Outwords May/June 2013 Issue 201

OutWords // Letter to the Editor

queer views, news, issues

SPECIAL

PRIDE

FESTIVAL ISSUE!

PRIDE AND CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP HOW PRIDE REPRESENTS THE COMMUNITY LOOKING TOWARDS SUMMER: THE INSIDE SCOOP ON WINNIPEG AND BRANDON PRIDE, FOLK FEST AND JAZZ FEST

Outwords | May/June 2013 | Issue 201 | Serving the GLBT Community Since 1994 May / June 2013

// www.outwords.ca // 1

At Red River College, we’re committed to providing a safe, inclusive, welcoming environment for ALL.

blogs.rrc.ca/lgbtt

OutWords // Index

Being yourself

4

Letter to the Editor

5

8

Parliament passes gender identity protection

16

21

Brandon Pride reaches out to rural community

23

Winnipeg Folk Festival gearing for anniversary

24

All that jazz

26

celebrities’ coming-out stories

28

DOES Pride properly reflect the community

30

How to host your own Pride party

Editorial

6

14

What’s coming in Winnipeg Pride

The trouble with too much media

Starbucks CEO puts LGBT community before shareholder

11

20

International news briefs

National news briefs

Why companies support Pride

White as snow, in the spring Fashion feature

33

What can your GSA do for you GSA column

Filipino fashion showcase in Canada

34

Mentoring ain’t easy Spiritual column

May /June 2013 // www.outwords.ca // 3

OutWords // Letter To The Editor

SELF

EXPRESS ONE

HONESTLY

Formerly a religionist and now an open-minded rationalist (since 2012), I felt compelled to put fingers to keyboard and contribute some thoughts on the freedom of expression.

Religionists (like my former self) have always cherry-picked the beliefs they’re comfortable with. Sadly, however, homophobia isn’t on their things-to-ignore list. This ancient Biblical hateism has even influenced barelyreligious people, especially the youngsters, convincing them that non-heterosexuality is something backward and disgusting.

Sexual orientation is personal and certainly not the business of others. Also, I no longer believe love is an illusion and lust is a sin, but that they are the most powerful

Proud to to support support the the Proud

2013 Pride Winnipeg Festival human emotions. Good things can be suppressed for a while, but will always reemerge, like a ball in water.

Lesbians, gays, bi-sexuals, and transgender people should be shamelessly proud of their sexuality and not allow narrow-minded bullies to make them feel ashamed. Like Bruce Lee once said, “express oneself honestly,” a message I feel should resonate in everybody’s heart. So, regardless of what you seek in life, dare to be your true self and never conform to someone else’s way of life if it’s not for you.

- Harjit Singh Sagoo

TOGETHER WE ARE STRONGER. Camp Aurora gives youth the space to genuinely “be themselves” while enjoying all of the fun of being at camp. Please consider donating in support of Camp Aurora.

You can help make the difference for youth in our community. Visit www.campaurora.ca or phone 204-474-0212 to make a contribution.

PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT AND RUN WITH US. SATURDAY JUNE 1, 2013 W W W.RUNFORRIGHTS.ORG

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2013 Pride Winnipeg Festival Representing over 5,000 members committed to quality public services. www.cupe500.mb.ca

Representing over 5,000 members committed to quality public services.

AUGUST 27-30, 2013

OPEN REGISTR ATION IS NOW www.cupe500.mb.ca

CAMP AURORA IS A QUEER POSITIVE SUMMER CAMP FOR LGBTTQ* AND ALLIED YOUTH AGES 14-19 AND PEER YOUTH LEADERS AGES 20-26. CHECK OUT WWW.CAMPAURORA.CA FOR REGISTRATION FORMS AND MORE INFO.

OutWords // Editorial

Published by the outwords volunteer staff: editor : Ksenia Prints Social media editor : Miles McEnery News and music editor: Danelle Cloutier Entertainment editor: Graeme Coleman

ANTI-GAY COVERAGE

Sports, books and movies editor: Meg Crane

IN LOCAL MEDIA

Fashion and Beauty editor: Jefre Nicholls Food and lifestyle editor: Shayna Wiwierski

ESCALATING

art director & layout : Dylan Bekkering Assistant layout : Michele Buchanan Financial officer: Darron Field distribution: Jared Star, Terry Wiebe web manager: Vic Hooper sales representative: Cheryl Ezinicki

Editorial

Ksenia Prints

Cover Graphic: Dylan Bekkeirng contributors to this issue: Sean Snowden, Peter Carlyle-Gordge, Marina Koslock, Larkin Schmiedl, Ray Buteau, Marney Blunt, Eric Plamondon, Tim Morgan, Duncan McNairnay, Steph Johnson, Matthew Sawatzky, Chris Douglas, David Van Den Bossche. board of directors: Debbie Scarborough, Diane Ready, Kevin Hills, Barbara Bruce, Sky Bridges, Dale Oughton, Darron Field , Helen Fallding, Shayne Duguay, Gail Eckert, Liz Millward OutWords 201-63 Albert St. Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 1G4 Phone: (204) 942-4599 For office hours, please call.

General Inquiries: info@outwords.ca Editor: editor@outwords.ca Creative: creative@outwords.ca Advertising: sales@outwords.ca Distribution: distribution@outwords.ca Accounts: billing@outwords.ca Event Submissions: calendar@outwords.ca Letters Submissions: letters@outwords.ca Website: www.outwords.ca OutWords provides news, analysis and entertainment for the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, two-spirit and queer community and its allies.GST 89671 7618RT, ISSN 1715-5606 (print) ISSN 1715-5614 (online) Canada Post Publication Licence 416 99032, Contents copyright © 2013 OutWords Alll rights reserved. OutWords is a member of the Manitoba Magazine Publishers’ Association. Articles are not necessarily the views of the staff, management, or board. We accept no liability for our advertisers’ claims.

AMIDST PRIDE FESTIVAL PREPARATIONS, WINNIPEG MEDIA FOCUSES ON THE NEGATIVE

I

n the first week of April, Winnipeg newspapers featured several articles focusing on anti-gay sentiment in the fair province of Manitoba. The story that made particular waves was the closing of a restaurant in Morris after the gay couple who owned it decided they wouldn’t tolerate any more homophobia. With quotes like, “They should get the hell out of here. I don’t really like them - the service and who they are. …

It makes you feel uncomfortable,” anyone opening the Winnipeg Free Press on April.

2 would have thought they were magically transported into a backwater southern U.S. town. But no, folks, this is Manitoba in 2013.

I could wax poetical about how saddening and maddening it is to read words like that in our province, at this day and age. And I could rant about how this raises even more questions about our overall education and the demonstrated need for Bill 18, alongside some sensitivity training for adults. But instead, I’d like to point out just how incessant Winnipeg media’s coverage of all these instances has been.

Anti-gay sentiment and outright homophobia are not new. But the readiness to zone in on every single expression of hatred towards a vulnerable population that many Winnipeg media outlets exhibited lately reeks to me of sensationalism, and to some extent, of exploitation.

Perhaps the exposure given to Bill 18 and the resulting questioning of homophobia in Manitoba schools have caused some reporters to embark on a crusade to prove the local LGBT community is suffering. Or perhaps there has just been a conflagration of anti-LGBT sentiment in our province. But I would argue that putting these blatant expressions of hatred in print and on television does one thing very well: inspire more hatred.

Do I think we need to bury our heads in the sand and pretend trouble doesn’t exist, and let initiatives like Bill 18 fall by the wayside?

Absolutely not. Yet neither do I think our media needs to give every loud-mouthed bigot the chance to express their ignorance. In the days preceding Winnipeg’s 2013 Pride Festival, and when debate on LGBT rights rages across North America, we need to be selective and smart in our coverage of LGBT issues. We need to reflect the problems alongside the opportunities and victories, in a way that shows the diversity of the community and the variety of opinions in the general population. And I sure hope OutWords manages to do that, with a balance of good and bad news, views and issues of Manitoba’s LGBT community.

- Do you have a different opinion? Tweet us at @OutWords or write us a letter telling everyone just what you think. We appreciate some loud-mouthing!

