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Plus: LesBian Life | Studying LesBians W e A r e E v e r y w h e r e | T h e L e s b i a n N e w s S t a c 1k

eurOut magazine Dear reader

About:

A few weeks ago I got a little scared.

children of lesBians seem to thrive,

The Dutch general elections were

if you read Anna’s other article!)

going on and the outcome surprised

Luckily, I was able to put my worries

me. It shocked me, even. Someone

into perspective when I realized that

who I consider to be openly racist

other people shared my thoughts

received many, many votes from

and that I wasn’t alone in this.

the Dutch people. And as Gwen explains in her article, this doesn’t

And so the fear drifted off, making

necessarily mean that it’s bad for

way for new inspiration. Reading

Dutch LGBT rights. To me, however,

Ley’s exclusive interview with film

it does give off a creepy signal

and theatre maker Mariel Macia left

about what’s going on in Dutch

me very inspired, for instance. Or

society. Combine that with lesbians

reading about the brave people that

and gays being beaten up in ‘Gay

participated in Bratislava Pride. And

Capital’ Amsterdam in the past few

as I’m writing this, I’m preparing

weeks, and you see how that’s got

for a little Pride weekend myself. A

me a little worried about my home

great reminder of the fact that we’re

country.

not alone, and that we don’t have to be scared.

Which is why I totally understand Anna’s worries about deciding to have children (see her LesBian Life

Warm regards,

column in this issue). Society can be tough and scary for every child, and

Saskia Joreen

being raised by two lesBians might

Chief Editor

not make matters easier. (Although

This magazine is a monthly publication of eurOut.org, the leading website for European lesBian entertainment and political news in the English language.

EurOut.org was launched in September 2008, and is now one of the most frequently visited sites on the web for gay women who are interested in European lesBian entertainment news, storylines on television, movies, music, events and political news. On a day-to-day basis eurOut.org provides thousands of readers with news, columns, in-depth articles, opinionated pieces and interviews.

Readers also have the opportunity to connect with each other, to learn more about each other’s culture, environment and life, or to just have chats about the concerts they visited. Besides giving lesBians their much needed visibility, eurOut.org wants to create more understanding and solidarity among European lesBians, so that we can grow and develop into a European community that supports each other.

Feel free to contact us with any questions, tips, remarks, or to just let us know what you think. Find our website at

www.eurout.org.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Saskia Joreen (editor@eurout.org) PR-OFFICER AND LAYOUT:

DidFamous You Know?

Lesbians in European History

Jessica Landström

Voted best breakthrough player at Swedish Football Awards 2009.

EDITOR OF POLITICS: ART DIRECTION: Embla (embla.eurout@gmail.com) CONTRIBUTORS IN THIS ISSUE: Gwen (garance@eurout.org)

Jessica Landstrom of Sweden (L) fights for the ball with Ariane Hingst of Germany during their women's quarter final soccer match in Shenyang Olympic Stadium, the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 15, 2008.

Landström was featured on EurOut.org at http://eurout.org/2009/09/09/portraitswedish-soccer-player-jessica-landstroem

Pam Harrison is the creator of the award-winning historical fiction series House of the Muses. Suggest famous lesbians you would like to see featured and check out her series at http://houseofthemuses.com

2

EDITOR OF ENTERTAINMENT: Natazzz (entertainment@eurout.org) Maxime (politics@eurout.org)

Out soccer star Jessica Landström (born December 12, 1984) is a forward for the Swedish national team. She debuted for the national team on November 8, 2007, where she also scored her first international goal. She also played Forward for the U21/23 national team and for Hammarby from 2005-2007.

She would go on to play for Sweden’s national team in an Olympic qualifying match against Denmark in 2007 and four additional games during the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Anna McFaith (faith@eurout.org)

Joan (joan@eurout.org) Ley (ley@eurout.org) Tessa (tessa@eurout.org) Special inspirational thanks go out to Sandra Showtime, founder of eurOut.org.

In This Issue

4

4 What makes lesbian literature, lesbian literature?

5 What do the Dutch elections mean for LGBT rights?

8 The LesBian News Stack

10 Movie review: “The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister�

12 LesBian Life: deciding to have or not to have kids

14

14 When are you really out?

16 Studying LesBians: Is a gay-friendly work environment

profitable?

18 Study shows children of lesBian parents thrive

20 We Are Everywhere

23

22 First Bratislava Pride disrupted, but still successful

23 Interview: lesbian film maker Mariel Macia

28 Where Are We on Television?

29 A list of LGBT organizations

3

What Makes Lesbian Literature, Lesbian Literature?

Image copyright: Anna McFaith

In a new series on lesbian literature, Tessa tackles important literary questions. This issue she tries to unravel if a novel is considered to be lesbian literature when the author is lesbian or when it has a lesbian character or plot? Or must it be both? By: Tessa

I READ TIPPING the Velvet by Sarah

“I have many enthusiastic lesbian

But again, do so many of us return

Waters in part because of the lesbian

readers who have been with me right

again and again to Winterson’s work

theme. It was the first novel I read by

from the start – long before I became

because of a lesbian theme or because

Waters and I liked the idea of reading a

popular as a mainstream writer – and I

they are well written pieces of art?

mainstream and widely acclaimed novel

am very grateful to them. At the same

that was so unashamedly lesbian, and

time, of course, I don’t sit down at my

What

Winterson

supposedly, it was a good read.

desk every morning thinking, ‘I am a

saying

is

lesbian writer’.”

insidiousness to a label. A label confines,

What made me buy the next novel

that

and

there

Waters is

a

are

certain

limits and stagnates the imagination. To

was that it was well written and had a

“Most of my working life is spent

label an author as lesbian is an easy

plot that kept me awake late at night

grappling with words and stories – and

identification marker. It’s a warning to

because I couldn’t put it down. When

at that point I am simply ‘a writer’,

some and an attractor to others. A label

Waters

novel,

like any other writer. In other words,

makes it easier, as Winterson states, for

The Little Stranger, there was some

lesbian passions and issues are there

the reader to not have to think, “this is

outrage in the lesbian community that

in my books in the same way that

not for me, I am not lesbian”. The reader

it contained no lesbian plot, theme

they are there in my life: they are both

has to look no further than the label.

or character. She had abandoned the

vitally important to me, and completely

community, or so it was felt by some.

incidental.”

published

her

latest

Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit speaks

Does this mean that we only read her

to many of us. It puts into words what

previous novels because of the lesbian

Jeanette Winterson, who is considered

many of us feel we can’t; the emotion

theme?

by many to be one of the main figures in

of discovering your sexuality, of finding

the genre of lesbian literature, recently

your place in the world, in battling the

When asked if she considers herself

stated in an interview in the British

world that you are meant to occupy but

a lesbian author, she replied with the

newspaper

she

just don’t. Can it only hold a sense of

following: “Yes and no. I am very

dislikes the label ‘lesbian author’. That

truth for lesbians because the author

comfortable with the concept of a

many, but certainly not all, of her books

is lesbian and the theme is lesbian? Or

‘lesbian writer’ or a ‘lesbian text’. Most

have a lesbian theme clearly stems from

can it also hold truths for others? Does

of my novels so obviously foreground

the fact that these are her experiences.

a novel written by a straight author by

passions between women that it has

What for many is the quintessential

default become a gay novel if there is a

made lots of sense to me to invoke the

coming out story, Oranges Are Not The

gay character present? I’ll try to answer

‘lesbian’ label.”

Only Fruit is essentially the story of her

these and similar questions in the

life written in a fictional context.

upcoming instalments, so stay tuned!

4

The

Guardian

that

all new. all european. all lesbian.

all new. all european. all lesbian.

What do the Dutch elections mean for LGBT rights?

When the Dutch government fell, the entire Dutch LGBT community held its breath. We were looking at a fractured, rightwing political field. Now the results are in and Gwen takes us through the outcome as well as her reasons for voting. By: Gwen LET ME JUST flat-out say it at the

parties, or probably even more. The

start of this article: in the general

more parties in the cabinet though, the

elections in the Netherlands, I voted

harder it will be to reach consensus on

for someone mostly because he is gay.

important issues.

Had I not voted for him, I would have voted for an entirely different party.

Our previous cabinet was made up

Yeah, I’m not so sure what I think of

of CDA (Christian Democrats), PvdA

this either.

(Labour) and CU (Christian Democrats).

