Xtra Toronto #784

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#784 NOV 13–26, 2014

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TORONTO’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS

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ISSUE E 10

2 NOV 13–26, 2014 XTRA!

TORONTO’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS

PUBLISHER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Brandon Matheson

#784 NOV 13–26, 2014

The ties that bind A brief history of kinky sex E10

BDSM and the law

THE

The fine line between permissible and illicit E12

ISSUE

BDSM for dummies Some dos and don’ts for beginners E13

N MAXWELL LANDER

Roundup

XTRA Published by Pink Triangle Press TORONTO’S GAY& LESBIAN NEWS

EDITORIAL MANAGING EDITOR Matthew DiMera ARTS EDITOR Phil Villeneuve ASSOCIATE EDITOR Andrew Jacome COPY EDITOR Lesley Fraser STAFF REPORTER HG Watson EVENT LISTINGS: listings@dailyxtra.com CONTRIBUTE OR INQUIRE about Xtra’s editorial content: matthew.dimera@dailyxtra.com, andrew.jacome@dailyxtra.com, phil.villeneuve@dailyxtra.com EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS ISSUE Steven Bereznai, S Bear Bergman, Drasko Bogdanovic, Rolyn Chambers, Andrew Collins, Devon Delacroix, N Maxwell Lander, JP Larocque, Erica Lenti, Michael Lyons, Christin Scarlett Milloy, Eduardo Sabate, Sissydude, Mike Vichnitchkine, Johnnie Walker, Jeremy Willard

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Editorial Remember what’s important on Trans Day of Remembrance

By Christin Milloy E4 Feedback E4 Xcetera E5

Upfront Pride AGM update Profits are up, but Susan Gapka is out E7 Two-spirited truth Egale teams up with Truth and Reconciliation Commission E8

on dailyxtra.com E Sex workers hold vigil for ‘passing’ of Bill C-36 E Pride not nearly as fun for disabled guests E Sissy that Starbucks E Stanley Kubrick exhibit E VIDEO: Gay Halloween MORE AT DAILYXTRA.COM

History Boys Wonder Woman’s curious creator

By Jeremy Willard E14

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Out in the City Arts roundup Gentlemen’s Expo, Metropolitan Operas and Insatiable Sisters E17 What’s On E19 Club Scene E20 Deep Dish

By Rolyn Chambers E22

Daily Xtra Travel Why Honolulu is your next gay getaway E25 Classifieds E28 Xtra Hot

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Comment

Christin Scarlett Milloy is a Toronto writer and human rights activist.

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 NOV 13–26, 2014 XTRA!

RAINN DAILYXTRA.COM

Fair point about the bars; unfortunately, most are in buildings that were built in the 1880s, when narrow stairs were all the rage. As for the Pride festival, there is no excuse. Planning by organizers, vendors, the city and police needs to improve. There is too much restricted access and sidewalk closures and no alternative routes.

RYAN DAILYXTRA.COM

The bars and businesses on Church will move mountains to assist someone. I’ve seen it many times and take my hat off to them. One of the things I am most proud of as a Canadian is how accommodating people will be to assist someone. No one turns their back. We can’t bulldoze all the buildings, but we can extend a hand quite easily, and we seem to.

OMER QUENNEVILLE DAILYXTRA.COM

Enza Anderson I wonder why she didn’t video record the taunts using a smartphone [“Enza Anderson Fights Harassment,” dailyxtra.com, Nov 1]. If she captured the offenders on video, they would most likely be fired — especially the ones working under contract for the city.

KEVIN BROWN DAILYXTRA.COM

Good on Enza! In fact, it seems good on everybody except the scum working on the construction projects. Perhaps I was an unknowing beneficiary of Enza’s actions. I’m rather femme in my gait, but during many walks on Church this summer, I didn’t hear a peep by way of insult. So, thank you for your actions, Enza!

1DIZZY1 DAILYXTRA.COM

RE: WORLDPRIDE BRINGS BIG DIVIDENDS TO TORONTO

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TORONTO’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS #783 OCT 30–NOV 12, 2014

Thanks, Xtra. An important and usually ignored issue to cover [“Pride Not Nearly as Fun for Disabled Guests,” dailyxtra.com, Nov 1]. Good for you for raising the question of accessibility at Pride. Maybe next you can address the fact that almost none of the bars in the Village are accessible to PWD.

@dailyxtra

Pride for disabled guests

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The International Trans Day of Remembrance (TDoR) is upon us — a day set aside to memorialize those who have been killed in the past year as victims of anti-transgender hatred or prejudice, in Canada and worldwide.

Rita Hester, a trans woman, was murdered on Nov 28, 1998; her death inspired vigils around the world, which evolved into the TDoR we know today. Toronto’s TDoR observances customarily happen on or around Nov 20.

As in years past, an evening ceremony is planned for the main ballroom at the 519 Church Street Community Centre, on Thursday, Nov 20 from 7 to 9pm.

The first TDoR at The 519, in 2003, was a small group affair. Since then, annual attendance has steadily grown — last year, it was standing room only.

“It shows the momentum this event has had,” says Susan Gapka, local trans activist and leader of the Trans Lobby Group. But Gapka sees this growth as bittersweet. “It’s unfortunate that it does have to grow, because it’s not a day of celebration; it’s a day of memorial for people who are still being murdered around the world.”

We both go each year to pay our respects, but the truth is, TDoR isn’t really about people like Susan and me — at least, not primarily.

As a trans person, I’m more likely to fall victim to harassment, violence, assault or murder than a similarly situated cis person. But I’m also aware that it’s unlikely to happen to me. How much more at-risk would I be if I were black? If I were poor? If I were disabled? If any of these other dimensions of identity intersected with my transness, the dangers to me in this world would be far, far greater.

The TDoR memorial list, which compiles the names and photos of trans people murdered each year, reveals a disturbing yet unmistakeable trend: the overwhelming majority of victims are trans women of colour.

For trans people of colour, racism intersects with their experiences of transphobia in a way that amplifies their marginalization and multiplies their risk of being targeted for violence and hate. Statistics confirm this: a 2011 report from the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs found that of all hate-murder victims (in the United States), 87 percent were people of colour; 45 percent were trans women of colour.

If there’s one thing the TDoR list proves, it’s where our focus needs to be if we’re really aiming to support trans people. We need to start with concerning ourselves about the most marginalized people in our community. We need to do the necessary work, and self-education, to build those principles of anti-racism and anti-oppression into the very foundation of our organizing — rather than spending all our time and money arguing about flags and marches, then treating intersectionality as an afterthought.

Trans people exist across the entire spectrum of race, ability and class.

If your trans group’s membership seems primarily white or if it seems to consist mostly of people with jobs, homes and families, take note of that.

Consider why that might be. Was that your deliberate intention? Many groups launch with mission statements to “represent a wide spectrum of trans people” or “campaign on social issues affecting the trans community” but end up serving only the needs of members with greater privilege.

I’ve noticed the TDoR ceremony at The 519, by contrast, tends to prioritize people of colour as their speakers and performers. I feel that’s an example that trans groups, organizing committees and Pride organizations would do well to follow. To fight effectively, we must fight for everyone. And that means making the necessary effort to include everyone. Not just talking about it; doing it. Any less is not enough.

Please remind John Tory of this when he gets all high and mighty next June.

dailyxtra.com

GUEST EDITORIAL CHRISTIN SCARLETT MILLOY

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RAINBOW HIGH TRAVEL E7

That's all, folks A messy election is finally over.

Find out what it all means E8

ARTATTACK! 16 E

ALEXANDER WANG E18

Capital Pride committee I’m sorry and disappointed this story is so weak [“Capital Pride Chair Convenes Committee to Address Future,” dailyxtra.com, Nov 4]. Couldn’t you have please just asked some questions of this failed Pride board chair without just running another defensive, one-sided version of events? With Capital Pride now a bankrupt but still supposedly member-run non-profit organization, allowing this pre-AGM gesture of underhanded face-saving PR piece to run as news is highly disappointing.

NUOTIO DAILYXTRA.COM

Pride dividends Please remind John Tory of this when he gets all high and mighty next June [“WorldPride Brings Big Dividends to Toronto, Pride Says,” dailyxtra. com, Oct 31].

IAN MACDONALD FACEBOOK

No trans person on the board of Pride is a step backward.

BOYD KODAK FACEBOOK

While I can see not electing Susan since they wanted fresh blood, there should have been an effort to seek out a transgender person. It shows what I suspect: that the gay community marginalizes trans people. Why not a trans man as well?

Trinity Western Great news [“BC Lawyers Vote Three to One to Reject Trinity Western Law School, dailyxtra.com, Oct 30]. This is Canada, and this is the 21st century.

No sharia law, no Christian fundamentalist law, no continuation of past privileges for religious groups and individuals — just one set of secular laws for all Canadians, based on our common-law heritage and traditions, and changing slowly over time through societal, legislative and legal discussions and consensus.

DREW SHAW FACEBOOK

Yes, TWU students may hold their religious principles dear to them [“‘Minorities Should Be Protected,’ Says TWU Grad Denied Job,” dailyxtra.com, Oct 9]. I wonder, though: would a law school run by hard-line Christians teach its students to view LGBT folks the same way that they view their Bibles or the TWU charter that requires them to reject anything other than “traditional” marriage?

M LAWR DAILYXTRA.COM

The Vatican Stop grovelling before old celibate men [“The Vatican Shuffle,” dailyxtra. com, Oct 24]. We don’t need permission to be who we are. The Roman Catholic Church will go the way of the dinosaur.

PAULA KEY DAILYXTRA.COM

Halloween on Church Street Dear me, the weather certainly didn’t cooperate! Sadly it appears that there was nothing very daring this year. Not much male flesh to be seen on the street. Too cold and wet, I suppose.

