xtina xposed

Transcription

xtina xposed

APRIL 2014
® ISSUE 126 • FREE
The Voice of Alberta’s LGBT Community
Bruce Campbell
“Gimme some sugar, baby!”
Interview with
KYLIE
MINOGUE
Raph Solo
Chasing Love
PLUS:
Emily Expo
Nate Berkus
Sam J Jones
Vancouver - Spectacular by Nature
...and more!
Business Directory
Phi Phi O’Hara
is Bitchy...
Scan to Read on
Mobile Devices
Community Map
Calgary • Alberta • Canada
Events Calendar
Tourist Information
STARTING ON PAGE 63
www.gaycalgary.com
2
GayCalgary Magazine #126, April 2014
www.gaycalgary.com
www.gaycalgary.com
3
4
www.gaycalgary.com
Table of Contents
DaveAzzopardi,
Brousseau,Dave
SamBrousseau,
Casselman,Constable
Jason Clevett,
Chris
Andy
Andrew
Collins,
EmilyRob
Collins,
Rob Diaz-Marino,
Buck, Jason
Clevett,
Diaz-Marino,
Janine
Janine
Eva Trotta,
Fertig,
GlenLock,
Hanson,
Joan
Eva-Trotta,
Evan Jack
Kayne,
Stephen
DavidHilty, Evan
Kayne,
Stephen
Lock, Neil
McMullen,
Elijah
Nahmod,
Jane
M. Oxenbury,
Steve
Polyak,
Allan
Steve
Polyak,
Rutherford,
CareyNeuwirth,
Rutherford,
Romeo
SanCarey
Vicente,
Jeremy
RomeoJim
SanScott,
Vicente,
Sikov, Nick
Vivian
and
Sanders,
SkipEdSheffield,
Krista
Sylvester,
the
of Calgary,
Edmonton,
and
MarsGLBT
TonicCommunity
and the LGBT
Community
of Calgary,
Alberta.
Edmonton,
and Alberta.
Photography
Steve Polyak, Rob Diaz-Marino,
J & B, Farley FooB&J
Foo, Cheryl Patricia,
Madelaine Robillard
Videography
Steve Polyak,
Rob Diaz-Marino
Videography
Steve Polyak, Rob Diaz-Marino
Printers
North Hill News/Central
Web
Sales
Craig Connell
Distribution
[email protected]
Calgary: Gallant Distribution
GayCalgary
PrintersStaff
Edmonton:
Distribution
WebClark’s
exPress
Other: Canada Post
Distribution
LegalGayCalgary
Council Staff
Calgary:
Courtney
Aarbo, Barristers
andFoo
Solicitors
Edmonton:
Farley Foo
Other: Canada Post
Sales &Legal
General
Inquiries
Council
GayCalgary
andBarristers
Edmontonand
Magazine
Courtney
Aarbo,
Solicitors
2136 17th Avenue SW
Calgary, AB,
Canada
General
Inquiries
T2T ®0G3
GayCalgary
Magazine
2136 17th Avenue SW
T2T 0G3 ONLY
Office Calgary,
Hours:AB,ByCanada
appointment
[email protected]
Phone:
403-543-6960
Toll Free: 1-888-543-6960
Office Hours: By appointment ONLY
Fax: 403-703-0685
Phone:
403-543-6960
E-Mail:
[email protected]
Free: 1-888-543-6960
Fax:
403-703-0685
This Month's
Cover
E-Mail:
[email protected]
Cher
and Christina
Aguilera courtesy of Sony
Pictures; Annie Lennox courtesy of Mike Owen;
This Rex
Month's
Cover
Goudie.
Main: Kylie Minogue, photo by William Baker
Top Right: Bruce Campbell, Mid Right: Raph Solo,
Proud Members of:
Bottom Right: Phi Phi O’Hara
Proud Members of:
More than Playing Dress Up
Jessica Nigri: the Gateway Drug into Cosplay
10 Jack-of-all-Genres
DJ Scotty Thomson Brings his Fusion Beats to the Western Cup Dance
11 Cheerlead, Play or Party
Western Cup Offers Weekend of Fun and Community Giving
12 Nico Archambault
Master of all Trades on Dealing with Bullying, Dancing with Janet and Playing
the Objectified Male
14 Out of the Choral Box
PAGE 16
Writers and Contributors
Mercedes
Allen, Chris
Dallas Barnes,
Writers
andAzzopardi,
Contributors
7
How YouTube helped bring the Calgary Men’s Chorus to Carnegie Hall
16 Emily Expo
From Bullied Teen to Expo Queen
17 Parenting Proud
What’s in a Name
18 Thank God for Fred Phelps’ Death
His son and congregation on the passing of a notorious hatemonger
19 Discussing Community Safety
Introducing Anti-Bullying Advocate, Officer Tad Milmine
20 The Quest for Gay-Straight Alliances in
Alberta Schools
Liberal MLA Wants Change
PAGE 21
Publisher: Steve Polyak
Editor: Rob Diaz-Marino
Copy Sales:
Editor:Steve
Janine
Polyak
Eva-Trotta
Sales:
DesignSteve
& Layout:
Polyak
Rob Diaz-Marino,
Design & Layout:
Ara Shimoon
Rob Diaz-Marino, Steve Polyak
APRIL 2014
e
n
zi
21 Pillow Talk with Nate Berkus
‘Design Santa’ on home show, a disastrous home-ec project and his boring
conversations with Oprah
a
g
a
22 Gimme some sugar, baby!
m
Bruce Campbell Chainsaws his Way to the Calgary Expo
24 Deep Inside Hollywood
Brad Pitt’s undead reunion
PAGE 22
®
26 Madame Butterfly
Quintessential Opera Beckons Even the Doubtful of Hearts
27 The Passion of Sergius and Bacchus
Gay Marriage in Pre-Modern Times
28 Air Supply
Love Ballad Kings Team up with the Calgary Philharmonics
Edmonton Rainbow
Business Association
29 Hot August in Ohio!
Gay Rodeo Saddles up to Gay Games this Summer
30 Out of Town
International Gay & Lesbian
Travel Association
32 Vancouver, BC
“Spectacular by Nature”
National Lesbian & Gay
Journalists Association
Gay European Tourism
Association
40 From Tears of Weeping to Tears of Joy
Openly Transgender Pastor Megan Rohrer Celebrates Installation with Pop Praise
Continued on Next Page 
www.gaycalgary.com
PAGE 32
Cleveland and Gay Games 9
5
Table of Contents
 Continued From Previous Page
41 Eat for Your Life!
®
Tasty fundraiser grants opportunity to dine out and give back
42 It’s a Sad World After All
A Great Big World Duo talk crying, Christina and being queer
44 Safety Under the Rainbow: A History
PAGE 46
The birth and growth of services for LGBT experiencing domestic violence
45 Flash Gordon
46 Phi Phi O’Hara is “Bitchy”
The RuPaul’s Drag Race Star Pop Rocks
48 Driving Solo
50 Kiss & Tell
PAGE 48
Queer Eye
A Couple of Guys
News Releases
Ms. GayCalgary April 2014 - April Storm
Directory and Events
Classified Ads
a
m
PAGE 50
e
n
i
z
a
g
Scan for Latest Issue:
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 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. February
2012 returned to GayCalgary Magazine.
February 2013, GayCalgary® becomes a
registered trademark.
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.
http://www.gaycalgary.com/RSS
Articles • Recent News • Prize Draws • Events • Travel Info
http://www.gaycalgary.com/Twitter
Follow us on Twitter for articles, weekly news and updates!
PAGE 62
Readers Per Copy: 4.9 (PMB)
Print Readership: >9800
Avg. Online Circulation: 310,000 readers
Estimated Total Readership:
>319,800 readers
Frequency: Monthly
Distribution Locations:
Kylie Minogue on starting over, Sia’s sex songs and Australia’s ‘backwards’
gay marriage ban
6
2,000–3,000 copies
Guaranteed Circulation: 2,000 copies
Bonus Circulation: up to 1,000 copies
Proof of monthly figures are
available on request.
Out artist Raph Solo Chases Love
Scan for this Issue:
Monthly Print Quantity:
Readership
Sam J Jones, saving the world on screen and off
53
59
60
62
63
68
Magazine Figures
http://www.gaycalgary.com/Facebook
http://www.gaycalgary.com/FacebookFan
Join us on Facebook for articles, weekly news and updates!
Copyright 2014. All rights reserved.
GayCalgary® is a registered trademark.
MAY 2014 Print Deadlines
Ad Booking: Wed, Apr 30
Submission: Fri, May 2
In Circulation: Thurs, May 8
Please contact us immediately if
you think you may have missed the
booking or submission deadline.
http://www.gaycalgary.com/i126
More articles and exclusive content online!
www.gaycalgary.com
Interview
More than Playing Dress Up
Jessica Nigri: the Gateway Drug into Cosplay
By Mars Tonic
If you don’t know who Jessica Nigri is, now is your time to find
out. She is quirky, sweet, an utter fangirl – and a well known
figure in the cosplay community.
To those new, cosplay (from costume play) is simply the word that sums
up what most people think of when they think of comic conventions:
nerds dressing like the nerdy things they like. There is so much more to
it, however, with an entire culture surrounding it, which even changes
from country to country. The cosplayers in Japan are different from
those in Australia, for example.
It has burgeoned into a community of fandom, craftsmanship and,
often, elitism. In the end though, almost every cosplayer starts out the
same way: with love for their fandom.
Jessica Nigri blew into the spotlight after attending the San Diego
Comic Con in 2008. Though she cosplayed without any expectations
about it, she caught attention almost immediately with her somewhat
risqué version of a Pikachu. Christened JNigs by fans and haters
alike, she has been expanding her image and working tirelessly on her
costumes, building up her skills and travelling to conventions.
Known for her sexy versions of beloved game and TV show characters,
she has garnered more than her fair share of unwelcome attention.
Preparing for Calgary Expo in April, she treated us to an early interview
to discuss cosplay, the community that fosters it, and its current hot
topics, like the advent of the Cosplay =/= Consent movement.
GC: What drew you to cosplay in the first place?
www.gaycalgary.com
JN: I had no idea what cosplay was when I first started. My friend got
me a ticket for San Diego Comic Con for Christmas in 2008. And he was
like, sometimes people dress up, I don’t know if you want to do that, and
I was like, ok! And I was literally like I love Pokémon, and I’m blonde, and
Pikachu’s yellow, so..., and I went, and it just blew up. I had no idea what
cosplay was, and then all of a sudden it was just there, staring me in the
face. You get to make cool things, meet awesome people; everyone has
the same interests... so that’s how it started for me. I was thrown into it.
GC: Besides cosplay, what’s your favourite thing about conventions?
JN: I really, really enjoy conventions for the people, because it’s
so great meeting someone and telling them that you have such and
such amount of collectible figurines, and having them not stare at you
awkwardly, you know? It’s really awesome common ground for people
to hang out and just be who they are. I like seeing all the costumes,
too, because the craftsmanship of other people just astounds me. I’ll tell
you right now, I don’t think I am an accurate portrayal of the cosplay
community. I think I am an easy gateway drug. I’ll cater to everyone and
in that way, I get all the people on my page, and then they get to see the
real, real intense people who actually know how to cosplay and stuff. I’m
kind of like... a spokesperson for the general public.
GC: You’re interactive with your fans - did you decide to be like that
or was it just naturally what you wanted to do?
JN: This is how I am. I don’t ever see myself as famous or anything, I
just kind of see myself as one of them. I just wanted to steer myself away
from that idea of fame. Everyone is bros. Everyone.
7
GC: In terms of cosplay harassment, do you think you’re more
exposed to it, or does your status protect you?
JN: I feel like I’m a Shieldmaiden of Rohan; I’m right in the front. I
legitimately don’t care what kind of costume I do, as long as I like it and
have a connection with it. I won’t follow the cosplay norm, and I think
that pisses a lot of people off because it’s a little bit more risqué, but
that’s just how I like to show my fandom. It does really irritate a lot of
people in the community. They judge you so hard before they even get to
know you and it just blows my mind.
GC: It opens up a lot of discussion when you think about how a
convention is for us to get together and be ourselves, and there’s still
people who want to marginalize each other. There’s been a lot of talk
about the movement Cosplay =/= Consent, and how people at cons face
a lot of bad attention.
JN: That’s why I’m always nice. People will be blatantly talking crap
about me and I will just go up and compliment them on their costumes,
because I was kind of raised Catholic... treat people the way you want
to be treated, turn the other cheek, that kind of stuff. When people are
mean I try to diffuse it or act nice to them, because I think we all like this
kind of stuff because we want to escape a little, because maybe our lives
aren’t really that great and we want to be able to dress up or something
and become someone else for even a little bit. And if someone that doesn’t
know what it is tries to encroach on that, people start to freak out. So I’m
always nice to people even if they’re mean to me, because I’m like, dude,
you’re probably hurting inside, so I’m going to be nice.
People always ask me how I deal with the way people talk to me,
and treat me online, and honestly I just ignore it because I know it’s
all bullcrap anyway. I know a lot of people that aren’t used to it can get
really offended, with good reason. I do believe cosplay is not consent,
but I do believe you have to have a backbone if you’re going to dress the
way you dress. If you dress this way, you have to know - you can’t think
you weren’t going to get that kind of attention. Of course you did. So
when people are like that to them, I think they should be able to defend
themselves and not look like a b----.
GC: One of the problems is that people who come to conventions –
be they men, women, or in between – sometimes they don’t feel safe to
disagree with the attention, and some conventions don’t have policies
in place.
JN: That’s true. I do think that conventions should have those things
in place, where if you are harassed, that person should get kicked out.
If you want to dress that way, you should be able to deal with it yourself
and be able to talk to someone about getting rid of that person.
GC: Do you have any personal experiences about the fake geek girl
myth that’s been going around recently?
JN: Ohhhhh. Every day. People always want to play League of
Legends with me, and then we play and I destroy them, and they’re like,
... Oh. You actually play. Yeah. Yeah I do.
Online Last Month (1/2)
The OutField
The Ultimate Game
So how gay is frisbee? Pretty gay. It’s a
sport – which is actually called “Ultimate”
and played with a “disc,” because
“Frisbee”...
http://www.gaycalgary.com/a3973
Deep Inside Hollywood
Ellen Page, Freeheld at last
Long in the works, the Ellen Page project
Freeheld couldn’t be coming together at a
better moment. The actor has just gone
public with her sexual orientation...
Creep of the Week
Coalition for Family Values
What do you do when you’re losing your
ideological battle at the national level?
Why, you go global! Which is why a group
of A-List anti-gay folks have...
Creep of the Week
Gina Miller
Sound the alarm! Radical homosexuals
are coming for your God-given rights! And
they probably are armed with pie tins full
of whipped cream and/or glitter....
Hear Me Out
Lea Michele, Amy Ray, Ghost
Beach, Robert Ellis
Lea Michele, Louder The business of
turning a theater-born star into a bona
fide pop act isn’t as easy as it looks, and
Lea Michele knows this from seeing...
Creep of the Week
Ted Cruz
View Bonus Pics/Videos • Share with a Friend • Post Comments
America is a tough place for sensitive
men. Crying is forbidden unless a guy
wants to be seen as some kind of fag. But
there are a few select places where...
Hear Me Out
Kylie Minogue, Kid Cudi, Pharrell
Williams, The Notwist
Kylie Minogue, Kiss Me Once You gotta
feel bad for every non-gay American not
currently enraptured by Kylie Minogue.
Sure, they know the Aussie diva...
8
www.gaycalgary.com
Online Last Month (2/2)
Creep of the Week
Steve King
There comes a time in every thinking
person’s life when he or she has to take a
serious look in the mirror and say, “I live
in a country where Steve...
Jay Malinowski Sets Sail For Alberta
Bedouine Soundclash frontman
touring behind Martel
Who is Martel? That is not only the website
dedicated to Jay Malinowski’s new album
but what will be explored this...
Kings of Leon a Straight Up
Bucking Rock Show
It has been a few years since Nashville
rockers Kings of Leon played Calgary.
Since then the Followill family (brothers
Caleb on vocals and guitar, Jared...
www.gaycalgary.com
9
Interview
Jack-of-all-Genres
DJ Scotty Thomson Brings his Fusion Beats
to the Western Cup Dance
By Krista Sylvester
To hear DJ Scotty Thomson tell it, he’s always been a DJ, even
before he realized it.
Thomson was that guy playing the music at house parties while he
was growing up in New York City.
“I always had to have my CDs at every party in college, and even
after,” he explains. “I wouldn’t leave home without them in fear that I
would go to a party without good music.”
In 1999 he bought his first vinyl because he was frustrated he couldn’t
get the promo music big DJs were playing in NYC.
“Soon enough I was making mixtapes for my friends and they
convinced me to buy equipment,” he says. “I got discovered when I was
hosting a party in my apartment, and from that I was hired to play at
XL Nightclub.”
A few months later he became resident DJ at the Limelight NYC.
That’s when the dreamy, blonde haired hunk left his position
managing Gucci.com and YSL.com in 2005 for music. He hasn’t stopped
since, literally travelling the world breaking beats – and possibly hearts.
Every once in awhile he can be spotted in the booth in his trademark
Speedo showing off his toned body.
But where’s his favourite location to spin?
“I’ve always loved to play in Brazil. The crowds are crazy and dance so
much. Of course, Canadians give them a run for their money as far as
I’m concerned. It’s a tough choice.”
Let’s hear from DJ Scotty Thomson in his own words.
GC: What is your style and what sets you apart?
DJST: I love to mix things around a lot and tailor my set to the
response from the crowd. My sets are never planned and I don’t
know what I’m going to play until right then and there. So expect the
unexpected. As always, you’ll find my sound to have a heavy New York
influence from the ’90s, but modern. Commercial remixes are always a
big part of my sets, but I will be playing as long as the crowd stays on
the floor. Therefore, the later part of my set will get a more after-hours,
progressive house style. I am a very diverse DJ, but I have a style that is
unique. Never am I labeled as a House, Electro, ’80’s, Tribal, Vocal type
of DJ. I combine all genres into my sets. Put me in a tiny party and you’ll
hear it, but it fits. Put me in a huge dance club and you’ll hear it, but it
fits. My listeners always say they can count on me to keep their spirits
alive and are curious as to what gem I’m gonna pull out next. I think
I have carved out my own niche of fans who love how I can play some
commercial music but always make it sound different and fresh. Playing
loops and samples over vocals, mixing in and out to tease the crowd –
these are always things I love to do. Nothing makes me feel better than
when the crowd recognizes how hard I’m working in the DJ booth.
GC: What music do you like to listen to?
DJST: I listen to everything, not just house music. I’m always looking
for new sounds.
GC: A quick Google search of you turns up some sexy photos and
reviews. Thoughts?
DJST: In many ways I hate being known as a sexy DJ. It all started
because I did a tour promoting Andrew Christian underwear. I did a few
photo shoots in their stuff. But in the end, I don’t care what people think,
because when they hear my music and see my talent in the booth that
speaks for itself. Everything else is inconsequential. But as I’ve matured
I’ve come to realize, why can’t I be a DJ and flaunt my goods?
GC: What else do you do for fun?
DJST: I grew up doing lots of different sports. Therefore, anything
athletic, I’m game. My life passions (besides music) have been sailing,
scuba diving and skiing. I’m also a big tech nerd. I fix iPhones and
10
computers for fun, and the Science Channel is on my TV 99 per cent
of the time.
GC: What’s next for you?
DJST: I’m currently working for a new, online, social media driven
record label called Every Song Has a Chance or eshac.com. I’m also
producing music for a new punk rock band. So look out for me spreading
out across the industry in different genres
GC: Tell us something we don’t know about you but would be
surprised by.
DJST: I’m quite shy and too nice for my own good!
Western Cup 2014 Presented by Apollo Friends in Sports
http://www.westerncup.com
DJ Scotty Thomson spins at the Western Cup Dance
Calgary - April 19th @ 9pm
Hotel Arts
119 12 Ave SW
www.gaycalgary.com
Event
 Photos from Western Cup 2013 by GayCalgary Magazine
Cheerlead, Play or Party
Western Cup Offers Weekend of Fun and
Community Giving
By Janine Eva Trotta
Three days of sport, dance and fundraising begin Thursday,
April 17th in North America’s longest running LGBT multisport event the Apollo Friends in Sports Western Cup.
Each year hundreds of athletes and supporters come out to participate
in four different sporting events over the Easter Long Weekend for great
community spirit, physical challenge and fantastic prizes. This 32nd
annual Cup will feature bowling, curling, dodgeball and volleyball
tournaments as well as three social soirees.
“Every year I get so many complements on how much fun the weekend
was – from the sports tournaments to the social events, [participants]
tell me that they can’t wait until the next year,” says TJ Fedyk, Western
Cup’s Director of five years. “I have met so many people since being
involved in Western Cup, from all over Canada, and this is the one
weekend when everyone comes back and visits.”
at Hyde Lounge (followed by the “Back(lot) to BoyzTown” Reunuion Party
at Vinyl) and the Friday Fun Money Casino, or you will need to shell $30
at the door.
The Western Cup is not just about having a great time and meeting
new people, it is also largely about giving back. Apollo uses much of the
proceeds raised from this event to help out numerous gay sports teams
and organizations.
“…it is Western Cup that helps us be able to make these donations,”
Fedyk says. “It gives the community the opportunity to play sports, to
cheerlead or to just party.”
The event draws teams from all over Canada – coast to coast – gay
and straight.
“Western Cup is focused to the Gay Community but we welcome
everyone to partake in our events,” Fedyk says, adding that he has heard
of several couples forming after the events wrap. “We have gay, straight
and mixed teams in our tournaments and enjoying our parties.”
Registration information, schedules and event descriptions can all be
found on their website. Can’t afford the fees? Volunteer! Apollo is still
seeking help, specifically for the social events, and volunteers will get to
participate in the event they volunteer at for free.
“If you like to meet people and have fun Western Cup is the event for
you,” Fedyk says.
Western Cup 2014 Presented by Apollo Friends in Sports
Athletic ability need not be your concern this weekend, as different
levels of competition are offered and all are welcome.
Friday tournaments begin with curling taking place at the Calgary
Curling Club, bowling at Let’s Bowl, and volleyball at the Volleydome. In
the evening Tropicana Las Vegas GLAM presents the Fun Money Casino
at Hotel Arts.
Western Cup 2014
April 2014 Easter Weekend April 17th to 19th
“Here guests will have the opportunity to play casino table games to
win fun money that they can put towards tickets for prizes,” says Fedyk.
“One of the prizes this year is a weekend trip to the Tropicana Las Vegas
beach party, Xposed!.”
Sports Hosted at Various Locations
Registration at Vinyl Night Club, Dance at Hotel Arts
Saturday tournaments continue in the above classes, with dodgeball
starting up at Western Canada High School. The event closes that night
with the Western Cup Dance.
Fedyk started playing volleyball with Apollo 12 years ago, and has
been on the Cup’s planning committee virtually ever since. He names
the volleyball tournament as his favourite event alongside the Western
Cup Dance.
“This year our headline DJ is Scotty Thomson from New York City,”
he says. “He has played all around the world including Montreal, Brazil,
Palm Springs, and Paris, just to name a few.”
DJ Dopamine and Rollin Dolan will join him on stage at the Hotel
Arts, with entertainment starting at 9pm. Party Pak tickets are $25 in
advance, and will also get you into the kickoff registration party Thursday
www.gaycalgary.com
11
Interview
Nico Archambault
Master of all Trades on Dealing with
Bullying, Dancing with Janet and Playing
the Objectified Male
If there is one word to sum up what a conversation on the
current and past going ons of dancer/actor/choreographer/
artistic director/anti-bullying campaigner Nico Archambault
makes one feel, it has to be underachieving.
The man has a resume that would have most Canadiana see green,
and it just keeps on accumulating. Between judging a new talent show
on YTV and starring in Quebec’s version of Girls Archambault and
wife Wynn Holmes run Street Parade, ‘a venture that provides original
creations, creative direction, consulting, stage direction, production
services and movement coaching’.
“I like to keep busy and have my hands in a lot of things,” the winner
of So You Think You Can Dance Canada’s first season says, adding that
many of these will be behind the scene.
What really sets this power duo apart, however, is the amount of time
and passion they contribute to charity.
Archambault has been a long time collaborator with the Family
Channel, participating in awareness campaigns, rallies and designing a
T-shirt to fundraise for PrevNET, Canada’s largest ant-bullying network.
He has also worked with the RCMP to web conference with students
across the country on the topic of bullying, coaching kids on how to
develop their own anti-bullying plan and implement in their school.
“The main part is to inform people on what [bullying] is; how to
recognize it and how to address it,” he says.
Additionally, every year, Archambault and Holmes travel to Belgrade,
Serbia, to choreograph and coach Roma youth in an interesting Quebecfounded initiative called GRUBB: Gypsy Roma Urban Balkan Beats.
GRUBB is a musical performance project that offers Roma youth a
voice, ‘Because it is no longer acceptable to act as if the segregation of
Romanies does not exist.’
“It’s such an amazing project,” he says. He and Holmes first became
involved when the project was just an educational program, through
the stage director of a musical that Archambault was working on in
Montreal, GRUBB Director Serge Denoncourt.
“They knew we would get hooked,” he says, adding that he and his
wife fell in love with the kids. “We kept going back once or twice a year;
every time we could.”
The dance couple not only help choreograph the show but now, as the
number of participants have grown and the Roma community has come
to trust the project, they are teaching leadership skills to the students,
assisting them in the ability to design their own shows.
This year the youth will be touring their program to Quebec,
Archambault’s home soil, March 27th to April 13th.
Though full of confidence and candour now, Archambault has not had
an easy climb up the ladder of success. Much of his inspiration to reach
out to misunderstood and targeted youth stems from having been one of
these youth himself.
“What’s interesting is that while I’m not gay myself, I also have
been through a great deal of homophobia and specifically homophobic
bullying because I was dancing,” he says.
When asked what got him through it, he names two things: a
supportive family who afforded him an encouraging prerogative and a
rigorous passion for dance.
“I was always afraid and doubting a lot of aspects about myself, but
there was at least this one thing I was good at…that gave me a lot of
satisfaction…my way out…even though that was the reason I was being
bullied in the first place.”
Arcahmbault says it is instrumental that regardless of what you are
being bullied for never be fooled into thinking the solution is to try to
change who you are.
“Never try to please the masses or the crowd because it’s an impossible
goal…you’ll never make everyone happy,” he says. “If I had left dance
they would have found something else to make fun of me for…Kids will
always find a way.”
Archambault encourages youth who are the victims of bullying to
seek out support. If that’s not your family, find someone else that either
understands what you are going through or has gone through something
similar.
“It already takes away so much of the weight when you feel like
you’re not alone... If you feel like you’re alone in it you feel isolated very
quickly…it’s very easy to think that the others are right – that there is
something wrong with you.”
12
www.gaycalgary.com
While Archambault feels society still has a long way to go in achieving
equality for all genders and orientations, things are improving.
“It’s really funny,” he says. “I play a man who is constantly objectified…
and he turns a little creepy at the end.”
“It is so much better than when I was a kid,” he says. “[Bullying] does
end and it ends quickly as your world expands and you meet people
that are likeminded, that see life the same way that you do.”
Archambault also stars in Stagnant Pool, written and directed by
Kevin Calero. This film is a modern take on the myth of Narcissus,
explored through dance, and a Cannes Festival hopeful. The film was
submitted to entries last month.
Finally he encourages bullied youth to, “Cherish who you are as a
person…what you’re passionate about or your sexual identity. In the
long run that’s what really is going to set you apart.”
Certainly that way of thinking has worked for him. Though previous
to appearing on the premier run of So You Think You Can Dance Canada
he was already making a name for himself in Quebec. Winning the
season definitely skyrocketed his career beyond the Francophone walls.
Archambault was invited back to the series as a choreographer for
the three successive seasons and assigned head judge for France’s
first season of the show. He also caught the eye of dance legend Janet
Jackson, and was cast as the featured dancer in the video for her single
“Make Me”. He performed with Jackson at the American Music Awards,
on the X-Factor UK, and at various other shows in London – pretty
much every dancer/choreographer’s dream come true.
“But it wasn’t mine,” he says, explaining that it wasn’t his style,
though he enjoyed and grew from the experience. He adds that this
major CV boost was a source of both envy and pride within his dance
circle.
Though he choreographed and can be seen in his wife’s musical
project the Pinup Saints YouTube videos, Archambault says he is not
involved in music anymore and that collaboration has dissolved. Holmes
now sings for act Heartcopy, a fun poppy-synth group whose track “ReDo” should probably make your summer playlist.
As for what style the multifaceted dancer now prefers he answers
without delay.
“Contemporary allows me to blend a lot of influences and I always like
to do that,” he says. “I can throw in everything from ballroom to urban
hip hop – everything that inspires me musically.”
Archambault and Holmes don’t like to plan for the future, so we can’t
say what we’ll see them doing next. It’s a non-plan that seems to have
kept both their work fresh.
Archambault has since proven himself not just an acclaimed dancer
but a credible actor as well. His portrayal of the bi-sexual ballet icon
Rudolf Nureyev scored him a Gemini Award nomination, and his
company Street Parade pulled in five Gèmeaux awards for their coproduction of the docu-series Ils Dansent.
Nico Archambault, Catch his new series Quart de Vie
http://www.tou.tv/quart-de-vie
On March 11th, The Next Star: SuperGroup (for which Archambault
sits on a panel of experts as choreographer and performance coach)
that will select Canada’s next mega group premiered on YTV. On that
