IN Magazine: September / October 2023

SALAH BACHIR ON HIS MEMOIR, FIRST TO LEAVE THE PARTY

FILMMAKER SEBASTIÁN SILVA TALKS ABOUT HIS SEXUALLY EXPLICIT SATIRE OF GAY MILLENNIAL LIFE

MEET ME UNDER THE CLOCK: THE ST. CHARLES TAVERN THEN AND NOW

CHE DIAZ AND THE POLITICS OF A COMPLICATED CHARACTER

The Doo Wop Project vocal group

The TSO acknowledges Mary Beck as the Musicians’ Patron in perpetuity for her generous and longstanding support.

PUBLISHER

Patricia Salib

EDITOR

Christopher Turner

ART DIRECTOR

Georges Sarkis

COPY EDITOR

Ruth Hanley

SENIOR COLUMNISTS

Paul Gallant, Doug Wallace

CONTRIBUTORS

Fabian Di Corcia, Aram Eginliyan, Adriana Ermter, Zoey Keswani, Karen Kwan, Luis Augusto Nobre, Larry Olsen, Ivan Otis, Alan Ovalles, Stephan Petar, Brian Phillips, Taisha Ramirez, Christal Williams, Michele Yeo

DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Benjamin Chafe

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Jumol Royes

MANAGER, COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS

Brennen Neufeld

ADVERTISING & OTHER INQUIRIES

benjamin@elevatemediagroup.co

EDITORIAL INQUIRIES editor@inmagazine.ca

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP INQUIRIES

jumol@elevatemediagroup.co

IN Magazine is published six times per year by Elevate Media Group (https://elevatemediagroup.co). All rights reserved. Visit www.inmagazine.ca daily for 2SLGBTQI+ content.

180 John St, Suite #509, Toronto, Ontario, M5T 1X5

ON THE COVER: SALAH BACHIR

PHOTO BY GUNTAR KRAVIS

PRESENTING

Issue 114

September | October 2023

INFRONT

114

06 | 2SLGBTQI+ DAYS OF SIGNIFICANCE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR

Mark these dates on your calendar and help increase awareness for your vibrant community

08 | FUNCTIONAL SKIN CARE

Your ultimate ingredient-based guide for getting your skin looking and feeling its best this season

10 | FALL MARATHON PREP

As your big race approaches, here are five things you can do to plan ahead for a great day of running

11 | HOW ONE SASKATCHEWAN ORGANIZATION IS COMBATTING STIGMA OF AIDS

AIDS Program South Saskatchewan’s (APSS) Direct Observed Therapy (DOT) program continues to break down barriers and support PLHIV and their community

12 | TO BE OR NOT TO BE A HERO IS THE QUESTION

Did Tina Turner get it right when she sang, “We don’t need another hero”?

Have you ever wondered what ever happened to former Drag Race judge Santino Rice since parting ways with the franchise? HINT: He’s now mostly known for his controversial presence on social media. Head to inmagazine.ca to read Bianca Guzzo’s online feature, “What Ever Happened To Santino Rice?”

14 | SHARING THE SECRETS AROUND CREATING A QUEER FAMILY

Dr. Marjorie Dixon helps clear up some myths around creating and growing a queer family

FEATURES

16 | MEET ME UNDER THE CLOCK: THE ST. CHARLES TAVERN THEN AND NOW Even surrounded by a condominium, a heritage clock tower on Yonge Street is a beacon for 2SLGBTQI+ history, representing joy, violence and activism

20 | THE DEVINE JOY OF QUEER CREATIVITY

Three Toronto queer trans-femme and nonbinary creative heroes step in front of the camera

26 | SALAH THE GREAT

We sit down with the one and only Salah Bachir as he prepares to release his memoir this fall, entitled First to Leave the Party

30 | CHE DIAZ AND THE POLITICS OF A COMPLICATED CHARACTER

Another season of And Just Like That has wrapped, but what about the show’s arguably most hated character?

32 | HOMOTIONAL ROLLERCOASTER

Tom Goss’s new album reflects on the ups and downs of his life

44 | FILMMAKER SEBASTIÁN SILVA

TALKS ABOUT HIS SEXUALLY EXPLICIT SATIRE OF GAY MILLENNIAL LIFE

In his new film Rotting in the Sun, the Chilean filmmaker doesn’t let dicks get in the way of the mystery

46 | CRITTERDOM DOWN UNDER Queensland and Western Australia deliver close encounters with some pretty iconic members of the native animal kingdom

50 | FLASHBACK: SEPTEMBER 3, 2008 IN LGBTQ+ HISTORY

Isis King becomes the first trans woman to compete on ANTM

FASHION

34 | PENTHOUSE #1

Skyscraper style to take you higher

DIVERSITY DAYS

2SLGBTQI+ DAYS OF SIGNIFICANCE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR

THE

March

Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV) (March 31 – annually)

April

Lesbian Day of Visibility (April 26 – annually)

May

International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) (May 17 – annually)

Pan (Pansexual and Panromantic) Visibility Day (May 24 – annually)

LGBTI Domestic Violence Awareness Day (May 28 – annually)

June

Pride Month (June 1-30 – annually)

July

International Non-Binary Peoples Day (July 14 – annually)

August

Wear it Purple Day (last Friday in August – annually)

September

Celebrate Bisexuality Day (September 23 – annually)

Bisexual Awareness Week (week surrounding September 23 – annually)

October

International Lesbian Day (October 8 – annually)

International Pronouns Day (3rd Wednesday in October – annually)

Intersex Awareness Day (October 26 – annually)

Asexual Awareness Week (last full week in October – annually)

November

Intersex Solidarity Day (November 8 – annually)

Transgender Awareness Week (November 13-19 – annually)

Transgender Day of Remembrance (November 20 – annually)

December

World AIDS Day (December 1 - annually)

FOLLOWING ARE WIDELY RECOGNIZED AWARENESS DAYS, WEEKS AND MONTHS THAT CELEBRATE, HONOUR AND INCREASE AWARENESS FOR OUR DIVERSE AND VIBRANT 2SLGBTQI+ COMMUNITIES.

Photo by Katie Rainbow on Unsplash

FUNCTIONAL

SKIN CARE

Your ultimate ingredient-based guide for getting your skin looking and feeling its best this season

By Adriana Ermter

You only need to stroll down Ocean Drive in Miami, along 17th Avenue in Calgary, through Yorkville in Toronto or the scenic walkway along the Seine in Paris to see that our world is filled with glowing, smiling, youthful-looking faces. Innovations in skin care are to thank for that, as each new serum, face lotion, nighttime treatment and more has been infused with do-good, look-great ingredients. That makes using one or two or six products filled with these unique formulations not just a growing obsession, but an essential part of our daily skincare routine. And we can’t get enough – according to a 2023 report by Allied Market Research, the global skincare market was valued at $146.7 billion in 2021, and is projected to reach $273.3 billion by 2031.

But are you choosing products containing the right ingredients for your face? Industry magnates such as Estée Lauder, Unilever and L’Oréal Paris pump out hundreds of new ingredient-fuelled products each year – which can make it a baffling quest to sift through the rows of bottles and tubes on drugstore shelves to determine which night cream or cleanser is appropriate for your skin. “When most people walk into a department store or drugstore or go online to purchase skincare products, they’re overwhelmed

1. Arbutin, to get your glow on

A plant-derived extract, arbutin visibly brightens your skin, smoothing a dull and tired-looking complexion into oblivion. It also works wonders on reducing hyperpigmentation, a frequent result of too much sun and too little SPF, and protects against damage from free radicals, such as environmental pollutants. All combined, it “helps protect and hydrate the skin, lending itself to keeping the skin barrier intact and allowing the skin to naturally have a beautiful inner glow,” says Mistry.

Try: The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA Serum, $23 for 60 mL; available online at www.theordinary.com.

2. Edelweiss extract, to heal environmental damage

A powerful antioxidant, this leontopodic acid and natural-origin peptide combo effectively protects your skin from both indoor and outdoor pollutants. But that’s not all. It helps to keep your skin barrier in tip-top health, while boosting your skin’s defence

by the sheer number of choices,” affirms Dr. Nancy Lee Silverberg, in her recently launched book Skin Deep: A Dermatologist’s Guide to the Science of Skin Care. Because, let’s face it, skin care is not a one-size-fits-all concept.

For starters, unique physiological differences can affect skincare needs: in general, men tend to have thicker skin with a higher collagen density, which is less prone to fine lines and wrinkles; women often contend with hormonal fluctuations, leading to specific concerns like acne, hyperpigmentation and skin sensitivity. “Everyone’s skin requires something prescribed for their own unique DNA depending on lifestyle, medical history, skin type, skin concerns, skin goals, budget and time,” says Vee Mistry, a celebrity facialist and the owner and founder of SkinByVee in Toronto.

Factor in universal conundrums such as an oily T-zone, dry cheeks, a lacklustre texture and crow’s feet, and we could all benefit from applying the Goldilocks Theory for optimum skin care. To ensure you’re making the right-for-you selects, here are 11 skincare ingredients to look for on the labels of your facial products.

mechanisms to create stronger, smoother skin. “Edelweiss is a beautiful, small but powerful flower that grows high in the Alpine regions 1500-3000 metres in altitude, and the extract is from this stunning flower,” says Mistry. “Providing 43 per cent more antioxidant properties, it benefits the skin by strengthening the skin barrier and protecting it against any environmental aggressors.”

Try: The Body Shop Edelweiss Intense Smoothing Day Cream, $38 for 50 mL, $76 for 100 mL; available at The Body Shop stores and online at www.thebodyshop.com.

3. Fermented botanicals, to penetrate thick skin

Like the juice from fermented grapes that are squished into wine bottles, fermented plants can also be infused into skincare formulas. “Fermented ingredients in skin care help balance good and bad bacteria on our skin, and this is when we talk specifically about the microbiome of the skin,” explains Mistry. “When there is balance of this, the skin is strong as well as healthy.”

Additionally, the process, which breaks down natural ingredients like flowers and flower extracts into smaller molecules, can amplify the ingredient’s potency and enable it to penetrate your skin’s outer layer, the epidermis, for improved results.