1DIZZY1 DAILYXTRA.COM

PHOENIX DAILYXTRA.COM

TORONTO’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS

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The cultural icon turned 40 on Nov 1 at the first-ever Hello Kitty Con, in LA.

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A memorial to Apple founder Steve Jobs was recently dismantled in the Russian city after the company’s current CEO, Tim Cook, came out as gay.

Homomonument An Amsterdam memorial to gay people persecuted for their sexuality during the Nazi regime.

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Cost of a crystalencrusted Hello Kitty makeup brush, available at the LA convention.

OUT ON THE STREET BY KYLE BURTON

I see now people who have basically fought for the right to stand on top of a float wearing an orange Speedo and take molly.

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Google’s Amsterdam offices feature ceiling panels made to look like this traditional Dutch waffle treat.

Gay Google The internet giant has released data showing which countries’ citizens search for gay porn online the most.

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TORONTO’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS

Upfront

For me to walk in two worlds was normalized.

Laurie McDonald E8

New faces join Pride board WorldPride success noted at AGM HG WATSON PRIDE NEWS

Pride Toronto directors say that the mega-sized WorldPride festival had a $791-million economic impact on Toronto and the province.

At the organization’s annual general meeting (AGM) Oct 30, co-chair Sean Hillier also announced that Pride is running a surplus for the third year.

It’s especially noteworthy given that WorldPride had the effect of increasing Pride Toronto’s budget by 152 percent. The increase was matched by a large uptick in revenue, sponsorships and donations.

Hillier specifically noted that the size of the event, which the board says drew two million visitors over the nine-day festival, generated more awareness of Pride than ever before, with national media covering the event. “I certainly don’t think there was a person in Canada who didn’t know the gays [were taking over],” he joked to the audience at the AGM. “We got to stand really tall and proud this summer,” said Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam, who opened the event.

The meeting saw a significant shakeup to the Pride board. Three-year veteran Susan Gapka, the first and only transgender representative on the Pride Toronto board, lost her reelection bid.

Four new members — Carolynn Gludish, Alicia Hall, Michael Mirpuri and Tatum Wilson — joined the board, filling the empty seats left by Gapka, departing co-chair Hillier, Chad Simon and Mark Smith.

Gapka said that while winning is fabulous, losing is unpleasant. “I have contributed endless hours to this organization,” she said after the meeting, noting that she felt she acted as the social conscience of the board. “The organization will need to look to someone else to provide that social justice conscience.”

MORE AT DAILYXTRA.COM

We got to stand really tall and proud this summer.

COUNCILLOR KRISTYN WONG-TAM

Pride Toronto’s AGM reported a budget surplus for the third straight year and saw new members join the ranks of the Pride board. The meeting also marked the exit of Susan Gapka.TANJA-TIZIANA

The new members now look forward to a term that may determine the future direction of Pride Toronto. In addition to ongoing strategic planning the organization is undertaking, they will also be sitting when a new executive director is hired. Kevin Beaulieu, who served as executive director for three years, announced his resignation in late August.

Co-chair Shelley Craig told Pride Toronto members that they have retained recruiting firm Four Corners to conduct the executive director search and that resumés are currently being accepted. Pride Toronto members, community stakeholders and sponsors will also be consulted as part of the search.

“We really want to honour the good work that is happening,” Craig says,

adding that they hope to have the new executive director in place by early 2015.

Another challenge for the new board may come from the mayor’s office. During the municipal election campaign, mayor-elect John Tory said that he would vote to end city funding for Pride if Queers Against Israeli Apartheid (QuAIA) continued to march in the parade.

The new members of the board were diplomatic when asked how they would approach this potential challenge.

“I am not quite familiar with the actual group,” Hall said. “I would like to better understand their involvement in Pride.”

Similarly, Wilson says he’d like to better understand the Pride board’s position on the issue. “Also recognizing that

a lot of things are said in the heat of the moment in an election — it’s obviously a discussion that will be ongoing, and I don’t think there’s a single yes-or-no solution to it.”

Mirpuri says that he thinks Tory has been a vocal supporter of LGBT rights, adding that there will have to be education about what exactly Pride’s mandate is. Gludish says that both sides need to work together to understand the history of Pride Toronto in relation to QuAIA. Though it feels that WorldPride was only a short time ago, attendees at the meeting are already looking forward to 2015. In honour of the Pan Am Games that follow just two weeks after next year’s Pride celebration, the members voted for the sports theme Get Out and Play.

XTRA! NOV 13–26, 2014 7

Two-spirit voices speak up Survivors discuss residential school abuse and life experiences at Truth and Reconciliation hearings FIRST NATIONS RIGHTS HG WATSON

At home, there was never any question of total acceptance for Laurie McDonald.

“For me to walk in two worlds was normalized,” says McDonald, who uses gender-neutral pronouns. A two-spirit First Nations person, originally from the Enoch Cree Nation in Alberta and now living in Victoria, BC, McDonald felt they had a clearly defined role and place in their community, and their family knew and accepted that.

That all changed when McDonald was sent to Ermineskin Residential School in Alberta at about age 10 or 11, where, McDonald says, they had to hide who they really were. “Our abuse was probably much more severe and much more intense,” McDonald says.

“It’s almost like throwing a woman into a man’s prison.”

McDonald was in Toronto to tell their story at the first Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada hearings

8 NOV 13–26, 2014 XTRA!

specifically for two-spirit people, held Nov 5 and 6.

The commission, which has organized hearings about the experiences of residential school survivors across Canada, is now starting a series of targeted dialogues designed to give a space for different groups affected by the residential school experience — including two-spirit people, traditional knowledge keepers, women and young people — to share their stories.

The commission partnered with Egale to bring two-spirit people to Toronto for the hearings. Helen Kennedy, Egale’s executive director, says twospirit voices don’t often make it to the mainstream. She notes that because of this hearing, their stories will be heard and included in the commissioner’s report.

McDonald testified in a previous hearing, but the trip to Toronto offered an opportunity to speak to a different experience. “Yes, we had the same abuse system, but when you are a two-spirited person, all too often, if you come from

a traditional background and you know who you are, when you go into these schools you actually become someone that is preyed upon.”

Overseeing the commission is Justice Murray Sinclair, who says that many two-spirit residential school survivors experienced alienation and rejection from their own communities after leaving the schools.

“One of the issues around reconciliation that we know we have to talk about is the obligation of the aboriginal community to come to terms with its own misunderstandings of cultural teachings, and the implications of those teachings as a result of perhaps residential school or as a result of their own lack of wisdom,” he says. He notes that twospiritedness has lost its stature in some First Nations communities — some people had to move away to cities where they could find an LGBT and two-spirit First Nations community.

McDonald says that when they left residential school after six years, they tried to assimilate, telling people at uni-

Laurie McDonald, a two-spirit survivor of the residential school system, was interviewed by Xtra Nov 4. View the video at dailyxtra.com. ANDREW JACOME

versity that they were Chinese rather than First Nations. “Although my reserve was only 10 miles . . . from the city of Edmonton, I never went home for about 10 years,” McDonald says. “While you’re in the system . . . you’re constantly told there’s nothing there for you.”

Sinclair believes that one of the key components of reconciliation is education, for both First Nations and nonFirst Nations people at all education levels, even as young as kindergarten.

He acknowledges that more dialogue is needed to promote better understanding of the two-spirit community.

The term “two-spirit” itself is fairly

new, and not all First Nations communities use it to describe their LGBT members. Sinclair says part of the commission’s discussion is learning about these differences in traditional language.

As an adult instructor for aboriginal social workers, McDonald now teaches about the effects of the residential schools and says the hearings can do only so much. “It’s got a long way to go yet,” they say. “For me, reconciliation might be a little higher now in the fact that, yes, the commissioner is listening to the two-spirit community — because our story is different.”

TORONTO’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS

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Ice-queen realness Planning a safe and fun winter road trip WHEELS MIKE VICHNITCHKINE

Shh! Did you hear that? It was the sad sound of the last tank top in the city being pushed into the back of a closet to make room for all the goose-down jackets and long johns to come.

But don’t shed a tear — we might be ďŹ nished with socially acceptable slut-wear weather, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have a little fun.

As winter rapidly approaches, it’s time to start planning your getaways.

Now, Florida or San Fran might be nice this time of year, but don’t neglect our home and native land: Canada has plenty of ice-queen realness to serve up come December. Whether you’re headed to see the beautiful scenery of Muskoka or hitting the slopes at MontTremblant, here are a few winter road-trip tips to get you there in one piece.

Get everything — and that means everything — tuned up A trip to the mechanic should precede any road trip longer than a few hours, and when you’re dealing with the delightfully unpredictable weather we get here, it certainly doesn’t hurt to make sure your car won’t putter out and leave you stranded in the middle of a polar vortex.

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XTRA! NOV 13â&#x20AC;&#x201C;26, 2014 9

THE ISSUE

THE TIES THAT BIND

From Sparta to Weimar Germany, kink has always been part of our sexuality JP LAROCQUE PHOTOS BY N MAXWELL LANDER Master Tony leads me down a darkened hallway in his apartment, stopping before a single door.

“Would you like to see my playroom?”

We enter what was once a bedroom, but that has now been transformed into something very different. A leather sling hangs from the ceiling before a closet filled with various types of leather fetish gear. Erotic artwork and posters hang on the charcoal-grey walls, surrounded by shelves lined with dildos and buttplugs of various sizes.

In the corner is an antique examining table, and beside it are a series of medical trays, plastic collection containers and metal briefcases containing electro-stimulation equipment.

Tony, International LeatherSir 2009 and a representative of the Rough House BDSM dungeon parties, has clearly put work into the space. I marvel at the quantity of items in the room, offhandedly describing it as a veritable museum of erotic play.

“Well, I’ve been collecting for a long time,” he says, proudly.