same day the CBC web series Quart de Vie, what the actor dubs ‘the
Quebec version of Girls’, also launched.
www.gaycalgary.com
13
Community
Out of the Choral Box
How YouTube helped bring the Calgary Men’s Chorus to Carnegie Hall
Diversity is a theme common in the performances and music
selections offered by the Calgary Men’s Chorus, and a theme
that helped draw the attention of the selection committee at
Distinguished Concerts International New York (DCINY).
The CMC first caught the eye of notable director Matthew Oltman,
Program Development for DCINY, while the group was in Denver two years
ago performing at GALA – the Gay and Lesbian Choral Association concert
held every four years.
Oltman so liked what he saw he checked out other performances put
on by the group that were posted on YouTube.
“One reason [Oltman] ended up phoning me is he said the stuff that
he saw on YouTube was different than other choruses that he saw,” says
Jean-Louis Bleau, Artistic Director for the CMC.
The group is becoming known for ‘carving their own path…mixing
things up a bit’, collaborating with unique dancers at eclectic venues for
shows outside the usual choral box. For instance, three years ago the
CMC performed at a SAIT swimming pool alongside a tank full of mixed
synchronized swimmers, from former Olympians to current competitors,
and even a performer from the Cirque du Soleil’s O.
They can transition from Monty Python’s Precision Drilling to African
American step (a type of body percussion originating from the southern
US) with a polished and entertaining cadence that is winning the men
international acclaim.
Bleau did not attend the Carnegie Hall performance in January – only
half of the chorus journeyed to NYC for the show while the remainder
stayed behind rehearsing – but he was integral in preparing the group
before they left, joking he “pushed them out the door onto the plane.”
Tenor Matthew Gillespie was part of that NYC-bound crew. Gillespie
has been singing in choirs for a lifetime, specifically with the CMC since
2007.
“It really was one of those geez I cant believe I’m here moments”, he
describes. “It was, of course, surreal.”
Raised in Montreal he had made the trip south to the Big Apple on
numerous occasions, attending several concerts at Carnegie – what he
refers to as a ‘musical pantheon’. Now it was his turn to perform on that
celebrated stage.
“Anytime you get to perform outside of your native city, or where you’re
from, it’s a different feeling …you’re not singing to the choir or to your
city, you’re singing with people from all over the world…they’re not your
hometown boys.”
Rehearsals leading up to the group’s departure amounted to only about
12 hours, Gillespie says, and then they had two ‘amazing’ days to work
with Oltman in New York.
“It’s always interesting working with a new director when you’ve worked
with your own director for a long time,” Gillespie says. “It always gives you
a fresh outlook… it’s a renewal of your singing ability…especially when it’s
someone good who can engage a new group of people working with them
in a short amount of time.”
This experience was so constructive, in fact, the CMC is working on
bringing Oltman here for a fall workshop retreat in Banff.
“It’s just a matter of finalizing dates and making sure he can join us,”
says Bleau.
In the meantime the choir will be busy preparing for a slew of upcoming
spring performances.
May 3rd, the CMC will perform along with One Voice Chorus and female
barbershop group the Barbarellas in a concert called “Ottawa Bound”.
This concert will take place at Christ Church in Elbow Park at 8pm.
All three groups will be performing the repertoire they are taking to the
Unison Festival, a concert that takes place on May long weekend. Alberta
has a total of four choirs going to Unison this year: three from Calgary and
one from Edmonton.
The CMC is currently working on a proposal to have the Unison
Festival take place here in Calgary for 2018. Like the Summer and Winter
Olympics, GALA and Unison take place every four years, with two years
in between each.
Then on June 13th and 14th the CMC will be offering “Beautiful City”,
a collaborative vocal and dance “journey through images of destruction
and ruin into the hope and perseverance that rise to the surface when we
choose to confront challenges head on.”
“Again we’re pushing the boundaries of music doing some interesting
and quirky stuff,” says Bleau.
“Beautiful City” is choreographed by Paul Chambers, a former dancer
with the Alberta Ballet. Shows will take place at Mount Royal Univeristy’s
Nickle Theatre.
For fans of the CMC, it will be interesting to see how the group’s
experience working with a high calibre of vocalists in Carnegie Hall will
affect their future projects. For some, it may have been the trip of a
lifetime, particularly for one singer.
“One of our members got engaged on the Brooklyn Bridge,” Gillespie
divulges. The singer and his boyfriend were making the long and classic
walk over the bridge when the former was surprised with the ‘big question’.
Over 200 voices performed that night in Carnegie, from a high school
choir out of Boise, Idaho to older retirees from South Carolina, as well as
one other gay chorus from Florida.
His mom had made the trip to NYC as well and was in on it, Gillespie
says.
Though the audience was dotted with some familiar faces – many family
members, partners, friends and spouses of the Calgary contingent came
to watch – ultimately the spectators were new and intimidating.
For the tenor, the Carnegie concert marked a definite experience of
achievement.
“You’re still singing to a New York crowd, and they’re tough,” says
Gillespie.
The DCINY concert was part of a series the organization puts on in
different world-class venues; it is in no way adjudicated.
“It was quite romantic.”
“It instils a lot of confidence to be able to do something as prestigious
as this,” Gillespie says. “To work with 180 strangers, and the sound that
a disciplined choir and excellent director can pull from a diverse group of
people, and that music really does have this strong power to bring people
together either as a audience or up on stage.”
“You pay to play to perform in some of the greatest music halls in the
world,” Gillespie says.
The CMC brought with them a very stoic, American repertoire to
perform in honour of the concert’s proximity to Martin Luther King, Jr.
Day (celebrated the third Monday of January): “Testament to Freedom”,
written by Dietrich Bonhoeffer shortly before he was executed in a Nazi
concentration camp in 1945; as well as “Gettysburg Address”, a new work
commissioned for this performance and written by Mark Hayes, based on
the famous speech given by Abraham Lincoln during the American Civil
War in 1863. The CMC was one of the first choirs to learn the piece.
14
Calgary Men’s Chorus
http://www.calgarymenschorus.org
www.gaycalgary.com
www.gaycalgary.com
15
Interview
Emily Expo
From Bullied Teen to Expo Queen
She’s the fiery red head you’ve seen at the Calgary Comic &
Entertainment Expo officially as mascot the last three years,
but if you’re a faithful attendee you will have known Lindsay
Thomas for far longer than that. In fact it is debatable which
came first: Emily Expo the mascot or the woman who embodies
the insignia.
“It happened quite organically,” Thomas says on landing the
role as Emily. “I had been attending the show as a fan and people
actually thought that the Emily Expo artwork had been based on
me, and my face. So as I started to volunteer and get to know the
show more intimately, the idea emerged that we could give the logo a
name and a personality – someone that the fans can actually access
and speak to.”
Thomas was virtually born a science fiction fan; something that
she actually suffered for. Her innocent love for all things Star Trek
meant she was the target of bullying as a child. Believing this would
come to an end as she grew older, she was only disappointed to
discover that bullies exist at all ages.
“Sadly… I began to realize that there will always be bullies, there
will always be judges, and there will always be individuals who
seem to believe that violence, force, and non-consent are somehow
acceptable,” she says. “It’s disgraceful that this sort of thing still
happens. It’s time for change. It’s been time for change for a very
long time now.”
In the role of Emily Expo and as a devoted campaigner for
numerous charities, Thomas has made it her mission to make a
difference.
“I really care about people loving themselves, and loving those
around them; I care about people feeling accepted and respected
for who they are,” she says. “We do so much damage to each other
because we don’t see the fundamental value in each individual, and
it breaks my heart. So eventually, one day, I’d love to be seen as
someone who encouraged an openness between individuals and
groups – to start dialogue that hopefully progresses to a positive
relationship.”
Thomas was faced with the choice between the full workload
required by the Emily Expo position and completing a Master’s
Degree in Humanities. She chose the Expo.
“It’s a good choice, and I’m happy with it, although I sometimes
think about going back to school eventually; likely something in the
field of grief counseling and coaching people who have experienced
loss or trauma,” she says.
Though her cherry apple coiffure may be the first to catch one’s
eye, it is Emily Expo’s wide-open heart that truly distinguishes
her character. The Expo keeps her on her toes and involves a fair
amount of travel, but Thomas still makes time to support charities
against bullying, human trafficking, and discrimination.
“I was bullied a lot for having an interest in [science fiction],
and my theory is that it was because a lot of other kids just didn’t
understand that,” she describes. “People mock what they don’t
understand, instead of making an effort to learn about it.”
“I’m not bitter about being bullied. If anything, it has given me an
appreciation for those who are different from me, and compassion
for those who are feeling like they have no value.”
This means Emily Expo is completely approachable: blogs, email,
in person. She is there for expo goers and an excellent resource for
all things comic and sci-fi.
Asked what her best experience as Emily Expo has been thus
far, it comes tied to her most difficult hour and surely features a
rescue by one of her favourite characters. It was the year of the
Calgary Expo’s lock out, and also the year that Start Trek: The Next
Generation actor John de Lancie (Q) made a surprise appearance at
the 2012 event TNG Exposed, a reunion of TNG characters.
“The room exploded; the energy was incredible and the crowd was
elated – rapturous even,” she describes. “Our entire team was in
crisis mode bending over backwards and jumping through hoops to
fix everything before Sunday. It was the hardest day at a convention
that I had ever experienced: shouldering the disappointment,
frustration, anger, and hate of so many people.”
16
“[But] experiencing that moment, when John entered the room,
with 5,000 people, all of whom were so ecstatic was, cathartic. It
reminded me that as much as we’d gone through a major crisis…
we’d also done something really special for a lot of people. It was
reaffirming. The joy in that room was palpable and I am so grateful
to have been able to experience it with the fans.”
While Start Trek: TNG definitely tops her sci-fi chart, Thomas says
Aliens is up there too, alongside Fables in the comic genre.
“The story telling is solid and [Fables is] so creatively written.
It’s a fun read,” she says, adding that her favourite character is
Cinderella. “She’s contrary to what you would expect her to be given
the way that Disney Princesses are often portrayed. She definitely
doesn’t need any rescuing; she’s pretty fantastic on her own.”
Thomas is also a fan of action movies with a good sense of
humour; films like The Expendables and Die Hard. She lists Bill
Paxton, James O’Barr, and Danny Glover as some of the celebs she’s
excited to meet at this year’s Expo.
“I’m a fan of [Glover’s] work in film and TV, but even more than
that, he’s done a lot of work for the UN and I admire his humanitarian
work,” she says. “Laurie Holden, also: what an amazing actress and
she too has done a lot of humanitarian work with the Somaly Mam
Foundation.”
Jim Byrnes (Highlander: The Series) is another mention Emily
makes, adding that the all-around talent will perform a Blues show
Friday night of the convention.
As for the future, Thomas plans to continue on her trek of seeking
out new places and boldly going where she has never gone before.
“I adore travelling; I can’t get enough of it!” she says. “The Calgary
Expo has taken me all over North America and has opened a lot of
doors for me. That said, in five years, I hope that I’m still plugging
away at this convention and continuing to improve it year after year.”
Thomas has resided all over Canada, in London, UK and in Seoul,
but considers Calgary her home.
“This is a great city with a lot of great people,” she says. “I felt
connected with it from the moment I moved here five years ago, and
I’m looking to spending many more years to come in this city.”
The Calgary Expo
http://www.calgaryexpo.com
At the BMO Centre
Thu, Apr 24th – Sun, Apr 27th
www.gaycalgary.com
Editorial
Parenting Proud
What’s in a Name
By Jim Scott
As new parents everyday seems to come with an exciting
and unfamiliar first, or another a-ha moment. One of
those a-ha moments came recently when it was time to
have our son’s vaccinations updated. I’m personally in
favour of disease prevention, but I’m on the fence about
the sheer number of vaccines they administer at once
(that’s for an entirely different rant though). This a-ha
moment came courtesy of the vaccination clinic staff
that were all really lovely and kind, but would also make
outstanding henchmen for any super villain.
In hindsight, I should have planned for chaos. When I made the
appointment the scheduler had a barrage of mundane questions
related to our son, his past health records, and then – to my
astonishment – some very personal questions about my husband
and I. She couldn’t seem to wrap her head around the fact that we
have different last names, but are married and have the legal parental
rights for our son, who is also legally our nephew. I actually found
it amusing, as I had to break it down for the poor dear a couple of
times. The soap opera quality of our family’s story isn’t lost on me at
all, so I get that it can take people a few minutes to process it. Oh
the drama of life!
room. I leapt back into the room like a club kid hit by the morning
sun. Moments later the door opened and the woman I saw in the
hall confidently stepped in and introduced herself as the doctor. I
introduced my son and, before I could get even a single question out,
I was asked to explain the relationship with my husband and son for
the third time within an hour. This time I even had to point out the
exact judge’s orders on the documents as all three of these ladies
somehow overlooked that part and seemed pretty convinced that I was
some sort of outlaw homosexual vaxxer.
In the end, my beautiful baby boy got his shots that day, and I
didn’t go to jail, or even say anything I’d regret later. It was a learning
moment though, as I’ve come to the conclusion that although we’ve
come so very far in terms of the legalities of equality, the sociological
and cultural sides still have a long way to catch up. As a result,
my husband and I have now decided to change all of our names in
the hopes of avoiding this kind of thing down the road. I’ll keep you
posted.
Share your stories and questions with me at parentingproud@
gmail.com. I’d love to hear how others are dealing with the unique
issues and situations we face as gay families.
Upon arriving at the clinic a few days later, we were greeted by
a very polite receptionist and asked to fill out the requisite stack
of paperwork. I’d brought all of our legal documents too, figuring a
judge’s orders would be sufficient to answer any questions about
parentage and guardianship. As I anticipated, after giving her the
paperwork, her first question was why we had different last names,
and who was Greg?
Now, to be honest, I didn’t have an issue with being asked about
our situation; I planned on it. What made me furious was the way
she cocked her head and smirked at me as she smarmily said the
love of my life’s name. It wasn’t even in a judgy or preachy way; it
was a seriously amazed look – like she had just seen a unicorn. In
my head I was saying, yes bitch, I’m married to a man and this is our
son; welcome to 2014, but in reality I just smiled as she processed it.
Anyone who’s gay and married, with or without kids, has experienced
this and it’s embarrassing, demeaning and, for me, infuriating.
A-ha! There it was, the moment I hate to my very core every time it
comes up. Being made to explain intimate details of my private life for
the benefit of a naïve straight person, just because our family doesn’t
look like theirs. Then, just like she had actually bitch slapped me, a
wave of contempt washed over me, along with an impulse to light this
chick up like a Christmas tree. Of course I also knew she was just
doing her job, and I liked her pretty pink sweater and charcoal pencil
skirt, so I politely explained that Greg was my husband, and our son
came to us through a complicated family drama which had recently
been resolved in Family Court. With that, she took everything saying
she needed to make copies, and directed me to the changing area
where a nurse would call us. Naively, I thought to myself, that’s great;
we’ll be out of here in no time. Boy was I wrong.
It took just a few minutes for the nurse to call our names, and while
I was putting my boy on the scale, she launched into the exact same
line of questioning; only this time asking pointed questions about his
biological parents and why they weren’t there. Again, I had to stop
myself from going all Lindsay Lohan on her, and politely explained
our situation again. My answers seemed to appease her, and after the
measuring, weighing, and temperature taking, we were asked to step
into an exam room where a doctor would see us.
After waiting for quite a while, I peeked out of the room to see
what was going on and was startled to see the receptionist, nurse,
and who I would discover was the doctor, down the hall with their
heads together and the nurse pointing in the direction of our exam
www.gaycalgary.com
17
Politics
Thank God for Fred Phelps’ Death
His son and congregation on the passing of a notorious hatemonger
By Stephen Lock
That scream and wailing you may have read about a few weeks
ago, in around March 19th, was the sound of Fred Phelps, the
former pastor of Westboro Baptist Church, coming face-to-face
with his maker after years of preaching God Hates Fags, and
being cast into the deepest pit of hell for it.
Phelps made quite a name for himself as the leader of America’s
perhaps most notorious hate cult, showing up at funerals where he
and his family and a few other members of Westboro Baptist would
hold up placards stating[insert name] Is Burning In Hell and God Hates
Fags. He and his followers erupted into popular consciousness when
they showed up at Matthew Shepard’s funeral.
Matthew Shepard, some of you may recall, was the young gay man
who was murdered, left to die alone, tied to a rural fence by two young
misfits who posed as gay (or at least interested) men. They picked
Shepard up, drove him to an isolated area out in the country, and
tortured and beat him literally half to death, then left him to die alone
out there. The case became a rally point for highlighting bashing and
other anti-gay violence.
When Phelps et al. showed up at Matthew’s funeral and attempted
to disrupt it, they were blocked by several individuals dressed as
angels with large folding wings. As these angels stood in front of
the Westboro bunch they spread their wings so that the television
cameras could not see the hatemongers or their vile placards and
thereby redirected the focus back onto Matthew and the show of
respect others had come to pay.
In later years, Phelps and his crew took to showing up at the
funerals of American veterans killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the
funerals of children killed in a spate of school shootings, picketing
those with placards stating the deceased were burning in hell; that
God celebrated their deaths, and other sick and twisted statements of
unmitigated hate and loathing.
Despite Phelps leading his followers in an ongoing campaign of
hatred, and his name being synonymous with the church he led, for
some reason the congregation turned on him in August, 2013 and
not only removed him as pastor but excommunicated him. He spent
his last few weeks in a hospice in Topeka, Kansas suffering from a
form of dementia and slipping in and out of lucidity before dying on
March 19th.
His estranged son, Nathan, who fled his father and the Westboro
cult 36 years ago when he was 18 years old, now lives in Calgary where
he heads up the Centre for Inquiry, a secular humanist organization
dedicated to science and reason: a sharp departure from the sort of
environment his father created.
Reflecting on the years of abuse he suffered at the hands of his
father, and the hate the man spewed publicly, the younger Phelps
has mixed feelings about the death of the man who was, after all, his
father.
“I don’t know if I forgive him,” he recently told a Calgary Sun
reporter. “This whole question of forgiveness baffles me. For my own
self, I am in a good place, but from that place I still see my father as
an unapproachable person, and I don’t trust him.”
Nathan Phelps went on to define forgiveness as an “emotional
or mental position that is no longer destructive”, and said that he
believes he has reached that point in response to his father, but at
the same time he didn’t want anything to do with the man prior to his
death and conceded he may not have forgiven him after all.
To his credit, he has also spoken out regarding those who might
seek payback by disrupting the man’s own funeral as he had disrupted
so many others.
Having spoken out on how wrong it was for the Westboro Baptists
to demonstrate at funerals, the younger Phelps is clear he had no
choice but to say the same in regards to his father’s own funeral. He,
of course, understands – probably better than anyone – those who
would want to take the opportunity to express their loathing of a man
who caused so much pain and preached such virulent hatred. But,
he says, the best way to show how wrong Fred Phelps was, and how
misguided his church is, is to allow the funeral, if in fact one takes
place, to occur without disruption.
This is an admirable position to take and, honestly, I don’t know
if I could take a similar position. Fred Phelps was an evil, twisted,
hateful, and bigoted SOB who caused much pain for the families
of those whose funerals he chose to show up at with his band of
equally deluded and rigid followers. No amount of reason ever got
through to any of them. Any attempt at reasonable discussion or
debate was cut off, with screams of how God hates fags, or anyone
else the Phelps clan took issue with. They are a bunch of whackos
but, unfortunately, a bunch of whackos who managed to gain widespread media attention for the last 16 years, primarily due to the level
of virulence their protests had.
If nothing else, the zealots of Westboro do stay on message. They
apparently do not mourn the death of Fred Phelps. On their website
(godhatesfags.com) they have this to say about his death:
“The world-wide media has been in a frenzy during the last few
days, gleefully anticipating the death of Fred Waldron Phelps Sr. It has
been an unprecedented, hypocritical, vitriolic explosion of words.
Do they vainly hope for the death of his body? People die – that is
the way of all flesh....
The death of Fred Phelps’ body, a man who preached a plain faithful
doctrine to an ever darkening world, is nothing but a vain, empty,
hypocritical hope for you.
It’s like every journalist in the world simultaneously set aside
what little journalistic integrity they have, so that they could wait
breathlessly for a rumor to publish: in-fighting, succession plans, and
power struggles, oh my! How shameful! You’re like a bunch of little
girls on the playground waiting for some gossip!
Listen carefully; there are no power struggles in the Westboro Baptist
Church, and there is no human intercessor – we serve no man, and no
hierarchy, only the Lord Jesus Christ. No red shoes, no goofy hat, and
no white smoke for us; thank you very much.
No board, no separate decision making body, just humble servants
of God – qualified according to the scriptures, and chosen by the church
– privileged to feed the sheep for a time....
Remember that the Lord Jesus Christ warned us that a man’s foes
will be they of his own household: So again, there is nothing surprising
about these shenanigans, spurred on by faithless, ax-grinding, Godhating deserters of the cross, and it amounts to nothing but vain,
empty, hope.
God forbid, if every little soul at the Westboro Baptist Church were
to die at this instant, or to turn from serving the true and living God, it
would not change one thing about the judgments of God that await this
deeply corrupted nation and world. That is the pinnacle of your hopes,
and by far the most vain. Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, or the
power of God.
There is only one hope for any human – inside or outside of this
little church – that God gives you repentance unto salvation. We pray
that the Lord will do just that for any of our enemies whom he has
predestined to eternal life. And for those who are truly the enemies of
God – ordained of old to such a condemnation – we pray his righteous
wrath and vengeance, wherein we rejoice.
Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!”
This is interspersed with a variety of quotations from various
Scriptures highlighting how God has the final say in who lives and
who dies and when we die. We all die, this is true, and according
to the Abrahamic faiths (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) the soul
is eternal and our bodies, the vessels in which the eternal soul is
Continued on Next Page 
18
www.gaycalgary.com
Community
Discussing Community Safety
Introducing Anti-Bullying Advocate, Officer Tad Milmine
By Constable Andy Buck
Hello again everyone; I hope you have been keeping warm and
dry during this recent cold and snowy weather. I am reliably
informed that spring is just around the corner, so fingers
crossed that this snow will have melted by the time I next speak
to you.
This month I want to share some exciting news with you. Not only is it
exciting for the Calgary Police Service and I, but it is exciting for you too. I
want to tell you that we as a Service have just recruited Tad Milmine to our
ranks of sworn officers.
Tad who?
Tad Milmine is a former RCMP officer, an anti-bullying advocate, and
a very good friend of mine. Tad is also openly gay. Why is this important?
I have always told you that the Calgary Police Service was your ally, and
that we care deeply about the safety and welfare of members from our city’s
diverse communities. Tad did his own due diligence prior to joining us,
and was extremely impressed by the professionalism and friendliness of
everyone in the organization that he came into contact with. He would not
have come to Calgary if he suspected that his sexuality would be an issue
for his employer.
Please find out more about Tad by looking up his website, Bullying Ends
Here. You will be able to read about his own upbringing: from growing up
with an alcoholic father and an emotionally abusive stepmother, to being
bullied at school, and subsequently running away from home. You can
learn how he came to accept his sexuality, the circumstances behind him
fulfilling his dream to become a police officer, and the tragic event that
inspired him to start his Bullying Ends Here project.
In the last 18 months Tad has given over 330 presentations across
the country to more than 61,000 youth, received over 9,500 emails (to
which he personally answers every one), has received numerous awards
and recognition for his charitable work, and has made countless media
appearances. In addition, he has received 27 emails that directly attest to
the fact that his presentation and information have saved a life. As you
know, the most prevalent forms of bullying in schools are homophobic and
transphobic.
Tad Milmine is an incredible man. He is saving lives, and we are all
extremely fortunate to have him working in Calgary. I am proud to call him
my friend and my colleague.
You can be assured that Tad will be visible throughout the community
at events such as Camp fYrefly and the Pride Parade. If you have any
questions or messages for Tad, please send them to me in the usual manner
and I will be certain to pass them on.
Perhaps you want some information about recruiting so that you too can
join the Calgary Police Service just like Tad? In any case please stay safe,
take care of each other, and I look forward to connecting with you again
next month.
Crime Stoppers
1-800-222-8477 • http://www.ttttips.com
Constable Andy Buck
403-428-8154 • [email protected]
 Politics - From Previous Page
temporarily housed, are nothing. The death of the body, in the view of
Westboro’s congregation, is devoid of anything noteworthy and to hold
a funeral, or a celebration of life, or any other sort of memorial to the
deceased is little more than a form of idolatry, in their view.
The media release says nothing directly about the removal of
Phelps as pastor, nor his excommunication, except to deny any sort of
power struggle within the little church. That’s fine, and certainly their
prerogative. Leave them to their own devices in that regard.
Of course, they did no such thing in relation to others, making it
a point to interfere during a time of mourning, with no regard for the
very human characteristic of wanting to remember the person who
died and honour their life.
It has often been said that funerals are not for the dead, but the
living. Funerals, as well as memorials and celebrations of life, are
rituals for those still on this mortal coil to try and cope and process the
loss of a loved one. Westboro and Phelps chose to utterly disrespect
that because, they always claimed, God decides and whatever He
decides is to be what is celebrated. In their view – a perverted view in
my opinion – that is what was behind placards such as Thank God for
Dead Soldiers and so they now say Thank God for Fred Phelps’ Death.
I couldn’t say it better myself.
www.gaycalgary.com
19
Politics
The Quest for Gay-Straight
Alliances in Alberta Schools
should be making it easy for kids. Adults should not be standing in the way
of what kids already know to be true.”
Justine Bonczek, former co-chair of the Miscellaneous Youth Network,
knows firsthand how important gay-straight alliances can be to kids who
are dealing with bullies and, in some cases, even resistance from their own
