Photography - GayCalgary.com

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JULY 2011
ISSUE 93 • FREE
The Voice of Alberta’s LGBT Community
magazine
One-on-One with
LADY
GAGA
Interview with
Dallas Green
PLUS Coverage of:
Edmonton Pride
Lethbridge Pride
ARGRA Rodeo
Interview with
and more!
Business Directory
k.d. lang
Scan to Read on
Mobile Devices
http://gettag.mobi
Community Maps
Calgary • Edmonton • Alberta
Events Calendar
Tourist Information
STARTING ON PAGE 17
www.gaycalgary.com
2
GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine #93, July 2011
www.gaycalgary.com
Table of Contents
JULY 2011
Photography
Steve Polyak, Rob Diaz-Marino,
Videography
Steve Polyak, Rob Diaz-Marino
Printers
Transcontinental Printing
Distribution
Calgary: Gallant Distribution
GayCalgary Staff
Edmonton: Clark’s Distribution
Other: Canada Post
Legal Council
Courtney Aarbo, Barristers and Solicitors
Sales & General Inquiries
GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine
2136 17th Avenue SW
Calgary, AB, Canada
T2T 0G3
Office Hours: By appointment ONLY
Phone: 403-543-6960
Toll Free: 1-888-543-6960
Fax: 403-703-0685
E-Mail: [email protected]
This Month's Cover
Lady Gaga (Photo by Nick Knight), Dallas Green
(Vanessa Heins), and k.d. lang (Photo by The
Fun Star).
Proud Members of:
Publisher’s Column
8 Dallas Green’s Little Hell
City & Colour back with new album
PAGE 8
Chris Azzopardi, Dave Brousseau, Jason Clevett,
Andrew Collins, Rob Diaz-Marino, Janine Eva
Trotta, Jack Fertig, Glen Hanson, Joan Hilty, Evan
Kayne, Stephen Lock, Chantal Macleod, Allan
Neuwirth, Steve Polyak, Carey Rutherford, Romeo
San Vicente, Ed Sikov, Nick Vivian and the LGBT
Community of Calgary, Edmonton, and Alberta.
Not In Kansas Anymore
12 Queer Eye - Part 1
17 Directory and Events
23 Kicking Balls
The Bow River Football Club
24 A Conflict between Faith-based
Education within Public Schools and
Secular Tradition
26 Calgary Outlink Reaches Out
27 Q Scopes
Pay attention, Capricorn!
28 Deep Inside Hollywood
Hugh Jackman can’t help loving musical theater
29 Cocktail Chatter
Jack Fogg Rolls In: The Bourbon Sour
30 Why the Umbrella Failed – Part 1
32 Alyssa Reid Brings The Game
Edmonton-born singer returns home
33 Anything Goes
Edmonton Rainbow
Business Association
PAGE 12
Writers and Contributors
5
PAGE 23
Publisher: Steve Polyak
Editor: Rob Diaz-Marino
Sales: Steve Polyak
Design & Layout:
Rob Diaz-Marino, Steve Polyak
This Year’s Fringe Fest Celebrates Sexuality, Individuality and
Community Spirit
36 Out of Town
The French Riviera: Nice and Cannes
International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association
National Lesbian & Gay
Journalists Association
39 k.d. lang: ‘Loud’ and Proud
Singer talks being butch, out and the first gay country star
PAGE 32
38Wicked Impresses in Calgary Debut
Continued on Next Page 
www.gaycalgary.com
3
Table of Contents
 Continued From Previous Page
43 A Couple of Guys
44 Bitter Girl
45 Star Trekking in Calgary
PAGE 39
Beaming Down White Hats
46 InnerSPACE
Sci-fi Hosts at the Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo
48 Western Canadian Pride Festival
For the Community, by the Community
Monthly Print Quantity:
9,000–11,000 copies
Guaranteed Circulation: 8,500 copies
Bonus Circulation: 500–2,500 copies
Readership
Readers Per Copy: 4.9 (PMB)
Print Readership: >41,650
Avg. Online Circulation: 150,000 readers
Estimated Total Readership:
>191,650 readers
Frequency: Monthly
Proof of monthly figures are
available on request.
49 Classified Ads
51 The (Gay) GAGA Interview
Superstar talks activism, her legacy and how being a gay icon is a ‘tall order’
54 Chelsea Boys
PAGE 46
Magazine Figures
Distribution Locations:
Calgary: 160, Edmonton: 120
Other Alberta Cities: 15
Other Provinces: 35
United States: 15
Please call us if your establishment would
like to become a distribution location.
55 Queer Eye - Part 2
History
Originally established in January
1992 as Men for Men BBS by MFM
Communications. Name changed to
GayCalgary in 1998. Independent
company as of January 2004. First edition
of GayCalgary.com Magazine published
November 2003. Name adjusted in
November 2006 to GayCalgary and
Edmonton Magazine.
Disclaimer and Copyright
PAGE 48
Opinions expressed in this magazine
are specific to the author, and do not
necessarily reflect those of GayCalgary
staff and contributors.
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advertisers,
contributors, or the subjects of articles
or photographs, are not necessarily gay,
lesbian, bisexual, or trans. This magazine
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No part of this publication may be reprinted
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Copyright 2011. All rights reserved.
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August 2011 Print Deadlines
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Submission: Tues, Aug 2nd
In Circulation: Thurs, Aug 4th
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Editorial
Not In Kansas Anymore
Publisher’s Column
By Rob Diaz-Marino, MSc.
June never fails to be a crazy month, and this one was both a
literal and figurative whirlwind…
Pride 2011
At its very outset we were up in Edmonton for their Pride celebrations.
Though the parade went down a different route this year, it still had its
destination at Churchill Square for the street festival. People lined up for
hours to get into the packed beer gardens, however plenty stayed on the
sidelines to take in the live entertainment and enjoy the sunny weather.
As we’ve done for the past several years, I took a video recording of the
parade which can be viewed on our website (at www.gaycalgary.com/a2292)
while Steve took photos. Then we split off, each with cameras, to photograph
the show and attendees having fun and losing clothes. I followed suit, losing
my shirt for my first opportunity of the year to soak up some sun through a
layer of SPF 30.
This year’s entertainment wasn’t as drag-heavy as it has been in previous
years, which made way for a unique variety of bands and singers. One singer
was Robin S, the voice behind the famous song “Show Me Love”, while the
lead of another act wore gold spandex pants and sung Lady Gaga’s Judas to
a pygmy-sized blow-up doll with Stephen Harper’s face taped onto it.
As the celebration was winding down, we got packed up and headed
toward the Edmonton Expo Centre for the Pure Pride dance. We stopped in a
nearby parking lot for a brief nap before heading in. You may remember the
Pure Pride dance last year, which was held in a huge underground parking
lot. Once again the boys from Pure Pride put on a spectacular event that
included a fashion show by Priape, performances by Mark Sheppard, several
high-end DJs, some celebrity go-go dancers, and some highly suggestive
shadow play by porn star Brent Everett.
The next morning, still a little groggy from all the activity the day prior,
we headed out for the Pride Festival Pancake Breakfast, and shortly after,
brunch at the Pride Centre of Edmonton.
A GAYmazing Birthday
The next weekend, I had been up quite late the Friday night completing
the electronic side for the GAYmazing Race being put on by Pride Calgary.
We had published a number of tags in the June edition of the magazine, their
purpose mysterious until they came into play for this scavenger hunt. Teams
were given clues at each location of which tag to scan, and what password to
use to access the clue that would lead them to the next location.
My 30th birthday fell on the Saturday of that weekend, and it was planned
that I would be up in Edmonton to cover the Gilligan’s Island Riverboat Party
being put on by Buddys. I was supposed to leave Calgary shortly after the
GAYmazing Race kicked off. However, we received the news that the party
had been postponed due to unfavourable conditions on the river caused by
the high volumes of rain. The event has been rescheduled to Friday, July
22nd starting at 7pm, and will be part of their week-long 11th birthday bash.
So unexpectedly I ended up in Calgary for my birthday with no plans
whatsoever. Following the GAYmazing Race Afterparty, we headed out
for dinner at our favorite Chinese buffet, then went out for some drinks at
Club Sapien and FAB since they were in walking distance from home. Both
www.gaycalgary.com
bars showed us some great hospitality on this rare occasion that I was out
drinking.
I STILL Heart Geeks!
This year’s Comic & Entertainment Expo was a huge hit yet again.
Though we hadn’t originally planned to do so, as a sponsor of the event we
were able to get a table to promote the magazine whilst we covered the event
and interviewed further sci-fi celebrities (to appear in this edition and next).
While manning our booth, two things became clear to me. One: Many of
those male geeks that get teased and taunted when they are young, grow up
to be some damn handsome and formidable looking men – you sure wouldn’t
want to mess with some of them now! Two: Our magazine was surprisingly
well received by the open-minded sci-fi crowd.
At one point, a large procession of people in zombie costumes shuffled
through the expo in honour of George Romero, despite being unable to attend
because of a recent injury. My witty comment, from the perspective of a
vendor, was, “the worst thing about zombies is that they never buy anything!”
We were also on the hunt for autographs from the people that we had
interviewed in the June edition of GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine. While
William Shatner was not accessible to us (and most mainstream media too),
we were still able to meet a few of them. Most memorable was Elvira, who
signed the cover of several copies for us. As she was doing this, some officials
of the expo emerged from the curtain behind her, escorting Mayor Nenshi
through to meet her! It was such a bizarre coincidence, but he was excited
for us to get photos of him with Elvira.
Lethbridge Pride Weekend
The following Friday we went ahead with my originally planned Birthday
party at the Calgary Eagle where we hung out with some friends and I got a
shameful reminder why I don’t overdo it on the drinking anymore. Thankfully
the only place I didn’t vomit was in the cab on the way home.
The next evening was Master Barry’s Celebration of Life party. Boy
David explained onstage that he and Barry had a conversation about how
to honour him after he passed away, and Barry’s wish was to bring people
of the community together to celebrate his life rather than to mourn. As he
hoped, the evening filled the Calgary Eagle and brought a lot of old friends
together again.
GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine has sponsored Lethbridge Pride for the
past 3 years, but this was the first time the event has not conflicted with
other major events happening in both Calgary and Edmonton that we needed
to cover. Steve and I made the road trip down on Sunday for their OUT in the
Park festival. Compared to Calgary and Edmonton Prides it was a fairly small
crowd, thinned by the constant flip-flopping of sun and rain that day, and the
voracious mosquitoes in the park.
We finally had the chance to meet a number of the organizers that we’ve
been corresponding with by Email for the past several years, and interact with
some of the attendees. Fendi from Calgary performed some drag numbers
amidst a variety of colourful belly dancers, hula dancers, clowns, and live
music. The Calgary-based band Hashmagandy finished off the afternoon.
5
 Editorial Contd.
Rodeo Weekend
It’s irrefutable that the annual Canadian Rockies International Rodeo put
on by ARGRA is the biggest LGBT event of the year for Alberta, and as was
pointed out, the second largest in Western Canada next to Vancouver Pride.
Since their move to Strathmore 3 years ago, ARGRA has been taking steps
each year to grow and engage a wider LGBT audience. This year we saw
some major improvements to the layout of the midway, and the variety of
attractions offered.
The Grandstands, food vendors, vendor tables, GayCalgary & Edmonton
Magazine Community Carnival, Beer Garden and Showboat Stage were all
along a single line going toward the evening dance venue and location for the
pancake breakfasts and dinners. Between the Carnival and the Beer Garden
was the new Memorial Garden – a picnic area amongst small cedar trees,
flowers, and a water fountain!
At the GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine Community Carnival, nonprofit groups set up carnival games in order to fundraise, or simply raise
awareness. Groups were relieved to have tenting overhead this year, other
than the particularly popular dunk tank run by the ISCCA. Dunking a drag
queen is a particularly irresistible prospect, made even sweeter by the notion
of a transparent window in the base of the tank to see them floundering
underwater. Even I took a few throws before the weekend was out.
Unfortunately by the end of the day it was difficult to see anything through
the cloudy dregs of their makeup swirling around in the water. Current
reigning Emperor Chris Tron, who was convinced to put himself up on the
plank at one point over the weekend, reported that the ISCCA raised over
$1500 thanks to dunking enthusiasts.
I booked some holiday time off of work so that we could head out on
Thursday and enjoy those two days before the real work began. During the
day on Saturday and Sunday we were rushing around taking photographs
around the campsites and midway, as well as photographing and videotaping
the main rodeo events in the arena. At the nighttime dances we put on a
presentation of photos and video taken during the day’s events. To pull this
off, this year we made use of a 12 foot (diagonal) inflatable screen outside
of the dance venue and one of the demo hybrid trucks provided by fellow
sponsor Jack Carter to contain our projection equipment – a reverse drive-in
theatre, so to speak.
On Sunday at about 3 in the afternoon, roughly half way through the
second day of rodeo events, a particularly nasty storm blew in. It was during
the transition between Women’s Barrel Racing and Men’s Barrel Racing
that the weather went from sunny to severely windy in a matter of seconds,
sending dust and debris (including unsecured tents) flying through the air.
Rodeo officials asked spectators in the grandstands to move back from the
front rows for their own safety while they waited to see if the conditions would
clear up as quickly as they manifested.
Steve left the shelter of our grandstand box to go secure the contents of
our vendor booth, and by the time he got back the wind was so bad that
he couldn’t get the door to shut properly. He told me he had overheard
ARGRA Officials discussing the fact that a Tornado warning was in effect
for Strathmore, so we decided to close the shutters on the box, pack up
our equipment and head back to our camp site to secure everything. Sure
enough, as we were walking away, there was an announcement at the
Grandstands asking everyone to evacuate to the nearby dance hall.
We headed there and I stayed put while Steve went back outside to find
our writer Evan, secure our campsite, and help round up anyone he saw
in the campground. Soon the dance hall was full of competitors, campers,
and their pets. The official announcement was made to the crowd. The bad
news: the Tornado warning, and reassurance that if the situation grew any
worse, we could take shelter in the basement of the dance hall. The good
news: the bar was open for everyone, excluding competitors.
After a long wait Evan, and then several minutes later Steve, arrived at the
dance hall – both a little wet from the rain. Soon after, an announcement
was made that the tornado warning had been upgraded to a tornado watch,
meaning that there had been touchdowns reported in Strathmore. Soon
after that, ARGRA president Greg Holsworth announced that the Rodeo
events would not be able to continue due to safety concerns. We found out
that regardless if the weather conditions improved in time, the debris in the
arena and in the grandstands, not to mention shaken mental state of the
people and the animals, would have made it dangerous to resume the rodeo
events. And so, the rodeo was effectively over.
As the weather improved nearly an hour later, and reports showed
Strathmore in the clear, people were permitted to leave the dance hall and
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If you go to Michigan State Rep. Dave Agema’s
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return to their campsites. The Awards Ceremony and Happy Trails Dance
were still a go, so we prepared the presentations for those events and got all
set up.
At the Awards Ceremony, it was clear that a few individuals were unhappy
about how the missed rodeo events were handled, however ARGRA officials
insisted that they followed the guidelines of the International Gay Rodeo
Association.
After this I made a quick trip back to Calgary to check on things, and
returned to the dance in time to have a few drinks and relax. Amidst several
“friends of Dorothy” references from people at the dance, Judy Munson told
us about how her Wild Drag Race team that day was slated to wear costumes
in a Wizard of Oz theme. How appropriate.
Positive Voices Award
At the AIDS Calgary Annual General Meeting last month, GayCalgary &
Edmonton Magazine was recognized for our support of the organization and
its goals and mandate, with the Positive Voices Award. We declined giving
a speech since neither Steve nor I am particularly confident with public
speaking – writing is my stronger suit, and so they heckled that I should
write something in this edition.
Neither Steve nor I am HIV positive, and yet from its initial conception we
have wanted this magazine to help disseminate AIDS awareness information.
We recognize that HIV/AIDS has devastated prior generations in the gay
community. We also recognize how difficult it is to motivate people to protect
themselves from this disease without at the same time encouraging them to
shun the people who are already affected by it.
While HIV/AIDS is not exclusively a “gay disease” as some would believe,
it is certainly a cause that the community has adopted as its own. For us, it
was never a question of whether we should be involved.
Since we started working with AIDS Calgary, their sister organization
HIV Edmonton, and numerous other sexual health organizations in Alberta,
we have helped to promote and cover countless fundraisers in the LGBT
community for HIV/AIDS related causes, and helped carry those messages of
awareness back to our readership. We have offered space whenever needed
to publish articles related to HIV/AIDS prevention and sexual health. We
have sponsored numerous AIDS Walks in both Calgary and Edmonton, and
this year we are proud to say that we are sponsoring every AIDS Walk event
across Alberta!
While it once may have been believed that the LGBT community was a
part of the problem, we are showing how the LGBT community of Alberta is
playing a major role in being part of the solution.
Thanks
We have to give a huge thank-you to our writer Evan Kayne who
volunteered his time this month to hold the fort at the GayCalgary &
Edmonton Magazine booths at Edmonton Pride, the Comic & Entertainment
Expo, and the ARGRA Rodeo. While Steve and I had to be running in all
directions, Evan helped to ensure there was consistently someone at our
booths to answer questions and to engage with.
The Snoopy Fence
Early this month before things got too busy, we finally finished building
our front fence to a point where it fully contained our front yard. The evening
that we completed our final push – installing the gate and sealing the
passageway at the side of the house with a piece of plastic trellis - we brought
Snoopy out to freely explore the front yard for the first time.
It was after dark and the grass was slightly wet from the rain during the
day, however Snoopy immediately took to exploring the perimeter, sniffing the
grass and plants, hiding in the shadows, pouncing at bugs, and occasionally
dashing around the yard making a comical “oor-oor-oor” sound. It was clear
that he was excited about this new world.
We brought out Salem for a bit, who hasn’t seen the grass since he was
a kitten. Snoopy playfully pounced on him from a dark corner, startling
him. Salem was anxious to run back toward the house, but seemed to enjoy
hanging out on the porch for a while.
We also tried bringing out Sparky, who supposedly spent his time prior to
us adopting him on a farm. Initially he was outright terrified – we plunked
him in the yard and he immediately tried to scuttle back inside, except
he couldn’t figure out that the stairs were climbable. He sat and howled
pathetically until we carried him up the stairs and onto the porch.
We had fulfilled my promise to Snoopy, and as I realized, a similar promise
to Salem that I had made shortly after his brother passed away. I was
definitely pleased with myself that day.
Edmonton Pride Parade
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7
Interview
 Dallas Green - City and Colour. Photos by Vanessa Heins
Dallas Green’s Little Hell
City & Colour back with new album
By Jason Clevett
For some, learning that you are the #1 album in Canada, ahead
of heavyweights Lady Gaga and Adele, would be cause for a
lavish champagne-fueled celebration. Something you should
know about Dallas Green is he’s not a champagne wishes and
caviar dreams kind of guy. When he got word of his newest
album Little Hell‘s ranking (it was also #2 in Australia and #28
in the US) his reaction was to carry on with everyday life.
“It is always nice when you hear things like that. I honestly don’t really
know or try and worry about numbers, I don’t know what they mean.
I appreciate that it sold so many copies. It is a great accomplishment I
guess. Somebody asked me how it felt to be number one, well I still took
the trash out yesterday.”
GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine spoke with Dallas in our third
interview with him, just 1 day after the announcement. He had just
wrapped up 6 interviews with media in Mexico, where Little Hell is the
first City and Colour album released there, and was enjoying doing
media from the comfort of his living room. A lot of media focuses on
awards and accolades, which Dallas says has never mattered to him.
“I think if you let it overwhelm you it can [matter], but I don’t care
about stuff like that. I am more concerned with writing a good song and
singing well and performing well, that’s what I care about. If I had to
choose, I could do without the interviews and photo shoots and awards.
I appreciate that it is part of it and comes along with it, but it’s not why I
do it. I have been playing guitar and singing for more than half my life, it
has become something I need to do rather than something I enjoy doing.
Winning a Juno doesn’t make me a better songwriter or sing better. It
is just something else for people to talk about. I still have to work and
worry about the song, which is why I concentrate more on that.”
Little Hell is Green’s third City and Colour album, and combined with
the three albums released as part of Alexisonfire, it is his 6th since 2004.
I asked Dallas when he last took time off.
“It depends on how you look at time off. I have days off between tours
where I am at home for a week. I haven’t really taken time away from
music since 2004. Right before Watch Out came out was when I had
some time. Then Sometimes came out in 2005, Crisis in 2006, we toured
on that for two years, Bring Me Your Love in 2008 and Old Crows/Young
Cardinals in 2009 and now Little Hell is out. So I guess 2004.”
When Alexisonfire wrapped up touring in December, Green was
already recording in the studio in January.
8
“I have a lot going on in my brain. If I had just said ok we finished
touring with Alexis I am going to take a year to myself, I wouldn’t have
been able to do that because I had all these songs demoed and in
my head, I had been sitting on some of them for almost two years. It
took me a few months after Bring Me Your Love to start writing what
would become City and Colour material because we were so fixated on
doing Old Crows. I don’t think I could have taken a break. We finished
touring in December with Alexis and I was supposed to finally go on my
honeymoon, it has been two years since we got married and I still haven’t
gone on one. We ended up canceling because I didn’t think I’d have
enough time between the vacation and going into the studio because I
had already booked it and I knew I needed to prepare mentally. With the
attention span being so short today, you have to keep people interested
in what you are doing. I guess I fear one day people won’t be interested
so I might as well give them everything I’ve got now. I guess I just have
a problem, and a very understanding wife which really helps. Hopefully
one day I will take a break or have a nervous breakdown and force myself
to take a break.”
When the first single Fragile Bird was released, the rock style of the
music came as a surprise.
“The first version of that song was acoustic and very slow, reminiscent
of my older stuff. I just thought there was more to discover from my own
perspective to that song. So I kept trying to re-work it and re-work it and
one day I discovered the groove that is now recognizable with that song.
I demoed it in my basement and at first I thought it was a little weird
for what people would assume is a City and Colour song. Then I realized
City and Colour can be anything I want it to be, because I’m in charge.”
“The reason I made it the first single was because I wanted to put
something different out and see how people would react. It is a good
sign of if people are going to grow and evolve with you. I know there will
always be people who just want me to put out a record of me playing
acoustic guitar sadly or quietly. I like lots of different music which in
turn makes me create lots of different styles of music. I thought it was
a good song so it is on the record, which is full of peaks and valleys and
ups and downs.”
“Most of the stuff I have been hearing is that people are liking it. There
are definitely some people who aren’t fans of it, but I think they just want
me to be the way I used to be. As a musician and songwriter you always
have to deal with that because music is such an emotional thing, you get
invested in certain songs and people, and when they change you aren’t
ready for it. What people forget is that they also change as well, they are
not the same person they were six years ago - when Sometimes came
out and they fell in love with that record - they are different and have
different tastes. I can’t really worry about what people will say, because
if I do that, I won’t be writing honest music from my perspective, I will be
thinking about what other people think. That works for other people that
are trying to be the biggest and best in the world but I just want to write
the songs that make me happy and hope some people get it.”
At first, Green planned on naming the album after the first song We
Found Each Other In The Dark.
www.gaycalgary.com
“That was what I was originally going
with, when I first started thinking about a
record and writing new songs. I wrote that
song early on and thought it was a cool
title. Then I wrote Little Hell and started
thinking about what Little Hell means to
me on a grander scale, and it just seemed
right. And the title is shorter which is
always good.”
Since Bring Me Your Love was released,
Green has toured the world with both
bands, gotten married (to So You Think
You Can Dance Canada host Leah Miller),
played at the Vancouver Olympics, won
awards, and made some awesome tall
friends, among other things. Many of these
experiences tied in with the songwriting for
this album.
up houses, and nowadays there are a lot of
those around the world. I always wonder
whenever I see one, what got it to that point.
What was it like before? I find myself staring
at it and wondering if a family had lived there,
what circumstances brought it to the way it is
now. That is what Natural Disaster is about,
which is something I probably never would
have written about without seeing the world.
My life directly relates to what the songs are
about.”
City & Colour returns to Calgary for the first
time in 2 years at the Calgary International
Folk Festival on July 21st. It is a stop among
a number of festivals including well known
ones like Glastonbury in the UK, Coachella in
California, and Lollapalooza in Chicago.
“Touring so much you get to see a lot of different things in the world.
Something that always resonates with me whenever I see it is boarded
“The main reason for doing festivals,
especially ones around the world, is to play
for people who don’t know who you are, or
have heard of you but haven’t seen you, and
are there to see their favorite band and will
check you out. It is an opportunity to play for
new [people] and create new fans out of that
experience. You also get to see bands that you
probably otherwise would never get to see. I
got to play at Coachella the same day as Kanye
West. I didn’t get to stay and see him because
he played really late and I had to go and catch
a flight but the idea that I got to play on the
same day as Kanye West is pretty cool because
it isn’t something that will happen very often.
Eminem is playing Lollapalooza and we are playing that. It is cool to be
on shows with such an eclectic bill of artists. We are playing a festival in
www.gaycalgary.com
“The way I write songs is a very personal
thing, I write about things in my life. All
those things have affected the songs.
O’Sister is about my sister, who went
through some things and I wasn’t there
for it because I was on tour so much
with my two bands, which is directly
responsible for the way I was feeling about
it. I probably would have felt this strongly
if I had been home but it may have come
across differently because I would have
been there to help and there to express my
feelings. Because I wasn’t, I had to write a
song about it.”
9
England that The Eagles are headlining. I’m not an Eagles fan but it is
crazy that we are playing a festival that they are at.”
The challenge in doing a festival set is selecting a set list. Instead of 2
hours for a theatre show, they may have 25 minutes to an hour to leave
an impression. With three albums plus often adding covers to his sets, it
can be hard to narrow it down.
“With the festival slots around the world where I am not as well known
as Canada, I have learned that you just have to go out and be short and
sweet. You get half an hour, you play five upbeat fun loving songs that
I can muster in the songs that I write, and that is it - go out, do your
thing and come off. If I headline some festivals in Canada, I try to mix it
up with new and old. I probably won’t play many new songs yet because
I want to keep people interested and it is hard to play a bunch of new
songs when people want to hear the old ones. We will save the new songs
for when we come back on a headlining tour.
In 2007 Green upset a writer for refusing to play his “hit” Save Your
Scissors at the Edmonton Folk Festival. Hopefully that writer isn’t
planning on attending the Calgary Folk Fest, or he will once again be
disappointed.
“That is definitely not going to happen, I have way more songs to pick
from now.”
One of the songs you likely will hear is Body in a Box off of Bring Me
Your Love. If you search YouTube afterwards, hopefully you won’t find it;
Green has been encouraging fans to put their cameras and cell phones
away for the song.
“That is something recently that I had been doing at my shows, trying
to have one song where people remember what it is like to just watch a
concert. People are so focused on remembering the moment that they are
actually forgetting to experience it while it is happening. I wanted to have
at least one song where people put their cameras and cell phones down
and just sang along and watched and didn’t stare at blue lights. Since I
started doing that I haven’t seen one new video on YouTube of Body in a
Box. That makes me happy because people are paying attention to that.
I have had a lot of people come up to me after and say that they didn’t
pick the camera back up for the rest of the show which is really cool.”
In recent years, I’ve seen a large number of gay and lesbian patrons
attending City and Colour concerts. On a recent US tour with Tegan and
Sara, Green became aware of a number of them as well.
“I noticed, definitely, after I toured with Tegan and Sara in America.
That opened up more of a lesbian crowd to me because they have a large
gay and lesbian following... I would go out and sing a song with them and
it would be 20 minutes before we got into the song because we would be
yapping away talking about nonsense. They are two amazing, amazing
women.”
That said, while he embraces anyone who listens to his music, Dallas
isn’t one to brag about who is in his audience.
“When you meet someone you can assume they are gay or straight
but, I don’t know who is or isn’t, or if there are a lot of gay people who
like my music. I never really like to go oh yeah I’ve got a huge gay
following or I’ve got a huge straight following. I want as many people to
listen to my music as possible and that is the main goal. You write a song
and hope whoever is listening, it doesn’t matter what they are to me as
long as they’re not an asshole then I am cool with it. As far as Canada I
don’t really know where it comes from. I am not going to say gay people
are more attracted to sensitive, honest music because I don’t know that
for certain. I appreciate their support just as much as I do the support of
anyone that listens to my music.”
City & Colour
Little Hell available now.
www.cityandcolour.ca
In Concert
Calgary Folk Music Festival - July 21st
10
www.gaycalgary.com
www.gaycalgary.com
11
Photography
Edmonton Pride
12
www.gaycalgary.com
Photography
PurePride Dance - Edmonton
www.gaycalgary.com
13
Photography
Canadian Rockies International Rodeo - Strathmore
14
www.gaycalgary.com
Photography
www.gaycalgary.com
15
Photography
Lethbridge Pride Festival
16
www.gaycalgary.com
Photography
24
DOWNTOWN CALGARY
61
37
43 41
4
55
9
60
2
34
33
16
1
35
59
36
3
5 6
62
N
13
1
2
3
4
5
6
Calgary Outlink---------- Community Groups
Aids Calgary------------- Community Groups
Backlot------------------------ Bars and Clubs
Calgary Eagle Inc.------------ Bars and Clubs
Texas Lounge----------------- Bars and Clubs
Goliath’s-------------------------- Bathhouses
9 FAB---------------------------- Bars and Clubs
13 Westways Guest House---- Accommodations
16 Priape Calgary------------------ Retail Stores
24 Courtney Aarbo----------------------- Services
33 Twisted Element-------------- Bars and Clubs
34 Vertigo Mystery Theatre------------- Theatre
35
36
37
41
43
55
FIND OUT!
CALGARY
LGBT Community Directory
GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine is the go-to source for
information about Alberta LGBT businesses and community
groups—the most extensive and accurate resource of its kind! This
print supplement contains a subset of active community groups
and venues, with premium business listings of paid advertisers.
✰....... Find our Magazine Here
......... Wheelchair Accessible
Spot something inaccurate or outdated? Want your business or
organization listed? We welcome you to contact us!
 403-543-6960
 1-888-543-6960
 [email protected]
http://www.gaycalgary.com/CalgaryTravelRss
http://www.gaycalgary.com/EdmontonTravelRss
Local Bars, Restaurants, and Accommodations info on the go!
http://www.gaycalgary.com/Directory
Accommodations
13 Westways Guest House--------------------✰

