GayCalgary Magazine - September 2014

SEPTEMBER 2014

® ISSUE 131 • FREE The Voice of Alberta’s LGBT Community

Interview with

BIANCA

DEL RIO Hunky and Mature

David Benjamin

Andrea Martin

Comes out as closet American

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Chi Chi LaRue • John Lithgow Jason Mraz • LeAnn Rimes Drea De Matteo • Trevor Boris ...and more!

Business Directory

“This is M.E.”

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Calgary • Alberta • Canada

Events Calendar

Melissa Etheridge

Tourist Information

STARTING ON PAGE 71

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GayCalgary Magazine #131, September 2014

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GayCalgary Magazine #131, September 2014

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GayCalgary Magazine #131, September 2014

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Table of Contents

Videography

Steve Polyak,Sales Rob Diaz-Marino Steve Polyak Printers sales@gaycalgary.com North Hill News/Central Web

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Calgary: Gallant Distribution GayCalgary Staff Distribution Edmonton: Clark’s Distribution Calgary: GayCalgary Staff Other: Canada PostFoo Edmonton: Farley Foo Other: Canada Post

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Main: Bianca Del Rio, photo by Magnus Hastings, Cher and Christina Aguilera courtesy of Sony Top Right: David Benjamin, Mid Right: Andrea Martin, Pictures; Annie Lennox courtesy of Mike Owen; Bottom Right: Melissa Etheridge, photo by John Tsiavis

Rex Goudie.

Proud Members of: Proud Members of:

Tad Milmine

Why bullying is worsening, and how it can get better

12 Medicine Hat Pride Young, Proud and Expanding

14 Photos from ISCWR Coronation 16 Talking About Devon Mills

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Writers and Contributors

Mercedes Allen, Chris Dallas Barnes, Writers andAzzopardi, Contributors DaveAzzopardi, Brousseau,Dave SamBrousseau, Casselman,Constable Jason Clevett, Chris Andy Andrew Collins, EmilyRob Collins, Rob Diaz-Marino, Buck, Jason Clevett, Diaz-Marino, Janine Janine Eva Trotta, Glen Hanson, Joan Eva-Trotta, FarleyJack Foo Fertig, Foo, Stephen Lock, Steve Hilty, EvanRomeo Kayne,San Stephen Lock, McMullen, Polyak, Vicente, JimNeil Scott, Krista Allan Neuwirth, SteveNick Polyak, Careyand Rutherford, Sylvester, Mars Tonic, Winnick the LGBT Romeo SanofVicente, Sikov, Nickand Vivian and Community Calgary,EdEdmonton, Alberta. the GLBT Community of Calgary, Edmonton, and Alberta.

Photography Steve Polyak, Rob Diaz-Marino, Photography Farley Foo Foo Steve Polyak, Rob Diaz-Marino, B&J Videography Steve Polyak, Rob Diaz-Marino

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Remembering Wayne Douglas McLean (1963 – 2014)

18 A Stigmatized Subculture in the Subcontinent Gay Men and Lesbians re-criminalized in India

19 Discussing Community Safety Comment on the situation in Ferguson

20 Alberta Gets Moving Scotiabank’s AIDSwalk for Life

22 Photos from Calgary Pride 2014 24 Deep Inside Hollywood

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Publisher: Steve Polyak Editor: Rob Diaz-Marino Copy Sales: Editor:Steve Janine Polyak Eva-Trotta Sales: DesignSteve & Layout: Polyak Rob Diaz-Marino, Design & Layout: Ara Shimoon Rob Diaz-Marino, Steve Polyak

SEPTEMBER 2014

Doing it for the kids

25 Parenting Proud What is Normal Anyway?

26 Sample this Year’s CIFF

e n zi

2014 Puts a Focus on Local, Hard-Hitting, and Favourite Directors

28 Andrea Martin Comes Out

a g a

Canadian legend reveals she is a closet-American

30 Queens & Cowboys

A Heartfelt Glimpse at the Stars of Gay Rodeo

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31 Trevor Boris

Bringing Comedy to Edmonton for a Noble Cause

32 This is Melissa Etheridge

Iconic Singer on Married Life, Music and Flying Solo

34 Out of History

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®

Harry Sutherland’s project brings queer history out of the proverbial closet

35 X Marks the Start Edmonton Rainbow Business Association

Third Street Theatre opens new season with candid multimedia feast

36 Out of Town

Back to School: 10 Gay-Friendly College Town Getaways

38 Paint the Town Red

International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association

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Mix and Mingle for a Fantastic Cause

43 Riding Out One Last Time National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association

Gay European Tourism Association

Drea De Matteo talks Sons of Anarchy

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Table of Contents  Continued From Previous Page

44 Out to Win

Panic! at the Disco frontman Brendon Urie takes on Westboro, talks ‘gay’ past and lapsed Mormonism

46 The World According to John Lithgow

PAGE 52

‘Love Is Strange’ actor on his ‘defiance of prejudice’ and humanizing gay rights

48 Mindfully Jason Mraz

How the musician is changing the world one label at a time

50 Finding Her Rimes and Reason

Country superstar LeAnn Rimes on not giving a ‘f-ck,’ dancing with queer cowboys and how husband Eddie ‘works it’ at gay clubs

52 Chatting up Chi Chi LaRue

54 Batten Down the Snatches!

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Queer Eye A Couple of Guys News Releases Mz. GayCalgary September 2014 Mystare Divine 71 Directory and Events 76 Classified Ads

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Readership

Readers Per Copy: 4.9 (PMB) Print Readership: >9800 Avg. Online Circulation: 310,000 readers Estimated Total Readership: >319,800 readers Frequency: Monthly

History

Hurricane Bianca Del Rio blows into Edmonton September 19th

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Editorial

Tad Milmine

Why bullying is worsening, and how it can get better

By Evan Kayne Tad Milmine is a public speaker, a police officer, and a gay man. In his spare time he speaks to schools and other groups about solutions for aggressive or bullying behaviour among youth. Tad also has experience as a survivor of bullying: his parents divorced when he was five, and he went to live with his father and his new step-mother. His father was an alcoholic, using booze as an escape from having to deal with his and his family’s emotions. His step-mother was emotionally abusive to Tad, confining him to the basement when he wasn’t at school and, for the most part, only communicating with him to shout at or berate him. At one point in his childhood she introduced him as “Tad, the half no one would want”.

His school life was no different. As soon as other kids saw that Tad was sensitive and would cry easily, the bullies knew they had their victim.

At age 17 he ran away from home and contacted Social Services. After investigating Tad’s home life, they set him up in his own apartment.

Jamie’s experiences being bullied were – thinking about one experience Tad recounts – beyond assault. They were terrorizing.

Something about Jamie’s fate resonated deep within Tad, and he decided he had to make a change in the world.

Yet as other victims like Rehtaeh Parsons and Amanda Todd attest, bullying, assault, and cyberbullying are still ongoing, and are still harming teens. Consequently, Tad has made it a personal mission to speak about his and Jamie’s experiences; to talk to students, teachers, administrators, and others; to end bullying and to provide support to victims.

A few weeks after hearing Tad Milmine’s presentation on bullying we sat down for an interview. With the attention being focused on bullying in schools and the media, I asked Tad if, in the three years since Jamie died, we are closer to solving bullying and harassment in schools. Especially since now many schools have resources and secure environments to report unwanted aggressive behaviour.

In his later life, after resolving issues from his upbringing, he finally realized a childhood dream of becoming a police officer. The abuse, harassment and bullying was put away in the past until one day, in 2011, when he heard of Jamie Hubley’s suicide.

“It’s definitely not getting better,” was his reply. “I would say, from the messages I’m getting from youth, that I think it’s a lot worse than even what the media is making it to be. I think it’s partly because of the awareness. I think we’re on the right path but I don’t think we’re at the stage we can say it’s getting better.” We may be seeing just how big the issue truly is.

For those who have forgotten, Jamie Hubley was an Ottawa teen who took his own life. He couldn’t take the stress and abuse associated with him being bullied for years because he was a figure skater and gay.

It doesn’t help that in the past, and even now, it’s not uncommon for adults to say things like: ‘...that is a rite of passage; it has always been there; it will get better, just suck it up; grow a tougher skin; go

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 Tad Milmine punch him in the nose.’ These are the wrong responses, Tad told me.

Just because something has been happening forever does not mean it’s acceptable to continue. Yet why is this a crisis situation that is only now being heeded by parents, schools, and the public?

“I think there are two answers to that one. One is, as adults, we weren’t privileged to have social media when we were growing up. So we have things like cell phones, iPads, computers – stuff like that, kids have been growing up [with] from scratch.” Parents may be aware their child is getting three to four hundred messages a day, but they think the solution is just to shut off the item or remove the app.

“They’re not getting to the root of what’s really happening – what is really bothering their child – which is a lot deeper than turning the phone off. It’s not about what they’re getting, it’s about when they go to school the next day when everyone’s going Hey have you seen the new Facebook page about you or the messages that were going around?”

Parents don’t understand that with social media and cyber-bullying, unlike the bullying previous generations experienced before the Internet, there’s no time off on evenings and weekends. Many times, even if a supporter of the victim posts a defensive reply to a negative post on Facebook, the victim only sees it’s yet another reply to this original comment. “It keeps coming. It keeps coming back to your attention again and more people are going to start adding and it’s not uncommon for those messages not to be positive. The bully knows that well I’ve still got that audience so it’s just like fuel on a fire.”

In this situation, parents may feel they need to move heaven and earth to protect their child. Tad says parents should always respect the chain of authority when reporting on bullying. If you go to the teacher and the teacher does nothing, go to the principal. If the principal does nothing, go to the school board. If the school board does nothing, then and only then consider going to the media. Even then, be cautious, as the media will report both sides to a story – so you may come off unfavourably, and your child will be used in a wider audience. Now, even though the media hasn’t reported the child or the family’s name, everyone in that school or neighbourhood will be able to put two and two together, and the original victim will feel even worse for getting even more attention.

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Dear Religious Freedom: Fuck off.

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The OutField

Putting ‘Puto’ to shame

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Online Last Month (2/2) Hear Me Out

Best of 2014 ... So Far

Sia, 1000 Forms of Fear Sia’s come a long way since Breathe Me, a song so emotionally vulnerable, it’s overwhelming.

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Deep Inside Hollywood

Fault In Our Stars actor takes up piano

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Hear Me Out

Jason Mraz, Weird Al Yankovic, Ed Sheeran, First Aid Kit

Jason Mraz, Yes! Here to make you feel better about your life is Jason Mraz, the Oprah of white-boy balladry. He’s got your “remedy,” and it’s called Yes!, an album...

“Unfortunately there always is the possibility you may need to think about changing schools just because, if it’s getting that impossible to correct the problem, that means it’s going to take a lot longer to resolve it when you finally do get someone hooked on wanting to help. You’ve got to worry about the right now for that child. As much as we want to solve bullying instantly, there’s no instant fix to it.”

There are several reasons why, in reality, an ‘instant fix’ would never remedy a bullying situation. First, there’s the situation where the victim can no longer hold back and lashes out at the aggressor. “Then of course that’s where everyone’s attention goes and now who looks like the person that’s instigating.” Tad can attest to this, having received many messages like this from parents who then have to do damage control, correcting schools who don’t know of the underlying cause for this explosion.

Second, past victims of unwanted aggression can then become bullies themselves. Tad gets emails from people who realize because they were the victim in the past (or in other parts of their lives) they compensate by being the aggressor to others. Tad has one young woman who he speaks to quite regularly. He is challenging her to remove the negatives, but it happens in baby steps. “She has got a lot going on in her personal life no one knows about, and she’s taking that out on the vulnerable. She’s the first to say she’s mean and she’s cruel and she’s doing things, when she puts her head down on the pillow at night, she’s not proud of.”

Breaking that cycle is difficult. It’s not easy to say “stop”. The person needs to learn coping tools. It is not uncommon for victims from yesterday to become bullies today because they don’t want to feel weak anymore.

“That would be a situation where it probably would work – for a decent percentage of those individuals – to say can you imagine what it feels like to be that person? You’re probably going to get through to them.”

Of course there are those bullies/aggressors who are blind to their behaviour – some bullies honestly believe that their behaviour is not that serious. Their audience may be giggling along with them and, in the case of Jamie Hubley (who tried to maintain a positive attitude), his aggressors thought the victim was okay with the behaviour.

Continued on Next Page 

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GayCalgary Magazine #131, September 2014

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 From Previous Page “Eventually it becomes a part of your daily routine. Especially the four main culprits in Jamie’s bullying that, from their perspective, they may have actually believed it was fun – Jamie’s liking this. Even though common sense would tell you otherwise, but when you slowly keep every day getting progressively worse, that person keeps smiling and laughing and walking away, you’re not thinking that your actions are really bringing this person down.”

Some people may think this is just all a game – they aren’t thinking they are pushing this person to commit suicide.

Getting them to empathize with their victims may prompt the light bulb moment in many of these aggressors. Unfortunately, “...what works for you may not work for me. You sitting down and being spoken to about feelings and emotions, and put yourself in their shoes. That might work perfectly for you. I might sit there and go yeah, go do your thing ‘cause I’m not listening. You need to do a different approach with me.

That may be suspension from school or getting the police involved. But as human beings we need to be given some... chance to change our ways.” This is why, sometimes, it is important to address this behaviour earlier rather than later.

Addressing the situation later means the harassment may have evolved to the point where the police are involved. From a school in Toronto, where he spoke, Tad has firsthand evidence of a situation which escalated to that level.

“I bumped into the police resource officer that works at that school at Toronto Pride and he said, Tad, have you ever heard any feedback about what happened at the school after you were there? I’ll tell you what happened. There were six students that were identified immediately afterwards… as being bullies and cyber bullies.” Three were arrested, three were removed from the Toronto School Board altogether, with two still in jail to this day. The resource officer reassured Tad his school does not have bullying in it because this major precedent was set: the behaviour was acknowledged, reported, shut down and the perpetrators were held accountable.

When he speaks, Tad’s message isn’t aimed entirely at victims, parents and school staff. He does tell the bullies in his presentation “Heed my advice. When you get caught for doing what you’re doing – and you will get caught for it – when you get pulled down to the principal’s office and you start crying saying you’re sorry... it’s not going to cut it anymore. We are past that part. It’s not going to work anymore. Now you’re going to be held accountable for what you did and that is going to go all the way up to and including jail time. Because the youth that I speak to (shy of the 11 year olds) they can all go to jail.”

It helps that people are now starting to realize they can us electronic equipment like cell phones and iPods to record encounters or save an electronic paper trail. This is exactly what Tad is telling people to do.

“We need them to get that evidence. So screen captures, saving emails, printing the emails... get it all and save it. Then of course block it, but keep copies so we have something to work with. Because if we have to go through the court systems it’s going to take months and months to get the IP provider, and then get Facebook to provide, and going down the chain. So [we’re] educating youth that you do this. Don’t answer the message online. Take a screen capture, bring it in and show your principal, your teacher, your parents, your trusted adults and say Here’s what happened last night.” These adults can then immediately act on it instead of doing an investigation, which may boil down to ‘you said/they said’. With evidence, aggressors are caught red handed.

Another issue with bullies is that frequently it is a group effort. Tad says bullies need two things to survive: a victim and an audience. The audience may be a gang of ‘mini-bullies’ who hang around the main perpetrator, or they may be other school children who, though they might question in their mind the bully’s accusations about the victim, are too scared to challenge the alpha bully. How do you stop the ringleader without getting the attention put on you?

Ultimately the solution is not to be the audience, Tad says. If there is a set time where the bullies target the victim, don’t be there at that time.

If it’s online, block the bully – kids have so many friends on Facebook you’re not going to notice one less. Another way to rectify it without confronting the ringleader is through anonymous reporting – send a note to the teacher for example, or use an app that allows for anonymous reporting. “You can even do the back channels,” Tad says. “So go to the victim; let him know that hey I know you’re seeing me with Bobby doing this every day, but I just want to let you know that I don’t support it but I

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GayCalgary Magazine #131, September 2014

do support you. This will mean a million dollars to that person to know they have that support. There are a lot of different approaches you can do but, ultimately, don’t be that audience, because as soon as that bully doesn’t have that audience, they’re not going to have that power any longer.”

As for the term ‘bullying’, it is one Tad is split on using. “I think we lost touch with youth on using that word probably about a year, two years ago. Bullying is just a word used to cover a whole range of behaviours; police can’t arrest someone for bullying. Even with the presentations in the schools, I ask the schools try not to tell the youth what the presentation is about because, if they do, ...we’re going to lose them right away. Because they have already had five presentations on it. They don’t want that. Adults wouldn’t want that either.”

‘Bully’ is being used too liberally to describe a whole raft of behaviours and it’s losing its impact. “Prime Minister Harper said it the one day when he was addressing Rehtaeh Parsons, I think we’ve got to stop using just the term ‘bullying’ to describe some of these things.

Bullying to me has a kind of connotation … of kids misbehaving.

What we are dealing with in some of these circumstances is simply criminal activity.”

However, “...if we’re going to start using words like harassment, threats and assault, people need to do that two minutes of education to... understand what those words mean from the policing perspective – from the criminal code perspective – because what is harassment to you is probably quite different from what the criminal code explains it as.” A complicating factor is when a victim pushes back. Bullying is one-sided, but when you retaliate, it may change to peer aggression/peer conflict and the victim, along with the bully, may have committed a crime.

Anyone who listens to Tad’s presentation can’t help but be moved to action. The only concern I had, given both Jamie and Tad’s sexuality, was what kind of reception his presentation gets from Catholic or Christian schools. Fortunately, he has never experienced any challenges with Catholic schools. In Ontario, where it is legislated that if a youth comes forward and wants to organize a GSA (Gay/Straight Alliance) it must be allowed, Tad was the first openly gay man to speak at a Catholic school.

“If anything, it tends to be a little bit more questioning at the start when we arrange the presentation, of can you just quickly verify a little bit more in regards to is this – a gay message or what for as we know, whenever you use the gay word… that’s the word they’re going to remember out of the whole body of that paragraph.” So while Tad confirms he mentions sexuality, that is not the focus – his presentation is a message for all youth. If Jamie or Tad had been straight, but still had their same personalities, they would still have been bullied.

Despite relaying that bullying behaviour is still a huge issue to be tackled, Tad does have hope for the future. “These youth that are taking leadership roles and are looking to make that change, it’s going to carry over to simply being a better person. The way to do that is you teach people how to be a better person – from the smallest things, like saying please and thank you, to holding a door when you go into a workplace or in a grocery store, or you walk past somebody and give a little smile or a head nod or even a hello. It’s the smallest things, but it could mean the absolute world to somebody. That’s what I’m hoping; is that the youth are going to grow up and replace some of those challenges we have now.”

As to the future of his organization, Tad has many ideas in place.

Right now the biggest challenge is securing funding. He would like to be able to provide even more resources to the kids who are contacting him, resources like counselling contacts online or in the community, and even funding some of these resources so that economics does not present a barrier to kids seeking the help that they need. Tad does not only want it to get better in the short term, he wants it to stay better in the long term.

Bullying Ends Here http://www.bullyingendshere.ca http://www.gaycalgary.com/a4253

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Event

 Photos from Medicine Hat Pride 2013

Medicine Hat Pride Young, Proud and Expanding

By Mars Tonic Medicine Hat is about to kick off Pride week for the third year in a row. When we called up Jason Johnson, the current chairperson for the event, he was very enthused about the events set to take place. It is young for a Pride festival – seeing inception in September, 2012 – but it has had a very strong start. Johnson has overseen its steady growth, and this year the event hopes to provide more for the community than it has previously.

Historically the event has mainly taken place over one day and night.

“We get about 1,500 [attendees] through the park every year, and then on average about 400 to 600 through the Pride dance,” Johnson said. Participation, however, has been steadily growing. It has allowed the planning committee to arrange a couple of new events, which are smaller, but will help to kick off their Pride Week.

On Sunday, September 14th, they will introduce the Medicine Hat Pride Golf Fun Day, which they expect to be a small but fun gathering that will help get everyone excited for the main festivities on the following Saturday. Not only is golfing on the schedule, the barbecue dinner to follow is sure to please.

The LGBT movie night, hosted by the Medicine Hat Public Library, will be a similar experience. A quieter affair than the festival itself, but no less enjoyable.

The Pride celebration aims to bring together and foster a community. “Our goals are to bring awareness and to just 12

GayCalgary Magazine #131, September 2014

kind of celebrate diversity in Medicine Hat, and to create that social outlet that smaller communities kind of lack,” Johnson says.

It may be a smaller community, but the spirit is large. The Pride organizers readily take suggestions and ideas from the community. Most of their events are not the brainchild of the organization, but rather of the participants.

“The golf day came from community suggestion; the movie night was community suggestion. We do an annual St Patrick’s Day dance, and that was also a suggestion. So I’d say quite a few of them!” confirms Johnson.

Pride is seeing an increase in local sponsorship each year it goes on as well, which will hopefully allow them to further their Pride celebrations for upcoming years. Growth is the name of their game.

“We are basically an events-based organization at this point, similar to Edmonton Pride and Calgary Pride. I think just growing the week-long festival that we have, maybe add a few other events throughout the year,” he states as their goals.

“We’re really looking to the community to bring that forward and contribute what they would like to see and, you know, to build up the festival itself. Maybe bring in bigger name acts; just have the event be a little bit more of a draw for Southern Alberta.”

Medicine Hat Pride September 14th to the 20th http://www.medicinehatpride.ca

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Photography ISCWR Coronation 39, Edmonton http://gaycalgary.com/pa802

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Photography

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People

 Devon Mills performing “This is My Life” at Detours

Talking About Devon Mills Remembering Wayne Douglas McLean (1963 – 2014)

By Carey Rutherford From Brent Rock (Wayne’s husband): “We met at the Odyssey (nightclub) in Vancouver. A friend of mine had dragged me out; a friend of Wayne’s dragged him out. He walked across the dance floor, planted the biggest, wettest kiss on me, and said you’re the most handsome man I’ve ever met! We didn’t go home (together) that night, but he invited me out the next night. We went to Cin-Cin in Vancouver, (and afterwards) we were on the balcony of his apartment, having wine, and he asked me to marry him.

And I said yes! That was August of ’94, and we were married in April of ’96… We were together for 20 years.

“I was brought up Anglican, and Wayne was brought up United, and (in 1996) he was living in the West End in Vancouver, and I was living in the Fraser Valley. He approached the minister from the Anglican Church (about our marriage), and the minister said I’d love to do it, but I’ve been told from above that I cannot. But St. John’s United, two blocks down, does do same-sex ceremonies. ...Wayne had just gone through lymphoma that previous winter, so this was important to us. We weren’t trying to be trailblazers: it just was important for us to get married. The prognosis right from the beginning was not good: he was given six months.

But he was such a positive, brave person that we just approached it that way and we would see what happened.

“Actually, this was his fourth time with cancer. He had two smaller things in-between removed where he had no radiation or chemo. This was his second big go around, and this time there were two types of cancer, so it was very complicated. We were halfway through the first set of chemo, and he had a stroke on Father’s Day. “Wayne was fearless and brave, and I was somebody that, when I was younger, was a little bit conquered by fear. So he taught me not to be scared… We went to see Barbara Streisand in Los Angeles, shortly after 9/11, and they had the red carpet because, of course, there’s always celebrities.

And Wayne said, well, let’s go down the red carpet! and I said no, honey; we can’t. And he said of course we can! So we went down it. Of course we got kicked off, but we walked on the red carpet! And I would never do that on my own.

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 At Priape grand opening

 At Detours

“I think when running the (Foxwood) B&B (from ’97 to ’07), you have people living in your home, and we certainly had some fights, where we said that’s it! But we had people in our home, so that’s how you work your frustrations out.

Every relationship is work, but it’s better if there will be more fun than work.

“I look at the last 20 years, and we had more laughter, and love and fun than most people have in 60 years of marriage.”

From Richard Bergquist (Lady Bee): “The performing individual that I know… that I knew… took great pride in doing what he did. His main goal was to go out and make people laugh, and he did that. The professional/working side of him was work! He was an astute businessman. When he was in the optical business, Wayne was always a professional person. Devon was the fun-loving one. Wayne could see the humour in almost anything. He had a way of making people smile, or laugh. That’s just the way that he was. “(I have known Devon) pretty close to 30 years. (Performancewise) he was testing the waters then: it was a lot different than we are today. He always had the professional aspect of it. He wasn’t (just) a drag queen; he was doing this to make people laugh. And he was good at it... He was an actor.

“But professional Wayne was realistic too. Back then, it wasn’t that readily available: this (career) costs a lot of money, and to get the right connections? Most of those connections were in the States or else Toronto. Doing this in Calgary?! (laughs) “He would have been proud to see this year’s Pride Parade. “(By the late ’90s) he was a drawing card. He would do long-weekend Sunday shows and he would pack the house.