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OutWords // International News // Compiled by Sean Snowdon

ARIZONA BILL TARGETS

STARBUCKS CEO PUTS

TRANS PEOPLE

LGBT COMMUNITY

USING THE ‘WRONG’

BEFORE SHAREHOLDER

BATHROOM

Arizona businesses can now ban people who use a bathroom that doesn’t match the sex on their birth certificate. Photo from Clkr.com.

PHOENIX, Arizona — A panel of lawmakers from the Arizona House of Representatives passed a law that allows businesses to ban people from using bathrooms that do not match their birth sex.

The original bill, proposed by Republican John Kavanagh, would have made it illegal for transgender residents to use restrooms, dressing rooms, or other segregated facilities unless they use the facility that matches the sex on their birth certificate.

Kavanagh introduced the bill, dubbed the ‘show your papers to pee’ bill in response to recent discrimination protections to ensure LGBT residents have access to employment, housing and public accommodations.

Many residents have criticized the bill as being fear-based and flat-out wrong, according to the Huffington Post, but the seven Republicans quickly advanced the bill anyway. It’s going to the full House for consideration after a routine review.

www.klinic.mb.ca Just Care 6 // May / June 2013 // www.outwords.ca

Starbucks CEO tells anti-gay shareholder to sell shares. Photo from thinkprogress.org.

SEATTLE, Washington—Starbucks has once again come out in support of the LGBT community, despite taking heat for this support last year.

An investor who believed Starbucks’ liberal views were negatively affecting business confronted Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz at its annual shareholders meeting. “In the first full quarter after this boycott was announced, our sales and our earnings – shall we say politely – were a bit disappointing,” Starbucks shareholder Tom Strobhar lamented, referring to the National Organization for Marriage’s global boycott of the coffee giant last year after Starbucks endorsed a Washington state bill to legalize gay marriage, which later passed.

Schultz was frank in response. “You can sell your shares of Starbucks and buy shares in another company. Thank you very much,” reported Out. Schultz’s statement was met with a round of applause from the audience.

RUSSIAN COURT

RULES GAY PRIDE

LEGAL

KOSTROMA, Russia—A landmark ruling in the Kostroma Regional Court has deemed the current regional ban on gay pride marches and two rallies illegal.

A bill banning the “propaganda of homosexuality” was voted into law in the Kostroma region in February 2012, making any marches, pickets, or rallies in support of the LGBT community illegal and punishable by law. The court found that the rallies and marches did not constitute as ‘propaganda of homosexuality’, rather a method of conveying information to the public, Gay Star News reported. Effective immediately, activists can apply for marches and rallies.

Photo from Perezhilton.com

But the Levada Center’s recent poll shows a generally unwelcoming attitude towards LGBT people in Russia. The results from the poll found that 87 per cent of Russian adults oppose holding regular gay pride events in their cities and 85 per cent strongly oppose making same-sex marriage legal.

OutWords // International News

ANTI-MARRIAGE PROTEST IN FRANCE

ATTRACTS OVER

300,000

HOUSE FACING WESTBORO BAPTIST CHURCH PAINTED RAINBOW COLOURS Aaron Jackson bought and painted this house neighbouring the Westboro Baptist Church with plans to develop an LGBT centre. Photo by Carol Hartsell, Huffington Post

TOPEKA, Kansas—The highly controversial Westboro Baptist Church (WBC) has a colourful new neighbor. Aaron Jackson, founder of non-profit organization Planting Peace, purchased 1200 SW Orleans Street—a property opposite to the church—and painted the house rainbow colours with plans to develop “Equality House,” a drop-in centre supporting LGBT and antibullying initiatives, reported the Huffington Post.

Jackson’s charity had yet to be involved in gay rights activism and he was unsure where to begin before the opportunity to buy the house presented itself. As WBC’s popularity among the highly-conservative crowd continues to dwindle, with its members leaving one by one, Jackson hopes Equality House will help contribute to the demise of the church.

TRANS TEACHER ENDURES

MEDIA HARASSMENT, DIES FROM UNKNOWN CAUSE

ACCRINGTON, England—Transgender elementary school teacher, Lucy Meadows, who became national news after media questioned whether her transition was “appropriate,” has died.

The school at which Meadows worked supported her transition from Nathan Upton to Lucy Meadows and wrote to parents in

December informing them of her transition.

Before her death, Meadows, 32, complained to the Press Complaints Commission (PCC) about the way she had been treated in the press after her transition was made public by a local paper and then national media in December.

Daily Mail columnist Richard Littlejohn is the spotlight of criticism for his piece that had the headline, “He’s not only in the wrong body... he’s in the wrong job.” No official cause of death has been released.

SUPPORTERS

PARIS—Parisian police estimate that over 300,000 protestors attended an anti-same-sex marriage march through the streets of Paris, while a similar event attracted 2,000 protestors in London. The events were organized by the French anti-gay marriage group Manif Pour Tous in protest of the likely legislation of a bill to legalize same-sex marriage in France.

A similar protest was staged in January, drawing over 400,000 people. Although both protests drew large numbers, opinion polls have shown that the majority of French citizens support legalizing same-sex marriage, according to The New York Times.

204.985.9200 OUTNABOUTTRAVEL.COM

May / June 2013 // www.outwords.ca // 7

OutWords // National News // Compiled by Sean Snowdon

YUKON SCHOOL’S CONTROVERSIAL POLICY ON HOMOSEXUALITY MAKING WAVES IN COMMUNITY

QUEBEC GOVERNMENT RUNS ADS TO COMBAT HOMOPHOBIA

WHITEHORSE, Yukon—Vanier Catholic Secondary School has come under fire for its use of church-based policy on homosexuality.

The school’s current policy describes homosexuality as being a “grave disorder,” “morally evil” and “intrinsically disordered,” according to CBC News.

Quebec government ad campaign asks viewers how open they are to sexual diversity.

QUEBEC CITY—The Quebec government has spearheaded a media campaign to raise awareness about homophobia in the province. Two ads currently running depict everyday scenarios that do not explicitly address sexual orientation, until the final moment when viewers may be caught offguard by a same-sex couple kissing. Viewers are then asked, “Does this change the way you thought 20 seconds ago?”

The five-year TV, radio and web campaign is meant to be positive and get

BILL TO PROTECT

TRANSGENDER CANADIANS

APPROVED, HEADED TO SENATE

OTTAWA— In a 6-0 decision, the Supreme Court of Canada has ruled that a Saskatchewan crusader violated Saskatchewan’s Human Rights Code when he distributed anti-gay pamphlets in 2000 and 2001.

The high court also refined the definition of hate speech by striking down some language in the provincial code, clearing William Whatcott of any

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people questioning how open-minded they really are, reported The Globe and Mail.

Prior to the campaign, the provincial government commissioned a survey to assess the acceptance of sexual diversity.

Results found that out of 800 Quebecers surveyed, 90 per cent identified themselves as being open to sexual diversity, yet only 40 per cent felt comfortable seeing a samesex couple showing affection in public. The government will run a second survey after the campaign has ended to see if there has been a shift in perceptions.

wrongdoing with the other two flyers.

The court found the language in the code that defines hate literature as something that “ridicules, belittles or otherwise affronts the dignity of any person” unconstitutional.

The Saskatchewan Human Rights Tribunal originally ordered Whatcott to pay a total of $17,500 to the four complainants for the pamphlets that referred to gay men as sodomites and pedophiles, according to the Winnipeg Free Press. The Supreme Court decision means he’ll have to pay one complainant $2,500 and another $5,000.

Whatcott, a born-again Christian, vowed to produce more pamphlets “taking issue” with the Supreme Court’s ruling and spreading his other views.

Katherine Mackwood, president of the Yukon Teachers’ Association, says teachers have transferred from Vanier Catholic Secondary School since its “change of vision” on homosexuality. Photo from CBC News

Yukon’s Minister of Education Scott Kent has described this policy as not meeting the Education Act and as likely contradicting the Charter of Rights and Freedom and the Yukon Human Rights Act. The Yukon Teachers’ Association (YTA), led by president Katherine Mackwood, has stated that several teachers at the school have asked for transfers due to the school’s “change of vision.”

Mackwood notes that morale has continually plummeted since Gary Gordon, Yukon’s bishop, took charge of Vanier’s policies several years ago.

