Xtra Toronto #710

WORLDPRIDE LONDON

What the Brits are doing to prepare ›12

MARIO LOVING LUIGI

Video games for gay gamers › 13

PISS PIGS ON STAGE

Dance show explores raunch ›16

TORONTO’S GAY & LESBIAN NEWS

#710 JAN 12, 2012

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COMMENT 6 XCETERA 7 NEWS 9 OUT IN THE CITY 15 XPOSED 21

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XTRA! JAN 12, 2012

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XTRA! JAN 12, 2012

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XTRA! JAN 12, 2012

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Address: 2 Carlton St, Ste 1600, Toronto, ON, M5B 1J3 Office hours: 9am–6pm, Mon–Fri Phone: 416-925-6665 Fax: 416-925-6674 Website: xtra.ca General email: info@xtra.ca FOR DISPLAY ADVERTISING rates or information, call 416-925-6665 or 800-268-XTRA or email ads@xtra.ca. Display advertising deadline for the Jan 26 issue: Wed, Jan 18, 4pm.

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XTRA Published by Pink Triangle Press PUBLISHER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Brandon Matheson

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER & EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Matt Mills

ASSIGNMENT EDITOR Danny Glenwright COPY EDITOR Lesley Fraser NEWS REPORTERS Andrea Houston, Rob

Salerno

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Lucinda Wallace PRODUCTION MANAGER Leslie Miller GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Andrew Tran, Darryl Mabey, Bryce Stuart JUNIOR ADVERTISING DESIGNER

Ashley Calla

Vancouver’s Little Sister’s bookstore.

INVESTIGATION

The end of gay bookstores?

Glad Day, Canada’s oldest gay bookstore, is up for sale, and many believe other shops are not far behind. Xtra spoke to staff at Canada’s four remaining gay bookstores to find out how much longer they can keep their doors open.

NEWS

Youngest school board trustee?

If Tyler Johnson is elected to the Toronto District School Board on Feb 27, he will be the youngest trustee in the board’s history.

The former Pride Toronto youth coordinator speaks to Xtra about the bumpy road he took to get where he is today. ›9

WorldPride London

British organizers of WorldPride are preparing for record attendance at the international event, which will share London’s summer calendar with the Olympic Games and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. ›12

ADVERTISING & SALES DIRECTOR Ken Hickling NATIONAL SALES MANAGER Jeffrey Hoffman NATIONAL ACCOUNTS MANAGER Derrick Branco RETAIL ACCOUNTS MANAGERS

Mike Mooney, Brian Garrison

ENGAGEMENT DIRECTOR Gareth Kirkby DISTRIBUTION & COMMUNITY RELATIONS COORDINATOR Craig Palmer CLIENT SERVICES & ADVERTISING ADMINISTRATOR Eugene Coon CUSTOMER SERVICE John Webster ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Cassidy Phillips

EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS ISSUE

Nick Aveling, Tyler Dorchester, Chris Dupuis, Jeremy Feist, Ryan G Hinds, Nicolas Kazamia, Michael Luongo, Alistair Newton, Anna Pournikova, Katie Toth, Shannon Webb-Campbell, Carolyn Yates

Issn 0829-3384 Printed and published in Canada. ©2012 Pink Triangle Press. Xtra is published every two weeks by Pink Triangle Press.

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Glenn Kauth & Didier Pomerleau HONORARY DIRECTOR Colin Brownlee PRESIDENT & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Ken Popert PUBLISHER & EDITOR-AT-LARGE David Walberg CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Andrew Chang

›11

Young entrepreneurs The advocate A young lesbian couple has rejuvenated the Bloor West area with three exciting new businesses.

Xtra speaks with the owners of Café Neon, Schoolyard studio and Amphora. ›14

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

OUT IN THE CITY

REGULARS

The return of Ronnie Burkett

Comment ›6 Xcetera ›7 Xposed ›21 Index ›28 Classifieds ›28

After pulling strings for 25 years, gay puppeteer Ronnie Burkett comes back to Toronto with his newest creation, Penny Plain, and returns to the roots of his art. ›15

ONLINE

Peggy Nash’s gay politics

Peggy Nash, NDP MP for Parkdale– High Park, is the first contender for Jack Layton’s former job to release a series of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans priorities. Xtra speaks with Nash about gay youth, bullying and the economy. ›xtra.ca

COLUMNS

Editorial ›6 Toronto at Night ›18 Porndoggy ›30 LISTINGS

Art & photography ›17 Leisure & pleasure ›17, 18 Health & issues ›18 Music ›18 Stage ›19 COVER PHOTO

BY DAVID HAWE

Wake Up Your Senses Bring in this ad for 20% off your purchase!

30 Carlton St. 416.623.4969 www.thecoffeezone.ca

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XTRA! JAN 12, 2012

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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 technologyaddicted 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 travel one more subway stop or 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.

I remember moving to Toronto as a young gay man and finding this community two times over in the city’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 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 Toronto’s Glad Day and Ottawa’s After Stonewall (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 per 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.

INBOX Trans action YOUR PIECE [“A HEATED Trans Action,” Xtra #709, Dec 29] is a necessary education for many and, sadly, highlights the ignorance that exists in our city and far beyond when it comes to equality and respect for our trans friends and siblings.

Thank you for your work. Trans people do not choose their gender any more than non-trans folks do. This I have learned through working, living, loving and getting by, side by side with trans folks. If you keep your mind closed, you will continue to see your own existence alone and not learn to respect those whose experiences differ from yours. Is it so hard to ask what we as queers expect of straight folks — a little respect? We have such a long way to go, and yet the simple inclusion of trans and bi identities in the Xtra header would make an important statement and would take our community a long way forward and invite more of this kind of discussion, reflection and expansion of knowledge.

Clare Nobbs Toronto, ON A WONDERFUL AND beautiful perspective, Tera Mallette! It still amazes me how much hatred society can dish up when it comes to trans issues: both in the heterosexual world and even in our own LGBT community! Of course it doesn’t help when the trans umbrella is one of the most diverse communities in itself. On one end, there are transsexuals who were born in the wrong bodies who do not feel they’re real or true individuals until all surgery is completed, many contemplating or even attempting suicide if this doesn’t happen. On the other end are those who just weekend crossdress. And then there is everyone in between.

But many don’t know or even care that there are differences or that with all these differences it has never been about sex — it’s about identity. Identities many of us were forced to live with when we were young, afraid to speak out from the ridicule, abuse and beatings many of us endured. It is no wonder we try to put the past behind us. Some of us try to make things better and are centred out and verbally abused. The irony is that we are scientists, doctors, politicians, lawyers, teachers, people from just about every profession there is, and we are all sensitive, caring human beings!

We deserve to be treated with dignity just as every human on this planet does . . . and yes, Tera, it starts with acknowledgment!

Davina Hader Toronto, ON GOOD OPINION EDITORIAL, Tera Mallette. First, you state the concern, expressing both insight and empathy for the harm caused.

Then you seek to educate and create an understanding on trans issues and the importance of our inclusion. Finally, you recommend a possible solution,

REMEMBER THAT YOUR SEXUAL HEALTH IS NOT ONLY THE STATE OF YOUR JUNK, BUT ALSO HOW YOU PERCEIVE YOUR BODY.

Send your correspondence by mail to 2 Carlton St, Ste 1600, Toronto M5B 1J3, email comment@xtra.ca, or log in to xtra.ca and comment directly. We may edit letters.

which is forward thinking. For me, Xtra is our friend. Our enemy lurks in the struggles we continue to fight: Sun Media, Michael Coren, Charles McVety and the Institute for Canadian Values. Let us learn to work together so we are stronger in this important struggle. Thank you for your contribution. I look forward to what 2012 brings.

Susan Gapka Toronto, ON

HIV criminalization THE ONTARIO WORKING Group on Criminal Law and HIV Exposure had felt betrayed by Ontario’s proposed argument to the Supreme Court. The province was preparing to argue that people living with HIV should always be considered criminals if we do not disclose our status, even in situations where there was no significant risk of transmitting the virus. We are gratified that Ontario has now withdrawn this dangerous argument [“Ontario Won’t Intervene in HIV Criminalization Case,” Xtra #709, Dec 29] and will not be intervening at the Supreme Court.

Tim McCaskell Toronto, ON I’M AN OUTREACH WORKER and a self-identified queer pig. Last time I got tested, the result came back negative. I work for an AIDS service organization. My job is not to keep you sexually safe. That is your job and yours only. My job consists of providing people with the best infor-

comment The fact that our community has chosen to glorify the practice of barebacking and PnP [party and play] as sexual lifestyles is not only irritating but incredibly irresponsible [“Dare You to Look Deeper,” xtra.ca, Nov 25]. I am all in favour of adults doing what they want regarding their sexual practices; it is their individual business (providing they are not breaking the law or nonconsensually hurting someone). But to allow the public forums of our community (internet, magazines, movies and print) to give not just a voice to these lifestyle choices, but a glorified voice, is an exercise in public irresponsibility.

—Dan Stortini Toronto, ON

To comment, go to xtra.ca.

mation and support I can give for them to make their own informed sex-life decisions. In fact, a great part of my job consists in repeating this message again and again, because for most people it would be easier if my job were to keep them safe. That would take away their sexual responsibility, and if something unexpected happened they would have someone else to blame.

It is challenging because when talking about sex and relationships (no matter the nature: casual, regular or in-between) there is so much information out there, so many factors to consider. And people read or hear whatever they want to read or hear.

No, undetectable does not mean uninfectable; however, it does mean the risk of transmission decreases significantly, and people should know this.

Welcome to the grey area of sexuality.

We all decide to take different risks in our lives, depending on different factors. The important thing is to know when and which ones we are taking, and the consequences of them, so we can be prepared the best way possible.

Yes, talk to your healthcare provider about your sexual health, but talk honestly about it. Ask a lot of questions, and seek second and third opinions.

Remember that your sexual health is not only the state of your junk, but also how you perceive your body.

Rodrigo Diaz Montreal, PQ

Diversity training I’M VERY GLAD TO HEAR about this change [“New Ontario Curriculum on Sexuality and Gender,” xtra.ca, Dec 19] and that Davina Hader is involved in designing the new curriculum for those studying to be teachers in Ontario. I have no doubt it will make a big difference.

Teachers set much of the tone and culture of a classroom. Making them all more aware of the realities of queer youth (including, I assume, instruction for recognizing bullying and other problems such as mental/emotional distress in their students) will go a long way in supporting queer students who are being bullied or otherwise having a hard time coping with reactions to their sexual orientation and gender identity. Too often teachers let the bullying continue or ignore their students who are in distress because they simply cannot recognize the signs.

As well, hopefully, it will reduce the bullying of queer students by teachers themselves. Being bullied by a teacher can be extra harmful for a student since it is that much harder to deal with when it’s a person with power who is the bully. This is an important first step before getting a similar sort of curriculum into our schools for all of our students, and not just teachers.

After all, it’s pretty hard to get that sort of curriculum off the ground if the teachers aren’t educated in it first.

This is all very good news!

Rich Toronto, ON

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XTRA! JAN 12, 2012

7

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FROTHY MIXTURES

By Jeremy Feist unless otherwise noted

2012: END OF DAYS

CHRIS CROCKER & COURTNEY STODDEN:

LOVE HOTBLADESHOTPASSION.BLOGSPOT.COM

Xcetera

Wedding belles

@ChrisCrocker:

Courtney, I just feel like we’re kindred spirits. Shall I make a #LeaveCourtneyAlone video?

Someone finally made an honest man out of Olympic figure skater Johnny Weir (right)! The skater married long-time boyfriend Victor Voronov in New York City on New Year’s Eve. Weir told icenetwork.com that “[Voronov]’s kind of everything that I’ve ever looked for and aspired to be in a relationship with.” Most people vow to just quit smoking on New Year’s, but I guess eternal love works, too.

HEAVY FLOW

@CourtneyStodden:

Libra tampons accused of transphobia. Period

Our souls are timelessly connected Chris — that video would be such a divine creation! Love you . . . muah! XOs . . . Let’s hookup . . . message my private contact ;)

A restaurant in Boone, Iowa, has renamed one of its menu items “The Santorum Salad” in support of Republican politician Rick Santorum. Xtra readers will, of course, know that “Santorum” has come to refer to “the frothy mixture of lube and fecal matter that is sometimes the byproduct of anal sex.”

You better hope the salad dressing is just honey dijon.

YOUTUBE

SANTORUM SALAD, ANYONE?

RICK PHOTO BY SFEXAMINER.COM; SALAD PHOTO BY EISING/THINKSTOCK

MOMMYISH.COM/YOUTUBE

SOULMATES

A Twitter conversation between 17-year-old child bride Courtney Stodden and YouTube celeb turned pornstar Chris Crocker.

Soooo . . . guess the Mayans were right about that whole “apocalypse” thing, huh?

Remember when tampon commercials featured women in flowing white sundresses pouring windshield wiper fluid onto absorbent surfaces? Well, the makers of Libra tampons decided to shake things up a bit by airing an ad in New Zealand that featured a drag queen alongside a cissexual woman. The ad has since been pulled after trans activists slammed it because it implied people could be women only if they menstruate. Sandee Crack, the drag star who appeared in the ad, has defended the campaign and claimed trans activists are being “dragphobic.” Even though it’s a commercial for tampons, the ad seems better suited to another essential hygiene product: douchebags.