The CU is more conservative than the

When I was little, my mother took me

CDA. They are against abortion and

to the voting booth with her and she

euthanasia, and they think it should be

used to vote for the first woman with

allowed for civil servants to say they

a foreign sounding name on the list of

do not want to wed people of the same

the party she wanted to vote for, so I’m

sex. There is a third Christian party in

used to preference voting.

the Netherlands, SGP, who are against same-sex

I

actually

copied

her

in

the

municipality elections, and voted for a

woman

with

Moroccan

marriage

altogether

and

think women should not be allowed to be active in politics.

ancestry

whose main point is that she wants

Online, we have covered how the

to improve communication between

Dutch cabinets keep falling (in fact, I

different ethnic groups by creating

can’t remember anything else – the

places where women of all ethnicities

many benefits of being young) and

can meet and talk.

what happened to LGBT issues when former Minister of Education, Culture

Now we’ve got that out of the way

and Science Ronald Plasterk was forced

- and I hope everyone is thinking

to resign. It was his party, Labour, that

about what it means when you vote for

stepped out of the coalition, and our

someone based on one single aspect of

fate was left in the hands of Christian

their identity - let’s look at the bigger

parties.

picture of the elections.

Luckily, in the elections in June, the The

Netherlands

are

a

country

party that is most often part of the

that always has a coalition cabinet

coalition, CDA, has lost so many seats

in government, made up of several

it isn’t even participating much in the

different parties. I think over the

first stages of coalition building yet.

course of my life these have always

After all votes had been counted, CDA

been three parties, but the coalition

is at 13,6% of votes with 21 seats, as

cabinet does need to have a majority

opposed to 41 before the elections.

of the seats in the House of Commons, which has 150 seats.

The

biggest

party

is

VVD

(Conservative Liberal) with 31 seats, When the respective parties gain less

the second biggest is Labour with

votes, it could be possible to have a

30

coalition cabinet consisting of four

considered quite right-wing in the

seats.

Conservative

Liberal

is

5

What do the Dutch elections mean for LGBT rights?

Netherlands, so it is currently not

However, and this is a very big

Wilders isn’t coming up with good

looking at Labour, but at PVV (Party for

however:

acceptance

solutions, or any solutions at all that

Freedom), which - with 24 seats - is

of gay people as one of those typical

don’t involve closing our borders and

now the third largest party. If Party for

Dutch

closing down schools and religious

Freedom doesn’t ring a bell, the name

completely

Geert Wilders probably does.

Muslim

Wilders

things

uses

that

is

disrupted

Moroccan

supposedly

by

Dutch

primarily youth.

In

centres. of

And

we

generalizing,

should

be

stereotyping,

wary and

the last televised debate before the

creating some sort of social isolation.

Geert Wilders is the man who made

elections

I, for one, do not care much for being

a movie in which the Koran was

“islamisation” and “street terrorism” in

portrayed as a book filled with hate (the

the Netherlands, gay people no longer

same could probably be done with the

felt safe to go outside.

he

said

because

of

the

used in Wilders’ political strategy.

Currently, there is talk of a VVD-

Bible), who was initially denied entry

CDA-PVV coalition, which would have He uses the one minority as a means

82 seats. So what does this mean for

person”, and who recently came with

to put the other minority in the corner,

Dutch LGBT issues? It’s hard to make a

the proposition of a law to put a tax on

and the problem is we are starting to

definite statement on that.

the wearing of head scarves.

believe he is right.

Image copyright: Harold Pereira

to the UK for being an “undesirable

Femke Halsema, GroenLinks

It’s probably obvious that I’m not

There are entire discussion threads

I think it’s certainly good the CU is not

a fan of Geert Wilders and do not

on the internet where everyone keeps

exactly a possible coalition partner and

agree with most of what he stands for.

putting forward views similar to the

probably won’t become one either –

Yes, most. I’d usually say I disagree

ones Wilders has, and on some sites

the liberal views of the VVD are in my

with him completely, but there’s an

it has become so bad I steer clear of

opinion completely incompatible with

interesting problem going on in relation

the

the conservative views of the CU.

to Geert Wilders and LGBT issues: he is

altogether. I should say I once met a

a fervent supporter of our equal rights.

girl with Moroccan ancestry who was

I also believe none of the three parties

out to the entirety of Amsterdam if she

would turn back progress that has

his

had to, except for Amsterdam West,

been made, while VVD and possibly

priority is the multicultural society

where it was “impossible” to be out

PVV might even make more progress.

and immigrants. But when it comes to

and Moroccan.

It

isn’t

his

priority,

because

politics/current

events

section

When it comes to the VVD on queer

the queer community, there are not a lot of things on which the PVV and I

I’m obviously not saying there are

issues, I don’t have a lot of hang-

disagree.

no problems, there are. It’s just that

ups, and the CDA deserves credit

6

What do the Dutch elections mean for LGBT rights? for appointing the Netherlands’ first

However, in the national elections I

on every street corner, but on the other

lesbian Minister Gerda Verburg as

voted D66, and especially for openly

hand, there have been three incidents

Minister of Agriculture, Nature and

gay Boris van der Ham, who has made

of anti-gay violence in Amsterdam this

Food Quality in the previous cabinet.

himself strong for,

month already.

things,

better

amongst other

judiciary

regulations

I would end this article by saying a

surrounding co-parenting in same-sex

Another truth: Dutch politics are

‘Purple’ cabinet, consisting of both left-

households.

complicated and sometimes messy.

wing social democrat and right-wing

Parliamentary leader in the House of

liberal parties, but no centre parties

I wouldn’t have anything against the

Commons of the VVD Mark Rutte has

like CDA and CU, would have been the

possible coalition with 81 seats, VVD-

said he wants to have a new coalition

best possible outcome of the elections.

PvdA-D66-GroenLinks. In fact, I would

by July 1st, but I think the majority of

Personally, I am constantly in limbo

like that better than anything with PVV

the Dutch are sceptical about that.

between

in it.

agreeing

with

GroenLinks

For now, we’re just going to have to

Democrat pragmatic party).

wait and see what happens, hope they

Image copyright: Dirk Hol

(the Greens), and D66 (the Liberal

Jan Peter Balkenende, CDA

GroenLinks is a left-wing party and

What I can say with a lot of certainty

can come to an agreement, and hope

D66 is rather right-wing on economic

is the main difference between left-

the new cabinet doesn’t fall again.

issues and somewhat left-wing on

wing parties like the Greens on one

Although I have only been allowed to

social issues, but still considered right-

hand, and right-wing parties like VVD

vote for a little over a year, and I love

wing in general, which means the two

and D66 on the other hand, is that

political debates on television, the kid

parties I tend to doubt between are

the right-wing parties focus much

in me can’t have enough elections.

in essence their own fictional purple

more on security to increase safety,

coalition.

and the left-wing parties much more on educating the general public to

In

the

municipality

elections,

I

increase acceptance.

voted for the Greens, because when considering my own living space I

Curiously, Labour and the Christian

think it is a good thing to think of the

Democrats also told the COC they

environment first and the economy

think security is the most important.

later.

Personally I’d say if we’d have more acceptance, we wouldn’t need cameras

all new. all european. all lesbian.

all new. all european. all lesbian.

Further Reading: “What does the fall of the Dutch cabinet mean for Dutch lesBians?” on eurOut. org http://bit.ly eurout-fall-cabinet

7

The Lesbian News Stack

By: Maxime

Like you have come to expect from us, our regular column “The LesBian News Stack” gives you an overview of previous month’s political news of interest for European LGBTs.

Around The Corner: THAT

8

SOUTH

AFRICA

is

not

a

YOU

MIGHT

REMEMBER

that

JOHN SHEEHAN IS back in the

safe ground for gay people is not

McDonald’s recently started a new

news

really new, neither that corrective

publicity campaign in France and

should ‘not permit openly practicing

for

saying

rape happened to more than one

that the company received much

homosexuals to serve in the U.S.

lesbian, more than one dying as a

praise from the LGBT community

military.’

consequence of the attack. What

for one of the commercials. When

seems kind of new though (at least to

asked when they were going to air

The

me), is the fact that a huge business

it in the US, McDonald’s stated that

collaboration

like the BBC takes this on and

they hadn’t any plans to air it and

another

publishes a story about the problems

the French gay-friendly ad wasn’t

president of the Family Research

of lesbians, or more precisely lesbian

representing the company’s views.

