GayCalgary Magazine - October 2016

OCTOBER 2016

® ISSUE 154 • FREE The Voice of Alberta’s LGBTQ Community

Nick Carter

Gets His Second Wind

Interview with

LADY BUNNY

Margaret Cho

Comedienne returns to Calgary

PLUS:

Travel - Acapulco QBoy • The New Electric KT Tunstall • Culture Club ...and more!

Business Directory

Scan to Read on Mobile Devices

Community Map

Calgary • Alberta • Canada

Events Calendar

Idina Menzel

working toward LGBT icon status

Tourist Information

STARTING ON PAGE 63

www.gaycalgary.com

Table of Contents

Videography Photography Steve Polyak

Steve Polyak, Rob Diaz-Marino, B&J Sales Steve Polyak Videography sales@gaycalgary.com Steve Polyak, Rob Diaz-Marino

Legal Council

Courtney Aarbo,Printers Barristers and Solicitors North Hill News/Central Web

General Inquiries

® GayCalgary Magazine Distribution 2136 17th Avenue SW Calgary: Gallant Distribution Calgary,GayCalgary AB, CanadaStaff T2T 0G3 magazine@gaycalgary.com Edmonton: Clark’s Distribution Other: Canada Post

Office Hours: By appointment ONLY Legal403-543-6960 Council Phone: Courtney and Solicitors Toll Aarbo, Free: Barristers 1-888-543-6960 Fax: 403-703-0685 Salesmagazine@gaycalgary.com & General Inquiries E-Mail:

GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine This Month's Cover 2136 17th Avenue SW Main: Lady Bunny, photoAB, byCanada Jeff Eason. Top Right: Calgary, Nick Carter. Mid Right: Cho, photo by T2T Margaret 0G3 Dusti Cunningham. Bottom Right: Idina Menzel, photo by Vadukul Office Hours: ByMax appointment ONLY Phone: 403-543-6960 Toll Free: 1-888-543-6960 Fax: 403-703-0685 E-Mail: magazine@gaycalgary.com

This Month's Cover Cher andProud ChristinaMembers Aguilera courtesy of: of Sony Pictures; Annie Lennox courtesy of Mike Owen; Rex Goudie.

Proud Members of:

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Publisher’s Column

Calgary Pride, Evo 3rd Anniversary and Medicine Hat Pride

Film Fest Returns with Facelift

Edmonton Gears up for Rainbow Visions

PAGE 14

Writers and Contributors

Mercedes Chris Azzopardi, Allen, Chris JamieAzzopardi, Booth, Dave Dallas Brousseau, Barnes, Dave JasonBrousseau, Clevett, Myles SamHelfand, Casselman, Michael JasonNguyen, Clevett, Andrew Steve Polyak, Collins,Jessica EmilyRobb, Collins,Romeo Rob Diaz-Marino, San Vicente, Janine Brandon Eva Schultz, Trotta, Jack and Fertig, the LGBT Glen Community Hanson, Joan of Hilty, Evan Calgary, Kayne, Edmonton, Stephen Lock, and Alberta.

Neil McMullen, Allan Neuwirth, Steve Polyak, Carey Rutherford, Romeo San Vicente, Ed Sikov, Nick Vivian and Photography the GLBT Community Calgary, Edmonton, and SteveofPolyak Alberta.

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11 Million Dollar Quartet

Legendary Artists Brought to Life in Stage West Production

12 Queer Eye - Calgary Pride 2016

14 Suddenly She Sees

KT Tunstall on why kissing girls wasn’t just a phase, admiring genderfluid teens and channeling her masculinity

16 Life’s What You Make It For The New Electric Calgary band launches debut album and tour with Nick Carter

21 Positive Thoughts Trumping Ignorance

22 Deep Inside Hollywood

e n zi

‘Supergirl,’ Paradise Garage, Britney Spears, ‘Dear White People’

24 Queer Eye - Medicine Hat Pride 2016

26 Viva Acapulco ga

a m

Enchanting echoes of a golden era

33 Culture Club Still Karma Chameleons Original Members On Tour

PAGE 33

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

OCTOBER 2016

PAGE 13 PAGE 16

®

35 King of Queens QBoy ReClaims His Throne

36 Pioneers on the Ice

Calgary ‘Cs’ New Era of Gay Friendly Puck Handling

International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association

National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association

Gay European Tourism Association

Continued on Next Page  www.gaycalgary.com

GayCalgary Magazine #154, October 2016

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Table of Contents  Continued From Previous Page ®

PAGE 37

37 Nick Carter Gets His Second Wind

Backstreet Boy Goes Solo with Album and Canadian Tour

39 It’s Raining Menzel

Idina Menzel on working toward LGBT icon status, a lesbian Elsa and angry gays who oppose her Beaches remake

PAGE 39

42 Margaret Cho Returns Comedienne returns to Calgary after 6 years

45 Schooled by Lady Bunny Between fart jokes, the tireless drag legend shreds an entitled generation (and Hillary Clinton)

PAGE 42

48 59 60 63 68

Queer Eye A Couple of Guys News Releases Directory and Events Classified Ads

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Scan for this Issue:

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ga

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Monthly Online Magazine Readership:

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

Proof of monthly figures are available on request.

History 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.

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Magazine Figures

Copyright 2016. All rights reserved.

GayCalgary® is a registered trademark.

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GayCalgary Magazine #154, October 2016

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Editorial

Publisher’s Column

Calgary Pride, Evo 3rd Anniversary and Medicine Hat Pride

By Steve Polyak Calgary Pride Weekend During the Calgary Pride weekend, people that I have known since my early 20s brought up memories on when – in the early 1990s – there was a Gay Pride rally in front of city hall, and then a march to the Bridgeland community centre for the dance. As I show my age, I would say, yup I was there for that. Back then, I had no idea what truly was going on. I was new to the gay community scene and disconnected from the issues that surrounded LGBTQ rights; without gay media websites and online social media. Mainstream media would either not talk about the LGBTQ community, or would only talk about AIDS/HIV, and reflect the community in a negative light. There was a local gay magazine back then, but if you were still closeted, it was not something you were wanting to pick up regularly. The only way you knew about what was going on for gay rights in Canada was mostly from talking to people in the know, or to friends that heard from someone who knew what was going on. Even finding out that there was a rally for Gay Pride in front of city hall was something I heard from a friend; there was no easy way to advertise it.

Now Pride is a huge event in Calgary, with events happening in lots of different venues, culminating with the street festival at Shaw Millennium Park. Politicians and major sponsors have become a big part of Pride. With accessible Internet – and the subsequent dawn of social media and gay media – we now have mainstream media throwing themselves all over things happening in the LGBTQ community, and we seem to run into a double edge sword. Has Pride become a big party; has it lost its political grass roots? It is something that has been discussed a lot over the past several years, but the topic is now gaining more attention.

With how diverse our community is, where is that happy medium between party verses politics?

Seeing the Dyke and Trans March walking with People of Colour conveyed that politics and rights issues are becoming more visible again. Their march was well attended; even though they are still pretty grass roots. They don’t have sponsors for the event so, the week before the march took place, Backwards was the host venue of their fundraiser, and the location of their after-party the night of their march. It reminded me of my first pride in front of City Hall and the walk to Bridgeland.

If you feel that you don’t fit in during the major pride events, I recommend you checking out the Dyke and Trans March next year. Check out page 49 for photos of the march.

On the party side of things, boy was there a lot going on.

Luckily most of the events were in the downtown core. I tried to attend as many pride events per day as I could but, until Star Trek transporter technology becomes available, I couldn’t cover them all. Rob knows that during pride weekends, regardless which gay pride we are at, sleep pretty much happens on the first Monday after everything is done.

It was good to see that there was something for almost everyone in the community. Backwards attained a minorsallowed liquor license for their Pride Dinner and Drag Show, and it was awesome to see a birthday party for a queer youth there, with their friends and parents enjoying a drag show during pride. That was something that made my weekend, since it shows how far our community has come. Just think back to when you were 14 or 15; did your parents know you were part of the LGBTQ community? Were you out to your friends and their parents? Then, on top of that, have everyone celebrate your birthday during pride in a gay bar watching www.gaycalgary.com

a drag show? I know, there would have been no way I could have done it when I was that age. There is still the extremely successful Homo Hop that happens every year during pride for queer youth, and this was something additional.

Pure Pride at Flames Central was sold out again. Simone Denny performing was the highlight of the event: the crowd sang along to most of her songs. Last time I saw her was at Pure Pride in Edmonton a couple years ago. She gave me goose bumps then, and she did it again in Calgary. Some of the songs that she sang were ones you would hear as you would be dancing at Boyztown Metro, or when you were watching the Queer as Folk on TV. It brought out the youth in a lot of us that night.

The Fellowship of the Alberta Bears packed Blind Monk on Saturday night. I was there for as long as I could be but, from other people that attended the event, I heard the bar was at capacity; a lot of people were hanging out front of the bar chatting with friends on the patio. It was already halfway full within an hour of starting, which shows that bears start to party as soon as the doors open, and they stay as late as they can.

The Calgary Pride Parade and Street Festival saw its highest attendance yet. Though the day started cold, at least there

Continued on Next Page 

GayCalgary Magazine #154, October 2016

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 From Previous Page

Online Last Month Creep of the Week

Peter LaBarbera It’s always strange to me to hear people talk about the “gay agenda.” Because undoubtably anyone who uses this term is anti-gay. First of all, it’s important to remember... http://www.gaycalgary.com/a5291

Deep Inside Hollywood

‘Moonlight,’ Sarah Paulson, ‘Ray,’ Laverne Cox Get ready for Oscar season’s black gay comingof-age film, Moonlight Quick, name more than one queer-themed movie with a black cast that... http://www.gaycalgary.com/a5292

 photo by GayCalgary

was no rain or snow, as there was last year. Check out pages 12 and 13 for coverage.

I covered the street festival for as long as I could, then went to Broken City for the Roof Top fundraiser. From there I popped down to the Texas Lounge for their drag show, which was also very busy. Then I was off to Backwards for their Pride Dinner and Drag show. I was only able to stay for their all ages show before heading off to the Backlot/Night Owl fundraiser for the HIV Community Link Positive Living Lunch Program. It was great to see the Backlot to Boyztown type of event happening again, so you can hop in between the bars. I then needed to make my way to Hot Mess at the Commonwealth. Hot Mess was sold out again, with a huge line up out front, so I knew that I needed to get in early or I might not be able to have enough space to take photos of groups of people. As always, the hottest guys of the night ended up at there. Check out all the events of the weekend on pages starting at 48.

Mama’s JuJubee and Evo Anniversary Weekend It is great when bars in Edmonton are doing events on the same weekend: makes it easier on the wallet for transportation and hotel stay. Friday night was JuJubee from RuPaul’s Drag Race at Mama’s Gin Joint. It was great to see some awesome talent perform during the night before JuJubee hit the stage.

See the photos of the night on page 56.

Evolution celebrated their 3rd Anniversary in September.

It also started on Friday night, so it was my first stop after checking into the Coast Hotel. It was great to see Chi Chi Larue again, along with some hot male talent. Over the weekend I did video interviews with Chi Chi, plus Casey Everett, Seth Fornea, and Austin Wolf. Those will be posted over the next couple of months. Photos from that weekend are on page 57.

Medicine Hat Pride Weather has constantly been a factor this year for most gay prides in Alberta. Medicine Hat Pride was not as warm as it usually was, and on the windy side. But that actually make it easier for people to enjoy themselves. In the past, there were years when mosquitoes were everywhere, and it was so hot that it made it hard to be outdoors for the afternoon. You were always covering up with sunscreen and mosquito repellent.

They had a pretty good turnout and are planning changes for next year, like adding a beer garden, so people can party away during the day.

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GayCalgary Magazine #154, October 2016

5 Things You Need to Do If Someone You Love Is Deeply Depressed

September is National Suicide Prevention Month. As someone who has experienced the devastation of suicide in mourning the loss of friends who have taken their own lives, it’s... http://www.gaycalgary.com/a5294

Third Time Still Charms

The Book of Mormon Proves Its Staying Power with Calgary Return In 2011 The Book of Mormon took Broadway by storm. In 2013 I was lucky enough to be in Chicago when the show was playing and caught it for the first time. I spent a good portion... http://www.gaycalgary.com/a5257

Creep of the Week

Pamela Geller Anthony Weiner is gross. The former Congressman who resigned in disgrace after he was caught sharing photos of his crotch on social media is at it again. And this time one of the... http://www.gaycalgary.com/a5301

After 50 Years, Dolly Still Shines

Which sparkled more: Dolly’s outfits, the guitar she played while opening the show, or the woman herself? The answer isn’t easy. Don’t we all love her as much for her musicality... http://www.gaycalgary.com/a5270

www.gaycalgary.com

Creep of the Week

Laura Ingraham By now, even if you don’t follow any kind of sportzball, you have heard about Colin Kaepernick, the San Francisco 49ers player who refused to stand during the National Anthem before... http://www.gaycalgary.com/a5305

In the evening, they changed things up. The venue was the Medicine Hat Esplanade, which was a huge difference from having it at the Medicine Hat Legion. It brought a great new look and feel to the dance. There were some problems at the start of the night, where you couldn’t hear the vocals of the performers. You saw some frustration that the performers were having, but most could work around it. It was corrected once the sound tech came back to the venue and unlocked the soundboard. Sometimes, as non-profit groups make big changes to their events, problems do pop up, but those were small issues and I hope that they will be able to use the same venue next year. Check out the photos of the event on page 24 and 25.

Hear Me Out

Backwards Nightclub Rebranding?

http://www.gaycalgary.com/a5308

A couple weeks after pride Backwards found out, from the city, that the signage that the building has had for over 20 years has no paperwork. So Backwards was required to remove the sign, which created confusion for people, thinking they had closed their doors. The basement of the establishment still under development, and will eventually be the Backwards Nightclub part of the business, while the main level with the restaurant and stage was going to be rebranded. So, in the end, the city just helped pushing forward the rebranding of the main level to Six 2 Eight Stage and Lounge, while the applications for signage for Backwards Nightclub goes through the process for approval.

‘Trio,’ Britney Spears, Carly Rae Jepsen, Barbra Streisand The Complete Trio Collection, Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt Nowhere in the backstory notes to the The Complete Trio Collection does it say that when Dolly Parton,...

The Frivolist - How to Throw a Big Gay Football Party

It’s pigskin season! Time to break out the jock straps and kneepads Youknow it’s football season when on Sundays your News Feed is filled with a widerange of emotional comments about your friends’ favorite teams. As someone whodoesn’t even know...

http://www.gaycalgary.com/a5315 View Bonus Pics/Videos • Share with a Friend • Post Comments

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Creep of the Week

Ken Paxton LGBT people have heard the phrase, “Come out, come out, wherever you are” over and over again for decades now. The idea, of course, is that coming out of the closet is... http://www.gaycalgary.com/a5312

The OutField

Grindr goes to the Olympics It would not be an Olympics without surprises.

In Rio de Janeiro this month, the swimming pool water turned from blue to green. The United States women’s soccer team failed to... http://www.gaycalgary.com/a5313

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GayCalgary Magazine #154, October 2016

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Event

 Better Half

 Slash

Film Fest Returns with Facelift Edmonton Gears up for Rainbow Visions

By Jessica Robb November 3rd Edmonton will kick-off its second annual LGBTQ film festival at Metro Cinema. Roughly three years ago, The Global Visions Festival Society realized that Edmonton was the only city in Canada that didn’t have an LGBTQ film festival. “Realizing this was a glaring omission in our city’s cultural calendar, and we decided to start our own,” said Festival Director Guy Lavallee.