Try: Andalou Naturals Deep Hydration Multi Correcting Cream, $35 for 60 mL; available online at www.well.ca.

4. Hyaluronic acid, to rejuvenate and plump up your skin

While hyaluronic acid occurs naturally in your body and skin, “as we age, this process slows down – by adding this ingredient in skin care, it will attract 1,000 times its own weight in water, keeping the skin juicy and pillowy,” says Mistry. By ‘gluing’ itself to water molecules to help refresh and lubricate your face, it traps moisture in all layers of your skin to keep you looking dewy, moisturized and line free.

Try: CeraVe Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser, $22 for 355 mL; available at Shoppers Drug Mart.

5. Lactic acid, to smooth an uneven texture

Uneven skin can “be rough to the touch, bumpy, [have] blackheads and whiteheads, and pores can look enlarged,” describes Mistry. Lactic acid, a water-soluble alpha hydroxy acid (AHA), can resolve this as it exfoliates your skin, removing dead skin cells to promote cellular rejuvenation. While most lactic acids are derived from milk, vegan options (aptly named ‘vegan lactic acid’ on product labels) are also being infused into skincare products.

Try: Kiehl’s Ferulic Brew Facial Treatment Essence with Lactic Acid, $76 for 200 mL; available at Sephora.

6. Japanese indigo, to reduce irritation, sensitivity and/or redness Indigo blue in colour and frequently used to dye clothing, this botanical is now being harnessed in skin care for its ability to regulate red, irritated skin and to support the skin’s natural protective barrier. “This barrier is the outermost layer of the skin,” explains Mistry. And “it protects the skin from harmful environmental aggressors,” such as pollution, the sun and, as the name suggests, even blue rays from your smartphone, iPad and other electronic screens. Products inclusive of indigo blue help to calm and heal damaged skin.

Try: Tatcha Indigo Overnight Repair Serum in Cream Treatment, $124 for 50 mL; available at Sephora.

7. Polysaccharides, to hydrate and moisturize “A lack of oil production in the skin, not drinking enough water and using the wrong cleansers or over-exfoliating can make the skin [look and feel] dry and tight,” says Mistry. Sourcing products containing polysaccharides is your fix. With their ability to increase the skin’s water retention, polysaccharides work to replenish and nourish your skin. This then helps to hydrate the epidermis, diminishing that tight and uncomfortable feeling associated with dryness, while plumping it up and giving your face a softer, smoother appearance.

Try: Origins High-Potency Night-a-Mins Resurfacing Cream, $73 for 50 mL; available online at www.origins.ca.

8. Peptides, to look younger

There’s a reason peptide is often pluralized in skin care and listed on labels as multi-peptides or a peptide complex. Different ones, like copper, antimicrobial, carnosine and enzyme-inhibiting peptides, to name a few, address anti-aging by boosting collagen and elastin production. “Peptides also help reduce skin inflammation and even skin tone,” adds Mistry. “Because certain amino acids can stimulate your skin to make more collagen, this ingredient is great for pro-aging,” as peptides in their entirety excel at softening fine lines and wrinkles into oblivion.

Try: Drunk Elephant Protini Powerpeptide Resurfacing Serum, $108 for 30 mL; available at Sephora.

9. Reishi mushrooms, to look worry free

“Stress on the face can be due to a stressful lifestyle, lack of sleep, changes in medical history, starting medication or poor diet,” explains Mistry. “Our skin is a map of our internal organs: when things internally are not balanced, this will show up in the face in the form of detoxification.” Stress can manifest in the form of inflamed red skin, acne breakouts and an increase in oil production or even accelerated dryness. Courtesy of their ability to restore moisture loss and their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, reishi mushrooms soothe and calm your skin to reduce all of the above, including redness and irritation.

Try: Youth To The People, Adaptogen Deep Moisturizing Cream with Ashwagandha + Reishi, $79 for 60 mL; available at Sephora.

10. Sunscreen SPF 30, a must for all skin types

We don’t need to tell you that exposing your skin to the sun’s harsh UVA (think aging) and UVB (think burning) rays is bad news. While many daytime face creams and lotions contain an SPF, using a sunblock daily is always the safest route in protecting against sun damage. Physical (otherwise known as mineral) sunscreen ingredients include titanium dioxide and zinc oxide; these block and scatter the sun’s rays before they penetrate your skin. Chemical sunscreen ingredients, like avobenzone and octisalate, absorb UV rays before they can damage your skin. And make sure to use an SPF product “daily, 365 days a year, to protect the skin from skin cancer, skin pigmentation, lines and wrinkles,” advises Mistry.

Try: Elta MD, UV Active Broad-spectrum SPF 50+, from $72 for 265 mL; available at Walmart.

11. Tranexamic acid, to eliminate dark spots and acne scarring Retinol, an effective form of vitamin A, is well-known as a powerful skincare ingredient, and yet it can often be too harsh for many skin types. Tranexamic acid, a derivative of the amino acid lysine, is a less harsh and irritating alternative. Like retinol, it helps fade dark spots and can reduce the appearance of acne scars while tightening your skin’s pores. It also boasts anti-aging properties. “As we age and our skin produces less collagen, lysine [and derivatives of it] have been known to help stimulate more collagen production to give the skin a firmer, bouncy appearance,” says Mistry.

Try: SkinCeuticals, Discoloration Defense Daily Serum, $146 for 30 mL; available online at www.skinceuticals.ca.

Fall Marathon Prep

By Karen Kwan

With the fall race season fast approaching, thousands of runners will be at the start line to tackle their first marathon or half-marathon. It can be both an exciting and nerve-wracking few weeks – take a moment to take a breath and establish your plans for a smooth final few weeks of your training regimen so you can toe that start line with confidence.

Try out your choice of fuel

If you have not yet tried out the electrolytes you plan to use during the race, you’ll definitely want to test out your choices now. You may find certain types may bother your tummy, for example, or you may discover you prefer gels over gummies. If you plan on using the stations on the course rather than carrying your own hydration and you tend to have a sensitive stomach, check the race website to see what will be available on the course – then try out that brand and flavour ahead of time to ensure it agrees with you.

Don’t wear brand new gear

Race day is not the time to break out new sneakers or wear the new shorts you picked up at the race expo – you want to be wearing tried-and-true items that have performed well for you. Picture yourself during your long race in your snazzy new singlet… discovering the arm sleeves are giving you blisters or the fuel belt keeps jostling annoyingly on your waist.

Trust the taper

Taper madness is a real thing; you’re experiencing anxiety about the race and you’re itching to get out to run even though you know your body needs to rest up before the big push. Remind yourself that you’ve put in the work needed to complete the race and that your body needs these two to three weeks to recover so it can

meet the demands of race day. Talk to a fellow runner, one who can be the voice of reason and remind you that completing extra distance now will not benefit you on race day. Also, find ways to distract yourself: read something inspirational such as What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami, or use that time to plan your carb-loading meals.

Get some quality sleep

Getting a good night’s rest in the days leading up to race day is essential. Chances are the night before the race, you may be nervous and unable to get some quality zzzs, so make it a priority to get to bed early every night in the week ahead of your race.

Plan plenty of time for race day prep

Figure out practical details beforehand so you’re not anxiously rushing around on race day. What are the logistics for how and when you’re getting to the race expo for your kit and for the race itself? With your gear, the day before, set out everything – from your outfit and essentials such as SPF and anti-chafe balm to the bag of your post-race gear – so you can check to make sure you have everything. Then, prep anything that you can do in advance; for example, pin your bib to your top so you’re not hunting for or fussing with safety pins at 5 am, and make sure to charge your sports watch.

As your big race approaches, here are five things you can do to plan for a great day of running

Photo by Miguel A Amutio on Unsplash

How One Saskatchewan Organization Is Combatting Stigma And Taking It One Step Further To Help The Community

APSS has been serving the larger community of Regina and southern Saskatchewan in all HIV-related matters since 1985. The organization focuses on achieving optimal health for people living with HIV (PLHIV), and works to reduce the HIV infection rate in southern Saskatchewan, designed to foster connections for individuals affected by, living with, or at risk of HIV/AIDS or hepatitis C (HCV). Based on the latest national surveillance data from the Public Health Agency of Canada, Saskatchewan leads the provinces in reported HIV cases, with double the national average in 2020 (intravenous drug use is considered a primary driver of the rising incidence, along with sexual transmission).

Shiny Mary Varghese has been with APSS since 2015 and served as executive director since 2019; Morag Hurn, a client care coordinator, has worked at APSS since 2007. We sat down with the two to find out more about the organization.

How does APSS support PLHIV in Regina and other communities in southern Saskatchewan?

We offer HIV testing, client care assistance, and naloxone and opioid training, as well as harm reduction initiatives. We also provide transportation services to doctors’ offices and pharmacies, and organize nutrition, including food donations, for the community on a bi-weekly basis. In addition, our organization helps individuals pursuing counselling, connecting them with specialists who are trained in a range of areas from trauma to survivors of residential schools. Here at APSS, we like to act as a bridge, linking PLHIV to vital services like housing solutions or improved living conditions.

Tell us a bit about the work in direct observed therapy that APSS does (in part thanks to a recent grant from ViiV Healthcare). How did it come to be and what are some of the objectives of the program?

The DOT program had modest beginnings but has evolved significantly. It originated from a call from an infectious disease clinic, telling us about medication adherence challenges among individuals on HIV medications. After talking to social workers and therapists, we identified a significant gap in terms of medication uptake. To address this, the DOT program was introduced, monitoring PLHIV closely to ensure medication effectiveness and compliance. The monitoring involved with this program can vary widely depending on the individual’s needs; it can involve everything from watching them physically take their medication to driving them to the pharmacy to ensure they have a way to collect what they need and speak to their healthcare team.

How has the DOT program made an impact in the community? It tackles the problem of distinguishing between medication ineffectiveness and adherence issues, acknowledging external factors like unstable housing and food security. Since it was launched in October of last year with a small group, the program has made a great impact in the community. Currently, we actively monitor four individuals on a daily basis; the team also checks in monthly with individuals capable of self-administering medication

according to their prescription. The program has seen folks who began as ‘dailies’ and are now ‘monthlies.’ These folks are people we now check in with monthly to ensure they feel supported in their treatment adherence journey, as opposed to many who require daily support. We love seeing this progression and our work together coming to fruition.

