Xtra, Ottawa's Gay and Lesbian News

MEMORIES ROMANCING OF PRIDE THE HOME News & photos Fix up your space for › 9, 13, 25 a cozy winter › 15–19 OTTAWA’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS

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PRIDE Pride grand marshal T Eileen Murphy. BEN WELLAND

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Xtra looks back on an incredible Pride weekend, including photos, news and more. › 9, 13 & 25 NEWS

ONLINE

Hate meme creator confesses

TIFF highlights

A Carleton University student has owned up to creating hateful internet memes targeting the coordinator of the university’s Challenge Homophobia and Transphobia campaign. >9

Divergence Movie Night After seven years as coordinator, new mom Caitlyn Pascal is looking for someone to take the reins and run the local ďŹ lm project she created. >10

OUT IN THE CITY

Cara Tierney The local artist’s transgressive collection is on display at Carleton University. Xtra sits down with Tierney to talk politics, language and coming out. >21

COVER STORY

The stars are out this month in Toronto, which is hosting its annual installation of the Toronto International Film Festival. Xtra’s paparazzi caught up with Mark Ruffalo, James Franco, Peaches, Lana Wachowski and more. >xtra.ca

Counting Pride attendees Why are the parade attendee numbers so hard to pin down? >xtra.ca

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Comment › 6 Xcetera › 7 News › 9 Xposed › 25 Index › 26 COLUMNS

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Art & photography › 24 Film & video › 24 One of Ottawa’s most colourful and proliďŹ c artists chats with Xtra about Health and issues › 24 his upcoming projects. This includes Print & performance › 26 a new book of poetry, two music Leisure and pleasure › 26

Danniel Oickle

videos, a Christmas single and a fulllength album. >22

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Comment Russia’s gay gag INBOX Editorial Andrea Houston

W www.andrex.ca

E ARE WATCHING A revolution unfold in Russia.

This is a revolution against religious and political oppression. It is a ďŹ ght for gay liberation, women’s rights and free speech.

Depressing news about postSoviet Russia seems to surface daily.

The latest: anti-gay activists are suing Madonna for $10 million for “offending� them during her Aug 9 concert, where she declared her unwavering support for gay rights. “Maybe someone does not see the link but after Madonna’s concert maybe some boy becomes gay, some girl becomes lesbian, fewer children are born as a result and this big country cannot defend its borders — for me it causes moral suffering,� one of the activists said.

Russia’s “war on gays� is not new.

Homosexuality was illegal in the former Soviet Union. After it fell, gay sex was decriminalized in 1993, but virulent homophobia continues to run deep.

St Petersburg introduced a gay gag law in February, making it a crime to say anything positive about gay and lesbian people.

Four other cities followed suit.

Neighbouring Ukraine introduced, then shelved, its own legislation in July.

Gay rights activists in Russia have long attempted Pride marches, but they are continuously met with police violence — rainbow ags are conďŹ scated and demonstrators hauled away. A former mayor of Moscow, Yury Luzhkov, referred to gay pride events as “satanic gatherings.â€?

Moscow’s top court recently upheld a ban on gay pride marches in the Russian capital for the next 100 years. It is as absurd as it is terrifying.

How is the Canadian government responding? So far with deafening silence.

The closest the government came to any kind of condemnation was to advise Canadians travelling to Russia in March to “avoid displaying affection in public, as homosexuals can be targets of violence.�

In other words, if you get attacked in Russia for acting gay, you have only yourself to blame, according to our Department of Foreign Affairs.

Unlike our wimpy elected officials, the Canadian people have not been silent. Many of us have joined a growing global chorus singing a punk prayer with three members of Pussy Riot who were sentenced to two years in a Siberian prison on

Aug 17 because they belted out an anti-Putin protest song inside an iconic Moscow cathedral.

Russian prosecutors claim the song was intended to offend the Orthodox Christian community.

The women were convicted of “hooliganism motivated by religious hatred.�

What’s the Canadian government’s response? On Aug 20, when Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird was asked about the issue, he couldn’t even bring himself to utter the band’s name. “We believe in every part of the world of sentencing having some relation to the serious nature of the crime,� Baird said. “Obviously, there’s, I think, widespread concern that this was perhaps too much and there were perhaps political considerations. We support around the world independent judiciaries, and we certainly take note of what’s happened.�

The statement followed news that the band may have a Canadian connection. Pussy Riot member Nadezhda Tolokonnikova reportedly holds permanent resident status in Canada.

If Tolokonnikova is Canadian, then Canada must step in. Is the Harper government afraid to rock the boat given its already rocky relationship with the Kremlin?

Meanwhile, in the wake of Madonna’s concert, Russian authorities say they, too, want her punished for speaking up for gay Russians.

The deputy prime minister called her a “whore.�

In Russia, gay activists are ďŹ ghting back, and it’s important that we support them.

All eyes will be on Russia in 2014 when it hosts the Sochi Winter Olympics. Russian authorities have already made it clear that queer people are not welcome.

In March, a Russian court upheld the government’s ban against Pride House, which was pioneered at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics as a place of celebration and refuge for gay athletes and asylumseekers. The court ruled that Pride House “leads to propaganda of nontraditional sexual orientation which can undermine the security of the Russian society� and provoke “social-religious hatred.�

If an athlete comes out during the Sochi Olympics and speaks proudly of being gay, will Russian authorities haul him or her away for upsetting the fragile sensibilities of Orthodox Christians and Vladimir Putin?

It is nothing short of an international embarrassment.

Andrea Houston is staff reporter for Xtra.

“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.

Pride and Parliament THERE CAN BE GREAT symbolic value in coming out together and converging on or around Parliament Hill; however, as a symbolic gesture it somehow misses its own intention when Parliament is not sitting, and the prime minister of Canada, who most needs to hear, see and feel the energy of that parade will be nowhere near it [“Pride Bypasses Parliament Again,�

Xtra #246, Aug 16]. And the reality of funding requirements yearly raises its needy voice, making its own statement to a community that cannot afford to dismiss that aspect, especially not after carrying a debt which threatened the very existence of continued Pride parades and events. However, it is also important to recognize that being “political� is not avoidable as a member of a minority community or as a queer human being. Please, if you don’t think our celebration is still political, try having that discussion with Moscow.

Andrew Currie Ottawa, ON

AIDS conference I GUESS YOU WOULD HAVE had to be there to know that AIDS activists from all over the world took the opportunity provided by the Canadian protests to learn more about the state of affairs in Canada [“AIDS Activism Shifts Gears,� Xtra #246, Aug 16]. Rather than being disgusted by the activists, they were disgusted with the Canadian federal government for its repressive and retrograde policies that activists from other countries are well aware will only serve to fuel the HIV epidemic.

Patrick Toronto, ON

Carleton meme THE AMOUNT OF HATE speech apologism in this forum is absurd [“Hate Meme Creator Confesses,� xtra.ca, Aug 30]. Come on: when someone does something wrong, especially on this level, there has to be a true acknowledgment of the wrongdoing before anyone involved can move on; that is simply not happening here. Both Deketele and a fair share of the commentators here would rather victim-blame than actually acknowledge the injury caused. Pathetic.

Shane Davis-Young Ottawa, ON Send your correspondence by mail to PO Box 70063, 160 Elgin StPlace Bell RPO, Ottawa, ON K2P 2M3, email comment@xtra.ca, or log on to xtra.ca & comment directly. We may edit letters.

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noteworthy › updates › ephemera

Xcetera

Compiled by Jeremy Feist

ON OUR GAYDAR

WHICH CATWOMAN IS THE BEST LESBIAN?

Recently, The Village Voice’s Michael Musto wondered whether Anne Hathaway’s Catwoman (from The Dark Knight Rises) is a lesbian. Personally, our vote is a resounding yes, but the real question is, out of all the Catwomen ever portrayed onscreen, is she the best lesbian? We did a comparison to see how she stacks up.

EARTHA KITT Batman TV series (1967–1968): She sat on a throne of pussy (cats). How wide does she need to kick the closet door open?

JULIE NEWMAR Batman TV series (1966-1967): She was in the original Batman TV series, which gave us the Batusi, so clearly she’s got a little bit of gayness in her.

HALLE BERRY Catwoman (2004): Let’s all just pretend this movie never existed, m’kay?

LEE MERIWETHER Batman (1966): Pretty good, but severely out-gayed by everything else in the movie.

MICHELLE PFEIFFER Batman Returns (1992): Strong, sexy and probably the sharpest dressed of them all, but she’s just edged out of the top spot.

ANNE HATHAWAY The Dark Knight Rises (2012): Purrr-fection!

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Upfront NEWS

WE RECOGNIZE THAT IN MODERN CANADIAN SOCIETY, GAY FAMILIES ARE PRESENT, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A REPRESENTATION IN THE PROGRAMMING AS WELL. Damon Chen › 10 PRIDE

Hate meme creator confesses Carleton student takes partial responsibility for internet harassment Bradley Turcotte A CARLETON UNIVERSITY STUDENT has been fined for creating a number of hateful internet memes targeting fellow student Arun Smith.

As Xtra reported in May, Ottawa police launched an investigation after dozens of homophobic images were posted on the website Quickmeme. Derogatory text was superimposed over images of Smith, and some messages alluded to sexual assault.

Raphael Deketele has confirmed to Xtra that he created some of the memes. This was first revealed during an investigation headed by Ryan Flannagan, director of student affairs at Carleton, that found Deketele had committed acts of harassment as defined under the Carleton University Student Rights and Responsibilities Policy.

Deketele says that while he regrets his actions, the memes he

you in such a way on a public forum. I assure you that I will not do anything like this again, and I hope that you will forgive my indiscretion.”

