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#776 JULY 24–AUG 6, 2014
TORONTO’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS
BIG GAY
PatioGuide
THE CITY’S GREATEST AND GAYEST TERRACES, ROOFTOPS AND HIDEAWAYS
INVASIVE MENINGOCOCCAL DISEASE (IMD) OUTBREAKS IN MEN WHO HAVE SEX WITH MEN
NEW YORK CITY (August 2010 - May 2013):
22 cases Deaths: 7
LOS ANGELES (December 2012 June 2013):
4 cases
Outbreaks in TORONTO (2001) and CHICAGO (2003):
12 cases Deaths: 5
PROTECT YOURSELF. Meningococcal bacteria is responsible for causing IMD and can be found in the nose and throat of about 10% of healthy adults in North America and Western Europe. IMD is devastating and approximately 10% of people who contract the disease will die. TRANSMISSION RISK FACTORS CROWDED CONDITIONS: • Mass gatherings • Bars (e.g., Pride events) • Nightclubs • Bathhouse
INTIMATE CONTACT: • Wet kissing • Sex
SHARING: • Drinks • Food utensils • Toothbrushes
ASK YOUR DOCTOR FOR THE MENACTRA® VACCINE. MENACTRA® is a vaccine to prevent meningococcal meningitis and other meningococcal disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis (strains A, C, Y and W-135) in persons 9 months through 55 years of age. MENACTRA® does not protect against disease caused by strain B, and is not a treatment for meningococcal infections or their complications. The length of protection is currently not known. As with any vaccine, MENACTRA® may not protect 100% of vaccinated individuals. The amount of time it takes for your body to develop enough antibodies to protect you from meningococcal diseases can vary. It can take several days to a few weeks after your vaccination. MENACTRA® should not be used in persons with known severe allergy to any of its components or its container. A recent large study found no evidence of increased Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) risk associated with the use of MENACTRA®. Persons with a previous history of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) may be at increased risk of GBS following receipt of MENACTRA®. Some people who receive MENACTRA® may have mild side effects such as redness or pain at the site of injection, headache or fever. Common side effects in infants include fever, increased crying, fussiness, vomiting, drowsiness and loss of appetite. These side effects usually go away within a few days. Allergic reactions may occur. Talk to your doctor to see if MENACTRA® is right for you. For complete product information, visit www.sanofipasteur.ca. MENACTRA® is a registered trademark of Sanofi Pasteur. Copyright © 2014 Sanofi Pasteur Limited. All rights reserved.
2 JULY 24–AUG 6, 2014 XTRA!
284-031-04/14 E01
TORONTO’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS
Roundup
XTRA Published by Pink Triangle Press PUBLISHER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
TORONTO’S GAY& LESBIAN NEWS
Brandon Matheson EDITORIAL ARTS EDITOR Phil Villeneuve COPY EDITOR Lesley Fraser STAFF REPORTER HG Watson
#776 JULY 24–AUG 6, 2014
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content: robin.perelle@dailyxtra.com, phil.villeneuve@dailyxtra.com EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS ISSUE
Drasko Bogdanovic, Jori Bolton, Kyle Burton, Rolyn Chambers, Adam Coish, Ryan English, Ryan G Hinds, InkedKenny, Serafin LaRiviere, Erica Lenti, Michael Lyons, Alistair Newton, Eduardo Sabate, Jeremy Willard ART & PRODUCTION CREATIVE DIRECTOR Lucinda Wallace GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Darryl Mabey, Bryce Stuart, Landon Whittaker
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Boatloads of seamen From 1950 to 1980, the British Merchant Navy was a gay man’s heaven. E Find this week’s column in the Ideas section at dailyxtra.com. Editorial Summer adventures By Phil Villeneuve E4 Feedback E4 Xcetera E5
Upfront Promulgating universal joy The immaculate reconception of Toronto’s Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence E7 WorldPride’s legacy Murals, rainbow crosswalks make neighbourhood more recognizably LGBT E8
ondailyxtra.com E Non-consensual touching on the rise at Pride events E Trans memorial appears in Barbara Hall Park E BC Law Society delays new decision on Trinity Western MORE AT DAILYXTRA.COM
Rob Ford votes against LGBT youth homelessness report Advocates push for creation of dedicated shelter E9
Lorilynn Barker, lorilynn.barker@dailyxtra.com The publication of an ad in Xtra does not mean that Xtra endorses the advertiser. Storefront features are paid advertising content. Printed and published in Canada. ©2014 Pink Triangle Press. Xtra is published every two weeks by Pink Triangle Press. ISSN 0829-3384 Address: 2 Carlton St, Ste 1600, Toronto, ON, M5B 1J3 Office hours: 9am–5pm, Monday–Friday Phone: 416-925-6665 Fax: 416-925-6674 Website: dailyxtra.com Email: info@dailyxtra. com Subscriptions: $77.81 for one year (26 issues); $69 (US) in the United States; $125 (US) overseas. subscriptions.toronto@dailyxtra.com 800-268-XTRA
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Out in the City Cover story Big gay patio guide The city’s greatest outdoor hangouts E11 Arts roundup Wynne Neilly’s Female to “Male” photo exhibit E17 Toronto at Night Blackcat and Jully Black collaborate on a queer Caribana E18
2 MINUTES TO CHURCH ST OR THE SUBWAY ALL OF TORONTO IS AT YOUR DOORSTEP
Deep Dish By Rolyn Chambers E19 What’s On E21 Club Scene E22 Classifieds E24 Xtra Hot By Drasko Bogdanovic E25
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XTRA! JULY 24–AUG 6, 2014 3
Nothing says gay patio guide like fetish and puppy play, right? while discussing the bearlike snorting we’d heard from a few campsites over. I’m talking wild, seven-foot-tall, garbage-eating bear, not Black Eagle beef. The entire experience was hilarious and out of the ordinary. It felt good to get up and go and end up somewhere new. This is why Xtra’s gay patio guide is so exciting to me. If you can’t find a friend with a car or wrangle a ride into the wilderness, let our guide show you some new places you’ve never visited before. Hell, there are a few on this list I’ve never been to and can’t wait to check out. It includes spots from east to west and highlights some of the patios gay folks are loving this summer. Every year some change and some stay the same. When a smoke house opens an adorable patio in the east end, carnivorous queers flock immediately; we’ve heard from many that it’s a hot place to be this season. When an adorable cubbyhole called the
resent this refreshed local, threw some light leather on them and took a bunch of photos with pints of beer. Everyone got along and had fun in the sun for a couple hours while Kenny snapped away. It was a risk well taken. I’m addicted to this feeling. Somehow it seems easier to let loose during the summer, doesn’t it? A friend of mine at Medulla & Co on Queen Street West recently dyed my hair platinum blond. I don’t even know why I did it. But I took a chance and this brave little episode has turned out to be a beautifully positive turn for me and my head. Think of our patio guide as your springboard to taking chances. Check out the patios you’ve never frequented, side-step at some old favourite to keep your footing and then use the rest of the summer to do a handful of other things out of your ordinary. Phil Villeneuve is Xtra’s arts editor.
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.
4 JULY 24–AUG 6, 2014 XTRA!
MEG FENWAY DAILYXTRA.COM
Non-consensual touching is assault and is a criminal offence. However, there is no permission required to photograph anybody in public. If you are marching in a parade, expect to be photographed or do not march. I thought the whole point of marching in a parade is to be seen and literally make yourself a spectacle. STEVE COOPER (FACEBOOK) OTTAWA, ON
One of the reasons my partner and I no longer attend Pride is that heterosexual women, usually with male partners in tow, think that it is okay to grab at us and make sexualized comments about our bodies and our relationship. For example, one such woman attempted to stick her tongue in my mouth. When I rebuffed her advances, she descended upon my partner in similar fashion. How entitled did she feel to accessing our bodies and our relationship? This is unfortunately not a one-off scenario. HUMBERT HUMBERT (FACEBOOK) TORONTO, ON
These behaviours have nothing to do with sexual orientation — it’s to do with who they are as people and lack of respect for people’s boundaries. Otherwise, it’s like me saying gay men are a problem because of a few bad experiences of jerky gay men’s behaviour. We are all individuals with our own brains and moral codes. I don’t have any heterosexual girlfriends who would dream of touching another person’s body unless it’s consensual. SUMMER CASS (FACEBOOK) VANCOUVER, BC
Barbara Hall Park I think the front part of the park looks good [“Cawthra Park Officially Becomes Barbara Hall Park,” dailyxtra.com, July 17]. The back part at night, however, is full of drugs and alcohol and poorly lit. The AIDS Memorial also has no lights at all,
E21–28
THE PARADE & MARCHES E9–11
Q&A WITH KATHLEEN WYNNE E12
NEW JOHN WATERS BOOK E 30
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I don’t think anyone is expecting total privacy, but when people show up to the Dyke March and creepily sneak around to take photos and videos of topless dykes, it’s a problem [“Queer Does Not Mean Consent,” dailyxtra. com, July 15]. Why is it so hard to ask before taking a photo? If you’re not being a skeeze, you shouldn’t have a problem doing so.
