Outwords December 2010

outwords queer views, news, issues

Canada’s

dirty little HIv

drug secret The tyranny of teen life

Welcoming

GLBT Jews Fashion as protest and

identity

Delerium

delivers divinely

Can ambience trump taste?

Great books that make great gifts

Outwords | December 2010 | Issue 180 | Serving the GLBT Community Since 1994

norman Krasna, norman Panama and melvin franK WriTTen for The screen by

music and lyrics by

booK by

irving berlin

david ives Paul blaKe and

direcTed by

Robb PateRson

direcTed by

NovembeR 25 - DecembeR 18 PRevIeWs nov. 22, 23 & 24

“a bIG, GlItteRy gReeting caRd of a show” - The Times get into the holiday spirit with this unforgettable musical based on the classic film. a merry way to celebrate the season, white christmas showcases the dazzling songs ‘happy holidays’, ‘blue skies’ and, of course, ‘white christmas’. generouSly SPonSoreD In PArT by

DecembeR 2 - 18

PRevIeW dec. 1

“exquisitely wRitten, fuNNy AND DesPeRAte”— mail on sunday it’s christmas eve in dublin. a peaceful holiday isn’t in the cards for James “sharky” harkin whose brother’s drinking buddies pour into the house looking for a poker game. when a mysterious stranger sits down at the table, the stakes are raised damningly high and sharky may be playing for his soul. conor McPherson (Mtc’s the weir) uncorks the holiday ‘spirits’ in this blackly funny irish tale.

WARNING maTure Themes, language

WARNING TheaTrical haze and fog

CALL 942-6537 1-877-446-4500 (toll-free)

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5

The best way to

help teens editorial

12

The shameful way we dispense

HIV drugs

28 Holiday

30

Curl up with a

cocktail guide

19

good book

22 14 An android

New home for

Winnipeg’s queer Jews

6 Don’t ask,

don’t tell, don’t change internat’l news

7

Telus rings true national news

11 Livin’ the

16 Delerium’s

technology

acoustic give true joy? compilation

19 Flying Blind

a welcome surprise

34

Your GLBT community

resources

a guide for transition

24 irony +

suburban life spotlight

Can a fake tree

for your thoughts

Arafat’s scarf fashion

a feast

for the eyes and the belly

27

off menu www.outwords.ca // outwords, december 2010

3

editorial

outwords

Yes, it really does get better

Serving the GLBT Community Since 1994 Issue 190 December 2010

Published by the outwords volunteer staff:

With a little help from your friends

Rachel Morgan editor

M. Buchanan creative & layout

editorial

Every queer kid faces

are eight times more likely to attempt suicide

rachel j. morgan

the dreaded decision

than those whose families accept them.

about when to come

Dan Savage, a gay sex columnist,

Jonathan Kindzierski, Gord McDiarmid advertising

out – or whether to come out at all. We all

launched the It Gets Better Project online in

Terry Wiebe, Gord McDiarmid

know the anguish this creates – the sleepless

September after a series of high-profile teen

distribution

nights, the endless rehearsing of our lines, the

suicides. The website reaches out to queer

Vic Hooper

imagined horrible consequences, and finally

kids who are isolated by the attitudes of their

web manager

the fateful moment.

parents, school officials or their churches. It

Peter Carlyle-Gordge, Charles Melvin Rachel Morgan, Barbara Abramchuk Corey Shefman, Kenton Smith, R.M. Goodman,DJ Ryan G, Bowen Smyth, Michele Buchanan, Roselle Turenne - contributors to this issue AMdezigns COVER PHOTO

Maureen Pendergast (chair) Darron Field (comptroller) Karol Rogers (secretary) Gord McDiarmid Dani Fraser Faith Kaplan Gail Eckert board of directors

outwords

Sometimes, we are outed accidentally.

features a video archive made by LGBT adults

Often, everyone figures it out without a word

who experienced bullying as teenagers. They

from us. Occasionally, we get to choose

describe how their lives got better once they

the perfect moment. If we’re lucky, we find

left their teen years behind. The videos offer

acceptance and allies where we had feared

hope and encouragement – no matter how

rejection. The unlucky ones experience the

bad life seems today, it gets better.

awful pain of rejection by family or friends.

The project is American, but its mes-

Dan Savage…launched the It Gets Better Project online in September after a series of high-profile teen suicides Most of us stumble through it one way

sage is universal. It’s just as pertinent for Canadian kids. We may have greater legal rights and protections

than Americans but we shouldn’t think for a

or another. We survive those treacherous

minute that these protect kids from emotional

201-63 Albert Street Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 1G4 Phone: (204) 942-4599 For office hours, please call.

teen years and slip with relief into our adult

and physical abuse.

let go of the bad ones, land jobs, get mort-

thing many of us would rather forget – our

General Inquiries: info@outwords.ca Editor: editor@outwords.ca Creative: creative@outwords.ca Advertising: advertise@outwords.ca Distribution: distribution@outwords.ca Accounts: billing@outwords.ca Event Submissions: calendar@outwords.ca Letters Submissions: letters@outwords.ca Website: www.outwords.ca

gages and find loving partners. Life is good.

own difficult teen years. And yet in remem-

Outwords is a non-profit organization that publishes Outwords a free magazine that 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 © 2010 Outwords All rights reserved. Reproduction, in whole or in part, without written permission from the publisher is prohibited. Outwords is a member of the Manitoba Magazine Publishers’ Association. Articles published in Outwords reflect the views and opinions of the authors and are not necessarily the views held by the staff, management, or board of outwords. We accept no liability for our advertisers’ claims.

lives. We strengthen the good relationships,

But sometimes life isn’t good. For some

Dan Savage has reminded us of some-

bering them, we have an opportunity to make

teenagers life is too difficult to bear. They

life better for the next generation of teens,

are teased, bullied or physically attacked

simply by making sure we never miss a chance

for being queer. Some have no role models

to be positive role models and speak up when

to guide them and no adults to turn to for

we hear or see an ugly homophobic event.

help. Unable to see a future for themselves as

When we are silent, we implicitly condone

openly gay adults, they choose suicide to end

and normalize homophobia. When homo-

the pain.

phobia is normalized, queer kids see no fu-

How painful is life for queer teens? According to the It Gets Better Project, nine out

ture. We can help show them there is a future.

If you would like to get involved in the It

of 10 LGBT students have experienced harass-

Gets Better Project, visit www.itgetsbetter-

ment at school; LGBT teens are bullied two to

project.com.

three times more than straight teens; more than one-third of LGBT kids have attempted suicide; LGBT kids are four times more likely

– To comment on this or any other article in Outwords, write to letters@outwords.ca.

to attempt suicide then their straight peers; LGBT youth with “highly rejecting” families www.outwords.ca // outwords, december 2010

5

international news

Tell, don’t tell, tell

February 2010. The Old Bailey was told

ships. The amendment was made to the

the assault by Prince Saud Abdulaziz bin

Relationships Act and passed the upper

U.S. courts keep queers guessing

Nasser al Saud had a “sexual element”

house without opposition.

and he had attacked Abdulaziz previously.

Evidence showed Al Saud, 34, visited gay

SAN

clubs and masseurs. He denied being gay

FRANCISCO—An

and denied murder but was given a mini-

appeals court has

mum prison term of 20 years. Initially he

ruled the U.S. mili-

wrongly believed his royal status gave him

tary can tempo-

diplomatic immunity but he was wrong.

rarily reinstate a

If the prince ever returns to Saudi Arabia

ban on openly gay people

he faces the possibility of execution. Being gay is a capital offence in that country.

serving, in a move adding to confusion on the issue.

The decision came eight days after a federal judge struck down the

Asylum from hard labour Canada considers request half of the Malawian gay couple sentenced

tell” policy on gays

released in May, is seeking asylum in Canada. Chimbalanga’s asylum claim has

new ruling says the ban can continue

been confirmed by an activist at Malawi’s

temporarily. The legal moves come as the

Centre for the Development of People.

Pentagon studies how gay people can be

He married Steven Monjeza last year but

properly integrated into the U.S. mili-

the couple was arrested under Malawi’s

tary. It would entail dramatic changes in

sodomy and indecency laws. They were

policies on insurance, housing and even

pardoned by the country’s president in

protocol at military social events.

May following international pressure.

Following their release, the couple split.

Tasmania the first

Court hears of “sexual element”

Foreign gay marriages recognized

hotel in central London. Bandar Abdulaziz, 32, was found beaten and strangled in the Landmark Hotel, Marylebone, on 15

6 7

outwords, december 2010 // www.outwords.ca

Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed a bill to remove a ‘gay cure’ provision from the state’s laws. The 1950 law instructed California’s State Department of Mental causes and cures of homosexuality. In August, the state senate approved a repeal bill and Schwarzenegger has now signed it. The only opposition came from ‘gay cure’ group Parents and Friends of ExGays and Gays (PFOX).

Worst places on earth Most homophobic nations LONDON—The Independent newspaper has named Saudi Arabia, Iran, Jamaica, Afghanistan and Nigeria as the least gay tolerant places in the world.

Homosexuality is illegal in all of them and usually carries severe punishment, including whippings, long jail terms or death.

Saudi prince convicted of murder

jailed for life for murdering his servant at a

LOS ANGELES—California governor

MALAWI—Tiwonge Chimbalanga, one to 14 years’ hard labour before being

LONDON—A gay Saudi prince has been

Arnie signs the bill

Health to investigate and research “the

“don’t ask, don’t serving openly. The

No more gay cure

TASMANIA— Tasmania has become the first Australian state to recognize gay marriages performed abroad. They will be recognized as Tasmanian deeds of relationship, which are similar to civil partner

The paper says the worst place in all the Americas to be gay is Jamaica, where homosexuality is illegal with punishment up to 10 years hard labour.