BITCHSLAP

‘Sissy’ calendar pulled from Amazon For those of you who were hoping for some blatant queer-bashing whenever you checked the date, there is some terrible news: cartoonist Joe King’s calendar, “I’m Not Gay. I’m Just a Sissy,” which featured homophobic and transphobic content as well as jokes made at the expense of those with HIV/AIDS, was pulled from Amazon after a slew of complaints. On the plus side, we can all look forward to King’s next calendar: “I’m Not a Narrow-Minded Bigot. I’m Just a Dick.”

+

DUMB DUMBER

—Adam Lambert’s somewhat sheepish tweet after spending the night in a Helsinki jail for fighting with his Finnish boyfriend, Sauli Koskinen, outside a gay club on Dec 21. No charges have been laid and neither one was injured in the altercation, apparently. —Helen Whitehead

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Toronto’s gay & lesbian news

XTRA! JAN 12, 2012

HARVEY L. HAMBURG Barrister, Solicitor, Notary Public Many Years of Experience in Real Estate, Wills and Estate Administration

416-968-9054 One of Xtra!'s Best of Toronto 2002, 2007 & 2010 Serving our community for more than 25 years 120 Carlton St., Suite 215 (at Jarvis St.) e-mail: hhamburg@sympatico.ca

WINTERLICIOUS RESERVATIONS AVAILABLE LUNCH $15* DINNER $25* JAN 27– FEB 9 *PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE TAXES OR GRATUITIES

SHERBOURNE HEALTH CENTRE 333 SHERBOURNE STREET TORONTO, ON M5A 2S5

416-324-4103 • www.sherbourne.on.ca

LGBT HEALTH QUEERS WHO HAVE ADOPTED SUPPORT GROUP

Queers who have adopted, and their kids, are meeting monthly to give support, info share, and socialize with each other. Meetings will take place at sherbourne health centre, 333 sherbourne street, on the third saturday of the month, 10:30 am to 12:30 p.m. First meeting is January 21, 2012. Pizza lunch and childcare will be provided. To register for childcare, and for more information on this and other support group meetings, contact Mariko tamaki mtamaki@ sherbourne.on.ca, 416-324-4100 ext 5276 or visit www.lgbtqparentingconnection.ca/programs.

SPRING 2012 GENDER JOURNEYS GROUP:

LUNCH • DINNER • SUNDAY ROAST • PRIVATE PARTIES 449 Jarvis Street Toronto ON, M4Y 2G8 (1 Block South of Wellesley) Tel: 416.975.1867

www.TheBlakeHouse.ca

Mother of a Gay or a Straight Son? $50 for 1/2 hour You are invited to participate in a study on the possible biological basis of sexual orientation.

Mothers will fill out a short questionnaire and give a small blood sample.

Please contact Dr. Anthony Bogaert (Brock University, St. Catharines, ON) at tbogaert@brocku.ca or 905-688-5550 ext 4230 for more information.

If you decide to participate, our researchers will come to your home or place of mutual convenience.

This research has been approved by the Brock University Research Ethics Board (10-282; reb@brocku.ca or 905 688-5550 ext. 3035)

wednesdays, 6:00-8:45pm, February 1 to april 11. Thinking about transitioning? This 11-week group provides you with reliable information and meaningful community connections for anyone thinking about their own gender changes. Respect for a wide range of possibilities across the diverse gender continuum.

Space is limited! contact yasmeen Persad to register: 416-324-5078 or ypersad@ sherbourne.on.ca.

Discretion assured. We welcome people of diverse cultural and ethnoracial backgrounds. TTC access, wheelchair accessible (with limitations), healthy snacks.

QUESTIONS ABOUT NUTRITION?

come see a registered Dietitian in Lgbt health to learn more about healthy eating, active living and management of different conditions (such as high cholesterol, blood pressure and overweight). Our Dietitian is available for long-term follow up to help set and reach your nutrition goals. Referrals can be made through your Primary Care Provider at the Sherbourne Health Centre.

“Hey yogurt, if you’re so cultured, how come I never see you at the opera?” ~Stephen Colbert supporting our youth (soy) seeks to improve the quality of life for Lgbt youth (up to 29) through the active involvement of adults working together with youth. working within an anti-oppression framework, soy develops initiatives that build skills and capacities, provide mentoring and support, and nurture a sense of identity and belonging.

416-324-5077 • www.soytoronto.org

HEY QUEER & TRANS YOUTH! MONDAY NIGHT DROP IN:

Monday Night Drop-In is a weekly drop-in where adult mentors and youth create community together. It’s a fun ‘queer’ space for socializing, relaxing and sharing a home cooked meal. Youth are welcome to come check it out eVery Monday night from 5:30-8:00pm at sherbourne health centre, 2nd floor, 333 sherbourne street. contact John at 416-324-4100 x 5339 or email jcaffery@ sherbourne.on.ca.

ALPHABET SOUP: If you are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer, 2 Spirited or Questioning, under 20 years old and in school or planning to return to school, check us out! tuesdays, 4:00-6:00pm @ sherbourne health centre, 333 sherbourne st. contact John for more details at jcaffery@ sherbourne.on.ca or 416-324-4100 X 5339.

NEWCOMER IMMIGRANT YOUTH PROGRAM (EXPRESS): A safe and supportive space where newcomer and/or immigrant queer youth find a safe space to gather, share ideas, questions, and most of all HAVE FUN! Interested? tuesdays, 6:00-8:00pm @ sherbourne health centre, 333 sherbourne st. email suhail: soynewcomer@ sherbourne.on.ca or call 416-324-5080.

BLACK QUEER YOUTH (BQY): A safe space for Black, Mixed, African/Caribbean Youth

under 29, who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transsexual and questioning. Come chill, learn and socialize, free food & drinks - Spread the word! wednesdays, 6:30-8:30pm @ sherbourne health centre, 333 sherbourne st. email Lorelei: bqy@ sherbourne.on.ca or call 416-324-5083.

TRANS_FUSION CREW: TFC is a warm, inclusive space for transgender, transsexual, intersex, two-spirit, gender-questioning youth and our allies to chill out, make art, share information, get connected with referrals and work on amazing activist projects. thursdays, 6:00-8:00pm email: tfc@ sherbourne.on.ca or call yasmeen at 416-324-5078.

MANY THANKS TO QUEER IDOL for their generous sponsorship over the last 2 years.

We wish you success in your 2011/2012 year. Queer IDoL is held the second Friday of each month @ goodhandy’s, 120 church street (at richmond) $9 cover ($5 with student ID) www.queeridol.ca.

more at xtra.ca

XTRA! JAN 12, 2012

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 ›  › 

Upfront HIV/AIDS

WORLDPRIDE HASN’T BEEN HELD FOR QUITE SOME TIME, BUT THE OLYMPICS GIVE US AN IDEAL OPPORTUNITY TO BRING IT BACK OUT AND DUST IT DOWN. Paul Birrell › 12 TORONTO NEWS

Mixing HIV and long-term care Andrea Houston SEVEN YEARS AGO, HIV SURVIVOR Kenneth Poon was so sick his body had deteriorated to a frail 65 pounds.

He lost his sight and couldn’t walk.

At Casey House, the Toronto hospice he called home for more than two years, he was moved to the “big room upstairs” — the room patients never leave.

Miraculously, doctors brought him back from the brink. In 2007, he was given the good news that he was being discharged.

However, unable to live independently, Poon was forced to quit his job as a fashion designer for Holt Renfrew, sell his house and move into a nursing home temporarily. He was 45 years old at the time.

At Lincoln Place, where Poon was the only openly gay resident, he kept to himself. The average age of other residents was about 80. Many had dementia and Alzheimer’s. He felt isolated and alone.

One day at dinner he noticed there was blood dripping down his arm from a small cut. A personal support worker

HIV survivor Kenneth Poon entered a nursing home when he was 45.

ANDREA HOUSTON

(PSW) grabbed him, held up his arm and pulled him into the nurse’s station. “He has HIV,” the PSW shouted.

“Kenneth is bleeding. He has AIDS!” Poon says everything stopped.

“There is normally a hum of chatter and footsteps in the hall, but at that moment you could hear a pin drop. The PSW did the worst thing. He disclosed my status. By the end of the night, everyone knew I was positive.”

After that, things changed. Residents stopped talking to him and many kept their distance. At mealtime, people asked staff to pass the bread to avoid talking to Poon directly.

Poon contacted Casey House, whose staff visited Lincoln Place and offered information and education to staff there. Poon says the stigma people with HIV continue to face in long-term care, along with homophobia and transphobia, forces queer seniors back into the closet.

Poon now lives in a Toronto apartment with his guide dog, Aiyden, and his partner, Al. But he is not alone. Experts in long-term care and HIV/AIDS are noticing an alarming gap. People with HIV are living decades longer than in the past and dealing with a host of illnesses associated with aging, such as dementia, cancer, diabetes and kidney problems.

That’s why Sue Graham-Nutter, executive director of corporate affairs and communications for the Rekai Centre at Wellesley Central Place, reached out to Casey House for help.

There is growing recognition in long-term care that more training is needed for providers so they are prepared for more people with HIV entering the system, she says.

“What we are finding is people with HIV/AIDS are aging at a much faster rate than the norm,” she says.

“At much earlier ages, some as young as 40 or 50, it seems their bodies are exhibiting characteristics [associated with] aging faster than the regular population.”

Medical treatments and antiretroviral drugs have advanced considerably over the past 20 years. HIV is no longer a death sentence, doctors at Casey House say; it’s now a chronic disease.

There are more than 7,254 people living with HIV/AIDS in Ontario over the age of 50 years, according to the province’s vital statistics registrar.

Of that, 62 percent live in Toronto.

“I was staggered when I looked at those numbers. It’s much higher than I thought it would be,” GrahamNutter admits. “These are people in their 50s, 60s and 70s that doctors didn’t think would live. Now that’s an issue for long-term care. Their needs are much different.”

Stephanie Karapita, chief executive officer at Casey House, says there is a lack of awareness about the “greying of AIDS” in long-term care, particularly in facilities outside downtown Toronto.

“We want this to be addressed quickly,” she says. “LGBT seniors are twice as likely to be isolated and live alone. They are quite vulnerable.

Add in issues surrounding HIV/AIDS and aging . . .”

Karapita says the number of Torontonians with HIV continues to grow, and by 2015, more than half of all those with HIV in North America will be over the age of 50.

“When Casey House first opened in 1988, we were about dying. With the introduction of antiretrovirals in 1996, we shifted our focus to living with HIV. Now we are looking to support people as they age with HIV,” she says.

For more on this story, go to xtra.ca.

At 23, Tyler Johnson would be the youngest trustee in TDSB history if elected.

Gay youth vies for school board seat Ward 17 trustee by-election set for Feb 27 Andrea Houston IF ELECTED ON FEB 27, TYLER JOHNson, 23, will be the youngest trustee in the history of the Toronto District School Board (TDSB).

Johnson says he can relate to many of the everyday struggles students experience. His personal story includes time spent homeless on the streets of Toronto — he was kicked out after his stepmother found out he is gay.

The former Pride Toronto (PT) youth coordinator is one of 12 candidates running in the upcoming Don Valley East by-election.

“I represent a very diverse minority group, and I have experienced a lot of what our students are experiencing, such as single-parent families, homelessness, and I am a queer youth of colour,” he says.

Johnson grew up in poverty, moving through 14 different schools from kindergarten to Grade 12.

At age 16, he was kicked out of his family home and moved into Covenant House. “That drastically changed my life. They got me a job, housing and I started getting involved in the community.”

Two years later, in 2007, he was approached by TDSB chair Chris Bolton, who offered him a job in his office.

Johnson seized the opportunity.

Working at the TDSB sparked a passion for education; Johnson decided to work to make schools more inspiring and accepting places.

“I want all students to feel welcome, but the reality is we still have a lot of homophobia at our schools,” he says, noting he will champion increased supports, such as gay-straight alliances (GSAs) and anti-homophobia events.

In 2011 the Toronto Star called Johnson “one of the new faces in gay activism” for his involvement in the Proud of Toronto Campaign, which tried to raise awareness about looming cuts to city services, including Pride and other queer and HIV/AIDS community groups. As a coordinator with PT, Johnson led the largest-ever youth contingent in the Pride parade.

The previous trustee in Don Valley East, Michael Coteau, held the seat since 2003 and was elected as a Liberal MPP in the riding of Don Valley East in October.

Johnson says the by-election may be postponed if city staff contract

talks trigger a labour disruption. City contracts officially ended Dec 31, affecting more than 30,000 workers.

Johnson says he thinks workers will be locked out in about a month.

This will be Johnson’s first bid for a trustee position. He has spent the past five years working behind the scenes at the TDSB, reporting to several trustees. He is currently an executive assistant under Ward 5 trustee Howard Kaplan.

Johnson says he is worried about overcrowding in Ward 17 schools.

“One school is 150 percent overenrolled. So they have a lot of portables.”

He says he will also continue to fight cuts to education in the city budget. “Ford has attacked the TDSB by targeting our student nutrition programs and city-funded pools.”

The budget process continues throughout January, with final recommendations from the budget committee on Jan 9. The executive committee will review the budget on Jan 12, and council votes Jan 17, 18 and 19.