He had created quite a name for himself.

“Nothing stopped him. Even in this (final cancer) he saw a brighter picture. He had great determination. He had a very strong will to live. He fought a huge battle this time around.

He fought right to the end, and the positiveness of I’m gonna beat this was always there… I lost my very best friend.

“He was the most loving, caring individual in the world; he would help and give without wanting anything in return; selfless is the right word.

“I have so many Devon stories, and they’re all so good! ...He was performing at Detour one evening, and the house was packed (it was a long weekend), and one of the (drunk) female patrons started to harass him. This was right in midscene, but he couldn’t get a bouncer to come over and remove

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the lady. He kept telling the lady please be quiet and he got very candid with the lady, until finally he’d had enough.

“He put his microphone down, walked down the stairs, picked her up, threw her over his shoulder, and walked her to the front door, put her down, and said, and please don’t come back! He walked back onstage and continued on.” (laughs) From Adam McLennan (Eartha Quake): “One of the tops, definitely: Devon was Mr. Entertainment at all times. He had a quality that’s so hard to describe.

But you would just know it when you saw it: he held your attention. He dazzled onstage; he was one of those people whose smile could light up a room, whose gesture could bring down the house – just one of those performers who had it.

“But there were so many other things too. It’s going back 25 years now, that we met for the first time, but we didn’t start working together until he came back from Vancouver in the ’90s… and we did many, many shows together. Lots and lots of fun!

“He loved to entertain people, no matter what the setting was, whether he was in drag or not. He was the consummate entertainer who always had a good story to tell, that would usually end with you rolling on the floor, holding your sides and laughing so hard it felt like you were going to barf! ...You’re wanting him to stop, because it hurt, but you don’t want him to stop because it’s too much fun!

“People gravitated to him. Invariably the people that were standing around him were laughing and chuckling. So if you went to a party, Devon was the light of the party, delighting the folks all around with stories.

“He ran a B&B here in town with his partner Brent: a beautiful, beautiful home. He did all of his own projects, built things. He was a doer. He took charge, had an idea, This is what I’m doing, and did it.

“Brent has his own quiet way. They were a real yin and yang; a perfect fit for each other.

“Devon was one of the best friends you could ask for, and he helped me in so many ways. There was good advice; a shoulder to cry on. He was a salt of the earth kind of friend.

A good, good friend. Solid.

“Devon was not afraid of anything or anybody. He was the BOLDEST person you would ever meet in your life. Brass balls on that one! ...If you needed to be told, he was going to tell you. But it was done with style and elegance. But you KNEW you were being told.

“One time we did a duet which worked out really, really well. We had matching outfits made. Devon was gorgeous: absolutely one of the most stunning queens you’ve ever seen.

And he’s all slender, beautiful, and painted just exquisitely.

I’m pretty, but as you might imagine from the name (Eartha Quake), I was a bigger girl. Much more solid: much more zaftig, to be kind (laughs). And we did Liza Minelli; we did New York, New York.

“Devon did the first part, and danced himself off stage, and then I came out a second later, done up as Liza Minelli as well, with a bucket of KFC chicken, chowing on chicken, and trying to do kicks and such. We called it “Liza: Then & Now”. We had a lot of fun with that one.

“To me, he was entertainment personified. But it was also the person that was my friend that was important: he was such a good person. He was so kind to me, took care of me in a lot of ways, and helped me to grow up into the man I am now. Which is important to me, because I think I’m a fairly good person, and he helped mold that. “(He was) one of those life forces. One of those great people that you remember forever… We are all diamonds – some a little rougher than others – but he was a highly polished diamond.”

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From Todd Oberg (Justine Tyme): “Devon started performing a few years before me. As a matter of fact, I used to go see his shows. One of the reasons that I am the performer I am today is because of the influence he created when I used to go up and see these professional female impersonation shows. That was AMAZING to me.

“I started seeing him at the Parkside (Continental) in the Green Room… He was a past Entertainer of the Year, which was a Court title, and there was an Entertainer of the Year show function, and he was a judge for that. Hooker of the Year I think it was.

“When they had the restaurant in Water Valley, I worked with them every weekend for three years. (But originally) Devon and I worked together in Calgary, and then he moved to B.C., and did some stuff out there with work. Then I moved to B.C., and the year after he (and Brent) moved back to Calgary to open the bed and breakfast. Then I moved back to Calgary (after 13 years) because my dad was ill, and they sold the B&B and moved to Water Valley. So for years I thought he was just trying to get away from me!

“In Water Valley they have a log house, but a log house as if Krystal and Alexis (Carrington) had a log house: it’s basically a log mansion. Freaking gorgeous! He’s an amazing decorator, and between him and Brent they styled this thing beautifully. As a matter of fact, the dining hall I call Hogwart’s!

“The restaurant (Aspen Cafe) was on the main drag of Water Valley. Brent made the food, and Wayne was the server, and created a lot of dishes as well. Brent baked, and did desserts and quiches, and it was the most wonderful experience I have had. Especially, knowing what’s happened with Wayne and his health, I’m so glad I got to see him for three years, literally, every week.

“I wasn’t performing out there: I would cook, I would make sandwiches, I would help do dishes, I would wait tables and serve: drag didn’t exist in Water Valley. He would do the odd Halloween Party, but that’s not the only definition of what he was.

“He was so talented in so many ways:… he was a hospitality agent… he was a front-end gourmet host; he entertained people for years, made them laugh and smile in makeup and character… he was a designer; he painted and was a photographer. There was just no end to the creativity that came out of this man.

“Drag did not define him by any means: it was just one of the pieces of the puzzle.

“One time we did a show in the Green Room, and it was a Joan Rivers show, where Devon hosted as Joan, where we all did characters. And I remember, in the dressing room, someone, I think it was Devon, said we should all call each other Cinnamon. There were about seven people in the show, so for about five minutes in the dressing room it became this comedy, a Carol Burnett type of show, with Cinnamon?

Yes, Cinnamon? Could you pass me that brush, Cinnamon?

Oh, sure, Cinnamon. So, to this very day, if he ran into some of those people, or there was the right moment, we would still visit the Cinnamon. He created this moment and it has lasted forever!”

A Celebration of Life in memory of Wayne McLean will be held on Sunday, September 14th at Knox United Church (506-4 St., SW) in Calgary. Rhonda Withnell (who sang at Brent and Wayne’s wedding) and her trio will be singing from 3:30pm until the service starts at 4pm. A reception in the basement will follow.

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Politics

A Stigmatized Subculture in the Subcontinent Gay Men and Lesbians re-criminalized in India

By Stephen Lock The world’s largest democracy, home of the Kama Sutra and ancient erotic temple carvings, has once again instituted a legal ban on gay sex, rendering it illegal, and potentially subjecting those found guilty of any number of homosexual acts to life imprisonment.

The Supreme Court of India reinstated the 1860 Penal Code prohibition against “carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman, or animal” after a four-year period of decriminalization.

In 2009, the Delhi High Court, in Naz Foundation vs Government of NCT (National Capital Territory) of Delhi, found section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, and other legal proscriptions against private, adult, consensual and noncommercial same-sex conduct, to be in direct violation of the Indian Constitution.

The case was appealed to the Supreme Court, which overturned the lower court’s decision, effectively reinstating the original section of the Penal Code, and stating that only the Indian Parliament could change or repeal Section 377. This is unlikely, given the highly conservative social nature of India and the strong hold traditional views have on the country.

In 2012 the Union Home Ministry, or Ministry of Home Affairs as it is also known, told the Supreme Court that the ministry, and therefore the Central Government, was opposed to the decriminalization of homosexual activity. A spokesperson within the ministry stated, “[homosexuality] is highly immoral and against the social order”. The ministry went on to say that India’s moral and social values were different from other countries and, therefore, the state should not be guided by them.

The Central Government, a centre-left coalition, reversed its stand five days later, asserting that there was, in fact, no error in decriminalizing homosexual activity after all. This resulted in the Supreme Court reprimanding the government for frequently changing its stand on the issue. “Don’t make a mockery of the system and don’t waste the court’s time,” a Supreme Court judge told the government.

In explaining their decision, the Supreme Court wrote the Delhi High Court had “overlooked that a minuscule fraction of the country’s population constitutes lesbians, gays, bisexuals or transgenders, [sic] and in the more than 150 years past, less than 200 persons have been prosecuted for committing offence under Section 377, and this cannot be made a sound basis for declaring that Section” in violation of the Indian Constitution.

While same-sex activity between consenting males or consenting females is once again a criminal offence in India, one class of transsexual persons, known as hijra, were granted protection and voting rights in 1994.

Hijras have a long history in both India and what is now Pakistan and Bangladesh, dating back over 2,000 years. Many hijras live in well-defined, organized communities headed by a guru or spiritual leader. The hijra encompass a variety of identities. Some are biological males who cross-dress and have adopted the female role. Others are what in the West would be described as male-to-female transsexuals. Others 18

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are either inter-sexed (a blending of male and female genitalia) or eunuchs who have undergone a ritual known as nirwaan in which they are castrated and have the penis removed.

While seen as outcasts within the traditional caste system, and generally ridiculed and shunned, they are sought out to bless newborns, or sometimes sing and dance at Hindu weddings. Many hijras earn a living either by begging and/or as sex trade workers.

Contributing to the complex, and often contradictory, response to homosexuality is the silence surrounding it in predominately Hindu India and in conservatively Muslim Pakistan and Bangladesh. Sexuality, generally, is seen as a very private matter. While homophobia remains an issue throughout India, with families ostracizing gay or lesbian members and those known to be or believed to be homosexual often violently attacked, attitudes do seem to be changing. Indian media has begun depicting and discussing homosexuality more frequently and Bollywood, the favourite style of movie-making in India, has begun to depict storylines featuring same-sex couples.

There is historical evidence, however, to suggest what we would consider to be homosexuals were not necessarily seen as inferior, merely as a variation, until the influence of the British Raj in the 19th Century. Much of India’s current legal and legislative system is based on the British model and their Penal Code dates from the Raj period (1858-1947).

Much of modern-day India’s cultural and legal perceptions have been strongly influenced by the British presence in India. The Raj saw the rise of an often British-educated Indian middle-class, yielding Western attitudes yet still maintaining “Indian” form.

Modern technology and the Internet have also influenced India, making it one of the largest homes to call centres servicing the Web. This has played no small role in the gradual acceptance of ‘Westernized ideas’, including Western concepts of sexuality, generally, and homosexuality, specifically, which have historically been quite different from Eastern or even Middle Eastern concepts. This integration of Western ideas is gradually creating a view that homosexuality is not so much a behaviour to be penalized but an innate orientation which, while it differs from the dominant heterosexual orientations, is merely a variation within human sexuality.

With the reinstating of Section 377 Indian courts are clearly a long ways away from fully understanding the nature of homosexuality, let alone any legal recognition or protection of it. Same-sex marriage is not even on the political horizon and is several years, perhaps several decades, away from ever being considered viable.

For now, the struggle is for gay men – and other men who have sex with men – and lesbians to not be seen as and treated as criminals. It is going to be a long road.

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Community

Discussing Community Safety Comment on the situation in Ferguson

By Constable Andy Buck Hello again everyone. Hopefully you have enjoyed a great summer culminating in the recent Pride parade and festival. All I can say is, “WOW!” What a fantastic event it was. It just keeps getting bigger and better – just like our Calgary Police Service entry in the parade.

You may have noticed that we had the largest turnout of CPS staff for the parade that we have ever had. Over 60 staff, the majority of them sworn members in uniform, volunteered their time to come and show their support. You did not let us down, and were extremely vocal in your appreciation. It was so rewarding for me, having spent some considerable time trying to coordinate our entry, but not unexpected. You are AWESOME, and your support of us was very touching, especially for those members who had not taken part in the parade before. Having solicited feedback from many staff members, they were all excited at participating and are keen to get involved again next year, schedules permitting. It will be a challenge to surpass our efforts this year, but I am up to that challenge!

During the past couple of weeks, I have been asked to provide comment on the situation that recently occurred in Ferguson, Missouri. For those of you that don’t know the story, here are the basic details. On August 9th an African-American youth named Michael Brown was shot and killed by a white police officer. This incident sparked rioting and looting on a large scale, which lasted for several days. An uneasy peace now resides over the town of Ferguson while investigations into the incident take place. My colleagues in our Diversity Resource Team and I have had conversations about whether this type of incident could happen here in Calgary. My opinion is that it would not, and here is why.

Looking at the demographics in Ferguson, representation is very disproportionate. Sixty-seven per cent of the population is African-American, yet the mayor and chief of police are both Caucasian. Only one of six elected city council officials is African-American, zero school board members are, and only three of 53 police officers. Local elections feature an extremely low voter turnout, averaging around 11 per cent over the past three years. This tends to skew white and conservative results.

The incident on August 9th resulted in years of long-simmering racial tension boiling over.

Here in Calgary we do not have these demographic issues and, subsequently, that level of tension does not exist. I believe that this is directly attributable to the work that continues to be done by the Diversity Resource Team. We have the largest and longest standing team of its kind in the country, and possibly

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North America, developing and maintaining relationships between diverse communities and the police. We realize that these communities have historically had trust issues with law enforcement and, in the case of recent immigrants to Calgary, we appreciate that they may have come from places where the police are certainly not your friend! Having portfolio holders for all of these communities means that positive relationships already exist between the police and community leaders. That is why Calgary did not see the same level of disorder as other cities did to protests such as Idle No More. It is extremely difficult to start building community relationships after the event, and here in Calgary we have been doing it successfully for over 35 years. This is yet another reason why Calgary is such a desirable city in which to live, evidenced by recent surveys.

That’s it from me for this month. Take care everyone. Stay safe and look after each other. As always, feel free to contact me with any questions, comments or concerns.

Constable Andy Buck 403-428-8154 • pol4792@calgarypolice.ca http://www.gaycalgary.com/a4258 View Bonus Pics/Videos • Share with a Friend • Post Comments

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Event

Alberta Gets Moving Scotiabank’s AIDSwalk for Life

By Mars Tonic CALGARY HIV/AIDS is a serious issue but, under its shadow, HIV Community Link is going to work hard this year to create a fun and dynamic environment at the AIDSwalk for Life.

While their goal is for everyone to be engaged in the event and to enjoy themselves, they also want to hammer home the importance of the walk itself and what it means for the community.

There has been a significant increase in community involvement over the years, as well as sponsor involvement – Starbucks, MAC, and Old Navy, to name a few – showing their support. The walk is expecting at least 500 to 700 participants this year. It is an important day for both new and old supporters of awareness initiatives; many walkers this year are repeat supporters.

The Scotiabank AIDSwalk is certainly one of the Community Link’s most important campaigns, as donations from it help the organization to do the work they do all year round – fighting the stigma and bringing relief to those in need.

Register for Calgary’s Scotiabank AIDSwalk on September 20th from 12pm to 7pm at Calgary Cares Centre, 110— 1603 10 Avenue SW. The walk takes place on September 21st starting from the Eau Claire Plaza at noon. For more information, visit http://www.hivcl.org.

HIV Community Link’s next campaign happens right before Christmas. Their Holiday Hamper fundraiser will create hampers to help support clients through the holiday season.

RED DEER Red Deer’s AIDSwalk is being supported by CAANS (Central Alberta AIDS Network Society), a participant of the walk for over 10 years. The need for CAANS and its programs has been growing, and its various fundraisers are what helps the organization keep giving back to the community. The AIDSwalk strives to bring awareness to the many people who continue to believe that they are not at risk to HIV and other STIs. This year’s event promises to be a fun and diverting one, with participants undertaking not just a simple walk, but something more akin to the Amazing Race. Participants will receive clues that take them to different social services in downtown Red Deer where they will be asked questions and given more clues to continue on to their next destination.

It is the hope that formatting the walk this way will not only help spread awareness of HIV/AIDS, but also introduce attendees to the different social services available to community members in downtown Red Deer.

The event expects roughly 100 participants this year. The walk will be followed with prizes, food, and drink. Participate in Red Deer’s Scotiabank AIDSwalk on September 20th.

 Photo from the Calgary AIDSwalk 2013

Registration is at noon. The opening ceremonies start at 1:30pm with the walk to commence at 2pm.

Alongside the AIDSwalk, CAANS runs various other programs, such as NightReach, which helps keep the community warm and safe from winter-related health issues. For more information, check out http://caans.org.

GRANDE PRAIRIE, FORT MCMURRAY, PEACE RIVER The Scotiabank AIDSwalk for Life for all three of these cities is hosted by HIV North, from the end of August throughout September. Fort McMurray just wrapped its walk up on August 31st, but Peace River and Grande Prairie are still slated for September 13th and 21st, respectively.

Involvement in the walks has risen steadily, especially in Fort McMurray, but more participation and more awareness is always the aim. The walks function as HIV North’s main events of the year, and certainly aren’t to be missed.

Registration is still open.

“The turnout we’re expecting between the three walks is probably about 250 participants,” said Melissa Byers, who is helping to plan this year’s event in Grande Prairie. “The community has definitely supported us.”

This support has come in the forms of donations, prizes, and participants, growing steadily every year, but there is always more room to grow.

“This year I would like to see greater awareness around HIV. I would like to see a lot of the community members to come out, not just partner agencies,” Byers said. “I’d just like greater awareness and communication in talking about HIV.” Peace River’s Scotiabank AIDSwalk happens on September 13th in Riverfront Park. Registration starts at 11am, the walk begins at noon and ends with a barbecue and prize presentation.

Grande Prairie’s Scotiabank AIDSwalk for Life happens on September 21st in Muskoseepi Park. Registration is at 9am, with the walk beginning at 10am.

Alongside these events, HIV North offers a variety of services in all three cities, and they are always looking for volunteers. For more information visit http://www. hivnorth.org.

EDMONTON Heroes for Zero is the theme of this year’s event, challenging the city to ‘join forces to bring awareness and fight stigma’. These heroes are community members who are standing up and supporting HIV Edmonton’s vision: zero new HIV transmissions, zero stigma and discrimination, and

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zero AIDS related deaths. This year the 23rd annual walk will begin in the Old Strathcona district, cross the high level bridge and descend into the legislature grounds. Participants are encouraged to show up in costume for the Superhero warm-up.

Participants will have chance to reflect and commemorate those who have been victims of HIV/AIDS with the AIDS memorial quilts on display at the Legislature grounds.

The Memorial Quilts are embroidered with the names of Edmontonions who have been lost to AIDS related illnesses since HIV Edmonton was incorporated. They are a beautiful but sad reminder of what we all have lost to HIV/AIDS. The day will end with a performance by Audrey and the Crashers. Vanity Fair and Global Edmonton’s Nancy Carlson will emcee the event, and for the first time HIV Edmonton will be debuting beer gardens hosted by Yukon Brewing.

Fall is a busy time for HIV Edmonton; after the walk they will begin planning their Starbucks Celebrity Barista event for World AIDS Day. There is also an annual backpack program (where community members donate items to fill a backpack for HIV Edmonton clients) and the Annual Festive Feast Turkey Dinner, where the backpacks are distributed.

These events run right up to the holidays, so make sure you kick the season off right with the AIDSwalk, September 20th.

Registration is at 5pm. The walk begins at 6:15pm. For more information, visit http://www.hivedmonton.com

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GayCalgary Magazine #131, September 2014

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Photography Calgary Pride 2014 http://gaycalgary.com/pa815

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GayCalgary Magazine #131, September 2014

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Photography

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GayCalgary Magazine #131, September 2014

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Gossip youth with refurbished computers, tablets and phones.

The goal is to provide isolated queer young people with the ability to connect to larger gay communities and it’s a terrific idea… Meanwhile, George Takei just flexed his fundraising muscle to aid Camp Abercorn, a web series from creators Jeffrey Simon, Meg Grgurich and Matt Andrews, about gay Boy Scouts starring Brad Leland (Friday Night Lights, Leftovers). It was Takei’s last minute-promotion that pushed the project’s online fundraising efforts over the top.

Good job, famous people. We gay-salute you* (*no idea what a gay-salute looks like, just FYI).

That Katharine Hepburn biopic is finally happening The fact that we had to have a J. Edgar Hoover movie before someone got around to a biopic about Katharine Hepburn is ridiculous, right? On that point we can agree?

And since her passing, it’s become fairly clear that the great Kate was almost certainly bisexual, even if she never called it that herself. So it’s good news, just on a conceptual level, that the planned film about her life, will avoid the “greatest hits” aspect that sinks most movies about dead celebrities, and focus on her younger years and an affair with American Express heiress Laura Harding. To be helmed by lesbian filmmaker Clare Beavan (Martina: Farewell to a Champion) and based on the biography Kate: The Woman Who Was Hepburn by William J. Mann, the as-yet-untitled-and-uncast film is in its early stages. And for all we know a competing project may arise (that’s usually how it goes) that sticks to orthodoxy and full Spencer Tracy dominance. But let’s see if this one can get made and seen, all the same. There’s never just one story to be told.

Lee Daniels takes on The Brian Banks Story

 Josh Hutcherson . Photo by Christopher Halloran

Deep Inside Hollywood Doing it for the kids

By Romeo San Vicente When celebrities aren’t performing, they have to fill their time. And it seems like most of them just take exotic vacations and sell the photo rights to tabloids. So it’s refreshing when some of them work on making the world a little better instead. Josh Hutcherson, for example, has turned his Hunger Games name recognition power into a partnership with The Trevor Project and, alongside organization Straight But Not Narrow, has launched “Power On.” It’s a campaign to provide rural and low-income LGBT

In Hollywood, the unicorn is what gets the movie treatment.

The situation you don’t expect is the story that sells tickets.

In other words, former high school football star-turnedAtlanta Falcons player Brian Banks and his struggle against a false rape accusation is going to be a film. Gay director Lee Daniels will take on the project, The Brian Banks Story, one that has yet to be cast, and the fit is as good as any.

Daniels has explored child sexual abuse (Precious) and rape (The Paperboy) before, and he’s not afraid of that sort of controversy, and this film is sure to bring it. The story of Banks, who was falsely accused of rape by a classmate and who spent five years in prison before his conviction was overturned, is essentially a horror story where the man in a male/female rape scenario is the real victim. Does that reflect the daily reality of most rapes? No. Is that offensive right from the start? Possibly. Will Daniels be able to strike the right balance and tone to avoid offending 50 percent of the moviegoing population? Let’s hope.

Patti LaBelle will get freaky on American Horror Story Ryan Murphy loves his divas. He also loves to work with them. So it was perhaps inevitable that one of the biggest divas of all, Miss Patti LaBelle, would choose to grace the set of Murphy’s loopy hit, American Horror Story: Freak Show. Next season she’ll embark on a four-episode arc where she’ll play Gabourey Sidibe’s mother, a townsperson who stumbles upon the secrets of the murder-happy Twisty (John Carroll Lynch), a clown killer. That’s it for details, more or less the same amount of pre-show information we got before Stevie Nicks’ appearance. So let’s speculate and hope for: 1. singing 2. ’80s “Stir It Up” hair and 3. uncredited appearance by Michael McDonald as her private manservant. Why not?

Romeo San Vicente has a New Attitude.

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Editorial

Parenting Proud What is Normal Anyway?

By Jim Scott It was a truly gorgeous day for a parade in Calgary last weekend. My husband and I were so excited to take our two-year-old to his first ever Pride Parade, and boy it didn’t disappoint. He loved every minute of it. This year I had a unique vantage point as I, very proudly, drove my company’s first ever Pride entry down Stephen Avenue following nearly 30 of my gay and straight coworkers.

Surprisingly I was overcome with emotion, even holding back tears, as we glided past every conceivable kind of family out to support Calgary’s LGBT community.

Some were dressed in costumes, some looked quite conservative, some were clearly gay, some were clearly straight, and some seemed to have conjured up their own unique version of what today’s families look like, and it got me thinking… what is normal anyway and why do so many in our own community have issues with the idea of ‘normalcy’?

I read a lot of material written by gay parents, for gay parents, and leading up to this year’s Calgary Pride Parade I was researching how other gay dads felt about taking their young children to Pride Parades. I noticed a common expression posted over and over again from some of the more militant members in our community. It’s the term heteronormative and it’s spoken as if it was a new kind of social disease. It infuriates me!! Predominately used to insult those who choose to establish a family dynamic that consists of stability and traditional values, it is hurtful, insulting, and here is why it is just downright wrong.

From Wikipedia… Heteronormativity is the belief that people fall into distinct and complementary genders (man and woman) with natural roles in life. It asserts that heterosexuality is the only sexual orientation or only norm, and states that sexual and marital relations are most (or only) fitting between people of opposite sexes. Consequently, a heteronormative view is one that involves alignment of biological sex, sexuality, gender identity, and gender roles.

Heteronormativity is often linked to heterosexism and homophobia.

