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March 2010
ISSUE 77
The Only Magazine Dedicated
to Alberta’s LGBT Community
FREE
KE$HA
Hollywood’s Hot Mess
ORphans of Evil
Nate Phelps on Escaping
Westboro Baptist Church
Interviews with:
Miss J. Alexander
Miles Faber
Laurell
Community Directory • Map and Events • Tourism Info >> Starting on Page 17
LGBT Resource • Calgary • Edmonton • Alberta
www.gaycalgary.com
GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #77, March 2010
Table of Contents
March 2010
5Ambassadors of Open-mindedness?
Photography
Steve Polyak, Rob Diaz-Marino, B&J, Craig
Taylor, Tiffany Thomas
Videography
Steve Polyak, Rob Diaz-Marino
Printers
North Hill News/Central Web
Distribution
Calgary: Gallant Distribution
GayCalgary Staff
Edmonton: Clark’s Distribution
Other: Canada Post
Legal Council
Courtney Aarbo, Barristers and Solicitors
Sales & General Inquiries
GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine
2136 17th Avenue SW
Calgary, AB, Canada
T2T 0G3
Office Hours: By appointment ONLY
Phone: 403-543-6960
Toll Free: 1-888-543-6960
Fax: 403-703-0685
E-Mail: [email protected]
This Month's Cover
Ke$sha
Photographed by Shelby Duncan
Proud Members of:
Beef Dip 2010
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
9If These Walls Could Talk
Interior Design Tips from the Pro
11 Miles Goes the Distance
Faber on Life, the Future, and Dancing for the King of Pop
PAGE 11
PAGE XXX
8
12Laurell
Musical Vancouverite Can’t Stop Falling for Success
13 Chelsea Boys
14 Gay Travel
ST. PETERSBURG—PERFECT
17 Directory and Events
24A Church Divided
The Anglican Communion’s Struggle with Sexism and Homophobia
26Adult Film Review
PAGE 12
PAGE XXX
Writers and Contributors
Chris Azzopardi, Dallas Barnes, Dave Brousseau,
Jason Clevett, Andrew Collins, Rob Diaz-Marino,
Jack Fertig, Glen Hanson, Joan Hilty, Stephen
Lock, Allan Neuwirth, Steve Polyak, Pam Rocker,
Ara Shimoon, Romeo San Vicente, Kyle Taylor
of GayTravel.com Jerome Voltero, Dan Woog,
Jackson Photografix, Liz Nandee, and the GLBT
Community of Calgary, Edmonton, and Alberta.
Publisher’s Column
Dickin’ Around, Eye Contact
27 Coming Out Monologues
Local Thespians Tell Real Stories
27 Q Scopes
“Be careful, Gemini!”
28 Deep Inside Hollywood
PAGE 33
PAGE XXX
Publisher: Steve Polyak
Editor: Rob Diaz-Marino
Sales: Steve Polyak
Design & Layout:
Rob Diaz-Marino, Ara Shimoon
Eliza Dushku’s road to Mapplethorpe
29Attack in Black
30 Out of Town
Hawaii’s Garden Isle: Kauai
Edmonton Rainbow
Business Association
32 The Quest for Biological Legitimacy
33Sexy Talk!
International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association
National Lesbian & Gay
Journalists Association
34Fundraising Photos
35 Outrage and the Outing of Politicians
36 Exploring Leather Relationships
Part 3 of 3: “Sirs” and “Boys”
PAGE 37
PAGE XXX
Ground Zero / Hit & Myth tackle My First Time
Continued on Next Page 
Table of Contents
 Continued From Previous Page
37 Gloriously Good
Stage West’s Delusional Diva Tale a Real Treat
38 Queeries
PAGE XXX
45
Asking Lesbians Out, Cougars or Daddies, and Gay Homes
39 The OutField
Out in the NFL?
40 28th Annual Western Cup
Continuing the Canadian Olympic Sporting Spirit
41 Bitter Girl
42A Couple of Guys
43 The Orphans of Evil
Nate Phelps on Escaping Westboro Baptist Church
PAGE XXX
47
45From Top Model to Top Author
Miss J. Alexander on Top Model and Follow the Model
46 Music Review
Little Boots, k.d. lang
47 Gentlemen Prefer BMW’s
Toby: A Man
48 Classified Ads
51Hollywood’s Hot Mess
PAGE XXX
51
Ke$ha talks about being bisexual (for real!), the infamous sign
defacing and doing makeup with ‘gay boyfriend’ Adam Lambert
54 Ronnie Burkett
Canadian Puppet Icon on Life, Loss, and Billy Twinkle
58 Queer Eye—Community Events
Magazine Figures
Monthly Print Quantity:
9,000–11,000 copies
Guaranteed Circulation: 8,500 copies
Bonus Circulation: 500–2,500 copies
Readership
Readers Per Copy: 4.9 (PMB)
Print Readership: >41,650
Avg. Online Circulation: 125,000 readers
Estimated Total Readership:
>166,650 readers
Frequency: Monthly
Proof of monthly figures are
available on request.
Distribution Locations:
Calgary: 150
Edmonton: 130
Other Alberta Cities: 10
Other Provinces: 30
Please call us if your establishment would
like to become a distribution location.
History
Originally established in January
1992 as Men for Men BBS by MFM
Communications. Name changed to
GayCalgary.com in 1998. Independent
company as of January 2004. First edition
of GayCalgary.com Magazine published
November 2003. Name adjusted in
November 2006 to GayCalgary and
Edmonton Magazine.
Disclaimer and Copyright
Opinions expressed in this magazine
are specific to the author, and do not
necessarily reflect those of GayCalgary
staff and contributors.
Those involved in the making of this
publication, whether advertisers, contributors,
or the subjects of articles or photographs, are
not necessarily gay, lesbian, bisexual, or
trans. This magazine also includes straight
allies and those who are gay friendly.
No part of this publication may be reprinted
or modified without the expressed written
permission of the editor or publisher.
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PAGE XXX
54
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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.
GayCalgary is a registered trademark.
April 2010 Print Deadlines
Ad Booking: Wed, March 31st
Submission: Mon, April 5th
In Circulation: Wed, April 7th
Please contact us immediately if
you think you may have missed the
booking or submission deadline.
Editorial
Ambassadors of Open-mindedness?
Publisher’s Column
By Rob Diaz-Marino
It seems that LGBT people are often looked to as, or selfproclaimed to be, ambassadors of open mindedness.
What we go through supposedly makes us more
empathetic to other minorities who suffer the same
injustices.
While in some cases this may be true, I have to admit that I
have become quite sceptical of this in the broader sense. I’ve
met, or at least heard the opinions of LGBT people who are just
as racist or sexist, even transphobic, as the straight people
they condemn for being homophobic. When our community
has been patting itself on the back for battling on the forefront
for human rights, acceptance, and equality, this sounds like a
contradiction in terms—shameful, even hypocritical.
While circumstances have forced many to (sometimes
reluctantly) accept homosexuality for their own sake, it seems
to be a constant that people are only as open minded as they
need to be – and that stems from how open minded they are
taught to be from observing their parents.
For instance, this month we have an interview with Nate
Phelps, a son of the man behind the “God Hates Fags” campaign
(pg. 43). He is certainly not gay, but offers some insight
into the mindset of one of the most hated families in North
America. While Nate has escaped from his father’s teachings,
and acknowledges that he understands how warped they are
from what is acceptable in greater society, he discusses how
difficult it was to squash these preset thoughts and behaviours
in order to integrate with the outside world.
There is something to be said for the powerful influence
family has over shaping children, and the instinctive force
that pushes a child to replicate those behaviours – like a social
genetics of sorts. While finding out that you are gay may make
you question what your relatives have taught you, it certainly
doesn’t require you to re-form all of your opinions anew. One
has to realise that there can be no sudden, revolutionary
leaps of reasoning beyond what you currently understand. A
reflection of the beliefs of the people around you while growing
up, is the necessary starting point, for lack of any other
one. The only thing that can change this imprint is any life
experience you may have that leads you compellingly to other
conclusions. This is of course, assuming your upbringing has
adequately equipped you to assimilate new experiences (to be
open minded), and not brainwashed you to discard them on
principle, or accept only the ones that are self-serving (closed
minded).
In this dichotomy, I have to say, I think LGBT people are
wrong to assume they are any better than other demographics.
I don’t say this to put us down, only to try and call attention
to what may be a false sense of security about our open
mindedness. We’ll never undergo the journey to earn a badge
of universal tolerance until we lose this idea that our gay card
somehow replaces the need for one.
All of that being said, I realized recently that my knowledge
and involvement within the LGBT community had lulled me
into a somewhat narrow mindset of my own.
It all started unravelling back in November at the Taboo
Sex Show, when we were pleasantly surprised to have some
in depth dialogue with a number of people that identified
themselves to us as being Bisexual. While they were very
appreciative and supportive of what we do with the magazine,
through nothing in particular that they said, I began getting
this nagging feeling at the back of my mind. I began to think
that as LGBT organizations, we often make the assumption
that by serving gay men and women, we by extension cater to,
and profess to understand the lives of bisexuals—or their “gay
side” anyway. But therein lies the flaw in our logic. People
who are Bisexual are not just the sum of a gay half and a
straight half – they are a single, whole person, and a seamless
union of both camps.
This is a difficult concept for many of us, myself included,
to wrap our heads around – and not for lack of trying. It
shows me that my sum of knowledge from the straight world
and from the gay world has not been enough to understand
what it really means to be Bi. And for me, this points out
how this LGBT utopia is really just a pink-tinted mirror image
of the straight camp, with more parallels that we’d care to
admit, and subsequently a reinvention of many of the same
problems. Sure, it is better for us, but is it really better?
So deep philosophical questions aside, it was here we found
out that Calgary has swingers clubs outside of the LGBT
community...in fact, quite a number of them. And it blew
my mind to think there was this whole other underground
bar community based on sexuality that we didn’t even know
existed. A lot of what we have done with this magazine has
been focused on bringing segments of our LGBT community
out of obscurity – to bring isolated groups into public
knowledge, and to give a clear view of the big picture. But
this new discovery is completely unexplored territory (for us
anyway), and in a way, it’s really exciting.
We arranged a meeting with one such club, to come down
one night and see what the place is like. This one is a lot
better hidden than our gay bars—tucked away in a little
known corner of the suburbs, only active at night, long after
the businesses around them are closed (and shockingly only a
few blocks from the Fabricland where my mom works during
the day). Admission is not open to anyone who walks in –
the club only lets in members, and people can only become
members on recommendation from friends who are members.
So the clientele is regulated a lot more strictly, and this is only
possible through the fact that they are not an alcohol-serving
establishment – it is strictly BYOB...and other things.
What I witnessed, as the owners took us on a tour of the
place and we settled down for an in depth chat, was something
very new to me: an openness about sexuality like I had never
seen before in our province. Unlike a bathhouse where people
often choose to have exploratory sex behind closed doors, here
everything occurs out in the open – anyone can watch, anyone
can participate (if they respectfully gain permission).
So LGBT people thinking we’re at the forefront of sexual
enlightenment may be another false sense of achievement.
Once again I say, we have some lessons to learn.
February 2010
The exhibit of Kent Monkman, the artist featured on last
month’s cover, had its launch party at the Glenbow Museum.
Attendance was through the roof, and we finally got the chance
to see the original pieces. In some paintings, Monkman does
vast, breathtaking landscapes, but it’s the subtle details
that give them their queer slant. It’s hard to appreciate this
difference in scale until you see the paintings for yourself.
There is still time – the exhibit runs until April 25th.
The Calgary Eagle celebrated their 8th anniversary by doing
something a little different. They closed down the bar for the
week leading up to this date, in order to do some renovations
and launch a fresh new look and attitude. While it will always
be a leather bar at heart, part of what the renovations have
accomplished is to make the venue cater better to the needs
of the community. With a brighter atmosphere, comfier
seating, nicer bathrooms, and a fresh set of ideas for working
Continued 
 Editorial - Cont’d
in partnership with the city’s non-profit groups, the bar has
secured a place for itself for many years to come.
This Month
• The ARGRA Dance in Calgary is on March 13th, and
they’re kicking it off with an hour of Karaoke from 8-9pm.
See their ad for details.
• The annual St. Patrick’s Day Irish Auction in is
happening March 14th at the Texas Lounge in Calgary.
See their ad for details.
• The Coming Out Monologues makes its debut on March
19th. See their ad, or the article on page 27 for details.
• Woody’s in Edmonton is celebrating their 8th Anniversary
on March 20th.
• The next bi-monthly BEEF Bearbash is happening on
March 27th at Boots Bar in Edmonton. See their ad for
details.
• The Calgary Eagle is hosting a Mac & Cheese Competition
benefitting the SHARP Foundation on March 28th.
• Apollo Western Cup happens April 1st to 3rd. Go down
to the sports venues to watch the tournaments for free,
and keep your schedule open for the annual Western Cup
Dance on the 3rd. See their ads for details.
http://www.gaycalgary.com/a1588
View Bonus Pics/Videos • Share with a Friend • Post Comments
Travel
Beef Dip 2010
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Photos by Jackson Photografix
The Beef Dip is a week-long holiday outing to share
company with bears and admirers in a climate
conducive to wearing as little clothing as possible.
This year’s 7th annual Beef Dip happened the last
week of January in sunny Puerto Vallarta, Mexico,
with many in attendance from Canada and indeed
numerous familiar faces from Alberta.
www.beefdip.com
Design
If These Walls Could Talk
Having trouble
finding the right
metallic paint to
help upgrade wall
paneling? Try
adding aluminum
foil to help make
that staircase
more attractive.
Interior Design Tips from the Pro
By Liz Nandee
It is often said in order to change the look of a room,
do it with a simple can of paint, hide imperfections
with a few strips of wallpaper or even create a focal
point with a basic faux finish.
As the new decade evolves with trends becoming more
elaborate and also embracing an emphasis on becoming
eco friendly, some may wonder what would be the next
step in producing that “wow factor” in wall coverings.
Here is a sneak peek into a few new trend setters that
are the talk of the design town:
Tissue paper comes in
many different styles and
can be quite eclectic;
here is a twist on
“paper mâché walls.”
Taking old or collected news papers to create a subtle
backdrop in any monotone space.
If your space doesn’t allow much room for an elaborate
wall treatment, consider using the ceiling to become
the main attraction in your space.
Interiors are becoming very high impact and
various creative and artistic visions are going places
unimaginable. While still creating spaces that are
both functional and esthetically pleasing, be aware
of the bold statements that reflect the characteristics
of the space.
Basic Black Designs Inc.
403-590-3942 • www.basicblackdesigns.com
Still like the idea of wall paper? The up-and-coming
trend is fabric paper. It’s available in many gorgeous
modern and traditional styles and adds interest in any
space with its eye catching texture.
10
Interview
Miles Goes the Distance
Faber on Life, the Future, and Dancing for the King of Pop
By Jason Clevett
When a reality series involves a talent competition, it can
at times be difficult to imagine the lives of the contestants
after the show is over. In the case of American Idol there
is a tangible outcome: a CD, songs on the radio, etc. But
what happens in the case of shows like So You Think You
Can Dance Canada?
For Calgary’s Miles Faber, it has meant he gets to fulfill his dream
of dancing for a living. Whether performing in movies, at events
like the Calgary Stampede, teaching at seminars or trying out for
auditions, the season 1 runner up is a busy man.
“It has been crazy I have probably had a total of two months off
since the show,” Faber told GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine
over the phone from Toronto. “We went on tour right away and then
I started travelling around the country teaching and doing shows
like the Calgary Stampede and shows in Toronto. I am also on my
third movie now, it has been non-stop. That show has flipped me
around 180, not only for everything I learned about dancing but to
learn what I was capable of. It changed my whole outlook on what I
can do with my life, goals and my dance. It changed everything for
me.”
A big part of his career is teaching, such as at a recent workshop
in Calgary – he has come a long way from his early teaching days.
“The teaching I was doing was local studio, show up every week
and do my thing. It isn’t bad but once you can breach the market
and travel and do workshops as opposed to
an every week class it is much better.”
While travelling across the country, he
doesn’t often get time to actually see the cities
he visits.
“A lot of times it is in and out. When I have
friends [in a particular city] I try and stay an
extra day or so, so I can hang out with them
and explore the city. One place I didn’t get to
explore was St. Johns, Newfoundland. That
was a real in and out procedure and I really
wanted to see more because I had never been
that far east out there. But I got to spend a
couple of days in Halifax which was good.”
He has moved to Toronto, another life and
career altering decision.
“Toronto living is great. I just got a new
apartment, and there is everlasting inspiration
here that you can’t find in a lot of cities in the
world, let alone Canada. I met my girlfriend
here and am still with her and love being
around her, so that is nice. One of my main
teachers for my style of dance lives here and he is one of the best in
the world, and I am very thankful to have that. There are auditions,
movies, it is a great place to learn and experience things. I do want
to travel abroad and go to different places and experience different
things. I love it here but I do want to extend.”
When he is not travelling he has been busy working on movies.
He acted and danced in Turn The Beat Around currently playing
on MTV, danced in the upcoming Disney film Harry The Spy, and
is currently dancing and doing the choreography for Hockey: The
Musical starring Olivia Newton-John.
In fact, getting to work with iconic figures like Newton-John still
blows Miles away.
“It hits you like a wall, and you don’t believe it until that moment.
Then you talk to them and it is overwhelming, but you remember
you are both working there, you have to keep yourself in control and
under check when you meet people like that. I’ve met people like
Tom Cruise, and at the Michael Jackson audition he was right there
“I was right there
in his face, it was
an energy like I
have never felt
before. Everyone
was freaking out
because the king
was there, there
was no room for
egos because
Michael [Jackson]
was there.”
 Miles Faber,
so that was the toughest one. It is sometimes
difficult to hold it in but you do what you
can.”
Many don’t know that Faber auditioned
for Michael Jackson’s This Is It tour—
what he hails as one of his most amazing
experiences.
“It was insane. I hadn’t been on many
auditions in my life, Michael was my fifth
audition. There were about 170 guys from all
over the world, from people who had danced
with Michael before, danced with Janet
Jackson, Justin Timberlake—you name
it, they were there. I made it to the top 40
guys before I was cut. We did the 1995 MTV
Smooth Criminal routine and it was crazy. I
was right there in his face, it was an energy
like I have never felt before. Everyone was
freaking out because the king was there,
there was no room for egos because Michael was there.”
To say Jackson’s death affected the dance world would be the
biggest understatement ever. In watching the documentary/concert
film on the tour, one couldn’t help but feel for the dancers that did
make the cut, watching their dream of performing with Jackson die
with their idol.
“I know a couple of them that were on the show. They became
very close to him, they would hang out with him, go to his house for
rehearsals, they had a really strong connection. When something
like his death happens, everyone in the world feels it. It is still hard
to believe that someone like that is gone. He is the reason why
99% of the people in the world dance, he was a huge factor. I know
everyone is very upset, but you have to hold onto that experience
that you had with him. They were lucky enough to spend those
last months with him and that is beautiful. ...Being in his presence
is something I will never forget. I will always be driven and it will
Continued on Page 57 
11
Interview
 Photo’s by Jamie Delaine
Laurell
Musical Vancouverite Can’t Stop Falling for Success
By Jason Clevett
Vancouver based Laurell has been slowly making a name
for herself as an independent Canadian artist. Now, with
her new album Can’t Stop Falling, she is ready to take
her career to the next level.
“For me life has been pretty interesting over the past few years. I have
been making music for quite awhile and my approach has been to start
with a grassroots following. I totally believe that in order to have longevity
in the music industry you have to start by connecting with people at a
small intimate level. Over the last few years I have been touring and
putting out albums completely independently. I decided I needed to
expand a bit and spread my wings and started getting other people
involved in this project,” she explained to GayCalgary and Edmonton
Magazine.
“What is so amazing is that all of this hard work I have put into it has
completely come back. I’ve been chosen as Virgin Radio’s best of BC artist
and featured on Virgin Radio last year to the single Can’t Stop Falling
having just won CHUM radio’s emerging artist initiative and have added
my song to their radio stations all across Canada—and other stations
have followed suit. It is thrilling to see Canadian radio responding to this
song from someone completely independent. With that, Warner Music
has decided they want to distribute my new album and due to popular
demand they pushed up the release from March 2nd to February 23rd.
So it is now in stores and iTunes. It is pretty thrilling to see all this
craziness that behind the scenes has taken so long to get to. I can’t even
describe what it is like to see it finally come to fruition”
With the new album comes stepping back for Laurell. Things like
having a manager and a publicist can be an uncomfortable change for
someone who is used to doing everything themselves.
“Everything about this experience is like the album itself, the biggest
risk I have taken in my music. Every aspect of this whole process—cowriting for the first time, a new producer, recording in a city I don’t live
in, having a publicist, I have had the chance to open myself up and
let more people into the process. It has somehow managed to still stay
personal to me at the same time. I don’t know how that happened! I
expected to lose a certain amount of personal investment by letting other
people into it but it is almost that I feel strengthened and encouraged.
Letting go is a lot easier than I thought it would be.”
That grassroots effort is paying off with the excitement and support
of her fans.
“They are freaking out and so excited! I keep in touch with people a
lot on Facebook and Twitter. People are beside themselves, they are so
happy and think it is long overdue. I keep getting messages from people
who have heard me on the radio. They are so encouraging. I wouldn’t
have even gotten this far without them and feel it is their success too.
Often I was asked why I wasn’t on the radio or had a music video and
12
it was hard to explain that I want to have a slow burn rather than be a
blip on the screen. The longer I have been doing that, the more the fans
understand it and taking part in doing what they need to do to make it
successful like requesting songs on radio stations. That is what helps
you stay on the air longer. They are into it and I am floored, I actually
have their support and wouldn’t be there without them.”
While there are many successful Canadian male artists and bands,
females seem to struggle in the Canadian music industry. You can count
on your hands the amount of huge female starts from Canada in the last
decade. It seems that trend is changing with talented artists like Serena
Ryder, Jully Black, and now Laurell making waves, to just name a few.
“In my experience it is a man’s business for sure. I have felt very
intimidated at times in different situations. In some ways it is easier
because there just aren’t that many women in the industry. As far as
touring and connecting with audiences, as a woman I can walk into a
venue and be more impressive because less is expected from a woman
than a man, so if you are good you get a lot of respect from your venue
and other musicians. I am trying to follow the example of people like
Sarah McLachlan, Avril Lavigne and Celine Dion—they have done
amazing things in their career and are good musicians/singers/writers.
I am trying to keep that reputation that Canada has for great female
artists that do make it.”
What makes many of these artists successful is the amount of heart
they put into their music. In listening to Laurell’s album, it stands out is
how personal the songs are.
“I feel that it covers such a spectrum of subjects and emotions and
touches on so many different parts of my life: grandparents who lived
through the depression in Liverpool; seeing my friend watch her dad
suffer from a mental illness; my pursuit of living life to the fullest; women
in the workplace; summertime romance; the nothingness that is left when
a relationship dies. It is a window to parts of my life that has inspired
me in the last couple of years. What is different and makes me so proud
is its honesty. That is why it is a risk but one I am proud of. Something
that is genuine stands the test of time. While I am experiencing success
out of it and made certain decisions based on business, I can’t go against
the grain of who I am. If I don’t have a true story behind a song I won’t
believe it and neither will anybody else. That is important and a standard
in the way I make music.”
Another advantage is living in the internet age, which allows your
music to be easily accessed worldwide.
“It has enhanced my reach globally. What people connect with is the
personal videos on YouTube, they want to feel like they are in my living
room or at a venue with me. It shows there is still a need for a physical
connection in a room to happen and it is neat to me that it can happen
over the internet. People take my concert listings and post them on their
webpages, or get their friends to call into radio stations and request my
song. It is amazing to me that people can be that proactive in this day
and age because of the internet.”
Indeed, she is amazed by how far that reach can go. “There is a TV
show in Korea called Go Dream Team that featured my music when they
were here filming to lead up to the Olympics. Because they featured me,
so many new fans have come out of the woodwork from that part of the
world and are all over my YouTube channel and saying things like come
to Korea. Maybe there is a market there, I would love to go to other places
Continued on Page 57 
13
Travel
Gay Travel
ST. PETERSBURG—PERFECT
By: Kyle Taylor of GayTravel.com
THE CITY
St. Petersburg was built as Russia’s “window to the west”
and it remains perhaps the most “European” part of this
enormous nation. Tree-lined avenues, charming bridges,
elegant architecture and a network of canals that rivals both
Amsterdam and Venice make this the perfect walking city.
Even under Soviet oppression St. Petersburg managed to
keep a lightness and an air about it that other parts of the
country simply could not manage. St. Petersburg is to Moscow
what San Francisco is to New York. Culture and nightlife are
explosive yet there’s a sense that people aren’t in nearly as big
a hurry. As such, this remains Russia’s most gay-friendly city,
with venues situated right on the street and not hidden down
a back alley. While still not as accepting as the rest of Europe,
in St. Petersburg it appears okay to be gay. Cruise down the
river Neva to Peterhof—Russia’s Versailles. Wander room after
room of the Hermitage—the world’s largest art collection. Sip
champagne in a waterside cafe. Whatever you do, don’t rush.
This is St. Petersburg—where life will never pass you by.
THE LAY OF THE LAND
St. Petersburg is situated along the River Neva. Nevskiy
Prospect—the city’s main avenue—extends from the river to the
train station and is lined with shops, churches, monuments
and people. The Winter Palace, which houses the Hermitage, is
just east of Nevskiy Prospect, squeezed gently between the river
and Palace Square, where the Bolshevik Revolution came to
fruition over ninety years ago. The canals spiral outward from
the river and most canal-side streets intersect Nevskiy Prospect.
14
Over the river is Peter and Paul Fortress as well as several other
museums. Make Palace Square your point of reference and
explore from there. Note—clubs, bars, restaurants and even
sites are opening and closing constantly. In addition, due to
high inflation prices increase without notice. Be advised—use
the following information as a general guide only and verify
prices online closer to your departure.
THE GAY
Perhaps the topic area where Russia is most different from its
European counterparts is gay rights. While homosexuality was
removed from the official list of mental illnesses in 1999, there
is currently no legal recognition of gay marriage and public
support stood at just 14% for such legislation as of 2005. In an
odd split of opinion, 43% of Russians support re-criminalizing
homosexual acts while 43% of Russians support a legal ban on
discrimination based on sexual orientation. Hate crimes are less
common but still do occur, though they are rare in larger cities.
In short, this is a tough place to be gay, though Russian gays
are pretty darn tough, too. A sizeable gay scene does exist in
both Moscow and St. Petersburg, though what happens inside
stays inside. No cameras or recording equipment are allowed
for fear of blackmailing clients. This is pretty full-on.
THE GAY(BORHOOD)
There isn’t really a gayborhood per se. No doubt Central
Station has become the hub as it is St. Petersburg’s largest
and most popular gay venue. While the gay scene is growing,
it is still intimate enough that everyone sort-of knows each
other. Make friends with a local and take their advice on what’s
happening.
THE MUST-SEES AND MUST-DOS
1. The Hermitage (36 Nab Dvortsovaya, Metro Nevskiy) The
world’s largest art collection at three million pieces. Clearly
not all of them are on display at once. Beyond the art (which
is exceptional) the architecture inside is absolutely mindblowing. There is a room made entirely of gold. Admission is
free for all students and about $8 for adults. Plan to spend an
entire day here.
2. St. Isaac’s Cathedral (Metro Nevskiy or Sennaya
Ploschad) Capped by a dome made of 550 pounds of solid
gold, St. Isaac’s Cathedral is monumental to say the least.
Make sure to climb the 270 steps for spectacular views over
the city. Entry $6
3. Church of Our Saviour On Spilled Blood (Metro Nevskiy)
Very similar to St. Basil’s in Moscow, this gem is home to the
world’s largest tile mosaic. Its canal-side location is also rather
charming. Entry $5.
4. Peter & Paul Fortress (Metro Gorkovskaya) Where the city
all began, the fortress is now the final resting place of Russia’s
last Tsar and his family. One ticket allows admission to all sites
inside. Don’t miss the Chapel of St. Catherine The Martyr, the
Peter and Paul Cathedral and Trubetskoy Bastion (prison) where
both Trotsky and Dostoevsky were held at one time. Entry $6
5. The Museum of Political History of Russia (Kuybysheva
2, Metro Gorkovskaya) Another exceptionally curated collection
of artifacts tracing Russia’s darkest days, the museum visit
includes a 120-page guide in English that gives descriptions
of every item in the museum. Don’t miss Gorbachev’s letter of
resignation, among other incredible relics. Entry $3
6. Dostoevsky House (5/2 Kuznechnyy, Metro Vladimirskaya)
Where the man himself lived and wrote The Brother’s Karamozov.
For anyone who has ever survived a Russian literature class, a
visit here somehow makes it feel all worthwhile. Entry $3
7. Along Nevskiy (Metro Nevskiy) St. Petersburg’s major
thoroughfare, the avenue is dotted with churches, monuments
and history. Don’t miss the Admiralty and the Bronze Horseman
of Peter the Great at end near the river, the Kazansky Cathedral
and the statue of Catherine the Great.
8. The Ballet (Book tickets at Nevsky Souvenir, 3 Nevsky
Prospect (on the corner where Nevsky Prospect ends at
Admiralty), +7 (812) 312-68-02, www.nevskysouvenir.com)
St. Petersburg is home to the world’s greatest ballet and you
should absolutely indulge in a performance. The Mariinskiy
Theater (1 Teatralnaya) is the nation’s most famous. As
such, prices are a bit steep, ranging from $75 to over $200.
Alternatively, the Palace Theater (13 Italyanska, Metro Gostiny
Dvor) offers a regular season of Swan Lake and The Nutcracker.
While this is supposedly “the tourist show,” watching the St.
Petersburg Ballet Company and listening to the St. Petersburg
Philharmonic Orchestra felt pretty perfect. Tickets range from
$30 to about $100.
THE EATS
Like all of Russia, dining out is expensive, even at fast food
kiosks on the street. Fortunately, the concept restaurant is alive
and well in St. Petersburg, which means you’re not only getting
food but an entire “experience.” Cafe culture is huge here, as is
American-style country cookin’.
Russian
•Teremok (60 Nevsky pr, Metro Nevsky) A “fast food” chain
in St. Petersburg that’s not all that fast in a good way. Made to
order blinis filled with pretty much anything you like, delicious
soups and delectable deserts make this a great option. Meal for
one around $8.
•Yolki-Palki (88 Nevsky pr, Metro Mayakovskaya) Quite possibly
“too Russian,” this “authentic eating experience” comes complete
with stuffed roosters, staff in “authentic costumes” and buffet-style
Russian grub. Not bad at all. Meal for one around $12.
•Pyshki (25 Bolshaya Konyushennaya, Metro Nevsky) Stop
in with the Russians for a quick hot, fresh donut...or maybe a
dozen? At 25 cents each there is nothing more affordable. The
50-cent cup of coffee was also top-notch.
Continued 
15
 Gay Travel - Cont'd.
Not Russian
•Khachapurnaya (154 Ligovsky pr, Metro Ligovsky) Quite
possibly the most delicious meal this writer has ever eaten.
Serving traditional Georgian food, this 5-table wonder will blow
your mind with the hot, fresh, and overwhelmingly delicious
meals on offer. There is no English menu but try khachipuri,
kebab & the spicy soup. You won’t regret it. Meal for one around
$15.
•Trans-Force (88 Nevsky pr, Metro Mayakovskaya) Not just
dinner, but an intergalactic voyage through time and space. Sit
down behind your control panel, order food from a digital screen
and take in the 270-degree 3D virtual space voyage. You’ll have
to see it to fully understand. Meals for one around $10.
•Cafe Zoom (22 Gorokhovaya, Metro Sennaya Ploschad) The
coolest-looking menus this writer has ever seen. This place
is almost always packed, so arrive before the dinner rush or
be prepared to wait. Don’t worry, it’s worth it. Meal for one
around $10.
•Teplo (45 Bolsaya Morskaya, Metro Sennaya Ploschad, www.
v-teple.ru) From the adorable wallpaper to freshly baked breads
and deserts, Teplo’s soul food will be much appreciated on a
cold Russian afternoon. Come for dinner and stay for coffee,
cocktails and dessert. You really won’t want to leave. Dinner for
one around $15.
THE NIGHTLIFE
Despite its more relaxed vibe, the nightlife in St. Petersburg
is absolutely on fire. Whether gay or straight, you’re guaranteed
to be out dancing, drinking and jiving until the sun comes up.
Gay
•Cafe Dali (11 Spasskii per, Metro Sennaya) Drag shows on
Tuesday and Sunday night bring in the regulars, as does the
all-day food and drinks on offer. A very mixed scene.
•Cabaret (181 Obvodny canal embankment, Metro
Baltiyskaya, in the building of the House of Culture) Once the
top spot in St. Petersburg, the smaller Cabaret still pulls in big
crowds on the weekends. The space itself is worth the visit.
Cover prices vary from $5 on up to $15.
•Central Station (1/28 ulitsa Lomonosova, Metro Nevskiy
Prospect) The place to be in St. Petersburg—especially on
Friday and Saturday night. Multiple dance floors, go-go boys,
3am drag shows and the most bizarre bathroom ever seen in
a nightclub make Central Station a must on any visit to St.
Petersburg. Free entry for students all night long. Cover ranges
but is usually $10.
Still Okay
•Liverpool (16 Mayakovskogo, Metro Pl. Vosstaniya) Easily
the best pub in St. Petersburg. Just come to relax and drink
a beer.
•JFC Jazz Club (33 Ul. Shpalernaya, Metro Chernyshevskaya)
The best jazz in Russia and an excellent lounge scene to go with
it.
•Marstall (5 Nab. kan. Griboedova, Metro Nevsky) St.
Petersburg’s current reigning champion in the nightlife scene.
The party doesn’t really get going until 3am and it rages on into
the wee hours of the morning. Cover can be steep. Expect to
pay at least $10.
THE ESCAPE
No trip to St. Petersburg would be complete without a visit
to Peterhof. (Take the train from Baltiyskiy train station at
Baltiyskaya Metro. From there, take almost any bus to Peterhof.
Look for signs in the bus window. On the way back, take bus
number 103 to the metro) Built by the Peters and expanded by
Catherine as Russia’s very own Versailles, the scale, scope and
majesty of this inspired Summer Palace make it a must-see. The
palace is split into upper and lower gardens. While the upper
gardens are free to wander and beautiful, the lower gardens are
home to nearly 100 gold fountains shooting brilliantly into a
canal that empties into the Gulf of Finland. Don’t miss the rock
fountains. Supposedly, there is just one that makes the water
shoot. Can you find it?
THE TIPS AND TRICKS
•It’s difficult to get to The Hermitage and other main sites
using the metro, as there are no stops nearby. Alternatively,
catch almost any bus heading down Nevskiy Prospect and hop
off near the river.
•Lines at the Hermitage can often be hours long. Arrive before
opening to ensure that you have a full day to explore. Also, note
that a ticket is good only once. You cannot come in and out!
•There is a hydrofoil that leaves from near The Hermitage to
Peterhof in high season. While prices are steep compared to the
train, it’s a great way to see the incredible buildings that line
the waterfront.
For more information on gay friendly destinations throughout the world,
please visit www.gaytravel.com.
16
Directory & Events
24
DOWNTOWN CALGARY
43 41
37
55
9
34
2
33
52
56
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48
4
35
36
3
5 6
1
N
13
1
2
3
4
5
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Calgary Outlink---------- Community Groups
Aids Calgary------------- Community Groups
Backlot------------------------ Bars and Clubs
Calgary Eagle Inc.------------ Bars and Clubs
Texas Lounge----------------- Bars and Clubs
Goliath’s-------------------------- Bathhouses
9 MPs (Money Pennies)-------- Bars and Clubs
13 Westways Guest House---- Accommodations
16 Priape Calgary------------------ Retail Stores
24 Courtney Aarbo----------------------- Services
33 Twisted Element-------------- Bars and Clubs
34 Vertigo Mystery Theatre------------- Theatre
Find Out!
One Yellow Rabbit-------------------- Theatre
ATP, Alberta Theatre Projects-------- Theatre
Pumphouse Theatre----------------- Theatre
La Fleur-------------------------- Retail Stores
Lisa Heinricks----------Theatre and Fine Arts
Barbies Shop-------------------- Retail Stores
Calgary
LGBT Community Directory
GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine is the go-to source for
information about Alberta LGBT businesses and community
groups—the most extensive and accurate resource of its kind! This
print supplement contains a subset of active community groups
and venues, with premium business listings of paid advertisers.
✰. ..... Find our Magazine Here
35
36
37
41
43
48
......... Wheelchair Accessible
Spot something inaccurate or outdated? Want your business or
organization listed? We welcome you to contact us!
 403-543-6960
 1-888-543-6960
 [email protected]
http://www.gaycalgary.com/CalgaryTravelRss
http://www.gaycalgary.com/EdmontonTravelRss
Local Bars, Restaurants, and Accommodations info on the go!
http://www.gaycalgary.com/Directory
Browse our complete directory of over 540 gay-frieindly listings!
Sandra G. Sebree-------------------- Services
Marquee Room--------------- Bars and Clubs
Sacred Balance Piercing-------- Retail Stores
Theatre Junction--------------------- Theatre
of Sinatra” on Fri. and varied entertainment on
Thurs. Please call for details.
Accommodations
13 Westways Guest House--------------------✰

