GayCalgary Magazine - October 2005

October 2005 Issue 24

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Map, Places and Events of Calgary’s Gay Community in every issue Calgary’s resource for Business, Tourism, Events, Bars and Entertainment for the Gay, Lesbian, Bi and Gay Friendly Community.

IGBO Mid-Year 2005 Celebrating their Silver Anniversary in Calgary

La Fleur Making Flowers Fabulous! http://www.gaycalgary.com

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gaycalgary.com magazine

61 Established originally in January 1992 as Men For Men BBS by MFM Communications. Named changed to GayCalgary.com in 1998. Stand alone company as of January 2004. First Issue of GayCalgary.com Magazine, November 2003.

Publisher Steve Polyak & Rob Diaz-Marino, publisher@gaycalgary.com Editor Rob Diaz Marino, editor@gaycalgary.com

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Table of Contents 5

Copy Editor Jacob Wallace Original Graphic Design Deviant Designs Advertising Steve Polyak and Dan Dinu sales@gaycalgary.com Contributors Steve Polyak, Rob Diaz-Marino, Nina Tron, Stephen Lock, M. Zelda, Jason Clevett, Jerome Voltero, Darryl A. Aarbo, Alykhan Velji, Jacob Wallace, Ivan, Kevin Alderson, Ph.D., C. Psych. and the Gay and Lesbian Community of Calgary Photographer Steve Polyak and Rob Diaz-Marino Videographer Steve Polyak and Rob Diaz-Marino Please forward all inquiries to: GayCalgary.com Magazine Suite 100, 215 14th Avenue S.W. Calgary, Alberta T2R 0M2 Phone (403) 543-6960 or toll free (888) 543-6960

Gay, Lesbian, and Bilingual?

Letter from the Publisher

8 IGBO Mid-Year 2005 Celebrating their Silver Anniversary in Calgary

12 La Fleur Making Flowers Fabulous!

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Just Ask Nina!

The Dish who dishes advice

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Map & Event Listings Mapping Calgary’s core

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Bitter Girl Gay Legalese

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Karma, the Bitch

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Adult Film Reviews Hallo-weeners!

Fax (403) 703-0685 E-mail magazine@gaycalgary.com

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A Couple of Guys

Print Run Monthly, 12 times a year

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Q Scopes

Masthead continued on page 4

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“Develop new ideas, Virgo!””

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Modern Day Witch Hunting The Vatican Gets It Wrong…Again

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Rough Trade Attraction

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Press Releases

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Spymonkey in Cooped Deliciously Demented Take on Pulp Gothic Romance Novella

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Romeo and Juliet Hearts Break in Spectacular new Production!

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Fundraising Photos

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Letters to the Publisher

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Q Puzzle “Family Doctor”

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The BoyGirls

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Cutting Our Own Labour Day Classic

Deadline for Ad Bookings 25th of the month (unless otherwise stated)

Pajama Tops

Legal Council Courtney Sebree Aarbo, Barristers and Solicitors

Saddle Up!

Printers North Hill News

The Syringa Tree Two-Step North ARGRA brings major Rodeo convention to Calgary

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1st World Outgames Rendez-Vous Montréal 2006

53 November 2005 Press Deadlines

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Queer Quest

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This Issue Cover Model Robin, photographed

by Steve Polyak.

The opinions expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of GayCalgary.com or the contributors of the magazine.

People photographed or interviewed, writers, advertisers, contributors and anyone else involved with this publication are not necessarily gay, lesbian, bi, bi-curious or trans gendered. They can be straight people that are gay friendly.

Queer in Grade School: How Far Have We Come?

No part of the publication may be reprinted without the expressed permission of the editor-in-chief.

Does it Come in Black?

Copyright 2005

Queer Eye - for the Calgary guy (or gal) Events that happened around Calgary

Ad Space Booking Wednesday October 26th 2005 Ad Submission - Friday October 29th 2005

Deadline for Ad copy 28th of the month (unless otherwise stated)

Stage West brings French farce to Calgary

ATP explores apartheid

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Distribution points 150 points in Calgary, largest distribution points for any Gay publication in Calgary. Also distributed coast to coast across Canada in select locations in Toronto, Vancouver, Edmonton, Montreal, Regina, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, and other places across Canada. Please call us if you would like to be a distribution point.

Distributed by DLRJ Distributions, Canada Post and by GayCalgary.com

Ranchers & Rustlers moseys into Jubilations

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Copies Printed Monthly, up to 10,000 copies.

Local Talent releases First Album

Thank you’s

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Continued from page 3

Classifieds Ads

Gay, Lesbian, and Bilingual?

Letter from the Publisher

By Rob Diaz-Marino

At the beginning of this month, Steve and I snuck off to Montreal for 5 days. Before you start cheering that we finally took time off, I should clarify that we were there for the OutGames 2006 press conference…though we have to agree that a change of surroundings is still as good as a holiday. Since we are a sponsor of the event, they stunned us with their kindness by paying for our flight, our accommodations, and even most of our food! Although they kept us pretty busy with bus tours of the city and breakfast with the mayor, we still managed to find time to visit the “Gay Village” on St. Catherine Street.

The shear size and volume of gay businesses along the stroll were proof of how the gay economy can flourish in such a liberal city – my god, Ralph Klein would flip! As our tour guide put it, “We’re French first, Catholic second.” Everywhere you looked people were cruising one another, couples were blissfully holding hands while popping into gay restaurants, stores, and monstrous clubs that would put every one of Calgary’s to shame. Montreal is certainly something the gay Calgarian might envy, but a concept to work toward in our own city’s future.

We were certainly humbled by the gay publications available there too – every one on glossy paper, many exceeding 100 pages! We had the opportunity to speak to people involved with many other gay publications across the world. One gay magazine out of Europe charges

12,000 Euro for a full-page ad! Wow, we should really think about raising our rates a little…

In those five days, Steve and I had many firsts. Our first time holding hands while walking down the street, our first time in a gay strip club, and our first time choking down a chicken sandwich that had been purposely smothered in gravy and peas. Yikes, don’t you be reading anything nasty into that!

But we weren’t there just to have fun – we were there to represent Calgary, and indeed we found out the whole of western Canada! If you want to read more, flip to our article on page 52 where we talk more about the conference.

Bar Banter Steve and I had to go separate ways on October 1st to ensure that we covered two major events happening that night. While Steve went to photograph the Detour Closing Party, I called dibs on BearBash! I got the opportunity to meet a lot of new faces from out of town, and even several people from Calgary’s bear demographic that I’ve seen around but never had the chance to talk to. Despite my shy demeanor and awkwardness with the camera while taking photos, I’m pleased to say that I thoroughly enjoyed myself - I daresay I made some new friends.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the city, Steve was photographing the Detour Closing Party as they ceremoniously took down the big Detour logo, saying goodbye to the name and look we’ve known for so long. The Arena side, having already undergone some renovations and the installation of a new sound system, will remain open in Detour’s place. Once the renovations are finished, they will be adopting the new name “Pulse”, as you can see from their ad on page 30.

If you’re wondering why Steve and I are looking so

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tired this month, the count is in. We photographed at 23 events this month! Phew, that wasn’t so bad, it’s Halloween that we’re dreading!

Happy Anniversary It’s funny that so many gay businesses have their anniversaries occurring at this time of year. Our Calgary chapter of Priape celebrated their 2nd anniversary not too long ago, while on October 19th the Backlot will be celebrating their 9th anniversary (see their ad on page 46)!

November will be a busy month for anniversaries too, with Metro the Club (ad on page 59) and Twisted Element’s celebrations planned for the 12th. Detour has celebrated their anniversary this same day in past years, so possibly Pulse will follow suit.

And don’t forget, our November edition of GayCalgary.com Magazine will be our 2nd year, 25th issue anniversary!! It’s really crept up on us this year!

Naturally we’d be very happy if you feel inclined to write a letter to the editor, take out a classified, or even book ad space to convey your congratulations to us and other businesses in the community.

Events and Announcements Adult Depot has moved into their new location at 1514B 14th Street SW, just around the corner from Priape! See their ad on page 7.

The SHARP Foundation’s “Sing-a-long Wizard of Oz” will be showing October 20th and 22nd. See their sponsored ad on page 2 for more details.

David McIntyre’s “Watershed Stories,” performed by the Prairie Pride Chorus (Regina’s GLBT Choir) will be showing on October 15th at the Knox United Church: 506 – 4th Street SW. See their sponsored ad on page 11 for more details.

Questions or comments about the magazine or other things happening in the community, please E-mail us at publisher@gaycalgary.com

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IGBO MID-YEAR 2005

Celebrating their Silver Anniversary in Calgary

By Jake Wallace

The International Gay Bowling Organization (IGBO), provides educational services, communication avenues, and social opportunities to promote the sport of bowling and to enrich lives of individuals through leagues and tournaments worldwide. Calgary will be showing its western hospitality in this “Year of Celebration!” It is IGBO’s 25th Anniversary, and as part of Alberta’s Centenary they would be honoured to have you share in all the fun and celebration. Whether you are planning on coming to bowl or to watch and participate in the fun filled week of festivities, it will be the place to be.

GayCalgary.com contacted Bill Moore Co-Chair of IGBO’s Mid-year, to find out more. Let’s Bowl (2910 5th Avenue NE) will be hosting this event, just a short walk from the Westin, their host Hotel. “In 2004 Let’s Bowl initiated a major renovation program which included installation of new monitors and seating on all the lanes, a new automated scoring system and renovated lounge/snack bar area. During the summer of 2005 they plan to continue with the renovation plans with the complete replacement of all 30 lanes, thus completing a major upgrade of the facility,” Moore told us.

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“This centre hosts the two gay leagues in Calgary: Rainbow Riders Bowling League (24, 4-person teams), and, Sunday Unity Bowling League (12, 4-person teams).

It also hosts Calgary’s annual tournament: Western Cup XXIII is scheduled to run March 24-27, 2005. Western Cup XXIV is scheduled to run April 13-16, 2006.” Apollo Calgary’s website (www.apollocalgary.com) lists more information.

“The IGBO’s Mid-year prize fund is estimated at $25,000 based on a compliment of 400 bowlers. Cash prizes will be awarded for Singles, Doubles, Team, Singles All-Events and Team All-Events.” Awards will be presented to the top three places in the mentioned categories.

Awards will also be presented for: • Women’s High Game Scratch • Men’s High Game Scratch • Women’s High Series Scratch • Men’s High Series Scratch • Women’s High Game Handicap • Men’s High Game Handicap • Women’s High Series Handicap • Men’s High Series Handicap IGBO’s official website, www.calgary2005.com, has a full schedule of all events and times, as follows.

Events listing for IGBO 2005 The Hospitality Suites: November 10th, from 8:00pm

until 2:00am, the bidding cities for Mid-Year 2007 will play host, and then on the night of Friday November 11th, from 8:00pm until 2:00am, Calgary’s committee toasts IGBO’s 25th Anniversary.

Women’s “7 Come 11” Casino: Sponsored by Money Pennies. On Friday, November 11th, from 7pm until 11pm, join Calgary’s women at the “7 Come 11” Casino!

The casino will be held in conjunction with Calgary’s Hospitality Night and will feature the games of Blackjack, Roulette and Poker. There will be a tip bar and everyone is welcome; women will be admitted free of charge, men will have to ante up $10. So c’mon down to a fun night of socializing on the Mezzanine Floor at the host hotel, the Westin Calgary.

Anniversary Dance: Sponsored by Metro Boyztown.

2005 is IGBO’s 25th Anniversary and Alberta’s Centenary so to celebrate this “Year of Celebrations”, the Mid-Year 2005 Committee is proud to host an Anniversary Dance in the Ballroom at the Westin Calgary. Every bowler (and non-participant) will be granted free admission! Fashioned after our Western Cup dances, they fully expect over 1,200 party seekers ... so c’mon join in the celebrations, on Saturday, November 12th.

IGBABE: At 9:00pm on Sunday, November 13th, in the Westin Calgary Ballroom, Calgary’s very own ‘MeLoDee’ hosts IGBABE. And as a special feature, all IGBABE contestants will be invited to perform on stage at MetroBoyztown following this event! If you’re interested in performing, please indicate so on the registration form and the IGBABE coordinator will contact you prior to the tournament regarding specific details.

Join and support the SHARP Foundation as it continues to affects lives of individuals with HIV/AIDS as they offer support, life change, and hope.

International Gay Bowling Organization www.ibgo.org www.calgary2005.com If would like to have your business or non-profit group reviewed in an up coming issue of GayCalgary.com Magazine or have comment or suggestions of businesses to be reviewed, please contact us at (403) 543-6960 or E-mail us at reviews@gaycalgary.com.

The bowling schedule will conclude in plenty of time for everyone to come out and enjoy a memorable blast, right in the host hotel. For those that forget to bring their Ropers or just want a break from the high energy at the Dance, as an alternative, a Games Room will be located on the same level.

Quilt Display: All 22 panels of the IGBO Quilt will be on display at the Westin Calgary on Sunday from 10:00am until 2:00pm. Since the inception of the Quilt, the construction responsibility has been Calgary’s and they are proud to honour the memory of so many of their bowlers during this anniversary year. There will also be a memorial service on Sunday at 1:00pm.

Awards Banquet: Cocktail Hour commences at 4:30pm on Sunday, November 13th in the Westin Calgary Ballroom. Come early and view 25 years of IGBO memories courtesy Ted Lorenzen, former IGBO photographer. At 6: 00pm, they will roll out our Awards Dinner presentation.

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LA FLEUR Making Flowers Fabulous!

By Jason Clevett

It’s Monday morning, and crazy at La Fleur floral boutique. The phone is ringing, a client is waiting for his arrangement, and the birds in the cage in the corner need fresh water.

John Freriksen and Shamus McKinnon, who along with Joanne Thomson own and operate La Fleur, are having a typical morning for their successful shop.

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“What has happened in a half years time has been fantastic. It was hard starting out because I had to start all over again. In the past half-year people have really started to recognize what it is that we do and we have done extraordinarily well already. In a very short time it has been dramatic, and people really like what we do,” Freriksen told GayCalgary.com while making a stunning arrangement for a walk in client. McKinnon, taking a break from the phones, agreed.

“We are growing all the time. It has been really busy and we are getting a lot of weddings, more than what we expected. It is really cool. It is a neat facility.”

La Fleur opened in March and has become very successful in a short period time. The upscale flower shop is located in the trendy Art Central building on 7th avenue.

“The first time I saw this building I was at an event here and the feeling I got was one that was very inviting and different. It’s a very artistic building, so we feed off each other a lot. Being in this building is working really well because you can share ideas, and it brings a different type of clientele in the shop as well,” said Freriksen “There is a lot of potential in this building. There is double the amount of tenants from when we moved in. It’s a great location being right off Center Street in the heart of the theatre and hotel district and right on the C-train line. There are no common things in this building; it all has to be independent, local and artistic. It is all art,” added McKinnon.

While McKinnon is new to the floral industry, Freriksen grew up with it. The Holland born designer has been working with flowers for over thirty years, taking European designs, as well as his experience working with the rich and famous in Beverly Hills and owning upscale shops in the Bow Valley, to create something unique.

“I am very lucky that I grew up in Holland and took schooling there, so I can show people unusual European influenced designs. When you take that influence with other’s ideas, it creates something new again. In 1988 I moved to Beverly Hills, California where I worked for two years. I didn’t get a green card so I moved to Canada in 1990 and opened a shop in Canmore, and a shop in the Banff Springs Hotel. However the Bow Valley took a big hit in tourism after September 11th, so I closed down the businesses and took a year off. I wanted to be in the city and thought that Calgary had a lot of opportunity; it has been changing over the last 10 to 15 years. There aren’t a lot of shops that do upscale, different looking arrangements. I love Calgary, I just hate the winters, but the opportunity to do something different is here.”

Freriksen can’t take all of the credit.

“Shamus has been in hairdressing for many years and worked with people on a close personal basis. His strength is dealing with the public and taking care of their needs. He is amazing with people, he can draw people in from the sidewalk and they will walk out with $150 in arrangements. Joanne has a huge financial background and is a fantastic lady. She will be out doing the PR work and getting more clients and handling the books.”

While Freriksen took a traditional path, McKinnon has undergone a unique route toward owning a flower shop.

“I was in the army for 13 years. During that time I did hairstyling during the day, it was two very different worlds. I got tired of the military life and wanted a civilian life, so I worked for Revenue Canada for awhile and tried a whole bunch of different things, and decided to do this

when the opportunity came up.

It’s pretty easy to please people with flowers compared to a haircut. If you screw up a haircut, you can’t just add blue and make it better - if they don’t like the flower arrangement you change it. It’s a lot quicker to meet them for personal satisfaction as well.”

Based on the phenomenal success in only seven months, things look bright for La Fleur. McKinnon is hoping to expand within the Art Central building to have more room and “an assembly line conveyer belt manned by Oompa Loompas” while Freriksen has a more realistic outlook.

