IN Magazine: May 2015

celebrating canada’s lgbt LIFESTYLE | may 2015

PRINCE OF THE BALLET A MONUMENT TO HUMAN RIGHTS fashion:

THE LUXURY

OF LEISURE PLUS: SAD IN THE SACK? THE DOCTOR IS IN SAVING YOUR SKIN FROM THE SUN YOUR GUIDE TO BUYING A SECOND HOME

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Canada. Land of quattro

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MAGAZINE inmagazine.ca PUBLISHER Patricia Salib EDITOR Jim Brosseau Art director Nicolรกs Tallarico FASHION DIRECTOR Adam Webster ASSOCIATE EDITOR David Wright CONTRIBUTORs Gordon Bowness, Ruth Hanley, Dr. Malcolm Hedgcock, Tracy Howard, Michael Pihach, Al Ramsay, Adam Segal, Riley Stewart, Casey Williams ON the cover Photography by Adam Webster, styled by Nagham Cararah; grooming by Jem Lopez; model, Sage (Velocci Models) Senior Account Director Woodrow Monteiro Marketing/sponsorship co-ordinator Patrick Forestell DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS Reggie Lanuza Controller Miki Ogiri OUR MISSION Inspire gay men and lesbians to live life to the fullest. Expand the gay and lesbian community by valuing diversity and individual choice.

Celebrate Canada. Provide readers with compelling news, information and entertainment.

ADVERTISING & OTHER INQUIRIES 416-800-4449, ext. 100 info@intorontomag.com EDITORIAL INQUIRIES 416-800-4449, ext. 201 editorial@intorontomag.com PRODUCTION ads@intorontomag.com TALK BACK Feel free to share your comments on IN or articles in the magazine by emailing us at editor@inmagazine.ca.

IN Magazine is published 12 times per year by The Mint Media Group. All rights reserved.

182 Davenport Rd., Suite 300, Toronto, ON, M5R 1J2

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Contents INFRONT 06 | FITNESS PROFILE Meet a young man on the move 08 | WHEELS Driving a hip Dodge wagon 09 | THE DOCTOR IS IN Dealing with erectile dysfunction

issue 60 MAY 2015

15 | iNSIGHT A cautionary tale for Canada from the U.S.

art & culture 18 | ON HIS TOES Ballet dancer Tyler Gledhill can play a prince or two

10 | MONEY$TYLE To buy or not to buy that vacation home

24 | INTO THE LIGHT A poignant look at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights

11 | ON THE TOWN Scenes from the party circuit

34 | FLASHBACK

18

A prom night to remember

12 | ON RELATIONSHIPS Love and technology

FASHION

13 | LOOKING GOOD Saving your skin with sunscreen

28 | THE LUXURY OF LEISURE Dressing for play is all fun

24

→ The models for IN’s May fashion shoot take a break at Hotel Le Germain Toronto.

28 inmagazine.ca

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Fitness Profile

Ryan Holbert PROFESSION Dentistry Role Models Being in the healthcare industry, I always come across healthcare professionals who are dedicated to helping others. That might include assisting people on their journey to physical or mental recovery or simply being a guide to living a healthy lifestyle. These professionals are an excellent source for my personal and professional development.

WAYS YOU OVERCAME ANY ANTI-GAY PREJUDICES By focusing on my inner strengths, I was able to put my energy on my studies and developed a strong support network.

ADVICE TO YOUTH ON OVERCOMING BIASES IN SPORTS Find a sport that you love and enroll in leagues with people of similar interests for inspiration and motivation.

PERSONAL FITNESS GOALS Prior to a car accident in July 2014, I was very dedicated to my fitness regimen. Since then, my energy level and focus have diminished, and my main goal is to regain that earlier dedication.

FITNESS STRATEGY Incorporating an all-natural meal plan to regain energy levels and proper rest between workouts for proper muscle recovery.

HOBBIES Photography and experimenting in the kitchen creating a variety of healthy and delicious food options.

INSPIRATION SOURCES My inspiration comes from fitness Instagrams and nutritional blogs, as they keep me motivated and focused on my goals.

BEST LIFE LESSON SO FAR Do not take your health for granted! Recovery from the car accident has been one of the hardest things I’ve ever experienced physically and emotionally. I am very blessed to have such a great support system.

Photography: Riley Stewart

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INfront collective wisdom for living well

DrI Fit Phenom Vapor shorts, $90 DrI Fit Cool Tailwind stripe shirt, $65 Running DRI Fit cushioned socks, $12 Free 3.0 FlyNit shoes, $180 (ALL CLOTHING AND SHOES BY NIKE) (Availability: Nike Retail Locations and retailers including Sport Chek, Running Room and Foot Locker)

inmagazine.ca

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21/04/2015 1:25:43 PM

IN front Wh e e l s

Awe in the Family → The smart Dodge Journey shows how stylish a wagon can be

By Casey Williams

I

t’s a bit of time-proven

with sport-mesh inserts and

over to the award-

shtick to take a boring,

light slate-grey stitching. They

winning

3.6-litre

2015 Dodge Journey Crossroad

slow-selling wagon, jack it

go well with complementary

Penta­star V6, which

up, slap on some body cladding,

stitching on the centre armrest,

pumps

211kW/283

Seven-passenger, AWD Crossover

and call it a “crossover.” It

door

hp matched to a six-

Powertrain 211kW/283hp 3.6-litre V6,

worked for the Subaru Outback.

steering wheel and hide-covered

speed

6-spd auto trans

If there was ever a decent-but-

shift knob. Liquid graphite fin-

transmission.

boring wagon clamoring for clad-

ish graces the instrument panel,

wheel-drive

ding, it was the Dodge Journey.

gauges, centre console, door pulls

it moving on slick

Check it in Crossroad kit.

and steering-wheel trim.

roads and light trails.