Unrest at the Catholic school has ignited discussion in the community, resulting in a rally of over 250 attendees at the Yukon Legislative Assembly to ensure, among other things, that all public schools are upholding the Department of Education’s policy on gender identity and sexual orientation.

OutWords // National News

A double-page Canadian ad protests Uganda’s proposed anti-gay bill. Photo Michele Sibiloni, Getty Images.

CANADA FUNDS EFFORTS

TO COMBAT ‘KILL THE GAYS’ BILL IN UGANDA

OTTAWA—Since November of last year, Canada has spent $200,000 on a concerted effort to protect and aid gay Ugandans in their fight against the country’s anti-gay bill.

Funding from the Government of Canada has helped kick-start several projects in case the bill passes, including an emergency hotline, training for legal experts and activists in the region to fight the pending legislation and the planning of panels aimed at raising awareness on gay rights, according to the National Post.

The bill, which met international condemnation last year, sought stiffer punishment for its LGBT population, including life-long prison sentences and the possible implementation of the death penalty.

The bill has yet to come before the legislature for a vote and is currently fifth in line on a list of bills to be addressed.

The Comic Book Shoppe in Ottawa removed the work of an anti-gay writer from its shelves. Photo from Google streetview.

COMIC SHOP REMOVES BOOKS OF OUTSPOKEN ANTI-GAY WRITER OTTAWA—A comic book shop in Ottawa is showing its support for LGBT rights by removing the work of a vocally anti-gay writer from its shelves.

The shop, not far from Ottawa’s gay village, has received overwhelmingly positive response to its stand on writer Orson Scott Card’s opposition to gay rights. Rob Spittall, owner of The Comic Book Shoppe, expressed “there’s been a huge wave of support for us. I even got a message from a guy somewhere in the States, I believe North Carolina… saying congratulations and thanks so much

WINNIPEG HOSTS FIRST JEWISH GLBT CONFERENCE Local conference helps grow Canadian GLBT community

By Meg Crane

WINNIPEG – Manitoba will become the first Canadian province to host the World Conference of GLBT Jews, Keshet Ga’ava (Rainbow of Pride). The 21st international conference takes place July 5 to 7 at the Winnipeg Convention Centre.

The weekend is packed with meals, speakers, panel discussions and a film screening.

Conference co-chairs Paula Parks and Arthur Blankstein attended the 2010 event in Los Angeles and thought they could run a

better one. “Canada’s a much freer country,” said Blankstein, referring to the higher tolerance for the GLBT community in the country. “They’ve never held the conference in Canada,” said Blankstein. He said it will help grow the GLBT community in Winnipeg in particular and in Canada in general.

The conference is open to people of all faiths and sexualities. Blankstein said that the Professional Development Day, which

for taking a stand on things,” reports CBC News.

Card is set to contribute to the upcoming Adventures of Superman for DC Comics, which will not be stocked in Spittall’s shop. Card is both a member of the board of directors for the National Organization for Marriage, as well as an outspoken opponent of gay rights, recently being quoted as stating homosexuality is a “reproductive dysfunction” born of choice.

The shop will continue to provide the option to special-order Card’s work to accommodate the needs of serious collectors.

takes place the Friday of the weekend conference, would be particularly beneficial to anyone in the GLBT community who wants to learn how to interface with people outside the community better. The Professional Development Day is separate from the rest of the weekend and is paid for separately. Attendees do not need to sign up for the weekend in order to go to the Friday event.

Basic registration for non-members for the weekend is $325. Further information and details are available at www.keshetldorvdor.com.

- Meg Crane is the sports, books and movies editor for OutWords.

May / June 2013 // www.outwords.ca // 9

LINGERIE AND

SO MUCH MORE.

Lingerie from size small to 6X.

Now when you purchase our “Pride Lube” 10% of all sales go to a charity in the GLBTTQ Community

Bring this ad and get 10% off your purchase!

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OutWords // News

le this artic ed by or s n o p s proudly nes

nd Jo Banvilleearchants wine m

Selling diversity

Smart businesses see huge value in supporting GLBT* community

By Peter Carlyle-Gordge

C

onsider this: in 2010, Pride Toronto had an estimated economic impact of $136 million and created 600 jobs.

Although Pride Winnipeg does not produce such impressive figures, it’s an important contributor to the local economy and it can get a company’s brand noticed. Now that Pride Winnipeg is held at The Forks, companies are exposed to tens of thousands of attendees.

During Pride Winnipeg, local GLBT-friendly businesses are exposed to potential clients at PrideMART, where businesses show off their merchandise and services and get a chance to have face-to-face contact with existing or potential clients. Putting a corporate float in the parade is another way to get exposure, which may lead to many new customers in the future.

Companies serious about engaging with the affluent GLBT market regularly advertise in local and national gay magazines with market-specific ads, images and copy.

Target, Kraft and Toronto-Dominion Bank

(TD) are now using GLBT themes in both their advertising and PR. Earlier this year TD, one of the largest banks in Canada, began placing ads featuring gay and lesbian couples in the Toronto Star, the Globe and Mail, and in Postmedia-owned papers.

The ads feature two men and two women holding hands on a beach and two men cuddling on a couch and are part of TD’s “diversity strategy.” According to its PR material, TD’s goal is to position the bank as the GLBT community’s ‘bank of choice.’

Gordon McDiarmid, former general manager and advertising representative for OutWords, said the decision of mainstream companies to support GLBT events has many motives. One is simply to reach more affluent potential clients. “Some large corporations want to be seen as having a social conscience and as being supportive of the GLBT community,” he said. “For some, the GLBT community is a huge market segment which is wealthy by comparison with other national groups or segments.”

North American gays and lesbians spend more than $600 billion every year, according to Business.com, a resource website for small to medium-sized businesses. The website reports that smart business owners realize gays and lesbians are ideal customers because they are affluent. The website

May / June 2013 // www.outwords.ca // 11

OutWords // News

“There is no doubt that larger companies are now making a much bigger effort to approach and communicate directly with the GLBT community” Mark Schollenberg, Lambda. reports that the average annual income for a gay household in the United States is USD $61,000, 20.4 per cent higher than a heterosexual household.

McDiarmid said companies tying in with Pride Week also gain some exclusivity.

A good example is Half Pints Brewing Company, the beer company providing the Queer Beer for Pride events. “Some local GLBT business owners see it as an affordable way to tell other GLBT folk they are in business and desiring support,” he said.

In North America, there are 65 GLBT business organizations with a common aim of expanding economic opportunities for the GLBT community and its allies, said Mark Schollenberg, president of Lambda,

OutWords’

Manitoba’s GLBT business chamber. Schollenberg, also a commercial account manager with Royal Bank, said businesses supporting Pride Winnipeg and GLBT events in general makes huge business sense for businesses.

“A Financial Post article shows GLBT spending power exceeds that of any single ethnic group in Canada and it is similar in size to the spending power of the youth market,” he said. In Canada, “studies also show that GLBT people earn on average $18,000 a year more than the society norm. They also travel twice as much and spend twice as much when they do travel.”

Another key finding is that GLBT customers tend to be brand loyal. If you gain their trust at the start, they will likely stick

First Annual Fundraiser A spin off from the historical “Cocktails in the Trees”

Saturday, June 1, 2013 at the amazing Paterson GlobalFoods Institute’s Annex 504 Main Street, Winnipeg | 6:30 p.m. until midnight | $50 per person Silent auction, signature drinks, music, appetizers and more!!

You can pre-order tickets by contacting OutWords office managers at 204 942- 4599 or by email at editor@outwords.ca.

12 // April 2013 // www.outwords.ca

with you. “There is no doubt that larger companies are now making a much bigger effort to approach and communicate directly with the GLBT community,” said Schollenberg.

The Pride Toronto parade is a great example of companies coming out of their marketing closets to embrace the GLBT demographic. “It is now the largest one-day festival in the country and it attracts hundreds of thousands of people,” Schollenberg said. “As a marketing and PR vehicle, it’s excellent and companies know that.”

Pride Winnipeg may be on a much smaller scale but it’s still a great business opportunity, said Schollenberg. Ads in the Pride Guide and gay media are valuable because they have their largest readership during Pride Week. “Supporting diversity is the right thing to do, but for business it’s also a very smart thing to do.”

