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#767 MARCH 20–APRIL 2, 2014

TORONTO’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS

Naughty

BOY

Yigi Chang’s whimsical, triple-X creations are a cheeky play on queer folklore E14

PLUS!

NUDES & PRUDES E 7

THE ALLURE OF ERTÉ E

GOLDFRAPP ONSCREEN E

2 MARCH 20–APRIL 2, 2014 XTRA!

TORONTO’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS

Roundup

XTRA TORONTO’S GAY& LESBIAN NEWS

#767 MARCH 20–APRIL 2, 2014

Published by Pink Triangle Press

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FILM

Making movies from music Goldfrapp’s latest album inspired a series of short ﬁlms directed by the singer’s girlfriend E17

Editorial Helping others is hardly tedious By Gareth Kirkby E4

History Boys The life and loves of Erté By Michael Lyons E10

Feedback E4

Out in the City

Xcetera E5

Upfront Pride nudity prompts funding fracas E7 Melissa Etheridge to headline WorldPride E8

on dailyxtra.com

Xposed By Anna Pournikova E19 What’s On E21 Club Scene E22 Xtra Living E23

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Classiﬁeds E24

stage rally in support of Uganda’s anti-gay law MORE AT DAILYXTRA.COM

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Cover story Gettin’ Yigi with it How a sex-obsessed artist discovered the origins of the glory hole, and other queer folklore E14

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Arts roundup The best in alt porn E13

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Canada’s Kenny Brain

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Xtra Hot By Drasko Bogdanovic E25 COVER PHOTO BY RILEY STEWART XTRA! MARCH 20–APRIL 2, 2014 3

Comment Helping others is hardly tedious GUEST EDITORIAL GARETH KIRKBY

About the time that Vancouver Councillor Tim Stevenson was probably conﬁrming his window seat to head back to the True North Strong and Free after meeting with Olympic officials in the True North Strong and Not-So-Free, I was sipping an Americano in a Vancouver café. Stevenson had gone to Sochi to ask the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for policy changes that would prevent future Games going to nations with discriminatory human-rights laws. Three middle-aged gay men sat near me as I sipped my coffee. I wasn’t paying much attention to their dish until one of them, who’d been speaking loudly and more often than his luncheon partners, let go this zinger: “I’m so tired of politicians trying to save the world.” A dramatic pause, then, “It gets so . . .” arm waving, voice rising, “tedious!” He looked to his friends for affirmation. From where I sat, they seemed embarrassed for him. Tedious. Wow. Now that most Canadians more or less have our rights recognized to love and play, are we really so self-absorbed as to ﬁnd tedious the efforts of those among us working for similar rights around the world? I think not. I’d bet most of us are proud of Tim Stevenson taking our values to Russia and calling the IOC to account. Most people I talk to know that though gay life is comparatively good in Canada, our culture still has a huge hang-up about sexuality that leaves many of our brothers and sisters locked in straitjackets. We need to keep pushing for acceptance of all expressions of sexual expression and gender, together. Russia and Uganda have dominated the news lately with harsh new antigay laws that have already left a trail of blood. There are about 10 nations in the world that execute gay men and sometimes lesbians. Another dozen or so punish us with long jail sentences that people often don’t survive. Others execute or harshly punish all non-marital sex play. A few more have police that 4 MARCH 20–APRIL 2, 2014 XTRA!

turn a blind eye to people killing gays in “moral” judgment. Yes, some of these are Muslim states. But some are Christian states, heavily influenced by the fundamentalist movements of the US. And a disproportionate number of countries with official homophobic laws are, like Canada, former British colonies. That’s right, former British colonies have generally worse homophobic legacies than those of Spain or France. Check out the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) website for details and heartache. So, what should we do? Key leaders of the gay movements of Russia and Uganda have specifically asked that progressive nations avoid economic boycotts or interrupting development aid. Such actions lead only to local gays being blamed by their fellow citizens, and boycotts almost always hurt the poor more than the powerful, in any case. Instead, they suggest we show solidarity through two key measures that target the very lawmakers and their powerful backers, many of them corrupt or incompetent (hence the homophobia to divert attention from their mismanagement), who passed the laws. Put them on no-fly lists that prevent them entering or flying across a country’s airspace, and freeze their bank accounts and confiscate their property (such as real estate and corporate investments). Hit them where it hurts: their international lifestyles and hideaways for their ill-gotten finances. We could start with Russian and Ugandan politicians and broaden out from there, paying particular attention to our fellow Commonwealth nations. Let’s face it: we gays and lesbians are sitting pretty comfortably now in Canada. We could choose to see it as our destiny to spread the love, share the freedom. It’s an honour, a responsibility and perhaps a destiny. It’s definitely not a tedium to be abhorred as we drink our Americanos. Gareth Kirkby is the former editor-in-chief of dailyxtra.com’s predecessor, xtra.ca.

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FEEDBACK Naked at Pride TNT!MEN are a valuable contribution to Toronto’s LGBT community [“Let’s Get Naked,” Xtra #765, Feb 20]. They cause us, at least those open to examining their own beliefs, to question traditional notions of shame and our bodies in their natural state. They raise issues of physical attractiveness, ageism, authenticity, freedom and liberation. The fact they provoke a strong reaction in some by unashamedly marching in their natural form is a good start. Hopefully those strongly opposed will start honestly examining why they’re so opposed.

What we need to do is stop discrimination against people who are not harming others, and nudity does not harm others. [RE: NAKED AT PRIDE]

#766 MARCH 6–19, 2014

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The original reason for Pride was because of discrimination, and even though it has mostly evolved into a celebration, the original reason for its existence still stands: a protest against discrimination and injustices. When it comes to body acceptance and nudists, discrimination still prevails. That nudists are a minority at Pride isn’t really a valid argument. If it were, we could also say that women shouldn’t be allowed to show their breasts, leather men shouldn’t be allowed to show butts or too much skin, bears should keep their bellies covered, and if I were to look over my Pride photos, I’m sure I could pick out plenty of other things that a minority of people at Pride do. What we need to do is stop discrimination against people who are not harming others, and nudity does not harm others. TOM BALINT TORONTO, ON

Thank you, Danny, for your editorial. Have no fear: naked guys will parade at WorldPride this year. I am a gay nudist and founding member of TNT!MEN in Toronto. TNT!MEN was foremost in lobbying city hall to declare Hanlan’s Point officially clothing-optional. It wasn’t until 1992 that I learned that there was a gay nudist movement. Since then, my partner and I have been to many Gay Naturists International (GNI)

and California Men Enjoying Nudity (CMEN) events. My partner and I ﬁrst joined the naked Radical Faeries at the Stonewall 25 Pride parade in NYC, 1994, and I’ve been in Toronto’s parade since 1996. It’s a wonderful experience, feeling the freedom, the pride, the love of the crowd. Come join us. Dare to dream and celebrate. Show the world that there are many ways to celebrate one’s queerness. PETER GRAY TORONTO, ON

New ACT director Congratulations to John Maxwell and to ACT [“New Director Says It’s Time for Major Changes at ACT,” dailyxtra.com, March 11]. I am in full agreement with John that Toronto, like Montreal and Vancouver, needs an organization dedicated to the overall health and well-being of queer men. In my mind, that includes trans and cisgender men. While there are a number of services and programs available across the city that address various aspects of queer men’s health, there is no single organization poised and ready to act as unﬂinching champion and proactive leader advancing the broad health needs of men, especially for the issues that fall through the cracks. There are services that treat the in-

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.

dividual, and these are much needed. But we also need a more systematic and long-term strategy to address the health disparities that exist as a result of a complex blend of factors that includes the social, cultural, political, biological, economic and environmental. I believe community needs to lead this work, and a community organization like ACT may be well positioned to take this on. I support John’s leadership on this issue, and I know others do as well. PHILLIP BANKS TORONTO, ON

Ken Popert editorial People can say what they want about Xtra and PTP, but I think one of the main reasons it’s still publishing after all these years is evident in your rare editorial, which reminds me that core people in the organization never lost or wavered from their conviction [“While We Weren’t Looking,” Xtra #766, March 6]. Many people I talk to while living abroad think that we are so far ahead with LGBT rights because Canadians are “nice people.” I always laugh; I would not be described as nice and neither would Ken. I explain that the main difference I see is that we never took no for an answer, never compromised and, despite much criticism in our own community, we kept pushing. Let’s hope for a future of “continuous pushing,” and while we may have succeeded in so much, there are so many in other countries right now who desperately need our help. I know Xtra and PTP will never lose sight of that. COLIN BROWNLEE (FACEBOOK) COSTA RICA

Brad Fraser Tenacity is one of the attributes I admire most [“Coming Out on a Cover,” Xtra #766, March 6]. Thank goodness both you and Xtra have it! I may have missed Wolfboy, but my mom raves about it to this day. MARK STEINFELD TORONTO, ON

TORONTO’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS

XCETERA

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QUOTABLE

There are a few aspects of my life that I like to keep close to my chest . . . like my sexuality. I’m not going to divulge anything about that starting off. I think it’s a tool I can use later on down the road. — Big Brother Canada contestant Kenny Brain discusses his strategy going into the house MORE AT DAILYXTRA.COM

Homosexual behaviour in children Religious Right radio host Kevin Swanson claims the Disney ﬁlm Frozen is turning kids into sodomites. Colorado ﬂooding The same pastor recently blamed the 2013 natural disaster on “decadent homosexual activity.” Southern Decadence Annual gay event in New Orleans, Louisiana. Lance Bass Appeared as a DJ at the six-day festival in 2013.

