Outwords 211 july august 2014 by Outwords

OUTWORDS QUEER VIEWS, NEWS, ISSUES

2014 Media & Technology issue #Selfie How selfies became an obsession

QUEER PRESS:

Tracing the murky past of GLBT* publications in Canada Kaki King makes her guitar a projection screen The GLBT* communityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s influence on electronic music

July / August 2014

ISSUE 211

SERVING THE GLBT* COMMUNITY SINCE 1994

A Community of Equals Red River College provides a structured, skill-based and highly supportive path to a rich and rewarding career. We want everyone to have the same chance at success. Our smaller class sizes allow you to make connections with classmates and instructors alike, and our programs provide a fast-track to employment in the field of your dreams.

rrc.ca

OutWords // Index

OutWords Needs You!

ichannel launches website about trans* Canadians

Editorial

National briefs

Finland commemorates artist with homoerotic stamps International briefs

The history of GLBT* publications in Canada

Syphilis made its comeback

Manitoba law allows changes to legal documents without surgery

Curling teams head to championships

Local looks

Photos from Pride Winnipeg 2014

A preview to Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival’s GLBT* performances

22 26 28

Fashion

The evolution of selfies

Kaki King’s new live music and video projection project

Two lesbians attempting simultaneous pregnancy makes for a great read

Camp Aurora—a safe haven for queer youth

Faith in the digital age Spirituality column

4 refreshing whisky drinks Tracing electronic music’s roots in the GLBT* community

July / August 20142014 // www.outwords.ca // //3 3 March // www.outwords.ca

OutWords // Editorial

Get involved with OutWords! What’s new at OutWords and how you can give us your feedback

PUBLISHED BY THE OUTWORDS VOLUNTEER STAFF: SENIOR PRINT EDITOR : Danelle Cloutier SENIOR ONLINE EDITOR : Meg Crane SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR : Miles McEnery NEWS: VACANT ARTS EDITOR: Jessica Botelho-Urbanski FASHION EDITOR: Samanta Katz BOOKS, MOVIES & MUSIC EDITOR: Graeme Coleman

By Danelle Cloutier & Meg Crane

FOOD AND LIFESTYLE EDITOR: Shayna Wiwierski

We want you to be involved with OutWords more than you have ever been before. As the new senior editors, we’re making this a priority. As online editor and community outreach co-ordinator, you’re going to see Meg Crane holding events, asking for feedback and increasing the digital presence of OutWords. With the launch of our new website, we’re aiming to cover timely news stories, run a blog and do multimedia stories. The website will complement the magazine, which will have more feature stories, visual elements and, with your help, stories you want to read. We’re always looking for story ideas and tips, contributors, interview subjects and feedback. Please email Meg Crane at online.editor@outwords.ca or Danelle Cloutier at editor@outwords.ca if there’s something you want to tell us—good or bad. OutWords wouldn’t be where it is now without former senior editor Ksenia Prints and former chair Debbie Scarborough. Their vision and dedication to the magazine ensured it remained successful in serving our community. We want to wish them luck on their new ventures. With the launch of our new website, it’s fitting that this issue's theme is media and technology. As Travis Myers shows you on page 22, selfies actually date back to the 1800s and have become a trend that defines a generation. On page 8, Larkin Shmiedl will take you through the history of Canadian GLBT* publications. On page 29 we caught up with guitar goddess Kaki King who recently figured out how to make her guitar into a projection screen. On page 28, Miles McEnery takes you back to the ‘70s and ‘80s when disco was on the rise in the GLBT* community and ultimately led to electronic music as we know it. All of these stories show that media and technology have a huge (and permanent) influence on our world. So won’t you help OutWords carve its permanent place here?

ART DIRECTOR & LAYOUT: Dylan Bekkering

Give us your feedback! Please fill out a short survey to let us know how we can improve OutWords. Fill it out here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/M6LD5T9

OUTWORDS IS HIRING! We’re looking for a news/sports editor to join our team. An ideal candidate would be part of the GLBT* community and have experience in journalism. This is a volunteer position that requires you to come up with story ideas for each issue, manage contributors, edit to Canadian Press style and attend regular meetings with the awesome OutWords staff. We give a $100 stipend for each issue. Send your resume and cover letter to editor@outwords.ca.

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ASSISTANT LAYOUT: Michele Buchanan BOOK KEEPER: Christy Elias DISTRIBUTION: Meryl Kaye De Leon & Terry Wiebe WEB MANAGER: Vic Hooper SALES MANAGER: Phillip Olcen COVER ART: Everyone (Dylan Bekkering) CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS ISSUE: Armande Martine, Larkin Schmiedl, Pierre Plourde, Shandi Strong, Travis Myers, Anne Cote, Ray Buteau BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Debbie Scarborough, Kevin Hills, Darron Field, Liz Millward, Armando Perla, Darrel Nadeau, Rachel Wood, Rachel Morgan. OutWords 170 Scott St. Winnipeg, MB R3L OL3 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 © 2014 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.

OutWords // National News Briefs // Compiled by Meg Crane

Marry all couples or have your license removed. Photo credit: Shutterstock. Manitoba looks at lesbian health. Photo credit: Shutterstock.

COMMISSIONER BALKS AT LESBIAN SAME-SEX HEALTH STUDY MARRIAGE WINNIPEG - Kevin Kisilowsky is pursuing his complaint of being forced to perform samesex marriages as a marriage commissioner, according to the Winnipeg Free Press. His license was revoked because of his refusal to perform samesex marriages, though he admits no same-sex couples approached him to marry them. The Manitoba Human Rights Commission stalled his complaint of discrimination on the basis that the evidence in support of the complaint was insufficient. He has now taken the province to court. He claims they have breached his Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarentee to religion and conscience.

WINNIPEG – A focus group assessing healthcare experiences for lesbians in Winnipeg was recently held by the Rainbow Resource Centre who identified lesbian healthcare access issues as a gap in knowledge. The study was conducted in collaboration with University of Manitoba Community Health Sciences’ assistant professor Deborah McPhail. Broader access issues such as experiences with heterosexism or homophobia were targeted. Findings will be used to help direct and shape future government policies such as determining whether implementing anti-homophobia training to medical staff is necessary. A second focus group will be organized in the future. Anyone interested in the discussion should contact Claudyne Chevrier at 204-9306444 or claudyn.chevrier@ gmail.com.

Kathleen Wynne wins Ontario election. Photo by Frank Gunn/CP.

Even Keleman is one of 13 trans people on the Transgender Project. Photo courtesy of Stornoway Communications.

ICHANNEL FEATURES TRANSGENDER CANADIANS TORONTO – ichannel, a digital specialty network which touts itself as Canada’s leading public affairs network, recently launched a website focusing on transgender Canadians. The website, trans.ichannel.ca, will examine the different forms of discrimination transgender people face in our country. There will be photo essays and information about trans resources related to terminology and transgender rights. It will also profiles 13 transgender individuals. Their bios will become available over the summer, along with webisodes about each person. A full-length documentary is also in the works and will be broadcast in the fall. Check out the ten question Transgender Project quiz at trans.ichannel.ca.

