rodan roost

Transcription

rodan roost

February 2007
Issue 40
FREE
of charge
Valentine’s Veterans
Secrets of Long-Term Love
Powder and Pride 2007
Panorama is truly a Winter Wonderland
Thank You for Not Smoking
Gay Bars Say they are Better Off
>> STARTING ON PAGE 16
GLBT RESOURCE • CALGARY & EDMONTON
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gaycalgary and edmonton magazine #40, February 2007
Established originally in January
1992 as Men For Men BBS by MFM
Communications. Named changed to
GayCalgary.com in 1998. Stand alone
company as of January 2004. First Issue
of GayCalgary.com Magazine, November
2003. Name adjusted in November 2006 to
GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine.
Publisher Steve Polyak & Rob Diaz-Marino,
[email protected]
Editor Rob Diaz Marino, editor@gaycalgary.
com
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8
Table of Contents
5
Original Graphic Design Deviant Designs
Advertising
Steve Polyak [email protected]
Contributors
Steve Polyak, Rob Diaz-Marino, Jason Clevett,
Jerome Voltero, Kevin Alderson, Benjamin
Hawkcliffe, Stephen Lock, GayRealEstate.
com, and the Gay and Lesbian Community
of Calgary
Photographer
Steve Polyak and Rob Diaz-Marino
Videographer
Steve Polyak and Rob Diaz-Marino
Please forward all inquiries to:
GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine
Suite 100, 215 14th Avenue S.W.
Calgary, Alberta T2R 0M2
E-mail [email protected]
12 Powder and Pride
2007
16
16
Map & Event Listings
23
Bitter Girl
24
Ssssmarter Than The Average
Bear
Find out what’s happening
Products for The Sexually Adventurous
25
Q Scopes
26
Adult Film Review
28
Q Puzzle
29
The Roost
31
I AM GAY-NADIAN!
Print Run Monthly, 12 times a year
Masthead continued on page 4
Letter from the Publisher
8 Valentine’s Veterans
Phone (403) 543-6960 or toll free (888)
543-6960
Fax (403) 703-0685
Simply Being Loved
24
“Speak from the heart, Gemini!”
Cops, Marines, Jungle Lords, and Real Men
“Love Makes the World Go ‘Round”
Nested in Edmonton for Thirty Years
Tackling the Gay Identity Crisis
Continued on page 4
3
Continued from page 3
34
Enbridge playRites Festival of New
Canadian Plays
ATP Breathes Life into New Work
36
52
58
Wedded Bliss Ball 2007
Continued from page 3
Celebrating Joy and Love in Community
Copies Printed Monthly, up to 10,000
copies.
37
The Calgary Eagle
39
Fundraising Photos
42
44
Famous Puppet Death Scenes
48
Femme Fatale Carnivale
49
Letters to the Editor
50
Supremacy of Parliament or Supremacy of
the Church?
Distribution points up to 200 points in
Calgary, largest number of distribution
points for any Gay publication in Calgary.
Up to 150 points in Edmonton, largest
number of distribution points for any Gay
publication in Edmonton. Also distributed
coast to coast across Canada in select
locations in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal,
Regina, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, and other
places across Canada and the United
States. Please call us if you would like to
be a distribution point.
Flying High for Five Years
Old Trouts Encore Performance at the Grand
Distributed by DLRJ Distributions
(Calgary), Clark’s Distribution (Edmonton),
Canada Post (rest of Canada and USA)
and by GayCalgary.com
Vulva-riffic Valentine’s at Twisted
The United Kingdom Goes Through It Again
Ad Space Booking - Friday
February 23rd 2007
Ad Submission Monday February 26th 2007
Press Releases
55
Buying the Ugliest House on the Street
56
A Couple of Guys
58
Nasty Pig™
A Beautiful Investment Strategy
60
Queer Eye - Calgary & Edmonton
68
Classifieds Ads
Community Events this Month
Member of
Canadian Gay &
Lesbian Chamber
of Commerce
Member of International Gay &
Lesbian Travel Association
This Issue Cover PapaJim Wolf and
MamaKim Would, photographed by Steve
Polyak.
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
editor-in-chief.
In Circulation - Friday March
2nd 2007
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Printers North Hill News
The opinions expressed in this magazine are
not necessarily those of GayCalgary.com or
the contributors of the magazine.
From Nasty Pig Comes Nasty Product
Member of Tourism Calgary.
Deadline for Ad copy 28th of the month
(unless otherwise stated)
Legal Council Courtney Sebree Aarbo,
Barristers and Solicitors
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March 2007
Press Deadlines
Deadline for Ad Bookings 25th of the month
(unless otherwise stated)
Member of Edmonton Rainbow
Business Association.
Copyright 2007
Simply Being Loved
Letter from the Publisher
By Rob Diaz-Marino
Here Steve and I were thinking that this time of
year would be its usual slow self for us, but the
Christmas tree still standing in our living room
(though decorations have migrated primarily to
the top half to keep the cats out of mischief) is an
indication that the month has been anything but
quiet.
We became sponsors of the Powder and Pride Gay and Lesbian
Ski Weekend again this year, but because the event weekend
would conflict with our press deadline that month, we arranged
to visit Panorama in mid January to do a preview article. In
a way it became our first romantic getaway together since the
magazine started, and even though neither of us knew how to
ski, the change of pace was re-energizing.
For the longest time I have been looking for a pendant to go on
the chain that I wear around my neck, and at the Bavin Glass
Cabin in Panorama I finally found something that met my very
particular requirements: small and lightweight so I don’t feel it;
smooth so there is no chance of it jabbing me; hand-made not
manufactured; inexpensive; and of course something that appealed to me in appearance. What I found was a small transparent-green glass bead that the glass-blower had created, and it fit
perfectly.
I talk more about our experience in Panorama in the article on
page 12.
Of course we would be remiss to mention this month has good
old V-day right smack in the middle. Though it is a commercial
industry like Christmas and Easter, why not have fun with it
- a good premise to go beyond what you’d normally do for your
sweetie.
If you plan to pop the question, or already have, there is an
interesting event coming up that you may want to take into
consideration. It is called the Wedded Bliss Ball, and is a community event where couples can have a legal non-denominational
wedding ceremony complete with photographer, live entertainment, and much more. The best part is that you get access to a
professional wedding planner and, unlike many individual weddings, the over all cost is kept reasonable. For more information,
take a look at the article on page 36 and the ad on page 67. Keep
in mind that they can accommodate only a limited number of
couples, so book early to ensure you don’t get left out!
Steve is Fat? How shallow.
not knowing of anything to do with the theatre company or the
person that had placed the ad. At that point we knew beyond a
reasonable doubt that the ad was phony.
We were able to assist the City of Calgary Police Department’s
Tech Crimes Division in tracing the phony messages back to a
gay business right here in Calgary. Unfortunately for us, reparations for this prank are the responsibility of the individual, not
the business that the individual works for. Naturally he did not
willingly step forward, but nor did the business notify us of any
steps taken to investigate or reprimand this loose cannon. The
childish insult didn’t just reach Steve, it had the potential to offend a lot of other people in the community that are in a similar
situation. For the business to continue harboring this person
day in and day out, looks that much worse on them.
Steve does want to lose weight. Although he is happy with the
way he looks, his concern is more one of health. His dad died
from a stroke several years ago, and his mom is on her way to
some serious health problems because of his family’s genetics some shallow ninny taking a cheap shot from afar is really beside
the point.
For that reason we are looking for people or businesses in the
community that would be able to help Steve reach his goal, for an
ongoing article in the magazine about healthy weight loss. The
proof will be in the fat-free sugar-free pudding if Steve, as the
guinea pig, is able to lose weight despite his very busy schedule.
It is one thing when you are someone that has plenty of time to
work out for hours every day, but how does the average busy person find a way to fit in the time that it takes to lose weight and
build muscle mass in their everyday schedule?
Rant of the Month
This month my rant about the gay identity crisis got so large
that I had to split it off into a separate article! Go ahead and
read it on page 31 when you get there.
This Month
Congratulations are in order for the Calgary Eagle, which
celebrates a big milestone – their 5th Anniversary! The party will
be held on Saturday the 24th, so don’t miss the celebrations. We
interviewed Ron Scheetz as he reflects back on how far they have
come, and how thankful they are of the community around them
for getting them here. Read the full article on page 37.
Also, don’t forget to fill out your nomination form for the Calgary Eagle Dirty Bird Awards coming up on March 4th. See their
ad on page 33 for more details.
The Vagina Monologues are throwing their annual Femme
Fatale fundraiser on February 14th at the Twisted Element. This
is an amazing event that would certainly appeal to lesbians, but
one at which gay men can still enjoy themselves.
Exactly a year ago an ad was submitted to us only a day before
our February press deadline, and in the rush, neither of us
caught the hidden message in its odd capitalization. Only after
the printed copies were in our possession did I notice the message “STEVE IS FAT”. We dismissed it because we were unable
to understand why a complete stranger would have any ill will
toward him.
In Edmonton, don’t forget about Carnival! on Saturday the
10th, presented by the Edmonton Vocal Minority and Womonspace (see page 53). Also, by a stroke of bad luck, Team Edmonton is having their Launch at 7:30 on the same day (see page 67).
The invoice for over $300 made its way out to the mailing address that had been provided to us and, after two months the
poor guy at the residential address finally phoned us in dismay,
There is still time to submit your entries for the Reader’s
Choice Survey, either online or using one of the ballot boxes out
Reader’s Choice Survey
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at each gay bar in Calgary and Edmonton. Copies of January’s
issue will remain beside the boxes so that you can obtain the
survey. Due to the Eagle Anniversary happening on that day, we
have decided to extend the deadline until the 4th of March! Take
10 minutes of your time when you are not otherwise occupied, to
tell us a bit about yourself and vote for your favorite bar.
OutGames Official Sponsor
We are proud to announce that GayCalgary and Edmonton
Magazine has finally been recognized as an official Media sponsor
of the North America Outgames! This makes us the only locally
printed gay media sponsor, and our magazines will be available
for pickup at most of the sports venues during the Apollo Western Cup, OutFest, and OutRights.
For businesses in Alberta, we are the gay community publication to advertise with to reach the estimated 2500 participants
to Calgary expected at the beginning of this April. Make your ad
bookings for the March issue to catch the main surge of activity, and in April to follow up on the tail end of this monumental
event.
Over the course of the next few months, we are also sponsoring
the ISCCA Coronation, Powder and Pride, AIDS Calgary’s Calgary
Cares, the Different Strokes Mardi Gras Dance, the Wedded Bliss
Ball, and The Vagina Monologues. Once again, we bring our
magazines for people to pick up at all of these events, so there’s
no time like the present to come on board and advertise with us.
Check out the sponsored event listing now on the front page
at www.gaycalgary.com for more information about upcoming
GayCalgary and Edmonton sponsored events.
Stampede Parade Float
For the past 2 years, GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine
has been in contact with the Stampede board, and looking at the
possibility of having a gay community float in the parade. Last
month, regrettably with very little notice, we had to call a meeting
between the gay community members and the Calgary Stampede
to discuss the requirements for a float in the parade.
Although there is no fee to enter a float in the Calgary Stampede Parade, it is still very competitive; a good deal of the entries
are refused unless they meet a number of requirements and look
very professional. Because of this it is imperative that the community combine its efforts on a single entry that represents the
gay community as a whole.
A representative drawing of the float design must be submitted to the Calgary Stampede by the 5th of April, which leaves
two months to hammer out a design. Asking to have all of the
community involved means that the float itself cannot be business specific, however the logos of participating and sponsoring
businesses and organizations could be included in a subtle and
tasteful way.
Though we had to rush together our initial list of contacts,
no decisions or plans have been made yet. It is not too late to
get involved. If you would like to be included on updates and
information regarding the project, please send an E-mail to
[email protected]. Otherwise we have scheduled
an open community meeting on February 19th at 7:30pm in
the common area room of 215 14th Avenue SW. This will be a
chance to re-iterate the details of the meeting with the Stampede
board, and move forward on getting an entry put together.
If you’re looking rather to express your opinion, write a letter to the publisher
by E-mailing [email protected]. If you’ve got something good to say
about someone or something, then that’s awesome! If you’ve got something bad
to say about someone or something…well, just try to keep those claws sheathed!
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Valentine’s Veterans
By Rob Diaz-Marino
We are often told, as gay people, that our romantic
relationships are destined to be short and sweet. The
duration of straight dating relationships might as
well be in dog years when comparing to the whirlwind
romances that some of us go through – all to the same
end: a near miss, another match that won’t work in the
long run.
My theory is that, as members of the same sex we do not suffer the same communication barriers that heterosexual couples
do, due to the gender gap. Because of this we are better able
to understand our partners’ intentions and motivations, swiftly
drilling down to the core issue of compatibility – is this person
right for me, for now and forever?
The disadvantage is that we can often go through so many
failed relationships that we wonder if the right one is really out
there, or did we already pass them by. How will we know when
we do find the one, and is there a secret formula to making sure
it lasts?
The best way to answer these questions is to learn from the
examples of couples that have managed to get their relationships
past the dreaded 1-year hump. GayCalgary and Edmonton
Magazine interviewed a number of couples in our community
that have knocked that threshold out of the ballpark.
The recent buzz around Money Pennies has been the engagement of owners Lorrie and Michelle. The couple celebrated their
10th anniversary this 1st of February, but has not yet worked
out all the details of their imminent marriage.
“We are engaged and will be married this year. We have not
set the date as of yet but it will be in the near future,” said Lorrie
on both their behalf.
Not surprisingly, it was the business that brought them together.
“We met at Money Pennies. I was working bar shifts back then
and Michele would come in and we would have coffee and talk.
After a couple of months of building a friendship we went out on
a date.”
The couple shares a very close, exclusive bond with one another that they attribute to their honesty and sensitivity.
“We have a monogamous relationship. We believe if you have
found the person you are meant to be with that you don’t need
to have anyone else. Keeping the relationship exciting is part of
being a couple. Communication has been a key reason for our
relationship [lasting so long]. We try and take time to make sure
every aspect of our relationship is on track. It has worked for
us.”
On the opposite end of the spectrum, infamous RayJean (RJ)
Fafard and Cliff Andrews, owners of Calgary’s own The Twisted
Element Nightclub and Lounge, have been together now for 19
years.
“We met at the beautiful Banff Springs hotel,” said RJ.
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Cover Article
“He had known me for about 2 or 3 weeks and I couldn’t
get the time of day, I couldn’t even get a date in there. He just
sluffed me off,” commented Cliff.
“I was getting my uniform to become a dishwasher. It was
my first job, making $4.25 an hour. And then he saw me from
across the room-”
“-and I said ‘wow, you’re cute!’ I didn’t have my glasses on
at the time,” Cliff jokes. “I kept trying to get a date with him, to
flirt with him. Finally I figured sleeping with his boyfriend would
break the two of them up.”
RJ proudly describes how he walked in on Cliff with his thenboyfriend Marc, liked what he saw, and proceeded to kick Marc
out instead. Since that day, they have never looked back. When
asked what the secret is to staying together, RJ states, “Our undying devotion to one another. …He brings me flowers, he buys
me chocolates, he spoils me rotten.”
“Like any relationship you have to make it work,” says Cliff.
“Do you really want to be in a relationship or do you want to be
single for the rest of your life? If you don’t want to make the
effort then you’ll always be single. It’s always nice to wake up
to somebody, to put your cold feet to, snuggle in bed, stroke my
hair,” says Cliff. “You have to have the passion behind it, but
know to make the difference between love and sex. Stuff like
threesomes is just sex. You can’t be jealous, it ruins everything.
If I was jealous, oh my god…”
“What keeps us together, honestly, is having common goals,”
adds RJ. “Because if you don’t have the same goals and the
same interests then you’ve got nothing to talk about, and nothing to keep the relationship going… you’re just staying together
for the kids.”
The two don’t actually have plans for kids, nor do they feel
marriage is necessary for them even though it is now a recognized possibility. They feel their relationship has already survived the test of time without it.
Another long standing couple is Devon Mills and Brent Rock.
Mills has been a big name in the Calgary drag scene, but has
since eased off the reigns to concentrate on other things in his
life. Rock is a musician, and last he starred in the Stage West
production “Last Resort” as the grinning piano player. Together
they have owned and operated the Foxwood Bed & Breakfast,
which recently went on hiatus indefinitely. The couple is a
shining example for the heartbroken drag queens who wonder if
relationships and drag can ever mix.
Their story starts 14 years ago in a Vancouver, where Devon
took notice of handsome Brent. “It was one of those nights
where we met by happenstance, neither of us were supposed
to have gone out but we did,” explained Devon. At the time he
lived in Vancouver, and Brent was in town for his grandfather’s
birthday.
Not mincing with words, Devon walked up and kissed Brent,
saying “I’d love to buy you dinner.” Devon went on to say “Yes,
we went for dinner…I proposed to him on our first date. I told
him that he was the type of man I wanted to spend my life with.”
There were no objections.
They state their ongoing motto, “keeping up with the kids will
keep us young or finish us, we’re just not sure which.”
Brent returned to Edmonton, and the two of them maintained
a long distance relationship for the first year and a half that
they were together. Devon said nothing about the difficulties,
only that absence made their hearts grow fonder. When they
did meet on occasion, they were that much happier to see one
another.
That brings us finally to Steve and I. We have been together
for 5 and a half years, for which we often receive praise despite
it being peanuts compared to the others we spoke to for this
article. Still, ours has been in the public light ever since we
started the magazine, so I feel it appropriate to mention.
When asked about what has kept them together for so long,
Devon’s first thought was about the hardships that they have
been through together: family losses, and Devon’s own battle
with cancer. Brent stood by him through the Chemotherapy,
and found a way to make Devon still feel sexy even though he
described as himself as a “bowling ball with eyes.”
Other things that have helped, “having a good sense of humor…. We have good guidelines; when we apologize and accept,
then we don’t bring it up again. You do fight and argue, but
that’s just part of life.”
Later on they decided to get officially married, and after facing
apologetic rejection from the Anglican Church, were finally wed
in April of 1996 in the Unitarian Church. “We did it back before
it was stylish [for gay couples] to get married…. We signed the
church registry before we could legally sign the provincial registry.” The ceremony was an affirmation of their commitment, and
became an educational experience for their family and friends.
Devon left us with his final thoughts. “After 14 years we’re
still having a great time. Like our first date, I’d still ask him to
marry me.”
Another couple will be celebrating their 30th anniversary on
the 17th of this month. MamaKim Would and PapaJim Wolf met
in 1976 at the Park side, a Calgary club where Jim was working
as the doorman and where Kim, who at the time was a pre-op
TS, would regularly party with her friends. “I still say she set
the whole thing up,” says Papa Jim, referring to how they started
dating, “but I don’t regret it.” In February of 1977 they started
living together in a monogamous relationship.
On many occasions outside of this interview, PapaJim has told
me stories of his glory days as a bouncer at this club and various
biker bars. At that point he identified himself as a straight man,
but his love for MamaKim threw his self-image into question. In
the end he said “What the hell, I want to grow old with you,” and
love won over gender considerations. Early in their relationship,
MamaKim underwent surgery and has since lived happily as a
complete woman.
They were legally married in 1983 but don’t really celebrate
that, as they feel it was only a legal formality. They feel that the
true core of their relationship is simply the love that they have
for each other and a respect that they have built over the years.
But this is not the only way the two of them want to be remembered. Though technically a heterosexual couple now, they
have remained parental figures at the heart of Calgary’s Drag
and Leather communities.
Similar to the idea of having children, their love over the years
has come to include a number of young adults in the community
- ones they have taken under their wing in very much a Family way. MamaKim and PapaJim are proud to say that the next
generation of Wolf-Woulds include some of Calgary’s premier
Drag Performers (Tara and her twin Laura Vanity, Kiera Modesty, Sierra, Honey Ross, and Tia aka Craig) and members of the
Leather community (sons John and Trey). Most are involved in
the Court system (like son Michael, the Current Grand Duke), as
both MamaKim and PapaJim have been for many years, to help
raise funds for various charities. It also includes many other
young people in a supportive way. “That’s what we’re here for,
for each other, right?”
We might as well just be called Steve-n-Rob, the single entity;
we are seen out so often together that it is a shock to most
people if they find one and not the other. People have called me
Steve so many times, and in some cases I didn’t even bother to
correct them.
There is a huge lead-up story that I’m not going to tell, but
suffice it to say that we met online. I had posted a profile on a
site called “Bear Hunter” that was linked from the GayCalgary
website, and proceeded to send messages to a handful of other
Calgarian profiles, trying to reach out for friendship and someone to talk to. Steve was the only one to respond. After chatting
online for a few days, we decided to meet downtown for lunch.
I met Steve at the downtown train station and we had to make
a stopover at his office so that he could check on his web servers
that were undergoing attacks from the Code Red virus. I patiently read Don Quixote as I waited – a book I never did finish.
Finally we made it to Earl’s on 8th street, where part way into
the meal Steve admitted to me that it was his birthday. At first I
wondered if he was making it up, but that was not the case. We
went back to his place afterward where I met his cats and we hit
off what would soon become a committed relationship.
Aside from a few awkward visits to GLASS at the University of
Calgary, Steve was one of the first people that I knew to be gay. I
was with him during my first excursions to the gay bars, and he
gave me my formative doses of gay culture. It was a godsend to
be with him during this time of confusion – I have seen far too
many people forge out on their own and fall in with the wrong
crowd, fall victim to those out to take advantage of their trust
and innocence, or meet total rejection.
Putting out the magazine together, month after month, is a
very high-pressure job. Though it pushes us together in many
ways, it has also on occasion threatened to pull us apart. If
there has ever been a test of our solidity, the magazine has been
it. I started doing ad work and the occasional article to help
Steve realize his dream, and even as co-publisher, for the longest
time I really didn’t claim the paper as my own. This caused a
lot of internal conflict for me because I had dreams of my own,
that I felt I was putting off because of it. It took a while for me to
realize that the magazine was a chance for me to fulfill my altruistic desire to protect and help others, and that my other dreams
are still possible with a little time and patience.
Even without the magazine, we have been through so much
together: Steve’s dad passing away, the deaths in my own family, the loss of our cat Otter and my cat Missy, and the adoption
of our two new fur kids, Sparky and Snoopy. We are always
talking to one another, and taking moments out of our busy day
for some playful affection. Steve takes care of me by cooking
meals and reading maps, while I take care of him correcting his
English and making sure he forgets about work from time to
time.
My words of wisdom are that the “right one” is someone who
completes you; someone with whom you share common ground,
but whose strengths mirror your weaknesses. When that is the
case, the sum of you together is greater than that of you apart.
Life can throw so many curve balls that are difficult to handle
alone, but being with the right someone can give you just the
strength you need to pick yourself up and keep going. If you find
this person, the greatest folly is to pass them up because you are
not quite ready to settle down.
