Xtra Ottawa #267

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#267 MAY 15–JUNE 18, 2014

OTTAWA’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS

BANK STREET GLOWFAIR E 10

RETURN OF THE PEPTIDES E 19

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QUEER CAMPING E 26

Why are gay teens nearly six times more likely to use steroids? E12

’ROID RAGE

2 MAY 15–JUNE 18, 2014 XTRA!

OTTAWA’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS

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XTRA! MAY 15–JUNE 18, 2014 3

4 MAY 15–JUNE 18, 2014 XTRA!

OTTAWA’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS

Roundup

XTRA OTTAWA’S GAY& LESBIAN NEWS

#267 MAY 15–JUNE 18, 2014

PUBLISHER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Brandon Matheson EDITORIAL MANAGING EDITOR Danny Glenwright MOBILE REPORTER Julie Cruikshank COPY EDITOR Lesley Fraser

COMMUNITY NEWS

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R&B singer Judith Hill will headline the Bank Street Glowfair.

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New Bank Street party to bring big names, big sound to Village E10 Editorial Lessons from the Parti Québécois

By Robin Perelle E6 Feedback E6 Xcetera E7

Upfront Catherine McKenney to run for Somerset Ward Longtime councillor Diane Holmes has announced her retirement E9 Mom didn’t approve But fairy tale of lesbian love during First World War survived E11 Cover story ’Roid rage Why are gay teens nearly six times more likely to use steroids? E12

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Special section Small pleasures Tips on making the most of minimal square footage E15 Condo craze Local gay realtors look at some of the top condo trends in Ottawa E16

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HARASSED ON OC TRANSPO

Robin Perelle is the managing editor of Xtra Vancouver.

I think it’s interesting how many gay men, as they get older, reconnect with their straight family members — especially if they find themselves middleaged and alone in a gay community that values youth above all else [“All in the Family,” Xtra #769, April 17].

I’ve had that experience and so have some of my gay acquaintances. When I came out, there were tensions with my straight family and I distanced myself from them. As a young gay man, I plunged into the visible gay community and made many gay friends for the first time. Several years later, most of those gay friends have drifted away (people change as they get older), and I now see the leftwing Toronto queer establishment as a hostile, negative force. My beneficiaries are now my straight family members (who now accept me) and their children.

DAVID C TORONTO, ON

PrEP I’m glad that Xtra is reporting on PrEP, but this article deflects attention from the real issue in Canada [“If PrEP is a Party Drug, Then Cue the DJ,” dailyxtra.com, April 29]. Canadians are not shaming PrEP users because there are virtually no PrEP users in Canada. Canadians aren’t being called “Truvada whores” because (outside of a couple of clinical trials and in a few individual cases) we can’t even get Truvada for PrEP in this country.

#266 APRIL 10–MAY 14, 2014

E 15

Our guide to the city’s best farmers’ markets & local food E11

WOMEN’S COMEDY NIGHT E 17

Fresh eats @dailyxtra

institutions. Rather than challenging marriage, for example, we demanded our share of its sanctioned rights and responsibilities.

Nothing wrong with demanding our due, whether it’s equal access to education, jobs and decision making in Quebec or equal access to job protection and spousal benefits in straight society. But is it enough?

What happens when a cultural movement wins significant gains without transforming the overall structure that surrounds it?

The latest incarnation of the Parti Québécois shows what can happen when a movement that has made huge gains loses direction. How do you keep nurturing the culture you were created to protect once you’ve strengthened it enough to survive in a world where it’s still, nonetheless, a minority?

Do you try to squash others to further strengthen your own position?

Do you keep pushing for transformational change in a world now prepared to recognize your existence and even, occasionally, to shift some of its norms to acknowledge your own?

Or do you keep carving and nurturing the spots within, content to contribute, slowly, maybe, to reshaping the bigger picture over time?

As the cultural revolutions born in the 1960s win impressive gains within potentially greater losses, it’s no wonder many of us find ourselves at a crossroads.

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When Pierre Karl Péladeau pumped his newly anointed Parti Québécois fist for sovereignty in March, he might as well have been talking about sexual liberation.

Not that Péladeau has given any indication that he supports sexual liberation. But like sexual liberation, sovereignty is both the end game and potentially the greatest liability of a cultural movement that has earned enormous gains without managing to ultimately dislodge the governing social system.

When the Parti Québécois stepped onto the political scene in 1968, it was the product of profound social upheaval. The Quiet Revolution was barely eight years old but had already transformed a conservative, Catholic Church–driven, anglophonedominated province into a more modern, more egalitarian state with access to education and healthcare and a reemerging sense of pride in being French Canadian.

The revolution’s lead architect, Liberal premier Jean Lesage, had, with his natural resources minister, René Lévesque, nationalized foreignowned hydroelectric plants throughout the province and begun training francophones to take over engineering and other positions previously held by anglophones. Wealth and decision-making power finally began to shift, though a royal commission inquiry in 1963 would find that fran-

cophones, representing 80 percent of Quebec’s population, still earned only 64 percent of their anglophone counterparts’ salaries.

Carving spots in places of power was essential but not enough. Nurturing French Canadian culture and breathing new life into its language became paramount, especially as it became clear that francophones submerged in English-speaking Canada outside Quebec were rapidly losing their language.

Lévesque soon parted with the Liberals and launched the Parti Québécois, committed both to strengthening Québécois language, culture and independence within the province and, ultimately, to creating a separate state no longer outnumbered by anglophones in the rest of Canada.

In the years since, the party has made enormous gains within the province: Québécois culture is strong and pervasive; francophones are now better educated and have access to the highest-paying jobs; music, films and even the most vacuous homegrown TV shows celebrate and reflect Québécois realities.

Yet as a direct result of these significant gains, the separate state now seems unnecessary and nearly impossible. To even suggest it during an election campaign is political suicide.

Not unlike sexual liberation. Once a goal of the gay liberation movement — to transform society as a whole to embrace all forms of sexual pleasure and relinquish its uptight fixation on sin — we have settled largely for carving spots for ourselves, and to some extent our culture, within existing

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EDITORIAL ROBIN PERELLE

FEEDBACK

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That’s the issue in Canada. That’s “what’s stopping” us — not shaming.

Americans have FDA approval, CDC guidance and access, and they’re now in the privileged position of calling each other names. I wish that were our problem! We don’t even have Health Canada approval or access yet. That’s what you should be investigating and reporting on, not cutting and pasting from news reports in the United States as if all you have to do to get PrEP in this country is “call your doctor.” It’s not that easy here. Find out why not.

Stop interviewing Americans and put some Canadian public health official’s feet to the fire.

IVAN TORONTO, ON

LGBT Youth Line What a great service to have in place, as it will undoubtedly help many [Ontario’s Lesbian Gay Bi Trans Youth Line Turns 20,” dailyxtra.com, April 25].

Too bad it wasn’t available 23 to 25 years ago for this then-sheltered rural boy!

CHRIS MORRISON PARIS, ON

The outcome that we seek is this — gay and lesbian people daring together to set love free.

Xtra is published by Pink Triangle Press, at 2 Carlton St, Ste 1600, Toronto, M5B 1J3.

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8 MAY 15–JUNE 18, 2014 XTRA!

OTTAWA’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS

Upfront

We want to make it uniquely Bank Street and touch on music, art and light. It’s an intersection of what Bank Street is all about.

BIA head Christine Leadman E10

McKenney to run for Somerset Ward Longtime councillor Diane Holmes has announced her retirement POLITICS JULIE CRUIKSHANK

When it comes to LGBT representation in Somerset Ward, the race for city council is heating up. Out gay candidates Jeff Morrison and Denis Schryburt are both vying for the seat, and now there is another queer candidate in the race. Earlier this month, Councillor Diane Holmes, who has spent more than 30 years in Ottawa city politics, announced that she will not run in this October’s municipal election. Instead, Holmes is backing her former assistant, Catherine McKenney, who has had a long career in both municipal and federal politics.

“My first day working for the councillor was the first day of the ice storm, as a matter of fact, in ’98,” McKenney recalls with a chuckle. She worked for both Holmes and former councillor Alex Munter, managing the latter’s 2006 mayoral campaign. She also worked as legislative assistant to both Ed Broadbent and Paul Dewar, on Parliament Hill, and for Volunteer Canada as man-

ager of public policy. Now, after a career spent largely in supporting roles, McKenney is taking centre stage. She is currently on an unpaid leave of absence from her position with the city as she makes her bid for city council.

“People were surprised because it’s not something I had ever expressed an interest in before,” she says of her decision to run. “But I live in Somerset Ward, I love Somerset Ward, I love the downtown. It’s a great city, and I feel very strongly that the work of Diane Holmes needs to be carried on.”

Reached at her office for comment, Holmes says she’s confident in McKenney’s abilities. “I got to see what she’s like, her work ethic and her interest in social justice and green transportation and affordable housing and all the things that are important in Somerset Ward . . .

She’s involved in the community and, of course, she’s also an athlete . . . so she’ll certainly have the energy to do all the door-to-door that needs doing.”

McKenney’s campaign will focus on key issues that are close to her heart.

With her wife, Catharine, she is the

Catherine McKenney says she wants to continue the work of Councillor Diane Holmes. JULIE CRUIKSHANK

NEWS

Group petitions for changes to organ-donation policies A grassroots organization based in Windsor, Ontario, tabled a petition April 29 calling for the Canadian government to put an end to legislation that allows doctors to refuse organ donations from men who have had sex with men (MSM).

“Currently, doctors are not obligated to consider men who have had sex with men in the preceding five years for organ and tissue donation,” reads a press release distributed by iCANdonate.

“Petition 412 calls upon the Government of Canada to review its policy on organ donor eligibility and change it to MORE AT DAILYXTRA.COM

ensure that sexual orientation is not a factor for automatic refusal.”