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TORONTO’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS

Upfront

The reality is gay men face so many challenges, and the services don’t exist in this city . . . That’s a problem. John Maxwell E 8

Pride nudity prompts funding fracas Controversial motion prompts labour group to stop funding trustee POLITICS DYLAN C ROBERTSON

At least one labour group has withdrawn its support for Toronto public-school trustee Sam Sotiropoulos after he put forward a controversial motion to formally ask police to enforce nudity laws at this year’s Pride parade. In response, Sotiropoulos said March 11 that straight, white men are “shit out of luck” at the Toronto District School Board (TDSB). Sotiropoulos proposed the Pride motion March 5, saying that “a lot” of parents have voiced concern about allowing “children to be exposed to nudity.” A branch of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF) financially supported Sotiropoulos’s 2012 election, but District 12 president Doug Jolliffe now tells Xtra they will not donate to his October reelection campaign. “We did support Trustee Sotiropoulos in a byelection, but support will not be forthcoming in the fall,” Jolliffe says. According to publicly available financial disclosures, Sotiropoulos received $5,000 in donations from nine labour groups during his ward’s 2012 by-election. Xtra contacted each group March 10 asking whether they support Sotiropoulos’s motion. “OSSTF District 12 does not in any way support Trustee Sotiropoulos’s motion,” Jolliffe says, noting that the union runs a booth at the Pride parade and sponsors a luncheon at the Dyke March. “This year, because WorldPride is in Toronto, OSSTF is entering a float in the parade.” An IBEW Local 353 official told Xtra the union supports but does not officially participate in the Pride parade and “does not have a position on the motion brought forward, nor would we support or speak against it.” None of the other groups had responded to Xtra at time of publication. “If you’re white, straight and male you’re SOL [shit out of luck] at TDSB, as nobody is using you as a pretext to funnel money into their pet projects,” Sotiropoulos tweeted on March 11. It’s the latest in a series of colourful online messages posted by Sotiropoulos. In an open letter dated Feb 14, Jolliffe accused MORE AT DAILYXTRA.COM

If you’re white, straight and male you’re SOL [shit out of luck] at TDSB, as nobody is using you as a pretext to funnel money into their pet projects. TORONTO PUBLIC SCHOOL TRUSTEE SAM SOTIROPOULOS Totally Naked Toronto Men Enjoying Nudity march in the 2013 Pride parade in Toronto. Trustee Sam Sotiropoulos says he doesn’t think children should be exposed to nudity. ADAM COISH

Sotiropoulos of engaging in “harassing debate” on Twitter after trustees and councillors ridiculed him for tweeting about “homosexism.” “It is a crisis,” Sotiropoulos recently said on AM640’s John Oakley Show. “The pendulum has swung entirely too far in that direction; it’s time to restore some balance in this conversation. “I refuse to be bullied; I will not be shouted down on this issue,” he said, mirroring Doug Ford’s comments that Toronto’s LGBT community has “bullied” the mayor for never attending the city’s annual Pride parade. Meanwhile, a board spokesperson conﬁrmed that Sotiropoulos’s motion will be carried onto the agenda for the next general meeting, on April 9. The motion is endorsed by John Hastings, a Rexdale trustee who did not reply to a request for comment.

Trustee Irene Atkinson also supported the motion, telling the Toronto Star, “It’s simple: I don’t believe males or females should be running around naked in the streets, and if they are, police ought to be called.” Atkinson withdrew her endorsement before the March 5 meeting. LGBT residents of Atkinson’s Junction ward had contacted the trustee, who refused to tell Xtra why she withdrew her support. “Sorry, I don’t want to talk about the Pride parade any more,” Atkinson told Xtra in an email. A 2012 Ontario ruling found that nudity at a rally or demonstration can be considered part of the Charter-guaranteed right of personal expression. For more on this story, go to dailyxtra.com.

XTRA! MARCH 20–APRIL 2, 2014 7

COMMUNITY NEWS

New director says it’s time for major changes at ACT The AIDS Committee of Toronto has appointed as its new executive director longtime staffer John Maxwell, who comes to the post with ideas that could radically change the way the organization serves gay men. Maxwell has been working at ACT since 1991 in positions directing the agency’s communications, policy, and programs and services. He has also been the organization’s interim executive director since Hazelle Palmer left in October. He takes the reins at a challenging time for ACT. Support from the federal government has been tepid throughout the Harper era, and there are indications it may wane in the future. As well, the organization has moved away from its signature fundraiser gala, Fashion Cares, and needs to develop new fundraising streams. ACT will begin a strategic planning process this fall to map out a new ﬁve-year plan. Maxwell says it may be time for a major shakeup in how the organization serves its community. He says ACT may consider becoming an organization

and “100% Pure Love,” saw her latest single, “Oh, Mama, Hey,” reach number one on the Billboard dance charts after eight weeks. British performer Neon Hitch released her latest mixtape, 301 to Paradise, earlier this year and won the NewNowNext Award for Brink of Fame in 2012. These artists join already-announced headlining performers Deborah Cox, Martha Wash and DJs David Morales and Quentin Harris. — Andrew Jacome

focused on the broader health needs of gay men. “The reality is gay men face so many challenges, and the services don’t exist in this city. You try to get into counselling services, you try to get into substance-abuse programs for gay men, there’s a waiting list. That’s a problem,” he says. — Rob Salerno Go to dailyxtra.com for the full interview with John Maxwell.

PRIDE NEWS INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Melissa Etheridge to headline WorldPride Toronto Rocker Melissa Etheridge will be coming to our window when she performs at the WorldPride opening ceremonies on June 20 in Nathan Phillips Square. “We are so happy she could join us for the opening ceremonies,” says TK, arts and culture manager of WorldPride Toronto, which made the announcement on March 11. “And it’s a free show!” Oscar- and Grammy-winner Etheridge recently released her anthem “Uprising of Love,” a song she wrote to support the LGBT community in Russia.

No queers, no beer

Melissa Etheridge will perform June 20 at Nathan Phillips Square. VICTORIA WILL

The organizers of WorldPride 2014 Toronto (#WP14TO) also announced the addition of Hercules and Love Affair, Crystal Waters and Neon Hitch to the lineup of performers slated for the festival. Hercules and Love Affair, a musical

project from New York–based DJ Andy Butler, will have released a new album, The Feast of the Broken Heart, this May, with single “Do You Feel the Same?” coming in April. House-singer legend Crystal Waters, best known for her single “Gypsy Woman (She’s Homeless)”

Three days before St Patrick’s Day, Sam Adams brewer Boston Beer Company and Heineken pulled their sponsorships of the Boston and New York City parades because organizers of both cities’ events prohibit openly gay people from participating. Irish brewing giant Guinness upped the ante on Sunday, March 16, when it, too, withdrew from the New York parade, saying, “Guinness has a strong history of supporting diversity and being an advocate for equality for all. We were hopeful that the policy of exclusion would be reversed for this year’s parade.” Boston Mayor Marty Walsh skipped his city’s parade after an attempt to

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TORONTO’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS

allow a group of gay and lesbian activists to take part failed. “As mayor of the city of Boston, I have to do my best to ensure that all Bostonians are free to participate fully in the civic life of our city. Unfortunately, this year, the parties were not able to come to an understanding that would have made that possible,” he said later. In a similar scenario in New York, Mayor Bill de Blasio said he would not march in his city’s parade because gay activists had been barred from participating. Parade organizers in both cities say that to allow gay and lesbian people to take part would go against their Roman Catholic heritage. While gay activists were blocked, evangelist Scott Lively, who is facing trial for “crimes against humanity” for the role he has played in fostering anti-gay discrimination and violence in Uganda, marched in Boston. “The LGBT bullies, including Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, are giving the St Paddy’s Day Parade organizers a hard time for keeping the parade a family-friendly event, but they are standing strong for family values and not bowing to intimidation,” Lively said in a statement. — Lesley Fraser For more on these stories, go to dailyxtra.com.