That’s right; there are members of our own community who think it’s fine to use a homophobic slur to describe families like my own, who they have never even met. Now I’m not naïve to the fact that our community can be one of the most judgmental and mean spirited out there – and whether you like it or not we need to own it – because it is true. Let me be the first to admit that I’m certainly no angel where this is concerned, but having a child has made me do some real soul searching about this very subject. That said… I have to wonder what motivates people with no kids and no experience as parents to be so cruel in their assessment of how gay families should identify and live their lives, giving no thought to how our choices as adults affect the lives of the children we call our own?

This is how I see it. Our kids, the vast majority of them anyway, will grow up to be heterosexuals. That is just the way it is. In our case, we don’t care what our son is we just want him to be well adjusted and able to have happy, www.gaycalgary.com

healthy relationships. Like any other children, they don’t get to pick their parents, no matter how they become part of our families. Whether adopted, fostered, created with a surrogate, or made the old fashioned way, the moment they become part of our families we become responsible for their physical and mental wellbeing. As a responsible parent, and because I already know from hard fought experience how school yard bullies operate, I see no need to saddle my son with additional baggage for said bullies to use as a weapon.

This is where the militants will chime in that adopting heteronormative behaviour is somehow a slap in the face to the LGBT community, but they are completely mistaken, and I am calling them out!

You see, I’m mature and confident enough to realize that I can be a loud and proud gay man, passionate, loving, and monogamous husband, community activist, and attentive father without compromising who I am as a person. I have marched in solidarity with my gay brothers and sisters around the globe, and I earned my stripes in the gay community with activism that stretches back to the late 1980s. I have seen the devastation of the AIDS epidemic firsthand as a volunteer in the death wards of San Francisco General in the late ’80s, when even nurses openly refused to treat our sick and dying brothers and sisters. I marched in Washington DC in 1993 for equal rights, and have advocated for full marriage equality in the Unites States for decades now. I am proud of how far our community has come in the past 30 years, and will most definitely pass my firsthand knowledge of our history down to my son and hope to inspire him to be the next generation activist for our community. He will know more about gay rights and our struggles than most of his peers, but he will also know that our community is just part of the larger community called humanity.

Finally, to you folks who equate being out of the closet with being over the top, whether that means trotting out your sexual preferences for the world to see, or rebelling against mainstream society in your dress, way you speak, and how you conduct yourself in public, please know I have been fighting for your rights for over 30 years now. In other words… be all you can be – it is fine with me! What I don’t support is when you turn around and insult my husband and I for trying to be the best possible parents, and yes that means modeling our behaviour in a way that will make our son’s life easier in the long run, and not confuse him when it is time to integrate into sports, schools and life.

It’s called tolerance people, and it is something we should all be practicing. So the next time you feel like hurling homophobic insults at one of your gay brothers or sisters just because you don’t relate to their situation, please ask yourself, is this normal?

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GayCalgary Magazine #131, September 2014

25

Event

 Photos from “Two 4 One”

Sample this Year’s CIFF 2014 Puts a Focus on Local, Hard-Hitting, and Favourite Directors

By Janine Eva Trotta If there’s one thing to cleanse the bitter taste an impending winter might put in one’s mouth, it has to be September’s international film festival. This year the CIFF has a big four Calgary-made movies on its bill, as well as four LGBT selections, lots of Canadian premiers and over 70 shorts.

Oscar buzz is humming around some of the slated films, including psychological thriller Whiplash, and the creepytoned Foxcatcher starring Steve Carrell, Channing Tatum and Mark Ruffalo, who give stunning depiction to a real life story of a mentally deteriorating coach’s obsession with a brother’s success in boxing. David Cronenberg’s ‘blackhearted best’ Maps to the Stars, a satire on Hollywood’s treatment of child stars, is another film receiving a lot of talk. You can bet with the A-list cast – Robert Pattinson, John Cusack, Mia Wasikowska and Julianne Moore (who took best actress at Cannes this year for her portrayal of Havana, a fading actress) – this screening will be sold out in a flicker.

New this year will be the sale of alcohol, sponsored by Big Rock, at all Globe Cinema screenings playing after 6pm.

Additionally Telus Spark has offered to host a student series on September 21st, featuring the works of young filmmakers aged eight to 18 years old.

The CIFF programmers have left six empty time slots on the Sunday that ends the festival for screenings that audiences vote for throughout the 11 days of film showings. So if you see something you like, be sure to go online and vote for it.

Below is a quick synopsis of three of the LGBT tagged selections (Queens & Cowboys getting a review on page 30), as well as five of the films that programmers Brenda Leiberman and Stephen Schroeder chose to highlight at the CIFF media launch last Tuesday.

LGBT Tagged: Pride – World Cinema Series – UK

Based on real events that occurred in 1984, Britain, the high energy film Pride tells the unlikely story of London’s out LGBT community teaming with Welsh miners in pursuit of justice.

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Funny, brash, boisterous and colourful, Pride illustrates the strength that ensues when disparate groups join forces to fight their oppression.

Plays: Sunday, September 21st @ 9:15pm, Eau Claire Born to Fly: Elizabeth Streb vs. Gravity – Documentary Series – Albania/UK/US

“Anything that’s too safe is not action,” states Streb, choreographer of an extreme action troupe of fearless acrobatic dancers that all share the belief they can fly. Watch in exhilaration as these women and men challenge ‘art, aging, injury, gender and human possibility’.

Plays: Friday September 19th @ 5:30pm, Globe and Thursday September 25th @ 7:30pm, Globe Two 4 One – Canadian Cinema Series – Canada

Possibly the best plotline in recent film history, what happens when a transgender man in transition becomes pregnant whilst helping out an ex with her artificial insemination? Meet Adam, the man who must now re-evaluate his identity, his feelings for Miriam and a host of other things. This film makes its world premier in Calgary, with cast members in attendance and a Q&A to follow the screening. Shot in Victoria, BC and promising a ‘blend of emotions in the viewer’, this is a selection not to miss.

Plays: Sunday, Spetember 21st @ 7:15pm, Eau Claire and Tuesday, September 23rd @ 5:15pm, Eau Claire

Programmer Favourites: Boy Choir – Headliner Series – US

Starring Kathy Bates and Academy Award winner Dustin Hoffman, Boychoir tells the story of an 11-year-old boy sent from his small town home in Texas to attend the historical American Boychoir boarding school. Hoffman, playing the choirmaster, sees the potential in this wayward boy, and thus a music-as-a-force plotline is developed. Directed by François Girard (The Red Violin), the moving film was shot largely in the school it pertains to take place in.

Plays: Wednesday, September 24th @ 6:45pm, Eau Claire Coming Home – World Cinema Series – China

Director Zhang Yimou (Hero, Raise the Red Lantern) draws us down yet another teary, nuanced and moving road with captivating lead actress Gong Li playing an amnesiac struggling to regain her memory and reconnect with her imprisoned

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husband following the rouse of the Cultural Revolution. This film played at Cannes and TIFF previous to landing in Calgary.

Plays: Monday, September 22nd @ 6:45pm, Eau Claire and Thursday, September 25th @ 4:30pm, Eau Claire Project M – Science Fiction – Canada

Director Eric Piccoli takes viewers to a sort of apocalyptic Quebec in need of water. Nine hundred days into an experimental mission in the Earth’s orbit, seeking to find an alternate source for the needed H2O, nuclear war breaks out below. Stranded aboard their vessel, the protagonists are left to deal with the aftermath. Project M makes its world premiere here.

Plays: Saturday, September 20th @ 7pm, Eau Claire Out of Mind, Out of Sight – Documentary Series – Canada

“Riveting” was the word Schroeder used to describe this film, the impact evident in his face as he spoke of the documentary that looks into the Brockville Mental Health Centre, a forensic psychiatric hospital, where people who have committed violent crimes are sent when they are found to be psychologically unfit to go to prison. Winner of the Best Canadian Feature Documentary Award at Hot Docs, the film poignantly and intimately looks in on the lives of the patients struggling to build an identity with which to re-emerge into society whilst constrained and under surveillance.

Plays: Wednesday, September 2th @ 7:15pm, Eau Claire and Saturday, September 27th @ 2:15pm, Eau Claire

plays problem child Steve (Antoine-Olivier Pilon)’s mother, and Suzanne Clément plays a neighbour who becomes entangled into their intense trio. Though themes sound familiar this is Dolan at his best: 1:1 ratio, spare nothing performances, intense dialogue. This film picked up the Cannes 2014 Jury Prize.

Plays: Friday, September 26 @ 9:15pm, Eau Claire This year packs so many intriguing films it will virtually be a need to do nothing else but see movies September 18th to 28th.

The Young and Prodigious T.S. Spivet (directed by Pierre Jeunet – Amélie) will open the fest with a red carpet gala and stars Callum Keith, Kyle Catlett and Rick Mercer in attendance. A new 3-D work by Jean-Luc Goddard, Goodbye to Language will screen, Martin Scorsese’s documentary The New York Review of Books will be shown, and The Old Trout Puppet Workshop have even offered up a Christmas-themed short. To conclude, Ally was Screaming, a Canadian suspenseful black humour film shot in Calgary, will screen at the closing gala at the Grand.

Get your ticket packs and reserve online early.

Calgary International Film Festival

Mommy – Canadian Cinema Series – Canada

http://www.calgaryfilm.com

From the young, haughty Quebecois director we all know and revere from J’ai tuè ma mere and Heartbeats Xavier Dolan is back with Mommy, another dramatic feat that intriguingly examines the connection between mother and son. He brings back two actresses he has worked with previously; Anne Dorval

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GayCalgary Magazine #131, September 2014

27

Interview

Andrea Martin Comes Out Canadian legend reveals she is a closet-American

By Farley Foo Foo Whether you know her from her work on the Canadian comedy institution SCTV, her roles on films such as My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Wag The Dog and Hedwig And The Angry Inch, her multiple Tony Award winning roles on Broadway, or most recently for her role as the matriarch on the Canadian-American Global/NBC co-production Working The Engels, Andrea Martin is truly a beloved Canadian icon. But as she confesses in her just-released autobiography ‘Lady Parts,’ out through Harper Avenue, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, she was actually born in Portland, Maine. “I need to come clean and set the record straight,” Martin opens, “I am not Canadian. I’m American... The fact is, I visited Toronto in 1970, fell in love with the city on the first day, and stayed. From that moment on, I was an honorary Canadian.” (Lady Parts, pg.1, 2).

I’m sorry to have to contradict you Ms. Martin, but it must be stated that you are as Canadian as an apology and there is nothing “honorary” about your status as one of us. Being born upon our soil has never been a requirement to join our fold. All we ask is that you bring with you whatever uniqueness and talents you possess and share them with the rest of us, and for more than forty years you have benevolently done just that. For us fortunate Albertans, Martin will do so once again as she comes to Edmonton to close out the Jewish Family Services wonderful Legends of Broadway fundraiser series at the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium on Sunday October 5th, 2014 with her wildly acclaimed onewoman show Final Days! Everything Must Go! In anticipation of her return to Alberta, Martin spoke to GayCalgary Magazine from her home in New York city about her memories of living in Edmonton while working on SCTV, her brilliantly written autobiography, and her partiality for gay men.

GC: I know you’ve appeared on many stages on Broadway and in Los Angeles. When you were writing for the show SCTV you appeared on many stages here in Edmonton, so would you ever do an Edmonton Fringe show?

AM: It appeals to me. I guess I really haven’t been asked to do one. I don’t know about the Edmonton one but I know that Toronto and every major city has one. I’m very familiar with the Edinburgh Fringe [festival].

GC: Edmonton’s is the next biggest festival after Edinburgh’s. There are quite a lot of really great works that get premiered and workshopped here.

AM: Well someone better damn well ask me then! (laughs) GC: In your autobiography, “LADY PARTS,” you mention how watching Chita Rivera on stage made you dream of being an actor on Broadway. You’re coming to Edmonton to close out the Legends of Broadway fundraiser series for Jewish Family Services, which actually opened with Chita Rivera. I was just wondering if you still look at her remarkable career and feel aspirational at all?

AM: God yes. I just saw her on stage here in [The Mystery of] Edwin Drood a few months ago and we were at Joe Allen’s [Restaurant] together and she’d come to see Young Frankenstein and finally I met her after all those years of watching her and I was so shy and then finally after about an hour I said oh my gosh, you informed my whole life! She is so modest. I don’t think she thinks of herself as a star at all. I think she thinks of herself as a chorus person. I know she’s a star, but that kind of mentality, that gypsy mentality, is really in your blood. It’s cellular, and that’s why she’s able to do what she does at her age. Many, many years of discipline and real, pure love and devotion for the business. I love her.

I think she’s one of a kind. There’s not many people like her.

GC: She was absolutely amazing in Edmonton – she was on stage for hours singing and dancing and entertaining and doing things I couldn’t do at my age.

AM: That’s the thing with dancers- they train at an early age and the kind of discipline it takes to maintain that career stays with them. It’s really a dancer’s mentality. That’s how she started out. I wished I could have seen her show. I saw a version of it here in New York at a Supper Club and it was so intimate; it was very touching. It’s touching when you think that she’s in her 80s and it’s her spirit that moves you. She has a

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GayCalgary Magazine #131, September 2014

passion for what she does and she’s still able to do it. There aren’t many people at that age that can still do that. It’s very touching.

GC: And that still do it with so much love.

AM: And with such generosity! She just loves entertaining.

GC: In your book you open with a story about Steve Martin’s dinner party suggestion that you title the book “Perky Tits” on account of your famous and once often- displayed bust. Later in the book when describing a memory of watching your mother getting dressed for a Christmas Party you both admire her pleasing, topless form. So I was wondering what other than your fantastic breasts did you inherit from your mother?

AM: (laughing) Oh! What a great question! Nobody’s ever asked [me] that question. What did I inherit from my mother? I would say my energy. Her energy was limitless. Even though she died at a very young age it was like having a little humming bird in the kitchen, always flitting about. I think that I have that too. I’ve also inherited my disregard for phone calls. People call me and I’ll say OK I have to hang up now, I can’t talk. My mom always used to do that. [She’d say] OK honey, I can’t talk now, because she wanted to get back to her dusting.

GC: You credit the classic Canadian Comedy Series SCTV for really giving you your career. [In your book] you said “those seven years that changed my life, that formed my career, that made it impossible to ever take direction from anyone on any subsequent TV show I did after SCTV went off the air in 1984” (Lady Parts, pg. 306). But then you also say that “conjuring up the memories feels like a violation” (pg. 307) and that you’re reluctant to revisit them. So how do you regard the show when

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so many people want to discuss it with you and tell you how much they enjoyed it and loved it? How do you go about reminiscing about it?

AM: I think when people want to talk about SCTV they do most of the talking. I don’t really have to give very much because they are reminiscing and reliving the characters. [I’m] just actually being an audience member when people want to reminisce. They are not asking for stories about the characters; they want to go back in time really and relive the moments that made them laugh initially. That’s my experience.

But when you write a book you don’t have the benefit of somebody else rehashing the stories. And I felt like I had a responsibility to the cast not to speak for them, because they could write their own books, but to paint a picture of what it felt like for me to work with them. I hope I did that.

GC: Do you sometimes accidently find yourself remembering certain moments or characters that you played on the show in unexpected times?

AM: It was so many years ago- it was 40 years ago, and I see all the actors. It’s not like I haven’t seen them for 40 years. So we’re in each other’s lives all the time. And now we’ve created new memories, or we’re in the moment. We had that bond of course because we were a family when we did SCTV. But our lives expanded: marriage, children. So I guess what lasts is the very close bond and the trust and the devotion that you have for each other. But I don’t know if actual scenes stand out.

GC: I would have thought that you couldn’t look at leopard print without thinking of Edith [Prickley].

AM: (laughing) Oh that is for sure! That is so funny that you would say that because I was just- I have an on-camera interview tomorrow, and I ran into a store in New York, Kate Spade. And there was a cheetah print skirt and I thought I can’t wear that because it looks like Edith Prickley! You’re absolutely right! When costume designers want to put me in something flashy when I’m playing a flashy character, they immediately go for the leopard print. And I say I can’t do that, there’s a character that I played... and of course they’re 30 and don’t have a clue who Edith Prickley was!

GC: Edith Prickley, probably your most famous character; very, very flamboyant. And in the book you described how she came to be through an improv sketch at a PTA meeting, and you even give the scriptAM: Aww, you read so much! You’re so great!

GC: It was such a great read. I absolutely loved it! Everyone has to go out and get it now. Read it, love it, re-read it, share it with a friend, give it to someone for Christmas! Because it really was laughter all the way through and it was like voyeuristically reliving your life as you were reliving it. You’re such a great story teller, whether it’s through acting or through this book which was incredibly honest and incredibly moving at times.

AM: Thank you so much. It means a lot to me you would say that.

I could just cry because you took the time to read it. I really appreciate that. I imagine you’ll have a lot of success because you really care, and that means a lot.

GC: Well you make it very easy when it’s such an easy read. But I was wondering, even though Edith was, as you describe her, a spur of the moment character that came as a reaction to Catherine [O’Hara] saying the name Edith Prickley, is there a part of that character that was based on anyone that you knew or had encountered in real life?

AM: Well I think that character is a part of me. That kind of confidence, fearlessness, bravado. I think it’s underneath a layer of fear in me (laughs). I think it’s always wanting to come out. And I can actually access it. It really was an easy character. Once I got the name and the outfit, her approach to life and her sensibility is really close to mine actually. I’m not as flamboyant of course, and you never see Edith Prickley being sad or reflective, she is on the forward moving train. But I understand that kind of vitality. I think it’s just underneath a layer of fat [in me] (laughs).

GC: Would you say that out of all the characters you’ve ever played that she’s the closest to you?

AM: You know I think there’s a little bit of me in everybody I’ve played. But I’d say that she’s the easiest to do because she’s the most fun to do. She is so rambunctious and so in your face, and people just love her. She’s so full of life, so that spurs me on. It’s a fun character to be able to improvise.

GC: When you see all the ridiculousness that is Toronto Mayor Rob Ford right now, don’t you kind of wish that John Candy were still around to get his hands on that character?

AM: (laughing) Oh my God! Isn’t that the truth. I’ve never even thought about that. What a hay day we would have! That’s so right, you’re so right about that! That’s a sad loss that we’re not able to see John make Rob Ford into a bigger buffoon than he is. Believe me, we could have done that on SCTV. And I would like to play one of his many girlfriends too. Oh my God that is funny!

GC: He really is fertile ground for comedy– that’s for sure. What are your thoughts on the petition currently circulating in Edmonton to immortalize the SCTV cast in statue form here in the city, and if they were to make a statue, which of your characters would you want to depict your likeness?

AM: Well I think they probably should do Edith Prickley. I think that would be fun, a little pill box hat and etch in some leopard print.

I think when people remember me, if they do remember me, they think of her. But the character that I originated in Edmonton and the scene opened up on a little house on a street in Edmonton was Mrs. Falbo. She would pull out of a driveway of a house in Edmonton. So I think of that character really coming from Edmonton, but I don’t know if many people know her. I have amazing recollections of being in Edmonton. It was such an informative time in our lives. My one child was very young and I remember leaving [for the studio] in pitch black but we’d come home at midnight and it would still be light out. We were in the studio eighteen hours of the day at ITV. So I have wonderful memories of Edmonton; I really look forward to coming back.

GC: Well we look forward to having you back.

AM: There were a lot of beautiful malls there in Edmonton. Are there still a lot of malls?

GC: Edmonton is the land of shopping malls. You know you’re an Edmontonian when people ask where you live and you say what mall you’re nearest to instead of what neighborhood you’re in.

AM: I gotta put that in my show. That’s funny.

GC: Are there any film or television actors or roles, other than Chita, that we might be surprised to learn that you were very influenced by?

AM: You won’t be surprised by Lucille Ball or Carol Brunette. I loved Edith Bunker on, um...

GC: All In The Family.

AM: Yeah! What a wonderful actress. Madeline Kahn, I loved her from Paper Moon. She was a beautiful comedienne and actress. The person who I idolized was Federico Fellini’s wife Giulietta Masina; in La Strada and Juliet of the Spirits. I loved her because she was a beautiful actress but she was also a clown. She taught me that you didn’t have to be Charlie Chaplin; you could actually be a woman and break someone’s heart but also make them laugh, like she does. But there aren’t many women like that. Melissa McCarthy is kind of like that I think.

GC: You have worked with Nathan Lane, John Cameron Mitchell, Scott Thompson. Are there any gay men from stage and screen that you haven’t worked with yet?

AM: Neil Patrick Harris! He’s a lovely gay man. He was just doing Hedwig and the Angry Inch on Broadway, and I did the movie. I went back stage to see him and for a man who is never at a loss for words ever, he was kind of speechless. He said I didn’t know you were out there in the audience! You were in the original film! And I’d never seen that side of him because he’s a very confident guy. That was a real eye opener that somebody even that confident and enormously successful can also be shy. Who else would I love to work with - Jim Parsons would be fabulous to work with! He’s a beautiful actor. I’d love to work with him; he does a lot of stage [work] too. Nathan Lane is a very close friend of mine and Victor Garber is a close friend of mine. I only have gay male friends. I should just go and get a penis attached (laughs).

GC: Any last messages for the readership of GayCalgary Magazine?

AM: I hope that you all come [to the show] because Edith Prickley your den mother is wanting to entertain you all. So come on out! Come out of hibernation! (laughs) GC: Thank you so much for your time.

The recent passing of comedy greats Robin Williams and Joan Rivers has shown us that we must indulge and celebrate our comedy heroes for as long as we are fortunate enough to be graced with their presence and performances. So do come out of hibernation and bring your copy of Lady Parts, available now through Audrey’s books and The University of Alberta and Calgary’s Bookstores, and share in the laughter of Final Days! Everything Must Go! and support the Jewish Family Services and the remarkable work they do.

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Final Days! Everything Must Go! Sunday, October 5th Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium Tickets on sale NOW at Ticketmaster.ca

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29

Culture

Queens & Cowboys

A Heartfelt Glimpse at the Stars of Gay Rodeo

By Janine Eva Trotta Every once in awhile a documentary is produced that so wonderfully follows its subjects, one feels that a genuine friendship is forged between viewer and those filmed.

Watching the beautiful screener of Queens & Cowboys: A Straight Year on the Gay Rodeo, this felt aptly so, and this month Calgarian viewers will be afforded the same experience at the Calgary International Film Festival (CIFF).

Queens & Cowboys chronicles a full season with the International Gay Rodeo Association (IGRA), zooming in on a heart-of-gold all around cowboy, a tenacious lesbian bull rider, a trans cowboy in California, the only out cowboy hailing from his small town, as well as a straight cowboy riding in the circuit.

Wade Earp, the first, dominates the piece with his gentle lilt, honest approach to the sport, and tender relationship to his ‘old dinosaur’ of a horse Digit. An actual descendent of famed Wyatt Earp, he embodies everything a born Albertan knows to be cowboy: determination, pragmatism, generosity, and exemplary manners. He is easy to root for, a solid anchor in this film that so tastefully and thoughtfully takes its viewers behind the scenes of an event that not everyone might understand.

Perhaps the most poignant point this film makes is that though sexual orientation or gender identity is so often used as a tool to marginalize, at the rodeo it plays no part. Gay, lesbian, trans or queer – these are cowboys and cowgirls above all else.

The passionate conviction they have for both their sport and their rodeo family is noble and steadfast. Often hailing from small towns with narrow views, the IGRA has provided a home ground for these competitors to be absolutely themselves, for nearly 30 years now.

Sadly, the film touches on the unfortunate reality that the number of defunct gay rodeos is growing higher than the number still in place. Fundraising for these events is a mounting challenge. It is up to us to attend and show support so that gay rodeo may once again thrive. Indeed Calgary is noted in the movie; the only Canadian stop on the circuit.

To be out and proud is a challenge and feat of bravery in most of the world, no less so in the Wild West. Queens & Cowboys illustrates how true this is; how much further there is to go.

The film, by first-time director Matt Livadary (U.S.) is drawing attention at film festivals across North America this year, picking up Best Documentary and the Audience Choice award at the Santa Barbara International Film Fest, the Best Documentary Feature at the Arizona International Film Fest, the Audience Award at the Dallas International Film Fest, and the Best American Documentary Feature at the American Documentary Film Festival (just to name a few). The straight director felt impelled to make the film after meeting a lesbian couple in Colorado who told him about the IGRA. He knew nothing about making films, just that this one needed to be made.

He quit his job and set out following the circuit. Livadary thought he would be excluded by the gay rodeo community but,

instead, found the opposite to be true. He told Enstars ”It’s a family atmosphere and totally inclusive.”

He went on to say that the toughest part about making the film wasn’t sleeping with goats, showering with a bucket, or even watching ruthless bulls buck off his film subjects. It was when a man in Texas approached him, asking that he please not include him in the film as he was a teacher, and the rodeo was the only place he could be his real self.

