Xtra Ottawa #239

HARM REDUCTION

Successful programs at risk ›7

NUDITY RULING

Bare bums okay in some public spaces ›10

OTTAWA’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS

SEX & SAMOSAS

Local writer wants you to touch yourself ›20 #239 JAN 19, 2012

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GUIDEMAG.COM TRAVEL SECTION Munich & Cologne ›11–14

Unspooled

Carl Stewart stitches together disparate memories ›15

COMMENT 4 XCETERA 5 NEWS 7 OUT IN THE CITY 15 XPOSED 21

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Ottawa’s gay & lesbian news

XTRA! JAN 19, 2012

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XTRA! JAN 19, 2012

Roundup JAN 19, 2012

#239

Bookshelves at Vancouver’s Little Sister’s bookstore.

dentist

INVESTIGATION

The end of gay bookstores? › 9

The owner of After Stonewall fears his store will close within months; many believe other queer booksellers are not far behind. Xtra spoke to staff at Canada’s four remaining gay bookshops to find out how much longer they can keep their doors open.

NEWS

Reducing harm

Activists say the Conservative government’s omnibus crime bill will threaten successful harmreduction programs. An Xtra investigation looks at how this will affect Ottawa’s HIV and hepatitis C prevalence rates, which are some of the highest in the country. ›7

Trans passports

The federal government has told trans Canadians they must have sex reassignment surgery if they want to change their genders on their passports. Xtra speaks to several activists fighting for legal recognition on all documents. ›8

OUT IN THE CITY

Tribute to a lost brother

Ottawa artist Carl Stewart’s brother was struck and killed by a car in 1970. On the anniversary of what would have been his brother’s 40th birthday, Stewart has created a touching new project in his memory. ›15

I see gay people

Do you wonder what 2012 will bring? Well, question no more. Let gay psychic Michael Stapley gaze into your eyes and predict your future when he touches down in Ottawa for a special extrasensory performance on Feb 11. ›19

COVER PHOTO BY RÉMI THÉRIAULT

ONLINE

Peggy Nash’s gay politics

Toronto MP Peggy Nash was the first contender for Jack Layton’s former job to release a series of queer priorities. Xtra spoke with Nash about gay youth, bullying and the economy. ›xtra.ca

The advocate

Xtra profiles Kevin Kindred, a Nova Scotia lawyer and queer rights advocate who helped win a major court battle so that two lesbian mothers could be recognized on their child’s birth certificate. ›xtra.ca

REGULARS

Comment ›4 Xcetera ›5 Xposed ›21 Classifieds ›22 COLUMNS

Editorial ›4 LISTINGS

Art & photography ›16 Film & video ›16 Health & issues ›16 Leisure & pleasure ›18 Print & performance ›19

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Comment Death of the gay bookshop?

Editorial Danny Glenwright

“I know my place. It’s among books.

That’s the sort of worm I am.”

– Canadian poet Mary Dalton (The Globe and Mail, Jan 6)

I

’M THE SAME SORT OF WORM AS Mary Dalton. I think reading books is one of the most joyous experiences in life. If I go more than a few days without spending time curled up with a book, I suffer withdrawal, a similar feeling to what I experience if I don’t get a morning coffee, or if I’ve been away from physical activity too long.

And I agree with writer Andrew Ross in his claim that “the smallest bookstore still contains more ideas of worth than have been presented in the entire history of television.”

When I turn on my TV I get depressed about our world — from Airplane Repo to the Kardashians to Work It. When I watch television it’s not hard to imagine the world could very well end later this year.

Never before have we aimed more precisely for, and hit, the lowest common denominator.

In bookstores I am more hopeful.

But independent bookshops are under threat. For gay and lesbian bookshops this is even more true — if queer bookstores were a species, they’d be listed on the critically endangered list. In Canada there are only four left in the wild.

To many, the writing has been

on the wall since Tom Hanks’s big box tried to gobble Meg Ryan’s tiny bookstore in You’ve Got Mail. And that was when the internet was just taking off.

The victims of the internet are both arbitrary and diverse: print media, Blockbuster video, privacy, music CDs, North African dictatorships, Anthony Weiner and soon, bookstores. And while the Steve Jobs bio topped last year’s bestseller lists, the iPad, one of his many gifts to our technology-addicted world, is one of the main reasons bookstores are hemorrhaging customers faster than Glee loses ratings.

Yet while Amazon offers lower prices, Indigo boasts a larger selection, and Kindle fits in big pockets, I still pay that extra fiver for the experience of an independent bookstore.

There is a sense of community in a bookstore, a shared love of not only the stories, but also the smell and touch of a book. Similarly, it is nice to speak with salespeople who love books and actually know about them.

As a young gay man I remember finding this community two times over in Canada’s independent gay bookstores. It was double the pleasure. I have discovered books in gay bookstores I would never have thought to search for online.

For these reasons I also still rent movies from a video store; I can count on one hand the number of foreign films available from Rogers on Demand.

But people like me are on the vulnerable list, too; in these belttightening times such loyalties are expensive to maintain. I think we are also lazier than ever before. Some

INBOX Bank St Village

predict we’ll soon have no reason to leave the house. How sad.

However, an Xtra investigation has found that while some gay bookstores, such as Ottawa’s After Stonewall and Toronto’s Glad Day (which both now sell just eight books a day), are candles in the wind, others are surviving and even thriving.

Vancouver’s Little Sister’s sells 60 books a day and Toronto’s Good for Her sells 30.

The key to this success seems to be a willingness to adapt and change with the times.

This means staying ahead of the curve and diversifying. Little Sister’s and Good for Her both also sell sex toys, porn and other queer paraphernalia. Both shops have embraced online shopping and incorporated it in a way that allows owners to make money even if customers want to shop from home.

Little Sister’s is open 91 hours a week, compared to After Stonewall’s 52 hours. At Good for Her, owners have set aside five hours each week when the store is open only for women and trans customers.

These stores both carry fewer titles, but managers choose what they do stock according to customer needs.

In the end, this may not save these shops from the same fate as those that have already shut their doors.

It probably is a losing battle.

So for those who still love the smell and touch of a real book, I encourage you to get out there and buy one from a gay bookstore today.

It may be the last chance you get.

Danny Glenwright is Xtra’s assignment 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.

Pre-approvals

THE GUYS I KNOW WHO ARE POSITIVE WENT ALL-OUT ON PARTY DRUGS AND RECKLESS ABANDON.

T H IS IS A WON DE R F U L development for Ottawa and our country [“Building a Gay Village,” xtra.ca, Jan 10]. As someone who spends time in Ottawa occasionally, I can confirm that this is a welcome concept for gay visitors. I do have to disagree about the significance of its proximity to Parliament, however. It is more significant that it is close to the Supreme Court of Canada, where the real progress has been made for our communities, not in Parliament.

Douglas Elliott Toronto, ON

Stephen Lewis YOU NEED TO HAVE A WORD with the editor writing your headlines. Stephen Lewis apologizes for neglecting HIV/AIDS [Racing to Find Time,” Xtra #238, Dec 8]? Apologizes? Jesus . . . this guy has been kicking against the government’s door for years and is strongly and sharply critical of their many failures. How could you interpret any of his comments as an apology? He’s sorry his important work on an international level doesn’t leave him much time to focus on Canada alone. And this is what you chose to pull out for your hed? Of everything in the article? Pathetic.

Deb Matthews Toronto, ON

Preventing HIV GOOD ARTICLE [“PREVENTING the Spread of HIV,” Xtra #238, Dec 8]. Yes, hep C and HIV are rampant in Ottawa, and you can bet there are way more than 68,000 cases in Canada.

Most don’t know or never seek treatment. The guys I know who are positive went all-out on party drugs and reckless abandon. I tell anyone that

Gay bookstores ON A RECENT TRIP TO Vancouver, I stopped in at Little Sister’s and bought a few books.

They had books by local authors that had been signed — something you can’t get from an online big box — and I was happy to pay the little extra money [“The Way of the Dodo,” xtra.ca, Jan 17]. Conversely, I recently attended a book-signing for Glad Day. I talked to the owner about advertising for the event, as I believe two people showed up other than myself. He said that’s the way the book world was now, that no one cared. I asked him how he had advertised. He said he had posted a message on Glad Day’s Facebook page.

I checked when I got home and I saw the group had only 139 members and its homepage was last updated in June.

The owner said the world was moving too fast and he wasn’t interested in keeping up with it, that he didn’t know how to advertise anymore and was waiting for bankruptcy. During the actual reading, the owner talked quite loudly to someone beside him, drowning out the author. When you organize events in this way, saying you’ve given up on trying to keep up with the way the world works, I’m not sure what other result you could be expecting.

Adam Dunn Toronto, ON

Send your correspondence by mail to PO Box 70063, 160 Elgin St-Place Bell RPO, Ottawa, ON K2P 2M3, email comment@xtra.ca, or log in to xtra.ca and comment directly.

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I can: the best-looking, fit and party guys are by far the most likely to get or have HIV. They have many more offers, partners, orgies, parties. Yes, we all crave bareback stuff, naturally: we need the intimacy. Jordan, there is a vaccine around the corner (but up to five years unless fast-tracked by FDA), and things look good for better meds. Still, I know the temptation and can only hope guys avoid the most dangerous stuff.

Rick Pembroke, ON

Refinances

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DILDO? Greg Davis, the conservative, family-values mayor of Southaven, Mississippi, billed his constituents for a $67 purchase at Priape, a Toronto gay sex shop. When an investigation into a spending scandal turned up the receipts, Davis came out as a gay man but said he couldn’t recall what he’d bought. The giant douche’s shopping list may have included the Mini Douche StreemMaster ($25), a dildo moulded after François Sagat’s penis ($59.95), a 16-ounce bottle of Gun Oil ($59.95), the Rascal Anal Initiation Kit ($50.95), the Priape Hulk dildo (10.25” long and 10” around, $49.95) or some appropriately titled porn, like installments of the Men Hard at Work series ($29.95).

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THEY’RE BACK!

SEE DIFFERENTLY English & French Service

PRAYERS

Please, God, make them gay Every morning at Xtra, the editorial pool gathers to pray the gay onto Jake Gyllenhaal, Djimon Hounsou, Zooey Deschanel, Christina Hendricks, Chris Pine, Henry Cavill, Helen Mirren and Stephen Harper. What’s the harm in trying?

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Published by Pink Triangle Press PUBLISHER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Brandon Matheson EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Matt Mills ASSIGNMENT EDITOR Danny Glenwright COPY EDITOR Lesley Fraser

EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS ISSUE Luna Allison, Nick Aveling, Kandace Blaker, Layla Cameron, Chris Dupuis, Samantha Everts, Eric Faure, Jeremy Hainsworth, Andrea Houston, Serafin LaRiviere, Rob Salerno, Andi Schwartz, Dale Smith, Janice Thiessen, Katie Toth & Carolyn Yates

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Upfront HEALTH

WITHOUT THE SEX DESIGNATION CHANGE, TRANS PEOPLE ARE PUT IN CONSTANT DANGER. Talia Johnson › 8

COMMUNITY NEWS

Harm-reduction programs threatened Layla Cameron L O C A L A D V O C AT E S F O R successful harm-reduction programs are arguing that the federal omnibus crime bill places drug users at a higher risk of contracting diseases like HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C. It’s a “regressive piece of legislation,” says Sandra Chu, senior policy analyst at the Canadian HIV/ AIDS Legal Network, noting that infection rates are 10 times higher for HIV and 30 times higher for hepatitis C in prisons.