A long time, indeed. To explore the roots of BDSM culture is to interrogate the fundamental dynamics of human interaction. Dominance and submission, restraint and role-play have been present in both erotic and non-erotic practices throughout much of recorded history and across different cultures, with examples of it in some of humanity’s earliest texts. Flagellation was regularly performed as part of religious ritual in ancient Sparta, for instance, and evidence of physical aggression in erotic play dates back to the sixth century BCE and is referenced in both Petronius’s Satyricon and the Kama Sutra.

10 NOV 13–26, 2014 XTRA!

And according to professional dominant and BDSM educator Scarlet Riot, consenting to restrictive or controlled experiences has always provided significant emotional relief to people who led otherwise stressful lives and were subject to strict socioeconomic divisions.

“Giving in to some type of physical anguish has been an important element of many antique and modern faith systems — passion plays, fasting, adolescent rites of passage,” Riot says. “And we’ve [also] seen this in the ways people challenged the stigmas attached to certain sexual practices throughout history.”

French philosopher the Marquis de Sade, whose 18th-century libertine politics and sexual practices drew the ire of the Catholic Church, wrote extensively of sex acts that often incorporated violence and blasphemy. His “sadistic” works, along with Leopold von Sacher-Masoch’s Venus in Furs, heavily influenced much of the power-associated erotic practices that would be referenced in Victorian literature.

Scholars trace modern BDSM to a few key sources in the 20th century. The sexual progressiveness of pre–Second World War Weimar Germany was an extension of a European fetish culture that had been in play the first few decades of the 1900s, while a distinctive heterosexual kink culture rose up in the United States during the Depression Era. But it was after the Second World War that things really started to take shape, with the birth of the leather community and the beginnings of a gay subculture.

“That war was romanticized,” Master Tony says. “And it was romanticized by the people who

were actually fighting in the war. Men who had gone overseas had camaraderie and a fraternity, and they loved each other — not in a sexual sense, but in that they looked out for each other.”

“And a lot of men, when they came back, couldn’t go back to their old lifestyle simply because they enjoyed the hierarchy of things.

Some men appreciated having a superior officer or someone who would clean their boots and that kind of thing. Things blossomed from that, and the gay men within the community eventually branched out on their own, founding bike and leather clubs.”

It was also around this time that the subculture started to enter the mainstream through the work of photographer Irving Klaw, whose damsel-in-distress pin-up photographs featuring model Bettie Page were quite popular.

“In the Western world, BDSM started making an appearance outside of counterculture in the 1940s, with Page’s erotic photos making the rounds with elements of bondage and restraint,” Riot says. “The reserved sexual attitudes of the time did not inhibit the interests of the kinksters, as is evident by the countless fetish-oriented magazine titles published at the time.”

“When pin-up girls and posters like that started happening, I think that’s when things changed,” Master Tony says. “People were looking at things more sexually than they had prior to that. Look at the work of Russ Meyer. I mean, the women in his films looked like they were cinched up in corsets, and their breasts were huge and pushed out. And, of course, look at Marlon Brando in The Wild One.”

Meanwhile, underground leather culture thrived in many major cities where gay communities had sprung up after the war, including New York and San Francisco. Mr Leather and Mr Drummer contests were established early on, and magazines like Physique Pictorial popularized images of the male form that were overtly homoerotic.

“It ran under the radar of pornography because it had men posing in thongs, but they were doing things that were incredibly masculine,” Master Tony says. “There was wrestling. There was roughhousing. Guys on bikes, that kind of thing.”

The magazine also ran artwork by Tom of Finland. The artist had served during the Second World War, and his time fighting alongside German soldiers in Russia inspired much of his artwork, which fetishized men in uniform.

“A lot of Tom of Finland’s stuff has actual Nazi photographs that he’s touched up to be sexualized,” Master Tony says. “So their cock would be hanging out, that kind of thing. And romanticizing the britches, the boots, the uniform and that hyper-masculine image. There’s something more exhilarating about that than seeing people cuddling in bed.”

With the shifting social mores of the 1960s and ’70s came more extreme forms of sadomasochistic sexual behaviour within the underground leather community, as described in Larry Townsend’s Leatherman’s Handbook and depicted in the photos of Robert Mapplethorpe.

Continued on page 12 E TORONTO’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS

MORE AT DAILYXTRA.COM

XTRA! NOV 13–26, 2014 11

THE ISSUE

WHIPS & QUIPS A semi-serious selection of BDSM films and books —JP Larocque

E Continued from page 10

The culture developed enough of a reputation to inspire the 1970 crime novel Cruising, about a serial killer stalking gay men on the leather scene. The book was famously adapted into the 1980 thriller starring Al Pacino.

The 1980s and ’90s saw BDSM culture shift even more into the mainstream, with musical artists like the Eurythmics and Madonna employing fetish imagery and themes in their works and mainstream films like 9½ Weeks, Body of Evidence and Exit to Eden portraying BDSM erotic practices.

“BDSM has also made many appearances in mainstream film and television, on episodes of CSI, films like 9½ Weeks and Secretary, and has been explored by Oprah and on Dr Phil,” Riot says. “My mother even made a reference to ‘SNM’ in a Facebook status recently commenting on the Jian Ghomeshi affair, which really brought my belief that it’s time we start having open conversations about BDSM.” The internet also introduced kink culture to a much wider audience, causing the community to evolve beyond its more underground, niche-driven roots.

“The fetish community has started to open up and spread out, and so there are so many things that are now identifying as part of the BDSM community,” Master Tony says. “Things that are not bondage or discipline or sadomasochism still fall under the umbrella, so it can be almost any fetish at this point. But who is to say what should or shouldn’t fall under that umbrella?”

Riot agrees. “It’s used as a bit of a catchall for a community that includes fetishists, lifestylers, those who explore BDSM acts as art or cultural critique, and those who casually incorporate elements of power into their otherwise normative sex lives. [But] the community has grown out of like-minded people interested in helping each other create the illusions that speak to their fantasies.”

So how does one define BDSM today?

“Kinky people are a lot like everyone else,” Riot says. “Most of the couples I know have the same arguments and relationship strife that non-kinky people do. It’s just that instead of resolving those issues with a romantic dinner and roses, they may opt for a spanking and blowjob instead. Both experiences incite joy and comfort in people, so who are we to limit that exploration if it’s being done in a safe and consensual way?”

12 NOV 13–26, 2014 XTRA!

Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom (1975) Pier Paolo Pasolini’s masterpiece, based on the book by the Marquis de Sade. With graphic depictions of rape, torture and murder, the film has been banned in several countries and isn’t for the faint at heart.

Cruising (1980) Macho Sluts,

by Pat Califia A queer-friendly collection of short stories exploring sadism and masochism.

Pick it up!

Al Pacino plays a cop on the hunt for a serial killer murdering men in New York’s underground SM scene. Before it became a footnote for one of James Franco’s odious art projects, this film was controversial for its depiction of gay life at a time when the community was starved for representation.

BDSM & THE LAW

Lawyers, educators say affirmative consent is key HG WATSON Is BDSM more like a fist fight or a hockey fight?

That’s just one of the questions at the heart of the legal debate over BDSM — one that some sex educators and community members didn’t even know needed to be had, until University of Toronto law professor Brenda Cossman wrote an article in The Globe and Mail about the fact that when it comes to consenting to serious bodily harm, it doesn’t matter if you say yes: the consent is rendered null.

Though she wrote the article to address some of the questions raised by the initial reports around the firing of CBC Radio host Jian Ghomeshi, Cossman says it seems clear now that those allegations stem from abuse and the BDSM piece doesn’t apply. However, for many, the questions around the legality of BDSM remain.

Shelley Taylor is the owner of Venus Envy, a queer-friendly sex shop in Ottawa that offers sex workshops on such topics as do-it-yourself sex toys and fellatio tips and tricks.

“I think that was a shock to a lot of people,” she says of learning about where the law on BDSM stands — as a sex educator she was surprised to learn that legally you cannot consent to being physically harmed.

Cossman says that since the article came out, interest in the legal issues around BDSM has been piqued, from both lawyers and people in communities that are interested in nonnormative sexuality. It’s why she, along with lawyers Kyle Kirkup and Hamish Stewart and sex educator Andrea Zanin, will take part in a panel about BDSM and the law at the University of Toronto on Nov 13. “We thought we could get more into the minutiae of legality and have a deeper conversation than one could have in 800 words in The Globe and Mail,” Cossman says.

Kirkup, a Trudeau scholar at U of T’s law school, has been studying how criminal law regulates LGBT people and non-normative sexualities and genders.

He believes there are two competing

histories that have created the grey area around BDSM — first, the history of laws that target non-normative sexualities and second, of society not taking sexual-assault complainants seriously.

“I think the concern [is] that BDSM is being used to cover what is really just violent assault and sexual assault,” he says, adding that he believes this is the source of the tension and debate.

“Over time, the Supreme Court of Canada has tried to make the law a little bit better,” Cossman says, noting that recent decisions have made it easier

for women to come forward and have established that consent is an ongoing process — just because you have consented to one act doesn’t mean you’ve agreed to all that follow. However, Cossman notes there are still very real and continuing concerns about the law surrounding sexual assault.

“The problem is that it has only come up in law when someone has been accused of sexual assault and their defence is that it was consensual BDSM,” she says.

In the cases where it has been raised,

Cossman says, they are decided on the absence of consent. “BDSM gets implicated in this but not really,” she adds.

In a case where a person was rendered unconscious through autoerotic asphyxiation in 2011, the Supreme Court determined that you cannot consent in advance to something that might happen when you are unconscious — you must be able to actively give your consent. But that doesn’t clear up all the questions about BDSM and the law.