“That underscored how hard it is to be gay and how the times still haven’t updated,” Livadary told the news source. “It’s hard to be a cowboy. It’s even harder to be a gay one.”

Queens & Cowboys makes its Canadian debut here in Calgary for two showings. Be sure to catch the noon hour if you intend to bring kids; after 6pm all showings at the Globe will be 18+ to facilitate alcohol sales.

Queens & Cowboys Presented by the Calgary International Film Festival September 21st @ 12pm – Eau Claire September 23rd @ 7pm – Globe Cinema http://www.queensandcowboys.com

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GayCalgary Magazine #131, September 2014

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Interview

Trevor Boris

Bringing Comedy to Edmonton for a Noble Cause

By Krista Sylvester

From humble beginnings, growing up on a Manitoba farm as one of the only gay people in his town, to starring on MuchMusic’s Video on Trial, to touring stand up gigs and producing Big Brother Canada, comedian Trevor Boris is a busy, busy man.

And that’s just the start of it.

Boris is also headlining the Edmonton Paint the Town Red Gala on Friday, October 3rd, a fundraiser for The Pride Centre of Edmonton, an event he says he looks forward to.

“When I grew up there were no gay people around so, you know, it’s definitely very rewarding to do these shows and be a voice for gay people, and be the example that I never had when I was younger,” Boris says. “I find it very rewarding to do these kinds of shows and I’m very excited for it.

“Pride fundraisers are always a blast and I have done a bunch. I feel like it’s always an event [where] you can let your hair down a bit and have fun, really let loose, so I always look forward to those. The crowd usually gets really into it and they are usually open to an edgier show.”

Touted as a hip and quick on his toes comic, Boris is known to play with the events he does, testing out the audience to see just how far he can – or should – go.

“I think the fact I’m openly gay, that’s edgy to people, but I’m not trying to be cruel or mean. It’s just my job to push people out of their comfort zone and have some laughs. I’m not middle of the road boring; I may cross the line at times or dance on it, but that’s part of the fun and what makes it entertaining.”

That is why Boris spends time feeling out the room and the audiences, getting a sense for which people are into it.

“I guess I’m fast-paced because I’m scared not to get laughs so I have lots of jokes – if they don’t like that one then maybe they’ll like the next one,” Boris

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laughs. “I just want people to leave happy at the end of the night.”

Boris has been busy producing the popular reality show Big Brother Canada, which is on season 3 now, and says he welcomes the touring gigs that come his way.

“I’ve been touring a lot, which has been crazy, but it’s good to be busy. I kind of have a short attention span so I like being busy with lots of stuff. There’s never really a dull moment.”

While he starred in and produced MuchMusic’s Video on Trial for nine years, Boris says it has been nice to move on to other things – even stand up which, for a while, he was getting tired of doing because of the constant travel.

“It used to be all I did and now it’s more of the break from other stuff, which is good. It is something you have to do lots to stay sharp; it is kind of like a muscle. If you don’t use it then it gets weak. So I do enjoy it a lot more now because it keeps me on my toes.”

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31

Interview

This is Melissa Etheridge

Iconic Singer on Married Life, Music and Flying Solo

By Jason Clevett There is a great deal of happiness in the voice of Melissa Etheridge. With two and a half decades in the music industry and over 20 years as an out lesbian and activist, life is good. Currently on tour, recently married and weeks away from releasing her first independent album This Is M.E., there is a lot for Etheridge to be excited about.

On May 31st of this year, just two days after they both turned 53 (on the same day), Etheridge and partner Linda Wallem tied the knot in California.

“That was really special,” she says. “It is really something to really be able to look at my partner and say to her you are my wife. I married you! I went to the courthouse and signed those papers, lifted my hand and said I swear; you’re it. I really got married and it’s legit. There is really something powerful in that. I think it is worth all of the trouble we have had for the last two decades.”

Etheridge had planned to marry then-partner Tammy Michaels in 2008 until Proposition 8 banned gay marriage (the couple separated in 2010). Having come out in 1993, for two decades Etheridge participated in the fight for equality and, in her heart, always believed that someday she would have the right to get married.

“In the early ’90s I started thinking this is something I want,” she describes. “At first we were anti-establishment.

Especially us lesbians were all like ew; marriage is animal husbandry. I am not going to belong to anybody! At some point we realized that to join the fabric of our society it is a right to join with someone, and create a family, and have a marriage of two people that create this household. That is the backbone of our society, and to truly come out and be that is so important. When I finally started to see that 15 or 20 years ago I said wait a minute – this is worth fighting for and important. It was weird, I couldn’t imagine doing it, but that I might someday get married.”

Etheridge is also a mom to teenagers Bailey Jean and Beckett, fathered by David Crosby, with ex-partner Julie Cypher, and with Miller, in 2006, she had twins – daughter Johnnie Rose and son Miller Steven. Joking early in the interview that I should tell her kids how big of a deal she is, she talked about how touring now differs from when her first kids were young.

“I feel more confidence going away for longer amounts of time [now],” she says. “I share custody with their other moms, and so they are perfectly taking care of them…

Especially the teenagers – they have their own lives now.

They will travel to see me now if I am playing somewhere really interesting. They are probably not going to visit mom in Toledo. It is a whole new experience. The little ones are almost eight. I feel more freedom being on the road. I don’t worry about being away from my kids as much as I used to. We have such an amazingly strong bond. When I see my 17 year old, who is going to college next year, and see how tight we are, we have a great relationship. All the time away didn’t matter; it was the quality of time, not the quantity.”

Etheridge not only has a special bond with her kids, but with other artists as well. In 2012 she toured with Canadian singer Serena Ryder as her opening act. Ryder has many times raved about the experience and the mentorship role that Etheridge took on over the tour. Ryder’s most recent album Harmony has been her most successful to date. The influence Etheridge had can be heard in the music and in Ryder’s outlook on the industry with this album.

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 Photo by John Tsiavis

“[Ryder] has such a special place in my heart – I love her spirit,” Etheridge says. “She came on my bus and I saw how the business had broken her. This business can break your soul, and she was just not up for it. I saw a little bit of myself in that. The best way to learn is to teach, and I decided to do my best with this girl, because she is just a sweetheart. Night after night we would be on the same bus together – it was so amazing. I took her like my little sister, or older daughter, and showed her that yeah make the music that you love. Look at these people out there – they love you. You can do anything. I loved seeing the excitement she had to jump back into music and how much she enjoyed doing it. She influenced me. I have some people that worked on this album that worked on her album as well. We stay in touch, and I love doing whatever I can with her. She is one of my favourite gals.”

Her recent stops in Calgary and Edmonton on a solo tour featured local singer-songwriter Joe Nolan. Giving back to new artists is a way of paying it forward for Etheridge.

“I know that Bonnie Raitt helped me out when I started out. She really put a hand on my shoulder and said it’s going to be ok. Bruce Springsteen was really sweet like that.

I realize how I looked up to them, and I see these artists looking at me like I used to look at Bruce and Bonnie. It is a great feeling. Supporting other artists is really important.”

This tour comes ahead of the release of This Is M.E. Touring in advance allows her to promote the album (she performed two songs during the concert) and generate advance sales (a download code along with an autographed poster was available for purchase after the show). The industry has changed how to market an album.

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“This is an independent record,” Etheridge says. “This is the first time I have owned my own record. I am not on Island Records - This is M.E. Records distributed by Caroline. So I am going to get all the money on the back end, but there is no up front money. So where you used to have promotional support, I am combining it and tour, so I am making money and do promotion while I am touring, so it is not out of pocket. So this is the business model. It comes out September 30th. Brand new songs, brand new me. It is my record company now. Brand new collaborations. Some of the best writing and melodies and powerful songs. I am crazy about this album right now. There is a freedom now.

If it is crap, it is my responsibility, but I love this crap right now and think it is great. No label telling me what to do and how to do it. It is a great feeling.”

Etheridge performed at World Pride in Toronto in June.

“It was awesome. To go to a city that was celebrating being gay all around the world in Toronto – I have never seen such a beautiful open door and wonderful experience in Nathan Phillips Square. It was awesome. Serena got up and sang “Bring Me Some Water” there; that was fun.”

While Etheridge remains proud as an out lesbian she embodies much more: a mom; a breast cancer survivor; an artist. For years, any reviews of albums or concerts or interviews would make a point of referring to her as a ‘lesbian singer-songwriter’ or ‘gay artist’. Now she is simply referred to as Melissa Etheridge, without the labels.

“It is beautiful,” she states. “We are almost tired of talking about it. It has been up front for almost 21 years now. I have answered all the questions. Mostly people say how do you feel about how far we have come? That’s about it. I love that it is not the priority to talk about anymore.”

Her September 2nd show at the Jubilee Auditorium featured an audience ranging from straight couples to gay and lesbian fans of many different ages.

“It really is wonderful and important to me,” she says on her diverse following. “When a straight person – man or woman – shows up and wonders if it is going to be a big gay thing it’s like no! That is part of it, but it is not the focus at all. We are just talking about love, relationships, music and rock ’n roll. There is not a limit to the sexuality. I have so many different types of fans. I love straight girls, the couples, the guys that come out. I like all kinds of folks that come to see me.”

As Etheridge enters a new phase of her career as an independent artist she shows no signs of slowing down.

“My biggest hope is to be able to stay in the present and not get so caught up in the future,” she says. “I used to project things out and then not pay attention to what was happening in the moment. So now I want to be so happy and delighted with what I am doing in the moment – right now – and then be able to do that for a really long time.

Twenty, thirty, fourty years that would be awesome. I could see myself at 93 strumming Come To My Window.”

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Melissa Etheridge This Is M.E. - Available September 30th http://www.MelissaEtheridge.com

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Culture

Out of History

Harry Sutherland’s project brings queer history out of the proverbial closet

By Mars Tonic Harry Sutherland has been making documentaries for the queer community for quite some time. Over his years of conducting research he has stumbled across amazing, uplifting, and terrifying things on queer history, stretching back as far as 2,800 years. The result is Out of History, an ambitious film project which hopes to inform and inspire everyone who sees it. Arranged like a Wikipedia of film bytes from history, viewers will be able to travel different threads – political, social, you name it – to discover their own history.

We discussed the project with its creator to find out more.

GC: How did the project come about? What is your personal attachment to it?

HS: I was sort of like most people in North America, I think, in that I assumed the Stonewall Riots [in 1969] were sort of the beginning of the political process in some way, and I met a guy who was doing some research in Amsterdam on an incident that occurred in 1730. He was doing his PhD on the criminal process in Amsterdam in the 1700s, and he came across one day where thirty people were executed for sodomy. So it sort of stuck out, and he explained to me that the whole socialization of homosexuals in Europe began in the early 1700s. Basically what happened is they started building canals in Europe, so it was really the first time that working class men actually travelled anywhere – otherwise you were born somewhere, you lived there, you worked there, and you died there, unless you went to war.

So it began this whole network. It was the beginning of gay people coming together as groups of people to meet, to have coffee, to eat, to have sex. Basically it was the beginning, along with industrialization and urbanization, of a huge social movement. And, as I looked into it, more and more I realized how big and diverse it was.

GC: Will Out of History have an international focus?

HS: My focus was European but as I started going along, of course, information came out on China, on Japan. Certainly the whole story in Africa is a huge political story, and it involves colonialism. I mean, the laws that they are using right now to attack gays and lesbians in places like Uganda were written by people in Europe. This isn’t really just European, but what I focused on for the moment is the European story, because that’s the one I researched. I’m not the one doing

the Japanese or Chinese story; I think filmmakers from those cultures should be the ones doing those stories.

GC: Why did you choose dana.io for your crowdsourcing?

What makes it better than the other ways of raising money for a project like this?

HS: I like their commitment to community and the filmmaker. The money in dana.io goes directly to the filmmakers. Like in Indiegogo or Kickstarter they collect the money for you, then two or three weeks after your campaign they give you back that money, but less a percentage.

But with dana.io all the money goes directly to the person organizing the campaign.

GC: Why did you choose this way of documenting queer history?

HS: Since there is so much information and so many points of view, I think that what feature films do really well is help to galvanize people and bring attention to certain stories. The reason I picked the first film I’m doing, from 1869 to 1969, is that is the modern gay and lesbian history – 1869 is when the word homosexuality was created. It is also the beginning of photography and film. So when you are making a film like that, you’re mirroring the development of society in terms of technology and politics. If I were to start from Ancient Greece there would be nobody around to interview; no photographs, no film. And a lot of it is academic conjecture. But if we’re talking about the Second World War, we are still talking about the people who were there, or who have talked to people who were there, and I think that’s an interesting film.

GC: What were some things you discovered on the road to making the film that really amazed or shocked you?

HS: Gay men who had actually gone to the concentration camps [in World War II] and survived, and their stories.

There was a Jewish scholar who wrote a book about life in the concentration camps, and one of the things he couldn’t understand was that on the one hand you have people wearing pink triangles, who were ostracized by everyone, and were regularly beaten to death, and who died in larger numbers than any other group. He couldn’t figure out, though, why these people were so despised and brutalized while at the same time there was homosexual activity going on in the camp between prisoners and guards. There was the odd contradiction between someone who was labelled a homosexual, and someone who claimed not to be but participated in homosexual activity. As long as homosexual culture has stayed in the closet, society has given us room to organize and participate in our activities. As soon as it becomes a conveniently political issue they round us up.

There is something there that is buried in the western culture’s psyche that we have to be very careful about, and not underestimate.

Out of History http://www.outhistory.org

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Culture

 Photos by Leesa Connelly

X Marks the Start

Third Street Theatre opens new season with candid multimedia feast

By Janine Eva Trotta Opening September 16th, and running to the 22nd, transgender artist Sunny Drake’s one-man show X will launch Third Street Theatre’s exciting 2014/15 season of performance art.

The show, which is said to offer both an honest and magical look at addiction, sexuality and gender identity, uses a creative melange of puppetry, projection animation and ‘sharp live performance’ to tell its story. This run in Calgary will mark its first time being produced by an exclusively queer theatre company.

“Sunny actually contacted us via email last fall and pitched a couple of his shows to us; we selected X,” says Third Street’s Artistic Director Jonathan Brower. “…scripts and promotional videos are always coming to my inbox but Sunny’s stuck out to us because it was so different from anything our Third Street audiences have seen.”

The company drew up a letter of support in Drake’s pursuit of grants and he was awarded the funding.

“I am really thrilled to be doing work that is presented specifically by a queer theatre company,” Drake said in a Third Street press release. “As much as I absolutely love non-queer presenters presenting my work, there is definitely something very special to entrust my work into the hands of queer theatre presenters.”

Brower shares this enthusiasm. “…when someone can meld such honesty about addiction and weave in humour and characters that we care about, all the while wielding realistic puppets and bouncing around the stage singing Kylie Minogue with youthful spunk, anyone would be missing out by skipping X ,” Brower states. “Certainly I have never seen an artist tackle a subject like this with dignity and humour while succeeding in brilliant design, while avoiding the stigma of an issue play. And I was definitely on board with supporting a transgender artist with an international perspective that could give our audiences a greater scope of understanding about addiction… as Sunny wrote X while still living in Brisbane.”

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Though previously of Australia, Blake now calls Canada home and is receiving a host of accolades here for his work. X comes to Calgary following a cross-country tour. “…it’s important for our community to hear international voices and broaden our perspective because there is commonality amongst us all,” says the company’s Artistic Associate Alyssa Bradac. “X is a bold, creative and fresh look at issues that affect our community – internationally.”

Drake will be available for two workshops on Sunday, September 21st hosted by Third Street and Hillhurst United Church. Sunny Drake: Trans 101 (1pm to 3pm), explores different trans concepts, the diversity within trans communities, and will discuss how everyone has a benefitting role in trans liberation. All are welcome, and admission is free.

Telling Your Story (3:30pm to 5:30pm) is a hands-on workshop, offering attendees the opportunity to write or perform pieces drawn from one’s own real or fictionalized experience. No previous experience is necessary to attend; suggested donation is $25.

Tickets to X are $20-$25, but should you be interested in also seeing February’s Ludwig&Lohengrin consider opting in for a flex pass ($45 for adults, $35 for students and seniors). A special matinee held on closing day will also include an American Sign Language interpreter, and all performances are wheelchair accessible.

X Presented by Third Street Theatre Company Calgary – September 16-20th @ 8pm, September 22nd @ 2pm Motel, Epcor Centre for the Performing Arts http://www.thirdstreet.ca

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GayCalgary Magazine #131, September 2014

35

Out of Town

Back to School: 10 Gay-Friendly College Town Getaways

 One of the America’s most celebrated homes, the over-the-top mansion at Biltmore Estate. Photo by Andrew Collins

by Andrew Collins The next time you find yourself seeking a gay-friendly, reasonably priced, manageable vacation destination that would be ideal for a two- to three-day vacation, consider choosing one of the nation’s dozens of hip and vibrant college towns. These communities tend to offer plenty to see and do, both in terms of cultural attractions and cool dining and nightlife options. And many cities dominated by academic institutions tend to be overwhelming progressive and gay-friendly – easy places to feel comfortable walking arm-in-arm with a same-sex companion, or perhaps to meet new friends.

Here are 10 favorite towns and small cities around the United States where the collegiate vibe is strong, especially in autumn, with students back on campus.

Ann Arbor, Michigan (visitannarbor.org) In eastern central Michigan, less than an hour from Detroit, hip and lively Ann Arbor is one of the Midwest best-kept gay travel secrets. Among America’s largest educational institutions, the city’s University of Michigan (U of M) has long been a beacon of liberal politics, high culture and vibrant campus living. It is the primary attraction for many of the city’s 115,000 residents. For the many gays and lesbians, the sense of community and the overwhelming tolerance of the university, the police and government officials make this a wonderful place to call home. The city’s human-scale downtown and spirited campus meld together almost imperceptibly, each feeding off the energy of the other. Visitors appreciate several superb museums at the University of Michigan and the many great restaurants and several gay-friendly nightspots downtown, with Aut Bar being the most famous.

Stay: Comprising a pair of homey, charming homes within a short walk of U of M campus, the Burnt Toast Inn (burnttoastinn.com) supplies guests with robes, slippers and yoga mats – a hearty full breakfast is included.

Bellingham, Washington (bellingham.org) The home of the pine-shaded, rolling campus of Western Washington University, outdoorsy and scenic Bellingham hugs the shoreline of Bellingham Bay, affording spectacular views of the nearby San Juan

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Islands. Just a 75-minute drive south of Vancouver, BC and a 90-minute drive north of Seattle, this bustling city of about 82,000 has a lively downtown buzzing with craft breweries and artisan coffeehouses – the Woods Coffee, with a patio overlooking the water is an especially inviting hangout. In the historic Fairhaven section of town, you’ll find several blocks of quirky boutiques and cafes. This is a wonderful town if you’re a fan of hiking, biking and kayaking.

Stay: Perched on a bluff with commanding views of the waterfront and situated just a short walk from charming Fairhaven village, the casually elegant Chrysalis Inn and Spa (thechrysalisinn.com) is a perfect roost for accessing Bellingham’s great outdoors or simply treating yourself to a cushy spa retreat.

Berkeley, California (visitberkeley.com) About a third of the 112,000 residents of Berkeley work for or attend U.C. Berkeley, whose reputation for liberal politics and academic excellent date back generations. This largely accounts for the heavy presence of lesbians (many of whom were among the pioneers of West Coast feminism) and gay men who have long resided here. Tourists sometimes overlook the city that’s just across the bay from San Francisco, but Berkeley has plenty going for it and is an excellent – and somewhat more affordable – option for lodging. There’s lots to do in this city that’s famous for not only for its free-spirited attitudes but also a beautiful botanical garden, the esteemed U.C. Berkeley Art Museum, and Shattuck Avenue’s “Gourmet Ghetto,” a neighborhood of superb restaurants and markets headlined by Alice Waters’ renowned Chez Panisse and the Cheese Board Collective, which is famed for its crispy-crust pizzas and olive focaccia. The city is also home to one of the oldest gay bars on the West Coast, the White Horse Bar. Stay: The stylish and intimate Hotel Shattuck Plaza (hotelshattuckplaza. com) has gorgeous rooms and close proximity to U.C. Berkeley campus and the stellar dining along Shattuck Avenue.

Boulder, Colorado (bouldercoloradousa.com) Attractive Boulder (population 98,000) lies just about an hour’s drive northwest of Denver and offers an enchanting, tree-shaded downtown loaded with cool shops and restaurants. A favorite place to live and visit among fans of outdoor recreation, eco-consciousness and alternative spiritualism, this gay-friendly town is a cycling, mountaineering and

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hiking mecca – it’s an ideal base for a visit to Rocky Mountain National Park and the even closer Eldora Ski Area. The University of Colorado Boulder accounts for the politically tolerant atmosphere and the strong appreciation residents have for the fine and performing arts. The city’s philharmonic orchestra is highly respected, and several music festivals draw thousands throughout the year.

Stay: The sleek, contemporary St. Julien Hotel & Spa (stjulien.com) is just a couple of blocks from the lively Pearl Street pedestrian mall, with its great shopping and café-hopping. Ask for a room with a mountain view, and consider treating yourself to the signature Canyon Rain soak, scrub and massage treatment in the hotel spa.

Burlington, Vermont (vermont.org) The largest city in one of the top states in the country when it comes to gay rights and LGBT-welcoming attitudes, Burlington (population 43,000) is home to University of Vermont and claims the state’s most visible queer community. It’s just 90 minutes south of Montreal and enjoys a stunning setting, with Lake Champlain on one side and the rugged Green Mountains on the other. Visitors appreciate the vast opportunities to enjoy the outdoors, plus downtown’s network of redbrick sidewalks, cozy coffeehouses, great music and bookstores, and cheap eateries.

Stay: Modern yet rustic Hotel Vermont (hotelvt.com) enjoys a handy downtown location overlooking Lake Champlain and, in the distance, New York’s Adirondack Mountains – try to reserve a room with this view. The décor in both guest room and public areas is artful and urbane, utilizing natural materials and earthy tones.

Chapel Hill, North Carolina (visitchapelhill.org) An idyllic, quaint university town prized for its charming downtown, Chapel Hill buzzes with great dining and shopping. The fast-growing city has a population of 58,000, many of whom are students at the prestigious University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, which is notable for its many historic, attractive buildings. Spend time strolling through the hipsterfavored West End, with its many inviting restaurants and shops. You’ll find gay bars in nearby Durham and Raleigh, cities also noted for their university scenes, which revolve respectively around Duke University and North Carolina State.

Stay: Upscale and boutique-y, the Franklin Hotel (franklinhotelnc. com) is set along Chapel Hill’s liveliest thoroughfare and close to campus – rooms and suites are large and graciously furnished.

Eugene, Oregon (eugenecascadescoast.org) Home to the University of Oregon (U of O), this vibrant center for education, the arts, and outdoors activities has a vibrant, politically active LGBT community. The Willamette River curves in a southeasterly direction through Eugene (population 160,000), fringed with bike trails and walkways and traversed by a couple of pedestrian bridges. Beyond hiking and biking, favorite activities include wine-touring in the surrounding Willamette Valley and exploring the locavore-driven dining, coffeehouse, and brewpub scene downtown and, especially, in the up-and-coming Whiteaker neighborhood.

outfitted with gas fireplaces, cozy window seats, and high-tech amenities – on-site perks include a wine-tasting room and spa.

Gainesville, Florida (visitgainesville.com) Sure, when you think of Florida vacations, you’re probably inclined to head to the coast, but don’t forget charming Gainesville (population 128,000), which is home to University of Florida. In the downtown core, you’ll find a wealth of hip hangouts, from the lively University Club gay bar to mainstream but LGBT-popular eateries like Volta Coffee and The Top tavern. And if you are craving a visit to the beach, take heart – historic St. Augustine and its sandy beaches are just a 90-minute drive east.

Stay: It may be part of a predictable chain, but the Hampton Inn & Suites Gainesville-Downtown (hamptoninnandsuitesgainesville.com) has a terrific central location steps from downtown dining and nightlife, and the rooms are meticulously kept.

Madison, Wisconsin (visitmadison.com) About 243,000 people live in this liberal stronghold of the northern Midwest, the state capital and home to the University of Wisconsin, which is also the district of openly lesbian U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin. The city’s good vibes have inspired Money magazine to name it the best place to live in America. Other notable rankings include its selection as one of Outside magazine’s “Dream Towns,” one of Bicycling magazine’s “Best Bicycling Cities,” and one of Cosmo’s top cities for finding single men straight and gay. At the same time, Madison has a unified and highly visible feminist community. Much of the cultural and entertainment action here revolves around the University of Wisconsin, which lies along the beautiful shores of Lake Mendota.

Stay: Steps from Lake Mendota, the stately Gothic Revival Livingston Inn (livingstoninnmadison.com) contains four smartly furnished rooms with working fireplaces.