For the full version of this story, visit xtra.ca.

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Toronto’s gay & lesbian news

XTRA! JAN 12, 2012

COMMUNITY NEWS

PROUD LIFE

ROSEMARY HARDWICK

Acme Burger to serve alcohol

CHURCH ST WILL HAVE ONE MORE buzzing patio this summer if all goes according to plan.

Acme Burger manager Amad Khuash recently told Xtra he plans to begin serving alcohol at his restaurant once patio season arrives in the spring.

“In this neighbourhood, I think beer is one of the most important things,” he says.

The restaurant is in the southern half of the location that previously held Zelda’s, which had one of the largest and most popular patios on the Church St strip until the business closed suddenly in 2009 and relocated to Yonge St. The property sat vacant until 2011, when Acme Burger opened.

A Second Cup later opened in the remaining half of the building. While both locations have liquor licences, neither serves alcohol.

Before Acme opened, owner Diaa Khuffash told Xtra, “I want to keep this a family-friendly place. That patio will not sell beer or liquor.”

Economic realities may have tripped up Khuffash’s alcohol-free plans. The restaurant is frequently empty at peak hours, and neighbouring businesses have been saying the restaurant can’t possibly be profitable with its reported $16,000 monthly rent. — Rob Salerno

Pride Toronto volunteer touched many lives Andrea Houston WHEN LONG-TIME PRIDE TORONTO volunteer Rosemary Hardwick moved to Canada 26 years ago, she was able to come out proudly as a lesbian, her wife says. Finally free, she devoted the rest of her life to Toronto’s queer community.

Hardwick died suddenly on Jan 7 of heart failure. She was 54. Her death was a shock to friends and family, particularly her wife, Stacey Elizabeth (Beth) Ferguson.

“She wanted to live her life as who she was,” Ferguson says. “Until she arrived in Toronto, she wasn’t able to be free and out. When she arrived in Canada, she came out as lesbian and lived her life as a lesbian. That was important to her.”

The couple met while volunteering together in 1989. Ferguson describes Hardwick as “vibrant, compassionate, intelligent, funny, energetic, creative and beautiful. This is a huge loss.”

Hardwick moved to Canada from Queensland, Australia, in 1986. She was an educator, a community mental health worker, a nurse and a suicide prevention trainer with a particular interest in helping gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans youth. She served as chair of the Toronto Suicide Information Alliance.

“She saw all the gay youth suicides and the bullying and wanted to help,” Ferguson says. “She was a vibrant force who really tried to make a positive difference.

And she did.”

Hardwick was very active in the Toronto community. Pride Toronto board member Mark Smith says she played a vital role in Pride planning for about 14 years.

“Courage and passion make a difference,” Smith says.

“For 14 years, Rosemary volunteered her courage, standing up for what she felt was right for our community and sharing her passion, which carried us forward. I am going to miss her.”

Metropolitan Community Church pastor Brent Hawkes says she was also very active as a church volunteer.

“She had such passion for safe spaces, for helping people with addictions. She was really amazing,” he says.

Rosemary Hardwick died of heart failure on Jan 7.

Bid for the one you love.

Bid for the one you love.

SHE WAS A VIBRANT FORCE WHO REALLY TRIED TO MAKE A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE. AND SHE DID. —Stacey Elizabeth Ferguson, Rosemary Hardwick’s wife

Bid for the one you love.

Bid for the one you love.

Hawkes says Hardwick embodied all the qualities of what the Pride movement stands for. As a Pride activist, she was outspoken and contributed greatly during the Community Advisory Panel process last year.

“She just loved the organization and really wanted it to turn around. She was so happy that Pride was starting to move in the direction she wanted it to go.”

Former volunteer Tyler Johnson, who became close friends with Hardwick during his time as Pride Toronto youth coordinator, calls her a role model.

“We became best friends. Her last words to me via email were, ‘Pride is so much a part of me and my life in Canada. I have done it for so many years that I cannot think of doing anything else.’

“I am very disheartened to hear of her passing and will miss her dearly.

She was my inspiration, a role model, and I will never forget the time I spent with her.”

Visitation will take place from 4pm to 8pm on Friday, Jan 13 at the RosarMorrison Funeral Home & Chapel at 467 Sherbourne St. A funeral service is planned for 2pm on Saturday, Jan 14 at the Metropolitan Community Church, at 115 Simpson Ave. A reception will follow at the church at 3pm. In lieu of flowers, Ferguson has asked that donations be made to the Metropolitan Community Church.

Bid for the one you love.

more at xtra.ca

XTRA! JAN 12, 2012

BOOKS

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

GLAD DAY BOOKSHOP, CANADA’S oldest gay bookstore, now makes just eight sales a day.

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,” Scythes says. 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 in the past few years.

Montreal’s L’Androgyne closed in 2002. Toronto’s This Ain’t the Rosedale Library left the Church-Wellesley Village in 2008 and closed in 2010.

New York’s Oscar Wilde Bookshop, previously the oldest gay bookstore in North America, closed in 2009.

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

Beating the lower prices of larger competitors is a challenge, and now 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. 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

Glad Day Bookshop is for sale. Its owner, John Scythes, says he now sells only a handful of books each day. ROB SALERNO

book at a comparable price, it would lose money.

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,” he says.

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, the 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.

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,” Jansen says.

In 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 Ottawa’s 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.”

After Stonewall owner David Rimmer says that 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.

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

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12

Toronto’s gay & lesbian news

XTRA! JAN 12, 2012

PRIDE

WorldPride London Toronto delegation will take part in UK event

16 800

Nick Aveling LONDON, UK: PLANNING FOR LONDON WorldPride 2012 has kicked into high gear, as organizers prepare to host the biggest Pride event in Britain’s history.

And for the first time since the economic downturn in 2008, major sponsors appear eager to join the party.

“Like everyone else, we’ve been hammered the past couple of years,” says Paul Birrell, chairman of Pride London, which is organizing the event.

“Whether it’s because of the WorldPride brand or because sponsorship is picking up more generally, we appear to be in a much better position than we’d hoped for.”

Late last month, British retail giant Tesco became the second corporate sponsor, after headline sponsor Smirnoff. Two more major deals are being finalized, says Birrell.

A growing list of sponsors is only appropriate for a festival expected to draw anywhere between 1.5 million and 2 million revellers, about double the number Pride London usually attracts. In any other year it would be enough to rank Pride atop London’s summer event calendar, but 2012 sees the city play host to a staggering array of international events, including the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations and the 2012 Summer Olympics. The timing is no coincidence.

“WorldPride hasn’t been held for quite some time, but the Olympics give us an ideal opportunity to bring it back out and dust it down,” Birrell says.

“There was a lot of press in the run-up to the Beijing Olympics, all those journalists looking for something to cover.

We thought, Let’s try to reach a worldwide audience by staging an event that’s going to interest the worldwide press and actually ensure massive coverage.”

Meanwhile, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee presents a timely opportunity to campaign against the criminalization of homosexuality in some 42 Commonwealth countries. A conference scheduled for July 4, as well as the parade and main stage in Trafalgar Square, will be used to highlight the issue, Birrell says.

“It’s not going to be all doom and gloom — nobody wants to come to Pride and be taught to be depressed — but we hope to have international contingents (from affected countries) along to par-

WorldPride 2012 by the numbers

DAYS

VOLUNTEERS

650 1.5–2 $2

PAID STAFF

MILLION ATTENDEES

MILLION BUDGET (CAD)

$97–130 MILLION INJECTION INTO LOCAL ECONOMY (CAD)

A performer in Trafalgar Square during London Pride 2011. PRIDE LONDON

ticipate as well,” he says.

Buckingham Palace declined to comment on the campaign’s potential impact on Jubilee celebrations.

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 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 cross-promotion and so forth,” says Birrell.

As host of WorldPride 2014, Toronto will have a special place in the London festivities, he says. A handover ceremony is being planned to mark the end of the festival, 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.

Pride organizations from Madrid, Barcelona, Marseilles, Boston and Atlanta are also planning to get involved in WorldPride, he says, but the full extent of their participation is still under negotiation.

The interest from outside bodies is “brilliant,” says Birrell, but it does make planning more complicated. So, too, do 2012’s heightened deadlines, which have forced Pride London to stay six months ahead of schedule — the result, mostly, of stretched authorities who need every spare minute to plan for the Olympics. Every spare penny, too. The bulk of London WorldPride’s approximately $2 million budget (CAD) will go directly to local authorities, paying for road closures, traffic management and related costs, Birrell says.

Deadlines or no, British tourism officials couldn’t be happier. “We’re huge

76

ARRESTS AND HOSPITAL VISITS AT LAST YEAR’S PRIDE, OUT OF NEARLY ONE MILLION ATTENDEES

supporters of WorldPride,” says VisitBritain spokesperson Paul Gauger. “It’s one of the marquee events for 2012, and we’re hoping people who come to London for Pride also go further afield and see what else Britain has to offer.”

Visitors staying put in London will nonetheless have plenty to see.

WorldPride’s list of events includes black-tie club nights, dog shows and a reinvigorated parade, which this year claims even more of central London, including a recently renovated Leicester Square. For the first time, organizers are also planning an afterparty at the O2 Arena, which has a capacity of 20,000 people. A number of “big acts,” which Birrell declined to name, will also be announced over the coming weeks and months.

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MEDICAL NEWS

Testosterone shortage A MANUFACTURING DELAY THAT has created a shortage of the injectable testosterone drug Delatestryl has left many trans men scrambling to find alternatives.

A registered nurse with the Sherbourne Health Centre’s LGBT Primary Health Care program says users should not wait for the drug to reappear.

“They should be coming in to see their physicians or nurse practitioners because they can be switched to a different compound,” says Mary Potter. “The issue is when they don’t come to see us . . . they’re told by the pharmacy that they just don’t have it, and people are waiting without the medication.”

Potter says waiting, rather than finding an alternative drug, can result in a lapse of the drug’s effects.

She says this is the second shortage this year. Xtra spoke with five Toronto pharmacies, which all had Delatestryl on back order.

However, another injectable testosterone, Depo-Testosterone, which has a lower concentration of the active ingredient, is available.

A topical gel and patch are also available, although they are significantly more expensive, says Adam Silvertown, pharmacy manager at Pace Pharmacy. He says the transdermal patch, known as Androderm, can cost users as much as $160 a month.

—Katie Toth For more on this story, visit xtra.ca.

TRAVEL

Grindr changing the way gays travel GAY USERS OF THE GRINDR SOCIAL networking app are savvy and adventurous travellers, says Grindr’s vicepresident of marketing and sales.

Grindr surveyed 5,400 of its users about their travel habits and found that 42 percent had travelled to another continent in the past year, nearly 30 percent identified as luxury travellers, and 15 percent had taken 10 or more trips in the past 12 months.

“The survey results show that our Grindr community has tremendous buying power to experience new destinations, both domestically and internationally, year after year,” says Serge Gojkovich, noting tech-savvy users employ smartphones to prepare for trips and share information on travel destinations.

Nearly one quarter had booked flights and accommodations using their phones.

Gojkovich says that Grindr now has a global community of more than three million users and that gay men are increasingly using the app to connect while travelling.

The survey found that 57 percent of respondents use smartphones to prepare for trips and 73 percent use them while on vacation.

Meanwhile, 61 percent update their statuses and share photos while travelling.

—Rob Salerno For more on this story, visit xtra.ca.

more at xtra.ca

XTRA! JAN 12, 2012

13

TECH

What makes a good gay game?

Game developers reach out to queer players

cluded queer characters in their games, but many portrayals have been controversial and problematic.

Another game Woo says gets it wrong is Supergay, available for mobile devices. In it, the user plays the titular superhero as he fights against a clone army of his jealous ex-girlfriend, who goes crazy and wants to kill him when he comes out of the closet.

Woo says the game’s story is misogynistic, and the fact the player is limited to playing as the tall, buff, blond, blueeyed, white Supergay limits the game’s inclusiveness.

But worse is that the mechanics of the game aren’t very strong, says Woo. Woo has been working to help develop the queer gaming community in Toronto for years. He started the successful annual Gamercamp conferences three years ago to help game developers network and discuss issues in the gaming community. He is planning to launch a queer gaming conference this February to help connect developers with the needs and desires of queer gamers.

Gaming may very well be the medium of choice for the current generation, in the way that television, film and comics have served previous generations.

With the potential of modern game platforms and delivery systems, a queer renaissance of games made by queer developers for queer players could be just around the corner.

Rob Salerno THE VIDEO GAME INDUSTRY NOW represents perhaps the biggest and highest-grossing media sector, yet it’s also a sector that traditionally has been slow to adopt queer characters and stories or market to queer audiences.

That’s begun to change with the launch of newer open-source platforms and distribution systems, including home consoles like Xbox 360 and mobile devices like iPhones and Androids.

Freed from the marketing directives of large publishing companies and from the licensing standards of older closed shops, such as earlier generations of Sega and Nintendo, and with almost zero costs associated with publishing and distributing their games, independent developers have been freer to develop games that follow more idiosyncratic interests or niche markets.

Gay apps are nothing new. A search for “gay” in the app store turns up dozens of gay networking programs, plus dozens of gay travel guide apps.

But a few developers are using mobile devices’ unique features to create games for gay players.

