D EC 2 0 1 1 - JAN 2012
SETTING THE GAY EXAMPLE
COPING WITH FAMILY OVER THE HOLIDAYS
QUEER HISTORY PRESERVED
RECOGNITION FOR PIVOTAL ACHIEVEMENTS
BANKING ON YOUR IMAGE
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MASTHEAD
PUBLISHER PATRICIA SALIB EDITOR IN CHIEF BRETT TAYLOR CREATIVE MARKETING DIRECTOR NELSON TOMÉ TRAVEL EDITOR RANDALL SHIRLEY FASHION DIRECTOR LEN MASTALER DESIGN PULP & FIBER ASSOCIATE DESIGNERS NICOLÁS TALLARICO, JENNY WATSON PRODUCTION COORDINATOR JARA SOLIS ADVERTISING & OTHER INQUIRIES (416) 792 – 2400 EDITORIAL INQUIRIES (403) 984 - 9402 BTAYLOR@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 PROJECT COORDINATOR JARA SOLIS
CONTRIBUTORS ADAM RILEY, JODY BOYNTON, DEREK DOTTO, JACE COLBERT, BRETT TAYLOR, MICHAEL PIHACH, RANDALL SHIRLEY, BRYEN DUNN, SONIA NORRIS, DR. KEVIN ALDERSON, GEO PETRUCCI, WENDY SEXSMITH, ROB FRENETTE, JEFFERY STRAKER, MARK MCEWAN, DENNI DANIELI-POLLONI, JESSICA PECHET, JENNIE LYLE, MARISSA @ I MODEL ARTIST ON THE COVER RENATO @ I MODEL MANAGEMENT
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 DEC 2011-JAN 2012
TABLE_OF_CONTENTS
01.12.11 | ISSUE 196
LIFESTYLE
TRAVEL
FASHION
08 | BULLETIN 360° International Gay News that Matters
27 | A LESS DISCOVERED ITALY Under a Veneto Sun
17 | THE BREAKDOWN Rat Pack Tux – Keep it Cool, Like Frank
11 | SETTING THE GAY EXAMPLE Coping with Family Over the Holidays
33 | THE GAY BUFFALO WEEKEND Beyond Cheap Shopping
18 | THE HISTORY OF… GLOVES From Function to Fashion and Back Again
12 | KEEPING FIT OVER THE HOLIDAYS It Just Takes a Little Improvisation
FEATURES
43 | BANKING ON YOUR IMAGE Looking Smart, Suave, Sophisticated
20 | HAIRSTYLES FOR BALDING MEN Looking Stylish When Your Hair is Leaving
39 | STOPPING BULLYING ACROSS THE COUNTRY? Bullying Canada – a Safe Place for Kids
ART+ CULTURE
21 | 2012 AND BEYOND Trends in Computers and Mobile Devices
40 | QUEER HISTORY PRESERVED Recognition for Pivotal Achievements
50 | FRAMED: WENDY SEXSMITH Challenging Social Norms
50 WENDY SEXSMITH
43 BANKING ON YOUR IMAGE
HONG KONG STYLE PORK RIBS P. 23
15 COUCH TALK
OUTLOOKS
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EDITORS_NOTE
A Second “New Beginning”
H
ere we are, all too quickly, once again at the end of another year. As that old cliché goes, out with the old, in with the new. And although I never really thought too much about this “close a door and open a window” type of philosophy before, this year it seems to have caught up with me and is ringing true to its words. When the magazine changed hands and head office locations back in the spring of this year, I had agreed to stay on as Editor in Chief to the end of the year at the very least. Maybe it was the amount of work that was required that made those eight months fly by in what seems like a matter of weeks; or maybe it was the excitement of working with the new writers and their endless flow of ideas for some great editorial. Regardless, the months have passed too quickly and before I knew it, it was time for me to consider my next steps. So after a great deal of consideration I have decided that this issue will be my last as Editor in Chief. My commitment is complete, and the magazine is on very solid ground, so I am able to turn my attention towards other opportunities that have been on the back burner for quite some time. My predecessor Roy Heale, regardless of how he was perceived by many towards the end of his tenure, has to be given credit for having the nerve — of all things in 1997 — to start a national gay publication, and from – of all places — redneck Calgary! Outlooks was still a tabloid newspaper when I took over as Editor. I steadily began the process of shaping the publication towards becoming a lifestyle magazine that gay men could be proud to have on their coffee table when mom or grandma came to visit. There was a lessening of the depiction of the typical stereotypes that still haunt our community in mainstream media today, and — at the same time — a reduced focus on blatant sex. My belief was that there
was enough of that out there already and that the gay community wanted and, hopefully, even expected more quality. The research and gut feeling paid off as the launch of the glossy magazine format was met with great approval across the country. Another objective was to keep the magazine as Canadian as possible. I am pleased that, during my term, we ran with between 95-100 percent original content — written by gay and lesbian Canadians. That objective remains a key component of Outlooks today… and will be in the future. There were, and still are, many great gay Canadians that have messages and stories to tell, and even more great gay writers to tell them. Outlooks was proud to present the series by David King — “Canadian Trailblazers.” It was a series that allowed us to present and promote positive role models of, and for, the gay community —role models from all walks of life and disciplines. Under our Travel Editor Randall Shirley, the magazine began to provide original “fresh” travel experiences — both international and domestic — and will continue to do so in the coming years. It was also just in the last few years that we made a conscious decision to focus on fashion. Thanks to the amazing style direction of Len Mastaler, the monthly feature is now a key component of each issue. As for my monthly columns over the years, for the most part, I have attempted to speak to the issues of the day and to suggest opportunities for readers to get engaged and participate in their own home communities. My belief is that, as editors, our columns need to be more about a call to action than about our personal lives, partners and pets. The new format and content is beginning to gel and Outlooks continues to solidify its position as Canada’s premier national gay lifestyle magazine. I believe that the best is still yet to come for Outlooks and the
new Toronto team is dedicated to making that happen. At the time of this writing, there are some truly awesome candidates vying for my position (although the seat isn’t even cold yet), so 2012 promises to be an exciting second “new beginning” for the magazine. I will not be totally abandoning Outlooks either, as I will be working on a number of special projects and initiatives throughout 2012. So, for now at least… Cheers! All the best! And one last time… that’s the way I see it anyways.
Brett Taylor Editor In Chief
NEWS
Bulletin 360°
ANTI SAME-SEX MARRIAGE BILL REINTRODUCED TO NIGERIAN PARLIAMENT
RUSSIAN GAY ACTIVIST NIKOLAI ALEKSEEV RESIGNS
region of northwest Russia. “The cartoon pictures the coat of arm of Arkhangelskaya Oblast, but in ‘inverse’ manner: not Archangel kills the Devil by a sword, but instead, the Devil personifying homophobia, kills the Archangel.”
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EUROPE WELCOMES THE ADOPTION OF A GROUNDBREAKING EU ASYLUM DIRECTIVE On October 27, the European Parliament adopted a revised version of its rules on asylum claims. The new directive recognizes gender identity for the first time as grounds on which individuals can claim asylum in the EU. It also updates the concept of gender reassignment to a stand-alone concept.
8 OUTLOOKS DEC 2011-JAN 2012
Nikolai Alekseev, Russia’s highest-profile LGBT activist, has resigned from the GayRussia website and as chief organizer of Moscow Pride. In a message on Twitter and Facebook, he wrote: “Dear friends, today on 21 October, the oneyear anniversary of the European Court of Human Rights verdict in the case of illegality of Moscow Pride bans, I decided to resign from the positions of the head of Russian LGBT Human Rights Project GayRussia.Ru and head of Moscow Pride Organizing Committee.” The resignation comes as the Russian nationalist movement Narodnyi Sobor (“People’s Council”) is seeking to have the website charged with “humiliation of dignity and insult of feelings of Christians” for printing a “blasphemous” cartoon. According to Russia.ru, the cartoon was in response to a ban on homosexual “propaganda” in the Arkhangelskaya Oblast
BELARUSIAN ACTIVIST CLAIMS HE WAS FIRED FOR BEING GAY
“This case shows how bad the situation of homosexuals is in a country where even members of international companies who are open about non-discrimination on any grounds, cannot accept a homosexual in a team,” he told Gayby.net.
EU Gay
Linda Ikeji
The Nigerian parliament is once again dealing with a bill that criminalizes not only samesex marriage, but even aiding or witnessing such a marriage. This is the third attempt to pass the legislation in Nigeria. Similar bills, believed to be a product of the Christian right, were introduced to the Nigerian Parliament in 2006 and 2008, but were not passed before the parliamentary terms expired.
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Mr. Poluyan said he was called into his boss’ office and told that his resignation letter had been written for him. He pointed out that the company has a corporate diversity policy that included sexuality.
Gay activist Alexander Poluyan has been effectively fired by the Belarusian subsidiary of British American Tobacco because he is gay, reports Gayby. net. Mr. Poluyan, aged 26, was employed by the company as a manager in the company’s department of corporate affairs in Minsk. He told Gayby.net that the reason for his dismissal was because he was gay — a fact that he has never hidden. “I have never concealed my sexual orientation,” he told the website. “I did nothing wrong and I performed all my duties. The only explanation for why this could have happen is that my boss found out I am gay, and actively work in the LGBT community in my spare time.”