“We have been approached by different people about opening other locations. At this moment I want to focus on the shop in the Art Central to get it off the ground, you can go too fast too soon. In the future I would like to open one or two more small locations. In Canmore the shop was 2000 square feet, and the rent for that and the Banff Springs location was very expensive. I would rather have a smaller space and work with a couple of people who are very talented.”

Keeping fresh in an artistic business can be a challenge.

Freriksen continues to look abroad and locally for ideas to continue to give value and unique arrangements to La Fleur’s clientele.

“My Grandmother had a saying ‘The day you die is the day you stop learning.’ I truly believe that you learn every day and that people need to get their money’s worth for their flowers.”

La Fleur Floral Boutique 103 100 7th Ave (403) 266-1708 www.LaFleurAtArtCentral.com

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Just Ask Nina!

The Dish who dishes advice

By Nina Tron Dear Nina, I really don’t know what to do. HELP! Sometimes in life we think that we’ve met the love of our life, but then it all goes terribly wrong. That’s how it is with Charlie (not her name). I thought I would love and be with her forever. But our one and a half month relationship turned out to be wild sex and non-stop arguing. It ended badly with her cheating on me and me wanting to be with someone else. I don’t understand why Charlie wants to be around me since she doesn’t love or care, and I definitely think that I am average; nothing special so why want me. But I tried to remain friends with her regardless. I started dating someone just two weeks later and we have been together for over a year.

I try to be friends with Charlie, but she and my girlfriend don’t get along. Now there are verbal fights in the bar, people’s cars have been trashed, and worse is that it makes all involved look juvenile. This situation is between Charlie, my girlfriend and me - no one else. Yet, I try to support my girlfriend, and also understand Charlie’s point of view, but in the end I get blamed for it all because I don’t stick up for the right side. I will always care for Charlie but I love my Girlfriend. What do I do? Or is there any help for me?

- No More Crazy Monkeys!

Dear Monkey’s Lunch, Sounds to me like you should really ditch the BITCH who lied and cheated on you!! She stirred up SHIT in your life while you were together and now she sees you happy with someone else and, guess what, she can’t have you. But she can certainly make your life hell AGAIN!! Be thankful you have what you do in your current relationship, for it is what

most of us desire. After a year you must agree when I say that you now have the real deal, you lucky girl!

Life is a big game and it sound to me like you and your current girlfriend have won the lottery in relationships any ways! Don’t waste time on people who can’t and/or won’t invest their real emotion or feelings into you. Get real, love is a fleeting thing much like the air we breathe, so take what you got and distance yourself from those who resent the gift you possess. Keep the faith my darling, and remember that crazy feeds crazy, so DON’T FEED THE CRAZY PEOPLE!!

Yours truly, Nina Tron I am here for you, and I look forward to hearing from you all, I can be reached at: AskNina@gaycalgary.com or Mailed to Ask Nina c/o GayCalgary.com Magazine, Suite 100, 215 14th Avenue SW, Calgary, Alberta T2R 0M2. You can also watch Nina every Sunday night and events through out the week at Twisted Element, 1006 11th Avenue SW. Other than the question, all personal information (i.e. name, address, E-mail) will remain confidential. GayCalgary.com does reserve the right to alter questions for brevity and content. Responses are for entertainment value only.

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Events Listing Find out what’s happening around Calgary Accommodations

Bathhouse and Sauna’s

Foxwood B&B ●12 See our ad on page 46 1725 - 12 St SW • (403) 244-6693 Accommodation review in GayCalgary.com Magazine August 2004 - Issue 10 http://www.thefoxwood.com

Goliath’s ●6 See our ad on page 57 308 - 17 Ave SW • (403) 229-0911 Open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day 7 Days a Week, Specials on Lockers and Single Rooms for Students. Valid student ID must be shown. Student Rates unavailable 8pm to 4am Weekends.

The Seville Park Place ●40 239 12th Avenue SW • (403) 265-6111 Renovated Bachelor Suites Starting at $525/month. Right in the heart of the Gay Community.

Westways Guest House ●13 216 - 25 Ave SW • (403) 229-1758 Accommodation review in GayCalgary.com Magazine June 2004 - Issue 8 http://www.gaywestways.com

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Businesses Alykhan Velji See our ad on page 9 (403) 617-2406 Interior Decorator Adult Depot See our ad on page 7

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140, 58th Ave SW •(403) 258-2777 1514 14th Street SW •(403) 264-7399 ●23 Sex toys, and Straight, Bi, Gay video rentals http://www.adultdepotstore.com Adult Source Business review in GayCalgary.com Magazine October 2004 - Issue 12 10210 MacLeod Trail S • (403) 271-7848 1536 - 16 Ave NW • (403) 289-4203 2770 - 32 Ave NE • (403) 250-8225 1127 - 17 Ave SW • (403) 244-6537 ●20 4310 - 17 Ave SE • (403) 273-2701 Calgary’s largest selection of adult DVD, VHS, toys and magazines.

B&D Emporium Inc. ●14 Business review in GayCalgary.com Magazine July 2004 - Issue 9 829 17th Ave SW • (403) 265-7789 http://www.bndemporium.com

Adult clothing store and accessories specializing in fetish, leather, latex, Gothic, punk, and corsets.

Bay, the ●29 200 - 8th Ave SW • (403) 262-0345 http://www.hbc.com Brian Mahoney & John McNeill See our ad on page 18 #10, 6020 - 1A St SW • (403) 259-4141 Re/Max Reality Professionals Cobalt ●45 See our ad on page 42 735 12th Avenue SW • (403) 228-7822 Hair & Aesthetics Courtney Sebree Aarbo ●24 See our ad on page 52 1138 Kensington Road NW • (403) 571-5120 http://www.csalaw.ca

Business review in GayCalgary.com Magazine August 2004 - Issue 10 Barristers & solicitors Christopher Wittke, AMP See our ad on page 6 (403) 451-8648 • Toll Free (877) 718-0884 Mortgage Agent Cruiseline See our ad on page 72 (403) 777-9494 trial code 3500 http://www.cruiseline.ca Phone chat room & talking classifieds for 18+ Deva Dave Salon ●32 4th Floor, 1304 4th Street SW • (403) 290-1973 http://www.devadave.com Edges Salon & Spa #7 - 400 Crowfoot Crescent NW Phone: (403) 375-0000 http://www.edgessalonandspa.com Our spa’s unique environment, independent of salon, is a tranquil sanctuary where stresses of everyday life melt away.

Ho Ho Ho Inc. ●38 2nd Floor, Scotia Centre Downtown• (403) 398-4685 The Christmas Store Interactive Male (403) 261-2100, Trial code 3418 or try 1-900451-3800 ($1.99/min) http://www.interactivemale.com Phone chat room for 18+ La Fleur ●41 #103 - 100 7th Avenue SW (403) 266-1707 Florist Shop Mary’s Electrolysis ●39 110 815 8th Avenue SW • (403) 234-8704 Permanent Hair Removal MaxWell Reality - Dale Erickson (403) 253-5678 MaxWell Real Estate Agent MFM Communications (403) 543-6970 http://www.mfmcommunications.com Web site hosting and development. Computer

Professional Relaxation Massage (403) 510-7572 Male to Male massage by appointment only

Hardware and Software.

More Better Buses (403) 651-1692 Providing unique, comfortable & affordable transportation. Charter us for: High School Graduations, Senior Groups, Pub Crawls and Sporting Events

RBC Investments - Bob Sokoloski (403) 969-8588 Rev. Nadene Rogers See our ad on page 60 (403) 247-0602 http://www.weddingsmyway.com

Pine Mountain/Java Bear ●42 1406 17th Avenue SW (403) 228-9693 Coffee, Psychic/Tarot/Tea Leaf readings, Gifts and more!

Marriage Commissioner

Play Market Mall •(403) 202-1774 2nd Level , TD Square •(403) 252-9672 ●31 Priape Calgary ●16 See our ad on page 48 1322 - 17 Ave SW • (403) 215-1800 Business review in GayCalgary.com Magazine May 2004 - Issue 7 http://www.priape.com Clothing and accessories. Adult toys, leather wear, movies and magazines. Gifts.

Thomas Cook Travel See our ad on page 20 Wade Wiley (403) 253-8494

Clubs and Bars BackLot ●3 See our ad on page 46 209 - 10 Ave SW • (403) 265-5211 Open 7 days a week, 4pm-close Business review in GayCalgary.com Magazine March 2004 - Issue 13

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GayCalgary.com Internet Terminal Location* Calgary Eagle Inc. ●4 See our ad on page 14 and 42 424a - 8 Ave SE • (403) 263-5847 Open Wed-Sun 5pm-close Business review in GayCalgary.com Magazine February 2004 - Issue 4 http://www.calgaryeagle.com GayCalgary.com Internet Terminal Location* Sunday - Beer Bust 4-8pm. Two Big Beef bones $5.95. $2.00 Draft (12oz) Canadian.

Wednesday - Free Pool Thursday - Get Boned. Two Big Beef bones $5.95. and Wing Night. 20 cents per wing Friday - Dark Night - “Feel your way around and come in the Dark” Toonie Sundays (First and last Sunday of every month) - $2 Pizza Slices and $2 Draft Loading Dock ●7 318 - 17 Ave SW, side entrance • (403) 244-8537 Open 7 days a week, 3-9:30pm Business review in GayCalgary.com Magazine November 2003 - Issue 1 GayCalgary.com Internet Terminal Location* Metro the Club ●8 See our ad on page 6, 55 and 59 213 - 10 Ave SW • (403) 265-2028 Open 7 days a week, 9pm-close Business review in GayCalgary.com Magazine December 2003 - Issue 2 http://www.metroboyztown.com Money-Pennies ●9 See our ad on page 39 1742 - 10 Ave SW • (403) 263-7411 Open Mon-Fri 11:00am-close; Sat & Sun 10: 30am-close Business review in GayCalgary.com Magazine January 2004 - Issue 3 http://www.money-pennies.com GayCalgary.com Internet Terminal Location*

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Pulse (Formerly Detour) /Arena ●5 See our ad on page 30 318 - 17 Ave SW • (403) 244-8537 Open Thursday-Sunday 10pm-close Business review in GayCalgary.com Magazine November 2003 - Issue 1 http://www.detourcalgary.com and http: //www.pulsenightlife.com Grand Reopening October 15th, 2005 GayCalgary.com Internet Terminal Location in the Loading Dock area* The Rekroom ●10 See our ad on page 24 213a - 10 Ave SW • (403) 265-4749 Open 7 days a week, 4pm-close Business review in GayCalgary.com Magazine December 2003 - Issue 2 Texas Lounge ●6 See our ad on page 57 308 - 17 Ave SW • (403) 229-0911 Open 7 days a week, 11am-close Check the GayCalgary.com web site for updated event calendar information.

Business review in GayCalgary.com Magazine November 2004 - Issue 13 Tuesdays - Karaoke Wednesdays - Hi-Ball Specials Saturdays - Karaoke Sundays - Beer Specials (selected brands) Ernestine Movie Matinee: October 9th - Gothika, October 16th - Sahara, October 23th - Dinosaur, October 30th - Frankenstein, November 7th - League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.

The Twisted Element ●33 1006 11th Ave SW • (403) 802-0230 See our ad on page 9, 11, 14 and 60 7 days a week 4:00pm to close http://www.twistedelement.ca GayCalgary.com Internet Terminal Location*

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Community Groups and Organizations Aids Calgary ●2 200, 1509 Centre St South • (403) 508-2500 Non-Profit review in GayCalgary.com Magazine March 2004 - Issue 5 http://www.aidscalgary.org Alpine Frontrunners Club Calgary (403) 660-6125 calgaryfrontrunners@shaw.ca The AFCC was formed in 1991 after individuals who participated in the Gay Games in Vancouver decided they wanted to form a club to promote health and fitness in the gay community.

The club has a membership of approximately 20. These members are active in Team Calgary which supports athletes going to the Gay Games.

The AFCC hosts a Pride Run as part of Gay Pride Week, every June (on Father’s Day). As well, we send teams to the Banff Mountain Ekiden race held the Saturday after Canadian Thanksgiving in October.

AFCC Fun Runs: Tuesdays. Eau Claire YMCA. 200 Barklay Parade SW (4th street and 3rd ave SW) June thru October, at 6 pm. Outdoors.

Saturdays. 9 am. Eau Claire YMCA. Brunch follows; location varies.

Join our mailing list: calgaryfrontrunners@c oollist.com Apollo Calgary Friends in Sports Non-Profit review in GayCalgary.com Magazine April 2004 - Issue 6 http://www.apollocalgary.com Schedule and events are changing, please check website for Fall/Winter activities.

Sundays - Rainbow Riders Bowling League.

“Dust off your balls!” It’s time for another season of ten pin bowling! Let’s 10 Pin Bowlerama, 2916 5 Avenue NE. Wednesday’s at 6:30pm. Season is from September to April League fees are $15.00 per Night. Shoe rental is $2.00. The start-up date for Rainbow Riders

is Wednesday, September 7, 2005. Practice time starts at 6:20 PM each night and league bowling starts promptly at 6:30 PM Wednesdays - Rainbow Riders Bowling League at Let’s 10 Pin Bowlerama, 2916 5 Avenue NE. Starting at 6:30pm. League fees are $15.00 per Night. Shoe rental is $1.25 Sunday and Wednesday’s - The 2005/2006 season for Badminton starts on Sunday, September 18, 2005.Brand new location! Now twice a week! First session FREE! Location: Western Canada High School (641 17th Ave. SW) Schedule: Sunday afternoons in the MAIN GYM, 12:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Wednesday evenings in the AUXILIARY GYM, 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Drop-in Fee: $8 for each 2.5 hour session or Memberships: Yearly memberships will also be available, prices to be announced.

Fridays - Slow Pitch. at 7:00pm - starts Friday May 13, 2005. Sunnyside Hillhurst Community Centre. 1320 - 5 Avenue NW. For more info send email to slow.pitch@apollocalgary.com or call Don B. at 245-6826 Saturday - League Curling. Details North Hill Curling Club (1201 - 2 Street N.W.) 2:20 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. games Round Robin 1 Sundays - Golf. Starting Wednesday May 4, 2005. Tee Time start 5:30. Apollo members $26.00. Non-members $28.00. First payment of 4 nights is required to start. $104.00 for Apollo members or $112.00 non - members. Pay by visa/cash/cheque. Contact golf@apollocalgary.com Or by phone 2281952. Confirm your booking with payments by phone or email every Sunday. Apollo encourages participation of men and women of all abilities and skill levels. Come out and meet like-minded individuals. And of course enjoy the golf season while we have it.

ARGRA – Alberta Rockies Gay Rodeo Association See our ad on page 60 Hotline: (403) 541-8140

http://www.argra.org Non Profit Group review in GayCalgary.com Magazine June 2004 - Issue 8 IGRA Convention 2005 hosted by ARGRA. October 21-22, 2005 - Various times.

ARGRA White Hat Dinner & Dance Competition.

October 22 - 7:30 pm. (Runs concurrently with IGRA Convention 2005). Dance cost is $6 for members and $9 for non-members. Country music until 10pm and hot mixed music the rest of the evening.

ARGRA Christmas Dinner & Dance. December 10 , 2005 - 7:30 pm. Dance cost is $6 for members and $9 for non-members. Country music until 10pm and hot mixed music the rest of the evening Artists for the Quality of Life (403) 890-1261 http://www.artistsforqualityoflife.com Between Men and Between Men Online Sean (403) 234-8973 or sean@glcsa.org http://www.glcsa.org/ Peer support, sexual health education for gay or bisexual men, as well as those who may be uncertain or questioning their sexuality.

Discussions range from personal relationship or life issues, to sexual health and well-being.

Mondays - Meetings at Money-Pennies from 7pm to 8:30pm Calgary Humane Society See our ad on page 50 1323 - 36th Avenue NE (403) 250-7722 http://www.calgaryhumane.ca Animal Adoptions and for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Calgary Gay Fathers (403) 777-9499 ext 2090 calgaryfathers@hotmail.com http://www.geocities.com/calgaryfathers Peer support group for gay, bisexual and questioning fathers. Meeting twice a month Calgary Men’s Chorus (403) 262-6295 http://www.calgarymenschorus.org Every Tueday 7:00pm to 9:30pm, Old Y Centre, 223 12th Avenue SW Canadians for Equal Marriage http://www.equal-marriage.ca We have chapters in Calgary, Edmonton, Medicine Hat and Red Deer. If you would like to volunteer contact us at volunteer@equal-

marriage.ca.

CBCA Sexual and Reproductive Wellness Centre 304, 301 14th Street NW (403) 283-5580 http://www.cbca.ab.ca CBCA offers counselling and educational services that help people consider their sexual and reproductive choices in informed and responsible ways.

RU a lesbian, gay, bisexual, two-spirited or queer youth, ages 17-24? RU interested in helping make Calgary a safer place for people of diverse sexual orientation? If UR, we are looking for dynamic volunteers for our Anti-Homophobia Program.