Smith, who is the coordinator of Carleton’s Challenge Homophobia and Transphobia campaign, thinks the apology lacks sincerity and says Deketele has failed to recognize the severity of his actions. “I certainly appreciate the apology, though I think it falls flat in terms of making amends,” he says.

Deketele, who made the university’s honour list for the 2008/09 and 2009/10 academic years, says the memes were never meant to go viral. Despite what he wrote in the apology, he blames Smith for publicizing the incident.

“If he doesn’t like you he will try to assassinate your character. I was worried that if I came forward he would do that, and it happened anyway. Just my luck that it only happened to me; I’m the only per-

A selection of the hate memes attacking Smith.

created did not threaten Smith explicitly.

“Although some of the things I said were obscene, all I did was insult him. I didn’t say that I would do anything bad to him or that anything bad was going to happen to him,” he says.

Deketele was forced to submit a written apology and was given the option of writing an essay about hate crimes and the queer community or paying a fine. He opted to pay the fine.

“I made nasty jokes about him.

I agree that they were nasty, and I wish I hadn’t said them,” he says. “I don’t think that I should have been punished with sanctions by the university just for being insulting.”

Smith received the written apology on Aug 28. It reads, “Dear Mr. Smith, I would like to apologize for the seven ‘memes’ featuring your image that I posted online, especially the ones that alluded to your homosexuality. While my intent was simply to make some light-hearted jokes at your expense, and not to threaten or abuse you, it was nonetheless wrong of me to write about

son who had someone rat on them.

I feel bad about what I did; I really do,” Deketele says.

Smith says he will provide Deketele’s name to police and seek legal counsel.

Flannagan says it is not the university’s place to involve authorities in such matters.

“As it relates to criminal matters, that is a decision for the Ottawa police,” Flannagan says. “If people want to go to the police or go to the courts, by all means.”

Dekelete says he will not reveal the names of the other students who were involved.

Meanwhile, Smith has filed a freedom-of-information request with the university and says he will forward any relevant information to the police. While Smith feels Carleton handled the situation appropriately, he also thinks justice has not been served.

“So long as Raphael continues to be a student, there’s still a fundamental question of my safety, whether we’re talking about my emotional safety or my physical safety,” he says.

RCMP Corporal David

Conners marches alongside Ottawa police officers. LAURA ZAHODY

Capital Pride diversifies Onlookers say parade was most inclusive in years Bradley Turcotte RAINBOW FLAGS WERE FLYING HIGH as Ottawa’s celebration of everything queer culminated Sun, Aug 26 with the Capital Pride parade.

Thousands of enthusiastic spectators lined the parade route, which began at the Garden of the Provinces and ended at Ottawa City Hall. The procession was led by grand marshal T Eileen Murphy, who rode in a 1983 maroon Buick Riviera convertible.

Some onlookers dressed in colourful rubber gear while others almost bared it all. Many said they thought this year’s parade was more inclusive than in years past. Additionally, the ages of supporters ran the gamut from eight months to 85.

Ronald Carrier has attended the parade for 10 years and said this unity between youth and elders is remarkable. “It’s great to see the younger people and the older people getting together and celebrating Pride. It makes it a fun gathering,” he said.

Twenty-year-old Eric Vance was experiencing his first Pride and admitted he has only recently come out of the closet. “I’ve never been to a Pride before. I want to see what it’s all about.”

At the other end of the spectrum, 85-year-old Bud said he was marching with the Senior Pride Network because he wanted everyone to know he’s proud to be queer.

“I’m happy to be marching because today I can be gay and let everybody know it,” he said.

The NDP critic for LGBT issues, MP Randall Garrison, who also marched, said Canadian queers should never have to hide their sexuality.

“The best protection and the best way we can get more equality in Canada is by being out wherever we are. Pride is a really important part of that,” he said, noting that Capital Pride has grown in recent years and is now representative of more than just gay men. He said he’s looking forward to the passage of Bill C-279, which would see gender identity and gender expression added as prohibited grounds of discrimination in the Canadian Human Rights Act and the hate-crime provisions of the Criminal Code.

This year’s marchers also included members of the Anglican church, PFLAG, Amnesty International Canada and trans support and social group Gender Mosaic. Kay Lockhart,

Gender Mosaic’s treasurer, says the group’s members are proud to be part of Capital Pride, even though they don’t identify as gay.

“As a trans group, Gender Mosaic is part of the alphabet soup that is GBLT, et cetera. So it is important to show that — although we are not homosexual, or no more so than the general population — we are still queer, as in the old sense of the word,” Lockhart says.

THE BEST PROTECTION AND THE BEST WAY WE CAN GET MORE EQUALITY IN CANADA IS BY BEING OUT WHEREVER WE ARE. —NDP MP Randall Garrison Ottawa-Centre MPP Yasir Naqvi, a steadfast supporter of human rights, marched in the parade among a strong Liberal contingent. Naqvi played a pivotal role in the passage of Bill 13, the Accepting Schools Act, which ensures that gay-straight alliances will be allowed in every Ontario school. “This year Pride has a special meaning,” he said with a smile.

For more photos from Capital Pride, turn to pages 13 and 25.

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NEWS

Canada World Youth seeks queer families Program aims to showcase Ottawa’s diversity Bradley Turcotte CANADA WORLD YOUTH (CWY) IS seeking queer families to host Kenyan and Canadian youths for its Ottawa program.

CWY strives to enrich young people’s lives through life experience and informal education. Founded in 1971 by the late Jacques Hébert, a former senator, the program pairs young volunteers with host families to allow the youths to integrate with new communities and cultures while developing communication and leadership skills.

Nine Kenyan and nine Canadian participants will come to Ottawa this year. Project supervisor Damon Chen says it’s important for queer Canadians to become host families in order to accurately represent Canada’s diversity.

“Some of the youths will be coming from rural areas, and some of them will be coming from different cities. We recognize that in modern Canadian society, gay families are present, and we want to make sure we have a representation in the programming as well,” Chen says, noting this is the first year CWY has pushed for more gay and lesbian host families.

He says it’s specifically important for the Kenyan participants to be exposed to queer families as homophobia is rife in the central African country.

“Technically, in Kenya homosexual

acts are still illegal, although there is a pro-LGBT movement growing there.

The youths are people who are still forming their opinions of what they believe and what they don’t believe,” he says. “It’s a great chance for them to see what a queer family is like and to see what a queer lifestyle is like, that it’s not the same kind of thing that’s been demonized in the past.”

Hershel Kagan has worked as a volunteer physician for CWY since the Ottawa chapter began in 2009 and is an alumnus of the program. He says youths who participate will experience invaluable personal growth.

“It was the first place where I came out and got to talk with someone about being gay,” he says of his time with CWY in the late 1980s and early ’90s. “That really had a profound effect on me. You are living in a group environment with people who are different from you. It really challenges your own perspective of the world and your thoughts about yourself.”

Kagan encourages queer families to enlist with CWY as it is an opportunity to obtain worldly, hands-on education as adults. “It is a fantastic, emotionally intense program. It’s a great opportunity to learn from other people and to learn about other cultures.”

For more information or to register as a host family, visit cwy-jcm.com.

A Canadian comes of age through Canada World Youth From the moment I packed my suitcase I knew I was going to have a major life transition and adventure as a participant in Canada World Youth. At the start of my program I knew none of the strangers on my team — the other participants came from different provinces all across Canada. However, after only a few months together, we had become a family. [Previously] people saw me as Logan the confident, the joker, the wild party animal. People didn’t know me as Logan the insecure, the sentimental, the one who is constantly conflicted about his supposedly “secure” sexuality and his image. And

Logan Ly tangles with a crocodile in Ghana.

that’s because I didn’t let that side of myself show.

But there I was. Reaching out to a group of strangers and two wonderfully warm host families, one in Fredericton and the other in Ghana. Both had such radiantly different personalities and lifestyles from my own. I realized that not only had I embarked on a grand journey, but I had begun a healing process with myself as well. — Logan Ly Logan Ly is a former participant in Canada World Youth and a former intern at Pink Triangle Press, Xtra’s publisher.

For more on Logan’s story, visit xtra.ca.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Divergence Movie Night creator seeks replacement SEVEN YEARS AGO, CAITLYN PASCAL staged a screening of Enough Man, an explicit documentary profiling trans men and their partners. It was from this initial showing that Divergence Movie Night (DMN) was born, and in the years since, DMN has acquired the rights to 83 films.

Yet now, this new mother and DJ is ready to move on. Pascal is looking for responsible and dedicated Ottawans to take the reins of the project into which she’s invested thousands of dollars of her own money.

It was her love of film that spurred DMN in 2006. While researching queer cinema, she took notice of how expensive the rights to these films were and decided to hold showings open to the public so she could share the cost of the rights.

The decision to retire from DMN is not something Pascal takes lightly.

She will continue to host her Pitch Black and Q-Bounce events and will be involved in our city’s queer community, but, she says, with a new baby in the house she has had to consider her options.

“I have to make a tough choice.

I’ve done it for so long that I feel like I’ve done everything I’ve set out to do with it. It was never meant to be a grandiose, international endeavour.

I look around and I’ve actually built something, something that is probably quite useful.”

The dozens of films Pascal has obtained over the years explore everything from addiction to the X-rated industry, and shelving the entire proj-

Departing organizer Caitlyn Pascal.

ect isn’t an option, she says.

“It requires a time commitment, responsibility and constant enthusiasm,” she says.

Although DMN is currently in a partnership with Pink Triangle Services, where the organization hosts screenings within its own ranks, for the film rights to remain valid DMN cannot be absorbed into another group or organization.

