GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine - November 2010

November 2010 ISSUE 85 The Only Magazine Dedicated to Alberta’s LGBT Community

FREE 2010 Exposure festival guide Page 35

Mad About Mado

The Queen of Montreal Visits Calgary

7

th

Anniversary Edition!

Interviews with:

Ian Harvie

Plus Interviews with:

30H!3 Nelly Furtado Bedouin Soundclash And more!

Darker Side of Charlie David

Multi-tasking Canadian releases Shadowloands Book

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

LGBT Resource • Calgary • Edmonton • Alberta

www.gaycalgary.com

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #85, November 2010

Table of Contents

Table of Contents 5 Lucky 7

Photography

Steve Polyak, Rob Diaz-Marino, B&J

Videography

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 Ian Harvie, Photo by Kevin Neales Mado. Photo by Union Créative Charlie David. Photo by UKMCBO Photography

Proud Members of:

The Queen of Montreal Visits Calgary

8 The Darker Side of Charlie David Multi-tasking Canadian releases Shadowlands Book

10 Exposure Festival

PAGE 7 PAGE XXX

Mercedes Allen, Chris Azzopardi, Dallas Barnes, Dave Brousseau, Sam Casselman, Jason Clevett, Andrew Collins, Emily Collins, Rob Diaz-Marino, Janine Eva Trotta, Jack Fertig, Glen Hanson, Joan Hilty, Evan Kayne, Stephen Lock, Allan Neuwirth, Steve Polyak, Romeo San Vicente, Ed Sikov and the GLBT Community of Calgary, Edmonton, and Alberta.

7 Mad About Mado

Make ‘Em Laugh

13 The Ambitiously Gay Duo

Howl filmmakers on James Franco’s latest gay role, working together and the movie’s controversy

14 Whoa, Nelly!

Singer looks back at decade-long career – when the gays fell for her and the stories behind her biggest hits

17 Directory and Events 26 Bullying Is Deadly

PAGE 8 PAGE XXX

Writers and Contributors

Publisher’s Column

27 Q Scopes

“Think carefully, Aries!”

28 Deep Inside Hollywood Zachary Quinto wants Your Number

29 Diversity Project Brings Awareness to Campus Edmonton’s MacEwan University Shows LGBTQ Community Support

29 AIDS Calgary’s Holiday Hamper A Program that Brings a Smile in Tough Times

PAGE 10 PAGE XXX

Publisher: Steve Polyak Editor: Rob Diaz-Marino Sales: Steve Polyak Design & Layout: Rob Diaz-Marino, Ara Shimoon

30 Out of Town

Getting to Know Toronto

Edmonton Rainbow Business Association

32 Fundraising Photos 39 Letters

International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association

PAGE 14 PAGE XXX

39 Cocktail Chatter The Scarborough Fair

National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association

Continued on Next Page  GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #85, November 2010

Table of Contents  Continued From Previous Page

40 Giving Hope to Our Youth 42 Alberta’s Bar Evolution

How is Alberta’s Night Scene Changing with the Times?

PAGE XXX 30

48 Free Speech and the Myth of “Special Rights”

50 Bedouin Soundclash

Canadian band regroups with Light The Horizon

51 A Couple of Guys 52 Bitter Girl 53 Music Review

Elton John and Leon Russell, Liza Minnelli

54 Kiss & Tell PAGE XXX 50

3OH!3 paves their Streets of Gold

56 Classified Ads 58 Chelsea Boys 59 A Thousand Laughs

60 Exposing Ian Harvie 62 Paula Cole’s Second Coming

PAGE XXX 54

The pop-folk icon talks new album, hits (and pits), and the gays who love her to bits

64 Queer Eye

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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. This magazine also includes straight allies and those who are gay friendly.

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GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #85, November 2010

Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.

GayCalgary is a registered trademark.

Dec 2010 Print Deadlines Ad Booking: Fri, Nov 26th

Submission: Tue, Nov 30th In Circulation: Fri, Dec 3rd Please contact us immediately if you think you may have missed the booking or submission deadline.

Editorial

Lucky 7

Publisher’s Column

By Rob Diaz-Marino, MSc This month marks a milestone for us - our 7th anniversary of publishing GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine. While Steve and I get a lot of the credit for the work we do for the community through the magazine, it should not be overlooked that we have a solid team of writers and contributors to thank for ensuring there is always something interesting and personally relevant to read each month.

Personally, I think one of our biggest strengths is the flexibility we’re able to offer to our customers, without compromising reliability to our readers.

Not many magazines are willing or able to do this, but it is something we do in order to accommodate and respond to our community in a more effective manner. It may mean a slightly less polished product than if we spent weeks focusing on the aesthetic details of our page layouts, but we feel it is a reasonable trade off in order to remain functional, useful, and current.

I’ve often commented in my Publisher’s Column that some months of the magazine appear to have a coincidental “theme” to them, in that articles from isolated writers all seem to touch on a common topic. (Well, it’s apparent to me anyway, since I proofread every article from our freelance writers.)

This month definitely has strong overtones regarding homophobic bullying. From all the mainstream media coverage regarding LGBT teen suicides, it is understandable that this would be something heavy on everyone’s mind.

Just recently, Steve attended his 20 year High School reunion, and an open house at his old school. This brought back many memories for him of the adversities he faced while growing up. While wandering the halls of St. Mary’s High School, he pointed out the room that used to be his office, as he did extra-curricular work with computers beyond anything his teachers knew how to do. I get the sense that this was his sanctuary, where he could escape from the students that might otherwise be tormenting him.

Unfortunately in his case, some of the teachers were also the problem.

He has shared with me some pretty shocking stories about the sordid affairs of even the adults at his school – his catholic school.

As for myself, I never got the impression that I was perceived as being gay while I was growing up, yet nonetheless I seemed to attract a number of bullies in my time. I grew up in Marlborough, which is often considered a rough part of town (perhaps not quite as rough as Forest Lawn). I’ve always been something of a scrapper at heart, which brought me to put on a good show of defiance without ever actually resorting to fighting.

In fourth grade I was tormented by an African-American kid in my class, surprisingly someone I had been friends with only the grade prior.

Seemingly out of nowhere he became very angry toward me, and punched me in the stomach for no reason one day while the teacher wasn’t looking.

Although I immediately went to the teacher for help, I was made to feel small for not being able to stick up for myself. So when this continued, the next people I went to for advice were my parents, who were good parents, but similarly took the approach that I needed to work this out on my own.

Continued on Next Page 

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #85, November 2010

 Editorial Contd.

Online Last Month

In particular, my dad’s advice was a little counterproductive in that he encouraged me to hit him back. Though I wasn’t prepared to do that, my show of retaliation was enough to deter this particular bully.

Later on I encountered some of the neighbourhood bullies who were several years older than me. One decided to beat me up for stepping outside of the crossing lines while crossing the road – this time, my parents and the school did take action. Another bully lived a few houses down the alleyway from me, and would try to beat me up when I wasn’t attempting to maintain a shaky friendship with him, in which I often ended up getting victimized in other ways.

My point is that, every bully that I can recall dealing with had personal problems of their own. The parents of the African-American kid were going through a divorce, the guy at the crosswalk was known by my school to be learning disabled and have emotional problems, and the kid down the alleyway had a father that was in jail. So it’s all very well to say that we need to punish bullies for acting the way they do, but getting to the root of the problem is not as simple. When you punish behavior that their parents encourage or reward through the example that they set, you can end up with children who are even more confused and frustrated – maybe even close to suicide themselves. Certainly I’m not saying the “blame the victim” approach is valid, but I don’t think that blaming and punishing the bully is enough either.

October 2010

Last month we had a booth at Edmonton’s Taboo: Naughty but Nice Sexy Show, which in previous years has occurred after Calgary’s show, instead of before. A clever idea brought new life to our booth, and helped raise close to $1500 toward the charities of the Imperial Sovereign Court of the Wild Rose. We are excited to bring this concept to Calgary’s Taboo show this November 11th to 14th.

The idea is quite simple really. We created a banner to hang in our booth that looks like a cover of our magazine. The frame is there with a background pattern, but the cover model is you! In Edmonton, people had their choice of being photographed with any available combination of drag queens and leather boys for $4 (which included an electronic copy of the photo sent to them by e-mail), and we were able to provide 4”x6” prints at $1 apiece, on the spot. Additionally, many of the photos were placed on our Facebook page (with permission) for people to tag themselves and

Continued on Page 34 

Tips for LGBT Sellers

How to help attract a qualified buyer Tips for LGBT Sellers: How to help attract a qualified buyer. Everyone is well aware that for the past couple of years the real estate market has been...

www.gaycalgary.com/a1891 Gay Politicians No Longer a Novelty In 2010, a candidate’s sexuality is fast becoming just a part of the whole package.

That is, it’s starting to be seen at the same level of whether the...

www.gaycalgary.com/a1892 The Second Closet

An Open Dialogue on SameSex Domestic Violence This November, in conjunction with Domestic Violence Awareness Month, The Alliance to End Violence will be facilitating The Second Closet: An Open Dialogue...

www.gaycalgary.com/a1893 HIV Edmonton Presents

Chloe Albert Live in Concert HIV Edmonton recently brought Edmonton Singer-Songwriter Chloe Albert to The ARTery this past October 22nd, as part of its Legacy Series. HIV Edmonton’s...

www.gaycalgary.com/a1894 ManWear Takes Centre Stage!

PriapeMag 2nd Edition Last January, Priape launched its very first PriapeMag. Together with its selection of existing catalogues (fetish, summer, Christmas), this publication...

www.gaycalgary.com/a1895 Small Town (Openly Gay) Boy - Part 2

Colin Walmsley’s Valedictorian Speech In the October 2010 edition of GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine, we interviewed a young man by the name of Colin Walmsley.

A resident of the small...

www.gaycalgary.com/a1896 Great Big Sea Jubilant at Jubilee Reviewing concerts gives me the opportunity to see acts that I may not have gone out of my way to see, in a crowded concert marketplace.

Sometimes that...

www.gaycalgary.com/a1898 Lisa Lampanelli

Offensive Yet Funny The biggest challenge in reviewing Lisa Lampanelli’s Calgary debut this past October 23rd at the Jack Singer, was that most of what she said isn’t suitable...

www.gaycalgary.com/a1899

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #85, November 2010

Interview

 Photos by FotoFusion

Mad About Mado

The Queen of Montreal Visits Calgary

By Pam Rocker Mado Lamotte is not your typical drag queen. Part comedian, part clown, and all surprises, Mado has been a beloved and hilarious staple of Montreal’s nightlife for over 20 years. This year marked the 13th anniversary of Mascara, her dragapalooza event that’s staged annually as a part of Divers/Cité, and has been presented to over 300,000 people to date. It’s also the 8th anniversary of the opening of her own nightclub in Montreal’s Village, aptly named Cabaret Mado, where she acts as hostess, as well as occasionally performing Those lucky enough to see Mado perform may first notice her unstuffed chest and tattooed arms. This, juxtaposed with her outrageous makeup, blazing wigs, and unparalleled sharp wit, forces you to push any perceived norms or phobias out of the window (but you’re having such a good time that you don’t mind doing it).

She recently returned from her sixth tour in Paris, this time performing a show she wrote called Mado: Bitche La France.

“It was two hours of songs and monologues where I make fun of the French people, their habits, their culture, their country, and their superiority complex,” she laughs. “And as weird as it sounds, they loved it and asked for more!”

 Mado. Photo by Union Créative It doesn’t sound weird, it sounds exactly like what audiences have loved about Mado for years. Her self-deprecating humour, bilingual double-entendres and ability to not take everything seriously must be why she stands out among the many queens who would love to be in her shoes. Also, she has written and performed much of her own material, something that came about organically for her.

“I did some lip-synch in the past, but I could rarely stick to the song – I always had to add my own vision to it. Now I mostly do my own stuff.

I will perform songs that people know but I always change the words to make it more Mado. Why should I perform someone else’s creation when I can show the public how crazy and funny my world is?”

Mado also sets herself apart by singing live.

“Live singing is what I do most. When I perform with others, I sometimes do lip-synch, but it’s not really my cup of tea. I have too many words up there in my big head that I want to share,” Mado explains. “And frankly, who wants to suffer through hours of listening to Celine’s voice, trying to learn one of her songs?”

She puts her singing chops to the test with her recently released album, Full Mado, The Remix Album. Produced by Montreal’s Erek McQueen, the album is a mixture of songs from the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s – with rewritten lyrics by Mado herself and remixed beats for your dancing pleasure.

But it’s not just about the music. Comedy plays an integral role in all of her shows. I wondered when this started, and if this had always been an intentional move on Mado’s part.

“I always wanted to be a comedian when I was young and Mado is the perfect character to work with, since she’s a mix between a clown and a stand-up comic. That’s why I don’t really consider myself a drag queen.

Yes, I have the funky looks, but I don’t have the beauty or the body to be called a queen!” she laughs.

She cites Michel Tremblay, the famous Canadian novelist and playwright, as one of her inspirations. She even performed in his play Surprise Surprise in 2005.

“I grew up with his books. His characters are inspired by real people, with a touch of parody. That’s what I like about him. You can recognize your mother, your neighbour, your relatives, in every story he tells – but it’s always a bit more eccentric than real life. Mado could easily be a character in one of his stories, like one of your favourite eccentric, crazy aunties with a twisted sense of humour.”

Mado is now an inspirational figure herself and many tout her as an integral part of making the Village become the thriving hub that it is.

Many see her as an icon, not only as a unique and eccentric performer, but a tangible symbol of unashamed self-acceptance and pushing social norms. But was this a calculated move to the top, or a lucky accident for a theatre school dropout?

“I didn’t choose the business, honey, the business chose me,” she says. “When I was 3 years old, I was already ringing doorbells in my neighborhood to get cookies and candies and I remember the lady of the house asking me to sing a song or do a little dance for a treat. As a

Continued on Page 34 

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #85, November 2010

Interview

 Charlie David. Photos by UKMCBO Photography

The Darker Side of Charlie David Multi-tasking Canadian releases Shadowlands Book

By Jason Clevett Charlie David is likely Canada’s highest-profile out performer. He has starred in TV shows like Dante’s Cove, hosted the travel show Bump! and wrote, produced and directed the film Mulligans.

We caught up with Charlie over the phone from his new home in Montreal, where he recently moved after dividing his time between Vancouver and Los Angeles.

“Part of it is politics. I feel that we are really lucky in Canada. My tax dollars [are] going towards the US Government right now, which I don’t see as treating our community as fully equal citizens. I have the benefit of being Canadian and wanted my tax dollars to go here. Also I have been west coast based for the last 12 years and wanted to try something different. I have always loved Montreal so I decided to give it a go for a few years and see how I like it.”

Those familiar with David would describe him as a warm hearted, genuine and good person. Which is why Shadowlands, with its themes of murder, death, sex and violence, may shock fans. It shows a darker side of Charlie David.

“Yes I think so!” he laughed, when I posed the contrast to him.

“In writing it, I was surprised a lot myself. There is a lot of darkness there and a lot of the stories, though fictional, drawing from personal experience and imagined. Like anybody, there is light and darkness within us. This was an exploration into some of that darkness. It is not necessarily about violence, but the pain that we go through. Most of the stories in the anthology are love stories, but not necessarily traditional ones. It is more laced with the introspection and pain that comes with love and our journey with it. Whether it is meeting somebody for the first time, longing to be with somebody we can’t be with, the tragedy that happens when relationships break up or when we lose somebody that we’ve loved.”

This isn’t to say that the stories are bad, quite the contrary. Beautifully written, often erotic, the stories explore themes that all of us experience.

Grindr in particular deals with a young man losing a lover in an accident, and his supernatural guide to acceptance.

“I really like to play, in my writing, with the concept of the here-and– now, and the afterlife. I have been thinking a lot about it recently; what happens to us, if there is a possibility of communion with the souls of the dead. I am in a place of believing that there is a oneness, an energy that we come from and enter back into after our journey here on earth.

“The pain of what it would be like to lose the love of your life - I haven’t gone through that, I can only imagine it, and Grindr was just that, rumination in that idea. It is something that, like it or not, we will all face at some point. ... To go through that and experience the pain is where we get the biggest growth as individuals. These stories are really an exploration for me in really yearning for that: reaching out and knowing that my soul desperately wants to fall in love in that kind of fairytale way and asking the question of [whether] that really and truly exists. I don’t believe that it exists in the way we were taught growing up with our fairytale movies and the romantic comedy. Real love is something different and it comes with a lot of joy and orgasmic moments of feeling, but it is laced with lots of moments of pain as well. That is what makes the experience so special.”

Narcissus also stands out, both from a perspective of being surprisingly frightening, and for the fact that it is written in script form.

“I originally wrote it as a 10 minute film. It won an award in Vancouver as a script reading and I decided to develop it further. Since then I pitched a Twilight-zone type show to Logo and they offered me a pre-buy on it.

So that is something I am continuing to develop, to take stories from Shadowlands and put them into script format. I have four half-hour episodes done. Narcissus was the first experiment in doing that. After I had written it that way I thought it might be interesting for readers who may not be used to reading scripts to see it done that way.”

Another incredibly written (and creepy) tale is Harvest, which takes a number of surprising twists and turns before its conclusion.

“Often when I write, I don’t know where it is going. I put the pen to paper and just start going. Other writers fully know the story arc, sometimes I do and it is more methodically planned out. With Harvest it was drawn from a personal experience where I was, in ways, offered everything on a plate by a gentleman, and it scared me. I felt the darkness within that, or what was possible with it. I believe in the world there are forces of light and of darkness and we meet them in every day circumstances. Not to go with a religious connotation on that but, we are always faced with choices and they can have profound effects on us and the lives of people around us. Writing Harvest was a reflection of where I am at, being 30...where I have come from, where I go from here, and what is next. But I have never experienced an Eyes Wide Shut orgy party like in that story. It was made up, but fun to make up!”

The sexual aspect is one that, as a writer, can be a challenge. To lay your fantasies out on the page for anyone to read is quite brave, especially when it could be read by family.

Continued on Page 24 

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #85, November 2010

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #85, November 2010

Event

 Diamond Rings

Exposure Festival Make ‘Em Laugh

By Pam Rocker Oscar Wilde famously said, “If you want to tell people the truth, make them laugh, otherwise they’ll kill you.”

Successful stand-up comedians, from Ellen Degeneres to Margaret Cho, know this all too well and use their talent not only to sell out HBO specials, but to further positive social change.

This year’s Exposure Festival in Edmonton plans to do the same as they embark on their 4th anniversary with the theme of Laughing at Ourselves. A queer arts and culture festival with a broadening audience, Exposure’s current programming boasts Ian Harvie, the world’s first transgendered FTM comic who has toured extensively with Margaret Cho. Hosting his own show and performing on MTV and various notable festivals, Harvey is known for his ability to put audiences of diverse backgrounds at ease, cutting directly to the core of the human condition, in all its infinite strangeness.

The Festival works to cultivate an environment that welcomes and celebrates a variety of artists from Edmonton and beyond.

One event that highlights Alberta-based performers is Lady Fag, a cabaret-style event of queer performance, featuring work by host and organizer Elaine Wannechko, spoken word artist Derek Warwick, and Calgary based theatre-makers Jamie Tea and Jared Knapp.

Wannechko, a multi-disciplinary artist and story-teller, has been involved with Exposure since it began.

“I am drawn to queer art because it is inherently politically motivated,” she says. “Queer art is an avenue where people can show and/or see a diversity of ideologies represented, in contrast to hetero-normative ones that are more readily available.”

One of her inspirations for the title of Lady Fag was an exploration of words and their history of being used to abuse certain people.

“I am interested in the idea of the re-appropriation of words/ symbols that have been used to degrade a ‘type’ of people.

Some words/symbols are more successfully re-appropriated than others, but why is that? Sometimes re-appropriation is not possible; there are many reasons why people may reject words that are born out of fear and hatred.”

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GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #85, November 2010

 DBI

 Chris Craddock

Wannechko is hosting Lady Fag as three of her well-known characters; first as Elaine Gail, “a slightly cooler version of myself”, then as Andro Andy the androgynous super-hero, and finally as Ben Sover, an ungainly bisexual drag king.

“The characters I assume are humourous, awkward, and queer in multi-faceted ways. My live performances rely less on script and more on visuals such as body language, gestures, facial expressions, costumes, and props. I use performance to propose alternative viewpoints to normative culture in general and to hetero-normative culture specifically. I really love the immediacy of live performance and the ways it can affect an audience.”

For those who wait all year for the Fringe Festival, Exposure seems like a great chance to get a refreshing dose of queer themed content and see artists that may quickly become your new favourites.

“There’s a good mix of local and national talent, which is ultimately what we want to achieve: showcase homegrown talent and also acts that wouldn’t otherwise come to the city,” says Karen Campos, Communications and Marketing Director for the Festival.

Although she’s been involved with Exposure for 3 years, this is Campos’ first year in this position, and she’s excited about being able to bring her perspective to the table.

“As a queer person of colour that tends to be under represented in Edmonton, I welcome the opportunity to help shape the festival into something that is more dynamic and inclusive,” says Campos.

She has also set out to engage Exposure with the community at large by relaunching their blog, and basing their online presence around promoting a variety of events and working with a variety of organizations, queer or not.

“There’s so much room for organizations/groups to help each other out and to exchange tools and resources. Ultimately, it’s also an exchange in marketing and brand awareness for everyone involved. We’re excited about creating new working relationships.”

But it’s not all about comedy and networking. A noteworthy aspect of Exposure is their intentional focus on queer youth and creating opportunities for them to express and explore

their artistic abilities. Last year their Queer Youth Curators show, Printed Matters: Creating and Curating queer, received the highest amount of submissions in its 3 year history. This year’s Youth Workshop, iQueer, is presented by Edmonton based Actor/Producer/Writer Chris Craddock, whose awardwinning work has been internationally produced. “iQueer is meant to be a multi-disciplinary exploration event for queer youth to work in any of a variety of forms,” says Craddock. “We are hoping to see youth creating in theatre, with visual art, slam poetry, music, and possibly even video and music. We hope to be able to offer a chance for any kid to do exactly the kind of creation he or she wants to do, in a safe space, with only thematic focuses for a guideline. The best and bravest will be displayed that very night at the closing party.”

Reluctantly, Craddock admits that his first foray into writing for Young Audiences was inspired by a want ad.

“Azimuth Theatre was looking for outlines on a play about teen suicide, a subject I knew a little something about, and I applied with a first draft. It was accepted, and this started a journey for me that has seen me create five new plays for Young Audiences, and contribute as an artist to many more.

I love TYA (Theatre for Young Audiences) as a form for its democratic reach into audiences of all economic backgrounds.

Theatre for adults goes to people of a certain economic class these days, but in schools, it’s for everyone. Young people have not yet made up their minds about the world, and art is an important part of building intelligent, well-rounded and compassionate citizens.”

Craddock is passionate about the arts being accessible and available to youth, and the importance of artists being involved in festivals such as Exposure.

“Youth are at a tough time in their lives, and as such can be emotional. While this is often an issue in a classroom setting, in art these impulses are encouraged. I love to see youth discover an art form, find their voice within an art form, and figure out what they want to say. Art, and the reactions art provokes, are the leading tools of self-definition available in our society.

Queer youth may not have examples inside their homes, and thus positive role models are even more important.”

Another Festival highlight for young and old is dubpoet, educator, actor and award-winning playwright d’bi Young.