216 - 25th Avenue SW  403-229-1758

1-866-846-7038  [email protected]

www.gaywestways.com
Wingate by Wyndham

400 Midpark Way SE

www.wingatehotels.com
52
55
56
58
 403-514-0099
55 Marquee Room-----------------------------✰

612 - 8th Avenue SW

http://www.marqueeroom.com
Alternative night every Wednesday.
9 Money Pennies (MPs)------------------- ✰

1742 - 10th Ave SW
 403-263-7411

http://www.money-pennies.com

Closed Mondays.
Bar and restaurant.
209 - 10th Ave SW
5 Texas Lounge-------------------------------✰

308 - 17 Ave SW
 403-229-0911

http://www.goliaths.ca

Open 7 days a week, 11am-close
4 Calgary Eagle Inc.----------------------- ✰

424a - 8th Ave SE
 403-263-5847
33 Twisted Element

1006 - 11th Ave SW
 403-802-0230

http://www.twistedelement.ca
Bars & Clubs
3 Backlot----------------------------------- ✰
 403-265-5211
 Open 7 days a week, 4pm-close

http://www.calgaryeagle.com

Open Wed-Sun, 5pm-close
Leather/Denim/Fetish bar.
Club Paradiso

1413 - 9th Ave SE, upstairs
 403-265-5739

www.villagecantina.ca
Dance Club and Lounge.
Bathhouses/Saunas
6 Goliaths-------------------------------------✰

308 - 17 Ave SW
 403-229-0911

http://www.goliaths.ca

Open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day
Carly’s Angels on Sat. Billy Schmidt’s “Sounds
17
Directory & Events
CALGARY EVENTS
Mondays
ASK Meet and Greet----------------  7-9:30pm
See Alberta Society for Kink
Inside Out Youth Group----------------  7-9pm
See 1 Calgary Outlink
Yoga-----------------------------  7:45-9:15pm
See Apollo Calgary
Jan11Apr5
Radio Show-------------------------  8:30-9pm
See “Yeah...What She Said!”
Tuesdays
Steak Night-----------------------------  All Day
At 9 Money Pennies
Calgary Networking Club--------------  5-7pm
 1st Tues
Between Men---------------------------  7-9pm
 2nd, 4th
Rehearsals--------------------------  7-9:30pm
See Calgary Men’s Chorus
Jun
Karaoke------------------------------  8pm-1am
At 5 Texas Lounge
Wednesdays
Communion Service------------------  12:10pm
See Knox United Church
Women’s Healing Circle---------------  1:30pm
See AIDS Calgary
Wing Night------------------------------  All Day
At 9 Money Pennies
Free Pool-------------------------------  All Day
At 4 Calgary Eagle
With Prime Timers Calgary
Badminton------------------------------  7-9pm
See Apollo Calgary
Jan6Mar31
Bowling------------------------------------ 7pm
See Apollo Calgary
Mar3
Radio Show----------------------------  9-10pm
See Urban Sex Radio
Thursdays
Country Night-------------------------- Evening
At 4 Calgary Eagle
Swim Practice---------------------------  6-7pm
See Different Strokes
Fake Mustache Show---------------  7-9:45pm
See Miscellaneous Youth Network
 1st
Fridays
Sunday, March 7th
Leather Night-------------------------- Evening
At 4 Calgary Eagle
Sing for the Cure-------------------------- 3pm
See Calgary Men’s Chorus
 Jack Singer Concert Hall
Illusions--------------------------------  7-10pm
 1st
Womynspace----------------------------  7-9pm
 2nd
New Directions--------------------------  7-9pm
 3rd
Heading Out-----------------------  8pm-10pm
 4th
Saturdays
Coffee------------------------------------  10am
See Prime Timers Calgary
25¢ Wings-------------------------------  All Day
At 9 Money Pennies
Curling------------------------------------- 7pm
See Apollo Calgary
Feb13
Karaoke------------------------------  8pm-1am
At 5 Texas Lounge
Tuned Out Music Trivia----------------  Evening
At 9 Money Pennies
 1st, 3rd
Sundays
Worship Time----------------------------  10am
See Deer Park United Church
Worship------------------------------  10:30am
See Scarboro United Church
Worship Services-------------------------  11am
See Knox United Church
Church Service----------------------------- 4pm
See Rainbow Community Church
Swim Practice---------------------------  5-6pm
See Different Strokes
Free Pool-------------------------------  All Day
At 4 Calgary Eagle
Thursday, March 4th
Drag Show----------------------------- Evening
At 5 Texas Lounge, by ISCCA
Friday, March 5th
Bears Coat Check----------------------  9:30pm
At 4 Calgary Eagle
With Rocky Mountain Bears
Saturday, March 6th
Name That Tune----------------------- Evening
At 9 Money Pennies
2 AIDS Calgary---------------------------- ✰

110, 1603 10th Avenue SW

403-508-2500

[email protected]

http://www.aidscalgary.org
Alberta Society for Kink

403-398-9968

[email protected]

ca.groups.yahoo.com/
Apollo Calgary Friends in Sports

http://www.apollocalgary.com
A volunteer-operated, non-profit organization
serving primarily members of the LGBT communities
but open to members of all communities. Currently
have more than 400 members! Primary focus is
to provide members with well organized and fun
sporting events and other activities.
• Western Cup
Largest LGBT Sporting Competition in North America
group.albertasocietyforkink
18
Saturday, March 20th
Oscar Du---------------------------- 5-10pm
Supporting 2 AIDS Calgary
 Uptown Stage and Screen
From Sirs With Lust II----------------- Evening
At 4 Calgary Eagle
Mar20
Thursday, March 11th
Sex Toy Party------------------------------- 8pm
At A Little More Interesting
With Queers on Campus
Friday, March 12th
Firemen Drill Night------------------- Evening
At 4 Calgary Eagle
Monthly Dance------------------------- 8pm
See ARGRA
Mar13
Mardi Gras Dance Party---------------  12-8am
At 6 Goliaths
Mar13
Discussing GLBT Violence------  6:30-8:30pm
 Eau Claire Market - Community Room
Bear Night----------------------------- Evening
At 4 Calgary Eagle
With Rocky Mountain Bears
Sunday, March 28th
Mac & Cheese Contest--------------- Supper
At 4 Calgary Eagle, with SHARP Foundation
Wednesday, March 31st
Potluck Dinner------------------------- Evening
See Rocky Mountain Bears
Primetimers Theatre Night-----------  7:30pm
At 37 Pumphouse Theatre
Sunday, March 14th
Bingo Volunteer Night-----------------  5-9pm
See SHARP Foundation
Nate Phelps Speaks----------------- 2-4:30pm
 U of C, ICT 102
April 2010
St. Patricks Day Irish Auction---------- 6pm
At 6 Texas Lounge
Western Cup------------------------  All Day
See Apollo Calgary
Apr1-3
Primetimers Theatre Night----------- Evening
At 34 Vertigo Theatre
Fun Money Casino Night-------  9pm-12am
See Apollo Calgary
Apr 2
Monday, March 15th
Western Cup Dance--------------  9pm-2am
See Apollo Calgary
Apr 3
Curvalicious-------------------------  5:30pm
See 2 Urban Curvz
2140 Pumphouse Ave SW
Wednesday, March 17th
St Patrick’s Day Specials--------------  All Day
At 9 Money Pennies
St Patrick’s Day Party-----------------  All Day
At 3 Backlot
Cabin Fever---------------------------- Evening
At The Soda
Friday, March 19th
Alberta Weekend of Leather--------- Evenings
At 4 Calgary Eagle
Mar19-21
Legend:  = Monthly Reoccurrance,  = Date (Range/Future),  = Sponsored Event
Community Groups
Coming Out Monologues--------------  7:30pm
See Queers on Campus
 U of C, Craigie Hall C 119
• Badminton (Absolutely Smashing)

St. Martha School (6020 4th Avenue NE)

[email protected]
Fees Per session: $4 for Apollo member, $5 for nonmembers. Season’s pass $75.
• Boot Camp

Stone steps, SE corner of Crescent Park
Crescent Road & 2nd Street NW

[email protected]
Dress in layers and running shoes, bring plenty
of water, bring payment in cash to first session.
Registration has closed.
Hottub Party------------------------------- 8pm
Apr10
Coronation--------------------------------- 6pm
See ISCCA
Apr17
A Taste for Life------------------------ Evening
See SHARP Foundation
Apr28
Annual General Meeting----------------- 7pm
Apr29
May 2010
Monthly Dance------------------------- 8pm
See ARGRA
May29
September 2010
Pride Dance-----------------------------  TBA
Sep4
Pride Parade/Street Festival----------  TBA
Sep5
• Bowling (Rainbow Riders League)

Let’s 10 Pin Bowlerama, 2916 - 5 Ave NE

[email protected]
• Curling

North Hill Curling Club (1201 - 2 Street NW)

[email protected]
• Golf

[email protected]
• Lawn Bowling

Inglewood Lawn Bowling Club
1235 - 8th Avenue SE

[email protected]
Directory & Events
• Outdoor Pursuits
[email protected]
• Running (Calgary Frontrunners)

Hillhurst United Church, 1227 Kensington Close

Tim 403-660-6125

[email protected]

Tues, Thurs, Sat at 8am
Calgary Alcoholics Anonymous Group For Gay
Lesbian Bisexual and Transgendered People. A safe
place to find help for problems with alcohol.
• Slow Pitch
• Tennis
• Volleyball (Intermediate/Competitive)

YWCA, 320 - 5th Avenue SE

www.apollocalgary.com/apollo/volleyball
This is for seasoned players. You can sign up for the
season or drop-in.
• Volleyball (Recreational)

Langevin School, 107 - 6A Street NE

www.apollocalgary.com/apollo/volleyball
Volleyball League, Co-Ed, Recreational, Drop-in.
Alberta Rockies Gay Rodeo Association (ARGRA)
 www.argra.org

403-541-8140
• Monthly Dances-----------------------------

Hillhurst-Sunnyside Community Association
1320 - 5th Avenue NW
Artists for the Quality of Life

403-890-1261
 www.afqol.com
Cabin Fever

The Soda
Women’s dance and social night.
Calgary Gay Fathers

[email protected]

http://www.calgarygayfathers.ca
Peer support group for gay, bisexual and
questioning fathers. Meeting twice a month.
Calgary Men’s Chorus

http://www.calgarymenschorus.org
• Rehearsals

Temple B’Nai Tikvah, 900 - 47 Avenue SW
Calgary Sexual Health Centre---------- ✰

304, 301 14th Street NW
403-283-5580


http://www.calgarysexualhealth.ca
A pro-choice organization that believes all people
have the right and ability to make their own choices
regarding their sexual and reproductive health.
1 Calgary Outlink-----------------------------✰

#4, 1230A 17th Avenue SW

403-234-8973

http://www.calgaryoutlink.com
Formerly know as the Gay And Lesbian Community
Services Association (GLCSA).
• 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.
• Between Men and Between Men Online
Peer support, sexual health education for gay
or bisexual men, as well as those who may be
uncertain or questioning their sexuality.
• Calgary Networking Club

Ming, 520 - 17th Ave SW
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.
• Heading Out
Peer group for men who are looking for an
alternative social activity to the bar. Activities vary
and are fun and entertaining.
• Illusions Calgary
Social group for Calgary and area transgender
community members (cross dressers, transvestites,
drag kings and queens). A safe, discrete and
welcoming atmosphere, in which transgendered
people can meet others of like mind.
• Inside Out
Peer-facilitated youth group for GLBTQ ages 15-25.
Aims to let youth know they are not alone, and to
connect them with their peers. Safe environment
with a variety of resources and activities.
• New Directions
Drop in peer-support group to provide support and
resources for individuals who identify as transsexual
or inter-sexed.
• SHEQ Soulful Healing Ego Quest

Trudy or Krista, 403-585-7437
Workshop for women—a chance to grow and share
their experiences related to women’s sexuality. To
participate, please call or leave your name and a
contact time/number with Calgary Outlink.
• Womynspace
Peer social/support group for women providing an
evening of fun, bonding, discussion and activities.
Calgary Queer Book Club

Weeds Cafe (1903 20 Ave NW)
Deer Park United Church/Wholeness Centre

77 Deerpoint Road SE  403-278-8263

http://www.dpuc.ca
Different Strokes

http://www.differentstrokescalgary.org
• Swim Practice

SAIT Pool, 1301 - 16th Ave NW
No practices on long weekends
Don’t Buy In Project

http://www.dontbuyin.ca
• Peer Support and Crisis Line
1-877-OUT-IS-OK (1-877-688-4765)
Front-line help service for GLBT individuals and
their family and friends, or anyone questioning
their sexuality.
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.
• Library
A great selection of resource books, fiction, nonfiction, videos and everything in between, all with a
queer perspective.