families.
Liberal MLA Wants Change
“I feel that it’s every school’s responsibility to take initiative to ensure
that their students who belong to minority demographics feel both safe and
welcome at their school,” she says.
By Krista Sylvester
“GSAs aren’t only about fostering a safe space and education about
sexual orientation, but also about providing safer spaces for gender diverse
and transgender students. The responsibility of ensuring that schools are a
welcoming space does not fall on the backs of students.”
It’s an issue near and dear to his heart, and no matter what the
outcome of his gay-straight alliance motion this month, Calgary
Liberal education critic Kent Hehr will not stop until there is
equality for the LGBTQ community.
Hehr has long been an advocate for the rights of LGBTQ (lesbian, gay,
bisexual, transgender and queer) people and now he wants the provincial
government to puts its money where its mouth. This month he wants
support for his motion to strip schools from the power to deny students who
want to start a student gay-straight alliance (GSA), which aims to reduce
bullying based on sexuality. By the time this edition is released in print, the
motion will likely have been voted down. But Hehr vows he won’t halt his
quest for equality.
“If the Tories really want to prove they accept and support the LGBTQ
community then they will do more than just attend a pride parade and call
it a day,” Hehr says. “This motion is a chance for them to make a difference
but, sadly, I don’t believe they will be supporting it.”
“Our government has for far too long discriminated against the LGBTQ
community and I thought this would end after the 2012 election, but sadly
that doesn’t appear to be the case. In my view, the PC government is really
failing the LGBTQ community, and it’s really disappointing.”
Hehr points to countless studies that show GSAs are effective in
reducing the cases of bullying LGBTQ students endure at the hands of their
tormenters, and for other minorities in the school as well. The Calgary MLA
also applauds both the Ontario and Manitoba governments for passing a
similar motion that mandates schools to allow GSAs in schools.
“They want to stand up for kids and not let religious values, or bigots, or
anti-LGBTQ voices get in the way of making lives better today, and I suggest
we follow their lead,” Hehr adds.
And that’s where schools and school administrators need to step in, she
adds.
“School administrators need to realize the importance of protecting their
vulnerable students and need to take initiatives to ensure LGBTQ students
don’t fall through the cracks, especially considering they continue to hold
high rates of depression, suicide and homelessness in Alberta.”
Hehr agrees.
“If anyone would just think about it for two seconds, and they truly
want to make a difference in kids’ lives, they would support this. I can’t
believe the government is standing in the way of making life better for these
students. We have a responsibility to make students’ lives better, and we
need to do it today,” Hehr adds.
For their part, the Alberta Government has said they don’t believe there is
a one-size-fits-all approach to GSAs in schools. Even Tory associate minister
of family and community safety has said in the media she will support
Hehr’s motion, but a government spokesperson said Education Minister
Jeff Johnson doesn’t believe in forcing all schools to allow the alliances
would be the solution.
Regardless of the outcome of the motion this month, Hehr won’t stop
fighting for equality.
“Somebody has to stand up for these kids.”
And it’s more important than ever according to a 2011 student survey
conducted by Canadian advocacy group Egale, which says 21 per cent of
LGBTQ students have reported being physically harassed or assaulted
because of their sexual orientation. Almost 50 per cent have been verbally
harassed.
“Bullying rates of LGBTQ kids is higher than other children, and suicides
rates are also higher,” Hehr says. “We need to protect those kids today; not
tomorrow. There are schools out there resisting these alliances when they
20
www.gaycalgary.com
Interview
Pillow Talk with Nate Berkus
‘Design Santa’ on home show, a disastrous home-ec
project and his boring conversations with Oprah
By Chris Azzopardi
Home isn’t where the heart is on American Dream Builders. It’s
where the drama is, and it’s where you’ll find Nate Berkus, who
hosts the home-renovation show airing Sunday nights on NBC.
As the bossman to 12 contestants trying to woo him with their best
remodel, Oprah’s longtime gay pal and talk show sidekick steps back
onto TV after the cancelation of The Nate Berkus Show.
Berkus recently chatted about American Dream Builders being a better
fit for him, how the first thing he ever designed was so bad it ended up in
the garbage and the boring home stuff he and Oprah talk about.
GC: Gosh, these contestants mean business, Nate.
NB: They really do.
GC: Are home designers really this cutthroat?
NB: When you take 12 people who are leaders in their industry from
around the country, who are used to having the final say in everything
they do in all realms of their lives, and you put them in a competition
setting, they definitely have a curve on how to get along. The truth is, we
had an embarrassment of riches when it came to the drama because it
started in the very first episode and continued all the way through the
last one.
GC: What about American Dream Builders attracted you?
NB: I really wanted to come back on television in a meaningful way
that really centered on design and the design space, and in order to do
that I needed to work with a network that would allow design on television
to be what I think it always should have been: true creativity, great
resources and transformation. I think a long time ago someone decided
that design on TV should be about how quickly and how inexpensively
you can renovate a space, but I really never believed in that, so this was
an opportunity to take 12 experts, give them, at their fingertips, those
same things that they would normally have in their own private practices
and set them loose to renovate two homes a week and focus exclusively
on the quality and design.
GC: Those shows you mention – are you referring to the ones we see
on HGTV?
NB: I’m not saying that specifically, but if you look at the trends in
design over the years, these are the shows we all watch because that’s
what’s been on so far. But American Dream Builders is something new.
It’s massive in scale. When you’re doing high-end design you have to
have antiques, you have to have architectural salvage, you have to have
vintage, you have to have one-of-a-kind items, you have to have real
paintings and contemporary art and photography and great construction
materials. This isn’t what you can do in a half hour or in an hour in your
own home; the whole show, from the very beginning, is about high-level
inspiration.
GC: After the cancelation of The Nate Berkus Show in 2012, how does
it feel returning to TV?
NB: I really enjoy hosting this much more than I enjoyed hosting my
talk show, and I’ll tell you why. The truth is, when you’re doing a daytime
talk show it’s on every single day, so it’s your responsibility to fill that
hour with all sorts of different kinds of content that fit within the lifestyle
realm. With this show, it’s a Sunday night primetime show, it’s once a
week and it’s purely about design. We have a fantastic cast, but my focus
is creating an enormously scaled design show that I can be a part of, that
I can call on my contacts to get involved with. I can hand select these
12 people from around the country and say, “I’m gonna watch what you
do every single week and I wanna be shocked, I wanna be surprised, I
wanna be blown away, I wanna rethink how I feel about design, and I’m
challenging you by showing me just that. And if you can do it, one of you
is gonna win, and if you can’t then, you know, that’s it.”
 Photo by NBC
GC: How often do random people on the street ask you for home
advice?
NB: Oh my god, constantly. I always get the same thing: “Come to my
home.” I’m Design Santa when I’m walking through an airport. But it’s
great, because I’ve been doing design on TV for years now – it’s been 13
years – and so I think that people associate me ringing their doorbell with
a transformation that’s about to happen and a really positive change in
their lives, so I really wanted Dream Builders to represent that as well.
It really is, for me, an extension of what I’ve always been doing, but it’s
a way for me to showcase the talent of people who deserve to be in the
spotlight.
GC: Do you think that being a gay man has anything to offer to your
own work ethic and design aesthetic and inspiration?
NB: Whether being gay has to do with my creativity – not really. I think
that that’s one part of who I am and it’s always been a part of who I am
and it’s something that I’ve always been very proud of, but I know lots of
creative heterosexual people as well. It’s definitely one part of who I am,
but I don’t think that has really any influence over my professional work.
GC: What inspired the latest Target line?
NB: Celestial design and how influenced we are by space and colors,
which I’ve been working with for a long time – black, deep blues and
clear acrylics, and those sorts of geodes and stones and metallics. It’s
something that’s very modern right now, but I also think it mixes well
with a lot of different styles.
I work with a great team of people who are based in Chicago on every
new collection and we talk about what’s really happening in fashion
and what’s happening in design, but we also talk about what will make
a home feel updated with one purchase. In the current collection my
favorite thing probably are these brass table lamps. That to me is the
perfect example. You put it on a side table in your living room and all of
a sudden the room takes on a completely different note.
GC: Can you shop at Target without getting mobbed?
GC: So you’re basically the Tim Gunn of interior design.
NB: (Laughs) I hadn’t thought of that!
www.gaycalgary.com
Continued on Page 23 
21
Interview
Gimme some sugar, baby!
Bruce Campbell Chainsaws his Way to the Calgary Expo
By Jason Clevett
Since its inception Bruce Campbell has continued to be one
of the most requested names at the Calgary Comic Expo.
The actor, who gained cult fame playing Ash in the Evil Dead
franchise, has never graced the Calgary conference due to
filming commitments for the hit TV show Burn Notice. With
the show having wrapped its final season last year, Campbell’s
schedule is clear to have a groovy time Saturday and Sunday
at the Expo.
Thirty-two years after Evil Dead was released the film, along with its
sequels (1987’s Evil Dead 2 and 1992’s Army of Darkness), still resonate
with fans. With the additional hype generated by the musical version fans
still recite lines like Gimmie back my hand and This is my boomstick with
enthusiasm. It is remarkable that the films have stood the test of time.
“We shot Evil Dead 35 years ago in 1979, but it didn’t come out until
’82,” Campbell tells GayCalgary Magazine. “I feel fortunate because a lot
of movies come and go. It makes a lot of the heartache of making those
movies both physically and mentally go away, to the point where I mostly
have good feelings about the Evil Dead movies. When we were making
them they were very hellish and nightmarish but now I can look back at
them with sort of a rosy glow.”
The films were the starting grounds for the working relationship
between Campbell and director Sam Raimi. The two met in high school
and Campbell frequently makes cameos in Raimi’s films.
“We met in high school 100 years ago in 1975. We struck it up pretty
quick, he was a fun crazy and inventive guy and I think he was amused
by me. We had just started doing amateur movies in our different
neighborhoods and in high school all of us junior highs collided and met
and started sharing equipment. Every weekend we started making these
low budget little Super 8 movies and began the makings of our craft. We
were very industrious; we made around 50 of these things. Some were
really long – Sam made a movie that was an hour long. He had to buy
special equipment to project it. We projected them in actual theatres and
charged money at various times. It encouraged Sam and I to both drop out
of college; neither of us graduated, we dropped out to raise money to make
Evil Dead. Then we battled to make the movie for four years between ’79
and ’83 when it came out,” Campbell recalls.
“[Filming] forged a pretty tight bond since high school. It has really been
enjoyable as hell to watch him make the biggest movies in Hollywood.
Nothing gives me greater pleasure than to see his movies at #1 when they
open. I can still show up on his set and give him lip. It was hilarious on
Oz The Great and Powerful – I only had one day on set. We have a very
casual relationship: he yells at me, I do what he says, and we try a bunch
of different stuff that is very creative. But he gives me lip and I give him lip
back. The eyes and faces of the crew members when I gave Sam lip on the
22
Oz set, they were mortified. They were like who is this guy giving Sam Raimi
lip? They didn’t know our history. It is fun to go back and keep working
with him.”
Campbell’s career has spanned over three decades and roles in films
like Bubba Ho-Tep and TV shows like Hercules: The Legendary Journals
and Xena: Warrior Princess have presented him to a variety of fan bases
that will be eager to meet him in Calgary.
“Conventions are a completely different thing. Now you get to interact
one on one. When I am signing I try to keep the line away from the table
so that when someone comes up to it we can at least have 13 seconds of
whatever they want to ask. I like finding out who is out there and who are
these people and what are they buying? I see the photos and memorabilia
they bring up and it is fun to see the spectrum of it. It is a little bit of
everything; people like what they like. You are going to have mostly Evil
Dead fans which is to be understood. The Burn Notice fans have been
creeping in and you will always have your Xena and Hercules fans and
things like that. It is people who like weirdo over the top movies and sci-fi
www.gaycalgary.com
 Nate Berkus - From Page 21
horror and fantasy. I happen to have done a few of those so I think they are
just someone I can relate to.”
“We have a pretty raucous Q&A as well where we have 45 minutes
of challenging the audience and tormenting them and they torment
me. Expect the unexpected. The audience will be very involved in the
proceedings. It is very important to get them involved. Otherwise they are
really shy; they sit on their hands and don’t say anything. If you confront
them and make them part of the show it opens up and it is a lot of fun. We
have had some good panels lately and this will be a surprise. It is a lot of
fun – like live theatre.”
Campbell has also done a lot of voice work for video games and animated
features including The Ant Bully, Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs and
Cars 2. He enjoys working in both voice and on screen, and the opportunity
to appeal to kids as well as their parents.
“I like the whole ball of wax. Voice work is fun because it is very
controlled. You show up and have a donut and some tea, then sit in a nice
comfortable studio and talk for a couple of hours, then leave and they pay
you. It is pretty easy money. It makes up for all the other stuff of working
late on film sets and strange locations and burning my ass off in Miami. I
like to mix it up that way. The parents watch the horror stuff and the kids
can watch the cartoons. I have done a lot of Disney and a lot of unrated and
not much in between. So there is stuff for everybody.”
Most recently Campbell spent seven seasons on Burn Notice as Sam Axe,
the best friend of ex-spy Michael Westen. The show wrapped up its final
season in 2013.
“It has been a long run. What it does for your career is your residuals go
up because your show is playing on the air more. Beyond that it lets people
in the industry know you are a guy who can be hired. That is the bottom
line. Any actor just wants to be able to be hired. If you can work on a show
for 111 episodes it means you are a guy who will show up. For an actor that
is half the battle. It gives you street cred within the industry, and you get
more looks at 7-11 and you look like that guy from the show.”
With many classic lines and moments in his career, I asked Bruce if he
had a favourite or definitive line.
“I am not dead yet so I have more lines to come. That sort of thing will be
when I am gone they can do a raffle to figure out which line they liked the
most. There are always at least half a dozen of them like gimme some sugar
baby. A lot of lines from Army of Darkness have stood the test of time.”
Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo
Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo
Calgary - April 26th and 27th , BMO Centre, Stampede Park
NB: Actually, yes! I usually go to Target when I’m coming back from
Soul Cycle, or coming back from the gym after a really long day, and I buy
a lot of my own things. I have a sample closet, obviously, but I keep that
primarily so that I have reference of what I designed before – and what
my team and I are going to design going forward – so I try to not take
the samples as often as I can, but I mean, I shop at Target constantly. I
grew up in Minneapolis. I bought my Halloween costumes there and my
school supplies, and it’s a very funny moment for me to look up and see
all of my collections that are sold at Target. It’s fun. I mean, it’s really fun!
It’s funny because I don’t know anyone who doesn’t shop at Target, and
sometimes I can get by totally undetected even when I’m checking out
and they’re ringing up things that have my name and picture on them.
GC: No way.
NB: It depends on whether I’ve showered. If I can come from Soul
Cycle, no one has a clue. They’re like, “Do you want paper or plastic?”
GC: How often does Oprah call you for design advice?
NB: She does not call me for design advice. We do have extremely
long conversations about things that other people would find incredibly
boring, like hinges and doorknobs. But Oprah really loves design. It’s
something she’s always been really passionate about, which is why 12
years ago when I started with her on her show we really both enjoyed
being together doing the before-and-after segments because it’s just
something she’s also really passionate about and interested in.
GC: What’s the first thing you ever designed?
NB: A hamburger pillow in fifth grade home ec with sesame seeds, and
it had ketchup dripping down the side. Mine was by far the worst one in
the entire class.
GC: How did that happen?
NB: How was I so bad? I still can’t sew.
GC: You used one of those pillow kits, didn’t you? Because I did too!
But mine was a tiger cub, so it was much gayer than yours.
NB: (Laughs) Yeah, a hamburger – I guess I was predicting my future
dietary habits.
GC: Regarding your spring wedding to Jeremiah Brent – being that
you’re both designers, is there any clashing going on as far as planning
the big day?
NB: Not at all. We don’t fight about design. We literally fight about
who gets the last piece of pizza and who has to walk the dog – that’s what
we fight about. The two of us can furnish a room together in an hour on
the computer because we reach for very similar things. We use them in
different ways, but we have a very good connection with that.
GC: What’s the best party you’ve ever had at the Brent-Berkus
residence?
NB: I don’t really do wild parties at home because I don’t want people
to break anything. Like, really. Not at all. But I do a lot of dinners for
small groups of people. Dinner for six, dinner for eight, maybe dinner
for 10, and it’s always really good friends. We sit around the table really,
really late and sometimes I’ll bring in somebody to cook because I’m
terrible at it, but, when it comes to entertaining, those are for me my
favorite nights at home.
GC: Your advice in your 2012 book The Things That Matter was to let
your home tell your story. What room in your house tells the best story?
NB: The truth is, the whole home does. Everywhere I look in our
home reminds me of where I’ve been, who I’ve known, what memories
I have of being that age in that place, who I was with. Design really is
an opportunity to build a collection of things that chronicle the life that
you’ve led, who you’ve loved, who you’ve lost, where you’ve been, what
you’ve seen, who you’ve met along the way. That for me is really what the
house represents. It’s a great way to live, because when I look around
our home, everything has meaning. Some things are there just because
I think they’re cool, or because he does, but in the end, everything really
does tell a story of who we are as people.
GC: Which room do you keep the hamburger pillow in?
NB: (Laughs) It’s in the school trashcan. I don’t even think I brought it
home from elementary school!
www.gaycalgary.com
23
Gossip
Provided you’re not fully sick of the zombie genre by then, look
for WWWhatever to show up sometime in 2016.
Taraji P. Henson will be the queen of Lee Daniels’ Empire
Academy Award-nominated actress Taraji P. Henson is returning to
television (or at least pilot season) with Lee Daniels for a new hip-hopthemed drama called Empire. It’ll star Terrence Howard, with whom
Henson shared the big screen in Hustle & Flow, as Lucious Lyon, a hiphop star and record label CEO; Henson will take the role of his ex-wife and
former business partner “Cookie,” an ex-con ready to make a fresh start.
Together they’ll navigate the business (Malik Yoba and Precious’ Gabourey
Sidibe co-star, too) and family life as they deal with having a gay teenage
son (Jussie Smollett). Created and produced by Daniels with Danny Strong
and Brian Grazer, it can’t sail through the first round of TV draft picks fast
enough, given the woeful lack of well-made African-American dramas on
the tube, much less one as critically acclaimed as, say, Breaking Bad or
Mad Men. And, no, that Tyler Perry soap opera doesn’t count.
Steven Spielberg wants to make a musical you’ve already
seen
Maria, Steven Spielberg has just met a girl named Maria. Oh, all right,
no, he hasn’t. He met her a long time ago, just like you did. And he fell
in love with her, just like you did. In fact, the only difference between
you and Steven Spielberg in this scenario is that you aren’t planning to
remake Maria’s world, aka West Side Story. A long time ago, during that
wild Cantonese musical number in Temple of Doom, maybe you thought,
“What if Steven Spielberg made a musical?” Spielberg probably thought
that himself. But nobody could have guessed he’d set his sights on
remaking one of the most beloved musicals of all time. So… yeah… look,
who knows, you know? It’s early days yet, still in the “he has expressed
interest” stage, which means it might never happen. But then again it
might. The man tends to do as he pleases. We’ll be waiting and watching –
and hoping and praying he gets a different idea.
Diana Nyad visits dry land
 Brad Pitt, photo by LaCameraChiara
Deep Inside Hollywood
Brad Pitt’s undead reunion
By Romeo San Vicente
Remember in World War Z when Brad Pitt figured out how to
dispense with those zombies that killed pretty much everyone
except Brad Pitt and his pals? Well, obviously, when nearly half
a billion dollars in box office receipts roll in, they manage to find
a stray zombie or 12 still lurking in a sewer somewhere. So here
comes the sequel (WWZ2? WWZ, Too? WWAA? Just guessing…),
starring Pitt and a batch of fresh undeads, but not directed
by Z helmer Marc Forster. He’s out, thanks to what is most
likely a confirmation of those feud rumors that circulated about
him and Pitt, and in is gay director Juan Antonio Bayona.
The Spanish filmmaker, who gave us the tsunami thriller The
Impossible, will step in for the next installment after a script
materializes and, more importantly, after he wraps up duties on
A Monster Calls, his new film about a young boy who enlists a
tree monster to help him deal with his mother’s terminal illness.
24
For a ballroom dancing program called Dancing With the Stars, you’d
think that by this point (it’s ninth year on TV and coming up on 18 seasons)
more openly LGBT celebrities would have taken part in the actual dancing
aspect of it all. But weirdly enough, that has not been the case. In fact,
they number on three fingers: Chaz Bono, Lance Bass and now, curiously
enough, badass swimmer Diana Nyad. And her timing couldn’t be better.
She’s fresh off her historic 2013 swim from Cuba to Florida, a 103-mile
journey accomplished in 53 hours, and now the 64-year-old athlete –
who’s been part of the American consciousness for decades but who’s
never been the kind of famous person hounded by paparazzi – so dancing
a little bit on TV will feel like a stroll through the garden. And she’s poised
to become a face as recognizable to TV viewers as her accomplishments
are to the world of endurance sport, since the season’s line-up includes
Meryl Davis, Charlie White, Billy Dee Williams, Candace Cameron Bure,
Cody Simpson, Danica McKellar, Drew Carey, James Maslow, Sean Avery
and NeNe Leakes, some of whom are even less frequently pursued by
tabloids than she is. Another upside? Fewer sharks.
Romeo San Vicente is very successful at cutting in.
www.gaycalgary.com
www.gaycalgary.com
25
Culture
Madame Butterfly
Quintessential Opera Beckons Even the
Doubtful of Hearts
Like Swan Lake is to the ballet world, Madame Butterfly
is one of those productions that has etched itself into the
stone of opera masterworks.
Created by Italian composer and notorious philanderer
Giacomo Puccini (La Bohème, Tosca, Turandot), named by
some as the greatest Italian composer following Verdi, Madame
Butterfly is the story of love and waiting.
A young geisha, Cio-cio-San, has just become the wife of an
American Navy Officer, a Lieutenant Pinkerton, when he is called
back to his country.
As year, after year, after year toil by, Cio-cio-San (Butterfly)
still waits, lovingly raising the son Pinkerton has never met and
refuting chances at new love, all the while supported by her
doting maid.
South African-Canadian mezzo-soprano Lauren Segal plays
the role of Suzuki for the third time in her nine-year professional
operatic career.
“One of the truest loves in this whole opera is the love between
Suzuki and Butterfly,” Segal states. “Suzuki is there as her rock
and as her faithful companion throughout her whole journey.”
Segal describes the beautiful music that is sung between them
as emotive, often difficult to halt succumbing to.
“The biggest challenge [in performing this role] I think is to
remain composed so that the emotion of the moment doesn’t
take over,” she says. “Mid rehearsals there have been moments
where [cast members] have broke down in tears.”
It helps that Segal is comfortable in the opera’s language Italian. Though she attended university to study physics,
through friends she became enveloped into the world of opera.
“Some music to balance out the science,” she smiles. “I always
loved music, from a little girl.”
Segal played various musical instruments from a young age
and could always sing, but didn’t begin operatic training until
adulthood. She extolls inspirations to those who have the drive,
access to good training, and some natural abilities of course, to
pursue their passion regardless of age.
“I think that anybody who loves music should always be
encouraged to take lessons,” she says.
Nearly a decade later Segal is now well versed in German and
French as well, the three staple languages of opera. Her name
is attributed to a length of roles in good companies, thus it
was that she was asked to play Suzuki for this production, not
needing to audition.
General Director and CEO for Calgary Opera, Bob McPhee,
requested Segal for what will be her first show on the main stage
for the company. Segal became known to the director when she
came to Calgary many years ago as part of the opera’s emerging
artist program. At that time she performed in a locally composed,
student opera.
Segal says Madame Butterfly has always been one of her
favourites.
“The music is absolutely stunning,” she says. “There are
moments of complete sublime.”
When the opera first opened in 1904 it was met with heckles
and hostility, some speculate due to Puccini’s jealous rivals and
others to inadequate rehearsals pre-premier. Puccini took some
months to revise it, eventually making five revisions in total. It
is the fifth version that has become most widely performed and
known throughout the world.
26
“The story is about love and devotion; it is a very human story,”
Segal says, calling this particular production ‘minimalistic,
feminine, ethereal, and floating’.
“People will go and be taken away to this other world, and be
transported from the emotion of the piece,” she describes. “For
people who haven’t been before this is a great opera to go to.”
Segal is being hailed a young voice to watch out for; her
timbre said to be “gleaming and luscious” and her operatic
interpretations “absolutely sensational”, “alluring” and “sexy”.
She has sang with regularity for the Canadian Opera Company
Ensemble, most recently as The Muse/Nicklausse in Offenbach’s
Les Contes d’Hoffmann. She has also performed with the Toronto
Symphony Orchestra in Mozart’s Coronoation Mass and as Meg
in Verdi’s Falstaff for the L’Opéra de Montréal.
The cast for Calgary’s Madame Butterfly will additionally
feature soprano Sally Dibblee as Cio-cio-San and tenor David
Pomeroy as Pinkerton, with Joseph Mechavich conducting.
Performances will take place Saturday, April 5; Wednesday,
April 9; and Friday, April 11 at the Southern Alberta Jubilee
Auditorium with special events running throughout that week.
“It’s just gorgeous and heart breaking,” Segal says. “Everything
that opera should be.”
Calgary Opera
http://www.calgaryopera.com
Madame Butterfly
Presented by Calgary Opera
April 5th, 9th, and 11th
At the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
www.gaycalgary.com
Culture
The Passion of Sergius
and Bacchus
Gay Marriage in Pre-Modern Times
This month Third Street Theatre’s 2013-2014 Queer Theatre
Creation Ensemble presents their original creation The Passion
of Sergius and Bacchus.
The creative work was inspired by Dr. John Boswell’s research on
same-sex unions in pre-modern Europe, current issues surrounding
traditional marriage, and the ancient story of two openly gay Roman
soldiers who were also Christian.
“[Sergius and Bacchus] were wed by church officials in a private
brother-making ceremony called Adelphopoiesis, and were later executed
for their religious beliefs,” says Third Street’s Founding Artistic Director
Paul Welch.
Welch, who also facilitated the work of last year’s Creation Ensemble,
This is How I Left, says this year’s group utilized the same techniques
and methods that brought the former script award nomination and
critical acclaim.
“The biggest difference between this year’s ensemble and last is that we