Born in Jamaica, raised in Whitfield, Kingston and in downtown Toronto, d’bi Young is a meeting place of AfrikanCaribbean-Canadian diasporic culture and experience. She identifies primarily as a storyteller, believing that storytelling encompasses everything she does. Young is one of Canada’s most celebrated artists, winning the 2007 Toronto Arts Council’s emerging artist award. She has performed, published, and lectured locally, nationally and internationally. At Exposure, Young will be holding a workshop with local queers of colour, who will then perform alongside her that evening.

“D’bi is an amazing poet who does a lot of work around race and identity which, as a person of colour, is really lacking in the city,” says Karen Campos. “I think this is part of the greater exchange that the Festival aims to do in terms of learning and evolving with help from the artists that are part of the festival.”

For audiophiles, 24-year-old Toronto musician Diamond Rings may surprise you with his unique mixture of vulnerable lyrics, glamorous live sets, and bright rainbow eye shadow.

Laugh, cry, write, sing, volunteer, or watch - this year’s Festival has something for everyone in the rainbow.

Exposure Festival www.exposurefestival.ca http://www.gaycalgary.com/a1903

View Bonus Pics/Videos • Share with a Friend • Post Comments GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #85, November 2010

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GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #85, November 2010

Interview

 James Franco stars in “Howl.” Photos by Oscilloscope Laboratories

 Aaron Tveit and James Franco in “Howl.”

The Ambitiously Gay Duo

through the next decades, and it was all fermenting in this small group of sexy, young poets in the ’50s, which is kind of a really cool notion.

How did James Franco’s name come up?

RE: Gus (Van Sant) suggested James. Gus was filming Milk at the time, and he’d read the (Howl) script and liked it and agreed to executive produce. So we started talking about casting and he said, “You should talk to James; he’s really interesting.” So we did. And he was! (Laughs) James has obviously mastered the art of playing gay, so what kind of direction did you give him?

JF: We actually had a lot of time to work with him, because he came on very early – before we had financing – and he was really into the project. He was very interested in the beats – he knew the poetry and he was very committed to the role – so he came to San Francisco and worked with us, and we worked with him in New York.

RE: A lot of the work we did together before we got to the point of shooting the movie was getting at the pain behind a lot of the words that Allen was speaking. A lot of that experience wasn’t necessarily close to James’ experience, so he really had to understand what was going on with the character, who felt at that point in his life – up until he got to the point where he was liberated enough to write Howl – very isolated and very lonely; and all his experiences with love and sex were unrequited. So, in that sense, we did a lot of work with James.

Some of the talk surrounding Howl is whether James Franco is too hot to play Ginsberg. Was that ever a concern?

RE: Well, we knew he could act Ginsberg – he’s such a great actor – so the physicalization was kind of the last thing we dealt with. In one of the screen tests, we put on the big Ginsberg glasses; just even doing that, he started to personify him. But so much of what he captures about the personality of Ginsberg is in his performance, and after seeing what James did with the James Dean role on television – he gave that performance so much depth – we knew he could do something similar with Ginsberg. Also, most people aren’t familiar with what Allen Ginsberg looked like at age 30, and there are similar physical characteristics, so it’s not that far off. We pushed out

Howl filmmakers on James Franco’s latest gay role, working together and the movie’s controversy

By Chris Azzopardi Allen Ginsberg’s 1956 landmark poem Howl would become an influential and controversial part of the “Beat Generation” – and years later, give James Franco yet another reason to play gay.

In the eponymous film adaptation, directing duo Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman (The Celluloid Closet, Common Threads) stray from documentaries to zero in on Ginsberg’s literary manifesto, focusing on the bard’s coming-to-terms with being gay while simultaneously recreating the resulting obscenity trial protesting his polarizing poem.

The filmmakers took a few minutes to discuss Franco’s turn as the gay icon – and why he’s not too hot for the role.

You’ve been making films together for over 20 years. What makes this relationship work?

Rob Epstein: How does our relationship work? Because we can’t answer that question! If we did, it would all fall apart (laughs).

Jeffrey Friedman: We complement each other in a lot of ways, but I couldn’t begin to define what those are exactly. We bounce ideas off each other, and we’ve found a way of working together creatively where what we come up with together is more interesting than what either of us might come up with on our own.

Why did you use Ginsberg’s Howl as the stimulus for this film?

RE: The starting part was Ginsberg, and we were interested in doing something about this particular moment in his life, which seemed to be so formative and such a golden moment.

We were creatively excited about the challenge of coming up with a concept that would feel unique and different in the way that the poem was in its time. We really set out to find a cinematic contemporary equivalent to that approach; and then thematically, the poem itself is just so rich with so many different themes and so much significant content, so just getting to the meat of the poem also excited us.

JF: I was excited about the idea of a cultural phenomenon that had actually changed the culture. Howl in some ways was the beginning of all of the counterculture moments that came

Continued on Page 25 

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #85, November 2010

13

Interview

 Photos by Richard Bernardin

Whoa, Nelly!

Singer looks back at decade-long career – when the gays fell for her and the stories behind her biggest hits

By Chris Azzopardi Like a bird is exactly how Nelly Furtado’s career has unfurled in the 10 years since she dropped her debut, Whoa, Nelly! The Canadian chanteuse was on top of the world, scoring a Grammy for the album’s breakthrough single, “I’m Like a Bird,” before her follow-up, Folklore, went, well, south.

But then she switched directions, tapping into Timbaland’s boom-boom beats for 2006’s “punk-hop” Loose. Singles like “Promiscuous” and “Maneater” ate up the charts, and there she went – flying again. Her hits collection, The Best of Nelly Furtado, archives her decade-long run and includes three unreleased cuts, leading off with club single “Night is Young.”

Furtado, 31, took us back, recalling the song she wrote on hotel paper as a chambermaid and how “Maneater” started a fire. But the singer, who was catching a break from recording to chat with us, also looked ahead to next year’s upcoming studio album, Lifestyle, a return to her Whoa, Nelly! roots.

Did you ever think you’d have a greatest hits album?

Actually, no, I didn’t. In the beginning I didn’t really know I’d still be making records 10 years later; I was kind of just trying it out. It was my hobby for a long time, and I made my hobby my job. I had planned to go back to university after Whoa, Nelly! – and then I never made it back! (Laughs) But yeah, I’m surprised that 10 years have passed; it gives you a chance to reflect. I was inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame recently, so it was all around the 10-year anniversary of the album coming out. It was all very timely – and kind of cool. Really cool!

Congratulations!

Oh, thanks! For the first album or two I was wondering: Is this really my career? Am I good at this? Is this going to stick around? After doing it for 10 years, it finally feels like this is definitely a career.

So you’re not going back to university?

It doesn’t mean I won’t. I still have all kinds of dreams. I’m definitely happy making music at the moment.

Which song from the greatest hits album has the best story behind it?

Perhaps one you wrote on hotel paper while you were a maid?

I have a song on Whoa, Nelly! that was written on hotel chambermaid report paper and that song is Party, but it’s not on greatest hits. On greatest hits, Say It Right is cool because it was really late at night that we wrote that song, like 4 in the morning, and we had just finished watching Pink Floyd

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GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #85, November 2010

The Wall, and (we) were very tired but also inspired, and the song just kind of came. It was a magical moment.

“Maneater” was the same. When we first wrote that song the speaker caught fire because the beat was so loud and ambitious, and the energy was so intense. And we actually put the song away for a few weeks. We were scared of the song! It had some dark energy in it (laughs).

What do you think now when you hear “I’m Like a Bird”?

I never get sick of singing it, and I’m just happy that people played it on the radio. I’m proud of that song because it had a more sort of funky hiphop-influenced verse and then a very pop-rock chorus. I’m glad it connected with people.

So many celebrities are making videos as part of the “It Gets Better” campaign, to help prevent youth suicides – Oh, I haven’t seen them. I did perform at the PFLAG event in L.A. I performed “Night is Young” acoustic and I did… I don’t even remember right now! But it was a very positive night and a lot of people were speaking about (gay youth). I was proud to be part of that.

If you could dedicate one of your songs to gay youth, which would you choose?

Something from the beginning of my career, like the first CD – that’s when I first noticed I had a strong gay following, when I used to play “Shit on the Radio” on my first club tour. I’d always see gay youth in the front row, embracing each other and getting emotional and crying when I would sing the song – because it’s a song about individuality and expressing yourself and kind of breaking free from the pack and doing your own thing. It’s about being true to yourself no matter what.

That song was your response to people who were pissed at you for going mainstream.

Yeah – it’s hard. It’s weird merging art and business; there are always fallouts.

Then you made a bigger leap into hip-hop with “Promiscuous” – did you catch more flack?

No, because hip-hop was always something that I was inspired by. It was like a weapon I had in my back pocket that I hadn’t whipped out yet. My first influences as a teenager were hip-hop and R&B – and I used to rap!

(Laughs) On a mainstream level, yeah, my image was definitely drastically different – and I see that now. At the time I didn’t see, but now I look back and go, “Wow, no wonder people were so shocked!”

I did change a lot. I mean, I grew into a woman; I wrote some songs on Whoa, Nelly! when I was 17. You change a lot from that age to, like, 25. It’s a nice synchronicity when you can go through such a personally meaningful transformation and actually capture it on record – and then have other people connect to it.

Where do you plan on taking your next studio album, Lifestyle?

I’m going back to the eclectic feel of Whoa, Nelly!. So far tracks I’ve recorded encompass pop, hip-hop, dance, reggae and alternative-pop.

That’s who I am and that’s how I live my life, and that’s sort of been the way I culturally live my life in terms of what I surround myself with – music or art or even people – so I think that’s why I’m calling it Lifestyle. I just want a collection of songs that people can connect with, like always, but at the same time I think image-wise I’m going to be different again (laughs). If anything, it’ll be a throwback to who I was when I first came out.

Tell me about working with Elton John on a new version of “Crocodile Rock.”

Yeah, he has a new production coming out – it’s an animated movie called Gnomeo and Juliet, and it’s a cartoon for kids that comes out on Valentine’s Day. So yeah, they approached me to do the closing song and it’s “Crocodile Rock.” And he’s on it – like him and I are on the track together! It’s so exciting.

So you didn’t actually do studio time together?

No – we missed each other by, like, a day. But we have sung together before. Hey, here’s a perfect example: Ten years ago, Elton and I sang “Legend” together.

We’ve come full circle.

Yeah! Because he was a fan of my first album and he used to talk about it all the time, and he’s really good that way with new music. He’s really on top of it.

The people you work with are all over the map: Timbaland, Josh Groban and James Morrison, for instance. And then Keith Urban shows up on the deluxe edition of The Best of Nelly Furtado for “In God’s Hands.”

I have many fantasies of who I want to be as a singer, so I was having a country fantasy with that song, and “In God’s Hands” always felt like a country record to me.

The reason why I do so many darn duets is because I’ve always wanted to be in a band. I mean, I’m a solo artist, but I’ve always been jealous of people in bands because I think, “How fun would that be?”

How did you get the nickname Nelstar?

Nelstar was the first band I had. It was a trip-hop group – when I first moved to Toronto when I was 17, this producer and me had this trip-hop

duo and we did moody urban trip-hop songs and I performed them around town. It’s a name that’s kind of stuck with me, so I decided to name my label Nelstar.

We have an artist right now named Dylan Murray – he’s excellent, he’s Canadian. Actually, he performed with me at the PFLAG event – oh, I know what we performed! A song from Lifestyle: a duet called “Be Okay.” It’s a really, really pretty song. Another duet!

You’ll have to release a duets album.

We tried to put a few of these duets on this greatest hits. I don’t think we got Michael Bublé on there, though; I have a really cool duet with Michael Bublé: “Cuando, Cuando, Cuando.” Now that I say it out loud, I do have a lot of duets with guys! I have hardly any with women. Who knows – maybe I’ll have a female feature on my next album. I’m due!

You made a remark to Genre magazine in 2005 that everyone is a little gay – remember that?

(Laughs) Oh yes! I was quoted and misquoted in many publications. It was pretty funny. That went really far. I was quoted as saying that everybody was gay, which is not really what I meant. I think sexuality is … a very alive thing. It’s very human. And I think we all embody the masculine and feminine – and so does the world. Right now we’re entering into a feminine time and everybody is embracing their feminine energy, which is really nice.

Maybe you weren’t totally off with that comment, though. Now it seems everyone is a little gay with all these celebrities jumping on the bi bandwagon.

I say everything first if you notice! Just go back: I say, do and wear everything first, if you really look at it. And that’s a quote! (Laughs) Always a step ahead?

But I’m too far ahead! I’m never on trend (laughs).

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GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #85, November 2010

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GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #85, November 2010

Directory & Events 24

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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 FAB---------------------------- Bars and Clubs 13 Westways Guest House---- Accommodations 16 Priape Calgary------------------ Retail Stores 24 Courtney Aarbo----------------------- Services 33 Twisted Element-------------- Bars and Clubs 34 Vertigo Mystery Theatre------------- Theatre

Find Out!

One Yellow Rabbit-------------------- Theatre ATP, Alberta Theatre Projects-------- Theatre Pumphouse Theatre----------------- Theatre La Fleur-------------------------- Retail Stores Lisa Heinricks----------Theatre and Fine Arts Sandra G. Sebree-------------------- Services

Calgary

LGBT Community Directory GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine is the go-to source for information about Alberta LGBT businesses and community groups—the most extensive and accurate resource of its kind! This print supplement contains a subset of active community groups and venues, with premium business listings of paid advertisers.

✰. ..... Find our Magazine Here

35 36 37 41 43 52

......... Wheelchair Accessible

Spot something inaccurate or outdated? Want your business or organization listed? We welcome you to contact us!

 403-543-6960  1-888-543-6960

 magazine@gaycalgary.com http://www.gaycalgary.com/CalgaryTravelRss http://www.gaycalgary.com/EdmontonTravelRss

Local Bars, Restaurants, and Accommodations info on the go! http://www.gaycalgary.com/Directory

Browse our complete directory of over 540 gay-frieindly listings!

Marquee Room--------------- Bars and Clubs Sacred Balance Piercing-------- Retail Stores Theatre Junction--------------------- Theatre Village Bistro & Lounge----------Restaurant Club Sapien------------------- Bars and Clubs

of Sinatra” on Fri. and varied entertainment on Thurs. Please call for details.

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

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

Wingate by Wyndham

 400 Midpark Way SE  www.wingatehotels.com

55 56 58 59 60

 403-514-0099

Bars & Clubs 3 Backlot----------------------------------- ✰  403-265-5211  Open 7 days a week, 4pm-close

60 Club Sapien------------------------------ ✰  1140 10th Ave SW  403-457-4464  http://www.clubsapien.ca Dance club & restaurant.

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

 612 - 8th Avenue SW  www.marqueeroom.com

Alternative night every Wednesday.

9 FAB (formerly Money Pennies)--------- ✰

 1742 - 10th Ave SW  403-263-7411  www.fab-bar.com  Closed Mondays.

 209 - 10th Ave SW

Bar and restaurant.

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

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

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

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

Club Paradiso

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

33 Twisted Element----------------------------✰

 1006 - 11th Ave SW  403-802-0230

 www.twistedelement.ca

Dance Club and Lounge.

Carly’s Angels on Sat. Billy Schmidt’s “Sounds

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #85, November 2010

17

Directory & Events CALGARY EVENTS Mondays

Squash--------------------------  8:15-9:45pm See Apollo Calgary Oct18 ASK Meet and Greet----------------  7-9:30pm

 Bonasera (1204 Edmonton Tr. NE) Inside Out Youth Group----------------  7-9pm See 1 Calgary Outlink Yoga (A)-----------------------------  6-7:30pm See Apollo Calgary Sep27Dec6 Yoga (B)-------------------------  7:45-9:15pm See Apollo Calgary Sep27Dec6 Tuesdays

Calgary Networking Club--------------  5-7pm See 1 Calgary Outlink  1st Tues Between Men---------------------------  7-9pm See 1 Calgary Outlink  2nd, 4th

Bowling------------------------------------ 7pm See Apollo Calgary Sep1Mar30

Coffee------------------------------------  10am See Prime Timers Calgary

Mosaic Youth Group-------------------  Evening See website for details.

Wing Night------------------------------  All Day At 9 FAB

Thursdays

Karaoke------------------------------  8pm-1am At 5 Texas Lounge

Prince & Princess Gala-------------------- 9pm

By ISCCA at 33 Twisted Element

Alcoholics Anonymous---------------------  8pm

 Hillhurst United Church (Gym Entrance) 1227 Kensington Close NW

Saturday, November 6th

Tuned Out Music Trivia----------------  Evening At 9 FAB  1st, 3rd

Friday, November 19th

Lesbian Seniors---------------------------- 2pm

 Kerby Center, Sunshine Room  3rd 1133 7th Ave SW Swim Practice---------------------------  6-7pm See Different Strokes Sep9Dec Fake Mustache Show---------------  7-9:45pm See Miscellaneous Youth Network  1st Boot Camp (A)----------------------  7-8:30pm See Apollo Calgary Sep7 Alcoholics Anonymous---------------------  8pm

 Hillhurst United Church (Gym Entrance) 1227 Kensington Close NW

Fundraising Shooters------------------  Evening

By ISCCA at 5 Texas Lounge Sundays

Worship Time----------------------------  10am See Deer Park United Church

Thursday, November 4th

Prince & Princess Gala-------------------- 9pm

By ISCCA at 5 Texas Lounge Friday, November 5th

Turnabout---------------------------------- 9pm

By ISCCA at 33 Twisted Element LeatherSir/boy Meet & Greet------  9pm-2am At 4 Calgary Eagle Saturday, November 20th

LeatherSir/boy Competition-------  9pm-2am At 4 Calgary Eagle Harmony for Hope--------------------  6:30pm

By Calgary Men’s Chorus  Jack Singer Concert Hall

Fridays

Worship------------------------------  10:30am See Scarboro United Church

Rehearsals--------------------------  7-9:30pm See Calgary Men’s Chorus Jun

Leather Night-------------------------- Evening At 4 Calgary Eagle

Boot Camp (B)----------------  10:30am-12pm See Apollo Calgary Sep12

Transgender Day of Remembrance----  2-6pm  The Old Y Centre (223 - 12 Ave SW)

Karaoke------------------------------  8pm-1am At 5 Texas Lounge

BBQ Fundraiser-------------------------  5-9pm

By ISCCA at 3 Backlot

Worship Services-------------------------  11am See Knox United Church

Saturday, November 27th

Alcoholics Anonymous---------------------  8pm

 Hillhurst United Church (Gym Entrance) 1227 Kensington Close NW

Illusions--------------------------------  7-10pm See 1 Calgary Outlink  1st

BBQ Social Sundays----------------------- 2pm At 4 Calgary Eagle

Dinner and Show-------------------------- 6pm

By ARGRA  Hilhurst Sunnyside Community Hall

Womynspace----------------------------  7-9pm See 1 Calgary Outlink  2nd

Movie Night-------------------------  2pm-6pm

By ISCCA at 5 Texas Lounge Nov7Feb13

Crowns for Kids------------------------  9:30pm At 33 Twisted Element

New Directions--------------------------  7-9pm See 1 Calgary Outlink  3rd

Communion Service------------------  12:10pm See Knox United Church

Church Service----------------------------- 4pm See Rainbow Community Church

Wednesday, December 1st

Wednesdays

Beach Volleyball-----------------  7:30-9:30pm See Apollo

Women’s Healing Circle---------------  1:30pm See AIDS Calgary

Swim Practice---------------------------  5-6pm See Different Strokes Sep9Dec

Heading Out-----------------------  8pm-10pm See 1 Calgary Outlink  4th

Christmas Show----------------------------  TBA

By ISCCA at 5 Texas Lounge

Wing Night------------------------------  All Day At 9 FAB

Sunday Socials----------------------  Afternoon At 4 Calgary Eagle

Alcoholics Anonymous---------------------  8pm

 Hillhurst United Church (Gym Entrance) 1227 Kensington Close NW

Free Pool-------------------------------  All Day At 4 Calgary Eagle

Saturday, December 18th

Lawn Bowling---------------------------  6-9pm See Apollo

Free Pool-------------------------------  All Day At 4 Calgary Eagle With Prime Timers Calgary Badminton------------------------------  7-9pm See Apollo Calgary Sep8Dec15

Bathhouses/Saunas 6 Goliaths-------------------------------------✰

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

Community Groups 2 AIDS Calgary---------------------------- ✰

 110, 1603 10th Avenue SW  403-508-2500  info@aidscalgary.org  www.aidscalgary.org

Alberta Society for Kink

 403-398-9968  albetasocietyforkink@hotmail.com  http://ca.groups.yahoo.com/

group.albertasocietyforkink

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Saturdays

Running------------------------------------  9am See Apollo Tennis------------------------------------  10am

By Apollo Apollo Calgary - Friends in Sports

 www.apollocalgary.com  www.myapollo.com

A volunteer operated, non-profit organization serving primarily members of the LGBT communities but open to all members of all communities.

Primary focus is to provide members with wellorganized and fun sporting events and other activities.

• Western Cup 29  www.westerncup.com North America’s largest LGBT sporting competition with over 400 athletes in up to seven different sports.

• Badminton (Absolutely Smashing)

 St. Martha School (6020 - 4 Avenue NE)  badminton@apollocalgary.com Per session: $4 for Apollo member, $5 for nonmembers. Season’s pass $75

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #85, November 2010

Tuesday, September 7th Calgary Networking Club 5-7pm

World AIDS Day Memorial Service------- 2pm By Aids Calgary at 2 Aids Calgary Friday, December 17th

ICE ----------------------------------------- 8pm

By Calgary Men’s Chorus  Rosza Centre, University of Calgary

By Calgary Outlink At Ming (520 - 17th Ave SW) Legend:  = Monthly Reoccurrance,  = Date (Range/Future),  = Sponsored Event • Boot Camp

 Platoon FX, 1351 Aviation Park NE  bootcamp@apollocalgary.com 8 classes (one per week) for only $50.This is a 50% saving for Apollo members only.

• Bowling (Rainbow Riders League)

 Let’s Bowl (2916 5th Avenue NE)  bowling@apollocalgary.com Nightly - $17.00/night ($12.50 for lineage; $4.50 in prize money) and shoe rental is $3.00.

• Curling  curling@apollocalgary.com Will return in September 2010. Sign up at myapollo.org to receive updates.

• Golf

 golf@apollocalgary.com Occasional rounds will occur during the summer of 2010 depending on weather and leaders. Sign up at myapollo.org to receive updates.

• Lawn Bowling

 Inglewood Lawn Bowling Club 1235 8th Avenue SE

 lawnbowling@apollocalgary.com • Outdoor Pursuits

 outdoorpursuits@apollocalgary.com If it’s done outdoors, we do it. Volunteer led events all summer and winter. Hiking, camping, biking, skiing, snow shoeing, etc. Sign up at myapollo.org to get updates on the sport you like. We’re always looking for people to lead events.

• Running (Calgary Frontrunners)  YMCA Eau Claire (4th St, 1st Ave SW)  calgaryfrontrunners@shaw.ca East Doors (directly off the Bow river pathway).

Distances vary from 8 km - 15 km. Runners from 6 minutes/mile to 9+ minute miles.

• Slow Pitch  slow.pitch@apollocalgary.com Will be running Friday nights during the summer

Directory & Events of 2010, location to be determined. Sign up at myapollo.org to receive immediate notice of start date and location.

• Squash  Mount Royal University Recreation  squash@apollocalgary.com All skill levels welcome.

• Tennis  U of C Courts  tennis@apollocalgary.com All skill levels welcome. Drop in. Look for Randall.

• Volleyball (Beach)  Volleydome (2825 24 Avenue NW)  beachvb@apollocalgary.com • Volleyball (Rec + Int/Comp)  vb@apollocalgary.com Both Leagues will return in September 2010. Sign up at myapollo.org to receive updates.

