Outlooks - March 2012 by Nicolas Tallarico

M ARCH 2012

IS MARRIAGE RIGHT FOR YOU? DAZZLE AT YOUR NEXT PARTY THE OUTLOOKS INTERVIEW:

SPRING PREVIEW

UPDATING YOUR CLASSICS FOR A STYLISH NEW SEASON

WHAT’S EATING SIMON DOONAN?

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PUBLISHER PATRICIA SALIB EDITOR IN CHIEF JIM BROSSEAU CREATIVE MARKETING DIRECTOR NELSON TOMÉ TRAVEL EDITOR RANDALL SHIRLEY FASHION DIRECTOR ADAM WEBSTER DESIGNER NICOLÁS TALLARICO EDITOR AT LARGE BRETT TAYLOR ADVERTISING & OTHER INQUIRIES (416) 792–2400 EDITORIAL INQUIRIES EDITOR@OUTLOOKS.CA OUTLOOKS IS PUBLISHED 10 TIMES PER YEAR BY THE MINT MEDIA GROUP ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 542 PARLIAMENT ST. TORONTO, ON, M4X 1P6 THE MINT MEDIA GROUP PRESIDENT PATRICIA SALIB DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS REGGIE LANUZA DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING & MARKETING NELSON TOMÉ

CONTRIBUTORS JODY BOYNTON, PHILIP BUCKLEY, DEREK DOTTO, BRYEN DUNN, PHILIP FRANCHINI, DR. MALCOLM HEDGCOCK, SEAN HORLOR, BRAD MCPHEE, KRISHNA RAU, JENNY WATSON ON THE COVER ROBERT, ELMER OLSEN MODEL MANAGEMENT (COAT, BANANA REPUBLIC; BUTTON-DOWN SHIRT, GAP). ADAM WEBSTER, PHOTOGRAPHER. CARLTON ELLIS, STYLIST. LINDA RADAN, MAKEUP AND GROOMING

OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN OUTLOOKS MAGAZINE ARE THOSE OF INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTORS AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE MAGAZINE. ALL CONTENTS ARE COPYRIGHT AND MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED IN PART OR IN WHOLE WITHOUT WRITTEN CONSENT. THE APPEARANCE OF AN AD IN OUTLOOKS MAGAZINE DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE MAGAZINE ENDORSES THE ADVERTISER. THE APPEARANCE OF A MODEL OR OTHER PHOTOGRAPHIC SUBJECTS DOES NOT NECESSARILY INDICATE THEIR SEXUALITY. BEFORE YOU MAKE TRAVEL PLANS, DOUBLE-CHECK DATES, TIMES, AND PRICES. THINGS DO CHANGE. WHILE EVERY EFFORT IS MADE TO ENSURE ACCURACY, OUTLOOKS AND ITS CONTRIBUTORS ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE FOR ERRORS IN CONTENT.

4 OUTLOOKS MARCH 2012

CONTENTS

MARCH 2012

DEPARTMENTS

ISSUE 198

20 | FOOD & DRINK Smooth selections from Montreal and Florida

06 | EDITOR’S NOTE 07 | I SPY Ryan Steele splits sides for a living 08 | MONEY$TYLE Your emotions and your bank account

46 | SNAPSHOT For whom the wedding bell tolls

TRAVEL

09 | 360° Dispatches from the frontlines

12 | TRAVEL TALK Making safety a priority when you’re on the road

10 | FITNESS Minding your glutes 13 | CIVILITY How to be the life of the party

26 | ON THE LOOSE, ALMOST, IN THAILAND Bangkok behind closed doors

14 | WELLNESS Giving yourself a lift, sans the invasive surgery

30 | A WEEKEND ABOVE IT ALL Denver’s trove of Western wonders

16 | THE DOCTOR IS IN Sun-sational Vitamin D

FEATURES

17 | GROOMING Seven post-winter pick-me-ups

34 | THE MARRYING KIND Does having the right to marry mean it’s right for you?

ART+ CULTURE 44 | FRAMED: JAMES GALTS-GOLDSMITH Following his fancy

FASHION 11 | THE BREAKDOWN Redefining the urban jungle

07 RYAN STEELE

18 | THE HISTORY OF… TRENCH COATS 36 | SPRING AWAKENING Spring classics go cutting edge

22 | THE OUTLOOKS INTERVIEW Catching up with Simon Doonan

FOOD P. 20 MAINE DIVER SCALLOPS

36 SPRING AWAKENING

OUTLOOKS

EDITOR’S_NOTE

IT TAKES ALL KINDS

iming is a funny thing. We’d already had a story in the works on same-sex marriage (page 34) when news broke of a major legal decision on those marriages. A government lawyer had argued that non-residents whose samesex marriages took place in Canada might not actually be married. (Justice Minister Rob Nicholson has since made clear that those marriages are, in fact, legal.) Ironically, the issue surfaced because one such couple—an American and a Brit—is seeking a divorce. The case offers a reminder of what’s rarely discussed amid heady victories in the battle for marriage equality: There can be an underside to walks down the aisle and tender vows spoken on hilltops. But weddings are neither the time nor place to ponder the sobering reality that some 48 percent of marriages in Canada end in divorce. Still, with just that statistic and many other concerns in mind, some gays are opting out of the marriage option. As noted in our story, by Bryen Dunn, their personal objections to the institution stray from what some assume is the gay script. (Didn’t get your copy when you came out? What, you haven’t come out?... Just kidding.) One man who won’t be tied down to anyone’s notion of political correctness is the

6 OUTLOOKS MARCH 2012

indomitable Simon Doonan. The designer turned author (“Eccentric Glamour,” “Wacky Chicks”) can always be counted on for a comment sure to rattle somebody’s cage. Anyone who saw the BBC series “Beautiful People,” based on Doonan’s book about growing up gay in small-town England, knows that the man who transformed the windows of Barneys department store in New York each December was blessed with the genes of a creative dynamo. In his new book from Blue Rider Press, “Gay Men Don’t Get Fat” (trading on the title of a bestseller that made the same claim about French women), Doonan—tongue well in cheek—writes: “I believe that we should all be eating balanced meals, which involves a healthy combo of both the gay and straight food groups.” I was treated to more of Doonan’s takes on inter-sex and other topics in my interview with him (page 22). During our laugh-laced chat, I was reminded anew of the variety of lives broadly identified with the term “gay”—and how fitting that a rainbow should grace their flag.

We’d be delighted to hear from you. Share your thoughts on the magazine and stories you’d like to see covered in its pages. Email us at editor@outlooks.ca. Many thanks.

Jim Brosseau Editor In Chief

I_SPY

OUTFRONT Ryan Steele If you’ve ever seen one of Ryan Steele’s hit web videos, you know what it’s like to laugh until your stomach hurts. Either that or you’re dead inside. Created by Steele and a small rotating cast, the videos of ryansteeleshow. com feature a cast of outrageous characters, including Busy Drag Queen, Moms over Miami, and Terry & Teri Stinkdink. Ridiculous outfits and ill-fitting wigs help the scene-chewing actor create a comedic style all his own. A self-professed high-school drama geek (long before “Glee”-inspired gleeks), Steele didn’t start his career in laughs until his mid-20s. “I always say I was a late bloomer,” asserts the 34-year-old Vancouverite. “Coming out, sex, comedy—everything was five years later than it could have been.” Making people laugh could be seen as compensation for a very serious time in his life. At just 19, Steele began a battle with testicular cancer. “The chemotherapy was the worst part of my life,” he recounts. “It’s like the worst hangover you could imagine—times 10!” But Steele soldiered on and beat the disease. Years later he received a prosthetic testicle to replace the one removed after his initial diagnosis. To celebrate, he held a fundraiser called The Ball, which served as the precursor to a live monthly sketch show. “The Ryan Steele Show” became something of a cult hit on Vancouver’s scene, performed at various locations on the Davie Street strip throughout its run of three and a half years. One star cast member, discovered by Steele himself, was Amy Goodmurphy. “She had no acting experience, no comedy experience,” says Steele. “She’s just a natural.” The pair has undeniable chemistry that can be seen in many of Steele’s videos, as well as their latest live comedy project, “The Ryan and Amy Show.” Note to ticketholders: Prepare for your stomach to hurt. You’ve been warned.

Rhonda Dent

— DEREK DOTTO

OUTLOOKS

MONEY$T YLE

Taking Your Emotions to the Bank BY BRAD MCPHEE

t all starts with our personal story around money. I am going to coin a new term “emo-money,” short for emotional money, as you might have guessed. I use the term to represent our money orientation. It is important because we need to know our own orientation in order to better understand and improve our financial-emotional health. It also helps in our relationships (personal and professional) to understand the differences. Think of a quadrant created by two intersecting lines. Our number of thoughts (scale of intuitive to analytical) is the horizontal, and our feelings (scale of positive to negative) the vertical. The lines intersect in the middle, creating, in effect, four quadrants. Those four quadrants would describe the four orientations. While none of us likes to be stereotyped and, in fact, I do not stereotype my clients from their orientation either, it is helpful for us to self-evaluate to better understand our orientation as it relates to money. What follows is a brief description of my four emo-money categories. INTUITIVE AND POSITIVE:

Characterized by a generally positive orientation and the ability to make decisions and take action based on intuitive understanding. Do not require extensive graphs, charts or other analytical tools. Prefer to work with a financial planner they like, trust and respect. Are interested and engaged but prefer to get a feel for a particular plan rather than analyze it. Watchwords for this group: Find the right person and trust him to get the job done for you. ANALYTICAL AND POSITIVE:

Characterized by a generally positive orientation and the ability to make decisions and take action based on quantifiable, logical understanding of the way things 8 OUTLOOKS MARCH 2012

work. Mitigate risk through tried and true approaches based on good models and calculations. Enjoy reading, discussing and questioning strategies to achieve results. Prefer to work with a financial planner who is technically expert and quantifies and qualifies recommendations. Watchwords for this group: Find the right person and work together. ANALYTICAL AND NEGATIVE:

Characterized by many unresolved and recurring questions. Can sometimes lead to procrastination and feelings of fatigue from the repetitive nature of the analysis required. Enjoy reading and debating strategies but looks for fault. Often not confident in their decisions and believe there are better choices to be made if they only had more information to digest. Prefer to work alone, although rely upon as much free information as can be garnered from financial professionals and industry experts. Practical and pragmatic, work hard at understanding things for themselves. Watchwords for this group: Read everything, question everyone and take a do-it-yourself approach. INTUITIVE AND NEGATIVE:

Characterized by feeling like there are many unknowns and unresolved questions. Predictably, may experience being overwhelmed by “the whole thing.” Act only because they understand the need to make a decision and can sometimes act blindly because something is too complex to fully understand. Can experience feelings of confusion but rely upon their intuition. Do not enjoy reading reports and analysis. Look for the “right” type of investment. Hope to achieve results through a “lucky win.” Prefer to work with a financial planner who’s mastered the technical and exudes

trustworthiness. Watchwords for this group: Find a person who’ll be helpful, and hope for the best. Generally, we do not change our orientation (wink, wink). So given these emomoney models, the ideal might actually be to gravitate toward the centre. A touch of negativity, for example, could help rein in spending. And certainly analysis plus thought bodes well for your overall results. The important thing to remember is that professionals offering financial advice are working with other professionals (and/or their ideas and informed opinions) to understand and make decisions on growing and protecting your wealth. So for those open to working with a planner, the question of whom to work with can be as important as how to work with that individual. Figuring out your place on the emo-money scale could help you make a sound choice.