#775 JULY 10–23, 2014
TORONTO’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS
Consent at Pride
they’re so demonized and often mischaracterized [“Men’s Rights Group CAFE Slips into WorldPride Parade,” dailyxtra.com, July 3]. If they’re so bad they can’t march in the Pride parade, it must be explained why and what harm they bring. There must be examples of their purported harmfulness; otherwise, it seems silly to ban them. RYAN DAILYXTRA.COM
facebook.com/dailyxtra
A few weekends ago, I hopped in a car with two friends and drove to Tweed, Ontario, to a gay getaway called Riverside RV Campground. There we stood, in the middle of a mosquito mall, looking at our tents, eating and watching gay campers walk by. We were thrilled to be out of the city and deep in the woods, but then we thought, what have we done? Who are these gay people? Is this going to play out like a romantic comedy or a horror film? Later, after lounging around a campfire, we headed over to an adorable meeting area next to the river for the full-moon pyjama party. We had moonshine at midnight, then headed back to our camp for chips and more fire. There was no wild bush sex (that I know of ) and it rained that night, then we got up in the morning and took down our tents
AN XTRA SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT
WorldPride in pictures
dailyxtra.com
EDITORIAL PHIL VILLENEUVE
Belljar Café opens in the hipster haven of Dundas West, it’s no surprise to find queer guys and gals taking advantage of a precious new space into the evening hours. The guide also acts as a reminder of the great spaces we’ve always had. Church Street classics made our list, including the newly renovated Black Eagle — also featured on the cover of this issue. Continuing in my adventurous spirit, I thought, “Let’s put the Eagle on the cover with some leather fella and a guy dressed in pup attire. Nothing says gay patio guide like fetish and puppy play, right?” I reached out to local photographer Inked Kenny, and he was up for the task. We’d never worked together, but he was great — and quick to correct me on my fetish fantasy. “The Eagle isn’t just a traditional leather or fetish bar anymore,” he said. “It’s now a lot more — a lot younger. It’s an exciting place.” Together, we chose a few boys to rep-
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which is quite insulting. ADAM BEAUDOIN (FACEBOOK) TORONTO, ON
As I have pointed out before, Barb Hall was a terrible choice. The story says, “Barbara Hall advocated for gay men arrested in bathhouse raids.” Barb Hall was a lawyer who represented clients arrested in these raids. No doubt she would have been paid for her legal services. No need to name a park after her. This is what lawyers do. They “advocate” for people. KEVIN BROWN DAILYXTRA.COM
Rob Ford and homophobia Clearly, Mr Ford has not yet learned the importance of telling the truth [“Rob Ford Not a Homophobe, Brother Says,” dailyxtra.com, July 11]. The fact is that his actions in the past few weeks show very clearly he is homophobic. It is bad enough that he votes and acts against the LGBT community at every opportunity but worse that he lies about his feelings and lies about his beliefs concerning LGBT people. WAYNE M DAILYXTRA.COM
MRAs at Pride I’m not a member or follower of CAFE or the “men’s rights movement,” but I’m genuinely confused as to why
MRAs promote talks by gay-marriage opponent Anne Cools, host speakers who call feminism an “evil empire,” proudly host talks by Karen Straughan, and work closely with hate groups like A Voice for Men, whose leader (Paul Elam) has said that while gay men are welcome in the “men’s rights” movement, they are welcome “not as gays, but as men.” MRAs also think that gay rights activists “have draped themselves in victim couture and made their grab for special government considerations.” The “men’s rights” movement is basically reactionary anti-feminism from a bunch of bitter, hetero white dudes who think they’re oppressed. LANGDON ALGER DAILYXTRA.COM
Museum for Human Rights I can’t help but notice that this article [“Canadian Museum for Human Rights Set to Open in Winnipeg,” dailyxtra.com, July 12], about a museum centred on human rights struggles, written with a focus “especially on content related to LGBT rights,” fails to mention anything whatsoever about trans people or their struggles and about the discrimination we still face in society (including in the queer community). Take a moment to acknowledge that once again we have been erased. CHRISTIN DAILYXTRA.COM
Top 6 WorldPride videos on dailyxtra.com 1. WorldPride opening ceremonies 11,958 views 2. WorldPride parade hosted by Trevor Boris 6,539 views 3. Rufus Wainwright in Gentlemen Prefer Broadway show 4,900 views
4. Green Space — WorldPride edition 4,758 views 5. Mass gay wedding at WorldPride 4,015 views 6. Melissa Etheridge opens WorldPride 3,919 views
TORONTO’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS
XCETERA
A BIWEEKLY HELPING OF POP CULTURE, SERVED À LA CARTE
XTRA #646, JULY 30, 1999 Academic Robert Teixeira tackles
$400
Sushi North Carolina Home to the Land of Oz theme park.
FROM THE ARCHIVES 15 YEARS AGO
Cost of a two-night weekend stay in a replica of Dorothy’s home at Land of Oz.
the shortcomings of Canada’s child pornography laws, which play on social panic to breed an image of children as innocence incarnate while restricting possibilities for the young to be sexually self-determining.
Academy Juvenile Award Given to Judy Garland for her role as Dorothy in the 1939 ďŹ lm The Wizard of Oz.
OUT ON THE STREET BY KYLE BURTON
What is your favourite gay patio in Toronto? 7 inches Height of the miniature Oscar statuette awarded to Garland.
Jesse
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It’s not a gay place, but I like Hunters Landing on the weekend. They have jumbo caesars with, like, a meal on top. They even ďŹ t a lobster tail in there.
My favourite patio is Crews & Tangos. It’s quite long, and there’s actually space to move around, and there’s a bar, too. It’s perfect for us because we drink a lot.
I like the Churchmouse and Firkin. I also like O’Grady’s . . . but Churchmouse has better food.
Hair of the Dog. I really like their beer selection. They make a great Frulium; it’s a mix of Belgian Delirium and Fruli.
QUOTABLE
The new Thor continues Marvel’s proud tradition of strong female characters like Captain Marvel, Storm, Black Widow and more. And this new Thor isn’t a temporary female substitute — she’s now the one and only Thor, and she is worthy! — Marvel Comics editor Wil Moss reintroduces Thor as a woman MORE AT DAILYXTRA.COM
Winner Michael Sam recently received the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the 2014 ESPY Awards.
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’ . .. s k n a B s k n a h T ‘... TORONTO’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS
Upfront
Fucking faggots.
Unidentified woman at city hall E 9
Promulgating universal joy The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence spread a divine message of love, joy and naughty fun “We manifest in public and with community groups to do fundraising, share information and just have a really fun time. “Some people came out of Catholicism with a very negative experience. The gay men that started this movement wanted to take the best parts of something that was not great and share them with others. It’s not meant to be disrespectful; it’s meant to be inspirational and fun.” Le Beaujolais has always felt an affinity with nuns and was excited to be part of the Toronto chapter’s immaculate reconception (previous incarnations manifested in the 1980s and ’90s). He describes himself as a little less outrageous than some of the other sisters — a quality that can be helpful when doing community outreach. “I personally lean to being a lessexuberant sister,” he says. “So I often get a lot of quiet moments when we’re out that are really very rewarding. People tell you bits about their lives and any struggle they may be experiencing. Having that interaction is really inspirational for me.” The sisters — who plan to manifest at community events and on Village streets in the months ahead — were thrilled to share their interest in Canadian queer history with fellow revellers in the WorldPride parade, at which they were armed with their “bliss kits”: gift bags containing condoms, lube and information about safer-sex practices. For Beaujolais and her five Toronto sisters, it was a way to take part in the colourful craziness of it all while reaching out to those in need. “The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence have been on the front lines of some of the great activist movements over the years,” Le Beaujolais says. “Drawing on that history, and the ideas of comfort, compassion and service in a fun, sort of genderbending whimsical kind of way is really wonderful.”
COMMUNITY SERAFIN LARIVIERE
From The Flying Nun to The Sound of Music, nuns always had a sort of magical cachet for me as a child. Maybe it was the singing or the big aerodynamic hats that let Sally Field fly through the air, or perhaps it was just the idea of living a quiet, serene life of reflection and solitude. Of course, as one grows up, it becomes clear that the religious structure behind these sisters isn’t terribly supportive of things like equal rights for women, other faiths or LGBT folks. It’s sad, because so many of us have been touched and inspired by these women’s kindly blend of mothering and service. “A lot of people grew up in the Catholic Church and have an affinity with nuns,” says Novice Sister Marrygold le Beaujolais, a volunteer with the Toronto chapter of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. “Personally, I’ve always had a great regard for the idea of grace and service that was inspired by some really great nuns I knew as a kid.” As you may have guessed, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence are not an officially recognized part of the Roman Catholic Church. As relatively progressive as the newest pope is, I’m guessing he’d shy away from men dressing up in nuns’ habits and whiteface and handing out condoms and lube at gay bars and Pride parades. God only knows how John Paul II felt back in 1979 when a group of gay men started the first chapter in San Francisco to confront religious nutjobs proselytizing in their community. Since then, the San Francisco chapter alone has raised more than $1 million in support of various LGBT causes, as well as providing advice, literature and accoutrements for a safer-sex lifestyle. Now, more than 30 years later, there are chapters all over the world, all devoted to spreading the group’s message of love, joy and slightly naughty fun. “We expiate stigmatic guilt and promulgate universal joy,” Le Beaujolais says, quoting the group’s motto. MORE AT DAILYXTRA.COM
The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence manifest at community events and on the streets to share information, fundraise and have fun. RICHARD RHYME
For divine inspiration, visit torontosisters.org or follow the sisters on Twitter at @TorontoSisters. XTRA! JULY 24–AUG 6, 2014 7
WorldPride leaves its mark on Church Street Murals, rainbow crosswalks make gay village more recognizably LGBT COMMUNITY HG WATSON
What’s new in the gaybourhood postPride? Xtra takes stock of WorldPride’s legacy.