ONTARIO ELECTION RESULTS WINNIPEG - Only two people openly from the GLBT* community have run for Progressive Conservative party in Ontario—until now. According to Daily Xtra, three out gay men ran in the Ontario election, which came to a vote June 12. While not one of them was elected, the results of the vote were still exciting for the community, according to Ottawa Citizen. The new Liberal leader, Kathleen Wynne, celebrated with her partner Jane Rounthwaite after Wynne was announced the premier of Ontario. Now the province has not only it’s first woman leader, it also has she’s first openly gay leader.

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OutWords // National News Briefs // Compiled by Meg Crane

Zakhele Mbhele's election marks the 203rd openly gay member of Parliament worldwide. Photo from www.crol.hr.

A 16-year-old transgender girl is in prison with no charges.

TRANS TEEN HELD IN ADULT PRISON WITHOUT CHARGES HARTFORD, Connecticut – A 16-year-old transgender girl has been held in an adult Connecticut prison since April, despite the fact she isn't there to serve a sentence and no charges were laid against her. She has not been told when she'll be released. According to Mother Jones and the National Center for Transgender Equality, the state's Department for Children and Families (DCF) has custody of hundreds of traumatized youth each year and extremely rarely do they send a girl who's not an adult or criminal to an adult prison. The DCF has had custody of the girl since age 12. She was placed in solitary confinement upon arrival at the prison. Government data shows 89 per cent of girls in DCF custody or on parole have more than one psychological disorder.

These commemorative stamps are set to be released in Finland this September. Courtesy Itella Posti Oy; original image: Tom of Finland Foundation.

FINLAND CELEBRATES WITH HOMOEROTIC STAMPS HELSINKI, Finland – Homoerotic artist Tom of Finland is well loved, and the Finnish postal service has decided to commemorate his work on a series of postage stamps, set to be released in September. The stamps are among the most racy ever produced in any country, according to the Guardian. Tom of Finland was born in 1920 and died in 1991. During his lifetime he created a wealth of erotic drawings in his own distinct style. This May, a stamp featuring Harvey Milk, wellknown gay rights activist and politician, was also released in the U.S.

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The study looks at violence in five countries through the eyes of LBT residents. Photo from iglhrc.org.

STUDY DOCUMENTS CIRCUMSTANCES OF QUEER WOMEN AND TRANS PEOPLE NEW YORK CITY, New York – Lesbians, bisexual women and transgender people face violence and exclusion in every sphere of their lives—that’s the conclusion drawn from a study in five countries conducted by the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, located in New York. The study found that the criminalization of same-sex relations and gender nonconformity fuels violence. High levels of private family violence against LBT individuals as well as widespread discrimination in education, health and work were revealed. Research was conducted by women's rights and sexuality and gender rights activists based in Japan, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines and Sri Lanka. While the findings don't represent the experiences of all LBT people in these countries, they do demonstrate pervasive patterns of violence.

FIRST OPENLY-GAY BLACK MP ELECTED ON AFRICAN CONTINENT CAPE TOWN, South Africa – Openly gay Zakhele Mbhele was sworn in as a member of South Africa's parliament on Harvey Milk Day, May 22. PinkNews and Gay Star News report he represents the Democratic Alliance, South Africa's main opposition party. The country is the only African nation whose constitution bans discrimination against sexual orientation. It is also the only African country with legal same-sex marriage. Mbhele, 29, said he hopes his victory will inspire young GLBT* South Africans. He said he'd like to have responsibilities for policing so he can work against high rates of homophobic and transphobic violence in rural South Africa and issues of secondary victimization by police. South Africa also recently lifted its blanket ban on gay men donating blood, opting instead to favour people in long-term monogamous relationships. The new rules ban all people from giving blood for six months after having sex with a new partner, regardless of sexual orientation.

Spring RBC | RAINBOW RESOURCE CENTRE

SWISH

GALA

FLING

THANK YOU!

The Rainbow Resource Centre’s 5th Annual Swish Gala presented by RBC Royal Bank and RBC Dominion Securities raised over $70,000 to support the centre’s counselling, youth programming, education, and community events. For over 40 years the Rainbow Resource Centre has been providing support and programming for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, two spirit, and queer communities of Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario. Community members and allies in attendance were treated to the music of the Royal Canadian Navy Band of HMCS Chippawa, a drag and musical performance by Las Vegas entertainer Derrick Barry, and the spinning sounds of DJ Mama Cutsworth. Thanks to Chrissy Troy of 103.1 Virgin Radio for emceeing the event and Stephanie Adamov for producing a wonderful evening. The Rainbow Resource Centre wishes to thank the many sponsors, silent auction prize donors, and volunteers who worked to make the event such a success.

TITLE SPONSOR RBC ROYAL BANK AND RBC DOMINION SECURITIES PLATINUM SPONSORS MAC DON INDUSTRIES DELTA WINNIPEG HMCS CHIPPAWA GOLD SPONSOR LILYFIELD CAKES

SILVER SPONSORS ABORIGINAL PEOPLE’S TELEVISION NETWORK CRISIS & TRAUMA RESOURCE INSTITUTE INC. FREEMAN AUDIO-VISUAL INVESTORS GROUP MANITOBA BLUE CROSS MANITOBA LIQUOR & LOTTERIES MANITOBA PUBLIC INSURANCE

MERCEDES-BENZ WINNIPEG OUR OWN HEALTH CENTRE PADRAIG COACHING & CONSULTING INC. HOUSEFIRES DESIGN & ILLUSTRATION PRIDE WINNIPEG PWC RAINBOW PRIDE MOSAIC TAYLOR MCCAFFREY LLP WES-MAN MECHANICAL WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

A SPECIAL THANKS TO THE MANY NEW SPONSORS WHO JOINED US THIS YEAR AND TO SHANDI STRONG FOR THE WONDERFUL EVENT PHOTOGRAPHY. FOR A FULL LIST OF SPONSORS AND PHOTOS FROM THE RBC| RAINBOW RESOURCE CENTRE SWISH GALA VISIT: WWW.SWISHGALA.COM

OutWords // News

In/Visibility The emergence of Canada's queer media. By Larkin Schmiedl

or GLBT* people and communities, being invisible over the past century in Canada has meant having no voice. It has meant having no media or selfrepresentation. It meant not hearing stories about people who were like you and having limited ways to connect. “For the longest time, I couldn’t put a name to who I was. I didn’t have an image of anybody else who was like me. And, it was torturous!” These words come from actress Jane Lynch in the documentary Fabulous! The Story of Queer Cinema. Social stigma and systemic oppression are, broadly, what prevent GLBT* stories from being told. Stephen Gutwillig of Outfest, a Los Angeles-based queer film organization, said, “Many of us grew up during a period where there was a de facto mainstream media blackout on our lives. Stories about us were not allowed to be told. And literal queer representation was completely forbidden.” Enter the queer press. Its existence is due to and gave birth to movements for GLBT* liberation.