Brad McPhee is a Vancouver-based consultant with Investors Group and past chair of the Gay and Lesbian Association of BC. Views expressed in Money$tyle are solely McPhee’s. Outlooks, as well as Investors Group and its affiliates are not responsible and cannot accept any liability. The column is intended as a source of information and not a solicitation to buy or sell investments nor to provide investment, financial, legal, accounting, tax or other professional advice. If you have a personal-finance question, email it to editor@outlooks.ca.

OUTFRONT

DISPATCHES FROM THE FRONTLINES

for May 27, the 19th anniversary of homosexuality’s decriminalization in Russia. “Even though Moscow authorities continue to ban all public events of sexual minorities in the capital, breaching both Russian law and the verdict of the European Court, we will continue to demand permission for our Gay Pride marches,” said Alexander Naumchik, the acting head of the march’s organizing committee.

“SEX AND THE CITY” STAR: I CHOSE GAY Cynthia Nixon, best known as Miranda from the TV series “Sex and the City,” has ignited a controversy—not about sex but sexuality. In a recent New York Times Magazine interview, the actress, who has been completely open about her longtime relationship with another woman, declared: “I understand that for many people it’s not, but for me it’s a choice, and you don’t get to define my gayness for me.” Activists in the U.S. and Canada expressed dismay. “Cynthia did not put adequate thought into the ramifications of her words,” said Wayne Besen, founder of Truth Wins Out, a group that fights anti-gay propaganda. Amid the flood of commentary Nixon’s remarks prompted, New York Times columnist Frank Bruni sought common ground, writing: “The born-thisway approach carries an unintended implication that the behaviour of gays and lesbians needs biological grounding to evade condemnation. Why should it?”

FROM RUSSIA WITH… LOVE? A seventh attempt to stage a Gay Pride march in Moscow is scheduled

WEIR TIES THE KNOT

Johnny Weir

—JIM BROSSEAU

GAYS OPPOSE NEW HUNGARIAN CONSTITUTION Activists in Hungary’s LGBT community, along with opposition parties, have protested the new constitution, which restricts marriage to heterosexuals only. The constitution took effect at the start of 2012.

Barely a year after coming out, champion figure skater Johnny Weir has married boyfriend Victor Voronov, a Georgetown University law graduate. Though Weir is keeping his

CLIMATE CHANGE IN JAMAICA FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

and a woman.” Benedict has long asserted that that homosexuality— the “blurring” of genders—threatens the very survival of humanity.

PAKISTAN TEXTING BAN INCLUDES LGBT WORDS UK SPY AGENCY AMONG MOST GAYFRIENDLY EMPLOYERS

Spy-vs-Spy

360°

name, the newlyweds will be known as the Weir-Voronovs. Skating fans also know the take-no-prisoners Weir as a threetime U.S. national champion, as well as a two-time Olympian.

What would James Bond think? MI5, Britain’s intelligence agency, has been named one of the most gay-friendly employers in the United Kingdom. The agency is new to the annual Top 100 Employers index produced by the group Stonewall. M15 was ranked 62. Prior to 1990, MI5—like other spy agencies around the world—would not employ known gays and lesbians, since they were considered at high risk for blackmail. “We are pleased to be recognized by Stonewall, but there is still more we can do,” said Jonathan Evans, M15’s director general. “We will continue to support lesbian, gay and bisexual staff to make MI5 a truly inclusive place to work.” Accounting giant Ernst & Young topped the list, followed by the Home Office (the UK government department responsible for immigration control, security and order) and Barclays bank.

Jamaica’s new Prime Minister could support moves to legalize homosexuality in what has been described as one of the most homophobic places on earth. Portia Simpson Miller, recently sworn in as prime minister following her People’s National Party landslide election win, has differed sharply with her predecessor, Bruce Golding, on LGBT equality. The former prime minister had insisted he would never allow gays or lesbians to serve in his cabinet. In contrast, during an election debate, Miller said she “believes in protecting the human rights of all Jamaicans. No one should be discriminated against because of their sexual orientation.” Although not directly calling for an end to the country’s criminalization of homosexuality, Miller said she would support a review of the policy.

POPE REASSERTS OPPOSITION TO SAME-SEX MARRIAGE Pope Benedict XVI used an address before diplomats from 180 countries accredited to the Vatican to decry same-sex marriage. The Pope said children need to be taught that “pride of place goes to the family, based on the marriage of a man

Last November, the Pakistani Telecommunication Authority put out a list of 1,600 words and phrases considered to be obscene, mandating that phone companies block them in text messages. The list of “dirty” words ranges from the mild, like “idiot,” to words that directly affect LGBT citizens, such as “lesbian” and “homosexual.” If phone companies do not cooperate in the censorship, they will be subject to legal action. While homosexuality is not explicitly mentioned in Pakistan’s penal code, under the country’s Islamic law, homosexual acts are punishable by whipping, imprisonment or even death, according to the United Nations.

MORE COUNTRIES ACCEPTING OF GAYS The majority of countries around the world have become more open to gays. So says a report by The National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago, after examining attitudes in more than 30 countries. The top five were the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Switzerland and Belgium. —BRETT TAYLOR

OUTLOOKS

FITNESS

Maximizing Your Maximus

knees fall inward or hips twist. If you need or want a deeper range of motion, you can squat between two steps so the dumbbell can go lower than your feet.

10 OUTLOOKS MARCH 2012

Follow immediately with: SIDEWAYS SHUFFLE.

Place an exercise band around your thighs (closer to your knees). Squat down and stay down, toes pointing slightly outward and butt aiming behind you. Try to keep knees from traveling too far forward and the weight in your heels as you step. Sidestep wide, and then bring feet close, then wide all the while staying in squat posture. Step to the left 20 feet, stand upright, and then squat down again, staying low, and then repeat to the right. DUMBBELL STEP-UPS. GoodLife Fitness

f you weren’t born with the goods, chances are you may need a little help with proportioning your posterior. Like batter on a hot griddle, if you sit around on your caboose, it’s going to end up a pancake. Those of us who spend all day behind a desk might literally be working our butts off! The gluteal complex is composed of the largest and strongest muscle group in the body. They not only round out our appeal and keep our jeans from hitting the floor, but they are essential in allowing us to stand upright, something we have earned as bipedal sapiens. They anchor the hips as we walk and provide the power we need to run or climb stairs. The gluteus maximus, as well as the gluteus medius and minimus make up the bulk of the buttock region, along with other hip-stabilizing and rotating muscles. When glutes are not functioning efficiently, it can put more pressure on our lower backs, as other muscles try taking over to extend and stabilize. Use it or lose it applies to function, not just size and shape. Standing up should be pretty natural, but you’d be surprised how hard it is to get up off the sofa if you can’t use your glutes. If you’re still not convinced you need to focus on your seat, just remind yourself of this: Gravity is constant and can be so cruel! A lifetime of sitting, and your cheeks will develop chins. If you’ve ever been in a change room of a public pool, you’ve perhaps observed what can happen to the rear view as we age. With a little effort, these exercises could help keep the cakes from falling. They are not meant to replace your regular leg workout, but if you are behind in your behind, try adding these exercises to your regular presses, lunges and squats. Do these two exercise complexes each as a super set, without much rest between the heavier weighted exercise and the movement/bodyweight portion. (As with any exercise program, if you’re unsure about

Good to his glutes: GoodLife Fitness associate Malcolm McNeill working out at one of its London clubs

proper form, seek assistance from a qualified trainer to prevent injury.) DUMBBELL SUMO SQUATS.

Single dumbbells held hanging from two hands between legs, or two dumbbells, one in each hand to the sides. Just like a regular squat, but much wider. Knees are still facing front but not travelling forward over the toes, and feet have just a slight turn out. Before you start, bring your awareness to the fact you are pushing your heels and outside of the foot into the floor. With control, start by letting the hips drop backwards, and lower your hips while pushing into the floor with the feet. Keep the shins as vertical as you can, and maintain your upper-body trunk posture (not leaning over forward). To stand up, push through to extend (straighten) the legs, and you should feel the glutes and hamstrings doing the work. Do not let the

This exercise is like a lunge but onto a step to increase glute activation. Grab the dumbbells and let them hang by your hips (or place weighted bar across your back). Step up with your right leg onto a bench or platform that’s six inches in front of you. Shin straight up and down, weight on heel. Push into the step with the right foot and raise your left knee to hip level (do not push off the back left foot as you stand upright). Left thigh should be parallel to the floor at the top. Hold for one second and return your left foot with control to the floor, keeping most of the weight on the right. Complete 10 to 12 reps on one side, and then repeat on the other side. Follow immediately with: GLUTE BRIDGE.

