GayCalgary Magazine - July 2015

JULY 2015

® ISSUE 140 • FREE The Voice of Alberta’s LGBT Community

Matt Bomer

More Than Meets the Eyes

Interview with

ADAM LAMBERT

Rose Byrne

Everything’s Coming Up Rose

PLUS:

Coverage of CRIR 2015 Coverage of Edmonton Pride 2015 Emerson Drive • Mark Pellegrino ...and more!

Business Directory

Aaron Pritchett

Scan to Read on Mobile Devices

Community Map

Calgary • Alberta • Canada

Events Calendar

returns to the CRIR

Tourist Information

STARTING ON PAGE 47

www.gaycalgary.com

www.gaycalgary.com

GayCalgary Magazine #140, July 2015

3

4

GayCalgary Magazine #140, July 2015

www.gaycalgary.com

Table of Contents

Photography Videography

Steve Polyak, Diaz-Marino, SteveRob Polyak B&J

Sales Videography Steve Polyak

Stevesales@gaycalgary.com Polyak, Rob Diaz-Marino

Legal Council Printers

Courtney Aarbo, Barristers andWeb Solicitors North Hill News/Central

General Inquiries Distribution

® GayCalgary Calgary: GallantMagazine Distribution 2136 17th Avenue GayCalgary StaffSW Calgary, AB,Clark’s CanadaDistribution T2T 0G3 Edmonton: magazine@gaycalgary.com Other: Canada Post

Office Hours:

By Council appointment ONLY Legal Courtney Aarbo, Barristers and Solicitors Phone: 403-543-6960 Toll Free: 1-888-543-6960 SalesFax: & General Inquiries 403-703-0685 GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine E-Mail: magazine@gaycalgary.com 2136 17th Avenue SW This Month's Cover Calgary, AB, Canada Main: Adam Lambert.

T2TPhoto 0G3 by David Roemer

Top Right: Matt Bomer, photo by Warner Bros. Mid Right: Rose Byrne, photo by 20th Century Fox. BottomONLY Right: Office Hours: By appointment Aaron Pritchett

Phone: 403-543-6960 Toll Free: 1-888-543-6960 Fax: 403-703-0685 E-Mail: magazine@gaycalgary.com This Month's Cover Cher and Christina Aguilera courtesy of Sony Pictures; Annie Lennox courtesy of Mike Owen; Rex Goudie.

Proud Members of:

Grande Prairie boys return with new EP

10 Third Time Charmer Aaron Pritchett returns to the CRIR

14 Queer Eye: Edmonton Pride 2015 - Parade and Street Festival

PAGE 7

Writers and Contributors

Mercedes Chris Azzopardi, Allen, Chris DallasAzzopardi, Barns, Dave Dallas Brousseau, Barnes, Dave Constable Brousseau, AndySam Buck,Casselman, Jason Clevett, Jason Oriol Clevett, R. Gutierrez Andrew Collins, Jr., Stephen Emily Collins, Lock, Steve RobPolyak, Diaz-Marino, Mikey Janine Rox, Carey Eva Trotta, Rutherford, Jack Fertig, Mars Tonic, Glen Hanson, Romeo San Joan Hilty, Vicente, Evanand Kayne, the LGBT Stephen Community Lock, NeilofMcMullen, Calgary, Allan Neuwirth, Edmonton, Steve Polyak, and Alberta.

Carey Rutherford, Romeo San Vicente, Ed Sikov, Nick Vivian and the GLBT Community of Calgary, Edmonton, and Photography Alberta.

Steve Polyak, J&B, Kurtis Allan, Larissa

7 Emerson Drive Bring A Tilt-AWhirl to the Rodeo

16 Irish Pluck Moves Equality Forward 17 Discussing Community Safety Reporting domestic violence

18 Positive Thoughts Passing the Test

20 Rush in Review

PAGE 10

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

JULY 2015

An epic night from an epic band

21 What the Devil!

Mark Pellegrino on network politics and making the devil his own

e n zi

22 Queer Eye: Canadian Rockies International Rodeo & Music Festival 2015

a g a

24 Deep Inside Hollywood

m

Jane Lynch is ‘angel from hell,’ The Abbey, Ellen Page and Allison Janney

25 Tackling Homelessness and Counselling Needs Calgary Outlink Branches Out

PAGE 14

®

28 Matt Bomer - More Than Meets the Eyes Edmonton Rainbow Business Association

32 Tim Hicks

International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association

Just because it’s country doesn’t mean it’s straight

PAGE 21

National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association

Magic Mike star on telling his kids he’s in a stripper movie, Channing flattery and indecent gyrations

Gay European Tourism Association

Continued on Next Page  www.gaycalgary.com

GayCalgary Magazine #140, July 2015

5

Table of Contents  Continued From Previous Page

33 Everything’s Coming Up Rose Bryne

PAGE 22

Bridesmaids actress talks Hollywood discrimination, playing gay and drag-inspired Spy role

36 The Reframing of Adam Lambert

The singer opens up about his ‘outlandish’ past, the lack of LGBT pop stars and his dating problems

39 Summer Gadget Guide 2015

Next-Gen Gizmos and Gadgets to Amp Up the Fun

40 Queer Eye

PAGE 28

47 Directory and Events 52 Classified Ads

a m

PAGE 33

e n zi

ga

Scan for Latest Issue:

Combined total of PDF and ISSUU Downloads/Reads –100,000 copies

Total Readership of PDF/ISSUU/WEB

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

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

Name changed to GayCalgary in 1998.

Independent company as of January 2004.

First edition of GayCalgary.com Magazine published November 2003. Name adjusted in November 2006 to GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine. February 2012 returned to GayCalgary Magazine.

February 2013, GayCalgary® becomes a registered trademark. December 2014/ January 2015 is the last print edition.

February 2015 is the first digital only edition.

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

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

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

http://www.gaycalgary.com/RSS Articles • Recent News • Prize Draws • Events • Travel Info

PAGE 36

Monthly Online Magazine Readership:

History

44 News Releases

6

Magazine Figures

Proof of monthly figures are available on request.

43 A Couple of Guys

Scan for this Issue:

®

Copyright 2015. All rights reserved.

GayCalgary® is a registered trademark.

AUGUST 2015 Deadlines Ad Booking: Wed, Aug 5th

http://www.gaycalgary.com/Twitter Follow us on Twitter for articles, weekly news and updates!

Submission: Fri, Aug 7th

http://www.gaycalgary.com/Facebook http://www.gaycalgary.com/FacebookFan Join us on Facebook for articles, weekly news and updates!

Please contact us immediately if you think you may have missed the booking or submission deadline.

Online: Tues, Aug 11th

http://www.gaycalgary.com/i140 More articles and exclusive content online!

GayCalgary Magazine #140, July 2015

www.gaycalgary.com

Interview

Emerson Drive Bring A Tilt-A-Whirl to the Rodeo Grande Prairie boys return with new EP

By Jason Clevett It was 2008 when Emerson Drive last played the Canadian International Rodeo. When the group returns June 28th to the rodeo the band – singer Brad Mates, guitarist Danick Dupelle, keyboardist Dale Wallace and drummer Mike Melancon – will be featuring classic songs from their career along with tracks from their new EP Tilt-A-Whirl. For the first time the group released a shorter release, rather than a full album.

“We have always done a full length right from day one. I think that the way the industry is now, and the way music is going, and the demand that fans want when it comes to buying music, we want to give it a shot and see if it was something that we could potentially use down the road as well too. I am not saying that is always going to be an EP from this point forward, but I think that the turnaround of music is going to be a little bit quicker if you are down to doing six songs. You have your singles that will be on the radio, and a couple of cuts on the record itself, but you are not jammed into doing 12 songs and running the course of three years behind your touring it, and trying to get more songs off of it onto the radio.

I just like the idea now of getting the stuff out there to your fans and then move on to something new. That is the name of the game these days; there is so much stuff out there available that you want to make sure that you are being as current as you can,” singer Brad Mates told GayCalgary.com recently

www.gaycalgary.com

Continued on Next Page 

GayCalgary Magazine #140, July 2015

7

 From Previous Page over the phone. The guys are currently on a non-traditional fly-in tour that sees them in Winona, Ontario on Saturday before flying in for the ARGRA Rodeo Sunday, and heading to Abbotsford on June 30th. They have event dates throughout the U.S. and Canada this summer, which is a change from the usual bus tour.

“Obviously having routing is one thing in this business, but sometimes it just doesn’t work that way. If we can make a show work with a bus we do, but these fly dates come along as well. The night before we are in Ontario, then we are in Strathmore. It is obviously doable and it is nice to be able to have an opportunity to travel from one part of the country to the other over night, and keep putting shows on. It just happens that way once in awhile. I think I can probably tell you, over the years, we have never missed a show. I will probably knock on wood once we’re done this conversation because it hasn’t happened once; we have always managed to make it work.”

Mates is excited to play this weekend at a larger scale festival, up from their 2008 cabaret concert.

“I was actually talking to a few people in the past week and explaining the size of the venue we played seven years ago. Now we are stepping into a full-fledged festival event happening this weekend. I think it’s phenomenal. It shows, obviously, the strength and growth of being able to put together an event that hits home with people. I love seeing how it has turned into what it is today; it’s great. It’s awesome to be able to see the ideals change in people’s minds. This generation is growing up and seeing it differently. I think the idea of having a festival where anyone can show up now, and who it’s put on by, it’s a big show of support – the growth within Calgary and right through Alberta. Again, going back to this idea that seven years ago it was a smaller show and we are coming back to perform for a whole bunch of people, it is very well supported.”

He is also looking forward to connecting with other Canadian country stars, like Aaron Pritchett and George Canyon.

“It has always been a tight knit community; there’s only really a handful of us when you really look at it big picture. It doesn’t matter where you travel, you run into other folks out there that have songs on the radio and develop friendships over the years, and sometimes end up touring together. We’ve known Aaron for quite a few years and I have always enjoyed that side of it. A lot of people think you don’t get to know any other acts when you are out on the road, but you actually develop friendships with a lot of different people.”

Emerson Drive plays at home every year for an event or tour. The opportunity to come back to his home province is great – both professionally and personally.

“It is great to come back because I get to see my family and friends several times a year, and also it is seeing the support that was there for us when we started in 1995. There are a lot of people who have been with us right from the beginning and if it wasn’t for some of these smaller places throughout Alberta, I don’t think we would have gotten off to the start we did, or had the support. Calgary has always had a venue to play when it comes to country music. Eighteen or 19 years ago it was a couple of clubs in Calgary, and we were a young band just out of high school, that could play six or seven nights a week. Throughout the course of our career, building a fan base of people, and we still come back to Calgary every year – that shows the support and strength of country music fans.

For a lot of people that are looking for country music, Calgary is a huge draw with more and more concerts in town. You are

8

GayCalgary Magazine #140, July 2015

Online Last Month (1/2) Chicago Gets Bougie This Pride

Pride Wars have long been fought between San Francisco and New York, and why not? Both are high-class cities with fabulous things to see and do. San Francisco has its beautiful...

http://www.gaycalgary.com/a4686

Creep of the Week Josh Duggar

By now you’ve probably heard about the scandalous revelation that Josh Duggar, the oldest child of the Duggar clan, has admitted to molesting five underage girls when he was a...

http://www.gaycalgary.com/a4696

Creep of the Week Roy Moore

Alabama’s Chief Justice Roy Moore has something to tell you, ladies and gentlemen, and it’s going to be hard to hear. Now, if you’re in the habit of listening to just about anything...

http://www.gaycalgary.com/a4714

Hear Me Out

Best of 2015 (...So Far)

Shamir, Ratchet The latest wave of genderdefying youth just got wavier with Shamir, a 20-year-old cutie-patootie from Vegas who’s tearing down rigid archetypes by way of gender...

http://www.gaycalgary.com/a4717

Summer Gadget Guide 2015 Next-Gen Gizmos and Gadgets to Amp Up the Fun

Your summer vacation gets easier and breezier with these innovative thingamajigs that make kicking back and relaxing cool and convenient. iBT3 Splash-Proof Speaker Pump up your...

http://www.gaycalgary.com/a4718

drawing some major names every year. Alberta still has a very strong grasp on it.”

In 2013 I saw Emerson Drive headline the Canada Day celebrations at CFB Wainwright. Growing up in Grande Prairie, which didn’t get major tours, Mates knows what it means to see live music and has always made it a point to visit smaller markets.

“There are a lot of communities that have the ability to put shows on, but it is another thing to put an act in there. I just know, being from a small town myself, sometimes you have to travel four to five hours to see someone that you want to see.

Over the course of the first couple of years of us doing this, we found out there are a ton of people that love music and want to bring it to their small towns, and want to come out and see it. That has been a major part of building our fan base, is making sure we play some of the communities that aren’t able to bring in acts all the time, and we have always tried to make it possible to hit those places.”

Mates found it hilarious that now artists like Janet Jackson, The Backstreet Boys and Def Leppard – among others – have or will include Grande Prairie in their tour schedule.

“Yeah, in the last few years I shake my head every once in awhile because when I was growing up, as a kid, we would have to go to Edmonton or Calgary to see those big shows.

It is funny now that there are acts that are making a stop in Grande Prairie. The demand is there, and they put a show on www.gaycalgary.com

Online Last Month (2/2) Creep of the Week Mike Huckabee

I confess. Once upon a time I thought Mike Huckabee seemed like a nice guy. Granted I disagreed with him on just about every issue imaginable. I thought he was misinformed, kind...

http://www.gaycalgary.com/a4720

Creep of the Week Rick Snyder

Fact: Michigan’s Republicans, who are literally in charge of every branch of state government, do not give a shit about kids. In case that wasn’t clear to the world, the Republicans...

http://www.gaycalgary.com/a4724

Deep Inside Hollywood

Tom Ford, ‘Fun Home,’ Kristen Stewart, ‘Out in the Night’

Tom Ford speaks, gets $20 Million At the recent Cannes Film Festival, Tom Ford announced his intention to make his next feature, Nocturnal Animals, and Focus stepped in with...

http://www.gaycalgary.com/a4726

Creep of the Week

National Organization for Marriage

Oh, NOM. NOM, NOM, NOM. You are so freaked out right now. And if you weren’t so hateful, I might actually feel some compassion for you.

Though probably not. Because you are terrible...

http://www.gaycalgary.com/a4728

The OutField

LGBT summit thinks small, scores big

The first Nike LGBT Sports Summit four years ago was a modest affair. Twenty-five men and women – coaches, professors and activists – spent two days in Portland, Oregon assessing...

http://www.gaycalgary.com/a4730

in the right venue, and it will sell tickets. It is just nuts from what it used to be and what it is now.”

Playing festivals like this weekend or events like Canada Day, where people will show up to party regardless, opens new doors to make new fans. One of the highlights of their career was opening for Shania Twain on her UP! tour in 2004. It is different from a specific headlining tour.

“The idea, if you are selling your own hard tickets, you are obviously grabbing your core fan base that wants to come out and see you. I have always enjoyed the other side of it too. The Shania Twain experience was phenomenal – we were playing in front of 15,000 to 17,000 people every night and a majority of the people probably didn’t know who the band was. It was pretty great to try and win people over, especially outside of the country music genre. We have always had a different sound from everybody else and I think during a few of those years, especially when you are playing in front of that many people, we were able to build a bigger fan base than you normally would be able to because we were reaching another genre of people that sure love Shania, but were listening to her on pop radio. It is cool to look back now and there are a ton of people that say the first time they saw our show was during that year and a half stretch we did those dates with her.”

