GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine

Transcription

January 2009
ISSUE 63
The Only Magazine Dedicated
to Alberta’s GLBT+ Community
FREE
Bedazzling In Blonde
Sunny Thompson as Marilyn Monroe in
Marilyn: Forever Blond
Blondee
READER
SURVEY
2009
Clue in to the Past
A Look Back at Our History
Edmonton Queen
Rollin’ Down the River One Last Time
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Writers and Contributors
Kevin Alderson, Mercedes Allen, Keith
Andony, Dave Brousseau, Jason Clevett,
Andrew Collins, James S.M. Demers, Rob
Diaz-Marino, Jack Fertig, Glen Hanson,
Benjamin Hawkcliffe, Joan Hilty, Evan
Kayne, Tedd Kerr, Stephen Lock, Allan
Neuwirth, Felice Newman, Brian Pawlak,
Steve Polyak, Mark Randall, Matt Salton,
Romeo San Vicente, Spencer Tyler, Jerome
Voltero, and the GLBT Community of
Calgary, Edmonton, and Alberta.
5
Growing Pains
Publisher’s Column
8 Bedazzling In Blonde
Sunny Thompson as Marilyn Monroe in Marilyn: Forever Blonde
11 Holiday Home Bargains
A Snapshot of Vacation Markets
PAGE 8
Publisher: ................................ Steve Polyak
Editor:............................... Rob Diaz-Marino
Graphic Design: ................ Rob Diaz-Marino
Sales: ....................................... Steve Polyak
12 Edmonton Queen
Photography
Videography
Steve Polyak, Rob Diaz-Marino
Printers
13 Chelsea Boys
14 Out of Town
PAGE 12
Steve Polyak, Rob Diaz-Marino, and
contributors.
Gay-Friendly Caribbean Hideaways
North Hill News/Central Web
Distribution
Calgary: ........................Gallant Distribution
......................................GayCalgary Staff
Edmonton: .....................Clark’s Distribution
Other: .......................................Canada Post
Legal Council
17 Directory and Events
22 Letters to the Editor
Sales & General Inquiries
23 Pro-Gay Obama Selects Anti-Gay
Pastor
Office Hours:............. By appointment ONLY
25 Q Scopes
#403, 215 14th Avenue SW
Calgary, AB, Canada T2R 0M2
Phone: ................................ (403) 543-6960
Toll Free:............................ 1-888-543-6960
Fax:..................................... (403) 703-0685
E-Mail: [email protected]
This Month's Cover
Sunny Thompson, photographed by
Howard Petrella.
Rick Warren Chosen to Deliver Inauguration Invocation
PAGE 14
Courtney Aarbo, Barristers and Solicitors
“Be careful of injuries, Libra!”
26 Adult Film Review
Night Watchmen, On the Job, Cuma Sutra, One Night
28 Deep Inside Hollywood
New Projects for Vin Diesel and Kristin Chenoweth
www.gaycalgary.com
29 Whole Lesbian Sex
PAGE 28
Continued on Next Page
The Couple That Masturbates Together...
30 Bitter Girl
Continued on Next Page f
GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine #63, January 2009
3
Table of Contents
f Continued From Previous Page
Proud members of:
31 GayCalgary Survey 2009
Biannual Reader Survey
PAGE 36
34 A Couple of Guys
35 Pride Calgary Planning Committee
Change is Good
36 Clue in to the Past
38 Club Drugs and Their Effects
PAGE 43
40 Trans Around the World
Continued from Previous Page
Magazine
43 Fundraising Photos
Print Circulation: ................. ~10,000 copies
Pickup Density: ...................~3 readers/copy
Online Circulation: ............ ~60,000 readers
Total Readership: .............. ~90,000 readers
Frequency: ................................Every Month
44 Press Releases
Proof of monthly figures can be requested.
Distribution Locations
45 Alberta Gay & Lesbian Film Fest
Finds New Home
Alberta: ..................... ~300 Drop-off Points
Please call us if your establishment would
like to become a distribution point.
History
46 Self Care is Key to Living with HIV
PAGE 52
47 The High Performance Rodeo
February 2009
Print Deadlines
Ad Booking
Friday, January 30th 2008
Ad Submission
Monday, February 2nd 2009
In Circulation
Thursday, February 5th, 2009
Please contact us immediately if you think
you may have missed the booking or
submission deadline.
Theatre Festival Continues Distinctively Queer Bent
50 From Book to Screen
Adapting the Queer Woman
52 Music Review
LaBelle, Williams, Gaga, and McLachlan
54 Queer Eye - Community Events
56 Classified Ads
Originally established in January 1992 as
Men for Men BBS by MFM Communications.
Name changed to GayCalgary.com in 1998.
Independent company as of January 2004.
First edition of GayCalgary.com Magazine
published November 2003. Name adjusted
in November 2006 to GayCalgary and
Edmonton Magazine.
Disclaimer and Copyright
Opinions expressed in this magazine
are specific to the author, and do not
necessarily reflect those of GayCalgary staff
and contributors.
Those involved in the making of this
publication, whether advertisers,
contributors, or the subjects of articles
or photographs, are not necessarily gay,
lesbian, bisexual, or trans. GayCalgary
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.
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
GayCalgary is a registered trademark.
Editorial
Growing Pains
Publisher’s Column
By Rob Diaz-Marino, MSc.
Evolution happens mostly in small, subtle steps, but
there are also times when it can occur in leaps and
bounds. You might have realized there’s something
a little different about GayCalgary and Edmonton
Magazine this month, and as I write this, I am eager
to see the results myself!
Last month I alluded to a change to help solve a few
inherent problems in our previous print format. Though
November was particularly bad for color alignment, it was
a problem that has cropped up less severely, but still quite
frequently in the past. Supposedly the move to glossy paper
stock will eliminate this problem, and our hope is that the
proof will be in the pudding. It makes for a good selling
point - aside from producing much sharper images, glossy
also has the advantage of rendering brighter colors, and it
doesn’t smudge! Having experienced the irritation of pitchblack fingers from handling magazines on a daily basis,
nobody is gladder to do away with the smudging than we are!
When we first started the magazine, glossy was a popular
suggestion for us, albeit a lofty one. Looking into the option,
we quickly discovered that the cost would be prohibitive
even for just the four outer pages. In addition, it would have
required us to submit those four pages nearly a week earlier
than the rest of the magazine so that they could be farmed
out and back on time to be stapled in. We abandoned the
idea because it just wasn’t feasible for us.
Obviously things change. Our regular printers merged
with another printing company, giving them access to a
whole slew of new equipment. The problems with the November edition prompted them to alert us about the new
capabilities at our disposal, subsequently cheaper than
farming jobs out to other companies, and the price was right
– several hundred dollars less than that quote for the 4 outer
pages, for us to do the entire 32! We decided to start 2009
shiny and new.
tion so that we don’t have to squander prime color space on
the Classified Ad Form.
I’m particularly excited over the new layout in our Directory and Events section. Though we’ve included boatloads
of useful community information every month since the
very start, there was always some degree of difficulty finding
specific information quickly. I grumbled over this every time
I had to look up an address or phone number for an out-oftowner…so much that I committed a lot of the information
to memory to save myself time. Eating your own dog food is
sometimes the only way to garner insight about what things
need improving. I’m happy to say that we have incorporated
a number of visual elements to ensure this new design would
be easier to browse through, and drill down for details.
We’ve even gone so far as to list which venues are wheelchair
accessible!
This change comes in time for a new product that we are
launching in March, known as the GayCalgary and Edmonton Pocket Guide. Imagine our community map, directory,
and events in a compact brochure, along with year-round
GLBT tourism information for Alberta. The pocket guide will
be released once a year, and go out to around 300 locations
in Alberta, and 200 locations across the rest of Canada and
the US. These aren’t just any old locations though – we’re
talking hotels, shopping malls, car rental outlets, tourism
centres, attractions, and more. Many of these are places
where standard magazines can’t go, so we will be reaching a
whole new audience!
The pocket guide will be a general resource about Alberta’s
GLBT scene. It will inform GLBT visitors to Alberta about
all that our province has to offer them, through listings,
advertising spots, and mini travel features. It will give incentive, when they’re here, to seek out the monthly magazine at
the venues that carry us, in order to get more specific event
information. Some outside of Alberta will invariably use
this information to plan their trip here, and the internet will
provide them quick access to our website, and those of local
businesses and non-profit groups that have listings in the
guide.
The other noticeable change has been the magazine’s
entire layout. In past years we have designated January as
our time to make major revisions to our designs, and fix anything that has gone amiss from all the wear and tear of moving, copying, pasting, and deleting the design elements. This
year we finally retired the templates that we had been using
since our first edition. They served us well, and though they
had undergone a great deal of evolution to accommodate our
growth, it was about time for a complete overhaul. The new
design stays in the spirit of the original, but jazzes things
up a little. It’s friendlier not only for the reader, but also for
us as we assemble the content each month – it finally gave
us an opportunity to fully explore and implement the handy
capabilities that our computer program can offer.
Keep in mind that the Classified Ads section has been
moved; it will no longer appear at the back of the magazine.
You can find it straddling the end of the black and white secGayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine #63, January 2009
5
Editorial
Although this comes at a time when money is a bit tight
for everyone, this investment offers to bring new money into
our economy for everyone. However, we have the daunting
task of reaching out further in Calgary and Edmonton, and
tracking down any GLBT/friendly businesses and organizations across Alberta that we may be unaware of, to bring a
wider selection of listings than what we currently provide in
the magazine. So any referrals and leads that members of
the community can give us would be much appreciated. Not
only will it be beneficial for ensuring we produce a useful
resource in the pocket guide, but it will also be helpful to
the magazine in mapping out the rest of Alberta as we grow
inevitably into our role as the resident GLBT community
magazine for our region.
Goliaths
Some of you may have noticed that Steve and I have been
in and out of Goliaths an awful lot over the past month,
and wondered why the two of us have been hanging around
behind the counter with the attendants.
I was commissioned to develop a computerized till system
to handle transactions, memberships, rooms, and other aspects of their daily tasks. Though I’ve worked out the critical
bugs in the system, my job will be ongoing as I implement
unforeseen features, and ensure that the program facilitates
their procedures and policies.
Industry programmers are sadly known for developing
egos, and they say the best way to deflate their almost parental pride in their creation, is to make them sit in the room
with someone as they use their program for the first time.
That is when they realize that no matter how well they’ve
thought out their product, or how well they have tested it,
they can never get it perfect on the first try. The field of computer science that I studied, prescribes that this process is a
very wise thing to do because it leads to better designs that
are informed by the people who actually use the end result.
For the first several days, I hung around to solve problems
as they cropped up. The first shift with my system in use
was humbling, to say the least. I was frantically fixing the
things that I could, and making notes about the things that
required more attention. I even had nightmares about employees running into problems, which were put to rest in the
days to follow as I made corrections. I anticipate I will still
have some work to do in the coming months, so expect to see
me in logic mode!
One thing I want to emphasize is my attention to customer
privacy in this design. All sensitive information is encrypted
so that even I as the system designer cannot read it. Goliaths has a privacy statement available on request.
Reader Survey
The Reader’s Choice component has been mostly removed,
since sadly it caused some strife between category competitors in the past. Most businesses are one-of-a-kind in their
niche so it doesn’t make sense to ask most of the questions
that we did in the past. The only Reader’s Choice question
remaining is an opportunity for you to nominate an individual for outstanding community service, and explain why they
deserve to be recognized for their efforts. If you can’t think
of anyone to write down then it’s time to open your eyes;
if you don’t know their name, then take the opportunity to
learn it. We want you to take notice of the people that help
to make the community go round, so that the rest of us can
have our fun.
You’ll notice that we are not deploying ballot boxes this
year; we encourage you to fill the survey out on our website.
If you cannot access this, then we encourage you to mail or
fax your survey forms from the magazine, on page XXX.
If you are nervous about your personal information online,
then you will be happy to know that we have taken your privacy into consideration. The online survey is protected by a
security certificate much like when you do your online banking/shopping. Additionally, because the survey is hosted
on our own website, you don’t have to worry about any third
parties having access to your answers. It’s our eyes only, as
intended.
The prize draw will happen once again, and I’m a bit jealous of whoever wins the grand prize. It’s a large selection
of brand new music CDs (you know they’re new ‘cause they
are still in the wrapper) from Universal Music. It includes
some really good albums that I reviewed in recent months by
Lady Gaga, The Pussycat Dolls, Solange, Nikka Costa, and
a whole bunch of others that I didn’t even get to hear (pout).
It comes to a total of 18 CDs and 2 DVDs, a retail value of
$300! There’s a wide selection, so feel free to keep the ones
you want, and give the others to your friends.
January 2009
Yeowzers was it cold! Toys for Tots and the Living X-Mas
Tree still managed to draw a modest crowd, but the low temperatures and heavy snow really put a damper on December
community events this year.
New Years was the usual deal of running around to all of
the GLBT-related parties. This time I had a whole 7 stops to
make, starting with New Kinky Eve at the Speakeasy, all the
way through to the Eagle, just in time for the countdown.
Steve was naturally doing the same thing up in Edmonton,
but he only had the standard 5 locations to visit. It felt a
little lonely to be without him for that night, but he was back
first thing the next morning and we were finally able to have
our New Years kiss.
Well we took a break for a year and now our Reader
Survey has returned. We were humored to see that another
publication appears to be following suit, but then January
does make a lot more sense than when they used to do it
annually in October. No matter, we’re doing things a little
differently now.
January sometimes feels like a long, drawn out hangover
from all the celebrations the month prior, but it’s obvious to
see that Albertans are experiencing a hangover of a different
kind. It seems like most people are reeling from spending
more than they should have during the holiday season, and
are now sleeping it off, so to speak. January is looking to be
a depressingly slow month all around.
First of all we, we plan to only do our reader surveys every
2 years from this point forward. This is because we realized
that it got pretty tedious for people to do them every single
year. The survey is a great deal shorter and to the point, so
it won’t take as long to complete.
We want to hear what YOU have to say about the topics in this article, and
any other articles in GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine. Visit our chat
forums at www.gaycalgary.com/forum and write your heart out! Or write
us a letter to the publisher by post or by E-mailing publisher@gaycalgary.
com, and we may publish or respond to it in the magazine!
6
7
Arts & Culture
Bedazzling In Blonde
Sunny Thompson as Marilyn Monroe in Marilyn: Forever Blonde
By Matt Salton
Throw away that “Hairspray” and pick up a bottle
of peroxide because the newest coiffure- theatrical trendsetter for 2009 has arrived in the guise of
pop culture’s most legendary blonde – Norma Jeane
Mortenson, a.k.a. Marilyn Monroe.
Blondes may have more fun, but the award-winning, one
woman sensation Marilyn: Forever Blonde has had audiences and theatre critics realizing that watching actor Sunny
Thompson’s portrayal of the blonde goddess can be vicariously as enjoyable. Just ask the late, infamous bitchy style
guru Mr. Blackwell, who, after witnessing a performance was
quoted as saying, “Sunny Thompson could win every known
award for this masterpiece performance… it actually brought
tears to my eyes.” And indeed has been raking in the awards
and accolades from L.A. to Dayton and has been entertaining
audiences in over a dozen cities in North America and recently
in New Zealand.
The basic concept of the play was conceived by award-winning writer/producer Greg Thompson who poured over hundreds of personal writings by Monroe in preparation for the
script. But perhaps Greg Thompson’s most unlikely challenge
was convincing his wife Sunny, a stunning blonde in her own
right, to step into the leading role.
“I never thought about or ever wanted to play Marilyn Monroe!” laughs Sunny Thompson. “What girl in her right mind
would want to be to be compared to the most famous screen
goddess of all- time? I told my husband no a hundred times!”
However, undaunted, Greg was able to find the inspiration
that finally got Sunny to make the leap, in world famous Marilyn impersonator Jimmie James.
“My husband asked me if he hired Jimmie to work with me
for a week and if Jimmie thought I could pull it off, would I
Photo by Howard Petrella
do it? I said yes, and here I am! If it wasn’t for my husband,
Jimmie James and my director Stephanie Shine I would have
never had the nerve to take this project on.“
In February, 2006 Marilyn: Forever Blonde made its debut
at the Stella Adler Theatre in Hollywood, California directly
across from Marilyn’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
“Opening night was terrifying! There were so many people
in the audience who knew Marilyn personally; Stanley Rueben, producer of Marilyn’s film The River Of No Return (filmed
right here in Alberta), Marion Collier and several other actresses who were in Some Like It Hot and the late Mr. Blackwell
of the Worst & Best Dressed List, who was a personal friend
of Marilyn. Also in the house that night was Greg Schreiner,
Pres. of Marilyn’s fan club and owner of Some Like It Haute
(the costume exhibition currently on exhibit at the Glenbow
Museum). Upon (Schreiner’s) arrival at the theatre he declared that he ’hated most everything done on Marilyn!’ They
are all very protective of her image.“
8
“Opening night, before the play I sincerely questioned my
Arts & Culture
sanity for taking on such a
project! It was quite a relief
when the play received a
standing ovation and the
wholehearted endorsement
of people who actually knew
Marilyn... it was very validating! They came to my dressing room and shared first
hand stories of their experiences with Marilyn Monroe.
Mr. Blackwell greeted me
with ’I never thought I would
see you again.’ It was kind
of spooky.“
“We had such a great time
in Nova Scotia last February.
We’re ready for the cold and
excited to meet some more
warm-hearted Canadians in
Calgary. “
And how is domestic life
being on the road with her
husband who also wears the
writer/producer hat? Sunny
takes it all in stride, “Most
days it’s great! He’s a wonderful producer and writer.
But I hate getting notes from
him...we have to limit that to
once a week in writing. The
good part of working and
travelling together is that we
are so fortunate to experience so many wonderful
places together!”
And how did the President
of Marilyn’s Fan Club, perhaps poised to be the play’s
toughest critic, react to the
performance?
“Greg Schreiner booked
out an entire night for his
fan club to see the play. And
he invited me to his house to
see many of the items of his
Some Like It Haute exhibition. Amongst personal
items he has many of her
gowns. They are lovingly
wrapped in acetone free paper in beautiful blue boxes.
He even let me try one on!
He said he had never allowed
that of anyone before. It was
an amazing honour...and it
fit...perfectly!”
The inevitable question
arises when discussing Monroe with groups of gay men.
Why do so many gays and
lesbians crush on Marilyn
Monroe, especially so many
years after her death? I
wondered if Marilyn: Forever
Blonde had generated a gay
and lesbian fan base?
It appears as if the dress wasn’t the only perfect fit for
Sunny Thompson. For years people have made familiarity
remarks to Sunny about her resemblance to Monroe. But how
alike are they really?
“We are both 5’5”. Marilyn weighed between 118-136...so
do I. We are both bleached blonde’s, blue eyed and curvaceous. Beyond that it takes me 2 1/2 hours in makeup, a
fabulous wig, some glamorous costumes as well as a couple
of scrumptious bathrobes to bring her to life. Oh! And Marilyn
drank Dom Perignon and I drink Marilyn Merlot!“
The party for Sunny doesn’t seem to want to wind down.
After traveling to over a dozen cities with producer/husband
Greg by her side, Sunny now looks forward to wowing Calgarians. The show begins January 22nd and runs until February
22nd at the Conoco Theatre in the Glenbow Museum, where
the aforementioned Some Like It Haute exhibit and Marilyn:
Life as a Legend, a dizzying display of multi-media works
of Marilyn’s image, are currently displayed until the end of
February.
“I have never been to Calgary. We are very excited. It’s always fun to present the play in tandem with Life Is A Legend.
But this is the first time that Some Like It Haute will be a part
of the experience. I can’t wait for audiences to see the play,
view the exhibition and be able to see her personal gowns,
jewelry, movie chair, scripts, letters, contracts etc. These
three elements will give anyone amazing insight into the life of
Marilyn Monroe.“
And while this is Sunny’s first time in Calgary, the play has
toured in Canada previously.
“We do have a large gay
and lesbian audience which
is great! “ Thompson says
exuberantly. “Because gay and lesbian audiences get everything; every nuance, every joke, every emotion. For an actor,
that kind of a response from an audience is a dream!”
And as for Marilyn’s lasting legacy? “Marilyn’s timeless
appeal may be in part due to the fact that she died young and
beautiful and of course the mystery surrounding her death
leaves us with an eternal question. I would also attribute the
world’s fascination of Marilyn to the kindness in her eyes. She
has accessibility when you see a movie or a photo of her, you
believe she would be your friend, she would be fun. Regardless of your motives for eliciting her friendship...she would
never be too good for you. I like that about her.”