Place two benches far enough apart so that your upper back and shoulders rest on one bench, and your heels rest on the other one—leaving your body suspended between the two benches. Let your butt drop toward the floor and then push into the bench with the heels. Bring your hips up even with torso, squeezing your glutes at the top, hold for a count of three and lower with control. Complete 10 to 15 reps. —JODY BOYNTON

ST YLE

THE BREAKDOWN - URBAN OASIS The relief Canadians feel during that first spring thaw may not be comparable to that of a desperate desert traveller stumbling across a lush oasis. But you get the picture. As spring begins to makes itself known, draw inspiration from those brave souls and don travel-worthy apparel. The look is driven by rugged fabrics, like twill cotton, in varying shades of sun-bleached neutrals. But an outfit based on beige doesn’t have to be bland. Reserve some space for coloured accessories, such as wallets or bracelets, which will catch the eye like a desert flower. For your road-weary feet, ditch the tired desert boot for a brawny chukka. The world is yours to explore. —DEREK DOTTO

2 1 1. 4-pocket traveller’s jacket by Banana Republic $310

9 10

2. Cotton shirt with floral print by Dolce&Gabbana at Harry Rosen $575

3. Denim-cut chinos by Ralph Lauren at Harry Rosen $295 4. Brown leather chukka boot by Brunello Cucinelli at Harry Rosen $895 5. Canvas military-style rucksack by Ralph Lauren Denim & Supply at the Bay $155

6. Vintage sunglasses by Hang Ten $20

7. Woven leather belt by H&M $19.95 8. Wooden watch by WeWood $119 9. Leather bracelet with silver clasp by Tateossian at Harry Rosen $250

10. Wooden beaded bracelets stylists own

David Hawe

11. Red leather wallet by Salvatore Ferragamo at Harry Rosen $160

OUTLOOKS

TRAVEL TALK

Pay Attention to That Safety Briefing! BY RANDALL SHIRLEY

VIRGIN ATLANTIC’S NEW NONSTOPS TO CANADA

Britain’s Virgin Atlantic has announced new air service between London Heathrow (LHR) and Vancouver (YVR), connecting the two Olympic cities before London hosts the summer games. According to Virgin, the service begins on May 24 and will operate four times weekly—Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Initially, at least, it will be a seasonal service and Virgin anticipates carrying up to 40,000 passengers on the route through October 27 of this year (www.virgin-atlantic.com). THE ENVELOPE, PLEASE: PINK CHOICE AWARD WINNERS

am always saddened when a major disaster hits in the travel world. The capsizing of the Costa “Concordia” in January was awful and shocking to watch unfold. While there is much finger pointing at the ship’s captain, it will be some time before all the pertinent facts are known. As a travel editor and writer, friends and family immediately began asking me my thoughts on the tragedy. Their queries raised more questions in my own mind about the safety of the cruises millions of us take each year. Will some people reconsider those cruises because of this incident? Are the ships getting too big? These are fair questions. I find myself asking these questions about other kinds of travel experiences. What about Airbus A380 aircraft that can be configured to carry upwards of 800 passengers. Is that plane too big? If I were in the middle seat on the upper deck and something went wrong, could I successfully evacuate? What about high-rise hotels? When I’m 50 floors up, could I safely escape if, say, a fire broke out? For my part, I will continue to cruise, to fly and to stay in hotels of all descriptions.

12 OUTLOOKS MARCH 2012

Travel Editor Shirley with Azamara Club Cruises’ “Quest” in Dubrovnik, Croatia.

But I will pay much more attention to my personal safety, and I encourage you to do the same. In the meantime, I invite you to share safety-related suggestions and anecdotes from your own travels (send them to editor@outlooks.ca). For now, I remind you to remain alert to these few basics, whether on a plane, train, ship/ferry, subway, bus or in a hotel: • When flying, watch and listen to the safety demonstration. Put down your book or iPhone and pay close attention. Those few moments could save your life. • If a safety drill isn’t offered, conduct your own. Plot an escape route (check it out in a hotel) and think about how you would respond to an emergency during your travels. • Discuss your safety plan with travelling companions to help avoid frantic searches for loved ones if disaster should hit. And, in this age of terrorism, if you see something that strikes you as suspicious, by all means report it to the authorities at hand.

Pink Choice, a website which provides gay-focused accommodation reviews, has posted the recipients of its 2012 travel awards. While the organization claims to recognize the “very best gay and lesbian hotels, inns, guesthouses and resorts worldwide,” the latest round of winners is concentrated primarily in the northeastern U.S., with many in Provincetown, Massachusetts. That would suggest a large number of the site’s users live in or travel to that region, although the site does include lodging elsewhere. Users may post their own reviews, which could be helpful in planning your travels (www.pinkchoice. com). A CRUISE FAMILY BRANCHES OUT

Rosie O’Donnell’s ex-wife Kelli Carpenter continues her work with RFamily vacations, the company she co-founded to take gay families on cruises. Now, RFamily has branched out to land vacations (a Broadway weekend is upcoming) and adult-only holidays (but with less party atmosphere than some other all-gay travel options). The company has teamed up with gaycruise legend Charlie Rounds (formerly of RSVP), whose new company, Brand G, is also in the gay-travel business, to market an adults-only European riverboat cruise from Prague to Budapest, August 21-30 (www.rfamilyvacations.com).

CIVILIT Y

Life of the Party

Philip Buckley

BEING A GOOD GUEST

y friend Rob really knows how to throw a party. He does something I find the hallmark of a great host: He keeps his door locked to prevent guests from letting themselves in—as they’re more and more wont to do. That way, when the doorbell rings, he can, if he has to, make a beeline from all the way across his apartment to personally greet each new arrival. His warm welcome sure beats the feeling that you’ve just broken into someone’s home. If there are certain things a host should do to make a party an event and not an endurance test, the same holds true for guests. The unspoken compact behind every successful party calls for all guests to do their part. Admittedly, given the increasingly relaxed ethos of nearly all social intercourse (the kind done with clothes on), uncertainty about party protocols is understandable. One might easily assume that nothing more demanding than chewing with your mouth closed is expected. Common decency and, yes, our national reputation for civility, suggest otherwise. With that in mind, here are a few tips for being a memorable party guest—for the right reasons.

• If the host has sent e-vites or snailmail invitations, don’t forget to RSVP. There’s nothing worse than planning a party when you have no idea how many guests you might be having. Score points even before you ring the doorbell by helping out with a proper headcount. • Once you’ve arrived, to paraphrase the flight attendants, turn off all cellular devices. Or at least put them on vibrate. And if you need to read or send a message during a party, excuse yourself and do so in private. Taking calls or texting sends a message to your host: You’d rather be someplace else. • Move about the room. Why is it that at so many gatherings, people tend to confine their chit-chat to the same people they see every day at home or in the office. If you’re not going to mingle with at least a few seldom-seen acquaintances, never mind completely new people, then you might as well have skipped the party altogether. If there are more than, say, a half dozen or so guests, your host might not have time to make all the introductions, so don’t be afraid to extend your

• If you’re prone to spills, have the white wine and not the red. If there’s a mishap, you’ll be glad you did and so will your host. (And you won’t jeopardize your chances of being invited to his next soiree.) • Try holding up your end of the conversation. Even if you’re not a raconteur, you’ll seem like the liveliest person in the room just by getting some chatter started. You can jump-start an entire gabfest with a question as simple as, “Are you from this area?” The follow-up questions and their responses almost always begin to flow naturally. (One note of caution: If you don’t want to incite a battle, steer clear of hot-button issues until you’ve got a sense of your new chatmate’s politics.) • Don’t overstay your welcome. If the place is thinning out, you might consider calling it a night yourself. Some signs you’ve stayed too long: The host mentions he has a big day tomorrow—for the third time; the tables have been cleared of finger food, and no one’s refilling your wine glass; the light through the blinds is that of the sun; your host is in his paja-

THE NOTION THAT DOGS’ MOUTHS ARE CLEANER THAN OURS ASIDE, I’M STILL NOT READY TO SHARE A SPOON WITH FIDO hand—provided it’s free of nacho remains. • Unless it’s a catered affair, you might offer to lend the host a hand—perhaps with carrying hors d’oeuvres from the kitchen or removing an unsightly stack of small plates from an end table. (But don’t force the issue: Some people are pretty sensitive about doing such things on their own.) And, as they remind us in the subways, if you see something, say something. I once sought out a host to break the news to her that the family dog had helped himself to the generous bowl of hummus gracing the coffee table. (The notion that dogs’ mouths are cleaner than ours aside, I’m still not ready to share a spoon with Fido.)

mas (unless it’s that kind of a party). • Even if you’ve just dropped by for a quick drink and a celery stick, it’s always nice to send some sort of thank-you. A handwritten note on engraved stationery would be nice, but a brief email or phone message will also stand out. Alas, being a good guest doesn’t end when your host says good-night. —JIM BROSSEAU

Do you have questions about navigating social situations? Share them with Civility at editor@outlooks.ca. OUTLOOKS

WELLNESS

Cosmetic Procedures, A Guy Thing BY JODY BOYNTON

pring has us thinking of new beginnings. After winter’s dreary days, we can’t wait to see the world rejuvenated. Many men, it seems, are feeling just that way about themselves and their appearance. In fact, men are the fastest-growing puchasers of cosmetic procedures. And it’s not just the gays and metrosexuals exploring ways to enhance what nature has given them. Today’s cosmetic procedures are even being sought out by the so-called man’s man, as well. It’s a competitive world out there, and many adult males are opting for a little refreshing for both personal and professional reasons. Baby boomers make up the largest increase in cosmetic procedures. They have the means and are still active and living healthy lifestyles. Many, if not most, remain a part of the workforce. They want to look as young as they feel and compete in an increasingly youthdriven corporate world. While some opt for the traditional fullon facelift or other surgical procedures, there is a whole host of minimally invasive procedures (non-surgical) available today. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, these were the top five

14 OUTLOOKS MARCH 2012

The welcoming lobby sets the tone for a visitor’s tour.