216 - 25th Avenue SW
 403-229-1758

1-866-846-7038

www.gaywestways.com
Bars & Clubs
3 Backlot----------------------------------- ✰
 403-265-5211
Open 7 days a week, 2pm-close
209 - 10th Ave SW
4 Calgary Eagle Inc.----------------------- ✰

424a - 8th Ave SE
 403-263-5847

http://www.calgaryeagle.com

Open Wed-Sun, 5pm-close
Leather/Denim/Fetish bar.
Club Paradiso

1413 - 9th Ave SE, 2nd Floor
403-265-5739

www.clubparadiso.ca  [email protected]
Fri: Garter Girls Burlesque. Sat: Carly’s Angels. Weekdays:
Magic, Comedy & Music.
60 Club Sapien------------------------------ ✰

1140 10th Ave SW
 403-457-4464

http://www.clubsapien.ca
Dance Club and Restaurant/Lounge.
Browse our complete directory of over 590 gay-frieindly listings!
www.gaycalgary.com
One Yellow Rabbit-------------------- Theatre
ATP, Alberta Theatre Projects-------- Theatre
Pumphouse Theatre----------------- Theatre
La Fleur-------------------------- Retail Stores
Lisa Heinricks----------Theatre and Fine Arts
Marquee Room--------------- Bars and Clubs
58
59
60
61
62
Theatre Junction--------------------- Theatre
Village Bistro & Lounge----------Restaurant
Club Sapien------------------- Bars and Clubs
Holidays on the Hill------------- Retail Stores
Concept Bar & Lounge------- Bars and Clubs
60 Concept Bar & Lounge---------------------✰

908 17th Ave SW
 403-228-1006

www.facebook.com/ConceptLounge
Premiere crossover lounge. Entrance on 16th Ave.
55 Marquee Room-----------------------------✰

612 - 8th Avenue SW

www.marqueeroom.com
Alternative night every Wednesday.
9 FAB--------------------------------------- ✰

1742 - 10th Ave SW
 403-263-7411

www.fab-bar.com
 Closed Mondays.
Bar and restaurant.
5 Texas Lounge-------------------------------✰

308 - 17 Ave SW
 403-229-0911

www.goliaths.ca

Open 7 days a week, 11am-close
33 Twisted Element----------------------------✰

1006 - 11th Ave SW
 403-802-0230

www.twistedelement.ca
Dance Club and Lounge.
Bathhouses/Saunas
6 Goliaths-------------------------------------✰

308 - 17 Ave SW
 403-229-0911

www.goliaths.ca

Open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day
Community Groups
2 AIDS Calgary---------------------------- ✰

110, 1603 10th Avenue SW

403-508-2500
17
Directory & Events
Calgary Events
ASK Meet and Greet----------------  7-9:30pm

Bonasera (1204 Edmonton Tr. NE)
Inside Out Youth Group----------------  7-9pm
See 1 Calgary Outlink
Yoga (A)-----------------------------  6-7:30pm
Apollo Calgary
Sep27Dec6
Yoga (B)-------------------------  7:45-9:15pm
See
Apollo Calgary
Sep27Dec6
Squash--------------------------  8:15-9:45pm
See
Apollo Calgary
Oct18
Tuesdays
Calgary Networking Club--------------  5-7pm
 1st Tues
Boot Camp (A)----------------------  7-8:30pm
See
Apollo Calgary
Sep7
Between Men---------------------------  7-9pm
 2nd, 4th
Rehearsals--------------------------  7-9:30pm
See
Womynspace----------------------------  7-9pm
Church Service----------------------------- 4pm
Badminton--------------------------------- 7pm
New Directions--------------------------  7-9pm
Swimming-------------------------------  5-6pm
Bowling------------------------------------ 7pm
Heading Out-----------------------  8pm-10pm
Mosaic Youth Group--------------------  7-9pm
Alcoholics Anonymous---------------------  8pm
At 4 Calgary Eagle with
Mondays
See
Free Pool-------------------------------  All Day
Calgary Men’s Chorus
Jun
Karaoke------------------------------  8pm-1am
At 5 Texas Lounge
Fetish Slosh----------------------------  Evening
At 3 Backlot
 2nd
See
Prime Timers Calgary
Apollo Calgary
See
Apollo Calgary
Sep8Dec15
Sep1Mar30
 Old Y Centre (223 12th Ave SW)
Thursdays
Lesbian Seniors---------------------------- 2pm
 2nd
 3rd
 4th
Free Pool-------------------------------  All Day
Running------------------------------------  9am
At 4 Calgary Eagle
Swimming-------------------------------  7-8pm
Coffee------------------------------------  10am
Drag Queen H20-------------------------- 8pm
Curling-------------------------  2:20 & 4:30pm
Kevin the Hypnotist------------------------ 9pm
Saturday, July 23rd
By Different Strokes

SAIT Pool (1301 - 16 Ave NW)
Lesbian Meetup Group-------------  7:30-9pm
At 1 Calgary Outlink
 1st
Fake Mustache Show------------------  7:30pm
By Miscellaneous Youth Network

Quincy’s (609 7th Ave SW)
 1st
Fake Mustache Show---------------------- 9pm
By Miscellaneous Youth Network
At 60 Club Sapien
 3rd

Hillhurst United Church (Gym Entrance)
1227 Kensington Close NW
See
See
See
Apollo Calgary
Prime Timers Calgary
Apollo Calgary

 1st, 3rd
Sundays
Deer Park United Church
Worship------------------------------  10:30am
Fridays
See
Leather Night-------------------------- Evening
Boot Camp (B)----------------  10:30am-12pm
Scarboro United Church
Wednesdays
Rec Volleyball------------------------------ 7pm
Int/Comp Volleyball-----------  12:15-1:45pm
Illusions--------------------------------  7-10pm
BBQ Social Sundays----------------------- 2pm
ISCCA at 3 Backlot
See
Apollo Calgary
 1st
See
See
Apollo Calgary
Alberta Society for Kink

403-398-9968

[email protected]

http://ca.groups.yahoo.com/
group.albertasocietyforkink
Apollo Calgary - Friends in Sports
Will return in September 2010. Sign up at myapollo.org
to receive updates.
• Golf

[email protected]
• Lawn Bowling
Apollo Calgary

[email protected]
• Boot Camp

Platoon FX, 1351 Aviation Park NE

[email protected]
• Bowling (Rainbow Riders League)

Let’s Bowl (2916 5th Avenue NE)

[email protected]
• Curling
Western Canadian Pride Festival--  All Day

Watipi Lodge, Blackfalds, AB
Jul29Aug1
Calgary Fringe Festival-------------  All Day
Jul29Aug6
August 2011
Bowls for Beswick----------------------- 1pm
By SHARP FoundationAug7

Inglewood Lawn Bowling Club
1235 - 8th Ave SE
Drag Queen H20 II------------------------ 5pm
By
ISCCA at 3 BacklotAug19
• Running (Calgary Frontrunners)
• Slow Pitch

[email protected]
• Squash

Temple B’Nai Tikvah, 900 - 47 Avenue SW
Calgary Sexual Health Centre---------- ✰
• Volleyball (Recreational)
• Volleyball (Women’s)

YWCA Calgary (320 - 5th Avenue SE)
[email protected]
• Yoga

World Tree Studio (812 Edmonton Trail NE)

Robin: 403-618-9642
$120 (10 sessions); $14 Drop-ins open to all levels. Apollo
membership is required.
Alberta Rockies Gay Rodeo Association (ARGRA)

www.argra.org
• Monthly Dances-----------------------------

Hillhurst-Sunnyside Community Association
1320 - 5th Avenue NW
Artists for the Quality of Life
Mount Royal University Recreation

[email protected]
All skill levels welcome.

403-890-1261

[email protected]
• Tennis

[email protected]

http://www.calgarygayfathers.ca
Peer support group for gay, bisexual and questioning
fathers. Meeting twice a month.

[email protected]
• Volleyball (Beach)

[email protected]

North Hill Curling Club (1201 - 2 Street NW)

[email protected]
18
Jul28Jul31
• Rehearsals

West Hillhurst Community Center
1940 6th Avenue NW
• Outdoor Pursuits
YMCA Eau Claire (4th St, 1st Ave SW)

[email protected]
East Doors (directly off the Bow river pathway). Distances
vary from 8 km - 15 km. Runners from 6 minutes/mile to
9+ minute miles.
• Biking
• Volleyball (Int/Comp)

235 - 18 Ave SW
• Western Cup 30

6020 - 4 Avenue NE

[email protected]
Camp fYrefly Alberta------------------  All Day
At 4 Calgary Eagle

[email protected]
If it’s done outdoors, we do it. Volunteer led events all
summer and winter. Hiking, camping, biking, skiing, snow
shoeing, etc. Sign up at myapollo.org to get updates on
the sport you like. We’re always looking for people to
lead events.
• Badminton (Absolutely Smashing)
July 2011
Legend:  = Monthly Reoccurrance,  = Date (Range/Future),  = Sponsored Event

www.apollocalgary.com

www.myapollo.com
A volunteer operated, non-profit organization serving
primarily members of the LGBT communities but open to all
members of all communities. Primary focus is to provide
members with well-organized and fun sporting events and
other activities.

www.westerncup.com
Easter long weekend, 2012.
Sep12
Knox United Church
 Calgary Contd.

