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FREE 20,000 AUDITED CIRCULATION VANCOUVER’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS 2013 4, 21–DEC NOV #528 BAN ON To Svend, BLOOD @dailyxtra with E9 BEYOND HIV E 10 QMUNITY UP facebook.com/dailyxtra facebook.com/dailyxtra love The authorized FOR $7M E11 biography of Canada’s E dailyxtra.com dailyxtra.com first openly gay MP 14 More at at More Exploring: never stop Single Tablet Regimens While they’re not a cure, these treatment options are designed (one pill, once a day) are a step forward in HIV treatment. to be effective and convenient. If you’ve been exploring different HIV treatments, talk to your doctor about Single Tablet Regimens Explore more at exploreHIV.ca too. It’s good to know what is out there. 2 NOV 21–DEC 4, 2013 XTRA! VANCOUVER’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS SHARE THE MAGIC THIS HOLIDAY SEASON +++++ “TOTALLY BLOWN AWAY!” Toronto Star Opens December 7 under the White Big Top at West of the Village on False Creek 1.866.999.8111 $cavalia.net MORE AT DAILYXTRA.COM XTRA! NOV 21–DEC 4, 2013 3 WHAT’S TRENDING IN #VANCOUVER? GETTING TESTED FOR SYPHILIS RAINBOW SYPHILIS RATES ARE DATING APPS CROSSWALK AT A 30 YEAR HIGH GET TESTED TODAY. www.checkhimout.ca/syphilis 4 NOV 21–DEC 4, 2013 XTRA! VANCOUVER’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS XTRA VANCOUVER’S Published by Pink Triangle Press GAY & LESBIAN NEWS PUBLISHER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Brandon Matheson Roundup #528 NOV 21–DEC 4, 2013 EDITORIAL MANAGING EDITOR Robin Perelle STAFF REPORTER Natasha Barsotti COPY EDITOR Lesley Fraser EVENT LISTINGS [email protected] CONTRIBUTE OR INQUIRE about Xtra’s editorial content: [email protected] ANDREW GILMORE EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS ISSUE Niko Bell, Nathaniel Christopher, Tom Coleman, Tyler Dorchester, Andrew Gilmore, Sean Gregor, Shimon Karmel, Gareth Kirkby, Shauna Lewis, Kevin Dale McKeown, Raziel Reid, Stacy Thomas 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 or email [email protected] LINE CLASSIFIEDS Call 604-684-9696 or email classifi [email protected] MUSIC The publication of an ad in Xtra does not mean that Xtra endorses the advertiser. SPONSORSHIP AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Erica Bestwick, [email protected] Printed and published in Canada. ©2013 Pink Triangle Press. Xtra is published every two Reconnecting, weeks by Pink Triangle Press. ISSN 1198-0613 Address: 501–1033 Davie St, Vancouver, BC, V6E 1M7 Offi ce hours: Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm Phone: 604-684-9696 Fax: 604-684-9697 note by note Website: dailyxtra.com Email: [email protected] Rainbow Concert Band SUBSCRIPTIONS $55 for one year (26 issues); $65 (US) in the US; $100 (US) overseas. members appreciate their [email protected], 800-268-XTRA eclectic mix E17 PINK TRIANGLE PRESS Founded 1971 DIRECTORS Jim Bartley, Gerald Hannon, Glenn Kauth, Didier Pomerleau, Ken Popert, Editorial West End recognition Cover Story Gillian Rodgerson By Robin PerelleE6 Svend’s legacy Svend HONORARY DIRECTOR Colin Brownlee PRESIDENT & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Ken Popert Feedback E6 Robinson’s new biography CEO, DIGITAL MEDIA David Walberg mixes personal tales with CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Andrew Chang Xcetera E7 principled drama E14 Upfront Out In The City Shorter ban still unfair: Jewish studies in sexuality critics Canadian Blood Services grilled at Gay Men’s What makes us gay, what Health Summit E9 women want and why some Simpson, Thomas men fake it E18 Gay health beyond HIV Summit looks at life through Blitz & Shitz The best of our & Associates E queens By Raziel Reid E20 a generational lens 10 TRIAL LAWYERS City staff suggest $7M to What’s On E21 Qmunity Community amenity Xposed Queens Care VI contribution tied to Burrard St By Sean Gregor E22 E Barrister & Solicitor rezoning application 11 Real Estate E23 Still QQ Toward a shared Xtra Living E24 Practice restricted to ICBC identity By Kevin Dale The Brotherhood personal injury claims McKeown E12 By Tyler Dorchester E25 COVER PHOTO BY SHIMON KARMEL on dailyxtra.com JEAN-MARC HÉBERT* 778 999 5328 E Anal tests in the Arab world cell E Montenegrin gay activist seeks asylum in Canada [email protected] E Uganda: Gay activist and house guests detained *Professional Law Corporation MORE AT DAILYXTRA.COM XTRA! NOV 21–DEC 4, 2013 5 email [email protected] comment dailyxtra.com & facebook.com/dailyxtra Comment tweet @dailyxtra gay community’s roots in the West PRIAPE CLOSES FEEDBACK E End “going back as much as 80 years.” 