have a concrete premise: the research of John Boswell on Saints Sergius
and Bacchus, two Roman soldiers who, in 300AD, became members of
the cult of Christianity,” he explains. “As the Emperor Maximian’s top
two personal body-guards, their conversion to Christianity was a bold
move and a death sentence.”
“Since Christianity had been outlawed for fear of cannibalism and
political unrest – as the Christians actively protested the government,
and believed in only one true God rather than the pantheon of gods and
goddesses that were commonplace in ancient Rome – the decision to join
the cult of Christianity was surely not an easy one.”
Ironically, not much has changed since then. Modern gay Christians
still find themselves ousted by their church families, sentenced to
imprisonment, and forced to keep their gay identities a secret. Despite
the consequence, the central characters in this work decided to hold true
to both Christianity and each other.
the group to be able to use dramaturg Laurel Green of Alberta Theatre
Projects.
“A dramaturg is akin to an editor and advocate, and they work with
the creators of the play to ensure that the story is clear, strong, and
concise, and that no one gets lost in the process,” Welch explains. “It
is an invaluable asset to us as a company – particularly with a creation
ensemble project – to ensure that we’re putting forward the strongest
work possible.
The show will have ten evening performances, with a 2pm matinee
on Saturday the 26th, Sunday the 27th, and Saturday May 3rd, at the
MOTEL venue in the EPCOR Centre for the Performing Arts. There are
no performances Sunday or Monday evenings.
The Passion of Sergius and Bacchus will feature Matt McKinney, Amy
Sawka, and Simon Tottrup as co-creators and actors. It is facilitated and
directed by Welch, and stage-managed by Anne McIlveen.
“The ensemble allows queer and queer-minded talent to be mentored,
stretch their perception of what is possible, and find authentic ownership
as playwrights and performers,” Welch says.
“As Sergius and Bacchus’ love for each other grew and blossomed, they
became joined … in a sacred bond and declared ‘brothers’ by Christian
church officials, and actively refused to participate in state-sanctioned
sacrifices to the Roman god Jupiter,” Welch says. “This enraged their
dear friend and leader the Emperor Maximian, who stripped them of
their military garb and status, dressed them as women, and paraded
them around in an attempt to shame them into submission.”
The Passion of Sergius and Bacchus
http://www.thirdstreet.ca
Even these measures would not halt the two lovers, and so they were
sentenced to further punishment. But they would not falter.
“Numerous chances later, the two pious soldiers refused to make the
sacrifice to the ancient gods and Antiochus’s hand is forced, resulting in
their ultimate death and eternal salvation in Heaven,” says Welch.
Essentially the pair died for what they believed in, and in doing
so achieved the eternal reward that was the essence of their belief in
Christianity.
The Creation Ensemble used this story as a means of paralleling
the intolerance toward the LGBT community still rife in fundamental
Christianity today.
“This is a play about the parallels of intolerance in love and faith has
been a bit of a thesis statement for us as we moved from our exploration
phase into our creation phase,” says Welch. “The process has four
phases: exploration, creation, rehearsal, and performance. We are
currently moving into our rehearsal phase.”
The group began rehearsals in late February, meeting three times per
week at the Living Spirit United Church.
On April 22nd a two-for-one preview performance will be put on,
with proceeds going to the Chinook Foundation, who donated a grant to
www.gaycalgary.com
27
Interview
Air Supply
Love Ballad Kings Team up with the Calgary Philharmonics
He has the singsong British voice of a favourite uncle or
children’s narrator – like Ringo Star reading the story lines for
Thomas the Tank Engine.
Graham Russell is a name that has survived three generations of
karaoke and passion rock fans for the hits his band Air Supply has
provided them: “All Out of Love”, “Making Love Out of Nothing at All”,
“Just as I Am”.
On Saturday, April 12th the original vocalists for the band, Graham
Russell and Russell Hitchcock, will be crooning their classic hits, as
well as three newer tracks, alongside the ample accompaniment of the
Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra.
“We love playing with them – the philharmonics,” Russell says.
“[Shows with them] don’t come up very often, for whatever reason, but
when the opportunity comes we jump on it.”
China, Taiwan and across the United States the vocal duo has done
shows like this before. Charts are rehearsed by the orchestra for some
time previous, while the singers will arrive the day of the show, roughly
1pm, to cycle through the set a couple of times with the orchestra before
the grand performance begins at 8pm.
Russell promises all the oldies fans know, but will “tone it down” from
the newer dance tracks they have been recording more recently.
“We have a couple dance charts going up the billboards right now, but
we won’t play that,” he says. “We don’t want to freak everyone out… this
audience will be a little more conservative than a rock n roll audience.”
“Desert, Sea, Sky” is one of these said electric tracks that you will be
more likely to hear out on a club night than you will at the Jack Singer
Concert Hall performance.
“It’s full on dance; its fabulous,” Russell describes.
Mumbo Jumbo is the last full album the band recorded, released in
2010. Though it hasn’t been as well accepted in North America, their
fan base in Indonesia, Malaysian and Taiwan have seen the album rise
to top chart spots.
cater to. All of the music in this score are originals written by Russell.
This musical is still in the reading stage, but will open in New York City.
Meanwhile Korea will host the opening of Russell and Hitchcock’s
musical venture aptly titled “Lost in Love”, a work that has taken already
six years to accomplish.
“Musicals such as this, rather glam and large scale, they take so long
to produce,” Russell says. “I’ve learned my lesson – you don’t create a
show and it goes on…the process is quite long.”
Though Russell says he harbours hopes the show will one day play on
Broadway, this could take years. After playing in Korean the show will
be translated into English, travel Asia for six months, then hit the U.S.
“It was a gamble because it was a concept album with a story,” he
says. “It was very different for us but very well received.”
Ironically the other musical the two are collaborating on is called “All
Out of Love”, but he assures the material is quite different.
Russell says that while they are still writing and recording new music,
given the direction the industry has taken, they would rather record and
release tracks individually than go the lengths of recording a full record.
Despite growing older Air Supply has not slowed down a smidgeon.
After New York and Calgary, Russell is flying out to play shows in South
Africa.
“We don’t make as many albums as we used to simply because there’s
nowhere to place it anymore,” he says. “The whole paradigm of recorded
music has changed… there are no record stores anymore, or very few
of them.”
“We’ve always been on the road,” he says. “We tour so much our
marketplace is quite huge. We don’t rely on just North America… we’re
always going somewhere.”
In addition to putting on 140 shows every year, the singers are also
being kept busy by the three musical productions they have in the
works; returning to their roots as it were. The three original members
of Air Supply, Russell, Hitchcock and Chrissie Hammond, met in 1975
while performing in the Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice musical Jesus
Christ Superstar back in Australia.
Russell was headed to New York at the time of interview “to see the
latest incarnation” of the children’s version of Treasure Island he has
created.
“I think children need theatre too as much as adults do,” he says.
Russell’s children are ‘all grown up now’ but he has five grandkids to
Since 1984 the duo has called the States their home, but live in
different cities. Asia is a huge site of fans for them, but in reality they
have a strong following just about around the world.
“We sell out every show we do; it doesn’t matter where we play, big or
small,” Russell says.
Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra
http://www.cpo-live.com
Air Supply
Playing Saturday, April 12th
28
www.gaycalgary.com
Community
Hot August in Ohio!
Gay Rodeo Saddles up to Gay Games this Summer
By Evan Kayne
The Cleveland and Akron, Ohio 9th annual Gay Games (August
9th to 16th) are roping up some extra excitement this year. This
summer the International Gay Rodeo Association (IGRA) will be
hosting a rodeo on August 10th and 11th just outside of Akron
in Tallmadge, Ohio.
Judy Munson, who you may know from her many years’ hard work
on the ARGRA board of directors, is the chairperson of the Gay Games
rodeo committee, and also the rodeo director. She is enthused about the
chance IGRA has been given to bring two major events together.
Much like demonstration sports at the Olympic Games, the Gay
Games tries to bring in a new sport each time they hold the event.
“Gay Games was interested in getting IGRA involved so they could
have gay rodeo,” Munson says. “This is the first time ever they had a
full-on rodeo involved with it.”
Rodeo events at the games is something that has been considered for
some time – back in 1990 when the games were in Vancouver, they held
a few related events, but nothing close to a full rodeo.
while the rodeo is going on, including singers, rope twirlers, dancers and
dance lessons for people who want to try out two-step and line dancing.
“We want people to experience the entire western lifestyle the minute
they walk through the gates,” Munson says.
IGRA is hoping this team-up with the larger Gay Games celebration
will bring new people into the gay rodeo experience. So far it’s working –
they have new contestants signing up from around the world.
Many people also love the chance the rodeo gives them to see old
friends. If you happen to be lucky enough to be down in Ohio for the
rodeo or games, you might even see some familiar faces from Alberta.
Munson and her partner Lori Andrews will be in attendance, as well as
Jamie Cumberland and Rob Summers among other members of ARGRA.
Being part of a huge event like the Gay Games means being shed
in a larger spotlight, so we asked Munson if there were any concerns
regarding animal welfare.
“We always have the SPCA check and approve everything we do...
our events are very humane compared to mainstream rodeos,” she says.
IGRA stresses that in gay rodeos events animal welfare and contestant
safety are top priorities. Gay rodeos have many safety provisions in place
to prevent injuries to the animals and the contestants. If people take the
time to be educated and come and see what happens at a gay rodeo, they
should see there is little cause for concern.
Munson also wants to stress that while this rodeo runs like any rodeo,
“35 sports and 65 countries and over 11,000 athletes” will be featured.
It’s a huge opportunity to showcase IGRA.
“This is a great big feather in the cap of IGRA and Gay Games...to
show what gay rodeo is all about... we have a co-marketing agreement
and we’re advertising for each other” Munson says.
Though this is the first time Judy has been to a Gay Games the
feedback she’s received from friends, and what she has seen in clips
of the opening and closing ceremonies, has impressed upon her how
amazing an opportunity and how fantastic an event this will be.
People from all over the world will get a chance to see how much fun
a gay rodeo can be. At this point in the Gay Games, the rodeo is not an
official sport – it’s an affiliated event – but both organisations want to be
connected to each other.
“Seeing all these cowboy hats walk in during the grand entry will just
be overwhelming,” she says. Hopefully it impresses the right people as
well – we’d love to see this be the start of a long partnership between
IGRA and the Gay Games.
“Gay Games has been great...they’ve said, you’re the experts at
running a rodeo, we know nothing about it, so you just do your thing and
we’ll continue on with the sports we know how to run.”
In many ways, it will be like a regular IGRA rodeo with roping events,
speed events such as barrel racing on horseback, chute dogging, bull
and steer riding, bucking broncos, and, of course, camp events. Camp
events are unique to gay rodeo; beginners can participate in Goat
Dressing, Steer Decorating, and Wild Drag Race, with some introductory
training from experienced rodeo folk.
Cleveland and Akron, Ohio Gay Games
http://www.gaygamesrodeo.org http://www.gg9cle.com
Cleveland and Akron, Ohio Gay Games
August 9th to 16th
In addition, much like Munson’s rodeo held out in Strathmore, the
Ohio rodeo will offer additional entertainment. A Wild West Dance at
Miss Kitty’s Saloon will take place at the rodeo grounds on Sunday,
August 10th and a huge Country and Western dance will be hosted on
Monday. Western themed events will also be occurring during the day
www.gaycalgary.com
29
Out of Town
Cleveland and Gay Games 9
 One of the most historic and beloved public food markets in the country West Side Market is in the heart of Cleveland’s
LGBT-popular Ohio City neighborhood. Photo by Andrew Collins.
by Andrew Collins
The host this summer of the ninth installment of the Gay Games
festival, which was established in 1994 (and then known as the
Gay Olympics), Cleveland has been the focus of an ambitious,
ongoing urban renaissance in recent years. The downtown
core, with its considerable stock of stately early-20th-century
buildings, has seen an influx of attractions and hotels, while
outlying neighborhoods like Detroit-Shoreway, Ohio City,
Tremont and Cleveland Heights have become magnets for cool
indie restaurants, coffeehouses, theaters, arts spaces and retail
shops. This working-class metropolis that suffered through a
deep urban decline during much of the second-half of the 20th
century is looking better than ever these days, and locals are
counting on the Gay Games as a perfect opportunity to show
LGBT visitors what Cleveland has to offer.
Gay Games 9
The ninth edition of the Gay Games – which have taken place
previously in Cologne, Chicago, Sydney, Amsterdam, New York City,
Vancouver and San Francisco – is set to take place in Cleveland as well
as nearby Akron from Aug. 9 through Aug. 16. More than 35 different
sports will be represented at the games, including beach volleyball,
cycling, flag football, golf, open-water swim, rock-climbing, soccer,
softball, tennis and many others. There are also two “cultural” events,
band and chorus, and all kinds of related gatherings, ceremonies and
parties will take place throughout the week at venues around town,
including downtown’s Festival Village (the new Mall C park, at City Hall
and overlooking FirstEnergy Stadium).
30
You can learn more about competing, watching events and attending
the Games at the official Gay Games site (gg9cle.com), which lists a full
calendar of events, travel planning information, a history of the games
and even details on how to volunteer to help with this internationally
renowned gathering.
Exploring Cleveland
Ironically,
the
abandonment
of
downtown
Cleveland
(positivelycleveland.com) during the 1950s through 1970s helped to
preserve the commercial core’s bounty of Victorian and turn-of-thecentury commercial and residential architecture, from warehouse
buildings that stood empty for decades to gleaming art deco towers
that have undergone complete renovations in recent decades. Sports
stadiums, theaters and a glitzy casino have all contributed to the current
urban buzz.
Action has always and still does revolve around Public Square, a regal
park of fountains and statuary over which looms the focal point of the
downtown comeback, the completely restored Tower City Center. Built
in 1929, this 52-story complex houses restaurants, upscale shops and
a commuter rail station. Adjoining the complex, the Horseshoe Casino
opened in 2012 inside an impressive Victorian-era department store
building and contains more than 2,000 slot machines and about 90
table games.
Walk a several blocks east along Euclid Avenue and you’ll reach the
downtown theater district, Playhouse Square, a hub of highly respected
performance venues. And a short walk south are two prominent sports
venues, Quicken Loans Arena (home to the NBA’s Cavaliers) and
Progressive Field (where baseball’s Indians play).
www.gaycalgary.com
A few blocks north, along the shores of Lake Erie, the pyramidal,
I.M. Pei-designed Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is one of the seminal popcultural museums in the world, offering visitors an invigorating tour of
music over the past 70 years – exhibits touch on the entire history of
the rock genre, with special attention given to the nearly 300 renowned
artists who have been inducted into the Hall of Fame, including LGBTpopular acts like Donna Summer, R.E.M., Blondie, Michael Jackson,
Queen, David Bowie, and Elton John. In 2014, famed (and openly
gay) Beatles manager Brian Epstein was among the inductees. Nearby
cultural highlights include the Great Lakes Science Center and the home
of the NFL’s Cleveland Browns, FirstEnergy Stadium. Across the marina
from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Voinovich Bicentennial Park is a
pleasant lakeside spot for a picnic, or admiring the city skyline, and it’s
also where Cleveland Gay Pride takes place each year in June.
like New Orleans-barbecue scallops and crisp fried chicken with baked
mac ’n’ cheese.
Abutting downtown is the Warehouse District, a tract of beautifully
restored cast-iron buildings that now house several good restaurants,
a handful of funky shops and galleries, and dozens of gorgeous loft
apartments. Down a steep hill are the city’s once-anemic river flats,
which have also been spiffed up with a handful of notable eateries and
nightspots as well as the impressive Greater Cleveland Aquarium.
The top gay nightspots in Cleveland are include Ohio City’s fun
video bar and club Bounce (bouncecleveland.com), which also has a
quite good restaurant serving tapas, flatbreads, sandwiches, and the
like; the popular Hawk Bar (thehawkbar.com), Cocktails Cleveland,
and Twist dance clubs, which are all out west in the Cudell/Edgewater
neighborhood (near Lakewood); and eastern downtown’s rough-andtumble men’s cruise bar, the Leather Stallion Saloon (leatherstallion.
com). Not far from the latter, you’ll also find one of the largest gay
bathhouse compounds in the country, Flex Cleveland (flexspas.com),
which also has a men’s hotel, gym, and bar.
Drive 10 minutes east of downtown to reach the city’s primary
cultural and educational center, 550-acre University Circle. Don’t miss
the Georgian-style Cleveland Museum of Art, which recently completed a
fantastic renovation and expansion that has greatly increased the exhibit
space. Within walking distance are such outstanding attractions as the
Cleveland Museum of Natural History, the Cleveland Institute of Art,
the Cleveland Orchestra, the Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland
and the highly rewarding Cleveland Botanical Garden. From here you’re
a quick hop to Cleveland Heights, a diverse and lively community with
a sizable gay and lesbian following and a wealth of inviting shops and
restaurants, most of them along bustling Coventry Road.
In the other direction, just west of downtown, Ohio City is the name
of a historic neighborhood (not a separate municipality) that abounds
with fine Victorian homes and has become a hot spot in recent years
for trendy eateries and lounges (notably along West 25th Street) as well
as one of the Midwest’s great culinary attractions, West Side Market,
which was begun in 1840s and is home to some 100 vendors proffering
everything from fresh produce to Polish pierogis to local artisan cheeses
- it’s really a chance for local people-watching at its best.
Venture a short drive south to another of the city’s more recently
gentrified neighborhoods, Tremont, where along main drags like
Starkweather Avenue and Literary Road you’ll find dozens of inviting
lounges and hipster-favored eateries.
Another up-and-coming
neighborhood on the city’s west side is Detroit-Shoreway, which contains
a cluster of noteworthy cafes and theaters along Detroit Avenue between
West 58th and West 75th streets.
Farther west, in the Edgewater Park neighborhood as well as the
neighboring suburb of Lakewood, you’ll find a handful of gay-oriented
businesses, including bars and restaurants – this area is more popular
with locals than visitors, but it is worth checking out if you’re interested
in LGBT nightlife.
Dining and Nightlife
Cleveland’s dining scene has long been influenced by its sizable
immigrant populations, with restaurants serving Eastern European,
Polish, Greek and Italian food especially popular. In recent years,
however, sophisticated downtown restaurants and inviting neighborhood
eateries have been making their mark, serving regionally sourced farmto-table fare and ethnic foods from more far-flung cultures.
Not far away in Tremont, critically acclaimed Lolita (lolitarestaurant.
com) – which is helmed by celeb chef Michael Symon – and Bac Asian
American Bistro (bactremont.com) wow visitors with creative cuisine,
while trendy but laid-back Fat Cats (coolplacestoeat.com/fatcats.html)
is one of the coolest neighborhood restaurants in the city (try to make it
here for the wildly popular brunch on Saturdays). Gypsy Beans & Bakery
(gypsybeans.com) in Detroit-Shoreway’s Gordon Square Arts District is a
groovy coffeehouse, while nearby Luxe Kitchen & Lounge (luxecleveland.
com) can be counted on for tasty pizzas, tapas and eclectic small plates.
Out in the Cudell/Edgewater area, the Diner on Clifton (dineronclifton.
com) is worth stopping by for breakfast, lunch or late-night dining – it’s
a favorite among patrons of the area’s nearby gay bars.
Where to Stay in Cleveland
The city’s leading hotels are mostly clustered downtown around the
Tower City, Gateway and Playhouse Square districts, within walking
distance of top attractions. Keep in mind that several new hotels are
currently in the planning stages, including a boutique property under
development by the gay-popular Kimpton brand. Steps from the city’s
top theaters, the Wyndham Cleveland at Playhouse Square (wyndham.
com) earns high marks for its central location, friendly service, and
spacious rooms – book a King Corner unit for stunning views of the
downtown skyline. Arguably the poshest accommodation in town, the
stately Ritz-Carlton, Cleveland (ritzcarlton.com) rises high above Tower
City and Public Market, its 205 rooms outfitted with such cushy creature
comforts as marble bathrooms, iPod docks and ultra-plush linens. The
hotel’s restaurant, Muse, is one of the top spots in town for a specialoccasion feast.
Out by the museums in University Circle, the InterContinental
Suites Hotel Cleveland and InterContinental Cleveland (ihg.com/
intercontinental) are excellent, high-end choices. While the Hilton
Garden Inn Cleveland Downtown (hiltongardeninn3.hilton.com), hip
and contemporary Aloft Cleveland Downtown (starwoodhotels.com/
alofthotels) and Hampton Inn Cleveland Downtown (hamptoninn3.
hilton.com) are all excellent, well-located, mid-priced options.
Additionally, Cleveland has some wonderfully charming, gay-friendly
B&Bs situated in historic Ohio City. Consider the grand Stone Gables
B&B (stonegables.net), a period-furnished, gay-owned 1883 stunner
with high ceilings, numerous fireplaces and five richly appointed guest
rooms; and the Wallace Manor B&B (wallacemanor.com), a regal stone
mansion with three spacious rooms (two of them with claw-foot soaking
tubs). Two other great choices in the neighborhood are the warmly
appointed Clifford House B&B (cliffordhouse.com), a three-room, gayowned inn with reasonable rates that include a delicious full breakfast;
and the handsome J. Palen House (jpalenhouse.com), which occupies
an old brewmaster’s home, and has nine stylishly romantic, light-filled
rooms and suites (including a cottage and a separate guest house).
In the downtown core, don’t miss Cowell & Hubbard (cowellhubbard.
com) for a romantic, pre-theater feast, or the convivial Greenhouse
Tavern (thegreenhousetavern.com) for exceptionally well-crafted “gastropub” dining and drinking. When venturing east, look to locally beloved
Tommy’s Restaurant (tommyscoventry.com) for delish vegan and
vegetarian cuisine and swell-elegant L’Albatros (albatrosbrasserie.com)
– near the Cleveland Museum of Art – for deftly executed contemporary
French food. And be sure to stop by artisan-roaster Phoenix Coffee for
an expresso drink (there are other Phoenix locations in downtown’s
Playhouse Square and on Lee Road). Ohio City food highlights include
Bar Cento (barcento.com) for mod Italian fare and neighboring Bier
Markt (bier-markt.com) for craft brews, as well as the SOHO Kitchen &
Bar (sohocleveland.com), which turns out superb New South cuisine,
www.gaycalgary.com
31
Vancouver, BC
“Spectacular by Nature”
 A dragon statue on the shores of Stanley Park
More photos and videos online: http://gaycalgary.com/a4004 
By Rob Diaz-Marino
It wasn’t long after disembarking from the Victoria ferry
that we got ourselves into the thick of Vancouver’s rush
hour traffic – and a dense mist that had descended on
the city. Movement was steady as we made our way
to check in at the Opus Hotel Vancouver. However the
change in pace from the peaceful Kelowna and laid back
Victoria was quite jarring to us, as we fought with traffic
on Davie Street in order to double back to be on the right
side of the road.
This momentary stress quickly faded away as we were
each offered a glass of Champaign while checking in at
the front desk. It was hard to resist peering around at the
highly modern and trendy décor in the hotel lobby as we
brought in our luggage. The valet took our car, and we were
shown up to our room.
There were surprises around every turn for us. Even
the trip up to the 5th floor on the elevator wowed us, what
with the near night-club atmosphere therein: low lighting
with colour-shifting LEDs and energetic music. Then, in
the hallway there was an intoxicatingly good smell of men’s
cologne (which we later found out to be piped-in scents of
vanilla and…sage?).
The room itself was as much of a spectacle too, with its
bright orange walls, modern furniture, a gorgeous bathroom,
and a glass wall between the bathtub and the bed! Sure,
it has curtains that you can close…but they were on the
bedroom side. Steve and I immediately had some naughty
thoughts, which we had to put on hold because we were due
elsewhere for dinner.
We arrived at Maenam restaurant somewhat on time for
our 7pm dinner – delayed mostly by our difficulty finding
parking in the area. This was understandable as the
popular Thai restaurant is located along a fairly busy strip.
I have never actually eaten true Thai food. Before you
recoil in shock at how bad this sounds, in my defense, I’ve
32
 Sights around Downtown Vancouver
www.gaycalgary.com
 Hundreds of jellyfish swim under black light at the Vancouver Aquarium
had an aversion to cilantro
since childhood that played
a big part in that. So while
Steve was looking forward
to returning to cuisine that
he hasn’t eaten since he met
me, I was a little bit wary
about confronting this spice
that is very central to Thai
cooking. I resolved to keep
an open mind. I’m glad I
did, because the food was
delicious, and very different
from the sorts of flavours
I’m familiar with. Though
I could taste the airy hint
of cilantro in the mix, it
tasted like it belonged, like
it complimented the other
flavours. Maenam definitely
expanded my comfort zone
with Thai food by giving me
a very positive experience,
and in fact, I wouldn’t mind
trying it again sometime.
With the rest of the
evening at our disposal we
returned to our hotel for
some brief downtime, then
headed out for a walk along
Davie Street to see what has
changed in the LGBT night
club scene since we were
last in town. We ended up
hanging around for a bit
at 1181 after bumping into
someone we knew but, after
the long busy day we had,
we turned in not long after
midnight.
The next morning we
woke up bright and early
for a delicious breakfast at
La Pentola della Quercia,
the restaurant located on
the main level of the Opus
Hotel. The General Manager
of Opus Vancouver joined
us, and afterwards took us
on a tour through the hotel
to see some of the other
suites. Each class of suite
Opus Vancouver Hotel
http://gaycalgary.com/a4005
“Uniquely stylish and always fresh,”
there’s certainly a reason why this
boutique hotel was named one of the
world’s top 100 hotels in Condé Nast
Traveler magazine. Opus Vancouver
boasts 96 guestrooms in 6 different
varieties, featuring vibrant colours
and spa-style bathrooms.
Just about everything in this hotel
exudes unique style, from the
intoxicating scent in the hallways,
to the club-atmosphere in the
elevators; the live entertainment
and DJs in the lobby on some
nights, to the room service leaving
varieties of candy that will remind
you of your childhood. They take
numerous measures to pamper you:
complimentary champagne at checkin, valet service, and extremely
friendly and helpful (not to mention
easy on the eyes) staff who are more
than comfortable with their LGBT
clientele.
Located in Yaletown, Opus Vancouver
is within walking distance of many
restaurants, spas, boutiques, and of
course Davie Street. As for giving
back to the community, the hotel is
a Vancouver Pride Society sponsor,
among other initiatives.
If you want to treat yourself to a
comfortable and stylish stay in
Vancouver, for business or pleasure,
make sure you check out the Opus
Hotel Vancouver.
Opus Vancouver
332 Davie Street, Vancouver, BC
http://www.opushotel.com
 Opus Vancouver
www.gaycalgary.com
33
 Outside the Vancouver Art Gallery
u Southern style hot and
Maenam Restaurant
sour soup of sablefish
This world-class Thai restaurant brings a dining experience
that is authentic to Royal Thai traditions. Chef Angus An’s
menu balances intense fresh flavours with locally sourced
seasonal ingredients – twists on centuries-old recipes.
q 8 spice lingcod
Even the drinks hold true to the Thai palate, with many
offerings featuring ingredients like pandanus leaf, green
cardamom, cassia bark, mint, ginger, basil, and lemongrass.
We tried the Fon-Tok, Kwio Savoy, and Thai and Ginger.
Don’t be fooled by their similar hue, their flavours are
dramatically different.
For our main dishes we shared a number of items from the
menu. First was the delicious Southern style hot and sour
soup of sablefish, followed by the spicier Grilled Thai sausage
and crispy rice salad. The 8 spice lingcod was particularly
eye-catching, not to mention incredibly tasty. By now we
were running out of room in our stomachs, but still managed