Emerson Drive has worked hard over two decades and is lucky that their career has been established to a point that they can have family time. www.gaycalgary.com

“It is funny; I have been very fortunate that in my 20s, when we were travelling 280 days out of the year, I wasn’t married, I didn’t have kids and we got a lot done. The balance nowadays is definitely there for me when it comes to my personal life.

Again, I have been very lucky to spend a ton of time with my kids as they grow up. My son still thinks that I have a cool job, until he gets a bit older and says otherwise.”

It speaks volumes that in an industry with many flash in the pan artists, especially in country, that Emerson Drive has achieved 20 years as a band.

“We have come full circle quite a few times. This business can come at you really fast and go even quicker. Longevity has always been a goal for us from the start of our career. Treating our fans the right way and staying on top of the curve in the business, which has changed several times over the years, is always important. It is funny – there are lots of new faces every year that are coming up behind you. I am very proud of what we have been able to accomplish over the years, and we are having as much fun now as we did in the beginning as well.

I think that says something about the guys in the group and where we are going from this place forward.”

The sound of country music has changed a great deal as well with artists like Blake Shelton and Florida Georgia Line bringing a different aspect to the music from its roots.

“I grew up listening to traditional country music because my dad was a traditional country music fan. Emerson Drive is considered country music. If I was to break it down, obviously we have outside influences from traditional country music days. Those artists that made country music what it was – that people look back on – there is a very special generation there. I like the idea that country music today has the fan base that it does. It is moving forward when it comes to audiences for TV or live shows. All of that is great for the industry. I am not going to argue with someone who is a traditional country music fan and say that what country on the radio today is country music. There are so many outside influences that make it up today; I wouldn’t fight that battle with an argument. We are one of those acts that has a different sound and it is a wide open parameter of what you hear on the radio now when people say country.”

At its core, however, any kind of music is its fans. Emerson Drive have established themselves as a fantastic live act, and promise a great show at the Canadian Rockies International Gay Rodeo.

“We have always tried to entertain people the best that we can – that is how we built out fans. The fans across the country continue to support our group and other artists. For those that haven’t seen us before, our goal is to win those people over and make them fans and make sure they come back to see another show. For folks that have seen us before, we are going to deliver what they expect from us: a great show; a few new songs off the EP and stuff folks have heard over the past 14 years on the radio. It’s going to be good.”

Emerson Drive http://www.EmersonDrive.com Live at the CRIR Strathmore, Alberta June 28th, 2015 http://www.argra.org http://www.gaycalgary.com/a4713 View Bonus Pics/Videos • Share with a Friend • Post Comments

GayCalgary Magazine #140, July 2015

9

Third Time Charmer Aaron Pritchett returns to the CRIR

by Jason Clevett Vancouver country artist Aaron Pritchett is no stranger to ARGRA and the Canadian International Gay Rodeo. As the headlining performer for the Saturday night cabaret, when the event was held at Symons Valley Ranch, he has fond memories of his appearances in 2003 and 2008, including agreeing to dress up for the event.

“The first time I played it, I didn’t even know it existed,” he told GayCalgary. “I thought it was a pretty cool thing that it was out there – no pun intended – and happening. I have worked in theatre when I was younger with a lot of gay men and women. For them, especially back in the early 1990s, it was a tough thing to be out and open about it. To now have a full-on legitimate rodeo is an amazing thing and I think it is one of the coolest events around – to be honest. I wasn’t uncomfortable at all. People were singing along to the songs, so I obviously have fans of all walks of life. Whether they are gay, straight, black, white, purple, tall or short makes no difference to me.

I have heard of that in the past – of other people bothered by it – but I wasn’t at all. If anything I embraced it and thought, it wasn’t your typical crowd, but it’s no different. In 2003 I got asked to put on a fireman’s outfit, and go shirtless, and I went for it. Of course I am going to do something like that – it’s fun. It’s a different atmosphere; it’s great. They had me put on the fireman’s pants and helmet, and suspenders, and I did it without my shirt on. Everybody seemed to really eat it up, which is how you want it to go.”

10

GayCalgary Magazine #140, July 2015

The CRIR has taken a huge leap this year with a full music festival component that features Pritchett along with artists like The Village People, Emerson Drive, Tebey and Leann Rimes.

“I am shocked at how much it has grown. It went from a one-night event of music to this three-day festival, which is awesome to see it grow like that.”

It is a great opportunity to connect with fellow artists.

Pritchett is also appearing on Canada Day with Emerson Drive in Abbotsford, and always enjoys seeing his fellow Canadians.

“I don’t know what it’s like down in the States but, in Canada, it is quite tight. The keyboard player in Emerson Drive, Dale Wallace, was my keyboard player for four years. The rest of the guys in the band – guys like George Canyon, Paul Brandt – we are quite a tight knit community. It is like a family, and when we get the chance to play together like this, it is like a reunion.

We don’t get to see each other that often during the year. We have a laugh and a beer, and tell stupid jokes, then go on our way to somewhere else. It is always awesome to see the other guys and girls.”

Pritchett has been a staple of the Calgary music scene, whether headlining his own tours or appearing at Nashville North during the Stampede.

“One of my favourite memories of all time was my first Calgary Stampede. I was playing five shows a day; every day.

It was amazing to be in the city for the first time and actually working like that, and taking in the summer. The weather was incredible. I got to spend my nights checking out really awesome bands. That was probably around 2000 or 2001 where I got to do that, and really take in all of the culture that was behind the www.gaycalgary.com

Stampede itself. Going to see all these events that I had never seen before. Being from British Columbia, you don’t see a lot of rodeos at all. So it was great that first year. I just love coming back to the city all the time. I am on my way right there from Red Deer, where I was for a golf tournament the last couple of days. I always love coming into the city and seeing it from far away; it is a very distinctive city with the tower and skyline. It just brings back memories of my first Stampede. I am excited to be back and taking Calgary for a day off, which I am really looking forward too.”

Playing a venue like the rodeo or Nashville North is a great opportunity to get new fans, and Pritchett always brings it.

“It doesn’t matter to me if there are 5,000 people, or 500 people, or 5 people; I put on the same show no matter what, always. That is something I have always done. I don’t lessen my show for people that are just there to have fun and don’t know me, and are just there to drink and party. It doesn’t matter to me; I just want to put on the best damn show. I feel like I achieve that every time, and have a blast. That is what you are in for whether you are at the rodeo show or at Nashville North, or a little pub and I happen just to be playing there. It is all the same.”

Western Canadian music fans are very loyal, and even with Pritchett being from B.C., he is considered by many to be one of our own.

“It’s pretty amazing. I am this guy that got a bit of a late start in my music career; I was 31 by the time my first single hit radio. I didn’t expect anything to happen at that point and then boom: it hit and I got really lucky. The thing is, when I come back to Western Canada where I have played in clubs years ago like Ranchmans, to come back and have the crowds come out like they do, singing along to all these songs and just watching them do that, and the support, it is kind of like I pinch myself and think ‘this is kind of a crazy moment that I always wanted

to happen’. Every day is kind of a shock – to be honest with you – that it is still going.”

Most of the singles can be found on the recently released greatest hits album Body of Work.

“I didn’t know what time would be the right time to release a hits package. I’ve got 20-some odd hits that have been on the radio and videos on CMT; let’s put them all in a collection just for people to have on one CD. The one thing I was really looking forward too with that project was to be able to tell the stories of those songs: where they came from, and the little tiny things behind the scenes that you wouldn’t have heard of until you read them in that CD sleeve. I was really excited about it. The tough thing was trying to nail down 16 songs from 23. I had to leave a few out like “The Wait” and quite a few others. The thing that I try and think of now is, they will just be on the next greatest hits album if I get a chance to do it.”

He is also keeping a close eye on his son Jordan’s career.

Having had success as the lead guitarist of pop band, Faber Drive, Jordan recently kicked off a country music direction with Dan Arnold in the group King & Cash. The duo has been touring with Pritchett and will also appear at the rodeo as well as the Cowboy’s Tent July 12th. Their first single “Beer for That” has been getting radio play and it looks like Jordan will be following in dad’s footsteps. It’s clear that Aaron is proud of his son.

“He’s off to a really great start with King & Cash. They got their first single out last month and it is doing really well. He has a lot of experience being on the big stage and touring, because he played lead guitar for Faber Drive. So he’s got the touring experience and the large shows as being kind of a front guy, and having to put on the show. Now he’s got his own thing going into the country scene, adding his little inflections of rock and pop that he knows so much about already. I don’t really have to give him too much guidance. He has got everything pretty much down; he hops on a stage and owns it, and takes

www.gaycalgary.com

GayCalgary Magazine #140, July 2015

11

control, and has the crowd eating out of the palm of his hand.

I don’t really have to teach him much. I’d like to think, if anything, he is watching me on stage and taking a few pointers, because I love to work the crowd and try and look at everybody and get them feeling like they are on stage with me, or that I am in the crowd with them. I hope he’s taking those notes.”

Jordan getting into music wasn’t something Aaron pushed for, but has been supportive of.

“I was really happy about it. He was 11 years old when I bought him his first guitar and he was playing it non-stop. He wasn’t doing it because I wanted him too, or because it was what his dad does. I was like ‘play guitar; you need to have something to take up your time other than video games’. He sat and played his guitar for three to four hours a day. He is also a phenomenal golfer. When it came time, and he turned 16, I bought him another guitar that he really wanted. He got that and was encouraged to play it even more, and had lessons. It has all built from there – and he is a natural singer too. When he put his band together I was encouraging him 100 per cent to go for it. Get your schooling done no matter what, try not to focus too much on having a relationship, because you are just a kid, and have fun and play music. That is exactly what he did. He did extremely well in school and became a phenomenal guitar player. Now he is a full-on musician working and making some money and it’s great.”

Pritchett is also busy supporting multiple charitable endeavours and playing in charity golf tournaments and hockey games.

“Just having a name and not being able to use it towards good, I like to be able to help draw people somewhere they wouldn’t go to necessarily and bring awareness to different causes. One of my big causes is the Langley Animal Protection Society. It is all about the animals in that regard. I do stuff with the Vancouver Canucks alumni; I am an official member and on the hockey team. It is mostly fundraising so we do a lot of fundraising for a number of societies and Make-A-Wish. I love doing that because I have been fortunate to have three healthy kids, but some people aren’t, and I want to try and help put my name towards raising money for them. It is something that I hold very dear to me.”

Country music has changed a lot over Aaron’s career with the genre of ‘Bro-country’ being a staple of radio and pop crossovers like Carrie Underwood being successful in both country and pop markets.

“The industry is a lot different from its roots. When we spoke last Johnny and June were a bit of a distant memory. But there are two things happening right now I think. There is a split, and one way is going the way of the bro country and pop country thing, and a lot of really slick production. People love it and it is great that younger people are really loving that. There is also this shift that I saw when I went to Nashville a couple of weeks ago. The industry is really trying to pull back towards that traditional country sound, a bit better production without trying to super produce a song. I am really liking what is

12

GayCalgary Magazine #140, July 2015

happening with that. There are those inflections of Johnny and June coming back. I see a shift where there are two separate sides of country, and it wouldn’t surprise me if there is going to be a new country with a traditional sound. You can have two radio stations playing country music with completely different playlists. They predicted this happening in 1996 when the Dixie Chicks came out. I was like ‘No, they are still traditional country; they play banjo and mandolin and fiddle’. Now it is happening where the pop side of country music is taking off one way, and the traditional side is taking off the other way. I think it’s a good thing.”

At 44, Aaron Pritchett still leaves everything on stage, something you can expect June 28th at the rodeo.

“To be honest, performing at 44 compared to 31, there is nothing different. If anything it is more energy, which is sort of strange. I find myself on stage going ‘How come I am still running around and my knees and hips aren’t hurting and I am not out of breath as much as I thought I would be at this stage?’ What keeps me going is the crowds. They sing along from the first song I play, “Let’s Get Rowdy”, and by the end they are chanting “Hold My Beer”. That’s an adrenaline rush.

Ten per cent of my day is the glamourous part being on stage, and that is the most energetic by far – pouring sweat and putting everything I have into these songs on stage. That keeps me motivated and I feel more energetic every time I get on stage.

Who knows – maybe I will be 80 and need an oxygen tank, but I’ll still be trying to run around like I do now. It is a loud, in your face, high energy show; start to finish. We start with a bang and end with a bigger bang. We try and have an awesome time. I try and make people feel like they are on stage with me and having as much fun as I am having. I like to feel like I am in the crowd at a really killer show. Hopefully I leave them wanting more; that’s my goal.”

Aaron Pritchett http://www.Aaron-Pritchett.com Live at the CRIR http://www.argra.org June 28th, 2015 Strathmore, Alberta http://www.gaycalgary.com/a4712 View Bonus Pics/Videos • Share with a Friend • Post Comments

www.gaycalgary.com

Photography Edmonton Pride 2015 - Parade and Street Festival http://gaycalgary.com/pa973

14

GayCalgary Magazine #140, July 2015

www.gaycalgary.com

Photography

www.gaycalgary.com

GayCalgary Magazine #140, July 2015

15

Politics

Irish Pluck Moves Equality Forward

By Stephen Lock Ten years after equal marriage became the law of the land in Canada, our cousins to the south have finally stepped up to the plate and made it law there as well, or at least their Supreme Court has.

The vote was close: 5 to 4 in favour, with Justices John Roberts (Chief Justice), Antonin Scalia, Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas dissenting. All four are strongly conservative.

In his dissenting opinion, Chief Justice Roberts wrote, “This court is not a legislature. Whether same-sex marriage is a good idea should be of no concern to us”. He read this summary of dissent from the bench, something he has not done in the nearly ten years he has been Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, adding, “If you are among the many Americans – of whatever sexual orientation – who favour expanding same-sex marriage, by all means celebrate today’s decision, but do not celebrate the Constitution; it had nothing to do with it.”

Justice Scalia said his concern was not so much about same-sex marriage per se as what he perceived as “this court’s threat to American democracy”, despite a significant majority of Americans being in favour of equal marriage, and even going so far as to label the decision a “judicial putsch”.

For those not familiar with the term, putsch means a violent overthrow of a government, and is most closely identified with the Munich “Beer Hall” Putsch of 1923, in which the fledging Nazi Party attempted to seize power by violence. Hitler was arrested, charged with treason, and sentenced to five years, but was out in nine months. It was during his time in prison he wrote his infamous Mein Kampf (My Struggle), the ‘bible’ of the Nazi Party, and formulated his plan to gain power through perverting and exploiting legitimate channels.

The National Conference of Catholic Bishops, predictably, also criticized the ruling, deeming it was “profoundly immoral and unjust for the government to declare that two people of the same sex can constitute a marriage.”

The ruling ends the bans against same-sex marriage that still existed in 14 states and, in essence, makes equal marriage legal on a federal and national level. Critics, of course, see this as interference in state rights, long a source of conflict between individual states and the Federal government. Similar concerns were frequently raised during the 1960’s Civil Rights movement, and racial desegregation of public spaces and schools.