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THREE MEN ARRESTED IN CYPRUS ON “GAY” CHARGES — MEPS DEMAND THEIR RELEASE
Michael Sarris
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GayRussia
1
Members of the European Parliament have called for the immediate release of three men arrested at a private home in the Turkish-occupied northern part of Cyprus. Former Cyprus Finance Minister Dr. Michael Sarris, and two other men above the age of consent may face charges under Article 171, Chapter 154 of the Criminal Code imposed on the northern part
of Cyprus. The men are charged with “conspiring to have a sexual intercourse against the order of nature.” Cypriot Members of the European Parliament Eleni Theocharous and Ioannis Kasoulides have called for the immediate release of the three men. “These arrests are in full breach of international law and the human right to private life,” the MEPs said in a joint statement sent to UK Gay News. “Charging them is illegal under human rights law, denies their most basic rights, and is wholly unnecessary as no harm was done. Consenting adults have the right to engage in sexual intercourse with people of the same sex, these men must be freed now.”
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GLASGOW CITY COUNCIL BACKS PROPOSALS FOR SAMESEX MARRIAGE Councillors in Glasgow are supporting a proposal by the Scottish government to allow same-sex marriage. The motion, proposed by Councillor Alex Dingwall, was agreed unanimously at a meeting of the full council on October 27. Glasgow is believed to be the first council in Scotland to back the proposals.
NEWS
The first openly gay former NBA player homophobia is a major problem in British sport, especially soccer, that is largely ignored. According to the Associated Press, Jhon Amaechi, a former player for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic and Utah Jazz said, “In sport there are institutions, especially in Britain, that haven’t changed in 100 years and need to.” Referring specifically to soccer, Amaechi said, “If you compare their emphasis on racism to what they’ve done on homophobia it’s an embarrassment.” Amaechi made his remarks after receiving the Order of the British Empire for services to sport and the voluntary sector from the Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace.
“I’ll tell you right now, if there was a gay fighter in UFC, I wish he would come out,” White told a press conference in October. “I could care less if there’s a gay fighter in the UFC. There probably is and there’s probably more than one.”
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DANISH GAY RIGHTS CAMPAIGNER AXEL AXGIL DIES
Axel Axgil, a pioneer in the struggle for gay rights who helped make Denmark the first country to legalise same-sex partnerships, has died at 96. Danish gay rights group LGBT Danmark said Axgil had died in a hospital in Copenhagen
In the 1950s, both were sent to prison for running a gay modeling agency that put out pictures of naked men. The men combined their first names into a new surname, Axgil, in an act of defiance. Eigil Axgil died in 1995.
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SCOTTISH CONSERVATIVES ELECT GAY LEADER
A lesbian has been elected leader of Scotland’s Conservative party. Ruth Davidson, 32, is widely seen as a favourite of British Prime Minister David Cameron. Davidson easily defeated three other candidates to take the leadership of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Conservative Party officials in London are hoping that Davidson, who was the youngest of the four candidates, will help the party to appeal to Scottish voters, who have been faltering in their support for the Tories.
SENATE PANEL ADVANCES GAY JUDICIAL NOMINEE
California Justice
In 1989, he and his partner, Eigil, were one of 11 couples who exchanged vows to mark Denmark becoming the first country in the world to allow gay people to enter into civil unions.
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be fired. According to university president Don Dowless, signing the statement will also commit employees to rejecting premarital sex and adultery.
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A Senate committee has unanimously approved a judicial nominee who could become the fourth openly gay person to sit on the federal bench. Michael Walter Fitzgerald, who was nominated by President Obama in July, was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee on November 3 as part of a group of nominees. Fitzgerald now has to be approved by the entire Senate. He is the fourth out nominee chosen by the White House. If confirmed, he would take a seat on the US District Court for the Central District of California. He would be the first openly gay federal judge in the state.
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CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY ASKS STAFF TO SIGN “NOT GAY” FORM A Christian university in Rome, Georgia is demanding that each of its 200 employees sign a Personal Lifestyle Statement, attesting to the fact that they’re not gay. Anyone at Shorter University who refuses to sign the statement could
NEW TUNISIAN GOVERNMENT PROMISES “DIGNITY” FOR GAYS
UN Tunisia
Dana White, the president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, says he would support any openly gay fighters in his organization. He says gay fighters in the UFC should come out of the closet.
after complications from a fall. Born Axel Lundahl-Madsen, Axgil helped found the group in 1948.
Unionist Party
GayUK
FIRST OPENLY GAY FORMER NBA PLAYER SAYS ANTI-GAY SENTIMENT IS BIG PROBLEM IN UK SPORT
UFC PRESIDENT SAYS GAY FIGHTERS SHOULD COME OUT
UFC
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Axel Axgil
“I’m immensely happy that today Glasgow has continued our city’s proud record of opposing discrimination in all its forms and unanimously supporting the campaign for marriage equality,” said Dingwall in a statement.
The victory of Tunisia’s Islamist party in the country’s first free vote since the overthrow of president Ben Ali has sparked concerns for gay rights in the country. But Ennahda party spokesman Riad Chaibi told Spanish news agency EFE that the party intends to respect individual freedoms, adding that being gay is “a matter of dignity.” Chaibi, who spent five years in prison for opposition to Ben Ali, said that in Tunisia “individual freedoms and human rights are enshrined principles” and that atheists and homosexuals “have a right to exist.” According to EFE, Chaibi added that, in the case of homosexuals, there is also “a matter of dignity, because society sees them as undervalued.” — ADAM RILEY
OUTLOOKS
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WELLNESS
Setting the Gay Example COPING WITH FAMILY OVER THE HOLIDAYS CAN BE INCREDIBLY STRESSFUL, BUT IT CAN ALSO BE AN OPPORTUNITY
Out Imapct
H
olidays can be stressful even at the best of times. But holidays with the family can be a whole new world of pressure. Even if you’re out to your parents and siblings, dealing with extended family gatherings can be like going through that process all over again. But it can also be an opportunity. We can look upon this with dread and try and avoid these situations entirely or we can look at this as a chance to show people who we really are. Truth is, many folks outside the urban cores may never have had the chance to talk to an actual out gay or lesbian. The only exposure they may knowingly have had to anything not straight is what they may have seen on TV. I had it easy, I didn’t come out so much as bring the same guy to my small-town home two Christmases in a row. I didn’t know how to tell my parents, but I knew that I didn’t want to pretend to be something I wasn’t, or to lie to those I loved any more, or lie to myself. It was scary, it was risky, but I believed the bond and love I had with my parents would be strong enough to get through it. In the end, all my mom said was “Did you think we’d mind?” If we want acceptance, we have to accept who we are. If we are uptight, or try to play it straight, it gives the idea that there must be something wrong with being gay. If instead, we are relaxed, honest and matter of fact about it, it makes it easier for others to accept us. No-one can make us feel inferior without our consent. Every gay person that is living out their lives has the chance to be a good example. So if you find yourself in unfamiliar territory this season, think before you act. Some tips: Be realistic. We are often most disappointed when we place expectations on others. Chances are, few of us will have a
Norman Rockwell family holiday. Don’t try and put the moves on anyone and leave the sexual humor for your closer friends. If it’s part of your shtick — tone it down. Granny doesn’t need to hear sex jokes! It’s great to be loud and proud, but a rainbow T-shirt and chaps are not appropriate dinner attire. Think classy, not shock value, when it comes to wardrobe. Watch the booze. Many a battle has been started after a few too many eggnogs. And steer clear of belligerent blabbermouths. If you have a partner and sleeping arrangements are making people uncomfortable, offer to stay in a hotel if you can afford it. Hotel sex is great anyway! Try and focus on your commonalities instead of the differences, accept things for how they are and try and set aside grievances for a more appropriate time. One couple I know went on a cruise and ended up sharing their nightly dining table with a religious fundamentalist couple. My
friends were just themselves: entertaining, open, real, genuine. They didn’t hide the fact they were a couple but were respectful of their environment. In fact, that fundamentalist couple enjoyed their company so much they came back to join them every night to dine. In the end the man said that they had changed their minds about gays. If we set a good example, we may let others — who may not be so comfortable with their sexuality — know that it’s all okay, and inspire them to live their lives. At the same time, we can let the rest of society see that we really are no different. We don’t have to conform to society’s ideals to be a good gay. It’s all about being genuine. If we could only all just be confident in ourselves, while still respecting the views of others, it just may be easier than we think. It’s the same thing we want from others — acceptance and respect in spite of our differences.
— JODY BOYNTON OUTLOOKS
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Fairmont Hotels
FITNESS
Keeping Fit Over the Holidays JUST BECAUSE YOU’RE TRAVELLING DOESN’T MEAN YOU HAVE TO LET YOUR WORKOUTS LAPSE. IT JUST TAKES A LITTLE IMPROVISATION.
L
ucky you! You’re going away for the holidays, but what about your workouts? Travelling is stressful, usually busy, and who wants to spend an hour and a half in a crappy hotel gym?
12 OUTLOOKS DEC 2011-JAN 2012
But whether you’re just going to visit your relatives or to an island resort, you don’t have to leave the workouts behind. It’s all too easy to say you’ll pick it up after your trip, but that just might be the worst idea you could have. Consistency is what helps most of us function. And working out is often the best thing you can do to ensure that you enjoy your holiday as much as possible. Exercise is the easiest and most effective way to counter the many problems that can come with travel. SLEEP — Travel affects sleep in all sorts of ways, with lumpy beds, flat pillows, new surroundings, noises and time changes. Exercise helps achieve deeper, more restful sleep.