• Yoga

 World Tree Studio (812 Edmonton Trail NE)

 Robin: 403-618-9642  yoga@apollocalgary.com $120 (10 sessions); $14 Drop-ins open to all levels. Apollo membership is required.

Alberta Rockies Gay Rodeo Association (ARGRA)  www.argra.org

• Monthly Dances-----------------------------  Hillhurst-Sunnyside Community Association 1320 - 5th Avenue NW Artists for the Quality of Life

 403-890-1261  www.afqol.com Cabin Fever

 The Soda 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 • Rehearsals

 Temple B’Nai Tikvah, 900 - 47 Avenue SW Calgary Sexual Health Centre---------- ✰

 304, 301 14th Street NW 403-283-5580   http://www.calgarysexualhealth.ca A pro-choice organization that believes all people have the right and ability to make their own choices regarding their sexual and reproductive health.

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

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

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

• Peer Support and Crisis Line  1-877-OUT-IS-OK (1-877-688-4765) Front-line help service for GLBT individuals and their family and friends, or anyone questioning their sexuality.

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

FairyTales Presentation Society

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

 http://www.fairytalesfilmfest.com

Works to raise awareness and challenge the patterns of silence that continue to marginalize LGBTTQ individuals.

Pride Calgary Planning Committee  www.pridecalgary.ca

• 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.

Alberta Gay & Lesbian Film Festival.

 403-797-6564

• DVD Resource Library Over a hundred titles to choose from. Annual membership is $10.

 prp@planet-save.com  http://www.priderainbowproject.com

• Between Men and Between Men Online Peer support, sexual health education for gay or bisexual men, as well as those who may be uncertain or questioning their sexuality.

 http://www.gaysinglesincalgary.org

• Calgary Networking Club

 Ming, 520 - 17th Ave SW 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.

Gay Singles in Calgary Girl Friends

 girlfriends@shaw.ca

 members.shaw.ca/girlfriends

Girlsgroove

 http://www.girlsgroove.ca GLBT Housing

 http://www.glbthousing.ca

HIV Peer Support Group

Pride Rainbow Project 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

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

Designed to foster social interaction for its members through a variety of social, educational and recreational activities. Open to all gay and bisexual men of any age, respects whatever degree of anonymity that each member desires.

• Heading Out Peer group for men who are looking for an alternative social activity to the bar. Activities vary and are fun and entertaining.

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

 http://www.iscca.ca

• Free Pool

 4 Calgary Eagle

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

Imperial Sovereign Court of the Chinook Arch.

Charity fundraising group..

• Saturday Coffee

 Midtown Co-op, 1130 - 11th Ave SW

• Inside Out Peer-facilitated youth group for GLBTQ ages 15-25.

Aims to let youth know they are not alone, and to connect them with their peers. Safe environment with a variety of resources and activities.

• New Directions Drop in peer-support group to provide support and resources for individuals who identify as transsexual or inter-sexed.

• SHEQ Soulful Healing Ego Quest

 Trudy or Krista, 403-585-7437 Workshop for women—a chance to grow and share their experiences related to women’s sexuality. To participate, please call or leave your name and a contact time/number with Calgary Outlink.

• Womynspace 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)

Deer Park United Church/Wholeness Centre  403-278-8263

 77 Deerpoint Road SE  http://www.dpuc.ca

ISCCA Social Association

Knox United Church

 506 - 4th Street SW  403-269-8382  http://www.knoxunited.ab.ca

Knox United Church is an all-inclusive church located in downtown Calgary. A variety of facility rentals are also available for meetings, events and concerts.

• Worship Services

 10:30am in July and August.

Miscellaneous Youth Network  http://www.miscyouth.com • Fake Mustache------------------------------  The Soda, 211 - 12th Ave SW 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) NETWORKS

 403-293-3356  sanpfeif@telus.net

 http://www.differentstrokescalgary.org

A social, cultural, and service organization for the mature minded and “Plus 40” LGBT individuals seeking to meet others at age-appropriate activities within a positive, safe environment.

• Swim Practice

 SAIT Pool, 1301 - 16th Ave NW  No practices on long weekends

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

Different Strokes

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.

Parents for Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) 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

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

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

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

• Coffee Night

 2nd Cup, Kensington Rainbow Community Church

 Hillhurst United, 1227 Kensington Close NW  roneberly@shaw.ca  http://www.rainbowcommunitychurch.ca

The Rainbow Community Church is an all-inclusive church; everyone is welcome.

Rocky Mountain Bears  bearcoltr@shaw.ca

 http://www.rockymountainbears.com

Safety Under the Rainbow

 http://www.safetyrainbow.ca

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

Scarboro United Church

 134 Scarboro Avenue SW  403-244-1161  www.scarborounited.ab.ca

An affirming congregation—the full inclusion of LGBT people is essential to our mission and purpose.

Sharp Foundation

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

Unity Bowling

 Let’s Bowl (2916 - 5th Ave NE)  sundayunity@live.com

Urban Sex Radio Show

 CJSW 90.9 FM

 http://www.cjsw.com Focus on sexuality; gay bisexual lesbian trans gendered and straight issues here in Calgary and around the web.

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #85, November 2010

19

Directory & Events DOWNTOWN EDMONTON

1

5

7 11 6 12

3

N

4 14

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

5 The Junction------------------ Bars and Clubs 6 Buddy’s Nite Club------------ Bars and Clubs 7 Down Under Baths--------------- Bathhouses

 Mon-Fri: 9am-4pm, Sat: 11am-5pm  www.villagebistrocalgary.com

Western Canada Bigmen and Admirers

 groups.yahoo.com/group/

WesternCanadaBigmenGroup/  bigpaul41@yahoo.com

Retail Stores

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.

Adult Depot----------------------------- ✰

 140, 58th Ave SW  403-258-2777 Gay, bi, straight video rentals and sex toys.

“Yeah...What She Said!” Radio Show

 CJSW 90.9 FM

 yeahwhatshesaid@gmail.com

Florist and Flower Shop.

The Naked Leaf---------------------------  305 10th Street NW  403-283-3555  http://www.thenakedleaf.ca Organic teas and tea ware.

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

✰

See Calgary - Bars and Clubs.

60 Club Sapien------------------------------ ✰  1140 10th Ave SW  403-457-4464

 http://www.clubsapien.ca 9 FAB (formerly Money Pennies)--------

See Calgary - Bars and Clubs.

Halo Steak, Seafood & Wine Bar

 Canyon Meadows Plaza 13226 Macleod Trail SE  403-271-4111  www.halorestaurant.com 59 Village Bistro & Lounge------------------  2F, 610 8th Ave SE  403-262-6342 ext 236

20

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

✰

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.

T&T Honda

 888 Meridian Road NE  403-291-1444  sales@tandthonda.ca  www.tandthonda.ca • Kelvin Hur

 403-990-9080 New Vehicle Sales Manager

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #85, November 2010

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

• Lawrence Wong

 403-870-5001 Sales Consultant Wares & Wear Ventures Inc. See Canada - Retail Stores.

Services & Products Bad Romance Entertainment  www.badromance-entertainment.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

Cuts, Colour, Hilights.

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

Residential cleaning. Free estimates.

13 PLAY Nightclub--------------- Bars and Clubs 14 FLASH------------------------- Bars and Clubs

Interactive Male

 403-261-2112 trial code 8873  1-800-777-8000 

www.interactivemale.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.

MPs Catering

 403-607-8215

Rick Grenier (Invis)

 403-862-1162

 rickgrenier@invis.ca

Mortgage solutions.

56 Sacred Balance Piercing

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

Tattos and body piercing.

SafeWorks Free and confidential HIV/AIDS and STI testing.

Directory & Events • Calgary Drop-in Centre

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

 Room 201, 420 - 9th Ave SE  403-410-1180  Mon-Fri: 1pm-5pm • Sheldon M. Chumir Health Centre

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

 403-850-3755  Sat-Thu: 8pm-12am, Fri: 4pm-12am

4 Edmonton STD

 11111 Jasper Ave

5 The Junction---------------------------- ✰

 10242 106th St  780-756-5667  http://www.junctionedmonton.com

 780-479-2038  www.evmchoir.com

PLAY Nightclub (closed)-------------------✰

 10220 103 Street  780-497-7529  info@playnightclub.ca  http://www.playnightclub.ca

Prism Bar & Grill (closed)------------- ✰

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

 11725 Jasper Ave  780-488-6557

52 Sandra G. Sebree, Lawyer

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

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

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

TherapyWorks

 403-561-6873  ckorol@therapyworks.ca  http://www.therapyworks.com

Take back your life from stress, sadness, and worry.

Theatre & Fine Arts 36 ATP, Alberta Theatre Projects

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

AXIS Contemporary Art-------------------  107, 100 - 7 Ave SW  403-262-3356  rob@axisart.ca  www.axisart.ca Fairytales See Calgary - Community Groups.

11 Steamworks--------------------------------✰

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

Community Groups Alberta Bears

 www.bearbeef.org

Altview-Strathcona County LGBTQ Group

 #44, 48 Brentwood Blvd, Sherwood Park, AB  www.altview.ca Book Worm’s Book Club  Howard McBride Chapel of Chimes 10179 - 108 Street  bookworm@teamedmonton.ca

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

Buck Naked Boys Club

 780-471-6993  http://www.bucknakedboys.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

14 FLASH---------------------------------------✰

 10018 105 Street  780-938-2941

✰

Naturism club for men—being social while everyone is naked, and it does not include sexual activity.

Participants do not need to be gay, only male.

Camp fYrefly

 7-104 Dept. of Educational Policy Studies

Faculty of Education, University of Alberta Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2G5  http://www.fyrefly.ualberta.ca Edmonton Pride Week Society

Stagewest------------------------------- ✰

 727 - 42 Avenue SE  403-243-6642  http://www.stagewestcalgary.com

 http://www.prideedmonton.org

✰

Edmonton Prime Timers  edmontonpt@yahoo.ca  www.primetimersww.org/edmonton Group of older gay men and their admirers who come from diverse backgrounds but have common social interests. Affiliated with Prime Timers World Wide.

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

Edmonton Rainbow Business Association

 3379, 11215 Jasper Ave  780-429-5014  http://www.edmontonrba.org Primary focus is the provision of networking opportunities for LGBT owned or operated and LGBTfriendly businesses in the Edmonton region.

58 Theatre Junction----------------------  Theatre Junction GRAND, 608 1st St. SW  403-205-2922  info@theatrejunction.com  http://www.theatrejunction.com

Edmonton Bars & Clubs 6 Buddy’s Nite Club--------------------------✰

 11725 Jasper Ave  780-488-6636

Edmonton Illusions Social Club

 5 Boots Bar & Grill  780-387-3343

 groups.yahoo.com/group/edmonton_illusions

Edmonton Vocal Minority  sing@evmchoir.com Exposure 2010

 TBA 3 HIV Network Of Edmonton Society---- ✰  9702 111 Ave NW  www.hivedmonton.com

Imperial Sovereign Court of the Wild Rose

 http://www.gayedmonton.org

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

• Community Potluck

 Main Space – Upstairs

 tuff@shaw.ca 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 Free School provides workshops on a variety of topics related to local activism.

• Get Tested for STIs Free STD testing for anyone interested. For more information please contact the Pride Centre.

• GLBT Seniors Drop-In

 Main Space – Upstairs  tuff@shaw.ca A social and support group for seniors of all genders and sexualities to talk, have tea and offer each other support.

• Men Talking with Pride

 Main Space – Upstairs

 robwells780@hotmail.com A social discussion group for gay, bisexual and transgendered men to discuss current issues and to offer support to each other.

• Men’s HIV Support Group

 Green Room – Upstairs  huges@shaw.ca Support group for people living with HIV/AIDS. • PFLAG

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

• Prime Timers See Edmonton Primetimers.

• Suit Up and Show Up: AA Big Book Study

 Downstairs Couch Area Discussion and support group for those struggling

with an alcohol addiction or seeking support in staying sober.

• TTIQ

 Green Room – Upstairs  admin@pridecentreofedmonton.org TTIQ is mixed gender open support group addressing the needs of transsexual and transgendered individuals.

• Womonspace Board Meeting

 Main Space – Upstairs  wspresident@hotmail.com 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 Movie chosen by youth (aged 14 – 25), usually with LGBT themes. Popcorn is served.

• YouthSpace

 brendan@pridecentreofedmonton.org A safe and supportive space for GLBTQ youth aged 13–25. Video games, computers with internet, clothing bank, and more.

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 (Mixed)

 St. Thomas Moore School, 9610 165 Street

 coedbadminton@teamedmonton.ca New group seeking male & female players.

• Badminton (Women’s)

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

 badminton@teamedmonton.ca Women’s Drop-In Recreational Badminton. $40.00 season or $5.00 per drop in.

•Ballroom Dancing

 Foot Notes Dance Studio, 9708-45 Avenue NW  Cynthia: 780-469-3281 • Blazin’ Bootcamp

 Garneau Elementary School 10925 - 87 Ave  bootcamp@teamedmonton.ca • Bowling (Northern Titans)

 Ed’s Rec Room (West Edmonton Mall)

 bowling@teamedmonton.ca $15.00 per person.

• Cross Country Skiing  crosscountry@teamedmonton.ca • Curling with Pride

 Granite Curling Club, 8620 107 Street NW  curling@teamedmonton.ca • Cycling (Edmonton Prideriders)

 Various locations in Edmonton  cycling@teamedmonton.ca • Dragon Boat (Flaming Dragons)

 dragonboat@teamedmonton.ca

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #85, November 2010

21

Directory & Events EDMONTON EVENTS Mondays

Boot Camp------------------------------  7-8pm See Team Edmonton

Youth Understanding Youth------------  7-9pm At 1 Pride Centre of Edmonton

Youth Movie Night------------------  6:30-8:30 See 1 Pride Centre of Edmonton

Mixed Badminton----------------------  8-10pm See Team Edmonton Jan13End of May

Youth Understanding Youth------------  7-9pm At 1 Pride Centre of Edmonton

Annual General Meeting--------------  5:30pm

By ERBA  Four Points (7230 Argyll Road) Red Deer Room

Tuesday, November 9th

Thursdays

Saturdays

Saturday, November 13th

Men’s HIV Support Group--------------  7-9pm See Pride Centre of Edmonton  2nd

GLBT Seniors Drop-in------------------  1-4pm See Pride Centre of Edmonton

Naturalist Gettogether---------------------- ???

See Buck Naked Boys Club  2nd

Curling---------------------------------  7:15pm See Team Edmonton Oct4Mar21

Get Tested for STIs----------------------  3-6pm See Pride Centre of Edmonton  Last

AA Big Book Study--------------------  12-1pm See Pride Centre of Edmonton

Festive Dinner and Dance---------------- 7pm

By Womonspace  Bellevue Community Hall

Tuesdays

Youthspace------------------------------  3-7pm See Pride Centre of Edmonton

Monthly Meeting-----------------------  2:30pm

By Edmonton Primetimers  2nd  Unitarian Church, 10804 - 119th Street

Transgender Day of Remembrance----  4-6pm  Enterprise Square (10230 Jasper Ave NW)

Youthspace--------------------------  3-6:30pm See Pride Centre of Edmonton

Crowns for Kids------------------------  8-11pm

By ISCWR at 5 The Junction

Bowling------------------------------------ 5pm See Team Edmonton

Saturday, October 16th

GLBT Seniors Drop-in------------------  1-4pm See Pride Centre of Edmonton TTIQ-------------------------------------  2-4pm See Pride Centre of Edmonton  2nd Youthspace------------------------------  3-7pm See Pride Centre of Edmonton Bowling-----------------------------  6:45-9pm See Team Edmonton Sept7Mar15 Community Potluck---------------------  7-9pm See Pride Centre of Edmonton  Last Recreational Volleyball--------  8:30-10:30pm See Team Edmonton Oct5 Swimming-----------------------  7:30-8:30pm See Team Edmonton Sept9Dec21 Martial Arts---------------------  7:30-8:30pm See Team Edmonton Wednesdays

PFLAG---------------------------------  12:10pm See Pride Centre of Edmonton  1st Youthspace------------------------------  3-7pm See Pride Centre of Edmonton Youth Sports/Recreation------------------ 4pm See Youth Understanding Youth

Youth Sports/Recreation------------------ 4pm See Youth Understanding Youth GLBT African Group----------------------- 6pm At 1 Pride Centre of Edmonton  2nd Swimming-------------------------------  7-8pm See Team Edmonton Sept9Dec21

Sundays

Youth Understanding Youth------------  7-9pm At 1 Pride Centre of Edmonton

Running------------------------------  10-11am See Team Edmonton

Book Club------------------------------  7:30pm See BookWorm’s Book Club  3rd

Free School----------------------------  11-5pm See Pride Centre of Edmonton  2nd, 4th

Martial Arts---------------------  7:30-8:30pm See Team Edmonton

Womonspace Meeting---------  12:30-1:30pm See Pride Centre of Edmonton  1st

Intermediate Volleyball--------  7:30-9:30pm See Team Edmonton

Yoga---------------------------------  2-3:30pm See Team Edmonton

Fridays

Men Talking with Pride----------------  7-9pm See Pride Centre of Edmonton

Edmonton Illusions--------------------  8:30pm At 5 The Junction  2nd Youthspace--------------------------  3-6:30pm See Pride Centre of Edmonton Youth Sports/Recreation------------------ 4pm See Youth Understanding Youth

• Gymnastics, Drop-in

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

• Snowballs III

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

• Volleyball, Intermediate

 Amiskiwacy Academy (101 Airport Road)  volleyball@teamedmonton.ca

• Hockey  hockey@teamedmonton.ca

• Spin

 MacEwan Centre for Sport and Wellness 109 St. and 104 Ave  Wednesdays, 5:45-6:45pm Season has ended.  spin@teamedmonton.ca 7 classes, $28.00 per registrant.

• Slo Pitch

 Parkallen Field, 111 st and 68 ave  slo-pitch@teamedmonton.ca

22

Saturday, October 23rd

AGM & Dance------------------------------ 7pm

By Womonspace  Bellevue Community Hall 7308 112 Avenue NW Sunday, October 24th

All You Can Eat Perogies---------------  5-8pm

By ISCWR at 5 The Junction

Legend:  = Monthly Reoccurrance,  = Date (Range),  = Sponsored Event  ultimatefrisbee@teamedmonton.ca E-mail if interested.

• Running (Arctic Frontrunners)

 Emily Murphy Park, west end  running@teamedmonton.ca All genders and levels of runners and walkers are invited to join this free activity.

Green Affair------------------------  6-11:30pm At 5 The Junction

Monthly Meetings---------------------- 2:30pm  Unitarian Church (10804 119th Street) See Edmonton Primetimers  2nd

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

• Outdoor Pursuits

 outdoorpursuits@teamedmonton.ca

Friday, November 26th

Ballroom Dancing--------------  7:30-8:30pm See Team Edmonton

• Golf  golf@teamedmonton.ca

• Martial Arts

 15450 - 105 Ave (daycare entrance)  780-328-6414  kungfu@teamedmonton.ca  kickboxing@teamedmonton.ca Drop-ins welcome.

Saturday, November 20th

• Soccer

 soccer@teamedmonton.ca

• Swimming (Making Waves)

 NAIT Pool (11762 - 106 Street)  swimming@teamedmonton.ca  www.makingwavesswimclub.ca • Tennis

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

 tennis@teamedmonton.ca • Ultimate Frisbee  Sundays Summer Season starts July 12th

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #85, November 2010

• Volleyball, Recreational

 Mother Teresa School (9008 - 105 Ave)  recvolleyball@teamedmonton.ca • Women’s Lacrosse

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

• Yoga

 Grant MacEwan Centre Dance Studio ,Room 186, 10045 - 156 Street  yoga@teamedmonton.ca Womonspace

 780-482-1794  womonspace@gmail.com  www.womonspace.ca

Women’s social group, but all welcome at events.

Youth Understanding Youth

 780-248-1971

 www.yuyedm.ca A support and social group for queer youth 12-25.

• Sports and Recreation  Brendan: 780-488-3234  brendan@pridecentreofedmonton.org

Restaurants 5 The Junction-------------------------------  10242 106th St  780-756-5667 8 Prism Bar & Grill---------------------- See Edmonton - Bars and Clubs.

✰

12 Woody’s-------------------------------------✰

 11725 Jasper Ave  780-488-6557

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.

Products & Services Cruiseline

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

Telephone classifieds and chat - 18+ ONLY.

Directory & Events LETHBRIDGE EVENTS

GRANDE PRAIRIE EVENTS Saturday, November 27th

Fridays

Men’s Dance------------------------  9pm-2am

By GALA/LA  Moose Hall (1401 5 Ave N)

Friday Mixer-----------------------------  10pm See GALA/LA Saturday, November 13th

Wednesdays

Coffee Night-----------------------------  7-9pm

By GALAP Grand Prairie  GALAP Office (10113 - 103 Avenue)

Women’s Dance---------------------  9pm-2am

By GALA/LA  Moose Hall (1401 5 Ave N) Interactive Male

 780-409-3333 trial code 8871  1-800-777-8000  www.interactivemale.com

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

 TBA Must pre-register to attend - please contact us.

• Lesbian Speed Dating

 Boston Pizza Private Party Room, Whyte Ave

 TBA Must pre-register to attend - please contact us.

Theatre & Fine Arts Exposure Festival

 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

 BOX 4892, BANFF, AB, T1L 1G1

 Brian, 403-431-2569  1-800-958-9632  mountainpride@gaybanff.com  www.gaybanff.com

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

Grande Prairie Red Deer Community Groups

GALAP

 10113 - 103 Ave, T8V 1C2

 780-512-1990 Gay and Lesbian Association of the Peace.

• Wednesday Coffee Nights

Lethbridge Community Groups GALA/LA

 403-308-2893  http://www.galalethbridge.ca Gay and Lesbian Alliance of Lethbridge and Area.

• Monthly Dances

 Henotic (402 - 2 Ave S) Bring your membership card and photo ID. • Monthly Potluck Dinners

 McKillop United Church, 2329 - 15 Ave S GALA/LA will provide the turkey...you bring the rest.

Please bring a dish to share that will serve 4-6 people, and your own beverage.

• Support Line

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

• Friday Mixer

 The Mix (green water tower) 103 Mayor Magrath Dr S  Every Friday at 10pm Gay & Lesbian Integrity Assoc. (GALIA)

 University of Lethbridge  galia@uleth.ca

GBLTTQQ club on campus.

• Movie Night

 Room C610, University of Lethbridge Gay Youth Alliance Group

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

Lethbridge HIV Connection

 1206 - 6 Ave S

Community Groups Affirm

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

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

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

Alberta Community Groups Central Alberta AIDS Network Society

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

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

Western Canadian Pride Campout  www.eventmasterinc.net YouthSafe

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

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.

Products & Services Squirt

 http://www.squirt.org

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

Theatre & Fine Arts Broadway Across Canada

 http://www.broadwayacrosscanada.ca

OUTtv

 http://www.outtv.ca

GLBT Television Station.

Theatre & Fine Arts Alberta Ballet

 http://www.albertaballet.com

Frequent productions in Calgary and Edmonton.

Canada Community Groups Alberta Trans Support/Activities Group

 http://www.albertatrans.org

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

PFLAG Canada

 1-888-530-6777

 lethbridgeab@pflagcanada.ca  www.pflagcanada.ca

Pride Lethbridge

 lethbridgepridefest@gmail.com

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #85, November 2010

23

 Charlie David - From Page 8 “The weirdest part is having my family read it. I got a call from my Grandmother and she was coming out to Montreal to spend Thanksgiving weekend with me. I was finishing the edits on the e-book of Shadowlands and she said she had read Boy Midflight on the plane. My heart stopped.