– Peter Carlye-Gordge is a Winnipeg-based freelance writer, former producer for CBC and former Maclean’s writer. To comment on this or any other article in Outwords, write to letters@outwords.ca

NATIONAL NEWS

Thin Rude Line

Phoning It In

Insult to injury

Telus you love us

Incidents of gay bashings in B.C. have

VANCOUVER—Let’s ease into the usual

risen dramatically since 2008. In October,

blight of bigots-n-bashings by starting

Thomas Pope and a friend were alleg-

off with some happy news. You might

edly targeted with homophobic slurs

mistake it for corporate coddling, but

before being repeatedly punched in the

Telus does deserve credit for teasing out

face outside a McDonald’s in downtown

the pink dollar the right way. To date,

Vancouver. The good news is police

Telus has donated more than $1 million

showed up within minutes of Pope’s 911

nationally to LGBTQ organizations. It has

call. The bad news: Pope alleges that the

offered same-sex partnership benefits to

officers made a point of letting the victims

its employees since 1994 and, two years

know that they were off the clock and not

Leaders of Tomorrow Save us now SURREY, B.C.—Let’s move inland for a wee bit of sunshine from a generation of kids who are going to pull us all into a better future. On Oct. 22, the second Dare To Stand Out conference took place

student councils, diversity clubs, amnesty

friend who was with them, and toward

international clubs, and gay-straight alli-

Pope’s sister after she arrived in response

ances the chance to come together and

to his phone call.

find ways to fight oppression in schools.

Here’s the money quote. Pope alleges that one female officer said, “If I didn’t

ago, it introduced Spectrum, a resource

give a shit, I wouldn’t be fucking stand-

for LGBT staffers seeking personal support

ing here.” Wow! You can almost hear the

and professional development within the

doughtnut falling out of her mouth. The

organization.

Now Telus introduces Caya (Come As

were released later that night and no

You Are), a chain of frou-frou boutiques

charges were laid. This prompted Pope’s

for LGBT shoppers who, apparently, de-

father to contact Spencer Chandra Her-

mand that their mobile devices and acces-

bert, the out Vancouver-West End MLA,

sories be more expensive and prettier than

who reportedly lit a fire under some royal

yours. Caya’s flagship shop in Vancouver’s

blue butt. The case was reopened and the

Davie village—the “gaybourhood”—was

police got in contact with Pope and even

built with input from LGBTQ community groups, including Vancouver Pride and

him to file

Out on Screen, the city’s queer film festi-

a formal

val. The Caya shop can be opened up to

com-

create a space for community fundraisers

plaint.

gives back to the community.

of its kind in Surrey. It offered members of

dismissive toward the victims, the female

encouraged

consumers can now shop at an outlet that

at Tamanawis Secondary School, the first

getting paid for their time, and they were

icing on the cruller is that the assailants

gram available to high schools. So LGBT

and events. There’s even a gay wedding booked for next spring.

Caya has already donated $10,000, plus $25 from every smart phone sold

It featured Berend McKenzie performing “Tassles,” a vignette from his biographical

Dare to Stand Out -BC A YOUTH LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE FOR LGBTQ YOUTH AND ALLIES

MAKE YOUR SCHOOL A SAFE PLACE

Join youth and teachers from around the province who want to connect, share, dream and plan a world without homophobia and gender stereotypes.

The conference invites students and teachers from around British Columbia, who want to make a difference and who are demonstrating leadership in their school. We welcome Gay Straight Alliances, Students’ Councils, and student clubs who are ready to stand out and make their school more inclusive.

Speakers and presentations will educate, entertain and inspire.

The day will feature live theatre, readings, comedy, as well as prominent local and national LGBTQ personalities sharing their work. Participants will be given tools and resources: to promote diversity, address homophobia/transphobia/discrimination, and create a safer school community.

Cost: $10 per participant free for VSB students/teachers (subsidies are available for those in financial need)

MARCH 24 TH , 2010 8:30 AM – 3:15 PM QUEEN MARY ELEMENTARY 2000 TRIMBLE STREET VANCOUVER, BC

Registration Contact: Steve Mulligan VSB Anti-Homophobia & Diveristy Consultant (604)713-5180; pride@vsb.bc.ca

through the end of 2010, to Out in Schools, an education and awareness pro-

www.outwords.ca // outwords, december 2010

7

NATIONAL NEWS

one man show nggrfg about growing up

he wears nail polish. Motivated by his ex-

supportive of the couple and who con-

black and gay; a workshop on GSA organ-

perience and by similar first-hand accounts

demned what they believe is a hate crime.

izing from Jeremy Dias, founder of Jer’s

he heard from friends, Hampton created

RCMP, not yet convinced that it is a hate

Vision; and readings from award-winning,

the Facebook page, Gay Bashing Exposed.

crime, is investigating the fire. The poten-

critically acclaimed Vancouver writer Ivan

As of this writing, it has 659 “likes” and

tial heart-breaking irony: The gay couple

Coyote.

offers details not found in news stories as

moved to Little Pond from B.C. Let’s hope

well as updates on evidence.

they weren’t trying to get away from the

The event was co-organized by the school’s gay-straight alliance and by as-

escalating number of gay bashings on the

sistant director of professional and social

West Coast.

studies with the BC Teachers’ Federation, James Chamberlain, of the famous Chamberlain v. Surrey District Surrey School

Rural Life Little pond of horrors

Board case in 1997 that ended with the

Inappropriate TOUCH OF THE IRISH

Supreme Court of Canada deciding that religious values are no excuse to keep

HALIFAX—The tolerance for demonstra-

books depicting same-sex parents out of

tive affection in public will differ depend-

the classroom.

ing on the venue and on whether it’s a

Surrey has certainly come a long way

same-sex or oppo-sex couple getting all

since the fight over One Dad, Two Dads,

gropey-feely. So it’s hard to tell what hap-

Brown Dads, Blue Dads.

pened on the evening of Saturday, Oct. 23, when two men were expelled from

Broken Facebook Online support

the pub Pógue Fadó for “inappropriate behaviour.”

LITTLE POND, P.E.I.—Tired of gay bashings? How about a series of escalating acts of intimidation, culminating in massive property damage and, quite possibly, attempted murder? Five years ago a gay couple, now ages 47 and 52, moved into a little fixer-upper bungalow in Little Pond, population 100, just over an hour’s drive from Charlottetown. The two men hope to live out their lives in the lovely village setting.

One day, they discovered someone

REGINA—Now, back to the bashings.

had thrown women’s underwear into their

only kissing and hugging, online news site

Aaron Hampton, age 27, was allegedly

dryer. They reported it to police. On Oct.

The Coast quotes the general manager of

beaten up outside a pizza shop in late

12, their mailbox was set on fire. Finally,

the pub who said “they had their hands

October by a group of men. The incident

just before 4 a.m. on Oct. 18, an incendi-

down each other’s pants.” The incident

escalated from verbal abuse to physical

ary flaming device was thrown through

led to the creation of two Facebook pages,

violence against Hampton and a friend,

their window while the men slept. One

Boycott Pógue Fadó-Halifax and Pógue

leaving Hampton with a wound through

dragged the other out as the house

Fadó Reverse Boycott. As reported in the

his lip that required 12 stitches.

burned down around them.

ChronicleHerald.ca Metro, the reverse

Hampton, who is bisexual, believes one reason he was targeted was because

8 9

While the male couple says they were

outwords, december 2010 // www.outwords.ca

News stories quoted local residents of the close-knit community who are very

boycott page compared Rosa Parks refusal to give up her bus seat to the pub man-

NATIONAL NEWS

agement treating the gay couple the same

pub as two men shove their hands down

way it would a straight couple. Fnuh?

each others pants will haunt us forever.

The conflict ended amicably a week later with both Facebook pages voluntarily

— Charles Melvin is a Toronto-based

taken down. Still, the image of Rosa Parks

freelance writer. To comment on this or any

refusing to give up her stool in an Irish

other article in Outwords, write to letters@ outwords.ca

/

hot

Black & Blue Festival

This major player on the circuit party scene, a Montreal economy booster and a significant fundraiser for HIV/AIDS causes, celebrated it’s 20th anniversary.

It has survived party-crashing Hells Angels, wayward ejaculations while breaking up dance floor fornicators, and Mitsou. Here’s to another wet and wild 20.

Guerilla GayFare Halifax It sounds like they belong on a CSIS watch list, but Molotov is the only cocktail not on this group’s agenda. Each month they “homo it up” and “take over” a straight bar for one night. Now that’s a revolutionary party.

Rev. Richard Bott This Maple Ridge, B.C., United Church minister practises what he preaches … in a large LED crawl under his church sign. For 10 days in October, his message shone brightly: “Gay, Lesbian, Straight, Bi or Transgendered? You are loved by God, and … you are welcome here.”

not

Rob Ford’s “Tamily” Values Asked about an ad that ran on a Tamil radio station endorsing Ford as mayor because he’s “married to a woman,” a snarky reference to gay-married candidate George Smitherman, the Ford camp said they had nothing against Smitherman’s “lifestyle choice.” We’d accuse them of being “disingenuous,” but they probably think the word is a compliment.

Glen Murray The Ontario minister of Research and Innovation tweeted about the Tamil ad mentioned above and described Ford, Ontario P.C. Leader Tim Hudak, and P.M. Stephen Harper as “the trifecta of republican-style, right-wing ignorance and bigotry.” Reducing a complicated truth to 140 characters led to Murray’s public-image tarnishing public apology. Ouch!

Bill Whatcott The Supreme Court of Canada will hear his appeal against the Human Rights ruling that fined him for promoting hatred.

If he wins, expect leaflets in your mailbox describing homosexuals as abominations, sodomites, and perverts. Happy holidays!

In related news, Santa Claus is dead.

10outwords, december 2010//

www.outwords.ca

Spotlight CHARLES MELVIN

storage space is the only thing separating the collectors from the hoarders

White picket tensions

I’m a suburbanite. Get me out of here.

My partner and I

As for entertainment, we’re both past

“suburban rage” that pushed right-wing

moved to Toronto and bought a house in

the youthful pretence of saying “We don’t

candidate Rob Ford into the mayoral race

the suburbs instead of living downtown.

watch TV.” However, we don’t have cable

with his anti-urban ideas. It also saved us

For a gay couple, that’s like travelling to

or satellite. We have one antenna and three

from believing that “Toronto elites” are

San Francisco for the Rice-A-Roni.