1964 TWO: The Homosexual Viewpoint

Timeline of

queer media

in Canda

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1917 Les Mouches Fantastiques

1964 The ASK Newsletter and Gay

OutWords // News

Today, in most major cities in Canada, there is at least one gay and lesbian paper or magazine that publishes regularly. Queer publications have a murky past, but Les Mouches Fantastiques, first published in 1917 in Montréal, is believed to be the first in Canada. It was an underground magazine that was mimeographed 100 times. Part literary and part political, the poetry and politics contained within were largely arguments for the acceptance of queer people. It was published for only a couple of years before its creators moved on to New York City. Skipping forward to the pre-Stonewall '60s, Canada saw its first periodical use the term “gay” in the title, with a Toronto publication bearing the plain name. Gay was remarkable because not only were few gay magazines published anywhere in the world at the time, but this one, in its two years of publication, outsold all other gay publications then available. In his book, A Brief History of GAY, Donald McLeod said Gay was a tabloid that was received with mixed reactions from the GLBT* community. It featured gossip columns, poetry, fiction, photography and discussions on individuals' right to live free from censorship and arbitrary arrest, and things like the treatment of queers by police and the media. Gay also served an important role with personal ads at a time when it was very difficult for queer people to meet. It listed international

gay groups and informed readers about the fledgling homophile movement in the U.S. The magazine eventually branched out to Montréal and New York City, and a year after it began, was selling 8,000 copies. Moving forward to the early '70s, a voice that would grow to be predominant in the Canadian queer media landscape was born. The Body Politic, published in Toronto, was run by a non-hierarchical collective with a political vision. Early on, the organization put together the Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives (CLGA), which are today the secondlargest queer history archives in the world. The Body Politic's collective ownership meant the writers, photographers and editors all worked for each other. According to the University of Western Ontario's facility for gay and lesbian studies, only a handful of people were ever paid for their work on it, and the few who did receive a payment received a small, one-time lump sum rather than salaries. The Body Politic was a work of love and passion. The paper is considered the leading gay and lesbian Canadian periodical of the time, and an internationally respected voice of queer, radical thought, according to the CLGA.

The Body Politic, as it grew into the '80s, changed into something new. Pink Triangle Press, its publisher and board of directors, launched Xtra in 1984, which according to its website was meant to be more accessible and upbeat than The Body Politic. The Body Politic ceased publication in 1987. Today Pink Triangle Press operates the three largest gay and lesbian publications in Canada, which are the three Xtra newspapers. Robin Perelle, managing editor at Xtra West in Vancouver, said the more recent change has been the launch of DailyXtra. com as a daily online news source. “I think we're the only gay news source like that, doing original journalism, in Canada.” Small newsletters born out of the need for organizations to communicate have also been common in the history of GLBT* publications in Canada. Newsletters from AIDS service organizations, gay and lesbian business associations, and calendars of activities from groups like the Communautaire Homosexuelle at the Université de Montréal, served a purpose similar to »

1984 Rites: for Lesbian and Gay Liberation 1983 Perceptions

1971 Body Politic (now Xtra!)

1977 Prairie Woman

1980 Angles

1983 GAEZETTE (now) Wayves Magazine

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OutWords // News

1994 Swerve, now OutWords

1996 Sensible Shoes News

1989 Transition Support, now Trans News

1997 Outlooks: Canada’s National Gay Magazine

1995 Siren Magazine: Irresistibly Tempting for Lesbians

queer media in a different way. Some of these would eventually become bigger publications, such as with Perceptions magazine. According to the University of Saskatchewan's digital queer archive, Perceptions is “one of the most important journals for anyone interested in gay and lesbian history in Canada.” That's because it's the longest-running GLBT* publication in the country. Born in 1983, the magazine grew out of a union of two Saskatoon newsletters. The Gay and Lesbian Community Centre, along with the Gay and Lesbian Support Services organization, were having trouble finding resources to operate. Rather than send out a newsletter each, the two started Perceptions “It was clear from the beginning that Perceptions would have a news magazine format as keeping in touch was still difficult for the queer community,” wrote former editor Gens Hellquist in his editorial in 2003 that celebrated 20 years of publication. “When I began this journey, the lives of queer people were still largely invisible and finding out news about my community and keeping that community in touch was a difficult job. While our lives are no longer invisible, they are all too frequently cast in negative terms,” he wrote. Because of a natural flow of queer folks between Saskatoon and Regina, the publication soon grew to cover that city as well. Soon it covered all three prairie provinces. July / August 2014 // www.outwords.ca // 10

“We were the only queer publication between Toronto and Vancouver and travel throughout the prairies was common for queer people,” he wrote. Perceptions listed where queer resources could be found and readers used those listings while travelling across the prairies. In his editorial, Hellquist reflected on the state of queer media in 2003, writing, “The mainstream media still is only basically interested in the sensational issues of queer marriage, adoption and teachers. It doesn't report on the events and organizations that provide support and substance to our lives. Even our own queer media is largely focused on lifestyle issues that make it easier to sell advertising.” The striving for change that has characterized the history of queer media’s emergence can point the way toward a future that is more inclusive and liberatory, as it sounds like Hellquist envisioned. Just like it's done throughout the past century, with a slow build of underground movements, queer media can help clandestine and isolated communities emerge, and in a self-reinforcing process of solidarity and visibility, lead to increased strength, numbers and political courage. Larkin Schmiedl is a freelance journalist living in Vancouver, B.C. He loves to write about queer stuff, and social and ecological justice.

Prairie legend lost Gens Hellquist’s will not be forgotten By Larkin Schiemdl

gay Canadian prairie legend passed away in late 2013 at age 66. Longtime editor of Perceptions magazine, Gens Hellquist, is described as “one of the true pioneers of gay activism and queer health advocacy in Canada,” by the Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives. Hellquist edited Perceptions for 30 years, founded the first queer organization in Saskatoon in 1971 which was one of Canada's earliest gay and lesbian community centres and helped launch the Queen Men's Sexual Health Clinic. Described as gentle and courageous, Hellquist was involved in AIDS work. He was also a counsellor and spent years supporting and educating gay men living with HIV. He founded the national non-profit, Canadian Rainbow Health Coalition, to address health disparities faced by queer Canadians. He will be deeply missed and we thank him for his contributions to the GLBT* community.

OutWords // News

SYPHILIS IS BACK—GET TESTED WINNIPEG By Dr. Pierre Plourde

f you're a man having sex with other men, you should be aware of the rapidly increasing syphilis outbreak that Winnipeg is experiencing right now. Syphilis is the sexually-transmitted infection (STI) you're most likely to find in history books. For hundreds of years, syphilis affected kings, poets and everyone in between. The long-term consequences of untreated syphilis were serious—deafness, mental and heart problems, even death. Syphilis is one of the most contagious STIs and is spread mainly through unprotected sex. Coming into contact with a syphilis sore presents the biggest risk of infection, which means it can also spread through kissing if there's a sore in the mouth. Syphilis can be tricky for guys to spot. There might be sores around the infected

area but they might not be painful and may come and go on their own. Some people who have syphilis don’t get sores or don’t see them because they’re inside the body. Symptoms could also disappear entirely until flu-like symptoms show up a couple months later. In the last couple of decades, syphilis has been making a comeback in Canada and around the world. The bad news is that, yes, it can still cause dementia and death if left untreated for a very long time. The good news is that today it's easier than ever to get tested and treated; a simple blood test at your health care provider’s office or a walk-in clinic can diagnose syphilis. If you test positive, syphilis is curable with antibiotics. Last September, the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (WRHA) sounded the alarm that the number of new syphilis

cases in a month had doubled from two to four cases. This past March, the number of new cases hit twelve. That’s an increase of 600 per cent above average and it’s also the highest number of new cases reported in a one-month period since the mid-1980s. This most recent increase in new cases of syphilis has been discovered only in men—primarily among those identifying as gay or bisexual in the Winnipeg region. Many of these men are meeting their sex partners online or on a phone app. Others are meeting in a bathhouse or at a bar. In response to the outbreak, the WRHA launched a simple campaign: Syphilis! For Real Winnipeg/Get Tested. The blue and gold ads appeared over the month of March on Grindr, Squirt, Facebook and on several websites. The ads are linked to a page providing additional information on syphilis as well as locations to get tested. Our bottom line is this: get informed, practice safer sex (using condoms) and get tested regularly. You should also tell your friends and lovers. For more information, visit www.syphilismb.com Dr. Pierre Plourde is a medical officer of health for the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority.