[email protected]

www.aidscalgary.org
At 4 Calgary Eagle
Worship Time----------------------------  10am
See
ISCCA at 3 Backlot
By
At 4 Calgary Eagle
Tuned Out Music Trivia----------------  Evening
At 9 FAB
Friday, July 8th
Dark Knight Dress Code Party------------ 9pm
Worship Services-------------------------  11am
AIDS Calgary
Apollo Calgary
 3rd

Kerby Center, Sunshine Room
1133 7th Ave SW
By
See
See
At 4 Calgary Eagle
BBQ Fundraiser-------------------------  5-9pm
Women’s Healing Circle---------------  1:30pm
Women’s Volleyball----------------  7-8:30pm
Saturdays
See
Knox United Church
By Different Strokes

SAIT Pool (1301 - 16 Ave NW)
Sunday Socials----------------------  Afternoon
At 4 Calgary Eagle
See
Rainbow Community Church


Communion Service------------------  12:10pm
See
Calgary Gay Fathers
Calgary Men’s Chorus

http://www.calgarymenschorus.org
 www.afqol.org

304, 301 14th Street NW
403-283-5580

http://www.calgarysexualhealth.ca
A pro-choice organization that believes all people have the
right and ability to make their own choices regarding their
sexual and reproductive health.
1 Calgary Outlink-----------------------------✰
B1, 1528 16th Avenue SW

403-234-8973

http://www.calgaryoutlink.com
• Peer Support and Crisis Line
1-877-OUT-IS-OK (1-877-688-4765)
Front-line help service for GLBT individuals and their family
and friends, or anyone questioning their sexuality.
• Calgary Lesbian Ladies Meet up Group
• Between Men and Between Men Online
• Heading Out
• Illusions Calgary
• Inside Out
• New Directions
• Womynspace
Calgary Queer Book Club

Weeds Cafe (1903 20 Ave NW)
Deer Park United Church/Wholeness Centre

77 Deerpoint Road SE

http://www.dpuc.ca
 403-278-8263
www.gaycalgary.com
Directory & Events
 Calgary Contd.
Different Strokes

http://www.differentstrokescalgary.org
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.
FairyTales Presentation Society

403-244-1956

http://www.fairytalesfilmfest.com
Alberta Gay & Lesbian Film Festival.
• DVD Resource Library
Over a hundred titles to choose from. Annual membership
is $10.
Gay Friends in Calgary

http://www.gayfriendsincalgary.ca
Organizes and hosts social activities catered to the LGBT
people and friends.
Girl Friends

[email protected]

members.shaw.ca/girlfriends
Girlsgroove

http://www.girlsgroove.ca
Hillhurst United Church


(403) 283-1539

[email protected]

www.hillhurstunited.com
HIV Peer Support Group

403-230-5832

[email protected]
ISCCA Social Association

http://www.iscca.ca
Imperial Sovereign Court of the Chinook Arch. Charity
fundraising group..
Knox United Church

506 - 4th Street SW
 403-269-8382

http://www.knoxunited.ab.ca
Knox United Church is an all-inclusive church located in
downtown Calgary. A variety of facility rentals are also
available for meetings, events and concerts.
• Worship Services
10:30am in July and August.
Miscellaneous Youth Network

http://www.miscyouth.com
• Fake Mustache

Quincy’s (609 7th Ave SW)

Club Sapien (609 7th Ave SW)
Calgary’s ONLY Drag King Show. Early show 7:30pm,
late show 9pm.
• Mosaic Youth Group

The Old Y Centre (223 12th Ave SW)
For queer and trans youth and their allies.
Mystique

[email protected]
Mystique is primarily a Lesbian group for women 30 and
up but all are welcome.
• Coffee Night

Second Cup (2312 - 4th Street SW)
NETWORKS

[email protected]
A social, cultural, and service organization for the mature
minded and “Plus 40” LGBT individuals seeking to meet
others at age-appropriate activities within a positive, safe
environment.
Parents for Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG)

Sean: 403-695-5791

http://www.pflagcanada.ca
A registered charitable organization that provides
support, education and resources to parents, families and
individuals who have questions or concerns about sexual
orientation or gender identity.
www.gaycalgary.com
Positive Space Committee

4825 Mount Royal Gate SW

403-440-6383

http://www.mtroyal.ca/positivespace
Works to raise awareness and challenge the patterns of
silence that continue to marginalize LGBTTQ individuals.
Pride Calgary Planning Committee

403-797-6564
 www.pridecalgary.ca
Pride Rainbow Project

[email protected]

http://www.priderainbowproject.com
Youth run project designed to show support for same-sex
marriage in Canada and elsewhere. A fabric rainbow
banner approximately 5 feet wide - goal is to make it
3.2km (2 miles) long, in order to break the world record.
Primetimers Calgary

[email protected]

http://www.primetimerscalgary.com
Designed to foster social interaction for its members
through a variety of social, educational and recreational
activities. Open to all gay and bisexual men of any age,
respects whatever degree of anonymity that each member
desires.
• Free Pool
4 Calgary Eagle
9 FAB-------------------------------------See Calgary - Bars and Clubs.
✰
Halo Steak, Seafood & Wine Bar
Lorne Doucette (CIR Realtors)

Canyon Meadows Plaza
13226 Macleod Trail SE

403-271-4111

www.halorestaurant.com

403-461-9195

http://www.lornedoucette.com
Marnie Campbell (Maxwell Realtors)
59 Village Bistro & Lounge------------------2F, 610 8th Ave SE

403-262-6342 ext 236

M-R: 9am-4pm, F: 9am-5pm, S: 11am-5pm

www.villagebistrocalgary.com

403-479-8619

http://www.marniecampbell.ca
MFM Communications
Retail Stores
Adult Depot-----------------------------
✰

140, 58th Ave SW  403-258-2777
Gay, bi, straight video rentals and sex toys.
Queers on Campus---------------------- ✰
41 La Fleur------------------------------------

103 - 100 7th Avenue SW
403-266-1707
Florist and Flower Shop.

Room 117, 423 - 4th Ave SE

403-699-8216

Mon-Fri: 9am-12pm, Sat: 12:15pm-3:15pm

305 10th Street NW

http://www.thenakedleaf.ca
Organic teas and tea ware.
 403-283-3555
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.
• Coffee Night

2nd Cup, Kensington
Services & Products
Safety Under the Rainbow

http://www.safetyrainbow.ca
Mission: To raise awareness and understanding of same-sex
domestic violence and homophobic youth bullying.
Scarboro United Church

134 Scarboro Avenue SW

403-244-1161
 www.scarborounited.ab.ca
An affirming congregation—the full inclusion of LGBT
people is essential to our mission and purpose.
Sharp Foundation
Calgary Civil Marriage Centre
 403-246-4134
Marriage Commissioner for Alberta (aka Justice of the Peace
- JP), Marriage Officiant, Commissioner for Oaths.
24 Courtney Aarbo (Barristers & Solicitors)

1138 Kensington Road NW

403-571-5120

http://www.courtneyaarbo.ca
GLBT legal services.
Cruiseline

403-272-2912

[email protected]

http://www.thesharpfoundation.com

403-777-9494 trial code 3500

http://www.cruiseline.ca
Telephone classifieds and chat - 18+ ONLY.
Unity Bowling
DevaDave Salon & Boutique

Let’s Bowl (2916 - 5th Ave NE)

[email protected]
Urban Sex Radio Show

CJSW 90.9 FM

http://www.cjsw.com
Focus on sexuality; gay bisexual lesbian trans gendered and
straight issues here in Calgary and around the web.
MPs Catering

403-607-8215
Free and confidential HIV/AIDS and STI testing.
The Naked Leaf----------------------------

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.

403-543-6970

1-877-543-6970

http://www.mfmcommunications.com
Web site hosting and development. Computer hardware
and software.
61 Holidays on the Hill-----------------------

210 - 7th Ave SW  403-263-3030
Christmas, Halloween, and much more.
• Saturday Coffee

Midtown Co-op, 1130 - 11th Ave SW
Duncan’s Residential Cleaning
Jim Duncan: 403-978-6600
Residential cleaning. Free estimates.

810 Edmonton Trail NE
403-290-1973
Cuts, Colour, Hilights.
SafeWorks
• Calgary Drop-in Centre
• Centre of Hope

Room 201, 420 - 9th Ave SE

403-410-1180
 Mon-Fri: 1pm-5pm
• Sheldon M. Chumir Health Centre

1213 - 4th Str SW
 403-955-6014

Sat-Thu: 4:15pm-7:45pm, Fri: Closed
• Safeworks Van

403-850-3755

Sat-Thu: 8pm-12am, Fri: 4pm-12am
Theatre & Fine Arts
36 ATP, Alberta Theatre Projects

403-294-7402
 http://www.ATPlive.com
AXIS Contemporary Art--------------------

107, 100 - 7 Ave SW

[email protected]
 403-262-3356
 www.axisart.ca
Fairytales
See Calgary - Community Groups.
Jubilations Dinner Theatre

Bow Trail and 37th St. SW

403-249-7799

www.jubilations.ca
43 Lisa Heinricks (Artist)---------------------

Art Central, 100 7th Ave SW, lower level

http://www.creamydreamy.com
35 One Yellow Rabbit-------------------------

Big Secret Theatre - EPCOR CENTRE

403-299-8888
 www.oyr.org
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.
Wild Rose United Church

1317-1st Street NW
“Yeah...What She Said!” Radio Show

CJSW 90.9 FM

[email protected]
Restaurants
4 Calgary Eagle Inc.---------------------See Calgary - Bars and Clubs.
✰
60 Club Sapien------------------------------ ✰

1140 10th Ave SW
 403-457-4464

http://www.clubsapien.ca
19
Directory & Events
DOWNTOWN EDMONTON
1
5
7
11 6 12
3
N
4
14
1 Pride Centre------------- Community Groups
3 HIV Network------------- Community Groups
4 Edmonton STD---------- Community Groups
5 The Junction------------------ Bars and Clubs
6 Buddy’s Nite Club------------ Bars and Clubs
7 Down Under Baths--------------- Bathhouses
8 Prism Bar & Grill------------- Bars and Clubs
11 Steamworks---------------------- Bathhouses
12 Woody’s----------------------- Bars and Clubs
13 PLAY Nightclub--------------- Bars and Clubs
14 FLASH------------------------- Bars and Clubs
 Calgary Contd.
37 Pumphouse Theatre------------------

2140 Pumphouse Avenue SW

403-263-0079

http://www.pumphousetheatres.ca
✰
Stagewest-------------------------------
✰

727 - 42 Avenue SE
 403-243-6642

http://www.stagewestcalgary.com
58 Theatre Junction----------------------
Theatre Junction GRAND, 608 1st St. SW

403-205-2922

[email protected]

http://www.theatrejunction.com
✰
34 Vertigo Mystery Theatre------------------

161, 115 - 9 Ave SE
 403-221-3708

http://www.vertigomysterytheatre.com
EDMONTON
Bars & Clubs
6 Buddy’s Nite Club--------------------------✰

11725 Jasper Ave
 780-488-6636
14 FLASH---------------------------------------✰

10018 105 Street
 780-938-2941

[email protected]
5 The Junction---------------------------- ✰

10242 106th St
 780-756-5667

http://www.junctionedmonton.com
PLAY Nightclub (closed)-------------------✰

10220 103 Street

[email protected]

http://www.playnightclub.ca
20
 780-497-7529
Prism Bar & Grill (closed)-------------

10524 101st St

http://www.prismbar.ca
✰
 780-990-0038
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
11 Steamworks--------------------------------✰

11745 Jasper Ave
 780-451-5554

http://www.steamworksedmonton.com
Community Groups
Alberta Bears

www.beefbearbash.com
AltView Foundation
#44, 48 Brentwood Blvd, Sherwood Park, AB

403-398-9968

[email protected]
www.altview.ca
For gender variant and sexual minorities.
Book Worm’s Book Club

Howard McBride Chapel of Chimes
10179 - 108 Street

[email protected]
Buck Naked Boys Club

780-471-6993

http://www.bucknakedboys.ca
Naturism club for men—being social while everyone is
naked, and it does not include sexual activity. Participants do
not need to be gay, only male.
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 Festival Society (EPFS)

http://www.edmontonpride.ca
Edmonton Prime Timers

[email protected]

www.primetimersww.org/edmonton
Group of older gay men and their admirers who come from
diverse backgrounds but have common social interests.
Affiliated with Prime Timers World Wide.
Edmonton Rainbow Business Association

3379, 11215 Jasper Ave
 780-429-5014

http://www.edmontonrba.org
Primary focus is the provision of networking opportunities
for LGBT owned or operated and LGBT-friendly businesses
in the Edmonton region.
Edmonton Illusions Social Club
OUTreach

University of Alberta, basement of SUB

[email protected]

http://www.ualberta.ca/~outreach
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender/transsexual, Queer,
Questioning and Straight-but-not-Narrow student group.
1 Pride Centre of Edmonton-------------- ✰

95A Street, 111 Ave
 780-488-3234

[email protected]
• Community Potluck

Main Space – Upstairs

[email protected]
A potluck open to all members of the LGBTQ community. A
time to get together, share a meal and meet people from
the community.
• Free School


monika\[email protected]
Free School provides workshops on a variety of topics
related to local activism.
5 The Junction

780-387-3343

groups.yahoo.com/group/edmonton_illusions
• Get Tested for STIs
4 Edmonton STD

11111 Jasper Ave
• GLBT African Group (Drop-In)
Edmonton Vocal Minority

780-479-2038
 www.evmchoir.com
3 HIV Network Of Edmonton Society---- ✰
9702 111 Ave NW
 www.hivedmonton.com
Imperial Sovereign Court of the Wild Rose

http://www.iscwr.ca
Free STD testing for anyone interested. For more
information please contact the Pride Centre.

[email protected]

[email protected]
Group for ALL gay refugees and their friends and families,
from all around the world.
• GLBT Seniors Drop-In

SAGE building, Classroom B
15 Sir Winstone Churchill Square

[email protected]
A social and support group for seniors of all genders and
sexualities to talk, have tea and offer each other support.
www.gaycalgary.com
Directory & Events
Edmonton Events
Wednesdays
Mondays
See
Team Edmonton
See
Pride Centre of Edmonton
 2nd
Curling---------------------------------  7:15pm
See
Team Edmonton
Oct4Mar21
Tuesdays
GLBT Seniors Drop-in------------------  1-4pm
See
TTIQ-------------------------------------  2-4pm
See
 2nd
Youthspace------------------------------  3-7pm
See
See
Team Edmonton
Sept7Mar15
Community Potluck---------------------  7-9pm
See
 Last
Recreational Volleyball--------  8:30-10:30pm
See
Team Edmonton
Oct5
Swimming-----------------------  7:30-8:30pm
See
Team Edmonton
May19
Martial Arts---------------------  7:30-8:30pm
See
Team Edmonton
Free School----------------------------  11-5pm
Edmonton Illusions--------------------  8:30pm
See
Youth Sports/Recreation------------------ 4pm
Youthspace--------------------------  3-6:30pm
See
Youth Understanding Youth------------  7-9pm
See
Mixed Badminton----------------------  8-10pm
Youth Movie Night------------------  6:30-8:30
See
Thursdays
See
Saturdays
 Unitarian Church (10804 119th Street)
See Edmonton Primetimers
See
 1st
Youth Understanding Youth
At 1 Pride Centre of Edmonton
See
Team Edmonton
Jan13End of May
At 5 The Junction
See
See

Green Room – Upstairs

[email protected]
Support group for people living with HIV/AIDS.
• PFLAG

Red room - Downstairs
 780-436-1998

[email protected]
Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays: A support
group for family members and friends of GLBT people. An
excellent resource for people whose family members and
friends have just come out.
• Prime Timers
See Edmonton Primetimers.
• Suit Up and Show Up: AA Big Book Study

Downstairs Couch Area
Discussion and support group for those struggling with an
alcohol addiction or seeking support in staying sober.
• TTIQ
Naturalist Gettogether
Youthspace------------------------------  3-7pm
AA Big Book Study--------------------  12-1pm
See
 Last
See
Swimming-------------------------------  7-8pm
See
Team Edmonton
May19
Book Club------------------------------  7:30pm
See
BookWorm’s Book Club
 3rd
Team Edmonton
See
See
Monthly Meeting-----------------------  2:30pm
By Edmonton Primetimers
 Unitarian Church, 10804 - 119th Street
 2nd
 2nd, 4th
 1st
Yoga---------------------------------  2-3:30pm
Team Edmonton
Men Talking with Pride----------------  7-9pm
Ballroom Dancing--------------  7:30-8:30pm
Team Edmonton
Monthly Meetings---------------------- 2:30pm
 2nd
Saturday, July 23rd
Entertainer of the Year Pageant---------- 9pm
By
ISCWR at 5 The Junction
Saturday, July 30th
A Royal Toga Affair------------------------ 9pm
By
ISCWR at 5 The Junction
Youthspace--------------------------  3-6:30pm
August 2011
Bowling------------------------------------ 5pm
Baseball Tournament---------------  12-5pm
By Emily Morgan FoundationAug14

Diamond Park Ball Field (River Valley)
Sundays
ISCWR Coronation----------------------- TBA
By ISCWRAug27
See
See
Team Edmonton
GLBT African Group
 1st, Last

[email protected]
A safe and supportive space for GLBTQ youth aged 13–25.
Video games, computers with internet, clothing bank,
and more.
Team Edmonton

[email protected]

http://www.teamedmonton.ca
Members are invited to attend and help determine the
board for the next term. If you are interested in running for
the board or getting involved in some of the committees,
please contact us.
• Badminton (Mixed)
St. Thomas Moore School, 9610 165 Street

[email protected]
New group seeking male & female players.
• Badminton (Women’s)

Oliver School, 10227 - 118 Street

780-465-3620

[email protected]
Women’s Drop-In Recreational Badminton. $40.00 season
or $5.00 per drop in.

Garneau Elementary School
10925 - 87 Ave

[email protected]
www.gaycalgary.com
Womonspace Meeting---------  12:30-1:30pm
• YouthSpace
• Womonspace Board Meeting


[email protected]
 2nd
Team Edmonton
Movie chosen by youth (aged 14 – 25), usually with LGBT
themes. Popcorn is served.
•Ballroom Dancing
• Youth Movie
Buck Naked Boys Club
See
Legend:  = Monthly Reoccurrance,  = Date (Range),  = Sponsored Event

Green Room – Upstairs

[email protected]
TTIQ is mixed gender open support group addressing the
needs of transsexual and transgendered individuals.


[email protected]
Womonspace is a Social and Recreational Society in
Edmonton run by volunteers. They provide opportunities
for lesbians to interact and support each other in a safe
environment, and to contribute to the broader community.
See 1 Pride Centre of Edmonton
 Edmonton Contd.
• Men’s HIV Support Group
Get Tested for STIs----------------------  3-6pm
See
See


[email protected]
A social discussion group for gay, bisexual and
transgendered men to discuss current issues and to offer
support to each other.
 2nd
GLBT Seniors Drop-in------------------  1-4pm
Martial Arts---------------------  7:30-8:30pm
• Men Talking with Pride
Team Edmonton
See
Bowling-----------------------------  6:45-9pm
Fridays
Youthspace------------------------------  3-7pm
See
Men’s HIV Support Group--------------  7-9pm
Running------------------------------  10-11am
See
See
Boot Camp------------------------------  7-8pm
Intermediate Volleyball--------  7:30-9:30pm
PFLAG---------------------------------  12:10pm

Foot Notes Dance Studio, 9708-45 Avenue NW

Cynthia: 780-469-3281
• Blazin’ Bootcamp
• Bowling (Northern Titans)

Ed’s Rec Room (West Edmonton Mall)

[email protected]
$15.00 per person.
• Cross Country Skiing

[email protected]
21
Directory & Events
 Edmonton Contd.
• Curling with Pride

Granite Curling Club, 8620 107 Street NW

[email protected]
• Cycling (Edmonton Prideriders)

Various locations in Edmonton

[email protected]
• Dragon Boat (Flaming Dragons)

[email protected]
• Volleyball, Intermediate

Amiskiwacy Academy (101 Airport Road)

[email protected]

http://www.exposurefestival.ca
Edmonton’s Queer Arts and Culture Festival.
• Women’s Lacrosse

10708 124th Street, Edmonton AB

780-453-2440

www.theatrenetwork.ca

Mother Teresa School (9008 - 105 Ave)

[email protected]
• Golf

[email protected]
• Gymnastics, Drop-in
• Yoga
• Hockey

[email protected]
• Martial Arts

15450 - 105 Ave (daycare entrance)
780-328-6414

[email protected]

[email protected]
Drop-ins welcome.
• Outdoor Pursuits

[email protected]
• Running (Arctic Frontrunners)

Emily Murphy Park, west end

[email protected]
All genders and levels of runners and walkers are invited to
join this free activity.
• Slo Pitch

Parkallen Field, 111 st and 68 ave

[email protected]
Season fee is $30.00 per person. $10 discount for players
from the 2008 season.
• Snowballs V

January 27-29, 2012

[email protected]
Skiing and Snowboarding Weekend.
• Soccer

[email protected]
• Spin

MacEwan Centre for Sport and Wellness
109 St. and 104 Ave

Wednesdays, 5:45-6:45pm
Season has ended.