After successfully putting on Northwestfest (formerly known as ‘Global Visions’) for the past four years, The Global Visions Festival Society staff and board of directors decided a fall presence was one of the organization’s long-term goals.

“We stated – from the very start – that we were making at least a three-year commitment to get the festival known and established with audiences,” said Lavallee. The LGBTQ programming stream during Northwestfest was known as Rainbow Visions so, when it was decided to make it into its own festival, the name seemed like a natural – and catchy – fit.

A major difference in this year’s Rainbow Visions is that, for the first time, the festival accepted film submissions. This saw the committee receive so many outstanding works that Rainbow Visions decided to feature a short film screening in front of every feature film this year. “The quality of the films we were able to attract this year is absolutely outstanding, and I truly believe audiences will be very happy with what they see,” said Lavallee.

What can attendees expect during the four-day festival?

“Great stories, romantic stories, comedic stories, sexual stories, dramatic stories, and some of the best short films you will see anywhere in 2016,” said Lavallee. On the night of Friday, November 4th, presenting partner, RBC, and key community partner, Edmonton Pride Festival, will co-host the screenings complete with swag, popcorn and other goodies.

Edmonton Men’s Health Collective will host the 18+ evening on November 5th that will include two films (Pushing Dead and Paris 5:59), a DJ, cash bar and many more surprises.

“Most of all, we really want this festival to be a fun experience for our patrons,” said Lavallee. www.gaycalgary.com

The outpour of thankfulness from people who attended last year serves as fuel for staff and volunteers amid preparation for this year. “There were so many audience members, last year, who were so genuinely moved and genuinely thankful to have a festival like this one in Edmonton,” said Lavallee.

“We take our role as the creators and curators of this festival very seriously.”

The only film festival of its kind in Edmonton, Rainbow Visions offers a variety of films wherein audiences can expect to see stories that appeal to every member of the LGBTQ community.

Tickets for the festival can be purchased at the Rainbow Visions website. “Our goal is to put on a festival people will love, and one that will be part of the local cultural calendar for years to come,” said Lavallee.

From full weekend passes, four-ticket sharable packs (a great money saver for you and friends), and advance individual tickets for every film screening all weekend-long, there’s sure to be something for everyone.

Check out the trailers for three features you can catch during the event: • PUSHING DEAD: https://vimeo.com/165100701 • FIRST GIRL I LOVED: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KapuNE49kAk • MAJOR!: https://vimeo.com/145160885

Rainbow Visions Presented by The Global Visions Festival Society Edmonton - November 3rd to 6th at Metro Cinema at the Garneau http://rainbowvisions.ca/ http://www.gaycalgary.com/a5316 View Bonus Pics/Videos • Share with a Friend • Post Comments

GayCalgary Magazine #154, October 2016

9

Million Dollar Quartet

Legendary Artists Brought to Life in Stage West Production  photo by John Watson

By Jason Clevett In today’s music industry, where songs often boast duets or “featuring” of massive stars on each other’s songs, it doesn’t seem as big of a deal to have superstars collaborating or jamming together. In another era however, it was often unheard of. On December 4th, 1956 Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, and a then unknown Jerry Lee Lewis ended up at Memphis’ Sun Studios by accident. The four ended up jamming together, but the tracks were not released until decades later. The recordings were dubbed the Million Dollar Quartet. In 2010 a musical based on what may have happened that night debuted, and now Stage West features its own production running until November 13th.

The story starts with Carl Perkins (Tyler Check), still working to create another hit after success with Blue Suede Shoes, coming in to record songs with a new performer - Jerry Lee Lewis (Gerrad Everard). Elvis Presley (Matt Cage) stops by the studio along with his girlfriend, a singer named Dyanne (Laura Mae Nason) (at the real session, Elvis’ girlfriend was a dancer, Marilyn Evans.)

Johnny Cash (Maxwell Theodore Lebeuf) has stopped by to talk to recording impresario Sam Philips (J. Sean Elliot). They soon have a jam session together.

There are multiple aspects to what makes the show special.

First are the obvious – a long list of instantly recognizable songs like Great Balls of Fire, Folsom Prison Blues and Hound Dog – just to name a few. There is seeing iconic performers brought to life on stage and the knowledge that this moment (although dramatized) did happen and was something special. There is more behind the scenes however. Million Dollar Quarter marks the return to Stage West of Gerrad Evarard for the first time in seven years. He captures the frantic energy of Jerry Lee Lewis perfectly, including the trademark playing piano backwards – no easy feat. The fact that his real life wife is Laura Mae Nason and their adorable baby Elliot are with him shows how supportive Stage West is of working www.gaycalgary.com

theatre families – baby Elliot is watched backstage while Mom and Dad are working. Another Elliot – that being J. Sean Elliot as Sam Philips – is a staple of Stage West both on stage and as a director of multiple shows. Matt Cage has a successful career in Vegas and around the world as an Elvis tribute performer. There is some real firepower in the cast.

The veterans are balanced out by two relative newcomers and young talents in Tyler Check and Maxwell Theodore Lebeuf.

Lebeuf especially makes his professional theatre debut in this production and it is evident he is a quick study. Subtle things in the way Cash performed, spoke, and played guitar are all captured brilliantly. Check has the task of portraying Perkins, who has the least “larger than life” personality or trademarks of the 4 main performers but he is absolutely awesome in the role. Stage West has long had an eye for talent, and these two young men have an incredible future in front of them. The cast is rounded out by Zachary Knowles as bassist Jay Perkins and Scott Carmichael as Fluke on drums.

From the story to the songs to the performances, Stage West’s Million Dollar Quartet is a fantastic example of what great talent can do with a show. These legends are brought to life not only through song, but as human beings. There are some genuinely emotional moments amidst everything. It’s a remarkable show that is worth going out of your way to see.

Stage West Calgary http://www.stagewestcalgary.com Million Dollar Quartet September 9th to November 13th, 2016 http://www.gaycalgary.com/a5299 View Bonus Pics/Videos • Share with a Friend • Post Comments

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Photography Calgary Pride 2016 - Parade and Street Festival http://gaycalgary.com/pa1238

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GayCalgary Magazine #154, October 2016

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Photography

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GayCalgary Magazine #154, October 2016

13

Suddenly She Sees

KT Tunstall on why kissing girls wasn’t just a phase, admiring gender-fluid teens and channeling her masculinity  photos by Pamela Littky

By Chris Azzopardi Is she or isn’t she?

Truthfully, KT Tunstall understands the confusion regarding her sexuality – she’s responsible for it, after all. Tunstall, whose breakthrough song, “Suddenly I See,” became every dreamer’s anthem after it was prominently featured in The Devil Wears Prada, opened up about those rumors – and why kissing girls was “a really important part of my formative years” – on the heels of her latest album, KIN.

GC: How do you explain your big lesbian following?

KT: Listen, I’ve been super well aware of that from day one and have

been so grateful for it.

GC: How did you become aware?

KT: From day one of releasing an album where I have fucking rainbow

suspenders on! (Laughs) The British album cover for Eye to the Telescope was an homage to Patti Smith’s Horses album and I loved Mork & Mindy too, and so we didn’t think about it. It wasn’t me pretending to be gay, but I’m on the front of my album with these bright rainbow suspenders on.

All the gay community thought I was gay – and they still think I’m gay!

They’re just waiting for me to figure it out.

GC: Have you figured it out?

KT: Not yet! (Laughs) Listen, I am absolutely all about no boundaries

and no labels. I’m gender fluid. (Laughs)

GC: Is that how you’d describe your sexuality?

KT: No, I wouldn’t. I am hetero, but you know, I’ve certainly – I did

theater studies at college for Christ’s sake; of course I had fun with girls.

It was weird in that community not to. And I get the feeling that it’s weird now for people to be kind of hung up about it – certainly in younger people I’ve met, which is such a beautiful shift. There are amazing people spearheading that, like Cara Delevingne, Kristen Stewart and and Eliot Sumner – she’s fucking awesome. It’s not even really an issue (for them), and I’m so glad.

GC: How do those people inspire you?

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GayCalgary Magazine #154, October 2016

KT: I look at them as someone from the older generation and I just am so relieved that there isn’t as much angst. I feel less angst in this new generation of young people. It feels that there are less and less shackles on young people to adhere to old norms and that inspires me just to be brave in everyday life and to honor how confident and self-assured they are becoming at a much younger age than I did. I feel like I’m keeping up with teenage confidence here.

GC: Tell me about studying theater.

KT: I wanted to be an actress when I was younger, so I started in a

theater group when I was 8 years old and started performing when I was quite young. By the time I was 15, I went on this really amazing theater course called Scottish Youth Theatre and it was the first time I left home.

We were living in a kind of dorm room situation, and it was people who were into all sorts of music that I hadn’t been subjected to. I didn’t go to my first show until I was 15. I grew up at a very sheltered time in Scotland.

GC: What was your introduction to the gay community then?

KT: It was during that time when I went to live in Glasgow. I had

lived in St. Andrews – very, very straight up academic. When I went over to Glasgow for the theater course, many of the lecturers were gay, and it wasn’t that it was surprising – I wasn’t shocked by it. It was much more that I realized that there was this whole world of life that I hadn’t known about. And there was definitely a very open attitude: If you like this person, then kiss them and that’s completely normal. That’s how fucking life should be, quite frankly. Why on earth would anyone have any problem with someone enjoying themselves? It doesn’t make any sense.

GC: And you were kissing girls then. Would you call that a phase?

KT: No; I think it would be disrespectful to call it a phase. It was part

of life. It was learning about love and learning about lust and desire and sexuality and becoming an adult and experiencing people. It was a really important part of my formative years.

What’s interesting now is the gender fluidity issue, I think. That’s really exciting and something that I just personally would relate to much more had that been talked about when I was 17, 18. That’s what I would be leaning my ear into because, I mean, when I get on stage something quite

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masculine happens to me. I think this is also why people have questioned my sexuality. There’s definitely a kind of masculine energy, and I’ve always felt that way and that comes through me when I perform.

I think it’s also playing a guitar! (Laughs) I feel like I have a cock! The guitar is basically like a strap-on. But then it depends how you play it, because I don’t know if Joni Mitchell felt that way. There’s definitely something that happens when I take to the stage, and it’s definitely much more prevalent than when I’m walking around buying eggs in the supermarket. (Laughs) I read a really great article with Eliot Sumner – Sting’s daughter – and I was quite envious thinking, “Wow, imagine being in my youth and it not really being an issue what gender you are,” because I always felt so tomboy. I grew up with brothers, and when I was younger I always had lots of male friends – mostly male friends. Actually, now, I have mostly female friends, and I think that I’ve kind of inhabited being a woman. I really love my femininity, but I felt like a stranger to it before.

GC: I don’t want to classify the last album, Invisible Empire, as having a “lesbian folk” sound but...

KT: (Laughs) Listen, I was playing folk music and I was buttoning up the top button of my shirt – that’s all I need to say.

GC: When I listen to your latest album, it sounds like a kindred spirit to your debut, Eye to the Telescope. I hear similarities between the two.

KT: Me too! It feels like the spiritual follow up to the first album. It feels like it’s taken three records to write my second album! And it’s not to disrespect the other albums, because I love them and they’ve been really important and I’m really proud of them. But I think from a personal point of view there’s a lot of familiarity in terms of where I was at when I wrote this record, where I’m really very unselfconscious and I totally love the music and I’m just having fun. I think it’s taken me a long time to get away from that incredibly powerful gaze of millions of people looking to see what you’re going to do next. It’s hard.

GC: When did you start feeling “that gaze”?

KT: I think after the success of the first record. Making the second

GC: Which track on the album do think your LGBT fans might enjoy

most?

KT: Maybe “Hard Girls” because that song is really about being

vulnerable and not wearing an entire tub of hair gel on your head and all the makeup in the world and just being you, authentically you and not worrying. That song is totally meant to be a celebration about just fucking not worrying too much about that stuff and letting people get to know you for who you are.

GC: What went through your head the first time you heard “Suddenly I See” in Devil Wears Prada?

KT: I was floored! As an artist, having your song used in a movie – you never get the whole song used and you never get your song used without there being dialogue over the top of it. And the whole three-and-a-half minutes of the opening of the movie is just my song, unadulterated! I remember my manager saying to me, “Enjoy this because it’s probably never going to happen again.”

GC: How did you feel about Hillary Clinton using “Suddenly I See” as her 2008 campaign song?

KT: It was great. I’m not American, I can’t vote, but I would always want to see the Democrats in power, so I was really happy to be able to contribute in any way to try and make that happen. I don’t know what (a campaign) song would sound like right now – it’s crazy times. I wouldn’t even know where to start. It’s like watching a game show. It’s like watching The Hunger Games or something. It’s just completely bonkers. But seeing a woman in the position of President of the United States would be an amazing thing.

record, I was just fucking exhausted. I was so tired. I’d been literally touring solid for two years and you’re in the studio trying to make a record and it’s just like… you’re just burned. And there’s a low possibility of you being able to make the best follow-up record that you can. I actually really loved that second record; I was just bummed because I wanted to do it garage-band style live and the record company really didn’t want to do that, so we ended up making a slicker record than I was intending on making. But you know, I’m proud of it. I think I listen back and I love it, but I was definitely feeling the effects of becoming famous. It was very weird.

GC: How would you describe fame?

KT: You just feel like you’re in a bit of a glass box. And I’d been fairly

shy when it comes to interacting with the tabloid press. I absolutely kept my fucking head down because that side of it can be quite frightening in terms of your lack of control of how you’re perceived by everybody. I really just kept my head down and didn’t really engage. I just didn’t want to do it; I didn’t want to go there. I’d actually feel much more comfortable with it now than I did then.

Funny enough, (this album) was made in quite a similar way (to the first album). It was made in Tony Hoffer’s studio and he has this really cute, cool DIY homemade studio and – same as the first record – I played a lot of the stuff myself and I think that was important for me, for this record. I put just as much of my undiluted self into this record because that’s where the joy comes from.

GC: And Donald Trump – many artists aren’t appreciating the fact that he’s been using their songs.

KT: Yeah, he used one of my songs. I can’t remember where but someone tweeted that he used it. It was just fucking abhorrent and it just makes you want to have a wash. I want my work nowhere near that disgusting man.

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Life’s What You Make It For The New Electric

Calgary band launches debut album and tour with Nick Carter

By Jason Clevett The world is turning faster so we gotta turn it on. Gotta keep up, there’s no time to fake it The lyrics to the chorus of Calgary’s The New Electric’s hit song Life’s What You Make It seem to be fitting. Formed in 2013, singer Kyle McKearny (lead vocals), Shade “Indy“ McKearney (bass & vocals), Chris Doi (bass & vocals) and Adam Casey (drums & vocals) have been making the most of the opportunities that they have earned. Their debut album, Living Loud is released October 28th.

“It was a lot of legwork and connections and time we had spent previously in other bands. My brother Indy and I have been playing together since we were kids. Our first band in Calgary was 10 years ago,” Kyle McKearny told GayCalgary.com. “Since that time we’ve been grinding, touring, making connections, having managers come out and see us, working with different producers and people in the industry. By the time the New Electric formed we’d already built up a nice team and a contact list. That team helped develop The New Electric right from the start. It’s our first EP and release so it’s very exciting and a little scary. We are super proud of it and can’t wait to get it out there.

It is going to be really cool to have a hard copy, something about that feels like it suits our vibe and retro quality. It will feel really nice to be able to hand that over to a fan.”