Boy Midflight was my first book and there is lots of sex and graphic ideas about sexuality in it. The thought that my Grandma was sitting on a plane reading a book with two boys in their underwear on the cover is hilarious. I was fine writing it, but the idea of my Grandma ever reading it, I didn’t know what I would do. She said, it is a real education reading this, and I thought, yeah I bet. In terms of writing it, we all have sexual fantasies and it is fun to imagine them and put them down on paper, to share and explore in that way. I think that is part of my journey. My stories, although there is sex in them, I don’t perceive them as being pornographic. There is a realistic depiction of sex that happens and they are part of a bigger journey overall.”

Writers often need to come up with unique ways to promote their work. One of the ways David has accomplished this was by creating a unique “trailer” for his work.

“It is a very interesting time in publishing. We are seeing lots of Mom & Pop bookstores closing, and unfortunately a lot of LGBT bookstores closing too. We are seeing a lot of changes in the movie, TV, and publishing industry. It is becoming more and more about individuals being able to create, using social media. Lots of people put up videos on YouTube that explode and then they have a TV show. The grander media is paying attention to some of those more grassroots movements.”

“Because I do video, I thought it would be an interesting idea to put together a video trailer for a book. I had seen a few other people do it and thought it was fun. I went to an FX house in Victoria and they had a massive green screen, and started to brainstorm interesting ways to put it together. It was so much to play with, the circus theme: me as the author being a ringmaster and inviting people into the dark circus of my mind.”

“Otherwise in terms of promotion, I am doing some book signings as I travel around with BUMP!; online promotion; I have a paperback and e-book, with an audio book coming shortly on iTunes and Audible; and

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GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #85, November 2010

a lot of other sources. I am putting it out there, and hoping that people will be interested enough to give it a read.”

Shadowlands will at times stretch your comfort zone, other times may arouse you, and will certainly make you think. Overall it is a damn fine read, and the nice thing is that it can be digested it in small segments.

“If people have enjoyed Mulligans or Bump!, or some of the other work I have out there, it offers a really different insight into who I am as a person. I really enjoy anthologies, it is nice to be able to sit down and absorb a story in 10 minutes or half an hour. ... A lot of us don’t take the time to read anymore, or to read a full length novel. This offers the opportunity to have a little morsel, little daydreams, and go on your way.”

Actor, Director, Screenwriter, Producer, Author, TV Show Host...

Charlie David certainly knows how to keep busy.

“Overall when people ask me what I do or what I am, I am a storyteller.

That is all it is; I tell them in different formats. I have always had that urge from a young age to share stories. Because my life is kind of weird - I don’t have a 9 to 5 job - I am faced with times of being intensely busy and then periods of downtime, like these last couple of weeks in Montreal. I just hang out and spend my leisure time as I like. I find I enjoy it the most when I continue to be creative and make stories and have little goals and push them forward. I would get very bored otherwise.”

Shadowlands available now. www.CharlieDavid.com Win a hardcopy or e-book copy at GayCalgary.com http://www.gaycalgary.com/a1902

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 Interview - From Page 13 (Franco’s) ears a bit – that’s the only prosthetic work, and the rest is just makeup and hair dye and performance.

Such a big part of the film are the visual aspects, those animated interpretations of the poem. How did you develop those?

JF: We discovered the work of Eric Drooker, who had collaborated with Ginsberg on a book of poems called Illuminated Poems, published shortly before Allen died.

Eric was a younger artist and graphic novelist who lived in the neighborhood in New York where Allen lived for most of his life, so they knew each other for years. It felt like a collaboration that had already begun; we were just taking it one step further.

Why was that a direction you wanted to go in?

RE: We wanted the poem to live in the movie. We wanted the audience to have a cinematic experience of the poem, and we wanted it to be in the present tense. I mean, we wanted everything – even though it’s a historical film, a historical drama and, in a sense, a historical documentary – to all play in the present tense, including the poem and the animation.

We felt it was a way to have a modern interpretation of the poem in a kind of contemporary vernacular; but we could still have it reference the period that it’s speaking to and still also speak to the period that we’re in now, so that was our thinking. It seems to be the element of the film that has the most controversy to it. The fact that people are responding to it in different ways is good because that’s how people responded to the poem – and still do.

Why do you think there’s so much controversy around the animation?

RE: People have their own visualization and their own mind’s eye, and it’s probably not unlike if one were to do a movie of a novel – that if you read a novel and you’re having your own

experience of it and you see a particular interpretation of it, that may not be the interpretation you imagined.

Ginsberg’s partners in the movies are interestingly disengaged; they have no speaking lines. Was that a conscious decision?

RE: You know, sometimes the decisions you make are conscious because you have to work within the means that you have, and we had 14 shooting days. There are only so many speaking parts that the budget will allow, but we also like the notion that these three men who were so important to him in his life – and are all manifested in the poem – are only expressed as physical characters in the movie. They all have a very physical connection to Allen in the movie, but it’s not spelled out in any kind of articulated dialogue.

JF: I think we thought consciously about making it feel like Allen’s memory, and using the style of films from the blackand-white period.

RE: Pull My Daisy was one, which was a beat film (from 1959) with Ginsberg that has no dialogue.

Ginsberg believed in complete confession and, as he says in the poem, in showing his “asshole to the world.” Would you agree?

JF: I believe in complete frankness. But I don’t know if I need to show my asshole to the world! I don’t know if the world really cares about my asshole (laughs).

Care to show yours to the world, Rob? RE: No – I’m much too shy a person. But I certainly get the point. And in the way it applies to art, it’s a good aspiration.

http://www.gaycalgary.com/a1904

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GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #85, November 2010

25

Politics

Bullying Is Deadly

By Stephen Lock Bullying, we’ve come to realize in recent years, is not just teasing. It is a form of assault. I don’t think it’s overstating the case to say it is a form of psychic assault.

The effects of being bullied can last for years and affect how one responds to the world.

Years ago, bullying was pretty much confined to school and maybe some of the social spaces kids share. That didn’t make it any easier for the kid being bullied, but at least there was home to escape to. Now, with the Internet and social networks being ubiquitous, escaping bullying is virtually impossible.

With sites like Facebook and YouTube, it is now possible to post worldwide. Anyone and everyone can be exposed to the shame that being bullied brings and, for many people, that is just too much to bear.

In recent weeks the media has been filled with reports of suicides as the result of cyber-bullying. In one instance an 18-year old Rutgers University freshman, Tyler Clementi, jumped off New York’s George Washington Bridge after his roommate posted videos of him having sex with another male.

The roommate is not being charged with murder, since he didn’t “directly” kill Clementi. What he has been charged with is invasion of privacy. What sort of soulless self-involved jerk does that sort of thing? The poster is not just some kid who took a practical joke too far; he’s a sociopath, totally disinterested and uncaring about anybody but himself. And he’s not alone.

More and more kids are becoming disconnected from the world and other people, as their connection to the Internet becomes more widespread. That scares me, to be honest.

Kids often cannot escape the bullying unless an adult intervenes and, even at that, the intervention doesn’t stop the bullying, it simply alters it. Bullies will find other ways to torment their victims. Having an adult intervene can set the victim up as a ‘tattle-tale’, or worse - and the kid is victimized even more.

Cyber-bullying is insidious. Adults are often totally unaware of what is happening on the sites frequented by their kids and teens. For the most part, these sites are pretty innocuous but they can be used to bully, and are.

The upside, if one can use the term, is that the issue is garnering serious attention. It wasn’t too many years ago that bullying was dismissed as some sort of rite of passage that youths had to endure. It was often perceived, by adults and other authority figures, as an object lesson of how to adapt and “fit in.” Bullying, while not actively supported by adults (that would appear heartless), was at least tacitly accepted as a form of self-policing amongst youth, a sort of peer-pressure being exerted that supposedly ensured that a child learned what was appropriate behaviour amongst his or her peers.

Of course, this was totally off-base and a complete misunderstanding of the dynamics involved. Bullying is never about “teaching” anything. Those who are bullied can attest to the reality that, no matter how they try to fit in - to adopt the right clothes for instance, or behave like their peers - the bullying continues. In fact, the desperate attempt to fit in can be a source of further attacks. It seems, to the one being bullied, that no matter what he or she does, says, or tries, the bullying is never-ending and can escalate in some instances.

It is not the one being bullied who needs to change; it is the ones doing the bullying who need to be held accountable and create change in their behaviour and attitudes.

The ‘blame the victim’ mentality has come to an end in almost any instance one might care to name, except in instances of bullying. Well-meaning adults, including concerned parents, continue in many instances to counsel the victim to ignore the verbal attacks, to stand up for themselves, to fight back, 26

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #85, November 2010

to be the one who is pro-active and “go to an adult.” This is easier said than done, especially when you are having your self-esteem and sense of self-worth actively eroded. Is that erosion not the very definition of emotional abuse?

I recall when I was 14, and being constantly bullied, saying to my parents I just wished my tormentors would beat me up and be done with it. At least being physically assaulted had some definition to it, something concrete. But that never happened.

Oh sure, there were threats - constant threats - of “getting me” after school, the occasional shove in the hallways, but most of the harassment was...I can’t even name it now, all these years later. I suppose the closest I can come to describing it is social isolation, verbal harassment and emotional undermining; a daily, never-ending picking away at my sense of self. It was devastating.

With the recent attention being paid to bullying, and in particular to cyber-bullying, we now see the incredible phenomenon of a sitting President of the United States speaking out in support of GLBTQ youth and against bullying.

President Obama has taken the unprecedented step of recording a video spot for the It Gets Better Project, that was then posted on YouTube and the White House website. He relates that while he cannot know what it is like to be bullied for being gay, he knows what it is like to feel like you don’t fit in, that you are different and don’t belong. He reinforced the Project’s message that, while it may not seem so to a kid suffering from bullying, it does get better. And it does, but knowing that on an intellectual level and feeling it are two separate things.

For many kids and teenagers whose own development has yet to include an ability to understand consequences perhaps, or grasp that what is happening in the now is only in the now and not forever, (and this is absolutely a developmental issue in that below a certain age, the brain simply does not process things and situations the way an adult brain does) such a message may not carry that much weight.

What does carry weight, I would suspect, is hearing the President of the United States, and a president whose campaign resonated with the youth of America unlike any campaign since the era of John F. Kennedy, speaking out in support of GLBTQ youth. That, in itself, is enough to give hope to at least some of our kids...and they are “our kids”....that they are not alone and that someone understands and gives a damn.

He also pointed out there is an obligation to ensure schools are safe for “all of our kids” and he also made a point of mentioning that, “in time, you will see your differences are a source of pride and a source of strength. You will look back on the struggles you faced with compassion and wisdom and that’s not going to just serve you, but, you know, help you get involved and help make this country a better place. It’ll mean you will be more likely to help fight discrimination and not just against LBGT Americans, but discrimination in all its forms. ... It’s more likely you will understand personally and deeply why it’s so important, as adults, we set an example in our own lives and we treat everybody with respect and see the world through other people’s eyes and stand in their shoes - that we never lose sight of what binds us together.”

He added, “As a nation, we are founded on the belief that all of us are equal and each of us deserves the freedom to pursue our own version of happiness, to make the most of our talents, to speak our minds, to not fit in, but most of all to be true to ourselves. That’s the freedom that enriches all of us, that’s what America is all about, and every day it gets better.”

While the release of the video is notable, being the first time a president has spoken directly about the effects of anti-GLBTQ discrimination, the Obama administration

has taken it further by launching a presidential campaign against homophobic bullying.

The campaign does not break new legal ground but it does offer a comprehensive guide to how American civil rights law applies to schools, colleges and university campuses and informs teachers and university officials how federal law regards situations of harassment and discrimination, and how institutions should deal with cases.

Included in the campaign are guidelines for teachers that it may not be enough to simply reprimand the bullies. Amongst the suggestions are placing bullies who are, after all, the ones with the problem, into counselling, to label bullying as discriminatory and encourage other students to report incidents.

In a letter sent out to schools, colleges and universities, the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at the Department of Education outlined the legal obligations that school staff have to protect students from peer harassment based on race, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation or disability.

“Harassing conduct may take many forms, including verbal acts and name-calling; graphic and written statements, which may include use of cell phones or the Internet; or other conduct that may be physically threatening, harmful or humiliating. ...

A school is responsible for addressing harassment incidents about which it knows or reasonably should have known.”

In addition to the guidelines issued in the letter to educators, the Department of Education will also hold workshops across the country in early 2011 to assist school officials in understanding their legal responsibilities and to learn about steps they can take to prevent problems on campus.

Such actions are a seismic shift in attitudes towards bullying. It is finally being seen, and named, for what it is: discrimination, harassment, and even hate. Much bullying is immature one-up-manship where kids struggling to assure their own niche in the social order, safeguard it by going after those perceived to be weaker, less popular, or different – but that in no way excuses it, and those who engage in bullying need to be brought to task for their actions. Turning a blind eye to it or viewing it as “kids being kids” gives it strength. It is, when all is said and done, a tacit approval of the behaviour and that is unacceptable.

What also needs to be addressed is the casual use of “gay” as some sort of put down. I work in an environment that has a lot of high school students, and I can tell you the frequency of anti-GLBTQ comments, simply tossed off as some sort of simile for ‘gross’ or ‘ugly’ or ‘lame’ or as a way of ‘getting at’ another student - it is huge. Sometimes it is out-and-out homophobia but more often it’s just a word…except it isn’t.

Just as it is no longer acceptable to talk about “being Jewed” when one feels one has been cheated, or to use the “N-word,” it should be unacceptable to blithely toss out “gay”, “queer”, “dyke”, or “fag” as epithets.

Such comments need to be challenged every time one encounters them. This is not as easy as it sounds. Even as an adult who spent 20 years in the trenches of gay activism, I still feel a knot in my gut when I challenge this and get met with “What’s your problem, man? You queer too?” Is that enough to just let the comments slide? No, it’s not. I don’t tolerate anti-Semitic, Islamophobic, racist or sexist comments. So why would I allow homophobic comments?

In order for my actions to have any weight, however, it is necessary that others buy into it as well, just as in order for anti-homophobic bullying initiatives to have any weight, society as a whole has to buy into them and speak out.

Political and social leaders have finally stepped up to the plate. We all need to.

http://www.gaycalgary.com/a1907

Q Scopes

“Think carefully, Aries!”

The Sun in Scorpio in hard aspect to Pluto in Capricorn makes problems seem more horrible and desperate than they really are. Mercury in Sagittarius offers proportion; discussing your troubles with friends will help.



ARIES (March 20 – April 19): Take any challenge as an intellectual problem that can be solved. Letting your ego get in the way is sure to get you into big trouble. Especially where your reputation and ambitions are concerned, think carefully before responding.

TAURUS (April 20 – May 20): Conflicts with your partner are better solved in the bedroom than in any argument. No partner? This is not the time to find one, but you can have one hell of an adventure with someone new and very different.

GEMINI (May 21- June 20): Any little symptom might look serious, but it could just be hypochondria. Have your partner or a friend take a look and see if it’s worth going to a doctor. If it might be an STD just go to the clinic.

CANCER (June 21- July 22): grand gesture to please your partner won’t. Doing something practical and helpful, maybe a big household chore your baby’s been griping about, is better than chocolates and flowers – not to rule those out entirely!

LEO (July 23 – August 22): Ailments that run in the family may surface. It’s a good time to check those out, perhaps nip something in the bud. Probably nothing to worry about, and besides taking positive actions you can allay any fears by focusing instead on creative expression.

VIRGO (August 23 – September 22): Problems with siblings and neighbors are especially irritating and not to be solved now. Taking your vengeance in writings or caricatures not to be seen can help clarify things, but you have to center on your responsibility for your side of the problem.

LIBRA (September 23 – October 22): Household expenses present a problem, but it’s too easily exaggerated into the overwhelming catastrophe that it’s not. Focus on the real issue and talk it over with a sensible confidante to keep everything in manageable proportion.

SCORPIO (October 23 – November 21): Before opening your mouth, think twice about what really matters and how you’ll look after you’ve said what cannot be unsaid. Sitting too tightly on your words could cause an explosion. Say your piece; just be thoughtful!

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 – December 20): Getting lost in your own thoughts can leave you feeling like you don’t measure up to your ideals. Better you should discuss those conflicts with a trustworthy friend. Besides, ideals should be a bit out of reach. Just do your best.

CAPRICORN (December 21 – January 19): You may be expecting too much of your friends. They are only human and, remember, so are you. Take any complaints to someone you can trust to tell you what you need to hear, not necessarily what you want to hear.

AQUARIUS (January 20 – February 18): Worrying too much about your personal ambitions can trip you up. Think in the longer run about what you want for the world, discuss those ideals with your friends and re-imagine your career in that context.

PISCES (February 19 – March 19): Trying to solve the world’s problems is a distraction from the work you need to do for yourself. Have a long talk with your boss or a professional role model, and be very ready for some hard but constructive criticism.

Jack Fertig, a professional astrologer since 1977, is available for personal and business consultations in person in San Francisco, or online everywhere. He can be reached at 415-864-8302, through his Web site at www.starjack.com.

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27

Gossip

 Sandra Bullock, courtesy of Warner Bros

Deep Inside Hollywood Zachary Quinto wants Your Number Romeo San Vicente In his recent video contribution to the “It Gets Better” project, Star Trek star Zachary Quinto offered up heartfelt encouragement to gay teenagers and walked right up to the edge of a personal coming out (rumored to be gay, the actor keeps his private life out of the press). But his new feature film, the ensemble comedy What’s Your Number? places him squarely in the realm of hetero romantic comedy. Starring Anna Faris – who realizes that she’s had twice as many relationships as the average woman and cuts off all men, deciding instead to work backward through the guys she’s discarded to see who should get a second chance – the movie also features every young, good-looking guy in Hollywood right now as her sizeable team of exes. Joining Quinto will be Chris Evans, Ryan Phillippe, Dave Annable (of Brothers and Sisters), Joel McHale, Andy Samberg, Parks and Recreation’s Chris Pratt and White Collar star Matthew Bomer (who’s seemingly openly gay but has still had his own share of is-he-or-isn’t-he press). See who Faris reboots in spring 2011.

Oprah and Meryl and Sandra in the same movie. No, seriously Michael Patrick King must be a wizard. Who else could foist something as terrible as Sex and the City 2 on an unsuspecting world and bounce back this ferociously without even spending a little bit of time in Movie Jail? It’s enough to make you believe in a Hollywood Velvet Mafia. But bounce he has with his latest untitled comedy that already features the slam-dunk casting coup of the year: the three-headed power-hydra of Oprah, Meryl and Sandra.

That’s right, you don’t even need their last names at this point (For the record, though: Winfrey, Streep and Bullock, respectively.) The film in question is set up at Universal Pictures and is an ensemble piece set at a Home Shopping Network-like work environment featuring what will certainly be a glamorous trip into manic behavior and unreality. And really, as long as they don’t all wind up running

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GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #85, November 2010

through Abu Dhabi in identity-concealing cloaks everything will be fine.

Johnny Depp would like a drink Rob Marshall, the gay director of Chicago and Memoirs of a Geisha, has been working with Johnny Depp recently on Pirates of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. And Depp must think pretty highly of him because the actor is itching to get Marshall to direct him in a remake of the classic comedy The Thin Man. Don’t know what that is, young person? It’s the 1934 Hollywood high-water mark of witty banter starring William Powell as wealthy, alwaysdrunk Nick Charles, who along with his socialite wife Nora, played

by Myrna Loy, solve mysteries and down cocktails. In other words, the perfect offbeat starring vehicle for Johnny Depp (and Lauren Graham –she had plenty of practice with that kind of rat-a-tat delivery on Gilmore Girls, so someone give her a shot) and a chance for Marshall to work his period film magic again like he did with Chicago. One more request, though: Could it be in black and white?

Please?

Rocky Horrifying In its 35 year history, The Rocky Horror Picture Show has gone from box-office flop to enduring midnight-movie sensation as well as seen its brazenly in-your-face pansexuality move from shocking to sweet-enough-for-primetime tributes on Fox’s Glee. So while it’s not surprising that someone wants to remake the beloved weirdo musical, it’s a little bit odd to see Glee’s creator Ryan Murphy in talks to take the movie’s reins. As a screenwriter, the man is wicked with the sharp-tongued dialogue. He could rise to task. But is his directorial approach too sanitized and clean to take on the scruffy, deranged, rock ‘n’ roll world of Rocky Horror? Could he make it not just gay but dirty too? Because if you’re going to toucha-touchatoucha touch Janet on the big screen, that’s kind of how you need to be. At least they’re not approaching Ron Howard, right?

Romeo San Vicente is no virgin, Rocky Horror or otherwise. . He can be reached care of this publication.

http://www.gaycalgary.com/a1909

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Community

Diversity Project Brings Awareness to Campus

AIDS Calgary’s Holiday Hamper A Program that Brings a Smile in Tough Times

Edmonton’s MacEwan University Shows LGBTQ Community Support

By Janine Eva Trotta

Edmonton’s Grant MacEwan University is becoming a warm, welcoming and inclusive place for LGBTQ and allied communities, thanks largely to the growing reach of the MacEwan Diversity Project (MDP) and the student group InQUEERies.

Joshua Stewart, who co-chairs both groups, says the university has shown an overwhelming amount of support and backing for the MDP, which re-launched last year, stemming from both faculty and students.

“The change since last year… has been nothing short of remarkable,” Stewart states. “Last year a student coming to MacEwan would be out of luck if looking for any visible, active queer organizations at any of [the university] campuses. Beyond that, staff, faculty and visitors would be hard pressed to find any information, support services, or contacts specified to GLBT needs within the university as a whole.”

It’s a much different story now. This month the MDP launches their inaugural page on the university website, providing LGBTQ resources for anyone who wishes to utilize them.

In addition, the MDP’s positive space campaign is an active initiative spreading LGBTQ information and support across MacEwan’s four campuses and into the community. The group created a logo, posters, and stickers to spread the word and the message, and to inspire a more diverse and queer-friendly educational and social environment.

“Staff within the student resource centre are displaying the MDP stickers and understand the importance of creating a welcoming environment for all students,” says Karen Heslop, the second cochair for the MDP and director of the Student Resource Centre.

The MDP hosts diversity and sensitivity training workshops, movie nights and discussion groups. October’s forum, entitled simply, Coming Out, drew a crowd larger than chairs could accommodate in MacEwan’s student lounge.

“People shared their coming out stories with people that maybe have not yet come out,” Stewart says.

In recognition and solidarity with those teens that have recently committed suicide in the United States as a result of discriminatory, homophobic bullying, InQUEERies held a You Are Loved chalk event in the main foyer of the university on October 4th. More than 150 students and faculty participated, inscribing messages of hope and sharing their stories on how the suicides have affected them.

“It gave students something to think about,” Stewart states.

On November 25th, a forum and academic panel discussion will be held on cultural representations of LGBTQ in media, and the following weekend both InQUEERies and MDP will be supporting Edmonton at the Gay Cup Grey Cup Party, November 27th.

“It feels like we’re doing a lot right now,” says Stewart, “and I’m really happy to see what’s going on.”

MacEwan Diversity Project www.gaycalgary.com/u149 InQUEERies www.gaycalgary.com/u156 http://www.gaycalgary.com/a1910

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By Mark Randall Calgarians have a strong tradition of caring for people living in poverty during the Holiday season; donating to food banks, service agencies and gift foundations to make this time in people’s lives a little warmer.