What are some of DOT’s benefits in terms of adherence to treatment?

Engaging members of the community can be challenging, as many have backgrounds of mistrust due to experiences on the streets. In addition, stigma associated with HIV further contributes to these difficulties, but we work hard to break down these barriers and be a supportive network.

We know that Saskatchewan has the highest rates of HIV cases in the country. Are there any unique challenges you’ve encountered in the community or perspectives you’ve heard from the PLHIV community?

This is true, Saskatchewan does have the highest rates of HIV in the country. A challenge we continue to see is persistent stigma, specifically, and unfortunately, with healthcare professionals. To mitigate this, we aim to take a proactive approach, educating practising students before entering the field on the importance of providing HIV testing for folks who request it, regardless of their physical or mental appearance. At APSS, we offer free self-test kits for HIV, and nurses are available on Thursdays and Fridays to provide additional medical care as needed. We also offer anonymity and don’t require names, which helps with the uptake of requesting a kit, as a fear factor surrounding testing still exists, acting as a barrier for some.

What is something you’re excited about for APSS and the work you’re doing?

The organization has grown a lot since 2015. APSS is not just focused on HIV anymore; we also have programs for opioids and the DOT program. We are excited to educate people about the risks of HIV and how to prevent it. We were among the first in Saskatchewan to start this kind of work. Our organization started with a group of five men who wanted to help their friends with HIV, even though hospitals weren’t supportive at the time. Now, we support 170 people living with HIV.

In your opinion, what is needed to reduce and eventually end HIV transmission?

We believe mandatory HIV testing should be implemented across the country. This would not only help reduce and eventually end HIV transmission but also break down the stigma barrier.

To learn more about APSS and its programs to support the HIV community in southern Saskatchewan, visit https://www.aidsprogramssouthsask.com/.

To learn more about ViiV Healthcare, visit www.viivhealthcare.ca.

AIDS Program South Saskatchewan’s (APSS) Direct Observed Therapy (DOT) program continues to break down barriers and support PLHIV and their community

To Be Or Not To Be Is The Question A Hero

By Luis Augusto Nobre

Did Tina Turner get it right when she sang, “We don’t need another hero”?

Photo by Javier García on Unsplash

When Tina Turner passed away last May, I spent days with one of her songs playing over and over in my head. I have loved her voice since an early age, but I got stuck with “We Don’t Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)” because of its lyrics. The song is an immense success eternalized by Turner and the anthem of the 1985 film Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome. Those words, written by Graham Lyle and Terry Britten, inspire me to continue looking for a better future and life “beyond Thunderdome.”

Lyle and Britten probably created the song based on the plot of Mad Max, and I cannot imagine if they (and you) also connected the inspiring words to the realities of 2SLGBTQIA+ people worldwide. Many of us are the children left behind who are expecting a better life beyond the societal dome that has imprisoned our communities for decades. Our communities have been looking for respect, love and compassion, and we should be aware that this hateful wave is because those in power know that their castles were built in the air.

Keeping us apart and afraid is the strategy to keep controlling us under this invisible dome. The lyrics explore the myth of the hero, who has enough power to save those in need, but from a different perspective. They chant not to be saved but to be left to follow their lives without repression and restrictions – which is basically what queer and trans communities have been fighting for. We want to remove the invisible dome of systemic oppression that is trying to control us with terror, violence and discriminatory practices.

The goal is to extinguish this fear created on us and about us. We aren’t calling for a single hero; however, we need a collective effort from our queer and trans communities, friends, allies and society. The communications strategist for the American Civil Liberties Union, Gillian Branstetter, once shared: “If we are going to be a priority for our enemies, we need to be a priority for our friends. We cannot fight this off on our own. We need people to hold the line on our own humanity.”

Our 2SLGBTQIA+ communities need this support more than ever, and it goes beyond raising Pride flags or rainbow colours. We need more people to fight with and for us against this hateful wave and the increased discriminatory legislation in several places. On the other hand, it is vital to celebrate the advances experienced in recent years, such as the ban on conversion therapy in Canada, the decriminalization of homosexuality in five countries in 2023, and the recognition of same-sex marriage in other places. Those facts, and other equal-rights advancements, should inspire us to continue our journeys in building a more inclusive world. They should help us to feel stronger and show we can overcome fear with love and respect. Our celebratory chanting will remove all segregational domes.

Although there is still much work to be done by us as members of the queer and trans communities, allies and friends must be more vocal and step it up, even when we are not there. We even have to rethink the allyship between 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, because many of us have been discriminating against particular identities in the acronym. We cannot leave trans and non-binary people alone at the mercy of their fate. We also must join counter-protests with drag performers who have been targeted by specific groups in the name of morality. The work these performers do in drag storytime is essential to build bridges and engagement, besides educating people

about the importance of diversity and inclusion. It is a creative, fun and inclusive way to promote child protection that considers queer and trans children.

There is this call for us to protect our queer and trans communities. Many drag performers and trans activists have been under attack for years, and they are still facing our backs. It is a general assumption, you might think. However, pay more attention to details in your surroundings, and you will see that the reality is hard for some groups. Look at your friends, and analyze if they have been toxic with others, reproducing misogyny, homophobia, body shame and other discriminatory habits. Those hateful practices toxify our environments.

What happened with Fae Johnstone in the past year is a perfect example of the challenges that we have been experiencing in infected societies. People from all sides – including gays and lesbians – targeted Johnstone because of her trans activism and queer liberation. Award programs and campaigns that involved her received threatening and violent messages from all over North America, and that could breathe new life into trans discrimination in other countries. However, Johnstone wasn’t alone, and many queer and trans peers showed their support and joined the #Act4QueerSafety campaign, organized by Momentum, which calls on the Government of Canada to address 2SLGBTQIA+ rights and give better protection to us all.

We have to continue our engagement in protecting our future and rights while we live on hiatus until the next Pride month, when the importance of Pride and 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion discussions will peak again. It is indispensable to sensitize employers, politicians, parents, media and other groups to act and stand for us – for all members of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.

Turner sang about not having another hero, but it is time for us to sing a different song, “Heroes,” by David Bowie. Let’s chant it together with our total lung capacity: “We can beat them just for one day, we can be heroes just for one day…we can be heroes.”

LUIS AUGUSTO NOBRE is the senior communications coordinator of Pride at Work Canada/Fierté au travail Canada, a leading national non-profit organization that promotes workplace inclusion on the grounds of gender expression, gender identity and sexual orientation. For more information, visit prideatwork.ca.

“Our 2SLGBTQIA+ communities need this support more than ever, and it goes beyond raising Pride flags or rainbow colours.”

SHARING THE SECRETS AROUND CREATING A QUEER FAMILY

Dr. Marjorie Dixon helps clear up some of the myths around creating and growing a queer family

Queer people joke that straights can have a drunken fumble and accidentally end up with kids, while we have to create a plan. While there’s some truth to that, the stereotype hides some of the reality. While 2SLGBTQ+ people often do need a plan – and often help from others – to grow their families, there’s increased clarity and support for doing so. The journey to parenthood doesn’t have to be a wander through the woods with lots of dead ends.

There are myths around growing a queer family that need to be dispelled, strategies that need to be shared.

Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash

Ignore any feelings of unworthiness

Same-sex couples who would like to become parents may be putting off the idea because they’ve bought into heterosexist ideas that they shouldn’t be having kids, that it’s beyond their ability, or that it’s only ‘cutting-edge’ same-sex couples who are up to having kids. But these days you don’t have to be a trailblazer to be a parent. “We make what you think is impossible, possible,” says Dr. Marjorie Dixon, founder and CEO of Anova Fertility and Reproductive Health, a fertility centre with locations in southern Ontario. The ecosystem of laws, technology, available services and attitudes of healthcare professionals and society has changed tremendously over the past few decades, perhaps outpacing individuals’ and couples’ feelings of what they are capable of and what they deserve to do in their lives.

More than one path to parenthood

Reproductive science is always moving forward, and the various services available to help individuals and couples become parents are becoming more sophisticated and customized. Many 2SLGBTQ+ people don’t know about or misunderstand the options available to them. “When I founded Anova, it was off-putting that in Canada, the community didn’t know where to begin,” says Dixon. So Anova partnered with Pride Parenthood, a service designed to guide 2SLGBTQ+ couples through existing reproductive technologies, services and legalities to grow a family. Pride Parenthood’s CEO and founder is Kim Kopyl, who is, not coincidentally, Dixon’s wife. Their three children were created through IVF. “We understand the process from start to finish – we have been through the process of raising these children into beautiful teenagers,” says Kopyl. Between the two of them, they know the medical, legal and emotional challenges that must be navigated, whether it’s IVF, sperm donation, egg donation and/or surrogacy.

Parenthood is equal-opportunity creation

There can be a perception that one of the parents will be more involved in the creation of a family than the other. But what’s called reciprocal IVF can allow two parents to share the experience, provided that each has eggs and a uterus. One partner contributes eggs to form an embryo with donated sperm, while the other receives the embryo and carries the pregnancy. This option is becoming increasingly popular among lesbian couples and trans men who still have ovaries. “Often lesbian couples don’t even know that’s a thing,” says Dixon.

Different pathways will proceed at different speeds

IVF is very different from surrogacy, for example, and so the expectations need to be different for each journey. The egg donation process, for example, is easier and less time-consuming than gestational surrogacy. Usually, creation of the embryos happens first, taking between two and four months, while finding a surrogate takes longer, perhaps six months to a year. “Those two processes are going on in tandem to help save time,” says Dixon. “The embryos are frozen so they’re ready to go as soon as you find a surrogate. Then we can assess the surrogate to see if they’re the right person to carry the baby.” For the different kinds of IVF, finding donor sperm is a much faster step, which makes the whole process shorter.