- Peter Carlyle-Gordge is a Winnipeg- based freelance writer, former producer for CBC radio and former Maclean’s writer.

OutWords // Life Style

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April 2013 // www.outwords.ca // 13

OutWords // Fashion

Gerry wears a white cotton suit & penny loafers by Joe Fresh; Mirror print eagle & star T-shirt from Zara (available at Zara. com); Clear resin glasses by RETROSUPERFUTURE.

BLANC

SLATE Model: Gerry King from MTV’s “1 Girl 5 Gays”

Fashion & Photography by Jefre Nicholls

Faux-pearl T-shirt from Zara; Leather vest by H&M; Tuxedo pants and pearl rosary from Forever XXI; White-leather biker boots, stylist’s own.

14 // May / June // www.outwords.ca

Just as one must exfoliate their face and a snake must shed its skin, so it is true that in fashion, in order to put a new layer on we must take off the old. Spring 2013 Menswear saw the strongest runway presentation of white in recent years. Everywhere, from Lanvin to McQueen, Givenchy to Phillip Lim, the crisp colour continued to be piled on like the last pristine layers of freshly fallen snow.

Although it’s not shocking to see white show in spring, in fact the shade is just as much a staple at the spring shows as Tim Blanks or “the Annas” (Wintour & Dello Russo). The difference this year, however, was evident. This season, it seems that absolutely everyone got the memo that when you do it, layer it on.

Blanc is back!

White modern vest from Zara; Kneelength shorts and oversized messenger bag

by Joe Fresh; Lace shirt from H&M.

May / June 2013 // www.outwords.ca // 15

OutWords // Fashion

GLOBAL FASHION PHILIPPINE FASHION WEEK IS COMING TO CANADA

By Jefre Nicholls

J

ust when fashionistas everywhere thought it was safe to dust-bag their Louboutins, a new fashion week has everyone texting, and this time it’s a fashion week with a heartbeat. The premiere of Canada Philippine Fashion Week (CPFW) in Toronto this June will mark the first time Canadian and Filipino creatives have worked together on a project that will benefit children’s charities in both countries. This labour of love was envisioned by executive director and founder, Jeff Rustia, who took some time out of his extremely busy press tour in Manilla, Philippines to give us a look into the incredibly personal, inspirational project.

OutWords: When did you get the idea to take on CPFW? Do you need to be a Filipino-Canadian to attend, and what has the response to the project been?

Jeff Rustia: I was inspired last year when I visited the Philippines at how incredible and global the Philippines’ fashion scene was. It was during my sabbatical for my late son Kol’s passing that I was exposed to the artistry and creativity of the Filipinos. So when I came back to Toronto, I wrote four words down on a piece of napkin. Canada Philippine Fashion Week. My late father always taught me when you have a dream, write it down, and it will come true. WOW! The power of visualization and releasing your dreams into the universe. Within eight months, those four words on the napkin became a reality.

And now, for the first time ever in Toronto, the whole world can experience the best and most iconic Filipino fashion designers from both the Philippines and in Canada! All in honour of my late son,

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Kol, whose legacy of love, charity and hope will continue on through this incredible monumental fashion charity event.

The response to this project has been phenomenal! Just the press conference here in Manila is pure indication of its buzz. From high-rated talk shows, to every mainstream newspaper, to the Philippine’s top fashion magazines, everyone is talking about CPFW. The event has truly captivated the imagination of everyone - largely because it is a fashion event with a heart, as all proceeds will go to my late son’s foundation… to help children with disabilities in the Philippines and Canada.

And this event could have not come at a more opportune time in Canada, as Filipinos are now the third largest ethnic group in the country, with over 800,000 FilipinoCanadians. Canada census has estimated that in five years alone, there will be one million Filipinos in Canada. Wow! OW: What is the biggest difference between CPFW and other international fashion weeks?

JR: Canada Philippine Fashion Week is definitely one of the first ethnically and culturally-driven fashion weeks ever produced.

It is a dazzling week of Filipino fashion, culture, entertainment, philanthropy and 100 per cent Filipino heart and pride! It is different from other fashion weeks in that it is also a non-profit organization, aimed solely at helping children. All our sponsorships and partnerships are not for commercial gain, but rather for fundraising, all to benefit the Kol Hope Foundation for Children, which is the only charity that helps kids with disabilities in both countries.

Besides its philanthropic purpose, CPFW is aimed at opening up the trade and the fashion economy between the two countries.

The Philippines is one of the world’s largest clothing manufacturers and a hub for pure talent and creativity and fashion design.

It is also home to some of the most exotic, indigenous and beautiful fabrics, beadwork and textiles in the world. It’s time Canada and the rest of the world look to the Filipinos for fashion!

OW: In your experience, what is it about the Filipino culture that makes many of its people so creatively driven? How do you think the event will be received by the community both in the Philippines and here in Canada?

JR: By its history alone, the Philippines has been influenced by so many cultures, from the indigenous tribes, to 400 years of Spanish rule, to the Chinese, the Japanese and the Americans - it is not a surprise that Filipinos and their fashion sense are truly global! The Filipinos have always been known for their

“It is a dazzling week of Filipino fashion, culture, entertainment, philanthropy and 100 per cent Filipino heart and pride!” creativity and artistry and have proven to the world that its people and talents are quickly becoming its top resource! The event has already garnered so much attention. I am amazed at the daily queries we have for tickets. I am confident that Canadians will absolutely love CPFW. OW: Would you like to see this continue as a yearly event?

JR: Yes, in fact it was created to become a yearly event. And CPFW is now officially a member of Festival and Events Ontario, and [it was] designed to become an annual Canadian festival, celebrating the beauty, fashion and culture of Filipino Canadians every year! From the Philippine side, I am happy to announce that CPFW is now an official Philippine Department of Tourism and Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs event in North America.

OW: With many creative directors at the helm of major fashion houses around the world originating from Asian and Pan-Asian countries, do you hope to draw some mainstream, high-end designers to start to show at CPFW? JR: In fact, we are happy to announce that among the many fashion luminaries coming from the Philippines, we are opening the show with top fashion designer John Ablaza with his incredible 45-piece Couture Philippine collection. We are also bringing to Toronto the iconic Francis Libiran and his “100” dress collection, comprised of 70 runway pieces, and 30 [retro] pieces on mannequins, the dresses worn by Tyra Banks and “America’s Next Top Model” [contestants].

OW: Finally, who and what will you be wearing to the main event?

JR: The Philippine’s top fashion designer Francis Libiran is making me a unique black barong with unusual skulls embroidery, as opposed to the usual flower pattern. Also on another night, I’ll be wearing his well-fitted blazer and suit pants made of Filipino fabrics. Needless to say, only the Philippines’ best styles for me, that week!

Get ready for the Filipino fashion revolution in Canada!

CPFW runs from June 10-15, 2013. Check out www.kolhope.com to learn more about the charity it’s sponsoring, Kol Hope Foundation for Children.

- Jefre Nicholls is the fashion editor for OutWords.

Henri Matisse. Nude on a Yellow Sofa, 1926. oil on canvas. National Gallery of Canada.

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We Are Proud to Stand up for all Manitobans

Happy pride!

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2 OutWords // Entertainment

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PRIDE WINNIPEG FESTIVAL STEPS IT UP WITH TWO MAJOR HEADLINERS AND A GREATER PRESENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY

I

t’s the happ-happiest season of all! That’s right, it’s time to celebrate our Pride, and this year, we all have a lot of reasons to be proud. President of Pride Winnipeg Jonathan Niemczak said Pride Winnipeg’s proudest achievement this year was how they have become a greater presence, not just within the LGBTT* community, but within Winnipeg.

Niemczak noted that this was the first year they’ve had a float in the Winnipeg Santa Claus Parade, they have become more connected with the Rainbow Resource Centre and they are expanding their own reach within the community. “We have recently added a community liason position to our committee,” he continued. “This person will be one who takes the pulse of the community at large, recognizing their goals and receiving feedback from this. From this, we will be able to modify the plans and operations within Pride, in order to prioritize the wants and needs of the community.”