[email protected]
7 classes, $28.00 per registrant.

Lion's Breath Yoga Studio (10350-124 Street)

[email protected]
Womonspace

780-482-1794

[email protected]

www.womonspace.ca
Women’s social group, but all welcome at events.

780-248-1971
 www.yuyedm.ca
A support and social group for queer youth 12-25.
• Sports and Recreation

Brendan: 780-488-3234

[email protected]
Restaurants
5 The Junction-------------------------------

10242 106th St
 780-756-5667
12 Woody’s-------------------------------------✰

11725 Jasper Ave
 780-488-6557
Retail Stores
Rodéo Drive

11528 - 89th Street

780-474-0413

[email protected]

http://www.rodeodrive.ca
His and hers fetish wear, toys, jewelry, etc.
Products & Services
Cruiseline

780-413-7122 trial code 3500

http://www.cruiseline.ca
Telephone classifieds and chat - 18+ ONLY.
Robertson-Wesley United Church

NAIT Pool (11762 - 106 Street)

[email protected]
www.makingwavesswimclub.ca

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!
• Tennis
• Soul OUTing
• Swimming (Making Waves)

Kinsmen Sports Centre

Sundays, 12pm-3pm

[email protected]

Second Sunday every month, 7pm
An LGBT-focused alternative worship.
• Ultimate Frisbee

Bi-monthly, contact us for exact dates.

Sundays
Summer Season starts July 12th

[email protected]
E-mail if interested.
Exposure Festival
• Volleyball, Recreational

Sharon: 780-461-0017

Pam: 780-436-7374
Open to women 21+, experienced or not, all are welcome.
Call for info.

Ortona Gymnastics Club, 8755 - 50 Avenue

[email protected]
Have the whole gym to yourselves and an instructor to
help you achieve your individual goals. Cost is $5.00
per session.
Theatre & Fine Arts
• Film Night
• Book Club

Monthly, contact us for exact dates.
The Roxy Theatre
BANFF/CANMORE
Community Groups
Mountain Pride

BOX 4892, BANFF, AB, T1L 1G1

Brian, 403-431-2569
1-800-958-9632

[email protected]

www.gaybanff.com
Serving the GLBTQS community in Banff, Canmore, Lake
Louise and Area.
GRANDE PRAIRIE
Community Groups
GALAP

10113 - 103 Ave, T8V 1C2

780-512-1990
Gay and Lesbian Association of the Peace.
• Wednesday Coffee Nights
LETHBRIDGE
Community Groups
GALA/LA

403-308-2893

http://www.galalethbridge.ca
Gay and Lesbian Alliance of Lethbridge and Area.
• Monthly Dances

Henotic (402 - 2 Ave S)
Bring your membership card and photo ID.
• Monthly Potluck Dinners

McKillop United Church, 2329 - 15 Ave S
GALA/LA will provide the turkey...you bring the rest. Please
bring a dish to share that will serve 4-6 people, and your
own beverage.
• Support Line

403-308-2893

Monday OR Wednesday, 7pm-11pm
Leave a message any other time.
• Friday Mixer

The Mix (green water tower)
103 Mayor Magrath Dr S

Every Friday at 10pm
Gay & Lesbian Integrity Assoc. (GALIA)

University of Lethbridge
GBLTTQQ club on campus.
• Movie Night

Room C610, University of Lethbridge
Gay Youth Alliance Group

Betty, 403-381-5260

Every second Wednesday, 3:30pm-5pm
Lethbridge HIV Connection

1206 - 6 Ave S
PFLAG Canada

1-888-530-6777

[email protected]

www.pflagcanada.ca
22
Pride Lethbridge

[email protected]
RED DEER
Community Groups
Affirm

Sunnybrook United Church

403-347-6073

2nd Tuesday of the month, 7pm
Composed of LGBTQ people, their friends, family and
allies. No religious affiliation necessary. Activities include
support, faith and social justice discussions, film nights,
and potlucks!
ALBERTA
Community Groups
Central Alberta AIDS Network Society

4611-50 Avenue, Red Deer, AB

http://www.caans.org
The Central Alberta AIDS Network Society is the local
charity responsible for HIV prevention and support in
Central Alberta.
Western Canadian Pride Campout

www.eventmasterinc.net
YouthSafe

http://www.youthsafe.net
Alberta’s website for youth with sex-and-gender differences.
Youthsafe.net lists the resources, information and services
to help youth find safe and caring spaces in Alberta.
Theatre & Fine Arts
Alberta Ballet

http://www.albertaballet.com
Frequent productions in Calgary and Edmonton.
CANADA
Community Groups
Alberta Trans Support/Activities Group

http://www.albertatrans.org
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, transidentified people and our families.
Products & Services
Squirt

http://www.squirt.org
Website for dating and hook-ups. 18+ ONLY!
Theatre & Fine Arts
Broadway Across Canada

http://www.broadwayacrosscanada.ca
OUTtv

http://www.outtv.ca
GLBT Television Station.
www.gaycalgary.com
Community
 Photos by Kyle Marquardt (kylefoto.com)
Kicking Balls
By Carey Rutherford
First of all, don’t be confused by Mitch Matthews, the Bow River
Football Club coach, when he’s talking about their soccer team.
With the dramatic increase of FIFA awareness in recent years,
we simple North Americans should have learned the global
lingo of those who play ‘footie’ (soccer). So they are the Bow
River Football Club, but they play in the Fusion Soccer League.
Okay?
Secondly, when Mitch exclaims, “Our women are fantastic,” and it’s
coming from his chest-shaking rumble of a voice, it suggests something
much more salacious to the average Albertan than what he continues
with: “They’re great players, they’re really fun to play with, and they
give it their all.“ And then he says, “You’ve got to put that in your
article!” Done.
Mitch played on The Rovers, a gay men’s soccer team in Melbourne,
and when he moved back to Calgary from Australia, he says he “really
wanted to play on a soccer team.” Having played competitively in
Calgary, and then in the Australia-based Victoria Football Federation,
Mitch contacted Apollo Calgary about getting access to their mailing
list. He and Apollo’s president agreed to a test run for the team, and
Mitch did further prospecting for players on FaceBook and Grindr. “So
you can use Grindr for something other than what it’s intended for,”
said Mitch with a grin. “We got some pretty excited people, and [some]
who wanted to do things with the soccer team that shouldn’t be done
with a soccer team.” They ended up with 30 people at their first practice
- a great turnout.
Mitch says the intention was to be very open and developmental in
their approach to this club. “In Calgary there’s a women’s-only league
and a men’s-only league, and they’re quite competitive, and for mixed
leagues there’s the Calgary Sports & Social Club and the Fusion Soccer
League. We chose the Fusion League because it’s officiated, which
would give those members of the team that have never played soccer
before (the chance to) concentrate on learning the game and not how
to self-officiate.”
“During the game we play the hardest, score a couple of goals,
usually on the opposing net, sometimes on our own, but it’s all in good
fun.”
“The intention was to have a team in Calgary that was GLBT friendly,
that would be able to be competitive in a league that may not be a
‘gay’ league, but would still have the same opportunities for play,
competitiveness; to just have a socially inclusive and fun team, to have
that outlet in Calgary. There’s so many times that it’s a ‘gay’ volleyball
league or a ‘gay’ bowling league, and it’s very gay-centric. This is a way
of branching out and having a bigger team, and involving us in the
greater community. We have some straight members on the team, and
their partners and wives and husbands come out to the games, and
other spectators and family and friends, so that’s pretty exciting.
“And,” he adds, “(the Fusion League) provides uniforms, so we look
pretty damn sharp out there, too.”
The season is 12 league games, and if you advance to the final
(“which at this time we’re not forecasted to do,” as they’ve only won one
game), you’re into a few playoff games. Another season runs July to
September, so the F&L’s (as they call themselves), are starting up their
recruiting drive again. They want YOU!
“If they want to contact us, they can contact me…and I’ll set them
up and let them know when our practices are. There’s no tryouts
for the team: if you want to play you’re more than welcome to come
walk aboard right now. If you’re curious about soccer and have no
experience, it absolutely doesn’t matter. We host the practices to help
people through that natural progression as it goes along.”
“We’re looking for drag queens, too, to come along with pom-poms
to support us. This is a no-barrier opportunity for people to come out,
experience soccer [any skill level], and meet a bunch of great people
outside of the traditional venues in Calgary.”
“It’s a really good opportunity even for those who are Questioning
and want to meet people outside of the bar, but they’re not quite sure
how to get into the community.”
But you’ll pigeonhole this team at the risk of incurring the wrath
of the Coach. “Some people…may think it’s just a bunch of poofters
or faggots running out there, wearing the Daisy Dukes and with bows
in their hair, but it’s not: it’s a competitive league. This isn’t a Pride
parade, and we’re not all out there on a float. We’re active in the
community,” Mitch insists, “but, if you haven’t figured it out yet, THIS
IS SOCCER!”
“Generally how we work is we have a practice on Mondays from
7:45pm [at ‘13th Avenue Park’, between 1st and 2nd Street, and 13th
and 14th Avenue, SW] until we’re tired or we want to go for a beer. We
do some drills and stuff, and generally if there’s a good turnout we play
a scrimmage at the end of it. And then we play our games on Thursdays
at 6pm or 7:15pm at different locations around the city.
[email protected]
www.gaycalgary.com
23
Politics
A Conflict between Faith-based Education
within Public Schools and Secular Tradition
By Stephen Lock
One of the great irreconcilables of our age is likely the chasm
between “faith” and “sexuality”, specifically GLBT sexuality.
While some liberal Christian churches and Jewish synagogues have
moved to a greater acceptance of gay men and lesbians and, to a lesser
degree transfolk, there still remains a massive disconnect between most
faith communities and the GLBT communities.
The Edmonton Logos Society, a non-denominational Christian program
operating within Edmonton’s public school system, has come out - as it
were - against the recent Edmonton school board’s draft policy regarding
making public schools safer and more welcoming for sexual minorities.
School trustees voted eight to one in March to create the policy for schools
dealing with discrimination based on sexual orientation, with a draft policy
posted on the school board website and an invitation for public feedback
through a then-online survey, which has since closed.
The proposed policy states, in part, that sexual and gender minority
(meaning those of us who self-identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, twospirited, queer, or trans) students, staff, and families, including same-sex
parented families, have the right to be “included, affirmed, and represented
in an inclusive, positive and respectful manner by all school personnel”. It
goes on to state they also have the right to have their “unique identities,
families, cultures and communities valued and affirmed within all aspects
of the school environment.”
In early June, Logos sent an “alert” via their newsletter The Logos
Lantern to parents of children enrolled in its program, stating the policy “...
means that our Logos teachers and principals would no longer be able to
express freely in their classrooms that the homosexual lifestyle [sic] is not
in accord with their Christian beliefs, and that they would be required to
‘affirm’ homosexual lifestyle as acceptable to traditional Christian family
values, [and] we cannot accept this.”
Logos seems to be most concerned with the affirming aspect included
in the proposed policy, believing this would have “a significant, negative
impact on [their] Logos Christian Alternative Program” which was stated in
the June edition of the Logos Lantern in boldface lettering.
The alert, written by Bruce Wilkinson, President of the ELS, then goes
on to say,
“The Policy review Committee’s document states that Trustees are
“committed to implementing proactive measures that will [amongst other
things]: Develop, promote and implement inclusive educational strategies,
professional development opportunities, and administrative guidelines to
ensure that sexual and gender minorities and their families are welcomed
and treated with respect and dignity in all aspects of the school community”
[Emphasis added by Logos]
“We have met twice with Edmonton Public School authorities and prior
to the second meeting we forwarded [to] the Policy Review Committee
12 written questions asking for clarification. They gave us only flimsy,
anecdotal evidence in answer to our query of why their proposed policy was
even necessary. The rest of the questions they did not answer. For example
they were unwilling even to state what “affirm” will mean for teachers,
principals and other staff.”
In all fairness, Wilkinson does support the school board’s existing policy
of zero tolerance toward bullying, stating, “As followers of Jesus, we believe
that every child should be free from bullying, whether it is because of his
or her physical appearance or their sexual orientation, or for any other
reason, and that all persons and families should be treated with respect
and dignity,” but then qualifies that by also stating, “Yet, if the Trustees
would insist that their already-existing policies on bullying were strictly
enforced by the Superintendent and school principals, there would be no
need for an additional policy at all.” [Emphasis included by Logos]
He then moves into the minefield area of conflicting rights, an area rife
with challenges for anyone involved in equality, civil, or human rights work,
stating the proposed policy in fact violates Christians’ rights of expression
and freedom of belief.
He argues the proposed policy, “violates the motion approved by former
Trustees which inaugurated the Logos Program on January 23, 1996. That
24
document states that, “A fundamental purpose [of the Logos program]
would be to support the traditional values of the home ... [and] a teacher
in this program would be expected to bring a Christian viewpoint to issues
and topics from all curriculum areas... Furthermore, sex education would
emphasize traditional Christian and family values.” [Emphasis included by
Logos]
He goes on to argue, “Some of the proposed policies of the Policy Review
Committee also violate our rights specified in the Canadian Charter of Rights
and Freedoms which states under the section “Fundamental Freedoms”,
Clause 2, that everyone has: “(a) freedom of conscience and religion; (b)
freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression...”
“They also violate our rights under Article 1(b), (c) and (d) and Article 3(1)
of the Alberta Bill of Rights as well as under the Code of Conduct, Article 3
of the Alberta Human Rights Act.”
The Bill of Rights sections refer specifically to the right of the individual
to equality before the law and the protection of the law, freedom of religion,
and freedom of speech. Article 3(1) refers to no subsequent ruling or statute
can negate or “side-step” these pre-existing rights. Artlcle 3 of the Alberta
Human Rights Act outlines the parameters under which individuals cannot
discriminate or cause a person or class of persons to be exposed to hatred
or contempt because of their status within any number of protected areas.
Exemptions to this include the free expression of opinion or if the notice in
question is displayed “by or on behalf of an organization that is composed
exclusively or primarily of persons having the same political or religious
beliefs...”
The proposed school board policy does not, I would suggest, violate the
rights of Logos members. They are free to believe whatever it is they believe
about GLBTQ people and they are certainly free to continue to worship
and practice their religion...the churches they worship in are not being
burned, they are not being rounded up for being Christian, and they are
not being persecuted. It could, however, be argued GLBTQ youth are
persecuted within our school system by their peers. If a teacher condemns
homosexuality, or transsexuality for that matter, as against God’s will and
as an evil, as sin, and a GLBTQ student is exposed to that belief, it could be
argued that it constitutes a form of persecution.
As mentioned, the balancing of rights is complicated and tricky, at best.
While I do not share many of the beliefs promulgated by organizations like
ELS, or the Christian Church itself, whatever manifestation it presents, I do
respect individuals have the right - legal, ethical and moral - to hold those
beliefs and to conduct their own lives in accordance with them. While for
instance I would disagree with a teacher - in this case, a Christian teacher stating in the classroom that homosexuality is incompatible with Christian
teachings, I also believe there is a way to present that without belittling or
dis-affirming those of us who are GLBTQ. It would certainly offer what is
commonly called ‘a teaching moment’ and open up discussion about beliefs,
dogma, and any number of other issues such as Nature vs Nurture etc.
This would appear to be in total keeping with Logos’ own Mission
Statement, which states in part, “That students, taught in a spiritually
nurturing, intellectually challenging and disciplined environment, acquire
the knowledge, attitudes, skills and training necessary to seek after
‘whatsoever things are true.’”
In Alberta, as in other provinces and territories within Canada, we have
essentially two systems of education; a public, secular one and a ‘separate’
school system operated by the Roman Catholic Church. In recent years,
various religiously-based charter and private schools have also come onto
the field. I have no issue with parents sending their children into the
separate school system or to a Jewish, Christian, or Islam-based charter
or private school, if that is their wish. However, I also think it is important
to maintain the secular aspect of the public school system, I would hope a
system designed to equip youth with the background and cognitive skills
to make a life for themselves as adults. The role of religion, or faith, in
this context should fall outside the public school system; by all means,
study the various religions and examine their respective belief structures.
Doing so offers students an opportunity to be exposed to something outside
themselves and broadens their understanding of the world, something that
www.gaycalgary.com
would define “education”, but to institute a faith-based curriculum into the
public system, as was done with the introduction of Logos in 1996, well....
did nobody anticipate a collision of beliefs was inevitable? It would seem
obvious to me.
I am not for one second suggesting anyone compromise truly held
convictions and beliefs. I am suggesting, however, that such a curriculum
as Logos expounds, and the philosophy behind it, while good and noble in
and of itself, has no place in a public education system which schools a
plethora of students from a myriad of backgrounds, faiths, and cultures. To
be clear, this is also not to suggest there is no role for such a curriculum if
that is what individual families feel they need and require. I am suggesting
there are alternatives to the public education system in which to pursue
that agenda, and there should be those alternatives, but the public
education system itself needs to remain, and be seen to remain, neutral in
such matters.
The approach the Edmonton School Board is taking with its policy
regarding GLBTQ is not in conflict with the views I have just stated.
Including and affirming GLBTQ individuals and our families in a respectful
and positive manner within all aspects of public schooling is an extension of
the role public education plays in society. GLBTQ community, and GLBTQ
individuals, are part of society - we pay taxes, we support public (or separate)
education and have the right to access that without fear of reprisal, attack,
persecution, bullying, or any and all forms of discrimination, however
subtle or camouflaged it may be. Believe what you wish to believe, that is
your right. But it is not your right to impose those beliefs on any one else
under the guise of ”religion” and your interpretation of ”God’s will.”
What would Jesus do? “Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s and
render unto God that which is God’s....”
www.gaycalgary.com
25
Community
Calgary Outlink Reaches Out
By Carey Rutherford
For the longest time the Calgary Outlink webpage stated a stale
message: ”Stay tuned for exciting changes Over the Next 60
Days!” Okay, fair enough, we’re patient folk, aren’t we?
GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine asked Sam Casselman,
the newly instated President of the Board of Directors for the
Calgary Outlink Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity: How
long has it been in this state? A month or two?
Apparently it’s a little more embarrassing than that…
“I’m not sure exactly, but a year at least. But this is something
the current board is doing, and we’re going to have it up and
running hopefully within a few weeks; sooner if possible,” she
stated last month. “But it is done: I’ve seen myself the final,
new website. It looks amazing, and is full of new resources, and
great information.”
As of publishing this article, indeed the new website is up
and running.
Casselman is was certainly unhappy with the delay, because
she’s aware of how perceptions of the organization have slipped
in recent years, giving rise to some frustration and a bit of an
image problem. And this was exacerbated by the organization’s
own internet survey which she admits did not reflect well on
Calgary Outlink.
“I think for a lot of people [Calgary Outlink is invisible]. The
space has moved a few times and there were some staffing
issues. I’d love to be able to say we’re just here to tell you how
great things have been; things are going to be better and even
greater, but honestly there have been issues and I think the
community is aware of that.”
“What I really want to bring to light is that there are changes
happening and they’re for the better, and we hope that we can
all build new relationships; rebuild old relationships.”
The research, which was sponsored by Calgary Outlink and
conducted by the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Social Work,
included four parts:
• The above-mentioned internet survey of 230 people, which
was promoted through various means to members of the LGBT
community and their families and friends
• An environmental scan of 35 “existing services, programs or
groups for the LGBT communities”
• A literature review of 11 different research databases to
gain some other research findings in the area of LGBT youth
and adults
26
• A Photovoice Project, which invited members of Calgary
Outlink’s Inside Out Youth Group to creatively express what
queer life meant to them using photography and narratives.
Right now, Sam is most concerned about the LGBT
community perspective which the internet survey shines some
light on.
“The part of the survey that is more relevant to what we’re
trying to do right now was the part where they spoke to the
community and asked them how they saw Outlink, what they
knew about it… I think that some of the findings in that survey
didn’t reflect all that favourably on Outlink.
It was this element of invisibility and disconnection that rang
out for Casselman, who was an Outlink client long before that
became its name.
“I myself have been frustrated in the past [with Outlink’s
issues] and have just wanted to get involved and try to make it
something fantastic… I’ve been out since I was 15, and Outlink
was a resource my mom contacted then [which at the time was
called the Gay and Lesbian Community Services Association],
to ask what kind of resources were available. At that time it was
very much a thriving organization that [was well known].”
“A big part of what we’re trying to do now is reconnect with
the community; make people aware of the services that are
available, and that sort of thing.”
“The concern is that it just hasn’t been really out there. For me
Outlink, is working towards becoming an organization that will
be there to support the community, be available for everybody,
and be a resource that people can easily find out about. And
part of that is us being out there and connecting with other
groups and sources that can use Outlink as a referral.”
We discussed whether part of Outlink’s difficulties stem
from having to support and encourage Calgarians, while
simultaneously needing to label them in order to provide that
service.
“It’s tough when you have anything that makes you different
from what society calls ‘the norm’… Obviously our resources
are geared towards a certain population, one just doesn’t have
the ability to offer them to the entire population. It’s difficult,
you do identify with some sort of label to be a part of the
transgender group, or the transsexual group, and that can
go on to the women’s [lesbians] group, or the men’s group, or
the [LGBT] youth group. So I think it’s difficult [to provide the
resources without requiring labels].”
Despite being directed down this philosophical path, Sam
still likes what Outlink stands for, and it’s potential to support
others as significantly as she remembers when she needed it.
www.gaycalgary.com
“In lots of ways Outlink has been continuing to do a lot of
things really well. It’s just more about making sure that the
community is aware that these things are continuing, and [that
OutLink is] being involved.”
In particular, she feels the Inside Out Youth Group continues
to be one of their successes.
“I was in the space where we have our office and groups…and
the youth group was happening in another area, and there were
probably 25 youth in that space. That is a regular occurrence
weekly: anywhere from 15 to 20-some youth will attend. And
they come every week!”
“We keep track of kids that have been there before, and those
that are there for their first time. Every single week, on the
sheets the facilitators fill out, there are new kids. So this is
something that’s continued to happen, no matter what issues
Outlink has had.
“And for me, to see all these kids there, happy, in a space
where they can be themselves and be supported, make new
friends and get new skills and resources to deal with all the
crap that teenagers deal with already. …All of that stuff for me
is the best thing that Outlink does right now.”
It’s hard to argue with that.
Q Scopes
Pay attention, Capricorn!
Mercury in Leo, cranking up egos and voices, is at the end of a “yod”
with Pluto and Chiron. The real challenge is to shut up, listen and adapt
to difficult new realities. Venus making a T-square to Uranus and Pluto
stresses relationships, forcing major adaptation. Your work is cut out!

