GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine - November 2009

November 2009 ISSUE 73 The Only Magazine Dedicated to Alberta’s GLBT+ Community

FREE sexing and sizing up

Edmonton’s Exposure Festival

6

th

Anniversary Edition!

Interviews with:

Dolly Parton

Jann Arden Buck Angel Tegan & Sara Three Days Grace And many more!

Community Directory • Map and Events • Tourism Info >> Starting on Page 17

GLBT Resource • Calgary • Edmonton • Alberta

www.gaycalgary.com

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #73, November 2009

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Photography

Publisher’s Column

7 Jann Arden is Free!

New Management, New Album, and More

10 Hello Dolly!

One-on-One with the Queen of Country Music

13 Chelsea Boys 14 Out of Town Brussels, Belgium

Steve Polyak, Rob Diaz-Marino.

17 Directory and Events

Videography

24 Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Needs to be Dumped

Steve Polyak, Rob Diaz-Marino

Printers

North Hill News/Central Web

Distribution

Calgary:.........................Gallant Distribution . .....................................GayCalgary Staff Edmonton:......................Clark’s Distribution Other:........................................Canada Post

Legal Council

Courtney Aarbo, Barristers and Solicitors

Sales & General Inquiries

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine 2136 17th Avenue SW Calgary, AB, Canada T2T 0G3 Office Hours:.............. By appointment ONLY Phone:................................. (403) 543-6960 Toll Free:............................ 1-888-543-6960 Fax:..................................... (403) 703-0685 E-Mail:.............magazine@gaycalgary.com

This Month's Cover

Model Dolly Parton, taken by Fran Strine.

PAGE 7

Mercedes Allen, Chris Azzopardi, Dallas Barnes, Camper British, Dave Brousseau, Sam Casselman, Jason Clevett, Andrew Collins, Rob Diaz-Marino, Jack Fertig, Glen Hanson, Joan Hilty, Leah Kelly, Stephen Lock, Allan Neuwirth, Steven Petrow, Steve Polyak, Mark Randall, Pam Rocker, Romeo San Vicente, Jerome Voltero, Dan Woog, and the GLBT Community of Calgary, Edmonton, and Alberta.

Settling In

26 Adult Film Review Stag Fight, Going Under

PAGE 10

Writers and Contributors

5

27 Q Scopes

“Sex is not a competitive sport, Aries!””

28 Deep Inside Hollywood

Madonna makes another movie and Peter Paige in a Panic

29 Cocktail Chatter All About Absinthe

30 Sexing and Sizing Up Edmonton’s Exposure Festival

32 Self-Definition Without Injury

PAGE 30

Publisher:................................. Steve Polyak Editor:................................ Rob Diaz-Marino Graphic Design:................. Rob Diaz-Marino Sales:........................................ Steve Polyak

34 Fundraising Photos 37 Letters to the Editor 38 Queeries

Continued on Next Page 

PAGE 40

Come Out, Come Out Wherever You Are

39 The OutField

Rounding third, heading home

www.gaycalgary.com

Continued on Next Page 

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #73, November 2009

Table of Contents  Continued From Previous Page

Proud members of:

40 Tegan and Sara

From Second Cup to International Headliner

41 Bitter Girl

PAGE 43

42 A Couple of Guys 43 The Cat Empire 44 Highway 63: The Fort Mac Show What Happens in Fort Mac, Stays in Fort Mac

45 Profile Updated: HIV Status Unknown?

46 Merry … Midwinter?

Tori Amos talks about her new seasonal CD

48 Life Starts Now

Magazine

Print Circulation:.................. ~10,000 copies Pickup Density:....................~3 readers/copy Online Circulation:........... ~125,000 readers Total Readership:............. ~155,000 readers Frequency:.................................Every Month

PAGE 59

Three Days Grace, New Album, New Tour

52 Music Review

La Roux, Carmen Reece, Electrik Red, Vanessa Williams

53 Sorting out our Sordid Lives A Chat with Del Shores

How literary icon Rita Mae Brown learned about life from animals

55 Survey Says…

PAGE 62

Calgary Outlink Tells Us What We Want

Ad Booking Friday, November 27th, 2009 Ad Submission Monday, November 30th, 2009 In Circulation Wednesday, December 3rd, 2009 Please contact us immediately if you think you may have missed the booking or submission deadline.

56 Classified Ads 59 Alberta’s Got Talent

Lethbridge’s Tara-Jean Popowitch Crowned Dancing Queen

62 The Many Sides of Buck Angel 64 Queer Eye - Community Events http://www.gaycalgary.com/i73

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54 Welcome to the Jungle

December 2009 Print Deadlines

 Continued from Previous Page

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History

Originally established in January 1992 as Men for Men BBS by MFM Communications.

Name changed to GayCalgary.com in 1998.

Independent company as of January 2004.

First edition of GayCalgary.com Magazine published November 2003. Name adjusted in November 2006 to GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine.

Disclaimer and Copyright

Opinions expressed in this magazine are specific to the author, and do not necessarily reflect those of GayCalgary staff and contributors.

Those involved in the making of this publication, whether advertisers, contributors, or the subjects of articles or photographs, are not necessarily gay, lesbian, bisexual, or trans. GayCalgary also includes straight allies and those who are gay friendly.

No part of this publication may be reprinted or modified without the expressed written permission of the editor or publisher.

Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.

GayCalgary is a registered trademark.

Editorial

Settling In

Publisher’s Column

By Rob Diaz-Marino, MSc. Immediately after completing my last publisher’s column and getting the October edition to press and online, we concentrated on completing our move to the new location.

Prior to our press deadline we had only been moving smaller stuff in boxes, but then when it came to the larger furniture, it got very serious. We paid a visit to Budget and rented a cargo van first thing in the morning. And then came, hands down, the most grueling experience of my entire life. It was a solid 48 hours of loading, driving, unloading, and cleaning, with a reprieve of a mere 3 hours of sleep.

Near the end of it I found myself in utter amazement that I was still functioning, that my body hadn’t given out from exhaustion after all the heavy lifting, leaps and bounds beyond any limit that I assumed I had. Even after it was all done, I had returned the cargo van and was driving home, I felt I could have probably kept going if I needed to.

But no, we forced ourselves to settle down in our old bed, in our new bedroom, and take a much deserved rest.

It took several days after that to sort out the random arrangement of furniture that had accumulated in our haste to get everything done.

With most of our possessions tucked away, the first few days felt like camping – minimal kitchen supplies, minimal toiletries, and a quickly diminishing supply of clean clothes. It was such a relief to finally find those boxes with the things we needed, and to slowly start getting our lives back in order again.

For the first few days we had to keep the cats locked up in the downstairs bathroom while we removed some of the dangers to them, like fiberglass, screws, and precariously balanced objects. By the time we were able to let them out, they were so cramped and stir crazy that this big new world was a welcome change for them. Getting used to the stairs went a lot more smoothly than I anticipated, and soon it seemed like they didn’t particularly miss their old locale at all.

We returned one last time to the condo to complete our cleaning obligations, and it felt so surreal seeing the place completely empty; the carpet still showed perfectly where our furniture had been. Several times I found myself looking around with mixed feelings, like I didn’t want to forget the many memories from living there, but I was glad to be moving on. While I had been living with Steve in that Condo for the past 6 years, Steve calculated that he had been living in that suite for a total of 12, and in the building for 15. It was difficult to leave that much history behind.

With the car at our disposal, the two of us getting up to Edmonton has been a lot easier, and cheaper. However the weekend that we popped up for the ISCWR Investitures and headed back to Calgary the same night, we did run into a bit of a scare. No, it wasn’t me falling asleep behind the wheel, it was the car ahead of us on the highway that did. Out of nowhere I saw headlights pointing toward us on our side of the divided highway, and we quickly pulled over to find a completely mangled van that appeared to have rolled several times. Half of the nearby exit sign was missing, about a meter and a half off the ground. I ran to see if anyone was hurt, to find the vehicle completely empty. When I called out to try and locate the driver, he came out of the ditch insisting he was unharmed (aside from a couple of minor

cuts on his face that he didn’t appear to notice). The vehicle could not be pushed off the road, as one of the tires was pinched by the chassis.

We spent about an hour there, alerting the authorities, ensuring other cars passed by safely, keeping the driver from freezing without a coat, and giving a statement to the RCMP when they arrived.

Aside from our little scare, we’re quite happy that the three hour trips between Calgary and Edmonton are not such a waste of time anymore. Having a power connection in the car is a big advantage over the lack thereof on the Greyhound. Being the tech geeks that we are, Steve has managed to rig his cell phone to act as a wireless hub so that his laptop can maintain a stable internet connection while we are on the road. He’s able to get work done, and I’m perfectly happy as long as he’s playing some music for me. Despite the stereo in our second-hand car being hopelessly damaged, we managed to rig some computer speakers to work quite nicely in its place. So in our typical annoyingly resourceful, Macgyver-esque fashion, we’re set to go!

Halloween H1N1 In all the commotion of moving and driving, we had fallen behind on watching the local news, and knew nothing of the brouhaha surrounding H1N1, and the vaccinations that were being made available in select locations. I showed up on a Monday evening at the clinic at the old Children’s Hospital site (literally across the street from us) looking to get my seasonal flu vaccination, only to be told the lines were so long for the H1N1 vaccine that they had closed the clinic early. As a Diabetic I am considered a high risk group, so I felt compelled to commit to getting this done despite the warning of a long wait. I tried again the next morning and followed the lineup as it wound down multiple hallways. Several people were carrying their lunches and water bottles, a few even had their collapsible lawn chairs. People had come with their kids, and were trying to keep the little ones entertained and out of trouble. It felt almost like a procession of refugees from a disaster movie.

In the first 45 minutes I moved no more than 5 meters. By that time, staff had come by to give everyone ticket numbers and fill out the necessary forms. Knowing that with my ticket I would be served in order regardless of my presence in the lineup (so long as I didn’t miss my ticket being called), I popped home for lunch, and then back to the clinic just in time for my turn. I had started in line at 11am…I exited the clinic, after having my vaccination, at 2pm. I found out a few days afterward that I had been lucky: first to have avoided a six hour wait, then to have gotten the vaccination at all.

I suppose I shouldn’t complain, but I was told that the seasonal vaccines were put completely on hold for the H1N1 vaccines. So now that the H1N1 vaccinations are at a standstill, why are the seasonal vaccines not resuming in the meantime? As nice as it is to be safe from the big bad swine flu (or not), the plain old flu is much more common, and still poses a danger to many Albertans.

6th Anniversary Edition We have a pretty amazing edition for you this month, as you probably gathered from our cover. Dolly is probably the biggest star that we’ve interviewed yet!

We also have a large number of prize giveaways this month, including copies of Dolly Parton’s new album/DVD Live in London, so watch for them online. Incidentally, I’m told there are people who would kill for these, so don’t be surprised if there is a lot of competition.

Looking back over the six years, we have a lot of people to thank for helping us to keep going strong after all this time. Our writers and contributors have worked particularly hard in recent times to ensure the magazine continues to provide articles that are entertaining and informative. As editor, I know they are doing this job well when they make my head ache from the amount of interesting information I

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #73, November 2009

Editorial take in while proofing their articles in rapid succession. Jason, who has been with us from the beginning, goes beyond just writing - the inroads he makes while pursuing his articles open new doors for this magazine; Evan Kayne distinguishes himself with his thought-provoking articles on tough community matters; Stephen Lock continues to provide valuable perspective on political topics; Mercedes continues to challenge us to open our minds and realize that trans issue affect all of us too. I watch our junior writers grow on a monthly basis with the experience and feedback they receive, and it’s always such a pleasure to notice when they make a breakthrough. And then there are so many others whose contributions range from articles to photos, and information to transportation.

Our advertisers provide the funding that we need to continue printing the magazine, and make it possible for us to remain independently owned and self sustaining. Without the need for external investors or government funding, GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine is able to decide its own direction. So not only do we thank advertisers for choosing us, but we continue to seek new and innovative ways to make a difference in the community that benefits everyone.

We thank our community partners – those who we work alongside symbiotically to reach new people, and with whom we find new opportunities for collaboration that keeps us involved, informed, and in touch.

Finally, we thank our readers, who continue to encourage us with your comments, and amaze us with your sheer numbers. Last year our online readership climbed from 90,000 downloads to over 125,000, and continues to expand, encompassing people from all over Canada, and indeed, the world! We know we are doing something unique when people from outside of Alberta still take a regular interest in our magazine.

This Month It’s become a tradition every anniversary month, for us to have a table at the Taboo Sex Shows in Calgary and Edmonton, and this year is no exception. Come and visit us while checking out the hot strippers, drag queens, and unique adult-oriented wares. Once again, we have partnered with the ISCCA and ISCWR to make our booth a fundraising opportunity for them. Calgary’s show will be a whole day longer, starting on a Thursday and going through until Sunday.

Many other businesses are celebrating their anniversaries this month. For instance, Boots will be turning 31. The Texas Lounge has their anniversary this month, but has decided to push celebrations to a later month so as to not compete with others.

Last Month • The Calgary Eagle held their “To Sirs with Lust” leather demonstration. Thankfully there was no real blood this time, so I was able to watch. In fact, there were some pretty hot scenes that leather enthusiasts enacted on stage for the audience. Mister Leather Sir winner, Johnathan Finlayson, and Leather Boy winner, Boy David, got some practice for the international competition. Just before press, we received a text message to inform us that Johnathan won 3rd place internationally, while David won 4th. Not bad guys, and I’m sure you did Calgary proud!

• The Texas Lounge is getting into the swing of hosting Drag Shows at their venue, with two last month. This little bar is showing just how versatile it can be, despite the tight space. Similarly, Goliaths is also continuing to host special events, with a jockstrap themed menonly dance coming up this month. See their ad for more details.

• The Backlot was packed to the rafters, on a Wednesday no less, for their 11th Anniversary party. Owner Ken Schultz could be found celebrating amongst many loyal patrons, as were his mom and dad.

• Boots hosted the Bi-monthly BEEF Bearbash, which continues to draw a strong crowd for the Edmonton bar. Maybe it was the cold weather, but there seemed to be a lot more mischief going on than what I recall from previous events.

• Our writer Jason strongly suggested that we come out to experience a Ghost Tour this year, and indeed it was a lot of fun, especially since Jason was our tour guide! He took a small group of us around the Inglewood area to explain the ghost stories behind many of the

Continued on Page 23 

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #73, November 2009

Celebrity Interview

Jann Arden is Free!

New Management, New Album, and More

By Jason Clevett Sitting down with Jann Arden is like visiting with a long time friend. When I walked into the trendy downtown bar that was arranged for this interview, she immediately came up to give us a hug and offer a “refreshing beverage.” She then began to ask about my life. Perhaps by this point she was tired of talking about herself, but it is the genuineness of Arden that has made her so wildly popular.

When we last spoke to Jann (March 2007 issue) she was promoting her cover album Uncover Me and embarking on a tour, with the plan being to return to the studio and release a new original album in 2008.

Instead, Free, her 8th album was released in September.

“The album title Free couldn’t be truer, as I made a lot of changes. I have new management now, I am with Bruce Allen which is fantastic, I am actually having to listen to somebody. It has taken an enormous workload off of me because I have someone making decisions for me that should have been made a long time ago - but that is my fault.

There was this two year time that I was straddling because I knew I had to make some changes. It is like when you end a relationship, it is easier to push everything you don’t like to the side and you have to make them hate you and break up with you. It didn’t work, it was like, holy shit this is never going to dissolve itself. That is what the gap was, I just didn’t feel passionate about it, I didn’t feel like writing anything.

I didn’t like the direction I was headed. I thought, if I am going to be so non-committal about this all maybe I shouldn’t be doing it.”

She made several changes, most notable, parting ways with long time collaborator and comedic foil Russel Broom.

“We had made some great records together but it felt like I was standing still, I needed to move on and we didn’t work together on this record. I worked with a producer named Bruce Liddel who I have known for 20 years. He does a lot of film scores, his music is very orchestral and that really comes out, there is a lot more strings and keyboards on this record for me. Then just working with a new band, I moved into my new house... that was the gap. I am so glad I took that break because I feel invigorated about this now, I feel like I have something left to say. “ An Intimate Evening With Jann Arden will be out on tour with dates in Calgary November 23rd and 24th, and Edmonton the 25th and 26th.

“The tour is going to be amazing, the set is bigger and more glorious then I have ever had, I have been pretty low key on my live shows. Bruce wanted to step it up a notch, he thinks very globally. I am listening to what he has to say and learning from him and learning about myself again.

Bruce doesn’t have any track record though, he has sucked with everything,” she says sarcastically. “Who the fuck is Michael Bublé? Anne Murray? Bryan Adams? Never heard of them.”

She admitted that picking a set list for the tour has been difficult.

“I don’t even know how! I did though. I am doing 6 songs off the new record, and then I have a few obscure gems that I have never played live before. It is really stripped down, there are a couple of songs that are just by myself. There are some hilarious slides of my family, people I have talked about for years but people have never seen. I will have a big screen, very different for people. I am going to try and cover a lot of the singles in a very different fashion. People will leave pleased and there will be some surprises. I don’t think we are concentrating so much on the new album that they will feel dislocated from it. They will hear enough of the old stuff that they will really like the new stuff as well.”

It is amazing that the world didn’t implode when Arden toured with crooner and funny–as-hell Canadian, Michael Bublé.

“We were all through Europe, Australia and the states with him twice. I was like, what am I doing here in Radio City Music Hall? I set Michael up every night, telling people he was 4’6” and came up to my crotch which was very convenient for me. I made fun of him every night but he has stolen so many of my jokes now it is unbelievable. It was very humbling for me. Michael was good to me, he was very fair.

When I have been doing this for so much longer than him, when you are opening for someone so much younger than you and a newer act, you do learn a lot, you do get back to your roots. I sat there and played my guitar in a trio thing so the songs were presented very much in the way they were written. People loved us, in some venues we were selling 200 albums a night. I was like, holy shit, we are out of that. I don’t have any more. I had an opportunity to write with Michael because of it (Lost which is also included, sung by Arden on Free). It was a glorious experience. He is just one of the best entertainers in the world, I saw his show 100 times and he is so fucking funny.”

The new album features 11 tracks that continue with what brought Jann success in the first place, songs of heartbreak and sadness and songs of hope and joy. Much of the album was produced in Nashville with the support of up and coming act SHEdaisy.

“I have worked in Nashville quite a bit in the last few years and these two great women I wrote with both went through divorces. When you are sitting in a room with other people I really had to learn to listen and think about their ideas, which were so undeniably good that as a writer I couldn’t be narcissistic and say, I am going to go with what my idea was. Co-writing is really symbiotic, what you end up with is so cool. It is almost like having three people do a painting. It was a great experience learning about their lives. One of the girls remodeled everything in her house because she just didn’t want him there. In the song Free, one of the metaphors is that you are tearing down wallpaper, busting out walls, changing your hair and having a relationship with your maker again. I love the sentiment of feeling better now that your stuff’s out in the yard. I think that is funny. I can just picture this woman standing there with all this fucking bad shit sitting out there,” she said.

“It was a joy to write this whole record, it took place over the last two years and been finished since May. It took three months to record, a couple of months to mix, and the most fun I have had on a record in a decade. I did feel very liberated.

I felt very helped, Bruce Allen made it very possible to not worry about all this bullshit that goes around, that I had always been in control of. All

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #73, November 2009

they were so serious about it. They went to such lengths to shoot this little video and I watched it and my heart just broke because it was terrifyingly bad. I have seen lots of Unloveds, Insensitives, Good Mothers. I have seen more Japanese cartoon people to I Would Die For You than I would care to see again for the rest of my life. There is already an Asian cartoon for A Million Miles Away. Who sits and does this shit?

YouTube is crazy, I like it. I have to get on board because it is not going away and is what it is, but I don’t mind it.”

And just like that, our time was up and Jann had to head off to perform at an office as a promotion. Her enthusiasm is infectious and I found myself greatly looking forward to seeing her take the stage again, after far too long.

“I am very glad that we got together. I am really excited about the tour. I don’t know what Bruce Allen has in store for me next year but I am just going to make sure I have a good bra, strap myself into it and go out there and have some fun, know what I am saying?”

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View additional pics/videos. • Share with a friend. • Post your comments.

You could win a copy of Jann Arden’s latest album, Free! Visit www. gaycalgary.com for details.

Jann Arden Free in stores now. of the decisions had been mine so it felt weird to just be responsible for doing music, it was a fantastic feeling and I think you can hear it in the songs themselves. The SHEdaisy girls are singing all over this and the backup vocals are so lush and rich. I have been doing my own backup vocals for years. Live, this is going to be so much fun to do. I have Keith Scott, who has been playing guitar for Bryan Adams for 18 years, Alison Cornell who played violins for Shania Twain for many years. I can capture so many of the Nashville guys I had play on this record and do justice to the recordings. There are seven of us now.”

A song that will be recognizable to fans is You Are Everything with which Arden closed her shows on the 2004 Love Is The Only Soldier tour, and was briefly available on Puretracks.

“I did it live towards the end of the night and I loved the song. I wrote it at that time and really wanted to perform it because I wrote it after I had finished that record. So this time I said to Bruce Liddel that I wanted to revisit that song and put it on our record. I have gotten so many e-mails from people who say things like, my husband and I were looking for that song forever and we played it at our wedding. I love how it turned out. I think people were really happy to find it.”

When we interviewed Theo Tams for our July issue, he spoke about how Arden left a message for him at Toronto station EZRock. She admits she didn’t watch the show but is flattered to be both an influence, and from the comparisons to Tams.

“It was explained to me who he was and that he had done Good Mother. I was sent the link of him doing it and thought he did a very nice job. To me it is very flattering and I hope he does well. For a young man to choose that song to do is very perplexing for me because it is a very vulnerable song. It is an honor but it feels weird too. It can be very isolating, I am not aware of what is going on around me. About every six months I have to ask Chris (assistant) what he is listening to that is cool? I will scour MySpace and look around, look at the indy stuff in iTunes. To influence anybody, I can’t get my head around it, I am very touched. I know the people that influenced me growing up, and I would never have had access to them. Social networking has changed things so much. I just got a message from (gay singer songwriter) Jay Brannan (whose cover of Good Mother can also be found on YouTube), I don’t know how he found me but it got to me. I was impressed with his version too. I am thinking Good Mother? What in the hell are you guys choosing that song for? I thought it was the stupidest song I had written in my life. I hear these young guys do it and think it is an odd choice.”

Arden takes advantage of the internet to send her music to a new audience, using YouTube, Twitter, Myspace and Facebook. On YouTube especially there are several covers of her songs.

“Isn’t that weird? I spent one weekend looking at all of them, Jay Brannan, people from the Philippines. It freaks me out but some of them are so cute. There are two dorky guys who did Insensitive and

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #73, November 2009

 Calgary - November 23rd and 24th, Jack Singer Concert Hall

 Edmonton - Edmonton November 25th and 26th, Jubilee Auditorium

 www.JannArden.com

Celebrity Interview

Hello Dolly!

One-on-One with the Queen of Country Music

By Jason Clevett In preparing for my interview with the one and only Dolly Parton, I was certain of two things. The first, that her southern charm would win me over within about two seconds. The second, that I would have to deal with a lot of drag queens jealous of my time with one of the most impersonated icons in drag history.

“I got a bunch of drag queen fans, they don’t hesitate to come to the show and sit right down front either. Some of my best laughs are from that, and the audience loves it,” she said, laughing when I mentioned my drag queen fear. ”The last time I remember a big showing we were around the San Francisco bay area and we had several Dolly’s, it was just too funny. I am so little, so short and you have these guys that are six feet tall and with their high heels and big hair they look about eight feet tall, you can’t miss them.”

She then explained how she switches up her 1974 hit Jolene in tribute to them, singing over the phone “Drag Queen, Drag Queen, Drag Queen Drag Queen.. I’m begging you please don’t take my man. I have a huge gay following and I love ‘em.”