TVs, an excess I blame on my partner. He

ruining Canada, as John Baird bellowed in

In our defence, coming from Winni-

grew up on a farm. It was either Hockey

September when he came out of the closet

peg, it was hard to tell where downtown

Night in Canada or play patty-cake with

as a lover of long guns.

ended and the suburbs began. In Toronto

the cows.

you’re never more than a few blocks away from hipsters, homos, or a Tim Hortons.

We also had no idea that there was a

As for that suburban requisite of 2.1 kids caged inside a white picket

war going on between the suburbs and

fence, my partner will

downtown.

tell you that we do have

In 1998, the provincial government un-

“two mouths to feed at

commuting might have worked for Sheena Easton… but my baby ain’t taking the morning train

der Mike Harris’ alleged “Common Sense

home.” He’s referring

Revolution” amalgamated seven municipal-

to our vacuum cleaners.

ities into one “megacity.” It saved money,

He’s a neat freak. If I were

but territorial tensions still linger at City

a single parent to our

Hall. It’s like the Romulans vs the United

cleaning tools, Child and

Federation of Planets, only with bloated

Family Services would be

white guys in suits with Queen St. sausage

all over me like Tweens on Twitter.

on their breath.

So how did my partner and I end up

For all its comforts, the suburbs don’t feel like home. Strip malls turn me off, gar-

Polls indicated that many of our neighbours were Ford supporters, ready to put their middle-class comforts ahead of the working class folks who serve them lattes and donuts when they go downtown for a Leafs game. Those working class people rely on the public transit and city services that Rob Ford would jeopardize.

Even in Toronto, we’re flying in a gay migration pattern, flee-

ing an intolerant landscape, leaving for one night to “forget all our troubles, forget all our cares, and go downtown.”

on team suburb? Our options were (a) live

den gnomes creep me out, and backyard

in a shoebox in the downtown core, far

hot tubs make me gag. I always look for

the hubby and I are both Petula Clarks at

away from my hubby’s office or (b) live in

the cartoon cannibal wearing a bib and a

heart.

a slightly larger shoe box in a suburban

nose-bone stirring the bubbling water with

outpost within walking distance of hubby’s

a big spoon.

office. We chose the latter.

Commuting might have worked for

So when we get a hankering for bright lights and night life, we squeeze into our

Sheena Easton, circa 1980, but my baby

Spanx, pluck the unsightly nose and ear

ain’t taking the morning train. And the

hair, and hop on a bus. We’re keeping it

extra room is a sanity-saver. Storage space

real, yo!

is the only thing separating the collectors from the hoarders.

We may be “bridge and tunnel,” but

– Charles Melvin is a Toronto-based freelance writer. To comment on this or any other article in Outwords, write to letters@ outwords.ca

Our long-distance love affair with downtown kept us from feeling the www.outwords.ca // outwords, december 2010

11

high cost

Who pays the of HIV drugs?

Thre are massive holes in Canadian pharma-quilt

By Peter Carlyle-Gordge

have no national plan when it comes to

problem is that getting access to HIV drugs

helping citizens pay for expensive drugs.

varies from province to province and gets

Winnipegger Jim Kane, who recently

more complicated when you consider the

became prairie regional representative on

federal government has its own drug ac-

the board of the Canadian AIDS Society,

cess programs.”

Divide and conquor has long been a sound

says it’s time politicians paid attention to

Few people realize that in Canada our

policy if you want to win and it’s one that

the uneven and unfair costs that burden

catastrophic drug plans resemble a patch-

Big Pharma has certainly capitalized on. In

people buying drugs, especially those for

work quilt with some big holes in it. Mani-

recent years, drug companies have mas-

life-threatening illnesses. He says every

toba used to have a Life Saving Drugs Plan

sively increased the cost of some life-saving

province has a different system for cover-

that provided free HIV drugs, but that was

drugs and health ministers are becoming

ing drug costs and it’s causing hardship for

dropped in 1995 and now your income

increasingly worried about the escalation.

many people. He’s been living with HIV for

determines what you pay for drugs. This

Others are worried that Canada seems to

almost 25 years and says the cost of ob-

year, for example, the sliding pharmacare

taining drugs depends on where you live,

scale requires anyone with an adjusted

whether you have a low income, whether

net family income below $27,000 to pay

you have third-party insurance and many other factors.

His own annual drug costs are now around $36,000.

4.13 per cent of that towards their drug costs. Anyone with a family income above $75,000 would pay 6.12 per cent.

In Alberta, one of the richer provinces, HIV drugs are free. In Ontario, the user pays for drugs up to four per cent of

“People

net family income, while in Saskatchewan

recently

you pay up to 3.4 per cent of net income.

diagnosed

Clearly, what you pay depends on where

and who

you live and Jim Kane thinks that’s wrong,

have no

since our health-care system is supposedly

resist-

universal. Each province or territory makes

ance to

other treatments it will cover. The deci-

generally have

sion is based mainly on economic factors,

lower bills but

including its drug budget, population base

as you survive longer and develop resistance the costs tend to go up because you need new types of drugs,” he says. “The

12 13

outwords, december 2010 // www.outwords.ca

its own decision about which drugs and

HIV drugs

and number of eligible residents with each disease or condition.

Unlike most countries that are members of the Organization for Economic Co-

though the types of diseases covered vary

Manitoba used to have a Life Saving Drugs Plan that provided free HIV drugs, but that was dropped in 1995 and now your income determines what you pay for drugs.

by province and territory. Programs for those on social assistance and low-income seniors either require minimal co-payments, or they cover the full costs of drugs. Many employers also offer private plans which offer some degree of protection from huge drug bills.

The federal government has its own

operation and Development (OECD), Can-

the new money for whatever it decided

dizzying array of plans to cover drug costs.

ada does not have a national catastrophic

needed it most.”

Its drug plans cover aboriginals, public serv-

drug coverage system. What it has is a

That funding agreement is up for rene-

ants, veterans and members of the armed

confusing patchwork of public and private

gotiation in 2014 and Kane hopes by then

services, regular and retired members of

drug insurance plans. There are 19 publicly

there will be enough pressure on govern-

the RCMP, Correctional Service of Canada

funded drug plans: 10 provincial, three

ments to move forward with some kind of

workers, federal offenders, refugee claim-

territorial and six federal. These programs

national plan for catastrophic drug cover-

ants, Convention refugees, and persons

complement more than 1,000 private drug

age. The Canadian AIDS Society -– a na-

detained by the government for immigra-

insurance programs offered by employers,

tional coalition of more than 125 commu-

tion purposes.

unions and professional associations across

nity-based AIDS organizations from across

the country. These plans vary significantly

Canada – will be one group pressuring poli-

Pharma companies a 20-year patent on

in terms of eligibility, benefit payment

ticians to get the national catastrophic drug

their drugs before generic products could

structures and drug formularies.

plan in place. Jeffrey Keller, a lawyer who

be made at a lower price. They have made

lives with HIV and is also the prairie region

many millions in profit from HIV drugs and

age program for its residents. The program

director for the Canadian AIDS Society,

cancer drugs. When life itself is at stake

caps out-of-pocket expenses at $25 per

told Outwords the current hodge-podge of

people—and governments—are really over

prescription. However, it does not pro-

plans is unfair.

a financial barrel and Canadians pay some

Alberta provides a universal drug cover-

The Mulroney government gave Big

vide an overall cap to protect against high

“Some people with HIV do have trou-

drug costs, but instead limits its payout to

ble paying for their portion of the drugs,”

Kane says a loophole in the patent legisla-

$25,000 per year. Prince Edward Island,

he says. “In Saskatchewan I might end up

tion allows for “evergreening” and it’s cost-

New Brunswick and Yukon do not have

paying hundreds a month, but I live in Al-

ing governments and consumers plenty.

universal programs. In Nunavut the govern-

berta now and I never see a drug bill. If you

Basically the clause allows drug companies

ment provides 100 per cent drug coverage.

live in Ontario the best thing to do is go on

to extend their 20-year patent protection

welfare and then your drugs are free. How

by three years, provided they ‘improve’

can that make sense?”

the drug in some way. In one case, he says,

In 2004, as part of a National Pharmaceuticals Strategy, Canada’s first ministers established a federal/provincial/territorial

The Canadian Council on Integrated

of the highest drug prices in the world.

they simply changed a large, chalky-tasting

ministerial task force to develop, assess

Health Care (CCIH), an independent think

pill into a smaller more easily digested tab-

and cost options for national catastrophic

tank, is also urging change. As it noted in

let, thus extending their patent protection.

drug coverage. Kane says Ottawa did come

a recent report: “The 2003 Health Ac-

“The government needs to closely monitor

through with a large pot of new health

cord promised to ensure that all Canadians

this kind of patent extension,” he says.

money for the provinces in 2003/4 but

would have reasonable access to cata-

there is still no national drug coverage plan.

strophic drug coverage, public drug insur-

“The trouble is that the feds attached no

ance to prevent financial hardship.”

strings to the money,” he says. “An election

Most provinces and territories do cover

was on the horizon and each province used

drug costs for people with specific diseases that require high-cost prescription drugs,

– Peter Carlye-Gordge is a Winnipeg-based freelance writer, former producer for CBC and former Maclean’s writer. To comment on this or any other article in Outwords, write to letters@outwords.ca

www.outwords.ca // outwords, december 2010

13

The Year of Android and iPad

It was a year of ups

+ downs

technology Corey Shefman

“ In a week, that shiny new computer will be nearly an antique…”

It’s often said that a

March

September

week is a long time

Following in the footsteps of the Nintendo

Google Instant, launched in September,

in politics. The same

Wii, March saw the launch of the

made the world’s best search engine even

could be said for

Playstation Move – a motion controller for

better. Google Instant searches the web as

technology. In a week,

Sony’s Playstation gaming system. Move

you type your search terms and suggests

that shiny new com-

and Wii were joined in November of this

additional terms to refine your search. For

puter will be nearly

year by Kinect, for Microsoft’s XBOX.

example, type “Why” and Google begins

an antique, that MP3 player will be replaced

with an even shinier one. 2010 was no different. This year saw the release of the iPad – the fastest selling gadget ever. 2010 could also be called the year of Android, with phones featuring Google’s smartphone operating system proliferating in both Canada and the United States. Here’s a month-by-month breakdown of the big news in tech this past year.