STRESS — When we’re out of our element, all of us experience some type of stress. Exercise is a great stress-buster. WEIGHT GAIN — More down time, more booze, richer and less healthy foods all lead to holiday bloat. By maintaining your fitness, you can keep that metabolism revved up and help your body burn those extra calories. EMOTIONAL ISSUES — Holiday blues, depression, loneliness, anxiety: travelling can bring on all of these. A good workout can reduce anxiety, improve moods, release some of those feel-good brain chemicals and give us a sense of control at a time when we are usually on someone else’s schedule.
FITNESS
Johnathan Fields
ILLNESS — How often after hitting the airport or large family gatherings do you end up with the sniffles? Winter is a great time to get sick, but exercise boosts your immunity, helping you fend off a cold that may have otherwise taken over. Studies have shown that, for a couple of weeks, you can reduce the amount of time you exercise and even the number of times per week, if you maintain the intensity of your workout. So if you’re away this season, even if you work out three times a week for only 20 minutes a time, as long you match your usual intensity, you won’t have to worry about catching up when you get back home. You can do this workout anywhere; you don’t need a lot of space or any equip-
YOU CAN DO THIS WORKOUT ANYWHERE; YOU DON’T NEED A LOT OF SPACE OR ANY EQUIPMENT, JUST SOME EFFORT AND 20 MINUTES OF YOUR TIME. ment, just some effort and 20 minutes of your time. These few exercises can be repeated in a circuit as many times as you can in 20 minutes. Set the timer on your phone and get going! If you need a rest between sets, adopt a plank posture. JUMPING JACKS — (30 seconds) If you’re in your old bedroom with the squeaky floorboards you may want to skip this one as it’ll sound like your college dorm room, or you’ll end up knocking the plaster below into the dining room. Try marching in place for 60 seconds instead. LUNGE — (12-15 each leg) These can be done forwards and/or backwards, just remember the front foot always is the one in charge, and the back foot is just your rudder for balance. If you have a large room or a hallway you can do walking lunges or you can do a stationary lunge. Take a long step forward and let the back knee drop down. The front shin should be
perpendicular to the floor and the knee should not go over the toe. If you are doing moving lunges, push front foot into the floor and pull yourself forward. If you are doing a stationary lunge, push off the front heel back to a standing position. Rear lunges are similar, as you take a step backwards, the front foot is still in charge. For moving lunges, push off front foot to standing, and repeat. For stationary lunges, push front foot into the floor, and pull yourself forward to standing. PUSH-UPS — (as many as possible) You get out of these what you put into them. If you’re hardcore, try putting your feet on a chair or the bed, so you have more of your body weight over your hands. Keeping your shoulders square and torso flat, bend elbows and bring your face towards the floor. If your pushup resembles more of a floor dry-hump, try pushing up from the knees, or from standing with hands on a sturdy counter so that less of your body weight is over your hands. To target your chest like nor-
mal pushups, focus on pulling the insides of your hands together (not moving your hands, just pulling inwards to create tension). To make a push-up a back exercise, reverse that, and make the focus on pushing outwards as you move through your range of motion. FLOOR GLUTE BRIDGE — (15-20 reps) Laying on the floor face-up, place your feet on a bed or chair, with knees at a 90-degree angle. Push into your feet, focusing on your glutes and hamstrings till your thighs are even with your hips and abdomen. Squeeze glutes and hamstrings for one second and lower yourself down. Do not throw your hips upwards, it’s all about how you push through your feet. To make it more difficult, extend one leg and keep the knees at the same level with the hips square, and repeat with the other foot.
— JODY BOYNTON
OUTLOOKS
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Kevin Alderson
LIFEST YLE
Couch Talk A FAREWELL COLUMN LOOKS BACK AND LOOKS AHEAD
A
s I write this, my final column for Outlooks, I think of the first time I wrote for the magazine, way back in February of 2009. That column explored masturbation. It truly rubbed me the right way (ahem), and I have kept rubbing (I mean writing) since. Seriously, though, writing a column has been richly rewarding. At times, I have had someone ask, “Are you the one who writes for Outlooks?” I delay answering until I find out if they like my column or hate it. After all, I’ve heard that even some meteorologists have been beaten after giving a horrible weather forecast! The good news as I leave is I would say the forecast for the queer community is the best it has ever been in Canada. I remember back on July 20, 2005, sitting in a Calgary gay bar when it was announced that samesex marriage had become law. Strangely, I felt little reaction at the time, despite having co-authored a book about it that sent me on the most incredible media journey
of my life! I was completely blasé about the news, as though I was hearing about the price of cattle in Alberta. Since, however, I have celebrated our right to get married and continue to do so each day I look into the eyes of my husband. I know that marriage changed our sense of commitment to each other, and evened the legal playing field for the rest of my life. But things are definitely not all rosy. In 2001, I published the book Beyond Coming Out, which told the stories of 16 gay men and one gay adolescent in Alberta. These were painful stories of homophobia, heterosexism and oppression. Sadly, we still hear such stories, most recently and tragically in the story of 15-year-old Ottawa high school student Jamie Hubley who in October took his own life. Why? Why have we not stopped bullying? I see ads on television about bullying with celebrities voicing their concerns, I read numerous media reports and I know researchers around the world are doing studies and creating effective anti-bullying programs. Why did Jamie have to die? It seems that while we have full legal rights as gay and lesbian Canadians, not everyone has caught on that we are actually equal. Some people really need common sense knocked into their stupid heads! I have tried to bring you some of that
common sense over the past six years, backed up with empirical research so that you knew it wasn’t simply my opinion. I spoke to you as a psychologist, as a professor and as an expert (aside from my twisted sense of humour, that is!). As for my future, it seems that as my career proceeds, more writing opportunities are emerging. As I sit here now, I have to write the second edition of Breaking Out, a book released in 2002 that was focused on helping gay men and lesbians develop positive identities. When I could no longer find copies for my students, I knew I had accomplished my goal: to educate and inform. The next edition, Breaking Out II, will be inclusive of our queer community. There will be chapters dedicated specifically to bisexual, transsexual and intersex individuals. It will be out in early winter 2012, and around April, keep your eyes open for a huge book launch party! You are invited, by the way. I hope I have taught you well. Many best wishes and if you ever see me out and about, say hello and smile. I respond well to that.
— DR. KEVIN ALDERSON
OUTLOOKS
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ST YLE
The Breakdown KEEP IT COOL, LIKE FRANK Nobody did black tie better than Mr. Frank Sinatra. When dressing for a formal holiday shindig, look to Ol’ Blue Eyes for inspiration. Don’t beg for attention. The Rat Pack was all about understated elegance, even at the flashiest Las Vegas party. A basic black tux with a peak lapel — generous but not oversized — will do just fine. Traditional patent leather lace-ups add a hint of class. And for a little extra flare, just so things don’t get too tame, introduce a coloured pocket square, or better yet, pop a red carnation in your lapel à la Guys and Dolls. — DEREK DOTTO
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1. Black tux with peak lapel by Isaia at Harry Rosen $3,998
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2. Shirt with covered button placket by Surface to Air $225 3. Black bowtie by Braemore Neckwear at The Bay $45 4. Suspenders with leather detail by Zara $25.90 5. Solid silver knot cufflinks by Harry Rosen $155 6. Patent leather shoes by Salvatore Ferragamo at Harry Rosen $650
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Gio Petrucci
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OUTLOOKS
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ST YLE
The History of… Gloves FROM FUNCTION TO FASHION AND BACK AGAIN, GLOVES HAVE EXPERIENCED A ROLLER-COASTER OF RELEVANCE IN THEIR LONG HISTORY. — DEREK DOTTO
1630s Charles I’s court adopts a more restrained mode of dress. Thus, gloves become simpler in design, boasting more modest embellishments. This trend continues through the 18th century.
AD 500s
Early 1800s Gloves reach a new level of sobriety, despite becoming an absolute necessity in one’s wardrobe. Women’s styles lengthen above the elbow, embroidered and printed with feminine designs, while men’s shorten to the wrist, becoming unremarkably plain.
Victoria and Albert Museum
Kenneth Garret Photography
In medieval times, leather and cloth gloves, even metal gauntlets, are worn by knights and lords who, upon an offense, would throw them at another man’s feet, challenging him to a duel.
1300s BC Egyptian royalty wears the earliest incarnation of gloves, using cloth hand coverings while eating to avoid staining one’s hands.
1500s
1834
A favourite accessory of Queen Elizabeth I, elaborate gloves enter the world of fashion. Bejeweled, embroidered and perfumed gloves become a must-have in the wardrobe of any respectable nobleman or woman.
French master glover Xavier Jouvin establishes glove sizes and cutting methods, revolutionizing the trade.
800s BC
Euge Çne Delacroix
In Homer’s Odyssey, Laertes, father of Odysseus, is said to have worn gloves in the garden to avoid the brambles. There is some debate over the translation of this text.
Guilds of glovers, or gantiers, begin to form, making top-quality gloves out of animal skins and furs.
18 OUTLOOKS DEC 2011-JAN 2012
Daniël Mijtens
1200s
ST YLE
Today
War rationing takes its toll on the glove industry, cutting women’s long gloves short. The accessory would never regain the popularity it had during pre-war times.