The Church Street Mural Project Eleven murals now decorate several buildings along Church and Wellesley streets. The project was conceived ahead of WorldPride, as a way of sprucing up the neighbourhood. Sam Tran, who owns the Ho Team Beauty Salon near Church and Wellesley, as well as several other adjacent businesses, has noticed a decrease in graffiti in the alley behind the shop since the murals went up. “It’s a little bit less sketchy,” Tran says.
Rainbow crosswalks Pictures of the attention-grabbing rainbow crosswalks at Church and Alexander and Church and Isabella streets were shared frequently on Twitter and Facebook. “[They are] wonderful dramatic markers,” says Shawn Micallef,
senior editor and co-founder of Spacing magazine. “When people arrive there they can tell that this is the LGBT village a little bit more than before.”
Barbara Hall Park The $1.6 million renovation, complete with new name, to Cawthra Park made headlines when some speculated it wouldn’t be ready in time for WorldPride. But the park opened June 19, in time to host the AIDS candlelight vigil and The 519’s Green Space events. Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam says many of the park’s new features are a first for Toronto. It “has the iconic urban references of what a park sitting in the city should look like and can be,” she says. Wong-Tam rejects claims that costs of the project ballooned, saying the budget increases were intentional and in line with community requests made early in the planning process. “This was a very sound investment of money for public infrastructure,” she says.
The community spirit Micallef believes that the size and scope
Though WorldPride saw fewer infrastructure additions than other events, those that remain will leave a permanent mark on the Church-Wellesley Village. ADAM COISH
of this year’s Pride can only be repeated going forward. “The physical and spiritual civic space that Pride took up this year — it just got bigger,” he says, pointing out that Pride flags were waving not just in the Village. Some events, like Nuit Rose, a queer arts festival that took place before WorldPride, were held in spaces throughout Toronto. “I think it could probably keep taking
up that space,” Micallef says, noting that the zone of acceptance for the LGBT community has expanded outside the Village. However, while Pride gets bigger, Robert Teixeira, a member of Queer Ontario, worries about the impact it may have had on those who live in the neighbourhood. Just before WorldPride started, Toronto Police Service deployed 29 more officers in the Village and surrounding
area as part of the TAVIS anti-violence community mobilization program. Groups including Queer Ontario raised concerns that this might lead to increased policing of marginalized people who live near the Village. A Toronto Star investigation found that TAVIS officers ask black people for identification, known as “carding,” at a higher rate than any other police unit. According to Toronto police, TAVIS officers patrolling the Village made 18 arrests and laid 44 charges in the first week of the initiative, which started June 16. Teixeira worries that this kind of community policing could set a precedent in advance of the 2015 Pan Am Games. “Other people have said that this could be a lead-up to more intensified forms of policing to cleanse the city of ‘undesirables,’ so-called, because of the attraction for tourism these events bring,” he adds. WorldPride’s main legacy may be its cementing of the Village as the heart of Toronto’s LGBT community, even as events expand outside its geographic bounds and the makeup of the area changes with each new condo tower. “I think Church will now play a role as Chinatown does, as Little Italy does and Greektown does,” Micallef says. “It might not be a completely Greek population . . . along the Danforth anymore, but the strip remains as a strong beacon of that community.”
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8 JULY 24–AUG 6, 2014 XTRA!
TORONTO’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS
Rob Ford not a homophobe, brother says ROB FORD VOTES AGAINST LGBT YOUTH HOMELESSNESS REPORT
Xtra questions mayor’s willingness to address LGBT constituents CITY HALL HG WATSON
Is Rob Ford happy to help his gay constituents in Toronto? His brother, Councillor Doug Ford, thinks so. He told reporters July 11 that Rob Ford is not a homophobe but rather a “spendaphobe” — and challenged media outlets to have a member of the LGBT community call the mayor’s office to request help so they could witness Rob assisting them. Xtra promptly requested an interview with the mayor so he could demonstrate his support for the LGBT community. Staff at both Councillor Ford’s and Mayor Ford’s offices said the Fords were busy but recorded Xtra’s contact information. Xtra also contacted the mayor’s media relations aide, Amin Massoudi, by phone and by email. There was no response, which was not surprising, since Rob Ford headed to Nathan Phillips Square after the morning council session for the unveiling of the Pan Am Games countdown clock. The scene at Nathan Phillips Square was chaotic. Ford was surrounded by security guards trying to guide him back to city hall, but the mayor continually stopped to say hello to camp groups who had come to see the unveiling of the clock and to tour city hall. Small children weaved between the legs of reporters and camera crews to get a closer look at the mayor, adding to an already hazardous situation. While Ford ignored reporters’ questions, Xtra again approached Massoudi to ask if, in light of Doug’s comments, Rob would be willing to sit down with Xtra to address his LGBT constituency. “The man has a very busy schedule,” Massoudi said. “He’s focused on the items of council, especially the Eglinton Connects report, which is going to have a major impact on the entire city of Toronto.” After leaving another message for Doug Ford, Xtra headed to Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam’s office to get her reaction to Doug’s comments. MORE AT DAILYXTRA.COM
Mayor Rob Ford cast the only vote on July 10 against a report recommending that the city look into providing more support for homeless LGBT youth. XTRA FILE PHOTO
“That’s an extremely juvenile response,” she said when shown a Twitter post reporting Doug’s invitation to media to “plant” gay constituents to call his brother for assistance. Wong-Tam said that she and a group of people had been accosted earlier in the day by a woman wearing a Ford Nation shirt who told them to stop harassing the mayor and called them “fucking faggots.” “Right on city property,” Wong-Tam said. “It’s unfortunate.” Xtra made one last attempt to ask Rob Ford a question, joining the daily throng of reporters who wait outside his office during lunch for the five-second walk he takes between his door and the elevator to council chambers. As soon as Ford appeared, reporters piled in around him, shouting questions: “Why did you sit instead of recognizing WorldPride?” “What do you have to say to the gay community?” and, from Global News Toronto’s Jackson Proskow, “Does standing cost money?” Ford didn’t answer any of them.
Unable to get answers in person, Xtra sent the following list of questions via email to Mayor Ford, Massoudi and Councillor Ford:
names of your full staff. Who is on the team? And when will the public meet these people, including the LGBT members?
» Your brother told reporters on July 11 that you are willing to help LGBT constituents. Can you tell us about the last time you did?
» You blamed your homophobic and racist comments on your “disease” and said in an interview with CBC, when asked if you would attend Pride next year, that you would take it “one day at a time.” How are your substance abuse problems related to the decision of whether or not to attend an event? And to comments that you have made?
» You didn’t stand to recognize WorldPride July 9. Why? » City staff worked on WorldPride. Preliminary reports would also suggest it was a financial boon for Toronto. As someone who values cash flow into the city, wouldn’t you want to recognize that contribution? » Why did you hold the report on homeless LGBT youth shelters? Why did you vote against the report? Were you aware that the recommendations in the report had minimal to no financial impact on the city? » Your brother says you have gay staff and volunteers on your campaign team. But you haven’t disclosed the
» Are you a homophobe? And if not, why do you continue not to march in the Pride parade? If readers want to learn for themselves whether Rob Ford will assist them as gay constituents, they can email the mayor at mayor_ford@toronto.ca or call him at 416-397-FORD (3673). Let us know how he responds: email HG Watson at hg.watson@dailyxtra.com or tweet his response to the hashtag #xtraford.