January While many of us were still shaking off hangovers from New Years celebrations, Google unveiled its Nexus One smartphone. The Nexus One was one of the first phones in North America sold without a contract and by the source com-

searching for “Why is the sky blue?” until you

April The iPad has landed! In April 2010, the iPad tablet computer went on sale. The

October

release of the iPad marked the beginning

Kobo, owned by Indigo Books, launched

of what many expect to be a revolution in

the second generation of its ebook reader.

personal computing. Despite relying on

While maintaining its position as the least

Apple’s iOS (the same operating system

expensive and lightest ebook reader on the

used in the iPod Touch and iPhone) and

market the second version of their reader

thus limited in its use, the iPad is now the

also includes WiFi and free wireless access

world’s fastest selling gadget.

at Bell hotspots. This important addition brings the Kobo in line with the standard

May

By May, there had been nine reported suicides in 2010 at the FoxConn factory in Taiwan, where Apple’s iPhone and iPad are

sumers to purchase books, magazines and newspapers on the go.

December

like conditions and working 12-hour days

December 7th marks the launch date of

without being able to speak in the factory.

the third major expansion for the (literally)

June In more Apple news, the iPhone 4 debuted this year to both acclaim and derision.

While an aesthetic victory, the iPhone 4 had a number of significant problems at launch. When held a certain

pany – Google – not by the networks.

way, the phone lost all wireless signal, the

Unfortunately, the Nexus One ended up

glass back of the phone cracked too easily

being a flop – Google stopped selling it

and the promised white version was no-

this fall.

where to be seen. But it was sold out for a month after being released.

outwords, december 2010 // www.outwords.ca

set by the Amazon Kindle, allowing con-

produced. Workers reported sweatshop-

…in Taiwan, where Apple’s iPhone and iPad are produced, workers reported sweatshop-like conditions

14 15

add more specific terms your own search.

groundbreaking mass multiplayer online role playing game (MMPORG) World of Warcraft. World of Warcraft: Cataclysm will see the entire Warcraft world remade as the evil Deathwing (an angry giant dragon) escapes from his underground prison, causing massive earthquakes and reshaping the terrain and geography of the in-game world. World of Warcraft has over 12 million players worldwide.

– Corey Shefman is a Winnipeg-based freelance writer. To comment on this or any other article in Outwords, e-mail letters@ outwords.ca

Inviting You & Your Family to the Manitoba Legislature Open House December 4 from 1-3 PM

bidhu jha

chris melnick

diane mcgifford

222-0074

253-5162

452-4320

MLA for rAdisson

radisson@shaw.ca

MLA for rieL

christinemelnick@mts.net

MLA for Lord roberts

dianemc@mts.net

jennifer howard jim rondeau MLA for fort rouge

946-0272

fortrouge@mts.net

MLA for AssiniboiA

888-7722

assiniboiaca@shaw.ca

For more information please visit

http://openhouse.yourmanitoba.ca/

Ever Evolving

Delerium

By DJ Ryan G

An acoustic collection that works For those of you who have followed Canadian electronic music, Delerium is certainly not only familiar, but likely already occupying some shelf space as part of your CD collection. The band members have changed over the years, and the sound has evolved over time, but the constant has been that Delerium has lit up dance floors across the globe with the help of a string of talented guest vocalists including Sarah McLachlan, Kreesha Turner, Leigh Nash of Sixpence None The Richer, and Jaël from Lunik.

I have to admit, when I first heard that Delerium had a new album being released I was instantly excited. That excitement started to fade when I heard it was going to be a compilation, and almost disappeared when I discovered that the entire album was going to be acoustic. The thought of an acoustic Delerium album just seemed to be very, very wrong.

One of my fondest memories of Winnipeg’s legendary GLBT club, Happenings

16 17

outwords, december 2010 // www.outwords.ca

Social Club, was being in the

sense of loss being conjured up by the tale.

DJ booth playing the Tiesto

Next up, facing my fears, I listened to the

remix of Delerium’s “Silence”.

acoustic version of “Silence”. Despite some

It pounded through the sound

heavenly string accompaniment, it unfor-

system. The bass shook the

tunately just didn’t hit all the right spots for

building, while the dancers

me. It would have been something special

on the floor had their hands

to re-record Sarah McLaughlan’s vocals to

up high and their eyes closed.

give it a fresh feel, but instead it just felt

The music seemed to sweep

like a stripped down version of what we’ve

them off their feet and to a

already heard for years. Of all the tracks

different plane of existence. It

that could have evoked an emotional re-

was truly amazing. Could an

sponse, I hoped this would have been the

acoustic version of the seminal

one. “Innocente” picks up the pieces with

track ever compare to that sort

a layered tribal percussion-driven version of

of experience? I was willing

the beloved heartbreak track. The decision

to give it a chance, if only out

to push the volume on Jaël’s vocals while

of morbid curiosity. After all,

dialing back the supporting instrumenta-

Delerium’s founder and only

tion on “After All” helped to transform

constant member, Bill Leeb

the dance track. Stripping away the vocal

has been reinventing himself

effects of the original and allowing Jael’s

and his bands for years so maybe he could

emotion to pour out exposed the anguish

actually pull it off.

and melancholy that the vocals always

“Voice: An Acoustic Collection” completely surprised me. The opening track

expressed. When I hear this new version, my heart aches. The hands-down standout extraordinary

the hands-down stand-out extraordinary offering from the album, is the acoustic version of “Flowers Become Screens”

offering from the album, is the acoustic version of “Flowers Become Screens”.

With a freshly rerecorded vocal, and a

“Send Me An Angel” storms through the

completely thought-out arrangement, this

door. Piano led and string supported, the

one is an absolute home run. It has to be

stage is immediately set by Michelle Rich-

heard, as any description in print could not

ards and her stunning vocals. The next

do this gem justice.

track that really caught my attention was

Despite the few misses on this album,

“Too Late, Farewell” featuring the beautiful

the hits make it one that I definitely recom-

and captivating vocals of Butterfly Bouch-

mend.

er. I have to admit at this point I replayed the track multiple times before going on to the rest of the album. It was the first of multiple emotional reactions this album got out of me. I felt such an overwhelming

– DJ Ryan G is well known for spinning discs at queer events throughout the year.

To comment on this or any other article in Outwords, write to letters@outwords.ca.

book review

New Book Offers Guidance Transgender journey lonely & difficult

By Bowen Smyth

What do you do when

ple), but not books

she wanted her book to be honest. Drawing

you’re suffering from

about the transition-

on the five-stage grief cycle model devel-

anxiety and depression

ing process.” Unable

oped by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, McDonald

after coming out as

to find resources that

acknowledges the reality of grief in the

trans and losing your

enabled her family to

transition process. “You’re dealing with the

job, your home and

understand her ex-

death of someone; you’re dealing with the

your family? When this

perience, McDonald

death of yourself.”

happened to Katherine

wrote Flying Blind not

McDonald, she de-

only for transgender

members can be particularly challenging to

cided to write a book.

people, but for their

work through, McDonald devotes a chapter

“I was tired of having

family members and

specifically to parents. “Transitioning de-

to explain that being

health-care profes-

stroys all their memories, the history you’ve

trans was not a choice,

sionals. “I’ve spent so

shared. You’re saying they never knew you.”

and I wanted to be

much time educat-

able to give people a

ing professionals on

receive a book written by a trans-woman,

guidebook to under-

(trans issues).” She

McDonald discovered that one of her most

stand what was going

notes that there is

enthusiastic supporters was a young trans-

on, and how to get

very little material re-

man. “He found [the book] very appropri-

through it,” she says.

lated to transgender

ate,” McDonald says.

McDonald, a writer and trans-woman living in Winnipeg, has recently published her book, Flying Blind (and getting there all

Transitioning destroys all their memories, the history you’ve shared.

You’re saying they never knew you.

health in textbooks that are used to train

Since the loss experienced by family

Curious to know how trans-men might

After a successful book launch that included readings at McNally Robinson and at

health-care profes-

a coffee house during Pride week, McDon-

sionals.

ald’s next item on the agenda is to tour her

The book addresses issues such

book through the United States.

So far, she is thrilled with the supportive

the same): The transitioner’s handbook for

as coming out, working with health-care

feedback from counsellors, health-care pro-

FtM, MtF, and their ground crew. Printed by

professionals, self-acceptance and trust.

fessionals and people who identify as trans-

Smiling Daisies Publishing Inc. Flying Blind

“You’ve learned to hide [your identity] for

gender. “I haven’t had anyone who’s had a

is a pocket-sized, 292-page book with a

most of your life. …How do you start with

negative comment about it,” she says.

discreet cover.

trust?” McDonald notes that this is a difficult

Smiling Daisies Publishing Inc. is assist-

“I had been trying to write another

process, considering how transgender peo-

ing McDonald with the process of setting up

book and I hit writer’s block in trying to fin-

ple have been treated on the streets and in

a fund that will use proceeds from the book

ish it,” says McDonald. After a friend encour-

health-care settings.

to assist people with the financial costs of

aged her just to write what she needed to

Building trust with others begins with

say, she put the other book on hold and be-

trusting yourself, a process of self-accept-

gan writing Flying Blind. “It just poured out

ance. “Coming out means coming out to

of me. It was stuck there and should have

yourself first,” McDonald says. “The first

come out a long time before that.”

person you’re facing is yourself, and that’s a

Flying Blind is the book McDonald wishes she could have had when she was transitioning. “There were biographies (of trans-peo-

really tough thing to deal with.”

transitioning. Flying Blind can be purchased from McNally Robinson Booksellers.

