January 2007 Issue 39

FREE of charge

OOnene YellowYellow WeddingWedding AAnniennie SSprinkleprinkle CComesomes ttoo TTown!own! PPrismrism BBarar andand GrillGrill EEdmonton’sdmonton’s LLesbianesbian LLairair RReader’seader’s ChoiceChoice SSurveyurvey 20062006

>> STARTING ON PAGE 16

GLBT RESOURCE • & EDMONTON 2 gaycalgary and edmonton magazine #39, January 2007 Established originally in January 1992 as Men For Men BBS by MFM Communications. Named changed to 10 GayCalgary.com in 1998. Stand alone company as of January 2004. First Issue of GayCalgary.com Magazine, November 26 2003. Name adjusted in November 2006 to GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine. Publisher Steve Polyak & Rob Diaz-Marino, [email protected] Table of Contents Editor Rob Diaz Marino, [email protected] 5 Holiday Hijinx Original Graphic Design Deviant Designs Letter from the Publisher Advertising Steve Polyak [email protected], David 10 One Yellow Wedding Bonin [email protected] and BC area Annie Sprinkle Comes to Town! Contributors Steve Polyak, Rob Diaz-Marino, Jason Clevett, 16 Jerome Voltero, Kevin Alderson, Kaitlyn S. 12 A Most Successful C. Hatch, Benjamin Hawkcliffe, Stephen Lock, and the Gay and Lesbian Community Reign of Calgary The Imperial Sovereign Court of the Chinook Arch Photographer Steve Polyak and Rob Diaz-Marino 16 Map & Event Listings Videographer Find out what’s happening Steve Polyak and Rob Diaz-Marino Please forward all inquiries to: 23 Bitter Girl GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine Suite 100, 215 14th Avenue S.W. 24 Music Review Calgary, Alberta T2R 0M2 Mighty REAL: Showstoppers Phone (403) 543-6960 or toll free (888) 543-6960 25 Q Scopes 24 Fax (403) 703-0685 “Watch your wallet, Scorpio!” E-mail [email protected] 26 Adult Film Review Print Run Monthly, 12 times a year Humping Iron, School for Lovers, Daddy’s Boys, Cow Poke Masthead continued on page 4 28 Q Puzzle “Ball Handlers,” 29 Reader’s Choice Survey 2006 34 OutRights A Celebration of Our Freedoms 35 Prism Bar and Grill Edmonton’s Lesbian Lair

Continued on page 4 gaycalgary and edmonton magazine #39, January 2007 3 Continued from page 3

36 A Creative Contest… Conceived by a Straight Chick 37 International Festival of Animated Objects Continued from page 3 Queer Artists bring Puppetry to Life Copies Printed Monthly, up to 10,000 47 copies. 38 Does Hate Speech Affect Us? Distribution points up to 200 points in Calgary, largest number of distribution points for any Gay publication in Calgary. 40 Chicago up to150 points in Edmonton, largest Roxie, Velma and all that Jazz! number of distribution points for any Gay publication in Edmonton. Also distributed 41 Letters to the Publisher coast to coast across in select locations in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Regina, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, and other 42 Musings for the Coming Year places across Canada and the . Please call us if you would like to 44 Press Releases be a distribution point. Distributed by DLRJ Distributions 47 Fundraising Photos (Calgary), Clark’s Distribution (Edmonton), Canada Post(rest of Canada and USA) and 51 A Couple of Guys by GayCalgary.com Deadline for Ad Bookings 25th of the month 52 Queer Eye - Calgary & Edmonton (unless otherwise stated) Community Events this Month 52 Deadline for Ad copy 28th of the month 60 Classifieds Ads (unless otherwise stated) Legal Council Courtney Sebree Aarbo, Barristers and Solicitors Printers North Hill News This Issue Cover Model Annie Sprinkle and Beth Stephens, photographed by Trish Tunney. The opinions expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of GayCalgary.com or the contributors of the magazine. People photographed or interviewed, writers, advertisers, contributors and anyone else involved with this publication are not necessarily gay, lesbian, bi, bi-curious or trans gendered. They can be straight people that are gay friendly. No part of the publication may be reprinted without the expressed permission of the February 2007 editor-in-chief. Copyright 2007 Press Deadlines Member of Canadian Gay & Lesbian Chamber AAdd SpaceSpace BookingBooking - WednesdayWednesday of Commerce JJanuaryanuary 24th24th 20072007 Member of International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association AAdd SubmissionSubmission - FFridayriday JanuaryJanuary 26th26th 20072007