Mayor Rob Ford cast the sole vote on July 10 against a report recommending that the City of Toronto investigate increasing support for homeless LGBT youth. Ford had delayed the vote on July 9, when it was first introduced to council. The same day, Ford remained seated as the rest of city council rose to recognize the work of city and Pride Toronto staff on the WorldPride festival. Now that the report has passed, the city can investigate the feasibility of allocating 25 percent of beds at existing shelters to LGBT youth and can look into community organizations that could potentially run a dedicated LGBT youth shelter. City of Toronto shelter staff will also undergo mandatory anti-homophobia and antitransphobia training. Advocates for homeless LGBT youth have long championed the creation of shelters that can deal specifically with their needs. An estimated 25 to 40 percent of homeless youth identify as LGBT and face safety and accessibility issues when trying to use shelters, according to the report. Tanya Gulliver-Garcia, a research coordinator at the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness/Homeless Hub who sat on the committee that developed the report, believes the city should focus on providing the best services for everyone, regardless of personal beliefs about sexual orientation or marching in the Pride parade. “It’s about what kind of quality of service do we provide to every person in our city, whether they are a rich businessman or a homeless youth,” she says. — HG Watson
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TORONTO’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS
XTRA’S BIG GAY
PHOTO BY INKEDKENNY PHOTO ASSISTANT MARK DEMARKO HAIR AND GROOMING BY MIKKA GIA ALL LEATHER AND FETISH WEAR PROVIDED BY RYAN LEMESURIER AT NORTHBOUND LEATHER THANKS TO CARLOS AT THE BLACK EAGLE
Patio Guide 14 OF THE CITY’S GREATEST & GAYEST OUTDOOR SPACES
BY RYAN ENGLISH PHOTOGRAPHY BY INKEDKENNY & ADAM COISH
Whether it’s sipping on a Blood Simple at the Belljar Café deep in the west end or savouring a smoked habanero caesar at Aft Kitchen & Bar on Queen Street East, the options for living it up on a patio have never been better for queer folks in Toronto. The range and diversity of spaces across this great city is staggering and seemingly limitless. So find the tightest shorts you own, call your friends and raise a glass on any one of these fabulous patios. It’s good to be gay.
THE BLACK EAGLE 457 Church St blackeagletoronto.com
Mateo, Gabe and Darren enjoy beers on the newly renovated Black Eagle patio.
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The massive patio at the Black Eagle is often drenched with sun and the sweat of the hirsute men who populate it. Size does indeed matter, and the expanse of the Eagle’s patio is notable in a city where real estate has become borderline impossible to afford. It’s the type of place you can show up to alone and still feel completely at home. One of the factors that distinguishes the Black Eagle from the rest of the main Church Street drag — a veritable Toontown — is the music they play. If you’re not the sort of queen who mainlines nine-minute Kylie remixes, you’ll be glad bars like the Black Eagle exist. The staff pride themselves on their taste in music, and you’re more likely to hear Nine Inch Nails than Nicki Minaj. The boardwalk-themed patio has a staggering capacity of 132, with long benches lining each side and a 50-foot mural designed by J Dampf that depicts a nocturnal forest. Six overhead beams are fitted with custom-designed light fixtures that are quite forgiving when the sun sets. Each Sunday afternoon, there’s a barbecue on the deck that’s become wildly popular. Service is refreshingly swift and friendly with zero pretenses. If you’re looking to impress out-of-towners or just hoping to get laid, the Black Eagle should be your first and only option. XTRA! JULY 24–AUG 6, 2014 11
BEVERLEY HOTEL ROOFTOP PATIO 335 Queen St W thebeverleyhotel.ca Boutique hotels in Toronto have become as ubiquitous as jockstrap shots from the bearded boys of Grindr, but the Beverley Hotel is one worth writing home about, particularly because of its gorgeous rooftop patio. The deck seats a maximum of 70 and offers a beautiful view of the old warehouses that define the Entertainment District in which it’s situated. The atmosphere and service are as casual as it comes despite being a coveted destination for queer citizens all over the city. Similar to the rooftop patio of the Park Hyatt, gays sporting their shopping bags from Queen Street and knocking back one cocktail after the next are not an uncommon sight. The menu, very reasonably priced, includes lobster banh mi and steak tartare with black olive miso compote. As the hotel is a popular spot for gay travellers, it’s an ideal venue for indiscretions. Who needs Grindr?
1163 Bloor St W @thethreespeed On an unseasonably cool Monday night in July the chatter and laughter from the back patio at Three Speed is clearly audible from Bloor Street. The patio seats a maximum of 50 and has a combination of individual tables and harvest-style seating along picnic tables. A canopy of trees and wooden beams covers the deck, making the infernal rays of Toronto summers just a little more bearable. Peppered with fairy lights and some of the most attentive, genuine service this city has to offer, the patio is a mixed affair, with people of all persuasions enjoying such cocktails as Tits on a Turkey and reimagined staples like the fivecheese mac and cheese. “Treat this place like it’s your own and host your own party every night,” says bartender Deborah Armstrong. Duly noted.
AFT KITCHEN & BAR 686 Queen St E aftbar.com Queen East has a stellar new addition with Aft Kitchen & Bar. A favourite of local queers, this chic patio is romantic, beautifully designed and the perfect venue to enjoy cocktails, including the potent and flowery gin fizz, a summery elixir made with smoked pineapple purée, or the volca12 JULY 24–AUG 6, 2014 XTRA!
ALL PHOTOS BY ADAM COISH
THE THREE SPEED
Ceilagh MacIntyre tends bar on the patio of the Beverley Hotel.
nic smoked habanero caesar — a quick fix for a Sunday hangover. Opened amidst the bourbon and barbecue craze that’s overrun the food scene on this continent, Aft Kitchen & Bar succeeds in its execution where many others have failed. The patio, which seats up to 30 people, is composed of long benches and individual tables with a giant wall of exposed brick. A weekend barbecue menu offers slowcooked pork ribs, Texas-style brisket and cowboy beans. The joint also has a whole shelf of fanciful bourbon. Notable are the Trybox Series New Make Rye, a moonshine made from corn mash, and Buffalo Trace, from one of the oldest distilleries in North America.
Courtney Murdock and Jia Faiz share a laugh on the upstairs patio at the House on Parliament.
HOUSE ON PARLIAMENT 454 Parliament St houseonparliament.com House on Parliament, a mainstay for Cabbagetown queers, boasts two patios — a modest and adorable deck in the front that hugs the street and an impressive rooftop patio that is the main attraction. The intimate rooftop is impeccably designed, with
A fresh and simple table setting at House-Maison.
XTRA’S BIG GAY PATIO GUIDE
TORONTO’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS
Patrons enjoy the leisurely pace on the Blake House patio.
THE BLAKE HOUSE 449 Jarvis St theblakehouse.ca This well-appointed patio at Jarvis and Wellesley is a reprieve from the mania of Church Street. The stunning terrace occupies the front of the building, which was built in 1891 and has housed some famous Canadians over the years, including Ontario’s second premier, Edward Blake, for which the building is named. The sleek patio, all glass and black metal bars, is a sharp juxtaposition to the giant tree that juts up from the centre of the deck and to the Victorian structure of the building itself. The spacious patio seats 80, and unlike many restaurants that try to flip tables and maximize profit, there’s no time limit on this patio, allowing for a leisurely experience whether you’re dining or just there to have drinks. The Blake House is a favourite of gay sports teams in Toronto, many of which the company proudly sponsors — something to keep in mind if you enjoy beefy men in nylon shorts.
polished wooden walls, floors, tables and chairs, and is a dream of a venue for those hopeful first few dates. The menu expertly balances quality of food and drink with some of the best nachos in Toronto. Craft beers flow on tap and the wine list is thoughtfully curated — the rosé from Niagara’s Tawse Winery is a fun, fruity standout. The HoP has also made whiskey a priority; the 16-year-old Lagavulin is a single malt that’s the perfect poison and a gorgeous accompaniment to any of the locally brewed draft. Either of House on Parliament’s dapper patios are ideal venues to enjoy a hair of the dog or savour a whiskey with dinner before heading out to the Village or home with a girl or boy after all that liquid courage.
JULIE’S CUBAN CAFE 202 Dovercourt Rd juliescuban.com A treasure to residents of the west
end, Julie’s Cuban Café, just a few blocks from Queer Street West, has been in business since 1996. The versatile, endearing front patio seats roughly 30 and is a perfect venue to host birthday parties or impress a first date. Amid the current explosion in cocktail culture, Julie’s Cuban makes arguably the best mojito in the city with fresh mint grown right in the backyard. The menu offers both tapas and entrées with authentic, traditional Cuban fare — the chorizo plate is phenomenal and one of the best items on the menu. Service is outstanding, and freshly blended cocktails like the banana, lime and strawberry daiquiris are made with expert precision.
HOUSE-MAISON 580 Church St house-maison.ca 580 Church St has endured many incarnations over the last decade, but House-Maison is perhaps the address’s most promising to date. The bar and restaurant is home to two outdoor spaces. The sprawling front patio runs along Church and Dundonald streets and seats up to 175. The bulk of the patio runs along Church and is hidden behind well-manicured hedges, affording drinkers and diners privacy — but it is still ideal for people-watching and cruising. The back patio, which is available for pri-
Julie’s Cuban makes arguably the best mojito in the city.
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vate events, is ridiculously adorable and completely secluded. Hemmed in by towering walls and greenery, it offers more quiet than you’d expect, considering it’s just steps from Church Street. Service is swift, and with servers like Clayton — with his huge blue eyes — it’s hard not to order a second and third drink.