9 VANCOUVER’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS ENDER’S The contrast between this plan and GAME E 13 West End recognition the last is nothing short of incredible. Youth-obsessed culture 2013 7–20, NOV HOLOCAUST #527 EXHIBIT What a diff erence time and es- Yup, just what this community needs: E15 EDITORIAL Just six lines into its contextual pecially a strong political voice and another youth-obsessed campaign to ROBIN PERELLE introduction — after a brief descrip- a seat at the decision-making (and highlight that once you’re over 30 your tion of the area’s physical parameters advisory committee) table can make. measure of importance as a commu- What a diff erence a quar- — the plan acknowledges the Davie Having allies in government and a nity fi gure diminishes [“Top 30 Under @dailyxtra Doing it ter century can make. Village as “traditionally a hub for the supportive city staff with the political 30,” Xtra #525, Oct 10]. I wonder if Pr airie The City of Vancouver’s last West city’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgen- will and public backing to assist gay any of these 30 Under 30 even know facebook.com/dailyxtra style Linda Fillmore’s E Fowl Supper 10 End plan, completed in 1986 for its der and queer (LGBTQ) community.” people helps too. dailyxtra.com FREE what the signifi cance of Feb 5, 1981, is 20,000 AUDITED CIRCULATION commercial areas and 1987 for its res- And it doesn’t stop there. Page 7 says Strengthening and enhancing the or know when the second (Canadian) at More idential areas, never even mentioned the West End, and particularly the Da- Davie Village as a gay hub and enter- Stonewall occurred? the word gay. vie Village, “has long been recognized tainment district is cited in at least Don’t get me wrong. I think we Is there any way the community The plan covered what kinds of as home to Western Canada’s largest two policy sections of the plan, as is should highlight the good works done commercial developments to encour- LGBTQ community. This makes for a the city’s intention to help BC’s queer can fi ght the Health Canada ruling? by the youth of our community. I just Considering the high demand for pop- age and how to ensure they’re compat- unique community identity, vitality, resource centre fi nd a new home. think it needs to be balanced with ible with the area’s residential needs. and vibrant social diversity.” Qmunity’s current facility is “small, pers I’m surprised that entrepreneurs the real picture of this community aren’t making them as they are quite It talked about the area’s demograph- Page 16 proudly displays photos of aging and lacks wheelchair accessible — which is more often than not ob- ics, its seniors and families with chil- the new plaza and rainbow crosswalks options,” the plan says. easy to make. sessed with being and staying at all PETER IVESON dren, and even spared some concern and page 32 off ers a rainbow-riffi c “The West End would benefi t from cost young. TORONTO, ON for its low-income households. dreamscape of Davie and Bute streets. a purpose-built facility for Qmunity,” I just hope that these Top 30 Under But it remained shockingly silent Page 30 again identifi es the Village the plan concludes, promising to ex- 30 never have to experience the scorn I think the poppers ban by Health on one of the area’s most impor- as a “hub for the LGBTQ community” plore opportunities to help create a and ridicule perpetrated by those un- Canada was only one of the reasons tant demographics: its sizeable gay and describes it as a “vibrant district new queer community centre in the der 30 towards those over 30 . Priape got into fi nancial diffi culty and community. catering to locals and visitors alike dur- Davie Village as part of its public ben- ERIK COLLINGS had to permanently close their stores Of course, the last plan was drafted ing the day and late into the evenings.” efi ts strategy. Unbelievable. (VIA FACEBOOK) in Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver. in the late 1980s, when politicians and The plan promises to “strengthen City planners have already followed Another reason is that there are a city planners would have been deeply and enhance” the Village as an area up on that promise with a recommen- Priape’s popper troubles number of gay websites in the US and Europe that sell the same products reluctant to acknowledge, let alone for local business and nightlife. “Its dation to city council to approve Jim When you think that every other gay that were formerly off ered by Priape address, gay issues, and the commu- distinct fl avour as the gay village will Pattison’s latest Burrard Street rezon- man uses poppers and the number but at a fraction of the cost — even nity itself was only just beginning to be recognized and celebrated through ing application, contingent on, among of poppers bought over the year, the when you add in taxes and shipping fi nd its political voice.