With this year’s mantra of “equALL,” along with the community outreach and collaborative developments, the 2013 Pride Winnipeg festival hopes to draw in more than the 30,000 attendants of last year. Niemczak excitedly describes that CabarGay, Pride’s variety show fundraiser, was able to bring two drag artists, Electra Storm and Penelope Vanderloon, out of retirement for this special occasion.

The most exciting thing of all is that the festival will have two major headliners this year. The first act is Ultra Naté, an American

20 // May / June 2013 // www.outwords.ca

female dance-pop sensation, who will be followed on stage by Kristina Maria, a Canadian-born chart-topper.

Our “Pride of the Prairies” is the largest celebration between Vancouver Pride and Toronto Pride and after many years and many milestones, there is a lot to remember in the history, culture, and spirit of the people within the Winnipeg community.

Collin Wynter, best known as the Internet sensation Dancing Guy after he was caught dancing up a storm at the Sasquatch music festival, recounted his Pride journey. “Well, my very first Pride, I was chained up to a float as Cupid,” he begins, recounting the years. “Last year, I did a news piece on the 25th anniversary for Outlook TV. I have volunteered for Pride, painting my buddy and I in body paint in front of a group of people. I’ve done it all: I’ve done drag, been Ms. Gio’s and had my own float. I’ve been on rollerblades in every way one can go in rollerblades,” Wynter said. And just when I thought he was done, Wynter admitted he was also on the first cover of Swerve, the progenitor of OutWords.

He has also participated in the Vancouver, Calgary, and Melborne’s Pride celebrations. Wynter is now based out of Melbourne as a DJ for JOY 94.9, an LGBTT* volunteer-based community radio station, but he will be keeping up and sending support to his Winnipeg comrades as they march through the streets, who may or may not also be chained to a float.

- Marina Koslock is a Winnipeg-based freelance writer.

OutWords // Entertainment

THE PLAN: • Pride Winnipeg, the ever-present voice within the community, kicks off its official 10-day festival on May 24.

• The Pride Day Rally at the Manitoba Legislative Building will begin at 11 a.m. on June 2, at Broadway and Memorial. Rain or shine, there will be thousands of people on the steps of the building, getting excited for the day. Following the rally, the parade through downtown Winnipeg will begin at noon on the dot. Pride’s goal is to have the floats and marching groups of people flooding the streets with our own brand of rainbow.

• After the march ends back at the Manitoba Legislative Building, it’s on to The Forks for an afternoon of singing, frolicking at the food vendors and beer tents with Pride’s own Queer Beer and celebrating with live music all day.

Community groups and local businesses will have outlets set up and don’t forget about the Manitoba Teachers’ Society, who sets up a kid zone for families and children to enjoy the day.

• At the end of that beautiful day, Pride-goers will enjoy a night dancing away at the official dance party. Early– bird tickets are now available on the Pride website, with special early–bird pricing, but just like all good things, these ticket prices won’t last forever, so get them while they’re hot.

• For more information and to see the full 2013 program, keep checking back with www.pridewinnipeg.com.

MORE PRAIRIE PRIDE BRANDON, SECOND CITY IN MANITOBA TO OFFICIALLY CELEBRATE PRIDE

By Graeme Coleman

Manitoba’s second largest city is spreading Pride through our prairie province this summer for the fourth year. Brandon Pride officially formed in 2009 and has been gradually growing since.

Michael Nelson, chair of the Brandon Pride Committee, said he’s grateful there hasn’t been much opposition and they are slowly able to build as they progress. This year’s theme is “Out of This World.”

Nelson said it’s all about “looking ahead in the LGBT community in Brandon, in Manitoba, Canada and the world.”

The weekend-long Pride celebration kicks off with a lunch and evening event for all ages. “We’re doing something where we can get the LGBT youth in the community involved in Brandon Pride,” said Nelson. A barbecue is held the next day in a central city park, followed by an adult-only social at Westridge Community Centre.

The festivities end with a Pride church service Sunday at Knox United Church.

Jonathan Niemczak, president of Pride Winnipeg, thinks it’s great Brandon is celebrating Pride and wishes Winnipeg was a little more involved. “We talked about the possibility of getting whoever’s available from our board to do a road trip out to Brandon and go to their Pride right after ours,” said Niemczak. “It would be nice if we could work out a tour bus plan or something where we get a bunch of people from Brandon to come down to our Pride and vice versa.”

Niemczak said he would love to see other Manitoba cities have their own Pride festival too, but understands the barriers that might exist. “It’s not always the discrimination and prejudice part of it. Finance plays a big part too,” said Niemczak. And as most of Manitoba cities are close to Winnipeg geographically, it’s easier for people to travel in rather than start their own Pride - especially since Pride Winnipeg Festival is already well established with great attendance and programming.

At the same time, if someone feels there is discrimination where they live, Niemczak encourages them “to start a Pride because Pride is very much a root of the [equality] movement.”

Brandon Pride celebrations will be taking place from June 14-16.

Will you be attending? Tweet us @OutWords to let us know!

- Graeme Coleman is the entertainment editor for OutWords.

May / June 2013 // www.outwords.ca // 21

OutWords // Columns/Opinions

22 // May / June 2013 // www.outwords.ca

0 4 OutWords OutWords // Letter // Entertainment to the Editor

THE BIG FOUR-OH

Winnipeg Folk Fest celebrates its 40th anniversary with a revamped site and many surprises

Photo by David Van Den

By Marney Blunt

S

ummertime is upon us and so are the five days full of music, culture and creativity that make Winnipeggers flock to Birds Hill Provincial Park every July. The 2013 Winnipeg Folk Festival is the celebration of the festival’s 40th anniversary and it’s looking like it’s going to be a grand celebration.

The festival will be celebrating the past four decades in several ways, including a ’74 workshop that will highlight some of the first artists to play at the festival, a 40th anniversary beer and a memorabilia tent. “Connecting generations is kind of the theme we’ve been working with internally this year. Trying to draw lines between the first festival and where we are today,” said Chris Frayer, the festival’s artistic director. The festival is also launching its new site development plan that will include new stages and a new vendor area. “The whole site is going to look different this year.”

The performance lineup is also celebrating the milestone anniversary by welcoming back many of the artists who performed at the first Winnipeg Folk Festival in 1974. Some of the classic performers who are returning to the stage include the gospelblues musician Ken Whiteley, jazz-blues singer and guitarist Leon Redbone, as well as great Canadian artists such as Sylvia Tyson and Stringband. Some of other highlights of the festival include Xavier Rudd, Dr. John and The Nite Trippers, Martin Sexton, Danny Michel and The Garifuna Collective, City and Colour and many more. City and Colour, led by the former frontman of Alexisonfire Dallas Green, will be hitting the main stage for their first time at the fest on Wednesday night.

Canadian songwriter Danny Michel will be bringing his natureloving lyrics to the main stage on Friday night, along with his West African percussion group The Garifuna Collective. Michel, who played in Winnipeg last fall, recently recorded an album in Belize with The Garifuna Collective, titled Black Birds are Dancing Over Me. Frayer added that people should definitely check out A Tribe Called Red, “who are a really great aboriginal group from Ottawa. They do what we call electronic pow wows. That’ll be really cool.”

The JD Edwards Band, a Winnipeg-based folk-rock band, is a local must-see at this year’s festival. The band is playing at the Winnipeg Folk Festival for the first time this year and they are honoured to be a part of the festival’s 40th anniversary, as it is something that frontman JD Edwards looks forward to every year. “I have attended Folk Festival every year I have been in Winnipeg. Ever since 2006 the festival has been the best part of the year for me, the band and all our friends,” said Edwards. “We plan for months in advance of where we are going to camp, what we will bring to make the weekends epic and who we are excited to see perform. It’s one of the most fun weekends of the year.”

Frayer also believes that this will be another memorable year at the Winnipeg Folk Festival. “Every year you don’t come is another year you’re going to regret that decision,” Frayer laughs. “It’s one of the beautiful things about living where we live in the summertime.

Along with a lot of other great festivals, with Folk Festival there’s that camping element in a beautiful setting at Birds Hill Park. With the new site unveiling and the 40th anniversary, it’s going to be a great time for people to come out.”

Visit www.winnipegfolkfestival.ca for more information.