IInn CirculationCirculation - ThursdayThursday FFebruaryebruary 1st1st 20072007

Member of Edmonton Rainbow Member of Tourism Calgary. Business Association.

4 gaycalgary and edmonton magazine #39, January 2007 Holiday Hijinx Letter from the Publisher

the other people who attended, and feeling depressed already, By Rob Diaz-Marino wasn’t his usual talkative and outgoing self. He took photo- graphs, chatted with the few Edmontonians that he does know Christmas is an especially fun time of year for so far, and even bumped into a few Calgarians along the way. our cats. With our artifi cial Christmas tree and Steve and I realized this year that we do make a great deal of all the fl ashy decorations, the holidays become a personal sacrifi ces to honour our commitment to the maga- glorifi ed salad bar for them. Last year they got zine. This is something that we ourselves choose to do, and a little carried away plucking the needles from we certainly would not ask those around us to follow suit. We realize that many have lives outside of the gay community, and the tree, and ended up pulling it over. This year that being a part of it is something done purely for recreation. we took pre-emptive action by sprinkling pepper In our case, and indeed the case of many gay businesses, the across the tree skirt, which is supposed to dis- community is a part of our livelihood and thus we do have to take it quite seriously. This can often make us appear over- courage them from hanging around underneath. zealous workaholics to those just out to have a good time, and Snoopy still managed to snatch a number of I’m beginning to wonder if maybe they have a point despite my decorations from the tree and ran off with them… weak justifi cations. luckily they’re plastic, not glass, so we weren’t too Since the magazine started, Steve and I haven’t been able to concerned. Child-safe tinsel was also a godsend, pull ourselves away long enough for a proper holiday getaway as not surprisingly we found a great deal of it together. I don’t think many people can appreciate how dif- fi cult it is to put a magazine like ours on hold. Even if we step in their litter box – the aftermaths of midnight out for just an hour to run an errand – to grab lunch, or make snacks. Eventually they fi gured out how to push a bank deposit – it worries us that we might, and often do the tree skirt out of the way so that the pepper miss important phone calls. People often phone just as we are was no longer effective, and Snoopy tried climbing leaving, which often makes us late for other commitments. My parents have dragged me off for the occasional break between up the center column. They are smart but mis- press deadlines, but Steve has to stay behind to man the fort. chievous little buggers, and luckily Santa brought I believe our New Year’s resolution this year is pretty clear – to them some real toys to play with so that the tree set more time aside for ourselves. Regrettably, resolutions are often all too easy to break. faded to only a secondary distraction. Bullshit! I had a relaxing stay at my parent’s place on Christmas Eve, and then joined Steve for dinner with his family on Christmas Over the past several months, Steve and I have taken to Day. Once again, Christmas with the Polyaks was a pleasant watching a series on MenTV called “Penn and Teller’s Bullshit!” but baffl ing experience. To give you an idea of what I mean, It’s a show where the magician duo examine a number of noto- last year after dinner the conversation went something like this: riously slippery topics and dissect them with tongue-in-cheek yet surprisingly informative commentaries. In their profession Steve’s Mom: “Rob, do you want to take home a drumstick?” they create illusions to fool people for fun, but everyday people Rob: “No thanks, our fridge is pretty full.” are being fooled – or fooling themselves – in a way that is physi- cally, mentally, or even fi nancially harmful. Penn and Teller Steve’s Mom: “Does Steven want a drumstick?” set out to expose these illusions for what they really are – total BULLSHIT! Rob: “No, I’m sure he’s fi ne too.” A few months ago, conservative and religious groups were [A few minutes later, as I sit in the car waiting to go home…] objecting to gay marriage on the grounds that they believed Steve’s Mom: “Here, have a drumstick!” that it would be harmful to children – that a family structure other than one man and one woman would somehow stunt the On New Years Eve I did the usual running around to all of proper development of a child. Although our own Kevin Alder- the bars and the GirlsGo dance. Thanks to our writer Jason, I son did a great job of digging up psychological evidence proving didn’t have to bus and walk everywhere as I did on Halloween. that this was not the case, Penn and Teller’s episode on Family Meanwhile, Steve was in Edmonton doing the same running Values would have probably shut up all the nay-sayers just as around, making it was our fi rst New Years Eve away from one quickly…if only we had known about it earlier, we might have another. In Calgary, although I was surrounded by friends and sent them a copy. acquaintances, without Steve the night didn’t really feel like a special occasion at all. When midnight hit, so many people The series deals with a multitude of topics, not surprisingly a around us were kissing their boyfriends or girlfriends. All Steve handful of which revolve around the bible and religious fanati- and I had was a phone call where it was too noisy to even hear cism. In their Bible: Fact or Fiction? episode, they debunk the one another. literal interpretation of the bible by using a method even the thumpers couldn’t argue with – simply by reading passages In Edmonton, Boots bar was kind enough to invite Steve to from it. In Holier Than Thou, they expose Mother Theresa as their New Years dinner. Unfortunately he didn’t know any of