– Bowen Smyth is a Winnipeg-based freelance writer. To comment on this or any other article in Outwords, write to letters@outwords.ca.

It was important for McDonald not to “sugar coat” the realities of transitioning;

www.outwords.ca // outwords, december 2010

17

.

All That Glitters AN iNTiMATE NEW YEArS EvENiNG with Pink Money Events, to benefit OutWords Magazine

Excellent Edibles by The Maple Tree/Cafe Dario Dancing Smart Cocktails (cash bar) Complimentary Coat Check Party Favours Bubbly at Midnight

Dress: All That Glitters!

FriDAY, DECEMBEr 31, 2010 8 pm. to 1 am • The Loft, 62 Evanson Street Admission: $40.00 • Tickets from Chris, 772-8215 (visa/mcard/amex) Or cvogel@mymts.net

Excellent Hot and Cold Edibles Dancing Smart Cocktails (cash bar) ~ Complimentary Coat Check ~ Party Favours ~ Bubbly at Midnight DrESS: All THAT GliTTErS!

All That Glitters An intimate New Years Evening with Pink Money Events, to benefit OutWords Magazine ~ Excellent Hot and Cold Edibles ~ Dancing ~ Smart Cocktails (cash bar)~ Complimentary coat check ~ Party favours ~ Bubbly at midnight DrESS: All THAT GliTTErS!

Friday, December 31, 2010, 8 pm. to 1 am The Loft, 62 Evanson Street • Admission: $40.00.

Tickets from Chris, 772-8215 (visa/ mcard/amex) Or cvogel@mymts. net

STAY ALERT PULL OVER. Please Yield the Right of Way to Emergency Vehicles A message from the John Petropolous Memorial Fund

18 19

outwords, december 2010 // www.outwords.ca

www.jpmf.ca/trafficsafety

A Gl

section header

FAKE OR REAL

Good Grief!

By: Roselle Turenne

My dad is flipping through a pile of flat frozen spruce trees as though he’s turning pages from an oversized album.

He holds one up and says “What do you think!?” I raise my arms towards the majestic three-dimensional pines placed in rows “Why can’t we get one of these?”

I plead. “Just wait and see – it will be beautiful when it thaws out!” He pays the man and we toss the Christmas tree in the back of our rusty pick-up truck. I glower at the miniature version of our tree hanging from the rear-view mirror as we pull away. >>

www.outwords.ca // outwords, december 2010

19

The metal stand and skirt are laid out

There are certainly advantages to haul-

through a planted forest of semi-perfect

over the green shag carpet. Colourful

ing a tree out of storage. Today’s versions

trees, hot cocoa, wood smoke filling the

glass ornaments are piled in boxes on the

are made to minimize shouting matches.

air, a wooden toboggan being dragged

flowered chesterfield. Nana Mouskouri is

These new pop-up, pre-lit beauties take

through the fluffy snow, and sleigh bells...

crooning Mon beau sapin from the Hi-Fi.

minutes to set up. Ornament kits ensure

Is this Manitoba or a scene from the latest

“Spin it around, some more, a bit more,

that your tree is colour co-ordinated, just

LL Bean catalogue? There is something to

uh, the other side... OK, we’ll need LOTS

add the star on top, cue in Susan Lucci and

be said about cutting down your own tree,

of garland,” mom is playing the role of artistic director.

This Christmas ritual is nothing like what you see on a TV special. Let the arguing commence!

It’s fair to assume that Charlie Brown and friends

sure the fake ones are perky and flawless, but I’ve always been partial to the real ones…

you’re on your way to the

tying it to the top of your car and stuffing

perfect soap opera Christ-

it through the front door. The smell itself is

mas. These are not the

worth it, in my opinion!

artificial trees of our youth.

boo floor. I’m sitting in the 1960s retro

ful and quite economical.

chair in my living room. Boney M is belting

The biggest downside –

out Feliz Navidad. “Spin it around, some

where is the ritual?

more, a bit more, uh, the other side...

were not the only ones busy waving their

Temporary tree lots, big box stores

hands trying to create something beauti-

and garden centres continue to attract

ful from a homely tree. Most of us have

many festive shoppers seeking out the

lived through some sort of tree decorating

perfect pine. Little has changed over the

debacle. This year I’m hosting Christmas, I

years (shag carpet is even back in vogue).

am now faced with the daunting ques-

But there is another way to spend your

tion – should I go fake or real. Sure the fake

time and money picking out the real deal.

ones are perky and flawless, but I’ve always

Christmas tree farms offer families the

been partial to the real ones (we’re still

opportunity to spend the day in Nor-

talking trees right)!

man Rockwell style. Happy folks walking

GETTING the

REAL facts For the most part, real Christmas trees: • are grown and sold locally • produce oxygen and remove carbon dioxide for 10 to 12 years before being cut • are fully recyclable • provide habitat • once cut, are replaced with at least two more seedlings * David Suzuki Foundation

20outwords, december 2010//

www.outwords.ca

The tree stand is sitting on the bam-

They are simple and beauti-

OK, we’ll need LOTS of garland” ...and it begins.

– Roselle Turenne is a Winnipeg-based freelance writer. To comment on this or any other article in Outwords, write to letters@ outwords.ca.

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15,000 The city mulches an average of 15000 trees each year!

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21

love honour and cherish

Every fall on Yom Kippur (the holi-

that is truly remarkable. Shaarey Zedek is

est day of the Jewish year, when

the first and thus far the only Conserva-

Jews worldwide fast and ask for a

tive synagogue in Canada that performs

good year to come), that part of

traditional Jewish weddings for gay and

the Torah, the Jewish Bible, which

lesbian Jews. Shaarey Zedek’s journey to full

has caused so much pain for so

acceptance of gay and lesbian Jews began

many gays and lesbians, is read

in December 2006, shortly after the “Com-

publicly to the assembled congre-

mittee on Jewish Law and Standards” of the

gation. “Thou shalt not lie with a

North American Conservative movement

man as you lie with a woman; it is

issued split decisions on whether Jewish

an abomination.”

law allowed for gay marriage. It was left

For many gay Jews, this is a

Green, along with Rabbi Lawrence Pinsker,

But in 2008, gay Jews attending

Shaarey Zedek’s associate rabbi, felt that it

Shaarey Zedek, Winnipeg’s largest

was time for equality.

A New Home For Winnipeg’s Queer Jews

By Corey Shefman

synagogue,

can Conservative synagogues began offer-

heard Rabbi

ing “commitment ceremonies” for gay and

Alan Green

lesbian couples. For some, ‘marriage’ for

announce that

gays might still have been seen as incom-

their syna-

patible with Jewish law. For others, howev-

gogue would soon become the first Con-

er, weddings for gay and lesbian Jews were

servative (in denomination, not political

off the table simply because there were no

viewpoint) Shul to welcome gay and lesbian

official ceremonies or symbols created for

Jews fully into their community.

gay weddings. In Judaism, the traditional wedding ceremony relies heavily on male-

to 2008, Rabbi Green announced that as

female imagery and would not make sense

of January 2008, gay and lesbian couples

at a gay wedding.

would be eligible to be buried as a couple

This was not a problem for Shaarey

in the Shaarey Zedek cemetery. The fol-

Zedek. According to Rabbi Pinsker, Shaarey

lowing year, gays and lesbians would be

Zedek’s commitment to gay rights, includ-

welcomed as members of the synagogue,

ing performing gay weddings (not just

allowing them to sit on committees and cel-

“commitment ceremonies”) is based entire-

ebrate lifecycle events (bar or bat mitzvahs

ly in Halachah (Jewish law). He is quick to

for their children, mourning, etc). Finally,

brush aside any suggestion that the inclu-

as of January 1, 2010, gay and lesbian Jew-

sion of gays and lesbians in the synagogue

ish couples would be able to get married.

is a social or cultural decision, but rather he

While this incremental and lengthy process might not seem revolutionary to many, from the perspective of the Conservative Jewish community, it was indeed groundbreaking.

While the entire process is noteworthy, it is this last step

outwords, december 2010 // www.outwords.ca

Following those rulings, some Ameri-

would have

After a year of consultations from 2007

22 23

up to individual rabbis to decide and Rabbi

moment of shame or conflict.

of policies that Shaarey Zedek and its members have embraced wholeheartedly.

While many Reform (a less traditional Jewish denomination) synagogues have performed gay marriages for a number of years, the introduction of the ceremony to a Conservative synagogue is an important step for a community that in recent years has drifted to the right politically. The Conservative movement in Judaism has long been the home of “modern” Jews who

According to Rabbi Pinsker, Shaarey Zedek’s commitment to gay rights, including performing gay weddings (not just “commitment ceremonies”) is based entirely in Halachah (Jewish law).

want to retain more tradition and observance than the average. It has often struggled to find a balance between modernity and tradition, in a manner that Rabbi Pinsker compares to a bonsai tree. He notes that like the bonsai, the Conservative movement needs to be trained to “adapt to its

insists that it is a religious decision based

cus 18:22, (reproduced at the beginning

new shape.” While it may want to grow in

in scripture and Jewish law. Indeed, Rabbi

of this article) if taken in its socio-historical

one direction, it is incumbent on its leaders

Pinsker explains that Shaarey Zedek’s un-

context, is in fact more likely a prohibition

to ensure that it responds to the needs of

derstanding of Jewish law does not differ-

against pagan rituals, idol worship and

its members. As more synagogues and Jews

entiate between same-sex and opposite-sex

what can be best summed up as religious

realize that the interpretation of the Bible

relationships. To insist on a commitment

orgies, common at the time the Bible was

which makes homosexuality a sin may not

ceremony instead of a wedding would be,

written. In other words, Shaarey Zedek has

in fact be the correct interpretation, it will

in his words, an; “insufficient standard of

not just opened the ritual of marriage to

become easier, according to Rabbi Pinsker,

support” for gay and lesbian couples.

gay and lesbian couples, they have begun

for others to follow suit.