#4 - 1230A 17th Avenue SW

403-244-1956

http://www.fairytalesfilmfest.com
FairyTales Presentation Society
Alberta Gay & Lesbian Film Festival.
• DVD Resource Library
Over a hundred titles to choose from. Annual
membership is $10.
Gay Singles in Calgary

http://www.gaysinglesincalgary.org
Girl Friends

members.shaw.ca/girlfriends
Girlsgroove

http://www.girlsgroove.ca
GLBT Housing

http://www.glbthousing.ca
HIV Peer Support Group

403-230-5832

[email protected]
ISCCA Social Association

http://www.iscca.ca
Imperial Sovereign Court of the Chinook Arch.
Charity fundraising group..
Knox United Church

506 - 4th Street SW
 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
10:30am in July and August.
Miscellaneous Youth Network

http://www.miscyouth.com
• Fake Mustache------------------------------ 
The Soda, 211 - 12th Ave SW
Calgary’s ONLY Drag King Show. $5 cover. $2
cover under 18. Advance tickets available at Barbies
Shop.
Pride Rainbow Project

[email protected]

http://www.priderainbowproject.com
Youth run project designed to show support for
same-sex marriage in Canada and elsewhere. A
fabric rainbow banner approximately 5 feet wide
- goal is to make it 3.2km (2 miles) long, in order
to break the world record.
Primetimers Calgary

[email protected]

http://www.primetimerscalgary.com
Designed to foster social interaction for its members
through a variety of social, educational and
recreational activities. Open to all gay and bisexual
men of any age, respects whatever degree of
anonymity that each member desires.
• Free Pool
4 Calgary Eagle
• Saturday Coffee

Midtown Co-op, 1130 - 11th Ave SW
Queers on Campus---------------------- ✰

279R Student Union Club Spaces, U of C
403-220-6394

http://www.ucalgary.ca/~glass
Formerly GLASS - Gay/Lesbian Association of
Students and Staff.
• Coffee Night

2nd Cup, Kensington
Rainbow Community Church

Hillhurst United, 1227 Kensington Close NW

[email protected]

http://www.rainbowcommunitychurch.ca
The Rainbow Community Church is an all-inclusive
church; everyone is welcome.
Rocky Mountain Bears
Mystique

[email protected]
Mystique is primarily a Lesbian group for women 30
and up but all are welcome.

[email protected]

http://www.rockymountainbears.com
• Coffee Night

Second Cup (2312 - 4th Street SW)
Mission: To raise awareness and understanding of
same-sex domestic violence and homophobic youth
bullying.
NETWORKS

403-293-3356

[email protected]
A social, cultural, and service organization for the
mature minded and “Plus 40” LGBT individuals
seeking to meet others at age-appropriate activities
within a positive, safe environment.
Parents for Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG)

Sean: 403-695-5791

http://www.pflagcanada.ca
A registered charitable organization that provides
support, education and resources to parents,
families and individuals who have questions or
concerns about sexual orientation or gender identity.
Positive Space Committee

4825 Mount Royal Gate SW

403-440-6383

http://www.mtroyal.ca/positivespace
Works to raise awareness and challenge the
patterns of silence that continue to marginalize
LGBTTQ individuals.
Pride Calgary Planning Committee
 www.pridecalgary.ca

403-797-6564
Safety Under the Rainbow

http://www.safetyrainbow.ca
Scarboro United Church

134 Scarboro Avenue SW

403-244-1161  www.scarborounited.ab.ca
An affirming congregation—the full inclusion of
LGBT people is essential to our mission and purpose.
Sharp Foundation

403-272-2912

[email protected]

http://www.thesharpfoundation.com
Unity Bowling

Let’s Bowl (2916 - 5th Ave NE)

[email protected]
Urban Sex Radio Show

CJSW 90.9 FM

http://www.cjsw.com
Focus on sexuality; gay bisexual lesbian trans
gendered and straight issues here in Calgary and
around the web.
Western Canada Bigmen and Admirers

groups.yahoo.com/group/
WesternCanadaBigmenGroup/

[email protected]
19
Directory & Events
DOWNTOWN EDMONTON
1
8
5
7
11 6 12
1 Pride Centre------------- Community Groups
3 HIV Network------------- Community Groups
4 Edmonton STD---------- Community Groups
Vigor Calgary

403-255-7004
“Yeah...What She Said!” Radio Show

CJSW 90.9 FM

[email protected]
4 Calgary Eagle Inc.----------------------
✰
Halo Steak, Seafood & Wine Bar

Canyon Meadows Plaza
13226 Macleod Trail SE

403-271-4111

www.halosteakseafoodandwinebar.ca
9 MPs (Money Pennies)------------------
✰
Retail Stores
Adult Depot----------------------------- ✰
 403-258-2777
Gay, bi, straight video rentals and sex toys.
41 La Fleur------------------------------------

103 - 100 7th Avenue SW
 403-266-1707
Organic teas and tea ware.
16 Priape Calgary------------------------- ✰

1322 - 17 Ave SW
 403-215-1800

http://www.priape.com

888 Meridian Road NE

403-291-1444

[email protected]

www.tandthonda.ca
• Kelvin Hur

403-990-9080
New Vehicle Sales Manager
See Calgary - Bars and Clubs.

140, 58th Ave SW 
305 10th Street NW
 403-283-3555

http://www.thenakedleaf.ca
T&T Honda
See Calgary - Bars and Clubs.
20
5 Boots Bar and Lounge------- Bars and Clubs
6 Buddy’s Nite Club------------ Bars and Clubs
7 Down Under Baths--------------- Bathhouses
Clothing and accessories. Adult toys, leather wear,
movies and magazines. Gifts.
Restaurants
• Lawrence Wong

403-870-5001
Sales Consultant
Wares & Wear Ventures Inc.
See Canada - Retail Stores.
Services & Products
Bad Romance Entertainment

www.badromance-entertainment.com
Calgary Civil Marriage Centre
 403-246-4134
Marriage Commissioner for Alberta (aka Justice of
N
4
The Naked Leaf--------------------------- www.vigorcalgary.ca
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.
Florist and Flower Shop.
3
13
8 Prism Bar & Grill------------- Bars and Clubs
11 Steamworks---------------------- Bathhouses
12 Woody’s----------------------- Bars and Clubs
the Peace - JP), Marriage Officiant, Commissioner
for Oaths.
24 Courtney Aarbo (Barristers & Solicitors)

1138 Kensington Road NW

403-571-5120

http://www.courtneyaarbo.ca
GLBT legal services.
Cruiseline

403-777-9494 trial code 3500

http://www.cruiseline.ca
Telephone classifieds and chat - 18+ ONLY.
DevaDave Salon & Boutique

810 Edmonton Trail NE
 403-290-1973
Cuts, Colour, Hilights.
Duncan’s Residential Cleaning
 Jim Duncan: 403-978-6600
Residential cleaning. Free estimates.
Interactive Male

403-261-2112 trial code 8873

1-800-777-8000

www.interactivemale.com
Keith Hill, North Hill Mazda

1211 Centre Street NW

Cell: 403-614-7359

Phone: 403-276-5962

Fax: 403-276-7361

[email protected]

www.northhillmazda.com
13 PLAY Nightclub--------------- Bars and Clubs
Lorne Doucette (CIR Realtors)

403-461-9195

http://www.lornedoucette.com
Marnie Campbell (Maxwell Realtors)

403-479-8619

http://www.marniecampbell.ca
MFM Communications

403-543-6970

1-877-543-6970

http://www.mfmcommunications.com
Web site hosting and development. Computer
hardware and software.
Rick Grenier (Invis)

403-862-1162
Mortgage solutions.
56 Sacred Balance Piercing

1528 - 17th Avenue SW  403-277-4449

www.sacredbalancetattoo.com
Tattos and body piercing.
SafeWorks
Free and confidential HIV/AIDS and STI testing.
• Calgary Drop-in Centre

Room 117, 423 - 4th Ave SE

403-699-8216

Mon-Fri: 9am-12pm, Sat: 12:15pm-3:15pm
• Centre of Hope

Room 201, 420 - 9th Ave SE

403-410-1180
 Mon-Fri: 1pm-5pm
Directory & Events
• Sheldon M. Chumir Health Centre

1213 - 4th Str SW
 403-955-6014

Sat-Thu: 4:15pm-7:45pm, Fri: Closed
8 Prism Bar & Grill----------------------- ✰

10524 101st St
 780-990-0038

http://www.prismbar.ca
• Safeworks Van

403-850-3755

Sat-Thu: 8pm-12am, Fri: 4pm-12am
12 Woody’s-------------------------------------✰

11725 Jasper Ave
 780-488-6557
Bathhouses/Saunas
52 Sandra G. Sebree, Lawyer

1610 - 17th Ave SW

403-228-8108

www.sandrasebree.com
TherapyWorks

403-561-6873

[email protected]

http://www.therapyworks.com
Take back your life from stress, sadness, and worry.
36 ATP, Alberta Theatre Projects

403-294-7402  http://www.ATPlive.com
AXIS Contemporary Art------------------- 403-262-3356
 www.axisart.ca

107, 100 - 7 Ave SW

[email protected]
Fairytales
See Calgary - Community Groups.
1 Pride Centre of Edmonton-------------- ✰

95A Street, 111 Ave
 780-488-3234

[email protected]
11 Steamworks--------------------------------✰

11745 Jasper Ave
 780-451-5554

http://www.steamworksedmonton.com
• Community Potluck

Main Space – Upstairs

[email protected]
A potluck open to all members of the LGBTQ
community. A time to get together, share a meal
and meet people from the community.
Community Groups

www.bearbeef.org
Altview-Strathcona County LGBTQ Group
#44, 48 Brentwood Blvd, Sherwood Park, AB
www.altview.ca
Book Worm’s Book Club

Second Cup, 11210 Jasper Ave

[email protected]
Buck Naked Boys Club

780-471-6993

http://www.bucknakedboys.ca
Naturism club for men—being social while everyone
is naked, and it does not include sexual activity.
Participants do not need to be gay, only male.
Jubilations Dinner Theatre

Bow Trail and 37th St. SW

403-249-7799

www.jubilations.ca
43 Lisa Heinricks (Artist)---------------------

Art Central, 100 7th Ave SW, lower level

http://www.creamydreamy.com
Camp fYrefly

7-104 Dept. of Educational Policy Studies
35 One Yellow Rabbit-------------------------

Big Secret Theatre - EPCOR CENTRE

403-299-8888
 www.oyr.org
Faculty of Education, University of Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2G5

http://www.fyrefly.ualberta.ca
37 Pumphouse Theatre------------------

2140 Pumphouse Avenue SW

403-263-0079

http://www.pumphousetheatres.ca
✰
Edmonton Pride Week Society

http://www.prideedmonton.org
Stagewest-------------------------------
✰
Edmonton Prime Timers

[email protected]

www.primetimersww.org/edmonton
Group of older gay men and their admirers who come
from diverse backgrounds but have common social
interests. Affiliated with Prime Timers World Wide.

727 - 42 Avenue SE
 403-243-6642

http://www.stagewestcalgary.com
58 Theatre Junction---------------------- 
Theatre Junction GRAND, 608 1st St. SW

403-205-2922

[email protected]

http://www.theatrejunction.com
✰
34 Vertigo Mystery Theatre------------------

161, 115 - 9 Ave SE
 403-221-3708

http://www.vertigomysterytheatre.com
Edmonton
Bars & Clubs
Edmonton Rainbow Business Association

3379, 11215 Jasper Ave  780-429-5014

http://www.edmontonrba.org
Primary focus is the provision of networking
opportunities for LGBT owned or operated and LGBTfriendly businesses in the Edmonton region.
Edmonton Illusions Social Club
5 Boots Bar & Grill

780-387-3343

groups.yahoo.com/group/edmonton_illusions
4 Edmonton STD

11111 Jasper Ave
5 Boots Bar and Lounge----------------- ✰

10242 106th St
 780-423-5014

http://www.bootsbar.ca/
Edmonton Vocal Minority

780-479-2038
www.evmchoir.com

6 Buddy’s Nite Club--------------------------✰

11725 Jasper Ave
 780-488-6636

TBA
13 PLAY Nightclub-----------------------------✰

10220 103 Street
 780-497-7529

[email protected]

http://www.playnightclub.ca
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender/transsexual,
Queer, Questioning and Straight-but-not-Narrow
student group.
7 Down Under Baths-------------------------✰

12224 Jasper Ave
 780-482-7960

http://www.gayedmonton.com
Alberta Bears
Theatre & Fine Arts
OUTreach

University of Alberta, basement of SUB

[email protected]

http://www.ualberta.ca/~outreach
TTIQ is mixed gender open support group addressing
the needs of transsexual and transgendered
individuals.
• Womonspace Board Meeting


[email protected]
Womonspace is a Social and Recreational Society
in Edmonton run by volunteers. They provide
opportunities for lesbians to interact and support
each other in a safe environment, and to contribute
to the broader community.
• Youth Movie


[email protected]
Movie chosen by youth (aged 14 – 25), usually
with LGBT themes. Popcorn is served.
• Free School


[email protected]
Free School provides workshops on a variety of
topics related to local activism.
• YouthSpace

[email protected]
A safe and supportive space for GLBTQ youth aged
13–25. Video games, computers with internet,
clothing bank, and more.
• Get Tested for STIs
Free STD testing for anyone interested. For more
information please contact the Pride Centre.
• Youth Understanding Youth
See separate listing.
• GLBT Seniors Drop-In


[email protected]
A social and support group for seniors of all genders
and sexualities to talk, have tea and offer each
other support.

[email protected]

http://www.teamedmonton.ca
• Men Talking with Pride


[email protected]
A social discussion group for gay, bisexual and
transgendered men to discuss current issues and to
offer support to each other.
• Badminton (Mixed)
St. Thomas Moore School, 9610 165 Street

[email protected]
New group seeking male & female players.
• Men’s HIV Support Group

Green Room – Upstairs

[email protected]
Support group for people living with HIV/AIDS.
• PFLAG

Red room - Downstairs  780-436-1998

[email protected]
Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays: A support
group for family members and friends of GLBT
people. An excellent resource for people whose
family members and friends have just come out.
• Prime Timers
See Edmonton Primetimers.
• Suit Up and Show Up: AA Big Book Study

Downstairs Couch Area
Discussion and support group for those struggling
with an alcohol addiction or seeking support in
staying sober.
• TTIQ

Green Room – Upstairs

[email protected]
Team Edmonton
Members are invited to attend and help determine
the board for the next term. If you are interested in
running for the board or getting involved in some of
the committees, please contact us.
• Badminton (Women’s)

Oliver School, 10227 - 118 Street

780-465-3620

[email protected]
Women’s Drop-In Recreational Badminton. $40.00
season or $5.00 per drop in.
•Ballroom Dancing

Foot Notes Dance Studio, 9708-45 Avenue NW

Cynthia: 780-469-3281
• Blazin’ Bootcamp

Lynnwood School

[email protected]
• Bowling (Northern Titans)

Gateway Lanes, 100 - 3414 Gateway Blvd

[email protected]
$15.00 per person.
• Cross Country Skiing

[email protected]
• Curling with Pride

Granite Curling Club, 8620 107 Street NW

780-463-5942

[email protected]
Exposure 2010
3 HIV Network Of Edmonton Society---- ✰
11456 Jasper Ave  www.hivedmonton.com
Imperial Sovereign Court of the Wild Rose

http://www.gayedmonton.org
21
Directory & Events
EDMONTON EVENTS
Mondays
Boot Camp------------------------------  7-8pm
See Team Edmonton
Men’s HIV Support Group-------------  7-9pm
See Pride Centre of Edmonton
 2nd
Curling---------------------------------  7:15pm
See Team Edmonton
Mar
Tuesdays
GLBT Seniors Drop-in------------------  1-4pm
TTIQ-------------------------------------  2-4pm
 2nd
Youthspace------------------------------  3-7pm
Community Potluck---------------------  7-9pm
 Last
Swimming------------------------------ Evening
See Team Edmonton
Wednesdays
PFLAG---------------------------------  12:10pm
 1st
Youthspace------------------------------  3-7pm
Youth Sports/Recreation------------------ 4pm
See Youth Understanding Youth
Women’s Badminton---------------  6-7:30pm
See Team Edmonton
Mar
Youth Understanding Youth------------  7-9pm
Mixed Badminton---------------------  8-10pm
See Team Edmonton
Jan13End of May
AA Big Book Study--------------------  12-1pm
Thursdays
GLBT Seniors Drop-in------------------  1-4pm
Monthly Meeting-----------------------  2:30pm
By Edmonton Primetimers
 2nd
 Unitarian Church, 10804 - 119th Street
Get Tested for STIs----------------------  3-6pm
 Last
Youthspace--------------------------  3-6:30pm
Youthspace------------------------------  3-7pm
Bowling------------------------------------ 5pm
See Team Edmonton
• Dragon Boat (Flaming Dragons)

[email protected]
• Golf

[email protected]
• Gymnastics, Drop-in

Ortona Gymnastics Club, 8755 - 50 Avenue

[email protected]
Have the whole gym to yourselves and an instructor
to help you achieve your individual goals. Cost is
$5.00 per session.
• Hockey

[email protected]
• Outdoor Pursuits

[email protected]
• Running (Arctic Frontrunners)

Kinsmen Sports Centre, front entrance

[email protected]
All genders and levels of runners and walkers are
invited to join this free activity.
• Samsara Yoga

Korezone Fitness, #203, 10575 -115 Street

[email protected]
22
Womonspace Dance----------------  9pm-1am
 Bellevue Comm. Hall (7308 - 112 Ave)
By Womonspace
Friday, March 19th
Dining Out----------------------------- 6:30pm
 Sabzy
See Edmonton Primetimers
Turnabout--------------------------- 10pm-2am
At 5 Boots, by ISCWR
Free School----------------------------  11-5pm
See Pride Centre of Edmonton  2nd, 4th
Theatre Outing---------------------------- 2pm
Womonspace Meeting---------  12:30-1:30pm
 1st
Bear Party---------------------------------- 8pm
At 5 Boots, by Alberta Bears
Fridays
Samsara Yoga----------------------  2-3:30pm
See Team Edmonton
Edmonton Illusions-------------------------- ???
See 1 Pride Centre of Edmonton
 2nd
Men Talking with Pride----------------  7-9pm
Youthspace--------------------------  3-6:30pm
Ballroom Dancing--------------  7:30-8:30pm
See Team Edmonton
Monthly Meetings---------------------- 2:30pm
 Unitarian Church (10804 119th Street)
 2nd
Intermediate Volleyball--------  7:30-9:30pm
See Team Edmonton
Swimming------------------------------ Evening
See Team Edmonton
Youth Movie Night------------------  6:30-8:30
See 1 Pride Centre of Edmonton
Saturdays
Naturalist Gettogether---------------------- ???
See Buck Naked Boys Club
 2nd
Legend:  = Monthly Reoccurrance,  = Date (Range),  = Sponsored Event
• Cycling (Edmonton Prideriders)

Various locations in Edmonton

[email protected]

Every Wednesday, 6:30pm
Sundays
Running------------------------------  10-11am
See Team Edmonton
Sunday, March 7th
Oscar Party!-------------------------- 6pm-2am
At 12 Woody’s Pub, by ISCWR
Tuesday, March 9th
ERBA Business Mixer-----------  5:30-7:30pm
 Suede Lounge (11806 Jasper Ave)
See Edmonton Rainbow Business Association
• Slo Pitch

Parkallen Field, 111 st and 68 ave

[email protected]
Season fee is $30.00 per person. $10 discount for
players from the 2008 season.

[email protected]
E-mail if interested.
• Snowballs III

February 5-7th, 2010

[email protected]
Skiing and Snowboarding Weekend.
• Volleyball, Free To Be Recreational

Mother Teresa School (9008 - 105 Ave)

[email protected]
Outdoor season, Sundays, 3-5pm
• Soccer

[email protected]
• Women’s Lacrosse

Sharon: 780-461-0017

Pam: 780-436-7374
Open to women 21+, experienced or not, all are
welcome. Call for info.
• Spin

MacEwan Centre for Sport and Wellness
109 St. and 104 Ave

Wednesdays, 5:45-6:45pm
Season has ended.

[email protected]
7 classes, $28.00 per registrant.
• Swimming (Making Waves)

NAIT Pool

[email protected]
• Tennis

Kinsmen Sports Centre

Sundays, 12pm-3pm

[email protected]
• Ultimate Frisbee

Sundays
Summer Season starts July 12th
• Volleyball, Free To Be Intermediate

Amiskiwacy Academy (101 Airport Road)

[email protected]
Womonspace

780-482-1794

[email protected]

www.womonspace.ca
Women’s social group, but all welcome at events.
Youth Understanding Youth

Edmonton Pride Centre, Main Space Upstairs

[email protected]  www.members.shaw.ca/yuy
A place where LGBTQ youth under 25 can gather to
have fun and learn about themselves and others in
a safe, supportive, and caring environment.
Lunch---------------------------------- 11:30am
 Joey Tomatoes (Jasper Ave, 112th Street)
June 2010
Pride---------------------------------------  TBA
Jun 11Jun20
July 2010
Camp fYrefly---------------------------  All Day
See Camp fYrefly
Jul22Jul25
August 2010
Coronation----------------------------- Evening
 Coast Plaza (10155 105 Street NW)
See ISCWR
• Sports and Recreation

Pride Centre, 9540 - 111 Ave

Brendan: 780-488-3234

[email protected]
Restaurants
5 Garage Burger Bar & Grill---------------

10242 106th St
 780-423-5014
8 Prism Bar & Grill----------------------See Edmonton - Bars and Clubs.
Retail Stores
Rodéo Drive

11528 - 89th Street

780-474-0413

[email protected]

http://www.rodeodrive.ca
His and hers fetish wear, toys, jewelry, etc.
See Canada - Retail Stores.
Products & Services
Cruiseline

780-413-7122 trial code 3500

http://www.cruiseline.ca
Telephone classifieds and chat - 18+ ONLY.
✰
Directory & Events
LETHBRIDGE EVENTS
Fridays
Friday Mixer-----------------------------  10pm
See GALA/LA
Tuesday, March 9th
Friday, March 12th
Tuesday, April 20th
Board Meeting----------------------------- 7pm
At Lethbridge HIV Connection
By GALA/LA
Monthly Dance----------------------------- 9pm
 Henotic (402 - 2 Ave S)
By GALA/LA
Annual General Meeting------------------ 7pm
At Lethbridge HIV Connection
By GALA/LA
Wednesday, March 10th
OUTspoken Workshop-----------------  All Day
By GALIA
Mar10-12
Interactive Male

780-409-3333 trial code 8871

1-800-777-8000

Robertson-Wesley United Church

10209 - 123 St. NW
 780-482-1587

[email protected]
 www.rwuc.org

Worship: Sunday mornings at 10:30am
People of all sexual orientations welcome. Other
LGBT events include a monthly book club and
a bi-monthly film night. As a caring spiritual
community, we’d love to have you join us!
• Soul OUTing

Second Sunday every month, 7pm
An LGBT-focused alternative worship.
• Film Night

Bi-monthly, contact us for exact dates.
• Book Club

Monthly, contact us for exact dates.
Same Gender Speed Dating Ltd.

780-221-8535

www.samegenderdating.com
An LGBT-focused alternative worship.
• Gay Male Speed Dating

Boston Pizza Private Party Room, Whyte Ave

TBA
Must pre-register to attend - please contact us.
• Lesbian Speed Dating

Boston Pizza Private Party Room, Whyte Ave

TBA
Must pre-register to attend - please contact us.
Theatre & Fine Arts
Exposure Festival

http://www.exposurefestival.ca
Edmonton’s Queer Arts and Culture Festival.
The Roxy Theatre

10708 124th Street, Edmonton AB

780-453-2440

www.theatrenetwork.ca
Banff/Canmore
Community Groups
Mountain Pride

BOX 4892, BANFF, AB, T1L 1G1

Brian, 403-431-2569
1-800-958-9632

[email protected]

www.gaybanff.com
Serving the GLBTQS community in Banff, Canmore,
Lake Louise and Area.
Lethbridge
Alberta
Community Groups
Community Groups
GALA/LA
Central Alberta AIDS Network Society

403-308-2893

http://www.galalethbridge.ca

4611-50 Avenue, Red Deer, AB

http://www.caans.org
Gay and Lesbian Alliance of Lethbridge and Area.
The Central Alberta AIDS Network Society is the
local charity responsible for HIV prevention and
support in Central Alberta.
• Monthly Dances

Henotic (402 - 2 Ave S)
Bring your membership card and photo ID.
• Monthly Potluck Dinners

McKillop United Church, 2329 - 15 Ave S
GALA/LA will provide the turkey...you bring the rest.
Please bring a dish to share that will serve 4-6
people, and your own beverage.
• Support Line

403-308-2893

Monday OR Wednesday, 7pm-11pm
Leave a message any other time.
• Friday Mixer

The Mix (green water tower)
103 Mayor Magrath Dr S

Every Friday at 10pm
Gay & Lesbian Integrity Assoc. (GALIA)

University of Lethbridge  [email protected]
GBLTTQQ club on campus.
• Movie Night

Room C610, University of Lethbridge
Gay Youth Alliance Group

Betty, 403-381-5260  [email protected]

Every second Wednesday, 3:30pm-5pm
Lethbridge HIV Connection

1206 - 6 Ave S
PFLAG Canada

[email protected]

www.pflagcanada.com
Western Canadian Pride Campout

www.eventmasterinc.net
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.
Theatre & Fine Arts
Alberta Ballet

http://www.albertaballet.com
Frequent productions in Calgary and Edmonton.
Canada
Community Groups
Alberta Trans Support/Activities Group

http://www.albertatrans.org
Egale Canada

8 Wellington St E, Third Floor
Toronto, Ontario, M5E 1C5

1-888-204-7777
 www.egale.ca
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.
Retail Stores
 www.wwlatex.com
Fetish wear and toys.