The romantic and beautifully designed patio at Aft Bar features an entire shelf of fanciful bourbon.
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FLYING BEAVER PUBARET 488 Parliament St pubaret.com
20 College St screenlounge.ca Located high above Fran’s Restaurant at College and Yonge, Screen Lounge’s rooftop patio is one of the city’s lesser-known jewels. The sheer size of the deck is intimidating and features a giant retractable roof, making the space adaptable to Toronto’s often stormy and temperamental summer days. Morgan, the scruffy and handsome bar manager, makes his favourite drink with unbridled enthusiasm — the Hippocrates Elixir is an ambitious affair that blends tequila, gin, elderflower liqueur and five-spice bitters, finished with a generous dollop of house-made lemon sorbet. Screen Lounge plans to amp up its queer presence by hosting a bimonthly rooftop happening titled Camp & Kitsch. The party was launched during WorldPride and featured Miss Conception and Alyssa Edwards, of RuPaul’s Drag Race. Screen Lounge’s patio is filled with stylish lounge fur-
niture and has a dizzying view of College Street below, a perfect venue for pre-Village partying.
BELLJAR CAFE 2072 Dundas St W belljarcafe.com Located off the beaten path deep in the west end, Belljar Café’s intimate patio has a modest capacity of 20 but has charm to spare. A favourite of west-enders, the café focuses on espresso and pastries by day but serves innovative twists on classic cocktails by night. Presented in an elegant coupe glass, the Blood Simple is a riff on the margarita using Tanqueray gin, house-made hibiscus syrup, triple sec and lime juice — having just one proves to be a challenge. Belljar Café recently launched a screening program whereby films are projected on a giant screen on the patio. Weekend brunch is excellent, with savoury offerings like the smoked-salmon Benny and sweet items like housemade waffles that are drizzled with syrup and generously garnished with fresh fruit.
HAIR OF THE DOG 425 Church St hairofdogpub.com This Church Street institution, located at the foot of the Village, has one of the most popular patios in the city. It has a capacity of 100 and is fenced in by lush foliage, allowing for an intimate, private dining experience. “There is no patio like ours,” says server James Fletcher. “Lots of greenery, water fountains in a gorgeous old building and away from the traffic. It’s almost like home — best place for a first date.” The two-storey patio is an ideal spot to drink away a summer day with craft beers like Hops & Robbers and the ever-popular So Good It’s Got To Be Gay cocktail, a queer mix of raspberry vodka, Alizé Red Passion, banana liqueur, and orange and pineapple juice.
SWEATY BETTY’S 13 Ossington Ave sweatybettysbar.com Before the über gentrification of Ossington Avenue and when Will
ALL PHOTOS BY ADAM COISH
A hidden gem in the heart of Cabbagetown, the Flying Beaver Pubaret has one of the cutest patios in Toronto. With a capacity of 40, this colourful patio is home to fun and fruity cocktails like the Summerberry. The friendly bar staff mix a killer sangria, made with fresh fruit and served in generous pitchers. The Flying Beaver recently hired a new chef, up-andcomer Zach Voros, who prepares whole Nova Scotia lobsters with dill butter, basmati rice and fresh vegetables each Wednesday evening. Comedian Maggie Cassella is co-owner, and the cabaret has been host to Carole Pope, Scott Thompson and Paul Bellini. The darling patio is perfect for enjoying drinks and dinner before heading inside to catch any number of the impressive shows the Flying Beaver puts on.
SCREEN LOUNGE
Weekend brunch and outdoor film screenings are highlights at the Belljar Café.
Hair of the Dog makes good on its name with a delicious ceasar.
14 JULY 24–AUG 6, 2014 XTRA!
XTRA’S BIG GAY PATIO GUIDE
TORONTO’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS
Munro was still among us, there was Sweaty Betty’s. The ďŹ rst bar to open on the now famous Ossington strip, Sweaty Betty’s has been proactively queer-friendly right from the start. The secluded back patio is a major draw for west-end queer folks. Accented by twirling vines, the patio seats up to 30 people and can be full on any given day of the week. The bar offers nine beers on tap, including Junction Conductor’s Ale and Beau’s Lug-Tread; the most popular shot is the pickleback. Bartender May Brand, a Sweaty Betty’s veteran and a westend institution in her own right, says the queer presence at the bar has been important to everyone involved over the years. “Sweaty Betty’s has always had a strong queer presence. We have queer staff, DJs and clientele, and although it’s a mixed space, it’s been a huge part of the queer-west scene since we opened.â€?
CHURCHMOUSE & FIRKIN
A Proud Representative of the Gay Community
475 Church St ďŹ rkinpubs.com
Sales Representative
The recently renovated space, part of the larger Firkin Group of Pubs, now resembles that of a London Tube station. The side patio has some of the most coveted seats in the Village. If you’re lucky enough to score a table, the friendly servers, like the bearded MacKenzie, serve up potent cocktails, including the party-in-a-pint-glass watermelon crush. The cozy patio seats up to 59 people and is awash in sun during long summer days. Cornering Church and Maitland streets, the patio is a voyeur’s paradise, as it allows for splendid people-watching and cruising. Cocktails are available by the pitcher and are delicious and effective primers before heading out into the Village.
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Servers Michael Suave and Kevin Lein, on the patio at the Churchmouse & Firkin.
THE BEST OF GAY & LESBIAN TORONTO – ON YOUR DESKTOP AND ON YOUR MOBILE DEVICE Check out the interactive digital edition of Xtra Living at
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The charming vines and twinkling lights on the Sweaty Betty’s patio.
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TORONTO’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS
Outinthe City
KIT KAT BOYS AT THE CABARET
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Wynne Neilly, Jan 24, 2014.
Documenting transition
Kyle Golemba plays Kit Kat boy Bobby in Cabaret. DAVID COOPER
Despite musical theatre’s legion of queer devotees, overtly LGBT roles are few and far between in the genre. For Kyle Golemba, performing the role of Kit Kat boy Bobby in the Shaw Festival’s current production of Cabaret was his first opportunity to portray a gay character onstage. The Berlin of the early 1930s that provides the setting for Cabaret has gained legendary status in queer circles, and it’s easy to see why. Though Christopher Isherwood — whose Berlin Stories inspired the musical — dismissed the romanticized ideal of “decadent Berlin,” it is undeniable that the city was aflame with sex. Playing Bobby exposed Golemba — a native of Regina now in his second season at the Shaw after spending five seasons at the Stratford Festival — to the often-hidden history of the persecution of gay men under the Third Reich. Marked in the camps by a pink triangle, gay men were among the first groups to be sent to Nazi concentration camps for the “crime” of posing a threat to the propagation of the German race. “I knew about the pink triangle,” Golemba explains, “but what I’ve come to love about doing theatre is that every
It will be sexy; it will be powerful. I’m just getting into the idea idea of of bl blac black ack Wonder Woman. Jully Black E18
show I do, I end up learning something.” In preparation for rehearsals, Golemba pored over the memoirs of gay men who survived the camps and studied the cultural and sociopolitical history of the Weimar Republic and the Third Reich. Golemba was also excited by his visionary director, Peter Hinton, and his scene partner Kelly Wong, who plays Victor, the other half of the Kit Kat Klub’s gay double act. “The great thing about Kelly,” Golemba says, “is that he was so on-board right from the get-go.” Wong — who is straight — was equally invested in exploring Cabaret’s queer aspects: “We are having a great time together,” he says. For Golemba, the act of representing not only the defiant sexual liberation of the Weimar period, but also the horrors of Nazi terror is not taken lightly. “The arc of what we’re telling is really demanding and difficult and requires a level of respect and a level of energy,” he says. “It really marks a journey of what everyone lost.” — Alistair Newton Cabaret runs until Sun, Oct 26 at the Shaw Festival Theatre, 10 Queen’s Parade, Niagara-on-the Lake. shawfest.com
Going through puberty once is jarring enough — taking stock of the multitude of strange, unexpected changes that come with little warning. Imagine going through it a second time, and imagine documenting the transition from start to finish. Wynne Neilly, a graduate of Ryerson’s image arts program, got that chance, and, like any good artist, he’s turned it into a creative experience called Female To “Male.” Neilly explains that taking a series of self-portraits helped him m become more comfortable with his identity after he started transitioning a few years ago. “When I knew that I was starting hormones, I knew I wanted to document that. Obviously, because I’m an artist I was like, ‘I need to use this as a tool; I need to be able to document this,’” he says. “I didn’t really have a plan for this project at all. I knew I’d be taking instant film of myself every week for as long as I felt like it.” Neilly calls Female To “Male” a “self-portrait project.” It consists of a wall of Polaroids that document his transition, larger self-portraits, audio
WY NN E NEI LLY
samples of his voice changes and artifacts tied to his transition — it’s more of an installation piece than a photography exhibit. Beyond self-portraiture, Neilly is proud of the work he’s created around the queer and trans community he’s part of, especially as one of the photographers behind The Trans Calendar Project, a collective that works for social change through art and trans visibility. An important distinction for Neilly is the quotation marks in the title of his show: “I don’t identify as ‘male’ really at all,” he says. “Putting it in quota-
tions felt right in challenging what it means to be trans. Getting rid of the stigma, that there’s only one way to transition and there’s only one type of trans experience, because every single trans person has a different experience with their gender, so that’s my way of explaining that.” — Michael Lyons The Female to “Male” opening reception is Wed, July 23, 6–8pm, at the Ryerson Image Centre, 33 Gould St; the exhibit runs until Sun, Aug 24. ryerson.ca/ric, ewynneneilly.tumblr.com
VAUGHAN’S VISIONS Canada’s East Coast is far more mystical than most imagine, at least according to New Brunswick-born RM Vaughan. “I come from a place where people talk about ghosts and visions the same way people in Ontario talk about gas prices and traffic; it’s just part of our daily discussion,” Vaughan says. “I started doing [tarot] readings at about age 13. It was a way for me to negotiate the world as a queer person living in a very small and somewhat backward place.” The author and multi-media artist’s fascination continued into adulthood. His first two novels featured the occult, and he’s done occult-based performances at such events as Nuit Blanche and Pride Toronto. Now he wants to decide once and for all whether he has real psychic ability. To assess his aptitude, he’s conducting three evenings of experimentally structured tarot card readings. “This performance is structured as test,” Vaughan says. “It’s designed to, as much as possible, negate the factors that are traditionally used to dismiss psychic readings.” For instance, people might think that because Vaughan is asking them questions during a reading, he must be monitoring their responses and basing his reading on their facial gestures rather than on the cards. To address this concern, at Super-Diviner, Vaughan will be unable to ask any questions. In addition, participants will neither see nor communicate with Vaughan. They will simply pick their cards, pass them to him through a drawer, and he will give his pronounce-
RM Vaughan tests his tarotreading ability at Videofag.