Council: “an organization dedicated

soccer players in South Africa while

As a consequence the American

to the promotion of marriage”. No

the soccer World Cup 2010 in South

National Gay and Lesbian Chamber

apologies will help him this time out

Africa just started.

of Commerce cut their ties with the

of the deep cave he’s driving himself

company.

into.

article

that

was with

retired

America

written Tony

army

in

Perkins,

man,

now

The Lesbian News Stack Portugal:

Spain: THERE’S

A

heated

discussion

AMONG

OTHER

Austria: LGBT

going on since organizers of the

organizations, ILGA Europe and

Madrid Gay Pride march banned

ILGA Portugal were invited by

a

Aviv

the Portuguese Prime Minister to

residents who want to join the

officially celebrate the publishing

march. Antonio Poveda, of Spain’s

of

LGBT Federation, explained that

marriage.

delegation

of

gay

Tel

Portugal’s

gender

neutral

them to this decision. The Israeli

WITHOUT

delegation

Icelandic

argued

that

Pride

MUCH

ado,

Parliament

include same-sex couples. and

why they had been disinvited.

changed

their

IVF

treatment

law, which is now open to single POLICE IN Barcelona are currently

women, gay and heterosexual

investigating one of the city’s

couples and is applied to donor

clinics

eggs and sperm. The votes were

medication

and

offering

psychiatric

unanimous.

believe that it is a coincidence that

ALMOST

2/3

CLARE DIMYON, a gay rights Queen’s birth honor. She will

of

be awarded an MBE (Member of the British Empire) for her

Belarusians

would like to see homosexuality

incapable

of

promotion

assisted reproduction.

France: TWO

CASES

of

lesbophobic

attacks came to end with quite satisfying

results,

with

the

offenders of both cases being punished more severely than

kiss-in

activist, made the list of the

Belarus:

aren’t

the legal aspects of the disrupted

UK:

their homosexuality. They don’t

same religion.

they

reproduction. And besides that,

requested. On the other hand,

counseling to ‘cure’ patients of

almost all patients belong to the

as

modified

their existing marriage law to

been

need of artificial insemination,

even with the help of medically the

and that they couldn’t understand

has

lesbian couple wasn’t really in

still not be to able to reproduce

marches were not about politics

that

Government

gay male couples as gays would

Iceland:

attack on the Gaza flotilla let

AUSTRIAN

stated in a recent ruling, that a

an approval would discriminate

the fact that Tel Aviv officials have not openly condemned the recent

THE

of

LGBT

rights

in

Paris

have

been

postponed until November. Gay organization SOS homophobie has taken civil action and will be represented by France’s well known lawyer for LGBT rights Caroline Mécary.

throughout Europe.

Italy:

be banned again, just like it was until 1994. LGBT rights and

THE UK decision that a lesbian

activists have a difficult stand in

ex-partner cannot be forced to

SHOUTS

Belarus with Pride events being

pay maintenance for the child

to

constantly banished and the last

both women had decided to

coming up again as a number

one being disrupted brutally by

care for together, is just another

of homophobic assaults have

the police last month.

example that there are still so

been

many things in disorder when it

weeks.

comes to LGBT rights.

personally appealed to Italy’s

Turkey:

FOR

condemn

legal

reported The

grounds

homophobia

over

the

latest

are

last

victim

Prime Minister, Berlusconi, to A SPECIAL needs teacher who

give the bill’s draft - which was

a

had filed a complaint about being

introduced last year by Paola

majority (72%) of the 1.181

discriminated by her boss and

Concia and has been stuck in

Turks who took part, think that

her teacher colleagues after they

Parliament - his support.

homosexuals shouldn’t be open

learned that she is a lesbian, was

about their sexuality.

awarded 15.000 £.

ACCORDING by

TO

a

survey

Bosporus-University,

www.eurout.org 9

Movie Review: “The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister” “The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister” is the true story of Anne Lister (1791-1840), a Yorkshire landowner, industrialist and lesbian. BBC created a series out of Anne’s coded diaries and Ley reviews it for us and for all those out there who haven’t been in a position to see it yet. By: Ley THE DRAMA FOLLOWS Anne Lister’s

me’ … or in bed… or even in a bath. I’m

complete love for Mariana, who holds

starting to rethink my definition of the

such power over Anne that she can do

term now, and consider changing it.

no wrong in Anne’s eyes, no matter

her happy ending with?

Tib: her oldest friend who loves her completely and would do anything for

how often Anne’s friend Tib warns her

Anne “kisses” a few different ladies

her?

of Mariana’s unworthiness of Anne.

in the course of the drama, and flirts

Miss Walker: a shy woman who

with quite a few more, including young

takes Anne by surprise by returning a

Anne and Mariana’s relationship is the

Miss Brown who has an interesting

soft peck on the lips with a full blown

sort of on-again-off-again love with a

conversation with Anne about, erm, to

“kiss”?

twist: Mariana’s married to the elderly,

put it bluntly… penetration!

Miss Brown: a young woman who

overweight widow called Mr. Lawton.

is enthralled in every word that Anne

Anne is devastated when she learns of

Anne: Do I scare you?

the future marriage and takes Mariana

Miss

out of the room, begging Mariana

penetrating countenance.

woman who strings Anne along as her

to change her mind and to marry

Anne: Sometimes I’m more anxious to

plaything and keeps her hooked by

her instead, to be told by Mariana,

be penetrating than at others.

saying such things as, “Can you ever

“Remember yourself!”

In

response

to

Brown:

You

says… have

such

however

thick

with

sexual

innuendo it may be? Or Mariana: the

love anyone else?” You’ll just need to

Mariana’s

wedding announcement, Anne makes the decision to wear black from now on to “Free myself from the tyranny of fashion,” … starting on the day of Mariana’s wedding. On leaving the church, Mariana tells Anne that she will write to her from her new home, and Anne asks, “Why?!”

“I’m starting to rethink my definition of kissing.”

watch it to find out.

The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister is not my usual viewing choice, but I will gladly hold my hands up and admit that I really liked it! The acting was honest and realistic, the love scenes were true and natural looking.

Anne is played by Maxine Peake, who I tend to think of playing the role of Twinkle in Victoria Wood’s

Mariana floats in and out of Anne’s

She stands up to, and cuts down,

hit TV series Dinnerladies. With her

life as and when she pleases, much

the bullish Mr. Rawson, who her Uncle

overall, grumpy mood and sarcastic

to the dismay of Anne’s oldest and

is trying to convince her is a good

comment

dearest friend Tib, who just so happens

suitor. Really Mr. Rawson is a complete

Twinkle was for me the signature role

to be completely in love with Anne

loser who only wants to mine Anne’s

for Maxine… until now.

herself.

grounds. No, not metaphorically ladies,

at

every

possible

turn,

literally. Honestly, would I ever imply

Maxine’s portrayal of such a historic

include

such things?! Anne teams up with

lesbian was done with care, respect,

kisses. Yes, as normal as this sounds,

shy Miss Walker to beat Mr. Rawson

and poignancy, and for that she is no

trust me when I say their definition

in business… and they celebrate with

longer Twinkle for me, but Miss Anne

of a kiss is far different from ours: in

a “kiss”.

Lister.

Mariana’s

visits

tend

to

this drama it means something a little more along the lines of ‘Kissing against

So, after all that mining, “kissing” and

a tree while you have your way with

flirting, which woman does Anne have

10

all new. all european. all lesbian.

all new. all european. all lesbian.

11

LesBian Life: Deciding to have or not to have kids In this edition of LesBian Life, Anna talks about having kids.

What emotional choices do you have to make when you choose to become a mom and what extra issues does being a lesBian mom bring? Anna tries to unravel her inner turmoil. By: Anna McFaith are

mothered by me, one by my girlfriend.

There are lots of creatures in nature

(supposed to be) biologically destined

Who will go first isn’t clear yet, neither

able to change their sex, but not us.

to have them and while I, at 24, feel

is our solution in the event of twins.

We have built our entire society and

KIDS.