gaycalgary and edmonton magazine #39, January 2007 5 a sadistic, power-hungry fanatic, and Ghandi as a pedophilic, Bar Banter enema-hungry racist. I wouldn’t have believed it to hear it as bluntly as I just put it, but watch the episode and see for Steve was in Edmonton earlier in December and attended yourself. the Roost’s Annual Children’s Christmas Party. It was the fi rst event of its kind that we’ve seen in the gay community, where The image of the Virgin Mary found on a grilled cheese a bar holds a function for the children of staff and patrons, sandwich? It’s nothing but the tendency of the human brain complete with Santa Claus and presents. Steve was surprised to distinguish familiar patterns out of random chaos – burn to see how many gay couples in Edmonton actually had kids. patterns on a piece of toast. In my own experience, I can see Thinking back on the number of Calgarians that have men- whacky cartoon faces in the ceiling stucco when I stare at it for tioned their children in passing, it’s highly likely that such an long enough. But some people attribute religious power to such event would do well for Calgary too. sightings, and worse, exploit others for money to experience it too. At best, the image on the sandwich looked like a woman Meanwhile, the Living Christmas tree was a huge success at – how they drew the conclusion it was specifi cally the Virgin the Calgary Eagle this month. Aiden graciously volunteered his Mary was a stretch of an overactive religious imagination. It’s body to be painted over with green latex, and then adorned with sad and ridiculous, but so many people fall for it. Christmas ornaments on clips. Customers bought the orna- ments, and were given free reign to pin them on his body wher- They talk about how anti-profanity censorship is single- ever they wanted to. Although the shorts had to stay on him handedly responsible for giving arbitrary words the power to at all times, his crotch was defi nitely the most popular place shock and offend, and how so many pet lovers support P.E.T.A. to hang things. He also had a number of decorations clipped not even knowing that one of the organization’s goals is to stop to his face, which became further irritated when his motorized us from keeping pets! Apparently the US chapter of P.E.T.A. Santa hat fl ailed him with a stray ornament on the pom-pom. has all the fi xings of a terrorist organization, but in another If you thought it looked painful with all the decorations on, the episode there’s even bullshit behind the safety-hysteria spurred real pain came when they took it all off again – the clips were on by 9-11. A lot of us already suspected that bottled water yanked, and the layer of latex took hair off with it. He sure was BS, but they’ll defi nitively tell you why, and show just how wasn’t taking Kelly Clarkson’s name in vain! In the end, the eager people are to believe that plain old water from a garden Eagle raised over $1,100 for Beswick House, and gave all of us hose is worth $30 a bottle, or more! that attended a very entertaining night. They’re not at all shy to talk about sex, and show full-frontal Twisted Element hit off the New Year with their Chicago- male and female nudity in several episodes. They had a whole style party. Tickets sold out a number of days beforehand episode about circumcision, and in the one about Hair, showed and scalpers swooped in to make a couple of bucks from those someone getting their “winker” waxed! Their Family Values epi- still desperate to acquire them. Twisted usually sells tickets sode talked about swingers and gay couples raising kids, and for major events so that they can cover the cost of additional how the “traditional” family structure has been anything but the norm throughout history - even in the world today. I don’t think there’s a single person who could watch the series and not learn something shocking about real-world stuff. Granted, you can’t believe everything you see on TV, but take a look at the evidence that they present because they do a re- ally good job of proving their points. It is a show after our own hearts, so Steve and I highly recommend it to any and all who don’t appreciate falling victim to trickery. Consider it an inocu- lation for the fakes, frauds, con-artists, shameless opportun- ists, and other such “motherfuckers” that you didn’t even know were out there! Thank You for Not Smoking! Though second-hand smoke was also a topic on “Penn and Teller’s Bullshit!”, Steve and I are glad that Calgary’s bars and restaurants have gone non-smoking. After visiting Edmonton so much where a similar smoking ban is already in effect, Steve has been quite grateful not having his clothes reek of smoke by the end of the night. Even my parents used to comment that my fresh clothes smelled of smoke from my winter coat that I wore out to a bar the night before. And hey – at least the terminals won’t collect as much grime as they have at the bars in the past. It will be interesting to see how things balance out as people get used to the new restriction. Steve and I have not been out since New Years so we don’t really know how well people are adapting. As other cities have reported, there is an initial slow- down in business before things return to normal – or better than normal, according to some. We encourage all those non- smokers who have been avoiding the smokey bars to come out, enjoy your new freedom, and show the bars and restaurants that this sacrifi ce was worth it.