There are still a few events on the marquee before Pascal exits DMN, including a Sept 28 showing of The Heretics, a documentary about a 1970s New York feminist art collective. Pascal would like her final screening to be a marathon of short films at Raw Sugar Café. —Bradley Turcotte If you’re interested in taking on DMN, email Pascal at divergence.movie. night@gmail.com.

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Ciarra White was honoured as the Youth Activist of the Year at the Capital Pride Awards gala on Aug 17. White came out in front of her Ottawa Technical Secondary School class on Pink Shirt Day, a day to promote anti-bullying spearheaded by White. For more on the story, including a full list of winners, visit xtra.ca. LAURA ZAHODY

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NATIONAL NEWS

Montreal registry to track homophobic attacks IT’S A FAMILIAR REFRAIN: “I NEVER thought it would happen to me.”

Jean-Sébastien Boudreault, vicepresident of Fierté Montréal Pride, had heard all the stories of violence happening in Montreal’s gay village over the last year or so but was still surprised to find himself a target.

“I’m a big guy. So I was stunned when this woman tackled me while two men started kicking me,” he says.

The attack happened — of all nights — immediately following Fierté Montréal’s official boys’ launch party at the Apollon nightclub on Aug 17.

“I left the club around 3am and was headed back to my hotel when I heard a woman screaming,” recalls Boudreault, who soon realized the woman was not in any trouble but was, rather, a troublemaker. “I told her to

quiet down before she jumped me and punched me in the right eye.”

Two men joined the melee and continued pounding Boudreault after he fell to the ground. “I was told I’d been unconscious on the sidewalk for half an hour before an ambulance brought me to Notre-Dame Hospital, where I stayed overnight, my body black and blue, with a swollen face and eye. I’ve been unable to return to Montreal’s gay village ever since.”

As reported in Xtra last December, homophobic and violent incidents have been on the rise in Montreal’s gay village since the spring of 2011.

This past April Montreal activists and business owners launched the J’Aime Mon Village publicity campaign to help raise awareness and safety in the village while encouraging victims

Ontario attorney general snubs HIV group

The all new

A LETTER FROM A TOP GOVERNment official confirms that Ontario has halted discussions with a coalition fighting to reduce the use of criminal law in HIV-nondisclosure cases.

The letter, from Mark Leach, acting deputy attorney general, to the Ontario Working Group on Criminal Law and HIV Exposure (CLHE), says that the province will wait until the Supreme Court of Canada releases its decision in R vs Mabior before resuming work with the group.

The Mabior case was argued before the Supreme Court in February. The decision is likely to be released later this year. But the case has been in front of the Supreme Court since at

least December 2010 — well before the province began working with HIV activists on this file.

At the centre of Mabior — and of the work of the CLHE — is the legal obligation of HIV-positive people to disclose their HIV status before having sex. The Supreme Court is considering the impact of condom use and low viral loads, which greatly decrease the risk of transmission, on criminal prosecutions.

This is the latest in a string of erratic moves from the ministry. In 2011, the Province of Ontario won the right to intervene in Mabior before the Supreme Court, only to withdraw from the case before it was heard. — Marcus McCann

TODAY IS A GOOD DAY

Government cancels funding for AIDS projects

TO MAKE THINGS SIMPLER

AFTER SIX YEARS OF CONSERVative rule, it’s no secret that the grant regime that funds many Canadian non-governmental organizations is becoming stricter. The most recent target, it seems, is the Canadian HIV/ AIDS Legal Network (CHLN).

The CHLN recently sent a funding proposal for 20 projects to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) — as it has done for the past six years.

Its proposals received strong reviews from PHAC bureaucrats, CHLN executive director Richard Elliott

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says, but he started to get worried when the health minister asked to look at the group’s application. Even so, Elliott didn’t see any reason the CHLN’s funding would be withheld.

He was wrong.

Only a third of the CHLN’s funding was approved. The reason? “It was unclear from the details provided in the proposal whether the resource would be used for advocacy purposes, which is ineligible for funding,” reads PHAC’s response, which was provided to Xtra. — Justin Ling

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and witnesses to report all criminal acts to police.

Two months later Montreal-based Gai Écoute launched its Acts of Homophobia Registry (AHR).

“Homophobic acts are being committed — but not just in Montreal’s gay village,” says Gai Écoute president Laurent McCutcheon. “And people are not reporting them [to the police] because they can’t be bothered with the time-consuming process and follow-up.”

So Gai Écoute’s AHR will compile anonymous and confidential reports and complaints for 18 months, then analyze the data and release a report in June 2014. Since the project’s June 2012 launch, McCutcheon says, the registry has received almost 200 reports.”

— Richard Burnett

Gay reverend elected United Church moderator REVEREND GARY PATERSON OF St Andrew’s-Wesley United Church in downtown Vancouver was elected moderator of the United Church of Canada at the organization’s 41st general council, held at Carleton University Aug 16.

Paterson was one of three openly gay candidates among 15 hopefuls vying for the position, alongside Reverend Arlen John Bonnar, nominated by Montreal Presbytery, and Reverend Sally Boyle, nominated

by Edmonton Presbytery and the Alberta and Northwest Conference.

The United Church’s general council meets every three years to elect a new moderator. The moderator presides over the council’s meetings and acts as the church’s spokesperson.

“I am so humbled by the trust and the responsibility that you have placed in my hands,” Paterson said.

Newly minted Right Reverend Paterson then invited his partner of 30 years, Tim Stevenson, to join him onstage. Stevenson became the first openly gay minister ordained by the United Church of Canada in 1992 and currently serves as a Vancouver city councillor. — Bradley Turcotte For more on these stories, visit xtra.ca.

more at xtra.ca

XTRA! SEPT 13, 2012

PRIDE

LOOKING BACK For the many other favourites that we didn’t have room to include, search Capital Pride on xtra.ca.

A small selection of our favourite photos from Pride weekend Pride parade LAURA ZAHODY

Pride parade

Dyke March

BEN WELLAND

BEN WELLAND

Pride parade

Pride parade

BEN WELLAND

LAURA ZAHODY

Dyke March BEN WELLAND

Pride parade

Pride parade

Pride parade

LAURA ZAHODY

LAURA ZAHODY

LAURA ZAHODY

Dyke March BEN WELLAND

Pride parade

Pride parade

BEN WELLAND

LAURA ZAHODY

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Tips for the nesting season

Creating a winter sanctuary T Julie Cruikshank

he weather may not be chilly just yet, but winter is on its way. While for most of us winterizing cars and wardrobes is de rigueur, this thinking is often not applied to the insides of our homes. Of course, few can afford to completely change home décor with the seasons, but it is possible to create a sanctuary of light and warmth in the dark, cold months of winter.

Enter Elevenfiftyfour Modern Living Space. Tucked in the heart of Old Ottawa South, the shop, which owner James Flynn opened in 2010, highlights beautifully designed pieces with a minimalist, modern aesthetic. Its mainstays are solid colours and bold shapes celebrating form and function, reflecting a philosophy that usefulness and beauty need not be mutually exclusive.

On a still-warm September afternoon, Xtra spoke with designer Shannon Demers about how to create a warmth-filled space without radically overhauling a room or breaking the bank. Demers is a Carleton University graduate with a background in industrial design. She is full of unique ideas informed by a passion for objects that marry utility and charm. Demers points out personal favourites that, in her words, “bring some of the sunshine back into your house.”

Local store has design ideas for the cooler months

Innovation’s Fifty Nine sofa bed has different-coloured slip covers.

Bedroom Demers’ first suggestion is candles, which become surrogate fireplaces in spaces where there are none. To display them, she suggests the Light House ($125) by Danish brand Normann Copenhagen. This glass and metal creation elegantly houses a candle, spreading its light throughout the room and enhancing the sense of safety and comfort we associate with our bedrooms. On a smaller, less expensive scale, the Flag candle holder ($27.50) is a good way to fill your bedroom with multiple candles.

It comes in a range of earthy colours, creating warmth by pairing colour with light. Demers suggests sticking to this philosophy throughout the home, accenting an otherwise neutral palette with bright, punchy pieces to create contrast. This allows you to alter décor with seasonal pieces without radically changing your space every few months.

Living room

Normann Copenhagen’s Light House.

Flag candle holders.

This is the room where we entertain and where a good deal of our leisure time is spent. Again, Demers suggests sticking to a few well-chosen pieces that can be easily changed. In terms of colour palette, warm neutrals such as creamy white and beige tones and even pale blues work well.

Living rooms can be accented with wood furniture, like the Tablo table ($300) from Normann Copenhagen.

It’s great for small spaces and features a circular tabletop and three wooden legs that can be unscrewed for storage.

For larger furniture, Demers suggests choosing multi-purpose items such as the Fifty Nine sofa bed ($1,455) by Innovation, which can be brightened with slip covers.

Textured rugs also create warmth

The Frank Gehry colour cube.

and contrast. Elevenfiftyfour carries a selection from Toronto-based designer/importer Citak.

Elevenfiftyfour’s quintessential piece, the Frank Gehry colour cube ($249), perks up any room. Available in a range of solid colours, these pieces can function as seating or surface space and are even stackable for a purely visual aesthetic.

“They’re really the undefined purpose item,” Demers says. The cubes are also UV protected, which means in summer they can be used as patio furniture.

QisDesign LED Coral Light.

Kitchen

The Normann Copenhagen herb stand.

ELEVENFIFTYFOUR MODERN LIVING SPACE 1154 Bank St elevenfiftyfour.ca

Most of the kitchen’s seasonal appeal comes not from how it is decorated but rather from the food we make in it, necessitating a more functional approach. For this room, Demers suggests her very favourite item in the Elevenfiftyfour repertoire, the Eva Solo Cafe Solo coffeemaker ($89). “I use it every day,” she says. “It’s a pleasure to use.” This piece, which has won multiple design awards, features a glass carafe and an insertable metal filter. It comes with a neoprene zipup cover that insulates the coffee and is available in several colours. A similar teapot is also available.