- Marney Blunt is a journalism student in Red River College and the University of Winnipeg’s Creative Communications joint-degree program.

May May//June June 2013 // www.outwords.ca // 23

OutWords // Entertainment

Our Opening Act

Jazz Fest is first in line for Winnipeg’s festival season

By Eric Plamondo

W

e were set to meet at The Neighbourhood Bookstore & Cafe for a peanut butter and tofu sandwich. She was already there, perusing shelved books, searching for a recorded story that would inspire. This is exactly why I wanted to meet her. “Her” being Stylus Radio host Sarah Michaelson, a perennial local celebrity DJ known as Mama Cutsworth. Talking to Sarah is like slipping into a Lee Fields song: it’s full of ageless soul, blending historical wisdom with a youthful, slow-paced rhythm that still has crescendo tempo moments, leaving you nodding in gentle agreement. Seated at our table with the midday sun warming us, the conversation quickly turned to the TD Winnipeg International Jazz Festival, our city’s opening act to a steady stream of summer festivals; although in the tantric experience that is summer festivals in Winnipeg, the Jazz Festival is an act on its own, far from being just a foreplay necessity.

She knows I’m not all that jazz. So she gently reminds me that even though the Jazz Fest is anchored with a capital “J,” it reaches many worlds. “Many genres are inspired by jazz,” said Michaelson. “For example, hip hop is often based on old jazz samples. So is soul and funk.” Some of this year’s guaranteed-tobe-sold-out shows like Orgone and The Roots prove this point.

Bizarrely, it’s also the source of criticism that Jazz Fest ain’t that jazzy. This is a criticism that Michaelson feels most festivals face as musical genres are fluid and don’t fit neatly in a pre-described box. How does one describe Bettye LaVette, who’ll be performing at the festival this year? She has been singing for 50 years and can easily count Aretha Franklin amongst her peers. Is she jazz, soul, or a genre onto herself? Same challenge for young Canadian performer Maylee Todd, whose soulful but jazzy song “Baby’s Got It” is becoming a staple to CKUW listeners. But that’s also why she will fit nicely with indie powerhouse Royal Canoe, Boats and Cannon Bros. on Saturday’s

24 // May / June 2013 // www.outwords.ca

indie night in Old Market Square (in case you have forgotten, the free concerts on opening weekend have become the Jazz Fest’s favourite gift to Winnipeg).

Later that day I found myself sharing a pint with Jazz Fest - assigned photographer, Duncan McNairnay, at Cousin’s Deli & Lounge. I soon concluded that the feelings music enthusiasts get from attending the Jazz Fest is what Catholics must feel like after lent.

Deprived of what we love most for most of the year, the Jazz Fest and its free concert weekend offers the first big thing, the first summer spir-

some challenges to being a photographer for Jazz Fest. He, like I, are not avid jazz followers. So often, he will be assigned a show by an artist he knows nothing about. This is where discoveries are made. “I plan to be there for two to three songs, get the shots I need and move on to the next show. But more often than not, I push it to five or six songs because I am enjoying what is happening with this unknown performer.” He goes on to state that he gets into the act, but the weight of the camera always reminds him to take a picture. “Which is why I end up taking a lot of body shots of the performer, because I get entranced with what they are doing.”

If I learned anything from McNairnay and Michaelson, it’s that Moses Mayes will give the opening free weekend’s retro comfort closer, but the real closer and the real “what the F just happened” musical moment will come with Questlove, DJ and co-founder of

Photo by Duncan McNairnay

I soon concluded that the feelings music enthusiasts get from attending the Jazz Fest is what Catholics must feel like after lent. ited gathering of Winnipeg’s most interesting people. Jazz Fest offers what it knows we want.

We expect to see acts like Trio Bembe and Moses Mayes on the lineup. McNairnay chimes in with a simple explanation, saying “it’s more surprising than important. You would think it gets dull, but it ends up being what you check out, what you always come back to and end up having a great time, every time.” As an assigned photographer, McNairnay has to cover a lot of ground to capture all that is going on during the festival. And as someone who only travels by bike, he only manages because Jazz Fest is concentrated in downtown Winnipeg.

Halfway through our second pint, the pint-sized photographer admits that there are

The Roots. He has the last set at the Pyramid Cabaret on the last Sunday of the festival. He might spin some obscure Central American music, as he did the last time he was in town, or he may not. But he will create an experience that makes me glad that I don’t know everything about jazz - allowing a magical moment of discovery. Something we all desire in this winter-sieged town.

For a full lineup of the 2013 TD Winnipeg International Jazz Festival please visit jazzwinnipeg.com.

— Eric Plamondon is a Winnipeg-based freelance writer.

OutWords // Entertainment

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OutWords // Entertainment

OUT

&

COMING

By Larkin Schmiedl

Trend of recent celebrity coming-out stories make us proud

W

hen celebrities come out, the world is watching. This gives special weight to the public acknowledgement of their sexuality. Although coming out should be a personal process, celebrities often get caught up in the media coverage, with its altering of their image and the invasion of privacy, combined with the sense of opportunity and pressure to contribute to the LGBTQ community.

In 2012 and early 2013, the world saw a number of celebrities publicly come out. Some had been in glass closets, already with much media speculation of their sexualities, while others’ true sexuality couldn’t be foreseen. Whether they simply slipped the names of their significant others into award speeches or gave us a deep, emotional statement, we have a lot to be proud of in this short period of time.

THE HIGHLIGHTS Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Frank Ocean had a brave coming out, reached after inner turmoil. At age 25, in July, Ocean posted a letter on Tumblr confessing his bisexuality. “The night I posted it, I cried like a fucking baby,” he told reporters. “In the last year or three I’ve screamed at my creator, screamed at the clouds in the sky, for some explanation.”

Although Ocean was worried about the move’s impact on his career, he told interviewers at GQ Magazine that since coming out he feels “like a free man.”

“I don’t have any secrets I need kept anymore,” he said.

Beyoncé and Russell Simmons, one of the richest figures in hip hop, quickly embraced his announcement.

Anderson Cooper, CNN anchor and talk show host, came out the same week in a letter to writer Andrew Sullivan. Cooper said he has always been out to the people in his life, but until

26 // March 2013 // www.outwords.ca

Orlando Cruz is the first boxer to be openly gay recently didn’t feel the need to make his homosexuality public. In the letter, he said he preferred to keep his sexuality private due to his dangerous work as a journalist, with its need to remain objective and blend into any situation. However, Cooper came to feel it was important to stand up as a proud gay celebrity.

He wrote, “It’s become clear to me that by remaining silent on certain aspects of my personal life for so long, I have given some the mistaken impression that I am trying to hide something... This is distressing because it is simply not true. I’ve also been reminded recently that while as a society we are moving toward greater inclusion and equality for all people, the tide of history only advances when people make themselves fully visible.”

He won the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation’s highest honour a few months later.

World-class boxer Orlando Cruz came out in October in what was arguably the bravest coming out story of recent times.

The first boxer to be openly gay, Cruz, 31, competes in a milieu dominated by machismo.

With the end of his boxing career not far off, Cruz told reporters it was time for him to make peace with himself. Cruz had known he was gay since age 19, but struggled with coming to terms with it for a long time. Having grown up in a

OutWords // Letter to the Editor

homophobic Puerto Rican town, he saw a friend stabbed to death on the street for taking part in a Pride parade. In an interview with Spiegel Online, Cruz said, “This game of hide-and-seek was incredibly strenuous and it took a lot of energy out of me. Now I’m hoping that I can put that energy into my training.”

After extensive preparations that involved Cruz seeing a psychologist and planning media relations work, with his promoter doing background research to feel out how the news would be received, Cruz told media 95 per cent of reactions have been positive. “I had the feeling that the spectators accepted me. They kept calling out my name, much louder than during my earlier fights,” he said.

Cruz’s story stands in juxtaposition to Jodie Foster’s hotly-debated coming out speech at the Golden Globe Awards in January 2013. In a confusing speech that began nervously and appeared to build up to some announcement about her sexuality, Foster, 50, cracked a wry joke, avoided confronting the topic and instead spoke about how important privacy is to her. She said she came out “in the Stone Age” and had to fight for a normal life. She did credit her ex-partner

in her speech, whom she has mentioned publicly before.