Developer Michael Othen (pictured) has sold more than 80,000 downloads of his game Mini Gay Boyfriend.

Michael Othen, a developer based in the UK, created Mini Gay Boyfriend in 2010 and has sold more than 80,000 downloads of the game. Mini Gay Boyfriend operates like a Tamagotchi toy — the user selects a “boyfriend” from a roster of designs offered by the game and then must periodically play games with him in order to keep him happy and progress the relationship. If the boyfriend is unhappy, the relationship ends.

Othen created a Mini Gay Girlfriend app after the success of the game.

For Jaime Woo, a gay writer and game developer based in Toronto, one

of the secrets of Mini Gay Boyfriend’s success is that it allows users to select boyfriends from a range of diverse options rather than forcing users to subscribe to a single stereotypical or token gay model.

“A lot of developers subscribe to an idea of what a queer character ‘should’ look like,” Woo says. “It’s tough, though.

You don’t want your characters to be normative, but you don’t want them to be affected, either.”

Similarly, Squirt’s web game Kingdom Cum, which can be played at squirtgame.com, requires users to choose from a range of avatars and

then gather condoms and lube in order to collect points by having sex with other characters. A range of body types is available.

Alberta-based developer BioWare received mixed praise in 2010 for releasing its game Dragon Age: Origins, in which one prominent character is a gay elf. While some cheered the company for being inclusive of queer characters and stories, others were upset that the character was portrayed as being very promiscuous, flirting with all the male characters.

Other developers, including Lionhead Studios and Rockstar, have in-

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Toronto’s gay & lesbian news

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Building small businesses Meet one of Toronto’s entrepreneurial power couples Shannon Webb-Campbell NIKI TSOUROUNAKIS WANTS NOTHing more than to be surrounded by good friends, food, coffee, drinks and art. It’s the reason she started two businesses this past year: Café Neon (241 Wallace Ave) opened in July in Toronto’s Junction Triangle, and her latest endeavour, Bar Neon (at 1226 Bloor St W), is Bloor West’s newest hotspot.

“I am a big foodie,” Tsourounakis says. “I just wanted to bring good food in an unpretentious atmosphere. I was sick of going out for drinks and wanting food and not having any good options other than frozen food fried by a line cook who didn’t want to be there.”

Bar Neon’s kitchen is open right until the last call sign lights up at the end of the night. Offerings include mushroom fricassee; salt-cured ham; mini croque monsieurs; marinated sardines with tomato, onion and mint; roasted dates stuffed with almond and ginger, wrapped in bacon; and truffles.

A number of beers are available on tap, as well as some delicious cocktails.

The décor is a mix of industrial and cozy, with wooden tables, metal chairs and a custom mural by local artist Jeff Garcia. There’s an elementary schoolesque water fountain at the bar and a

bathroom floor tiled with pennies.

Inspired by her Greek family heritage, Tsourounakis also runs Amphora Products, which produces Vlatos olive oil. Both her grandfather and father were born and raised in the small town of Vlatos on the island of Crete, and travelling to Greece every second summer as a child exposed her to village life there.

“We would visit the olive grove, my father’s old house, neighbours’ homes, and were constantly shown their way of life,” she says. “This mostly consisted of the villagers gardening and foraging for their food and then bringing it back home and creating wonders in the kitchen. There weren’t any supermarkets there. Everything came from nature or from the neighbours’ gardens.

Eating food like that is mind blowing.

You can never go back once you have a meal from the mountains.”

Tsourounakis is just one half of an entrepreneurial power couple. Her girlfriend, Katy Chan, co-owns Schoolyard with Hilary Dennis. Since 2007, Chan and Dennis have developed screenprinted paper and fabric goods that combine their love of colour, texture and pattern. Schoolyard’s stationery, baby items, sleepwear, men’s and ladies’ underwear and accessories can

: Katy Chan and Hilary Dennis

are co-owners of Schoolyard;

EATING FOOD LIKE THAT IS MIND BLOWING. YOU CAN NEVER GO BACK ONCE YOU HAVE A MEAL FROM THE MOUNTAINS. be found in independent shops across Canada, and their products were recently picked up by buyers for Indigo bookstores.

Chan and Dennis operate Schoolyard out of the studio space above Café Neon.

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: Niki Tsourounakis runs

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for sale at the café downstairs, as is the Vlatos olive oil.

“Schoolyard comes from a love of all-over patterns, the environment and trying to make some money doing what we love — making thoughtful, useful things,” says Chan.

Chan is a graduate of the textiles program at Sheridan College, and Dennis has a degree in fine arts from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design. They draw inspiration from nature and home life to make bright, playful products from eco-friendly materials.

“We wanted to design a line that

was fresh and contemporary but do it in an eco-friendly way,” Dennis says.

“I really like making functional pieces that people use every day. I really enjoy people’s reactions to our products. They are surprised that we design the fabric and that it’s actually made in Canada.”

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 ›  › 

Out City IN THE

THE WORD PIG CONNOTES A KIND OF UNINHIBITED SEXUALITY THAT INCLUDES THINGS LIKE FISTING, PISS AND CUM SWAPPING.

George Stamos ›16

ON STAGE DAVID HAWE

THE WORLD ON A

G N I R T S Ronnie Burkett’s Penny Plain set to open at Factory Theatre

O

Alistair Newton

N THE OUTSKIRTS OF Toronto’s Roncesvalles neighbourhood lies a repository of the artifacts of 25 years of unique and special genius. The site is the home and studio of puppeteer Ronnie Burkett and his Theatre of Marionettes.

The eponymous puppets for each Theatre of Marionettes production are designed and built there over the course of a year by Burkett and his assistants.

The airy studio space houses a library of books on art history and contemporary performance. Various national and international awards line the walls, and intricate set maquettes sit on shelves.

The basement, Burkett tells me, is the morgue, where retired puppets from decades of past productions rest in bags and boxes. This magical place has the feeling of Jim Henson’s Creature Shop as run by John Waters.

From his beginnings in Calgary — where he was part of the avant-garde milieu surrounding experimental company One Yellow Rabbit — Burkett garnered international acclaim for a trilogy of puppet works, which includes the Holocaust drama Tinka’s New Dress. In his book on the history of One Yellow Rabbit, Martin Morrow praises this phase of Burkett’s work for its drama and for moving audiences “to tears, as well as laughter.”

Burkett is now regarded as one of Canada’s most beloved theatrical exports, and his work routinely sets box office records whenever it returns home.

Burkett’s newest work, Penny Plain, arrives at Toronto’s Factory Theatre after successful runs in Edmonton and Vancouver. The piece, a co-commission of Edmonton’s Citadel Theatre and the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, typifies Burkett’s ability to ring pathos from everyday situations. Black humour, irony, satire and a glorious camp sensibility are transmitted by more than 30 of his exquisite marionettes.

In the world of Penny Plain, society teeters on the brink of apocalypse.

Penny is an elderly, blind shut-in who decides to ride out the end times in her living room, accompanied by her seemingly faithful dog. I ask Burkett about

the eschatological aspect of Penny Plain.

“I was just thinking about what would end us,” he says. “Would it be the end of oil, would it be some crazy bird flu, would it be global warming? One day when I was writing, I had my pennydrop moment: it all happens at once, and that’s what happens in Penny Plain.”

The end of mankind is a potent image for Burkett, and he doesn’t see human extinction as altogether out of the question.

“I think I’m just kind of reminding people of what David Suzuki said once: the planet actually will survive, but we may not, so if we want to stay on the planet, we might need to adjust ourselves accordingly.”

Penny Plain broke box office records at the Vancouver East Cultural Centre.

Burkett chalks up the warm reception to what he calls the perfect Burkett combo.

“It’s really fun and it’s really dark, and that seems to be what people like out of me: the mixture of dark and light, and this one’s got it.”

He adds, “I think this really is a great 25th-anniversary-season show.

I wanted to prove to myself that the marionettes could carry the whole show, and I think the reaction has been strong because of it. People get sucked into that little world, and a minute gesture can floor them.”

It is fitting that Burkett refers to his storage space as the morgue. In order for puppets to die, they must have, at one point, lived. Through the caress of Burkett’s artistry, his inanimate objects seem more profoundly alive and strangely human than most flesh-andblood performers. There is something almost alchemical about his work. An artist like him arrives once in a lifetime; do whatever you can to share in his madly wonderful world.

For a video interview with Burkett, look for this story on xtra.ca.

the deets PENNY PLAIN

By Ronnie Burkett Friday, Jan 20–Sunday, Feb 26 Factory Theatre 125 Bathurst St factorytheatre.ca

IF WE WANT TO STAY ON THE PLANET, WE MIGHT NEED TO ADJUST OURSELVES ACCORDINGLY. —Ronnie Burkett

Ronnie Burkett, at top, broke box office records with Penny Plain in Vancouver. Pictured are some of the marionettes from the show. TRUDIE LEE

16

Toronto’s gay & lesbian news

XTRA! JAN 12, 2012

DANCE

Pigging out George Stamos’s tribute to swine Chris Dupuis

TWO GUYS ROLL NAKED ON THE floor, save for tiny bikini briefs and pig masks. Liberace is played. Cupcakes are consumed. Pineapples are destroyed.

Welcome to Liklik Pik, the sexually charged, unabashedly queer waltz through the world of all things pig, conceived by Montreal-based choreographer George Stamos.

“In the gay world, the word pig connotes a kind of uninhibited sexuality that includes things like fisting, piss and cum swapping,” says Stamos. “It’s a uniquely gay identity because gay men are more free to embrace their masculinity in a sexual sense. In the straight world, when men are referred to as pigs, it’s usually in the male chauvinist sense.

This often leads them to downplay their animal side for fear of seeming sexist or too macho.”

Though the sexual overtones are obvious, Stamos is quick to point out that the piece is about much more.

the deets LIKLIK PIK

Part of Two by Four: A Festival of Duets Tues, Jan 17–Thurs, Jan 19, 8pm Dancemakers Centre for Creation 55 Mill St, Cannery Building 58, Studio 313 dancemakers.org

“We have this cultural dichotomy of the pig as a filthy animal rolling in its own shit, and at the same time as a sensitive, intelligent creature, like the film Babe or the book Charlotte’s Web,” he says. “I’m interested in highlighting that double meaning and exploring how it relates not just to the sexual excess of the gay world, but all our other societal constructs around this animal.”

These kinds of cultural intersection points are a primary interest for Stamos. (His last work, Cloak, evoked the bunny as both cute furry animal and hyper-sexualized female form.)

His creations typically possess neither cohesive narrative nor specific message.

Rather, they serve to stimulate discussion without being afraid to entertain.

“A lot of contemporary work is very antiestablishment and seems content to bore or annoy people,” he says. “I’m quite happy to have people escape from their daily life for a few hours and hopefully leave thinking a little differently about the world and themselves.”

Though he’s maintained a career spanning more than two decades (an accomplishment in an industry best known for degenerative injuries and empty bank accounts), it was an accident that Stamos became a dancer at all. After leaving behind a messy home life in rural Nova Scotia at 15, he was caught shoplifting a carton of cigarettes while living on the streets of Halifax.

Sentenced to a month of community service, he found himself cleaning a dance studio, which inspired him to start drop-in classes.

He hitchhiked from Halifax to Toronto at 18, intent on studying at the School of Toronto Dance Theatre, but quickly realized the program wasn’t for him. Instead, he found his creative education in the local club scene, playing with obscure feminist punk bands and go-go dancing in gay clubs.

“Professional dance programs are often intent on sapping the individuality out of students, turning them into performance machines,” he says.

“That didn’t appeal to me because of the scene I was involved with.

I learned more dancing in nightclubs than I did in classes. As an artist and as an audience member, I’m much more interested in what’s unique about performers, rather than how well they fit into a mould.”

Stamos also immersed himself in activist culture, working with AIDS and sex-worker rights groups as well as countering pro-life actions outside the Morgentaler Clinic. In 1990 he left Toronto for London, where he squatted with anarchists in the gritty East End and partied with the likes of Boy

Stamos says gay men are more able to embrace their masculinity during sex than straight men.

George and Leigh Bowery. He went on to study at the School for New Dance Development in Amsterdam, and after a brief stint in New York, found himself in Montreal, where he’s now made his home.

“Being part of the activist community has had a huge impact on how I want to work,” Stamos says. “I like non-

hierarchical structures, and I want to work with people who bring their own opinions to the table rather than just doing as they’re told. Dancing can be painful and exhausting, so if my collaborators feel like I don’t care about them, they’re less likely to bring their ideas to the process or be willing to do the kinds of crazy things I want them to do.”

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Jay Wilson’s exhibit Yes. Yes. Try Less runs till Feb 19.

ART & PHOTOGRAPHY Yes. Yes. Try Less Gifted artist Jay Wilson showcases his mesmerizing and complex 3D sculptures and installations, made from everyday objects like toothpicks and orange peels.

Opening reception Wed, Jan 12, 6–8pm. Runs till Sun, Feb 19. KWT Contemporary, 624 Richmond St W. Free. 416-646-2706. kwtcontemporary.com

Editions: Part One An impressive collection of work by locally celebrated artists Tom Dean, Paul Morrison, Jonathan Monk and more. Opening reception Fri, Jan 20, 7–10pm. Runs till Sat, Feb 25.