such procedures among men in 2010 in the U.S. (the last year for which figures are available): 1. Botulinum Toxin Type A (337,000)  2. Laser Hair Removal (165,000)  3. Microdermabrasion (158,000)  4. Chemical Peel (90,000) 5. Soft Tissue Fillers (78,000) In the old days, cosmetic work required a major commitment of time and emotional energy. It involved surgery and making dramatic changes resulting in long recoveries and higher risks. Today’s spruce-ups, on the other hand, are not as drastic (or noticeable) and often require little or no down time. To get a feel for how men are embracing these less daunting approaches to cosmetic changes, I went to the frontlines. I checked in with one of the cosmetic medical centers that have been sprouting up throughout Canada and the U.S. over the past decade. Bellair Laser clinic, with two offices in Toronto and one in New York, has been in business for seven years. It is a medically super-

vised laser clinic specializing in minimally invasive cosmetic procedures for men and women. I spoke with Lisa Rittana, who works closely with the supervising doctor and is the manager of Bellair Laser’s Toronto location in Yorkville. In her office, men make up about 30 percent of the business, and she expects that to jump to 35 percent this year. What used to be hush-hush is no longer such a big secret. People more commonly share their cosmetic experiences. One of the main motivations for seeking out some help, Rittana contends, is keeping up with the Joneses: If our friends appear younger, we want to look younger too. We hire trainers to exercise, nutritionists and meal-delivery companies for better eating, and now we look after our appearance by consulting another team of experts. As for Bellair’s male clientele, it’s mostly professionals—bankers, doctors, lawyers etc. They are still active and relevant in their jobs and want to be sure they stay that way. For many of them, having an aesthetic procedure might be no more unusual than schooling themselves in social media. (The latter, in fact, might inflict far greater pain.) I ask Rittana about the educational background of the centre’s staff. “All of our employees are specialists,” she says, “which means they have completed schooling for laser technicians—four years of college for estheticians or a one-year specialty program in a fast-track private school. On top of that, we do in-house training, and they get trained by the laser company, as well.” As for supervision, Rittana notes, “All of our clinics are medically supervised, which means we work under supervision of a doctor, and we have a nurse on staff, as well.” Intrigued about clients who go too far— we’ve all seen them—I ask about going overboard. Rittana points out that some procedures, those involving skin tightening, for example, “often work with your body’s own repair mechanisms.” But there are occasional excesses on the client’s part. “If they think they want more filler, or something beyond what suits them,” says Rittana, “we kind of steer them to what looks good.” After all, as she points

WELLNESS

out, “It reflects the practitioner’s portfolio of work and skill, as well.” The number one reason men go to her clinic, Rittana says, is for laser hair removal. She says clients request hair removal from all areas of their body (and that means all). Age doesn’t seem to be a huge factor; even fellows in their early 20s show up when hair does the same in unwanted places. The laser emits a near-infrared light that is absorbed by the pigment located in the hair follicle. And just so you know, that affects the stem cell and causes the desired cell damage to retard hair growth. Hair growth has three stages: anagen (active stage), catagen (regression) and telogen (resting). To achieve permanent laser hair removal, ideally the follicle should be treated by the laser during the anagen or active stage of hair growth. Since approximately 10 to 20 percent of hairs are in this active growing stage at the same time, five to seven laser hairremoval treatments are generally required for the best results. The second-most popular treatment in her office, Rittana reports, is what’s known as photo rejuvenation (also called a photofacial). To start, you get an up-close, high-contrast black-and-white photo of your face taken. (Before you ask, you cannot order wallet-sized prints!) This shows spots, fine lines and all your other imperfections—perceived and otherwise. The photofacial is a light-based, three-in-one programmable wavelength device that allows the user to accurately target areas of concern. It sometimes achieves results in up to three treatments. Pulses of focused light can soften fine lines, scars, sunspots and hyper-pigmentation. They can also affect skin texture and tone. All of this should lead to more homogenous skin. The treatments are considered permanent, because they can take spots away. (Still, the clock keeps ticking, and normal aging will continue.) Other such treatments include Laser Genesis, which targets deeper into the skin. It can be an effective rosacea treatment, reducing pore size and textural differences. It also helps stimulate your body’s own

collagen production. There can be some redness after treatment, but not so much as to keep clients from returning to work. Skin-tightening lasers target the lower epidermis. The skin is heated (damaged) in very small columns under the surface, and after recovery the skin is firmer and you have more collagen production. Most people require a series of three to six sessions, one month apart. Because it targets water and not colour, it can be effective for

Men are expressing a growing interest in cosmetic procedures.

all skin types, with no down time required. Side effects from facial treatments, Rittana says, can include temporary redness and flaky skin. Depending upon the procedure, there can also be some temporary sensitivity to light. Expressing the prevailing philosophy behind much of today’s cosmetic enhancement, she adds, “The idea is to treat spots or discolorations and avoid new ones.” High on a growing list of aging antidotes for men is Botox. Of greatest concern to male clients: the forehead, as well

as lines around the eyes and mouth. As many of us already know—not necessarily from personal experience, mind you—skin becomes less elastic as we age. Collagen is reduced, and after repeated muscle contractions crease the skin over time, we get wrinkles. Botox is a protein purified from Clostridium botulinum (a bacteria) that blocks the nerve responsible for muscle activity. This effect is not permanent but does last for about four months. It is considered safe in the industry and has been used for some 30 years, the first 10 in medical uses and only the last 20 or so in the cosmetic field. (It would appear, at least, that some of Hollywood’s biggest names embraced it from the get-go.) Rittana says that while the majority of her clients start seeking out cosmetic assistance in their mid 40s or 50s, it’s not all that unusual to have clients in their 20s. Pressed on whether aesthetic procedures can become addictive, Rittana shares her own take on frequent visitors to the center. She explains that at first, many people are unsure about what, if anything, they want. But once they test the waters and start looking a little better, it’s not long before they begin to explore what else they might do to improve their appearance. The cost of “having work done”—as some will always refer to it—could set you back a paycheck or two, depending upon your line of work. Removing hair from the back can run $1,500 for five sessions (while generally considered permanent, new hair growth might still occur). Laser Genesis or fraxal treatments are $2,100 for three to six sessions (because nothing stops aging, these treatments, too, might require follow-up in a year or two’s time). Overall, Rittana estimates that most clients spend $1,000 to $2,000 for the results they seek. If your “mirror, mirror on the wall” is giving you sass—and better lighting is no longer the answer—there are more and more options available to keep you looking, ahem, fresh. We can’t stop the clock, but with proper nutrition, regular exercise and just maybe, when needed, a few cosmetic tweaks, we can up the chances of extending our “Best Before” date. OUTLOOKS

THE DOCTOR IS IN

A Vitamin’s Rays of Hope BY DR. MALCOLM HEDGCOCK

particularly in the large muscle groups of the arms and legs. Adequate levels of Vitamin D are also important for cancer prevention. While the data is sometimes conflicting, it is generally understood that insufficient levels of Vitamin D in the blood are a risk factor for certain types of the dreaded disease, particularly colon cancer. This is likely due to the fact that Vitamin D is instrumental in controlling the rate of growth and reproduction of cells. This was first hypothesized 70 years ago, when it was noted that people living at higher latitudes (where there are fewer months of sunshine annually) were at higher risk of cancer. People with low Vitamin D levels are

VITAMIN D IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT IN MAINTAINING A HEALTHY IMMUNE SYSTEM. our long, cold and dark winters. Thankfully, we also acquire Vitamin D through our diet. Fish, vegetables and fortified dairy products are important sources of it. Many people also supplement with Vitamin D tablets, which are cheap and have no side effects. Beyond bone health, one very important function of Vitamin D is to help muscles grow and function properly. Vitamin D deficiency can result in muscle weakness and shrinking muscle fibres. A very large study recently released showed that replacing Vitamin D in these situations actually resulted in improvements in strength, 16 OUTLOOKS MARCH 2012

more likely to have high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. And yet we still see no clear link between supplementation of vitamin D and lowering your risk for these diseases. To be sure, these relationships are nothing if not complex. On one important point, there is widespread agreement: Vitamin D is extremely important in maintaining a healthy immune system. Such autoimmune illnesses as multiple sclerosis and inflammatory bowel disease are more commonly found in people with low Vitamin D levels. It has also been suggested that the increased

Mark Stay

e’ve known for years that Vitamin D is a key regulator of bone health by helping your body extract calcium and phosphorus from the foods you eat. Recently, however, what has become apparent is that Vitamin D has many beneficial effects beyond just keeping your bones and teeth strong. So it’s worrisome that two-thirds of the Canadian population have blood levels of Vitamin D that are inadequate for optimal health. And the groups most likely to be deficient in Vitamin D are men aged 20 to 39, and those with darker skin pigmentation. Much of the Vitamin D we have in our body comes from the skin, which can create this essential vitamin only in the presence of sunlight. Canada’s relatively short summers make it difficult to generate sufficient amounts of D to last through

number of viral infections we see during the winter months is the result of a relative Vitamin D deficiency. The current recommended dose of Vitamin D is 1,000-2,000 IU per day. Although we actually do not have a firm amount at which Vitamin D intake should be cut off, it is definitely possible to overdose on it. Symptoms of dangerous Vitamin D levels might include vomiting and confusion. However, if you stick to the recommended doses, there shouldn’t be any chance of overdoing it. While we don’t know conclusively that Vitamin D supplements will make you stronger, improve your physique or prevent cancer, data unquestionably suggest that adequate amounts of D are important for optimal physical performance. Therefore, we all need to be extra conscious about our intake, especially in the sun-scarce months of winter.

Malcolm Hedgcock is a family doctor in Toronto with a special interest in conditions that are common in the LGBT community. The information contained in this column is not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease and in no way should substitute for consultation with one’s own healthcare professional. Send questions or comments about your health concerns to The Doctor Is In at editor@outlooks.ca.