If it becomes law, Bill C-10 will increase the use of mandatory minimum sentences for low-level drug offences, introduce them for lawful consensual sexual activities of youth and young adults, and create tougher penalties for production of drugs.

“The tough-on-crime bill is going to be tough on people who use drugs,” says Rob Boyd, the director of the Oasis program at Sandy Hill Community Health Centre. “We need to use a health approach to the issue of addictions, rather than a criminal approach.”

Harm-reduction initiatives in Ottawa currently range from needle exchange programs to distributing clean crack pipes. Oasis offers nu-

IF THERE’S NEEDLE AND SYRINGE PROGRAMS IN THE COMMUNITY AND WE RECOGNIZE THEIR VALUE, WHY ARE WE DENYING THEM TO PEOPLE IN PRISON? merous services, including a dropin centre; health promotion events, such as movies about drug-use; and workshops on diseases.

A recent report by the Ottawa Integrated Drug and Addiction Strategy (OIDAS) initiative found that rates of infection for HIV and hepatitis C in Ottawa are among the highest in Ontario. It noted that Ottawa has the second highest HIV infection rate in the country, after Vancouver.

It also found that there are between 3,000 and 5,000 people in Ottawa who inject drugs; 70 percent of this group also smokes crack cocaine.

“There is evidence globally on the effectiveness of harm-reduction programs,” Chu says. “They have been proven to lower the risk behaviours that are associated with HIV and hepatitis C transmission.”

However, Chu says there is no equivalent healthcare available in prisons.

“People who are getting incarcerated under mandatory minimum sentencing for drug-related offences . . . don’t have access to things like needle exchange programs, or there’s a waiting list for treatment,” she says. “If there’s needle and syringe programs in the community and we recognize their value, why are we denying them to people in prison?”

The Conservative government argues that harm-reduction programs are a safety concern. Representatives from the Conservative Party declined to be interviewed for this story.

Chu says there are more than 60 prisons worldwide where these programs do exist, and there is no evidence the programs encourage drug use. There is evidence they raise the numbers of people who seek treatment.

Currently, the city offers a few services in an effort to provide and collect resources like clean needles, including a mobile van and a needledrop-box program. This program collected approximately 258,654 needles in 2010.

On Jan 9, Project STEP (Support, Treatment, Education and Prevention) reached its fundraising goal of $2.25 million to build a residential drug treatment facility for youth.

Caleb Chepesiuk, a member of the Ottawa chapter of Students for Sensible Drug Policy, says he became involved with the issue after city council cancelled the crack pipe exchange program.

Ottawa city staff collected 1,108 crack pipes in 2010, compared to 42 in 2006. However, as of July 2007, Ottawa Public Health stopped distributing sterile crack pipes or safer inhalation equipment. This means that although crack pipe use went up significantly between 2006 and 2010, there is no longer access to clean equipment from the city.

Chepesiuk says attacks against harm-reduction programs have been heightened at the national level.

Ottawa Police Chief Vern White, a recent appointee to the Senate, has also spoken against harm reduction.

Chepesiuk says harm reduction saves lives and money, lessening the strain on the healthcare system.

The OIDAS report states that “the financial cost for medications, liver transplants, healthcare and lost productivity is enormous.”

“Most people that don’t care about people,” Chepesiuk says, “at least care about money.”

Daniel Head, Karly Brohman and Ronak Gandhi hang out in Ottawa’s new gay village. JANICE THIESSEN

Building a great gaybourhood Village committee chair to step down to create more opportunities for community input Janice Thiessen AFTER A SIX-YEAR PUBLIC information campaign, among other concerted efforts, the Bank St Village, Ottawa’s gay neighbourhood, is officially established and Village committee chair Glenn Crawford says it’s time for him to step down.

Crawford was instrumental in envisioning and creating the Village, which is now 12 square blocks along Bank St that are set aside for all things queer.

“I’ve been very grateful to do the work. But it’s time for other people to shape the Village for the future,” he says. “It’s about celebrating the accomplishment and stepping back for others to move it forward. I’m very happy to be a part of this community, and it’s going to be an exciting next phase.”

Crawford reminds that it’s still early days for the Village. He says people should stay tuned for more development in 2012.

“There are a number of things going on at the moment. We’ve increased visibility and garnered support from businesses and helped develop two major public art projects. Now that we have established it, it’s about growing it,” he says.

“We are in the process of putting

together an online survey and planning a public community meeting for citizens and business owners alike to have an opportunity to ask questions and share thoughts. It’s a two-tier process. We need to determine what our new mission and vision is and what our first major steps are going to be in the new year.”

But what do local residents think of the new image for the community?

The gay community already knew the area as its home, but with the official designation, one member of Ottawa’s younger generation says he now feels part of a safe and protected community.

“Now we have a place where gay people and couples can walk down the street together. You can feel proud and comfortable because so many other people get it,” says young professional Daniel Head.

Somerset Councillor Diane Holmes has long supported the creation of a gay village for this other reasons.

“I think the Village is good for Bank St,” Holmes says. “All the studies have shown such villages in other cities are financially beneficial. The GLBT community has disposable income and spends more than the average shopper. The real estate values go up in a gay village,” she says. “Now that

the signs are up, I hope we will see the community expand businesses and put up more flags.”

However, Crawford says the fight to create a gay neighbourhood took years because it was originally opposed by businesses.

“The Bank St BIA was the most concerned stakeholder,” Crawford says. “I don’t think it came from malicious or negative perspectives, but it took us six years to explain what our vision and mission was — clearing misunderstandings.”

Comparatively speaking, the creation of a gay village in Ottawa took longer than other Canadian cities, such as Montreal, Vancouver and Toronto, which have had established gay neighbourhoods for many years.

“It’s a way to put us on the map within the metropolitan scene,” Head says. “Also, the Village is so close to Parliament, within a few blocks of where legislation has been passed to promote gay rights in Canada. It’s a good sign.”

Head is quick to point out, however, that despite progress in battling homophobia, there are still reports of members of the queer community being harassed in Byward Market and other parts of downtown.

“The Village is an area that we won’t be heckled,” he says. “If you’re not comfortable with gay culture, you shouldn’t make other people feel that way. You would look like an idiot heckling in the Village. The Village is gayfriendly. You can be yourself because there are supporters there.”

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Ottawa’s gay & lesbian news

XTRA! JAN 19, 2012

NEWS

Trans people and passports Federal government says surgery a prerequisite for gender change Andrea Houston TA L I A J O H N S O N I S N E RVO U S about travelling. One look at her passport tells border guards everything they need to know about her gender status.

Johnson, who has had her name legally changed, now wants to change the sex designation on her passport — a simple correction from “m” to “f” — to ensure all her documents accurately reflect her gender.

The federal government says trans people must undergo sex reassignment surgery (SRS) or provide a letter guaranteeing the procedure will take place within a year.

The Ottawa resident has not yet had SRS, mainly due to the financial cost of the surgery. She would also have to take time off work and travel to Toronto. “The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health [CAMH] in Toronto is the only organization in Ontario that offers SRS. There is a long wait and it’s not easy to get.”

“The status now is I don’t have a passport. Without the sex designation change, trans people are put in constant danger while travelling under the assumed sex. At this point in my life, I will have trouble if I travel.”

Susan Gapka, chair of the Trans Health Lobby Group, has been working on this issue for years. Her group is pushing to make transitioning easier by opening up access to SRS and removing the red tape around changing legal documents.

“If your legal documents don’t match at the border, there could be problems,” Gapka says. “I have had bad experiences at the airport. You can be singled out for looking different. A police officer could ask questions. It opens the door to harassment and discrimination.”

Gapka and Johnson both agree that surgery does not determine whether a person is trans.

Gender identity is complex, Gapka says. At the root is a misconception that a person’s sex is biologically determined, but for trans people, there is a mismatch between body and gender.

Transition is fluid and can take many forms over a number of years. Some trans people never undergo surgery; some simply “pass” or choose to play with gender roles. For others, hormones are enough. Each experience is unique.

Gapka says this is a concept the federal government can’t seem to grasp.

“There’s a lot of variables when it comes to transsexual surgery,” she says.

WITHOUT THE SEX DESIGNATION CHANGE, TRANS PEOPLE ARE PUT IN CONSTANT DANGER WHILE TRAVELLING UNDER THE ASSUMED SEX.

— Talia Johnson

Talia Johnson wants her passport to reflect her gender.

“There are differences between surgery for trans men and trans women . . .

We really need to make it easier for people’s legal documents to match who they really are.”

Passport Canada declined an inter-

view with Xtra. Instead, spokesperson Béatrice Fénelon sent an email response that confirmed the current policy. If the applicant has not undergone SRS, medical documentation must be provided stating that the applicant will be undergoing surgery in the next 12 months.

The fight to change sex designation on legal documents is ongoing between the trans community and all levels of government, Gapka says. The law is forcing people to be dishonest, she says.

The system should make it easy for people to update their legal documents.

Gapka would like to see the system harmonized and modernized. “We have a passport that uses one criteria; we have a driver’s licence in Ontario that uses a different criteria, then other ID

like the birth certificate, which uses a different criteria.”

At the provincial level, activists are pushing to change the Vital Statistics Act, which is the governing document for all personal statistics. “The name, sex, place of birth and the parents are all recorded at birth,” says Gapka.

In Ontario, the government requires a medical letter confirming SRS before allowing a change in the birth certificate. Government policies for other documentation vary, but many ask for medical proof that the individual is transsexual rather than accept self-identification.

“It should be easy for people. These regulations are 30 to 40 years out of date,” says Gapka.

NDP MPP Cheri DiNovo (Parkdale– High Park) is tabling Bill 70, known as Toby’s Act, for the fourth time on Feb 21. The bill would insert “gender identity” into the Ontario Human Rights Code. If it were to be adopted, the door would open for challenges to other rules, like those that govern the vital statistics on legal documents, DiNovo says.

“That’s the first thing that needs to happen because it all comes from that,” she says. “The bill will allow challenges to anything that isn’t inclusive for trans folks. If you can’t discriminate on the basis of gender identity under the OHRC, then accommodation will have to be made in terms of everything else, and documentation is part of that.”

LOCAL NEWS

xtra.ca is the definitive news source for gay and lesbian Canadians

Carleton Sexual Assault Centre to open in September CARLETON UNIVERSITY WILL offer peer support services at a sexual assault centre due to open in September, administrators announced Jan 3.

In an email to the Carleton University community, Equity Services director Linda Capperauld said the centre will operate as a non-medical model “with student-centred services at its core.”