New Haven, Connecticut (visitnewhaven.com) This coastal Connecticut city just 90 minutes by train from New York City enjoyed a dramatic renaissance over the past decade. New Haven (population 130,000) is a cultural powerhouse, with a rich history, dynamic and in some cases cutting-edge architecture, a critically acclaimed theater scene, and Yale University’s academic prestige. More recently, New Haven has seen an influx of fantastic restaurants, hip shopping and trendy nightspots, making this gay-friendly, well-educated city a highly appealing weekend retreat.

Stay: The comfy and contemporary New Haven Hotel (newhavenhotel. com) has spacious rooms, a large fitness center, and a great location within easy walking distance of gay bars, the city’s atmospheric Little Italy (be sure to dine at historic Frank Pepe’s pizzeria), the downtown Village Green and Yale’s stately Gothic-style campus..

Andrew Collins produces the website GayTravel.About.com and writes about travel for a variety of LGBT and mainstream publications.

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Stay: Steps from the indie shops and restaurants of Fifth Street Public Market, the hip and elegant Inn at the 5th (innat5th.com) has 70 rooms

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GayCalgary Magazine #131, September 2014

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Event

 Photos from Paint the Town Red 2013

Paint the Town Red

Mix and Mingle for a Fantastic Cause

By Janine Eva Trotta

Jazzy folk, emotional piano and raucous comedy top the menu of entertainment that will greet goers to the second annual Paint the Town Red Gala this October 3rd. The Pride Centre of Edmonton puts on the event to raise funds for the great programs they offer year round. “[The gala] helps fund all of our programming,” says the Pride Centre’s Executive Director Mickey Wilson.

“The proceeds won’t be required to go into a particular programming, but rather to support the infrastructure of the organization.”

He says this differs from say, grant moneys, which are usually designated toward specific programs or some salary. The moneys raised at Paint the Town Red are the biggest sum the organization will receive from fundraising all year; its revenue is vital for the services it provides.

Tickets are available for $100 per person, which will gain you entrance to the event starting at 7:30pm, for a fun night of hors d’oeuvres, music and silent auction.

Corporate tables sell for $1000 and tables of eight go for a slightly discounted rate.

Wilson says roughly 75 tickets were sold in August; meaning 175 were still up for grabs. It is hoped the night will earn the Centre $25,000 total from ticket sales.

If this sounds like a night you want to be involved with in a volunteering capacity, a volunteer call will be going out through social media and Charity Village some time early this month. Wilson said about 24 volunteers will be required to see the night run smoothly.

The jazz influenced singer Billi Zizi will start off the evening, followed by piano player and solo vocalist David Sereda, concluding with headliner Trevor Borris. The latter comedian is a star and producer of MuchMusic’s Video on Trial, and has performed his ‘hip and edgy style of comedy’ across the continent.

For those still up for more fun as the gala winds down, limousine busses will be available for hire to take guests to Buddy’s for a revving after party.

Asked what the suggested attire for the night is, Wilson was quick to respond: “fabulous – and perhaps some red.”

“People come in a vast array of attire… little red bow ties to tuxedos and ball gowns,” he describes. “Last year about 90 per cent of the participants wore some red.”

You still have a few weeks to get your ensemble together, but get your tickets fast. Gala tickets can be purchased online through the Centre’s website, from a board member, or in person during office hours.

Attendees will also be given a $60 charitable donation tax receipt.

The Centre is currently running Queer Lens, a free education program open to the public and held every Wednesday from 7pm to 8:30pm. A schedule is available on their website.

Paint the Town Red Presented by the Pride Centre of Edmonton Friday, October 3rd @ The ATB Financial Arts Barn, 10030-84th Ave http://www.pridecentreofedmonton.org

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GayCalgary Magazine #131, September 2014

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GayCalgary Magazine #131, September 2014

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Interview

Riding Out One Last Time Drea De Matteo talks Sons of Anarchy

By Jason Clevett (Warning: This article contains spoilers from previous seasons of Sons of Anarchy) Drea De Matteo has built a successful career in TV. Best known as Adriana in The Sopranos (which won her an Emmy in 2004), Gina in Friends spinoff Joey, and Angie in Desperate Housewives she can currently be seen in as Wendy, the recovering-addict ex-wife of Jax Teller (Charlie Hunnam) and mother of his oldest son in Sons of Anarchy.

The acclaimed show about a motorcycle club wraps up with its final season this fall.

De Matteo was in Calgary at the Comic & Entertainment Expo in April and chatted with GayCalgary Magazine about Sons and her career. Whether loving her role in Sopranos or being a Sons addict, there was a lot of excitement generated in meeting her.

“I love seeing all the fans, especially when they have their kids with them,” she said. “That is my favourite part. I end up playing with the kids. Then there are fans that are overly excited and so nervous and then I get nervous. I appreciate the fans so much. There are some big Sopranos and Sons fans.”

Appearing in the first episode having overdosed, leading to an emergency C-section, the character of Wendy was not a likeable person. Fans rooted for Jax’s new girlfriend and future wife Tara (Maggie Siff) as the better mom to Jax’s kids.

Wendy was gone for a few years, and when the character returned in 2011 it was a new, cleaned up Wendy. As the series continued to unfold it became clear that Wendy may be the better choice, away from the violence and lifestyle of the motorcycle club. It was a powerful role to portray, both physically and emotionally.

“When I first started shooting the show I had just had my first child. I didn’t understand what it meant to have a child myself. Now I have a six-year-old and a three-year-old and I can’t imagine ever losing my child. I don’t know what I would do. Wendy will go as far as she can to get her babies back, and I can totally relate to that. I don’t really need to prepare much to show up at work.”

In the shocking finale of season 6 Tara was killed by Jax’s mother Gemma (Katy Sagal). With Jax out for revenge, what will it mean for his family, including Wendy?

“I haven’t watched past season 4. I had just started watching the first four seasons and become obsessed with the show. So I called Kurt (Sutter, creator) and said I want to come back on the show! So I came back but I haven’t watched since I came back on. She is going to have a battle with her morals and who she is going to side with to get her kids.”

There is a sense that the camaraderie among the characters is real in the actors portraying them.

“I think when these guys get on these shows like Sopranos and Sons they sort of become those characters to a certain degree – which is pretty funny. I don’t get to work with the guys that much. It is usually just me and Gemma or Tara.

Tara is gone, and she is who I worked with the most, so I will really miss her. So I guess I will have more scenes with Chief Unser.”

Working with Katy Segal, an iconic actress who portrayed Peg Bundy in Married With Children as well as voiced Leela on Futurama is another treat for De Matteo.

“I love her. We have the same birthday. She is a broad – a real woman – and I love working with her. They are great scenes ‘cause she is always threatening me.” www.gaycalgary.com

 Drea De Matteo at the Calgary Expo - photo by Jason Clevett

Having been part of two shows that are very violent means having to say goodbye to co-workers when their characters are killed off. De Matteo’s character was killed in The Sopranos and the body count is high in Sons of Anarchy – a trend that promises to continue into the final season.

“It is always sad, but if it is a great show and makes sense, and causes a dramatic moment on the show, it is worthwhile.

Including my own death.”

With SOA a wrap, De Matteo continues to work on other projects, including a Web series for Endomol Beyond that she was filming at the Expo that is slated to air this year on YouTube.

“People will say I am selling out but, at this old age, I am buying in. I have to take care of my family. It will probably be called The Muthaship.”

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Interview

Out to Win

Panic! at the Disco frontman Brendon Urie takes on Westboro, talks ‘gay’ past and lapsed Mormonism

By Chris Azzopardi Panic! at the Disco frontman Brendon Urie is on the Westboro Baptist Church’s shit list – who isn’t? – and he couldn’t be happier about it.

Laughing off the recent protest that took place during a Kansas City stop on the band’s “Gospel Tour,” Urie, who revealed in our interview late last year that he’s a “straight dabbler,” high fives me as I greet him. Backstage, hours before the trio relays a message of love and unity to a Detroit crowd, I mention the tweet the troll-y “church” sent out, condemning both of us for our “fag sins.”

“We fucking did it!” he says, elated that his outspokenness regarding LGBT issues – and his own sexuality – has reached far enough to get a rise out of the WBC. “Whatever gets them pissed off, I love.”

Just wait till they read what he has to say about having the hots for Ryan Gosling.

 Photo by Alex R. Kirzhner

GC: How did you hear that Westboro was going to picket your Kansas City show?

But yeah, I’ve definitely been in a world where I was doing things that were seen as complete evil by the church that I was a part of. It just made me so upset for the longest time. I was really angry when I first left the church at 17.

I was totally an angry atheist, but then I just got tired of being that.

BU: We saw a couple (of tweets). For a couple of weeks before the Kansas City show they were threatening us. I mean, they’ve come to shows before but have never been that present.

GC: Not that present? Only 13 people showed up outside your Kansas

City show. You mean to tell me there were less than that at other protests?

BU: Yeah. Seriously – there were like five people or something.

GC: You haven’t made a statement regarding this protest…

BU: No… GC: And I know some celebrities have confronted them…

BU: … which is great. Foo Fighters did. The whole band got on the back of

a semi-truck and played some country songs, which was brilliant.

GC: How did you guys decide you’d respond to them by donating $20 to the Human Rights Campaign for each protester that came to your show?

BU: When I heard that they were showing up, I mean, I can’t lie – I was

instantly a little upset. I was like, “Oh, man, I don’t like these people,” but then I started to be like, “I don’t wanna be in that mood anymore. I don’t wanna feel that way. I don’t want them to have that kind of control, so we’ll try to turn it around.” Because what would make them more mad than being a part of something charitable? And I thought we were gonna make a huge donation! But 13 people showed up for 20 minutes, and then they left. That was weak. It was pathetic. So, we’re gonna throw in a little more (money), because that was stupid. (Panic! at the Disco has pledged to donate a total of $1,000 to HRC.)

GC: What if they show up at more shows?

BU: If they do, we’ll just donate way more! (Laughs) GC: Does that kind of hate galvanize you to fight harder for gay rights?

BU: It shows me a world that I am blind to all the time. Living in L.A.,

everybody’s open to everything, which is awesome, so I’m kind of living in a paradise of open-mindedness all the time. You go out on the road and visit different cities and you see that that’s not how it is everywhere; there are smaller, concentrated groups of people who love to hate. It makes me wanna fight harder for the things I believe in.

GC: Having grown up Mormon, this condemnation of your beliefs must

feel familiar. You left the Mormon Church at a young age, right?

BU: Yeah, I thought, “I don’t believe in any of this,” when I was 12. I

remember looking around the church – it was during sacrament meeting on Sunday – and I was like, “Oh my god, I don’t think I believe in this.” I started doubting. Within a year I was a full-on atheist. It was so liberating, and it really just made me feel more honest, more like myself. And I love that.

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GC: Last time we chatted, you opened up about same-sex experiences you had early in your life. Did those experiences have anything to do with why you left the church?

BU: That was definitely part of it. Most of it was about the doctrine. After a while I realized if I’m going to believe in a god, I don’t want him to hate people that I love. I don’t want him to hate his children. If he’s saying that black people can’t have the priesthood till 1978, that doesn’t make sense to me; if being gay is an evil thing, that doesn’t make sense to me. All of these things didn’t add up. If that’s the club that I have to be in to feel exclusive and important, I don’t wanna be a part of it. So that was really it. It just didn’t coincide with the things that I believed in, and it was as simple as that.

I still consider myself spiritual, and it’s a weird thing too. I know for a lot of people God is a great answer to a lot of things, and that’s totally fair. To me, I believe it’s bigger than that. To me, the universe is greater than it just being on one bearded man in the clouds who maybe created everything. I think it’s cheapening the experience. I’ve done countless trips – psychedelic trips – and that has opened up my mind, and I don’t think I know that much. And the more I experience, the less that I know that I know.

I just realize I am so ignorant to what’s possibly out there, so I don’t want to limit myself to believing in one singular God. I’d like to think that it’s greater than that, that there is some mystery out there that I haven’t solved yet, and maybe never will. But I love pursuing that. That’s what “spiritual” is to me. Just being spiritual makes me feel deep, and I just love the way it warms me up.

GC: What did you and the rest of the band think when you heard Westboro’s remake of your song, “I Write Sins Not Tragedies,” which they rewrote as a gay-bashing anthem called “You Love Sin What a Tragedy”?

BU: Here was my first thought: “Man, couldn’t they have gotten a guy who can actually sing?” (Laughs) That made me mad. I was 17 when I recorded that and I didn’t consider myself a great singer, but if you’re gonna parody something, at least get a guy who can sing. Like, what a terrible voice.

GC: Right? If anything’s a sin, it’s the Auto-Tune on the track.

BU: (Laughs) That was my exact thought. It’s such a bad version.

Honestly, we were dying. We were laughing. We thought it was hilarious. We actually thought about changing a couple of the lyrics to what they had for one of our songs, but I was like, “Ah, that gives them too much credit.” We thought it was funny.

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I look at them as a joke. To me, they’re harmless. I realize they’re trying to hurt people’s feelings, and they do harm when they show up at, like, a dead gay soldier’s funeral. That’s really fucked up. That’s crossing a line.

GC: What do you think of the new name they’ve given you: “fag pimp”?

BU: How great is that? Hey, so, if anyone’s looking for money…

GC: How long do you think it took them to find that photo of you pointing

if the world was open to me and it wasn’t so strict, but I don’t regret it at all. I definitely think that was my path. If I need to know something, I need to experience it for myself. And I’m still 16 up here (points to head). The hormones are still there; the horniness is still there.

GC: Sinéad O’Connor recently told me in regards to her sexuality, “It’s not about what gets my dick hard.”

BU: That’s great. Well, it’s not about what gets my pussy wet… (Laughs) GC: So, considering how “busy” you were, did you ever see The Notebook

to your crotch?

BU: (Laughs) Not long. It might’ve been the first thing on Google.

GC: What’s been your most fag pimpin’ moment on stage?

BU: More pimpin’ than gay. (Laughs) Honestly, I’m constantly running

around the stage humping the air, humping my bandmates – so yeah, it gets a little sexy.

GC: I watched a montage of you humping stuff the other day. It really says something when there’s enough material for a whole gay montage.

BU: It’s so funny, when we had our first lineup I used to do it to the other guys in the band, and sometimes it would make then uncomfortable. I was like, “Oh, this is gonna be so much fun.” I love pushing buttons.

GC: Have you ever felt like you crossed the line?

BU: Umm... I don’t think I’ve gone too far. I mean, in my opinion. But I

don’t know. I’ve never really asked them! (Laughs)

GC: You’ve kissed bandmates…

BU: Oh, sure. I haven’t done it lately. I’ve just been locked in my own

sweaty world. I think I feel bad putting my sweat on somebody else. I’m way too gross now. (Laughs)

GC: How do you feel people responded to your “coming out”?

BU: I don’t think that mine necessarily was a coming out because I never

had a problem (admitting it) if anyone would ask, but nobody ever asked me if I had ever made out with a guy. To me, it doesn’t really matter who you love or what you do with your personal life, but it made me happy to see that reflected in people’s comments and reactions to it – that most people who are smart and wise and open-minded can realize that, yeah, that doesn’t matter.

GC: At the time, you told me it was a big deal for you to come out.

BU: Because I had never been asked. I had never talked about it. It really

was. I don’t ever wanna feel ashamed to be honest. I don’t ever wanna feel ashamed to just tell people who I am. It only helps to be honest because you can take example from people and realize, “Oh, I can totally be myself and just be proud of who I am.”

GC: Do you and your wife, Sarah, have the same taste in men?

BU: God, I just honestly find some dudes straight up attractive. So yeah,

we talk about Ryan Gosling. We talk about Charlie Hunnam, because he’s a beautiful man. And I’m into old school too. I used to watch movies and be like, “That’s a good looking dude.” I can just appreciate when a dude is attractive. Paul Newman is just a good looking dude. I mean, Cool Hand Luke!

GC: What is it about Ryan Gosling?

BU: The attitude. When I was trying to have sex with all these girls in high

school, I would watch The Notebook just to be like, “All right, let’s watch this movie … so we can have sex. So we can make out during this entire movie!”

In Crazy, Stupid, Love when he ripped his shirt off, I was like, “That dude is ripped.” I want the Ken body! If only I could get his body on my body…

GC: Is he someone you would commit a “fag sin” for?

BU: (Laughs) You were just waiting to pull that shit out. You know, it’s so

funny, because, honestly, when I was younger I was just curious. I wanted to try everything. I was 13, 14 and I wanted to try it. I was like, “I wonder, am I gay? I don’t know.” Between 13 and 15 – that was a big experimental time for me. I lost my virginity when I was 13.

GC: To a girl?

BU: To a girl. I was just attracted to girls, but after messing around, I was

just curious. I’m like, “I don’t know what I am or who I am yet. I wanna see what I’m into.” I didn’t really know. I spent a year or two seeing what works – a couple of tries (with guys) seeing what I like, what I don’t – and then after a while I realized, “Yeah, I’m straight. I like girls. But I can find a dude attractive.” I didn’t really know. I’m just a horny individual.

I was seriously 6 years old when I tried making out with a girl for the first time just because I saw it in movies and I was like, “I wanna do that. That looks awesome.” I was just really into girls, and it was a forbidden thing in my house that you can’t date until you’re 16, so I would sneak out and go to parties. That made me want to try everything out even more. The restrictions made me want to try stuff. Maybe I wouldn’t have experimented so much

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in full?

BU: (Laughs) Oh yeah, of course. That’s just a good movie. You know what’s funny, I was like, (deepens voice) “Oh, no way, that’s so stupid, that’s so girly,” but now I’m like, “That movie’s awesome.” I love romantic comedies.

Love Actually is one of my favorite movies.

GC: Are you a crier?

BU: Oh yeah. The Notebook definitely got me. At the end when she forgets

the husband again when they’re older – shit, that’s beautiful and tragic. That kind of stuff just gets to me. It pierces my heart. How he stuck by her – that’s a cool message.

GC: What does the cover of your latest album, Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die!, represent?

BU: For this last record, Too Weird to Live, it really was just about times I had growing up in Vegas. I wanted to create that character. The person I am on the cover is not who I am. Even the smoking cigarettes – I’ve quit since then. But when I was a kid, that was the guy who ran around Vegas and owned it. He had a Liberace jacket and he was smoking a cigarette. He was owning the desert, he didn’t give a fuck, and the smoke was colored – that to me was the quintessential Vegas guy.

GC: Is that you living out a childhood fantasy?

BU: I wanted to be what I couldn’t have. What was forbidden. To me, the

Strip was forbidden. Living there, there’s a huge Mormon community, but it’s mostly just trying to convert everybody. And most of it is just businessminded – I mean, Mormons are just businessmen, straight up, which is kind of crazy. But yeah, it was out of my curiosity as a kid. I really saw Vegas as this debaucherous gangster town, and I loved that fantastical view of thinking, “Who runs this city?”

You’d hear rumors of the mob owning it, all these mafia ties, and it was like, “I wanna be in that world. I wanna have those ties. I wanna be a ‘goodfella.’ I wanna be the Ray Liotta to the fucking Paul Sorvino.” I always wanted to be in that world, and now I have it in the music world. I’ve got my closest friends. We’ve got a gang.

GC: This fantasy you had as kid, where you imagined yourself as a hotshot – was it because you weren’t one as a kid? Were you bullied?

BU: Oh yeah.

GC: So you idealized yourself as something bigger than you felt?

BU: Oh, sure. It came somewhat from the bullying, but the bullying – I

never let them take it too far. I couldn’t stop them from kicking the shit out of me, which would happen once in a while. I think having people around me that were stronger and more supportive just helped me overcome that essentially … because fuck a bully!

GC: How do you respond to bullies now, like Westboro, compared to when you were a kid?

BU: Honestly, I do get that initial anger. I’ve gotten a lot better as time has gone on and as I’ve gotten older. I used to just lash out when I was a kid. I’d go home and hit the punching bag till my knuckles were bloody and be like, “I hate my life.” But then I realized I don’t have it that bad. I’m getting beat up because there’s something wrong with them. I didn’t do anything wrong.

And it’s not easy, but in time you realize it’s not your fault. It’s definitely their problem and it just makes more sense to be a better example. That’s such a better victory. It’s more selfish, too, for me, because I’m like, “I wanna be the victor right now.”

With Westboro, maybe it could change their mind. I just think it would be a good idea to include Westboro, you know? Bring them into the picnic.

We’re gonna go to the gay picnic and have some cake. You guys want some cake?

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Interview

The World According to John Lithgow ‘Love Is Strange’ actor on his ‘defiance of prejudice’ and humanizing gay rights

By Chris Azzopardi There’s a beautiful moment in Ira Sachs’ indie hit Love Is Strange involving two older men – a New York couple, forced to live apart after one of them loses his job, tearfully embraces. Life-changing? No. But that’s the point: Its simplicity is a revelation.

That distinctly post-gay perspective is what attracted John Lithgow to the role of Uncle Ben, an elderly artist adjusting to life away from his husband, George (Alfred Molina), after financial woes drive them into separate residences.

During a recent chat with Lithgow, the actor discussed being touched by the gay community’s response to Love Is Strange, the underrepresentation of LGBT people in film, and his groundbreaking turn as a trans woman alongside Robin Williams in The World According to Garp.

GC: “Love Is Strange” is resonating with the gay community on a very personal level, especially now that many of these longtime gay and lesbian couples are able to wed. For you, what does it mean to be part of a film that means so much to the gay community?

JL: It’s extremely moving to me. Even if the whole same-sex marriage issue had not become such a major issue of our times, this would still be a very, very moving film just by virtue of the fact that it is a portrait of a 40-year-long relationship. And since it’s a 40-year-long relationship between two gay men, there is such a history there: They’ve been through 40 extraordinary years; they’ve seen the terrible scourge of AIDS in the ’80s and ’90s; between them they’ve lost scours, if not 100s, of friends; they’ve somehow survived, and they have seen the sort of awakenings of freedom – this slow emergence from secondclass citizenship through these gay marriage initiatives. The great thing is, it puts a human face on it. You see real people.

These are the people who are really directly affected by it, and I just find it terribly moving.

GC: The narrative hones in on these vignettes of their life together, which says a lot about relationships – that, no matter who’s experiencing it, love is love...

JL: ... and it’s complicated and it’s messy, but they are the luckiest people in the film because their relationship has survived and they’re inseparable. They’re so essential to each other.

GC: Is there a particular exchange between Ben and George that left an impression on you?

JL: Oh, there are so many of them! I think the finest scene is right toward the end: the scene in Julius bar, followed by their walk through the streets of the West Village. It’s the moment when Ben apologizes to George for being less monogamous and less faithful, and yet reassures him and acknowledges the fact that they are essential to each other. I think that’s a wonderful scene, and I love the fact that that scene itself is shot with humor – there are two moments in that scene where they laugh uncontrollably. The way it swings back and forth between the serious and the silly just seems to define their relationship in so many ways. And, as they salute their old friend Frank – it’s quite clear what happened to Frank – that scene is also acknowledging the loss they feel because of AIDS.

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 Alfred Molina (left) John Lithgow (right) - photo by Sony Classics

GC: You and Alfred have such a rapport – not just in the film, but in real life. You’ve been friends for years. But besides the obvious answer – that it’s called acting – how do you take that platonic affection for each other to the next level?

JL: It’s impossible to be self-conscious with Alfred. Both of us have done a lot of acting, and so it takes an awful lot to throw us. But it’s very rare that you find an actor that you feel so completely free with, so unself-conscious with, and both of us share a certain quality as actors. We’re both very serious actors who are also very frivolous people. (Laughs) We love to laugh, and yet we take acting very seriously – that gives you a lot of reference points in playing a love relationship. You can’t have a relationship of 40 years without having both a sense of humor and a sense of compassion and forgiveness.

GC: It’s refreshing to see an elderly gay couple portrayed on screen. In Hollywood, there aren’t many stories about older people being told, let alone older gay people.

JL: Yes – they’re not very well served in this very youthful industry.

GC: What’s your take on the representation of LGBT characters in film?

JL: They’re underrepresented, and to the extent that they are represented – I mean, there have been important and fine films on gay themes. Many! Longtime Companion, Milk, Philadelphia and Prick Up Your Ears. But so many of them have been shot through with torment and crisis. Milk is about an assassination, Philadelphia is about death by AIDS, Prick Up Your Ears is about a crime of passion between two gay men. This one is exactly the opposite. It is so prosaic. What’s extraordinary and

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revolutionary about the film is how ordinary it is. It goes beyond acceptance of a gay lifestyle right on to taking it for granted.

You know, there are different gradations – there is prejudice, and then there’s tolerance, and then there’s acceptance, but the best of all is simply taking something for granted as if there’s nothing unusual about it. That’s what’s revolutionary about this film. That’s exactly how this relationship is viewed, and I think it’s a sign of the times that this is actually happening.

I’m not saying the battle is won by any means, but it’s getting harder and harder to be bigoted about homosexuality, and that’s extremely good news.