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By Rob Diaz-Marino
Review | Travel
The annual Powder and Pride Gay Ski Weekend will be hosted at Panorama Mountain Village
for the second year in a row. This year the event
will be happening from Friday March 30th until
Sunday April 1st, and is an excellent opportunity
to get away and spend time with your ski buddies
against a beautiful British Columbia backdrop.
Panorama Mountain Village is located in the Purcell Mountains, to the west of the small town of
Invermere, BC.
As a sponsor of the event, my partner and I were given
the opportunity to spend a few days in the Panorama
Springs lodge, the premium accommodations that Powder and Pride attendees will receive with their Ski and
Stay package this year. The suites are not rooms at all
– they are fully furnished mini-condos with a kitchen,
living room, balcony, and a bedroom. They are large
enough to accommodate up to 4 people comfortably,
where two stay in the bedroom, and two stay on the
hide-a-bed couch in front of the fireplace in the living
room. From the 4th floor you have a beautiful view of
the ski slope, surrounding mountains, and even the outdoor hot pools directly below.
If you’re looking to keep your food costs down, you
can skip the restaurants and stop by the general store
in the lower village to stock up. The kitchen is equipped
with a fridge, stove, oven, microwave, dishwasher, plates,
glasses, and cutlery – everything you need to stay home
and make your own meals.
The living room had a cozy fireplace to heat the room,
along with a TV and DVD player – not that these appliances see much use, I imagine. The Village Store has
a selection of DVDs that you can rent if you do decide
you’d like to relax and watch a movie.
One of the wonderful things about Panorama is its
“smaller by design” mountain village, making everything
you need within walking distance – even the ski slope.
Our guide, Chris Miller, told us that many people park
their cars when they arrive, and seldom touch them
throughout their stay. The restaurants, day lodge, ski
shops and mountain outfitters equipment rentals are all
a 2 minute walk from the Panorama Springs lodge, and
the majority of their other accommodation lodges. Once
you have everything you need, the ski slope and Mile 1
Quad High-speed chair lift are only meters away.
Being on an incline, the village is divided into upper
and lower tiers, with staircases and paths linking the two
across a rather steep slope. If you’re not in the mood
to climb up or down the hill, you can always catch the
Village Gondola behind the Wildfire Restaurant and have
a fun two-minute ride down to the Village Store, RK Heli
Plex, and the lower village town homes. The view of the
village is beautiful, but make sure you bundle up before
getting on as the speed breeze can be quite nippy on a
cold day. The village is beautiful to walk through during the day because of the breathtaking mountains all
around, and during the night because of the abundance
of white Christmas lights that adorn the log cabins.
If you want to go out for dinner, there are a handful of
restaurants and bars to choose from in the village and on
the mountain. The Wildfire Rustic Grill is the most upscale choice, but there is also the cafeteria-style food in
the Day Lodge, and Mile High Pizza in the Great Hall, the
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PicNic Market Deli, Lusti’s
Cappuccino Bar, and the
Earl Grey Lodge. For more
unique dining options, try
the Choppers Landing at
the RK Heli Plex. If you
want to go out drinking for
après ski or in the evening,
there is the Jackpine Pub
in the lower village, and the slopeside Crazy Horse Saloon. One thing we particularly noticed was the friendly
and helpful nature of the people who work in the bars,
restaurants, and stores; they went out of their way to
make our stay comfortable and accommodate our needs,
even though as a magazine we remained incognito.
My partner and I regrettably do not ski, so I can’t exactly speak about the experience on the slopes. However, Chris took us up the Mile 1 Quad Express in our bare
shoes so that we could see the beautiful view down onto
the village from only a third of the way up the mountain.
Looking down the slope I could imagine the thrill of skiing or snowboarding down at high speeds. Later I took
a close look at the mountain map, showing the over 100
ski trails for beginners through experts, and the handful
of huts, cabins and picnic areas to be discovered. I can
see that skiing the mountain would be just as much fun
for the exploration as it would be for the exhilaration. If
you don’t ski either, it’s never too late to learn! Their
School of Skiing and Snowboarding (SOS) is rated one of
the best in North America, and their skilled instructors
will help you learn the snow sport of your choice.
When it is time to unwind, day or night, the outdoor
hot pools and sauna really hit the spot. Our room had
a perfect view overlooking the pool, so we couldn’t resist
popping down a couple of times. It’s an odd feeling to
run outside, wet from the pre-wash showers and wearing
only your bathing suit in temperatures well below zero.
Once you settle in one of the three pools, you’ll quickly
be comfortable again – even a little too hot. It’s good to
get out and cool off from time to time, and what better way than to dive into the snow! It makes for a neat
tingling sensation once your skin touches warm water
again. You can swim around in the larger central pool,
relax with your friends in one of the smaller but warmer
auxiliary pools, or take a break from the water in the dry
sauna. It is particularly beautiful to be out there on a
night when it is snowing, and you can watch the flakes
drift down through the pool deck lights.
There is still so much that I don’t have room to talk
about in this article, such as the Grey Wolf Nordic Center, and the award-winning Greywolf golf course that
keeps Panorama a great destination even in the summertime. Make sure you grab a pamphlet when you arrive,
and take a look at the many other unique things that the
resort has to offer, such as the Sleigh Ride & Chili Cookout, and SolSpa Massage parlor.
Invermere is a 3 hour drive southwest of Calgary. You
can hop on the Greyhound for pretty cheap with their
75%-off companion fare, but make sure you arrange for
someone to pick you up at the bus stop, or have money
handy for a taxi. Panorama is an 18 km drive west along
the Toby Creek Road out of Invermere. If there is enough
interest, an express bus from Calgary to Panorama may
be arranged. Get your butt out there and enjoy this
winter wonderland!
At Panorama Mountain Village
For bookings contact Chris Miller,
(250) 341-3038
[email protected]
www.panoramaresort.com/powderandpride
See their ad on page 59 for more information.
13
14
15
Events Listing
Find out what’s happening
Calgary Listings
Accommodations
Westways Guest House O13
216 - 25 Ave SW • (403) 229-1758
http://www.gaywestways.com
Bars and Clubs
BackLot O3
See our ad on page 35
209 - 10 Ave SW • (403) 265-5211
Open 7 days a week, 4pm-close
GayCalgary.com Internet Terminal Location*
Calgary Eagle Inc. O4
See our ad on page 33 and 43
424a - 8 Ave SE • (403) 263-5847
Open Wed-Sun 5pm-close
16
http://www.calgaryeagle.com
Money-Pennies O9
1742 - 10 Ave SW • (403) 263-7411
Open Mon-Fri 11:00am-close; Sat & Sun 10:
30am-close
http://www.money-pennies.com
Texas Lounge O6
308 - 17 Ave SW • (403) 229-0911
Open 7 days a week, 11am-close
Check the GayCalgary.com web site for updated
event calendar information.
Tuesdays - Karaoke
Wednesdays - Hi-Ball Specials
Saturdays - Karaoke
Sundays - Beer Specials (selected brands) also
Ernestine’s Matinee Madness
Twisted Element O33
1006 11th Ave SW - Front Entrance• (403)
802-0230
http://www.twistedelement.ca
Twisted Element Lounge O33
1006 11th Ave SW - Back door Entrance • (403)
802-0230
http://www.twistedelement.ca
Bathhouse and Sauna’s
Goliath’s O6
308 - 17 Ave SW • (403) 229-0911
Open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day
7 Days a Week, Specials on Lockers and Single
Rooms for Students. Valid student ID must be
shown. Student Rates unavailable 8pm to 4am
Weekends.
Businesses
Alykhan Velji
(403) 617-2406
Interior Decorator
Adult Depot
140, 58th Ave SW •(403) 258-2777
1514 14th St SW •(403) 264-7399 O23
Sex toys, and Straight, Bi, Gay video rentals
B&D Emporium Inc. O14
829 17th Ave SW • (403) 265-7789
http://www.bndemporium.com
Adult clothing store and accessories specializing in
fetish, leather, latex, Gothic, punk, and corsets.
Barbies Shop O48
1518 4th Street SW • (403) 262-8265
Adult clothing store, shoes, Gothic, punk, fetish,
custom corsettes and more.
Brian Mahoney & John McNeill
#10, 6020 - 1A St SW • (403) 259-4141
Re/Max Reality Professionals
BuBu Bear
(403) 852-6977
http://www.bububear.ca
Portable adult novelties
Canada Olympic Park
Highway 1 Calgary West
http://www.canadaolympicpark.ca
Courtney Sebree Aarbo O24
1138 Kensington Road NW • (403) 571-5120
http://www.csalaw.ca
Barristers & solicitors
Chronos Apollo
#520 922 5th Avenue SW • (403) 237-2353
Physician directed skin care and more
Cruiseline
(403) 777-9494 trial code 3500
http://www.cruiseline.ca
Phone chat room & talking classifieds for 18+
Deva Dave Salon O32
4th Floor,
1304 4th Street SW • (403) 290-1973
http://www.devadave.com
Doug R. Glasser
9625 MacLeod Trail SW • (403) 278-2900
Re/Max Reality Professionals
First Class Flowers
Elbow and Heritage Drive SW• (403) 255-2239
Jane Doe Marketplace & Cafe O50
311 17 Avenue SW • (403) 245-5263
Calgary’s Only Marketplace featuring Women
Entrepreneurs. Coffee Shop too!
La Fleur O41
#103 - 100 7th Avenue SW
(403) 266-1707
Florist Shop
Leather and Lace
2020 32nd Avenue NE • (403) 291-4060
The art of romance
Lorne Doucette /CIR Realtors
(403) 461-9195
http://www.lornedoucette.com
Marcy Calberry /CIR Realtors
(403) 291-4440 or (866) 859-4440
MFM Communications
(403) 543-6970
http://www.mfmcommunications.com
Web site hosting and development. Computer
Hardware and Software.
More Better Buses
(403) 651-1692
Providing unique, comfortable & affordable
transportation. Charter us for: High School
Graduations, Senior Groups, Pub Crawls and
Sporting Events
Priape Calgary O16
1322 - 17 Ave SW • (403) 215-1800
http://www.priape.com
Clothing and accessories. Adult toys, leather wear,
movies and magazines. Gifts.
Professional Relaxation Massage
(403) 510-7572
Male to Male massage by appointment only
Rev. Nadene Rogers
(403) 247-0602
http://www.weddingsmyway.com
Marriage Commissioner
Russell’s Cobalt O45
735 12th Avenue SW • (403) 228-7822
Hair & Aesthetics
Sol Sourced Weddings
(403) 270-9480
http://www.solsourcedweddings.com
Wedding Commissioner
Z-Group
Voice over IP (VOIP) phone service and long
distance
(403) 770-1940
Community Groups and
Organizations
Aids Calgary O2
200, 1509 Centre St South • (403) 508-2500
http://www.aidscalgary.org
March 8-9, 2007 - The 8th Annual Alberta Harm
Reduction Conference at the Radisson Hotel,
Calgary, AB
This event is being co-hosted by AIDS Calgary
and Safeworks Calgary. For more information
please contact the Conference Coordinator:
Phone 403-327-8900, Fax 403-327-8939,
[email protected], http://www.albert
aharmreduction.ca
Spring For Life
Mini Gerber Daisy Sales
March 19th - March 23rd, 2007
www.springforlifecalgary.ca
March 23, 2007 - Calgary Cares - Pulse at the Jack
Singer Concert Hall
The much anticipated event is back! Calgary
Cares 2007 ‘Pulse’ will offer a heart pounding
evening packed with music, theatre, dance, and
interpretation, to support AIDS Calgary’s HIV/AIDS
17
awareness, education, prevention and support
programs
OutRights
April 2-3, 2007
Share knowledge, create action, raise awareness.
Unify human rights for all.
AIDS Calgary is pleased to present OutRights
2007. Bringing together diverse audiences of
local, national, and international business and
community leaders, academic scholars, students,
activists, politicians, philanthropists, members
of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender
(GLBT) communities, their allies and the broader
community from across North America, OutRights
will be held in Calgary, on April 2-3, 2007.
Apollo Calgary Friends in Sports
http://www.apollocalgary.com
Apollo: Friends in Sport, is coordinating the Calgary
teams for both the Montreal Outgames and Chicago
Gay Games. Uniforms will be created for both
events so that teams can march into the opening
ceremonies under “Team Calgary” banners. Sizing
and orders will be done at the Apollo tent at the
Pride Street Fair on June 11. Please let Apollo
know if you are going to compete at one or both
games by E-mailing outgames@apollocalgary.
com or [email protected].
Absolutely Smashing! Badminton- The 2006/2007
season for Badminton starts on Sunday, September
17, 2006 (FREE FIRST DAY). Special extended
session. We will start at 12:30 p.m. and go to 3:00
p.m. on this session only. All future sessions are
1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Location: Western Canada
High School (641 17th Ave. SW) Schedule: Sunday
afternoons in the MAIN GYM, 1:30 p.m. to 3:00
p.m. Drop-in Fee: $5 for each 1.5 hour session for
Apollo members or $6 for non-members (Apollo
memberships are $15)
Curling- The 16th season of Apollo Curling will
begin in October 2006, with the same general
format as last year. Games are at the North Hill
Curling Club (1201 - 2 Street NW) with two draws
on Saturdays: 2:20 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. and at
the Inglewood Golf and Curling Club, Saturdays at
12:30 p.m.
Squash -Location: University of Calgary. Mondays,
6:45 - 8:15 p.m. (90 minutes), Sept 11 - Dec
11 (Fall Session) Cost: $89.00 for the 13 weeks
(6.85 per week) OR $10.00 drop in fee Apollo
membership required ($15.00 per year)
Volleyball.- The 2006/2007 season for volleyball
starts on September 10, 2006! New this year:
Recreational volleyball Friday Nights! Recreational
Volleyball King George School, 2108 10th Street
NW, (a few blocks north of SAIT) Friday Nights
7:00pm – 9:00 pm. Intermediate/Competitive
YWCA, 320 5th Avenue SE. Sunday afternoons
4:30pm – 6:30 pm
Rainbow Riders Bowling League - Let’s 10 Pin
Bowlerama, 2916 5 Avenue NE, Wednesday’s at
6:30pm. Season is from September to April. League
fees are $15.00 per Night. Shoe rental is $2.00
Outdoor Pursuits - WE DO IT OUTDOORS. Skiing,
hiking, camping, biking. Any outdoor sports. Why
do it alone when you can do it with a group.
Weekends and weekdays, all year round. Drop
us a line.
ARGRA – Alberta Rockies Gay Rodeo
Association
Hotline: (403) 541-8140
http://www.argra.org
ARGRA Dance Saturday February 17, 2007
- We’re kicking up our heels in our new digs at
the Hillhurst-Sunnyside Community Centre. Join us
there (1320-5th Avenue NW) for a country-rockin’
good time!
Artists for the Quality of Life
(403) 890-1261
http://www.artistsforqualityoflife.com
Between Men and Between Men Online
(403) 234-8973
http://www.glcsa.org/
Peer support, sexual health education for gay
or bisexual men, as well as those who may be
uncertain or questioning their sexuality. Discussions
range from personal relationship or life issues, to
sexual health and well-being.
Meetings at GLCSA Tuesdays 7:00pm to 9:00pm
18
Calgary Big men and Admirers
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/
CalgaryAlbertaBigmenClub/
A group for gay and bisexual men only. Interested
parties are welcome to join our VIRTUAL Group in
Alberta to: Ease Friendly meetings between big guys
and those who love them, organize different social
activities, and market a positive image of big men.
Hope to See you soon...
Big men’s and Admirers Sunday Brunch. Our 1st
event will be Sunday Nov. 12/2006 @ 11am.
Mother Tuckers ,345 10th Ave S.W., Calgary. A
social outing for bigger guys and those who enjoy
their company AND its a FOOD DRIVE, so bring
something that is non perishable so we can help
out the Calgary Inter-Faith Food Bank! RSVP before
November 10th to [email protected]
Calgary Frontrunners Running Club
When: 9 am on Saturdays,
Where: Update! Coffee Junkies -795 1 Avenue SW
(no longer meeting at Eau Claire Y)
What: Walkers and Runners between 5 km – 15
km from sub 5 min/km pace to 10 min/km pace.
Who: All are welcome - Typically about 15-20 men
and women depending on the weather conditions
Contact: E-mail [email protected] or
call Tim at (403) 660-6125
Calgary Gay Fathers
[email protected]
http://www.geocities.com/calgaryfathers
Peer support group for gay, bisexual and
questioning fathers. Meeting twice a month
Calgary Humane Society
(403) 250-4455
http://www.calgaryhumane.ca
Animal Adoptions and for Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals
Calgary Men’s Chorus
(403) 262-6295
http://www.calgarymenschorus.org
The Calgary Men’s Chorus is excited to announce
that rehearsals for its 2006-2007 season begin
Tuesday September 5, 2006. Rehearsals are held
from 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Old Y Centre
for Community Organizations, located at 223 12
Avenue SW.
Calgary Networking Club
November 2, 5:00-7:00pm
At Money Pennies (upstairs)
1742 - 10 Ave SW
Calgary Networking Club (CNC) is back.... after a
5 year hiatus, CNC is meeting again in Calgary
on the first Thursday of every month, starting
NOVEMBER 2. The networking meetings are open
to all individuals who would like to promote their
businesses or who would like to meet new people
- no business affiliation is necessary.
CNC is for members of the LGBTQ community to
make new friends or business contacts. This group is
not age or gender specific.
Come listen to our monthly guest speaker, have a
snack, and enjoy talking with some new people.
Admission to the meeting is $5, or a yearly
subscription pass can be bought for $25 (a 28%
savings). If you have a GLCSA membership take
an additional $5 off your yearly subscription cost.
GLCSA memberships will also be available at
the meeting for $10. (Call GLCSA for details on
membership benefits).
For more information contact GLCSA at (403) 2348973....or just drop in on the meeting.
Calgary Networking Club (CNC) is a Gay & Lesbian
Community Services Association (GLCSA) event.
Food and venue sponsored by Money Pennies Bar
and Eatery.
Calgary Sexual Health Centre
304, 301 14th Street NW
(403) 283-5580
http://www.cbca.ab.ca
Calgary Sexual Health Centre is a pro-choice
organization that believes all people have the right
and ability to make their own choices regarding
their sexual and reproductive health. Calgary
Sexual Health Centre started as a volunteer based,
grassroots organization and has been providing
comprehensive sexuality education and counselling
programs to the Calgary community since 1972. In
the early 70’s, CBCA’s work focused on improving
access to birth control and increasing support for
women facing unplanned pregnancies. Since that
time Calgary Sexual Health Centre has evolved to
include a range of services to ensure that individuals
are able to make informed choices about their
sexual and reproductive well being. Our programs
promote sexuality as a normal, positive and healthy
part of life to be valued and respected. Currently
the Calgary Sexual Health Centre offers education
and youth peer education programs, counselling
and groups for women who are questioning their
sexual orientation.
RU a lesbian, gay, bisexual, two-spirited or queer
youth, ages 17-24? RU interested in helping make
Calgary a safer place for people of diverse sexual
orientation? If UR, we are looking for dynamic
volunteers for our Anti-Homophobia Program.
This program is intended to raise awareness
and understanding among students about the
experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, two spirited,
transgendered, queer and questioning youth. If
you are interesting in sharing your experiences with
other youth, and are available days, please call us
at 283-5580 and ask for an Educator or contact
[email protected]..
Deer Park United Church and Wholeness
Centre
77 Deerpoint Road SE - (403) 278-8263
http://www.dpuc.ca
Worship Time - 10:00am Sundays
Different Strokes
http://www.differentstrokescalgary.org
Swim Club.
Check website for current schedule
Don’t Buy In Project
http://www.dontbuyin.ca
This Calgary Police Service Initiative aims to
encourage youth to working towards an inclusive
environment in which diversity is embraced in their
schools and community.
Fake Mustache
Calgary’s ONLY Drag King Show
Soda Lounge: 211 - 12th Ave S.W.
(403) 923-3953
http://www.miscyouth.com
[email protected]
A benefit show for the Miscellaneous Youth Network,
Fake Mustache is guaranteed to please! Come see
our boys strut their stuff at Soda, the first Thursday
of every month. $5 cover. $2 cover under 18.
Advance tickets available at Barbies Shop.
All Ages show starts at 7:30. 18+ show starts
at 10:15.
Gay Prairie Alumni
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gayprairiealumni/
This group is for all gay/lesbian/transgendered
alumni of Prairie Bible Institute and/or Prairie
High School in Three Hills, Alberta. It’s purpose
is twofold: First, social -- to renew old friendships
and make new ones. Second -- to talk about
our common experiences as gay people at a
fundamentalist school. Any other questions, please
feel free to ask.
Girl Friends
http://members.shaw.ca/girlfriends
Girlsgo Productions
(403) 510-2502
http://www.girlsgo.ca
Event production and promotion in Alberta for
women. Check online for fun things to do!
SWOOSH
Ski/Board Group for Women
Saturday, February 10th, 2007
The snow has been falling in the mountains so it is
time to strap on those boards to spend a fabulous
day in the Rockies with other ski & boarding
bunnies!
Next Dance Party for Women
St. Patrick’s Day
Saturday, March 17th, 2007
Join GIRLSGO for a little Shamrock hunting and
Leprechaun mischief... and a little dancing too! Find
a four-leaf clover and it could be your lucky night!
GLASS, Gay & Lesbian Association of Students
and Staff
279R Student Union Club Spaces
University of Calgary
http://www.ucalgary.ca/~glass
(403) 220-6394
GLCSA - Gay And Lesbian Community Services
Association O1
#4, 1230A 17th Avenue SW
(403) 234-8973
http://www.glcsa.org
Peer Support and Crisis Line - Front-line help service
for GLBT individuals and their family and friends,
or anyone questioning their sexuality. Please click
here for further information on our Peer Support
Program.
24-Hour Info Line - Calgary’s resource directory
for information, events, business referrals,
organizations and support for the GLBT community.
Library - A great selection of resource books, fiction,
non-fiction, videos and everything in between, all
with a queer perspective.
Drop-In Center - A safe and supportive environment
for one-to-one peer counseling for many issues
surrounding family, coming out, homosexuality,
loneliness and other issues.
Unity Pages - A service directory of GLBT or GLBTfriendly businesses, organizations, and services
within Calgary.
Heading Out
(403) 234-8973
Peer group for men who are looking for an
alternative social activity to the bar. Activities vary
and are fun and entertaining. The group meets
the 2nd and 4th Friday of every month from 7 pm
to 9 pm.
HIV Peer Support Group
(403) 230-5832
[email protected]
Illusions Calgary
(403) 234-8973
Social group for Calgary and area transgender
community members (cross dressers, transvestites,
drag kings and queens). Illusions provides a safe,
discrete and welcoming atmosphere, in which
transgendered people can meet others of like mind.
Illusions offers discretion, acceptance, compassion
and a safe place to express your gender. Crossdressing is the purpose of the group, but is not
mandatory.
Inside Out
(403) 234-8973
Peer-facilitated youth group for GLBTQ ages 15-25.
The group aims to let youth know they are not
alone, and to connect them with their peers. Every
Monday, 7 pm to 9pm at GLCSA. It is a funky and
safe environment with a variety of resources and
activities.