This program is intended to raise awareness and understanding among students about the experiences of lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, two spirited, transgendered, queer and questioning youth. If you are interesting in sharing your experiences with other youth, and are available days, please call us at 283-5580 and ask for an Educator or contact pkrause@cbca.ab.ca..

Choices (403) 234-8973 or glcsa@glcsa.org http://www.m2mchoices.ca/ Choices provides tailored prevention and education to Choices is a partnership between GLCSA and AIDS Calgary. Choices employs a harm reduction philosophy to educate men and HIV/AIDS and STDs, so they are able to make the best decisions for themselves.

Different Strokes http://www.differentstrokescalgary.org Swim Club.

Non-Profit review in GayCalgary.com Magazine March 2005 - Issue 17 Wednesday - 7:00 to 8:00 PM at YWCA (Fitness on Fifth), 320 - 5 Avenue S.E. not the Eau Claire YMCA $5.00 Sunday - 6:00 to 7:00 PM YWCA (Fitness on Fifth), 320 - 5 Avenue S.E. not the Eau Claire YMCA $5.00 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.

Egale Canada #310, 396 Cooper Ottawa, ON K2P 2H7 1-888-204-7777 toll free Stephen Lock – Regional Co-Director (Male) Prairies/NWT/Nunavut (403) 708-5302 cell phone www.egale.ca stephenlock@egale.ca

GLASS, Gay & Lesbian Association of Students and Staff PF4255 in the Professional Faculties Building, University of Calgary (403) 220-6394 Non-Profit review in GayCalgary.com Magazine October 2004 - Issue 12 http://www.glassuofc.com

Egale Canada is the national advocacy and lobby organization for gay men, lesbians, bisexuals, trans-identified people and our families. Membership fees are pay-what-youcan, although pre-authorized monthly donors are encouraged (and get a free Egale Canada t-shirt). Egale has several committees that meet by teleconference on a regular basis; membership on these is national with members from every region of Canada.

Gay Prairie Alumni http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ gayprairiealumni/ This group is for all gay/lesbian/transgendered alumni of Prairie Bible Institute and/or Prairie High School in Three Hills, Alberta. It’s purpose is twofold: First, social -- to renew old friendships and make new ones. Second -- to talk about our common experiences as gay people at a fundamentalist school. Any other questions, please feel free to ask.

Girl Friends http://members.shaw.ca/girlfriends Girlsgo Productions (403) 510-2502 http://www.girlsgo.ca Event production and promotion in Alberta for women. Check online for fun things to do!

City Singles - Six Minute Dating for Women.

Wednesday, October 19th, 2005. 6:30pm. Latin Corner, 2116 - 4th Street SW (where the ‘old’ 4th Street Rose used to be). We have a private room in the loft area reserved. A modern way to meet other single women. It’s SAFE, FUN and FAST! Our first two parties were a hit! Don’t be scared and don’t miss out! $35 registration (includes a drink) VAMP - Calgary’s Hottest Halloween Party for Women. Come and dance until your feet hurt at our 2nd Annual Halloween Dance Party!

Wearing a costume is highly suggested but not essential. Prizes will be awarded for best costumes. Saturday, October 29, 2005 (doors open at 8pm) at the Inglewood Community Hall, 1740 - 24th Avenue SE. Tickets: $15.00 Members: $10.00

GLCSA - Gay And Lesbian Community Services Association ●1 206, 223 - 12 Ave SW, Old “Y” Centre (403) 234-8973 Non-Profit review in GayCalgary.com Magazine February 2004 - Issue 4 See our ad on page 30 http://www.glcsa.org Heading Out Sean (403) 234-8973 or sean@glcsa.org http://www.glcsa.org/ Peer group for men who are looking for an alternative social activity to the bar. Activities vary and are fun and entertaining. The group meets the 1st and 3rd Friday of every month from 7 pm to 9 pm.

HIV Peer Support Group (403) 230-5832 hivpeergroup@yahoo.ca Illusions Calgary #206, 223 - 12th Ave. S.W.• (403) 2348973 http://www.glcsa.org Social group for Calgary and area transgender community members (cross dressers, transvestites, drag kings and queens). Illusions provides a safe, discrete and welcoming atmosphere, in which transgendered people can meet others of like mind. Illusions offers discretion, acceptance, compassion and a safe place to express your gender. Cross-dressing is the purpose of the group, but is not mandatory.

Inside Out 206, 223 - 12 Ave SW, Old “Y” Centre• (403) 234-8973 http://www.glcsa.org Peer-facilitated youth group for GLBTQ ages 15-25. The group aims to let youth know they are not alone, and to connect them with their peers. Every Monday, 7 pm to 9pm at GLCSA. It is a funky and safe environment with a variety of resources and activities.

ISCCA – Imperial Sovereign Court of the Chinook Arch http://www.iscca.ca

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Non-Profit review in GayCalgary.com Magazine November 2003 - Issue 1 and December 2003 - Issue 2 Crowns for Kids Shooter Bars - October 6, 12, 20 and 26 “Sarchotic Saturdays” - Drag Show every Saturday night at the Rekroom. Show starts at 10:00 PM ISCCA, SA show at Metro on Sunday, October 9th and 23. Shows at 10:30 PM and 12:30 PM Integrity Calgary http://members.aol.com/DWFrancis/ integrity.html Worship – Every Second Sunday of the month at 7pm. Meet at St Stephen’s Anglican Church, 1121 - 14 Ave SW. Christian fellowship for gay, lesbians, bisexuals and our friend and family.

New Directions (403) 234-8973 or glcsa@glcsa.org http://www.glcsa.org/ Drop in peer/social support group to provide support and resources for individuals who identify as transgendered, transsexual or intersexed. Social support meetings 1st Friday of every month from 7 pm to 11 pm and peer support meetings 3rd Friday of every month from 7 pm to 9 pm at GLCSA.

May 2004 - Issue 7 http://www.pridecalgary.ca Pride Rainbow Project prp@planet-save.com http://www.priderainbowproject.com

and confirm what dish you would like to bring.

Remember to bring your own refreshments as well.

Oct. 23 – Dinner at the Eagle. Dinner served around 6:00PM

The Pride Rainbow Project was started in Fall 2003 by 4 youth of the Unitarian Church of Calgary. The Pride Rainbow Project is a project designed to show support for same-sex marriage in Canada and elsewhere. It is a fabric rainbow banner approximately 5 feet wide, and the goal is to make it 3.2km (2 miles) long, in order to break the world record (set by a group in Florida at 1.25 miles)! It contains the 6 colours of the pride flag: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, and Purple. The project is youth run, but anyone can help!.

Oct. 25 – Bridge Night at Neil’s . Please call Neil if you wish to attend. Meet at MoneyPennies for their Tuesday Special prior to cards.

Primetimers Calgary E-mail: primetimerscalgary@telus.net http://www.primetimerscalgary.com

Rocky Mountain Bears Non-Profit review in GayCalgary.com Magazine January - Issue 3 http://www.rockymountainbears.com

Prime Timers Calgary is designed to foster social interaction for its members through a variety of social, educational and recreational activities. It is open to all gay and bisexual men over forty and respects whatever degree of anonymity that each member desires.

Oct. 26 – Free Pool at the Eagle Oct. 27 – Ghost River Production of “Sailor Boy” at the Vertigo Theatre. Tickets $15.00$25.00 WARNING: Nudity and tap dancing!

Reserve tickets at 240-7469 Oct. 29 – Coffee Hour at Timothy’s 1610 – 10 St. S.W. Meet at 10:00 AM

October 6th - General Meeting at 7:30 PM at Money Pennies (1742 - 10th Avenue S.W.) October 29th - Halloween Bear Bar Night Calgary Eagle - 9:00 PM. The Eagle is located at 424A - 8th Avenue S.E

call the exclusive SHEQ line at 585-7437 (you may leave a voice message for Trudy or Krista) or leave your name and a contact time/number with the Gay & Lesbian Community Services Association at 234-8973.

Speak Sebastian http://www.cjsw.com Radio Show – Every first & third Wednesday from 9-10pm. Radio for the gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans gender and kink community.

Listen on CJSW FM 90.9.

Team Calgary http://www.teamcalgary.org Urban Sex http://www.cjsw.com Radio Show – Every second & forth Wednesday from 9-10pm. Focus on sexuality; gay bisexual lesbian trans gendered and straight issues here in Calgary and around the web. Listen on CJSW FM 90.9.

Western Leather Federation Coffee Night – Wed, 8:30pm. At the Calgary Eagle.

Womynspace (403) 234-8973 or womynspace@glcsa.org http://www.glcsa.org/

Oct. 12 – Free Pool at the Eagle

Sharp Foundation See our ad on page 2 Phone: (403) 272-2912 E-mail: sharpfoundation@nucleus.com http://www.thesharpfoundation.com

A social group for womyn – Every First Saturday of the month at 7pm. At The Good Earth Café, 1504 - 11 Ave SW

Oct.14 - Pub Crawl . Meet at The Backlot at around 6:00 PM to start out the evening. Place for dinner to be determined at the time.

SHEQ Soulful Healing Ego Quest (403) 234-8973 or glcsa@glcsa.org http://www.glcsa.org/

Vigor Calgary (403) 255-7004 http://www.vigorcalgary.ca/

The L Zone See our ad on page 50 http://www.thelzone.ca

Oct. 15 – Coffee Hour at Timothy’s 1610 – 10 St. S.W. Meet at 10:00 AM

Pride Calgary (403) 262-3410 Non-Profit review in GayCalgary.com Magazine

Oct. 22 – Fall Supper at the Old “Y” Doors open at 5:00PM Dinner at 6:00PM. This will be a potluck. If you wish to attend please call Ross

A workshop for women that want to be themselves in a supportive, safe environment. It is a chance to grow and share their experiences related to women’s sexuality. Runs for a ten week period on Thursdays at 7pm. Call Trudy or Krista at 585-7437. To participate, please

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.

Kitty Group Phone: Nico (403) 605-6597 E-mail: kittycoffee@hotmail.com

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Oct. 11 - Card night at Harvey & Tony’s. We will meet at MoneyPennies around 6:00PM for their Tuesday evening dinner special and then on to cards.

Oct. 19 – Free Pool at the Eagle

gaycalgary.com magazine

Peer social/support group for women providing an evening of fun, bonding, discussion and activities. Meets every Friday 7pm to 9pm at GLCSA.

Youth 4 Youth 102, 1212 - 1 St. S.E. • (403) 283-8591

http://www.youth4youth.com YouthSafe http://www.youthsafe.net Alberta’s website for youth with sex-and-gender differences. Youthsafe.net lists the resources, information and services to help youth find safe and caring spaces in Alberta.

Restaurants Calgary Eagle Inc. ●4 See our ad on page 14 and 42 424a - 8 Ave SE • (403) 263-5847 Open Tues-Sun 4pm-close Restaurant review in GayCalgary.com Magazine December 2003 - Issue 2 http://www.calgaryeagle.com GayCalgary.com Internet Terminal Location* Money-Pennies ●9 See our ad on page 39 1742 - 10 Ave SW • (403) 263-7411 Business review in GayCalgary.com Magazine April 2004 - Issue 6 GayCalgary.com Internet Terminal Location* Timothy’s Coffee ● 27 See our ad on page 5 1610 10th St SW • (403) 244-7750 Restaurant review in GayCalgary.com Magazine September 2004 - Issue 11 Monday - Saturday: 7am to 11pm Sunday: 8am to 11pm

Performance, The Nutcracker December 11 The Nutcracker Brunch December 14 - 18, Calgary Performance, The Nutcracker December 17 & 18 The Nutcracker Brunch 2006 January 27, Edmonton Edmonton Gala February 3, Calgary La Nuit Cartier February 10 - 11, Calgary February 17 - 18, Edmonton Performance, An Evening with Gershwin February 23 & 24 Adopt A Dancer Reception February 25 - 27, Edmonton March 16 - 19, Calgary Great Chefs in Great Homes March 24 - 25, Calgary Performance, Alice in Wonderland Subscriber Receptions March 26, Calgary Mad Hatter Tea Party March 31 - April 1, Edmonton Performance, Alice in Wonderland Subscriber Receptions May TBA, Calgary School of Alberta Ballet Year End Show June 9 & 10, Calgary & Edmonton House & Garden Show

The Twisted Element ●33 1006 11th Avenue SW • (403) 802-0230 See our ad on page 9, 11, 14 and 60 Restaurant review in GayCalgary.com Magazine January 2005 - Issue 15 Sunday 11:00am to close Monday to Saturday 4:00pm to close http://www.twistedelement.ca GayCalgary.com Internet Terminal Location*

ATP, Alberta Theatre Projects ●36 Phone: (403) 294-7402 http://www.ATPlive.com

Victoria’s Restaurant ●18 306 - 17 Ave SW • (403) 244-9991 Mon Fri, 11am-close; Weekends 10am-close Restaurant review in GayCalgary.com Magazine January 2004 - Issue 3

November 26 – December 28, 2005, TREASURE ISLAND, Adapted by Michael O’Brien.

Presented in association with Quest Theatre.

Family Holiday Presentation

Theatre and Art Alberta Ballet http://www.albertaballet.com 2005 October 14 - 15, Calgary October 21-22, Edmonton Performance, Romeo & Juliet October 29, Calgary Grave Gala December 8 - 11, Edmonton

September 20 – October 8, 2005, AMADEUS,

by Peter Shaffer. A Cornerstone Play October 18 – November 05, 2005, THE SYRINGA TREE, by Pamela Gien. A Cornerstone Play

January 24 – March 5, 2006, ENBRIDGE playRites FESTIVAL OF NEW CANADIAN PLAYS Fairytales International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival http://www.fairytalesfilmfest.com May 27th - June 2nd, 2005. Check website for more details Jubilations Dinner Theatre http://www.jubilations.ca 1002 - 37th Street SW, at the Westbrook Mall

• (403) 249-7799 Ranchers & Rustlers September 2 - November 6, 2005 As we gaze off into the sunset we see dust clouds on the horizon. Soon we hear the thunder of horse’s hooves upon the prairie grass. Now we can make out the shapes of the riders as they approach... It is the cast of Ranchers & Rustlers riding into our theatre to take us all back to the old west!

Yes sir folks we invite you all to visit Katie and Luke at the good old Red Rose Saloon for a foot stompin’ good time. Miss Annabelle the sexy saloon singer is sure to bring a smile to any cowboy’s sour puss. Pierre, the local French Canadian Sheriff will be on hand to ensure no cowpokes get out of line and to keep an eye on Annabelle. Local rancher Hank Miller, his son Johnny and the ranch’s foreman Sam are always around and where ever Johnny is you will always find Mary near by, she’s sweet on him but he doesn’t see it.

There is trouble out at the Circle M ranch.

Over 50 head of castle have disappeared and two payrolls have been stolen over the past 6 months! Hank wants the Sheriff to catch the culprits, Annabelle wants the Sheriff to catch her, Mary wants Johnny, but Johnny wants Annabelle, Katie wants Luke to dance, Luke wants to nap and Sam wants to be a cowboy!

Join us for the return of Ranchers & Rustlers! The show that has entertained audiences in several theatres all across Western Canada has returned to it’s home here at Celebrations/ Jubilations Dinner theatre. So make sure you all mosey on over to the Red Rose... you’ll be glad you did.

Yee-Haw!!

The Pirates of the North Saskatchewan November 11 - February 5, 2006 E-yar! Welcome aboard “The Not-so-much”, one of the oldest, yet newly refurbished vessels to ever set sail on the prairie seas! Join us as the illustrious Captain Jack Partridge takes us down the North Saskatchewan River on a swashbuckling adventure of love, deceit, and revenge. Sit back and hear old Jack recall the tale of the maiden voyage of the ship, and how his struggle to claim his Father’s 2 million dollar inheritance, hidden somewhere on the ship, turns into pirate family battle. Then there’s the Dreaded Pirate Roberts who is only looking for a romantic evening on the ship with his bride to be, Belle Buttercup, until it is interrupted

by Jack’s greedy pirate family in search of their plunder. Take heed! This be no average pirate tale: This is a tale of how the course of

true love never did run smooth; how greed can disassemble a perfectly strong pirate family; A tale mixed with your favourite classic rock tunes. This is the tale of the Pirates of the North Saskatchewan!

New Gallery ●25 516D - 9 Ave SW • (403) 233-2399 Open Tuesday to Saturday from 11am to 5pm One Yellow Rabbit ●35 See our ad on page 55 Big Secret Theatre – EPCOR CENTRE for the Performing Arts • (403) 299-8888 http://www.oyr.org October 25 – November 12, 2005. Cooped

by SpyMonkey. One Yellow Rabbit presents the return of Euro physical comedy masters SpyMonkey with Cooped. Created by: Cal McCrystal and SpyMonkey. Performed by: Aitor Basauri, Stephan Kreiss, Petra Massey and Toby Park.