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine chatted with Parton over the phone to promote her new CD/DVD release, Live In London, hitting stores November 10th. The set was recorded at the O2 Arena in 2008 and includes many of her greatest hits, such as Here You Come Again, 9 to 5 and I Will Always Love You. “We thought it would be exciting, and it was. We don’t get to Europe that often and I have always had a huge fan base in England.

People love to feel like they get to go somewhere, it is like we get to go to London with Dolly and see what is going on around there. The O2 arena is a huge wonderful place, a lot of people play there and Michael (Jackson) was going to do his last shows there. We had 18,000 people at two sellout shows and taped them both. When we first started the tour we hadn’t planned to make it a show, we just wanted to document it. When we got home we realized it was really good and we should make it into a live CD and DVD. We put it in a neat little package that looks like a suitcase with passports and plane tickets, they did a great job on the artwork for it.”

For those who have never seen Parton live, the DVD gives a

sample of what the experience is like. One can’t help but be awed by the fact that at 63 years of age, she can outperform some artists 40 years her junior.

“I have had a lot of practice and am singing songs I have been for years. I am not a dancer as you can see, I just work off my natural energy. A whole lot of it is just being my own natural self, whatever moves I make is whatever steers me on to get across the stage and involved with the audience. I love what I do, I love to sing. I never quit singing so I keep my pipes up to date and tuned up,” she said.

Another impressive feat is the assortment of six instruments that she plays during the show. “I love to play. I usually play a little bit of fiddling and electric guitar too. We had so much show we had to edit down. I am not great at it but I play everything as I write. I play enough to accompany myself on a show. I come from a musical background, my Mother’s people all sing and play some sort of musical instrument. We can all play enough to make it.”

It is amusing listening to the London audience sing back to Dolly with a British accent.

“I sometimes am hard to understand in my own country because I have such a country southern accent. The fact that my people in the great Smokey Mountains are heavily influenced by the Irish and English, all those old Irish and English ballads I grew up singing. I think they understand me more in England than in America because I have that old flavor. It is fun to hear different countries singing along. When we used to play in Japan and other

10

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #73, November 2009

Celebrity Interview places where they didn’t know a word of English but had memorized the music, they would be so quiet when you are talking, but when you go into the song they start stomping their feet and singing. Whatever it takes, it is nice to be popular around the world.”

In a career that has spanned 4 decades Parton has seen and done it all – music, movies, two variety shows, and a Broadway musical based on the movie 9 to 5.

“I’m a Broadway diva!! I am blessed to get to do so many things.

Getting to do 9 to 5 was a wonderful thing. We didn’t get to stay on Broadway as long as we would have hoped but it made a big showing while it was there. Now it is being prepared to go on tour, we open in Nashville next September and will be traveling on the road for the next two or three years. I am looking forward to that. I am now in the process of writing my life story as a Broadway musical.

I have had some fun times. I had two variety shows: one before you were born, out of Nashville, and then the Dolly show out of L.A. I had a wonderful time doing both the shows, I kind of miss getting to do that. Last week I did a special with Carrie Underwood almost like the same format we used to do. It was fun working with her and going back to doing the jokes, skits, guests and doing a duet.”

When I told people that I would be speaking with Parton, the most common reaction after “oh my god are you serious?!” was “she seems like such a sweet person.” As anyone who has interacted with her will attest that is very much true, and people really feel a connection to her.

“I have been around a long long time so people feel like they know me, like I am a relative somehow. I have been around longer than a lot of my newer fans have been alive. A lot of it has to do with being from a big family, the story of rags to riches and I have always fought for the right to be me. The fact that I have been in movies helped some, 9 to 5 and The Best Little Chickenhouse in Texas. People have just known me so long, but I hope I am a goodguy.”

While Dolly may not have changed much, the music industry sure has. In a world filled with twitter, Myspace and Youtube, Parton says she relies on her team to keep her up to date in the internet age.

“I have managed to put together a wonderful group of people. I haven’t changed how I go about my work in terms of how I write a song because it has always just come from me. The music industry and the way that you do marketing has changed a lot. The big labels that used to be such powerhouses are now in as bad a shape as some of the older artists. I think it is important if you intend to stay in the business like I do - I don’t ever intend to retire - is that you surround yourself with people that are in the know, and keep you current know how to market you in those areas. I have been blessed with a group of people that put me out there and keep me alive. I just say, go to it, here’s the money, go put it

where it belongs, and go market it and we will continue to do what we do and not be left behind.”

Another amazing fact about Parton - in an industry that has 5 minute marriages, affairs and divorces galore, she and husband Carl Thomas Dean have stayed together for over 40 years. We asked her the secret for her successful marriage.

“My husband is not in the business, I have noticed that can be a great hindrance in some cases. Two people in the same business can be competitive or their schedules can screw things up.

My husband is very much a homebody and doesn’t like being out in public. We are great friends and get along really good, we never have fought or argued. I feel safe and secure with him and who he is, how he is. He knows me through and through. The fact that we are not in each other’s face night and day, we appreciate each other when we do get to be together. I am sure that, now that we are older, we could hang out more and be less apt to feel like we are getting in each other’s face - we do mellow as time goes by.

“That is one of the reasons the gay and lesbian community has responded to me, because I believe everybody should just get to be who they are...”

I was blessed, God was kind to me with good friends and a good husband. The fact that our lives are different, we want to hear what is going on with each other. It gives us stuff to talk about that we are not going to argue or fight about.”

The live DVD will leave Dolly fans longing for the chance to see her live and in person, something she promises will happen soon enough. She will be making music for a long time, as she insists she will never retire.

“We are talking about touring. I am going to spend the next few months on a musical on Broadway and a movie about my life story. Then we are talking about touring in the fall and winter next year and hopefully a big part of that will be in Canada. I certainly hope to not retire unless it is something I am not expecting. If something happened to my husband I would want to be with him, or if I was ill. As long as I am able to get out and do it, I want to be doing this all the days of my life.”

Any long lasting iconic female performer from Bette Midler to Cher to Madonna will freely admit that the support of her gay fans is a key to their success, and Dolly is no exception. To the readers of GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine she says: “I do think it is true. If you look at all those personalities, we are all very similar. With Cher, Madonna, myself we are all so who we are, and out there, ourselves; accepting of other people because we want to be accepted for who and how we are. That is one of the reasons the gay and lesbian community has responded to me, because I believe everybody should just get to be who they are. We are who we are, why can’t we be allowed to celebrate that and have a good time. We are partners and buddies and friends and let’s just keep keeping-on. I love you and thanks for loving me.”

“I have had a blessed, charmed life, I’ve gotten to do some of everything and I can’t wait to see what I get to do next.”

http://www.gaycalgary.com/a1449

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Win a copy of the CD/DVD at www.GayCalgary.com

Dolly Parton: Live In London

 Hits stores November 10th, 2009

 www.dollypartonmusic.net

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #73, November 2009

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GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #73, November 2009

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #73, November 2009

13

Out of Town Brussels, Belgium

By Andrew Collins

As the headquarters of NATO and the European Union, Brussels ranks among the most international and sophisticated cities in the world. Though founded in the seventh century, Brussels is a remarkably modern metropolis, the capital of a progressive, relatively young country (Belgium celebrates its 180th birthday in 2010) that passed gaymarriage legislation in 2003. It’s also a dynamic hub of modern architecture, cutting-edge fashion and fine shopping, and it has a sterling reputation among foodies.

Brussels hosts a well-attended Lesbian and Gay Pride celebration each May as well as a first-rate gay and lesbian film festival each January. The city is also home to the International Lesbian and Gay Association. In addition to Flemish and French, English is widely spoken and understood here. And although the euro is currently faring poorly against the U.S. dollar (as of late fall 2009, 1 euro traded at about US$1.50), Brussels is less expensive than many major European capitals.

The city is divided into two, Upper Town and Lower Town. The latter begins just east of rue Royale, where a fairly steep slope rises just beyond the city’s 1,000-year-old historic core. Most of the wealthy neighborhoods, fancy shopping and grand hotels are in Upper Town, as are several museums. The neighborhood also has stunning art nouveau architecture – the work of Victor Horta (1861-1947) and his pupils, who designed hundreds of townhouses whose sensuous facades are decorated with the style’s characteristic sinewy ironwork. You can learn more about Horta and the city’s art nouveau legacy by visiting the Horta Museum (set inside his former home) or by logging on to www.brussels-art-nouveau. be.

Lower Town is characterized in part by working-class neighborhoods, some of which have undergone major revitalizations in recent years, and in part by one of the best-preserved medieval quarters of any major city in Europe. The main plaza, Grand Place, contains dozens of ancient buildings and narrow lanes, and it buzzes with energy. It’s also near Brussels’ small but vibrant gay district, centered around rue du Marche au Charbon and rue des Pierres, near the Bourse.

Facing Grand Place you’ll find see the magnificent Hotel de Ville (City Hall) and many ornate guild halls, all built in the elaborate baroque style of the late 1600s. Also nearby the Museum of Costume and Lace contains a fine collection of beautifully crafted lace, a product for which Belgium is justly celebrated. Just off the square, rue Charles Buls leads to rue des Brasseurs, where poet Paul Verlaine shot and wounded his lover, fellow poet Arthur Rimbaud, in 1873. Walk along rue de l’Etuve to the corner of rue du Chene to see Manneken Pis, a statue of a pudgy little boy peeing into a fountain - this beloved tourist attraction and photo op has been a source of curiosity for centuries.

The Grand Place is the heart of beautiful Brussels, and it’s just a few blocks from the city’s lively and friendly gay scene.

Photo: Andrew Collins.

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GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #73, November 2009

Here it’s a short stroll southeast to the lower slopes of Upper Town to reach the Royal Museum of Fine Arts, which combines two museums – one dedicated to Flemish-Dutch painting traditions, dating from the 15th to 19th centuries, and the other to more modern works, such as paintings by Belgian surrealists James Ensor and Rene Magritte. The museums overlook the supremely elegant Place Royale, a fittingly lavish 18th-century

Travel square that acts as gateway to Upper Town’s posh residential and shopping districts.

For the best antiquing and cafe-hopping, wander around the streets emanating from the Grand Sablon, another ritzy square.

Continue toward the monolithic Palais de Justice, and turn left to reach avenue Louise, where you’ll discover yet more high-end shopping.

Brussels is very much a city of gardens and parks, and many neighborhoods are also punctuated by verdant squares abloom with flowers. Favorite places to stroll, jog, or simply relax on a bench to soak up the sunshine include Brussels Park, near the Royal Palace, and the sprawling Parc du Cinquantenaire, which is home to some prominent museums.

You can maximize your sightseeing value by purchasing a Brussels Card, which costs 19 euros for one day (32 euros for three) and entitles the bearer to free use of public transportation and admission to some 30 museums, plus discounts to numerous attractions and shops. You can purchase this online at www. brusselscard.be.

Whatever you’ve heard about fine chocolates in Switzerland and Germany, Belgium arguably produces the most sublime chocolates in the world. Brussels in particular is teeming with purveyors of this addictive treat. Two shops worth checking out are Wittamer and Pierre Marcolini, both of which produce high-end, artful truffles and have tony shops along Upper Town’s Grand Sablon.

But the relatively less expensive and ubiquitous Belgian chain, Leonidas, is excellent, too. You should also consider a visit to Planete Chocolate, which is steps from the gay district and produces delicious artisanal chocolates.

Brussels not only excels in fine French fare but also in regional Flemish fare. Classic dishes found at many local eateries include waterzooi (a rich chicken stew), rabbit with beer and prunes, and mussels with frites (French fries). Festive and friendly Au Stekerlaplatte restaurant turns out astoundingly delicious and authentic Belgian food. It’s just up a narrow lane in quasi-gentrified Marolles District from rue Haute, which has a handful of worthy antiques shops and home-furnishings stores.

Another great purveyor of traditional Belgian fare, Le Pre Sale serves up superb traditional Belgian seafood in the St. Catherine area. If it’s truly a special occasion, book a table at the acclaimed Comme chez Soi, a temple of haute cuisine that’s garnered three stars from Michelin and serves truly inspired food. Among hip Upper Town haunts, Lola serves pretty, modern food to pretty, modern people – it’s popular with the see-and-be-seen crowd.

Brussels is where the fast-growing gourmet coffeehouse and cafe Le Pain Quotidien began, and there are outposts of this inviting spot set throughout the city. You’ll find particularly appealing the branches along avenue Louise, close to high-end shopping and along funky rue Antoine Dansaert.

Bar-going in Brussels tends to be sedate, but there’s no shortage of inviting and cozy options. The city’s more up-and-coming nightlife areas, the St. Catherine and St. Gery districts, have dozens of cool, artsy, intellectual bars that pull in a mostly straight crowd, but also plenty of gays and lesbians, too. Some worth poking your head inside include Monk and de Walvis.

In Upper Town, beer lovers should check out Le Bier Circus, which carries a huge selection of this beverage for which the country is known – in fact, Belgium produces some 400 beers. For more on this national preoccupation, visit www.beer2005.be.

Only a few blocks from St. Catherine and St. Gery, you will find the city’s mini gay hub. Good bets include Le Belgica, a cozy tavern that draws a mix of women and men, and TelsQuels Cafe, which functions both as a bar and the city’s gay and lesbian community center. Fans of drag shows shouldn’t miss the campy fun at Chez Maman. Le Boys Boudoir is a fun little piano cabaret and restaurant that appeals to guys of all ages, and Le Duquesnoy

caters to a rugged leather-and-Levi’s bunch. Laid-back L’Homo Erectus packs them in each night with funky music and a friendly staff.

There’s also a very popular gay bathhouse in this area, Macho Sauna, and another with a considerable following not far away called Sauna Spades 4. Brussels may seem more conservative, at least in style, than London or Berlin, but saunas are quite well-attended in this city, and very welcoming toward visitors.

There aren’t many full-time gay discos in town, but Box nightclub is always a good bet for dancing into the wee hours. Also, you can count on a few monthly shindigs such as the famed La Demence, held on certain Fridays throughout the year and drawing partiers from all over the region.

Several intriguing, hip hotels have opened in Brussels in recent years. Be Manos, just a 15-minute walk south of Grand Place, is very close to Gare du Midi/Brussel-Zuid train station. Stylish, sleek rooms on this gay-friendly property are decorated with framed black-and-white photos, and bathrooms have high-end fixtures and products. The on-site restaurants, Be Lella and Kolya, serve very good food to a trendy crowd. The affordable Hotel Bloom is another favorite of artsy types, students and others with a yen for intriguing design. Private parking, proximity to the metro and Gare du Nord and a friendly, helpful staff are additional assets.

Across from the St. Catherine metro stop, the aptly named Hotel Welcome ranks among the loveliest small hotels in Brussels.

Each of its 15 rooms is themed after a different nation, from the Congo to Morocco to Vietnam. Rooms contain beautiful artwork and decorations, and congenial hosts Michel, Sophie, and staff could not be friendlier and more helpful. A bountiful breakfast is included, and rates are highly reasonable.

Among larger international hotels, you can’t go wrong with the Brussels Marriott, which opened in 2002 and has an enviable location near the funky Saint Catherine and Saint Gery neighborhoods. Of high-end hotels, Metropole is a restored belle époque beauty that dates to 1895 and is filled with ornate furnishings. It’s also home to a chic, gay-popular cafe of the same name.

Spend a little time in Brussels, and you may soon realize that it’s not just a convenient pass-through city on your way to Europe’s gay meccas. Whether to shop, dine, museum-hop or even hobnob in convivial bars, this clean, friendly and reasonably priced city has much to offer.

http://www.gaycalgary.com/a1451

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Andrew Collins covers gay travel for the New York Times-owned website About. com and is the author of Fodor’s Gay Guide to the USA.

The Little Black Book

(Belgium’s country code is 32)

 Au Stekerlaplatte (www.stekerlapatte.be). Be Manos (www.bemanos.be). Brussels Marriott (www.marriott.com/brudt). Le Belgica (www.lebelgica.be). Le Bier Circus (www.bier-circus.be). Box (www. boxclub.be). Chez Maman (www.chezmaman.be). Comme chez Soi (www.commechezsoi.be). Le Boys Boudoir (www.leboysboudoir.be).

La Demence (www.lademence.com). Le Duquesnoy (www.duquesnoy. com). L’Homo Erectus (www.lhomoerectus.com). Hotel Bloom (www. hotelbloom.com). Hotel Welcome (www.brusselshotel.travel). Lola (www.restolola.be). Macho Sauna (www.saunamacho.com). Metropole (www.metropolehotel.com). Le Pain Quotidien (www.lepainquotidien. co). Planete Chocolate (www.planetechocolat.be). Sauna Spades 4 (www.saunaspades4.be). TelsQuels Cafe (www.telsquels.be). Tourism Flanders (www.visitflanders.com). Tourism Belgium (www.visitbelgium.com).

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #73, November 2009

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GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #73, November 2009

Directory and Events  http://www.marqueeroom.com

 http://www.calgaryeagle.com  Open Wed-Sun, 5pm-close Leather/Denim/Fetish bar.

Legend O ur Magazine Available Here---------------- ✰ Wheelchair Accessible Venue------------------

• Fetish and Gear Night  Fridays

CALGARY

• Crazy Pig Raffe/Cowboy Gear Nite  Nov 7th

Accommodations

3 Backlot---------------------------------- ✰  (403) 265-5211  Open 7 days a week, 4pm-close

Club Paradiso

• Toys 4 Tots  Sun Dec 6th, 3-7pm Bring an unwrapped toy for a child.

2 AIDS Calgary--------------------------  110, 1603 10th Avenue SW  (403) 508-2500  info@aidscalgary.org  http://www.aidscalgary.org

• Karaoke  Tues & Sat, 8pm-1am

Carly’s Angels on Sat. Billy Schmidt’s “Sounds of Sinatra” on Fri. and varied entertainment on Thurs. Please call for details.

4 Calgary Eagle Inc.---------------------- ✰  424a - 8th Ave SE  (403) 263-5847

Community Groups

5 Texas Lounge------------------------------ ✰

 308 - 17 Ave SW  (403) 229-0911  http://www.goliaths.ca  Open 7 days a week, 11am-close

 1413 - 9th Ave SE, upstairs  (403) 265-5739  www.villagecantina.ca

 209 - 10th Ave SW

• Jock Strap Party  Sat Nov 28th, Midnight-8am $7 entry fee, 8 hour stay.

• Grey Cup Party  Nov 29th, 4pm

• Christmas Dinner  Dec 13th Tickets on sale November 12th.

Bars and Clubs

Bar and restaurant.

• World AIDS Day Fundraiser  Nov 28th, 8pm-close

• ISCCA 100 Years of Broadway Show  Nov 21st

Wingate by Wyndham

6 Goliath’s----------------------------------- ✰

 308 - 17 Ave SW  (403) 229-0911  http://www.goliaths.ca  Open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day

• Boy’s Nite Out  Nov 10th $5 steak, drink specials, male stripper.

• Alberta Week of Leather (AWOL)  Nov 14th-15th

 400 Midpark Way SE  (403) 514-0099  www.wingatehotels.com

9 MPs (Money Pennies)------------------ ✰

 1742 - 10th Ave SW  (403) 263-7411  http://www.money-pennies.com  Closed Mondays.

• 10¢ Wings  Wednesdays, 4-7pm

• Leather Swap  Nov 14th, 5-7pm Bring used leather to buy & trade.

13 Westways Guest House------------------- ✰

 216 - 25th Avenue SW  (403) 229-1758  1-866-846-7038  westways@shaw.ca  www.gaywestways.com

Bathhouses/Saunas

Alternative night every Wednesday.

55 Marquee Room---------------------------- ✰

 612 - 8th Avenue SW

33 Twisted Element

 1006 - 11th Ave SW  (403) 802-0230

 http://www.twistedelement.ca

Dance Club and Lounge.

✰

• World AIDS Day  Dec 1st • Volunteer Activity Nights

 AIDS Calgary Training Room  403-508-2500, ext.116  volunteer@aidscalgary.org  Wednesday, November 4, 5-7pm Bring a friend, have a laugh, make a difference!

Registration required 2 weeks prior.

• Women’s Healing Circle

 AIDS Calgary Training Room

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Calgary Outlink---------- Community Groups Aids Calgary------------- Community Groups Backlot------------------------Bars and Clubs Calgary Eagle Inc.------------Bars and Clubs Texas Lounge-----------------Bars and Clubs Goliath’s--------------------------Bathhouses

9 MPs (Money Pennies)--------Bars and Clubs 13 Westways Guest House----Accommodations 16 Priape Calgary----------------- Retail Stores 24 Courtney Aarbo-----------------------Services 33 Twisted Element--------------Bars and Clubs 34 Vertigo Mystery Theatre------------- Theatre

35 36 37 41 43 48

One Yellow Rabbit-------------------- Theatre ATP, Alberta Theatre Projects-------- Theatre Pumphouse Theatre----------------- Theatre La Fleur------------------------- Retail Stores Lisa Heinricks--------- Theatre and Fine Arts Barbies Shop------------------- Retail Stores

52 55 56 58 59

Sandra G. Sebree--------------------Services Marquee Room---------------Bars and Clubs Sacred Balance Piercing------- Retail Stores Theatre Junction--------------------- Theatre Ageless Skin Technologies-----------Services

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #73, November 2009

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Directory and Events  403-508-2500, ext.200  Wednesdays, 1:30pm

Topics Covered: Safer Sex & HIV/AIDS, Living with HIV/AIDS, Challenging Stereotypes.

Alberta Society for Kink

 (403) 398-9968  albetasocietyforkink@hotmail.com  ca.groups.yahoo.com/ group.albertasocietyforkink  Meet and Greets: Mondays, 7pm-9:30pm Apollo Calgary Friends in Sports

 http://www.apollocalgary.com Apollo Friends In Sports is a volunteer-operated, non-profit organization serving primarily members of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgendered communities but open to members of all communities. We currently have more than 400 members and are growing fast! The primary focus of Apollo is to provide our membership with well organized and fun sporting events and other activities to allow them to participate and interact in a positive social framework.

• Badminton (Absolutely Smashing)

 St. Martha School (6020 4th Avenue NE)  Wednesdays, 7pm-9pm (Season has ended) Fees Per session: $4 for Apollo member, $5 for nonmembers. Season’s pass $75.

• Boot Camp

 Stone steps, SE corner of Crescent Park Crescent Road & 2nd Street NW  Nov 7, 14, 10:45am-12pm  bootcamp@apollocalgary.com Dress in layers and running shoes, bring plenty of water, bring payment in cash to first session.

Registration has closed.

• Bowling (Rainbow Riders League)

 Let’s 10 Pin Bowlerama, 2916 - 5 Ave NE  (Season has ended) • Curling

 North Hill Curling Club (1201 - 2 Street NW)  Saturdays: 2:20pm and 4:30pm (Season has ended) • Golf

 golf@apollocalgary.com See website for details.

• Slow Pitch See website for details.

• Tennis See website for details.

• Volleyball (Intermediate/Competitive)

 YWCA, 320 - 5th Avenue SE  www.apollocalgary.com/apollo/volleyball  (Season has ended) This is for seasoned players. You can sign up for the season or drop-in.

• Volleyball (Recreational)

 Langevin School, 107 - 6A Street NE  www.apollocalgary.com/apollo/volleyball  Nov 6, Dec 4, 11, 7pm-9pm Volleyball League, Co-Ed, Recreational, Drop-in.

• Yoga Season has ended.

Alberta Rockies Gay Rodeo Association  www.argra.org

 (403) 541-8140

• Monthly Dances-----------------------------  Hillhurst-Sunnyside Community Association

1320 - 5th Avenue NW  Nov 21st, Dec 6th, Doors open 8pm Team Dance - wear you team jersey or shirt & receive a free drink!

• Holiday Dinner-----------------------------  Alexandra Centre (922 9th Ave SE)  Dec 12, 6pm Members: $30, Non: $35.