Did you know that there is a strong relationship between poverty and HIV, an illness that can affect any one of us? A person living with HIV can experience side-effects that make it more difficult to hold on to a career, especially if they run the risk of being fired or discriminated against if they disclose their status. If a person with HIV loses their job they may qualify for financial assistance but the amount they receive is often not enough to cover the basics of life.

Even if this assistance covers costs such as rent, utilities and food there isn’t always spending money left to do something as simple as put together a special holiday meal.

That’s why, every year at this time, AIDS Calgary collects supplies and donations for our Holiday Hamper program. Included in each hamper are toiletries, bus tickets, a small present, a hand-made holiday card, and a gift card that can be used for groceries to make a holiday meal to suit their own culture and tastes.

Coral Bush, Information and Support Worker at AIDS Calgary, says that there’s a very positive response to the Holiday Hamper program: “My favorite part is when I phone people to tell them when their hampers are going to be delivered, and people are always in a very happy mood. It’s probably one of my favorite things that I do here.”

Kim, a volunteer who has delivered hampers for the past two years, says that being involved in the Holiday Hamper program is an incredibly rewarding and humbling experience: “the first gentleman I dropped off my hamper to last year was so thankful that there were almost tears in his eyes. It just really touched me. It was nice to be able to reach out.”

The Holiday Hamper program is just one part of AIDS Calgary’s commitment to reducing the harm associated with HIV/AIDS in this city. We work alongside people at risk for and living with HIV/AIDS to ensure there is necessary access to the information and resources needed to live a full and fulfilling life in a compassionate and just society.

This holiday season we ask that you make a contribution to AIDS Calgary’s Hamper program, and bring a smile to someone going through a tough time. For only $50 you can sponsor toiletries and personal care items, for $100 a family holiday dinner or for $150 an entire hamper for an individual or family in need this holiday season.

Donations of cash and volunteer time are always warmly welcomed.

You can also donate gifts in kind to be included in our hampers (call us at 403-508-2500 for more information on gift in kind donations).

You can make a donation online, in person at our Calgary Cares Centre, or by phone. Thank you for your generosity during this holiday season.

AIDS Calgary Awareness Association Holiday Hamper Program 110, 1603 – 10 Avenue SW, Calgary 403-508-2500 www.aidscalgary.org http://www.gaycalgary.com/a1911

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Out of Town Getting to Know Toronto

Toronto Downtown skyline.

by Andrew Collins North America’s fifth-largest city, Toronto ranks among the world’s favorite gay urban destinations, with exceptional art and history museums, superb shopping, two stellar theater districts and a tourist board keen on courting the lesbian/gay market (www.seetorontonow.com/Visitor/Gay-Community. aspx). The name Toronto means “meeting place” in the language of the native Huron Indians, an apt moniker given how easy it is to make new friends in the city’s affable Church Street Gay Village.

Toronto’s popularity in recent decades among immigrants of numerous and far-reaching ethnic backgrounds has helped infuse it with a diverse personality, exceptional culinary offerings, and an eclectic visual and performing arts scene. Adding to the colorful mix is that Toronto has Canada’s largest gay and lesbian population, including openly gay city councilors, school trustees, and other public officials, and in general a highly progressive political climate. The city’s Pride Parade is one of the world’s largest, held each year in late June and early July.

Toronto may be enormous, but it’s still pedestrian-friendly.

In the early ‘70s, planners debated whether to tear down much of the city’s historic infrastructure and replace it with high-rise housing and concrete office parks. By enlarge, the government decided to keep things as they were, promoting the restoration of many older neighborhoods. This policy has worked out favorably, and downtown now contains a bounty of invigorating neighborhoods filled with well-kept, mostly Victorian and Edwardian homes.

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Some favorite areas for exploring include Chinatown (really more of a “Pan-Asian town), this also near to the esteemed Art Gallery of Ontario, which received a stunning new addition when famed architect Frank Gehry redesigned the museum in 2008. You’ll find not just top-notch Chinese but also Vietnamese, Laotian, Thai, Korean, and other Southeast Asian eateries throughout this neighborhood, especially along Spadina Avenue and its neighboring blocks.

North of the city’s central Financial District, the domain of many sleek hotels and office towers, is the University of Toronto, where more than 65,000 students are enrolled.

The heart of the campus is at King’s College Circle, a small ellipse dotted with impressive 19th- and 20th-century school buildings. Due east lies Ontario’s governmental center, Queen’s Park, where you’ll see the Ontario Legislative and Parliament buildings. Just above the park is the vast Royal Ontario Museum (ROM), which is the secondlargest museum in North America (after New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art).

South of the Financial District along the lakefront is the 100-acre Harbourfront Centre, a former industrial wasteland that now that’s been reinvented into an entertainment-andretail district with a massive antiques center, performance spaces, restaurants, and The Pier: Toronto’s Waterfront Museum, which has exhibits tracing the city’s considerable maritime history. Gaze across the Inner Harbour, and you can make out the Toronto Islands, which you reach by a 10minute ferry ride from the terminal, just behind the Westin Harbour Castle. Choose the ferry headed for Hanlan’s Point (boast leave regularly throughout the day, the cost is $6.50 round-trip) to reach the clothing-optional beach, which has

a huge GLBT following, and keep in mind that Lake Ontario can be windy, and the islands are always several degrees cooler than the mainland (which, on hot summer days, is a blessing).

Astride the Financial District are the city’s two major performing arts areas, the King Street theater district (to the west) and the Front Street theater district (to the east - keep going and you’ll reach the bustling St. Lawrence Market, with its incredible food stalls, and the smartly redeveloped Distillery District, with its chic shops and eateries). Toronto has the English-speaking world’s third largest performing arts scene, with outstanding theater, music, opera, and dance. Also near the King Street district is the 1,815-foot CN (Canadian National) Tower, whose 1,465-foot-high Space Deck is the tallest observation deck in the world.

It’s an easy walk from downtown to the Gay Village (aka Church Street Village), whose commercial spine is Church Street, from about Bloor south to Gerrard streets. In addition to finding most of Toronto’s gay bars and restaurants in this area, you’ll also discover several great fashion, book and gift shops.

Toronto’s most colorful ethnic neighborhoods lie west of downtown, where the hipster-factor is also highest. Walk along Queen Street West to experience the heart of the city’s alternative culture - you’ll find everything from offbeat antiques stores to vintage clothing boutiques to shops specializing in witchcraft to divy tattoo parlors. Farther west, Queen Street intersects with yet another strip of trendy, hipster-infested bars, cafes, and shops, Ossington Avenue, which is definitely worth a tour.

Up until the middle of the 20th century, Toronto endured a reputation as a hard-working, earnest, but rather dull metropolis. The incisive writer Jan Morris once described it as “a small provincial city of almost absurdly British character.” A walk through the many bustling ethnic neighborhoods, around the vibrant Gay Village, and past the quirky, counter-cultural businesses along Queen Street West reveal just how dramatically times have changed.

Restaurant Tips You’ll find dozens of gay-friendly restaurants in Church Street Village, but it’s often more about socializing than eating fantastic food in these parts. One of the best ethnic neighborhoods for noshing is Greektown, a short drive east of Church Street Village, where you’ll find numerous tavernas lining Danforth Street - Mezes (www.mezes.ca) and Pantheon (www.pantheonrestaurant.com) are good bets.

Close to many theaters and a 15-minute walk south of Church Street Village, the Wine Bar at 9 Church Street (www.9church.com) serves wonderfully inventive, farmto-table fare and features a terrific wine list. A bit east of the area, for arguably the best Thai food in the city, check out Mengra (www.mengraithai.com), which is set inside an atmospheric old warehouse and turns out beautifully prepared food.

Head farther east into up-and-coming Leslieville, sometimes dubbed “Lesbianville” in light of one of the neighborhood’s most visible demographics, and you’ll find some nifty little eateries along the main avenue, Queen Street East - Pulp Kitchen (www.pulpkitchen.ca) is a favorite over here, as is Lady Marmalade (www.ladymarmalade.ca), a funky place serving delicious breakfasts.

Queen Street West has scads of outstanding eateries, from high-end superstars like Nota Bene (notabenerestaurant. com), which specializes in stellar mod-Italian cuisine, to romantic Paramour (www.paramourdining.com), a sophisticated modern bistro on the trendy Ossington Strip.

Also consider Clafouti Patisserie for delicious baked goods, Quaff Cafe (cafequaff.ca) for perfectly brewed lattes and espressos, and Pizzeria Libretto (pizzerialibretto.com) on Ossington, for incomparably good wood-fired, blisteredcrust pizzas. Not too far from this area, at Chiado (www. chiadorestaurant.com), you’ll be treated to some of the most sophisticated Portuguese cooking in North America, from rabbit braised in Madeira wine to poached salt cod.

Finding Gay Nightlife Contrary to its long-ago-pious reputation as “Toronto the Good,” a distinct naughty side has grown up over the years around the city’s gay club scene, which is centered in Church Street Village. There are quite a few favorites in these parts, including Slack’s (www.slacks.ca - an attractive restaurant and bar especially popular with the lesbian see-and-be-seen set), the long-famous Woody’s and neighboring Sailor bar (www.woodystoronto.com - fairly youthful, good mix, fun videos), Fly (www.flynightclub.com - a pulsing nightclub that appeared regularly in the U.S. version of Queer As Folk), Zipperz/Cellblock (fun for drag shows and cabaret), the Barn (www.thebarnnightclub.com - super-cruisy men’s bar), and Crews & Tango (www.crewsandtangos.com drawing women and men, with great cabaret shows).

But that’s just the tip of the iceberg - walk up and down Church, and you’ll find plenty of others, as well as gaypopular restaurants, shops, saunas (Steamworks - www. steamworksonline.com) is probably the most popular), and more.

Where to Stay For many discerning travelers, the dashing, historic, and enormous Fairmont Royal York Hotel (www.fairmont.com/ royalyork) is the only address they’ll consider when visiting Toronto. A short cab ride from the Gay Village, it’s right by theaters, Queen Street, and the Harbourfront. Rooms retain the ambience that has earned this property a following among kings and, well, more than a few queens. Chic, design-driven Hotel Le Germain (www.germaintoronto.com) stands out for its smart, contemporary rooms and convenient location near theaters and museums. In the heart of Queen Street West’s shopping and dining, the art-filled and happily eccentric Gladstone Hotel (www.gladstonehotel.com) is a favorite of LGBT travelers.

Up around the Gay Village, you’ll find several wellpriced, charming, and LGBT-popular B&Bs. These include the appealing Banting House (www.bantinghouse.com), an elegant Edwardian home on beautifully kept grounds; the fanciful brick-and-clapboard Dundonald House (www. dundonaldhouse.com), which is steps from the bars and has a common sauna and hot tub; and the affordable House on McGill (mcgillbb.com), a renovated 1890s property whose units share baths but are otherwise comfortably furnished and spacious. Victoria’s Mansion (www.victoriasmansion. com) is another reasonably priced, elegantly furnished B&B in Church Street Village.

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. He can be reached care of this publication.

http://www.gaycalgary.com/a1912

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Photography Calgary Eagle Chili Cook off for the Sharp Foundation - Calgary (photos courtesy of the Eagle)

Onyxx 25th Mardi Gras Birthday at the Texas Lounge - Calgary

ISCCA Show at the Eagle - Calgary

ISCWR Glow Party at Buddys - Edmonton (photos by B&J)

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Photography A Green Affair at the Junction - Edmonton

ISCWR High School Musical at the Junction - Edmonton (photos by B&J)

ISCWR Halloween Show at Flash - Edmonton (photos by B&J)

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #85, November 2010

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 Mad About Mado - From Page 7

 Paula Cole - From Page 62

teenager, I was always the first to enroll in a play at school and later I studied as an actor, but before I knew it, I was already getting popular in clubs doing Mado.”

Oh yeah, but that’s OK; it’s like an old friend. And that song plays itself. It’s always fun, it’s always uplifting. It’s an important part of the set.

Any regret because of its association with Dawson’s Creek?

(Laughs) It’s mixed. On one hand I feel like it’s outrageous for me to complain because that song paid for my living off the road and taking care of my asthmatic child. That song gave me a living, so I’m incredibly grateful for it. But it is very weird. I’m a committed musician with my college degree in music for God’s sake, so it’s kind of disgusting that I’m compartmentalized and stigmatized by these moments really – a moment of a hairy armpit at the Grammys or the Dawson’s Creek moment or my two hit songs.

The hairy pits moment was a big deal.

It’s all fine. It’s all good fun. It’s all passed now. And it’s all not very important either, is it? But I guess it’s just funny, and I was just too stressed to roll with the joke at the time. I was on a plane to Europe and overworked and just stressed out. I was also pretty naive; I had never watched the Grammys, and then I was on it. I was very unprepared.

You didn’t know you were supposed to shave your armpits?

Well, I just didn’t think it would be so noticed. I don’t know what I thought. I don’t know what I think of it even now. I don’t think I’m anymore prepared for the Grammys now than I was before (laughs).

But anyway, it’s very weird to be defined by that when I consider myself a very committed musician. But that’s OK, because right now I have a chance at a second, more authentic career – and how many artists really have that chance? I feel very fortunate. A lot of artists that are my peers, my age, don’t even have record deals anymore. They’ve sold more albums than me, but they might not be inspired to write or as prolific or as full of acid and fire in their bellies. And I am.

You have quite the lesbian following.

Yes, I definitely have my lesbians, and I also have my men – my gay men following – and I find that that’s the most quickly growing of my fan base now. Since coming back with Courage, I’m finding a lot more young gay men at my shows now.

Any idea why now?

Gosh, I find that they know a lot of the rare B-sides, and I’m a real singer with a big range and it’s such a generalization – and I don’t want to generalize – but they do love their females with big voices, and I’ve got that. I’ve got a big ol’ voice.

I feel like, also, I am perhaps a story of empowerment because I am once again picking myself up by the bootstraps – and we all need those messages, right? We need those positive affirmations.

The popularity and presence she wields, especially in Quebec, opens the door for her to share her voice on hot political topics, and she doesn’t shy away from the microphone if she has something to say. It’s evident that she knows her influence goes beyond entertainment.

“I think it’s important to act in life and to be as involved as possible in our society; too many people let the train pass without getting in,” she shares. “My biggest reward is when I get an e-mail from a young fan who tells me that my work has inspired him or helped him get through life.”

“I try not to be too heavy on messages, since people come to see me to distract themselves, but sometimes I share my reaction to the news and of course, I can’t resist a good little shaking of the public with a clear message of my political views, especially when it’s time to bitch about Stephen Harper, our Prime Disaster!”

A packed schedule of live performances, writing for weekly and monthly publications, and running Cabaret Mado, leaves me wondering when she has time for things like a personal life or staying creative to come up with fresh ideas.

“It’s not always easy but I try to lead a good life. I don’t party too much – I don’t drink on stage and only allow myself one night of debauchery a month. I eat well, sleep 8 hours a night, read a lot, and travel 3 times a year. A lot of my inspiration comes from my trips. And I go do research at the sauna!”

Although Mado is well traveled, this November will be her premiere performance in Western Canada, or as she puts it, “My first visit to the land of the cowboys.”

She’s excited to bring a genuine Montreal cabaret experience to Calgary, and will hold nothing back. “(People can expect) a lot of nasty jokes about Anglos, rodeos, and mad cow disease,” she laughs. “Seriously, you can expect a lot of fun, some good drag queen numbers, good jokes about French Canadians, some bitching about Harper, some live songs if I dare to sing in French, and a good gay ol’ time!”

Mado will be performing at Club Sapien, joined by two of Montreal’s finest drag queens, Dream and Rita Baga, along with Calgary’s own April Showers and Jem. A portion of the cover charge will be donated to AIDS Calgary by the event sponsors, J&J Consultants and Club Sapien.

Mado www.mado.qc.ca Coming to Club Sapien Sunday, November 20th, 8pm

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GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #85, November 2010

Lifestyle

Letters Dear GayCalgary, My name is Jocelynn Hurt. I am 21 years old. I grew up in a small town in southern Alberta. I am just wondering why you guys write an article on Colin Walmsley?

Don’t get me wrong he is a great kid. I actually grew up in the same town as him. But he is not the first person to really come out in that town. I came out when I was in grade 9 to some people, and 11 to others in that school. We had our first lesbian wedding when I was in school. I don’t see how his article is of importance. There are a few people that came out in this town.

Yes he did do it at the ceremonies, but would it not be better to find someone that was a jock, and that, but was not accepted.

When he graduated it was accepted.

I was an outcast when I graduated. I was one of the first people to ever come out in that school. I think it is something more hearing about people that came out that were not accepted and still tried to change things within the school. I was in basketball, and rugby. I was also part of TAR (Teenagers Against Racism), SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions).

There are how many small towns in Alberta that kids come out in all the time. Don’t get me wrong he is by far one of the only gay guys to come out, but what about the lesbians that came out before him that paved the pathway.

In his article he puts that he believe it was his standing that got the acceptance and that. And from living in that town that is exactly what it is. I still go back to this day to see my family and if I am walking down the street names get yelled out to me.

My siblings get it a lot about me being a lesbian and in kid’s terms a dyke.

This is just one side of that small town. There are many sides to southern Alberta.

Thanks for your time, Jocelynn Hurt

Dear GayCalgary, The Alberta Rockies Gay Rodeo Association would like to congratulate GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine for 7 outstanding years. GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine has done an exceptional job of covering the events in the gay community as well as supporting Alberta’s groups, associations and businesses.

ARGRA would especially like to recognize and thank Rob and Steve for their coverage of our monthly dances, fundraising events, and our signature event, the Canadian Rockies International Rodeo.

Their premier sponsorship as Multi-Media Sponsor has added greatly to the Alberta Rockies Gay Rodeo Association and we look forward to many more years of cooperation and participation.

http://www.gaycalgary.com/a1915

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Cocktail Chatter The Scarborough Fair

By Ed Sikov It’s very loud in the city – much louder than any Fire Island sound system blasting the recent archaeological discovery, Barbra Streisand. But I’ve kept a bit of my summer garden in preserved form, and it’s literally a tonic.

Just before we left the beach house, I was seized with an overwhelming need to take something with me – something to get me through the tough, cold northeast winter. Dan had already put his suitcase outside the gate when, stricken with this impulse, I dropped my stuff, sprinted to the container garden in the back, and ripped out bunches of herbs. “What are you doing?” said Dan when I reappeared carrying two fistfuls of aromatics. “What are you doing?” I replied as I stuffed them into my backpack. He answered on cue: “What are you doing?!” It’s a routine we do.

“I don’t know,” I said as I picked up my backpack. “It’s part of a Native-American harvest ritual.” “Don’t be racist,” Dan scolded. We distracted ourselves by insulting each other as we walked to the ferry.

By the time we got home, the herbs looked pretty sad, so to refresh them I wrapped them in a wet towel and stuck them in the refrigerator. I decided to make an herbal infusion, so the next morning, I bought a fifth of Absolut.

After doing some cursory Internet research, I decided I knew better. (I’m obnoxious.) So I washed the ragged bouquets, dried them in a salad spinner, and laid them out on the counter. I hadn’t planned this desperate harvest at all; the herbs I’d blindly grabbed at twilight consisted of sage, thyme, tarragon, lovage, parsley and rosemary. The infusion ingredients instantly chose themselves: parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme. Don’t you just love that song? I put the iPod on its little donut and set it to my Paul Simon playlist, then gently bruised the herbs to release their oils and juices, stuffed them in a large, clean, Mason-type glass jar, poured the Absolut in and sealed it.

I waited one day too long. On the third day, the infusion was a gorgeous shade of bright green; the next day it starting browning, and I yanked the herbs out before the thing started to look like peat moss run-off.

The taste? Well, the Garfunkle herb mix tasted very good, though in the future I might just use rosemary (it’s got the best flavor) and some parsley for color. Turning an herbal infusion into a cocktail is easy: you can have it straight up at room temperature, put it on the rocks, stick the bottle in the freezer or add some seltzer and a lime segment. Simple! And if a guest says your handcrafted infused vodka is not to her liking? Just tell her to go reap it in a sickle of leather. That should shut her up. (But what the hell does it mean?)

“The Scarborough Fair” Get some herbs. I’d try rosemary first, with some parsley for color. Measurements are useless here, since the whole point is to make it handcrafted by you. Wash and dry the herbs thoroughly, put them in a glass jar with a lid that seals tightly, pour in enough Absolut to cover the herbs, and seal the jar. Taste often. When it looks and tastes right to you, strain the infusion back into the Absolut bottle or the bottle or jar of your choice. Drink it straight, or mixed with some seltzer or a small splash of tomato juice.

Ed Sikov is the author of Dark Victory: The Life of Bette Davis and other books about films and filmmakers.

http://www.gaycalgary.com/a1916

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Advice

Giving Hope to Our Youth

By Evan Kayne “I know that you cannot live on hope alone, but without it, life is not worth living. And you, and you, and you… have got to give them hope.” Harvey Milk In the past few months, there have been strong reactions to several suicides in the American gay community. However, in addition to the usual expressions of sorrow for the victims, there have been efforts to do exactly what Harvey Milk suggested.

Sex advice columnist Dan Savage, along with his husband, recorded a video recounting how they were bullied in high school, and how years later they realized things do improve. The end result was “It Gets Better”, a channel on YouTube, and now a website where anyone can record their experiences growing up gay, lesbian, transgendered, (etc.). This has resulted in several prominent individuals sharing their story, including fashion maven Tim Gunn, Chris Colfer from Glee and even Joel Burns, a city councilman in, of all places, Texas. All these stories ended with the person telling the viewer to embrace hope, and know that it gets better.

Other similar projects springing up recently included “Spirit Day”, when people were encouraged to wear purple to show support for LGBT youth who were being victimized by bullies, and locally in Calgary “Project Blue Sky”.

The question is - why the sudden attention? After all, LGBT Youth have been bullied for years, and a significant portion of those youth go on to commit suicide. Yet, the level of awareness regarding this problem seemed to explode in the last few months, which was a bit unusual.

Additionally, these calls for hope and support mostly originated from the States, so I wondered if we had similar concerns in Canada.

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James Demers: Come out at a younger age, and face a strong backlash.

James Demers is currently with the Miscellaneous Youth

Network (MYN). MYN was created to provide and increase education, support and resources with regards to and for gay, bisexual, lesbian, queer, questioning, two-spirited and trans-identified youth.

James suspects there are two reasons why we are seeing so much coverage of queer youth suicides in the media. In the past, when a gay youth came out, they came out later in their teens or in their early 20s where there was a possibility they could grasp and handle greater autonomy. Presently, queer youth are coming out younger to parents and the community, and this means that they could be exposed to longer periods of bullying; never mind the possibility unsupportive parents or unforgiving religious backgrounds to compounds the situation.

Second, James believes the increased exposure of queer culture is causing a backlash. “Where in larger cities there is more acceptance,” James told us, “...smaller towns are reacting worse than in the past, creating a witch hunt out of outing queer people in their community and ostracizing them. Exposure to queer culture without education backfires dramatically for kids in this situation.” And furthermore, many small towns lack the LGBT support network that a large metropolis usually has.  Photo Caption Text As for comparisons to the US, in Canada we have positive influences and protection coming from government bodies and our laws. For our American brothers and sisters, they are backed into a corner – how can you demand equal treatment when you’re not granted equality under the law? This is not to say we should be complacent here in Canada, James adds: “I believe we take for granted the severity and frequency at which anti-gay crime happens in Canada because there is an assumption in the broader community that queer bashing and violence don’t occur here. Our silence is our plague in Canada, where discrimination and inequality is the larger issue in the States.”

Michael Phair: The impact sexuality has on becoming an adult.