ISCCA – Imperial Sovereign Court of the
Chinook Arch
http://www.iscca.ca
Last Sunday of the month - Texas Lounge Movie
Matinee
Tuesdays and Saturdays - Texas Lounge, 7:00pm
Shooters
Wednesday - Twisted Element - TNT 7:00pm to
9:00pm
February 15th - Money-Pennies, Entertainer of the
year, Dinner & Movie
February 22nd - Money-Pennies, ISCCA Show
Sunday, February 25th - Texas Lounge, “Buca and
a Slice”
Integrity Calgary
http://members.aol.com/DWFrancis/integrity.html
Worship – Every Second Sunday of the month at
7pm. Meet at St Stephen’s Anglican Church, 1121
- 14 Ave SW. Christian fellowship for gay, lesbians,
bisexuals and our friend and family.
Knox United Church
506 - 4th Street S.W. • (403) 269-8382
http://www.knoxunited.ab.ca/
Knox United Church is an all-inclusive church
located in downtown Calgary. A variety of facility
rentals are also available for meetings, events and
concerts.
Worship Services
Wednesdays - Communion Service 12:10 pm
Sundays - 11:00 a.m. September to June
Sundays - 10:30 a.m. in summer July and August.
New Directions
(403) 234-8973 or [email protected]
Drop in peer-support group to provide support and
resources for individuals who identify as transsexual
or inter-sexed. The group meets every 3rd Friday of
the month from 7 pm to 9 pm at GLCSA.
If you are transsexual, or know of someone who
is, please contact our office for information and
assistance. You are not alone! There is support!
PFLAG Calgary
Meetings are held the last Saturday of each month.
PFI Research INC
Suite 500, 703 6th Ave SW
Calgary AB
(403) 234-0445 ext 801
Positive Space Committee at Mount Royal
College
4825 Mount Royal Gate SW
Phone: 403-440-6383
Web: www.mtroyal.ca/positivespace
Email: [email protected]
The Positive Space Committee at Mount Royal
College works to raise awareness and challenge
the patterns of silence that continue to marginalize
lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans-gendered, two-spirited
and queer (LGBTTQ) individuals.
Pride Calgary
(403) 262-3410
http://www.pridecalgary.ca
Pride Festival 2007 - June 01 - 10, 2007
Pride Kick-Off Party - Friday, June 01, 2007
Pride begins with the official Pride Kick-Off events
party and continues with a celebration of arts and
cultural festivities, community events presented by
Pride Calgary in conjunction with local arts cultural
and community organizations.
Pride Parade - Sunday, June 03, 2007
The Pride Parade will start at 8 St SW and head
east along 8 Ave SW into Stephan Ave Walk,
Calgary’s Historical Main Street.
Street Gala at the Plaza - Sunday, June 03, 2007
Formerly known as the Street Festival, located
at Olympic Plaza, the heart of Calgary’s Art
Community. Entertainment with spectacular
Performers, Bands, DJ’s. The Family Zone, Vendors,
Beer Garden and more.
Military Ball - Friday, June 08, 2007
Located at The Calgary Eagle this is an exhilarating
uniform event packed with hot firemen, barechested sailors and camouflaged soldiers.
Xist 2007
Forbidden Fruit - Saturday, June 09, 2007
An exhilarating evening of theatre, dance, and
interpretation stage performances and music by the
best house, disco and pop DJ’s. Location TBA
Pride Rainbow Project
[email protected]
http://www.priderainbowproject.com
The Pride Rainbow Project was started in Fall 2003
by 4 youth of the Unitarian Church of Calgary.
The Pride Rainbow Project is a project designed
to show support for same-sex marriage in Canada
and elsewhere. It is a fabric rainbow banner
approximately 5 feet wide, and the goal is to make
it 3.2km (2 miles) long, in order to break the world
record (set by a group in Florida at 1.25 miles)!
It contains the 6 colours of the pride flag: Red,
Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, and Purple. The project
is youth run, but anyone can help!.
Primetimers Calgary
E-mail: [email protected]
http://www.primetimerscalgary.com
Prime Timers Calgary is designed to foster social
interaction for its members through a variety of
social, educational and recreational activities. It is
open to all gay and bisexual men of any age and
respects whatever degree of anonymity that each
member desires.
Feb. 03 - Coffee at Midtown Co-op 10 am at 1130
- 11th Avenue SW
Feb. 04 - Monthly gathering at the Old ‘Y’ 223
- 12 Ave. S.W starts 4:00pm Speaker at 5:00 PM
– Neil McMullen: Shaving: Fashion or Fetish??
Food will be ordered in. We all chip in.
Feb. 06 - Pumphouse production of Deathrap. time
7:30pm Meet at Money Pennies for the Tuesday
evening special prior to the performance.
Feb. 07 - Free Pool at the Eagle
- 11th Avenue SW - International Dining Out
Chinese New Years Dinner – Shan Tung Restaurant
332 – 14 St NW Phone Robert D. if you would
like to attend.
Feb. 13 - Card Night at Ross and Don’s. Meet at
MoneyPennies for the Tuesday Steak Special. If you
would like to attend please call them at 701 0690.
Feb. 17 - Coffee at Midtown Co-op 10 am at
1130 - 11th Avenue SW - ARGRA Dance Hillhurst
Sunnyside Community Hall, 1320 – 5th Ave NW
Feb. 20 - Stitch N’Bitch at Len’s. If you would like
ti attend please give him a call. - Executive Meeting
- 11th Avenue SW
Feb. 27 - Bridge Night at Neil’s. If you would like
to attend, please give him a call.
19
Rainbow Community Church
Hillhurst United Church
1227 Kensington Close N.W.
Website: http://www.rainbowcommunitychurch.ca
The Rainbow Community Church is an all-inclusive
church. Everyone is welcome (and we mean it!).
Services are held every Sunday afternoon at 4:
00 PM.
Rocky Mountain Bears
http://www.rockymountainbears.com
February 8th - Meeting - Bears meet at Money
Pennies to plan upcoming events. 7:30pm in the
upstairs room (1742-10th Avenue S.W.)
February 16th - Bears Bar Nite - Calgary Eagle
Bar (424A 8th Avenue SE) - 10pm. Bears head
to the eagle to enjoy a beverage 10:00pm or
anytime after.
February 23, 24, 25 - Williams Watson Lake
Lodge - Bears carpool to the Kananaskis region
for a weekend getaway. There will be lots to do
including x-country skiing, snowshoeing, hiking,
or hang out in the room and watch movies by the
fireplace! More details to come....Please r.s.v.p. to
Bob at [email protected] if you are interested in
attending as space is limited
Safety Under The Rainbow
http://www.safetyrainbow.ca
Mission: To raise awareness and understanding of
same-sex domestic violence and homophobic youth
bullying.
Project Areas:
Partnerships – Create partnerships with like-minded
groups. Organize a meeting to discuss a provincewide cross-sector entity addressing domestic
violence and homophobic bullying.
Training - Develop and pilot training modules that
address GLBTT domestic violence and homophobic
youth bullying. See the website or contact the office
for information on the next training session.
Research – Conduct an enviro-scan of services and
support available to GLBTT family violence and
abuse victims.
Directory – Publish a province-wide directory of
services and supports addressing same-sex domestic
violence and homophobic bullying.
Survey – Conduct a survey on how same-sex
domestic violence and homophobic bullying affects
GLBTT individuals. Contact the office if you would be
willing to fill out this survey.
Sharp Foundation
Phone: (403) 272-2912
http://www.thesharpfoundation.com
to grow and share their experiences related to
women’s sexuality. Runs for a ten week period on
Thursdays at 7pm. Call Trudy or Krista at 5857437. To participate, please call the exclusive
SHEQ line at 585-7437 (you may leave a voice
message for Trudy or Krista) or leave your name
and a contact time/number with the Gay & Lesbian
Community Services Association at 234-8973.
Speak Sebastian
http://www.cjsw.com
Radio Show – Every first & third Wednesday from
9-10pm. Radio for the gay, lesbian, bisexual,
trans gender and kink community. Listen on CJSW
FM 90.9.
Urban Sex
http://www.cjsw.com
Radio Show – Every second & forth Wednesday
from 9-10pm. Focus on sexuality; gay bisexual
lesbian trans gendered and straight issues here
in Calgary and around the web. Listen on CJSW
FM 90.9.
Western Leather Federation
Coffee Night – Wed, 8:30pm. At the Calgary Eagle.
Womynspace
Looks Could Kill Art Boutique
Art Central, lower level #11, 100 7th Ave SW •
(403) 264-7576
Money-Pennies O9
1742 - 10 Ave SW • (403) 263-7411
New Gallery O25
516D - 9 Ave SW • (403) 233-2399
Open Tuesday to Saturday from 11am to 5pm
Theatre and Art
Alberta Ballet
http://www.albertaballet.com
Dancing Joni - February 8 - 10
Cinderella - March 22 - 24
Dracula - April 9 - 10
ATP, Alberta Theatre Projects O36
Phone: (403) 294-7402
http://www.ATPlive.com
January 31 – March 4, 2007 - ENBRIDGE playRites
FESTIVAL OF NEW CANADIAN PLAYS
March 13 – April 1, 2007 - TEMPTING
PROVIDENCE, by Robert Chafe, A presentation from
Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador
April 17 – May 5, 2007 - SITTING ON PARADISE,
by Eugene Stickland
Peer social/support group for women providing an
evening of fun, bonding, discussion and activities.
Meets every first and third Friday 7pm to 9pm at
GLCSA.
AXIS Contemporary Art
107, 100 – 7 Ave. SW • (403) 262-3356
[email protected]
Vigor Calgary
(403) 255-7004
http://www.vigorcalgary.ca/
Saturday: 10am to 5:30pm
Violence in Gay Male Relationships (VIGOR) is a
committee of professionals dedicated to increasing
the awareness of gay men’s domestic violence and
the services available to them.
First Thursdays (the First Thursday of each month):
10am to 8pm
“Yeah... What She Said!”
Every Monday evening from 8:30-9:00pm
CJSW 90.9 FM
[email protected]
Youth 4 Youth
(403) 283-5880
http://www.youth4youth.com
YouthSafe
http://www.youthsafe.net
Alberta’s website for youth with sex-and-gender
differences. Youthsafe.net lists the resources,
information and services to help youth find safe and
caring spaces in Alberta.
Monday to Friday: 10am to 6pm
Sunday: 11am to 3pm
Broadway Across Canada
http://www.broadwayacrosscanada.ca
Mar. 27 - Apr. 1, 2007 - The Producers at the
Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
Everything you’ve heard is true! “Mel Brooks has
put the comedy back into musical comedy. The
Producers is the funniest, most fearlessly irreverent
thing ever seen on stage!” (USA Today). And now
you can experience the biggest Tony Award®
winner in Broadway history when it comes to your
town! Directed and choreographed by five-time Tony
Award® winner Susan Stroman (Crazy For You,
Contact, The Music Man). The New York Times raves
“ The Producers is a blissful spectacle that will leave
you delirious!”
Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra
http://www.cpo-live.com • (403) 571-0849
Restaurants
SHEQ Soulful Healing Ego Quest
Calgary Eagle Inc. O4
424a - 8 Ave SE • (403) 263-5847
Open Tues-Sun 4pm-close
http://www.calgaryeagle.com
A workshop for women that want to be themselves
in a supportive, safe environment. It is a chance
Jane Doe Marketplace & Cafe O50
20
311 17 Avenue SW • (403) 245-5263
Calgary’s Only Marketplace featuring Women
Entrepreneurs. Coffee Shop too!
Fairytales International Gay & Lesbian Film
Festival
http://www.fairytalesfilmfest.com
The Globe Cinema O49
617 8th Avenue SW • (403) 262-3308
www.globecinema.com
Call for show times
One Yellow Rabbit O35
Big Secret Theatre – EPCOR CENTRE for the
Performing Arts • (403) 299-8888
http://www.oyr.org
QUAB Gallery Inc. O43
212, 100th 7th Avenue SW • (403) 261-2855
http://www.quab.ca
Pumphouse Theatre O37
2140 Pumphouse Avenue SW • (403) 263-0079
http://www.pumphousetheatres.ca
Stagewest
727 42 Avenue SE • (403) 243-6642
http://www.stagewestcalgary.com
VICTOR/VICTORIA: Nov. 23, 2006 – Feb.
11, 2007, We know we’re in Paris, but is this
person a he or a she? A man or a woman? What
confusion… What fun! VICTOR/VICTORIA is an
appealing, sophisticated show, based on the
career of the Paris entertainer Victoria Grant, who
becomes a star female impersonator, only to fall
in love-at-first-sight with macho King Marchan.
Inspired by the 1982 movie (7 Academy Award
Nominations) starring Julie Andrews, James Garner
and Robert Preston, Victor/Victoria features musical
numbers such as Le Jazz Hot, You and Me, Almost
a Love Song, Trust Me, and Crazy World. Life’s
complications are both hilarious and touching.
NUNSENSE – a Musical Comedy, Book, Music &
Lyrics by: Dan Goggin, February 15 – April 22,
2007
Winner of four “Outer Critics Circle Awards”
including “Best Off-Broadway Musical” in its
original New York production, the show is a
fundraiser put on by the Little Sisters of Hoboken to
raise money to bury a sister accidentally poisoned
by the convent cook, Sister Julia (Child of God).
“You don’t have to be Catholic to love Nunsense”
(Entertainment Tonight). “ A hall of fun an frolic!
Wacky and outrageous with a hysterical anything
goes sense of fun” (N.Y. Times).
Stride Gallery O47
1004 MacLeod Trail SE • (403) 262-8507
http://www.stride.ab.ca
Theatre Junction
http://www.theatrejunction.com
Truck Gallery O46
815 1st Street SW (Basement) • (403) 261-7702
http://www.truck.com
Vertigo Mystery Theatre O34
161, 115 – 9 Ave SE • (403) 221-3708
http://www.vertigomysterytheatre.com
January 27 - February 18, 2007 - MURDER IN
GREEN MEADOWS by Douglas Post
“Emergency? I need an ambulance - a man’s been
shot...” The Devereauxs have just moved into their
dream house in the quiet suburban neighbourhood
of Green Meadows. They quickly become friends
with their new neighbours but things are not as
idyllic as they seem. Dark secrets lurk beneath the
façade of perfect suburban life, a façade that is
shattered by greed, revenge and murder!
Edmonton Listings
Bars and Clubs
Boots & Saddles O5
10242 106th St • (780)423-5014
Steamers O10
9668 Jasper Avenue • (780) 422-2581
Steamworks O11
11745 Jasper Ave• (780) 451-5554
http://www.buddysniteclub.ca/
Businesses
B & D Emporium O13
#101 11745 Jasper Ave• (780) 428-5847
http://www.bdemporiumedmonton.com
Buddy’s Nite Club O6
11725 Jasper Ave • (780) 488-6636
http://www.buddysniteclub.ca/
Cruiseline
(780) 413-7122 trial code 3500
http://www.cruiseline.ca
Phone chat room & talking classifieds for 18+
Prism Bar & Grill O8
10524 101st St • (780) 990-0038
http://www.prismbar.ca
Pride Construction
(780) 239-9197
Construction and Renovations
The Roost O9
10345 104th St • (780) 426-3150
http://www.theroostniteclub.com
Organizations
Woody’s O12
11725 Jasper Ave • (780) 488-6557
Bathhouse and Sauna’s
Down Under Baths O7
12224 Jasper Ave •(780) 482-7960
http://www.gayedmonton.com/
Buck Naked Boys Club (Edmonton)
Naturism club for men.
Meets the second Saturday of each month.
(780) 471-6993
http://www.bucknakedboys.ca
Our club has been meeting continuously for over 10
years. The similar club in Calgary ceased to exist
several years ago. Naturism is being social while
everyone is naked, and it does not include sexual
activity. Therefore participants do not need to be
gay, only male, but almost all participants over the
years do self-describe as being gay or bisexual.
Edmonton Pride Week Society
http://www.prideedmonton.org
ERBA - Edmonton Rainbow Business
Association
#3379, 11215 Jasper Avenue • (780) 49154458
http://www.edmontonrba.org
Our primary focus is the provision of networking
opportunities for gay, lesbian, bisexual and
transgendered (GLBT) owned or operated and
GLBT-friendly businesses in the Edmonton region.
Membership is open to all kinds of entrepreneurs,
from tradespeople to professionals to commission
salespeople.
The Edmonton Rainbow Business Association After
Business Mixers. Held on the second Wednesday of
every month 5:30 – 7:30 pm
Feb 14 Prism, 10524 – 101 St, (780) 990-0038
Mar 14 Garage Burger Bar, 10244 – 106 St, (780)
423-5014
Apr 11 Hulbert’s Coffee House, 7601 – 115 St,
(780) 436-1161
May 9 Woody’s, 11723 Jasper Ave, (780) 4886557
Jun 13 Prism, 10524 – 101 St, (780) 990-0038
Edmonton STD O4
11111 Jasper Ave
Edmonton Vocal Minority
http://www.evmchoir.com
Phone: 780-479-2038
Free To Be volleyball
Amiskiwcy Academy, 101 Airport Rd. (near the
downtown airport)
Every Wednesday and Thursday night, 8pm-10pm
Welcome GLBT players!
Wednesday night recreational level: All players
and skill levels welcome. Contact Marc for more
information: [email protected], Tel: (780)
445-0365.
Thursday night intermediate level: Coaching and
drills provided. Contact Alex for more information:
[email protected], Tel: (780) 424-9984. (Please
note that there is limited space on the intermediate
night)
HIV Network Of Edmonton Society O3
11456 Jasper Ave
Imperial Sovereign Court of the Wild Rose
http://www.gayedmonton.org
Thursday Feb. 1st/07 @ The Roost, 8pm – Board
Meeting followed by Gen. Membership Meeting,
approx. 9pm.
Saturday Feb 3/07 @ Divine Wines – Wine @
Cheese fund raiser for Camp Fyrefly. Tickets $50
– to be attended by Southern Comfort. Crowns
and Gowns.
Friday Feb. 9/07 @ The Roost, 11pm – Lloyd
& Leahs Tea For Two … an evening of duets,
Scholarship fund raiser, chocolates by Cupid,
pictures by Southern, shooter specials & prizes.
Volunteers needed for selling photographs, tickets
for prizes and chocolates contact Leah Way. Crowns
21
and Gowns.
Saturday Feb. 10/07 @ Saskatoon, Mr. & Mz.
Gay. Crowns and Gowns.
Wednesday Feb. 14/07 @ New City Subburbs,
8pm door – 9:30 Show – Break Your Heart
Valentines Ball. Three bands, buffet, black & red
hearts $2 and cover charge $10. Court Members &
$15 Non Members. Crowns and Gowns
Thursday Feb. 15/07 @ Prism, 8pm – Gyrl
Leather.
Friday Feb. 16/07 @ Prism, 10PM Legends of
Rock A-M, $3 cover
Friday Feb. 23/07 @ The Roost upstairs, Illusions
Winterfest Meet and Greet, volunteers required
– contact Elise.
Friday Feb. 23/07 @ The Roost downstairs, 11pm
– Turnabout. Posters by LJ.
Saturday Feb 24/07 Illusions Winterfest Dinner.
Thursday March 1/07 @ Prism, 7pm – Upper
House Meeting.
Thursday March 1/07 @ The Roost, 8pm – Board
Meeting followed by Gen. Membership Meeting,
approx. 9pm.
Friday March 2/07 @ The Roost, Marni Gras
Fundraiser.
Friday March 2/07 @ The Roost - Elise’s Naughty
But Nice Show.
Living Positive (Edmonton Persons Living with
HIV Society) O2
(780) 488-5768
http://www.edmlivingpositive.ca
Providing confidential one-on-one peer support for
infected or affected individuals…. Internet support
[email protected]
Northern Chaps
http://www.northernchaps.com
Northern Chaps is Edmonton’s original leather,
latex, fetish, uniform club. We have been in
existence officially since 1987 but have been in
existence originally around 1982 in Edmonton,
Alberta, Canada. Everyone is welcome to join or
attend events
Northern Chaps is a social group existing for the
purpose of providing a safe, accepting social climate
to people interested in the leather/fetish/uniform
lifestyle.
Northern Chaps believes that people should be
free to express their individuality and to exercise
personal lifestyle choices without social constraint,
to the extent that they do not interfere with the
freedoms of others.
In particular, Northern Chaps defends and pursues
this belief on behalf of gay men and lesbian women
who, through positive alternative lifestyles, seek to
explore the boundaries of their sexuality, including
the use of certain associated dress, signs and
symbols, and safe, sane and consensual behaviors.
Pride Centre of Edmonton O1
95A St. and 111 Ave. • (780) 488-3234
- Bears Movie Night
Bears club of Edmonton meets the last Sunday of
the month for movies 1- 6 pm in the TV room at the
Pride Centre of Edmonton 95A St. and 111 Ave. Ph:
22
(780) 488-3234
- Trans Education/Support Group
Support and education for all transsexual,
transgendered, intersexed, two-spirited and
questioning individuals meets 1st, 3rd and last
Sunday of each month, 2-4 pm at the Pride Centre
of Edmonton 95A St. and 111 Ave. Ph: (780)
488-3234
- Sunday Night Mens Discussion Group
Mens social and discussion group meets every
Sunday @ 7 pm at the Pride Centre of Edmonton
95A St. and 111 Ave. Ph: 488-3234, Contact: Rob
Wells - [email protected]
- Monday Movie Night
Weekly movie nights, with themed movies
and discussion afterwards at the Pride Centre
of Edmonton 95A St. and 111 Ave. Ph: (780)
488-3234
- The HIV Positive Gay Men’s Group
Drop in caring circle every Thursday, 1-4 pm @ 79 pm in main area, at the Pride Centre of Edmonton
95A St. and 111 Ave. Ph: (780) 488-3234
Facilitator: Mark, HIV Outreach
The HIV positive Gay Men’s Group is a place for
gay men to come and share their feelings on
how it is affecting their personal lives. This is a
personal private time for them to express how it has
changed their outlook on life. As well to support and
help each other dealing with being HIV positive.
Whatever is said in the room stays within the room.
Remember! You are not alone!
- Youth Understanding Youth
Youth support and social group meets every
Saturday from 7 to 9 pm at the Pride Centre
of Edmonton 95A St. and 111 Ave. Ph:
(780) 488-3234 Contact: [email protected]
(www.members.shaw.ca/yuy )
- Womonspace
1st Sunday of every month from 10 am to 1 pm at
the Pride Centre of Edmonton 95A St. and 111 Ave.
Ph:488-3234 Contact Womonspace for details http:
//www.gaycanada.com/womonspace/
- Prime Timers
Monthly Member Meetings at the Pride Centre of
Edmonton 95A St. and 111 Ave. Ph:488-3234
topic specific presentation, followed by a group
discussion. Social time for sharing and networking
will follow at the end of each session. Call the Pride
Centre to register or for more details.