780-980-1977
Products & Services
Squirt

http://www.squirt.org
Website for dating and hook-ups. 18+ ONLY!
Theatre & Fine Arts
Broadway Across Canada

http://www.broadwayacrosscanada.ca
OUTtv

http://www.outtv.ca
GLBT Television Station.
A nexus for transgendered persons, regardless of
where they may be on the continuum.
Canadian Rainbow Health Coalition

P.O. Box 3043, Saskatoon, SK, S7K 3S9

(306) 955-5135

1-800-955-5129

http://www.rainbowhealth.ca
Pride Lethbridge

[email protected]
Red Deer
Community Groups
Affirm

Sunnybrook United Church

403-347-6073

2nd Tuesday of the month, 7pm
Composed of LGBTQ people, their friends, family
and allies. No religious affiliation necessary.
Activities include support, faith and social justice
discussions, film nights, and potlucks!
23
Politics
A Church Divided
The Anglican Communion’s Struggle with Sexism and Homophobia
By Stephen Lock
As traditional, liturgical churches go, the Anglican
Church has long enjoyed a reputation of being a fairly
liberal denomination, despite having orthodox factions
within it.
However, in recent years the disparity between the relatively
liberal theologies of Canterbury, the seat of ecclesiastical authority
within the Anglican Communion, and some of the African and Asian
provinces has widened considerably.
The Anglican Communion has a complex, even complicated,
structure. While the Church of England—centred at Canterbury
under the Archbishop of Canterbury—is generally seen as “Mother
Church” with the Archbishop functioning as the spiritual head of
not only the Church of England but also of the worldwide Anglican
Communion, there is no central authority.
The Anglican Communion is comprised of thirty-eight “provinces”,
each headed by a Primate (either a bishop or an archbishop) and
each province has its own governance. As such, the Archbishop of
Canterbury is really nothing more than ‘first amongst equals’ when
it comes to other archbishops within the Communion with no actual
authority over them, such as the Pope has over his cardinals and
archbishops
The very structure that has allowed the Communion to be
democratic and adaptive is now the structure that may well tear the
church apart.
The Communion functions by consultation and consensus under
the symbolic and unifying influence of the Archbishop of Canterbury
and three consultative and collaborative international bodies
(namely, the Lambeth Conference, the Anglican Consultative Council,
and the Primates’ Meeting).
The Anglican Communion has no international juridical
organization. The Archbishop of Canterbury’s role is strictly
symbolic and unifying and the Communion’s three international
bodies’ resolutions have no legal effect on the independent provinces
of the Communion. Taken together, however, the four components
function as “instruments of communion”, since all churches of the
communion participate in them.
In recent years the tone of discussion within these entities has
tipped over into heated, and often divisive, debates over conformity
in areas of doctrine, discipline, worship, and ethics. The most notable
example has been the objection of many Provinces, particularly in
Africa and Asia, to the changing role of homosexuals in the North
American churches.
The more conservative Provinces (one might even say reactionary)
have long been uncomfortable with the general acceptance of
lesbians and gay men within the Western churches. However the
debate kicked into overdrive with the blessing of same-sex unions
by Bishop Michael Ingham of New Westminster, the ordination and
consecration of openly gay men and lesbians involved in same-sex
relationships—and therefore clearly not celibate—as priests and,
most controversially, the elevation of the openly gay Gene Robinson
to Archbishop of New Hampshire. Several African and Asian Primates
have threatened to leave the Communion and/or form a rival series
of churches that would be, in their view, “truly Anglican.”
Those who objected to these affirmative actions condemned them
as unscriptural, unilateral, and without the prior agreement of the
Communion. In response, the American Episcopal Church and the
Anglican Church of Canada—the two Provinces responsible for the
broader acceptance of lesbians and gay men within the hierarchy—
argued the actions had, in fact, been undertaken following lengthy
scriptural and theological reflection and in accordance with their
own canons and constitutions as permitted and encouraged by the
Anglican Communion’s structure. Both Provinces also claimed that
extensive consultation with other Provinces of the Communion had
occurred and, based on those discussions, they felt the decisions
reached were permissible and valid.
Another area of controversy has been around the ordination of
women as bishops.
Within the Anglican Church, as in Roman Catholicism and Eastern
Orthodoxy, bishops are viewed as the successors of the Twelve
Apostles and possess the same authority in matters of faith and
morals, the administration of sacraments, power, and responsibility
24
as those chosen by Christ to preach His message. While women have
held pastoral and ministerial positions in Anglican churches for
some time with little controversy, the idea of female bishops appears
to be too much for the African and Asian Primates to handle.
The paradox here is that the Anglican Church in Africa and Asia
is a vestige of a colonial past. Given that the African and Asian
archbishops are now presenting themselves as “more Anglican than
Anglican” is, it strikes me, the epitome of irony.
Cultural influences are also at work. While women’s and GLBTQ
rights have made huge strides forward in the last 30-odd years in
Western Europe and North America, such is not the case in many
Asian and most African nations. Uganda, for instance, is currently
trying to bring in legislation that would impose the death penalty on
“practicing homosexuals” (see my January 2010 column) and there
remains a general, and false, perception throughout much of the
Third World that homosexuality is a perversion introduced to the
locals by their colonial masters.
It would appear, then, that Third World Anglican bishops are
being highly selective when it comes to what they will condemn
as “neo-colonialism” and what they will accept. Clearly, being an
Anglican has worked out very well for these individuals and given
them a far higher standard of living than their average countryman
(or woman).
That many of them have been involved in good works in their own
countries is not in doubt; I am sure they have, being good Christians
and all. However, involving themselves with the Church has allowed
them access to levels of education unreachable for the average
person, a secure professional position, housing (and often quite
comfortable housing, even by Western standards and certainly by
local ones), opportunity for advancement, and a degree of influence
on a local, regional, national and often international scale.
I agree that a candidate for the priesthood and certainly a candidate
for the bishopric should be vetted in order to ensure he, or she, is
worthy and meets the requirements, both tangible and intangible, of
the vocation. And I have no doubt whatsoever taking holy orders, as
it used to be called, is a vocation; not everyone is cut out to serve in
such a capacity. It takes a particular personality type to deal with
not only the spiritual issues but the practical day-to-day struggles of
one’s parishioners. As bishop there is even more responsibility and
struggle; it’s not an enviable job, I shouldn’t think.
However, I do not agree that one’s gender or one’s orientation
needs to be part of the process. Many heterosexual men are not
“priest material” and many heterosexual male Anglican priests are
perhaps quite satisfactory ministers but are simply not the stuff
bishops are made of. On the other hand, many gay men and lesbians
would make excellent priests, not in spite of their orientation but
because of it.
Back when I was still churched, I encountered a few religious who
were gay, some of who were, relatively speaking, openly gay. When
I say that an individual would make an excellent priest because of
their homosexual orientation what I mean is, such individuals were
often more aware of what it was like to be ‘the other’, to be outside
what is considered mainstream and “normal” and, as such, often
had a more defined empathy, a deeper sensitivity, for those they
ministered to.
This is not to say those who are heterosexually oriented do not have
empathy. Of course they do. But it operates on a different level. I
suppose the closest analogy I can come up with (and it’s a tricky one,
I know) is if one is a member of an ethnic or racial minority one has a
more profound (if that is the word) empathy occurring than one who
is part of the dominant culture. One has firsthand knowledge and
an understanding of the struggles many people deal with and can
apply their experience to other experiences.
Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, is facing a difficult
situation and has warned that if the Anglican Communion cannot
resolve the conflicts over these issues the Communion will descend
into “chaos.” In an address to the General Synod in February,
Williams urged the clergy to listen to one another rather than
continuing to pursue a “zero-sum, self-congratulating” position.
“Certain decisions made by some provinces impact so heavily on
the conscience and mission of others that fellowship is strained or
shattered and trust destroyed,” he said.
The General Synod is the Church of England’s national assembly.
The synod committee responsible for drafting new rules on the
issue of ordination announced it had rejected some proposals from
‘traditionalists.’ Amongst those were proposals to create a special
class of bishops, and therefore special dioceses, to minister to those
within the church opposed to having women and openly gay and
lesbian individuals within the hierarchy.
While long seen as an advocate for gay and lesbian rights, Williams
criticized the American Episcopal Church for “pre-empting the will
of the wider Church” over its policy on the consecration of openly
gay bishops. I think that is bit of a red herring as there is currently
only one openly gay bishop within the American Church; Bishop
Robinson of New Hampshire.
He has also had public disagreements with Bishop Ingham over his
allowing the blessing of same-sex unions within the New Westminster
diocese following the legalization of same-sex marriage in Canada.
As bishop, Ingham was well within his rights to do so, but it has
generally been viewed as a slap in the face to the wider Communion.
One of the reactions to Ingham has been for eight of his parishes to
reject him as bishop and to seek membership with what is known as
The Anglican Network, a conservative and traditionalist communion
of disaffected Anglicans.
The African and Asian Primates have attempted to sever ties with
New Westminster and to interfere in diocesan matters, and wealthy
conservative Episcopalians are reportedly “pumping millions” into a
campaign to undermine Ingham and his bishopric.
Such carryings-on are destructive.
Anglican bishops are
autonomous and do not answer to Canterbury in the manner Catholic
bishops would answer to Rome. While it is feasible the Archbishop
of Canterbury, as spiritual head of the Church, might step in and
censure a bishop whose actions were so egregious as to do real harm,
it would have to be quite an extreme situation before he would do
so. And it would not be the office of the Archbishop of Canterbury
that would do so; rather, he would bring the matter before one of the
international bodies, such as the Consultative Council or perhaps
the Primates’ Meeting and it would be one of those bodies that would
bring a wayward bishop to heel.
Even at that, it is very difficult and a laborious process to enact.
If a bishop was so rebellious, so out of line as to deserve censure, it
would be up to his parishioners to petition for his removal or to take
steps, such as the eight churches in New Westminster have done, to
reject the particular bishop’s authority over them. Such a move is
not to be taken lightly and it isn’t.
So, to have the bishops from other dioceses and other Provinces
interfere in the internal workings of a given Anglican diocese is...
well...simply not done. Here the English roots of the Church are very
evident because it is considered ‘bad form’.
Yet, we have the African and Asian Primates doing exactly that,
issuing all sorts of preposterous and damaging comments, issuing
ultimatums, threatening to tear apart the very Communion they
swore to uphold, simply because they disagree (however vehemently)
with the decisions of other bishops. If a Province takes issue with the
blessing of same-sex unions, the recognition of same-sex marriage,
or the installation of women as bishops, then that particular Province
is free to not do so. It is not free, however, to presume to tell another
Province it cannot recognize or bless same-sex unions, or consecrate
female bishops.
If the Provincial Primate believes another Province or bishop doing
so goes against the spirit of Anglicanism or somehow threatens
the theology of the Communion, there are mechanisms in place to
address that. The Lambeth Conference, which is held every ten years,
would likely be the place to raise concerns as it expresses ‘the mind
of the communion’ on various issues. Resolutions coming out of a
Conference have no legal effect, but they are nonetheless influential
and generally are viewed as expressing the will of the Communion
and therefore adhered to by the various Provinces.
An awkward process, I grant you, but it has worked fairly well
for over a hundred years and allows for cooler heads to prevail.
The current situation, rife as it is with accusation and counteraccusation and ultimatums, is destructive.
The traditionalists need to back off and follow the appropriate
procedures so that not only they, but all involved can be heard; the
arguments, both pro and con, understood; a consensus reached.
It’s a long process, but a necessary one, and one that should be
undertaken in the true spirit of Anglicanism: that of respect and
accommodation.
25
Adult
Adult Film Review
Dickin’ Around, Eye Contact
a helpful stranger who seems to be ogling over you, or that
approval-seeking upward gaze from the person servicing you.
By Jerome Voltero
Dickin’ Around
By: From: Genre: Cast:
Story:
Visual:
Faves: Hot House Video
Priape
Variety



Johnny Gunn,
Ty LeBeouf,
Vinnie D’Angelo
Bruno Bond
This film has no story of note, no real theme, no “type” of guy,
like so many pornos out there. And with a generic title like Dickin
Around, the makers of the film seem like the first ones to admit
how generic the film really is. So it all boils down to the actors,
and let me tell you, they did choose some good ones.
The advantage of a variety porno is that you’re bound to find
something you like. But the drawback is that you’re not going
to get a lot of it.
Ethan Wolfe is definitely not my type, but in the second scene
when Johnny Gunn unwraps his package, my jaw sure dropped!
The man is not just above average in length but also ridiculously
thick. I imagine it was somewhat of a challenge even for a
seasoned porn star like Gunn to get that thing down his gullet.
“Just wait till I sit on it,” Gunn says, lucky to still have his jaw
intact.
Some may find their favorite scene in the aquatic twinkie
threesome to follow, but personally the one that made the film for
me was the final locker room scene with Ty LeBeouf and Bruno
Bond. While changing, LeBeouf gets a little frisky, tossing his jock
strap and other articles of clothing at Bruno Bond. “Stop dicking
around,” objects Bond, but defiantly LeBeouf continues until he
goads the man into some playful wrestling. This leads to some
action that will get you growling, interrupted only by LeBeouf’s
silly little outburst, “tastes like some good-ass sausage!” Oi vey!
Eye Contact
By:
From:
Genre: Cast:
Story:
Visual:
Faves: TitanMen.com
Adult Depot
Variety, Theme



Gio Forte,
Tony Buff
The theme that unites this film is that of making eye contact;
whether it be the guy intensely staring you down in the woods,
26
Tony Buff is facing the daunting challenge of carrying a big
stack of boxes into a building, but this task is made a great
deal easier by the kindness of a stranger off the street. Like a
puppy dog, that stranger is hoping for some further attention,
which Buff is able to afford.
Later on, Gio Forte is up on a ladder trimming the trees
when he notices Jay Roberts sunbathing on the porch. Forte’s
attempt at being a gardener is hilarious – for such a big
strong guy, it looks like he’s never picked up a pair of hedge
trimmers in his life, fumbling and missing just about every cut
he makes. Probably frustrated by his own uselessness, Forte
decides to move on to another task…technically the twink is in
the yard too, and thus needs tending to. Roberts gives Forte a
luke-warm reception, though for the look of surprise, the man
might as well have appeared out of thin air. Roberts daintily
puts down a blanket to kneel on, like he’s having a picnic, and
takes a few moments to mentally prepare himself before going
down on the dirty groundskeeper (at least he was respectful
enough to take his fancy ear buds out). Forte may be off target
with the clippers, but when it comes to cock and mouth he
never misses a thrust. Furthermore, Forte has quite a range
on him when he shoots his load, and most of it misses Robert’s
chest, going right over the edge of the porch. There’s another
task he can cross off his list…fertilizing the lawn.
A good film over all, but with the exception of Gio, it is geared
more toward those who like their guys smoother and thinner.
While You’re At It...
Hung Ladz XXL
By: Simon Booth
From: Adult Depot
Genre: Twink/Big Dick
Cast: 
Story: 
Visual: 
Paris Playboys
By:
Lucas Entertainment
From: Priape
Genre: Foreign/Twink
Cast: 
Story: 
Visual: 
Priape Calgary - Canada’s Favourite Gay Store
1322 17th Avenue SW • 403-215-1800
Adult Depot - Over 3500 Gay Titles for Sale or Rent
152 58th Avenue SW • 403-258-2777
Theatre
Coming Out Monologues
Local Thespians Tell Real Stories
By Dallas Barnes
We probably all know what it means, but to ensure we
are on the same page, Wikipedia defines coming out
as “the term used to describe the process by which an
individual reveals that s/he is lesbian, gay, or bisexual.”
They go on to define two general steps: “The beginning
of this process is acceptance of oneself. Following this,
openness may occur with family, friends, co-workers,
etc.” But as many of us have personally experienced,
coming out is not just a single act of defining oneself
publicly. It is a pivotal point in one’s life.
The Campaign for Positive Space and Queers on Campus, centred
out of the University of Calgary, would like to celebrate this rite of
passage by presenting its first annual The Coming Out Monologues
on March 19th at Craigie Hall, on the U of C campus.
Nina Anana, Peer Supporter for The Positive Campaign Space
Campaign is looking forward “to opening up a discourse for people
to discuss their coming out process, and for others that have yet
to.” The production is similar at heart to the Eve Ensler’s award
winning production, The Vagina Monologues. Individuals have been
asked to discuss their coming out stories with the production team
and perform their story in front of an audience. Many students and
community members have stepped up to the challenge.
“The participants are coming to talk and tell their stories. Some
stories will be funny and others will be sad. Most of the stories
generate a discussion on how to cope,” Anana adds.
The Campaign for Positive Space is a volunteer run community
organization made up of students of the University of Calgary. Its
mandate is to create a more welcoming place for all those who study,
work and live at the University of Calgary. The Campaign aims to
raise awareness of, and addresses, discrimination and harassment
based on sexual and gender diversity, which they believe challenges
the patterns of silence that continue to marginalize bisexuals, gays,
lesbians and transgendered individuals.
Similarly, Queers on Campus is a volunteer run, student based
organization—“queer people and allies working together to encourage
and promote understanding and acceptance of queer people within
the greater student, faculty, and staff community at the University
of Calgary.”
Although the organizations that are putting on The Coming Out
Monologues are comprised mostly of students, the stories vary
generationally. “We want to reach out to the entire community with
stories for everybody,” Anana says.
Tickets for this event are only $5.00, and all proceeds go to Calgary
Outlink, the charity chosen for this project.
“This is the first of we hope, many more years of The Coming Out
Monologues. We can only continue if you can come out and support
us.”
Positive Space
www.gaycalgary.com/u30
Queers on Campus
The Coming Out Monologues
Friday, March 19, 7:30pm
Craigie Hall C119, University of Calgary
Q Scopes
“Be careful, Gemini!”
Entering Aries, Venus opposes Saturn then squares Pluto,
challenging us to greater integrity. That requires some
risks. This aspect also highlights values and benefits that
can arise from current global crises. Observe and prosper.
When spring starts, the Sun will make the same aspects,
giving you a second chance to take notice!
ARIES (March 20 – April 19): You can shine in a crisis – just
understand that you don’t have to do it all yourself. Others
have valuable experience that you can utilize. Asking them
can affirm your confidence to yourself and others.
TAURUS (April 20 – May 20): Worries can seriously
undermine your health. A meditative walk through a
museum or an elegant garden will help soothe your nerves.
To honestly face an intellectual challenge you have to be
willing to change your mind on important issues.
GEMINI (May 21- June 20): Be careful accepting
challenges or dares. Push yourself in creative efforts; be
a little more careful in sports. Real friends won’t pressure
you into things that don’t feel right. Maybe you need to
lose some of your “friends.”
CANCER (June 21- July 22): A career opening may
exact some cost at home. Keep communications open so
your partner can support you better in what may be longterm changes. Be mature, responsible and ready to make
concessions on domestic issues.
LEO (July 23 – August 22): Your feistiness can be a
blessing – with proper focus and application – or a curse.
Consider the risks and value of controversy before you roar.
Artistic adventures – a new film or art show – can draw your
attention to happier conversations.
VIRGO (August 23 – September 22): Wear red to highlight
your sexiness, though you don’t need the help. You might
prefer to slow down, reexamine your erotic values and
pleasures. You need depth and challenge. Physically?
Easy. Spiritually? There’s the real challenge!
LIBRA (September 23 – October 22): Be open to new ideas
– or, more importantly, new values regarding your home,
your family and community, and even yourself. You are
going through big challenges, and some fresh input could
really help you find answers!
SCORPIO (October 23 – November 21): There can be a
simple, meditative beauty in exercise and mundane tasks.
Find that and you can unlock the problems that have been
vexing you. Ironically, with radical new ideas, your challenges
really begin! And they’ll be more satisfying challenges.
SAGITTARIUS (November 22 – December 20): Fun and
games aren’t the answer to everything, but they can open
inspirations that, with hard work and application, will solve
some big problems. Even a worst-case scenario is just a creative
challenge for you.
CAPRICORN (December 21 – January 19): You’re at the top
of your game these days. Simple lessons you learned at home,
based in traditional values, can help you consolidate your
gains and help you rise to the challenges you’ve taken on.
AQUARIUS (January 20 – February 18): Jump into any
arguments you like, but remember the trick is to learn what
you can. Speak up to provoke new ideas from others, not
to hammer out your own. The greater your own mind, the
greater the challenges it can handle.
PISCES (February 19 – March 19): Set aside a little money
for impulse spending. Not only is the release necessary, but
whatever you do buy on a mad little spree can tell you a lot
your current crises and how you want to solve them.