The announcement came the day before the Coalition for a Carleton Sexual Assault Centre was to present at the board of governors meeting, advocating for student-run, peer support services.

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Julie Lalonde says Carleton University Health providers are out of touch with the queer community.

The plans to open the centre come in the wake of a recent surge of assaults on campus and years of student lobbying for a student-run centre.

Initially, the centre was presented as a university-run service that would employ medical professionals, but student groups and some faculty were unhappy with the proposal.

Coalition member Julie Lalonde says the coalition was told the centre would not use peer support and students would have no decision-making power.

Professor Jennifer Evans says agreeing to student-run peer support is a step, but students deserve equal power in running the centre.

“Students have proven they are organized, responsible and dedicated to anti-violence education and services,” she says. “They have earned a voice in decision making.”

The peer-support model benefits queer students, says Dillon Black, an organizer with Fierce!Ottawa, a collective for queer, trans and feminist activists.

Currently, students can receive counselling at Equity Services or Health and Counselling Services, but neither can adequately support queer students, Black says. “[The staff ] might have counselling degrees, but they might not have experience with queer and trans people,” they* say.

Queer people experience disproportionate rates of violence, but their experiences are often trivialized and invalidated by mainstream medical professionals, they say.

Lalonde agrees that this is a concern with the medical model.

“The people at Health and Counselling are really out of touch with what queer people are experiencing,” she says.

The medical model is particularly alienating for queer students, considering the history of pathologizing the community, Black says.

“The only place for queer people to really go [on campus] is the GLBTQ Centre,” they say, noting that staff members at the GLTBQ Centre go through active-listening and saferspace training and can offer peer-topeer services to students.

Though there is no programming in place yet, Black says the university needs to work with student groups and undergo more complex training to provide appropriate services to queer students. *Dillon Black does not identify as male or female and wishes to be referred to as “they.”

— Andi Schwartz

HIV-criminalization case headed back to court A 30-YEAR-OLD ONTARIO MAN received the news Jan 9 that he is to stand trial on four counts of attempted murder for having unprotected sex without disclosing his HIV-positive status.

Ian Carter, the lawyer of the accused, says he will appeal the decision.

At a preliminary hearing in July 2011, Ontario Court Justice David Wake had dropped the charges, arguing there was no reasonable evidence the accused had intent to kill when he allegedly had unprotected sex.

At the time, the court noted that medical advancements in HIV/AIDS treatment mean the disease is no longer inevitably fatal.

Ontario Superior Court Justice Al-

bert Roy overturned that decision on Jan 9. A publication ban was issued at the July hearing on evidence relating to the case.

The accused will stand trial for more than 20 charges related to unprotected sexual contact with eight people, including aggravated assault, possession of child pornography and two counts of administering a noxious substance.

He is to appear for a pretrial motion on June 25 in the Superior Court, but Carter says his client has a tentative court date of March 9, and litigations are ongoing.

Cecile Kazatchkine, a policy analyst at the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, says the case is rare. She notes that most cases involving nondisclosure result in an aggravated assault charge.

“In most cases there is no intent to kill,” she says, citing the 1998 Supreme Court Cuerrier decision, which set the precedent. It ruled that failing to inform sexual partners of positive HIV status, regardless whether infection occurs, is viewed as fraud and amounts to aggravated assault. “There is no need to prove intent in that circumstance,” she says.

In February the Supreme Court will hear two appeals involving HIV criminalization. In both cases the accused are convicted of aggravated sexual assault for engaging in unprotected sex without disclosing their HIV-positive statuses.

“It’s definitely a trend in Canada to prosecute people living with HIV for not disclosing,” Kazatchkine says.

“There is a question of whether or not people with an undetectable viral load level should be considered a significant risk of transmission.”

— Janice Thiessen

more at xtra.ca

XTRA! JAN 19, 2012

BOOKS

The way of the dodo A grim future for Canada’s gay bookstores Carolyn Yates

AFTER STONEWALL, OTTAWA’S GAY bookstore, now makes just eight sales a day.

Toronto’s Glad Day reports similar numbers, and its owner, John Scythes, wants to make one more: he recently announced that the store is for sale.

“I’m not sure how much longer I’ll be here,” says Scythes. He hasn’t been able to pay himself in two months.

Glad Day’s new owners will have their work cut out for them.

Gay and independent bookstores have been closing en masse the past few years: Montreal’s L’Androgyne in 2002; New York’s Oscar Wilde Bookshop, previously the oldest gay bookstore in North America, in 2009; and Toronto’s This Ain’t the Rosedale Library in 2010.

Once important fixtures in Canada’s gay communities, these bookstores are under threat because of recession, online competition and a shrinking customer base.

Beating the lower prices of larger competitors is a challenge, and bookstores must also compete with the growing e-book phenomenon.

“It’s hard for us to sell a [more expensive] copy unless it’s signed or there’s a specific interest in it. That’s the main thing that’s putting us out of business,” Scythes says.

For example, Persistence: All Ways Butch and Femme, a collection edited

by Ivan E Coyote and Zena for Arsenal Pulp Press, was a top seller at both Vancouver’s Little Sister’s Book and Art Emporium and the Toronto Women’s Bookstore, which both sell it for $21.95, the listed price. At Glad Day, it sells for $21.95, plus $9.50 for shipping if customers purchase it through Glad Day’s shop on Abe Books, an online marketplace.

On Indigo’s website, it costs $16.68, and on Amazon, it goes for $15.85 before shipping. The e-book version sells for even less. Larger buyers receive big discounts from publishers, and smaller stores can’t compete with these prices. If Little Sister’s sold the book at a comparable price, it would lose money.

After Stonewall owner David Rimmer says he sells only a handful of books each day. JENN FARR

Filling the shelves is also a challenge. Publishers now market books in less traditional ways, and many reach customers directly. Carlyle Jansen, founder of Good for Her, a queer- and trans-positive sex shop, has noticed this shift with big publishers, though she says independent publishers still approach her.

Independent publisher Arsenal Pulp Press markets both directly to consumers and to retailers, though publisher Brian Lam says reaching queer bookstores has become less rewarding.

“The increasing scarcity of LGBT bookstores [has] made it more onerous for us to reach the LGBT market, who sadly are not as loyal to LGBT bookstores as they were when they were the only game in the town. Now, LGBT consumers can order online,” says Lam. Marketing in queer bookstores is also no longer a priority for authors, who now have other ways to reach their audiences.

“Having an online presence is becoming more crucial,” says Brian Francis, Toronto-based author of Fruit and Natural Order. “[But] at the end of the day, you want readers to respond

to your book on their own terms; you don’t want to feel like you’re forcing yourself on them.”

Francis also notes that gay and independent bookstores can provide opportunities larger stores can’t.

“In an independent bookstore, you have to do the hand-sell — you have a clientele that know what they’re looking for and staff who can offer that,” he says. “If you go into a large bookstore, gay and lesbian or queer titles are pushed into a corner somewhere, while with something like Glad Day, it’s more like deciding what your genre is.”

As stocking and selling books becomes more difficult, many gay bookstores depend on additional items, such as sex toys and porn, for sales.

Even major retailers, such as Chapters, carry more than books. After Stonewall sells paper products — books, magazines and greeting cards — exclusively, in part due to its location across the street from Wilde’s, the sex and Pride shop. “It’s kind of meaningless for me to even try. I don’t have the room,” says owner David Rimmer.

Meanwhile, Good for Her sells books to supplement its other products. Jansen says that while books do not form

the majority of the store’s sales, they are important for customers who want in-depth information. The variety of other products makes a range of titles and subjects possible.

“We don’t necessarily just carry the things that are going to make us money.

We carry several titles that we might only sell one or two copies of a year, but they serve a more marginalized community, and we think it’s important to have them,” says Jansen.

At Little Sister’s, books on a range of subjects will always have their place.

“We’ve always depended on the books in terms of what we are as a bookstore and what we offer to the community: the diversity of our collection, the knowledge of what’s here, and the understanding of how important it is to find a book when you’re coming out or when you’re a trans kid,” says Janine Fuller, manager of Little Sister’s.

That element of community is essential to queer bookstores, but for stores such as Glad Day and After Stonewall, that foundation is shrinking. “[Glad Day] had a much bigger role 10 or 15 years ago as a cultural part of the community, because people could come here and get their books, their erotica, their movies, their news, their theory,” says Scythes. “Now they can order everything off the internet.”

Rimmer says aging gay readers are not being replaced by younger members of the community, and there is “absolutely nothing” he can do to offset that decline.

However, unlike Little Sister’s, which has a large internet presence, online community building plays a minimal role for After Stonewall, which does not have a website or online store and depends on Rimmer’s personal Facebook presence.

Rimmer is not optimistic about the future of book-only gay bookstores, including his own. After Stonewall currently operates without a single paid staff member, and Rimmer says the rest of the shop’s lifespan can be measured in months. He notes that a widening range of products can work for some stores, but not for all.

“If [stores] have the capability to expand beyond books and do the supermarket thing, where you have lube and poppers and movies and all that, then that’s still a viable proposition.

But a stand-alone store selling books and other paper products is pretty well sunk.”

Then there were four AFTER STONEWALL

Opened: 1990 Location: 370 Bank St, Ottawa Hours open per week: 52 Store size: 700 square feet Number of books: 5,000 titles Number of staff: 4 Number of paid staff: 0 Average sales per day: 8 Average sales from web: 0% of total business Average age of customer: 50+ Online: personal Facebook page

GLAD DAY

Opened: 1970 Location: 598A Yonge St, Toronto Hours open per week: 60.5 Store size: 1,200 square feet Number of books: 8,000 titles Number of staff: 2 Number of paid staff: 1 Average sales per day: 8 Average sales from web: 5% of total business Average age of customer: 40–45 Online: website (no shopping), Abe Books (shopping), Twitter, Facebook

GOOD FOR HER

Opened: 1997 Location: 175 Harbord St, Toronto Hours open per week: 48, + 5 for women & trans customers only Total staff: 6 Number of paid staff: 6 Store size: 500 square feet Number of books: 170 titles Average sales per day: 30 Average sales from web: 20% of total business Average age of customer: early 20s to 50s Online: website (with shopping), Twitter, Facebook

LITTLE SISTER’S

Opened: 1983 Location: 1238 Davie St, Vancouver Hours open per week: 91 Total staff: 11 Number of paid staff: 11 Store size: 3,000 square feet Number of books: 3,700 total Average sales per day: 60 Average sales from web: 10–15% of total business Average age of customer: teenagers to seniors Online: website (with shopping), dedicated sex-toy website (with shopping), Twitter, Facebook, YouTube

9

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Ottawa’s gay & lesbian news

XTRA! JAN 19, 2012

NATIONAL NEWS

Can BC sex workers trial proceed?

THE SUPREME COURT OF CANADA will hear arguments Jan 19 on the federal government’s appeal of a decision that allows BC sex workers to challenge Canada’s criminal laws on adult prostitution.