The right provider is out there

When 2SLGBTQ+ individuals and couples turn to fertility and reproductive health experts to grow their families, they are outnumbered by heterosexual couples grappling with infertility issues – and much of the field is geared to the needs of the majority.

“Some doctors may not see people from our community,” says Kopyl. Even when straight service providers are open to and capable of helping same-sex parents, they might not have the language and attitudes to make 2SLGBTQ+ people feel welcome and comfortable.

“A lot of places want to do it, but they don’t have the acumen,” says Dixon. Choosing a service provider who is informed by real-life 2SLGBTQ+ experiences can reduce the anxieties. “In our community, it’s important to not feel just paid lip service to; it’s important to see yourself in your healthcare providers and the people who are providing the supports for you.”

Canada’s laws around surrogacy aren’t what people think they are

Though Canadian laws and policies around surrogacy are different than those in the United States, our rules do permit surrogacy and there are well-trodden ways to go through the process close to home. It’s a matter of finding the right lawyers and following the current guidelines. “There is the myth that gestational surrogacy or egg donation is illegal in Canada, but that needs to be dispelled,” says Dixon. “Canada’s Assisted Human Reproduction Act sanctions and directs us, and not all centres are primary facilities that can do this. There are clinics in Ontario and all through Canada that don’t have the knowledge to do this. You need a healthcare provider in the centre that understands the laws.”

Health screening is part of the process

Not only those who contribute eggs and sperm, but those who are carrying the baby, all go through health testing as part of the journey. By looking at the genetic contents of the embryo, medical practitioners can screen for genetic disorders such as cystic fibrosis, Huntington’s disease, Duchenne muscular dystrophy and sickle cell anemia to give expecting parents more peace of mind.

Costs, and insurance coverage, may surprise you

Employees are often unaware of what fertility and reproductive treatments are covered by their company’s health plan. Support systems like Pride Parenthood know what’s available and who qualifies for what. “We have a list of all the insurance providers, which employers use them, what they provide and what they don’t. People may not know that their employer gives $50,000 for IVF,” says Kopyl. “We reach out to different employers, letting them know that this is a competitive employment marketplace and that one of the best ways to retain your employees is to offer these kinds of services. Through Anova Fertility and Reproductive Health, we’ve been a big pioneer in getting financial assistance for this process in Canada.”

The journey to planning and building your future family can take many unique forms. For more information about beginning your pathway to parenthood, please visit prideparenthood.com

MEET ME UNDER THE CLOCK: THE ST. CHARLES TAVERN THEN AND NOW

Even surrounded by a condominium, a heritage clock tower on Yonge Street is a beacon for 2SLGBTQI+ history, representing joy, violence and activism

By Stephan Petar

Built in the early 1870s, the clock tower at 484-488 Yonge Street has welcomed an interesting array of tenants. It has seen a fire hall, car dealer, bicycle shop, game store, and multiple restaurants and bars/clubs. Now the restored tower is integrated into a mixed-use development called IMMIX.

A well-known landmark in the 2SLGBTQI+ community, the tower was originally built by architects James Grand and William Irving as Fire Hall Number Three, which served Toronto’s northern neighbourhoods. The tower would have been used to dry hoses and signal emergencies with the ringing of its 5,000-pound bell. It was abandoned in 1929 when fire services moved to a new location.

The property went through various uses until Charles Hemstead opened the St. Charles Tavern in 1950. It was advertised as “the most attractive dining establishment in Canada,” serving steaks, ocean-fresh seafood, pork chops, Chinese food and more.

The restaurant introduced the saying “Meet Me Under the Clock” in a marketing campaign. In some ads, it was followed by the phrase “Make our slogan, your own” – something the 2SLGBTQI+ community did. They adopted the saying as a code to indicate events and/or cruising.

Its story as a popular gay establishment started in the 1960s and lasted nearly 30 years. Scrolling through photos of the St. Charles on Facebook, I read numerous accounts from past patrons reflecting on their time at the bar: memories of trying drag, meeting significant others, enjoying the cheap beer and just being their authentic self. For many, it was their first gay bar experience.

Fire next to the clock tower in 1941 by James Victor Salmon, courtesy of Toronto Archives

Restored clock tower, courtesy of Stephan Petar

However, the St. Charles became infamously known for its annual Halloween drag show – an important night when many could express themselves in drag without being arrested. Unlike the scenes today on Church Street, Halloween at that time was a scary night for the community. The St. Charles not only drew supporters, but violent homophobic protestors who congregated outside. The Body Politic, a former Canadian LGBTQ+ publication, described Halloween at the tavern as an “annual queer bashing event” and “one night of ritualized homophobia.”

Various reports describe the front doors being locked with patrons sneaking in and out through the laneway to avoid protestors armed with toilet paper, eggs and tomatoes, which were thrown at drag queens, passers-by and the building itself. In 1979, a 21-year-old woman told the Globe and Mail that she was there “to throw eggs at the faggots.” Other accounts recall protestors chanting, “Kill the queers.”

“The photographs are unbelievably dramatic,” local Alan Miller said as we explored images in The ArQuives over Zoom. Images of the facade stained and dripping with egg yolk, while the sidewalk was littered with eggshells. “I tried to avoid Halloween on Yonge Street,” Miller shared.

The events led to community activism on Halloween. Queer groups distributed pamphlets about homosexuality to the general public, while others started patrol groups to ensure safety and to advise police on when to intervene. It also brought together supportive politicians and local business owners.

The tavern also attracted attention between 1975 and 1978, when 14 gay men were murdered and the community grappled with a potential serial killer. Toronto’s homicide division noted at the

time, “In several of the murders there is a common denominator: the victim was last seen at the St. Charles Tavern, and met his murderer there.” Many of these cold cases were recently reopened, as police are now investigating whether they are connected to the serial killings by Bruce McArthur.

In 1987, due to rising competition, the St. Charles closed. Over its nearly three decades as a gay bar, it developed a complex history within the community: one that represented love, joy, crime, hatred and activism.

Today, the clock tower is incorporated into QuadReal’s IMMIX, which features retail, office space and residential units. QuadReal, working with heritage consultants ERA Architects, took 24 months to restore the tower. Many of the original bricks were replaced with local ones that complemented the original colour, while several of the windows were not salvageable and were 3D scanned to create authentic replicas.

The clock tower “is a huge landmark within the 2SLGBTQI+ community and we wanted to have it there as a reminder,” says Kat Lee-Ball, QuadReal’s manager of construction. “We’ve also curated a collection of art pieces, all done by 2SLGBTQI+ artists... in our lobby and amenities floor.”

Artist Micah Lexier’s sculpture, City of Letters, is found on three surfaces – the laneway, clock tower and northwest corner. Featuring small uppercase letters, it is an oversized word search revealing words and phrases paying homage to the site. For the history of the St. Charles, author Derek McCormack conducted research at The ArQuives to create “cheeky, clever, historically accurate, pun-filled text” for patrons to discover in Lexier’s piece.

Photograph of the St. Charles Tavern at Halloween, 1979, by Gerald Hannon, courtesy of The ArQuives: Canada’s LGBTQ2+ Archives [1990-002/08P(01), Photograph Collection Box 20]

St. Charles Tavern circa 1955 by James Victor Salmon, courtesy of Toronto Public Library

Inside the lobby is Julie Jenkinson’s Time Zone, which is a “web of woven timepieces and meaningful references.” The piece uses pocket watches to represent the clock tower as well as brass chains and zippers to reference queer fashion aesthetics. There is even a tribute to Charles Hemstead’s love of horses with the use of brass equestrian hardware.

Other noticeable nods to the tower’s history include the Pride colours wrapped on the flagpole and an etched glass “ghost facade” of Fire Hall Number Three. A Heritage Toronto plaque is also in the works.

“What makes this site unique is the rich history that is significant for being at the epicentre of the gay and lesbian movement.… What we wanted to do was celebrate it rather than hide from it,” says Toby Wu, executive vice president of development at QuadReal in Canada. He goes on to add that embracing history is what creates cities.

This landmark is now surrounded by stories of its past: stories that will educate people on its built and cultural significance, and its part in Toronto’s queer narrative. With a new lease on life, the clock tower will continue to watch over the community – and, we hope, capture another 150 years’ worth of stories.

STEPHAN PETAR is a born and raised Torontonian, known for developing lifestyle, entertainment, travel, historical and 2SLGBTQ+ content. He enjoys wandering the streets of any destination he visits, where he’s guaranteed to discover something new or meet someone who will inspire his next story.

Clock tower before restoration, courtesy of Stephan Petar

Restored clock tower, courtesy of Shannon Clayton

Rendering of Micah Lexier’s ‘City of Letters,’ rendering by Norm Li, courtesy of QuadReal

The Devine Joy Of Queer Creativity

Three Toronto queer trans-femme and non-binary creative heroes step in front of the camera

WRITTEN, PRODUCED AND STYLED: Aram Eginliyan

PHOTOGRAPHER: Fabian Di Corcia

HAIR: Alan Ovalles

MAKEUP: Zoey Keswani

ALL CLOTHING: Ahiri

ALL SHOES: L’intervalle

MODELS/CREATIVE MUSES: Ness Devos, Diséiye Balenciaga, Solar Imperium 007

It goes without saying that Toronto truly is one of the most upand-coming creative cities in North America – and within this booming community of creativity, the artists who power it truly bring their own unique flair to the table. Within that community of creatives lies a microcosm of queer trans-femme and non-binary creative heroes who are bringing their perspective, experiences and talent through their own unique lens of creativity to the Toronto forefront. And they’re inspiring not only their own queer circles but beyond that into the lives of the status quo, and sharing their creative mediums with people all over the country.

Ness Devos (they/them), a non-binary photographer, is the vision behind the lens of local contraceptive brand Jems for All’s latest

“Safer Sesh Lighter Leash campaign.” They have also assisted in some of Canada’s most notable fashion editorials and are one half of GP Zine (Guava Pussy Magazine), a Toronto-based queer femme-led creative and editorial-based publication that focuses on the divine feminine ego and translates that through their lived experiences and real-life relatability of lived queer sexual liberation. They focus their craft of colourful, bold and unapologetic queer photography that goes against the grain of mainstream beauty and femininity to showcase a side of queer life that is often underrepresented. Ness bring their sense of playfulness, queer joy and liberation from the mundane in everything they do. You can follow them and their incredible work at @nessdevos, and get the latest issue of Guava Pussy at @gpzine!