The issue of equal marriage has been a long drawn-out affair in the United States, even more so than it was when Canada was going through it. Unlike Canada, individual states enjoy far more autonomy than our individual provinces and territories do; Canada has always been a more federalist country than the U.S. has, with defined, but limited, powers assigned to the provinces and territories and other powers held by Parliament and the federal government. Our system of government is far more centralized than that of our neighbour’s.

In the U.S,. some states legalized – or in some way officially recognized – either same-sex unions/domestic partnerships or actually instituted legal same-sex marriage, while other states did not; some even amending their state constitutions to

define marriage as only being admissible between a man and a woman, thereby effectively rendering same-sex marriage illegal.

The decision by the Supreme Court renders those rulings and state laws null and void.

Justice Anthony Kennedy, who voted in favour of equal marriage, stated the 14th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States requires states to allow same-sex couples to marry on the same basis as opposite-sex couples can.

The Amendment, adopted in 1868 following the American Civil War, addresses citizenship rights and equal protection under the law, and was originally drafted to address issues regarding former slaves who were now free, but did not have any of the same rights enjoyed by their former masters. It was bitterly contested at the time by southern states, which were eventually forced to ratify it in order to regain representation in Congress. The amendment limits the actions of all state and local officials, including those acting on behalf of such an official, in favour of federal jurisdiction.

The first section of the Amendment contains several clauses dealing with citizenship issues, due process of law, and equal protection under the law. It is the Equal Protection Clause, which states each state is required to provide protection under the law to all people within its jurisdiction, that formed the basis of the constitutional challenge launched by James Obergefell, heard by the Supreme Court, and upon which the majority opinion in favour of equal marriage was based.

As in Canada, concerns centering around freedom of religion and religious belief informed much of the opposition. However, also as in Canada, nowhere does the ruling in favour of equal marriage require faith groups to condone, let alone have to perform, same-sex weddings if doing so contravenes religious beliefs. The ruling deals only with civil marriage, not religious ceremonies which essentially ‘ratify’ civilly legal marriages, anyway. It is The State that makes a marriage legal, not the temple, synagogue, church or mosque that performs a marriage ceremony.

If one chooses to marry in front of a marriage commissioner, a judge (in the U.S.) or other civil officer mandated to perform marriages, that is a legal marriage. If one chooses and is able to be married by a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam, that too would constitute a legal marriage, but only because the marriage is already recognized under law. A religious ceremony has no actual legal weight in and of itself, except within the faith group, such as within the Roman Catholic Church where, unless one is married ‘within the Church’, the Church does not recognize the marriage as valid. Likewise divorce, while civilly recognized as legal and binding, is not recognized as such by the Church; divorced Roman Catholic couples, for instance, cannot re-marry within the Church if the former spouse is still alive. In the eyes of the Church, this would be considered adulterous and bigamist. Other faith groups, such as the Church of England, Orthodox Judaism, and Islam, hold the same views.

With the ruling, handed down on June 26th, 2015, same-sex couples were immediately able to marry nation-wide – legally and valid – including in those states which had, up until the ruling, declared same-sex marriage invalid if not outright illegal.

Those states included Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, North and South Dakota, Tennessee, and Texas: almost all southern states and all heavily Republican.

http://www.gaycalgary.com/a4731 View Bonus Pics/Videos • Share with a Friend • Post Comments 16

GayCalgary Magazine #140, July 2015

www.gaycalgary.com

Community

Discussing Community Safety Reporting domestic violence

By Constable Andy Buck Hello again everyone. Well, what a fabulous weekend at ARGRA rodeo. The weather was amazing, unless of course you happened to be in full uniform with body armour!

Credit is due to the organizers for managing to attract such high-calibre performers such as LeAnn Rimes, the Village People and George Canyon, amongst others. I want to thank all of you who took the time to say hello over the weekend, and for giving me such amazing support during Grand Entry. You succeeded in reaffirming my belief that I have the best job with the Calgary Police Service.

Of course the onset of the hot weather usually means an increase in alcohol consumption. There is nothing wrong with that if kept to moderation however, as a police officer, I all too frequently see the result of alcohol-related incidents, whether that be impaired driving, assaults and domestic violence, or just plain stupidity where people put themselves or others at risk. I had the misfortune to hear about a domestic related incident just this week, and I know that lots of times this goes unreported. That does not make it right, and I want to assure all of you victims that we are here to help, and take this extremely seriously. And to any offenders out there, please know that violence is never an excuse and you will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

Restraining order: A restraining order is granted by the civil courts. It is very similar to an EPO, except police cannot apply for it or be involved in any matter.

Police only have the powers to deal with criminal matters and not civil matters. There is no criminal offence for breaching a restraining order. This is why EPOs were developed.

So you can see, there are a few options available, but we as police officers can only act if we are made aware of these incidents. Nobody has anything to fear by reporting domestic violence, and remember, I am always available for help and advice.

We are all people, so let’s love each other and not hurt each other.

How can we expect others to accept us if we find it hard to accept ourselves? I hope you enjoyed Stampede – if you participate in the festivities – but go easy on the alcohol! As always, stay safe, look after each other, and feel free to contact me with any questions, comments or concerns.

Constable Andy Buck 403-428-8154 • pol4792@calgarypolice.ca http://www.gaycalgary.com/a4732 View Bonus Pics/Videos • Share with a Friend • Post Comments

With that in mind, and because bad things do still happen, I want to provide a bit of information about domestic violence. If you’re involved in an emergency situation, please call 9-1-1 immediately.

Otherwise, call the police non-emergency line at 403-266-1234.

Police investigators are responsible for following up the incident, interviewing the complainant and assessing the person’s level of risk.

We also help the complainant navigate the legal system – often laying additional charges – and connect the victim with support services within the community. If the person is at risk, we are able to provide safety planning and other options.

We also investigate all high-risk, habitual stalking offences, especially where there was a previous interpersonal relationship.

Police investigations are held in the strictest of confidentiality.

There are plenty of resources for victims of domestic violence on the CPS website, or feel free to contact me directly, although not in an emergency situation.

There are two types of orders available for those requiring protection against family violence:

Emergency Protection Order: An EPO is an order that police obtain from the court to provide immediate protection for an abused family member where there is reasonable belief that family violence may occur. It is only available in emergency situations when action is required for the protection of the person making the claim. Complainant’s consent is required for the police to apply for this order.

A review of this order will take place within nine working days by the Court of Queen’s Bench Justice, where the Justice can grant the order for up to one year. A person can apply for an EPO without letting the abuser know about the application (this makes it different from a Queen’s Bench Protection Order). The application can be made by telephone or in person at any hour, 24-hours per day, seven days per week. In Calgary, the police usually make this application.

An EPO can, amongst other things, require that an abusive family member temporarily leave the home, not contact other family members, not come near a location, and give up any weapons. If the order is granted without the other person being present, a copy of the order must be served on that person as soon as possible by the police. Victims of domestic abuse can contact a lawyer free of charge through Calgary Legal Guidance or during business hours the Family Law Office at 403-297-6380.

www.gaycalgary.com

GayCalgary Magazine #140, July 2015

17

Lifestyle

Positive Thoughts Passing the Test

By Oriol R. Gutierrez Jr. Getting tested for HIV nowadays is a snap. In the era of over-the-counter rapid in-home testing, I’m befuddled why so many gay men, especially young guys, lack awareness of their HIV status.

I suppose part of the answer, at least for young guys, is plain old feelings of invincibility. All young and young-minded folks share in those feelings.

Perhaps, for some guys, not knowing gives them license to say they’re HIV negative, since for all they know they are. For others, perhaps not knowing insulates them from any potential pain of a positive result.

I could keep that list going, but the point is that countless reasons exist for not knowing. Many of those reasons may even seem reasonable. Well, I’m here to tell you that no reason you can come up with is a good one.

Maybe you’re just a procrastinator. No matter. I’m a world-class procrastinator myself. Procrastination isn’t a good reason. Being fine with getting tested in theory but delaying doing so in practice is only asking for trouble.

Knowing your HIV status is crucial. If you test negative, you have incentive to stay that way. If you test positive, you can start the process of staying healthy. Better to know now than to be blindsided later.

Although I’ve been living with HIV for more than two decades, I still remember what it’s like to get tested for the virus. The fear is understandable, but it shouldn’t stop you. Your health is paramount.

I passed my first HIV test with flying colors: Negative. At the time, I had just turned 21 and boy was I psyched. I was cleared for duty, so to speak, as well as legal to drink. Watch out world, here I come.

However, I was more careful this time around. Before that test, I hadn’t always adhered to the condom rule, although I knew the risks. Now that I was given this reprieve, I was determined not to squander it.

A year later, I failed my second HIV test: Positive. I found out the day after my 22nd birthday. My commanding officer in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve read my diagnosis from a script. Cold, but tactful.

I knew the positive result was correct, but denial took over. I retested twice before accepting the reality of my situation. At that moment, I started believing that I was going to die before I turned 30.

It was 1992. Effective HIV treatment wouldn’t arrive until 1996 and AIDS-related deaths were still increasing. The death of my boyfriend in 1994 only increased my fear that I wouldn’t live much longer.

Fast-forward over two decades. Turns out I’m still here and I plan on being here for a long time. Failing that HIV test wasn’t the end of the world, but I must admit that I still wish that I had passed it.

I’ve learned to live with HIV in my body, but the virus remains an unwelcome guest. If the cure for HIV was here tomorrow, I would quickly get in line. I have no romantic attachment to the virus.

I also have no attachment to any resentment about getting HIV. Despite my late boyfriend not telling me the truth about his being HIV positive, I agreed not to use condoms with him. We both shared in that decision.

I’m not alone. Much of why the epidemic continues can be explained by folks not knowing their status and transmitting HIV unintentionally, but also by couples who ditch condoms before they know for sure each is negative.

You could argue that my late boyfriend had a moral imperative to disclose his HIV status that was higher than my moral imperative to protect myself. Perhaps you could even be right. However, even after all this time, I still haven’t decided.

What I have decided, now having lived more than half of my life with HIV, is that I did the right thing for myself by forgiving him. I believe he never intended to transmit HIV, so forgiving him wasn’t too difficult for me.

The anger I felt toward him in the first few years after I seroconverted was soon trumped by the experience of now being in his shoes. Not pretty.

Rejection was everywhere. The stigma was stifling. I now understood.

And I still understand. Little has changed when it comes to HIV stigma.

Not only has the virus proven resistant to a cure, it also has resisted decades of attempts to eradicate the stigma surrounding it.

Strangely enough, I believe testing regularly for HIV would do wonders in stomping out stigma. If everyone did it, and did it often, folks would finally start feeling like it’s not so scary. Peer pressure at its best.

Oriol R. Gutierrez Jr. is the editor-in-chief of POZ magazine. Find him on Twitter @oriolgutierrez. This column is a project of Plus, Positively Aware, POZ, The Body and Q Syndicate, the LGBT wire service. Visit their websites — http://hivplusmag.com, http://positivelyaware.com, http://poz.com and http://thebody.com — for the latest updates on HIV/AIDS.

http://www.gaycalgary.com/a4729 View Bonus Pics/Videos • Share with a Friend • Post Comments 18

GayCalgary Magazine #140, July 2015

www.gaycalgary.com

Review

 Photos by Jason Clevett

Rush in Review

An epic night from an epic band

By Jason Clevett For many, Rush’s R:40 stop at the Saddledome July 15th might have felt like it would never happen. Their previous Clockwork Angels tour, in 2012, visited Edmonton only, and then when they looped back around with a 2013 Calgary date it was moved to Red Deer because of the flood (the band donated all proceeds from that show to Alberta Flood Aid, which speaks volumes). All in all it was almost eight years to the day since Rush played Calgary, so when the trio of Geddy Lee, Neil Peart and Alex Lifeson took the stage, it was almost a cathartic reaction from an audience that has waited far too long to see their rock heroes.

of all of the great Canadian acts that have made names at home and internationally, few have had the influence of Rush. From pop culture TV and Film (I Love You Man, South Park) to instantly recognizable songs, you cannot help but respect what the trio has accomplished over their career. For those lucky enough to catch this tour, they can proudly add Rush to the ultimate concert bucket list.

http://www.gaycalgary.com/a4734 View Bonus Pics/Videos • Share with a Friend • Post Comments

From the opening moments of The Anarchist and The Wreckers, the trio showcased what has made them a Canadian success story for the past 40 years. As a first time Rush concert attendee, I couldn’t help but be impressed with the musical chops, displayed frequently in lengthy guitar solos and Pearts’s powerful drumming. While very serious on stage the band clearly does not take itself too seriously, with funny video intros as well as celebrity cameos from the likes of Paul Rudd, Jason Seagal and Peter Dinklage lipsyncing the rap on “Roll The Bones”.

It was a spectacle suitable for one of Canada’s biggest bands, and a fitting farewell for the group, which has announced that this will be their final large-scale tour. Lee even joked “due to our advanced age, we will take a brief intermission, but will be back” partway through the three-hour show. Despite their age the bands outplayed and outperformed artists decades younger. In the day of 75 to 90 minute shows, with $100-plus price tags, fans truly got their money’s worth.

During the second half, the band really brought their A-game, kicking things off with the legendary “Tom Sawyer” and adding other mainstream hits like “The Spirit of the Radio” and “Closer To The Heart”. Lee’s trademark voice showed no sign of strain as he hit the notes made famous over the decades. By the final notes of “Working Man” everyone was worn out from an epic night of classic Canadian rock.

This year is a big year for fans of Canadian music from the past few decades. Calgary has already seen Bryan Adams and The Tragically Hip perform, and the list for later this year includes the likes of Barenaked Ladies, The Tea Party and Shania Twain, among others. Yet,

20

GayCalgary Magazine #140, July 2015

www.gaycalgary.com

Interview

What the Devil!

Mark Pellegrino on network politics and making the devil his own

By Mars Tonic Mark Pellegrino has played every single character you can think of that might give you the shivers. The mysterious and enigmatic Jacob on Lost; the distressed and distraught Devil on Supernatural, and his unfortunate ‘human meat suit’ Nick; the dreaded Bishop in Being Human. More recently he starred as one of the main antagonists in The Tomorrow People, which, unfortunately, only got a single season before it was cancelled.

Like most actors, Mark seems to embody the opposite of his characters – he’s playful, mild-mannered, and rather stylish.

He is also a lot taller than expected – everyone who has been on Supernatural looks short due to the rather hulking heights of the two main characters (it is probably considered to be an occupational hazard by now).

We caught up with Mark recently to discuss his past projects and his experiences in genre television – and also what it was like playing a character like the Devil, one of the most prominent storytelling roles since people began writing them down.

 Mark Pellegrino photo by the CW

Watch the video interview online p

GC: Nick was a sweet man.

MP: Nick was a sweet guy! I think he’s in a monastery somewhere

recuperating from the Lucifer inhabitation. And they need to bring Nick back as the only vessel that can inhabit the Lucifer... stuff.

Whatever that stuff is.

You hear that, Supernatural writers? Get on that stuff!