It’s not the laws themselves that are at issue before the top court. Rather, lawyers will address whether or not those attempting to challenge the laws in BC Supreme Court have the legal right to present their case.

On Oct 12, 2010, BC’s Court of Appeal ruled that former sex worker Sheryl Kiselbach and Downtown Eastside Sex Workers United Against Violence Society (SWUAV) would be allowed to proceed with their challenge to three sections of Canada’s Criminal Code dealing with prostitution. The Court of Appeal sent the case back to BC Supreme Court to be heard in the public interest.

BC Supreme Court Justice William Ehrcke had initially thwarted SWUAV and Kiselbach when he ruled they couldn’t bring the case as they had not personally been charged with any of the offences — a standard precursor to a constitutional challenge.

The appeals court overturned that decision.

The federal government has appealed that decision to the Supreme Court of Canada, which agreed last year to hear the case.

Vancouver lawyer Katrina Pacey is among the lawyers representing SWUAV at the Supreme Court of Canada’s upcoming hearing. She says the government’s use of its resources to attempt to thwart the challenge is a misuse of taxpayer funds.

“This is a very concerted effort to make sure my clients never get to court and never get to challenge these laws,” she tells Xtra.

In September 2010, three Ontario sex workers — Terri-Jean Bedford, Valerie Scott and Amy Lebovitch — convinced the Ontario Superior Court

NUDITY that the laws prohibiting communication for the purpose of prostitution, bawdyhouses and living on the avails are unconstitutional.

That decision is binding only in Ontario and is on hold as it awaits a ruling from the Ontario Court of Appeal expected this year.

The BC plaintiffs are hoping for a similar ruling.

Department of Justice spokesperson Carole Saindon tells Xtra it would be inappropriate for government to comment while the case is before the court.

— Jeremy Hainsworth

that does the recognition but the state — but if that state does not recognize applications from refugees on the basis of sexual orientation, which is not by any means universally applied, then that would mean that the G5s couldn’t respond to them.”

Dench says a great strength of the private sponsorship program is that it has allowed Canadians to respond to refugees who are otherwise ignored, discounted or marginalized.

“Every time you try to build up a new requirement, there are new categories of refugees who will continue to be marginalized, and Canadians won’t be able to respond to them,” she says.

— Dale Smith

Government changes Corner mass will hurt gay refugees T H E CANADIAN COU NCI L FOR Refugees is worried that proposed government changes to Canada’s refugee regulations could mean refugees who have been persecuted for being gay will not be allowed to apply.

Janet Dench, executive director of CCR, says the new rules would mean gay claimants and other marginalized refugees would be excluded or face much bigger hurdles.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) recently published the proposed changes in the Canada Gazette.

The changes would limit refugees sponsored under the groups of five (G5s) and community sponsors (CS) categories.

Refugees entering under the G5 category are sponsored by five or more Canadian citizens or permanent residents who act as guarantors for claimants. Meanwhile, community sponsors include both for-profit and non-profit organizations willing to sponsor refugees and provide funds for them after they are in Canada.

The government would instead bring in refugees recognized by either the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) or a state.

“Certain groups of people would be excluded,” Dench says. “In quite a lot of countries in Africa, it’s not the UNHCR

THE TOWN OF BARRIERE IS 66 kilometres north of Kamloops, BC. Its population is less than 5,000.

In 2009, gay Vancouverite Graham Brownmiller was told by superiors at the United Church to pack his bags and move there.

The new minister, then 28, wasn’t sure what to expect.

“There’s some days where I feel like I’m a city guy,” he says. “But there’s other moments that make me think, ‘This is where I come from.’”

Barriere’s a decidedly unpretentious place. Each year the town hosts a fall fair and rodeo over Labour Day Weekend. The town’s website says, “Some people say that living in Barriere is like living in a camping trip!”

Brownmiller says he never had to come out of the closet in Barriere: it’s as if the “gay thing” is common knowledge, he explains.

“I haven’t really done anything as an activist,” he says. “I’ve lived my life as an out gay man.”

Living in a close-knit community can pose challenges, and Brownmiller says there is still homophobia.

He will soon have to decide if the benefits outweigh the obstacles: his three-year commitment to Barriere ends in June.

— Katie Toth Read more about Brownmiller’s experiences in Barriere in the national section of xtra.ca.

WorldPride London PLANNING FOR WORLDPRIDE 2012 in London, England, has kicked into high gear, as organizers prepare to host the biggest Pride event in Britain’s history.

WorldPride 2012 marks only the festival’s third installment — previous events were held in Jerusalem in 2006 and Rome in 2000 — and organizers in London admit they are operating without a blueprint.

Nonetheless, Pride organizations from both Toronto, which will host WorldPride in 2014, and New York City are sending large fact-finding delegations to London.

“New York’s eyeing a bid for WorldPride 2019, and Toronto’s talking about getting into sponsorship deals with us, looking at crosspromotion and so forth,” says Paul Birrell, chairman of Pride London, which is organizing the event.

As host of the 2014 festivities, Toronto will have a special place in the London festivities, he says.

A hand-over ceremony is being planned to mark the end of the festi-

Revellers at London Pride 2011. PRIDE LONDON

val, which runs from June 23 to July 8. And because WorldPride coincides with Canada Day, which annually attracts thousands of expats to celebrations in Trafalgar Square (home

to WorldPride’s main stage), Birrell hopes to blend the two parties.

“We’ve got good relations with the Canadian High Commission,” he says.

— Nick Aveling

Ontario judge upholds public nudity law Ruling finds nudity acceptable in some public spaces

Toronto’s TNTmen can still get naked at Pride.

Rob Salerno AN ONTARIO COURT RULING THAT upholds the constitutionality of Canada’s public nudity laws has resulted in the conviction of one man. The decision should not affect previous rulings that protect the rights of nudists to hold private events or to be naked in public places where nudity is expected, however.

Brian Coldin, a naturist, was convicted on four counts of public nudity related to incidents when he was nude near his property, when he attempted to order at a Tim Hortons drive-through by walking up to the window nude, and when he was nude in the passenger seat when a friend used the drive-through at an A&W. Coldin’s lawyer had argued that Coldin was not nude because he was wearing sandals — a defence that Totally Naked Toronto Men Enjoying Nudity (TNTmen) had previously argued successfully before the courts. Coldin’s lawyer also argued that the laws against public nudity are unconstitutional on grounds of people’s rights to freedom of expression and security of the person.

In a 37-page ruling, Justice Jon-Jo A Douglas finds that although the legal definition of the word nude means to be wearing no clothes at all, one can still be in violation of the law if one’s state of dress or undress is such as to offend against public decency or order.

So Coldin was found guilty despite his sandals.

On the constitutional matters, the Crown had argued that nudity itself isn’t expressive or imbued with meaning and therefore couldn’t be protected under free expression, but Justice Douglas didn’t buy that reasoning.

“The case must be assessed on a subtler basis,” Douglas writes. “Is the type of nude and fully public conduct engaged in by the defendant in these many instances so imbued with meaning as to be protected expression?”

While Douglas did find that being nude could be protected by freedom of expression, he rejected Coldin’s claim that he was expressing his beliefs as a naturist in the cases for which he was charged.

The decision disappointed Stéphane Deschênes, a spokesperson for the Federation of Canadian Naturists.

“It’s sad for Mr Coldin because he really believes in what he was fighting for,” Deschênes says. “Unfortunately, what he was trying to do was a little too far and too much. I think he was right, but I think as naturists we recognize that most of society has issues with their bodies. It’s wrong and odd, but I think we have to convince them, not force them, to accept it. I think it would be a better world if we were all more comfortable with ourselves and each other.”

However, Douglas’s ruling does seem to protect public nudity in places where it is already expected. For example, nothing in the ruling seems to affect previous decisions that allowed the establishment of nude beaches.

In fact, the ruling seems to go to lengths to protect the right of naturists to be nude in their private establishments, even those open to the public.

This would include privately owned nudist parks or events in private establishments, such as a naked night at a bar or club.

However, MRC des Collines regional police last September arrested five male naturists in an area of Gatineau Park long known as a place used by naturists.

At the time, police released a statement noting they would no longer tolerate nudity in the area. “Anyone caught in the nude in the park will be arrested and charged,” spokesperson for MRC des Collines Martin Fournel told Xtra at the time.

Douglas compares Coldin’s behaviour with “nudity at a rally or demonstration in favour of such” to establish what would be meaningful and protected expression. This seems to establish further the legality of naked marchers at Pride.

Burt Bik, a spokesperson for TNTmen, says that Coldin’s behaviour was ill-considered.

“He chose to be naked in an area where he’s not supposed to be,” Bik says. “The law is very clear. You must not walk around in a way that is an offence to others.

“Because Pride is in an environment where people expect to see nudity, that’s okay.”

A World of Gay Adventure

Munich COMSTOCK/THINKSTOCK

Germany’s southern queen

M KEVIN FROST/THINKSTOCK TOP LEFT: A

gilded statue of the Virgin Mary stands in the middle of the Marienplatz, one of the best-known plazas in Munich. TOP RIGHT: Munich’s Christopher St Day, held in July, includes a parade through the gay neighbourhood and a street festival at Marienplatz. : The Angel of Peace, on the banks of the Isar River, commemorates the end of the Franco-German war of the 1870s.

Michael Luongo

UNICH, THE CAPITAL of Bavaria, in the south of Germany, has a very different feel from much of the rest of the country. Still, many of the traditional things associated with Germany — from pretzels to dirndl to lederhosen to Oktoberfest — all come from here.

Until the early 1900s, Bavaria was its own kingdom, and it remains a largely Catholic region. Munich dates back to the 12th century, if not earlier, and though it’s a large city today, it retains a small-town provincial feel. Allied bombing damaged Munich heavily in the Second World War, but much of its original architecture was rebuilt. This emphasis on preservation gives Munich a charming whimsy, especially throughout its centre, that you won’t find in Berlin or many other German cities. For that alone it’s one of my favourite places to visit in Germany.

The heart of Munich is Marienplatz, originally an old medieval market.

The neo-gothic New City Hall, completed in 1909, dominates an entire

side of the plaza. Its main highlight is the glockenspiel, or clockworks, an elaborate two-level clock that tells stories about a noble marriage and the bubonic plague through dancing puppet-like characters. Every day at 11am, noon and 5pm, the clockworks are set in motion. The Old City Hall, built in the late 1400s to replace an earlier structure, is also on Marienplatz. Resembling a church, with its angular front and spire, it was partly destroyed in the war and rebuilt to exacting standards. Other historical monuments and fountains abound in Marienplatz.

The most famous building in Munich is the Frauenkirche, also built in the late 1400s by the same architect who built Old City Hall, Jörg von Halsbach. Its prominence is ensured

by Munich’s height restrictions, which allow it to dominate the cityscape. It too was heavily damaged in the war but meticulously rebuilt. The towers are capped by distinctive round-button domes, said to be modelled on Jerusalem’s Dome of the Rock. A delight of Munich is to climb the south tower for its view of the surrounding city.