IT

SEEMS

us

women

no need to hurry along and do so, my

sexuality around two genders, set in

girlfriend and I have a shortlist of baby

I haven’t done my research yet.

stone. Yes, we can change our body to

names at the ready. My girlfriend, who

I don’t know about donors in the

look like that of the opposite sex, but

is an artist, has even started thinking

Netherlands and I don’t know how long

the process is far from perfect and no

about what kind of mural to make for

it might take to get pregnant. I don’t

surgery or process in the conceivable

the nursery.

even know if I’m able to have children

future will allow me to merge my DNA

or if my girlfriend is. A large part of my

with that of my girlfriend and create

It’s a tiny bit worrying to me that in

worries about having children stems

a child.

ten years at most, I’ll have little ones

from the hassle involved in actually

running around. It worries me even

conceiving them. As a lesbian, I’m not

Before last week, all I thought about

more that, because of our situation,

in the questionably envious position to

when I thought of having children

we have to start making the effort to

get pregnant without help.

with my partner was creating a loving

have them years earlier.

family that shows our commitment to I haven’t been thinking about these

each other and this new life. A chance

My girlfriend and I want to have

things for long; in fact, it was only last

to pass on our morals, thoughts and

children of our own. We thought about

week I got reminded of the mountain

ideas. I have no qualms about loving

adoption and we agree that it is a very

of work ahead of us as my dad dropped

a child without my DNA. I’m sure that

good thing to do. It is just not for us.

off my baby albums. I’m not feeling

I would love a child mothered by my

No particular reason, but we both want

my biological clock yet, but I was

girlfriend and a donor just as much

to have a child with our DNA. The plan

suddenly a little sad, thinking about

as a child with my (and, if it were

right now? We want two children, one

the unfairness of the human body.

possible, her) DNA. One of the major points of discussion between my girlfriend and me is the donor. I don’t want to know him.

Really, even thinking about looking at his profile puts me off. I’ve accepted that I can’t have biological children with my girlfriend but I don’t like to be reminded of that fact.

My girlfriend on the other hand, would like to at least have a couple of meetings with the donor, see if he ‘clicks’ with our way of living.

When I asked her why she feels meeting the man is so important, she told me that a piece of paper with a description can never give a good

Me and my mom. Image property of Anna McFaith

12

picture of his views of the world or any social awkwardness.

LesBian Life: Deciding to have or not to have kids

Me at age 1; so gay already! Image property of Anna McFaith

“We hope our children will stand up for themselves with words.”

She wants to give the children the

of the many fears potential mothers

into it. We hope that our kisses will be

biggest chance of success in this

need to overcome.

enough to make the pain go away—

already hostile world.

any pain.

While being born to gay parents

It is our greatest worry; will the

can be a handicap, it can also be a

We hope we can teach them to stand

children’s lives be affected negatively

good thing for their emotional and

up for themselves with words, not

by

two

psychological development. The study

violence. We have a lot to teach and a

mothers? And if yes, is it worth it? Can

we have posted on page 18 and 19

lot of love to give. We’re going to pray

we consciously bring two children into

came out just a little after I wrote

it’ll be enough to make our children

this world with a social disadvantage?

this column and it has helped me

healthy, happy and good people.

all new. all european. all lesbian.

all new. all european. all lesbian.

the

fact

that

they

have

overcome many of my fears. In it, We are hoping our love and tutelage

researchers claim that children born

will help our children see beyond the

in lesBian families often thrive in spite

shortcomings of those around them.

(and maybe because) of their mother’s sexual orientation. It’s a reassuring

We posted this column on eurOut.org

thought and one I cherish.

a while back and I received wonderful reactions from our readers. It seems

All in all, we hope the world will have

these fears are universal but only one

changed a little when our kids come

MORE: For the original article and the comments on it: http://bit.ly/euroutlesbianlife-kids

13

When are you really out?

As a new column about the process of coming out as a lesbian is featured on the “Times Online” website, Gwen tackles the difficult subject of deciding when you are really out. By:Gwen; Image copyright: Ley

SOMETIMES I REMIND myself that

that anyone knows, but I still have

writer comes out “one week at a time”.

two years ago, I wouldn’t even have

some trouble saying it to people’s

The writer gets asked if she’s bringing

dreamed of being so out like I am right

faces. Sometimes nobody notices that

“her man” to things a lot, and with

now. So out that I would discuss the

I’m queer, sometimes (well, twice so

it she gives a perfect example of the

progress of gay rights in the United

far) I have people shout it at me in

continued process of coming out. It is

States in an Italian restaurant with

the street. That basically boils down

also pretty much what goes on in my

five friends I met in university, four

to fashion choices. I do, however,

head every time someone asks if I

of which straight. Just for the sake of

generally assume you to know as soon

have a boyfriend, and I’m never sure

having a ‘pinch-me-moment’.

as I added you on Facebook, which

what I would prefer to answer.

has the convenient “Interested in” box Somehow though, I (and I think a

and has me always ticking “Attending”

As long as I don’t have a girlfriend,

lot of people) have come to define ‘out’

on queer events I’m attending. I also

there’s no reason to go: “No, but…”

as something you can be in different

have a strict ‘no relatives’ rule when it

There’s

gradations. Out to yourself, out to

comes to Facebook.

existence of. It seems pretty strange to

your parents, out to your friends, out

no

one

I’m

denying

the

come out every time someone asks me

to your entire family, out to the world.

About a week ago I was chatting to

if I have a boyfriend, especially when I

It’s like a scale, and ‘out to the world’

a girl I have some courses with, and

am under the impression I’m already

is the ‘best’ place to be on the scale.

the inevitable boyfriend question came

out to them. Maybe they don’t want

up. The answer is, no, I don’t have

to discuss it. Maybe they think they’d

In some situations it is. You never

one, but I wouldn’t mind having one

make me uncomfortable. Maybe I’m

have to lie to anyone, you never have

either. Then I just waited for the next

just not honest enough. Maybe (please

to pretend, you never have to feel like

question (I don’t have a girlfriend but I

don’t make me type this) I’m not even

there are certain things you want to do

wouldn’t mind having one either), until

as out as I think I am.

that you can’t do. In other situations,

she went on to a different topic. She

lying is easier or safer, you have the

didn’t ask and I didn’t speak up.

honor of your family to protect, you

If you frowned at “one week at a time”, to me it sounded like she had

know for sure you are going to get

“I bat for the other team, you see.

a quota each week as well, but I think

married to someone of the opposite

I’m not the marrying, nor the flower-

all it means is she will be writing an

sex later, whether you want to or

arranging kind. (Just say it!) I have

article every week. Judging by her

not. In China, for instance, they even

an alternative lifestyle. I’m a sister.

first article, she will probably be quite

have internet sites where lesbians can

God! I’m gay.”

funny through all that and give some

arrange to marry gay men.

insight into her life as a lesbian, also to This quote is from an article at

straight people who happen to surf the

I’m not sure where I am on the scale I

website Times Online, which is the

Times Online website.

just made up. I usually don’t care

start of a new series in which a lesbian The question is: where is the line

14

When are you really out? between being out and not always proclaiming you’re gay? Do you have to go around telling everyone you meet? Or, in the case of this girl I have some courses with this year, but probably won’t next year, do I just over. Do I need her to know?

A few days back, I heard someone say that the ‘Western model’ of coming out and being full-time gay all the time after that was not necessarily the model people in other parts of the world should try to emulate. Back to the beginning of this post: in China, there are websites on which gay men can find lesbians to marry. In many countries, family is an issue bigger than it is in Europe or in my own

“LesBian Life: The continued process of coming out” at eurOut. org http://bit.ly/ eurout-continuedcoming-out

Further Reading

leave it? The academic year is almost

“Coming out of the closet as a lesbian” at Times Online http://bit. ly/times-onlinecoming-out

country, the Netherlands. The majority of people in the United States don’t think gay people should be allowed to get married, as proven by the recent Prop 8 and the rejection of the samesex marriage law in Maine.

I think whether to be out to the world or not is something that is for everyone to decide individually. It is not the top of the scale, it is not the ‘best’ place to be. There is no hierarchy.

Do I need everyone to know I’m bisexual who ever asked me if I had a boyfriend yet? Well, not really. I actually don’t think there’s something wrong with that as long as I don’t feel like I’m outright lying, which I know is a slippery slope, but most of the time I don’t. People who are reasonably close to me all know who I am, and my sexuality is a part of that.

As for the writer for Times Online, her situation is a little different than mine: she is in a relationship. It makes all the sense in the world it becomes all new. all european. all lesbian.

all new. all european. all lesbian.

more important to speak out more often once there is a girlfriend or wife involved, and I wish her all the best on her journey.