ARIES (March 20–April 19): Brash overconfidence is sure
to get you into trouble. You do have what it takes, but consider
slowly and carefully what your strongest virtues are. A little
humility will give you perspective and enhance your strengths.

TAURUS (April 20–May 20): You can get away with
almost anything, but second-guessing yourself will ruin this
lucky streak. Meditation aids focus, but don’t get trapped in
distraction or dawdling. Stay clear on your ideals and purpose;
they will pull you through.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20): As usual, your mouth is the
surest opening to trouble. Think ahead! When in doubt, trust
in your friends for appropriate guidelines. Meditative reflection
is helpful, not just for verbal discipline, but for clarity in
professional goals and partnership.
CANCER (June 21–July 22): Venus in your sign makes
Calgary Outlink
1528 16th Avenue SW, Calgary, AB T3C 0Z8
P: 403-234-8973
E: [email protected]
www.calgaryoutlink.ca

you more attractive, but not necessarily to whom you want to
attract! Stick to your standards. Do not submit to pressure!
A philosophical sense of humor will get you through awkward
advances and other potentially ugly situations.

LEO (July 23–August 22): You need to clear the air and
explore new ideas. Just be careful when and where! This is what
friends are for, not your boss. Actually, once you have those
ideas honed and polished your boss will probably love them!
VIRGO (August 23–September 22): Whatever you’re worried

about, face the problem directly. Discussing it with your partner
could solve it. (Not discussing it together could in fact be the
problem!) If words fail you, try round one in the bedroom.
LIBRA (September 23–October 22): It’s your moment to

shine. Worrying about family and relations could hold back
your career, but understanding them as important support
and resources will strengthen you. It’s all in your attitude and
knowing how empowering your roots really are.

SCORPIO (October 23–November 21): There is a special
pleasure in getting to the truth of the matter, but doing so
could be very disruptive to personal and work relationships.
Conspire with, not against, your potential allies in your search
for understanding.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22–December 20): Allow yourself
to be challenged by new ideas without arguing about them. Just
consider them and see how they might be constructively applied.
You love your theories, but practical experience is what proves
truth and value.

CAPRICORN (December 21–January 19): Asserting
yourself can create disaster at home. Pay attention and be ready to
adapt. It may take some sacrifice, probably of some aspect of your
ego, but foresight and your willingness to transform will save you.

AQUARIUS (January 20–February 18): Pay close attention
to what your partner has to tell you. Don’t argue! You don’t have to
agree; you do have to think about it. Affirming roots and community
will give you the strength you need to make necessary changes.