In 1992, Michael Phair was the first openly gay man elected to Edmonton’s city council. Currently he is the Director of Community Relations at the University of Alberta, as well as an adjunct Professor of Education and a board member of the University’s City-Region Studies Centre.

While Michael knows there may be many reasons a young person considers suicide, he told us, “a major step in becoming an adult is expressing oneself sexually. Accepting and expressing one’s gayness can be overwhelming in many communities in the US and Canada - and may lead a young gay man to fear and/or see no future for themselves.”

Michael suspects this recent rise in attention to the situation our youth face does come from the media and especially the social media (blogs, Facebook, Twitter). Additionally, while people in Canada are learning certain behaviours are not tolerated, in the United States hatemongers are still allowed a degree of openness. Consequently, “Canada has seen substantial positive changes in the last 20 years in attitudes towards the GLBT community and I think that the numbers of suicides, although still too frequent, have not increased as seen south of the border.”

Brendan Van Alstine: In the past, a suicide victim’s sexuality was hushed.

Brendan is the Social Work & Fund Development Coordinator for the Pride Centre of Edmonton. He thinks this uptick in awareness of the problems facing queer youth is due to a number of factors, including both increased acceptance of sexual minority communities and the increased awareness of how sexual identity may play a role in a person’s decision to take their life.

Furthermore, Brendan knows, “there have always been queer teen suicides, but up until very recently, the queer factor may have been unknown to anyone but the person taking their own life, or the family may not have wished to discuss the sexual orientation of (or ‘out’) their dead loved one.”

This last point struck a chord with me as I remember such an incident from Edmonton, in the mid-1990s. A young man - well known to our community - had taken his life. The family (of Christian faith) denied he had any issues with his sexuality; instead it was labelled the copy-cat act of a troubled young man emulating his hero - Kurt Cobain.

Nate Phelps: Do not hide who you are, and let no one deny you equal footing with another.

The difference this time regarding the response to these deaths has been the push to give hope: to shine light, while hatemongers spew out darkness. Someone with first-hand experience of a group that bullies the LGBT community is Nate Phelps. Born of Pastor Fred Phelps, coming out of the shadow of Westboro Baptist Church, he is now an atheist, a speaker about his experiences, an ally of our community, and Alberta Executive Director of the Centre for Inquiry.

Nate knows that despite how nasty some of the bullies can be, our society is changing for the better. He watches as his family pleads their case to the American Supreme Court to justify their protesting at funerals, knowing even if Westboro Baptist Church wins this legal case, their days and the days of inequality towards the LGBT community are numbered.

“Be clear about this,” Nate told us, “...you are on the side of right.

The cruel rhetoric of social conservatives, the outrage of the religious community, the sometimes brutal insensitivity of family and friends will - no - MUST, give way to the righteousness of your cause. The obstacles continue to fall and the truth of the vibrant, creative, intelligent, intrinsically valuable LGBT community will finally be realized. Do not hide who you are. Do not accept the condemnation of the ignorant. Look at yourselves, recognize and rejoice in your strengths and let no man, Pope or peasant, deny you equal footing with any other.”

In the end it comes down to providing inspiration, educating others, and giving hope. We also have to remember, just because we have equal rights in Canada, our fight isn’t over. It would be nice to say, by talking about this problem, we’ll prevent another teen from taking his or her life because they suspect their sexuality is different than what their family, friends or church may want; sadly that may not happen. However, if we do talk about it with the younger members of the community, if we do let them know we will help fight for them, if we do provide support and help, and if we do provide them hope, we will replace further despair with love.

Support Groups (Calgary) LGBTQ Crisis, Support and Referral Line 1-877-OUT-IS-OK (1-877-688-4765) // Teen Line: 403-264-8336 Front line service help phone line from Calgary Outlink

Don’t Buy In Project Calgary Police Service initiative: www.dontbuyin.ca Calgary Police Service Sexality and Gender Diversity Unit www.calgarypolice.ca/ community-sexgender.html

Miscellaneous Youth Network www.miscyouth.ca

Safety Under the Rainbow www.sutr.ca

Calgary Sexual Health Centre www.calgarysexualhealth.ca

Support Groups (Edmonton) Camp fYrefly www.fyrefly.ualberta.ca

Pride Centre of Edmonton Including information on Youthspace www.pridecentreofedmonton.org

Other Links PFLAG Contacts in Alberta www.pflagcanada.ca/en/prov-list-e.asp?

RegionNo=2&ProvAbbr=AB

It Gets Better Project www.itgetsbetterproject.com

http://www.gaycalgary.com/a1917

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41

Community

Alberta’s Bar Evolution

How is Alberta’s Night Scene Changing with the Times?

By Rob Diaz-Marino Things have been shifting over the past 6 months in Alberta’s night scene, and just about every bar or club has played some part in this shuffle. Many longstanding hangouts that have remained for the most part unchanged over the past decade, are now seeing new direction, new looks, and even new ownership.

Although we have lost a few venues, we have also gained several back in their place.

We took the time over the past 2 months to catch up with owners of all 10 of Alberta’s current core LGBT haunts, to talk about what things have changed, and how they are working to improve themselves. For a few, this is our first official in-depth introduction in GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine.

A recurring theme from the interviews that we conducted was how much hard work it is to own and operate a bar or club. Some owners admitted that, if they could do it over, they might not have made the same decision to go into this industry. Nevertheless, the recession has motivated many owners to abandon autopilot and start making clever, business-minded decisions; ones that, as you will see, are geared to benefit their customers and the community in general.

The Backlot, Calgary

Earlier this year, owner Ken Schultz made the decision that it was time for him to retire after running the Backlot for over 13 years. He sold the business to two capable staff members, Mark Campbell, and Ward Sobry.

While Mark himself believes some may have had doubts about the “Backlot party boys” rising to the challenge, after several months he feels that he and Ward are getting the hang of it.

“Both of us love this place,” Mark told us. “We love how Ken started the place, and [want to] continue on with his legacy, having a neighbourhood pub where you can come and sit and talk to people; no pressures, everybody’s welcome.”

The two have already made significant improvements to the appearance of the bar. “We totally did-over the patio...inside we retiled the front entrance way, completely repainted upstairs and down.” But that’s not nearly the end of it.

“Just because we had the grand re-opening party doesn’t mean that’s the end of what we’re going to do. ... We’re going to start to redo the upstairs, we’re going to turn it into more of a comfort lounge area, maybe do Karaoke once a week. That’s going to be a ways down the road. God, we’ve got so much planned for this place it’s not even funny.”

He also addressed the popular club Vinyl down the street that can sometimes seem a little intimidating for customers coming to the Backlot. “If there’s ever an issue they’ve said call us over and their bouncers will take care of any issues.” And he attests that they have kept true to this promise. Furthermore, he tells of how, on busy nights, Vinyl customers have stopped in for a drink and been totally respectful to the establishment and clientele.

The recent Grand Re-opening party was overwhelmingly busy, which is quite encouraging. Mark begins to tear up when he talks about all the people that have supported them through this transition into being new fledged owners.

“We look forward to supporting the community and being here. We thank everyone for their support...I can’t thank everybody enough.”

The Calgary Eagle Inc., Calgary

There was a time when the Calgary Eagle’s leather and denim dress code was a hard rule, and drag queens were a huge no-no. But over their nearly 9 years of operation, that attitude has changed quite dramatically. For several years and until recently, the Calgary Eagle was the second largest LGBT bar in the city. This made many community groups naturally gravitate toward them.

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GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #85, November 2010

“I think what we’ve done is we’ve managed to open up the bar - keeping leather, levis, and cowboys as the key focus (mostly leather) – but we’re inviting all the other groups. People are feeling much more welcome here,” says Johnathan Finlayson, who came onboard as an owner over 4 years ago.

“Our commitment to the community has grown,” he says, referring most prominently to their Social Sunday Dinners, a weekly fundraising event that rotates between community groups. “Where we’re going in the next little while, of course, is we’re doing a last D4 (Straight to Diva 4)...we are limiting our [special] charity fundraisers to 3 to 4 a year. We don’t want to saturate.”

Furthermore, Johnathan talks about future plans for the bar with something of a naughty grin. “We are going to be exploring some unique trends...our goal is to really start to push leather again, take it to the next level. We’re pushing Friday night as constant leather nights. ...

We’re looking at little edgier things that are within the approval of the Liquor Control Board, so we’re working with them to some really unique, twisted things. [They’ll] be fun, I think everybody’s going to like them.”

The Calgary Eagle is also well known for their fetish nights, where patrons have an opportunity to wear their fetish gear outside of the house without feeling out of place. However, Johnathan has plans to up the ante – to have these nights function similarly to their “Dark Nights”.

“On a Dark Night, think of it like a dress code night. There’s a dress code to go on the one side [of the bar]. ...If you’re not comfortable with that, you can still stay on the other side of the bar. ...[So] if you are now coming for a jock night, it’s the same mentality; there’s a comfort zone on one side and if you’re not prepared to wear your jocks then you get to stay with the masses on the other side. So everyone is still invited, but we’re going to take those events from a theme to a higher energy.”

The Calgary Eagle closed down for a few days prior to their 8th Anniversary last February, in order to give the bar a makeover. “As we go along each year, we listen a little more, and we try to tweak the bar a little bit more for people. With the facelift, we wanted that to refresh the bar; we didn’t want to lose the element of the bar. We lost a little bit of that darker, edgier side with all the dark walls and all the military gear hanging. We didn’t change anything structurally other than getting rid of the jib rock and going down to the base brick. Our hope is to eventually take all of our walls down to the red brick. So we did a lot of painting, recreated our coat check. ...Changing our colour schemes, our artwork, moving it around, cleaning up the bar, thinning out the tables…”

He explains that they took specific community groups in mind while planning their changes. For instance, the Primetimers were considered when creating the new seating area at the front, with comfortable leather couches. Furthermore, he mentions that they have worked to enhance their sound and lighting systems to make the venue better for the ISCCA, who occasionally put on shows.

One major hurdle for Calgary Eagle customers has been the ceaseless construction in their area of town, due to the East Village revitalization project.

“Access has been awful for the last 2 years because of the infrastructure changes within the East Village. It changes weekly at times. So it’s really hard for people – I think it may have deterred some. ...What we’re endeavouring to do over the next little while is actually put a map (or an evolving map) onto the website, as well as use Facebook and my e-mail connections, and send all this information off to people.”

Despite this damper put on their business, Johnathan feels excited looking toward the future.

“At the end of the day it’s going to be fantastic. The front of the bar is going to be incredible; the facade of the building is going to be upgraded by the way. The lighting around the building is going to be better. It’s going to be a destination place within a year and a half. This whole neighbourhood is going to be alive, and we’re going to be a cornerstone for the gay community in it.”

Club Sapien, Calgary

The newest kid on Calgary’s block, so to speak, Club Sapien is a unique hybrid between restaurant and dance club. The high concentration of table and booth seating works well for serving food by day, and doubles as a place to relax and talk with friends at night (when not on the dancefloor, of course). It offers a clean and classy atmosphere, with a style of music that breaks tradition for Calgary gay clubs.

The club opened their doors at the end of July, only 2 blocks away from another LGBT business. To some this may seem a little cheeky, but owner Mike Gray’s vision for the bar seems to dispel any inkling of ill intention.

“What we wanted to do was add something different to our community.

We took a look at the existing operations...we thought that there was an opportunity for a new style of venue. And that’s what we wanted to do, is open up something where more choice was offered for people in the community.”

Part of this is finding the way to revive the night club experience that was available to LGBT bar-goers in the past.

“I loved the Boyztown/[Detours] days. You know, the days where we got to march between the two and there was always a choice, you always had somewhere where you could go. I loved it! [There were], I don’t know how many nights where I went out, where I started at Boyztown and headed over to Detour, and headed back later on. And the next night, it was a different march.”

Another role they are filling is that of the high-end (yet still cost effective) LGBT restaurant. Since Victoria’s went out of business, Mike feels Calgary has lacked a comparable hangout. “[At Victoria’s] you could actually sit and talk...it was just such a nice environment to be in.

I felt that has been missing from our community for a while. I’m glad we’re able to offer it again.”

The selection of dishes is something quite different from what you would expect to see as bar food. Samples were given out on opening night, demonstrating sophisticated flavours that wowed many customers.

“We picked a menu selection that let people have a relatively nice place to go out that was still very cost effective for them. Where they can come out, have food with their friends, and be very comfortable in their environment.”

One aspect that has caused friction with some, is that of cover charge.

Mike explained to us how it is structured: on weekdays, cover is only charged after 11pm ($2-$4 depending on the night). On Friday and Saturday there is no cover before 9pm; after that it is $4 from 9pm11pm, and $6 after 11pm.

“We definitely have that option for people who find cover to be something they’re not comfortable with. [The prices are] pretty standard for the industry. ...Having the different environment that takes a little bit more to operate, that’s usually how it goes. And honestly, what cover tends to do is make sure that the crowd that’s there, wants to be there.”

Now being in operation for just over 3 months, the club has been making inroads with community groups. Mike continues to encourage further collaborations.

“We think it’s very important that any group in our community that wants to get together, has a place to do it. ... If there’s a group that’s looking to have a celebration of some sort, and there’s a way we can accommodate that for them , we’d like to do that. Any of our non-profit and community support groups, we’d like to be doing what we can to thank them for their work, and the way to do that is to offer them space and to help them in planning events here.”

FAB, Calgary

Money Pennies was once considered Calgary’s one and only lesbian bar, however even before their retirement, owners Lorie and Michelle were working to be inclusive of everyone.

“Money-Pennies was always seen as a lesbian bar but the reality was, on some nights there were no women in here, and on other nights it was all women,” says Jason Wheeler, a former employee of Money Pennies who purchased the bar from the couple. “And we still have that same consistency. I don’t market the bar to any one gender or any one group – I target the nights toward groups and genders. So, some nights are still predominantly men, certain nights are predominantly women, and it will always be that way - it’s a people bar.”

Continued on Page 44 

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #85, November 2010

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 Alberta’s Bar Evolution - From Page 43 Recently Jason made the decision to rebrand. “It had been three years that we owned the bar, and we just felt it was time to make it our own and identify it. So we did a contest and that was the name that was chosen by my family, friends, and regular customers. We wanted something short and easy to identify that was very brand-worthy, and that was synonymous with the gay community.”

The change of name has accompanied many other alterations. “A lot of it has been cosmetic. We just wanted to make it a nicer atmosphere.”

The country-western feel that Money Pennies once had, has been gradually phased out for a cosier, classy décor - from dimmer and richer wall colours and large horizontal mirrors on the walls to open the space up, to hanging chandelier lighting.

Another exciting change has been their food. “I love my food!” Jason says playfully. “Since our issues with the health department last year, we’ve had 3 demerit-free health reports, expecting our fourth one any day. ...We’ve had to invest a lot financially, and manpower, into making sure that everything is kept up to a high standard.”

“Our menu has changed. It’s basic but good pub foods. In the kitchen we’ve got over 40 years of experience with our staff. We’ve recently opened up again at lunch – we have a 15-item [selection] under $5.99, available in 15 minutes or less.”

Over the three years that Jason has owned it, FAB has fallen into its own style of supporting the community. “We do a lot, sponsorship wise, for the non-profit groups here in this city. When we first took over we were really top-heavy for one of them, and now we spread our dollar much more wisely.” The bar regularly hosts smaller-scale fundraisers, such as their annual World AIDS Day fundraiser every December 1st.

“It’s a cause that’s near to my heart.”

Initially the Wheeler family played a very prominent part in running the bar, but have reduced their roles as Jason became ready to take on more of the everyday responsibilities. “I’ve changed amazingly, personally. ...It’s been coming up 2 years that I can celebrate being clean, in January. My whole life has changed because of it. I’ve [also] had some health issues that I’ve had to challenge. ... So I’m not as naïve as I once was.”

The Texas Lounge, Calgary

The Texas Lounge, affectionately known as “The Bunker”, continues to hold the title of Calgary’s longest standing gay space. The bar shares the basement of 308 - 17th Avenue SW with Calgary’s only bathhouse, Goliaths. While separate establishments under different ownership (Andrew Brassard with Goliaths, and Allan Oen with Texas Lounge), the two businesses intertwine in many ways, working closely together and maintaining a symbiotic relationship.

This month the Texas Lounge and Goliaths celebrate their 23rd anniversary. After so many years, Andrew and Allan acknowledge that updates were in order, and have been taking steps toward that end.

“Essentially we’ve just done cosmetic things, with taking out those big pillars, putting a new bar counter in, redoing the bathrooms...

Operationally we have run [about the same] for the past 23 years except we’ve made a big effort to get rid of some of the undesirables that hang out at the bar.” Its location in downtown Calgary can sometimes attract customers that, for whatever reason, have tended to be disrespectful to others. In saying this, Andrew refers to a shift in policy where the Texas Lounge no longer tolerates this behavior, so that customers can focus on enjoying themselves.

Meanwhile, the bar has distinguished itself as a powerhouse for community fundraising, sometimes producing totals comparable to bars twice (or more) their size. “We’ve become a lot more involved with [the ISCCA] in the past 5 years. Well really, anybody with a good community spirit, we’re open to doing any sort of fundraiser for them.” Beswick House, more or less the Texas Lounge’s charity of choice, frequently benefits from fundraising efforts at their venue.

In addition, Goliaths is also undergoing some changes, both cosmetically and in their adoption of special events. “For the baths side, we’ve put in glory holes and we’ve added the dance parties and the flashlight parties.” The dance parties feature a DJ with disco lights, where people can be fully clothed, in towels, or as naked as they want.

Running from 12am to 8am, these events transform Goliaths into an after hours, private men’s club. While alcohol cannot be served in Goliaths – though they can provide non-alcoholic drinks and food - customers are welcome to pop over to the Texas Lounge until 2am for alcohol if they wish.

Going forward, Andrew tells us, “Our focus is going to be more on the bathhouse side in the next year...[it’s] going to get a big facelift. So essentially we’re going to modernize it.”

And regarding the Texas Lounge, “Anybody is welcome. Everybody checks their ego at the door – it’s a bar for everybody to come and enjoy each other’s company.”

The Twisted Element, Calgary

The Twisted Element, often simply called “Twisted”, is also turning 6 years old this month. The owners pride themselves in having proactively improved their club over these years. While they admit they’ve needed to rethink some of their ideas to suit the trends that they’ve seen in their customers, they seem to have reached, and continue to run with a winning formula.

“We’ve improved on the product upstairs, but downstairs has gone through a couple of transformations. The piano lounge never seemed to work very well. We had a piano player in, and then we had strippers down there and that didn’t seem to get enough attention to make it wise.

And then we went and did the Mama Kim variety show,” says Cliff.

“The Mama Kim [Variety] Show has been the best,” adds RJ, and the concept has stuck to this day - the show can be caught every Saturday evening.

“But even from start to finish our concept has changed,” continues Cliff. “We used to do food when we first opened, and then somewhere along the line you have to decide what you’re going to be. You can’t be everything to everyone, it’s just not feasible.”

Other changes the owners mention are the washroom renovations, the VIP lounge area, and the two stages: downstairs for community events, and upstairs for their own Sunday drag shows and other inhouse performances. RJ also boasts the sophistication of the club’s lighting and sound systems.

Cliff commented on how the club’s clientele has shifted over the years.

“For the Mama Kim show we get more bachelorette/stag parties. We might have increased slightly on straight people coming in, but I think a lot of that is the word of mouth, if people want to go for a great dance.

Because I’ve asked straight couples what brings them to us, and they say the music, sound, and everybody knows out in Calgary, if you want to go to a fun environment with no problems, you come to Twisted. Our reputation precedes us now.”

We asked RJ about the club’s strategy for giving back to the community.

“Last figures that I’ve done through my accounting, we’re probably up to about $270,000 given back into the community [over the last six years], whether it’s been giving away Vespas and flat-screen TVs, iPods, iPhones, or charitable donations.“ Cliff clarifies that their donations totals do not include fundraising events at their establishment. “When we give out cash, it’s cash out of my pocket...it’s actually our bottom line,” RJ explains.

However they stress that their expectation is for most groups to earn these donations by offering something of interest or value to their customers. Thus, oftentimes the club will match the amount that groups are able to fundraise on their own. “I always said, you want something you’ve got to work for it. … when you don’t appreciate something, you take it for granted and it’s no longer there.

“At one time we did charge cover for straight women, because we were getting inundated, so we had to slow it down to protect the [environment] of the club,” admits Cliff. Otherwise they impose no cover charge unless a special event is happening – in which case, the cost is only for the expense of putting on the event. Furthermore, the Twisted Element boasts low drink prices. “We’ve been like that for six years, with or without competition,” says Cliff.

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GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #85, November 2010

Buddys Niteclub, Edmonton

Through all of the recent ups and downs in Edmonton’s LGBT night scene, Buddys remains the longest still-standing Edmonton bar at just over 10 years. Through recent times they have remained fairly constant, but changes are afoot.

We spoke to Jim Brown, an owner of both Buddys Niteclub, and Woodys Pub upstairs. While reluctant to reveal his plans for updating the club, in part he admits because they are not fully complete, he commented first about what is already underway.

“We rerouted the entry a little bit, and the coat check so that there’s no longer any congestion. But we’re going to be redoing all of Buddys.”

He also points out that another one of his immediate projects is to move the DJ booth. He states that the venue will remain open while under construction.

Buddys operates Tuesday to Sunday, from 9pm to close, and regularly produces a monthly events calendar poster (which is also placed on the website) for patrons to find out what is happening each month.

Woodys Pub, Edmonton

The more active project at the moment for Jim Brown has been that of Woodys. The venue has undergone some structural changes, which included moving the bathrooms and karaoke stage area. This has resulted in new seating arrangements for their lounge clientele.

Another big shift has been in their format. “We’ve changed it into a video bar,” explains Jim. Indeed, the multitude of television screens showing the music videos of the current song selection, is mesmerizing.

Furthermore, “We added the kitchen. ... [We serve] bar food, like chicken club sandwiches, beef dip, and that sort of stuff.”

We asked Jim what he has noticed as a result of these alterations.

“I’ve definitely noticed it’s brought in a younger crowd,” he says. “I think the Woodys renovations have really helped business, it’s definitely increased it without a doubt.”

FLASH Nightclub, Edmonton

The FLASH space became available due to an unfortunate incident in the prior straight incarnation of the venue, within a short time of its launch. Having been newly renovated, this made the space an attractive location to set up an LGBT nightclub, where such problems would be unlikely to occur again.

We spoke with manager Stephen Anderson, who told us a bit about the vision of the bar. “We’re catering to a diverse crowd, open to both gays and lesbians, as well as the alternative community. We want everyone to be able to come to FLASH and be themselves and express themselves the way that they think is right.”

It is a handsome venue with gray brick walls and gothic dragon statues in some of the corners. The main bar is adjacent to the dance floor, and elevated from that is booth seating along the back wall. While this set up may have worked well for a straight bar, it poses problems for some of the typical functions held at a gay bar.

Stephen acknowledges that plans are in the works regarding installing a new stage, possibly moving the DJ booth, upgrading he sound system, incorporating music videos, and possibly having go-go dancing cages.

They plan to host regular drag shows on the first Sunday of every month, and with a full kitchen, he also hopes food will be an option in the near future.

Aside from changes to the venue, Anderson is also looking at diversifying FLASH’s clientele. “We want to be able to cater as well to the bear community and the lesbian community. We’re offering special nights for them. ...We are offering a college meets industry on Friday nights, catering to the U of A and Grant MacEwan students where they get in for no charge, as well as for people working in the industry. ...

So ideally what we’re trying to do is bring two groups together – the students that are new to Edmonton, as well as the older clientele, so that everybody is under one roof.”