6 gaycalgary and edmonton magazine #39, January 2007 decorations, staff costumes, and party favours. The owners posting the online edition. We are hoping that we have worked have explained to us in the past that tickets do not always it all out for this month, but only time will tell. guarantee entry – the club still has to observe capacity restric- tions; beyond a certain time, latecomers with tickets must still We also had to rethink our initial method of attaching videos wait, as people without tickets may have been allowed entry in to corresponding photos in the photograph sections. We now the meantime. Twisted does put reasonable limitations on the make a single video for the entire event by splicing all of the number of tickets a single person can buy, but there is little individual clips together. You’ll recognize many of the perfor- they can do if others are willing to pay generously to those who mances from the photos, but you may also see ones that do aren’t so attached to their tickets. My only advice is to plan not have photo equivalents printed in the magazine. Look for ahead and buy your own tickets early. If you’re in an entre- the television icons on the page to begin playing the clip for the preneurial mood – last time I checked, scalping wasn’t exactly event. legal, so don’t go getting any bright ideas. Reader’s Choice Survey Even we had to deal with a number of people begging us Yes, it’s that time of year again! Our 3rd Annual Reader’s to “pull some strings” to get tickets for them, or otherwise get Choice survey helps us to understand who our readers are, them into Twisted on New Years Eve. I’m not exactly sure what and what we can do to make our magazine better. The survey strings we were supposed to be pulling…if there are no more contains a nomination section for categories in our Reader’s tickets then there are no more tickets. We only get past the Choice Awards, so vote for your favorite individuals and estab- line-ups because A) the owners and staff know Steve and I, and lishments. Once again, those who submit a valid survey have B) they know we’re there to take photos for the magazine, not to the chance to win prizes in a draw! This year the grand prize hang out like regular patrons. This in-privilege does not even winner will receive a $125 gift certifi cate to the Bay, and the extend to our writers, and rightly so, we would frown upon any- runner up will get a similar certifi cate for $75. Use it to get one abusing their association with the magazine for something yourself that Christmas gift that nobody bought for you! like this. So the bottom line: we do not use our media privi- leges to deliver personal favours – it’s not fair, so please don’t The survey is printed in this issue and in February’s maga- ask us. zine too. The prize draw will be held in March, and some of the results will be published in the April edition. Ballot boxes are Video Clips available in Calgary and Edmonton at the gay bars and select Though the streaming video and audio clips in our magazine businesses. See page 29 for survey details. have become pretty popular, it’s been a bit of a rocky ride on If you’re looking rather to express your opinion, write a letter to the publisher our end to get them prepared for the past two issues. Editing by E-mailing [email protected]. If you’ve got something good to say and encoding the content takes a fair amount of time, but there about someone or something, then that’s awesome! If you’ve got something bad have been a couple of other kinks responsible for the delays in to say about someone or something…well, just try to keep those claws sheathed!