It’s not every day that you come across a creative talent and beauty both inside and out like Diséiye (she/her). Hailing from the world of ballroom as a proud member of the iconic House of Balenciaga, she is a fashion designer like no other and represents the fashion community in a way not every designer can, as both talented designer and stylist. She fuses her incredible detailed custom designs with the ability to see the entire vision of style through and through – and that translates into a skill not every designer can translate. She has snatched trophies in categories like Runway and their unparalleled grand prize of Female Figure Best Dressed at this past World AIDS Day ball (Canada’s biggest ballroom function to date), as well as inspired new children in the kiki ballroom scene

to hit the floor and begin their own ballroom fashion journey. She has also dressed and created effects (the ballroom community’s way of naming their wears at functions) for international grand prize winners all across Canada and the United States. Her latest endeavour involves bringing her skill set in garment construction to the community through her garment reconstruction and design workshops for the ballroom community in Toronto, and showing participants ways to get their feet wet when it comes to creating, designing and up-cycling their effects for functions to come. To see her beautiful work and find out when her next local workshop will take place, you can follow her and her work at @deseiye_ and @desirediseiye.

Last – but certainly not least – the spotlight stays on the incredible world of ballroom, but this creative feminine energy takes us to the other end of the ballroom fantasy through her unmatched ability to perform and bring vogue to the community in a way no one truly has before. Solar Imperium 007 (she/her) is not simply a dancer or voguer, but a creative powerhouse who encapsulates the queer joy and liberation that voguing and ballroom is truly all about. In two short years, she has achieved what many voguers can only hope to achieve in a lifetime – at the young age of 20, she has already mastered the icon Leiomy Maldonado’s famous 360 dip. She has snatched countless trophies and grand prizes for her expressive and emotive playful take on dramatic vogue, and has taken on ballroom legends head-on and come out victorious. Solar not only encapsulates what hard work, creative expression and

love of vogue and oneself can look like manifested – she inspires the community to push themselves and unapologetically take the world head-on, and reminds us to feel the beat and express our own queer self-love both on and off the ballroom floor. You can follow her at @solarbhadi or see her at the next kiki function in Toronto: trust and believe that she’s a performer you won’t want to miss if you get the chance to go to a local function.

These three creative powerhouses represent what queer trans-feminine and non-binary creativity is all about here in Toronto – and they remind us all that being your authentic self and letting the gifts the world has bestowed upon you shine inspires more than just the communities they represent, but queer people and creativity as a whole here in Canada!

SALAH THE GRE AT

We sit down with the one and only Salah Bachir as he prepares to release his memoir this fall, entitled First to Leave the Party

By Christopher Turner

Photo by Guntar Kravis

A few years ago, a friend of mine introduced me to Salah Bachir; he thought the two of us would connect on a project that Bachir was working on. Spoiler alert: we did. We instantly hit it off. Even before we met, though, I’d gleaned bits and pieces of knowledge about him, although it was more akin to a Wikipedia entry. I knew that he was a patron of the arts and a renowned philanthropist whose generosity had spilled across the country, especially to Toronto’s arts and queer community. I knew that his name appeared above the entryway of the light-filled wing added to the south elevation of the original 519 building in the heart of Toronto’s Gay Village, an expansion that opened back in 2010 and ultimately increased The 519’s event space by 45 per cent. And I definitely remembered when Bachir acted as Grand Marshal of the Toronto Pride parade back in 2016: my friends and I cheered as Bachir rode down Yonge Street wearing full Arab regalia and pearls flanked by a bevy of beautiful men waving to supporters. (Bachir also acted as Toronto Pride’s Grand Marshal back in 2005 for the festival’s 25th anniversary.)

Turns out…what I knew didn’t even scratch the surface of Salah Bachir, a man who has swanned around with Elton John and countless other celebrities and had incredible influence on Canadian film business, all of which you can read about in his upcoming memoir…but more on that later..

An activist from the beginning

Bachir was born in Lebanon on October 3, 1955, and his family immigrated to Canada 10 years later in 1965, where they settled in Toronto’s Rexdale neighbourhood. As a child, he worked hard at fitting in and was active in sports, including hockey, football and lacrosse. (BTW, he’s still a diehard NFL fan to this day.)

When Bachir was 15 years old, he picketed outside the Dominion grocery store in the Rexdale Plaza in support of US labour leader and civil rights activist Cesar Chavez and the exploited farm workers in California during the Delano grape boycott. As the story goes, he raised about $150 ($50 of which came from his father), and when Chavez made an appearance in Toronto near the end of the boycott, Bachir shyly gave the money to him, embarrassed that he hadn’t raised more. Chavez assured the young activist how much that money would mean to the migrant workers and thanked him, reminding him that it was $150 more than the cause had had before.

The heartwarming story is the obvious opening chapter of a life dedicated to fundraising and social justice. Of course, that one-man protest wasn’t his only one outside of the Dominion store. Bachir’s passion for social justice deepened in his teenage years, and he often returned to the grocery store: boycotting produce, calling attention to native rights, bringing attention to the assassination of South African apartheid activist Steve Biko, or the testing of American cruise missiles over Canada.

He studied history and political science at Waterloo University –making waves at the university newspaper, of course – and worked at his brother’s home video store, before eventually beginning his career in publishing in 1980 with the publication of the first consumer video magazine in Canada, Videomania. In 1984, he started the trade publication Premiere, and went on to co-produce the annual trade show Focus on Video, as well as helped launch several home video labels, including Disney, Universal, Vestron

and Thorn EMI. In 1999, Bachir moved on to become the founding president and chair of Famous Players Media, which was ultimately acquired by Cineplex in 2005. Bachir subsequently became the president of Cineplex Media, where he was publisher of Cineplex Magazine, negotiated theatre naming rights with Scotiabank, and even co-founded the Scene loyalty card program (you might have the card sitting in your wallet right now).

His innovation, according to Marketing magazine , was to revolutionize and legitimize the in-cinema business, building blockbuster client ads and then inserting a few social justice-themed public service announcements amongst the pages. He actually got death threats for an ad he ran in 2005 that read: “‘I do’ means the same whether you are straight or gay. Let your MP know you support our Charter of Rights and Freedoms.”

The ad, seemingly simple by today’s standards but shockingly forward for the time, is just one small example of Bachir’s unwavering commitment to 2SLGBTQI+ causes. He is a proud gay man, and although he didn’t come out until later in life to some of his family, he has worked tirelessly to champion advancements and acceptance of the queer community. In fact, he is a member of the Order of Ontario and the Order of Canada for “his leadership as an entrepreneur and for his commitment to the arts and social justice, notably through Toronto’s the 519 community centre.”

Gala Salah

In 2021, Bachir retired from Cineplex… although if you know anything about Bachir, you’ll know that he’s now busier than ever, fundraising for a seemingly endless number of organizations. He could be enjoying retirement with his husband, the artist Jacob Yerex (whom he married on October 17, 2015, at The 519, in a lavish ceremony turned fundraiser that featured a performance by k.d. lang), but he is at heart a fundraising machine. This is, after all, the man who was first dubbed “Gala Salah” back in 2013 by the Globe and Mail, in reference to the hundreds of fundraising luncheons and galas he has hosted throughout the years – the annual 519 Gala in support of The 519, the Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards Gala, and the annual Salah Bachir Show in support of St. Joseph’s Health Centre Foundation, to name just a few.

There are countless accolades that speak to his entrepreneurial spirit and his passion for philanthropy. His benefactors speak highly of him, and his friends offer even more praise…even the famous ones. And there are a lot of them. There isn’t a celebrity that Bachir hasn’t met, it seems, and many of them consider him a dear friend.

“Salah Bachir is the biggest hearted philanthropist with the rock star life,” say Elton John and David Furnish.

As Bachir and I began to collaborate on our joint project, he would break out of our work chatter to show some of his eye-popping jewellery, and that gave me the opening to coax him (although it didn’t take much coaxing) to share stories on anyone and everyone he’d met, including Marlon Brando, Elizabeth Taylor, Ella Fitzgerald, Douglas Fairbanks, Andy Warhol, Norman Jewison, Atom Egoyan (my university idol) and André Leon Talley. (And that’s not even grazing the surface of his network.) He was always generous with his time, and through our increasingly regular conversations, he

would continue to share the most incredible stories from his life, some of which can be found in his upcoming memoir, First to Leave the Party: My Life with Ordinary People...Who Happen to be Famous, which is set to be released by Penguin Random House on October 17. It’s an incredible read, filled with personal stories from an extraordinary life – some short, some long, some surprising, others juicy…and all incredibly fascinating.

In anticipation of the release of his must-read memoir, I sat down once again with him to chat about his inspiration for the book, pronouns, role models, combatting hate here in Canada – and what stories didn’t make the final cut of his book.

What inspired you to write FirstToLeaveTheParty?

I had a few life-threatening moments after my kidney transplant, when I got sepsis and needed an ileostomy. I wanted to write something empowering as a way to reclaim my own narrative. I was stuck in a hospital bed…with tubes coming out of me every which way. I wanted to preserve some of my history, of our community’s history, and decided to write pieces on social media to share as an entertaining diversion for those who were likewise stuck or shut in during the pandemic. As I continued to post, I kept hearing from people that it should be a book. And it became First to Leave the Party

It’s one of the first books – if not the first – to feature the author’s pronouns on the cover. Can you talk a little about that decision, and normalizing discussions about gender identity and the sharing of pronouns?

I couldn’t believe it hadn’t been done before! While writing the book, I received a letter from an organization we had given money to, and it was addressed to Ms. Salah Bachir. I also kept a thank-you letter from Jeffrey Katzenberg from years ago, addressed to me as Ms. Salah Bachir, even though we had worked an event together for AIDS Project Los Angeles.

It’s both a small and big gesture to use your pronouns. Every organization, every bank, every corporation that flies the Pride flag for one day a year should require all their staff to use gender pronouns. It’s just a courtesy.