PISCES (February 19–March 19): Changes at work are
likely to be a blessing in disguise. Friends’ advice that you don’t
like will prove most helpful. It may need more discussion for
you to fully understand. Keep an open mind.
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
www.gaycalgary.com
27
Gossip
Smith (90210) plays the twentysomething Sonny, a gay man
returning to the fictional town to find his family. But which
family? Still a secret. Boyfriend soon? Also a secret. Can this
storyline top the Noah/Luke saga on the now-cancelled As The
World Turns? Be sure to tune in tomorrow. And the day after.
And the day after…
Lance Bass plans to keep it real
Maybe it was dating Reichen and hanging out with Kathy
Griffin that did it to him, but Lance Bass is now looking to get
his own reality series. Granted, it won’t be a “this is my life on a
list, be it A or D” kind of show, but still, Lance Bass is climbing
aboard that wagon with VH1. And it has to be acknowledged
that his best idea of the several he’s recently sold – an asyet-untitled music competition series – is sort of genius. In
Bass’s own words: “I got a member from Backstreet Boys, A.J.
McLean. A member from *NSYNC, Joey Fatone. A member
from New Kids on the Block, Joe McIntyre. And a member from
New Edition, Bobby Brown. They’re all going to form a boy
band, each, from the most talented guys in America that I’ve
scouted, and then they’ll go head-to-head in a competition to
see who the best band is, so it’s bragging rights for the guy
in the group, for sure.” Of course, technically, Bobby Brown
hasn’t signed on yet. But there’s little chance he won’t. The
Whitney Houston bus dropped him off a while back. The man
has a living to make. Now, next question: Why is no former
member of O-Town involved?
Waiting patiently for more Downton Abbey?
It’s shooting now.
 Hugh Jackman, photo by 20th Century Fox
Hugh Jackman can’t help loving musical theater
By Romeo San Vicente
If you want to get technical about it, Hugh Jackman has
already made one movie musical: Happy Feet. Granted, you
didn’t see him in the film, but that was his singing voice coming
out of one of those dancing penguins. So it kinda-sorta counts.
And yes, the Aussie action star has been all over Broadway
and the Tony Awards and done his song-and-dance thing at
the Oscars. But now he might get his first movie musical role
in the long-awaited film version of Les Miserables. He’s in talks
right now to come aboard and play… well, who exactly, nobody
knows. But safe bet it’s a big role like Jean Valjean and that
the musical’s rabid, devoted, huge following will make it a hit
when it finally lands in theaters sometime before… well, when
exactly, nobody knows, either. Paul Bettany is also rumored
to be among the actors in talks but, again, for what role is
anyone’s guess. And they’re going to find a spot for Susan
Boyle, right? Because they should.
If good things really do come to those who wait, then
American fans of the U.K. period drama series Downton Abbey
are in for a serious treat early in 2012. The thinking person’s
luxury soap, set at the start of World War I, starring Elizabeth
McGovern, Maggie Smith and Hugh Bonneville, has been
renewed for a second season and a Christmas special that’s in
production right now in England and is due to air there this
autumn (the Christmas special in December). Now, for reasons
unknown, audiences on this side of the Atlantic who aren’t up
on how to locate illegal streams of their favorite TV shows online
will have to be patient a little longer for PBS Masterpiece to get
its broadcast rights. But sometime early next year all the class
warfare drama – including the storyline with handsome Rob
James-Collier as that evil, treacherous and gay “first footman”
– will unfold. Naturally, this will all take place tastefully and will
be served with some very expensive teas and cakes.
Romeo San Vicente knows that the butler did it and in which linen closet
it happened. He can be reached care of this publication. Check the
GayCalgary.com website every week for more Deep Inside Hollywood!
Days of Our Lives finally gets its first gay
No, it’s not exactly groundbreaking at this point for a daytime
drama to begin a gay storyline. It’s not even groundbreaking
when the show allows the gay character to be involved in a
torrid same-sex kidnapping-and-blindness-and-paranormalactivities-centered relationship. But it’s still news, and as each
show (of the few left standing in this time of waning ratings
and soap opera audience attrition) brings a gay or lesbian
character on board, it’s nice to pay attention to how it all turns
out. And so, on Days of Our Lives, the first gay person is going
to visit Salem and it’s happening this very week. Actor Freddie
28
www.gaycalgary.com
Lifestyle
Cocktail Chatter
Jack Fogg Rolls In: The Bourbon Sour
by Ed Sikov
An afternoon in June. Under a bright blue dome of a sky, boys paraded
around like Speedo models and dressed accordingly. Cher’s “Believe”
wafted through the air from two different houses, off sync. Since it was only
Thursday, our witless but ever-giggling, wretchedly visible neighbors weren’t
in residence yet. In a blazing stroke of architectural stupidity, our outdoor
shower directly overlooks their deck. I’d done some heavy yardwork, and
without the annoying onlookers – they either cheered or booed depending on
the drugs they were on – I washed off in solitude under our outdoor shower.
There’s also a clean shot to the front gate, which opened, to my horror, just
as I was washing my most rarely-seen-in-public region. Jack Fogg waved a
cheery hello, raised his eyebrows, and disappeared into the house.
“Where’s Sammy?” I asked when we met again upstairs, I having scooted
into some gym trunks, Jack into his standard Madras shorts. “Don’t mention
that name,” he snarled. “Yesterday I caught him in my own bed with the
Indian delivery boy!” I tried to look sympathetic, but the mental image was
like Spanish Fly. “He had the balls to tell me he had a craving for chicken
vindaloo!’ It’s happened before. Sammy’s insatiable. But the delivery boy?!”
Classic! Harvard ’89 was offended not by Sammy’s cheating but by the
trick’s caste! I said nothing but “You want a drink?” “Sure – what are you
mixing?” “I dunno. Let’s see what we have.” I found some bourbon while Jack
leaned into the open refrigerator. “Voila!” A hand emerged clutching a plastic
lemon. “If there’s sugar I’ll make bourbon sours.” “Snap to!” I barked. My
command pulled Jack out of the fridge with a faint blush. “Syrup! Not sugar!”
“Yes, sir,” he replied, his cheeks reddening, and swiftly made us the most
enormous bourbon sours I’ve ever seen. Sours go in 5-ounce glasses. Jack
Fogg’s required 12-ounce tumblers.
I plunked down on the couch. Jack Fogg plunked down right next to me.
We clinked. “Cheers!”
I still harbor a robust jealousy toward Jack Fogg. He’s well built and
handsome and an Ivy League A-lister, whereas I’m Shrimp Boy from a two-bit
town north of Pittsburgh who went to a college nobody’s heard of. But there I
was in gym trunks getting blotto next to an equally shirtless Jack Fogg, who,
noticing that I kept glancing at his blond chest hair, actually flexed. “These
things are mighty fine!” I declared after emptying my glass. “Which?” he said
with a leer. “The drinks or my pecs?”
after some cajoling of Chipper, he switched around enough housemates
to keep Kyle away from Craig, who was sitting in ashes in a sackcloth
muumuu from Lane Bryant.
Surprisingly, Robbie stepped up. In fact, he became such a mensch
(Yiddish for best dude; antonym of douchebag) that we wondered if he’d
been forced into psychopharmacology. Turns out he had. He’d fallen into
depression after being fired as news producer for Simonton Austin, the
ridiculously closeted CNBC star who we’d all seen either shepherding or
purchasing boys in every bar in town. Robbie told Kyle (who blabbed)
that Austin groped him in his dressing room after snorting something
brown – Robbie didn’t know what it was – and Robbie shoved him off.
The next morning he found a pink slip on his desk and was out the door
within the hour. This was just before the housemates’ rent was due, and
Kyle paid Robbie’s share. Even Robbie couldn’t be an arrogant dickhead
now that he was living on handouts. The Cymbalta didn’t hurt either.
Last Saturday, we were lying around the pool puffing some oldfashioned herb, which freed Robbie to tell some refreshingly selfdeprecating stories. His first sexual experience was a catastrophe; at
16, after a swim meet, he got so turned on by one of his teammates in a
gang shower that he spontaneously came right in front of the kid, who
immediately did the same. His first true love: his film professor at the
tiny Quaker college he’d attended. His worst habit: sneaking farts in
crowded rooms. (This we already knew.) And my favorite – the inspiration
for that evening’s cocktail:
Robbie had moved to New York at 22. On his third night in the city
he wandered into an Irish bar near his one-bedroom, three-roommates
apartment. The bar was a typically skanky dive, but a few slumming
preppies counteracted the resident rheumatic drunks. Robbie, clad in a
pink gingham sleeveless shirt, pranced to the bar and ordered a daiquiri.
The geezer bartender reacted poorly. “You’re either under age or a fag,”
he snarled. “Which is it?” “Fag, sir,” Robbie helpfully announced and
was promptly thrown out of the bar. This cruel injustice struck us all
as hilarious, so much so that I ran to the harbor to buy lime juice and
rum.
The Daiquiri
Time began to careen: Jack returning with two more flagons of bourbon
sours… guzzling them while rating our housemates’ dicks… Jack’s hand
stroking my inner thigh…. My head was spinning but the rest of me remained
in firm control as I grabbed his wrists and leaned into him with enough force
to pin him on his back with his arms over his head. Miracles occurred. Then I
urged him onto his belly. So much shorter am I than he, I accessed his entire
backside with ease and pulled down his Madras shorts, revealing his fuzzy
perfection. Reader, I porked him.
Unless you completely lack self-respect, do not use frozen
concentrate. For 1 mid-sized cocktail:
3 tablespoon white rum
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 teaspoon superfine sugar or to taste
Put everything in a cocktail shaker filled with ice, shake,
and quickly pour into a festive glass. If you do not own festive
glassware, get your sorry ass onto eBay and buy some.
Jack Fogg’s Humongous… Bourbon Sour
2/3 cup bourbon
3 squirts lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon simple syrup
Mix the three together, add ice, be sure to have a couple of
condoms and some lube in a nearby drawer, and serve. Avoid
the conventional cherry unless you plan to do something very
unconventional with it.
Ed Sikov is the author of Dark Victory: The Life of Bette Davis and other books about
films and filmmakers.
Ch-ch-ch-Changes: The Daiquiri
Craig and Kyle were Splitsville after the Judy Carne fiasco. Their
heartbreak was my joy, since I’d been praying to Eros and darker forces
since that ghastly night at Rolf’s. One bleak night I snuck to the beach,
drew a rudimentary pentagram in the sand, lit a “Coconut Creme”
scented candle I found in the back of drawer, and spilled goat’s blood
around it all in a shaky circle – OK, it was canned beef consommé. The
hot if equally bogus Eros rituals will go undetailed, other than to say
that the body is a wonderful toy. Anyway, Dan had to do some deft
rescheduling so Craig and Kyle wouldn’t share any more weekends, but
www.gaycalgary.com
29
Trans-Identity
Why the Umbrella Failed – Part 1
By Mercedes Allen
While writing “The Death of the ‘Transgender’ Umbrella,”
it became necessary to clarify something in my own mind.
The language is changing, yes, but the aspect of the word
“transgender” that had especially changed was also the thing
that seemed to make it most valuable: its use as an umbrella
concept.
The way we frame our issues currently, sets us up for
serious conflict between binary-identified and non-binary trans
people when addressing issues of legal documentation and
accommodation. It also spawns confusion and misunderstanding
when the general public is faced with multiple narratives and
tries to figure out how to parse them into a single entity. We
need to recognize — and sooner rather than later — how couching
transsexual and gender diverse issues under a single umbrella
creates an expectation of a single narrative with a single solution
to all associated challenges.
I doubt that people who embrace a trans umbrella of any sort
ever intended to erase these differences — instead, the intent often
was very much a spirit of “let’s accomplish everything together.”
But umbrella thinking usually leads us down a path where we’re
looking to one solution, one neat and tidy accommodation that
will work for everyone. It also causes us to give the impression
(intentional or not) that a single one-size-fits-all solution will work
for transsexual and gender diverse people. Just like some of the
things we struggle against, it too expects a certain amount of
conformity. And this is where shedding a trans umbrella hurt
most — acknowledging my own hypocrisy.
In my defense, this was largely because I wanted to believe
that gathering under an umbrella didn’t have to mean erasure,
and didn’t have to mean forcing a single narrative on everyone,
provided we were all conscientious and diligent. But what I know
about decolonialism tells me otherwise.
Imply / Infer
To me, the umbrella didn’t mean a single narrative. To those
I interacted with, though, this was very much not the case, no
matter how clearly I tried to communicate it. This was most
evident when speaking on trans issues to general audiences or
medical groups. What became most organic was to say a bit at
the beginning on how diverse the trans community was, and then
move on to specifically transsexual issues while trying to remain
clear that the medical processes and needs were specific to
transsexuals only. Invariably, the question period afterward was
fraught with questions from people who were trying to resolve for
themselves where non-binary trans people fit into that narrative.
I wanted to believe that unity didn’t have to mean erasure, but
inevitably, I needed to recognize that’s what had been happening,
once I started to reflect:
How are we to be identified in society? Are we to be accepted as
men and women, or have a third-sex / third-gender designation?
As long as we’re under a single name, society will look for a single
solution and see us as a single entity, so there’s a serious risk
of it becoming an either/or question, affecting identification,
accommodation in gendered spaces, and to some degree how we
interact with society overall.
We don’t get to frame the whole debate, but the way we frame it
when we initiate it through lobbying, instruction and protest forms
a foundation. Society’s understanding of trans people is growing
and evolving, and with the “you can’t change your chromosomes”
attitudes that are out there, it’s certainly a risk that as society
becomes more trans-aware, non-binary gender markers could
become the easy solution for legislators, seeming to appease both
trans people and our opponents (because they always look for an
30
easy way out). Except that a non-binary gender marker becomes
a scarlet letter for many transitioned transsexuals.
We’re not consciously doing it, but this is how we’re presently
initiating the discussion.
It was a particularly difficult article to write for a number
of reasons, not the least of which were the facts that I am still
personally comfortable with the term “transgender,” and that I
still realize that there are issues that touch on most or all trans
people, requiring a collective response. The Transgender Day of
Remembrance is one such reminder that transphobia touches all
of us. But points of mutual empathy should not be mistaken as
evidence of sameness, and that is why the umbrella failed.
Decolonizing Trans
I’ve been interested in decolonial theory for awhile, although I
look at it somewhat differently than most do. I won’t go into depth,
but in simple terms decolonialism is about how various classes lay
claim and ownership over each other and impose regulations, will
and rules of conformity that run counter to other classes’ needs. It’s
not a popular subject, since the language of communicating colonial
struggles — words like “oppression” — tend to cause immediate
defensive reactions, and something I didn’t initially recognize as a
proponent of a transgender umbrella was how I was slipping into
that trap. In this argument, we had people clearly reacting to a
perception of colonial annexation. The typical colonial response is
to dismiss it as “all in their heads” or simply rationalizing it away
as bigotry or reverse discrimination. I didn’t like the part I found
myself playing.
One problem that decolonial theory has is that academia treats
it as its own possession, as though it’s their noble responsibility
to lead the unwashed masses to salvation, thus perpetuating
colonialism yet again. This is something I’ve experienced plenty
of myself, having had no shortage of people throughout my life to
decide that they’re a better authority than I am on who I am and
what I need. In order for real decolonial change to happen, it needs
to be something that’s recognized and understood by the public
at large. When I bring it up here, it’s not to be aristocratic, but to
simply engage the discussion on a community level.
Most often, decolonial theory is used as an examination of how
a primary class governs others, but minorities do it to each other
too. In this understanding of minority issues, privilege is not a
you-have-it-or-you-don’t proposition, but rather an edge that we
find ourselves on differing sides of, in differing situations. So I see
colonialism not as something that happens between nations but
as something that happens among majority and various minority
classes as each seeks personal power. Colonialism keeps getting
perpetuated because it’s the only framework we’ve ever had with
which to view society, and we expect that one collective group
(whether democratic, economic class, ideological or characteristic
in nature) is supposed to rule, and everyone else needs to be
governed or to “get with the program.” And when the majority
makes accommodations for various minorities, it’s often in a
paternal, tokenistic way because its privilege blinds it to the deeplyrooted needs that the minorities have, and instead seeks easy and
soft fixes. Which is why true beneficial change for a minority needs
to be initiated and defined by the people in question themselves.
The whole point is that by looking at the struggles of minorities
on a global scale, patterns emerge in how they self-define, seek
personal power through the same colonizing behaviours they
have struggled against, assert authority (sometimes justifiably,
sometimes not), and often succumb to the idea of ownership rather
than partnership. Decolonialism attempts to rethink this process,
recognizing that either we’re truly committed to social justice, or
we’re simply seeking to better one’s own class – if we do the latter,
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we inevitably perpetuate colonial thinking, however much or little
we’ve been able to elevate ourselves.
If There Are Different Defining Characteristics, You Can’t Portray
Sameness
And when you have a group or groups with unique and strongly
defining characteristics (say, a medical process, identification
issues that affect citizenship, accommodation concerns in the 24/7
day-to-day) grouped with ones who don’t share all or some of those
characteristics, all the while claiming to speak with one voice, you
have a situation that is absolutely rife with the potential for colonial
conflict and attempts at possession.
Personally, I don’t think that transsexuals have been completely
annexed by other gender diverse peoples (and yes, I realize that
“gender diverse peoples” is itself an umbrella phrase, but am
currently using it for now because it at least acknowledges diversity),
nor gender diverse peoples completely annexed by transsexuals. In
my local community, I see more danger of the latter happening.
But by setting up an umbrella communal framework, we’ve
created a colonial structure, and we’re now seeing the push-pull.
It’s happening more often online because that is where our selfdefinition has been mostly taking place, and that is also where
people feel most empowered and safe enough to speak about it.
It only escalates from here, unless we rethink how we’ve defined
things. And we may not have had a conscious will to annex anyone
— but the conviction that it is advantageous to present ourselves
as a single whole is all the seduction we need to do so unwittingly.
The idea of an umbrella is that we can all stand under it — race,
ability, sexual orientation, age, gender identity and/or expression
— and that is why the idea is so seductive. It appeals to a sense of
strength through unity. But an umbrella implies one people, one
collective narrative and one solution, allowing colonial thinking to
set in as we try to define a singular course of advocacy, thinking that
anyone who doesn’t initially like it will one day thank us anyway.
We also often rationalize a transgender umbrella by equating it
to a spectrum of gender expression. While some of the conflicts
can be separated between binary and non-binary -identified
people, we as individuals cannot always easily be sorted that way.
Some gender diverse people feel a need to transition to a degree;
some transsexuals don’t completely adopt one gender or the other
for a myriad of reasons — this all seems to validate the idea of a
spectrum, and maybe it does. But we can’t use this as a reason to
ignore the potential for conflict along binary and non-binary lines.
In fact, the impulse to see everyone as part of a whole has caused
us to completely fail to understand how people at either end of the
question can feel triggered or erased when someone else’s narrative
becomes perceived as dominant.
Next Month: Part 2
www.gaycalgary.com
31
Interview
Alyssa Reid Brings The Game
Edmonton-born singer returns home
By Jason Clevett
Edmonton-born Alyssa Reid, who currently resides just outside
of Toronto, has all the tools for success. At just 18 years old she
has a top single in Canada with Alone Again and released her
debut album The Game on June 21st. As part of a cross Canada
tour she returns home to Alberta, performing on the Coke Stage
at the Calgary Stampede, July 11th, and opening for Natasha
Beddingfield on the EdFest stage at Edmonton’s Capital Ex,
July 22nd.
Reid’s early exposure to the music industry came through YTV’s
reality show The Next Star. I recently had the misfortune of taking
a friend to the Calgary auditions for the show, a nightmare that
echoed Reid’s experience.
“It wasn’t exactly what I thought it would be. The auditioning
process and getting to the show was a lot more fun than actually
being on the show. I wouldn’t say it prepared me for the future,
when I actually got into the industry and had a song out it was
completely different. It was very different than what I expected it
to be.”
So she went another route. YouTube has become a way for
singers like Greyson Chance and Winnipeg’s Maria Aragon, among
others, to get noticed. Such was the case with Reid, who re-wrote
Justin Bieber’s One Less Lonely Girl from a female perspective. One
More Lonely Boy has received over a quarter of a million views, and
stirred up some angry Bieber fans.
“Right now YouTube is one of the best outlets for putting your
talent out there and getting a fan base. It is the number one video
streaming site and there are millions of people on that site every
day. So it is an amazing opportunity for people to put their talent out
there whether it’s film-making, singing or playing an instrument,”
Reid said.
“I just re-wrote it to a girls version. At the beginning of the video
I said I wrote it for Justin Bieber, and some die-hard Beliebers took
that the wrong way and thought I wrote it bashing him. I actually
just wrote it for him to hear. Once they figured that out it was good.
Some people thought I’d had a secret relationship with Justin and
written a song about it.”
The video resulted in a meeting with label Wax records. After
playing a few songs on her guitar, they signed her on the spot. The
first single Alone Again samples the chorus of Heart’s classic Alone.
Reid admits that tackling such a prominent piece was a daunting
task.
32
“Alone was such an iconic song, Ann and Nancy Wilson are crazy
talented. At first I wasn’t even planning on using the song, I wrote
a completely different song and I threw the chorus on as filler and
sent it to my label to see what they thought about it. I ended up
falling in love with it so by then I had no choice but to do it. I know
it is very difficult to match up to Ann Wilson and know 100% that
I don’t outshine the classic, it was such an amazing song. People
either love it or they hate it. Some love it and are glad they get to
hear it again, or they feel I ruined a classic. Either reaction is a good
reaction because people care enough to comment. I am grateful for
the opportunity to revive it and allow people that are 10 and 11 to
sing the song now in 2011.”
That is one of the great things about songs being covered and
re-imagined. Although the original was released a decade before
Reid was born, it has lead people her own age and younger to hear
the original.
“A lot of people didn’t know it was a cover until they saw media on
it, a lot of younger people hadn’t heard Alone before. When I started
doing interviews they YouTubed the original. It is really cool to be
able to reference the video and song from the 80’s. It is really cool
that people my age and younger get to listen to both songs now.”
A lot of focus has been on the single, but The Game, on the
whole, is an excellent debut album. From the opening Letting Go
through Live To Tell, it is an enjoyable pop album that shows a lot
of potential for Reid.
“I have been writing and co-writing it for the past year. One of the
first songs I ever wrote with my label is on the album called Without
You. It is amazing that I got to take songs that were very personal to
me, that I sat in my bedroom and wrote, and got to put them on the
album. It was a long process; I was excited for it to come out finally.”
Something we haven’t seen is Reid dancing around in her
underwear or grinding on male dancers. What you see with her is
what you get, and she takes her influence on young girls seriously.
“I am just doing me. I am being true to who I am, not only as an
artist but as a person. I don’t think prancing around in barely any
clothes to sell records is what music is about. It is very important
being a role model. People don’t realize how influential they are.
People look up to them and want to emulate them. I think it is
important to see the real Alyssa Reid as a person and not just a
singer.”
Reid returns to Alberta this month as a rising star.
“I always wanted to go (to the Calgary Stampede) but never did.
I am so excited to play there. I have heard so many amazing things
about The Calgary Stampede and how fun and lively it is.”
“Coming to Edmonton means I get to see my family. I love
Edmonton and I go back a few times a year, and I love performing
there because my family gets to come out and watch. This will be
the first time I play there since Alone Again was released. I have no
idea what it will be like. My family gets it but they don’t actually
understand what happens because they haven’t seen it yet. When
I sing Alone Again the crowd joins in and belts it at the top of their
lungs. I am emotional just thinking about my family seeing the
entirety of what this has done. It is going to be one of my best shows
because of the people who are going to be there and what that is
going to do.”
Alyssa Reid
The Game in stores now.
www.myspace.com/alyssareidmusic
In Concert
The Calgary Stampede - July 11, 2011
Edmonton Capital Ex - July 22nd, 2011
www.gaycalgary.com
Event
 Gametes & Gonads
 Fucking Stephen Harper
 slut (r)evolution
Anything Goes
This Year’s Fringe Fest Celebrates Sexuality, Individuality and Community Spirit
By Janine Eva Trotta
Hitting the eclectic community of Inglewood this month