November 22 – 26, 2005. Moving Along by Simian Theatre. Written and performed by: Chris Craddock. Directed by: Sophie Lees QUAB Gallery Inc. ●43 212, 100th 7th Avenue SW • (403) 261-2855 http://www.quab.ca Pumphouse Theatre ●37 2140 Pumphouse Avenue SW • (403) 2630079 http://www.pumphousetheatres.ca November 4 - 12, 2005, Front Row Centre Players Present Leader of the Pack, In the Victor Mitchell Theatre. This hit Broadway musical retrospective celebrates the life and times of Ellie Greenwich, whose doo wop sounds skyrocketed to the top of the sixties charts. The story of Ellie’s rise to fame and fortune is punctuated with a virtual Hit Parade of her music: “Chapel of Love” ,”Da Do Ron Ron” ,”Be My Baby”, Answers to this month’s Q-Puzzle on page 41

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“Hanky Panky”, “Do Wah Diddy”, “And Then He Kissed Me” and, of course, the title song, “Leader of the Pack”.

November 17 - 26, 2005, Sage Theatre Presents Blowfish, In the Joyce Doolittle Theatre.

What do food, funerals, the Edmonton tornado and Mila Mulroney have in common? Join the elegant and debonair caterer Lumiere as he serves you up a whole new eating experience.

November 29 - December 3, 2005, Hidden Insanity Theatre Presents Durang! In the Joyce Doolittle Theatre. The following people are trying to mess with you: your doctor, your priest, your politician, your old gym teacher, the waiter, all funeral parlor attendants, and your mother. In an evening of short plays by Christopher Durang, you’ll see them all and laugh with the giddy paranoia that is “Durang!”

December 7 - 17, 2005, Broad Minds Productions Presents Goodnight Desdemona, Good Morning Juliet. In the Joyce Doolittle Theatre. This co-production with The Shakespeare Company focuses on Constance, a grad student and lecturer in Renaissance drama at Queen’s University who ghost-writes academic papers for the professor with whom she’s infatuated. She also deciphers a coded manuscript which she believes is a lost source for Shakespeare’s Othello and Romeo and Juliet, and literally falls into the worlds of these plays causing each of them to turn from tragedy to comedy!

Skew Gallery ●44 1615 10th Avenue SW • (403) 244-4445 http://www.skewgallery.com Stagewest 727 42 Avenue SE • (403) 243-8642 http://www.stagewestcalgary.com Pajama Tops

By Mawby Green & Ed Feilbert September 7 - November 13, 2005

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An utterly mad spoof of the French bedroom farce. The plot is all fun. A husband plans a business trip with a “ friend “ for philandering purpose. His wife secretly invites this same voluptuous girl to spend the weekend. The husband is trapped! Out of the blue an old friend appears, and a policeman with a roving eye for beautiful women keeps you wondering what could possibly happen next. There is also a devilish-looking butler, a maid practicing to be a coquette, and some wildly artful dodging, all calculated to keep the audience laughing.

Stride Gallery ●47 1004 MacLeod Trail SE • (403) 262-8507 http://www.stride.ab.ca Theatre Junction http://www.theatrejunction.com Truck Gallery ●46 815 1st Street SW (Basement) • (403) 2617702 http://www.truck.co Vertigo Mystery Theatre ●34 161, 115 – 9 Ave SE • (403) 221-3708 http://www.vertigomysterytheatre.com If you would like to add your business or non-profit group to the list above, please call (403) 543-6960 or E-mail magazine@gaycalgary.com. You can add your information to the GayCalgary.com directory on the website for free.

GayCalgary.com endeavors to have the information here as accurate as possible. Events and listings can change at any time so it is recommended to check with the establishment before you head out. Non-Profit groups free listings. Business receive a listing once an ad has been placed. The business listing will last 1 year after the last ad is placed unless there is a GayCalgary.com service located at that location.

gaycalgary.com magazine

Gay Legalese Karma, the Bitch

By Darryl Aarbo

Dear GayCalgary Legal Advice, Your last letter was almost a mirror image of my current dilemma! The company I work for has hired on someone that I’ve had personal experience with outside of work, and he is BAD NEWS. He is a compulsive liar that’s alarmingly good at getting what he wants. His only real skill is his mouth, and his ability to manipulate others into corroborating his outlandish stories. Unfortunately this gives the false appearance that he’s legit. He’s so far up my boss’ ass right now, and making good use of the blind spot to implement things that are already leading our entire company to utter disaster!! Many of my coworkers have come to see right through his not-so-white lies. We have tried to warn our boss, but with all the talking he’s gotten in already, we are not being properly heard. We can only guess what kind of things he’s said about us to discredit us in order to protect his own reputation. Now our own jobs are at stake – whether we get fired because of him, or we have to quit to escape his serpent tongue. How can we chase this snake out of our lives without becoming snakes ourselves? Is it reasonable for us to try and gather irrefutable evidence from his past and present it to our boss? Or can he only be fired for his actions in this current job? A lot of us are scared because we don’t know whether he can come after us if he does get the boot due to our active efforts. The last thing we want is for this serpent to turn into a hydra!

Karma, the Bitch.

Dear Karma, You do not need to be a snake to kill another snake.

The most effective way to kill a snake is to use a mongoose. They are effective little creatures because they are very fast and extremely smart. To deal with the snake in your midst then you also want to be fast and smart. You need evidence and to know what to say to your boss. If you make even a small a mistake then, like the mongoose, it will likely be fatal. If you do nothing then the snake may still get you or you may starve to death. Not much of a choice really.

Truth is always a defense to any allegation of defamation (slander or libel), but you better be able to prove it if you get someone fired. If you get someone fired based on gossip or hearsay then you may get fired or sued yourself.

If you can get proof then you may want to go to your boss again, but if that evidence is coming from someone’s ex-boss then how do you know if the information is truthful? Maybe the ex-boss has an axe to grind. Maybe this person quit to go to the competition. If so, maybe the ex-boss wants revenge. This person will get their revenge and you will be left holding the bag. You need to be very careful - you need to be smart.

As a general rule, your co-worker can only be fired “for just cause” based upon what he has done at his current job. This means he can be fired and not given any notice or severance. On the other hand, your employer can fire any worker at any time for any reason as long as the employee is given a proper severance package. The only exception is that a person cannot be fired for a discriminatory reason like gender, race or sexual orientation. What is a “proper severance package” is a whole other story and would take me too long to answer that here, but if your co-worker has not been there very long then the severance

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package would likely be small unless the person holds a very senior position - you need to be fast.

In sum, your employer can fire this guy if he screwed up so badly at another employer that nobody would ever hire him again, but he would probably have to be given a severance package. You should be very careful about how you tip off your employer about him. You do not want to defame him in any manner. Tell your boss the truth and make sure it is the truth. Sometimes it is all in the delivery. For example, you do not want to say that “Johnny robbed his former employer so you should fire him”. Instead, you may want to consider saying “I don’t know for sure, but I heard from Lisa, who used to work with Johnny, that he stole money from the till. You may want to look into it”. Your boss can then look into the matter and call Lisa or his former employer.

The same goes the other way. If your co-worker gets you fired for idle gossip then you may have a good case for wrongful dismissal. If someone is telling lies about you then you may also have a defamation case against him or her. The best advice is to follow the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”.

If someone went to your boss with information about you then would you not want him or her to have proof?

Would you not want your boss to give you a fair hearing?.

Darryl A. Aarbo

If you wish to send in a letter, please email it to legaladvice @gaycalgary.com. Darryl A. Aarbo can be directly reached at Courtney Sebree Aarbo, Barristers & Solicitors, 1138 Kensington Road NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 3P3. Visit their website at http: //www.csalaw.ca. Phone (403) 571-5133. Fax: (403) 571-5134 Other than the question, all personal information (i.e. name, address, E-mail) will remain confidential. GayCalgary.com Magazine does reserve the right to alter questions for brevity and content.

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Adult Film Reviews Hallo-weeners!

By Jerome Voltero

Review | Adult Male

Adult Depot “Vampire Boys” by Talos Entertainment Appropriate isn’t it? I was a little bit skeptical about this one at first, but I was pleased to find they don’t overdo the vampire theme to the point of being cheesy. Naturally, blood wasn’t the only thing being sucked here, but if it weren’t for the occasional neck-biting and dribbling of cherry syrup – oops, I mean life fluid – it would be a regular bondage film.

The guys are all butch and muscular, some were hairy, some were growly, and all were HOT in my opinion, especially in the kissing scenes. The dialog was brief and to the point, containing gems such as “You look like crap… but a sexy piece of crap.” Wow, easy on the Harlequin romance there buddy! Still, I’d definitely recommend this one to get you into the Halloween spirit.

“Rumpenstein’s MONSTER” by Over Lord Management Co. Well this was a first for me – a computer animated porno! To be honest, I didn’t quite know what to expect.

After skimming through the movie I can tell you this: I’ve never laughed so hard in my life! Where do I even start?

The guys run around in their ass-less pants, with their abnormally large dicks hanging out, which seem to bob up and down of their own accord. The facial expressions and body movements are so mechanical that it’s hilarious seeing them wordlessly running around and fornicating to some truly irksome high-energy techno. When the characters reach their climax, it looks like they’re firing out a series of eggs at even intervals.

The title “MONSTER” brings attention to the fact that the human characters get funky with a couple monsters; namely Frankenstein and two generic water creatures… oh, and I’d mention the well-hung seagull, but thankfully it managed to stay out of the action. Well…that’s great if

you’re into that kind of stuff, but the monster characters are all so humanoid that they wouldn’t appeal to anyone with an “anthro” or “furry” fetish. The bottom line is, I wouldn’t recommend this one if you want to get off, but it’s definitely good for a laugh and an appreciation of how far computer graphics have come since 2001. I won’t be surprised if we see it playing at one of the bars this Halloween!

Source Adult Video “The Haunted House on Sex Hill” by Arena Entertainment You guessed it – this film is a take off from the reasonably well known horror film “House on Haunted Hill”. The plot goes something like this: gay boy’s grandmother dies and wills her estate to gay boy on the condition that he spends one full night at the estate. Gay boy and husband accept the challenge and shack up. Hot ghost action ensues. It features a selection of attractive guys ranging from smooth to moderately furry.

In general, they do a very good job of creating an atmosphere in this film with scenic settings, creepy lighting, and sinister music. Personally I enjoyed the graveyard scene with the eerie blue lighting, and cute black guy… err, ghost. If you want to get into the right frame of mind for Halloween, this film is just what the doctor ordered!

“Daddy’s Angels” by Pacific Sun Entertainment Okay, so there are bound to be some people out there who hate Halloween for whatever reason – maybe your parent’s wouldn’t let you suck on lollipops to try and prevent the inevitable. We got one without any ghosts or monsters just for you.

“Daddy’s Angels” has a collection of furry leather hunks like Lance Gear and Barry Barrett, in addition to studly

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twinks like Cameron Foxx and Brett Dimineo. Latin super-hunk Gauge, I imagine, would appeal to both camps.

One thing that perplexes me a is the hospital scene where the male patient sits naked in what looks like a gynecologist’s chair. I guess the doctor diagnoses him with chronic tight-ass, and introduces a hot beef injection to remedy the problem. Dear lord, what is this world coming to? In general I’d say this film is just a mishmosh of weakly connected scenes, but the action is still worth enduring the odd shifts in context. At the very least it’ll keep your hands busy – but please, shut the drapes so the trick-or-treaters don’t see!!

Adult Depot 1514B 14th Street SW – (403) 264-7399 140 – 58th Ave SW – (403) 258-2777 www.adultdepotstore.com afterdk@telus.net

Adult Source 10210 Macleod Trail SE – (403) 217-7848 1536 16th Ave NW – (403) 289-4203 2770 32nd Ave NE – (403) 250-8225 1127 17th Ave SW – (403) 244-6537 4310 17th Ave SE – (403) 273-2701

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Q Scopes “Develop new ideas, Virgo!”

Lifestyle | Astrology

By GayCalgary.com Magazine Staff

This will be a horny, energetic, sensual week, but not without effort. The Sun is sextile to Pluto, boosting erotic drive and other compulsions. Keep it clean and you could make cooperative efforts more efficient. Both planets are quincunx Mars in Taurus, so practical (or sensual) applications of that energy will take adjustment. Stubbornness could mess it all up. Be fierce, but flexible!

ARIES (March 20 - April 19): Arguments come too, too easily, even more than usual.

And you’re probably wrong! Sorry about that. The way to be right is to keep an open mind and always be willing to reassess your basic assumptions.

TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): Hello, Nurse!

Neat, hygienic, and efficient suddenly looks sexy on you. Be adventurous and let your partner help you pick the right attitude. Think “foreign” and “service.”

French maid? Turkish masseur? Use your imagination!

GEMINI (May 21 - June 20): Your creative teamwork will run up against stumbling blocks you’ve been ignoring. Give or get a massage to help unlock the problem. An irritating insight from your mate or colleague will prove helpful.

CANCER (June 21 - July 22): Doing good in your community will lead you into a political conflict, but if you listen carefully and are flexible, you can probably help resolve it. Look for a new perspective; familiar answers offer a key, but not the solution itself.

LEO (July 23 - August 22): Everyone else thinks you’re perfectly adorable, but using your especially radiant charms on authority figures now will just make your nose look brown or put it way out of joint. Keep long-range goals in mind; charm is secondary!

VIRGO (August 23 - September 22): September 22): What’s really important in life? Lessons learned from your family and reinforced by experience suddenly fall short. A pragmatic philosophy (Karl Marx?

Ayn Rand?) offers you the challenge you need to develop new ideas.

LIBRA (September 23 - October 22): Your velvet glove normally conceals an iron fist, but the steel is visible now, even if you are as smooth and sweet as ever. The less scared you are to show your real strength, the less likely you’ll need to use it.

SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21): Your partner is not a villain, but a catalyst for your internal crisis. Both of you need to discuss money, priorities, and values, but you need to alternate those discussions with some downtime to think on your own!

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 - December 20): You’re already friendly and charismatic, but Mars and the Sun are giving you an extra boost. Work demands seem to cramp your style, but actually offer a chance to focus that extra charm to useful effect. Be careful of your upper back!

CAPRICORN (December 21 - January 19): Work is light, sociable, and cheerful. Play seems to take some effort, though. You enjoy that kind of hurdle, so it’s not necessarily a problem. Accept a challenge to your professionalism as a chance to get creative.

AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 18): You thrive on your struggle against notions of normalcy. Now you get to appreciate that, without those conventions, you wouldn’t have any fun. You can change reality a bit now, but you have to change yourself in the process!

PISCES (February 19 - March 19): Sexy gossip sends your reputation way up or down. You can influence the message by being assertively pragmatic in your response. Actions still speak louder than words.

Think before you act!

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Modern Day Witch Hunting The Vatican Gets It Wrong…Again

By Stephen Lock

I will declare my bias right up front: I am a ‘Recovering Anglican’ who once had strong Roman Catholic leanings, attended Mass regularly for several years and semi-regularly for some years thereafter. I won’t set foot in a church now except under extreme duress.

For a host of reasons, far too complex to get into here, I grew to not only distrust the hierarchy of both the Anglican and Roman Catholic Church – and by extension most organized religious hierarchies – but to perceive what I have come to call the Church Temporal (as distinct from the spiritual component of “The Church”; I’m still struggling with that one) as corrupt, out-of-touch, often meanspirited, damaging, and abusive.

The Church, and for the purposes of this column I mean specifically the Roman Catholic Church, has always had difficulty with understanding and coming to terms with sex and sexuality. Little surprise since the hierarchy is comprised of aging, supposedly celibate males, many of whom are also likely virgins having entered the priesthood as youths and young men. What do they understand of sex and sexuality? Yet they continue to “make-a da rules”. This saying an allusion to an old joke: following his sermon on the evils of sex and birth control a priest was approached by a little old Italian lady. Fixing him sternly with her eyes she said to him “You no play-a da game, you no make-a da rules!”

The latest reaction from the Holy See is to launch what is known as apostolic visitations to 229 American Catholic seminaries. Investigators have been instructed to search for “evidence of homosexuality” as well as faculty members who dissent from church teachings.

According to the New York Times, who leaked the story September 15th, the visitations are in response to the sexual abuse scandals that have rocked the Church in recent years. Catholics have been waiting for a ruling from the Vatican of Benedict XVI on whether homosexual men should be barred from entering the priesthood.

The article indicates the issue of gay seminarians and priests has been in the spotlight because a 2004 study commissioned by the church found that about 80 percent of the young people victimized by priests were boys.

The Church seems to confuse homosexuality with pedophilia. The Church has always confused homosexuality

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with pedophilia.

For everyone but a bunch of isolated aging cardinals and priestly bureaucrats it is understood pedophilia is quite distinct from the expressions of sexuality exhibited by men attracted to men. Priests who abuse, or have abused, prepubescent boys are pedophiles. Some may also be homosexual, others heterosexual, and others probably don’t know what the hell they are. Every last one of them is doubtlessly tormented. Those who have abused teenage boys under the age of majority, while not technically pedophile (actually, the term is hebephile), are still legally child molesters.