15

all new. all european. all lesbian. all new. all european. all lesbian.

Studying LesBians Is a gay-friendly work environment profitable?

In this edition of Studying Lesbians, Natazzz ponders and discusses a recent study about profitable effects of a gay-friendly work environment. By: Natazzz

I AM VERY lucky to work at a

is the general atmosphere at work,

is profitable or not. Therefore, it’s

university, where in general the work

which for a big part is decided by the

much more effective to tell companies

environment is very gay-friendly. I

management of the company you

that being gay-friendly can make

have always been surrounded by out

work for.

them money instead of that it’s “the

colleagues and I’ve never encountered

right thing to do”.

any problems regarding my sexual

When the people in charge are

orientation at work. Unfortunately, not

very

towards

I was very interested to hear about a

everyone is as lucky.

people’s individual differences, this

research report that was published in

will influence the rest of the workers

the Netherlands last week that looked

What makes a work environment

as

sexual

into the pros of a gay-friendly work

gay-friendly is probably a combination

orientation as not a big deal or

environment on the Dutch business

of several factors, including the line of

because homophobia isn’t tolerated.

world.

positive

well.

Either

and

by

open

seeing

work you’re in and what kind of people work there.

study

was

conducted

There can be many different reasons

Economics, who asked the SEOR to

for why the company you work for is

look into it last summer.

One of the major influences on how

gay-friendly or not, but a big influence

gay-friendly your place of work is,

for most bosses is whether something

16

The

in name of the Dutch Ministry of

all new. all european. all lesbian. all new. all european. all lesbian.

Studying LesBians Is a gay-friendly work environment profitable?

The first thing I noticed was the

This

increasing

The report stresses that good reasons

difference between how the report

awareness, being supportive and a

to implement diversity plans are that

was

media

whole list of other stuff that sort of

they don’t really cost that much,

and what the report really said. For

speaks for itself as things that would

that the labour market is changing

example, Dutch LGBT youth website

improve our positions at work.

and

discussed

in

the

gay

mainly

includes

Expreszo wrote that a gay-friendly

becoming

more

diverse,

and

the importance of corporate social

work environment lowers costs and

Benefits for companies are mainly on

responsibility. I wonder if that’s enough

increases market share. In addition,

the individual level, like: if you can be

to have those companies that aren’t

the GayKrant’s headline was “Visibility

out at work and be yourself without

that gay-friendly yet switch practices.

gay workers good for companies.”

getting hassled, you are a happier and

“Diversity plans don’t really cost that much.”

All in all it’s an interesting and much needed study, but unfortunately like many of these reports, the results aren’t very specific or conclusive. They suggest more research is needed to give a clearer picture, which in other words means it will be a while before all new. all european. all lesbian.

something will really be done.

This is mainly because that’s what

more productive worker, you don’t call

the press release said that’s been sent

in sick as often, etc. They name other

around. However, when you read the

advantages, but I’m not sure if every

actual research report, they are far

company wants things like “a gay-

less positive and certain than that. In

friendly image”.

fact, the main conclusion of the study They also list reasons that prevent

starts with:

companies from having a gay-friendly “There is insufficient hard evidence

policy,

to prove that diversity pays and that

understanding

economic advantages can therefore

diversity policy, management worrying

be gained

from effective

including

management

the

importance

not of

diversity

about their image, or management

policy and a good working climate

simply thinking there’s no need for

for homosexuals in particular. The

diversity as they aren’t aware of their

business case is therefore not strong.”

closeted workers.

Now, that doesn’t sound very positive

Reading through the report I noticed

to me. I do have to admit that the rest

that even though more and more

of the report is rather positive and goes

companies have some sort of diversity

into much detail about every way in

policy on paper, there are still only

which having a more gay-friendly work

few Dutch companies who actively do

environment can benefit companies.

something with it.

For

example,

specific

I am not sure whether this is worrying

companies

or that perhaps things aren’t that bad in

could do to be more gay-friendly,

many companies and no specific plans

including

recognition

need to be in place. Unfortunately, the

and acknowledgement to the specific

report doesn’t go into detail about this.

suggestions giving

they

give

what more

position of homosexuals at the place of work.

all new. all european. all lesbian.

MORE: For a translation of the Dutch research report go to: http://bit.ly/nlmineconomics-report

Studying LesBians Studying LesBians is a regular column written by Natazzz, in which she discusses current and not-socurrent research about lesbians and bisexual women.

17

Study shows children of lesBian parents thrive A newly published study conducted in America shows that children raised by mothers in planned lesbian families do significantly better than their heterosexually raised peers. We give you the highlights of the research, the criticism on it and the implications for the lesBian community. By: Anna McFaith CHILDREN OF LESBIAN parents thrive.

“I was surprised to find that on some

communication, being there in their

It’s a bold statement to make and one

measures we found higher levels of

schools, finding out what is going on in

not made lightly. American professor

[psychological] competency and lower

their schools and various aspects of the

of Law and Psychology Nanette Gartrell

levels of behavioural problems.”

children’s lives is very, very important.”

Bos followed 154 women in 84 families

It doesn’t seem to matter if the mothers

While heterosexual parents are often

who underwent artificial insemination

stayed together or separated during the

involved in their children’s lives as well,

to start a family for nearly 25 years.

kid’s childhood. These children still score

Gartrell suspects same-sex mothers

The mothers were interviewed during

higher in social, academic and total

often make that kind of parenting more

pregnancy or the insemination process,

competence than the children born into

of a priority.

and additionally when the children were

a heterosexual household.

and Dutch behavioural scientist Henny

2, 5, 10 and 17 years old.

“I was surprised. We simply expected to find no difference.”

The research was focused solely on lesBian women; the situation of gay men is noticeably different and could not be concluded in this round of research.

Gartrell does hope to include children of gay men one day.

Conclusions The research concluded that children raised by lesBian mothers — whether the mother was partnered or single —

Maybe even more importantly; while

LesBian mothers know that their child

scored very similarly to children raised

41% of the children endured some

will most likely be bullied or hurt because

by heterosexual parents on measures of

teasing

of the sexual orientation of their parents

development and social behaviour.

of

their

and

discrimination

lesBian

mothers,

because none

of

and subjects like tolerance, sexuality

the children were found to have any

and diversity will often be addressed at a

This outcome was expected; what the

differences on psychological adjustment

much earlier age. This helps the bonding

researchers didn’t expect was to discover

tests in regards to the group of matched

process and gives the children more

that children in lesbian homes scored

controls.

confidence to face the world. It might

higher than kids in straight families on

also make them more socially involved

some psychological measures like self-

Resistance

esteem and confidence. They even did

Gartrell and Bos say further research

better academically and were less likely

is necessary to exclusively say why

Having kids is not a sure thing for

to have behavioural problems, such as

children from lesbian families grow up as

women

rule-breaking and aggression.

concluded, but Gartrell does have some

This might play a large part in the

ideas to share:

involvement of the mothers in the child’s

“We

simply

expected

to

find

no

at a later age.

in

a

lesbian

relationship.

lives as well as the outcome of the

difference in psychological adjustment

“[Lesbian parents] are very involved

study. “[The children] didn’t arrive by

between adolescents reared in lesbian

in their children’s lives and that is a

accident,” Gartrell writes. “The mothers

families and the normative sample of

great recipe for healthy outcomes for

were older... they were waiting for an

age-matched controls,” Gartrell states.

children. Being present, having good

opportunity to have children and age

18

Study shows children of lesBian parents thrive brings maturity and better parenting.”

release,” Wright protests. Another sore

sexual orientation are not justified.”

“Growing up in households with less

point according to Wright: studies have

For two renowned scientists to state

power assertion and more parental

shown that children thrive having both a

something like this is groundbreaking.

involvement has been shown to be

mother and a father.

Combine this report with the Danish,

associated with healthier psychological adjustment,” Gartrell wrote in the study

“You have to be a little suspicious

German and very recent Stonewall

in regards to the children’s healthy and

of any study that says children being

report and you end up with a very

resilient state of mind.

raised by same-sex couples do better

positive and inspiring message: children

all new. all european. all lesbian.

all new. all european. all lesbian.

or have superior outcomes to children

grow up healthy and happy because of

Research

raised with a mother and father,” she

parenting and not because of who their

The research was done by means of the

said. “It just defies common sense and

parents are, or of which sex.