GC: And the film acknowledges that.

JL: Yeah – that heartbreaking moment when Joey (Ben’s teenage great-nephew) uses the word “gay” in such a derogatory way is just heartbreaking, and yet you know that things are changing and changing for the better.

GC: There’s still a battle to be fought, and that’s demonstrated in the film when George loses his job as a longtime Catholic school music teacher because he marries Ben. JL: And yet, even in that moment you can tell – because of a beautiful little performance by John Cullum as the priest – he doesn’t want to be doing this. He hates to do this. By that very fact you get the sense that this can’t stand 10 years from now.

People are not gonna be fired by the Catholic Church for having a gay lifestyle. So, I think it’s a hopeful film.

GC: I do hope that’s the case.

JL: They simply can’t keep doing this. They just can’t. It’s unacceptable.

You received an Equality Award from the Human Rights Campaign and also participated in the star-studded reading of Dustin Lance Black’s 8, but when did gay issues become important to you?

Much, much earlier than that. I’ve grown up in a theater family and I’ve lived my life in the creative arts – half of the people in the creative arts are gay! The arts community is way, way beyond the rest of the society in some degree of acceptance, so I’ve grown up in an atmosphere of acceptance.

GC: Though there were things about the gay community you apparently didn’t know that you learned while shooting Love Is Strange. I understand Cheyenne Jackson schooled you in gay culture.

JL: Yes! Cheyenne was absolutely an essential consultant.

(Laughs) GC: Having played two queer characters who inhabit very different time periods – Uncle Ben in Love Is Strange and, in 1982, transgender woman Roberta Muldoon in The World According to Garp – what does it say about the gay community when you look at these roles side by side?

JL: I approached both characters the same way, and that is, loving the people and treating them with great dignity. Roberta is a slightly bizarre character, especially in the context of that film. When I talk about somebody being taken for granted, that is much more true of Love Is Strange than of Roberta Muldoon in The World According to Garp. To that degree, times have changed, but it feels very, very good to have been a part of changing that sensibility just a tiny part perhaps. I love that I have dignified these two characters almost in defiance of prejudice.

GC: You co-starred with Robin Williams in that film...

JL: Yes, rest his soul.

GC: Such a friend to the gay community as well. Do you have a fond memory of Robin you’d like to share?

JL: All my memories of Robin are very, very fond, and I’m still extremely sad about it. The world has lost a lot of laughter.

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GayCalgary Magazine #131, September 2014

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Mindfully Jason Mraz

How the musician is changing the world one label at a time  Photos by Jen Rosenstein

By Chris Azzopardi I won’t tell you what Jason Mraz told me during our interview in early 2012. Realizing after the fact that a political remark could potentially shake up his love club, he graciously asked me to omit that bit from the story.

I did.

Over two years later, I’m reminded once again of Mraz’s mindfulness. Evident both in the meditative nature of his sun-kissed ditties and his conversational style – ruminations preceded by long stretches of thought-processing silence – it’s a quality that continues to endear the self-proclaimed “geek in pink” to hopeless romantics around the world.

The do-gooder’s foundation for solidarity was set during the dawning of his big break just over a decade ago, when – with his 2002 major-label debut, Waiting for My Rocket to Come – he had the “Remedy” for you, but also for his soaring career. Now, and certainly with his latest release, Yes!, it’s not just the mission of the singer-songwriter’s music, which has long been part of a grander plan to bring the world into community. For Mraz, it’s a manifesto.

“Labels separate us,” the 37-year-old said outright on his blog after our last chat – a chat that inspired him to profess his post-interview thoughts in a 1,200-word essay on one point in particular: the boxes we put one another in. “In our short lives, we strive to find meaning here,” he wrote on March 23, 2012, “and we long to be loved and accepted while we’re at it.

Therefore, anyone calling us anything other than brother, bro, friend or amigo, is literally cutting us down ... .”

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Fast-forward to a recent call: Mraz is in Japan, where it’s currently 4 a.m., and we’re picking up where we left off. Dead air lingers as I ask him exactly how labels neutralize our efforts to achieve what he’s long stood for: unification.

“Man...”

(Mraz divulged via his blog that answering “why” questions are a challenge for him; “how” inquiries turn out to be just as demanding.)

“Deep breath.”

He mulls it over and eventually recalls an NPR segment he heard that morning. The talk concerned digital etiquette and whether it’s ever appropriate to text at the dinner table, and it perfectly dovetails his take on labels. “There’s a time and place for it,” Mraz ultimately concludes, mirroring manners and labels. “So, I think it depends on how you use it (the label). By breaking down labels and barriers, it allows us to really see that we really are in this human struggle together every day – this struggle for survival.”

Mraz knows the struggle. He’s lived it. In high school, he was the victim of harsh ridicule. Jocks called him “fag” for being a cheerleader, and his fondness for musical theater only intensified those perpetual taunts. But, Mraz says, bullying – which he tells me is “a social pain in the ass” – exists because labels do.

“The more that we can break down labels and understand that all of us are gonna be insecure from time to time, I think that’s a plus for us all. Name-calling and all this – that’s labeling. It just comes down to manners. Manners are the best

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thing we can do – say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ before and after just about everything.

“Saying ‘I did it. I am victorious. I am the winner in this struggle, and I’m really proud of that and proud of who I am’ – there’s nothing wrong in being victors, but at the same time, do so in a way that doesn’t separate yourself from others. In fact, do it in a way that invites others to share in that glory.”

Mraz certainly has. From the get-go, he’s invited everyone into his winner’s circle. You could say, actually, that his whole career has been one big group hug. The “Lucky” musician’s prizewinning path, from ridiculed outcast to Grammy-winning pop star, is a victory in and of itself, but it’s a victory he shares with fans; with Raining Jane, the girl group who paints Yes! with their distinct harmonies and writing skills (he’s currently touring with them because, he says, they’re so integral to his latest music); and, especially, with the gay community.

Donating resources to LGBT organizations like the Human Rights Campaign and Cyndi Lauper’s True Colors Fund, Mraz continually fights on the front lines of equality. Having gone as far as vowing not to marry until everyone has that right, he’s been such a champion of gay issues that his own sexuality has been a constant subject of speculation. Mraz chalks it up to the times.

“We’re in a period of transition where the nation is coming out. Whether you as an individual are coming out literally and announcing what your sexuality is, or we as a nation are just finally embracing it.

“Certainly in my younger years it wasn’t like this. I have a feeling in the next 10 years it’s gonna be even more revolutionary.

So, during any period of transition we’re free to talk, we’re free to have those curiosities, and we want everyone to just come out.

The more that we all just come out about it, the less interesting it’s gonna be and then the transition will be complete.”

Though he’s been pegged as “bisexual,” the freewheeling hipster has never made any definitive “coming out” statement regarding his own sexuality (remember, he doesn’t do labels), but he’s always indulged the public’s curiosity with respectable integrity and, to keep you guessing, an air of mystery.

Regarding the interest to know how he swings, Mraz laughs, saying, “I’m flattered when anyone is curious about my sexuality, because that makes me think that they assume I’m gettin’ some no matter what.”

In our 2012 interview, Mraz expressed his desire to live more fearlessly when it comes to his sexual endeavors, noting, “I’m keeping more of my options open.” He stopped short of explaining how, but he did go on to confess that, “I’ve been invited by couples to join them and I’m really turned on by that.

I’ve never taken them up on it, though.”

He admits now, during this follow-up, that sexuality is “a very delicate thing to have a conversation about – and with anyone!”

But he understands why it’s a conversation he continues to have. In fact, Mraz has the same curiosities about people.

His own buddies, even. In particular, he mentions a lady friend who may or may not be a virgin. “I don’t know what her sexual interests are,” Mraz says, “and I actually feel kind of creepy that I’m curious! But she doesn’t kiss and tell, and I really admire that. I kind of wish I could be that way.”

Regarding who geeks his pink, it all goes back to manners – to time and place.

“It depends on what the use is for,” he says about people wanting to know how he sexually identifies. “If it’s my mom and she wants to know, if it’s a friend of mine, I get it, but – no offense – if it’s just a magazine who wants to talk about me, then I don’t know what the true integrity is of that question.”

So then, of course, I ask if, in the two years since we last chatted, he’s been able to live more “fearlessly.” You know, can Jason Mraz check off that “threesome” box on his to-do list? He cracks a reluctant laugh.

Silence.

“I wanna be politically correct and be honest with my answer at the same time ...

“I’ll just say, in the years after we last spoke, I had a great time exploring this and that and checking a lot of things off my curiosity list. As a result, I found myself in a really solid relationship with someone who loves me because I have been strong enough to pursue my career dreams, and to explore my curiosities, and to have many muses and to be who I am.

So yeah, to answer your question, and without giving you any details, I had a lot of fun.” (Mraz, a farmer, is more forthcoming about the “fun” he’s had with avocados: “On more than one occasion I probably put them down my pants or up my shirt and pretended to have much larger erogenous zones.”)

Once a relatively open book to the media (in a 2008 Out interview, he recalled “random, quick gay club experiences” that were sexual, and his story about getting peed on by a guy is pretty great), he admits that, as a public figure, giving too much of yourself away is a “fine line.” He isn’t just minding his . manners – Mraz is being “I learn every year, because I open my mouth in some ways thinking I’m helping and I end up hurting someone’s feelings.

I have to atone for my mistakes and learn from them and try to be a little more accurate and clearer with my intentions,” he reveals, before mentioning a career endeavor that we can, and should, thank him for: “I’ve spoken up for the things that are important to me, and I just hope that other people speak up for what’s important to them.”

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GayCalgary Magazine #131, September 2014

49

Finding Her Rimes and Reason

Country superstar LeAnn Rimes on not giving a ‘f-ck,’ dancing with queer cowboys and how husband Eddie ‘works it’ at gay clubs

 Photo by Sara Hertel

By Chris Azzopardi LeAnn Rimes can’t fight the moonlight, but she can fight the spotlight – or, at the very least, shift it.

Ready to divert attention from tabloids back to music, the 31-year-old Grammy winner just released Dance Like You Don’t Give a …, a collection of remixes spanning her 20-year career.

GC: LeAnn, the title of your new album, Dance Like You Don’t Give a …, leaves a lot to the imagination.

LR: (Laughs) I’m actually old enough that I can name a record that! It was my producer whom I work with a lot and is a very good friend, Darrell Brown, who came up with that. I was like, “That is genius!” He came up with it as a title for a song – we’re actually writing a song called that – and I was like, “We have to name the record that.”

GC: Are you at a point in your life where you just don’t give a fuck anymore?

LR: Yeah, I’m getting there, for sure. It’s funny, I grew up in the business, and so, from a very early age, I was taught to care. I had to care what people thought because it was my job to. It really took me so far in the direction of having to care that I’ve had to reel it back in.

Everything I’ve gone through publicly in the last five years – if you really start to care what people think and let all of that penetrate, it can really mess you up. I think I’ve come to a really good balance. When it comes to my personal stuff and music, I’ll listen – and I’m really open to people’s opinion – but there’s a time when I’m like, “OK, you have to go with your intuition and who you are.” The more I figure out what that is and who I am, the easier it is to say, “I don’t give a fuck.”

GC: Based on the album cover, where you’re shouting angrily, I gathered that.

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GayCalgary Magazine #131, September 2014

LR: (Laughs) We shot that on top of the Roosevelt Hotel, and I’m actually on the Roosevelt sign … in heels! In a teddy! Which was probably not safe. It captures a moment for me where I needed to let it all out. And, I mean, who gets to stand on the Roosevelt sign and scream?

GC: You do! And it does look like you’re not caring in that moment.

LR: Not at all! (Laughs) GC: Did you have the gays in mind when you were putting the track list together for this remix album?

LR: Yeah. Honestly, the reason this record is out is because of the fans asking. And it’s great. I’ve had a lot of success on the dance charts. I love that world, personally. I love to dance.

Releasing a record like this has really set up an opportunity to actually make a full-on dance record after this.

GC: Are you definitely considering that?

LR: Oh yeah. It will happen for sure.

GC: Looking back at your catalog, what songs of yours have resonated most with the gay LR: community over the years?

“How Do I Live,” definitely. “I Need You” did. Definitely “Can’t Fight the Moonlight.” I actually had a No. 1 dance record with “What I Cannot Change,” which is off of my Family album and that, just the message of the song, seems to resonate very heavily with a lot of the gay community. I think a lot of my music does, really.

GC: Watching your VH1 reality show, LeAnn & Eddie, I’ve noticed just how much you enjoy dancing. During one episode you went to a gay country line-dancing bar…

LR: Oh my god, so fun. A bunch of gay cowboys – you can’t have more fun. They’re hysterical. And there were some cute boys there!

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GC: Do you frequent gay clubs more than any other kind?

LR: Yeah, it’s so much more fun to me, and it’s also kind of selfish – you go there and have all these sweet men who are like, “We love you!” It’s fun to be around that energy! I went and performed during Gay Days in Orlando not long ago – it was the first time I actually performed my remixes live – and I had the best time. I’ve never experienced so much love in a room, and also so much excitement for music. Just really incredible people, and I got such a high off of doing that. I don’t really have many firsts in my career anymore, but that was a first for me. Now, I really wanna develop that, because it’s just a whole different crowd to perform in front of. It’s a whole different energy.

GC: Not at all like performing at a casino, huh?

LR: No, no, no. It’s different when you go into a place with thousands of gay men. The one thing I think we have in common is non-judgment. The last thing you wanna do is be judged.

And the last thing I wanna be is judged, especially when I’m performing, so for me the most freeing experience was that.

I just got to have a good time and not worry about anything.

You’re just up there singing, having a good time. Everybody’s dancing. I think we have a mutual respect and love for one another that you can’t really find everywhere.

GC: We also share a mutual respect for your husband, Eddie Cibrian.

LR: (Laughs) Yes. I’ve always said that Eddie and I are a gay man’s wet dream. I sing, you can look at him, and it’s perfect.

GC: Does he tag along with you when you’re doing your gay gigs?

LR: He came to that show (Gay Days) and was like, “I am not walking out on stage.” Of course I got him out on stage and it was so funny.

GC: He gets embarrassed?

LR: He does! It’s funny. He’s very low key. I embarrass him often!

GC: Has he ever come to a gay club with you?

LR: Oh yeah, many times. It’s fun for me to watch! (Laughs) GC: Fun to watch him get hit on by other guys?

LR: I don’t think that’s ever happened, but I’ve definitely watched him get looked up and down in every way, shape or form … so yeah, basically hit on. It’s hysterical seeing these guys freak out over him. For me, I laugh so hard, because Eddie is really pretty cool about it all, but sometimes he can be shy and uncomfortable, and I love to see him in that element. It’s completely not his element, but he knows how to work it.

GC: Is this remix project the beginning of a new chapter for you? What’s next?

LR: I’m figuring that out. It’s been nice to not be attached to anything at the moment and to have the opportunity to do whatever I want musically. I think after taking some time and starting to create music again, and writing and figuring out what that next move is, I’m starting to grasp it a little bit more. But I needed to take some time. I’ve been at the same place since I was 11 (until recently, Rimes was signed to Curb Records). But I love all different types of music and, like I said, this is laying the groundwork for me to really do a dance record.

And it’s sad actually: The album (Dance Like You Don’t Give a …) was in the top 10 the other day on iTunes, but I was the only singer with a full-on dance record.

GC: Considering your artistic evolution through the years, would you still call country music your home?

LR: Is my home country radio and that world right now? No. But the cool thing is, I’m not sure that I have a home just yet.

Not at this stage in my career. But that’s where I started. I’ve had success across the board. I think even more so on the pop charts than on the country charts, but I think the basis for all of my music personally has always stemmed from what I learned listening to old-school country music. That was really influential in my life, and that’s the kind of country music that I love. Unfortunately, it’s really not around much these days,

but just the organic nature of that I carry into everything that I do. So it’s an interesting thing to go, “Where do I want to find a home?” I guess that’s what I’m looking to do, and I have such great fans. People have followed me through so many different changes. I have fans who have pictures of me with them when we were 13, and now, all these years later, they’re still listening to my music.

GC: When you look back at yourself in those pictures, what do you see?

LR: That was such a whirlwind time in my life that I don’t remember a lot of it. Looking at pictures definitely brings back some crazy memories. I was so young. I was a kid that thought they were so much older. Now, being older and having two stepsons, I realize how young I was. That’s really what I see.

GC: It’s interesting hearing what you used to sing about and what artists like Kacey Musgraves and Miranda Lambert are singing about now. How is the country music landscape different for female artists now? Can women be bolder than you could be at the start of your career?

LR: Kacey and Miranda are two of my favorites because there’s some grit there and some authenticity that I feel is missing in music in general, but especially in country music.

Everything I grew up on, you lived, you wrote, you sang. You weren’t trying to mask anything or not tell the truth, and that’s what great country music to me is about. So, it’s nice to see a couple of artists sticking to that.

The landscape for women – there’s not much available. It really has become very male dominated. In the ’90s there was a lot more room for women. Reba (McEntire) released “She Thinks His Name Was John,” which was about a woman who had AIDS and who was dying. It was a huge statement and a bold move.

So I think people were doing it back then – it just wasn’t as loud as it is now. With different platforms able to bring music to people, it’s just a whole different world. But I think definitely the ’90s was geared more toward having women involved in the format than it is now.

GC: How do you think the way you’ve been portrayed in the media has affected your professional music career?

LR: I think, unfortunately, the direction and the conversation have been turned off of music for a while now. With the new show on VH1, and these eight episodes that we filmed, you really do get to see the story that is us and not some soap opera that people have made up because it sells magazines.

And it’s hard to sit back and not be combative about it, but there’s so much and only so many times you can say, “That’s a lie,” because it all is. To be able to take control of it in a way and laugh about it, which we do, has become very much a coping mechanism.

So, with the show, the tide is turning, thank goodness, and it makes it harder for people to go, “Oh my god, they’re horrible people,” but to maybe stop and think for a minute. I’m hoping with the show the conversation will turn back to music, because we’re like, “OK, chapter closed.”

GC: Time for people to move past your personal lives?

LR: It’s time. And it’s time for me to get back to what I love doing and what I do best, and that is music.

GC: What’s the most common misconception about you?

LR: I think my whole life is really just a misconception. Like I said, we have been drug through so much and portrayed whatever way they (the press) feel works for them that week – and also, there has been a third party (Brandi Glanville, Cibrian’s ex-wife) – and so, the whole thing is a misconception.

But the good thing about the show is all of these misconceptions kind of just crumble.

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51

Interview it’s kind of the same thing. There are customers that still call our customer service line and ask if we have anything on VHS. Technology is hard for some people... I know that certain people of a certain age who don’t want to watch porn on a little tiny computer on their desk. They want to watch it on their TV. And now, even I have accepted it. I watch movies on my iPad. I download movies from iTunes. It’s a far cry from putting a giant plastic brick into a player.

GC: You have mentioned that people also tend to have a shortened attention span when it comes to media consumption, and I imagine that hits porn, too. Have you had to change the way you shoot to keep up with what people expect in terms of immediacy?

CCL: Yyyyyes. We have had to change everything because of the economy and because of the lack of interest in adult film DVDs. When I first started making movies they were five scenes, minimum. Now they are three. As the budgets go down, so does the quantity of what people get. It’s sad, but you have to go with the flow, otherwise you’ll sink. If you spend too much money, you will never make your money back.

GC: You have long been an advocate of condoms in your films. Some people have been talking about filming with condoms, but then removing them digitally –  Chi Chi LaRue - photo by GayCalgary Magazine

Chatting up Chi Chi LaRue

Invisible condoms, changing times, and working for a living

By V.N. Winnick Anybody who has seen anybody fuck on film over the past quarter of a century has almost certainly been privy to some of Chi Chi LaRue’s work. She has worked with gay models, straight models, and everything in between, in addition to an illustrious career in drag. Simply put, she is an institution and, in a recent interview, she did not beat around the bush about the state of the institution – adult film – that launched her to prominence.

GC: I have always been a little curious – where did Chi Chi, the stage

persona, come from?

CCL: I have a performer inside of me – I have always wanted to be famous

and be a performer of some sort, and drag seemed to be an easy way to entertain people, being a 360-pound man, I got more attention in drag than I did out of.

GC: And drag is still a big part of your repertoire?

CCL: That’s all I’m doing right now! I’m shooting movies every once in a

while. My company is doing good, I have a new sex toy line [called] Rascal that is doing really well. Porn DVDs and things like that are no longer very lucrative. The porn industry is in the toilet, basically, because of piracy and people stealing and, just like music, downloading things for free and not paying for it. So I am solidly booked in drag past the New Year – every single weekend and even some weekdays.

GC: What are some of the events you are looking forward to?

CCL: Evolution [Wonder]lounge’s one-year anniversary is very exciting,

because I was there when they opened and they asked me back for the oneyear anniversary, which is really a compliment. I’m excited about that. I am going to be DJ-ing in Austin, Texas at Oilcan Harry’s, for Stripper Circus, which is a collective started here in Los Angeles, and it’s now in San Diego and in Las Vegas, and now we’re starting it in Austin. I was one of the original DJs for it in Los Angeles, and they decided to bring me to Austin for the Oilcan Harry’s opening. The RuPaul’s Drag Race Cruise – this will be my second year doing that – with all the RPDR contestants.

GC: You mentioned some of the major hurdles that the porn industry has had to clear a moment ago, and they are far from the first – there have been a lot of changes to cope with. How do you deal with that? How do your fans?

CCL: As a kid I remember having 8-track tapes, and when 8-tracks became obsolete, then it was records. I never wanted to get rid of my record collection. When tapes came out, it was like, Oh god, not tapes! Then tapes went away, and CDs came out, and I swore I would never switch to CDs. Well,

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CCL: Oh, I don’t think that that’s real. That would be far too expensive to do and for no reason. There is another trick afloat. I don’t know what that is, I’m not privy to it. Not necessarily bare-backing, but they’re doing something else. I mean, it’s very easy to hide a condom. You just cut the rim off and make it shorter on the dick, and that’s how you do it. I’m not a fool – I work in this business. I know the tricks you can do to make things work.

Why are we trying to make it appear that we are not, when in fact, I feel better about showing condoms in my movies because hopefully people are not out there flying around, willy-nilly, having unsafe sex. Why are we trying to portray unsafe sex? ... I just shot a scene with my new exclusive Jason Phoenix and Armond Rizzo that is so out-of-this-world hot that if you’re worried about the condom that’s on Jason’s dick, there is something else going on. You get the right condom, you put lube on it, it basically disappears anyway. Who cares! A good sex scene with a condom is better than a bad sex scene without one.

I’m a big condom advocate, but I have stopped preaching about it, because it kind of falls on deaf ears, and people are going to do what they’re going to do. I just need to take care of myself right now, and the people that work for me... Before, I used to stick my neck out in everyone’s business, and that doesn’t happen anymore. I’ve got way too many things going on in my life to worry about everyone else’s life.

GC: So film budgets have gone down, and demand for paid porn has gone down. Do you still have to deal with people coming to you expecting to become millionaires doing porn?

CCL: Let’s look at it this way – if a guy is doing a sex scene and he gets six [hundred] to a thousand dollars, that is a lot of money for two to eight hours’ work. And if you’re doing it consistently, and you are a good performer and you’re reliable ... that is a good job. It’s a job! Just like showing up to McDonald’s and knowing how to use the French fryer.

Nowadays things are... not so clinical. It is a little more spontaneous. You don’t have to see every ass hair as the dick’s going in, lit up to the Nth degree.

It’s a little more free-flowing. That is where I’d like to bring things in my company. There are other companies that do it great, like CockyBoys. They do it amazing.

GC: As a producer, do you feel like you have a responsibility to push back against perfectionist body image in porn? Show more normal guys getting it on?

CCL: I think that that there is a market for that, absolutely. The most perfect guy in the world can still produce the most boring sex. Sometimes you get somebody that’s a little less perfect, a little rough around the edges, that will give you knockout, flying circus sex. I have shot a couple of them recently and it has been really amazing.

It is the people that are buying the movies – you have to kind of watch what is popular and what is selling. I’m not making the movies for me; I’m making the movies for the consumer who will hopefully pick up the phone and buy the movies.

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Interview

David Benjamin

Washington D.C.’s hunky, mature gift to porn

By V.N. Winnick David Benjamin is a bit of an oddity – a newcomer to porn at 40 years old, but with a physique and vitality that would look right at home on a much younger man. Entering the adult entertainment world with his eyes wide open, Benjamin brings a maturity and a business savvy to the industry that will likely ensure we will be seeing him around for years to come. We had a chance to talk to David Benjamin recently about making his way into the entertainment he loves, keeping in the shape we love to watch him in, and his open admiration for his colleagues.

GC: You are pretty new to the industry – could you tell us a little

about the thought process that led you into wanting to get involved?