Gloves rarely get the attention they once enjoyed, remaining an accessory of function. Leather and cloth gloves can be found in a variety of styles, typically reaching no further than an inch past the wrist.
Paramount Pictures
1940s
William Strang
1960s
Early 1900s
1950s
Gloves see a major decline in popularity, increasingly reserved for formal functions.
The golden age of automobiles sees the driving glove enter pop culture. The short, knuckle-baring accessory is a sign of luxury and leisure.
Billboard.com
The mod era ushers in a cropped glove. White is the colour of choice for go-go dancing women.
1961 Long, opera-style gloves enjoy a brief moment in the spotlight, worn by Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
1930s
1983 Michael Jackson debuts his iconic moonwalk, wearing a rhinestone-studded golf glove. In 2009, it would sell at auction for US$350,000.
Men’s attitudes toward gloves reach what they are today. The accessory is regarded as a practical item only used to protect the hands from the elements and, on the rarest occasion, worn formally
Andres Courreges
1970s Fabric and knitted gloves gain popularity with complex and flamboyant designs appealing to both hippies and the fashion conscious.
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GROOMING
Hairstyles for Balding Men HOW TO KEEP LOOKING STYLISH WHEN YOUR HAIR IS LEAVING YOU So you’re going bald. Join the club… and I don’t mean The Hair Club for Men. You can still look good if you know the best hairstyles to choose… and which ones to avoid at all costs. It’s a “gene thing” and it happens to the best of us at some point in our lives. Yet many guys fear their balding as if it sends a message to the world that there is something wrong with them. It’s obviously that fear that explains why millions of dollars are spent by men on hair-loss products. But you’re not Samson… your power will not disappear as the follicles do. So if you’re finally tired of paying for hair-loss products or have realized that there isn’t a hat for every occasion, you need to cut whatever hair you have left and start owning your baldness. Some hairstyles for men, like keeping it short and well-groomed, are actually very sexy; others, like combing it over in that futile attempt to look like you have more hair than you really do aren’t a good look for anyone. So here are some basic going-bald hairstyle dos and don’ts so you can look your best no matter how much your ancestry has stripped you of your full flowing locks.
DON’T: THE COMBOVER
No matter how old, or young, you are — this is not an option. You’re not fooling anyone, pal. Donald Trump is probably the most famous example of this offense (though his combover is so extreme we almost have to respect him for it), but plenty of regular guys still do it too. Men with combovers just look silly and are also one gust of wind away from looking like their head just blew up.
head and face play a definite part in it, so don’t just assume because you’re balding that this is the best option for you. Ask your stylist. DO: THE TEXTURED CROP
For guys with thinning hair up front but abundance on the sides and back, the textured crop haircut is one of the better overall options. Again, it’s all about blending what hair you have left with the hair you’re losing by cutting uneven layers. It’s a favorite hairstyle for Jude Law, Brad Pitt and Casey Affleck to name a few.
DO: THE MILITARY-STYLE FLAT TOP
Keeping it short draws less attention to bald spots and blends thinning hair in with the rest. This creates an illusion that you’ve got more hair than you actually do. And let’s face it: on most men a military cut is very sexy as well. This is a strong style for your typical inshape 6’, 185lb guy.
DO: THE BUZZ CUT
The buzz cut can be your best friend when your hair is thinning or bald spots are sprouting up, especially if you’re gaining a taller forehead day-by-day. It’s not quite shaved — there’s a tiny layer of hair left on the scalp — and it helps hide any glaring bald spots and skin discolorations by keeping it one length. Jason Stratham is a guy who wears this hairstyle well.
DO AND DON’T: THE SHAVED HEAD
Samuel L. Jackson and Bruce Willis all look great with shaved heads. It can make a guy look more dominant, give him presence, and shave years off how old he looks — but it doesn’t automatically work for everyone. The size and shape of your
20 OUTLOOKS DEC 2011-JAN 2012
At the very least, maintain what’s left. It’ll make you look less like you’re afraid to embrace the obvious — you may have won a few battles in life, but you’re cool with losing this one. — JACE COLBERT
FOOD_&_DRINK
Hong Kong Style Pork Ribs
MARK MCEWAN
Mark McEwan
A VIP in the world of Canadian cuisine, celebrity chef Mark McEwan operates four acclaimed restaurants (North 44, Bymark, One and Fabbrica) and is the proprietor of the fine food grocery store McEwan. A resident of Toronto, he is co-host and head judge of the Food Network’s Top Chef Canada and host of The Heat, a food and catering reality show.
HONG KONG STYLE PORK RIBS Serves 4
McEwan’s passion for pastas, pizzas and chicken parmigiana is captured in his new Italian cookbook, Fabbrica, available in stores now. He is also author of Great Food at Home. Try these succulent Hong Kong Style Pork Ribs at your next dinner party… not your typical holiday fare by any means.
4 racks of pork side ribs 2 cans Sapporo beer ½ cup light Japanese soya sauce ½ cup maple syrup ½ cup rice wine vinegar ½ cup barbeque sauce (your favourite) 2 bay leaves 1 tbsp cracked pepper 1 tbsp chopped garlic 1 tbsp sambal oelek ½ lemon sliced Salt and pepper GARNISH 2 tbsp minced chives 1 cup crème fraiche ¼ cup Dijon mustard Lemon juice to taste Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Arrange ribs meaty side down in a roasting pan, preferably in a single layer. Combine all the other
ingredients in a bowl, stir well and pour over ribs. Cover the pan tightly with foil and transfer into the oven. After 45 minutes, carefully remove the foil, turn the ribs and reseal. After an hour, check on the ribs for doneness: the meat should be just beginning to pull away from the bone.
from the braising liquid (discarding the liquid) and transfer them to the grill, meat side down. Brush them with the reduced braising liquid, turn and brush again. Continue turning and glazing, watching that the sugar in the sauce does not burn, until the ribs are heated through and nicely coloured.
Transfer the ribs to a clean roasting pan. Strain the braising liquid into a large measuring cup. Pour enough liquid over the ribs to submerge them completely (although the ribs can be finished immediately, their flavour will be better if you set them aside, covered in the braising liquid overnight or for several days). Let the remaining braising liquid sit until the fat separates completely, then skim or pour off. Transfer the liquid to a saucepan and reduce by half until the liquid coats the back of a spoon.
Cut the ribs and arrange on a platter, drizzle with extra sauce, season with salt and pepper, sprinkle chives and serve with ramekins of crème fraiche combined with mustard and a few drops of lemon juice.
Preheat grill on its lowest setting, brush rack with oil. Remove the ribs
This same recipe can be used for pork back ribs, beef ribs and even beef short ribs. Each will require a longer braising time than the side ribs. Test for doneness the same way. Heat larger ribs gently in their braising liquid before placing them on the grill. Pair with a Zinfandel or Viognier and enjoy. OUTLOOKS
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TECHNOLOGY
2012 and Beyond THE TRENDS TO LOOK OUT FOR IN COMPUTERS AND MOBILE DEVICES IN THE NEAR FUTURE. Technology is at a pivotal point and over the next five years everything from mobile devices and applications to servers and social networking will continue evolving at a very rapid pace. Here are some up-and-coming tech tends for 2012 and beyond. We’ve summarized what could be considered the top five trends and some of the associated implications.
will have the resources available to make the applications even more diverse. Consumers will see enhancements in touch screens and voice searching. Ask your phone to find you the closest Chinese restaurant and it will do an automatic search based on GPS positioning and display the results for your pleasure.
Tablets are taking over the stranglehold that laptops have had for so many years. By 2015, tablet purchases will constitute about 50 percent of the portable computers purchased. Apple continues to dominate tablet sales today with about an 80 percent market share. However, expectations are that the Apple slice of the pie could be reduced to about 50 percent as other options become available to consumers. Microsoft’s Windows 8 operating system will likely fall to third place behind Android and Apple. Smartphones will continue to see a fall in prices. You can expect to pay around $75 for an entry-level device. In 2012 and beyond there will be two and four-core processors with bigger, brighter, higher-resolution screens, plus 3D and HD video.
Live Wire UK
2. MOBILE-CENTRIC APPLICATIONS:
By 2014, there will be more than 70 billion mobile application downloads every year. With this expanding market, developers 22 OUTLOOKS DEC 2011-JAN 2012
5. CLOUD COMPUTING:
Ariel Schwartz
Express Images
3. SOCIAL AND CONTEXTUAL USER EXPERIENCE:
flash solid-state drives for data storage. No spinning disks are used so speed and system reliability is increased. This advancement will eliminate the pervasive “hard drive crash.” In-memory computing enables customers to analyze massive amounts of data in real time, allowing for faster decision making and identifying business insights that can be acted upon immediately. This type of performance is a huge boon for enterprises that deal with high-intensity workloads, such as financial services, legal firms, research and media clients.