XTRA! JAN 19, 2012

Gay life in Munich You’ll find a warm welcome in Munich, with much of gay life focused within a few blocks of Sendlinger Tor, one of the old city gates dating from when Munich had a surrounding wall. You’ll find a cluster of businesses on or near Müllerstrasse, such as Edelheiss, a bar popular with bears (Pestalozzistrasse 6; edelheiss.de). Nearby is the modern and stylish M54 Sauna, with half-hour massage treatments starting at 35 euros. (Mullerstrasse 54; muenchengaysauna.de). The Sendlinger Tor Park gets a little bit cruisy, too.

One of Germany’s most popular gay tour companies, Tom on Tour, is based in Munich. It’s run by Thomas Bömkes, who says that “Munich has a lot to offer the tourist. It’s easy to walk around and a very historical city. We have everything from charming neighbourhood gay bars, like the Ochsengarten, the oldest gay bar in Munich, to beautiful, well-preserved architecture. Everyone speaks English, too, so it’s great for Canadians and Americans who want to visit.”

Tom on Tour’s website has more information on gay venues in the city (tomontour.com), and you can contact the company to book gay-friendly city guides or special Oktoberfest travel packages.

Gay pride in Munich, as in almost all of Germany, is called Christopher St Day. A weeklong festival, in 2012 it will be celebrated from July 7 to July 15, with a parade on July 14. Visit csd-munich.de for more information.

By the way, the German word for gay is schwule, so whenever you hear that, you know something gay is happening.

Oktoberfest Throw a really good wedding celebration and the locals will want to celebrate in the same style year after year.

That’s the case with Germany’s most famous party, the Oktoberfest, which originated in Munich. The event owes its origins to the wedding of Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese of Bavaria on Oct 12, 1810. Locals were allowed to throw their own party to celebrate on a field outside the city, now called Therese’s Meadow, known by locals as Wiesn. An agricultural festival was eventually added to the celebrations, and the Oktoberfest became a Bavarian tradition emulated the world over, with people dressing in lederhosen and dirndl and swilling beer. Munich’s Oktoberfest 2012 will run from

MIKE THOMPSON

Sept 22 to Oct 7. Visit oktoberfest.de, the official website of the event for more details. Gay highlights of the festival include Pink Wiesn (rosawiesn.de) and the Oktobearfest (oktobearfest.de).

Gay King Ludwig II The gayest thing in Bavaria isn’t a bar or a sauna — it’s a castle. Even if you didn’t know where it was or its name, you’ve certainly seen images of Neuschwanstein Castle, a mistshrouded, neo-medieval, fairy-tale structure nestled in the mountains.

It’s been used for numerous movies, including Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Neuschwanstein was the work of King Ludwig II, sometimes known as Mad King Ludwig, who built similar castles elsewhere in Bavaria. It’s not hard to believe that a man who built such romantic castles, liked historical costume and was a huge opera buff (and a patron of Richard Wagner) was also gay. It’s likely that one of his lovers was Richard Hornig, who was in charge of the horses.

Ludwig’s own diary and letters serve as proof of his relationships with men, though exactly how he identified himself within the era is not fully known.

Ludwig died young under mysterious circumstances; found in Lake Starnberg, his death was ruled a suicide, but some believe he was murdered by his enemies. › continued on page 12

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A World of Gay Adventure

XTRA! JAN 19, 2012

Munich

DISCOVER MUNICH

› continued from page 11

Munich GETTING THERE Franz Josef Strauss Airport, about 30 kilometres northeast of Munich, is one of Europe’s best. A shopping, business and recreation area that connects the two terminals is full of people from every corner of the globe. The S-Bahn S1 and S8 trains will get you to the Hauptbahnhof or Ostbahnhof central rail stations in 33 to 53 minutes, depending which train you take. Each takes a different route, so for points in-between consult the website.

There is also bus service to various destinations. The main information desk, at level 3 of the Central Area, is staffed 24 hours. Information desks are located in each terminal building, from at least 5:30am until 10pm.

GETTING AROUND Munich’s historic, largely car-free centre is very walkable, and, with designated bike lanes on most major streets, it’s great for cycling. There’s a network of buses, trams, and U-Bahn and S-Bahn trains at your disposal.

Trams offer late-night service and are perfect for getting home after a night on the town. Inexpensive one- and threeday visitor passes are available at the stations and at many tram stops. Visit mvv-muenchen.de for tranportation info in five languages. To get around in the principal gay area, around Müllerstrasse and Hans-Sachs-Strasse, you needn’t stray far from stops on tram routes 17 and 18, or the vicinity of the Sendlinger Tor U-Bahn station.

VIKTUALIENMARKT King Maximilian I established this victuals market in 1807 to provide the residents of the growing city with a central place to buy food. Major additions were built from 1823 on, with more halls added as the need arose.

Fish markets, fowl and other meats, flowers, produce and baked goods each had their own pavilions. Like much of the city, the market was severely damaged in the Second World War but later restored, with fountains and other embellishments added during the reconstruction. A favourite of modern gourmands, the market covers five and a half acres, with more than 140 shops and stalls offering all kinds of ordinary and exotic produce, meats, fruit, flowers and plants, dairy products, honey, fish — and a wide variety of sausages. The area is also the site of many festivals and special events throughout the year, with music, dance, foods, and always plenty of beer to wash it down.

Guidemag.com

ENGLISCHER GARTEN

ages and ethnicities. Over barbecues and beer, they populate the riverside, bike the nearby trails, throw Frisbees, read or doze, all mingling together without fuss or offence.

Nude sunbathers turn golden brown, and activities on the gay cruising trails, among the trees of the larger island just beyond the downriver footbridge, aren’t hard to spot. Alongside this, kids and dogs frolic, and lovers — straight and gay — get wrapped up in private worlds of their own. The area is easily reached by U-Bahn; go to Thalkirchen station and follow the people with beach gear. Munich’s famous zoo is nearby as well.

Englischer Garten (English Garden) Park, bigger than New York’s Central Park, is a sprawling area of woods and lawns in the middle of Munich.

Scientist Benjamin Thompson was a Loyalist who was driven from his New Hampshire home during the American War of Independence. He settled in Munich, under Duke KarlTheodor, for whom he established this park in 1789. Modern visitors flock to the Greek-style Monopteros temple, designed by local architect Leo von Klenze; the Chinesischer Turm (Chinese Tower), with adjacent beer garden; and Japanisches Teehaus (Japanese Teahouse) and garden. The Schönfeldwiese (“beautiful meadows”) area is famous for the nude sunbathers who decorate the lawns; naturally, the park can be quite cruisy.

PIERRE ROUCHALÉON; The New Town Hall in Munich’s central Marienplatz was built between 1867 and 1908

by Georg von Hauberisser in a gothic revival style.

FRITZ MADER; Munich’s single biggest party is the annual Oktoberfest, held each September and October.

ALFRED MÜLLER; Church of St Peter and Maypole. ALFRED MÜLLER

Trip advisor BARS & CLUBS

Eden Bar Bau

LODGINGS

H’Otello Advokat Hotel am Viktualienmarkt

RESTAURANTS & CAFÉS

Café Glockenspiel Käfer Bistro

SAUNAS & SEX CLUBS

M54 Sauna Club Schwabinger Men Sauna

SHOPPING & SERVICES

Cutglass Piercing Max & Milian

ISAR RIVER FROLICS The Isar River, which flows out of the Tyrollean Alpine region of Austria, ranks among Munich’s greatest charms. Allowed to run naturally, its tributaries are little islands edged with sand or pebble beaches, big flat rocks and meadows of grass and wild flowers. All kinds of people come to the water on warm summer days — families with children, goth teens, gay couples and gatherings of friends of all

     : Riflemen’s Parade.

Find information on more than 90 places of interest in Munich at guidemag.com.

on the web

The Schönfeldwiese area of Englischer Garten is famous for nude sunbathers and can be quite cruisy. TORSTEN KRÜGER

Munich Tourism Office ›muenchen.de/int/en/ tourism.html Oktoberfest ›oktoberfest.de/en MVV public transportation ›mvv-muenchen.de

“The Largest Gay Resort on the Beach in Mexico!”

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RESERVATIONS: Malecon y Almendro #4, Puerto Vallarta, Jal Phone: 52 (322) 222 5040 Fax: 52 (322) 222 2176 TToll Free USA: U 1 888 3023 662 C CANADA: 1 866 4038 497 MEXICO: 01 800 561 9717

Guidemag.com

A World of Gay Adventure

XTRA! JAN 19, 2012

Cologne Old Town panoramic view. UDO HAAKE

Discovering ‘the San Francisco of Germany’

T

Michael Luongo

HE MOST WELL-KNOWN feature in Cologne is the cathedral, which dominates the city centre and sparkles over the Rhine River. One of the largest cathedrals in the world, it was spared the fate of most of Cologne during the Second World War, largely because the Allied forces used the towers as a navigational device when flying over Germany.

Truth be told, on first glance, other

than the cathedral, unless you’re an aficionado of modern architecture, Cologne does not have the immediate charm of some other German cities that were meticulously rebuilt after the war with history in mind. In fact, I first visited the city as a college student, travelling on a Eurail pass, on a terribly rainy day. I hopped off the train, saw the cathedral, and quickly returned to the train station to make my way to other German cities. Looking back, I’ve always considered that a shame, as the history of the city dates

back more than 2,000 years; it takes its name from the Roman period, when it was called Colonia and was one of the most important Roman centres north of the Alps.

On a later visit, spending a few days there, I learned that while most of the city is modern, it was rebuilt in human scale. The new post-war buildings follow the old street patterns, giving Cologne a surreal, cutting-edge architectural feel overlaid on a medieval city, where the streets in the city centre meander and bend. Even the

modern architecture that surrounds the cathedral seems to blend in and harmonize with the ancient structure.

It was on this visit that I learned Cologne has a special reputation with Germans: called the San Francisco of Germany, it is said to have the highest percentage of gay and lesbian residents of any major German city.

Edwin Seth Brown is an American who lives in Cologne; he is the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association’s German ambassador. Brown says that gay visitors should start at Rudolfplatz, a main square around which much of the gay life in the city is located, “and radiate out. The city is just a marvellous experience. I like to get on the Metro and get out at all the big squares. I am simply mesmerized

by Cologne, and it has a wonderfully relaxed gay way of life.” Brown says that as an African-American, one of the main things he likes about Cologne is that “the people, in my estimation, are colour blind.” He adds, “The people of the city are wonderfully friendly.

There is, I think, the largest collection of gay people here, and it is so a part of the culture of the city.”

In addition to Rudolfplatz, the Old Town, based around the medieval plaza, has a concentration of gay venues. Here you’ll also find some well-preserved architecture, even the charming Hotel Domstern, a small gay-friendly hotel (Domstrasse 26; domstern.com). Another interesting hotel choice is Et Cetera, built into an old monastery. While we don’t know what the monks got up to, the hotel is not far from Rudolfplatz, so you don’t have to be celibate, as they vowed to be (Brüsseler Strasse 26: hopper.de).