“It’s been an honor to bring Marilyn back to life if even for a
couple hours each evening.“
Matt Salton is the festival director of the Fairy Tales International Gay
& Lesbian Film Festival in Calgary. He can be reached for comment at
[email protected]
Marilyn: Forever Blonde
January 22nd – February 22nd, 2009
Thursdays to Saturdays, 7pm
Saturdays and Sundays, 2pm
ConocoPhillips Theatre, Glenbow Museum
130 - 9th Avenue SE, Calgary
℡ Ticket Pricing Info: (403) 268-4110
www.marilynforeverblonde.com
9
10
Real Estate
Holiday Home Bargains
A Snapshot of Vacation Markets
By GayRealEstate.com
This past year has been historically dismal for the real
estate industry, but within the rough patch there are some
rare investment gems. The sagging sector has driven home
prices downward and has been fueled by tight credit and an
unprecedented volume of foreclosures in all categories of property. But that also means that shopping for a home in places
where they have been typically overpriced and the inventories
are usually skimpy has suddenly become much more satisfying and profitable. The flip side of all the bad news, in other
words, is that some of the most desirable and popular vacation and retirement destinations in the USA are now temporarily available at fire sale prices.
Some prefer a hideaway in the mountains while others want to vacation with their toes in the sand of a tropical
beach. Corporate buyers may be looking for a golf course
community condo to use for business retreats, while individuals may like an urban loft or studio to use during weekends
on the town in the big city. Whatever the preferences may be
- and whether the property will serve as a business retreat
condo with a convenient tax deduction or a permanent primary residence for an active Baby Boomer retirement - listings
are everywhere in all price ranges. The inventory choices are
ample and the menu of architectural styles and amenities is
vast because of the prolonged real estate recession.
Here is a sample of what can be found right now across the
USA:
Hawaii
For those wanting something especially exotic, Hawaii’s
Big Island and Kauai single-family home sales have plunged
at least 40 percent since this time last year. The median sales
price of homes on the Big Island (the largest island in the USA)
is now around $280,000 - down from $350,000 in November of 2007. According to the Hawaii Information Service,
condo prices are even more enticing, having fallen from over
$460,000 to only about $225,000 - meaning they are now
priced so low that it amounts to “two for the price of one.”
Meanwhile, Kauai’s luxurious single-family homes actually went up in price over the past year, despite slower sales
volume, which underscores the inherent value and popularity
of Hawaiian real estate investments. But interestingly enough,
condominiums on Kauai can still be bought at nearly a 50
percent discount. They showed recent medium sales prices of
just over $400,000 compared to prices of more than $775,000
just 12 months ago.
South Florida
On the other end of the map is the Sunshine State, where
sales of homes in Palm Beach County rose more than 35
percent within the past few months as buyers snapped up
bargains. But the median price of Palm Beach properties is
down nearly 25 percent compared to figures from October
2007, and the average price hovers around $265,000. Condos
in PalmBeach can be purchased for less than $140,000, but
the inventory won’t last forever. The number of condos listed
for sale in Palm Beach County has already dropped nearly 15
percent since late 2007.
Telluride
For those interested in bargain priced properties in higher
elevations, there are wonderful upscale homes available in
America’s exclusive ski resort locations - at least for the time
being. The news magazine The Week runs a regular real estate
feature article, and in the December 12th issue it featured
fabulous homes and lodges in Telluride. Most of them price
out between five and ten million dollars, but a Sotheby’s
International Reality listing just five minutes from the center
of town is listed for only $450,000. The home includes a spacious deck with magnificent mountain views and the asking
price is so cheap compared to usual Telluride offerings that
many shoppers may mistake it for a typographical error.
But special opportunities like this are not expected to
last, and before the snow melts next spring - and the credit
markets thaw out once and for all - many real estate experts
expect them to be snatched up by lucky buyers with a knack
for “bottom fishing.” Mortgage rates are also a relative bargain
and can compound the long-term appreciation of the investment - which adds to the incentive to buy now. Major lenders
are offering 30-year fixed rate mortgages at around five and a
half percent interest.
Those who dream of getting away for the holidays might
want to consider putting a second home on their wish list
or making a New Year’s resolution to buy vacation property
while extraordinary pricing opportunities last. Similarly, those
looking to retire to a dream home in a dreamy location can
capitalize on the oversold buyer’s market and get more bang
for the buck. From the shoreline of Padre Island in Texas to
the Hamptons of New York, there are deeply discounted homes
on the market, and sellers are ready to do whatever it takes to
facilitate and finalize transactions.
To find real estate brokers across America who are personally and
professionally committed to exceptional service to the GLBT community,
check out www.GayRealEstate.com and www.GayMortgageLoans.com. Or
call their toll free phone number 1-888-420-MOVE (6683).
11
Theatre Preview
Edmonton Queen
By Antonio Bavaro
Growing up as an obviously gay child is difficult
in Alberta, and when I was a kid there was a role
model that I could tune into on Access Television
right before supper time Monday to Friday. This tall,
boisterous man with the effeminate swagger and the
long, strawberry locks informed me of easy ways to
get your house ready for winter, how to cook emus,
and relayed his experience of grand events and art
all around the Edmonton Area and beyond. All the
while, I was serving a twelve year sentence in the jail
that I found Sherwood Park. His voice and personality brought a kind of calm to me, as if he were
silently saying “I know”. It made me forget the unbearable social life as the big nelly spaz that I was.
Unbeknownst to me, Darrin Hagen was at the time
receiving accolades for a show called “The Edmonton
Queen: Not a Riverboat Story” in the same theatre,
drag, and queer community that I would later be a
part of. This is the hardest thing I’ve had to write
yet, because I’ve learned some of the things Darrin
mentions in his book in my own drag decade. Like
he writes, the outfits were a lot less fabulous than
we remember.
I sat down with my youth idol Darrin Hagen, otherwise
known as the splendiferous Gloria Hole, to ask him about his
most celebrated play…but all we did was talk, talk, talk and
have a hootenanny! This year he will be mounting “The Edmonton Queen: the Final Voyage” for the last time (that’s what
Cher said). I asked him if there was anything he regretted not
including in the new edition
of the fabulous book version
of the award winning play, because the stories have been all
re-worked many times.
“I don’t regret one moment of
my life. I wish I could’ve written
the never-ending story, but you
can’t put everybody you love
into a body of work like this
because there’s always a new
story. I like to think of those
stories as beautiful little jewels
connected to big shining jewels,
who are the queens themselves,
to create the magnificent tiara
that is the Edmonton Queen.”
Ian Jackson, Epic Photography Inc
12
With more and more people
passing to the next world, a lot
of those untold stories could be
lost forever. In the new version,
Hagen asked his friends to
write to him about how
they felt being mentioned in his work, and
to clear up any mistakes
he may have made.
“A lot of people got
upset when it was
published, saying there
wasn’t a single truth.
Honestly, I thought everyone would thank me.”
Ian Jackson, Epic Photography Inc
Unfortunately, a lot of them aren’t around to bitch or compliment him either way.
“Drag queens as we knew them are disappearing; many of
them moved away, you lose touch and then you get the call…
We had this huge brilliant life together and then before you
know it, they died. In a way, those girls were lucky to have not
gotten old; yet at the same time, they were robbed of decades
of majesty, decades of potential. They left behind the memories, so why not leave behind a body of work glorifying them?”
Darrin’s own drag mother, Chuck MacDuff Gillis a.k.a. Lulu
LaRude, passed in February 2007; it was she who inspired
Hagen to do drag and to actually record the insane happenings from the 80’s and 90’s.
“I never got to say goodbye to a lot of the girls, but the book
made Lulu very happy; it was always about her, for her, practically by her! She would turn it all into mythology. She always
told me, don’t ever miss a chance to change the world.”
Darrin himself has certainly changed since the first time
The E.Q. was performed 12 years ago. For one, he now sports
a butch hairdo. But does he miss all that hair and the drag
lifestyle?
“For me, drag is ALL about the hair. But to do drag again
after all these years is hard! You forget that you can do it,
even the lip-synching gets hard. I miss the Value Village shopping trips; if it didn’t fit, pin it up, add a cape or don’t turn
around!”
I feel extremely honoured to be a drag performer who broke
into theatre, because I couldn’t have done it without the pioneering efforts of Darrin Hagen and all those mentioned in his
book. If you remember the good old days of Flashback (or you
don’t), if you’re curious about this amazing sub-culture and
important piece of local history or you just want to experience
a rip-roaring and moving piece of theatre, I suggest you attend
this amazing event because it’s your LAST chance to see it!
The Edmonton Queen: The Final Voyage
January 22nd – February 1st @ 8:00pm
TranAlta Arts Barns, Westbury Theatre
10330 – 84th Avenue, Edmonton
℡ (780) 409-1910
www.guysindisguise.com
13
Out of Town
Gay-Friendly Caribbean Hideaways
On the tranquil Puerto Rican island of Vieques, the gayfriendly Inn on the Blue Horizon offers stunning views
of the sea from its romantic cottages. (Photo by Andrew
Collins)
By Andrew Collins
It’s dominated by sunny, tropical weather and has
plenty of direct flights from North America and Europe. In the eyes of many travelers, there’s no place
more stunning than the Caribbean. Among gays and
lesbians, however, the region hasn’t quite emerged
as a major vacation option, and it may never become one - at least to the degree Puerto Vallarta,
Fort Lauderdale, and Ibiza are. But the number of
GLBT-friendly resorts is rising steadily, and on most
islands, you’ll now find at least one or two noteworthy resorts or vacation compounds eagerly welcoming gay guests.
Although broadly similar in climate, the different islands
of the Caribbean offer marked contrasts with one another in
topography, culture, and personality. Some are better suited
to scuba-diving and lazing on the beach, while others offer an
abundance of hikes through lush rain forests and over rugged
mountains. Puerto Rico’s largest city, San Juan, is the only
spot in the region that offers much in the way of gay nightlife, and attitudes toward gay travelers are fairly welcoming
throughout Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, St. Barthelemy,
and Curacao, with other islands slowly but steadily warming
to the GLBT market.
Here are six inviting Caribbean retreats, from posh, allinclusive spa resorts overlooking the sea to cozy eco-lodges
nestled on hibiscus-choked hillsides.
Calibishie Lodges - Dominica
The pristine, largely undeveloped, and extremely mountain14
ous island of Dominica differs from many others in the Caribbean - it’s without huge, all-inclusive resorts, and it’s geared
more toward budget-minded adventure travelers than it is
well-heeled luxury seekers. Don’t come here expecting swank
boutiques and high-end restaurants, but if you love hiking
to secret waterfalls and geothermal-volcanic lakes, this is the
island for you - it’s also a great destination for diving. The gayfriendly Calibishie Lodges is a tranquil, affordable compound
of six simply but handsomely furnished units on a verdant
bluff surrounded by gardens. Views take in the sea and, in the
distance, the island of Guadeloupe.
The rooms have shaded balconies, clean white-tile bathrooms, and a tasteful, unfussy decorating scheme. You can
dine on some of the island’s freshest and tastiest food (Creolestyle fish, garlic chicken, omelets, burgers) at the property’s
open-air Bamboo Restaurant, which overlooks the pool.
Within a short walk is one of the better beaches on the island,
and the staff can help you to arrange adventure tours, from
sea kayaking to diving to mountain biking.
Caribe Mountain Villas - Carolina, Puerto Rico
This gorgeous, gay-owned compound of vacation villas offers
the perfect balance of rural seclusion and proximity to urban
sophistication. The property is set in a hilly rain forest - it has
a large pool, a tennis court, and great views of lush foliage.
But it’s also a mere 11 miles from San Juan, with its pulsing gay bars, charming old town, trendy restaurants, and fine
beaches.
The four guest villas come in a few configurations - some
have two bedrooms, with the largest unit sleeping up to six
guests. Each has its own deck or terrace, full kitchen, and
plenty of room to spread out and relax. If it’s a dramatic view
you’re after, book the Mountain Top Coqui villa - its broad terrace looks for miles out over the region’s greenery. Hosts Jeff
Travel
Harpell and Martin Nemeth provide highly personalized attention and assistance, but they’re also happy to leave guests to
their own devices. This is an ideal option for extended stays.
Inn on the Blue Horizon - Vieques, Puerto Rico
The larger of two islands off the east coast of Puerto Rico,
Vieques has steadily developed considerable cachet among
eco-tourists, gays and lesbians, and - more recently - jet-setters. A chic W Hotel will open on the island in April 2009.
Offering a far more intimate but still highly luxurious experience, the Inn on the Blue Horizon has been popular with
GLBT travelers - not to mention plenty of celebrities and
business moguls - for many years. It’s on the island’s peaceful
southern coast, near the village of Esperanza.
There are just nine guest rooms, most of them set inside
cottages with large private porches. All have well-chosen colonial antiques, tile floors, and original paintings and drawings.
You can take a dip in the pool, or mingle with other guests
in the open-air tropical cocktail bar. This is a truly romantic
retreat, as discreet as it is low-keyed. An added bonus to staying here is the chance to dine at the inn’s Carambola Island
Restaurant, which serves outstanding contemporary Caribbean and American fare.
Le Sport - St. Lucia
With a stunning beachfront location at the rugged northern
tip of St. Lucia, the upscale, all-inclusive Le Sport resort has
long had a following with gays and lesbians - it’s an adultsonly, spa-oriented property that’s perfect for a stress-relieving
vacation. The resort is well-suited to couples or singles, and it
encourages guests to develop their own personalized spa-retreat programs, complete with sporting activities (golf, diving,
tennis, windsurfing, fitness and yoga classes, and so on), body
and beauty treatments, and exceptional meals at the trendy
Pan-Asian restaurant TAO.
Personal guides help guests decide how best to spend their
time - and yes, one option is simply whiling away the day
reading a book on gorgeous Cariblue Beach. Although Le
Sport is a mainstream property with a predominantly straight
clientele, the clothing-optional sundeck, elegant piano bar,
and sophisticated vibe ratchet up the GLBT appeal. Accommodations are attractive and tasteful. High-end units have water
views, mahogany four-poster beds, iPod docks, and Kohlerbrand BodySpa multiple-nozzle jet showers.
Lions Dive Hotel - Curacao
Perhaps no island in the Caribbean has made a more
concerted effort recently to attract gay and lesbian visitors
than Curacao, a dry and gently hilly island off the coast of
Venezuela that’s part of the Netherlands Antilles. The Dutch
influence affects everything on Curacao from architecture to
food to social attitudes, and it’s this progressive mindset that
helps make the island so popular with GLBT folks. There’s
not a huge nightlife scene, but restaurants and bars around
the island are quite friendly, and there is one gay bar, Lyrics.
Several hotels enthusiastically welcome “family,” including the
reasonably priced Lions Dive Hotel, which might very well be
the best choice for gay fans of scuba diving in all of the Caribbean.
Just a five-minute drive from the capital city of Willemstad,
this eco-friendly hotel fronts a private, palm-shaded beach
with direct access to National Curacao Underwater Park.
There’s a PADI dive center on premises, as well as a spa and
fitness room. Lions Dive Hotel offers expert diving instruction,
geared toward everyone from novices to experts, and guests
have plenty of chances to explore the many spectacular dive
sites around the island, including its famed reefs. Rooms are
functional and pleasant, with tile floors and balconies - many
have direct ocean views. There are also six full apartments
with kitchens. Other amenities include a beach bar cafe, a
full-service restaurant, and two pools.
Sand Castle on the Beach - St. Croix, U.S.
Virgin Islands
Drawing a mostly gay clientele, the lesbian-owned Sand
Castle on the Beach is located on St. Croix, the largest of the
U.S. Virgin Islands. With a charmed location right on a long
crescent of pristine beach, this friendly, 21-room hotel offers a
splendid setting for sun-worshipers. Other amenities include
a large pool, and an excellent restaurant with seats facing the
sea and live music on Saturday evenings. You can snorkel and
swim right at the hotel beach, and the staff can also arrange
tours of the island’s historic forts and plantations, horseback
rides through the rain forest, and sailing and kayaking trips.
The hotel also has a special arrangement with the island’s
leading dive outfitter, S.C.U.B.A.
Sand Castle on the Beach offers commitment-ceremony
and wedding packages - this is a pretty incredible setting to
exchange vows. For the ultimate romantic getaway, you might
book one of the top suites - these have private patios facing
the beach, terra-cotta-tile floors, full kitchens, and unbeatable views. But if you’re already stretching your budget a bit,
and you don’t plan on spending a ton of time in your room,
you can save a bundle by staying in one of the perfectly lovely
studios, which are brightly furnished and have small kitchenettes but no view to speak of. Whichever room you book here,
you’re always steps from the inn’s pool and the turquoise seas
of the Caribbean.
Andrew Collins is the author of Fodor’s
Gay Guide to the USA and eight additional
travel guides.
The Little Black Book
Calibishie Lodges (http://www.calibishie-lodges.com/).
Caribe Mountain Villas (http://www.caribevillas.com/).
Inn on the Blue Horizon (http://www.innonthebluehorizon.
com/). Le Sport Resort (http://lesport.com.lc/130/Villas_of_LeSport.htm). Lions Dive Hotel (http://www.lionsdive.
com/). Sand Castle on the Beach (http://www.sandcastleonthebeach.com/).
15
16
Directory and Events
Legend
Our Magazine Available Here --------------Wheelchair Accessible Venue -----------------
CALGARY
Dance Club and Lounge.
Bathhouses/Saunas
6 Goliath’s ---------------------------------308 - 17 Ave SW
℡ (403) 229-0911
http://www.goliaths.ca
Open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day
Bars and Clubs
Community Groups
3 Backlot ---------------------------------
2 Aids Calgary ---------------------------
209 - 10th Ave SW
℡ (403) 265-5211
Open 7 days a week, 4pm-close
4 Calgary Eagle Inc. --------------------424a - 8th Ave SE
℡ (403) 263-5847
http://www.calgaryeagle.com
Open Wed-Sun, 5pm-close
Leather/Denim/Fetish bar.
55 Marquee Room ---------------------------
612 - 8th Avenue SW
http://www.marqueeroom.com
Alternative night every Wednesday.
9 MPs (Money Pennies) ----------------1742 - 10th Ave SW
℡ (403) 263-7411
http://www.money-pennies.com
Bar and restaurant.
6 Texas Lounge ----------------------------308 - 17 Ave SW
℡ (403) 229-0911
http://www.goliaths.ca
Open 7 days a week, 11am-close
33 Twisted Element
1006 - 11th Ave SW
℡ (403) 802-0230
http://www.twistedelement.ca
110, 1603 10th Avenue SW
℡ (403) 508-2500
http://www.aidscalgary.org
Alberta Society for Kink
℡ (403) 398-9968
[email protected]
ca.groups.yahoo.com/
group.albertasocietyforkink
Meet and Greets: Mondays, 7pm-9:30pm
Apollo Calgary Friends in Sports
http://www.apollocalgary.com
Apollo Friends In Sports is a volunteer-operated,
non-profit organization serving primarily members
of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgendered
communities but open to members of all
communities. We currently have more than 400
members and are growing fast! The primary focus
of Apollo is to provide our membership with well
organized and fun sporting events and other
activities to allow them to participate and interact in
a positive social framework.
• Badminton (Absolutely Smashing)
St. Martha School (6020 4th Avenue NE)
Wednesdays, 7:00 - 9:00 pm
Oct 8 to Dec 10, Jan 7 to Apr 1.
Fees Per session: $4 for Apollo member, $5 for nonmembers. Season’s pass $75.
Distance varies. 8km-15km. Runners from 6
minute/mile to 9+ minute miles. During the
summer we attempt to have evening runs during
the week.
• Bowling (Rainbow Riders League)
Let’s 10 Pin Bowlerama, 2916 - 5 Ave NE
Wednesdays, 7PM, until March 4th
COST: Nightly - $17.00/night ($12.50 for lineage;
$4.50 in prize money) and shoe rental is $2.50.
• Slow Pitch
Summer sport - not currently active.
• Curling
North Hill Curling Club (1201 - 2 Street NW)
Saturdays: 2:20pm and 4:30pm
Season starts October 18, 2008
• Golf
[email protected]
• Lawn Bowling
[email protected].
• Outdoor Pursuits
If it’s done outdoors, we do it! This winter we
will be downhill and crosscountry skiing, skating
and snowshoeing and a whole bunch more. If
you’re interested in any of these or something
else completely, get in touch with us. All events
are organized by the members so if you’re tired
of playing alone outdoors and want to meet other
outdoorsy people, go to myapollo.org to create a
profile and get added to the mailing list.
• Running (Calgary Frontrunners)
Coffee Junkies, 7th Street and 1st Ave SW
℡ Tim (403) 660-6125
[email protected]
Saturdays at 9am
• Tennis
Summer sport - not currently active.
• Volleyball (Intermediate/Competitive)
YWCA, 320 - 5th Avenue SE
www.apollocalgary.com/apollo/volleyball
Every Sunday, 4:15–6:30pm, until April 5th
This is for seasoned players. You can sign up for the
season or drop-in.