Foster may have had the opposite effect to what she intended. While trying to downplay her sexual orientation, her words got media and bloggers discussing the topic, alternately criticizing or defending Foster for her disinclination to be ‘loud and proud.’

Other notable coming outs in the past year have included Lana Wachowski’s, codirector of The Matrix series, candid speech revealing she is transgender. Wade Davis,

The original Green Lantern came out midway through 2012 ex-NFL player, made headlines when he came out in the spring. Davis told the press he did not want to be defined by his sexuality during his time in the NFL. Alan Scott, the original Green Lantern, came out in comic-character form midway through 2012 in “Earth-Two.” His character was matter-of-factly portrayed reuniting with his boyfriend after being apart, including a kiss.

“Good Morning America” weatherman Sam Champion married his longtime partner after revealing in October that he was gay, a fact which was long-known to friends and colleagues. He is one of the best-known weather anchors on American television.

Actor Matt Bomer’s coming out was in line with the trend of the year. Bomer, who played a role in Magic Mike and is the lead on American TV show “White Collar,” quietly thanked his male partner and their kids in his acceptance speech for an award for his work against AIDS. He said he never tried to hide anything. “I have a network and a show riding on my shoulders,”said Bomer He said getting more involved in the fight against HIV helped him decide to come out.

Coming out for anyone is a personal decision based on a multitude of factors, such as family, career, friends, geography and personal history. When celebrities come out, it shows the world we really are everywhere.

- Larkin Schmiedl is a freelance journalist based in Kamloops, B.C. He acts as LGBTI contributing editor with rabble.ca, hosted a queer-issues radio show called Gaydio for two years, and loves to write about social and environmental justice issues.

21st WORLD CONFERENCE OF GLBT JEWS WINNIPEG MB CANADA JULY 5-7 2013 Join us and experience: Professional Development Day with Keshet, North American grassroots organization that works for the full equality and inclusion of LGBT persons

World Congress of GLBT Jews Keshet Ga’avah

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Main Conference to include: International Keynote Speakers including Joy Ladin, Jay Michaelson and Lesléa Newman 10 Seminar sessions on a variety of topics Cultural/social events, entertainment, tours, networking

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With the development of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg, this is the place to celebrate diversity!

May / June 2013 // www.outwords.ca // 27

OutWords // Lifestyle & Food

is presently under review. “The Pride rally is a great staging ground to speak in support of the community,” said Niemczak. “We want to give them [politicians] an opportunity to speak.”

Pride events are also attended by straight allies such as Trina Larsen, whose support for an out-of-the-closet lesbian colleague in the mid-1990s prompted her to take action. She too has noticed the change in the atmosphere of Pride, from serious and political to more

“I think there’s one thing we need to be aware of when a movement evolves: to not go backwards, to always be even more inclusive.” - Lisa Small

POLITICAL ANIMAL OR PARTY BEAST? Pride evokes a certain image, but some question if it properly reflects the community

By Armande Martine Pride events today are all about having fun, allowing participants to let loose and party. But it wasn’t always that way.

Jim Rondeau, Manitoba’s minister of healthy living, seniors and consumer affairs, is a regular Pride Winnipeg participant. He remembers the origin of Pride as a political movement that arose from the Stonewall riots — a series of spontaneous demonstrations against a police raid that occurred in the early morning of June 28, 1969 at the Stonewall Inn, a gay club in Greenwich Village, New York City.

Fifteen years after Stonewall, on Aug. 2, 1987, Winnipeg held its first Pride Day. About 250 people attended. Some wore paper bags over their heads to conceal their identity for fear of repercussions. In 1987, homophobia was still a common fact of life in Canada; being “out of the closet” often meant being out of a job.

Today, Pride Winnipeg goes on for a week and about 30,000 people participate. What was once an event with a heavy political message now resembles Mardi Gras.

In recent years, politicians have not even been allowed to speak at the rally, a situation Minister Rondeau laments.

Perhaps that will change. Jonathan Niemczak, Pride Winnipeg president, says that decision was enacted years ago by the board and

28 // May / June 2013 // www.outwords.ca

celebratory and fun. For her, the fact some choose to express their more-flamboyant side at the event is not an issue.

“I don’t think anyone gets to pick and choose which part of the community gets celebrated,” Larsen said.

Minister Rondeau concurs. “What we want is to treat people like people and stop judging on appearance. I think that the media tends to focus on individuals that are more extreme. Pride is a very individual thing — some people dress more conservatively, some people dress more flamboyantly.”

Niemczak says the board of Pride Winnipeg does not try to define the festival itself. “That’s not in our mission or our vision, mainly because Pride is different things to different people. Some people see it as a civil rights movement, others as a big party gettogether with your friends, and still others view it as an annual community gathering.”

For Bob Burgess and Brent Young, Pride’s unofficial mascots, the festival is all about the fun. The pair — better known as “Pictoria Secrete” (Picky) and “Gloria Booth” (Glory) — are the ones whose pictures show up in the media because of their outrageous attire.

Both sport beards and refer to themselves as “gender benders.” “We’ve been described as performance artists,” said Young.

When they started wearing their campy costumes to Pride in Winnipeg, they felt the focus of the event change. “We saw a shift and it was on us,” said Young. “There was all this attention all at once and it’s a big kick. So we kept up on it.” Their fame has since spread far and wide. They even won “Best Costume” in Toronto’s 2008 Pride Parade.

For people like Lisa Small, a Pride ally who is in her mid 20s, diversity is something to embrace. She also hopes that Pride continues to evolve. “I think there’s one thing we need to be aware of when a movement evolves: to not go backwards, to always be even more inclusive.” To her, transgender is today’s hot-button issue.

Niemczak agrees. “We definitely need to do more ‘trans’ awareness with our programming. We are looking at ways in which we can cover these areas that are currently being neglected and ‘trans’ is definitely on the forefront of that.”

Unfortunately, those messages can be hard to get out. As Niemczak concludes, “the media has a very narrow view of what Pride is.”

- Armande Martine is a ‘newly out’ provincial civil servant and mother of three.

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Columns/Opinions OutWords // Lifestyle & Food

By Shayna Wiwiersk

Keep it simple and most importantly, have fun.

A

lthough Pride is filled with many events around the city, who says that you can’t throw your own soirée to celebrate? We dropped by Red River College’s (RRC) brand-new Paterson GlobalFoods Institute and asked the students to create some fabulous appetizer and cocktail recipes to celebrate Pride in style.

“The number one thing is to plan ahead,” says Keith Müller, the dean at the school of hospitality and culinary arts at Red River College. “Have enough to eat, have a variety of things and consider people with allergies.

Also, don’t go too weird with ingredients and keep it simple. You as the host want to enjoy it as well…so do as much ahead of time as you can.

Remember the little details. If you are serving olives, make sure you have somewhere your guests can put the olive pits. Think of all aspects of the party, from set up to clean up, so you’re not up until 3 a.m. disposing of garbage.

As for food, the students in the culinary arts program at RRC came up with delicious appetizer and two cocktails that will make your party the talk of the town. The tantalizing braised leg of pheasant with mushroom-horseradish couscous and applecalvados jus is sure to impress your guests, but it’s also quick and easy to put together.

For cocktails to serve with your hors d’oeuvres, we recommend the ginger citrus margarita and the rosemary citrus cocktail.

“The rosemary citrus cocktail is something that is a bit different,” says Müller.

“You wouldn’t normally think of putting rosemary in a drink. For the margarita, ginger and lemon go well together.”

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Braised leg of pheasant with mushroom-horseradish couscous and apple-calvados jus

Braised leg of pheasant 4 legs of pheasant 2 litres of poultry stock Thyme Rosemary Peppercorns Bay leaf 2 Shallots 1 bulb garlic 2 cups red wine

Brown the legs of pheasant in a heavy-bottom pot. Once evenly browned on all sides, remove from pot and add shallots and garlic.

Once the vegetables start to brown, add herbs and cook briefly to build flavours and aroma, and then deglaze with the red wine.

Reduce red wine until almost dry then add the stock and pheasant legs. The legs should be covered with liquid, adjust as needed.