Child Behaviour Checklist which, I think,

reality.”

is a fairly standard way of researching The author of the study, Dr. Nanette

The research was funded by several gay

Gartrell,

advocacy groups which, combined with

research by writing, “funding sources

the results, led to a variety of outcries

played no role in the design or conduct

from Christian organizations.

of the study.”

Wendy

Wright,

defends

herself

and

her

the

“My personal investment is in doing

Concerned Women for America (a group

reputable research,” she said. “This is

that supports biblical values), is sure

a straightforward statistical analysis.

that the whole study is biased because

It will stand and it has withstood very

of its funding:

rigorous peer review by the people who

president

of

make the decision whether or not to “This

study

was

clearly

designed

publish it.”

to come out with one outcome -- to attempt to sway people that children

Implications

are not detrimentally affected in a

The implications of the research are

homosexual

huge. Gartrell states in her report:

household.

The

author

[of the report] can cherry pick people

“restrictions

of

who are involved and the info they

reproductive

technologies

child

custody based

and

“Results of research study into German LGBT families” http:// bit.ly/eurout-germanstudy “Lesbians’ kids have a stronger psyche” http://bit.ly/euroutdanish-study “The experiences of children with lesbian and gay parents” (by Stonewall) http://bit. ly/stonewall-differentfamilies

on

19

Further Reading:

the feelings and behaviours of children.

We Are Everywhere

By: Natazzz

Here is your overview of everything that happened and is about to happen in the world of European lesBian entertainment. We’ll keep you up-to-date on all the latest events and movie releases, what’s been happening in TV land and who did what to whom.

Radio:

Music: Belgium

Q-music

NATHALIE

DELPORTE

radio

DJ

and

her

wife Ilse de Gendt are expecting their second child. The newest addition to the family will arrive in November, and will be a little brother or sister for 18-month old Aimée, who the couple just finished adoption proceedings of.

TV-land: We previously reported that Belgian LGBT organisation WEL JONG, NIET HETERO (“Young,

Billie Myers BILLIE MYERS has recently launched a LGBT youth depression awareness project, doing her bit by being the spokesperson for the JED foundation.

But Not Straight”) were making a documentary about the contrast between Pride in Lithuania and Belgium. Well,

TV-land:

Movies:

The new French reality TV show

British actress JUNO TEMPLE

DELUDE ME IF YOU CAN, features

will be starring in the lesBian

both a gay male and a lesbian

werewolf movie Jack & Diane.

couple. I’m not sure we should be

‘LesBian werewolf movie’

happy about this, although one

sounds a lot like ‘lesBian

could argue that any representation

vampire movie’, and we all know

is good representation.

how that turned out. Badly.

Books: A new Dutch children’s book has been released entitled ACTIE VOOR ONZE ROZE JUF (“Action for Our Pink Teacher”) by author Netty Kaathoven.

It tells the story of a school class whose parents protest when the lesbian teacher gets a permanent position and the kids come into action to make sure they keep the nice lady. It also contains stories by kids with gay parents and other information about rainbow families.

You can order ‘Actie voor onze roze juf’ at the following link: http://bit.ly/nl-pink-teacher

20

the preview of the documentary has just been released and it looks really interesting and like something I can’t wait to watch.

Unfortunately, we are going to have to wait until September for the entire movie. You can search for the preview of Two Prides, Two Worlds… One Europe? on YouTube.com

We Are Everywhere Events:

TV-land: We’re sorry to say the SOPHIAN storyline on CORONATION STREET hasn’t gotten any decent airtime in weeks, yet everywhere we keep reading about it.

This includes coverage like a piece from website TV.com in which is said that apparently people seem to think

UK

the actresses are in a relationship together for real.

The LOVE BOX SUMMER FESTIVAL is taking place in

Seriously?

London between July 16 and July 18 and they recently announced this week that they’ve partnered up with Stonewall for the event. Find out more at

Movies:

www.lovebox.net Emmanuelle Béart and Béatrice Dalle are about to THE NETHERLANDS

star as lovers in the new movie Bye Bye Blondie,

The second edition of LESBIAN PRIDE will take place

which will start shooting at the end of the month.

during Pride Week in Amsterdam at the first week of

The movie tells the story of a love affair between two

August. Go to www.stichtingondersteboven.nl for details.

women, one of which is a famous movie star married to a gay man in order to keep up appearance.

POLAND A ‘GAY LOVE’ exhibition has opened in the museum of Warsaw, Poland, and will run until September. It is said that the organisers hope it will provoke discussion and

Movie Hotness:

improve understanding in a country that isn’t all that tolerant towards homosexuality. I doubt they have any success with the latter as the exhibition mainly features nude males.

TV-land: I don’t get to write about ARMENIA much and I think it’s a shame that when I do, it’s in a negative way. In Armenian band VO.X.’s latest music video they list all the things that are wrong with the country, including perversion, with which they mean homosexuality. To make matters worse, the band has gone out of their way this week to defend their stance, as if there’s ever an excuse to be homophobic.

TV-land: Danish singer and composer Anne Linnet has married her girlfriend, who is also expecting their first child.

The two of them haven’t been very public about their

LISBETH SALANDER (star of the Millennium movies)

relationship until now.

is number 98 on Entertainment Weekly’s 100 Greatest

More entertainment news at:

eurOut.org

Characters of the Last 20 Years list.

Check out the list here: http://bit.ly/popwatch-100-characters

21

First Bratislava Pride disrupted, but still successful On Saturday, May 22, the first ever Slovak Pride Parade took place in Bratislava. But alas, Dúhový Pride was not without disruptions.

Joan tells you about what went on. By: Joan ACCORDING

however, that there were right-wing

(“Slovak Togetherness”), a far-right

LGBT

extremists along this route. When on

group, had even announced counter-

had

top of everything a tear gas grenade

protests “for the future of family,

gathered for the Pride parade. Before

was launched, it was finally decided

against perverts” beforehand.

the parade itself had even started, a

to walk directly to the place where

rally for LGBT rights was interrupted

the afterparty was going to be held,

“I was particularly proud of the

by

taking the bridge across the Danube

participants, who didn’t panic and

accompanied by police protection.

showed a lot of courage,” commented

Parliament’s Rights,

a

TO

about

group

THE

European

Intergroup 1.000

of

on people

neo-Nazi

counter-

protesters. Ulrike Lunacek, Member of the European Parliament (Green Party

US chargé d’affaires Keith Eddins in

Austria), who was giving a speech at

“What shocked us all was not the

the rally, wrote in her blog that the

handful of hateful bigots on hand, but

protesters had tried to hit her with

the collective indifference of ‘normal’

To have this courage, to go out there

small stones.

Slovaks to this hatred, so eloquently

and be proud of who we are, to show

expressed in the reluctance of our

the world around us, again and again,

Lunacek also says that after two

protectors,” said Tom Nicholson on

that yes, we are here, we are queer

young gay men were beaten up on

website The Slovak Spectator.

and they’ll just have to get used to it,

their way from the rally, all participants

The Slovak Spectator.

is what Pride Parades are about. And

were asked to remove rainbow flags or

The

other visible signs when moving away

were

organisers

Pride

even if they knew that there would

police

be others trying to stop them, even

from police protected parts of the rally

hadn’t been better prepared, it says

if the police didn’t always provide the

or parade for their own safety.

on another Slovak website. Slovakia

protection they’d hoped for, people in

is still a very conservative country

Bratislava did have the heart to go out

The Pride march had been planned

and this was the first Pride parade;

and show who they are. In this sense

to lead right through Bratislava’s city

the police should have anticipated

I do think that Dúhový Pride was a

centre. It became increasingly clear,

complications. Slovenska Pospolitost

success.

disappointed

of

Dúhový

that

the

all new. all european. all lesbian.

all new. all european. all lesbian.

all new. all european. all lesbian. all new. all european. all lesbian.

22

Interview: lesbian film maker Mariel Macia

A few months ago we featured an article on eurOut.org about Enik Producciones, the Spanish film production company which focuses on lesBian films, and its awesome woman in charge, Mariel Macia.

Since then, we were lucky enough to interview the awesome woman herself, so sit back and relax as you learn about such an amazing woman.

By: Ley

23

Interview: lesbian film maker Mariel Macia

eurOut:

Could

you

introduce

yourself to our readers and tell them a bit about yourself?