GROOMING

FACE TIME MAKING A SMOOTH EXIT FROM WINTER

Although hints of spring are in the air, your skin may still be fending off the ravages of winter. In search of reinforcements, we consulted the grooming-product giant Sephora to see what the company recommends for skin (and, for good measure, scalp) that’s poised to give Old Man Winter the slip (all products can be found at www.sephora.com):

$59

$27

1.35 OUNCES

0.4 OUNCES

$39

1.4 OUNCES

For guys, lips can sometimes be overlooked in a grooming

Alas, anti-aging creams aren’t just for your mum

regime. Laura Mercier Flawless Skin Lip Silk is designed to

anymore. Quercetin & Oak Antiaging & Antiwrinkle

bring something soothing to your smile. Rough may have

Night Cream from Korres combats the appearance

its place, but the lip isn’t one of them

of lines and wrinkles. Myrtle extract has been added to improve elasticity

Such a deal: You can sleep and hydrate your skin at the same time. Boscia Oil-Free Nightly Hydration could be a multi-tasker’s dream come true. Its antioxidants fight excess oils while you slumber

$22

1.5 OUNCES

Problem hair shouldn’t give your face the brush-off. Ojon Restorative Hair Treatment has been formulated to help repair damaged hair. Named for the

$20

Ojon oil with which it’s made, this product is said to produce results for most users (up to 64 percent in one study) after one use

1.69 OUNCES

2 OUNCES When you think of all we ask our hands to do for us, isn’t it only fair we do something for them? Sephora Face-saving begins with a close shave. Anthony Pre-

Nourishing Hand Cream bills itself as a triple threat,

Shave Oil is specifically formulated to ready the beard

lending comfort and restorative properties to hands,

for smooth shaving. Its peppermint and eucalyptus oils bring a touch of nature to your bathroom

$31

2.5 OUNCES

nails and cuticles. Among the things it doesn’t have: sulfates and synthetic dyes

It’s easy to forget about sun protection when the temperature is near zero. Yet experts say it ought to be a concern year-round, that snow, too, can reflect the sun’s rays. Anthony Facial Moisturizer SPF 15 eschews the residue that can make some guys run from the scent of face creams OUTLOOKS

ST YLE

The History of… Trench Coats — DEREK DOTTO

1901 Burberry becomes one of the official outfitters of the British army. The company’s military-specified coat is double-breasted with a buckled belt.

1920s & ’30s Once the Great War was over, officers returned to civilian life with their trench coats in tow. The coat became a highly sought-after fashion piece for men and women.

1853

1942

London shop owner John Emary develops a waterproof wool fabric and launches a line under the name Aquascutum. Emary uses the material to create field jackets for troops fighting in the Crimean War.

Humphrey Bogart famously makes the trench coat look ohso-gentlemanly as Rick Blaine in “Casablanca,” further establishing the garment as a must-have item

1879

1914-1918

Late 1940s

Officers in World War I took their Aquascutum and Burberry raincoats to the trenches, hence the name “trench coats.” Military modifications to the garment included epaulettes to display rank insignia and D-rings for the carrying of map cases and swords.

The return of soldiers from WW II battlefields reinvigorates the practical outerwear’s appeal.

Former draper’s assistant Thomas Burberry invents gabardine, a tightly woven cotton fabric that is both comfortable and rain-resistant. Burberry would soon after begin manufacturing long coats out of the material.

Early 1900s Edward VII is the first of many royals to don the waterproof jacket. He developed the habit of commanding, “Give me my Burberry.”

18 OUTLOOKS MARCH 2012

OUTFRONT

Today

1970s

Most fashion labels present some form of the trench coat in nearly every collection. But Burberry, under designer Christopher Bailey, continues to set the bar for the garment.

The emerging punk scene takes the trench coat in a new direction, repurposing it as a symbol of rebellion.

1990s The onset of casual style toward the end of the 20th century sees the trench coat fall out of favour.

1960s The Mod era brings bold designs to the trench coat. The weight of the garment is reduced and cumbersome linings are often removed from the design altogether.

2000s Heritage seekers and modern dandies revive the once-tired coat. The 21st century ushers in a shorter, trimmer fit than those of the past, along with a full spectrum of colours.

1980s Trench coats with larger proportions, typical for the decade, become the outerwear of choice for businessmen and women in their power suits. The royalsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; love affair with trench coats is alive and well.

OUTLOOKS

FOOD_&_DRINK

REYLON AGUSTIN Sarasota is one of Florida’s most popular destinations among Canadians. And if you’re grabbing some last-minute winter sun in that Gulf Coast city, dinner at the award-winning Vernona, in the Ritz-Carlton Sarasota, will help make your getaway that much more memorable. Vernona is overseen by Reylon Agustin, the hotel’s chef de cuisine. Agustin held the same post at the highly acclaimed Jardinière in San Francisco and was also chef de partie at the three-star Michelin restaurant under Gordon Ramsay in London. His latest Ritz-Carlton menu features such items as local mackerel served with agrodolce onions, sultana raisins and toasted pinenuts. But Agustin has kept Vernona’s signature dishes on the menu, including popcorn bisque, lobster macaroni and cheese, and the olive oil poached beef tenderloin (www.ritzcarlton.com/ sarasota).

Maine Diver Scallops SERVES: 4 INGREDIENTS: 1 pound scallops 3 parsnips 1 onion, yellow, chopped 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 pint heavy cream 2 cups water 1 bunch baby carrots ½ teaspoon cumin, ground ¼ cup almonds, slivered, toasted 1 orange, Mandarin, segmented ¼ bunch chervil, picked 1 quart orange juice 2 cups olive oil, pure 1 tablespoon butter, unsalted Lemon juice to taste Salt to taste FOR THE SAUCE: • In a heavy saucepot, reduce orange juice to syrup and remove from heat. Place into a blender and

20 OUTLOOKS MARCH 2012

slowly incorporate olive oil. Season with salt and adjust with lemon juice for desired acidity.

blender and slowly add the cooking liquid back in to achieve desired thickness. Season with salt.

FOR THE VEGETABLES:

TO ASSEMBLE:

• Peel and cut two parsnips to thumb-size pieces and do the same with the carrot. Roast in a sauté pan over medium heat until fork tender. Season with salt. Sprinkle cumin over the vegetables and remove from heat and the pan.

• Season the scallops with salt. Sear the scallops in a pan with pure olive oil in batches over mediumhigh heat until carmelized. Turn over and add butter into the pan and remove from heat. • Place the puree on the bottom of the plate, then place two to three scallops on top. • Heat vegetables in a sauté pan and add orange segments very last second to the pan before you go to the plate. Scatter vegetables evenly over the scallops. • Generously drizzle the sauce over each scallop. • Garnish with toasted almonds and picked chervil.

FOR THE PUREE: • Peel and chop one parsnip and add to a pot with the onion and garlic. Add heavy cream and water. Bring to a boil and reduce to a healthy simmer. Cook until very tender. Remove from heat and separate the “meat” of the puree from the liquid. Reserve the liquid. Place the “meat” of the puree in a

FOOD_&_DRINK

COMTE D’ARTAGNAN

THE SMOOTH YET ZESTY COCKTAIL IS AVAILABLE IN THE CHIC PLATEAU LOUNGE AT MONTREAL’S W HOTEL (WHOTELS.COM/MONTREAL). COUNT ON IT. INGREDIENTS ¾ oz Hennessy Cognac ¾ oz Crown Royal Whisky ¾ oz Martini & Rossi Sweet Vermouth 2 tbsp of Maple Syrup Dash of Peychaud’s Bitters Dash of Angostura Bitters GARNISH Zest of lemon and orange DIRECTIONS Pour all ingredients into a glass shaker with no ice, and stir for 10 seconds. Pour into a rock glass filled with big ice cubes, add both zests and stir with a pick for another five seconds. OUTLOOKS

THE OUTLOOKS INTERVIEW

SIMON DOONAN IS PUTTING YOU ON… OR IS HE? BY JIM BROSSEAU

re gays superior to straights? No, seriously. In the world according to polite provocateur Simon Doonan, one might easily conclude that in any homo-hetero smack-down, there’s no contest. The style setter’s manifesto, in fact, would be Doonan’s latest book, “Gay Men Don’t Get Fat” (Blue Rider Press), in which he makes an air-tight case for the more nutrient-rich and certainly more fashionable lifestyle associated with the “g” word. Okay, it’s all just a pose—to a point. Doonan believes that the world at large, particularly straight women, can learn something from gay people about living free of the strictures society can sometimes impose upon us all. Doonan’s life is nothing if not an argument against convention. What are the odds of a kid from a working-class English town becoming the trailblazing window dresser for trendsetting Barneys department store in New York City? Or that same kid becoming an author with guest shots on everything from “Gossip Girl” to “Chelsea Lately”? Or of winning a coveted Council of Fashion Designers of America award in 1999 for his innovative design work? (One of the new book’s most hysterical vignettes captures the reaction of Doonan’s parents to a tape of their son receiving that award—both parents sleep right through it.) And if his public life is nothing shabby, Doonan has done well on the homefront, as well, happily mar-

22 OUTLOOKS MARCH 2012

ried to the home-furnishings impresario Jonathan Adler—or, as his husband of 17 years likes to call him, “my Jonny.” The anthropological deconstruction Doonan has undertaken in “Gay Men Don’t Get Fat” affirms his dust-jacket designation as “a Gucci-wearing Margaret Mead at heart.” Whatever else, it’s a heart the author intends to safeguard against the dangers of guacamole—a product of the “straight food group,” in case you hadn’t guessed. OUTLOOKS: Is this book intended as a manual for straights on how to be “gay”? SIMON DOONAN: It was in my mind that, hopefully, gays will get a laugh out of it. It’s primarily a humor book. But I was also targetting straight women, too. The expectations put on straight women are crazy, They’re supposed to look like Angelina Jolie their whole lives, pop out children and be professionally accomplished. A big part of being gay is learning how to navigate around negative expectations, showing people how to live without caring about what other people think. OUTLOOKS: What about the title, playing off of the 2004 bestseller “French Women Don’t Get Fat”? SD: That book celebrated all these things about French women, which I find a bit dubious. Gay people have been part of this marginalized group. They have this quirkily interesting

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EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

The Mint Media Group, publisher of In Toronto and Outlooks magazines, is looking for a full-time Account Manager. You have a proven track record of securing advertising revenue with agencies, media buyers and retailers. You can engage clients over the phone, by email and in face-to-face presentations to secure new business. You are efficient in executing the sales process from start to finish, providing exemplary customer service throughout. You enjoy working in a diverse environment and are passionate about the LGBT community. RESPONSIBILITIES Actively seek and secure new business Build relationships to provide repeat business Exceed assigned sales goals and targets Maintain complete and accurate records QUALIFICATIONS At least two years experience in media sales Exceptional communication skills, both written and oral Proven track record in exceeding sales targets Highly motivated, driven and committed Basic PC skills including the ability to use Word and Outlook Qualified applicants, please forward your resumĂŠ to mint@themintmediagroup.com. To learn more about our publications, please visit intorontomag.com and outlooks.ca.