Organizations
- GLBT Seniors Drop IN
Every Thursday Pride Centre (95A St. and 111
Ave.), 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
The Pride Centre is thrilled to introduce a new
program serving our GLBT seniors. Hosted by Jeff
Bovee, contact the Centre at 488-3234 for more
info.
Canadian Rainbow Health Coalition / Coalition
santé arc-en-ciel Canada
P.O. Box / C.P. 3043
Saskatoon SK Canada S7K 3S9
306-955-5135
toll -free / sans frais 1-800-955-5129
fax/ télécopieur 306-955-5132
http://www.rainbowhealth.ca
http://www.santearc-en-ciel.ca
Theatre and Art
Alberta Ballet
http://www.albertaballet.com
Dancing Joni - February 16 - 17
Cinderella - March 30 - 31
Dracula - April 12 - 13
Broadway Across Canada
http://www.broadwayacrosscanada.ca
Feb. 21 - 25, 2007 - The Producers at the Northern
Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
Everything you’ve heard is true! “Mel Brooks has
put the comedy back into musical comedy. The
Producers is the funniest, most fearlessly irreverent
thing ever seen on stage!” (USA Today). And now
you can experience the biggest Tony Award®
winner in Broadway history when it comes to your
town! Directed and choreographed by five-time Tony
Award® winner Susan Stroman (Crazy For You,
Contact, The Music Man). The New York Times raves
“ The Producers is a blissful spectacle that will leave
you delirious!”
Lethbridge Listings
- Youth Drop-in
Every Wednesday at 5:00pm
Open to all youth 25 years and under
Contact [email protected] or
call 488-3234 for more info.
- Parents Rock the World Workshops
PFLAG Canada: Edmonton Chapter - Workshop
Series Tuesdays (Feb 7, March 7, April 4, May 2,
June 6), Pride Centre (95A St. and 111 Ave.) 7:00
– 10:00 p.m. Ph: (780) 488-3234
A series of workshops for Parents of Gay, Lesbian,
Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning children.
Each session will feature a 30 – 45 minute
Egale Canada is the national advocacy and lobby
organization for gay men, lesbians, bisexuals,
trans-identified people and our families.
Membership fees are pay-what-you-can, although
pre-authorized monthly donors are encouraged (and
get a free Egale Canada t-shirt). Egale has several
committees that meet by teleconference on a
regular basis; membership on these is national with
members from every region of Canada.
Theatre and Art
Brothers TV
http://www.brotherstv.com
GALA/LA - Gay and Lesbian Alliance of
Lethbridge and Area
(403) 308-2893 (live on Mon. and Wed. evenings
until 11 p.m.)
http://www.newgaylethbridge.ca
OUTtv
http://www.outtv.ca
Monthly dances (Sept.-May) start Sept. 16 at
Croatian hall Call for directions, or for information
on P-Flag, campus groups and monthly pot-luck
dinners
If you would like to add your business or non-profit
group to the list above, please call (403) 5436960, or toll free 1 (888) 543-6960 or E-mail
[email protected]. You can add your
information to the GayCalgary.com directory on the
website for free.
National Listings
GayCalgary.com endeavors to have the information
here as accurate as possible. Events and listings can
change at any time so it is recommended that you
check with the establishment before you head out.
- Suit Up and Show Up Big Book Study
Saturdays at 12 noon. At Pride Centre
- Sick and tired of being sick and tired? Cocaine
Anonymous meeting
Thursdays 7-8pm CA Hotline 425-2715
Egale Canada
#310, 396 Cooper
Ottawa, ON K2P 2H7
1-888-204-7777 toll free
Stephen Lock – Regional Co-Director (Male)
Prairies/NWT/Nunavut
(403) 708-5302 cell phone
http://www.egale.ca
[email protected]
Businesses
Love and Pride
Gay and Lesbian themed Jewelry
http://www.loveandpride.ca
Squirt
Dating and hookups website
http://www.squirt.org
Wega Video
Adult DVD’s
http://www.wegavideo.ca
Non-Profit groups get free listings. Business receive
a listing once an ad has been placed. The business
listing will last 1 year after the appear up to ad
has been placed unless there is a GayCalgary.com
service located at that business.
23
Ssssmarter Than The Average Bear
Products for The Sexually Adventurous
Review |Business
By Stephen Lock
BubuBear.ca is the national distributor for a variety
of products aimed at the fetish community such as portable slings, St. Andrew’s Crosses, spanking benches,
and rimming seats as well as T-shirts with “kink-appropriate” sayings and graphics by Kinkwear.
They are the exclusive Canadian distributor for JIMsupport™
of Palm Springs, which specializes in highly portable, lightweight
yet sturdy “dungeon furniture.”
“The sling frame is free-standing interlocking tubular steel,
capable of supporting up to 350lbs,” says David McGill, the
“bubu” of BubuBear.ca. “The two fellows in Palm Springs
designed it after purchasing a condo with 9-foot cathedral ceilings and, not wanting to drill into the ceiling since that would
negatively affect any resale value, sat down and figured out how
to set up their sling.”
The fact one partner was a mathematician and the other involved in construction
turned out to be fortuitous in eventually
designing a serviceable, lightweight, yet
sturdy piece of equipment capable of supporting larger men while not tipping over or
buckling.
“The design is fairly unique,” says McGill. “It doesn’t require any tools to put
together – sort of Ikea™ for Kink – and it
all breaks down to fit into a 10x10x39-inch
canvas bag, so it’s really portable.”
For those who attend play parties, especially the various “public” ones organized
by various BDSM groups in Edmonton
and Calgary, the logistics of transporting
dungeon equipment and furniture is often
complex as most such items are heavy, cumbersome, and made
of wood.
“Our sling can be set up or taken down in less than five minutes and it only weighs 48 lbs – so you could take it as carry-on
luggage if you’re flying somewhere and wanted to bring your
sling with you,” McGill notes.
The design is basically two interlocking cubes so the sling is
very stable.
“With the cross-pieces in the frame, a guy’s weight is evenly
distributed throughout the whole piece which is what stabilizes
it - even if the action gets a bit…well…heavy,” McGill chuckles.
Plus with rubber caps on the bottom of the frame ensure that it
doesn’t slide.
BubuBear.ca has exhibited their product at the Taboo Sex
Show in Calgary and Vancouver, the Alberta Society for Kink’s
annual Fetish Fair, and has had “hands on” demos down at The
Calgary Eagle. This year they will be at the Edmonton O Society’s Lupercalia MMVII, an annual fetish weekend of workshops
and play parties held every February.
24
BubuBear.ca has carried the sling for about 8 months and
keeps several in stock, thereby reducing the wait time and cost
involved with ordering directly from the US.
“We can usually get the product out to someone in about 24
- 48 hours and if they are in Calgary, we will even swing by with
it and drop it off to them,” says McGill. “We go up to Edmonton
quite often, so when we get an order from there it will take a bit
longer, but we usually get up there every 4 – 6 weeks and by
then we probably have a couple of orders.”
Northbound Leathers is now buying the frame from Bububear.ca, installing their own leather or canvas slings in them,
and selling them out of the shop in Toronto. Local shops have
expressed interest, but there is a display issue.
“The sling frame doesn’t take up a lot of room, it stands 6
feet tall and covers maybe a 4x6 foot area (24 sq.ft), but for a
crowded shop… that’s a fair amount of
space for one product.”
With the fully adjustable spanking
benches, the middle piece pops out allowing
the item to be used for other purposes
“I’ve seen guys use the outer two pieces
as end tables when they’re not using it for
play or the whole piece as a cassock or
coffee table when in the flat position…it’s a
very versatile piece!” laughs McGill.
The spanking bench’s legs and frame are
made from steel with industrial level foam
padding covered in automobile-grade vinyl,
as are all the upholstered items.
“We don’t do special orders in leather,”
says McGill. “For one thing, it would be too
expensive. It’s cheaper to get them recovered locally. Besides,
vinyl cleans up much better than leather, especially if you are
getting into stuff like fisting or hardcore fucking.”
JIMsupport™ is working on a new and improved sling frame
that will be capable of supporting up to 450lbs of weight.
“We’ve had guys over 350 in our current sling and there
hasn’t been a problem, the frame handles it really well, but
I’m not sure I would want to go up much more on the current
model. It is designed for guys up to 350lbs, give or take 20lbs.
With bears, you are going to find larger guys who want to feel
secure while in a sling. The new sling will help with that.”
The site accepts VISA, MasterCard and Amex through Paypal.
Timothy and David are also very open to product suggestions via
the site’s email address.
Bubu Bear
Portable Adult Novelties
(403) 852-6977
[email protected]
www.bububear.ca
Q Scopes
“Speak from the heart, Gemini!”
By GayCalgary Staff
A long-running opposition between Saturn and
Neptune creates a tug-of-war between pragmatism
and ideals. Fundies of all stripes go berserk, but artistic vision can come out of it, especially with Venus
and Mars now releasing some of the tension.
ARIES (March 20 - April 19): Apply inspiration from dreams, or from your most altruistic
ideals, to your greatest goals in life. Try to involve friends or
colleagues in your benevolent deeds, and you’ll find those good
works to be more fun than you would have expected.
TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): Problems at home
may reveal ways in which you can improve your
work and reputation. Stay open to new ideas in either milieu,
hash out challenging ideas, and be ready to make adjustments
that could rankle at first but will pay off later.
GEMINI (May 21 - June 20): Arguments have
been coming too easily lately, but being willing to
entertain new ideas in lively debate could boost your personal
and professional reputation. Speak from the heart, making
sure any emotional appeals are grounded in facts.
CANCER (June 21 - July 22): Be open-minded
and let your partner be right - or pay careful
attention and learn from your opponent! Like giving up battles
to win the war, the only way to be right in the long run is to
admit when you’re wrong.
LEO (July 23 - August 22): Looking - or better
yet, being - industrious, serious, and mature will
make you irresistibly sexy. That could cause some friction
with your partner or colleagues, so be very careful where and
how you use your charm!
VIRGO (August 23 - September 22): As much as
you enjoy working, some of your co-workers may
not share your enthusiasm. It’s too easy now for that difference to become divisive. Charm and creativity could help, but
don’t push it. Be attentive to your colleagues’ needs!
Lifestyle | Astrology
SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21): Your
tongue is a little sharper and faster than usual.
The good news is, so is your brain. But be careful! Engage and
focus creatively with your wit to see what opportunities are
open and who can help you climb the ladder!
SAGITTARIUS (November 22 - December 20):
Consider your priorities carefully before you take
part in any arguments. Getting along can be more helpful
than being right. Aesthetic solutions help most problems at
home, but don’t spend money. Well, maybe a little - very carefully considered!
CAPRICORN (December 21 - January 19): You
have just the right balance of sweetness and assertion now to be wonderfully seductive. But will you respect
yourself in the morning? Keep your values and priorities clean,
and your relations, however
casual, likewise.
AQUARIUS
(January 20
- February 18): Your sense
of self is unusually muddled
lately, making you more easily
led by others. That may not be
entirely bad. Stay true to core
values, and watch your relations with a detached eye. You
could learn important details
about old patterns.
PISCES (February
19 - March 19):
Use your charm and connections to get new work; your
resume won’t be enough. A
quiet retreat with a few good
friends, preferably older and
male (or butch), will improve
your mental health, and in
turn, your physical well-being.
LIBRA (September 23 - October 22): You are
especially creative now, but a bit spacey. Family traditions can offer some guidance. Think also about what
you want to achieve in the long run, and share your ideas with
friends who can help you stay focused.
25
Adult Film Review
Cops, Marines, Jungle Lords, and Real Men
By Jerome Voltero
“Lords of the Jungle” by
Raging Stallion Studios,
Courtesy of Priape
Is this the gay version of
“Survivor”? I just don’t know;
I must be getting a little
“Lost”. A group of ten guys
wash up on a deserted beach
and are forced to forge inland
to try and find help. What
they do find is that they’ve
gotten a little randy from their
near drowning experience. As
they split off to cover more
ground, they give in to their
animal instincts.
The first pair explores the
cliffs along the shoreline, passing through a sea cave that brings
them to a hidden forested valley. Feeling that they may be
wandering too far off course, they are reluctant to go on. When
one goes for a piss, the other tries to peek. That is okay though,
because he couldn’t piss through a hard-on anyway! After some
oral foreplay, they use a little survival know-how to produce a
cock ring, condoms and lube out of thin air. Haha, maybe they
just came prepared.
Blake Nolan wanders off by himself. Once he feels comfortable that nobody is looking, a little idle touching quickly leads
him to christen a new masturbation station. This is the stuff
you do not see on Survivor, but you know it has to happen.
This isn’t enough to satisfy the big man, however, and he later
joins up with one of the other guys for some more fun in the
bushes - a hot bearded Hispanic otter.
This movie is a must see for guys into the rugged, built-forsurvival type – even better, it is a two disc set with lots of bonus
material to keep you going. The scenery is beautiful, with lush
green jungle and stunning volcanic rock beaches. An adventure just isn’t the same without steamy romance. I just want to
know how they kept the bugs from jumping in on a little sucking
of their own!
“Cop Shack” by Titan Media, Courtesy of Priape
Policemen have a certain
mystique to them. They are
men of power with their icecold façades, and uniforms to
match. They demand a certain respect and we must do
what they tell us, as they are
the firm hand of the law. For
Colin O’Neal, this hand of the
law is stroking him off in front
of his bathroom sink, right in
front of the neighbours that
put in the complaint of inde-
26
Review | Adult Male
cent exposure. That’s damn sexy, in a rebellious sort of way.
Later on, a different cop finds two guys that have been run off
the road because of a broken “cable” in their car engine, whatever that means. The policeman is kind enough to give the two
men a ride to the nearest repair shop so that they can call for
a tow. As they sit in the back seat, they begin to get turned on
and use an excuse of discovering a grease stain on their pants to
expose themselves for the officer. They put on a little show for
him in the rear view mirror, and finally the policeman decides
to pull into a warehouse down by the pier to take care of this
problem.
At the end of the day all the policemen drive to the Ocean Café
for a bite to eat. This establishment is known as a “Cop Shack”,
a place where cops and cop-supporters hang out and get treated
right. This is certainly the case when the bathroom has glory
holes. Nick Horn and his buddies pop back there to find someone already on his knees in front of the glory hole, and before
long a 5-man orgy breaks out.
This DVD is bound to satisfy your cop fetish, so go buy it!
“200 Marine Cum Shots”
by All Worlds Video, Courtesy of Adult Depot
Talk about instant gratification! If you’re tired of all
the foreplay and just want
to cut to the chase then this
video delivers all the title
promises. They even keep
count for you in the bottom
right corner, isn’t that sweet.
Some of the guys are just
jerking off alone to straight
porn - the background
sound of a wailing woman
is a prime indication of that.
Other guys are jerking together in military camaraderie, and still others are surprisingly interactive with one another.
You can see a number of them getting turned on from watching
their buddies, and a few have no problems being the cum-dump.
The guys are generally what you would expect – somewhat
muscular military brats with crew cuts and stubble, if any facial
hair at all. Most of them turned out to have smooth chests
- rats – but their treasure trails were still intact. The guys were
mostly Caucasian, although they did have a few token orientals,
black and brown guys all mixed in. Not everyone was pretty,
but you get to see cocks all shapes and sizes, and at the very
least the scenes go by pretty quick.
As an added bonus, wait for cum shot number 201 – I swear
this guy shoots Surface to Air Missiles!
“Real Men Have Hair” by
SX Video, Courtesy of Adult
Depot
Oh my stars, a fur queen’s
wet dream! I just hate when
they don’t have a proper cast
roster; when I don’t know who
is who, it makes the scenes a
lot more difficult to describe.
Plus I don’t know to look
for the ones I like in other
pornos. The back cover reads
“No twinks here. Nothing but
hot hairy hunks getting down
sweaty and raw.” Yes, that
means it is a bareback film,
and yes you have heard me
give my spiel about how I feel
about barebacking plenty of times before – refer to my review
from October 2006 if you don’t remember.
The first scene entitled “Stacked and Packed” was so extraordinarily hot, I about creamed my pants just watching it.
It starts out with a beefy Latino-looking daddy who is noisily
smooching what initially appears to be a smooth-bodied twink,
as they lay together on a bed. As they show close ups, you
notice that the Latino daddy has a light layer of fur all over his
belly and torso, and the twink actually has a goatee on him! A
bigger, beefier, and hairier daddy walks in from the sidelines
and takes control, drilling the Latino as he drills the twink himself. Woof and a half! Latino daddy is back in the third scene,
this time playing with a very woofy new guy: skinnier, appearing
to be in his 30s, with an average build and wolfishly handsome
face.
The second scene is just as hairy, but not as beefy, as an office worker proves to his boss that he has what it takes to keep
his job. That’s workplace harassment, but this furry gingerhaired stud doesn’t mind taking it. I killed myself laughing
seeing the young slender boss squinting at the camera as he’s
getting blown. His long wavy brown hair with reddish highlights
is just so un-butch to me, but otherwise the guy is not bad looking.
Priape Calgary
Canada’s Favorite Gay Store
1322, 17th Avenue SW – (403) 215-1800
http://www.priape.ca
Adult Depot
Over 2500 Gay Titles for Sale or Rent
1514B 14th Street SW – (403) 264-7399
140 – 58th Ave SW – (403) 258-2777
[email protected]
27
Q Puzzle
“Love Makes the World Go ‘Round”
Fun | Crosswords
By GayCalgary Staff
CLUE: a Valentine’s Day crossword about equal
marriage rights around the world.
Across
1 Showing excitement
5 Dated
9 “There, there”
14 It may get a licking
15 “___ that dare not speak
its name”
16 Stood out
17 Hathaway of Brokeback
Mountain
18 Anything ___
19 American Idol champ
Studdard
20 Country that passed gay
marriage legislation in 2006
23 Pinch opening?
24 Witherspoon of Walk the
Line
25 Big Lovely singer Toshi
27 Miranda in The Devil
Wears Prada
30 Pop singer Teresa
32 Breeder need
33 Was a pain in the ass to,
with “on”
36 Sailor’s patron
40 Where Elton John has a
civil partnership
42 Second nation in Europe
to grant gay marriage rights
44 Since, to James M. Barrie
45 Lucrezia Borgia’s ma-
28
nipulative brother
47 Sara Gilbert, for one
48 E with a queer orientation
50 Playwright Jean
52 Fruity cocktail
55 “Bottoms up!”
58 Don’t rent
59 First European country
to grant gay marriage rights
64 Singer Nyro
66 Like an erect nipple
67 Put the top on the cake
68 Screwed up
69 Second baseman Sandberg
70 Feisty female in The Lion
King
71 “Bye”
72 Where to find a Russian
river, once
73 Lutheran gay minister
Christensen
Down
1 “___ I say ...”
2 River near Michelangelo’s
David
3 Hamburger Mary’s list
4 What Adrienne Rich puts
out
5 Uninvited pool guests?
6 Pulls a boner
7 Rupert of Stage Beauty
8 Ball lover
9 Nation that recognizes
same-sex marriages performed abroad
10 Day before saying “TGIF”
11 Edna Ferber work about
an erection?
12 Bridge bid, briefly
13 Let the Dead Bury the
Dead author Randall
21 Hägar’s comics wife
22 More like lesbian porn
for straights?
26 What you shake when
you come quickly
27 Crowds at a Madonna
concert
28 “Climb ___ Mountain”
29 “Don’t ___ On My Parade”
31 “Queen of Country”
McEntire
34 Ron’s Happy Days role
35 From the top
37 Property right
38 Farm animal that isn’t a
breeder
39 Cut
41 HIV exam, e.g.
43 Lambda ___ Defense and
Education Fund
46 Struts like America’s
Next Top Model
49 Country that obtained
gay marriage rights in 2005
51 Noble in government,
once
52 Double agents
53 Gay-friendly, perhaps
54 Harden
56 Joanna of Growing Pains
57 Purchase from goodvibes.com
60 See-___ (like sexy
clothes, for short)
61 Home st. of Maupin
62 Where the salami is hidden
63 Neighbor of Mont.
65 Wilder’s The Bridge of
San Luis ___
Answer key is on page 70
The Roost
Nested in Edmonton for Thirty Years
By Jason Clevett
Thirty years is a long time for anything; a person,
business, or event. When you really think about everything that the LGBT community has experienced in
the last three decades it truly is awe-inspiring. During
all of the growth and change within the world and the
community, there has been The Roost. Canada’s oldest
gay nightclub celebrates thirty years this fall, a huge
milestone.
“We are in the process of planning our thirtieth anniversary pride float in June, and our thirtieth anniversary party in
September. This is going to be huge, the owner Dow has already
green-lighted everything. It has to be big, whatever we are going
to do this summer is going to be some huge stuff. There will
be a major contest in conjunction with the birthday as well as
giving away a trip. We are already planning it, we have a parade
committee already in place,” bar manager Joe Achtemichuk told
GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine.
Sporting two floors and a large patio, the bar has been at its
home on 104th street since its beginnings. The building is actually owned by the Roost, which has a lot of benefits for the business and has helped them build a comfortable environment.
“From day one we have owned this building. You don’t have
to worry about massive rent increases or being evicted when
you own. When this bar started, gay bars were not really liked
- that was when the whole gay scene was underground. The bar
has gone through so many levels, it started as a men-only club
– drag queens were not allowed. They could come to the bar but
not in drag. It was the ultimate men’s club in the city. While the
city has evolved now, that you can go to any bar in the city and
be gay and it is being more accepted, this is still the ultimate
comfort zone.... Our one goal is, when you walk through that
door your privacy and everything is taken care of. We pride ourselves on that you can be comfortable, and as long as you aren’t
infringing on someone else’s good time they won’t infringe on
yours. We have extra security on Saturday nights to keep people
safe.”
The building has been for sale for many months, causing the
rumor mill to spin a whole host of stories about its future. However, Achtemichuk wants to set the record straight on the true
future of the building and The Roost.
“The building is not sold. As soon as this listing expires the
building is off the market. We are replacing the carpets downstairs and planning more renovations and planning our birthday
party and our next AIDS event….”
There are a lot of good reasons that people are drawn to The
Roost. It is the only remaining private gay club in Alberta, and
thus has several advantages like being able to stay open later
than other bars. They offer a full menu including hot dogs,
hamburgers, and chimichangas, but don’t expect fried foods on
the menu any time soon.
“We will never have a deep fryer. It is one of those things that
just doesn’t work, there are too many problems with it. We can
Review |Business
make a better product without using a deep fryer, and we also
look at the mess that it makes. If people are dropping stuff on
the floor it leaves oil and is hard to clean up.”
In addition to food, The Roost is always bustling with activities, events and shows. Regular events include Sunday night
drag shows with Vanity and Binky, monthly amateur strip contests and two dance floors. They also sport an impressive theatre
set up that is host to shows throughout the year.