It really doesn’t take having a degree in human sexuality to understand homosexuality - the sexual attraction to the same gender - and sexual attraction to children is different.

A disproportionate percentage of boys were abused because, it would seem clear, priests were more likely to have access to male targets - like altar boys, male students in church-run boarding schools, or junior seminarians - than to girls.

It’s not rocket science. But then the Vatican has never been very good when it came to science, anyway…

Despite the seeming obviousness that homosexuality has about as much in common with pedophilia, as being a boxer does to spousal abuse. Some church officials in the United States and in Rome, including some bishops and many conservatives, continue to maintain that the abuse of minors is attributable to homosexual priests and have called for seminaries, in the US especially, to be ‘overhauled’.

The New York Times article stated: “Expectation for such a move rose this year with the election of Pope Benedict XVI, who has spoken of the need to ’purify‘ the church.” Uh-huh…and the recent re-introduction of studies around demonic possession and exorcism must be part of that too.

Let’s keep in mind that the current Holy Father is the former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, a known conservative and for many years was in absolute control of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, a key department within The Vatican. Under his directorship, the papacy of Jean Paul II issued charming statements in which homosexuality was called “intrinsically disordered,” “evil,” and a host of other epithets.

Let’s also keep in mind Benedict XVI was recently

served with legal papers for his role, as cardinal, in actively covering up the sex abuse scandals and protecting abusive priests. The United States says the pope, as a head of state (i.e. The Vatican), is immune from such legal proceedings and cannot be subjected to a subpoena.

Catholic catechism states people with “deep-seated” homosexual tendencies must live in chastity (actually, “chastity in continence” i.e. no sex) because “homosexual acts are intrinsically and objectively disordered” but, then, so is masturbation apparently.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states: “Both the Magisterium of the Church, in the course of a constant tradition, and the moral sense of the faithful have been in no doubt and have firmly maintained that masturbation is an intrinsically and gravely disordered action…”.

However, there are a few reasonable voices still left in the hierarchy.

The Rev. Donald B. Cozzens, a former seminary rector who five years ago claimed “the priesthood is, or is becoming, a gay profession” is quoted in the New York Times article as saying he was concerned the seminary review would lead the Church to request celibate faculty members and seminarians withdraw from seminary.

“That would be a major mistake from my perspective,” said Father Cozzens, who teaches in the religious studies department at John Carroll University in Cleveland.

“First, I think it’s unfair, if not unjust, for committed gay seminarians and faculty who are leading chaste lives. And secondly, I don’t know how you can really enforce [withdrawal].”

The Rev. Thomas J. Reese, a Jesuit and sociologist who, under pressure from the Vatican, resigned in May as editor of the Jesuit magazine “America”, is quoted as saying the church cannot afford to dismiss gay seminarians.

“You could have somebody who’s been in the seminary for five or six years and is planning to be ordained and the rector knows they’re a homosexual,” said Father Reese…

“What are they going to do, throw them out? It’s much healthier if a seminarian can talk about their sexuality with a spiritual director, but this kind of policy is going to force it all underground.”

thoughtful men who used their gayness as an expression of their compassion. Not, I will quickly point out, the sexuality of their gayness, but rather the internal awareness of their gayness. To my knowledge, they were chaste and celibate but it was their gayness, that inner awareness we all carry as gay and bisexual men (and lesbian women…I’ve known one or two lesbian nuns in my day, as well) that made them good priests.

I am also aware of the devastating psychological damage the Church’s view on homosexuality, whether practiced or not, has had on individuals who, had they been allowed to serve as the priests they wanted to be, would have been wonderful additions to any parish or community they were assigned. Instead, they were rejected when they spoke of their desire to be openly gay celibate priests, and were mentally and, in my view, spiritually abused until forced to desert their vocation. Some never recovered and will likely live out the balance of their lives profoundly damaged, and a loss to us all.

This latest witch hunt is exactly that; a purge. It is mis-focused window-dressing. If the Vatican was to send apostolic visitations to root out mentally and emotionally unstable individuals or actual pedophiles, or establish better systems to prevent such individuals from entering seminary, then perhaps that might be something to consider – although on second thought, given the Church’s history of bungling the psychological care of its own members, to say nothing of its adherents, perhaps not.

Stephen Lock is the Regional Director for Egale Canada and the Calgary Representative for The Canadians For Equal Marriage Coalition. He is also the producer and host of a semi-monthly glbt radio show, Speak Sebastian, airing at 9pm on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month on CJSW FM 90.9.

We are still looking for contributions to the Goliath’s Defence Fund. Donations can be made by cheque or money order, payable to “Stephen Lock (trustee).” In the memo section write “to be held in trust for the Goliath’s Defence Fund” and mail to: The Goliath’s Defence Fund, c/o The Calgary Eagle, 424-a 8th Ave SE, Calgary AB T2G 0L7. All proceeds go to defray the legal costs of the man charged as a found-in.

Celibacy is a difficult vocation to follow and many, both within the Church and outside it, disagree with enforced celibacy. Be that as it may, there are many priests who are homosexual who successfully answer the call to celibacy, if indeed it is a calling rather than some rule imposed by the hierarchy for reasons of its own - just as there are many heterosexual priests who are also successfully celibate.

Over the years I have been acquainted with a few homosexual clerics, both diocesan priests as well as what is termed ‘religious’, or those in seminary and religious community. Every one of them were warm, caring, loving,

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Rough Trade Attraction

By Ivan

In the world of gay dating some men are just happy to look for a masculine or straight looking guy. But many others want the real thing: a real straight guy. Straight guys it seems are more popular than ever in the gay community and successfully seducing one of them is a top challenge for many.

But why are gay men so obsessed by them? It is easy to understand. When a gay boy is looking for a straight guy, you have to remember that he’s actually looking for a kind of rough trade. The well-read and behaved straight man in his 40’s with his suit and tie is not a gay fantasy. No more than the sensitive caring straight guy. Actually the image gay men have of the straight fantasy is quite folkloric. Equally stereotypical is the gay man’s vision of sex with him. For whatever reason it is, most gay men just want to be on their knees in front of a straight guy. Go figure. That kind of fantasy will often include the arrogant looking straight guy drinking his beer and dreaming about pussies while the fag is taking care of his dick. Doesn’t that fantasy make you remember a certain Matthew Sheppeard and his two pickup truck driving gay -bashers and eventual murderers?

But the real reason for this attraction is essentially that rough trade are not too self aware. Gay men who are masters at self-awareness themselves find this totally different attitude very refreshing and quite sexy as well. Gay men are similar in that to young babes who are very much attracted to arrogant guys and male swagger playfulness. No wonder boy band followings often include some gay men among the crowd of screaming teenage girls. In the long run girls will fall for the sensitive guy. But in the short term or let’s say a one night stand they will often prefer to get fucked by an arrogant jerk oozing masculinity. The same is true for gay men who are attracted to straight guys. Straight men generally like to brag about having fucked a very good looking girl or marrying a trophy wife. The trophy boy for many gay men is the hot young swaggering straight jock or...high school dropout nude dancer.

General Interest straight male swagger incarnation. His lyrics about gays as well as about women have been controversial in the past and often still are today....But we also know the role marketing is playing in those games. Moreover some big names have previously stated their admiration for him: Elton John for one, also Neil Tennant from the Pet Shop Boys.

Even I totally agree with this. Eminem is clearly a talented guy. Watching some of his past videos, listening to the beat I can’t help thinking that he’s one of the most interesting people in pop culture in many years. And obviously the marketing people behind him are just as smart. Watching Eminem rapping in I just don’t give a... is like watching a blurring line between homophobia and one of the most popular politically incorrect gay fantasies. In pop culture today that is precisely what defines the largest cross-over appeal possible for a young straight male. The Red Hot Chilli Peppers have also somewhat played on the element before. And this is obviously what has allowed Eminem to pass from white trash to white hot.

As Camille Paglia once noted male swagger is erotic (just ask Britney Spears about Kevin Federline or any Playboy babe about Colin Farell). If chicks are clearly sensitive to that, gay men respond to it even more. And straight men at that game are much better at displaying it than gays. Go to any gay male dancer club and you will see that the ones being the most successful are almost always the ones playing on the youth male bravado and arrogance. They high five each other, drink, make bad jokes, play pool while older gay men watch and admire them carefully sipping their Perrier.

And not surprisingly most of those dancers will be straight.

This attraction also dates back to childhood. For many gay men their sexual orientation can be traced back to an unsuccessful male bounding in their youth. When they reach adulthood or their teenage years they start eroticizing the men they had difficulty being friends with earlier on.

No wonder that hip hop bad boy Eminem has so many gay fans, be they closet or not. The Detroit born rapper has been called a kind o new white trash prophet. Actually from the gay fan’s point of view he’s the erotically charged young

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Press Releases Pride Calgary AGM Announcement Pride Calgary’s Annual General Meeting is a little late this year due to unforeseen challenges and so as not to conflict with the two major conventions within our fine city (IGRA and IGBO). We are planning to have the AGM within the week of November 21st. In the meantime, Pride Calgary invites you to our website www.pridecalgary.ca to see the pictures from the 2005 Celebrations, to provide suggestions, let us know what worked and what needs work. We would also like to know who is interested in being a part of building next year’s Pride Celebrations.

Many positions; small, medium and large commitments to help build a bigger and better Pride! Let us know who you are; we know you are OUT there!

Major GLBT Community Building & Outreach Plan Today the Bi MEN NETWORK announced its most ambitious community outreach and GLBT community building program across North America with bi & gay men’s events - 10 “Coming Out” Wednesdays and 10 “QUEST” Sundays this Fall at 80 bi-friendly watering holes - GLBT bars, cafes, clubs, pubs and taverns - in 80 major North American cities.

COMING OUT WEDNESDAYS is an outreach program for gay, bi, and bi-curious men. These are set for 5pm to 7 pm on Wednesdays - October 12th, 19th and 26th - then every November Wednesday and then December 7th and 14th. The selected venues do nothing special other than be open and ask the staff to be as warm and friendly for all newcomers as possible.

QUEST SUNDAYS is a program for bi and gay men who are looking for a four leaf clover, love, lust, and anything else. This is set for Sundays 5pm to 7pm as well, on October 16th, 23rd and 30th - all November Sundays - and then in December the 4th, 11th and 18th.

The Calgary Eagle has been selected as Calgary’s venue for these events to occur.

10 Years of Robin Hood His name may be Robin Hood but he looks nothing like the English bloke who stole from the rich to give to the poor. This Robin Hood weighs in at 222lbs of muscle, stands 6’4 and owns the longest running all muscle profile site on the net – Robin Hoods MuscleMen (www.rhmusclemen.com). October 2005 is the 10th anniversary of this hot muscle profile site. Since its conception in 1995, it has grown to host over 1900 muscle men profiles. From all around the world you may contact any muscle dude. And if you’re muscular yourself you may post your own profile for complete and free access to the site.

Now yes there are many sites with profiles out there but this one stands apart by far. It is the only one that maintains and

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guarantees that all profiles are muscular, shirtless and show face & torso. The range of guys is from 5’3” 130lbs all the way up to 6’7” 265lbs. Now that is a lot of muscle!!

There are also muscle galleries of Robin Hood’s exclusive models that you won’t find anyplace else along with live webcam of the webmaster and his very own galleries from the past 10 years. So come join in the celebration of one of the longest running sites on the net - rhmusclemen.com.

Canada’s “Blood-Stained Legacy” of Homophobic Violence: Author Kicks off 14-City Book Tour On Friday, Douglas Victor Janoff, author of Pink Blood: Homophobic Violence in Canada, kicks off his Canadian tour in Victoria. Between Oct. 7 and Oct. 17, Janoff will visit Victoria, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Regina and Winnipeg. Full details are available at www.pinkblood.ca. _Pink Blood_, recently published by the University of Toronto Press, is the first Canadian book on violence against the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered community. The book analyzes 120 homicides and more than 350 gay-bashings that have occurred in Canada since 1990.

Friday, October 14, Noon to 1:30 p.m.

University of Calgary Science Theatres 129 Sponsored by: GLASS Info: glass@ucalgary.ca and Stephen Lock, stlock@nucleus.com Friday, October 14, 2-4 p.m.

Mount Royal College, Calgary Arts Building (East Wing 1) Faculty of Arts Lounge EA3001 Info: Lee Easton, LEaston@mtroyal.ca and Stephen Lock, stlock@nucleus.com Saturday, October 15, 3 p.m.

McNally and Robinson bookstore, Calgary 120 8th Ave SW, Calgary Info: jesse@calgary.mcnallyrobinson.ca and stlock@nucleus.com HGTV Superstar Challenge GayCalgary.com’s own fashion and arts writer, Alykhan Velji, submitted a 5 minute tape of a space he had decorated to the HGTV Superstar Challenge. Much to his delight, he was chosen as one of the top 10 interior decorators across Canada! He will be flying to Toronto for a week to tape the reality TV show, where the finalists compete in front of a panel of 3 judges.

One person is sent home every day, and the winner is given a chance to host their own interior design television show. Good luck Aly!!

Spymonkey in Cooped Deliciously Demented Take on Pulp Gothic Romance Novella

By Jacob Wallace

Review | Theatre

Direct from their starring role in Cirque du Soleil’s Zumanity, international physical comedy sensation Spymonkey present Cooped, their deliciously demented take on the pulp gothic romance, at the Big Secret Theatre October 25 to November 12. The show thrilled both audiences and critics upon its opening at the Edinburgh Fringe 2001. GayCalgary.com contacted Daiva Jocius of One Yellow Rabbit to get the scoop on Cooped.

“Cooped toured internationally as the British Council’s Best Contemporary British Theatre’ until 2003 when the company took up its 2-year residency as the outrageous comedy guerillas within Cirque du Soleil’s adult cabaret in Las Vegas,” said Jocius.

The North American premiere of Cooped is produced in association with One Yellow Rabbit and follows Spymonkey’s hugely popular run of their show Stiff at the 2002 High Performance Rodeo, of which the Globe & Mail said “Deliriously funny - credit this young European troupe with impeccable taste and, what’s even better, a skill to match the originals.”

After the Calgary run, the show will continue its international tour which will include Arosa Festival Switzerland, Athens, Australia, and the Edinburgh Fringe 2006.

The production is directed by physical comedy writer/ director Cal McCrystal (director of the clowns for Cirque du Soleil’s Varekai and Zumanity) and designed by longtime collaborator Lucy Bradridge. The new version of Cooped will feature fifteen minutes of new material.

McCrystal and Bradridge begin by painting a picture of a misty night. “A young orphan girl arrives at a remote railway station in the heart of darkest Northumberlandshirehampton to take up her position as confidential secretary to the reclusive Forbes Murdston. Beautiful, fawnlike, swinging, but a hostage to passion, Laura knows now that life - and love - will never be the same again...”

“She has ignored for as long as she can the unsettling rumors that surround her new employer, his ominous manservant Klaus and the ancient mansion. But Murdston’s violent mood-swings can only signify one thing: INSANITY! Her terrible dreams seem to warn of

some impending calamity. If only she could get word to Inspector Judadench to warn him. In her desperation she turns to the trusty family lawyer Roger Parchment.”

How can she leave? How can she leave him when she has grown to love him?

Yes, now she is truly COOPED_! If you are looking for a good laugh with some great entertainment, then you need to join Spymonkey in Cooped.

“A carefully crafted brand of lunacy... Made me laugh so much my throat hurt” The Times (UK) “Utterly infectious... perfectly paced hybrid of The Pink Panther and Psycho.” The Independent (England) “Imagine Mills & Boon rewritten by Monty Python. Or the Muppets doing a cover of a trashy American soap.

Fling in a fig leaf or three and some brilliantly ditsy clowning and whey-hey! You’re close to being Cooped with Spymonkey. SEE IT!” The Herald (Scotland) One Yellow Rabbit presents Cooped October 25 - November 12, 2005 Big Secret Theatre - EPCOR CENTRE for the Performing Arts Tuesdays through Saturdays @ 8pm Sundays @ 3pm (403) 299-8888 www.ticketmaster.ca www.oyr.org

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Romeo and Juliet Hearts Break in Spectacular new Production Review | Theatre

By Jacob Wallace

To celebrate the return to the Jubilee stages, The Alberta Ballet and The Banff Centre have joined together to present a spectacular new full length production. GayCalgary.com contacted The Alberta Ballet to find out more about this celebration and new Canadian art creation, that will be hitting Alberta’s Jubilee stages. “Romeo and Juliet captures the tragic tale of Shakespeare’s star-crossed lovers with both spectacle and intimacy. This original work is set to the orchestral genius of Sergei Prokofiev’s score, which will be performed live by the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra and the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra.”

The production of Romeo and Juliet was choreographed

by Alberta Ballet’s Artistic Director Jean Grand-Maître and it promises to bring Alberta Ballet into a new era.