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OutWords // News

Mixed reactions to new Manitoba law Pre-op trans people can now change their gender on ID By Shandi Strong

he province of Manitoba announced in April that legislation is being introduced to allow gender changes on legal documents without the prerequisite of surgery. The changes mean transgender Manitobans will be able to make the change on documents such as birth certificates and health cards without having to undergo surgery. Within the trans* community, there has been a lot of positive reactions. “It’s recognition that my genitals don’t matter in the eyes of the government,” said Cynthia (pseudonym),

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who feels she doesn’t need surgery to be content as her identified gender. Twyla Scott, a preoperative trans woman, said, “It’s really great! Everyone I hang out with is trans. Everyone is excited about it.” She has been undergoing hormone replacement therapy and living as her preferred gender for five years, but hasn’t undergone surgery because the risks are a big concern for her. Dayne Moyer, who is legally male, is on the fence about the bill. He does not see it as a way of legitimizing identity and worries about what could arise for youth based on discrepancies between their readable gender and ID. Having proper ID that matches their perceived gender, in many situations, is a way to stay safe. For example, in a bar or when dealing with the authorities. But, what about the non-binary members of our community? Those who do not wish to be forced to choose or consider themselves as either male or

female? To Sav, a non-binary trans person, “It’s an amazing thing! It will help with the dysphoria.” Moyer points out that it’s more respectful to be using gender-neutral pronouns with everyone, unless they specify. He thinks it’s not necessary and limiting to enforce a gender binary. “It’s embarrassing to show ID that doesn’t match your presentation,” said Tayler Morden. Some people get depressed if referred to incorrectly. “It’s a personal slur, because of how you’re dressed.” Morden has been victimized by this. “It’s like they’re saying ‘I know your secret’ and have to tell you I know.” “Gender diversity is becoming more accepted in mainstream politics and a big step forward for the province. Aimee Cyr a post-op trans woman, adds, “It’s about time. that the government recognizes how people identify.” Shandi Strong has been active in the community for over a decade, she is a past vice president of the Oscar Wilde Memorial Society, and currently volunteers at the Rainbow Resource Centre, and is expanding her role in the community as an advocate for trans rights.

OutWords // Sports

It’s not just an Olympic sport A weekend of curling for fun By Shandi Strong

hree Winnipeg teams headed to Edmonton in late April for the national Canadian Gay Curling Championships (CGCC). Teams Dixon, Sontag and Marcon represented the province by wearing official team jackets and crests. Joël Marcon, past president of the Keystone Rainbow Curling League and liaison with the national committee, has

been to the nationals six times. This year his team finished sixth. “Winnipeg teams tend to place in the middle of the pack, but we’ve had second and third place finishes.” The CGCC tournament started in 2005. There are currently 10 gay leagues in eight cities across Canada. It’s a more serious competition of the best two teams of each city. This year Winnipeg was able to enter three teams due to an extra opening. Edmonton had social events every evening of the weekend, including a banquet and hosted a total of 16 teams. In addition, the league organizes a recreational bonspiel, or “funspiel,” in conjunction with the nationals featuring themes and often costumes. Winnipeg hosts “The Bison Cup” funspiel annually. Fun leagues, such as the Keystone Rainbow Curling League, make up the national championships, which is comprised of a large number of recreational teams. Most teams are very relaxed and social before, during and after the games. “It’s common practice to

Most teams are very relaxed and social before, during and after the games.

come for lunch prior to the game, stay for drinks afterwards.” There are currently 21 teams in the local league, which will be celebrating its 10th year in 2014 at the Granite Curling Club, where it has played since the league’s inception in 2004. The bar and restaurant staff are very friendly and welcoming. Keystone Curling is open to all GLBT* people and allies. The season starts in October and games are every Sunday until the end of March. If you’re interested in learning how to curl, there is a clinic at the beginning of the season where Marcon, a certified instructor, volunteers his services for one-on-one training as well. For more information, go to www.keystonecurling.com. Shandi Strong has been active in the community for over a decade, she is a past vice president of the Oscar Wilde Memorial Society, and currently volunteers at the Rainbow Resource Centre. She is expanding her role in the community as an advocate for trans rights. Look for her on the ice this year as part of the Keystone Curling league!

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OutWords // Fashion

fashion is political The truth is that fashion is a lot more than just trends. Fashion is a way of expression—it says a lot about you, what you like and who you are. Fashion is political. When you choose where you shop, what you wear and how you wear it, you are making a statement to the world around you. This summer, take a chance to be free and let loose. Be creative, be involved and let your own personal style represent you.

THE CONSCIOUS FASHIONISTAS Vintage shopping is environmentally friendly and fun. You are recycling and reusing what is already in the world. Finding unique pieces that no one else will have can create an individual style. By wearing local you are supporting, growing and feeding your community. Being a firsthand consumer means you can get informed and know where your clothes come from and how they’re made.

PHOTOGRAPHY, CREATIVE DIRECTION + COPY: SAMANTA KATZ (@SAMKAT) | STYLING + CREATIVE: DAVID KING (@WEIRDWINNIPEG) | HAIR + MAKE-UP: ROGER MEDINA (@ PRO_ROGER)

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OutWords // Fashion

SAME DRESS DIFFERENT LOOK L. Beaded Cardigan (Vintage Glory) and Sigrafry Dress (Lennard Taylor) For a perfect all-day braid, our hair stylist recommends TRESemmé’s 24 hour body hairspray. R. Leather studded jacket (own); Sigrafry Dress (Lennard Taylor)

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OutWords // Fashion

WARRIOR PRINCESSES Make it your own. Make a statement. What do your clothes say about you? You don’t have to wear the most expensive or popular brands to stay on trend. Creativity is at play when you use a piece and make it your own. L. Hand-painted canvas jacket (Lennard Taylor); black and white patterned skirt (Rhymes with Orange); black combat boots as seen on page 14 (Vintage Glory); hand-painted fingerless gloves (handmade by stylist); and kendo armour skirt (provided by Barry Edginton). R. Black tie (Vintage Glory); black doublezip jacket (Lennard Taylor); and white holsters (Lennard Taylor).