As in the rest of Germany, gay pride is called Christopher St Day and is held in July.

13

Cologne deets

GETTING THERE

Cologne-Bonn Airport is the most convenient gateway, but also consider flying into Düsseldorf or Frankfurt. InterCity and EuroCity DB trains connect you to cities in Germany and the rest of Europe.

GETTING AROUND

The downtown area is walkable, but if you’re travelling farther afield there are a network of buses, trams, and U-Bahn and S-Bahn trains at your disposal. See the KVB transit website for information. kvb-koeln.de/german/home

trip planner BARS & CLUBS

Backstage Diaries (ARTheater) Cox

LODGINGS

Maritim Hotel Marsil Bar & Hotel

RESTAURANTS & CAFÉS

Beim Sir Klaaf Bistro

SHOPPING & SERVICES

Babylon Sauna Vulcano Sauna

SHOPPING & SERVICES

Cosmic Ware Mega Gay World

Check guidemag.com for information on more than 80 places of interest in Cologne.

on the web Christopher St Day, Cologne ›csd-cologne.de Cologne Tourism ›cologne-tourism.com

Discovering Cologne MEDIEVAL COLOGNE RHINE RIVER CRUISE

Any walk around the city will reveal medieval architectural treasures.

Start with the Rathaus (City Hall), which was built in 1330, with additions made in the Renaissance period. Although it was severely damaged during the Second World War, it has been fully restored, and its intricate column details and vaulted arches are a treat. The three remaining city gates (of the original 12) give a sense of what medieval defensive fortifications looked like and are still used today for various purposes. The Overstolzenhaus, formerly an aristocrat’s home and now used by the Cologne Media College, dates to the 1220s and is an exquisite example of Romanesque architecture.

POP ART

The Museum Ludwig has a heavy emphasis on pop art, the largest collection outside the United States. The museum also has extensive collections devoted to the Russian avant-garde, from 1906 to 1930, and the works of Pablo Picasso. The Museum für Angewandte Kunst (Museum of Applied Art) focuses on decorative and applied arts. Its collection ranges from the Middle Ages to the present and includes goldsmithing, furniture, textiles, glasswork, porcelain, graphic design and fashion.

A fun way to take in the sights of the city and the region is a cruise along the scenic Rhine River. Three companies offer different routes, and tickets can be purchased from the Cologne Tourist Board.

A typical journey starts in the Old Town before heading north or south to bucolic farming and wineproducing communities. Evening tours that include music and dining are also available. ›colognetourism.com/guided-tours/ boat-trips.html

ROMAN COLOGNE

Cologne was founded by the ancient Romans more than 2,000 years ago, and Rome’s legacy still stands in the city: the ruins of the praetorium, the residence of the city’s Roman governor, were discovered underneath Cologne City Hall; the still-intact sewer system is a marvel of Roman engineering; the Roman Tower, famous for its well-preserved mosaics, dates to the first century CE and formed part of the original Roman fortifications of the city.

The history and artifacts of the Roman era are preserved in the Römisch-Germanisches Museum (Romano-Germanic Museum).

Exhibits detail the culture and everyday life of Roman and medieval Cologne, as well as artifacts of the barbarian tribes.

The Roman glassworks and barbarian jewellery are highlights.

  : Cologne Pride is known as Christopher St Day; drawing

ANDREAS MÖLTGEN

a Kölsch, the famous local beer; the relaxing Neptunbad spa and sauna.

NEPTUNBAD PREMIUM SPORTS & SPA

KOELNTOURISMUS.DE

14

A World of Gay Adventure

XTRA! JAN 19, 2012

Guidemag.com

MARDI GRAS DOWN UNDER

Sydney Mardi Gras 2012 is set to explode in February with a wealth of big-name talents, including RuPaul, Trevor Ashley and Sneaky Sound System. The annual smorgasbord of arts, parties and social events will run from Feb 12 until March 4.

“Mardi Gras festival gives us the chance to showcase the best in Australian and international talent — as well as providing a range of events that will delight, entertain, stimulate and provoke,” says program manager Sam Sweedman.

This year’s Mardi Gras will boast more than 60 special events — including event favourites like the parade, fair day and the harbour party.

ANN-MARIE CALILHANNA

Go to mardigras.org.au to view the full program for Mardi Gras 2012.

Vallarta Girl hits PVR Long established as a gay-friendly beach destination, Puerto Vallarta will once again say Hola chicas! to one of the largest gatherings of lesbians in Mexico, during the 2012 Vallarta Girl party.

For five days and four nights in February, Puerto Vallarta will host women from throughout the Americas and Europe, offering up a nonstop roster of lesbian-friendly events at the beaches, restaurants and nightclubs of the Zona Romantica.

Following the success of last year’s inaugural event, Vallarta Girl 2012 features the return of several key performers, including San Francisco’s DJ Lezlee and celebrity hosts Rose and Whitney from Showtime’s The Real L Word. DJ Saratonin (Los Angeles) and DJ Chili D (San Francisco) have also signed on this year, as have burlesque performers Tessa von Twinkle and Pryde Banditt.

Vallarta Girl has a packed long weekend planned, hosting events that include dance parties, outdoor adventures and a Banderas Bay booze cruise, as well as beach days and free parties that are open to everyone.

FROM

THAI LUXURY IN PATTAYA

The perfect way to beat the February blues, Vallarta Girl 2012 will run Feb 16 to 20. Event tickets are available in packages and individually. For more information and to purchase, visit vallartagirl.com.

Check out last-minute flight deals. A half-dozen Canadian and US carriers have direct and connecting flights from Ottawa to Puerto Vallarta. — Keph Senett

US soldiers looking for rest and relaxation during the Vietnam War helped transform what had been a small Thai fishing village into the sprawling pleasure-dedicated resort town of today. Set on a beautiful bay with gorgeous beaches, Pattaya has seen many luxury hotels open in the past few years. But the city still has the feel of a frontier boomtown, its narrow streets bustling with pedestrians, food vendors, motorbikes, tourist-oriented bars, clubs and services.

Where the beach meets the city, and a short walk from Pattaya nightlife, is the recently opened Baan Souy Resort. Set in a lush tropical garden setting, the tranquil and exotic hideaway offers 37 luxury suites and apartments. Each accommodation features stylish Thai décor, a kitchenette and the comforts of international standards.

Discover a world of gay adventure in Thailand and read more about Pattaya on guidemag.com. For more on Baan Souy Resort, visit baansouy.com.

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XTRA! JAN 19, 2012

15

 ›  › 

Out City IN THE

I JUST TRY TO BE NICE TO EVERYONE AND SHOW THEM THAT WE’RE ALL PSYCHIC IN OUR OWN WAYS. Michael Stapley ›19

ON DISPLAY

A stitch from time Carl Stewart’s belated tribute to his brother

O

Luna Allison

N THE AFTERNOON OF Sept 19, 1970, Owen Stewart, the three-year-old brother of gay Ottawa textile artist Carl Stewart, was hit by a car and killed as Carl watched.

As a result, Stewart never had a chance to know his brother, but Carl says Owen always hovered as a presence in the family home. Gradually, though, Owen’s presence in Stewart’s life faded.

“Quite literally, years went by when I don’t think I ever thought of him. Then, in 2002, my mother died,” Stewart says.

“When something like that happens, lots of dust gets tossed into the air. I started to think about him, and him in relation to my mother. He just sort of became present in my memory and in my life again.”

As a belated 40th birthday present to Owen, Carl has created a new body of work about him, which is showing in the firstand second-floor lobbies of Centrepointe Theatre until Feb 15.

Appropriately, the collection is called belated. It’s made up of two elements: 10 wildly colourful Warhol-inspired handwoven portraits that, together, are called Icon, and a series of 11 linked cross-stitch portraits called Memoria.

What ties the two halves of the project together is that every portrait is created from the same image: the only remaining picture of Owen — a photo that is now iconic to the Stewart family.

“The year he died, my mother included that photograph in every Christmas card she sent. To all of the relatives and friends and that sort of thing,” Stewart says. “This was the image that was trimmed in tinsel and hung on the Christmas tree — the angel was at the top, and then him. There’s a set of bronzed baby booties with an 8x10 [of the photo], and my parents always held that picture in snapshots. Anytime someone got a new camera, they’d say, ‘Okay, get together on the couch, and I’ll take your picture.’ My mother would always grab this photo, and it would sit between her and my father.”

It was this arm’s-length, pictorial presence that gave Stewart the idea to give Owen’s image the Warhol treatment and call on the celebrity, glamour and distance Warhol evoked in his paintings.

The specific reference to Warhol’s iconic and much-loved portraits of Mao shines through in Stewart’s compositions, as does the childlike playfulness of the colour scheme. Despite the sombre story behind this collection, there’s a sprightly beauty to the work.

“The style of image is very familiar. I

Carl Stewart (left) says some images from his new exhibit (above) were inspired by Andy Warhol. ARTWORK PHOTOGRAPHY BY LAWRENCE COOK.

PHOTO BY RÉMI THERIAULT. GLASSES PROVIDED BY ALBERT OPTICIANS.

THE STYLE OF IMAGE IS VERY FAMILIAR. I THINK PEOPLE WILL LOOK AT IT AND GO, ‘WELL, THAT’S WARHOL.’

think people will look at it and go, ‘Well, that’s Warhol.’ That, I think, is good. For me, it does create a sense of familiarity — even though you don’t know who this person is,” Stewart says.

The style of the paintings lends an iconic stature to the image of Stewart’s brother: like a beloved child leader, or a religious figure.

“For me, being so young when he died, Owen is almost more an idea than a person,” Stewart says. “He could almost exist as some kind of construct of memory.”

Memoria, the second part of the collection, was created using cross-stitch.

Each cross-stitch portrait took approximately two months — and thousands of tiny stitches — to make.

“Those pieces are more personal in a couple of ways. The time that it takes to

actually do them — that kind of intimacy. I mean, you’re there, just going and going — 1,296 stitches per square inch. That creates a kind of intimacy with the work. There’s also something about stitching, whether it’s cross-stitch or needlepoint or hand sewing, there’s something very personal and intimate about that. It’s like mending.

There’s a care that goes into it.”

Together, the series of 11 portraits tells a story. It starts with a very high-contrast image in midnight-blue thread on white fabric. The detail is so sharp it looks like a screen-print. As the series progresses, the colour gradually lightens in tone. The contrast lessens until the last portrait, which is white thread on white fabric. Ghostly.

An invisible portrait. An image of Owen, but one that’s both there and not there at the same time.

Like memory, the fabric holds the shape of what happens, showing evidence of creasing and crumples, each diminishing with distance from the initial, highcontrast image.

“For me, that high-contrast colour on the white background with the creases and the folds, it suggests a really strong memory. Really clear, textured, nuanced, a lot of detail. The white on white image is completely flat — no wrinkles, no folds, nothing. When you’re so far removed from something, it’s very faded and has no texture. You’re not sure. Did that happen or not? Am I remembering that right? When it comes to memory, is there a wrong way to remember?”

the deets BELATED

New work by Carl Stewart Runs until Wed, Feb 15 Centrepointe Theatre 101 Centrepointe Dr centrepointetheatre.com

16

Ottawa’s gay & lesbian news

XTRA! JAN 19, 2012

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Get the inside scoop!