Singles Life’s What’ You Make It, Inside Out and Ride This Feeling have become staples on Canadian radio. McKearny recalled the moment he heard his song on the radio the first time.

“I was sitting in my apartment on my couch and Life’s What You Make It came on. I smiled and smiled and it got bigger and bigger and by the end I was jumping up and down and running around. I knew the song was added to the station so it was

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definitely a matter of time. The cool thing was I flipped to the station and it was the next song that came on.”

As someone who grew up watching MuchMusic, having the bands videos added to the rotation was also pretty special.

“I was a little kid who would come home and watch the MuchMusic countdown and you could watch the station all day long. The first time we saw our video on there it was another jumping up and down thing. Videos are not the same as it used to be, but it’s great for YouTube and for fans to just see your face.

It is cool in a way; the internet is really honest and organic. If you advertise and get lots of views and attention on your songs, but the ones that go viral and get a lot of numbers are the ones that people like and spread around. That is a really cool thing, is the DIY feel, almost like people are the record label now. They decide what happens and they don’t even know it,” he recalled, adding that he loves making videos. “It is so fun. It is one of the most fun things ever and I love it. There is a lot of work, a grind but I like the grind and grit and suffering that goes along with making something great. It’s like any art. It is so fun to see back what they cut and how it looks so neat.”

Alberta has a lot of amazing musicians that have made their name in the world. It seemed like for a while Albertan’s weren’t getting recognition or opportunities. In recent years’ bands and artists like The New Electric, Michael Bernard Fitzgerald. Hello Moth, Reuben and the Dark and many others are seeing their careers start to take off.

“It is very cool and neat. Lots of those people we have been in the scene with for a long time, grown up with watching people like them and Jocelyn Alice and Hello Moth do well is incredible.

We have known them for a long time and it’s amazing to see your friends doing amazing things. Calgary is underappreciated but it has taken time for it to develop and things come in waves.

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Back in the day there was a few bands that made a name for themselves here, there is definitely a new wave right now.”

A sign of this was the inaugural YYC Music Awards, held September 25th at Studio Bell. The band took home the Group of the Year award.

“It means a lot. It was really cool because it is the first award we have won as well. To win our first award ever in our home city was amazing.”

The band is quickly building a fan base with their fun videos and catchy songs. The internet and social media allows them to grow and develop those fans. On the Life’s What You Make It lyric video on YouTube comments like “this is my pick me up song when I am down” and “you are my favourite band” show the impact the group is making.

“That is the stuff that when it first happened I didn’t know what to do with it or how to feel. It is pretty heavy, there is a lot backing that up. When people tweet you, and call us their favourite band, that is a heavy statement especially for a new band that is not used to that. It has taken awhile to process it and get used to it. We definitely try to make an effort to appreciate those people because it means a lot to them and they are being very sincere. We make an effort to reach out to them. We try to do what we would dream our favourite band would do if we said that to them. It gets hard because when you have bigger bands they get it so much and so often it would be hard to keep up with it but we do the best we can. We have never really known any different, the internet has always been there for us. It is how we made our first fans, how we had requesting contests for radio stations and so many other things. The internet is probably the most important thing other than the music. “ The band’s first official tour post-release will be across Canada opening for Backstreet Boy Nick Carter on his solo tour.

“The Backstreet Boys have a legacy especially from when we were kids. To be opening for Nick, who was one of them is

incredible. It means a lot to us because of a few different reasons.

We haven’t been out east for a while and fans out there are really itching to see us so we can’t wait to see them. The Cowboy’s show will be special because we haven’t played in Calgary since May, so it has been a long time. We have been playing other parts of Alberta so much, to come back to Calgary opening for Nick Carter when we just won the YYC award for group of the year, it’s going to be a really epic night.

Nick’s fans are the perfect demographic for our music so we are looking forward to it. We are going to put on our best show and try and do the best we can with the opportunity we’ve been given.

You can expect a lot of fun and be involved and sing and clap and maybe even be pulled up on stage. We will be jumping and running around like madmen and having a lot of fun. It definitely will be special.”

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The New Electric - Living Loud available Oct 28th http://www.thenewelectricmusic.com On Tour (with Nick Carter) Calgary – November 18th – Cowboys Dance Hall Edmonton – November 19th – The Ranch Roadhouse Medicine Hat – November 20th – Esplanade Arts & Heritage Centre http://www.gaycalgary.com/a5318 View Bonus Pics/Videos • Share with a Friend • Post Comments GayCalgary Magazine #154, October 2016

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Lifestyle

Positive Thoughts Trumping Ignorance

By Myles Helfand It’s a shame Donald Trump hasn’t said anything horrible during this campaign about people with HIV. Earlier this summer, as thousands descended on Cleveland, Ohio, to mark the controversial ascension of a presidential candidate whose campaign went viral and consumed one of humanity’s most powerful political parties, a very different group of thousands gathered halfway around the world to mark the controversial ascension of efforts to eliminate one of the most devastating viruses humanity has ever known.

During the same week as the Republican National Convention in July, the 21st International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2016) took place in Durban, South Africa. Occurring just once every two years in a different international city, the conference brings together more than 15,000 of the brightest minds and strongest spirits in the HIV community – a diverse mix of researchers, activists, policymakers and others who are on the front lines of the global effort to prevent HIV and improve the health of people already living with the virus.

The meeting came at a critical time, as the fight against HIV has reached a turning point: We have the means to (gradually) obliterate HIV from our species, and we even have an increasingly accepted plan to get there. What we don’t seem to have a lot of is political will, funding or widespread popular support.

In a reflection of this reality, here in the U.S., mainstream media set up camp at the political buffet in Cleveland and gorged itself on the fast-food bonanza of the Republican convention.

AIDS 2016 was largely ignored, the health-conscious restaurant left to languish in an era when reckless abandon seems to be the flavor of the day.

Yet the conference had its fair share of tasty news – the kind of stuff that can fundamentally change opinions about HIV and the people living with it. For instance: • We learned that almost 80,000 HIV-negative people in the U.S. are now regularly taking PrEP. (short for “preexposure prophylaxis,” a daily pill that virtually ensures a person won’t become HIV positive if taken correctly) • We learned that PrEP is so effective, people appear to remain largely protected from HIV even if they only take the drug about once every two days.

• We were reminded that people with HIV who are on effective anti-HIV medications have almost zero chance of passing the virus on to someone else.

• So convincing is the science on this that Demetre Daskalakis, M.D., one of the top HIV/AIDS officials in New York City (which is still home to more than 100,000 people living with HIV), recently endorsed a major new statement from experts publicly affirming that HIV-positive people have a “negligible risk” of transmitting HIV if they’re on meds and their viral load has been undetectable for the past six months.

How is it that, in an age where it takes mere moments for popular anger to sweep the nation when an angry old man questions the patriotism of parents of a Muslim-American war hero, we’re still struggling 35 years later to sweep the nation with accurate, tolerant messaging about HIV? Instead, the tremendous successes of scientific advances like PrEP – or another highly effective form of virus prevention, clean needle exchange – are met with skepticism, as practical discussions about putting the power of HIV prevention in the hands of more people become bogged down in a morass of moralism, bigotry and budget wrangling.

Heck, I still meet people who are surprised that people with HIV can live long, healthy lives while taking a single pill once a day – even though that’s been the case for a decade now. From a practical standpoint, managing HIV today is little different from managing high cholesterol, and a person on successful HIV treatment is roughly as likely to transmit the virus as a person on successful statins is to transmit an elevated LDL. But the perception of HIV in our society remains frustratingly entrenched in an ignorant past. Even as the science moves farther and farther from the rhetoric, fear and ignorance remain the driving forces behind America’s understanding of HIV – in much the same way they have been the driving forces behind so much of this year’s presidential campaign.

It’s almost enough to make the dark, cynical side of my soul wish that Donald Trump would say something outlandish about people with HIV, in hopes that his explosive words would catalyze a wave of productive discussion and education about preventing and treating the virus. But I wouldn’t wish that kind of attention on anyone.

Instead, I remain hopeful that reason and compassion will win out in our country’s conversation about HIV. Publications like the one you’re reading right now help spread that hope and ensure that conversation happens. So can each of us, by ensuring we stay educated and that people close to us do the same.

Myles Helfand is the editorial director of TheBody.com and TheBodyPRO. com. Find him on Twitter @MylesatTheBody. This column is a project of Plus, Positively Aware, POZ, TheBody.com 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

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In other words, we now know that people with HIV in the U.S. are almost completely uninfectious if they’re on successful treatment – and we also know that people without HIV can almost completely guarantee they’ll avoid infection if they take PrEP. Remind me again why there are still such stringent restrictions on gay men who want to donate blood, and why HIV-positive people continue to receive lengthy prison sentences simply for having consensual sex with HIV-negative people? Remind me why a person’s HIV status still renders them a pariah across huge swaths of this country? www.gaycalgary.com

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Gossip well known at the time, Paradise Garage was cooler, funkier, blacker, and more queer than Studio 54, and its musical influence extends deeper into house music and club culture today. Legendary DJ Larry Levan was the man who created the clubs trademark sound, and people like Frankie Knuckles honed their skills there, too. It counted Keith Haring and Madonna as early patrons. And now there’s a movie, currently set to be called Paradise Garage, and it will tell the story of the beloved club’s rise to nightlife fame. Paradise will be directed

by Jonathan Ullman, based on his short documentary, What is Paradise Garage? British actor Kobna Holdbrook-Smith will take the role of Levan. Rayniel Rufino will portray Joey Llanos, who worked at the club and who will also serve as a consultant.

Associate producer David Depino was one of the club’s DJs, so this is starting to feel like a real family affair. We want this one to hurry up and get itself on a screen somewhere so we can dance to it.

Britney baby one more (Life)time

 photo of Britney Spears, photo by Starfrenzy

Deep Inside Hollywood ‘Supergirl,’ Paradise Garage, Britney Spears, ‘Dear White People’

By Romeo San Vicente Supergirl gets her Maggie Supergirl is going deep for its second season. The series, rather than stay self-contained, is going to expand its reach into the DC TV Universe, connecting the plotlines to other shows, just like the DC movies and DC’s arch-rival, Marvel, have already done. There will be a lot of complex connection to sort out for faithful viewers at home, but for our purposes the new development that matters the most is Maggie Sawyer.

Floriana Lima has been cast as this new addition, a detective character introduced by DC Comics in the late ’80s, and one of the first characters to identify as a lesbian. Sawyer is an advocate for alien rights, which makes her an important friend for Supergirl, and, in the comics at least, she also becomes a romantic interest of Batwoman. It all gets underway on Oct. 10.

And dear Marvel, catch up with the queer characters, please.

Lifetime, the network that brought you unauthorized biopics of Aaliyah and Brittany Murphy, have found their next subject.

The difference this time is that their subject is still very much alive, with a career in similar healthy circumstance. Britney Spears, who just keeps on keeping on, a woman who is probably more powerful and culturally popular at this point in her career than ever before, whose longevity in the fickle music industry makes her a legend-in-the-making, will be the subject of what is currently known as Britney. Directed

by Leslie Libman (Manson’s Los Girls) and starring Natasha Bassett (Hail, Caesar!), the movie will cover the entertainer’s teenage rise to the pop charts, her troubled relationships with men such as Justin Timberlake and Kevin Federline, and her equally troubled relationship with fame. The good news? She’s got a really popular show in Vegas right now, so the happy ending is built in. Maybe they should call it Stronger Than Yesterday.

Netflix series Dear White People sets cast The main cast has been set for 2017’s Netflix series, Dear White People, based on filmmaker Justin Simien’s hilarious 2014 college comedy. Antoinette Robertson (The Haves and Have Nots), John Patrick Amedori (The Vatican Tapes), Ashley Blaine Featherson – who appeared in the original film but played a different character – and newcomer DeRon Horton will take the lead in the Lionsgate-produced sitcom about a small group of black students navigating academic, social and political paths through a predominantly white Ivy League university. The characters in the series will hew close to those in the film, and Simien himself will write for and direct episodes of the show. Great idea we just had: ask Spike Lee to direct at least one episode with a musical number in it for that vintage School Daze vibe. That’s a free great idea, Netflix/Lionsgate, because we’re generous around here. You’re welcome.

Romeo San Vicente makes you feel mighty real.

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Disco lives in the Paradise Garage movie If you saw the legendarily butchered 54 in its theatrical run, it means you care. It also means you won’t need anyone to explain Paradise Garage to you. Equally important if less 22

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Photography Medicine Hat Pride 2016 - Street Festival and Dance http://gaycalgary.com/pa1244

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Photography

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Viva Acapulco Enchanting echoes of a golden era

 photo by Brandon Schultz

More photos and videos online: http://gaycalgary.com/a5320 

By Brandon Schultz It is an established cliché that each generation yearns for the simple times of those who came before, but who can be blamed for missing the world of Elizabeth Taylor and John Wayne? Movie stars were elegant, golden sunsets were cherished, and personal stories were provocatively private – not pimped for social media fame. In a clickbait world of insta-celebs and algorithmic lives, it is little wonder we lament the loss of the fabled glamor and joie de vivre of yore. Seemingly gone are the days of handwritten thank you notes, joy rides along the coast, and dressing for dinner (or even sitting at a table). Such pleasures are simply nostalgia now, haunting classic films and the dreams of those old enough to remember an age of please and thank you.

Or are they?

On the southern border of Mexico, hugged by two idyllic bays off the Pacific Ocean, the small city of Acapulco maintains the glittering mystique of a bygone era. It is to here that the early stars fled, putting the former fishing village on the map as Mexico’s original Hollywood escape, and Acapulco has neither forgotten nor released the elegant ghosts of that past. We recently slipped away to this forgotten paradise that offers a glimpse back into the dreamy days of legendary stars, and following are the highlights we recommend for a fantasy refresh of your own.

For the most authentic Old Hollywood jetsetter experience, Las Brisas Acapulco is the only choice. Despite its extensive grounds – set among throngs of hibiscus plants that provide live décor for your room and pool daily – the personalized service and carefully situated private casitas exude a sense of delicious exclusivity more evocative of a hidden enclave than the expansive first class resort it is. When you’re not lounging by your private pool you will be chauffeured about in the resort’s signature jeeps, all named after celebrities who have used them through the decades: from Liz Taylor

AeroMexico http://gaycalgary.com/a5321 To reach Acapulco you will need to connect through Mexico City and you will likely spend a bit of time here. While several airlines offer regular flights from Canada, your best bet for this journey is AeroMexico, and not just for the free tequila onboard! To make your layover infinitely more comfortable, take your AeroMexico boarding pass to the first class lounge (AeroMexico Salon Premier) and buy a day pass. Most first class lounges offer day passes, often for well over $100, but the AeroMexico lounge in Mexico City can be accessed for around $30, and sometimes less, depending on the day’s exchange rate.

Inside it you will find comfortable seating, an open bar, snacks, light meals, television, Wi-Fi, chargers, a clean bathroom, and just about everything you need to not feel like you have spent a few hours waiting in an airport; all for less than the price of lunch and a beer (which you still get).

AeroMexico

https://aeromexico.com/en/us

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 Las Brisas Casita welcome, photo by Brandon Schultz

p photos by Brandon Schultz

La Concha Beach Club at Las Brisas http://gaycalgary.com/a5322 Las Brisas is home to two respected restaurants: the yearround Bellavista and the seasonal El Tulipán, but the true culinary star of the property may be at the resort’s La Concha Beach Club, where authentic Mexican dishes reach new heights with innovative ingredients and lux presentation. Everything at the club’s restaurant can also be served poolside, and don’t forget to sample one or two of the impressively packaged cocktails, generously filling entire pineapples, cantaloupes, and watermelon halves. For even greater ambience, visit on the weekend to be serenaded by a local musical quartet while enjoying your waterfront meal.