GC: You have been in quite a lot of genre-specific shows. What’s it

like working in those areas?

http://www.gaycalgary.com/a4736 View Bonus Pics/Videos • Share with a Friend • Post Comments

MP: Really fun. You know what though? I’m bouncing around

different shows, but it feels like one big family, mainly because the sci-fi genre has a huge family of followers. Regardless of what show I’m on it feels like we’re all kind of in the same house.

GC: What about The Tomorrow People? It didn’t go very far, but it was a great show.

MP: It was fun working with those kids, with Robbie [Amell]. It’s sad when a show, where you start with the ground floor and do a season all the way through, doesn’t go to the next season. And you’ve built a lot of relationships, and then you go your separate ways. It sucks.

GC: It’s a bit of a gamble with a first season.

MP: And it’s complicated, because we would switch airing nights

and things got sketchy, and the audience didn’t quite get the shifts.

Network politics. It’s crazy.

GC: On Supernatural you played Lucifer. Even though, through possession, Lucifer could be anyone, I think we all think of you, when we think of Satan.

MP: Right – right? Thank you very much for that! In other shows why do they always get Brits to do Lucifer? Am I the only American actor?

GC: I think so! If you have an English accent you can be villainous.

Maybe that’s why your Lucifer is so kindly.

MP: Oh, I guess Pacino was Lucifer too! I just saw that recently.

GC: Well in that case, what was it like inhabiting a role that so

many others have played?

MP: Pretty fantastic! Because I made it MINE! [laughs] GC: How did you approach it?

MP: You know, it was written like an everyman, so I just approached

it from the point of view of what I thought the dynamic problem was for the character. And for Lucifer, it was a family squabble. He had been betrayed and he wanted revenge, so it was a simple revenge story, I thought, and that was the way I approached it.

GC: At the last convention I went to with you there, you had no idea what was going on with Supernatural.

MP: I’m so far behind; I feel bad. Why aren’t they bringing Lucifer up though? Or should I say Nick, because Lucifer could be anybody, right?

www.gaycalgary.com

GayCalgary Magazine #140, July 2015

21

Photography Canadian Rockies International Rodeo & Music Fest 2015, Strathmore http://gaycalgary.com/pa982

22

GayCalgary Magazine #140, July 2015

www.gaycalgary.com

Photography

www.gaycalgary.com

GayCalgary Magazine #140, July 2015

23

Gossip Pump, the location of the reality series Vanderpump Rules.

Somebody put 2+2 together and decided to give The Abbey its own reality series, too. Lucky, lucky all of us who like to watch TV shows about bickering bartenders. Not that The Abbey doesn’t deserve some sort of recognition: It was voted two-time winner of Logo’s “Best Gay Bar in The World” award, an honor that carries weight throughout the global population of tipsy gays. So it was time for the place to be the star of its own show. And to that end, TV-ready staff is being auditioned to pretend to work there as hard as the aspiring actors who already work there. See how entertainment works? No shoot dates yet. No network announced yet. But if the final product can approach even half of the pleasure that The A-List New York was (Miss you Rodiney. So much.) then it’s going to be must-watch television.

Ellen Page and Allison Janney re-team for Tallulah Orange is The New Black writer Sian Heder is directing her first feature, Tallulah, and the main cast has known each other for a minute. Ellen Page (the upcoming, long-awaited Freeheld) and Allison Janney (CBS’s Mom) have already worked together in Juno and in Lynn Shelton’s indie Touchy Feely, but they’ll soon team up for Heder’s dramatic comedy about three women and a baby that, depending on which plot synopsis you’re reading, is either being kidnapped from or rescued by a babysitter and a Beverly Hills housewife. Maybe it’s all of those things at once, we’re not sure, but we trust the comedic power from this creative team. The project is currently in the pre-production stage, so we don’t even know the identity of the third lead yet. Updates as they surface.

The lesbian movie of the Summer can’t get here soon enough

 Jane Lynch

Deep Inside Hollywood Jane Lynch is ‘angel from hell,’ The Abbey, Ellen Page and Allison Janney

By Romeo San Vicente Jane Lynch is an Angel From Hell There was never a question in our minds that after Glee ended, its breakout star, Jane Lynch, would fly even higher than before. So it’s barely news – even though it’s totally breaking news – that you’ll be seeing her again on the small screen this fall in Angel From Hell. The sitcom stars Maggie Lawson as a doctor with a “perfect” life, but whose existence nevertheless endures the arrival of Lynch, her guardian angel. Lawson, of course, assumes that new “friend” is a drunken lunatic, but Lynch assures her that she is, in fact, a guardian angel. And then every warning the erstwhile Sue Sylvester delivers comes true. The single-camera series co-stars Kevin Pollak and Kyle Bornheimer and will arrive at CBS this November, just in time for you to be really thankful for it.

The fact is that The Summer of Sangaile may not get to you before the end of summer. It’s a small film. It’s a small film from Lithuania. It’s a small film from Lithuania that’s still on the film festival circuit and will continue on that course until at least August. But it’s one you’ll want to see when you get your chance. That’s because it’s yet another sensitive, emotional, drama about two teenage girls (newcomers Aiste Dirziute and Julija Steponaityte) who fall into a swooning, mutually bolstering romance, and it’s good. It’s very, very good. It follows in the tradition of The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls In Love and My Summer of Love and Show Me Love, and it’s already getting rave reviews from critics and audiences everywhere it screens. And now you know what your most anticipated lesbian-centric film of the year is going to be.

(That is, unless you’ve not yet acquainted yourself with the one named for a man but that’s all about Imperator Furiosa).

For the rest of you, we guess you’ll just have to go watch Entourage over and over. Sorry.

Romeo San Vicente is ready for his first lesbian fling.

http://www.gaycalgary.com/a4716 View Bonus Pics/Videos • Share with a Friend • Post Comments

The Abbey is coming to TV. No, not the one at Downton.

There is a gay bar in West Hollywood that is very large and very popular. It’s called The Abbey. It sits right next to 24

GayCalgary Magazine #140, July 2015

www.gaycalgary.com

Community

Tackling Homelessness and Counselling Needs Calgary Outlink Branches Out

By Dallas Barnes Calgary Outlink has been leading the way in our city’s LGBTQ community by providing resources, support groups, and the necessary OUT-IS-OK line for years.

Not to outdo themselves, they have raised the bar even higher. Starting this month, Outlink will be offering free counselling, and has begun the process of creating a safe shelters project for our LGBTQ folks in need.

“The safer shelters project is close to my heart due to my personal experience with homelessness and working with youth experiencing homelessness in Calgary,” says Stasha Huntingford, of the Calgary Outlink Safe Shelter Program. “I believe this research will raise awareness of what LGBTQ2S+ people experience when accessing supports, and the role of discrimination and social isolation in homelessness.”

Three University of Calgary medical students produced a summary of recommendations taken from assorted North American resources that addressed LGBTQ populations along with homelessness and shelter use. It is with this information that Calgary Outlink hopes to create the Safe Shelters Project.

In order to begin this much-needed program, Outlink needs the help of the public. There is an official call out for folks that wish to join an ethics committee, charged with

www.gaycalgary.com

creating the foundation for the program to be built. If you are a member of the LGBTQ2S+ community, a man who has had sex with men (MSM) or woman who had sex with women (WSW), or have had past or current experiences with homelessness or precarious housing, Outlink would love to have you join a community research ethics board for its research project on informing safer shelters. No previous research experience is necessary to join, and the Community Research Ethics Board members will be paid an honourarium for their time.

On top of this exciting development, Calgary Outlink will also be expanding its counselling program in months to come. With one counsellor alrady hired, there will be more to fill the much needed addition to Outlink. This will be a free service to the community. Stay tuned for future announcements.

Of course there is also a need for dedicated volunteers as these programs take off. If you are interested in applying to be a volunteer, please visit the Calgary Outlink website at http://www.calgaryoutlink.ca/.

http://www.gaycalgary.com/a4733 View Bonus Pics/Videos • Share with a Friend • Post Comments

GayCalgary Magazine #140, July 2015

25

Matt Bomer - More Than Meets the Eye

Magic Mike star on telling his kids he’s in a stripper movie, Channing flattery and indecent gyrati

By Chris Azzopardi Matt Bomer is not buying all the buzz about Matt Bomer.

Channeling his trademark charm, the actor calls it “sheer fallacy” that anyone – let alone heterosexual men – could possibly find his piercing baby-blue eyes swoon-worthy.

And then there’s his body. On display in all its near-nakedness in Magic Mike XXL, Bomer is modest about his sculpted physique. You expect it, of course. The 37-year-old dreamboat – just ask Channing Tatum – was born in Missouri and raised in Texas, and he hasn’t strayed from his humble Southern roots despite scorching screen after screen.

Not just with a striptease, either.

His Golden Globe-winning performance as Felix Turner in HBO’s powerful adaptation of Larry Kramer’s 1985 play The Normal Heart was a tear-jerking tour de force. And soon, Bomer will bring the spooks, starring alongside Lady Gaga during the upcoming American Horror Story: Hotel, another collaboration with Ryan Murphy (both worked together previously on Glee and The New Normal).

We talked to Bomer about geeking out to Gaga, explaining Magic Mike to his sons and how Channing Tatum made him blush.

GC: You and your Magic Mike co-star Channing Tatum recently made a surprise appearance at LA Pride. As a gay man yourself, what was it like having Channing show his support for you and the rest of the LGBT community?

MB: It’s one of the many things that makes him the magnanimous, amazing, cherished soul that he is. It was his idea, to be honest with you. And he didn’t have to do it. The reality of the situation is, it wasn’t some PR move on his part – he wanted to be inclusive,

28

GayCalgary Magazine #140, July 2015

and that’s a big part of who he is as a human being. So, given the opportunity to work with him, and really everybody in this cast – they’re just a great example of what we all can be, which are people who are secure in themselves, and loving and accepting of people no matter who they are and where they come from.

GC: Channing was very complimentary toward you in his recent Reddit AMA interview. He said he “absofuckinglutely” gets lost in your eyes, and that “I don’t know what they are made of outside of dreams and rainbows and amazingness…” How did you react when you learned of his enthusiasm for you?

MB: (Laughs) I mean, obviously, I blushed. Knowing Channing, and what a kind soul he is, I guess when you’re the most handsome man on the planet – and probably the most desired man on the planet – you have the security to give those kinds of compliments.

And so, it was great. It made my day, of course! I and the rest of the world feel the same way about him.

GC: Your eyes get a lot of attention from a lot of people. Have they always stopped traffic?

MB: I don’t think they do! I think that’s sheer fallacy and kindness on the part of others. (Laughs) No – I’m still just trying to wake up in the morning with the kids, so I don’t really have time to think about that. More like, “Do I look like I got five hours of sleep last night?!”

GC: So there’s a gay bar scene in Magic Mike XXL. MB: How great is that, to have a gay bar scene with a full-on drag

show and some of the best voguers in the world? I mean, it was like a little vogue ball going on.

GC: Did you shoot at a real gay bar?

www.gaycalgary.com

es

ions

 photos by Warner Bros

MB: I’m not sure, to be honest with you. They sure made the location feel like it! I didn’t ask; you roll up on set and that’s where you are that day. I wasn’t like, “Guys, is this a legit gay bar?!” The set-dec team on this movie is so gifted, so everywhere you go you just think, “Oh, this is what it is!”

GC: It’s good to see you have more lines in XXL. MB: Well, that wouldn’t be hard. I would only have had to say,

MB: Oh my god. I mean, that was the best white man’s attempt I could make at that song. I just tried to stay in the game, man. I mean, that vocal and that song – I couldn’t believe we were even trying to touch it.

GC: Were you intimidated?

MB: Of course! The whole thing was Channing’s idea. We did the

GC: And the singing! You get to cover D’Angelo’s “Untitled (How Does It Feel).”

first movie on a tiny budget, and we entertained the extras between takes. One time he just threw them right in front of my face and was like, “Do something entertaining.” That’s the creative, spontaneous soul that Channing is, and Joe (Manganiello) has known me since we were 18 and so (Joe) was like, “You should sing something!” And

www.gaycalgary.com

like, two or three words to have more lines than I had in the first one. (Laughs)

GayCalgary Magazine #140, July 2015

29

I was like, “What do I sing?”

Channing was like, “I don’t know – sing some Jodeci.” And so I did!

of their world. In terms of a real conversation as to what that is, that probably won’t start until they’re teenagers. (Laughs)

He remembered that for the second movie. He was like, “Why don’t you sing something?

What song would you sing?” I was like, “Obviously the sexiest song of all time is ‘How Does It Feel’ by D’Angelo, but I’m not gonna touch that song.”

He was like, “Why don’t you give it a try?” So I basically recorded a vocal over a karaoke track, more or less – I ended up singing it live in the movie – but that recording is basically what we used to choreograph the piece and what we based the eventual performance on.

And by the way, they keep me real grounded and real down to earth about it all. I remember I was actually taking my older son to see Jurassic World, and on the way there was the billboard and I was like, “Ah, crap.” And he brought it up. “Hey, that’s you on that billboard.” I was like, “Yeah.”

And he goes, “But they’re not all you.” Like, you ain’t that cool. (Laughs) The interesting thing about kids is, they don’t care what you do so much or what other people think about you; they’re more interested in what your relationship with them is like and how you prioritize them in your life. I try to make a strong effort to make them know they’re always number one for me.

GC: What do you remember thinking the first time you saw D’Angelo bare almost all during the “Untitled” video?

MB: Honestly, I got Voodoo as soon as it came out (in 2000), and I remember hearing that song and just playing it over and over again. And there’s an extended cut of that song that’s, like, seven minutes long! I was just so fascinated to hear a song that’s in sixeight time, and I know that’s musician lingo, but it was so inherently sexy in such an effortless way. Seeing the video was icing on the cake. I think I was like, “How do you get that jacked? How do you get in that kind of shape?” And then I was also like, “Was he really naked?!”

GC: As an actor, what’s it like to go from a role in a movie that’s as intense as The Normal Heart to Magic Mike XXL? Is that balance critical for you as a person?

MB: I’ll be honest with you, it was for me, man. I went from Normal Heart into the last season of a show I’d done for six years (USA’s White Collar, 2009-2014), and then into a couple of more serious roles in other films, and this was the perfect break. The thing about being an actor is you approach your work the same regardless of what the role is or what the genre is or what the themes are – you try to put the same amount of work into it – but it was certainly nice and a breath of fresh air to get to chill out and have fun with these guys.

GC: And now you are that jacked in Magic Mike.

MB: Oh please! Not even.

GC: As they get older, how

will you explain Magic Mike to your three sons?

MB: You know, I think the dialogue has already begun.