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The life and loves of Erté HISTORY BOYS MICHAEL LYONS

ROBERT G.COATES,

The name “Romain de Tirtoff” may not be familiar, but his images certainly are. The work of this 20th-century artist influenced everything from fashion to theatre to architecture. Though he came from a long line of Russian naval leaders on his father’s side, art called to him from a young age, and he designed his first dress when he was five. He left St Petersburg at 19 to go to Paris, where he dedicated his life to the art of beauty and adopted his familiar pseudonym, a phonetic pronunciation of his initials: Erté. A shy, introverted, intensely private person with an eidetic memory, Erté was one of the early artists working in what became known as the Art Deco style, which he described as “the marriage between pure and applied art,” as geometric and precise as it is vibrant and wild. Over a career of almost 80 years, he became famous for his Harper’s Bazaar covers and designs for theatre, opera, ballet, music halls, cinema and fashion. Much is made of his work, but there is little mention of his sexuality and relationships; while Erté was flamboyantly gay, he’s coy about his affairs in his autobiography, Things I Remember. He describes one early amorous adventure, the first of many. Two children of Baltic royalty were studying in Russia, and they ended up on an estate neighbouring the de Tirtoff summer house in what is now northeast Estonia. Thirteen-year-old Romain was attracted to one of the children (ungendered in his writing), who was a few years older than he, and they met in secret one night. “The next morning the gardeners complained that the vines covering the walls between the two properties had been damaged.” In this same passage, Erté explains that he “wasted very little emotional energy in trying to fight my own nature, even less in punishing myself with feelings of guilt.” Sex and men were always extremely important to him, though his biggest relationship was always with his work. In 1913, after a year of lean living and scrabbling for work in Paris, Erté

Erté championed unisex clothing and repeatedly rejected men’s fashion as dull, saying it made men look “like an army of head-waiters.” JORI BOLTON

dropped off some sketches and his calling card at the fashion house of Paul Poiret. The fashion designer famous for liberating women from the corset, a larger-than-life Parisian personality, called Erté back the next day to hire him. Through Poiret, the emerging fashion and art visionary got his start in theatre, working on an Orientalist play called The Minaret. Erté writes about attending a dress rehearsal with a group of friends, an elite social event at the time. One of them, a Poiret model, was allowed to borrow dresses if she was attending important events, and she grabbed a particularly elegant dress, which Erté wore with an ermine coat, long gloves, huge earrings and a turban. The audience was taken by this beauty, and the next day one of Paris’s biggest newspapers reported on a model wearing a turban who “was irresistible, wearing her remarkable ensemble with an air and a sense of style that few models are lucky enough to possess.” This isn’t surprising; throughout his entire life, Erté had an oval, puckish, epicene face and was often mistaken for a woman in his later years. He was, however, expecting the worst when Poiret, who had looked into the matter, summoned him. Instead of being fired, Poiret offered

Erté the opportunity to model dresses designed specifically for him in Poiret’s next collection, though a grateful Erté turned down the offer. For the rest of his life, though, he championed unisex clothing and repeatedly rejected men’s fashion as dull, saying it made men look “like an army of head-waiters.” Throughout his autobiography, he describes each affair in little more than a sentence, though he spent many “very pleasant” evenings with lovers, even at 80, on a birthday-gift tour of Greece: “As so often happens when I travel, I had a charming adventure during the cruise. There is something erotic in the air of Greece: the land is full of beautiful people.” Erté was hailed as a “living legend” decades before his death, and he remained active right up until the end. His love for life always came back to this great, eternal work, described in the epilogue of his memoirs: “Not many of us are born beautiful; that is why I have always attached so much importance to clothes. Clothes are a kind of alchemy: they can transform human beings into things of beauty or ugliness.” History Boys appears in every issue of Xtra. TORONTO’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS

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OutintheCity

Hopefully, it’ll inspire people to just be able to be themselves and not have to conform so much to just male or female. Lisa Gunning E17

Vive Lepage! Only a handful of Canadian theatre directors have achieved name recognition on an international level. But mention Robert Lepage to artists or audiences nearly anywhere, and they’ll know exactly who you’re talking about. The queer Quebec native shot to stardom in the mid-1980s with his sprawling, technically innovative offerings. Hundreds of theatres in Europe, North America and Australia have presented his shows. He’s even had a crack at the Olympics, staging the 2010 Vancouver Games closing ceremony. But for all his success in performance, Lepage’s recognition as a filmmaker has been relegated largely to his native land. Though critically well received, his films have failed to garner international audience attention on par with his stage work. It’s impossible to say precisely why, but perhaps there’s something about his films that just resonates better with Canucks than anyone else. One of his champions has been the Toronto International Film Festival, which premiered his films Triptych and Far Side of the Moon (both based on earlier plays). In honour of his being named this year’s recipient of the Glenn Gould Prize, the Lightbox will host a retrospective that includes

Cock

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Recognition of Robert Lepage as a filmmaker has been relegated largely to Canada.

rarely seen gems Le Confessional (his debut feature about the filming of Alfred Hitchcock’s I Confess in Quebec City), Le Polygraphe (an adaptation of his play about a woman starring in a film that explores a real-life murder) and Nô (about a Québécoise actress in Japan during the 1970 FLQ crisis). The event gives stage and screen enthusiasts alike the chance to contemplate intersections of the two mediums. Just as Lepage’s performance works often incorporate film and video elements, his films often have a deeply theatrical quality. “Lepage really sets himself apart from other film-

makers by the freedom with which he approaches his art,” says programmer Magali Simard. “Also, there’s a technical versatility to his work that is staggering. Whether it’s on ﬁlm, onstage or through installations, he’s an artist who’s consistently breaking new ground intellectually and technically. It was a great opportunity for us to showcase him at a key moment in his career.” — Chris Dupuis

When gay men burst forth from the closet, they often ﬁrst come out as bisexual. As comfort with their sexuality increases, they gradually admit pussy holds no allure and cock is where it’s at, embracing their identity as full-on ’mo. This might be why a chunk of the gay community believes bisexuality is a myth. Bi guys are seen either as gay (and unable to fully admit it) or straight (and pretending to suck dick to seem more interesting). For John, the protagonist in British playwright Mike Bartlett’s Cock, people’s inability to accept his attraction to both sexes forms the crux of his struggle. “I don’t think John would even consider himself bisexual,” says Andrew Kushnir, who plays the role in Studio 180’s current production. “He’s let all of that go to consider what he really wants, independent of a ﬁxed identity.

But there’s a degree of intolerance around him for that kind of chaos, and that’s why the shit really hits the fan.” John’s voyage of sexual discovery plays out somewhat in reverse. Coming out in his early 20s, he lands in a long-term relationship with a man 10 years his senior. The seven-year itch hits and things fall apart. But instead of going into full man-slut mode, Grindr-ing his life away, John shocks everyone by hooking up with a woman. Cock points to the fact that queerness isn’t always about which genitals are meeting. Though John’s first relationship is gay, the dynamic couldn’t be more heteronormative. Neither open-minded nor open, the couple has been sexually vanilla and staunchly monogamous from the get-go. John gradually realizes his identity is more complicated and he needs to explore different things, but his boyfriend can’t accept that. “He wants some time to live in the mess of his own sexual desires and ﬁnd something new that doesn’t already exist for him,” Kushnir says. “What we see in the play is that exploring this relationship with a woman is a much more queer gesture than the gay relationship he originally ﬁnds himself in.” — Chris Dupuis

The cast of Cock, from left: Andrew Kushnir, Ian D Clark, Jeff Miller and Jessica Greenberg. CYLLA VON TIEDEMANN

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TIFF LIBRARY

Robert Lepage: Possible Worlds runs Thurs, March 27 to Tues, April 1 at TIFF Bell Lightbox, 350 King St W. tiff.net

Mainstream porn, whether straight or queer, is pretty predictable. There are very few transgender people, the activities rarely vary, the bodies look the same (chiselled guys, skinny women), and there’s a lot of grim, forced moaning. In early April, four days of events will celebrate and promote more inclusive and varied porn, beginning with Public. Provocative.Porn: The Year’s Best in Feminist Film, followed by the ninth annual Good for Her Feminist Porn Awards and the two-day Feminist Porn Conference. Morgan Thorne is a former paramedic with a bachelor of arts in philosophy and anthropology. She’s also a professional dominatrix who creates and sells fetish videos on the internet. “I don’t fit the typical mould of the blonde-haired, blue-eyed beauty; I have a pink mohawk, tattoos, voluptuous body, and I’m five feet tall. And the models I work with don’t often fit that mould either,” she says. “I’ve worked with models who are genderqueer or trans, and not necessarily in the traditional ‘chick with a dick’ trope, which I know a lot of performers find really offensive.” Thorne will give a talk at the Feminist Porn Conference called Creating Fetish Content for Fun and Profit, which provides advice on creating and selling nonmainstream porn. “There’s a lot of room for people who are heavier, really skinny — whatever — that don’t fit regular beauty standards, and however you look or identify, there’s room for you to celebrate who you are. And if you want to sexualize that and enjoy it, you can make money from it,” she says. — Jeremy Willard This four-day celebration of alternative porn runs Thurs, April 3–Sun, April 6. For more info, visit goodforher. com.