La Concha Beach Club at Las Brisas http://acapulco.com/en/hotels/lasbrisas/index.html

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Coco Loco at Hotel Los Flamingos http://gaycalgary.com/a5323 For another glimpse into the life of Old Hollywood, pop into Hotel Los Flamingos and see why hunks like Johnny Weissmuller (the Michael Phelps of his day before wooing audiences as the silver screen’s most iconic Tarzan), John Wayne and Cary Grant were compelled to purchase this property and turn it into their personal paradise. Guests can still stay in the round house Weissmuller occupied (Casa Tarzan), and sip the drink he reportedly invented here in the 1930s: the Coco Loco – still served in a giant coconut with an amazingly ostentatious palm frond and a flamingo made of almond and melon, it’s a spectacle you mustn’t miss. For an hour or two of nostalgic fun, grab one of these storied drinks at the bar and head up to the terrace atop some impressively high cliffs for a jawdropping view where the ‘Hollywood Gang’ danced the night away under the Acapulco stars. Back downstairs, by reception, you will find a gallery of photos and newspaper clippings boasting the property’s illustrious clientele through the years – a little hall of fame of sorts – curated by the hotel’s current owner, and just as endearing as the rest of the property.

Coco Loco at Hotel Los Flamingos https://www.hotellosflamingos.com

p photos by Brandon Schultz

 Viva Acapulco - From Page 26 and John F. Kennedy to Mel Gibson and Madonna. While the resort has been renovated and kept modern over time, it maintains the unadulterated charm of the past through quaint details: like the ubiquitous pale pink and white palette (uniforms, furniture, grout and beyond!); plantation shutters; and familial grace of a staff who balance first class service with the gentility of your favourite neighbour.

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Serenity is the hallmark of Las Brisas, but don’t laze away your entire vacation in its sweet lullaby – there’s more to soak in than the sun on your chaise.

Natural beauty is timeless, and Acapulco is overflowing with it. Vivid colour abounds, draping every surface – land, water, and sky – with #nofilter otherworldliness that will leave you constantly questioning your eyes. Take a boat to La Roqueta Island and its beaches, where you will spend www.gaycalgary.com

Becco al Mare

 photos by Becco al Mare

http://gaycalgary.com/a4210 When in Rome… or Acapulco! Italian food is loved around the world, and if you’re looking for a respite from Mexican spice for one night, Becco al Mare is the place to go. Like all things quintessentially Italian, this restaurant oozes high design from the first impression of the entrance – with an experimental-art-installation feel – to the last sip of wine from their impressive 4,000-bottle cellar.

Enter from a curious, multistory wood and glass box, housing only a round desk in its centre, and discover the hidden spiral staircase down to the plush lounge. Sink into the sofas overflowing with comfy pillows by the bar to enjoy one of Acapulco’s countless bay views in casual elegance, or travel further down to the indoor/outdoor dining room for a true sit-down meal (and another photo-worthy panorama). Either way, be sure to catch a glimpse of the steel and glass wine cellar, and sample at least one of its 600+ labels.

The fascinating architecture and sleek design alone warrant a visit to Becco al Mare, so stop by even for a drink and some antipasti if you’re feeling too guilty about cheating on Mexican cuisine to devote an entire dinner to it. The food is as flavourful as it is beautiful, and the atmosphere is not to be missed.

Becco al Mare

http://www.beccoalmare.com/

the day kayaking, paddle boarding, or just floating on impossibly green waters teeming with tropical fish, easily encountered by snorkeling in the island’s secluded coves.

Rest on the beaches, chuckle at the curious names painted on wooden boats (Titanic II), and marvel at the surrounding environment straight out of an overly imaginative child’s colouring book.

When you have had your fill of fun in the sun, head back toward Acapulco and pause by El Mirador Hotel before docking. Here, the world-famous La Quebrada cliff divers perform twice daily, leaping from cliffs up to 130 feet high into the shallow gulch below. In a tradition that goes back nearly a century, most of the athletes hail from the same famed family who have trained generations of new divers to first scale the cliffs, then leap artfully into the gulch with a precise timing that determines the difference between 12 feet and 6 feet of water, depending on the waves. It’s

a spectacle of grace, strength, skill and courage, with a proud legacy that has led the divers to become an unofficial symbol of the city, adorning everything from postcards to street signs.

Before calling it a day, pick up a few souvenirs in town.

Most shops contain the same general goods – silver jewelry, textiles, knickknacks – but selection does vary, so move on if you don’t find exactly what you’re looking for in one shop. Employees can be direct and relentless; the haggling game is extreme in Acapulco. Never, ever take the first price you’re offered, and know ahead of time that the real price is often half, sometimes as little as one-third, the price you’re originally named. Do take any free shots of tequila you’re offered, and enjoy the adventure!

After a good night’s sleep, take a cultural day and head first to the Fort of San Diego, originally built by the

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p photos by Brandon Schultz

Pozole Thursday http://gaycalgary.com/a5325 Once a ritual dish served at ceremonies and important celebrations, pozole is now a common dish in many Mexican states, but it’s especially popular in Acapulco where everyone is a fan of Pozole Thursday. Typically made from a base of hominy and pork, chicken, or fish, (or beans for vegetarians), pozole is a stew that comes in three colours – white, red, and green – with varying degrees of spiciness. Pozole is served alongside a plethora of condiments, often including the likes of shredded lettuce, radish, onion, herbs, cheese and chicharrón (crispy fried pork rind), but to enjoy yours like a true local, pair it with a bottle of Coke and you can’t go wrong!

If your stay includes a Thursday, stop by El Jaguar restaurant for the ultimate pozole buffet. While most restaurants will offer one or two varieties, El Jaguar dishes up seven pozoles – including the trifecta of colours, with chicken, pork, fish, and vegetarian versions – and you can have as many as you can ladle into your belly. The colourful, lively atmosphere is inviting and exciting, and you will find yourself surrounded by more Acapulqueños than tourists, and probably some singing and dancing, too!

El Jaguar

http://www.mexonline.com/eljaguar.htm

Spanish in the 17th Century, and rebuilt in its current form amid the 18th Century. Used through the late 19th Century, the fort now houses a military museum open to the public Tuesday to Sunday (free on Sunday). Learn about the strong influence of the Philippines in Mexican commercial and religious history; view countless artifacts from military, nautical, religious and home life; and come to understand the importance of Acapulco’s port in the history of intercontinental commerce. Before leaving, climb the ramp in the fort’s inner courtyard for colourful city views from the roof.

Grab lunch in town, then head to the site of one of Acapulco’s most important cultural treasures, the murals of Diego Rivera, which adorn the former home of his friend, Dolores Olmeda, who offered the space to him during his recovery from cancer. In thanks for Olmeda’s generosity, Rivera decorated the home with his own original art just before his death in the 1950s, and impressive examples can be seen from the street. The colourful, intricate murals of shell and tile mosaic work are sprawling – running the length of the property. The home is currently being converted into a Diego Rivera museum after being recently purchased from Olmeda’s son, and soon to be publicly accessible are the rest of the home’s Rivera works, as well as his final studio.

Head back to Las Brisas before the sun drops to experience the most inspiring sunset of your life at the resort’s Sunset Bar. Sip a glass of wine high above Acapulco Bay and watch as the sun scorches the sky in fiery red and orange before cloaking you in early evening shades of purple 30

GayCalgary Magazine #154, October 2016

and blue. If you’re feeling adventurous, this is the night to revel in Acapulco’s famous after-dark scene. The city has no shortage of nightlife, but you’ll have to head out late if you’re going to see the best of it, as most hot spots don’t get going until after midnight. If you’re not feeling so feisty, stay in and hang out by your private pool – it lights up – and you will appreciate the nighttime view of the glittering mountains across the bay.

Before heading home, take a short trip to Tres Palos Lagoon, not far from downtown Acapulco. A haven for all manner of birds, this massive mangrove lagoon was once used as the setting for Tarzan films; the terrain appears as unspoiled as ever. Hire a small boat to provide a tour of the lagoon and weave through mysterious mangrove tunnels, spotting countless birds and maybe even a crocodile. Locals say the mud from the lagoon makes skin softer and, depending on your boat captain, you may have the opportunity to try it yourself. While you should wear mosquito repellant everywhere in Acapulco, it is especially wise to apply plenty before heading to the lagoon, where mosquitos are abundant and not shy.

Tres Palos Lagoon is a humble space set apart from the commotion of the city and the radiance of the resorts.

Floating in the quiet lagoon is like peeking behind the proverbial curtain and discovering a secret. There’s nothing momentous happening here, but the peaceful energy and calm beauty on full display are at the corazón of all of Acapulco’s charm. The lagoon appears untainted by the passing of time, in the same way Acapulco has evolved with www.gaycalgary.com

p photo by Brandon Schultz

Chapel of Peace http://gaycalgary.com/a5326 Watching over Acapulco Bay from the region’s highest point, a 13-story white cross towers over the Chapel of Peace, drawing eyes from everywhere in the city. Born of a family’s personal tragedy, the nondenominational chapel and it’s monumental cross welcome the public to a space of serenity and introspection, promoting peace and brotherhood. Many come for, arguably, the best view in town (especially at sunset), but Acapulco has no shortage of breathtaking vistas. Deceptively simple in appearance, the architectural genius of the chapel itself, and the meticulously designed grounds on which it sits, are true treasures that can’t be found elsewhere in the city; these are why you must visit. Go earlier in the day to bypass the sunset photo frenzy and experience the whisper of this very personal space.

Chapel of Peace

http://www.acapulco.com/en/general/poi.html p photo by Brandon Schultz

Zibu http://gaycalgary.com/a5327 After learning about Acapulco’s rich history of trade with Asia during your visit to the Fort of San Diego, hurry to Eduardo Wichtendahl’s Zibu restaurant for a topnotch meal that honours the cultural mash-up of these two regions. Wichtendahl, son of famed Mexican caterer Susanna Palazuelos, has invented what Zibu calls ‘MexThai’ cooking, combining two of the world’s best-loved cuisines in a flavorful new genre. Incorporating Thai spices and cooking techniques with fresh Mexican ingredients, Zibu features original takes on popular recipes from both culinary traditions.

p photo by Zibu

Enhancing the appeal of this unique food concept, Zibu’s delicious design pays ambient homage to the two cultures from which it draws inspiration. Set under a Thai thatched roof of multistory proportion, the restaurant’s main salon spills into outdoor mountainside seating, overlooking Acapulco’s Puerto Marques Bay. And while there is plenty to try on this substantial menu, save room for the restaurant’s signature dessert: the MexThai Jungle, with its mysterious crunch.

What is it? It’s a secret. (Okay, it’s fried carrot shreds, and it’s served over homemade coconut ice cream. Trust us, you’ll clean the plate.)

Zibu

http://www.zibu.com.mx p photo by Zibu

p photo by Brandon Schultz

the decades without sacrificing its simple, stunning grace.

It is this unaffected atmosphere and honest purity that give Acapulco the sandman power that draws you into its dream and comforts you with enchanting echoes of a time gone by.

Follow Brandon Schultz on Instagram @thebrandonalexandr www.gaycalgary.com

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GayCalgary Magazine #154, October 2016

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Culture Club Still Karma Chameleons Original Members On Tour

By Jason Clevett

GayCalgary.com caught up with Roy Hay on the phone from his home in California on a break before the tour kicked off again. It has been a great experience for the band to be on the road again.

“It has been a lot of fun; we have been all over the place.

We had such a good time and everyone got along so well that we added on more dates and are coming to your part of the world. I live in the California desert, we get a lot of snowbirds from your neck of the woods,” he said, admitting he didn’t really think about the consequences of touring Canada in November. “Judging by the amount of Canadians I am surrounded with down here during the winter I am sure something is going on up there. I’ve been in California for 27 years, I am a bit of a pussy to be honest.”

The tour is the first time the band has done a cross-Canada tour in their career, along with many other stops they have never been too.

“It has been fun to go to places we haven’t been before.

Because it’s not as nuts as it was in the 80’s we get to enjoy it more. When we used to go places at the height of our teenage

fame years we would have hordes of screaming fans outside the hotel and it was hard to get out and do anything. We don’t really have that at all, so we get to enjoy places and go out. The best example is when we made it to the Philippians this tour, where we had never been. We had crazy fans there.

Some of the smaller places we’ve played we almost got stuck backstage again. There were large groups of fans hanging out waiting to meet us and grab autographs which did remind me of the 80’s a bit. It is really nice to be able to get out, it is a lot more under control. We are better musicians these days as well. Everyone is so grateful to have the opportunity to go out and do this again that we are really enjoying it. It is like having a travelling vacation where you play some music.”

35 years after forming, with many ups and downs individually and as a group, Hay said they are thrilled to be back on stage together.

“I just think everybody has been through a lot in their lives.

It just got to a point where we went ‘we created something pretty special together let’s not just let it die.’ George actually put it quite well when he said ‘we wanted to rewrite our ending.’ The ending was quite messy, there wasn’t a big explosion it just sort of disintegrated really. We are all friends and get on, there have been some low times over the years but basically everybody enjoys each other’s company. There are some bands that really don’t like each other, that’s not the case with us. We’ve had creative and financial disputes sometimes but basically we like each other. Particularly for John and Mikey, they have a blast on the road. George is kind of an entity to himself but is a great frontman. But you know what they say about lead singers, they are a breed.”

Being on the road in 2016 is a different experience as well.

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In 2015 Culture Club – the band behind such still recognizable 80’s hits like Karma Chameleon and Miss Me Blind among many others – reunited to tour. With original members Boy George, Roy Hay, Mikey Craig and Jon Moss together again things quickly took off, and the band has since been crossing the globe to Australia, Asia, and North America. The tour comes to the Jack Singer Concert Hall November 18th in Calgary and Edmonton’s Rexall Place November 19th.

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“I go to sleep at night and wake up in the morning instead of pass out and come to. We are a lot more sane and present.

It is a lot more enjoyable. I spent the weekend at the Desert Trip concert with all those legends of rock, and I figure if those guys can do a show like that, they are 20 years older than I am so we are good for another 20 years mate!’ he said, adding its inspiring to see the longevity of other artists.

“I remember in the 80’s when I was setting up a pension fund, it was difficult to determine a retirement date because the Rolling Stones were still touring, and that was 30 years ago! They are still touring. It is just awesome; I was never the hugest Stones fan but the guitar riffs and Jagger writing those lyrics is pretty amazing. The songwriting of McCartney are off the charts. It is nice to have songs that have survived on a nebulous level, they are just out there doing their thing.”

Of all of the songs in the catalogue, it seems that one that has most stuck in popular conscience is 1983’s Karma Chameleon.

“There are moments on stage when you are playing these songs you wrote in your early 20’s and realize the song is still out there in the universe. We actually brought something positive to the universe and contributed to people’s lives.

What a nice feeling as opposed to just a thing that you are wrapped up in when you are younger. For me it was always really about the music. Paul McCartney just wants to play music, you can tell. He couldn’t be more famous but he’s not doing it for any other reason other than he just loves to play music. Doesn’t need the money or recognition it’s about love.”

Although Boy George did not come out until 2006, his and the bands androgynous style lead to questions throughout their careers. Hay is heterosexual, but experienced some homophobia and judgement. In the end however he feels Culture Club did shine a much-needed spotlight on several topics.