For Rabbis Green and Pinsker, this is

to open the religion as a whole to gays and

Rabbi Pinsker makes it abundantly clear

not simply a question of equality. Rabbi

lesbians, doing their best to wipe away the

to me that this straight, married, tradition-

Pinsker explaines that rabbis, scholars and

historical hostility.

ally religious man really “got it” in a way

historians around the world have begun

Remarkably, Rabbi Pinkser noted that

that most straight people don’t. He has

challenging the traditional understanding

during the consultation period leading up

fought his whole career for the inclusion

of Judaism’s prohibition on homosexuality.

to the final decision to include gays and les-

of gay and lesbian Jews in the synagogue

bians in synagogue life, the comment the

and community. “We need the creativity;

rabbis heard most frequently from mem-

we need the intelligence, and the subtly

bers and stakeholders was; “What took you

nuanced insights into the formation of true

so long?” Indeed, the synagogue claims to

companionship which oftentimes are ex-

have lost less than half a dozen members as

pressed mostly truly in relationships in the

a result of the policy change. This claim is

gay and lesbian community,” he says.

He points out that the verse most fundamental to the argument that the Bible prohibits homosexuality, Leviti-

nothing short of astounding, given that in Ontario and Quebec, many Conservative synagogues have recently banded together in opposition to just the sort

– Corey Shefman is a Winnipeg-based freelance writer. To comment on this or any other article in Outwords, write to letters@ outwords.ca.

www.outwords.ca // outwords, december 2010

23

Clothing as protest and identity…. or hipster irony fashion R.M. Goodman

“One could not watch the evening news in the ‘70s without seeing Arafat in his trademark Raybans and scarf…”

I went to my fave

of the Mid-East that would endure for

coffee bar just off

decades.

Calgary’s 17th

So I asked the young man if he knew

Many times in fashion we have seen some interesting trends emerge because of political movements.

Avenue, S.W. where

the significance of what he was wearing –

India – Ghandi – the “homespun”

the hipster elite that

that significance being an instant sense of

directives. During the British occupation

dominate this ’hood

perhaps being simpatico with Arab culture

of India, and this also extends to a status

gather every day to

or the Palestinian struggle? He smiled and

thing, many Indians wore clothing that

read the Globe and

said, “It looks cool.”

was milled in England. Ghandi, through-

Mail, admire each

I was somewhat stunned and kind of

out his many travels in his homeland, rec-

other’s sense of good

regretted the fact that the long line behind

ognized the hardships that his own people

taste, and lavish atten-

me stymied the historical lecture I could

suffered because their cloth, their natural

tion on the pampered

have delivered. Since when did certain

dyes, were set aside in favour of the domi-

pooches of the well-heeled, fussy java

pieces of clothing become hip? I have no

nant economic force that British goods

drinkers. The coffee is so damned good

problem with the “discovery” of certain

were. When Ghandi exhorted his

here that the line extends out the front

icons but please, do some research first

countrymen and women to don

door.

because you may think twice about wear-

“homespun” as a sign of soli-

ing certain things or barring that, at least

darity and identity it was a

and cannot help but notice this young

respect those items for what they may

shot that resonated in

man’s attire. No, it is not the nice sweater

represent?

the industrialized

I eventually get up to the barista area

or perfectly fitting jeans that catch my attention but rather this vibrant scarf wrapped perfectly around his

I am not saying that a keffiyeh is evil. Hell, no. It is an eminently practical and very neat piece of gear.

neck and draping itself down his back. I recognize instantly

Now I am not saying that a keffiyeh

the pattern, black lines arranged in a

is evil. Hell, no. It is an eminently practi-

particular way over a white background,

cal and very neat piece of gear. Men and

tassels anchoring the end – it is the classic

women can wear it, it keeps all sorts of

keffiyeh made famous by Yasser Arafat,

crap out of your face no matter where

former head of the Palestinian Liberation

you may be – desert or waiting for a

Organization.

bus on the prairies. A keffiyeh not

One could not watch the evening

only looks totally cool but if your

news in the ‘70s without seeing Arafat

friend gets stuck in “quick snow”

in his trademark Raybans and scarf – he

while carrying the beer you can

embodied the height of “terrorist” fashion

rescue them! So strong is that

and his scarf became an instant symbol

hand-woven fabric!

24 outwords, december 2010//

www.outwords.ca

section header

western schmatte realms. http://static2.

Morocco back in 1996, a time long-past

bigstockphoto.com/thumbs/0/4/1/

colonization, it was very interesting indeed

the rarified world of high fashion, exists

large2/1402601.jpg

to see businesswomen still wearing the

for practical purposes but when a simple

djellaba over their western garb, whilst

piece of clothing becomes an icon of sorts,

pied, the wearing of traditional garb for

walking in high heels and doing business

an expression of a deeper philosophy – like

many years was suppressed. The djellaba,

on their cellphones.

it or not – it transcends the mundane and

In Morocco, which was French-occu-

a monk-like covering with hood that was

It was a piece of clothing that years

traditionally worn by men and discouraged

later I came to appreciate when trekking in

by the occupiers, was taken up by Moroc-

areas where “modesty”, even though I de-

can women as if to say, OK men cannot wear this but we will. When I

spise certain origins for it, made sense.

Clothing for the most part, excepting

can be reinvented into something of a lasting nature.

Besides those sentiments, one must always be pragmatic whilst maintaining a fab look, non?

was in – R.M. Goodman is a freelance writer and closet-case fashionista. To comment on this or any other article in Outwords, write to letters@outwords.ca.

www.outwords.ca // outwords, december 2010

25

Great times start with Liquor Mart gift cards

Purchase Liquor Mart gift cards at any Manitoba Liquor Mart.

Available in $25 cards or choose your own value from $10 - $250.

26 27

outwords, december 2010 // www.outwords.ca

Everything tastes better with atmosphere

Cheap or pricey, it’s personality that counts off menu kenton smith

We’ve all had this

“... these spots are one-of-akind, and the experience is holistic”

Among the most obvious is 529 Wel-

voodoo of Kelekis on north Main. (The Eye

conversation: “Where

lington. It’s warm, inviting and literally

Opener is just a few klicks further up the

do you want to go?”

homey – being a converted historic man-

road.)

“I dunno. Somewhere nice.”

You might want to be careful with that adjective – lest your casual response be

sion and all. The rich earth tones, polished

The High and Lonesome Club, further

wood and plush carpeting make it an

south on Main, may just offer Winnipeg’s

amazing place simply to drop in for a slosh.

best Mexican food as advertised. The deli-

But that’s another column.

cious, satisfying tortilla soup is a standout.

One obvious choice that will still inspire surprise among some locals (“Really?

But it’s the funky, blues bar digs that really make you want to be there.

accepted and you find yourself ordering

That place?”) is Maxime’s Restaurant on

lobster at 529 Wellington. Yet, there’s no

St. Mary’s Road near St. Vital Shopping

natown, which is likewise quite possibly

question that ambience can be almost as

Centre. Yes, it’s out of the way for many

in its own category. Waiters in mustard

integral a part of dining as the food on

Winnipeggers. But that dining room is

yellow jackets (who are also not unknown

your plate.

something. And you wouldn’t suspect it

to wear bow ties) push trolleys from which

from the outside.

dinner as well as dim sum is transferred to

There was one place I just had to eat at in Paris, for instance: Brasserie Bofinger,

And then there’s the Shanghai in Chi-

That’s what enhances the impact.

Formica tables. You practically feel like a

near Place de la Bastille in all its art nou-

You don’t even see the dining room upon

beatnik in back-in-the-day San Francisco.

veau glory. The place pulsated history, and

entering. But when it’s time to be seated…

scarfing steak tartare under the stained

that’s when the stained-glass, chande-

there’s inimitable. These spots are one-

glass dome probably helped distract from

liered, expansive brilliance of the place

of-a-kind, and the experience is holistic.

the fact that I was eating raw meat.

blitzes your retinas. (The food – of the

So next time someone asks where do you

steak, seafood and pasta variety – is pretty

want to go, answer: “Somewhere with

good, too.)

personality.”

So, consider that sometimes you’re paying at least in part for the ambience.

It can also work in reverse at the opposite

Yeah, you say, but I don’t go in for

end of the price spectrum. Take Montreal

frou-frou. Very well – how about a classic

institution Wilensky’s Light Lunch and their

diner experience? The Nook on Sherbrook

Wilensky’s Special: salami, bologna and

offers one of Winnipeg’s best

mustard on a Kaiser roll, pressed.

breakfasts, complete with a free

It’s better than it sounds. But it’s the

as instruction’s are barked

When you think of it that way, you real-

gruffly to staff.

“high.”

And that brings us back to Winnipeg,

– Kenton Smith is a Winnipeg-based freelance writer. To comment on this on this or any other article in Outwords, write to letters@ outwords.ca.

show from behind the counter

shabby charm of the place itself you go for. ize the “low” can offer greater value than

You see, there’s “nice,” and then

When it comes to diners, in fact, Winnipeg is spoiled with choice. Take your pick,

with its own share of establishments whose

from the classic swivel-seat

proprietors understand that atmosphere

countertop of the Wagon

aids digestion. It may also inspire you to

Wheel on Hargrave, to

darken the door of eateries you might not

the dimly lit, Wall of

have considered otherwise.

Fame, this-place-hasn’tchanged-since-the-‘60s

www.outwords.ca// outwords, december 2010

27

Holiday Spirits No one knows when beverage alcohol was first used, but it was presumably the result of a fortuitous accident that occurred tens of thousands of years ago. The discovery of late Stone Age beer jugs has established the fact that intentionally fermented beverages existed at least as early as the Neolithic period and it has been suggested that beer may have preceded bread as a staple. While alcohol (for most of us) is not longer considered a dietary staple, it is a staple of many holiday celebrations

Angel’s Delight Creamy and pink this semi-classic cocktail is ideal for dessert, but takes that genre into a different realm because of the underlying gin. * 1 oz cream * 3/4 oz triple sec * 3/4 oz gin * 2-3 dashes grenadine 1. Pour the ingredients into a shaker with ice cubes.

2. Shake well.

3. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

MAKING THE MOST OF WHAT YOU’VE GOT This ingensious site lets you type in your ingredients and gives you drink recipes that use them.