For short hair control, our hair stylist recommends TRESemmé’s texture 5 gel and TRESemmé’s no frizz shine spray.

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OutWords // Fashion

REBEL REBEL Fashion is political, personal is political. Get inspired by what you believe in and turn your personal style into a statement. L. Black band tee (Vintage Glory); blue tea rose button-up shirt (Vintage Glory); black combat boots (Jose & Markham); and hood (made by stylist). R. Black band tee (Vintage Glory); floral shift dress (Rhymes with Orange); striped dress (Rhymes with Orange); pink petticoat (Rhymes with Orange); leggings (Para Mix); combat boots (Vintage Glory); and hood (made by stylist).

WHERE TO BUY THESE CLOTHES IN WINNIPEG Lennard Taylor Second floor at Portage Place Shopping Centre.

Vintage Glory 380 Donald St.

Rhymes with Orange 223 McDermot Ave.

Para Mix Suite 108-100 Osborne St.

Jose & Markham 73 Princess St.

July / August 2014 // www.outwords.ca // 17

OutWords // Entertainment

s l i a t k Cuoncder the Stars Cocktails under the Stars was a fabulous success. We're so proud of our sponsors and partners listed here and we thank them for being part of our community. DIAMOND:

Silent auction donors: Kara Passey Dwayne Larson Photography

MTS • mts.ca

Paintings by Karen Palmer

RUBY :

Pizzeria Gusto LeoMark

Metrex • metrex.net

The Happy Cooker Stephanie Forsyth Heather Klassen

Red River College • rrc.ca

Mom's Pantry Rainbow Stage Rainbow Harmony Project Randy Ewanika

Grollé Fine Art • grollefineart.com

La Parfumerie

EMERALD :

Anthony Steffes Cockroach Zine Royal Winnipeg Ballet

CP Printing Solutions • cpprintingsolutions.com

July / August 2014 // www.outwords.ca // 18

Ludolf R. Grollé - Grollé Fine Art Fame Nightclub

OutWords // Entertainment

PRIDE WINNIPEG FESTIVAL 2014

Read more about the Come As You Are Co-operative at outwords.ca July / August 2014 // www.outwords.ca // 19

OutWords // Entertainment

FRINGE FESTIVAL SNEAK PREVIEW By Larkin Schmiedl

There is plenty of queer around the Fringe. And in Winnipeg, host to North America's second-largest Fringe Festival, all kinds of queer is set to fill the streets and stages from July 16-27. OutWordsgot a sneak preview of all the new queer content to come.

CHUBRUB CABARET WHO IS DOING IT: Winnipeg's Chubrub Productions, with Ray Eskritt, Melissa Granovsky, Johsa Manzanilla and Heather Witherden THE STORY: Winnipeg's largest shame-free burlesque troupe will stage a cabaret of underrepresented bodies, skewering traditional beauty standards and showcasing unique, sexy-as-hell dance and comedy. There will be singing, rainbows, cake, BDSM spike heels, 12-foot bullwhips and a sense of humour so sharp you'll cut yourself. WHY YOU SHOULD GO: Because this fat-proud cabaret brings it.

BIZARRO OBSCURE WHO IS DOING IT: Winnipeg's Peachy Keen Productions. THE STORY: Two travelling performers from another dimension embark on a quest to the ends of the universe searching for a boy in trouble. Frenetic song, dance and comedy see Janis and Jujube make friends with the weird. This play is an ode to the odd and those who dare to be different. WHY YOU SHOULD GO: When hasn't a queer person felt different?

BIG FAT DRAG QUEEN WHO IS DOING IT: T. Frederick with Winnipeg's Middle Seat Productions THE STORY: How do you solve the self-esteem crisis that comes with growing up fat and gay in small-town Manitoba? Slap on a whole lot of sequins, blonde hair and blue eyeshadow, that's how. Premiere Winnipeg drag performer Tyra Boinks tells the story of her journey from feeling fat and lost to feeling fabulous. WHY YOU SHOULD GO: How often do you get to take in a homegrown live drag comedy?

WHERE THIS PASSION LIES WHO IS DOING IT: Elsa ReesorTaylor and Lisa Baran of Winnipeg's Suite 48 THE STORY: Vengeance is sought for centuries-old crimes in three vignettes inspired by Euripes' Medea. A young girl blamed for her rapists' death, a 19th-century widow turned serial killer, and a goddess abandoned by her lover ask: what separates a hero from a barbarian? WHY YOU SHOULD GO: There will be fire.

For a complete list of the Winnipeg Fringe Festivalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s queer shows, visit www.outwords.ca. Larkin Schmiedl is a freelance journalist living in Vancouver, B.C. He loves to write about queer things.

July / August 2014 // www.outwords.ca // 20

VAMPIRE LESBIANS OF SODOM WHO IS DOING IT: Written by Charles Busch, performed by Winnipeg's Dramatic Theatre. THE STORY: A series of comic vignettes follows the antagonistic (and hilarious) relationship of The Succubus and virgin-turned-vampire Madelaine Astarte. Having survived the downfall of Biblical Sodom, the two lock into an immortal battle. When both arrive in 1920s Hollywood masquerading as silent film stars, their conflict peaks.

WHY YOU SHOULD GO: This is one of the longest-running plays in off-Broadway history â&#x20AC;&#x201C; it was first performed in New York City in 1984.

MEL BROOKS

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UNDRESS ME WHO IS DOING IT: Kevin P. Gabel with Winnipeg's Empty Sea Company. THE STORY: This darkly funny drama focuses on Julian, a part-time sex cam performer who's obsessed with alcohol, his own body, and sleeping with as many people as possible. When he returns from his brother's wedding rehearsal with a black eye, his life starts to come into focus and his hidden demons rise to the surface. WHY YOU SHOULD GO: This play touches on a lot of relatable themes.

Celebrating 60 years of musical theatre

OutWords // Features

The ultimate expression of self-love in the digital age By Travis Myers

July / August 2014 // www.outwords.ca // 22

OutWords // Features

“

How can something as simple as a self-portrait carry the cultural woes of a generation?

nterior: dance club. The lights are flashing and there’s a great drag show on stage. The two or three hours you spent in the bathroom before you came here are really paying off—all the guys here can’t stop staring. You can tell because whenever you catch your reflection you can’t stop staring either. This is by far the best night of your life so far, and you’d better let all your followers know. Hashtag? #PrettyHurts. So perfect. But first, you’d better take a selfie. In the last few years the selfie has become the ultimate symbol of millennials—an intersection between smartphone obsession and multi-platform social media connectedness with equal doses of Sasha Fierce levels of hyper self-confidence and Michael Jackson levels of social alienation. The selfie sits at the centre of a cultural debate that has the younger camp casting off even the preferred methods of communication of their elders. And baby boomers decry that the selfie is an invention of deep-seated millennial narcissism. If you listen to the haters (and let’s face it, if you take selfies you almost certainly refer to your critics as “haters”), selfies are everything from the harbinger of mental illness to the death knell of professional photography. People blame the snapshots for ruining

relationships, losing jobs and even suicide attempts. The term itself is one of the most tagged words on the Internet and it has topped annual buzzword lists for the last few years. It has even spawned a theme song. How can something as simple as a self-portrait carry the cultural woes of a generation, and what exactly is so transcendent about selfies that they have become the preferred method of photograph for everyone from Obama to Rob Ford? The act is simple enough. Grab your smartphone, open your camera app, extend your arm appropriately or find a suitably smudged mirror, Remove articles of clothing if need be, snap and share to your social media outlet of choice. The drive to take selfshots, tech writer Clive Thompson recently told the New York Times, comes from “a primal urge to stand outside ourselves and look at ourselves.” With the help of technology, it is now easier than ever to be both the image’s subject and author. Selfies give us complete control over the projection and presentation of ourselves—an existential marriage that painters and photographers have explored for centuries and has now become massproduced and, to some, cheapened by its ability to be churned out between taps on