It’s also empowering if we normalize it and take the onus off only certain people having to tell you how they identify. It may be one of the easiest things we can do as allies – and it can’t be banned in Florida or Texas.

The book is uniquely written with each chapter capturing a story about a different celeb you’ve encountered. How did you decide to tell your story in this format?

I wanted to highlight people and experiences that made me feel better about myself. Those who embraced me and supported me. Those for whom I was not too Arab, too fat or too gay. I didn’t care who they slept with or what they did as long as there was still room on their dance card for me.

Each chapter tells the story of what drew me to them – and, in a way, what drew them to me. Maybe I was too naive to gush and worship film stars like everyone seems to do today. Maybe we were

both looking for an escape. Often, I reached out to them when I needed a story for my home-video magazine and they had a story to tell, but it was about much more than their latest movie. They had a life story to tell. Some had become too old for the studio system. Some had been dismissed because of their weight or their age. Marlon Brando filming in Rexdale. Elizabeth Taylor doing a TV movie with Carol Burnett in Toronto. Patricia Neal being ignored by the industry because she’d had a stroke. Or Orson Welles not being able to get funding to make a film, while memorabilia from his Citizen Kane was being snapped up at big prices. When we look back now, these names are the great legends, but at the time, they were subject to ridicule on late-night television or in a riff by Joan Rivers.

Film stars back then weren’t brand ambassadors or trendy designers. One of the anecdotes in the book is about Joanne Woodward making her own dress for the Oscars the year she won Best Actress for the Three Faces of Eve. (Shouldn’t they have given her three Oscars?)

Is there a story that didn’t make the final cut?

There are many! It wasn’t going to be a book about every person I ever met, even though I have many more stories to tell.

You’ve been the man behind some incredible advancements and positive change within the queer scene throughout the years, so I’m wondering.… We’re seeing so much political hate and legislation happening throughout the US right now, with traces of it spilling into Canada. How do you think the community can best combat the landslide of hate?

I think it’s a continuous battle. We can never let down our vigilance. A lot of the money coming to fund those campaigns is coming from organizations that have charitable status. If they spew hate and don’t uphold human rights, we should remove that status, no matter which god they pretend to speak for.

We also need to be more strategic as a community about who we support and how we spend our money. We can’t one day be marching in the street and the next day vacationing in a country that has the most repressive anti-queer laws. There are many things we could do with our money and social media presence to say why we shouldn’t vacation in Jamaica or Egypt.

As a community we need to recognize that our united front must include people with different ideas. There are many people from different political parties that we don’t agree with on everything but who are still allies and members of our community. When the whole concept of a Pride parade is being attacked, we shouldn’t be debating whether ‘pride’ should be a protest or a parade – it can be both. We fought very hard to get the banks involved in the AIDS fundraisers and we want their support because it’s our money

“ It wasn’t going to be a book about every person I ever met, even though I have many more stories to tell.”

they’re giving back. They’re giving back money they make off us and our businesses in the first place.

When we were fundraising for The 519, it was similar. Some people say they don’t like corporate money, but if we didn’t have corporate money, we wouldn’t have gotten the space. Other, wealthier ‘Gucci Gays’ didn’t want a health bus or a clothing exchange or a food bank at The 519 because they accused us of bringing undesirables to Church Street, so most of the money to renovate and support The 519 has come from straight people.

We seem to be very critical of our own, like supporters who don’t totally agree with the rest of us on every single issue or who happen to make the smallest slip. Or those who claim they are bisexual, pansexual or asexual. We are quick to dismiss others when their experience is not ours.

What is your advice to people who are looking to you as a role model?

Don’t look for role models! I can give advice on certain topics, but one should always seek out as many people as possible. There are many things I would have done differently had I known then what I know now.

Who do you consider a role model?

Too many to list. I draw inspiration from many different people and also a few plants and animals, including my dog Max.

What is your fave TV show, movie and song?

I could name 100 movies, but for some reason my friends tend to leave the room when I do. When my family immigrated to Canada from Lebanon in 1965, one of the shows my ESL teacher Mr. Mackenzie told us to watch was Bewitched. Wow. Samantha, Endora, Uncle Arthur…almost the entire cast told me in not so many words that it was so much fun to be gay! We’ve got the best outfits. We have magical powers. A secret life. As for movies, I don’t have just one favourite. But the first time I saw the Norman Jewison film In the Heat of the Night in 1967, or Ali: Fear Eats the Soul, the Fassbinder film from 1974, left a huge impression. Same with Cabaret, which we saw in a huge old gorgeous theatre when I was 16 or 17.

Music? Joni Mitchell, Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald, Elton John, the Lebanese singer Fairuz, k.d. lang, Frank Sinatra, Tina Turner, the Rolling Stones, Linda Ronstadt, Beyoncé, Streisand, Aretha Franklin, Édith Piaf, Eartha Kitt, Patti LuPone, Audra McDonald, David Bowie.

The one album I played constantly in hospital when they were changing my bandages was Joni Mitchell’s Clouds. The song that aways got me was ‘Tin Angel.’ It was like a tribute to my past and my present.

What do you want people to know about you that they might not already know?

Let me know if there are any questions left after reading the book.

Last question.… What’s next for Salah?

I will continue my work with The 519 and the St. Joe’s Capital

Campaign and a few other organizations where I have commitments. I am helping with The Woodland Cultural Centre capital campaign. I am also working on another book, one that goes in a completely different direction. We also want to establish a Gay and Lesbian Art Museum (GLAM) that would live mostly online for a while and become a learning resource, as well as awarding grants to queer artists who write about other queer artists who have inspired them. Sadly, I have given up on being the first Gay Arab Governor General (GAGG).

Salah Bachir’s First to Leave the Party: My Life with Ordinary People...Who Happen to be Famous hits bookshelves on October 17, 2023. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the book will be donated by Bachir to The LGBT Rights Program at Human Rights Watch.

Che Diaz And The Politics Of A Complicated Character

Another season of And Just Like That has wrapped, but what about the show’s arguably most hated character?

By Michele Yeo

And just like that, we’ve bid adieu (for now) to Carrie Bradshaw and the gang as the Sex and the City reboot has wrapped up its second season. After the fever dream that was the first season, fans couldn’t help but wonder if Che Diaz, easily the most divisive character in the Sex and the City multiverse, would figure as prominently in And Just Like That Season 2 as they had in the first. The answer was a resounding yes. And once again, fans had…thoughts. Some of those thoughts even made it into the show when, midway through the season, the series writers got real meta on our asses and included a scene where a focus group gives feedback on Che’s pilot, the ridiculously named Che Pasa. One participant comes for Che’s neck saying, “The whole Che character was like a walking Boomer joke that felt so fake to me. Some phony, sanitized performative cheesy ass dad joke bullshit version of what the non-binary experience is. It sucked.” It wasn’t lost on the audience that the focus group member seemed to be speaking for Che haters, and the show’s writers and producers have confirmed as much.

Che continues to be controversial in Season 2, and that’s not lost on Sara Ramirez, who plays the much-maligned character. The actor recently took to their Instagram page to remind us, “I am not the fictional characters I have played, nor am I responsible for the things that are written for them to say.” The statement appears to be a dig at And Just Like That writer, producer and executive producer Michael Patrick King, and they go on to say, “When a cis man is in charge and has ultimate control of dialogue actors say, and you have a valid problem with it, perhaps you should be interviewing him.”

Michael Patrick King has said he was surprised by the cold reception to Che, telling The Wrap , “I couldn’t understand it because I think Sara Ramirez is a spectacular actor, so I was like, ‘Okay, where is this coming from? And what do we do with it?’”

While MPK is right about Sara Ramirez and their acting ability, he’s being deliberately obtuse about the character he created. In the same interview with The Wrap, he called the negative reaction to Che “judging a book by its cover” – but are we judging Che just because they’re non-binary, or are we judging Che because they’re simply an asshole? The list of reasons to dislike Che is a long one. Who smokes pot indoors in an elevator? Who tells their romantic partner they’re moving across the country…via musical performance? Who doesn’t tell their significant other that they were, and technically still are, married? Who has friends over until 4 am when their significant other has to wake up at dawn? These are all valid reasons to dislike a character. Not to mention Che is the cringiest, least funny comic to have ever picked up a mic. And don’t even get me started on that podcast.

Season 2 of And Just Like That offered up a softer, more vulnerable side of Che when their pilot wasn’t picked up and they found themselves flailing in their career. But any goodwill Che amassed during their flop era was pissed away when they tore Miranda to shreds in one of their standup sets. Sure, comedians can turn their real life into material, but Che’s material was just plain mean. You can get away with a certain degree of meanness if that material is also funny – but because this is Che Diaz we’re talking about, the laughs were nowhere to be found.

So, no, Che is not likable. But do they have to be? Is there an inherent need or some sort of unspoken requirement for a character who is a non-binary queer person of colour to be amiable and sympathetic? Because there are so few of these characters on our screens, are show creators required to make these characters a shining beacon of representation? Should they not be afforded the same antihero leeway as straight white male characters like Tony Soprano, Don Draper and Walter White, with all their complications and contradictions?

Also, when it comes to likeability, is Carrie Bradshaw, the main character of And Just Like That and Sex and The City, likeable?

If you Google “Carrie Bradshaw the worst,” countless articles and think pieces come up blasting Carrie for being selfish, a villain, a narcissist, toxic, a terrible friend and a materialistic consumerist – yet audiences still find her compelling enough to watch for six seasons of Sex and the City, two movies, and what will now be at least three seasons of And Just Like That Whether Che Diaz will return for the recently announced third season remains to be seen, but if their declaration at Carrie’s last supper – “I’m transitioning emotionally. The old me is fucked. And the new me is not here yet” – is any indication, it sounds like we may be getting a slightly revamped version of the character. Hey, it’s Che Diaz 2.0.