The context-aware device keeps track of the user’s lifestyle and preferences. It will understand your location, your brand of cologne, your favourite chat sites and possibly your shoe size. Using this information, it will be able to proactively provide the most effective options when searching for data or services. Remember the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey? It won’t be long before you’ll have HAL in your pocket. By 2015, it is expected that 40 percent of the world’s smartphone users will opt in to context service providers that track their activities. “Big Brothers” Google, Apple, Microsoft and Nokia could be tracking the comings and goings of 10 percent of the world’s population by 2015. 4. IN-MEMORY COMPUTING: Speed is the name of the game here. RAM and disc drives will be replaced with the in-memory applications that use a large amount of DRAM (dynamic random access memory) for database operations and NAND
Seozin Creative
1. MEDIA TABLETS AND SMARTPHONES:
This topic went from number one last year to the bottom on the list this year. Even so, it’s still an important trend. Apple’s new iOS 5 brings cloud data storage to your devices. This means that the cloud will automatically synchronize the data between all of your devices. Contacts on your iPhone will automatically update to your iPad and vice versa. Canadian service is limited to 4G of data and contacts. Additional storage can be “rented” for a fee. Music will probably be the next phase of cloud storage. Imagine all your iPod music available on the cloud so that you will never be out of storage space on your device.
— BRETT TAYLOR
FOOD_&_DRINK
FOOD_&_DRINK
INGREDIENTS Servings: 1 3 large peach slices ¾ oz lemon juice ½ oz simple syrup 1.5 oz Calvados Apple Brandy ½ oz of port (Taylor Fladgate LBV) DIRECTIONS Muddle the peach slices in a Boston Shaker glass. Add all other ingredients, ice and shake vigorously until cold. Pour contents into a tall glass or drinking jar. Garnish with a fresh peach slice. The Puerto Peach cocktail is available at SPiN Toronto, a ping-pong club (Canada’s only franchise) that is co-owned by Academy Award-winning actress Susan Sarandon. www.spingalactic.com
MARRYING AROMATIC FLAVOURS OF CRUSHED PEACHES AND APPLEBASED BRANDY, THE PUERTO PEACH COCKTAIL HAS A WARMING EFFECT ON THE ENTIRE BODY, PROVIDING A SWEET WAY TO STAY SNUG ON THOSE COLD WINTER NIGHTS. OUTLOOKS
Michael Pihach
Puerto Peach Cocktail
23
Experience the Joy
Celebrate the Holidays in Old Montreal’s finest boutique hotel
+1.514.904.1616 W W W. H O T E L G A U LT. C O M
TRAVEL
HIGHER CLASS, FEWER MILES If you’re a British Airways flyer, it just got easier to get treated like you’re a higher class. BA has announced a new Bronze tier for their Executive Club frequent flier program, which falls between their Blue (everyone) and Silver, traditionally their first level for special treatment. Bronze will require 300 “Tier Points,” which you’d earn with five annual round-trips between Canada and the UK in economy (based on 30 points per direction).
ALWAYS LOOK FOR COUPONS BEFORE YOU TRAVEL
Randall on the Road
Always look for coupons when you are planning your travel and booking online. No matter whether it’s Travelocity, Orbitz, Expedia, or even a small travel agency, you can usually find a promo code or coupon somewhere on the web to knock off a decent amount. In some cases, you can get an extra night free or great gifts by just taking a few extra seconds to go to Google and do a search.
HOW THE NEW AMERICAN TRAVEL FEE COULD COST YOU SOME FRIES
T
he United States just announced that they’re going to start charging Canadians (and Mexicans and Caribbean people) $5.50 to enter the US by air or boat. The Americans claim they’ve been charging the rest of the world’s travellers that fee for a long time, but we’ve been exempt. Canadians are huffing and puffing about it. But I suggest we travellers can retaliate with our wallets by purchasing $5.50 less on every U.S. trip, and telling every merchant that we were planning to spend an extra $5.50, but their government took it from us at the airport. There are lots of ways you could do this and start quite a conversation with Americans Imagine saying to the waiter at New York’s Carnegie Deli, “We had hoped to try your fries ($5.75), but your government took our extra money.” Or in San Francisco, where cab fees are $2.25/ mile (after the initial $3.10 flag fall and 1/5 mile), telling the driver you’ll walk
the last two miles of your trip because his government took that $5.50. Or in Chicago, telling the bartender at Roscoe’s you can only have 1/10 of their $5 daily drink specials, because, well, you know. Personally, I think getting into American/Canadian conversations with Americans is good fun. I used to be on the flipside of that conversation — I am an American, but have made Canada my home for many years. In all my travels back to the States, I’ve found that people love to ask me, “What’s it like living in Canada. What’s the health care system really like? Have you taken advantage of their national gay marriage yet?”
— RANDALL SHIRLEY
AVOID LIQUID SHAMPOO AND LAUNDRY DETERGENT Instead of packing liquids that take up room, bring solids. Purex brand laundry strips cut into smaller pieces are perfect for washing clothes in the sink. Solid shampoo bars (made by Lush) work great too. Really helps cut down on what goes in that ziplock!.
YOUR IN-ROOM PERSONAL SAFE After you have keyed in your code and closed the door firmly and locked the unit, press all the other keys /numbers that do not make up your code, and press them firmly. Doing this may set off a small alarm from the safe but it stops quickly and no one will pay any attention (!!). The reason to do this is because certain hotels have caught their own hotel staff placing a light oil residue or powder on to the touch keys that shows them, when using a certain light, what numbers were pressed. They were managing to open the safe, and one very clever thief was taking only a couple of dollars from each room. It is not a lot but in a 400 or 500-room hotel the guy was doing quite well for himself.
OUTLOOKS
25
TRAVEL
UNDER A VENETO SUN A LESS-DISCOVERED ITALY
Randall Shirley
RANDALL SHIRLEY
26 OUTLOOKS DEC 2011-JAN 2012
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I
’m zipping across the Italian countryside, winding through the foothills of the Dolomite mountains in a sportylooking Fiat 500 — advertised by Jennifer Lopez, but that girl’s got nothing on me; she doesn’t have my hot Italian lover’s hand squeezing her leg every time a testosterone-crazed driver considers a “third lane” pass on a two-lane country road! Never mind that. We’ve got a justbaked loaf of crusty bread, a chunk of smooth Asiago cheese that we actually bought in Asiago, a fresh pomegranate from a local tree, some locally made soppressata salami, and a bottle of San Pelligrino… the makings of a perfect afternoon picnic in one of Italy’s rare, lessdiscovered regions, the central Veneto. I say “less-discovered” because there is no corner of Italy that hasn’t been discovered by travellers. But much of the Veneto region, just a short distance from (deservedly) over-touristed Venice is dotted with stunning castles, villas and cathedrals — and gelaterias and marvellous restaurants — that you can, com-
paratively, have to yourself. These are not the kind of places you come if you want a jam-packed itinerary; rather you come to slow down, enjoy morning espresso and brioche (Italian croissant) before a bit of shopping or taking in a small, local museum. You enjoy a big Italian lunch — pasta and all, then an afternoon drive along the foothills roads before coming back to town for an evening passeggiata (stroll) around the town centre, where the whole point is to see and be seen (we often do this holding hands, and feel safe, we rarely get a strange look). You share a perfect pizza and salad sometime during the evening. Bear in mind that the Veneto — much of it farm country — isn’t exactly a gay travel hub. Indeed, like much of Catholic-laden Italy, attitudes toward homosexuality vary. During a session with a gay hair stylist, he kept coughing, due to the effects of a smoke bomb thrown into the parking area after a gay party a few nights earlier. As noted, we generally felt comfortable as an “out” gay couple, and did not ex-
The walls at Castelfranco
perience any problems. This was only my experience; Use your own discretion and caution when visiting any of these cities. CASTELFRANCO It’s noon in Italy, time for the most important meal of the day. My partner and I sit on the patio of Bar San Giustino di Coppo Mirco, looking across the forecourt of the duomo (cathedral) and just steps away from a museum dedicated to one of the great High Renaissance painters, Giorgione — the town’s most-famous son, despite the fact he’s been dead since 1510. His celebrated work, the Madonna and Child Between St. Francis and St. Nicasius, is the cathedral’s altarpiece. Part of the town centre is surrounded by medieval castle walls — we’ve walked in across a drawbridge and moat, passing through gates built some 900 years ago. We dine on freshly made risotto con funghi, while at nearby tables local Italians chat or read newspapers with their pastas, meats and salads. They’ve closed OUTLOOKS
27
Randall Shirley
TRAVEL
their own shops and offices, as Italians do in the afternoon. We feel more than lucky to be the only tourists around. Outside the walls, a piazza named for Giorgione is mostly a parking lot for the smart shops and eateries that wrap around the castle’s perimeter, most of them smartly tucked under covered arcades. Among the businesses are two gay-friendly hotels. At the Albergo al Moretto, the oldest hotel in the city, I’m lucky to be greeted by the lovely proprietor, Luciana. She has updated the hotel with a variety of room types, and they retain the character you hope for in a northern Italian country town (www.albergoalmoretto.it, +39 0423 721313). The other hotel that’s worth a look is the Albergo Roma (a Best Western property — BWs tend to be very nice in Europe), where many rooms have superb views (some with balconies) of the castle walls — especially romantic. Rooms at either property include breakfast, and are reasonably priced by Italian standards, starting around 90-100 Euros/night for a double, which may be two twins — ask! 28 OUTLOOKS DEC 2011-JAN 2012
(www.bestwestern.it/albergoroma_tv, +39 0423 721616). In the evenings, the many restaurants and cafes bustle with locals having dinner or just a coffee. It is prime people watching, and we realize that in Italy, even the country folk dress better than many people in North America – perhaps not surprising considering that Replay, Diodora, Diesel, GEOX and Benetton are all headquartered in the Veneto. We like the menu at a place called Il Galeone d’Oro (www.galeonedoro.it), and enjoy an evening eating pizzas on their romantic patio. I particularly like Castelfranco because it feels so real. I recommend it for a twothree night stay for anyone who wants to get a sense of life in a historic Italian town with few tourists. Remember that there are other town called Castelfranco in Italy; when planning make sure you specify Castelfranco, Veneto. ASOLO Travellers found Asolo a long time ago. It’s a hilltop hamlet crowned with a castle that can be seen for miles around, and
Treviso’s canals evoke the feeling of Venice
thus far the most-celebrated Englishspeaking visitor was the poet Robert Browning — who liked Asolo so much he bought a home there; a major street is named for him. However, since it’s not on the railway line, it’s less easy for many tourists to reach. Asolo’s hill rises steeply from the valley floor, and the view from the top of the surrounding farm country to the south and the hills and mountains to the north is stunning. Early on a Sunday morning, the old town piazza transforms from parking lot (an unfortunate common use for piazzas, it seems) to antiques market. We don’t know European antiques well enough to make any informed choices, so we just browse for a bit. At 11:15, the church bells toll on Asolo’s large cathedral, and despite not having any interest in religion, I decide to take in an Italian mass. I’m fully aware that the church doesn’t approve of gays, but I also love a good dose of theatre and organ music, so in I go.
