. The purpose of the week is to cre- or concerns, or to request childcare, surrounded by family and friends in please feel free to tell us at queer.and. Point Pleasant Park, Halifax. Rev. Bob We recognize the importance of ate an alternative, political, commu- language, and if you strongly don’t nity forum for discussions, activities, [email protected] or call reminded the crowd how it is every- 902-446-1788. one’s responsibility as a community identify as queer please don’t let that and celebration. We are not trying to to ensure the success of relationships. keep you from coming because we cause any riffs with Pride – in reality The reception was held at the newly-renovated Murphy’s on the Wharf. It was especially fun to see P.E.I Pride the staff’s reaction when our table Friday, July 3 given out over the night to add to the which we are very thankful. For started to clink glasses for Doug and Kick Off Party! What’s Pride without celebration, including a 50/50 draw service details please contact Jim Glenn to kiss. a kick off party? This festival happens and a wine tasting station provided by Culbert at [email protected]. The celebration continued at Photo: Rob Isbister only once a year so we want to begin our sponsor, Vincor Canada. The Annual Potluck is held each Menz Bar where the couple cut their that with a true sense of celebration! year at the Evening Primrose Bed & rainbow cake and we all drank cham- line throughout the establishment. A Join us at the Studio, located at the Sunday, July 5 Breakfast. For directions or if you pagne. Doug and Glenn’s first dance great time was had by all. Confederation Centre of the Arts in Church Service and Evening have any questions please contact was to Rod Stewart’s “Have I Told On behalf of Wayves I would like Charlottetown, from 10:00 p.m. until Primrose B&B Potluck: These two [email protected] or You Lately That I Love You.” After to congratulate Doug and Glenn and 2:00 a.m. All guests must be of legal events have been a long-standing call (902) 437-3134. more champagne DJ Sonny D got wish them the best of everything for age to attend. ID’s will be required tradition in our community provided the crowd up and dancing a Conga the future. and requested. Door prizes will be by members of our community, for Cont’d to p. 15- In This Issue Features & News Regular Columns Alcoholics Anonymous Courage Round Up 5 • Diamond Divas Photos Needed 7 • East Blast From The Past 10 • Chef’s Corner 10 • Happenings! Coast Rainbow Softball 5 • Halifax Pride Hallmark Status 1 • Halifax Pride New Co- 16 • I Am What I Amherst 15 • ISCANS News 5 • Gay Men’s Chairs 3 • Halifax Pride Pull-Out 11-14 • Happiness is... Doug & Glenn Marriage 1 • PEI Health 7 • Groups & Services 19 • Kibitz And Bitch 6 • Let- Pride 1 • Kevin Kindred: Be Out. Be Informed. Be Compassionate 3 • MAC Leather New ters 22 • Northern AIDS Connection Society 4 • Ramblings Executive 5 • MAC Leather XI 9 • Mi’kmag Powwow in Dartmouth 9 • Moncton Pride 8 From The Sanctuary Garden 6 • The Last Word 22 • Queer and Rebel Days in Halifax 1 • Rockin’ The Gaybourhood 8 • Rugby Comes Out In Halifax 10 • Study: Women’s Sexual Pain 7 • Teens Now Talk Magazine 16 • Trans Information & Resource Site 21 • We All Come From Somewhere 4 �� Wayves �� July 2009 �� 2 Wayves July 2009 3 Be Out. Be Informed. Be Compassionate. By Wayves staff it?” Whether we’re lawyers, activists, start changing their minds when they able, by opening dialogue. We know On Friday, May 15 a crowd of about policy makers, or just people trying see that their attitudes affect people that the strongest weapon in the face 150 community members and sup- to make a difference in our ordinary they know and care about. of hate is love. If someone is influ- porters gathered at Parade Square lives, I want us all to take away a sense Secondly, be informed. You’ll find enced by homophobia or transpho- to commemorate the International of what to do about the problem yourselves in conversations about bia, try to listen to them. Understand Day Against Homophobia and of homophobia and transphobia. I blood donations, or about diversity them, see where they’e coming from Transphobia (IDAHT). Hugo Dann want to do this so that we can walk education in schools, or about health and how they formed their beliefs. introduced the event’s speakers.

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