• Volleyball (Recreational)
Langevin School, 107 - 6A Street NE
www.apollocalgary.com/apollo/volleyball
Every Friday, 7-9pm, until April 24th
All are welcome. This is for all skill levels, including
recreational players and beginners. You can sign up
for the season or drop-in.
• Western Cup 2009
www.westerncup.com
April 10th-12th
Annual GLBT sporting tournament.
• Yoga
No information available.
Alberta Rockies Gay Rodeo Association
www.argra.org
℡ (403) 541-8140
• Monthly Dances ----------------------------Hillhurst-Sunnyside Community Association
1320 5th Avenue NW
DOWNTOWN CALGARY
N
17
January 17th, 8:00pm
Artists for the Quality of Life
℡ (403) 890-1261
www.afqol.com
Cabin Fever
Calgary Eagle, 424a 8th Ave SW
3RD THURSDAY every month
Women’s dance and social night.
Calgary Gay Fathers
[email protected]
http://www.geocities.com/calgaryfathers
Peer support group for gay, bisexual and
questioning fathers. Meeting twice a month.
Calgary Men’s Chorus
http://www.calgarymenschorus.org
• Rehearsals
Old Y Centre, 223 - 12 Avenue SW
Tuesday nights, 7pm-9:30pm
• Duality Concert
Rozsa Centre, University of Calgary
Saturday, June 20, 2009 @ 8:00pm
Calgary Sexual Health Centre -------304, 301 14th Street NW
℡ (403) 283-5580
http://www.calgarysexualhealth.ca
Calgary Sexual Health Centre is a pro-choice
organization that believes all people have the right
and ability to make their own choices regarding
their sexual and reproductive health. Calgary
Sexual Health Centre started as a volunteer based,
grassroots organization and has been providing
comprehensive sexuality education and counselling
programs to the Calgary community since 1972.
1 Calgary Outlink---------------------------
#4, 1230A 17th Avenue SW
℡ (403) 234-8973
http://www.calgaryoutlink.com
Formerly know as the Gay And Lesbian Community
Services Association (GLCSA).
• Peer Support and Crisis Line
Front-line help service for GLBT individuals and
their family and friends, or anyone questioning
their sexuality.
• Library
A great selection of resource books, fiction, nonfiction, videos and everything in between, all with a
queer perspective.
• Drop-In Center
A safe and supportive environment for one-to-one
peer counseling for many issues surrounding family,
coming out, homosexuality, loneliness and other
issues.
• Between Men and Between Men Online
Tuesdays 7:00pm to 9:00pm
Peer support, sexual health education for gay
or bisexual men, as well as those who may be
uncertain or questioning their sexuality. Discussions
range from personal relationship or life issues, to
sexual health and well-being.
• Calgary Networking Club
MPs, 1742 10th Ave SW
First Thursday of every month
The networking meetings are open to all individuals
who would like to promote their businesses or
who would like to meet new people - no business
affiliation is necessary.
• Heading Out
2nd and 4th Friday of every month, 7pm-9pm
Peer group for men who are looking for an
alternative social activity to the bar. Activities vary
and are fun and entertaining.
• Illusions Calgary
Social group for Calgary and area transgender
community members (cross dressers, transvestites,
drag kings and queens). Illusions provides a safe,
discrete and welcoming atmosphere, in which
transgendered people can meet others of like mind.
Illusions offers discretion, acceptance, compassion
and a safe place to express your gender. Crossdressing is the purpose of the group, but is not
mandatory.
• Inside Out
Every Monday, 7 pm to 9pm
Peer-facilitated youth group for GLBTQ ages 15-25.
The group aims to let youth know they are not
alone, and to connect them with their peers. It is
a funky and safe environment with a variety of
resources and activities.
• New Directions
Every 3rd Friday of the month, 7pm-9pm
Drop in peer-support group to provide support and
resources for individuals who identify as transsexual
or inter-sexed. If you are transsexual, or know
of someone who is, please contact our office for
information and assistance. You are not alone!
There is support!
• SHEQ Soulful Healing Ego Quest
℡ Trudy or Krista, (403) 585-7437
Runs for a ten week period on Thursdays, 7pm
A workshop for women that want to be themselves
in a supportive, safe environment. It is a chance
to grow and share their experiences related to
women’s sexuality. To participate, please call the
exclusive SHEQ line or leave your name and a
contact time/number with Calgary Outlink.
• Womynspace
Every first and third Friday, 7pm-9pm
Peer social/support group for women providing an
evening of fun, bonding, discussion and activities.
Deer Park United Church/Wholeness Centre
77 Deerpoint Road SE ℡ (403) 278-8263
http://www.dpuc.ca
Looking for Something?
Browse over 450 listings in our Online GLBT Business Directory, and our
complete Online GLBT Community Events Calendar.
www.gaycalgary.com
18
Worship Time - 10:00am Sundays
Different Strokes
http://www.differentstrokescalgary.org
• Swim Practice
SAIT Pool, 1301 - 16th Ave NW
Sundays and Thursdays, 6-7pm
Free parking is available in lot P1, immediately
below the campus centre. Remember to bring your
parking ticket with you to be validated. Different
Strokes Calgary accommodates both recreational
and competitive swimmers. Coaching is offered
to assist with technique and fitness development.
However, swimming at one’s own pace and comfort
level is always encouraged. Swimmers will need
to bring a swimsuit and towel. Goggles and a
swim cap are highly recommended although not
required. You can bring your own lock for the locker
room. It is recommended that valuables be left
at home or brought with you on the pool deck.
After swim practice is a nice cool down in the hot
tub where announcements will be made. Usually
team members will go for dinner after practice and
everyone is welcome.
• Mardi Gras Dance
Hillhurst-Sunnyside Community Association
1320 5th Avenue NW
Sat February 28th, 2009
This is great fun! Get decked out in your best Mardi
Gras attire and come and join the swim team for a
night of Mardi Gras dancing and entertainment. The
venue will be unrecognizable when it’s transformed
to New Orleans Mardi Gras.
• Annual Western Cup Swim Meet
Talisman Recreation Cntr, 2225 Macleod Tr SW
Fri April 10th, 2009, 10am-2pm
A fun sprint meet. Although this is a Swim Alberta
sanctioned meet, we emphasize fun! You don’t
have to be an expert swimmer to come out and
compete and have fun!
First Thursday of every month
A benefit show for the Miscellaneous Youth Network,
Fake Mustache is guaranteed to please! $5 cover.
$2 cover under 18. Advance tickets available at
Barbies Shop. All Ages show starts at 7:30. 18+
show starts at 10:15.
Girl Friends
members.shaw.ca/girlfriends
Girlsgroove
http://www.girlsgroove.ca
HIV Peer Support Group
℡ (403) 230-5832
[email protected]
ISCCA Social Association
http://www.iscca.ca
Imperial Sovereign Court of the Chinook Arch.
• Shooters at Texas Lounge
Tuesdays & Saturdays @ 8:00pm
• Shooters at Calgary Eagle
Visit our website for details.
• Fundraising Drag Shows
Visit our website for details.
• Imperial Roast
The Texas Lounge
Tuesday, April 14th, 7:30pm-11:30pm
• In-Town Show
MPs Eatery & Bar
Thursday, April 16th, 7:00pm
• Emperor’s Pub Crawl
Friday, April 17th, 6pm-8:30pm
• Out of Town Show
Calgary Eagle
Friday, April 17th, 9pm
• Coronation 33
The Westin Hotel, Grand Ball Room
Saturday, April 18th, 6pm
Don’t Buy In Project
http://www.dontbuyin.ca
This Calgary Police Service Initiative aims to
encourage youth to working towards an inclusive
environment in which diversity is embraced in their
schools and community.
• Alaskan Bird Water Party
Calgary Eagle
Sunday, April 19th, 3pm-7pm
FairyTales Presentation Society
#4 - 1230A 17th Avenue SW
℡ (403) 244-1956
[email protected]
http://www.fairytalesfilmfest.com
Alberta Gay & Lesbian Film Festival.
All monies raised go to Charity: Agape Manor,
Beswick House, HIV Peer Support, Artists for Quality
of Life, Children’s Wish Foundation
• DVD Resource Library
Over a hundred titles to choose from. Annual
membership is $10.
• Monthly Screenings
The Plaza Theatre, Kensington
Jan 21, Feb 25, 7pm
January: The Haunting (1963). February: The Color
Purple (1985).
• Annual Film Festival
May 28th - June 6th, 2009
Fake Mustache ----------------------------Calgary’s ONLY Drag King Show
The Soda, 211 - 12th Ave SW
http://www.miscyouth.com
• Tough Drag Show
Calgary Eagle
Sunday, April 19th, 11am
Knox United Church
506 - 4th Street SW
℡ (403) 269-8382
http://www.knoxunited.ab.ca
Knox United Church is an all-inclusive church
located in downtown Calgary. A variety of facility
rentals are also available for meetings, events and
concerts.
• Worship Services
Wednesdays - Communion Service 12:10pm.
Sundays - 11:00am. September to June.
Sundays - 10:30am in July and August.
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
Last Saturday of every month, 7:30pm-10ish.
• Coffee Night
2nd Cup, Kensington.
Every Tuesday, 7pm.
NETWORKS
℡ (403) 293-3356
A social, cultural, and service organization for
the mature minded and “Plus 40” gay, lesbian,
bisexual, and transgendered individuals seeking to
meet with others at age-appropriate activities within
apositive, safe, non-threatening and nurturing
environment.
Rainbow Community Church
Hillhurst United, 1227 Kensington Close NW
[email protected]
http://www.rainbowcommunitychurch.ca
Services: every Sunday afternoon at 4:00pm
The Rainbow Community Church is an all-inclusive
church; everyone is welcome.
• February Brunch
MPs, 1742 10th Ave SW
February 8th, 11am-2pm
Positive Space Committee
4825 Mount Royal Gate SW
℡ (403) 440-6383
[email protected]
http://www.mtroyal.ca/positivespace
The Positive Space Committee at Mount Royal
College works to raise awareness and challenge
the patterns of silence that continue to marginalize
lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans-gendered, two-spirited
and queer (LGBTTQ) individuals.
Pride Calgary Planning Committee
℡ (403) 262-3410
www.pridecalgary.ca
Pride Rainbow Project
[email protected]
http://www.priderainbowproject.com
Youth run project designed to show support for
same-sex marriage in Canada and elsewhere. A
fabric rainbow banner approximately 5 feet wide
- goal is to make it 3.2km (2 miles) long, in order
to break the world record.
Primetimers Calgary
[email protected]
http://www.primetimerscalgary.com
Prime Timers Calgary is designed to foster social
interaction for its members through a variety of
social, educational and recreational activities. It is
open to all gay and bisexual men of any age and
respects whatever degree of anonymity that each
member desires.
• Free Pool at the Calgary Eagle
January 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th
• Saturday Coffee
Midtown Co-op, 1130 - 11th Ave SW
January 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th, 31st
• Monthly Gathering at MoneyPennies
January 4th, 5pm
• Theatre Night - “Fiddler on the Roof”
Pumphouse Theatre
January 13th
Half price Tuesday. Get tickets early.
• Theatre Night - “An Inspector Calls”
Vertigo Theatre
Half price Tuesday. Get tickets early.
Queers on Campus -------------------279R Student Union Club Spaces, U of C
℡ (403) 220-6394
http://www.ucalgary.ca/~glass
Formerly GLASS - Gay/Lesbian Association of
Students and Staff.
Rocky Mountain Bears
[email protected]
http://www.rockymountainbears.com
• Coat Check at Calgary Eagle
January 3rd, January 17th
• Bear Night
Calgary Eagle
Sat, January 17th
• General Meeting
Money Pennies
January 22nd, 7:30pm
• Bears Do Banff
January 31st
Meeting place for car pooling + other details will
follow closer to event.
Safety Under The Rainbow
http://www.safetyrainbow.ca
Mission: To raise awareness and understanding of
same-sex domestic violence and homophobic youth
bullying.
Sharp Foundation
℡ (403) 272-2912
[email protected]
http://www.thesharpfoundation.com
• Travel Masters
Need a vacation?, Ed Smith at Travel Masters has
agreed to donate 25% of his profit from WestJet
bookings to The SHARP Foundation. So before
you plan your next trip with WestJet, email Ed at
TravelMasters.
Urban Sex Radio Show
CJSW 90.9 FM
http://www.cjsw.com
Every Wednesday from 9-10pm
Focus on sexuality; gay bisexual lesbian trans
gendered and straight issues here in Calgary and
around the web.
Western Canada Bigmen and Admirers
groups.yahoo.com/group/
WesternCanadaBigmenGroup/
[email protected]
Vigor Calgary
℡ (403) 255-7004
www.vigorcalgary.ca
Violence in Gay Male Relationships (VIGOR) is a
committee of professionals dedicated to increasing
the awareness of gay men’s domestic violence and
the services available to them.
“Yeah... What She Said!” Radio Show
CJSW 90.9 FM
[email protected]
Every Monday evening, 8:30-9:00pm
Restaurants
4 Calgary Eagle Inc. ---------------------
See Calgary - Bars and Clubs.
9 MPs (Money Pennies) -----------------
See Calgary - Bars and Clubs.
Retail Stores
51 A Little More Interesting ----------------1501B, 17th Avenue SW ℡ (403) 475-7775
http://wwww.alittlemoreinteresting.com
Adult Depot ---------------------------140, 58th Ave SW
℡ (403) 258-2777
Gay, bi, straight video rentals and sex toys.
48 Barbies Shop -------------------------1313 16th Avenue SW ℡ (403) 262-8265
http://www.barbiesshop.com
Bongs and Such---------------------------214, 2066 18th Ave NE ℡ (403) 250-7004
4829 Macleod Tr. SW ℡ (403) 243-5251
1-866-411-BONG
32 Deva Dave Salon ---------------------910 12th Avenue SW ℡ (403) 290-1973
http://www.devadave.com
Erotic Xxes Boutique----------------------4823 Macleod Trail SW ℡ (403) 243-4196
4008 - 26th Street SE ℡ (403) 207-5542
http://www.eroticxxesboutique.ca
Open 7 days a week and holidays
41 La Fleur ------------------------------------
103 - 100 7th Avenue SW
℡ (403) 266-1707
Florist and Flower Shop.
The Naked Leaf---------------------------305 10th Street NW
℡ (403) 283-3555
http://www.thenakedleaf.ca
Organic teas and tea ware.
16 Priape Calgary -----------------------1322 - 17 Ave SW
℡ (403) 215-1800
http://www.priape.com
Clothing and accessories. Adult toys, leather wear,
movies and magazines. Gifts.
53 Vandrea Jewellers ------------------------1127 17th Avenue SW ℡ (403) 244-2832
http://www.vandrea.ca
Wares & Wear Ventures Inc.
See Canada - Retail Stores.
Services
54 Battistella
192 15th Avenue SW ℡ (403) 290-1664
www.battistella.ca
Condo developer, real estate.
http://www.csalaw.ca
GLBT legal services.
Cruiseline
℡ (403) 777-9494 trial code 3500
http://www.cruiseline.ca
Telephone classifieds and chat - 18+ ONLY.
Lorne Doucette (CIR Realtors)
℡ (403) 461-9195
http://www.lornedoucette.com
Marnie Campbell (Maxwell Realtors)
℡ (403) 479-8619
http://www.marniecambell.ca
MFM Communications
℡ (403) 543-6970
1-877-543-6970
http://www.mfmcommunications.com
Web site hosting and development. Computer
hardware and software.
Rev. Nadene Rogers
℡ (403) 247-0602
http://www.weddingsmyway.com
Marriage Commissioner.
Rick Grenier (Invis)
℡ (403) 862-1162
[email protected]
Mortgage solutions.
45 R. Cobalt ------------------------------735 12th Avenue SW ℡ (403) 228-7822
Hair salon and esthetics.
56 Sacred Balance Piercing
1528 - 17th Avenue SW ℡ (403) 277-4449
www.sacredbalancetattoo.com
Tattos and body piercing.
52 Sandra Sebree (Barrister & Solicitor)
1610 17th Avenue SW ℡ (403) 228-8108
[email protected]
Legal services.
Sol Sourced Weddings
℡ (403) 270-9480
http://www.solsourcedweddings.com
Soleiha B. Mahrcell, Wedding Commissioner.
Theatre and Fine Arts
36 ATP, Alberta Theatre Projects
℡ (403) 294-7402
http://www.ATPlive.com
AXIS Contemporary Art ------------------107, 100 - 7 Ave SW ℡ (403) 262-3356
[email protected]
www.axisart.ca
Fairytales
See Calgary - Community Groups.
43 Lisa Hienricks (Artist) ---------------------
Art Central, 100 7th Ave SW, lower level
http://www.creamydreamy.com
Dr. Beverly Osachoff
℡ (403) 253-3103
www.acupuncturehealthcalgary.com
Traditional Chinese Medicine
℡ (403) 299-8888
57 BRAZILya
37 Pumphouse Theatre-------------------
#3, 1114 - 11th Street SW
℡ (403) 457-2955
www.brazilyalaser.com
℡ (403) 263-0079
24 Courtney Aarbo (Barristers & Solicitors)
1138 Kensington Road NW
℡ (403) 571-5120
35 One Yellow Rabbit -------------------------
Big Secret Theatre - EPCOR CENTRE
www.oyr.org
2140 Pumphouse Avenue SW
http://www.pumphousetheatres.ca
Stagewest -----------------------------727 - 42 Avenue SE
℡ (403) 243-6642
http://www.stagewestcalgary.com
19
DOWNTOWN EDMONTON
N
Theatre Junction--------------------------The Grand Theatre, 608 1st St. SW
℡ (403) 205-2922
[email protected]
http://www.theatrejunction.com
11 Steamworks -----------------------------11745 Jasper Ave
℡ (780) 451-5554
34 Vertigo Mystery Theatre -----------------161, 115 - 9 Ave SE
℡ (403) 221-3708
Beef Bear Bash
www.bearbeef.org
Bar night for hairy men and admirers.
http://www.vertigomysterytheatre.com
EDMONTON
Bars and Clubs
5 Boots Bar and Lounge ---------------10242 106th St
℡ (780)423-5014
http://www.bootsbar.ca/
6 Buddy’s Nite Club -----------------------11725 Jasper Ave
℡ (780) 488-6636
13 PLAY Nightclub --------------------------10220 103 Street
℡ 780-497-7529
[email protected]
http://www.playnightclub.ca
8 Prism Bar & Grill ---------------------10524 101st St
℡ (780) 990-0038
http://www.prismbar.ca
12 Woody’s ----------------------------------11725 Jasper Ave
℡ (780) 488-6557
Bathhouses/Saunas
7 Down Under Baths ----------------------12224 Jasper Ave
℡ (780) 482-7960
http://www.gayedmonton.com
20
http://www.steamworksedmonton.com
Community Groups
Buck Naked Boys Club
℡ (780) 471-6993
http://www.bucknakedboys.ca
Meets the second Saturday of each month.
Naturism club for men. Our club has been meeting
continuously for over 10 years. The similar club in
Calgary ceased to exist several years ago. Naturism
is being social while everyone is naked, and it does
not include sexual activity. Therefore participants
do not need to be gay, only male, but almost all
participants over the years do self-describe as being
gay or bisexual.
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 Pride Week Society
http://www.prideedmonton.org
• Pride Week 2009 - Age of Aqueerius
June 12 to 21, 2009
Edmonton Rainbow Business Association
3379, 11215 Jasper Ave ℡ (780) 429-5014
http://www.edmontonrba.org
ERBA’s primary focus is the provision of networking
opportunities for gay, lesbian, bisexual and
transgendered (GLBT) owned or operated and
GLBT-friendly businesses in the Edmonton region.
Membership is open to all kinds of entrepreneurs,
from tradespeople to professionals to commission
salespeople.
• After Business Mixers
2nd Wednesday of every month 5:30–7:30pm
Edmonton Illusions Social Club
Boots Bar & Grill
℡ (780) 387-3343
groups.yahoo.com/group/edmonton_illusions
2nd Thursday of each month
4 Edmonton STD
11111 Jasper Ave
Edmonton Vocal Minority
℡ (780) 479-2038
www.evmchoir.com
• Valentine Fever
Hellenic Hall, 10450 - 116 St.
Saturday, February 14, 7pm
Doors at 7pm, Concert at 7:30pm, Dance at 9pm.
Dance is 18+ only.
3 HIV Network Of Edmonton Society ---
11456 Jasper Ave
www.hivedmonton.com
Imperial Sovereign Court of the Wild Rose
http://www.gayedmonton.org
• Amateur Drag Queen Contest
Boots Bar and Lounge
Saturday, January 24th, 10pm-12am
• Beach Party
Prism Bar & Grill
Saturday, January 31st, 10pm-12am
• Turnabout 2009
Boots Bar and Lounge
Saturday, February 21st, 10pm-12am
Northern Chaps
http://www.northernchaps.com
Northern Chaps is Edmonton’s original leather,
latex, fetish, uniform club. We have been in
existence officially since 1987 but have been in
existence originally around 1982 in Edmonton,
Alberta, Canada. Everyone is welcome to join or
attend events
1 Pride Centre of Edmonton -----------95A Street, 111 Ave
℡ (780) 488-3234
• Bears Movie Night
TV room, Pride Centre of Edmonton
Last Sunday of the month, 1-6pm
• Trans Education/Support Group
1st & 3rd Sundays of each month, 2-4pm
Support and education for all transsexual,
transgendered, intersexed, two-spirited and
questioning individuals.