Artists for the Quality of Life

 (403) 890-1261  www.afqol.com • Last Days of Disco Revisited

 Texas Lounge

 Fri Nov 27th, 7-10pm Cabin Fever

• Lawn Bowling

 Inglewood Lawn Bowling Club 1235 - 8th Avenue SE  Tuesdays, 6-9pm

 lawnbowling@apollocalgary.com See website for details.

• Outdoor Pursuits See website for details.

• Running (Calgary Frontrunners)

 Coffee Junkies, 7th Street and 1st Ave SW  Tim (403) 660-6125  calgaryfrontrunners@shaw.ca  Saturdays at 9am Distance varies. 8km-15km. Runners from 6 minute/mile to 9+ minute miles. During the summer we attempt to have evening runs during the week.

 Calgary Eagle, 424a 8th Ave SW

 3RD THURSDAY every month

Women’s dance and social night.

Calgary Gay Fathers

 calgaryfathers@hotmail.com  http://www.calgarygayfathers.ca

Peer support group for gay, bisexual and questioning fathers. Meeting twice a month.

Calgary Men’s Chorus

 http://www.calgarymenschorus.org

Looking for Something?

Browse over 450 listings in our Online GLBT Business Directory, and our complete Online GLBT Community Events Calendar.

www.gaycalgary.com 18

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #73, November 2009

• Rehearsals

 Temple B’Nai Tikvah, 900 - 47 Avenue SW  Tuesday nights, Sept-Jun, 7pm-9:30pm Calgary Sexual Health Centre---------

✰

 304, 301 14th Street NW  (403) 283-5580  http://www.calgarysexualhealth.ca

Calgary Sexual Health Centre is a pro-choice organization that believes all people have the right and ability to make their own choices regarding their sexual and reproductive health. Calgary Sexual Health Centre started as a volunteer based, grassroots organization and has been providing comprehensive sexuality education and counselling programs to the Calgary community since 1972.

• Revolution 69

 Crescent Heights Community Hall 1101 - 2 St. NW  (403) 283-5580 ext. 316  Fri Nov 20th, 7pm Tickets: $40 each, 2 for $69.

1 Calgary Outlink---------------------------- ✰

 #4, 1230A 17th Avenue SW  (403) 234-8973  http://www.calgaryoutlink.com

Formerly know as the Gay And Lesbian Community Services Association (GLCSA).

• Annual Fundraising Casino

 Nov 11th-12th  Jim or Ivy: (403) 234-8973  iamhome@shaw.ca Seeking volunteers, please call ASAP for a shift.

Lots of fun and a fabulous buffet meal is included.

• Peer Support and Crisis Line Front-line help service for GLBT individuals and their family and friends, or anyone questioning their sexuality.

• Library A great selection of resource books, fiction, nonfiction, videos and everything in between, all with a queer perspective.

• Drop-In Center A safe and supportive environment for one-to-one peer counseling for many issues surrounding family, coming out, homosexuality, loneliness and other issues.

• Between Men and Between Men Online

 Tuesdays 7pm-9pm Peer support, sexual health education for gay or bisexual men, as well as those who may be uncertain or questioning their sexuality. Discussions range from personal relationship or life issues, to sexual health and well-being.

• Calgary Networking Club

 Ming, 520 - 17th Ave SW  First Tuesday of every month, 5pm-7pm The networking meetings are open to all individuals who would like to promote their businesses or who would like to meet new people - no business affiliation is necessary.

• Heading Out

 2nd and 4th Friday of every month, 7pm-9pm Peer group for men who are looking for an alternative social activity to the bar. Activities vary and are fun and entertaining.

• Illusions Calgary Social group for Calgary and area transgender community members (cross dressers, transvestites, drag kings and queens). Illusions provides a safe, discrete and welcoming atmosphere, in which transgendered people can meet others of like mind.

Illusions offers discretion, acceptance, compassion and a safe place to express your gender. Crossdressing is the purpose of the group, but is not mandatory.

• Inside Out

 Every Monday, 7pm-9pm Peer-facilitated youth group for GLBTQ ages 15-25.

The group aims to let youth know they are not alone, and to connect them with their peers. It is a funky and safe environment with a variety of resources and activities.

• New Directions

 Every 3rd Friday of the month, 7pm-9pm Drop in peer-support group to provide support and resources for individuals who identify as transsexual or inter-sexed. If you are transsexual, or know of someone who is, please contact our office for information and assistance. You are not alone!

There is support!

• SHEQ Soulful Healing Ego Quest

 Trudy or Krista, (403) 585-7437  Runs for a ten week period on Thursdays, 7pm A workshop for women that want to be themselves in a supportive, safe environment. It is a chance to grow and share their experiences related to women’s sexuality. To participate, please call the exclusive SHEQ line or leave your name and a contact time/number with Calgary Outlink.

• Womynspace

 Every first and third Friday, 7pm-9pm Peer social/support group for women providing an evening of fun, bonding, discussion and activities.

Calgary Queer Book Club

 Weeds Cafe (1903 20 Ave NW)

Look us up on Facebook.

Deer Park United Church/Wholeness Centre

 77 Deerpoint Road SE  (403) 278-8263  http://www.dpuc.ca  Worship Time - 10am Sundays

Different Strokes

 http://www.differentstrokescalgary.org

• Swim Practice

 SAIT Pool, 1301 - 16th Ave NW  Thursdays 6-7pm, Sundays 5-6:30pm (no practices on long weekends) Don’t Buy In Project

 http://www.dontbuyin.ca

This Calgary Police Service Initiative aims to encourage youth to working towards an inclusive environment in which diversity is embraced in their schools and community.

FairyTales Presentation Society

 #4 - 1230A 17th Avenue SW  (403) 244-1956

 http://www.fairytalesfilmfest.com

Alberta Gay & Lesbian Film Festival.

• DVD Resource Library Over a hundred titles to choose from. Annual

Directory and Events membership is $10.

• Shorts for all Sorts: Queer Film Quickies

 Uptown Stage & Screen (612 8 Ave SW)

 Nov 10th, 7:30pm Gay Singles in Calgary

 http://www.gaysinglesincalgary.org

Girl Friends

 members.shaw.ca/girlfriends Girlsgroove

 http://www.girlsgroove.ca HIV Peer Support Group

 (403) 230-5832  hivpeergroup@yahoo.ca

ISCCA Social Association

 http://www.iscca.ca Imperial Sovereign Court of the Chinook Arch. All monies raised go to Charity.

• Drag Show at Texas Lounge

 Thurs Nov 5th, Thurs Nov 19th • 100 Years of Broadway

 Calgary Eagle

 Nov 21st, 11pm Tickets: $10 advance, $15 at door.

• World AIDS Day Show

 Money Pennies

 Nov 28th Knox United Church

 506 - 4th Street SW  (403) 269-8382  http://www.knoxunited.ab.ca Knox United Church is an all-inclusive church located in downtown Calgary. A variety of facility rentals are also available for meetings, events and concerts.

• Worship Services

 Wednesdays - Communion Service 12:10pm.

Sundays - 11am. September to June.

Sundays - 10:30am in July and August.

Miscellaneous Youth Network  http://www.miscyouth.com • Fake Mustache------------------------------  The Soda, 211 - 12th Ave SW  1st Thursday, 7pm-9:45pm Calgary’s ONLY Drag King Show. $5 cover. $2 cover under 18. Advance tickets available at Barbies Shop.

Mystique

 mystiquesocialclub@yahoo.com Mystique is primarily a Lesbian group for women 30 and up but all are welcome.

• Coffee Night

 Second Cup (2312 - 4th Street SW)

 TBA NETWORKS

 (403) 293-3356  sanpfeif@telus.net A social, cultural, and service organization for the mature minded and “Plus 40” gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered individuals seeking to meet with others at age-appropriate activities within apositive, safe, non-threatening and nurturing environment.

church; everyone is welcome.

Parents for Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG)

 Sean: (403) 695-5791  http://www.pflagcanada.ca

PFLAG Canada is a registered charitable organization that provides support, education and resources to parents, families and individuals who have questions or concerns about sexual orientation or gender identity.

Positive Space Committee

 4825 Mount Royal Gate SW  (403) 440-6383  http://www.mtroyal.ca/positivespace

9 MPs (Money Pennies)----------------- See Calgary - Bars and Clubs.

Rocky Mountain Bears  bearcoltr@shaw.ca

 http://www.rockymountainbears.com

Retail Stores

Safety Under the Rainbow

 http://www.safetyrainbow.ca

Mission: To raise awareness and understanding of same-sex domestic violence and homophobic youth bullying.

Scarboro United Church

The Positive Space Committee at Mount Royal College works to raise awareness and challenge the patterns of silence that continue to marginalize lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans-gendered, two-spirited and queer (LGBTTQ) individuals.

Pride Calgary Planning Committee  www.pridecalgary.ca

 (403) 797-6564

Pride Rainbow Project

 prp@planet-save.com  http://www.priderainbowproject.com Youth run project designed to show support for same-sex marriage in Canada and elsewhere. A fabric rainbow banner approximately 5 feet wide - goal is to make it 3.2km (2 miles) long, in order to break the world record.

Primetimers Calgary

 134 Scarboro Avenue SW  (403) 244-1161  www.scarborounited.ab.ca  Sunday Worship: 10:30am

Scarboro United Church is a caring community for risk-takers, adventurers, and explorers in contemporary Christian living. Scarboro is an affirming congregation, which means that the full inclusion of LGBT people is essential to our mission and purpose. Scarboro United Church welcomes all to our spiritually enriching Sunday Service at 10:30am. Afterwards, all are welcome to join us in fellowship downstairs over coffee, tea, juice, and home-baked treats.

Sharp Foundation

 (403) 272-2912  sharpfoundation@nucleus.com  http://www.thesharpfoundation.com

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

• Monday Walkers

 Every Monday

Urban Sex Radio Show

 CJSW 90.9 FM

 http://www.cjsw.com

 Every Wednesday from 9-10pm Focus on sexuality; gay bisexual lesbian trans gendered and straight issues here in Calgary and around the web.

• Free Pool at the Calgary Eagle

 Every Wednesday

WesternCanadaBigmenGroup/  bigpaul41@yahoo.com

• Saturday Coffee

 Midtown Co-op, 1130 - 11th Ave SW  Every Saturday, 10am

Vigor Calgary

 (403) 255-7004  www.vigorcalgary.ca Violence in Gay Male Relationships (VIGOR) is a committee of professionals dedicated to increasing the awareness of gay men’s domestic violence and the services available to them.

Queers on Campus---------------------

Western Canada Bigmen and Admirers

✰

Formerly GLASS - Gay/Lesbian Association of Students and Staff.

“Yeah... What She Said!” Radio Show

 CJSW 90.9 FM

 yeahwhatshesaid@gmail.com  Every Monday evening, 8:30-9pm

• Coffee Night

 2nd Cup, Kensington.

 Every Tuesday, 7pm.

See Calgary - Bars and Clubs.

Rainbow Community Church

 Hillhurst United, 1227 Kensington Close NW  roneberly@shaw.ca  http://www.rainbowcommunitychurch.ca  Services: every Sunday afternoon at 4:00pm The Rainbow Community Church is an all-inclusive

13226 Macleod Trail SE  (403) 271-4111  www.halosteakseafoodandwinebar.ca

Halo Steak, Seafood & Wine Bar

 Canyon Meadows Plaza

Florist and Flower Shop.

The Naked Leaf---------------------------  305 10th Street NW  (403) 283-3555  http://www.thenakedleaf.ca

Organic teas and tea ware.

16 Priape Calgary------------------------- ✰

 1322 - 17 Ave SW  (403) 215-1800  http://www.priape.com

Clothing and accessories. Adult toys, leather wear, movies and magazines. Gifts.

Suite 106, 990 - 16th Ave SW  (403) 228-1777  info@ageless.cc  http://www.ageless.cc Back2Basics Consulting

 (403) 607-1691  www.back2basics-consulting.com

Calgary Civil Marriage Centre  ca.ca@shaw.ca Marriage Commissioner for Alberta (aka Justice of the Peace - JP), Marriage Officiant, Commissioner for Oaths.  (403) 246-4134

24 Courtney Aarbo (Barristers & Solicitors)

 1138 Kensington Road NW  (403) 571-5120  http://www.courtneyaarbo.ca

GLBT legal services.

Cruiseline

 (403) 777-9494 trial code 3500  http://www.cruiseline.ca

Telephone classifieds and chat - 18+ ONLY. DevaDave Salon & Boutique

 810 Edmonton Trail NE  (403) 290-1973

Restaurants 4 Calgary Eagle Inc.----------------------

41 La Fleur------------------------------------  103 - 100 7th Avenue SW  (403) 266-1707

59 Ageless Skin Technologies

 Mount Royal Village, Main Level

 groups.yahoo.com/group/

 279R Student Union Club Spaces, U of C  (403) 220-6394  http://www.ucalgary.ca/~glass

48 Barbies Shop--------------------------- ✰

 1313 16th Avenue SW  (403) 262-8265  http://www.barbiesshop.com

Services & Products

 Let’s Bowl (2916 - 5th Ave NE)  sundayunity@live.com  New season begins Sept 13th.

• Lawn Bowling

 Every Tuesday

• Card Night

 Harvey and Tony’s House  Nov 17th  RSVP: (403) 547-9129

Adult Depot----------------------------- ✰  (403) 258-2777 Gay, bi, straight video rentals and sex toys.

 140, 58th Ave SW

Wares & Wear Ventures Inc. See Canada - Retail Stores.

Unity Bowling

 primetimerscalgary@gmail.com  http://www.primetimerscalgary.com

✰

Cuts, Colour, Hilights. ✰

Duncan’s Residential Cleaning  Jim Duncan: (403) 978-6600

Residential cleaning. Free estimates.

Interactive Male

 (403) 261-2112 trial code 8873  1-800-777-8000  www.interactivemale.com

Jeff LeBlanc, Century 21

 #1, 4600 Crowchild Trail NW

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #73, November 2009

19

Directory and Events DOWNTOWN EDMONTON

1

8

5

7 11 6 12

1 Pride Centre------------- Community Groups 3 HIV Network------------- Community Groups 4 Edmonton STD---------- Community Groups

 Cell: (403) 542-6926  Pager: (403) 509-2121  Fax: (403) 509-2130  jeff@homeswethometeam.ca  www.homesweethometeam.ca Keith Hill, North Hill Mazda

 1211 Centre Street NW  Cell: (403) 614-7359  Phone: (403) 276-5962  Fax: (403) 276-7361  khill@northhillmazda.com  www.northhillmazda.com

Lorne Doucette (CIR Realtors)

 (403) 461-9195  http://www.lornedoucette.com Marnie Campbell (Maxwell Realtors)

 (403) 479-8619  http://www.marniecampbell.ca MFM Communications

 (403) 543-6970  1-877-543-6970  http://www.mfmcommunications.com

Web site hosting and development. Computer hardware and software.

North Shore Safety

 (403)771-6393  www.northshoresafetyconsulting.com Rick Grenier (Invis)

 (403) 862-1162  rickgrenier@invis.ca Mortgage solutions.

20

3

13

N

4

5 Boots Bar and Lounge-------Bars and Clubs 6 Buddy’s Nite Club------------Bars and Clubs 7 Down Under Baths---------------Bathhouses

8 Prism Bar & Grill-------------Bars and Clubs 11 Steamworks----------------------Bathhouses 12 Woody’s-----------------------Bars and Clubs

13 PLAY Nightclub---------------Bars and Clubs

56 Sacred Balance Piercing

 1528 - 17th Avenue SW  (403) 277-4449  www.sacredbalancetattoo.com

 http://www.ourworldnetwork.com/dianevp

 (403) 205-2922  info@theatrejunction.com  http://www.theatrejunction.com

Tattos and body piercing.

36 ATP, Alberta Theatre Projects

 (403) 294-7402  http://www.ATPlive.com

SafeWorks Free and confidential HIV/AIDS and STI testing.

Theatre and Fine Arts AXIS Contemporary Art------------------- (403) 262-3356  www.axisart.ca

• Calgary Drop-in Centre

 Room 117, 423 - 4th Ave SE  (403) 699-8216  Mon-Fri: 9am-12pm, Sat: 12:15pm-3:15pm

 107, 100 - 7 Ave SW  rob@axisart.ca

• Centre of Hope

 Room 201, 420 - 9th Ave SE  (403) 410-1180  Mon-Fri: 1pm-5pm

Jubilations Dinner Theatre  Bow Trail and 37th St. SW  (403) 249-7799  www.jubilations.ca

• Sheldon M. Chumir Health Centre

 1213 - 4th Str SW  (403) 955-6014  Sat-Thu: 4:15pm-7:45pm, Fri: Closed

• Safeworks Van

 (403) 850-3755  Sat-Thu: 8pm-12am, Fri: 4pm-12am 52 Sandra G. Sebree, Lawyer

 1610 - 17th Ave SW  (403) 228-8108  www.sandrasebree.com

TherapyWorks

 (403) 561-6873  ckorol@therapyworks.ca  http://www.therapyworks.com Take back your life from stress, sadness, and worry.

Youth Juice

 (403) 686-7714

 dianevp@shaw.ca

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #73, November 2009

Fairytales See Calgary - Community Groups.

EDMONTON Bars and Clubs 5 Boots Bar and Lounge----------------- ✰

 10242 106th St  (780) 423-5014  http://www.bootsbar.ca/

43 Lisa Heinricks (Artist)---------------------  Art Central, 100 7th Ave SW, lower level  http://www.creamydreamy.com 35 One Yellow Rabbit-------------------------  Big Secret Theatre - EPCOR CENTRE  (403) 299-8888  www.oyr.org 37 Pumphouse Theatre------------------  2140 Pumphouse Avenue SW  (403) 263-0079  http://www.pumphousetheatres.ca

✰

Stagewest-------------------------------

✰

 727 - 42 Avenue SE  (403) 243-6642  http://www.stagewestcalgary.com 58 Theatre Junction----------------------  Theatre Junction GRAND, 608 1st St. SW

34 Vertigo Mystery Theatre------------------  161, 115 - 9 Ave SE  (403) 221-3708  http://www.vertigomysterytheatre.com

✰

6 Buddy’s Nite Club------------------------- ✰

 11725 Jasper Ave  (780) 488-6636 13 PLAY Nightclub---------------------------- ✰

 10220 103 Street  (780) 497-7529  info@playnightclub.ca  http://www.playnightclub.ca 8 Prism Bar & Grill---------------------- ✰

 10524 101st St  (780) 990-0038  http://www.prismbar.ca 12 Woody’s------------------------------------ ✰

 11725 Jasper Ave  (780) 488-6557

Bathhouses/Saunas 7 Down Under Baths------------------------ ✰

 12224 Jasper Ave  (780) 482-7960  http://www.gayedmonton.com

Directory and Events 11 Steamworks------------------------------- ✰

 11745 Jasper Ave  (780) 451-5554  http://www.steamworksedmonton.com

Community Groups Alberta Bears  www.bearbeef.org

Book Worm’s Book Club  Second Cup, 11210 Jasper Ave  bookworm@teamedmonton.ca  Nov 19, Dec 17, Jan 21, Feb 18, Mar 18 7:30pm Buck Naked Boys Club

 (780) 471-6993  http://www.bucknakedboys.ca  2nd Saturday of every month

Naturism club for men. Our club has been meeting continuously for over 10 years. The similar club in Calgary ceased to exist several years ago. Naturism is being social while everyone is naked, and it does not include sexual activity. Therefore participants do not need to be gay, only male, but almost all participants over the years do self-describe as being gay or bisexual.

Camp fYrefly

 7-104 Dept. of Educational Policy Studies Faculty of Education, University of Alberta Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2G5  http://www.fyrefly.ualberta.ca Edmonton Pride Week Society

 http://www.prideedmonton.org

Edmonton Prime Timers  edmontonpt@yahoo.ca  www.primetimersww.org/edmonton EPT is a group of older gay men and their admirers who come from diverse backgrounds but have common social interests. Meetings include a social period, a short business meeting and then either a guest speaker, discussion panel, or a potluck supper. Special interest groups meet for other social activities throughout the month. In July and August we have a BBQ or picnic in lieu of a meeting and in December it’s replaced with a Christmas party. EPT is affiliated with Prime Timers World Wide.

• Monthly Meetings

 Unitarian Church, 10804 - 119th Street  2nd Sunday of most months, 2:30pm

Edmonton Rainbow Business Association

 3379, 11215 Jasper Ave  (780) 429-5014  http://www.edmontonrba.org

ERBA’s primary focus is the provision of networking opportunities for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered (GLBT) owned or operated and GLBT-friendly businesses in the Edmonton region.

Membership is open to all kinds of entrepreneurs, from tradespeople to professionals to commission salespeople.

• Annual General Meeting

 Prism Bar & Grill (10524 - 101 St)  Sun Nov 15th, 2pm Please bring a friend (someone who owns and/or operates a GLBT business or a GLBT-friendly business). New members are always welcome.

• Special Christmas Mixer

 TU Gallery (10718 - 124 St)  Tues Dec 8th, 5pm-8pm Edmonton Illusions Social Club

 Boots Bar & Grill  (780) 387-3343

 groups.yahoo.com/group/edmonton_illusions  2nd Friday of each month 4 Edmonton STD

 11111 Jasper Ave

Edmonton Vocal Minority  sing@evmchoir.com

 (780) 479-2038  www.evmchoir.com

Exposure 2009

 Nov 13th- 22nd, 2009 3 HIV Network Of Edmonton Society---- ✰  11456 Jasper Ave  www.hivedmonton.com

Imperial Sovereign Court of the Wild Rose

 http://www.gayedmonton.org

• Crowns for Kids

 Prism Bar & Grill  Fri Nov 27th, 9pm-2am • Queen of Hearts Cabaret

 Boots Bar and Lounge  Sat Nov 14th, 9pm-2am OUTreach

 University of Alberta, basement of SUB  outreach@ualberta.ca  http://www.ualberta.ca/~outreach

Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender/transsexual, Queer, Questioning and Straight-but-not-Narrow student group.

1 Pride Centre of Edmonton------------ ✰

 95A Street, 111 Ave  (780) 488-3234  admin@pridecentreofedmonton.org

• Bears Movie Night

 TV room, Pride Centre of Edmonton  Last Sunday of the month, 1-6pm • Community Potluck

 Main Space – Upstairs

 tuff@shaw.ca

 Last Tuesday, 7-9pm

A potluck open to all members of the LGBTQ community. A time to get together, share a meal and meet people from the community.

• Free School

 Main Space – Upstairs  monika_penner@shaw.ca  2nd and 4th Sunday, 11am-5pm Free School provides workshops on a variety of topics related to local activism.

• Get Straight – Cocaine Anonymous

 Downstairs Couch Area

 Thursdays, 7-8pm Cocaine Anonymous: Support group for anyone struggling with cocaine or drug addictions.

• Get Tested for STIs

 Last Thurs of Month, 3pm - 6pm Free STD testing for anyone interested. For more information please contact the Pride Centre.

• GLBT Seniors Drop-In

 Main Space – Upstairs

 tuff@shaw.ca

 Every Tuesday & Thursday, 1-4pm A social and support group for seniors of all genders and sexualities to talk, have tea and offer each other support.

• Trans Education/Support Group

 Green Room – Upstairs

 2nd Tuesday, 7:30-9:30pm Transgender Education and Support Group: Education and support for transgender, transsexual and questioning people in any stage of transition.

Movie chosen by youth (aged 14 – 25), usually with LGBT themes. Popcorn is served.

• YouthSpace

 brendan@pridecentreofedmonton.org  Tuesday to Thursday, 3-7pm Fridays, 3-6:30pm Saturdays, 3-6:30pm A safe and supportive space for GLBTQ youth aged 13–25. Video games, computers with internet, clothing bank, and more.

• Youth Theatre Project

• Men Talking with Pride

 Main Space – Upstairs

 robwells780@hotmail.com  Every Sunday, 7-9pm A social discussion group for gay, bisexual and transgendered men to discuss current issues and to offer support to each other.

 Downstairs Couch Area  will@pridecentreofedmonton.org  Every Wednesday, 7-8:30pm

• Men’s HIV Support Group

 Green Room – Upstairs  huges@shaw.ca

 2nd Monday of the month, 7-9pm Support group for people living with HIV/AIDS.