Styling

upgrades

give

the

panels,

Style

leather-wrapped

automatic

the

Journey’s

Fuel-economy

flexibility

remains.

14.5/9.9

aside,

Allkeeps

rates

Wheels 19”/19” alloy f/r Brakes disc/disc fr/rr Must-have features Style, Utility Fuel economy 14.5/9.9 litres/100km city/hwy Assembly Toluca, Mexico

Journey more attitude. Platinum

abundant

chrome roof rails, extended side

Second- and third-row seats fold

sills and faux brush bars look

flat into the floor while the front

I thought the Dodge Journey

buff. A gloss black grille and fog

passenger seat contains stor-

was an under-appreciated three-

lamp surrounds, black headlamp

age under the bottom cushion

row wagon since first driving it

bezels and shiny ebony tail-lamp

and folds forward to haul long

outside Las Vegas seven years

bezels imbue evil. Echoing the

items. Second-row seats contain

ago. It started with a plastic-

front are rear fascias that wear

integrated child booster seats.

laden

platinum chrome accents. A

Storage bins in the floor hold wet

oped chassis and boring styl-

“Crossroad” badge on the rump

stuff or iced soda.

ing. But it has evolved into a

and 19-inch Hyper Black five-

Base models come with a

spoke alloys tell you to step

2.4-litre,

back…then step inside.

inder

Stepping up means moving up with standard black leather seats

16-valve,

engine

that

four-cyldelivers

litres/100km

Suspension f/r Ind/Ind

Base price (Crossroad) $28,495

city/hwy.

interior,

under-devel-

roomy and stylish family car. A base price of $19,495, or $28,495 for

the

Crossroad

package,

but

makes it a pretty good deal too.

I’d skip that drama and dance

Competitors include the Subaru

129kW/173

horsepower,

Outback, Mazda CX-9, Hyundai Santa Fe and Nissan Rogue.

Casey Williams is a contributing writer for Gaywheels.com and a frequent business traveller to Montreal. He contributes to the New York-based LGBT magazine Metrosource and the Chicago Tribune. He and his husband live in Indianapolis, where Williams is a columnist for that city’s newspaper, the Star.

(On page 15, read Casey Williams’s unique take on a controversial new law in the U.S. and its impact on the LGBT community.)

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IN front

the doctor is in

DOWN, NOT OUT → More than just a nuisance, erectile dysfunction could be a warning

By Dr. Malcolm Hedgcock

T

hank heavens for “the little blue pill.” Not only did the introduction of Viagra mean men finally had a safe and tolerable option for erectile dysfunction (ED), but it also got people talking about a condition that we were previously too embarrassed to discuss. I’m pleased when men ask me about ED. It’s an opportunity to review safer sex and can actually be a good barometer for overall health.

Getting an erection is a surprisingly complex event requiring the interplay between neurologic, hormonal, vascular and psychologic systems of the body. If something is out of balance—let’s say too much alcohol use—then perhaps ED will be the red flag that clues us in to a problem.

One of the biggest risk factors for ED is age. About 40 percent of men will have experienced

significant sexual dysfunction by age 40. Yet I regularly see men in their 20s with concerns about the quality of their erections. In young men, ED is often psychologic in nature—performance anxiety, if you will. These guys typically have normal erections on their own or during REM sleep, and things often improve once they’re in a trusting relationship.

That said, ED can be triggered at any age by lifestyle factors such as obesity, smoking and insufficient exercise. (Believe it or not, a third of obese men at any age will notice an improvement in erectile function simply by increasing activity and losing some weight.)

Medical problems like diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol can cause hardening of arteries serving the penis and interfere with sexual function. It’s the same process that damages blood vessels around the heart causing heart disease. Sometimes ED can be the first sign of blood-vessel damage and an increased risk of having a heart attack. ED can also signal testosterone or other hormone imbalances.

Your doctor may want to evaluate your risk of heart disease as well as hormone levels if there are symptoms suggesting that there is a deficiency.

Regardless of the underlying reason for ED, medications called PDE5 inhibitors are often the first step for treatment. These medications work by encouraging penile blood vessels to open—

improving blood flow.

PDE5 inhibitors like Viagra and Levitra need to be taken on an empty stomach about one hour before sex, and last for four hours. Cialis has a daily formulation and a larger “as needed” pill that lasts for 36 hours. Some guys prefer

devices are a bit cumbersome to use, but some find them perfectly acceptable. With penile injections, a prescription solution like alprostadil is self-injected into one side of the penis with a tiny needle. It’s very important to get proper training on how to

I regularly see men in their 20s with [ED] concerns. ED at any age can be triggered by such lifestyle factors as obesity, smoking and insufficient exercise. the flexibility that the longer duration of action offers, though this means that side effects might linger as well.