“I lot of people thought I was gay, which is fine. Culture Club was a nice political statement without actually saying it which is genius. It wasn’t something we planned, which I think people appreciated. We didn’t go on stage and go ‘here’s a black guy, here’s a Jewish guy, here’s a gay guy and here’s

an anglo-saxon guy’. We just did it and it’s what we were and we had the outfits with the cultural symbolism. I like to think if you had a Culture Club poster on your wall as a teenager you might be a slightly more rounded human being because of it without even knowing it. There was definitely a positive energy, there was nothing negative about Culture Club which is nice. It really does seem like you go one step forward, two steps back sometimes. You’ve had these amazing changes in gay marriage and civil rights and at the same time you have a psycho whose complaining about everything and running for President. It’s really odd. Where I live, there are 10 houses on my street and five of them are gay couples which is great. It’s a very tidy street. That wasn’t around in the 80’s. If we had any tiny part in that it’s a good thing.”

Whether it is a band that broke up and reunited or that has continued to tour, there is a resurgence in touring acts that began their careers in the 1980’s and 1990’s. When Culture Club performs in Edmonton and Calgary, Hay promises a memorable evening of new songs and classic hits.

“Because we have new music, that is the lifeblood of the band. If you just play your big hits for the rest of eternity there is a place for that but as a musician and a writer I like to get new stuff as well. You have to pace it carefully; people expect the hits and you have to give it to them. It’s a party dude, you can dance, sing, get a bit emotional. It is an emotional ride, our shows. We come in with a bang and hit you in the eyes with a few hits. It is a well-paced show that has both melancholy moments and dance until you drop moments. We really haven’t just gone out with the 4 of us to make some money, we are putting on a big show with a bunch of musicians which is very expensive. It’s about playing music; it’s about reclaiming our legacy and there is nostalgia. Nostalgia is not a bad word.”

Culture Club http://www.culture-club.co.uk/ On Tour Calgary - Jack Singer Concert Hall- November 18th Edmonton - Rexall Place November 19th http://www.gaycalgary.com/a5328 View Bonus Pics/Videos • Share with a Friend • Post Comments

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GayCalgary Magazine #154, October 2016

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Interview

 photos by Nik Pate

King of Queens QBoy ReClaims His Throne

By Jamie Booth QBoy was one of the OG queer rappers who helped to lead, create and shape the sub-genre of hip hop known as homo hop in it’s infancy.

When he first premiered in the late nineties, everyone reacted to QBoy as an oxymoron. International news outlets from The Guardian, to VICE, Dazed&Confused and i:D all wondered the same thing: How can there be a gay rapper?

QBoy showed them how with two hit videos: Q.B.O.Y. (Is Just So Fly) and the top ten MTV smash, Coming Out 2 Play.

But then he disappeared… until now.

This month, QBoy returns with a new EP called QING pronounced KING - and he is ready to reclaim his homo hop throne. The album is being called an emotional journey through sound packed with empowering songs like Show Me Your Deck and Music Makes Me Dance as well as gut-wrenching tearjerkers like Set It Up. “Everything I write always has at least a grain of truth and integrity about it,” he says. “Even when it appears to be frivolous and fun on the surface, there’s a more significant message laying beneath.”

We spoke with QBoy from his London home.

GC: What do you think of the term homo hop?

QBoy: The term really started in the nineties, against the backdrop of homophobic gangster rap. At the time, we needed to show that hip hop had a queer face too. That there were actually some queers who loved and were creating hip hop. There was a time when gays were very anti-hip hop and hip hop was anti-gay and homo hop bridged that.

GC: Does the queer hip hop community support one another?

QBoy: The early generation did. Those early days were exciting.

We were all together doing something new and trail blazing and we were doing it because we loved it. We never really thought it would take off. Gay people didn’t understand why we loved hip hop and hip hop hated us. So, we were unified.

GC: Is it the same today?

QBoy: Queer artists coming out today have so much more competition. I’m not sure they share that same camaraderie that we experienced when I first started.

GC: Are you friendly with the gay rapper, Cazwell? www.gaycalgary.com

QBoy: I’ve known Cazwell for fifteen years. Before Cazwell was a solo artist, he was in a dope band called Morplay with another rapper, Crasta Yo. I remember reviewing their single Watch My Mouth for gayhiphop.com and being truly inspired. Cazwell has my respect for what he has achieved.

GC: What advice would you give him?

QBoy: I wouldn’t dream of giving Cazwell advice. We met up in LA recently and he was looking to make some new music so I suggested a few ideas but advice - what do I know? I am just trying my best like everyone else. He knows what he is doing. He’s a smart, hard working cookie.

GC: What do queer rappers need to do to get on mainstream radio?

QBoy: Mainstream means you are creating a product that everyone wants to buy, and usually that makes it quite beige.

Most queer artists are honest in their music and by doing so, they’re making art that is often striking and unique and not beige, boring or conformist at all.

GC: Which of your songs on QING has the most mainstream potential?

QBoy: (Laughing) You’re very obsessed with mainstream! In today’s internet world, we no longer need to be mainstream to succeed or reach our audience. But if you want to know the songs that are least gay in the lyric content and subject matter, they would be Music Makes Us Dance and Set It Up. Set It Up is about relationships I have had with men but lyrically it’s not sexuality specific.

GC: Is there one track that’s just for the boys?

QBoy: Both Show Me Your Deck and DragOn have more queer themed content. DragOn is a weed smoker’s anthem where I literally talk about stoned sex with hot boys. One of favorite things – not discounting donuts. Show Me Your Deck is very much focused on my own experiences on gay hook-up apps.

GC: Which track on the EP tells us the most about QBoy? QBoy: Everything I do must come from a seed of truth or I just cannot connect with it, so really, all of the songs are true portrayals of my personality. After watching all five videos you might think that I am a Game of Thrones and tracksuit loving, cock-obsessed, socially concerned, cheeky, humorous, spiritual stoner who has experienced some pretty shitty break-ups. And I’d say that is not far off the mark.

For more information on QBoy and his new EP, QING, visit QBOYMUSIC. COM. Follow QBoy on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @ qboymusic

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GayCalgary Magazine #154, October 2016

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Pioneers on the Ice

Calgary ‘Cs’ New Era of Gay Friendly Puck Handling

By Michael Nguyen Flames fans embrace the C of red, but it will be rainbows heating up the ice at Winsport Arena, as Calgary joins the growing list of major cities now home to their own gay hockey groups.

The Calgary Gay Hockey Association (CGHA) and Pioneers Hockey are the homegrown intersection between the LGBT and hockey worlds, born from unfortunate circumstance. After coming out to his former teammates, Mike Bell found himself without a team to play with, going into his league’s playoff games. In a place like Alberta – with a typically conservative reputation – it’s not always easy to be a sexual minority; let alone trying to find an accepting place as a gay hockey player.

The good ol’ hockey game can be a bit of a disappointment when it comes to conversations in the locker room and, to prevent others experiencing what he had, Bell decided to take action.

When Bell followed up with league organizers following his ousting, he found there were no protection or equality policies in place for gender and sexual minorities. Thankfully, the league has only seen overwhelming support for equality in hockey, and so the beginning of the association took root. The Pioneers came together with You Can Play and the Winsport Hockey Canada League to establish a team with a LGBT focus.

The team first played under the CGHA banner in the Winsport Hockey Canada League last season. Comprised of an eclectic mix of individuals, including a goalie they found on Kijiji, the Pioneers are Calgary’s first gay hockey team.

You Can Play is an organization and social activism project that works to promote inclusion in sports and to challenge the attitudes found in locker rooms and arenas with the motto If You Can Play, You Can Play. Part video series (think along the lines of the It gets better project) and part cooperation with the 36

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NHL and amateur teams, You Can Play has helped to support LGBT hockey leagues and associations across North America.

Like their namesake, the Pioneers are at the forefront of LGBT hockey in Calgary. Last year they represented Alberta in the province’s first appearance at the Eastern Canada Cup, which was hosted by one of the earliest-formed gay hockey associations in Canada, the Toronto Gay Hockey Association.

The teams at the Eastern Canada Cup share the same sentiment – that being gay doesn’t mean you can’t play – encouraging hockey arenas to offer a welcoming and truly sportsmanly environment.

Sports, in general, are gaining increased LGBT visibility as players become public with their sexual orientation, and allies come forward to acknowledge and support their teammates, but there is still a ways to go.

Although created out of a less than ideal situation, the future is promising for the Pioneers, with plans to host their own tournaments and continue to represent Calgary at games around North America. You will find the same passion, skill and sportsmanship on the Pioneers as any other team; at the end of the day it’s for the love of the game. For those curious, the Pioneers are always looking for interested parties.

Pioneers Hockey http://www.Pioneershockey.ca or Instagram @CalgaryPioneers http://www.gaycalgary.com/a5330 View Bonus Pics/Videos • Share with a Friend • Post Comments www.gaycalgary.com

Nick Carter Gets His Second Wind

Backstreet Boy Goes Solo with Album and Canadian Tour

By Jason Clevett It’s been a busy year in the life of Nick Carter. In November of last year, he released his newest solo album All American. In April, he and wife Lauren welcomed his first child, Odin into the world. He’s been in the studio working on a new Backstreet Boys album, preparing for a just announced Las Vegas residency, and is about to kick off a Canadian solo tour. Carter performs at Cowboys in Calgary November 18th, Edmonton’s The Ranch Roadhouse November 19th and the Esplanade Arts & Heritage Centre in Medicine Hat November 20th.

With all of this going on, how is Nick Carter balancing everything?

“Very carefully,” Carter said, laughing. “Honestly it hasn’t been that difficult. We are recording a lot while we are in LA and I live here. We are not in a severe rush to finish the album, so we are making sure that it’s right. We have a song that we are going to record in five days and we will do a three-day session and then come back. We are preparing for the Vegas residency that starts March 1st and runs in June as well. It’s a really great pace. With my baby, I am able to be home and help my wife with him and enjoying the time right now. It’s great, honestly it does flow.”

It’s not really anything new for Carter, who is probably the busiest of the Backstreet Boys. Between albums he has in the past released a collaborative album and tour with Jordan Knight, competed on Dancing With The Stars, and had his own reality shows House of Carters and I (Heart) Nick Carter. It seems like the 36-year-old is always on the go.

“Number one I get very bored, and number two I just like to do things, it makes me feel alive. I pride myself in being a creative person. Every time I try something new whether it’s a movie or solo project or collaboration, it is new and exciting and another adventure I can embark on. I don’t know what’s going to happen but the process is so what I love so much.”

GayCalgary.com talked to Carter over the phone to promote the tour. It’s quickly evident that Carter is thrilled to be a dad.

As the last “Backstreet Dad” he’s been able to get advice from his bandmates on how to raise a child in the chaotic entertainment world.

“It has been great. I have seen them for the past years on the road with their kids and how they have raised them and how they are around them. How it works being on the road and being on buses, I am well prepared in knowledge. As far as asking for advice or things that I need, they are my older brothers so I am really able to lean on them in times of need or help. It is comfortable and definitely the right time. My son Odin is a riot and awesome, I love him.”

Backstreet Boys fans were ecstatic when a residency at Las Vegas was announced, with dates in March and June. Demand was so high an additional 8 shows in April were added. A band known for their live shows, it seems a perfect match.

“Vegas lately is a hot spot. The best of the best is playing there from J-Lo to Britney, it is the entertainment capital in putting on shows like Cirque and concerts. The thing that is most exciting for us is we can take our catalogue and develop a magnificent show bigger than we’ve done before in the place www.gaycalgary.com

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where shows are hot now. It is sexy there, people are going there to have fun and watch shows and party. It is a party town and the perfect place for us. We are still young and we still deliver a badass show, now we can take it to Vegas and to that next level.”

The popularity of the residency shows that although they have never left, Backstreet is definitely back. Over the course of their 20+year career they have at times been ridiculed. Recently the band has performed their hits on TV with artists like Meghan Traynor and Florida Georgia Line. The Late Late Show host James Corden recently had the band on and performed with them. Corden’s massive smile during the number was a clear indicator of how thrilled he was to sing with them. Having respect of their peers is something that means a great deal, Carter said.

“It means so much. There was a time that people didn’t know how to react to the Backstreet Boys and where liking boy bands from the 90’s was sort of taboo. Maybe now people are starting to realize that it’s not that serious, it is just entertainment. We are part of them and they are part of us. All of these acts we are performing with, we are fans of them as well. The fact that these people are embracing us feels good and like it is coming back around. We waited awhile for that and stayed our course, now we are excited and I am ready to embrace the world again.”

While seeing a band in an arena or stadium is a great experience, unless you are close to the stage the sense of

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intimacy is lost. Carter expressed his happiness at performing in theatres and clubs where he can get closer to the fans.

“The reason I come to smaller cities or venues is because luckily we can do both. We can perform in the arenas to this day as a group. As an artist, it’s about having intimacy and being able to see their faces and perform that music. It is a nice dynamic and change of pace. There are certain places that as the big bands like Backstreet Boys or New Kids we can’t make it to those smaller places, but we can as individuals. When I come to certain places like on this tour or the tour with Jordan Knight, you could see on the faces of the fans how excited they were. We were able to take our time and I really enjoy it.”

Carter is on the road supporting his third solo album All American. Featuring songs that are more sexual and explore themes like a stalker fan and deeper heartbreak, the fantastic album is different from the groups more mainstream music.

“When I go into the studio as a solo artist I kind of just do whatever I want with no boundaries. Sometimes very strange things happen. I am writing all the songs and make a point of that because I would rather it be a personal story that the fans want to hear or learn something. They have followed us for so many years it gives them the opportunity to get inside my head.

I take a bit from life and things from the past and make up things. I really enjoy painting the picture and just picking up a guitar. I don’t take it too serious, you could say I am a bit of an underground solo artist which is ironic because of the group. I enjoy having that side project” One of the standout tracks is the album ending I Will Wait.

“I Will Wait is the song I performed on the finale of Dancing With The Stars. I knew when we wrote it that It was a special song. When I did the show I really wanted to perform the song and it turned out to be beautiful and a great moment. It is a song about loving someone so much and believing that you will be together in the next life and love never dies. I felt as if songs like that were missing from the Backstreet Boys for a while so I wrote it.”

Whether solo or with his bandmates, it is always clear that Nick Carter has a blast on stage and consistently delivers.

When he arrives in Alberta in November, expect a memorable evening with a mix of his solo work and the BSB songs you love.

“It is a big party. I bring a full band. I embrace being part of the Backstreet Boys and what we do is extraordinary. I perform a lot of Backstreet Boys songs in my shows because fans want to hear that. It can be a different version but the crowd loves it and it’s a big party and celebration of many things. I also perform some covers like Wonderwall. I dance in the show but not as much (as the group concerts). I am the chameleon of the Backstreet Boys, so we celebrate and have a blast. It’s a great show.”

Nick Carter - All American available now http://www.NickCarter.net On Tour Calgary – November 18th – Cowboys Dance Hall Edmonton – November 19th – The Ranch Roadhouse Medicine Hat – November 20th – Esplanade Arts & Heritage Centre Backstreet Boys – Larger Than Life Las Vegas, NV in 2017 http://www.BackstreetBoys.com http://www.gaycalgary.com/a5331 View Bonus Pics/Videos • Share with a Friend • Post Comments www.gaycalgary.com

It’s Raining Menzel

Idina Menzel on working toward LGBT icon status, a lesbian Elsa and angry gays who oppose her Beaches remake  photos by Max Vadukul

By Chris Azzopardi Though it arrives nearly 20 years after her debut album, the timing couldn’t be more perfect for a self-titled Idina Menzel release. Menzel’s latest is a declaration of self – of her real self, that is.