• Youth Understanding Youth See separate listing.

• PFLAG

 Red room - Downstairs  780-436-1998  edmontonab@pflagcanada.ca  1st Wednesday, 7-9pm Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays: A support group for family members and friends of GLBT people. An excellent resource for people whose family members and friends have just come out.

• Prime Timers See Edmonton Primetimers.

• Queer Youth Sport & Recreation night

 Alex Taylor School Gym, 9321 Jasper Ave  Brendan, (780) 488-3234  brendan@pridecentreofedmonton.org  First Tuesday of every month, 4:30pm • Suit Up and Show Up: AA Big Book Study

 Downstairs Couch Area

 Saturdays, 12-1pm Discussion and support group for those struggling with an alcohol addiction or seeking support in staying sober.

• TTIQ

 Green Room – Upstairs  admin@pridecentreofedmonton.org  1st and 3rd Sunday, 2-4pm TTIQ is mixed gender open support group addressing the needs of transsexual and transgendered individuals. Brunch at a local restaurant on the last Sunday of each month at 12:00.

• Womonspace Board Meeting

 Main Space – Upstairs  wspresident@hotmail.com  1st Sunday, 10:30am-12:30pm Womonspace is a Social and Recreational Society in Edmonton run by volunteers. They provide opportunities for lesbians to interact and support each other in a safe environment, and to contribute to the broader community.

• Youth Movie

 Main Space – Upstairs  brendan@pridecentreofedmonton.org  Fridays, 6:30-8:30pm

An opportunity for youth to address the problem of homophobic bullying through theatre. Write and rehearse skits, perform in the community, and help make a documentary.

• Youth Yoga

 Alex Taylor School Gym (9321 Jasper Ave)  Every 1st Thursday, 4:30pm Team Edmonton

 president@teamedmonton.ca  http://www.teamedmonton.ca

Members are invited to attend and help determine the board for the next term. If you are interested in running for the board or getting involved in some of the committees, please contact us.

• Badminton

 Oliver School, 10227 - 118 Street  (780) 465-3620

 badminton@teamedmonton.ca  Wednesdays, 6pm-7:30pm Oct 7th-mid March 2010, 6-7:30pm Women’s Drop-In Recreational Badminton. $40.00 season or $5.00 per drop in.

•Ballroom Dancing

 Foot Notes Dance Studio, 9708-45 Avenue NW  Cynthia: (780) 469-3281  Oct 11th-Dec 13th, Sundays, 7:30-8:30pm

• Blazin’ Bootcamp

 Lynnwood School  bootcamp@teamedmonton.ca  Every Mon + Thurs, 7pm-8:15pm  Mon Oct 19th at Lynwood School • Bowling (Northern Titans)

 Gateway Lanes, 100 - 3414 Gateway Blvd

 bowling@teamedmonton.ca  Every Saturday, 5pm-7pm Resumes Saturday January 3rd $15.00 per person.

• Curling with Pride

 Granite Curling Club, 8620 107 Street NW  (780) 463-5942  curling@teamedmonton.ca  Begins Oct 19th, Mondays, 7:15pm.

• Cycling (Edmonton Prideriders)

 Various locations in Edmonton  cycling@teamedmonton.ca  Every Wednesday, 6:30pm • Dragon Boat (Flaming Dragons)

 dragonboat@teamedmonton.ca

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #73, November 2009

21

Directory and Events • Golf  golf@teamedmonton.ca

 spin@teamedmonton.ca 7 classes, $28.00 per registrant.

• Gymnastics, Drop-in

 Ortona Gymnastics Club, 8755 - 50 Avenue  gymnastics@teamedmonton.ca  Tuesdays & Thursdays, 8pm-10pm Have the whole gym to yourselves and an instructor to help you achieve your individual goals. Cost is $5.00 per session.

• Swimming (Making Waves)

 NAIT Pool  swimming@teamedmonton.ca  Resumes Sept 4th

• Outdoor Pursuits

 outdoorpursuits@teamedmonton.ca • Running (Arctic Frontrunners)

 Emily Murphy Park, meet at West End  running@teamedmonton.ca  Every Sunday, 10am-11am All genders and levels of runners and walkers are invited to join this free activity.

• Roller Derby (Practices)

 eville@teamedmonton.ca  Mondays & Thursdays, 6:30-8:30pm E-Ville Roller Derby is a community-wise sports initiative for adult females. Their purpose is for fun, friendly sports competition among like-minded women. You need no prior experience in roller derby. They’ll teach you everything you need to know, including how to skate!

• Samsara Yoga

 Korezone Fitness, #203, 10575 -115 Street  yoga@teamedmonton.ca  Classes resume Oct 4th, 2- 3:30pm

• Slo Pitch

 Parkallen Field, 111 st and 68 ave  slo-pitch@teamedmonton.ca  Wednesdays, 7pm. Season resumes May 6th.

Season fee is $30.00 per person. $10 discount for players from the 2008 season.

• Snowballs III

 February 5-7th, 2010  snowballs@teamedmonton.ca Skiing and Snowboarding Weekend.

• Soccer

 soccer@teamedmonton.ca • Spin

 MacEwan Centre for Sport and Wellness 109 St. and 104 Ave  Wednesdays, 5:45-6:45pm Season has ended.

• Tennis

 Kinsmen Sports Centre  Sundays, 12pm-3pm

 tennis@teamedmonton.ca • Ultimate Frisbee  Sundays Summer Season starts July 12th  ultimatefrisbee@teamedmonton.ca E-mail if interested.

• Volleyball, Free To Be Intermediate

 Amiskiwacy Academy (101 Airport Road)  volleyball@teamedmonton.ca  Thursday nights from 7:30pm-9:30pm • Volleyball, Free To Be Recreational Grass

 Kinsmen Sports Centre  recvolleyball@teamedmonton.ca  Outdoor season, Sundays, 3-5pm • Women’s Lacrosse

 Sharon: 780-461-0017  Pam: 780-436-7374 Open to women 21+, experienced or not, all are welcome. Call for info.

Womonspace

 (780) 482-1794  womonspace@gmail.com  www.womonspace.ca Women’s social group, but all welcome at events.

• Games Night & Pool Tournament

 Prism  Fri Nov 20th, 7pm Youth Understanding Youth

 Edmonton Pride Centre, Main Space Upstairs

 yuy@shaw.ca  www.members.shaw.ca/yuy  Every Wed/Thurs/Fri, 7pm-9pm

A place where LGBTQ youth under 25 can gather to have fun and learn about themselves and others in a safe, supportive, and caring environment.

• Sports and Recreation

 Pride Centre, 9540 - 111 Ave  Brendan: (780) 488-3234  brendan@pridecentreofedmonton.org

 Wed/Thurs/Fri, meet at 4:00pm

Theatre and Fine Arts

Restaurants

Exposure Festival

5 Garage Burger Bar & Grill---------------  10242 106th St  (780) 423-5014 8 Prism Bar & Grill--------------------- See Edmonton - Bars and Clubs.

✰

Retail Stores Rodéo Drive

 11528 - 89th Street  (780) 474-0413  brendalee@rodeodrive.ca  http://www.rodeodrive.ca

His and hers fetish wear, toys, jewelry, etc.

The Travelling Tickle Trunk

 9923 - 82 Avenue  (780) 469-6669  www.travelingtickletrunk.com

Sex-positive adult toy store.

Wares & Wear Ventures Inc. See Canada - Retail Stores.

Services Cruiseline

 (780) 413-7122 trial code 3500  http://www.cruiseline.ca

Telephone classifieds and chat - 18+ ONLY. Interactive Male

 (780) 409-3333 trial code 8871  1-800-777-8000  www.interactivemale.com Over the Top Designs

 (780) 974-5269 Servicing Calgary, Edmonton & Red Deer exclusively.

Robertson-Wesley United Church

 10209 - 123 St. NW  (780) 482-1587  jravenscroft@rwuc.org  www.rwuc.org  Worship: Sunday mornings at 10:30am

People of all sexual orientations welcome. Other LGBT events include a monthly book club and a bi-monthly film night. As a caring spiritual community, we’d love to have you join us!

• Soul OUTing

 Second Sunday every month, 7pm An LGBT-focused alternative worship.

• Film Night

 Bi-monthly, contact us for exact dates.

• Book Club

 Monthly, contact us for exact dates.

Same Gender Speed Dating Ltd.

 (780) 221-8535  www.samegenderdating.com

An LGBT-focused alternative worship.

• Gay Male Speed Dating

 Boston Pizza Private Party Room, Whyte Ave

 Tues Nov 26th, 7:15pm Must pre-register to attend - please contact us.

• Lesbian Speed Dating

 Boston Pizza Private Party Room, Whyte Ave

 Tues Dec 1st, 7:15pm Must pre-register to attend - please contact us.

22

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #73, November 2009

 http://www.exposurefestival.ca

Edmonton’s Queer Arts and Culture Festival.

The Roxy Theatre

 10708 124th Street, Edmonton AB  (780) 453-2440  www.theatrenetwork.ca

BANFF/CANMORE Community Groups Mountain Pride

 Brian, (403) 431-2569  mountainpride@gaybanff.com  www.gaybanff.com

Serving the GLBTQS community in Banff, Canmore, Lake Louise and Area.

• Coffee Night

 The Hub, 302 Buffalo Street  4th Tuesday, 7pm-10pm • Queer Cinema Night

 The Hub, 302 Buffalo Street  2nd Monday, 8pm-11pm

LETHBRIDGE Community Groups GALA/LA

 (403) 308-2893  http://www.galalethbridge.ca

Gay and Lesbian Alliance of Lethbridge and Area.

• Monthly Dances

 Airforce Veterans Hall, 517 - 5 Ave S

 Nov 21st, 9pm-2am Bring your membership card and photo ID. • Monthly Potluck Dinners

 McKillop United Church, 2329 - 15 Ave S  3rd or Last Sat. every month, 5:30pm-8pm Members/family/friends, and children are all welcome to attend. Please bring dish that will serve 4-6 people and own beverage (no-alcohol). Plates, utensils, and coffee provided.

• Support Line

 (403) 308-2893  Monday OR Wednesday, 7pm-11pm Leave a message any other time.

• Parents & Friends for Lesbians & Gays

 lethbridgeab@pflagcanada.ca • Gay Youth Alliance Group

 Betty, (403) 381-5260  bneil@chr.ab.ca  Every second Wednesday, 3:30pm-5pm • Friday Mixer

 The Mix (green water tower) 103 Mayor Magrath Dr S  Every Friday at 10pm • Movie Night

 Room C610, University of Lethbridge  TBA

Continued on Next Page 

Directory and Events Gay & Lesbian Integrity Assoc. (GALIA)

 University of Lethbridge  galia@uleth.ca

GBLTTQQ club on campus.

Pride Lethbridge

 lethbridgepridefest@gmail.com

RED DEER Community Groups Affirm

 Sunnybrook United Church  (403) 347-6073  2nd Tuesday of the month, 7pm

Composed of LGBTQ people, their friends, family and allies. No religious affiliation necessary.

Activities include support, faith and social justice discussions, film nights, and potlucks!

ALBERTA Community Groups Central Alberta AIDS Network Society

 4611-50 Avenue, Red Deer, AB  http://www.caans.org

Canadian Rainbow Health Coalition

 P.O. Box 3043, Saskatoon, SK, S7K 3S9  (306) 955-5135  1-800-955-5129  http://www.rainbowhealth.ca

Egale Canada

 8 Wellington St E, Third Floor Toronto, Ontario, M5E 1C5

 1-888-204-7777  www.egale.ca Egale Canada is the national advocacy and lobby organization for gay men, lesbians, bisexuals, trans-identified people and our families.

Membership fees are pay-what-you-can, although pre-authorized monthly donors are encouraged (and get a free Egale Canada t-shirt). Egale has several committees that meet by teleconference on a regular basis; membership on these is national with members from every region of Canada.

Retail Stores Wares & Wear Ventures Inc. 

(780) 980-1977  www.wwlatex.com Fetish wear and toys.

Services

 1-866-640-8830  admin@minibanks.net  http://www.minibanks.net

Western Canadian Pride Campout  www.eventmasterinc.net



http://www.squirt.org

Theatre and Fine Arts

 Publishers Column - From Page 6 more interesting buildings in the area, but unfortunately as actual paranormal activity goes, it was a pretty calm night. As I’m told, this is rarely the case.

• AIDS Calgary hosted the GLBT-A conference, a day long series of presentations focusing on strategies to promote philanthropy and community giving, for businesses and non-profit groups.

• Pride Calgary Planning Committee held their first Annual General Meeting and for once received kudos from the community on a job well done, even from former opponents. While official copies of the financials are still forthcoming, the treasurer declared significant profits thanks to the cost-saving support they received from their sponsors.

In light of past AGMs under the former Pride Calgary organization, the meeting was moderated as a precaution. Virtually all of last year’s board returned for another year, with a few new faces stepped up.

The new board is determined to see the organization grow stronger and better this coming year, and plans to continue having Calgary Pride on the September long weekend.

http://www.gaycalgary.com/a1447

View additional pics/videos. • Share with a friend. • Post your comments.

We want to hear what YOU have to say about the topics in this article, and any other articles in GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine. Visit our chat forums at www.gaycalgary. com/forum and write your heart out! Or write us a letter to the publisher by post or by Emailing publisher@gaycalgary.com, and we may publish or respond to it in the magazine!

ATM Service Solutions

The Central Alberta AIDS Network Society is the local charity responsible for HIV prevention and support in Central Alberta.

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.

Editorial

Squirt Website for dating and hook-ups. 18+ ONLY!

Theatre and Fine Arts Broadway Across Canada 

http://www.broadwayacrosscanada.ca

OUTtv 

http://www.outtv.ca

GLBT Television Station.

Alberta Ballet

 http://www.albertaballet.com Frequent productions in Calgary and Edmonton.

CANADA Community Groups Alberta Trans Support/Activities Group

 http://www.albertatrans.org

A nexus for transgendered persons, regardless of where they may be on the continuum.

Add Your Listing!

Find out how to have your business listed in our monthly magazine directory:  (403) 543-6960  1-888-543-6960  magazine@gaycalgary.com.

Add your listing to our online directory for free:  http://www.gaycalgary.com GayCalgary endeavors to keep our directory and events information accurate and up to date. If you notice anything incorrect or out of date, please contact us.

Non-profit groups receive free listings.

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #73, November 2009

23

Politics

Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Needs to be Dumped

By Stephen Lock The American military apparatus is one of the few amongst Western nations that continues to deny that lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals can and do play an important role within their military. It’s time the Pentagon got with the program.

Having grown up Army, I know how difficult a job it can be, even in peacetime. There are stresses involved that your average “civvie” can’t imagine. Add on top of those, always worrying about being outed and losing the career you have spent years building, along with the shame of having your personal life splashed across the whole base, it’s a wonder we don’t have more problems with morale.

The Canadian Armed Forces openly accepts homosexual and bisexual personnel. The Bundeswehr (Federal Germany military), along with the Dutch, Belgian, Danish, British, Israeli and other Western militaries, have also done so. It just isn’t a concern. Nor should it be.

There are very specific personality types that tend to be attracted to serving in the military, regardless of the orientation of the individual. It is that which makes the military effective. If a soldier happens to also be gay, lesbian or bisexual, this in no way impacts his or her dedication, ability to serve, or commitment to the command structure of the military.

If there is a problem, it usually originates with heterosexual peers who have an issue with “some queer/dyke” being in their unit. If that’s the case, there are systems in place to deal with harassment and prejudice. Negative reaction to a particular sexual orientation is no different than a negative reaction to race, religion, ethnicity, or gender and should be dealt with on that level.

The Pentagon has long maintained that having openly les-bi-gay personnel within the ranks will negatively affect general morale. Over the last few years, as various Western militaries have opened up, this rationale has been proven bogus. Pure crap, actually.

Like most of us, your average gay soldier/sailor/airman/Marine, is not about to try and bed someone who is not interested. Military units tend to be “family” and, not to be too crude, one doesn’t shit in one’s own nest. The complications of having a sexual liaison or a romantic relationship with those one lives and works with day in and day out is something most individuals will recognize as just too complicated to get involved with.

Of course, if two guys or two women do happen to connect and form a relationship, assuming they are of equal rank, it’s really nobody else’s business anyway.

Under 10 U.S.C. subsection 654 it states, first and foremost, there is no constitutional right to serve in the American armed forces.

Subsection 654 (a) continues, stating: (8) Military life is fundamentally different from civilian life in that: (A) The extraordinary responsibilities of the armed forces, the unique conditions of military service, and the critical role of unit cohesion, require that the military community, while subject to civilian control, exist as a spe-

cialized society; and (B) The military society is characterized by its own laws, rules, customs, and traditions, including numerous restrictions on personal behavior, that would not be acceptable in civilian society.

(9) The standards of conduct for members of the armed forces regulate a member’s life for 24 hours each day beginning at the moment the member enters military status and not ending until that person is discharged or otherwise separated from the armed forces.

(10) Those standards of conduct, including the Uniform Code of Military Justice, apply to a member of the armed forces at all times that the member has a military status, whether the member is on base or off base, and whether the member is on duty or off duty.

(11) The pervasive application of the standards of conduct is necessary because members of the armed forces must be ready at all times for worldwide deployment to a combat environment.

(12) The worldwide deployment of United States military forces, the international responsibilities of the United States, and the potential for involvement of the armed forces in actual combat routinely make it necessary for members of the armed forces involuntarily to accept living conditions and working conditions that are often spartan, primitive, and characterized by forced intimacy with little or no privacy.

(13) The prohibition against homosexual conduct is a longstanding element of military law that continues to be necessary in the unique circumstances of military service.

(14) The armed forces must maintain personnel policies that exclude persons whose presence in the armed forces would create an unacceptable risk to the armed forces’ high standards of morale, good order and discipline, and unit cohesion that are the essence of military capability.

(15) The presence in the armed forces of persons who demonstrate a propensity or intent to engage in homosexual acts would create an unacceptable risk to the high standards of morale, good order and discipline, and unit cohesion that are the essence of military capability.

There are, however, exceptions. Section 654 (b) states: A member of the armed forces shall be separated from the armed forces under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense if one or more of the following findings is made and approved in accordance with procedures set forth in such regulations: (1) That the member has engaged in, attempted to engage in, or solicited another to engage in a homosexual act or acts unless there are further findings, made and approved in accordance with procedures set forth in such regulations, that the member has demonstrated that: (A) such conduct is a departure from the member’s usual and customary behavior; (B) such conduct, under all the circumstances, is unlikely to recur; (C) such conduct was not accomplished by use of force, coercion, or intimidation; (D) under the particular circumstances of the case, the member’s continued presence in the armed forces is consistent with the interests of the armed forces in proper discipline, good order, and morale; and (E) the member does not have a propensity or intent to engage in homosexual acts.

(2) That the member has stated that he or she is a homosexual or bisexual, or words to that effect, unless there is a further finding, made and approved in accordance with procedures set forth in the regulations, that the member has demonstrated that he or she is not a person who engages in, attempts to engage in, has a propensity to engage in, or intends to engage in homosexual acts.

(3) That the member has married or attempted to marry a person known to be of the same biological sex.

The language is confusing, but the policy seems to state those who identify as homosexual and are likely to continue to be homosexual, and then act, or are believed will potentially act, on that orientation, will be removed from or disallowed involvement in the American armed

24

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #73, November 2009

Politics forces.

My reading of the regulations indicates if an individual engaged in a “one-off” homosexual experience, he or she should not be dismissed from the armed forces, assuming the encounter did not involve force or coercion on their part. The hook here, however, is whether the investigators believe the conduct was “a departure from the member’s usual and customary behavior” and unlikely to happen again; rather a difficult thing to prove when the investigator perhaps already perceives an individual as being probably gay, lesbian or bisexual for having had a homosexual experience.

This gets into the whole debate around whether straight men that have sex with men are, in fact, actually closeted gay/bisexual men.

Does having one or two homosexual experiences mean one is at least bisexual? My view is that straight men can have sex with other man and still be heterosexual. Behaviour does not always equal orientation.

To give a clearer example, if I as a self-identified gay man had sex with women once or twice, am I suddenly bisexual? A “closet straight?”

Of course not: I’m a gay man who had sex with a woman. If one is a gay man married to a woman, it does not mean he is bisexual; it means he is a gay man in an opposite-sex marriage.

Likewise, then, a heterosexual man who - for whatever reason - engaged in homosexual sex is not suddenly gay or bisexual or even “confused”; he’s a straight man who had sex with another man. The regulations appear to accommodate this, but I suspect that may not be the case. I can’t imagine the military being that subtle in their thinking or understanding of human sexuality.

To further complicate matters, the regulations attempt to define homosexual, bisexual and homosexual acts: (1) The term “homosexual” means a person, regardless of sex, who engages in, attempts to engage in, has a propensity to engage in, or intends to engage in homosexual acts, and includes the terms “gay” and “lesbian”.

(2) The term “bisexual” means a person who engages in, attempts to engage in, has a propensity to engage in, or intends to engage in homosexual and heterosexual acts.

(3) The term “homosexual act” means: (A) any bodily contact, actively undertaken or passively permitted, between members of the same sex for the purpose of satisfying sexual desires; and (B) any bodily contact which a reasonable person would understand to demonstrate a propensity or intent to engage in an act described in subparagraph (A).

Little wonder enlisted men and women might be well advised to “not tell.” Nobody can possibly know what might be allowed and what might not be allowed under such confusing regulations. Goofing around with your buddies and playing grab-ass in the showers could get you tarred as “demonstrating a propensity or intent to engage” and out you go.

Maybe. Or would that fall under the exceptions of 654(b)(1)? Perhaps, unless evidence indicated one often engaged in such shenanigans....

Oh dear....

If one is found to have engaged in any contact, passively or otherwise (ie. as “trade”), it will be perceived as a homosexual act and grounds for dismissal. Even though the regulations appear to allow for “one-off” situations, if the investigators believe the experience falls under the definition of a homosexual act, the individual can be dismissed. Someone accused of contravening the code can’t win if it’s shown he or she engaged in any homosexual activity.

Yet a large majority of Americans approve of - or at least are not concerned with - allowing individuals to serve openly in the armed forces.

A national poll conducted in May 2005 by The Boston Globe showed 79% of participants having nothing against openly gay people serving in the military.

A 2008 Washington Post/ABC News poll indicated 75% of Americans - including 80% of Democrats, 75% of independents, and 66% of conservatives - said that openly gay people should be allowed to serve in the military.

Of course, civilian life, as the regulations point out, is quite different from military life. The military is a world unto itself and civilian views rarely carry much effect. So, what is the view within the rank and file of the American military?

A 2006 Zogby International poll of military members found that 26%

were in favour of gays and lesbians serving in the military, 37% were opposed, and 37% expressed no preference or were unsure.

72% of respondents who had experience with gay men or lesbians in their unit said that the presence of such individuals had either no impact or a positive impact on their personal morale. 67% said as much for overall unit morale.

Of those respondents uncertain whether they had served with gay or lesbian personnel, 51% thought that such unit members would have a neutral or positive effect on personal morale, while 48% thought that they would have a negative effect on unit morale. 73% of respondents said that they felt comfortable in the presence of gay and lesbian personnel. [Data from Wikipedia] Given the penchant of your average military type to be socially conservative, these statistics are surprising but do indicate the Pentagon is out-of-touch with its own servicemen and women. And it’s not just the rank and file who have moved to a more accepting point of view in this regard.

Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General John Shalikashvili, along with former Senator and Secretary of Defense, William Cohen, publicly spoke against the policy in January 2007. General Shalikashvili stated, “I now believe that if gay men and lesbians served openly in the United States military, they would not undermine the efficacy of the armed forces... Our military has been stretched thin by our deployments in the Middle East, and we must welcome the service of any American who is willing and able to do the job.”