Jack Fertig, a professional astrologer since 1977, is available for
personal and business consultations in person in San Francisco, or online
everywhere. He can be reached at 415-864-8302, through his Web site
at www.starjack.com.
27
Gossip
whom no one creates sexuality rumors because her early career
choices (The Hunger and The Rocky Horror Picture Show) more
or less cemented her position as a queer screen icon, may be
stepping into Stanwyck’s ladylike boots. Poised to re-enter popculture consciousness as a feature film, The Big Valley is just
the right sort of remake candidate: one that’s had time to exit
public consciousness first. It has no other cast yet, but Romeo
would love to see a gay cowboy subplot somewhere in the mix.
Nothing major, just something where the quiet “special friends”
get to live happily ever after.
Whorehouse to reopen for business
 Susan Sarandon, still fabulous
Deep Inside Hollywood
Eliza Dushku’s road to Mapplethorpe
Romeo San Vicente
Actors with ambition to produce and direct know that to make
their dream projects come true there are dues to be paid. So
when Dollhouse star Eliza Dushku announced her intentions
to make The Perfect Moment, a biopic about the late gay artist
Robert Mapplethorpe, she probably knew there’d be clout-and
cash-collecting detours along the way. And here they are: the
horror film Zoe, slated for 2011 and co-starring James Van Der
Beek and Freddie Prinze, Jr. (is it set in the ’90s too?) in which
Dushku plays a small-town waitress terrorized by… well…
something; you’ll see when it opens. And then there’s the future
mega-event known as Ghostbusters III, a project she’s been
circling, one that would pretty much catapult her to the A-list,
with all the production shingle perks that status tends to dole
out. Hope so. And really, what’re a few slimed ghosts on the road
to making art?
Susan Sarandon entering The Big Valley
Back in the 1960s, Barbara Stanwyck (who may or may not
have been bisexual – as was rumored during her career – but who
was a favorite of lesbian and gay audiences all the same) played
Victoria Barkley, sturdy matriarch of the wild west TV drama The
Big Valley. So it’s fitting, in a way, that Susan Sarandon, about
28
So Nine tanked at the box office. Oh well. We’re now back at a
point in the movie-making landscape where one failed big-budget
musical doesn’t derail the genre’s viability, which is great news
for fans of that heightened reality where breaking into song and
choreographed dance moves is commonplace. Here come two
more: The Song Is You, from Dreamgirls director Bill Condon, is
about a man who turns to music as a refuge, connecting it to
key moments in his life (or as Condon has described it, “(falling)
into his iPod Shuffle”). In turn, the man also falls into a romance
with a singer he hasn’t even met. At the same time, the remake
of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas is on the horizon. No cast
yet, no release date yet, no nothing yet, just a teasing promise.
So, message to people responsible: obviously she’s not going to
play the lead, but there must be a liberal infusion of Dolly Parton
into this movie all the same. Anything less will be blasphemy.
Now go make it work.
Kevin Smith produces Bear Nation
Anyone who follows the man recently ejected from a Southwest
Airlines flight for taking up too much seat space knows that
Kevin Smith is a bear. A heterosexual one, but still a bear. And
his gay bear colleague, documentary filmmaker Malcolm Ingram
(Small Town Gay Bar, which Smith produced), has enlisted the
help of Silent Bob to get his next project off the ground. Smith
has executive-produced and also makes an appearance in Bear
Nation, a doc from Ingram about the bear subculture (for the
still-uninitiated, they are that niche market of gay men who
refuse to shave, wax, or say no to seconds at the buffet) and all
the ways they’ve begun to make their presence known in the
larger gay world. The film premieres any minute now at Austin’s
South By Southwest Film Festival. Non-Austinites will have to
wait for a local fest or cable airing, all of which are highly likely
to follow. Prep now by growing that facial hair.
Romeo San Vicente’s favorite thing about bears is their proximity to fried
chicken and waffles. He can be reached care of this publication.
Interview
Attack in Black
By Jason Clevett
Making it in the music industry in Canada is a struggle.
While as fans we see the glory of the live band onstage
performing, the hours spent practicing, writing, and
especially driving around in Canada takes its toll. So it is
promising for a band to even see a glimpse of triumph.
Such is the case with Welland, Ontario’s Attack in Black. From
playing around Niagara Falls and Welland to opening for bands like
Thrice and The Tragically Hip, they are making a name and creating
their own success.
“I don’t know what you consider successful but we get to tour
around and play music and don’t have to work that hard on crappy
jobs when we are home. It doesn’t pay the bills or anything but at
least our families think we are doing something important,” said
guitarist Spencer Burton.
We caught up with Burton before a recent show at Broken City
with Julie Doiron. The name doesn’t quite fit the initial perception
of the band, who are neither attacking nor particularly black.
“We were young when we named the band and some of the first
music we wrote was aggressive punk music. It is still punk music
but aggressive in a different way. The name comes from a lyric from
a band called Seven Seconds, a song about spray paint and they
sing about attacking in black. We were younger and more aggressive
and liked our tattoos then. Now we regret everything.”
Canadians are known for their often quirky sense of humor, and
Burton was no exception, making witty and sarcastic comments
about how the band got their tattoos.
“I saw this cover of Men’s Health the other day and 50 Cent was on
the cover without any tattoos. I thought it had been photo-shopped
but I guess he got them all removed so he can do more acting and
stuff like that. There are no scars or anything, he is like the perfect
man, perfect body, no scars, flawless. If I could get my hands on
a billion dollars I too could have all my tattoos removed without
scarring. If 50 Cent can do it anyone can. It wasn’t airbrushed or
anything, it was just beautiful naked 50 Cent. I need that. Maybe
I should just start working out and maybe all of my tattoos would
fall off.”
He is certainly amongst the people who look at their body art and
say, “what the hell was I thinking?”
“I wonder if there is anybody out there that doesn’t regret their
tattoos. There is that moment where you are standing in front of
a mirror and realize I am never going to be naked ever again, I am
always going to have something on me. I’ve got an x-girlfriend’s
name tattooed on me, but I actually like that one, it is so sketchy.
I have one that is a flaming vampire chick staking herself through
her heart—that is just stupid. The ex-girlfriend tattoo is kind of
funny in a weird ironic embarrassing kind of way.”
The band and their producer Dan Weston were recording the
tour stops, although Burton admits he is not quite sure what they
will do with it.
“We have songs for our new record for this year and we might do
like, an album release and have some live songs as a bonus, or hold
onto them and use them down the line. We are filming the shows
as well so maybe we will match the music to the live performance. I
have no idea, it is just good to have it. We are doing that with every
show on the tour. It is being recorded onto a hard disk recorder and
has to be mixed down.”
He is looking forward to recording the next album, but
acknowledged this makes it harder to decide what to play live.
“Every time someone asks me what to expect they say, because
you know every album is so different than your other ones. I don’t
view that, it is the same as all the other ones. We put the same
amount of effort and love into every song that has been written. It
is just another record that I like better than the other ones because
it is new and different. I am sick of the old stuff and want to hear
something new. It is tough to make a set list because I know there
are people that want to hear old songs. There are nights that it is
all new stuff and one old song and we forget about that. If you start
thinking about it too much, it gets difficult.
In the meantime Spencer wants to keep playing music for as long
as he can.
“I just want to keep doing what we are doing. Just from playing
music we have met so many different people and opened for people
like the Tragically Hip; headlined shows I never thought we would
headline. We can do so many different things as long as we keep
meeting new people and playing shows and having fun, making
enough money to keep doing it. The money is nice because you
can’t live off of nothing but I like the meeting people and the playing
music part above it. It would just be nice to have enough money to
make it to the next show.”
While most artists move to a major city, the band has remained
in Welland.
“A few [band members] moved to Montreal but they have moved
back to Welland and we are together again. I don’t think any of us
really want to be there, hanging around the canal gets old. We want
to be together and be able to make music. It would be nice if we
could all get a place together, I think that is what we would like to
do. Maybe not. It seems like a good idea but living together, touring
together and always being together may be a bad thing. I would
probably be the one who would be stabbed and that would suck.”
However, from a marketing perspective, being a short drive from
major centres like Buffalo and Toronto could be part of the appeal,
but Burton has other reasons for staying: at heart he is a small
town guy.
“There are so many places around to go hiking or swimming
under a waterfall in the summertime. It is nice to be able to get
away and go for nature walks and play with the dog in the woods.
I like the area and that is why I didn’t go to Montreal, with cars
everywhere and people yelling, I couldn’t handle that. I want to be
even more of a small town guy, and live in a house surrounded by
1000 acres of nothing. I like the peace and quiet—I find peace on
the road, that is why I like it so much.”
“I love my music, so the shows are awesome, but you get that
day off that you can go for a hike, or just stop on the side of the
highway at nighttime and you just stand and stare at the sky. I like
that kind of stuff.”
Attack in Black
29
Out of Town
Hawaii’s Garden Isle: Kauai
Kauai’s Famed Na Pali Coast, with its 4000-foot cliffs rising high above the sea
By Andrew Collins
In terms of scenery, the one Hawaiian island that
comes closest to living up to the expectations of many
first-time visitors is Kauai, a comparatively small but
magnificently lush isle of rain forests, towering seaside
cliffs and secluded beaches.
Hikers flock to the Na Pali Coast, which is on the remote
northwestern tip of the island, just beyond the picturesque
village of Hanalei (which has been the setting for such films as
South Pacific, Indiana Jones, and Jurassic Park). The eastern
side is dominated by the waterfalls of the Wailua River Valley,
southern side by Poipu’s stunning beaches and upscale resorts,
and the western side by gargantuan Waimea Canyon—there’s
unparalleled beauty wherever you look. Kauai remains largely
unspoiled and slow-paced, an ideal spot for devotees of the
outdoors—loyal admirers often vacation here exclusively and
skip the other islands.
There’s just an incredible amount to do on this island
(although nobody will look oddly at you if you choose simply to
laze around the beach all day). More energetic types will want
to drive the main highway encircling much of the island, from
south to north, and hop out at various points of interest to hike
and explore. The one section you can’t reach by car, the famed
Na Pali Coast with its sheer 4,000-foot cliffs, you can access in
other interesting ways. Perhaps take a catamaran cruise up the
west coast of Kauai—the five-hour tours offered by Capt Andy’s
Sailing Adventures are great fun and include an opportunity to
snorkel right off the boat.
Outfitters Kauai offers rigorous but highly rewarding kayak
tours around the Na Pali Coast as well as a wide range of both
extreme and easygoing adventures—easy kayak trips up the
30
placid Hule’ia River, bike rides into spectacular Waimea Canyon
and Ziplining treks in several different areas.
If you’re in good shape and game for an independent adventure,
you can always hike into the Na Pali highlands via the famed
11-mile Kalalau Trail—access the trail from Ha’ena State Park
(itself home to a lovely beach), at the end of Kuhio Hawaii on
the north shore. Easier options for sightseeing include driving
the viewpoints at Waimea Canyon State Park—they don’t call
this the “Grand Canyon of Hawaii” for nothing. The 10-mile-long
canyon is 3,000 feet deep and is one of Hawaii’s best photo ops.
You’ll find beautiful beaches all around the island, including
a few with gay followings. The easiest to reach is Lydgate State
Park, just south of Kapaa off the Kuhio Highway—walk south
from the parking area for the gay-popular section. Donkey
Beach, off Kuhio HIghway a bit north of Kapaa, is enjoyable
both for sunbathing or swimming and it draws a mix of gays
and straights. Just keep in mind that the surf can be intense,
so exercise caution. You’ll see the parked cars on the side of the
road as you head north out of Kapaa, between mileposts 11 and
12. From here just follow the trail down to the water. Nudity is
permitted at this beach.
Kauai has always excelled when it comes to super-fresh produce
and seafood, but in recent years many more sophisticated,
urbane restaurants have opened, making the island a genuine
hotspot among gourmands. One of the best examples of this
transformation is the Beach House, which serves exceptional
contemporary Hawaiian-Asian fare (wasabi-crusted snapper
with lilikoi-lemongrass beurre blanc) from a dining room with
stunning view of the ocean—it’s one of the top special occasion
restaurants on the island.
The Grand Hyatt Kauai has several good restaurants onsite, including romantic Tidepools steak and seafood eatery,
the most elegant of the bunch. This resort is also a good option
Travel
for experiencing a traditional luau—these feasts are held on
Sundays evenings and are open to nonguests (reservations
are recommended). In the early evening, the Hyatt’s Seaview
Terrace is a breezy and relaxing spot to sip wine or cocktails and
sample some terrific pupu (appetizers), and clubby Stevenson’s
Library—thought known primarily as a cocktail bar—also serves
a full menu of super-fresh sushi from Friday through Monday
evenings.
Other Poipu culinary notables include the Kauai outposts of
two restaurant brands that have become legendary among foodies
in Hawaii: Merriman’s, which opened recently and features farmfresh, healthful regional cuisine and Roy’s Hawaiian Fusion
Cuisine, a longtime favorite in the area.
Up on the north shore, charmingly laid-back Hanalei is
a cluster of restaurants, some of them quite good. For lunch,
Hanalei Gourmet is hard to beat for fresh salads, coconutshrimp and sandwiches from the gourmet deli. A few doors
down, Javakai serves some of the best coffee on the island. And
romantic Postcards Cafe is a good bet for sophisticated seafood
and modern Hawaiian fare.
Kauai has no shortage spots specializing in tasty short-order
fare and tempting snacks, including the rich yet relatively lowcal gelato and sorbetto served at Papalani Gelato, the first-rate
premium ice cream served at the statewide chain Lappert’s (there
are three branches on Kauai), and the decadently sweet and
uniquely Hawaiian frozen treats doled out at Jo Jo’s Anuenue
Original Shave Ice in Waimea.
On the savory side, and also in Waimea, do not miss Shrimp
Station, which serves super-fresh, deliciously seasoned shrimp
platters—a favorite being the spicy Thai shrimp. Poipu’s Puka
Dog has been featured on television’s
with
Anthony Bourdain and is renowned for piquant-sweet hot dogs
topped with tropical mustards and sauces. Just north of Poipu,
the Koloa Fish Market prepares super-fresh plate lunches and
bento boxes to go (try the ahi poke bento)—they’re perfect for
a picnic. And if you’re headed north of Kapaa toward the north
shore and craving a snack, be sure to check out Duane’s OnoChar Burger in Anahola.
Kauai has no gay nightlife per se, although the entire island
is so welcoming that you’re liable to bump into “family” at just
about any bar on the island. One spot that many local gays and
lesbian do frequent, especially during the “gay nights” held the
first Saturday of each month, is Nawiliwili Tavern, near the Kauai
Marriott and the airport in Lihue.
Kauai has a nice range of accommodations in all prices ranges,
from posh resorts to gay-friendly B&Bs. Poipu, on the south
shore, has the greatest concentration of distinguished lodgings,
including the fairly new Koa Kea Hotel, a hip and stylish boutique
property whose rooms surround a pool that overlooks the ocean.
The hotel’s Red Salt restaurant is stellar.
The aforementioned Grand Hyatt Kauai ranks among Hawaii’s
most sumptuous full-service resorts—rooms have smart,
contemporary furnishings and such cushy amenities as iHome
stereos and beverage chillers. The Hyatt is also home to the
superb Anara Spa—set amid lush gardens and waterfalls—as well
as a top-notch golf course. With an enviable perch overlooking
the ocean, Whaler’s Cove has developed a loyal following over the
years for providing upscale suites and amenities at fair prices—
the one- and two-bedroom units are beautifully appointed, quite
huge, and directly facing the ocean.
Gay-owned Poipu Plantation Resort comprises an atmospheric
1938 B&B as well as nine individual rentals—it’s steps from the
beaches, is run by friendly and helpful innkeepers, and has
warmly furnished, reasonably prices rooms (with full breakfast
included in the B&B rooms). It’s steps from the beach and several
restaurants.
Other nice lodgings around the island include Outrigger at Lae
Nani, which is run by one of Hawaii’s most gay-friendly hotel
brands, and the similarly GLBT-welcoming Aston Islander and
Aston Kauai Beach hotels. On the north shore, both the elegant
Hanalei Colony Resort and ultra-swanky St. Regis Princeville are
well recommended.
Another option, especially worth considering if you’re staying
for more than a few days or traveling with a group of buddies,
is renting a vacation house or condo. With properties all around
the island, the Parrish Collection is a reliable, reputable and gayfriendly vacation rental agency, and it manages a wide variety
of lodging options, from simple one-bedroom condos starting
around $115 per night to over-the-top-luxurious homes with
multiple bedrooms and designer kitchens.
Andrew Collins covers gay travel for the New York Times-owned website
About.com and is the author of Fodor’s Gay Guide to the USA. He can be
reached care of this publication
The Little Black Book
Aston Islander and Aston Kauai Beach (www.astonhotels.com). Beach
House (www.the-beach-house.com). Capt Andy’s Sailing Adventures (www.
napali.com). Grand Hyatt Kauai (http://kauai.hyatt.com). Hanalei Colony
Resort (www.hcr.com). Hanalei Gourmet (www.hanaleigourmet.com). Javakai (www.javakai.com). Kalalau Trail (www.kalalautrail.com). Kauai Visitors Bureau (www.kauaidiscovery.com). Koa Kea Hotel (www.koakea.com).
Lappert’s (www.lappertshawaii.com). Merriman’s (www.merrimanshawaii.
com). Nawiliwili Tavern (www.nawiliwilitavern.com). Outfitters Kauai (www.
outfitterskauai.com). Outrigger at Lae Nani (www.outrigger.com). Papalani
Gelato (www.papalanigelato.com). Parrish Collection (www.parrishkauai.
com). Poipu Beach Resort Association (www.poipubeach.org). Postcards
Cafe (www.postcardscafe.com). Puka Dog (www.pukadog.com). Roy’s
Hawaiian Fusion Cuisine (www.roysrestaurant.com). St. Regis Princeville
(www.princevillehotelhawaii.com). Shrimp Station (www.shrimpstation.
com). Whaler’s Cove (www.whalerscoveresort.com).
31
Trans-Identity
The Quest for Biological Legitimacy
By Mercedes Allen
Last month, I wrote a rough assessment of the kinds
of medical studies developing since the mid 1990s that
are increasingly showing a probable biological origin
or at least a biological connection to transsexuality
(unfortunately, other trans identities such as
crossdressers or genderqueer people haven’t been
included in these studies, yet). This may sound great,
but we have to keep it all in perspective.
Now, I have to admit, I’ve been as interested as anyone in the ongoing
studies in brain sex, genetics, endocrine disrupting chemicals, and other
biological factors that have been increasingly linked to transsexualism. I’ve
pointed to them to demonstrate publicly that our identities are not just “all
in our heads,” although I also have to admit I’m a bit more of a barstool
scientist (which is to say, not a scientist at all), and don’t always grok the
nuances of the research myself. I’ve followed them with some fascination
at the intricacies of how 3-variable combinations of biology + socialization +
choice produce seemingly infinite numbers of perspectives, and ridiculed the
far right for asserting that we “choose our lifestyles.”
Yet something that bothers me (and isn’t mentioned much in the quest for
biological legitimacy) is that clear proof of a biological origin would not only
fail to convince our detractors, it is also not the Holy Grail it’s sometimes
made out to be.
Legal Outcome of Great Taste vs. Less Filling
I’ve alluded to a balance between biology, socialization and choice.
Ultimately, this is what the point of contention becomes regarding the validity
of identity. As humans, our right to exist boils down to a narrative that our
behaviour must derive from an accepted form of any of the three, and to fall
afoul of any one would sabotage the respect we have as a community in the
eyes of various ideologies.
The far right Christianist (a term meant to distinguish from progressive
and affirming forms of Christianity, although there are more complexities to
that designation) version of this narrative claims that we are trans (and gay /
lesbian / bisexual if applicable) purely by choice – although sometimes with
a limited acknowledgement and understanding of socialization as helping to
shape identity, when formulating “curative” solutions like ex-gay aversion
therapies. Underscoring this is the implication that said choice falls (in their
perspective) on the bad side of a good / evil binary and therefore undeserving
of respect. We know that we didn’t choose to be trans, but then, it shouldn’t
matter if we did.
Societal traditions (largely unspoken, but reinforced throughout childhood)
surrounding masculinity reject socialization altogether, and see any kind of
femininity, whether considered to be biological or chosen in nature, to be
weakness. While this has improved in some areas—and at the same time
still has a long way to go—regarding cisgender (non-transgender) women,
it can still mean a negative disposition by default toward men who were
born female (FTM transsexuals), male-bodied people who transitioned away
from masculinity (MTF transsexuals), crossdressers, genderqueer people
and just about any other gender-transgressive identity. Our existence as
trans people questions the greater or lesser value ascribed to any particular
gender and muddies that by daring to blur those borders.
Feminist narratives vary along with some core modes of feminist thought,
but there tends to be stronger credence given socialization. In some second
wave feminist thought, in fact, the idea that biology has a hand in identity
is almost counter to the very foundations, where gender is seen as almost
completely socially constructed, and where some writers like Julie Bindel
contend that if we simply blur and erase the characteristics that we associate
with “male” and “female,” then transsexuality – like gender disparity in
society – would cease to exist. Again, our experiences show us that while
socialization does unmistakably design some of our lives, it is not the whole
picture.
The question of accepting trans identities is really about where a person
accepts that balance to exist between biology, social conditioning and
choice. Merely by existing, we undermine the very foundations of many
32
belief systems, which could explain why many groups in society react so
negatively toward us.
The flip side of that is that if we stake trans existence too heavily on one
aspect – in this case biology – we also risk limiting the scope of what we
acknowledge in our own community and beyond.
We’ve been learning that socialization only accounts for a part of peoples’
essence (a crucial part, but a part nonetheless), so the power of biology
should not be underestimated. But biological causation only proves that
we exist — it does not impart anything positive or negative on us, certainly
not beyond the stigmas or empathies that society chooses to surrender to
any condition.
The drive to find validity based on biology is most often a result of the
conflict with Christianist groups, faiths and far-right conservatism, and
contention that trans anything (and GLBT anything) is a choice which can
be overcome by changing one’s mind. We know from our own experiences
and sometimes lifetimes of trying to change our minds that we haven’t
chosen our identities and orientations, and that there is something more
intrinsic that we cannot put our fingers on that makes us who we are. Farright religion in particular has to push this belief, because if a god created
homosexuals and trans people, then that completely undermines the ability
to create villains of us — and Machiavellian religious leaders (again, from
the Christianist side, not the more progressive churches) see an effective
way to consolidate people, power and financing by creating villains for them
to abhor and oppose.
So we play the opposite response: “it’s genetic.” Well, maybe it is to an
extent, but both arguments completely overlook the fact that neither chosen
lifestyles nor biologically-driven identities of themselves validate or disqualify
value in a human being. Biological “programming” is never a sure thing
either, with genetic influences only providing predispositions in the first place
– it certainly doesn’t give enough credit to free will or individual experience.
(And anyway, isn’t it a bit ironic to be fighting allegations that our existence
is a choice, from a group whose existence is a choice of faith?)
Moreover, we might not exactly be comfortable with the implication of
imparting legitimacy on all things biologically-connected. Imagine if there
were a finding in which pedophilia is shown have some genetic trigger.
Certainly many predators of this sort find behavioural change to be difficult
or impossible, and describe a compulsion they feel is beyond their control, so
it’s not unthinkable that there could be an intrinsic component. But such a
discovery should never be used to legitimize the molestation of children.
So biological causation only proves that we exist. We cannot depend on it
for rights or to change hearts and minds. We cannot rely on it to find pride
in our lives. It’s fascinating, marginally validating, but it does not provide a
sole standard against which we measure ourselves as humans. Sometimes,
we must choose our pride, in the face of all contrary opinion.
Mercedes Allen is a writer who blogs at http://dentedbluemercedes.wordpress.
com/, has been featured on bilerico.com, PageOneQ and others, and has
also developed the website at AlbertaTrans.org as a resource for transgender
information and support.
Theatre
Sexy Talk!
Ground Zero / Hit & Myth tackle My First Time
By Jason Clevett
In researching to prepare for this article, I of course went
to the website, which in this case is the basis for this
latest Ground Zero Theatre/Hit and Myth Productions
play. My first impression was of some spelling and
grammar so terrible it was funny, and some downright
shocking honesty.
”Hi My story started right after my dear husband died at the young age
of 50 years. I had no kids I was alone except for our big wonder full german
sheppered dog...”
”My job involves working in peoples homes and some years ago I was
doing a job for a blind lady of about sixty years of age, you could tell she
had been very attractive when she was younger and, was still quite tasty
now.”
”I read a lot of fantasy stories about fucking your mothers. I believe that
some of you have experienced it as i have.”
”We rolled over. ’Go with it’ I said as I put my mowth on his dick. He
came in my mowth. I took my mowth off is dick. ’Not bad for your frist cum
James.’ ’Think you Gary for letting me loss my virginity.’ ’Me too. Lets sleep
naked tonight’ He agreed and we slept togather naked in his bed. When we
woke up and got dreesed affter we eat.”
The first page alone contained two dog sex stories, three mom-sex
stories, and poorly written attempts at porn. My first reaction was “they
made a play out of this?”
“I don’t want to give too much away but there are some fantastic
stories—some shocking, some heartbreaking, and no animals,” explained
Karen Johnson-Diamond, one of the four actors in the show. “It is what
everyone is afraid to talk about but desperately wants to. It is so exciting
to think about what these people were feeling when they were first typing
it into the computer. It is a great feeling of anonymity when you are talking
about it for the first time because rarely do any of us do that.”
The obvious comparison that people will make, on first impression, is to
The Vagina Monologues. A better comparison she says is to Ground Zero’s
hit show CockTales.
“We are taking on these people’s stories and telling them. There is a
little scene work. It is in the same vein as CockTales, which was a huge
hit over the past few years—that cabaret style storytelling with audience
involvement. The audience is going to be asked anonymously some
questions they can choose to answer. We will learn about the audience’s
feelings about their first time, average age, etc. It is this communal orgy
of shared information, but it is all anonymous. So we have some freedom
to explore within the audience how they are feeling with the stories we are
telling. It is funny and heartbreaking and tear-jerking, everybody wants
to hear it and talk about it but no one will admit it and they will all be
there. Hopefully somebody in that audience has the same story that we