The campaign was started in memory of Rocky Campana, a gay man who died at the age of 23. Upon his death, the hospital turned away his organs after learning from his parents that he was a sexually active gay man. In response, Rob and Nancy Campana created Petition 412, calling for the government to review its legislation on organ and blood donor eligibility.

In Canada, MSM are subject to a fiveyear deferral period, during which they must not engage in any sexual activity

Medical staff refused Rocky Campana’s organs because he was gay.

with another man, before they are eligible to donate blood. When it comes to organs, it isn’t illegal for gay men to donate; how-

mother of a young daughter and wants to see more and better housing options for families living in the downtown core. She is passionate about green spaces, public transit, the downtown business community, including the

Village, and safer roads for pedestrians and cyclists. McKenney also wants to address the growing population of seniors downtown, specifically LGBT seniors who are seeking long-termcare facilities.

ever, doctors are not obligated to consider organs donated by MSM and can deem them ineligible for transplant.

The iCANdonate campaign has the support of the Canadian Transplant Association, as well as 38 MPs from four federal political parties, executive coordinator Amanda Iarusso says.

Political supporters include Halifax MP Megan Leslie and Green Party Leader Elizabeth May. Iarusso says the organization is looking to create a formalized partnership with the Canadian National Transplant Research Association to do advocacy work at the provincial level.

The group is also calling for education in the medical community and the implementation of standardized consent forms at transplant agencies.

“When you have 250 Canadians dying each year on the transplant list, doing continuous research is a step, but it’s not enough,” Iarusso says, noting that the

Senate has studied the issue in the past.

“We need to be taking more concrete action in expanding our organ donor base and who is eligible to donate, because at the end of the day, a single organ donor can save up to eight lives.”

Now that the petition has been tabled, the government has 45 days to make a written response. Iarusso says this response will allow iCANdonate to determine what their next step should be. “The petition was more symbolic in the sense of getting public engagement and awareness, but now it’s really time to take action to see actual change.”

— Julie Cruikshank To learn more about iCANdonate and Petition 412, visit icandonate.ca.

For more on these stories, go to dailyxtra.com.

XTRA! MAY 15–JUNE 18, 2014 9

Let it glow Bank Street party to bring big names, big sound to Village COMMUNITY NEWS JULIE CRUIKSHANK

The Bank Street Business Improvement Area has had a pretty big secret up its sleeve.

On May 7, it was announced that a brand new festival is coming to town, and the BIA, along with event-planning company House of Sas, is behind it. The Bank Street Glowfair will bring DJs, performers and light installations to Bank Street, home of the Village, for a free two-day fair in June.

The move answers calls from the community for an event to energize the street and make the Bank Street business district more vibrant. “With Glowfair, we want to be set apart from everything else going on in the city,” BIA head Christine Leadman says. “We want to make it uniquely Bank Street

10 MAY 15–JUNE 18, 2014 XTRA!

and touch on music, art and light. It’s an intersection of what Bank Street is all about.”

Running Friday, June 20, and Saturday, June 21, Glowfair will close down Bank Street for nine blocks from Laurier to Gilmour. The event will feature three stages, including a main stage at Bank and Slater, a DJ and house music stage, and the League of Rock stage, featuring local garage acts.

Headlining Glowfair is R&B singer Judith Hill, who rose to fame as a contestant on The Voice and had been slated to perform as Michael Jackson’s duet partner for his ill-fated This Is It tour. Hill also appeared in the Oscarwinning documentary 20 Feet from Stardom, about the backup vocalists behind some of the world’s biggest stars. Her Glowfair appearance will be her first-ever live solo show and

BIA’s rebranding project, which has seen it take a much more active and visible role. “We’re not in it to make money,” Leadman says. “It’s about creating an experience and giving something amazing back to the community and shining a spotlight on the great businesses that form Bank Street. It’s also really important for Ottawa’s development plan for 2017 to have 150 new events. It’s our responsibility to offer programming that is diverse.”

To make Glowfair a reality, the BIA formed a partnership with House of Sas — the event-planning company headed by former Capital Pride chair Sebastien Provost. “When I was approached by Bank Street, it was the first time a client of mine told me that they didn’t want anything safe or they didn’t want anything boring,” he said at the event launch on May 7.

Provost stepped down from the Pride R&B singer Judith Hill, who rose to fame through appearances on The Voice and in committee in January 2013 when it bethe Oscar-winning film 20 Feet from Stardom, will headline the Bank Street Glowfair. came clear there was a conflict of interaccompanies the release of her debut In addition to musical performances, est between his involvement with Pride album.

Glowfair will feature neon street dis- and his position with the company. For Glowfair will also bring Australian plays, building projecthe past five months, he DJ and drag queen Kitty Glitter to Ot- tions and visual art. Bank has been planning and BANK STREET GLOWFAIR tawa and will feature Montreal DJ and Street businesses are getconceptualizing Glowfair.

Fri, June 20 & Sat, June 21 soul singer Sandy Duperval, Grammy ting involved with winFunding for Glowfair glowfair.ca Award–winning DJ Hex Hector, Span- dow displays, promotions will come from the Bank facebook.com/ glowfairfestival ish DJ duo Chus & Ceballos, LA singer and pop-up events, and Street BIA, with addiJenn Em and Ottawa’s own Souljazz there will be extended tional sponsorship from Orchestra, which was nominated for a licensed patios set up along the street. Kronenbourg Brewery, which will fund Juno in 2013.

The event follows on the heels of the the main stage.

OTTAWA’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS

Mom didn’t approve But fairy tale of lesbian love during First World War survived FROM OUR ARCHIVES JOHN KENNEDY

To celebrate Xtra’s 20 years of publishing to Ottawa’s gay and lesbian community, we’re digging through our archives to reprint a selection of noteworthy stories that highlight our community’s rich history. “A Peach of a Gal Among Roses and Thorns” first appeared in Capital Xtra #43, March 21, 1997.

The story of Frieda Fraser and Edith Williams is a lesbian fairy tale.

It’s told through hundreds of letters between them, found tied up and packed into shoeboxes by Fraser’s family in 1994 — after her death.

And while most families destroy the evidence of the homosexual branches of their family trees, Fraser’s descendants donated the material to the University of Toronto.

Fraser and Williams were childhood friends. During the First World War, the two attended Victoria College, where they discovered life away from home was a lot more fun.

“It’s obvious that it was at university that their love really blossomed,” says assistant archivist Harold Averill. “University gave them the freedom to really develop a relationship.”

The two never consciously disguised that relationship. Most of their friends, family and those around them knew the two were lovers. “Anyone with eyes in their head was well aware of it and could draw their own conclusions,” Averill says.

The letters were written between 1924 and 1942, during periods when Williams and Fraser were apart. They chronicle the sadness each felt at being separated, the problems and challenges they faced, and the family issues they dealt with.

Fraser’s mother was vehemently against the relationship, as evidenced by a 15-page letter written by a friend explaining to her mom how to put a stop to it.

In fact, it wasn’t until Fraser’s mother died in the late 1930s that the couple finally moved in together, living in a house in Burlington left to Fraser by her mother.

Averill says the letters are also peppered with sketches Fraser drew of various people in the couple’s lives — not all of which are flattering.

He says the correspondence is the largest collection of its kind in Canada and unique in that it has been made so

readily available to researchers. The executors of the estate have placed very few restrictions on access, and then only until the year 2001.

Anyone can browse: you must first make application to the family. Averill says the family wants to talk to applicants simply because “they are curious as to who would want to read them.”

He adds that the family also wants to provide researchers with background information about Fraser.

He describes the correspondence as “a wonderful human, witty and sometimes salty story of two people deeply in love and not caring who knew.”

Throughout, Fraser refers to Williams as “Bud.” The pair also achieved professionally.

Fraser went on to teach at the school of preventive medicine at the University

of Toronto, where she collaborated with her elder brother and pioneered research into anti-toxins for tuberculosis and diphtheria. In the 1930s, Williams attended veterinary school in Guelph and went on to open an animal hospital in Toronto. At the time, she was one of only five female vets in Ontario.

Williams suffered a series of strokes beginning in 1976 and spent most of her final three years at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, where Fraser visited daily — driving in from Burlington.

Fraser died in 1994, three weeks after her family moved her into a nursing home.

In letters between the two from 1927, it is clear there were problems in the relationship. In one, Fraser wrote, “Even if we break up now, at least we’ve had 10 good years.”

She didn’t know then that there were 52 good years still to come.

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XTRA! MAY 15–JUNE 18, 2014 11

COVER STORY

Why are so many gay and bisexual teenagers taking steroids?

Mass appeal

BY NIKO BELL

hen Dr Aaron Blashill, a researcher and clinician at Massachusetts General Hospital, first saw how many American gay teenaged boys were using steroids, he assumed he had made an error.

He guessed the number would be high, maybe as much as two or three times normal, but this, he thought, could not be correct.

He went back and rechecked his analysis, then rechecked it again, and again. The numbers told him the same thing: out of a sample of 17,000 American teenagers, nearly six times as many gay and bisexual boys had used steroids as their straight counterparts.

When Blashill and a team of researchers at The Fenway Institute, an LGBT health research centre in Boston, published their work in February, they demonstrated a long suspected but little understood link between gay men and anabolic steroids.

Only four percent of straight teenagers in the study said they had ever used steroids, but among gay and bisexual teens the rate shot up to 21 percent.

Gay and bisexual boys were also more likely

12 MAY 15–JUNE 18, 2014 XTRA!

to use steroids heavily: four percent said they had used more than 40 times, compared to only 0.7 percent among their straight peers.

The conclusion was clear. Gay teens are injecting themselves with anabolic steroids much more than any others, and that likely means that gay men are as well. Although we still don’t know how many adult gay men use steroids, most lifelong steroid use begins among young men in late adolescence and the early 20s.

Somewhere in the numbers lay the reason.