In December 2007, 28 retired generals and admirals urged Congress to repeal the policy, citing evidence that 65,000 gay men and women are currently serving in the armed forces and that there are over 1 million gay veterans. Nearly a year later on November 17, 2008, 104 retired generals and admirals signed a similar statement. [Stats from Wikipedia] When Barack Obama was running for President, he went on record as being in support of repealing DADT, citing the huge costs involved in dismissing, and replacing, personnel.

However, less than a month after moving into the Oval Office, it was announced plans to repeal the policy may be delayed until as late as 2010 because Obama wanted to confer with the Joint Chiefs of Staff and his new political appointees at the Pentagon. Following that, he would then present legislation to Congress.

There appears to be some difference of opinion on who has the authority to repeal the legislation. Obama’s position is that Congress has the exclusive authority to lift the ban. However, a committee of military law experts at the University of California at Santa Barbara concluded it is within the authority of the executive branch (ie. the President) to discontinue the policy.

The costs involved in the removal of homosexual and bisexual personnel are staggering. Since the introduction of DADT in 1993, the military has dismissed over 13,000 individuals. While the number of discharges dropped significantly following 9/11, discharges still number over 600 per year.

Between 1994 and 2008, the United States Coast Guard dismissed a total of 113 individuals, the United States Marine Corp (USMC) dismissed a total of 655, the United States Navy dismissed 2,626, the Army 2,583, and the United States Air Force dismissed 2,139 individuals. That’s 12,961 individuals over a 15-year period, who are no longer serving their country.

It should be noted that this figure reflects only those known to having been discharged for homosexuality or who came forward to the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (who conducted the survey) and does not include those who did not disclose the reasons for their discharge.

Despite common perception, it has not been servicemen who suffer the most under DADT, it is women. The New York Times reported in June 2008 that, according to information obtained by SLDN , within the Army and Air Force a disproportionate amount of women were dismissed. While women make up 14 percent of Army personnel, 46 percent of those discharged in 2007 were women. And while 20 percent of Air Force personnel are women, 49 percent of its discharges were women.

Continued on Page 29 

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #73, November 2009

25

Adult Film Review

Adult Film Review Stag Fight, Going Under

By Jerome Voltero “Stag Fight” by Stag Homme Studios, Courtesy of Priape Cast: Dennis De Nello, Damien Crosse*, Manuel Lopez, Alain Lamas, Francesco D’Macho*, Pedro Andreas*, Aitor Crash* It takes a while to clue in, but this DVD is a series of six “short films” by Stag Homme Studios.

From what I can tell, Damien Crosse is an integral part of this Spanish production studio, as he is credited for starring in, or producing every one. The common theme is that the men are muscular, and brutally rough with one another (aside from Alain Lamas in his solo scene, who looks comparatively like the sensitive pansy of the bunch).

For instance, the first film entitled “Stockholm Syndrome” has Damien Crosse as a kidnapper who punches Dennis De Nello unconscious. De Nello comes to with a black eye, tied to a chair, in a room with the walls covered in newspapers. Crosse begins to sex him up, and perhaps out of relief that he is not being killed (yet), the Stockholm Syndrome kicks in…to be read as, De Nello gets a massive boner. Crosse makes thorough use of this captive boner in multiple orifices before untying De Nello to have sex on equal ground.

Another interesting one was the film “Numero Tres” (number three), which begins with a very artistic juxtaposition of two scenes: on the left, Francesco D’Macho arriving home and taking a shower, while on the right, Pedro Andreas and Damien Crosse meet up to perpetrate a hostage taking. D’Macho is number three in their threesome, whether he likes it or not – in fact, for the two masked gunmen, he accomplishes the rare feat of being doublepenetrated.

Collectively the DVD offers a cast of some very hot macho men, some you will recognize from other pornos. If there’s a chance that dirty talk in Spanish would be a turn on, then you’ve come to the right place. And for some good laughs, check out the bonus blooper reel!

“Going Under” by Jet Set Productions, Courtesy of Adult Depot Cast: Kent Larson, Trevor Knight, Derek Cruz, Bobby Williams, Travis Carlson, Shane Collins, Park Wiley*, Tyler Stuart, Clint Peak, Ivan Andros.

Hypnotism is the obvious story premise for Going Under, so I felt somewhat mind-blown when I saw the name “Trevor Knight” pop up in the cast list.

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GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #73, November 2009

It should ring a bell for some Calgarians, as it was the name of a guy who used to do hypnotism shows here in Calgary. However, you can rest assured this is NOT the same guy.

Actually, Kent Larson is the hypnotist, and it turns out this mysterious Trevor Knight is just another twink. In this movie, Dr. Larson is an evil hypnotherapist that takes advantage of his patients while they are under hypnosis, in a vulnerable state. Derek Cruz comes to Dr. Larson to quit smoking, and while Dr. Larson uses the power of suggestion to make Cruz give up his habit, another craving is substituted in its place. Cruz is reprogrammed so that his smoker’s cravings become the urge to suck cock.

As you can imagine, this causes some havoc in the life of poor Mr. Cruz. Barely a minute out the hypnotist’s door, he spots Trevor Knight enjoying a cigarette on a park bench, and begging like a puppy dog, Cruz is after one thing. Cruz is never satisfied and so Knight must eventually kick him out, late at night, when he can give no more.

While mostly a twink-orientated film, there are a few saving graces for guys with my taste. Kent Larson, easily the oldest member of the cast, has wolfish good looks. And Park Wiley, the only twink with a beard AND body hair, (and whom I seem to remember from a hot tub scene in some bear flick) is a fairly cute cub.

Dr. Larson lures in many more twinky victims, hypnotizing a top to be a bottom and other such diabolical things. He seems to take a certain sick pleasure in fingering his victims, and getting them to imagine how much better it would feel if it were his “fat cock” instead. But Larson’s “fat cock” doesn’t make an appearance until later, when he plugs it into Knight’s mouth to cure a stutter, and when he finally goes in for the kill, so to speak, with gullible Trevor.

http://www.gaycalgary.com/a1454

View additional pics/videos. • Share with a friend. • Post your comments.

Priape Calgary Canada’s Favourite Gay Store 1322 17th Avenue SW - (403) 215-1800 Adult Depot Over 3000 Gay Title for Sale or Rent 140 58th Avenue SW - (403) 258-2777 daiterj@telus.net

Astrology

Q Scopes

“Sex is not a competitive sport, Aries!””

While Mercury and the Sun line up in Scorpio, they are aspecting Uranus, Neptune and Eris, stimulating new inspirations on how to innovate and compete in this radically changing world. Instead of reacting to challenges, see what they have to offer you.



ARIES (March 20 - April 19): Choose your

confidantes carefully, especially in sexual matters. Secrets are likely to come out and complicate your friendships. To help protect your privacy, avoid getting high – or (again) choose your company very carefully. Also, remember: Sex is not a competitive sport.

sincerest efforts to support you may hit the wrong notes.

Getting out with some friends, doing something new and different can be more assuring than words. Avoid secret alliances at work; they’re a set up for betrayal.

GEMINI (May 21 - June 20): Try new approaches to reaching your goals. Professional competition can be a good spur to better work, but be careful what challenges you accept. Somebody could be leading you to disaster.

Doing your best at what you do best should be good enough.

erotic experimentation, but keeping that private may be a challenge. That naughty sense of humor may amuse your boss, but that’s not the way to get a promotion or a raise.

Innovative teamwork is a better approach.

LEO (July 23 - August 22): When expressing

hometown and ethnic pride, at least keep it light and friendly. A boss or a new acquaintance may be from the rival town or country. In collaborative efforts, credit is best offered to the team. Let individuals shine in shared glory.



VIRGO (August 23 - September 22): Keeping your mind sharper and busier than your tongue may be a challenge. Ask for opinions more than you offer them.

Competitive impulses can lead to trouble, except in the bedroom where some contests may offer new fun!



SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21):

Sharing housework can be a touchy issue, leading to confusion and hurt feelings. Can you/should you be doing more? If you’re already doing too much, raise the issue another week! For now, focus instead on artistic adventures.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 - December 20): The best adventures can be in your own mind and

spirit. Stay home, meditate, read and challenge your own creativity. If home is too full of noise and distractions, find a quiet retreat.



CAPRICORN (December 21 - January 19):

The best intentions of good friends can get you into big – and very expensive – trouble, but their suggestions could be a springboard to a better, if very different, approach.

Trust your own new perspectives on traditional wisdom.

 

CANCER (June 21 - July 22): It’s a great time for



usually excellent instincts for teamwork are a bit off right now. Suggestions from colleagues may be helpful. In games and sports, you can’t seem to go right. Then again, if having fun is more important than winning, you can’t go too wrong.



TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): Your partner’s





LIBRA (September 23 - October 22): Your

By Jack Fertig

AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 18): How

you handle a financial crisis could get you noticed, turning that disaster into a great opportunity. Use a rival’s ideas to your own benefit, but acknowledge the source the ideas, even if you’ve improved on them.



PISCES (February 19 - March 19): Ideas you

might usually detest could provide new inspiration. You don’t need to change your mind about anything, but better understanding of different views can make your own a lot clearer.

Jack Fertig, a professional astrologer since 1977 teaches at the Online College of Astrology : http://www.astrocollege.com.

He can be reached for personal or business consultations at 415-864-8302 or through his website at http://www.starjack.com

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #73, November 2009

27

Celebrity Gossip

Deep Inside Hollywood

Madonna makes another movie and Peter Paige in a Panic

By Romeo San Vicente Madonna makes another movie. Guy assists.

Madonna is going to direct again. What, you say you didn’t know she’d already directed one feature film? Well, she did. And it was called “Filth and Wisdom.” It was bad. Came out in 2008. A handful of people saw it. So she’s giving it another go. After promising not to be in the film, the former Mrs. Guy Ritchie has received generous help from her filmmaking ex-husband in finding a cast for the currently titled W.E., a romantic comedy with roots in the relationship between Britain’s Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson. Meeting with respected U.K. actors Mark Strong and Toby Kebbell (both from Ritchie’s cool crime-comedy RocknRolla), the singer is also seeking a big name to help boost the film’s budget. In other words, she’s going to have to get Guy to call Gerard Butler for her, too – and that this movie is at least a couple of years away from any ticket-purchasing opportunity.

now on the other foot. At the recent Rome Film Festival, critics and jury members alike went gaga over Brotherhood, a film generally considered to be the best of the fest. Director Nicolo Donato sets his story in present-day Denmark, where neo-Nazis perpetrate violent crimes against gays and foreign immigrants. So naturally things get a little awkward when new recruit Lars (Thure Lindhart) finds that he has feelings for gang leader Jimmy (David Dencik) – and that those feelings wind up being mutual. Given its timeliness – to say nothing of the film’s sex and violence – Brotherhood looks like a good candidate to get a U.S. release; look for it to hit art-house screens, or at least stateside film festivals, sometime in 2010.

Heather Matarazzo as Jessica Simpson. Yes, really.

Heather Matarazzo is a brave young performer, and not just because she came out of the closet. She played the aggressively nerdy (and horribly dressed) Dawn Wiener in her film debut, the modern classic pain-comedy Welcome to the Dollhouse, and she screamed and screamed while her blood rained down onto another naked woman who paid to torture her in Hostel 2. Now she’s playing US Weekly cover staple Jessica Simpson – sort of. Matarazzo has signed on to play the lead role in Magnus!, a new film from gay Fat Girls director Ash Christian. And while Christian says that it’s not exactly Simpson’s life story, Matarazzo will play a trailer-trash gal who loves singing and gets cast in a local production of Jesus Christ Superstar. Romeo’s already intrigued, but the casting of the hilarious Jennifer Coolidge as Matarazzo’s mom makes for the perfect cherry on top. Shooting starts in late November, which means Magnus! should be ready to hit all the queer film fests next summer, just in time for Simpson to start a tabloid feud with everyone involved.

Romeo San Vicente wants you to join the Special People Club. He can be reached care of this publication or at DeepInsideHollywood@qsyndicate.com.

Photo courtesy Christopher Lim/Ping

Peter Paige in a Panic If you want to know more about the bad old days and how homosexual citizens of the United States had to live extremely discreet lives not so long ago, you should really read Neil Miller’s disturbing book Sex Crime Panic: A Journey to the Paranoid Heart of the 1950s. Filled with instances of incarceration in prisons and mental hospitals for no other reason than being discovered as gay, it’s non-fiction that will shake you up. And soon it will be Peter Paige’s (Queer As Folk) third feature film as a director. The indie drama Paige is helming will be titled simply Sex Crime Panic and will follow the harrowing story of a group of men suffering under American anti-gay laws half a century ago. And, OK, sure, maybe that doesn’t sound like much fun to watch, but when did important history lessons ever promise you a rose garden? Casting now, the film shoots mid-2010. That gives you plenty of time to read that book first.

Gay neo-Nazis in love The “Hitler was gay” crowd is going to like this one. Homosexuals sporting shaved heads who also have a fondness for swastikas have generally been the sole provenance of avant-garde Canadian filmmaker Bruce LaBruce, but it looks like the shiny leather boot is

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Lifestyle

Cocktail Chatter All About Absinthe

By Camper English Despite sampling nearly every brand of absinthe available for sale in the United States, I have yet to see any green fairies outside of the LGBT contingent at the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade. This much maligned spirit has many unique qualities, but the rumored instant dementia is just not one of them.

In the late 1800’s in Europe when absinthe was extremely popular, people were largely not running around in circles screaming either.

The absinthe serving ritual was and is a way to relax over a slow drink with a long preparation. Cold water drips from a table-top fountain onto a sugar cube resting atop a slotted spoon above a glass of absinthe, slowly sweetening and diluting the spirit. Eventually the liquid turns cloudy as oils in the alcohol come out of solution. It is more like a teatime ritual than a thirty second run to Starbucks for an espresso shot.

Absinthe’s hallucinogenic hype is based on one of its ingredients- the grand wormwood plant that contains the chemical thujone.

Thujone quantity in absinthe is now regulated, but probably it wasn’t the problem in the first place.

 Don’t Ask Don’t Tell - From Page 25 Not only have the human costs been staggering, the financial costs are as well. In February 2005, the Government Accountability Office reported $95.4 million in recruiting costs and $95.1 million for training replacements for the 9,488 troops discharged from 1994 through 2003.

In February 2006, a University of California Blue Ribbon Commission that included former Assistant Defense Secretary under the Reagan Administration, Lawrence Korb, former Defense Secretary under the Clinton Administration, William Perry, and professors from West Point, concluded that figure should be closer to $363 million. This is including $14.3 million for “separation travel” once a service member is discharged, $17.8 million for training officers, $252.4 million for training enlistees, and $79.3 million in recruiting costs.

The Democratic leader of the US Senate, majority leader Harry Reid, urged both the president and Defense Secretary Robert Gates, in a letter dated September 24th and released by his office, to approach Congress with recommendations on how to repeal the law.

“At a time when we are fighting two wars, I do not believe we can afford to discharge any qualified individual who is willing to serve our country,” he wrote.

The chairman of the Senate’s Armed Services Committee, Senator Carl Levin, promised in July that a hearing on the issue would be held in autumn of 2009.

With files from: The Calgary Herald, Wikipedia, The New York Times, and the United States Military Code of Conduct.

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Most absinthe is nearly two-thirds stronger than vodka and other spirits on the market- and the high alcohol content is likely the cause of the erratic behavior associated with it. Absinthe was thought to be addictive and it was certainly being abused by alcoholics in a time when people drank a lot of everything, so a social backlash and temperance movement formed with absinthe as the main target.

The catalyst required for its outright banning came in the form of a sensational court case involving a Swiss man who murdered his family after drinking two glasses of absinthe in 1905. His lawyers argued that the man suffered from absinthe madness, but he had also consumed nearly twenty other glasses of alcohol that day. Regardless, soon thereafter many countries around the world banned the production and sale of absinthe.

Fast-forward about ninety years and absinthe is back on shelves as the US government allowed bottles with a legally negligible and safe amount of thujone from grand wormwood to be sold as absinthe again. Interestingly, new chemical analysis of old absinthes suggest there wasn’t that much more thujone in absinthe of the 1800’s than is allowed by law now. It’s the real thing, baby.

As absinthe has been illegal for most of the past hundred years, most of us don’t know how it is supposed to taste. The short answer is: like black jelly beans. Most absinthe is flavored with the trinity of bitter grand wormwood and soothing fennel and anise. It can be herbaceous, creamy-sweet, spicy, or bitter, but most brands of absinthe have a dominant anise quality. If you like ouzo or pastis, chances are you’ll like absinthe.

If not, please do not force feed it to yourself with the expectation that you will hallucinate. You won’t, and that’s not classy. If you want to see a green fairy, just pour yourself you usual drink, dress appropriately, and look in the mirror.

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Camper English is a cocktails and spirits writer and publisher of Alcademics.com.

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #73, November 2009

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Community Event

Sexing and Sizing Up Edmonton’s Exposure Festival

By Pam Rocker Playwright Neil Labute wrote, “Go back to the theatre, audience members everywhere, and get your hands dirty. Sit closer than you usually do. Smell the actors and make eye contact and let a little blood splash on your hem. Let us know that if we are brave enough to write about the stuff that matters, then you’ll come and watch...”

His words resonate profoundly with the mandate of Edmonton’s Exposure Festival: exposing queer artists to new audiences, and exposing Edmonton audiences to new art. By presenting these artists working in diverse media, Exposure seeks to question and inspire, celebrate and expand the spectrum of queer expression. This requires something from both sides of the footlights: the courage to take risks and venture out to showcase your work, and a sense of adventure to see and hear both the emerging and the established artists that are shaping our culture.

This year marks the third for the festival and Dave Jackson, Exposure’s Media Director, shares that they have been rapidly gaining national and international recognition.

“This means that when we approach artists to present their work, that they have already heard of us and are usually eager to participate. It also means that audiences have begun to hear about the Festival and we are growing in terms of interest and attendance. It has always been a goal of Exposure to reach beyond just the gay, lesbian, bi, trans-gendered, two-spirited community and show Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and the world, the contributions that Queer artists are making.”

Their theme: Sexing Up and Sizing Up Queer Bodies, exemplifies some of the big issues and ideals that we encounter daily.

Todd Janes, Programming Chair for the Festival, says that this year, a lot of discussions with the programming team were wrapped around ideas of the Queer body.

“The body as a site for protest and transgression, but also at the same time there is a duality of the theme, and we are situating much of the work around the body as a site for celebration and empowerment. We are about queering concepts and offering multiple points of access into Queer communities and larger discussions. Including issues of Trans surgeries and

Photo by Ted Kerr

who pays for them; issues of porn and the Queering of mainstream porn; of the bodies that we not just occupy, but that we celebrate and sexualize. When we draw power from our physical selves and when we falter because of our self-doubt or because of what the media tells us.”

The theme is the skeleton, but the presenting artists will be the flesh that makes it come alive. Among them is Exposure’s headliner, Buck Angel, the first female-to-male transsexual porn star.

“Buck is so exciting and lovely and I feel that his energy is so infectious that it will be magical. I think we are taking risks in different ways with bringing such a porn star into our festival and situating his work within a larger discourse around complex issues. It is bound to generate stimulating discussions around bodies, power, sex and money,” shares Todd.

Making its world premiere is the locally made documentary And the Rest is Drag. Featuring Edmonton’s own Alberta Beef Drag King Troupe, this film contemplates gender from the perspective of people who consciously and politically queer their gender. Edmonton locals Danielle Pears and Melisa Brittain coproduced the film and shared the director’s chair with accomplished novelist, Shani Mootoo. Danielle and Melisa share that, through the film, “we are hoping to encourage people to think less linearly about gender: to think about all of the shifting and complex intersections that constitute our genders. These intersections include race, class, sexuality, size and ability, but also the political climates and sub-cultures in which gender is being performed.” It was very important to them to premiere at Exposure, because “it is by, for, and about this community, and is the result of the work and support of members of Edmonton’s queer, arts and academic communities; communities that the Exposure festival brings together.”

Screening immediately after And the Rest is Drag is Invasion-Lesbian Beauty Queens, a look inside a series of beauty pageants that took place in the UK. Overall winner Valerie Mason-John (AKA: Queenie) will be in attendance. Valerie, an international artist/facilitator, will also be working with a local troupe of multi-disciplinary artists to present the “Queerly I Am Nothing New” Salon. This performance event explores the idea that queerness has always been around. “There have been LG-

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Community Event BTQ people in all communities since humanity evolved in this world,” says Valerie, “even the animal kingdom had its queer lifestyle. We’re not going to go away, we’re in an era in the West that many of us can be Out and Proud. Let’s celebrate that, but remember that we are doing nothing new. I hope that as many visible minorities as possible will come out of the Queer closet and take part in this exciting Salon. Queer has always been more than white, able bodied, professional male.”

For the literary crowd, a Festival highlight will be a reading of the award winning Fruit: A Novel about a Boy and His Nipples,

by Canadian author, Brian Francis. Published in 2004, Brian’s story about a 13-year-old boy and his talking nipples, captures the realities of puberty and budding sexuality in living colour.

A favourite of both teens and adults, Fruit went on to make the CBC Canada Reads list in 2008. Francis will also be in attendance for, Our Queer Bodies, a lively panel discussion focusing on issues of body image and queer-identified people.

In addition to providing a platform for seasoned artists, Exposure offers a safe space for new artists to cut their teeth and present their work to the public. Ted Kerr, a founding member and the current Producer of Exposure, is excited about the involvement that local youth are taking in the Festival. “When I think of the queer youth in Edmonton, I am amazed and heartwarmed by how many great, open, productive, and awesome members there are in the community. This year, the Queer Youth Curators show (Printed Matters: Creating and Curating queer), received the highest amount of submissions in its 3 year history. This speaks of the great work that Camp fYrefly does and the importance of festivals like Exposure to provide opportunities for Queer Edmonton youth to ‘be queer’ all year round, through their expression and passions.”

The very word, “festival”, evokes an image of many different people coming together, and the whole team at Exposure is quick to point out that the queer community has made their success and growth possible. Jennifer Alabiso, Board Chair for Exposure, says that there is incredible support in Edmonton. “We have many friends among the downtown businesses.

They support us with space, by making both in-kind and cash donations, and by attending our events. This is one of the most gratifying things about being a part of the festival, really, the ways that the Edmonton community responds.”

Nevertheless, finding funding is still the biggest challenge to any arts-based festival. “Especially in a recession, money can be hard to come by. We’re lucky, as I said, to have so many local supporters, but this has been a year where we all feel the pinch a bit,” says Jennifer. “I think it’s safe to say that the entire team feels that stress and they all bust a move to make it go. It’s amazing, incredible, and awe inspiring. But trust me, we all break a sweat at least once during the lead up.”

Break your own sweat and get out to the Third Annual Exposure Festival. Take Labute’s advice; get your hands dirty, sit closer that you usually do, and let them know that if they are brave enough to create stuff that matters, then you’ll come and watch.

http://www.gaycalgary.com/a1458

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Program details can be found in this issue of Gay Calgary and Edmonton Magazine.

Exposure: Edmonton’s Queer Arts and Culture Festival

 November 13th-21st

 www.exposurefestival.ca

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #73, November 2009

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Trans Identity

Self-Definition Without Injury

By Mercedes Allen As communities rise from the margins, they undergo a process of introspection, microscopic self-examination and self-definition. It’s a process of healing, throwing off the ill-fitting definitions that had been imposed previously by a majority that didn’t experience and most often didn’t understand what it was building a box around. It’s a process of finding pride in oneself and one’s identity. It’s an important and necessary step in emerging and finding one’s strength and will. It is this process that the trans community (or communities?) is evolving through.

But history shows that when left to happen without agreedupon parameters, this newfound freedom to self-define has a tendency to exclude and marginalize others that share some fundamental common purposes.

As the gay community became able to articulate their issues as ones of sexual orientation, it facilitated the ejection of trans issues (gender identity and expression), which they tended to feel were irrelevant or even embarrassing - decades later, it has become clearer that LGB people are inevitably as much stereotyped by gender expectations in society as orientation issues, even if those expectations are sometimes a fallacy.