Mariel: It’s always very difficult to talk about oneself. I think I can say I’m a filmmaker, a theatre director, the Head of Industry and Market for LesGaiCineMad Film Festival, an expert in new technologies but I’m also several other things: I’m a woman, a very loved daughter and wife, a proud lesbian, a curious traveller, a student of life, sometimes like a child, sometimes like an old tired person trying to rest, always looking for experiences, for surprises, working to build a warm home for my children to come in some years time, sometimes independent, sometimes looking for a big hug, just a human being, with many problems and many solutions, with sad and happy

memories,

with

incredible

people around me of whom I’m very proud of, with a lot of things to learn and a lot of people to learn from, with some things to teach and some people to teach them to. And a lot more and I’m sure a bit less, because the vision that I can have of myself is so partial.

Just Mariel Macia.

You studied Image and Sound Design at the University of Buenos Aires and then specialized in Film Direction in Madrid: did you always know you wanted to be involved in creating films?

Before wanting to be a filmmaker I wanted to be an astronaut, a soccer player, an Olympic athlete, a piano player, a guitar player, a dancer, a flight attendant, a journalist, a tourist guide, a teacher, a psychologist, an actress and then a filmmaker, in this exact order.

Mariel Macia

24

Interview: lesbian film maker Mariel Macia

When I was in secondary school, I

written: where do you get your

the Park (“Flores en el Parque”) won

attended an art school where I learned

ideas for the storylines?

Best Shortfilm and Best Spanish Film,

some literature, music, photography, acting,

puppets,

From many places, I’m always having

where competing. All the attention,

enriching to my life and I decided

ideas, some of them are very silly

the

to

directing

and go to the trash immediately, but

festival that is quite big… it was all

and acting at the same school and I

with some others I just write them

really astonishing because it was the

understood that what I wanted was to

down, look at them later and write a

premiere of the short, the first time it

direct more than to act. When it was

little more and eventually something

was shown in front of the audience.

time to decide what to choose to study

that was only an idea can become a

The award gave me new confidence to

at University, and understanding that

script. Life is so diverse, so surprising,

keep working. Confidence that I didn’t

it was too late to be an astronaut - and

so deep and so superficial at the same

have at that moment.

anyways it wasn’t as funny like it looks

time, life is full of ideas. What I try

on TV - I decided to study Image and

to do is find my voice about these

The second one was a great surprise,

Sound Design at University, where I

ideas. I try to make the audience feel

I didn’t expect it either. It was really

learned about design of contents for

moved and think about when they are

amazing to win the award two times

film, TV, internet, etc. Then I decided

watching my films or plays. I work a

in a row. It was the second time

to specialize in Film Direction and go

lot on my scripts, it’s the base of my

that happened during that particular

to Europe to do so, and here I am

work. There is nothing else possible if

festival: the other one was the Oscar

now,

Madrid.

you don’t have a good script; at least

award winning director Debra Chassnof

Sometimes, because I really do travel

the best script you think you can write.

with two of her documentaries. It

in

sometimes

It

theatre,

living

was

where feature and documentary films

so

specialize

etc.

in

a lot, which I love.

You set up Enik Producciones; what made you decide to set up your own film company?

I think like many other young film directors do at the beginning, because

it’s

almost

impossible

“I try to make the audience feel moved” won

the

the

audience

at

this

was great to have the support from the jury and the audience.

Maybe the difference was that I was more confident and knew a bit better how to capitalize the award: for example I think there are one or two photographs of the first award, but for the second one there are many photographs,

that some producer wants to listen

You

to you if you cannot show your talent

award

on a produced film. So I decided to

International

learn to be a producer and to produce

Film

my films. I have many stories of

for “Flores en el Parque (o los

producers telling me stupid things, but

primeros besos)” and then again

Would you say there was more

I don’t want to focus on that now. I

in 2006 for “A Domicilio (o incluso

pressure on you to win the award

just want to thank them for making

también

in 2007 having won it the previous

me more independent. And now I have

mean more than the other to win?

many projects and so much freedom

Or are they both equally as heart-

to work in projects and to choose my

warming to be awarded with?

at

Short

Film

interviews and press releases, etc. I

LesGaiCineMad

(the

think that was a good thing, because

Gay/Lesbian

as a filmmaker I want to make more

Festival

el

Best

press,

Madrid)

amor…)”:

in

2005

Did

one

content. We are a little group with a

projects and that kind of thing helps.

year?

Quite the opposite, I thought that because I won the previous year,

little budget but we are very active

They are different and they are both

there was very little possibility to win

and learning very fast, I’m very proud

very important to me. The first one

the next. But anyways, I never feel

of my team.

was a really big surprise: I didn’t

any pressure to win an award or the

expect to win at all because it’s a little

other, it’s something that you cannot

Many of the films you’ve been

tiny short, only two actresses, a park,

do anything about, just work to make

involved in directing, you’ve also

a flower… very low-budget. Flowers at

a good film and then get many people

25

Interview: lesbian film maker Mariel Macia

to see it, then the awards will either

these experiences in different places.

and we’ve sold out every time. We are

arrive or not. There are so many great

As my experience grew bigger and

on tour now with the second season of

films and so little awards to be given.

bigger, the conferences came. I love

the play and also launched a reduced

to talk to and meet people, I’m very

version, which is called MbF exprés,

Since 2009 you have been more

stimulated by the idea of making more

which is designed to be shown in other

involved with LesGaiCineMad than

young people, especially women, feel

spaces than theatres.

with

your

confident to be independent and do

films: can you tell our readers a

projects, to talk about lesbian cinema

Have

little about your role as Head of

in any forum and promote LGBT films

theatre for a while?

Industry and Market?

where I can.

winning

awards

for

As the Head of Industry and Market I’m responsible for organizing the LGTB Film Market. This is the first one in the world: design the strategy, organize

debates

and

seminars,

you

had

an

interest

in

“Theater was my first interest.”

events and guest coordination and project

Your newest project is a theatrical

Theatre was my first interest, when I

worldwide. It’s a really interesting

piece this time instead of another

didn’t even dream of film. So I’m very

job; so stimulating and so important

film: can you tell the readers about

happy to be able to come back to it.

for filmmakers, because the SFM is

“Monólogos de Bollería Fina”?

the

presentation

of

the

Is there much difference between

a marketplace where producers and sales companies of the films in the

Monólogos

catalogue license films to distributors.

be

It’s a booking place for international

Monologues”,

where

film

means

which

festival

programmers

to

find

de

translated Pastry,

Bollería as

Fina

“Fancy

can

Pastry

putting on a theatrical production and a film?

‘Bollería’ Spanish

Yes, a lot of differences, but I think

contents for their own film festivals.

slang for lesbian. It is a theatre

is

differences are very exciting. The

It’s a training event on independent

play that talks about the reality of

great thing about theatre is that you

film production and distribution. It’s a

female homosexuality in a comedy

get to connect with the audience and

meeting point for independent cinema

style. Trying to get away from the

you see their reactions and can talk

industry members where professional

stereotypical social image of lesbians

with everybody. That’s so important to

meetings, receptions and parties take

and reaching all the audiences that

grow as an artist.

place. It’s not audience-oriented: only

can find a social, fresh comedy in the

accredited industry members are able

play.

to attend SFM events. These are very

With film it is different. Maybe, if you’re lucky enough, you can travel to film

demanding months of the year, a lot

With the script I tried to name all the

festivals and see the audience, which

of hard work, but a great experience

prejudices and show that those are not

is really amazing because you can see

and I love it.

real at all. The idea is to show human

Danish people laughing to a Spanish

relations and engage the audience

film, for instance. It’s so culturally

You’re also involved in several

with humour, showing that lesbians

enriching, don’t you think? But it’s

different

workshops

are everywhere, not only in dark

not that usual that you can travel

and conferences: how did you get

rooms in some gay neighbourhood:

that much. Also, since the play is in

involved in those?

that we are integrated in society and

Spanish it’s very difficult to travel with

also have the same happiness and

it to non-Spanish speaking countries,

problems that everyone else has.

and even to Spanish speaking ones

seminars,

It was kind of natural I think. As I do many things and have a lot of different

the logistics are much more expensive

responsibilities and experiences, some

I’m very happy with the success of the

so it just stays in Spain. At least for

people started to ask me to share

play, the audiences are very supportive

now, you never know.