“Our company is ready to create a production of this magnitude”, states Grand-Maître, “The dancers and our production crew are technically and artistically ready.” This is not the first time Grand-Maître has tackled this tragic tale, it is his favorite classic to choreograph. Grand-Maître has received much praise for his simple creation of Romeo and Juliet for the Hartford Ballet. The critic with The Republican American commented that Grand-Maître’s ballet, “…makes words seem superfluous in the face of movement and music…a production that stunned its audience with its raw sensuality and emotion.” Grand-Maître was also responsible for the enormous success of the Franco rock opera Romeo et Juliette.

“This grand production of Romeo and Juliet would not be possible with out the exceptional talents of The Banff Centre”, Grand-Maître adds.

Under the mentorship of some of Canada’s best stage designers and artisans, participants in The Banff Centre’s training program in theatre craft have created more than 100 costumes, and one of the most intricate sets to be seen.

“This co-production signals an exceptional partnership between The Banff Centre and Alberta Ballet,” says the Centre’s president and CEO, Mary Hofstetter. “By pooling our resources we have been able to create a splendid new

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production which showcases the talents of Alberta Ballet and The Banff Centre, and provides handson experience for young artists in a multitude of disciplines. And of course we, the audience, will be treated to a wonderful made-in-Alberta variation of this timeless ballet.”

This production features Alberta born dancers, Tanya Dobler as Juliet and Kelley McKinlay as Romeo, both of whom passionately breathe life into their characters on stage.

The acclaimed design team for Romeo and Juliet that will bring renaissance of Verona to Alberta stages includes Martine Bertrand, Costume Design; Pierre Lavoie, Lighting Design; Claude Lemelin, Soundtrack Design; and Guillaume Lord, Set Design. Spectacular fight sequences have been directed by Larissa Yancheck.

Do not miss the opportunity to see one of the pinnacles of 20th century ballet. Romeo and Juliet captures the tragic tale of Shakespeare’s star-crossed lovers with breathtaking spectacle and heartbreaking intimacy.

Grand-Maître’s production of Romeo and Juliet will be one of the largest and most extravagant original productions ever mounted in Alberta, marking a new era for Alberta Ballet and for arts lovers across the Province. Join in this spectacular celebration and witness the creation of new Canadian art.

Alberta Ballet presents Romeo and Juliet October 14 - 15 at 8 pm Jubilee Auditorium Tickets at Ticketmaster, 299-8888 www.albertaballet.com www.banffcentre.ca Pictured above Alberta Ballet Artists Tanya Dobler and Kelly McKinlay. Photo by Trudie Lee

Fundraising Photos

ISCCA Drag Shows at The Rekroom

Photos by Steve Polyak and Rob Diaz-Marino of GayCalgary.com Magazine

Apollo Curling Meet and Greet at The Rekroom

ISCCA Barbecue at The Backlot

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Artists for the Quality of Life Cut-a-Thon in Tomkins Park

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Cut-a-Thon Afterparty at the Backlot Cut-a-Thon Drag Show at Metro the Club

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Apollo Calgary - AGM

ARGRA AGM

Metro Pub Crawl - ISCCA Fundraiser, on location at Metro, Money-Pennies, Backlot, Rekroom, Calgary Eagle and Detour

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Letters to the Publisher Dear GayCalgary, This is what came out of the mouth of one of my coworkers who put in a great deal of time and effort volunteering for the AIDS Walk this year. But this year I realized not all things are as they seem. The following are two paragraphs clipped from AIDS Calgary’s own website: “All proceeds from the 2005 Calgary AIDS Walk for Life will go directly to support, prevention and education programs for those affected and infected by HIV/AIDS in Calgary.”

“AIDS Calgary provides support services for people infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS, and provides HIV prevention and education for the entire community.”

“Support, prevention and education”? Why doesn’t “support” include funding of medical supplies for people who need to buy their AIDS medication on low income, or for children that are born with the disease? What happened to all that research to find a cure for HIV/AIDS? The Canadian Heart and Stroke foundation funds heart and stroke research. The Canadian Cancer Society and Terry Fox Run fund cancer research. The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation funds breast cancer research.

The Canadian Diabetes Association funds diabetes research. The Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation funds cystic fibrosis research. So it’s a natural assumption to think that AIDS Calgary, among other services, would fund AIDS research…but I guess it’s my own fault for jumping to that conclusion. I wonder how many people participated in the AIDS Walk this year with the same erroneous impression. I can name several. Give me a survey and I’ll name several hundred.

Now, before I start sounding too harsh here, I must say that I can still appreciate the value of prevention and education. Given that HIV/AIDS is a preventable disease, it makes sense to try heading it off at the pass - an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, as they say. I understand that AIDS Calgary provides education and prevention seminars if you go and visit them, but what about the rest of us who aren’t yet directly “affected or infected” by HIV/AIDS? What about that “HIV prevention and education for the entire community”? I’m surprised that I’ve seen almost nothing from AIDS Calgary that’s visible to the general public. I’ve seen the “Sucking good time” poster up in the Backlot…wasn’t that a campaign from over two years ago? They must have had one lying around from 2 years ago, and put it up on their own accord. I’ve seen the “How do you know what you know” campaign up in Goliath’s more recently, which I found

out was actually provided by AIDS Vancouver. VANCOUVER?? It sounded ridiculous to me at first, but if it weren’t for those posters, there would be nothing recent from AIDS Calgary to take their place. AIDS Vancouver has enough to worry about in Vancouver – we have our own chapter right here, yet they are sitting on their hands! And not that I visit the straight bars too often, but I doubt I’d see HIV/AIDS posters glaring in my face there either.

I suppose I’m forgetting about Ellipse Newsletter. Perhaps it doesn’t ring a bell? You’ll probably recognize it as the little white, blue, and purple pamphlet that’s left on the floor after people pick up a copy of FFWD or Outlooks.

I’ve never read one myself…maybe it’s filled with all kinds of vast knowledge about AIDS prevention and education.

Knowing how little visual impact the publication has, I’ll probably never know – and I’d be a lot more compelled to read it than the average person!

My bottom line is, why does it feel like the ~$75,000 is not making enough of a difference? Maybe I don’t see it because I’m on the outside of the organization, but still, shouldn’t there be some externally visible signs? Sure, Ellipse costs money, but not THAT much. It seems to me like AIDS Calgary has decided to keep to themselves on an issue that affects everyone –especially the gay community (not to stereotype). $75,000 would buy TV commercials, billboards, even airplane banners. Why is it that any condoms handed out at the doors of our bars and clubs are paid for out of their own pockets? Why was $75,000 not even able to fund HIV/AIDS awareness posters or advertising for the last 2 years? If AIDS Calgary, whose mandate is support, prevention and education, can’t even seem to bring themselves to talk about HIV/AIDS to the gay community and the general public then…well, I don’t

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even want to think about it. With nobody forcing the facts on us anymore, we’d all just go back to pretending HIV/ AIDS doesn’t exist, like smokers would with lung cancer – it’s too unpleasant to think about it, therefore I won’t.

My comments are not meant to criticize or put down AIDS Calgary, though it scares me a little that so many people have this preconceived idea of what their money will be used for there. I remember how mortified I was when I realized my own error – the image of funding medical supplies for those in need, funding research to find a cure, and helping children that are born with the disease, all vanished from my head. Sure, it’s still theoretically going to a good cause with AIDS Calgary, but the point is that I gave up my hard-earned money to them for the wrong reasons. There are organizations out there that do exactly what I wanted: CANFAR, SHARP Foundation, and HIV Peer Support Group to name a few. Unfortunately I hadn’t heard of them until I realized I needed to look beyond AIDS Calgary.

(The writer of this letter requested that their identity remain confidential.)

GayCalgary.com asked Executive Director of AIDS Calgary, Sue Cress, to respond to this letter on AIDS Calgary’s behalf.

Dear GayCalgary, Every person, without exception, is affected by HIV and AIDS. You don’t have to know someone who is infected or be infected yourself – everyone is living in a society that is touched by HIV and AIDS. AIDS Calgary exists because of the need for understanding of HIV/AIDS, what it is like to live with it, and how to have a safe and healthy life. We focus much of our effort on a local level, empowering those living with HIV/AIDS, while providing the Calgary community with the tools to prevent further HIV transmission, through the use of advocacy, education and prevention.

There is no doubt that a larger fight to find the cure for HIV and AIDS is being fought. AIDS Calgary supports this work and participates in the provincial and federal advocacy initiatives that address access to care and treatment, and human rights. While we don’t have the capacity to directly fund research, we partner with other AIDS service and research organizations.

As with all small not-for-profit organizations, AIDS Calgary strives to do what we can with what we have.

The support of the Calgary community is fundamental to our existence. The money raised through events such as the Calgary AIDS Walk for Life helps us greatly, but we endeavor to have a bigger impact and wider reach – a goal that is reliant upon the funds we are able to garner.

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With our resource base, we have chosen to focus much of our work at the local level. Our mission is not to eradicate HIV and AIDS, a fight that is much greater than AIDS Calgary’s reach, but to reduce the harm associated with HIV and AIDS. The surest way to stopping the spread is to empower people to make informed choices.

We do this in as many ways as possible, most frequently getting hands-on through our outreach activities and programs. For example, our Choices program is targeted at men who have sex with men. Recent epidemiological data clearly indicates rising infection rates within the gay community. While the Choices program has been around for some time, we recognize the urgent need for this program to be as far-reaching and effective as possible. Choices currently focuses on providing information and resources on practicing safer sex and avoiding behaviors/situations that could put you at risk. We want to make sure that these crucial messages reach as many men as possible.

On a more broad-reaching basis, we see the need to educate today’s youth. Our Speakers Network program goes into schools, businesses and other organizations, providing factual information on safer sex and first-hand accounts on living with HIV and AIDS. Our goal is to reach people when they’re young, sharing lessons that will last a lifetime and contribute to the long-term decline of infection rates.

Another large part of our work is to support and assist those living with HIV and AIDS, and to battle misunderstandings and prejudices of HIV issues. We have programs in place that provide financial support to those living with HIV and AIDS, as well as crisis counseling, advocacy and nutritional programs.

AIDS Calgary firmly believes in the need for medical research and breakthroughs. In fact, we dream of a day when we work ourselves out of a job – when a cure or vaccine is found and the spread of HIV and AIDS no longer exists. Until that time, AIDS Calgary is dedicated to reducing the harm associated with HIV and AIDS, and empowering lives in a compassionate society.

Regards, Terry Mackenzie Chair of the Board AIDS Calgary Awareness Association Susan Cress Executive Director AIDS Calgary Awareness Association

Q Puzzle “Family Doctor” Fun | Crosswords

By GayCalgary.com Magazine Staff

CLUE: A crossword about TV doctors.

Across 1 Their fruits are acorns 5 Like half of the Odd Couple 9 Drag spikes 14 Russian river 15 Top draft level 16 Aged, to Byron 17 Letters over Mary’s son 18 Home st. of Maupin 19 Spacey’s The ___ Suspects 20 Doctor played by Richard Chamberlain 23 Sculptor Nancy 24 One that plays with balls at the circus 25 AFL partner 28 Doctor played by B.D. Wong 32 Cruising areas 36 Tongue of Wilde’s land 37 Like sex with a historian?

38 Tin Man slicker 40 Her Poems writer Bogus 41 Sober partner 42 Cho’s I’m the One ___ I Want 45 Vehicle for a snow queen?

46 Lesbian doctor on ER 49 Old streaker over the Atlantic 50 Caesar’s post-orgasm cry?

51 DeBeque in South Pacific 56 Lesbian gynecologist on Mad About You 59 Dampen the pansies 62 “It comes ___ surprise” 63 Lie alongside 64 Lucy’s gal pal 65 Enter

66 67 68 69

Inspiration for Whitman White’s A Boy’s Own ___ Suffix with prefer Bad day for Caesar

Down 1 Telepathic board that inspired James Merrill 2 Ball’s partner 3 Vibes not from a vibrator 4 More cunning than a cunning linguist?

5 “Honky ___ Woman” 6 What you use in response to “Bite me!”

7 Stud handlers?

8 Esera Tuaolo kept runners from getting it 9 Pointing to it is the little hand’s job 10 Showboat’s “Nobody ___ But Me” 11 URL ending for some gay studies sites 12 Lost and Delirious director Pool 13 Show with C. Kattan 21 Org. for Clea DuVall 22 Maugham’s Cakes and ___ 25 Street in British Queer as Folk 26 Cockamamie 27 Looked up Lady Chablis’ dress, e.g.

29 Shakespeare’s dusk 30 Went to bed with 31 United, to Colette 32 Hits hard 33 Loads 34 Ready for anything 35 The Lion King cad 39 E. Lynn Harris’ ___ Way the Wind Blows

40 Cross-dresser Jeanne d’Arc, for one (abbr.)

42 Like Billy Douglas of One Life to Live 43 Sticks it out 44 Relating to high-tech flight 47 Home state of K. Mattea 48 Money back from Intl.

Male 52 City of The Bird Cage 53 Coming out, for a pansy 54 Screw (up) 55 Rob of Melrose Place 56 Raspberry that isn’t a fruit 57 Where to get off in gay Paree 58 Without a date 59 Craven of Cursed 60 K. Cathcart, e.g.

61 However, to Emily Dick-

inson Answer key is on page 21

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The BoyGirls Local Talent releases First Album Review | Music

By Rob Diaz-Marino

“They’re here, they’re weird, now deal with it.” The Boygirls are out to make a statement with their unique brand of hip-hop, steering straight for the issues that they feel strongly about and nipping them in the butt.

GayCalgary.com first ran into them at Prance, the pride youth dance this June. Since then, the band has launched their first Album entitled But Aren’t We All?, for sale at Megatunes, Sloth Records and Fameless.

Their group currently consists of 4 members. Lana Bentley is the group’s rap-artist, Lara White provides backup vocals, and Cam May helps to augment their vocal talent by contributing instrumental backup and knowledge of sound production. Recently they added a new member, Blair Lipkind, who plays bass. In fact, the front pamphlet of the CD features a cartoon in which they allude to their past search for someone to fill this position.

The burning question seems to be whether or not their music is just political activism in disguise. According to the lyrics in their song Ism Prism, “I’m not an activist…I’m not a passivist…I’m a new school sit-on-my-fat-assifist.”

“Nope [we’re not angry and political]. We’re happy and observant. Some songs have a really clear political message however; we didn’t form the band to depress people.

You can be thoughtful and entertaining all at the same time,” commented Bentley.

May and Bentley take credit for writing most of the group’s current lyrics before White and Lipkind came on board. Indeed their songs Take Back the Night, SUV, Ism Prism, and Three Wishes deal with serious themes like crime, social inequality, homophobia, women’s rights and safety, and degradation and demoralization in the rap music industry. While these may sound like fairly heavy topics, they manage to deal with them in a light-hearted manner without losing their underlying message.

“We’ve been compared to everybody and everything.

The Philosopher Kings, Lauryn Hill, Moxy Fruvous, the Arrogant Worms, the list goes on. We might describe ourselves as ‘Indie-hop’, Indie pop meets hip hop. …We love bands like Junior/Senior, Bran Van 3000, and Franz Ferdinand. Cam really digs Peaches, Le Tigre, and anything electronic. Lara’s in to rock and I like anything that

incorporates rap or hip hop.

That being said I dig bands like Nathan and the Trews.”

Another mandate of the group is to “keep it ridiculous”. Their song “Poo Poo” is a clear demonstration of this. They took a sound clip of them messing around on the microphone and overlaid instrumental tracks to create a really catchy tune.

Too bad it ends so abruptly – I can see it taking off into a happy-hardcore mix if they’re not careful! In addition, the hidden clip at the end of Latin Humiliation where Lana checks her voicemail just totally cracks me up!

“I write about what the things that happen to me in everyday life. The only song with a neat story is Sushi Chef.

Cam and I went for sushi with my friend Catherine who had just returned from the Pan-Am games. We decided that we should write a song about her so we went back to Cam’s house and started working on ideas. We were still really full from dinner and kept talking about the sushi.

We were so distracted by the sushi that we stopped writing about Catherine and decided to write a tribute to one of our favorite foods.”

The group will continue to play shows in and around Calgary to promote sales of this first album, so you can expect to see them out doing what they love best – having fun and supporting various social causes around the city.

“I have already been working on material for the next album so hopefully another CD will be available in the new year. In terms of becoming big, rich, rock stars, I do not know if that’s in the cards. Some people measure success by money, ending up in the tabloids, and awards.

We measure success by longevity and quality so we’ll take that instead.”

The Boygirls “But Aren’t We All?” Available at Megatunes, Sloth Records and Fameless. www.cardboardboxrecords.com/boygirls

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Cutting Our Own Labour Day Classic Thank you’s

By Linda Huston Eckess

The 2ND annual Donnie Peters Memorial Cut-a-thon, once again, has become the Labour Day Classic that it was always meant to be. So many people must be thanked, but how can one just say “THANK YOU!!” When every single person, sponsor, volunteer, are already smiling? Heads held high to the warmth from up above…patting themselves on their own backs. Touchdown is no longer just a football term. Cut-a-thon 2005 was an INCREDIBLE SUCCESS!! And you wanna know why?