As lesbians who did not fall under the “butch/femme” motif felt comfortable enough to come out and define themselves, they ejected those who they felt perpetuated “bad stereotypes” of who they were. Years later, it has come to be acknowledgement that this had only served to injure an integral part of that community - a part that was often integral to the early years of lesbian emergence.

mostly assimilating into English-derived culture, many happily embraced it at the expense of other marginalized cultures and races. Among African-Americans too, “skin privilege” allowed whiter-looking people or those of mixed heritage to rise from the lowest levels of discrimination to partial authority, with the compromise being the reinforcement of marginalization of black people. Today, white-looking Natives, Hispanics, Jews and mixed heritage people still often enjoy “passing privilege” and have the option to say nothing when confronted with prejudices about people of similar background - which some do, sometimes even participating (offhand, I am reminded of a local white supremacist who is said to be of Métis background).

In other words, as each – gay, lesbian, feminist, ethnic European, or white-appearing – found the opportunity to say to mainstream society that “we’re just like you; we’re non-threatening” through new self-definition, they (and by this I mean general majorities, not necessarily overwhelmingly) tended to give in to the human tendency to take the path of least resistance, and left behind or even injured brothers, sisters, allies or kin.

Today, the trans community (or for phraseology that some are more comfortable with, the collision of transsexual and transgender populations) provides an intricate microcosm in which one can see the evolution of minorities, the struggle against oppressions, the quests to assimilate. The emergent divisions are exacerbated by diversity, views on stealth, the embrace or rejection of sex-negative mores, existing and evolving medical frameworks from outside trans spheres, and the inciting of resentment from the elapsed time between the genesis of trans activism in the late 1960s and the development of real, substantive progress in the late 1990s (later in Canada).

Self-definition is important up to, but not including, the point where it seeks to define others by comparison. Emergent communities have often made this mistake and caused years of bitterness and resentment as a result. And in most cases, they have been seriously wrong in crossing that line.

Part of the battleground has been over the word “transgender” itself, over its appropriateness as an umbrella term or whether there should even BE an umbrella term at all. The word was invented to describe exclusively crossdressers who were attracted to women, and reviled transsexuals or androphiles (people attracted to men), so it came into this world with some baggage in the first place. Others fear that by using an umbrella term, the unique needs of sub-communities such as transsexuals are erased – although my experience (perhaps unique to the region I live in?) has tended to be that transsexual issues and identities have been at the forefront of trans activism and sometimes threatened to erase other trans identities.

The problem arises when a community or a part within a community sees an opportunity to rise above its marginalization and concludes that it is prudent to distance itself from its potential allies to do so.

[Either way, I’ll be clear: I don’t give a damn what the word is, as long as there’s somewhere we can all meet for coffee once in awhile and talk about things that are of mutual importance to us.]

Historically, racial groups in North America demonstrated this visibly. German, Irish, Italian, Polish, Scottish and other European heritages weren’t always considered “white” by the standards of early immigrants, but as society evolved and appeared prepared to accept these nationalities at the price of

One development has been the emergence of genderqueer thought, which is often an embrace of either dual-gendered, non-gendered or third-sex identity. Genderqueer warrior conceptualization has invited an influx of people – mostly younger and progressive-minded, occasionally trend-seeking – who

As feminism came into its own and defined itself, it ejected sex workers, transwomen, housewives and more who didn’t fit the emerging definitions of the modern woman. Today, it’s increasingly understood that each have valuable insights into the ongoing dialogue of womanhood, even if they aren’t always completely representative of the whole.

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Trans Identity don’t feel that they really fit into the socially-constructed boxes of “male” or “female.” Gender deconstruction derives significantly from a relatively recent evolution of feminist thought.

ers (although I don’t know if this is how O’Brien identifies). In the past, I’ve offered advice and support in many online trans communities and various local groups, transsexual, crossdresser, mixed and more.

Another has been the development of Harry Benjamin Syndrome (HBS), Woman Born Transsexual (WBT), Classic Transsexual and other forms of transsexual-only philosophy.

I’m not the best person to describe the nuances that separate them. These tend to embrace a belief in duality of gender, the current medicalized structure of transsexual treatment and the emergent and increasing scientific discoveries demonstrating a strong likelihood of a biological origin of transsexuality.

And if this were the sole framework of HBS / WBT / Classic thought, I’d tend to be quite impressed – but unfortunately, many of the people driving this branch of self-definition have made it a central point to deride and vilify other trans identities.

Something that is to me universal amongst all is a struggle with confusion from being outside societal expectations, a struggle that is inevitably only resolved by following one’s heart to self-realization. Although the realizations may vary, the “realness” of identity is just as genuine.

With transsexual-only philosophy deriving from a physiological focus and genderqueer thought from dissection of social constructs, two of the three factors of human behaviour (biology, socialization and choice), they have a tendency to be fundamentally in opposition to each other by dismissing the other’s fundamental principles.

As I already mentioned, self-definition is important up to, but not including, the point where it seeks to define others by comparison, and each has been seeking to elevate at the other’s expense to some degree. HBS / WBT / Classic thinkers have had a habit of ejecting moderates who are willing to embrace a “transgender” umbrella, with genderqueer people happy to take in the refugees, but both have a capacity for betrayal in those times that they insist on discounting the other. HBS / WBT / Classic writing has had a particular habit of taking genderqueer thought and painting it onto other trans segments – crossdressers, non-operative transsexuals – sometimes exploiting the same shock value that transphobes have taken advantage of for centuries.

In order to find commonality and learn the valid lessons that each of our realities can illuminate, we must learn to respect other identities, and not fall back on philosophical means to invalidate each other.

As we define ourselves, we need to take care to base those definitions on responsible, mutually-respectful foundations, and avoid mistaking the various parts of the elephant we’ve blindly discovered for the whole. It is my wish that our loose coalition of trans (or whatever name we want to gather under) identities can learn from the past and show the future how self-definition should be done.

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Mercedes Allen is a writer who blogs at http://dentedbluemercedes.wordpress. com/, has been featured on bilerico.com, PageOneQ and others, and has also developed the website at AlbertaTrans.org as a resource for transgender information and support.

I don’t believe that either are wrong at their foundations, but each risks repeating the mistakes of the past when they seek to define others and deny the validity of lives and experiences which may be different, but no less real.

Although I may seem to pick on HBS / WBT / Classic thought more, I certainly know that the problem is not onesided. In fact, stripped of any practice of criticizing others’ experiences or identities, it’s probably where I’d find myself most at home. During the GRS delisting controversy earlier this year, I was confronted by one genderqueer person who insisted that surgery is a “cop-out,” that blurring all gender lines was the key to human harmony and that surgery could never make one whole.

Taking a hardline view from any direction is equally capable of alienating real lives and real experiences.

In a recent interview, Rocky Horror Show creator Richard O’ Brien laid bare some of his own trans experience: “All my life, I’ve been fighting, torn in two and battling – never belonging, actually. Never being male. Or female. Wondering if I was born transgender? Did it happen in the womb? That might have made it easier. I don’t know. Or was it psychological? I’d been going to therapy, treating what I was as though it was some kind of illness – getting more and more depressed, wondering, ‘could I be cured?’ I went mad, really. My marriage was going down the tubes and I just lost it. Lost it. Lost it...”

This seemed to me to drive home the reality of what is often the most denigrated part of the trans community, crossdress-

For more information or to purchase tickets call or visit: (403) 527-5882 #202 - 535 3rd St. SE Medicine Hat, AB. GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #73, November 2009

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Fundraising Photos Exposure Festival Fundraiser at Buddy’s - Edmonton

Skaryoke Fundraiser at the Texas Lounge - Calgary

Dyke to Diva Launch Party at Prism - Edmonton

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GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #73, November 2009

Fundraising Photos ISCCA Oynx Mardi Gras Party at the Texas Lounge - Calgary

Mathew Shepard Fundraiser at the Texas Lounge - Calgary

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #73, November 2009

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Fundraising Photos ISCWR Investitures at Boots - Edmonton

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GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #73, November 2009

Mathew Shepard Fundraiser at Play - Edmonton

Letters Dear Editor, The Alberta Rockies Gay Rodeo Association would like to congratulate GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine for their 6th year anniversary.

Rob and Steve have done an excellent job of reporting, promoting, and supporting the gay community in both Calgary and Edmonton.

ARGRA would like to specifically thank them for their Premier Sponsorship of the Canadian Rockies International Rodeo over the last few years.

We recognize their strong support and involvement in ARGRA and the gay community and wish them many more years of success.

Judy Munsen, Communications Director Alberta Rockies Gay Rodeo Association

Dear Steve and Rob, For six years GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine has been a valued member of our community providing excellent coverage of events and insightful articles on topics that affect all of us. Apollo - Friends in Sports has been fortunate to have partnered with GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine over these many years in promoting our annual Easter sports tournament, Western Cup, and wish them many more years of successful publishing.

On behalf of the board and members of Apollo, congratulations on six great years!

Michael Leboldus President, Apollo - Friends in Sports Calgary, Alberta

Dear Editor, Have you ever felt so moved by a story, or a performance that you can’t help but take it with you? You carry it in your mind, or even in your heart, and revisit it when needed. Perhaps it even evokes some important conversation, or resonates with you because it tells your story.

I experienced all of the above on Friday, October 23rd. The show in question? Pam Rocker’s Heterophobia. I was really excited to see the performance, I knew it was going to be great. Little did I know how great it was going to be.

It starts simply enough, with the perfectly chosen “The Promise”

by Tracy Chapman. The audience is then thrust into an alternate world where “being gay is the norm, and being straight is the deviance”. Humor is woven masterfully through this story of discovery, helping to ease the angst of Grant, the main character. For those of us from the GLBT community, Grant’s story resonates.

It’s a road we’ve travelled at one point or another in our lives. The story itself is somewhat autobiographical, while Grant is her own person, she does seem to be in ownership of some Rocker like traits, but only noticable to the trained eye.

length version?

Morgan Worth

Dear Gay Calgary, AIDS Calgary would like to take the opportunity to thank everyone who was involved in making the 2009 Scotiabank AIDS Walk for life such a huge success! The dedication and commitment of our staff, volunteers, sponsors, team captains, walkers and donors was simply amazing.

At our most successful walk ever, over 600 walkers braved gray skies and chilly temperatures. We still have a few late donations trickling in but to date the walk has raised over $168,000. That is a 15% increase over 2008 totals.

All funds raised from the AIDS Walk support our HIV/AIDS prevention education, community outreach and support services for people at risk for, living with, and affected by HIV. Thank you Calgary, once again, for showing such amazing support and we look forward to seeing you at next year’s walk!

Sincerely, AIDS Calgary Executive Walk Committee

Dear Gay Calgary and Edmonton Magazine, We would like to offer our congratulations on your 6th Anniversary. You have been a leading sponsor of Pride Calgary throughout these six years, and with this we could not be more grateful. Your generosity has also benefitted other major GLBT non-profit and community groups within the Calgary and Edmonton area, which has ensured their continued success.

You continue to provide an all inclusive publication that is always an enjoyable and informative read. Each month contains information that is always beneficial to the GLBT community. Pride Calgary owes much of its success to the unwavering support of Gay Calgary and Edmonton Magazine, and will be forever grateful.

We sincerely hope for another 6 years and more for Gay Calgary and Edmonton Magazine, and look forward to your continued support of Pride Calgary and all other GLBT organizations in years to come.

Sincerely, The Pride Calgary Planning Committee

http://www.gaycalgary.com/a1461

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After the show there was a “talk back”, Pam was completely at home on the stage, she charmed and delighted the audience with her answers and willingness to have her show run at places of the audience’s request. Audience member sthanked Pam for writing Heterophobia, many people found what I found to be true: we could relate, it was our story too.

Pam achieved her goal, people are thinking and discussing. Pam mentioned that the full-length version is going to be produced with a local theatre company in Calgary in September, 2010. But does she realize how much we’re all waiting for the full

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #73, November 2009

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Interest

Queeries

Come Out, Come Out Wherever You Are

By Steven Petrow How do I come out at work (and keep my job)?

Q: I’ve worked at a fairly conservative firm for years and have always brought opposite-sex “dates” to parties. But now that I am partnered with a wonderful woman I’d like to come out, but how?

A: Congratulations on your new romance. Having a significant other is often the impetus for people to come out at work because being in a couple makes the issue seem more concrete - at least to your colleagues - and there are more ways to bring the subject up . You don’t even have to say, “I’m a lesbian,” for instance, because it will be clear that she’s your girlfriend if you introduce her as such.

But first, consider the pros and cons of coming out at work. Let’s start with the pros: - You won’t have the stress of living in the closet or worrying about switching pronouns at the last moment any more.

- You can talk openly about your relationship.

- You may make deeper friendships by being honest with your coworkers.

On the other side: - You may lose your job or otherwise be discriminated against (i.e., run up against the pink ceiling).

- Your colleagues may not accept you in the way that you hope, and that could hinder your work performance.

- You may find that LGBT partners are not treated the same as heterosexual spouses.

Before making a final decision, find out whether your company has a nondiscrimination policy that includes sexual orientation and gender identity. See if there is an LGBT affinity group in your workplace that can provide you with guidance and support. Still, I’m in no way trying to dissuade you from coming out - in fact just the opposite--but do your due diligence.

How can I be out without causing problems for my kids?

Q: I have two kids in junior high who already don’t want to have anything to do with me or their other mother - not because we’re gay, just because we’re their. We purposely don’t wear our T-shirts that say, “We’re Here, We’re Queer,” but do wonder how out can we be without causing problems for them?

A: That can be a tricky age for kids. Any difference makes you suspect. A foreign accent. An idiosyncratic haircut. Same-sex parents.

Needless to say, the answer to this question depends to some degree on where you live. For families in the Castro, Greenwich Village, and other gayborhoods, it’s fair to say that LGBT parents are not just common but ubiquitous.

But for parents and kids in areas where LGBT families are less visible, it makes sense to deploy a step-by-step coming out strategy.

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First, take stock of your new neighbors and figure out who has kids more or less the same age as yours. Much as you may have done when you first came out, befriend three or four of them who you think might be welcoming. Invite them and their kids over for some sort of function - a birthday party, summer BBQ, or the like. More likely than not, you’ll soon find yourself being welcomed as a family into your neighborhood circle. At the same time, make an appointment with your kids’ teachers so that they can introduce you to other LGBT parents in the school as well as keep an eye open for any trouble - especially anti-gay bullying (because of your sexual orientation). And, of course, talk with your kids directly about their own feelings regarding your sexuality.

Do I have to be labeled?

Q: I’m a guy who’s had a couple of relationships with other guys, but I’ve also had two girlfriends. So, I’m not exactly sure if I’m gay, but I know that I’m different. Everyone I know seems to care about labels - “straight,” “gay,” “bi” - but I’m just not sure what to call myself.

What should I be telling people?

A: First of all, you don’t need to tell anyone anything. How you define yourself is your business and just because someone is asking you a question doesn’t mean you should feel obligated to answer it.

If a friend or family member asks you a direct question about your sexuality, you can reply, with a smile: “Thanks for asking, but I prefer to keep my private life private.” You don’t need to be snarky, just firm.

But as you’ve noticed, our culture values labels - whether it comes to race (black, white, Asian), politics (red or blue state), or sexuality (gay, straight, bi).

Things aren’t always that clear, however. A recent study of non-straight young people asked them how they define themselves sexually. The results suggested that more than 7 out of 10 endorsed the usual sexual identity labels (gay, lesbian and bisexual), but 10 percent, those like you, showed resistance to those labels or fluidity in their sexual identities. Thirteen percent reported they were “questioning” their sexual identities. So, take comfort that you’re in a sizeable minority - a minority that is often referred to as “post-gay,” and, in fact, should probably be considered avant-garde in having rejected sexual identity labels.

http://www.gaycalgary.com/a1462

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Steven Petrow is the author of “The Essential Book of Gay Manners & Etiquette.”

Sports

The OutField

Rounding third, heading home

By Dan Woog Straight readers say that it takes them about 80 pages before realizing that the two high school players at the heart of Rounding Third are attracted to each other.

Gay readers figure it out in the first few paragraphs.

If anyone needs proof that, even in 2009, Americans view sports and athletes differently depending on their sexuality, Walter G. Meyer’s recently published book offers it.

The story follows two 17-year-olds in a small Ohio town. One is a benchwarmer; the other, a star pitcher. But their lives intersect both lyrically and ominously, with twists and turns seldom found in a typical baseball novel.

Meyer has constructed a complex and compelling tale, in part because he knows the territory. Growing up in suburban Pittsburgh, he was – like his fictional character Rob Wardell – small and often picked on. Like Rob, he rode the baseball bench.

Like Rob too, he had crushes on teammates. “I always wondered how people would have reacted if I did something about it,” Meyer says. “What if…”

Unlike Rob, he did nothing about it. Rob does, and both he and pitcher Josh Schlagel pay dearly.

“Parts of me are very visible in Rob,” Meyer says. “But I was never as noble or brave as he is. He’s an idealized version of me.”

Meyer handles his characters’ attractions with an intriguing combination of gentleness and ferocity. There are no graphic sex scenes – but the intensity of the teenagers’ feelings is never far from the surface. At the same time, he does not shy away from describing the violence that those feelings – some perhaps shared by supposedly straight boys – arouse in others.

He knows those reactions well. He witnessed some of them, years ago as a boy. He has researched more recent ones – beatings of teammates suspected of being gay, the indifference of adults to intervene, the inexplicable rejection of gay children by too many parents – and weaves them all into his narrative. Some readers may think the scenes of violence are overdone. Meyer assures them that those scenes are all too commonplace – and real.

Yet Rounding Third also shows heroism. Baseball coach Hudson emerges as a powerful, if surprising, voice for gay youth.

“He was always that person,” Meyer explains. “But no one had ever challenged him to be an advocate before. It’s just like war: No one knows whether he’ll turn and run, or stay and fight, before the bullets start to fly.”

The lack of action by adults in the face of anti-gay rhetoric and violence – there is no mention in the book of school law, or of supportive organizations like the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network – surprises some readers.

counters: “In large parts of the country, what is natural for us does not exist. In my own hometown in Pennsylvania, the school board is so out of touch about things much less radical than this, that I can’t imagine going to them about any gay issue. Most kids in Ohio wouldn’t know what a Gay-Straight Alliance is. We like to think we’ve come a lot farther as a country than we have.”

Even in Southern California, he notes, a high school student was recently prohibited from giving a report on Harvey Milk.

The book has been out for only a few weeks, but Meyer is heartened by the reactions he’s heard. One reader commented: “I feel like you followed me around when I was in high school.

You captured my life.”

Meyer’s hometown library heard about the book and asked him to speak. He did not immediately accept the invitation.

“I told the librarian to read the book first,” Meyer says. “We’ll see how this works out after she reads it.” In the high school he graduated from, he knows of only one openly gay student. The total population is 2,000.

Some readers wonder about the title. “What does a baseball player do when he ‘rounds third’?” Meyer asks. “He heads for home – and tries to get there safe. This book is about finding your way home, safely.”

It is also a book about freedom. One character tells his father: “You went to Vietnam to fight for our freedom. But we’re not even free to walk down the halls of our high school.”

“I grew up in the shadow of Vietnam,” Meyer says. “America has always talked a good game about bringing freedom to others. We’re doing the same thing today in Iraq. But gay people in America are still not free to marry. We’ve still got a long way to go.”

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(Rounding Third is published by MaxM Ltd) Dan Woog is a journalist, educator, soccer coach, gay activist, and author of the “Jocks” series of books on gay male athletes. Visit his Web site at www.danwoog.com.

Meyer – who now lives in San Diego, where he writes on a broad range of topics and volunteers at a GLBT youth center –

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #73, November 2009

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Band Interview

Tegan and Sara

From Second Cup to International Headliner

By Sam Casselman and Leah Kelley On Tuesday October 27, 2009, born and raised Calgarian lesbian band Tegan and Sara released their sixth album titled Sainthood. We spoke with Tegan to ask her a few questions about their music, their time in Calgary, and life in general. ”(Sainthood) sounds big and feels big, giving it a real rock and roll feel,” says Tegan. She also feels that their previous album, The Con, was darker, heavier and narcissistic compared to Sainthood’s more “poppy” sound. Tegan cites many musical influences such as Bruce Springsteen, Ani Difranco, the Killers, U2, and the mid nineties punk rock scene in Calgary - all of which are reflected in their self-proclaimed eclectic style, evident throughout the album. Tegan admits that she is Sainthood obsessed and her favourite song to play live is “Don’t Rush” because she enjoys the challenge despite the stressful timing that it requires.

Tegan admits that she is proud of all of the music they have recorded but, that she relates most to the music on Sainthood compared to previous albums.

“People always ask why we don’t play Under Feet Like Ours and I’m like, I was seventeen, it’s so hard to relate to that music, not necessarily what I was writing about at the time, but musically – the arrangements, keys and melodies of songs. I hadn’t even figured out where my voice sounded best yet. Fuck, I can’t even think of some of the songs off our first record, I can’t even think of a name, that’s how much I can’t relate to it.”

Along with Sainthood, Tegan and Sara are very proud to be releasing their first ever set of books titled ON, IN, AT. It’s a project they have poured their hearts into and have been working on for over a year. The project consists of a three-book set that chronicles different periods over a year in their lives with writing and photographs. Some of these include the 2008 US national tour and the 2009 Australian headlining

tour. Creative director on the project, Emy Storey, also the visionary behind the Sainthood album cover, brings her talent to the 3 book set. The book set will be available for purchase with Sainthood on their official website, and while on tour.

In 1998, the group got their start in Calgary by winning the Garage Warz Battle of the Bands competition. They started playing at local Second Cups and released their first album in 1999. Ten years later they are headlining their own international tours and no longer frequent local Calgary coffee shops.

The twins haven’t been back to Calgary in two years since their last show here in September of 2007, at the time, their biggest show to date. Sara now resides in Montreal and Tegan in Vancouver. However, Tegan says she is a Calgarian through and through. Despite their busy schedule touring the world, they still find time to volunteer with their local GLBT+ Communities.

Calgary and Edmonton are neck and neck as Tegan and Sara’s favourite cities to visit, and compete for having the biggest crowds. The girls are back this coming January for shows in both cities, playing with special guest An Horse. Hurry and get your tickets - the first shows are already sold out!

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Check out www.gaycalgary.com for your chance to win your very own copy of Tegan and Sara’s latest album, Sainthood.

Tegan and Sara

 Calgary - Jan 8th-9th, Jubilee Auditorium  Edmonton – Jan 10th-11th, Jubilee Auditorium Tickets through Ticket Master

 Official Website: www.teganandsara.com  MySpace Page: www.myspace.com/teganandsara  Fan Site: www.teganandsara.org 40

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #73, November 2009

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #73, November 2009

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GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #73, November 2009

Band Interview

The Cat Empire

By Jason Clevett Australia’s hardest working band, The Cat Empire, is hitting Alberta this month touring behind its Live On Earth album. Famous for the dynamic intensity that they bring to their live shows, the six-piece successfully and beautifully harnesses disparate and eclectic musical elements from various genres of music. Mixing elements of Reggae, Jazz, Afro-Cuban, Funk and Pop with straight-up Hip Hop and Rock vocals, The Cat Empire delivers an infectious and unforgettable performance each and every time they hit the stage.

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine caught up with vocalist/ percussionist Felix Riebel on the phone from Melbourne, where the band was preparing for the tour. You can tell the band is dedicated to touring when they leave to a much colder climate.

“We took some time off last year and we haven’t been to Canada in over a year. We are going to be making an album next year so we thought it was time to get back for a bit of a reconnaissance and promote our live album, which we made on our time off. We listened to all the recordings from around the world and it is a good album, we thought it deserved to be toured and Canada is a great place to play for us,” he explained.