I think it’s dangerous to just ignore something. Fortunately or unfortunately there are billboards on the way to their school, so when I’m driving them to school in the morning – the first couple of times I tried to duck my head – they realize it’s me. So, I told them when I was doing the movie, “This is a movie I’m doing where we play dancers and we have fun and we try to entertain these ladies.” I try to frame it in a context that they can understand so that they’re not just operating in the dark and going, “Why is my dad naked on a billboard?” Because I’m trying to help them make sense

30

GC: You came out publicly in 2012, and you handled it with so much grace and subtlety. These days, there’s a lot of pressure on Hollywood actors to take that step. Where do you stand on the role of public Hollywood figures in terms of advancing the gay movement?

 photos by David Roemer

GayCalgary Magazine #140, July 2015

You know, it’s not my business to get up on a soapbox and tell people what they should and shouldn’t do. I think one thing that people don’t always take into consideration is a holistic aspect of what may or may not be going on in that individual’s life – you know, what kind of relationship they have with their family, how

www.gaycalgary.com

the people around them feel about it. But for me, having kids and being married, it was important to maintain the integrity of those relationships and not teach my kids that this is a shameful secret and that my husband (Simon Halls) has to be waiting in the wings all the time. So that’s why it was important to me personally. By the same token, I don’t hold anyone else accountable. It’s their choice.

drugs, but there’s no judgment about it. It’s these guys who are in this world trying to forget who they are but also accepting everything and everyone around them. That’s me and something I take with me in my life.

GC: Now onto American Horror Story. According to a tweet from Ryan Murphy, Lady Gaga has to choose between you and actor Finn Wittrock during the upcoming season of American Horror Story: Hotel. First of all, have you even read the script yet?

http://www.gaycalgary.com/a4735 View Bonus Pics/Videos • Share with a Friend • Post Comments

MB: (Laughs) That’s a great question. You’re the first person who’s started with that question, which I think is, ultimately, the most important question. I’ve read a couple of them. I wish I could tell you more. Honestly, I have no specifics of who’s playing which role and what Finn is playing, but I have a tremendous amount of respect for him as an actor and a person, and I’m incredibly excited to work with Stefani (Germanotta, aka Lady Gaga) as well and see what she brings to the table. And listen, Ryan is a creative genius.

He really is. Nobody does a show quite like he does, so I’m really excited to get to play in that twisted and beautiful world they’ve created. Whatever they bring my way, I’m down.

GC: Which Lady Gaga song could you see yourself stripping to?

MB: Oh, you mean which one do I blast full volume in my car?

I don’t know which one I’d strip to, to be honest with you, but I definitely get down to The Edge of Glory in my car and just geek out to it. If anyone saw me at a stop light, they would think I was crazy.

I just let it fly in the car. I’ll do that.

Do you ever watch that show Broad City? It’s everything. I’m so in love with these two girls who are the leads, and one of them at one point finally gets the apartment to herself and she blasts Edge of Glory and just does a full-on dance around her apartment. I will straight up do the same thing at my house when I get, you know, two free seconds.

GC: How have the moves you’ve learned from doing two Magic Mike movies been an asset to you in your own life?

MB: Um, they haven’t been. (Laughs) First of all, after we finished the first film, my sister got married shortly thereafter, and I took some of my new gyrations to the dance floor at her wedding reception. I realized very quickly, after getting some scathing looks from my cousins, that some things are just best left in the club and not brought to your sister’s wedding reception party. Like, “Oh, I better check myself – I’m not in Magic Mike anymore!” (Laughs) The nice thing about this movie, and what I personally love, is it’s about freedom, it’s about being comfortable with yourself – especially the second one. It’s about acceptance and a lack of judgment no matter who you are or where you come from. What I love about this world, this kind of odyssey that these guys all go on – yeah, they’re in a drag club, and then they’re at this party where people are doing

www.gaycalgary.com

GayCalgary Magazine #140, July 2015

31

Photography Interview

Tim Hicks

Just because it’s country doesn’t mean it’s straight

By Carey Rutherford Tim Hicks and his band, successfully touring their new country-rockish album 5:01, will be appearing Friday night at the CRIR music festival in Strathmore. GC had the chance to talk to him about new music success, Tim Horton’s, as well as diversity and acceptance in country music.

GC: Instrumentally, what did you play on this new record?

TH: Actually, I just sang on this album. Nashville is rooted in tradition, and I don’t think they take kindly to people changing that (laughs). So often in country we’ll use session musicians.

I’ve played a lot in [recording] studios before: it just worked out; budget-wise and timing-wise, to have someone else to play.

Otherwise, live, I play acoustic guitar, electric guitar; piano was my first instrument.

GC: That seems kind of old school – music business-wise.

TH: It is! And it’s kind of hard to wrap your head around having two bands as well, because your ‘band’ in the studio is usually attached to your producer. . . whose job is to oversee the vision of the music. And what they say is I’ve worked with these guys before: I’m comfortable with them; we speak the same language.

I never have any qualms with whomever anybody picks; they’re all great players in Nashville. And separate from that you have your touring band. I’ve have the same guys in the band,

32

GayCalgary Magazine #140, July 2015

some of them . . . for 10 years or more at this point, which is really fun, because we’ve played everything from backyard parties, to chicken-wing bars, to arenas now, together. And we have these moments onstage, especially my bass-player Doug, ‘cause he kind of roams around. And he’ll come up and be yelling in my ear: How did we get here?! So it’s just so much fun for us – having been in the trenches together.

Tim talks about the details of ‘Music Row’: rows of music publishing houses in Nashville, and the trappings of music industry business details; the writing and A&R and management people (“That sit around a table and talk like you’re not there,” he says, with equanimity).

TH: It can be intimidating as well – I’ve been my own master for so long – all these managers, and label people, and marketing people, and everyone chiming in; I’ve learned to really look to them for advice [but], at the end of the day, they let me choose, so I do have that control.

GC is VERY happy that Tim Hicks’ song, “Stronger Beer” (with a million views online), mentions the superiority of Tim Horton’s TH: That was a song that was never meant for anyone to hear, other than (one of my managers) who’s from West Virginia: we call him an honourary Canadian. I was in Nashville, and my co-writer picked me up and I said On the way to the studio, I’d like to hit a Shoppers’ and get a pack of Smarties for while we work, and he said Man, I have no idea what you just said. [We kidded each other a bit], and when I explained that in the CFL we use a bigger ball and a longer field, he said Oh man, too easy! We have to write this song! For a joke! And I sent it in to (the manager) Denny, expecting fully for him to call me or email me back, saying Ha Ha. Funny guys. Now get to work! Instead the call is: We love it! You’re gonna cut it!

GC: Okay, so how can country music and rodeo be gayfriendly and diversity promoting?

TH: I’m honoured to be part of [the CRIR event organized by the Alberta Rockies Gay Rodeo Association]. I think that it’s time for a thing like this to happen. It seems to me that country music, and the whole diversity of people around that, is changing and becoming more receptive.

It’s 2015! EVERYONE should be accepted at ANY kind of music festival. Music is meant to be universal. It shouldn’t be compartmentalized, and just because it’s country music doesn’t mean it belongs to straight people! To me, it belongs to humans, which is everybody.

I’m proud to be a part of it, and I know it’s going to be an incredible party! . . . It’s unique and it’s exciting, because everyone should be included in every event, and not feel like, because they’re gay/lesbian/bi that, ‘Oh, I can’t be myself at the Calgary Stampede’. I just think that’s silly in this day and age.

I think people should be allowed to be who they are, regardless of who they are . . . I can’t wait to get out there and cause a riot!

Tebey, Kira Isabella, Tim Hicks and Ty Herndon party Friday night at the CRIR. Be sure to bring Tim some Timbits: a mixed 20 pack is a true sign of diversity!

Tim Hicks http://timhicksmusic.com/ Presented by the CRIR http://www.argra.org June 26th, 2015 Strathmore, Alberta http://www.gaycalgary.com/a4711 View Bonus Pics/Videos • Share with a Friend • Post Comments www.gaycalgary.com

Everything’s Coming Up Rose Bryne Bridesmaids actress talks Hollywood discrimination, playing gay and drag-inspired Spy role  photos by 20th Century Fox

By Chris Azzopardi Rose Byrne is up to no good again.

After driving Kristen Wiig further into cupcake-consuming meltdown mode during 2011’s Bridesmaids, the Australian actress goes full-on diva in Spy, which reunites her with director Paul Feig and co-star Melissa McCarthy. As McCarthy’s dead-serious, fashion-challenged Spy foe, Byrne – also known for roles in Neighbors, Damages and the X-Men movies – stars as the wickedly divine Raina Boyanov.

During our recent interview, Byrne talked about how her onscreen bouffant caused a hairy situation with the studio, the disparity between women and men in Hollywood films (“It’s discrimination”) and her caveat when it comes to playing gay.

GC: I know lots of queens who’d kill for your Raina hair in this movie. Who was your drag queen consultant?

RB: (Laughs) I’m very honored and flattered you say that.

As long as I have their approval, I’m done! (The studio) didn’t actually want my hair like that. Paul and I really had to fight for it. We had a specific idea of where she was from and what she looked like – a lot of money, no taste and very Eastern European. Very Marie Antoinette. And it’s a spy film, so style is such an important element of it – even if it’s bad style!

GC: I’m glad everyone could agree that bigger is better in this case. How did you convince the studio to see it your way?

RB: Once it was all together and we were on camera. It just all came together – the costume, the makeup, everything. And it just needed a little more. She’s quite still as a character, and I think (the hair) it says a lot! (Laughs) It was the stronger choice!

That’s how we convinced them. www.gaycalgary.com

GC: What did it feel like on top of your head?

RB: It felt good! I mean, it was heavy. It would move a lot too. Oh my goodness. It was constantly shifting because it was so big, and if I was waiting around, it would start to, like, deteriorate. Sarah Love, the hair designer on the film, did a brilliant job, because it was a lot.

GC: And how about all those flamboyant costumes you wore?

How much fun was it to play dress up? I mean, leopard pants!

RB: My leopard pants! And neoprene, which is an interesting fabric. I don’t know if you’ve heard of it...

GayCalgary Magazine #140, July 2015

33

GC: What’s it like wearing neoprene?

RB: It’s weirdly comfortable. A bit like a wetsuit. But yeah – it was a lot of fun. She’s a delectably delicious villainous.

GC: Did you feel like a drag queen on set?

RB: (Laughs) The shoes are pretty drag-ish. The shoes were major. They were about 5-inch pumps. Maaajor!

GC: Have you had a lot of wig experience prior to this movie?

RB: A little bit here and there. It actually wasn’t a wig; it was a piece. It was all my hair, and at the back she had a piece and then that had a big, long tail coming down. I have kind of big hair, so it was a bit of both.

GC: Between this movie and Bridesmaids, you really know how to play up the diva role. As an actress, where do you go, and who or what do you riff on, to achieve ultimate divadom?

RB: You know, probably RuPaul or someone fabulous like that. That’s a great diva!

Or someone like Dame Edna Everage – she’s a fantastic drag character by Barry Humphries, an Australian comedian/actor.

(Raina’s) very humorless.

And really psychotic, I suppose! I mean, she has no empathy with regard to anybody. Everyone is a servant. Playing real entitlement – sort of beyond entitlement, where she’s like

34

GayCalgary Magazine #140, July 2015

royalty – was an interesting place to start from. (Laughs) GC: Spy demonstrates that women can be as fearless and fierce as men in movies. Do you see this film making a feminist statement?

RB: I see it doing a few things. Paul Feig just breaks every convention, and he’s such a lover of women and continues to redefine gender roles in film. You see it in his films, which are really big films with big audiences that are entertaining and appealing.

Now, he’s putting Melissa, his muse, in the lead, and the lead antagonist is my character, who is also a woman. What other big films are doing that with budgets of this scale? Not many, if any, is the answer. So, I take my hat off to him for how much he’s done in the business in a very significant way.

GC: You co-founded an allfemale production company called The Dollhouse Creative, and you’ve starred in several films that pass the Bechdel Test. Why are films like Spy, films that close the gender gap, important?

RB: The statistics are still so dreadful for women in film.

Now the ACLU is doing an investigation into it because they’re starting to realize it’s actually discrimination – it’s not just good ol’ fashioned misogyny that everyone’s quietly tolerated for years.

The business is sort of the wrong way in the sense that the statistics are just really dreadful for women in terms www.gaycalgary.com

of speaking parts and paychecks for women. All that stuff that was leaked through the Internet when Sony was hacked – it all speaks for itself. So, it is beyond just misogyny. It’s legitimate discrimination based on gender, which is illegal. Any discrimination is, whether it’s sexuality, race or gender.

GC: With that said, do you plan on producing any films that feature lesbian women in lead roles?

RB: I hope so! I mean, two of my best friends are gay, a man and a woman – and during my life I’ve been surrounded by people from all different walks of life – so I’d love that. I mean, I just watched all of Transparent in a day and a half. It was the most entertaining and moving piece of work I’ve seen in years. I just thought it was beautiful and brilliant.

GC: Though you’ve played lesbian on the Australian TV show Fallen Angels, you’ve never actually been lesbian on the big screen. What kind of character would intrigue you enough to take on a lesbian role in a film?

RB: I would be honored to do something like that. I suppose it would be interesting to play a character who wasn’t defined by that, who just happened to be. Where it’s less of a defining thing and more of just a, “Why does it have to be such a big deal?” Like, why it is such a big deal that women are funny.

Same thing. I know we’re not there yet, but for sure, as an artist, I would love to tackle that.

GC: Your girl kiss with Halston Sage in Neighbors nabbed you an MTV Movie Award nomination. Can we talk about that kiss?

RB: (Laughs) I had a lot of fun! A lot of questions about that.

I was very lucky. She’s a gorgeous young belle.

GC: How much more aware were you of your lesbian admirers after that kissing scene?

RB: Really just when I get interviewed by people, yeah.

GC: That’s really the only time it comes up?

RB: Yeaaaah. I’m not kidding. (Laughs) GC: From your experience with the LGBT community, why do you think gay men are attracted to strong, empowered women like yourself and Melissa in Spy? RB: Probably because we are both part of groups that have been marginalized in some way. People who are gay and people who are women get generally marginalized just simply based on that, with no other merit added to the equation. I think there’s definitely a bonding over that.

GC: Last year you helped bring Annie back to the big screen.

What other musicals would you be interested in starring in?

RB: I’m not sure if you read the reviews for Annie, but .

(Laughs). It did not get well received.

GC: I did, and I didn’t wanna bring those up. But since you did...

RB: (Laughs) No plans yet, put it that way.

GC: Please tell me that you’ll at least have a cameo in Paul’s all-female Ghostbusters reboot.

RB: I know! We’ll see. He’s such a great guy and I’d be a part of anything he does, so absolutely.

GC: Who are some ladies in and out of Hollywood who empower you?

RB: I admire Glenn Close so much. She’s a dear friend, and she’s just wonderful. An incredible mother, wife and activist, and she does a lot for the mental health industry. She juggles a lot of hats and does it really gracefully. I really admire Glenn.

Also: Rosa Parks and Marie Curie – people who have really changed the world.

www.gaycalgary.com

http://www.gaycalgary.com/a4691 View Bonus Pics/Videos • Share with a Friend • Post Comments

GayCalgary Magazine #140, July 2015

35

The Reframing of Adam Lambert

The singer opens up about his ‘outlandish’ past, the lack of LGBT pop stars and his dating problems

By Chris Azzopardi Stripped of that glossy sheen, those painted nails and the purple mane that he famously flaunted on his 2009 post-American Idol debut, For Your Entertainment, Adam Lambert’s latest al-bum cover isn’t even in color. His hair still reaches the same towering heights as his voice on The Original High, but otherwise, he’s unadorned.

The glam is gone.