are telling. They are the cream of the crop these stories, but not one in a
million. They belong to more than one person.”
There are homosexual experiences represented in the show, in much
better fidelity than the “frist cum” of Gary and James above.
“I don’t have a lesbian scene but there are a number of them. We were
talking about the script and going, it wouldn’t make any difference if we
took all of woman one’s monologues and gave them to man number one,
or vice versa. They are so universal and about the event, it makes no
difference one way or another. Every form of sex is represented except for
animals, and they are so genuine and heartfelt and end with a feeling of I’m
just telling you, I am not looking for approval. There are stories that make
us feel great, uncomfortable, shocked, jealous, and within those stories
some are heterosexual, some are homosexual and it doesn’t make any
difference. It is all just about the event and the emotions of the event.”
Diamond-Johnson relates with several of the stories, but has a different
outlook as a parent as well.
“There are a couple of stories where I have said been there, done that.
Where I am sitting right now is listening to these stories from the point of
view of a mother of a thirteen year old boy. There is a whole section about
how old were you when…? I am going, oh my god my kid still sleeps with
the hall light on but this could be him in a year and a half! It is certainly
not a show I would bring my kid to—I want to for so many reasons but
I can’t and won’t. It is heartwarming to hear the stories that I have been
through because I don’t have any tragic stories, and hope that as a mother
my son’s first time is equally as pain free and non-dramatic.”
GZT can be accused of a bit of deceptive marketing, as the poster for the
show features the four actors (Diamond-Johnson, David Trimble, Tyrell
Crews and Jamie Konchak) naked behind laptops. Yes, despite teasing a
naked Tyrell Crews, he and the rest of the cast remain fully clothed.
“There is no nudity, that is the sad part. My neighbours are saying
‘Karen I saw the poster, is that what you are going to look like on stage?’
No. Ty is not shirtless either. I wish. They are putting him in a tight tshirt! Maybe we could do like the splatter zone (such as in Evil Dead: The
Musical) and you pay extra for the backstage glance with the shirt off? Oh
my god I have to stop talking like that! He is practically half my age.”
It is understandable that she may get a little worked up, she is after
all talking about sex all day. While the show often rattles off percentages
like how many people hated their first time, 100% will want to go home
and have sex after.
“That is true. You walk out of rehearsal going, ohh I have to go home
fast. My husband is enjoying the rehearsal process. He will be like, ‘You
need to work for ground zero more often,’ although coming home soaked
in blood is not as sexy.”
So sit back with some friends, grab a drink, and enjoy an evening
talking about everyone’s favorite subject they don’t admit to loving—sex!
“What Ground Zero has always done, especially with things like Full
Monty, Urinetown, Cocktales and Evil Dead is just entertain [so you can]
go out and have a night of in your face entertainment. It is a girl’s night
out, a guy’s night out, a date night... I would love to see someone on a first
date see this show. It is a safe bet for theatre because it is everybody’s
story and will take you on an emotional roller-coaster. Virgins are going
to get just as much out of this show as non-virgins. I can’t say that there
is anybody perhaps other than my 13 year old son that wouldn’t see
themselves in this show and glean something from it.”
“It is opening up about what the hell are we being so prudish about?
Let’s just talk about it and not act like it is a dirty business. Maybe sex
is a taboo subject because talking about it in detail rarely happens. This
is an anonymous way to hear your and other people’s details while you
are sitting at a cabaret table with your best friends, having a drink. It’s
just great.”
“Come to our opening,” she concludes, pun intended.
Ground Zero Theatre
www.gzt.ca
My First Time
March 19-April 10, 2010
Vertigo Studio Theatre
33
Photography
ISCWR at the Alberta Legislature, Edmonton, Photos by B&J
Pride Calgary Lasagna Contest Fundraiser at the Eagle, Calgary
ISCWR Leather, Feathers, and Fur at Boots, Edmonton
Winterfest ISCWR Fundraiser - Edmonton, Photos by B&J
34
Movie
Outrage and the Outing of Politicians
By Evan Kayne
In our community, the issue of “outing” someone’s
sexuality against their express wishes is a topic that
sparks much heated debate with no middle ground:
you either condone or condemn the practice. The
discussion has been going on since at least 1990, when
writer/activist/radio host Michelangelo Signorile outed
American millionaire Malcolm Forbes. Then most people
were against outing. Now it seems opinion is split down
the middle.
However, Outrage, a new documentary just released on DVD, makes the
case that we should be outing closeted gay politicians who promote anti-gay
legislation.
The film focuses on several American political figures who have supported
legislation harmful to the LGLT community, while they themselves led
closeted lives. Juxtaposing the hypocritical politicians, director Kirby Dick
(This Film is Not Yet Rated, Derrida, and Twist of Faith) interviews several men
and women combating discriminatory legislation flowing from governments.
There are compelling segments featuring Sirius radio host Michelangelo
Signorile along with figures like U.S. Rep. Barney Frank and Jim McGreevey,
the former governor of New Jersey.
Outrage puts together a compelling case against a political system which
prefers hypocrisy to honesty. With interviews from various LGBT political
figures and writers, the film also transposes their thoughts up against the
actions of these closeted homophobic politicians. While it has its moments
of titillation and frustration (e.g. Larry Craig’s fervent denial he is gay), the
documentary moves best when it takes a deeper look at why these people do
what they do, why the system may even force them into this pigeonhole.
Mike Rogers, a D.C. blogger devoted to revealing closeted politicians, was
among the more compelling figures profiled in the film. His site blogactive.
com concentrates on outing closeted gay politicians who actively oppose gay
rights. Some of his targets have included Representative David Dreier, Larry
Craig, and Mark Buse—John McCain’s Chief of Staff.
In a phone interview, we discussed how both the film and many members
of the LGBT community notice the unspoken double standard regarding
evidence of a politician’s hypocrisy. A straight politician can have only the
fewest whispered rumours of a mistress to cause the media to investigate. A
gay politician has to either be “sexting” teenage pages, doing drugs with an
escort, or getting caught in a washroom sting by the police before people start
to think “hey...maybe he is gay”. Mike’s opinion is that there should be no
difference in treatment of the politician when the media investigates.
“The only difference is that there’s two dicks involved,” said Rogers. Mike’s
well aware of the double standard; as someone who works in the Washington
D.C. political scene he’s seen how the media goes into a feeding frenzy
investigating the sexual adventures of straight politicians—“...just one guy
speaking about a woman or [a woman speaking about] a guy and next thing
you know it’s on every tabloid and every newspaper.”
Michael Phair, former Edmonton City Councillor, isn’t as convinced there
is a double standard when it comes to the media discussing the sexuality of a
politician. He does believe what we are seeing develop in the past 20 years is
that the party in power wields an inordinate amount of power over the media.
The media feels threatened by them in terms of not getting their stories and
not getting their contacts, so they may start self-censoring. He thinks it’s an
unfortunate collusion between the media and the government. It’s certainly
endemic in Alberta, and federally, this silent conspiracy between government
and media has gotten worse under the Conservatives.
This means that the large media chains can mock small bloggers like Mike
Rogers when he does cover stories they wish to remain under cover.
“The mainstream media tries not to take me seriously.” They downplay
his work as that of a mere blogger with no-one doing any fact-checking. Mike
then pushes back, citing major errors in papers like the New York Times and
how his accuracy is 100%. He feels the mainstream media certainly tries to
stand in the way, but with newer technologies and ways of disseminating
information, that is no longer as effective as it once was.
As for those claims of “inaccuracy”, realistically as one individual, Mike
can’t afford to make mistakes. He has a greater danger of being shut down
by litigation than a large media corporation (with a team of lawyers). Mike
is brash on this one, as his confidence in his information compels him to
challenge people who would be likely to threaten litigation. But as he puts it,
“No one ever sues me.”
Additionally, he has the right to report on this issue, as it is a free
society. “Unfortunately for them, politicians do not get to decide what stories
are written about them...My work is to expose the hypocrisy – and what I
always say to people is that I don’t really out people, I merely report on the
hypocrites.”
One of the main drawbacks of Outrage is that the focus is limited to
American politics. Canadian viewers would have to research information on
some of the politicians the film names, to fully understand the context. In our
political system, we rarely have anything similar happen.
However, in early February, Conservative politician John Baird (Minister
of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities) was inadvertently outed by
Ontario provincial Conservative candidate Pamela Taylor on a CBC radio
show. The show’s host had challenged Taylor to name one openly gay
Conservative politician. Taylor named John Baird. The only problem was
that Baird hadn’t publicly stated his sexuality. Weeks later, he still remains
mum on the issue.
And while he hasn’t denied it, it seems like the “Cone of Silence” has
descended upon him and the mainstream media, in regards to this issue.
The following is a list of the media sources that have picked up the story:
Xtra, Bay Windows (“New England’s largest GLBT Newspaper”) and now this
magazine. That’s it. CBC didn’t even do any follow-up.
Unfortunately, it’s difficult to say whether this is the old media double
standard in play or whether the mainstream media thought they’d shut up
about this, lest a government which is already hostile towards them withdraw
even more – thus shutting down any contacts for future stories.
John Baird’s sexuality wasn’t a major secret – he was well known in
Ottawa’s gay social scene and has in the past attended Ottawa’s Pride parties,
along with being a “walker” for Lauren Harper at social events when Stephen
Harper was otherwise occupied. Additionally, John Baird has avoided voting
against our community and has spoken out against anti-gay legislation in
Uganda. While it’s a shame he doesn’t have the courage to openly admit his
sexuality, his outing does illustrate an interesting possibility for future gay
politicians – not voting against the LGBT community, but don’t confirming
or denying their sexuality either. This could mean in the future we will see
politicians working for a party that is homophobic while they themselves
abstain or vote against homophobic legislation.
If this were the case, should their sexuality still be revealed in the media?
Mike Roger thinks that, regardless of their sexuality, a person in public office
gives away that right to privacy when they sign up for the job.
That being said, Mike may choose not to further out said politician. He
does know of several gay Republicans who don’t vote against the interests
of the LGBT community (are not hypocrites in essence) so he has not outed
them. He does admit party-specific politics does play into this – if a closeted
Democrat votes in favour of pro-gay legislation 75% of the time versus a
closeted Republican rated also at 75%, Mike would be more prone to asking
the Democrat “what the hell” for the missing 25%.
Which is exactly what former Councillor Michael Phair would likely say to
John Baird regarding his silence on his sexuality.
“I think it’s reprehensible for him to not have disclosed that and talked
about that much earlier, particularly from the party he is a member of which
has a history of trying to find ways to exclude persons like myself.”
Phair believes someone like Baird whose sexuality is “suspected and
known for years”, who may not vote against the gay community, yet who
remains silent about their personal life is still a hypocrite.
“Every other member of that party represents that party and their beliefs...
clearly some of the policy and legislation was very offensive...and directly
opposed to gays and lesbians”.
Michael puts forth the opinion that Baird had an opportunity to tell the
party some of their policies could be offensive to him as a gay man. He feels it
might have opened a window of discussion and changed some opinions (not
all, obviously) about legislation impacting the LGBT community.
In the end, whatever your feelings on politicians and their sexuality,
Outrage will continue the debate that the LGBT community has had on
outing. Who knows what we may think twenty years from now, but let’s
hope we have seen the last of the Larry Craigs and the other male and female
politicians who, in denying their true nature, become traitors to their own
people.
35
Lifestyle
Exploring Leather Relationships
Part 3 of 3: “Sirs” and “Boys”
By David Stewart
In the past two months, we have taken a look at Master/slave
and Daddy/boy relationships in an effort to explore leather
culture and possibly clear up common misconceptions. To
review, Master/slave relationships are all about the service and
comfort of the Master, while Daddy/boy relationships are all
about the guidance of the boy. On the spectrum of dominance
versus submission, Master/slave relationships occupy one end
and Daddy/boy relationships the other. While Master/slave
dynamic focuses on one participant and Daddy/boy focuses on
the other, the Sir/boy dynamic is a combination of the two, and
can move freely along the spectrum as the situation calls.
It has been argued in the past that the Sir/boy dynamic is simply a
catch-all term for a dynamic of dominance and
submission between two men. While there
are definitely men who use it as such, in the
context of many Sir/boy relationships there
are specific attitudes that set a Sir and boy
apart from the Dom and sub. These traits are
not universal, but they provide the basis for
how the Sir/boy dynamic is implemented in
the participants’ lives, which is what puts this
dynamic above and beyond that of a generic
dominance/submission.
The differences between the boy and a
submissive arise from intent. A leather boy’s
mentality is still one of submission, and he
rarely enters leather culture thinking with more
than the head between his legs. That said,
under the guidance of a leather Sir, the boy
begins to observe his Sir and other experienced
leathermen as something to aspire toward. As
this happens, the boy adopts an attitude of
self-reflection, which inevitably leads to selfimprovement. The Sir’s role in all of this is
that of a steady hand, guiding the boy in the
right direction. Reflection and improvement
can come about in many ways, so Sir adapts to each situation uniquely.
He may provide the boy with learning experiences or he may only offer the
boy with guidance when needed.
However, it is atypical for a Sir to take on a boy for any extended period
of time if the boy isn’t ready for the depth of this relationship style. For a
boy to start his journey, he needs to be a man first. Boys are a reflection
of their Sir, so it’s not right for a leatherman to take on a boy who is
without a job, a car, a place to live, etc. To put it bluntly, the boy can’t
be a loser.
When a boy starts his journey under the direction of his Sir, the Sir
passes down the attitudes that he has learned since his own journey
started. A boy who is new to leather culture earns his own leather as he
demonstrates his learning, and the bond between Sir and boy grows. There
are no concrete ways to go about earning leather, nor is there a definitive
set of leather that needs to be earned; it is unique to the individual. In my
case, my boots, belt, vest, and jacket were presented as earned leather,
and each of those items have their own set of experiences behind them.
Regardless of how this tradition is integrated into a relationship, earned
pieces of leather represent learning and experience.
As the boy learns and grows further, he takes on more attitudes that
are indicative of a leatherman. Self-reflection and self-improvement are
omnipresent, but over time the Sir passes on additional qualities that
will ultimately aid the boy in transitioning to a Sir (or Daddy, or Master)
someday, at which time he will be ready to take on a boy of his own.
Namely, these qualities are as follows:
Leadership: This may be fairly intuitive, since any dominant top
is charged with the task of leading his bottom in one way or another.
36
However, a leather Sir is expected to be a personification of the traits of a
good leader: charismatic, authentic, ethical, mindful, etc. A leatherman
should be capable of leading his community when called to task, and the
quality of his leadership ultimately affects the quality of his community.
Balance: This attitude manifests in many forms. Sadism is balanced
with compassion, confidence is balanced with humility, dominance is
balanced with understanding. A solid leather Sir also balances his time
in and out of his leathers, growing in the vanilla world and as a sexual
renegade.
Honor: The term has been used so much in writing and in speech
at leather contests that its original meaning is sometimes lost. Leather
honor is a concept that best describes the value system of a leatherman.
Integrity, accountability, and brotherhood are some of the ‘buzzwords’
that are used to describe this concept, but language can’t really do it
justice. This is an attribute of leathermen that is
best observed, rather than described.
Experience: Above all else, experience is valued
in leather culture.
It is through experience
that personal growth manifests, and with the
state of gay culture in the past 30 years—after
AIDS killed off a huge part of our population—
experience is even more important. Experience
is what drives the learning process in leather,
and the importance of experience extends to the
way that leathermen play, as well. Many BDSM
organizations provide how-to workshops, which
results in a mechanical style of play that hampers
creativity. On the other hand, learning the same
techniques through experience creates a positive
memory behind them, and results in creative play
that surpasses the “insert hand A into restraint
B” level of play.
Of course, not all boys “grow up” to become
tops. Plenty of boys are quite happy fulfilling the
bottom role of a relationship, but they are not
exempt from these growing experiences or from
passing on their knowledge to others. The dynamic
between them and their top may eventually evolve
into roles where teaching and learning are not a
focal point of the relationship, but as previously mentioned, the dynamics
of the Sir/boy relationship can shift freely as the situation calls.
This dynamic may seem very much like the Daddy/boy dynamic,
however, the difference lies in the intensity. Typically, the Sir/boy
dynamic requires the boy to be much more disciplined and focused than
the Daddy/boy or even Master/slave dynamic. Daddy/boy and Master/
slave dynamics allow for short term idle play, but the Sir/boy dynamic is
really all about a long term goal. When observed from an anthropological
perspective, it is simply cultural propagation.
There aren’t readily available resources that address the Sir/boy
dynamic independent from the Daddy/boy dynamic (so we’re breaking
new ground here!), but the best way to learn about this dynamic is
to observe it and interact with leathermen. That said, I’m going to be
expanding on the topics discussed in this article at the upcoming Alberta
Weekend of Leather.
Alberta Weekend of Leather (AWOL)
March 19-21, 2010 at The Calgary Eagle
More info at: www.albertaleather.com under “AWoL”
http://www.gaycalgary.com/1607
Theatre
Gloriously Good
Stage West’s Delusional Diva Tale a Real Treat
By Jason Clevett
There is a scene in Glorious, playing at Stage West
Calgary until April 4th, in which a character refers to a
dog as being “a friend of Dorothy, as we all are.” I burst
out laughing, but quickly shut my mouth when I realized
I was the only one who got the joke ¬- a slang term for
gay that was used as far back as World War 2.
“That joke goes over like a lead balloon, nobody gets that. I
didn’t realize the ‘Friend of Dorothy’ reference was as obscure
as it is,” gay actor Adam White told GayCalgary and Edmonton
Magazine.
“There are some definite in-jokes in the piece. It was written
by an English writer that I understand is also gay, so he has a
sensibility that may not be understood by all audiences. I find I
have to point up the humor in some of the jokes, do something
physically in order to highlight the fact that we just made a
double entendre, or that this is a joke about Cole Porter’s
sexuality.”
Glorious is the true story of Florence Foster Jenkins, the
worst opera singer in the world who went on to sell out New
York’s Carnegie Hall in October 1944. It is seen through the
eyes of Cosme McMoon, played by White. While technically the
story of Jenkins, it is the McMoon character that carries the
show and adds the depth and heart to the script that would
otherwise simply be about a delusional diva.
“I agree that the story is crafted that it is his story. Cosme
is the one who undergoes the most amount of change and
it is through his eyes that the audience needs to experience
Florence. It is definitely an interesting journey and fun to play.
For me he is really familiar, I don’t have to work that hard to
find him because I get the sarcastic, witty accompanist. I enjoy
playing him a lot.”
The gay character is played as intelligent and charming, a far
cry from the usual stereotype.
“Playing a gay character who is not mincing and is well
rounded, is great. I hope that I don’t have to play it up to much,
and I find nothing more offensive than watching someone play
flamboyantly gay. I don’t ever want to do anything like that in
the portrayal. I have a couple of little physical cues that I use to
highlight it. As an actor I have had more opportunities to play
smart gay men than to play heterosexual romantic leads. In my
career I want to make sure I don’t end up in a category that limits
what I can play, but I do enjoy playing a good representation of
a good man. He is smart and not stereotyped.”
The irony is in him playing the comedic “straight man” to
Jenkins, played by Elizabeth Stepowski, and her equally
delusional friends St. Clair (Bernard Cuffling) and Dorothy
(Heather Lea MacCallum). The cast is rounded out by Ruth
Brown, pulling double roles as the angry Mexican maid Maria
and the outraged music fan Mrs. Verrinder-Gedge. Watching
Florence make statements like “I thought it was so smart of you
and that waiter to share cab fare [with that other man]” with no
clue as to what Cosme was really doing is entertaining and hits
home with many members of the LGBT community.
“That is one of the things I find most hilarious in that I really
am in comedic terms the straight man in the show, but the nonstraight character. I find it funny how that is constructed. It is
a blast to play off of that. Florence is oblivious in a lot of ways
but is also considerably older. That is something I recognize in
people. I sing in a church choir and the congregation and choir
is mostly older. Because it is a church I keep my sexuality under
the radar but I do find that there are women of a certain age
and experience that just assume things like roomates or ‘your
friend.’ They don’t quite put two and two together. Florence’s
 Florence Foster Jenkins - The Worst Singer in the World
consideration of Cosme’s lifestyle is a send up, it lives in real
life.”
An interesting challenge for the cast was in acting alongside
Bernard Cuffling, who also directed the show.
“To some degree it is a great thing. We have the luxury of a
really long run in a Stage West show and actors can get bored
and lazy and start changing or doing things to keep themselves
interested. Our show is going to maintain a little bit more of its
original blocking, setting and integrity because our director is
there on a daily basis. There are challenges with someone who
isn’t watching what’s happening trying to provide feedback. I
came into it with more apprehension than I am leaving with, I
would do it again.”
In short, Glorious is very much a gay show. In its presentation,
innuendo, and strong, likeable gay character it will leave LGBT
patrons smiling as they leave.
“The show is smart and sophisticated. A larger gay audience
often do understand more. Some of the arias that are....
butchered in the performance are going to be more recognizable
to the gay audiences than some other audiences. I do hope
that we get some more educated and potentially gay leaning
audiences that get the punch lines better. There is the aspect
of ‘Diva worship’ that many gay men experience, and you can’t
help but fall in love with this character of Florence who is larger
than life and not afraid to step outside of the boundaries that
other people want to set up for her. She is an icon and we get
to live in her glory.“
Stage West Theatre Restaurants
403-243-6642 • www.StageWestCalgary.com
Glorious
Until April 4, 2010
37
Advice
Queeries
Asking Lesbians Out, Cougars or Daddies, and Gay Homes
By Steven Petrow
When a straight guy asks a lesbian out?
Q: I could use some help in understanding proper etiquette
when a heterosexual fellow asks me out thinking that I’m a
straight woman. What can I say?
A: If you missed the wonderful cartoon on this subject in the
New Yorker recently, let me repeat the caption, since it’s brilliant.
Straight guy asks lesbian out, and she replies: “Thanks, but
I’m in the middle of a lesbian phase that started the day I was
born.” If you’re prepared to be out, a dollop of humor will take
you far. A line of that kind delivered with warmth (as opposed
to snottiness) definitely counts as “proper.”
Are older gay men “cougars” or “daddies?”
Q: I’m in my mid-40s and have started dating a guy who is
about 20 years younger than me. While it’s practically trendy
these days for cougars (older women) to be pursuing younger
straight men, I’m getting a lot of flack from my friends that my
boyfriend’s not “age-appropriate” for me. What is most insulting
is how my friends dismiss him in social situations as a “kid”
(even though he’s a Fulbright Scholar) and me as a “daddy,”
which he doesn’t need or want and which is a role I would never
play. They also just assume that I’ve pursued him and that I’m
“robbing the cradle.” That’s actually not the case. He came after
me. I’m frustrated and need to know how to handle all these
raised eyebrows and sharp words.
A: Did you know that the general rule of thumb for so-called
age-appropriate relationships is half your age plus seven? So,
given what you’ve told me, you’re very close to a mathematically
correct relationship. But, really, so what? The most important
thing is that you’ve found someone you care for and that those
feelings are reciprocated.
As for your friends mouthing off about your age difference,
I can only guess that it’s some combination of envy (“he’s got
a young, hot one”), caring (“as soon as he grows up, he’ll leave
you with a broken heart”) or the slimy cultural residue from
Donald Trump’s numerous age-inappropriate marriages. But
don’t forget the many happy “age inappropriate” gay couples:
writer Christopher Isherwood and painter Don Bachardy (30
years between them) and playwright Terrence McNally and
lawyer Tom Kirdahy (25 years). In any case, it sounds like you
need to speak up, though not in front of your boyfriend. Be
clear with your friends that you expect them to treat him with
respect and that their jokes about you being a “daddy” have
worn themselves thin. Good friends will follow your lead. Bad
friends can be asked to make for the door.
Of course, “daddy/boy” relationships have a long and not
necessarily sordid history in gay culture, but whether or
not there is that dynamic, it’s nobody’s business to make a
judgment. Honestly, it’s hard enough to find a compatible
boyfriend or girlfriend, so congratulations to you both. And
don’t forget Julie Andrews’ memorable lyrics from the Sound of
Music: “Love is where you find it.”
Can kids grow up “normal” in a gay home?
Q: My sister is a born-again Christian and the mother of five.
She constantly tells me that my partner and I are going to have
really messed up kids because we’re lesbians. We definitely do
want children. And last week my sister said to us: “How could
a child grow up to be normal in a gay household?” What in the
world do I say to her?
A: Well, it depends how available your sister is to having her
mind changed. You could explain to her that all the research
shows that children of lesbians and gays turn out just as well as
other kids and that there’s no evidence to suggest that lesbians
and gay men are unfit to be parents. It’s also true that one’s
sexuality does not make for a good or bad parent; what matters
most is your ability to create a loving and caring environment.
But the truth is that you may not actually resolve this issue
until you have a chance to show her by example. I’m going to
guess that the day your sister sees that your kids are pretty
much like any other kids is the day she’ll understand. Knowing
gay people—and in cases such as this one, knowing the children
of gays and lesbians—seems to be the number one factor when
folks who started out homophobic decide to finally accept LGBT
folks.
Still, it sounds like your kids are still some way off, and not
available for such a “demonstration.” So, if she won’t do some
reading on her own or listen to your protestations, tell her politely
that the topic is off bounds. It’s called setting boundaries. Then,