If a case on BDSM did come forward, part of what the court would have to determine would be whether BDSM has “social utility.” Courts in Canada have found that sports like hockey and boxing — which regularly feature fighting and blows to the head — do have value, whereas a fist fight does not, therefore you can’t really consent to it. “It’s trying to figure out whether or not the courts want to slot this in the pure violence category or whether they want to put it into the more protected category of activities that have social value and utility,” Kirkup says.

In Taylor’s workshops at Venus Envy, she often talks about how certain forms of bodily pain are more acceptable than others, like in the realm of sports.

“I think there’s a lot of stigma and shame attached to anything sexual, and the farther you get away from reproductive sex, the more shame and stigma you’ll find attached to that kind of sex,” she says.

But the perception of BDSM as including pain needs to be corrected, Taylor says. “There’s a lot about BDSM that’s fantasy play, role-play — basically stuff that is completely legal,” she says and that doesn’t involve hitting anybody.

Kirkup also says the focus should be on whether there was affirmed — not implied — consent throughout the entire experience.

Taylor says Venus Envy will now be adding a caveat before their workshops — that no one can consent to be struck.

But for her, consent is the key to any relationship. “Without consent, it’s abuse,” she says. “Consent is the focus of everything we talk about when it comes to BDSM.” TORONTO’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS

The Story of O, by Pauline Réage; Venus in Furs, by Leopold von Sacher-Masoch; Justine, by Marquis de Sade The trifecta of BDSM classic literature.

I could have listed each book individually, but winter is coming, and you should probably read more.

Body of Evidence (1993)

Faggots, by Larry Kramer

If I didn’t include at least one mention of Madonna, the Velvet Mafia would toss me into Lake Ontario. So here it is!

Accomplished method actress Madonna is accused of murdering a man to inherit his millions.

Before The Normal Heart, Kramer wrote this novel about the promiscuous sex and drug use he observed in the gay community of New York during the 1970s. It’s not a great read and it’s very sanctimonious, but it’s an interesting gay artifact. Plus, the scene where Dinky gets fisted on Fire Island is kinda awesome.

XXL, by Dian Hanson Tom of Finland: Because masturbation.

BDSM FOR DUMMIES Some dos and don’ts for beginners DEVON DELACROIX

PHOTOS BY N MAXWELL LANDER

First forays into BDSM can be daunting, but not for lack of information.

The near-endless stream of websites, chat rooms and online forums available mean a few minutes of Googling can bring rookie players to information overload. Figuring out exactly how to reconcile long-held fantasies with a practical reality isn’t easy. But a few guidelines can ensure the experience is painful only in the right ways.

Though often referred to as an acronym, grammar nerds will know BDSM is technically a “compound initialism,” encompassing bondage and discipline, dominance and submission, and sadomasochism. But don’t let the complexity of terms fool you. Essentially, it boils down to sex play where partners take on pre-determined unequal roles.

Whatever the activity, understanding principles of consent is the difference between engaging in mutually enjoyable kink play and potentially criminal domestic assault.

The most basic tools of consent are limits and safe words. Limits are the predetermined boundaries for a scene and include hard limits (things that are totally out of the question) and soft limits (things that are unappealing but okay if the situation demands it). Safe words are used to pause or end a scene, yellow and red being the most common.

Yellow indicates a physical or psychological limit is about to be reached. Red means the scene stops and a discussion of what happened, if necessary, ensues.

Once you’ve established your borders, you’re free to roam within them.

Below are a few of my basic BDSM dos and don’ts.

DO test your

boundaries

While consent is paramount in any sexual situation, what makes BDSM thrilling is its ability to open us up to new possibilities. There are a lot of things I enjoy doing that either terrified or disgusted me when I first learned MORE AT DAILYXTRA.COM

B D SM Sadism & Masochism

Bondage & Discipline

you’re first starting out until you’re sure your desires are worth the investment.

Skip the fetish store and hit your local Canadian Tire. Chain and rope can be purchased by the metre. For rope, stick with cotton or smooth nylon and burn the ends to keep it from fraying. One bag of wooden clothespins will keep your nipples clamped for a lifetime.

Wooden kitchen implements make excellent substitute paddles, as do $1 leather belts from Goodwill. If you want to feel extra naughty, buy them from the Salvation Army.

Domination & Submission

DON’T go too

out. Most importantly, never play with anyone you don’t completely trust will take the necessary steps to ensure your safety, even if that means accompanying you to the hospital.

So you watched a piercing demonstration or a caning video? Great. That doesn’t mean you’re ready to go there right away. These kinds of highly specialized practices can take years of training to get right. Do as much research as you can to learn the ins and outs of a particular activity. In the case of things that break the skin, don’t go there until you’ve studied with someone who has the knowhow and you understand the risks.

far, too fast

DO hire a professional

about them. In some cases, it was about partners challenging my soft limits.

In other cases it was porn, erotica or online chats that first provided the telltale tingle there might be something new out there that would turn me on.

Regardless of your current interests, you owe it to yourself to expand your playbook.

DO plan ahead In addition to setting physical and psychological boundaries, it’s important to

know your partner’s health limitations.

Knee, back and shoulder problems can rear up during a scene, as can heart trouble, asthma or other stress-induced conditions. Know what to watch for in yourself and your partner, and give plenty of warning if you think something bad is happening. Have emergency plans in place. For bondage, keep surgical scissors handy for quickly dispatching ropes and extra keys for locks.

Don’t insert anything in someone’s body that’s not specifically designed for that purpose and you’re sure you can get

If you’re a beginner with a particularly heavy or complex scene in mind, it pays to go to a pro. There are plenty of escorts that do BDSM work, so find the one that’s right for you. In general, personality and skills are more important than physical appearance. Your dom might have abs you could grate cheese on, but if he or she can’t tie knots like a Boy Scout, your rope bondage session is going to be a letdown. Treat the process like hiring any other professional. Come to the table with a clear idea of what you want, ask lots of questions and be prepared to learn.

DON’T spend

a lot of money

Since my earliest kink forays in my teenaged best friend’s basement, I’ve been a DIY BDSM kind of guy. While some players shell out thousands for specialized equipment, save your cash when

DON’T be

disappointed if reality doesn’t live up to your fantasies

At the same time you’re working to expand your desires, it’s essential to acknowledge that fantasies don’t always play out as well in practice as they do in our heads. It may take a few tries (and a few partners) to precisely fine-tune things. But it’s also important to know the difference between what’s meant for reality and what should remain wank material. The possibilities of sexuality are near endless. And sometimes learning what you don’t want is just as useful as learning what you do.

Devon Delacroix is the author of Hard Labour, a column about male sex work on dailyxtra.com.

XTRA! NOV 13–26, 2014 13

A Proud Representative of the Gay Community

Craig Head, ABR Sales Representative

416.481.6137 www.CraigHead.ca Bosley Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage Specializing in Condos Throughout Yorkville & Downtown

St. Johnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Norway Cemetery and Crematorium Ĺ˛ĹľĹśÉ #(!-.)(É ĹşÉ .É )) #( HAVE YOU HAD A LOVED ONE DIE?

Chapel and Crematorium ,#)/-É )*.#)(-É ),É 3)/,É #(. ,' (.É ( -É Ć&#x20AC;É , 0 ' (.É , É 0 #& & #( )Ć&#x17E;-.$)"(-(),1 3 ' . ,3Ĺş É Ć&#x20AC;É Ĺ´ĹąĹśĆ?ŜŚŹĆ?ŲŚŜž )( 3É Ć&#x2018;É ,# 3É Ĺ¸ 'Ć?Ĺľ*'ĹťÉ ./, 3É Ĺš 'Ć?Ĺł*'

14 NOV 13â&#x20AC;&#x201C;26, 2014 XTRA!

Marstonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mistress(es)

Fetish, feminism and the creation of Wonder Woman HISTORY BOYS JEREMY WILLARD

The Wonder Woman comics from the 1940s are rife with BDSM. On almost every page thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s kidnap, slavery or bondage; she (or some other woman) is bound, chained, manacled, tied, has her eyes and mouth taped shut, is gagged, caged, shackled, hogtied or even leashed and forced to crawl on the ground. When things got really out of hand, Maxwell Charles Gaines, the comicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s publisher, sent a memo to William Moulton Marston, the heroineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s creator, advising him to â&#x20AC;&#x153;cut down on the use of chains by at least 50 to 75 percent.â&#x20AC;? Marston refused.

Marston created Wonder Woman as an example for children and young people of â&#x20AC;&#x153;strong, free, courageous womanhoodâ&#x20AC;? in order to â&#x20AC;&#x153;combat the idea that women are inferior to men.â&#x20AC;?

Marston was an ardent feminist, and the bondage in Wonder Woman is reminiscent of symbolism from the womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s suffrage movement â&#x20AC;&#x201D; women are restrained and gagged to highlight their lack of rights â&#x20AC;&#x201D; but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clear there was something else going on there, too.

In 1915, Marston married Elizabeth Holloway, a feminist and recent graduate of Mount Holyoke College. They both graduated from law school â&#x20AC;&#x201D; he from Harvard, she from Boston University â&#x20AC;&#x201D; in 1918. That year, Marston also became attached to another woman, Marjorie W Huntley, who enjoyed being chained â&#x20AC;&#x201D; what she called â&#x20AC;&#x153;love binding.â&#x20AC;? The following year all three became an item for a time.

Marston got his PhD from Harvard in 1921. His dissertation focused on lie detection, and he is often credited with the invention of the lie detector. Later, he would imbue Wonder Woman with this ability in the form of her Lasso of Truth.

In 1925, while teaching at Tufts University, he fell in love with one of his students, Olive Byrne (whose mother and aunt, Ethyl Byrne and Margaret Sanger, had opened the ďŹ rst birth-control clinic in the United States in 1916).

Around this time, Marston took up the study of sex. Some of his subjects were men incarcerated in Texas, and he became particularly intrigued by â&#x20AC;&#x153;the homo-sexual relationships inevitable in prison life.â&#x20AC;? Based on his observations, he argued that there were four primary emotions: dominance, compliance, inducement and submission.