• Sunday Night Mens Discussion Group
[email protected]
Every Sunday @ 7 pm
Mens social and discussion group.
• Youth Understanding Youth
[email protected] www.members.shaw.ca/yuy
Every Saturday from 7 to 9 pm
Youth support and social group.
• Prime Timers
Unitarian Church, 10804 - 119th Street
[email protected]
www.primetimersww.org/edmonton
2nd Sunday of most months, 2:30pm
EPT is a group of older gay men and their admirers
who come from diverse backgrounds but have
common social interests. Meetings include a social
period, a short business meeting and then either
a guest speaker, discussion panel, or a potluck
supper. Special interest groups meet for other social
activities throughout the month. In July and August
we have a BBQ or picnic in lieu of a meeting and in
December it’s replaced with a Christmas party. EPT
is affiliated with Prime Timers World Wide.
• Suit Up and Show Up Group
Every Saturday, 12 noon
Big Book Study of Alcoholics Anonymous.
• Sick and tired of being sick and tired?
Every Thursday, 7-8pm
Escape Cocaine.
• YouthSpace
[email protected]
Tuesday to Friday 3:00pm-7:00pm
Saturday 2:00pm-7:00pm
An after-school drop-in program for gay, lesbian,
bisexual, trans-identified, queer, questioning and
allied (GLBTQQ&A) youth under 25.
• Men’s HIV Support Group
2nd Monday of the month, 7-9pm
• GLBT Seniors Drop IN
Every Tuesday & Thursday, 1-4pm
Program serving our GLBT seniors. Hosted by Jeff
Bovee.
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.
• Mixer and Silent Auction
Saturday February 21
• Badminton
[email protected]
Women’s Drop-In Recreational Badminton.
•Ballroom Dancing
Foot Notes Dance Studio, 9708-45 Avenue NW
℡ (780) 469-3281
Sundays, 7:30-8:30pm
Beginner Ballroom program is designed for people
who have no previous dance instruction and have
the desire to gain confidence on the social dance
floor. *Students may take level 2 upon completion
of the beginner course. *All gender combinations of
dancers are welcome. *Partners are not required.
Absolute Beginner Session Dates: September 21st
- November 30th, January 18th - March 29th, April
19th - July 5th. $149.00 +GST / 10 weeks. Call
to register.
• Blazin’ Bootcamp
Lynnwood Elementary School, 15451- 84 Ave
[email protected]
Every Monday, 7-8:15pm
Indoor season resumes January 5th
• Bowling (Northern Titans)
[email protected]
Every Saturday 5-7pm
Resumes Saturday January 3rd
$15.00 per person.
• Cross-Country Skiing
Gold Bar Park
Saturday January 10th, 1pm
• Curling with Pride
Granite Curling Club, 8620 107 Street NW
℡ (780) 463-5942
[email protected]
Every Monday, 7:15-9:15pm
16 games - Oct 27 to March 2nd.
Opening Night Funspiel (October 27). St Paddy’s
Day Spiel and Awards (March 2). $250/person.
Early bird registration draw (2 prizes of $50 off
fees) register by 1 October 2008. Final registration
date: 10 October, 2008.
• Cycling
Various locations in Edmonton
[email protected]
Every Wednesday, 6:30pm
• Dodgeball
Alex Taylor School, 9321 Jasper Ave
January 6th, 4-7pm
Hosted by Youth Understanding Youth. Meet at the
Pride Centre at 4pm, or School at 4:30pm.
• Dragon Boat
[email protected]
We are exploring the option of setting up a dragon
boat team for 2009. Please send your name and
contact information.
• Outdoor Pursuits
[email protected]
As the temperature drops, the outdoor pursuits
group will switch into winter mode. Activities
in and around the city, as well as elsewhere in
the province, will be planned through the winter
months. New ideas are welcome as well!
• Running (Arctic Frontrunners)
Kinsmen Sports Centre
[email protected]
Every Sunday, 10-11am
All genders and levels of runners and walkers are
invited to join this free activity.
• Swimming (Making Waves)
NAIT Swimming Pool
[email protected]
Every Tuesday, 8-9pm
Every Thursday, 7:30-8:30pm
Making Waves will be hosting the 9th annual Sprint
Meet on February 7th from 2-7pm.
• Tennis
[email protected]
• Free To Be Intermediate Volleyball
Amiskiwaciy Academy, 101 Airport Road
[email protected]
Thursday nights from 8-10pm
Indoor season resumes on January 8th
• Free To Be Recreational Volleyball
Mother Teresa School, 9008 - 105A Ave
Tuesday Nights, 8pm-10pm
Indoor season resumes January 6th
Drop-In $4.00, Full Season $60.00 ($2.50/game),
Half Season $35.00 ($2.91/game)
January 6 & 27, 8-9pm
Free coaching sessions.
• Drop-in Gymnastics
Ortona Gymnastics Club, 8755 - 50 Avenue
[email protected]
Tuesdays & Thursdays, 8pm-10pm
Have the whole gym to yourselves and an instructor
to help you achieve your individual goals. Cost is
$5.00 per session.
• Roller Derby
[email protected]
Practices: Mondays & Thursdays, 6:30-8:30pm
E-Ville Roller Derby is a community-wise sports
initiative for adult females. Their purpose is for fun,
friendly sports competition among like-minded
women. You need no prior experience in roller
derby. They’ll teach you everything you need to
know, including how to skate!
• Skiing and Snowboarding Weekend 2009
℡ Mike, (780) 905-8180
℡ Aaron, (780) 908-5151
[email protected]
January 16-18, 2009
Snowballs Part Deux. Gay-themed ski trips are
rapidly gaining in popularity as gay men and
women head for the hills for snow, shopping and
socializing. “Snowballs!” is your chance to get
away.
• Samsara Yoga
Korezone Fitness, #203, 10575 -115 Street
[email protected]
Every Sunday, 2-3:30pm, Resumes Jan 18th
• Soccer
[email protected]
Womonspace
℡ (780) 482-1794
[email protected]
www.womonspace.ca
Women’s social group, but all welcome at events.
• Family Skate (weather permitting)
Victoria Skating Oval
January 25, 1:00-4:00pm
• Games Night
Prism Bar & Grill
Including a fun pool tourney!
• Valentine’s Dance
Hellenic Canadian Community Hall
February 14th, 9:00pm
Join us prior to dance at EVM concert, 7:30pm.
Restaurants
5 Garage Burger Bar & Grill --------------10242 106th St
℡ (780) 423-5014
8 Prism Bar & Grill ----------------------
See Edmonton - Bars and Clubs.
Retail Stores
See Canada - Retail Stores.
Services
Cruiseline
℡ (780) 413-7122 trial code 3500
http://www.cruiseline.ca
Telephone classifieds and chat - 18+ ONLY.
Robertson-Wesley United Church
10209 123 St. NW
℡ (780) 482-1587
[email protected]
www.rwuc.org
Worship: Sunday mornings at 10:30am
People of all sexual orientations welcome. Other
LGBT events include a monthly book club and
a bi-monthly film night. As a caring spiritual
community, we’d love to have you join us!
• Soul OUTing
Third Sunday every month, 7pm
An LGBT-focused alternative worship.
Exposure Festival
http://www.exposurefestival.ca
Edmonton’s Queer Arts and Culture Festival.
BANFF/CANMORE
Community Groups
Mountain Pride
℡ Brian, (403) 431-2569
[email protected]
www.gaybanff.com
Serving the GLBTQS community in Banff, Canmore,
Lake Louise and Area.
LETHBRIDGE
Community Groups
GALA/LA
℡ (403) 308-2893
www.newgaylethbridge.ca
Gay and Lesbian Alliance of Lethbridge and Area.
• Monthly Dances
Last Saturday of every month, until May 2009
• Monthly Potluck Dinners
See website for more information.
• Support Line
℡ (403) 308-2893
Monday OR Wednesday, 7pm-11pm
Leave a message any other time.
• Parents & Friends for Lesbians & Gays
Call us for information.
• Gay Youth Alliance Group
℡ Betty, (403) 381-5260
[email protected]
Every second Wednesday, 3:30-5pm
• Friday Mixer
The Mix (green water tower), Mayor Magrath Dr
Every Friday after 9pm
• Free To Be Volleyball Coaching
Mother Teresa School, 9008 - 105A Ave
[email protected]
21
RED DEER
Community Groups
Affirm
Sunnybrook United Church
℡ (403) 347-6073
2nd Tuesday of the month at 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!
ALBERTA
Community Groups
YouthSafe
http://www.youthsafe.net
Alberta’s website for youth with sex-and-gender
differences. Youthsafe.net lists the resources,
information and services to help youth find safe and
caring spaces in Alberta.
Alberta Ballet
http://www.albertaballet.com
Frequent productions in Calgary and Edmonton.
CANADA
Community Groups
Alberta Trans Support/Activities Group
http://www.albertatrans.org
A nexus for transgendered persons, regardless of
where they may be on the continuum.
Canadian Rainbow Health Coalition
P.O. Box 3043, Saskatoon, SK, S7K 3S9
℡ (306) 955-5135
1-800-955-5129
http://www.rainbowhealth.ca
Egale Canada
8 Wellington St E, Third Floor
Toronto, Ontario, M5E 1C5
1-888-204-7777
www.egale.ca
Egale Canada is the national advocacy and lobby
organization for gay men, lesbians, bisexuals,
trans-identified people and our families.
Membership fees are pay-what-you-can, although
pre-authorized monthly donors are encouraged (and
get a free Egale Canada t-shirt). Egale has several
committees that meet by teleconference on a
regular basis; membership on these is national with
members from every region of Canada.
Retail Stores
www.wwlatex.com
Fetish wear and toys.
℡ (780) 980-1977
Services
ATM Service Solutions
1-866-640-8830
[email protected]
http://www.minibanks.net
Entre Nous
1-866-467-5252
http://www.entrenousnetwork.com
Squirt
http://www.squirt.org
Website for dating and hook-ups. 18+ ONLY!
Broadway Across Canada
http://www.broadwayacrosscanada.ca
OUTtv
http://www.outtv.ca
GLBT Television Station.
Add Your Listing!
Find out how to have your business listed in our
monthly magazine directory:
℡ (403) 543-6960
1-888-543-6960
[email protected].
Add your listing to our online directory for free:
http://www.gaycalgary.com
GayCalgary endeavors to keep our directory and
events information accurate and up to date. If
you notice anything incorrect or out of date,
please contact us.
Non-profit groups receive free listings.
Letters to the Editor
Dear GayCalgary,
I wish to congratulate Ivanna Diamonds and all members of
the ISCWR for a most wonderful Miss Mary Christmas show
last night at Boots Bar and Lounge. I would like to thank all
of those that braved the bitter cold weather to add warmth to
a great celebration. It was standing room only.
Not only did we crown a new Miss Mary Christmas (congratulations Binki!) but this was also the conclusion of our
“Cheer Up!” project which saw my pom poms being sold all
over Edmonton and North America. I would like to personally thank each and every one of you that contributed to and
supported this project. It brings me to tears each time I think
of how much support this project received from the ICS, the
entire GLBT community and the community at large. I am
so thrilled to announce that this project has raised well over
$12,000! With expenses totaling approximately $1,700, this
means that over $10,000 is going directly to our charities
which include the Royal Alexandra Hospital Neo Natal Intensive Care Unit and The University of Alberta AIDS Research
Centre as well as to support Camp Fyrefly and our own John
M. Kerr Memorial Scholarship. In these difficult economic
times, your support for others in need humble me.
Now for the news you’ve all been waiting for...as you are
aware, Westjet had provided a “Gift of Flight” for two anywhere
in Westjet’s world in support of our “Cheer Up!” project. I
was thrilled to have made the phone call this morning to the
lucky winner and I’m so very excited to announce that Bruce
Hardy (a.k.a. Emperor Bruce Sanoir of Regina) was the big
winner! Congratulations Bruce and thank you for supporting
the ISCWR!
I would like to thank some key people and organizations
that made this possible. Firstly, to Aubrey and the staff of
The Cheerleading Company in Dallas, Texas for their incredible support. The Cheerleading company donated significant
services and discounts in costs for the actual pom poms
themselves and, I’m proud to say, are the official cheerleader
uniform supplier to yours truly! Thank you to Westjet who
donated the “Gift of Flight” as a prize and supporting the
campaign with your logo on our pom poms. Your community
support is indicative of the service you provide and I know
that our entire community is very grateful. Thank you to my
fellow court members for putting up with me and my pom
poms for the past six months and for helping me sell them.
Thank you to the bars and businesses that allowed me in your
doors with my bag full of pom poms! Thank you to the out of
town Courts that so graciously allowed me to sell pom poms in
your realms during my visits. Thank you to GayCalgary and
Edmonton magazine for your support by getting the word out
about this project. Thank you to Sue Lingh Go and Global
Edmonton for bringing this project out to the entire community on local and national TV news coverage. To the Edmonton Sun and Edmonton Journal for their stories. Thank you to
Donna and Faye at the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation
for all of your assistance with this project and for helping the
ISCWR begin the process of purchasing the first set of chairs
for the NICU.
And, finally, thank you to each and every one of you that either bought a pair of pom poms or spread the word about our
project or just for your kind words of encouragement and support. It’s moments like these that make all of this worthwhile.
Sincerely,
H.M.I.S.M.
Marni Gras
22
Politics
Pro-Gay Obama Selects Anti-Gay Pastor
Rick Warren Chosen to Deliver Inauguration Invocation
By Stephen Lock
US President-elect Barack Obama has not even got
himself behind the large oak desk in the Oval Office
and some of his decisions are already being scrutinized.
Throughout his campaign to become Leader of the Free
World, perhaps the most powerful office on the planet,
Obama’s image has been that of a Kennedy-like liberal, a
new style politician replacing the old style epitomized by the
Bush dynasty (both Bush Sr. as well as Dubya), Reagan,
even Clinton whose administration was originally heralded
as a New Camelot before his peccadilloes took the sheen
off that. I believe Obama may well be another Kennedy.
Certainly his presidency holds out considerable promise and
hope after the debacle of George W. Bush’s eight years of
office.
Obama is an unabashed liberal Democrat. If I were an
American, that would certainly be someone I would enthusiastically get behind and would have voted for. I also believe
Obama’s presidency will be characterized by attempts to
bring Americans together, to rebuild a nation back to being
the shining light of democracy and all that is good and true
in the world, an image many Americans cherish and still
believe themselves to be but which has become tarnished in
recent years.
Having said all that, his choice of Pastor Rick Warren to
be the cleric who swears him in on Inauguration Day January 20th is an odd choice, to say the least.
Warren is the founder and senior pastor of the 22,000
member evangelical Saddleback Church in Lake Forest,
California. One of the most famous and influential churches
in the US, Saddleback is the fourth largest “mega-church”
in the country. It was Warren’s Civil Forum for the Presidency on which presidential candidates John McCain and
Barack Obama appeared in August 2008. Warren is bit of
an anomaly within the highly conservative evangelical Christian movement.
While he holds traditional evangelical views on homosexuality and abortion, he is also noted for his work around HIV/
AIDS and poverty in Africa. He is, however, a vocal opponent
of same-sex marriage. He recently campaigned in favour of
California’s Proposition 8, the controversial measure banning
equal marriage. The measure was approved on November
8th, 2008. His church’s website, until recently, also had
anti-gay views posted on it and Warren stated homosexuals
could not be members of his church.
Meanwhile, Obama is on record as being personally
pro-choice and in favour of civil unions for gay and lesbian
couples, although his position on same-sex marriage, rather
than civil union, is unclear. I suspect, like many heterosexual liberals, he gets tripped up over what “marriage” means
and believes a civil union is adequate. We faced similar difficulties in Canada during our equal marriage debate, with
many straight liberals advocating civil unions and leaving
marriage alone because, gosh, isn’t it a sacrament/religious
institution or something?
While allowing a civil union rather than a full-out marriage seems like a reasonable compromise – and, again,
this was something dealt with ad nauseum during our own
struggle to bring about equal marriage in Canada – instituting civil unions for gay and lesbian couples and marriage
for everyone else is not equality, it’s only partially equal and
partially equal isn’t equal at all.
Obama’s choice of Rick Warren is fraught with problems,
although less so than if he had chosen his own pastor, the
Rev. Jeremiah Wright. It can be recalled that he created a
firestorm of controversy during Obama’s campaign for the
presidency last March after ABC News uncovered some highly inflammatory comments made by Wright during several
of his sermons at Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago,
wherein he suggested 9/11 was an example of “America’s
chickens coming home to roost”. This referred to a quote
made by Black Power activist Malcolm X in regards to the
past actions of the US Government in bombing Hiroshima
and Nagasaki, and apparently suggesting 9/11 was the fault
of US Government policies and of the US itself. In a later
sermon, he accused the US government of creating the HIV
virus, and then lying about that creation, in order to enact
a campaign of genocide against black Americans and other
people of colour. Obama was eventually forced to distance
himself from Wright and resign his long-standing membership with Trinity United.
Obama’s choice of Warren to solemnize his Inauguration
has elicited strong reaction from many Obama supporters.
Kathryn Kolbert, president of the liberal advocacy group
People for the American Way, was recently quoted as stating,
“The sad truth is that this decision further elevates someone who has in recent weeks actively promoted legalized
discrimination and denigrated the lives and relationships
of millions of Americans,” referring to Warren’s high-profile
opposition to same-sex marriage and other gay rights initiatives. “[He] gets plenty of attention through his books and
media appearances...he doesn’t need or deserve this position
23
Politics
of honour.”
Warren does seem a peculiar choice for someone with the
ideals and beliefs that Obama holds. Obama has stated
he believed choosing Warren would help unite the country
after a divisive campaign and election in which the Right, as
personified by McCain and Palin, was pitched against the
liberal (some would even say “Left”, although I think that is
carrying Obama’s liberalism too far; he is certainly a liberal
but he is a centrist liberal and not leftist in his policies at
all).
Obama said at a news conference in Chicago he believes it
is no secret he is a “fierce advocate for equality for gay and
lesbian Americans.”
“It is something that I have been consistent on, and I intend to continue to be consistent on during my presidency,”
he stated, adding, “What I’ve also said is that it is important
for America to come together, even though we may have
disagreements on certain social issues.”
I think Obama was genuinely trying to create a balance of
views in his selection. It should be noted he also chose Dr.
Joseph Lowery, considered by many to be the dean of the
American Civil Rights Movement, to deliver the inaugural
benediction. Lowery was, along with Dr. Martin Luther King
Jr., the co-founder of the Southern Christian Leadership
Conference, the seminal organization behind much of the
civil rights actions during the 1960’s.
Warren appears to be increasingly seeking to position
24
himself as the leader of a new generation of American evangelicals, and possible heir to Billy Graham’s role as the unofficial spiritual leader of the nation. He has been attacked by
elements within the Christian Right movement for placing
HIV/AIDS at the centre of ministry (albeit African HIV/AIDS,
where it is a predominately heterosexually-transmitted
disease) and for entering into a dialogue with Democrats and
especially pro-choice, pro-gay Democrats like Obama.
Is Warren sincere in trying to bridge the abyss between
the Right, characterized by Republicans as being predominantly rural, evangelical and fundamentalist Christian; and
the “Lib-Left” characterized by Obama and Clinto Democrats
as urban, Episcopalian (Anglican), Methodist, United, or
Congregationalist, if churched at all? Or is he just out to
gain notoriety and fame? It remains to be seen.
If he is sincere, he will serve as an effective balance to
Obama’s bridge-building. Both men, working from opposite
ends of the socio-political spectrum, and working together
to heal a wounded nation. If he is not sincere, Obama will
have yet another controversy to tackle and quiet down.
I suspect his presidency will not be an easy one for either
him or the US.
Astrology
Q Scopes
“Be careful of injuries, Libra!”
By Jack Fertig
Big political shifts accompanying the Uranus-Saturn opposition set the scene for personal changes.
Mercury in Aquarius aggravates the existing tension
with crazy notions. Talk out those ideas - gently,
calmly - and there may be something to them.
ARIES (March 20 - April 19): Nervousness and
tripping can make you even more accident prone than you
generally are now, and can otherwise aggravate health
problems. Focus your energy on some kind of charitable
service, and even then, stay calm and take it easy!
TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): You’re a little too
brilliant now for your own good. There’s a time to upset
the apple cart, but this isn’t it. Rather than provoking
authority, accept its leadership as a prod to your creative
juices. Let the experts guide your genius.