“It’s how you pronounce my name,” the Broadway star says during our recent interview about the eponymous title, idina., not-so-subtly alluding to that infamous name botch at the 2014 Academy Awards.

You remember: John Travolta called her “Adele Dazeem” just before she hit the stage to perform her career-changing song “Let It Go” from Disney’s Frozen, during which the Tony winner voices cold-thwarting snow queen Elsa. Frozen fame took Menzel to Elphaba heights, but it was Wicked and Rent that forever made her a gay fave.

Imagine, then, what a new Beaches might do for Menzel. The Lifetime remake of the 1988 classic has the 45-year-old portraying Bette Midler’s CC Bloom, a career choice the singer-actress admits has ruffled the feathers of her loyal queer following. Menzel talked about one gay fan’s tweet that led to her almost backing out of the film altogether, how LGBT support solidified her success and why she’s “excited” that Frozen fans are pulling for a lesbian Elsa.

GC: What’s a trip to the grocery like now, after Frozen made you a household name?

IM: It depends on how many little kids or gay men are there. And they certainly have been complimentary, and yeah, we take some pictures and I’ve put myself on a video for several people’s birthday wishes and bar mitzvahs. www.gaycalgary.com

GC: But the gay guys aren’t just singing “Let It Go” to you, I’m sure.

IM: Exactly. And you know what, I’m leaving out the ladies too!

Because, of course, I was Maureen in Rent, so it’s not all the gay male community. There are a lot of beautiful women that have been very supportive of me.

GC: What does your long and loyal history with the LGBT community mean to you?

IM: Honestly, you said the word “loyal” – it means everything to me. All the women that I’ve revered in my life have been beloved by the gay community. So, when I was younger it was like, if I’m not in with that club, then I haven’t made it. So, as soon as I felt like I was being included and appreciated and supported (by the LGBT community), it just really meant everything to me. Not to mention, the accolades and all the compliments don’t come easy. There can be harsh critics; it’s not an easy crowd to win over, so it feels good when you feel like you’ve made friends and they are so loyal and so supportive.

GC: When were you first aware of your gay following?

IM: The first moment was probably when I’d go to the Nederlander Theatre when I was in Rent (in the mid ’90s), and I’d get all these amazing letters from young kids struggling with their sexual orientation and who they were and how they wanted to come out. I’d get a lot of letters about that and how I was helping them be honest with themselves and be brave about coming out, so it started then and that was even… that was stronger than I had even anticipated or ever really had dreamed. Just on a much deeper, much more important level than singing a high note with a lot of bravado and people clapping. And it’s continued to be like

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that, really, with Wicked and Frozen, with Elsa. There are always these characters who are literally trying to come out of the closet – they’re hiding something within them that they’re afraid to let people see, and then finally they embrace it and change the world around them.

GC: You seem to gravitate toward empowered female characters and tropes. Is there a particular reason why?

IM: I have no idea! (Laughs) I swear to god, I don’t know if I find them, or they find me. I went into the studio (for this album) – I was going through a divorce (Menzel and her former Rent co-star Taye Diggs officially divorced in late 2014 after 10 years of marriage), and I can’t tell you how many times I’d sit with these amazing writers and want to write some really upsetting, sad, dark song and it would turn out to be some uplifting, empowering song about trying to find my strength as a woman. I’d be like, “Aaack, why did we write that?! I hate that! I’m just so sick of it! I wanna be miserable!

And I want people to let me be miserable!” (Laughs) But no, I’m half joking. I just want to make sure that people know that I’m not always feeling that empowered and that confident in what I’m doing. Just like anyone else, I gotta work on all that stuff.

GC: Are you saying you’re a real person?

IM: (Laughs) I think so! I think I am!

GC: There’s a lot of pressure on you and Disney to make Elsa gay. Are you surprised by the #GiveElsaAGirlfriend movement?

IM: Am I surprised? (Sighs) Maybe at first I was a little surprised because it’s Disney, but I can say that I’m excited that the conversation is happening. I can’t promise anybody that that’s what’s gonna happen. I’m just a servant at a big company called Disney and I’m happy to have a role and a job. But deep down am I really happy that it’s causing people to talk about it and have these kinds of conversations? Yeah, I am.

GC: Do you think the world is ready for a lesbian Disney princess?

IM: Umm… I don’t know about that, considering we’re having a hard time even getting Donald Trump out of the way. Sometimes it’s a little discouraging. But you never know. We keep making all these strides. We’ve made a lot of strides in the last couple of years, and then all of a sudden the hate and the vitriol within our country is exposed and you’re like, “What happened? We’re in the ancient times again.”

GC: What does it mean to you to know that so many LGBT people interpreted “Let It Go” as a coming out anthem? And did you when you first read the lyrics?

IM: Yeah, umm... probably not right at first because I’m an actor first, and so I’m thinking, what is it for this character and this young girl? Having had the Wicked experience, I bring those themes to it as well. But then I quickly saw all of the parallels and the universality of the song and how it could speak to so many people in so many different ways.

GC: We must talk about the Patti LaBelle-inspired note you slay during “Queen of Swords,” from your new album.

IM: (Laughs) I have to say that sometimes my best moments, artistically speaking, have come from really emulating someone I love and playing around, because then I get out of my own space.

I was literally just having fun. We had already recorded the end of that song a million times and I sang a million different runs of adlibs at the end, and I was trying to make my producer and engineer laugh. And I didn’t know I could do that one! So then, of course, they put it in.

I’ve had other moments in my life where I’m on stage and if I’m having a hard time – if I feel insecure about a beat or how I’m interpreting something – I’ve done something like, how would Glenn Close approach this moment? Then, all of a sudden, I’m like, “Oh, look at this,” and I’m holding for applause and taking an extra two seconds just to own the stage, not feeling like I have to get out of there because I’m undeserving. It’s interesting if you put yourself in their footsteps once in a while how it can open that up for you and you realize, “Oh, I’ve been selling myself short. I can sell this moment.”

I’m not saying anybody should copy anybody. I don’t think anybody should mimic anyone, but I’m always an advocate of emulating and soaking in all of the greats, because then once it 40

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comes out of you, it’ll never be a clone – it will be you inspired by these people.

GC: You’ve had three other studio albums – why self-title this one, and what’s the significance of the period?

IM: It’s very personal. I went through the hardest time in my life while writing this album – a beautiful, successful time, and also a very tumultuous, complicated time in my personal life, and so it’s very intimate. It’s my way of saying, “Hey, this is me and my barebones.” And the period is… what’s the word?... just a little nudge, like, “This is me,” with a little attitude in there, whether it’s how you pronounce my name or (directed toward) anybody who has tried to keep me down.

GC: We refer to our most beloved icons by one name – Cher, Madonna, Mariah, Bette – so maybe this is also your initiation into gay iconography.

IM: (Laughs) Hey, if I can get into that realm or that class, I would be very happy. It would be a huge compliment. But I’m still working toward that. Those women have done a lot more than I have!

GC: Why was it important to you to be a part of the “Fight Song” for Hillary Clinton during the Democratic National Convention?

IM: Elizabeth Banks asked me to do it. You know, I’m just … I believe in Hillary and I’m a Democrat, and I’m not trying to put off or judge anyone who isn’t, but I felt it was important to be a part of it.

GC: Now that you’re obviously tight with Elizabeth Banks, could that mean we’ll see you in Pitch Perfect 3?

IM: (Laughs) Oh god, that would be awesome. That would be great.

GC: “Wind Beneath My Wings” is a song that’s so iconic and so owned by Bette Midler. What was it like taking it on for your upcoming Beaches remake?

IM: (Sighs) It was almost reason to say no. I mean, I did say no a couple of times at first to the whole thing because to walk in her footsteps, I mean, you can’t. I needed to find what the reasons were to be a part of this when the (original) movie is so beautiful as is. I found that there’s a whole young generation of women who hadn’t seen Beaches. Because of the time we’re in now, as women, there’s a new perspective we have within that story, and there’s a new conversation that can go on as far as us living out our passions and our work and our home life. It’s a little different when you watch the movie now, in this context of life. There’s more that we can bring to it to update it. But as far as the song – the song terrified me. I brought it to my producer, Greg Wells, who did “Queen of Swords” and half of the album, and I said, “How can we make this contemporary?” We sat at the piano and stripped it down, and he just found this way that brings in all these modern sounds. We stayed pretty strict to the melody and I don’t know – I’m just really happy about it. I think it came off really beautifully. It’s an homage to what was already there, but also just a new incarnation of it.

GC: Gay men are very devoted to Beaches. Have you consulted any of them for the role?

IM: By accident I went on my Twitter feed and saw somebody who wrote, “Idina, I love you, but it’s sacrilege that you’re doing

this!” I called my agent and I was like, “Tell them I can’t do it. All these gay men are mad at me and they’re gonna hate me!” But it’s just such a great role for me and the experience of being on set and working every day on this beautiful woman that is funny and talented and she gets to do drama and comedy – it was such a great experience for me and it was just hard to turn down. So I hope they’ll forgive me! I understand if they cannot. But you know, come on, Judy Garland redid A Star is Born and then Barbra redid Judy Garland! So sometimes these things happen. I’m not saying I’m any of those women, but you know, sometimes we redo these movies.

GC: Earlier this year, you reunited with your Wicked co-star Kristin Chenoweth and sang “For Good” with her for the first time in 12 years. What was it like to revisit that song a decade-plus later with Kristin and can we expect you to work on anything else with her?

IM: Ah, maybe! Yeah, I would never say never to that. That experience that day was very powerful for both of us, and very moving. We both sung that song a lot through the years in our own concerts, but we hadn’t gotten back and sung it together. And you know, that show changed our lives and the trajectory of our careers. It bonded us – it bonded lots of people – and it’s a song that people connect to in so many ways. They use it at their weddings and their dances with their mothers and they play it at funerals. It’s this incredible song, and for us to have sort of originated that – and together – it’s something we’ll always share. We felt such a pride about it.

GC: Are you going to be OK if Wicked gets made into a film with actresses other than you and Kristin?

IM: No, I’m gonna – no! I’m gonna have a hard time with that.

(Laughs) Let’s be honest… you want me to be honest? Or do you want me to say, “Oh, sure, can’t wait for whoever looks 20 years younger than me but can’t sing as good as me gets the role”?

GC: They better not fuck it up, right?

IM: They better not fuck it up! I’m lobbying to do it like Benjamin Button. A little CGI on a beautiful, green face. I could look gorgeous!

Like, who cares – just take out a couple wrinkles. Green and exotic.

I still have a girly innocence about me. And here I am trying to audition for this role... (Laughs) GC: I’m sorry, Idina; believe it or not, I have no say in this.

IM: (Laughs) No, it’s all good. It’s not gonna happen for a while anyway. I’ll be 70 by the time it comes out and still be trying to get this role.

GC: The special effects will be even better in 30 years.

IM: (Laughs) I hope I’m just not in Vegas in some bad lounge singing it, that’s all I hope.

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GayCalgary Magazine #154, October 2016

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Margaret Cho Returns

Comedienne returns to Calgary after 6 years

 photos by Dusti Cunningham

By Jason Clevett 6 years can go by in the blink of an eye, but also be forever. The last 6 years of Margaret Cho’s life has been filled with highs – such as an Emmy nominated guest appearance on 30 Rock as Kim Jong-II – and lows like the death of her friends and inspirations Joan Rivers and Robin Williams. A busy career has unfortunately kept her from performing in Calgary since 2010. That changes November 19th when she performs at the Jack Singer Concert Hall.

“That is the way touring works sometimes, it Is just the way my work schedule has gone. I’ve been working in Atlanta since spring and all over Europe, Australia and Asia. I love Calgary though and am very excited to come back. I bought a gorgeous jacket last time I was there; it is very thrilling to have another opportunity. Calgary isn’t a place you think of as a fashion capital but it really is.”

A lot has happened in the last 6 years both in Cho’s career and the world at large.

“I think that for me, the way that my career has expanded and grown I am really grateful. I have put out a couple of albums of music and do different kinds of roles in acting, done a special which I haven’t done in a while. There is a lot of different things I have been doing,” she said, adding that world events like the current election and Donald Trump have also been an influence. “It is so awful that there is a possibility he could be president! He is so dumb, he can’t even blend down

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his under-eye concealer into the rest of his makeup. He needs a new makeup artist among other things.”

Cho has always been open and honest about her own history as a rape survivor. One thing we hope for is change, yet the infamous “grab her” Trump video, women coming out that he assaulted them and the often accusatory response are just some of the many signs that we have a long way to go to not blaming the victim.

“It is really an outrage. People need to understand that we need to talk about rape and sexual assault. When you bring light to these issues it discards the ability for predators to act.

If we talk about it, we can make rape obsolete which I think is very important. Victims need support. Lucy DeCoutere and all the women who came forward in the Jian Ghomeshi case, it didn’t go their way and there was a lot of victim blaming in Canada. It is very difficult; people are not going to come forward unless it happened. That is my assumption and also my experience as a survivor. We did not talk about this without it having happened knowing that we will get criticism about it.

I believe this to be true.”

Her own experience lead to the controversial song on her new album, titled I Wanna Kill My Rapist.

“It’s not about literal violence, it is about murdering the memory inside and making it known so that you can receive compassion and open up to this.”

The song is featured on the album American Myth, which was released earlier this year. The album is less a ‘comedy’ album but deals with some serious topics. One song in particular –

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Daddy I Miss You – will instantly resonate with someone who has lost their dad.

“It’s a very important record. It is very emotional whether saying goodbye to Anna Nicole Smith or my Dad. I even did a song about prostitution called Come With Me which is all about the secret relationship that is historic with mankind since the beginning. There is a lot of emotion behind it. My music is an area that is developing. I love collaborating with different people but this was my first attempt at being a composer which is a huge jump. It’s an aside to what I do as a comedian although some songs can be comedic. It is really a wonderful thing for me to be able to do. The writing process is definitely different from comedy. You have to write in time and measure and melody which is all part of the experience. It is a different kind of structure writing songs from writing comedy that I am getting used to, and I love it.”

Cho is one of the innovators of females in Comedy in the last 20 years, and we continue to see success of women in the industry. Amy Schumer is doing arena tours, the Ghostbusters reboot was all female, and many other examples show that women are a force. With that comes attacks (one just looks at some peoples’ outrage over Ghostbusters as an example) that shows there is still a long way to go.

“I love Amy Schumer, I love the women from Broad City, Wanda Sykes… I love the diversity of women in comedy. The backlash is just misogyny.”

By the time Cho arrives in Calgary, America will have elected its new President. It seems pretty likely that the countries first female Commander-In-Chief will finally become a reality.

“She is a really honorable competent politician and someone who is more qualified to be president then anybody. There is an alarming misogyny that exists even in my own party the Democrats with the Bernie Bros and all of this stuff. People are not willing to allow for a woman to be a president. I think we’ll find we will discover an entirely new side of Hillary Clinton, one that I have known for many years. In the 90’s I was a frequent visitor to the White House during the Clinton Administration. I am very proud that she’s got this and we’re going to have tits in the white house! And not Melania’s tits!”

Long credited for her honest comedy about sex, the gay community and being a woman of colour, her current show deals with some dark subjects that will provoke laughter and thought.