At Tufts he focused on â&#x20AC;&#x153;captivation,â&#x20AC;? which he deďŹ ned as â&#x20AC;&#x153;an essential con-

Wonder Woman creator William Marston argued that there were four primary emotions: dominance, compliance, inducement and submission. SISSYDUDE

stituent of sadistic teasing or torturing of weaker human beings or animals.â&#x20AC;?

Thinking Marston might be interested in the doings at her sorority, Byrne brought him along to their â&#x20AC;&#x153;Baby Party,â&#x20AC;? where freshman pledges were dressed as babies, blindfolded, had their arms tied behind them and were compelled by stick-wielding sophomores to perform tasks. After the party, Marston and Byrne interviewed the participants, ďŹ nding that â&#x20AC;&#x153;nearly all the sophomores reported excited pleasantness of captivation emotion throughout the party.â&#x20AC;?

In 1926, Byrne moved in with Marston and Holloway (with Huntley joining on occasion), and there was, as Holloway later said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;love making for all.â&#x20AC;? Holloway later claimed that the structure of their threesome had been worked out at pseudo-religious sex parties the three had attended, where people would organize themselves into â&#x20AC;&#x153;Love Unitsâ&#x20AC;? comprising a Love Leader, Mistress and Love Girl.

In 1928, Marston published Emotions of Normal People, a book that defends homosexuality, transvestitism, fetishism and sadomasochism.

They tried to hide their polyamorous relationship but didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t succeed, and the revelation ruined Marstonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

academic career. Over the next few years, he worked on various projects, achieving a kind of notoriety. Then Gaines, the publisher of Superman, came knocking. He was worried about what critics were saying about Superman â&#x20AC;&#x201D; that he was dangerous and fascist â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and asked Marston, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Do you think these fantastic comics are good reading for children?â&#x20AC;? Marston eased his worries. Further, he argued that if Gaines published a comic containing a female superhero it would help silence the critics.

Gaines hired Marston, who created a female superhero like something out of feminist utopian ďŹ ction: an Amazon.

Debuting in 1941 in All-Star Comics No 8, Wonder Woman wore a golden tiara, red bustier, blue shorts and had pouty lips. Marston may have intended to create the ultimate feminist ďŹ gure, but what he produced â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a strong woman with a truth-evoking rope, knee-high red leather boots and a tendency to get chained up â&#x20AC;&#x201D; was informed also by his various interests and kinks.

For more, I highly recommend reading The Secret History of Wonder Woman by Jill Lepore.

History boys appears in every issue of Xtra.

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

Shawn and Darrin compared rates online and saved $700 on their car insurance.

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The simple way to shop for insurance.

Thank you to the runners and walkers who supported SOY in the Scotiabank Waterfront Marathon on October 19, 2014.

Thank you to all the volunteers, youth and friends who made SOY’s annual Bowlathon on October 25, 2014 a striking success.

Together we raised $63,293 for queer and trans spectrum youth!

Over 1000 people donated to SOY this year – a true community effort.

This money will help SOY continue to build a welcoming, vibrant and diverse community [LIVI 0+&85 ]SYXL ½RH FIPSRKMRK ERH TVMHI We could not do this without you!

Supporting Our Youth MORE AT DAILYXTRA.COM

@soy_toronto XTRA! NOV 13–26, 2014 15

16 NOV 13–26, 2014 XTRA!

TORONTO’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS

Outinthe City

DUDE FEST

Sexuality counsellor Dr Jessica O’Reilly doesn’t like to leave anyone out when explaining her pleasuring techniques.

“For people who have sex with vulvas [and] vaginas, they’ll likely take note of the ‘W’ and ‘cross my fingers’ [sex] techniques,” she says about what her audience can expect to learn from her talk at this year’s Gentlemen’s Expo. She’s just one of several speakers LGBT people may be interested in checking out at the show. “For people who have sex with penises, they won’t be able to forget ‘the claudia’ technique.

They’ll also learn some practical dirty-talk lines that they can use regardless of their sexual style.”

She promises to teach seduction techniques, to increase your sexual success rate.

Of course, The Gentlemen’s Expo is not just

Even the fetish scene would rather order in whips with a side of chains than go out. Deep DishE22

about improving your life in the boudoir, and it’s not, strictly speaking, just for men, though it does target heavily those interested in beer, spirits, tech, sports, gaming, entrepreneurship, the culinary arts, cars, grooming, men’s fashion and, yes, working out. For those getting ready for that beach vacation (or, let’s be honest, counting down to Pride), 23-year NHL veteran Gary Roberts will be there offering high-performance training and nutrition tips, along with health-and-wellness chef Andrew Muto. For pure voyeurism . . . I mean inspiration, mixed martial artist and UFC World Champion Georges St-Pierre will be answering questions and signing autographs, and for advice on how to be a proper man-about-town, there’s Dude Living Refined with Damon Snider.

Much of the show’s programming “offers a universal appeal,” O’Reilly says, and while she recognizes that many attendees will identify as straight, “I switch back and forth between pronouns — he, she, they — to try to be as inclusive (and ambiguous) as possible.” And she’ll be focusing on “sex and relationships for everyone,” especially how to keep the fires burning by “making the most of your fights” and improving “your bedroom finesse.” — Steve Bereznai UFC hunk Georges St-Pierre

The Gentlemen’s Expo runs Fri, Nov 14–Sun, Nov 16 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, 255 Front St W. gentlemensexpo.com

TWISTED SISTERS

Kim Katrin Milan and Gein Wong, former strange sisters. TANJA-TIZIANA

MORE AT DAILYXTRA.COM

In modern discussions of queer and trans politics, an oft-repeated narrative is “Look how far we’ve come!” But in the grand sweep of history, queer and trans people have long been welcomed at the least, if not revered. Only recently (for the last 500 years or less) have we been scorned and discarded.

To help answer the question — what the hell happened?! — Gein Wong, co-curator of Insatiable Sisters, says that her new stage show means to explore, first and foremost, “When did my ancestors lose their magic, and how can I get it all back?”

Formerly titled Strange Sisters, Insatiable Sisters has been given a new life by Wong and her co-curator, Kim Katrin Milan. They have kept the women-and-trans-people focus of the evening and its home at Buddies and focused the night on work that Milan describes as “inviting artists to look at themselves like they are made of magic and see what kind of stories would get told.” The evening will feature a wide slate of up-and-coming Toronto artists, including many emboldened to present work in new forms.

Both Milan and Wong bring a strong politic

of putting black, indigenous and of-colour theatre artists at centre stage, and both are multitalented artistic visionaries whose combined tonnage of accolades could fill an entire page. Even still, their commitment to transforming the artistic landscape leads them ever into new paradigm shifts. This year’s Insatiable Sisters will not only include interpretation into American Sign Language for deaf audience members, but (through the support of the Toronto Arts Council and Community One) has had ASL-integrated rehearsals and will feature deaf artist Sage Willow performing in ASL with interpretation into English, a rarity on mainstream stages.

Milan says that they encouraged creators to “take big risks and reap big rewards,” and Wong — imagining the audience — likens Insatiable Sisters to “that concert you went to that changed your life.” — S Bear Bergman Insatiable Sisters is one night only, Fri, Nov 14, at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander St. buddiesinbadtimes.com

Confessions on a stage Witchboy Theatre is getting ambitious.

After bursting onto the scene this spring with a production of Brad Fraser’s queer classic Love and Human Remains, its sophomore effort is Joe Pintauro’s sprawling Metropolitan Operas, a 27-part cycle of short plays dealing with sex, faith, death and forgiveness. With a cast of 13 and helmed by director Trevor Hayes, Witchboy will mount eight of Pintauro’s plays.

Producer and actor Christopher Hayes says he first became aware of the Operas as a student at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York.

“The pieces made a huge impression on me,” Hayes says. “As someone who was raised Catholic — Jesus camp, altar boy, Jesuit high school, the whole shebang — and is also gay, the themes and images central to Pintauro’s work really struck a chord with me. I’m inspired by the way he has rather gracefully resolved his Catholic approach to spirituality with his homosexuality in an inclusive and harmonious matter. It’s deeply Catholic and deeply gay, which is not a combination I had come across before.”

While you’ll have to read all 27 pieces to track each connection, Hayes says there are plenty of recurring elements to the eight Witchboy has selected: “a lot Christopher Hayes of Catholic imagery and motifs: priests, confessions, repentance, a wacky incarnation of the Madonna.” One piece features a gay man dying of AIDS trying to make peace with God before taking his own life; another tells the story of a woman coping with her failed marriage to a gay man.