Paul Petro Contemporary Art, 980 Queen St W. Free. 416-979-7874. paulpetro.com

Coming After A show featuring 15 local and international artists born after 1970 not featured in the popular gallery landscape, Coming After looks at queer identity and the impact of AIDS activism. Featuring Benny Nemerofsky Ramsay, Aleesa Cohene and more. Runs till Sun, March 4. Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery, 231 Queen’s Quay W. $3–6. Free with membership.

416-973-4949. thepowerplant.org

History, Glamour, Magic: Honouring the Heart of Will Munro A collection of work from the visionary artist and party promoter who transformed the city and left us far too soon. Art Gallery of York University, Accolade East Building, 4700 Keele St. Runs till Sun, March 11. Free. yorku.ca/agyu

LEISURE & PLEASURE SwinginOut The queer swing-dance club offers dance classes for beginners and pros looking to shake their tails to the sounds of the ’30s. No dance partner required. Thurs, Jan 12, 6:30pm. 519 Church St Community Centre, 519 Church St. $5. 416392-6874. the519.org

Pariah Alike, a gifted 17-year-old African American lesbian, struggles to embrace her identity. Official selection, 2011 Sundance Film Festival. Part of Inside Out’s winter screening series. Thurs, Jan 12, 7pm.

TIFF Bell Lightbox, 350 King St W. $8–10. 416-968-3456. insideout.ca

The Beautiful & the Damned The first edition of 2012, featuring satirist Jeff Cottrill, David Clink and Charnie Guetell (performing sections of her jazz opera, The Tears of Ophélie). Arrive early to sign up for open-mic spots. Thurs, Jan 12, 7–10pm. Zelda’s, 692 Yonge St. PWYC. 416-922-2526. zeldas.ca

Singsation Saturdays The Toronto Mendelssohn Choir presents a workshop in choral music, focusing this month on Beethoven’s Mass in C Major. Musical scores available to borrow. Sat, Jan 14, 10:30am–1pm. Yorkminster Park Baptist Church, 1585 Yonge St. $10, includes refreshments. 416-9257312. tmchoir.org

Female Ejaculation and the G-Spot Fast Feminism author Shannon Bell delivers a workshop on squirting and the G-spot in a fun and safe environment. Men welcome if accompanied by a woman. Mon, Jan 16, 7:30–10pm. Come As You Are, 493 Queen St W. $30, sliding scale available. 416-504-7934. comeasyouare.com › continued on page 18

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› continued from page 17

LEISURE & PLEASURE Friends for Life Bike Rally Launch Party

A peer-facilitated support group for queer HIV-positive men taking a harm-reduction approach to substance use. This safe and nonjudgmental environment focuses on individual goal-setting. Tues, Jan 17, 6–8pm. The 519 Community Centre, 519 Church St. Free. 416-392-6874. the519.org

I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride my bike. Meet new and returning riders at the rally’s largest registration event. Join the crew and make new connections while raising muchneeded funds for the Toronto People with AIDS Foundation. Get under the big top with this year’s theme — carnival. Sun, Jan 22, 4–7pm. The 519 Community Centre, 519 Church St. Free. bikerally.org

Bisexual Men of Toronto A meeting place and support group for men identifying as bisexual, curious or questioning. Tues, Jan 24, 8–9:30pm.

Sherbourne Health Centre, 333 Sherbourne St. Free. 416-324-4262. bimot.ca

10 Rules for Happy Non-Monogamy Have your cake and get eaten, too.

Andrea Zanin heads up an interactive workshop for polygamy newbies and veterans alike. Whether you’re aching for a one-off or exploring the possibility of multiple romances, this common-sense approach to nonmonogamy has got you covered. Sun, Jan 22, 5:30–7:30pm. Come As You Are, 493 Queen St W. $30, sliding scale available. 416-504-7934. comeasyouare.com

Canadians at Table Author Dorothy Duncan gives a talk on Canada’s culinary traditions and history, from First Nations methods to the convenience foods of today.

Tues, Jan 24, 1:30–3:30pm. Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge St. Free.

416-393-7131.

Bisexual Men of Toronto meet on Jan 24.

Singing for Love The queer Asian choir meets and welcomes new members. Cruise, croon and connect. No experience or auditions necessary. Wed, Jan 25, 5:30–7:30pm. The 519 Community Centre, 519 Church St. Free. 416-4274561. ariescheung.com/singingforlove

HEALTH & ISSUES Legit Toronto Accessible legal counsel for samesex partners immigrating to Canada.

Find options and connect with others.

Thurs, Jan 12, 7–10pm. 519 Community Centre, 519 Church St. Free, donations accepted. 416-392-6874. the519.org

MUSIC Dirty Sick Sound and vision. A video and mixtape release party hosted by Roney & Nani, featuring the hotly anticipated Black Success compilation. Thurs, Jan 12, 10pm. The Drake Hotel, 1150 Queen St W. Free. 416-531-5042. thedrakehotel.ca

Wannabe Raise a glass for girl power with the launch of Wannabe, a Spice Girls tribute band, featuring two sets in homage to the ’90s pop sensations.

Say you’ll be there. Sat, Jan 14, 9pm. El Mocambo, 464 Spadina Ave. $17, $15 with non-perishable food donation.

416-777-1777. elmocambo.ca › continued on page 19

DHARMA FRIENDS GLBT Buddhist Meditation Group Invites you to a January Open House INTRODUCTION TO BUDDHIST MEDITATION Every Wednesday in January 7:00 – 7:30 Regular meditation session 7:30 – 9:00 Beginners are welcome.

All are invited!

For information call Robert at 416-929-5205 or email Jacqui at: qdharma@web.ca

GOSSIP

Breaking New Year’s resolutions Toronto at Night Ryan G Hinds

M

Y ONE AND ONLY NEW Year’s resolution is about to be broken. I pledged no more gossiping after watching a particularly vicious public meltdown at Woody’s on Christmas Eve. Mind you, I wasn’t involved, except as an innocent bystander.

Watching as a rumour travelled from the table next to me along the bar, through the crowd salivating over Sofonda’s best ass contestants, and back to the table, where it erupted into yelling, shoving and the most half-assed drink toss ever (it missed the target and ended up on a pile of coats) was delicious fun, but I wondered afterward how much nicer our nights would be if we collectively decided not to indulge.

Gossiping seems so high school, and frankly, I’m far too mature to get caught up in trash talk. Seeing the effect the Woody’s gossip had on its subject was kind of a downer, so I swore to stop in 2012.

So much for that.

Which venue created bad blood with performers by cancelling an annual New Year’s Eve booking? Hint: it wasn’t anywhere on Church St. Speaking of Church St, which drag queen is so seriously spooked by recent random violence in the Village that she’s started carrying a blade?

Her otherwise gentle nature belies her skill with knives.

Which venerable queer institution made it painfully clear there was to be no guest list on New Year’s Eve? Better yet, which painfully drunk scenester showed up, proclaiming “Of course I’m on the list!” was denied admittance, and rang in the new year out on the street whilst tweeting his friends about the fab time he was having inside?

Which power dyke secretly believes that waxing down there is akin to Samson shearing his locks?

Who recently made a splash at Steamworks, slipping on an unknown substance and falling face first into the hot tub? (Hint, he writes Toronto at Night for Xtra.)

He’s behind the decks most nights and people love his DJ skills, but were New Year’s Eve partiers aware it wasn’t the CD skipping — he had a trick under the table?

Where is Chris Edwards and why doesn’t she have a regular night somewhere?

Who in the American Idiot cast is actually an American bottom (and advertised as such on Craigslist with his headshot)?

How on earth does _______ get work? The raw nasty attitude, the sticky fingers in dressing rooms, the

repetitive act; must be born with it, because it certainly isn’t Maybelline!

Which north-of-College club has been in trouble with the law a few times this year but is doing a successful-ish job of keeping it quiet?

Who “bravely” weathered a nude pics scandal, only to be busted for passing them around himself?

Why on earth would I risk life, limb and social exclusion by doing blind items, and what am I keeping under my hat for now?

You see, the thing is I love gossip. I’m addicted, can’t get enough and believe a certain amount of it is healthy.

I don’t trade in rumour, though.

Any gossip I deem share-worthy is 100 percent confirmed and factual, and that’s where most people trip up.

Send me real news, not hearsay and innuendo, and that’s what I will pass on. Used properly, it can create a bond between people. Taking someone into confidence and whispering sotto voce implies delicious intimacy; more often than not, reveals happen.

Used incorrectly, however, it stings.

Drama begets more drama, and that’s when gossip switches to rumour. Especially as we all tweet and text and tag and check in, our words

WHO RECENTLY MADE A SPLASH AT STEAMWORKS, SLIPPING ON AN UNKNOWN SUBSTANCE AND FALLING FACE FIRST INTO THE HOT TUB? can often travel faster than our brains, so take a second to examine your motives. Are you passing along words maliciously? Lashing out or trying to make yourself feel or look better by denigrating others? Or are you passing along simple secrets that aren’t quite common knowledge yet?

Half the fun in the blind items I listed above is the guessing game.

Yours truly heard ’em and confirmed ’em, but the fact is, all the situations above are being talked about somewhere. I just made them a bit more fun!

It makes me think of that old adage about how it’s better to be talked about than ignored entirely. I agree.

For the record, if you ever hear anything about me, don’t pass it on — unless it’s true, honey. In exchange, I promise to at least try to make an effort to use my wagging tongue and texting fingers for some kind of good, instead of letting my friends know who recently disappeared into the darkroom at The Barn with my ex.

Oops!

more at xtra.ca

listings › › continued from page 18

XTRA! JAN 12, 2012

19

ON SCREEN

A sympathetic Pariah Coming-out story about a young black woman has Oscar buzz Nicolas Kazamia

Cabaret plays at Hart House Theatre on Jan 13 at 8pm.

WHEN A SMALL INDEPENDENT FILM about homosexuality manages to garner Oscar buzz, it is nothing short of remarkable.

Pariah is a glimpse into the sexual politics of the Brooklyn lesbian scene from the vantage point of Alike, a 17-year-old girl who discovers the queer community and comes out to her family.

It is a brazenly moving film, poetic but not cloying or sentimental.

First-time director Dee Rees describes its genesis as a “140-page monster” script. That work begat an award-winning short film she then expanded into the feature-length Pariah.

Though Rees is a self-described nerdy chick from the suburbs of Nashville, Tennessee, the film was inspired by her own experiences in Brooklyn, New York.

“I was surprised by all these youth . . . who at 17, 18, not only knew who they were, but weren’t afraid,” she says. “I wondered, ‘Even if I had known when I was 17, would I have the courage to be that person?’ The answer for me was ‘Maybe not.’”

Kim Wayans, known for her comedic television work, including In Living Color, plays Alike’s mother, a woman terrified by the mounting evidence that her young daughter is a lesbian.

Adepero Oduye, who plays Alike, says she hopes Pariah gets people talking.

“I thought this was such an important story,” says Wayans. “This is dialogue that we [in the African American community] need to have. And so I feel that I am part of doing something really good.”

Spike Lee, the director of Do the Right Thing and Malcolm X, is one of Pariah’s executive producers. The word faggot appears regularly in his works, and he

I’VE SEEN MORE GAY BLACK PEOPLE WORKING ON SPIKE LEE SETS THAN ANY OTHER SETS.

has been accused of homophobia at various times throughout his career.

Rees, an out-and-proud lesbian, says Lee has been given a bad rap.

“I’ve seen more gay black people working on Spike Lee sets than any other sets,” she says. “His actions speak louder than words. I’ve seen him support a lot of gay artists, gay craftspeople and filmmakers. He did a lot of things he didn’t have to do, and you can see that in the people he employs and has around him.”

When Pariah made the film festival circuit last year, there were inevitable comparisons between it and the 2009 film Precious. Wayans is quick to point out that those comparisons are only natural. Precious, she says, was the first serious successful black drama in a long time. “That’s something the world is not used to seeing,” she laughs knowingly.

Adepero Oduye delivers a breakthrough performance as Alike.

“I am really excited about the conversations that will happen and the opportunity for people to see something they haven’t seen before from the point of view of a young black female,” she says.

Check out xtra.ca for a video interview with Oduye, Rees and Wayans.

STAGE Cabaret A performance of the daring and provocative musical about a nation on the cusp of Nazi occupation. Directed by Adam Brazier. Fri, Jan 13, 8pm. Hart House Theatre, 7 Hart House Circle, University of Toronto. $15–25. 416-987-8849. uofttix.ca

It’s Hard to Rap with a Speech Impediment Nathan Carroll launches his very first cabaret, featuring riffs on Kanye, Nicki, Katy and more. Sat, Jan 14, 8pm. Free Times Café, 320 College St. $10, $5 students. 416-967-1078. freetimescafe.com

Composed and performed by U of T’s heralded Faculty of Music, this biting satire takes aim at the highly publicized personality of Toronto’s mayor.

Three more years. Sun, Jan 22, doors at 2pm. MacMillan Theatre, 80 Queen’s Park.