Morgan Thorne

Cock runs Fri, April 4 to Sun, April 27 at The Theatre Centre, 1115 Queen St W. studio180theatre.com XTRA! MARCH 20–APRIL 2, 2014 13

YIGI

RILEY STEWART

GETTIN’

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14 MARCH 20–APRIL 2, 2014 XTRA!

TORONTO’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS

How a sex-obsessed artist discovered the origins of the glory hole, and other queer folklore

BY RYAN KERR

t first glance, one might describe artist Yigi Chang as “angelic.” His multicoloured tresses dance about his warm, friendly face. His default expression, a wide smile, is punctuated by eyes that sparkle with delight. But as soon as he opens his mouth to speak, the halo falls away and is replaced by red-plastic devil horns. This Markham-raised OCAD University graduate is a sex-obsessed sack of vulgarity. And he’s deliciously proud to be. Chang’s work splashes dicks, vaginas and buttholes in amusing patterns and situations across prints, tote bags, buttons and T-shirts. Not the first artist to focus on the nuts and bolts of queer sexuality, Chang’s unique addition to the genre is in his series of digital illustrations, which playfully account for the origin of community lexicon. It’s not the story that’s unique; it’s how it’s told. Yigi Chang’s Queer as Folklore print series originated as his thesis project but is likely to continue as the years pass. After much visual (and experiential?) research, the artist settled on 10 ubiquitous queer terms, which he defined and then accompanied with whimsical illustrations. Each image is rendered using a digital paint treatment, alluding to watercolour, pen and ink and to the style of some best-loved storybooks. The 10 prints — Beard Weaver, Closet Creature, Gold Star Gay, Rosebud, Hasbian, Fag Hag, Fierce, Glory Horn, Twincest and Self Sucker — evoke a fairytale-like mythology, weaving a playful narrative and history into otherwise commonplace, crude vernacular. In Glory Horn, for example, Chang shows how a unicorn created the very first glory hole. “How did the first glory hole happen?” he asks. “No one knows. So I decided it was because a unicorn popped into a bathroom

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and drilled holes in the stalls with its horn.” In Beard Weaver, Chang depicts a shirtless man braiding his long beard with a rainbow ribbon and shrunken heads. “Beard is about putting on a show for society, lying and deceiving someone else to hide your true self,” he says. “You literally adorn yourself with other people, regardless of how it affects them.” Hasbian features a pin-up-style woman using lipstick to remove the feminine suffixes from names tattooed on her arm — turning

PERSONALLY, I DON’T DISLIKE THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN ‘GAY’ AND ‘SEX.’ Erica to Eric, Danielle to Daniel, et cetera. There’s a touching sadness in this image, despite the residual humour in the series’ concept, which spills over from print to print. Chang manages to work with stereotypes rather than simply reinforce them by cleverly combining exaggerated scenarios with absurdity and a modicum of pathos. What good is a fairy’s tale without an allusion to morality? Some of Chang ’s other illustrations, though unconnected to Queer as Folklore, don’t stray far from the themes of sexuality, mythology or double entendre. His Solvestra print shows a visual recipe for a cure-all tablet. Ingredients: fairy dust, unicorn horn and strands of hair from Santa Claus’s beard. His oil-on-canvas paintings from another series look like censored screen-shots from adult movies applied with broad, colourful brushstrokes.

Chang’s artistic voice is influenced, at least in part, by an obsession he had with internet porn growing up. He marvelled in the salacious, forbidden delights of naughty photos and videos — the subject matter notwithstanding — even devising clever ploys to sneak peeks when he was in the same room with his family. “I used to watch porn with multiple browser tabs open, so I could switch it to something else if my mom walked by,” he says. “I would pretend I was listening to Britney’s ‘Stronger’ so no one would suspect. It got to the point where I would close my eyes and see flashes of pornography all the time.” Despite the subject matter of his work, Chang’s mother is a staunch supporter, staffing his table at craft fairs and boasting (perhaps with a tinge of relief ) that her son is completely self-taught. “Mom’s hilarious. She’s so supportive, always bragging to people about how I learned on my own, ‘without a cent toward art classes!’” And without much mention of the subject matter. “She doesn’t really address the content of my work. She just praises how ‘original’ it is.” Underneath the candid triple-X thematics of Chang’s work there is a genuine love for the queer community and an underpinning of activism. “Personally, I don’t dislike the association between ‘gay’ and ‘sex.’ That’s part of the main differences between homo and hetero: the ‘sexual’ part,” he explains. “I want to go right to the moment of attraction, stay there and make sure people aren’t questioning it. Make them okay with the idea, comfortable even.” Look for Chang’s table at WorldPride this year on Church Street. He’ll be sharing some new designs (possibly including a pentagram/ penis design involving glow-in-the-dark ink as ejaculate), buttons, tote bags, temporary tattoos and more. Or, if you can’t wait until summer, visit him at yigichang.com or find him on Etsy (etsy.com/shop/yigichang).

A sampling of Yigi Chang’s Queer as Folklore print series, from top: Hasbian, Beard Weaver and Glory Horn.

XTRA! MARCH 20–APRIL 2, 2014 15

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TORONTO’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS

Alison Goldfrapp is the star of Drew, the film accompaniment to the single of the same name. LISA GUNNING

Tales of Goldfrapp UK duoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s latest album spawns a series of short films FILM MICHAEL LYONS

She appears, luminous, with the ďŹ rst ascending arpeggio of the song. Even in black and white, Alison Goldfrappâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s goddess is iridescent, gliding through a crumbling, deserted manor, surrounded by ghosts of lovers past, male and female. This describes a scene from Drew, the ďŹ rst of a series of short ďŹ lms inspired by British duo Goldfrappâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new album, Tales of Us. Directed by Lisa Gunning, the lead vocalistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s girlfriend of seven years, the ďŹ lm takes its name from the ďŹ rst single off the album. A veteran ďŹ lm editor, Gunning was writing creative concepts for herself, separate from Goldfrapp, while working on the 2012 ďŹ lm Seven Psychopaths. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Out popped an idea, which was a lesbian psychopath serial-killer story,â&#x20AC;? she says. She shared the idea with Goldfrapp who, as a big fan of thrillers, loved it. After ďŹ nishing Drew, Gunning and Goldfrapp decided to make as many companion ďŹ lms as possible. The completed series of ďŹ ve sequential shorts (there are 10 tracks on the album) is now screening around the world, including across Canada, in a string of one-night-only cinematic events. Each track on Tales of Us is a name, and behind each name is a story, with literary roots that carry over into Gunningâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s project. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Annabel is the film which is most closely related to the song,â&#x20AC;? Gunning says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The songâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s based on a book by Kathleen Winter called Annabel. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a beautiful, beautiful MORE AT DAILYXTRA.COM