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RESTAURANT

(THE BEST VIETNAMESE BEEF & CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP IN TOWN) 11:00 am - 10:30 pm • 275 Bank St. (@ Somerset St. W)

For delivery please call (613) 233-8717 The Gert Jochems exhibit, Les Autres, is on display at La Petite Mort Gallery until Jan 29.

xtra.ca ART & PHOTOGRAPHY Les Autres Belgian photographer Gert Jochems’s sex-focused work neither judges nor romanticizes.

Runs till Sun, Jan 29. La Petite Mort Gallery, 306 Cumberland St. Free.

613-860-1555. lapetitemortgallery. com

Comic Jam Shake the dust off your pencils at the first Ottawa Comic Jam of the new year. Open theme; suggestions welcome. Wed, Jan 25, 7pm.

Shanghai Restaurant, 651 Somerset St W. Free, materials provided. comixjam.tripod.com

FILM & VIDEO My Week with Marilyn This “slyly comic meditation on stardom” has received critical acclaim, mainly for Michelle Williams’ heartfelt performance as the luscious Marilyn Monroe.

Fri, Jan 20–Thurs, Jan 26, various showtimes. Bytowne Cinema, 325 Rideau St. 613-789-3456. $7–10. bytowne.ca

Cinema, 325 Rideau St. 613-7893456. $7–10. bytowne.ca

HEALTH & ISSUES The Living Room A free space for poz people and their loved ones. Food bank, free laundry facilities, internet, counselling, workshops, advocacy and support groups. Contact the Living Room to make an intake appointment. AIDS Committee of Ottawa, 251 Bank St, 7th floor. Free.

613-563-0851. aco-cso.ca

Women for Sobriety A confidential and anonymous selfhelp recovery program for women.

Every Sunday night, 7–8:15pm, at the Christmas Exchange Program, 1390 Prince of Wales, 4th floor. All women welcome. Free. 613-2203588. w.f.s.in.ottawa@gmail.com

Weekly Yoga at GayZone Free weekly yoga classes for gay men. Open to everyone, from beginners to advanced students.

Thursdays, 5:15–6:45pm.

Centretown Community Health Centre, 420 Cooper St. Free. aco-cso.ca/gayzonegaie

Post-Adoption Support Group

My Week with Marilyn is showing at the Bytowne Cinema.

Putain de Compile Screening as part of the OPIRG Film Festival’s Working It from Every Angle: A Forum on the Diversity of the Sex Industry. Shorts compiled/ created by the Pink Panthers, Les Lucioles and Stella. Sun, Jan 22, 6:30pm. Raw Sugar Café, 692 Somerset St W. Free. 613-2303076. gripoactiongroups@gmail.com

Pina “The sheer joy, abandon and physicality of Pina Bausch’s choreography are on full display here, and Wenders has done a masterful job capturing the essence of her work.” Fri, Jan 27–Mon, Feb 6, various showtimes. Bytowne

For queer- or trans-identified adoptive parents who want a nonjudgmental space to talk. First Thursday of each month. Thurs, Feb 2, 6:30–8:30pm. Centretown Community Health Centre, 420 Cooper St. Free. For more info, email celeste.taylor@hotmail.com.

Snowblower The Snowblower community fair, for men who are into men, focuses on community building, health and fun. Thurs, Feb 9, 5pm.

Centretown Community Health Centre, 420 Cooper St. aco-cso.ca/ gayzonegaie

Families of Sisters in Spirit Day of Justice Show your love for families of missing and murdered aboriginal women and girls. Add your support to calls for action, justice, accountability and an end to violence. Tues, Feb 14, noon–1pm. Parliament Hill. familiesofsistersinspirit@gmail.com › continued on page 18

more at xtra.ca

XTRA! JAN 19, 2012

17

ON DISPLAY

Behind the lens Gert Jochems on sex, secrets and his new project

B

Kandace Blaker

E LG IAN P H OTO G R AP H E R Gert Jochems’s provocative photography has been displayed throughout Europe and North America. His most recent project captures average people enjoying themselves in kinky sex costumes, orgies and drag. A showcase of Jochems’s work, titled Les Autres, is currently on display at La Petite Mort Gallery.

Xtra caught up with the man behind the lens to learn more about his views on sex and art.

Xtra: As an artist, why do you believe self-expression is important?

Gert Jochems: It should be said that I see myself much more as a photographer than as an artist. Art is important; however, there are certainly many better ways to change or understand the world. I believe science does better in this sense. Art is a way to react to reality, to communicate with it and things like that. But photography is something very down to earth, which I like, because I know how to understand it. Art is something else, more complex, more ambiguous, much harder to understand, more this and that.

The sexual nature of your work has been met with mixed reviews. What drew you to this particular project?

I think that the work I show in Ottawa is more about personal secrets than sexual fantasies. On a more general level, the word secret inspires me more than anything that has to do with sex. It interests me to work, in photographic terms, with that level of human nature. But the question remains, How does one make photographs that rise above that situation? In the end, any image is intended to be a little bit universal.

What inspired this project?

My photographs are made in the documentary tradition of photography about certain subjects, but, like a documentary photographer, I am not entirely committed to that subject. I work as an outsider, which is very common in documentary-style work. Of course, I am not completely indifferent to my subject, but I do try to maintain a neutral attitude. My inspiration to make a series of images does not so much come from the subject itself as it does from my personal interest in the formal dimensions in which a good photo is made.

Jochems says photography has allowed him to meet many people who are very honest about their sexual feelings.

Do people ever make assumptions about you after viewing your work?

People who see my work easily assume that I do this or that in my private life, which is not automatically true. A person’s motivation to take photographs can be whatever and in my case is the want to photograph the “night side” of life. Night versus day, where night stands for the personal, private side and day stands for the public organization of life in general.

Why do you believe it is necessary to be so honest about sexuality?

A consequence of my work (remaining with one or more other people, because an observer) is that I’m not very verbal this is simply a way to bring love into about sexuality, certainly not more than somebody’s life. But this doesn’t necesany other person. Actually, this attitude sarily mean you have to be honest about seems quite normal to me. I don’t know your personal sexual feelings on a bigger if it’s true that people should necessar- scale. On the contrary, having secrets in ily be forthright about their sexuality. I your life can be very interesting. mean, it was certainly the case during the production of this project; I met many the deets people who had a very honest “coming out” of their sexual feelings. This was GERT JOCHEMS an attitude that I saw brought happiLES AUTRES Runs until Sun, Jan 29 ness into their lives, because they could Le Petite Mort Gallery share these feelings with a partner, a 306 Cumberland St soul mate. Even as I say this I realize the lapetitemortgallery.com importance of a man or a woman sharing gertjochems.be their honest sexual feelings or fantasies LuXtraAd3_LuXtraAd1 11-11-16 8:34 PM Page 1

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BALLET

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A modern Svengali Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s adaptation of classic French novel subs dance for song Chris Dupuis DESPITE WHAT YOU MAY HEAR IN the conservative media, having a domineering mother is not what makes you gay. Royal Winnipeg Ballet soloist Harrison James knows that for a fact.

“My mother was great, not overbearing at all and totally supportive,” he says. “Growing up in ballet you see a lot of kids trying hard to make their parents proud but unable to meet impossible standards. I feel lucky to have come from an environment where I was supported in doing what I loved but in a way that meant I enjoyed it.”

James will have to mine memories of other people’s militant stage moms to tackle the title role in Svengali, a man hell-bent on manipulating women to compensate for his iron-fisted matriarch, reimagined here as a stern ballet mistress.

The role is an exciting turn, since James joined the company only a year and half ago after emigrating from New Zealand by way of San Francisco. As anyone who has seen Black Swan knows, the internal politics of ballet companies can be fierce, with steadfast hierarchies when it comes to the assignment of roles. James isn’t considered a princi-

pal dancer (a company’s senior artists who typically take the juiciest parts), so winning the role is a huge opportunity.

“It’s a great chance for me to prove my worth to the company with such a choice part,” he says. “It’s a quite emotional and psychologically complex character, which makes it a big challenge. These are the kinds of roles you live for as a dancer.”

Staged by choreographer Marc Godden, the piece is a sort of adaptation of an adaptation, based originally on French writer George du Maurier’s hugely popular 1894 novel Trilby, then remade as a film by Winnipeg native Guy Maddin. (The work will eventually become a dance film, the company’s second; it did the same with 1998’s hugely successful Dracula.)

As a young man, Svengali begins practising hypnosis and, in retaliation for his mother’s persistent desire to malign him, woos one of her students into burning herself on the ballet studio’s wood stove.

After fleeing home, he meets Trilby (Amanda Green), a maiden of the streets going nowhere fast. Using his newfound knack for mind control, he turns her into a world-class dancer, the catch being she can perform only while under his spell.

Numerous textual liberties have been

› continued from page 16 Harrison James dances in Svengali. DAVID COOPER

taken: the action has been relocated to pre-Nazi Weimar Germany from Paris; Trilby’s forcibly given talent has been changed from singing to dancing; and Svengali’s Jewish identity (the original work is often seen as deeply anti-Semitic) has been removed. But questions around gender roles and societal expectations of women remain.

“Svengali’s mother is obsessed with superficial ideas of perfection, which he takes on, as much as he wants to rebel against her,” James says. “He tries to change Trilby into his version of a

perfect woman, even though it’s not something she wants. It illustrates how problematic moralities can be passed from one generation to another, even when we think they’re not.”

the deets ROYAL WINNIPEG BALLET’S SVENGALI

Thurs, Jan 26–Sat, Jan 28, 8pm National Arts Centre, Southam Hall 53 Elgin St nac-cna.ca

LEISURE & PLEASURE Hump Night I Love 2 Hump features the Eva Darling Drag Show and DJs Martin and Grace spinning hip hop, electro and house.

Wednesdays, from 9pm. Mercury Lounge, 56 Byward Market Sq. 613789-5324. ilove2hump.com

Rideau Speedeaus The Rideau Speedeaus Swim Club is open to queers and allies. Ottawa U Pool, Montpetit Hall, 125 University St. To register, email info@rideauspeedeaus.com.

613-562-5789. rideauspeedeaus.com

Creative Writing Play Date A drop-in writing group facilitated by spoken-word artist Sean Zio. Poetry, fiction and non-fiction writers welcome.

Tuesdays, 8–10pm. Mother Tongue Books, 1067 Bank St. Suggested $5 donation. creativewritingplaydate.com

OG Gay Hockey The Ottawa-Gatineau Gay Hockey Association holds weekly pickup games and is looking for new members for the OG Capitals team. Sundays, 8pm.

Carleton University Ice House (Rink A), Carleton campus. $17 per night or register by emailing info@ogcapitals. ca. ogcapitals.ca

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A weekly game of recreational volleyball, open to men and women.