“When the upstairs started it was just a way to make up
for the influx of the clientele we were getting. It opened in the
early 90’s and it was very much new music upstairs and retro
downstairs. Now the upstairs has developed into a performance
area. We can compete with 80% of the theatres in the city. When
we did West Side Story, that was the biggest amateur volunteer
production run in the country. People don’t realize how hard it
is to get that many performers to do ten shows and to deliver a
level of professionalism where we are bringing in theatre critics
from across the city and competing with other theatres. That is
the ultimate show. It is still drag but it’s not drag, it’s at the next
level, on the fringe of being professional theatre. We are doing
things and giving people variety, and they can come out and see
a show and then go downstairs and dance. We are providing
options as opposed to customers just having a few drinks. We
entertain the crowd.”
The Roost is also heavily involved with charitable organizations within Edmonton.
”We have a minimum 2 shows per month for charity, some
months it is up to seven. We support a variety of causes including the University of Alberta AIDS research centre, the children’s
hospital, HIV Edmonton, Living Positive, breast cancer, and the
list goes on. We are constantly doing something for charity. We
are often doing more than anyone else in the city, which is scary
because there isn’t really a thought to it.”
While events and shows make up a good chunk of what is
happening at the Roost, at its core it is still a nightclub – a place
for Edmonton’s gay community to gather, drink and dance.
“It is a mixed crowd, the ultimate alternative lifestyle. The
thing about Alberta that is very strange is that you can’t sustain
a men’s only or women’s only club. People don’t think like that,
people go out with a mix of friends. The exclusivity won’t work
because everyone wants to party as a group. That causes conflicts because you want to satisfy everyone. People in the community say ‘its not really gay’ but what is? With all of the bar
wars that have gone on in this city it has pushed people away,
if the bars worked together the community would be a lot stronger. It’s based on individuals and a lot of owners are looking at
their own little spaces instead of looking at what they can create
as a community. It just won’t work because of personalities, but
you are always going to have that.”
For any business to exist for thirty years is a huge accomplishment. We asked Joe what has made The Roost continue to
thrive.
29
”How you build up your clientele is offering a better product,
and that starts with your staff. They have to be friendly and
customer service paced. If they are not doing their job then you
are losing customers. They are your biggest strength and your
biggest weakness. The hardest thing is trying to make sure that
they feed into everything and understand that if we keep the
customers happy, the staff is going to make more money, have
more hours and get better tips. People will want to come back.
This is going to be a big year because how many bars get the
chance to celebrate a thirtieth birthday? The stuff that we offer,
no one else can compete with because every show that we do we
set a new standard.”
The Roost Niteclub
10345 104 Street
Edmonton, AB
(780) 426-3150
www.theroostniteclub.com
30
I AM GAY-NADIAN!
Tackling the Gay Identity Crisis
By Rob Diaz-Marino
Somebody already beat us to the punch on the topics
in this article. It made for a very compelling speech
that got whole-hearted cheers from a reasonably large
crowd of people one Sunday night. This article shares
the spirit of that spur-of-the-moment impassioned
monologue, and expresses our own frustrations about
our community’s constant floundering on who we are,
what we should be called, who truly are our allies, and
why many of us struggle to support ourselves.
Naming Ourselves
Okay, I was willing to go along with using GLBT as the allinclusive politically correct term, but the new GLBTTQQ (gay
lesbian bisexual transgender two-spirited queer questioning) is
really pushing a person’s patience to remember and recite. I
hate all of these ridiculous acronyms; they really are a bunch
of malarkey. For one, they force us to impose an order on our
mosaic of people, and order implies importance whether we
mean it or not. Was it GLBT, GBLT, or LGBT? Some get terribly
offended – why should men come first? Why should women
come first? Why should Bisexuals come before Lesbians, or vice
versa? Why isn’t this or that group of people included in the
acronym? Isn’t a BLT a bloody sandwich? I can understand
the idea of showing diversity, but how long does the acronym
have to get before we acknowledge that people are too diverse
to enumerate? Ten letters…twenty? How often do we have to
memorize the latest politically-correct term before we realize that
a list can never be all-inclusive?
What we need is one word to for us all, and though I know
people hate being pigeon-holed or generalized, nobody debates
that we are all human…or at least, nobody sane. We need an
open-ended term that can describe our mosaic of peoples even
though they may have not been fully discovered yet. We need a
word that uncompromisingly states who we are, and is not easily
confused with other contexts. We need a word that shows our
differences, but maintains that we are exactly - nothing more
or less than - human. I thought this word was supposed to be
“gay” – at least, that’s what everyone really says when politicalcorrectness advocates have their backs turned, not “gay lesbian
bisexual transgender two-spirited queer questioning”.
Recently I heard somebody say something that I found pretty
hurtful: “I’m not gay, I’m a lesbian.” For our magazine, the word
“gay” has never meant only “homosexual men”, but until now I
had not truly tried defining what it means to us. Our magazine
pertains to anyone that is involved within a particular culture in
Calgary – one that acknowledges, accepts, and celebrates sexual
differences, but within certain limits (rape, pedophilia, and
bestiality for example are still frowned upon). At the same time,
this culture tries to affect change by breaking down traditional
gender roles and stereotypes, sometimes by mocking them,
which is one reason why drag is so big in our culture. If you
look at our magazine you will see we are not just about sex, nor
are we just about men, but both play a part in the larger picture. Still, when I think back to the number of times I’ve used
the term “gay community,” it saddens me to know that some
Editorial | Opinion
people may have felt excluded. I see the word “gay” as being
inclusive to women, even though “lesbian” may be more specific
(although some gay women reject the term “lesbian” also). I see
bisexuals as people who are partially gay and struggle with a
lot of the same issues that gay men and women do. Transsexuals at some point in their transition are likely to be attracted
to someone of the same sex, and for that time they may be
considered gay – the straight community is certainly not as understanding as we are. Two-spirited are people who are Native
American, Inuit etc. and gay. Queer is a pejorative word that
we have reclaimed – in essence it means gay, but in not such a
nice way. So when we reclaim “faggot”, will that be added to the
acronym too? Questioning are people who are unsure of their
sexual orientation, and may experiment with being gay. Gee,
I’m sensing a common theme here…so why can’t we just sum it
all up into one word and be happy with it?
Last year, one of the Vagina Monologues was a poem designed
to take back the word “cunt” – to deflate its offensive connotations and repurpose it to be something positive. If there are
people out there who find the word “gay” so offensive and so
shameful that they would not associate themselves with it,
consider that those bad meanings were given to it by people who
don’t understand us at all. You have to stand up and reclaim
the word, don’t just jump ship to the next convenient word or
else we’ll be doing that until the end of time! People before us
fought – and died - for our GAY rights…but you lose that when
you reject the word for a new one. Gay means what we want it
to – I choose to make it inclusive.
Is “Out” the new “Gay”?
The word “out” has been swooping into the names of businesses and organizations that are by and for gays. It sounds
neat and trendy for sure, a plus when naming anything, but it
is having the alarming effect that we are seeing the word “gay”
dying out.
My concern is that, at such a critical time in our history when
we have more leverage than ever to affect change in our society,
we are favoring a word that makes us less visible. Aren’t we
supposed to be loud and proud, not quiet and apathetic? “Out”
is so generic and so commonly used in everyday language that it
can never truly be ours, whereas the word “gay” is already half
way there!
Gay: (There are 8 definitions in total)
1. having or showing a merry, lively mood. (Yes, we can be
happy.)
2. bright or showy. (Some of us truly are.)
3. given to or abounding in social or other pleasures. (Yes, we
do enjoy ourselves.)
5. homosexual. (See, even the dictionary says this word is
ours!)
6. of, indicating, or supporting homosexual interests or issues. (A gay organization.)
7. a homosexual person, esp. a male. (Only because everyone
else wanted their own term.)
31
Out: (There are 76 definitions in total)
1. away from, or not in, the normal or usual place, position,
state, etc. (Are we not normal?)
4. to a state of exhaustion, extinction, or depletion. (Are we
destined for extinction?)
7. in or into a state of neglect, disuse, etc.; not in current
vogue or fashion. (Are we becoming obsolete?)
26. not open to consideration. (Are we stubborn or unacceptable?)
56. a person who lacks status, power, or authority, esp. in
relation to a particular group or situation. (Are we helpless?)
The realm of linguistics and semantics is a very slippery slope
because words are only an arbitrary sequence of sounds that
have a commonly understood meaning. They can, and often
do change solely based on their popular usage in an active language – if this were not the case, the word “gay” would still only
mean “happy” and the word “queer” would still only mean “odd”.
Linguistic change is inevitable; it is not right or wrong as long
as it is widely understood. But is this shift from “gay” to “out”
a natural shift, or are we letting the pressure of being different
push us back into the closet?
“Out” has a very particular meaning in our community – it
is a shortened reference to the phrase “out of the closet.” To
us, “coming out of the closet” is the act of revealing our sexual
preference to others who may have assumed otherwise. But
according to us, a straight person isn’t “out” if they reveal that
they are exclusively heterosexual, no matter what assumptions
may have existed.
Does this mean that the gay community has gained ownership of the word and the phrase? Is it ours and only ours? If
you think so then answer me these simple questions: Is Microsoft Outlook a gay E-mail client? Is an Outlaw a reference piece
of gay legislation? Is Outback a gay steak house? I don’t think
so. When that fated day comes, try telling your parents that you
are “out” - don’t explain, and see if they get it. They will probably think you are just getting your own apartment.
– you’re either gay but not out, or out but not gay. Furthermore,
out is a choice, while gay is not. You can choose who you are
out to, and who you are not. Out gives you room to run back to
the closet when it suits you…and yes, many people frequently
exercise that option out of necessity. But through it all you are
still gay.
The term “out” is becoming a choice for organizations that feel
the term “gay” is not inclusive enough. The irony is that they
are now just excluding a different cross section of the population – people who are still in the closet are no longer included by
“out”. When the day comes that we are no longer scared of who
we are, “out” will have no special meaning to us.
If you hear some straight kid say “man that’s so gay,” then
deal with it cupcake because “out” has a lot more negative
connotations. When you are excluded, you are left out, forced
out, kicked, thrown or shown out. When you are spent, you
are tuckered out. When you make a mistake, you cross it out.
When you are uncertain, you back out. When you are hurt, you
cry out, you’re knocked out and sometimes you are even snuffed
out. When you are not normal, you are out of place, out of line,
out of bounds, out of your frickin’ mind. When you are irate,
you’re outraged, put out, with your nose out of joint, and out for
revenge. When you lose a friend, you are on the outs, or have a
falling out. When you are invisible, you are out of sight and out
of mind.
Advocates of the word “out” want it to point to the sense of
courage it takes to tell someone that you are gay. On the other
hand, you could get your loud-mouthed fag hag to do all the
work for you. You are out, whether you be a hero or a coward.
But being “gay” is what you are, even if you only admit it to
yourself. Gay is the ability to find happiness in the face of adversity, and it includes even those people who are not out. Sure,
using the word for snaz is any business’ prerogative, but if you
are too embarrassed to be gay and say “gay”, then “out” is nothing more than a cop-out, a sell-out, and an easy way out.
Allies or Opportunists?
Take a look through the phone book and count the number of
businesses whose names begin with “out” and you’ll realize that
they are primarily straight. The straight community has just as
much right to use the word “out” as we do – in fact, they’ve used
it more! But how many businesses have the word “gay” in their
title? Certainly no straight ones, in fact the phone book only
has two: GayCalgary.com, and GLCSA. With the exception of
“Nosegay Flowers,” the keyword you need to find others like you
with 100% certainty, will be “gay” not “out”.
At one point we had to worry about businesses telling us
“we don’t want your kind in here” - refusing someone service if
they happened to be visibly gay. But as the straight community catches on that there’s money to be made, the word “gay
friendly” is becoming an increasingly deceptive term. Would
anybody really be stupid enough to turn away our money? No,
it just means that maybe they will smile politely and not call us
faggots when they ask us to stop holding hands in front of their
straight customers and their kids.
Sadly, we don’t even own the phrase “out of the closet.”
Consider that Johnny Straight can be in the closet about the
fact that he is a Star Trek fan, as he fears that his friends might
make fun of him if they knew. Johnny invites his friends into
his home, and one of them finds a Captain Janeway action figure still in its original packaging – oh oh, Johnny has just been
outed. His friends now know that Johnny likes Star Trek - he
is out of the closet, but it has nothing to do with his sexuality!
Furthermore, the fact that Johnny himself felt it was necessary
to remain a closet Star Trek Fan only exposes a point of embarrassment that his friends can harp on whenever they’re in a
cruel mood.
Consider the annual walk for Breast Cancer, and the fact
that men are still able to participate. Yes, in rare cases men do
develop “Breast Cancer”, but otherwise it is fairly exclusive to
women, who have breasts (in case you didn’t notice). There are
those men present to support a Breast Cancer victim that they
know, or someone that has the potential to develop it. Those
men are not directly affected, but they are being supportive of
others that are. Then there are those men who just stand on
the sidelines to boob-watch the predominantly female crowd
– they are boob-friendly – and also incidentally chauvinist pigs.
Not to compare homosexuality to a disease here, but the rest of
the analogy holds true: people that get off their asses to help us
are gay-supportive, while those that sit back and passively reap
the benefits (boob-watching = taking gay money) are still gay
friendly, but shameless opportunists nonetheless.
The whole closet analogy has to do with hiding a secret that
may cause shame. The word “out” is more generally meant
to acknowledge the fact that others know something about us
that we have kept secret and found shameful. “Out” does not
imply that we are proud of what we are – I can be out and still
ashamed of being gay, I can conform to what straight people find
acceptable, I can hide who I really am, and I can pretend as if
I never came out of the closet in the first place. Sadly enough,
this is often what happens when surrounded by straight peers
32
Gay friendly is turning into a warm and fuzzy spin on “gay
tolerant”, something that is required by law otherwise it is discrimination. The term is used to dazzle us enough that we gays
drop our money in establishments that don’t really understand
us, nor do they necessarily care to. Here is the litmus test: try
asking a gay friendly place if they want to donate to a gay orga-
nization, volunteer their venue for a gay charity event, or even
ask if they give their gay employees the same couple’s benefits
as their straight employees. Watch carefully to see if they immediately balk at the word “gay”, or whether they take time to
seriously consider even if the answer is no.
We need to raise the bar so that we can distinguish the allies
from the opportunists. Gay supportive implies an active involvement in gay rights and gay issues by putting equality into practice. It is something that can only be exercised by the presence
of gay people – a business cannot be gay supportive if it is not
gay-owned, and doesn’t have a singe gay employee, and doesn’t
have any visibly gay clientele or customers.
To sum it up, a business is Gay Supportive if they pro-actively
create a climate of equality and acceptance throughout all levels
of its employment hierarchy, and show zero-tolerance for intolerance even within its customer base.
The Gay Economy
It would make for a fascinating thesis topic if I were studying
marketing and economics. I am not, so forgive me as I muddle
through.
The way I see it, the Gay Economy is a security blanket for
gay people – a way for us to give a slight advantage to ourselves,
where in the real world we may suffer a disadvantage for the
same reason. It is an open-ended pocket of the world economy,
meaning that money flows in and around it, but always through
it. The strength of this sub-economy is based on how much
money changes hands within it, and that is dependent on how
much money flows in and stays in before leaving it again. To
ensure that the money stays within our economy as long as possible, we have created the idea that, all things being equal, it is
better to spend money supporting our own than not.
But like an insurance policy, unless you have put something
in, you cannot expect help to be there for you in your hour of
desperation – I’m not just referring to money, but also time and
effort as in the case of volunteer work, and even friendship. All
giving and no taking will sap you dry, and all taking with no
giving will deplete your resources far too quickly. For example,
many businesses and organizations donate to AIDS hospices
to ensure they continue giving care to those who need it, and
remain there if any of us should need them later in our lives.
Give and take.
Similarly if you don’t support your local gay bar, it may not
be there the next time you want to go out for a drink among
friends, or borrow the venue to hold a fundraiser, or even promote your event to the gay populace. If you don’t volunteer for
your local organizations, then they may not be able to continue
offering the services that you may have once utilized to help
through a rough patch. If you don’t support your local gay
paper *wink*, it may not be there when you need to get information, or to promote your business, organization or event. The
same works in reverse: if a bar doesn’t find some way to give
back, if a non-profit alienates itself from the people that need it,
if your gay paper doesn’t inform and promote the community,
then not surprisingly the support will not be there in return.
Everything is interconnected, and it is mind-boggling to try
and comprehend the dynamics involved, so break it down to this
simple idea: money is still your responsibility even when it has
left your hands. Be mindful about renewing your resources,
not tapping them out. Look a couple of moves ahead and see
whether that money, or time, or effort has the potential to come
back and benefit you, others that support you, and others that
you care about. You have to pay for food and water to stay alive,
but otherwise spending your resources in ways that close the
loop will result in an over-all enrichment of our gay community
in the long run.
33
Enbridge playRites Festival of New Canadian Plays
ATP Breathes Life into New Work
By Jason Clevett
Preview | Theatre
For the past two decades, Alberta Theatre Projects
has been bringing new plays to life with their annual
playRites festival. The 21st annual event, running
until March 4th, features three plays in the Martha
Cohen theatre, and two in the Big Secret Theatre.
Always one of the most anticipated theatre events of
the year, this 2007’s festival is no exception.
One of the things that appeals to actors who perform in the
festival is the chance to stretch their acting chops, often with
multiple roles in different shows. GayCalgary and Edmonton
Magazine spoke recently with Elinor Holt and John Kirkpatrick,
who both star in Age of Arousal and The Knowing Bird, about the
experience.
”I had e-mailed ATP when I wanted to do playRites this year
and told them ‘I am the Susan Lucci of Calgary. I have never
done playRites! I need the Daytime Emmy.’ They must have got a
kick out of it and I must have fit the roles because here I am,” excited first time playRites cast member Holt said. “Doing playRites
is the big carrot, the big reward. It’s a dream job in many ways.
It’s a nice long contract for one, which keeps me in groceries
and diapers. It also is a nice long chunk of time to fit with shows
and explore them and really work at getting in depth with them,
to scrape away and get down to the essence of the play. It’s a
beautiful, wonderful, thrilling challenge to be playing such vastly
different characters and pull them off. You really get to stretch
and exercise your acting muscles.” This is Kirkpatrick’s second
time in playRites, having performed in the festival in 2005.
”I love new work, so that is a big draw for me. The gang here
at ATP, I have a great relationship with. I really like coming to
Calgary, I spend a lot of time working in Edmonton but I have really enjoyed and cherished the times I have gotten to come down
here and get to know the city and the acting community. It is a
great community that is growing all the time and Calgary is really
bursting in what is happening here,” he said. “[Having done playRites before] you are used to the process and already know what
to expect, particularly when you get to the last couple of weeks
when we hit the theatre and have costumes. You have a feel of
how to pace yourself through the long hours.”
The festival’s shows run
at the same time on different
nights. Playing a character, and
then the next day having to play
someone else, would be a challenge for any actor. But it is
one both Holt and Kirkpatrick
embrace.
“I prep the night before and
get the day we had done out
of my head, going over lines
for the next day so that when
I come in the next morning I
have cleared the previous day
out and am ready to go. It is
part of our job as being profes-
34
sional actors to let that go and be ready for the next scene.”
Kirkpatrick stated. Added Holt “The shows are so different that
those things are not hard to leave behind. It is more the subtle
differences that can be tricky, like not quite being there or being
distracted. There is not a big fear of, all of a sudden, breaking
into a separate character.”
Both actors told GayCalgary and Edmonton about their shows
and characters.
“In every way my two characters are opposite ends of the
Spectrum. Age of Arousal is set in Victorian England around
1885. My character, Alice Madden, is a spinster who is very down
on her luck. She is one of five sisters whose father died and left
them almost penniless. She and her sister Virginia are getting
to an age where they are not getting employment very easily any
longer,” said Holt. “In The Knowing Bird I play Lucy, who is the
doctor of Walt, a 416 pound man. I like to describe her as ‘House,
only with boobs.’ I get to have a lot of fun saying all the things
doctors would really love to say but can’t get away with. It is set
in modern times, I am not using a British accent.”
”In The Knowing Bird I play Lyle, who is an unrepentant sex
addict. His main cause in the play is to convince Walt, the main
character, that being fat is all right. If I am going to follow my
sexual urges why shouldn’t he follow his to eat. In Age of Arousal
I play a man trying to come to grips with my intellectual side of
relationships and sex, and my more animal side of taking what
I want when I want it. The characters are both driven by pretty
basic animal drives, but are very different in terms of the tone of
the play. They do both originate from a similar nub.”
One of the unique things about playRites is the staging – the
thrust configuration puts the actors out into the audience and
breaks down the wall to make them feel more part of the show.
“There are times in The Knowing Bird that I am not sure little
bits of food aren’t going to fly out into the audience. There are
moments in Age of Arousal when people are going to be making out right in front of you and you could almost reach out and
touch them. The show is right in your face. It is tricky because
you have to keep moving so that each side doesn’t get stuck staring at the back of a head for too long, you have to bob and weave.
That makes for very fluid and motion filled blocking, it’s definitely
not a static piece of theatre that you are going to see,” said Holt.
“It is pretty unique. I am from Edmonton and we have a thrust
theatre that I have worked quite a bit so it is pretty friendly for
me being that close to an audience and I really enjoy having that
connection. It can be a little scary, particularly in those first
couple of performances when you are first getting an audience.
There is nothing quite like feeling the breath of your audience,”
added Kirkpatrick.
While playRites draws great actors to it in order to portray
these roles, the focus of the event is on the plays themselves.
Each show is being performed for the first time, and the actors
have the privilege of bringing the pages to life for the first time.
It’s not something they take lightly, says Holt.
“In playRites you are serving the play. It should be that way
all the time because telling the story is the most important thing,
and more so in playRites. It is an honor and a privilege to be the
first person to bring this character off the page, but it is also a
great responsibility. You have to remember that this festival is
about the play and the playwright and you have to do your best
to serve them. If that means there are times when you think ‘I am
not sure I would say that’ well get off your couch with your lazy
ass and write your own play. Its not about you doing a play, its
about doing the playwrights play for the first time.”
For a full listing and details on all of the playRites Festival plays visit www.
atplive.com
Enbridge playRites Festival of New Canadian Plays
January 31st – March 4th, 2007.
www.atplive.com
For a full history of ATP’s playRites festival, read the article on page 40 in the
January 2006 issue of GayCalgary Magazine.
35
Celebrating Joy and Love in Community
By Jason Clevett
On April 1st, members of Calgary’s LGBT community will gather at The Muse restaurant and lounge
in Kensington for a very special event. On that day
Reverend Nadene Rogers will preside over multiple
couples taking a vow of marriage, together as a community.
“The event is to get married in community, have a party
and enjoy the fact that people in the gay community can just
be married and go through their lives with someone. [It is
to] have the right in their own eyes, finally without the societal restrictions and legal restrictions, to enjoy the opportunity to do what everyone else does. It’s not a new idea, many
of my colleagues in sister churches in the states have done it
for straight and gay couples, but I know it hasn’t been done
here,” says Rogers, who is working with wedding planner
Lisa Hanslip to create the event. “I went back and fourth
when I first had the idea. I wanted to do it in community but
not necessarily just the gay community. We all kind of bring
things to us that we can relate to, and because I am of both
communities I didn’t want to make it just one or the other.