Creative Freedom!!

How else could a fundraiser of this magnitude happen - nevermind be so overwhelmingly successful - without one single formal face-to-face full-out executive committee meeting? ‘Cuz everyone is solid to the cause, the project, and the legacy that DRP put in motion… it had full creative freedom!!

When you have such talent and commitment, with Creative Freedom…..WOW!! You have the Labour Day Classic to be proud of.

So, where do I begin? How about the kick off… The Cut-a-thon’s art work you all adore, two years in a row…

Calgary’s, and every ones fave. Scott Clark, put his creative juices on canvas putting the ball in play. Scott, your Art totally tells the story and sets us apart from the rest.

You give us a great face to go forward with every year.

Community | Spotlight CityTV, Global, The Calgary Sun’s Page 6, and Outlooks Magazine.

Special Event Fundraisers for 2005 brought us money, awareness and the best fun we’ve seen in a long time!

Thank you: Debi Leong and the Midnite Café Reunion, Roxy and her Cutting Edge Show, Money-Pennies brunch and Metro for giving us Shooter Bar. The entertainment in the park was unbelievably incredible this year. DJs Mystare, Gemini and Chris Prinze, Dawn, Charity, Jamieson Eakin and Live, Rock and Roll, from Calgary’s DD Davies and Men Without Waists.

Sponsorship abounded this year. Artists for Quality of Life proudly thanks: AIDS Calgary, Andrea the Hot Dog Lady, Backlot, Barbie’s Shop, Black Diamond Liquor Store, Calgary Tower, Culligan Water, Diane’s Best Gourmet Foods, D.I.C.I.B, Discover Dental, DJ Music Services, 4th Street Liquor, Foster Stock, Foxwood Bed & Breakfast, Gilbert Laustsen Jung, H&R Block, Huston Marketing Group, Metro The Club, MoneyPennies, Priape, Red Rose Florist, The Rek Room, Source Adult Video, Texas Lounge, The Place for Men, U Frame It, and Victoria’s Restaurant!

On behalf of all volunteers and executive committee, THANK YOU CALGARY!!

Not only did we have fun, we produced a direct, high impact fundraiser; giving right back to where it is needed…feeding those living with HIV/AIDS….giving Quality of life!!

Barb Stein and Uptown 17 BRZ’s support was the first to take us towards the end zone. Barb, you are simply the Best!

At this time we do not yet have the total we have raised this year, but it’s WAY over last year. We have high hopes that next year will be even better.

But, what’s a Cut-a-thon without the dedication and talents of the hair stylists?

Please share in our celebration on Sunday, October 23rd @ Rek Room from 7pm to 10pm. Artists for Quality of Life, Celebrates Cut-a-thon 2005, with an Awards Gala and kicks off Cut-a-thon 2006.

The Salons that made 2005 in the park a roaring success were, the crème de la crème of Calgary… Affinity, Alta Moda, Ginger Group, Izo Bizo, Kosmetikos, Red Bloom, Sessions, and The Corner.

Media sponsorship began with the full support of Gay Calgary Magazine. Your continuous commitment to the community is an inspiration to us all. The Media was very kind to us this year. Our heartfelt thanks to: CFCN,

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As Always, “Go in Love”, Linda Huston Eckess Event Organizer

Pajama Tops Stage West brings French farce to Calgary Review | Theatre

By Jason Clevett

The 2005/2006 season for Stage West was kicked off with Pajama Tops, a comical farce based on the French play MouMou. It stars Playboy Playmate, covergirl, and former Growing Pains star, Julie McCullough.

“It’s a comedy, and I have always loved comedy,” McCullough told GayCalgary.com. “Audiences have reacted very well to it, we’ve had predominantly full houses and that has been a good thing, as it is more fun to play to more people.”

The show’s initial focus is on George Charles (Trevor Leigh) who is planning a trip to Brighton to see his mistress. However, his wife Yvonne (Jill Hayman) has taken the liberty of inviting “[His] good friend Mr. Lovell” and wife to spend the weekend. Everything goes crazy from there. Not only does Charles’ lover Fiona (McCullough) arrive but, later so does her husband Jack (Michael MacLennan.)

The rest of the plot carries on with such twists and turns that, it would be a nightmare to write it down, however it all unfolds with comedic results on stage. Patric Masurkevitch, donned drag for Stage West’s The Last Resort over the summer. Now he returns to the stage as the flamboyantly gay character Leonard Jolly, who a desperate George convinces to pretend to be Mr. Lovell. Masurkevitch is the focus of the show and plays his character so overthe-top that one can’t help but laugh. The show is a farce, meaning the humor may not register with everyone – in fact some may not like the Leonard Jolly character. However if you take the show and role as intended, then you should have no issues.

While you can see McCullough on stage at night, during the day you will likely be able to spot her

around town.

“I’ve had the chance to go out to Banff with the other actors, went up the lift to the peak and it was an amazing time. The cast and crew went to the zoo and we got to wash the elephants, it was so exciting. The zoo has invited me back and I am such an animal person - that is the most exciting thing I have done so far. I want to go back and see more of the zoo. I want to see a Moose so bad, the other actors tell me how big they are, I can’t believe they are that big! I want to see one in person. I used to think they were like a deer, I didn’t know they were so much bigger. 17th Avenue reminds me of Melrose Avenue, with all the shopping and the cool little cafes,” McCullough says, before extolling more of Calgary’s virtues.

“I want to see Fort Calgary and Heritage Park. Right when I got here I saw a program on all the haunted places in Calgary and I want to see them. My Mom is going to come up in a couple of weeks, so we will be doing lots of tourist stuff during the day. You should be a tourist at every city you go to. Calgary is a lot like Dallas to me, it looks a lot like Dallas and the fact that you have the plains surrounding the city. I will be checking out the Calgary tower. I want to show my mom that indoor park downtown (Devonian Gardens). That is amazing that you have this full park with ponds and fish and plants and it’s indoors!”

McCullough, a vegetarian, is also very passionate about animals.

“I live on three acres that is attached to the Playboy mansion, which means I have room for my 13 dogs and nine cats, most of which were rescued animals. The man-

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sion has a small zoo as well, with three different species of monkeys and 100 different species of birds. I live with Kimberly Heffner, who is Hugh’s separated wife and she and I both are activists. We love animals and save them all the time.”

So how is McCullough handling being in a very beef oriented city?

“It has been great so far, I grew up in Texas and North Carolina, two states that are big on meat. You adapt, in Calgary I have found a lot of places that have vegetarian food. Stage West has so much food on the buffet, there is something for every taste. That is mostly what I eat and there are plenty of veggies in the buffet.”

The star speaks the truth; you will want to make sure you save room. One thing we have discovered in the year we have been reviewing Stage West, is that not only will you be entertained, you will also eat well. Highlights of the buffet this show include: the Grilled Zucchini and Egg Plant Parmigiana, the Fried Pork Loin Hawaiian and the Baked New Zealand Kiwi Mussel Parmesan. The special appetizer of Grilled Jumbo Shrimp with Thai spicy peanut sauce has a definite kick, but is an excellent way to start off your evening.

In addition to her stint on Growing Pains, McCullough has been on shows such as The Golden Girls, Beverly Hills 90210 and The Drew Carey Show. She has found success away from the stigma of being a playmate.

“It’s fine now, it was more difficult when I was young.

I’m 40 years old now so it is a different ballgame, as I have done so much work since then. People don’t even bring up that I was a playmate anymore. It is more difficult for a younger actress than someone who has been around for awhile. I’ve been acting now for longer than I did playboy stuff, so it is a little different. I am an icon in the pinup world at this point, a ‘vintage playboy bunny.’”

Stage West Dinner Theatre Presents Pajama Tops September 7th - November 13th, 2005.

727 - 42 Avenue SE Phone: (403) 243-6642

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Saddle Up! Ranchers & Rustlers moseys into Jubilations

By Benjamin Hawkcliffe

Review | Theatre

Stampede may be over, but dig out your jeans and cowboy boots because Jubilations is taking you back to the wild wild west, with the energetic country show Ranchers & Rustlers.

Guests are all hanging out at the Red Rose Saloon in Deadwood, where mystery is afoot – someone has been rustling cattle and stealing money from the Double-M Ranch. The ranch’s owner Hank Miller (Joseph Davies) is up in arms, and hoping that his ranch hand Sam (Tyler Griffeth) or son Johnny (Trevor Duperron) can solve what inept sheriff Pierre has thus far, failed to do.

Amidst the drama of the whodunit are two heartwarming love stories – Pierre is in love with the stunningly beautiful Annabelle (Syreeta Molsberry), but can’t seem to express it. He has to compete with half the townsfolk, who also seem to be smitten with Annabelle -and after seeing her perform, nobody can blame them. As well, schoolteacher Mary (Brandi Chemerika) is in love with childhood friend Johnny, making things more complicated. Chemerika, who Jubilations regulars will recognize from her fantastic portrayal of Rachel in Best of Friends earlier this year, and Duperron, who has previously been Harry Potter in Betwitched, and Greg Guy who was in CSI: Moosejaw spoke to GayCalgary.com about the show.

Ranchers and Rustlers is a departure from recent Jubilations shows – being an entirely original work instead of based on popular TV or movies.

“It’s much more freeing (being original) as you get the chance to develop the character as opposed to having to spend time trying to be just like the original person. It’s an opportunity to change the character,” said Duperron.

Chemerika disagrees.

“I feel the opposite because this character is so not like my personality at all, which makes it more difficult. Playing Rachel was easier because it was closer to my personality and it is all right there for you already and you just copy that. With an original character you have to develop something yourself. There is less pressure in some ways because you don’t have a character with a huge following.”

The chemistry between the two on stage comes across to the audience, in part because as Chimerika explained, it’s legitimate. ”It’s great for us because when we met we became best friends in five minutes in our personal lives, which makes it easier to play characters that are friends.”

The cast is rounded out with saloon owners Luke (Matt Brennan) and Katie (Amy Neufeld). However, there is more to Jubilations then just what you see on stage – the show would not work without the talented additional cast, who absolutely bust their butts to entertain and serve.

The night we attended we saw a variety of townspeople including Doc Holiday, Wyatt Herb, Sweeny Todd, an old fashioned Undertaker, a guy in a hideous orange jumpsuit that explained he was a square dancer from Moose Jaw,

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and a hilarious Asian sidekick named Fong. The effort that the guys and girls in both the show, and additional cast, put into their costumes and performances is truly astounding. It is obvious they love being there and it is a blast to interact with them.

Jubilation’s kitchen staff does a great job with the menu for this show. As always, the Prime Rib is a treat, but the standout for us was “Fishing in the Dark” – a coconut crusted Tilapia with mango coulis - that was delicious.

For dessert there is a choice of “Deadwood Cheesecake” or “Mary’s Mousse.” What we found worked for us, was to order both and take a spoonful of each together, letting it melt in your mouth. Wash everything down with theme drinks “Sheriff’s Six Shooter in a Dirty Glass” or “Annabelle’s Saloon Song” – the latter as sweet as the girl it’s named after.

As for the show itself, vocally everyone puts in strong performances (the vocals are always live) and the story is simple, but effective. Even if you are not a country music fan, you will recognize many of the songs and get your money’s worth with Ranchers & Rustlers.

Jubilations Dinner Theatre Presents Ranchers and Rustlers September 2 – November 6, 2005 1002 - 37th Street SW (Westbrook Mall) Phone: (403) 249-7799

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The Syringa Tree ATP explores apartheid

By Jason Clevett

Review | Theatre

From October 18th to November 5th, Alberta Theatre Projects will examine South Africa in the 1960’s through the skills of the talented Meg Roe, who assumes the role of 21 different characters throughout the play. In fact, she even went to Africa to study this role.

“I don’t know anything about South Africa, and my partner and I knew we wanted to go on a trip this year.

We felt it was a great opportunity to go, with a purpose, to a place I had never pictured myself going. We packed up our bags and went; it came down last minute when we suddenly got reasonably tickets and we were off.” Roe told GayCalgary.com. “We flew to Cape Town and drove across the country, making up our trip as we went along. We did lots of touristy stuff too, but we tried to talk and listen to people everywhere we went. We had a few contacts in Cape Town that lead us to a school in one of the townships, where I saw a school choir. It was an incredible experience that I don’t think a lot of Canadians get to do; it was very moving and powerful. It was great research because I didn’t know many white South Africans and no black South Africans, so it was a chance to go out and make those kinds of contacts. ” Roe portrays Elizabeth Grace - fearless, affectionate and curious – along with 20 memorable characters from the beautiful and brutal atmosphere of Johannesburg, during apartheid.

“Lizzie’s family has black servants who live on the property and the families end up getting blended because they are so intimately connected. The story follows the two families – her white family and her black nanny’s family for three years. It then moves to the character as an adult looking back and trying to come to terms with her place in South Africa and what happened there and her responsibilities. By the end of the play, the audience pieces it all together and we walk away asking

questions, rather than the character asking questions of us.”

Roe has the emotionally and physically demanding job of being the sole performer, portraying all 21 characters with no props and without ever leaving the stage. Roe, worked with accent and vocal coach Jane MacFarlane to transform herself into the various characters of different descent, age, and dialects.

“It’s insane to be 21 people, all played by one person. It is a different challenge for me because I have never done anything like this before. I don’t know how many people have because it is pretty unusual. Usually when you are building a play with a group of people you are reacting to what other people are giving you. In this one, it’s just me and I have to think about what my reaction would be, to what I just said.”

The play is written by actor/writer Pamela Gien, who was born in Johannesburg, South Africa during the height of the apartheid. The university graduate was both playwright and performer in the original production of The Syringa Tree. During its run in New York City in 2001, it won multiple awards including the prestigious OBIE award for best play, an award that recognizes achievement in off-Broadway and off-off-Broadway productions.

ATP is no stranger to multi-character plays. In the 2004/2005 season Stones in his Pockets and 2 Pianos, 4 Hands both featured two actors morphing into various characters of different sex, race, age and dialect. Both of those shows were highlights of the season and left the viewer in awe of the actors’ abilities. With just Roe in the

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spotlight, the pressure is on, but there is little doubt that the reaction will be the same – the audience will sit in awe at the transformation to and from each character, that this highly acclaimed and talented actress will do. Roe looks forward to the opportunity to tell the story.

“I’ve never experienced racism in my life ever. I’m white and from Balzac, I have no concept of it. The harder thing on a technical level is the accents; I am not familiar with them because I don’t know many people who sound like that. On the trip, I had to listen hard and close to a lot of different people to get a sense of what the rhythm is.

All acting is just imagination and play. I am imagining what I would feel if I was one of these people, what might happen, and how might I react? The play is lovely, in that I don’t have to do a lot of commenting on what’s going on. I sit in the moment and the audience gets to comment on what is going on. It’s through the eyes of a six year old - she doesn’t turn and say ‘and that was racism.’

She shows us her life and the audience goes ‘that made me feel uncomfortable, I wonder why.’ It doesn’t require me to make any statements on what the racist scene was in South Africa. I just play the people and everyone can make their decisions on their own.”

Alberta Theatre Projects The Syringa Tree October 18th – November 5th, 2005 215 – 8 Avenue SE Phone: (403) 294-7402 http://www.atplive.com

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Two-Step North ARGRA brings major Rodeo convention to Calgary

By Jason Clevett

From October 20th to 23rd this year, delegates from throughout the United States will be representing their chapter of the International Gay Rodeo Association in Calgary for the annual IGRA convention at the Sheraton Suites Calgary Eau Claire. It’s a new and exciting venture for the Board of Directors that puts together the incredible Gay Rodeo every July.

“The rodeo weekend is just that, a rodeo. The convention is a series of meetings that happen every year, a chance for the member associations of IGRA to get together in front of the Board of Directors and voice their opinions on things such as bylaws, rules, growth, animal safety and health, community outreach, and a time to review where IGRA is from a financial standpoint,” ARGRA secretary Pierre Cadieux told GayCalgary.com. “At this meeting we also elect the new incoming board of directors – it is two year terms so we vote for half of the board. It’s combined with the annual general meeting and all rolled into one. We are expecting over 100 delegates from across the United States.”

The process of hosting began two years ago, and since then the board has worked hard to organize both the rodeo events and the convention.

“A delegation representing ARGRA went to the convention two years ago and bid on the 2005 event being held in Calgary. The 20 conventions up to this point have never been outside of the US so this is the first truly international gay rodeo convention. Conferences have been [held] all over the US, places like Cleveland, Ohio, Denver, Colorado and Long Beach, California. It is a big feat to host the event. One of the biggest challenges of this is the fact that you are drawing from the same volunteer base.

Three months ago we held a rodeo and the same board of directors has to now hold a rodeo and a convention in the same calendar year - that is two major events. This is a much easier event to plan than the rodeo; the Hotel does most of the work and it is a lot easier to organize from a volunteer and organizational standpoint. I think we have done a great job of organizing, planning and sharing the workload but, it is a huge amount of work to throw two events so close together. We have been planning since the day we bid - the last year has been intense.”