GEMINI (May 21 - June 20): Lots of new ideas
are provoking your old notions about where you’re going
in life. Acting on them precipitously can be disastrous;
instead, write them down and check out what’s behind
them and where they might lead.
CANCER (June 21 - July 22): Your sexual
adventures, exciting as they may be, could be broadcast
too widely for comfort. Loose lips have their place. Do your
best to be discreet and to pick your playmates carefully.
LEO (July 23 - August 22): Every relationship
has its problems. Little irritations are suddenly ballooning
into major frustrations, and all those shortcomings you
could live with now seem intolerable. Resolving those
problems will take work and extreme honesty and humility
on your part.
VIRGO (August 23 - September 22): Stay in
the here and now, and don’t let others distract you from
the task at hand. Trying to do too much, succumbing to
any temptation to leap ahead, is likely to blow up in your
face.
LIBRA (September 23 - October 22): Your
enthusiasm for fun and games can get you into some
nasty accidents. Be especially careful of injuries to your
ankles and legs. Playful inspirations could upset things at
work. Think ahead and talk over new ideas before trying to
implement them.
SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21):
Efforts to improve your community will probably cause
more trouble than they will solve. Your vision has some
merit, but your view of the problem is a bit skewed by
family experience. Careful thought and discussion should
precede any initiative.
SAGITTARIUS (November 22 - December
20): Your “brilliant” ideas have something to them, but
need more work than you think. Talk them over with a
friend before you bring them to the attention of those who
need to hear them.
CAPRICORN (December 21 - January 19):
Everyone is having money troubles these days. Lashing
out about your own problems will only aggravate your
friends. But if you are willing to subject your weird,
cranky inspirations to critical scrutiny, they may lead to
something really helpful!
AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 18):
Sounding off about sexual frustration could help you solve
the problem in the short run. But what’s really bugging
you? You need more than just a scratch for that itch. A
little self-criticism, leading to self-improvement, can lead
to a real answer.
PISCES (February 19 - March 19): Necessary
limits and obligations are so annoying! Your craving for
adventure and freedom can really screw things up, or may
trigger insights about ways to improve your partnership.
Careful, cooperative change is
essential if you’re committed to
making things work.
Jack Fertig, a professional astrologer since
1977 teaches at the Online College of
Astrology : http://www.astrocollege.com.
He can be reached for personal or business
consultations at 415-864-8302 or through
his website at http://www.starjack.com
25
Review
Adult Film Review
Night Watchmen, On the Job, Cuma Sutra, One Night
By Jerome Voltero
“Night
Watchmen”
by Mustang
Courtesy of
Priape
Cast: Josh
West*, Wolf Hudson, Coby Mitchell,
Nick Capra, Jason
Michaels, Hunter
Vance, Derek
Reynolds*, Zane
Jacobs.
Nick Capra
plays a rent-a-cop
that mans the
front desk of an
office building during the night shift.
His job is simple
– make sure nobody enters who
shouldn’t be in there. Night janitor Coby Mitchell, who looks
like the evil twin of Mr. Clean, gets up to a bit of mischief with
Wolf Hudson who is working late. Capra gets distracted from
his post long enough to let someone dangerous into the building. All of the guys to this point are pretty average – yeah,
they’re hung, but otherwise nothing to write home about.
For a person with my tastes, the only actor that made this
porno worthwhile was the well-endowed bearish Brit, Josh
West. He plays an extremely high-strung cop who, instead of
seeking professional help, enjoys confessing his problems to
the culprits he catches while they are forced to lick his rear
end. I had a good chuckle at his clumsy job rounding corners
with his gun as he chases criminal Zane Jacobs through the
hallways – if Jacobs had a weapon, West would totally get
shot. But in this case, Jacobs takes a different kind of shot to
his weasel-like face.
Meanwhile, token black guy Derek Reynolds, who is Josh
West’s police partner, apprehends a second criminal in a
nearby alleyway. Reynolds takes Hunter Vance to his jail cell,
complete with a comfy twin-sized bed! What a way to pick up
guys.
“On the Job” by Raging Stallion Studios
Courtesy of Priape
Cast: Manuel DeBoxer*, RJ Danvers, Antonio Biaggi*, Aitor
Crash*, Justin Christopher, Tyler Saint, Adam North, Tony
Romano.
This one gets off to a REALLY good start. The first scene
has hot Hispanic Antonio Biaggi doing an erotic photo shoot
of tattooed muscle guy Aitor Crash…I like his taste in men.
26
I’ve seen Crash a few
times before, and have
always been left breathless. This time was no
exception – what a pig!
I can’t blame Biaggi for
being unable to keep his
hands off. He mumbles
dirty nothings in Spanish while he has his way
with the model.
Manuel DeBoxer is
another stunningly
sexy specimen. He kills
time with his friend
RJ Danvers by watching pornos, getting the
two all riled up. For
someone with a scruffy
beard and hairy body,
Danvers still manages
to look an untested frat boy. He makes the first move on DeBoxer after watching the gorgeous man idly stroke himself for
a little while. Eventually DeBoxer takes control, and puts his
lip and tongue rings to good use.
The next scene is where things started to get a little funky.
Adam North and Justin Christopher are sanding drywall in
their overalls, and are drawn to one another play time. North
has some rather bizarre tattoos on his body – an uprooted tree
spans his arm and shoulder, while another on his bellybutton
is of a large gaping eye. Every time they showed a belly-shot
of North, I couldn’t help but stare at that damn eye and think
that Christopher was at the mercy of some disturbing headless Cyclops. Not sexy. However, twink lovers might have an
interest in the well endowed Just Christopher.
“Cuma Sutra” by
Black Scorpion
Entertainment
Courtesy of Adult Depot
Cast: D.O.*, Pistol
Pete*, Zack Randall, Derek Rivero*, Brian Bodine*,
Scott Tanner, Park Wiley*,
Rocko, Brodie Sinclair,
Anthony Mark*, Nick
Mazzaro.
Despite the cheesy
title, I have to admit the
cinematography in this
film was quite well done.
Many of the scenes take
place outdoors, to the
backdrop of beautiful
fields and rolling hills on a bright summer day. The selection
of men is quite particular. All have near-perfect tanned skin
and athletic builds, with little to no body hair.
Reviews
In the first scene, D.O. is meditating peacefully in his underwear, in a shady spot amongst the grape vines. Pistol Pete
draws near to pick some grapes, but it’s clear there are other
things on his mind. The two of them exude rugged good looks
thanks to their stubbly faces. D.O. takes notice of the other
man and vice versa, and soon the two begin kissing and groping. We get to see yet another prime example of a mysterious
phenomenon – lube materializing on D.O.’s hand as he begins
to finger Pete, and a condom that is suddenly there on D.O.’s
penis. The Fairy Fuck-mother strikes again!
If you like the guys a little younger, then the next scene
will appeal to you more. After a long day of doing yoga in the
fields, Zack Randall settles down to receive a full-body oil
massage from the bearded Derek Rivero. As Rivero goes over
Randall’s furry little bum, Randall begins thrusting into the
bed and then flips over to reveal his arousal. The two of them
will be doing it downward doggy-style in the bath tub before
they reach their happy ending.
If you’re a diehard fan of Pierre Fitch then you’ll get what
you want, but otherwise I’d advise you to rent Cuma Sutra
instead!
Priape Calgary
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Don’t miss the four-man orgy scene. It starts out in the dry
sauna, but moves out onto the deck for some daisy-chaining
that will make your eyes wide. But that’s not the end of it, as
the whole cast later comes together for a surreal and hedonistic orgy scene around a four-post bed in the middle of a green
field!
Cuma Sutra comes as a 2 disc set with plenty of bonus
material to keep you satisfied.
“One Night with
Pierre Fitch” by
Fitch Media
Courtesy of Adult
Depot
Cast: Pierre Fitch,
Turk Melrose, Trystian
Sweet, Mario Borfuk,
Johan Lapointe.
Put a well-endowed
twink on steroids and
the result is Pierre
Fitch: uncommonly
muscular, quite heavily tattooed and yet
otherwise unblemished, smooth and
boyish.
The back of the DVD
reads, “What would you do if you have one night with Pierre
Fitch? Would you bend him over a bed in New York City like
Turk Melrose and Trystian Sweet? Or would you let him
pound your ass in Ft. Lauderdale the way Mario Borfuk did?”
Tell you what, I’d ask him to come back in 10 years when he
looks like a man, and we’ll see if he still thinks he’s something
special. But that’s just me. I know there are plenty who
would give their left nut (and a wad of cash) for a night with
Fitch.
I can’t give the producers much credit for originality. Fitch
tours around to a number of cities to mess around with local porn stars of similar young appearance. I wouldn’t have
known this without reading the cover, because all of the
scenes occur on beds in hotel rooms and apartments – no
music, no dialog, no real variety either. Probably the most
interesting thing was the pattern shaven into Mario Borfuk’s
hair in the final scene.
27
Celebrity Gossip
Deep Inside Hollywood
New Projects for Vin Diesel and Kristin Chenoweth
By Romeo San Vicente
Shankman Sails with Sinbad
From big screen confections like Hairspray to the subversive online delight Prop. 8: The Musical, gay director Adam
Shankman thrives on spectacle. So it’s a no-brainer that the
box-office-friendly filmmaker would want to resurrect a vintage crowd-pleasing hero like high-seas adventurer Sinbad.
Shankman’s been hired to direct The 8th Voyage of Sinbad,
and he’s eager for the project to leave port and start sailing
soon. Getting a leading man confirmed would help - though
both Keanu Reeves and Vin Diesel have been attached to the
project, neither are currently signed, and there’s no guarantee they will. Of course, if this long-in-development project
creeps along at the pace it’s been moving, the kid from Two
and a Half Men will soon be old enough to play Sinbad. So
like everything in Hollywood, it’ll happen when the stars
align.
reality series about the everyday dramas and intrigues of
life in a Hollywood tanning salon was just the gateway drug
for fans of dazzlingly ridiculous reality TV. In other words,
get ready for the human apocalypse of Addicted to Beauty,
Oxygen’s latest reality entry. It’s about the inner workings
and, no doubt, odd-yet-sexy employees of a medi-spa where
women (and those gay guys you see who are really into
cosmetic surgery) can come in for a quick little lift, tuck,
or Botox injection. Juggling what room is left on the TiVo
schedule after this, Sunset, Celebrity Rehab, and occasional
appearances by Janice Dickinson on QVC will be a difficult
maintenance task all its own, but devoted watchers of junk
television will surely find a way. Watch for ads featuring
overplumped lips to begin popping up in cities across the
country sometime this year.
Meet The People I’ve Slept With
Romeo admits that his attention is easily captured by a
provocative title, but that’s not the only reason to get excited
about the upcoming feature The People I’ve Slept With. For
one thing, it’s directed by queer filmmaker Quentin Lee,
whose provocative and compelling filmography includes
festival faves like the hilarious Shopping for Fangs, Drift, and
the lovers-on-the-run epic Ethan Mao. This time around, Lee
has assembled a cast that includes gay hottie Wilson Cruz,
veteran actor James Shigeta (Flower Drum Song, Die Hard),
and up-and-coming indie performers Karin Anna Cheung
(Better Luck Tomorrow) and Danny Vasquez (Quinceanera)
for the sexy ensemble comedy. Be on the lookout for this one
when film-festival season rolls around in the spring - and
maybe bring someone you’ve slept with to see it.
Romeo San Vicente thought about making a movie called “The People
Who Want To Sleep With Me,” but a five-hour epic documentary would be
way too expensive to produce.
Chenoweth Leaps from Daisies to Legally Mad
Actress and singer Kristin Chenoweth is currently dominating the competition in the running to be America’s next
top gay-adored celebrity. She’s endeared herself to queer
fans with her lead role in Broadway’s Wicked, her hilarious
(and often tuneful) role on the brilliantly inventive and now
tragically cancelled Pushing Daisies, and the shockingly
funny online musical Intervention, a parody involving a gay
meth-head who needs show tunes to guide him to rehab.
And for Daisies fans who need a regular TV fix of the tiny,
sassy lady, Chenoweth has already lined up a new TV gig.
She’ll co-star on Legally Mad, a new lawyer show from David
E. Kelley, as sprightly attorney Skippy Pylon, the daughter
of the head of a big Chicago law firm. Skippy is described as
an occasionally psychotic woman who enjoys being mistaken
for a teenager. Sounds perfect! Look for the show on NBC.
Oxygen Is Addicted to Beauty
What hath Sunset Tan wrought? That compellingly trashy
28
Lesbian Sexuality
Whole Lesbian Sex
The Couple That Masturbates Together...
By Felice Newman
It’s a frosty January night - you’ve gathered the blankets up
to your chin, but the sheets are cold, and you can’t get your
10 little ice-block toes to warm up. Your partner, however, is
generating enough heat for both of you. She’s got sexual energy to spare. You feel cuddly, but not exactly ready for action.
What to do? Tell her to masturbate.
Not as in, “Go jerk yourself off - don’t bother me.” Don’t roll
over in your icy sheets and pull the blankets over your head.
Celebrate her indefatigable desire (a good quality in a girlfriend). Gather her up in your arms, reach for the lube and her
favorite sex toy, and envelop her in your love as she enjoys her
own delicious capacity for self-pleasure. By holding her as she
masturbates, you can maintain your physical connection while
respecting your own needs.
You will also become more intimate as a couple. Why? Being
seen while masturbating makes most of us feel very vulnerable.
It’s so revealing. One woman said, “Masturbating to orgasm in
front of my partner brings up a lot of my issues around body
image. I feel self-conscious because the spotlight’s entirely on
me - I’m being watched. I worry that I look funny when I come.”
It’s a sign of trust to allow someone to witness you in such an
unguarded moment.
does she slow down? As an added bonus, you’ll learn more about
how to give her pleasure.
You may want to join in. Go for it. Ask your honey to pass the
lube. Touch yourself.
You may discover the voyeur in you, and your partner may
discover her inner exhibitionist. Every time you take a sexual
risk, the possibility exists that you may widen and enhance your
sexuality.
You can also invite her to touch herself during partner sex.
Sometimes it’s just easier to let your partner take care of her
own orgasm and leave you free to concentrate on other things
- reaming her butt, filling her vagina with your fingers, wielding
the G-Spotter, or sucking her nipples. Many women discover
that they can come more reliably, more intensely, more easily when they touch themselves during partner sex. And when
you are relieved of the job of “making” her come, you may be
more creative, more assertive, more confident in pleasuring your
partner.
Felice Newman is a founding publisher of Cleis Press and the author of
“The Whole Lesbian Sex Book: A Passionate Guide for All of Us.” Visit her
at www.cleispress.com. Her book is also available in Calgary at A Little
More Interesting.
And in witnessing your partner’s arousal and orgasm, you can
offer her a profound experience of acceptance. Your loving gaze
is evidence that you value her sexual pleasure. Masturbation
can bring with it a beautiful personal intimacy. It’s empowering
to be openly appreciated and acknowledged and not shamed for
masturbating.
You might find yourself getting turned on as she works herself
up to a colossal orgasm. Suddenly those January sheets aren’t
so frosty, after all.
Here are some tips for partner masturbation:
Make your offer in a mood of generosity. (“I love seeing you
get turned on. Let me watch you touch yourself.”) Your partner’s
libido is not a problem to be solved.
Kiss her, stroke her, pour on the affection.
Wrap yourself around her. If she’s on her back, reach one arm
under her head and the other across her torso. Entwine one of
her legs in yours.
You can help her along. Play with her nipples, cup her buttocks in your hand, lick her neck - if you feel like it. Don’t feel
obligated; this is her show.
Whisper sweet somethings in her ear. Tell her it’s you holding
that vibrator or filling her up with that dildo.
Tell her what you’ll do to her next time - when you are in the
mood for sex.
Read her a story from Best Lesbian Erotica 2006 or the latest
issue of On Our Backs.
Pay attention to her masturbation technique, especially her
rhythms of arousal and orgasm. When does she speed up? When
29
30
Reader Survey
GayCalgary Survey 2009
Biannual Reader Survey
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In the past 6 months, how often did you read or pick up
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31
Reader Survey
How did you typically read your copy of this magazine?
I take one home with me.
I read it when I’m out and leave it behind.
I borrow someone else’s copy.
I read it online.
If you take a copy home or to work with you, how may
people do you typically share it with?
Just me
2 people
3 people
4 people
5 people
More:
Over the past 6 months, which of the following have made
you aware of upcoming community events?
Advertisements in this Magazine
Directory and Events section in this Magazine
GayCalgary.com Online Directory/Events Calendar
Advertisements/Articles in other Publications
Facebook/MySpace
Group/Venue Websites
Event Posters
Word of Mouth
Which of the following regular columns/features do you
read from this magazine? (Check all that apply.)
Adult Film Reviews by Jerome Voltero
Cartoon - A Couple of Guys
Cartoon - Bitter Girl
Cartoon - Chelsea Boys
Celebrity Interviews by Jason Clevett
Classified Ads
Community Photographs
Concert Reviews by Jason Clevett
Deep Inside Hollywood by Romeo San Vicente
HIV/AIDS Column by Mark Randall
Q Scopes Horoscope by Jack Fertig
Movie Reviews by Matt Salton
Music Reviews by Rob Diaz-Marino
Out of Town by Andrew Collins
Political Column by Stephen Lock
Publisher’s Column by Rob Diaz-Marino
Queer Quest by Kevin Alderson
Trans-Identity Column by Mercedes Allen
Theatre Reviews by Jason Clevett
Whole Lesbian Sex by Felice Newman
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reading?
In future issues of this magazine, which article possibilities
would you most like us to include on a regular basis?
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Lesbian Porn Reviews
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Male Sex
Opinion Columns
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Crossword Puzzles
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Other:
On a scale of 1 to 5, how in depth do you read the following
locally available publications? (1 = I don’t read the publica32
tion at all, 5 = I read it cover to cover)
Avenue Magazine
1 2 3 4 5
Daily Mainstream Papers
1 2 3 4 5
FFWD / Vue / See
1 2 3 4 5
Outlooks Magazine
1 2 3 4 5
Outwords Magazine
1 2 3 4 5
Perceptions
1 2 3 4 5
Where in Calgary
1 2 3 4 5
XTra! West
1 2 3 4 5
Other
1 2 3 4 5
Spending Habits
Are you more likely to spend money with a GLBT owned or
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Yes
No
Are you more likely to support a business that advertises
with a GLBT publication like this magazine?
Yes
No
When making a purchase from an advertiser, are you likely
to tell them where you saw their ad?
Yes
No
On a scale of 1 to 5 (1 = Never, 5 = Very Often), how often
have you done the following in the last 6 months?
Work Out
1 2 3 4 5
Go to a Movie Theatre
1 2 3 4 5
Rent a DVD/Video
1 2 3 4 5
Buy a DVD/Video
1 2 3 4 5
Attend a Live Performance
1 2 3 4 5
(Theatre Production, Ballet, Opera, Symphony, etc.)
Travel
Travel
Travel
Travel
between Calgary & Edmonton
across Canada
to the US
around the World
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
How have recent developments in the Canadian Economy
affected your willingness to travel?
Less Willing
More Willing
No Effect
How have recent developments in the Canadian Economy
affected your willingness to spend money in general?
Less Willing
More Willing
No Effect
How often do you utilize Telephone Chat Rooms or Phone
Sex Lines?
Often
Sometimes
Rarely/Never
Where do you currently access the internet?
Home
Work
School
Library
Cyber Cafe
Phone/Blackberry
Friend’s Place
I don’t have/use the internet.
If you use the internet, what do you use it for?
Checking E-Mail
Text Chat
Webcam Chat
News/Current Events
Porn - Pictures/Video
Dating/Hooking Up
Online Purchasing
General Research
Reader Survey
File Sharing
Work
Listening to Music
Online Banking
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34
Community News
Change is Good
By Dallas Barnes
The Pride Calgary Planning Committee has listened
to what the GLBT community has said, and is on its
way to making 2009 its best year yet.
From what was originally the Pride Calgary Association,
the Pride Calgary Planning Committee consisting of 13 new
and returning members, remains focused on its original mission statement:
”Pride Calgary Planning Committee will promote awareness, diversity and pride amongst the GLBTA community
(Gay, Lesbian, Bi-Sexual, Transgender & Allies), during
Pride, but also throughout the year. We encourage the
involvement of all individuals in the GLBTA community,
including friends, family and supporters who share in the
vision of Pride. Throughout the year Pride Calgary Planning
Committee will organize quality events such as Pride Festival
which will include the Annual Pride Parade, Street Gala and
other community events that celebrate the unique spirit and
culture of the GLBTA community.”
“We respect both the dignity of individuals and the rights
of all members of society regardless of sexual orientation,
gender, gender choice, cultural or ethnic background, colour, age, physical or mental ability, socioeconomic status or
political, religious or social affiliation or beliefs. In doing so,
we seek to identify and remove barriers to full participation
in the activities of Pride Calgary.”