book about a girl trapped inside the this puff of smoke and vanished in a body of a boy.â&#x20AC;? puff of smoke, and we just thought she Before making the film, Gold- was amazing.â&#x20AC;? frapp reached out to the UK-born, The dancer made such an impresNewfoundland-raised, Quebec-based sion that Gunning went back to ďŹ nd author. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In the letter, she congratulated her, wanting to cast her in the Laurel me on writing what she thought a beau- short, but she was nowhere to be found, tiful book,â&#x20AC;? Winter says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;She said she and another dancer was hired. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But the was absorbed by its vivid atmosphere night before the shoot I was still not and had been inspired by it.â&#x20AC;? Goldfrapp giving up, and I was still at Jumboâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s described her lyrics as â&#x20AC;&#x153;a little snapshot, just asking around, and I saw a little my interpretation of the world you photograph on the wall of these eyes,â&#x20AC;? so beautifully created,â&#x20AC;? and asked for Gunning says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I just spotted her, and I permission to make the ďŹ lm. said to the barman â&#x20AC;&#x201D; I was like, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s After the release of the album and that? Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the girl; thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the one!â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;? the accompanying ďŹ lm, Gunning ap- This turned out to be Tiger, the stage proached Winter about adapting the persona of Alyssa Bell, a Los Angeles novel into a longer ďŹ lm, which is now paleontologist. in the works. â&#x20AC;&#x153;So itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll have transformed Bell, who had no idea sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d perfrom the book to the song, to a short formed for one of her music idols, got a ďŹ lm, to a ďŹ lm,â&#x20AC;? Gunning says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s message that she thought was an offer our aim! And in the process, hopefully for an alcohol ad: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t too excited itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll inspire people to just be able to be about doing a commercial for Goldthemselves and not have to conform so schlĂ¤ger, but I called anyway, and after much to just male or female.â&#x20AC;? a few minutes of very confusing conThe tale of how Gunning met the versation â&#x20AC;&#x201D; that ended with me saystar of another of the shorts could ing something cheesy like, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Wait, you make a feature film in mean the Goldfrapp?!â&#x20AC;&#x2122; TALES OF US itself. Gunning explains â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Lisa explained the ďŹ lm Wed, March 26, 9:30pm that while she was workand how she and Alison Bloor Hot Docs Cinema ing in Los Angeles, sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d wanted me to be a part 506 Bloor St W goldfrapp.com/ďŹ lm go with her friends to of it. And of course, IÂ was Jumboâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Clown Room, right on board,â&#x20AC;? she says. an exotic dance bar on Hollywood â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was a fantastic opportunity!â&#x20AC;? Boulevard. â&#x20AC;&#x153;One day, Alison came to Gunningâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s debut as a director has see me at this place, and we sat down, turned into a cinematic epic, one that and out comes this amazing woman,â&#x20AC;? offers something for everyone. â&#x20AC;&#x153;SoniGunning says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This kind of Lynchi- cally, just being in the cinema and lisan, red-haired, milky-skinned, very tening to music of such high quality is unconventional-looking woman, and something we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t usually experience she did this dance to The Smiths song these days,â&#x20AC;? Gunning says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;How Soon Is Now?â&#x20AC;&#x2122; She appeared in beautiful experience for your ears.â&#x20AC;?

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

XPOSED

1E Johnnie Walker and Sexy Mark Brown are

just two of the fantastic performers from Boylympics, the Boylesque TO semi-fundraiser and tonguein-cheek fun-activism at Lee’s Palace. Two dollars from every ticket went to Egale. Also, it was hella fun. 2E Shall we take a little tour of Imogen Quest’s Boylesque outfit here? Hot 1950s-era hair and bandana (and “We Can Do It” stance), red-on-red-on-red shirt and shorts. But it’s all about taking this outfit from the streets of Pride in summer to the dead-of-winter dancefloor at Lee’s by adding the zebra-print tights that makes this one a winner. 3E From left to right: Obskyra’s intense and incredible earrings, Percy’s low-hanging crystal on a chain and finally, Suki Tsunami’s incredible frames, jacket and name. Like hello, just say that out loud: “Suki. Tsunami.” This is the first time in the history of this column that I’ve wanted to perform cunnilingus on someone’s name. 4E Look at the sweaters and jackets on these three strapping men. No really, take a moment to appreciate this modern Bret Easton Ellis moment in time right here. Jeremy’s is my favourite, but

ANNA POURNIKOVA PHOTOS BY BECCA LEMIRE

it’s nothing without Darren and Justin as a companion set. 5E Can I just give thanks to Becca for these incredible pics of regular people I’d actually fuck? It’s the first time we went to Drag Race and saw such a Gap-adworthy swath of do-able normies. First I couldn’t figure out which of the boys I’d hit, and now I’m stuck in the same conundrum with (from left) Megan, Emma and Alex; although, I gotta say, Alex’s glasses-and-fringe combo is inching to the front. 6E Check out Skevvy here on the left, rocking her Team Canada pride in that scarf while she also expresses her queer Boylympics pride at Lee’s Palace. Cheeky lady. I’m also really digging on Laura’s eyebrow/hair colour match. Hard to get deep-blue-sea mermaid down without looking too queenie. She nailed it. 7E I’ve been looking at this picture of (from left) Roy, Vincent and Daniel for a solid five minutes now, and I still can’t figure out who I’d like to bang more. Looking at them is like standing at a buffet on an Oprah diet. How much is too much? Can I calorically afford a bit of all three? Really, with a bar lineup like this at Drag Race, who’s watching the show?

7 5

6 MORE AT DAILYXTRA.COM

XTRA! MARCH 20–APRIL 2, 2014 19

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TORONTO’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS

WHAT'S ON

Thursday; registration 6–6:30pm. The 519 Community Centre, 519 Church St. Free. the519.org

FTM Support Group Trans men share their experiences in a supportive environment. For more information, contact ftmtoronto@ yahoo.ca. Fri, March 21, and Fri, April 4, 7:30pm. The 519 Community Centre, 519 Church St. Free. the519. org

SOY Monday Night Drop-In Queer youth ages 14 to 29 gather to watch movies, participate in art projects and special workshops, and seek the support of Supporting Our Youth’s community mentors. For more info, contact jcaffery@ sherbourne.on.ca. Every Monday, 5:30–8pm. Sherbourne Health Centre, 2nd ﬂoor, 333 Sherbourne St. Free. soytoronto.org

Bisexual Men of Toronto

Elegies — Daniels Spectrum, Fri, March 21–Sun, April 13

FOR MORE EVENT LISTINGS, GO TO DAILYXTRA.COM

COMEDY & CABARET Gay Trivia Drag divas Gina Hamilton and Bunni Lapin host a night of outrageous trivia and fabulous prizes. Every Tuesday, 9pm. O’Grady’s, 518 Church St. Free. ogradyschurch.ca

Hypnotixxx: A Slightly Naughty Comedy Hypnosis Show Brandon the Hypnotist takes audience volunteers on a risqué and slightly rude jaunt into the subconscious. Wed, March 26, 7pm. The Flying Beaver, 488 Parliament St. $10 advance, $15 door. pubaret.com

Queer as Fuck: Comedy Open-Mic Catherine McCormick, the creator of Laughs at Slack’s, presents a twicemonthly comedy night in the west end. Wed, March 26, 9:15pm. The Steady Café & Bar, 1051 Bloor St W. PWYC. thesteadycafe.com

Comedy, Cabaret & Coffee Talk Brassy cabaret juggernaut Ryan G Hinds holds court with local luminaries. Fri, March 28, 9pm. The Flying Beaver, 488 Parliament St. $10 advance, $15 door. pubaret.com

HEALTH & ISSUES

Club120 Wednesday

The 519 Legal Clinic

Standup comedian Mandy Goodhandy presents a weekly open-mic comedy night. For more info, contact toddklinck@gmail. com. Every Wednesday, 8pm–1am. Club120, 120 Church St. No cover. club120.ca

A free, accessible service for lowincome people. Volunteer lawyers provide legal advice, referrals and help with forms and letters. The confidential and private visits are first-come, first-served. Bring any necessary documents. Every

A peer-support and discussion group focused on community and solidarity. Tues, March 25, 8–9:30pm. Sherbourne Health Centre, Rm 1077, 333 Sherbourne St. Free. torontobinet.org

The 519 Community Centre, Rm 106, 519 Church St. Free. the519.org

Centre, 519 Church St. Free. queerconfessions.com

Rocky Horror: Boys’ Night

King Break

Excited Mental State puts the girls on the sidelines, reinterpreting your favourite characters in the manliest way possible. Fri, March 28, 11:30pm. Bloor Cinema, 506 Bloor St W. $8 members, $11 non-members. excitedmentalstate.ca

The Yes-Men drag-king troupe gives a beach-party-themed performance, complete with summer tunes and swim trunks. Fri, April 4, 10:30pm. Buddies in Bad Times, 12 Alexander St. $12 advance, $15 door. buddiesinbadtimes.com

Queens Care

The Fraternity

This fundraiser for the 519 Community Centre features 24 drag acts, including Sofonda Cox, Michelle Ross, Fay Slift and Scarlett Bobo. Sat, March 29, 7:30–11pm. Azure, 225 Front St W. $50. outtv.ca/queenscare

The social and business networking group welcomes spring with a dinner in the heart of Yorkville. Mon, April 7, 7–10pm. Vaticano Italian Restaurant, 25 Bellair St. $35. thefraternity.org

Red Rose Ball: An Evening with Rick Mercer

Dressing for Downton: Costumes from Downton Abbey

The St George’s Society of Toronto presents Rick Mercer with its Award of Merit at a black-tie gala. Proceeds from the evening beneﬁt Casey House. Thurs, April 3, 6–11:50pm. The Fairmont Royal York, 100 Front St W. $500. stgeorgesto.com

Along with Downton-themed tours of the historic Spadina Museum, fans can view several costumes actually worn on the show. Runs until Sun, April 13. Spadina Museum, 285 Spadina Rd. $25. spadinamuseum. streamintickets.com

Generations of Queer An exhibition comprising work by Robert Flack, Elisha Lim, Kiley May and John Greyson, including Prison Arabic, a video of ﬂashcards Greyson drew while imprisoned in Egypt. Runs until Sat, June 28, various times. Onsite [at] OCAD University, 230 Richmond St W. Free. ocadu.ca

Positive Routes to Recovery A peer-led support group for gay men working through substanceabuse issues. Takes place the ﬁrst and third Tuesday of each month. Tues, April 1, 6–8pm. The 519 Community Centre, 519 Church St. Free. pr2r.org

LEISURE & PLEASURE Gaming geeks gather to play Super Mario, Tetris and other video games on a big screen, as well as such board games as Trivial Pursuit and Scrabble. Every Tuesday, 7pm–2am. Henhouse, 1532 Dundas St W. Free. henhousetoronto.com

Open Mic — Club120, every Wednesday TONY FONG

Far from Home . . . Safe Now The Iranian Railroad for Queer Refugees hosts a panel where queer newcomers discuss the challenges they faced when journeying to Canada. For more info, contact info@irqr.ca. Tues, March 25, 6–8pm.