DB: About a year and a half ago I went through a breakup of a significant relationship, which really kind of dissatisfied me with the trajectory of my life. Nothing was wrong, per se, but I just didn’t feel that sort of contentment and ownership that I thought I would at that point in my life... What I came to realize was that, for most of my 20s, I was pursuing a career and trying to make good on my parents and my education, and for most of my 30s I spent a lot of time trying to be the ideal husband or the ideal boyfriend. Be a good boy, pay your bills, show up to work, get a mortgage – all of those things. I just realized that all of those values that I thought I had in my 20s and 30s were not my values anymore.

Porn was one of those things in the back of my mind – since my late teens, early 20s. I started out as a porn fan. I used to watch and continue to watch a lot of porn. I was fascinated by the men, and the productions, and the locations, and the acts. It was something that I never thought was for people like me. I thought only people in LA, or only people in Miami, or only these beautiful club men from New York did these sorts of things. And I didn’t see me there.

GC: It must have been a pretty strong desire, to keep you revisiting the idea, anyway.

DB: [It] persisted, over time. It would be like, I really want to do that, but I would shutter it off. I began coming back full circle to a year ago, so I said, why not? So I went up to my local strip club and I entered an amateur contest, thinking that I would do something crazy, and they offered me a job. After some consideration, I said… Why not embrace something? I enjoyed performing, I enjoyed being up there and dancing, and once that floodgate had opened, I thought, why don’t I follow up on this interest in porn?

GC: Sounds like you’re taking a pretty measured, well-considered approach to getting involved with porn – kind of eyes-wide-open.

DB: My big fear is that this sort of eyes-wide-open concept is really just a massive rationalization for bad behaviour. [laughs]... I do find that maturity – a little bit of life experience – does help. I’m not a young man who is overwhelmed by the sudden attention of others. I am not without some business experience to understand what makes business sense...

I may be able to avoid some of the problems that other people have had.

GC: It is pretty common for men working in porn to have complicated relationships with their bodies. Tell us a bit about your experience moving toward your current physique.

DB: There was a long period where my time in the gym was actually very unhealthy, in that I was trying to perfect my outsides because I didn’t feel good about my insides. And that changed probably about ten years ago. I realized that the closer I got to ‘perfection’ the more the imperfections seemed to be glaring. The more I lost ten pounds, the more I would realize my abs aren’t great. The more I built up my arms I realized, oh my god, my legs look skinny. So I actually had a cometo-Jesus moment if you will, where I was at the gym one day, kind of beating my head up against the brick wall, and I realized I wasn’t having fun, and if I wanted to continue doing this, it had to be about having fun and being healthy. And as long as I’m pursuing those two things my gym routine is wonderful.

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GC: What has been your favourite scene to shoot so far?

DB: I have been very fortunate to get along with nearly all of my

directors and nearly all of my fellow performers – I wouldn’t pick one or the other. I will say that as my first movie, I will forever remember the experiences of Trunks 8. Getting on set – and it was an outdoor set – in Southern California, and it was late in the afternoon, and the sun was beginning to set behind the mountains. And if you know anything about production, you know that it’s all about light, and if the light changes, you can’t piece everything together, so it was a race against time... We complete the scene, it comes time for climax, and literally the production staff is going we’ve got five minutes! We’ve got four minutes!

Mitch Vaughn, my colleague, being the pro that he is: one, two, three, bam! – he completes his scene. So then it’s me. My first time; I’m nervous as hell, I have got to do this otherwise the entire shoot is not going to come together, and the sun is going down by the moment. Two minutes, one minute. I began to have a little bit of a panic attack! And thank god for Mitch – he whispered in my ear, let them worry about the light.

Just do what you gotta do. Two minutes later, bam. And literally about two seconds after I climaxed and completed the scene, the sun dipped behind the mountains.

GC: In other interviews, you have mentioned that you have had fun bottoming, but you have been aching to top on film. Have any of your shoots given you the chance to try it out?

DB: My newest scene, which just came out this week for Falcon, is called Crave. Nick [Fox] cast me with... Brian Bonds for a versatile scene, so it’s a flip. If I had to keep listing great experiences, working with Brian and Nick was wonderful. Brian and I have real chemistry together. We are friends, we are colleagues, but there is also a sexual attraction there that really translated well. Even in my short experience there are people that I have worked with that I have more in common with and more attraction to, and people I have had less with. Brian ranks among the ones that I have had the most chemistry with.

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GayCalgary Magazine #131, September 2014

53

Batten Down the Snatches!

Hurricane Bianca Del Rio blows into Edmonton September 19th  Photo by Mathu Andersen (next page)

By Jason Clevett She is one of the most successful queens to compete on RuPaul’s Drag Race, having never been in the bottom two for the entire competition. Since being crowned the winner of season 6, Bianca Del Rio has been on a whirlwind that has changed her life and career. While successful before the show, she is now at a whole new level.

“It has taken it to a whole new level. The years before it that I was working I was never big in social media. I didn’t have a Facebook fan page or Twitter or Instagram. I was kind of low key and working steadily but this brings it into another stratosphere. There are so many people that are out there that watch the show and are huge fans in other countries. It just ended in Australia aired in South Africa.

So it doesn’t all happen at one time. It really just blew up for me on a professional level as far as work, fans and people that reached out to me. It was a little overwhelming at first because I wasn’t used to that. It has definitely changed on a level to give me the confidence and support from people to do so many other projects that aren’t just working in a gay bar. There is a film I am working on that was extremely well received when I did a fundraiser for it. Other opportunities in the gay world, it is kind of surreal. It is exciting on that level, I haven’t had excitement in my life about drag in a long time.

It has revived my career which is pretty amazing.”

We spoke to Bianca over the phone hours before she departed for Australia. Her first visit down under is one of the highlights of her post-drag race career.

“The great thing is by episode 2 or 3 I was already traveling.

It just intensified as we went further in the competition. A few of the cities I have been to in the United States two or three times, I’ve been to London, Amsterdam, Ireland, Scotland and now I am headed to Australia for two weeks which is pretty amazing. It started out as having little pockets of downtime but once they know you are there it builds. I might have two 54

GayCalgary Magazine #131, September 2014

days off while I am there but I am going back and forth to different cities, a lot, it isn’t like sitting in one spot. It can be a little taxing but in a good way. I’ve never been so [busy], I am looking forward to it.”

This season saw arguably the most diverse group of queens in terms of skills, charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent.

Being an originator as a comedy queen instead of a lip synch performer is part of what made Del Rio stand out.

“There are no rules in drag, you do what works for you.

What I was grateful for was that the show let me do what I do without trying to push me in another direction. Once I knew I was on it, I had concerns about whether they would accept my sense of humour. Was it too racy? Was it too much? How to adapt it to TV? Would they go for that? Because of the show it really wasn’t about us being a bunch of bitches, it humanized us and showed our different talents. I never felt that Adore or Courtney were my specific competition, - we all brought something different which made me think it could have gone any way, any of us could have won. It brought more excitement to it. Oddly enough fans of mine or the others felt they couldn’t be fans of all of us. I kept thinking we are all friends why can’t you be? We all possess something different.

I am not competing with Adore’s voice or Courtney’s beauty.

We are all very different individuals and I thought that was great and a huge thank you to the show because there really were no rules which was nice. There is nothing wrong with lip synching but it is not what I do best. They let us bring our A-game to the table and battle it out.”

Bianca also stood out as she frequently offered advice and support to other queens in the midst of competition.

“After an hour of being there I did not have time to think about the cameras. It is a quick process. It wasn’t a case of me playing to the camera, it was going shit we have to do all of this stuff in no time. As far as the other contestants it was a natural thing to do. If I had two corsets why not let someone use it. It was a natural approach. It was funny, as www.gaycalgary.com

it was airing people were saying oh she is showing a softer side. Bullshit that is just me on a day-today basis. What I do on stage I take full credit for but that is not me day to day. When I started in drag a lot of people helped me. What is the worst that would happen? I did something good and went home? It was a natural thing to do in an unnatural drag world.”

There were certainly moments that challenged her desire to help. Audiences frequently expressed frustration as contestant Trinity K. Bonet every week stated that the challenge was not something she was good at. It wasn’t until being paired with Bianca that she finally shone briefly, but at times the desire to bitch slap a fellow queen was strong.

“There were moments totally, when you are in that pressure cooker you don’t get all the information. We don’t hang out together, we are basically segregated until we film. You have no connection to these people and are just putting pieces together as you go. As a viewer I was in the same boat as everyone else. I didn’t know what her issues were and why she was so hung up on being miserable and what was affecting her until we got to the finale. It was amazing getting to know people as the audience was getting to know them. The only person I knew before the show was Courtney Act and that was just professionally.

There were those moments with Laganja that now I probably would handle differently because I have more information about her and where she stood at the time. But in the moment it was like yo bitch, shut the fuck up I am sick of hearing you cry. I can’t deny that I said and did things but I have no regrets. Had I known more I would have done things differently.”

Another part of the experience of being on Drag Race is getting mentoring and feedback from RuPaul, who always seems to inspire.

“We filmed the show quite a while ago and it becomes a blur after a while. A majority of the stuff that stands out in my mind is what we saw on the show. Off camera people don’t realize that Ru is extremely engaging and personable. When he is out of drag is when I really gravitated to him. I didn’t expect that going in. With his status and being a producer and star of the show, he is actually really hands on in the show. When he does that walk through on the show you see two or three minutes of it but he is actually with us for 15 to 20 minutes having a conversation. Those were interesting. I didn’t realize he was born in Louisiana which is where I am from. We discussed family life and growing up in the south. It was one of these things where I remember Ru asking me why I didn’t audition before. I said I had never seen anyone like me on the show so I didn’t know if it was for me, and she replied that is because you didn’t audition. It was one of those things that clicked. It was simple to the outside person. Hello asshole.

Audition for the fucking show and you might get a chance. We are always taking the time to sit back and go, maybe it’s not going to work or they won’t like me. Do it, take the www.gaycalgary.com

chance what have you got to lose? If I wouldn’t have taken the chance I wouldn’t be having this conversation with you. It has shifted my life in a huge way, just do it!”

Bianca is currently writing material for a full headlining show. She has been announced for multiple dates at the Gramarcy Theatre in New York City this year which is a massive accomplishment.

“I was horrified! I was concerned going into it. It is a huge space with 600 seats. It pushes you into another realm. I have comfortably done comedy for a long time but especially in New York it is difficult to put together a show, produce it and have everyone happy and make it work. The idea came up and I said ok lets go for it. I had no idea how well it would be accepted. It sold out in a day and they added dates and I have three shows in December and 2 are sold out and one almost is sold out. I was quite overwhelmed, now it is like oh shit now I have to write the show. I have this new outlook from Drag Race that you can do anything when the demand is there. I am taking it to New Orleans, there is talk of taking it to San Francisco.

Things are looking up, I can’t complain. After 18 years of being in bars I have had good gigs and bad gigs, I can look at this and realize this is a good gig. It is humbling on many levels.”

Fans in Edmonton will get a sneak peek at some of the material as she is working it into her shorter acts including her upcoming appearance.

“It is comedy, nothing serious. I don’t have an album coming out so you don’t have to listen to me auto-tune singing something dreadful. I am testing that material out in smaller venues when I am making an appearance in a 20 minute set. It gives me an opportunity to work out material which is really great. I do a lot of audience participation. There are lots of things I love and hate about traveling so you will hear about the hate of everything from airports to hotels. It is a work in progress and has been an amazing journey. After two weeks in Australia I am sure I will have some shit to talk about. I am just collecting these experiences and trying to make magic out of it. You would be surprised how many funny things happen to you when you have to rely on public transportation and airports. Some of the cab drivers I have met are insane - the gifts you get from fans - all of that will be part of the show. Be ready to have a good time and a cocktail, that is what you should expect. It has been an overwhelmingly fun experience that I will never forget and I am beyond excited for it.”

Bianca Del Rio Coming to Evolution Wonderlounge, Edmonton Friday, September 19th http://www.gaycalgary.com/a4279 View Bonus Pics/Videos • Share with a Friend • Post Comments

GayCalgary Magazine #131, September 2014

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Photography Central Alberta Pride 2014, Red Deer http://gaycalgary.com/pa799

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Photography WildPride Calgary at the Pint http://gaycalgary.com/pa810

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Photography Calgary Dyke and Trans March http://gaycalgary.com/pa811

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Photography Pure Pride Calgary, at Flames Central http://gaycalgary.com/pa814

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Photography Fused3 - Official Pride Calgary Wrap Up Party at the Roadhouse http://gaycalgary.com/pa819

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Photography

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Roots V – Pride Patio Party at Broken City, Calgary

Hot Mess - w/ Alaska Thunderfuck at the Republik, Calgary

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http://gaycalgary.com/pa820, photos by Farley FooFoo

GayCalgary Magazine #131, September 2014

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Photography Les Girls Ladies of PRIDE Pool Side Party at the ALoft, Calgary

Annual Donnie Peter’s Memorial Cut A Thon, Calgary

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Photography Pro Pride Calgary at Hotel Arts

HOMO-Cidal Killer Klowns at Evolution, Edmonton

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photos by Farley FooFoo

Homo Hop, Calgary http://gaycalgary.com/pa808

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Photography Third Annual Possibilities BiBQ, Calgary

Tackling Homophobia in Sports, Calgary

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After Pride Parade BBQ at the Backlot, Calgary http://gaycalgary.com/pa823

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News Releases The Putin Butt Plug Butt plugs come in all shapes and sizes, as individual as their users - as unique as a snowflake - or something like that - but... http://www.gaycalgary.com/n1520

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Activists in the crowded court room... http://www.gaycalgary.com/n1521

TOP 11: Gay Characters In Mainstream Movies When’s the last time you saw a gay character in a mainstream movie? A while? Recently?

Although gay people are under represented... http://www.gaycalgary.com/n1522

MOVIE REVIEW: I Am Happiness On Earth Mexican filmmaker Julián Hernández’s latest cinematic treat is essentially a film within a film.

Its protagonist Emiliano is... http://www.gaycalgary.com/n1523

Barbra Streisand GYPSY To Get The Go Ahead?

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Laverne Cox Second Only To The Pope In Popularity

MOVIE REVIEW: Lilting Reeks of good intentions but never really takes off.

According to an interview with Laverne Cox, Time magazine have named the trans actor the 2nd most popular cover of all time. During...

Junn is a rather disgruntled 60-something year old Chinese woman who has been co-coerced against her will into moving into a care...

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TWINK – Hot new Gay Film

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NSFW - Ball slips bring out Mr Smiley in new Steam Room Stories

James Franco, the man who can create publicity by just breathing, has debuted his 90’s inspired blonde look. The actor James...

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Lady Gaga has shared the artwork of her brand new perfume to be released later this year. The perfume is to be called EAU DE...

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Lady Gaga Showcases New Perfume Artwork

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News Releases NSFW - Man Dies After Vibrator Gets Stuck In His Anus For Five Days

OPINION: Is Porn The Gay Community’s Worst Enemy For Monogamy?

A man has died after a vibrator was stuck in his anus for five days, after being too embarrassed to seek advice from doctors....

Porn: The Enemy Within One of the most functional gay relationships I know is an open one. Both of them are well-educated professionals...

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FILM: A Man, His Lover and His Mother

NSFW - Do you give your one-eyed monster a name?

Lorenz Meran is a successful middle-aged gay writer who is struggling with writer’s block when he gets called back home after...

Giving your penis a name isn’t a new phenomenon but it’s not something that many men discuss openly. In the new episode of Steam...

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Is Justin Bieber Eyeing Up A Calvin Klein Modelling Contract

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NSFW - NEW Andrew Christian video JOCKS IN JOCKS

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MOVIE REVIEW: Happy Christmas, by Joe Swanberg

NSFW - CUNT[EES] Are The World’s Cuntiest Collection of Tees inspired by MADONNA

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This week, Zaftig Entertainment is unveiling CUNT[EES], the world’s cuntiest collection of t-shirts and tank tops. Made from American...

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Man Vows To Have Gay Sex Everyday For A Year, For Art

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OPINION: ‘Always Wear A Condom’ Isn’t Enough

ART FOR ART’S SAKE OR... Mischa Badasyan a 26 year old Berlin based performance artist has a new project called ‘SAVE THE DATE’...

“Always wear a condom” Isn’t Enough It’s some thirty years since the AIDS pandemic began to decimate the gay community....

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Badrick’s Announces Sponsorship Opportunities and Ambassador Program For Beard Competitions

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MOVIE REVIEW: Man At Bath Emmanuel is a man of very few words, a hustler and the live-in lover of Omar. They live in an apartment in a tower block in...

Badrick’s Skincare, known for its smartly formulated products designed to manage every stage of beard growth, has launched an...

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CALGARY - ATB Financial showing pride on Stephen Avenue

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Mystare Divine has been a well-known name in Calgary’s drag scene for the past 20 years, dating back to the days of Detours and Boyztown where she got her start. The man behind the “Mascara”, Eric Jackson, was born in Loretteville, Quebec. Because his father was in the military, he was raised while living all over Canada and Europe. After moving to Calgary in 1991 and coming out for the first time, drag began as a Halloween experiment that developed into an outlet to express himself and be someone else. He soon realized that he could use his talent to help others in need, and started getting involved with fundraising, which he continues to this day.

Broken City is the bar he calls home, and has put on regular fundraising drag shows there for the past 5 years. He estimates that over the past 3 years

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he has raised over $20,000 for SHARP Foundation, and has helped raise over $10,000 in the past 3 years through the Cut-a-thon. His affiliations also include organizations like Canadian Drag Queens and Friends, and International Drag Queens and Friends, from which he holds many titles.

Today Eric is 43 years old and works full time as the Assistant Manager at the Gap Factory Store. He has been happily married since June of 2012.

Aside from drag, he also sings as a hobby, and does occasional DJ-ing gigs for fundraising events outside of the LGBT community.

http://gaycalgary.com/pa824

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Directory & Events DOWNTOWN CALGARY

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Calgary Outlink---------- Community Groups HIV Community Link---- Community Groups Backlot------------------------Bars and Clubs Texas Lounge-----------------Bars and Clubs

5 6 7 8

Goliath’s--------------------------Bathhouses Twisted Element--------------Bars and Clubs Broken City-------------------Bars and Clubs Cowboys Nightclub-----------Bars and Clubs

FIND OUT!

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

✰. ..... Find our Magazine Here

......... Wheelchair Accessible

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

 403-543-6960  1-888-543-6960

 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 650 gay-frieindly listings!

CALGARY Bars & Clubs (Gay) 3 Backlot---------------------------------- ✰  403-265-5211  Open 7 days a week, 2pm-close

 209 - 10th Ave SW

4 Texas Lounge------------------------------ ✰

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

www.gaycalgary.com

6 Twisted Element

 1006 - 11th Ave SW  403-802-0230

 http:.//www.twistedelement.ca

9 10 11 12

Dickens Pub------------------Bars and Clubs Flames Central---------------Bars and Clubs Local 522---------------------Bars and Clubs Ten Nightclub-----------------Bars and Clubs

13 The Pint-----------------------Bars and Clubs 15 The Blind Monk--------------Bars and Clubs

8 Cowboys Nightclub------------------------  421 12th Avenue SE  403-265-0699

 http://www.cowboysnightclub.com

A volunteer operated, non-profit organization serving primarily members of the LGBT communities but open to all members of all communities. Primary focus is to provide members with well-organized and fun sporting events and other activities.

9 Dickens Pub

 1000 9th Ave SW  info@dickenspub.ca

 http://www.dickenspub.ca

7 Broken City

 613 11th Ave SW  info@brokencity.ca

 http://www.brokencity.ca

 403-262-9976

 403-233-7550

• Western Cup 31



http://www.westerncup.com

10 Flames Central----------------------------  219 8th Ave SW  403-935-2637

 http://www.flamescentral.com

• Badminton (Absolutely Smashing)

11 Local 522----------------------------------  522 6 Ave SW  403-244-6773

 http://www.localtavern.ca

• Boot Camp

12 Ten Nightclub

 1140 10th Ave SW

• Bowling (Rainbow Riders League)

15 The Blind Monk

 918 12th Ave SW  12thave@blindmonk.ca

 http://www.blindmonk.ca  Mon-Sun: 11am-2am

 403-265-6200

• Curling

 North Hill Curling Club (1201 - 2 Street NW)  curling@apollocalgary.com

• Golf

 golf@apollocalgary.com

14 Vinyl & Hyde (CLOSED)

 213 10 Ave SW

 http://www.vinylandhyde.com

 587-224-5200

• Lawn Bowling

 lawnbowling@apollocalgary.com

• Outdoor Pursuits

Bathhouses/Saunas 5 Goliaths------------------------------------ ✰

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

Community Groups Alberta Society for Kink

 403-398-9968  masdenn@yahoo.com  http://ca.groups.yahoo.com/ group.albertasocietyforkink

Apollo Calgary - Friends in Sports

 Platoon FX, 1351 Aviation Park NE  bootcamp@apollocalgary.com

 Let’s Bowl (2916 5th Avenue NE)  bowling@apollocalgary.com

 403-384-9777

 http://www.apollocalgary.com  http://www.myapollo.com

 6020 - 4 Avenue NE  badminton@apollocalgary.com

 403-457-4464

13 The Pint

 1428 17th Ave SW  calgary@thepint.ca

 http://www.thepint.ca/calgary

Bars & Clubs (Mixed) These venues regularly host LGBT events.

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 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

• Squash

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

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Directory & Events Calgary Events Mondays

Communion Service-----------------  12:10pm

See 1 Calgary Outlink

Student Night------------------------  6pm-6am

See 1 Calgary Outlink

See

Buddy Night-------------------------  6pm-6am At 5 Goliaths

Knox United Church

At 5 Goliaths

ASK Meet and Greet----------------  7-9:30pm

 Bonasera (1204 Edmonton Tr. NE)

Mosaic Youth Group--------------------  7-9pm  Old Y Centre (223 12th Ave SW)

Inside Out Youth Group---------------- 7-9pm See 1 Calgary Outlink

Calgary Networking Club-------------- 5-7pm See 1 Calgary Outlink

 1st

Beers for Queers--------------------------  6pm YYC Badboys at 13 The Pint

Student Night------------------------  6pm-6am At 5 Goliaths

 Kerby Center, Sunshine Room 1133 7th Ave SW

 3rd

Uniform Night-----------------------  6pm-6am

 2nd

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

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

Coffee------------------------------------ 10am

By Prime Timers Calgary  Midtown Co-op (1130 - 11th Ave SW)

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

 1st

At 3 Backlot

ISCCA BBQs--------------------------------Dinner By

ISCCA at 3 Backlot

 2nd

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

 1st

 2nd

 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.

 tennis@apollocalgary.com

• Volleyball (Beach)

 beachvb@apollocalgary.com

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

 Old Y Centre (303 – 223, 12 Ave SW)  403-234-8973  info@calgaryoutlink.ca  http://www.calgaryoutlink.com

• Volleyball (Competitive)  vb@apollocalgary.com

• Volleyball (Recreational)  recvb@apollocalgary.com

• Peer Support and Crisis Line

• Yoga

 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.

 Robin: 403-618-9642  yoga@apollocalgary.com

Alberta Rockies Gay Rodeo Association (ARGRA)

 www.argra.org

✰

Calgary Expo

 http://www.calgaryexpo.com

Calgary Gay Fathers

 calgaryfathers@hotmail.com  http://www.calgarygayfathers.ca Peer support group for gay, bisexual and questioning fathers. Meeting twice a month.

• Calgary Lesbian Ladies Meet up Group • Between Men and Between Men Online • Heading Out • Illusions Calgary • Inside Out • New Directions • Womynspace

Worship------------------------------  10:30am

Kinky Flea Market----------------- 11am-5pm

See

Deer Park United Church Scarboro United Church

Sunday Services---------------------  10:45am Hillhurst United Church

Worship Services------------------------- 11am See

Knox United Church

Church Service----------------------------  4pm See

Saturday, October 25th

By Alberta Society for Kink

 4909 Forego Ave SE Friday, October 31st

Superheroes Halloween Gala------------  8pm

By Magical Music DJs  Metropolitan Centre (333 - 4th Ave SW)

Rainbow Community Church

Flashlight Night---------------------  6pm-6am At 5 Goliaths

 http://www.calgarymenschorus.org

• Rehearsals

Different Strokes

 Temple B’Nai Tikvah, 900 - 47 Avenue SW

 403-278-8263

 http://www.differentstrokescalgary.org

✰

• DVD Resource Library

Over a hundred titles to choose from. Annual membership is $10.

Gay Friends in Calgary

 http://www.gayfriendsincalgary.ca Organizes and hosts social activities catered to the LGBT people and friends.