STEROID USE BY ADOLESCENT MALES Any steroid use Moderate use (>10 times) Severe use (>40 times)

Heterosexual

0.7% 4% 1.5%

Anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) are a family of hormones that include the natural male hormone testosterone and a broad family of synthetic relatives.

Steroids bind to hormone receptors in the body, causing both androgenic effects — male characteristics, such as body hair — and, more importantly, anabolic effects: muscle growth.

When a man ingests or injects artificial testosterone, the brain signals the pituitary gland to shut down production of natural testosterone and sperm, causing the tes-

ticles to shrink. At the same time, the rush of testosterone signals muscles to increase in size, and almost any intense exercise produces dramatic growth.

Steroids act just like testosterone but the effects are vastly multiplied: they quite literally make you more of a man.

Sexual minority

21%

8%

4%

SOURCE: SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND ANABOLIC-ANDROGENIC STEROIDS IN US ADOLESCENT BOYS

BY DR AARON BLASHILL

For Cameron, a 20-year-old artisan from Ottawa, it all started when he got sick.

(Xtra agreed not to use his last name for this story.)

Cameron was fit and healthy until a year of illness and school stress tore 40 pounds off his body. Standing five foot 10, at 118 pounds, he struggled to buy clothes, and his ribs showed through his chest.

That’s when he turned to his roommate’s boyfriend, a local steroid dealer. He liked the man’s confident professionalism and was comforted that his years of steroid use seemed to have had no consequences. On top of that, the drugs were delivered right to his door, along with clean needles and personalized advice. He didn’t have to worry about anything.

“I just wanted to get back to normal,” he says.

Cameron started on pills, 12 to 14 a day of the common synthetic steroid methandrostenolone, the street name for which is “d-bol.” He was afraid of needles, he says.

Oral d-bol was hell on his liver, though, and after too many rough hangovers, he switched to a cocktail of injectable testosterone, a few d-bol pills and another injectable called Nolvadex that prevents the growth of breast tissue associated with steroid use.

Cameron doesn’t know much about what all the drugs do or how they work. He trusts his dealer for that. His drugs came in pill bottles and 10 millilitre vials, and he took them as directed.

And they worked. Within two and a half months, Cameron says, he was back up to his normal weight. He grew in a thick beard and new hair on his chest where the old had been lasered off. He felt more aggressive, and his friends noticed he was more intense, more serious and smiled less often.

But he also had the body and the muscles he wanted.

While Cameron started injecting steroids to get back to his normal weight, they are

OTTAWA’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS

Body image and sex appeal: squeezed between two cultures that rank masculinity as a hot commodity, more than one in five gay and bisexual teens are turning to steroids.

THINKSTOCK

now a regular part of his routine. He takes one or two cycles of drugs a year, often topping out at a lean 185 pounds, 15 pounds heavier than his original weight.

Steroids are a balancing act, he says; holding on to the ideal steroid body too long has consequences. Last year, he ran one cycle too long and found himself breaking out in acne and feeling sick, exhausted and hormonal.

“My advice is to remember that it’s temporary,” he says. “It’s going to be up; it’s going to be down.”

According to the traditional story, steroids and the hypermuscular gay image appeared in the 1980s as a reaction to HIV. In the 1970s, masculinity meant a very different thing. Skinny men wore mustaches and athletic socks in gay porn. The Village People advertised for new band members with an ad that read “Macho types wanted” and scored a cowboy and an Indian with narrow jawlines and slender biceps.

Then, in 1981, two things happened almost simultaneously: first, a new disease, initially

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called “gay-related immune deficiency,” was identified in North America; second, an American bodybuilder named Dan Duchaine published The Underground Steroid Handbook and brought practical knowledge about anabolic steroids out of the elite world of sports and made it available to everyone.

Steroids had been used experimentally by athletes as early as the 1930s, but in the 1980s, steroid-fuelled bodies were suddenly everywhere: on television, in magazines, on action figures and in porn.

The synchronicity of these two events became immediately meaningful for gay men.

In an attempt to avoid the stigma of muscle wasting associated with HIV, they eagerly took steroids to show their muscularity, and thereby their health. From this, gay men’s affinity for steroids was born.

At least that was the story until now. We don’t know very much about how steroids affected the HIV-epidemic generation — now in their late 40s, 50s and 60s — and until someone conducts a survey like Blashill’s on men over 50, the link between HIV and steroids is no better than educated speculation.

Either way, the HIV story probably does not apply to the teens in Blashill’s study. The teenagers of today were not even alive during the plague years of the HIV epidemic and likely have never been exposed to the fear of wasting and thinness that pervaded the 1980s and ’90s. So why are they so eager to bulk up?

For David Brennan, a professor of social work at the University of Toronto, Blashill’s results make sense. In 2008, he asked 380 gay men at Toronto Pride about body image and behaviour, and the results illuminated a web of factors that help to explain the Fenway study.

Gay men, he discovered, were more likely than straight men to suffer from eating disorders and to be dissatisfied with their bodies. Eating disorders, in turn, were associated with depression, anxiety, internalized homophobia, substance abuse and the desire to gain muscle.

All the pressure of bullying, homophobia, an image-conscious gay culture and the constant questioning of their identities as men, Brennan found, wears at gay men’s self-esteem and builds a desire for muscular, masculine bodies. This stress, he thinks, may be driving them to testosterone.

“Over the last couple of decades, the pressure on young men to fit in and have a certain kind of body is just growing exponentially,” he says.

Brennan believes gay men are particularly likely to choose testosterone because they feel pressure from both sides. On one side, a majority heterosexual culture pushes gay men to fit in and project a masculine image to avoid negative stereotypes of effeminacy and weakness. It is telling, he thinks, that gay men who feel worse about being gay are

SURVEY SAYS Via squirt.org, Xtra asked men who have sex with men if they use steroids.

Have you ever used steroids or other performanceenhancing drugs?

6% 3% 5%

more likely to want to be muscular.

On the other, gay men must fit into a gay culture where manliness is a valuable commodity. Photo-centred dating and hook-up apps make a good-looking body even more important. Since the appearance of steroids, men in gay porn and media have followed the trend of hulking muscularity. A mustache and leather chaps are no longer enough for a man to be a man; he needs pecs.

“Just look at the imagery,” Brennan says.

“Look at any ad. Look at any website or

Cameron is now 25 and still uses steroids.

He likes them and has no intention of quitting. If he could afford to add higher-end, more expensive products to his regimen, he says, he would.

“I don’t know how long I’ll do it,” he says.

“As long as I have the money to afford it.

I don’t have any problem stopping.”

A few of Cameron’s friends roll their eyes when they hear he uses steroids, but most shrug it away. In fact, he says, since he’s

No, but I’m considering

Yes, I’m using

Yes, in the past

IT’S NO DIFFERENT THAN GETTING MY HAIR DYED. IT’S JUST WHAT IT IS. IF YOU WANT TO LIVE THAT LIFE AND YOU’RE VAIN, THEN GO FOR IT. CAMERON, STEROID USER

If yes, what have you used?

profile pic. What are people drawn to? What do the models look like in the ads in Xtra?

That’s really powerful stuff.”

50% Testosterone supplements 14% Human growth hormone 36% Anabolic steroids

Why did you start?

27% Health 40% Appearance 33% Performance

Were they prescribed by a doctor?

36% Yes 64% No

Sure enough, when Blashill took a closer look at his numbers, they showed pressures similar to those identified by Brennan.

Blashill tracked how likely the teenagers in his study were to feel unsafe or victimized, use other drugs or suffer from depression.

Not only did he find that gay and bisexual teenagers scored higher on each of these metrics, but each was also associated with higher use of anabolic steroids.

In other words, a substantial part of gay teens’ steroid use was not directly related to being gay. Instead, the teens were feeling depressed and anxious because of the strain of being a sexual minority. As a countermeasure, they were taking steroids.

Even when Blashill controlled for all these external pressures, however, gay teens were still more likely than straight teens to use steroids. What was the missing factor? Like Brennan, Blashill thinks it is body image.

It would be easy to imagine that under these conditions, older gay men would turn to image-enhancing drugs to keep up with the younger crowd. In this respect, however, Brennan’s research offers a ray of hope.

His survey showed that gay men actually become progressively less likely to suffer from disordered eating and poor body image as they grow older. Instead of comparing themselves to the younger generation, Brennan says, older gay men seem to be getting comfortable with their aging bodies, muscle loss and all.

started using, he notices more and more of the tell-tale signs of use in other men, gay and straight — not just the huge arms and bowling-ball shoulders, but the perfect hair and masculine swagger of men who care how they look. It’s all part of the steroid life, he says.

“I do like my look when I’m on them, but I realize that it’s just vanity,” he says. “It’s no different than getting my hair dyed. It’s just what it is. If you want to live that life and you’re vain, then go for it. If you don’t, then you don’t have to.”

Perhaps the greatest irony of gay men’s dalliance with steroids is that one of the first uses of synthetic testosterone was the medical treatment of homosexuality.

As early as the 1920s, Viennese urologist Robert Lichtenstern was implanting pieces of human testicle into gay men in an attempt to cure them.

Despite the obvious failure of the testosterone cure, the theory persisted into the 1940s, when it was at least partly put to rest

by Alfred Kinsey. It became apparent, after a number of court-ordered testosterone treatments for gay men, that the injections were only making gay libidos stronger.

If Blashill and Brennan are right, however, steroid use among gay men continues to have everything to do with manliness. Between two cultures that both reward macho, the lure of masculinity in a syringe is obvious.

Go to dailyxtra.com for the next installment of this series, in which we examine the dangers of steroids.

XTRA! MAY 15–JUNE 18, 2014 13

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OTTAWA’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS

SMALL PLEASURES

XTRA’S

CONDO SPECIAL

Tips on making the most of minimal square footage ADRIENNE ASCAH

Your living space might be small, but it can still be sweet. As Ottawans flock to the downtown core to enjoy the advantages of condo living, they must make peace with the fact that they have a whole lot less room than if they were living in a house in the suburbs.