Randall Shirley
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Surprisingly, the church is nearly full, and the faithful come from all age ranges. I am amused by the theatricality of it all, and squeak out a “pace” (peace) when the time comes to greet my pew-mates. And I mean it. Asolo is incredibly wanderable — with sites including the delightful Maggiore Fountain in the main piazza, and a palazzo with exterior fresco painting dating to the 1500s, and no end of lovely cobbled streetscapes. Several mornings we enjoy coffee and brioche at Tappo Bar (www. tappobar.it) on the edge of the piazza, where we’re able to pick up the free Wifi signal offered by the town, and browse the town’s many shops. It’s impossible to visit Asolo without noticing the Albergo al Sole, a gay-friendly hotel perched above the piazza. Rooms at the front of the hotel overlook the piazza and face the sunset. It’s a bit pricey with doubles starting at 160 Euros, but it’s luxurious, and does include breakfast and an impossibly romantic setting (albergoalsoleasolo.com, +39 0423 951332).
From our base near Asolo/Castelfranco, we also visited the following surrounding towns: BASSANO DEL GRAPPA Straddling the Brenta River is the Ponte Vecchio, or old bridge. The views from this covered bridge are pure magic — many of the town’s pastel-painted buildings line the riverbank framing gorgeous mountain views. My partner and I share a very public kiss on this bridge, and no one bats an eye. There are certainly tourists here, but not throngs. The east end of the bridge is a must visit for anyone who loves grappa — Nardini, the oldest Italian grappa distillery, is located there, and it is popular with locals and visitors alike, who stand and drink their grappa in the cozy, historic bar (www.nardini.it). TREVISO Because it’s laced with inner-city canals, Treviso has sometimes been compared to Venice. It’s nothing like Venice — either in terms of streetscape or tourist masses, and that makes it a lovely place to explore.
LEFT TO RIGHT “Less-discovered” Castelfranco Efficient compact transportation Pizza and a salad: perfect for sharing Streets of Asolo
Treviso does have canals, and a good map lets you find plenty of small bridges that provide lovely views, although there are no fancy gondolas and everything is on a smaller scale. There is an interesting fish market along one of the canals. ASIAGO It’s a hell of a drive up into the mountains, passing through towns that seem to cling to mountainsides, but worth it for anyone who wants to buy their Asiago cheese from the source, even though Asiago is not technically in the Veneto. Cows with bells around their necks welcome you to the valley after the steep drive. The gorgeous, Alpine-feeling town itself is popular with Italian tourists.
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Sheas’s Buffalo Theatre
TRAVEL
THE GAY BUFFALO WEEKEND: BEYOND CHEAP SHOPPING BRYEN DUNN OUTLOOKS
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W
FRIDAY Getting there — Forget about driving; catch the double-decker Megabus from the downtown Toronto bus terminal to downtown Buffalo in about three hours. It’s a bit longer than driving, but a lot more relaxing, and once you’re in Buffalo there’s no real need for a vehicle as most everything is within easy reach by foot, transit or a short cab ride. Afternoon — The newest hotel in the city is the centrally located Embassy Suites, a luxurious property that has a great lobby bar with live entertainment on weekends, a good-sized pool with views of the magnificent city hall, complimentary full made-to-order breakfast and afternoon reception with snacks and cocktails. A lesbian couple got married there the same evening I checked in, taking advantage of the recently passed New York State samesex marriage legislation. Evening — A fun spot to begin a night on the town is Sample Restaurant in the Allentown district. It’s an easy 15-minute walk from the hotel, and is near live music venues, pubs and gay bars. The menu is comprised of bite-size items for sharing, but many people just hang at the bar to sample the fabulous cocktails. In the area check out Allen Street Hardwood for live jazz or Nietzsche’s for indie rock. Late Night — Buffalo bars close at 4am, so heading out after midnight is not uncommon. Allen Street is where most of the gay bars are located. The legendary Cathode Ray has been around for decades. Pool tables, drink specials and a large patio make it a good starting or ending point to an evening. Around the corner 32 OUTLOOKS DEC 2011-JAN 2012
Buffalo Tourism
ith the holidays just about to hit, it’s plenty tempting for Ontario gays to head to the nearest cheap shopping: Buffalo, New York. But on my recent trip, I discovered a side of Buffalo that’s so much more interesting than outlets and cheap booze. The city is undergoing a development boom — art, theatre, music, architecture, antique shops and independent retailers. And that makes the trip there worth a 48hour stay… after all you can only do so much shopping no matter how “gay” you are.
Fugazi is smaller and tends to attract the younger set. SATURDAY Morning — For those who choose to get up at sunrise, the open-air Elmwood-Bidwell Farmers Market is a great starter. It’s a producer-only market, meaning all vendors grow or produce what they sell. The market is open every Saturday, mid-May until midDecember from 8am to 1pm. Take the local bus straight up Elmwood to North Street. You might choose to skip the hotel breakfast and try Ambrosia near the market, serving breakfast with a Greek twist. Afternoon — Walk down Elmwood toward downtown. This five-kilometre stretch is filled with surprises, from pubs, restau-
rants and clothing shops to boutiques and antiques of all sorts. Talking Leaves Books is Buffalo’s oldest independent book store, established in 1971. Everything Elmwood is a bit of everything, from home décor to curios and one-of-a-kind finds — the perfect holiday season shopping spot. Pop into Urban Threads for unisex clothing and accessory fashions, and ShoeFly for exclusive footwear designs. After working up a thirst with all the walking, The Blue Monk is a favourite watering hole with a focus on Belgian brews and upscale pub grub. For a more intimate blunch stop try Betty’s, located on Virginia Street in a historic building within a residential area just off of Elmwood, where you’ll find hearty home-cooked meals with vegan
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to develop the space into a mixed-use arts centre and boutique hotel. Other similarly neglected architectural gems are seeing rebirth as well. The early 1900s red-brick and white-terra cotta French Renaissance-style Lafayette Hotel at Washington and Clinton is currently under construction to be reopened as a mixeduse residential and boutique hotel property. Also, the Statler Hotel at Swan and Washington will have its interior makeover completed as a boutique-style hotel as well. Frank Lloyd Wright’s Darwin Martin House, built in 1905, is also a unique architectural gem that’s open to the public to explore. Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center presents several queer-themed art exhibitions and film screenings, and can be found in the back area of Babeville. Checking Out — Pick up snacks and get your caffeine at the locally owned SPoT Coffee on Chippewa or the more alternative Café Taza on Elmwood. The bus ride back to Toronto will give you time to reflect on Buffalo. If you’re like me, you’ll be pleasantly pleased and coming back soon for more than shopping and booze!
Samples
Flicker
Cathode Ray
SUNDAY Morning — Today is about discovering Buffalo’s great architecture and high-calibre museums. The Albright-Knox Museum is among the country’s oldest public arts institutions, specializing in modern and contemporary art split between two separate wings. Pieces reflect the mid-twentieth century, including a large pop-culture influenced gallery. There’s a café if you get the munchies, or you can pop into Sweetness 7 Café over on nearby Grant Street. Across the street is the Burchfield Penney Art Center, celebrating the works of Charles E Burchfield, in addition to showcasing a variety of Western New York State and Ontario artists. They also present concerts, literary readings, lectures and other events. Directly behind is one of the most amazing pieces of architecture in Buffalo, if not the whole country. The H.H. Richardson Complex is the abandoned site of the former Buffalo State Asylum for the Insane, a large Medina-red sandstone and brick building that stretches several city blocks and stands on the grounds of the present-day Buffalo Psychiatric Center. There are current plans
Seaside Bar
options on the menu. You might also want to get a coif or massage at the salon of Toronto expat Karen, who owns Everything Beauty. If time allows, two up-and-coming new areas to explore are Amherst Street between Delaware and Elmwood and Hertel Avenue between Delaware and Colvin. This area of Amherst Street is referred to locally as Black Rock, where places like Black Rock Kitchen and Bar and Sportsmen’s Tavern are leading the revitalization. The strip along Hertel Avenue is known as Little Italy, where you’ll find great eateries, bakeries and espresso shops. Early Evening — For dinner, saunter over to Seabar Restaurant on Ellicott Street, serving up nouveau sushi creations, fresh seafood and artisan sakes. It’s a popular early evening dining and cocktail stop for theatre-goers headed to historic Shea’s Performing Arts Theater on Main Street. Touring productions, comedy and music acts play here, but if you can’t catch a show, take a daytime tour of this NeoSpanish Baroque theatre, to learn how they’re ensuring this 1926 structure remains a Buffalo landmark. Evening — There’s no shortage of theatre in Buffalo, where over two dozen fringe and alternative performance spaces vie for your attention. Buffalo United Artists has been presenting queer-slanted showcases of theatre, music and other endeavours for 20 years. Ani DiFranco’s Babeville is located within a renovated church, and is now a mid-size concert hall where you can catch up-and-coming acts of various genres. For more alternative productions, check out what’s going on at either Alt Theatre or the Subversive Theatre Collective, both located just north of the city centre on Great Arrow Avenue in a building filled with artist studios and galleries. Late Night — Buffalo has a surprising number of gay drinking establishments for the size of the city. Try Underground on Delaware Avenue and Q on Allen Street, both friendly pub-style haunts popular with the locals. For the wee hours, Club Marcella on Main Street is the biggest of the gay bars with drag performances, DJs and dancing most nights.