Though it was written in the 1980s, Hayes believes Operas still has a lot to say to a contemporary audience. “Most of the pieces revolve around the pains and joys of simple human relationships, how we balance our duty with our desires. The real magic of Pintauro’s work is how he brings a sense of the sacred and divine into otherwise mundane occurrences.” — Johnnie Walker Metropolitan Operas runs Wed, Nov 19–Sat, Nov 29 at The Theatre Machine, 376 Dufferin St. witchboytheatre.com

XTRA! NOV 13–26, 2014 17

Roseneath Theatre presents Ă ƐƉĞĐŝĂů ĞǀĞŶƚ ƚŽ ďĞŶĞĮƚ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŵƉĂŶLJ͛Ɛ ƵƉĐŽŵŝŶŐ ƚŽƵƌ

ƌŽŶ ƚ WĂƚ ir Ŷ Ğ ǀ

ach

Sala

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Flkj`[\

by Dora-nominated playwright Paul Dunn

ƵŶŝƋƵĞ ŽƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƚLJ ĨŽƌ ĂĚƵůƚƐ ĂŶĚ LJŽƵƚŚ ĂůŝŬĞ ƚŽ ǀŝĞǁ ĂŶ ĞdžƚƌĂŽƌĚŝŶĂƌLJ ŶĞǁ ǁŽƌŬ ĨŽƌ LJŽƵŶŐ ƉĞŽƉůĞ͘ ůů ƉƌŽĐĞĞĚƐ ďĞŶĞĮƚ ZŽƐĞŶĞĂƚŚ dŚĞĂƚƌĞ͛Ɛ ƉƌŽǀŝŶĐŝĂů ƐĐŚŽŽů ƚŽƵƌ ŝŶ ƐƉƌŝŶŐ ŽĨ ϮϬϭϱ͘

Outside is the story of Daniel, a teen who triumphs over homophobic bullying. The play explores the push to establish Gay-Straight Alliances in Canadian high-schools. dŚĞ ĞǀĞŶŝŶŐ ŝŶĐůƵĚĞƐ͗ ΎtĞůĐŽŵĞ ĨƌŽŵ W&> ' ΎWƌĞͲƐŚŽǁ ĐĂƚĞƌŝŶŐ ΎdŚĞ ĮƌƐƚͲĞǀĞƌ ƉƵďůŝĐ ƌĞĂĚŝŶŐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƉůĂLJ ΎWŽƐƚͲƐŚŽǁ ĚŝƐĐƵƐƐŝŽŶ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ĐƌĞĂƟǀĞ ƚĞĂŵ

Buddies in Bad Times Theatre

Wed Nov 26, 7pm - Tickets $20 (free for youth under 25) ϰϭϲͲϵϳϱͲϴϱϱϱ ͲŽƌͲ ǁǁǁ͘ďƵĚĚŝĞƐŝŶďĂĚƟŵĞƐ͘ĐŽŵ

18 NOV 13–26, 2014 XTRA!

TORONTO’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS

WHAT'S ON

and an auction. Sat, Nov 29, 6pm.

Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge St. $175. clga.ca

Vag Halen and Lez Zeppelin — The Phoenix, Fri, Nov 14

The Yes-Men in Uniform

WUNMI ONIBUDO

Cops, firefighters, soldiers, athletes — everyone loves a man in uniform!

The drag kings of The Yes-Men give a silly, sexy performance.

Fri, Dec 5, 10:30pm. Buddies in Bad Times, 12 Alexander St. $15. buddiesinbadtimes.com

FOR MORE EVENT LISTINGS, GO TO DAILYXTRA.COM

ARTS & LITERATURE

COMEDY & CABARET

This Is a Book for Parents of Gay Kids

Comedy Hypnosis Show

As seen on Ellen, Dannielle Owens-Reid and Kristin Russo’s book is a handy guide for parents of gay and questioning children.

Tues, Nov 18, 7:30pm. Glad Day Bookshop, 598 Yonge St. Free. gladdaybookshop.com

HEALTH & ISSUES

Scratch and Los Coristas Both Troy Brooks’s oil paintings and R Kelly Clipperton’s photographs pay homage to strong women.

Runs until Nov 22, 11am–6pm. TAC Gallery, 568 Richmond St W. Free. mrtroybrooks.wix.com/kellyandtroy

The 519 Legal Clinic 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

Geoff Berner and Rae Spoon

Keith Cole in House Dress — Videofag, Sat, Nov 22

House Dress Starring the inimitable Keith Cole, five one-minute dance films explore movement and dance in confined spaces. Sat, Nov 22, 7pm. Videofag, 187 Augusta Ave. $5. videofag.com

Berner and Spoon stop off in Toronto as part of their Canadian tour. Sun, Nov 23, 7pm. Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen St W. $15. gladstonehotel.com info, contact jcaffery@sherbourne. on.ca. Every Monday, 5:30–8pm.

Sherbourne Health Centre, 2nd floor, 333 Sherbourne St. Free. soytoronto.org

The Black Queer Youth Initiative Black and multiracial youth aged 29 and under who identify as queer or questioning gather in a safe, social space. Every Wednesday, 6:30–8:30pm. Sherbourne Health Centre, 333 Sherbourne St. Free. soytoronto.org

Still Trying: Fertility Support Group

LEGIT

STAINED GLASS PHOTO BY MARGARET FAIRBROTHER GARRISON

The all-girl Zeppelin tribute band is joined by Toronto’s feminist rock group. Fri, Nov 14, 8pm. Phoenix Concert Theatre, 410 Sherbourne St. $20. phoenixconcerttheatre.com

With guest host Ted Morris (CTV’s Comedy Now), this edition features standup comedy by Richard Ryder, Dawn Whitwell and Stephen Sharpe.

Wed, Nov 26, 8pm. Yuk Yuk’s, 224 Richmond St W. $25. yukyuks.com

Featuring readings by Maureen Hynes, Elizabeth Ruth, Nancy Jo Cullen, Jane Eaton Hamilton and Tanis MacDonald. Thurs, Nov 20, 8pm. Glad Day Bookshop, 598 Yonge St. Free. gladdaybookshop.com

Legal counsel for same-sex couples immigrating to Canada. Tap into the community and access useful resources. The second Thursday of each month. Thurs, Nov 13, and Thurs, Dec 11, 7–10pm. The 519 Community Centre, 519 Church St. Free, donations appreciated. legit.ca

An informal support group for queer people trying to conceive. Mon, Nov 24, 6:30–8:30pm. Sherbourne Health Centre, 333 Sherbourne St. Free. lgbtqpn.ca

SOY Monday Night Drop-In

Pup Night

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

LEISURE & PLEASURE Argo hosts an event where handlers can bring out their boy-puppies for some wrestling, role-playing and plain ol’ adorableness. Thurs, Nov 13, 9pm–midnight. Black

Eagle, 457 Church St. No cover. blackeagletoronto.com

Love Shack Featuring DJ Fred Schneider from The B-52s, this dance party includes a silent auction and prizes for the best ’80s looks. Sat, Nov 15, 8pm.

Phoenix Concert Theatre, 410 Sherbourne St. $20 advance, $30 door. unisonfund.ca

Sci Fi Pub Trivia The Toronto Gaymers want to know how well you know your science fiction. Teams of three to five people compete to win prizes. Wed, Nov 19, 8pm. The Marquis of Granby, 418 Church St. $2 suggested. facebook. com/torontogaymers

Queer Rights Town Hall Current and former politicians Glen Murray, George Smitherman and Bill Morneau discuss LGBT rights. Sun, Nov 23, 2–4pm. The 519 Community Centre, 519 Church St. Free. the519.org

CLGA Disco Gala Groovy cats feel the love and boogie down at the Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives’ annual gala. Includes cocktails, dinner, entertainment

SEX & BURLESQUE Great Canadian Tease Burlesque Brunch Not your average brunch, this meal includes “sass with your hash, legs with your eggs, and a whole lot of shimmy shakin’ with your side of bacon.” Features performances

by Fionna Flauntit, Miss Mitzy Cream and Dottie Dangerfield.

Sat, Nov 15, 12:30–3:30pm.

120 Diner, 120 Church St. $15. greatcanadianburlesque.com

The Night Is Dark and Full of Tassels From Dothraki prairie humping to leeches on stiff cocks, Game of Thrones provides ideal fodder for this sexy and silly burlesque performance. Sat, Nov 29, 8pm– midnight. The Great Hall, 1087 Queen St W. $20 advance, $25 door. gotburlesque.brownpapertickets.com

THEATRE Evita The hit musical about Eva Perón, first lady of Argentina, who won

The Book of Mormon From the creators of South Park, this musical tells the story of two missionaries who head to Uganda and have trouble connecting with the locals, who are worried about more important things, such as war, famine and AIDS. Runs until Sun, Nov 30, various showtimes. Princess of Wales Theatre, 300 King St W. $25. mirvish.com

Human Furniture The farm-themed play party that Master and slave have planned for pet is interrupted by the arrival of Master’s boss and the actions of a nosy neighbour. Runs until Sun, Nov 30, various times. The Storefront Theatre, 955 Bloor St W. $25. redonetheatre.com

Evalyn Parry’s Spin Inspired by the tale of the first woman to ride a bike around the world, in 1895, this performance is equal parts concert, spoken-word performance and documentary.

Runs Wed, Nov 19–Sun, Nov 23, various showtimes. Buddies in Bad Times, 12 Alexander St. $25. buddiesinbadtimes.com

Metropolitan Operas Consisting of 27 short plays, Joe Pintauro’s Metropolitan Operas is set against the gritty backdrop of 1980s New York City and populated with a variety of characters, from priests to movie stars to prostitutes.

Runs Wed, Nov 19–Sat, Nov 29, various showtimes. The Theatre Machine, 376 Dufferin St. $20. witchboytheatre.com

Commercials for Hamilton Hamilton property values are skyrocketing and there’s money to be made. Sky Gilbert’s new one-act play asks, What does it mean when people want to make money out of your city? Runs Thurs, Nov 20–Sun, Nov 30, various showtimes. The Staircase Theatre, 27 Dundurn St N, Hamilton. $15. hammertheatre.org

“…one of the best Messiahs I have ever heard.”

THE GLOBE AND MAIL

H A I SS HALL

MOEERNER @K

Lez Zeppelin with guests Vag Halen

OUTrageous! with Robert Keller

An Evening of Poetry and Prose

SELLS OUT EVERY YEAR —ORDER TODAY!

MUSIC

Brandon the Hypnotist takes hapless audience victims . . . errr, volunteers on a silly and dirty jaunt into the subconscious. Wed, Nov 26, 7:30pm. The Flying Beaver, 488 Parliament St. $15 advance, $20 door. pubaret.com

the hearts of her people as a champion of the poor. Runs until Sun, Nov 23, various showtimes.