And Just Like That’s Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) and Che (Sara Ramirez)

HOMOTIONAL ROLLERCOAS TE R

Tom Goss’s new album reflects on the ups and downs of his life

By Larry Olsen

Photos by Dusti Cunningham

“The truth is, most things in life happen for no reason at all, and are completely out of our control,” Tom Goss reflects. “There will be sweet times and sad, highs and lows. I embrace every experience, even those that aren’t pleasant, because ultimately, I am happy with who I am today. I’ve been shaped by them all and so therefore, all of them have been good.”

In his new album, Remember What It Feels Like, Tom Goss digs deep into the man he is today. At 42 years old, he is still reeling from his husband’s infidelity. The relationship has survived, but they’ve moved to an open relationship and Goss has begun dating others. He was recently conned by a lover with a secret life who is now serving time in prison.

Goss also takes on his personal struggles in Remember What It Feels

Like. In “Enemy of Good,” the album’s first single, he recounts his lifelong obsession with striving for perfection. “Even as a kid, I would get frustrated when I felt I fell short on a goal, and my mother would say, ‘Tom, the perfect is the enemy of the good.’ It struck me as powerful, and I continue to notice that my need to achieve perfection does little in the way of producing art, or happiness. Joy and creativity flow when I allow myself to be imperfect.”

Tom Goss spoke with us from his home in Los Angeles.

You have been singing your truth for more than 15 years. Nine albums and 39 music videos later, what are your thoughts on music today?

Music today is better than it’s ever been at any point in history. Pop, rock, folk, R&B, you name it. You just have to spend some time rifling through the noise to find what speaks to you.

You are one of the OG queer artists. It’s a completely different world from when I first started out. Since my first record in 2006, I’ve been open about my sexuality. It used to mean that opportunities were limited. Major music labels wouldn’t touch me and venues would say, ‘We don’t book faggots’ – but that’s all changed. These days it seems like everyone is queer. It almost feels like if you’re not queer, you’re boring, and not worth talking about. Now the question is, who is pretending to be queer to get clicks?

Is 40 the new 20?

I do not like aging, especially how my body is deteriorating. I love being active and physical; that brings me more joy than anything else in the world. Unfortunately, I’m having to be selective in how active I can be from day to day. How many times I can work out, play soccer, go for a run or bike ride. I have to really stay focused on my mobility, flexibility and diet. It’s a chore! Nevertheless, I love who I am. I appreciate the wisdom, confidence and perspective that has come from my experience on this earth. I wouldn’t change a thing.

What would you like today’s young gay generation to know about you?

I simply want everyone to see me as an authentic human. Someone who lives with passion, intention and integrity. Someone who does his best to make the world a better place. I’d want young

people to know that is possible. They don’t have to be anyone but who they are to be loved and valued.

Your authenticity is what helped make you famous. You sang about your fetish for big, hairy men long before sexualizing bears was a thing.

I’ve always been open about my sexuality, but one thing I’d love to clear up is that I don’t regard my attraction to bears as a fetish, just as I don’t regard my attraction to men as a fetish. My husband, who is a bear, has been my companion throughout my entire career. He has constantly been by my side and is my biggest supporter. I wouldn’t dream of betraying our love on the off chance that it would make me more famous. I made ‘Bears’ because there was a lack of visibility for gay men of size, and I was tired of seeing the beauty I see every day, ignored. I knew I could do something about it, so I did.

That’s a fair point. Do you believe you would get the same reaction from listeners today?

No, probably not. These days, people are used to seeing different shapes, sizes, sexualities and colours portrayed in the media. We’re not where we need to be yet, but we are on our way. Representation is less surprising and more expected. I’m happy that people are demanding representation. Everyone deserves representation.

What is it like to be back in the dating field?

My husband, Mike, was the first person I ever dated. We are still married and are closing in on 18 years together. We are now navigating an open marriage – and, like anything, it has its good points and bad. I can say that I’m extremely grateful to not be single and dating in Los Angeles. It seems really rough out there.

How did you caught up with a con man?

I fell in love. I want to say I fell in love with the wrong person, but I’m not sure that’s true. Life is unexpected. We can try to control every variable, but it’s simply not possible. And, truthfully, why would we want to? We only have this moment. We can focus on that which has hurt us and close ourselves to future experiences, or we can choose to be open, to love more fully and authentically, allowing ourselves to be vulnerable. I will always choose vulnerability.

LARRY OLSEN defines himself as a teacher, reader, writer and dreamer. He lives in Palm Springs, Calif., with his partner of 22 years. In his spare time, he enjoys interviewing underground artists and exposing their unique talents to the light.

Penthouse

Skyscraperstyletotakeyouhigher

PHOTOGRAPHER: Ivan Otis

STYLIST: Christal Williams (Plutino Group)

MAKEUP: Taisha Ramirez

HAIR STYLIST: Brian Phillips (worldSalon) using WORLD Hair and Skin

MODELS: Paolo Migotta (ANM Management), Kassandra Gray (Ledrew Models)

Thank you Niv Fichman for your glorious penthouse

JACKET AND PANTS: H&M X Mugler

SHOES: Dr Martens

Penthouse#1

BLAZER AND PANTS: H&M X Mugler

SHOES: Dr Martens

BLAZER AND SKIRT: H&M X Mugler

SHOES: L’intervalle

JEWELLERY: H&M X Mugler

BLAZER AND PANTS: H&M X Mugler

SCARF: H&M X Mugler

SHOES: Dr Martens

DRESS: H&M X Mugler

TIGHTS: Stylist’s own

GLOVES: Zara

SHOES: L’intervalle

BODYSUIT AND SKIRT: H&M

BODYSUIT: H&M X Mugler

JEWELLERY: H&M

BLAZER AND SKIRT: Narces

SHOES: Jeffrey Campbell

BLAZER AND PANTS: H&M X Mugler

Filmmaker SebaStián Silva

TalkS about HiS Sexually explicit Satire

oF Gay millennial liFe

In his new film Rotting in the Sun, the Chilean filmmaker doesn’t let dicks get in the way of the mystery

By Paul Gallant

Bad boy writer, director and sometime actor Sebastián Silva likes his movies to have some bite. From 2015’s Nasty Baby, which at first pretends to be a cheerful story of members of a queerish peer group creating an alternative family, only to switch gears to go very dark, to 2018’s Tyrel, which pokes at subtle racism and hyper-masculinity, the gay Chilean auteur is always poking at society’s hypocrisy and cruelty.

But when Silva goes really hard – like in Nasty Baby’s horrorinflected critique of hipster gentrification, or in his new film, Rotting in the Sun – he paints the target on his own back and takes the lead role. “When I’m at the centre of the narrative, when enough elements of my life become a colourful world where I’ve been discovering a story,” Silva tells IN Magazine , “then I’m very critical of myself and my world. I put myself as the main person to judge. It’s a defence mechanism, because there’s nothing worse than pointing fingers and then people are, ‘What about you, bitch?’ So I’m like, ‘Guys, I fucking suck and you suck too.’”

In the dark meta-comedy Rotting in the Sun, Silva plays a character based on himself, a multimedia artist called Sebastían who is currently living in the trendy Roma Norte neighbourhood of Mexico City and is focused on making paintings (in real life, Silva, 44, is also a commercially successful visual artist). Irritated and

irritating, he’s doing lots of ketamine and playing with ideas of suicide when he decides to go to a beach town in southern Mexico, based on a real beach town that’s known for being a naked gay playground. There, amidst fucking on the rocks, Sebastián meets an unflappably obnoxious influencer named Jordan Firstman, played by real-life out-there influencer Jordan Firstman, who has more than 800,000 followers on Instagram. They make a vague plan to have Jordan crash at Sebastían’s Mexico City apartment while they develop a project together. As in most of Silva’s films, the story doesn’t go in the direction the audience expects, though we do get to watch lots of Jordan having sex, doing drugs and being unapologetically flamboyant in many inappropriate contexts.

Silva came up with the broad concept for the film before he had even heard of Firstman, who, in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Silva playfully called “the perfect example of what’s wrong with the world.” They met in Mexico City’s Plaza Río de Janeiro, a square presided over by a statue of a naked David, while Silva was walking his dog. (Silva’s dog, Chima, also has a notable role in the film – think Divine in John Waters’ Pink Flamingos).

Just the night before they met, Firstman had watched Silva’s 2013 film Crystal Fairy with a hookup. As Silva recalls, “We had dinner and Jordan’s personality is very big and he’s very funny and a

Jordan Firstman and Sebastián Silva

complete over-sharer. A very daring personality. Self-deprecating and self-aware. I was like, ‘What about a real influencer for this role? An insecure influencer who is a sex addict?’”

Which takes us to the quantity of male genitalia and number of sexual acts in Rotting in the Sun, an issue that’s come up repeatedly during the publicity for the film, which starts streaming on the art-house-inflected streaming service Mubi on September 15. Firstman has estimated that there are 30 to 40 dicks in various shots. Though it was Silva’s decision to feature nudity and depict unsimulated sex, he still seems to be wrestling with how audiences will take it.

“Of course, there will be nudity on a nude beach to begin with. Then there’s a texture of that beach that’s very gay and some gays will do things when they’re nude, and Jordan had been to that beach a couple of times because it was so slutty and fun,” says Silva. “So the sex is really part of Jordan’s character. It’s not necessarily a sexy movie. Usually, I do not like sex scenes in movies because I find them unnecessary. In this case, the sex is being used as a comedic tool. I’m not trying to eroticize anyone or turn my audience on in a sensual way. It’s just that, well, Jordan actually has this kind of sex and I don’t want to censor myself. I knew a lot of the headlines were going to be ‘Sebastián Silva’s Gay Movie With Cocks,’ ‘Why Is Sebastián Silva Obsessed With Cocks?’ because, for some reason, genitals are still something people are shocked or intrigued or seduced by.”

Many of the exhibitionist actors who appear in the film were friends of friends who were, it must be said, given “symbolic

compensation” and signed waivers. “I think most of the people who are having sex in that beach scene are people who would have done it even if the cameras weren’t there,” say Silva. “What was cool was that most of the sex in the movie was friends having sex. It didn’t feel tense, even though it’s very explicit. I don’t know how it would be on a Hollywood set where everybody’s tense and giggling and nervous about the scene. This felt very organic.”