In order to be comparable with Pride organizations in
other major cities, Pride Calgary Planning Committee recognized that some changes to its current structure needed to
happen. First on its agenda, the Pride Calgary festivities are
now going to be held on the September long weekend, which
happens to fall on September 5th to 7th this year. This reflects a request by many members of the community to have
it during a more favourable weather season, and to have it
not overlap with any other Canadian Pride Festival dates.
that is comparable to the level of excitement generated by
other Pride festivities in Canada.
“Everyone needs to be a part of Pride and support Pride
for it to be a success,” says Casselman. “Whether or not an
active participant in the community, we need you to come
out and participate in the Pride festivities. Think about what
you were going through when you came out. How great
would it be for to see thousands of people come together to
celebrate their community.”
Pride Calgary 2009 is guaranteed to be the best Pride that
Calgary has ever seen. However, iIn order for it to be a great
success, the support of the GLBT community and its allies
is essential. Continual support from the staff and owners of
Money Pennies, and Gay Calgary and Edmonton Magazine
has been greatly appreciated.
Pride Calgary Planning Committee encourages everyone
to join its Facebook page to keep up to date on events and
fundraisers that are going to be happening. Please leave any
comments, concerns, ideas, questions, volunteer opportunities, or sponsorship inquiries you may have.
Facebook Page
www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=41094780196
InterPride
www.interpride.org
Pride Calgary Planning Committee has also joined forces
with other major Pride organizations in order to strengthen
its own organization and to build contacts for future events.
The International Association of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and
Transgender Pride Coordinators, or InterPride, has been a
much needed alliance for the Pride Calgary Planning Committee. Now an active member of InterPride, Pride Calgary is
advertised as a major GLBT event throughout the world, and
is part of a worldwide organization that networks consistently for the common goal of Pride.
The President of Pride Calgary Planning Committee, Sam
Casselman, has been a member of the GLBT community of
Calgary for the last 13 years. Born and raised in Calgary,
Sam has seen the evolution of Pride Calgary. After experiencing Pride festivals in other Canadian cities, she recognized the need for a change to the Pride events in her own
city. She is determined to create a Pride Festival in Calgary
35
History
Clue in to the Past
By Evan Kayne
“The history of Gay publishing in Calgary goes at least as
far back as the middle of the ‘70s”
– Wynne McCumber, February 1995, Clue magazine.
From Gay Moods to the first Gay Calgary, through Gay
Horizons, 10 Percent Review, Lavender Times and many
more, gay publications in Calgary have a long heritage. In
more recent memory, there was Clue magazine.
Back in 1992, The Crying Game was in cinemas, Absolutely Fabulous first appeared on TV, and in music, Nirvana’s
album Nevermind was released. It was in this world, 17 years
ago, that Clue burst onto the scene, providing information
and commentary to Calgary’s GBLT community until the
early months of 1995.
Johann Cluett was the magazine’s publisher for the majority of its run. “The idea for creating Clue came about as a
result of the demise of the Alberta Gay and Lesbian Press
(AGLP)” he said. “I didn’t feel at the time that it was right
that the community didn’t have a means for getting the
word out. I also happened to have picked up some desktop
publishing skills in previous work I had done and…I thought
creating a modest newspaper would be something I could
sink my teeth into. It turned out that keeping it ‘modest’ was
difficult because it was tough to strike a balance between
just giving the facts about what was going on and having
enough of the right content to keep people interested.”
What is interesting is seeing the changes to people, organizations, and businesses from when Clue published to
current day. For example, while some writers for Clue have
moved away (Don Bastian), others have come to work for this
magazine (Stephen Lock).
Business-wise, the magazine sported ads for B & B
Leatherworks, A Woman’s Place Bookstore, Boystown Metro,
Off Centre, 318 Private Club, Trax, and Grabbajabba, all
of which are gone now. However, a local B&B - Westways
- opened up during Clue’s run and is has been operating
to this day. As for community organizations, former ones
include the Rocky Mountain Singers, Camp 181, and Club
Calgary. Organizations in Clue’s listings still operating today
include ARGRA (then known as AGRA), Apollo, and ISCCA.
The day-to-day changes in our community were accompanied with political changes as well. Besides the bigger
Human Rights issue represented by the Delwin Vriend case,
Clue reported on the election of a gay man and a lesbian to
Edmonton City Council. They were, respectively, Michael
Phair and Sherry McKibben.
Sadly, not all things changed over the years. There is one
constant: this province electing a Conservative government.
However, while the Dianne Miroshs and Ernie Isleys of the
1990s were blatantly open about their homophobia, since
then the Right (at least in Canada) has learned to keep their
mouths shut. Still, reading and revisiting some of the vitriol
spewing from certain politicians was eye-opening.
Given that in the world of 1992, homophobia was still
overt, it is surprising Johann didn’t face any backlash from
the printer or the public. The printer never had any problems with the magazine content, and the only stipulation
was that he had to pay for the print run upon pickup - no
credit extended: “(it) was pretty tricky sometimes as our cash
flow was always problematic and more than once we needed
to dip into a personal line of credit to get a particular issue
out in time.”
As for problems with distribution spots or people destroying magazines, that too never cropped up. Johann’s partner
Hollister was responsible for distribution, with the magazines
going to advertisers and all the obvious locations. Hollister
did get creative in where he sent the magazines; however the
only complaint was from a small town in Ontario.
I found this smooth sailing surprising; especially after
reading Clue’s local and international news from 17 years
ago. In 1992, some of the tactics of the Right wing were
abhorrent compared to what is currently allowed to happen
(openly) in Canada. Possibly because of the limited time that
it existed, it didn’t attract the wrong kind of attention. Johann also thinks because the magazine was so small, “they
(the Religious Right) mostly ignored us or barely knew we
36
History
existed. I don’t recall that we ever got a nasty letter or death
threats. Besides, our mandate was never to be politically
provocative, but to be a means for people to express their
own outrage over the issues of the day. We simply wanted
to be available to the community in a way that helped them
communicate and organize with each other.“
Over the three years it was published, I asked Johann
if there were any regrets. “I never regret.” He said. “Life is
meant to be experienced and the only thing you’re obligated
to do is to make mistakes and learn from them.” He was
proud and happy of what Clue did accomplish in its time,
and the people it touched: “We got to know some incredible
people, and my eyes were widened by the experience. I know
for a fact that what we did influenced people, and knowing
that, perhaps we did something that actually advanced our
cause even a little bit.”
Alas, Clue did not last long. Late in 1994 a new business
partner allowed Johann to hand off the responsibilities of the
magazine’s day-to-day management. It eked out a few issues
in 1995 before shutting down. There were various reasons
for Clue’s demise. “Part of it was never being able to charge
enough to advertisers, let alone having enough of them to
cover the basic operating costs and what were arguably slave
wages…We also ended up with quite a number of deadbeat
advertisers that forced us to draw on personal lines of credit
to put an issue out. You could argue that it was because of
a recession that was going on at the time, but by the time
we finished, I had my personal line of credit and a couple
of credit cards maxed out to over $20,000. I was also pretty
burned out from the whole experience as I was also working full time and the whole enterprise was causing too much
tension between Hollister and I.”
Yet as Johann looks at 2009 in comparison to the world of
1992, he does have some hope. He agrees the GBLT community in the Canada is in a better place; conversely he
also believes “bigotry and homophobia is very much alive
and well – it’s just that it has gone underground; which in
some ways makes it more insidious. But you know, I think
on average society as whole has come a long way in meeting
us half way, even if specific people or governments haven’t.
I also have a lot of hope for the future as the old attitudes
appear to literally be dying off and the new ones seem to be
a lot more willing to confront the mollified bigotry that exists
today.”
Whatever your memories are of Clue, you must acknowledge its place in our past. At one point as I sat in the
archives at the Glenbow Museum, pouring over back issues,
classical music started playing on my mp3 player. I experienced a weird disconnect and revelation: I held an actual
slice of history in my hands…even though it was within my
lifetime, even though it was only 17 years ago, even though
the events at the time – to me – seem like they happened
yesterday. Johann said that you need some years behind you
to give you perspective. Not to cheapen some of the bigger
battles our community has won over the last 40-50 years,
but sometimes the more important history happens here,
now, right under our noses; and it only takes the distance of
a few years to realize it.
37
Queer Quest
Club Drugs and Their Effects
By Kevin Alderson, Ph.D., R. Psych
“A lot of people don’t realize exactly how quickly crystal
becomes addictive. The thing that makes crystal so insidious is that, even if you were basically a mentally healthy,
well adjusted, happy person beforehand, the first couple of
times after you do crystal it manages to convince you that
the state you are in when you are high on crystal is the
normal, desirable, natural state, and that what happens to
you when you are off crystal is the abnormal condition that
needs to [be] rectified. That becomes the abnormal state.
What do you do when you’re in an abnormal state? You
fix it with something. It becomes this chase, you know, ‘If I
could just do enough crystal, if I can manage to get enough
of it into me, that will fix whatever is wrong.’ I don’t think a
lot of people are prepared for how fundamentally it changes
the way you think on and off the drug.” [1]
I reflected for a long time after reading the above quote as
I recalled an earlier time in my life where I smoked a lot of
pot and came to equate euphoria with normality. I know that
those who become dependent on alcohol often experience a
similar phenomenon: they feel increasingly normal as they
continue drinking, while being sober is met with anxiety, low
self-esteem, low self-confidence, and depression. Like the
onset of clinical depression, the effect of drugs can have a
steadily downward effect in your life, yet their impact is insidious – you don’t know it is happening at first and even when
you become aware that you are having an increasingly difficult
time coping, you don’t attribute it to the drug.
Following last month’s column on circuit parties, this
month looks at the effect of the more commonly used “club
drugs,” specifically 3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine
(MDMA, or “Ecstasy”), crystal methamphetamine (crystal
meth), gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), ketamine hydrochloride (ketamine), and flunitrazepam (Rohypnol). They are referred to as club drugs because of the environments in which
they are commonly used: dance clubs, raves, and circuit
parties. Technically, alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, and volatile
nitrites (“poppers”) belong here as well, but will not be covered
due to space considerations.
A study based on 1169 circuit party attendees found a high
prevalence of drug use, with 72% reporting use of ecstasy, ketamine (60%), and GHB (28%) at parties in the past 12 months.
[2] Of this large sample, using drugs was the main reason for
attending a circuit party by 10.9% of the participants.
Some general findings regarding use of club drugs that I
discovered while reading the literature include:
1. Risky Sex – club drug use is highly associated with risky
sex (e.g., anal sex without condoms) between men-who-havesex-with-men. This is especially true with users of crystal
meth and ecstasy. [3, 4]
2. Polydrug Use – club drug users often combine drugs to
create enhanced or varying effects. This is especially dangerous and potentially lethal when depressants (e.g., ketamine,
GHB) are mixed with alcohol (another depressant). The effect
38
of two or more drugs is often
more potent than what you
would otherwise expect. These
are known as interaction effects.
3. Drug Use is Increasing
and Expanding Outside of Club
Environments – increasingly
a higher percentage of people
are using club drugs, and they
are using them outside of club
environments, such as at home,
at house parties, etcetera.
4. Regular Users are Often
Suffering Psychologically – there
are many members of the queer
community that feel isolated, alone, depressed, or anxious
for a multitude of reasons. Drug use often disguises or hides
underlying negative feelings and thoughts, at least temporarily. [5]
5. Regular Users are Often Sensation Seekers – sensation
seeking is recognized in psychology as a temperament or personality trait, and drug users often score high in this tendency
to seek novel and stimulating experiences. [6]
Remember from your high school years that our bodies try
to reach homeostasis, meaning that for every reaction there is
an equal and opposite reaction that attempts to bring our bodies (including our brains) back into equilibrium. This means
that the more powerful the stimulant, the more our bodies
(and brains) will react with physiological depression (and
sometimes emotional depression) while in withdrawal from the
drug. Likewise, the more powerful the depressant, the more
stimulated we will feel while in withdrawal. These withdrawal
effects, unlike the drug’s initial effect, are unpleasant. With
that in mind, let’s explore some of the individual effects of club
drugs.
Ecstasy
Abuse of ecstasy has increased sharply over the past 20
years, although the drug is not new. It was developed in
1914 and was frequently used recreationally in the 1960s
and 1970s for its enhancement of sensory experience. [7] The
drug was also believed to facilitate psychotherapy, but due to
its toxicity, it became illegal in the mid 1980s. [8] The effects
include (a) increased energy, (b) increased libido, (c) feelings of
warmth and openness, (d) increased extroversion and self-confidence, and (e) elevated mood. Some have referred to ecstasy
as the “love drug” or the “hug drug.” [9] Potential negative
effects include feelings of being unreal, impaired decisionmaking, teeth grinding, jaw clenching, decreased appetite,
headaches, and insomnia. Feeling depressed and exhausted
are common withdrawal effects, beginning the next day after
use. There is considerable evidence that ecstasy use leads to
impaired memory function. [10] Furthermore, case reports
have suggested that ecstasy use “can cause psychiatric symptoms, including depression, anxiety, and paranoia, even after
abstinence from the drug.” [11]
Queer Quest
Crystal Meth
Meth was abused for several years on the US West coast
before moving to Miami toward the end of the 1990s. [12]
Originally developed from ephedrine in 1893, the drug became
popular when Japan, Germany, and the US gave it to their
troops during WWII to increase endurance and performance.
[13] It is a stimulant with a structure similar to but more potent than amphetamine. [14] More than other drugs, meth is
described as “especially sexually arousing and disinhibitory.”
[15] Its effects include (a) increased alertness and excitement,
(b) increased activity, (c) increased libido, and (d) decreased
appetite. Excessive doses can lead to a brain haemorrhage,
stroke, seizure, hyperthermia, coma, and death. Potential psychological problems include insomnia, psychosis, paranoia,
suicidal thoughts, and cognitive deficits, including problems
with learning, memory, and other thinking processes. [16]
Quitting the drug has been very difficult for users. [17] Meth
users are the least likely to complete treatment when they do
seek help to quit. [18]
GHB
GHB was developed in 1960 as an anaesthetic and was sold
in health food stores in the early 1990s as an aid for anxiety,
insomnia, drug and alcohol abuse, and to assist athletes and
bodybuilders. Recent studies have shown it may be helpful for
those suffering from narcolepsy, cataplexy, fibromyalgia, and
alcohol dependence and withdrawal. [19] The effect of GHB
is similar to alcohol, although episodes of loss of consciousness are more frequent and unpredictable. [20] GHB produces
anterograde amnesia (loss of memory for what occurred while
under the influence of the drug, like a blackout from excessive
alcohol), and consequently the drug has been used in cases
of sexual assault. [21] Users report that the drug produces a
pleasant state of relaxation and tranquility and it increases
libido. [22] The drug is usually sold as a clear, salty liquid and
is taken in capfuls or teaspoons. GHB has a high overdose
prevalence and it can cause the sudden onset of coma and
seizures. [23] “The one distinguishing feature of GHB toxicity
is the sudden awakening of the patient from a comatose state
to a normal or hyperactivated state of arousal.” [24]
Ketamine
Ketamine is a derivative of phencyclidine hydrochloride
(PCP) and it originated in the 1960s. Its use in dance clubs
(commonly sniffed) began in the early 1980s. [25] Similar to
GHB, it was developed as an anaesthetic for humans, and it
is used in trauma and emergency surgical procedures and in
veterinary medicine. [26] Its effects include (a) sedation, (b)
immobility, (c) amnesia, and (d) analgesia. Users may experience a distorted sense of space and time, with minutes feeling
like hours. They may feel like they are on a spiritual journey
or experience visual hallucinations. [27] Users feel dissociated
(removed) from their environment. The effect of the drug is
short lived, and in two hours, half of the drug is metabolized.
At high doses, the drug can cause vomiting, slurred speech,
amnesia, rapid or irregular heart beat, agitation, and delirium.
Due to its dissociative properties, the user may have outof-body or near-death experiences. Visual disturbances and
flashbacks can occur days or weeks after using ketamine. [28]
It is the most likely club drug to lead to periods of dependence. [29]
Rohypnol
acts like a muscle relaxant and a sedative-hypnotic (a sleep
agent), while at higher doses, it causes loss of muscle control
and consciousness. This drug was specifically designed to create anterograde amnesia, so similar to GHB, it has been used
by perpetrators of sexual assault. Some youth have referred to
it as a “cheap drunk.” [31]
I cannot, in good conscience, either condone or condemn
the use of club drugs in queer culture. They have been around
for longer than I have been out, and they have served a
purpose, regardless of whether it is for recreation or whether
it cloaks threatening feelings or thoughts. Instead, I encourage you, the reader, to discern and decide for yourself what
is appropriate. Drugs acquired through dealers as opposed to
licensed pharmacists are not controlled for quality, content, or
dosage. Frankly, you don’t know what you’re getting when you
purchase a pill you think contains ecstasy. There were times
in the past when a joint gave me a high that seemed more like
something I would have experienced on mushrooms or speed.
God knows what it was laced with. God knows what is really
in the pill that you might be thinking of taking.
Dr. Alderson is an associate professor of counselling psychology at the
University of Calgary who specializes in gay and lesbian studies. He also
maintains a private practice. He can be contacted by confidential email at
[email protected], or by confidential voice mail at (403) 605-5234.
References:
1. Kurtz, S. P. (2005). Post-circuit blues: Motivations and consequences of
crystal meth use among gay men in Miami. AIDS and Behavior, 9(1), 6372. [quote from p. 70].
2. Ross, M. W., Mattison, A. M., & Franklin, D. R. Jr. (2003). Club drugs
and sex on drugs are associated with different motivations for gay circuit
party attendance in men. Substance Use & Misuse, 38(8), 1173-1183.
3. Klitzman, R. L., Pope, H. G., & Hudson, J. I. (2000). MDMA (“ecstasy”)
abuse and high-risk sexual behaviors among 169 gay and bisexual men.
The American Journal of Psychiatry, 157(7), 1162-1164.
4. Theodore, P. S. (2006). A psychosocial model of club drug use and sexual
behavior among men-who-have-sex-with-men. Dissertation Abstracts
International: Section B: The Sciences and Engineering, 66(8-B), p. 4503.
5. Ibid.
6. Simons, J. S., Gaher, R. M., Correia, C. J., & Bush, J. A. (2005). Club
drug use among college students. Addictive Behaviors, 30(8), 1619-1624.
7. Freese, T. E., Miotto, K., & Reback, C. J. (2002). The effects and consequences of selected club drugs. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment,
23(2), 151-156.
8. Ibid.
9. Klitzman et al. (2000).
10. Freese et al. (2002).
11. Klitzman, R. (2006). From “male bonding rituals” to “suicide Tuesday”:
A qualitative study of issues faced by gay male ecstasy (MDMA) users.
Journal of Homosexuality, 51(3), 7-32. [quote from p. 8].
12. Kurtz (2005).
14. Ibid.
15. Kurtz (2005). [quote from p. 64].
17. Kurtz (2005).
18. Maxwell, J. C., & Spence, R. T. (2005). Profiles of club drug users in
treatment. Substance Use & Misuse, 40(9-10), 1409-1426.
20. Ibid.
21. Maxwell, J. C. (2005). Party drugs: Properties, prevalence, patterns, and
problems. Substance Use & Misuse, 40(9-10), 1203-1240.
22. Palamar, J. J., & Halkitis, P. N. (2006). A qualitative analysis of GHB
use among gay men: Reasons for use despite potential adverse outcomes.
International Journal of Drug Policy, 17(1), 23-28.
24. Maxwell (2005). [quote from p. 1221].
25. Lankenau, S. E., & Clatts, M. C. (2005). Patterns of polydrug use among
ketamine injectors in New York City. Substance Use & Misuse, 40(9-10),
1381-1397.
27. Maxwell (2005).
29. Lankenau & Clatts (2005).
30. Maxwell (2005).
31. Ibid.
Rohypnol is a benzodiazepine (same class of drugs as valium, ativan, and xanax) and was originally developed as an
anaesthetic and treatment for insomnia. [30] At low does, it
39
Trans Identity
Trans Around the World
By Mercedes Allen
As 2008 came to a close, 66 member countries of
the United Nations General Assembly voiced support
for a document that asserts that international human rights protections should include sexual orientation and gender identity. While lesser UN actions
have moved toward this in the past, most notably
the development of the Yogyakarta Principles, this
marks the first such statement within the General
Assembly itself. France and the Netherlands began
the push for this, which drew support from diplomats across five continents.
Canada signed the document. The United States refused.
This was not without backlash.
60 other member nations drafted a
document to protest the statement,
and the Pope issued a scathing condemnation of homosexuals, transsexuals and anyone who violates the
established “norms” of gender or reassesses gender theory (which would also
include much of feminism, if one takes
the statement to its logical conclusion).