to sample the Red curry of braise duck leg, and the Steamed
mussels with lemon grass and Thai basil. Finally we rounded
the meal off with some light dessert: the Dark chocolate pot
de crème, and the Citrus and vanilla bean frozen cheesecake
parfait.
p Grilled Thai sausage
and crispy rice salad
All in all, a highly memorable dining experience that has
no doubt spoiled a Thai-food rookie like me for other Thai
restaurants.
q Red curry of braise
duck leg
Maenam Restaurant
1938 West 4th Ave, Vancouver, BC
http://www.maenam.ca
p Steamed mussels with
lemon grass and Thai basil
u Fon Tok (left),
Kwio Savoy (centre),
Thai and Ginger (right)
t Dark choclolat pot de
crème (left) and Citrus
vanilla bean frozen
cheesecake parfait (right)
34
www.gaycalgary.com
The Vancouver Lookout
A big and busy city like Vancouver can be tough to explore, but the
Vancouver Lookout gives you the opportunity to rise far above many
of the tall buildings and see the “forest” rather than just the “trees”.
Towering nearly 170 metres off the ground, this 360 degree panoramic
observation deck offers stunning views of the city. Admission to the
tower includes complimentary guided tours, and also allows re-entry
for the rest of the day so you can see the city both by day and by night.
The 40 second ride up and down in the glass elevator is a
rush in itself. Don’t forget to bring your good camera!
The Vancouver Lookout
555 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC
http://www.vancouverlookout.com
Stanley Park
Stanley Park is at the tip of a spit of land at the mouth
of Vancouver Harbour. For those sick of tall buildings
and traffic, it is a refuge where one can go to walk for
hours along shores and beaches, and explore over 27km
of forested trails.
Every visit to the park can bring a new discovery, with
monuments and sculptures, flower gardens, totem poles,
playgrounds, breathtaking landmarks, and all manner
of seasonal events scattered throughout.
Be strategic and consult a guide book, blog, or website to
get an idea of what you want to see and do while visiting
Stanley Park, because there is no way you can cover it
all in one visit.
www.gaycalgary.com
35
Homer St. Café and Bar
u Maple butter pork belly (left)
and Crispy chicken skin (right)
Stepping into this restaurant in Vancouver’s
Yaletown district, felt like we had been
transported to another country…like a Deli
somewhere in Europe perhaps? The antique
tiling and distressed tables set amongst
the steeple ceilings and reclaimed factory
windows, in a historic building no less, create
a distinctive and inviting atmosphere.
q Smoked tuna and red wine
p Chicken mushroom kale
risotto wit roasted butternut squash
tomato pappardelle pasta
q Quarter chicken rotisserie
with pee wee potatoes and
chicken jus
p Chicken bacon tomato
gruyere sandwich
Meat is definitely the main feature of the menu.
To start, we had a serving of their savoury
Maple butter pork belly, and as unhealthy as it
sounds – a restaurant favorite – Crispy chicken
skin. Afterwards we squared off on our own
dishes: me with the Chicken bacon tomato
gruyere sandwich from their specials menu,
Steve with their Chicken mushroom kale tomato
pappardelle pasta special, and our hosts with
the Smoked tuna and red wine risotto with
roasted butternut squash and Quarter chicken
rotisserie with pee wee potatoes and chicken jus.
The only break from this delicious
onslaught of protein were the rich and
sweet desserts. We sampled the Chewy
peanut butter cookies with Nutella cream,
the Chocolate pudding with maldon sea salt,
cocoa nibs, and honeycomb, plus the Skillet
baked cheesecake with seasonal fruit.
Homer St. Café and Bar may have some
menu items that would make your
cardiologist cringe, but so what if you
treat yourself every now and then?
t Chocolate pudding (left),
Skillet baked cheesecake
(centre) and Chewy peanut
butter cookies (right)
is painted a different colour – while ours was orange, we
saw other suites with red, green, and purple walls. The
artwork in some of the rooms was of the pixelated faces of
characters I recognized from Nintendo games like PunchOut that I played during my childhood. Certainly this was
intended to tickle the men who are are still kids at heart.
With the morning still young, we took some time to
strategically plan out our day from the roster of attractions
covered by the Tourism Vancouver 2013 Experience Passes
provided to us. We planned for our first stop to be the
Vancouver Art Gallery, but unfortunately the gallery wasn’t
Homer St. Café and Bar
898 Homer Street, Vancouver, BC
http://www.homerstreetcafebar.com
clear on their policy published on the Experience Pass and
as media, we weren’t able to get security clearance in time to
take photos for this article. With no other major attractions
in walking range of our lunch appointment, we simply filled
the allotted hour wandering and taking photos around
downtown Vancouver – which is unfortunate, because had
we known, that time could have been spent covering one
of the many tourism attractions we had to skip due to our
tight timeline in Vancouver.
Despite this setback, our visit to Homer St. Café and Bar
brought our moods up again. This café is famous for their
36
www.gaycalgary.com
La Pentola della Quercia Restaurant
La Pentola, located on the main floor of the Opus Hotel
Vancouver, delivers Northern Italian cuisine artfully crafted
by award-winning duo Adam Pegg and Lucais Syme. You
can enjoy the family-style restaurant setting, or order food
a la carte daily for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or late night.
t OPUS Breakfast:
two eggs, sausage, toast and
rosti
We were treated to breakfast at La Pentola, to experience the food
first hand. I ordered the OPUS Breakfast which has two eggs,
your choice of bacon or sausage, toast and rosti. Although it
sounds simple, some of the touches like the multi-grain bread and
spicy Italian sausage made it feel special, and sated my morning
craving for protein and salt. On the other hand, my partner
ordered the Kaiserschmarrn (Northern Italian pancake) with
raisins, pine-nuts, cream, and house-made jam – sprinkled lightly
with frosting sugar. It was deliciously sweet and yet very hearty.
Although we didn’t get to try any items from their lunch
or dinner menus, these two simple but surprising
breakfast dishes were a good indication of what one
can expect from La Pentola della Quercia.
u Kaiserschmarn
with raisins,
pine-nuts,
cream, and
house-made
jam
La Pentola della Quercia
350 Davie Street, Vancouver, BC
http://www.lapentola.ca
C Restaurant
u Octopus
“Panzanella”
Salad with smoked
tomato, toasted
bread, and chorizo
With its proximity to the ocean, Vancouver is an ideal home for
a world-class seafood restaurant like C. A founding member of
the sustainably focused Ocean Wise program, this restaurant
is also mindful about how they take from the ocean. Executive
Chef Nicolas Hipperson, openly a member of the LGBT
community, certainly shifted gears from his Saskatchewan
prairie roots. We had the pleasure of meeting him when we
visited his restaurant for dinner.
They started us off with the Octopus “Panzanella” Salad with
smoked tomato, toasted bread, and chorizo. The octopus
comes in the form of tender discs of sliced tentacle, and the
uniquely flavoured octopus ink dressing that also happens to
turn your tongue black!
q Roasted Sable-
fish with fingerling potatoes,
pacific octopus
and artichokes
Next we were treated to the Lobster Bisque with poached
lobster, crème fraiche, and preserved lemon. The only thing
more delicious than the rich and creamy bisque was the bisqueinfused lobster meat. If ever food could induce an orgasm, this
is the dish to do it.
For our main dish, we were each treated to a plate of Roasted
Sablefish with fingerling potatoes, basil mayo, saffron sauce,
pacific octopus, and artichokes. You don’t just eat this dish,
you explore it, by combining the different meats and vegetables
with the 3 different sauces.
p Lobster Bisque
with poached
lobster, crème
fraiche, and
preserved
lemon
Dessert was another chance to combine different elements
together, with a selection of chocolate mousse, ice cream, and
other sweets surrounded by a ring of icing sugar, maple sugar,
and chocolate powder.
C Restaurant makes it hard to do flavours justice with words
alone – even better when paired with wine to complement those
flavours. I can only encourage you to “sea” for yourself!
C Restaurant
2 – 1600 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC
http://www.crestaurant.com
t Assortment of
desserts
www.gaycalgary.com
37
The Vancouver Aquarium
Known as Canada’s largest aquarium, the
Vancouver Aquarium is home to some 60,000
aquatic creatures of 800 different species.
While many colourful varieties of fish are
certainly a focus, the underwater tanks
also feature fauna and flora like jellyfish,
anemones, starfish, rays, and all manner
of coral and plant life. Additional exhibits
include frogs, lizards, penguins, otters,
crocodiles, dolphins, beluga whales and more!
Whether you’re interested in learning
about marine life, or you just want to
admire some of the beautiful underwater
ecosystems, you shouldn’t miss
visiting the Vancouver Aquarium.
The Vancouver Aquarium
845 Avison Way, Vancouver, BC
http://www.vanaqua.org
rotisserie menu of many different meats – particularly their
chicken. We sampled some of their appetizers and sides,
including their particularly naughty delight: crispy chicken
skins!
Refreshed, we went on to visit the Vancouver Lookout,
which was much like the Calgary Tower in that it offers
a 360 degree view out over the city. We got a strangely
beautiful mix of sun and mist as we took pictures of the
buildings below us.
The Vancouver Aquarium in world-famous Stanley Park
was our next stop. We arrived in time for their last hour of
operation, and did something of a whirlwind tour of the large
facility. To our delight, they had a large exhibit on Jellyfish.
Seeing the many different shapes and sizes of the creature
was both beautiful and fascinating. Another impressive
exhibit was the giant Amazon arapaima fish that loomed
motionless in its tank until it suddenly snapped its jaw at
something in the water, causing all the other smaller fish in
the tank to scatter. All in all, the Vancouver Aquarium is
chock-full of interesting and colorful sea life, not to mention
their large outdoor exhibits – it’s worth a visit!
With some time to kill before dinner, and already in
Stanley Park, we decided to explore for a bit. We walked
down some forested paths until we reached the shore, where
several seals were playing in the water, and we witnessed a
seagull catch a small crab in its beak. Despite the gray mist
casting a gloom over the otherwise beautiful green fields
and colorful autumn leaves, it wasn’t hard to imagine what
a popular spot this vast park must be in the summer time.
Even at this time of year, there seemed to be a lot going on.
We stumbled across a busy family Halloween celebration,
and many other people who were just out for a walk. In a
city as big and busy as Vancouver, I imagine this park is a
way to find some solitude and reconnect with nature.
38
As daylight began to fade and the fog started rolling in
thicker, we made our way back to Opus to rest for a while
before heading out to our dinner destination, which was
conveniently only a 10 minute walk away, right on the
shore of False Creek. It was hard not to notice the live DJ
spinning dance music in the lobby of the hotel as we made
our way out – what a neat idea for a Friday night!
I was very excited at the prospect of eating at what was
described to us as a world class seafood restaurant. Indeed,
C Restaurant lived up to that expectation with dishes
that were as stunning visually as they were to the palate,
employing ingredients like octopus ink to add unique color
and flavour. Our personal favorite was the Lobster Bisque
– so rich and delicious, we did our best to savour it slowly
but nonetheless we were sad when our plates were empty.
Thoroughly stuffed and satisfied, we returned to our hotel
to give our stomachs a chance to catch up. As 10pm rolled
around, we decided it would be a shame to waste our last
night in Vancouver, so we made our way out to visit the
clubs. We arranged to meet up with a friend at Pumpjack
Pub, which we found out is a very popular spot on Fridays
by the fact that we had to wait in line outside for a good 15
minutes. It was understandable though, for how busy the
place was – and the bouncer was friendly enough, so we
didn’t mind chatting with him. We hung out for a while,
feeling a sense of nostalgia for the Calgary Eagle, but we did
the responsible thing and turned in not long after midnight
- we had a long drive ahead of us to get to Kamloops the
next morning.
www.gaycalgary.com
www.gaycalgary.com
39
Community
From Tears of Weeping
to Tears of Joy
Openly Transgender Pastor Megan Rohrer
Celebrates Installation with Pop Praise
By David-Elijah Nahmod
On February 22nd San Francisco’s Grace Lutheran Church
installed Pastor Megan Rohrer as their new pastor. The well
attended service, dubbed the Beatles Mass (congregants sang
praise lyrics to the music of The Beatles) was not only joyously
uplifting, it was historic. Pastor Megan identifies as openly
transgender.
The pastor, who prefers the pronoun they, brings a long history of
transgender and homeless advocacy to the table. Three nights a week
they walk the streets of San Francisco as part of Night Ministry, a loose
network of clergy from various denominations who offer counseling,
prayer, guidance and hands-on support to homeless individuals.
As the congregation stood in line to receive Holy Communion from
their new pastor for the first time, Megan stood before the altar,
holding up the bread and wine for all to see. There were smiles of joy
and peace in the faces of all those present.
Now ensconced in their new job, Pastor Megan spoke to Gay Calgary
about issues that are near and dear to their heart.
GC: Can you describe to our readers exactly what the Beatles Mass
entailed?
PM: The worship that we used at the installation was created for
an evening worship service at St Aidan’s Episcopal. In the hopes
of attracting young people and those new to the church, I created
a Lady Gaga Mass. The service gained a lot of attention and I was
able to share it at congregations around the country. However, Lady
Gaga’s music is very complicated and much more difficult to sing
than what you’d expect from a pop song. Many of the young people
knew the tunes, but the older generation had a difficult time. I created
the Beatles Mass because the tunes were recognized by both older
and younger members and participants often leave the service feeling
uplifted.
GC: Can you share your backstory on coming out as transgender
and what led you to ministry?
PM: I grew up in South Dakota and went to a Lutheran college
where I was out and encouraged to pursue my gifts for ministry.
After enduring some hate crimes and religious abuse during the time
following the death of Matthew Shepard, I thought it wouldn’t be
possible to become an LGBT pastor in the Lutheran church. Pacific
Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkley CA encouraged me to
continue my studies and I moved to the Bay Area in 2002. In June
of that year I began working as the executive director of the Welcome
Ministry where I continue to support, feed, and find creative ways
to help the homeless and hungry improve their quality of life. With
programs at Lutheran congregations around San Francisco we’ve
created community gardens that have given away over 5.4 tons of
produce. Through partnering with Project Homeless Connect, we’ve
given away almost 200 pairs of glasses in the past five months, and
provided groceries for HIV positive individuals.
GC: Are there many trans people in ministry?
PM: I meet annually with a group of about 150 transgender pastors
and faith leaders from diverse faiths at a retreat hosted by the Center
For Lesbian and Gay Studies in Berkeley CA. We talk about how we
can show support and learn from each other, and the best practice
for sharing our stories, advocating for trans individuals, and our own
employment needs. There may be many more than that, but some
people choose not to be open about their transgender status after
they transition. This is why I use the words openly transgender in my
identification.
GC: It is difficult for them to find accepting congregations?
PM: Many transgender pastor faith leaders work in specialized
ministry to support vulnerable populations. When it comes to faithfully
serving LGBT individuals or the homeless, being transgender is often
an asset. Very few openly transgender pastors are able to find work
40
 Pastor Megan Rohrer
leading a congregation. I believe this will change as society becomes
more welcoming and understanding of transgender issues.
GC: Will you be doing trans outreach at Grace Lutheran?
PM: We take the name Grace seriously, so we will be doing outreach
to people of all shapes and sizes. The congregation is enthusiastic
about welcoming everyone, particularly those of us who have been
lied to and told that they’re not good enough to be part of a faith
community.
GC: Can you address some of the hardships that transgenders face
in their daily lives?
PM: People who live outside of society’s cultural gender norms have
experienced violence, arrest, and loss of jobs for centuries. I have
personally been yelled at in bathrooms and inappropriately touched
by people who think my gender identity means that my private parts
are up for grabs. I’ve also provided pastoral support to transgender
youth who’ve been kicked out of their homes, set on fire, sexually or
physically assaulted, robbed or arrested. Many others live in fear that
this violence could come at any moment.
GC: What’s being done to change this?
PM: As transgender issues gain more attention in the media, and
with LGBTQ church groups who are educating congregations, society
is beginning to understand the diversity of experiences transgender
people take. Within most faith and Christian denominations there are
groups of trans individuals working to help their branch of faith become
aware of the issues that affect transgender people. The Human Rights
Campaign’s Religion and Faith Department has excellent resources
for faith communities, and I have worked with them and other trans
pastors to create preaching reassures for pastors to use with their
congregations. Lutherans have a group called Extraordinary Lutheran
Ministries who have been very helpful for my journey and advocate
not only for LGBTQ pastors, but also those in school training to
become pastors as they go through the church credentialing process.
GC: Can you describe how you felt at your installation?
PM: My tears of weeping have turned to tears of joy. Many people
were surprised that Grace called me because they weren’t at the
forefront of gay pride parades or lobbying for LGBTQ folks at the
church. They did not call a transgender pastor to make a statement,
they called me because they like my sermons, bible study and ideas
for growing the congregation. This is the future I want for the church
and the world, a vision that sees beyond colour and identity and
embodies the all encompassing love of God.
Pastor Megan Rohrer
http://revrohrer.blogspot.com
www.gaycalgary.com
Event
Eat for Your Life!
Tasty fundraiser grants opportunity to dine out and give back
By Carey Rutherford
A Taste for Life, a dining benefit that helps out a designated
charity, will be giving proceeds to The Sharp Foundation during
its fifth annual run in Calgary.
Started in Ottawa, the creative fundraiser is now making appearances
throughout Ontario and New Brunswick, but Calgary was the first to host
it outside of its province of origin.
“The idea is we recruit participating restaurants; on the last Wednesday
of every April those restaurants will host A Taste For Life and they
donate 25 per cent of their gross sales for the day (food, liquor, desserts,
everything) to the charity,” explains Floyd Visser, executive director for
The Sharp Foundation. “We’ve got nine or ten restaurants signed up
already, and we usually get a few more than that [before it starts]. We try
to get every price point we can, and all kinds of cuisine going. It’s really
simple: all you have to do is go out for dinner, and have a great meal, and
the restaurant donates 25 per cent of its gross.”
Indeed, it’s both simple and beneficial.
“The general population doesn’t know that, right here in Calgary,
we have a fantastic little organization providing care and support for
individuals dealing with HIV/AIDS and homelessness; or they may be
dealing with (HIV/AIDS and) mental illness, or they’re dealing with some
really complex [blend of other] issues… in combination with HIV/AIDS,”
says Visser.
The Taste For Life event is slated for April 23rd this year, and starts
at 7am. Blue Vinny, new to the event, will be doing a breakfast/lunch
offering for the charity with a quarter of the proceeds going to The Sharp
Foundation.
“We provide an integrated spectrum of support: what that means is we
not only provide the client with medical support (HIV requires a very strict
regimen of medication, nutrition, stress management, doctors’ visits, etc.),
but we really care for the individuals that have difficulty with some of that
process,” explains Visser. “The idea is to build their health and help them
rebuild their lives.o
Visser is clearly as involved as the staff he directs at the Lumino
Building and Beswick House.
“Beswick is a ten room 24/7 fully supported group home. We have two
healthcare aides on every shift, and they’re responsible for medication and
administration, and will monitor the clients’ therapy, when necessary…
If there are issues around addictions, substance abuse, etc., we will
also help the clients with treatment programs, whether they’re in day
treatment or longer-term treatment; we provide active living programs, so
the client gets a chance to get out and build social skills; building out the
client’s whole, as we would say.n
We discussed the fact that the fastest growing demographic in HIV/
AIDS cases is aboriginal women, for a whole host of reasons that deserve
their own story in print. Visser notes that yes, The Sharp Foundation has
a mixed cultural clientele, and recalls one 40-year-old Native woman’s
story.
“It was a situation that, when she came into Beswick House, after
we got her health stabilized, we were able to get further testing done to
www.gaycalgary.com
address other issues,” he says. “It turned out she was schizophrenic, and
of course that can be treated. So very quickly she was on treatment, and
was just the most amazing person you could ever meet: very spiritual, and
calm. Her family was so thankful, because suddenly they were getting
their mother, their daughter, their sister back.”
The woman would go to visit her family, but always returned to the
Beswick, the place where she had been able to feel the most comfortable.
She stayed there until she passed away from HIV/AIDS a few years later.
“Even today her family is still engaged with us, supporting us and
writes letters for us,” Visser says.
“The key thing here is, because of the trust that the client builds with
us – and that’s the most difficult thing to build because of the vulnerability
– it’s not always easy to transition the clients to another environment. So
they stay with us. This is their home, because that’s where they feel the
safest.”
The Sharp Foundation began its work in 1990.
“We started out as a place that provided dignified, non-judgemental
supports for people who were dying of AIDS,” Visser says. “Of course
things have changed significantly in the last 25 years (medically), but
we’re still dealing with a lot of the stigma and discrimination associated
with the disease, or the lifestyles that are stereotypically associated with
the disease.”
Then add to that the issues of homelessness, depression, and culture.
“That’s what’s so cool about this work – is seeing people get back to
living and respecting themselves, and understanding that they have
value, and they’re worth taking care of.c
To that end, following the construction of new locations around the
city and an agreement with Calgary Housing, The Sharp Foundation was
granted access to ten per cent of the apartments in the Lumino Building
in September last year. This followed the flood cleanup.
“This is independent living, targeted at people who have been living
with HIV for a long period of time, and are being impacted by aging… The
people [wee people dep] are really happy: theyving, targeted at p, and we
haven a mixed-usage, 80h any issues around stigma or discriminatory
issues, or anything like that,” Visser says, important in a mixed-usage,
80-unit apartment building.
To learn more, about the charity and its activities, check out their
website and go out and eat something!
A Taste for Life
http://www.ATasteForLife.org
41
Interview
Ian: Or, when we wrote an email to her, do we address it to Xtina?
(Laughs) We were scared to meet her because we had no idea what to expect,
but she’s totally chilled out and she invited us over her house a couple of
times and we played paintball with her in her backyard. We just shot the
shit. She’s an amazing human being and you really get to know that when
she’s in that relaxed off-mode. It’s been really cool to see both sides.
GC: How aware are you of a gay following?
Chad: We definitely have their support and I feel like it’s growing.
Ian: We have a song called “Everyone Is Gay” and when we play that
at shows it really seems to be resonating in a positive way, so whether our
audience is gay, straight, bi, the people that come to our shows are openminded and have huge hearts.
GC: That track in particular sounds very Broadway. What inspired the
actual music on that song?
Ian: When we got asked to write that song (for EveryoneIsGay.com), we
sat down at the piano and that’s really the first thing that came out. I feel
like we’re both influenced by musical theater and there’s a couple of songs
on the album that are more theatrical than others, but it was our original
intention to write a musical together and we just ended up singing the song.
 Photo by Epic Records
It’s a Sad World After All
A Great Big World Duo talk crying, Christina and being queer
By Chris Azzopardi
You’re still crying, aren’t you? And that’s OK. We all are.
That’s just the kind of reaction “Say Something,” the sleeper hit by A
Great Big World featuring Christina Aguilera, rouses every time it’s on, and
I do mean every time. Because it’s on a lot. Peaking at No. 4 on the Billboard
Hot 100, the brutally honest, heart-wrecking weepie became a surprise
smash, leading the way for Ian Axel and Chad Vaccarino’s debut, Is There
Anybody Out There?
The New York duo recently chatted about making you cry, nabbing
Neil Patrick Harris for a musical they’re writing and being more gay than
straight ... for now anyway.
GC: There’s probably not a single person who hasn’t heard “Say
Something.” On that song, you pretty much opened your diary up to the
world. What’s it like sharing a song that’s so personal to you with so many
people?
Ian: You know, to think there’s not a person in the world who hasn’t
heard the song, that’s crazy. That’s just crazy. That just hit me.
When we wrote this song we were both going through a really dark place.
We wrote it four years ago, and I’m speaking for Chad too, and though it’s
still a part of us, we’re in a completely new place emotionally and spiritually.
It almost feels like the song moved through us from some greater place and
helped us, and now it doesn’t feel like ours anymore. It feels like it does
belong to everyone. It feels bigger than us, so I feel slightly removed. It’s
hard to process what it’s like sharing your diary with the world, and I don’t
know if it’s a defense mechanism, but I almost feel like I’m removed from it.
It’s hard to explain.
Chad: We write as therapy for ourselves. That song in particular was
definitely, for me, a moment of closure in my personal life and, yeah, I like
that the song ends unsettled. I actually found a new perspective and I did
find resolution for what I was going through, so it’s amazing that other
people are relating to it.
Ian: I feel like it’s a long-winded answer, but it’s an important question
that you asked. It’s just magical, everything that’s happening. It really is.
There’s no other word for it.
GC: And you got Christina Aguilera on the track. What was it like
meeting her? Not just recording with her, but getting to know her. Was she
more or less the diva that you expected? Do you call her Xtina?
Chad: (Both laugh) We call her Christina, but I’m pretty sure Ian and I
talked about that before going into the studio with her – whether we should
call her Christina or Xtina. We didn’t know!
42
Chad: That song in particular was definitely an effort to finally write a
song that we would’ve loved to have heard when we were kids, when we
were growing up. I was bullied in middle school and I would’ve loved to have
heard someone tell me that it’s OK and your confusion is absolutely OK
and you don’t need to define yourself and label yourself right now. We were
coming from that perspective when we were writing it, and we’re hoping
that it does resonate with kids and everyone. We wanted to have fun, but
we wanted it to be a sort of anthem.
GC: Chad, you recently told Entertainment Weekly, “Why do you have
to label yourself at all? We’re all somewhere in the middle and we’re all on
this spectrum of sexuality.” Does that mean you fall in the middle of the
Kinsey scale?
Chad: Yeah. I mean, I don’t know if I’m in the middle. (Laughs) I feel like
I’m more gay than I am straight, and I’ve been with girls in my life and I’ve
been with guys. I’m drawn to a human being, so it’s hard. You’re so used to
defining yourself and labeling yourself, and you kind of want to because it’s
easier – it gives you a path or a direction – but you don’t need to. I think we
both believe that you love who you love.
Tell me something about the musical you’re working on.
Chad: (Laughs) Well, we’re working on a musical and, um, Neil Patrick
Harris – and uh, that’s it.
Ian: Yeah, no, no, no!
Chad: It’s a heartwarming comedy and it’s our music on steroids. Also:
Sorry, I just wanted to say that I mentioned Neil Patrick Harris as a dream
actor/singer in this musical. That’s who we’re aiming for.
GC: The first time I heard “Say Something,” and even the third and
fourth time, I bawled my eyes out. While writing or performing the song,
have you just lost it?
Ian: Absolutely. We cried like babies. At least I did. I don’t think I ever
cried more (than I did while) writing this song. I’m not a religious person
but it was like a religious experience and it changed my perspective on
everything. It felt like I was praying writing that song.
Chad: Yeah, like I said before, it feels like I didn’t actually know I was
heartbroken until halfway through the songwriting process of that and I
gained a new perspective on a toxic relationship I was in, and by the end of