Flappy Bird. But to L.A.-based Canadian photographer Matthew Tammaro there is no question that artistic merit can be found in selfies. “Why not?” says Tammaro, who briefly ventured away from his usual in-studio high production shots for clients like Vogue, Out Magazine and MTV in 2012 to take part in Nostalgia for the Present, a gallery showcase of established photographers’ work made with cell phone snapshots, selfies and disposable cameras. “They’re just another form of making images.” Images that have been linked to various mental disorders. Tammaro agrees that the world’s current obsession with selfies isn’t without a fair share of narcissism, a sentiment backed up by fact; numerous psychiatrists correlate a link between repeatedly photographing one’s self and body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and other mental illnesses. Actor and (occasionally nude) selfie aficionado James Franco made a public plea for the sanctity of the selfie in 2013 when he dismissed claims of vanity and instead compared these images to

“

photojournalism, “The selfie quickly and easily shows, not tells, how you’re feeling, where you are, what you’re doing,” said Franco. Danny Bowman is a living counterpoint to Franco's argument: in early 2014 the young man was diagnosed with OCD and BDD after he attempted suicide when he was unable to take the perfect selfie. The first selfie was taken long before selfies made up the brunt of Instagram uploads, Tinder profiles and celebrity tweets. It was taken back in 1839 by a photographer named Robert Cornelius, who was only 30 at the time. After jerryrigging his camera and rushing to sit in front of it, he would have waited an agonizingly long time (at least, by Snapchat standards) for the exposure to work. Predating the iPhone by over 160 years, Cornelius’s picture was also one of the first photos of a human ever taken. Afterwards, the evolution of the selfie stayed tacked to the progress of photographic technology. From Edwardian women taking mirror shots

A primal urge to stand outside ourselves and look at ourselves. July / August 2014 // www.outwords.ca // 23

OutWords // Features Lifestyle & Food

#SELFIE #SELFIE #SEL #SELFIE #SELF #SELFIE #SELFIE 3.4

million

retweets

in 1900, all the way to boomer favourite Polaroid cameras in the ‘60s, wherever there was a lens there was a selfie. The trend hit late ‘90s web culture and enthusiasts began to post their solo exploits online. It wasn’t until 2002 when an Australian (yes, the same people who gave us planking) typed the first recorded use of the word “selfie” on a message board. The rest is incredibly well-documented history. Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi ran a campaign with them, Toronto Mayor Rob Ford posed for them while intoxicated and Ellen DeGeneres made 3.4 million retweets worth of history with her Oscars selfie. Selfies may not be the invention of millenials, but they are certainly an expression of youth culture now and how youth explore the notion of self. At a time when young people are educated longer, employed later and able to fully realize themselves honestly and more openly than ever, it only makes sense that introspection from outside would be at the forefront of their online expression. As long as we can keep one foot grounded firmly in the real world without being overcome with obsession over our appearances while our faces are being snapped, posted, tapped and swiped, there is no harm in a little self-love. And as we close in on two centuries of history, it’s fair to say that selfies are OK and selfies are here to stay.

6 selfie tips from Barbie Jo Bontemps

OutWords caught up with Toronto drag sensation and selfie queen Barbie Jo Bontemps (B.J.) to get the top six tips for taking selfies. 1. Arm before mirror, the view is always clearer

For B.J., the only acceptable selfie is taken with what she calls “the extend-o arm,” as opposed to mirror shots, which only seem to ever convey the intensity with which you brush your teeth and the infrequency with which you clean. “It’s really the best because you get a better sense of the person’s desperation. You can get a more flattering angle and choose where you attack your face from.”

2. Oh no, this ain’t a fashion show

According to B.J., a selfie is about putting your best face forward, everything else is gravy. If you’re giving a good face, no one will notice what you are (or aren’t) wearing from the neck down, “it’s about showing off skin rather than showing off your threads.”

3. There’s no “us” in selfie

“Selfies are about egos, but when you have more people involved there are more egos to stroke.” Sure, it worked for Ellen, but remember that painful couple of minutes trying to get everyone organized? “I avoid them at all costs,” says B.J. “Everyone says ‘I don’t look good in that one’ and I just say ‘Deal with it, because I look fabulous.’”

4. First one’s the best, then give it a rest

Chances are the first shot will be nearly identical to the next 10 after it, so go with your gut and use the first shot. “I don’t spend time taking photo after photo,” says B.J. “It doesn’t really capture the emotion of the moment if it is forced, overdone or put together too much. And if you’re sitting beside me taking selfie after selfie, you’d better believe I’ll pour my beer down your back.” You’ve been warned.

5. Don’t be afraid to take other-people-ies

Travis Myers is a writer, editor, radio personality, and selfie aficionado based in Toronto, Ontario. Follow Travis on Twitter at @TravMyers.

Remember that your camera is fully capable of taking photos of other people. The surprise of a nice photo taken by someone else can be way more rewarding than a decent selfie and it comes without all those pesky health risks. In B.J.’s stately drag queen wisdom, “You don’t always have to be the subject of your photo.”

6. Know what works and what you want to change

When you’ve got a good idea of what you’re photographing you shouldn’t have any surprises. “Know your face,” says B.J. When it comes to prep, keep to your own good side with a good source of light, but in the end you can always fix it with Valencia or Sierra filters. B.J.’s final words of wisdom: “Don’t forget: angle, lighting and filters, filters, filters!”

July / August 2014 // www.outwords.ca // 24

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OutWords // Lifestyle & Food

Whisky’s fun side 4 WHISKY RECIPES FOR ANY DRINKER

hisky has built up a strong reputation. When I think of whisky, I think of my grandpa having his daily 5:00 p.m. “libation”—Crown Royal on the rocks, sitting in his La-Z Boy watching sports before being called for dinner.

Recently, it’s been catching on in popularity with bars dedicated solely to the drink. Winnipeg’s own Toad in the Hole opened a whisky bar, snubbing anyone less than 25 years from entering. The way whisky is treated, it can be an intimidating drink. Many people don’t even try it, or do and immediately turn up their nose at the strong taste. But whisky has a fun side too. Try these recipes and you can join the whisky-

Lemon Whisky Whisky and lemonade go together like chocolate and milk. Whip up a batch of lemonade however you like, but the best way is homemade. Just squeeze a couple lemons over a glass, mix in some sugar and pour it into a cup over a shot of whisky.