Girl Friends

 girlfriends@shaw.ca

 members.shaw.ca/girlfriends

Girlsgroove

 http://www.girlsgroove.ca 2 HIV Community Link------------------- ✰

 110, 1603 10th Avenue SW  403-508-2500  1-877-440-2437  http://www.hivcl.org

 M-F, 8:30am - 12:30pm + 1:30pm - 4:30pm

Deer Park United Church/Wholeness Centre

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

FairyTales Presentation Society

 403-244-1956

 http://www.fairytalesfilmfest.com Alberta Gay & Lesbian Film Festival.

• Telephone Support

Calgary Queer Book Club

 Weeds Cafe (1903 20 Ave NW)

Calgary Men’s Chorus

Hillhurst United Church

 1227 Kensington Close NW  (403) 283-1539  office@hillhurstunited.com  http://www.hillhurstunited.com

HIV Peer Support Group

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

ISCCA Social Association

 http://www.iscca.ca Imperial Sovereign Court of the Chinook Arch. Charity fundraising group..

Knox United Church

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

72

At 3 Backlot

Legend:  = Monthly Reoccurrance,  = Date (Range/Future),  = Sponsored Event

• Tennis

 304, 301 14th Street NW  403-283-5580

Friday, September 26th

At 3 Backlot

See

 Calgary Contd.

Calgary Sexual Health Centre---------

By 2 HIV Community Link  Eau Claire Plaza

Worship Time---------------------------- 10am

See

Fridays

See 1 Calgary Outlink

 Arrata Opera Centre (1315 - 7 Street SW)

Sunday, September 21st

AIDS Walk------------------------------- 11am

Amy Hef Live----------------------------- 10pm

At 1 Calgary Outlink

Womynspace---------------------------- 7-9pm

• Monthly Dances--------------------------

At 4 Texas Lounge

Sundays

Karaoke-----------------------------------  7pm

At 3 Backlot

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

Friday, September 19th

DJ Redneck Homo------------------  9pm-2am

Lesbian Meetup Group-------------  7:30-9pm

Karaoke-------------------------  8pm-12:30am Fetish Slosh----------------------------  Evening

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

At 3 Backlot

Tina Turner Tribute-----------------------  8pm

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

At 4 Texas Lounge

 4th

Boy&GuRL Live!----------------------  8-11pm

At 5 Goliaths

Between Men--------------------------- 7-9pm

 2nd, 4th

Heading Out----------------------- 8pm-10pm

Friday, September 12th

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

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

See 1 Calgary Outlink

 3rd

Saturdays

Thursdays

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

Tuesdays

By

New Directions-------------------------- 7-9pm

Wednesdays

GayCalgary Magazine #131, September 2014

Lesbian Meetup Group

 http://www.meetup.com/CalgaryLesbian Monthly events planned for Queer women over 18+ such as book clubs, games nights, movie nights, dinners out, and volunteering events.

Miscellaneous Youth Network

 http://www.miscyouth.com

• Fake Mustache • Mosaic Youth Group

 The Old Y Centre (223 12th Ave SW) For queer and trans youth and their allies.

Mystique

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

• Coffee Night

 Good Earth Cafe (1502 - 11th Street SW)

NETWORKS

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

Parents for Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG)

 Sean: 403-695-5791  http://www.pflagcanada.ca A registered charitable organization that provides support, education and resources to parents, families and individuals who have questions or concerns about sexual orientation or gender identity.

Positive Space Committee

 4825 Mount Royal Gate SW  403-440-6383  http://www.mtroyal.ca/positivespace Works to raise awareness and challenge the patterns of silence that continue to marginalize LGBTTQ individuals.

Pride Calgary Planning Committee

 403-797-6564

 www.pridecalgary.ca

Primetimers Calgary

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

www.gaycalgary.com

Directory & Events  Calgary Contd.

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.

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.

✰

6th and Tenth - Sales Centre

 633 10th Ave SW  403-239-5511  http://www.6thandtenth.com

 M-W: 12-6pm, R: 2-7pm, S-N: 12-5pm  403-819-5219  http://www.bcbhcounselling.com

 www.sutr.ca A collaborative effort dedicated to building capacity and acting as a voice for the LGBTQ community, service providers, organizations and the community at large to address violence. For same-sex domestic violence information, resources and a link to our survey please see our website.

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

Restaurants & Pubs 10 Flames Central---------------------------- See Calgary - Bars & Clubs (Mixed).

13 The Pint See Calgary - Bars & Clubs (Mixed).

Ellen Embury

Hardline

Retail Stores Adult Depot (CLOSED)

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

✰

 10210 Macleod Tr S  403-271-7848

 #102 2323 32nd Ave NE  403-769-6177

 1536 16th Ave NW  403-289-4203

 4310 17th Ave SE  403-273-2710

 http://www.adultsourcecalgary.ca

Best Health

 206A 2525 Woodview Dr SW  403-281-5582  besthealthcalgary@hotmail.com  http://www.besthealthcalgary.com

Holiday Retirement

 12 Deerview Terrace SE  403-879-1967  http://www.canyonmeadows.net

Hot Water Pools & Spas

 2145 Summerfield Blvd  403-912-2045  http://www.hotwaterpoolsandspas.ca

 403-543-6970  1-877-543-6970  http://www.mfmcommunications.com Web site hosting and development. Computer hardware and software.

 #4 - 1126 Kensington Rd NW  403-283-3555  http://www.thenakedleaf.ca Organic teas and tea ware.

Priape Calgary (CLOSED)

 1322 - 17 Ave SW  403-215-1800  http://www.priape.com Clothing and accessories. Adult toys, leather wear, movies and magazines. Gifts.

 1209 5th Ave NW  403-263-3070  http://www.pushingpetals.com

www.gaycalgary.com

MFM Communications

✰

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

✰

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

Theatre Junction------------------------

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

Third Street Theatre

 #3 306 20th Ave SW 

http://www.thirdstreet.ca

✰

 403-703-4750

Vertigo Mystery Theatre--------------------

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

Webster Galleries Inc.

 812 11 Ave SW  403-263-6500  http://www.webstergalleries.com

 T-S: 10am-6pm, N: 1-4pm

EDMONTON Bars & Clubs (Gay)

Lorne Doucette (CIR Realtors)

The Naked Leaf----------------------------

Pumphouse Theatre--------------------

 2140 Pumphouse Avenue SW  403-263-0079  http://www.pumphousetheatres.ca

 403-355-3335  http://www.interactivemale.com

 403-461-9195  http://www.lornedoucette.com

 403-266-1707 Florist and Flower Shop.

One Yellow Rabbit--------------------------

 Big Secret Theatre - EPCOR CENTRE 403-299-8888  www.oyr.org 

Interactive Male

La Fleur

 http://www.ATPlive.com

Fairytales

 403-750-1128  www.DBBlaw.com Fellow, American Academy of Reproductive Technology Attorneys

 Calgary: 403-770-0776

 Edmonton: 780-665-6666  Other Cities: 1-877-628-9696  http://www.hardlinechat.com Telephone classifieds and chat - 18+ ONLY.

8 Yellowhead Brewing Co.

 10229 105 St  info@yellowheadbrewery.com  http://www.yellowheadbrewery.com

See Calgary - Community Groups.

 810 Edmonton Trail NE  403-290-1973 Cuts, Colour, Hilights.

 1317-1st Street NW

Pushing Petals

 403-294-7402

DevaDave Salon & Boutique

Wild Rose United Church

7 The Starlite Room

 10030 102 St contact@starliteroom.ca  http://www.starliteroom.ca

Theatre & Fine Arts

Craig Connell (Maxwell Realtors)

 Calgary: 403-777-9494

 Edmonton: 780-413-7122  Other Cities: 1-877-882-2010  http://www.cruiseline.ca Telephone classifieds and chat - 18+ ONLY.

Hooliganz Pub (CLOSED)

ATP, Alberta Theatre Projects

 403-253-5678  http://www.maxwellrealty.com/craigconnell

3 Buddy’s Nite Club------------------------- ✰

 11725 Jasper Ave  780-488-6636 6 Evolution Wonder Lounge

 10220 - 103 St  780-424-0077  http://www.yourgaybar.com

NRG Support Services

Bars & Clubs (Mixed)

 10704 124 St NW

Wheel Pro’s

 3rd Floor, 1131 Kensington Road NW  403-571-5120  http://www.courtneyaarbo.ca GLBT legal services.

4 Woody’s------------------------------------ ✰

 11725 Jasper Ave  780-488-6557

These venues regularly host LGBT events.

 4143- Edmonton Trail NE  403-226-7278  http://www.wheelpros.ca “Experts in Everything for Wheels”

Courtney Aarbo (Barristers & Solicitors)

 780-938-2941

UpStares Ultralounge (CLOSED)

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

 403-808-7147

Cruiseline

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

 4th Floor, Jasper Ave and 107th Street

• Safeworks Van

Christopher T. Tahn (Thornborough Smeltz)

 11650 Elbow Dr SW  ctahn@thornsmeltz.com  http://www.thornsmeltz.com

• Centre of Hope

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

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

Safety Under the Rainbow

 10018 105 Street  flashnightclub@hotmail.com

• Sheldon M. Chumir Health Centre

Calgary Civil Marriage Centre

 2nd Cup, Kensington

FLASH (CLOSED)

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

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

Barry Hollowell

• Coffee Night

Adult Source----------------------------

• Calgary Drop-in Centre

Services & Products

Bathhouses/Saunas 5 Steamworks------------------------------- ✰

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

Community Groups AltView Foundation

 #44, 48 Brentwood Blvd, Sherwood Park, AB

 403-398-9968  info@altview.ca  http://ww.altview.ca For gender variant and sexual minorities.

Book Worm’s Book Club

 Howard McBride Chapel of Chimes 10179 - 108 Street  bookworm@teamedmonton.ca

Buck Naked Boys Club

 780-471-6993  http://www.bucknakedboys.ca Naturism club for men—being social while everyone is naked, and it does not include sexual activity. Participants do not need to be gay, only male.

Camp fYrefly

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

Edmonton Expo

 http://www.edmontonexpo.com

Edmonton Pride Festival Society (EPFS)

 http://www.edmontonpride.ca

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.

Edmonton Rainbow Business Association

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

 Suite 27, Building B1, 2451 Dieppe Ave SW

 403-471-0204  780-922-3347  nrg@shaw.ca  http://www.nrgsupportservices.com

SafeWorks

Free and confidential HIV/AIDS and STI testing.

GayCalgary Magazine #131, September 2014

73

Directory & Events DOWNTOWN EDMONTON

1

6

8

5 4 3

1 Pride Centre of Edm.---- Community Groups 2 Edmonton STD---------- Community Groups

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

Team Edmonton

TTIQ------------------------------------- 7-9pm See 1 Pride Centre of Edmonton

 3rd

HIV Support Group--------------------- 7-9pm See 1 Pride Centre of Edmonton

 2nd

QH Youth Drop-in---------------------- 3-8pm See 1 Pride Centre of Edmonton

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

Swim Practice-------------------  7:30-8:30pm See

Team Edmonton

Counseling----------------------  5:30-8:30pm

Martial Arts---------------------  7:30-8:30pm

Knotty Knitters-------------------------- 6-8pm See 1 Pride Centre of Edmonton

QH Craft Night-------------------------- 6-8pm See 1 Pride Centre of Edmonton

GLBTQ Sage Bowling Club

QH Youth Drop-in---------------------- 3-8pm See 1 Pride Centre of Edmonton

Youth Sports/Recreation-----------------  4pm See 1 Youth Understanding Youth

See

Team Edmonton

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

Team Edmonton

Team Edmonton

QH Anime Night------------------------ 6-8pm

Ballroom Dancing--------------  7:30-8:30pm

Movie Night----------------------------- 6-9pm

Soul Outing-------------------------------  7pm

QH Youth Drop-in---------------------- 3-8pm

Men’s Games Nights--------------  7-10:30pm

Monthly Meetings---------------------  2:30pm

Youth Sports/Recreation-----------------  4pm

Youth Sports/Recreation-----------------  4pm

Cycling---------------------------  6:30-7:30pm See

Team Edmonton

Yoga---------------------------------  7:30-8pm Team Edmonton

See 1 Pride Centre of Edmonton See

Youth Understanding Youth

Swim Practice--------------------------- 7-8pm See

Team Edmonton

Women’s Social Circle------------------ 6-9pm See 1 Pride Centre of Edmonton

 2nd, 4th

Book Club-----------------------------  7:30pm See

See 1 Pride Centre of Edmonton See 1 Pride Centre of Edmonton See 1 Pride Centre of Edmonton

Thursdays

BookWorm’s Book Club

 3rd

See See

Men’s Games Nights

 2nd, Last

Youth Understanding Youth

See

Team Edmonton

 Robertson-Wesley United (10209 123 St)

 Unitarian Church (10804 119th Street) See Edmonton Primetimers

 2nd

 2nd

Saturday, September 20th

AIDS Walk--------------------------  5-9:30pm

Saturdays

Naturalist Gettogether See

See 1 Pride Centre of Edmonton

Buck Naked Boys Club

 2nd

QH Youth Drop-in------------------  2-6:30pm See 1 Pride Centre of Edmonton

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

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

 2nd

Team Edmonton

By HIV Edmonton  McIntyre Park (104 St & 83 Ave) Saturday, September 27th

Investiture---------------------------------  8pm By

ISCWR at

Ramada Hotel (Kingsway)

Friday, October 3rd

Paint the Town Red-----------------------  7pm By 1 Pride Centre of Edmonton  ATB Financial Arts Bars (10330 - 84 Ave)

Legend:  = Monthly Reoccurrance,  = Date (Range),  = Sponsored Event

Edmonton Illusions Social Club

Imperial Sovereign Court of the Wild Rose

 780-387-3343

 groups.yahoo.com/group/edmonton_illusions

 http://www.iscwr.ca

2 Edmonton STD

 11111 Jasper Ave

 #50, 9912 - 106 Street 780-424-2214  living-positive@telus.net  http://www.facebook.com/LivingPoz Living Positive through Positive Living.

Living Positive Society of Alberta

Edmonton Vocal Minority

 sing@evmchoir.com

 www.beefbearbash.com

GLBTQ Sage Bowling Club

• HIV Support Group

 huges@shaw.ca, curtis@optionssexualhealth.ca Support and discussion group for gay men.

Fellowship of Alberta Bears  tuff@shaw.ca

HIV Network Of Edmonton Society----

✰

 9702 111 Ave NW 780-488-5742  www.hivedmonton.com Provides healthy sexuality education for Edmonton’s LGBT community and support for those infected or affected

by HIV.  inqueeries@gmail.com Student-run GLBTQ Alliance at MacEwan University.

74

Team Edmonton

Men Talking with Pride---------------- 7-9pm

 Edmonton Contd.

InQueeries

See See

Fridays

See

 780-474-8240

Sundays

Running------------------------------  10-11am Yoga---------------------------------  2-3:30pm

Bowling-----------------------------------  5pm

 780-479-2038  www.evmchoir.com

7 The Starlite Room------------Bars and Clubs 8 Yellowhead Brewing Co.-----Bars and Clubs

QH Youth Drop-in---------------------- 3-8pm

See 1 Pride Centre of Edmonton

GLBTQ Bowling------------------  1:30-3:30pm See

5 Steamworks----------------------Bathhouses 6 Evolution----------------------Bars and Clubs

QH Game Night------------------------ 6-8pm

Wednesdays

7

3 Buddy’s-----------------------Bars and Clubs 4 Woody’s-----------------------Bars and Clubs

See

Tuesdays

See

2

See 1 Pride Centre of Edmonton

Mondays

N

Men’s Games Nights 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.

✰

 10608 - 105 Ave  780-488-3234  admin@pridecentreofedmonton.org

GayCalgary Magazine #131, September 2014

• Queer HangOUT: Craft Night

• Counselling

A support and information group for all those who fall under the transgender umbrella and their family or supporters.

 780.488.3234 Free, short-term counselling provided by registered counsellors.

• Knotty Knitters

Come knit and socialize in a safe and accepting environment - all skill levels are welcome.

 Unitarian Church (10804 119th Street)

 780-474-8240  tuff@shaw.ca

Pride Centre of Edmonton-------------

 http://www.pridecentreofedmonton.org  Tue-Fri 12pm-9pm, Sat 2pm-6:30pm We provide a safe, welcoming, and non-judgemental drop-in space, and offer support programs and resources for members of the GLBTQ community and for their families and friends.

• Men Talking with Pride

 robwells780@hotmail.com Support & social group for gay & bisexual men to discuss current issues.

• Movie Night

Movie Night is open to everyone! Come over and sit back, relax, and watch a movie with us.

• Queer HangOUT: Game Night

Come OUT with your game face on and meet some awesome people through board game fun.

Come OUT and embrace your creative side in a safe space.

• Queer HangOUT: Anime Night

Come and watch ALL the anime until your heart is content.

• TTIQ

• Women’s Social Circle

 andrea@pridecentreofedmonton.org Women’s Social Circle: A social support group for all female-identified persons over 18 years of age in the GLBT community - new members are always welcome.

Seniors Association of Greater Edmonton

 780-474-8240

 tuff@shaw.ca

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.

www.gaycalgary.com

Directory & Events Red Deer Events

Peace River

Grande Prairie

Medicine Hat

Wednesdays

Saturday, September 13th

Sunday, September 21st

Thursday, September 14th

LGBT Coffee Night------------------------  7pm

AIDS Walk------------------------------- 11am

AIDS Walk--------------------------------  9am

Pride Festival--------------------------  All Day

See

CAANS

 1st

Friday, August 15th

By HIV North  Riverfront Park (100 Ave)

By HIV North  Muskoseepi Park (100 Ave)

By

Medicine Hat Pride

Sep20

 Edmonton Contd.

• 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

• Soccer

 soccer@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.

• Swimming (Making Waves)

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

 NAIT Pool (11762 - 106 Street)  swimming@teamedmonton.ca  http://www.makingwavesswimclub.ca

• Blazin’ Bootcamp

• Tennis

 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)

 Dawson Park, picnic shelter  cycling@teamedmonton.ca

• Dragon Boat (Flaming Dragons)

 dragonboat@teamedmonton.ca

• Golf

 golf@teamedmonton.ca

• 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.

• Hockey

 hockey@teamedmonton.ca

• Martial Arts

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

• Outdoor Pursuits

 outdoorpursuits@teamedmonton.ca

• Running (Arctic Frontrunners)

 Kinsmen Sports Centre  running@teamedmonton.ca All genders and levels of runners and walkers are invited to join this free activity.

• Slo Pitch

 Parkallen Field, 111 st and 68 ave  slo-pitch@teamedmonton.ca Season fee is $30.00 per person. $10 discount for players from the 2008 season.

• Snowballs V

 January 27-29, 2012  snowballs@teamedmonton.ca Skiing and Snowboarding Weekend.

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

 tennis@teamedmonton.ca

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.

Theatre & Fine Arts

• Ultimate Frisbee

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

• Volleyball, Intermediate

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

• Volleyball, Recreational

 Mother Teresa School (9008 - 105 Ave)  recvolleyball@teamedmonton.ca

Exposure Festival

 http://www.exposurefestival.ca Edmonton’s Queer Arts and Culture Festival.

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

Call for info.

• Yoga

 Lion's Breath Yoga Studio (10350-124 Street)  yoga@teamedmonton.ca

Womonspace

 780-482-1794  womonspace@gmail.com  http://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

 10708 124th Street, Edmonton AB  780-453-2440  http://www.theatrenetwork.ca

BANFF Community Groups HIV Community Link

 102 Spray Ave  PO Box 3160, Banff, AB T1L 1C8  403-762-0690

JASPER Accommodations Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge

 Old Lodge Road  1-866-540-4454  http://www.fairmont.com/jasper

Whistlers Inn

 105 Miette Ave  1-800-282-9919  info@whistlersinn.com  http://www.whistlersinn.com

Community Groups

Restaurants & Pubs 12 Woody’s------------------------------------ ✰ See Edmonton - Bars & Clubs (Gay).

Retail Stores Passion Vault

 15239 - 111 Ave  780-930-1169  pvault@telus.net “Edmonton’s Classiest Adult Store”

Products & Services Cruiseline

 780-413-7122 trial code 3500  http://www.cruiseline.ca Telephone classifieds and chat - 18+ ONLY.

Jasper Pride Festival

 PO Box 98, 409 Patricia St., T0E 1E0

 contact@jasperpride.ca  http://www.jasperpride.ca

LETHBRIDGE Community Groups GALA/LA

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

• Monthly Potluck Dinners

 McKillop United Church, 2329 - 15 Ave S GALA/LA will provide the turkey...you bring the rest. Please bring a dish to share that will serve 4-6 people, and your own beverage.

• Support Line

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

• Friday Mixer

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

Gay & Lesbian Integrity Assoc. (GALIA)

 University of Lethbridge GBLTTQQ club on campus.

 galia@uleth.ca

• Movie Night

 Room C610, University of Lethbridge

The Roxy Theatre

• Women’s Lacrosse

• Monthly Dances

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

Gay Youth Alliance Group

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

Lethbridge Expo

 http://www.lethbridgeexpo.com

Lethbridge HIV Connection

 1206 - 6 Ave S

PFLAG Canada

 1-888-530-6777

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

Pride Lethbridge

 lethbridgepridefest@gmail.com

RED DEER 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.

LGBTQ Education

 LGBTQeducation@hotmail.ca  http://LGBTQeducation.webs.com Red Deer (and area) now has a website designed to bring various LGBTQ friendly groups/individuals together for fun, and to promote acceptance in our communities.

Pride on Campus

 rdcprideoncampus@gmail.com A group of LGBTQ persons and Allies at Red Deer College.

MEDICINE HAT Community Groups HIV Community Link

 356 - 2 Street SE, Medicine Hat, AB  403-527-5882  1-877-440-2437

Continued on Page 69 

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Classifieds Event

140

The Fetish Slosh at the Backlot!

Come on down to the Backlot the 2nd Tuesday of every month for a no-cover Fetish party. Upcoming dates are November 13, December 11th, etc. You can dress up in Leather, Latex, cuffs, collars, or just your skivvies. Have the conversation you like without offending a vanilla in sight. The Backlot supports and promotes the alternative lifestyles of Calgary so feel free to express your KINK!

Obituary

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Employment

200

Looking to retain a live in butler to take care of household chores and prepare meals, and travel along on weekends.

Compensation is negotiable. Send resume to Emmersonbrando@yahoo.com

Help Wanted

Wedding/Union

190

Magical Music DJs

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Alberta Escort Listings

GayCalgary Magazine is looking for salespeople, graphic designers, and writers in Calgary or Edmonton. For more info, contact: magazine@gaycalgary.com 403-543-6960

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GET A LIFE! Commercial Cleaning

Does your business need a professional cleaner? Steve is bonded/Insured. Flexible prices and brings all his own supplies. Steve is a part of the LGBT Community and has been cleaning for over 5 years in Calgary.

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Consulting

527

Want to attract the LGBT local or traveler to your business?

It’s not about special treatment. You can’t assume the LGBT person, or the straight person will follow the pack anymore. The LGBT market is becoming more and more aware of what organizations support them, and which ones don’t, ultimately sending them away from businesses and communities that do not recognize them or their lifestyle. Does your staff need LGBT sensitivity training? Want to attract the market but unsure how to proceed?

Local, Domestic, International, We can assist.

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Photography

572

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Hire an Amateur Photographer

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Cleaning

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Personals Wayne Douglas MacLean after courageous battles with cancer passed away at home in Water Valley on Saturday, July 26, 2014 with his loving husband, Brent Rock, and his family and caregivers at his side. Wayne (also known onstage as Devon Mills) lived a full and fearless life and maintained an optimistic and spirited attitude with grace and dignity. A Celebration of Wayne’s Extraordinary Life will be announced at a later date.

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 Find Out - From Page 67

 Mail Forwarding To reply by post, mail to: Box # c/o GayCalgary 2136 17th Ave SW Calgary, AB, T2T 0G3

Scan below to view Classified Ads Online!

• Telephone Support

 M-F, 8:30am - 12:30pm + 1:30pm - 4:30pm

ALBERTA Community Groups

To reply by E-mail: box#@gaycalgary.com

Alberta Trans Support/Activities Group

 http://www.albertatrans.org A nexus for transgendered persons, regardless of where they may be on the continuum.

Theatre & Fine Arts Alberta Ballet

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

CANADA

Egale Canada

 8 Wellington St E, Third Floor Toronto, Ontario, M5E 1C5  1-888-204-7777  www.egale.ca Egale Canada is the national advocacy and lobby organization for gay men, lesbians, bisexuals, transidentified people and our families.

Products & Services Squirt

 http://www.squirt.org Website for dating and hook-ups. 18+ ONLY!

Theatre & Fine Arts Broadway Across Canada

 http://www.broadwayacrosscanada.ca

OUTtv

 http://www.outtv.ca GLBT Television Station.

Community Groups Canadian Rainbow Health Coalition

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

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GayCalgary Magazine #131, September 2014

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