gaycalgary and edmonton magazine #39, January 2007 7 8 gaycalgary and edmonton magazine #39, January 2007 gaycalgary and edmonton magazine #39, January 2007 9 One Yellow Wedding Annie Sprinkle Comes to Town!

By Kaitlyn S. C. Hatch Preview | Theatre For those of you familiar with “The L-Word”, there was one particular episode when most on the silver screen, who have changed the way others see the world.” of the buxom group of gay gals go on an Olivia Cruise. Dana Fairbanks is a special celebrity My own personal favorite installment for the year of security and survival was the X-TREME Kiss. Stephens and Sprinkle guest along with a sex therapist named Annie performed it on the opening night of the Artists’ Television Sparkle…so begins my own awareness of Annie Access Gallery in San Francisco, and a video of it is featured Sprinkle and her sexually liberating work. by The Centre for Contemporary Art in Moscow, Russia. The kiss involves Stephens and Sprinkle kissing, nothing more, At fi rst I didn’t think much of it, but that changed after a for three to four hours straight, resulting in a “…transcendent mutual friend had forwarded my partner Annie Sprinkle’s and lip tingling experience.” website. We perused the fabulously bright photos that seem to almost always include her very well-endowed chest. Her In April of 2005 Sprinkle was diagnosed with breast cancer website bio says she is best known “…as the prostitute/porn and since it was the year of survival, this also entered as a star turned Ph.D sexologist, educator, multimedia artist and project with the Love Art Lab. The couple did several pieces Utopian entrepreneur.” Besides her artwork Annie has also including a Chemo Fasion Show and a photography piece enti- written a book called Dr. Sprinkles Spectacular Sex – Make tled Hairotica, during which Stephens removes all of Sprinkle’s Over Your Love Life. She has been a celebrity in an under- hair. Hairotica II became an installment during the Orange ground sense for years, but one of the highest caliber. Those Year, themed as creativity and sexuality. The two women who have heard of her are very familiar with her work. obtained the MRI images of Sprinkles breast and included it in a collage with photos from Sprinkles pin-up days, her surgery, When Fake Mustache was asked to perform with the Yellow and Hairotica. Wedding, I was giddy to announce the news to my family. I fi rst asked if they had heard of her, so they might understand A play called “Exposed” was created during this year. This just who was asking us to perform, and what kind of honour was a play of the project, if you will. They covered it all, from it was for us. My dad knew who she was and was thoroughly falling in love to the cancer diagnoses to aging. It’s a show still impressed to know I would be sharing the stage with such a in the works that can be booked for your viewing pleasure. woman. The Yellow Year is themed courage and power, and the wed- This isn’t a single-woman show though. One defi nite ding will be different from the two prior. The Red Wedding was tradition with any sort of civil union is the need for a second held at the Collective Unconcious Theatre in New York City person, which brings us to Beth Stephens. She is a sculptor, and the Orange wedding was held at the Centre for Sex and photographer and performer. When speaking on the phone Culture in San Francisco. The state of California recognizes with the two of them, Sprinkle’s melodious voice and soft same-sex civil unions, but not same-sex marriage delightful laugh are about what I expected, but Stephens is Coming to Calgary will mean coming to a country where the more talkative of the two. Stephens sounds how she looks same-sex marriage is recognized and legal. This will be - playful, a bit butch, and full of love and lust for her partner. Stephen’s and Sprinkle’s fi rst offi cial marriage, something It’s a partnership in every sense of the word, which can be which they are both excited about. Sprinkle explained that the seen in every photograph of the two together. difference between the civil union and a marriage was about Throughout the year the dynamic duo will hold performanc- fi ve hundred rights and benefi ts. They both agree that while es all across the United States and around the world. Each they disagree with marriage in its most basic and original defi - wedding colour is planned with a theme and year: the Red nition, they believe that equality is at stake here, and that no Wedding had the themes of security and survival. Besides the person should be made to feel less human for any reason. Red Wedding they held four “Cuddles”, two in San Francisco, Another huge difference with this performance will be the one in Santa Monica and one in Glasgow, Scotland. The Cud- lack of their friends and family. This is their fi rst time holding dles involved a large bed installed in a gallery or centre, where a wedding away from home and they are interested to see how Stephens and Sprinkle donned ”cuddlewear”, and guests were it will work out. Sprinkle is looking forward to working with invited to join them in bed for a secure snuggle. The cuddle One Yellow Rabbit and any of the performers they have in even involved their dog Bob, making it a project that the entire attendance. The idea behind the wedding is to have fun, cel- family pulled together! ebrate and be artistic. Anyone who plans on attending should Stephens was behind a bronzed panty display - an inge- dress in yellow or gold, but they can otherwise be as creative nious piece of art involved panties collected from well-known as they want. Stephens and Sprinkle explain that the wed- porn-stars and academics. The website states that “This work dings are all about freedom of expression and being yourself. is an homage and a wink to the bravery and chutzpah of porn All these positive vibes and wonderful plans to create a stars and adventurous academics, be it in the classroom or greater sense of equality led me to ask where the inspiration