Queer Confessions: An LGBT Memoir Reading Series Various community members tell their tales. Takes place the ﬁrst Thursday of each month. Thurs, April 3, 7pm. The 519 Community

A father and son escape the horrors of war in Afghanistan only to be haunted by a mysterious presence that reminds them of the devastation they escaped. Runs until Sun, March 23, various showtimes. Buddies in Bad Times, 12 Alexander St. PWYC–$37. buddiesinbadtimes.com

Big Girl Panties In Sandra Shamas’s latest show, she portrays a 55-year-old version of herself who becomes perplexed when she discovers that, as far as mainstream media is concerned, she barely exists. Runs until Sun, April 6, various showtimes. Buddies in Bad Times, 12 Alexander St. $25. buddiesinbadtimes.com

Marry Me a Little Songs cut from Stephen Sondheim’s better-known musicals are spliced into a dialogue-free musical. Runs until Sun, April 6, various showtimes. Tarragon Theatre, 30 Bridgman Ave. $21–53. tarragontheatre.com

Sapphic Aquatica Women and trans people enjoy the music of DJ Melanie and a game of Naked Twister. Oasis is also collecting donations for Supporting Our Youth. Sun, March 30, 8pm– 2am. Oasis Aqualounge, 231 Mutual St. $20. oasisaqualounge.com

Elegies: A Song Cycle

Play Again?

The Wanderers

SEX & BURLESQUE

MUSIC Thom Allison performs in a production of William Finn’s Elegies, a 90-minute song cycle that commemorates the lives of both real and ﬁctional people. Fri, March 21–Sun, April 13, various times. Daniels Spectrum, 585 Dundas St E. $30–50; $10 off for students and arts workers. actingupstage.com

Fisting with Courtney Trouble Women and trans people are invited to a workshop focused on ﬁsting, from breathing to what to do once you’re in. An actual ﬁsting will be demonstrated. Registration recommended. Wed, April 2, 7–9:30pm. Good for Her, 175 Harbord St. $33. goodforher.com

The Queer Songbook

Feminist Porn Awards

A 12-piece chamber ensemble reinterprets songs that have had a strong impact on the queer community. For tickets and info, contact thequeersongbook@ gmail.com. Fri, March 28, 8pm, and Sat, March 29, 2pm. Videofag, 187 Augusta Ave. $15. videofag.com

A celebration of pornographers who offer fresh perspectives on the sexual expression of women and everyone who ﬁnds themselves under-represented in mainstream porn. Fri, April 4, 8pm. The Castleﬁeld Theatre, 2492 Yonge St. $25–200. goodforher.com

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26. 7PM. Flying Beaver Pubaret. 488 Parliament St. SATURDAY, APRIL 5. 5PM Oshawa: An Evening of Mystique, PFLAG Durham Region Gala Fundraiser. Info: pﬂagdurhamregion.com THURSDAY, APRIL 24. 7PM. Flying Beaver Pubaret.

MORE AT DAILYXTRA.COM

PLAYS & MUSICALS

Show info and online advance tickets available at:

BrandonTheHypnotist.com @BrandonHypnosis facebook.com/BrandonHypnosis

XTRA! MARCH 20–APRIL 2, 2014 21

Performances by Donnarama, Nancy Bocock, Mary Messhausen, Peg Zilla and Buzz Darling. Overthe-top outﬁts encouraged. 10:30pm. The Garrison, 1197 Dundas St W. $8 before 11:30pm, $10 after. garrisontoronto.com

CLUBSCENE Thurs, March 20 Naked Night Naked Night men in their natural state; separate area for clothed folks. 10pm. Black Eagle, 457 Church St. No cover. blackeagletoronto.com Crews & Tangos Thursday DJ Craig Dominic in Tangos and Vocal Rehab karaoke, with Elyse, in the Zone. 10pm. Crews & Tangos, 508 Church St. No cover. crewsandtangos.com The Smirnoff Best Chest Contest Brooke Lynn Hytes and Devine Darlin bring the boys to the stage to take it off. DJ Mark Falco on decks. $300 in cash prizes. 11pm. Woody’s, 467 Church St. No cover. woodystoronto.com

Fri, March 21 Pop Asia: Spring Fever Hawaiian Edition DJ Sumation spins top 40, house, electro, J- and K-pop for the boys getting leied. Performance by Jade London. 10pm. Fly, 8 Gloucester St. $5 before 11pm, $10 after. ﬂynightclub.com Crown Jewels Tribute to George Michael and Wham DJ Aural spins Brit pop, classics and dance, with a shout-out to George Michael’s sixth solo album, Symphonica. 10pm. WAYLA, 996 Queen St E. $5. facebook.com/waylabarnounge

Sun, March 30

AX-A-Gogo DJ Alex spins top-40 remixes, house, EDM, J- and K-pop. Performances by Sofonda Cox, Nikki Chin and the AX Maximus dancers. 10pm. Phoenix, 410 Sherbourne St. $5 before 10:30pm, $10 until 11:30pm, $15 after. meetmeatax. com

Chubs at the Tubs: Spring Edition A celebration of big, handsome men and their admirers in the bathhouse. 3–7pm. Spa Excess, 105 Carlton St. Regular rates. spaexcess.com Sapphic Aquatica DJ Sasha spins sexy house for the cis women and trans folks enjoying games, relaxation and seduction in the bathhouse. No cis men. 8pm. Oasis Aqualounge, 231 Mutual St. $20. oasisaqualounge.com

Mischief: March Madness DJs Deko-ze and Kevin Bailey spin dancefloor beats for naughty boys. 10pm. Fly, 8 Gloucester St. No cover for the first 300 people before midnight. flynightclub.com Claw across the Border A special Canadian installment of the Claw, a Cleveland-based charitable leather event. Enjoy the pup mosh pit, 50/50 draws, jock auction and weekend package prize to Claw’s annual event in April. No dress code. 10pm. Black Eagle, 457 Church St. No cover. blackeagletoronto.com, clawnation.org Sissyboy Hissyfit DJ Orange Pekoe spins ’90s hip hop and guilty pleasures to say goodbye to Old Man Winter and hello to beach bums. Beachwear and water-toys accessories encouraged. 11pm. The Beaver, 1192 Queen St W. $5. beavertoronto.ca

Barber Shop: Suits & Ties DJs Michael K and Brendan Arnott play hot-and-sweet soul-disco-boogie music; hosted by Allysin Chaynes. 10pm. Henhouse, 1532 Dundas St W. $5 after 11pm. henhousetoronto. com, barbershopto.ca

22 MARCH 20–APRIL 2, 2014 XTRA!

Tues, April 1 Thurs, March 27

Lesbian Tea-Dance Hang out with the honeys every Sunday. 4–7pm. Flying B, 8 Gloucester St. facebook.com/theﬂyingbbaratﬂy

Stumpgrinding DJ Mary Mack spins for the monthly queer dance party. 10pm. The Beaver, 1192 Queen St W. No cover. thebeavertoronto.com

Underbear: The Resurrection DJ Knight Musik spins vocal house and top 40 for the stripped-down men raising money for the Toronto People with AIDS Foundation. 4pm. Black Eagle, 457 Church St. No cover. blackeagletoronto.com

Singular Sensation: A MusicalTheatre Open Mic Amateur crooners perform their favourite show tunes with a live band every Monday night. Hosted by Jennifer Walls. 10pm– 1am. Statlers, 487 Church St. No cover.