In our recent interview, the Idol alum comes clean about how a long period of “overcompensa-tion” – yes, the outfits – led him to the latest chapter in his life.

GC: People are calling The Original High a reinvention. Is that how you see it?

AL: It’s not the most far off thing. I consider it more like a “reframing.” I feel like it’s still me at the heart of it. It’s still my voice, but a little more grown up, and I feel like the sonic frame around the vocals is something new.

GC: Why tweak your sound?

AL: Because repeating myself would be sacrilege.

I will not repeat myself. But I don’t know – something new. I wanted to do something fresh, and I wanted to do something that sounded like my life, and this is the kind of music that I listen to.

GC: Do your famously passionate fans add pressure to the creative process?

36

GayCalgary Magazine #140, July 2015

www.gaycalgary.com

AL: Because my fans are so loyal and loving, and they’re so passionate about all the things that I do, I think that they recognize that if it’s something I believe in that’s exciting, they get excited by that. I always think about the fans, but with this album, more than ever, I’ve gone inward and wanted to make music that I have some integrity with, that meant something to me.

GC: Why at this point in your career?

AL: It’s time. It was time to make a shift, to do something a little different. I went through a lot of changes last year. I ended up leaving my first label (RCA Records), and I had to change management at the end of my last album; it was just time for something fresh. I just got off the tour with Queen, which was amazing for me and felt really good, and it gave me a lot of confidence and it made me not so scared about everything. It gave me a sense of career security in a way that I haven’t felt before.

GC: What were you scared of? You’ve clearly never had trouble being yourself.

AL: Over the last five years, right after Idol, I think there was a certain amount of overcom-pensation in certain ways. I was dressing really outlandishly, and it was a lot of fun and it’s defi-nitely a part of who I am to wanna play dress up, but I think it got to a point where I was hiding behind it a bit. Behind all of that, all of everything. It was like a preemptive defense mecha-nism. It’s like the kid who goes to high school dressed goth and he’s actually not into the devil at all but doesn’t wanna be bothered by anybody. (Laughs) I don’t think I realized it at the time, but I can see this in hindsight now. At the time I thought, “This is who I am; this is what I do,” and now it just feels like I’m in a new place in my life.

I’ve grown up and evolved and I’m in a new place, and the album – the subject matter and the sound – reflect that.

GC: When it comes to LGBT artists, you really helped pave the way. These days, how welcom-ing do you think the music industry is to queer artists?

www.gaycalgary.com

AL: I think things are definitely going in the right direction. I just wanna see more! The great thing about having more and more artists who identify as queer is it normalizes it so the media can’t sensationalize it as an idea. In the past, I felt the media painted me as someone who’s super hypersexual and someone who only wants to talk about his orientation.

While I’m very comfort-able doing that, I have a lot more to talk about in reality. So, it’s been interesting. But the more of us that are out there that provide some diversity, who can show different types of gay artists, it’ll make it so it’s not as much of a big deal.

It’ll be an afterthought. We’ll get to move toward a post-gay presence.

GC: Hearing your collaboration with Tove Lo on “Rumors” on this album got me thinking: What do you think of doing a love song with another gay male artist, like Sam Smith or Jake Shears?

AL: It’s certainly possible, yeah. With “Rumors,” it’s funny; you can listen to that and go, “Oh, it’s like a romantic duet,” but before we wrote it we were talking about being an artist in the in-dustry and having to maintain a personal life, and how it’s a little tricky and how it’s not always easy to balance the two. So, that’s what we were singing about; it doesn’t necessarily mean we’re singing to each other – it just means we’re singing about this thing together. But yeah, a du-et with a guy – who knows, it could happen!

GC: It should happen.

AL: You have to carry the flag! (Laughs) GC: Right?! Isn’t that what we’ve been saying since the beginning of your career?

AL: It’s definitely been interesting. Really interesting.

When I see that there can be a ripple effect of positivity and change and helping people just because I identify as one thing or another, and I’m OK to talk about it, that’s amazing. It’s amazing that it takes that little to make that much of an impact.

GC: American Idol wraps next year. In your opinion, what happened to the show?

Why ha-ven’t we seen another

 photos by David Roemer

GayCalgary Magazine #140, July 2015

37

Kelly or Carrie or Adam in recent years?

AL: I’m not totally sure about that, but I do know that when the show first started it was a time in America when we needed something like that. I mean, 9/11 had just happened, so our country was looking for something to believe in. Not that American Idol healed us over 9/11 by itself, but it definitely reflected what we wanted from our entertainment at the time. It gave people hope that, hey, you can be from anywhere and you can have this dream and it can come true, and it was really positive in that regard.

It also came at a time when the music industry was really suffering. I mean, we had all the pirat-ing that was going on; all of a sudden the Internet had taken the rug out from underneath the record companies, and they were looking for an answer. All of a sudden we’re giving so much power to the people. That was really impressive, because up until that point the labels really held the strings and decided what the public was going to consume.

GC: Mariah Carey recently called American Idol “fake” and had some pointed words for the show. As a former contestant on the show, how did you feel about what she said? Did American Idol ever feel “fake” to you?

AL: It’s a TV show. I didn’t feel like it was fake at all. I knew what the concept was. Personally, if you’re blindsided by what American Idol is, then you weren’t paying attention. It’s not that difficult to know what you’re getting yourself into. That’s why I auditioned; I knew what I was getting myself into.

Essentially, it’s a strategy for a contestant. It is about talent and it is about being a good perform-er, but you also have to put some thought into the songs you’re picking. I put some thought into it, and that’s partially why I think I did well. Picking a genre, picking songs that work for you, picking songs where you won’t be compared. For me, I was picking songs that are more obscure or doing them a different way.

GC: You were crafty about it.

AL: I’m crafty, yeah! I try to be crafty. (Laughs) And I think for the judges it’s a different game than it is for the contestants, obviously, and things shifted a bit when the show wanted to focus on the judges more than the contestants.

GC: When we chatted in 2012, you told me a Glambert sent you a urethra rod. What’s the crazi-est thing you’ve ever done for an artist you were a fan of?

AL: I’ve never done anything like that! That was so weird when that happened. I didn’t even know what that was. Like, what the hell is this thing? Then I looked it up and went whaaaaat? I remember saying, “That’s a thing? People do that?!”

I have to say, I’ve never been a super fanatical fan of anybody.

I’ve definitely been a fan. I mean, my fans have called me out before, being like, “Oh, you’re fan-boying about so-and-so,” and 38

GayCalgary Magazine #140, July 2015

it’s just because I said on Twitter, “Oh, you sound great on this song,” so I guess that’s being a fan!

GC: How often do Glamberts stop you on the street?

AL: It happens occasionally.

Maybe not so much on the street… (laughs) I know that’s just an expression.

GC: Yes, literally in the street, in front of a car.

AL: (Laughs) “Stop! Don’t!”

GC: I sourced a few questions out to your biggest fans, so from here on, these are straight from the Glamberts. First, what is the greatest “Original High” you’ve ever experienced?

AL: Standing on stage for the first time and singing.

That adrenaline rush you get from that ex-change with the audience is like nothing else.

It bit me and then that was it.

I was toast.

GC: What do you think about when you go to sleep?

AL: My brain is crazy. I think a lot, so I think about everything I have to do the next day. Some-times it’s hard for me to fall asleep because of that.

GC: If you could do something all over again, what would it be?

AL: I don’t really have a lot of regrets, to be honest with you. I guess there have been plenty of times where I’ll meet somebody at a bar, or a friend will introduce me to somebody at a party or at dinner, and I don’t have good game. I don’t think to be outgoing or say the right thing, and then after the fact I’ll be like, “Why didn’t I just talk to that person? Why didn’t I just tell them I thought they were cute?!” I gotta say, sometimes I really don’t have very good game.

GC: One fan wanted to know if you ever feel uncomfortable watching what’s said about you by the Glamberts on Twitter.

AL: I don’t think “uncomfortable” is the right word, but I’m not always the best at taking a compliment. I’m pretty hard on myself and sarcastic about things, so it’s always flattering, but it makes me feel like, “Ehh, let’s talk about something else.”

GC: What’s the first thing that attracts you to a man you’re interested in?

AL: Charm. I think charm is an amazing thing because it can make them more attractive than they are or without it, it can make them less attractive. I think that’s something that’s developed as I’ve gotten older. Obviously, I have my set of physical things that I like, but if somebody’s a dud and they have no personality then it all goes out the window. Charm and personality are key.

GC: What’s one question you’re glad you’ve never had to answer?

AL: (Laughs) I think I’ve had to answer every fucking thing you can think of!

http://www.gaycalgary.com/a4722 View Bonus Pics/Videos • Share with a Friend • Post Comments www.gaycalgary.com

Product Review

 Hydaway Bottle

 IceMule Cooler

Summer Gadget Guide 2015 Next-Gen Gizmos and Gadgets to Amp Up the Fun

By Mikey Rox Your summer vacation gets easier and breezier with these innovative thingamajigs that make kicking back and relaxing cool and convenient. iBT3 Splash-Proof Speaker Pump up your jams by the pool or at the beach with the iBT3 splashproof Bluetooth speaker from iHome. Stream your digital summer playlist – start building this year’s with Maroon 5’s chart-burning new single “This Summer’s Gonna Hurt Like a Motherf---ker” – from your iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows, or other compatible devices. An internal rechargeable battery offers hours of play, and you can view the battery level on your iOS device so you can keep the party poppin’ all day long. A convenient carrying strap makes iBT3 easy to attach to clothing and bags for hassle-free travel. http://www.ihomeaudio.com

Logitech Harmony Smart Remote Control Turn your iOS or Android device into an accessible-anywhere remote control to make summer TV watching a more mobile experience. The Logitech Harmony Smart Remote Control provides complete access to your home entertainment system from your phone or tablet providing flick-of-the-finger power in your pocket to watch TV or movies, personalize your favorite channels, connect to Netflix, listen to music, or make and accept Skype calls. http://www.walmart.com

FitBit Charge HR Monitor your health more closely with the FitBit Charge HR, an advanced fitness wristband that delivers automatic, continuous heartrate and activity tracking 24/7. With round-the-clock performance capabilities and built-in pedometer, you’ll get a more accurate all-day calorie burn from your daily routine and workouts to help you hone in on target areas and maximize training intensity, as well as sleep-quality stats for a better night’s rest. Other features include call notifications, wireless syncing and a bright OLED display. http://www.walmart.com

Hydaway Bottle

 BioLite

size bottle; a carry handle that fits your finger or a carabiner for easy clipping; and a watertight seal to prevent leaks. Hydaway is the perfect compact solution for frequent flyers, parents on the go, students, fitness lovers and more. http://www.hydawaybottle.com

Edyn Garden Sensor All you Mary Mary Quite Contrarys can grow crops with more confidence this summer with the Edyn gardening sensor. The solarpowered stake tracks light, humidity, temperature, soil nutrition and moisture for the most optimal growing conditions. Sync the outdoor, WiFi-enabled device to the accompanying app via your mobile device to continuously monitor conditions, pre-set sprinklers and track data so you can keep your green thumb on the pulse of your garden all season long. http://www.edyn.com

BioLite Light up the night while camping or otherwise enjoying the great outdoors with the BioLite NanoGrid, a three-in-one lantern, torch and power bank for more comfortable off-grid living. The pocket-sized device, powered by the same battery used in the Tesla Model S, provides 16 watthours of storage, which can give juice to three-and-a-half GoPro charges, refill three iPhone 5Ss or fill two-and-a-half iPhone 6s. As a light source, BioLite offers up to 72 hours of light as a result of its dimmable settings to conserve power. http://www.biolitestove.com

Uno Noteband Save a ton of time on pulling your phone out of your pocket – on average, we do it about 150 times a day – with the Uno Noteband, the world’s first wearable device that features Spritz technology, which allows users to read text messages at near-lighting speed right on their wrists. Additionally, Uno includes the world’s smallest six-axis motion tracker that integrates with Apple Health and Google Fit for a more dynamic experience. http://www.unonoteband.com

IceMule Cooler Lugging around heavy plastic coolers filled to the brim with food, drinks and ice is the last thing anybody wants to do on a scorching sunny afternoon. Enter IceMule – the cool, easy-to-carry alternative, which allows you to schlep all that summertime sustenance in an insulated backpack that keeps your hands free. Available in a variety of sizes – from 10L to 40L to fit your needs – IceMule also features adjustable shoulder straps, a double-layered shell (for cold beers even on the hottest of days), a leak-proof design and pliable construction for easy, rollup storage. http://www.icemulecooler.com

Free up space in your summer carryalls by swapping out your bulky water bottle for Hydaway, a collapsible, accordion-style portable hydration device that travels everywhere without taking up too much space. Certified safe and BPA-free, this silicone bottled features an engineered hinge design that expands from 1-1/4 inches flat to a full-

www.gaycalgary.com

 iBT3 Splash-Proof Speaker

http://www.gaycalgary.com/a4718 View Bonus Pics/Videos • Share with a Friend • Post Comments

GayCalgary Magazine #140, July 2015

39

Photography

40

Benjamin’s Privates Military Ball at Evolution, Edmonton

Amanda Lepore at Evolution

http://gaycalgary.com/pa967

photos by Kurtis Allan

GayCalgary Magazine #140, July 2015

www.gaycalgary.com

Photography ISCWR - Turn About Photo at Woody’s, Edmonton

ISCWR - Pride and Emperor Waxing, Edmonton

photo by Larissa

photos by B&J

FAB Bears in the Park PRIDE BBQ Buffet, Edmonton http://gaycalgary.com/pa981

www.gaycalgary.com

GayCalgary Magazine #140, July 2015

41

Photography Pure Pride 2015 at the Starlite, Edmonton http://gaycalgary.com/pa980

42

GayCalgary Magazine #140, July 2015

www.gaycalgary.com

www.gaycalgary.com

GayCalgary Magazine #140, July 2015

43

News Releases Harry Potter Actor Goes Off On Anti-Gay Internet Trolls An actor who starred in the Harry Potter franchise of films has unleashed her disgust at anti-gay social network trolls, telling...

Homophobic Russian Law Maker Wants It To Be Illegal To Be Topless If Russian’s most homophobic lawmaker (and there is quite a fierce battle for this particular title) Vitaly Milonov has his way,...

http://www.gaycalgary.com/n1874

http://www.gaycalgary.com/n1884

Five Top Tips To Keep Your Man Bush In Check We all know manscaping is a necessary chore that all us men have to go through to keep our junk in an aesthetically pleasing state....

Would You Wear These Pride Trainers By Adidas Adidas has just announced that to celebrate LGBT Pride Month, it has colourfully redesigned its signature sneakers - dubbing the...

http://www.gaycalgary.com/n1875

http://www.gaycalgary.com/n1885

FEED YOUR PENIS: Amazing recipes to help with Erections and Sex Drive If low libido or erectile dysfunction is a problem for you then do consult your GP in the first instance. I have designed these...