Also great for a winter kitchen is the Normann Copenhagen herb stand ($48), which features four small pots and scissors shaped like leaves. There is also the striking two-toned Krenit bowl ($19), and for those with a sense of humour, the Friends

Normann Copenhagen’s Tablo table.

JULIE CRUIKSHANK

salt and pepper set ($40), painted to look like leather daddies.

How you choose to accessorize your home for the winter season is up to you. But by sticking to bright, functional pieces that create warmth and contrast, you can strike a balance between form and function to create a sanctuary of comfort during the colder months. Home, after all, is where the heart is.

The leather daddy Friends salt-andpepper set.

The Antidote Bottle vase by Vancouver’s18Karat.

Office Winter is the time of seasonal affective disorder, which can make focusing a problem. “For an office space, you need good lighting because there’s not as much natural light from outside,” Demers says.

The LED Coral Light ($410) by QisDesign, made by the manufacturers that make Mac products, is a beautiful desk lamp that gives off the same diffuse, reflected light as living coral.

To accessorize what is otherwise a mainly functional space, the Antidote Bottle vase ($25) by Vancouver’s18Karat is eye-catching.

Inspired by antique gin bottles, they’re “the perfect antidote to dull décor,” according to Elevenfiftyfour’s website. They are available in two sizes and are water safe, meaning they can hold cut flowers or whatever else your heart desires.

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Art therapy

Choosing the right artwork helps improve your home and your mind Luna Allison Think about placement

FOR NEW ART COLLECTORS, IT’S HARD to know where to begin when choosing pieces for the home. Questions of size, style, artistic medium, budget, colour, investment and aesthetics abound. Below are some guidelines for how to go about buying art that you’ll love — and want to live with — for years to come.

Spend more time looking at art Don’t know where to start when it comes to buying art? There are plenty of fun and free studio tours and art festivals in the region that feature dozens of artists at a time, including the Pontiac Artists’ Studio Tour, the Artists in Their Environment Tour in Chelsea and Wakefield and Chinatown Remixed.

Upcoming events include Festival X (Sept 20–30), the inaugural edition of Nuit Blanche Ottawa (Sept 22), the West End Studio Tour (Sept 22–30) and the Enriched Bread Artists open house (Oct 18–28). SAW Gallery and La Petite Mort Gallery are also good local year-round spaces to visit if you’re looking for edgy, politicized, queer or transgressive work.

before buying Before you buy a piece of art, consider the purpose of the room you’re buying it for and how the space is used. What do you do in that room? What sort of feeling do you want the room to evoke for you and your guests? Would it work to have contemplative artwork in the space, for example, or are you looking for something that’s more invigorating and challenging? Also consider whether the physical space and lighting will showcase the art or limit its visibility and aesthetic appeal. “There’s no point in buying an original piece of art if it’s obscured by the space,” says Marika Jemma, a queer visual artist and art teacher and the administrator for Enriched Bread Artists here in Ottawa.

What it comes down to is: ensure the space supports the art and vice versa.

Don’t assume art is too expensive If you’re looking to acquire art on a limited budget, consider buying a multiple (a mass-produced piece of art) or something from a limited edition series

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rather than a one-of-a-kind work. Work by art students is also an affordable option. Note that some galleries are willing to discuss payment plans, so it’s always worth asking about your options for bigger-ticket items. “If you fall in love with something that’s slightly or even overly out of your price range, have an open conversation with the gallerist,” says Guy Bérubé, the founder and curator of La Petite Mort Gallery. Also keep your eye out for popular gallery fundraisers such as SAW Gallery’s Sketch or Gallery 101’s 101 Frames. “I have maybe 25 works of art that I’ve purchased over the years through these types of fundraisers, and I paid less than $1,000 for that entire collection,” says Jason St-Laurent, curator of SAW Gallery. “I don’t recommend that people troll fundraisers like this just to get their hands on cheap art, but it does open a door into the art market — it gives you a taste. Eventually, you may be able to buy a more significant piece by [the same] artist.”

Listen to your gut You’re going to be living with your art every day. When choosing a piece, it’s important to trust your own taste and

Local artist Cara Tierney injects sexuality and sensuality into her art. Xtra chats with Tierney about her new exhibit on page 21.

go with what you think is beautiful or meaningful — even if you can’t explain why you like it. “Start to develop and trust your sense of what works and what you like,” Jemma says. “What colours do you like? What shapes do you respond to? What ideas are exciting to you?” Images, textures and colours evoke different responses from different people, so it’s important to listen to what the art actually says to you. “If you’re collecting art for your home, your starting point has to be something that grabs you from the gut,” St-Laurent says. “What I really like, too, is looking at it from a grassroots, local perspective. Buying local work, for example. Cara Tierney is a good example of a local queer artist who is getting a lot of buzz.” Bérubé invites people to really take risks in their art choices: “Buy things that make you react. Don’t be afraid of nudity. Don’t be afraid of sexuality and sensuality.

Don’t be afraid of anything.”

Buy for appreciation, not for investment People often assume that collecting art is about making a financial investment in pieces whose financial value will appreciate over time, but that misses the point.

“If people are buying art to live with, they shouldn’t really be seeing their first art purchases as investments,” St-Laurent says. “They should be seeing them as things that are going to make their lives better every day.” That includes arty fur-

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niture and beautiful, functional objects like wine carafes, water pitchers, kettles, teapots, hand-crafted crockery and artfully made kitchen tools. They can add to the artfulness of a space in their own way, Jemma says. And remember not to be too picky about whether your art matches your furniture or walls. If you want to tie a piece of art into your colour scheme, aim to match the matting or the frame to the rest of the room, rather than the art itself. “You have to let the art breathe and be its own thing,” St-Laurent says.

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19

HOMES

Connecting with your kitchen The cook’s room should be a reflection of the person who owns it Bradley Turcotte LAURYSEN KITCHENS HAS BEEN INfusing style into home décor since 1970.

The Stittsville-based, family-owned and -operated business offers discerning homeowners an array of services, from custom cabinetry to green material options. Giuseppe Castrucci, part owner and vice-president of sales and marketing, sat down with Xtra to offer some tips on turning around a drab kitchen.

XTRA: What’s your advice for a homeowner who is working with a limited budget?

GIUSEPPE CASTRUCCI: Always look for function and form first. What is going to increase or decrease the cost of your kitchen is your door selection and your finish selection. Look at the footprint of your kitchen. If you can’t afford a granite countertop, put laminate in because that’s something you can go back to and upgrade in the future. If you really like birch but can only afford melamine, five years down the road you can take those doors off, put in brand-new birch doors and put

in two finished gables on either side.

Now you have the kitchen you wanted.

What are the most popular kitchen trends?

Right now what seems to be the most popular are grey tones in kitchens. Anise and pepper are two of our new stains that pick up on that demand. More and more people are going towards a painted or opaque finish. The balance depends on if they want to go ultra-modern, contemporary or classic. Most people are interested in colour, colour, colour.

That’s the big driving force right now.

Grey tones and dark espresso tones are still the most popular. However, white is making a comeback. It’s nice to see that rebound come about. Yet most customers don’t want to go totally white. What most want is an antique white, grey white or beige white, but not so beige that it’s yellow. If those issues arise, we attack that problem by using our coconut or biscotti finish. Because colour is so important now we have rolled out a new series called the Fresco series. So basically, choose any colour from Benjamin Moore or Beauti-Tone and we’ll match

Splashy and bright colours work well in modern-style kitchens.

it. We have our own mixer here now, and we’ll do a custom paint colour for you.

How do you infuse joy into a lifeless kitchen?

A kitchen should be a reflection of the person who owns it. If you are someone who is very conservative, we’ll do a dark colour but dress it up with some cool handles. Very much like your clothes — it’s the accessories that are going to punch it up. With a kitchen it’s the countertops that are going to punch it up. If it’s not in the budget, we’ll ask about a paint colour. If you have a very

classic kitchen, you can punch it up by having a lively paint colour, like a yellow or a red or even a detailed wall.

Of the three main styles you mentioned — classic, modern and contemporary — which is the most in demand?

It depends. If you are going into the condo market, then it’s very contemporary or ultra-modern. They want high-gloss doors, very chic-looking, a New York style.

Are there common denominators that everybody can agree on?

Granite and quartz seem to be a running theme throughout every style of kitchen. Everybody wants a solid surface material if budget allows. Everyone is very much into lighting. We have the right lighting now with the right fixtures, which punch up the kitchen.

It’s a common theme throughout.

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arts › entertainment › leisure

Out City IN THE

I GREW UP FEELING VERY UNATTRACTIVE. I WENT THROUGH A WHOLE BUCK-TEETH-AND-GLASSES PHASE WITH BRACES AND BAD SKIN. Danniel Oickle ›22

ON DISPLAY

IN PRINT

A hard man is good to find Meditations on pissing in public and puffy coats Billeh Nickerson PERHAPS I’M GOING OUT ON A limb, but I’ll speculate that no other book of poetry published in Canada this year will include meditations on dunk tanks (that’s dunk without an R, you party animals), pissing in public, saxophones, orgasms and puffy coats. This is a good thing. Poetry is too often predictable. This book is not.

In The Hard Return, Marcus McCann responds to a world bogged down by inane blogs and a reality that seems password protected.

Unlike his previous collection, Soft Where, which was nominated for the Gerald Lampert Memorial Award and a Lambda Literary Award, these poems seem less concerned with sex. They are still sexy, though more interested in snuggling small considerations than thrusting confessionals.