Community | Spotlight While the general public won’t be part of the main convention activities, there are lots of opportunities for us Calgarians to show our southern neighbors a good time.

“As far as the convention is concerned, a lot of our local membership unfortunately won’t even see that part.

Delegates will be attending the meetings at the hotel and representing their host association. Where we want our community to get involved will be Friday night with a pub crawl, the delegates will be shuffled on buses from bar to bar, come out to one of the different bars and we will be there at some point. On Saturday night our regular monthly dance is at the Victoria Park community hall, which will now be part of the convention. Before the main dance is an international dance competition. Dancers from different divisions of IGRA compete against each other in country and western dancing, partner and line, for buckles. We will also be having the ’Prairie Pride Dinner and Dance’ sponsored by Team Money Pennies. This is a time to socialize. I don’t think you can and not learn a bit more about IGRA. The goal of the convention is to have an AGM style meeting and to also learn from one another.”

The Dance competition starts at 7:30pm, with the dance beginning at 9:00. Tickets for the dance are $7 for members, $10 for non-members. Dinner tickets, which include the entire evening, must be purchased by October 14th for $24.95 at Money Pennies or through the ARGRA Visa ticket line at (403) 938-7329. Cadieux and the rest of the board are looking forward to giving the delegates a uniquely Canadian experience.

“I am looking forward to impressing the Americans and showing off Calgary – explaining that they have to go to Tim Hortons for coffee. We definitely have been praised at past conventions that the ARGRA rodeo is one of the best rodeos on the international circuit. Now we want to step up and show them we can throw the best darn convention they have seen as well. We have always been seen as leaders and being different, and we will continue to prove that.”

The International Gay Rodeo Association Convention 2005 Sheraton Suites Calgary Eau Claire October 20th – 23rd, 2005 www.igra.com www.argra.org

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1st World Outgames Rendez-Vous Montréal 2006

By Rob Diaz-Marino and Steve Polyak

Many Calgarians consider Apollo Western Cup and ARGRA to be the two “biggest” events that occur in our city, however, next year Canada will play host to an event that’s probably the biggest and gayest in world history! The Outgames are the gay equivalent of the Olympics – a monumental sporting competition that involves participants from across the entire globe. Canada will be hosting the first ever World Outgames in the city of Montréal from July 26th to August 5th, 2006.

The Outgames will include many of the sports covered in both the Summer and Winter Olympics, however many other additions help to give the competition a gay flavor.

Aerobics, Dragon Boat, Physique, and Water-Polo are only a few of the sports unique to the Outgames.

GayCalgary.com was the only representative from Western Canada, among only 40 delegates from around the world, to attend the Montreal Outgames press conference.

Our tickets, accommodations, and food were all paid for, and our stay was an experience we won’t soon forget.

At the “Breakfast with the Mayor” conference, we hung out with former Calgarian Mark Tewksbury. The Mayor of Montréal delivered a speech to the gay media on the city’s sentiment toward the gay community, and upcoming games. To paraphrase his words: “In Montréal, we do not just ‘tolerate’ the gay community – we celebrate it!”

On the last day of our stay, they blocked traffic along the entire gay stroll on St. Catherine Street to do sporting demonstrations. They filled an entire park with sand for

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Community | Spotlight the Beach Volleyball, and set up a large plastic-polymer surface on a stage to demonstrate the Figure Skating. As we walked along, we saw demonstrations for the Aerobics, Line Dancing, Wrestling, and Chorus!

As Calgarians, this is a rare chance for us to participate and attend an event of this magnitude. Montréal is reasonably within reach of us, as compared to the next Outgames slated to be held in Copenhagen in 2009. GayCalgary.com would like to sincerely thank the Outgames Commission for involving us in the making of this landmark event – it will not only help to unite the GLBT community from around the globe, but will also be symbolic to the entire world that we’re no longer just an invisible minority.

1st World Outgames Rendez-Vous Montréal 2006 www.montreal2006.org

Queer Quest Queer in Grade School: How Far Have We Come?

By Kevin Alderson, Ph.D., C. Psych.

I finished high school in 1974, and I remember the extremely negative view that people had then of queer individuals. Those who were falsely or accurately identified as gay or lesbian, for example, were routinely ostracized and denigrated. School was certainly no sanctuary either – fellow students, teachers, principals, and counsellors were mostly homophobic and unsupportive. I remember vividly two guys at my high school who were gay, and their mannerisms and pride readily identified them to others. I remember the gawking, the ridicule, the pushing and shoving into lockers, and the verbal threats. Behind their backs, they were described in the most unloving and harsh ways.

Perhaps you can’t blame the average person for holding such negative views back then. God, it was only in 1969 that homosexual activity between consenting adults became legal and not until 1973 that the American Psychiatric Association declassified homosexuality as a mental disorder. When two of the most powerful societal forces – the criminal code of Canada and the mental health profession – are ready to say you are both a criminal and mentally ill, respectively, it is no wonder that others held similar views.

As societal tolerance and acceptance of queer individuals increases, however, we will likely see concomitant increases in youths disclosing their sexual identities at school. Such trends are already being witnessed anecdotally. Nonetheless, most queer youth continue to remain invisible in schools because of several factors, but especially because of ongoing heterosexism and homophobia.

Are schools ready to deal with the increased visibility of

queer youth? Are they ready to assist these teens in increasing their visibility while at the same time providing a safe environment for them at school? Shockingly, evidence suggests that most schools are not much further along on this path compared to when I was in grade school 31 years ago.

While we continue to embrace old stereotypes of how males and females are supposed to look, talk, and act, we keep everyone within a prison cell of narrow walls. While gender-nonconforming lads continue to receive their daily punishment for being who they are within their schools, occasionally a crack in the cosmic egg shatters more than just yolks. Of the 28 random school shootings witnessed in the U.S. since 1982, for example, every one of the perpetrators was reportedly heterosexual (1). Despite this, nearly every one of them had been continually teased, bullied, and beat up as though they were gay, barraged with the typical homophobic epithets that we all know too well – until they could take it no longer.

Homophobic insults are frequently levied at young people, regardless of whether they belong to a sexual minority or not. The Canadian Public Health Association Safe School Study was conducted in fall 2003 and spring 2004 with 2,806 and 2,755 respondents, respectively (2). Seven schools located in Manitoba, Quebec, British Columbia, New Brunswick, and Ontario were selected using very strict criteria to ensure student safety and support. The surveys used included a grades 4 – 7 survey and a grades 8 – 12 survey. There were equal numbers of males and females in each sample. Nearly one out of five students reported that they rarely or occasionally felt safe, regardless of their sexual orientation. Homophobic harassment was common in the seven schools, and one in ten students stated they had been called a fag, lesbian, etcetera on a weekly basis. More than a third of the students reported homophobic harassment on a monthly basis. Of the students surveyed, 3% identified as gay, lesbian, or bisexual; 4% reported that they were questioning their orientation; and 93% said they were heterosexual.

Another Canadian study published in 2003 included a sample of 3,636 adolescents from 17 high schools in Toronto, Kingston, and Montreal (3). Gay male, lesbian, bisexual, or questioning youth comprised approximately 3-4% of the participants. The researchers found that the sexual minority and questioning youth reported more experiences of victimization by bullying, sexual harassment, and physical abuse than their heterosexual peers.

The situation in American grade schools is even more

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frightening. Some of the best research occurring in the U.S. is being done by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN). They conduct a survey biennially, and have done so since 1999. The 2003 survey was completed by 1,466 queer youth from across the U.S. (4) Their key findings were (a) 84% of LGBT students report experiencing verbal harassment; (b) 91.5% report hearing homophobic remarks, such as “faggot”, “dyke,” or “that’s so gay” frequently or often; (c) 82.9% report that faculty or staff never intervened or intervened only some of the time when overhearing homophobic remarks; (d) 39.1% report being physically harassed because of their sexual orientation; (e) 64.3% report feeling unsafe at their school because of their sexuality; and (f) those who experienced frequent harassment had GPAs more than 10% lower than those who did not. Overall, the authors conclude that “violence, bias and harassment of LGBT students continue to be the rule – not the exception – in America’s schools” (p. 2).

Many of our queer children experience physical assault because of who they are. A 14-year-old boy in Niagara Falls, Ontario, made the mistake of telling his best friend that he was gay. Word spread, and over the next two years, Christian Hernandez: _. . . was teased and harassed almost daily. One day, a group of boys waited for him after school. Their leader

had a knife, and, says Hernandez, “He told me he didn’t accept faggots, that we brought AIDS into the world.” The boy then cut Hernandez on the neck, putting him in the hospital for a week. When Hernandez told his parents the reason for the attack, his father, who has since moved back to his native El Salvador, said he would “rather have a dead son than a queer son.”_(5) Schools appear to be ambivalent when it comes to dealing with sexual minority youth (6). For example, although New York City has a very large concentration of sexual minorities, Peters (7) found that as he approached 56 school districts on the east side of the city to participant in his school climate study, only six agreed. Representatives from the 50 school districts that refused participation replied that the subject matter was too “provocative” for them to consider participating (Peters).

The invisibility of sexual minorities in schools has occasionally been perpetuated by banning books containing non-heterosexual content. The Surrey School Board in British Columbia banned three books depicting same-sex families in 1997 (8) and book banning occurred in the same year by the Calgary, Alberta Public School Board (9) who claimed two books promoted homosexuality.

Many of us remember the courageous young gay teen, Marc Hall, who found out that he could not take his boyfriend to the high school prom in Oshawa, Ontario in 2002. The fight he went through to simply attend the prom with his date was unimaginable, and even still we wait for the Supreme Court of Canada to render its ruling on whether individual rights supersedes religious doctrine within publicly funded school systems.

The devaluing of queer youth in schools is contributing significantly to their mental health problems. A future column will review the research we have available on this subject. Are schools prepared to deal with the issues that will arise as more sexual minority students demand recognition, acceptance, and equitable treatment? The answer is self-evident from the research that has been done to date. In truth, if schools do not act soon, our legal system will act for them.

In June 1996, Azmi Jubran, a student in a secondary school in North Vancouver, filed a complaint with the B.C. Human Rights Commission. Jamie had been repeatedly teased by his peers, called all the homophobic pejoratives one can imagine. Jamie, like many others who are similarly attacked, was not gay. On April 6, 2005, Jamie was awarded $4,500 in damages, sending a strong message that if schools do not act, judges will (10).

We have waited long enough for schools to get their act together and to begin providing safe environments for queer youth. As John Merrick reminded us in David Lynch’s 1980 movie, The Elephant Man, “I am not an animal – I am a human being!” Why are queer youth and those similarly identified still treated within schools as

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though they are not worthy of the same dignity, respect, and visibility as compared to non-queer youth? In 2005, grade school personnel should know better.

I encourage you to submit questions that you would like answered in a future column. I can be reached by confidential email at alderson@ucalgary.ca.

1 Kimmel, M. S., & Mahler, M. (2003). Adolescent masculinity, homophobia, and violence. American Behaviorist Scientist, 46, 1439-1458.

2 Totten, M. (2004). CPHA safe school study (Canadian Public Health Association ). Retrieved July 7, 2005 from http://www.cpha.ca/antibullying/english/backinfo/safe_ school_study_final.pdf 3 Williams, T. Connolly, J., Pepler, D., & Craig, W. (2003). Questioning and sexual minority adolescents: High school experiences of bullying, sexual harassment and physical abuse. Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health, 22, 47-58.

4 Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN). (2003). The 2003 national school climate survey: The school related experiences of our nation’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth. Retrieved June 26, 2005 from www.glsen.org/binarydata/GLSEN_ ATTACHMENTS/file/2743.pdf 5 Fisher, J. (1999, February 23). Reaching out: A report on lesbian, gay & bisexual youth issues in Canada.

Retrieved July 7, 2005 from http://www.egale.ca/printer. asp?lang=E&item=305&version=EN 6 Macgillivray, I. K. (2000). Educational equity for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, and queer/questioning students: The demands of democracy and social justice for America’s schools. Education and Urban Society, 32, 303-323.

7 Peters, A. J. (2003). Isolation or inclusion: Creating safe spaces for lesbian and gay youth. Families in Society, 84, 331337.

8 Fisher, J. (1999, February 23). Reaching out: A report on lesbian, gay & bisexual youth issues in Canada.

Retrieved July 7, 2005 from http://www.egale.ca/printer. asp?lang=E&item=305&version=EN 9 Ibid 10 B.C. Court of Appeal supports bullied student.

(2005). Retrieved July 7, 2005 from proudparenting.com website, http://www.proudparenting.com/page.cfm?Sect ionid=58&typeofsite=snippetdetail&ID=1856&snippetset= yes

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Does it Come in Black?

By Alykhan Velji

Review | Fashion

Walking into Shae Barry’s newly opened store/studio, entitle Does It Come In Black (DICIB), I was bombarded with unique clothing in various cuts, textures and styles. Having only seen his pieces on the stages of Calgary Cares, I was pleasantly surprised to note that there were pieces I could picture myself wearing. One in particular that jumped out and said “buy me”, was a sleeveless stretch cotton shirt, done in a western style with snap buttons and darting in the front and back, ensuring a perfect fit! The icing on the cake was the fab oriental print in a luscious red,

definitely a must buy!! Another fab find were the men’s jeans. Made with delicious denims in dark metallic and original blue, boot cut and fit to make any ass look good!

Beginning his career as a commercial artist, Shae realized this wasn’t the job for him. He then turned to fashion, something that had always interested him when he was younger. He launched his first label, Phasion in 1985, two years after his big career change. Having changed the name to DICIB in 1995, he specializes in custom couture pieces. Being in his studio, I witnessed a fitting for a wedding dress for one of his clients. Hearing her scream after she had tried the piece on was not surprising; she looked stunning in the white dress that was tailor-made with precise detailing. Everything about the piece was exquisite from the way it hung off her body to the train, and as Shae likes to put it, he “gives good train!”

Having had over 20 years of experience in the fashion/ beauty industry, it’s no surprise that his talents have been noted in the media, in print, at events, and even with numerous awards. He likes to do his own thing and not conform to the latest trends, creating pieces that will be timeless. Showing ingenuity in the combination of choices of fabric he uses in his clothing from high tech to traditional, is what sets him apart from the rest. His attention to detail with unique sewing techniques, cuts, and his one-of-a-kind designs makes his work perfect for the

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person interested in wearing something avant-garde and original.

In the future, he wants to start making more ready-towear pieces, and further his men’s collection. Being so busy doing couture pieces, he hasn’t had the time to focus on that aspect of the business, as much as he would like.

I see only great things for the future for his label. You can see that he loves fashion not only in the way he talks about his work, but also in the quality and care he takes in making his pieces. The proof is definitely in the puddin’!!

DICIB? 103, 1000 9th Ave. SW (403) 262-4114 http://www.dicib.com

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Queer Eye - for the Calgary guy (or gal) Events that happened around Calgary Photos by Steve Polyak and Rob Diaz Marino of GayCalgary.com Magazine

Metro Labour Day Weekend Show and Metro Sunday Night Drag Shows

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Out Games Press Conference in Montreal

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Timothy’s Customer Appreciation Day

Grand Opening of Russell’s Cobalt

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ARGRA Dance

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BearBash 2005

Twisted 54 Party, Sexy Shorts Contest and Diva-Licious Drag shows

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Detour Hot Chest Contest, Detour Closing Party, Arena Drag Shows

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GayCalgary.com Magazine Classified Ads Form Deadline for Classified ads is the 25th of every month. Fill out the form below and mail it to, GayCalgary.com Magazine, Suite 100, 215 14th Avenue SW, Calgary, AB, T2R 0M2 or Fax it to (403) 703-0685. Please print clearly. All phone numbers listed will be verified. Signature is required for credit card transactions. GayCalgary.com is not responsible for errors in the ad submission. Any address placed in the classified will not be placed into the GayCalgary.com map or business listing. Please verify your information before sending to reduce errors. If you have questions, please call us at (403) 543-6960 or toll free (888) 543-6960.

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Musical Instruments Pets Promotional Vehicles For Sale

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Employment

Part Time Cook Required. Please contact Lori or Michelle at 263-7411 or in person at Money-Pennies, 1742 10th Avenue SW.

Unions

Goliath’s and the Texas Lounge is looking for someone with customer service experience to work on both the bath house side and bar side. Training will be provided. 4 shifts a week.

Please drop off a resume at either the Texas Lounge or Goliath’s or email goliaths@gaycalgary.com

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Marriage preparation seminar for same-sex couples. Calgary’s United Church of Canada providing 10 hour, small group seminar, November 18/19, 2005. Call: 294-0378

Employment 300 GayCalgary.com Magazine is looking for writers. Please email us at magazine@gaycalgary.com or fax to (403) 703-0685 resumes and writing samples. You can contact us at (403) 543-6960 or (888) 543-6960.

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Classified Ads 302 Employment/Help 308

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