“There is a similarity between the audiences in Australia and Canada, they seem to be a really spirited crowd. I am not sure what it is, I think because both countries have real travelers. As a band we have attracted people who want music to take with you on some kind of a journey. Canadians and Australians share that same wanderlust, they love to go places and experience their music. We enjoy playing Canada or we wouldn’t leave Australian summer to go do a Canadian winter tour. We always have good crowds and shows there. It is all music anyway. There are cultural familiarities and differences but with music you don’t really worry about that and just focus on playing.”

Since its inception in 2001, The Cat Empire has focused on being a world music project. From travelling with large bands to sideshow tents to huge rock festivals and small dance clubs. The experience has taken them all over the world. Worldwide exposure is the focus of their current album.

“It is the way it turned out, really. We are moving around so much as a band and went through different periods in development from album to album and tour to tour. We would just record shows. It captures the nature of what we are doing, we are moving around so much and different songs work on different nights. It seemed like the best kind of album we could make. We have some songs in a concert hall playing with an orchestra, some in a really small bar in New York, and some from an outdoor festival stage on New Year’s Eve in Australia. It is a really diverse group of places but it works, I think. It feels like a show albeit one that skips around the world.”

and check out the gig but play with us. At some points we would have between 10 and 15 people on stage depending on how wild it got. We have had eastern European violinists, comedians improvising spoken word stuff, Scottish bagpipers, and sword swallowers.

There was this pandemonium that we learned to adapt to, the idea that the more chaotic it was the more we enjoyed ourselves. We learned to do that quite well. So it gets reminiscent of what it once was, we will invite local musicians to play with us or go out on tour with us. The last tour we played with a flamenco quartet and a string quartet because it made the shows interesting for us. You have to find ways to make it fresh I suppose.”

The Cat Empire plays the Starlite Room in Edmonton November 20th and MacEwan Hall November 21st. With over 750 live shows in their career, you can expect an incredible experience.

“The band is playing well at the moment. We had some time off and are pretty relaxed. Touring the live album means we will be playing some older songs that never made it on to studio albums, some that was main stage for us, and some we are working on for the new album. They are going to get the best of what we’ve done with a bit of humour as well. It is going to be a fresh tour and we are looking forward to coming.”

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The group has often recorded and played live with a number of guest musicians.

“As a band we have always been music first and foremost. Few of us actually knew each other that well before we started playing together and once we started something clicked. The musicians are really talented and there are so many influences in their music, so we have played with an enormous amount of people. Our first overseas festival we played from 3 to 6 in the morning for 21 nights in a row.

A lot of the performers in these shows would not only come down

The Cat Empire

 Edmonton - November 20th, Starlite Room  Calgary - November 21st, Macewan Hall

 www.thecatempire.com

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #73, November 2009

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Theatre Preview

Highway 63: The Fort Mac Show What Happens in Fort Mac, Stays in Fort Mac

By Dallas Barnes What do you get when you allow a queer theatre artist to live in Fort McMurray for 3 weeks “researching, interviewing, and living life in that 21st Century boomtown?” You get Highway 63: The Fort Mac Show by Jonathan Seinen, Co-Artistic Director for the Emergency Architect Theatre.

“This piece was created last winter in Fort McMurray where we lived for 3 weeks… Working through collective creation, we impersonated the people we met and theatricalised the stories they told us” recalls Seinen. “The approach is collective creation, which is a ‘queer’ approach to theatre that works without the hierarchy of director/writer/actor, but rather uses theatre to tell stories otherwise not found in the theatre. The Laramie Project is a good example of this type of research/Verbatim theatre.”

Inspired by the “queer element” of Fort McMurray which Seinen describes as “notable in its (apparent) absence,” he tells of a cold and lonely town with, as he had heard, the fastest growing markets for Cruiseline. It is a town with a predominantly male populace. “Yeah, all the guys here are straight…TO BED!” “I felt a homoerotic charge in Fort McMurray, and in this play I aim to express, in a small way, that which I could feel but could not see. The queer story is one of the many we encountered in Fort McMurray, one aspect of the complexity of this unique city that is given voice in our play. “ “Included in the play is the voice of a man using Craigslist to find sex with men at his remote worksite. I found the posting while we were in the northern and lonely city. The posting was a poetic cry for help in which the queer desire is palpable and irrepressible. It made me think of Jean Genet.”

Jean Genet was a controversial author, playwright and political activist for the early 20th Century. This past June, Seinen directed an all-queer collective production of Deathwatch, in which Genet authored on scrap pieces of brown paper while in prison in France for the Toronto Pride Festival. “A homosexual criminal poet who celebrated life in the gutter, Genet infused his theatre works with the tension between the performance of masculinity and the expression of homoerotic desire. In many previous translations of Deathwatch, the queer element had been buried. We unearthed, brought it to life and celebrated it.”

Definitely a show not to be missed, Highway 63: The Fort Mac Show is playing in both Edmonton and Calgary.

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GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #73, November 2009

EDMONTON

 November 5th – November 14th Thurs-Sat, 8pm; Sat Nov 14, 2pm  The Living Room Playhouse, 11315 106 Avenue, Edmonton  (780) 454-0583 Tickets: Pay-What-You-Can at the door CALGARY

 November 19th– November 28th Nov 19, 7.30pm; Nov 20, 9.30pm; Nov 26, 9.30pm; Nov 27, 7.30pm  As part of Downstage Theatre’s Uprising: A Festival of New Political Work At the Motel, EPCOR Centre for the Arts 225 8th Avenue SE, Calgary

 www.downstage.ca

Health Advice

Profile Updated: HIV Status Unknown?

By Mark Randall In the very popular world of online dating and personal social networking sites, we are often very good at ensuring we have updated our information: pictures and other fun and personal details we choose to share with others on a regular basis to keep our personal profiles current and engaging to others.

There will be a number of other events happening in and around the city so keep your eyes open for announcements and posters for shows, fundraisers, information tables and seminars being planned for the week leading up to World AIDS Day. And remember to take part and support the agencies and services that work to make a difference in the lives of persons living with HIV or who may be at risk for HIV infection.

Most importantly remember to take care of yourself and the ones you love, as you take a moment out of your day on December 1st to remember the millions of lives lost to HIV and AIDS, and the millions more who continue to live each day with HIV.

Another reality on these popular dating sites is that not everyone’s personal profile is exactly current or, dare I say, even remotely accurate to the real person. They may not be as thin as they claim, as tall as they claim or as young as they claim to be, but you wouldn’t find out until you actually end up meeting in person.

http://www.gaycalgary.com/a1469

You chats and converse, and may even ask some of the more personal questions that you should be asking before planning a more intimate connection. The most important one being: are you free of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)?

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation Present Know your Status

I can pretty much guarantee, based on my personal experiences to date, that the answer will almost always be “yes” even when they are not sure or even when they know they are infected with some kind of STI that should be disclosed to potential sexual partners.

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 Dec 1st, 2009 - 8am to 8pm  Sheldon Chumir Health Centre Main floor, 1213 - 4th Street SW

 www.tenmilliontests.com

While there are people in developing countries that have no access to HIV testing, we continue to see people in developing countries like Canada, choose not to get tested even though the need is real and the opportunity is within their grasp.

These are the world wide statistics: • 33 Million people are living with HIV/AIDS. • The vast majority of HIV positive people are unaware of their HIV status.

• 9.7 Million people are in urgent need of lifesaving antiretroviral treatment (ART) today.

• Less than 3 Million people have access to ART today, leaving more than 6 Million to become sick and die.

• Traditional Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) models are inadequate and inefficient to provide the testing volume to reach global demand.

It’s time for a reality check. Ignorance and denial are not valid excuses for passing on STIs to others. You are fortunate to have the ability to know your HIV status for certain, so that you can make the right decisions and take the right precautions.

This 1st of December, there are no more excuses.

The Calgary Coalition on HIV/AIDS (CCHA) has chosen to connect with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation’s World AIDS Day challenge to test 1 million people in the developing world for HIV infection. This is being done to address the problem that, until people know their own HIV status, there is little that can be done to stop the spread of new infections and deaths worldwide.

As part of our local campaign and World AIDS Day activities, AIDS Calgary is promoting the message of “knowing your HIV status” and will be conducting a one day HIV testing clinic. It will run December 1st from 8am to 8pm on the main floor of the Sheldon Chumir Health Centre.

If you have never been tested, or are due to be tested again as part of your healthcare routine, I urge you to come by and be part of the 1 million tests campaign worldwide. Find out what YOUR true HIV status is.

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #73, November 2009

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Celebrity Interview

Merry … Midwinter?

Tori Amos talks about her new seasonal CD

By Chris Azzopardi It’s so like the religiously ambiguous Tori Amos to elude all the churchy mumbo-jumbo and trace popularized carols back to their non-worship roots. She does just that on her new holiday album Midwinter Graces, out this month.

On it, she re-works songs she sang as a wee one at her Methodist minster father’s church and includes a few new seasonal tracks, like the bittersweet “Our New Year” and big band-y “Pink and Glitter.” Graces is the follow-up to Abnormally Attracted to Sin, released in July. How exactly do you come off of an album about damnation?

“You think,” Amos says during a press conference, “let’s go to the church.”

The gay-popular piano banshee took us there over the phone, chatting about recording one of her most “upbeat” albums, embracing her spiritual side and leaving Satan out of it.

Q: What inspired you to create a seasonal album?

A: As a minister’s daughter, I figure I have an inside viewpoint – and I do understand how Christianity views it – but what I think is really important is that other people don’t feel excluded from this. A lot of people that aren’t “religious” seem to align themselves with the commercial aspects of the season.

I felt that as a minister’s daughter I could walk a very delicate balance to open up the circle to all those people who might not want to embrace Christianity, but have a spiritual feeling about the time.

Q: Holiday albums are typically considered joyous and

happy. Tori albums aren’t.

How would you describe the vibe and emotional nature of this album?

A: It’s a very beautiful work. It has a lot of full orchestra, and there’s a big band track and there’s harpsichord and concert bells, tubular bells, timpanis, concert bass drums. I would say that it embraces the idea of the rebirth of light. Within that, though, people get nostalgic and you have to acknowledge that there are people that aren’t with you anymore, so there’s a song that does that. But for the most part, for a Tori record, it’s pretty upbeat.

Q: How would you compare playing these songs now versus when you were a little kid playing them in your father’s church?

A: When I was little, I started to question why the carols were sounding musically different than some of the other hymns. In my teens, I started to research where this music came from.

For instance, “Away in a Manger” is a different melody in Britain than it is to the one that we sing. As I started to learn more about it, I realized that there were some songs that were originally drinking songs or sea shanties (from) hundreds of years ago or Pagan songs such as “The Holly and the Ivy” (that were) Christianized. So I was tracing – as I got older through the years – where this music came from.

Q: Could you talk a little bit more about the confidence you need in approaching a project like this and the pressure you feel to tell these stories that are so old?

A: Being a minister’s daughter, it gets pounded in your head every day of your life what the belief system is and there are aspects of Christ’s life (that) are beautiful and are included in this. But, again, the thing that always shocked me was that the Christianity I know is very exclusive. Not inclusive. That’s always not sat well with me because I thought Jesus’ whole message was to include; therefore, I approached this with that in mind – what I’ve been taught and what I don’t necessarily agree with.

Q: Do you think your father will approve of these songs?

A: He wanted me to do this. I think the fact that I didn’t write “She’s a Hussy, Merry Christmas” will make everybody really happy. There’s no mention of Satan or dancing with Satan or anything like that. There’s nothing disrespectful on this record; it’s really beautiful.

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Celebrity Interview Q: Describe the process of taking apart some of the traditional material and reimagining it.

A: Although I’m a musician – I’m not anything but a musician – I’ve tried to research this. I went back through all kinds of sources – The Oxford Book of Carols, which talks about where parts of the melodies and lyrics come from. I began to realize that “The First Noel” was from southwestern England – it’s not from France – and the original spelling was n-o-w-e-l-l, and that they believed that that music is hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of years old, and that it probably came from a whole other sort of lyric, and then it was embraced as a carol and became the one that we have heard today. I changed it again because it’s just part of a tradition of variations on the theme and depending on what age and what their religious beliefs are at the time, these songs get twisted and turned around. So that was how I was approaching it.

Q: What do you think we could learn about the things you’re trying to express on the record?

A: I don’t know if anybody wants to know any of this stuff (laughs); they might just want to be put on the record and have a nice glass of champagne and have a dance to “Pink and Glitter.” And that’s just fine. The record contains a lot of story and beauty, and it does transcend some of the shame that gets attached to some of the music even during the season, because if you really study the Christian version of the “The Holly and the Ivy” the crucifixion is all in there, and once you get to verse seven – or whatever it is – it all comes back to this little baby (dying) for your sins. So you can celebrate, but you should really feel bad about celebrating.

ecutive officer) looked at me – it was March – and he said, “I’m 70, and I want you to do this. You can do this. You’ve been doing this your whole life.” He inspired me. He’s been able to have these conversations with me since the mid ’80s. He pushed me to start writing “Little Earthquakes,” so he’s been in my life for so long. (Before July of last year), I hadn’t seen him for 14 years. And even though he’s 70, he’s as sharp as he ever was.

He challenges me, and he couldn’t accept that I couldn’t achieve it. He said, “You can do this. If you don’t have something to do, you’ll lose your mind.” So I thought about it, and one thing led to another.

I left him and ended up in Florida and it was 100 degrees and Tash came in running in a bikini saying, “Are you playing Christmas music, mummy?” And I said, “Yeah, I think I am.”

(Laughs) Q: What was the intent of the album cover?

A: We have all the elements represented – air, fire, water and earth. I wanted to include the cycle of nature within this record because that’s part of the story as well, with the solstices and the equinoxes and the precessions of those, and how we go from one season to another.

Q: What were you thinking when that shot was taken?

A: Why can’t I have these shoes?

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There’s a side to the record when you listen to it that talks about what is the gold – what really is that? It’s valuing whom you have in your life, the relationships you’ve built.

It’s not just about success – or it just isn’t all your material possessions anymore – it’s how you live your life, and that’s all included in the music.

Q: What do you like most about the winter season?

A: That everybody takes a break. Things stop. We have a time out from our routine, and it’s so freeing. Certain businesses close down; certain people aren’t in their office – which is kind of great because they don’t call you either. Sometimes I just think, especially in the states, we’re such a driven group of people to work; it’s part of who we are. The Europeans have an amazing way of just – especially in Italy – taking time out, and sometimes as Americans we don’t get to take much time out.

We just don’t.

Q: Why did you decide to make this record so quickly after the last one?

A: Doug (Morris, Universal Music Group chairman/chief ex-

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #73, November 2009

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Band Interview

Life Starts Now

Three Days Grace, New Album, New Tour

By Jason Clevett I can still remember back in 2004 when I saw a young upstart band, running on the success of their first single (I Hate) Everything About You opening for Nickelback, and a few months later Velvet Revolver at the Saddledome. By the time they left the stage I was thinking “these guys are going to be headlining their own show here someday.”

That statement has come true, as Three Days Grace is embarking on a 20 date cross-Canada tour that hits Edmonton’s Rexall Place November 26th, and the Saddledome in Calgary November 30th, including stops in Lethbridge and Medicine Hat. “We are super excited, it has always been about the live show,” said guitarist Barry Stock, in an exclusive interview with GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine. “A lot of our songs are written around how they would sound live. It is what we have the most passion for, is getting out there and playing. Back then we were thinking the same thing, it would be great to be headlining these places. For us it is really exciting.”

“We are true Canadians. We love our live show and we want as many Canadians to see us as we can. Playing all these places is important to us. If we can fit this show into the arena, we will be there.”

After touring smaller venues, the band is playing the large arenas, in part because their live show staging requires it. The band has long been known for the quality of their live performance and it is evident from speaking to Stock, just how much they love playing for the fans.

“This time around we put a little more into the show which is why we wanted to step into some bigger arenas, give people more bang for their buck and be able to enjoy Three Days Grace not only on a musical point but a visual. We have a great looking show, I don’t want to give away too much but there are some cool things and something for everybody in this show. It is bigger and more exciting than it was last time with some great visual effects and staging. People will be impressed with this show.”

One amusing trait that seems to be common with Canadian bands is how often they tour across Canada during the winter.

“It seems weird but we all do it. Americans especially ask why we would tour Canada in wintertime? Winter is the time when people feel locked up and want to get out and go see a show, and it makes it exciting to go out and have a great time. In the summer there is a lot to do in our great Canadian country, so in winter when they get out they are more revved up.”

The show will be a triple bill with Default and The Used. For the band, which started in the same manner, featuring other artists is an important way of giving back.

“We wanted to do exactly the chance we had, to be the first band on of three exciting bands, and it makes for a good show. We have Default, which is a great Canadian band, and The Used - I don’t know if many Canadians know about them but they should. We have been a big fan for a long time and never gotten to tour with them in the past. It is going to be a great package and people will have a good time at the show.”

Through extensive touring, playing festivals, and doing autograph sessions, the band has developed a rabid group of fans. They are one of the few Canadian bands of this generation that have graduated to arenas and had success in the USA. “We stayed pretty true to what we are and sing about. We use our music as a tool to vent. It connects with the people it connects with.

What we sing about is pretty straight up stuff that most people can relate to on many different levels. That is a lot of it, the connection with our fans. That has been the most important thing from the begin-

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ning when we were opening for other bands. We always thought it was important to get out and meet the fans. I don’t know otherwise how you would get the feedback. If people can only quickly meet you and only have a second or two to say what is important to them, we think that connection between us and our fans is important. A lot of time that is how we get that feedback from fans. We will keep doing that as much as we can.”

Stock was initially surprised to learn about the bands LGBT fans.

“I didn’t know that we had a gay fan base, that is pretty cool. For us, whoever we can reach out to and likes us is great. I don’t know what the stereotype of what gay people should or shouldn’t like. Music to me is the international music of mankind, you either like it or don’t like it.”

The band has gone through its share of ups and downs on the road to success. After their breakthrough self-titled album, lead singer Adam Gontier battled depression and addiction. That process was featured heavily on their second album One-X. The current album Life Starts Now is a logical continuation of the themes of the last album. The title track, in which Gontier sings “you’ve done all the things that could kill you somehow, and you’re so far down, but you will survive this somehow, because life starts now” is about moving on from the past, be addiction or otherwise, and re-starting your life.

“It is exactly that. This is a whole new place, we are out and we are referring to the past, dealing with the hand you’ve been dealt and moving on, while looking at it from a positive point of view. That is exactly what that song is about. This time around, a lot in the past was exactly that, personal issues and things going on with ourselves. This time around we are all different as people with families and kids involved.

From then until now, a lot of things have happened, like dealing with sickness of family members. It woke us up to life being precious, and there is more out there that is important to us. It was a bit of an eye opener that way.”

With so much time spent on the road, the band has worked hard to center themselves and not return to bad habits.

“It comes back to our families. We are all family-minded people.

When we are home we enjoy family life and that keeps us on track for not having the rock ‘n roll lifestyle. Our band is not [made of] partiers either we are pretty light. We try to take care of ourselves so we can keep touring because we love it so much. The best way to keep doing that is to stay healthy. “ From clubs and opening acts to headlining, it has been an incredible ride for Three Days Grace.

“We couldn’t have asked for more. When we started, all this it was the excitement of getting to play and we were just thrilled to be out.

It is still like that, our schedule isn’t quite as hectic as it was, but we love to do it. The fans have been there since the beginning and are still growing. For us it is a privilege to be out playing… We will always be playing, but without the fans we wouldn’t be able to do that. We are certainly appreciative of that.”

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Three Days Grace Life Starts Now in stores now.

 Edmonton - November 26th, Rexall Place  Calgary - November 30th, Saddledome Tickets at Ticketmaster

 www.ThreeDaysGrace.com

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #73, November 2009

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Music Review

Music Review

La Roux, Carmen Reece, Electrik Red, Vanessa Williams to expect, so jazz/easy listening was somewhat of a surprise to me.

Okay, so it doesn’t appeal to the dance/pop side of me, but it’s a nice album to put on to chill out. Some particularly appealing melodies include the blithe “Just Friends”, affectionate “Close To You”, and haunting “I Fell In”.

By Rob Diaz-Marino “Bulletproof” by La Roux Music is a funny thing – oftentimes it’s not about using the latest, state of the art technology, but rather how you use what’s at hand.

La Roux makes use of low-tech synthesizers (to me they sound like MIDI on early computer sound cards) as a bed for some pretty outstanding vocals. Odd as it sounds, her style seems to be a winning combination; her song “Bulletproof” has been appearing everywhere on radio and TV. Just about every song on the album is catchy – other good ones include the defiant “I’m Not Your Toy”, optimistic “As If By Magic”, lively “Fascination”, and brooding “Reflections are Protection”.

“Love in Stereo” by Carmen Reece We received a sampler disk of Carmen Reece’s upcoming album, but in two songs I was turned from skeptic to fan!

Upbeat, sweet and sincere, the title track is a lighthearted dance number with an unusual elegance to it. The chorus is really what made it a favorite – it grips the heart with a beautiful sadness and devotion as Reece sings, “You can walk away but you don’t. My love will follow you where you go. …You’re so used to monotone, but I give my love in Stereo.”

The Album version of “Right Here” is somewhat hyper-active, but nonetheless a great song. Several dance remixes are available, but in my opinion the Jason Nevins Radio Mix (V1) is the best of the bunch – it stays truest to the original feeling of the song, with a danceable beat. Version 2 of the mix distorts the mood to be overly happy, and many others just muck around with it far too much.

“How to Be a Lady, Vol 1” by Electrik Red I realized this was a girl-power album right around “P is for Power”, where words of strength are used to spell PUSSY - a humorous song about the denial of sex to the man, set to primal drums. The gems of this album, however, are the cool and euphoric melody in “Bed Rest”, and the cheerful and energetic “Friend Lover”. As angry ass-kicking numbers go, “Kill Bill” is a good one too.

“The Real Thing” by Vanessa Williams Yay, our June 2009 cover celebrity! I finally got to hear the album she was talking about in her interview. I wasn’t sure what

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Singles “Release Me” by Agnes – At first I didn’t know what hit me. This song is absolutely amazing – inspiring, uplifting, beautifully melodic and irresistibly danceable. It melds a classical string section with electronic rhythms - I love it so much that a snippet from the instrumental version is now my cell phone ringtone. If you hunt for one song mentioned in this review, make it this one.

“Patron Tequila” by Paradiso Girls – A playful number with a lot of character. The girls sing about getting their friends hopelessly drunk at the club, while a grating male vocal provides humorous comments in the background. It’s very fun and catchy, though none of the club mixes appealed to me as much as the original.

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More Recommended Listening: “Party Groove Splash Days”

By DJ Seth Cooper Dance/Groove • Jai Ho (You Are My Destiny) (Power Remix) • Gotta Be Somebody (Power Remix) • You Belong With Me (Power Remix) “Turn Me Loose”

By Ledisi Alternative • Higher Than This • Alone • Love Never Changes “Greatest Hits: Platinum Edition”

By Helder, Fritz & The Phantoms Electronica • Lagerfeld Lady • Like a Lady “Anjulie” Pop • Boom “Jessie James” Pop/Country • Wanted • Bullet “So Glad I’m Me”

By LaKisha Jones Soul/R&B • Let’s Go Celebrate (Bonus Track)

TV Interview

Sorting out our Sordid Lives A Chat with Del Shores

By Jason Clevett Del Shores is an activist, screenwriter, playwright and really fun guy. Having been involved with shows like Queer As Folk and Dharma and Greg, he is also the creative force behind Sordid Lives: at first a play, then a movie and most recently a 12 episode series. We caught up with Del in Texas to discuss our favourite dysfunctional family.

“I started writing it before I had even dealt with coming out. It has been an odd evolution for the piece. It started as a short story about aunt Sissy trying to quit smoking and three days later her sister dies. In the story the nieces come in and are fighting over if the mother should wear the mink stole in the coffin. I realized it would make a good play, and then started writing monologues after I came out, and that portion of the play was based on my Mother’s reaction to my coming out. Then I started filling in a lot of blanks. When I wrote it, it was so structurally odd. That is when I started directing, because I couldn’t explain my vision to other directors,” he recalled. ”The play ran for 13 months in LA. You stand in the back of the theatre and start thinking that it would be good as a film. Beau Bridges saw the play one night, he called me the next day and said, Del, this is a movie and you’ve got to let me wear that black bra. He wanted to play GW. I started adapting it, and it adapted so fast and furious. I was with the agency ICM at the time and they shopped it around and no one would make it. I had to make it on a video camera basically. At the time Beverly D’Angelo was attached to it as well.