Interior designer Chantale Charette, owner of Studio 853 design, has some decorating tips to help condo owners maximize their spaces.

Multi-functional furniture Coffee tables and bed frames with storage underneath will help house your belongings while minimizing clutter. A wall unit can be used for everything from books to family photos, but you could also use one of the shelves for a mini bar and serving tray, Charette says. Over time, though, your best long-term option might be to invest in custom-made furniture — to fit your exact measurements and requirements. “It will combine your functions and maximize all the space — but according to your specific needs,” she says.

Loving our lofts Many people love the high ceilings and huge windows of a loft-style condo, but even the most exhibitionist home owner wants some privacy now and then.

Whether you go with remote-controlled blinds or more traditional drapes, don’t skimp on material.

“Always do floor-to-ceiling,” Charette says. “In a smaller space, you’re trying to invoke the sense of height, so by visually producing that line that goes from the ceiling all the way to the floor you’re emphasizing that.”

Your drapes could be patterned, which adds something extra to the room. Pulled off to the side, they look elegant; pulled shut, they give you all the privacy you need, she says. Charette also doesn’t hesitate to put furniture in front of windows to liberate the other walls.

MORE AT DAILYXTRA.COM

Separate spaces The “all-in-one” look isn’t going away anytime soon, but you can make subtle touches to establish the living and dining rooms as separate spaces. An area rug in the living room helps to delineate the space from the dining area. Or, subtly differentiate the spaces by grouping photos on the wall in a distinct way, Charette says.

A tall, decorative ceramic or a tall plant can also help to divide the space visually while keeping the physical space whole.

If those touches are too low-key, you could consider hooking glass panels from the ceiling. Whether translucent or in a colour that brightens the room, the panels add an artistic touch and create ceiling-to-floor lines, she says.

Bigger ain’t better At least not when it comes to a big ole couch in a one-bedroom condo’s living room. Realtors and interior designers alike recommend choosing the condo that’s right for you — not your furniture.

“When you’re doing that move into a condo, you kind of evaluate every piece that’s going in,” Charette says. “I would propose to go with something that is a little lighter looking than the heavier piece. It’s going to look like the elephant in the room if it’s not balanced.”

Smaller pieces with thinner legs look better in small rooms. A glass table with chrome legs will look lighter and airier than a large, heavy wood table, she says.

Above: Whether it’s drapes or cupboards, floor-to-ceiling pieces will invoke a sense of height.

Left: Putting a sofa in front of a window takes advantage of natural light while liberating space in the rest of the room. Here, designer Chantale Charette used custom furniture to meet her clients’ needs.

CHANTALE CHARETTE

True colours You might think living in a smaller space would rule out darker colours, but Charette disagrees. If you’re living in a loftstyle condo, all that natural light allows you to choose warmer colours if you’re going for a cosy effect, she says. But if you’re looking for a bright, modern look, lighter colours are your best bet.

XTRA! MAY 15–JUNE 18, 2014 15

CONDO CRAZE Local gay realtors look at some of the top condo trends in Ottawa Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a buyerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s market, and for many LGBT homebuyers a downtown Ottawa condo is the place to be.

Having someone else do the snow clearing and yard work while living close to cafĂŠs, bars, restaurants and shops resonates with many busy professionals. Xtra talked to gay realtors Paul McAllister, from Century 21, and Royal Lepageâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s John King about the capitalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hot condo market.

Copious condos

real estate in the condo market over the years, but what weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re ďŹ nding right now is that thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s overabundance and oversupply of condos in the market,â&#x20AC;? says King, who was just ranked 79th out of Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 15,000 Royal Lepage agents. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a very good time to buy because thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a lot to choose from.â&#x20AC;?

Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s great news for buyers, but sellers should be patient. Condos are still in demand, but with so many on the market, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not selling as quickly as they used to.

XTRAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S

CONDO SPECIAL

ADRIENNE ASCAH

budget freezes, it seems to have slowed the overall housing market in Ottawa.

Ottawa is heavily impacted and at the mercy of the government on their actions, in my view.â&#x20AC;?

The combination of government cuts and an oversupply of condos has left some sellers with disappointing returns. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think in a lot of cases, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking at around 2008, 2009 prices,â&#x20AC;? King says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Anybody whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bought at that time or after is probably looking at a loss.â&#x20AC;?

Flip, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t flop

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been licensed for 20 years, so Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve seen different stages of central Ottawa

Slower sales

Paul McAllister is an Ottawa realtor with Century 21. ADRIENNE ASCAH

â&#x20AC;&#x153;If you were selling a condo in the ďŹ rst quarter of 2013, on average it would take 49 days,â&#x20AC;? says King, referring to statistics from the real estate board. â&#x20AC;&#x153;For the ďŹ rst quarter of January 2014, a year later, the days on the market have jumped to 77.â&#x20AC;?

Ottawaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economy has long depended on the public sectorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s steadying inďŹ&#x201A;uence, but government job cuts have affected not only the local economy, but the housing market, McAllister says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Condo developers are quickly ďŹ lling the [downtown] core with towers, but from what I see, selling them isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t an easy feat,â&#x20AC;? he says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;With the recent and future federal government job cuts and

Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s money to be made in reselling downtown Ottawa condos, but not if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re in a rush, McAllister says. If you can hold on to the property for five years, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reasonable, but trying to execute a two-year ďŹ&#x201A;ip will ďŹ&#x201A;op. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The way the condo market is going right now, I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t recommend clients looking at something as an investment if theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking at selling within two or three years,â&#x20AC;? McAllister says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I just donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think the marketâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going to turn around enough that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll make a worthwhile proďŹ t, because by the time you pay all the legal fees, the real estate fees, the taxes, the land transfer tax, et cetera, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re probably not going to really make any money.â&#x20AC;?

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Gaybourhood Ottawa has a gay village, but even the most gullible knows not every gay Ottawan lives there. Still, McAllister and King agree that many queer people live in the downtown core because they appreciate all the amenities.

“There’s no buildings that would be known as sort of ‘gay’ buildings, but I would say that it would tend to go more to the geographic area — Centretown, Lowertown, perhaps Sandy Hill,” King says. “Central Ottawa, of course: the core is where we’re going to find most of us.”

Style over size

Located in the Wellington Village, The Wellington is above a coffee shop, next to a 24-hour grocery store, and has a gym and party room.

“I have to say, in my 20 years, that gay people tend to have a really good intuition on knowing where to buy in real estate,” King says. “I think us gays just tend to have that style gene, as I call it.”

There’s no denying condos have gotten smaller over the past 20 years, but the open-concept design makes condos feel bigger, and many queer couples choose style over size, he says.

A downtown condo won’t be as big as a house in the ’burbs, but McAllister agrees that’s just fine with many queer singles and couples.

“I find that LGBT buyers would

Pre-approvals

Adding & subtracting amenities

John King is a realtor and broker.

be okay with a little smaller place as long as the night life and restaurants, et cetera, are nearby,” he says. “LGBT owners can stay in that condo for longer even if they couple up, whereas a straight couple may need to move to a large place if they decide to have a child and eventually will need more space.”

Some queer couples are settling down and having kids, but same-sex couples are unlikely to experience an unplanned pregnancy, so having kids is often a planned, longer-term process, McAllister says.

Planning is your friend when it comes to real estate. If you buy a condo and later want to upgrade to a larger condo or a house, you want to be able to wait until it’s financially advantageous to do so, he points out.

THE BEST OF N GAY & LESBIA OTTAWA

Everyone agrees that proximity to restaurants, bars, clubs and shops — not to mention gyms, grocery stores and banks — is a good thing. But when it comes to in-building amenities like a pool, fitness centre, concierge service and 24-hour security, realtors say it’s a question of preference.

“Someone that’s very physically active and is big on the gym thing, they tend to already have a gym membership, and a lot of the gyms within the condo corporations are not always that elaborate, with a minimum number of machines,” McAllister says.

If you’re watching your budget, paying for extras you rarely use isn’t logical, he says, adding that you can always cancel your gym membership, but you pay for your condo building’s amenities whether you use them or not.

For other busy professionals, inhouse amenities make life easier.

“I would have no problem paying a higher condo fee to have all in-house amenities — a gym, a pool and a full concierge service,” King says. “I’ll pay the price because that’s what I need for my busy lifestyle.”

Residential Mortgages

Pick it up in the next issue of Xtra!

THE BEST OF GAY & LESBIAN OTTAWA

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OTTAWA’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS

Out in the City

Having to hide such an essential part of me that affects so many facets of my life is kind of almost a daily struggle.

Spoken-word artist Ade B E20

All kinds of love Indie darlings The PepTides are Ottawa’s very own supergroup — a nine-member extravaganza with a big sound and an even bigger stage presence. Coming off a whirlwind 2013 that saw them writing an album for and performing with Stuart McLean for the release of his book Revenge of the Vinyl Café, the group shows no signs of slowing down. Their latest studio album, Love Question Mark, is an epic rumination on the nature of love in all its forms divided into two parts: “Retro,” which examines tropes of love and sex, and “Electro,” which delves into some of their more unconventional forms. It’s a tongue-in-cheek, subversive soundscape with pop- and vintage-inspired undertones.

“It’s not really love songs about me and you,” keyboardist Scott Irving explains. “It’s more love songs about all of us, and it’s love songs about what love is and what love represents.”

CHINATOWN REMIXED

Some of The PepTides. Pictured from left: Scott Irving, DeeDee Butters, Claude Marquis, Olexandra Pruchnicky, Rebecca Noelle and Dale Waterman. JULIE CRUIKSHANK

The album explores love as the pursuit of happiness, as it applies to the chemical and consumer industries; biblical and philosophical interpretations of love; and, of course, sex and physical lust. The PepTides say they like that their work is still a little bit open to interpretation.