Of note is McCann’s use of lists.

Unlike other mediums, where the standard list is used to document popularity and affirm nostalgia (that’s you, Jian Ghomeshi), McCann’s lists tend to layer his poems with unexpected meanings.

The poem “Pipe” is an imagisticladen comment on the allure of drug culture and the phallic. In “Oversized Gold Lamé Handbag,” he lists the implications, as only a gay man can, of the “sun-kissed tinsel.” In “Ten Facts About the Saxophone” he describes how “the saxophone is a kind of/CPR . . . ” and it “creates understanding between the sexes.” These are all smart and original takes on everyday objects.

Whether through juxtaposition

Cara Tierney’s Nude in a Landscape.

Marcus McCann’s latest collection of poems is anything but predictable.

or simply acknowledging an item’s existence or giving something a new context, his poems amplify the significance of small events and gestures. This is no small feat in a world that often bombards and desensitizes.

McCann also uses the list form to create poems comprising the lines of 22 poets from each of Vancouver, Ottawa and Toronto (disclosure: I was not aware that one of my lines was included in the collection when I agreed to review it). In this manner, he not only acknowledges these poets and their communities, but also creates new works directly from their words. It was a pleasure to be included in “Twenty-Two BC Poets Use Orgasm as a Metaphor for Belonging,” though I never expected to experience a group orgasm with most of them.

The biggest acknowledgment, however, is saved for Canadian poetry icon Don McKay, whose poem “Some Functions of a Leaf” is included in its entirety, though spread throughout the collection in 17 poems. This is a lovely touch.

Apart from a few poems that lacked the felicitous sounds and rhythms found in most of the collection, McCann has written a smart book that pinpoints without pushing or poking. Check it out.

the deets THE HARD RETURN Marcus McCann Insomniac Press $16.95

GO FORTH AND VIEW THIS EXHIBIT Cara Tierney’s photo critique of queer language

C

Kandace Blaker

and a lack of role models. Both result in feeling misunderstood.

AR A T I E R N E Y’S OT TAWA adventure began 10 years ago when she moved to the capital from Quebec to pursue the arts. She’s just finished a second master’s degree and has prepared a daring new exhibit.

Based on the theme of negotiating and constructing social identity, Go Forth and Multiply was two years in the making. With photography as her medium, Tierney uses self-portraits to express her frustration at society’s lack of education about the queer community. Xtra chatted with Tierney about the exhibit.

Why the importance of role models?

XTRA: What were the underlying emotions that led to the creation of this group of portraits?

The content is queer and about being queer and is structured in such a way that the viewer is encouraged to bring their own interpretation to the works.

Being queer means different things for

CARA TIERNEY: This exhibit was propelled forward by frustration.

Frustration towards society in general. I’m frustrated with what I’ve been taught is a man and a woman, and how the two are supposed to work. Men and women are not equivalent to male and female; there are so many more levels than that. The fact that we have two categories for gender is completely insufficient. And I think that is something that society at large does not understand, and there’s a lack of queer education at all levels of society

I grew up in an incredibly straight environment, with no queer role models.

When I did meet queer people it was mind-blowing! I didn’t come out until I was 26, which is late by today’s standards . . . and to switch gears that late in life, there’s that feeling of inauthenticity, and it takes a while to work through.

If you don’t have those role models in your environment, it takes you longer to get to where you need to be.

How does this show connect with the queer community, and what kind of response are you expecting?

different people, and, in this regard, the show avoids being prescriptive but rather hopes to foster open dialogue.

The production of this particular work is a response to the lack of visible queer subjects in our environments. As everyone is different and brings different baggage with them when they visit an art gallery, I expect the responses to be as varied as the viewers.

How does this project differ from others you’ve done in the past?

The upcoming exhibit shows a new side to my practice and brings my work into a new context, providing me with a great springboard from which to launch this next phase of my career. Before this I was involved in performance art, which has something really edgy about it, very effective, yet fleeting. With both, though, people are observing you. Any form of art boils down to authenticity.

When you live in the closet there’s a sense of falseness, so as an artist you need to be genuine.

Tierney’s Back and Forth.

For more on this story, visit xtra.ca.

the deets GO FORTH AND MULTIPLY Runs till Sun, Sept 30 Carleton University Art Gallery St Patrick’s Building 1125 Colonel By Dr Artist’s talk: Sat, Sept 29, 2pm cuag.carleton.ca

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Ottawa’s gay & lesbian news

XTRA! SEPT 13, 2012

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FLESH&FANCY Danniel Oickle’s oeuvre is beguiling, diverse and growing by the day

by Aaron Leaf photography by Jonathan Hobin

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N SEPT 18 DANNIEL OICKLE’S NEW one girl at 13 telling my sister I was going to hell.” book of poetry, My Heart Has Teeth, His parents continued to get more religious as he got will be released nationally. It’s his older, making coming out a tricky proposition. When second published book of poetry his brother also came out, they had to evolve or disinaccompanied by his own quirky tegrate. Their love, he says, saved them from that fate. illustrations and just one of seemToday, a steady stream of friends and collaboraingly dozens of projects he’s either tors passes through Torrid Productions, an art colreleased or is set to release this year. lective Oickle cofounded that has been at the core Pop music, avant-garde performance, video, phoof many of his myriad projects. A regular schedule tography and painting — Oickle is without a doubt one of creative brainstorming with other musicians of Ottawa’s most prolific artists, producing work at an and multidisciplinary artists, like folk singer and astonishing rate in a variety of mediums. It was just photographer CC Trubiak and PepTides lead singer last March that Xtra called Oickle’s multidisciplinary Olexandra Pruchnicky, keeps everyone’s fire lit. performance work Corruption of Flesh “a piece where “We have some incredible artists working in this city,” sexuality and religion collide to electric effect.” notes Oickle, who says that 10 years ago the music He’s the first to admit that his pace is unusual: scene didn’t really exist.

“Some people take 20 years to do one thing. I would “Before it was all guitar-based folk rock. Now we get tired of it,” he says. “I want to complete it and move have an avant-garde music scene and an avant-garde on to the next vision.” art scene.”

The opposite of an angst-ridden writer or composer, Oickle is a But Ottawa is still a button-down kind of place, and Oickle recognizes stream of creative energy constrained only by the time he has to put its limitations. For all his civic boosting, he recently bought a condo in down his ideas.

Montreal so he could work out of both cities yet stay close to his husband His first book, Dancing in Silence, charted last year at number four on of two years, a military man. iTunes Books. His poetry is informed by a roving curiosity: the poem “You become a big fish in a small pond, and eventually you need a “This Child of Mine,” from My Heart Has Teeth, was based on conversa- bigger pond. It would be nice if the pond could grow, too.” tions with female friends who were having children, an Currently, Oickle’s working on music videos for his experience Oickle laments he can never have. songs “Caring & Hate (Halos’n Horns Remix)” and “Son “I wanted to write about that topic, so I sat down and of a Soldier Man,” to be released this fall. A Christmas I talked to them about it,” he says. “It’s their honesty single, “Greensleeves,” featuring Aileen Martella, is in that enabled me to write it.” the works, and a new full-length album with the workThe result is a queasy anatomical narrative that is ing title Blitzkrieg should come out next year. both intensely personal but also reflects his observer Previous albums — Poison Apples & Other Delicacies status. The poem is stripped of the clichés associated and The Corruption of Flesh EP, both from 2011 — with childbirth and is more powerful for it. The rest contain a mix of pop experimentalism, moody electro of his poems cover a lot of thematic ground, from production and glam melodrama that has earned him imagining loss in “How You Left It” to a nostalgic ode a small but loyal following. It was his beats, he says, to 1980s club hopping in “Club Nuvo Maasai.” that attracted attention in the gay world, but it was Oickle was raised in a straight-laced Baptist milihis piano work that sold more units. tary family. As harsh as that sounds for a creative His visual work matches the glitzy fantasy of his queer kid, it was his early experiences singing in music: studies of his face in stage makeup, centaurs church and being home schooled by his artistic parand videos that focus suggestively on his own body. ents that sparked his interest in becoming an artist.

He likes the honesty of being so exposed in his work.

“Baptists have a very strong musical side of their “I grew up feeling very unattractive,” he says. “I MY HEART church. Music was huge!” he says. went through a whole buck-teeth-and-glasses phase HAS TEETH “But a lot of the creativity that I was working on, I with braces and bad skin. When you see yourself, you

By Danniel Oickle couldn’t share with my peers in church. I remember see all your flaws.”

Lulu Publishing

I REMEMBER ONE GIRL AT 13 TELLING MY SISTER I WAS GOING TO HELL

$25 dannieloickle.com

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MAKEUP BY DEEDEE BUTTERS

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Ottawa’s gay & lesbian news

XTRA! SEPT 13, 2012

listings ›

For more listings, go to xtra.ca

Laurence Anyways

Laurence Anyways screens at Bytowne Cinema.

This QuĂŠbĂŠcois ďŹ lm by Xavier Dolan is the story of a transgender woman and her decade-long struggle to maintain a passionate romance with her soulmate, FrĂŠdĂŠrique. Fri, Oct 12–Tues Oct 16, various showtimes.

Bytowne Cinema, 325 Rideau St. 613-789-3456. $7–10. bytowne.ca

Check out xtra.ca for an interview with Xavier Dolan.

The definitive online source for gay & lesbian media, including: q #SFBLJOH OFXT q %BJMZ CMPHT q 7JEFP JOUFSWJFXT q &OHBHJOH DPNNFOUT q &WFOU MJTUJOHT q 'BDFCPPL UXJUUFS BOE TP NVDI NPSF

Only on YUSB DB. Your news, your way.