Typical side effects from any of these medications include flushing, headaches and heart­ burn. Viagra sometimes causes a blue haze to the vision. You have to be very careful not to take poppers or nitroglycerine for chest pain while using PDE5 inhibitors—these can cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure.

Perhaps the greatest limiting factor for these medications is their cost. Most private plans don’t cover them, and they are extremely expensive. While it’s pretty easy to order cheap Viagra online, I don’t recommend it, as the amount of active medication can be unreliable.

For men in whom PDE5 inhibitors aren’t effective, the next steps are vacuum devices and penile injections. Vacuum

do this safely. This method of ED treatment sounds dramatic but is actually quite safe, effective and painless. I’m seeing more and more men who prefer this method over tablets, because the dose can be individualized and we don’t often see systemic side effects. Typically, after a proper evaluation, ED can be treated well with one of the above measures. It’s surprising how a short period of consistently good erectile function can increase one’s confidence and help rebuild a satisfying sex life.

But instead of borrowing ED meds from your friends, make sure that you get checked by your doctor to rule out any heart disease or an easily treated medical condition.

Dr. Malcolm Hedgcock is a Torontotrained family doctor living and working in Vancouver. He has a special interest in gay men’s health issues, including the primary care of those living with HIV and AIDS. inmagazine.ca

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17/04/2015 9:31:49 AM

INFRONT

MONEY$tyle

AWAY WE GO → Taking a few steps to demystify the process of buying a second home

By Al Ramsay

I

t’s

something

many

a

high

bucket

somewhere

on list,

between

a

luxury car and a personal yacht.

Though sometimes a fanciful notion, purchasing a vacation property should not be taken lightly, and your decision ought to be made after evaluating many important personal and financial considerations. I know, because a couple years ago my husband and I bought a vacation home. Here are some things all would-be second-property buyers should take into account: PERSONAL CONSIDERATIONS

discover. If you get your pleasure

HEVA

Traveller vs. vacationer. The world offers a lot to see and from the unknown, how would

time with someone might be

“carrying

returning to the same country,

exciting for a week or two, but

buy a condo or a house? How

same town and same property

that doesn’t necessarily mean

would you finance it? Would it

year after year satisfy you? In

the person is ideal for a long-

be better for you to rent each

other

thrill-

term commitment. The same

holiday season instead of buying?

U.S. considerations. Because

seeking or simply looking for a

goes for a holiday home. Before

Will the new home serve as your

an institution such as TD Bank has

place to unwind and recharge?

words,

are

you

costs”?

Should

you

→ WATER, WATER The author’s second home is located at V177 Condominiums (above) in Puerto Vallarta.

taking the plunge, revisit the

primary residence in retirement?

a large U.S. operation, it’s able to

Frequency of visits and advice

place a few times and, if possible,

Tax, tax, tax implications.

lend on properties located within

from your family and friends.

try spending an extended period

One of the biggest issues you’ll

the bank’s footprint—from Maine

Vacations

especially

there to sample its true essence.

confront is what the purchase

to Florida (excluding Georgia).

rewarding because of the people

Remember, as a property owner

means for your taxes. A tax

In summary, the best decisions

with whom we experience them

vs. a tourist, you’ll need to

professional will be able to help

are informed decisions. So assess

and the memories they create. So

deal with such things as the

you understand how the vacation

all your risks and benefits, and

that should be factored into your

local

businesses

property will affect your taxes

go over them with your financial

decision.

and perhaps hiring your own

at various junctures, including

advisor. Should you then decide

employees.

when/if you rent your second

to purchase, the peace of mind

home and at the point of transfer

will help you enjoy your vacation

by sale or death.

property to the fullest.

can

be

Also, you will want to consider

government,

how many times per year you’d like to visit to make it worth your

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS financial

Estate planning. Will your

other obligations don’t allow you

advisor. I might sound like a

current will be recognized in

to go at least two or three times

broken record, but before making

the country where you buy

annually, then maybe a hotel

any big purchase such as a

a second property, or do you

would be a better fit.

vacation property, talk to your

need a separate document in

To commit or not to commit.

advisor. There are numerous

that jurisdiction to ensure your

As is true when choosing a

things to assess, including: Can

partner or spouse doesn’t face

partner or a spouse, spending

you afford it along with the yearly

any legal challenges?

investment. If family, work and

Speak

to

your

Al Ramsay is TD Bank Group’s regional manager, LGBTA Business Development.

Follow him on Twitter, @AlRamsay_TD, or call 416-983-6818. (Canadians may take advantage of TD Bank Cross Border Services: www.tdcanadatrust.com/ products-services/banking/crossborder-banking.)