Free. 416-978-3750. music. utoronto.ca

Avenue Q A coming-of-age parable that satirizes the atrocities of entering adulthood. Led to believe they were somehow unique growing up, the players swiftly realize they were nothing special at all. Runs till Sat, Feb 4. Lower Ossington Theatre, 100A Ossington Ave. $45–60. 416-915-6747. lowerossingtontheatre.com

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Toronto’s gay & lesbian news

XTRA! JAN 12, 2012

ON STAGE

Being Other People Sexually charged production reminds us how much has changed in a very short time Chris Dupuis

RON HYDE

CONSIDER FOR A MOMENT THE world in December 1997. Pagers were the hot new accessories. Television producers still shied away from taboo topics; neither Sex and the City nor Will & Grace had hit the airwaves.

Bill Clinton’s impeachment was but a glint in Newt Gingrich’s eye. Hijacked planes destroying New York office towers seemed as implausible as America electing a black president. This is the backdrop for Other People, Christopher Shinn’s sexually charged drama about ambitious young artists in the Big Apple.

Connecting with this history was key for Indrit Kasapi and the collective of artists giving the show its Toronto premiere.

“We spent a lot of time examining late-’90s culture to understand the characters’ mindset,” he says. “Communication is becoming harder today because of technology, but you can see the roots of that in the world of this

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play. At the core is a group of people who aren’t able to express how they feel, which makes it particularly relevant at this moment in time.”

Stephen (Ben Lewis), a failed actor and struggling playwright, invites his ex-boyfriend Mark (Kasapi) to spend Christmas with him and his roommate Petra (Tatiana Maslany), a fledgling poet and part-time stripper.

Mark was a budding filmmaker in Los Angeles, but an emotional breakdown landed him in rehab. There he became a born-again Christian, which leads to a struggle with his sexuality. In a tiny East Village flat, the trio talk sex and art and try to imagine their futures as the new year dawns. Though the description conjures bad Fringe Festival plays in which a group of artists sit around, bitching about the challenge of being artists, Kasapi stresses the show is anything but.

“We were aware of falling into that trap, so we spent a lot of time looking at what’s going on behind the words,” he says.

Kasapi had much to draw from in connecting with his character’s experience. After his family left Albania for Toronto when he was 15, they converted to Catholicism, an event that contributed to his own struggle around sexuality, much like his character in the show.

He had studied dance back home but felt he didn’t have the chops for it

Indrit Kasapi, Ben Lewis (seated) and Tatiana Maslany star in Other People.

and opted to pursue acting instead.

After graduating from the National Theatre School in Montreal in 2006, he returned to Toronto and began etching out a career. Though he’d long since come out to himself, his family was kept deliberately in the dark, a challenging thing since his growing resumé was largely queer, including Jean Genet’s gay prison drama Deathwatch.

The gay bent of his career wasn’t intentional; it was simply a product of the roles he secured. But it wasn’t until he took part in last summer’s Still Life, a semi-autobiographical project produced with Toronto collective

lemonTree theatre creations, that he decided to come out to his family. His character lived with his boyfriend but wasn’t able to come out to his parents.

“We were improvising a scene where he tells me I need to come out, and I realized in that moment I didn’t have any more arguments for not being honest with my family,” Kasapi says. “In the end, I was shocked by how minimal their reaction was. I consider myself lucky. The time before I came out seems like another reality. But given the number of closeted characters that are written, I’ll probably get to draw on it over and over.”

ART SHOW

Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Choir Jeanne Lamon, Music Director | Ivars Taurins, Director, Chamber Choir

HANDEL

HERCULES at Koerner Hall Directed by JEANNE LAMON

Stage Direction by MARSHALL PYNKOSKI

Choreographed by JEANNETTE LAJEUNESSE ZINGG

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Jan 19-21 at 8pm Jan 22 at 3:30pm

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Hercules photo © Cyberuly

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History, Glamour, Magic, an exhibit of the late Will Munro’s work, is on display at the Art Gallery of York University until March 11.

For more information, visit agyu@yorku.ca.

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XPOSED Anna Pournikova

Anna and Barry are the barkeeps at Neon Bar, the new tapas joint in Bloordale.

The neighbourhood has officially become Queer North, people. Scissors has moved to Neon Bar, and I know I said it about Holy Oak, but this time I really think that we’ve found a proper Beaver North in the ’hood.

XTRA! JAN 12, 2012

21

It’s been a minute since I featured Sodom in this column. It’s just so ripe with snaps filled with heart and, dare I say, balls. Not exactly what I was thinking as an intro for Devine Darlin, but you get where I’m going. It’s a compliment.

I love the attention to detail on this Candyland-themed onesie. Not the Mr Big chocolate bar near her nether region.

As if Ivory Towers came dressed as Willy Wonka to Sodom: Candyland. Where on earth did she get those perfect glasses? You just know there’s a tickle trunk filled with all kinds of excess at her place.

Recognize that face on the far right? Yup, it’s our former nightlife columnist, activist Dan Lavoie, pictured with Toronto enfant terrible Michael Ianni and Azuree Caldwell. This all went down post-midnight at a NYE house party, and I think this motley crew got it together quite nicely for the pic. No drinking here. No siree, Bob.

Not to be outdone

by Ms Towers, Lauren Pettigrew, the first lady of Sodom, came dressed as a sexy Cookie Monster. Thrones & Dragons is the next one, on Jan 21. I never know how the ladies will outdo the last party, but each time they completely amaze me.

Simon and Jen went on the bar-hop mission with me on NYE, and even though it’s past 3am, you certainly can’t see it on their faces.

How do the youth do it these days?

No really — where can I get whatever it is that’s keeping them so spry and chipper well into the evening? I was like an ashtray turd rolled up in a greasy paper bag by this point.

Breaking news!

Matt Sims has retired (or so he says) from nightlife promotion. He hosted his last night at his weekly, The Madhouse, at The Barn on New Year’s Eve. In this photo, he’s looking very healthy and hot with friend Pash.

Congrats are in order, as long as this isn’t like a Jay-Z thing where he retires on every album and then starts off the next with “Guess I got my swagga back” as a way to sell more albums. We won’t fall for that one again.

You go, Brianna. It’s New Year’s Eve, after all. Double fist that shit all night long, girl.

In fact, I think the red cups at the Barn NYE match her hot-pink lipstick quite well.

Dance like a star.

Swim like a shark.

Fight like a ninja.

And this is where it gets fuzzy. I’m not entirely sure I know who the guy on the right, pictured with Georgio, is. This is what happens on New Year’s Eve. It’s all fun and games until the columnist gets too drunk to type names into her ’Berry. Sorry, friend. Hope you don’t hold it against me.

Hi, Sam. I see you’re candy floss and Pop Rocks. I bet if we drank you with Coke we’d get a mouthful of surprises!

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22

Toronto’s gay & lesbian news

XTRA! JAN 12, 2012

Kirk J. Cooper

B.A., LL.B.

Barrister, Solicitor, Notary

120 Carlton Street, Suite 308, Toronto, Ontario M5A 4K2

Tel: (416) 923-4277

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NIGHTCLUB THURS, JAN 12 Mike McGregor, comedy onstage. 7pm.

The Flying Beaver Pubaret, 488 Parliament St. $10 advance, $15 door. pubaret.com Ladyplus Parties, for ladies and those who love them, with DJ Todd Klinck. 8pm–2am.

Goodhandy’s, 120 Church St. Ladies and ladyplus members, no cover, gents $5. ladyplus.com Black-Out Night, cruising men in the dark. 8pm–2am. Urge, 199 Church St. $9. urgetoronto.com Don’t Mess with the Boss, with Michelle Ross, at 9pm; Farra N Hyte, with Sabrina and Natalia, at 11pm. George’s Play, 504 Church St. No cover. playonchurch.com Momo’s Karaoke Contest. Sign up in advance at mmkaraoke@live.com or at the venue. 9pm. The Flying Beaver Pubaret, 488 Parliament St. No cover. pubaret.com Clint Lyckher, Charo Batista and DJ Alex at 9pm; Vocal Rehab karaoke, with DJ Elyse, in The Zone and DJ Craig Dominic in Tangos at 10pm; Drama Queens, with Heroine Marks and guest, at 11pm. Crews & Tangos, 508 Church St. No cover. crewsandtangos.com Pup Night, hosted by Argo, for pups, handlers and their admirers. 10pm. The Black Eagle, 457 Church St. No cover. blackeagletoronto.com Dirty Sick video and mixtape release party, featuring Roney & Nani and DJs Phil V and Rory Them Finest. 10pm. The Drake Hotel, 1150 Queen St W. $5. thedrakehotel.ca Rocket! with VJ/DJ Sumation playing top40 and dance videos every Thursday.

10pm–3am. fly, 8 Gloucester St. No cover. flynightclub.com

FRI, JAN 13 A Lotta Bit Country, with Sara Minx singing in cowboy boots. 7pm. The Flying Beaver Pubaret, 488 Parliament St. $10 advance, $15 door. pubaret.com Frenzy Fridays in the men’s sex club.

8pm–4am. Urge, 199 Church St. $9. urgetoronto.com Men of Steel. Strippers onstage.

8pm. Remington’s, 379 Yonge St. $10. remingtons.com Ivory Towers, Katherine Dior, Nikki Chin and DJ Chris at 8:30pm; Club Lite, with DJ Relentless, in The Zone and Ethnic Vibes, with DJ Roxanne Hector, in Tangos at 10pm; Bitchapalooza, with Amanda Roberts, Daytona Bitch and DJ Sarah, at 11pm.

Crews & Tangos, 508 Church St. No cover. crewsandtangos.com The Cheap Show, with host Lena Over and special guest Heaven Lee Hytes. 9pm.

Zelda’s, 692 Yonge St. No cover. zeldas.ca Queer Idol third round. 9pm. Goodhandy’s, 120 Church St. $9, $5 students. queeridol. ca, goodhandys.com B.East, with DJ Cory Activate spinning house and vocals. 10pm–3am. WAYLA, 996 Queen St E. $5. facebook.com/ beastatwayla Grapefruit: 2012, A Dance Odyssey, with DJs Shane Percy and Aural spinning pop, retro and dance. 10pm–3am. fly, 8 Gloucester St. $10, $5 before 11pm with a printable pass. grapefruit4u.com, flynightclub.com That Time of the Month. R&B, pop and soul for the women. 10pm.

Henhouse, 1532 Dundas St W. No cover. henhousetoronto.com Her, with DJs Kris Steeves, John Caffery, The Robotic Kid and omgblog.com. 10pm. La Perla, 783 Queen St W. $5. herherher.com Daddy Next Door, with DJ Dwayne Minard spinning for daddies and their admirers.

10:30pm. The Flying Beaver Pubaret, 488 Parliament St. $7. pubaret.com

Flogging Demo, with International Leather Sir 2009, Master Tony. 11:30pm. The Black Eagle, 457 Church St. No cover. blackeagletoronto.com Cruiseline’s Best Men’s Ass Contest, with Georgie Girl and DJ Chris Steinbach.

Midnight. Woody’s, 465 Church St. No cover. woodystoronto.com

SAT, JAN 14 The In Between performs folk rock to benefit the Ride to Conquer Cancer and the Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation. 7pm.

The Flying Beaver Pubaret, 488 Parliament St. $10 advance, $15 door. pubaret.com

Miss Destiny at 11pm. Woody’s, 465 Church St. woodystoronto.com Michelle Ross and guest at 7pm; Devine Darlin at 9pm; Kera Keys, Farra N Hyte and DJ Sarah at 11pm; DJ Arif in Tangos.

Crews & Tangos, 508 Church St. No cover. crewsandtangos.com Ashley and Momo Showmo, an evening of cabaret singing, with Charlene Crough on djembe, Philippe Escayola on piano and Yash Presswalla on bass. 7pm. The Flying Beaver Pubaret, 488 Parliament St. $10 advance, $15 door. pubaret.com

It’s Hard to Rap with a Speech Impediment. Cabaret with Nathan Carroll, Joel Gomez, Steffi Didomenicantonio and Chris Tsujiuchi.

8pm. Free Times Café, 320 College St. $10, $5 students. freetimescafe.com Triple Threat: Devine Darlin, Lady G and Jada Hudson, with DJ Jay, at 8:30pm. Robyn DeCradle and DJ Chris in Crews; Super Saturdays, with DJ Craig Dominic, in The Zone, and Superfly, with DJ Quinces, in Tangos, all at 10pm. Crews & Tangos, 508 Church St. No cover. crewsandtangos.com The Drag Show, hosted by Daytona Bitch and Heroine Marks. 9pm. Zelda’s, 692 Yonge St. No cover. zeldas.ca Wannabe. Spice Girls tribute band launch party. 9pm. El Mocambo, 464 Spadina Ave. 2nd floor. $17, $15 advance or with nonperishable food donation. elmocambo.ca Mad House Saturdays, with DJ ViVi Diamond spinning house, top 40 and remixes for mental-case cuties. 10pm– 3am. The Barn, 418 Church St. No cover. thebarnnightclub.com, themadhouse.ca Gaelen’s Going-Away Party, with DJs Aron (Tel Aviv), Shawn Riker and Mike Vieira in the Lounge. 10pm. fly, 8 Gloucester St. No cover for first 50 people before 10:30, $10 until 11:30pm, $15 until 1am, $20 after. flynightclub.com Beyoncé’s Baby Shower, with DJ Alessandro spinning Ms Knowles’ tracks and remixes. 10pm. WAYLA, 996 Queen St E. $5. whatareyoulookingatbar.com Business Woman’s Special, with DJs Sammy and Nino Brown spinning R&B, pop and hip hop. 10pm–2:30am. Augusta House, 152 Augusta Ave. $5.