Clockwise from upper left: Betty Bar; Cathode Ray Club; Samples Restaurant; Chef Mike Andrezejewski of the Sea Bar Restaurant
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Home for the Holidays IN THE US, SAME-SEX PARENTS LACK THE PROTECTIONS AVAILABLE IN CANADA. BUT THEY SOMEHOW FIND A WAY TO COPE, EVEN WITH EXTENDED FAMILIES AND CHRISTMAS
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oday there are many variations of the family unit, yet stereotypically it is still too often seen as a typical nuclear unit with a mother and father. So what happens if you are part of a different family composition and feel the pressure to attend extended familial holiday festivities, sometimes under not so favourable circumstances? In Canada, same-sex marriage is the law of the entire land. And gays and lesbians are used to being covered by hate crime legislation, and by laws protecting equality, employment, adoption and family. That’s not to say everything’s perfect. No laws can protect against holidays, and against Christmas in particular. And when children are involved, things can get much more complicated. Still, spare a thought for our queer cousins south of the border. In the United States there are a growing number of children being raised by LGBT parents, often without all the legal protections afforded to nuclear households. The US census does not track the number of children being raised by this segment of the population, but independent surveys have put this number as high as two million spread out over 96 percent of the nation’s counties. It is also estimated that less than a quarter of all households fall into the traditional family category. But while more and more individuals and couples are choosing to have or adopt children, they have to cope with the fact that only a handful of states allow samesex marriage, and laws regarding adoption, custody and family arrangements are a hodgepodge varying from state to state.
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For example, unlike in Canada, US Customs prohibit same-sex couples from filling out one form as a family, which causes additional stress and could even prevent individuals from crossing the border. And then, just like Canadians, they have to cope with the upcoming holidays and the terrors of extended family gatherings. Rich is co-president of the Pop Luck Club in Los Angeles, an organization for gay dads, prospective dads and their families. He is currently in a relationship, and both he and his partner are happily involved in the raising of their two children. “We are completely comfortable with being a family headed by gay fathers, yet the holidays do present some problems because not all members of my extended family are comfortable with the idea of my gay family,” says Rich. “Over the years, I have conditioned myself to make alternative plans for my immediate family on the big holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas. Maybe one day my family members will come to realize that they are losing out by shying away from us on the holidays. “My daughter just asked me if we were going to host another Christmas Eve party with our friends again. Last year while having a moment of feeling as though we might be living on the island of misfit toys for the holidays, my partner and I put together plans for a Christmas Eve party.
The surprising thing was that every gay and lesbian family that we invited showed up at our door,” he laughs. “Since adopting our two children, we’ve been on three [gay family holiday company] R Family Vacations, and we love it. Customs officials seem to be getting better about understanding why two men are travelling with two children. If they don’t get it, I don’t mind spelling it out for them,” he says. Travelling can be particularly stressful for gay or lesbian parents, particularly when the family relationships stray even further from the norm. Flavia is a single lesbian raising her teenage son, who was conceived via a donor who was a close friend of her and her partner at the time. Although she has since separated, her son continues to have a healthy relationship with all three individuals. Despite the fact that they are all from different countries, cultures and backgrounds, they have not had any problems travelling abroad. “I have written documentation that states that the adult accompanying him is authorized to do so,” she says. But Flavia also stresses that when it comes to family, even at holiday gatherings, she’s not going to make any concessions to anybody. “When my son was first born I started a support group for gay parents and we met about twice a month for a year or so. Since
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Stacy and Donna (left); Their two children
then I have moved to different states and have found that I can always find another queer family without trying too hard. I have tried to choose the areas I live in carefully because there are challenges, and if they are not educated, open-minded or kind, there can be serious consequences to being out as a family. From the time we decided to have a baby we also decided that we were going to show by example that our family was nothing to be ashamed of, and whoever had a problem with it was not welcome at our family gatherings.” The case for kids being raised by samesex couples is backed up by academic research. A study released last year by professors at the Universities of California and Amsterdam, for example, showed that children raised by lesbian couples were rated significantly higher in social, academic and total competence, and significantly lower in social problems, rule-breaking, aggressiveness and externalizing problem behavior. Stacy and Donna — who were united by a civil union ceremony in New Jersey and are raising two children together — agree that lesbians make excellent parents. “It’s important that as parents you make sure you’re comfortable with your orientation and don’t try to hide who you are. We are just as capable parents as our straight peers, and our two children are
excellent examples of happy, well-adjusted children,” Stacy says. Stacy says that the extended families of both she and her partner have come around to sharing that same point of view, although not overnight. “I grew up in Maine where my family still resides, and Donna’s family lives in Trinidad. We have developed our own extended family here in New Jersey with other families whose immediate family is not local. We are blessed with very open and accepting families, although it took a while to get to this space. It was so nice to be so warmly embraced by Donna’s family when we spent Christmas there one year,” she recalls. Brent and his partner were there for their adopted daughter’s birth, and she went home with them at three days old. He says that if extended families are given a chance to get to know the children, most of them won’t be able to stop themselves from falling in love. “I always knew I wanted to be a parent, but my partner was not so sure. We were together for 16 years before we adopted. Our immediate family — parents and siblings — are very supportive for the most part. We made sure we visited and spent time with all of them right from the beginning. This was a big help as they quickly fell in love with our daughter and are among our family’s strongest advocates.” Brent also believes that much of the ac-
ceptance level they’ve reached with family was attained through social media. “It has helped immensely, as family near and far can see glimpses into our daily life with pictures, anecdotes about dirty diapers, making dinner and all the things that families deal with. I think Facebook may actually have broken down more barriers and stereotypes, and built bridges that we could never have done in such a short amount of time,” he says. He admits that not everybody has come around. “At large family gatherings there are definitely more distant family members who still have questions, and are dealing with their own homophobia,” he says. But he says that his experience with his mother-in-law gives him hope that anyone can be won over. “When our daughter was a newborn we were definitely nervous about the questions we might encounter at the airport when travelling, especially given that our daughter is visibly of a different ethnic origin than either me or my partner. However, the most inappropriate, invasive questions we got were from complete strangers. My mother-in-law and her boyfriend joined us for a week-long event my agency provides annually for LGBT families, and she said she felt that ‘Aha’ moment when she realized we’re just another family.”
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FEATURE
Queer History Preserved LGBT ARCHIVES AND MUSEUMS ARE BECOMING MAJOR HISTORICAL AND TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN CITIES ACROSS THE WORLD.
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or centuries, a complex community of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) personalities has survived, struggled and thrived, often in the shadows of mainstream awareness. That community has always had a major impact, but it hasn’t been until comparatively recently that its history has been seen as a legitimate subject for museums and archives. But today, that has changed. Gay and lesbian archives and museums are thriving and growing in cities around the world, including in Canada. The Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives (CLGA), located in Toronto, is a national collection that reflects the life and work of individuals and groups. Much of the material is unavailable anywhere else. The CLGA offers public access to information and materials by and about gays and lesbians primarily produced in, or concerning, Canada. The Archives also maintains major non-archival collections including a research library, international subject files and a universal collection of lesbian and gay periodicals. Visitors will also find a photographic collection, moving images, posters, audio recordings, artifacts, memorabilia, literature, leather and various works of art. Founded in 1973, the CLGA has grown to become the second-largest LGBT archives in the world — the largest, following a donation in 2010, is housed at the University of Southern California. A significant portion of the CLGA’s information was made available on the internet in 1997, and — after years of operating in overcrowded spaces — the CLGA finally moved into its new location at 34 Isabella Street in September of 2009.
The historic building, which was built in 1858, has been extensively renovated for improved public engagement, offering a large reading room, an art gallery and a meeting room that can be rented by other community groups. One of the most prized possessions is the out-of-print Lesbian and Gay Heritage of Toronto booklet. It’s only 12 pages in length, but is filled with important references and images, documenting the contributions made by lesbians
and gay men to the history of the city, beginning with merchant and magistrate Alexander Wood in 1810, and continuing to modern times. A detailed list of meeting places is noted through time, as well as publications and political groups of each period. This year saw the opening of San Francisco’s GLBT History Museum, located in the city’s famous Castro District. The museum is the first full-scale, standalone museum in the United States dedi-
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opened in 1985. The impetus for the founding of the Schwules Museum was a successful exhibition on gay topics at the Berlin Museum in 1984. The Schwules Museum archive houses periodicals going back to 1896, with a collection of photographs, videos, films, sound recordings, autographs, artworks and ephemera. The entire collection is spread over a four-storey building. The library currently contains approximately 10,000 books on homosexuality, including rare editions from Magnus Hirschfeld’s own library collection, published in the late 19th century.