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INFront

on the town by Michael Pihach

4

Cannibal! The Musical Opening at Panasonic Theatre

George Pimentel Photography

Snap! at the Toronto Reference Library

1

6

2

3

5

7

9

87

10

12

CanStage’s Theatre Ball at Arcadian Court

11

13

14

15

→ 1. Shay Lowe, Tanya Kim 2. Corey Ross 3. Andrew Rosenfarb, Alex Simpson 4. Katie Boland, Sarah Gadon 5. Tommie-Amber Pirie, right, with guest 6. Michael Allen 7. John Maxwell, Jason Patterson 8. Mathieu Chantelois, Aaron Glyn Williams 9. Raymond Girard, Tommy Smyth 10. Sum Wong 11. Barbara Hackett, John Tory 12. Maylee Todd 13. Ruth Promislow, Shawn Hewson 14. Taylor Mac 15. Jessika Fink, James Temple inmagazine.ca

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21/04/2015 11:17:37 AM

INFRONT

O n Re l at i o n s h i ps

WANTED: APP-INESS → Is the search for a hook-up hanging you up?

By Adam Segal

I am a 25-year-old gay guy who has been feeling increasingly tethered to my phone, so that I can check up on my handful of hook-up apps. I know many guys who joke about their constant use of grindr, scruff, etc., but I feel like something more serious is going on with me.

I spend a lot of nights constantly chatting with different guys, and it does feel good to get noticed. But the next day, I always end up feeling lousy. But then I go back and do it again anyway!

The chats are fun and flirty, but I know they aren’t meaningful.

And, to make it worse, I can even have difficulty getting to bed at a reasonable hour, because I can’t turn off my phone. How do I get rid of my hook-up-app fixation?

Alex Dear Alex: Your question highlights a perfect storm of factors that really affect a lot of gay guys. So many of us grew up feeling unworthy and inadequate, and now we can constantly seek out and offer each other endless woofs, winks and ur-hots through myriad hook-up apps and sites. It’s like a giant validation buffet: We can eat until we’re stuffed, then wait a day to head back with a new empty plate.

But clearly, if this fleeting external validation were truly fulfilling, you wouldn’t keep needing more of it. Constant access to technology, especially via smartphones, has given us the option of never being still for a moment, never having to face ourselves or anything uncomfortable hiding under all our artificial busy-ness.

We can be proud of the LGBT histories that have paved the way for open and frank sexual expression and communication.

But sex, or the promise of it being available at any moment, can make it difficult to discern whether we’re connecting with our true sexuality or just tapping into an unending stream of sexual energy for subconscious reasons. A very good rule of thumb when it comes to hook-up apps (or alcohol, shopping and other potential addictions) is this: Go online and hook up when you’re already feeling good and not to generate

577 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario M4Y 1Z2 T 416-966-6969 | info@seduction.ca

good feelings or wipe out difficult ones. Amorousness and arousal are complex states that can temporarily override feelings we’d rather not experience. The danger is that those other feelings get pushed down when they actually need our attention. You won’t cure them with a hook-up-app addiction.

Unhooking yourself from this fixation is going to take some work and perseverance. A simple strategy is to delay the amount of time between your initial impulse to reach for your phone, and actually logging on. This way you strengthen your muscles of resistance and have an opportunity to see what might be happening for you in those moments: Are you actually horny? Or just bored or lonely or angry?

It’s going to be challenging to notice those emotions that have been getting eclipsed by the smartphone daze. So to conclude my recommendation, if you want to catch up on some sleep and rid yourself of that glazedover expression, you’ll have to occasionally disconnect from your phone and connect with yourself instead.

Adam Segal, writer and therapist, works in private practice in downtown Toronto.

Ask him your relationship or mentalhealth question at relationship@inmagazine.ca.

shop online

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22/04/2015 5:14:40 PM

INFRONT

Looking Good

STAY THE RAYS → Sun protection to help you savour summer without scorching your skin

By Tracy Howard

F

ew feelings are as uplifting as the sensation of sunshine

too much sun can make us look old before our time and, of course,

touching our skin, especially after experiencing the “delight”

increase our risk of getting skin cancer. The answer to enjoying warm

that was winter 2014-15. But while a sun-kissed glow is

weather safely is diligently using high-quality sunscreen, such as

appealing, getting too many rays is the opposite of cute. Indeed,

these innovative sun-protection products.

SHEER PLEASURE In June, Previse SkinCare will relaunch its broad-spectrum sunsheer sunscreen level 1-6, upgraded to SPF 30, as sponsor of the Global Green USA Millennium Awards in Los Angeles. Like all Previse products, this physical sunscreen is formulated without parabens, silicones or petroleum derivatives.