worldview because of the place they occupy in society. French women don’t have any back story. OUTLOOKS: Lesbians, on the other hand, do. SD: Lesbians were so ahead of the game—their emphasis on consciousness-raising, counter-cultural stuff, environmental awareness, recycling. Lesbians are a great role model for gay men. I really feel it’s a great moment to be a lesbian. OUTLOOKS: Your own story has been shaped by a sort of defiance. When you were coming of age in the 1970s and ’80s, times were a lot more hostile toward gay people. Yet in reading your books, it seems clear you never let victimhood become a part of your identity. SD: Because I’ve never felt like a victim. Even if somebody called me a “fag” on the street, I had this weird ability to be un-offendable. I don’t take it personally. I think it’s a big part of being yourself—not being offended by ideas that aren’t worth your attention. I’ve never had any second thoughts about being out. My book celebrates the fearlessness and flamboyance. OUTLOOKS: Speaking of which, you have nearly a whole chapter celebrating the so-called “nellies” among us. SD: It takes a lot of guts to be really nelly! OUTLOOKS: I hear you. But in places like Toronto or New York or Montreal, being yourself is one thing. It can be a lot tougher for people in smaller towns and cities, more conservative places. Is it unfair for them to feel pressured to come out when they might be risking their personal safety? SD: I would never recommend any gay person put himself in jeopardy. I’ve always advocated [for safety]. It’s very hard to be a pioneer in some rural places filled with negativity. Historically, gay people have been able to flourish by moving to a more nurturing place, to the big city, where you’ll probably find a more interesting job anyway. I take my hat off to anybody who tries to change people in a small-town environment. OUTLOOKS: You write in your new book about a time when there were few class differences among gays, that you could mingle with rich and poor in a gay bar. Is that changing as society changes?

SD: There’s classism within the gay community—not to an overwhelming degree. Some queens think other queens are just tackier than they are. But if you’ve got determination, you can get wherever you’d like to go. OUTLOOKS: So if you want to get invited to a Hamptons party, you can? SD: I’m not sure why you’d want to go to a Hamptons party. OUTLOOKS: But, again, do you feel in some ways that as gays are integrated into society at large, they’re somehow losing their identity? SD: In the past, it was common to meet self-hating, gin-soaked Judy Garland freaks who’d been hit to the curb. Now, it’s a new era, with the opportunities to live a life without that kind of self-destruction. But we still live in a society where everyday people are watching football games, where we’re surrounded by hardcore heterosexuality, where gayness is unwelcome. OUTLOOKS: So where do you see things going for gays in the next 25 years? SD: I think it’s impossible to predict. The big picture is pretty great. It’s just amazing. But kids are still persecuting other kids. There are politicians who are unsupportive to gays, and many still stay in the closet. People still use “gay” as a pejorative. The Internet has provided the opportunity for haters to almost pick up the “gay” cudgel and use it against people. OUTLOOKS: How important do you think gay marriage in Canada and its growing support in the U.S. are to overall equality? SD: I think we’ll be truly emancipated when we have the right like everyone else to a truly messy divorce. OUTLOOKS: So if they do a film version of “Gay Men Don’t Get Fat”— SD: Oh [laughs]! OUTLOOKS: Which actor would you like to play you? SD: It would be nice to have a Hilary Swank moment. I think trans is the future! OUTLOOKS: What about Brad Pitt? SD: Brad Pitt could do it, but he’d have to walk around on his knees—I’m rather short.

OUTLOOKS

TRAVEL

26 OUTLOOKS MARCH 2012

ON THE LOOSE, ALMOST, IN THAILAND AN OUTTV HOST SAMPLES BANGKOK’S LUXE LIFE BY SEAN HORLOR

Minyun9260/Dreamstime.com

ecipe for travel disaster: 17 hours in transit + 17 beers + 17 bags of peanuts + two Gravol = arriving in Bangkok disoriented and dead inside—just in time for the worst flood in recent Thai history. The sandbags at the entrance to the luxurious VIE Hotel (www.viehotelbangkok.com) are piled high. Thankfully, though, Bangkok’s downtown core has managed to escape the flood waters. At the front desk, the young woman with guest services gives my boyfriend, Steve, and I elevator eyes—up, down, up, down—and I don’t blame her. People traveling to Thailand often fall into one of three categories: they’re cheap; they’re looking to find themselves; or they’re looking for easy/inexpensive sex. To the clerk at a trendy boutique hotel that’s racking up all sorts of accolades, we no doubt look like all three. I’m pulling a wheeled duffle bag—the latest from what might be called a serial-killer line—into the lobby at 1:36am, and my wallet is stuffed with crumpled-up Thai baht. Not even the bags under my The grandeur of the Grand Palace in Bangkok

eyes are designer. This isn’t how this trip was supposed to start. Bangkok was meant to be the first stop on a quest to reclaim my life. You see, three years ago, I sold my soul to Kim Kardashian in exchange for a private cable reality TV show on OUTtv. It recently became clear to me that in order to get my life back, I would either have to kill my evil Kardashian overlord or travel the world to try to relearn what “reality” and “real life” actually mean. The first step in my year-long plan is simple: Spend a week experiencing the very best in Bangkok to learn what true luxury is all about. “Have you stayed with us before?” the guest-services operative asks. I shake my head. The last time I stayed in a fivestar hotel—no, scratch that. I’ve never stayed in one. Steve thanks her for our key, we roll our way onto an elevator and hit the button for the 17th floor. I should be too tired to care, but the moment we step into our Deluxe Suite, I am all doe-eyed and swoony. The living room is bigger than my entire Vancouver condo. And awaiting us on the coffee table: OUTLOOKS

Steve Adams Steve Adams Tourism Authority of Tthailand

28 OUTLOOKS MARCH 2012

freshly cut dragonfruit and two individually chilled carafes of “pressed” orange juice. And this is my first lesson in fivestar soul searching: Even the most ordinary of oranges is too good for a common squeeze. My second lesson is that Thai whisky goes well with everything, including a good night’s sleep but especially morning hangovers. When we awaken the next day, I find myself asking: What would Kim do? Getting my soul back from her is going to be hard. The street vendors stare at us, and for a moment I feel like a celebrity. But deep inside I know they’re looking at two giant sunburned dollar signs walking around in khaki shorts. Steve suggests we stop at a 7-11 to buy a couple litres of Beer Chang. While drinking them on the street corner—which is a perfectly legal breakfast in Thailand—we decide that Kim would go to see a historical site like the Grand Palace. After all, the only thing better than American royalty is real royalty. To help me on our quest, we take advice from the Tourism Authority of Thailand and use a private car service from Asia World—along with a shy driver and a gay guide, Sam. Some things to keep in mind when you visit monuments and temples: • Gold is hot this year at the Arts of the Kingdom exhibit at the Ananta Samakom Throne Hall. Nothing says “I’m incredibly rich” like solid-gold cutlery. • Thailand is generally very accepting of LGBT-identified people, but public displays of affection by any couple, gay or straight, are considered extremely tacky. • From postage stamps to five-story-high billboards, shrines to the Thai king come in all sizes and shapes; your regard for him should only come in one: supersized. Don’t disrespect the monarchy. On the way back to the hotel, we convince Sam to take us out for a night on the town. First, he suggests we head to the gay bars and clubs in Boys Town, which is the area along Silom Soi 4, Silom Soi 2 and Soi Twilight in the city’s red-light district. Since most tourists only stay in Bangkok for a couple days before heading to a Thai beach, you’ll find a lot of Western thrill-seekers in this part of the city. If you’re looking for the royal treatment, head to Silom Soi 4 and order bottle service on the front patio at Telephone (www.telephonepub.com). This is an easy spot to chat with Thai locals and fellow gay tourists. Although popular gay clubs like DJ Station (www.djstation.com), G.O.D. and the live sex-bars of Soi Twilight are just minutes away, Sam convinces us to visit ICK Club

It’s gold, gold seemingly everywhere in Thailand (top); Bangkok traffic becomes a colourful spectacle for the visitor (middle); a commuter train rises above the automobile thickets (bottom).

Hansar Bangkok Hotel

Juliengrondin/Dreamstime.com

Emil Ginang/Dreamstime.com

(www.ickbkk.com) in the distant Khlong Tan suburb first so he can show us “a real Thai gay bar.” The club is packed with Thai university students, and there are so many lasers that I feel like I’m in a 1990s Jennifer Lopez music video. Although hardly anyone speaks English, including the servers, I don’t feel out of place. ICK Club actually feels like a small-town bar. A quick trip to the washroom proves that there are more blackout rooms than there are urinals, further evidence that Thailand’s legendary reputation as a sex-positive culture is indeed more fact than fiction. When I return, Sam and Steve have six beer bottles in front of them. Sam smiles and says, “Why drink one drink, when you can drink two instead?” Suddenly, Sam’s more-is-more philosophy makes me reconsider my original approach to luxury travel. Steve and I decide right then and there that the only thing more luxurious than staying at one five-star hotel in Bangkok is staying at two five-star hotels. The following morning, we check into the Hansar Bangkok (www.hansarbangkok.com). Sure, its Loft Suites offer floorto-ceiling city splendour and plush sofas that can accommodate hips of all sizes. But my favourite moment of the trip comes at the infinity pool. Some people go to hotel rooms and look beneath their mattresses. Others tuck coins into their sheets or tie strands of hair around a closed shower door. Pool towels are my personal method of measuring hotel quality control, and the towels at the Hansar don’t disappoint. After a quick dip in the pool, I feel guilty and wipe down quickly. The towel is so soft I feel like I’m waterboarding a baby unicorn. On our last day in the city, we visit the Oasis Spa (www. bangkokoasis.com) for one final indulgence. If two hotels are more luxurious than one, then the spa’s signature FourHanded Massage—well, you do the math. No matter how you add it up, it’s a massive orgy of spine-tingling goodness. In the end, this trip taught me that all that glitters isn’t gold—unless you’re in Bangkok. Chasing after a five-star lifestyle reminds me of the elderly Thai man I saw earlier in the week, sleeping in the back of a restaurant beside a rotating fan. Every couple seconds, his body shifted trying to follow the passage of cool air. Spoiling yourself in Thailand can be as simple as an amazing meal or high-fiving some incredibly friendly locals at a Thai-only dance bar in the middle of nowhere. But pressed orange juice, a private car service and the knowledge that at the end of each day I’d be sleeping in gazillion-thread-count sheets sure doesn’t hurt either.