will be the sixth annual Calgary Fringe Festival. What
started as one Calgary man’s dream has quickly
blossomed into an exciting local event that showcases
both local and international talent.
Michele Gallant and her husband were performing at the
renowned Edmonton Fringe roughly seven years ago when
the simple thought was posited: “why doesn’t Calgary have
one of these?”
And so the Gallants launched Calgary’s first Fringe in
2006. Over the half dozen years that the festival has taken
place, it has grown “organically”. Fringe will include 34
different artists this year, up from roughly 24 at the last.
Venue space has also increased. Six Inglewood resident
businesses have agreed to open their doors and host various
artists in what Michele termed a BYOV – bring your own
venue – performance system. Added to the four main stage
venues, this brings the total tally of performance spaces up
to 10.
“Performers were saying, I can perform standing in
a window of a shop, or I’d be able to go into a nightclub
environment,” and so the venue boutiques idea originated,
Michele says. The goal was to provide performers with
spaces better suited to their act.
These spaces will include an evening of musical
storytelling, performed by Calgary’s Red Flame, at the Nine
Café (formerly Serendipity); Six Guitars and slut (r)evolution
at DaDe Art & Design Lab; Sabotage, performed by a Loose
Moose alumni at the Loose Moose Theatre in the Crossroads
Market; a melodic whodunit at Jacqueline Suzanne’s Bistro;
Fucking Stephen Harper and Folk with Benefits at Club
Paradiso; as well four shows, including ONEymoon, at the
Lantern Church sanctuary.
“The pastor there is programming spiritual/family-based
shows in the sanctuary of the church,” Michele says, in
addition to the gym space the church is providing for five
other performances.
“Merchants are getting more involved… which means that
it opens the doors for Fringe artists to have special types
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of shows that wouldn’t necessarily be set in a traditional
theatre environment,” she says, And “that creates more of a
festival vibe up and down 9th Avenue.”
All of the festival performers are selected by way of lotterystyle draw and composed of 15 percent national acts, 15
percent international, and 70 percent local. Each performer
selected is guaranteed six shows throughout the festival’s
duration.
“The draw means that everyone has an equal chance to
get in,” Michele explains. “Because of that, it’s an anything
goes festival – we don’t edit.”
The only requirements that the Fringe does ask of its
participants is full disclosure on what their performance
entails, a nominal application fee, and that no laws are
broken.
“Otherwise whatever you want to throw up on stage – you
go to town; from family shows all the way up to, you know,
slut (r)evolution.”
Many of the artists tour the Canada Fringe circuit every
summer, with the last dates of the season taking place
Continued on Next Page 
33
 From Previous Page
in Victoria, bringing with them their latest show and an
entrepreneurial spirit.
Artists can choose their own admission price at Calgary’s
Fringe – from $8.50 to $13.50 – of which they receive 100
percent of the proceeds. In addition the festival charges
$1.50 per ticket to cover box office, advertising, promotional
materials, marketing and tech support. On average, Michele
says, artists from last year went home with $2,300 apiece.
“These are artists that care passionately about what
they’re doing,” she states. “They’re not reading scripts;
they’re doing what’s important to them.”
Michele recommends that if you haven’t been to Fringe
before, go and check out something you would not ordinarily
attend. She is sure you will not regret it.
To take place each year, the Fringe relies almost entirely
on a huge team of volunteers. Michele is the festival’s sole
full-time employee, with the addition of an assistant she
hired on in May, and tech staff that work through the
duration of the event.
Sponsorship is also a big help to the festival. GayCalgary
& Edmonton Magazine will be proudly sponsoring the four
following shows out of this year’s stellar line-up, running
from July 29th to August 6th at various venues in Inglewood.
ONEymoon – A Honeymoon for One, written by Jimmy Hogg
and Christel Bartelse, has sold out audiences, earned fivestar reviews and a nomination for the Canadian Comedy
Award in the category of Best One Person Show. Last
year the act toured the Toronto, Minneapolis, London and
Victoria Fringe Festivals, as well as Frigid Festival in New
York City, where the show attracted an invite to Indianapolis
the following month.
ONEymoon is the story of Caroline, a woman with
ambiguous ideas about marriage, bent on finding perfection,
who decides to reinvent the traditional convention. The
34
audience follows her zany journey through a solo marriage
celebration of song, dance, and dilemma.
“We all struggle with relationships, whether it’s with a
partner, or a relationship with yourself,” Christel Bartelse,
the show’s sole performer, says. “This show is about the
long struggles of relationships, and that sometimes it’s
better to just be with yourself, although even that has
consequences.”
Bartelse’s first one-woman show, CHAOTICA, was invited
for inclusion in Toronto’s Pride festivities and toured Ottawa,
Wakefield, Saskatoon and Edmonton Fringe. In London it
received the Best in Venue Impresario Award and scored
a nomination for the Brickenden Award for Outstanding
Touring Production.
“Christel’s work, while hilarious and high-energy, also
has a strong undercurrent of real emotion which stems from
the conflict between what an individual wants and societal
expectation; and deals with the difficulty of self-invention in
the face of these two opposing forces,” Bartelse’s manager,
Sheila Sky, states. “While I can’t speak for all audience
members, gay or straight, I think it is this undercurrent
which leaves such a lasting impression.”
ONEymoon has received a host of international accolades
by both media and theatre aficionados.
“This production – a celebration of independence and
girl power – is an energetic, manic and hilarious tale full of
obligatory audience participation...original music, rapping,
inebriated cabana boy seduction and tap dancing,” Thandi
Fletcher, for the Victoria Times, praises. “A masterful
improviser, Bartelse is a bouncing ball of energy who clearly
enjoys the spotlight.”
ONEymoon will be performed six times during Fringe at
the Lantern Church Sanctuary. Tickets are $15 and the
show runs 60 minutes in length.
Gametes and Gonads, is written, directed and performed
by Saanichton, British Columbia’s Jim Leard, of Active
Salad Productions. Leard says the show follows the themes
of forbidden love, massive scale war and tragedy, and blind
religious dogma.
“But mostly it is just a solo comedy about sexuality
with a sci-fi background, making references to Star Wars,
Battlestar Galactica, a touch of Shakespeare and various
tidbits of pop culture,” he explains.
Leard completed the script last year and performed
Gametes and Gonads at the 2010 Victoria Fringe Festival
where it was received with acclaim by audiences, and
graced 4.5 starts by the Victoria Times Columnist. Leard
also performed the show earlier this month at the Toronto
Fringe.
“Gametes and Gonads is about the massive battle going
on inside your genitals at all times,” he says, describing the
sperm as “a massive military force…in an all out assault
on their greatest enemy: the Egg” while the ova, guided
by ancient pagan religion, “are forced to sacrifice one of
their own every month… to appease the Goddesses of the
reproductive system.”
Gametes and Gonads is rated Age 14+ as it contains
violence, sexual content and mature language. Leard will
be performing the 40 minute show at the Alexandra Centre
Society six times throughout the festival. Tickets are $10.
FUCKING STEPHEN HARPER: How I Sexually Assaulted
the 22nd Prime Minister of Canada and Saved Democracy
will be performed by journalist Rob Salerno, the script’s
writer, director and inspiration, at Club Paradiso for six of
the festival nights.
Salerno has toured the show across Canada, including
festivals in Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Edmonton,
Victoria, and Vancouver, winning audiences over every time.
The show has sold out dates in every city it’s ever played
and has been recipient of audience pick awards in Winnipeg
and Ottawa, including Best of Fringe.
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 Interview - From Page 41
“It’s a solo act, and probably should be rated R, but I
figure the title lets people know what they’re in for,” Salerno
says, though this show is restricted in Calgary to audience
members 19+. “The show is about my actual experiences
reporting on the 2008 federal election for Xtra, attempting
to get an interview with Stephen Harper, and instead finding
myself arrested for sexually assaulting the prime minister.”
Sounds funny right? But it is a true story. Maclean’s calls
the journalist’s account of what happened a “hilarious take
on Canadian politics, the media, the gay community, and
what Stephen Harper’s balls feel like.”
In a more serious light, “It’s also about the struggle for
queer rights and my outrage at the current government’s
attempts to roll back our rights and victories,” Salerno
states. “Gay Calgarians will appreciate that the show is as
queer and Canadian as they come.”
FUCKING STEPHEN HARPER has helped to raise funds for
persons living with and affected by HIV/AIDS with the Ten
Foot Pole Theatre. Tickets for this one hour event can be
purchased for $15.
Last, but not least, slut (r)evolution (no one gets there
overnight) will entertain audiences all nine nights of the
Fringe at DaDe Art & Design Lab.
From Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, playwright Cameryn
Moore is this comedy cabaret’s sole performer, directed by
Elizabeth DuPré.
Attendees of last year’s Fringe might remember Moore
as the phone whore. This year she comes back to merge
memory with manifesto, “to explore incendiary events from
her very sexual life”.
Moore has been recipient of Best Female Solo at the San
Francisco Fringe and excels at dramatic storytelling. This
show is rated 18+ for its mature, and sexual, content.
Tickets for the 60 minute show are $13.
For more information on the Fringe, venue addresses,
show information or to purchase tickets in advance, visit
their website, listed at the end of this article.
Calgary Fringe
July 29th to August 6th
http://see.calgaryfringe.ca
KD: I can’t imagine, because I was always out and coming
out wasn’t really a big deal for me just because I was living
out to my family, and in the world, for a long time. But it
certainly made things easier. I can’t imagine what it would
be like, but at the same time it’s definitely made my life
easier just because it kind of stripped away the question
marks in the audience’s minds or the business mind – the
sort of public understanding of who I was. It took away
any pretense or any question. So even though in some
circumstances it’s more difficult, it’s definitely open and
honest, so in that respect it makes it so much easier.
GC&E: There was this big hoopla when Chely Wright
came out last year as the first gay country star, because
there was the argument that you beat her to it. How did you
feel about all that?
KD: I don’t know who Chely Wright is. But I don’t care.
I mean, to a whole generation of people who know Chely
Wright, they probably don’t know who I am, so to them it
is the first country star to come out. (Laughs) I don’t really
care who’s the first, who’s the last, because before me there
were a lot of people that helped get me to a place to feel
confident and comfortable with coming out.
GC&E: When you look back at the films that you’ve done
in the past, like “Eye of the Beholder” or “Salmonberries,”
what do you think? Do you watch them?
KD: No, I don’t watch them. (Laughs) I don’t watch a lot of
movies, and if I were to watch a movie, I certainly wouldn’t
pick one of mine.
GC&E: Last year you lent your voice to a song on a Glee
soundtrack. Would you ever do the show?
KD: I don’t know. I don’t really watch Glee, but I know
it’s very popular and very gay friendly, which is great. And
Jane Lynch is hilarious. So I guess if they asked me I would
consider it, but I’m really happy that I could be a part of
something that’s supportive and promotes alternative and
varying lifestyles.
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35
Out of Town
The French Riviera: Nice and Cannes
 View from Fort Royal of Île Sainte-Marguerite and, across the harbor, the hills above Cannes and the French Riviera. Photo by Andrew Collins.
By Andrew Collins
The French Riviera, or Côte d’Azur, ranks among Europe’s
most enduring - and alluring - gay playgrounds. True, this
stretch of rugged Mediterranean coastline at the southeastern
tip of France doesn’t generate quite as much buzz with GLBT
travelers as Sitges, Ibiza, or Mykonos, as it’s not a pure party
playground. But the sunny and sophisticated French Riviera
(www.frenchriviera-tourism.com) is ideal for a romantic getaway,
and the most gay-popular communities - Cannes and Nice abound with beautiful beaches, chic shopping, exceptional art
museums, and atmospheric cafes and open-air markets.
Nice
Nice (www.nicetourisme.com) - the largest city in the region,
with about 350,000 residents and an international airport with
direct flights from North America - also supports an active GLBT
organization, AGLAE (www.aglae06.fr) which sponsors Gay Pride
each July and produces a gay guide to that’s distributed free at many
businesses. The city is home to several fine museums, including
the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, and the Matisse
Museum of Nice. This is also a fine city for shopping, with dozens
of upscale boutiques set along Rue Pastorelli and Rue du Marechal
Joffre, including the famous Galeries Lafayette department store.
For great views of the city and harbor, climb the stairs to Castle
Hill and stroll among the botanical gardens and medieval ramparts,
soaking up the views of the bustling port neighborhood - you can
see for miles up and down the coast. At the base of the hill, bustling,
Old Town’s narrow streets, classic architecture, esteemed galleries,
and open-air flower and food markets contain a number of the city’s
gay-frequented businesses.
Old Town fringes the city’s shoreline, which you can stroll along
the broad, palm shaded Promenade des Anglais, which fringes
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the miles of pretty (but pebbly) beaches. A couple of the many
beachside restaurants along here fly rainbow flags to welcome their
sizable gay clienteles: the beach at Castel club (www.castelplage.
com), which is lies in the shadows of Castle Hill, and the beach club
run by the trendy HI Hotel (www.hi-beach.net), a favorite see-andsun spot of the Nice A-listers. The clothing-optional section of rocky
shoreline right below Restaurant Coco Beach, a short walk beyond
the Port of Nice, is another favorite gay hangout.
Continue east around Cap de Nice to reach the exclusive village
of Villefranche-sur-Mer, immortalized in the Bond movie Never Say
Never Again. It’s also home to St-Pierre Chapel, whose restored
interior contains murals painted by famed gay novelist Jean
Cocteau. Across the bay is one of the world’s wealthiest enclaves,
Saint Jean Cap Ferrat - everybody from Tina Turner to Bill Gates
have homes around here. Head farther toward the Italian border,
and you’ll reach the ancient cliff-top village of Eze and beyond that
the Principality of Monaco, with its exclusive casinos and ritzy
shopping.
Cannes
The Riviera’s other gay hub, Cannes (www.cannes.travel) - which
is renowned for its legendary film festival each spring - curves gently
around a sheltered bay, its glamorous hotels and swanky beach
bars strung like jewels along La Croisette promenade. Cannes has
an increasingly visible GLBT community - Cannes Rainbow (www.
cannes-rainbow.com) promotes gay tourism to the area.
This city of about 80,000 is perfect for strolling and windowshopping, rife as it is with antiques and food markets as well as
luxury boutiques and department stores. To get your blood flowing,
climb the steep, narrow streets to Suquet hill for majestic views of
the harbor, and then walk back down through Old Town, perhaps
stopping at a sidewalk café for lunch.
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Set aside a half-day for taking a passenger ferry across the
harbor to the Lerins Islands, the most famous of which is Île SainteMarguerite, home to the famed 17th-century Fort Royal, the clifftop fortress (now a museum) in which the legendary Man in the
Iron Mask was imprisoned in the 1600s. The island is also home
to the excellent (seasonal) open-air restaurant, La Guerite, which
serves superb seafood, including the addictively delicious tiny fried
fishes, called blanchaille.
Picasso’s stomping grounds
Between Cannes and Nice, you can visit a pair of lovely
communities, Vallauris Golfe-Juan and Antibes (www.antibesjuanlespins.com), whose Roman fortifications overlook the largest
pleasure-boat harbor in Europe. A walk through Old Town’s narrow
lanes leads to the exceptional Picasso Museum, outside of which a
small sculpture garden looks over the sea. Around the corner you’ll
find the city’s famous city market, which hums with activity and
sells everything from fresh peaches to stuffed rabbits.
Vallauris Golfe-Juan, where Picasso lived for many years, has
boasted a reputation for pottery-making that dates back 2,000
years. It’s home to several arts museum, including the amusingly
offbeat Museum of Kitsch, a celebration of jade-hued ceramic
poodles and tropical-fish ashtrays. More esteemed attractions
include the Castle Museum complex, which comprises three
distinct art museums, including the National Picasso Museum
“War and Peace” (with massive murals by Picasso. Finally, there’s
Espace Jean Marais, a gallery celebrating the sculpture (and film
career) of the celebrated gay actor, Marais, who was the lover at one
time of Jean Cocteau.
Two nearby interior villages of note include the medieval town
of Vence, whose delightful village center is home to Chapelle du
Rosaire, which contains stained-glass by Henri Matisse, and
nearby Saint-Paul de Vence, a walled, medieval hilltop town whose
cobblestone alleys are lined with art galleries, open-air cafes, and
fashionable boutiques. Be sure to walk through the cemetery in
which artist Marc Chagall is buried - he lived here late in life, as
did the gay American novelist James Baldwin. Down the hill, check
out the Maeght Foundation museum, whose grounds and galleries
are filled with dramatic, large-scale contemporary art installations
and sculptures.
Fabled culinary
The French Riviera enjoys a fabled culinary reputation - you’ll find
no shortage of superb restaurants in every town, plus markets and
gourmet shops specializing in local olives, oils, cheeses, pastries,
and every other imaginable treat. Rosé is the most commonly
produced wine in Provence, and locals consume it happily and
regularly at virtually every meal. If you’re looking to pick up a bottle
or two, check out the outstanding La Cave Bianchi (www.cavebianchi.fr) wine shop in Cannes. The town also has some favorite
gay restaurants, including breezy Restaurant le Vegaluna (www.
vegaluna.com) along the beach; see-and-be-seen Le Sparkling et
son Club (www.sparkling-cannes.com), which is also fun for preclubbing cocktails; and Barbarella (www.barbarellarestaurant.fr), a
romantic spot with sidewalk seating in at Old Town.
In Nice’s pedestrianized Cours Saleya district in Old Town, you’ll
find dozens of sidewalk cafés, most of them specializing in local
seafood and pizzas, among the flower and food markets. If you
make it around the Cape to Villefrance, do not miss the wonderful
seafood restaurant La Mère Germaine (www.meregermaine.com),
which has tables right on the bay. If you’re seeking a lunch spot
in Vallauris, try cozy, gay-owned Le Clos Cosette, which turns out
traditionally Provencal cuisine, or fashionable Cafe Marianne (www.
cafemarianne-vallauris.com). The interior village of Saint-Paul de
Vence is one of the country’s finest small towns for dining - it’s
home to a handful of Michelin-star restaurants.
cocktails, conversation, and dancing; and Le Glam club (www.
leglam.org), a small but lively spot for dancing to pop tunes. Fairly
near the harbor is the Eagle (www.eagle-nice.com), a typical leatheroriented and cruise bar, and the fetish/sex club called Le Block
(www.leblock.com). Nice also has a few very popular gay saunas,
including the small but quite clean and attractive Les Bains
Douches, and the large and always-crowded Sauna du Chateau
(www.saunaduchateau.com).
In Cannes, the intimate and rather ancient Zanzibar tavern
makes a nice starting point, perhaps before heading to the city’s
top gay venue, trendy Le Night Disco (www.night-club-cannes.
com). Also, the nightclub and casino Palm Beach Cannes (www.
casinolepalmbeach.com) occasionally hosts gay parties and is
always very GLBT-welcoming.
You’ll find a nice mix of swanky seaside hotels and affordable gay
B&Bs throughout the region. Movie stars in Cannes regularly nest at
the stunning Carlton Inter-Continental Hotel (www.ichotelsgroup.
com) - many suites are named for luminaries, from Sean Penn to
Elton John. The gay-popular Hôtel 3.14 (www.3-14hotel.com) lies
just around the corner and is notable for its over-the-top quirky
rooms - floors have fun, if bizarre, themes like American pop art
and Moroccan chic. The rooftop pool is a wonderful place to while
away an afternoon.
In the leafy, inviting Juan les Pins section of Antibes, the gayfriendly Hôtel Juana (www.hotel-juana.com) and Hôtel Belles Rives
(www.bellesrives.com) - which have the same owners and are within
walking distance of each other - make excellent bases for exploring
the entire Riviera. Hotel Belles Rives, in which F. Scott Fitzgerald
lived while writing Tender is the Night, is the more historic and
atmospheric of the two, and it’s home to the exceptional restaurant,
La Passagere. Up in the hilly Vence, the gay-owned La Maison du
Frêne (www.lamaisondufrene.com) is an exquisitely decorated B&B
whose stunning rooms are hung with bold, playful contemporary
art - it’s a perfect hideaway for a romantic vacation.
Nice has the best variety of lodging options, which include
reasonably priced gay B&Bs like Blue Angels (www.blueangels.
fr) and ThyJeff Guesthouse (www.thyjeff.fr), both of which are
close to the train station - the owners of the latter also run a
cheerful gay café nearby, Le ThyJeff. Also consider the upscale
four-room guest house, Mas des Oliviers (www.masdesoliviersnice.com), a gay-owned retreat set amid quiet gardens in the
foothills above Nice - amenities include a pool, fitness room,
and two terraces with lovely views.
Among larger properties, the chic and artfully design HI
Hôtel (www.hi-hotel.net) - with its bold color schemes, rooftop
pool, and stellar sushi restaurant - is a favorite of trendy and
discerning gay travelers. The hotel also operates the previously
mentioned HI beach club and restaurant, a few blocks. Other
Nice favorites include the opulent Hôtel Palais le la Méditerranée
(palais.concorde-hotels.com), a grand dame with a magnificent
Art Deco facade overlooking the sea, and the elegant and smartly
undated L’Hôtel Beau Rivage (www.hotelnicebeaurivage.com),
an 1860s beauty overlooking Promenade des Anglais - it’s been
a favorite accommodation of such arts and literary figures as
Matisse and Chekhov.
Andrew Collins covers gay travel for the New York Times-owned website GayTravel.
About.com and is the author of Fodor’s Gay Guide to the USA. He can be reached
care of this publication.
Gay nightlife
Gay nightlife in the region is relaxed, very friendly, and
concentrated in Nice and Cannes. In Nice, consider Bar Le Fard
(www.lefard.com), a snug spot on Promenade des Anglais - it’s a
good place to start the night. Other good bets include centrally
located Le 6 Bar (www.le6.fr), which draws a stylish mix for
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37
Wicked Impresses in Calgary Debut
By Jason Clevett
Since it debuted on Broadway in 2003, it seems everyone, including me, has been
eagerly awaiting Wicked to tour Canada. Every time I was told of an announcement of
the next Broadway season I waited with baited breath to hear one word, and time and
time again was let down. I even tried to see it in San Francisco, only to discover that
the only nights I could see it, the theatre was dark.
So it was with a great deal of anticipation that I joined a packed Jubilee Auditorium for the
opening night of Wicked. Having waited for this moment for years, after all this anticipation, I
really really liked it, even if I didn’t love it in the way I expected to.
Wicked is essentially the story of The Wicked Witch of the West, her development from school
and overlapping with the story told
in The Wizard of Oz. Elphaba, being born with green skin, is
 YYY
essentially shunned everywhere including at school. Glinda being the popular girl is among those
treating Elphaba poorly, until a change of heart leads to the two becoming friends.
There is a lot to the story – themes of being an outcast, acceptance, political corruption,
and how rumors and myths can quickly spin out of control. The sets are impressive. Natalie
Daradich is brilliant as Glinda, and Anne Brummel is equally stellar as Elphaba. There is just
enough of Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel, who originated the roles, to pay tribute without
being a copy. Jody Gleb as Madame Morrible and Don Amendolia as The Wizard also tackle their
roles with gusto. There are several clever jokes and references to the original Wizard as well, and
the audience learns how the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion come to be.
Musically the cast is strong, although I’ve always felt the lyrics to the show weren’t its strong
suit. Popular and For Good received a warm response from me, while Defying Gravity stood out
as the best song in the show.
The general consensus among people I’ve spoken to since, is that they loved the show, though
your own enjoyment of Wicked will depend on your personal preference. It lacks the spectacle of
Phantom or Lion King but the story and dialogue is well written. Just as I will always be fond of
The Phantom of the Opera because my father took me to it as a teenager, I am sure that this run
will leave a lasting impression on kids who will long treasure that memory, and on those who are
attending their first show.
It is definitely worth seeing at least once. The large scale shows like Wicked, Phantom and
The Lion King only seem to arrive sporadically, so best to check it out now while it flies through
Alberta.
Wicked
Calgary - Jubilee Auditorium - June 29th to July 17th
Edmonton - Jubilee Auditorium - July 20th to August 7th
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www.gaycalgary.com
k.d. lang: ‘Loud’ and Proud
Singer talks being butch, out and the first gay country star
 Photos by The Fun Star
By Chris Azzopardi
k.d. lang is manning up, and here’s why: Lady Gaga, Katy Perry and all the other
sexpots of pop who shoot whipped cream from their chests and ride disco sticks. In
our recent interview with lang, a longtime gay activist and singer of the purest form
who turns 50 later this year, she told us how her decision to boost her butchness was
a rebellious choice.
The look is evident in “I Confess,” the lead single from the recently released Sing it Loud.
k.d.’s first record made entirely with a band in over 20 years ago, the new album features
her sublime voice in all its glory.
The singer chatted about the album’s evolution, how being the first out country star
doesn’t matter (she doesn’t even know who Chely Wright is), and why she’s proud to have
been part of Glee.
Continued on Page 41 
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GC&E: Why did you approach Sing it Loud with a fuller
sound and, for the first time in a while, a band?
KD: It just seemed to be the right thing to do. It was just
what I was feeling. I was working with Joe (Pisapia), writing
songs, and it came time to record them and I just felt like
the band was the right way to approach it – very live and
spontaneous and kind of rock. We put the band together