Cover the pot with aluminum foil and bring to a gentle simmer. Cook until the pheasant is tender but not totally falling apart, this will take a couple of hours.

Mushroom-horseradish couscous 2 cups couscous 3 cups stock 2 tablespoons minced shallots 1 tablespoon minced garlic 1 1/2 tablespoons horseradish 1 cup diced mushrooms 1/4 cup red wine vinegar 3/4 cup red wine Chopped parsley Butter

Toast the couscous until golden and the nutty aroma forms. Sauté mushrooms; once they begin to brown add red wine vinegar and red wine and reduce until almost dry.

Sauté garlic, shallots and horseradish, add the couscous and stock, then put in a low oven to finish cooking. Once the couscous is cooked, add the mushrooms, parsley, and butter and season with salt and pepper.

Apple-calvados jus 2 apples peeled and diced 1/4 cup calvados 2cups stock Zest from 1 lemon 2 cups braising liquid Butter Sauté apples, flambé with calvados and cook until flame is gone. Add braising liquid and stock and reduce until 1 cup remains seasoned and finish the sauce with lemon zest and butter.

Ginger citrus margarita 1 oz. gold tequila ¼ oz. Cointreau 1 oz. Domaine de Canton Ginger Liqueur 1 ½ oz. lemon juice

Combine in a shaker ice, tequila, Cointreau, Ginger liqueur and lemon juice. Shake and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a lemon wheel.

Rosemary citrus cocktail 1 ½ oz. vodka Dash of simple syrup 2 oz. lemon juice 2 sprigs of rosemary

In a shaker, combine vodka, simple syrup, lemon juice, ice and one sprig of rosemary.

Shake well and strain into a cocktail glass.

Garnish with a sprig of rosemary.

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March 2013 // www.outwords.ca // 31

OutWords // Columns & Opinions

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GSA

By Sara Kenny, Garden City Collegiate GayStraight Allianc

In our second GSA column, a student shares her experience about how the alliance can make life a bit better

H

igh school sucks.

Being raised by a high school teacher, I was aware of this fact for a very long time. High school is where personalities clash and your face turns into a breeding ground for volcanoes while you and every single person around you is going through the awkward transition from childhood to the real world. I knew what I was getting into on my first day of Grade 9.

I never really thought about it much more than that. High school was the place where I’d have to morph into an adult for all to see and there was nothing else to it. All I had to do was keep my head down and get to the other side alive. Trying not to cringe at the mention of “that’s so gay” in the halls was another pretty big aspect of my life too.

Three years ago, I heard an announcement for Garden City’s first-ever Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA). There would be snacks for all that attended. Free lunch and a safe space? Of course I was down. It took some time to get into the groove of things in the GSA, but through being a part of it, I came to one of those after-school-special realizations: I didn’t have to let high school suck as much as it did, I could actually do

something to try to make things better.

Mind blowing, I know.

So that was what I decided to do. Since then, I’ve been there on every opportunity I’ve had. Bake sales? Of course I was there, selling delicious brownies. Rainbow ribbons needed making? I was so there. Bill 18 getting opposed? Guess who was collecting signatures in support of it? Although attendance at the actual weekly meetings has sometimes been pretty low, through all these other experiences I’ve seen countless allies come out of the woodwork to help us and show their support. Teachers have put up Safe Space stickers in their windows and I haven’t even heard “that’s so gay” or other homophobic slurs being yelled out as much as I used to. Either I’ve gotten a less cynical disposition, or the fact that we have a GSA has actually gotten rid of a good chunk of that hate. I’d place my bets on the latter.

So yes, I still firmly believe that high school sucks, I just also believe that it can suck a little less when you want it to.

- The GSA column is a monthly feature, co-ordinated

by Corey Shefman. If you or your school are interested in submitting a column, write to editor@outwords.ca and let us know!

May / June 2013 // www.outwords.ca // 33

OutWords // Columns & Opinions

MY FAVOURITE Spirituality

Ray buteau

The first mentoring session between Robert and a troubled youth

R

SUBJECTS: ME, MYSELF

AND I

obert is a resource speaker at the Rainbow youth group, offering a mentoring program to which Danny and Tom volunteered. Today, Danny is the first to meet Robert for

coffee.

Walking into the coffee shop, Robert sees Danny is already enjoying his coffee.

“Hi Danny, aren’t you punctual and ready to chat.”

“Hi Robert, well we are here to talk about my favourite subjects: me, myself and I.” With a wide smile, Robert says, “Why doesn’t this surprise me; let me get a coffee and I’ll be back to make your day.”

Upon return, Robert begins.

“Let me remind you, Danny, that in our encounters we agreed to discuss what I refer to as ‘an acceptance’ of ourselves and with Tom I’ll be discussing his issues around ‘guilt’. Then with the two of you together, we’ll be discussing issues around ‘relationships’.”

“Got it,” Danny smugly replies.

“Another clarification Danny, to be accepting of ourselves in a healthy way, there needs to be a balance in the relationship between our body, mind and spirit.”

“Something tells me that this is going to be heavy. These meetings aren’t going to be a pile of psychobabble, are they?” Danny mutters disappointingly.

“Not from me, they’re not,” Robert says.

“If I were to ask you, Danny, to tell me something about yourself, what would you say?”

“You mean, what I like doing?”

“No, I mean what can you tell me about your personality?”

“You’re kidding, right?”

“For example,” Robert suggests, “are you an introvert or an extrovert?”

“What’s the difference,” Danny blurts, already frustrated, “and more importantly, who cares?”

“Let me give you an example, as for me, I need time to be alone, especially in nature.”

“Is that because you feel like a loser at times and you need to feel sorry for yourself?” Danny retorts.

34 // May / June 2013 // www.outwords.ca

image by Dylan Bekkering

“Not quite,” Robert continues, “It’s because I’m an introvert and need time to be alone to rejuvenate and nature does that quickly for me.”

“And knowing that you need to be near a tree once in a while helps how, exactly?” asks Danny sarcastically.

“Knowing your character or personality traits helps you understand why you prefer certain people, situations, surroundings and activities, and helps those in your life to be more understanding and appreciative of your natural gifts and abilities.”

“Is there a way of finding out about this stuff without talking to you for hours? Sorry, but nothing personal,” Danny quickly adds.

“How could I possibly take that personally?” Robert smiles and adds, “A Google search for words like ‘Enneagram’, ‘Myers Briggs’, and ‘astrology’, for starters, will give you all kinds of suggestions for character traits in yourself.”

“Thanks, and suppose I look these things up, can I ask what you are?” Danny says cautiously.

“No problem and I’m telling you since it might intrigue you to look them up. In the Enneagram, I’m a ‘three’; in Myers Briggs, I’m an ‘INFP’, and in astrology, I’m a ‘cancer’. Add to that, I’m left-handed, and you can look up info on that also.”

“How about, if you have hair or no hair, or if you’re young or not so young,” Danny adds.

“Sounds like a question of luck,” Robert suggests.

“See, I already know a lot about you Robert,” smiles Danny.

“And this being the year of the water snake in the Chinese calendar, you Danny are a ‘dog’ and that also tells me a lot about you.”

“And you are a what?” Danny asks.

“A ‘monkey’,” Robert adds, as Danny sits there smiling. “The next time we meet Danny, we’ll speak about your body.”

“Just to let you know that I’m versatile,” Danny adds proudly.

“That’s not exactly what I’m referring to.”

“Well you’re out of luck again Robert,” concludes Danny.

- Ray Buteau is a former Catholic priest and author of the book No Longer Lonely.

You can visits Ray’s website at www.raybuteausweb.com

OutWords // Letter to the Editor

mine MY KNOWLEDGE will do many things IT MIGHT build a home OR MAYBE start a business MY KNOWLEDGE, EARNED AT UCN. UCN is diverse. Our students come from all over Manitoba and neighbouring provinces. You will share classes with people right out of high school, as well as mature students. UCN is inclusive and is for everyone. Picture yourself here.

To find out more, visit www.ucn.ca and call 866-677-6450 (Thompson) or 204-627-8500 (The Pas)

OWN YOUR FUTURE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF THE NORTH April 2013 // www.outwords.ca // 35

OutWords // Columns/Opinions

36 // May / June 2013 // www.outwords.ca