ments before returning the cards via the same mechanism. When exiting, participants will be invited to share their feedback on paper or with the docent, Keith Cole. Super-Diviner is the first in a three-part project called Entreat. The structure and aim of the project as a whole will develop based on information gathered during the first two parts. Cryptically, Vaughan says he expects the project’s overall result to be something “both personal and larger.” — Jeremy Willard Super-Diviner: A Psychic Performance by RM Vaughan is Tues, July 29, 6:44pm; Wed, July 30, 6:43pm; and Thurs, July 31, 6:42pm, at Videofag, 187 Augusta Ave. videofag.com
XTRA! JULY 24–AUG 6, 2014 17
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585-567-8100 Blackcat and Jully Black host Urban Jungle at Club120 on Aug 3. JAH GREY
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Now that Pride’s out of the way, summer means one thing: Caribana! DJ Blackcat returns with Urban Jungle this year, and he’s bringing along Canadian superstar Jully Black for the ride. It’s poised to be the biggest LGBT event at Caribana; both agree that visibility during Caribana is important. “The Urban Jungle has gone from a whisper into a roar. It’s a humanity event,” Black says. “All walks of life come out: gay, straight, lesbian, black, white.” Blackcat agrees: “Caribana is a cultural movement in Toronto, and our culture includes transgender. It’s unfortunate that we are not yet able to be visible in the actual parade, but we are pushing the envelope and making ourselves known. When I get phone calls from straight people asking about the yearly Urban Jungle . . . that means they’re paying attention and our presence is growing.” Blackcat’s parties are now an undeniable part of the fabric of the festival, and if you’re wanting a taste of Caribana without the crowds or the hot sun at the parade, Urban Jungle is a can’t-miss. The DJ and the singer never miss a good party, so have they been Carib-
ana regulars over the years? “I had never been to the parade before 2012!” Black admits. As for Blackcat, “My first Caribana I was really young. I barely remember it, but I remember being with friends and having a good time. I don’t have a major story about my first Caribana trip, but I always love the parade for the costumes.” Speaking of costumes, both Blackcat and Black are known almost as much for what they bring to events style-
goes back more than two decades, and their respect and close-knit humour speaks volumes about the kind of vibe they are aiming to create at this party: inclusive, fun and plenty of good music. They’re also launching a collaboration: a mix tape called Lovex20. Calling Blackcat both “a brother figure and a mentor who’s earned the respect of everybody,” Black says it will include “unreleased music, songs that were supposed to be on my MCA release,
I’m just getting into the idea of black Wonder Woman, so expect to see that essence. JULLY BLACK wise as they are for their music, and a big throw-down like this raises the question: what to wear? Official dress code calls for army, combat or floral looks, mixed with skin and sexiness, and Black promises a look that will dazzle. “It will be sexy; it will be powerful. I’m just getting into the idea of black Wonder Woman, so expect to see that essence.” Blackcat also will dress to be seen, and seen from far away: “The way I’m going is shiny. I’m feeling glittery right now; I want to be very bright and reflective.” The two have a close friendship that
songs that are super-personal, songs that are me spitting or rapping or doing reggae. It’s our own version of Songza. We call it Jullyza!” The admiration is mutual: “Jully has become more confident in herself,” Blackcat says. “She’s more aware in who she is and what she stands for, more focused on making sure that she represents her country and herself through her music.” It’s sweet to see that a long-term friendship has blossomed into professional success for them both. We predict a wild, wild time at Urban Jungle when these two hit the dancefloor. TORONTO’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS
DEEP DISH
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BY ROLYN CHAMBERS
The Last Dance SAT, JULY 5 AT FLY
Water can be internal, flowing forth uncontrollably from our bodies as sadness, pain and loss take hold. In some places, like Mexico, death is celebrated, so before the waterworks begin at Fly nightclub’s final night, we party like club killers. Coowners Michael Schwarz and Keir MacRae are here with us to bear witness to the final moments of the club that was an integral part of Toronto’s gay club scene for more than a decade. Like in its heyday, the lineup to get in is huge. In the spotlights, I celebrate with those who remember the beginning. In the shadows, I quietly remember those who didn’t make it this far. As Montreal’s Stephan Grondin takes us on a journey of musical hits over the years, my thoughts go back. Back then, the E was pure and our minds were clear. Back then, local legends Jackaé Baker, Dr Draw and Lena Love performed. Back then, promoters Boost Boys, Steve Ireson and Gairy Brown brought us chart-topping acts. Back then, international DJs Victor Calderone, Ana Paula, Manny Lehman and Tracy Young owned the booth alongside local beat masters Shawn Riker, Mark Falco, Cajjmere Wray, Sumation, Deko-ze, Jamal, Neill MacLeod, Shane Percy and Aural. Back then, the impressive décor changed weekly and lineups extended to Yonge Street for hours. Remember? Unfortunately, tonight’s final show comes packaged two for one. Kapri performs songs very few of us have heard of. It’s a bit anticlimactic, as many were expecting a powerful performance by Sofonda and her mighty backup dancers. And where were the Fly mementos that Schwarz said everyone would get as a farewell gift? Perhaps they secretly knew they would need them again, as a last-minute deal has been reached with the landlord and Fly is set to reopen in the fall. Tears of joy wash away tears of sadness. MORE AT DAILYXTRA.COM
1E Mathieu & Michael 2E Sam, Adam & Garret 3E Ryan, Tyler & Joel 4E José, Jason & Angel 5E Quanah
Tighty Whitey Car Wash SUN, JULY 13 IN THE STEAMWORKS ALLEY
Water can be external, flowing forth from a hose with great control as soap, sponges and, yes, even soggy underwear take hold of your car. Unlike in cities like Abu Dhabi where washing cars in public is illegal, today it’s celebrated. As the skies clear, a platoon of men in white Calvin Klein underwear, including John Brodhagen and members of the Muddy York rugby club, descend the stairs of a bathhouse armed with rubber hoses, washing mitts, twinkles in their eyes and bounces in their gotchies for the ninth annual Steamworks Tighty Whitey Car Wash. “I don’t have a car myself,” says DJ Cesar, whose tracks help keep the momentum going. “But I’m playing a lot of sunny, happy tunes with Spanish guitars and Latin rhythms to keep everyone shaking.” It works. To date, they have raised more than $40,000 for the Toronto People with AIDS Foundation. Most who take advantage of the sexy service come in cars, but a couple pedal through on bikes, and one filthy fella decides to strip down to his briefs and walk through for a fullservice shower and buff dry. But no one is happier than the 50ish Portuguese woman who stumbles upon this wondrous water world while driving (perhaps from Sunday Mass) and insists (while tipping all the guys like they’re strippers) on having photographer Tony Fong film her getting her car washed on her iPhone so she can “post it right away, right away” on Facebook for her sure-to-be envious girlfriends. Inhibitions can be washed away. Clean water washes away dirty inhibitions. 6E Dom 7E Bike boys 8E Black Eagle babes 9E Twerk ’n’ wash 10E PJ and his big hose
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Deep Dish appears in every other issue of Xtra. For this week’s Xposed column, by Anna Pournikova, go to dailyxtra.com. XTRA! JULY 24–AUG 6, 2014 19
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TORONTO’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS
WHAT'S ON FOR MORE EVENT LISTINGS, GO TO DAILYXTRA.COM
ART Second Time Around This group exhibit focuses on work by Maura Doyle, Gretchen Sankey, Carol Wainio and Julie Beugin. Runs until Sat, Aug 9. Paul Petro Contemporary Art, 980 Queen St W. Free. paulpetro.com
Imaging Home: Resistance, Migration, Contradiction The experiences of queer people living in oppressive countries are explored through documentary video and photographs. Runs until Sun, Oct 5. Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives, 34 Isabella St. Free. clga.ca
film The Closest Thing to Heaven, about the love between Steve Roseland and his husband. Fri, July 25, 9pm. The Flying Beaver, 488 Parliament St. $10 advance, $15 door. pubaret.com
Singular Sensation: A Musical-Theatre Open Mic Jennifer Walls invites amateur crooners to perform their favourite songs accompanied by a live band. Every Monday, 9:30pm–12:30am. Statlers, 487 Church St. No cover. statlers.ca
Super Diviner: A Psychic Performance Author and multi-media artist RM Vaughan uses a new divinatory system for reading tarot cards in an attempt to determine whether
Over the Rainbow: Seduction and Identity Artwork from the collection of Salah Bachir and Jacob Yerex looks beyond familiar archetypes of queer culture. Includes work by Attila Richard Lukacs, Annie Leibovitz and Andy Warhol. Runs until Sun, Aug 17. Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art, 952 Queen St W. Free. mocca.ca
Fan the Flames: Queer Positions in Photography Fan the Flames focuses on gender and queer identity and features work by Canadian and international artists. Runs until Sun, Sept 7. Art Gallery of Ontario, 317 Dundas St W. $11–19.50. ago.net
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 Thursday; registration 6–6:30pm. 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 workshops, and chat with 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
Trans men share their experiences in a supportive environment. Takes place the first and third Friday of each month. For more information, contact ftmtoronto@yahoo.ca. Fri, Aug 1, 7:30pm. The 519 Community Centre, 519 Church St. Free. the519.org
This exploration of queer stories through cinema includes a gallery exhibition, retrospectives, outdoor screenings and special guests Laverne Cox and John Cameron Mitchell. Runs until Sun, Aug 17. TIFF Bell Lightbox, 350 King St W. For more info, visit tiff.net/bentlens.