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cated solely to queer history. Operated by the GLBT Historical Society, the museum celebrates 100 years of the city’s vast queer past through dynamic and surprising exhibitions and programming. Opened earlier this year, the Main Gallery presents Our Vast Queer Past, running until the end of the year. To honour the GLBT Historical Society’s 25th anniversary, the curators burrowed into every corner of the society’s extensive archives to bring together multiple stories, both interlinking and isolated, sometimes in conflict. There are also smaller, rotating showcases, as well as online exhibitions.
In 2004, the permanent exhibition, Self-confidence and Persistence: 200 Years of History, opened, consisting of about 700 exhibits in 220 square metres of exhibition space. This collection depicts the strategies, options and issues of homosexuals seeking to live a self-determined life by networking and organizing with others during the period from 1790 to 1990. A continuing series pays homage to gays in public life such as Oscar Wilde, Marlene Dietrich, Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Michel Foucault and Thomas Mann. In 2008, the museum was able to acquire the Sternweiler collection, one of the world’s most important private collections for gay history and culture. There’s also a treasured glass goblet from around the 1700s — engraved with the biblical story of David and Jonathan — inscribed with a dedication to a male-male friendship reading, “I shall be your David, you shall be my Jonathan.” As well, there’s a coin from the Eldorado Club showing a male couple dancing on one side and a female couple dancing on the reverse side. Legend has it that this coin could be bought at the entrance and
Danny Hellman
The museum currently displays materials dating from 1919 to the present, and the archival collection includes materials covering the entire 20th century, along with scattered materials from the 19th century. In addition, the museum sponsors an ongoing series of programs focusing on LGBT history and culture, including author talks, panel discussions, film showings and book signings. The museum has attracted a wide range of visitors. As Gerard Koskovich, a founding member of the GLBT Historical Society, says, “At our grand opening, the youngest visitor was the five-year-old child of a local mayoral candidate, and the oldest was 87-year-old Phyllis Lyon, co-founder of the Daughters of Bilitis, the first lesbian organization in the United States.” As well, New York City has a Center for Gay and Lesbian Culture that opened in 1990 and provides a diverse archival collection of LGBT materials, organizational records, private papers and periodicals dating from the 1920s to current time. The first-ever dedicated museum on queer history in the world was the Schwules Museum in Berlin, which
Wikipedia
THE CLGA (TORONTO) HAS GROWN TO BECOME THE SECOND-LARGEST LGBT ARCHIVES IN THE WORLD.
then exchanged for a dance with a “real” transvestite. Spinnboden is another nearby museum solely dedicated to lesbian history. This year, there were also two significant displays of queer material in mainstream North American museums: Hello Sailor at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax, and Out in Chicago at the Chicago History Museum. — BRYEN DUNN
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Stopping Bullying Across the Country BULLYINGCANADA PROVIDES A SAFE PLACE FOR KIDS TO TALK ABOUT THE HARASSMENT THEY’RE FACING.
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ccording to a national school survey done by Egale Canada — the country’s national gay and lesbian lobby group — 70 percent of all participating students, LGBTQ and non-LGBTQ, reported hearing expressions along the lines of “that’s so gay” every day in school. Almost half of those surveyed (48 percent) reported hearing insults such as “faggot,” “lezbo” and “dyke” every day in school. And that’s not even touching on the physical harassment. These stats are alarming, to say the least. Bullying is an issue that many of us have faced, whether because of sexual orientation or other reasons. Today, it’s even easier to become a bully while hiding behind the anonymity of cyberspace. Bullying is something that simply does not go away. That’s where organizations such as BullyingCanada come in to play. BullyingCanada is a youth-led organization that I founded with Katie Neu. Both of us endured intense bullying as children and teenagers, and still deal with it today. Cases of bullying are something we’re made aware of, not only in our home provinces — New Brunswick in my case, Ontario in Katie’s — but from across Canada. It’s evident that it is not a regionspecific issue, but an epidemic from shore to shore. We hear about bullying about 3, 000 to 5, 000 times a month by telephone, 3,000 times a month by email and live-chat, and countless times when someone shares their story as our staff do presentations.
I’m continually astonished by the number of people that just do not have someone in their lives that they feel comfortable turning to for advice and support.
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still remember receiving a call late at night from a young child in Toronto who told me she was being bullied by her older brother. She was calling at 2am so that no one would know or overhear her. She had no idea who she could talk to or where to turn. She had heard about BullyingCanada when her teacher handed out our brochures to her class. “I called you because I didn’t know what to do,” is the first thing the girl told me. After spending nearly an hour on the phone with this caller, we came to the conclusion that our organization would make a call to her school to get them involved in her case. This is something that BullyingCanada does regularly. A lot of schools don’t let people know if they have a problem with bullying. Then, we get a student, a parent of a student or even a teacher coming forward and saying that they need our help. That’s when it’s truly an issue. Bullying is not talked about until something bad happens, and by that time it’s too late to prevent it. In a way, the
schools or school boards in question just want to sweep it under the rug and stick a smiley sticker on it. Unfortunately, this doesn’t help future issues and it does nothing to help these kids. In August, BullyingCanada was granted national charitable status. This is a huge step for us as we can now issue tax receipts for any cash or in-kind donations we receive. There has been a laundry list of businesses and organizations, as well as private citizens, waiting for this to donate. As a result, we are now in the planning stages of offering a national scholarship program to youth who address the issue of bullying in their schools and who become community leaders. These scholarships will be awarded to those that choose to go on to post-secondary education. BullyingCanada also offers a national speaking program — the Youth Voices Speaking Program — that visits both schools and workplaces. This program highlights various aspects of the antibullying movement, and offers steps to encourage youth to step up and be involved. To learn more, visit BullyingCanada. ca. Our toll-free number is (866)8568987.
— ROB FRENETTE
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CANNALLI SUIT- HENRY SINGER TAILORED WAX DRESS SHIRT – FIROZ VIVIENNE WESTWOOD VEST – FIROZ HUGO BOSS TIE – HENRY SINGER DANIEL KENNETH SHOES CUFF LINKS – STYLISTS OWN
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ART_&_CULTURE
Framed: Wendy Sexsmith VANCOUVER ARTIST CHALLENGES SOCIAL NORMS AND GENDER STEREOTYPES
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endy Sexsmith wants to use her art to portray people’s true selves. And she sees Vancouver Pride as the perfect venue to do that. Her latest work is based on a series of photographs which she has taken at the Pride Parade over the past decade. They are hand-painted prints of performers in their element, embracing their roles, celebrating being who they are. “The element of joy is my inspiration here as it cuts through all our social boundaries and connects us more authentically in a higher state of social consciousness,” she says.
Sexsmith believes that we all repress our true selves to emulate social standards promoted by the fashion industry, the media and our consumer culture. The figures she paints, with their bold and playful disregard for those social appearances, are meant to offer some liberation from that repression. Her current work includes the “Permanently Pressed” series, which is painted on a series of wooden ironing boards and is intended to poke fun at the traditional female gender stereotype of ideal home-maker, as most of the “ladies” are, in fact, men in drag. “It is also a stab at the beauty industry
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LEFT TO RIGHT THREE BATHING BEAUTIES 13” x 13” oil on paper DOLLYLAMA 13” x 13” oil on paper PERMANENT PRESS SERIES 12” x 48” oil on wood wendysexsmith.com
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and the idea of self-realization through cosmetic transformation as each of these characters is a composite of several bodies which come together to form one fully actualized being,” says Sexsmith. “Obviously they are not supermodels but their cheeky self-confidence inspires the possibility of redefining and embodying one’s own sense of beauty allowing for more gender flexibility in the process,” she adds.
— BRETT TAYLOR
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As a child, Jeffery Straker sat exploring the keys of his parents’ piano, hacking out tunes by ear. Fast forward a few decades and the 34-year-old singer-songwriter can be found exploring the country with a style of music all his own. “It’s best described as piano-driven cabaret pop,” Straker says with a smirk. He adds, “It’s like somebody took a big pot of folk and sprinkled it on top.” Straker bases himself out of two cities that connect him to the past and the future. Regina keeps him rooted to his rural prairie upbringing. He recalls listening to story-telling neighbours who would plant the seeds of his ability to paint vivid images with lyric and melody. “It was neat to see people riveted around the table listening to this story, seeing where it would go and wanting to know the next bit.” And then there’s Toronto, the city that reawakened Straker’s love for performing. When he moved to the big smoke, the then 21-year-old felt burnt out after a dozen years of studying classical music. “I discovered this vibrant singer-songwriter scene,” Straker says. “I was amazed by it. It was like discovering crack cocaine.”
— DEREK DOTTO
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Now on a Canada-wide tour in support of his third full-length album, Under the Soles of My Shoes, Straker has yet another disk, this one an unnamed EP, set for release this winter, with hopes of expanding his reach to Europe in the near future.
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