writing that song I finally found closure.
GC: How does it make you feel knowing you’ve broken so many hearts
with that song but also mended many of them too?
Chad: I know that Ian is gonna disagree with me, but it really hurts me
knowing that people relate to the song in a similar way. I know that pain
and Ian knows that pain and it hurts and it sucks, and to know that other
people are going through that, it’s amazing because we’re not alone but it’s
also painful to know that other people are hurting.
Ian: You need to feel the pain to heal. It’s just part of the process, and
the fact that people can feel what we felt, I mean, we’re all in this thing
together.
www.gaycalgary.com
www.gaycalgary.com
43
Community
Safety Under the
Rainbow: A History
The birth and growth of services for LGBT
experiencing domestic violence
By Jane M. Oxenbury, M.Ed., R. Psych.
While attending the Women and Mental Health
Conference in 1991, and hearing about the issues of
domestic violence in the gay and lesbian communities,
the idea of developing services for this population
germinated. Subsequently, in 1990, a local domestic
violence group therapy program was adapted to create
the first group counselling for lesbian victims of samesex domestic violence in their relationships. In time,
some lesbians who had perpetrated violence in their
relationship made the foray into the ongoing heterosexual
perpetrator groups.
After several presentations were given about this area of
abuse, in the early 1990s, a group of professionals began
to meet to address further the gap in the Calgary domestic
violence services and training available for the LGBT
communities. As a result, in 1997 a training program for
professionals, called Women Hurting Women (WHW), was
begun to be discussed under the auspices of Peer Support
for Abused Women. WHW training began in 2000.
Soon after, in 2002, the professional training program,
YouthSafe (YS), was brought into the discussion to address
the issues of bullying and harassment of LGBT youth. The YS
training began in 2006. This program now resides with the
Alberta Civil Liberties Centre.
In the same year, to address the domestic violence issues
in the gay male community, a concurrent training, Violence
in Gay Male Relationships (VIGOR) was adapted from the
original WHW program.
These three programs, along with their media campaign of
posters, websites and help cards, had been linked in a joint
effort known as Safety Under the Rainbow (SUTR) by 2005.
In addition, membership on a general domestic violence
committee was begun and the area of same-sex domestic
violence became more widely known.
By 2007 the WHW and VIGOR trainings were amalgamated
into one LGBT domestic violence professional training known
as Same-Sex Domestic Violence (SSDV). Then, in 2010, the
SSDV program expanded to become a capacity building
program that agencies could access to increase the overall
capacity within their organizations. This included not only
the SSDV training but assistance for an agency with their
documentation and accessibility to become a truly gaypositive organization.
Visit the website for more information on the programs
offered by Safety Under the Rainbow.
Safety Under the Rainbow
http://www.sutr.ca
44
www.gaycalgary.com
Interview
Flash Gordon
Sam J Jones, saving the world on screen and off
The reception was fuzzy and clarity drifted in and out for the
voice of actor Sam J Jones, better known as cult icon Flash
Gordon. He was speaking to GayCalgary Magazine from
Mexico, though not working on a movie set.
Aside from starring in action films the actor runs his own
company, offering private security services for executives and
VIPs working in dangerous areas. This brings him often to border
towns like Tijuana and Mexicali.
“I’m one of the few guys in the film industry who, when I’m
making a movie, I can actually hire myself to protect myself,” Jones
says. “We look after a lot of executives and high profile people who
either have threats on their lives or live in a high risk environment
where their lives need to be protected, or their assets.”
“We do the same thing the secret service does,” he says. “It’s
something I just really enjoy doing.”
Ironically, it was Jones that could have used some security just
a week and a half before the shooting of Flash Gordon began back
in 1979, London, UK.
Gordon was walking down a street one evening during ‘football
season’ when he was jumped by 12 men. He says he was wearing
a baseball cap that said ‘Los Angeles’ when the attack happened.
“They attacked me first; I had no choice but to defend myself,”
he says. “I was holding my own against six, but another six came
behind me that I didn’t know was there.”
“They pretty much took me down after about 60 seconds,” he
goes on. “They just took me down when my back was exposed.”
Not unlike the character Jones was set to play less than two
weeks later, he was literally fighting for his life. His background
in martial arts was help but not help enough to take on 12 men.
Restaurant and shop owners on the street heard the ruckus and
came out to help.
“Thank God there was some English guys there…they didn’t
know me at all… and assisted me and probably saved my life,”
Jones says.
His face was a mess. He describes the damage to his tongue,
and the bone that was exposed in his chin.
“The doctor sewed me up really good and I was ready to go…it’s
kind of a miracle,” he says.
A thick layer of makeup was applied to his chin and movie
viewers were none the wiser of their campy film hero’s sustained
injuries.
Since the film, based on the Flash Gordon comic strip created
by Alex Raymond, was released in 1980, Jones has become a
staple name at comic and sci-fi conventions around the world.
This month he will appear at the Calgary Expo and promises
nothing rehearsed - just some honest Q&A’s adlib.
“I just go with it,” he says. “[Flash Gordon] is a character I’ve
always represented, I feel, in a good way.”
Jones has never tired of the role. In fact, he is proud to have
seen the character span several decades and generations of fans.
Most recently Jones played Flash in the Mark Wahlberg, Seth
MacFarlane comedy/fantasy Ted, and will do so again in June
when Ted 2 starts filming (slated for release in 2015). This
appearance, Jones says, has spawned resurgence in fans young
and old.
“What I’m grateful for is to have such a huge following; such
a diverse group of people,” he says. “It’s an exciting character. I
enjoy it.”
www.gaycalgary.com
An oddity fans may not know about is that over half of the
Flash Gordon film is dubbed over with another actor’s voice. Jones
says it’s standard to go back into the audio booth after filming is
wrapped and make changes, but since he had returned to the
States to shoot a TV series he was unable to do the vocal edits
himself. Thus an English actor was called in to perform the task.
These, and perhaps other revelations and stories of heroic feats,
should be the stuff Jones’ appearance at the Calgary Expo will be
about. The actor says he bears no shame for playing the same role
going on now some 35 years; it has become a part of him.
“Flash is one of the few [super heroes] who doesn’t have super
powers so it’s all about him,” he says. “When people say hey Flash
…I’m not going to turn my back and run. I’m going to say hello.”
45
Interview
Phi Phi O’Hara is “Bitchy”
The RuPaul’s Drag Race Star Pop Rocks
By Skip Sheffield
Phi Phi O’Hara’s new song takes ownership of the title she won
on television’s popular drag competition show. Written and
produced by Zach Adam and Heather Holley (who has written
several hits for Christina Aguilera), “Bitchy” is a pop/rock
anthem that the outlandish drag star describes as if P!nk, Joan
Jett and Adam Lambert had a baby. “I really wanted something
that was representative of who I am,” O’Hara explains. “I have
a sweet but edgy side. I needed music that matched. It is also
meant to be an inspirational message to fans to never allow
negative names to tear you down.”
On RuPaul’s Drag Race, Phi Phi O’Hara was known to be something of
a bitch – a fact she doesn’t deny or apologize for. “I was bitchy and I am
bitchy,” she admits, “but only when I need to be.”
Some felt her camera antics went beyond competitive chiding. Phi Phi
appeared to be constantly yelling at other contestants, often criticizing
them for what she believed to be their lack of talent. As the season
progressed, fan disapproval grew. Never before in the history of RuPaul’s
Drag Race had one contestant been so overwhelmingly disliked.
Phi Phi O’Hara, however, feels her anger was misunderstood. “I was
young and competing against much more experienced queens,” she
says. “A lot of my anger was misguided frustration.”
Competing on the show turned out to be much tougher than O’Hara
had anticipated. “After watching prior seasons, I thought it would be
easy. Little did I know the time crunch we would be under to prepare for
each challenge, how quickly we would have to change
In and out of clothes and make-up, and how long we would be forced
to stand on stage under burning hot lights. The powder puff I carried
became my best friend because I was always sweating,” she laughs.
“On top of all that, the girls I was competing against were good. Damn
good!”
As she sings in “Bitchy”, Phi Phi O’Hara has never let anyone stop
or stand in the way of achieving her dreams. She didn’t appreciate
the criticism she received from judges and other contestants on the
show. She felt much of it wasn’t intended to be constructive, but rather
destructive.
“Every now and then, it’s important to put your foot down and say
enough is enough,” she continues. “What I did or said on the show was
usually in defense of my hard work.”
She takes the words of Latrice Royale (a competitor on the show who
is now a friend) to heart. Royale told Phi Phi that being a bitch is never
a bad thing when one lives by the meaning of the word. B.I.T.C.H: Being
In Total Control of Herself.
46
“That is the definition I live by,” O’Hara says. “And it’s at the heart
of the song.”
It’s why she decided not to follow the current EDM trend. “Bitchy” is
a guitar-heavy pop rock track that draws from eighties’ hair metal. “The
style and sound of eighties beats really makes me smile,” she says.
It’s also why O’Hara decided to sing “Bitchy” as her male counterpart,
Jaremi. “I sing in my real voice because I wanted to showcase a very real
and important part of what makes me...me.”
However, she is releasing the track as Phi Phi O’Hara and appears
in full drag in the song’s music video. “I could never forget Phi Phi
and the impact she has on who I am as a person and the career I have
today. That’s why I felt it was appropriate to release “Bitchy” as my alter
ego,” she explains. “I would like to eventually transition into singing and
performing as Jaremi.”
In addition to her music, Phi Phi O’Hara is currently developing a
clothing line and touring the country in a new live cabaret show called
“The Sweetest Bitch”.
“Bitchy” by Phi Phi O’Hara is available now on iTunes and http://www.
PhiPhiOHara.com. 50% of sales collected on http://www.PhiPhiOHara.
com from April 8th through May 18th will be donated to the AIDS Walk of
NYC. For more information, visit http://www.phiphiohara.com.
www.gaycalgary.com
www.gaycalgary.com
47
Interview
Driving Solo
Out artist Raph Solo Chases Love
By Jeremy Sanders
In his book, The Memoirs of Angel King, Raph Solo detailed
his personal journey towards self-acceptance, revealing a failed
attempt at re-orientating his homosexuality through reparative
therapy. This month, he tells his story through song with the
release of his pop album, Am I Too Much?
The songs reflect Solo’s search for love and his desire to settle down
with a man. In “Glass of Wine”, the album’s first single, he sings about
finding peace and celebrating himself as a man. In other songs like
“Lonely Playboy “ and “Brief Encounter”, he tackles issues like safe sex
and religion, and examines his own personal experiences with open
relationships and one night stands.
“I wanted to make a record I could identify with that shined a light on
my reality as I know it. It’s an authentic piece of work, ” he says. Am I
Too Much is available on iTunes now.
GC: You named your album Am I Too Much? So I ask you, are you
too much? Are you too much man for guys to handle?
RS: (Laughing) I was told by a guy I used to date that I am. In my
defence, I was younger at the time. I would show up on dates wearing
all white from head to toe. He hated that, but it was summer! Am I too
much? Yes, I suppose I am. I love too much. I’m not sure if that’s a good
thing or not. Either way, it’s how I am.
GC: Do you demand too much from relationships?
RS: I am pretty laid back about a lot of things except the core values
of what a relationship is about. I am pretty headstrong in that respect.
I like to keep it real. I don’t take the guy I am with for granted so I don’t
want to be taken for granted either. I can show a guy a really good time
in a relationship if he knows what he wants.
GC: In “It’s Not Gonna Work 4 Me!,” you sing about dumping your
lover for wanting an open relationship. Why are open relations not for
you?
RS: I can only speak for myself and what works for me. For me,
personally, the purpose of a relationship is about wanting to be together
with a special someone. If the guy I am seeing wants to be with someone
else, then he should go and be with that someone else. It’s just how I feel
at this point in time. I also never commit myself to a relationship until I
feel that I can offer the same.
GC: In “When Pop Met Porn”, you open up about dating a gay porn
star. How did you accept your man having sex with other men on film?
RS: He was a former porn star when we met so he wasn’t having sex
with other people while we were dating. I am not a judgemental person.
I can accept that a guy lived a life before he entered mine. It was part
of who he was and I loved him as a whole. I only take a stance when a
person’s actions affect me directly.
GC: Several of your tracks reflect a desire to settle down. Are you
done with partying?
RS: I love to party. By settle down, I mean finding one person I can
party with. I am always going to be a party animal.
GC: In your book, you wrote about having a hard time accepting your
homosexuality. Where are you with that these days?
RS: At the moment, I’m in a really good place.
GC: Will finding the perfect man complete the puzzle?
RS: I used to think love was this thing outside of me that I had to
find in someone else. I don’t feel that way anymore. Now I know love is
inside. I already have it and it’s mine to give to someone else. It would
be great to share my life with someone, but if I never find that person, I
will still continue to live my life with love.
GC: Describe your perfect man.
RS: He would make me feel I am enough for him and he would be a
man I feel is enough for me. On a physical level, I tend to be attracted to
guys who are in good shape and are upbeat and lead a healthy lifestyle.
48
On a personality level, I like guys who are optimistic about life and who
are giving. Of course, chemistry plays a very important role too.
GC: What annoying habit do you have that your man will have to
accept?
RS: I worry obsessively about the future, but I’m working on that! I’m
learning to enjoy the present moments and cross whatever bridges lay
ahead when I get to them.
GC: What if your perfect man is not a music lover? Or what if he
doesn’t love your music? Is that a deal breaker?
RS: My perfect man doesn’t have to love my music. It would be nice
if he did because then we could share a common interest. I would hope
that he at least took an interest to find out why I loved music and what
it meant to me. Music is a big part of who I am.
GC: Would you date a fan?
RS: I dated someone who was a bit of a fan. I can tell you the novelty
wears off after a few times out. Then it’s about if they like who I am as
a person. Guys often have a different perspective on me when they meet
me in person than when they hear records or see me in a music video. I
have been told I am a lot more chilled than they imagined. I guess that’s
a compliment.
GC: What do you hope fans take away from your new album?
RS: I want people to come away from the album feeling like they know
me a little better. As if I was your boyfriend or your friend, or if we just
had a brief encounter together.
Raph Solo
http://www.raphsolo.com
www.gaycalgary.com
www.gaycalgary.com
49
Kiss & Tell
Kylie Minogue on starting over, Sia’s
sex songs and Australia’s ‘backwards’
gay marriage ban
 Kylie Minogue, photo by William Baker
By Chris Azzopardi
Kylie Minogue knows the power of fate, determination and
survival. That along with her many celestial-pop confections
(and, let’s face it, lots of gays) have propelled the Aussie showgirl
further than a lot of doubters predicted when she was classified
as a mere one-hit wonder back in the ’80s.
She sure showed them. Not even cancer could get in her way,
because 26 years after her self-titled debut, Kylie, Minogue releases
her 12th – and quite possibly best – studio album, Kiss Me Once.
“Into the Blue,” the disc’s liberating lead single, is a mantra of
perseverance and self-reliance that only someone like Minogue could
profess: “I’m still here, holding on so tight.” How did she keep her
grip? In a recent chat, Minogue, 45, talked about the essentials to
maintaining pop-icon longevity, Australia’s “backwards” gay marriage
ban and how Kiss Me Once ended up reflecting her own life.
GC: You’ve truly outdone yourself on this album, Kylie.
KM: Oh, wow, I don’t even know what to say to that. That’s
amazing. Thank you.
GC: When we chatted at the end of 2012, around the time you
celebrated 25 years in the business with The Abbey Road Sessions,
you said you wanted your next studio album to be more personal.
At this point in your career, would you say you’re making more
deliberate choices song-wise to reflect your life? And what was the
turning point – when did you decide that it was important to choose
songs that meant something to you?
KM: I don’t know how to answer that. That’s a hard question. At
the end of 2012 I had a realization: I needed to change in order to
move forward, and essentially I’m doing the same thing. I’m recording,
50
I’m touring, I’m doing, at the core, the same stuff. But I needed some
new energy. I needed new life to reenergize. I was celebrating 25 years
in the business, and yeah, I just had a very powerful realization and I
felt very calm that this is actually the right thing to do. So this is why I
changed management. I changed something that had been a constant
for 25 years and I threw myself into a new environment.
GC: And did you want this album to mirror your own experiences?
KM: It actually didn’t transpire that way. I co-wrote one song on
the album (“Fine”), and I felt going into this album, which is the case
with every album, that I don’t mind if I write the song or if someone
else writes the song – it’s really about the song. But I do feel like my
frame of mind was open and I did a lot of songs that really – well,
they’re not personal, but they’re more like “Sexercise.” They just felt
right for where I am in my life at the moment.
Ironically, something like “Into the Blue,” that made sense for
me when I recorded it, though I was still in a relationship and now
I’m no longer in that relationship. So it’s odd that the lyrics and the
sentiment of “Into the Blue” resonate even deeper now. I kind of feel
like some of these personal songs – songs that might seem personal –
I just gravitated toward those. “Kiss Me Once” – I feel that. “Fine” – I
feel. So I don’t have a tidy answer for that, but I just feel like it’s the
headspace I was in. The songs just made sense to me.
GC: With regard to all the sex songs on the album, the media’s
been saying you “blamed” Sia for them.
KM: Oh, I didn’t blame her at all – someone put “blame” into
my sentence! I didn’t blame her for anything. I thank her for them,
actually.
GC: I was gonna say, why would you blame her? Sex has been a
constant in your music for nearly your entire career!
www.gaycalgary.com
KM: (Laughs) Well, maybe
not on my first album, or even
on my second album, but yeah,
it’s nothing new. Let’s face it,
most songs are about love, being
out of love, sex, tears, breakup,
makeup. It just so happens I
have three with “sex” in the title
on this album. It’s just how it
transpired. You might as well do
it in threes, right?
GC: Will you finally do a
full-fledged tour of the States?
I’m not talking just a dozen
dates – a full tour.
KM: You know, I would
love to. The last couple of
times that I have toured I have
done shows in the States, but
the first time (in 2009) was
because I really ran out of
excuses. I mean, I just kept
saying “I can’t because my
show is huge,” and logistically
and financially we couldn’t
make it happen. Then I finally
stomped my stiletto and said,
“I have to go; I have to connect
to the people who have
supported me thus far.” So I
would, of course, love to travel
to more cities, see more of the
U.S. – and yeah, bringing my
A-show to the States would be
fantastic.
GC: Has one of your steamier
songs ever come on in the middle
of some sexy time?
KM: (Laughs) Ah, no! I think
I can honestly say no. That
could really – oh my, I don’t even
wanna think about that. Not
for me anyway. I don’t mind for
other people!
GC: What line on Kiss Me
Once makes you blush most?
KM: Lemme think. Probably
something
from
“Sexercise.”
Mmm … oh gosh! “I’ll make you
wait for more / Make you ache
to the core / Tomorrow you’ll be
sore. ... Lemme see you bounce,
bounce, bounce.”
GC: Make it happen, Kylie.
KM: I’ll stomp the other
stiletto!
GC: Scissor Sisters’ Jake
Shears, who worked with you
on your last studio album,
2010’s Aphrodite, told Attitude
magazine that you recorded
enough songs with him over
GC: Sia wrote that song,
 Kylie Minogue, photo by William Baker
and she obviously possesses
something special; everyone’s
been tapping into her lately. And
the years for an entire album.
she executive produces your album. What did you find so special
KM: Jake’s always getting me in trouble!
about working with Sia?
KM: Well, first, I went to write with her to record some of her
songs, and we got on so well that after a couple of our sessions I
asked if she’d write more of the album and if she’d come onboard with
me as executive producer. She said “yes” right away. I really wasn’t
sure if that would interest her, but long story short, she was on board
right away. I gave her everything that I’d recorded, which at that point
was already quite a lot of songs. And she wrote the title track, “Kiss
Me Once,” which I just adore. But I had a bunch of songs already.
Definitely not all of them, but I had quite a lot – at least, god, 40 or
50 songs – and she said that “Into the Blue” was the first single. Sure
enough, that was the first single.
She’s written for some of the biggest artists today, and she’s dialed
in and knows what’s happening at the moment – I think she also
knows what’s about to happen – so she’s really just perfect. And she’s
an Aussie, and she’s a girl, and I’m a great admirer of her writing, and
of how she breaks some of the rules and how she does things the way
she wants to do them. I have so much respect for that. So I’m a bit of
an uber fan, and now I can say that I’m a friend as well. It’s really just
a great, great result.
GC: I can see this album being the one that finally helps our
straight Canadian friends understand how amazing you are.
KM: (Laughs) That would be lovely!
GC: Was collaborating with Enrique Iglesias, Pharrell and Sia an
intentional move to help build a more mainstream audience in North
America?
KM: Not really, but it might have been the intention of my new
management! (Laughs) Roc Nation has a lot of connections, and
they’re able to call someone like Pharrell and say, “Hey, have you got
any time? We have Kylie and we want to get her with you.”
I think we did what I normally do, which is work with some of the
best and most dependable pop writers and producers. And I work with
some new and upcoming people on this album – someone like MNEK,
and someone left field like Ariel (Rechtshaid) – so it’s got all the same
elements that I would have on a good album of mine. But I don’t know
– I just think that everything feels a little more ... I don’t know the
word for it. It just feels right.
www.gaycalgary.com
GC: He said he’s gonna leak that album.
KM: (Laughs) Yeah, well, if it ever happens I know whose door I’ll
be knocking on. You know, I love him so much I probably couldn’t
even be mad at him.
GC: What are the odds these tracks could surface?
KM: It’d be really good to do as a mixtape or something. If they
were pressed and finished, then yeah. It’s different when things are
leaked that are not where you want to get them, but I love the idea
that these little morsels are around.
GC: You have always been a proponent for equal marriage, but
Australia, your home soil, still doesn’t legally recognize marriage for
gay couples. In December 2013, the court ruled against same-sex
marriages. What are your thoughts on the ban preventing gay people
from getting married in Australia?
KM: As always, I support gay marriage. I feel like it will happen
eventually, but wouldn’t it be great if it happened sooner rather than
later? I just came from Australia where they had Mardi Gras and it
actually struck me when I was there, because I did Mardi Gras a
couple of years ago – and I also did it in the mid-’90s – and I thought,
“Wow, it’s so fortunate that people can express themselves that way.”
It seems ironic and a bit backwards that marriage isn’t fully embraced
with that.
GC: For over 25 years, you’ve successfully navigated the pop music
scene and influenced a legion of stars. From your own experience,
what does it take to be a pop icon and maintain not just your longevity
but your sanity?
KM: Hmm, sanity? Oh god. Keep your feet on the ground. Keep
dreaming. Try and take care of yourself. Yeah, it’s somewhere in
between being realistic and being a dreamer.
51
52
www.gaycalgary.com
Photography
Western Canada Fashion Week (www.wcfw.ca), Edmonton
Next Drag Superstar at Evolution, Edmonton
Photos by Farley FooFoo
www.gaycalgary.com
53
Photography
54
HOMO-CIDAL presents Troll at Evolution, Edmonton
ISCWR Halftime Show at Evolution, Edmonton
Photos by Cheryl Patricia and J&B
www.gaycalgary.com
Photography
Queers on Campus Gender Bender at the Den, Calgary
Bearbash at Evolution, Edmonton
Photos by Madelaine Robillard
www.gaycalgary.com
55
Photography
Jasper Pride Weekend 2014
http://gaycalgary.com/pa685
56
www.gaycalgary.com
Photography
www.gaycalgary.com
57
58
www.gaycalgary.com
www.gaycalgary.com
59
News Releases
OPINION: Arizona – The
Pink Dollar Wins?
MUSIC VIDEO: Ryan
Dolan – Start Again
NEWS: A Re-Think Of
HIV And Its Treatment
Travel Alert Issued for LGBT
Travelers to Mississippi
Poetry & Narrative
Film Collide in “Guys
Reading Poems”
Teen Wolf To Add New Gay
Character In Season 4
http://www.gaycalgary.com/n1276
5 Top Reasons It’s
Good To Be Gay
2014 Artists for Life
Tickets Now On Sale
HRC Foundation Releases
Comprehensive State-ByState Legislative Report
MOVIE REVIEW: The Adored
News: UK’s Channel 4
Dispatches Looks Into
Homophobia In Football
NSFW - TOWIE’s Dan
Osborne Shows Flesh
MOVIE REVIEW: In Bloom
Harry Judd In His Pants
Banging His Drum
Unconfirmed Reports That
Iran Hanged Two Gay
Men For ‘Perversion’
Calgary Expo to brings
together cast members from
the Sci-Fi super film Aliens
Ben Adams Topless Selfie
Legendary Stonewall Inn drops
Guinness over sponsorship of
NYC St. Paddy’s Day Parade
No Justin Bieber Peen
Pictures – Just Yet
60
www.gaycalgary.com
News Releases
Breaking: Guinness drops
sponsorship of anti-LGBT
NYC St. Paddy’s Day Parade
Justin Bieber To Do A Calvin
Klein Underwear Ad?
FASHION: AussieBum Launch
New Bottomless Underwear
Olivia Travel Partners with
Honeymoon Wishes to
Offer Honeymoon Registry
for Lesbian Clientele
Open Road Integrated
Media Launches Ebooks
from National Book AwardWinning Writer Paul Monette
RUSH Ocean Prime Makes
Room to Meet and Mix.
Happy Fifth Birthday, Grindr!
Jennifer Lopez to be Honored
at 25th Annual GLAAD Media
Awards in Los Angeles
NSFW - More Favourite
Instagram #CockInASock
Momentum for Marriage
Equality Continues with
Michigan Ruling
Kate O’Mara Who Starred in
Dynasty, Doctor Who and
Absolutely Fabulous Dies, 74
MOVIE REVIEW: The
Grand Budapest Hotel
Alberta Ballet Announces
Class Acts – A Tribute To
Hollywood Musicals
Ricky Martin Shows
Off Toned Body
.Gay Domains Almost Here
Kyrgyz Parliament
considering homophobic
‘anti-propaganda’ law
NSFW - Best of CELEB
#CockInASock
New Music From
Michael Jackson
www.gaycalgary.com
61
April Storm has been performing in drag for around 11 years, ever since
participating in a High School fundraiser that required her to dress up
and perform as Celine Dion. She seems to have a knack for shocking her
audience with funny or risqué numbers, and says she does things over the
top when she feels strongly about the style or message she is going for.
Her motivations are centred in drag as an art form that she uses to express
herself, and after performing on PURE Pride tours across Canada and
occasional shows in Calgary (at Cowboys Nightclub and other venues), she
has gained a solid fan base from her high-calibre performances.
In real life, Tim Richards grew up in a small town in Ontario, moved to
Halifax for 8 years, then took a job in the restaurant industry in Fort McMurray.
62
He took a temporary transfer to Calgary for a short while, and eventually ended
up moving here permanently a few months later. He worked as manager at Club
Sapien for its entire span of operation, and currently manages Ten Nightclub
in the same space, along with working at The Pint for their Beers for Queers
nights.
Out of drag, Tim humbly classifies his life as being pretty boring. In his
spare time, he enjoys playing video games, hanging out with friends, drinking
(in moderation) and travelling. Currently Tim is single and not actively looking,
but says he remains open to possibilities.
http://gaycalgary.com/pa694
www.gaycalgary.com
Directory & Events
DOWNTOWN CALGARY
11
10
12
2
6
14 3
7
15
1
8
4 5
13
1
2
3
4
Calgary Outlink---------- Community Groups
HIV Community Link---- Community Groups
Backlot------------------------Bars and Clubs
Texas Lounge-----------------Bars and Clubs
5
6
7
8
Goliath’s--------------------------Bathhouses
Twisted Element--------------Bars and Clubs
Broken City-------------------Bars and Clubs
Cowboys Nightclub-----------Bars and Clubs
FIND OUT!
LGBT Community Directory
GayCalgary 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
......... 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
9
10
11
12
Dickens Pub------------------Bars and Clubs
Flames Central---------------Bars and Clubs
Local 522---------------------Bars and Clubs
Ten Nightclub-----------------Bars and Clubs
13 The Pint-----------------------Bars and Clubs
14 Vinyl & Hyde------------------Bars and Clubs
15 The Blind Monk--------------Bars and Clubs
8 Cowboys Nightclub------------------------