An exhibit that reveals the concept of “camp” in the work of three Canadian ceramic artists. Runs until Mon, Sept 1. The Gardiner Museum, 111 Queen’s Park. $6–12. gardinermuseum.on.ca
The 519 Legal Clinic
FTM Support Group
Bent Lens: Pride on Screen
Camp Fires: The Queer Baroque
HEALTH & ISSUES
Yes-Men fundraiser — Buddies, Fri, Aug 8 STEPHANIE CRADDOCK
Toronto Queer Arts Festival From Shakespeare in High Park to the Alterna Queer Music Concert, this annual festival celebrates all things queer and artistic. Runs Tues, Aug 5–Sun, Aug 10. For more info, visit artsfestival.queerwest.org.
COMEDY & CABARET Carrie Chesnutt’s Christmas in July To celebrate this non-holiday season, Chesnutt sings Sinatra and Judy, and screens Ry Levey’s short
he’s psychic. (See story on page 17.) Tues, July 29, 6:44–8:44pm; Wed, July 30, 6:43–8:43pm; Thurs, July 31, 6:42–8:42pm. Videofag, 187 Augusta Ave. Free. videofag.com
Bisexual Women of Toronto A peer-support and discussion group focused on community and solidarity. Thurs, Aug 7, 8–10pm. The 519 Community Centre, 519 Church St. Free. torontobinet.org
LEISURE & PLEASURE
Club120 Wednesday
Pitbull: Camp Boozy
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
Guys break out the booty shorts, grab their gear and head out to pitch their tents in the woods. Runs Fri, July 25–Sun, July 27. The Point Tent & Trailer Resort, 906 Charlotteville Rd #2, Vittoria, Ontario. Cost varies. get-tothepoint.com
’90s Trivia Kaleb Robertson hosts a night of trivia that covers everything from Nirvana to The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Mon, Aug 11, 7pm. WAYLA Bar, 996 Queen St W. Free. waylabar.com Queer Arts Fest — Tues, Aug 5–Sun, Aug 10 ANGELA MCCONNELL
Yogi Bare: All-Gender, Clothing-Optional Yoga From toga-draped to bare-assed, folks are invited to get comfortable at this soothing yoga session. Every Sunday, 1:15–2:30pm. Glad Day Bookshop, 598 Yonge St. $20, $15 students. yogibare.ca
The Yes-Men: Fundraiser for Queerpocalypse Chicago Before packing their binders and heading to the Windy City, the boys raise some cash with a silent auction and 50/50 draw, plus there’s a chance to win a date with one of the guys. Fri, Aug 8, 9pm. Buddies in Bad Times, 12 Alexander St. $12 advance, $15 door. buddiesinbadtimes.com
Queer Heart Talking Circle Men who love men gather to converse and build community. To register, contact phillip@ phillipcoupal.ca. Sun, Aug 10, 1–5:30pm. Awaken Studio, 270 Carlaw Ave, Unit 102. PWYC–$10. phillipcoupal.ca
MORE AT DAILYXTRA.COM
Gash! at SummerWorks — Thurs, Aug 7–Sun, Aug 17 DAVID HAWE
SEX & BURLESQUE Toronto Burlesque Festival In addition to Wrong Note Rusty’s Putin on the Ritz, performances by Belle Jumelles, Alexander Mansfield and Percy Katt feature queer themes. Runs until Sun, July 27, various times. Revival Nightclub, 783 College St, and the Mod Club, 722 College St. Cost varies. torontoburlesquefestival.com
Runs Sun, Aug 3–Sun, Aug 10, various times. For more info, visit torontoleatherpride.ca.
Naked Girls Reading: Sci-Fi In what might be the final frontier of burlesque, St Stella and Bianca Boom Boom strip down and read about robots, space travel and the future to an audience of the filthy-minded. Sun, Aug 10, 7pm. Round Venue, 152 Augusta Ave. $20 advance, $25 door. ngrtoaug. eventbrite.ca
Bears in Excess Big, hairy cuties — a bit like Winniethe-Pooh, but with erections — and their admirers have a little fun. For coupons, contact bearsinexcess@ gmail.com. Sun, July 27, 1–6pm. Spa Excess, 105 Carlton St. Regular rates apply. spaexcess.com
G-Spots and (Female) Ejaculation The G-spot does exist! Tara McKee teaches women and trans people the tools and techniques for finding it and making it work. Registration required. Wed, July 30, 7pm. Good for Her, 175 Harbord St. $33. goodforher.com
Toronto Leather Pride The leather and fetish community comes together for a week of events that includes the Surge Women and Trans Munch, the TLP Educational Series and the Leather Pride March.
THEATRE SummerWorks At this annual festival, fans of the hag horror film genre can attend David Benjamin Tomlinson’s Gash!, a play about two embattled sisters living on a crumbling estate. Runs Thurs, Aug 7–Sun, Aug 17. For more info, visit summerworks.ca.