Montréal Pride Marches In Kiev As A Sign Of Support To The Ukrainian LGBT Communities Representatives of Montreal Pride will arrive in Kiev, Ukraine, today to attend Kyiv Pride, which is being held until June 8th....

http://www.gaycalgary.com/n1876 Falling In Love With A Man Never Crossed My Mind This isn’t the first time we have heard someone say this (nor will it be the last either) but on this occasion it’s like a bolt... http://www.gaycalgary.com/n1877 GAY MARRIAGE: Greenland Says Yes, Germany Says Not Yet. Following hot on the heels of Ireland’s historic Referendum, Greenland yesterday became the latest country to legalise same-sex... http://www.gaycalgary.com/n1878 WORLD FIRST: Gay Fighter Game Launched In time for this year’s pride season the world’s first gay fighting game, GAY FIGHTER SUPREME, with ten LGBT fighters – including... http://www.gaycalgary.com/n1879 President Obama’s Proclamation for Gay Pride Month President Obama has released a Presidential Proclamation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month, which starts... http://www.gaycalgary.com/n1880 My First Record Was The Shoop Shoop Song by Cher – I Did Not Need To Come Out It always makes me giggle when someone asks me how and at what age I came out. As I never really had to. I may as well have been... http://www.gaycalgary.com/n1881 Canada ranks 6th Happiest Place in the World to be Gay In a survey published this week by the Dutch gay dating and community site Planet Romeo Canada ranked 6th in their Gay Happiness... http://www.gaycalgary.com/n1882 James Franco plays gay again James Franco is obviously intending to get his a place in the Guinness Book of Records for playing gay-for-pay with his clothes...

http://www.gaycalgary.com/n1886 Want a Stronger Penis?

Then drink more Coffee According to a report published in Thursday’s New York Post, your daily cup of Joe keeps you up in more ways than one. A new study... http://www.gaycalgary.com/n1887 Are Gay Dads Being Left Out In The Cold?

We now have equal marriage; a long fought fight to gain the same rights as straight couples and although the law has changed to... http://www.gaycalgary.com/n1888 Jennifer Hudson Celebrates Marriage Equality We always love us some Jennifer Hudson but even more so today after catching sight of her new music video called “I Still... http://www.gaycalgary.com/n1889 Picnic Perfect Avocado Recipes for Canada Day Celebrate Canada Day with an outdoor summer picnic that includes classic outdoor eats. An added avocado twist to these picnic... http://www.gaycalgary.com/n1890 The World’s First Gay Fighting Video Game Releases In Time For Pride Season In time for this year’s pride season, Handsome Women Productions, in collaboration with Bearded Man Studios, presents the world’s... http://www.gaycalgary.com/n1891 Kareem Davis of “The Prancing Elites Project” Speaks with MSNBC About Being HIV Positive Kareem Davis, member of Oxygen’s The Prancing Elites, spoke exclusively with So POPular! host Janet Mock on May 29, 2015, to discuss... http://www.gaycalgary.com/n1892

http://www.gaycalgary.com/n1883

44

GayCalgary Magazine #140, July 2015

www.gaycalgary.com

News Releases Eliminating Gender Wage Gap Would Reduce LGBT Poverty, Study Shows Closing the racial and ethnic wage gaps would also help same-sex couples, while the sexual orientation wage gap would help men...

Biography of gay pioneer Barbara Gittings Barbara Gittings: Gay Pioneer, the first fulllength biography of the woman who has been called the mother of the gay-rights movement,...

http://www.gaycalgary.com/n1893

http://www.gaycalgary.com/n1902

What if your love was illegal?

Lush and All Out Campaign for Global LGBTQ Equality!

Lush and All Out campaign for LGBT equality around the world and raise money to support global activists. There is no country...

U.S. Supreme Court Opens Marriage to 1 Million Samesex Couples Nationwide The U.S. Supreme Court today legalized marriage equality nationwide by ruling that states can no longer ban same-sex couples from...

http://www.gaycalgary.com/n1894

http://www.gaycalgary.com/n1903

Nancy Pelosi Discusses the Hastert Indictment, Marriage Equality and More on “MSNBC Live” House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) appeared on “MSNBC Live with Thomas Roberts” (weekdays, 1pmET) in an exclusive live...

With Sweeping New Ruling, Marriage Equality Must Begin in All 50 States Governors, Attorneys General, and officials everywhere should heed the call of history, begin issuing marriage licenses to loving... http://www.gaycalgary.com/n1904

http://www.gaycalgary.com/n1895

Book Reveals Controversial & Fascinating Expose of Heterosexual Male to Female Cross Dressing The author had a secret that he kept hidden from his wife and childhood sweetheart Carole, for more than quarter of a century...

Airline Luggage Crackdown Have You Down? Use these 10 Tips for Traveling with Carry On Luggage It’s ‘Travel Tuesday’ today, and it has been in the news recently that Air Canada is enforcing its rules for carry on luggage....

http://www.gaycalgary.com/n1905

http://www.gaycalgary.com/n1896

Canada Day at Earls Restaurants It might just be the country’s most Canadian restaurant, 33 years ago this iconic restaurant chain opened in Edmonon and 64 locations...

New Study Sheds Light on Problems Facing LGBTQ Youth Experiencing Homelessness Estimates by homeless service providers show that LGBTQ youth are over-represented, have been homeless longer and face more...

http://www.gaycalgary.com/n1906 BIG DIPPER RELEASES “VIBIN’” ...The First Single From His New EP, “Extra Good” In his newest EP, Extra Good, the gay bear rapper known as Big Dipper proves he sounds as big as he looks. The EP includes five...

http://www.gaycalgary.com/n1897 Bosch Expands Kitchen Portfolio with New 24-inch Appliances Ideal for compact city condos and ancillary spaces like basements, the new Bosch 24-inch kitchen appliance line-up offers sleek,...

http://www.gaycalgary.com/n1907

http://www.gaycalgary.com/n1898

Celebrate Summer with Luscious Summer Fruit Desserts Kosher food expert, pastry chef and author, Paula Shoyer, makes warm weather entertaining easy and delicious. Every great...

AIDS Activist History Project posts ‘first wave’ of interviews on Canadian AIDS Activism Less than thirty years ago, ordinary people living with HIV/AIDS, alongside allies, took action to resist stigma, change harmful...

http://www.gaycalgary.com/n1908 Calgary Opera’s Opera in the Village returns to the East Village his summer with “The Mikado” Calgary’s East Village RiverWalk™ Plaza will once again be bursting with music and mirth as Calgary Opera’s Opera in the Village...

http://www.gaycalgary.com/n1899 Gladstone Hotel – A Gay-Positive Destination for Toronto Pride 2015 What happens when you combine visual art, multimedia design, music, dance, burlesque, and social activism all with a queer twist?...

http://www.gaycalgary.com/n1909

http://www.gaycalgary.com/n1900

Miss Fame Releases New Music Video For “INSTAFAME” from her hit album, Beauty Marked Everyone wants a piece of Miss Fame, and with magazine photo spreads, live stage shows and now music, they’re getting it. Miss...

Deep Disappointment in Pope’s Assertion That Children Must Have Opposite-Sex Parents Statement to more than 25,000 faithful in Rome on Sunday comes on heels of the city’s well-attended LGBT pride festival, and...

http://www.gaycalgary.com/n1910

http://www.gaycalgary.com/n1901

www.gaycalgary.com

GayCalgary Magazine #140, July 2015

45

46

GayCalgary Magazine #140, July 2015

www.gaycalgary.com

Directory & Events DOWNTOWN CALGARY

11

10 12

2

6

3

7

15

1 8

4 5

13

1 2 3 4

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. ..........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 750 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)  403-457-4464

15 The Blind Monk---------------------------  918 12th Ave SW  403-265-6200  12thave@blindmonk.ca

 http://www.blindmonk.ca  Mon-Sun: 11am-2am  403-384-9777

14 Vinyl & Hyde (CLOSED)

 213 10 Ave SW

 http://www.vinylandhyde.com

 587-224-5200

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

• Curling

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

• Golf

• Lawn Bowling

• Outdoor Pursuits

Bathhouses/Saunas

Community Groups Alberta Society for Kink

 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

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

 slow.pitch@apollocalgary.com

• Squash

Apollo Calgary - Friends in Sports

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

 lawnbowling@apollocalgary.com

5 Goliaths

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

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

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

 golf@apollocalgary.com

13 The Pint

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

 http://www.thepint.ca/calgary

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

N

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

GayCalgary Magazine #140, July 2015

47

Directory & Events Fetish Slosh----------------------------  Evening

Calgary Events

At 3 Backlot

Mondays

 2nd

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

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

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

Saturdays

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

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

Karaoke-----------------------------------  7pm

At 5 Goliaths

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

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

Wednesdays

Fridays

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

Inside Out Youth Group---------------- 7-9pm

See

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

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

Worship Time---------------------------- 10am

At 5 Goliaths

Illusions-------------------------------  7-10pm

Tuesdays

Calgary Networking Club-------------- 5-7pm

Mosaic Youth Group--------------------  7-9pm

Womynspace---------------------------- 7-9pm

Worship------------------------------  10:30am

Beers for Queers--------------------------  6pm

Thursdays

New Directions-------------------------- 7-9pm

Sunday Services---------------------  10:45am

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

 Kerby Center, Sunshine Room 1133 7th Ave SW

Heading Out----------------------- 8pm-10pm

Worship Services------------------------- 11am

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

Church Service----------------------------  4pm

Buddy Night-------------------------  6pm-6am

 Bonasera (1204 Edmonton Tr. NE) See 1 Calgary Outlink

See 1 Calgary Outlink By

 1st

YYC Badboys at 13 The Pint

At 5 Goliaths

At 3 Backlot

Knox United Church

 Old Y Centre (223 12th Ave SW)

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

 3rd

Between Men--------------------------- 7-9pm Karaoke-------------------------  8pm-12:30am

Lesbian Meetup Group-------------  7:30-9pm

 2nd, 4th

At 4 Texas Lounge

ISCCA at 3 Backlot

See 1 Calgary Outlink

 tennis@apollocalgary.com

• Yoga

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

Alberta Rockies Gay Rodeo Association (ARGRA)

 www.argra.org

• Monthly Dances

 Arrata Opera Centre (1315 - 7 Street SW)

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 Men’s Chorus

 http://www.calgarymenschorus.org

• Rehearsals

 Temple B’Nai Tikvah, 900 - 47 Avenue SW

Calgary Sexual Health Centre

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

At 5 Goliaths

At 1 Calgary Outlink

 2nd

See 1 Calgary Outlink

 3rd  4th

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

 1st

• Calgary Lesbian Ladies Meet up Group • Between Men and Between Men Online • Heading Out • Illusions Calgary • Inside Out • New Directions • Womynspace

Sundays See See See See See

Deer Park United Church Scarboro United Church Hillhurst United Church Knox United Church

Rainbow Community Church

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

Calgary Queer Book Club

 Weeds Cafe (1903 20 Ave NW)

Deer Park United Church/Wholeness Centre

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

• Telephone Support

 M-F, 8:30am - 12:30pm + 1:30pm - 4:30pm

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

 403-278-8263

Different Strokes

 http://www.differentstrokescalgary.org

FairyTales Presentation Society

 403-244-1956

 http://www.fairytalesfilmfest.com Alberta Gay & Lesbian Film Festival.

• DVD Resource Library

Over a hundred titles to choose from. Annual membership is $10.

Gay Friends in Calgary

 http://www.gayfriendsincalgary.ca Organizes and hosts social activities catered to the LGBT people and friends.

Girl Friends

 girlfriends@shaw.ca

 members.shaw.ca/girlfriends

• Peer Support and Crisis Line

2 HIV Community Link----------------------  110, 1603 10th Avenue SW  403-508-2500  1-877-440-2437  http://www.hivcl.org

Girlsgroove

 http://www.girlsgroove.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.

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

48

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

Legend:  = Monthly Reoccurrance,  = Date (Range/Future),  = Sponsored Event

1 Calgary Outlink

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

 1st

See 1 Calgary Outlink

 Calgary Contd.

• Tennis

 2nd

See 1 Calgary Outlink

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

See 1 Calgary Outlink

By

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

GayCalgary Magazine #140, July 2015

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 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.

• Coffee Night

 2nd Cup, Kensington

Safety Under the Rainbow

 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

Spectrum Volleyball Calgary

 http://www.spectrumvolleyball.ca  spectrumvolleyball@gmail.com Join us for recreational, competitive or beach volleyball.

www.gaycalgary.com

Directory & Events  Calgary Contd.

Unity Bowling

 http://www.cruiseline.ca Telephone classifieds and chat - 18+ ONLY.

Wild Rose United Church

 810 Edmonton Trail NE  403-290-1973 Cuts, Colour, Hilights.

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

DevaDave Salon & Boutique

 1317-1st Street NW

Restaurants & Pubs

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

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

Ellen Embury

 403-750-1128  www.DBBlaw.com Fellow, American Academy of Reproductive Technology Attorneys

10 Flames Central---------------------------- See Calgary - Bars & Clubs (Mixed).

13 The Pint See Calgary - Bars & Clubs (Mixed).

Hardline

Adult Depot (CLOSED)

 Calgary: 403-770-0776

 Edmonton: 780-665-6666  Other Cities: 1-877-628-9696  http://www.hardlinechat.com Telephone classifieds and chat - 18+ ONLY.

Adult Source--------------------------------

 12 Deerview Terrace SE  403-879-1967  http://www.canyonmeadows.net

Retail Stores

 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

Third Street Theatre

 #3 306 20th Ave SW 

http://www.thirdstreet.ca

Vertigo Mystery Theatre--------------------

Hot Water Pools & Spas

 812 11 Ave SW  403-263-6500  http://www.webstergalleries.com

 T-S: 10am-6pm, N: 1-4pm

Webster Galleries Inc.

EDMONTON

Lorne Doucette (CIR Realtors)

 403-461-9195  http://www.lornedoucette.com

La Fleur

MFM Communications

 403-543-6970  1-877-543-6970  http://www.mfmcommunications.com Web site hosting and development. Computer hardware and software.

The Naked Leaf----------------------------

 #4 - 1126 Kensington Rd NW  403-283-3555  http://www.thenakedleaf.ca Organic teas and tea ware.

NRG Support Services

Priape Calgary (CLOSED)

 Suite 27, Building B1, 2451 Dieppe Ave SW

 403-471-0204  780-922-3347  nrg@shaw.ca  http://www.nrgsupportservices.com

 1322 - 17 Ave SW  403-215-1800  http://www.priape.com Clothing and accessories. Adult toys, leather wear, movies and magazines. Gifts.

SafeWorks

Pushing Petals

Free and confidential HIV/AIDS and STI testing.

 1209 5th Ave NW  403-263-3070  http://www.pushingpetals.com

Bars & Clubs (Gay) 3 Buddy’s Nite Club

 11725 Jasper Ave

FLASH (CLOSED)

 10018 105 Street  flashnightclub@hotmail.com

 633 10th Ave SW  403-239-5511  http://www.6thandtenth.com

 M-W: 12-6pm, R: 2-7pm, S-N: 12-5pm

 4th Floor, Jasper Ave and 107th Street 4 Woody’s

 11725 Jasper Ave

Barry Hollowell

Bars & Clubs (Mixed)

Calgary Civil Marriage Centre

These venues regularly host LGBT events.

Hooliganz Pub (CLOSED)

ATP, Alberta Theatre Projects

 403-294-7402

 http://www.ATPlive.com

Fairytales

Craig Connell (Maxwell Realtors)

See Calgary - Community Groups.