Lower Ossington Theatre, 100A Ossington Ave. $49.99–59.99. lowerossingtontheatre.com

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Koerner Hall Dec 17-20 @7:30pm DIRECTED BY IVARS TAURINS

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tafelmusik.org Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Choir XTRA! NOV 13–26, 2014 19

CLUB SCENE Thurs, Nov 13

Random Play DJ Dwayne Minard spins disco, yacht rock, new wave and classic rock for the Queer Street East peeps. 10pm.

WAYLA, 996 Queen St E. No cover. facebook.com/waylabarnounge

Fri, Nov 14 Lez Zeppelin The all-female NYC tribute band joins Toronto’s Vag Halen for a night of estrogenetic rock. 8pm. Phoenix Concert Theatre, 410 Sherbourne St. $22.41. thephoenixconcerttheatre.com Woody’s Friday The Spartan Volleyball League tournament registration and party, 8–10pm; Best Men’s Ass Contest, with Georgie Girl, Farra N Hyte and $300 in cash prizes, at midnight; DJ Mark Falco on decks. Woody’s, 467 Church St. No cover. woodystoronto.com Puppy Love DJ Johnny B Goode spins tunes to encourage sweet wooing and a peck on the cheek. A portion of proceeds go to the Rose Centre for Sex and Disability. 10pm.

The Beaver, 1192 Queen St W. $7. id-tap-that.com DFMO DJs John Caffery and The Robotic Kid are sure to have the

20 NOV 13–26, 2014 XTRA!

crowd making out on the dancefloor. 10pm. Black Eagle, 457 Church St. $5. blackeagletoronto.com

The Fourth RunnHer-up Edition Her celebrates its fourth anniversary, with DJs Cozmic Cat, Peg Zilla and Omgblog.com spinning house, disco and electro.

Hosted by Allysin Chaynes. 11pm. La Perla, 783 Queen St W (upstairs). $5.

Sat, Nov 15 Love Shack Dance Party DJ Fred Schneider (B-52s) takes the crowd back to the ’80s. Dress up to win the Best ’80s Look competition, or just get an ’80s makeover during

Fit: Novembrrr — The Beaver, Sat, Nov 15 KRIS STEEVES

the night. 8pm. Phoenix Concert Theatre, 410 Sherbourne St. $20 advance, $30 door. thephoenixconcert theatre.com Fetish Night Reunion Party Northbound Leather, with Jimi LaMort, hosts a night of leather, rubber and PVC. Strict fetish dress code enforced.

9pm.

Club120, 120 Church St. $5 before 10pm, $20 after, $10 with pass. club120.ca Fit: Novembrrr DJs Kris Steeves and Phil V wanna warm you up! They spin big, happy house jams while Kinnon rocks the door in spandex. 10pm.

The Beaver, 1192 Queen St W. $5. beavertoronto.com Cherry Bomb: Deeper Shades of House DJs Cozmic Cat and Denise Benson, along with Hey!DW and Fawn Big Canoe, spin

deep house, tech and funk for the ladies the third Saturday of every month. 10pm. Round, 152A Augusta Ave. $5 before 11pm, $8 after. facebook.com/cherrybombtoronto Fly Saturday Local DJs show what spinning is all about to get the room shaking. 10:30pm. Fly 2.0, 8 Gloucester St. No cover for first 150 before 11:30pm, $10 before 1am, $15 after. flyyyz.com Sultry Saturday: Double X-Posure DJ Cajjmere Wray celebrates the music of Whitney Houston and Janet Jackson, with Devine Darlin performing a live tribute. Whitney Houston Live CD/ DVD combo giveaway. 11pm–3am.

Byzantium, 499 Church St. No cover. byz.ca

Sun, Nov 16 Rough House There’s nothing vanilla about this dungeon-cumhouse-party where mostly gay leather men participate in and watch the BDSM play. A friendly, laid-back event where rude behaviour and a failure to respect the no-means-no rule will result in being escorted out the door.

1–5pm. Club120, 120 Church St. $15. roughhouse.ca Woody’s Sunday The Hollywoody Broadway Show, hosted by Miss Conception, at 6pm; Old School, with host Georgie Girl saluting Barbra Streisand and giving away tickets to the Mirvish production of Buyer & Cellar, at 9pm; Five Smokin’ Hot Divas, hosted by Georgie Girl, with

Devine Darlin, Katinka Kature, Enya Dreams and guest, at 11pm. DJ Blue Peter on decks. Woody’s, 467 Church St. No cover. woodystoronto.com Karaoke Sunday Cajo hosts a night of unrestrained mic action. 9:30pm–1:30am. The Boat, 158 Augusta Ave. No cover. theboatkensington.com

Mon, Nov 17 Breaking Bad DJ X-Taci spins to welcome all the hot amateur guys, plus the regular pro pole dancers do their stuff. 8pm. Flash, 463 Church St. flashonchurch.com

Tues, Nov 18 Open Mic Shayne Taylor entices musicians, singers and dancers onto the stage in the weekly amateur event. 9pm–midnight. 120 Diner, 120 Church St. No cover. 120diner.com

Her — La Perla, Fri, Nov 14

Effervescence Donavon LeNabat performs at 9pm, with Natasha Buckeridge joining him at 10pm.

Zipperz-Cellblock, 72 Carlton St. No cover. facebook.com/zipperz

FRANK GRIGGS

College Night DJs Cajjmere Wray and Craig Dominic are back where it all started. Hosted by Devine Darlin. 11pm–3am. Marquis of Granby, 418 Church St. No cover. marquisofgranby.ca

Wed, Nov 19 Zipperz Wednesday Line dancing with the Toronto Wranglers in Cellblock, 7–10pm; the Drag Kings of Toronto, 11pm. Zipperz-Cellblock, 72 Carlton St. No cover. facebook.com/ zipperz

Thurs, Nov 20

Diablo DJ Relentless spins for the new Wednesday event in the Village.

10pm. Church, 504 Church St. No cover. churchonchurch.com

T-Girl Party DJ Todd Klinck spins upstairs for an evening of socializing with T-girls and their admirers. 8pm.

Club120, 120 Church St. $8 before 11pm, $15 after, additional $10 for allnight VIP booth access. club120.ca

TORONTO’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS

at 10pm; Femme Fatale, with Ivory Towers and Xtacy Love, at 11:30pm.

Crews & Tangos, 508 Church St. crewsandtangos.com Woody’s Saturday The THBS bowling league’s holiday party and show at 8pm; the Squirt Best Men’s Ass Contest, hosted by Sofonda Cox with Scarlett Bobo, gets the boys showing it for $300 in cash prizes at midnight; DJ Chris Steinbach on decks all night. Woody’s, 467 Church St. No cover. woodystoronto.com Jock Strap DJ Dwayne Minard spins dirty house for barely clad men and James Ahmed, who’s turning 30; plus, go-go boys in jockstraps shake their packages. 10:30pm–3am.

Marquis of Granby, 418 Church St. $5 before 11:30pm, $10 after. facebook.com/jockpartyto

Sun, Nov 23

Naked Night Strip down and join a diverse group of very social men in the buff for this long-standing event held the third Thursday of every month. Separate area for clothed folks. 10pm. Black Eagle, 457 Church St. No cover; $2 clothes check. blackeagletoronto.com

Fri, Nov 21 Bear Code It’s a night for bears picking up bears while the DJ makes the dancefloor move. The first and third Friday of every month. 10pm–

MORE AT DAILYXTRA.COM

3am. Black Eagle, 457 Church St. No cover. blackeagletoronto.com Pheromone Friday DJs Recklezz and Sister Mister spin at this weekly party for the ladies. 10pm. Garage, 477 Church St. $5. sistermisterto.com

Sat, Nov 22 Crews & Tangos Saturday Sizzling, with Michelle Ross and Carlotta Carlisle, at 6:30pm; Triple Threat, with Jada Hudson, Tynomi Banks and Alisha Van Horne, at 8:30pm; Superfly, with DJ Quinces, in Tangos

Toys for Tots Spearhead’s annual toy drive makes little kiddies happy and big leather dudes all the more cuddly. Cash donations also welcome. Proceeds support Dixon Hall and the Red Door Shelter.

Toys are collected at Woody’s (467 Church St) and Flash (463 Church St), 2–6pm, and the Black Eagle (457 Church St), 3–6pm. spearheadtoronto.com

Mon, Nov 24 Martini Monday Madness Glitz & Glam, with Carlotta Carlisle and Katinka Kature, at 9pm; Dirty Monday, with Daytona Bitch and Xtacy Love, at 11:30pm.

Crews & Tangos, 508 Church St. crewsandtangos.com

Tues, Nov 25

Cherry Bomb — Round, Sat, Nov 15

Bingo with a Twist DManda Tension works more than just the balls for a fun show and game. 9pm.

Pegasus, 489B Church St. No cover. pegasusonchurch.com Varsity Tuesday Sofonda Cox hosts the amateur So You Think You Can Strip? competition, with $100 in cash up for grabs. 11pm.

Remington’s, 379 Yonge St. $5 before 11pm, $7 after; no cover with student ID before 11pm, $2 after. remingtons.com

Wed, Nov 26 OUTrageous: The Guest Host Edition Ted Morris (CTV’s Comedy Now), filling in for Robert, opens with the traditional musical number before introducing comedians Richard Ryder, Dawn Whitwell and Stephen Sharpe. 8pm. Yuk Yuk’s, 224 Richmond St W. $15. yukyuks.com Crews & Tangos Wednesday Back End Burlesque, with Daytona Bitch and Red Herring, at 9pm; Soul Sistas, with Michelle Ross and Jada Hudson, at 11:30pm.

Crews & Tangos, 508 Church St. crewsandtangos.com College Night DJs Sumation and Cajjmere Wray take over two floors, spinning once again where it all started. Hosted by Devine Darlin. 11pm–3am. Marquis of Granby, 418 Church St. No cover. marquisofgranby.ca

Submit your event listing to listings@dailyxtra.com.