“We choose to focus on our narratives and put things out the way we want them, know-

ing full well that the consumer or the art viewer will understand something maybe completely different than what we intended,” vocalist DeeDee Butters says. “But we like that — that’s a compliment to us.” — Julie Cruikshank The PepTides perform at Westfest on Sat, June 14, at 8pm. thepeptides.com

CHEAP & EASY

Zines in the collection include Original Plumbing (below left) and Gay Goth Scene (right).

Celebrated Canadian queer icon AA Bronson recently launched the second edition of Queer Zines.

Surveying more than 120 titles, Queer Zines 2 offers a detailed, proactive and decidedly sexy look at the format’s history. Covering publications from the movement’s earliest moments in the 1970s through the new generation of creators working today, it’s the only survey of its kind.

Xtra chatted with Bronson about the project.

Xtra: From a historical perspective, what part have zines played in the gay movement?

ishing effect, particularly for young people — high school students who feel they don’t fit in even with the conventional gay scene. But they discover these zines and begin to find a way to belong.

I think of zines as falling into that category of inherently “queer” media, a bit like Super 8 film: cheap and easy to produce, a little rough around the edges, with a do-ityourself sensibility.

In other words, “punk.” The overlap between queer and punk is so intense at times. Super 8 and zines come out of the same moment. In each case, it’s an available technology.

With zines, it was the photocopier; with Super 8, it was a consumergrade film product intended for household use.

AA Bronson: Zines are specifically

Is there a reason both formats exploded at the same time?

important in queer history because they have a very political edge, and there was really no other forum for expression of those political beliefs.

Zines were mostly circulated underground, very much a grassroots movement. They’ve had an aston-

It was about groups of people who didn’t see themselves as fitting into the mainstream and were more interested in the kind of community that was built through the exchange of media. Zines were hardly ever sold. They were mostly just ex-

MORE AT DAILYXTRA.COM

changed through the mail with other zine creators. Similarly, Super 8 was based around low-budget festivals and people showing each other their films. But in both cases, it’s about not being part of the art world or the publishing world, but wanting to avoid those structures and just do it fast and easy. — Chris Dupuis For the full interview and information on how to buy Queer Zines 2, visit dailyxtra.com.

Once a year, artists and performers converge on Ottawa’s Somerset Street West for Chinatown Remixed, a day of festivities followed by a month of visual art exhibits in businesses along the street. The festival, which has a family focus during the day and a more adult-friendly evening component, has always attracted a strong showing of queer artists and performers. This year, two queer artists are returning with new work.

Gabe Thirlwall is known in Ottawa for her Political Circus body of work, which has included everything from silkscreened finger puppets to playing cards of Chinese Canadians in politics. “I like the idea [that] an artist reflects their environment, and here we are in Ottawa. What better thing to do than to do something that is political and playful?”

This will be Thirlwall’s third Performance year participating artist Matt Miwa. in Chinatown Remixed. She says she likes the festival because it gives her an opportunity to make work that isn’t salesdriven (she sells her finger puppets and textiles at craft sales around the city and also maintains an Etsy shop).

Performance artist Matt Miwa will also be returning to Remixed this year with an expansion of his 2013 piece, Kim Cattrall Comes from Hell, which saw him walking a tightrope wearing a miniskirt and heels.

He’s bringing Kim back again this year for a piece entitled Kim Cattrall Comes Back from Hell. Taking inspiration from Japanese Noh theatre, this time Miwa will cross a bridge as Kim, committing seppuku, a form of ritual suicide by disembowelment, when he reaches the other end. Miwa’s work combines physicality with a theatrical influence.

“I want the audience to be interested in me negotiating between the acting, between the character, between the person, and between myself,” he says. — Julie Cruikshank Chinatown Remixed takes place Sat, May 17–Tues, June 17. Vernissage and performances on Sat, May 17, 1–11pm. Exhibitions continue throughout the month at various Somerset Street West businesses. chinatownremixed.ca XTRA! MAY 15–JUNE 18, 2014 19

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Rhyme & Spokenword artist Ade B shares uncomfortable truths PROFILE ADRIENNE ASCAH

Ade B got onstage in front of hundreds of people and performed a conversation that’s never taken place.

Her spoken-word performance, which was one of the highlights at this year’s Day of Pink gala, was about coming out to her family, something the British-Nigerian poet hasn’t yet done.

“I’m actually not out to my family, so I wrote that kind of as a confessional,” Ade B says. “Having to hide such an essential part of me that affects so many facets of my life is kind of almost a daily struggle.”

Her mother lives in London with her brothers, and she has extended family in the United States and Nigeria, where her father lived until he passed away.

Despite being geographically separated, her family is close, and not being out to them is difficult, she says.

“I think about doing it all the time, but it’s just a lot of ramifications,” she says.

“I wanted to explore not only the theme of coming out, but how coming out for a West African kid is different than a kid who’s been raised in the West or like a white kid. It’s not quite the same because there’s kind of colonial history and ways that religion has been used to oppress these communities.” my poem, because as much as I can be While Ade B is staunchly against angry that I can’t be out to them or that homophobia and other forms of op- they say homophobic things around me, pression — and calls out family mem- I always have to understand that it’s not bers and anyone who says completely just hate.” homophobic or oppresThere are times when ADE B DJS AT sive things — she says queer community memOH MY JAM Sat, June 21 it’s equally important to bers forget that although Babylon Nightclub consider homophobia’s they experience discrimi317 Bank St origins. nation because of their WESLEY “My family’s very relisexual orientation or DYKES-DARLING gious and very Christian, gender identity, they can AT WORLDPRIDE IN TORONTO but historically that’s not simultaneously be priviBlockorama Stage West African culture,” she leged, Ade B says. From Sun, June 29, 5:55pm says. “In West African culwhite queer people making ture, homosexuality was comments like “I wouldn’t never really seen as a bad thing, but I’ve date a black girl” to self-identified liberbeen raised that it is, and that’s why I als railing against homophobia in Africa explored the theme of forgiveness in without considering that homophobia 20 MAY 15–JUNE 18, 2014 XTRA!

OTTAWA’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS

reason

Ade B is fairly new to Ottawa’s spokenword community but is already making waves as a poet and drag performer.

ADRIENNE ASCAH

was preached to them by Western evangelists, we all need to check our privilege from time to time, she says.

“Very liberal people think they can’t be racist because they understand what racism is, but because it’s so systemic an institution, it can still show itself in their behaviours without them even realizing,” she says. “A lot of people, when confronted with their privilege, it’s hard . . . I think that’s where a lot of the learning stops — people just don’t want to confront it.”

Having privilege doesn’t mean your life has been easy, but you still benefit from your privilege, she says. Instead of shying away from uncomfortable truths, we need to respectfully confront them. This is particularly true for MORE AT DAILYXTRA.COM

artists, which is why she appreciated the safe space provided by Rainbow Write, the free writing program for LGBT youth funded by the Ontario Arts Council, Jer’s Vision and Planned Parenthood.

“You can write what you feel, and if it’s not okay, you get called out on it but not in a way that’s [disparaging],” she says.

The 24-year-old’s future plans include doing more spoken-word performances and writing a zine. She also DJs and is looking forward to performing drag at WorldPride in Toronto as Wesley Dykes-Darling.

Follow Ade B on Twitter @KindaDapper and on Facebook: Wesley Dykes-Darling.

XTRA! MAY 15–JUNE 18, 2014 21

WHAT'S ON

Park Bowling, 1205 Wellington St. $3 per game; free shoe rental. ospn-rfao.ca

Swirl and Twirl 10 This boozy benefit for queer nonprofit organizations features myriad amusements and a silent auction.

Thurs, May 29, 7–10pm. Ottawa City Hall, 110 Laurier Ave W. $30 advance, $40 door. swirlandtwirl.ca

FOR MORE LISTINGS, GO TO DAILYXTRA.COM

ART & LITERATURE The Hard Cover Book Club Men gather to discuss Benjamin Alire Sáenz’s Everything Begins and Ends at the Kentucky Club. Thurs, May 15, 7pm. Gay Zone, Centretown CHC, 420 Cooper St. Free. gayzonegaie.ca

Fine Art by ASHe Levesque This exhibit’s acrylic and charcoal pieces on canvas and wood feature “human form in posture and movement” and “energy-filled nature and landscapes.” RSVP required. Thurs, May 22, 6–8pm.

After Stonewall, 370 Bank St. Free. afterstonewallgallery.com

Venus Envy Book Club Book lovers discuss Smut Peddler: Impeccable Pornoglyphics for Cultivated Ladies (and Men of Exceptional Taste), an anthology of porn for women by women. Thurs, May 29, 7:30–9pm. Venus Envy, 226 Bank St. Free. venusenvy.ca

Sketches: Art by Mark Seabrook An exhibit of work by Mark Seabrook, Ojibwe artist, poet, writer, performer and playwright. Thurs, June 5, 7:30–9:30pm. Venus Envy, 226 Bank St. Free. venusenvy.ca

FESTIVALS Unison Ottawa: LGBT Choral Festival A weekend of melody and community, with performances by queer choirs from across the country. Fri, May 16–Mon, May 19, various times. École secondaire publique De La Salle, 501 Old St Patrick St. $20–75. unisonfestivalunisson.ca

Chinatown Remixed The sixth annual arts festival features workshops, concerts, yarn bombing and more than 80 visual artists and performers. Sat, May

17–Tues, June 17. For more info, visit facebook.com/chinatownremixed

NIGHTLIFE

Ottawa Fringe Festival

Thursdays Are a Drag

Based on the mandate that everyone should have the opportunity to produce their art, Ottawa’s largest theatre festival features more than 50 shows performed at various downtown venues. Thurs, June 19–Sun, June 29, various times and venues. $10. ottawafringe.com

Zelda Marshall hosts a night of performances by drag queens, drag kings and burlesque dancers. DJ Bill spins progressive house. Every Thursday, 10:30pm. Swizzles, 246B Queen St. No cover. swizzles.ca

Canada’s Capital Kings The drag-king troupe kicks the weekend off right with different themes and hosts each week.