once you’ve decided to get pregnant or adopt, let her know the
good news in person and suggest she attend a meeting with
PFLAG (Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays:
check out their site at pflag.org). And don’t forget to make sure
she’s invited to your baby shower!
Steven Petrow writes for The Huffington Post and Daily Beast. If you have a
LGBT manners question, send it to him at [email protected]. And check
him out on the web at gayandlesbianmanners.com.
38
Sports
The OutField
Out in the NFL?
By Dan Woog
Did you hear all that buzz last month about National
Football League player Ovie Mughelli? Probably not.
What started as a post on an Atlanta black entertainment blog, MissJia.
com – about the Atlanta Falcons fullback having a sexual relationship
with another man – soon blossomed into a he said/he said story.
The site published a video of Francois Sloan, 36, a New Jersey hair
stylist who described a six-year relationship with Mughelli. Sloan said the
men met in 2001, when the football star was at Wake Forest University.
(The Web site Queerty.com said the relationship began when Mughelli
was “heartbroken” after breaking up with a girlfriend.) Sloan said he
provided “financial stability” to Mughelli in college, but the relationship
ended suddenly in 2007 after Mughelli signed a six-year, $18-million
contract with the Falcons.
Before that time, while Mughelli was playing with another NFL team,
Sloan said the financial aspect of the relationship changed. The football
star paid for Sloan’s hotel rooms and car rentals to drive to games; he left
tickets for Sloan at stadium will-call windows.
Sloan claimed that Mughelli said he wanted a monogamous
relationship with him. However, Sloan also said that he believed the
football player was seeing women at the same time.
MissJia.com published photos allegedly taken by Sloan, of Mughelli
showing off his well-developed body in a hotel room, and car rental
receipts. Queerty said that Mughelli’s attorney offered Sloan “an envelope”
to keep quiet about the relationship – which Sloan said he never opened
– when the football player worried about the impact on his career.
singers, professional athletes, politicians, comedians, rappers and actors
who have been sleeping with men for years, and not a word.”
One man claimed, “a real man doesn’t care what other people have
to say about him.” That was followed by “deep down inside we all care
about some of the things people say about us. Rumors can destroy
careers and people.”
There was also this: “I think what’s important is how the NFL and the
mainstream media react to the outing of a bisexual man. Let’s follow this
closely – we have a lot to gain from a mature and accepting approach to
Mughelli.”
But, getting back to the first line of this column, the mainstream
reaction was what? Ignoring it, because it’s grubby and gay? Or for fear
of a lawsuit? Perhaps a huge yawn, because a possibly gay NFL athlete
is now a non-story?
One thing is for sure: Despite the lawyer’s demands, the posts stayed
up on every Web site.
Dan Woog is a journalist, educator, soccer coach, gay activist, and author
of the “Jocks” series of books on gay male athletes. Visit his Web site at
www.danwoog.com. He can be reached care of this publication.
Mughelli reacted like—well, like his manhood was being attacked.
His attorney, Phaedra Parks, fired off cease-and-desist letters to Web
sites that published Sloan’s story. Calling the statements “defamatory,”
she threatened to sue for “false light.” Parks demanded that the Web
sites remove “each and every reference, posting, comment and statement
related to any allegation(s) that Mr. Mughelli is a homosexual or has
or was involved in a homosexual relationship.” Parks also asked for
retractions on blogs, “emphasizing the removal of this information from
your site.”
Mughelli’s publicist called the allegations “a malicious attack on my
client.”
Sloan noted on MissJia.com that he never called Mughelli “gay,
bisexual or on the DL.”
However, a professional football player is a public figure. The threshold
for defamation is higher than for private citizens.
Furthermore, calling someone “gay” is not defamatory, said Cynthia
Counts – an Atlanta First Amendment lawyer who represents Outsports.
com, a gay sports Web site that reported on the controversy.
“Today, the law and society are changing, and I do not believe that the
mere label that someone is a ‘homosexual’ continues to be presumptively
defamatory,” she explained. “Although it would be naïve to suggest that
no prejudice exists against gays, Georgia courts have made clear that
‘it is not libelous to charge a person with the doing of a thing which he
may legally and properly do.’ Because the Supreme Court has definitely
held that homosexuality is not illegal, an assertion that someone is gay
should not be defamatory.”
Reaction on the blogosphere ranged widely. The incident involved an
interesting intersection of social issues: sexuality, race, celebrity, outing
and the law among them.
“Being gay may not be a crime, but no straight person wants that tag,”
wrote a poster on Outsports. “It’s offensive to the majority – like it or not
– and damaging to someone who gets endorsement deals.”
One writer compared Mughelli to President Obama, who is sometimes
called a Muslim. “That’s not a crime either, but no one with sense
running for office wants that stigma.”
One poster decried the “black gay agenda.” Another countered, “If
there is any black gay agenda, it’s silence, invisibility and shame. I know
39
Event
28th Annual Western Cup
Continuing the Canadian Olympic Sporting Spirit
By Dallas Barnes
The last two weeks of February 2010 defined who we
are as Canadians. As Shane Koyczan, the most brilliant
poet of the Vancouver Opening Ceremonies stated in his
prose, We Are More, “we are the surprise the world has
in store for you.”
TJ Fedyk, the Western Cup Director is hoping that this
spirit will continue at the Calgary LGBT community’s
answer to the Olympics. “The Western Cup demonstrates
who we are as a community, a fun competition in a friendly
atmosphere.”
The Western Cup is Apollo’s annual multi-sport
tournament that is “the longest running annual LGBT multisport tournament in North America.” For those unfamiliar
with Apollo, it is Calgary’s LGBT sports network, which runs
a number of athletic social groups ranging from volleyball
to Yoga. It was formed in 1981 by a group of like-minded
individuals who wanted to create a friendly, athletic social
group for the LGBT community of Calgary. An idea came
to mind that year, to invite similar organizations from
Edmonton to participate in a Volleyball Tournament. This
proved to be successful, and the Western Cup was born. Now
boasting around 500 athletes from all over Canada, it has
grown to its current form.
Fedyk, who is in his first year as Event Director, attributes
many things to its 28 year achievement. “The success comes
from the fun that everyone has at the games. It is all about
getting to know each other and celebrating both sport and
our community. The things people take back from the event
are the social aspects included in the dance and casino
night.”
The event runs from April 1st to 3rd this year, and promises
to keep you entertained whether you are a participant or a
spectator. Sporting tournaments include curling, volleyball,
bowling, badminton, hockey and its newest entry Dodgeball.
There is also an opportunity to join the Fun Run downtown.
Calgary will also play host to the Canadian Gay National
40
Curling Championships that are running in correlation with
the Western Cup.
The Social Events are a major hit during the weekend’s
festivities as well. On Friday, April 2nd, try your luck at the
Casino Night and dance the evening away at the Western Cup
Dance on Saturday April 3rd. With attendance ranging from
800 to 1000 people, this is the largest LGBT dance event in
the city! Both events will take place at The Westin Hotel in
downtown Calgary—one of the Western Cup’s Sponsors.
In fact, Fedyk could not be more grateful for the generous
sponsors this year including GayCalgary and Edmonton
Magazine, Barefoot Wine and Bubbly, Manhunt.net,
Manhunt Cares, Dlist.com, Cruiseline, and The Westin
Hotel and Resorts. He adds, “Our sponsors have been so
generous. Manhunt in particular, advertised our event
across the nation. We have had the most hits on our website
of all time.”
The Western Cup could not make it without its tireless
volunteers. There are still volunteering positions available
for this year, at both the sporting and the social events.
This is a perfect opportunity to get involved in such a great
happening . If you are interested, make sure to fill out a
Volunteer Form on the Western Cup’s website.
Registration for the Western Cup ends on March 15th.
Make sure you visit their website to register yourself and
your team for an event. Dance tickets can be purchased
now at Priape for $20.00 or at the door for $25.00. The
Vegas Casino Night tickets can be purchased at the door for
$10.00. There is also an opportunity to purchase both Dance
and Casino tickets in a Party Pak for $30.00, and these are
available on the website.
No sporting event is as fun without the encouragement
of an audience, and in fact, there is no charge for attending
sporting events as a spectator. “There is nothing better than
being cheered on. I was in the volleyball tournament last
year, and the energy generated from this was fabulous.”
Apollo Western Cup
April 1-3, 2010 • www.westerncup.com
41
42
Interview
The Orphans of Evil
Nate Phelps on Escaping Westboro Baptist Church
By Evan Kayne
If you are a child of a celebrity in North America, you
exist in the shadow of your parents. If you are a child of
one of the most hated families in America, it is a long and
sinister shadow cast over you and your siblings. This is a
shadow Nathan “Nate” Phelps has struggled with in the
30 years since he left Westboro Baptist Church (WBC)
and severed ties with his father, Pastor Fred Phelps.
Nate’s life has had its ups and downs – he has been married,
had children, divorced, and is now living with his fiancée in
Cranbrook, BC. He is also an atheist.
Pastor Fred Phelps is well known among our community
for his protests – telling everyone within listening range that
“God hates fags”, indeed, “God hates the world”. To promote
his message that we are all doomed, he has picketed at the
funerals of Matthew Shepard, Coretta Scott King, Jerry Falwell,
and recently at funerals for soldiers killed in Iraq. He and WBC
assert every tragedy in the world is linked to homosexuality;
therefore, everyone who is not a member of their church is
supporting the homosexual agenda and will burn in hell.
Nate has already spoken publically of his past history and
is working on a book based on his experiences. This includes
growing up with a father who was physically and emotionally
abusive; a father who survived on amphetamines and
barbiturates to achieve his law degree. Nate will be in Calgary
speaking about his experiences March 14, but GayCalgary and
Edmonton Magazine spoke to him briefly about his past.
As I researched his history, I was struck by a parallel between
Nate’s escape from WBC, and how many out LGBT individuals
are ostracized from their families—a threat that causes many
others to stay in the closet. The parallel was not lost on Nate.
“I’ve been going through the loss of my family over 30 years...
I’ve talked to a lot of people about their experience of coming
out and being atheist or agnostic to their religious family, and a
lot of gay people who talk specifically about those same things.
They’re literally mourning the loss of a loved one as though
they died.”
This “mourning” can cause depression and anxiety, something
that is also familiar to Nate.
Certainly, many people in a similar situation have gone on
to build a new family of their own where there previously was
none. Nate spent 25 years in Southern California doing just
this. Like many of us, he realizes, “family does not have to be
blood...often it would be better off if it wasn’t blood.” Such
rejection leaves a permanent scar, a feeling of something being
wrong with you when really, the problem sits in those who are
supposed to love you unconditionally.
In fact, Nate can’t attest that his father ever loved him at all.
He describes a family where, although his father was always
present, the man never displays anything of what one could
consider love or fondness toward his children.
“He certainly—behind the pulpit or in the midst of one of his
beatings – would express that he was doing this because he
loved us. But that has no relationship to any notion of love I
have in my mind...there isn’t anything I can remember growing
up where he showed physical or any other form of affection.”
We asked how people respond when he reveals the fact of
his lineage. “I get everything from people who say [Fred Phelps]
is a nut job to Well, you know, I can’t really fault him for his
beliefs.”
For Nate, the latter response is the most difficult to deal with
because it illustrates how difficult it is to struggle against or
reason with a person’s belief system—especially if it’s one as
hateful as Fred Phelps’. Often Nate will challenge these people
and their overt or tacit support of WBC, but he admits there are
times when he stays silent.
“I go back and forth on it...I have such emotion attached to
it.”
Hey says there are times when he doesn’t have the energy to
dredge those emotions up all over again, and so in some cases
he tries to keep his identity hidden out of shame. Even during
this interview, after being free of WestBoro Baptist for 30 years,
these emotions are so strong that we needed to take a break
mid-interview for Nate (and myself) to regain our composure.
For Nate, examining his past also means examining his
present actions, which leads to another anxiety.
“I had a visceral reaction in anger when my (ex) wife would
say to me, you’re so much like your father. The point is, on an
emotional level I’m terrified of an expression of rage or anger
because it’s too much like my old man, and I don’t want to have
anything to do with him.”
Like many victims of parental abuse, Nate worries his
behaviour (especially on anger issues) mirrors his father’s, but
he is learning to deal with it productively.
“You also have to realize those are the moments people grow.”
What he means is that when he confronts those moments where
his parents teaching takes over—when he realizes he is acting
by rote—he can then change, grow and embrace other options.
This includes how he views people his father demonized.
For instance, Nate spoke about confronting the attitude
towards homosexuality that pegs them as synonymous to
child molesters. He had to re-evaluate his reaction towards the
homosexual community.
“That’s been an evolution...I was very much my father’s son
on that issue when I first left because I hadn’t really thought
about it.” He had grown up in an environment that hammered
home the belief homosexuals were evil and satanic. When his
family started to actively protest against the gay community, he
realized he had to examine his beliefs in this area. He came to
understand his attitude towards LGBT people was a knee jerk
reaction from what he was taught.
Nate has been asked the question that follows logically from
the white hot hatred Fred has towards the LGBT community—
is it possible his father or other members of the Phelps clan
are deeply closeted? Certainly, given the large size of the
“family”, it is statistically possible someone in the family could
be homosexual.
Nate can’t say for sure, but he imagines if so, it is very
unlikely such a person would be self-aware. Followers gain no
real understanding of homosexuality that they could equate to
themselves; all they really “know” is something inhuman and
evil.
Nevertheless, Nate says, “There’s enough evidence out there
that says if a person lives contrary to their nature long enough,
it’s going to start spilling over, something’s going to come out,
and it’s going to be eventually discovered.” As poetic as this
might be, there could not be a worse hell than being a closeted
gay in that environment.
The toxic environment of WBC drove not just Nate leave
to the church, but several other siblings and now a second
generation. Where possible, Nate tries to maintain contact with
these orphans of WBC. Of this family, he’s probably closest
to his older brother Mark, yet they haven’t talked in 2 years.
Nate conceded there were some personal issues, but overall
they do have a friendly relationship. One sibling – Dorotha
Continued 
43
Interview
– is still in Topeka and will communicate with Nate via email
occasionally.
“Katherine...I don’t what to make of her. She left but then
she has come back, but they won’t take her back as a member
of the church. So she kind of hangs around the fringe and has
her own version of madness.”
Also, thanks to Facebook, Nate has made contact with
a number of his nephews who he has never met in person.
This second generation has left WBC and, like Nate, has been
ostracized by the rest of the family. Talking to these family
members, he sees them struggling with the same problem
he encountered when he left – breaking free of Fred Phelps’
teachings, and the deeply engrained beliefs about depravity in
the world. This attitude makes it difficult to reach out to other
people.
“It’s an isolating dynamic – we can’t accept [certain people]
because we haven’t yet learned how to think for ourselves
and think beyond what we were taught, so we don’t embrace
anybody else because that would make us evil.”
Regarding the children and grandchildren of Fred Phelps, I
asked Nate to speculate on the future of Westboro Baptist Church
after Fred dies (he turned 80 in November). According to Pastor
Phelps’ belief system, women are secondary to men. Therefore,
his daughter Shirley Phelps-Roper would be discounted –
despite her prominent appearance as a spokesperson second to
Fred. Nate doesn’t think anyone – be it a son or grandson – will
be able to continue and maintain the strength of WBC.
“There’s such a wellspring of cruelty and hatred in my father
and that drives it, that’s the engine of this continued onslaught.
The latest outrage flows from him. I just don’t know that there’s
enough of that in any of them. I just can’t imagine it being
transferred successfully.” As promising as that sounds, Nate
still fears that Fred might somehow succeed in duplicating
himself in one of the male descendants.
We are constantly hearing about the WBC popping up across
the country at various protests, and fending off legal challenges.
Assuming Fred or one of his children manage to maintain WBC
well into the future, one may wonder who is paying for all of
that.
Nate explains that admittedly, there was income from the
law firm Phelps chartered in the past – and having a family of
lawyers certainly reduced monies spent fighting lawsuits. Nate
knows the law practise was busy in the past, yet given their
infamy, one wonders if they are scraping the bottom of their
client base.
One fiscal solution, Nate explained, was maintaining
resources through tithing of church members. Growing up, a
10% tithe on income was a requirement as a member of WBC.
This wasn’t a suggestion – withholding was treasonous and
reason for expulsion from the family and church. From a family
member, Nate discovered Fred has commanded an increase in
tithing to 30% of income. Doing some rough arithmetic of the
children, the spouses and Fred’s grandchildren who are grown
and working, Nate guessed about 50 people earning an average
$40,000—a total income of $2 million a year. Even without this
tithe, the group receives a total annual donation of $600,000
from its members – certainly enough to continue running the
organization. So hoping WBC goes broke soon is probably a
long shot.
The 600 grand figure above does not include any financial
help they get from outside sources. During his last run at
public office in 1998, Fred received over 15,000 votes in the
Democratic primary for Governor of Kansas. Despite Fred’s
actions, some agree with what he’s saying – either openly or
privately.
“I think there are some who say Fred Phelps is a saint, he’s a
messenger of God, [and then donate money],” says Nate, adding
that this is alongside others who publicly denounce WBC but
privately donate.
And yet, Nate says WBC makes a point of explicitly stating
that they don’t accept donations on the principle that “God will
provide.” Part of “God providing” would also seem to be quietly
accepting donations from past church members. As proof, Nate
told us how at one point after he left the church, as he was still
sorting through his beliefs, he thought his road to salvation
might be assisted with tithing. So for a time he sent 10% of his
income to them. “They never sent those cheques back.” Thus
he thinks it’s possible they are getting outside support, but he
can’t say for sure.
Regardless of how they maintain their financial resources,
WBC is adept at always getting outside attention. In the age
of obnoxious attitudes selling reality TV shows, WBC is the
epitome of attention-whoredom when it comes to their protests.
A number of Phelps’ critics have suggested WBC’s actions are
a ploy to turn the public eye upon them above all else. People
have suggested ignoring them as a tactic – thereby reducing
the reward WBC gets at their protests. Nate doesn’t think that
would work entirely.
“...They are convinced more or less that they are doing God’s
work, and that any way to get more media attention is a good
way to get more people to hear their message because that’s
[WBC’s] job to get the message out.”
Nate concedes they also are probably enjoying what they do
in their protests because of the attention they get. So even if we
ignored them, they would continue to protest. The only thing we
can do is wait for the “old man” (as Nate calls him) to pass on
and hope Westboro Baptist Church crumbles without him.
Their eventual demise is one thing of which Nate is certain.
Years will pass, his parents will die, and his siblings will die—
despite their zealous belief that they and WBC members will
ascend to the clouds when Christ returns.
“They live with the certainty in their hearts that none of them
will die...but the reality that they will all die and in the end
there will be this sordid footnote legacy of this cruel group of
people who thought it was appropriate to treat people the way
they did...what kind of legacy is that?” To anyone who admires
Fred Phelps and points at what he has accomplished, Nate says
“Yeah, look what he’s done. Anybody could do that. It doesn’t
take talent. It doesn’t take years of effort and study. All it really
takes is a commitment to being evil.”
Nate Phelps
www.natephelps.com
The Grayness of Life
March 14 • www.gaycalgary.com/u23
44
Interview
From Top Model to Top Author
Miss J. Alexander on Top Model and Follow the Model
By Jason Clevett
You love him as the sarcastic, creative, guiding light on
America’s Next Top Model. What you don’t know is how
he got to be the #1 catwalk trainer in the world, and part
of the Top Model show. The story of J. Alexander’s rise to
fame is chronicled in the book Follow The Model.
“I thought, as much as I can talk I can probably write just as
much if not more! By writing a book I get to share my thoughts not
only with people who I know or stop me on the street, but to everyone
who likes to read.”
We caught up with Miss J. at his home in Paris. Something that
stands out about the book is its ability to draw in the reader with his
life story. Even if someone has never watched the TV show they can
enjoy the book and learn a few things.
“It was a conscientious decision,” he said of making the book
accessible to anyone. “The models were already getting the help, so
I thought the average non-fashion person can learn a tip or two or
three. My life is not about Top Model. It is a journey from the South
Bronx to Paris, and all the stops along the way.”
The story of the book is interspersed with advice, from a simple
“stay in school” to “don’t throw it away, re-create it.” There are
certainly some important messages to be gleaned.
“People stop me all the time wherever they can, asking me for tips,
usually fashion tips. Everyone, male and female, straight or gay, and
I mean they ask everywhere: in airports, shops, restaurants, walking
down the street... even public restrooms! Yes, when necessary I do
go public!”
Fans have been getting tips and meeting their fashion hero at
book signings.
“It has all been good so far! A few Queenagers (gay teens) have
said that it was good to have someone on TV living his life that has
become successful not only doing what he loves but being his crazy
ass gay self! I’ve also had people come up to me and say they learned
from watching me on TV, which I never would have imagined.”
With the next cycle of ANTM on the horizon we of course had to
ask Miss J. about some of her experiences on the show.
“I have been involved since Cycle One and became a judge in Cycle
Five. I have known Tyra for about 21 years. Her mom Carolyn called
me and said I had to do it and asked what I thought. I thought,
hmmmm...street walking downtown on the stroll would be the next
best thing, but then maybe TV would be better than street walking?
Everything has gotten bigger and flashier with extra colour, flair,
and a bit of fashion knowledge! The viewers get ‘Miss J’ as camp at
Christmas!”
The show has had diverse competitors including plus sized, short,
and transgender contestants. It’s in many ways changed viewers
perceptions of the modeling industry.
“All of the above have been part of the industry for awhile in one
way or another so for me it was no big deal. What it did do was open
the eyes of the public who have no fashion or modeling knowledge of
how diverse the industry is and can be.”
So will we ever see an all-male cycle?
“Unless they are a room full of screaming queens girrrrrl, it won’t
be the same! We have that already with RuPaul’s Drag Race! A room
full of hetero male models would be boring TV. Although now that
I think about it, they may fight over a protein bar or two, and the
weight machine, all of course in front of mirrors.”
He certainly gets frustrated with the drama that occurs during
makeovers and photo shoots.
“I do get annoyed with the girls who come to the casting screaming
that they will do whatever it takes to be on the show and become
America’s Next Top Model and then cry over three inches of hair, or
blonde vs. brunette.”
While initially not looked on positively in the industry, the show
has changed that perception as well.
“In the beginning the industry turned its nose down on the show,
claiming Top Model didn’t know what it was talking about, that the
girls are not in any fashion shows, you don’t see them on magazine
covers, that it is not real. Once it was successful and the big picture
came into focus, they saw Tyra’s vision and results many cycles
“I stand out! All 6’4” of me in all my gay
glory! What is more memorable than that”
 Miss J. Alexander
later. They all started to become closet watchers and then later
wanted to be involved or on the show in some way, shape, or fashion
form. The show is all over the world and most countries have their
own version as well.”
One country that has its own is of course, Canada, hosted by Jay
Manuel. Miss J. has appeared on the Canadian version, as well as
versions in Finland, Britain, Denmark, Sweden and Norway. I asked
about the differences between the Canadian and American shows.
“Are you trying to start some shit?!” she laughed. “The obvious for
sure is Mr. Jay Manuel, or is he really Tyra in ’Mrag’ (Male Drag).
The production team is smaller and has a smaller budget but they
have huge results. I would not expect anything less from Jay than
perfection!”
On a show that has had a lot of memorable moments, one thing
stands out to Miss. J.
“Me of course!! I stand out! All 6’4” of me in all my gay glory! What
is more memorable than that? Tyra’s screaming at Tiffany in Cycle
4? Jay’s blonde hair? Darling I say Me! Me! Me!”
Fashion designer, TV personality, Catwalk Consultant and now
author, Miss J. is an amazing success story for a gay black kid born
in the Bronx.
“I feel wonderful and blessed. It all comes from a good place in
spite of what others may say or think. I think others can take from
my success that it is important to be yourself and love yourself.
As for her Canadian LGBT fans, she had a few words just for
you.
“Thanks for watching and reading! Just do you before you do
others, meaning love yourself, all the good and bad parts and all the
little things in between. You have all my support as I’m sure I have
yours. Love OXOX, Miss ‘Gay Alexander’. Oops, I mean…Miss J.”
Follow the Model
In Stores Now!
America’s Next Top Model - Cycle 14
March 10th on CTV
45
Music
Music Review
Little Boots, k.d. lang
By Chris Azzopardi
Also Out
Patty Larkin, 25
Recollection
By: k.d. lang
Genre: Rock
My Rating: ½
Not even Evian water can rival the purity of k.d. lang’s voice.
So drink up, because the 22 songs on this double-disc collection
(also available in a deluxe version) – from the music legend’s multidecade, cross-genre career – mark some major milestones. And not
just with hits like “Constant Craving,” her defining moment that’s
included early on here. The mellowness of her warm, supple voice
sweeps through the breadth of songs – interpreting covers with
immeasurable astuteness, like on the intensely moving Hollies’
tune “The Air that I Breathe” and the longing of Neil Young’s achy
“Helpless.” Duets that were once only available via soundtracks
appear on Recollection: “Crying” with Roy Orbison, which has the
power to completely stop the world from moving, and “Calling
All Angels,” a quiet plea, sung with Jane Siberry, that somehow
became even more splendid after its Six Feet Under spot. If 2006’s
Reintarnation chronicled her twangy genesis, this set encompasses
the stylish elegance now oft-associated with her timeless tunes
– whether she’s melting us with the Beatles “Golden Slumbers/The
End” hybrid or moving us on two immaculate, understated versions
of “Hallelujah.” When Tony Bennett gushes during an intro to his
Grammy-winning duet with her on “Moonglow,” he says, “Every
once in a while there are certain performers who come along –
they’re just blessed with a destiny.” No kidding.
Hands
By: Little Boots
Genre: Pop
My Rating: ½
Good pop doesn’t work too hard. So luckily, few beads of sweat
trickle from the electro shimmer of Victoria “Little Boots” Hesketh’s