Whisky Iced Tea Same deal as the lemonade—make iced tea how you like it, but homemade is the best way to go. Make a pot of black tea with sweetener such as sugar or agave nectar. Once it’s cooled, put in some ice, then pour it into a glass with a shot of whisky. July / August 2014 // www.outwords.ca // 26

By Meg Crane

drinking-club. And if you start adding a little more whisky to each drink, eventually you can enjoy yours straight, just like my grandpa did. What’s your favourite way to drink whisky? Tweet us @OutWords and we’ll add your recipe to our list on our website. Meg Crane is thesenior online editor of OutWords and editor-in-chief of Cockroach zine.

Whisky and Sage Rub two or three sage leaves between your hands to release the flavours then put them into a glass. Pour a shot of whisky into a glass over top of the leaves then add water and a splash of lemon.

Cranberry Whisky Cranberry mors and whisky make a surprisingly wicked pair. Immigrantstable. com has a great recipe for spiced cranberry mors. Make a batch then pour some into a glass over a shot of whisky.

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OutWords // Music

TRACING THE RAINBOW through the roots of electronic dance music (back when the scene had soul) By Miles McEnery

lub culture and electronic music have definitely come a long way since the early days of disco, where both genres are rooted. Decades before fist pumping and neon-clad frat bros typified electronic dance music, the scene was far more diverse demographically and far less visible. Attempts to document the rise of club culture and its music often overlook the central role that GLBT* community members played in their inception. New York and San Francisco are often cited as the birthplaces of disco, the godfather of electronic music. Without a doubt, disco’s roots are very queer, as it was the first genre with openly out lyrics. The early disco scenes of the ‘70s and ‘80s were places where different marginalized groups could get together and have a good time together, an atmosphere that continued on in its successor—house music. “The house music scene in general was very inclusive and invited people of all walks of life to dance together without judgment. Blacks, whites, Hispanics, members of the LGBT community and more danced together at these nights. This was a huge part of the electronic music scene’s early success and appeal—openness and no judgment,” said Nathan Zahn, executive director of Manitoba Electronic Music Exhibition of Technology, Innovation & Creativity (MEMETIC).

As with most trends, things took a while to catch on in Winnipeg. Nathan Zahn said the party scene, including Winnipeg raves and club nights, started a couple years after the Second Summer of Love, a name given to the period in 1988 and 1989 in London when acid music started to take off. “By 1991 enough people had travelled to the U.K. and come back to Winnipeg to spread the word of these new parties,” said Zahn. When underground electronic music (rave music) started taking off, there was already a thriving dance music community in the GLBT* scene in Winnipeg. “A large number of the first attendees and organizers of those events in Winnipeg were LGBT as they were the ‘early adopters’ of this dance music scene,” he said. “Over time the scene has grown, but it still managed to maintain an inclusiveness and openness that is not as common at a typical mainstream top 40 commercial night.” Local DJ and producer Derrol Bear (DJ

UFO, Nikki Volan) recounted his initiation into the scene back in the ‘90s. “What drew me to the electronic scene at young age was how accepting the crowd was. As a queer teenager I felt it from the get go,” he said. “It’s a great feeling to fit in with a crowd like that. The electronic dance movement has become more than just a scene, it’s a lifestyle that I am proud to be a part of and helped shape within our city.” It would seem that like all the big musical genres before it, electronic music is undergoing the same process of commercialization they all have suffered; yesterday’s Nickelbacks have given way to the Aviciis and Steve Aokis of today. While it does arguably raise the level of acceptance of electronic music among the general population, it appears to be doing so at the cost of its soul and authenticity. That being said, there will always be progressive, future-forward individuals looking to have a good time in a judgment-free space. We are just

e c t or o utive dir c e x e , n Z ah N a t h an ray y Jabez W b o t Ph o

July / August 2014 // www.outwords.ca // 28

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OutWords // Music

witnessing the inevitable at work as the scenes grow and stratify into their own offshoots. Let the hetero white jocks have their open-air festivals and cheap plastic trinkets. We know where the real party is. Let us know about your experience being GLBT* in the electronic music scene by emailing OutWords at editor@outwords.ca, posting on our Facebook page or by tweeting us @ OutWords. Find DJ Volan on SoundCloud at https://soundcloud.com/t_204/ v6 and Nathan Zahn at https:// soundcloud.com/nathan-zahn. -Miles McEnery is the social media editor for OutWords.

2014 MEME FESTIVAL

f you’re looking for great free music at The Cube and fun parties, go to the Manitoba Electronic Music Exhibition of Technology, Innovation & Creativity (MEMETIC or MEME) festival this year from Aug. 14 to 17. Featured performances at the internationally recognized festival include Detroit legend Kevin Saunderson, Montreal duo Blond:ish and New York musician and studio wizard The Spy From Cairo (or Moreno Visini). There’s also a full-day workshop where music industry professionals ranging from composers to producers reveal their tools and tricks of the trade. Now in its fourth year, MEME attracts more than 10,000 people and is dedicated to the development of digital creativity in sound, music and audio-visual art. For more on MEME and for a list of events, visit www.memetic.ca.

KAKI KING

Photo from Kaki King's Kickstarter page.

pushes music’s limits with new project By Anne Cote

aki King has incorporated light images with the sound of her guitar for her new show “The Neck is the Bridge to the Body.” In an interview with OutWords, she said she was inspired by the projection images on tall buildings. “It’s a good idea, isn’t it? So I think it just came from the good idea store,” she said. But King took the idea to a new level in her show where live projected images are controlled by the live notes she plays on her guitar and the volume. In the final product, images linked to the guitar notes are projected onto a large portable white screen and her white guitar. King will wear a white outfit for performances but said she won’t disappear behind the images. “You’ll still be able to see me,” she said. Adding stage lighting to the mix ensures she remains visible to the audience. It’s a new experience for King. “It’s like the computer’s listening to me play,” she said. When she plays loudly the images become brilliant and as the volume drops, the images fade, allowing King to control the intensity of the images throughout the show. The process has been time consuming. The light designers at Glowing Pictures, the company that King chose for the project, invented a separate image for

each note King plays on the guitar. This ensures that every time a particular note is played the same image is projected. The popular composer and musician will begin touring the show in late 2014 and continue through 2015. The soundtrack album will also be available by then. King financed the development of the new show, The Neck is a Bridge to the Body, through the crowdfunding site Kickstarter. She explained why she chose this avenue of financing: “It’s such a great, great platform. For me it represents a fair marketplace.... It’s just so much better to put the financing in the hands of the people who are going to appreciate your show the most.” The fundraising campaign was a huge success and King said every penny over her original goal went straight back into developing the show. “Every single penny.” King will be performing at the Calgary Folk Festival July 24-27, 2014, but, she said, because that appearance was booked before she developed The Neck is a Bridge to the Body, she’ll be performing some of her other work. Visit www.kakiking.com to learn more. – Anne Cote is a Winnipeg-based freelance writer.