Drop-in players welcome. VisionJeunesse Catholic Elementary School Gymnasium, 235 McArthur Rd. Mondays, 8pm. Drop-in fee: $3. gayottawavolleyball.com.

Lesbian Badminton The Lesbian Outdoor Group hosts a number of indoor activities through the winter, including weekly badminton.

Drop-in players welcome. Saturdays, 10–11:30am. Jack Purcell Community Centre, 320 Jack Purcell Lane (near Elgin and Lewis). lesbianoutdoorgroup.ca

The Flamingo Turns One! Celebrate with DJ Miss Honey Dijon (NYC). Opening sets by resident DJs Chris Murray and Ashley Gauthier. Sat, Jan 28, 10:30pm. The Flamingo, 380 Elgin St. theflamingo.ca

QPOC Book Club Read and discuss books by queer people of colour. Anti-racist allies welcome.

February’s book is Valmiki’s Daughter,

by Shani Mootoo. Mon, Feb 6, 7–9pm.

Bridgehead Coffeehouse, 366 Bank St. Free. Contact agitate_ottawa@yahoo.ca for more info.

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XTRA! JAN 19, 2012

19

ON STAGE

His crystal balls Entering the spirit world with Michael Stapley Serafin LaRiviere

Rae Spoon performs at Q-Bounce on Jan 28.

Thinking Outside the Box This workshop is all about giving you new pussy-pleasing ideas. Sex-toy play, lube use, fingerbanging, going down and more. Tues, Feb 7, 6:30–8pm. Venus Envy, 320 Lisgar St. $15–25. 613-7894646. venusenvy.ca

Heart’s Desire Women’s Dance One of the most popular local women’s events, this Valentine’s dance is sure to sell out. Sat, Feb 11, 9pm–1am.

Panorama Room, National Arts Centre, 53 Elgin St. $25 advance at Mother Tongue Books & Venus Envy.

Bear Ball Two full floors of hot bear action. Featuring DJs Chris Stutz (Chile), Yan Larouche, Redbbear and more. 19+. Sat, Feb 11, 9pm–2am. Montgomery Legion, 330 Kent St. $10 advance, $15 door. Tickets at One in Ten (Ottawa) and Fétiche Armada (Montreal). chikabear.com

LIX Monthly Coffee Meeting A place for lesbians to socialize, network and connect. If you have a business, bring cards; if not, just bring yourself!

Mon, Feb 20, 6:30pm. Michel-Ange Café, 35 Laurel St. Free. girlswanttoknow.com

PRINT & PERFORMANCE The PepTides at the Blacksheep A rare live show. Fri, Jan 27, 8:30pm.

Blacksheep Inn, 753 Riverside Dr, Wakefield, QC. $10. Available by phone at 1-888-222-6608 or online at ticketweb. ca. thepeptides.com

Q-Bounce with Rae Spoon and CPI

I D O N ’ T G E N E R A L LY L I K E T O publicize this, but my very first job was as a telephone psychic. Yes, it’s true: each day from 10am to 4pm I would dispense romantic advice, business predictions and sure-fire lottery numbers for only $2.99 per minute (taxes not included). I was quietly reassuring, inspiringly spiritual . . . and completely full of crap.

Given this sordid employment history, I tend to approach psychic phenomena with more than a little skepticism.

Those lingering doubts vanished after 30 minutes of conversation with professional medium Matthew Stapley.

Unlike the JoJos and Miss Cleos of tacky TV telepaths, Stapley comes across as a soft-spoken, compassionate and down-to-earth guy who just happens to talk to spirits. He eschews the razzmatazz of clairvoyant showboats, comforting the people who come to him for guidance. It’s a talent and a style the young psychic comes by honestly.

“My grandfather was a medium,” Stapley reveals. “He just did it for family and for himself, though. And my great aunt had sisters who did card readings.

It sort of runs in the family.”

Stapley’s first foray into the unknown occurred when he was only eight years old. His father was travelling in Thailand

HE ESCHEWS THE RAZZMATAZZ OF CLAIRVOYANT SHOWBOATS, COMFORTING THE PEOPLE WHO COME TO HIM FOR GUIDANCE.

Michael Stapley says telepathy runs in his family.

and had phoned home to chat with his wife and kids — a phone call that would change the young Matthew’s life forever.

“I started describing the room that he was sitting in in Thailand,” Stapley says. “I saw these big elephant tusks across the table from him, the colour of the lizards on the wall and the colour of the phone. It really freaked him out.”

As time went on, Stapley learned to focus and develop his talent, experimenting with tarot cards and trances to make contact with the spirit world.

Now he reads for clients simply by talking with them, sharing impressions and messages and encouraging questions of any sort — even from skeptics.

“I think that building a rapport even with people who don’t believe is important because it allows us to release some of the stigma about what we do as mediums,” he says. “I just try to be nice to everyone and show them that we’re all psychic in our own ways.”

Oh, and the thing that dispelled my own skepticism regarding Stapley’s

gifts? He talked about a child. My child.

The one I had recently begun fostering and will soon adopt in the spring. He pegged the month of the impending adoption, the gender of the child and the moves associated with parenting (I’m currently commuting between two provinces). That information has been something I’ve kept quite private and is not at all general knowledge — until now, of course.

So count me a believer.

the deets THE PSYCHIC EXPERIENCE EVENT WITH MICHAEL STAPLEY

Sat, Feb 11, 7pm Ottawa Little Theatre 400 King Edward Ave thepsychicexperience.ca

The name pretty much says it all. ottawamensyoga.ca Live the Outaouais with me. Let me be your personal guide to your new home.

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A new quarterly night of underground bass music for queers and their friends.

Proceeds to Divergence Movie Night and the Venus Envy Bursary Fund. Sat, Jan 28, 9pm–2am. Club SAW, 67 Nicholas St. $10–15. Advance tickets at Venus Envy, 320 Lisgar St. q-bounce.ca

Falling Open at GCTC Luna Allison’s one-woman show, Falling Open, debuts as part of the Great Canadian Theatre Company’s undercurrents festival. Fri, Feb 10–Sun, Feb 19. Studio Theatre, GCTC, 1033 Wellington St W. $16.95. Available at the box office, at 613-236-5196 or at gctc.ca.

The Psychic Experience Matthew Stapley’s fast-paced, entertaining show of psychic phenomena. Sat, Feb 11, 7–9pm. Ottawa Little Theatre, 400 King Edward Ave. $30. Tickets available at 613-233-8948 or thepsychicexperience.ca.

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20

Ottawa’s gay & lesbian news

XTRA! JAN 19, 2012

IN PRINT

Get the inside scoop!

Visit xtra.ca and check out our daily blog entries

xtra.ca

Sex & Samosas Ottawa writer Jasmine Aziz is a ‘poster child for masturbation’ Samantha Everts JASMINE AZIZ IS THE SORT OF woman you want to become BFFs with immediately. The Ottawa-born writer has an infectious energy and is as frank as Sex and the City’s Samantha Jones.

Aziz calls herself a “retired vibrator seller and poster child for masturbation.” She was inspired to share her experiences as a Fantasia party host in her new novel, Sex & Samosas.

Exploring themes of sexual awakening and female empowerment, it is a hilarious romp of self-discovery.

As a 32-year-old South Asian woman, protagonist Leena was taught that “Sex is very simple dimple. You just let him do what he need do and count to forty in your head. When it be over, you make dahl.”

Although she was born in North America, Leena doesn’t question her arranged marriage and has never dated. Most importantly, she has been taught that sex is “the man’s domain.”

A woman’s domain is “the dahl.”

Leena’s journey of self-discovery begins after she attends a Fantasia party.

The novel begins with a party scene, where Leena is shocked by the openness of the “drunken Western women,”

who dole out high-fives and fellate bread sticks to demonstrate sexual accomplishments.

Aziz says the queer community will relate to her book.

“My gay friends loved it,” she says, insisting it’s a story about self-love and masturbation, regardless of sexual preference.

With guidance from her sexually liberated best friend, Mahjong, Leena buys her first G-string and rents a same-sex porno. She soon learns that women can own their sexuality and eventually begins to embrace hers for the first time.

With a few more nudges from Mahjong, Leena goes at it solo, surprising even herself at what turns her on.

“I’m most fond of when she goes grocery shopping with crotchless panties after a Brazilian wax,” says Aziz. “Everything she touches becomes something erotic. It’s a redeeming scene because it is also a public moment, and Leena becomes alive with herself.”

She says she had a hard time finding a publisher.

“I didn’t think that masturbation as a theme was such a big deal, but I met a lot of resistance,” says Aziz, who eventually decided to self-publish and

Jasmine Aziz says her book is a story of love and sexual exploration.

get unabashedly honest about sex.

Aziz laughs about the scene linked to the book’s title. “It occurs to [Leena] that the triangle shape of the samosa is that of her own shape, and she becomes aroused” until eventually, “she accidentally performs cunnilingus on a samosa in front of her husband.”

The novel is funny, but it also has a serious message. Aziz wrote it during a hard breakup and says it helped her to heal. “As a woman, you have to love yourself first,” she says. “I’ve had some beautiful emails from women saying that after reading my book they learned something about their bodies that they didn’t know.”

the deets SEX & SAMOSAS

By Jasmine Aziz Available at Collected Works, Mother Tongue Books, Venus Envy and Aziz & Company Aziz will read from her book at Naughty Novelist Night Thurs, Feb 2, 7:30pm Venus Envy, 320 Lisgar Ave jasmineaziz.com

more at xtra.ca

XTRA! JAN 19, 2012

XPOSED

Eric Faure

Ottawa’s online directory of gay-owned and gay-friendly businesses

indexdirectory.ca

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AIDS/HIV RESOURCES Darren Fisher, Jason McMillan and Jason Murray (from left) celebrate NYE.

Andrew Morel (left) and Brad Gilbert ring in NYE in Ottawa.

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EVENT PLANNING & PROMOTIONS Lukas Nehudek, Kalin Payne and Samuel Cruz (from left) at the newly renovated Edge Nightclub, Jan 7.

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St Luke’s Anglican Church of Ottawa

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Mina Delic, Alain Chauvin and Laura Young (from left) perform in The Laramie Project, Jan 6, SAW Gallery.

21

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Cube Gallery The Open Circle

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ottawamensyoga.ca

Ottawa’s Gay & Lesbian Business Directory – is online!

All listings published in Index are also featured on the searchable online version at indexdirectory.ca For more information, contact 1-800-268-XTRA or email: index.ottawa@xtra.ca

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Ottawa’s gay & lesbian news

XTRA! JAN 19, 2012

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LET’S TALK MAN-TO-MAN If you’re a man who’s had sex with a man we want to hear what’s on your mind. Be part of our confidential survey and help us build a healthy community. Call us toll-free: 1-855-846-MALE (6253) Learn more at malecall.ca

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Amanda Green and Tristan Debrowney • Photos: David Cooper

C a n a d a ’ s R o ya l W i n n i p e g B a l l e t

with the NAC Orchestra Choreography by Mark Godden

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