Tartuffe Molière’s comedy about the sanctimonious Tartuffe, who feigns virtue and pity, deceiving his host Orgon while attempting to seduce Orgon’s wife and gain an inheritance. Runs Thurs, Aug 7–Sat, Sept 20. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Lane, Distillery District. $29–89. soulpepper.ca
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CLUBSCENE Thurs, July 24
Toronto Burlesque Festival – Hotel Tryst: Rendez-vous Hotel Tryst starts the weekend festival, with Armitage Shanks as the darkhearted concierge. Featuring Albert Cadabra (NYC), Suki Tsunami (TO), Pastel Supernova (TO), Dr Lucky (NYC), Coco Framboise (TO) and more. Festival runs until Sun, July 27. 7pm. Revival Bar, 783 College St. $22.50 advance, $30 door, $40 VIP, $130 weekend pass. torontoburlesquefestival.com Random Play DJ Dwayne Minard throws down ’70s and ’80s dance tunes. 10pm. WAYLA, 996 Queen St E. No cover. facebook.com/ waylabarnounge Bondage & Cigar Demo Master Tony (ILS2009) hosts and demonstrates the erotic arts of bondage and cigar play. 11:30pm. Black Eagle, 457 Church St. $10 advance, $15 door. blackeagletoronto.com
The Smirnoff Best Chest Contest Brooke Lynn Hytes and Jada Hudson host the boys baring pecs for $300 in cash prizes. DJ Mark Falco on decks. Midnight. Woody’s, 467 Church St. No cover. woodystoronto.com
Fri, July 25 Carrie Chesnutt’s Xmas in July Ms Chesnutt performs Sinatra and Judy, a little bit boozy in something a little bit tinselly. Christmassy outfits and accessories encouraged. 9pm. The Flying Beaver, 488 Parliament St. $19 advance, $15 door. pubaret.com
Best Men’s Ass Contest Georgie Girl, with Carlotta Carlisle, coaxes the boys into showing their tight and ripe for $300 in cash prizes. DJ Mark Falco on decks. Midnight. Woody’s, 467 Church St. No cover. woodystoronto.com
We Party — Maison Mercer, Fri, July 25
Sat, Aug 2
We Party: Vogue DJ Thiago (Brazil) and David Picard throw down house and EDM in the entertainment district. Presented by Prism Toronto. 10pm–5am. Maison Mercer, 15 Mercer St. $25 advance. maisonmercer.com
Daddy Next Door DJs Dwayne Minard and Mike B spin house beats for the daddies, bears and their chasers. 10pm. WAYLA, 996 Queen St E. $5. facebook.com/ waylabarnounge Tapette: Édition MTL Non DJ Phil V spins French disco and house for the boys who didn’t leave the city for Fierté Montréal. 10pm. Henhouse, 1532 Dundas St W. No cover before 11pm, $5 after. henhousetoronto.com
Regretro: Red, White and Gay DJs Ace of Case, Wei Back and Party McFly spin retro beats for the scream- and sing-along dance party. 10pm. Henhouse, 1532 Dundas St W. No cover. henhousetoronto.com Mighty Real DJs John Caffery, the Robotic Kid and guest Deko-ze spin disco house for the midsummer edition of the monthly event. 10pm. Round, 152A Augusta St. $5. mightyreal.net
Sun, Aug 3
Sat, July 26 Black Eagle Saturday TORN meet and greet, with rubber-play veterans and novices gathering on the rooftop patio, 7–9pm; Sin, with DJ Mark DeMarko (NYC) and go-go dancers, at 10pm. Black Eagle, 457 Church St. No cover before 10pm, $5 after. blackeagletoronto.com The Sun Shines Out of Our Behinds Miss Margot and the Nurse present a Smiths/Morrissey/ alt rock karaoke night. Prizes for best performance, including Morrissey’s World Peace Is None of Your Business album. 10pm. The Beaver, 1192 Queen St W. $5. beavertoronto.ca Pop Machine DJs Shane Percy and Aural spin top 40, diva pop and dancefloor faves. 10pm. WAYLA, 996 Queen St E. $5 before
midnight, $10 after. facebook.com/ waylabarnounge
Sun, July 27 Woody’s Sunday The Hollywoody Broadway Show, hosted by Miss Conception, at 6pm; Old School, with Tynomi Banks, Scarlett Bobo and Carlotta Carlisle, at 9pm; Five Smokin Hot Divas, hosted by Devine Darlin, with Michelle Ross, Katinka Kature, Sapphire Titha Reign and Lexi Tellings, at 11pm. DJ Blue Peter works the decks. Woody’s, 467 Church St. No cover. woodystoronto.com
Karaoke with Foofer Foofer coaxes wannabe divas to the mic to belt out one of the thousands of choices. 10pm. WAYLA, 996 Queen St E. No cover. facebook.com/ waylabarnounge
Mon, July 28 Glitz & Glam Carlotta Carlisle and Katinka Kature glitter in drag onstage. 9pm. Crews & Tangos, 508 Church St. No cover. crewsandtangos.com
Tues, July 29 Tapette — Henhouse, Sat, Aug 2 JAMES LOURENÇO
22 JULY 24–AUG 6, 2014 XTRA!
Quizzed in the Face Allysin Chaynes hosts the weekly generalknowledge trivia night, with special weekly categories. Individuals or teams compete for prizes. 8pm. Henhouse, 1532 Dundas St W. No cover. henhousetoronto.com
College Night DJs Cajjmere Wray and Sumation spin house, top 40 and dance beats for studious types. 10pm. Church, 504 Church St. No cover. churchonchurch.com
Thurs, July 31 Ultimate Thursday Beauty & The Bitch, with Daytona Bitch and Katinka Kature, at 9pm; DJ Craig Dominic, in Tangos, and Vocal Rehab Karaoke, with Elyse, in the Zone, both at 10pm; Drama Queens, with Ivory Towers and Scarlett Bobo, at 11:30pm. Crews & Tangos, 508 Church St. No cover. crewsandtangos.com
Bears in Excess Hairy men and their admirers cruise the bathhouse every third Sunday . . . except this month. 7–11pm. Spa Excess, 105 Carlton St. Regular rates. spaexcess.com Crews & Tangos Drag Race: Season 4 Ivory Towers and contestant coach Heroine Marks host the ladies being judged by Daytona Bitch and Xtacy Love. More than $5,000 in cash and prizes up for grabs. 9pm. Crews & Tangos, 508 Church St. No cover. crewsandtangos.com
Club120, 120 Church St. No cover. club120.ca
Fri, Aug 1
Pump Tuesday — Zipperz-Cellblock, Tues, July 29
Pump Tuesday DJ Relentless provides the beats as Devine Darlin hosts the weekly go-go boy contest, with $100 in cash prizes. Sign up by 11:30pm; contest at midnight. Proceeds benefit the Toronto PWA Foundation. 10pm. ZipperzCellblock, 72 Carlton St. No cover. facebook.com/zipperz
Wed, July 30 A Laugh a Minute Mandy Goodhandy presents the weekly open-mic comedy night. Performers must show up between 8pm and 8:45pm. To book in advance, email toddklinck@gmail.com. 8pm.
Liberation and Perspiration DJs Sis n Bro spin for the annual Queer Scout Jamboree. Boys and girls make friends, earn badges and dance. Limited edition Queer Scout merchandise available. 10pm. Henhouse, 1532 Dundas St W. No cover. henhousetoronto.com Superstar DJ DJ Mark Falco throws down top 40, house and electro tracks for the Leslieville boys. 10pm. WAYLA, 996 Queen St E. No cover. facebook.com/waylabarnounge Big Primpin The DJs spin hip hop for the west-end partiers. 10pm. Wrongbar, 1279 Queen St W. $5. facebook.com/bigprimpin Pheromone Friday DJs Recklezz and Sister Mister spin for the weekly ladies’ party. 10pm. Garage, 477 Church St. $5. sistermisterto.com Bearcode Growlr hosts a party for bears, cubs and otters. 10pm–3am. Black Eagle, 457 Church St. $5. blackeagletoronto.com
The Tribal Council Ball 2 and The Urban Jungle: Fever DJs Blackcat and guest spin for dancers and performers competing in six categories. Presented by Charmed Monroe. Performance at 10:30pm sharp. The Urban Jungle follows, with DJs Blackcat, Pleasure, Lady Supa and Nino Brown spinning dancehall, soca, calypso, urban house and dance beats for the queer Caribana event. Guest DJ Vjuan Allure (DC) throws down house and ballroom faves. Get decked out in army, combat, jungle print, floral and sexy threads to inspire. 9pm. Club120, 120 Church St. $10 before 10:30pm, $15 until midnight, $20 after. club120.ca
Mon, Aug 4 ’90s Trivia Night Kaleb Robertson hosts the fun weekly gathering. 7pm. WAYLA, 996 Queen St E. No cover. facebook.com/waylabarnounge
Tues, Aug 5 Crews & Tangos Tuesday Carlotta Carlisle and Katherine Hytes Dior take the stage at 9pm; Elyse handles the karaoke mic in the Zone at 10pm; Industry Night, with Brooke Lynn Hytes and Vitality Black, at 11:30pm. Crews & Tangos, 508 Church St. No cover. crewsandtangos.com Varsity Tuesday Sofonda Cox hosts the amateur So You Think You Can Strip? competition, with a $100 cash prize. 11pm. Remington’s, 379 Yonge St. $5 before 11pm, $7 after; no cover with student ID before 11pm, $2 after. remingtons.com
Wed, Aug 6 Woody’s Wednesday DJ Mark Falco spins house and dance faves for hump-day revellers. 8pm. Woody’s, 467 Church St. No cover. woodystoronto.com
Submit your event listing to listings@ dailyxtra.com. Deadline for the Aug 7 issue is Tues, July 29. TORONTO’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS
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“Have a vision, believe, make it happen,” is the advice Mr Gay Canada likes to share. An educator in the Vancouver region, Christepher is passionate about youth and sports, particularly his work with gay-straight alliance groups in schools. He says “being visible and an ambassador for our LGBTQ communities” is one of the best things about being chosen Mr Gay Canada at the annual competition in Whistler. As the title-holder, he will compete in this summer’s Mr Gay World contest, to be held in Rome in August. Facebook: Mr Gay Canada | Twitter: @ChristepherWee To comment on or become an Xtra Hot guy or gal, email Drasko at xtrahot@dailyxtra.com.
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Exploring: never stop Single Tablet Regimens (one pill, once a day) are a step forward in HIV treatment. Explore more at exploreHIV.ca
While they’re not a cure, these treatment options are designed to be effective and convenient. If you’ve been exploring different HIV treatments, talk to your doctor about Single Tablet Regimens too. It’s good to know what is out there.