“We will talk a lot about depression which I think it is an important topic to discuss in comedy, it is a different thing that I am having a great deal of fun in talking about. I talk about emotional abuse and a lot of heavy things coming through in the show. The Presidential election. Misogyny and how we www.gaycalgary.com

perceive it in everything from the Jian Ghomeshi case to Trump to Cosby. These are big topics for me so I will be dealing a lot with that.”

For nearly 25 years Margaret Cho has been a voice, an activist, and entertainer. She has done so much for the LGBTQ community, abuse survivors, addicts, people of colour and many others who see a portion of themselves in her. At this point she is an icon with an incredible body of work and legacy, and has made a true impact. She’s a beautiful, special person – and her humbleness only adds to that.

“I do my work every day and really love it and have a good time. I am wildly excited about everything I get to do. It is humbling to think of it that way, but I don’t think about my impact much.”

Margaret Cho - American Myth – Available Now http://www.MargaretCho.com

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Schooled by Lady Bunny

Between fart jokes, the tireless drag legend shreds an entitled generation (and Hillary Clinton)  photos by Jeff Eason

By Brandon Schultz

Underneath those towering blonde wigs lurks one of the filthiest minds in drag, but it’s also among the most overworked.

It’s not just that Bunny’s busy performing her one-woman show, Trans-Jester, night after night, and flying from city to city DJing and making guest appearances between performances (though she is doing all that), it’s that her mind never seems to find a reprieve, especially from politics—politics of all sorts.

Trans-Jester, whose name alone has sparked controversy within the LGBT community, is a raucous night of Bunnybefitting debauchery with all the envelope-pushing material you’d expect, but it’s also refreshingly stuffed with meaning and insight—an urgent plea for a reality check from a queen whose best work may come more from the gut than the gutter.

We spoke with Bunny after one of her recent performances in New York City and learned more about her positions on a variety of politics—gender politics, drag politics, and, of course, the US election.

GC: You’re very busy right now and Trans-Jester keeps extending its limited runs. How do you stay in such demand?

LB: It has been busy, but listen, it isn’t always sold out, and if there’s a night when there aren’t that many tickets sold I like to invite friends. If the jokes are inappropriate and you’re in a small crowd you might look around and say “is it okay to laugh? Is everyone else laughing?” but if it’s in a larger crowd, you just do what feels natural. If it feels natural to laugh at something that we’re maybe not always supposed to laugh at,

you can. That’s always been the inspiration for my humor. The funniest things I ever remember were things said in church when I was a kid with my sister. They’d pass out the envelopes to put money in that said, “The Lord loveth a cheerful giver.” We would cross that out and write “The Lord hateth a poor person,” or “The Lord loveth a cheerful bigot,” and just sit there crying and screaming and pounding the floor laughing until we were escorted out. So, if you tell me I’m not supposed to laugh at it, that’s it. And of course, we all have jokes we tell in private. My goal is to try to get that humor out where everyone can enjoy it. My sense of humor developed in late night gay clubs where people were drunk and on drugs, so if you pulled out a dildo, or did something sick or wild, you were gonna get booked again.

Now we’re very PC and mainstream and I think it’s a yawn.

GC: It’s an interesting tightrope. A lot of political correctness comes from people fighting for equal treatment, and from protecting rights and shaping attitudes, yet you point out that too much word-policing is causing just as much damage, or maybe more. Why is it important to lay it all out there?

LB: I feel that the over-emphasis on language actually stifles discussion. I tried to read an article that was explaining the difference between cisgender and cissexual, and you know what? After all that, I don’t give a shit. Because if I meet them, I’m gonna be nice to them, whatever they are. What I really can’t take is how we’re driving wedges in parts of the community that were always the closest, like drag and trans.

And I think it’s very dangerous to put people on boxes and demand that you know what that person is. For example, some of these trans activists who don’t like what I say have said,

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“I thought combining incest with necrophilia was some of my best work.” ~Lady Bunny.

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“But you’re a cisgender man.” Well guess what, bitch, I don’t know what the fuck I am. You sure as hell don’t know what the fuck I am. You’re not cisgender if you modified your body, right? I’ve experimented with hormones. I’ve spent thousands of dollars on painful electrolysis because I didn’t feel that that beard should be growing out of my face. (My electrolysist moved to Florida and left me with half a beard, but that’s MY struggle!)

Listen, the other thing that is so wild to me is that I personally revere the transwomen in my life. And they know that the reason that we’re so close is because that there’s a little bit of me in them. They know that. And there’s a little bit of them in me. Stop trying to drive us apart.

The world is a mess and we’ve got to look for allies, and make allies. Dividing ourselves up and fighting over it is crazy to me. Don’t shout me down because of what I am, because I’m a cisgender white male, if that’s what your chart labels me. I might be fighting for Black Lives Matter and you won’t even hear my message. I might be your ally. Words are used differently at different times. Words are tools of comedians, and many professions. There are some black people who never want the n-word used. There are some black people who put the n-word in the chorus of their songs. There’s no one way to do this. You can’t put so much weight on labels.

GC: You do take positions that are not directly in line with popular gay attitudes, like not supporting Hillary Clinton in the US presidential election, and your blog is often very a serious outlet for your political thoughts. Why is it important for you, an entertainer, to take a public stance on substantive topics?

LB: Because we’re being led astray by the media. Look at the media that created Trump. We know that Trump mocked a reporter with disabilities, called Mexicans rapists, wants to ban Muslims, mocked John McCain’s war record, called Carly Fiorina ugly, called Miss Universe Miss Piggy, meanwhile…what 46

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are his plans? What are Hillary’s plans? Why isn’t that part of the media representation? As insane as I am, I get positive feedback from being non-bullshit and thinking outside the box.

Listen, I’m from Chattanooga, Tennessee and my dad was an anti-draft counselor. He got a teaching scholarship in Africa when I was 11, and all of the rednecks around us said, “Oh, the Ingles love n-words so much that they had to move to Africa.”

Growing up, we were never allowed to go to the Armed Forces Day parade because my dad didn’t want us to celebrate violence and war . . . which is what Hillary Clinton represents! That’s the truth! I am very glad that my father, who I don’t always get along with, gave me that gift—the gift of being able to say, “That’s what you are all saying, but that is just not right or true in my book. These are my values and I have a seat at the table as well.”

Gay people my age all support Hillary Clinton, but I don’t.

I guess I’m just one of those fools who can’t shut up about injustice. During the course of doing Trans-Jester, not only was Stonewall landmarked by President Obama, but it was also the sight of the Pulse nightclub shooting memorials and I feel like this: I am a gay person asking for equal rights. I’m asking that of everyone, even the ones who may have been brought up by their family, church, or schoolmates to think that what I am is wrong. So, if I see someone stepping on somebody else’s rights, whether it’s Muslims who we’ve got no business attacking (who Hillary has voted to attack), then I’ve got to speak out against that. And for trans-people people being bashed, and Black Lives Matter, and women—everyone.

GC: In your show you call out the absurdity of trigger words— words that students claim are too sensitive to hear from their teachers so they’re banned in classes. How does that relate to what you’re saying now about speaking out, even when it’s unpopular in our own community.

LB: Just while doing this show and talking about “rape” as a trigger word on campuses, I’ve learned that 1 in 5 women on college campuses are raped. If 1 in 5 women is raped in college, how do you save for years to send your little girl there, knowing there’s a 20% chance she’s getting raped? That’s unthinkable to me. But do you ban the word “rape,” or do you work your ass off to fix that? What if you have been sheltered from the word “rape” because you’re sensitive, and then you actually get raped? You’re gonna be a fucking basket case for the rest of your life. You go to college to broaden your horizons, not to tell your teachers what they’re supposed to be teaching you.

One university said it’s wrong to ask people where they’re from because that might imply you don’t feel that they belong here. A guy at one of my shows explained to me that a privileged white person might see someone Asian and say, “Where are you from?” too dumb to know that plenty of Asian people are born in this country. So, I said, okay I’m really glad you explained that to me because I can see that angle and understand how that might be irritating, but what’s to stop that Asian person from slapping his friend and saying “I come from the faraway land of…Detroit!” We’re looking for things to offended by. It’s the Oppression Olympics. I get offended by a lot of things, like the President getting sworn in on a Bible, but I don’t get crazy over every microaggression. You’re gonna get offended in life.

You can’t be a protected, coddled little baby.

People who know way more about this than I do link it to a very entitled younger generation. People like me, as gay as a goose, are scratching our heads thinking “Okay, we went on this journey for equal rights and marriage, and went through AIDS, and where are we now? Fussing about Zer and Ze pronouns?”

Have you met a Zer? Are we possibly going on and on fighting about something that is not a big issue for a lot of people, and then acting like there’s something wrong with a cisgender for being cisgender? Honey, there’s nothing wrong with you if you don’t want a sex change. That may mean you don’t understand what it is like but that doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with you.

And I’m not wishing AIDS on a new generation, but my friends were withering and dying before my eyes. It was dark. It www.gaycalgary.com

was heavy. Now you’re telling me I’m a Zer if I have a beard and lipstick, and I’m a Ze when I shave off the beard but still have the lipstick. . . . Babe, you know what? You kids go and play. If that’s your biggest issue then you are privileged. If you have the time to worry about Beyonce’s jewelry in a video and whether that’s cultural appropriation, then you are very, very privileged.

GC: Your show manages to remain a hilarious, entertaining comedy set while truly hurling these grievances right in the audience’s faces. In a world that is so PC, how do you get away with this night after night, and do it so well that the show has to keep extending its run?

LB: We like to laugh at ourselves. From doing this so long I know where to pull back and add a joke, or say something self-deprecating. We need joy, and we need laughter, and we need togetherness. In chat rooms, it’s real easy to say “die cis scum” because there’s no tone unless you use an emoji (and I don’t understand emojis, except that eggplant one—I know that one baby, especially with the little squirts after!) and New York is a big city with progressive attitudes, but also that “eh, it’s NY!” attitude, where a Bronx cheer is a fart. That “cut the bullshit” kind of thing. I don’t know how this show would go over somewhere where they were very politically correct like Seattle. I’m not gonna say what people need, but I think we could all benefit from frank discussion.

For sure this show is somewhat older, saying, “You kids!” and pointing a finger at them. For SURE that’s what this is, and sometimes old people get stuck in their ways and need to get shaken up, but sometimes old people figured out a little something from being in the community for a while, and that’s why they’re still here.

GC: You’re still here, and you end your show with “I’m Still Here.” Are you going to perform until the day you’re no longer here?

LB: I don’t know how to do anything else. So, yes, I guess! I do different things, like DJing and making some original music, but I love doing this, and I love doing it here at Stonewall. It gives it some power. This is where gay rights started in the US. GC: I don’t think it’s because you can’t do anything else. You still have a lot to say, and your providing something important.

LB: I’m happy to hear you say that but I wouldn’t be so braggadocious (Trump word!) as to say that what I’m doing is important, but I’m glad people find it entertaining, and some people have said “you made me feel relevant” because, like me, they are scratching their heads over this generation.

GC: How about what this generation has done with drag, especially through RuPaul’s Drag Race? It’s more mainstream than ever—now people can name a dozen queens instead of just RuPaul and Lady Bunny. Is this helping or hurting drag?

LB: Listen, the lesson of reality TV is that Paris Hilton or Snooki can become stars. They have nothing to offer. On TV, you can be young and beautiful and contour your nose and do incredible makeup, but if you’re not about something more than just the look, you’re great to look at. But I don’t see that as an entertainer. RuPaul, Hedda Lettuce, Vaginal Davis, Kevin Aviance—the reason we all went somewhere is because we had an act, not just a look. Great looks are wonderful, and I’ve hired Miss Fame to do my makeup because she’s so incredible, and Kim Chi looks absolutely amazing, but some of these people can barely walk in heels. Some of them cannot walk to a beat.

Sure, there are a lot of new queens, and because they can do makeup so well they’re here right now.

There’s nothing wrong with being a beautiful mannequin, but I think that reality TV has taught us that you don’t need to be about something to be famous for now. I’m not interested in hype. I love Patti LaBelle, but if she puts out a bad song, I’m gonna tell you it’s a bad song. People say, “Oh Beyonce, you have to admire her business acumen, releasing all the singles as videos . . . ” but they all suck. I don’t dance to business acumen. I don’t sing along to business acumen. I’m glad she was able to hoodwink you, but this, to me, sucks. I don’t tend to view things in the realm of hype, so if some queen has been on TV, I’d personally be a lot less likely to go and see her because www.gaycalgary.com

she’s been on TV. If she’s someone like Kennedy Davenport who got standing ovations every night when I toured with her because she is a flawless dancer that can excite even my jaded old ass, that’s the one I’m going to see. I’m interested in talent.

Reality TV thrives on trainwrecks and arguments—sometimes people are cast because they’re willing to come out as HIV positive, or they went to jail, or they both held the same pageant crown. . . . I’m just not interested in that. I’ll freely admit I’m too old too appreciate reality TV. I grew up with Carol Burnett and Lucille Ball. If you’re gonna be up there, you better have something to do. Looking great is just not enough.

GC: And that’s why you’re still doing something.

LB: Well, listen. I see a lot of queens who haven’t been on the show and who think their only passage to stardom is to be on that show. And I always tell them, “Honey, you need to find something that makes you unique, not cookie-cutter-I’ve-gotthe-same-stripes-down-my-nose-and-lower-lashes-becauseBianca-del-Rio-had-them. Something that makes you unique.

And once you find that, I’ll bet you anything that Drag Race will come to you. And if they don’t you’re gonna have a career anyway.

And find a look you really love because if this does take off, you’re gonna be doing it a long time.

Follow Brandon Schultz on Instagram @thebrandonalexandr

http://www.gaycalgary.com/a5333 View Bonus Pics/Videos • Share with a Friend • Post Comments

GayCalgary Magazine #154, October 2016

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Photography DEEP ROOTS Rooftop Pride Party at Broken City, Calgary http://gaycalgary.com/pa1237

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Photography Dyke and Trans March 2016, Calgary http://gaycalgary.com/pa1230

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Photography Electrical PRIDE PARTY 2016 at the Texas Lounge, Calgary

BEEF Bear BEER Bash at Blind Monk, Calgary

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Photography True Colours Pride The Movement at Night Owl, Calgary

Wrap It up Party at the Backlot and Night Owl, Calgary

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Photography

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Factory 112 SNAP!, Calgary

Pro Pride, Calgary

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GayCalgary Magazine #154, October 2016

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Photography Pure Pride Kick-off Party at Backwards, Calgary

Parade Day Dine and Drag at Backwards, Calgary

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Photography Pure Pride Calgary 2016 at Flames Central, Calgary http://gaycalgary.com/pa1232

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Photography HOT MESS Pride Bash Starring Katya at Commonwealth, Calgary http://gaycalgary.com/pa1233

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Photography RuPaul’s Drag Race Jujubee at Mama’s Gin Joint, Edmonton http://gaycalgary.com/pa1242

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Photography EVO’s THIRD Anniversary, Edmonton http://gaycalgary.com/pa1241

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News Releases New Cookbook Tells You Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Cooking a Chicken

Chicken...who doesn’t love a good piece? While fried chicken may be the best known chicken dish, there are a lot of ways to love...

Jack’d Proclaims People Are Still Having Sex

This Week’s #ChangeTheGame Examines the State of Hooking Up Twenty five years ago, the pop singer LaTour first declared “People... http://www.gaycalgary.com/n2289

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Recipe: Grand Velas Riviera Maya Brings On the Heat With Its Habanero Chili Salsa

Chef Ricardo de la Vega of Frida restaurant at the AAA Five Diamond Grand Velas Riviera Maya invites foodies to test their taste...