much-anticipated stateside landing. Odds are, however, that you
already knew the darling musician, who dropped an EP last year,
when she was still a self-made YouTube sensation performing
covers in her pajamas. But on her full-length debut, featuring
a plethora of producers, the British pixie’s stimulating a discoball glow, glittering the robotic lost-in-space sounds with a Kylie
Minogue kinship that won’t go unnoticed by any gay boys. “New
in Town” put her on the ’mo map, using simple Spice Girls singalong lyrics (“I’m gonna take you out tonight/I’m gonna make you
feel alright”) over buzzing synths that makes for one bubbly little
nugget of neon-strobed sweetness. By comparison, “Earthquake”
sounds bigger (and, with that name, shouldn’t it?), ruminating
on relationship woes – a running theme – in a dizzying display of
laser sounds and drum machines. Not making much of a rumble,
though, is the forgettable breeziness of the closing ballads: the
throwaway “No Brakes” and “Hearts Collide,” a major Minogue
mimic. The allure of Hesketh, though, is that she’s familiar
enough to get us hooked – dressing her music in ’80s influences
and doing disco-leaned danceables. Imagine how big Little Boots
will be when she finds a sound that’s all her own.
46
How genius: The revered sorta-folkie re-records songs for
each year of her 25-year career over two discs with some of
her BFFs. All of it, like most of the New Englander’s material,
is lo-fi and chill, turning some wicked guitar licks (no wonder
she’s been compared to Bonnie Raitt) and impassioned
testimonials, like “Cupid’s Knee,” one of her first recordings.
Even lesbian icon Janis Ian pops in, harmonizing with Larkin
on “Italian Shoes.” With a guest list this good, don’t forget to
RSVP.
Brandi Carlile, XOBC
Her booming pipes usually threaten everything in their
path, but the Seattle singer-songwriter goes for cute-andcuddly over loud-and-lifting on this iTunes download. Three
new cuts, the best being the piano-building conundrum “Love
Songs,” are cornered between two remakes: the Beatles staple
“All You Need Is Love” and Bryan Adams’ pop hit “Heaven.”
Sounding blissful, restrained and tender on the latter, there’s
no better way to describe it than by its own title.
Book
Gentlemen Prefer BMW’s
Toby: A Man
By Pam Rocker
“I have the simplest tastes. I am always satisfied with
the best.” – Oscar Wilde
I flunked out of charm school. Actually, since they were so
polite, I didn’t really fail. I simply got a weak handshake and a
cold, glassy stare. Maybe it was because I didn’t listen when they
were telling me how to properly contour my eye shadow or fold
a dinner napkin. In my defense, I was too busy looking at a red
head applying her lip liner.
Though I abide by my own unconventional code of conduct,
other’s rules of etiquette intrigue me. Mostly because one person’s
unbreakable tenet is another person’s casually overlooked
suggestion.
For example, my Dad was, and still is, always paranoid about
having plenty of napkins at the ready for every meal. You would
think he was expecting a spaghetti fight, when we were usually
munching on a conservative pot roast or our morning cheerios.
Compare this to friends of mine, who never have napkins or any
sort of mouth-wiping materials in sight. After experiencing a
night of hot wings sans napkins, and the awkward salivation and
finger licking that followed, I began bringing my own stash.
Unlike me, Toby Ménard, the protagonist of Todd Babiak’s latest
novel, Toby: A Man, knows how to fold a pocket-handkerchief so
it looks perfectly imperfect. He prides himself on being a true
gentleman and will accept nothing less from every other man
on the planet. The star of his own television show on etiquette,
Toby takes on the unscrubbed, huddled masses, and teaches
them the appropriate wait time between taking off their gloves
and shaking hands (“the hand must not be bare until precisely
before the shake”).
A BMW 335i in his driveway, a gorgeous news anchor at his
side and his Blackberry buzzing constantly inside the pocket of
his custom made Hugo Boss suit, Toby seems to have it all. That
is, until he discovers his Dad in a burning car and saves him
from what seems like a suicide attempt. After a harrowing night
in the hospital, he seeks solace at his girlfriend’s mansion, only
to find evidence that confirms his suspicions that she’s cheating
on him.
The next morning, drunk on NyQuil and grief, Toby majorly
screws up an interview with a conservative political candidate
and consequently gets canned from his TV show. Broke,
unemployed and single, he’s forced to trade in his BMW for a
cobweb filled Chevette, and moves into his parent’s basement.
Then, in a one-night stand gone awry, he ends up in custody of
an impressionable 2-year-old boy.
Set in Montreal, Toby: A Man is full of interesting and complex
relational dynamics and peppered with Babiak’s signature
humour, which some have compared to Woody Allen. Babiak, an
award-winning author, journalist, and screenwriter, says that
Toby’s journey is really about a gentleman becoming a man, and
in the process, redefining for himself what being a ‘real’ man is.
“Toby had given up on family, he thought he didn’t need it,”
says Babiak. “He’s tried to leave his background behind, but
then he’s forced to come back home. The people he admires are
rich, dress perfectly, speak perfect English, perfect French, and
know how to fold a pocket square at birth. His parents live in a
small house and own three hot dog shops.”
Parts of the book were inspired by real events in Babiak’s
life. Growing up in Leduc, Alberta, Babiak was asked why he
couldn’t be more like his brother, who was more of a typical
“guy’s guy”. His measure as a man was often judged because he
was interested in theatre and the arts.
“This idea that our legitimacy is caught up in whether or not
we measure up to a certain standard of masculinity is absurd. I
hope it’s the last generation of that kind of thinking.”
Babiak has been through his own journey on discovering what
being a man means for him personally. After the life-changing
events of both losing his father to brain tumours and the arrival of
his first daughter, he found a different way to measure success.
“Before my Dad died, I would’ve said that success for me would
be about the novels I’m writing, the screenplays that I’m doing,
how I feel about them and how the readers feel about them, a
sort of selfishness,” says Babiak.
“But being a man is really about dignity and moral purpose
which is always about the way you treat other people. When
you understand that, the way you act around people makes you
either a deeply flawed or a deeply honourable person. If I can fall
asleep knowing that I’ve been good to my family, my community,
then I am successful.”
A common theme in Babiak’s writing is his exploration of our
sense of connectedness or lack of it in society—the good and bad
things about the times we’re living in.
“How often do we make eye contact with the person we’re
with and have that human connection? There’s something in
these moments that we’re missing when we’re staring into our
Blackberry.”
As far as Toby: A Man, goes, Babiak opens up an fresh,
interesting look at a reverse rags to riches story. If I ever meet
him in person, I’ll be sure to look him right in the eye and remove
my glove precisely before I shake his hand. Take that, charm
school.
47
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50
Interview
Hollywood’s Hot Mess
Ke$ha talks about being bisexual (for real!), the infamous sign defacing and doing
makeup with ‘gay boyfriend’ Adam Lambert
By Chris Azzopardi
Ke$ha’s so crazy she pees in wine bottles and pukes in
closets. Because of that frat-boy behavior, she’s just as
easy to love as she is to hate. But try denying the power
of her bratty brand of bust-a-move pop, so manipulated
that it’s almost inhuman. The apropos name of her
unruly debut, after all, is Animal – the album that
knocked Susan Boyle out of the top spot and spurred
the chart-hijacking club-catch “TiK ToK.”
The sassy troublemaker spoke to us about naysayers calling
her a one-hit wonder, the Hollywood sign she allegedly defaced
and being legitimately bisexual.
GayCalgary: So you like to drink.
Ke$ha: I’ve never had alcohol in my life! (Laughs)
GayCalgary: What was your first drinking experience like?
Ke$ha: I told my mom I wanted to try alcohol, and she’s like,
“OK, you and your friends can just sleep in the basement and I’ll
buy you some alcohol and you can see what it’s like.” We drank
this bottle of coconut rum, and me and my girlfriend ran around
in circles and then passed out, and I was puking for two days. I
didn’t drink for at least two years after that.
GayCalgary: How old were you?
Ke$ha: That’s when I was, like, 17.
GayCalgary: You seem to have some sort of puking problem.
Ke$ha: No, it was just the Malibu rum and eating bad sushi
and drinking champagne and dancing too hard.
GayCalgary: Is that the same mix that caused you to throw up
in Paris Hilton’s closet?
Ke$ha: You could say that.
GayCalgary: This album, as you’ve said, is pretty
autobiographical.
Ke$ha: It is. It’s something that either I or a close friend has
gone through, so it’s all personal experience – whether it’s my
personal experience or a close friend or a good story I heard.
GayCalgary: A lot of it, though, isn’t that deep – intentionally
so, right?
Ke$ha: If you went through my iTunes and listened to all
the music that I’ve ever written, I’ve got some deep ones, I’ve
got some political songs, some country, some blues. But this
record, I’m young and I’m irreverent, and the world can be a very
pretentious place and I’m frankly just sick of it, so why not put
out a record that’s kind of just ridiculous – unapologetically so?
GayCalgary: In 20 years, when you’re in your 40s, what kind
of music will you be recording?
Ke$ha: Hopefully when I’m 40 I’ll be recording a sick punkrock album – and have, like, purple hair.
GayCalgary: Some people are quick to call you a one-hit
wonder. How do you feel about that?
Ke$ha: Honestly, I think that’s hilarious. I’d rather be a onehit wonder than a no-hit wonder (laughs).
GayCalgary: Now the whole Hollywood sign hoopla, where you
wrote your name over it so it’d read “Ke$hawood.” What’s the
real story?
Ke$ha: Legally, I’m not allowed to tell.
GayCalgary: Seriously? Says who?
Ke$ha: Uh-huh. Says my attorney (laughs). All I can say is just
watch the video. Um, OK, I’m getting a look (from my manager).
51
GayCalgary: You ambiguously acknowledged your sexuality
in an Out interview, saying you like “people.” What does that
mean?
Ke$ha: I just appreciate people – just good, sexy people with
great energy. I’m not saying I haven’t made out with a girl,
because that would be a lie. But I definitely like dudes, too. So
I’m not even confused. I just like what I like when I like it.
GayCalgary: Were you drunk when you made out with a
woman? Were you in a relationship with one?
Ke$ha: I’ve never actually been in a real long-term relationship
with a woman, but I’m not opposed to it. I’m totally open to
falling in love with a man, woman, or
anything in between. I just think it’s
all about how people make me feel and
what my instincts about someone are.
That’s really why I named the record
Animal, because I am an animal and
I’m not scared of anything.
GayCalgary: So you’ll act on those
animal instincts if you have to.
Ke$ha: Absolutely! I would be doing
my life experience an injustice if I didn’t
act upon things I think I should.
GayCalgary: A lot of people, though,
are reacting to your bisexuality as if it’s
part of a Hollywood fad, that you’re just
using this as a publicity ploy like Katy
Perry. How do you feel about that?
Ke$ha: That’s ridiculous, because I
wasn’t using this as a marketing tool in
the song. I’m not singing about it, and
I’m not doing it for attention. Have you
ever seen a picture of me kissing a girl?
I mean, there might be one out there,
but I’ve never seen one (laughs).
So I’m not shoving it in people’s
faces – and if you talk to me, it’s my
philosophy on life. If you listen to the
last song on the record, I’m in love with
what we are and not what we should
be. Some people don’t think I should
make out with women. I think that’s
fucking ridiculous. All people should
be treated exactly equal on every level. People can say what they
want, but I’m definitely not using it for any sort of marketing.
GayCalgary: Good. We don’t want another one of those.
Ke$ha: If I did, I’d be making out with somebody in a video,
being more public about it. I’m just saying if I want to, I’ll do it
and nobody can stop me – and I don’t think there’s anything
wrong with it.
GayCalgary: You did say you’d kiss Susan Boyle after
dethroning her from the No. 1 spot on the albums chart.
Ke$ha: Hell yeah I would! She looks like she needs a makeout session. I’m not saying I’m going to get Susan Boyle off, but
I’ll make out with her.
GayCalgary: You were raised in Nashville and listened to
Dolly Parton and other country greats. How did your country
upbringing rub off on you? Did you ever consider going in that
direction musically?
Ke$ha: I love country music because it’s all stories, and it’s
honest and to the point and very blatant. I took that and twisted
it to be in the words of a rambunctious, crazy party animal. I
really like punk rock, and I love the Beastie Boys and I love early
Madonna, so I really think my record is a reflection of all my
influences growing up.
GayCalgary: You’re close to your mom, who even co-wrote
several songs on the album. How has she influenced you?
Ke$ha: One of my first memories is when we were really broke
growing up and she’s like, “If you want something, you gotta
take it. It’s up to you to get what you want.” And I feel like that’s
really good advice for anyone. You can’t depend on anybody else
52
to provide you with what you want. You have to go out there and
put your balls on the table and take that shit.
GayCalgary: You’re performing for gay audiences in April at
Dinah Shore Weekend and the White Party in Palm Springs.
What do you have in store for partiers?
Ke$ha: It’s going to be amazing. When I play a show, I want
to be the commander-in-chief of the dance floor, and I go crazy
on stage. I just hope I inspire people to go nuts and lose their
minds. Again, going along with this whole Animal vibe, if you
want to dance, or if you want to make out with the person next
to you, or if you want to jump on stage, or if you just want to
go nuts, go nuts! When you’re at my
shows, that’s your safe place to give in
to the rawness of your instincts.
GayCalgary: What’s different about
performing for gay audiences versus
straight ones?
Ke$ha: Um, gay audiences are the
best audiences in the entire world!
(Laughs)
GayCalgary: Uh-oh. You’re going to
offend all the straight fans.
Ke$ha: (Laughs) Sorry! Maybe
they should come to a gay show; they
would agree. I just played a gay dance
party in Paris. It was so insane. All
these gay French men – it was so hot
and amazing. I just feel more at home
around people that aren’t pretentious,
and I feel like gay men and I really have
an understanding that we’re here to
have fun. It’s all about having a really
good time and dancing and being
happy as opposed to being jealous or
putting me down for any reason.
GayCalgary: Why are gay men
drawn to you?
Ke$ha: It’s the irreverence. We
share a kindred spirit of caring about
the right things, but of really not being
uptight about our sexuality.
GayCalgary: Adam Lambert is a
friend of yours – maybe more, based on some flirty tweeting
that’s gone on lately.
Ke$ha: (Laughs) I know. He’s my gay boyfriend.
GayCalgary: Has he given you any makeup tips?
Ke$ha: Yes! We’re the king and queen of glitter.
GayCalgary: Who’s the queen?
53
Theatre
 Ronnie Burkett as Billy Twinkle with Rusty
Ronnie Burkett
Canadian Puppet Icon on Life, Loss, and Billy Twinkle
By Jason Clevett
I love Ronnie Burkett. I am left in awe each and every
time I see one of his marionette shows. It’s remarkable
to note that he writes the scripts himself, and in fact
has his fingers in every aspect of his shows (pardon the
pun).
In January 2007, I went to see Ronnie do a reading of a script he was
working on in Calgary. Just shy of two years later, that script came to
life and Billy Twinkle: Requium For A Golden Boy debuted at the Citadel
Theatre in Edmonton. It was well worth the trip I made up to see the show.
I still remember the story of Billy Twinkle, a middle aged gay puppeteer who
was standing on the bow of a cruise ship preparing to jump off before his
mentor Sid Diamond appears in the form of a hand puppet and makes him
relive his life. It was funny, brilliant, and simply put, must-see theatre.
After a small jaunt around the world, Billy returns to Burkett’s home
province, playing at Alberta Theatre Projects from March 18th to April 11th
this year.
“It has been an interesting year and a half. After we saw you guys in
Edmonton we went to Ottawa, Vancouver, and then four cities in six weeks
in England, and then Australia which was great,” said Burkett over the
phone from Toronto, where he now lives.
“Ottawa and Vancouver’s audience reactions was through the roof, it
was always full and had a positive reaction and laughed a lot. I found
England kind of didn’t get it, I think they thought Billy was me which was
a great compliment. They were sort of like why is he doing variety acts?
Then in Australia we had a great reaction. At the end of the day I don’t
know if Billy fits into the cannon of my other stuff, it seems to be singular
in that there is a lot of me on stage and the puppet design is different—it is
just a different beast. It has been a really interesting challenge to perform
this show.”
The first half of Billy’s journey wasn’t easy as Burkett received word that
his Mother was ill while he was in Australia.
“The second last week in Sydney at the Opera House, my Mom had a
stroke in Medicine Hat. I canceled my second week, flew back to Alberta,
got her in palliative care, stayed up for four days, flew back to Sidney to
finish my final week and she passed away. It is literally the other side of
the world. The [people of the] Sidney Opera House were great, they and
my agent came to me and said go home now. I did the whole thing, my
parents would want me to stay and I knew I should go. It came down to
them saying here’s your flight, you are booked and going. You hear horror
stories about producers and presenters in the arts but I was at one of the
greatest places in the world and they also acted great. I’ve spent a lot of
time in Medicine Hat this fall just sorting out my Mom’s stuff, which was
unexpected.”
54
On top of that, Burkett and his partner, jazz singer John Alcorn, moved
prior to going to Australia.
“I had a pretty large studio close to downtown Toronto and the rent just
kept getting higher and higher. We had sold our house and were living
in an apartment until we decided what we wanted to do. I sat down one
day and realized if I bought a building and combined it all, I could cut my
monthly costs in half. I built three shows in that studio and that seems to
be my max, I needed a new environment to kick start myself. We bought
a funky storefront and live in the apartment above it. The plan was to
come back from Australia, do some renovations on the new studio, set up
shop and get to work. With all the stuff in Alberta we really didn’t start
renovating until the middle of December. The studio renovations will be
done tomorrow and then I can finally unpack.”
There is some irony in how his life has unfolded during this time
period.
“When I originally wrote Billy I was pretty adamant and clear that it was
not my life story and then suddenly the minute Billy premiered, life started
slapping me around like I was its little bitch. I kind of understand Billy on
a whole bunch of other levels now. I won’t be standing on the edge of a ship
waiting to jump”
Now that the shop is set up, Burkett is making plans for his next
show.
“It is going to be a doozy! I was just chomping to get the studio setup so
I could start drawing and playing again. There is some other Billy touring
after Toronto but in terms of how my brain works during the spring and
summer I will start actively getting going on the next one, pick a premier date
and hustle up some money to get it built. 2011 is Theatre of Marionette’s
25th anniversary so I have always been keen to have a new show premier
in 2011. We are already in 2010 so that isn’t very far away.”
It will be the first time in years that Burkett has planned to have two
shows rotating in the same time period.
“That is what we will do. When there was the trilogy of Tinka’s New
Dress, Street of Blood and Happy they were in rep for several years. Tinka
might go to Germany and Street of Blood would be in England and Scotland.
We were shipping stuff to various places and off we would go and do them.
The downside of that was, I always had seven and a half hours of text in
my head. After Provenance I just decided to do one show, tour it and put it
to bed. With Billy I think we are going to keep it open while we are building
and premiering the new show.”
As for Billy Twinkle itself, it truly is a work of art in many ways. I
was privileged in Edmonton to get a rare behind the scenes look at his
marionettes. They feature incredible detail, down to tiny hairs on puppets
legs and little Nike logos. These minute details aren’t something the
audience in a large theatre usually gets to see, which prompts the question,
why put so much detail into them?
“I think I just ingrained in everybody that’s worked for me over the years
that if I look down on something and see a blob of glue or unfinished joint
or a stitch coming out of a costume, in the moment of performance I get
derailed. I will think, you know what, I should have sanded that again, or
I wish we would have made that out of something else. So that obsessive
detail has a two-fold purpose. The first, so that the guy on stage never gets
sidetracked and can actually stay in the show; the other point is sometimes
the puppets are seen on a poster, or billboard and that detail does get seen
in other media if not onstage. What is sad these days, and it is mostly
because of cutbacks and the economy, is a lot of theatre craftspeople
are not encouraged to be obsessive and do their best. Everything is on a
tight budget and time-line. I am lucky enough to have some really great
craftspeople working for me. I am quite happy to have things that are
beautifully crafted just for the sake of it.”
Puppets are almost harder to work with than human actors. At times he
has had to improvise if there is a caught string or costume issue.
“I do the hardest part at the start of the show, that stripper still fills me
with terror. The preset and rigging of those strings for the stripper to work
every night I take very seriously. Some nights one of those strings will just
catch on a pin or I will pull it the wrong way. It is a puppet show and there
are hundreds of strings up there so just when you get in the zone, you walk
someone on and their string gets caught on the set.”
This being Burkett’s “big gay show”, it opens up dialogue with the
audience who has in the past been primarily mixed gay and straight. It is
also an opportunity to broach the topic with your own friends and family.
“A show like Billy, where he is gay, and the boy he meets at the end is
new gay, a teenage kid who is so obviously out that he doesn’t have to come
out. I think it would be a good way to open up some discussion. I have had
a couple of puppeteers see the show who have actually worked on cruise
ships: One from Australia and one from California who flew to Australia
to see the show. They were both quite unnerved and unsettled by it. They
both loved the show and appreciated each element of it but it was a bit too
close to home. It wasn’t just the cruise ship aspect, one of them said all
that early gay stuff brought up a lot of memories. People bring their frame
of reference to the theatre. Some gay people will find Billy’s home life to be
funny, but others will find it a little telling: Billy’s relationship with Bryan,
coming out to your boss or mentor, any of that stuff.”
What interests him is the journey the audience takes with him, from
a lighthearted whirlwind opening, slowly progressing to a tale with more
elements of tragedy.
“I hear the reaction and gauge it by that. I have perfected a great
technique where it looks like you are looking directly into their eyes and
acknowledging them all but I don’t look at anyone. If I was to lock eyes
with somebody in the audience I would be like a deer in the headlights. The
start of the show is a variety show so people applaud and laugh. Then there
is little Billy and his audacity as a child which is charming and funny.
We are going along that route and then all of a sudden you see 15 year
old Billy with his piano teacher and are really getting that this is a gay
kid, and people start getting either worried about that, or open up a little
more. By the time we see Billy in the nightclub being approached by the
businessman to come to his room, that for me is the defining moment for
the audience in the show. There will be people who will want to laugh really
loudly at that because they are so uncomfortable, but other nights people
get really quiet and go oh my goodness, this is a 15 year old boy being
invited back to a motor lodge room by a probably a married businessman.
That for me is where the show twists, that it is not all light and breezy but
has some reality to it.”
While this description may seem like a downer, in truth Billy Twinkle is
a very warm story that is far happier than Burkett’s past work.
“I was aware of when Billy was coming together that I needed to be a bit
brighter overall. The design of the puppets is completely outside of what
any of the past puppets looked like. The set is bright, the lighting, music
is all brighter and fresher, and do not give in to Billy’s tragedy. At the end
of the day it is an ambiguous ending, as I usually end things. You kind of
expect that Billy is being bullied into going on, and sometimes that is what
it is, you just go on.”
To experience a Ronnie Burkett piece is to truly experience the artistry
of live theatre. This is the only time you will get to see Billy Twinkle: Reqium
For A Golden Boy on stage in Calgary, so don’t miss out.
“If you are going to go to the theatre, this is home made, homegrown
theatre that will be a really good night out. It is not a franchise musical on
tour for the 12th time. It is about showing up and being part of an experience
that comes and then will disappear forever. It really is live theatre I think.
There are moments of great humor and joy and entertainment in this show
so you get a little bit of everything for your buck.
Alberta Theatre Projects
www.atplive.com
Billy Twinkle: Requiem For A Golden Boy
March 18 - April 11, 2010
55
56
 Interview - From Page 11
help fuel my desire to get better, always. To know that I had that
opportunity and what is possible.”
Faber is not the only SYTYCDC participant who has performed
for a Jackson. Winner Nico Archambault and finalist Natalli
Reznik danced in Janet Jackson’s Make Me video, and at the 2009
American Music Awards. Faber’s style doesn’t quite fit with the likes
of Madonna or Britney Spears, but there is one artist that is tops
on his list.
“There are a couple of artists that I would [dance for] but [backup
dancing] is not my ultimate goal. One artist I respect not only for his
music but his talent and presence is Justin Timberlake. I would love
to be in his show. I respect him a lot as a person and an artist. He
is probably the top show that I would want to be in. I would love to
dance for someone like Janet, that would be amazing but different
types and genres and types of dancing go along with different artists
and the one I feel I would fit best for is Justin’s show.”
The future is bright for the 23 year old.
“I love acting in movies and am taking classes because I would
like to do more. I am doing more choreographing and getting heavier
and heavier into my own dance, and training harder. Sometimes I
will wake up and I am in whatever city doing a show or rehearsal,
and I put on music and can’t believe I am doing what I am doing. I
am very fortunate and feel like I am living the life.”
Miles Faber
www.MilesMoves.com
 Interview - From Page 12
in the world and tour. I can definitely say that is the farthest my music
has gone.”
Before she targets worldwide domination however, she has a lengthy
cross-Canada trek that kicked off March 2nd in Vancouver and takes
her to several smaller cities across the country.
“Even though I have a fully produced CD, I really enjoy playing
acoustically. I am doing a week of touring in BC with my full band and
then when I set out across Canada it is a fairly minimal setup. It is just
me in a duo. Smaller towns so often get overlooked and missed—when
you do tour there, people are so appreciative to have live music in their
city and the response is amazing. Quite often I end up in a very intimate
venue and those are my favorite gigs because they are magical. People
are right there looking at you in the face, hearing your lyrics—connecting
to the songs and feeling the honesty in your lyrics. I am really glad I am
still hitting up those places.”
The tour brings Laurell to The Blind Beggar Pub in Calgary on April
14th and the Haven Social Club April 21st in Edmonton.
“Make sure you go to the Blind Begger ahead of time and pick up your
free drink ticket. People can expect to see me in raw form. These songs
are being played how they were written. They will get the true spirit of
my songs because it is so broken down as far as instrumentation. They
can expect to hear Can’t Stop Falling the single airing all over the place.
I hope that they will connect with my music and experience something
new in my sound and the way I connect with them and making it a night
to remember.”
Laurell - Can’t Stop Falling
In stores and on iTunes now.
On Tour
April 14 - The Blind Beggar, Calgary
April 21 - Haven Social Club, Edmonton
57
Photography
58
Bad Romance Dance - Calgary
Kent Monkman Exhibit at the Glenbow Museum - Calgary
MRU Gender Bender - Calgary
ManHunt Road Trip at Play Nightclub - Edmonton
Photography
Country Music Celebration at Prism, Edmonton
Queen of Hearts Show at Boots - Edmonton, Photos by B&J
Mr. and Ms. Polar Ice 2010 at Buddies - Edmonton
Team Edmonton Mixer - Edmonton
59
Photography
Calgary Eagle 8th Anniversary - Calgary
60
61
62
63

PDF - GayCalgary.com

Transcription

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