One day Olivia Newton John called. She has been a friend of mine for many years. She asked what I was doing and I said I was trying to get the movie made. She said, you have to let me play that bar singer. She was kidding of course, but I called her the next day and said, can you send me a letter of intent? I called all of my friends with money and got it made for half a million dollars. I had no idea what I was working, but it worked.”

The show features names like Caroline Rhea, Rue McClanahan, Leslie Jordan and Olivia Newton John, as well as most of the cast from the play and film.

“I just love Rue, and have loved her work for many years as most gay men have. When I started thinking about doing it as a prequel I started seeing Rue in my head as the matriarch. For her to play this West Texas, sexually pent up woman so different from Blanche, would be a wonderful vehicle for her. I knew that I probably couldn’t get her. We had no money to shoot the series or pay the actors, they all worked for scale, basically. I figured, what the hell, I got Delta Burke to get the movie, and Olivia, so I will send her the script. Rue called me and said, Oh honey, I just love it. I never thought at my age I would get to play a woman in love again, and I love playing a woman in love.... it doesn’t pay anything does it. I said no, and she said well I don’t care. I want to do it. We will act like we are doing theatre. I really did take my theatre troop and put them on screen in a TV show.”

The gays watching the series quickly found themselves smitten with the adorable Ty, a blossoming actor in West Hollywood dealing with his own coming out, new relationship, and dealing with his family. Ty is played by Shore’s husband Jason Dottley. This means you are probably thinking “Del, you are a lucky man.”

“Yes I am, I am very fortunate. Not only do I get to go to bed with Jason a lot, when we are together he is just a good person. I already had quite a good career going but the Sordid franchise had stalled

and it was his idea. He has such business mind. He is kind and sweet and we just celebrated our sixth anniversary of marriage, and coming up [we will have been] together eight years. We have been legally married only a year, we got re-married legally on the anniversary of our first wedding and a few days later Prop 8 passed. We are one of the 18,000 couples that legally married in California.”

a great

Dottley lets it all hang out, so to speak, in a couple of nude scenes that leave nothing to the imagination. “Jason has no qualms about that. I told him, I would like you to think about being naked in the series, and he said ok. One of the main questions I always get was, how was it to direct your husband having sex with another man. It was so technical, I was hopping in and having to move their leg, getting the shot right. I have to admit though when I was editing, it was very hot. But not on the set, it was all about getting it right.”

The series is left hanging (no pun intended), with many storylines that still need to be tied off. Unfortunately, the second season likely won’t be happening any time soon.

“It is in such limbo right now. It is very frustrating what we have gone through with this series. I put four years of my life on hold while the financing came together, and really we shot it for a lot less than we should have. We did not have the support of Logo once we got in trouble with the producers, who still owe all of us residuals.

It ran almost 300 times collectively and that adds up. We have not been paid any money on those reruns. Logo picked up the second season contingent on the other financiers. There is bad blood with all of us and the producers. It has gotten legal with the guild and nobody wants to work with these people. I presented to Logo that they should buy the series. I got a price from the company and it was less than a million dollars, and they said no. …I don’t believe it to be the people who run LOGO’s fault, it is Viacom, who owns LOGO, that is not supporting this gay network. Gay people want good product, we are very discriminate with what we want to watch.”

So what will the future be of these crazy Texans and their Sordid Lives be?

“I don’t know what is going to happen. The performance is so good. We shot the impossible. I do have the rights to do more movies.

I don’t own the rights to the series and would love to get that back through arbitration. The franchise will continue. It is not all I will be doing but I would like to make a couple more movies - A Sordid Christmas and A Sordid Wedding. It does not mean there won’t be a series but it will give the fans more of my crazy characters while they wait.”

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Sordid Lives: The Series Now available on DVD http://www.delshores.net/ Win a copy of the complete first season at www.GayCalgary.com

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Book Review

Welcome to the Jungle

How literary icon Rita Mae Brown learned about life from animals

By Chris Azzopardi Situated on a quiet, rural area of central Virginia, on a sprawling 1,000-acre farm, is Rita Mae Brown – and 70 foxhounds, 19 hunting bassets and 40 horses. Inside the longtime novelist’s home, there are 11 house cats and, she can’t say for sure, but probably seven dogs.

Animals are Brown’s life just as much as Brown’s life is animals, and nothing epitomizes that more than the writer’s memoir: Animal Magnetism: My Life with Creatures Great and Small, in which she riffs on the critters that inspired her, teaching lifelong lessons about love, monogamy, trust and grief.

“All of those memories just came together,” says Brown from her home, seconds after gabbing with a chatty neighbor who was smitten by a phonograph needle, thus delaying our conversation. But sometimes life is about the little things, a mantra Brown’s adopted while spending much of her life in peaceful sectors, away from the hustle-and-bustle of the city. She likes it quiet. She loves to be among nature. And she prefers animals to people.

“They’re not diluted by ideology,” she reasons. “They live in the present, and they accept the world just as it is.”

They also don’t talk (and talk, and talk) about phonograph needles.

And yet they can be just as inspiring: her horse, Suzie Q, taught her hard work; a Doberman, R. C., showed her courage.

Ever since growing up on her family’s Pennsylvania farm, and even as she eventually basked in big-city life while living in L.A. and New York City (where she participated in the Stonewall riots), four-legged and feathered friends have remained close. Metropolitan living wasn’t for her, as she feels “the more disconnected you are from nature, the more neurotic you get,” so Virginia became her home in 1988. Then, it was just cutover acres. Now it’s a farm. A big farm.

Of all the animals living there, and many others who have passed, each changed her life in some small – or big – way. One in particular has become the muse for her popular Sneaky Pie Brown mystery series, in which she gives a voice to her cat: “Somebody will come up and say, ‘Oh, you’re too cute,’ and somebody else will say, ‘Oh, no, that’s exactly what my dog would say.’ I just listen – because how do I know?”

She doesn’t, but here’s a lesson – the most valuable, Brown says – that she’s learned from animals: Trust yourself.

“People don’t,” she says. “They over think. I’m a person that tests well, and I appear to be bright if you give me a book to read, but I don’t know if I really am. The more I submitted to the process of education the less, in a way, smart I was, because I began to doubt my instincts; I began to doubt my animal sense – the basic five senses.

“Every big mistake I’ve ever made in my life is because I just didn’t trust my animal self.”

Her animal self, at least in some afterlife, is a thoroughbred, a spirited horse breed best known for its racing skills. Brown’s always been athletic, and “I would love to have the ability that they have. With a thoroughbred you’d get about 1,200 pounds of power and grace and heart – in one package.”

Feeling the love – and hate Here’s why Rita Mae Brown is a writer: Even when she’s speaking, discussing why – at age 64 – she wanted to share these vignettes, she paints us a poetic analogy.

“When the milkweeds are released, and they float through the air, they’re beautiful,” she muses. “Memories are like that. There are a couple of days when the milkweeds are there, and you can see them,

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and if you don’t grab them, they’re gone. This just so happened to be a time when they were there.”

Spoken like a true literary icon, an honorary label Brown’s more than earned since the release of Rubyfruit Jungle, a controversial coming-of-age novel released in the early ’70s that changed LGBT literature with its, at least during that rigid decade, overt lesbianism. The name referred to female genitalia, and Brown’s book was the subject of intense controversy and careful scrutiny. Any inclusion of gay and lesbian characters – up until Rubyfruit Jungle – involved suicide or “converting,” Brown says. She dropped a bomb, and she knew it.

“I was just glad to live,” she recalls with a hesitance that signals relief. “It was the focus of so much hate.

I didn’t realize how ignorant people were – and I don’t mean that as an ugly word; ignorant as in they simply didn’t know – nor how much anger there would be. Plus, everybody was in the closet, so there I was all alone.”

Sighing, and then continuing with a slight laugh: “Let me put it this way: I’m glad nobody else is going to have to do it.”

We’ve come a long way in the last few decades – some states have legalized gay marriage, a “modern family” – at least according to ABC’s new sitcom of the same name – now includes LGBT units, and being queer is more of a fashion statement than a death sentence.

But Brown was famous for more than pushing buttons. She’s gay, and that was big news: “There were 220 million people in America, but I was the only lesbian,” she laughs.

Was she afraid?

“No, I’m not a coward,” she assures. “I may not be the brightest bulb on the Christmas tree, but I’ve got guts.”

She’s still bold: As millions of LGBT people steadfastly fight for rights, she’s sitting on the sidelines with an apathetic attitude. Not that she doesn’t understand the need for it; it just doesn’t personally affect her.

“Remember, I’m a farmer,” she says. “I’m really basic, and so the emotional element of gay marriage is not important to me, but I know that it is to others; it’s very compelling to millions of people.”

Even if she were straight, she’d give it a so-what shrug. To her, job security is a priority. So is professional promotion and starting a business with the loan assistance. What about the flack from the gay community – is she worried?

“No, I don’t think anybody gives a crap what I think,” she laughs, “and that’s OK, too. But I want them to have it for them. I don’t want it for me.”

Not that she’s opposed to relationships. She’s been in several – with tennis player Martina Navratilova, actress/writer Fannie Flagg and politician Elaine Noble. Currently, she shares an elusive something with a “friend” who lives 3,000 miles away; she’s happy with what they have – it’s endearing and, when they meet, delightful – and that’s good enough for her, she says. Why? All the love she needs rests in one place – on that long stretch of land in Virginia.

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Community News

Survey Says…

Calgary Outlink Tells Us What We Want

By Dallas Barnes How well do we really know our own community? In a reputed, somewhat fractured community, it can be hard to know what all of us want. In this time of exceptional growth in Calgary’s GLBT community, we are fortunate to hear the results of Calgary Outlink’s survey Exploring the Needs of LGBT Community in Calgary prepared by the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Social Work.

The purpose of this study, according to Calgary Outlink, was to examine the service needs, barriers and best practices for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans-identified communities. The survey was completed by 230 individuals over the internet, showing a gender identity distribution of 45% female, 48% male, and 7% trans-identified. There was also an environmental scan of “representatives of groups or services that offer programs or make particular efforts to be inclusive of LGBT people”. With the results, Calgary Outlink hopes to direct their future programming to the appropriate audiences.

Much of the information in this survey does not come as a surprise. Most apparent on the survey and in the general GLBT population of Calgary was the need for a central location or “hub” for the community. This would entail a community centre that provides “services, programs, groups, activities, and advocacy.” Forty-two percent surveyed believe that Calgary Outlink should be this centre.

Again, the biggest gap in the community as identified by these organizations was the lack of a hub or community centre.

“Such a community centre could take the lead in addressing some of the key challenges, needs and issues identified in the environmental scan, such as providing a safe space for LGBT people to go to for information or services, developing additional programs for LGBT youth and the trans-identified communities, providing consistent services or programs to the LGBT communities, promoting programs that are culturally sensitive, increasing coordination between LGBT services and mainstream services (e.g., shelters), and working with mainstream agencies to develop safe spaces for LGBT people.”

While it is commendable, Calgary Outlink’s initiative to understand issues that the GLBT community of Calgary is facing, the next step of addressing them is a tall order. Only time will tell how this information will go toward improving their services and visibility in Calgary.

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For more information on this survey, please visit Calgary Outlink’s website at www.calgaryoutlink.ca.

Survey results indicated that more than 75% of participants believe that being connected to GLBT community is a crucial part of their identity. This again comes as no surprise. What is disconcerting however is that only 57% of the participants took part in GLBT events, services, organizations, programs, groups, and activities other than bars, and only 59% felt they were part of the community. This shows a definite deficiency in the services that Calgary’s GLBT community needs.

Some of the facts might have been a little tough for Calgary Outlink to hear. One participant suggested that the organization needs to focus on increasing notoriety, stating, “I’m not aware of a lot of the services that Outlink provides.” This sentiment represents 30% of the participants who knew nothing of what Outlink has to offer. In fact, about 79% of participants were aware that Calgary Outlink exists to serve the GLBT community of Calgary, and yet only 19% of the participants were “very aware” of what programs they provide.

What is surprising is the high level of interest that participants had for being involved in GLBT programs, activities or events. Special events such as Pride week pulled in 79% of the survey participants while organizations and advocacy/activism garnered 68% each. Only 14% of participants were interested in participating in religious events while 45% were interested in sports groups. Most astonishing was the level of interest in bars, which only accounted for 50% of participants, showing that there is indeed a bigger picture.

The environmental scan provided some useful insight into the lack of services and programs for the GLBT community.

All of the 22 organizations surveyed “had either programs or service that were targeted directly to the LGBT communities.”

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #73, November 2009

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GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #73, November 2009

Celebrity Interview

Alberta’s Got Talent Lethbridge’s Tara-Jean Popowitch Crowned Dancing Queen

By Jason Clevett There must be something in the water here in Alberta. Theo Tams is Canadian Idol, Miles Faber and Allie Bertram were close runners up in the first season of So You Think You Can Dance Canada, and now Lethbridge’s Tara-Jean Popowitch has won the second season of the hit show.

“It is insane! I think Albertan’s just have a really solid work ethic.

Every dancer I have met from Alberta doesn’t have an ego, they just work their butts off in everything they do. That is why Albertan’s go so far,” Popowitch surmises.

We caught up with her on the phone from Lethbridge, where she has returned home. A week after her victory she was still taking it all in.

“I was not expecting it at all. As soon as I woke up that morning my gut feeling was that Vincent was going to take it. When Leah said Tara-Jean it took a couple of seconds to kick in. I am still in shock actually. I am the happiest I have ever been in my life, my feet haven’t touched the ground yet.”

The joy of the moment was the culmination of an emotional roller coaster for Popowitch.

“It is really stressful. You start in your audition city and perform a solo and there are 4 cuts you have to go through. …Performing for the judges is very intimidating because they are trying to find their next favorite dancer. The top 100 has so many great dancers you have to just stay confident throughout the process. Once we hit the top 20 I have never been surrounded by so much talent in my life!

The process got harder because there is more pressure and the country is starting to know you. I was not in my comfort zone, I only did one number that was my genre which was contemporary dance. The rest was ballroom stuff I had never performed before. It is a very stressful process but at the same time the best experience of my life. I worked so hard, I would have to watch YouTube to find out what dance style I was doing. I was practicing non-stop.

One of Luther’s comments was, you are the hardest working dancer in the competition. It was nice to be recognized and that made me want to work even harder.”

a routine but I don’t want to. I do have to clean my room though - I am back to being a regular person. My friends are the same, happy and crying a lot more than usual. Some friends I can tell want to ask questions and are nervous, wondering, now that I am famous, if I am different. I pull them in and give them a hug and say, it’s still me!”

Her homecoming is a brief respite before heading out on tour. So You Think You Can Dance Canada’s top ten tour hits Edmonton November 30th and Calgary December 2nd.

“It is a very stressful process but at the same time the best experience of my life...”

“I miss it already. I am texting everyone from the show because we miss each other so much. I want the tour to come faster than it is. It is the first time I am going to be touring Canada, I can’t believe I get to do what I love doing and see my country at the same time. It is a huge thing and the luckiest thing for dancers. I don’t really get too nervous anymore because I love performing for thousands of people now. I never thought I would say that. We are going be like rock stars and there is really nothing you can do to prepare for that, nerves are going crazy and you hope the show goes well - there is nothing you can do to prepare for that kind of experience.”

Now that she is home, it is at times strange, as she catches up with friends who are adjusting to her new found fame.

“It is crazy being home, people are giving me hugs, people are nervous to talk to me. I am still a person, and being called famous is something I don’t think I will ever get used to.

I have been really busy and doing a bunch of interviews a day, so I haven’t settled down into

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Celebrity Interview She is especially excited about the tour stop in Lethbridge on November 29th.

“I get to say thank you in person instead of through radio and interviews. I just can’t wait to thank everyone in every city for voting and watching the show, especially in my hometown of Lethbridge. I was bawling when I found out we were doing a show here.”

Like any dancing girl, Tara has a lot of gay friends and fellow dancers, including Top-20 finalist Taylor James.

“He is the nicest and funniest person ever. I have many gay best friends, they are so personable. He is awesome and so entertaining. He is always dancing which I absolutely love. It shows how much he loves dance.”

The love of dance she shares with James is something that Popowitch wants to pass on to others. She takes her new status as a role model very seriously.

“I feel like the luckiest person having that role. I was up until 4 in the morning trying to reply to people. Young girls are messaging me on Facebook saying, I don’t know how to achieve my goals and am too afraid to go for them. Honestly if you want anything in life, it is a lot of hard work but you can achieve it. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you came from, you can achieve anything in life as long as you put everything you have into it.”

With a new car, $100,000, and fame as Canada’s favorite dancer, the world is Tara-Jean’s oyster. Season one winner Nico Archambault focused on his group The Pinup Saints. Tara-Jean hasn’t settled on one plan yet.

“They are shipping the car to me on Monday. It worked out well because my little Pontiac Sunfire broke down before the show so I needed a new car. I want to keep dancing. I love doing TV and film so I will be auditioning as much as I can. I want to do my own show, hire my own dancers, choreograph and rent the venue and put on a show. I am hoping to do that next year. Some of the money I won will go to that. I am going to pay the rest of my Mom’s house off for her. My brother, even though he is the most stubborn person I have ever met, I am going to try and make him take some money to pay off his school. I tried to pay for dinner last night and he got mad at me, so I will try my best.”

“Thank you for making me Canada’s favorite dancer. I appreciate it more than the world and can’t wait to perform for you on tour.”

http://www.gaycalgary.com/a1477

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SYTYCD – The Top Ten Tour November 29 – Enmax Centre – Lethbridge November 30 – Rexall Place – Edmonton December 2 – Pengrowth Saddledome – Calgary Tickets at Ticketmaster

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Celebrity Interview

The Many Sides of Buck Angel

By Jason Clevett Buck Angel is many things. For some, he is hardcore porn’s “real man with a pussy.” To others he is a speaker who may have opened up their eyes to something they didn’t understand before. To others, he is someone who is an inspiration, a motivation, to stand up and be proud of who they are – trans, gay, lesbian, or straight.

“Every day I get a letter from a young trans man or gay man. I got an e-mail the other day from a man saying, I’m gay, I never thought I would be attracted to a vagina but you made me realize it has nothing to do with a vagina it is just about you.” I get lots of e-mails from people saying that they want to change, how do they do it, is it ok to not have the bottom surgery and does that still make them a man? I have seen that grow tremendously, influencing how people feel about themselves. That is a big part of my work, why does everyone have to identify as gay or straight or bisexual? I just identify as a sexual man.”

Buck is preparing to appear at part of Edmonton’s Exposure Festival. There will be a reception with him on November 13th followed by a screening of clips he specifically selected for the festival and a meet and greet at Boots. On the 14th he will be part of an artists workshop entitled Imaging Salon in which he will model for Sculptors, drawers, sketchers and photographers. Finally on the 15th he will be part of the Really Big Show at Steamworks.

“I am super excited, I have never been to Edmonton! Other than the cold…I live in Mexico where it is super hot and humid so going from that to Edmonton will be super shocking for my body. They have promised me I wouldn’t be outside for more than 5 minutes,” he said, laughing.

“They originally wanted to screen one of my films, which is great, but I have learned it feels uncomfortable for me to sit for two hours in front of my porn. My movies are pretty hardcore and I don’t feel comfortable having people watching me having hardcore sex for two hours. I thought I would put together more of a ‘Best of Buck Angel’ and explain my career, where I started and where I am at.

There are clips from interviews with Howard Stern, Playboy TV, Spanish TV interspersed with some of my favorite scenes. The theme of the festival is embracing your body, so I interlaced it with a bunch of scenes I have done with transsexuals, transvestites, post ops, men…different types of scenes showing the diversity of my work.”

Buck admits some people are not sure how to react when they meet him, or if they should admit to being a fan.

“It is quite interesting because I consider myself pretty down to earth and approachable.

People see me as intimidating and end up being fairly standoffish at times. Gay men are my biggest customer base, I would say, and from there queer identified females and then straight females. The least is straight men, although I am seeing more of them interested in my work which is bizarre. So people seem super intimidated and I need to be more there and approach them so they feel more comfortable in approaching me. I am really looking forward to coming to the event and

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meeting people I haven’t met before. It is going to be a lot of fun. If you see me, come talk to me, I am very approachable and I won’t bite your head off.”

Buck is the only mainstream female-to-male transsexual in porn. We asked what made him want to be a porn star.

“I was working in the industry behind the camera working with transsexual women at the time. A light bulb went off over my head when I realized that in the whole industry there was nobody. There were some guys producing underground porn but nobody taking it where I want to, super in your face and mainstream. At first I wasn’t sure if I wanted to do it. It was really putting myself out there – am I comfortable enough to show my body naked let alone having sex? I realized that yes I am, it will also empower me to be more accepting of my body. My experience with the trans females, these companies got a hold of them and really exploited them. Trans women porn is known as the freakish porn of the industry. I wanted to keep a hold of my porn and have whole control over it, and that is what I did.”

What he did not expect were the requests for appearances and speaking engagements that would be the result.

“I was a shy sort of guy, which is why the internet was so good for me. I could focus on my movies and not have to interact with people. I was super shy at one time of my life. Every day something new happens to me that is changing the way Buck Angel is affecting the world. I thought I would shock the adult industry, which it needed because it is the same stuff over and over.

I really turned it on its ear and said, there are more sexuality and gender differences than what they are producing…I never thought in a million years I would get to the level I am at. I am really proud that my work is so powerful, making people think.”

Buck also let us in on an exclusive, the next step in the world of Buck Angel: his biography.

“I am letting the cat out of the bag; you are the first to know that I am writing my book now. That is a big deal for me. I have put it off for a long time because it feels like therapy, I have to deal with parts of my life that I dealt with and locked away, and now I have to revisit it.

Celebrity Interview

I had to find the right writer for me who would make the right book, a very positive book… I wanted my book to be super empowering and the writer needed to understand that. Now that I have found the right writer it is time.”

While Buck Angel wears many hats, in the end he is just like everyone else, making his way in the world.

“I don’t identify so much as a trans man, I am just a man. I think Ian (Harvie, stand up comedian and good friend – he set Buck up for his chest surgery) is the same way, and that is why we get along so well. We chose to just empower ourselves. I am a man who has a vagina and I am ok with that and have put it out there. My whole being doesn’t happen to be between my legs, it just happens to be that is who I am. That is what my work was based on. We do completely different work so we are able to get into these situations where people can feel better about themselves, whether it is a trans person, a gay man, someone who is HIV positive. You need to be ok with who you are, not feel uncomfortable with your body and be able to celebrate that. That is really what my message is.”

http://www.gaycalgary.com/a1478

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Buck Angel at the Exposure Festival

 November 13th – 15th, 2009

 www.exposurefestival.ca  www.BuckAngel.com

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #73, November 2009

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Queer Eye - Community Events Photography Read Alberta Magazines Kick off Party - Calgary

Womonspace AGM and Dance - Edmonton

Kinky Flea Market - Calgary

Pride Calgary AGM

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Queer Eye - Community Photography Events BEEF Bearbash at Boots - Edmonton

From Sirs with Lust at the Calgary Eagle

Queen of Hearts at Boots - Edmonton

Play Girlz - Edmonton

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Queer Eye - Community Events Photography Backlot Anniversary Party - Calgary

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GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #73, November 2009

Queer Eye - Community Photography Events Halloween in Calgary, photos taken at the Backlot, Calgary Eagle, Money-Pennies, Calgary Opera and the Texas Lounge

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Queer Eye - Community Events Photography Halloween in Edmonton, photos taken at Boots, Buddy’s, Play, Prism and Woody’s

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