28outwords, december 2010//

www.outwords.ca

www.drinkgenius.com

Merry Irishman Whiskey, coffee and mint combine to create an after dinner sipper or a relaxing Christmas Eve nightcap * 2 parts Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey * 1 part Kahlua * 1/2 part mint schnapps * candy cane for garnish

A glass of white or red wine, a bottle of beer, and a shot of whiskey or other distilled spirits all contain equivalent amounts of alcohol and are the same to a Breathalyzer.

1. Build ingredients in a rocks glass filled with ice.

2. Garnish and stir with a candy cane.

Poinsettia

La Vie En Rouge

Champagne and cranberries, two holiday essentials combined in one elegant drink.

A beautiful crimson cocktail that brings out the colour of the season and a few of the favourite flavors.

* 1/2 oz Cointreau or triple sec

* 1 1/2 oz. Grand Marnier

* Champagne

* 1 1/2 oz. fresh pressed cranberry juice (can substitute

* 3 oz cranberry juice 1. Chill all of the ingredients beforehand.

2. Pour the Cointreau and cranberry juice into a chilled Champagne flute.

3. Stir well.

4. Top with Champagne.

with bottled cranberry juice) * 1/2 oz. fresh lemon juice * 1/2 oz. simple syrup * Fresh rosemary needles 1. In a tall mixing glass, muddle 10-12 rosemary needles lightly with simple syrup.

2. Add remaining ingredients then add ice and shake vigorously.

Christmas Jones This sweet highball drink begins with a blend of strawberries, pineapple and vodka and is topped with lemon-lime soda * 4 fresh strawberries * 1 part vodka * 2 tsp superfine sugar

3. Strain over fresh ice into a rocks glass with ice.

4. Garnish with a rosemary sprig.

Grinch Named for Dr. Seuss’ classic holiday character. The red garnish is a symbol of the good heart that lies inside every Grinch.

* 5 oz pineapple juice * 7-Up * mint sprigs for garnish

* 2 oz Midori * 1/2 oz lemon juice * 1 tsp simple syrup

1. In a blender, whiz the vodka, strawberries, sugar and

* maraschino cherry for garnish

pineapple juice together.

2. Pour the mix equally into two highball glasses.

3. Top with 7-Up. 4. Garnish with a sprig of mint.

1. Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice.

2. Shake well.

3. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

4. Garnish with a maraschino cherry. www.outwords.ca // outwords, december 2010

29

For the

Holidays

Great Reading

Thursday Night Pizza

Bottle Rocket Hearts

Father Knows Best

Anansi Press

By Dominic Garramone

By Zoe Whittall

By Lynda Sandoval

Emma Donoghue

In 1968, in beauti-

Cormorant Books

Soliloquy/Bold

Reedy Press

brings to bear all her

ful, remote coastal

knowledge and grasp

Labrador, a mysterious

to examine how desire

child is born: a baby

between women

who appears to be nei-

in English literature

ther fully boy nor girl,

has been portrayed,

but both at once. Only

from schoolgirls and

three people are privy

vampires to runaway

to the secret – the

wives, from cross-

baby’s parents, and

dressing knights to

a trusted neighbor

contemporary murder

named Thomasina.

stories. Donoghue

The adults make a

looks at the work of

difficult decision – to

those writers who

raise the child as a boy

have addressed the

named Wayne. But as

“unspeakable subject,”

Wayne grows to adult-

examining whether

hood within the hy-

such desire between

per-masculine hunting

women is freakish or

culture of his father,

omnipresent, holy or

he believes there is an-

evil, heartwarming

other self hidden in his

or ridiculous as she

body – a girl he thinks

excavates a long-

of as Annabel – who

obscured tradition of

is secretly nurtured by

(inseparable) friend-

the women in his life.

Inseparable

Annabel

By Emma Donoghue

By Kathleen Winter

Knopf

ship between women,

Welcome to Montreal

Strokes Books

From renowned chef,

in the months before

cookbook author

After a tumultu-

the 1995 referendum.

and TV personality

ous junior year,

Eve is pining to get out

comes a unique new

best friends Lila

of her parent’s house

cookbook, Thursday

Moreno, Meryl

in Dorval and find a

Night Pizza by Father

Morganstern, and

girl who wants to kiss

Dominic Garramone,

Caressa Thibodoux

her back. She meets

offering a variety of

plan to make the

Della - mysterious,

mouth-watering pizza

most of the summer

defiantly non-monog-

recipes with a little

before senior year. But

amous, an avid separa-

twist on the classic

those plans fall by the

tist and 10 years older.

family favourite. From

wayside when Lila’s

Their explosive begin-

traditional cheese piz-

archenemy, Jennifer

ning makes way for

zas, unusual pies like

Hamilton, finds herself

an even more volatile

the spicy Thai peanut

friendless and flail-

relationship that spans

chicken pizza to sweet

ing in a mess of her

the following two

dessert pizzas like the

own making. Meryl

years. On the night of

fig and papaya pie,

steps up to help…and

the 1995 referendum

Thursday Night Pizza

drags Lila and Caressa

politics and romance

is the perfect pizza

along with her. What

come to a head and

guide that will help

was supposed to be a

Eve’s naiveté begins

any cook ignite their

carefree few months

to fade. From naïve

passion for pizza.

morphs into a summer

teenager to hot shot

of girl power, growing

tough girl, Eve decides

up, and giving in to

her own fate.

situations beyond their

one that is surprisingly

control. In the end, all

central to our cultural

four girls are tighter

history.

than ever and one step closer to tackling their all-important senior year.

30 31

outwords, december 2010 // www.outwords.ca

Secret Historian

By Justin Spring Insomniac Press Drawn from the secret, never-beforeseen diaries, journals and sexual records of the novelist, poet and university professor Samuel Steward, Secret Historian is a sensational reconstruction of one of the more extraordinary hidden lives of the twentieth century.

An intimate friend of Gertrude Stein, Alice B. Toklas and Thornton Wilder, Steward maintained a secret sex life from childhood on and documented these in experiences in brilliantly vivid (and very often funny) details.

D&M Publishers

Date With A Sheesha – A Russell Quant Mystery

In 1942, a timid,

By Anthony Bidulka

inexperienced 21-year-

Insomniac Press

My Queer War

By James Lord

old Lord reports to Atlantic City, N.J., to enlist in the U.S. Army. His career in the armed forces takes him to Nevada and California, to Boston, to England and eventually to France and Germany where he witnesses firsthand the ravages of total war on Europe’s land and on its people. Along the way, he also comes to terms with his own sexuality, experiences the thrill of first love and the chill of disillusionment with his fellow man. And in a moment of great rashness, he makes the acquaintance of the world’s most renowned artist, who will show him the way

When Nayan Gupta is stabbed to death while in the Middle East looking for antique carpets his distraught father wants revenge so he hires Russell Quant to catch the killer. In his greatest case to date, Quant goes undercover to match wits with a museum curator, shifty souk merchants and corrupt carpet experts, sorting friend from foe among a group of “fabulous” men he meets in an underground club.

From the flamboyant glitz of Dubai to the scorching sand dunes of Saudi Arabia, quant risks his life as he wades further and further in the shadows

Official Book Club Selection

Red Rover

Handmade Love

By Kathy Griffin

By Liz Bugg

By Julie R. Enszer

Insomniac Press

A Midsummer Night’s Press

Ballentyne Books Official Book Club Selection is Kathy Griffin unplugged, uncensored, and unafraid to dish about what really happens on the road, away from the cameras, and at the star party after the show. (It’s also her big chance to score that coveted book club endorsement she’s always wanted. Are you there, Oprah? It’s me, Kathy.) Writing with her trademark wit, the feisty comic settles a few old scores, cel-

This fast-moving thriller follows Calli Barnow

In her first collection,

through the twists

Julie R. Enszer offers

and turns of Toronto’s

poems that are as

neighbourhoods, from

unabashedly erotic

run-down but friendly

as they are unabash-

Kensington Market to

edly feminist. Whether

the Church Street gay-

responding to queer

bourhood, through

cultural icons, fanta-

the ravines of Rosedale

sizing about sex, or

and Mount Pleasant’s

mourning illness and

mausoleums. Calli

loss, these poems are

is an engaging com-

sweet and sultry, fierce

panion, flawed but

and tender. From

determined, pursued

demonstrations on the

by her own demons as

streets to bedroom

she tries to find a miss-

romps, these smart

ing girl before more

and sexy poems inter-

trouble finds her.

weave narrative and lyrical moments with

ebrates the friends and

the political and the

mentors who helped

sensuous.

her claw her way to the top, and shares insider gossip about celebrity behavior–the good, the bad, and the very ugly.

cast by the desert sun.

to a new life.

www.outwords.ca // outwords, december 2010

31

entertainment

Get into the holiday spirit with

by Barbara Abramchuk

Everyone loves feel-good theatre or a delightful

Blake. The stage musical of White Christmas pre-

musical. At least, that’s what the Royal Manitoba

miered in San Franciso in 2004 and has played a va-

Theatre Centre is banking on this holiday sea-

riety of venues in the United States and United King-

son with their production of Irving Berlin’s White

dom. The classic movie version from 1954 starred

Christmas The Musical.

Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye and Rosemary Clooney.

MTC’s version of White Christmas, directed by

Expect great costumes and sets as usual from

Robb Patterson, tells the story of best buddies Bob

MTC’s set designer Michael Gianfrancesco and cos-

Wallace and Phil Davis - two Second World War vet-

tume designer Charlotte Dean.

erans who became Broadway Stars. During the war

If this delightful and cheery production can’t

years, Wallace and Davis performed holiday concerts

get you into the holiday spirit, then bah hum-

for the homesick troops. Ten years later, the song

bug.

and dance tandem makes it big, eventually perform-

Irving Berlin’s White Christmas The Musical

ing on Broadway and appearing on the Ed Sullivan

runs November 25 to December 18 at the

Show.

Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre and stars

The duo meets up with talented sisters Betty

Kyle Blair, Jennifer Lyon, Stephen Patter-

and Judy Hayes. Phil falls for Judy, but poor Bill ends

son, Kimberley Rampersad and Walter

up sparring with Betty. Watch for sparks and hilarity

Learning. See www.mtc.mb.ca for

to ensue.

details.

The artistic foursome teams up for some shows and travel by train to Vermont to perform at a winter Inn. To their surprise, there is no snow and hence not much of an audience for their shows. They team up to save the inn and possibly their careers.

White Christmas is a large-scale musical production featuring the music and lyrics of Irving Berlin, who George Gershwin called the greatest songwriter who ever lived. Watch for many classic songs including Happy Holidays, Blue Skies and, of course, White Christmas.

This stage adaptation is based on the Paramount Picture’s film and the book by Daniel Ives and Paul

32 33

outwords, december 2010 // www.outwords.ca

- Barbara Abramchuk is a Winnipeg-based freelance writer. To comment on this or any other article in Outwords, write to letters@outwords.ca.

entertainment

Theatre Fit for a Queen

received a rare royal honour. has tre cen e atr The oba nit Ma n ow s eg’ Winnip Queen Elizabeth has designated it the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre. RMTC joins the prestigious Royal Winnipeg Ballet and the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair, which takes place in Brandon, in sharing the royal designation in Manitoba.

The announcement of the royal designation was made at a reception

at the Manitoba Legislative Building by Premier Greg Selinger: ““On behalf of

Manitobans, I would like to congratulate the Manitoba Theatre Centre on being given a royal designation from Queen Elizabeth. The Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre is a mainstay in our province’s

cultural life, providing us with a rich and diverse array of theatre. It has solidifed its reputation for artistic excellence ad for being a well-managed organization with a commitment to balanced budgets” The honour is a testament to the

lasting legacy of the theatre, which is the oldest English speaking regional theatre

in Canada. RMTC was founded in 1958

by John Hirsch and Tom Hendry , who wanted to create high- quality profession

, al theatre with mass appeal. Since 1958 plays 500 than more ced RMTC has produ and its stage has been graced by the likes of Len Cariou, Martha Henr y, Judd

Keanu Reeves and Al Waxman - many of whom are stage legends in Canada.

Currently, RMTC produces 10 plays per year on two stages, has more than

18,000 season ticket holders, takes to the road for a regional tour, and hosts The Master Playwrights Festival and the Wine nipeg Fringe Festival, which has becom the second largest in North America.

The new moniker -The Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre - is a sign that RMTC has reached a level of prestige, and it may also be a great marketing tool.

- Barbara Abramchuk

Hirsch, William Hurt, Seanna Mckenna,

www.outwords.ca // outwords, december 2010

33

GLBT Resource Directory SOCIAL SUPPORT Rainbow Resource Centre: Rainbow Resource Centre (RRC): 170 Scott St. Phone: 474.0212.

E-mail: info@rainbowresoucecentre.org Web: rainbowresourcecentre.org. Counselling intake: 452.7508. Peer Support: 284.5208 or 1.888.399.0005.

Dreamcatchers: Weekly therapeutic group for women and transgenders contemplating leaving the sex trade. Call 784-4065.

Fort Garry Women’s Resource Centre: Feminist organization. Information/counselling. 1150-A Waverley St. 477-1123, www.fgwrc.ca FTM Alliance of Winnipeg: Transgender/transsexual female-to-male issues. Meetings at the RRC, first Tues. of the month, from 7:30-9:30 p.m. gAy&E: Participate in the Winnipeg arts, cultural, and entertainment scene. E-mail tallbrat@mts. net.

Gay Fathers of Winnipeg: E-mail gfow@mts.net.

Web: gayfathersofwinnipeg.com.

Goldenboys (Gay and Lesbian Volleyball League): Recreational league. Call Mike at 452-5780 or Mark at 774-2122.

Keystone Rainbow Curling League (GLBT curling league). Web: keystonecurling.com L*ACE group: For women interested in the Winnipeg arts, cultural, and entertainment scene.

E-mail lace_ace@hotmail.com. Web: acelace. spaces.live.com.

Lambda: Business and Professional Association.

P.O. Box 1575, Main Station, Winnipeg, MB, R3C 2Z4. 204-944-0354. Web: lambdabiz.com Live and Let Live: Group of Alcoholics Anonymous. Wed. at 8 p.m. at Holy Names House of Peace, 211 Edmonton St. Masquerade: Crossdresser, transvestite, and transgender group. Web: masquerade.ca or call 452-1100.

Men’s Resource Centre: 301-321 McDermot Ave. Counselling for men. Call 956-9528 or 1-866-MRC-EHCC (672-3433) in Manitoba, Web: elizabethhill.ca/mrc.

Out There Sports & Recreation: GLBT sports and recreation events in Winnipeg Web: gaycanada. com/outthere.

Parents, Friends & Family of Transgender Individuals: Meets at the Rainbow Resource Centre on the second Monday of every month, in the library at 7 p.m. Contact pffoTI@gmail.com

Prime Timers: Gay and bi men over 40 and admirers. E-mail ptpres@mts.net Web: primetimersww. org/winnipeg/ Rainbow Educators of Manitoba (REM): Meets once a month. Cindy at 837-6036 or Manny at 478-1402.

Rainbow Harmony Project: GLTT chorus. Phone 477-6448, or Web: rainbowharmonyproject.ca/ Rainbow Pride Mosaic: GLBT resource centre at U of M, e-mail umrpm@umsu.ca . Web: umsu.ca/ rainbowpride.

Sexuality Education Resource Centre: Resources and information. 555 Broadway, 982-7800. Facts of Life Line 947-9222 or 1-800-432-1957.

The Snowy Owl Monarchist Society: Non-profit fundraising for organizations that enrich the GLBT community. Box 26053, 676 Portage Ave., R3G 0M4.

Transgender Support Group: Meets third Friday of the month, 7:30 p.m. at the RRC. All welcome.

Web: winnipegtransgendergroup.com University of Manitoba Peer Advisors: Room 150, University Centre. 474-6696.

University of Winnipeg UWSA LGBT* Centre: 786-9025. E-mail lgbt@uwsa.ca, Web: theuwsa. ca/services-student-groups Winnipeg Lesbian and Gay Pride: Not-for-profit volunteer organization responsible for annual Pride Day and assists in community Pride Festival events. E-mail info@gaypridewinnipeg.com, Web: gaypridewinnipeg.com

SPIRITUALITY Anakhnu Jewish GLBT Group: A program of the Rady Jewish Community Centre. social and cultural programs. 477-7537, E-mail tbarr@aradyjcc. com.

Dignity Winnipeg: GLBT Catholics and friends, meet every third Friday at Augustine United Church, 444 River Ave. at Osborne.Doors open 6 p.m. Call Thomas, 287-8583, or Sandra, 7796446. E-mail winnipeg@dignitycanada.org, Web: dignitycanada.org.

House of Hesed: Safe HIV/AIDS transition house. 772-4793, (fax) 783-0494, e-mail info@ HouseofHesed.ca. Web: HouseofHesed.ca. (Note: This organization may receive financing from an ex-gay ministry.)

Kali Shiva AIDS Services: Non-medial support for people living with or at risk for HIV/AIDS. 646 Logan, Call 783-8565 or 774-0708, or e-mail kalishiv@mts.net.

Nine Circles Community Health Centre: 705 Broadway. HIV primary-care services, 940-6000, 1-888-305-8647.

Provincial AIDS/STI Information Line: 945-2437 or 1-800-782-2437, Mon.to Fri. from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sage House: Drop-in and outreach for streetinvolved women and transgenders living as women. 943-6379.

Street Connections: Needle exchange, safer crack use kits, condoms, info and service connections.

Call 981-0742.

Culture The Fantasia Affair: A cabaret exploring drag culture. E-mail thefantasiaaffair@gmail.com or visit Fantasia Affair group on Facebook.

Winnipeg Gay and Lesbian Film Society Inc.: Phone 775-6457. E-mail reelpride@hotmail.com.

Web: reelpride.org.

Brandon 7th Street Health Access Centre: Counselling and programming related to sexual health, addictions, and mental health. 20-7th St., 578-4800.

PFLAG (Parents, Family & Friends of Lesbians and Gays): Meets monthly. Call 727-0417.

Winnipeg Full Moon Group: A place for Wiccan and pagan-minded people of all genders and sexual orientations. Contact Laurie 287-2300 or Amanda eastpath@gmail.com

Sexuality Education Resource Centre: Counselling for GLBT community and family members.

Community education/programming related to GLBT issues. GLBT Coffee House third Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at 161 8th Street. Call 727-0417. Web: www.serc.mb.ca

AFFIRMING Augustine United Church: 444 River Ave. at Osborne. 284-2250.

Peer Project for Youth (PPY) is a program that offers LGBTTQA* youth a safe, fun place to learn new skills, create projects and celebrate our identities. PPY meets weekly. Phone (204) 284-2799.

E-mail: peerproject4youth@rainbowresourcecentre.org.

Temple Shalom: Reform Judaism. Web: templeshalomwinnipeg.ca

www.outwords.ca

LGBTT/Sexual & Gender Minorities: Workshops, Presentations, Seminars. The Rainbow Resource Centre provides education, awareness and outreach to assist health-care providers, educators (K-12 and post-secondary), students (K-12), social service and commercial service providers in addressing the issues faced by LGBTT people. Call 474-0212.

Rainbow Ministry (Outreach of the UnitedChurch): 302-G Weston St., Call 954-2904.

PFLAG (Parents, Family, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays): Call Helen at 474-2008, mail c/o the RRC or e-mail winnipegmb@pflagcanada.ca.

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HEALTH & HIV/AIDS

Shaarey Zedek Synagogue: 561 Wellington Cres.

Unitarian Universalist Church of Winnipeg (Liberal Religion): 603 Wellington Cres. 474-1261.

Young United: 222 Furby St. Call 783-0128.

KENORA Kenora Lesbians Phone Line: 807-468-5801, Tues., 7 to 9 p.m.

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