“In North America, skin cancer is the fastestgrowing cancer, so we hope to encourage more everyday wear of sunscreen vis-àvis a lightweight product,” says Sean Patrick Harrington, founder and CEO of Previse, discussing the product’s powder-dry matte finish. While the brand is founded on a six-level skin-typing system based on melanin variances and other factors, SunSheer is suitable for all skin types. ($36 US, at previsecare.com; shipping may apply)

WET WONDER “Breakthrough” is an often-thrown-around descriptor in the beauty and grooming industries, but in the case of Shiseido Ultra Sun Protection Lotion SPF 50+ WetForce, it fits. Featuring a technology that strengthens the UV-protective layer when it interacts with minerals in water or perspiration, this is a go-to sunscreen for lazy days by the pool or cottage weekends. ($49, at Hudson’s Bay, Sears, Murale, Sephora and select drugstores across Canada)

THE COMPLEMENT There’s more to protecting skin from environmental damage than using sunscreen. “It’s about taking better care of your skin altogether,” says Harrington. An example from his line is Nutrify Level 1-6, an antioxidant, oil-free tonic for all skin types that helps hydrate, fights free radicals and stops production of brown spots. To help speed postsun healing, Harrington recommends applying this universal version of Nutrify, launched at New York Fashion Week in February, in the a.m. before sunscreen and in the evening after face cleansing. ($48 US, at previsecare.com; shipping may apply)

LIGHT TOUCH When clocking hours in your cube rather than on a sunny patio, a moisturizer with UV protection may be your choice.

Paraben-free Urth Skin Solutions for Men Face Balm SPF 15 features essential oils, white tea and antioxidant vitamins to help hydrate and improve skin tone. ($47, at MenEssentials.ca)

Tracy Howard is a writer and editor specializing in lifestyle topics. She’s the creator of beautyinthemiddle.com, a blog that takes an inside-out approach to looking good and feeling good at any age. in m a g a z in e . c a

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17/04/2015 17/02/2015 9:35:40 3:36:58 AM PM

INFRONT

insight

STATE OF DENIAL A cautionary tale of LGBT bias, American style

By Casey Williams

EDITOR’S NOTE: IN’s Wheels columnist Casey Williams lives with his husband

Make no mistake: This was a consolation prize for conservative self-declared

and their adopted daughter in the city of Indianapolis in the U.S. state of

Christians and supposedly family-focused anti-gay hate groups. They stood

Indiana. Their lives were upended earlier this spring when Indiana enacted a

beside Governor Pence when he signed the law in a closed-door session, and

“religious-freedom” law that gave tacit approval to discrimination against

while he refused to name who was present, several identified as anti-gay

gays and lesbians. (The public outcry that followed forced the state to revise the

leaders. Democrats and a number of Republicans proposed LGBT protections as

law to help keep it from becoming a tool for discrimination.) Williams shares his thoughts on what it’s like to live in a state where freedom of expression can so easily come under attack—a reminder that no liberties anywhere should ever be taken for granted.

I

normally spend my weekends reviewing the next hot car, but I’ve recently spent them wavering between rage and tears. I often travel to Canada, where I have always felt accepted. But I currently reside in Indianapolis in the U.S. state of Indiana.

That’s the state in which the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) was passed by the legislature this spring along

party lines. It was then signed by the state’s governor, Mike Pence, pitting my

“I have been very clear to friends and family: Passive acceptance will no longer be tolerated.”

family against long-time friends.

A little history for you on the north side of the Canada-U.S. border: Last year, in anticipation of Indiana’s marriage ban being lifted, the legislature attempted to pass a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. The governor

part of the new law, calling out those who claimed it was simply about protecting

enthusiastically fought federal-court rulings overturning the state’s marriage

religious freedoms and not discrimination. The additions were defeated.

ban. This was effectively ended by the U.S. Supreme Court in October. Soon thereafter, the movement to craft RFRA began.

This is about codified bigotry. The Sunday after the law passed, on a national news show, Governor Pence couldn’t give a direct “yes” or “no” answer when inmagazine.ca

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17/04/2015 4:54:49 PM

INFRONT

repeatedly asked about whether LGBTs can be denied service because of the

expect my compassion or tolerance. They are not welcome near my husband or

new law. The law was broader than similar laws, and Indiana had no formal

our adopted daughter. I will not un-hear what has been said.

protections for LGBT citizens. Pence has stated those protections are not on his

This law did what I suspect it was intended to do: divide people, strengthen

agenda. He’s also rumoured to be planning a presidential run in 2016, requiring

the base of a political party that is clinging to the bad old days, amp up

strong anti-gay credentials in today’s extremist-controlled Republican party.

donations to anti-gay hate groups, and try to shove us back under a rock.

I do have compassion for Indianapolis mayor Greg Ballard, who happens to be

In Indiana, this is retribution for same-sex marriages and a gift to conservative

a Republican. He has made the state’s largest city an accepting, friendly place to

“Christians.” Well, we’re already married, we’ve already adopted, and we don’t

live in and visit. He’s drawn big-name companies like Angie’s List and Cummins

want your hideous cake.

to the city. Houses are affordable, taxes are low, and the standard of living is high. Ballard does not deserve this.

I hate what this law has done to my state. My family has lived in Indiana for generations. In Indianapolis or anywhere else in the state, people are as kind and generous as you might have heard. I truly don’t expect gays to be discriminated against en masse. Hoosiers—as we Indiana residents are known— are protective of their own, gay or straight. Which fails to explain the legislators’ and governor’s actions.

People are taking sides. Friends I’d always felt loved me unconditionally are supporting the law (helped along by what they hear on Fox News and other conservative media outlets). They think, as Pence and his legislators have spun it, that it’s just about guaranteeing religious freedom. That’s not how it feels.

“This law did what I suspect it was intended to do: divide people and try to shove us back under a rock.”