HEALTH & ISSUES AIDS Walk SHAYNE LAVERDIĂˆRE

ART & PHOTOGRAPHY Nuit Blanche Ottawa The inaugural edition of Nuit Blanche Ottawa is almost here! This allnight arts and culture extravaganza happens at sites across the city, and the theme is Life Is Beautiful.

Participating venues and artists are listed on the website. Sat, Sept 22, 6:22 pm–4:23am. Free. nuitblancheottawa.ca

Radical First Person Extreme Self: Art in the Radical First Person features a number of queer artists, including Vancouver’s Paul Wong and the infamous UK duo Gilbert & George. Vernissage Thurs, Oct 4, time TBA. Exhibit runs Oct 4–Thurs, Nov 15. SAW Gallery, 67 Nicholas St. Free. 613-236-6181. galeriesawgallery.com

FILM & VIDEO Divergence Movie Night Divergence presents The Heretics, a ďŹ lm about the 1970s New York–based

feminist art collective that produced Heresies: A Feminist Publication on Art and Politics. Fri, Sept 28, 8pm.

Raw Sugar CafÊ, 692 Somerset St W. Free, with suggested donation of $5–10. divergencemovienight.com

Farewell, My Queen The ďŹ lm chronicles the life of Marie Antoinette, including her relationship with the Duchesse de Polignac, who was rumoured to be her lover. Fri, Sept 28–Mon, Oct 1, various showtimes.

Bytowne Cinema, 325 Rideau St. 613-789-3456. $7–10. bytowne.ca

Mavericks of American Dance This documentary tells the story of the Jorey Ballet company, including the lifelong domestic partnership between Robert Jorey and Gerald Arpino. Fri, Oct 5–Mon, Oct 8, various showtimes. Bytowne Cinema, 325 Rideau St. 613-789-3456. $7–10. bytowne.ca

Join thousands of Ottawans marching together to raise funds for and awareness about HIV and AIDS. One hundred percent of funds go toward prevention, testing, education and support in our community. Sat, Sept 15, 5–8:30pm. Marion Dewar Plaza, Ottawa City Hall, 110 Laurier Ave W. aidswalkottawa.ca

QPOC Drop-In This is a monthly drop-in group by and for queer people of colour happening at PTS Ottawa. Come by for fun, discussion, socializing and support. Last Tuesday of each month. Tues, Sept 25, 7–9pm. Pink Triangle Services, 251 Bank St, Suite 301. ptsottawa.org

Anti-Violence Vigil Join Families of Sisters in Spirit for a national vigil for missing and murdered indigenous women and girls. Speeches by Michele Taina Audette and families. Followed by the annual Take Back the Night march.

Thurs, Oct 4; vigil 6:15–7:15pm, march at 7:30pm. Parliament Hill. familiesofsistersinspirit@gmail.com › continued on page 26

more at xtra.ca

XTRA! SEPT 13, 2012

25

XPOSED

By Michael Burtch

The Ottawa Wolves Rugby Football Club hosted its annual Jocks and Knee High Socks fundraising auction on Aug 18 at Babylon nightclub.

Youth Services Bureau’s Suzy Yim (left), Nadia Blasutti (top) and Alisa McClain kick off Pride at SHAG Pride, Aug 19 at the Jack Purcell Community Centre. The event attracted the attention of CTV News and was featured on that night’s broadcast.

About 30 protesters gathered at the Russian embassy on Aug 17 to take part in an international protest against the conviction of three members of the punk band Pussy Riot, who were sentenced to two years in jail for homosexual propaganda, hooliganism, simulating demonic attacks, and causing their dresses to ride up during a protest in Moscow’s main cathedral.

More than 150 people took to the streets on Aug 18 to call for an end to victim blaming and slut shaming during Ottawa’s second annual SlutWalk. The event, which has grown into an international movement, originated in Toronto last year after a police officer advised women that “in order to avoid being victimized, women should stop dressing like sluts.”

From left, Capital Pride’s Mark Power, Jer’s Vision’s Jeremy Dias, TotoToo Theatre’s Seamus “Dot” McKenzie-Chapman, and the Ottawa Knights’ Murray Lavigne at the Ottawa Capital Pride Awards gala, held at the Arc Hotel on Aug 17.

From left, AIDS Committee of Ottawa volunteer Alex Paslat, volunteer coordinator Leslie Wells and volunteer AJ N’Goran help put together more than 5,500 condom kits that were distributed during the Pride parade on Aug 26.

MICHAEL’S

PRIDE PICS!

From left, Martin Molina, Eduardo Mujica, Morteza Atusa, Sanjeevan Tharmartnam and Kyle Thompson at Jocks and Knee High Socks, at Babylon.

The Ottawa Frontrunners Running Club met at city hall on Aug 21 for a run through the city. To learn more about the free club, visit ottawafrontrunners.org.

Ottawa’s gay & lesbian news

XTRA! SEPT 13, 2012

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

indexdirectory.ca ACCOMMODATIONS BRITISH COLUMBIA

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Panoramik Home Improvements Inc

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BICYCLES Fresh Air Experience McCrank’s Cycles

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CRUISES CruiseshipCenters

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DATING SERVICES Pink Planet

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DRY CLEANING Parker Clean

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EDUCATION & INSTRUCTION Sylvan Learning

HOME IMPROVEMENT & REPAIRS Eco Ottawa Windows & Doors Panoramik Home Improvements Inc

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Mann & Partners, LLP Nelligan O’Brien Payne LLP

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819-790-7053

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MENTALIST

416-925-6665 squirt.org xtra.ca

WEDDINGS Cube Gallery The Open Circle

Get sweaty with all the boys at this weekly gay dance party at The Lookout. Hosted by the legendary Dixie Landers. Every Thursday, 9pm–2am. The Lookout Bar & Bistro, 41 York St. thelookoutbar.com

Friday Fixxx Friday Fixxx is the number-one ladies’ night in the region, featuring the most popular female DJ in Ottawa: DJ Isabelle Beauchamp.

Pre-Fixxx from 8–10pm; dancing from 10pm on. Every Friday, 8pm– 2am. The Lookout Bar & Bistro, 41 York St. thelookoutbar.com

Rideau Speedeaus Join the Rideau Speedeaus Swim Club on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays for some wet fun.

Ottawa U Pool, Montpetit Hall, 125 University St. To register for or inquire about the Learn to Swim program, email lts@ rideauspeedeaus.com. 613-5625789. rideauspeedeaus.com

Slowdance Night

The second-ever Ottawa Strip Spelling Bee descends at the end of September. Be prepared for advanced spelling and advanced states of undress! Sign-up at 8:30pm, bee at 9pm. Sat, Sept 29, 9pm–12am. Raw Sugar Café, 692 Somerset St W. 19+. $10 at the door. janesheisaclerk.blogspot.ca

Seniors’ Night Out

Fresh Air Experience

613-569-3737

LEGAL SERVICES

Thirsty Boy Thursday

Strip Spelling Bee

WATER TREATMENT SYSTEMS

LAWYERS Philip MacAdam Law Firm

Mid-week debauchery at its finest. Promoted by Laurie Hawco and Ricky Alvarez, I Love 2 Hump features the Eva Darling Drag Show and DJs Martin and Grace spinning hip hop, electro and house.

Wednesdays, 9pm onward. Mercury Lounge, 56 Byward Market Sq. 613-789-5324. ilove2hump.com

613-731-5454 613-695-8688

Sophia Esthetic Spa and IPL Laser Services Spa Homâ

LEISURE & PLEASURE Hump Night

613-820-6032

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ottawamensyoga.ca

Now booking for our fall edition, don’t miss out.

Call today for booking and rate information.

For more information, contact 1-800-268-XTRA x214 or email: index.ottawa@xtra.ca

For more listings, go to xtra.ca

› continued from page 24

This edition of Slowdance is an homage to the back-to-school season. Come dressed as anything school-related — gym teacher, nerd, prom date, librarian, teacher, janitor — and get in cheaper! Sat, Sept 15, 9pm–1am. Raw Sugar Café, 692 Somerset St W. $8 with costume, $10 without. lunaallison@yahoo.ca

SEXUAL COUNSELLING

The Couples Group 613-596-9697

ELECTRICAL CONTRACTING 613-834-4659

Pink Triangle Press Xtra Ottawa Xtra Toronto Xtra Vancouver

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John Shea Insurance Brokers Ltd

Evan Weiner, AMP J ason Wong Mortgage Alliance

613-233-6256

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Ruth Dulmage

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Dr Robert Ing

PSYCHOLOGISTS

SEX SHOPS 613-695-3261

JEWELLERY & JEWELLERS

COMMUNITY GROUPS & SERVICES Centretown Community Health Centre The Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa

613-726-9200

INSURANCE

CHURCHES St Luke’s Anglican Church of Ottawa

613-565-0763

HEALTH FOODS & NUTRITION

CHIROPRACTORS In Balance Chiropractic and Health Centre

819-776-1555

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Minto Apartments Limited

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Jamie Anderson

listings ›

ANNIE FRAME

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Join this 50-and-over group of queers on the first and third Wednesday of every month for fun, conversation and laughter. Wed, Oct 4 and 18, 7:30pm. Burgers on Main, 343 Somerset St W, second floor. Free admission, cash bar. ospn-rfao.ca

Frontrunners Women’s Run Join the women’s contingent of the queer running group, Frontrunners, to get your body moving and connect with some local dykes.