Goth Drag, hosted by Lavender Stain and Saddlebags Thomas. Performance by Judy Virago, with DJs Miss Margot, Schramm and Mistress Frostitution. 10:30pm–2am.

The Beaver, 1192 Queen St W. $5. beavertoronto.com Vinyl, hosted by Gary Brown. 10:30pm.

Smith, 553 Church St. No cover till 11pm.

553church.com Squirt.org Best Men’s Ass Contest, with Sofonda and DJ Chris Steinbach. Midnight.

Woody’s, 465 Church St. No cover. woodystoronto.com

SUN, JAN 15 Stage-to-Screen Show, with Donnarama and Daytona Bitch, at 6pm; Drag Legend Show at 9pm; Georgie Girl and Donnarama welcome Sofonda, Amanda Roberts and

TNTmen’s Naked Night is at the Black Eagle on Jan 19.

Playgirl, with Heaven Lee Hytes and Teran Blake, at 9pm; Miss Play ‘10 JLO and Sabrina at 11pm. George’s Play, 504 Church St. No cover. playonchurch.com

MON, JAN 16 Dirty Bingo, hosted by Lena Over, Gloria Hole and guest Roxy Rollover. 8:30pm.

Zelda’s, 692 Yonge St. No cover. zeldas.ca Rehab Mondays, hosted by Carlotta Carlisle. 9–11pm. Crews & Tangos, 508 Church St. No cover. crewstandangos.com All-Star Karaoke, with Danny Reddey and his 30,000 songs. 10pm. George’s Play, 504 Church St. No cover. playonchurch.com Candice Star Search talent competition.

11pm. Crews & Tangos, 508 Church St. No cover. crewsandtangos.com

TUES, JAN 17 Bad Boys’ Night Out, with DJ Chris Steinbach. 4pm. Woody’s, 465 Church St. No cover. woodystoronto.com Hot Box Unplugged, acoustic open-mic.

7pm. Hot Box Afterdark, 191A Baldwin St. No cover. hotboxcafe.ca Ladyplus T-Girl Lust. 8pm–2am.

Goodhandy’s, 120 Church St. No cover. goodhandys.com Don’t Mess with the Boss, with Michelle Ross, at 9pm; Divine Intervention, with Heaven Lee Hytes, at 11pm. George’s Play, 504 Church St. No cover. playonchurch.com Karaoke with Foofer, every Tuesday.

9pm–1am. WAYLA, 996 Queen St E. No cover. whatareyoulookingatbar.com TICOT Industry Tuesday, with Candice Kelly, Nikki Chin and DJ Devine, from 9–11:30pm; Vocal Rehab, with DJ Elyse, in the Zone and All Request, with DJ Quinces, in Tangos at 10pm; Bittersweet, with Amanda Roberts, Honey Brown and DJ Relentless, at 11pm. Crews & Tangos, 508 Church St. No cover. cresandtangos.com Varsity Tuesdays. So You Think You Can Strip? 9pm. Remington’s, 379 Yonge St. $5, no cover with student ID. remingtons.com

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LISTINGS WED, JAN 18 Tranny Shack, with Stephanie Stevens, at 9pm; Amanda at 11pm. George’s Play, 504 Church St. No cover. playonchurch.com Men of Steel, strippers onstage.

9pm. Remington’s, 379 Yonge St. $5. remingtons.com WinJester Bucket-of-Comedy, hosted

by Michael McLean. 9pm. Winchester Kitchen & Bar, 51A Winchester St. winchesterkitchen.com

DJ The Robotic Kid spins electro, house and industrial in the upstairs bar. 10pm.

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

Michelle Ross and Nicolette Brown at 9pm; Farra N Hyte and guest at 11pm.

Crews & Tangos, 508 Church St. No cover. crewsandtangos.com

Toastr, with DJ Sticky Cuts spinning for the women. 10pm. WAYLA, 996 Queen St E. $5 after 10pm. whatareyoulookingatbar.com

Donnarama’s Star-Studded Birthday Show on Hump Day, with DJ Mark Falco.

10pm. Woody’s, 465 Church St. No cover. woodystoronto.com

Cruiseline’s Best Men’s Ass Contest, with Georgie Girl, Heaven Lee Hytes and DJ Mark Falco. Midnight. Woody’s, 465 Church St. No cover. woodystoronto.com

College Night, with DJ Sumation. 10pm– 3am. The Barn, 418 Church St. No cover. thebarnnightclub.com Amplify Wednesdays supports local DJs. 10pm. Goodhandy’s, 120 Church St. No cover before 11pm, $10 after. goodhandys.com

THURS, JAN 19

Naked Night, hosted by TNTmen. 10pm.

Black Eagle, 457 Church St. No cover. tntmen.org Rocket music-video night, with VJ/DJ Sumation. 10pm–3am. fly, 8 Gloucester St. No cover. flynightclub.com Smirnoff Best Chest Contest, with Georgie Girl, Sofonda Cox and DJ Mark Falco. Midnight. Woody’s, 465 Church St. No cover. woodystoronto.com

FRI, JAN 20 Don’t Mess with the Boss, with Michelle Ross, at 7pm; Miss Conception and Teran Blake at 9pm; Muy Caliente, with Sasha Montenegro, at 11pm. George’s Play, 504 Church St. No cover. playonchurch.com Men of Steel. Strippers onstage.

8pm. Remington’s, 379 Yonge St. $10. remingtons.com Frenzy Fridays, cruising in the sex maze.

8pm–4am. Urge, 199 Church St. $9. urgetoronto.com Ivory Towers, Katherine Dior, Nikki Chin and DJ Chris at 8:30pm; Club Lite, with DJ Relentless, in The Zone and Ethnic Vibes, with DJ Roxanne Hector, in Tangos at 10pm; Bitchapalooza, with Amanda Roberts, Daytona Bitch and DJ Sarah, at 11pm. Crews & Tangos, 508 Church St. No cover. crewsandtangos.com Homohop, the original all-ages queer party, presents Super-Queeroes, with DJs Craig Dominic and Rolls Royce, every Friday.

Smith Saturdays, with guest DJs every week. 10:30pm. Smith, 553 Church St. No cover till 11pm. 553church.com Squirt.org Best Men’s Ass Contest, with Sofonda Cox, D’Amanda Tension and DJ Chris Steinbach. Midnight. Woody’s, 465 Church St. No cover. woodystoronto.com

SUN, JAN 22 Carnival: Friends for Life Bike Rally launch party and registration event, with food, games, spin time trials, prizes for best costume and pie in the chairperson’s face.

4–7pm. The 519, 519 Church St. No cover. bikerally.org

Stage-to-Screen Show, with Donnarama and Daytona Bitch, at 6pm; The Ladies of Sass: Nicolette, Mahogany and Tynomi at 9pm; Georgie Girl and Donnarama welcome Sofonda and Amanda Roberts at 11pm. Woody’s, 465 Church St. woodystoronto.com

Ladyplus Parties, for ladies and those who love them, with DJ Todd Klinck. 8pm– 2am. Goodhandy’s, 120 Church St. Ladies and ladyplus members no cover, gents $5. ladyplus.com

Clint Lyckher, Charo Batista and DJ Alex at 9pm; Vocal Rehab karaoke, with DJ Elyse, in The Zone and DJ Craig Dominic in Tangos at 10pm; Drama Queens, with Heroine Marks and guest, at 11pm. Crews & Tangos, 508 Church St. No cover. crewsandtangos.com

For complete listings on the go scan the QR code below

Joe & Steve’s Funny Video Show, a new Sunday event featuring a weekly movie at 4pm and a wacky video mix from 6–8pm. The Black Eagle, 457 Church St. No cover. blackeagletoronto.com

Retro Night. Strippers dance to ’70s and ’80s music. 8pm. Remington’s, 379 Yonge St. $5. remingtons.com

Don’t Mess with the Boss, with Michelle Ross, at 9pm; Farra N Hyte, with guests Sabrina and Natalia, at 11pm.

George’s Play, 504 Church St. No cover. playonchurch.com

23

10pm. The Barn, 418 Church St. $5 before 11pm, $7 after. thebarnnightclub.com Ax-a-Gogo celebrates the dragon with a Chinese New Year’s party, with DJ Alex, Sofonda, Nikki Chin and the Ax Maximus Gogo Dancers. 10pm–3am. fly, 8 Gloucester St. $5 before 11pm, $10 after. meetmeatax.com, flynightclub.com

Live Jazz Music, with Jeff Hewer.

9pm. WAYLA, 996 Queen St E. No cover. whatareyoulookingatbar.com

XTRA! JAN 12, 2012

Gaelen’s Going-Away Party is at fly on Jan 14.

SAT, JAN 21 Don’t Mess with the Boss, with Michelle Ross, at 7pm; The Voluptuous, with Farra N Hyte and Vitality Black, at 9pm; Dance Music, with DJ Oscar, at 11pm.

George’s Play, 504 Church St. No cover. playonchurch.com

Playgirl, with Heaven Lee Hytes and Teran Blake, at 9pm; Miss Play ‘10 JLO and Sabrina at 11pm. George’s Play, 504 Church St. No cover. playonchurch.com

MON, JAN 23 Dirty Bingo, with Gloria Hole, Lena Over and Roxy Rollover. 8:30pm. Zelda’s, 692 Yonge St. No cover. zeldas.ca Rehab Mondays, hosted by Carlotta Carlisle. 9–11pm. Crews & Tangos, 508 Church St. No cover. crewstandangos.com Mix Fix Mondays, with DJs Shan Dub and Boots Boogie playing funk, disco and classics. 10pm. Crawford, 178 College St. $5

Triple Threat, Devine Darlin, Lady G and Jada Hudson, with DJ Jay, at 8:30pm; Super Saturdays, with DJ Craig Dominic, in The Zone and Superfly, with DJ Quinces, in Tangos at 10pm; Robyn DeCradle and DJ Chris at 11pm. Crews & Tangos, 508 Church St. No cover. crewsandtangos.com

All-Star Karaoke, with Danny Reddey.

10pm. George’s Play, 504 Church St. No cover. playonchurch.com

The Drag Show, hosted by Daytona Bitch and Heroine Marks. 9pm. Zelda’s, 692 Yonge St. No cover. zeldas.ca

TUES, JAN 24

Cherry Bomb. DJs Cozmic Cat and Denise Benson spin for queer women, trans folks and friends, with a meet-and-greet before the dancing begins. 9pm. Andy Poolhall, 489 College St. No cover before 10pm, $7 after. cherrybombtoronto.com Frost Bitten: Heart of the Flag Bar Night, hosted by Mr Leatherman Toronto, Alex Canning. 10pm. The Black Eagle, 457 Church St. No cover. torontoleatherpride. ca, blackeagletoronto.com DJs Stephan Grondin and Jeremy Khamkeo spin for the boys. 10pm. fly, 8 Gloucester St. No cover before 10:30pm for the first 50 people, $10 before 11:30pm, $15 until 1am, $20 after. flynightclub.com Hard Candy, with DJ daVinci spinning pop music. 10pm. WAYLA, 996 Queen St E. No cover. whatareyoulookingatbar.com Sodom: Thrones & Dragons, with Queen of Sodom Ivory Towers performing her step-down show and DJ Blackcat spinning. 10pm. Goodhandy’s, 120 Church St. $7 before 11pm, $10 after, $5 students. sodom.ca

Candice Star Search. 11pm. Crews & Tangos, 508 Church St. crewsandtangos.com

Bad Boys’ Night Out, with DJ Chris Steinbach. 4pm. Woody’s, 465 Church St. No cover. woodystoronto.com Mooseknuckle Circus, hosted by Vicky Licks. 8pm. Zelda’s, 692 Yonge St. PWYC. zeldas.ca

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Karaoke with Foofer. 9pm–1am.

WAYLA, 996 Queen St E. No cover. whatareyoulookingatbar.com TICOT Industry Tuesday, with Candice Kelly, Nikki Chin and DJ Devine, from 9–11pm; Vocal Rehab, with DJ Elyse, in the Zone and All Request, with DJ Quinces, in Tangos at 10pm; Bittersweet, with Amanda Roberts, Honey Brown and DJ Relentless at 11pm. Crews & Tangos, 508 Church St. No cover. cresandtangos.com Don’t Mess with the Boss, with Michelle Ross, at 9pm; Divine Intervention, with Heaven Lee Hytes, at 11pm. George’s Play, 504 Church St. No cover. playonchurch.com Varsity Tuesdays. So You Think You Can Strip? 9pm. Remington’s, 379 Yonge St. $5, no cover with student ID. remingtons.com

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A World of Gay Adventure

Munich COMSTOCK/THINKSTOCK

Germany’s southern queen Michael Luongo

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.

1909, dominates an entire side of the plaza. Its main highlight is the glockenspiel, or clockworks, an elaborate UNICH, THE CAPITAL two-level clock that tells stories about a of Bavaria, in the south noble marriage and the bubonic plague of Germany, has a very through dancing puppet-like characdifferent feel from ters. Every day at 11am, noon and 5pm, much of the rest of the the clockworks are set in motion. The country. Still, many of the traditional Old City Hall, built in the late 1400s things associated with Germany — to replace an earlier structure, is also from pretzels to dirndl to lederhosen on Marienplatz. Resembling a church, with its angular front and spire, it was to Oktoberfest — all come from here.