Deadline for the Nov 27 issue is Tues, Nov 18.

XTRA! NOV 13–26, 2014 21

DEEP DISH

1

2

BY ROLYN CHAMBERS & TONY FONG

Northbound Leather’s Scandal SAT, OCT 25 AT THE SOUND ACADEMY

No. Jian Ghomeshi is not at Northbound Leather’s 18th annual fetish fashion show.

And although the name of this year’s event is Scandal, it and the 54 pieces shown on the runway have nothing to do with his termination by the CBC for alleged sexual misconduct. But if Ghomeshi were at this year’s event he might find a partner who is into what he is (and would also learn what consent means), plus he would get some great fashion tips on what to wear while doing it. This is the last year the event, produced

by Paul Ciantar and designed

by Cheryl Kocot, is being held at The Sound Academy, as the space is scheduled for a major renovation under new owner Charles Khabouth, who recently sold the legendary Guvernment to condo developers. This is probably a good thing as the space is now far too large for the shrinking crowd that still attends. I blame the internet and the rise of camera phones.

Even the fetish scene would rather order in whips with a side of chains than go out.

Those who do go out are wary of being caught on camera.

And even though last year’s theme, iKink, paid homage to online sex, it seems harder than ever to lure the virtual crowd back to the real world.

The real scandal is that many of us are still jacked in. We need a modern-day Morpheus (who looks hotter than melting leather in his on-camera fetish wear) to rescue us from our online sexual matrix. But my friend who attends for the first time gets to wrestle and make out with a straight guy while his girlfriend watches. She consented.

1E Adam & Brennan 2E Jay, Chris, Blair & Chris 3E Maurice & Julien 4EVincent, Winston & Joe 5E Runway showgirls

22 NOV 13–26, 2014 XTRA!

AX Halloween

SAT, OCT 25 AT THE COURTHOUSE

No. Jian Ghomeshi is not at the AX Halloween costume party at the Courthouse. A week later, though, I do bump into a brown guy carrying a teddy bear that is blindfolded with electrical tape. The bear is meant to represent Ghomeshi’s now infamous stuffed toy, Big Ears Teddy, and he is meant to be Ghomeshi. Yes, Halloween is the time where an ugly real-life episode can become the next hot costume. Tonight, however, inside the Courthouse, the costumed crowd is sporting more politically correct creations, like angels, devils and Pikachus, oh my.

And wouldn’t it be an interesting world if we always accepted the sight of Aquaman getting felt up by a slightly overweight Ninja whose moves aren’t so silent on the dancefloor? And though headliner Sofonda could easily pass as Ghomeshi (out of drag), she instead keeps the crowd in a trance performing as a psychotic jack-in-thebox come to choreographed life alongside two killer clown backup dancers. Her makeup is beyond perfect, while the costume (which she made herself ) is award-worthy creepy.

Add a hot lineup of gyrating go-go dancers working stripper poles to DJ Alex and not one but three other performances

by AX Maximus, Daija Vu and the incredible Nikki Chin to tonight’s bill and you’ve got a party that keeps going like an Energizer bunny. Or perhaps a stuffed bear whose ears are too big for its own good.

3

4

5 6

8

7

6E Daija Vu 7E Jasmine, Snow Queen & Andrew 8E JJ Wotta & Nikki Chin’s zombie boys 9E Alex, Jim & Richard 10E Super Chris & Johnny

Deep Dish appears in every other issue of Xtra.

For this week’s Xposed column, by Anna Pournikova, go to dailyxtra.com.

99

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TORONTO’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS

A world of gay adventure

Travel

Honolulu STORY & PHOTOS

BY ANDREW COLLINS

It’s a typically sunny, gently breezy Saturday in Honolulu; surfers, stand-up paddlers and sailboats ply the waters just off the city’s famed Waikiki Beach, which is lined with sleek hotel towers and upscale resorts. The iconic volcanic cone known as Diamond Head looms to the southeast. Gaggles of buffed and tanned gay guys and, to a lesser extent, lesbians congregate along the relatively secluded stretch of sand known as Queen’s Surf. Later in the day, a group of LGBT revellers will head out on the weekly gay catamaran booze cruise hosted by long-running Hula’s Bar and Lei Stand. In the evening, social butterflies will dance and mingle back at Hula’s and at a halfdozen other gay lounges and clubs in central Waikiki.

If you came to Honolulu hoping to meet fellow gay travellers and looking for nightlife — along with slick MORE AT DAILYXTRA.COM

shopping centres and lively restaurants all within a short walk of the beach and one another — you chose the right place. This vibrant city of nearly 400,000 on the southern tip of Oahu, Hawaii’s third largest island, supports the most pronounced queer scene in the state. Sure, you’ll discover plenty of family on Hawaii’s other major islands, and the state is among the most LGBT-friendly of any tropical destination in the world, but Honolulu has the archipelago’s only gay clubs (except for one little neighbourhood bar, The Mask, on the Big Island) and is home to a 24-hour men’s gym and bathhouse, Max’s Gym. This capital city with the state’s largest airport also hosts Hawaii’s largest Pride event, the Honolulu Pride parade, in June, along with the LGBT Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival the same month.

While Honolulu and its Waikiki district are the hub of Hawaii’s gay scene, visitors seeking a bit more in the way of cultural and arts attractions or reward-

The capital city and its Waikiki district are the hub of Hawaii’s gay scene

ing hikes in verdant rainforests and along less-crowded beaches will find plenty to see and do elsewhere on this 567-square-kilometre island.

Top attractions You can easily divide Oahu’s key sightseeing opportunities into two categories: those in metro Honolulu, which you can reach with short cab and bus rides; and those farther afield, requiring either a rental car or a more extensive effort on the island’s public bus authority. Among the former, don’t miss the poignant monument to one of the 20th century’s seminal military conflicts, Pearl Harbor, which is part of World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument. Other must-see Honolulu sites include the dazzling residence of Hawaiian royalty, Iolani Palace; the exceptional Honolulu Museum of Art, along with the fabulously ornate former Continued next page E

Top, the funky town of Haleiwa, with its galleries, boutiques and inexpensive restaurants, is the focal point of the surfing scene on Oahu’s North Shore. Above, Pearl Harbor is part of the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument.

XTRA! NOV 13–26, 2014 25

E Continued from previous page

home of Doris Duke, Shangri La, which the museum offers guided tours of; and the bustling Chinatown district, with its growing number of hipsterflavoured, mixed gay/straight lounges and restaurants — Bar 35 and Downbeat Diner & Lounge are favourites and the First Friday arts parties are fun. Outside the city itself, there’s incredible surfing along Oahu’s North Shore, centred near the funky town of Haleiwa, which has some cute galleries, boutiques and inexpensive restaurants. And on the Windward (east) shore, you’ll find a number of stunning areas for hiking and beachcombing, including Lanikai Beach (and the nearby Pillboxes Trail), Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve and Koko Crater.

Accommodations Waikiki abounds with gay-friendly lodgings in just about every price range (although rates are consistently among the highest of any beach destination in North America). Those seeking pampering and opulence might consider the historic Royal Hawaiian (aka, the Pink Palace of the Pacific) or the more secluded Kahala Hotel & Resort, a favourite for its interactive Dolphin Quest encounter program. Stylish, contemporary and centrally located mid-priced lodgings include two fairly new Joie de Vivre properties, the Coconut Waikiki and Shoreline Hotel; the boutique-y 26 NOV 13–26, 2014 XTRA!

Clockwise from top: Honolulu’s famed Waikiki Beach is lined with sleek hotel towers and upscale resorts. Bacchus is a swank gay cocktail bar in Waikiki.

Crouching Lion Bar & Grill is located on Oahu’s scenic Windward Coast.

Aston Hotel Renew; and the hip new Vive Hotel Waikiki. If you’re trying to save money, Aqua Waikiki Joy and the no-frills Ewa Hotel are good options convenient to gay bar-hopping.

Bars Waikiki is Hawaii’s hub of gay nightlife, with the aforementioned Hula’s Bar & Lei Stand the most celebrated and well-established mixed gay/lesbian venue for dancing, drinking and eating (there’s a great tapas menu). Other fun hangouts in the neighbourhood include Bacchus, a swank little cocktail bar; Fusion, which has dancing

and drag shows; LoJax, a gay sports bar; and Tapa’s, which draws plenty of regulars and tourists for karaoke and cheap drink specials. There is one fun gay-owned, mixed restaurant and bar located out on the island’s scenic Windward Coast: Crouching Lion Bar & Grill is an inviting stop for a cocktail after a day of road-tripping around Oahu’s scenic eastern and northern shores. The ocean views from the bar’s patio are sensational.

For the most up-to-date travel information on gay Honolulu, see our online city, listings, events and activities guides at dailyxtra.com.

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XTRA HOT

DRASKO BOGDANOVIC

NAME: JAS DER, AKA DJ LINGUIST AGE: 28 SIGN: AQUARIUS

“Language is so central to humans — the complexity of human languages, their differences, similarities, histories. All of it is just so fascinating to me,” says Jas, attempting to explain the DJ moniker. “Language can be studied in so many contexts: psychology, anthropology, sociology, neurology, philosophy . . . Lately, I’ve been listening to nu-disco and indie dance again because I’m planning on incorporating that into a new monthly party coming up,” Jas says. “But I always find myself going back to my favourite tribal-tech DJs and producers. Saeed Younan’s live-mix recordings are at the top of my playlist.”

Catch Linguist spinning Sat, Dec 13 at The Steady, 1051 Bloor St W. Facebook: facebook.com/heylinguist | Mixcloud: mixcloud.com/linguist To comment on or become an Xtra Hot guy or gal, email Drasko at xtrahot@dailyxtra.com.

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