Sat, March 22

Tues, March 25 Mighty Real — Round, Fri, March 28 KID WITH CAMERA

Dodgeballer Night The gay dodgeball league hosts a social, with DJ Blue Peter. 8pm. Woody’s, 467 Church St. No cover. woodystoronto.com

OLIVER HUSAIN

Sun, March 23

Drag Race Viewing Party Scarlett Bobo and Daytona Bitch host the dinner and bitchfest every Monday, with Bradley serving up food and libation. 8pm. The 8th Deadly Sin, 6 Gloucester St. No cover. the8th.ca

Cruiseline Best Ass Contest George Girl and Chris Edwards perform and encourage bare behinds onstage, while DJ Chris Steinbach spins. $300 in cash prizes. Midnight. Woody’s, 467 Church St. No cover. woodystoronto.com

Outer Space Glitter Face DJ Teddy the K spins danceable oldies and vintage tunes for Worn fashion journal’s Issue 18 launch party. Starry eyes, cool blues, purples, glitters, sparkles and shine encouraged. 9pm. Dovercourt House, 805 Dovercourt Rd. $10 advance, $15 door. wornjournal.com

Hotnuts Betchelorette — The Garrison, Sat, March 29

Mon, March 24

DFMO DJs John Caffery and Max Mohenu throw down house and dance beats. Performance by Barbie Jo Bontemps. 10:30pm. Buddies, 12 Alexander St. $5. buddiesinbadtimes.com

Cherry Bomb: Spring Fling DJs Cozmic Cat and Denise Benson spin for lesbians and friends at the popular queer women’s event. 9pm. Andy Poolhall, 489 College St. No cover before 10pm, $8 after. facebook.com/cherrybombtoronto

Mon, March 31

Games Night Eric Cashmore hosts a night of play and playing around. 8pm. Woody’s, 467 Church St. No cover. woodystoronto.com

Wed, March 26 Club120 Wednesday Openmic for comedians, magicians, illusionists and burlesque performers, with featured performer Mandy Goodhandy. Open-mic performers must show up before 8:45pm. 8pm. Club120, 120 Church St. $8, $5 guest list (toddklinck@gmail. com). club120.ca

Sound Demo Master Tony (ILS 2009) demonstrates the ins and outs of sounding. No participation necessary; voyeurs welcome. 11:30pm. Black Eagle, 457 Church St. No cover. blackeagletoronto.com

Fri, March 28 Flying B Friday DJ Jacqie Jaguar spins dance beats for the ladies, downstairs in the Fly nightclub complex. 8pm. Flying B, 8 Gloucester St. facebook.com/theﬂyingbbaratﬂy Mighty Real John Caffery and The Robotic Kid are on decks for the third anniversary of the monthly disco bash, with a special performance by Dainty Box. 9:30pm. Round, 152 Augusta Ave. No cover. mightyreal.net

Woody’s, 465-467 Church St. No cover. woodystoronto.com Pop Machine DJs Shane Percy and Aural spin top 40 and dance faves. 10pm. WAYLA, 996 Queen St E. $5 before 11pm, $10 after. facebook. com/waylabarnounge Sin DJs Cory Activate and Cesar Murillo spin hardcore beats, featuring the Men of Sin go-go dancers. Steamworks $5 discount cards will be given away throughout the night for the bathhouse afterparty. No dress code. 10pm–4am. Black Eagle, 457 Church St. $5 before midnight, $10 after. blackeagletoronto.com Hotnuts Betchelorette DJs Produzentin and Das Hussy spin for the never-a-bridezilla party.

Bears in Excess: Leather Edition Big, hairy boys don straps, harnesses and chaps in the bathhouse. 7–11pm. Spa Excess, 105 Carlton St. Regular rates apply. spaexcess.com

Wed, April 2 Reveal Me Burlesque Daytona Bitch hosts a burlesque social night of virgin vixens and professional peelers. 8pm. Rivoli, back room, 332 Queen St W. $10. aprofessionaldistraction.com Toronto Drag Kings Tyler Uptight, Cameron, Kenny and Chase Manning perform in the weekly drag-king show. 11pm. Zipperz/ Cellblock, 72 Carlton St. No cover. facebook.com/zipperz

Beautiful Sharp Movements and guest spin R&B, hip hop, top 40, reggae, dancehall and house to celebrate beauty and spring. 10pm. The Courthouse, 57 Adelaide St. $10 before midnight, $20 after. pollyperry.net Leather Night Robert Miller (MLT 2013) hosts an evening of leathergeared folks, BDSM players and their admirers. No dress code. Veterans and newbies welcome. 10pm. Black Eagle, 457 Church St. No cover. blackeagletoronto.com Everyone I Knew in High School Has Kids Now DJ Kevin Bailey spins ’90s faves for reminiscing dancers. Hosted by Mode Events. 11pm. Byzantium, 499 Church St. No cover. byz.ca

Sat, March 29 Woody’s Saturday Toronto Gay Hockey Association’s all-star game players’ and friends’ night at 8pm; followed by the Squirt Best Men’s Ass Contest, hosted by Sofonda Cox, with Devine Darlin and DJ Alain. Pride Prism Weekend ticket giveaways and $300 in cash prizes.

DFMO — Buddies, Fri, March 21 ANDREW KOUNITSKIY

Submit your event listing to listings@dailyxtra.com. Deadline for the April 3 issue is Wed, March 26. TORONTO’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS

E indexdirectory.ca

Mortgages Investors Group Financial Services – Kenton Waterman 416-860-1668 Linda Rudolph at The Mortgage Centre 416-282-1677

Moving & Storage

THE BEST OF GAY & LESBIAN TORONTO

Ms Hema Murdock, CA 416-696-6653 Susan Calverley MBA, MSc, CMA 416-605-1553

Automotive Sales & Leasing Ken Shaw Lexus 416-776-0055

G J MacRae Foundation Repair Service – Since 1975 905-824-2557

Construction G J MacRae Foundation Repair Service – Since 1975 905-824-2557

Bars & Clubs

Newbright Construction 416-985-8639

Fly Nightclub 416-410-5426

Contracting & Renovations

Butchers

G J MacRae Foundation Repair Service – Since 1975 905-824-2557

St Jamestown Steak & Chops 416-925-7665

Cheese Shops Leslieville Cheese Market 416-465-7143

Chiropractors gesund 416-913-5170

Churches Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto 416-406-6228

Counselling CareerCycles.com Career Counselling 416-465-9222

davidmoulton.ca

Enterprise Toronto 416-392-6646

Dental Services

Computer Sales & Service

Adelaide Dental 416-429-0150

Concrete – Contractors Basement Waterprooﬁng G J MacRae Foundation Repair 905-824-2557

astraﬂorists.com

Foundation Repairs Basement Waterprooﬁng G J MacRae Foundation Repair 905-824-2557 G J MacRae Foundation Repair Service – Since 1975 905-824-2557

Gardening Davenport Garden Centre 416-929-7222

Graphic Design

Health & Fitness

Phillip Coupal Counselling 416-557-7312

As You Wish Concierge 647-208-2884

Astra Florists

David Moulton, MEd Canadian Certiﬁed Counsellor

Community Groups & Services

Concierges

Florists

Mixtape Strategy mixtapestrategy.com

Fuel Plus 647-352-8807

Contemporary Computers ccomp.ca

Take a Walk on the Wildside TM 416-921-6112

Change4U2 416-827-7578

David W Routledge (MSW, RSW) Psychotherapist 416-944-1291

Coffee Shops

Fashion

Broadview Dental Clinic 416-466-6400 Dr Kevin Russelo & Associates 416-966-0117 Galleria Dental, Dr Iudita Costache 416-534-9991

Dog & Cat Grooming Tailspin Dog Spa 416-920-7387

Entertainment The Reading Salon thereadingsalon.ca

Evolution Fitness 416-220-7883

Health Foods & Nutrition The Big Carrot 416-466-2129

Home Improvement & Repairs Basement Waterprooﬁng G J MacRae Foundation Repair 905-824-2557 Bryant Renovations 416-260-0818 G J MacRae Foundation Repair Service – Since 1975 905-824-2557 Newbright Construction 416-985-8639

Insurance Kenton Waterman – Investors Group Financial Services 416-860-1668

ADVERTISE IN XTRA LIVING! Booking deadline: March 20 Release date: April 17 Call 416-664-5214 or email advertising.toronto@dailyxtra.com MORE AT DAILYXTRA.COM

DEC 2013–MAY 2014

Accountants

Investment Services Kenton Waterman – Investors Group Financial Services 416-860-1668

Naturopathy

Juice Bars

Painting

Juice Box 416-924-4671

Newbright Painting 416-985-8639

Lawyers Harvey L Hamburg 416-968-9054 Ivan Steele Law Office 647-342-0568 Law Office of El-Farouk Khaki 416-925-7227 Paul T Willis – Barrister & Solicitor, Notary Public 416-926-9806 Robert G Coates 416-925-6490 Timothy E Leahy – Forefront Migration Ltd 416-226-9889

Legal Services Craig Penney, Toronto Criminal Defence Lawyer 416-410-2266

Lighting Living Lighting on King 416-364-9099

Massage – Certified/ Registered

gesund 416-913-5170

Personal Trainers Evolution Fitness 416-220-7883

Pet Care Tailspin Dog Spa 416-920-7387

Pet Stores & Supplies Helmutt’s Pet Supply 416-504-1265

gesund 416-913-5170 Japanese Male RMT 416-804-9248 The Power of Touch 647-330ALEX(2539)