FLASH is open Thursdays from 10pm to 2am, and Fridays/Saturdays from 9pm to 3am. Booths and the VIP lounge can be booked for birthdays and other private parties.

The Junction

After the death of Boots and Saddles/Garage Burger owner Jim Shaffer, the business was left in the hands of Ross Correira who sadly was not up to the opportunity of taking the bar in a new direction. The

business fell apart in a matter of months, and over 30 years of LGBT space was lost overnight.

In the months to follow, stories circulated about a number of groups and individuals who were looking at snapping up the space before it was lost to someone outside of the community. The owners of Prism, Edmonton’s self-professed “lesbo-centric” bar, were the ones to come out on top. This was an opportunity for Tracy Smith and Deborah Chymyshyn to bring the legacy of Prism (which they had bought from its original owner more than 2 years prior) to a close, and run with a brand new bar concept of their own.

We asked Deb, who has now been operating the Junction for 2 months, about the differences that she has noticed.

“It’s way bigger and it’s a lot more work, so there’s a lot more coordinating and managing. ... With Prism we could pretty much do it all: two of us and a bartender and a busser, we could run the show. Here we can’t. ... So we need help, and we have a great team. We have so much support from the community, which we had at Prism too, but it’s just in a bigger way - and now we have the men supporting us as well.”

With the owners of a lesbian bar taking over a space that was traditionally frequented by blue collar men, it was anyone’s guess what clientele would adopt the venue as their hangout.

“We have a very interesting mix, and it comes in waves. We have the men that come for happy hour, and then we have women on the pool league. ...On the weekends we have all the drag queens as well. We have all ages...here it’s like 18 to 80. … We ran Prism for 2 and a half years, and we are seeing people come to the Junction that we never saw at Prism. There are people that are coming here from the community, I don’t know where they were before but they are starting to come here, and it’s just delightful to see.”

Prior to opening their doors, much work was needed to undo the state of disrepair that the space was left in. “We’ve had to spend a lot more money than we’ve ever anticipated, so that the place is top notch.

Our budget is pretty stretched so there are a lot of things on our wish list. So our intention is that every time we have a little bit extra, we do something. We couldn’t do it all at once, so we’re doing our best to be always improving.” Most repairs were things that people don’t see, such as equipment maintenance, rebuilding floors and drywall that had rotted, and the cleanup of 30 years of junk that had accumulated in storage spaces, while paying attention not to throw out things of historical value.

Deb and Tracy could not have accomplished this alone. “All the work that we have done here has been [with the help of] people who have just shown up - heard that we bought the place, heard that we’re making some changes – and said what can I do to help? They have done everything from 7 and a half days chipping tile off of the floor, to painting and drywalling, cleaning, hauling garbage. Anything that we’ve needed done, they just came forward and did it happily.”

Furthermore, Deb tells us about how, during construction, people in the neighbourhood kept coming by to try the door to the former Garage Burger space, concerned that a new restaurant would mean the end of their favourite burgers and homemade fries. Lucky for them, as Deb explained, “We took their top 3 selling burgers and we added them to our menu. ...We decided that was one of the things we wanted to do, honour that 30 years of history by keeping some of those wonderful things, and then adding some new stuff of course.”

What has been particularly rewarding for Deb and Tracy is seeing the remarkable community spirit that the Junction has inspired in such a short time.

“Groups that used to be in chaos and conflict are starting to come together, the men and the women are starting to...mesh and intermingle a little bit and even enjoy each other’s company in this space. So there is a coming together that is taking place that is so phenomenal. We had experienced it in our first 5 days here, our first night of Karaoke, when we had a group of people on the dance floor of all ages and all walks, and they were all arm in arm swaying back and forth on the dance floor singing at the top of their lungs and having a fabulous times. I cried, it was just the most amazing thing to experience.”

“Our dream and our vision of building a stronger community based on respect, acceptance, and love, is happening here every day.”

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 Publishers Column - From Page 6 their friends. All in all, it was a lot of fun, and everyone ended up getting something of value out of it.

If you have the opportunity of visiting the Calgary Taboo show this year, make sure you stop by our booth to say “hi”, and perhaps get your photo done. Visit our website and enter to win free tickets to the Calgary Taboo show.

Halloween was its usual crazy gauntlet of events, though for once I remained in Calgary while Steve covered Edmonton; since I’m the one with the car, it is usually the other way around. However, since we had our sights on 9 different Halloween parties happening in Calgary on the Saturday, having that car was the very reason had to I stay in town.

Check out our Queer Eye feature for Halloween photographs from Calgary and Edmonton.

This Month

A major event in Edmonton that you shouldn’t miss this month is Exposure Festival, running from the 12th to the 21st. This is an opportunity to catch a show with MtF comedian Ian Harvie, who appears on our cover. See the article on page 10 for more on Exposure, or page 60 for our interview with him.

We’re also launching a new feature this month, entitled “A Thousand Laughs”. It’s a monthly challenge that encourages you to participate in capturing and sharing humorous pictures of things in our province.

Go to page 59 for a full explanation of the rules and requirements for participating, and keep that camera phone handy!

Finally, we’d like to congratulate the Twisted Element on their 6th anniversary, which falls on November the 11th. At time of press we weren’t able to confirm any details regarding an Anniversary party, but nonetheless it is a milestone that we hope they take time to celebrate in some way. Furthermore, we would like to congratulate the Texas Lounge on their 23rd anniversary, which they are celebrating on the 24th of this month.

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine 2136 17th Avenue SW Calgary, AB T2T 0G3 November 1, 2010 Dear Steve and Rob, On behalf of our clients, board, staff and volunteers of The SHARP Foundation I would like to extend our sincere congratulations on your 7th anniversary!

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine has been an incredible supporter of The SHARP Foundation for many years. Through event sponsorship, sponsored advertising of fundraising initiatives and numerous articles outlining programs and services SHARP offers, we are able to increase awareness of our mandate. The Magazine also offers a great vehicle to show appreciation to our numerous donors and supporters.

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine is a remarkable advocate for the GLBT community as well as numerous non-profit organizations. Thank you for your great contributions to SHARP and the community as a whole! We look forward to continuing our work together to advocate on behalf of everyone infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. Sincerely,

Floyd Visser Executive Director The SHARP Foundation

Magazine

I’m taking this moment to officially introduce a variation of our logo that we have been using in certain places for the past year. The abbreviation to “GC&E Magazine” makes it ideal for use on things like T-shirts, where individuals may wish to sport our brand without outing themselves.

It has already appeared as a watermark in our 2010 media kit, and on our magazine cover backdrop at the Edmonton Taboo show, but we want our readers to be familiar with it as we may be applying it to more uses in the near future. For the time being, it is not meant to replace our rectangular “GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine” logo, however the similarity in colour and style should make it appear synonymous.

There’s something else new about our magazine this month that you may have already noticed: in several places, including in ads, the appearance of a small square containing a triangular or dotted pattern in colour or black and white. This is an exciting new complementary feature we are offering to advertisers with half-page ad spots or larger. They are called “Tags”, and they are a way of making even the print version of our publication interactive in the electronic world.

If you have a SmartPhone or iPhone with a data plan, take a moment to visit http://www.gettag.mobi in your mobile web browser, and follow instructions to download and install the free Microsoft Tag Reader application on your phone.

This application will enable you to use your phone’s built-in camera to scan the tags in this magazine, and instantly Get the free mobile app at link you to websites, vCards, and other information. Give it a try and you’ll see http:/ / gettag.mobi what I mean. It’s really quite amazing, and offers a whole new field of possibilities for ourselves and our advertisers to engage readers.

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GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #85, November 2010

Box 172, 2, 3012 – 17th Avenue SE

Calgary, Alberta T2A 0P9

Tel: 403.272.2912 Fax: 403.272.9792

Email: info@thesharpfoundation.com www.thesharpfoundation.com

 Ian Harvie - From Page 60 Part of Harvie’s success is being viral. He can be friended on Facebook, tweets, and uses the internet to make fans and friends.

“Someone in this business is looking for a way to keep in touch with people who want to keep in touch with them and know where they are. You can draw from that so when you do a show there aren’t empty seats there.” ”I went to Australia in April and performed in the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, and before I left, I started writing to people and developing friendships so that when I got there I knew some other queers, queer friendly and gender variant folks who were incredibly welcoming. We ended up hanging out for a good portion of the time I was there. It is not just for shows, it is to make friends in other parts of the world so you are not so alone when you get there. It could be a lonely gig if you didn’t have something like Facebook. I would be curious what someone who has been doing comedy for 25 years would say about [the way it was] before Facebook or Myspace, when there was only the after-show connection with the audience, they didn’t have your address to send you fan mail. There is a connection and acceptability that can ground people like me in actually knowing people. I like to connect with people and hang out with them after shows or if I get there early, I love that kind of stuff. Facebook is a huge help with that. There are a lot of people who are still very resistant to it, and that is fine too, they are more traditional. I feel very connected to the tech avenues.”

It has also allowed Harvie to be a role-model, and put a face to the Trans community. In putting himself out there, it helps people see that Trans folks are just like everyone else. He personally takes time to tell others, including those with their own confusion and struggles over it.

“It has allowed a lot of young people to write to me and say things like, do you mind if I write to you because I don’t know anyone in my small hometown who feels or talks about things the way you do. I had a therapist write to me with a client who was FTM and wanted to connect him to people who would be willing to mentor via pen-pal. I said, absolutely, I think that is important. I have maybe a dozen different FTM guys and a couple of their partners that write to me and exchange experience. Sometimes that is all it takes to help somebody not feel so alone with their feelings. That part is really important to me, to connect with other people who share the same feelings, or not. A lot of our feelings and experiences are so similar and that is important to me to have that connection to people.”

While it certainly speaks to the progress of our society that a Transgendered comedian works, as the recent outcries against bullying and suicides show, we still have a long way to go.

“I was having this conversation with someone recently about the bullying and harassment that goes on. A friend of mine said, the bashings that we hear about is rarely gay bashing, it is usually gender bashing. The moment that he said that it clicked. People can’t tell by looking at you if you eat pussy or suck cock, they can’t tell just by looking at you. But if you are gender variant in any way, shape or form then people will peg you as one of these derogatory words. It is most often that people are gender bashed. I think about that and am saddened by it, but also encouraged because there are organizations helping schools build things, coalitions, Gay/Straight alliances. When I was in Junior High it was the cruellest, most brutal time of my life. I was just miserable. The girls were the meanest, the boys were the dumbest; everything was hormonally motivated. On top of that, whatever families were teaching their kids [about] what was weird or different, sanctioned some of these kids’ actions in school. So I know that exists but, there is a lot of progress being made to teach kids very young that it is a diverse world out there and it is all ok.”

Out of the media coverage and tragedy, Harvie hopes that it will lead to further progress.

“The news of these people recently committing suicide, the sad thing is, it is not new news, it was just on air. The gentleman whose intimate relations were aired on the internet, the reason

we heard about it was because of technology. This happens all the time and I think is 2 to 3 times higher than other teen suicides. It is not that it is new news, it is just news that finally hit the airwaves and someone is bringing light to it in a way that hasn’t happened before. It is horrible that it happened but it definitely inspires progress and a dialogue on how we can prevent this from happening. That will eventually require families not just to teach tolerance, but loving acceptance.

People’s tolerance is part of the problem. Saying, I don’t agree with it but I tolerate it is part of the problem. People need to keep their opinions out of it so that the message isn’t given that it is wrong, and the message isn’t sanctioned to do these things to other kids. So I am sad but hopeful that it will inspire progress.”

Whether seeing Ian Harvie for the first time, or again, one thing you can be assured of is a fun evening on November 17th.

“There will be a little bit of old, a little bit of new, and [the audience] might learn something new and hear something they have never heard before. I promise they will laugh their asses off.”

Ian Harvie www.IanHarvie.com Exposure Festival Myer Horowitz Theatre, November 17th www.IanHarvie.com http://www.gaycalgary.com/a1928

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GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #85, November 2010

47

Trans Identity

Free Speech and the Myth of “Special Rights”

By Mercedes Allen Recent years have seen a regression with regards to the concept of human rights. Most often, this push-back is in response to legislation that would protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or trans people, and is often accompanied by claims of infringement on freedom of speech, and/or that human rights legislation grants “special rights” to protected classes.

Complaints about “special rights” often look like the response to the Canadian trans rights Bill C-389 made at Timothy Bloedow’s Christian Governance, by John Newnham: ”So someone assaulted allegedly over being a transvestite is considered more valuable in law than a plain ordinary victim of domestic violence or hit and run.”

This is dubious, at best. Rights classifications aren’t written to protect specific groups of people - they address the bases that are used to justify hatred. Protections based on race in fact potentially protect white people as well as anyone else: if it seems that the legislation only protects racial minorities, perhaps it’s because minority persons of colour are almost always the people targeted. And if such a disparity exists, then it illustrates exactly why the legislation is necessary in the first place.

Canadian Human Rights legislation also provides a key means of balancing rights conflicts by taking into account context, and giving a caveat for “undue hardship”: The term “undue hardship” refers to the limit of an employer’s capacity to accommodate without experiencing an unreasonable amount of difficulty. Employers are obligated to provide accommodation “up to the point of undue hardship.” This means an employer is not expected to provide accommodation if doing so would bring about unreasonable difficulties based on health, safety, and/or financial considerations.

There is no precise legal definition of undue hardship, nor is there a standard formula for determining undue hardship. Each situation is unique and should be evaluated individually. Undue hardship usually occurs when an employer cannot sustain the economic or efficiency costs of the accommodation.

Generally, some hardship can be expected in meeting the duty to accommodate. Employers are required to carefully review all options before they decide that accommodation would cause undue hardship.

It is not enough to claim undue hardship based on an assumption or an opinion. To prove undue hardship, employers have to provide evidence.

Despite the portrayal by the far right as elevating trans people above the average Canadian, Bill C-389’s proposed protections apply to both trans and non-trans people alike based their on gender identity and expression – in fact, this is an added advantage of the legislation, in that it finally encodes in law that women can’t be discriminated against for being too masculine, or men for being too effeminate.

Often without protective rights legislation, it becomes common for people to excuse discrimination - even hatred that leads to violence or murder, such as the tragedies we remember at the Transgender Day of Remembrance, commemorated on November 20th of every year - as being somehow justified, thereby devaluing the lives of the victims.

Human rights legislation does not elevate some classes of people above others, but instead affirms that it is wrong to base prejudicial actions on characteristics which are commonly met with prejudice. In an ideal world, of course, we would all realize that all are created equal, but it doesn’t happen that way in practical reality. So the reminders have to be codified into law… because there is always disagreement about who should be treated fairly and what the limit to fairness should be.

Questioning Aspiration and Motivation

Although rooted in enlightened concepts that were described as “natural rights,” human rights were revisited following the Second

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World War. This was in the wake of attempting to understand the first incidence in the Western World in which a democracy granted power to, and collaborated with, a destructive regime, which targeted specific classes of its own citizens. Prior to the rise of Nazi Germany, it wasn’t really thought that something like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was even necessary; afterward, nations understandably wanted to avoid ever taking the same path of fear, terror and hatred that they had witnessed on the international stage.

But even at its genesis, the modern human rights discussion was troubled by disagreements as to whether rights should encompass political and civil rights only, or also include economic and social rights as well. Dissenters felt that economic and social aspects were aspirational rather than intrinsic - much like arguments heard today, in which some will challenge the right of people who they broadly and without care for circumstance characterize as “lazy” to various forms of social assistance. In this way, human rights have gradually and unjustly become seen as a socialist threat to capitalism, in a world where the memory of Nazi Germany is fading, but the increasing scarcity of wealth has come into stark focus.

Added to this has been the struggle that some have with seeing rights for LGBT people specifically as a civil rights struggle. Some prefer to pick and choose who should be eligible for recognized equal rights, often trying to distinguish between birth characteristics and what they characterize as being choices. And even at that, many fail, refusing to recognize gender variant people born with an intersex condition like Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome or Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (witness the ongoing troubles in sport facing Caster Semenya and Santhi Soundarajan), or expecting rights guarantees to safeguard their faith, while opposing the rights of those from another faith. Choice invalidation also gives an out to prejudiced people for whom things like colour become an indicator that triggers presumptions about one’s motivations, culture, lifestyle, behaviours and tendencies. Doing this, they become blind to their prejudice because they’ve seduced themselves into believing that what they’re reacting to is not really the trait itself, when they’re acting on the unspoken and often inaccurate smorgasbord of inventions that go with it.

From a decolonial perspective, the concept of human rights is actually flawed. Legislation granting rights is prescriptive, and retains focus on disparate classes rather than dismantling borders and territories altogether - a colonial response to colonial thinking. Decolonialism assumes value and inalienable rights for everyone, which should not be deprived on any irrational basis (the term “irrational” leaves open a proviso that allows the judicial system to step in when someone has violated legal and ethical standards). Prescriptivism is a limited solution to a complex problem.

That said, without an entire reframing of law to eliminate colonial mechanisms used to sanction oppression (or better but perhaps less possible, a societal changing of hearts and minds), human rights legislation remains the necessary evil, to prevent hysteria and hatred from escalating to deliberate marginalization, terror and eventually genocide.

Genocide in 2010

”Mr Bahati’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill stipulates the death penalty for repeated same-sex relations and life imprisonment for all other homosexual acts. A person in authority who fails to report an offender to the police within 24 hours will face 3 years in jail. Likewise, the promotion of homosexuality carries a sentence of 5 to 7 years in jail.”

Tragically, we’ve seen a dramatic surge in hatred toward LGBT people specifically because they’re lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans, most visibly in Uganda. When Exodus International board member Don Schmirer, historical revisionist Scott Lively and ex-gay “counsellor” Caleb Brundidge travelled to Kampala to fan the flames of anti-gay sentiment in February of 2009, American far-right evangelical groups saw an opportunity. Uganda had been a key area where funding has been targeted to address the spread of HIV worldwide, and many of these programs, including PEPFAR, have faced special limitations

to make non-governmental organizations that assist people like sex workers ineligible for funding. By stirring up anti-gay hysteria and pushing for laws like Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill (which would also criminalize organizations that advocate for LGBT people), evangelicals found an opportunity to have virtually exclusive access to the billions of dollars in AIDS relief funds - not for condoms, but to proselytize in the guise of abstinence-only education. It is possible that the death penalty was an unintended consequence, although the little response so far from American evangelical leaders now to condemn the bill has been weak and half-hearted. In the process, the Ugandan government found it to be a way to unite their people against a common enemy, and religious extremists like Martin Ssempa seized upon it by burning condoms, subjecting congregations to graphic depictions of anal sex, and conflating homosexuality with pornographic scatophilia in slideshows designed to regularly whip the public into raging mob mentality. While one local newspaper has been publishing photos of alleged gay people and inciting the public to burn or hang them, the Anti-Homosexuality Bill is once again inching toward government passage.

And again, we remember why human rights are necessary.

Free Speech, Incitement and Harassment

It is not unusual for the far right to complain that granting rights to LGBT people will infringe upon their freedom of speech. Usually, it will be cases like the ruling by the Alberta Human Rights Commission against Rev. Stephen Boissoin (since overturned) that people will point to, or occasionally legal actions against more fringe people like Bill “anal warts” Whatcott.

Speech is a nebulous thing to try to regulate, and will always need a context to determine when enough harm occurs that it has gone beyond “hurting feelings” (as some minimize hate speech to being) to causing incitement or real damage. And if it needs context, then there will never be any legal absolutes that will definitively solve the issue.

That said, there are some types of speech that are commonly recognized to be harmful, regardless of where people stand on the issue:

their own lives in large numbers. Something’s broken, and yet the statements that drive it are intangible enough that it becomes difficult to know where that line should have been drawn.

That’s the problem with the Boissoin decisions. Did it become incitement? Within a couple weeks of Boissoin’s letter being published, there actually was a violent attack, and it was felt by the AHRC - but not felt by the appellate court - that the letter helped to create an environment where that attack became likely to happen.

Harassment – Something else our court recognizes is harassment, and again, context is everything. If someone tells their co-worker once that they think homosexuality is a sin, well, that could be justified under freedom of speech. But stating it multiple times, every time he or she passes their desk, in every email they send, in any conversation spoken loudly with others while near that co-worker, making an environment where it becomes very difficult and very unfriendly very fast and impossible to function - that’s “expressing an opinion,” but it’s also clear harassment. But what about activity that’s in between?

Incidental conversation where it’s unclear if there was any intent… context. And for those who might state that even the extreme case is justifiable, swap out “homosexuality is a sin” for “all religious leaders are pedophiles,” and they might feel differently.

Hate speech is never free. It drives minorities underground, into hiding, into fear and shame, it becomes an impediment to fulfilling their dreams or even just going out to the grocery store. While freedom of speech is something definitely worth valuing, if proponents seek total unrestrained speech in law, then they need a clear solution to mitigate this effect. And leaving it up to “personal responsibility” is just not good enough, because people are just not that responsible — as witnessed by our entire code of laws.

http://www.gaycalgary.com/a1919

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Incitement – directly encouraging violence upon a person. Even many free speech proponents realize that our society can’t just allow someone to shout outright, repeatedly and relentlessly, that “we need to take up arms and kill all _______s,” especially in an environment where “_______s” are unpopular, and the person is likely to have others take the speaker seriously enough to actually attempt to do so. And if someone does incite others to commit acts of violence, those proponents can often understand making them a party to the crime, in terms of conspiracy-related charges, etc.

So when does it become incitement? The Protocols of the Elders of Zion never actually state within their covers that violence should be done to Jews, but the passages whip up such fear and hatred that many times throughout history, violence became the most logical conclusion.

The same could be asked of the anti-gay sentiment bandied around today. Individually, statements that fear monger or pontificate about LGBT people are just statements — even quoting Leviticus 20:13.

Cumulatively, though, the environment makes it likely that someone’s going to get hurt… or else bullied enough that queer kids start taking

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Interview record which will come out in France and Canada in February. It has meant I have been working non-stop.”

If that isn’t enough, they have also started their own label, Pirates Blend Records.

“We looked at our past catalogue and we were at a juncture with a lot of things in life. One of the things we were frustrated with in the past was the ability to represent ourselves properly. The opportunity arose to start a label and we found some great people at Sony who really believed in us and believed in building something beyond just Bedouin - to my solo work, and other artists we want to support.

The idea was to find other people who were into music and create a platform for artists that we love that may not have a home. That was a challenge we had as a band for so long, we were always kind of outsiders. So we decided to create a label and have great music.

We are really busy, all of us. It is a lot of work and you want to do it well. We are releasing Michael Rault’s record and want to make sure we do it well. It is pretty busy but when you are doing it out of love, it makes it easier to do.”

 Bedouin Soundclash - photo by Valerie Jodoin Keaton

Bedouin Soundclash Canadian band regroups with Light The Horizon

By Jason Clevett To say Jay Malinowski is a busy fellow is an understatement. The Bedouin Soundclash frontman released his first solo album, Bright Lights and Bruises, in February and toured Canada in the spring. He then immediately reunited with bassist Eon Sinclair and new drummer Sekou Lumumba (who has drummed for Edwin & The Pressure, Kardinal Offishall) and others to record Light The Horizon, released on September 28th.

I caught Jay over the phone, at home in Toronto for a brief stopover.

It is uncommon for an artist to release a solo album and a band record in less than a year. Malonowski’s Bright Lights and Bruises was a beautiful acoustic album, while Light The Horizon has a fuller sound. Both are identifiable as Malinowski’s songwriting, but there is a definite difference.