Burundi passed a law criminalizing same-sex
acts specifically in protest.
As we go into 2009, it is interesting to take note
of how societies around the world handle trans
issues, which sometimes run concurrently with gay
issues, and sometimes run contrary to them. While I
am concerned about GLB situations around the world,
I am not as versed in them, so will be mostly focusing on trans-related situations except in those instances
where the needs and situations coincide or conflict. Please
also note that I don’t mean to say that Canada doesn’t have
any skeletons in its own backyard. This is a nation, after all,
which does not have protections for trans people against discrimination or hate crimes specifically written into law (aside
from the NorthWest Territories), and the sole MP who has been
putting forth Private Members’ Bills to try to do so (Bill Siksay)
does not even have any expressions of support from his own
party, the NDP. Canada has made fewer strides in terms of
trans protections and recognition in recent years than our
counterparts in George W. Bush’s America, transsexuals are
still housed in Canadian Correctional institutions according
to their genitalia (leaving transwomen subject to regular rape),
and a few psychiatric clinics continue to use electroconvulsive
therapy (ECT) as a curative measure. Canada’s expression of
support means little when the most widely-touted clinic dealing with transgender issues in Eastern Canada continues to
repeatedly violate the Yogyakarta Principles regarding issues
of gender identity (although it does not similarly resort to
ECT).
The situation in the US is much-publicized, of course. Amnesty International has recorded police abuse, ill-treatment
40
and even torture, including but not limited to the housing of
transgender inmates according to birth sex. In Memphis, Tennessee during 2008 alone, two transwomen were murdered
- including one who initiated a lawsuit against the Memphis
Police department after a brutal and unprovoked attack on
her by two of its officers found its way to the media. A third
was shot in the face and remains in critical condition, and
the Memphis P.D. is still fielding criticism over a previous
unsolved murder where police officers were the last known
people in contact with the transfemale victim, and all pertinent documentation of the encounter has been inexplicably
destroyed. This is all on the heels of the trial of someone who
had shot yet another transwoman, who had been released
on bail indefinitely following his arrest for her murder, and
two years later now faced new charges for killing his own
daughter. Memphis is an extreme example, but highlights the
indifference with which the murders of transgender people are
regarded, even by the authorities.
In Africa, some of the most violent government-sanctioned acts
have occurred, and at the same
time, there has been a particular
spark of progress. Trans activists
from Burundi, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa,
Zambia, and Zimbabwe met in an event
sponsored by the International Gay and
Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) and Gender DynamiX, the continent’s
sole trans organization. Kenya, meanwhile, was
forced to reassess some of its handling of gender
issues when faced with a detainee born Intersex. Kenya’s reassessment may or may not result
in long-term changes, but each new precedent is a
positive step. In Uganda, the beatings and arrests of
GLBT activists continues.
The IGLHRC has also documented the way in which
sodomy laws in Africa and elsewhere, other legislation and
prejudice denies rights to GLBT persons, and can even criminalize outreach to affected groups, during an age in which the
HIV pandemic is decimating homosexual and heterosexual
populations alike.
Baltic states remain among the most staunchly anti-GLBT,
and Bosnia’s planned first pride festival was cancelled because
the severity and volume of threats made it impossible to guarantee the safety of attendees.
At the beginning of 2008, the Kuwaiti government put into
place a new law criminalizing people who “imitate the appearance of the opposite sex.” There have been nearly a hundred
detainees over the past year, many who have reportedly been
beaten, and none of whom are known to have been given access to legal representation. As I’ve been writing this, a news
article has arrived in my inbox detailing how some Central
Prison workers were arrested for attempting to smuggle
makeup to some of the detainees. Similar actions have been
taken in the United Arab Emirates (with Dubai being particularly draconian), and other Arab nations. Saudi Arabia
continues to execute all GLBT persons. In Egypt, Human
Trans Identity
Rights Watch documented a major crackdown on homosexual
conduct, though it is not clear if transgender people and gender transition are also considered to be part of “homosexual
conduct” (which is not to say that the operation would be any
less heinous).
In Iran, Gender Reassignment Surgery (GRS) is sanctioned
and funded by the state, following an edict set decades ago,
after a transsexual’s petition to treat the condition according to established medical standards of care. While a victory
for transsexuals, it has put gays and lesbians in the horrific
position of having to choose between living a life in which
they may love a chosen partner (their sexual orientation) and
living a life that fits their personal identity (gender identity).
Homosexuality is still punishable by death in Iran, so for the
past several decades, many gays and lesbians have turned to
GRS to allow them to escape discovery and punishment. As a
consequence, this has resulted in people replacing one problem (the threat of death) with another (disconnection from and
discomfort with one’s own body).
Iraq emerged as one of the most serious areas of concern,
due to the moral cleansing that has been taking place since
the war began. There have been over 80 known GLBT casualties, while activist Peter Tatchell estimates that there could
be over 300, based on the number of missing persons with
known or suspected homosexual or transsexual histories.
Iraq may have a higher-than-typical transgender population
due to its proximity to Iran - in a sickening irony, many who
fled oppression in Iran now face death in Iraq.
Turkey, too, has been a volatile center of anti-gay and
anti-trans sentiment. Earlier in the year, the GLBT advocacy
organization Lambda Istanbul Cultural Centre found its offices
raided, membership documentation confiscated, and regular
harassment commenced, without warrants of any kind. Similar tactics occurred with Kaos GL in Ankara, and Labrys, an
advocacy organization in nearby Kyrgyzstan.
Trumped up charges of prostitution are used to justify
many of the raids. Later, the raids were tied to supposed
connections with Ergenekon, an alleged terrorist group bent
on assassination (in reality, Ergenekon is a network of people
wishing to “reshape social thinking” in Turkey). One transsexual, Dilek Ince was murdered in a drive-by shooting in
which government agents are suspected (ironically, while
Ince was helping to prepare for a Transgender Day of Remembrance ceremony; Ince was one of a few GLBT persons
who has brought up charges against the government for the
harassment).
Another transwoman, internationally-recognized singer
Bulent Ersoy, was imprisoned for comments she had made
regarding Turkey’s requirement that all young males must enter the military, and faced a possible charge of treason, which
carries a death penalty.
There is much conflict in how the Turkish government and
the judiciary handle cases regarding GLBT persons. Additionally, Turkey is a candidate country for membership in
the European Union, and its human rights record is being
scrutinized, with some EU nations making particular note of
the raids. Turkey was the only EU candidate nation that did
not support the United Nations declaration. However, some
concessions, such as Ersoy’s acquittal in December, are seen
as either part of the tug-of-war between judges and lawmakers, or actions taken to be mindful of the EU’s commitment to
human rights.
South America has been the focus of severe violence, with
Columbia recording 67 murders of GLBT people from 2006
to 2007. Brazil recorded 125 from 2000 to 2005, and in both
cases, the numbers are thought to be only a partial figure.
Transgender persons account for an average of approximately
2/3 of these statistics, which some attribute to visibility.
If Sweden is considered one of the most progressive states
regarding transgender issues (Sweden, like most of Canada,
funds GRS surgery because it acknowledges the medical
necessity of the surgery as recognized by many medical bodies) it has also proven to be one of the most bewildering. On
the positive side, it has declared that both Gender Identity
Disorder and Transvestitic Fetish are bogus psychiatric diagnoses and removed them from medical treatment (along with
consensual BDSM and other practices among adults). On the
negative side, this action may have summarily removed transsexuals’ access to surgery and treatment of any kind, because
nobody’s really sure at this point if they are still considered
“medically necessary.”
Even more bizarre, Social Minister Goran Hagglund has
been working on a draft proposal that requires full sterilization of transsexuals at the beginning of their transition, in
response to the media frenzy triggered by “the pregnant man,”
Thomas Beatie. Another twisted situation arises from the fact
that Sweden will pay for female-to-male phalloplasty, but will
not fund the implant needed to simulate typical phallic function, because regulations prohibit the use of taxpayer money
to pay for anything deemed an aid for sexual performance.
Malta had shown some progress by legally recognizing a
post-operative transwoman as female, but then proceeded to
ban her from marrying her male partner anyway, arguing that
it would still constitute a same-sex marriage.
Hong Kong began detaining persons who are transsexual or
41
Trans Identity
are suspected of transsexual history, particularly those from
certain countries such as the Philippines, Thailand or Malaysia, because the nation has chosen to equate transsexuality
with the sex trade.
There have been arrests around the world, from Malaysia
to the Dominican Republic, stemming around everything from
the sex trade to trans beauty pageants. Thailand, considered
a haven for transsexuals, has launched a crackdown on specifically the “ladyboy” sex trade, while advocacy organizations
for “kathooeys” have made some strides in the mainstream for
rights for transsexuals, though not acceptance.
Government restrictions have been implemented in Thailand
requiring more medical and age documentation before GRS
surgery can be performed. Thailand has been undergoing
some political upheaval, and change seems likely, although it
is too early to know if for good or bad.
In India, mass arrests were made of hijras (a term covering
transgender persons, eunuchs and people who follow gender
variant traditions - at one time, hijras were respected, but now
they’re mostly ostracized save for specific ritual occasions)
and a media and political campaign launched to accuse them
wholesale of kidnapping male children and castrating them.
India, too, has been undermining efforts to quell the HIV
problem in its borders, causing the virus to continue to run
rampant through both gay and straight populations.
And yet, there has also been progress. This year, Bangladesh is allowing hijras the right to vote for the first time,
although there is some confusion how this is to be handled, as
voting lines are organized as male and female.
In 2007, Nepal had become the first nation to recognize
a transgender individual as a third gender for identification
purposes (some nations already recognize intersex persons in
this way), and has led a push for sweeping GLBT rights into
2008. For example, funding has been allocated for a shelter
for homeless transgender people. Nepal’s ruling Maoist party
has in the past been sometimes on the fringes of public support, so whether these changes will be permanent remains to
be seen. Nepal was a signatory of the UN declaration.
Cuba has also established funding for GRS surgery, starting
first with the Brazilian model and developing it into possibly
the most comprehensive medical model of transgender care
funding currently out there. GLB protections have also been
suggested and more developments are likely.
This year, Mexico and Argentina both finally enacted
legislation allowing transsexuals to change their identification to reflect their new gender. Following Spain’s example
from the previous year, the identification change is not solely
dependent on surgery - ID may be changed without surgery,
provided other documentation establishing a person as transsexual and demonstrating a period of living as their identified
gender is provided. South Korea ruled that a transsexual
could legally change identification once corroborative medical papers establishing that GRS surgery has been performed
have been produced.
Ireland, Australia and New Zealand all began a process of
reassessing transgender rights within their borders and updating legislation accordingly. Canada... not so much.
Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch and the IGLHRC continue
to remain vigilant, actively vocal and fully inclusive.
Mercedes Allen is a writer who blogs at http://dentedbluemercedes.
wordpress.com/, has been featured on bilerico.com, PageOneQ and
others, and has also developed the website at AlbertaTrans.org as a
resource for transgender information and support.
42
Fundraising
Photography
Photos
Tots for Tots at Money-Pennies - Calgary
Crowns for Kids at the Calgary Eagle - Calgary
Living Xmas Tree at the Calgary Eagle - Calgary
43
Press Releases
Ellen DeGeneres Announced as the New
Face of CoverGirl and Olay Simply Ageless
Foundation
December 10, 2008 – Toronto, ON
Beauty giant CoverGirl cosmetics recently announced that
the Brand had selected Ellen DeGeneres as its newest celebrity Cover Girl. Today, the company announces that DeGeneres
will be the spokesmodel for the company’s newest product
introduction, CoverGirl and Olay Simply Ageless Foundation.
As a new generation of anti-aging makeup, Simply Ageless
stays suspended over fine lines and wrinkles, making them
look less noticeable and providing beautifully flawless-looking
skin. Formulated with Olay’s Regenerist serum and the best
technological advancements in beauty and skincare, the new
age-defying foundation has been clinically shown to positively
impact the healthy look of the skin for improved skin appearance over time. Now, women no longer have to make sacrifices in end look and skin condition to obtain full coverage.
This is the first beauty campaign for the comedienne and
Emmy award winning talk show host, whose famous face
debuts in the brand’s new print and television advertisements
as of January 2009.
“I’m thrilled to be a CoverGirl,” said DeGeneres. “I’ve been
practicing in my bathroom mirror for years...Now finally, you’ll
all be able to see it.”
“Ellen is a quintessential CoverGirl. She is smart, confident, and natural, with a beauty and down-to-earth personality that fits perfectly with what CoverGirl represents,” said Esi
Eggleston Bracey, vice president and general manager, Global
Cosmetics, Procter & Gamble Beauty. “She’s a woman living
her fifties with verve and a zest for life that is truly uplifting.
She is also a woman who knows first-hand from her daily sessions in the makeup chair preparing for her national television
show that many foundations – even expensive department
store brands – can actually make you look older. We developed
CoverGirl and Olay Simply Ageless for all the women just like
Ellen who told us they’re looking for quality products that help
them look and feel beautiful at any age.”
The secret behind CoverGirl and Olay Simply Ageless Foundation is a solid emulsion technology that allows the foundation to stay suspended over skin’s imperfections. As it is ap-
plied, the unique Simply Ageless formula works with the skin’s
temperature to transform the foundation from a cream to a
liquid on contact. The liquid then forms an “invisible suspension system” that floats over the surface without gathering in
lines, making imperfections seem to virtually disappear. The
CoverGirl and Olay formulas work together to balance skin’s
textural and colour variations in order to provide a smooth,
even-looking finish.
DeGeneres’ partnership with CoverGirl is the latest chapter
in a high-profile career that began in stand-up comedy and
evolved to the small screen, where she has been entertaining and inspiring audiences for more than two decades. On
and offscreen, DeGeneres is also a passionate philanthropist
who gives generously of her time and talent to support causes
ranging from pet welfare to Hurricane Katrina relief.
Since its introduction in 1961, the CoverGirl brand has
been a pioneer in celebrating women’s inner and outer beauty,
and their drive to look and be their best selves. The long list
of famous CoverGirl spokespersons has included Christie
Brinkley, Cheryl Tiegs, Rachel Hunter, Tyra Banks, Niki Taylor
and Molly Sims, and its current roster of CoverGirls includes
the dynamic Queen Latifah, Rihanna, and Drew Barrymore.
GLISA International Applauds Recent Actions
to Combat Homophobia in Sport and Call
to End Discrimination Based on Sexual
Orientation and Gender Identity
December 17th, 2008
The past two weeks have been marked by significant achievements in the fight against homophobia in sport and the quest
for equal rights for the LGBT community.
On November 28, 2008, the UK Rugby Football League was
the first professional sports league to sign on to Stonewall’s
campaign against homophobia. The campaign will include
posters proclaiming “Some People are Gay. Get over it!” and
the formation of a RFL task force to support diversity initiatives
in the workplace. Read more at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/
sport/2008/nov/28/rugby-league-gay-rights-rfl-stonewall
On December 4, 2008, the Dutch ministers for Gay emancipation and Sports, signed an alliance with several straight and
gay sport organizations in The Netherlands to kick off the ‘Gay
& Straight Alliance’ (GSA), to promote discussion and social acceptance of homosexuality in sports.
On December 11, 2008, the International
Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission released a statement noting the upcoming address on Sexual Orientation and
Gender Identity at the United Nations General Assembly. This address will be the first
of its kind and is supported by 50 nations
around the world. The address will mark
the 60th anniversary of the UN Declaration
on Human Rights and calls for the eradication of human rights abuse based on gender
identity and sexual orientation. Read the
press release here: http://www.iglhrc.org/
site/iglhrc/section.php?id=5&detail=908
GLISA International is committed to
building a global LGBT sporting community
that is free from homophobia. GLISA supports these recent efforts. For more information visit www.glisa.org
44
Community Spotlight
Alberta Gay & Lesbian Film Fest Finds New Home
By Spencer Tyler
The FairyTales International Gay & Lesbian Film
Festival, reeling from the success of last year’s tenth
anniversary celebration, is hoping that 2009 will
bring continued prosperity. The non-profit organization, FairyTales Presentation Society made the
decision to open an office space that would contain
a GLBTTQ movie resource library accessible to the
public.
“There were a few options bandied about,” explains Festival
Director Matt Salton. “But in the end we decided on shared
space with Calgary Outlink Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity because it’s a terrific organization and located on 17th
Avenue where we can expect a lot of queer traffic.”
Indeed the building at 1230A 17th Avenue is a small hub
for queer businesses that includes the head office of Outlooks
Magazine, IModel Management, Dabble Event Inc, and the
Blake Fiero Salon. The location is also conveniently located
next to gay owned Priape, Blubox Inc. and JaroBlue.
The DVD resource library has already taken shape with over
a hundred titles for the community to choose from including
short films, documentaries, and TV series.
of packing up some films and taking them on the road.”
And FairyTales has already been busy traveling since the
tenth anniversary festival wrapped last summer. Salton has
represented the festival and Calgary at the Vancouver Out
on Screen Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, the Winnipeg Reel
Pride Festival, Montreal’s Image + Nation Film Festival and
Kingston’s reelout queer film festival. In addition, FairyTales’
Board President Gordon Sombrowski has visited film festivals
in South America and Germany, and programmer Amy Darling
attended the Slamdance Film Festival and the Sundance Film
Festival in Utah to bring Albertans the best queer themed movies for 2009.
“We’re really excited by the quality of films being made over
the past year,” Salton says. “I think our eleventh year is really
going to reflect a truly international collection of excellent,
original film and video works.”
The eleventh FairyTales International Gay & Lesbian Film
Festival runs ten days from May 28th to June 6th but you can
catch their monthly screenings at The Plaza Theatre in Kensington usually around the last Wednesday of the month. You
can go to their website at www.fairytalesfilmfest.com to check
out their calendar of events or for information on sponsorship
or donating to the festival.
“We want this library to be a resource for education on
sexuality and diversity,” says Salton. “ But we also want to
provide the community with access to some more popular titles
that are still hard to find in Calgary for pure entertainment like
Queer as Folk, all five seasons of the L Word, Torchwood and
Doctor Who.”
The library also contains classic films like The Boys in the
Band, Desert Hearts, The Watermelon Woman and Longtime
Companion as well as Criterion Collections of Gus VanSant’s
Mala Noche and Kevin Smith’s Chasing Amy. It also includes
its fair share of campy titles like Skyjacked, The Eyes of Laura
Mars, Mommy Dearest and the Village People musical Can’t
Stop the Music.
One genre of cinema the FairyTales Resource Library will not
carry is the triple X variety. “There’s enough places in Calgary
where the public can access porn.” Salton says. “We’re by no
means being prudent as we do carry some pretty steamy titles
but there is an artistic context to these films that mainstream
adult videos lack.”
There is no rental cost associated with borrowing films if
you are already a member of the society, which now only costs
ten dollars. It includes additional benefits like a dollar off any
FairyTales film screening and the opportunity to buy advanced
tickets to the festival.
FairyTales is also planning to take the show on the road
in 2009. “I think I’d like to call it ‘Reels on Wheels’,” Salton
laughs. “We’ve been hearing time and time again from gays and
lesbians in smaller, rural centers of Alberta who’d appreciate
some queer culture in their communities. So we’ve invested in
some technical equipment so that now we have the capabilities
45
Health Advice
Self Care is Key to Living with HIV
By Mark Randall
Well another year down and a new one before us;
the time when people make personal resolutions to
improve their lifestyle or way of living. I myself prefer
to set goals rather than resolutions; and not crazy
unachievable goals, but ones with a more realistic
chance of success for me when all is said and done.
One of my goals for this year, I make to myself at the start of
every New Year: to live my life in as “healthy” a way as possible
in order to prevent my HIV infection from moving into serious
illness, requiring major medications to deal with one or more
of the numerous infections than can occur.
In the last year I have had a number of friends and acquaintances come to me and share their recent HIV diagnoses, and
pose a similar question. “What do I do now to make sure I do
not get worse?” Honestly, that answer is not set in stone. I
have only my personal experience, the life stories shared with
me by many people living with HIV, and promises offered by
medicines developed over the last 20 years by pharmaceutical
companies and implemented by the physicians providing our
health care.
There are of course the obvious things that we can do like
sleep well, eat right, exercise and all the other great things we
know we should be doing more often. I suppose these statements can relate to anyone who really wants to live healthy.
But the one sure answer I can give persons living with HIV is
that the road to staying well for as long as possible depends on
our individuals choices, and our access to medicines, physicians and health care. We as persons infected with HIV must
follow through on the prescribed medication treatments made
by our HIV professional (adherence to medications), abstain
from abuse of alcohol, non prescribed drugs and other medications, and develop a strong sense of personal self worth and
being. For those battling HIV infection or any other disease
this is most important for maintaining good health as long as
possible.