And, if that were the truth, Pence would have requested LGBT protections from the get-go and made this go away.

I have been very clear to friends and family on Facebook: Passive acceptance

Now, off to Paris for a family vacation! Hopefully, the well-publicized

will no longer be tolerated. It hurt and I cried, but those who enable this by

economic mess the law created will be cleaned up quickly. Sadly, changing

voting for bigots in sheep’s clothing, supporting them as bigots-by-proxy, can’t

what’s in people’s hearts will likely take a bit longer.

1 6 I N M a g a z in e m a y 2 0 1 5

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17/04/2015 4:54:30 PM

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21/04/2015 3:25:32 PM

Bruce Zinger 1 8 I N M a g a z in e m a y 2 0 1 5

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17/04/2015 9:36:54 AM

On H is Toes

Ballet headliner Tyler Gledhill savours his princely moment in Opera Atelier

By Michael Pihach

E

at. Sleep. Dance. Repeat.

era. and now marking its 30th year. This fall (October 22-31),

That is how professional dancer Tyler

Gledhill will appear in its Toronto production of Armide and

Gledhill keeps a steady rhythm to his

then join the company in staging the show at the Royal Opera

schedule, which on any given day can include

in Versailles, France. In a conversation with IN, Gledhill discussed

up to eight hours of training in studio,

his jet-setting career, being out and proud in the dance world,

teaching yoga and pumping iron at the gym. It’s the type of raw

and why he always gets cast as a leading prince.

discipline that turns one into a success.

The son of two physical-education teachers, Gledhill grew up in the small community of Manotick in south Ottawa, and

IN MAGAZINE Congratulations on your role in Armide! Tell us about the character you play.

first moved to Toronto when he was 13 to attend school at the

TYLER GLEDHILL The show is a traditional baroque opera

National Ballet of Canada. After graduation, he moved to Europe,

about a woman named Armide who’s a warrior princess during

where he spent two years performing in the Netherlands and

the Crusades. She falls in love with a Christian man, and she

then another four years in Sweden.

knows this is something she should not do. So she summons

The opportunity to work alongside world-renowned

the spirit of hatred to protect her and make her strong enough

choreographers—including William Forsythe, Jiri Kylián and

to draw this man in but not fall in love herself. In the end,

Mats Ek—helped mould Gledhill into a plié powerhouse. Today

her love is too strong and she ends up in love with someone that

he is one of the leading men in Toronto’s Opera Atelier, an

she can’t have. I play the character of Amour, who acts much

international leader in period opera and ballet from the baroque

like Cupid.

inmagazine.ca

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3/17/15 5:34 PM 17/04/2015 9:38:35 AM

Bruce Zinger

IN This is the second time you’ve performed in Armide. What other roles have you played?

TG It was in Toronto two years ago, and I played

believable. For example, whenever I’ve played an evil character, I’d get riled up and leave rehearsal agitated. That’s a good thing.

a different role last time. I was one of the demons from hell that torture the spirit of love, which I liked because I always get cast as the good guy. I’m always

→ STATES OF GRACE An angelic Tyler Gledhill (opening page); Opera Atelier performers in full costume (above)

and I dance while they sing. I also love how the IN You’ve danced with Opera Atelier for seven years. What do you love about the company?

company preserves the traditional art form of baroque opera while putting a modern spin

the prince or the hero, which can get dull sometimes.

I had fun exploring the darker characters.

IN Why do you think you always get cast as a prince?

TG My friends say I look like a Disney prince.

IN You’ve toured with Opera Atelier in Versailles, France. What was that like?

TG Amazing. The theatre was pretty much located in the birthplace of ballet. The people there understand it more. Dance and opera are part of children’s lives and the culture. There’s such an appreciation for them.

“There are a lot of straight guys in the dance world who feel they have to assert their masculinity and [emphasize] that they’re not gay, which is pretty entertaining.”

IN Does performing onstage ever affect you personally? Have you ever had a Black Swan moment?

TG As a dancer, I often get to work with just

on it by using projections.

dancers, whereas at Opera Atelier, we work

TG Totally! That’s the thing about performing.

with singers and live musicians. It mixes things

You have to fully embrace your role to make it

up. We get to be onstage with opera singers,

IN What are some of the challenges of being a full-time dancer? inmagazine.ca

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21

17/04/2015 9:37:25 AM

→ REFLECTIONS Gledhill at ease (left)

than I am. My body doesn’t recover as quickly as it used to.

IN How did you get into dancing?

TG I didn’t start formal lessons until I was 10 years old. But I had been dancing all the time since I was two, while watching my sisters take dance classes.

My babysitter used to put on Michael Jackson, who inspired me to dance. He was unreal.

IN What’s it like being gay in the dance world? Is it at all like the sports world?

TG Not at all. The dance world is all artists who are open and accepting. To be a homophobe in the dance world…you wouldn’t survive. But I’ve experienced a little [homophobia]. There are a lot of straight guys in the dance world who feel they have to assert their masculinity and [emphasize] that they’re not gay, which is pretty entertaining.

IN Did dancing play a role in your coming out?