and it was beyond my wildest dreams what transpired. We
recorded eight songs in three days and the love in the room
was palpable, and the communication and the magic was
just extraordinarily creative.
GC&E: There’s lots of love on the album. What inspired
all of it?
KD: We wanted to write something that was unpretentious
and uplifting and made the listener feel good and felt good
while we were playing it. It’s not really an autobiographical
record because it’s highly collaborative.
GC&E: How will the new songs translate to a live venue?
KD: I really believe that the energy that we feel for each
other and for the music will translate to the audience – at
least I’m hoping, but I’m pretty sure it will.
GC&E: Explain the line “I’ll be your daddy” on “I Confess.”
KD: Well, it’s pretty self-explanatory, isn’t it? (Laughs)
GC&E: Definitely, but how did it come about? Was it your
line?
KD: We were just sitting around and I said to Josh
(Grange) and Daniel (Clarke), who I wrote the song with, “I
want to write a Roy Orbison song.” It just started coming
out of us, and I was just kind of riffing on lyrics and fooling
around – “I love you madly,” and I just went, “I’ll be your
daddy” – and Josh is like, “Oh my god, that’s so cool. You
have to keep it.”
GC&E: How do you think that line would’ve been received
had you recorded this song 20 years ago when you first
came out of the closet?
KD: Probably the same as now. I think there’s going to
always be people who feel uncomfortable with it and there’s
always going to be people who are titillated by it. You just
have to know that’s going to be the case for a long time.
GC&E: Would you say you’re embracing your butchness
more than you used to?
KD: Yeah – this music really asks for it. I also think that
the aesthetic nature of today’s music, with people like Lady
Gaga and Katy Perry – not that it’s new, it certainly isn’t; I
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know better than that – being very exaggerated, I thought, I
can exaggerate too. (Laughs)
GC&E: You mention the aesthetic of performers today,
which seems to be more important than vocal talent these
days. But you’ve always been about the voice. What do you
make of the way the music business has shifted in the way
it sells music?
KD: It’s kind of the direction it’s been going. If you’re
really a historian you can probably go back to television,
to video, to multimedia and see how it sort of extracted it
from its purist form, which is making music. Now you’re
on camera every single time you open your mouth. I’m
surprised someone isn’t video taping this interview for the
web. (Laughs)
I actually think it’s boring because everything is so
overexposed. But it’s fine; it is what it is. I’m not going to
be one of those people going, “Oh, it’s gotta be like it used
to be.” I think it’s relative and it’s the evolution of the way
things are. In terms of music, there is always going to be
a place for someone who can sing and someone who can
communicate with an audience. I don’t think that will ever
be in danger, because that’s what separates the cream from
the crop. If you can walk on stage and really deliver, yeah –
you can’t fake that.
GC&E: Did you ever feel pressure to conform in your
career?
KD: That would depend on what I wanted to reap from
my music. I’ve always been quite sure that I wanted to have
a more artistic career and a career of longevity, so in that
respect, no. I’ve made decisions that have nurtured my art
rather than my public awareness or my celebrity. That’s
been self-determined, so no, I never felt the pressure.
GC&E: So do you think people who nurture their celebrity
status are less likely to endure than people who don’t?
KD: I don’t know. I wouldn’t say less likely. You get what
you get; it’s fate. You either have a huge amount of success
at the beginning and then your career kind of dwindles, or
you have something kind of consistent like me and it goes
for years and years, or you work really hard and nothing
happens and then you explode later on in life. I don’t really
think that one is better than the other.
GC&E: If you hadn’t come out publicly at 30 and you were
still closeted, how do you imagine your life and career now?
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Event
Star Trekking in Calgary
Beaming Down White Hats
By Evan Kayne
Continuing the tradition from last year of having one
guest from the original Star Trek and one guest from
Star Trek: the Next Generation, this year visitors to the
Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo got to see both
William Shatner and Jonathan Frakes talk about their
experiences and current projects.
William Shatner (Captain James T. Kirk)
What is there to add to the legend of Captain Kirk? After his
lean days of the early 70s, the man has been working nonstop.
His panel at the Expo was exactly what we would have expected
– entertaining. After a humorous ceremony where Mayor Nenshi
gave him Calgary’s traditional White Hat and made him an
honorary Calgarian, Shatner went on to riff off such “Canadian
moments” as impromptu riots post-Stanley Cup, to percussive
maintenance for Winter Olympic closing-show teleprompters.
He discussed his disappointment with the cancellation of
the sitcom $#*! My Dad Says but repeated a mantra of always
putting one foot after the other and continuing forward. It’s not
like he’s lacking for work. Additionally, he has an interview show
on The Biography Channel (Shatner’s Raw Nerve) , and he hosts
the Discovery Channel television series Weird or What?
Furthermore, he has created a documentary focusing on the
many captains in the various Star Trek pantheon. The Captains
has Shatner interviewing each of the various actors who played
captains in their series: Patrick Stewart, Avery Brooks, Kate
Mulgrew, Scott Bakula, and Chris Pine – the young Captain Kirk
in the recent Star Trek movie.
For a man who just turned 80 he is remarkably busy, and yet
still full of energy for quips about what it was like being Captain
Kirk (“I had to wash that green stuff off every night!”), racy banter
with a young woman (“This is getting exciting....”) and thoughts
on how he’d like to die (right in the middle of a performance so
people think it was part of the act).
If there was any complaint I had with it - and yes, I’m fully
aware I may be attacked by green skinned Orion slave girls for
voicing such heresy – he began to wear a little thin halfway into
his session. Perhaps on television where there are directors or
producers to tighten up his routine it works better. Perhaps he
was tired...he laid out a stressful week he had prior to the Expo,
and given that he’s 80 years old it’s okay to excuse his rambling.
I’m not saying he’s NOT interesting...I hope he stays with us
and healthy for many more years. However, this time, this big
cheesy captain came across to me a bit stale.
the steady career as a director that he has carved out for himself.
Or as he put it, “(acting is) a brutal and unjust bedmate.”
He noted that he does prefer directing to acting because one
can get work both based on your skills as a director and also
through the people you know and work with. As well, it keeps
him better occupied, while acting involves a lot of waiting around
between takes (or, in his case, napping).
Known as “Two Takes Frakes” for his efficient filming style
during Star Trek: First Contact, as a Director he has tried to
insert some of his sense of humour into his directing. Besides
TNG and two Star Trek movies, he has directed episodes for
several series including Dollhouse, Castle, Leverage, and NCIS:
LA, among others.
Frakes was entertaining and worked with the moderators,
teased the attendees, and generally seemed to have a good time
at the show, telling everyone about little bits of Trek history,
and running through the panel in a relaxed, playful, yet efficient
manner. While not a fan of his character, from this visit to the
Expo and from the interview we had with him in last month’s
edition, he is certainly easy to listen to, and as some Bears in our
community think, still quite easy on the eyes.
Jonathan Frakes (Commander Will Riker)
From the moment he stepped onstage and was White-Hatted,
he entertained fans with his laid back irreverent style of banter –
from demonstrating the “Riker Lean” (“HE WENT FULL RIKER!!”)
to stretching out on the couch while engaging with the audience.
This was a bit jarring to me, as the character of Riker always
struck me as humourless with only the occasional nod to the
relaxed attitude of the actor underneath the uniform. As if to both
express Frakes’ fondness for the character while simultaneously
undercutting Riker’s serious nature, he pitched a possible idea
for a new Star Trek series: “Half-hour sitcom. The Rikers in Space
with their wacky Uncle Data and their little dog Worf.”
On a serious note, when asked, Frakes was surprisingly blunt
about a career as an actor. He acknowledged how lucky he
was to get on Star Trek: the Next Generation, but also told the
audience that 95% of actors are not able to get work compared to
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45
Interview
 InnerSPACE Hosts
 Ajay
 Teddy
InnerSPACE
Sci-fi Hosts at the Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo
By Evan Kayne
Amidst the sea of science fiction/horror/fantasy fans in
attendance for the 2011 edition of the Calgary Comic
and Entertainment Expo, you might have seen two blurs
running back and forth from event to event. That would
have been Teddy Wilson and Ajay Fry – hosts of SPACE
TV’s science fiction entertainment and news show
InnerSPACE.
Like any fanboy, they were there to enjoy the Expo.
However, for them it was a double barrelled pleasure as
they were attending in their professional capacity, hosting
or moderating several panels with subject matter varying
from Todd and the Book of Pure Evil, Stargate, and the big
star of the Expo this year, William Shatner.
Returning for his second time, Teddy told me Calgary
has been exceptionally welcoming. He had a blast at the
2010 Expo schmoozing with all the guests. Yet what he
found more interesting was the reception of the fans here in
Calgary: they seem to come out in droves. “I don’t know if
it’s the kinship between the western frontier spirit and the
exploratory, boundary pushing nature of sci-fi,” Teddy said,
but he implied there seems to be a strong alchemy between
the two.
This kinship or alchemy is not new, Teddy continued. After
all, Gene Roddenberry pitched Star Trek as Wagon Train “to
the stars”. The weird marriage between Western and Science
Fiction has recently been seen in Firefly, upcoming movies
like Cowboys and Aliens, comics like Jonah Hex and even
in literature with Steven King’s “Dark Tower” novel series.
“I think it’s a natural fit that the West would have a really
strong sci-fi genre fanbase. Calgary was great...just great
spirit,” Teddy added. However, what set this Expo apart
from others for him was not just the attendance (though it
did double from 2010), it was the participation of fans. “(In
2010) I came back and mentioned to Ajay that I noticed a
larger percentage of fans who were cosplaying – who were
46
dressed up in costumes – than at a lot of other con[vention]
s.”
For Ajay, this was his first Expo. He has been to Calgary
before, for the Calgary International Film Festival. Before
the Expo, he told us that because of Teddy’s review from
2010, he was counting down the days until he left for
Calgary. Of course, he was put to work – besides the panels
he hosted with Teddy, Ajay got to moderate the Matt Frewer
panel and the Mike Mignola panel – the latter of which was
a bonus for him, as he’s a huge Hellboy fan.
What did Ajay think of the experience? “My first Calgary
Expo was fantastic. And I choose that word specifically
because the fans were in large part what made it such a fun
experience. I got to know a number of them as they came
out to various panels and events over the weekend.” As well,
he was impressed by and wanted to send a big thank you
out to the volunteers: “Every one of them was friendly and
helpful.”
Furthermore, he was thrilled – as were many people – that
Mayor Nenshi embraced his inner nerd and attended the
Expo. Unlike last year with Dave Bronconnier, Nenshi didn’t
just show up, present a White Hat to the major celebrity,
and then split. “It’s great to see a local politician hanging
out with us geeks. I heard he actually spent some time on
the convention floor too...how cool is that?!”
Besides the panels they hosted featuring sci-fi favorites,
Ajay and Teddy also had their own InnerSPACE panel. It’s
a bit overwhelming for them to see the fan reaction at this
panel, Teddy stated. “We shoot our modest little show in a
little studio in downtown Toronto...you’re kind of in your
bubble a little bit. But then you go out to...anywhere across
the country and you get this fan love.”
Ajay’s response was much the same: “[There were] so
many people who knew not just general aspects of our show
InnerSPACE, but specifics as well. It just goes to show you
people all over the country really are watching and hearing
what we have to say.” Of course, this wasn’t their first
www.gaycalgary.com
experience with fan feedback. At the Halifax convention,
Teddy and Ajay were shocked to see the panel discussion
for InnerSPACE being crowded to the point of standing room
only.
This year, they did do some homework for the major star.
This was necessary, as one of their most surreal convention
moments came courtesy of William Shatner at Toronto’s
expo last year. They were moderating a panel with him,
and normally there’s some interaction with panel hosts
and guests. But Shatner came out after the introduction,
took the mike and away he went on a roll...leaving Ajay and
Teddy standing in the background. “About ten minutes in,
he looks back and goes, What are you two guys still doing
here?...and the whole crowd erupted in laughter at us.” At
which point they slunk offstage. “I don’t think we’re going
to stay at the podium this year...we’re probably just going
to introduce him and let him do his thing.” Which is pretty
much what happened.
As both geeks themselves and media figures, the appeal
Teddy and Ajay offer to their audience is their enthusiasm
about new and exciting science fiction projects. Besides
their thoughts about the Expo, I talked with them about the
upcoming shows on SPACE.
There are the staples: Doctor Who is returning in the Fall
for the second half of this incredible season, and Teddy is
really excited for the next season of Torchwood: “Miracle
Day” starting on July 9th. If you’re a fan of TV shows about
superheroes, “...there’s also a cool looking show called
Alphas coming to Space July 11. Fall, we’re having Todd
and the Book of Evil returning for season two, which is
amazing. ”
Ajay is eagerly anticipating Outcasts, a show about
humanity struggling to colonize a distant planet, starring
Jamie Bamber, “Apollo” from Battlestar Galactica. As well,
Ajay mentions SPACE has something for a lot of the folks who
attended the Expo – Fanboy Confessional. “The first episode
is set at Anime North and follows a bunch of cosplayers.
But it explores all different elements of fandom including
Furries, Steampunkers, LARPers. There’s six episodes and
it begins on Space July 13th at 10pm.”
Of course, for those sci-fi fans who want to be in the
know, this the Fall when InnerSPACE resumes its normal
broadcasting schedule, you can tune in to get the latest news
on what’s happening in the science fiction entertainment
world. Hopefully, we’ll also get the chance to welcome Teddy
and Ajay back at the 2012 Expo.
www.gaycalgary.com
47
Event
Western Canadian Pride Festival
For the Community, by the Community
By Leon Thompson, Festival Organizer
The Western Canadian Pride Festival is one of the
largest campouts in the Canadian West for the LGBT
community. Our success stems directly out of the great
people who join us annually for the August long weekend.
The Campout is open to all members and invited guests,
friends and families. In past years we have always
chosen themes and this year we will be carrying on with
that tradition with “Fairy Tales Gone Wild”.
It is hard to say how we got to where we are today, but one
thing is for sure: the people we met on the way have had a great
influence on what we do. We like to think that we do not put on
an event, rather we join you as participants in the sand box. By
us bringing our toys, sharing, entertaining and playing fair we
are hoping you will come and do the same. The WCPF grew out of
the idea of celebrating who we are. We are not just the “Big Gay
Campout” as some have called us, but a campground full of gay
people ... and there is a bit of a difference, there is much more to
us than just our sexual orientation.
Enjoy 4 days of camping, Live music with Eve’s Hell and The
Razors at the Friday night meet and greet, 3 dance admissions
with DJ Fly Girl, Saturday dinner, karaoke, games, pools,
activities and a few other surprises. The WCPF has become a
tradition for those who have attended in the past. For many,
it’s the highlight of their year. The cost this year is $100.00 for
members, non-member early bird tickets $120.00 (ending July
28th).
Paying at the gate? There will be 2 types of tickets available:
Bring a Buddy pass for $220.00, and single gate ticket: $130.00
(cash only at the gate). Limited Tickets are available this year
so please do not wait too long to register. We have never turned
anyone away at the gate and will always make room for you, but
please help us out by registering.
Once again the Campout will be held at Watipi Lodge, a private
campground centrally located between Edmonton and Calgary just 5 minutes north of Blackfalds, 10 minutes from Lacombe,
and 15 minutes from Red Deer. Gates open on Friday at noon,
but early bird campers are welcome prior to that. If you do want
to come early and stay later, the cost is $20 per night. Please let
us know that you are arriving early.
Our only requirement is that you leave your problems at the
gate and let us take you on a much needed break. If you have
had 361 days of garbage over the last year, it’s totally ok to leave
it at the gate. You are what’s important, not your problems!
Come out and play with us, dress up with us and laugh with
us...you will love it!
Western Canadian Pride Festival
Watipi Lodge, Blackfalds, AB
[email protected]
www.mywcpf.com
Fairy Tales Gone Wild
July 29th to August 1st
48
www.gaycalgary.com
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www.gaycalgary.com
The (Gay)
GAGA
Interview
Superstar talks activism,
her legacy and how
being a gay icon
is a ‘tall order’
By Chris Azzopardi
Lady Gaga is one of the biggest superstars in the
world. But speaking to her only briefly during this rare
interview, she evades her larger-than-life image with
affable charm, self-deprecating humor (take that, socalled penis) and a down-to-earth demeanor.
She’s sweet, perverted, articulate and talkative. And she
can’t stop gushing about how much her fans mean to her
– and when I have to cut her off to get a few last minute
questions in, she doesn’t pull a diva trip. She’s cordial as
can be. “I could talk to you forever, you’re so cute,” she
says, almost in baby goo-goo, ga-ga talk.
Point is, Gaga doesn’t sound like someone who just
scored the best first-week sales of the year so far with Born
This Way, her opus that seems to position her as the Mother
Teresa of music. Since we last spoke, nearly two years ago
when “Just Dance” was charting, she was barely a blip on
the pop scene. How quickly things can change.
This time, Gaga spoke about inspiring young gay people,
why she cried for a week straight, what she’d do with an
Ann Coulter-like kid and the legacy she wants to leave.
www.gaycalgary.com
GC&E: We have lots more to talk about this time than
your love for Italian sausages.
LG: (Laughs) I love Italian sausages ... as much as I love
my own.
GC&E: Don’t take this the wrong way, but as a fashion
icon I have to ask: What are you wearing?
LG: I’m actually in a black bra and underwear. That’s
it. The top one is lace and the bottom one is just plain
and silky. This is my daywear. I’m walking around my hotel
room and I’m going to yoga soon, and I probably won’t
change. (Laughs)
GC&E: How did you spend your last day off?
LG: I watched So You Think You Can Dance, and I’ve been
planning my performances for the next few months for
television and getting ready for the new tour.
GC&E: That’s work. That’s not time off, Gaga.
LG: (Laughs) I know, I know. I always do that. I’m sorry.
I don’t really take time off. I try, but I think I find comfort
in my creativity. It’s like a warm blanket for me, so I will
end up in some sort of way creating something or writing
something.
51
GC&E: How do you feel
about your role as a gay icon
and a leader in the LGBT rights
movement?
LG: That’s a really, really tall
order and quite a description. I never
set out to be a gay icon or become
one or be revered as one, and I’m just
really grateful to all the people that
have believed in me and my music
and my work. The most special
thing of all has been that my sort
of assimilation as a public figure
has very organically stemmed out
of who my natural friends were in
high school.
I had a lot of gay friends growing
up, not even realizing they were gay. We
didn’t really talk about it and I went to
theater school and I did a lot of shows,
so I guess it never really mattered to
me if they were gay or straight – and
we never really talked about it. We just
loved talking about music and art and
theater and fashion. So now it’s less
about being a leader and more just
about being a part of my generation
and being part of the fight for
equality that I feel is part of who I am
and part of my childhood, and part of
where I’m going.
GC&E: The message you stand for as
a public figure – about being yourself no
matter who you are – is also a big part of
Born This Way.
LG: The album was inspired by the spirit of
the fans, the spirit of the show and the spirit of
people all over the world every night talking to me
about social justice and sharing their stories with
me and me realizing that my mission with music
was driven in a very specific way at this point.
So social justice has to be the most paramount
issue that I address on the album.
GC&E: I wish I knew who you were when
I was a teenager. Young people these
days are lucky to have such a role
model.
LG: That’s so sweet. Thanks
for saying that. I hope that I can
really be that, and I hope that
they know that it’s so genuine
and so authentic.
GC&E: Which album gave
you a sense of belonging and
allowed you to be yourself when
you were a kid?
LG: I always talk about Green
Day, because Dookie was the
first album that I went to buy
on my own. I think because I
got bullied in school there was
something I really appreciated
about
punk
culture.
It
allowed me to feel unified with
something that was separate
from my community at school.
Even though I didn’t have a lot
of punk friends or I didn’t go
to punk shows – because when
I was 13, my mother would
never have allowed me to leave
the house and go downtown
to see a punk show – just
52
www.gaycalgary.com
having the album in my hands and reading the lyrics and
listening to the music made me feel like I was a punk, feel
like a Green Day fan, feel like I was part of a union that was
separate from my situation. That’s really carried through
into my music and my dream and my message. But what’s
been so great is social media. Unlike when I was a kid,
my fans now have a way to get to know each other and
be connected through social media so that the culture can
grow.
GC&E: And you’re using social networking a lot as a
political platform, urging fans to step up in the fight for
equality.
LG: Oh yeah. I just got on Twitter and I was firing away
like I was on the Senate floor. I couldn’t stop because I
think to myself, almost instantly, there are 11 million
people who are receiving this message from me and
they have to know what’s going on. Even if I just
get five people to call in New York, I can make
that small bit of difference.
GC&E: If you had a daughter and you found
out she was going to be the next Ann Coulter,
what would you do?
LG: Oh. I’d have to have a sit-down with
her.
GC&E: What’s been the most rewarding
moment of your career so far?
LG: So many different things. It was a
very, very huge shock for me when I heard
the album sales for Born This Way. I just
cried for, like, a week straight. (Laughs)
It was seven full days of rainwater tears.
I think I could’ve filled an entire ocean
of gratitude. I just worked so hard on the
music and I cared so much that the fans loved
it, and all that mattered to me was they loved
it. The feedback of the music and of the videos
has been so wonderful.
I sat down with the label and I talked to my
team and we talked about the new album cycle
and I said to them, “I don’t want for the goal of
this to be that we gain new fans. If we gain
new fans, that’s wonderful. But the goal for
me is to strengthen my artistic evolution
and strengthen the bond between the
fans.” That was the single most important
thing to me. Not to sell more records, not
to gain more fans, not to convert people
that didn’t like me before to like me
now. That was not what I wanted. What
I wanted to do was to look out into the
crowd and know that they were stronger
than ever, and the thing that has been
the most exciting for me is to watch that
happen, because what we have – what I
have witnessed so far with the release of
this album – is that the super fan section
of my fans has grown.
GC&E: This is basically a dedication to
your Little Monsters, right?
LG: It’s a dedication, exactly. It’s not fairweather fans. These are real fans.
GC&E: If you could be reincarnated as a real
living monster, what would you come back as?
LG: Myself. But I would have all my protrusions
be real and I would be a real fairy monster.
GC&E: How gay of you.
LG: I know. But she would be mean and fierce,
too. And have a fake mole. And I would be able to
instantly change a wig with a thought in my mind or
change my bone structure based on my thoughts.
GC&E: It’s like a drag queen’s dream.
www.gaycalgary.com
53
54
www.gaycalgary.com
Photography
FAB Anniversary Party - Calgary
www.gaycalgary.com
55
Photography
Backlot Anniversary - Calgary
56
www.gaycalgary.com
Photography
Bowling: My what a Drag! - Calgary
AIDS Calgary AGM - Calgary
Pistols & Pearls 2 at the Texas Lounge - Calgary
2011 Pride Kick Off Party at Junction - Edmonton
www.gaycalgary.com
57
Photography
Buddys Baseball Challenge - Edmonton
Calgary Outlink AGM - Calgary
Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo
Edmonton Pride Centre Breakfast
58
www.gaycalgary.com
Photography
Master Barry’s Celebration of Life - Calgary
Apollo AGM at Club Sapien - Calgary
ARGRA Pool Party - Calgary
ARGRA Afterparties at Backlot and Eagle - Calgary
www.gaycalgary.com
59
Photography
GAYmazing Race (photos at FAB) - Calgary
Pink Party at Buddys - Edmonton
Party Monster at Buddys - Edmonton
Fake Mustache 100th Show at Club Sapien - Calgary
60
www.gaycalgary.com
Photography
Pure Pride Kickoff Party at FLASH - Edmonton
LG: Yeah. It’s my dream. It’s every girl’s dream! (Laughs)
GC&E: Two of your songs are named after human features
– “Hair” and “Teeth.” What’s the next body part you’ll write
about?
LG: Who knows. I didn’t even think of it that way. Where
should I go next? I don’t know. I’ve already been thinking
about the next album, though. Don’t shoot me.
GC&E: Can you give us a glimpse into that one?
LG: No, no. Stay on this one. We’re not done yet. (Laughs)
I am planning on making the “You and I” video, though, and
I’m really excited about that.
GC&E: Everyone talks about overexposure when you’re as
big of a star as you are. Does that worry you at all?
LG: No. You’re just a right or left click away from the other
direction.
GC&E: Have you thought about the legacy you want to
leave and what that might be?
LG: Yes, I have. And it changes and grows. I would say
that my wish is to be remembered as a cultural force, as
someone who was fearless and unpredictable, who didn’t
care what anyone thought about what I have created but
only cared that they thought about it.
Wet Jockey Contest at the Calgary Eagle
www.gaycalgary.com
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www.gaycalgary.com
63

Photography - GayCalgary.com

Transcription

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