Then my mind shifted to asking why not honor the gay community? For all we have been through in all the years, we
finally now live in a time and a country that supports that
right to love and be loved. That felt right in my heart. But
then I thought I was overlooking the idea of being inclusive,
because that’s really what the gay community has had to
fight against and rise above - the idea of being shunned like
any minority group. So why don’t we create an event that
grows out of the roots of the gay community and open it to
all people. But that would be creating a political event, and
that is not what I wanted it to be. What I wanted it to be is
just celebrating the joy of love and marriage, period.”
The wedding package costs $795 per couple to covers
them, as well as their two witnesses, with an appetizer buffet
and champagne toast. The package also includes flowers for
each attendee, and a professional photography package that
will include a portrait of the couple, one picture with their
witnesses and a picture of them signing the registry. Net
proceeds from the night will be donated to The Sharp Foundation. There is also live entertainment from Amy Bishop,
while Vi An will play the Chinese gu zheng harp during the
ceremony. Additional guests are welcome to participate at a
cost of $35 per person. The event will start at 4:00pm and
run until 7:00pm.
“We are asking people to gather between 3 and 3:30.
There will be space for all of the couples to do finishing
touches and get ready. They are all going to get married at
once. I will preside over them with a half hour ceremony.
I will be speaking about love and commitment and union,
how we do not lose our individuality when we come together
and how being married doesn’t necessarily keep us together;
the work is ongoing. Then I prepare everyone for the time
36
Community | Spotlight
when they speak the legal question. I don’t do the traditional
statement of ‘I Do’, I have them speak the words of declaration, identifying them as partner 1 and partner 2. We will do
the vows, which is something I will ask each couple to write
themselves or speak from the heart: that will be a private
and sacred and personal part of the ceremony. We move
into the ring exchange and an opportunity to speak to each
other. I then will pronounce them, do a blessing and I will
have a list of all the couples’ names. I will speak to each
couple and when I present them I will also state their names
as married. There are so many different ways, some people
like to say it: husband and husband or life partners, I will
just say married because that is what we are there to do.”
On a side-note, Rogers also mentioned to us that the ceremony is open to couples wishing to say their vows with one
or both dressed in drag.
The event is a great opportunity to celebrate marriage
without the stress and cost of a huge wedding.
“I think people who join us will be looking for a celebrational feel in their union, people who aren’t planning a big
wedding or it’s a spontaneous decision because they weren’t
sure how to go about it. They just want to get married, have
fun and celebrate. It will also appeal to people who don’t
want to spend a lot of money on their wedding.”
This year will be the first run of the event, but Rogers
would like to see it continue on and continue to grow as an
important part of Calgary and its people loving one another.
“If it goes well this year we’d like to make it an annual
event. I would like to see a mass legal wedding ceremony
for the community of Calgary with gay and straight coming
together. My idea is building bridges and bridging together,
not just celebrating our diversity. I wonder what would it be
like to live in a time and a country where not only the laws
support equal marriage but everyone in their hearts do as
well. The way to show that is to be a community together. I
would like to do Wedded Bliss Ball until my deepest intention of bringing all people together to celebrate the joy of
marriage is achieved.”
April 1st, 2007
The Muse Restaurant
107 10A St NW
www.askaweddingplanner.com/wbb/
www.weddingsmyway.com
(403) 247-0602
The Calgary Eagle
Flying High for Five Years
By Jason Clevett
For the past five years, an unremarkable two-story
building on the corner of a cul-de-sac in the East Village has been home to Calgary’s only Leather and Levi
bar, The Calgary Eagle. The Eagle, also fondly known
as ‘The Bird,” has become a home away from home to
many in Calgary’s gay community.
The term “leather” can cause some misconceptions about the
bar’s target clientele, but the Eagle has pushed past stereotypes
and drawn in a diverse and loyal crowd. People who may have
been hesitant to visit for the first time have now become regulars
and realized exactly the kind of welcoming environment that The
Calgary Eagle provides.
”Perception equals ones truth, therefore all we have ever done
is invite people to come and visit us to get to know what we’re
really about. Our customers are friendly, smart and willing to
make everyone feel welcome,” said Ron Scheetz, who owns the
bar along with Barry Gagliardi and Christine Baker. “As for the
‘stereotypes’, ask our customers and they will take the time to
chat about any misconceptions – we all break down the barriers
when we listen to one another.”
The Eagle has succeeded during a time that has seen many
bars, both in the gay and straight community, close their doors.
We asked Ron about the initial concept of The Eagle, how it has
evolved and how they have maintained success.
“The original concept in opening was to provide a muchneeded direct venue to people in the BDSM, Leather, Levis and
Western community. Though Calgary had a strong involvement
in these areas, it is always good to have choice and support.
Strict adherence to leather codes and dress has changed to
inclusion of a great place for EVERYONE to come and enjoy
themselves, no matter their leanings. In the last 5 years we’ve
seen the evolution to a more relaxed stance to inclusion of the
greater community at large,” he told GayCalgary and Edmonton
Magazine. “Ironically we never saw the ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ ways
of doing things, we have only strived to meet the community
and client needs throughout. By listening and respecting our
Review |Business
customers we feel we have a successful formula.”
The area around the bar, including the now closed St. Louis
hotel, has a storied history that could also negatively affect a
business. The area is noticeably cleaning up and undergoing
improvements, but even with the area’s infamy, Scheetz says the
Eagle has never had any serious issues.
“Talk about a blessing in disguise, the East Village is such a
cross section of humanity. Colourful as it is, in the last 5 years
we can count on half a hand the minor encounters with the
people in the neighbourhood. The people of the East Village have
always respected the Calgary Eagle and we in turn have respected their life choices, thus a balance has always been struck. As
for the changes occurring now in the area, again a balance has
found its way into our lives and cooperation rules.”
With many of the buildings on the street closing for redevelopment, Scheetz also wanted to reaffirm the Eagle will be remaining in its current nest. “As an independent business we’ve secured our future in the area, we look forward to another 5 years
to serve the community here.”
A big part of participating in the gay community is giving back
to it. The Eagle has always taken a great deal of pride in their
support of Calgary’s LGBT community. Throughout the year
they play host to events and fundraisers for several non-profit
groups. Events such as “Straight 2 Diva” and “The Human
Christmas Tree” are unique concepts that allow patrons to have
fun and support some great causes.
“The Eagle has been involved in community support from the
beginning, and our involvement is a reflection of the changes
and needs of the community. Currently we provide our coatcheck to groups in need of fundraising opportunities. We hold
weddings (gay and straight), receptions and memorials, as well
as fundraising events for: HIV Peer Support, The Sharp Foundation (Beswick House), Eagle Rodeo team, and support the ISCCA
(The Court), ARGRA, and The Rocky Mountain Bears. As long as
a need is there and it is for the benefit of the community, we will
always seriously look at it.”
37
Also popular are a number of theme nights and events.
“Only our imagination limits the type of events we can hold.
Some of them include The Dirty Bird Awards (Sunday March
04, 2007), Pride Events, Mr. Leather Daddy, Mr. Leather Calgary, Calgary Leather Boy, Sport Nights, Fetish Nights, Leather
Nights, Pool Nights, Construction Nights, and Blue Collar
Events.”
Scheetz also wanted to thank several people, businesses and
volunteers from the past five years.
“If we have missed anyone we humbly apologize and do thank
each of you! The support and involvement of so many people to
making The Eagle a success makes completing a list a daunting task to say the least,” he said. “First we have to thank the
customers. They make the Calgary Eagle a success; the customers are The Eagle. We want to thank several businesses as well:
B&D Emporium, Izo Bizo, Priape, GayCalgary and Edmonton
Magazine, The Backlot, The Texas Lounge, Money Pennies,
Twisted Element ,The Pumphouse Theatre, San Diego Eagle,
Dallas Eagle, The Noir Black - Montreal, Stud Montreal, Alibi
- Toronto, and Prism Bar & Grill – Edmonton. We also need to
thank the many organizations that have supported us including ARGRA, ISCCA, Sharp Foundation/Beswick House, HIV
Peer Support, AIDS Calgary Awareness Association, CRA, Pride
Community and The Edmonton Leather community. We need to
thank volunteers Kelly Garding, Bill Gardner, Paul, Jason, Wolf,
Lady Fawn, Tony Bryant, Steve (Mykayla) Snyder, Joe Lavallee, Neil Debreceni, Chris Enright, Steve Ewens, Ian Chapman,
Ralph Biggs, Ted Emsted, Lorna Littlewood, Danny Garvin, DJ
-RMG (Roger Graham), DJ -Lenn and DJ-Tecky. And of course
we can not forget our core, our wonderful staff Kevin Boyce,
Johnathan Finlayson, Rob Swizdaryk and Jim Heaton.”
The Eagle has not only landed, it has firmly established itself
as an important part of Calgary’s community. Ron, Christine
and Barry look forward to continuing to welcome their long time
clientele and inviting newcomers into their doors.
“The Calgary Eagle will evolve to the customer needs and the
community needs. No matter how far in the future we predict,
our evolution is tied to our community at large. Therefore we are
excited to be given the opportunity to respond and change with
the community as it too changes. On behalf of all of your owners, we invite everyone to come by and have fun as we go forth
to the future together.”
The Calgary Eagle
424 8th Ave SE
(403) 263-5847
www.calgaryeagle.com
38
Fundraising Photos
Photos by Steve Polyak and Rob Diaz Marino of GayCalgary.com Magazine
ISCWR Drag Show at Buddys - Edmonton
39
ISCCA Karaoke Fundraiser at Texas Lounge
ISCCA Drag Shows at Money Pennies - Calgary
40
ISCCA Talent n’ Training at the Twisted Element
January ARGRA Dance
41
By Rob Diaz-Marino
You have likely seen it plenty on the news over
the last month – straight bars defiantly rebelling, or
making desperate pleas against the new smoking
ban in our city of Calgary. Some are shrugging off
the $200 fine, feeling that it is a small price to pay
to keep their smoking clientele. Little do they realize
that their establishment would be fined $200 PER
PERSON found smoking, and each smoker would
themselves be slapped with a $200 penalty. If a bar
were to be caught with 10 people smoking, it would
surely not be a laughing matter for anyone.
Some bars are now citing a supposed loophole in the bylaw
to unofficially allow smokers to light up on their patios, as
long as the area does not receive food or drink service. From
what GayCalgary was able to gather, this loophole only exists
in the abridged version of the bylaw shown on the City of Calgary website. The full version of the bylaw guidelines can be
downloaded from the site as a PDF, and with slightly different
wording, that loophole is pretty well plugged.
Despite all of the fuss from the straight businesses, our
gay bars are unanimous that the smoking ban has caused no
over-all loss of business – in fact, many are sitting pretty and
boasting that the ban has been an extremely positive for them.
One phenomenon that all five bars have noticed is that their
clientele seem to have more energy, are staying longer, and
thus spending more money in their establishments; the presence of smoke in an environment does tend to wear one down.
Those who could not withstand the smoke at all are now
slowly coming out of the woodwork and testing the waters,
making for a surprising helping of fresh faces.
In particular, Allan from the Texas Lounge has noticed that
there isn’t as much cleaning to do by the end of the night,
what with the lack of messy ash trays, stray cigarette wrappers and butts, and the general smoker’s dust that used to
coat just about everything. It particularly accumulated in
cloth furniture, one reason why many bars favor vinyl covers.
Though plans are in place to reupholster the lounge sofas in
the near future, customers in the mean time will not be bothered by remnants of the smell.
The Calgary Eagle, who already had one half of their bar
designated non-smoking, says that the transition has caused
little hassle for them. Cigar fetishists are slightly out of luck,
however, and the Hot Ash competition nights may no longer
be possible. Still the Eagle remains optimistic; until they
fully explore their options, Ron says the event is down but not
out. With little draw remaining on the block for the homeless
people, the area is now safer than ever, and customers need
not worry about standing outside for a puff.
For a restaurant establishment like Money Pennies, sales
have noticeably gone up. Loss of appetite is a side-effect of
smoking, and in the absence of cigarettes, Lorrie notes that
42
Community | News
people are buying a good deal more food in her establishment. She also states that it is helpful that customers can
enjoy their food more with the smoke not affecting their sense
of smell. There have been no serious complaints from her
patrons – they are quite happy to go outside if they need a
cigarette.
The airborne particles from cigarettes smoke tend to accumulate on objects, particularly staining plastics and damaging
paintings or other artwork not behind glass. This is one reason why the Twisted Element has been reluctant to put more
artwork on their walls, aside from the well ventilated area
by the front door. RJ told us his customers appreciate their
clothes not smelling when they get home, however the club is
still thinking of ways to deal with the additional congestion at
their front door caused by the smokers who step out to light
up.
Ken from The Backlot felt that at this point it is too soon to
say how the ban has affected his bar. He notes that he has
been a lot busier through the month of January, which he
has seen to be a particularly slow time in other years. His
non-smoking clientele have commented that they will be coming back more often, and he has even seen positive comments
from his smoking customers. He offers that much of the gay
populace is already used to not smoking in bars after visiting places like Edmonton and Vancouver, where similar bans
have already been in effect for some time now.
Ken had a lot more to say on this issue, as his bar is just
around the corner from the Mediterranean Café. In recent
news this café, also a shisha bar, was given a reprieve from
the smoking ban for one extra year after they were granted a
private club license. For many years the city ceased issuing private club licenses, and despite this, the former Metro
Boyztown was grandfathered to keep theirs until their business was sold to the now straight club, Ilyxor. Ken feels it is
dangerous for the city to allow the issuing of new private club
licenses as it goes against everything that they are trying to
accomplish with the new bylaw. He feels that the city needs to
be firm on their decision.
One particular reminder to all smoking bar-goes: alcohol is
not allowed beyond doors that lead onto public property. The
establishments are held responsible by the Alberta Gaming
and Liquor Commission (AGLC) for this no-no, so give them a
break and finish your drinks before going outside.
After being out and about, we ourselves have noticed much
more talk about quitting smoking to avoid the hassle of stepping outside. I find it very promising seeing smokers begin to
realize how dependent they’ve become, and make the decision
to stop letting this habit control them. Whether it actually
happens, we’ll have to see. At the end of the day, less smoke
means more change in our pockets and more fun for everyone.
43
Old Trouts Encore Performance at the Grand
Preview | Theatre
By Jason Clevett
Last year Calgary’s Old Trout Puppet Workshop
brought their newest work, Famous Puppet Death
Scenes to Calgary for a sold-out run. Those that
missed it, or who loved the critically acclaimed
show, will have a second chance until February 10th
as Tweak and the rest of the puppets in the show
pay a visit to The Grand theatre. The performance is
likely to sell out again so get your tickets early.
The production introduces us to Nathaniel Tweak, an ancient, white haired puppet who has carefully cultivated over
two dozen of the greatest puppet death scenes of all time.
The show is a truly unique experience that takes its audience
through a roller coaster of emotions, something that seems to
catch many in the audience by surprise.
“There is certainly a factor in the show that we tried to address, to better ease people into the notion of how serious it
can be. The whole fun of the concept is that you careen from
one emotional state to another with little or no warning. The
audience isn’t really sure whether they should be exasperated,
offended, depressed, moved or just laugh through the whole
thing,” Old Trout member Judd Palmer told GayCalgary.com.
“That is what I think is good about it, it keeps people on their
toes as to what kind of emotional state they will be in. It does
depend on the audience sometimes how well they make that
transition, but by the end of the show they have come to realize what is going on.”
The show is on its second run through Western Canada in
a year, a lengthy run for any production. Palmer spoke about
how he and the rest of the Old Trouts – Peter Balkwill, Don
Brinsmead, Pityu Kenderes and Bobby Hall – keep fresh and
motivated.
“It is a challenge when you have performed the show eight
million times to keep motivated, but this year we did do a
remount process and fussed with the scenes, that is helping
keep it fresh. There is energy that the audience gives you that
propels you into the headspace, and an odd energy that the
dear little blocks of wood give you, they want to go there. The
audience catches on in a really cool way so by the time Tweak
is dying at the end of the show, it’s a really cool moment. The
audience has come in to the show expecting to just laugh at
abusing rubber things. By that point at the end, the theatre
is dead silent, which is a beautiful thing. That inspires you
to connect and treat it with the respect that a new audience
deserves.”
Famous Puppet Death
Scenes is freshly off a successful run as part of the
Under The Radar Festival in
New York City, which will
likely lead to further touring
opportunities. The Old Trout
Puppet Workshop is adding
44
another notch
in the legacy of
Calgary’s art
community.
“New York
was cool, totally
overwhelming
and terrifying
and utter madness. The houses were jammed
up and it was
the show to see
at the festival.
It is a festival
that the Public
Theatre puts on,
the only presenting that they
do. The Public
Theatre is quite
a famous and
esteemed old
venue, all kinds
of shows like
Hair and A Chorus Line started
there. Once a
year they put on
a festival of work that is worthy to be introduced to New York
and a conference of 250 presenters who see what they want
to book. I think it’s going to spin off into more opportunities.
Right now we are bringing the show back to the cities we ran
last year. For whatever reason the show seems to sell well,
which helps out with presenters. This fall we are going to be
hitting the eastern seaboard and playing places like Boston,
Providence, Philadelphia, which is going to be fantastic, those
are big beautiful places and I love to visit them.”
If you caught the show last year, you probably already have
tickets to see it again. There are several changes that will
make the show fresh.
“The biggest difference and the reason we moved to the
Grand last year is sightline. The way our show is constructed,
you want to see it straight on. Because we are the creators of
the show in addition to the performers, you can really learn
a lot as you perform it and get a sense of what the audience
finds funny and what you thought they would find funny and
didn’t, what they want to clap for, etc. We took that under
advisement and we dug deeper into understanding what the
show is about. It’s a super-simple show but on the other hand
it is very complex and it took us quite a while to absorb what
we think the thing is about and what its movements are. We
reorganized our conception of how things fit. There are a few
scenes that are quite radically changed and many that are
slightly changed. It’s
a better show.”
Puppetry is seeing a resurgence
as an art form.
As witness by the
recent Festival of
Animated Objects
as well as a number
of puppet shows
being successfully
mounted throughout North America,
this is not kid’s
stuff. It is something
that greatly excites
Palmer.
“Puppets have
always been denigrated, thought of as
a lower brutish art. Ronnie Burkett was really at the forefront
of reinventing the genre. For me as a teenager seeing Ronnie
was just registering that it was one of the things I could do in
life. I didn’t realize how incredibly unique he was. I went off
to a puppet festival in New York and the overwhelming sense
is that this discipline is only just beginning to be explored.
There are a lot of traditional ideas about how a puppet show
can work, but there are key realizations that we are beginning
to have that make you realize the kind of things that can happen. One of those realizations is that a puppet is a sculpture,
so it fits into the cannon of the history there so you can be
inspired by the likes of Rodan as you can Jim Henson. This
show in particular, one of its central interests is ‘what is a
puppet and what are the prerequisites of the agreement between the audience and the performer that we are all going to
care about it for this space and time. There are huge discoveries to be made about where this medium can go,” he said. “It
is always fascinating to me the depth of the desire in a human
being to attribute an object with a personality. We spend the
first ten years of our lives doing that consistently. We played
with Star Wars figures or dolls, but why do we do that? Why
is that such an important thing to human beings? If you go
back thousands of years to the very first things that cave
people were hacking out of stone. Fertility goddess statues,
that era of human sculpture were fitted with hinged joints so
they would have actually animated those things. They were
making puppets before they were doing anything else. Our
modern mind looks at those as sculpture but I think they attributed personalities and spirits to those things. You have got
this instinct going back to the origins of humanity to agree to
collectively attribute soul to an object, which to me is utterly
flabbergasting.”
For more on Famous Puppet Death Scenes read our story in
the March 2006 issue of GayCalgary magazine.
January 30th to February 10th
The Grand Theatre
www.atthegrand.ca
www.theoldtrouts.org
Box Office: (403) 205-2922
Photos: Jason Stang
45
Hate Crimes and Their Effects
Queer Quest
By Kevin Alderson, Ph.D., R. Psych.
“A few days earlier, an openly gay San Marin student,
Adam Colton, was admitted to hospital unconscious.
He had been beaten up, and the letters FAG had been
scratched into the skin of his stomach and arms with a
ballpoint pen.” [1] [author note: Marin is a small county
just north of San Franscisco].
I like to believe I am safe, and I like to believe I can walk handin-hand with my boyfriend anywhere I choose without fearing
verbal harassment or physical assault. I know that is not the case
in Calgary where I live, but I like to believe that it would be true
if I stroll in the west end of Vancouver, along Church Street in
Toronto, or on St. Catherine’s E. in Montreal. I also like to believe
that when I talk to someone who has been assaulted, sometimes
viciously, that it is an isolated incident and that such atrocities
don’t happen to everyday people. …But wait a minute: wasn’t that
an everyday person I was just talking to? Wake up and smell the
coffee – we are not safe, and to believe otherwise is to set ourselves
up for victimization.
Hate crimes are defined as “illegal acts involving intentional
selection of a victim based on a perpetrator’s bias or prejudice
against the actual or perceived status of the victim.” [2] As suggested in the definition, you don’t even have to be queer to become
a victim – you simply need to look the part or be in the wrong place
at the wrong time. Where is the wrong place, you ask? Well, most
hate crimes actually occur in the areas where we think we ought
to be safest: in gay ghettos and villages! [3, 4] Other targeted
areas include the places where queer folk are known to frequent:
near gay bars and other public events. [5]
It is difficult to get an accurate picture of how bad the problem
actually is, but we do know that according to one reliable American source, that is, their Department of Justice, “Gays are the
most frequent victims of hate crimes in the United States.” [6] Notably, hate crimes are under-reported, [7] often because the victim
fears poor treatment or further victimization by the authorities.
Alternatively, he or she might not want to be out to the community
at large, and trials (should it go that far) have a nasty way of outing queer people.
Here is what we do know. Hate crimes can be theoretically
viewed as the 4th step along Allport’s [8] five-stage continuum of
prejudice. The first stage involved hate speech, which was last
month’s Queer Quest column, in case you missed it. Stage two is
avoidance of the disliked group, followed by discriminatory treatment and then physical attacks. Stage five, which occurred during
Hitler’s regime, is extermination (ouch!).
Physical aggression directed against queer individuals is more
violent than that directed at other groups, [9, 10, 11] and consequently, its effects on the victims are usually more traumatic.