St Jamestown Steak & Chops 416-925-7665

King Street treasures

Roncesvalles renaissance Suit up for winter at MEC

Roy Runions, Sales Representative RE/MAX Hallmark Realty Ltd, Brokerage royrunions.com

Renovations & Restorations Bryant Renovations 416-260-0818 Newbright Construction 416-985-8639

Restaurants & Cafés C’est What? Brew/Vin Pub Restaurant 416-867-9499 Cora Breakfast & Lunch 27 Carlton St 416-340-1350 277 Wellington St W 416-598-2672

Pace Pharmacy and Compounding Experts 416-515-7223

The 8th Deadly Sin 416-960-3473

The Village Pharmacy 416-967-9221

Psychotherapy Bruce M Small, MSc Psychotherapist 416-598-4888

The Blake House 416-975-1867 The Churchmouse & Firkin 416-927-1735

Sex Shops Bed Time Toys bedtimetoys.ca

Nick Mulé, PhD, RSW Psychotherapist 416-926-9135

Condom Shack 416-596-7515

Publications

CJH Tax Services 647-270-8057

Tax Services

Telecommunications

Xtra 416-925-6665

Acanac 416-849-8530

Radio Stations

Theatre

Proud FM 416-213-1035

Buddies in Bad Times Theatre 416-975-8555

Nicholas Bohr – RE/MAX Hallmark Realty Ltd, Brokerage 416-465-7850 Philip Kocev – Sales Representative 416-364-2036

THE BEST OF GAY & LESBIAN TORONTO

Gaelen Patrick – Sutton Group Realty Systems Inc 416-801-9265

Hair of the Dog 416-964-2708

Real Estate

Meats & Delicatessens

Nicholas Banks iPro Realty 877-306-4776

Pharmacies

Pink Triangle Press 416-925-6665

Cabbagetown gets Spruced up

LAST CHANCE!

Agility Moving & Storage Ltd 416-654-5029

Real Estate Agents

RE/MAX Baywatch Ltd, Brokerage 705-756-7629 Theresa Forget, Sales Representative RE/MAX First Realty, Brokerage 905-686-3800

Veterinarians Blue Cross Animal Hospital 416-469-1121

Waterproofing Basement Waterprooﬁng G J MacRae Foundation Repair 905-824-2557 G J MacRae Foundation Repair Service – Since 1975 905-824-2557

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

XTRA! MARCH 20–APRIL 2, 2014 23

NEXT BOOKING DEADLINE: WED, MARCH 26 @ 1PM

Classifieds

To place an ad, call 416-925-6665 x0 or book your line classiďŹ ed at classiďŹ eds.toronto@dailyxtra.com

ANNOUNCEMENTS

HEALTH & FITNESS REGISTERED MASSAGE

<<HEADER>> GROUPS

HEADtoFITA MASSAGE THERAPIES Frank Fita RMT oďŹ&#x20AC;ering Swedish, La-stone hot-stone, Thai-yoga massages. Specializing in treatments for work-related and sports injuries. www.headtoďŹ ta.com Across from Wellesley subway. For appointment or info call 416-473-0065.

Married, Separated or Divorced Gay Father? Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re here to support you on your journey. Our meetings are informal, FRQĂ&#x20AC;GHQWLDO DQG KHOSIXO Gay Fathers meet the second and fourth Thursday of every month at 8pm at the 519 Church Street Community Centre.

www.gayfathers-toronto.com EMPLOYMENT

IN MEMORIAM

HAIR/SKIN & BEAUTY

PROUD LIFE

MALE, FEMALE, TRANS aďŹ&#x20AC;ordable hair removal services by friendly, discreet, experienced CERTIFIED Wax Technician, in an immaculate, upscale home Wax Clinic. Stephen (647)973-4247 or www.maircare.ca

BRENT ROUSSEAU RMT For treatment of muscle injuries, pain and stress management, and enhancement of physical health and well being. Day, evening, and weekend appts. available. Insurance coverage, Visa accepted, free parking, 416-708-3996. Broadview/Danforth. brentrousseau.com

FRIENDLY, PROFESSIONAL & PRIVATE Specialized in combination deep tissue & relaxation. Trained in Swedish, Thai, Indian,Sport & Korean style acupressure point massage. Downtown, appointment only. Will - 416-910-7778 FULL BODY MASSAGE $60 /1hr - $90/$1.5hr. Enjoy a medium to deep pressure massage for a complete relaxation of the body. Avail Mon-Sun 11 am to 9pm. Call or text Marcos 647-881-1545. marcosmassage@gmail.com www.marcosmassagespa.com

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PERSONAL EROTIC MASSAGE

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PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

April 15, 1937 - February 6, 2014 Friends and family are invited to join together to celebrate Paulâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life. Sunday, March 23, 2014 from 1â&#x20AC;&#x201D;3pm at Fife House (490 Sherbourne Street, 1st Floor. Entry Code 1900)

REAL ESTATE

Paul was a dedicated volunteer with Fife House since 1993. Please consider a donation to Fife House in remembrance.

REAL ESTATE AGENT

LAST CHANCE!

4SEASONS MASSAGE THERAPY & WAXING Charles Guo, RMT Registered Massages, Waxing Hair Removal. Receipt for massage insurance. First Time Client 20% oďŹ&#x20AC; waxing. 40 Wellesley St E, Ste 201. By appointment 416-944-3784 4seasonsmassage.ca

PAUL FRANCIS CUNNINGHAM

Cash bar following at Statlers, 487 Church St.

Craig Head Specializing in Condos Bosley Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage www.craighead.ca

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RELAXATION Massage BuďŹ&#x20AC;et Massage: traditional, anal/prostate, & Taoist Erotic. Breath orgasms. Sex and Life Coach. Paul Barber 647-821-3131 canadian bodyworker.com

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CLEANERS

PAINTING

HOME, CONDO & OFFICE CLEANERS call Tomas - 416.878.9527 email: info@ecoscleaning.com FULLY BONDED AND INSURED visit: www.ecoscleaning.com SQUEAKY CLEAN Housework never killed anyone... but why take a chance? Home and condo cleaning services. Call Mark. 416-347-3951 @mail: copelandf@rogers.com

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MOVERS

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Checking in with Jeremy: Week 10

NAME: EL TORO AGE: 24 SIGN: SCORPIO Having an adventure in South America, meeting Ernesto “Che” Guevara, and having lunch with Sir Ian McKellen — because “he just seems like too much fun, plus being able to say I had guac with Gandalf sounds pretty legit” — are some of the things El Toro daydreams about. Every day is “sexy, funky Halloween with an audience” for El Toro, a burlesque performer and Kensington Market resident who says “soft skin and the ability to dance wildly and fully with me” are his biggest turn-ons. Did we mention his favourite food is asado (Uruguayan barbecue)? Facebook: El Toro; Twitter: @smarziali

Some people may be surprised to learn that my workout program has involved quite a lot of working out. In previous articles on my 16-week workout campaign at Evolution Fitness, I’ve talked about everything from my sweater collection to my penis but said little about the weights I’ve been lifting. Enfeebled by years of inactivity, my ﬁrst week was the most difficult. Of course, the point of this workout was to snap my body out of its lethargy and prepare it for months of resistance training. By week two, I was starting to get the hang of things, but never one to make things easy, my trainer made me do not only the exercises from week one, but another bunch involving heavier weights. Week three involved the same rows, chest presses, shoulder presses, squats, curls and so on as week two but with heavier weights, and I had to do three quick “circuits” (a set of different exercises) in a row. Whereas week three was gutwrenchingly fast and intense, week four was a slower workout, where I did only one circuit but had to really focus on getting through three times as many repetitions for each exercise. I’d lost 10 pounds by this point.

Weeks ﬁve and six were even slower, involving many more sets for each exercise and much heavier lifts — heavier, heavier, always heavier. By week six, I was down 14 pounds, and my ass was a very different shape (I’m still trying to sort out what that shape is — rounder in the bottom, ﬂatter on the top?). Weeks seven through 10 were much the same. There were workouts A and B: A worked out “pushing” muscles, and B worked out “pulling” muscles. With each gym visit, I alternated between the two.

I’m not supposed to focus on my weight, especially given that I’m putting on quite a bit of heavy muscle, but I hope to lose more weight in the next six weeks. I don’t know what exercises I’m doing next. I suggested to my trainer that they just run over me with a car, but his response was something dry, like, “We want to get you in better shape, Jeremy, not dead.” For more information about Evolution Fitness and its team of experts, visit personaltrainerstoronto.co.

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