421 12th Avenue SE
 403-265-0699

http://www.cowboysnightclub.com
A volunteer operated, non-profit organization serving
primarily members of the LGBT communities but open to all
members of all communities. Primary focus is to provide
members with well-organized and fun sporting events and
other activities.
9 Dickens Pub

1000 9th Ave SW

[email protected]

http://www.dickenspub.ca
CALGARY
Bars & Clubs (Gay)
3 Backlot---------------------------------- ✰
 403-265-5211
Open 7 days a week, 2pm-close
209 - 10th Ave SW
4 Texas Lounge------------------------------ ✰

308 - 17 Ave SW
 403-229-0911

Open 7 days a week, 11am-close
www.gaycalgary.com
7 Broken City

613 11th Ave SW

[email protected]

http://www.brokencity.ca
 403-262-9976
• Western Cup 31

• Badminton (Absolutely Smashing)
11 Local 522----------------------------------

522 6 Ave SW
 403-244-6773

http://www.localtavern.ca
• Boot Camp
12 Ten Nightclub

1140 10th Ave SW
• Bowling (Rainbow Riders League)
15 The Blind Monk

918 12th Ave SW

[email protected]

http://www.blindmonk.ca

Mon-Sun: 11am-2am
 403-265-6200
• Curling

North Hill Curling Club (1201 - 2 Street NW)

[email protected]
• Golf

[email protected]
14 Vinyl & Hyde

213 10 Ave SW

http://www.vinylandhyde.com
 587-224-5200
• Lawn Bowling

[email protected]
• Outdoor Pursuits
Bathhouses/Saunas
5 Goliaths------------------------------------ ✰

308 - 17 Ave SW
 403-229-0911

www.goliaths.ca

Open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day
Community Groups
Alberta Society for Kink

403-398-9968

[email protected]

http://ca.groups.yahoo.com/
group.albertasocietyforkink
Apollo Calgary - Friends in Sports

Platoon FX, 1351 Aviation Park NE

[email protected]

Let’s Bowl (2916 5th Avenue NE)

[email protected]
 403-384-9777

http://www.apollocalgary.com

http://www.myapollo.com

6020 - 4 Avenue NE

[email protected]
 403-457-4464
13 The Pint

1428 17th Ave SW

[email protected]

http://www.thepint.ca/calgary
Bars & Clubs (Mixed)
These venues regularly host LGBT events.
 403-233-7550
10 Flames Central----------------------------

219 8th Ave SW
 403-935-2637

http://www.flamescentral.com
Browse our complete directory of over 650 gay-frieindly listings!
6 Twisted Element

1006 - 11th Ave SW
 403-802-0230

http:.//www.twistedelement.ca
N
[email protected]
If it’s done outdoors, we do it. Volunteer led events all
summer and winter. Hiking, camping, biking, skiing, snow
shoeing, etc. Sign up at myapollo.org to get updates on
the sport you like. We’re always looking for people to
lead events.
• Running (Calgary Frontrunners)
YMCA Eau Claire (4th St, 1st Ave SW)

[email protected]
East Doors (directly off the Bow river pathway). Distances
vary from 8 km - 15 km. Runners from 6 minutes/mile to
9+ minute miles.
• Slow Pitch

[email protected]
• Squash
Mount Royal University Recreation

[email protected]
All skill levels welcome.
63
Directory & Events
Calgary Events
Heading Out----------------------- 8pm-10pm
Wednesdays
Mondays
Communion Service-----------------  12:10pm
See 1 Calgary Outlink
Student Night------------------------  6pm-6am

Hillhurst United Church (Gym Entrance)
1227 Kensington Close NW
See
Buddy Night-------------------------  6pm-6am
At 5 Goliaths
Knox United Church
At 5 Goliaths
ASK Meet and Greet----------------  7-9:30pm
Mosaic Youth Group--------------------  7-9pm
Inside Out Youth Group---------------- 7-9pm
Thursdays

Bonasera (1204 Edmonton Tr. NE)
 Old Y Centre (223 12th Ave SW)
Lesbian Seniors---------------------------  2pm
Tuesdays
Calgary Networking Club-------------- 5-7pm
 1st
Beers for Queers--------------------------  6pm
By
YYC Badboys at 13 The Pint

Kerby Center, Sunshine Room
1133 7th Ave SW
 3rd
Uniform Night-----------------------  6pm-6am
At 5 Goliaths
Lesbian Meetup Group-------------  7:30-9pm
Student Night------------------------  6pm-6am
At 5 Goliaths
At 1 Calgary Outlink
 1st
Alcoholics Anonymous--------------------  8pm
Between Men--------------------------- 7-9pm

Karaoke-------------------------  8pm-12:30am
Karaoke-----------------------------------  7pm
 2nd, 4th
At 4 Texas Lounge
Fetish Slosh----------------------------  Evening
At 3 Backlot
 2nd

At 3 Backlot
Saturdays
Coffee------------------------------------ 10am
Illusions-------------------------------  7-10pm
 1st
Womynspace---------------------------- 7-9pm
 2nd
New Directions-------------------------- 7-9pm
 3rd

[email protected]

http://www.calgaryoutlink.com
• Volleyball (Beach)
• Peer Support and Crisis Line
• Volleyball (Competitive)
• Volleyball (Recreational)
• Yoga

Robin: 403-618-9642
Alberta Rockies Gay Rodeo Association (ARGRA)

www.argra.org
✰
Bearacchus II------------------------  9pm-2am
By
Fellowship of Alberta Bears at 14 Hyde Lounge
Penalty Box-------------------------------  9pm
By
Les Girls at 14 Vinyl Retro Lounge
Bear-Beeffet----------------------- 11am-2pm
Fellowship of Alberta Bears at 15 The Blind Monk

By
Sundays
Western Cup---------------------------  All Day
Worship Time---------------------------- 10am
See
Deer Park United Church
Thursday, April 17th
By
Apollo
Apr19
Backlot to Boyztown---------------  9pm-Close
Worship------------------------------  10:30am
By 3 Backlot at 14 Vinyl Retro Lounge
Sunday Services---------------------  10:45am
Voodoo Lounge----------------------  10:30pm
See
See
Scarboro United Church
Friday, April 18th
Hillhurst United Church
Worship Services------------------------- 11am
Knox United Church
Church Service----------------------------  4pm
See
Rainbow Community Church
Flashlight Night---------------------  6pm-6am
At 5 Goliaths
At 3 Backlot
Wednesday, April 23rd
A Taste for Life-------------------------  Dinner
By
SHARP Foundation
May 2014
LGBT Film Festival
By
Fairy Tales
May23May31
Friday, April 11th
Meet the Meat----------------------  9pm-1am
By
Fellowship of Alberta Bears at 15 The Blind Monk
Girlsgroove
• Calgary Lesbian Ladies Meet up Group
• Between Men and Between Men Online
• Heading Out
• Illusions Calgary
• Inside Out
• New Directions
• Womynspace
Calgary Expo
Deer Park United Church/Wholeness Centre

77 Deerpoint Road SE

http://www.dpuc.ca
Calgary Gay Fathers
 403-278-8263
Different Strokes

[email protected]

http://www.calgarygayfathers.ca
Peer support group for gay, bisexual and questioning
fathers. Meeting twice a month.

http://www.differentstrokescalgary.org
FairyTales Presentation Society

http://www.calgarymenschorus.org

403-244-1956

http://www.fairytalesfilmfest.com
Alberta Gay & Lesbian Film Festival.
• Rehearsals
• DVD Resource Library
Calgary Men’s Chorus

Temple B’Nai Tikvah, 900 - 47 Avenue SW
✰

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---------------------------- ✰
Old Y Centre (303 – 223, 12 Ave SW)

403-234-8973
Over a hundred titles to choose from. Annual membership
is $10.
Gay Friends in Calgary

http://www.gayfriendsincalgary.ca
Organizes and hosts social activities catered to the LGBT
people and friends.
Girl Friends

[email protected]

members.shaw.ca/girlfriends
2 HIV Community Link------------------- ✰

110, 1603 10th Avenue SW

403-508-2500
 1-877-440-2437

http://www.hivcl.org
• Telephone Support

M-F, 8:30am - 12:30pm + 1:30pm - 4:30pm
Hillhurst United Church


(403) 283-1539

[email protected]

http://www.hillhurstunited.com
HIV Peer Support Group

403-230-5832

[email protected]
Calgary Queer Book Club

Weeds Cafe (1903 20 Ave NW)

64
Fellowship of Alberta Bears at 3 Backlot

http://www.girlsgroove.ca
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.