TG It didn’t while I was in school…and you’d think ballet school would be a safe place. I didn’t come out until I was 19, after I left the National Ballet School, because in my class the guys weren’t very mature.

There was a bit of homophobia. I had a girlfriend in 12th grade. It was something I also struggle with coming from a small town. Because I was a dancer, people called me a “fag.” There was part of me that didn’t want to prove the stereotype right: that being a dancer automatically makes you gay. I wanted to prove them wrong, but after a while you can’t do that.

IN Where do you see yourself being 10 years Ted Belton

from now?

TG I’m not sure if I ever want to give up being onstage. Even if I transition into something different, TG I’m 32, so I’m considered a more mature

doing what I want it to do. I have friends who have

dancer. I face the challenges of my body not always

retired because of serious injuries who are younger

I’ll still want to be in theatre. I have colleagues who are in their early 40s and they still perform. They do physical theatre, and there is a psychical element.

I’ll for sure keep teaching yoga and dance. I’m also

“I always get cast as the good guy. I’m always the prince or the hero, which can get dull sometimes.

I had fun exploring the darker characters.”

considering going to school for marketing, but I’m not ready just yet.

IN What advice would you offer to someone considering a career in dance?

TG I would say, Go for it. The feeling of being onstage, the adrenalin rush…it’s a feeling I can’t compare to anything else. It’s a tough life, but it’s worth it.

(For more information on Opera Atelier’s 2015 season, visit OperaAtelier.com.)

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17/04/2015 9:39:05 AM

Into the light The Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg is ambitious, beautiful and mind-boggling

Aaron Cohen CMHR

By Gordon Bowness

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17/04/2015 9:39:31 AM

→ CONTROVERSIAL LANDMARK The Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg, designed by U.S. architect Antoine Predock, opened last fall.

inmagazine.ca

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17/04/2015 9:39:58 AM

Gordon Bowness

T

he Canadian Museum for Human Rights

is palpable. But does that respect translate into

(CMHR) is a mind-boggling proposition:

effective and accessible education and advocacy? In

soaring in its ambition, beautiful in its

other words: Does the museum deliver on its content?

mission, stumbling in its execution.

Opening last fall in Winnipeg, the first national

Here, the results are much more murky. The content is great, the delivery not so.

→ DRAMA & GRANDEUR One kilometre of alabaster ramps zigzags up the seven-storey atrium.

Technological tricks are not enough.

Over and over, the museum missed opportunities

museum located outside the capital region, the

Content delivery comes in a variety of guises:

to provide an experience more powerful than watching

$350-million CMHR is comprised of 11 galleries

There are seven theatres, countless monitors and

and reading the same material on a computer at home

that thematically address topics as diverse as the

interactive screens, reams of wall text and images,

(in a setting more conducive to in-depth research).

Holocaust, missing and murdered Aboriginal women

numerous multimedia installations and 300 objects.

The whole thing could be a website.

in Canada and the legalization of same-sex marriage.

The true heart of the collection is more than 100

All too rarely did the physical exhibits give

My visit earlier this year coincided with Maclean’s

hours of video: individual profiles, testimonials, short

something extra. I wanted installations to make me

cover story detailing Winnipeg’s virulent racism

features, mini documentaries and news segments, of

feel in my gut what all the monitors and information

toward Aboriginals and the appalling levels of poverty

varying strengths but well-made overall.

boards were telling my head.

The little section on residential schools in the

and violence afflicting the Aboriginal community (and

If you make the effort to watch.

others) in the city’s North End. So front of mind for

The breadth and volume of content are exhaustive

Canadian Journeys gallery is an exception that proves

me was the question: Does this gleaming, towering

and exhausting. Information overload is a constant

my point, an example of content and installation

testament to human rights speak to the most critical

problem. Curators have placed great hope in

reinforcing each other to create a whole greater than

human rights crisis facing the country today, a crisis

interactive technology: monitors with different types

the sum of its parts. The main content is a short

located quite literally on the museum’s doorstep?

of touch-screen interface. While there is some appeal

documentary that is very strong, in part because of

Aboriginal history and perspectives are woven

to “playing” with the technology, the blinking lights

incredible source material, moving video depositions

throughout the museum’s offerings (just as lesbian

and whooshing sound effects soon lose their novelty.

given to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

and gay history and perspectives are). The respect

It’s a tough slog to really dig into the material.

The installation features a large photo on the back

2 6 I N M a g a z in e m a y 2 0 1 5

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17/04/2015 9:40:20 AM

→ TAKING THE CAKE The whimsical same-sex wedding exhibit in the Canadian Journeys gallery

Of course, the building itself adds a critical dimension. U.S. architect Antoine Predock has designed an impressive carbuncle of a building— an instant, controversial landmark. The galleries are connected by a kilometre of glowing alabaster ramps that zigzag up through a seven-storey atrium, a truly awe-inspiring space with its everchanging vertiginous views. But other than the simple and austere welcoming chamber, none of the galleries approach the atrium’s drama and grandeur. Plus there’s a nagging sense that the building itself may have sucked up resources and creative oxygen much needed elsewhere.

But the museum is still a work in progress.