An overload of gold at Bangkok’s Grand Palace (top); the palace gardens lend a grace note to all the eye-popping splendour (middle); luxury of another sort is center stage at the Hansar Bangkok Hotel (bottom).

OUTLOOKS

A WEEKEND ABOVE IT ALL DENVER ABOUNDS WITH ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGHS BY RANDALL SHIRLEY

30 OUTLOOKS MARCH 2012

Randall Shirley

Steve Crecelius/Visit Denver

Curtis Hotel

enver.… The name may conjure up an omelet or a folk singer. But Denver is actually one of America’s most American cities. It’s big, bold and friendly, standing out on the plains (American for prairie) with an unmistakable “noticeme” attitude. Known as the Mile High City because of its elevation, the Colorado capital city and surrounding urban region is home to some 2.5 million people. That means there’s a helluva lot of gays there and plenty to do. Some of the reasons you might visit Denver include exploring the U.S. version of the Rocky Mountains—either in ski or hiking boots—attending its gay rodeo or as an extension to a business trip. But there are many more. Here’s how to fill a long weekend amid its wide-open charms. Thursday afternoon. If you’ve flown in, take a few minutes to marvel at Denver’s dazzling international airport

terminal. Its dramatic roof evokes the peaks of the distant Rocky Mountains. Drive your rental car into the city. Check in at the Curtis, a Doubletree hotel (www.thecurtis.com). I don’t often suggest big American chains in these pages, but the pop-culture themed Curtis is quite special. You sense it the moment you walk past the generally hunky bellmen and into the lobby, where iconic imagery of the 1960s and ’70s—think big floral patterns and hula hoops—blend with a contemporary styling. Once you’ve got your “Open Sesame” room key, be prepared for a laugh in the elevators. Each of the hotel’s floors is cleverly themed, and the elevator announcement matches that theme. When I stayed on the Big Hair Floor, Marge Simpson (or a sound-alike) let me know I’d arrived. Other themes include a sci-fi floor, a TV-mania floor and a “one-hit wonders” floor. The themes are represented by posters and artwork in the hallways; guest rooms are on the upper

Denver Art Museum (previous page) is one of the city’s architectural jewels. (Above, left to right) The Corner Office Restaurant; Denver Performing Arts Complex; 16th Street Mall.

side of standard, with some clever works of art placed in the bathroom. Thursday evening. Dinner is at the hotel’s busy and swanky restaurant, The Corner Office. Order a dish you’re not likely to find in Canada: “low country shrimp+grits.” Let your mouth be happy. Thursday night. The Curtis is across the street from one of Denver’s great accomplishments: the Denver Performing Arts Complex (www.artscomplex. com), which houses multiple venues. Various companies put on the shows— everything from ballet to orchestra to theatre happens there. If you’re keen to see the Broadway mega-hit “The Book of Mormon,” Denver might be the place to do it; the show, with some delightfully OUTLOOKS

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front stairway is Denver’s official mile-high spot. Slightly southwest of the capitol is the Denver Art Museum (www.denverartmuseum.org). Whether you enter or not, one must-see is the exterior of the museum’s newest addition, the Hamilton Building, designed by Daniel Libeskind (who fashioned the striking addition to the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto). The sharp edges of this multi-faceted structure evoke the mountain range that is its distant backdrop. Notable temporary exhibits include “What is Modern,” with furniture and design exploring 200 years of ideas (through October 28), and a look at the work of Yves Saint Laurent, including couture garments and more (March 28 until July 8). Fans of beaux-arts will swoon over the nearby City & County Building. And anyone who loves making money should make a beeline for the stately U.S. Mint, where money is made (tours are offered,

Randall Shirley

Visit Denver

gay tidbits, will play there from August 14 until September 2 of this year. Friday morning. Go for a run or stroll on nearby Cherry Creek trail, as many fit Denverites do. Work up an appetite for breakfast at Sam’s No. 3 Diner, where the pork green chili is amazing and an ingredient in many of the breakfast dishes. Portions are on the large side (it’s America!), so consider sharing (www. samsno3.com). Visit the unique shops and galleries of nearby LoDo and Larimer Square (www. larimersquare.com). A highlight is the locally owned Tattered Cover Bookstore (www.tatteredcover.com). Then burn off the rest of breakfast with a 2km stroll down 16th Street Mall, enjoying some of the eye candy descending from Denver’s high-rise offices for coffee or lunch. When 16th meets Broadway, you’re in for several architectural treats. The golden-domed Colorado capitol building is across the way—the capitol’s

Colorado’s majestic Capitol graces the Rocky Mountain skyline (left); the welcoming mannequin of Geez, Louise (above), where breakfast is filling and fun.

www.usmint.gov). Farther west along Colfax Avenue are the spectacular glass walls of the Lindsey-Flanigan Courthouse. Friday night. You’ve made a late-side reservation at Potager Capitol Hill (www. potagerrestaurant.com). Dinner at this romantic and rustic farm-to-table establishment, where menus change with the seasons, is a pleasurable experience. You wore your cowboy boots to dinner, right? Then you’re headed to Charlie’s, Denver’s venerable country bar (www. charliesdenver.com). Charlie’s attracts a diverse crowd. It’s a large and friendly place with two dance floors—one country, one disco. The country dancing is very popular, and Denver’s gay western crowd

Steve Crecelius/Visit Denver Randall Shirley Randall Shirley Steve Crecelius/Visit Denver

cuts an impressive rug under a cowboyboot-shaped mirror ball. Saturday morning. Drive to Geez Louise (www.geezlouisecoffee.com). En route along Colfax you pass many interesting neon signs, like that of the Bluebird Theater. You’ll know Geez Louise by the mannequin out front; her costumes vary. Inside, fabric banners in multiple colours create a rainbow effect above your head. Order French toast and a latte, and chat up friendly locals. Drive back to the Capitol Hill neighbourhood for a stop at gay-popular Cheesman Park. It’s a great place to stroll. It’s also home to the city’s AIDS Walk and the launch site for the Pride parade. Gardening fans should check out the Denver Botanic Gardens, which are adjacent to the park (www.botanicgardens.org). Saturday afternoon. Lunch is at Biker Jim’s Dogs (www.bikerjimsdogs.com). The beloved doggery has both a sit-down

restaurant and often a stand on 16th Street. The restaurant consistently has the more intriguing menu items, including rattlesnake & pheasant dogs, duck & cilantro dogs, and sinful deep-fried mac ’n cheese. Head to South Broadway for some serious antique shopping (www.antiquerow.com). The area is home to scores of inviting shops. But once you’re shopped out, make your way to a tapas dinner at the place where you’re likely to linger the night away, the remarkable Black Crown Lounge (www.blackcrownlounge.com). At this piano bar, essentially a lovely, antique-filled house, you can wander from room to room and mingle as if a guest at your fabulous uncle’s swish party. Some décor items are tagged for sale. The crowd is extremely diverse, and the musical talent can be exceptional, ranging from a piano player to a snappy quartet. If you’re keen to step out for more

(Clockwise from top left) shopping for books the old-fashioned way at Denver’s legendary Tattered Cover Bookstore; map art at Denver International Airport; youthful energy rules the downtown night; inviting Cheesman Park affords a friendly place for jogs or urban strolling.

nightlife, there are numerous other gay watering holes. The local publication Gayzette (www.gayzette.com) has an excellent map to help you find your way. Sunday morning. Sleep in, have a coffee in bed…maybe even hit the hotel gym before you check out. Call ahead and get your name on the wait list for brunch at gay-popular Racine’s Restaurant (www. racinesrestaurant.com; reservations are taken for parties of six or more). The gingerbread pancake is both an unusual and divine choice. Bid a fond farewell to hip and homey Denver! OUTLOOKS

The Marrying Kind WHEN GAYS TIE THE KNOT, THE POLITICS INVITE THEMSELVES

BY BRYEN DUNN

o wed or not to wed? That is a question that many

gay Canadians have had the option of asking themselves for nearly a decade. Some see marriage as a sign of equality for all, while others see it as bowing to society’s traditional homogeneous heterosexual standards. Few issues seem to more neatly lend themselves to black and white. But support for same-sex unions takes a nuanced turn when it comes to support of the right to marry versus the actual institution of marriage. On one point there can be no disagreement: Same-sex marriage remains a hot-button issue. Barely a week goes by without the topic grabbing headlines. Thousands held their breath in January when—until Justice Minister Rob Nicholson himself clarified matters—it appeared that all foreigners whose samesex marriages had taken place in Canada had suddenly found themselves unwed. To the south, opposition to gay marriage has been an article of faith among Republicans seeking the U.S. presidency. And the durability of wedding vows between gay people is regularly tested as they travel from state to state or country to country. In 2005, Canada joined the Netherlands, Belgium and Spain to become only the fourth country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage nationwide. “The federal law defines who can marry, but rights to property, spousal support and other issues differ from province to province,” notes Michael Battista, a Toronto lawyer specializing in immigration and refugee law who frequently deals with same-sex marriage issues. To date, more than 5,000 of the approximately 15,000 same-sex marriages that have taken place since legalization have involved couples from the U.S. and elsewhere. For those whose countries deny them full rights under the law, the spectre of committed gay couples eschewing marriages could seem a bit baffling. But in living rooms, unlike court34 OUTLOOKS MARCH 2012

rooms, the issue tends to be discussed in more personal terms. “My partner believes marriage is a heterosexual institution and is completely uninterested in getting married,” says Jim Jolly, a registered clinical counsellor with his own practice, Gay Men’s Counselling, in Vancouver. “I’m indifferent, so his opposition is the reason we’ve remained in a common-law situation. We don’t feel we are missing out on anything by not marrying.” Still, like many gays who choose not to get hitched, Jolly is nonetheless supportive of same-sex marriage because “it gives important social support and recognition to gays and lesbians.” Michael Battista and his partner of 14 years exchanged vows seven years ago. “I am married,” Battista declares, “because I wanted a public acknowledgement of the successful relationship which I shared with my partner.” If gay marriage is good for one’s sense of self, some evidence suggests that it may even be good for your health. A study by the American Journal of Public Health indicated that gay men who live in states where same-sex marriage is legal have less stress,