Cruiseline

 Big Secret Theatre - EPCOR CENTRE  403-299-8888  www.oyr.org

One Yellow Rabbit--------------------------

Edmonton Illusions Social Club

 780-387-3343

 groups.yahoo.com/group/edmonton_illusions 2 Edmonton STD

 11111 Jasper Ave

Edmonton Vocal Minority

 780-479-2038  www.evmchoir.com

 sing@evmchoir.com

Fellowship of Alberta Bears

 www.beefbearbash.com

GLBTQ Sage Bowling Club

 780-474-8240

 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.

 http://www.iscwr.ca

InQueeries

Bathhouses/Saunas 5 Steamworks

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

Community Groups

Theatre & Fine Arts

 403-253-5678  http://www.maxwellrealty.com/craigconnell

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.

8 Yellowhead Brewing Co.

 10229 105 St  info@yellowheadbrewery.com  http://www.yellowheadbrewery.com

Wheel Pro’s

 3rd Floor, 1131 Kensington Road NW  403-571-5120  http://www.courtneyaarbo.ca GLBT legal services.

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.

• Sheldon M. Chumir Health Centre

 4143- Edmonton Trail NE  403-226-7278  http://www.wheelpros.ca “Experts in Everything for Wheels”

Courtney Aarbo (Barristers & Solicitors)

Edmonton Pride Festival Society (EPFS)

 http://www.edmontonpride.ca

 inqueeries@gmail.com Student-run GLBTQ Alliance at MacEwan University.

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

 403-808-7147

Edmonton Expo

 http://www.edmontonexpo.com

7 The Starlite Room

 10030 102 St contact@starliteroom.ca  http://www.starliteroom.ca

• Safeworks Van

Christopher T. Tahn (Thornborough Smeltz)

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

 10704 124 St NW

 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.

 780-488-6557

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.

• Centre of Hope

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

 403-819-5219  http://www.bcbhcounselling.com

 780-938-2941

UpStares Ultralounge (CLOSED)

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

Services & Products

 780-488-6636

6 Evolution Wonder Lounge

 10220 - 103 St  780-424-0077  http://www.yourgaybar.com

• Calgary Drop-in Centre

6th and Tenth - Sales Centre

 403-703-4750

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

 403-355-3335  http://www.interactivemale.com

 403-266-1707 Florist and Flower Shop.

www.gaycalgary.com

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

Interactive Male

Best Health

 Calgary: 403-777-9494

 Edmonton: 780-413-7122  Other Cities: 1-877-882-2010

Theatre Junction----------------------------

Holiday Retirement

 2145 Summerfield Blvd  403-912-2045  http://www.hotwaterpoolsandspas.ca

 206A 2525 Woodview Dr SW  403-281-5582  besthealthcalgary@hotmail.com  http://www.besthealthcalgary.com

 11650 Elbow Dr SW  ctahn@thornsmeltz.com  http://www.thornsmeltz.com

Pumphouse Theatre------------------------

 2140 Pumphouse Avenue SW  403-263-0079  http://www.pumphousetheatres.ca

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

Imperial Sovereign Court of the Wild Rose

Living Positive Society of Alberta

 #50, 9912 - 106 Street 780-424-2214  living-positive@telus.net  http://www.facebook.com/LivingPoz Living Positive through Positive Living.

• HIV Support Group

 huges@shaw.ca, curtis@optionssexualhealth.ca Support and discussion group for gay men.

Men’s Games Nights

 Unitarian Church (10804 119th Street)

 780-474-8240  tuff@shaw.ca

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.

Pride Centre of Edmonton-----------------

 10608 - 105 Ave  780-488-3234  admin@pridecentreofedmonton.org  http://www.pridecentreofedmonton.org  Tue-Fri 12pm-9pm, Sat 2pm-6:30pm

GayCalgary Magazine #140, July 2015

49

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

7

3 Buddy’s-----------------------Bars and Clubs 4 Woody’s-----------------------Bars and Clubs

5 Steamworks----------------------Bathhouses 6 Evolution----------------------Bars and Clubs

7 The Starlite Room------------Bars and Clubs 8 Yellowhead Brewing Co.-----Bars and Clubs

Youth Sports/Recreation-----------------  4pm

Women’s Social Circle------------------ 6-9pm

QH Youth Drop-in------------------  2-6:30pm

Counseling----------------------  5:30-8:30pm

Book Club-----------------------------  7:30pm

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

Knotty Knitters-------------------------- 6-8pm

Martial Arts---------------------  7:30-8:30pm

QH Craft Night-------------------------- 6-8pm

Intermediate Volleyball--------  7:30-9:30pm

Cycling---------------------------  6:30-7:30pm

Fridays

See 1 Pride Centre of Edmonton See 1 Pride Centre of Edmonton See 1 Pride Centre of Edmonton See

Tuesdays

See

2

See 1 Youth Understanding Youth

Mondays

N

Team Edmonton

Yoga---------------------------------  7:30-8pm See

Team Edmonton

Thursdays

See 1 Pride Centre of Edmonton See See See

 2nd, 4th

BookWorm’s Book Club

 3rd

Team Edmonton Team Edmonton

QH Youth Drop-in---------------------- 3-8pm See 1 Pride Centre of Edmonton

QH Anime Night------------------------ 6-8pm See 1 Pride Centre of Edmonton

Movie Night----------------------------- 6-9pm

Youth Sports/Recreation-----------------  4pm

Men’s Games Nights--------------  7-10:30pm

GLBTQ Bowling------------------  1:30-3:30pm

QH Game Night------------------------ 6-8pm

Youth Sports/Recreation-----------------  4pm

QH Youth Drop-in---------------------- 3-8pm

Swim Practice--------------------------- 7-8pm

Saturdays

See

Team Edmonton

See

Wednesdays See

See 1 Pride Centre of Edmonton

GLBTQ Sage Bowling Club

See 1 Pride Centre of Edmonton

Youth Understanding Youth

See 1 Pride Centre of Edmonton See

Team Edmonton

See 1 Pride Centre of Edmonton See See

Men’s Games Nights

Youth Understanding Youth

• TTIQ

• Counselling

• Women’s Social Circle

Come knit and socialize in a safe and accepting environment - all skill levels are welcome.

• 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.

• Queer HangOUT: Craft Night

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.

50

See

Team Edmonton

Sundays See

Team Edmonton

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

Team Edmonton

Men Talking with Pride---------------- 7-9pm See 1 Pride Centre of Edmonton

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

Team Edmonton

Soul Outing-------------------------------  7pm

 Robertson-Wesley United (10209 123 St)

 2nd

Monthly Meetings---------------------  2:30pm  2nd

 2nd

Legend:  = Monthly Reoccurrance,  = Date (Range),  = Sponsored Event

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.

• Knotty Knitters

 2nd

Bowling-----------------------------------  5pm

 Unitarian Church (10804 119th Street) See Edmonton Primetimers

Buck Naked Boys Club

 Edmonton Contd.

 780.488.3234 Free, short-term counselling provided by registered counsellors.

 2nd, Last

Naturalist Gettogether See

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

Running------------------------------  10-11am

QH Youth Drop-in---------------------- 3-8pm

Swim Practice-------------------  7:30-8:30pm

See 1 Pride Centre of Edmonton

A support and information group for all those who fall under the transgender umbrella and their family or supporters.  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.

• 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

GayCalgary Magazine #140, July 2015

Women’s Drop-In Recreational Badminton. $40.00 season or $5.00 per drop in.

• Gymnastics, Drop-in

•Ballroom Dancing

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

 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.

• Blazin’ Bootcamp

• Hockey

 Garneau Elementary School 10925 - 87 Ave  bootcamp@teamedmonton.ca

 hockey@teamedmonton.ca

• Martial Arts

 Ed’s Rec Room (West Edmonton Mall)

 bowling@teamedmonton.ca $15.00 per person.

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

• Cross Country Skiing

• Outdoor Pursuits

• Bowling (Northern Titans)

 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

 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.

 golf@teamedmonton.ca

www.gaycalgary.com

Directory & Events Red Deer Events Wednesdays

LGBT Coffee Night------------------------  7pm See

CAANS

 1st

Friday, August 15th

 Edmonton Contd.

• Snowballs V

 January 27-29, 2012  snowballs@teamedmonton.ca Skiing and Snowboarding Weekend.

• Soccer

 soccer@teamedmonton.ca

• Spin

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

• Swimming (Making Waves)

 NAIT Pool (11762 - 106 Street)  swimming@teamedmonton.ca  http://www.makingwavesswimclub.ca

• Tennis

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

 tennis@teamedmonton.ca

• Ultimate Frisbee

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

• Volleyball, Intermediate

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

• Volleyball, Recreational

 Mother Teresa School (9008 - 105 Ave)  recvolleyball@teamedmonton.ca

• Women’s Lacrosse

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

Call for info.

• Yoga

 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

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

LETHBRIDGE

 780-413-7122 trial code 3500  http://www.cruiseline.ca Telephone classifieds and chat - 18+ ONLY.

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

Community Groups GALA/LA

 356 - 2 Street SE, Medicine Hat, AB  403-527-5882  1-877-440-2437

• Monthly Dances

 M-F, 8:30am - 12:30pm + 1:30pm - 4:30pm

 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

Exposure Festival

The Roxy Theatre (closed)

 University of Lethbridge GBLTTQQ club on campus.

 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

Community Groups Jasper Pride Festival

 PO Box 98, 409 Patricia St., T0E 1E0

 contact@jasperpride.ca  http://www.jasperpride.ca

• Telephone Support

ALBERTA Community Groups Alberta Trans Support/Activities Group

 http://www.albertatrans.org A nexus for transgendered persons, regardless of where they may be on the continuum.

Theatre & Fine Arts Alberta Ballet

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

Gay & Lesbian Integrity Assoc. (GALIA)

 galia@uleth.ca

• Movie Night

 Room C610, University of Lethbridge

Gay Youth Alliance Group

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

Lethbridge Expo

 http://www.lethbridgeexpo.com

CANADA 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

Egale Canada

Lethbridge HIV Connection

 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.

 1206 - 6 Ave S

PFLAG Canada

 1-888-530-6777

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

Pride Lethbridge

Products & Services

 lethbridgepridefest@gmail.com

RED DEER Community Groups

Whistlers Inn

 105 Miette Ave  1-800-282-9919  info@whistlersinn.com  http://www.whistlersinn.com

Community Groups HIV Community Link

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

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

 http://www.exposurefestival.ca Edmonton’s Queer Arts and Culture Festival.

MEDICINE HAT

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.

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.

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.

www.gaycalgary.com

GayCalgary Magazine #140, July 2015

51

Classifieds Event

140

Internet

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!

Wedding/Union

415

ALL MALE HOT GAY HOOKUPS! Call FREE! 800-913-8509 only 18 and over

420

UltimateMaleMassage.com

190

MARRIAGE COMMISSIONER COMMISSIONER FOR OATHS IN ALBERTA WEDDINGS AND MARRIAGES at your venue or in my home studio starting at $150 Destination Location Style • Elopement Style • Quick and Legal • Formal or Stylish • Immediate or in the Future • Religion Free • Standard or Customized Ceremonies • Cross Cultural • Same Sex - LGBT-TTQ hilford@shaw.ca • 403-246-4134

Magical Music DJs

Crunch Accounting offers accounting and bookkeeping services to small businesses in the Calgary area. We offer competitive rates and exceptional service. Visit us at www. crunchaccounting.ca for more information or call 403 629-7677.

Cleaning Best Erotic Male Massage In Calgary.

Studio with free parking. Deep Tissue and Relaxation. Licensed, Professional.

Video on website. 403-680-0533 mike@ultimatemalemassage.com Specializing in LGBT Weddings and Unions.

Everyone deserves the wedding they’ve always dreamed of with the person they love! Call us for a quote today 403.254.9754 Email: magicalmusic@shaw.ca Website: www.magicalmusicdjs.com

McDougall United Church (Edmonton), an Affirming congregation proudly performing same-sex unions or same-sex marriages since 1998. http://www.mcdougallunited.com

Help Wanted

240

GayCalgary Magazine is looking for salespeople, graphic designers, and writers in Calgary or Edmonton. For more info, contact:

Erotic Massage

Consulting

527

Want to attract the LGBT local or traveler to your business?

Safe Step Walk-In Tub Alert for Seniors.

Bathroom falls can be fatal. Approved by Arthritis Foundation. Therapeutic Jets. Less Than 4 Inch Step-In. Wide Door. Anti-Slip Floors. American Made. Installation Included.

Call 1-800-594-9682 for $750 Off.

GET A LIFE! Commercial Cleaning

Calgary Erotic Male Massage Enjoy the pleasure of sensual eroticrelaxation male-to-male massage from the Calgary’s Premier Asian Male Masseur, Reynolds Onyx. Straight, gay, bisexual and curious guys are welcome.

To learn more or book an appointment, visit his website at http://www.calgarymalemassage.com or email reynoldsmassage@gmail.com

Products/Services 500

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.

Check us out at http://blueflameventures.ca, Email us at info@blueflameventures.ca, Call us at 604-369-1472. Based in Alberta.

Certified Personal Trainer

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.

(403)200-7384 getalifecleaner@gmail.com www.getalifecleaner.com www.facebook.com/getalifecleaner

Private House Cleaner Will clean for the gay community. Very detailed. Includes vacuuming, dusting, cleaning floors, kitchens and bathrooms. Cute clean appearance. Must have own cleaning supplies.

Call for rates. Kevin 403-797-6336

Scan below to view Classified Ads Online!

335

Safe Step Walk-In Tub Co.

517

420

magazine@gaycalgary.com 403-543-6960

Sales/Rentals

537

OFFICIANT

GUYSPY

Erotic Massage

Bookkeeping

Rork Hilford MC

Upcoming wedding/event/trip/class reunion?

If you want to look/feel better, increase your strength/endurance/flexibility, I CAN HELP YOU! call/text me 4038263305 or email me j_d_short@hotmail.com

Ads starting at $10/mo. for the first 20 words. Submit yours at http://www.gaycalgary.com/classifieds 52

GayCalgary Magazine #140, July 2015

www.gaycalgary.com

Health

550

Lose 15-22 Lbs in 30 days (average) Fight fatigue, have more energy and lose weight. Results backed by a 30 day full money back guarantee! You have nothing to lose but weight and I will be here to help you with any questions you have along the way! Also, great earnings potential for those looking to make extra $$$ from home. For More Info: clay1976. isagenix.com, 587-919-5744 (text or call)

Photography

572

Hire an Amateur Photographer Need new photos? Want something for LinkedIn, Facebook, holiday cards? Personal, couples, share-able or adult - no limits, you retain all rights. Creative Queer photographer, cheap rates. photo@chaoticwow.ca

Mail replies to Box 1018 c/o GayCalgary, or E-mail box1018@gaycalgary.com.

 Mail Forwarding To reply by post, mail to: Box # c/o GayCalgary 2136 17th Ave SW Calgary, AB, T2T 0G3 To reply by E-mail: box#@gaycalgary.com

www.gaycalgary.com

GayCalgary Magazine #140, July 2015

53

www.gaycalgary.com

GayCalgary Magazine #140, July 2015

55