I wish to focus more on the detrimental aspects of personal
self harm through the use and abuse of alcohol, drugs, and
other risky behaviours. It has been a cycle that almost every
person I have known to be living with HIV has gone through;
where they have considered one or more of them as an option
to escape the reality of their HIV diagnosis. But I have witnessed friends who were at the bottom of a bottle pull themselves back to help educate, support and advocate for other
persons with HIV and live a long and healthy life to this very
day. I have sadly also witnessed those who were swept away by
their addictions, making their HIV progress faster, and leading
them to an early end.
Cocaine and its many variations are known to allow HIV
replication to increase by as much as 10 times the normal
rate, and have a direct impact on the medications used to treat
HIV infection. Cocaine also has an impact on the respiratory
system after prolonged use and when smoked in its “crack”
form, leading to rotten teeth and gums that allow for greater
infection and illnesses to take hold. The same danger exists
46
with other party drugs such as Ecstasy, Special K, etc. which
are known to have serious conflicts and side effects when combined with HIV treatment medications.
Alcohol is well known for having a negative impact on HIV
treatment medications; many are basically very powerful
antibiotics, and their efficacy is reduced with the use or abuse
of alcohol like any other antibiotic. Another scary reality is
that almost all HIV medications are passed through the liver,
and adding alcohol use or abuse to that scenario can cause of
serious liver damage and or failure; more so in a person who
may be infected with both HIV and HCV (Hepatitis C). The
other effect on medications is that the HIV virus can develop a
resistance to these life saving medications more quickly if the
body is under the additional stresses of excessive drug and or
alcohol use.
The other destructive behavior that I commonly discuss with
others living with HIV is that of increased risky sexual behaviours. Having unprotected sex without regard because one is
already infected, or unprotected sex with another person who
is HIV positive, are dangerous avenues to travel - yet so many
have admitted to going down one or more of these paths. Some
have made these choices for a short period of time, while others continue to struggle to find the strength and supports they
need in order to realize that they are doing themselves further
harm, and sadly some are simply lost; for now.
Cocaine and its many variations are known to
allow HIV replication to increase by as much as 10
times the normal rate, and have a direct impact
on the medications used to treat HIV infection.
The reality I feel is that the shame, stigma, embarrassment
and fear of what friends and family will say when they find
out about our HIV status may lead us to engage in harmful
activities and to take directions we would otherwise not even
consider - all in an effort to escape from the reality we must
face in order to survive and live well with this infection.
It is my hope that in the coming year, persons living with
HIV - especially those newly diagnosed – will make connections to support systems and other persons living with HIV to
help them through the reality of their diagnosis. You are not
alone, and you do not have to feel that way. Please speak with
your doctors honestly and openly, as that is the only way for
them to provide you with the best care for your HIV infection. They also have the connections and access to help you
overcome many addiction issues in a full and comprehensive
circle of care unique to your needs. It is up to you to make the
choice and commitment. HIV is no longer an “end of the world”
diagnosis unless you choose to take the road of self-harm over
self-care.
I encourage you to make the connections you need and find
your “KEY” to self care and living well with HIV.
If you have questions or concerns about living with HIV/AIDS, assisting
those living with HIV/AIDS or you have ideas and suggestions for
future articles related to HIV/AIDS please forward them to m.randall@
gaycalgary.com.
Theatre Preview
The High Performance Rodeo
Theatre Festival Continues Distinctively Queer Bent
By Rob Diaz-Marino, MSc.
One Yellow Rabbit’s High Performance Rodeo has a
long history of offering unique theatrical experience
to Calgary patrons. Of the many types of shows that
have been part of the last 23 years, there has always
been at least one gay performer or related show. Not
an accident, says curator Michael Green.
“It is absolutely a conscious decision. I really wouldn’t feel
comfortable having a festival that didn’t have at least one
show that wasn’t blatantly gay. At the same time my definition
of queer includes gay. There are all kinds of queer works at
the festival but always at least one gay work.”
Recent years have included gay band The Hidden Cameras,
one-man show Stand Up Homo!, Annie Sprinkle’s wedding,
and last years smash hit BASH’D! The Gay Rap Opera.
“Bash’d came to us from New York and then went back afterwards. That was a smashing success. The Hidden Cameras
went on to sell a number of albums after they played here.
The interesting thing about Annie Sprinkle’s wedding was that
it was year three of a seven-year project that she was doing
around the world, but only in Calgary could they get married
legally. It was an event of international stature and a real community event because everyone in Calgary was invited to their
wedding. That was really beautiful. On our very first festival
23 years ago we had new work by Sky Gilbert, who was the artistic director of Canada’s largest queer festival in the country.
I do my best to bring gay work to the festival and hopefully put
Calgary’s gay community on the map in an international way
that will also appeal to a broad public.”
This year’s most obvious gay-related show is Scott Thompson’s Scottastrophe. While Scott made it clear in our December 2008 issue that the show was not about being gay, as an
openly gay performer Green does consider it the primary gay
show of the Festival.
“OYR and the Kids in the Hall have been friends from the
beginning. We always have kept up with each other’s work
and been fans. Scott is the fourth of the five kids we have had
at our festival.”
There are other shows that will be of specific queer interest,
although the festival offers a broad spectrum that will interest
regardless of your sexuality.
“I don’t want to trick your readership into coming to see
something and then go away and say oh that wasn’t gay or
that was too queer for me. I can say for young people who
are exploring their sexuality and the definition of queer, they
should not miss Midway and Freak Show. Fans of the outrageous gay painter Francis Bacon should not miss Theatre
Labors’ Body Fragments. The first love affair between men that
was ever written about was Gilgamesh and Enkidu, which is
in OYR’s Gilgamesh Lazyboy.”
that have already generated a buzz. One is the addition of
acclaimed pianist Philip Glass who will have several concerts
and events.
“We are very lucky to have him as our artist in residence.
A number of years ago we had him out as a solo performer.
We quite liked him and got along well. As he has developed,
his work has become more spectacular and beautiful, he is
more influential now than he has ever been. More people are
hearing his work through films. We called him and asked if he
would be interested in coming back to something a little out of
the ordinary. Together we cooked up this idea of him collaborating with the Kronos quartet to perform his film score for the
1931 Bela Lugosi film Dracula. That is going to be screened
live, and it is only the third time in the world it has been done
- New York, LA and now in Calgary.”
Another highly anticipated show is Frankenstein, playing at
Theatre Calgary.
“I have seen the piece and I can tell you it is the most stunning piece of theatre in Canada right now. There is a reason
it is touring North America for 7 weeks right after the rodeo,
and why it is almost sold out. It is a piece of stunning virtuoso
theatricality. The set is made entirely of paper, I just love the
gorgeous light that is thrown onto it. It actually is not only a
charming story, but in fact the story from the Mary Shelley
Novel. You can take the whole family to that. I also think your
readership should plan on coming out to High Performance
Chef. That is going to be an experience for Uninhibited Gourmands. Four restaurants, one night each; the chef has been
invited to perform as an artist. They will create art that we will
then show up and eat and enjoy.”
Green’s excitement for the event is contagious.
“When it comes time to decide who is invited to the festival,
I imagine that we are putting on a smorgasbord. It is really
important that we respect the breadth of taste that Calgary
has, the varied appetites. We are a multidisciplinary theatre
company, always have been, so we have to have a variety with
dance, music, international work, different segments of our
rich community. Calgary loves it, and that feels good! When
we are given the opportunity to do something that Calgarians express so much satisfaction in, actually buy tickets
and come. It is not often in the world that one gets the sense
that you are doing the right thing. With the High Performance
Rodeo there is full evidence of that.”
One Yellow Rabbit presents
The High Performance Rodeo
January 5th - 31st, 2008
www.oyr.org
What else awaits rodeo goers? The list is so long it would
be impossible to touch on each, but there are a few events
47
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f Medical/Dental ...................... 562
f Moving ................................. 565
f Musician ............................... 567
f Photography.......................... 572
f Real Estate/Mortgage............. 575
f Relaxation............................. 577
f Retirement Homes ................. 580
Destinations ............................. 600
f Accommodation ..................... 610
f Bar/Restaurant ...................... 620
f Culture .................................. 630
f Guided Tour ........................... 640
f Tourist Sights......................... 670
f Time Share............................ 675
f Travel ................................... 680
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Obituary
170
Our Friend Sharon Boutilier passed
away after a short but courageous
battle with cancer at the Foothills
Hospital on December 8th, 2008.
She will be lovingly remembered
by her parents, Reg and Mary, large
extended family and numerous
friends and co-workers in Calgary
and Toronto. She was active in
Women on Track, the Calgary
Film Festival, Pride Calgary and
Toastmasters International. Sharon
will be remembered for her great
ability to laugh and for her love of a
good time with her friends. She will
be dearly missed.
Audio/Video
312
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Mail Forwarding
To reply by post, mail to:
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Male Friends
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49
Movie Review
From Book to Screen
Adapting the Queer Woman
By Matt Salton
Many a movie has been adapted from beloved written works about women loving women and fascinating bisexual or lesbian characters. Although with
a few exceptions, it hasn’t been until recently that
cinematic scribes have been able to remain faithful to the source writer’s original intent. Thanks in
large part to the Hayes Code and shortly after, the
Catholic Church-backed National Legion of Decency,
screenwriters were forbidden to write characters
the audience could readily interpret as identifiable
homosexuals. It was one thing for a screenwriter to
work around these immoral objections, but it was
an even greater challenge when adapting characters
and stories that were already familiar to the public.
The Haunting
(1963)
Directed by Robert
Wise
Adapted by Nelson
Gidding from the
novel The Haunting of Hill House by
Shirley Jackson
(Screening Wednesday, January 21st,
7pm at The Plaza
Theatre)
A group of paranormal researchers
gather to research
the validity of
whether a giant,
crumbling mansion
is perhaps the most
haunted place on
Earth. The character of Theodora or “Theo” played by darkly
beautiful Claire Bloom was written to have no discernable
sexual preference but arguably may have an attraction to
the other female researcher Nell, played by Julie Harris
in the film. Surprisingly, Director Robert Wise (West Side
Story, The Sound of Music) doesn’t seem to shy away from
Theo’s bisexuality and neither does Bloom’s interpretation of
the character, although in Gidding’s screenplay there is no
overt mention of it.
The Color Purple (1985)
Directed by Steven Spielberg
Adapted by Menno Meyjes from the novel by Alice
Walker
50
(Screening Wednesday, February 25th,
7pm at The Plaza
Theatre)
Alice Walker was
never afraid to admit
she was not happy
with the idea of a
wealthy, Jewish,
white male taking on
the film translation
of her Pulitzer Prize
winning story about
the hardships faced
by African-American
women in the deep
south over the early
years of the 20th
century. Indeed,
the film’s release
garnered as many
negative reviews as
accolades primarily
for Speilberg’s grandiose style of cinematic storytelling and
the manipulative score by Quincy Jones channeling John
Williams.
However gay groups were most upset about the complete
watering down of the relationship between Celie (Whoopi
Goldberg) and her husband’s mistress Shug Avery (Margaret
Avery). In fact, anyone watching the film that is unfamiliar with Walker’s novel might be a bit confused by the only
scene that addresses the true nature of Celie and Shug’s
relationship: when a female bonding moment ends with an
awkward, lingering kiss with no inkling of lesbian desires
prior to, or following that scene.
The Children’s
Hour (1961)
Directed by William
Wyler
Adapted by John
Michael Hayes (although credited as by
Lillian Hellman from
her play of the same
name, but Hellman
later declared she has
nothing to do with it.)
For anyone who has
seen MILK recently,
you’ll know that gay
and lesbian educators are always easy
targets for homophobia. In The Children’s
Hour, Shirley “Give
Movie Review
my Daughter the Shot!” MacLaine and Audrey Hepburn play
childhood friends and headmistresses of an all-girls private
school. They face the evil childhood wraith of one of their
students spreading malicious lesbian rumours about the
headmistresses, causing a disastrous and tragic backlash.
The original 1936 adaptation was titled “These Three” and
thanks to the Hayes Code, there was not to be even a mention that the film was based on Hellman’s play. The film’s
director William Wyler was quoted as saying, “Miss Hellman’s play has yet to be filmed”. So, almost 30 years later,
Wyler attempted to make the film that he intended with
lesbian content in tact. It’s hard to believe, watching this
version, that Wyler got his wishes. Lesbianism is portrayed
as wicked and something to be histrionically guilty of, and in
the end, Hepburn’s character marries a man and MacLaine’s
character hangs herself!
the more pleasantly surprised you will be, but let’s just say
it tells the love story between a male impersonator named
Kitty (Keeley Hawes) and her starstruck admirer Nan (Rachael Stirling). The story is solid, and the sex is scorching,
a feat in itself considering the bleak, cold and wet backdrop
of 1890s London. If you haven’t read Waters, do yourself a
favor and pick up a copy of one of her novels this weekend.
There are currently two other films adapted from her novels
, Affinity (2008) and Fingersmith (2005).
Tipping the
Velvet (2002)
Directed by Geoffrey Sax
Adapted by Andrew Davies from
the novel by
Sarah Waters
A reason to
rejoice as here is a
faithful adaptation
of a seriously sexy
and enthralling
lesbian romance
that has captivated audiences
since its initial
release as a miniseries by the BBC.
Novelist Waters
has made a living
writing gothic
lesbian romances
set during 19th
century England,
usually involving one humdinger of a dramatic twist or two.
However it was Tipping The Velvet that has always held a
special place in millions of readers’ hearts and it was apparent that the filmmakers were very conscious that they
needed to get it right. The less you know about the plot,
51
Review
Music Review
LaBelle, Williams, Gaga, and McLachlan
By Rob Diaz-Marino
The album finishes off with the famous song, “Miss Otis
Regrets” – a convoluted and tragic story summarized in the
simple and polite phrase, “Miss Otis regrets she’s unable to
lunch today.”
“Back to Now” by Patti LaBelle
Now here’s a name that you might not have heard for a
while…at least, not since the last drag show. Patti LaBelle
and her group The Bluebelles spent fifteen years together
with a consistent commitment to bringing energy, excitement and soul power to live performances, and cutting-edge
innovation to a series of classic albums until 1976, when
they separated to pursue individual goals. Thirty-two years
later, they are back together on center stage!
Inside the album tri-fold we see the three ladies, including
Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash, dressed to impress at a dinner table with a plate of fried chicken and cornbread in clear
view - any more racial stereotypes they want to reinforce
while they’re at it? Well…I guess this is a blast from the
past, so we’ve got to roll with it.
Speaking of rolling, my favorite track on the album “Rollout” came second in order. It’s an upbeat but still slightly
subdued number with some nifty voice-pitching effects; a
nice contrast from many of the other tracks that sound quite
old fashioned. Nonetheless, I still enjoyed ones like “Candlelight”, “The Truth Will Set You Free”, and “How Long”.
In a few cases, despite songs not appealing to me melodically, I still had to acknowledge the powerful message that
they carried: “Tears for the World” provided a commentary
on how oblivious we can be to all the terrible things going on
in the rest of the world. Meanwhile, “Dear Rosa” was a tribute to the famous black woman Rosa Parks who refused to
move from her seat on the bus that was reserved for whites
– known as the Montgomery Bus Boycott – subsequently
sparking a civil rights movement.
52
“Unexpected” by Michelle Williams
You may know Michelle Williams as one third of Destiny’s
Child. To this point, her two solo albums have been in the
genre of gospel, which is why this album is so “Unexpected”.
“This is simply another facet of who I have always been,”
says Williams. “I think there have been minor misperceptions of me. Yes, I take my work seriously. I’m a serious
performer, and I’m an actress, and I’m a person of faith.
But I’m also a girl who likes to cut loose. I like to hit the
dance floor with my friends and party and laugh. This album is about that side of me.”
In the September 2008 edition, we reviewed her single “We
Break the Dawn” which appears on this album. Intriguingly
there is a second part to this song later in the list – more like
a remix with an energetic beat, dramatic strings, and male
vocals by Flo Rida.
“Hello Heartbreak” was an instant favorite with its electronic synths and sad lyrics, and “Private Party” was pretty
damn catchy, with a satisfying base line. On the flip side,
I also quite enjoyed “Too Young For Love”, although admittedly I found it a bit naïve and saccharine
Initially I didn’t like the slower tracks like “The Greatest”,
“Unexpected”, and “Thank U”, but found that they grew on
me the more I listened to them. I particularly liked the lyrics
Review
in “Thank U”, where Williams sings about how grateful she
is to her Ex for pushing her away, “…cause I almost loved
you forever, never would have found someone better.”
somewhere, and if it appealed to you in the slightest, then it
is worthwhile to give the rest of the album a listen!
“Closer” by Sarah McLachlan
“The Fame” by Lady Gaga
I haven’t enjoyed an album so completely since I reviewed
Kylie Minogue’s “X” earlier this year. I only had good things
to say when I reviewed “Just Dance” as a single back in September 2008, but I was looking at just one song that, for all
I knew, was best of the bunch. That was definitely not the
case. In fact, I found several tracks that I liked even more!
“The Fame is about how anyone can feel famous,” Lady
Gaga explains. “Pop culture is art. It doesn’t make you cool
to hate pop culture, so I embraced it and you hear it all over
The Fame. But it’s a sharable fame. I want to invite you all
to the party. I want people to feel a part of this lifestyle.”
It’s easy to get lost in the energetic dance melody of “Love
Game”, but make sure you pay attention to the deliciously
dirty lyrics. I loved it - it put a few naughty smirks on my
face. “Paparazzi” was beautiful and mesmerizing, and I’ve
been hearing the hit “Poker Face” all over the radio these
days.
On my first listen I wasn’t crazy about “Beautiful, Dirty,
Rich” but it didn’t take too long before the damn song got
stuck in my head. Now it’s one of my favorites, it’s cheeky
and exhilarating. I love the parts where the instruments
drop out briefly before launching with conviction into chorus. Another track that I warmed up to was “Starstruck”,
with its spellbinding prickly synths; a collaboration with
Space Cowboy and Flo Rida.
“Paper Gangsta” has a lot slower pace, but a poignant
tone to it that I found captivating. Lady Gaga sets the diva
bravado aside for a sweeter tone in “Nothing Else I Can Say”,
“Brown Eyes” and “Summerboy”.
I think I just saw a few drag queens perk up! This album
is an anthology of McLachlan’s hand-picked best works
throughout her illustrious career, from her albums Fumbling
Toward Ecstasy, Surfacing, Mirrorball, and Afterglow. This
compilation even includes two previously unreleased tracks,
“U Want Me 2” and “Don’t Give Up On Us”, that fans will be
eager to hear.
McLachlan’s style was quite different from the other CDs
that I reviewed this month. Her songs have a beautiful
and wholesome feel to them that is easy on the ears. While
they may not be quite as energetic as something by a dance
floor diva, her list of awards and acclaims speaks for itself.
Perhaps her gentle style is what gave her past albums such
wide appeal. How can you argue with someone who has hit
10x platinum on one of album, and multi-platinum on the
rest?
Admittedly I wasn’t familiar with the work of Sarah
McLachlan until I listened to this CD. Yes, I realize some
of you are wondering what rock I’ve been under. Of course
the name sounded familiar, and I recognized the melody
of “Adia” from way back. Songs like “Angels” and “Stupid”
have been popular numbers in the drag scene. So it was
just a matter of putting two and two together.
Of the collection I enjoyed cheerful songs like “Vox”, “The
Path of Thorns (Terms)”, and some of her more troubled
numbers like “Building a Mystery”, “Adia”, and “Stupid”. I
particularly liked the pace and instrumentation of “Sweet
Surrender”. Of the two brand new tracks, I preferred the
bittersweet “U Want Me 2”.
The album plays well as a whole, and can be a pleasant way to relax or even drown your sorrows. And for drag
queens who like their classic ballads and heart-string pullers, Closer is a veritable gold mine!
So my final remark is that I highly recommend this
album. No doubt you have already heard “Just Dance”
53
Queer Eye - Community Events
Goliath’s and the Texas Lounge 21st Anniversary - Calgary
54
Madonna Tribute Party at the Crazyhorse - Calgary
Apollo Calgary Xmas Mixer at the Backlot - Calgary
Xmas Dinner at the Calgary Eagle - Calgary
55
Binky & Vanity Show at Boots - Edmonton
56
Xmas Show at Buddy’s - Edmonton
ARGRA Xmas Dinner - Calgary
Calgary Men’s Chorus Xmas Concert - Calgary
57
New Years Eve Parties at Backlot, Calgary Eagle, Hotel Arts,
Money-Pennies, Speak Easy and the Texas Lounge - Calgary
58
New Years Eve Parties at Backlot, Calgary Eagle, Hotel Arts,
Money-Pennies, Speak Easy and the Texas Lounge - Calgary
59
New Years Eve Parties at Boots, Buddy’s, Play, Prism and
Woody’s - Edmonton
60
New Years Eve Parties at Boots, Buddy’s, Play, Prism and
Woody’s - Edmonton
61
62
63

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine

Transcription

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