Fifteen years into his film career, Silva (who moved from Mexico City to Los Angeles about eight months ago) continues to pursue projects that are personal to him; it’s hard for him to imagine making a Marvel film, a rom-com or even high-brow Oscar bait. Yet he’s grown as a filmmaker and perhaps as a human; he thinks Rotting in the Sun is warmer, funnier and more loving than Nasty Baby. “Because it’s a comedy, you can assume I’m coming from a good place, laughing about the mess we are rather than ‘Let’s kill ourselves because of the mess we are,’” he says.

He’s also realistic about budgets – what he can get actors, studios and funders to say yes to. There’s a movie he really wants to make, called The Face of the King, which he describes as “a transhumanist sci-fi campy comedy where the main character is based on Michael Jackson.” That would be a multi-million-dollar movie that he says would “need big actors and exotic animals and stuff.

“A lot of people have looked at it and the response is great, but it’s a hard movie to make,” he says. “And I’m very impatient and very compulsive. So I just keep making the movies that I can, where I don’t need a million permissions and millions of dollars and opinions and greenlights.”

PAUL GALLANT is a Toronto-based writer and editor who writes about travel, innovation, city building, social issues (particularly LGBT issues) and business for a variety of national and international publications. He’s done time as lead editor at the loop magazine in Vancouver as well as Xtra and fab in Toronto. His debut novel, Still More Stubborn Stars, published by Acorn Press, is out now.

Critterdom Down Under

Queensland and Western Australia deliver close encounters with some pretty iconic members of the native animal kingdom

By Doug Wallace

Queensland Kangaroo (photo credit: Tourism Australia)

“I’m not leavin’ til I see me a critter.”

This cartoonish line is often my opening gambit when visiting the great outdoors and it usually gets a laugh. Being a farm boy – albeit years ago – I’ve always been engrossed by animals in the wild, including the bald eagles I saw earlier this year in Manitoba, the muskrat and black bear in Nova Scotia, the whales and manta rays in Mexico, even the opossum that currently lives under the back step (whom we’ve named Roland).

My recent excursions on Australia’s east and west coasts opened up a whole new world of critterdom, with a veritable parade of pelts, scales, feathers and thick, leathery skin.

Let’s get something out of the way: most people think Australia is full of things that can kill you – sharks and spiders and snakes. And, yes, there are a number of nasty critters Down Under, but the odds of you coming across one are extremely low. You will likely never run into a bull shark or a blue-ringed octopus or an eastern brown snake. (There’s even something called the common death adder, which shows you how blasé Australians are about this.) Australia actually has fewer venomous things than Brazil or Mexico, and we don’t see you crying about that while you’re swanning around Puerto Vallarta in your G-string.

A saltwater crocodile only kills one person every three years…okay, I’ll walk it back a bit. But a funnel web spider hasn’t killed anyone in 40 years. If you happen to be a water baby, you might meet a jellyfish or two you won’t like. I remember a resort manager in northern Queensland once warning me to stay out of the ocean, because it was

stinger season and some of them were “quite fatal.” As if “fatal” wasn’t enough and needed a modifier. I went swimming anyway, but I wore a stinger suit, which made me look like some sort of amphibious mime. Hell, the heat will kill you here before an animal will: it can reach up to 40ºC in parts of the outback. So seriously, when it comes to fretting about the fauna, “no worries,” like the Australians say.

A teaching moment with an endangered species

A visit to the Australia Zoo one hour north of Brisbane, on the country’s east coast, amped up the critter factor for me. The legacy project of the family of Steve Irwin (the late zookeeper, environmentalist and television personality), this 280-hectare menagerie on the Sunshine Coast is a major attraction with a wide variety of birds, mammals and reptiles. I managed to feed a kangaroo, see someone else feed a few crocodiles, and watch a bunch of very smart, very exotic birds fly around on cue.

A koala bear even burped in my face – no guff! Herein lies what I’m calling the koala conundrum. In a corner of the gift shop, visitors can have their photo taken with a koala, one specifically calm enough to do so. (Interestingly, no one asked to be photographed holding the equally sleepy yellow cobra that I was glad to see safely behind a thick sheet of glass.) While the bear only “works” a few hours a week, the fact that it is being handled at all makes animal protection groups bristle. And yet (here comes the conundrum part), the Wildlife Hospital adjacent to and funded by the zoo does an amazing job of rescuing and treating drought- and fire-affected koalas, platypuses, echidnas, birds, turtles and more. There’s even a koala intensive care unit, built with a donation from Seth MacFarlane of Family Guy fame in honour of his mother. So on balance I think that perhaps my belching koala buddy pitching

Whale Shark (photo credit: Tourism Australia)

in for the team with a $35 photo op might not be so terrible – but I will leave that argument to the grown-ups.

In addition to the zoo and hospital, the new Crocodile Hunter Lodge adds a dash of luxury to the scenario. Little modern cabins in gorgeous surroundings a few miles from the zoo put visitors in the thick of the natural Queensland beauty, surrounded by the iconic Glass House Mountains and close to the southern Sunshine Coast beaches. This truly is a splendid part of the world.

A date with the biggest fish in the world

More critters are on my list over on the other side of the continent in Western Australia, but I am warned in advance that they may be more elusive.

I fly north from Perth to the small resort town of Exmouth on the state’s North West Cape, and one of the first things I see is an emu crossing road sign – I am certainly not in Kansas anymore. The town is a red rock-big sky kind of place, all corrugated roofs and straight, flat, dusty roads. It’s a notable jumping-off point for adventurers visiting the nearby Ningaloo Marine Park and the massive Cape Range National Park.

A hike in the 48,000-hectare Cape Range feels almost like I’ve landed on Mars, revealing a sparse, arid wilderness of rugged limestone, full of caves and nooks and crannies. Fruit bats fill what very few small trees there are, not sleeping from the noise of some of them, but definitely

upside-down. The spectacular red cliffs of the picture-postcard Yardie Creek Gorge are the backdrop to our Instagram shots of the day, and as we wander along, little black-flanked rock-wallabies appear. They skip nimbly over the rocky plateau, making their way farther into the cliffside crevasses to escape the approaching heat of the day. I note later that the species is classed as endangered, and think that my critter list is not just elusive but dwindling.

A similar feeling arises the next day during a snorkelling adventure on the 260-metre-long Ningaloo Reef, Australia’s largest fringing coral reef (as opposed to a barrier reef). Within the first 15 minutes of being in the water, we spot a dugong, a member of the manatee family, and one of the rarest things to see in this part of the world. The snorkel guide is over the moon, shrill with excitement. The dugong clocks us for one, two seconds, and is gone in a flash. So glad I didn’t blink.

This “pre-show” revs us all up for the main event: swimming in the water alongside the massive whale sharks. This slow-moving, gentle fish – certainly a step up from “critter” and on to “creature” – is the largest fish in the sea.

A plane circling overhead can spot the whale sharks’ shadows, letting the various boat captains know where to head. The whole process of effectively swimming with them so that everyone has the chance to see them properly is carried out with military precision. Jumping into the water in lines of four, snorkellers pay close attention to the guide, who in turn is watching the hand signals of a spotter, who is communicating the direction the whale shark is heading. We all line up in a tight row and wait for the cue to dip our heads. And there it is – all 10 metres of it, spotted blue-gray and graceful, and so beautiful. Its mouth is huge, its little teeth straining the plankton out of its path. We maintain a threemetre distance, but that’s plenty. And when we all start to swim along, it’s not too strenuous to keep up with the three that we encounter in the span of three hours. This is a day to remember for sure.

And with that, my critter checklist – on land and at sea – is complete. And not a hairy spider in sight.

Australia Zoo Koala (photo credit: Doug Wallace)

Rock Wallaby (photo credit: Australia’s Coral Coast)

ARE YOU SEARCHING FOR 2SLGBTQI+ COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND CONNECTIONS?

The IN Directory has you covered.

VISIT INMAGAZINE.CA/DIRECTORY

The IN Directory is Canada’s newest 2SLGBTQI+ community resource directory of 2SLGBTQI+ specific programs, services and supports.

FLASHBACK

Isis King Becomes The First Trans Woman To Compete On ANTM (September 3, 2008)

When the 11th cycle of America’s Next Top Model premiered on The CW network on Sept. 3, 2008, Isis King made history. By qualifying as one of the final 14 contestants to compete for a modelling contract with Elite Model Management, a fashion spread and cover in Seventeen, and a $100,000 contract with CoverGirl cosmetics, King became the first openly transgender person to compete on the series and, ultimately, one of the most visible transgender people on television, especially at that time.

King was living at the Ali Forney Transitional Living Program when she learned about an upcoming photo shoot for ANTM’s 10th season. The shoot’s theme was the issue of homeless youth, and homeless women would be used as background models in conjunction with the Reciprocity Foundation, which works to move homeless and high-risk youth into careers in the “creativity economy.” King asked art director Jay Manuel whether she could be accepted, as a girl “born in the wrong body,” if she were to audition as a contestant for a future season of ANTM. Host Tyra Banks later said that she had her staff search out King to encourage her to audition based on her stellar performance in the Season 10 photo shoot.

King’s appearance on Season 11 left other semifinalists with

mixed feelings. In one uncomfortable moment, another contestant asked her, “Are you all…female?” With nothing to hide, King answered, “Physically was I born female? No.” Another contestant responded, “Ain’t this supposed to be a girl competition – how did you get through the door?” Meanwhile, another contestant commended King for standing in her truth.

King may have only placed 10th in the season, but she definitely made an impact. She helped change public perceptions of trans men and women, and GLAAD president Neil Guiliano called her participation in the popular competition an “unprecedented opportunity for a community that is underrepresented on television.”

King later returned to ANTM for an all-star season in 2011, where she placed 12th, and has proudly continued to represent the trans community by walking the runway for Betsey Johnson, designing her own fashion line, becoming American Apparel’s first openly transgender model and nailing a recurring role on TV soap The Bold and the Beautiful. More recently, King made an impact by starring as Marci Wise in Ava DuVernay’s Emmy-nominated When They See Us

From supermodel hopeful to modern trailblazer.