Every Friday, 9:30pm. The Lookout Bar & Bistro, 41 York St. $3. thelookoutbar.com

GOLF & GOURMETS Back to Basics Cooking Course A program where kitchen klutzes and culinary cretins learn new skills and easy recipes. To register, call 613233-4443 x2108. Fri, May 16–Sun, June 1. Centretown CHC, 420 Cooper St. Free. centretownchc.org

Sassy Saturday Night Drag The stage is festooned with feather boas, glitter, drama and drag queens, followed by dancing to music by DJ Kitty Funkalicious.

Every Saturday, 10pm–2:30am. The Lookout Bar & Bistro, 41 York St. No cover. thelookoutbar.com

Tiki Tee Off The Ottawa Wolves present a Hawaii-themed golf tournament for people of all skill levels. RSVP and buy tickets at ottawawolves.ca/ shop. Sat, May 31, 1pm. Manderley Golf and Country Club, 5920 Prince of Wales Dr, Kemptville. $20–75. ottawawolves.ca

Fun with Food and Fitness Health-conscious folks gather tips on eating well and staying active.

To register, call 613-233-4443 x2108. Tues, June 3–Tues, June 24.

Centretown CHC, 420 Cooper St. Free. centretownchc.org

HEALTH & ISSUES The Living Room HIV-positive people and their loved ones are welcome to access many resources, including a food bank, laundry facilities, internet, counselling and workshops.

Contact The Living Room for an appointment. AIDS Committee of Ottawa, 251 Bank St, 7th Floor. Free. aco-cso.ca

Offbeat Rewind

Improv Burlesque — Yuk Yuk’s, Sun, May 25 BEN RIPLEY

Vintage Queers Dance Addictions Treatment

Queer People of Colour

The LESA (Lifestyle Enrichment for Senior Adults) Program provides resources for people 55 and older experiencing issues with alcohol, medications, drugs and gambling.

For an appointment, call 613-2335430. Centretown CHC, 420 Cooper St. Free. centretownchc.org

QPOC of all genders, abilities, ages and orientations meet and talk in a supportive and non-judgmental environment. Takes place the last Tuesday of each month.

Tues, May 27, 7–9pm. PTS, 331 Cooper St. Free. ptsottawa.org

The memorial features artwork created for and by people living with HIV. Sun, May 18, 6–8pm. Jack Purcell Community Centre, 320 Jack Purcell Lane. Free. jpra.ca

This Youth Services Bureau program offers queer and questioning youth aged 12 to 25 a safe space to socialize, discuss sexuality and related topics, participate in workshops, receive counselling and more. Every Tuesday, 7–9pm. YSB, 147 Besserer St. Free. ysb.ca

Polybilities

MARK SEABROOK

22 MAY 15–JUNE 18, 2014 XTRA!

The Ottawa Senior Pride Network presents a night of hits from the

SEX & BURLESQUE May Flowers and Bloomers Brunch, followed by something sweet and steamy. This edition of the Great Canadian Tease Burlesque Brunch features The Mysterious Gitana Georgia, Lana Lovecakes and Foxy DeVille. Takes place the third Sunday of each month. Sun, May 18, noon–3pm. Maxwell’s Bistro, 340 Elgin St. $20. maxwellsbistro.com

Improv Burlesque: A Lottery of Tease Holly Sin hosts a night where seasoned performers’ names are drawn at random, then each is given a song and a prop with which to improvise a routine. Sun, May 25, 8pm. Yuk Yuk’s Ottawa, 292 Elgin St. $10. ottawaburlesquefest.com

Whip It Good: A Guide to Power Play and Kink BDSM beginners learn about safe words, negotiating boundaries, percussion and using household items in kinky ways. All genders and orientations welcome. Tues, June 10, 6:30–8:30pm. Venus Envy, 226 Bank St. $20, $10 sliding scale. venusenvy.ca

Submit your event listing to ottawalistings@dailyxtra.com.

Deadline for the June 19–July 16 issue is Wed, June 11.

Gender Quest International AIDS Candlelight Memorial

Spectrum

Sketches: Art by Mark Seabrook — Venus Envy, Thurs, June 5

DJs Dan Valin and Yes Yes Sammy Rawal spin old-school dance and hip hop. Partial proceeds go to the Ten Oaks Project. Sat, May 24, 10:30pm–3am. Babylon Nightclub, 317 Bank St. $7 before midnight, $10 after. thequeermafia.com

1960s through to the early ’90s.

Open to people 50 and older and their friends. For more info, contact ospn.rfao@gmail.com. Sat, May 31, 8pm–midnight. The Good Companions Centre, 670 Albert St. $20 advance, $25 door (limited tickets available at the door). ospn.rfao.ca

Interested parties gather in a supportive environment to discuss issues surrounding nonmonogamous relationships, including sex, emotional connections and the law. Takes place the fourth Monday of each month. Mon, May 26, 7pm.

Free. PTS, 331 Cooper St. Free. ptsottawa.org

A peer-led support group for transgender people at any stage of transition. Takes place the second Monday of each month. Mon, June 9, 7pm. PTS, 331 Cooper St. Free. ptsottawa.org

LEISURE & PLEASURE Seniors’ Night Out Queer people 50 and older are invited to drop by for socializing and refreshments. Wheelchair accessible; parking available. Takes place the first and third Wednesday of each month. For more info, contact ospn.rfao@gmail.com.

Wed, May 21, and Wed, June 4, 7pm.

Novotel Hotel, Heritage Room, 33 Nicholas St. Free. ospn-rfao.ca

Seniors’ Bowling Queer people 50 and up are invited out to bowl a few frames. For more info, contact georgeis@rogers.com.

Takes place the second and fourth Monday of each month. Mon, May 26, and Mon, June 9, 6:30pm. West

ASHe Levesque — After Stonewall, Thurs, May 22 ASHE LEVESQUE

OTTAWA’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS

Based on the 20th Century Fox Picture

Music and Lyrics by

Dolly Parton

Originally produced on Broadway by Robert Greenblatt, April 2009

by Book ia tric

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us story A hilario ship and of friend the in e g reven era! x e od ol R

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eyeGo and Student Rush Ticket Programs Senior and children’s tickets available

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#news #arts #travel #events Everything gay, every day.

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XTRA! MAY 15–JUNE 18, 2014 23

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Casual FRIDAYS with the

NAC Orchestra

Michael Francis, conductor Leila Josefowicz, violin works by Stravinsky and DvoĹ&#x2122;ĂĄk 5:30 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

8:30 p.m.

June 6

Tickets from $23

Pre-concert wine, Culinary Overture* tapas and live jazz 90-minute world-class concert with the NAC Orchestra Free coffee and cash bar reception with the musicians

In association with * Culinary Overture tickets are $20 per person per concert for a variety of delectable small plates prepared by the NAC culinary team. One complimentary glass of wine per person is included with your concert ticket.

nac-cna.ca/fridays

24 MAY 15â&#x20AC;&#x201C;JUNE 18, 2014 XTRA!

5 Promdemonium 2014

3 7

8

Promdemonium hit the Glebe Community Centre on April 5. DJs MagniďŹ cent and D-Luxx Brown spun some classic retro tracks, while the Ottawa Wolves rugby team took the role of bartenders. The photo booth and make-out kissing wheel proved especially popular, and the diverse crowd danced the night away in their stylish threads. Proceeds from Promdemonium will go to local community programs working for social, economic and environmental justice.

1E Daria Ossanova, left, and SteďŹ van Wijk shake it on the danceďŹ&#x201A;oor.

2E From left, Dani Leblanc, Stephanie Hyland-Kilgour and Angie Renwick bust some moves. 3E Derek and Carla show off their crazy style.

4E Chantal Marcotte, left, and Yuliya Shcherbina share a moment on the danceďŹ&#x201A;oor. 5E From left, Tamara Kalnins, Daniel Spence, Jayme Gowanlock, Kailey Henderson and Kendra von Eyben in front of the â&#x20AC;&#x153;make out for changeâ&#x20AC;? station.

6E Lacey Hillier (left), Emma Mahn and Divine Pleasure chat at the bar.

7E Lauryn Albers and her styling outďŹ t. 8E Tom Footit and Deanna Whelan, as prom king and queen.

OTTAWAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS

E xtralivingottawa.com

Restaurants & Cafés Absinthe 613-761-1138 Allegro Ristorante 613-235-7454 Courtyard Restaurant 613-241-1516 Giovanni’s Ristorante 613-234-3156 La Cucina Ristorante 613-836-1811

THE BEST OF GAY & LESBIAN OTTAWA Accommodations Ambiance Bed & Breakfast 613-563-0421 1-888-366-8772

AIDS/HIV Resources AIDS Committee of Ottawa 613-238-5014 Bureau régional d’action sida (BRAS) 819-776-2727 Gay Men’s Sexual Health Alliance 1-800-839-0369 Gay Zone 613-563-2437

Alternative Health Scottie’s Spot 613-231-3111

Alternative Transportation Power Sports Canada 613-224-7899

Art Galleries Cube Gallery 613-728-1750

Bakeries Bread By Us 613-890-1423

Chimney Repair & Cleaning

Coaching Padraig Coaching & Consulting 855-818-0600

Community Groups & Services Centretown Community Health Centre 613-233-4443 The Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa 613-747-7800

Contracting & Renovations Merkley Supply Ltd 613-728-2693

Counselling Antoine Quenneville, MA, CPsyc Assoc 613-230-6179 x401 Dr Gordon Josephson, Registered Psychologist 613-231-4111 Gilmour Psychological Services 613-230-4709 Jerry SG Ritt, MA OACCPP, Psychotherapist 613-233-9669

Credit & Debt Counselling

Estate Planning Mann & Partners, LLP 613-722-1500

Event Planning & Promotions

Linda Young Insurance Brokers Inc 613-825-1110 Manotick Insurance Brokers Ltd 613-692-3528

Optical Services Eyemaxx Optical Studio 613-216-6076 Rideau Optometric Clinic 613-567-0800

Internet

Optometrists 613-567-0800

Events

Distributel Canada distributel.ca

Caneast Shows caneastshows.ca

squirt.org squirt.org

Florists

Carol the Dog Trainer 613-729-4808

Jewellery & Jewellers

Pharmacies

Wise Events 613-656-9466

Tivoli Florist 613-729-6911

Furniture The New Oak Tree 613-253-9797

Graphic Design Services Jack of All Trades Design jackofalltrades design.com

Grocery Stores

Davidson’s Jewellers 613-234-4136

Shoppers Drug Mart Bank and Gladstone 613-238-9041

Magpie Jewellery

Physiotherapy

magpiejewellery.com

Laser Surgery LCI Lasercom Clinics 613-828-8946 613-569-3737

Lawyers

Rainbow Foods 613-726-9200

Ian Carter-Bayne Sellar Boxall 613-236-0535

Health & Personal Care

Mann & Partners, LLP 613-722-1500

Healthy Smiles Dental Clinic 613-317-2330

Health Foods & Nutrition

Pet Care

Nelligan O’Brien Payne LLP 613-238-8080

Legal Services

Vijay Sharma Physiotherapy 613-238-8885

Politicians Office of Mayor Jim Watson 613-580-2424

Mann & Partners, LLP 613-722-1500

Psychologists Dr Gordon Josephson, Registered Psychologist 613-231-4111

DTN Contract Services 613-780-7033

Nelligan O’Brien Payne LLP 613-238-8080

Merkley Supply Ltd 613-728-2693

Massage – Certified/ Registered

Pink Triangle Press 416-925-6665 pinktrianglepress.ca

Carol the Dog Trainer 613-729-4808

Ottawa Chimney Services Ltd 613-729-1624

Spa Homâ 819-595-3044

Xtra (Ottawa) 416-925-6665

Housing

Mortgages

Dog Walking

Xtra (Toronto) 416-925-6665

Rent-A-Wife 613-749-2249

Carol the Dog Trainer 613-729-4808

Andrex Holdings 613-238-1835

Clothing – Men’s

Electrical Contracting

Stroked Ego 613-667-3008

Mike’s Electrical Service 613-834-4659

John Shea Insurance Brokers Ltd 613-596-9697

Churches The Church of St John the Evangelist 613-232-4500

Cleaning & Maid Services

Dental Services Healthy Smiles Dental Clinic 613-317-2330

Dog & Cat Training

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Insurance

Evan Weiner, AMP 613-224-4530 x224

Gilmour Psychological Services 613-230-4709

Publications

Shower & Movies $80.00 for an hour and a half Or $40.00 for 45 minutes Hm 613-234-5064 Cell 613-618-6329

2 MINUTES TO CHURCH ST OR THE SUBWAY ALL OF TORONTO IS AT YOUR DOORSTEP

TORONTO DOWNTOWN CENTRE 30 CARLTON STREET TORONTO, ONTARIO M5B 2E9 CANADA Hotel Front Desk: 1-416-977-6655 www.holidayinn.com/TorontoCentre

Social Groups The Couples Group couplesgroup.org

Spa Services Spa Homâ 819-595-3044

Tanning Salons iTan Advanced Studios 613-562-ITAN

Theatre Orpheus Musical Theatre Society 613-729-4318

Web Design B2W Design Inc 613-804-2384 Jack of All Trades Design jackofalltrades design.com

Websites squirt.org squirt.org dailyxtra.com 416-925-6665

Weddings Cube Gallery 613-728-1750

Yoga Ottawa Men’s Yoga ottawamens yoga.ca

Xtra (Vancouver) 604-684-9696

Mortgage Alliance 613-612-8400

Recreational Vehicles

Motorcycles & Scooters

Power Sports Canada 613-224-7899

Power Sports Canada 613-224-7899

Classixxx Adult Store 613-523-9962

Kessels’ Upholstering 613-224-2150

Mann & Partners, LLP 613-722-1500

In Balance Chiropractic and Health Centre 613-837-8885

Sex Shops

Prenuptial Agreements

Home Improvement & Repairs

Chiropractors

The Foolish Chicken 613-321-4715

Upholstery

Ian Carter-Bayne Sellar Boxall 613-236-0535

Ottawa Chimney Services Ltd 613-729-1624

Southern Cross Grill on Queen 613-230-0400

Paul Dewar, MP 613-964-8682

Rainbow Foods 613-726-9200

Dominion Lending Centre 613-224-4530 x224

Mamma Grazzi’s 613-241-8656

FOR MEN ONLY! NATHAN 24/7 WITH TABLE

DON’T MISS OU ON OURT NEXT EDITION !

XTRA! MAY 15–JUNE 18, 2014 25

A world of gay adventure

Travel

Happy

Campers Whether your camping style includes a few tent pegs and a relatively flat patch of ground or a tricked-out RV with more glitz and glitter than Liberace’s living quarters, you’ll find a bevy of LGBT-friendly places to park within striking distance of Ottawa. AEFA MULHOLLAND

Stella’s Getaway Burleigh Falls, Ontario stellasgetaway.com WHERE: A three-minute walk from Burleigh Falls, on the shores of island-dotted Stony Lake, a 40-kilometre-long body of water known as the “Jewel of the Kawarthas.” The restaurants, stores and LCBO of Lakefield are a short drive away.

WHO: Women-only.

WHAT: A lakeside campground with tent sites, cabins, a 27-foot trailer and one converted

Cedars Campground Hayesland, Ontario cedarscampground.com WHERE: Just west of Millgrove, 20 minutes north of Hamilton.

van. Some cabins have dishwashers; all have barbecues. Campsites have fire pits. Guests can use the resort’s canoes and kayaks. Stella’s Café has burgers, wings, cedar-plank salmon, and salads and sandwiches, and there’s a fine-foods store on-site. Activities include swimming, fishing, boating and canoeing, plus hiking in Petroglyphs Provincial Park. Nearby, water crashes over the pink granite of Burleigh Falls from Lovesick Lake.

WHO: LGBT.

WHEN: May 2–Oct 13.

WHEN: May 2–Oct 24.

HOW MUCH: Sites from $40. Van accommodation from $55. Cabins from $125.

HOW MUCH: Day passes from $10. Sites from $16.50 per person.

26 MAY 15–JUNE 18, 2014 XTRA!

WHAT: Celebrating its 30th birthday this summer, Cedars offers cabins and tent and RV sites, plus a baseball diamond,

sand volleyball court and tennis court set on 130 partially wooded acres atop the Niagara Escarpment. Un-serviced sites can avail of a water and battery charging station. The Cedars has a licensed nightclub, licensed pool bar and fully licensed restaurant on-site. A pool, tuck shop and clubhouse (with library and board games) round out the offerings.

OTTAWA’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS

Hillside Campgrounds Plein Bois Sainte-Marthe, Quebec campingpleinbois.com WHERE: Near Rigaud, Quebec, less than an hour’s drive from downtown Montreal and an hour and a half from Ottawa, near the banks of the Ottawa River. There’s a shuttle bus to the camp for those who don’t drive.

WHO: Men-only.

WHAT: 60 wooded acres

with 414 sites, two pools and a choice of bars and terraces. Chez Leo provides breakfast, lunch and dinner, including grills and a substantial fisherman’s platter.

This season’s calendar includes karaoke, happy hours, theme weekends, concerts, a garage sale, workshops and movies.

WHEN: April 19–Sept 21.

HOW MUCH: Day passes from $10.25. Tent sites from $28.25. Trailer rentals from $41.

New Milford, Pennsylvania hillsidecampgrounds.com WHERE: Close to the town of Gibson in northeastern Pennsylvania, just south of the Finger Lakes, five hours by car from Ottawa.

WHO: Men-only.

WHAT: 235 acres in the mountains of

Pennsylvania with trails and a shady creek. Sites range from central and socially situated to remote. A café takes care of all meals you can’t be bothered to cook. Social offerings include volleyball contests, BYOB cocktail events, art walks and weekend parties where the tunes swing from country and western in the early hours to club sounds as the night progresses. Party themes include Heroes and Villains, Uniform, and Fantasy and Fetish.

WHEN: May 2–Sept 28.

HOW MUCH: Day passes from $5. Sites from $20 per person per night. Cabins from $60.

Rainbow Ridge Resort Grand Valley, Ontario rainbowridgeresort.ca WHERE: On the Grand River, close to Orangeville. An hour north of Toronto, five hours from Ottawa by car.

WHO: LGBT, plus pets.

WHAT: 72 acres of hiking trails and

fully serviced sites, with picnic tables and fire pits, on the Grand River.

Field and pool volleyball, badminton, horseshoes, cricket, Saturday night dances, a clothing-optional area and three games rooms with ping-pong, pool, foosball, weights and a TV. WHEN: May–October.

HOW MUCH: Day passes from $8. Sites from $16. Bunk rooms from $65.

The Point Tent and Trailer Resort Vittoria, Ontario get-tothepoint.com

Riverside Tweed, Ontario riversidervcampground.com WHERE: A two-hour drive from Ottawa, just north

WHERE: Near Turkey Point Park on the Lake Erie shore, a 15-minute drive from Port Dover.

WHO: Men-only.