10 gaycalgary and edmonton magazine #39, January 2007 came for this amazing seven-year art project. “Fucking,” says Stephens bluntly. Of course, this makes sense. Their relation- ship is one out of fairytales, but made more magical by the fact that these are two very real people with very real passion. Their fi rst date lasted three days, during which they were in bed. During the vows in the Red Wedding Sprinkle says “It was during that fi rst kiss that I fell in love with her.” From listening to them on the phone it’s not hard to imagine all that love and passion. Sprinkle has an incredible amount of awe in her voice when she speaks of Stephens’ involvement in the project. She wanted to make sure that everyone knows this isn’t her thing at all - it couldn’t have happened without Beth. From reading the Vows it is easy to see that these two people are as com- mitted to each other as they are to art. It’s a project to align chakras and illustrate the true meaning of love. So if you believe in love and you want to be involved in a brilliant art project, Beth Stephens and Annie Sprinkle invite you to their Yellow Wedding. “Come have fun and celebrate love!” One Yellow Rabbit and the High Performance Rodeo presents Beth Stephens and Annie Sprinkles Yellow Wedding January 14th, 2007 at the Big Secret Theatre. Tickets are $25. www.loveartlab.com

You can listen to Beth and Annie on Wednesday, January 10th from 9-10 pm on CJSW 90.9.

gaycalgary and edmonton magazine #39, January 2007 11 A Most Successful Reign The Imperial Sovereign Court of the Chinook Arch