“I do... I

make fewer doctor visits and have lower healthcare costs. For their part, Coman Poon and Brian Smith had at once different and overlapping reservations about the institution of marriage. Recognizing the potential deepening of intimacy through a community ritual, Poon proposed; Smith followed up with his own proposal. In planning their wedding, Poon has been open to everything but a traditional ceremony. Smith, meanwhile, made it clear he didn’t want to elope. “We both assumed that in Canada, the only real legal difference between common-law and marital status essentially boiled down to the ability to share income in tax returns and property rights,” says Poon. “Admittedly, this is an attractive benefit to us, but ultimately not the core reason for our decision.” Joe Andrzejewski, a Toronto project manager who’s unmarried but in a relationship, shares the notion that marriage is a society’s ultimate expression of commitment between two people. “When I look at common-law or partnership agreements,” he says, “ I see them as…a living arrangement, a partnership agreement you’d use in a business arrangement, without emotion, without love and with a clear and expected exit plan.” Because of the hard-won battles and seismic cultural shifts that have attended same-sex marriage, vows exchanged between two men or two women, almost by definition, are an affirmation of equality for all. But the right to make that powerful public statement has jarringly injected politics into matters once the preserve of the heart. Indeed, when Andrew Vail and his partner ended their marriage, the sense of loss took on a larger meaning for the Toronto resident. “The divorce was tinged with a feeling that I had let down the gay community and was now a statistic for same-sex-marriage foes,” recounts Vail, who has a traditional view of matrimony. “I want to have the same right to marry as anyone else has, and feel that other partnerships that are deemed by the law are a sort of tiered plan for relationships. There is a sense of political purpose to same-sex marriage.”

I think.”

Some American gays have gotten on the marriage bandwagon out of frustration or even defiance, asking why they, as taxpayers, shouldn’t be entitled to the same benefits as fellow citizens. Despite the handful of individual states that have approved same-sex marriage, the unions they sanction are not recognized by the federal government. That means gay couples cannot take advantage of the array of benefits provided to heterosexual married couples. In just one example, a CNNMoney analysis indicated that same-sex married couples pay approximately $6,000 more in taxes than heterosexuals, because they can’t file joint federal tax returns. Such disparities have hardly been lost on many in the LGBT community. Ron Ehmke and Don Kreger, of Buffalo, New York, have been together for several years and had been fairly vocal about their lack of interest in marriage. In his capacity as a clerk, Ehmke had been performing weddings for heterosexual couples for nearly a decade—and he was starting to get a bit jealous that he and his partner weren’t themselves allowed to wed. Kreger, who worked for the State of New York, had realized that if he should precede Ehmke in death, there was a chance that Ehmke’s selection as the beneficiary of his retirement benefits could be challenged. Finally, they mutually decided the time had come for them to tie the knot. Because New York State had yet to approve same-sex marriage (that happened last year), they wed north of the border. “I no longer think of same-sex marriage as a sellout into mainstream culture,” says Ehmke, “but view it as an enlargement of that stream by allowing new combinations and permutations.” Ehmke’s change of heart is part of a larger trend within the LGBT community. In a recent survey titled “LGBT2020” by Out Now, an American global gay-market research organization, more than 75 percent of respondents were either in a civil partnership or married—or were hoping to enter into one or the other. A relatively small 15 percent indicated they didn’t intend either, and the remainder was undecided. A recent Gallup poll indicated that for the first time a majority of Americans favour gay marriage. Amid the rightful cries for marriage equality, some voices can go almost unheard. In the rush, some wonder whether enough consideration has been given to the question of whether gays will eventually end up with just one choice for recognition of their life partnerships instead of the current menu of possibilities. It wasn’t long ago, after all, that heterosexuals had only the marriage option, with no such thing as civil unions, domestic partnerships or a formalization of “common law.” As Katherine M. Franke, professor of law and the director of the Center for Gender and Sexuality Law at Columbia Law School, has written: “We shouldn’t be forced to marry to keep the benefits we now have, to earn and keep the respect of our friends and family, and to be seen as good citizens.” OUTLOOKS

NEWS

SPRING

AWAKENING TRIED, TRUE AND TRENDY FOR A NEW SEASON PHOTOGRAPHY BY ADAM WEBSTER STYLING BY CARLTON ELLIS MAKEUP AND GROOMING BY LINDA RADAN MODELS: ROBERT FOR ELMER OLSEN MODEL MANAGEMENT, MATT FOR VELOCCI, STIVER FOR SUTHERLAND MODELS

36 OUTLOOKS MONTH 2011

NEWS

LEATHER JACKET, ZARA SUNGLASSES AND BAG, H&M CHECKED SHIRT, BANANA REPUBLIC WHITE DENIM TROUSERS, CLUB MONACO WATCH, GUESS

NEWS

THE TREND: SHORTS WITH COLOUR ROBERT (LEFT): SUNGLASSES, H&M BELT, VICOMTE A. FLAT-FRONT SHORTS, GAP CLASSIC-FIT SHIRT, BANANA REPUBLIC STIVER (RIGHT): SHOES, PERRY ELLIS BELT, H&M FLAT-FRONT SHORTS, GAP CLASSIC-FIT SHIRT, BANANA REPUBLIC

38 OUTLOOKS MONTH 2011

NEWS

FUNDAMENTALLY NAUTICAL NAVY ZIP JACKET, H&M STRIPED SCOOPED-NECK, ZARA RED TROUSERS, CLUB MONACO WATCH AND NECK TAG, ALDO

OUTLOOKS

NEWS

CHECKS? CHECK! MEDIUM-CHECK TROUSERS, ETRO LARGE CHECKED BAG, PRADA SPRING SCARF, ZARA WHITE LACE-UPS, H&M BROWN LOAFERS, PERRY ELLIS JEANS, DIESEL SMALL-CHECKED BUTTON DOWN, ALEXANDER MCQUEEN JOHN VARVATOS COAT – FIROZ (BAG, TROUSERS AND SHIRT AVAILABLE AT HOLT RENFREW TAILORED WAX SUIT – FIROZ VIVIENNE WEST WOOD DRESS SHIRT – FIROZ STORES ACROSS CANADA)

40 OUTLOOKS MONTH 2011

NEWS

THE TREND: PLAID. THE CLASSIC: BROWN LOAFERS SHORTS AND PLAID SHIRT, RALPH LAUREN (AVAILABLE AT HOLT RENFREW STORES ACROSS CANADA) SUEDE SHOES, PERRY ELLIS LEATHER WRIST BAND, H&M

OUTLOOKS

NEWS

THE TREND: MAGENTA. THE CLASSIC: DENIM SHIRT STIVER (LEFT): LIGHT-WASH DENIM SHIRT, GAP DARK JEANS, GUESS LEATHER WRISTBAND, H&M ROBERT (RIGHT): SPRING JACKET, DOLCE & GABBANA (AVAILABLE AT HOLT RENFREW STORES ACROSS CANADA) JEANS AND BELT, LEVI’S

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NEWS

THE FUNDAMENTALS: LIGHTWEIGHT JACKET, SEERSUCKER TROUSERS LEATHER JACKET, ZARA D-RING BELT, H&M YELLOW T-SHIRT, GAP SEERSUCKER TROUSERS, CLUB MONACO SHOES, SPERRY TOPSIDER WATCH, ESQUIRE

OUTLOOKS

ART_&_CULTURE

Framed: James Galts-Goldsmith AN ARTIST WHO FINDS HIS WAY FOLLOWING HIS FANCY

44 OUTLOOKS MARCH 2012

or James Galts-Goldsmith, art is, well, everything. His 30-plus-year career has seen him create paintings and sculptural pieces that range from under an ounce to thousands of pounds. After starting at craft fairs and a couple of small shops, Galts-Goldsmith decided to open a shop and an art studio in his home in 1988. He learned, however, that local laws required him to obtain a busi-

ness permit for his property and, further, barred any exterior signage. It dawned on him that residents are allowed to put their family name on their houses, and so the sign went up: Galts-Goldsmith. “There was nothing the city could do about it,” the Calgary artist will tell you proudly. “And that same sign is still there today.” When the shop/studio opened, GaltsGoldsmith was gaining attention as a gifted stone sculptor. So great was his success in stone that in one year alone

ART_&_CULTURE

he had 17 exhibitions. Today, there are six of his “monumental-sized” sculptures throughout the city of Calgary. Not surprising, he is co-founder of the Stone Sculptors Guild of North America. “I think my work evolved over time partly because of interests in new media, as well as the fact that the stone was becoming ever increasingly too heavy to work with,” says Galts-Goldsmith. “I was always a painter, but more and more of my work was moving to the canvas.” While the artist is no stranger to the whimsical and surreal, abstract expressionism has only been on his easel for the past few years. “Compared to the surreal

work, I thought abstract would be much easier—not as detailed or time-consuming—boy, was I wrong,” he says laughingly. “But I am really enjoying working with heavier paints and the layering of pieces for texture, depth and reflective light.” In other words, a commission from Galts-Goldsmith just might have a little bit of this…some of that…and, most definitely, a few of those, too…

—BRETT TAYLOR www.galtsgoldsmith.com

The artist: James Galts-Goldsmith

OUTLOOKS

SNAPSHOT

Wedding Bells

WeddingCollectibles.com

he calendar said it was still winter, but a massive thaw had begun. Eight years ago this month, on March 19, 2004, the Quebec Court of Appeal ruled that gays were entitled to marry in the province. Courts in BC and Ontario had already made similar rulings, setting the stage for the House of Commons’ historic passage of a same-sex marriage bill the following year (and expanding business opportunities for companies like La Miranda, California’s Wedding Collectibles, which crafted the cake topper on this page). While there may never be agreement among gays on whether to marry (see story on page 34), no one who treasures personal freedom would argue with everyone’s right to decide for himself.

46 OUTLOOKS MARCH 2012

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