26

Interview: lesbian film maker Mariel Macia

And

anything

The film market is so competitive,

So

else you want to share with our

finally,

is

there

very monopolized for big companies,

everyone that has watched my film

readers?

and the small ones can be pushed into

on YouTube paid 1 euro for it; then I

the background so easily. I will send

could be making my film. Just some

I want to thank you, the film festival

just a thought to the audience: if you

thoughts to share, maybe a thing to

programmers,

imagine

a

nice

world

where

all new. all european. all lesbian.

all new. all european. all lesbian.

experienced

want more lesbian cinema, support

discuss between lesbian cinema fans.

directors that help me understand my

the

the lesbian filmmakers that you like.

I’m sure that together we can sort

career and to see it through, but most

There is an incredibly large amount of

something out, we will!

of all I want to thank the audience:

lesbian directors that can make only

they are so supportive to my work

one film because they don’t get their

all over the world, they promote my

money back for the great investment

short that is on YouTube and now I

of time and money that they make

have more than 500.000 visits for

to pursue the making of a film. When

Flowers at the Park; you cannot image

people say, “Your shorts are great,

how important it is to support the

are you thinking of making a feature

artist that you like in the promotion of

film?”, I can only say: I’d love to, but

their films, especially when they are

I don’t have the money. I’m working

starting their career.

very hard to get that money, every filmmaker is doing so.

More: For more details on Mariel Macia, Enik Producciones and their many ventures, go to: www.enikpro.com

Macia with the stars from her play Monólogos de Bollería Fina

27 29

Where Are We on TV? “Where Are We on TV?” lists what to look out for in Europe when it comes to TV series with a lesBian storyline, lesBian characters, or just specific TV programs about lesbians.

Belgium Thuis:

chocolate shop, and employs a friend

Coronation Street:

from prison; Anna.

Mon, Thu & Fri at 19:30/20:30 on ITV. We haven’t seen much of lesbian

Mon-Fri at 13:55 on één

Marienhof:

couple Sian and Sophie lately. If the

Mon-Fri at 18:25 on ARD Das Erste.

rumors are correct, we’ll see more of

Kerstin and Juliette decide to make a

them this summer. Stay up-to-date

fresh start in France, which ends this

with the most recent developments at

Finland

lesBian storyline.

bit.ly/eurout-corrie

Thu-Fri at 20:00 on YLE TV1.

The Netherlands

Single lesbian mom Ann is afraid to lose her daughter, Sandrine.

Kotikatu:

This popular Finnish show features Laura and Krisse. Read more about this show at http://bit.ly/kotikatu.

Mon-Fri at 19:30 on MTV3.

Heli and Iiris have reconnected and are now a couple. Read more about the lesBian storyline in this show at Read more about the lesBian storyline in this show at http://bit.ly/salatut.

This

Mon-Fri at 20:00 on RTL 4

character Imogen.

decides

to

stay

with

Mon-Fri at 20:00 on BBC Wales

confused friendship with being in love

LesBian character Gwyneth has just

with Isabella, which ends this lesBian

started a relationship with Yvonne, but

storyline.

things are complicated because of her ex-husband who she also has a child

Slovakia features lesbian couple Denisa and

Mondays at 22:15 on M6

Lucia. Read more about it online at

Six-part documentary about couples

http://bit.ly/panelak.

and their sex lives. Features lesbian

Spain

Amar en tiempos revueltos – Airs Mon-Fri ay 16:15 on TVE 1 Ana and Teresa have made a pact

season) with lesbian couple Céline and

never to be separated anymore. Now

Virginie.

they are friends and business partners

soap

(currently

in

its

who will be together forever, or so the pact says.

Germany Lindenstrasse:

Sundays at 18:50 on ARD Das Erste.

No sign of lesBian character Tanja

UK

Big Brother

recently, but her ex-girlfriend Steffi is

Daily at 21:00 on Channel 4

still in the picture. After being released

This 11th cycle of the reality series

from

features lesBians Corin and Shabby.

prison

(for

stabbing

people

and drug-dealing), she now owns a

28

with.

Waterloo Road Wed at 20:00 on BBC1 After being kissed by student Ros, lesBian teacher Jo is suspended, which makes her future at Waterloo Road questionable. The final two episodes of the current season will be airing this

6th

French

lesBian

People of the Valley

Les Français, l’amour et le sexe:

Mon-Fri at 20:10 on France3.

stars

up with Isabella. Ronja realizes she

This popular Slovakian sitcom currently

Plus belle la vie:

soap

her

Mon-Fri at 20:15 on TV JOJ.

couple Angélique and Emilie.

medical

grandmother for a while, and breaks

Panelák:

France

Mon-Fri at 13:45 on BBC1.

Goede Tijden, Slechte Tijden: Ronja

Salatut Elämät:

Doctors:

month. Season 6 is planned for later this year.

A List of Helpful LGBT Organizations per Country EUROPEAN

FRANCE

LITHUANIA

SLOVAKIA

Egalite

Association de Médecins

Lithuanian Gay League

Altera

www.egalite-online.eu

Gais. www.medecins-gays.

www.lgl.lt/indexe.php

www.altera.sk

LGBT Network

com/femmes-entre-elles

www.lgbtnetwork.eu

SOS Homophobie

MALTA

SLOVENIA

IGLYO

www.sos-homophobie.org

Malta Gay Rights Move-

DIH www.dih.si

ment

SkuC-LL

www.maltagayrights.net

www.ljudmila.org/lesbo

MOLDOVA

SPAIN

GenderDoc-M

Federación

www.gay.md/rus

Lesbianas,

www.iglyo.com ILGA Europe

GEORGIA

www.ilga-europe.org

Inclusive Foundation www.inclusive-foundation.org

AUSTRIA

Estatal

GREECE

(RKL) www.rklambda.at/e/

Greek Sapphites

index.htm

www.sapphogr.net

THE NETHERLANDS

www.felgtb.org

Greek Lesbian

COC Nederland

Confederación

www.lesbian.gr

www.coc.nl

de Lesbianas, Gays, Tran-

Outway

sexuales y Bisexuales

www.outway.nl

www.colegaweb.org

BELGIUM

Gays,

de

Rechtskomitee Lambda

sexuales

Çavaria www.cavaria.be Wel Jong Niet Hetero

GERMANY

www.weljongniethetero.be

Lesbian and Gay Fede-

y

Tran-

Bisexuales Española

ration in Germany

NORWAY

SWEDEN

BELARUS

http://typo3.lsvd.

Norwegian National Asso-

Swedish Federation for

TEMA information center

de/229.0.html

ciation for Lesbian and

Lesbian,

Gay Liberation

and Transgender Rights

www.llh.no

www.rfsl.se

www.pride.by HUNGARY BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

Labrisz

Lesbian

Asso-

Queer Bosnia and Herze-

ciation www.labrisz.hu

govina. www.queer.ba/en BULGARIA Bulgarian

Gay

Organi-

CROATIA

HomO POLAND

www.homo.se

ICELAND

phobia

SWITZERLAND

Samtökin ‘78

http://world.kph.org.pl

Pink Cross

www.samtokin78.is

Lambda Warsaw

www.pinkcross.ch

www.lambdawarszawa.org

INFOBI

IRELAND

www.infobi.net

Gay & Lesbian Equality

PORTUGAL

Network www.glen.ie

ILGA Portugal

TURKEY

www.ilga-portugal.pt

KAOS GL

Kontra www.kontra.hr/cms

ITALY

Opus Gay

www.kaosgl.com

LORI

Arcigay

www.opusgay.org

LEGATO

www.lori.hr

www.arcigay.it

CZECH REPUBLIC

DENMARK

www.unilegato.org

GlobaLES

ROMANIA

www.globa-les.com

ACCEPT

UKRAINE

http://accept-romania.ro

Nash Mir

Gay and Lesbian League www.mujvztah.cz

Bisexual

Campaign Against Homo-

sation Gemini www.bgogemini.org/eng

Gay,

KOSOVO

www.gay.org.ua

QESh

RUSSIA

http://qesh.org

Krilija

UNITED KINGDOM

www.krilija.sp.ru

Stonewall

Danish National Association for Gays and Les-

LATVIA

bians www.lbl.dk

Mozaika

SERBIA

communities.org

www2.mozaika.lv

QueerBeograd

Queer Youth

www.queerbeograd.org

www.queeryouth.org.uk

FINLAND

http://sites.stonewall-

SETA www.seta.fi

29

eur ut .org european.lesbian.news

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