WHAT: Tent and fully serviced trailer

eastern Ontario’s Land O’ Lakes region. Opened in 2011, Riverside basks on the banks of the Skootamatta River and offers 110 serviced and unserviced sites, all with picnic tables and fire rings, a cottage, trailer, clothing-optional pool and camping area, baseball diamond and volleyball field. Weekend themes range from Boots and Boxers to Drag Divas to Riverside Olympics.

and RV sites, surrounded by Carolingian forest, with an abundance of trails. Other draws include biking, swimming and a slew of summer mixers, cabanas, a saltwater swimming pool, sun decks and a general store.

The Point is particularly popular with bears and leathermen, and the events calendar caters to that, with events such as BearForce and Lumbearjack.

WHEN: May 2–Sept 28.

WHEN: May 16–Oct 13.

HOW MUCH: Day pass from $10. Sites from $18.

Trailer from $65. Cottage from $85.

HOW MUCH: Day pass from $10.

of Highway 7 and the town of Tweed.

WHO: Men-only.

WHAT: A campground and RV park on 96 wooded acres in

MORE AT DAILYXTRA.COM

Sites from $18. Cabins from $56.

CAMP APPEAL Upstate New York’s Jones Pond offers a rural retreat for men With 117 seasonal sites, 192 permanent seasonal spots, a slew of cabins and a season that stretches all the way from April to October, Jones Pond makes an ideal escape across the border. Set in the gentle hills of the Genesee Valley of Upstate New York, the men-only campground boasts 120 acres with hiking trails, a three-acre pond, huge in-ground swimming pool, a busy café and volleyball courts. There’s also a huge events barn, camp store and lounge with TV, library, fireplace and piano. Recognized as the “nicest park in New York State,” Jones Pond is known for having exceptionally wellmaintained grounds and facilities.

As the campground’s 24th season kicks off, we tracked down the Canadian couple that owns and operates the pet-friendly park. Bryan Schaefer and Matthew McCormick bought Jones Pond in 2012. “We had been camping here for about 15 years,” Schaefer says, “and it had always been a place we loved going: 120 acres filled with the most amazing people we’ve ever spent time with. We were both working in downtown Toronto and were tired of the 12-hour days and the rat race. We needed to find something we loved to do. As fate would have it, the previous owners decided to sell the park. When they announced it, Matt turned to me and said, ‘Let’s buy this!’” Knowing nothing about running a park, Schaefer and McCormick did their research, worked out the finances, sold their home in Toronto and bought Jones Pond in October 2012.

There is no “typical camper,” Schaefer says. “We get everyone from the young 20s crowd who come in for long weekends or block party weekends to the mid-40s crowd who have sites and

enjoy the pool scene and the dances to people from the local area, places like Buffalo and Rochester, who come in and use the park for the day. We probably have an 80/20 split between US guests and Canadians, but we’re seeing more and more making the trip across the border. After all, we’re really only 90 minutes from the Peace Bridge.”

The summer social calendar features weekend dances at the 2000-square-foot events barn. One of the busiest weeks is the one running up to the Fourth of July, when there are daily events scheduled, including Schaefer and McCormick’s Bloody Caesar Canada Day party. Other dates to mark in your camping calendar are those of the park’s five block parties (Jones Pond is divided into five neighbourhood “blocks”). Each party is organized by campers in those areas, and this year’s themes include Mardi Gras and Western. All five events feature free barbecues and drinks. “It’s just amazing,” Schaefer says, “how people grab on and throw themselves into putting on these parties.”

Whether you check into a log cabin, bunkhouse or guesthouse, pack your tent or haul your RV rig, there’s a site, a warm welcome and a summer home away from home waiting at Jones Pond.

Jones Pond Angelica, New York jonespond.com WHERE: 120 kilometres southeast of Buffalo, a five-hour drive from Ottawa.

WHO: Men-only.

WHEN: April 25–Oct 1.

HOW MUCH: Day passes from $10. Tent sites from $10. Trailer sites from $38.

XTRA! MAY 15–JUNE 18, 2014 27

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Travel

Pride in Mexico City A non-corporate mix of politics, partying and anarchic celebration KEPH SENETT

For such a major metropolis, Mexico City is often overlooked during Pride season, but this capital is not only big and bustling — it’s also actively welcoming to LGBT people. The city’s very first Pride march took place in 1979, and 30 years later the Legislative Assembly legalized same-sex marriage. And, to make things easier for out-of-towners to visit, the Mexico City tourism board recently commissioned an LGBT guide, downloadable as a PDF from its website (see On the Web sidebar box for URL). So if you’re considering a trip to Mexico City (also referred to as “el DF,” for Distrito Federal), consider a pilgrimage for Pride.

The very first thing you’ll notice in planning your Pride week is that the communications — posters, websites and guides — are not nearly as coordinated as you’re probably used to, and your planning will be further complicated by the fact that everything is in Spanish. Take a deep breath. Despite being a city of nearly nine million people (that number jumps to more than 24 million if you account for the greater metropolitan area), el DF is, in some ways, still emerging. The sooner you sync up with the city, the better time you’ll have.

There are two main ways to find out what’s happening: track down a Pride guide or simply ask someone. Trust me: the latter is much more fun, but if you’re too shy, get yourself into the Zona Rosa to check out lesbian bookstore Voces en Tinta or Erotika Love Store and ask for a guide (guía, in Spanish). On the web, your best bet is to locate groups and events pages on Facebook, which often are updated with more frequency

ON THE WEB LGBT guide (downloadable PDF) mexicocity.gob.mx/lgbt/guias.php International Lesbian Festival mexicocity.gob.mx/lgbt/agenda.php International Sexual Diversity Festival chopo.unam.mx 28 MAY 15–JUNE 18, 2014 XTRA!

than the official page (marchagay.mx).

If you’re looking for the bear scene, you have your own portal at bearmex.com.

Although there are parties and events leading up to and after the parade, the main attraction happens on Pride Saturday under the banner Marcha del Orgullo y Dignidad LGBTTTI (Pride and Dignity March). You’re probably familiar with the many variations on LGBT; in Mexico City, the letters refer to lésbico, gay, bisexual, transexual, travesti, transgénero and intersexual.

Don’t get too hung up on the semantics — this is an inclusive celebration, and everyone is welcome.

La Marcha begins at noon(ish), with people gathering at the base of El Ángel de la Independencia, the city’s most famous monument and the symbol of the Mexico City. If your experience of Pride is limited to recent years in the big cities (like New York, San Francisco or Toronto), one of the first things you’ll likely notice is that, despite its size (2013 drew approximately 100,000 participants), this is a grassroots event.

With very few exceptions — the city distributed tens of thousands of free, branded condoms, for example — there is little or no corporate presence. And that’s a great thing. Everything from the handmade signs to the music to the vibe feels genuine.

Once the parade gets underway, it moves down Paseo de la Reforma toward the Zócalo, Mexico City’s main public plaza and the second largest in the world (Moscow’s Red Square is bigger). The procession itself is a fabulous mix of politics, partying and anarchic celebration, with the music, costumes, pageantry and placards we’ve all come to expect.

Several other events are scheduled for the weeks prior to and directly after La Marcha. Consider planning your travel around the Festival Lésbico Internacional de la Ciudad de México (the international lesbian festival of Mexico City), the Festival Internacional por la Diversidad Sexual (the international sexual diversity festival) or the Festival de Diversidad Sexual en Cine y Video (the sexual diversity film festival).

KEPH SENETT

Above, Pride revellers celebrate outside Palacio de Bellas Artes. Left, a float with an Aztec eagle warrior theme.

NIGHTLIFE Lipstick/Kinky Bar Amberes 1 Living Avenida Bucareli No 144 living.com.mx Cabaretito Londres 161 (Neon/VIP) Londres 77 (Fusion) cabaretito.com Marrakech Salon República de Cuba 18 El Viena República de Cuba 2-E La Perla República de Cuba 44 So Do Me Bathhouse Mariano Escobedo No 716 sodome.com.mx THELMA DATTER

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10

Away from the crowded beach, the log booms on Trail 7 at Wreck Beach. BART BRAUN

Great nude beaches in Canada

1. Blooming Point Northwestern PEI

2. Chilliwack Lake Near Chilliwack, BC

3. Crystal Crescent Beach Near Halifax

4. Hanlan’s Point Toronto

5. Kelly’s Beach Kouchibouguac National Park, NB

6. Lac des Toutes Nues Northwest of Montreal

7. Oka Park West of Montreal

8. Paradise Beach Near Saskatoon

9. Patricia Beach Near Winnipeg

10. Wreck Beach Vancouver — Bruce Bishop

ON THE WEB For more information on nude beaches and naturism, visit the Federation of Canadian Naturists at fcn.ca.

MORE AT DAILYXTRA.COM

Puerto Vallarta is a leading culinary destination in Mexico. VISITPUERTOVALLARTA.COM

#news #arts #travel #events

Restaurant Week in PVR One of Mexico’s longest-running culinary events, Puerto Vallarta Restaurant Week, will celebrate its 10th anniversary in May. During the annual festival, which this year runs May 15 to 31, Puerto Vallarta’s most prestigious restaurants showcase innovative three-course menus. Three options are available for each course, and prices range from $15 to $25 before alcohol and tip.

A leading culinary destination in Mexico, Puerto Vallarta offers a range of gastronomical adventures, from street food carts offering tacos and ceviche that have been operated by the same families for generations to top-

rated luxury restaurants.

In the gay-friendly Romantic Zone, not far from the gay beach, are Archie’s Wok, Daiquiri Dick’s, Taste and Kaiser Maximilian. From there, an easy stroll will take you to the Centro Historico, where you’ll find Café des Artistes, Barcelona Tapas and El Arrayán.

Vegetarian or vegan interpretations of Mexican dishes can be found at River Café, Que Pasa and El Patio de Mi Casa, to name a few.

ON THE WEB

Everything gay, every day.

DAILY dailyxtra.com

For a complete list of businesses participating in Restaurant Week, visit virtualvallarta.com.

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