According to one study, “An intense rage is present in nearly all
homicide cases involving gay male victims. A striking feature…is
their gruesome, often vicious nature.” [12]
The victims of hate crimes generally experience greater psychological harm compared to victims of non-hate motivated aggression. Compared to victims of other violent offences, hate-crime victims often report higher levels of post-traumatic stress symptoms,
including depression, anxiety, and anger. Furthermore, the effects
46
may take as many as five years
to overcome. [13] Other research
suggests that the victims of
hate-motivated crimes may also
receive little to no sympathy
from heterosexual individuals,
and they are held more accountable for their victimization. [14]
It is not just the victims who
suffer: research has shown that
others are vicariously traumatized. One study looked at the
psychological impact that the
murder of Matthew Shepard had
on non-victims. The participants
in the study reported that their
“fundamental assumptions of
benevolence and meaningfulness of the world and worthiness of
self” were altered. Several of them reported shock and denial and
found it difficult to assimilate his homophobically-motivated murder into their core beliefs about the world and people. [15]
One might also suspect that as is the case with hate speech,
hate crimes also contribute to increasing internalized homophobia
within non-victimized queer individuals. [16] Frankly, I believe we
all become victims of hate crimes and hate speech, hence my italicizing of the word non-victimized. Every time an injustice is done
to one of us, an injustice is done to all of us.
How prevalent are hate crimes? Most research suggests that
about 20 to 25% of gay men [17, 18, 19] and 10% of lesbian women [20, 21] have been physically assaulted to some degree because
of their perceived sexual orientation. The figure for lesbian women
is probably much higher as another study reported that 5% of gay
men and 10% of gay women had been physically abused within
the past year alone. [22] Another report suggests that about half
of gay men and lesbian women who are socially active have experienced some form of anti-gay violence. [23]
A 2004 Canadian survey found that that 27.5% of teenagers between the ages of 15 and 19 reported witnessing an act of violence
or verbal abuse directed against queer youth. [24] Queer youth in
Canada are “at relatively high risk of experiencing youth violence.”
[25]
Several references have also indicated that hate crimes in the
U.S. have been steadily on the increase since the 1980s, [26, 27]
and I do not have stats here regarding the situation in Canada.
Reports of transgendered individuals being tortured in some parts
of the world has alarmingly increased over recent years as well.
[28]
In Canada, Janoff has provided the best account of the situation
here, and although his stats may be somewhat inaccurate due
to methodological problems (e.g., homophobic violence is often
disguised and/or combined with other crimes), he uncovered 344
instances of queer bashing in Canada between 1990 and 2005
with more than half of these having occurred in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, and London, Ontario. [29] This figure includes 107
queer-bashing homicides, with five of these reported in Alberta.
The most likely assailants of hate-crime violence are those holding “beliefs surrounding the morality of homosexuality.” [30] The
four most common motivations they have for inflicting hurt are (a)
peer dynamics, (b) anti-gay beliefs, (c) thrill seeking, and (d) selfdefence. [31]
Sometimes the victims of hate crimes retaliate. If harassment or
violence becomes severe enough, retaliation becomes increasingly
likely, and preferably in a manner considered socially appropriate.
One such case was that of Azmi Jubran, a secondary student in
North Vancouver who filed a complaint with the British Columbia
Human Rights Commission in June 1996. Azmi had been repeatedly teased by his peers and called all the homophobic pejoratives one can imagine. Like many others who have been similarly
attacked, Azmi was not gay. On April 6th, 2005, he was awarded
$4,500 in damages, sending a strong message that if schools do
not act, judges will. [32] (“B.C. court of appeal supports bullied
student,” 2005).
In a similar situation occurring in the early 1990s, Jamie
Nabozny of Ashland, Wisconsin took his school district to court
after receiving frequent verbal and physical abuse in his school following disclosure that he was gay. The violence escalated until one
day several boys threw him to the floor and kicked him so hard in
the stomach that he ended up in hospital with internal bleeding.
In a landmark ruling in the U.S., Jamie was awarded $900,000 in
damages. [33]
Sometimes retaliation takes on a real nasty tone, however, such
as what has occurred in several vigilante-style shootings. Most of
you recall the Taber shooting, which occurred on April 20th, 1999,
followed the deadly rampage at Columbine High School in Litteton,
Colorado a week earlier. The 14-year old assailant had been “harassed daily at school by ‘male jocks’ who also called him ‘faggot’
and ‘gay.’” [34] Of the 28 cases of random school shootings that
occurred in American high schools and middle schools between
1982 and 2001, most of the boys who opened fire had been repeatedly teased and bullied with anti-gay epithets, despite the evidence
suggesting that none of them were actually gay themselves. [35]
Violence against us has been part of queer history, and it wasn’t
that many years ago that “American homosexuals were condemned to death by choking, burning, and drowning; they were
executed, jailed, pilloried, fined, court-marshalled, prostituted,
fired, framed, blackmailed, disinherited, declared insane, driven
to insanity, to suicide, murder, and self-hatred, witch-hunted, entrapped, stereotyped, mocked, insulted, isolated, pitied, castigated,
and despised (They were also castrated, lobotomized, shock-treated, and psychoanalyzed).” [36]
As Queer Quest reminds us this month, violence against us is
not simply a historical finding: it continues. It is incumbent on
each of us to remember safety first when we go out and enjoy the
many privileges and protections provided in Canada. However, no
country can fully protect us from the isolated homophobic attacks
that may change our lives forever.
Dr. Alderson is an assistant professor of counselling psychology at the
University of Calgary who specializes in gay and lesbian studies. He also
maintains a private practice. He can be contacted by confidential email at
[email protected], or by confidential voice mail at (403) 605-5234.
References:
1) The suburbs join in. (1999, February 27). Economist, 350, 29-30. Retrieved June
1, 2005 from Academic Search Premier database. [quote from p.1, para. 3].
2) Craig, K. M. (2002). Examining hate motivated aggression: A review of the social
psychological literature on hate crimes as a distinct form of aggression. Aggression and
Violent Behavior, 7(1), 85 101.
3) Janoff, D. V. (2005). Pink blood: Homophobic violence in Canada. Toronto, ON:
University of Toronto Press.
4) MacDougall, B. (2000). Queer judgments: Homosexuality, expression, and the
courts in Canada. Toronto, ON: University of Toronto Press.
5) Rosario, M., Hunter, J., Maguen, S., Gwadz, M., & Smith, R. (2001). The comingout process and its adaptational and health-related associations among gay, lesbian,
and bisexual youths: Stipulation and exploration of a model. American Journal of Community Psychology, 29, 133-160.
6) Vare, J. W., & Norton, T. L. (1998). Understanding gay and lesbian youth: Sticks,
stones, and silence. Clearing House, 71(6), 327-331. [quoted from Lipkin, cited in
source, p. 329].
7) Janoff (2005).
8) Allport, G. W. (1958). The nature of prejudice. New York: Random House.
9) Janoff (2005).
10) Dunbar, E. (2006). Race, gender, and sexual orientation in hate crime victimization: Identity politics or identity risk? Violence and Victims, 21(3), 323 337.
11) Peterkin, A., & Risdon, C. (2003). Caring for lesbian and gay people: A clinical
guide. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.
12) Berrill, K. T. (1992). Anti-gay violence and victimization in the United States. In
G. M. Herek & K. T. Berrill (eds.), Hate crimes: Confronting violence against lesbians
and gay men (pp. 19-45). Newbury Park, CA: Sage. [quote from p. 25].
13) Craig (2002).
14) Lyons, C. J. (2006). Stigma or sympathy? Attributions of fault to hate crime
victims and offenders. Social Psychology Quarterly, 69(1), 39 59.
15) Noelle, M. (2002). The ripple effect on the Matthew Shepard murder: Impact on
the assumptive worlds of members of the targeted group. American Behavioral Scientist, 46(1), 27 50. [quote from Internet abstract].
16) Wetzel, J. W. (2001). Human rights in the 20th century: Weren’t gays and
lesbians human? Journal of Gay & Lesbian Social Services: Issues in Practice, Policy &
Research, 13(1 2), 15 31.
17) Carragher, D. J., & Rivers, I. (2002). Trying to hide: A cross-national study of
growing up non-identified gay and bisexual male youth. Clinical Child Psychology and
Psychiatry, 7, 457-474.
18) Herek, G. M. (1988). Heterosexuals’ attitudes toward lesbians and gay men:
Correlates and gender differences. Journal of Sex Research, 25, 451-477.
19) Wells, K., & Tsutsumi, L. M. (2005). Creating Safe and Caring Schools for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Trans Identified Students: A Guide for Counsellors. Edmonton,
AB: The Society for Safe and Caring Schools and Communities. Retrieved August 12,
2006 from http://www.sacsc.ca/PDF%20files/Resources/LGBTQ%20guide%20for%20c
ounsellors%20unbooked.pdf
20) Herek (1988).
21) Ratner, E. F. (1993). Treatment issues for chemically dependent lesbians and
gay men. In L. D. Garnets & D. C. Kimmel (Eds.), Psychological perspectives on lesbian
and gay male experiences (pp. 567-578). New York: Columbia University Press.
22) Wills, G., & Crawford, R. (2000). Attitudes toward homosexuality in ShreveportBossier City, Louisiana. Journal of Homosexuality, 38(3), 97-116.
23) Klinger, R. L. (1995). Gay violence. Journal of Gay & Lesbian Psychotherapy,
2(3), 119-134.
24) Wells, K. (2005). Gay-straight student alliances in Alberta schools: A guide
for teachers. Edmonton, Alberta: Alberta Teachers’ Association. Retrieved August 12,
2006 from http://www.teachers.ab.ca/NR/rdonlyres/F4FCD9AF 3F69 4D58 8902
42F965D9268A/0/GayStraightStudentAlliancesinAlbertaSchoolsAGuideforTeachers.pdf
25) Totten, M. (2005, June 10). Youth and violence fact sheet. Public Health Agency
of Canada. Retrieved June 5, 2006 from http://www.phac aspc.gc.ca/ncfv cnivf/familyviolence/html/nfntsyjviolence_e.html
26) Alden, H. L., & Parker, K. F. (2005). Gender role ideology, homophobia and
hate crime: Linking attitudes to macro level anti gay and lesbian hate crimes. Deviant
Behavior, 26(4), 321 343.
27) Paul, J. P., Catania, J., Pollack, L., Moskowitz, J., Canchola, J., Mills, T.,
Binson, D., & Stall, R. (2002). Suicide attempts among gay and bisexual men: Lifetime
prevalence and antecedents. American Journal of Public Health, 92(8), 1338 1345.
28) Dworkin, S. H., & Yi, H. (2003). LGBT identity, violence, and social justice: The
psychological is political. International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling,
25(4), 269 279.
29) Janoff (2005).
30) Alden & Parker (2005). [quote from p. 337].
31) Franklin, K. (2000). Antigay behaviors among young adults: Prevalence, patterns, and motivators in a noncriminal population. Journal of Interpersonal Violence,
15(4), 339 362.
32) B.C. Court of Appeal supports bullied student. (2005). Retrieved August 24,
2006 from http://www.egale.ca/index.asp?lang=E&menu=3&item=1158
33) Buckel, D. S. (2000). Legal perspective on ensuring a safe and nondiscriminatory school environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered students. Education and Urban Society, 32, 390-398.
34) Filax, G. (2006). Queer youth in the province of the “severely normal.” Vancouver, BC: UBC Press. [quote from p. 34].
35) Kimmel, M. S., & Mahler, M. (2003). Adolescent masculinity, homophobia, and
violence. American Behaviorist Scientist, 46, 1439-1458.
36) Blumenfeld, W. J., & Raymond, D. (1993). Looking at gay and lesbian life
(updated and expanded edition). Boston, MA: Beacon Press. [quote from Katz, cited in
source, p. 12].
47
Femme Fatale Carnivale
Vulva-riffic Valentine’s at Twisted
Community | Spotlight
By Jason Clevett
This valentines day the Twisted Element will be
transformed into a circus to raise money for The
Vagina Monologues. The event features a variety
of entertainers to light up the usual fun Twisted
Element night.
“Femme Fatale allows you to leave all of your day to day
worries at the door and enter a magical land where all you
have to do is savor some delicious drinks, watch sexy performers, and dance your ass off at the end of the night to DJ
Krazay Steve. It is also the perfect opportunity to break out
your feather boa, crazy tall stilettos, or even (for the braver
breed) nothing but body paint. There were so many beautiful
and ’unusual’ people there last year. It is worth the $20.00 to
come and simply just ‘people watch’,” Marsha Ellen Meidow,
Director of Femme Fatale Carnivale and The Vagina Monologues, told GayCalgary.com
The carnival themed variety show features fire eating, drag
shows, burlesque and other unique entertainment.
“Femme Fatale Carnivale has so much to offer and our
performers this year are incredible. It will be an entirely new
show from last year, so we hope that people that attended last
year will come back and grace us with their presence again.
I am hoping to make this an annual event and want it to get
bigger and better every year,” she said. “People will be enjoying
Domina Jaymar, our drop dead sexy MC who ‘isn’t gonna take
any shit!’ If you look above, you will see the beautiful Stephanie Norn as ‘Vina de Lune’ hanging from lovely fabric. Anyone
who was lucky enough to see her magical performance at
Annie Sprinkle’s wedding will definitely want to see her again.
We will also have fire eating with L’il Wick, ’dirty’ magic with
‘Jason That Funny Magic Guy’ and hot hot HOT burlesque
by Calgary’s own Kabuki Guns Burlesque. Also included are
amazing flag spinners, belly dancing, kick-ass performances
by Charity, and Drag Shows that will leave you hot and bothered...plus so much more. We completely sold out last year
and it is my deepest wish to repeat that.”
There will be a number of prizes up for grabs in auction, and
one of them could be you. The night will feature a Bachelor
and Bachelorette auction. Have you been noticing a cutie at
the bar lately? This may be your chance to show your interest
for a good cause!
“Downstairs in the Twisted Lounge will be our famous Silent
Auction. We are also desperately in need of some donations of
artwork, jewelry, clothing, gift packages, Spa Services, Limo
Rides - whatever! Anything is more than welcome that could
help us raise some extra bucks. We also have a wicked Bachelor & Bachelorette Auction and still need some brave volunteers. Come on out and strut your stuff and help raise some
cash for some very deserving girls.”
The money from the Carnivale goes to putting together The
Vagina Monologues, running at the Max Bell Theatre from
March 28th to 31st. In turn the money goes to helping young
48
girls in need.
“Every penny from this event goes to offsetting costs of putting on The Vagina Monologues. In turn, we are aiming to raise
thousands of dollars for the YWCA Safe Haven Program downtown. Safe Haven aims to ‘Get young girls off the streets and
back into their lives.’ I am a counselor there and these girls are
the reason that I do Femme Fatale Carnivale and The Vagina
Monologues. These girls are either involved in prostitution, or
are at risk of sexual exploitation. We can no longer ignore the
fact that teenage prostitution is a huge problem in this city. A
big part of both of my missions is to raise people’s awareness
about teenage prostitution and the YWCA Safe Haven Program.
If we turn our back on these girls we are turning our backs on
our future. We need them to know that they are not alone.”
Any event of this magnitude could not be done without a
great deal of support from the community. Meidow concluded
by giving thanks to many of those involved in putting together
both the Carnivale and the Monologues.
“RJ and Cliff at Twisted Element are our ‘Vagina Angels’
and I LOVE them. None of this would be possible without their
support and openness to support a really worthwhile cause.
If I thanked everyone involved I would take up all of Gay Calgary, who have been awesome! But I must thank my partner
in crime Shone Abet and Stage Manager Nico Hofferd as well
as Joani and all of our performers and volunteers behind the
scenes. A big thank you to Blame Betty for selling our tickets and supporting us. Please buy your tickets ASAP to avoid
disappointment and remember to dress to impress. See you
there!”
The Femme Fatale Carnivale
February 14th, 2007
The Twisted Element
Donations or Auction volunteers contact Marsha at
[email protected]
www.frontrowcentre.ca
Letters to the Editor
Letters
By Contributors and Staff
GayCalgary,
[Your magazine] is okay when you are on the shitter. If
this magazine wants to know and express the view of the
community then maybe they should be out more rather
than on a photo op! How about interviewing people who
have been here rather than twinks who think it is trendy
to be gay!
- Ballot Box Bandit
Dear BBB,
I’m so happy to hear that you can multi-task, though
the extra blood rushing to your head didn’t do much for
your reading comprehension. I can’t think of an article
in the past year that would even vaguely fit the description of “interviewing twinks who think it is trendy to
be gay” – though I can certainly point you to another
magazine that may better fit that description. Still, nobody is gay just to be trendy, they are gay because they
were born that way; don’t even try to equate the two, you
know better.
Being out at events on photo ops is what helps us to
mingle with the community on a regular basis, and we
often do end up talking a great deal with people when we
are doing this. We talk to them about their views of the
community, but different people have different ideas even
of what the community is – is it their one favorite bar, is
it the two or three bars that they go between, or is it not
about the bars at all? We see an over all picture that not
a lot of others do, and when we hear hateful, ignorant
and unreasonable views coming out of the mouths of a
minority of bitter queens – bitching for the sake of bitching - we really don’t want to publish all that senseless
and petty negativity. Heck, even their favorite bars don’t
want to take responsibility for those customers’ views, so
why would we!
Dear GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine,
I have learned that when you place a liberal and NDP
candidate in the same room, what you get is a conservative MP.
That is exactly what happened in the riding of Edmonton Centre in the last federal election. Anne McLellan, a
long time champion of our community was defeated by
the conservative candidate due to vote splitting between
liberal and NDP supporters in the predominately GLBT
riding. As reported on numerous occasions in gaycalgary.
com and elsewhere, the conservatives are no friends of
the GLBT community, and would love to have a majority
government to turn the clock back even further. That is
why I suggest we unite behind the liberals, and use our
voting power to elect at least a few liberal MPs in the next
election. I am more in tune with the NDP myself, but the
NDP will not form a government given the current political realities in Canada. I realize that people do not like to
feel as though they are being told who to vote for, but the
prospect of another conservative government is not at all
palatable. Most importantly, we ALL need to get out and
vote.
The next election could happen any time, and we can
make a difference in preventing another Stephen Harper
victory, even if we have to hold our noses to do so.
Sincerely,
Ken Erickson
Calgary
You criticize us for not putting enough effort into what
we do, but I remind you that you’ve had the opportunity
for the last 3 years to write a simple letter to the editor
to express your concerns. Yet, we get your anonymous
message on a tiny torn piece of paper that you have put
into one of our ballot boxes, not even filling out a ballot
to support your favorite establishment in the Reader’s
Choice Awards. Tell me again BBB, who is the lazy-ass?
Rob Diaz-Marino, Editor
GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine
49
Supremacy of Parliament or Supremacy of the Church?
The United Kingdom Goes Through It Again
By Stephen Lock
Henry VIII fought Rome, and won. Elizabeth I
struggled against the influence of the Catholic
Church in England throughout her reign, even
beheading her own cousin Mary Queen of Scots to
ensure England was free of its influence. British
history is filled with the struggle between Church
and State and the resistance of the State to the
dictates of the Church, be it Roman Catholic or
Church of England (Anglican).
Ancient history, you say? One would think. However, a
major constitutional issue is brewing around Prime Minister
Tony Blair’s move to end discrimination against homosexuals in the provision of goods, facilities and services – in itself
a major step forward from the days of Margaret Thatcher
and her repressive anti-homosexual campaigns.
But Downing Street has hit a major snag in Blair’s recent
move to grant same-sex couples equal access to adoption.
The Archbishop of Canterbury and titular leader of the
world’s 70-million Anglicans, Rowan Williams, has aligned
himself with Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, Archbishop of Westminster and leader of the Catholic Church in
England and Wales, in condemning the bill.
The anti-discrimination law which comes into force this
April in England, Wales and Scotland, would require all
adoption agencies to consider gay couples as potential
parents. The Roman Catholic Church is a major player in
adoptions with 12 Catholic adoption agencies in England
and Wales.
According to Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor these Catholic
agencies handle 32 percent of voluntary sector adoptions.
Those agencies currently refer applications from gay couples
to non-Catholic agencies.
50
Politics
In recent letters to the Prime Minister, both Williams and
Murphy-O’Connor argue the Church should be exempt from
the anti-discrimination law. In effect, be allowed to continue to discriminate against lesbians and gay men seeking
to adopt because the Church believes allowing same-sex
couples to adopt goes against their principles. MurphyO’Connor argued that, if forced to consider gay couples, the
Catholic agencies may have to be shut down.
The Anglican Archbishop apparently agrees with the cardinal.
“The rights of conscience cannot be made subject to
legislation, however well meaning,’’ Williams wrote in his
letter. “Introducing such legislation could result in religious
people being unable to undertake valuable public service on
grounds of conscience.” The letter was also signed by the
Anglican Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, the second
most influential figure in the Anglican Communion.
The religious opposition places Blair in a dilemma. The
Labour Party, and members of Cabinet, are strongly in favor
of the legislation. By exempting Catholic adoption agencies,
Blair risks heavy political repercussions. If he refuses the
exemption, Blair risks losing thousands of Catholic votes.
Compounding the dilemma is the fact that the Prime
Minister’s wife, Cherie Blair, is a devout Catholic. There are
rumours that, following his term as Prime Minister, Blair
plans to convert.
The Independent newspaper reported that the Prime
Minister’s wife is responsible for the acrimony in Cabinet
over the delay in the introduction of the legislation.
The controversy doesn’t end there. Alan Johnson, who, as
Trade and Industry Secretary, had responsibility for overseeing the Sexual Orientation Regulations, is reported to have
told MPs that the exemption is being actively supported by
the Prime Minister.
An unnamed senior Labour MP told The Independent,
“They said Tony [Blair] is the one who has been asking for
this exemption.”
“Another cabinet minister told me it’s all coming from
Cherie.”
Adding more fuel to the controversy, Nick Robinson, The
BBC’s political correspondent, reported the Prime Minister
was told last year by Johnson there would be no exemptions
from the new regulations.
During the 2006 Cabinet reshuffle Blair removed Johnson
and transferred responsibility for the Sexual Orientation
Regulations to the new Department for Communities, appointing Ruth Kelly as Secretary of State and Communities
Minister. Despite being a practicing Catholic, and a member
of Opus Dei, Kelly strongly denies it is her office that is behind the call for exemption.
In what is apparently seen by many in the UK as a snub
to the new Secretary of State, a Downing Street spokesman
said the Prime Minister has taken “personal charge” of “looking for a way through” the current disagreement.
If the exemptions are granted to allow Catholic adoption
agencies to exclude gay and lesbian couples, it is expected to
trigger resignations within Cabinet. However, Blair has said
that he has always personally been in favour of the right of
lesbian and gay couples to adopt, adding that proposals to
resolve the dispute with the Catholic Church will be on the
agenda.
same-sex couples adopt children? Clearly, both the Roman
Catholic Church and the Worldwide Anglican Communion
continue to see homosexuals as “less than”; that much is
obvious.
Do these Princes of the Church actually believe a child
adopted and raised by homosexuals is at some sort of risk?
That is what is behind all of this: Homosexuals can’t breed
so we recruit, and such adopted children will somehow be
made into homosexuals by their adoptive parents, or be molested. Nobody is saying that, of course, it’s just too nasty
even for a Catholic Cardinal or Anglican Archbishop to spew
out.