Who can say what its impact will be a generation from now after countless schoolkids are dragged through it year after year, while countless others are exposed to the museum’s substantial education materials? The schools component looks exceptional.

And organizers are talking a great game about future programming and using the museum as a venue for important gatherings on human rights.

Such programming and outreach are critical question marks that will determine whether the museum is a beacon for change or a towering Babel of good intentions.

Gordon Bowness

T

here’s an incredible dynamism in this city, my hometown, equal to the despair and

outrage outlined in the Maclean’s article. That dichotomy is best experienced through art.

If you find yourself in Winnipeg and want to see other creative responses to the city’s ongoing

wall of the exhibit depicting a clean and orderly

awful lesson of systemic abuse, I kept glancing up

human rights crisis, head to the Urban Shaman

classroom. Rows of young students sit at their

at the faces of the students staring straight at me,

Gallery (urbanshaman.org), a vital showcase for

desks, looking directly at the camera, many with

guileless, innocent. The scale of betrayal and the

Aboriginal artists. A forthcoming book about

smiling, hopeful faces. A stern nun presides in the

need to act to protect those kids (or their grandkids)

gallery artist Lita Fontaine features an essay by textile artist Albert Mcleod, a tireless activist and

There are seven theatres, countless monitors and interactive screens, reams of wall text and images, numerous multimedia installations and 300 objects.

educator around sexuality and AIDS in Aboriginal communities. He also runs Two-Spirited People of Manitoba (twospiritmanitoba.ca), supporting some of the most vulnerable people in the country.

Even the Royal Winnipeg Ballet (rwb.org) commissioned a new work that tackled the residential school system. Going Home Star, by Mark Godden with libretto by Joseph Boyden, premiered last fall to mark the RWB’s 75th anniversary. A making-of doc and tour are in the works.

Or simply catch an Aboriginal drag queen performing at Club 200 (club200.ca), one of Winnipeg’s two gay bars. It’s a scrappy, happy place

background. Placed in front of the photo are two

overwhelmed me. It’s a deceptively simple and

and incredibly diverse. Young and old, men and

video monitors mounted in the tops of real desks

effective installation married to a powerful

women, white, immigrant and Aboriginal, lesbian,

that look exactly like the desks in the photo. As I

documentary. That is CMHR at its best.

gay, straight and trans…everyone’s here and they

watched the monitor/desks, learning that day’s

There aren’t enough of those moments.

have each other’s back. inmagazine.ca

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27

17/04/2015 9:40:40 AM

xx

28 29 30 31 32 33 Fashion.indd 28

20/04/2015 12:00:49 PM

THE LUXURY

OF LEISURE DRESSING FOR PLAY IS ALL FUN

PHOTOGRAPHY: adam webster Styled by: Nagham Cararah Models: Milan, Jeffrey, Sage (Velocci Models) Grooming: Jem Lopez Location: Hotel Le Germain Toronto AUTOMOBILE: 2015 TT ROADSTER

BY AUDI DOWNTOWN TORONTO

On Sage (left) Shorts: Armani Sweater: Hugo Boss (sweater and shorts available at Holt Renfrew stores across Canada) T-Shirt: Topman Sunglasses: Armani On Milan (right) Sweater: Prada (available at Holt Renfrew stores across Canada) Shorts, Belt: H&M Sunglasses: Model’s own

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21/04/2015 12:04:06 PM

On Milan (left) Shirt: Wooyoungmi Shorts: Etro Shoes: Perry Ellis (Shirt and shorts available at Holt Renfrew stores across Canada) On Sage (centre) Jacket: Hugo Boss Shorts: Topman Shirt: Paul Smith Shoes: Aldo Cap: Zara (Jacket and shirt available at Holt Renfrew stores across Canada) On Jeffrey (right) Shorts: H&M Shirt, Sweater: Topman Bags: M0851 Sunglasses: Armani AUTOMOBILE: 2015 TT ROADSTER BY AUDI DOWNTOWN TORONTO

28 29 30 31 32 33 Fashion.indd 30

22/04/2015 5:15:14 PM

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20/04/2015 12:03:55 PM

On Sage (left) Shirt: Prada (available at Holt Renfrew stores across Canada) Shorts: H&M Glasses: Armani On Milan (right) Shorts, T-Shirt: H&M Jacket: Topman Lapel Pin: Just Sultan

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20/04/2015 12:16:10 PM

Jacket, Shirt: Public School, New York (available at Holt Renfrew stores across Canada) pant: Zara shoes: H&M

Shorts, Top: Etro (available at Holt Renfrew stores across Canada) Shoes: Aldo

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20/04/2015 3:05:25 PM

FLASHBACK May 2002 in LGBT History

Prom Rite

T

aking his date to the prom seemed innocent enough to Marc Hall back in May of 2002. But because his date was also a male, Hall’s Catholic school near Toronto opposed the idea. It took the intervention of an Ontario Superior Court judge to clear the way for Hall and his boyfriend to experience a rite of passage that straight couples have enjoyed since the dawn of high school itself. As the ruling judge so eloquently put it at the time: “The idea of equality speaks to the conscience of all humanity, dignity and worth.” A sentiment for prom night and every night.

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17/04/2015 9:41:12 AM

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