[email protected]
Calgary Sexual Health Centre---------
By
Legend:  = Monthly Reoccurrance,  = Date (Range/Future),  = Sponsored Event
• Tennis

Arrata Opera Centre (1315 - 7 Street SW)
Bearacchus BBQ--------------------  Afternoon
Sunday, April 13th
 Calgary Contd.
• Monthly Dances--------------------------
Saturday, April 12th
By Prime Timers Calgary

Midtown Co-op (1130 - 11th Ave SW)
See
Fridays
 4th
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.
Lesbian Meetup Group

http://www.meetup.com/CalgaryLesbian
Monthly events planned for Queer women over 18+ such
as book clubs, games nights, movie nights, dinners out,
and volunteering events.
Miscellaneous Youth Network

http://www.miscyouth.com
• Fake Mustache
• Mosaic Youth Group

The Old Y Centre (223 12th Ave SW)
For queer and trans youth and their allies.
Mystique

[email protected]
Mystique is primarily a Lesbian group for women 30 and
up but all are welcome.
• Coffee Night

Good Earth Cafe (1502 - 11th Street SW)
NETWORKS

[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

403-797-6564
 www.pridecalgary.ca
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.
Queers on Campus---------------------

279R Student Union Club Spaces, U of C
403-220-6394

http://www.ucalgary.ca/~glass
✰
www.gaycalgary.com
Directory & Events
 Calgary Contd.
Formerly GLASS - Gay/Lesbian Association of Students
and Staff.
• Coffee Night

2nd Cup, Kensington
Safety Under the Rainbow
 www.sutr.ca
A collaborative effort dedicated to building capacity
and acting as a voice for the LGBTQ community, service
providers, organizations and the community at large
to address violence. For same-sex domestic violence
information, resources and a link to our survey please see
our website.
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
Unity Bowling

Let’s Bowl (2916 - 5th Ave NE)

[email protected]
Restaurants & Pubs
13 The Pint
See Calgary - Bars & Clubs (Mixed).
✰
Best Health

206A 2525 Woodview Dr SW  403-281-5582

[email protected]

http://www.besthealthcalgary.com
La Fleur
403-266-1707
Florist and Flower Shop.
The Naked Leaf----------------------------

#4 - 1126 Kensington Rd NW  403-283-3555

http://www.thenakedleaf.ca
Organic teas and tea ware.
Priape Calgary (CLOSED)

1322 - 17 Ave SW
 403-215-1800

http://www.priape.com
Clothing and accessories. Adult toys, leather wear, movies
and magazines. Gifts.
Pushing Petals

1209 5th Ave NW
 403-263-3070

http://www.pushingpetals.com
Services & Products

633 10th Ave SW
 403-239-5511

http://www.6thandtenth.com

M-W: 12-6pm, R: 2-7pm, S-N: 12-5pm
www.gaycalgary.com

403-750-1128
 www.DBBlaw.com
Fellow, American Academy of Reproductive Technology
Attorneys

12 Deerview Terrace SE
 403-879-1967

http://www.canyonmeadows.net

10210 Macleod Tr S  403-271-7848

#102 2323 32nd Ave NE  403-769-6177

1536 16th Ave NW  403-289-4203

4310 17th Ave SE  403-273-2710

http://www.adultsourcecalgary.ca
 403-819-5219

http://www.bcbhcounselling.com
One Yellow Rabbit--------------------------

Big Secret Theatre - EPCOR CENTRE

403-299-8888
 www.oyr.org
Holiday Retirement
Hot Water Pools & Spas
Pumphouse Theatre--------------------
✰
Stagewest-------------------------------
✰

2140 Pumphouse Avenue SW

403-263-0079

http://www.pumphousetheatres.ca

727 - 42 Avenue SE
 403-243-6642

http://www.stagewestcalgary.com
Theatre Junction------------------------

Theatre Junction GRAND, 608 1st St. SW

403-205-2922

[email protected]

http://www.theatrejunction.com
Third Street Theatre

#3 306 20th Ave SW

http://www.thirdstreet.ca
✰

161, 115 - 9 Ave SE
 403-221-3708

http://www.vertigomysterytheatre.com
Webster Galleries Inc.

812 11 Ave SW
 403-263-6500

http://www.webstergalleries.com

T-S: 10am-6pm, N: 1-4pm
EDMONTON
Interactive Male

403-355-3335

http://www.interactivemale.com
Bars & Clubs (Gay)
Lorne Doucette (CIR Realtors)
3 Buddy’s Nite Club------------------------- ✰

11725 Jasper Ave
 780-488-6636
MFM Communications
6 Evolution Wonder Lounge

10220 - 103 St
 780-424-0077

http://www.yourgaybar.com

403-461-9195

http://www.lornedoucette.com

403-543-6970

1-877-543-6970

http://www.mfmcommunications.com
Web site hosting and development. Computer hardware
and software.
NRG Support Services

Suite 27, Building B1, 2451 Dieppe Ave SW
403-471-0204
 780-922-3347

[email protected]

http://www.nrgsupportservices.com
FLASH (CLOSED)

10018 105 Street

[email protected]
UpStares Ultralounge (CLOSED)
4 Woody’s------------------------------------ ✰

11725 Jasper Ave
 780-488-6557
Bars & Clubs (Mixed)
SafeWorks
These venues regularly host LGBT events.
• Calgary Drop-in Centre

Room 117, 423 - 4th Ave SE

403-699-8216

Mon-Fri: 9am-12pm, Sat: 12:15pm-3:15pm
 780-938-2941

4th Floor, Jasper Ave and 107th Street
Free and confidential HIV/AIDS and STI testing.
7 The Starlite Room

10030 102 St

http://www.starliteroom.ca
• Sheldon M. Chumir Health Centre
8 Yellowhead Brewing Co.

10229 105 St

[email protected]

http://www.yellowheadbrewery.com

1213 - 4th Str SW
 403-955-6014

Sat-Thu: 4:15pm-7:45pm, Fri: Closed
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.
Camp fYrefly

7-104 Dept. of Educational Policy Studies
Faculty of Education, University of Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2G5

http://www.fyrefly.ualberta.ca
Edmonton Expo

http://www.edmontonexpo.com

http://www.edmontonpride.ca
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.
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 LGBT-friendly businesses
in the Edmonton region.
Edmonton Illusions Social Club

780-387-3343

groups.yahoo.com/group/edmonton_illusions
2 Edmonton STD

11111 Jasper Ave
Edmonton Vocal Minority

780-479-2038
 www.evmchoir.com
Fellowship of Alberta Bears

www.beefbearbash.com
GLBTQ Sage Bowling Club

780-474-8240
HIV Network Of Edmonton Society----
✰
9702 111 Ave NW
780-488-5742
 www.hivedmonton.com
Provides healthy sexuality education for Edmonton’s LGBT
community and support for those infected or affected
by HIV.
InQueeries
Hooliganz Pub (CLOSED)

10704 124 St NW
• Centre of Hope

Room 201, 420 - 9th Ave SE

403-410-1180
 Mon-Fri: 1pm-5pm

Howard McBride Chapel of Chimes
10179 - 108 Street

[email protected]
Edmonton Pride Festival Society (EPFS)
 403-703-4750
Vertigo Mystery Theatre--------------------

2145 Summerfield Blvd
 403-912-2045

http://www.hotwaterpoolsandspas.ca
#44, 48 Brentwood Blvd, Sherwood Park, AB

403-398-9968

[email protected]
http://ww.altview.ca
For gender variant and sexual minorities.
Book Worm’s Book Club
See Calgary - Community Groups.
 403-253-5678

http://www.maxwellrealty.com/craigconnell
✰
 http://www.ATPlive.com
Fairytales
Craig Connell (Maxwell Realtors)

Calgary: 403-770-0776

Edmonton: 780-665-6666
Other Cities: 1-877-628-9696
 http://www.hardlinechat.com
Telephone classifieds and chat - 18+ ONLY.

140, 58th Ave SW  403-258-2777
Gay, bi, straight video rentals and sex toys.
Barry Hollowell
ATP, Alberta Theatre Projects

403-294-7402
Hardline
Retail Stores
6th and Tenth - Sales Centre

3rd Floor, 1131 Kensington Road NW

403-571-5120

http://www.courtneyaarbo.ca
GLBT legal services.
Ellen Embury
10 Flames Central----------------------------See Calgary - Bars & Clubs (Mixed).
Community Groups
AltView Foundation
Theatre & Fine Arts
Courtney Aarbo (Barristers & Solicitors)
DevaDave Salon & Boutique

1317-1st Street NW
Adult Source----------------------------
Wheel Pro’s

810 Edmonton Trail NE
403-290-1973
Cuts, Colour, Hilights.
Wild Rose United Church
5 Steamworks------------------------------- ✰

11745 Jasper Ave
 780-451-5554

http://www.steamworksedmonton.com

4143- Edmonton Trail NE

403-226-7278

http://www.wheelpros.ca
“Experts in Everything for Wheels”
 403-808-7147

Calgary: 403-777-9494

Edmonton: 780-413-7122
Other Cities: 1-877-882-2010
 http://www.cruiseline.ca
Bathhouses/Saunas

403-850-3755

Sat-Thu: 8pm-12am, Fri: 4pm-12am
Christopher T. Tahn (Thornborough Smeltz)

11650 Elbow Dr SW

http://www.thornsmeltz.com
Cruiseline

403-272-2912

[email protected]

http://www.thesharpfoundation.com
Adult Depot-----------------------------
• Safeworks Van
Calgary Civil Marriage Centre
 403-246-4134 (Rork Hilford)
Marriage Commissioner for Alberta (aka Justice of the Peace
- JP), Marriage Officiant, Commissioner for Oaths.

[email protected]
Student-run GLBTQ Alliance at MacEwan University.
Imperial Sovereign Court of the Wild Rose

http://www.iscwr.ca
Living Positive Society of Alberta
#50, 9912 - 106 Street
780-424-2214

[email protected]
 http://www.facebook.com/LivingPoz
Living Positive through Positive Living.
65
Directory & Events
DOWNTOWN EDMONTON
1
6
8
5 4 3
1 Pride Centre of Edm.---- Community Groups
2 Edmonton STD---------- Community Groups
Boot Camp------------------------------ 7-8pm
Team Edmonton
TTIQ------------------------------------- 7-9pm
See 1 Pride Centre of Edmonton
 3rd
HIV Support Group--------------------- 7-9pm
 2nd
Tuesdays
QH Youth Drop-in---------------------- 3-8pm
Martial Arts---------------------  7:30-8:30pm
See
Team Edmonton
Swim Practice-------------------  7:30-8:30pm
See
3 Buddy’s-----------------------Bars and Clubs
4 Woody’s-----------------------Bars and Clubs
Mondays
See
2
Knotty Knitters-------------------------- 6-8pm
Edmonton Events
Team Edmonton
QH Craft Night-------------------------- 6-8pm
Cycling---------------------------  6:30-7:30pm
See
Team Edmonton
Yoga---------------------------------  7:30-8pm
See
Team Edmonton
Youth Sports/Recreation-----------------  4pm
Youth Understanding Youth
QH Game Night------------------------ 6-8pm
Swim Practice--------------------------- 7-8pm
See
Wednesdays
Team Edmonton
GLBTQ Bowling------------------  1:30-3:30pm
Women’s Social Circle------------------ 6-9pm
Book Club-----------------------------  7:30pm
Martial Arts---------------------  7:30-8:30pm
See
GLBTQ Sage Bowling Club
See 1 Youth Understanding Youth
Counseling----------------------  5:30-8:30pm
See
See
 2nd, 4th
BookWorm’s Book Club
 3rd
Team Edmonton
Intermediate Volleyball--------  7:30-9:30pm
See
7
5 Steamworks----------------------Bathhouses
6 Evolution----------------------Bars and Clubs
See
QH Anime Night------------------------ 6-8pm
Movie Night----------------------------- 6-9pm
See
Men’s Games Nights--------------  7-10:30pm

Robertson-Wesley United (10209 123 St)
Unitarian Church (10804 119th Street)
See Edmonton Primetimers
See
Men’s Games Nights
 2nd, Last
Saturdays
 2nd
Monthly Meeting----------------------  2:30pm
By Edmonton Primetimers

Unitarian Church, 10804 - 119th Street
 2nd
Bowling-----------------------------------  5pm
Team Edmonton
Soul Outing-------------------------------  7pm
 2nd
Monthly Meetings---------------------  2:30pm
 2nd
By
ISCWR at 3 Buddys
Leather, Feathers and Fur---------------  8pm
By
ISCWR at Ramada Hotel
Saturday, May 3rd
College Show-----------------------------  9pm
By
ISCWR at 6 Evolution
Saturday, May 17th
Sundays
Birthday Luau----------------------------  8pm
Running------------------------------  10-11am
See
Team Edmonton
Diggin’ Disco------------------------------  9pm
Buck Naked Boys Club
QH Youth Drop-in------------------  2-6:30pm
See
Ballroom Dancing--------------  7:30-8:30pm
Naturalist Gettogether
See
Team Edmonton
Men Talking with Pride---------------- 7-9pm
By
ISCWR at 3 Buddys and 4 Woodys
Team Edmonton
Team Edmonton
Legend:  = Monthly Reoccurrance,  = Date (Range),  = Sponsored Event
• HIV Support Group
• Counselling
• TTIQ
Men’s Games Nights
• Knotty Knitters
• Women’s Social Circle
OUTreach
• Men Talking with Pride

[email protected], [email protected]
Support and discussion group for gay men.

Unitarian Church (10804 119th Street)

780-474-8240

University of Alberta, basement of SUB

[email protected]

http://www.ualberta.ca/~outreach
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender/transsexual, Queer,
Questioning and Straight-but-not-Narrow student group.
✰

10608 - 105 Ave
 780-488-3234

[email protected]

http://www.pridecentreofedmonton.org

Tue-Fri 12pm-9pm, Sat 2pm-6:30pm
We provide a safe, welcoming, and non-judgemental
drop-in space, and offer support programs and resources
for members of the GLBTQ community and for their families
and friends.
66
Yoga---------------------------------  2-3:30pm
Fridays
 Edmonton Contd.
Pride Centre of Edmonton-------------
7 The Starlite Room------------Bars and Clubs
8 Yellowhead Brewing Co.-----Bars and Clubs
See
Thursdays
See
N

780.488.3234
Free, short-term counselling provided by registered
counsellors.
Come knit and socialize in a safe and accepting
environment - all skill levels are welcome.

[email protected]
Support & social group for gay & bisexual men to discuss
current issues.
• Movie Night
Movie Night is open to everyone! Come over and sit back,
relax, and watch a movie with us.
• Queer HangOUT: Game Night
Come OUT with your game face on and meet some
awesome people through board game fun.
• Queer HangOUT: Craft Night
Come OUT and embrace your creative side in a safe space.
• Queer HangOUT: Anime Night
Come and watch ALL the anime until your heart is content.
A support and information group for all those who fall
under the transgender umbrella and their family or
supporters.

[email protected]
Women’s Social Circle: A social support group for all
female-identified persons over 18 years of age in the GLBT
community - new members are always welcome.
Seniors Association of Greater Edmonton
780-474-8240

[email protected]
Team Edmonton

[email protected]

http://www.teamedmonton.ca
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 (Mixed)
St. Thomas Moore School, 9610 165 Street

[email protected]
New group seeking male & female players.
• 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

Garneau Elementary School
10925 - 87 Ave

[email protected]
• Bowling (Northern Titans)

Ed’s Rec Room (West Edmonton Mall)

[email protected]
$15.00 per person.
• Cross Country Skiing

[email protected]
• Curling with Pride

Granite Curling Club, 8620 107 Street NW

[email protected]
www.gaycalgary.com
Directory & Events
Red Deer Events
Wednesdays
LGBT Coffee Night------------------------  7pm
See
CAANS
 1st
 Edmonton Contd.
• Cycling (Edmonton Prideriders)

Dawson Park, picnic shelter

[email protected]
• Dragon Boat (Flaming Dragons)

[email protected]
• Volleyball, Recreational

Mother Teresa School (9008 - 105 Ave)

[email protected]
• Golf

[email protected]
• Gymnastics, Drop-in
• Yoga
• Hockey

[email protected]
• Martial Arts

15450 - 105 Ave (daycare entrance)
780-328-6414

[email protected]

[email protected]
Drop-ins welcome.
• Outdoor Pursuits

[email protected]
• Running (Arctic Frontrunners)

Kinsmen Sports Centre

[email protected]
All genders and levels of runners and walkers are invited to
join this free activity.
• 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.
• Snowballs V

January 27-29, 2012

[email protected]
Skiing and Snowboarding Weekend.
• Soccer

[email protected]
• 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)

Lion's Breath Yoga Studio (10350-124 Street)

[email protected]
Womonspace

780-482-1794

[email protected]

http://www.womonspace.ca
Women’s social group, but all welcome at events.

780-248-1971
 www.yuyedm.ca
A support and social group for queer youth 12-25.
• Sports and Recreation

Brendan: 780-488-3234

[email protected]
Retail Stores
Passion Vault

15239 - 111 Ave

780-930-1169

[email protected]
“Edmonton’s Classiest Adult Store”
Products & Services
Cruiseline

780-413-7122 trial code 3500

http://www.cruiseline.ca
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!

NAIT Pool (11762 - 106 Street)

[email protected]
http://www.makingwavesswimclub.ca
• Soul OUTing
• Tennis
• Film Night

Kinsmen Sports Centre

Sundays, 12pm-3pm

[email protected]
• Ultimate Frisbee

Sundays
Summer Season starts July 12th

[email protected]
E-mail if interested.
• Volleyball, Intermediate

Amiskiwacy Academy (101 Airport Road)

[email protected]
HIV Community Link
102 Spray Ave

PO Box 3160, Banff, AB T1L 1C8

403-762-0690

Second Sunday every month, 7pm
An LGBT-focused alternative worship.

Bi-monthly, contact us for exact dates.
• Book Club
Theatre & Fine Arts

http://www.exposurefestival.ca
Edmonton’s Queer Arts and Culture Festival.
The Roxy Theatre

10708 124th Street, Edmonton AB

780-453-2440

http://www.theatrenetwork.ca
Pride Lethbridge
RED DEER
Accommodations
Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge

Old Lodge Road
 1-866-540-4454

http://www.fairmont.com/jasper
Whistlers Inn

105 Miette Ave
 1-800-282-9919

[email protected]

http://www.whistlersinn.com
Community Groups
Jasper Pride Festival

PO Box 98, 409 Patricia St., T0E 1E0

[email protected]

http://www.jasperpride.ca
LETHBRIDGE
Community Groups
GALA/LA

403-308-2893

http://www.galalethbridge.ca
Gay and Lesbian Alliance of Lethbridge and Area.
• Monthly Dances

Henotic (402 - 2 Ave S)
Bring your membership card and photo ID.
• Monthly Potluck Dinners
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!
Central Alberta AIDS Network Society

4611-50 Avenue, Red Deer, AB

http://www.caans.org
The Central Alberta AIDS Network Society is the local
charity responsible for HIV prevention and support in
Central Alberta.
LGBTQ Education

[email protected]

http://LGBTQeducation.webs.com
Red Deer (and area) now has a website designed to bring
various LGBTQ friendly groups/individuals together for fun,
and to promote acceptance in our communities.
Pride on Campus

[email protected]
A group of LGBTQ persons and Allies at Red Deer College.
MEDICINE HAT
Community Groups

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.
356 - 2 Street SE, Medicine Hat, AB

403-527-5882
 1-877-440-2437
• Support Line
• Telephone Support
• Friday Mixer
ALBERTA

403-308-2893

Monday OR Wednesday, 7pm-11pm
Leave a message any other time.

The Mix (green water tower)
103 Mayor Magrath Dr S

Every Friday at 10pm

Monthly, contact us for exact dates.
Exposure Festival
PFLAG Canada

1-888-530-6777

[email protected]

www.pflagcanada.ca

[email protected]
JASPER
Restaurants & Pubs
12 Woody’s------------------------------------ ✰
See Edmonton - Bars & Clubs (Gay).
Lethbridge HIV Connection

1206 - 6 Ave S
Community Groups
• Women’s Lacrosse

Sharon: 780-461-0017

Pam: 780-436-7374
Open to women 21+, experienced or not, all are welcome.
Call for info.

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.
BANFF
• Movie Night

Room C610, University of Lethbridge
Gay Youth Alliance Group

M-F, 8:30am - 12:30pm + 1:30pm - 4:30pm
Community Groups
Gay & Lesbian Integrity Assoc. (GALIA)

University of Lethbridge
GBLTTQQ club on campus.
HIV Community Link

Betty, 403-381-5260

Every second Wednesday, 3:30pm-5pm
Alberta Trans Support/Activities Group

http://www.albertatrans.org
A nexus for transgendered persons, regardless of where they
may be on the continuum.
Theatre & Fine Arts
Alberta Ballet

http://www.albertaballet.com
Frequent productions in Calgary and Edmonton.
Lethbridge Expo

http://www.lethbridgeexpo.com
www.gaycalgary.com
67
Classifieds
Event
140
The Fetish Slosh at the Backlot!
Models/Escorts
460
Alberta Escort Listings
Come on down to the Backlot the 2nd Tuesday
of every month for a no-cover Fetish party.
Upcoming dates are November 13, December
11th, etc. You can dress up in Leather, Latex,
cuffs, collars, or just your skivvies. Have the
conversation you like without offending a
vanilla in sight. The Backlot supports and
promotes the alternative lifestyles of Calgary so
feel free to express your KINK!
Wedding/Union
190
McDougall United Church (Edmonton), an
Affirming congregation proudly performing
same-sex unions or same-sex marriages since
1998. http://www.mcdougallunited.com
Adult Oriented
215
Womanforwomen.ca
Internet
445
www.ABS-Hosting.com
Make your mark on the Web... Create a blog,
register a domain, build you personal website
at www.abs-hosting.com
Cleaning
517
GET A LIFE!
Commercial Cleaning
Products/Services 500
Certified Personal Trainer
Check out www.Squirt.org for the Hot Escorts in
Calgary, Edmonton, and the rest of Alberta.
New Improved Features. Free to Post and
Browse. Videos, Pics, and Reviews. Join Now!
Code: GCEE
Erotic Massage
420
UltimateMaleMassage.com
Upcoming wedding/event/trip/class reunion?
If you want to look/feel better, increase your
strength/endurance/flexibility, I CAN HELP
YOU! call/text me 4038263305 or email me
[email protected]
Adult Depot
Large selection of gay DVDs from $14.95,
and toys. Open Mon-Fri 12-8pm, Sat 12-6pm,
closed Sundays and holidays.
403-258-2777
Does your business need a professional
cleaner? Steve is bonded/Insured. Flexible
prices and brings all his own supplies. Steve
is a part of the LGBT Community and has
been cleaning for over 5 years in Calgary.
(403)200-7384
[email protected]
www.getalifecleaner.com
www.facebook.com/getalifecleaner
Clothing/Fashion
520
Twice Trendy!
Used Quality Clothing
Marriage Ceremonies
Do you want to experience more uninhibited
bliss? Would you like to have a deeper sensual
& sexual connection with your partner(s)? Want
to feel happier, healthier, more confident &
have a lot of fun? I can fully support you &
guide you in allowing that & so much more
into your life. My name is Jen & I am a Tantric
Sensual Guide for Women only.
Pet / Animal
Best Erotic Male Massage In Calgary.
Studio with free parking. Deep Tissue
and Relaxation. Licensed, Professional.
Video on website. 403-680-0533
[email protected]
Erotic Massage
365
Most clothing $3! New style? New family?
Broke as a joke? We have a great selection
of gently used clothing for men, women,
children and babies. We also keep a selection
of furniture and housewares too! Twice trendy
makes it easy to get quality style without
destroying your wallet. Come check us out!
#14, 3434 - 34 Ave NE.
Rork Hilford MC, Commissioner for Oaths.
[email protected] | 403246-4134
PEDESTRIAN POOCH Pet & House Services
Relaxation, Therapeutic, Foot Massage, Erotic
Massage. Hot Asian Male Age:24 Swimmer
Build.
YOU’LL KEEP COMING BACK FOR MORE. Call
Mark 403-630-8048 www.markmassage.ca
Dog Walking, Pet Sitting, Pet Taxi, House
Services. Pet First Aid Certified. Insured &
Bonded. Free Initial Consultation. Visit us at
WWW.PEDESTRIANPOOCH.CA or call Mark at
403-477-1242.
12pm to Midnight (24hrs optional) Ladies
Welcome
Ads starting at $10/mo. for the first 20 words. Submit yours at http://www.gaycalgary.com/classifieds
68
www.gaycalgary.com
Consulting
527
Want to attract the LGBT local
or traveler to your business?
Legal
557
Same-sex Spouse/Common-Law Sponsorship,
LMO/Work Permit, Immigration, Citizenship,
Separation/Pre-Nuptial/Co-habitation
Agreements, Uncontested Divorces, Accounting,
Translations, Commissioner foroaths. Active
Professionals.
#220, 2705 Centre Street NW Calgary
403-590-3818 • www.activeprofessionals.com
It’s not about special treatment. You can’t
assume the LGBT person, or the straight
person will follow the pack anymore. The LGBT
market is becoming more and more aware of
what organizations support them, and which
ones don’t, ultimately sending them away
from businesses and communities that do not
recognize them or their lifestyle. Does your
staff need LGBT sensitivity training? Want to
attract the market but unsure how to proceed?
Local, Domestic, International, We can assist.
Check us out at http://blueflameventures.ca,
Email us at [email protected], Call
us at 604-369-1472. Based in Alberta.
Massage
560
Massage Therapy in Edmonton
Certified massage therapist providing
therapeutic and relaxation massage. Proud
member/supporter of LGBTQ community.
Phone or text (780-918-5856) Dwayne Holm,
CMT Downtown Edmonton (free parking)
 Find Out - From Page 67
CANADA
Community Groups
Canadian Rainbow Health Coalition

P..O. Box 3043, Saskatoon, SK, S7K 3S9

(306) 955-5135

1-800-955-5129

http://www.rainbowhealth.ca
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, transidentified people and our families.
www.gaycalgary.com
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.
69
70
www.gaycalgary.com
www.gaycalgary.com
71

xtina xposed

Transcription

Similar documents

JOSOS project completed (PDF Document)

puzzle - Dallas Voice

RVDA of Alberta Monthly E

to your all access subscription

2Days of Nightlife 2Days of Nightlife

puzzle - Dallas Voice

puzzle - Dallas Voice

theucitynews - University City

is delighted to announce that the brilliant Marie-Louise

When Colette Foisy-Doll arrived in Qatar last year