First Saturday of every month. Sat, Oct 6, 9am. Meet at the Lisgar St entrance to city hall, 111 Lisgar St. Free. ofr@ottawafrontrunners.org

Femme Family Tea Party Ottawa Femme Family is a group for femme-identified people to talk about all things femme, feminist and fabulous. Femmes of all genders welcome! The café and its bathrooms are wheelchair accessible. Sat, Oct 6, 1–4pm. Alpha Soul Café, 1015 Wellington St W. Free. 613-761-8000.

Hunter Valentine performs Sept 27.

Hot Spots Workshop The Hot Spots workshop shows participants how to get more pleasure from their G-spots and P-spots — those mysterious and sometimes elusive erogenous zones. Tues, Oct 9, 6:30–8:30pm.

Venus Envy, 320 Lisgar St. $10–20.

Pre-register at 613-789-4646. venusenvy.ca

Vintage Queers’ Dance The Ottawa Senior Pride Network brings you the second-ever Vintage Queers’ Dance for LGBT seniors who are 50-plus. Come dance to music from the 1960s, ’70s, ’80s and ’90s.

Allies and friends welcome. Free parking. Sat, Oct 13, 8pm–midnight.

The Good Companions Centre, 670 Albert St. $20 advance, $25 door. ospn-rfao.ca

Ottawa Knights Join the Ottawa Knights Gay Men’s Denim and Leather Club for their monthly night of fun and debauchery. This month the theme is Red October, and it’s a benefit for Bruce House. Sat, Oct 13, 10pm. CP Complex, 340 Somerset St W. Free. ottawaknights.com

PRINT & PERFORMANCE kd lang at NAC The legendary kd lang comes to Ottawa with her new band, the Siss Boom Bang. With special guest Lindi Ortega. Tues, Sept 18, 8pm. Southam Hall, National Arts Centre, 53 Elgin St. $62.50–$122.50. Available at the NAC box office, at 1-888-991-2787 or at nac-cna.ca.

Rich Aucoin at Ritual Come on out for this night of pop, experimental and dance music.

Stepdad and The Terror Pigeon Dance Revolt open. 19+. Fri, Sept 21, 7pm. Ritual Nightclub, 137 Besserer St. $13 advance. Available at Vertigo Records, the Record Shaap and on ticketweb.ca. spectrasonic.com, punkottawa.com

Hunter Valentine Spectrasonic and punkottawa. com present the fabulous Hunter Valentine and guests, back for more fan love just one month after their Capital Pride appearance.

19+. Thurs, Sept 27, 8pm. Café Dekcuf, 221 Rideau St. $12 advance. spectrasonic.com, punkottawa.com

Voices of Venus This series showcases women writers, with a focus on spokenword poetry, and is organized by locals Faye Estrella and Allison Armstrong. Wed, Oct 10; open mic at 8pm, featured artist at 9pm.

Venus Envy, 320 Lisgar St. 613-789-4646. venusenvy.ca

A World of Gay Adventure XTRA! SEPT 13, 2012

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Tel Aviv łĎĤĜĤĹ

Clubs to culture, beaches to architecture — there’s something for everyone

T

Michael Luongo

other, a down-to-earth parade with an open beach party at its end,� Gadi says.

Even if you’re not visiting for Pride, Tel Aviv’s nightlife is famous. Whether you make a stop at gay lounge Evita, (31 Yavne St), with its images of the iconic ďŹ rst lady and its sexy and uproarious Eurovision shows, or gay dance clubs like Apolo (46 Allenby St), there’s something to do every night of the week. There are also roving weekend parties, something to look into before your visit — or you can ask locals on arrival. Approximately every six weeks there’s the Palestinian Queer Party, sponsored by Al Qaws (alqaws.org), the Jerusalem-based gay Palestinian group. It’s held in Jaffa, the ancient port city and a suburb of Tel Aviv. Jaffa is a fantastic mix of Muslim, Christian and Jewish inuences: a fun, sexy take on what peace in the Middle East could look like with gays in charge.

Remember that the Middle East weekend starts on Thursday night — Friday and Saturday is the weekend for Jewish Israelis. If you’re heading to Tel Aviv from Jerusalem, about 45 minutes

EL AVIV MIGHT NOT HAVE the religious signiďŹ cance of Jerusalem, but that’s kind of the point. The secular nature of this Israeli city is what makes it one of the Middle East’s most exciting gay travel destinations. Its Mediterranean beachside location is another plus.

In 2011, Tel Aviv made news when it was voted the world’s best gay city by readers of the gay travel website gaycities.com, putting it in the ranks of San Francisco, New York, London and Toronto.

Gadi Tunes, cofounder of the gay apartment-search website gay-ville.com, lives in Tel Aviv and says the city “is so gay-friendly because it is a very liberal city to begin with. There is a high concentration of gays in the city, and as it is by the beach, gay tourists love it.�

Tel Aviv’s Pride is in early June.

Next year’s event will be held on Friday, June 7. “[This year’s] gay pride was amazing. Every year it is bigger. It’s a nonstop party, from one club to the

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Exploring Bauhaus Tel Aviv I’ve been going to Tel Aviv for years. Beyond the liberal atmosphere, museums and stores, the city’s architecture has long been a draw. A young city in an ancient land, Tel Aviv, which means Spring Hill in Hebrew, celebrated its centennial in 2009. It has the greatest collection of Bauhaus architecture in the world, more than 4,000 structures. During the 1930s, the city grew as refugees streamed in from Germany after Hitler came into power and began persecuting Jews and intellectuals, including those of the Bauhaus school. Tel Aviv was designated a UNESCO world heritage site because of this unique architectural › continued on next page

MICHAEL LUONGO

Clockwise from top: Old Jaa seen in the background of Tel Aviv’s beaches; a colourful character at Tel Aviv Pride.

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MICHAEL LUONGO

Tel Aviv › continued from previous page

collection, though many of the buildings are in terrible repair. Pay a visit to the Bauhaus Center (99 Dizengoff St) near Dizengoff Circle, itself considered the world’s only purely Bauhaus square. I usually stay on the Circle at the reasonable Center Chic Hotel (2 Zamenhoff St) — itself a renovated Bauhaus structure — putting me within walking distance of the beach, shopping and gay nightlife.

I came across the hotel through Russell Lord, of Kenes Tours, one of the most awarded gay travel experts in Israel. The International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association recently honoured Lord for his pioneering work putting Israel on the queer travel radar. Born in Brooklyn, he moved to Israel decades ago.

“Tel Aviv is without a doubt the gayest city on the Mediterranean,” Lord says.

“We’ve got great bars, amazing restaurants, hot clubs, hotter beaches and even hotter guys. The perfect components for a great holiday. For a cultural break, we’re

about an hour away from Jerusalem, the Dead Sea and the sites of the Galilee.”

Lord acknowledges that visiting Israel can be a controversial topic for some travellers. Many readers and Pride-goers are likely familiar with the concept of pinkwashing — the idea that queer issues are promoted in order to mask bigger political and human rights concerns within the region. Lord wants visitors to keep open minds during their visits to Israel, considering the country a gateway to the region.

For clients who have more time, he often pairs trips to Tel Aviv with visits to the Palestinian West Bank and neighbouring Jordan and Egypt. His goal is for visitors to have fun yet still see everything and be able to come to their own unfiltered conclusions about the region’s issues.

Madonna sightings and men with leather straps If you time your Tel Aviv trip right, staying on Dizengoff Square (sometimes called Dizengoff Circle) might even al-

MICHAEL LUONGO

low you to catch a casual glimpse of Madonna, though you’re better off shouting “Esther,” her Jewish name, to get her attention. The Kabbalah Center (14 Dizengoff Square) is just off the square in an ocean-liner-shaped Bauhaus structure Madonna is known to pop into on Tel Aviv visits. Though practitioners don’t call it Jewish mysticism, that’s a phrase often used to describe this form of Judaism. Look for people with red string bracelets, often a sign one is a follower, or just pop into the centre. Everyone speaks English.

In the square on Friday afternoons before sunset, you’ll often find young bearded men in black. They’ll be looking more Jerusalem than Tel Aviv and begging to tie you up in black leather.

It might sound kinky, but they’re not daddies in training. They’re offering passersby tefillin, or prayer straps. Many are students from the nearby yeshiva,or religious school, and their goal is to bring god a little closer to secular Tel Aviv. Even if you’re not Jewish, I recommend the experience. Especially when done by a well-chosen proselytizer.

ELEKH

MICHAEL LUONGO

Above: A 1935 Bauhaus apartment building.

Tel Aviv is a UNESCO heritage city renowned for its 4,000 Bauhaus structures. Left: Tefillin, or prayer straps, near Dizengoff Square.

Memories of Miami If you’ve ever been to Miami, you’ll definitely get a déjà vu feeling in Tel Aviv.

It’s the architecture, the palm trees, the beachside setting. As they have in Miami Beach, gays have figured in the revitalization of downtown Tel Aviv. Before you head to Tel Aviv, check out the films of the dynamic duo of Israeli film producing, Eytan Fox and Gal Uchovsky.

They are perhaps Israel’s most famous gay couple and are the force behind the movie The Bubble, which examines the relationship between a gay Israeli soldier and a Palestinian hideaway. The scenes take place throughout central Tel Aviv, including in an imaginary fashionable gay-popular restaurant. The movie’s title refers to Tel Aviv’s nickname, a reference to the city’s seeming isolation from the tensions of other parts of Israel, especially Jerusalem — both the city’s blessing and bane. Fox and Uchovsky are the makers of Yossi & Jagger, a film about gay soldiers in love; they were also behind the 1990s Israeli TV show Florentin, which takes place in an architecturally significant neighbourhood in Tel Aviv of the same name and helped make gay characters in Israeli media mainstream.