By Kaitlyn S. C. Hatch Community | Spotlight While fl ipping through GayCalgary and Edmon- ton Magazine, you are bound to come across sev- D: We’ve been very fortunate, the community has re- ally supported us this year. I know there was a lot of eral photos labeled as ISCCA fundraisers – ones concern with bars closing down. In past years [the ISCCA where they collaborate with AIDS Calgary or the has] focused a lot on drag shows…and we still do drag local bars to raise money and awareness. Many shows, but we’re doing other things as well. We’re doing of them have become very well known in the drag coat checks and shooter bars, BBQs and calendars and community due to their role in the ISCCA, but t-shirts…all sort of things, to try and think a little bit their efforts are about so much more than fame differently. and lip-synching to their favorite gay musical W: Think outside the box. We have worked our asses icon. The Imperial Court system has been going off the past…eight and a half months is it now? We’re in Calgary for longer than many of us can remem- doing functions three, four, sometimes even fi ve times a ber, and they continue to do fabulous work. week. I met with our current reigning Empress and Emperor, D: Sometimes there are three functions in one day! Mz. Dyna Myte and Wolfgang Von Bearstein on Decem- GC: So how important is tonight, being New Years? ber 31st at the Texas Lounge. They were both looking a bit worn out from their busy lives, but were pleased to do D: We have to be out and visible with the crowns. We’ll our interview. be out to all the venues tonight - we have to get every- where! GC: What is the difference between Calgary’s Court and any other court? What are your plans for the New GC: What was your favorite ISCCA-related event this Year, where are you coming from and where are you go- year? ing to? D: I had a blast doing World AIDS day. Twisted Ele- W: We want to involve every aspect of the community, ment treated us really, really well. They helped us out to be united together as one fl ag, one family kind of idea. with selling the ribbons, making it mandatory at the There’s too much separation, if you will, between the door. It was wonderful, that was a really fun function to Gays, the Lesbians, leather pride and the bars. do. It was busy, and it was a full week or two of trying to make all these ribbons [and other preparations]. Other D: Yes, not only just the bars but all of the organiza- than that, outside of Calgary, the best function we’ve tions... We want to make sure we make it to all of those been to was in Alaska. Alaska treated us so wonderfully, functions so everybody feels like we’re supporting each they were so welcoming to us. other. GC: What were you in Alaska for? W: We were elected by the community and therefore we feel we have to be…everywhere. We want to feel that D: We were there for coronation. It was wonderful. We everyone is getting their time with the Court. spent…four days there? GC: What are you doing in Calgary to create that sense W: Four day…not long enough. of community? DW: It really was a lot of fun. Hopefully they’re plan- W: We’re trying to be visible…everywhere as much as ning on coming back here for our coronation. possible. W: We want to re-create that sense of hospitality for D: There are always similarities in the Courts [between everyone coming here. different cities], but, as for Calgary it seems like… GC: What do you think are some of the most important W: It seems like in the past they have not been every- charities that you provide donations and support to? where where they could be. We’re focusing a lot on being D: We are helping raise money for Beswick House. at every possible event that we can. We’ve given to the Centre of Hope. We’re also donating D: All the functions, all the bars as well. towards Artists for Quality of life, which [supports] the AIDS Calgary lunch program, as well as the Children’s GC: To what would you attribute your success this Wish Foundation - we’d like to grant a wish, at least one year, with regards to the fundraising that you’ve done?

12 gaycalgary and edmonton magazine #39, January 2007 wish. And then AGAPE manor. …A lot of people aren’t familiar with AGAPE but they work hard with AIDS patients as well as anyone terminally ill, like cancer pa- tients. They’re always really, really in need as well. At this point the duo needed to get back to their du- ties, but in closing they wanted to let everyone know how much they love to see new faces as well as old. The two of them are not only partners in the court, but also in life, and they’re excited to see what the rest of their reign will bring. Every penny they raise is going to a worthy cause, and their roster of charities is ever growing. With any luck the new found energy they have brought to the Court will be carried on even after they step down this April. The ISCCA www.iscca.ca

gaycalgary and edmonton magazine #39, January 2007 13 14 gaycalgary and edmonton maga