So the argument seems to be, far better to keep children
in the Catholic orphanages than allow them to be adopted
by sodomites. Given the history of children under Catholic
(and Anglican) care, the irony is overwhelming. To threaten
the government with closure of the adoption agencies, thereby putting thousands of children at risk of forever being ‘in
the system,’ is morally indefensible.
With files from Nick Allen and Robert Hutton (Bloomburg.
com) and Tony Grew (pinknews.co.uk)
Stephen Lock is a long time gay activist in Alberta. He is also the Secretary
and Regional Co-Director (Prairies/NWT/Nunavut) of Egale Canada, the
national equality seeking organization for lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transidentified people and our families. He is the producer and host of Speak
Sebastian, a semi-monthly queer radio show broadcasting the 1st and 3rd
Wednesday of each month at 9pm on CJSW FM 90.9, and a freelance
writer. The views expressed are those of the author and do not reflect the
views of Egale Canada, CJSW, or any other organization or publication
unless specifically stated as such.
“Our priority will always be the welfare of the child,” Blair
was recently quoted as saying, while alluding to a possible
settlement – which may involve statutory referral, a period of
‘adaptation’ for Catholic agencies, or other similar measures.
A majority of Cabinet members are said to be opposed to any
watering down of the equality proposals.
It is important to differentiate between civil liberties as
they apply to freedom of religion and conscience, and civil
liberties as they apply to minorities who have historically
experienced discrimination. The UK, like Canada and the
US, has freedom of religion and conscience enshrined in law.
However, this right cannot be used as a baton to beat down
the rights of other groups and individuals.
Blair’s Labour Party is a progressive party. This legislation is good legislation. But similar to when we, in Alberta,
pushed to have sexual orientation included in provincial human rights legislation in the mid-90’s - the very institutions
one would think, on first blush, to support such equality
- are the very ones most resistant to it. It is reprehensible.
Unlike Alberta of the 1990’s, however, it is the government
who is championing the bill and it is church leaders who are
attempting to circumvent the process, with the Prime Minister appearing to waffle on what needs to be done.
What needs to be done is to set the law of the land and
ensure nobody is above the law. Imagine if a law was being
passed through Parliament that disallowed Jews or Muslims
or, for that matter, English Catholics to be discriminated
against. What would be the reaction to allowing the Church
of England to continue to discriminate in its delivery of nonreligious goods and services?
What is the basis of the Churches’ opposition to having
51
Press Releases
By GayCalgary.com Staff and Contributors
Supreme Court Of Canada Turns A Blind Eye To Discrimination And Censorship, Says Egale (January 19, 2007)
Egale Canada, the national organization that advances justice
for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered Canadians and
their families, believes that justice still isn’t being served for
Vancouver’s LGBT bookstore, Little Sisters - and in turn, all
Canadians who expect fairness from government departments
like Canada Customs.
This morning, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled 6-2 that
Vancouver’s Little Sisters bookshop is not eligible for financial
aid in its long-running fight with Canada Customs, even though
justices ruled six years ago that customs officials were unfairly
targeting gay and lesbian materials.
“Little Sisters clearly established that Canada Customs has
been systematically discriminating against the gay and lesbian
community for more than twenty years,” said Kaj Hasselriis, Executive Director of Egale Canada. “That should be of significant
public interest. If governments were systematically prohibiting
political or religious expression, imagine what the outcry would
be. But the systematic discrimination against gay and lesbian
materials continues, and today the Supreme Court looked the
other way.”
In its 2000 decision relating to Little Sisters, the Supreme
Court stated very clearly that Canada Customs’ methods of
holding up books at the border were extremely flawed, saying
agents weren’t properly trained, made decisions without the help
of guides or manuals, and refused advice from justice officials
relating to obscenity laws. Furthermore, justices urged Little
Sisters to return to court if the customs agency didn’t change its
ways. Despite the fact that Little Sisters shipments have been
seized for over twenty years without a single obscenity offence,
the targeting of gay and lesbian materials continues, and Little
Sisters does not have the funds to continue the fight.
“Canada Customs continues to operate behind a velvet
curtain,” said Hilary Cook, chair of Egale Canada’s legal issues
committee, “where customs officers can exercise their discretion
with impunity, even if it means singling out non-heterosexual
material. Over seventy percent of customs seizures are of gay
and lesbian material, and this raises a huge issue when it comes
to equality and fairness for our community. The Supreme Court
characterized this case as a dispute over only four books, but it
failed to recognize that much larger issues are at stake, such as
the equality rights and freedom of expression of LGBT writers,
readers and importers.”
Community | News
February 10th marks the beginning of a new and exciting era
for the citizens of Edmonton, with the launch of Team Edmonton, an umbrella group whose mission is to promote sporting
and recreational activities within the members of the Greater
Edmonton gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community,
their friends and supporters.
Various organized sporting activities geared to the members of
the GBLT community have existed for years in Edmonton, and
there have been efforts in the past to unite these groups. But
with the success of the 2006 World Outgames in Montreal, and
the strong individual participation of many Edmontonian GBLT
athletes, a sense has emerged that a more organized association
is needed to promote Edmonton as a vibrant sports and recreational community. Team Edmonton’s vision is to bring together
diverse interests with a common vision and purpose, and to
provide instant, up-to-date and timely information on sports
and recreation opportunities for GLBTs, friends and supporters.
Teams and groups benefit from increased membership and the
ability to provide additional coaching and practice times.
Team Edmonton is that association. With the first North
American Outgames to be held in Calgary this year, this new
umbrella organization will also help unify Edmonton’s participation at that event, and at future games; and promote Edmonton
as an inclusive and vibrant city. The Launch of Team Edmonton
is being jointly held with the participation of Calgary’s Apollo
Friends in Sport, which is host of the Western Cup and a partner
in the 1st North America Outgames.
Please join us February 10th, 7:30 pm, for the Launch and
Logo Release Party of Team Edmonton in the Maverick Room at
the Maverick Brewing Company, 10229-105 Street. A cash bar,
music, and Master of Ceremonies will also be present, along
with information about Edmonton’s various GBLT sports and
recreation activities. COME OUT AND PLAY!
Domestic Gay Travel Research to be Conducted (January
8, 2007)
The Canadian Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with The Bay Charles Consulting Company, is conducting the first Canadian lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT)
travel research study. The study, to be fielded this winter,
comprises both a national online survey and focus groups. The
purpose of the research is to obtain an understanding of the
travel habits and motivators of the Canadian LGBT traveller.
Hasselriis pointed out that Little Sisters has spent well over
$1 million fighting the censorship and discrimination of Canada
Customs. “Canadians are proud of our Charter of Rights and
Freedoms,” he said, “but with decisions like today’s, Charter
promises will become hollow except to the rich and powerful.
The only expression cases that will go to the court will be those
fought by well-financed media outlets and other commercial interests, like tobacco companies. Is that what Canadians want?”.
R. Bruce McDonald, Co-founder of the Canadian Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (CGLCC), said “This research is long
overdue. This information has been available about US LGBT
travellers for the past eleven years from our friends at Community Marketing, but never has the Canadian tourism industry
taken a serious examination of our own domestic gay travel
market.” The CGLCC has partnered with several destinations
and industry partners to assist in bringing this research project
to fruition.
Formation Of Team Edmonton Marks Major Development
In Edmonton’s Dynamic Sports Scene
The quantitative research was launched today at www.CanadasGLBTsurvey.ca. Using a variety of response recruitment
52
approaches, the study will engage a broad cross-section of the
LGBT communities across the country in English and French.
This approach ensures the results will accurately reflect the
entire marketplace.
The qualitative research is expected to commence in late January, 2007. Focus groups will be held in Vancouver, Calgary,
Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal, and Halifax.
Preliminary results of the study should be available March
2007, with the completed study available by April, 2007.
Laurence Bernstein, managing partner of The Bay Charles
Consulting Company, said “We are proud to be leading this
extensive and important research project. We realize the importance of tourism for the Canadian economy. By having an
in-depth understanding of the domestic LGBT travel, we can
help to provide and improve opportunities for Canada’s tourism
industry.”
Says McDonald, “The Canadian LGBT market has an estimated buying power of nearly $75 billion and, if the US market
is any indication, over $7 billion is spent on travel. If the Canadian tourism industry really wants to start reaching this market,
they are going to need to know who this market is, what they
want, and how they travel. With this research project we will be
able to provide the data on the market.”
Survivor Star J. P. Calderon Comes Out (January 22, 2007)
J.P. Calderon, star of Survivor: Cook Islands, comes out to
Instinct Magazine in an exclusive interview that lands him the
cover of the publication’s February swimsuit issue. Instinct
Editor In Chief Mike Wood conducted J.P.’s heartfelt coming
out interview as The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency crew
followed the two of them around the set of the cover shoot. The
first half of the two-part episode aired on Oxygen Wednesday,
January 24.
“It’s not every day somebody gets slapped in the face with a
major magazine like Instinct, Janice Dickinson, her TV show,”
says Calderon. “I think I’m just supposed to do this!” J.P. has
now signed with Janice Dickinson’s agency. “It wasn’t until last
year when my dad died that I did Survivor, I said yes to Janice
Dickinson, to [Instinct]. I’m coming out and I’m living.”
As for his new boss, J.P. reveals to Instinct, “We started a
little bit butting heads, but I love Janice Dickinson. I want everyone to know, she is the coolest person in the world.”
Instinct also interviews notorious night owl Tara Reid in the
February issue. “All my best friends in the world are gay!” Tara
exclaims. “They’re my favorite people in the nation. They dress
me nice.” Calling from an alleyway in Amsterdam on her cell
phone, Reid shared her thoughts on filming her latest film, Incubus, in Romania: “It’s a beaten-up country. You feel like, if you
could take helicopters and, like, throw shampoo over the whole
country and a little bit of rain – it would look beautiful.”
Other features in February’s
Instinct include the recurring
“Life Of Me” series, this time
focusing on one man’s life as
a little person, and a humorous story about the choice a
writer had to make when his
boyfriend grew allergic to their
cat. Additionally, interviews
with Reno 911’s Niecy Nash,
Sean Maguire of CBS’s The
Class and Mr. Gay International 2006, Nathan Shaked,
appear in the issue. Photo from
Surviour: Cook Island, CBS
53
54
Buying the Ugliest House on the Street
A Beautiful Investment Strategy
Advice | Real Estate
By GayRealEstate.com
Whether you acquire a house for investment
purposes, as a primary home, or as a second or
vacation home, understanding the philosophy behind buying the “ugliest house on the street” can
help you to make wiser decisions and get more
value for your money.
They say that we are defined by the company we keep.
Applied to real estate investment, this sometimes means that
houses that are ugly ducklings benefit by their proximity to
those homes that are upscale swans. This happens because
homebuyers shop and compare what’s on the market in
a particular neighborhood and then make offers based on
what they find. Also, professional appraisers calculate value
based on side-by-side comparisons of such characteristics
as amenities, square footage, and location. Homes near one
another are used to create a comparable baseline for pricing
– and if a modest home is surrounded by fancy houses, for
example, its value will be pulled upward thanks to a prestigious location.
Among investors it is often said, “Never buy the best
house on the block.” The logic behind this rule is that the
nicest properties frequently have the least room for upward
appreciation. Houses can also lose value if they are surrounded by less desirable properties, which is why investors
prefer to buy mediocre homes in exceptional neighborhoods,
as opposed to buying exceptional properties in mediocre
neighborhoods.
Buying homely homes is a proven path to wealth for those
who know how to see beyond the blemishes and cosmetic
flaws and recognize upside potential. Here are some tips
for finding – and making money on – these unrecognized
diamonds in the rough that inexperienced buyers usually
overlook.
Don’t judge a book by its cover.
Many seasoned investors prefer to buy solid, structurally
sound houses that don’t necessarily show well or have much
“curb appeal” – in other words, they seek out the less attractive properties because those can be converted into more
attractive returns, dollar for dollar.
Many houses that don’t look good on the surface only need
a simple makeover in order to make them sparkle. Shabby
carpet may disguise pristine hardwood floors and an unused
basement might easily convert into extra living space. Sometimes an otherwise spectacular property looks terrible from
the curb because it has peeling paint and an overgrown,
tangled landscape, so nobody pays attention to it. But a coat
of paint and a landscape crew can turn that kind of property around in no time at all, adding substantial value to it
through a relatively small investment of capital.
Use building inspectors and contractors to help evaluate
properties.
Hiring structural and mechanical inspectors and building
contractors to scrutinize ever nook and cranny of a house
before you buy it is the best insurance against purchasing
a problematic property. Licensed environmental inspectors
should also be used to check for radon gas, mold, asbestos,
and other health hazards that can be extraordinarily expensive to remedy.
Once you’ve found a property and have inspection reports
in hand, get competitive bids from contractors for doing
upgrades and renovations. Sometimes the house listed as a
“handyman special” is the best value on the street, and contractors can help you crunch the numbers to make sure.
Study the data, tour lots of homes, and be patient.
Realtors can provide you with detailed sales data for any
neighborhood or street, to assist you in identifying undervalued properties. Scout out as many properties as possible
with the help of a Realtor who understands your investment
criteria. When shopping for bargains it helps to shop ‘till you
drop – the more houses you look at, the more chances you
have of finding what you want.
If you see a neighborhood with gorgeous homes that are
attracting plenty of attention from buyers, focus your search
in the adjacent neighborhoods for overlooked properties that
may have slipped under the radar of others.
Buy in the off season.
Most real estate markets experience a significant slowdown during the cold winter months and then perk up again
when the sun comes out in springtime. Prospective buyers
tend to stay home and wait for more pleasant weather, and
sellers whose homes have been on the market for a long
time get especially antsy during this long lull in the action.
For that reason, winter is an ideal time to make an offer on
those houses that look drab and dreary but have underlying
beauty. Sellers will be more willing to negotiate and there will
be less competition from other buyers.
Finding real estate bargains is the easy part, but recognizing them requires vision and skill to see beyond the surface
cosmetics. But once you develop that knack – or surround
yourself with expert consultants to help you figure it out
– the process can be simple, fun, and profitable. Many of the
most successful investors got rich on ugly ducklings by following these basic tips and guidelines.
To find a qualified real estate agent to help you locate investment
property, visit www.GayRealEstate.com or call toll free 1-888-420-MOVE
(6683). These experienced professionals specialize in serving the GLBT
community worldwide.
55
56
57
Nasty Pig™
From Nasty Pig Comes Nasty Product
Review | Fashion
By Rob Diaz-Marino
T-Shirts from this
popular label, often
sporting an anthropomorphic pig, have
been worn proudly by a
handful of individuals
here in Calgary – especially at the Eagle. It
was a brand one could
only get down in the
States, either by mail
order or by travel, until
Priape recently started
carrying the brand.
Nasty Pig fondly refers to itself as a “Pop and Pop” family
business, being founded and
run by the loving Manhattan couple Fred Kearney and David
Lauterstein. Together they have created lines of every-day
street clothes and rugged play gear that seem to bring out the
swagger and sex appeal in any who wear them.
The Daygear line keeps their customers feeling just as sexy
in jeans and a t-shirt as they do in chaps and a smile. That’s
because Nasty Pig daygear’s precise cuts and premium fabrics
compliment and enhance confidence. And of course it doesn’t
hurt that the sly display of the Nasty Pig brand mark on a
baseball cap or tank top has come to signify membership in a
movement: the modern urban rebel.
The Playgear is a ground-breaking rebirth and reinvention of several styles from the 1970s. It includes unique and
edgy chaps, jockstraps, pants, and Playsheets™. Nasty Pig’s
machine-washable, rugged line immediately distinguishes
itself from its competition with progressive styling, superior
tailoring, and high-quality
construction.
Indeed, Nasty Pig Rubber™
is their own synthetic material
that they manufacture specially for use in their product. It is highly durable and
impervious to even oil-based
lubricants, while surprisingly
remaining machine washable
(see their website for instructions). The material doesn’t
need to be powdered when not
in use, and doesn’t require
any special storage considerations.
The Playsheets™ are a par58
ticularly interesting article that you can use to cover your bed
and pillows for rough and messy playtime. Elastic is stitched
all the way around the edges of the sheets so that they will
hold their grip while you are busy losing yours. They come in
Full, Queen, King, and California King sizes to fit your needs.
However, you will need to visit the website to find them.
Priape is currently carrying 10 items, mainly from the
Playgear line: the Bar Vest, Chaps with Stripe, Cod Piece, Cod
Piece Pants, Fighter Shorts, Fireman Pants, Nasty Pig Armband, Racing Vest, Rubber Jock, and Uniform Shirt. Visit the
Leather section on the Priape website to see their selection of
Nasty Pig garments, or go to the Nasty Pig website for a complete list of merchandise.
Nasty Pig
www.nastypig.com
Priape Calgary
1322 – 17th Avenue SW
(403) 215-1800
www.priape.com
59
Queer Eye - Calgary & Edmonton
Community Events this Month
Photos by Steve Polyak and Rob Diaz-Marino of GayCalgary.com Magazine
60
Sexy Shorts Grand Finally at Twisted Element - Calgary
Money- Pennies Anniversary - Calgary
61
Annie Sprinkle’s One Yellow Wedding - Calgary
62
Drag Shows at Twisted Element - Calgary
63
Turn-About at Twisted Element - Calgary
64
Drag Shows at the Roost - Edmonton
65
Kink and Leather Nights at the Calgary Eagle - Calgary
66
Drag Shows at Buddys - Edmonton
67
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Wanted
Design consultant for new
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Small charter Bus Company is looking
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RPO, Calgary, Alberta, T2K 6J8
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on commission. This is a great
opportunity to add to your portfolio
or get job experience. Respond to
Canadian Premier Charters, at box
75056, Cambrian RPO, Calgary,
Alberta, T2K 6J8
Massage
604
Private housekeeper, early 20’s, nice
looking. Will clean nude. Boyish
looks. Justin (403) 922-9166
405
Counseling
608
Employment/Help 308
GayCalgary & Edmonton
Magazine is looking for writers.
Call us at (403) 543-6960 or email us
resumes and/or writing samples to
[email protected]
Same-Sex, Conjugal, Common-Law,
Spouse, Children, Parents Sponsorship; Refugee Claims; Immigration Appeals; Citizenship; Visitor,
Student, Work Visa / Extensions,
Uncontested Divorces, Agreements,
Wills, Translations / Interpretations
50+ Languages, 590-3818 Anwar
Rehman, Member Canadian Society
of Immigration Consultants CSIC
ID M041099, Gay Friendly, CIBS,
200, 2705 Centre Street North. Visit
us online at www.cibs.info email:
[email protected]
Investment
Feel better!
I am a masseur who specializes in
erotic, sensual, relaxation, and therapeutic massage for your pleasure.
Incall or outcall available for gay,
bisexual, and straight clients. For
queries and appointments, call (403)
619-8905, Roquestudios Massage.
619
CANADIAN & U.S.
IMMIGRATION SOLUTIONS
Employment/Help 308
Busers and Bar Backers wanted.
Please drop off resumes in person at
1006 11th Avenue SW, Calgary, or fax
to (403) 802-0231
Legal Services
I’m a compassionate counsellor
who understands our community.
Individuals, Couples & Families.
Emotional, Physical & Spiritual
Wellness. Extended medical insurance
coverage. Bryan Campbell 265-8462
www.geocities.com/b_camp_bell
707
Gay boy genius seeks savvy gay
businessman to invest in revolutionary social documentary. Check out
www.myselfmymessage.com and
phone his sister, Nicole, at (403) 8708359 for details.
Classifieds continued on next page
69
Classifieds continued
Room for Rent
711
Room For Rent
Large House in SW. Own Washroom,
TV, Cable, Phone. W/D. Large deck.
$375.00 / Month + Utilities. (403)
243-5969.
Travel
801
Puerto Vallarta
South Side Old Town, 2 Bdrm Condo
- 1/2 block directly above Blue Chairs
/ Los Muertos Beach! Fully equipped,
Ocean Views from 2 balconies, full
use of private pool, maid service
6 days/wk. Walk to all bars,
restaurants, shops. Call Rob - (403)
210-0093. www.casaensuenopv.com
Travel
801
The Whistle Stop Vacation House
Golden BC
Newly Renovated , Sleeps 9, Out Door
Hot Tub, Hydro Fitness Gym, Business
Center, Laundry Facilities, Galley
Kitchen, BBQ.
Minutes From Kicking Horse Ski
Resort. $250.00 Daily ,Weekly Rates.
www.thewhistlestopvacationhouse.com
Toll Free# 1 866 538 6625
Travel
801
Northern Lights B&B
EDMONTON
Swimming pool and Antique rooms
TV/VCR (780) 483-1572
www.nlightsbnb.com
[email protected]
Travel
801
Montreal Village B&B
Room only $49/night, TV, Cable,
Telephone, Air, Wi-Fi, Video XXX,
1-888-334-0348. www.gaybed.ca
70
Personal
900
Study: Sexuality and
Canadian Military
Were you DISCHARGED for homosexuality, or his/her partner? Are/
Were you a LGBT CF soldier, or their
Partner? Confidentiality guaranteed!
[email protected] (506)
458-7800 http://tinyurl.com/yab8yy.
Êtes-/Étiez-vous un(e) LGBT militaire
ou son/sa conjoint(e)? Avezvous, ou
votre conjoint(e), été CONGÉDIÉ(E)
des Forces dû à votre homosexualité?
Personal
901
I am collecting recycling to assist
someone with M.S. We are saving for
a motorized chair in the future. If
you have any recycling or would like
more information please call Glen
802-2927 or AJ 269-6995
Personal/Friends 906
Male 40’s 6’1-“ 140lbs tanned, looking to meet other males for fun times
or more. Fort McMurray area. Lets
meet. Phone (780) 868-9216
Single GWM early 40’s looks
younger. Looking for fun. Cannot
entertain. Very discreet. Safe. Clean.
Drug Free. n/s. not into bar scene. No
mind games. Reply to box1002@
gaycalgary.com or mail to Box 1002
c/o GayCalgary.com Magazine
Single GWM, early 40’s, general
non-scene. Fit, good shape. Looking
for like-minded normal fun, down
to earth, honest, kind, professional, mature male for long-term
relationship. Hoping to find someone
to be both a life-long partner and
best friend. Is that you? Reply to
[email protected] or mail
to Box 1001 c/o GayCalgary.com
Magazine
Married male, early 40’s, 6’3, good
shape, looking for a good friend,
married too, about same age
for long term relationship. Email
[email protected]
44, Male, Brazilian, Masculine hairy
top, HIV-Negative, Foot & Tickle
Fetishist SEEKS 30-40, non-slim
ND/NS, Tattoo & Piercing-Free,
caring, cuddlish, supportive, balanced, mature, masculine, bottom,
blond(+), ticklish Lifetime Partner
to build 100% Monogamous Serious
Lasting Relationship.
Marc, Box 3670
2001-970 Rio, Brazil
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just $10.00 per
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Answers to this month’s
Q-Puzzle on page 28
71
72

rodan roost

Transcription

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