Tel Aviv isn’t just a summer destination. In fact, at the recently renovated port in the north of the city, called the Namal, you’ll find seaside shopping, restaurants and a new indoor farmers’ market. The Namal even has a winter ice-skating area, though it’s never really freezing in Tel Aviv. Some January days can be warm enough for shorts. So, no matter the weather where you live, Tel Aviv is certainly a great option.

From clubs to culture, beaches to architecture, Tel Aviv offers something for anyone, any time of year.

Above left, rainbow buildings on the waterfront. Above right, IDF soldiers in Tel Aviv. Israel allows gay soldiers in its military.

Trip advisor BARS & PUBS Evita Dungeon Fetish Club

HOTELS & GUESTHOUSES Shalom Hotel Pink House

RESTAURANTS & CAFÉS Onami Japanese Restaurant Sofia Bulgarian Restaurant

SAUNAS Sauna City Sauna/Bar Paradise The Tel Aviv section of guidemag.com includes more than 60 gay and lesbian venues of interest.

on the web Tel Aviv Tourism ›visit-tlv.com Gay Tel Aviv ›gaytlvguide.com Gay-Ville ›gay-ville.com Bauhaus Center ›bauhaus-center.com Center Chic Hotel ›atlas.co.il/ center-hotel-tel-aviv Kenes Tours ›kenestours.com Kabbalah Center ›kabbalah.co.il The Namal ›namal.co.il/en/default.aspx

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Columbus Who knew there were so many gay people here?

I

Matt Mills

T’S NOT DIFFICULT TO IMAGINE that after the chain flew off the US economy in 2008 untold thousands of young gay people in their 20s and 30s, working early in their careers in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago, lost their jobs or were otherwise marginalized in their work. Full of creative energy and set back but not defeated, many left their chosen metropolises for smaller US cities where the living is less expensive and the pace a bit more relaxed.

Places where they could see more social and economic potential.

If you look out as you fly into Columbus, Ohio, the city seems like an island jutting from a checkerboard sea of agricultural land. America’s breadbasket, as it’s called, stretches past the horizon in all directions, leaving the city appearing, from that vantage point at least, a bit isolated. But once on the ground, the city feels full of youthful vigour.

Have you always wanted to open your own art gallery, antique shop or craft brewery? Retail spaces in Columbus were, at least until recently, large and relatively inexpensive. With its proximity to the breadbasket, raw materials for artisanal pursuits are plentiful and fresh. It all makes for dining and shopping experiences that gay travellers simply won’t get in larger cities.

And Columbus is very gay, too. It’s home to enough gay people to earn

it a score among the top 20 US cities on the Gay Index, as developed by demographer Gary Gates and made famous by urban theorist Richard Florida. There are more than 20 gay bars, clubs and restaurants in this city of almost 800,000. Gay people are important enough here that Mayor Michael Coleman spent an evening at a special cocktail party held for the ragtag group of gay journalists invited to visit Columbus.

Clockwise from top left: Columbus skyline at night; the Book Loft in German Village is one of the largest independent booksellers in the US; ever wonder how whiskey is made?

Head distiller Ryan Lang can show you at Middle West Spirits; performer Nina West is a Columbus institution — find her at superdragqueen.com.

Short North The Short North neighbourhood, home to many of the city’s gay and gay-friendly businesses and its midJune Pride parade, may be the coolest part of town. Earning its name from its past reputation as the other side of the tracks, Short North has emerged in recent years as the place to be and be seen in Columbus. Much more relaxed than major metropolitan hot spots, it stretches along North High St, almost 15 blocks from Nationwide Blvd past West Fifth St just a few blocks south of Ohio State University. The people are Midwest-friendly. There is a great mix of ages among them, from students to old-timers, and they seem not only to fit together nicely, but there is something for everyone.

On the first Saturday evening of every summer month, thousands converge on the neighbourhood for the monthly Gallery Hop. More than 40 businesses, including almost 20

EXPERIENCE COLUMBUS

art galleries, showcase some of Ohio’s best artists and craftspeople. Street performers abound, and each event attracts thousands of visitors. It is not to be missed, so plan ahead.

There are at least nine hotels and B&Bs in the area, but I stayed comfortably at the Hampton Inn. It’s conveniently located at the south end of Short North and an easy walk to the action. Visit North Market, right next to the hotel, to sample delicious pastries, meats and other tasty treats. If you’re feeling adventurous, tour the city centre the fun way, via Segway.

Antique and secondhand bric-a-brac stores here, like Flower Child, are stuffed with you-just-can’t-get-theseanymore treasures at reasonable prices. Eat dinner at Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse. The place is huge and the food and cocktails are delicious. Stop for drinks at the swanky Level Dining

Lounge, then head over to Axis Nightclub for dancing, drag and, on some nights, more than 1,000 gay men.

Sojourn There is also much of interest to gay travellers off Short North. For nightlife, check out Wall Street Nightclub and Club Diversity. Eat at Milestone 229.

Take a walk around German Village.

Have a decadent brownie or blondie at Sugar Daddy’s. Bibliophiles could lose themselves for days at Book Loft. The craft-beer and -spirit makers in Columbus are amazing. Middle West Spirits is a distiller of vodka and whiskey in very small batches. Proprietors Brady and Ryan offer tours and tastings on Friday evenings and Gallery Hop nights. Be sure to stop by Brothers Drake Meadery to finally taste mead — a boozy honey-fermented drink. You’ll love it.

on the web Experience Columbus ›experiencecolumbus.com Outlook Columbus Magazine ›outlookmedia.com North Market ›northmarket.com Segway ›segawaytoursofcolumbus.com Flower Child ›flowerchildvintage.com Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse ›hydeparkrestaurants.com Level Dining Lounge ›levelcolumbus.com Axis Nightclub ›columbusnightlife.com Wall Street Nightclub ›wallstreetnightclub.com Club Diversity ›clubdiversity.biz Milestone 229 ›milestone229.com German Village ›germanvillage.com Sugar Daddy’s ›sugardaddys.com Book Loft ›bookloft.com Middle West Spirits ›middlewestspirits.com Brothers Drake Meadery ›brothersdrake.com Find more about Columbus at guidemag.com, including more than 80 gay and lesbian venues of interest.

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Black&Blue Montreal’s kickass circuit party enters its third decade

Green landscapes and Mount Pico are both emblematic of the Azores. BJORN EHRLICH

INAUGURAL AZORES PRIDE PARADE Nine gorgeous, lush islands make up the Azores archipelago, situated in the North Atlantic Ocean approximately 1,500 kilometres west of Lisbon.

The capital, Ponta Delgada, is on SĂŁo Miguel, the largest of the islands and home to the international airport. It is also where the Azores’ ďŹ rst Pride parade was held, on Sept 1.

SĂŁo Miguel, commonly known as the “green island,â€? oers breathtaking views. The main attraction is Lagoa das Sete Cidades (aka Lagoon of the Seven Cities). Best viewed from the Vista do Rei lookout, these twin lakes — one green and the other blue — are situated in the crater of a dormant volcano.

The charming and quaint towns of SĂŁo Miguel, especially in Nordeste,

the northeast part of the island, oer some of the best views on the island.

Another must-visit is the town of Furnas, known for its thermal springs.

The islands are best travelled by car, allowing tourists to stop often to visit small towns and villages, meet locals and, perhaps, savour the delicacies of a home-cooked Portuguese meal. — Armando Mendonça

on the web For information on ights, tours and accommodation: Visit Azores ›visitazores.com Sata Express ›sata.pt Visit Portugal ›visitportugal.com

As October draws near, circuit queens have reason to rejoice. The Black & Blue, Montreal’s epic circuit party, widely regarded as one of the best in the world, is back — and raunchier than ever.

The theme for the 22nd annual party is Evolution (it must be the Cirque du Soleil inuence, as Black & Blue themes often seem kind of new age).

There will be a slew of celebrated DJs, including David Morales, Tom Stephan, Stephan Grondin, Paskal Daze, Raneem, Oren D and Paul Random, as well as a leather ball, a fetish ball, a tea dance, an all-night jock party (with nude dancers!) and a grand tribute to drag (to be held at Cabaret Mado).

This year there’s even an event fêting Alternative Talents, which sounds like the queer-party equivalent of a great big surprise package.

The Black & Blue, which is run by the Bad Boy Club Montreal (BBCM), has had its bumps and scrapes over the years. Some have criticized what they see as a thinly veiled promotion of drug culture and accompanying lapses in safer-sex practices. But the BBCM has worked hard to distribute condoms and safe-sex education, and BBCM founder and president Robert Vezina says their event is one of the safest on the entire circuit. At the main event — the overnight dance

party — medical sta are on site in case of any overdoses. And public sex is not permitted on the premises.

The BBCM has had its run-ins with police, who once threatened to shut down the Black & Blue a few hours before the doors were to open (after careful negotiation, the crisis was averted). “We’re at a very good point right now,� Vezina says. “We have strong relations with police, and the public know that we throw a great party.�

Vezina adds that attracting new talent is now not a problem. “DJs who have never spun with us are eager to get here, because they’ve heard how great our crowd is, how good our lighting is, how strong our choreography is. And the DJs who have already been with us are happy to come back. Years of hard work and putting together a quality event has paid o.â€?

Vezina says criticisms of the Black & Blue — and circuit parties in general — have faded in recent years. “I don’t think circuit parties cause bad behaviour. That’s too simplistic an argument. We are about throwing a really great series of parties and bringing people together. I’m so proud of the fact that we have a very diverse crowd coming to our events.

We’ve had a great time and raised a lot of money for community charities while doing so.� — Matthew Hays For more info on programming and tickets, visit bbcm.org.

the deets THE BLACK & BLUE FESTIVAL Wed, Oct 3–Tues, Oct 9 Main event on Sun, Oct 7 bbcm.org

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