July / August 2014 // www.outwords.ca // 29

OutWords // Lifestyle & Food

Live and MAGICAL CAMP Let Love TRANSFORMS LIVES

An inspiring look at unconventional baby making

Annual Camp Aurora in the Whiteshell builds self-esteem of queer youth

By Jessica Botelho-Urbanski By Larkin Schmiedl

“I

f something is truly important to you… you can’t afford to let anything stop you,” wrote Natalie Meisner in her refreshing memoir, Double Pregnant: Two Lesbians Make a Family. Meisner’s story, written in sporadic segments much like a diary, takes turns pulling at your heartstrings and making you laugh. Double Pregnant chronicles Meisner’s remembering of hers and her wife, Vivien’s, desperate attempts to get buns in their respective ovens; a task made rather difficult in Calgary, Alberta where cows seemed to outnumber semen donors by at least 100 to one. The couple didn't want to go the anonymous donor route since Vivien was adopted and always wished she’d known her birth parents. So instead, they set out on a slew of blind dates with possible “biodads,” as Meisner calls them, hoping to find the perfect father figure. They’re looking for someone who will want to know his surrogate children, but not be all that involved in his kids’ lives (a.k.a. the dream negligent dad).

They’d prefer someone who’s a little bit taller too, that way their kids might have a better shot at growing up to be pro athletes. As you can imagine, expectations trump reality and the women struggle to find the elusive biodad. Still, their unwavering persistence and good humour in the face of adversity have the reader rooting for them throughout the book’s 180 pages. Reading about Meisner’s struggles to not just get pregnant, but to get pregnant at the same time as her wife, was a tad surreal and very rewarding. Double Pregnant can help shift life’s petty problems into perspective. Because unless you’re urgently trying to get artificially inseminated at the same time as your partner, then you really don’t have it that bad. All things considered, Double Pregnant epitomizes what a modern summer read should be: a smart, hilarious escape. Jessica Botelho-Urbanski is the arts editor of OutWords Magazine and a creative communications student at Red River College.

July / August 2014 // www.outwords.ca // 30

magine a space where queer youth could go to feel safe. Imagine GLBT* teens openly being themselves and spending time with others like them—perhaps for the first time. Manitoba youth get this opportunity every August with Camp Aurora. “Camp is the most amazing, loving, safe place I have ever been in my life,” reads a participant quote from the camp's website. The sentiment is a common one, experienced by GLBT* youth at a small handful of queer camps throughout Canada, such as Alber ta's Camp f Yrefly, British Columbia’s CampOUT! and Ontario's camps Rainbow, Ten Oaks and Project Acorn. From August 26 to 29, young GLBT* Manitobans will head to Camp Brereton, in the Whiteshell Provincial Park on the Ontario border. “Being an LGBT TQ* youth or ally can be tough,” reads the website. “At Camp Aurora, that par t of your day-to-day is forgotten.” The camp aims to build the self-esteem and resiliency of queer youth, and builds impor tant relationships that get some teens through the whole year. It's organized by volunteer communit y leaders and has a nurse, social worker, lifeguard and counsellor on staf f. Peer youth leaders between the ages of 20 to 26 apply to act in mentorship roles within the camp, to campers from the ages of 14 to 19. There is space for 43 campers in all, and the deadline to register is July 15. Canoeing, swimming, craf ts, talent shows, obstacle courses, campfires, bunk beds and hotdogs are all on the agenda. The cost is $250 to attend, but campers who cannot pay that can apply to have par t or all of the fee waived. The camp welcomes donations so it can continue of fering oppor tunities to youth regardless of their finances. Transpor tation is provided from and return to Winnipeg, and all meals are included at camp. Visit campaurora.ca for more information. Larkin Schmiedl is a freelance journalist living in Vancouver, B.C. He loves to write about queer things.

OutWords OutWords // Columns // Lifestyle & Opinions & Food

Spirituality

THE MEDIA AND GOD E Tom and Robert discuss media and technology’s role in spirituality By Ray Buteau

ntering the coffee shop Robert spots Tom enjoying his coffee and looking anxious for his arrival. Coffee in hand, Robert greets Tom. “Hi Tom, great to have this second ‘one on one’ with you,” he says. “Hi Robert, and so what’s our topic of conversation?” “Well Tom, how was Christmas?” “Christmas?” Tom shouts back at Robert, “That was months ago.” “It’s just that the last time we met you were going home for Christmas and were quite anxious about the religious expectations of your parents and I’m interested to hear how that turned out.” “Oh, OK. Your talk helped me the last time we met; even my parents noticed that I seemed more relaxed and cooperative, which for my parents means accepting to attend Christmas mass with the family—apparently a huge issue for my mother,” Tom continues. “I’ve accepted that we have different understandings of God and religion and they aren’t interested in hearing mine, yet alone respecting my point of view. I can’t even bring up being gay, though some suspect it. For now it seems to bring peace on Earth,” Tom smiles. “Have you noticed how quiet the media becomes about God as

soon as the gifts are unwrapped?” Tom says as he sips his coffee. Smiling back, Robert says, “The media are given such conflicting messages, religions say one thing about his/her existence, and the science of quantum physics opens the door to another understanding with reincarnation and rebirth. The media waits for a religious event before bringing up the topic again.” “Now the media has competition,” Robert adds. “How’s that?” Tom asks. “With the technology that we have today with mass media, one takes a picture, posts it and we all become journalists commenting on everything world-wide,” says Robert. “But all these baby and animal posts don’t answer any questions about life.” “Perhaps not, but they do get more ‘likes’ than a topic on spirituality,” Robert grins, and continues, “All civilizations have asked the questions of who we are, why are we here, and about life after death. Many see religions as mythical projections of what they see as God.” “So where does that get us?” asks Tom looking confused. “With a free choice, Tom, to choose what and whether to believe while respecting the beliefs of others without making any judgments. I wrote something down that I wanted to share with you today.” Robert reads, “As we

consciously evolve and have personal experiences of the divine, whether through faith experiences, an addiction intervention, a profound appreciation of nature or a centering experience through yoga, we have an intuitive sense that we are more than our physical body.” “That’s your answer?” Tom responds looking confused. “It’s like listening to someone speaking, you can choose to listen to them or merely hear them talking. Similar to those who would listen to the prophet Jesus telling a parable/story and after speaking, many merely looked at each other and wondered what he was talking about, hence speaking in parables. They would have had to ask themselves how the parable/story could apply to themselves, otherwise they were left with hearing an interesting story which many thought had nothing to do with themselves, as often happens to people sitting in churches.” Robert continues, “Tom you have learned an important life skill, a topic I’ll be speaking to Danny about when I meet with him. But first, I meet with the three amigos next month.” “And you think Danny is going to understand all this better than me?” Tom asks with a tone of sarcasm. “He may find it just as challenging,” Robert answers. “What’s that again?” Tom asks, as they both leave teasing each other. 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

July / August 2014 // www.outwords.ca // 31

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MY KNOWLEDGE will do many things IT MIGHT protect my community OR MAYBE teach a child MY KNOWLEDGE, EARNED AT UCN. At UCN, your success as a student is our top priority. But being a student is about more than lectures and exams, and we have many student services that will help you both succeed and feel a part of our community. Our many student services welcome you into the UCN community. Each campus has a residence, food services, counselors, computer labs, and an Aboriginal centre. For more information, visit www.ucn.ca or call 866.627.8500 (The Pas) and 866.677.6450 (Thompson).

OWN YOUR FUTURE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF THE NORTH