The Web’s Favorite Queer TV Network Returns For Its Second Fabulous Season

gaySVTVworld Presents Three Brand New Original Series The web’s favorite queer network returns for its second season this... http://www.gaycalgary.com/n2290

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New Book L.A.’s Legendary Restaurants Explores the Golden Age of Hollywood Through its Food

Generations before Entertainment Tonight and TMZ, fans of the big and little screen longed to capture the Hollywood glamour of... http://www.gaycalgary.com/n2285

New Book Shows You How to be An Effective Business Leader During the Holiday Season

Melissa Davies, an international expert in developing workplace environments, outlines winning leadership and teambuilding skills... http://www.gaycalgary.com/n2286

NSFW - NEW Andrew Christian VIDEO: Dick Bowling

Watch Sherry Vine emcee the new sport that is taking the internet by storm...Dick...

Sherry Vine and Cessa La Princessa “Side By Side” music video

Sherry Vine and Cessa La Princessa just released their parody of Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj’s “Side To Side”. Similar to Ariana... http://www.gaycalgary.com/n2291

NSFW - Steam Room Stories: Whiskey dick

Have you ever drunk so much that you’ve not been able to get it up? Steam Room Stories hunk Andrew Fultz admits that he got a... http://www.gaycalgary.com/n2292

NSFW - P.I.L.F. - Priest I’d Like To F*ck: Being Tolerant is So F*cking Hot

Increasingly driven by profit and greed, concerned only with perpetuating itself for its own benefit, the Church has lost its... http://www.gaycalgary.com/n2293

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LGBTQ Activist George Takei to Take the Stage at Dark Sky Festival in Jasper Alberta

NSFW - Gregg Homme Doggy Style video

We are thrilled to launch our newest video featuring Gil Soares, the well-known fashion model and his 4-legged best friend, the...

Venturing Beyond TV Drama to Advocate Real Change Amidst various notable speakers at the 6th annual Jasper Dark Sky Festival...

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Bisexual Female Rapper DEVMO Releases Her Battle Cry in “Wah Wah Wah”

Once again DEVMO takes on shitty past exes in “Wah Wah Wah”, her new no-holds-barred single and music video, out now.... http://www.gaycalgary.com/n2295

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News Releases NSFW - Ripped and Stripped 2017 calendar and “making of film”

NSFW - Andrew Christian: SEX = POWER = FREEDOM Book

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Logo Will Symbolically Censor LGBT Content w/ “Day of Disruption”

Let Willam’s New Book Teach You How to SUCK LESS

What happens when you take eight straight, sexy young hunks – strip them – and have them spend a whole weekend completely naked...

It isn’t just about ...sex! It’s about SEX = POWER = FREEDOM Designer Andrew Christian invites you to be part of his new collectors...

Published by Hachette Book Group, with A Foreword from Neil Patrick Harris In Willam’s own words: The only lie told more often...

Marathon of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” to be Disrupted in Solidarity with International LGBT Community Candis Cayne, Gus...

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M:ST 8: Southern Alberta Performative Art Festival

Celebrate the Holiday Season with The Perfect Diabetes Comfort Food Collection

Alberta’s only biennial festival of performative art, the Mountain Standard Time Festival (M:ST) will take place October 21 -...

Best-selling author Robyn Webb shows you how to take 9 essential recipes and create 90 amazing meals that everyone will love!...

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M:ST - Heather Hermant and Alvis Parsley: queer slow dance with radical thought

Susie Fishbein’s New Cookbook Brings International Recipes Home for the Jewish Holidays

Mountain Standard Time Performative Art Festival Society is pleased to present queer slow dance with radical thought, performed...

The Jewish High Holidays are a time when friends and family come together and ring in the new year with delicious meals prepared...

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Alberta Ballet Presents Sir Ben Stevenson’s Dracula

Alberta Ballet is delighted to present Sir Ben Stevenson’s critically acclaimed Dracula, composed by Franz Liszt and with sets...

Transgender model stars in I AM VODKA Campaign

With a moving video featuring the transformative story of transgender model...

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Directory & Events DOWNTOWN CALGARY

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10 12

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6 15

3

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1 8

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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

9 10 11 12

FIND OUT!

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

Bars & Clubs (Mixed)

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

These venues regularly host LGBT events.

7 Broken City

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

 http://www.brokencity.ca

 403-262-9976

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

 http://www.cowboysnightclub.com 9 Dickens Pub

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

 http://www.dickenspub.ca

 403-233-7550

13 The Pint-----------------------Bars and Clubs 15 The Blind Monk--------------Bars and Clubs 16 Backwards / Six 2 Eight------Bars and Clubs

Community Groups Alberta Society for Kink

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

Apollo Calgary - Friends in Sports

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

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

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

 http://www.flamescentral.com

• Western Cup

 403-543-6960  1-888-543-6960

 magazine@gaycalgary.com

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

 http://www.localtavern.ca

 6020 - 4 Avenue NE  badminton@apollocalgary.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

16 Backwards / Six 2 Eight ------------------  628 8th Avenue SW  587-352-2582  staff@backwardsclub.com

 http://www.backwards.club

www.gaycalgary.com

4 Texas Lounge

 308 - 17 Ave SW  403-229-0911  Open 7 days a week, 11am-close 6 Twisted Element

 1006 - 11th Ave SW  403-802-0230

 http:.//www.twistedelement.ca

12 Ten Nightclub (closed)

 1140 10th Ave SW

 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 13 The Pint

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

 http://www.thepint.ca/calgary

 403-384-9777

14 Night Owl

 213 10 Ave SW

 http://www.vinylandhyde.com

 587-224-5200

N



http://www.westerncup.com

• Badminton (Absolutely Smashing) • Boot Camp

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

• Bowling (Rainbow Riders League)

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

• Curling

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

• Golf

 golf@apollocalgary.com

• Lawn Bowling

Bathhouses/Saunas 5 Goliaths

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

 lawnbowling@apollocalgary.com

• Outdoor Pursuits

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

• Running (Calgary Frontrunners)

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

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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

• Slow Pitch

 slow.pitch@apollocalgary.com

• Squash

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

• Tennis

 tennis@apollocalgary.com

• Yoga

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

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.

1 Calgary Outlink

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

 1st

See 1 Calgary Outlink

 2nd

See 1 Calgary Outlink

At 5 Goliaths

 3rd

At 1 Calgary Outlink

 4th

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

 1st

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

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

• Peer Support and Crisis Line

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

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

 Weeds Cafe (1903 20 Ave NW)

Deer Park United Church/Wholeness Centre

 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

Girlsgroove

 http://www.girlsgroove.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

Calgary Queer Book Club

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

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

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.

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

At 5 Goliaths

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

 2nd

See 1 Calgary Outlink

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

See 1 Calgary Outlink

By

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

GayCalgary Magazine #154, October 2016

Parents for Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG)

 Sean: 403-695-5791  http://www.pflagcanada.ca A registered charitable organization that provides support, education and resources to parents, families and individuals who have questions or concerns about sexual orientation or gender identity.

Positive Space Committee

 4825 Mount Royal Gate SW  403-440-6383  http://www.mtroyal.ca/positivespace Works to raise awareness and challenge the patterns of silence that continue to marginalize LGBTTQ individuals.

Pride Calgary Planning Committee

 403-797-6564

 www.pridecalgary.ca

Primetimers Calgary

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

www.gaycalgary.com

Directory & Events  Calgary Contd.

Spectrum Volleyball Calgary

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

Unity Bowling

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

DevaDave Salon & Boutique (closed)

 1317-1st Street NW

Restaurants & Pubs 16 Backwards Restaurants and Nightclub--- See Calgary - Bars & Clubs (Gay).

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

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

Retail Stores Adult Depot (CLOSED)

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

 10210 Macleod Tr S  403-271-7848

 #102 2323 32nd Ave NE  403-769-6177

 1536 16th Ave NW  403-289-4203

 4310 17th Ave SE  403-273-2710

 http://www.adultsourcecalgary.ca

Best Health

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

La Fleur (closed)

 403-266-1707 Florist and Flower Shop.

Ellen Embury

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

Hardline

 Calgary: 403-770-0776

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

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

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

Pushing Petals

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

Services & Products 6th and Tenth - Sales Centre

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

 M-W: 12-6pm, R: 2-7pm, S-N: 12-5pm

Barry Hollowell

Calgary Civil Marriage Centre

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

Christopher T. Tahn (Thornborough Smeltz)

 403-808-7147

Courtney Aarbo (Barristers & Solicitors)

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

www.gaycalgary.com

 #3 306 20th Ave SW 

http://www.thirdstreet.ca

MFM Communications

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

 Suite 27, Building B1, 2451 Dieppe Ave SW

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

SafeWorks

 403-703-4750

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

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

Webster Galleries Inc.

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

 T-S: 10am-6pm, N: 1-4pm

EDMONTON

Lorne Doucette (CIR Realtors)

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

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

 11725 Jasper Ave  780-488-6636 6 Evolution Wonder Lounge

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

FLASH (CLOSED)

 10018 105 Street  flashnightclub@hotmail.com

 780-938-2941

UpStares Ultralounge (CLOSED)

 4th Floor, Jasper Ave and 107th Street 4 Mama’s Gin Joint

 11725 Jasper Ave

 780-488-6557

Bars & Clubs (Mixed)

• Calgary Drop-in Centre

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

These venues regularly host LGBT events.

Hooliganz Pub (CLOSED)

Buck Naked Boys Club

 780-471-6993  http://www.bucknakedboys.ca Naturism club for men—being social while everyone is naked, and it does not include sexual activity. Participants do not need to be gay, only male.

Camp fYrefly

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

Edmonton Expo

 http://www.edmontonexpo.com

Edmonton Pride Festival Society (EPFS)

 http://www.edmontonpride.ca

Edmonton Prime Timers

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

Affiliated with Prime Timers World Wide.

Edmonton Rainbow Business Association

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

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.

• Centre of Hope

 10704 124 St NW

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

• Sheldon M. Chumir Health Centre

7 The Starlite Room

 10030 102 St contact@starliteroom.ca  http://www.starliteroom.ca 8 Yellowhead Brewing Co.

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

 http://www.iscwr.ca

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

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

• Safeworks Van

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

Wheel Pro’s

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

Third Street Theatre

Interactive Male

Free and confidential HIV/AIDS and STI testing.

Priape Calgary (CLOSED)

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

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

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

NRG Support Services

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

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

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

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

Hot Water Pools & Spas

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

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

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

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

Wild Rose United Church

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

Cruiseline

 Calgary: 403-777-9494

 Edmonton: 780-413-7122  Other Cities: 1-877-882-2010  http://www.cruiseline.ca Telephone classifieds and chat - 18+ ONLY.

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

Bathhouses/Saunas 5 Steamworks

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

Community Groups

Theatre & Fine Arts ATP, Alberta Theatre Projects

 403-294-7402

 http://www.ATPlive.com

Fairytales

See Calgary - Community Groups.

AltView Foundation

 #44, 48 Brentwood Blvd, Sherwood Park, AB

 403-398-9968  info@altview.ca  http://ww.altview.ca For gender variant and sexual minorities.

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

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

Book Worm’s Book Club

 Howard McBride Chapel of Chimes 10179 - 108 Street  bookworm@teamedmonton.ca

InQueeries

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 #154, October 2016

65

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 Mama’s Gin Joint-------------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.

66

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 #154, October 2016

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 Mama’s Gin Joint See Edmonton - Bars & Clubs (Gay).

Retail Stores Passion Vault

 15239 - 111 Ave  780-930-1169  pvault@telus.net “Edmonton’s Classiest Adult Store”

www.gaycalgary.com

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

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

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 HIV Connection

 1206 - 6 Ave S

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

PFLAG Canada

 1-888-530-6777

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

Pride Lethbridge

 lethbridgepridefest@gmail.com

RED DEER Community Groups

 Old Lodge Road  1-866-540-4454  http://www.fairmont.com/jasper

Whistlers Inn

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.

LGBTQ Education

 8 Wellington St E, Third Floor Toronto, Ontario, M5E 1C5  1-888-204-7777  www.egale.ca Egale Canada is the national advocacy and lobby organization for gay men, lesbians, bisexuals, transidentified people and our families.

Products & Services Squirt

 http://www.squirt.org Website for dating and hook-ups. 18+ ONLY!

Theatre & Fine Arts Broadway Across Canada

 http://www.broadwayacrosscanada.ca

OUTtv

 http://www.outtv.ca GLBT Television Station.

 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.

GayCalgary Magazine #154, October 2016

67

Classifieds Event

140

The Fetish Slosh at the Backlot!

Come on down to the Backlot the 2nd Tuesday of every month for a no-cover Fetish party. 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

190

Rork Hilford MC OFFICIANT

Furniture

Safe Step Walk-In Tub Co.

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 • Opposite Sex • Same Sex LGBT-TTQ hilford@shaw.ca • 403-246-4134

Sleep in my bed, an adjustable bed. Spend a night/week/month. Very private. Close to the PLC and not far from the Airport. SuperSuite VRBO 842294

350

Furnished Room For Rent in West Springs SW Seeking a clean/tidy, responsible, single, mature working person for quiet, clean, secure, furnished bedroom to rent in working MALE COUPLED household in modern home; 10 minute bus ride to amenities; beautiful location, house has 3 cats, rent includes utilities; bedroom located in walkout basement, private bathroom ; street parking; references required + proof of steady income.

403-660-6300

Dating Service

415

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

Magical Music DJs

Erotic Massage

420

UltimateMaleMassage.com

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.

Home to Share

MARRIAGE COMMISSIONER

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INTERACTIVE MALE Interested in guys? You aren’t the only curious one. It’s just a phone call. Sexy. Discreet. Free.

Why not try? 1-800-913-8509

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

Consulting Best Erotic Male Massage In Calgary.

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

Video on website. 403-680-0533

527

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

mike@ultimatemalemassage.com

Products/Services 500 Certified Personal Trainer

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

Cleaning

517

GET A LIFE! Commercial Cleaning

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.

Legal

557

Award Winning One Stop Paralegal, Immigration & Business Services since 1999. Gay Friendly Staff. Call 403-590-3818 http://www.ActiveProfessionals.com Active Professionals #200, 2705 Centre Street N.W. Calgary T2E 2V5

Retirement Homes 580 A PLACE FOR MOM

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

Help Wanted

LIVELINKS Meet singles right now! No paid operators, just real people like you. Browse greetings, exchange messages and connect live. Try it free.

Call now: 1-800-692-5415

240

GayCalgary Magazine is looking for sales people, graphic designers, and writers in Alberta. For more info, contact: magazine@gaycalgary.com 403-543-6960

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

A PLACE FOR MOM. The nation’s largest senior living referral service. Contact our trusted, local experts today! Our service is FREE/no obligation. CALL 1-800-830-6628

Travel

680

Puerto Vallarta Condos for Rent 2 x 2 Bdrm for Rent. Ocean views. daily maid service included. Wi-fi , high speed internet.

Secure Quiet 9 suite building. 1/2 block to Blue Chairs Beach. On site English speaking Manager. Contact Rob - rburla21@gmail.com

Ads starting at $10/mo. for the first 20 words. Submit yours at http://www.gaycalgary.com/classifieds 68

GayCalgary Magazine #154, October 2016

www.gaycalgary.com

www.gaycalgary.com

GayCalgary Magazine #154, October 2016

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GayCalgary Magazine #154, October 2016

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