“I guess I look at every record as speaking to whatever situation I am in. I was in a certain place when I wrote Bright Lights and went through that catharsis. I went into Bedouin a bit better prepared and repaired for this. We have a new drummer, I was excited to try and play with the band again. There was a carry-over in subject matter and there is more of an introspective aspect on Light The Horizon.

I am working with two other people so I do have to wear kind of a different hat from the solo album. We were ready to make the record, the songs came out within a month, about 20 songs. It was an easy record to write.”

This tour has taken Bedouin to the world expo in Shanghai, and to India, Australia, and the UK. The difference in audiences between the countries was surprising, Malinowski said.

“I’m just here for the day. Got back home late last night from the UK and am running around today getting some stuff done. We leave for New York tonight.”

“They are all extremely different. We spent a week in each country which was quite a culture shock. Shanghai was interesting because people don’t go to see live music there. Here, if you have kids watching a show, the kids will get it and their parents won’t. There, everyone had a blank face and wasn’t receptive. ... India was really cool. We had a couple of days in Mumbai. Most of us got sick, though we felt pretty lucky to be able to go there and tour. We played some cool festivals and saw some Bollywood performers which was cool. We were definitely the odd ones out there.”

The schedule has also resulted in another record to be released next year, and a world tour, which comes to the Starlite Room in Edmonton on November 27th, and The Whisky in Calgary on November 28th.

This tour returns to smaller venues after playing sold out arenas in 2009, opening for No Doubt. It was an unforgettable experience that gave the band a taste of fame.

“I haven’t had a break this year. I went directly from the Bright Lights and Bruises tour to recording Light the Horizon, and then recorded another record that is coming out next year. I recorded with Beatrice Martin - Coeur de pirate - a French singer. We did a Mariachi

“They asked us on the tour and we had never seen something that size before. They were really gracious to us, they brought us out for a song during the encore. That is a totally different world when you are getting to that level. You choose a certain point to do that and you have to really own it. I know it sounds weird but a lot of bands probably get to a certain point and go, I don’t know if I really want that level of success because there is a lot that comes along with it.

But it was really great to be able to see something like that. Once you are onstage you just go into a different zone, and it could be any room in the world. We just played our show. We don’t have a lot choreography or anything like that; we just play our show and try and fill the room with sound.”

Bedouin, and Jay have developed a very passionate fan base.

At his solo show in March, one fan in attendance had flown from the Eastern US to Calgary just to see them play. Malinowski made a point of coming out after to sign autographs and give one-on-one time with anybody that wanted to approach him. With how personal Malinowski’s lyrics are, they resonate with their fans in a way that many artists’ don’t.

“The last two records, they were very personal. Bright Lights and Bruises dealt with the breakup of a band, and in my personal life as well. Light The Horizon is about a band coming back together and reclaiming something. We are really giving something of ourselves in

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Music

Music Review

Elton John and Leon Russell, Liza Minnelli

By Chris Azzopardi

The Union

Elton John and Leon Russell My Rating: ½

In his illustrious four-decade career, Elton John’s done it all: cut classics, inspired generations of performers and been one of the greatest gay icons ever. For so long, though, the legend’s admiration for Leon Russell, a roots-country crooner, went untouched – until now, as the two marry their musical geniuses into a masterfully written, produced (cut live by tunesmith T Bone Burnett, no less) and performed duets LP. Trademark Elton sneaks in on the boisterous kiss-off “Monkey Suit,” heartfelt ballad “The Best Part of the Day” and snarling, piano-licked “Hey Ahab,” perhaps due in part to longtime co-writer Bernie Taupin’s contributions. But the Rocket Man is still far removed from his signature classic-rock days, falling closer in line with Russell’s ’70s Americana records. On The Union, craft ranks over mainstream consumption, and it pays off remarkably with the sarcastic lead single “If It Wasn’t for Bad,” a jaunty, nuanced number; “Gone to Shiloh,” a moving Civil War narrative, with Neil Young bringing an added ache; and quiet gospel closer “In the Hands of Angels,” a song that Elton lets his idol have at alone. It’s a testimony to the brotherhood felt throughout, where both artists extract each other’s individual best and together, as Elton smoothes out the ruggedness of Russell’s drawl, sound like each other’s yin and yang. Their Union isn’t simply a great story of enduring friendship, but one of the best albums of the year. (Out Oct. 19)

Also Out

Lizz Wright, Fellowship Lizz Wright’s got some voice – a supple, rich contralto that, on her new “secular gospel” offering, could trigger chills through non-believers. After submerging it into jazz and blues, Wright honors her Georgia roots with emotionally stirring results – impressing with the glorious “God Specializes,” Eric Clapton’s “Presence of the Lord” and “Amazing Grace,” made into a minimalistic mover. With help from Sweet Honey in the Rock’s Bernice Reagon, and daughter Toshi, Wright’s fourth album is a transcendent journey of life, spirituality and deeply felt feeling.

Shontelle, No Gravity Whoever Shontelle is seems irrelevant on much of her sophomore set, where she’s a pop singer left to imitate rather than initiate. Rihanna comparisons – especially on the dancefloor punch of “Take Ova” – are inevitable, but the Barbadian 23-yearold’s also doing her best Estelle impression on “DJ Made Me Do It.” Even then, and even with a talented production team, she can’t find a way to make her own. Shontelle sounds mostly outdated, cheap and lyrically shallow, but the lead single, “Impossible,” shows she may still have a shot at defying Gravity.

http://www.gaycalgary.com/a1923

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Confessions

Liza Minnelli My Rating: ½

Even Liza Minnelli knew her decision to embarrass herself, and her legendary career, with a “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)” remake earlier this year was a bad move – she sounded grossly awful, like she was hobbling to the finish line.

Instead of pushing the idea of older-diva-does-younger-diva through to this studio album, her first since 1996’s Gently, she embraces every day of her 64 years of age with a classy covers collection that plays to her strengths and avoids emphasizing her weaknesses. Her voice, more jeans than spandex these days, doesn’t go for flash, but is understated and expertly suited for the quiet intimacy that producer and longtime collaborator Bruce Roberts is fetching. The 14 standards are scaled back, never giving Liza’s nowhusky alto more than it can handle – no orchestras, no showstoppers – with its jazzy, dinner party arrangements.

“Confession,” originally from The Band Wagon and opening the set, perfectly complements her personality, but even with better-known favorites like Frank Sinatra’s “All the Way” and Etta James’ “At Last,” she holds her own, reaching more for the song’s soul and less for its vocal cartwheels.

The soft-sounding ease of it all could use more oomph, even with the zing of “You Fascinate Me So,” and is sometimes tediously muddied, but Confessions is still a mature and dignified way to keep Liza’s 60-year career rolling. Hell, we’d put a ring on it.

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Interview

 Photo by Joseph Cultice

Kiss & Tell

3OH!3 paves their Streets of Gold

By Jason Clevett I was on vacation and flipping channels on the hotel TV when I thought I saw Ke$ha on screen, and two guys in front of a bright gold set. I paused to watch the video, and promptly had it stuck in my head. Like many others, the song My First Kiss was my first introduction to Colorado band 3OH!3.

“I think My First Kiss was kind of the natural choice for our first single off of Streets of Gold. It is a fun, inclusive song, that sticks to our style of music, and also includes a singer who is a good friend, and whom has had some big success recently,” singer Nat Motte told GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine. “I think it was a good way to re-introduce our band to the public, after being in the studio writing an album for the better part of 4 months.

The success has been great! It is a really fun song to play live, and people seem to really like it!”

Motte and Sean Foreman, who make up the band, teamed up with TikTok hit maker Ke$ha on the song. Additionally they make an appearance on her song Blah Blah Blah.

“I think having her on My First Kiss was a big help in getting some radio stations to add our song to their rotations. It was pretty soon after her huge Tik Tok success, radio stations that might not have wanted to add a song with just us on it were more inclined to add it because of her appearance.

We actually met Ke$ha when we were writing My First Kiss over two years ago. Sean had written the line ’My first kiss went a little like this...’ and we thought it would be cool to have a girl do a response to that line. The producer we were working with at the time knew Ke$ha, and told us she could be a cool fit for the song. She came in and sang the line, and we hung out and hit it off. When it came time to make her album Sean helped her write on Blah Blah Blah in New York City, with our friend Benny Blanco, and it has been really cool to watch her to do well!”

Another popular singer has also worked with the band. Katy Perry helped with the song Starstrukk and they opened for her on tour.

“We met Katy a bit before Warped Tour in 2008. She had been working with our buddy Benny Blanco on her record. She played on the same stage as us that whole summer, and we got to be really good friends with her and her whole band and crew. Her band would set their instruments up onstage with us, and play during our set too, which really helped form our live show into what it is today. We had always been looking for a time and place to collaborate, and it ended up working out when we were in LA doing a remix of our song Starstrukk. She is a really great singer - she has such a full and rich voice - it was a real treat tracking her in the studio.”

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 Photo by Pamela Littky

 Photo by Joseph Cultice

Streets of Gold, the band’s third album, was released in June. Filled with catchy, memorable tracks, the sexually charged album is certain to stick in your brain.

“I supposed that must mean we are a couple of sexually charged dudes?!

I think that sexual energy and relationships and fleeting encounters are something that we like to write about. I guess a lot of people like to write about those things, judging by how many people treat those topics in their songs! For Streets of Gold we wanted to expand musically and lyrically, and hopefully still retain the things that are 3OH!3 from our previous records, and not alienate our fans that have been with us and supporting us for such a long time. I would hope that we managed to do that. We wanted to create music that is fun, inclusive, and hopefully different and pushes some sort of boundaries to achieve something new in the Pop realm.”

There is a lot of fun back and forth in many of their songs, such as in House Party as well as Double Vision. One of an artist’s favourite experiences is when the songs are performed live and the fans are singing the lyrics back.

“It means a lot! Honestly our live show and our studio time go hand-inhand. When we create a song, we are always thinking about performing it live, and since we started, the live show has been very integral to everything that is 3OH!3. Our live shows are meant to be very inclusive, and hopefully anyone for any music background or scene can come and have a good time and forget about their troubles for a bit. Seeing and hearing fans singing with us, or simply smiling at a live show, validates everything that we do!”

Much like their music, Sean and Nat seem really fun. Video blogs from their tours, and goofy videos like Don’t Trust Me make the guys seem approachable, which in turn draws fans.

“We’ve always wanted to have fun with our music, and every aspect of our art. Even if we are writing a serious or sad song, we have fun making it and learning, and the same goes for videos. Additionally we have never really wanted to take ourselves too seriously, or play the cool card. I think it’s a combination of those things that influence our videos. We are both very accessible through things like Twitter, and we have never wanted to be shrouded in any sort of mysterious artist shroud. In a sense, we are just a couple of dudes who have fun making music!”

The band is experiencing a new level of success, with a sold out tour of the UK. Their current tour sold out the Edmonton Events Centre on November 11th, and had to be moved to MacEwan Hall from the smaller ballroom for their Calgary show November 10th. The opportunity to travel the world is pretty amazing for a couple of guys from Boulder, Colorado.

“It’s wonderful! This summer was really amazing - we went to Japan, Europe, Brazil, and Australia, and everywhere we went we were fortunate to play great shows, have a tremendous amount of fun, and meet really interesting and wonderful people. We want to keep building on that success, and keep touring and evolving our live show and recorded music.

It’s such an amazing thing to be able to travel the world and have so much fun and learn so much - we’re eternally grateful to everyone who supports us in that!”

 Bedouin Soundclash - From Page 50 While a high ratio of their fan base is female, they have a diverse following from frat guys to gay men. Their acceptance is part of their appeal.

“Let’s see...3OH!3 live is loud, sweaty, a bit raunchy, and mostly (hopefully) really fun. We try to drop any and all pretences that other artists might have in terms of who should be able to enjoy their music. For us, 3OH!3 started as a reaction to an exclusive music scene. We were going to a lot of underground hip hop shows in Boulder, Colorado, and eventually realized that it was more about what wasn’t part of the scene, rather than what was, and that was very powerful for us. We wanted to make music and play shows that dropped all of that; shows that are fun and welldeveloped musically, and interesting. Hopefully we are achieving that!“ “Our music is meant to be accessible to anyone from any background.

We love incorporating different musical styles into our music, and different theatrical styles into our live show, and I guess our whole deal as 3OH!3 is some sort of weird, cross-pollinated, genetic-jumbled, bastard step-child of other music and shows. If anyone from anywhere wants to come join that - then by all means they will be welcomed with open, although somewhat sweaty, arms!”.

that, and it translates. The really great thing about being in Bedouin is, we do have people that come from all over. We have some really great fans. We feel really lucky to have that connection to someone’s life. That is why you start making music, you have something you feel and maybe someone else can relate to it, and it helps them get through things. I feel really honoured and blessed to get to talk to those people. The solo record was deeply personal to me, and I was playing personal settings and I could go out and talk to people and they could actually talk to you.”

The Bedouin Soundclash that will be playing Alberta later this month is one that is refreshed, renewed, raw, and ready to give those in attendance an unforgettable evening.

“We are back down to a three piece - last time we toured we had a horn section. We really wanted to strip it down and take it back to where we were before. With Sekou drumming, it really is the best lineup we have ever had - he plays amazingly well. It is how we envisioned Bedouin when Eon and I first started it back in 2000. We are more comfortable and laid back. It is a great show.”

3OH!3 www.3oh3music.com

Bedouin Soundclash www.bedouinsoundclash.com

On Tour November 10th - Macewan Hall - Calgary November 11th - Edmonton Events Centre - Edmonton

On Tour Starlite Room, Edmonton - Nov 27th The Whiskey, Calgary - Nov 28th

http://www.gaycalgary.com/a1924

http://www.gaycalgary.com/a1920

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SHIFT works with adults in the sex trade. We provide services for both those who do not want to exit and those who do. Shift provides: FREE safer sex supplies, non-judgmental counseling, and more. 403-237-8171 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #85, November 2010

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GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #85, November 2010

Humour

A Thousand Laughs

By GayCalgary.com Staff

Seagull Perch courtesy of Cinzeo.

Perhaps you’re a hopeless cynic, a pun fanatic, or you just can’t get your mind out of the gutter. The world is full of things that make you laugh – whether they are bizarre or unfortunate coincidences, the fruits of others’ poor judgement, good intentions gone awry, or mundane things framed in a unique way.

This fun new monthly feature is about showing others the world through your eyes, by taking snapshots of things you happen across in your everyday life that make you chuckle. A picture can be worth a thousand laughs, so get out your camera or cell phone, snap as many photos as you need to demonstrate your concept, and submit them to GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine. Your funny photo concept could appear in “A Thousand Laughs” in the next edition!

The rules are simple: 1) YOU have to take the photo(s).

2) The photo(s) must be of something PUBLICLY VISIBLE in an Alberta city. This can include buildings and landmarks, signs, commercial products, etc.

3) The subject of the photo(s) must remain THE WAY YOU FOUND IT – no set-ups!

No ocean panorama is complete without a rock doused in obscene amounts of gull guano. Perhaps you recognize the pirate ship scene from West Edmonton Mall? The funny coincidence is the in-theme Cinzeo hut right beside it, sporting a giant a cinnamon bun smothered in...err...”icing”.

The toaster is the new bong?

And no pilfering from Facebook either – this is about you appreciating the funny state of things in Alberta!

NOTE: Please try to keep the presence of people in your photographs to a minimum, save for when they are part of your concept. GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine, reserves the right to obscure the identity of any individual in your photograph, if we deem it necessary.

Submit your pictures by e-mail to graphics@gaycalgary.com with the following information: 1) Your name.

2) How you would like the photo(s) to be credited.

5) An explanation (no more than 50 words) so that, once others have had their laughs, they can understand what’s actually going on.

Leggo my waffles you junkie! I knew hemp had many uses, but this one truly surprised me – and available in the freezer section of my local Safeway, to boot. I’m curious as to what happens if your toaster burns them a little?

Looks like you’re already covered when the munchies hit!

Here are some examples of funny things that I’ve captured around Calgary and Edmonton.

Stephen Mandel doing well in Poles.

3) Where in Alberta the photo(s) were taken.

4) A single, brief (no more than 25 words) humorous headline or caption for your photo or photo series.

http://www.gaycalgary.com/a1927

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This is a classic case of unfortunate sign placement.

It totally deflates the professional image Mr. Mandel is aiming to create with his ad.

Meanwhile, the arrow is actually directing people to the entrance of the Pole Junkies store at Southern Centre. But you may not realize that whilst driving by.

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #85, November 2010

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Interview

 Ian Harvie photos by Kevin Neales

Exposing Ian Harvie

By Jason Clevett The last time Ian Harvie was in Alberta, he was opening for Margaret Cho. Unfortunately due to scheduling issues, he only performed in Calgary that tour. Edmontonians really missed out on the incredibly talented Harvie, but they will now get their chance, as the Exposure Festival brings Harvie to the Myer Horowitz Theatre on November 17th.

This is the second year the festival has brought a high-profile Trans artist to Edmonton: last year, adult star Buck Angel was invited. Often community events forget about the “T” aspect of the alphabet, so Harvie was thrilled to be called on.

“I knew that Buck was there last year, he was tweeting about it. It is incredible that there seems to be this steady, moderate surge of people wanting to be inclusive and educated and share experience. I have heard people say, I don’t understand why trans-people are included in the queer community. I am like, Are you kidding? Really? You don’t know why? Trans people were the first ones at Stonewall to throw punches at the cops! That’s why! We are all in this together as gender or sexual ‘deviant’ people who dare to do things and tear down things that people over the years have told us we are not supposed to be or do. We are family because of our history and experience not because of what we call ourselves. That is just the queer alphabet. It is exciting to me to hear such inclusive festivals like Exposure inviting Buck and me. That is a movement that is happening colleges are calling and wanting trans performers. It is definitely noticeable for me, that it seems to be happening more often that I am asked to perform as a Trans performer. I am proud of Exposure for doing that.”

Harvie made a few jokes in his Calgary appearance about the city. He had the crowd in stitches and really made a positive impression.

“Initially if you go to a place you can do one of two things. You can have an experience that happened to you that you would like to share that might relate to them. There is something about that which connects you to people, you are talking about them and they love that. You can look for that real experience and write something funny about it, or take something of your own that you already have and tailor it for them. The first part of that usually happens when you get there. I have performed on the Atlantis cruise and I was on the boat for 12 days, the first four I didn’t have a performance. I had a lot of observation time of gay male culture on a cruise ship that provided a lot of material for me to talk about. There is something about that which is powerful, people go, this person was paying attention, cool. People really enjoy that.”

Part of Harvie’s growth into a headliner comes from three years of working with Cho. “She does a small tour and a big tour, and I worked with her for two small tours and a big tour over three years. She and I are great friends, it was amazing to be able to get up in front of as many people that come to her shows. For her to give me that opportunity for exposure and make people laugh and give them my personal message with my comedy is something that any queer comic would dream of doing. I am so grateful.”

In January Harvie and Cho had a heartfelt conversation about his future, which lead to a positive decision, nevertheless a difficult one.

“I had a conversation with her saying, I love working with you but I don’t want to be a career opener. If I want to be as big as you someday I’ve got to fly. She said, You totally do. It felt like the right timing, but afterwards there is that moment where you go, shoot, what did I just do?! As an opener for her you are really well taken care of, and cared for and respected, brought up and held up by the comedy community. To take that solo flight was a scary step to actually vocalize and begin to do it. It has been incredible, I am working just as much, and learning so much about how to build a fan base and not be a sidebar on somebody else’s tour. I get to do a lot of colleges, the Exposure Festival, it has been going really well.”

That isn’t to say they don’t remain close. Harvie attended a few tapings of Dancing With The Stars this season.

“I went a couple of times to see her dance. I went to the very first episode and was really excited about being there. I definitely think they were being far too harsh on her. She worked really hard. I had a feeling that they know who they want as frontrunners based on what middle-America wants to watch. Margaret is a great dancer so I am a little down on the whole show but, was really excited to watch her dance again in these totally different styles. She did an awesome job.”

Continued on Page 47  60

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #85, November 2010

Interview

 Paula Cole. Photos by Fabrizio Ferri

Paula Cole’s Second Coming The pop-folk icon talks new album, hits (and pits), and the gays who love her to bits

By Chris Azzopardi Folk-pop hits – and hairy pits – put Paula Cole’s name at the forefront of the late ’90s golden age for female singersongwriters. It wouldn’t have been that decade without the Dawson’s Creek song, her ubiquitous “I Don’t Want to Wait,” and the staple “Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?”

Cole disappeared for many years afterward, reemerging with 2007’s jazz-tinged Courage. In September she released its follow-up, Ithaca, her fifth album.

Outside of a Massachusetts coffeehouse, Cole spoke to us about the new disc, sucking at social networking, her growing gay following – and yes, even her armpit hair.

So the album’s Ithaca – is that where you’re living right now?

No. I live back in my hometown of Rockport, Mass., and Rockport really is my Ithaca – my home and the place I’m coming back to after a long bout in the world slaying dragons and all that. I did live in Ithaca, N.Y., when I was very young.

We lived in a trailer park and it was kind of a tough time for

my family, so it represents some place of inner fortitude for me.

How personal is the album for you?

It’s really an important album for me. These songs – the vast majority of them anyway – were written while I was going through the divorce, and I was just so lucky to have music to turn to, some place to help me heal. These songs just demanded to be written.

You go through periods of drought as a writer, and you don’t know when the mystery will hit, and that mystery – that beautiful muse – was very alive for me in this period.

Were they written over a long period of time then?

Well, I was stuck in divorce court for two years, so they were certainly written then – and also, after. I made Courage while I was coming off a long hiatus, a long time away from the music business. And that was necessary. But I needed help with Courage. I needed co-writers, because I was this kind of broken bird.

With Ithaca I wanted to get back to my process that defined the work of the ’90s for me, where I wrote my songs 100 percent with a highly personal process. I wanted to be involved in production again, because I’m a music geek (laughs).

Do you feel acclimated now with the way the business has shifted in the last decade with social networking sites and such?

(Laughs) I pretty much suck at social networking, and I suck at promoting and photo shoots, and I have to go and confront those weaknesses. I really am much more of an introvert, but I need life with music in it and I need to make a living with my music. It’s the only thing I want to do. I’m in a groove of being in the world again, of not being such a hermit. I feel like I’m an anomaly though – a 42-year-old white woman aiming for a second career.

There’s no pressure from the label to Tweet or Facebook?

They’re making me! They’re standing over me with a whip!

(Laughs) I’ve never Tweeted – am I saying the verb correctly?

Yes, that’s correct.

It just sounds so much like twat. I just can’t fucking take it seriously (laughs). I’m not going to discuss my latest bowel movement. It’s just so ridiculous to me.

What I do is all there at the live shows. If they’re interested, just come to the live shows. I’m really proud of that. I mean, I’m a writer but I also really need the live shows. I would be a horribly bitchy and anxious person if I didn’t have music to help me through this life. I need it as much as I need air.

Do you feel like you’re obligated to play “I Don’t Want to Wait” on tour?

Continued on Page 34  62

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #85, November 2010

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Photography 80’s Night at Fab - Calgary

Kinky Flea Market - Calgary

Taboo Show - Edmonton

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GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #85, November 2010

Photography Halloween Weekend at Buddys, Flash, Junction and Woody’s - Edmonton

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Photography Halloween Weekend at ARGRA Dance, The Backlot, Calgary Eagle, Club Sapien, Fab, Girls Groove Dance, Jaro Blue, Texas Lounge, Twisted Element and Village Bistro - Calgary

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GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #85, November 2010

Photography

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine #85, November 2010

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Photography Backlot Grand Opening Party - Calgary

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