Until the early 1900s, Bavaria was its partly destroyed in the war and rebuilt Throw a really good wedding celebraown kingdom, and it remains a largely to exacting standards. Other historical tion and the locals will want to celeCatholic region. Munich dates back monuments and fountains abound in brate in the same style year after year. to the 12th century, if not earlier, and Marienplatz.

That’s the case with Germany’s most The most famous building in Mu- famous party, the Oktoberfest, which though it’s a large city today, it retains a small-town provincial feel. Allied nich is the Frauenkirche, also built originated in Munich. The event owes bombing damaged Munich heavily in in the late 1400s by the same archi- its origins to the wedding of Crown the Second World War, but much of tect who built Old City Hall, Jörg von Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese its original architecture was rebuilt. Halsbach. Its prominence is ensured of Bavaria on Oct 12, 1810. Locals were This emphasis on preservation gives by Munich’s height restrictions, which allowed to throw their own party to Munich a charming whimsy, especially allow it to dominate the cityscape. It celebrate on a field outside the city, throughout its centre, that you won’t too was heavily damaged in the war now called Therese’s Meadow, known find in Berlin or many other German but meticulously rebuilt. The towers by locals as Wiesn. An agricultural cities. For that alone it’s one of my fa- are capped by distinctive round-button festival was eventually added to the domes, said to be modelled on Jerusa- celebrations, and the Oktoberfest bevourite places to visit in Germany.

The heart of Munich is Marienplatz, lem’s Dome of the Rock. A delight of came a Bavarian tradition emulated originally an old medieval market. The Munich is to climb the south tower for the world over, with people dressing view of the city. 10.0” (w) neo-gothic New-City Hall, completed in itsBanner in lederhosen dirndl and06/12 swillBlack Rock Georgia Straight XTRA Ad surrounding Jan 2012 • Size: x 3.31” (h) •and REV 1 • Jan

M

Oktoberfest

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.

MIKE THOMPSON

ing beer. Munich’s Oktoberfest 2012 will run from 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.

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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.

FROM

DISCOVER MUNICH 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.

days — families with children, goth teens, gay couples and gatherings of friends of all 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.

Trip advisor

ENGLISCHER GARTEN

BARS & CLUBS

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.

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

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

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

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

25

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

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HOT CITIES. HOT PLACES. HOT TIMES. ALL IN YOUR POCKET. Amsterdam, Antwerp, Barcelona, Berlin, Buenos Aires, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Montreal, Mykonos, Paris, Puerto Vallarta, Rio de Janeiro, Sydney, Tel Aviv and more coming!

A World of Gay Adventure

Check out our February 9th issue for featured cities Montreal & Rome!

26

A World of Gay Adventure

XTRA! JAN 12, 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. 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

Guidemag.com

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.

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

Guidemag.com

A World of Gay Adventure

XTRA! JAN 12, 2012

27

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.

SGN

Seattle Ga ayy New wss

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 Toronto 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.

28

Toronto’s gay & lesbian news

XTRA! JAN 12, 2012

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

indexdirectory.ca

indexdirectory.ca ACCOMMODATIONS - BRITISH COLUMBIA The Eagle’s Nest B&B

866-766-9350

ACCOMMODATIONS - ONTARIO

DRAG

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Take a Walk on the Wildside 416-921-6112/1-800-260-0102

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ADVERTISING

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416-750-9097

raymondhelkio.com

AIDS/HIV RESOURCES Medical Compassion Clinic

647-291-0420

APPLIANCES Coast Wholesale Applicances coastappliances.com

ART GALLERIES Akasha Art Projects

647-348-0104

ART SUPPLIES Aboveground Art Supplies

416-591-1601

HEALTH & PERSONAL CARE Front Door Organics 416-201-3000 Midtown Dental Centre 416-966-DENT(3368)

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SHOPPING Front Door Organics

416-201-3000

Glow Medi Spa 416-920-9998 LJ’s Laser Hair Lemoval Clinic Toronto 647-971-9855 Hamilton 289-237-7089

TANNING SALONS 647-350-8456

TRAVEL AGENCIES 1-800-665-3769

TREE SERVICES Kelly’s Tree Care Ltd Sunset Beech Tree Care

416-462-0007 647-989-3509

T-SHIRTS Gemini Tees

geminitees.com

UPHOLSTERY Re-Wrap Custom Upholstery 416-214-6400

VETERINARIANS 416-469-1121

VIDEO/DVD RENTALS Priape

416-586-9914

WATERPROOFING

416-922-5511

G J MacRae Foundation Repair 905-824-2557 The Citywide Group, Inc 416-283-5500

WEBSITES 416-201-3000 647-588-1774 416-995-4016 416-985-8639 416-449-6204

Notices

MARRIED? DIVORCED? GAY? BI? HAVE CHILDREN? Gay Fathers meets at 8 PM the second and fourth Thursday of each month: The 519 Church Street Community Centre Room 304

Our meetings are informal, confidential and very helpful. We’re here to support you on your journey.

Please visit our website: www.gayfathers-toronto.com

Obituaries In Memory of Rosemary Hardwick

Pride Toronto is saddened by the passing of dedicated volunteer and f r i e n d Ro s e m a r y H a rd w i c k . O u r thoughts are with her family and friends. We will miss Rosemary’s community spirit and compassion, and we are grateful for her long history of service to our communities.

RESTAURANTS & CAFÉS C’est What? Brew/ Vin Pub Restaurant Cocina Lucero Grand Hive Mansion Restaurant and Bar Hair of the Dog The Blake House The Churchmouse & Firkin Zelda’s Restaurant & Bar

416-913-5170

PAINTING CM Painting & Decorating Leon’s Painting Newbright Painting Performance Painters

416-625-6665 416-925-6665 1-800-268-9872 416-925-6665 604-684-9696

Blue Cross Animal Hospital

NATUROPATHY OPTOMETRISTS

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Midtown Dental Centre 416-966-DENT(3368)

647-989-1555

John Montague Jude Johnston

gesund 416-913-5170 The Power of Touch.com 647-330-ALEX(2539)

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DJ Craig Dominic soundcloud.com/craigdominic

Becky Liddle

Afterglo Tan Bar

Robert Graham

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PSYCHOLOGISTS

MASSAGE CERTIFIED/REGISTERED

St Jamestown Delicatessan

416-967-9221

PHOTOGRAPHERS

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LIGHTING Living Lighting on King

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ANNOUNCEMENTS ›

PHARMACIES

Torontography

360 Living Inc

416-699-9955

Helmutt’s Pet Supply Pet Cuisine & Accessories

HAIR STYLISTS & BARBERS

Bryant Renovations 416-260-0818 G J MacRae Foundation Repair 905-824-2557

905-886-3380 x17309

Pets At Peace

The Village Pharmacy

Front Door Organics The Big Carrot

416-507-9968

PET MORTUARIES & CREMATORIES

LJ’s Laser Hair Lemoval Clinic Toronto 647-971-9855 Hamilton 289-237-7089

ARTS & CRAFTS

BMW Autohaus

PET CARE

PET STORES & SUPPLIES

FOUNDATION REPAIRS G J MacRae Foundation Repair 905-824-2557

Ragga Hair and Beauty Salon 416-368-8113

Raymond Helkio Advertising /Design

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To place an ad, call 416-925-6665 xt 0 or bookyour line classified at xtra.ca

Guidemag.com Squirt.org Xtra.ca

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WINERIES Church St Winery

416-920-WINE

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Notices OUTNPOZ

A social group for the poz community.

Join us for brunch on Sunday, December 18th at Bumpkin’s - 21 Gloucester Street at 12 Noon outnpoztoronto.com

PROUD LIVES

Commemorate those who have recently passed away.

This space is donated by Xtra. Call 416-644-5214 for more information. Please limit text to 50 words or less. Ideally, photos will be digital images at 2” x 3” with a resolution of 250dpi.

Spiritual services

Christian Healing Service For HIV-positive people, their friends, family, and caregivers.

Eucharistic liturgy including sacrament of anointing of the sick.

Our Lady of Lourdes Church (Sherbourne north of Wellesley). Wheelchair accessible.

Saturday, January 21st, 2012 - 7:00pm All welcome to join with us, third Saturday of every month.

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Toronto’s gay & lesbian news

XTRA! JAN 12, 2012

BAREBACKING

Sean Cody’s flip-flop fucking

HEALTH & FITNESS › Registered massage SCOTT MILLER

BACK IN TOWN. Registered massage therapist since 1995. Specializing in deep tissue, myofascial and Thai massage. For information contact parkroadhealingarts.com or scottmillermt@gmail.com

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Porndoggy Jeremy Feist

T

HERE’S A REASON BAREbacking has never found its way into Porndoggy columns. Generally speaking, it’s not something I — or anyone who’s written this column before me — approve of. I consider barebacking to be the sexual equivalent of Crocs: not something I’m into, but I realize not everyone is in the same situation as I am, so I can’t, and won’t, force my opinion on others.

That being said, you can’t walk around in Crocs while simultaneously denouncing their weird, plastic existence, because that would just be hypocritical. And for the same reason, you can’t produce a bareback scene and then tell everyone you don’t endorse condom-free porn.

So you can probably understand why the folks at Sean Cody found themselves under fire after launching their very first bareback scene.

Despite being a strictly safer-sex website for years, Sean Cody kicked off the new year by announcing a three-way that would, for the first time since Sean Cody’s inception, not include any condoms.

The part that raised my eyebrows was the notice used to preface the scene:

Sean Cody’s first bareback video features Dennis, Calvin and Jordan.

“In order to create this film our models underwent strict screening for HIV and other STDs. Our studio used the RNA by PCR test, which is the most effective test available.

“Unprotected sex is not something we recommend or endorse, even if you’re in a relationship.”

Huh? Look, it’s good to see they meticulously tested their models before they shot the scene, but I think technically speaking, producing, filming and distributing a porn scene involving unprotected sex is probably as blatant an endorsement as you can give.

I don’t take offence so much to the fact it’s a bareback scene. Once again, not really something I advocate for health reasons, but I don’t resent anyone who does it. Let’s face it: those in the adult industry are adults, and I have met some performers who are well aware of the risks and do as

much as they can to counteract them (aside from condom use). The ability to have the sex life you want without others imposing judgment is a twoway street. I’ll take my condoms; they take bareback. I do my thing; they do theirs.

What irks me here is that Sean Cody’s people are trying to have their cake and dump a load in it, too. I couldn’t say I don’t endorse unprotected sex and then perform in a barebacking scene or get raw-dogged to kingdom cum in my personal life.

You can’t play both sides of the field, because that’s not how the game works. It’s a pretty transparent copout, to say the least. But mostly, it’s just disappointing to watch people try to talk out of both sides of their asses.

Jeremy Feist is a Toronto pornstar.

Porndoggy appears in every issue of Xtra.

Call 416-925-6665 xt.0 to book your ad now.

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31

BAREBACKING

Sean Cody’s flip-flop fucking Porndoggy Jeremy Feist

T

HERE’S A REASON BAREbacking has never found its way into Porndoggy columns. Generally speaking, it’s not something I — or anyone who’s written this column before me — approve of. I consider barebacking to be the sexual equivalent of Crocs: not something I’m into, but I realize not everyone is in the same situation as I am, so I can’t, and won’t, force my opinion on others.

That being said, you can’t walk around in Crocs while simultaneously denouncing their weird, plastic existence, because that would just be hypocritical. And for the same reason, you can’t produce a bareback scene and then tell everyone you don’t endorse condom-free porn.

So you can probably understand why the folks at Sean Cody found themselves under fire after launching their very first bareback scene.

Despite being a strictly safer-sex website for years, Sean Cody kicked off the new year by announcing a three-way that would, for the first time since Sean Cody’s inception, not include any condoms.

The part that raised my eyebrows was the notice used to preface the scene:

Sean Cody’s first bareback video features Dennis, Calvin and Jordan.

“In order to create this film our models underwent strict screening for HIV and other STDs. Our studio used the RNA by PCR test, which is the most effective test available.

“Unprotected sex is not something we recommend or endorse, even if you’re in a relationship.”

Huh? Look, it’s good to see they meticulously tested their models before they shot the scene, but I think technically speaking, producing, filming and distributing a porn scene involving unprotected sex is probably as blatant an endorsement as you can give.

I don’t take offence so much to the fact it’s a bareback scene. Once again, not really something I advocate for health reasons, but I don’t resent anyone who does it. Let’s face it: those in the adult industry are adults, and I have met some performers who are well aware of the risks and do as

much as they can to counteract them (aside from condom use). The ability to have the sex life you want without others imposing judgment is a twoway street. I’ll take my condoms; they take bareback. I do my thing; they do theirs.

What irks me here is that Sean Cody’s people are trying to have their cake and dump a load in it, too. I couldn’t say I don’t endorse unprotected sex and then perform in a barebacking scene or get raw-dogged to kingdom cum in my personal life.

You can’t play both sides of the field, because that’s not how the game works. It’s a pretty transparent copout, to say the least. But mostly, it’s just disappointing to watch people try to talk out of both sides of their asses.

Jeremy Feist is a Toronto pornstar.

Porndoggy appears in every issue of Xtra.